Feral: Part One (16 page)

I took a step toward her, smirking internally as she took a nervous step backwards. "Do you remember bitching at me once our senior year about how Cole was a douche and a snob, and you thought he thought he was too good for you and must be crazy to like me? Well, guess what, he did think he was too good for you, because he was. Most of the world’s population is," I hissed low in my throat. "And I’ve got news for you, sweet pea. Dressing like you belong on old Stewart Avenue, and acting almost as bad, isn’t going to get Doctor Treviso’s attention. And don’t give me that look! I was waiting for you to start begging for it twenty minutes ago.”

Her blue eyes practically blazed with embarrassment and rage. Her posture was tense, tight like a coil, and even as I waited for her hand to land heavily on my bruised face, I continued, far angrier with her than she could ever be with me.

“Newsflash, honey: seeing as how Simon Treviso is a far better human being than Colton Malver, I can damn guarantee you that he wouldn't touch you with a ten foot pole, because frankly, he has more class than that. If he’s as intelligent as he seems, I can assure you he’s already learned you’ve got no depth of character and’re one damn poor excuse for a lady! If you were the last woman on Earth, he wouldn’t give you a first glance, much less a second one.”

By this point, I was trembling violently. I hadn’t realized that throughout my entire speech, I’d backed her into a wall, until I was only mere inches away from her and she had nowhere else to go. In my periphery, I saw the student who’d stopped Simon walking in the opposite direction, while the vampire made a beeline for us.

"And let me tell you something else,
Mads
. I’m getting sick and tired of your bullshit attempts to act friendly. In high school, I always thought the leader of your little clique was the worst, but you know what? I was wrong, because at least she had the decency to be consistently jealous and hateful. She made no pretenses of liking me, whereas you were and always will be a hypocrite in that respect. Now, I’m warning you: leave me the hell alone! I am
not
your friend anymore. You destroyed that in junior high, so stop trying to act like it."

I leaned in dangerously close and snarled at her. "And stop trying to talk to me about Cole. It’s over. It’s done. If you want to continue talking to him and trying to get in his pants, be my fucking guest. But stop trying to bait me, because I don’t give a shit about Colton Malver.

“And if I ever hear you make any more inappropriate comments about Simon again, I swear to god
you
will be visiting one of those medical rooms you seemed to be so concerned about earlier. And I can promise you Simon Treviso will not be the one you get the pleasure of seeing. Now, get the hell out of my face before I break yours."

The horrific shock on her face morphed into the ugliest mask of hate I’d ever seen, and I briefly wondered if she was going to spit in my face, slap me, or go with some other physical form of retaliation. If she did, I knew it would be the last thing she would ever do. However, to her credit, all she did was sneer as Simon approached.

It seemed he was done talking to his student, and we were now his focus, which wasn’t surprising. Vampire or not, I’m sure he would have heard every single word, and I couldn’t imagine how angry he was at my making a scene in the hallway. At least I was lucky in that it was the end of the university’s day classes, which meant the halls were pretty much empty by the time I’d started getting loud. That still didn’t stop me from worrying about whether or not he might be mad at me.

He stared down at me with eyes that were nearly black and grabbed me by the elbow, dragging me behind him as he went. His voice was soft and cool, distant almost, and his grip was firm as he moved me down the hall. "Miss Deering, we need to talk in my office.”

Oh god… He was furious.

I shivered, though whether it was from the loss of the adrenaline I’d used in my little tirade or from fear of what Simon was going to do and say, I wasn’t entirely sure.

He held the door open while I slinked in, completely incapable of meeting his dark gaze. I had never seen his face look so... feral, and I was starting to wonder if it were at all possible for a bond between mates to be broken. The intense waves pouring off of him had me worried about the future of our relationship.

What the hell was wrong with me? I’d just torn Madison Kinley a new one smack-dab in the middle of the university’s social science hall, with witnesses nonetheless, however few those witnesses were. I had just humiliated my mate in front of students, some of whom I was sure were his, and now he was angry with me. I should’ve just kept my damn mouth shut.

