Once Upon a Quest Read online

  I threw the covers back, my temper rising by the second. I was sick of these men not listening to me. I didn’t care how amazing his touch felt. I was taking control and my hormones could kiss my arse.

  He sat back with a strange expression on his gorgeous face. “Go on then so we can get back to where we were.”

  I frowned and took a measured breath. “I’m only telling you this because I think it’s the right thing to do.” I sighed heavily. This was harder than I thought. “Last night in the woods, James came to me and I thought I was dreaming. I honestly had no idea what was going on until this morning.” Oh, shit. Eric was growling now, but I continued on. “Damn, this is hard. I feel like a complete idiot, but I allowed him to do things to me that no man has ever done before.”

  Eric flew into a fit of rage, clenching his fists and jumping from the bed. “What the fuck did my brother do to you? I’ll kill him!”

  “No, don’t kill him. Maim him a bit if you like, but don’t kill him.”

  “The bastard must have put something in my drink, so I wouldn’t wake up!” Eric exclaimed, eyeing me dangerously and then sat back on the bed. “Catherine, you don’t know him like I do. He’s a womaniser and you’ll be nothing more than a conquest to him.” He ran his hands through his hair and stood again, pacing the room. “Jameson is only doing this because he knows you are mine!”

  Wait just one dame minute. I realised Eric had laid some sort of claim on me but I belonged to no one. Especially not—oh, what was the point of even telling this overgrown caveman? He’d still proclaim I was his. No matter.

  I jumped from the bed and stood on my tiptoes, pointing my finger in his face. Damn, he was tall. “While you may claim me as yours, I have not chosen anyone, and you need to remember that. What happened in the woods with James was a mistake and one I do not intend on repeating.”

  I wanted to bury myself underground. Wait? That made me wonder if James had put something in my drink as well. That bastard! Oh, Eric didn’t need to kill him, I would! Son of a bitch!

  “Catherine, you will be mine.” Even in anger he was sexy. Damn him. He stepped closer. “After I kill James for touching you!”

  “For God’s sake, we didn’t have sex, if that’s what you’re wondering.” I had to roll my eyes again. This conversation was going nowhere, and if anyone was going to kill James, it was going to be me.

  “He touched what was mine!”

  “Oh, shut the fuck up, Eric.” Damn. I looked heavenward and asked God to forgive my tiny slip up. I was angry. “Is it possible the bastard put something in my drink as well? It would explain why I believed myself to be dreaming.”

  “You’re not helping his case, Princess.” At his words, I flopped back down on the bed, forgetting myself and my robe slipped open, exposing my right breast. Damn the luck.

  Before I could make myself decent, Eric was on me in a flash. He took my breast in his mouth, and I couldn’t help but moan in pleasure. Something was terribly wrong with me.

  “You’ve been driving me insane since the moment we met. The arrangement we made shall be null and void. You will be mine, Princess.”

  I couldn’t even argue or tell him to go to hell. His mouth, dear God, his mouth. He suckled my breasts and warmth pooled in my nether regions. This was so not a good sign. My damn hormones were in control again. Killing James would have to wait.

  Eric opened my robe, untying it at the waist, exposing my naked form. Dear God. I was naked. I was in serious trouble. His lips moved from my breasts to my stomach and I thought I might die. He was going there! An image of James flashed before my eyes, and I couldn’t allow Eric to go any further; as much as I craved the dhampir before me, I just couldn’t.

  I rolled to the side, gathering my robe around me, then jumped from the bed. “We can’t do this, Eric.”

  I was breathing erratically and then caught a glimpse of my reflection, not recognising myself. Who was this woman? Okay, the frizzy red hair was a dead giveaway, but I was so damned flustered and turned on. How had I allowed myself to get into this position? Right. Flirting. The arrangement. I hung my head. I should have never tried to learn how to flirt. It was the beginning of the end.

  “Catherine, come back to bed.” Eric stood and grasped my hand. My, oh, my. He’d gone from murderous to sex-crazed within seconds.

  I noticed the large bulge in his trousers and quickly averted my eyes.

