Take On Me (Cursed Kin Series Book 3)

by Kyla Riley

  “Oh.” His crestfallen expression made her laugh in delight. He was so easy to tease and was such a wonderful person, it was hard not to enjoy herself in his company. She winked at him saucily and smiled.

  “Good thing that isn’t me, right? Now, shut your eyes. I need to remove the IV and disconnect your bag. Keep them shut until I tell you it’s safe, okay?”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  Vanessa got up and winced as she had to tug her skirt downwards again. It was a short, tiny dress that she’d always loved, and Russ had always hated it. She wanted to wow Fiacha and simply give a dig to the man that she’d left behind. This was her life starting out anew and it felt great.

  She gently pulled the needle from his arm and covered it quickly with a cotton ball and bandage. Taking the needle to the kitchen, as well as the empty bag… she looked around. There was no place to dispose of either. The other two empty bags were sitting unceremoniously in the kitchen sink waiting for disposal as well. She would need to dig out a black trash bag so he couldn’t see through it.

  “I’m almost done,” she called out in a sing-song voice and opened the pantry. Laughing, she saw it was very nearly empty except for a few boxes of Trix cereal, bags of popcorn and trash bags. Thankfully they were the heavy-duty kind and would hide any traces of blood. The needle she would have to dispose of differently.

  “What’s so funny? Can I open my eyes?”

  “Not yet. I was laughing at the contents of your pantry. You don’t seem like a Trix-kinda-guy.” Glancing over her shoulder, she stopped immediately and shoved the empty blood bags into the black bag she held.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I have a theory too. Since we are being adventurous and trying to prevent me from passing out, I want to try something too.”

  “What?”

  “No, it’s more of a show- not tell- kind of thing.”

  “What do you want to show me – be careful! The needle is on the counter right next to you,” she ordered and quickly put a paper towel over the needle to hide it from sight.

  “Now, open your eyes. I think everything is taken care of. How are you feeling?”

  “Truthfully? I feel terrific.”

  “That’s great. This means if it works we can do this again for you,” she started and caught the glint in his eyes. There were no words between them, and no need. Fiacha wanted her and she’d not felt such longing from another person since that day at the bar. She had never forgotten how he’d felt, nor her body’s response to him. She still dreamt of him almost nightly and clung to those memories. Now, there was a silent invitation in his sexy smile.

  As if pulled to him, Vanessa immediately stepped into his arms willingly. His lips took hers gently and she savored the tenderness he exhibited towards her.

  “Fiacha,” she whispered softly, feeling his fangs.

  “I will be very careful of your delicate lips. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “I want to taste you in every way possible,” he breathed, hesitating ever so slightly. “I want to kiss you, taste every inch of your body under that dress and see if you can keep my mind occupied enough for me to taste you. If you say no, it’s oka…”

  “Just keep your eyes shut,” she ordered fiercely. Vanessa threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, heedless of his fangs. His hands were everywhere and her dress whispered down her body in a way that made her moan aloud with pleasure as it cascaded against her skin.

  “Shite, I wish I could see ya, lass,” he said tightly. “Ye were so lovely and I think about ye all the time.”

  Vanessa hurriedly licked her lips just in case there was any scratches or marks. Wiping her hand with her mouth, she smiled excitedly. Her body was thrumming with the idea that he was going to touch her and please her again like before.

  “Open your eyes, Fiacha. Which way is your bedroom?”

  As he opened his eyes, she saw him focus on her immediately. Her dress had been backless, so she’d gone without a bra. Due to the cut of the fabric, she’d worn the skimpiest pair of underwear she owned and was grateful for the way it molded her body. His eyes blazed with desire and she could see the outline of his body pressing against the material of his pants. He scooped her up immediately and carried her into the last bedroom on the right. Taking a deep breath, Vanessa smelled that woodsy pine scent of his cologne on the air around her, making her shiver with delight.

  “Are you cold?”

  “Not in the slightest.”

  “Are you afraid of me?”

  “Not in the slightest,” she repeated lovingly, lacing her fingers with his.

  “I want to…” he began in a soft voice and she smiled, putting one finger on his lips tenderly. Her other hand pulled his to her face, releasing it so he could touch her jawline.

  “Show me instead. Make me feel beautiful again, Fiacha.”

  “Ah lass, yer fair bonnie and nonna compare te ya.”

  “Huh?”

  Immediately he picked her up and lay her down tenderly on the bed. His hands were everywhere, touching and teasing her body. His lips grazed her skin as he murmured in a thick voice the things he needed to say. She could barely understand him.

  “My heart is fair a flichertrin’ right aboot now. There’s nothing more than I want ta do than smourch that sweet body and coorie in your sweetness,” Fiacha breathed brokenly.

