by Jasmine Hill
She shook her head. “I can’t believe you’re so blasé about this!”
“I can’t do anything about it, Bree. The only thing I can do is live my life differently.” He grasped her shoulders and gave her a penetrating look. He needed her to understand how important it was to take his blood. “We’re wasting time. You won’t survive unless you do this.”
She bit her lip. “Will it be like before? Like when you drank from me?”
“It will be very similar, yes.” Just talking about it had him growing solid. There was nothing more intimate than sharing one’s life force with another. He tugged his tie from around her waist. “I’ll make it pleasurable for you,” he murmured, lifting his shirt up and over her head. Her nipples pebbled in the cool air and he groaned in appreciation. He loved her breasts. They were plump and perky, their nipples rosy and taut. “Scoot up the bed and lie down,” he instructed, his voice tight with need. “Open your legs and leave the shoes on.”
She flopped her thighs open, exposing her wet pink sex to his hungry gaze. “Play with yourself for me,” he ordered. “I want to see your fingers on that sweet, sopping pussy.” He lowered his voice to a rhythmic tone. As much as he hated to do it to her, he needed her to relax, to focus on him and not on what she’d just witnessed.
She brought her hand up to her chest and circled an erect nipple. She closed her eyes and moaned lustily. The little bud extended farther, stretching tauter under her circling finger. She dropped her hand lower, sweeping her palm down her stomach and across her mons until she reached her pussy. He stared avidly as she pushed two fingers into her channel. Her back arched and she spread her thighs wider.
“That’s it, baby,” he grated. “Show me how you get yourself off.”
His cock thickened and lengthened, his balls filling to aching. The room filled with the sounds of her moans.
“Fuck, that’s hot,” he groaned. Lust coiled and tightened at the base of his spine and his shaft throbbed painfully.
She pumped her hips and worked her fingers faster, thrusting two, then three, deeply in and out of her soaking channel.
Her whimpers and moans grew choppy, her breathing erratic, telling him she was close.
He undressed quickly, toeing off his shoes and socks and ripping the rest of his clothes from his body. Just watching her pleasuring herself nearly had him climaxing. His cock leaked precum and he gripped it hard, squeezing his tip to curb his pleasure. It was ridiculous. He was acting like a horny teenager, but something about Bree did that to him. She was a sight to behold, writhing and gasping. She was so wet and turned on, her inner thighs glistening with her juices.
“Come for me,” he instructed, his voice hoarse.
She rubbed her clit and arched off the bed, her mouth opening on a silent cry. She tensed, flattened her feet on the mattress and thrust her hips up, drawing out her orgasm.
It was too much. He needed to be inside her. He needed to feel her pussy clench around him as she sucked his blood.
He climbed onto the bed and pushed her thighs farther apart. She gazed up at him, her eyes slumberous from her climax. He grasped his cock, lined it up with her center and thrust hard to the hilt, bottoming out in her. They groaned in unison then she tensed under him. He stilled, allowing her body to become accustomed to his size. She was well lubricated and ready, but she needed to stretch for him. She gripped him like a fist. It was almost painful, she was so tight. Slowly she relaxed around him and he started to move.
Bree opened her legs wider and gripped Vincent’s shoulders. He drew back then thrust in hard, setting up a punishing rhythm. Her clit rubbed against his lower abs on each inward stroke and she ground against him, desperate for more friction. Pleasure bloomed deep inside and she whimpered.
He raised himself on one arm, his eyes burning a brilliant scarlet. She inhaled as his fangs extended and he bit into his wrist, the wound oozing deep red blood.
“Drink,” he murmured and dropped his wrist to her mouth, smearing his blood over her lips.
She recoiled at the monstrous notion, but even as her stomach revolted, the scent of his blood permeated her senses. Her mouth watered for a taste of it, and she latched on to his wrist and began to suck.
Vincent grunted and pumped his hips, driving into her in long, languid strokes, his solid cock pushing through her tight tissues and dragging over her sensitive nerve endings to trigger her arousal again.