  “No, I’m sorry, Eric. I can’t do this, not with what happened with your brother. I need time to think. Not to mention, my sister! Good God, man. Can you not think about sex for a moment?” Now I was shouting, completely pissed off that I’d allowed myself to fall into this situation again. Damn.

  “I’ll kill him, now!” Eric growled again.

  He was really getting on my nerves.

  “Shut up, you moron. I’ll deal with him myself and find out what happened.” I placed my hand on his chest and it seemed to calm him a bit.

  His expression changed, and the corner of his lips tilted into a smile. Eric was jealous; that much was obvious, and I reminded myself that choosing him right now wouldn’t be fair to the others, namely Tobias. At the moment, James could go to hell. Why did this have to be so difficult?

  I thought about Tobias for a moment. Out of the three brothers, he was quiet and reserved. He’d never pursued me and was quite the gentleman, I might add. Either way, these thoughts were irrelevant. I needed to focus on Lucy; time was ticking away, and these boys needed a lesson in manners.

  “Did you just call me a moron?” Eric enquired, and his eyes darkened as his gaze lowered, roaming over my body. Oh, my! The tension between us escalated quickly.

  I looked into his heated azure stare and then he grabbed my arse, lifting me up. His mouth was on my own in an instant. My head was spinning, and alarm bells were going off in my head. I was supposed to slap the shit out of him; tell him to stop, but instead, I melted into his embrace. I was surely going to Hell.

  His touch felt like fire against my skin and so damned good. He slammed me against the wall, with only my robe separating us. When I felt the evidence of his arousal, all sense of decency left my cranium and I couldn’t think to tell him to go to Hell. I felt every inch of him and my God, it was glorious! Liquid heat rushed throughout my body, and I thought I might die from the sensations. This man, this dhampir, the things he could do with his mouth and hands were—and he kissed me like a man starved. My nether regions were coiled together so tight, I thought I might burst. When he slipped his hand inside my robe and touched me there, I whimpered, losing control.

  I began to feel things in my body I’d never felt before, as if I was suddenly awakened; something I hadn’t known was possible ignited inside of me. I wanted this man, no, I needed to feel every part of him against me and inside of me. I had no idea what was coming over me, but whatever it was, I had lost complete control and loved every minute of it.

  Eric cupped my breast and circled my hard nipples while pressing his erection against me, penetrating me with his fingers in a way that had me coming undone. I was near breathless when he pulled away and wondered why he’d stopped. Damn him.

  “You smell divine, and I want to lick every inch of your body until you scream that you’re mine.” Well, I might scream if he didn’t put his hands right back where they were! I knew I may regret this later but at that very moment, I needed him. All of him.

  When he cupped my breasts again, the throbbing in my nether regions increased; it was demanding attention—slick, warm and ready. I moaned loudly unable to take his torturing any longer. Wait. He was torturing me on purpose. Arsehole. No matter. I’d kick his arse later.

  When Eric rubbed his erection near my center I exploded into a fit of ecstasy. Bright colors and stars burst behind my eyelids and I cried out his name, panting and nearly hyperventilating. I laid my head on his shoulder and a light chuckle escaped his lips.

  I was well and truly spent, unsure if I’d be able to walk once he set me on my
feet. Then I heard a door slam from outside the corridor. Shit! I had lost myself, not thinking of anyone hearing me. Damn. Damn. Damn. This was not good at all.

  “Your brothers are in the next room and they can hear us.” I pushed at his chest and he sighed loudly, then gently laid me down on the bed.

  I couldn’t possibly be angry with him, but I hated him seeing me in such a vulnerable state. This was certainly new territory for me. I’d begun this quest with nothing more in mind than saving my sister and kicking their dhampir arses all the way to the Eastern Lands. Now, it wasn’t quite that simple. The new feelings and emotions I was experiencing when Eric was near were scaring the life out of me. I didn’t like it. Not one bit.

  “I want to make love to you, Catherine. Tell the others you’re done with the arrangement, so we can move on.” His heated stare told me he was absolutely serious. Of course he was.

  Dammit. I pushed him away, noticing I was still turned on. Stupid hormones.