I vaguely heard him close the door and flinched when he was suddenly towering over me, feeling the powerful waves of emotions hit me like a ton of bricks. His gaze was practically burning a hole into the top of my head, but I couldn’t look up. I couldn’t bear to see the anger and disappointment in his eye. Of all the stupid things I’d ever done or said throughout my lifetime, this took the cake.

"Sofia Antonia." His voice was low and raspy, and I was quite sure that he was holding back a rather nasty growl. Oh, he was so pissed. He was using my name, my real one, not the lovely little pet name that I had come to adore. "Look at me."

I slowly raised my head, but found I couldn’t look up beyond his chest. When he demanded, "I told you to look at me, Sofia", I felt my heart drop into my stomach. I had never heard Simon sound quite like that, and I suddenly felt very ashamed of my behavior, or rather the fact my behavior had upset my mate—if he was still my mate. I really needed to ask about that.

When I looked up to his glittering black eyes, I swallowed and took a step backwards. Whatever lecture he was going to give me, I knew I deserved it. Yes, Madison may’ve needed a good telling-off, but I really shouldn’t have done so in the middle of the university. I licked my lips and waited for him to let his ire out on me.

"Do you have
any
idea what you just did?"

I instantly dropped my head, and feeling my eyes well up with tears, prayed they would not fall. Not that it would have mattered. I was sure he could smell the salt anyway.

"You do realize you just—"

"I'm sorry." My voice cracked with emotions. "I'm sorry. I just…"

I swallowed thickly and dug my fingers into the material of my jeans. If I was going to cry in humiliation, I was at least going to do it with a little dignity and not wipe away the tears in a pathetic attempt to hide it from the incubus. "She fuckin’ pissed me off. I know, I know, I shouldn't’ve let her get to me, but she was looking at you like you were something to eat! The way she looked at you wasn't right. I just-I couldn't stand her looking at
my
mate that way, and I sure as hell was not about to let her co—"

My words were cut short when he shoved me roughly onto his desk, his lips devouring mine as I threaded my fingers into his silky locks. He lowered me to the desktop, sweeping away stacks of files, pens, and I really didn't care what else, although I was distractedly glad the blinds had already been shut. While he supported me with one arm, his other hand slipped under my shirt and nudged under my bra, and I realized I’d obviously been mistaken about Simon's emotions.

He battled my tongue for dominance in between nibbling on my lower lip and running the tip of his tongue just under the seam of my upper. As he tasted and tormented my lips, his arm slid gently out from beneath me, leaving me flat on my back on his desk so he was free to explore my body with both hands.

I arched, biting back a loud moan as his hands pushed up the knit material and the black lace to knead my breasts, the fabric lightly scratching my skin and causing goose bumps to form. I moaned in protest when he tore his lips away from mine, but all complaints were lost when his mouth latched onto the side of my neck and sucked eagerly at the patch of skin just over my pounding pulse. It was as if he were trying to draw my blood through the flesh without breaking it. It was a sensitive spot on my body, and I squirmed at the tingling sensation his kisses and nips evoked.

Well, it looked like I’d be wearing a scarf to school for the next few days. Thank god it was approaching winter.

He released one tender breast and braced himself on his forearm. His growl grew louder, and I briefly worried about someone hearing him until his tongue dragged slowly over the area where his lips had been, and then I stopped caring all together. He lapped over the vein repeatedly, murmuring
'la mia'
with each flick of his tongue, and it unexpectedly dawned on me that he was talking about my blood.

I couldn't help myself. "Yours. Yours, Simon."

The growl calmed to a purr as he licked my neck once more, before nuzzling me tenderly. "Mine. Mine,
la mia."

"Yes, yours.” My pitiful mewl turned into a short gasp as he pinched one puckered nipple between his fingers, his mouth lowering to possess the other. I let my hands drop to his shoulders, my fingertips digging into the pale material of his lab shirt. "Doctor Treviso."