She sucked harder, relishing his blood flowing down her throat. It was like nothing she’d ever tasted—spicy, almost peppery in flavor and so intense. She felt it flowing through her veins to mingle with her own weaker version. She couldn’t get enough of it. She grasped his wrist and pushed it harder against her mouth, drinking in as much as she could. Snippets of his memories invaded her consciousness, similar to when he’d drunk her blood. A new strength flowed through her body, powerful and penetrating.
“That’s it. Drink from me,” he murmured, thrusting harder and deeper and grinding his hips into hers.
Ecstasy bloomed in her core and her pussy pulsed. She was close and still his memories swirled and coalesced in her mind like wisps of smoke as she took more of him into herself. His movements grew choppy and he growled, an animalistic sound that sent shivers rippling down her spine.
She released his wrist and threw her head back, throbbing and spasming with pleasure as wave after wave of erotic bliss washed through her, sending starbursts exploding behind her eyelids.
Vincent propelled his hips, jackknifing into her then throwing his head back and bellowing his release so loudly it rattled the glassware and left her ears ringing.
She lay back panting and heaving. Perspiration dotted her forehead, and her mouth and chin were smeared with Vincent’s blood. He gazed down at her and smoothed the hair from her face. She licked her lips and sighed, relishing the residual taste of his blood.
He growled, a low, appreciative purr that sent her pussy quivering all over again. She felt different, stronger and more vigorous, and her senses were enhanced. Her hearing was sharper, her eyesight more focused and precise.
“How do you feel?” he whispered.
She smiled. “I feel amazing!”
Chapter Eighteen
Vincent sighed in relief. He hadn’t been sure that she’d agree to drink his blood. It was a hard ask. That was what he admired about her—her strength and bravery. Nothing seemed to faze her for long and she’d definitely been thrust into an extreme set of circumstances.
“It will make you stronger,” he murmured. “And if anything happens, you’ll heal faster.”
He stood, stepped into a pair of jeans and strode over to a chest in the corner of the room. It was where he stored his weapons. He hadn’t had to use them in a long while, but he kept them well maintained and sharp. He unlocked it and withdrew a tungsten steel stake.
Bree clutched the sheet to her chest and sat up. “Is that what I think it is?”
He nodded. “This is one of the myths that happens to be true. One way to kill a vampire is a stake through the heart. But not just any stake. It has to be made from tungsten steel, which is the hardest steel in the world.” He held it up. “And it’s not an easy thing to do. It requires the sort of strength, speed and agility that most humans are incapable of. We need to leave here, but we’ll have to be well armed to do it.”
“Can’t we just sneak away? How will the others know what we have planned?”
“Trust me. They’ll know. They have familiars everywhere with the express purpose of spying.”
She frowned. “Aren’t they a witch’s sidekick?”
“Not necessarily. They’re demons that take various forms, often the form of an animal but not exclusively. They’re utilized by various supernatural beings for various reasons.”
“I saw something when I went for a walk yesterday. It looked like an animal. In the bushes.”
He nodded. “That would have been one of them. They’re everywhere, watching everything.”
> He brandished the stake and placed the tip over his heart. “This is where you need to aim for. You won’t have time to second-guess. You need to be quick and precise.”
“What about the familiars? Are they dangerous?”
“They can be. But they’re easier to kill. They’re lower on the demon food chain, therefore their immortality is precarious. You can use any weapon on them, but, again, you need to aim to kill. Chest, neck or head usually does the trick.”
She’d grown pale and was chewing her bottom lip furiously. “This is a lot to take in,” she finally murmured. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to do it. Kill something, I mean.”
He grabbed a black sweater from the back of a chair and shrugged into it. “You’ll be surprised what you’re capable of when your life is in danger…and I’m not suggesting you rip a cute bunny rabbit apart. These things are anything but cute. I don’t think you’ll have an issue when confronted by one of them, and you’ve already seen what the other vampires are capable of.” He started packing a variety of weapons into a backpack. “We need to go to your room and get you something sensible to wear.”