  “We made a deal and have to stick to it until Lucy is rescued. Just because we’ve been intimate doesn’t mean we’re destined to be together.” I heaved a dramatic sigh, knowing I was lying. “Eric, I meant what I said about not becoming queen. I’m handing the crown to Lucy.”

  Eric moved closer, breathing my air. “I’m not worried about you becoming queen, although I do not believe you have much say in the matter.” He kissed my forehead. Why did he have to be so charming? “Stop pretending you don’t feel anything for me; we both know it’s a lie. And Tobias? I don’t believe he’s even interested.” He ran his fingers along my jaw, looking into my eyes. He truly needed to stop. I was finding it hard to control my urges as it was.

  Damn. I could feel his arousal poking me in the side. He needed to take care of that. I couldn’t think while his—dear God! I just couldn’t think!

  “Tobias is a gentleman; therein lies the difference.” I raised a brow, daring him to disagree and he laughed. Arsehole. “You need to leave. I need some time to think things over and I really need some sleep”—I coughed into my hand—“please.” Saying please took a lot out of me.

  “As you wish, Catherine, but I will not stop pursuing you.” He stood from the bed, staring at me with hunger in his eyes.

  The sexual tension was driving me mad, and I needed him anywhere but in my chamber. His arousal was on full display and again I had to avert my eyes. Damn. I needed a cold bath. Yes, that would do nicely.

  “Goodnight, Eric. Do sleep well—in your own room.”

  He winked at me and then left, closing the door behind him.

  I realised talking to him was the equivalent of talking to a wall, but my heart reminded me I was most certainly screwed. I had feelings for Eric; there was no denying it now. Damn the luck.

  Chapter 16

  Finally, I could rest. I rolled over, not thinking about Eric, and attempted to fall asleep. Then I heard a loud crash coming from the room next door—Eric’s room. Shit.

  A light knock sounded at my door, and I was nearing losing my temper. “Yes. Who is it? And it better be good, because I need my sleep!”

  “It’s only me, Tobias. Do you mind if I come in?”

  Fuck. Yes, I was breaking that promise it seemed.

  “Why not? Apparently, I have a revolving door.” My voice was laced with sarcasm when I sat up and turned on my bedside lamp.

  “I’m sorry to disturb you, Catherine, but as I’m sure you’re aware, Eric and Jameson are tearing the chamber apart next door. I’m not quite sure who will come out alive.” He sat in the chair next to the bed and chuckled.

  “I told Eric—oh, never mind. He never listens to me.” I huffed a sigh and was suddenly thrown forward when something or someone crashed against the wall on the other side. Thin walls indeed.

  “I told you to keep your hands off of what was mine, you son of a bitch!” I heard Eric’s voice coming from the next room and another loud boom, then something that sounded like glass breaking. I cringed a bit. That didn’t sound pleasant at all.

  Tobias was holding back a snigger. “I don’t find this funny. You do realise they will have to pay for what they’ve broken?” And I was thrown forward again. Damn. They were really going at it. Soon, one of their bodies would come crashing through the wall. That simply wouldn’t do.

  “Did you slip something into her drink, you piece of shit?” It seemed Eric was kicking James’s arse. Well, that made me smile a bit. I might allow him to wail on him for a few more minutes before I interfered. “Keep your damn hands off of her!” Oh, my! There were a few grunts and someone, I’m assuming James, crashed to the floor. It sounded like it hurt. Good. Arsehole.

  “They’re going to wake the entire brothel,” I said to a still silent Tobias. “Did you only come in here to hide, or did you have something on your mind?”

  “Now that you mention it, yes.” He sat forward in his chair, eyeing me intensely. I pulled my covers up again, just in case. “I wanted to apologise for using magic on you without permission. It’s not something I would normally do, however, with Drakins nearing our camp, I didn’t want to risk you waking up.”

  “No, no, I understand.” I waved my hand in dismissal. “While I was quite pissed, I would have only compromised our quest by killing them. And the three of you did retrieve useful information about Lucy.” I turned my head toward the sound of a loud bang in the next room, and I could hear furniture breaking. Oh, my! It seemed I would soon have to intervene. Those boys were going to kill one another.