Another loud rumble burst from his chest, and he thrust his hips against mine, his erection quite obvious as he trailed his free hand down my stomach, where my jeans seemed to have come undone without my ever noticing. He deftly slipped his fingers beneath the silk and lace of my underwear, now damp and somewhat uncomfortable, and parted the swollen lips, two long digits sinking into the wet heat he found there. He flicked his thumb over the swollen nub and released my nipple to mumble in my ear, "Again,
cara mia."
He thrust his hips against me, commanding, "Say it again,
tesoro
."

I whimpered, desperate and not afraid to let him know it. "Please, Doctor Treviso."

"Very good.
Molto buono, bella mia,
" he praised before pressing his fingers deeper and hissing when I tightened around his hand. "That's it,
mia diletta
." He purred encouragingly while he worked me into a frenzy, his thumb fluttering furiously over the sensitive button of nerves as his fingers thrust in and out of me.

I panted as my body strained for its release. "Oh god, Simon!"

He rumbled in my ear, his lips catching my earlobe and tugging gently before he demanded, "You should know better, Miss Deering. Did you not just inform Miss Kinley I deserved more respect? While in this university, you
will
address me appropriately."

“Fuck!
Doctor Treviso… Oh god,” I keened. "Close. Please.”

I was begging like I had just accused Madison of doing, but I didn’t have the time or energy to ponder the irony as he crooked his fingers inside me and I was assaulted with a wave of pleasure so intense it was almost painful. I writhed on the smooth desktop, my scream cut off by his lips on mine. He continued working me harder, faster, deeper, and I felt my body drawing closer to its peak while his thumb played me expertly.

"Please, Simon," I panted, thrusting my hips against his hand firmly. "So close…
Fuck!"

He brought his lips close to my ear and purred for me. "You do realize, Sofia," he cooed as he stroked his fingers roughly against my clenching walls, "that is the last time I will allow you to call me that name here."

Whether he was serious about this unexpected kink or if he was just tormenting me, I wasn’t sure. Either way, it was hot as hell, and I responded accordingly, voicing my understanding while my body spasmed around him, garnering a short growl.

"Yes,
mia bella Sofia
." The combination of his constant rumbling and his fingers pumping me feverishly hurtled me toward the edge of reality. "Now, be a good girl for me
. Vieni.
Come.
Vieni per me, mio tesoro
. Come for me, pet."

I was already disappearing in the bliss I felt, so he really didn't have to tell me again. I was his entirely—his mate, his love—and my body responded to him as it had since the moment I met him. I almost didn’t recognize the sounds coming from my throat when my aching pussy convulsed around his fingers. "Doctor Treviso!"

I rode a powerful wave of emotions and physical ecstasy, my vision growing hazy while he embraced my shivering body. I felt high, like I was flying on some invisible cloud, and I was not sure how long it was before I came down. When my sight was clear, and my breathing and my heart rate were under control, I smiled.

If his expression was anything to go by, I was certain it was a rather goofy-looking one, but I couldn’t help it. This experience was a hundred times better than the limited encounters I’d had in the past—those had been sloppy and just downright embarrassing. Despite the frantic pace, being a six hundred year old incubus did give Simon an advantage, one I was more than happy to make good use of.

He slowly pulled his fingers from my pussy and raised them for me to see. I was slightly embarrassed to see the slick fluid coating his fingers, but my mouth fell open in surprise and arousal when he leisurely licked the digits clean. He grinned when I all but leered at him. "Are you quite all right, Miss Deering?"

He pulled me into his embrace, rubbing my back and pressing a kiss to the top of my head. "You thought I was angry." When I muttered “you were”, he shook his head. "Not at you,
cara mia.
I was quite angry at
la puttana
for being so obvious and for upsetting you. I was not angry for your outburst."

He stroked my hair and smiled softly. "I questioned you about your knowledge of what you did, because your behavior was quite violent, though not physically. It is typical in new mates who are defending or… showing possession of their other half. While I know without a doubt you are my mate, I must confess to still being fairly shocked at seeing that instinct come from you so soon. Shocked and obviously pleased."

I smirked. "You mean aroused as hell, Doctor Treviso?"

He growled playfully, and then with the utmost care, cupped my face in his palms, the fingers of one hand barely touching the injured flesh. "It seems the apology I have been contemplating may not be as necessary as I first believed."