The Blood Covenant: Book One of The Medici Warrior Series

by Emily Bex

  He can feel her awaken to his touch, but he knows she is still in dream-land. He lets his tongue caress her sex, and he inhales the scent of her sweet honey, as he flicks his tongue inside her, tasting her as she moves and wiggles her hips. Increasing her sexual desire will heighten her hunger and she will feed deeply, which is what he needs her to do. He has held back making love to her since they learned of the pregnancy. He feels unsure, does not want to hurt her, or the baby, but his need for her is great. Sliding his hands up her inner thighs, he buries his face between her legs, sliding his tongue softly up and down her sex, flicking and sucking her clit, she is so wet and sweet it is driving him wild. This woman takes him to levels of need he has never felt, and he is never letting her go.

  ***

  From deep in her sleep, she finds herself in the midst of an erotic dream. She feels his hands on her thighs, between her legs. She feels his lips leaving soft kisses in a trail along her thighs as his tongue seeks out her sex and her body responds. Is this a dream? Her hands grip the sheets beneath her, and her head is thrown back on the pillow as a moan escapes her lips. She feels herself rising slowly from sleep, but the delicious sensations are more intense, not less. Not a dream...not a dream... As she surfaces into wakefulness and realizes it is Shade who lies between her legs, very much alive and in the flesh. Not a dream.

  She reaches down and runs her fingers through his tangled curls as she feels his tongue probing. The heat, the ache, the need, the desire to have him overwhelms. “Lover,” she whispers to him. He has not been with her for days, and she knows his worry, but her body screams out for him.

  “Lover, please.”

  Her moans are louder, her body wetter, and the movements of her hips tell him all he needs to know. Hearing her plea, he lifts his head from between her legs, her hand still tangled in his sleep mussed hair.

  “I wish to please, si? What is it you wish for?”

  “What I wish for, you will deny me. I wish to feel you deep inside me, to have you cum inside me while I cling to you, legs wrapped around you. That is what I wish for.”

  “I...can’t... I...,” closing his eyes, he could never deny her a thing, and even now, he can’t deny her. Sliding up on his knees, he runs his hands up both sides of her body, as he slowly pushes his cock inside her, and feels her hips lift to take him deeper. Grabbing her hair, he looks deep into her eyes.

  “No, mi amore, let me control the movements. If I hurt you, it will kill me.”

  ***

  Leaning down, he kisses her hard and passionately, and moves his hips slowly, bringing pleasure to both of them. As her body takes over, she can’t restrain her hips from moving, trying to take him deeper, and he has to be the one to control and pull back, but she pushes hard against him to take him deeper.

  He feels the tension in her body and knows she is close to release and fighting to pull him deep and hard, but he is not letting her, and he can feel her frustration and need. It is time for a distraction. Cupping the back of her head, he pulls her to his neck and whispers to her.

  “Stop trying so hard, feed, let the sensations take you away, give it up to me and feed our bambino and yourself... Please, bel.”

  ***

  Her body screams with the pleasure of him, feeling his cock penetrate her, stroke her. His mouth covers hers, and she inhales him. She has missed him so. She wants more of him, all of him, but she feels his hesitation. She feels him slide his hand behind her head and lift her gently to his neck. She has not fed from him in more than a week, and her body has been calling out for his blood for days, but they have been at such odds.

  Feeling his neck against her lips brings a desire that is beyond any resistance, and she bites hard into his skin, and draws hard, pulling his blood into her mouth. As soon as his blood touches her tongue, she feels that explosion of heat between her legs as she locks her legs around him, pulling him to her. She moans into his neck as she feels his body respond, feels his cock throbbing inside of her. Her hips thrust at him, her sex pulls at him, and she feels him trying to resist penetrating her completely. But her body wants what it wants, and she does not make this easy, as one hand claws at his back, while the other grips his hair so she can hold his neck firmly to her lips. More, more blood, and she feels the orgasm wash over her, like a forest fire burning out of control. Despite her desire to drink more, her lips break away from him and her head is thrown back as she cries out with the intensity of the pleasure his body brings to hers.

  His mouth covers hers once again as she feels him explode inside her, and his own cries of pleasure drown out hers. She buries her face in his neck once again, and drinks slowly now, as her heartbeat returns to normal, and his ragged breathing slows.

  ***

  As she cums so violently, it makes Shade’s heart race and her feeding from him is the ultimate for any vampire. It is the most erotic of sensual feelings and he cums inside her, finally getting the release that has had him tangled for days. She is all he ever needs to make everything right in his world.

  As she returns to his neck, he lets her feed and holds her softly. She is starved… This is the first time she has fed in so long, and he knows the baby is taking his own share. She will feed more and more each time. He gently pulls away from her and rolls to his back, drawing her to his chest. He lets his hands trail down her back, comforting her.

  “Bel, are you all right, do you have any pain? The bambino?”

  “Of course I am all right. You worry far too much. Pregnant women have sex all the time. In fact, I think I read they are even hornier, so you better get used to it.” She giggles at him.