  His whispers against the inside of her thighs caused her to shiver in delight. She didn’t know what the heck he said, nor did she care the moment his tongue touched her intimately. Her body sang with pleasure as he devoured her, his mouth doing things to her that she’d only dreamt of. He hiked up one of her legs and placed it on his shoulder. That smoldering look of heat he gave her as he looked at her on the bed told her that she’d made the right decision. This needed to happen – for both of them.

  Vanessa nodded silently, unable to speak. Fiacha slowly slid himself into her as if he was also savoring the connection between them. It was like invisible ties were being wound between them both. She couldn’t imagine doing this with anyone else. This was like glimpsing what paradise was like and she’d found it in this sweet man’s arms. He leaned down gently and kissed her tenderly.

  “I want ta taste ye er’rawhere, lass.”

  And then he began to move.

  Vanessa was lost in the sensation of their bodies moving in unison. He was pushing deeper and deeper inside of her- and she was straining to meet him for each thrust. Her heart was pounding and her body was arching off the bed against his chest. His lips broke the kiss as he began to pump furiously into her. She could feel his chest trembling against her hand, a mixture of pleasure and his heartbeat.

  “Yer mine forever, lass,” she heard him whisper mindlessly and felt a hot sensation against her neck. His lips were locked onto her skin and she heard his moan of pleasure ripping deep from within him, sending a thrill right through her. Her hands grasped at his lower back, pulling him closer – needing more. She was so close to coming and could feel it just ahead. Suddenly, her body convulsed on its own, drawing a scream of ecstasy as she came around him. She felt his own satisfaction as he pulsed inside of her, unleashing the pent-up desire between them.

  “Canna I see ye again tomorrow, Vanessa?”

  “Me or the I.V. bags?”

  “Always you, lass… but it wouldna hurt to bring a wee baggie or two,” Fiacha said tenderly, kissing her gently. She hoped this bliss that she felt in his arms was endless and that he never tired of her – or this. After meeting him, talking with him and discovering just who Fiacha Cael was – she now knew what love was.

  And she was head over heels.

  10

  December 2017

  Christmas Eve celebrations with Fiacha were magical and it felt like Vanessa was coming alive for the first time ever. Everything seemed so wonderful, so bright and crisp… so invigorating. The holiday smells were more inviting, the movies and songs that flooded the media touched her in a way she’d never f
elt. She understood what love was – even if she kept it to herself.

  There was a fear that lived deep inside of her and had taken root. She was afraid that perhaps there was more to what Fiacha had told her to him being a vampire. Maybe he was only using her to be at full strength since he had issues feeding elsewhere…and that opened another topic! She wasn’t thrilled with the idea of him trying to feed on other men or women to keep her safe and blood had been hard to come by if she wasn’t taking it from the blood bank.

  Several nights ago, while they’d been making love, she’d grown faint and had to physically push him away. She’d felt true panic for the first time ever with him. His body was pinning her down and she was weakened by the amount of blood he’d taken.

  “Fiacha…wait.” When there was no response, only a sensual moan that would have normally made her weep with happiness – instead, it made her instantly wary.

  “You have to stop. I’m lightheaded,” she’d explained, and was dismayed that he hadn’t moved his lips from her throat yet. His body was slowly sliding in and out of her, his shoulders taut with tension as he held back his own pleasure. That was one thing she loved and adored about him, he always seemed to wait until she found her own release before letting go. And that was not going to happen if she passed out or died.

  “Fiacha!” she yelped and grabbed a fistful of his hair, yanking him from her neck. She felt his incisors tear her skin and the sting that it caused. The instant look of surprise on his face was almost comical. He glanced down at her and she saw the bloody fangs as well as the look of horror before he passed out cold, slamming his limp body into hers.

  The sudden shock of his forehead making contact with hers nearly knocked her out. Suddenly infused with anger, frustration, and fear – she was able to roll him off of her onto the empty bed next to them. She staggered to her feet and felt the room spin before getting down on all fours and crawling to the bathroom safely. She knew she was bleeding and was heedless of where it dropped onto the wooden flooring. She’d clean it up later.

  Getting to her feet, she glanced in the mirror and saw the large knot on her eyebrow that was swelling from the impact, but what caught her attention was her throat. Two deep gashes were bleeding easily and there were drops falling onto her breast and the sink she stood over. Grabbing a washcloth, she quickly wet it down and put pressure on her neck in an effort to stop the bleeding.

  Her vision was getting dark along the edges and she knew she was in jeopardy of passing out. She couldn’t afford to bleed out on the floor because then he’d never be able to go for help. She needed to stop the flow herself or call for help. Holding the pressure on her throat, she stumbled back into the room quickly, then she flopped down on the bed and closed her eyes.

  “If you wake up before me,” she whispered aloud to Fiacha’s prone form. “Just land next to me when you see the mess we’ve made. Okay?”

