Page 49 of Blood and Bone
Eoghan immediately shook his head as she spoke up. “That’s not going to happen but it’s always good to build a bridge,” Priest said.
“Yes, ma’am,” Eoghan agreed.
“It’s been a long while since the I.S.R. has had any serious conversations with Severin and Invictus. Dragons are insular to begin with and communications with them have always taken a great deal of effort. If this works, it would be good. We don’t have an accurate count of their numbers and that’s always bad. We need to know how many people reside on clan lands at any given time, so it’s good that the Tahoe clan is reaching out. I want you to know what a good job you’re doing, Sapphire. You too, Marshal Brown. It seems your partnership is solid, and I like that.”
Eoghan smiled at Ari and reached over, setting a hand on the top of his thigh. “Yes, ma’am. Ari is making my job as a training officer easy. It’s a good pairing.”
Ari smiled back as she replied, “Well, good then. When do you expect to hear back from the tribe again?”
“They’ll let us know as soon as they hear anything,” Eoghan said. “Their own clan meeting is tonight if they can get everyone together. So hopefully we’ll hear something tomorrow. It’s hard to be sure but that’s what they’re shooting for.”
“I see.”
“You said you needed us for another job which is why you wanted us to stay put here in Northern California, right boss?” Eoghan asked.
“Yes, it’s a small job. Prisoner escort. It’s tomorrow night, so I’ll have to see if I can find someone else. We’re so shorthanded but I’m going to try. I don’t give a damn aboutdisappointing the prisoner, but his mate and their offspring shouldn’t have to pay for his crimes over and over again.”
“There’s no surety that the tribe will get back to us tomorrow,” Ari said. “Sorry, Chief, but did you say the prisoner’s mate and offspring?”
“We have a prisoner in Folsom whose daughter’s being mated. He’d have to be picked up, brought to the ceremony, watched over until it’s done, and then returned to Folsom. He’s been granted a five-hour pass, and the ceremony is local to the prison. That should give him time to get through there, have some time at the reception, maybe even have a father-daughter dance.”
“That’s nice, Chief. So, he’s a shifter?” Eoghan asked.
“He’s a vampire.”
Eoghan and Ari stared at each other. When Ari nodded, Eoghan spoke up. “We could do this, ma’am.”
“Are you sure? You’d be walking into a room full of vampires.”
“Yes, Chief,” Ari replied. “We’ve got this…assuming the prisoner would be under heavy guard.”
“We’ve been promised vampire guards from his clan at the mating, but I want two marshals there to specifically watch over him the whole time. Like I said, I need someone completely focused on the prisoner from door to door.”
“We can do that, ma’am,” Ari said.
“Okay, Brown. Let’s play it by ear. If you don’t get the go ahead to meet with the dragons and the promise that the Tahoe shifters are going to help by noon tomorrow, I’ll tell the prisoner’s guards at Folsom it’s a no go. You’re sure you want to do this? A vampire mating reception with blood flowing like wine might be a huge shock to your system.”
“As long as the blood is in glasses and it’s not mine, then yes, Chief Deputy Priest. I’m totally fine with it,” Ari replied.
Eoghan held his hand over his mouth as he shook with laughter while Ari tried and failed to keep a straight face.
“All right. I’ll let you go then. We’ll be in touch.”
“We’ll let you know if anything happens over here, ma’am. Good night.” Eoghan disconnected the call and tossed the phone onto the bed before tackling Ari back onto the bedspread and covering his mouth, kissing him slowly. They kissed for several long minutes before Eoghan finally sat back on his heels, still straddling him.
Ari looked down at his crotch and grinned at his cock straining behind his zipper. Eoghan’s excitement visibly matched his own. He reached out and covered it with his hand, feeling the hard dick beneath his palm. It was almost sexier to see him looking so decadent with clothes covering him than to see him naked. His mouth began watering and he automatically licked his lips which immediately made Eoghan chuckle. Ari looked up into his face before grabbing Eoghan’s hips and holding him fast. He smiled at him.
“I don’t suppose you put on those sexy, red undies,” he said, biting his lower lip as he pictured Eoghan’s hard dick straining and leaking against the lace encasing it. When Eoghan smiled devilishly, he felt his own dick throb. He reached up and scrubbed both hands over his face. “Good God, Eoghan.”
“I know you liked them when you saw them. I thought I’d surprise you,” Eoghan said, sliding off his body and the bed before standing.
The man looked like a gorgeous sex god as he stared down at him almost shyly. Sometimes, he wondered if Eoghan knew how beautiful he was. He was the most unassuming man, completely humble and not the least bit conceited. It was like he was almost embarrassed when Ari gave him a compliment. He glanced down, staring at the hard bulge and watching theway Eoghan’s fingers teased at the waistband. He watched, utterly transfixed as he reached lower, taking hold of a single, silver button on the black tac pants and popping it open.
There was something about Eoghan’s hands that turned Ari on so much. They were thickly callused from holding weapons and yet had beautiful, long fingers which—in any other world—should be playing piano concertos or plucking the strings of a guitar. From the way they stroked Bear’s soft fur at night when they curled up on the couch to watch TV, to the way they massaged scented oils into the sore muscles of his back, Ari thought them absolutely beautiful. He watched as Eoghan popped another button and then a third before the top of red lace came into view.
“Fuck me,” he groaned, reaching down and adjusting his throbbing cock inside his own pants. “You’re so goddamned hot, Eoghan.” He looked up at his lover’s face to find him flushed with reddening flags of color starting to stain his cheeks as he bit his lip and watched Ari stroke himself through his pants. Ari smiled and began opening them, mirroring his lover’s slow teasing unveiling. Two could play this game.
Eoghan finished unbuttoning his tac pants and he parted the fly, slowly revealing more of the lace manties. Ari avidly watched as he slid his hands over his flat belly, slowly following his treasure trail under his bellybutton until the tips of his fingers disappeared beneath the waistband of the stretchy lace.