  “You are making that up!” He chuckles softly, “Are you teasing your savage lover? Damn it, bel, you mean I have been torturing my body when all this time I could have just taken you?” Sitting up to look at her, his eyes are serious, “Are you teasing me?”

  “Torturing your body? What about mine? And yes, you could have just taken me, and no, I'm not teasing when I say pregnant women are hornier, it has something to do with their hormone balance. So, do you think you can stop treating me like a china doll on a shelf?”

  “Hornier? Like more? Cazzo! I think you will be pregnant all the time now.” He flops back on the bed. He can’t believe it. He’s not hurting her? He needs a book, something, a guide? “I don’t know shit about this! Not something I ever dealt with. And no, you are not allowed to do anything strenuous. Those are my rules. And you will listen, si?”

  “Define strenuous, because our lovemaking seems pretty strenuous to me.”

  “Oh no, no, no! You tell me one minute you will be hornier, then you think it is strenuous? If you don’t behave... ” Rolling her over on her back, he lay on top of her, keeping his weight on his elbows, taking her face in his hands, he looks in her eyes.

  “Ti amo, mi amore. Tell me we are going to be okay, all of us.”

  ***

  She is laughing but she knows he is serious in his concern, but really, he is so Eighteenth Century. As he rolls on top of her, she relishes in the feel of him, his weight on her, his hands on her face, and the soothing sound of his voice.

  “Of course we will be okay. We will all be okay.”

  “Si!”

  ***

  Kissing her gently, he lets his hands slide into her hair, as he intensifies the kiss, rolling his tongue inside her warm mouth, sucking her lip into his mouth, he wants her blood. This will kill him, surely. He wants all of her, not just some of her and he doesn’t know how long he can handle feeding from Luca, when all he wants is her. Clearing his mind of those thoughts, he moans against her lips. He could kiss her forever, and still, it would never be enough.

  “Did I happen to mention that I love you this night?”

  He covers her in a barrage of kisses, one after the other. She loves his kisses. She loves the taste of him.

  “I think you may have mentioned it, once or twice, but tell me again. Tell me every day, because I never get tired of hearing it, si?”


  He smiles at her. “You know I love when you mimic me. And you, my minx, I never get tired of that mouth. It brings me so much pleasure.” Laughing wickedly, he kisses her again. “We must get up soon. I do have some things to attend to. What are your plans?”

  “My plans? Oh, well, I guess my plans are spoiled, because I had planned to keep you busy in bed, but if you must get up, then I guess I will finish up in the nursery.”

  He throws back his head laughing, “Keeping me in bed, si? Now you know,” smacking her ass lightly, “I would rather cancel what I have to do and stick to your plan, but I have things to attend to. But the nursery? Show me, please? I want to see what you have done.”

  ***

  She climbs out of bed and slips back into her clothes. “Lover, I guess this means...for the next several months, it is Luca you will seek out to feed from? I know why it has to be. But maybe you could have a schedule, something so I don't have to be here?”

  Lowering his head, he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “I have no choice, mi amore, I need blood. My alternative is a feeder, and I will not do that. It will have to be Luca. I push out my feedings as long as possible, and I will be discreet. I know you don’t want details, but you must know, because I want you to understand. This is not something I wish to do, but I would be lost without Luca. He offered, it was not a command to him from me. I had not actually thought of it, but without him, you would have a female feeder living with us throughout, to feed me at my command.”

  “Shade, no. I am not judging. I understand your need, and I appreciate Luca's offer because, quite frankly, if your only option was to have a female feeder, there would be no babies. I can't even bear the thought of it. I chose Luca, you know I chose Luca. But that does not mean it is easy when I can hear the sounds of pleasure from both of you, sharing something so intimate that was meant for us. There will be no female feeders in this house. Not now, not ever! And those are my rules.”

  As her voice rises, her fiery temper is as red as that damn hair of hers and damn, but it gets him hot. He loves her like this. She may be small, but she is one damn power house when she is jealous. Getting down on one knee, he lowers his head in honor to her.

  “My queen has spoken, and I shall abide by her ruling. But as a subject of my lady, may I have one small request?”

  She bites her lip to keep from smiling, “You know, my loyal subject, your queen can deny you nothing, unless it's for a feeder, in which case, you better get off your knees and start running.”

  ***

  Lifting his head slowly, he rolls his eyes to her and throws back his head, laughing until his sides hurt.

  “Damn, you are a little firecracker when you get jealous, and I like it, si!” Reaching up, he pulls her onto his knee, and gets serious. “Mi amore, please do not judge, nor take this out on Luca. Treat him no different, he will feel bad enough. Be kind and gentle with him, he does us both a great service and honor. I love you. No other. Luca has been raised as was I, to be in a brotherhood, to take care of our own. In our culture, this arrangement is not odd or unusual, but creates a stronger bond between us. He adores you, do not ruin that by looking at him any differently, I ask this of you please.”

  “I don't judge him at all. I appreciate his willingness to do this. I would not dream of treating him differently. His choice, his decision to offer himself to you has spared me the agony of you being with a feeder. And for that, I will be forever grateful. Because ...,” she shakes her head, “if a feeder ever walked into this house, my reaction to her will put your beast to shame, and that's a promise.”