  “What the fuck, Eric?” And there was James, crashing through my wall, far too close to where I was sitting, I might add.

  I jumped from the bed with my hands on my hips, now seething. They’d just ruined my bed and I had yet to sleep! This simply wouldn’t do. “Hey, arseholes! Kill each other somewhere else. Damn you both. Just look at what you’ve done to my room! How am I ever to sleep now?” I threw out my right arm pointing toward the horrific mess that was now my room.

  Dear God! My bed lay in ruins with plaster from the wall strung about, and how James was still breathing was a mystery. Oh, my. He might not be breathing for long. I glanced toward the extremely loud growl coming from my right.

  Eric was growling menacingly, holding James by his throat; his feet were dangling midair. If I wasn’t so pissed about my room being destroyed, I might have had a chuckle at that.

  “All right, all right. Eric, that’s enough. Don’t kill your brother. And Tobias, close your mouth. The three of you can stick around and clean up this mess while I take Tobias’s room.” I dared anyone to question me. “The key.” I raised a brow, holding out my hand toward Tobias.

  He swallowed, digging the key from his front pocket and then handed it to me. I glanced back toward the other two idiots. “Eric, drop your brother. You three have work to do.” I opened my door. “Tobias, grab my things and show me to your room.” I turned once more, giving each of them a warning glare after I heard a loud thud; it was James hitting the floor. “If any of you dare enter my chamber while I’m sleeping, I will not hesitate to run you through with my sword. I hope I’ve made myself perfectly clear.” Continuing to glare, the boys visibly shuddered. I smiled and then walked down the corridor toward Tobias’s room, feeling much better, I might add.

  When he opened the door and set down my things, I thanked him. “You may leave now. Nice chat.” Then I slammed the door in his dhampir face.

  Tobias may have been innocent today, but I was sick of them all. I needed to sleep and then rescue my sister. If I could’ve left their arrogant arses and gone to the castle on my own, I would have.

  I slept like a baby and woke to the sun shining in my face. This time I didn’t mind so much because I knew today was the day I would finally see my sister. I missed Lucy with every passing minute. Dealing with the idiot dhampir brothers did help pass the time but I wanted my sister back.

  A knock at the door sounded and I bristled. It had better not be one of them. I was not ready to see the brothers just yet.


  “Princess, it’s Bertha. Would you care for coffee and a bite to eat?”

  God love her. I giggled a bit before I answered. Bertha. I couldn’t help myself. “Why yes, that would be wonderful. Thank you.” I sat up in bed, relieved and so thankful. I wondered how she knew I was in Tobias’s room. Oh, my! I hoped she didn’t think—I was in a brothel. It honestly didn’t matter.

  Bertha walked in looking stunning, wearing a long fitted blue dress, showcasing her breasts—I had to look away—and her hair was done up perfectly. She carried my tray and set it on the bedside table next to me.

  “Here you are, Princess. I hear your companions had quite a night.” She winked and then handed me a cup of coffee.

  “I do apologise for their behaviour. They’re imbeciles. They will surely pay for the damage they’ve caused.” I then took a generous sip of coffee. Ah, it was heavenly.

  “Think nothing of it.” She waved her hand in dismissal. “Listening to you put them in their respectful places is payment enough. I laughed my arse off,” she said. “We get worse than those boys around here. You’re one tough princess. I like your style.”

  Well, that was a mighty fine compliment indeed.

  I smiled after taking another sip of coffee. “Thank you, Bertha. But you must allow us to pay for the damages. I simply won’t hear otherwise.”

  By us, I meant, them.

  She nodded. “If you must but it’s been a pleasure, Princess.”

  “Good day, Bertha.” She turned to walk out of the room. “Oh, do you mind asking my companions to meet me downstairs in about an hour?”

  She nodded. “Yes, my lady.”

  “Please, call me Catherine.” I smiled and then she closed the door behind her.

  I tucked into my breakfast and polished it off within minutes. After not eating properly in days, my stomach was happy to have a homecooked meal. It was delightful.