“I’ve lost my key.”
He handed her his white shirt. “We don’t need it. Do you think a little door would keep a vampire out?”
She slipped his shirt on. “What about Madison? We said we’d go and get her.”
He shoved a hand through his hair. He wasn’t sure he could keep both women safe. “After we get you into your room, I’ll go to hers. I’m not sure how much to tell her. It can put her in danger if she knows what I am. That’s why I was reluctant to tell you. You ready to go?”
Bree nodded and picked up her shoes. He swept her up into his arms. “You know the drill,” he murmured, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
At her door, he punched through the lock easily and set her on her feet inside the room.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can. Be careful and only take what you need.” He dropped the backpack at her feet. “Keep this close by.”
Bree rifled through her suitcase for a pair of jeans, a sweater and her sneakers. She dressed quickly and tied her hair in a tight topknot. She’d have to leave the rest of her things, but that was the least of her worries. Staying alive and being able to escape wherever they were, were uppermost in her mind. She checked her watch. Vincent had been gone for half an hour already. Surely it shouldn’t take that long to locate Madison, particularly at the speed with which he moved? She still couldn’t quite believe everything that had happened. If not for the unusual power running through her veins, she might have thought she was having some form of breakdown from reality. She stilled and listened, fascinated when the sounds of rustling leaves and insects burrowing reached her ears. Vincent had explained that her additional strength and the healing properties she had received from his blood would wear off eventually. It made her wonder what being a vampire would be like. Just feeling the marginal power she’d gotten from his blood was amazing.
She sat on the bed and examined the contents of the backpack. She took a penknife and tucked it into her bra, and hid a switchblade in one of her socks. She hefted one of the stakes, testing the weight. It wasn’t heavy, but holding it would slow her down. She slipped it into the waistband of her jeans and smoothed her sweater over it. It wasn’t noticeable unless one was looking for it.
Just when she’d decided to go and search for Vincent, he arrived at her door, but he was alone.
“Where’s Madison?”
He shrugged. “She wasn’t in her room.”
Bree gave him a narrow look. “And that’s it? You didn’t check anywhere else?”
“We can look for her as we leave. She could be anywhere.”
He didn’t say it, but he didn’t need to. She could be in that dreadful room right now, having the life sucked out of her. She didn’t know Madison well and had only just met her, but she felt responsible somehow to ensure that she didn’t become another statistic, as Vincent had so inelegantly put it.
She collected the backpack. “I’m ready.”
He grasped her hand and tugged her to him. He bent his head to hers and inhaled.
She arched an eyebrow. “Is there a problem?”
“Not at all.” He grinned. “You smell like me. Come.”
Chapter Nineteen
Bree followed in Vincent’s wake. They moved quickly and her recently acquired strength meant she could keep up with him relatively easily. They raced through corridors and down stairways in a seemingly never-ending maze of passages. It was when they reached the door that Bree stilled. She stopped dead in her tracks and backed up, the sight of the devil’s head leaving her in no doubt as to where they were.
“Why have we come back here?”
“To find your friend, of course. It’s possible that she’s inside at this very moment.”
Bree squeezed the handles of the backpack, taking assurance that she wasn’t without some protection. “How do we get her out?” she whispered, anxiety making her voice shake.
He didn’t answer but swung the door open. “Greetings, all,” he called out cheerily. “Look what I’ve brought us!”
Bree went to step back. To run. But he was faster—gripping her hand and dragging her inside the room.
It hadn’t changed much from the previous time she was there. The vampires were all in different stages of undress, as were the humans they were feasting on. It was a literal blood bath. Sprays of scarlet decorated the ceilings and walls, a macabre nod to the red roses and hearts used to celebrate Valentine’s day.
Too late, she realized her mistake. She’d been fooled by Dante again. He’d even dressed in exactly the same clothes as Vincent and styled his hair the same way. He confirmed her suspicions with his next words.