  Kissing her cheek and smiling, “What did I ever do to deserve such a beautiful heart? Now get your ass up and show me this nursery. I have things to do, woman!”

  “Come with me then, lover. The room is not finished, but I have done a lot with Luca's help. You will get the general idea. I am thinking, since you said Theresa was also trained as a nanny, I would make a place for her to sleep in that room as well, at least while he is still a baby.”

  ***

  She leads him to the room, decorated in red and white checks, and a nanny’s bed in an alcove. He admires the work she has done, as he takes her by the hand. There is more she needs to know now, about when the baby is born.

  “Kate. Sit here beside me.” He takes a seat on the nanny’s bed and holds his hand out to her. “There are things to discuss about this bambino.”

  She sits beside him. His tone is serious now and she looks at him with a creased brow. “Is everything all right?”

  “Si, everything is as it should be. Had you been immortal when our baby was born, I would understand clearly our baby’s needs. But this baby, half-mortal, half-vampire. There are things I do not know. An immortal pregnancy is only six months. I don’t know if that still holds true for you. The specialist will know. He will drink blood. But like Cory, he will consume human food. We may not know the answers to all the questions until he is here. But as part vampire, he will need blood. Initially, he feeds from you, but his body grows fast, si? Like all babies, and his needs are great. I feed from you as well, and your body will not sustain both of us. Infant vampires feed from their nannies. So, there will come a point, very quickly, that Theresa will feed our child.”

  ***

  Kate stands up and paces in the room. She loves Theresa, she has no reservations about Theresa feeding her child. But she envisioned feeding her own children. She understands what he is saying, that he must feed from her as well. She comprehends the logic of it. She is just wrestling with the emotions of it. He watches her response, and gauges when he can tell her the rest.

  “You understand, mi amore?”

  “I understand, lover.”

  “Si. There is more. Come sit with me, please.” She looks at him, and then walks to the bed, sitting down next to him as he takes both of her hands and holds them firmly. “Theresa can only sustain him for so long. The bambino will feed for a lifetime. Unlike an adult vampire, the bambino will not feel a sexual bond to his feeder. That does not happen until the bambino grows to be a young man or woman, around eighteen to twenty years. Until then, the feeding is just feeding, you understand, si?”

  Kate is trying to pull her hands free, but he holds her in a firm grip.

  “You must listen, Kate. Listen with an open heart. There are feeders that are bred for this purpose and this purpose alone. They are assigned to an infant at birth and remain until the vampire reaches his or her puberty at eighteen or twenty. They are pure of blood and serve that one bambino only. They are young themselves, virginal, and remain so through the duration of their service. They are called wet-feeders, like a wet-nurse in your mortal world. Once their ward reaches puberty, they can choose to remain as a wet-feeder, or they can be freed from this servitude and pursue another station in life. Each child will have their own wet-feeder. Kate, hear me please, if we have more than one child, you could not feed them all, Theresa could not feed them all, do you understand? It also helps the vampire to develop independence. To be able to survive should something happen to either of us. It insures the survival of our species.”

  She breaks the hold of his hands gripping hers and pulls away from him. She needs to process, she feels betrayed, angry.

  “Kate, you have only one experience of feeding. I ask that you talk to Theresa. She has fed bambinos before. She can explain to you, from a woman’s perspective, the difference. Do not judge the wet-feeders yet. Talk to Theresa. And your bambinos, they will still come to you. Even with their own wet-feeder, they will still seek you out, seek out your blood. They will need to reaffirm their bond to you, feel their connection to you. They will do that until they reach puberty and become adult vampires. Bel, tell me you understand. Tell me you can do this.”

  She stands with her back to him, looking out the window at the rolling hills, the vineyards in the distance. Oddly enough, she does understand. But it still breaks her heart. She knows how much Shade feeds from her. She knows sh
e could not sustain feeding both of them. And if they have more children, and they all feed until they are twenty... Welcome to the world of vampires, Kate.

  “I can do this, lover.”

  65

  Heading down to the bunker, Shade sees Luca is already busy. Closing and locking the inner door behind him, Luca looks up at him to see the confused look on his face.

  “I wasn’t expecting to see you here, master. Is something wrong with my lady?”

  Shade frowns at him, “No, Luca, why would anything be wrong with bel? I just needed to come down here and clean up some, uh, weapons I used the other night. Everything is fine.”

  ***

  Luca watches him, and he isn’t fooled. Everything may be fine between them, but something is still bothering Shade, or he wouldn’t be down here with him when he could be with her.

  “The feeding, she understands I only wanted to help the situation, right?”

  “Luca, what you did last night was good. Sometimes, mortals get this image inside their heads, when they don’t know facts, or how things operate in our world. Bel is worse, I think.” He smiles and gives Luca a slap on the back.

  “I know I’m still new here, master, and this is new to her. I know no other life, no other reality, so it is hard to understand a mortal’s jealousy, but I try to see it through her eyes.”

  ***