“My brother has allowed her to drink his blood. I can smell it on her. I think he plans to abscond with the pretty human. He wants to keep her all to himself.”
Augustus stepped forward. Blood coated his mouth and chin and dripped obscenely down his bare chest. She shivered but stood her ground. She’d only have one chance to cause a disturbance. Then she’d have to get the fuck out as quickly as possible.
Augustus clucked his tongue and grinned maliciously. “Well, well, has our Vincent gone and fallen for a human?” He raised a claw-like hand and scraped a long nail down her cheek. “You know we can’t let you leave here. It creates…complications for us. But it will be such a pity to destroy such beauty.” He cocked his head to the side. “She’d make an extraordinary vampire.”
Estelle leapt from her position on the couch and hissed. “Don’t you dare think about it. I’ll kill her first!”
Dante laughed and clapped his hands gleefully. “I do so love a cat fight, although I think this one would be a little one-sided.”
Bree wiped her palms on her jeans and slipped her right hand closer to her waistband. She stepped into Augustus and put her other hand on his shoulder, swallowing the bile that threatened to spill out of her throat. She could tell he was old. Very old. She supposed vampires at some point in their long immortality had to lose the essence of youth and, while he didn’t look ancient, his skin was pale, almost papery, and his eyes told his age. When not red, the irises looked almost as pale as his skin.
She caressed his shoulder. “When I drank Vincent’s blood, I felt strong. Just how much stronger would I feel if I got to taste yours? You look like a powerful vampire. Your potency drips from you.” She licked her lips suggestively.
His eyes flashed red and his fangs extended sharp and long over thin lips. “You are a wonder,” he murmured, his voice husky. “But I think I’d prefer to drink from you.”
Bree stilled and felt the assurance of the continued strength flowing through her body. She’d need every ounce of it to get out of the room alive. She gripped the stake with her right hand and dropped her head to the side. Augustus lowered his mouth to her neck, his fangs piercing her skin at the exact moment she struck. She pulled the stake free
from her waistband and forced it up beneath his rib cage, aiming straight for his heart. It pushed through muscle and tissue and she rammed it as far as it would go into the vampire’s chest.
Augustus screamed, a blood-curdling sound that ripped through her ear drums. She didn’t wait to see if her aim had hit its target, but whirled around and ran for the door. Behind her, bedlam erupted. Howls of anguish rent the air and a noxious smoke billowed around her head. She sprinted out of the door, her inhuman speed making her legs move at twice her normal pace. She had no idea where she was going, but she needed to find Vincent. That was the only thing in her mind. She sped up staircases and down winding passageways, sure that the vampires were right behind her. She felt them at her back, sensed their rage and fury at what she’d done. And even though she was strong, they were stronger. They’d catch up to her and tear her apart.
“You can’t run from us, bitch,” Estelle screeched from close behind her. “I’m going to rip your throat out!”
They were gaining on her fast. She’d never outrun them. Already her energy levels were depleting. She careened around a corner and sprinted down yet another corridor.
They had the added advantage of knowing where to go. They could cut her off ahead by taking some shortcut unknown to her. Her heart was hammering and her legs starting to burn. Even with Vincent’s blood in her veins, she was no match for the real thing. Her vision blurred as sweat dripped into her eyes and she was sure that it was only the adrenalin in her body keeping her going.
Footfalls sounded behind her, accompanied by high-pitched giggling. “Keep running, pretty human. We need the excitement of the chase. All this lazing about gorging on blood has made us sluggish.” Crazed laughter echoed around her. “We need a distraction.”
“When Estelle gets a hold of you, that beautiful face will be no more,” a voice snarled directly above her. Bree looked up, shocked to find a handsome blond vampire attached to the wall like a spider. He scurried across the ceiling with arachnid speed, so she was looking at his inverted face. His gold hair streamed down and his fangs gleamed with the blood of others. It was a vision out of a horror movie.