  * * *

  Fiacha lay there for a few moments just breathing in a daze. There was something so wonderful and memorizing about Vanessa. She was wonderful, caring, and witty beyond belief. Everything she did was with meticulous precision and grace. He’d never met a more beautiful individual on the inside- and outside.

  He loved her.

  Smiling, he lay there holding her sleeping hand and almost laughed aloud at the stupid grin he was sure was plastered all over his face. She was selfless and gave to the point… wait. Fiacha scented the air as his memory hit him. He could smell the heavy scent of blood.

  They had been making love and she’d asked him to stop drinking from her repeatedly. He’d been lost in the emotion he felt, the warmth of her body and the sweetness of her blood on his tongue. It had been almost a mindless melding of their two bodies and he didn’t want it to end… so he’d ignored her. He had actually listened to that little insidious voice in the back of his mind and ignored the woman he loved!

  “Oh shite,” he breathed in a near panic, knowing if he opened his eyes and there was blood everywhere or if he’d harmed her – he would simply pass out again.

  “Vanessa?”

  Silence.

  Sheer, horrifying silence.

  She was either gone, out cold, or dead. Fiacha swallowed hard at the coldness he felt in his soul at the idea that he might have taken her life. He now understood the anger, betrayal and desperation Conn had felt. He remembered the pain in his brother’s eyes thinking that Fiacha failed him, and now he’d done it to his own beloved woman.

  He’d failed Vanessa.

  Taking a deep breath, he winced at the pain he felt on his forehead and gingerly touched the knot that was there. Had she clubbed him in anger? He wouldn’t blame her in the slightest. No, he’d passed out and potentially knocked her out cold. Maybe that was what was wrong? Deep down he felt otherwise; her sweet hand was limp in his.

  “Shite! Shite! Shite! Vanessa, I am going to open my eyes and if you are awake, could ya warn me? I can smell the blood and I know it’s there…” Fiacha trailed off hearing no response. “Ach no, sweetheart… you have ta be okay.”

  He took several deep breaths and slowly opened his eyes as he looked down at her. Her skin was extremely pale and she looked like she was asleep with a wet pink washrag at her neck. Only the towels he had were white… not pink. She was bleeding still and he began to pant in an effort to stay conscious.

  “No. I’ve got this. I can do this for her,” he muttered over and over again. Feeling her exposed side of her throat, he felt her faint pulse and let out his breath and a whoosh of relief. She was alive! Lifting up the rag slightly, he felt the room spin as he saw what his fangs had done to her. Two large gashes still bled onto the rag. He quickly put it back down and immediately shut his eyes, gasping.

  “I’m fine. I’m okay. Imfineimmaokayimfineimmaokayomgoshwhathave…”

  Opening his eyes again, he steadied himself and felt panic bubbling up. She was so fragile looking and so pale. He’d done this to her in a moment of passion when she was most vulnerable. What could he do?

  And then it hit him.

  Conn had savagely attacked Daphne when his own blood lust had overwhelmed him. Brion had told Conn to give Daphne his blood and plenty of it in order to save her life. Last he heard via text was that Daphne was doing well and they were planning on getting married this summer. The memory of Conn’s wrist being held to Daphne’s mouth gave him an idea and a glimmer of hope.

  Laying down beside her still frame, he pulled her against him. He thought about closing his eyes, biting his wrist and letting her drink… but part of him was afraid that she was too far gone to do so. What if she rejected him? He couldn’t think about that. He had to be strong for Vanessa.

  “Icandothisicandothis…thisisforherthisisforherthisisfor…” Fiacha muttered the litany as a prayer and then bit into his wrist, wincing at the fresh smell so close to his nose. Immediately he thrust it away from his face and put his wrist to her cold lips. He could see the droplets falling into her mouth and on her lips. He felt frightened to his core for the first time ever. What if this didn’t work on her?

  “C’mon mo chroi, my very heart…” he breathed softly. “You have to be okay for me… for us. I need ye, lass.”

  11

  Vanessa woke up aching and dazed. There was a tangy metallic taste in her mouth and something pressing against her lips. Warm lips pressed against her temple and she felt his body against hers. Fiacha was there.

  He’d passed out.

  She’d passed out.

  He’d taken too much from her and was careless with her life, but was now cuddling against her? Opening her eyes slowly, she realized his wrist was lying against her lips. Why? What was that strange taste in her mouth?

  Blood?

  “What are you doing?” she blurted out and yanked his wrist away, struggling with the weight of his arm. She was still extremely weak but feeling better. Vanessa leaped (well, she thought she did) from the bed and had her knees collapse under her, landing in a pile on the floor. P
icking herself up slowly, she looked at him in disbelief.

  “You gave me your blood?”

  “Of course, I did,” he retorted, sounding surprised that she was even asking the question. “I couldn’t leave you lying there like that. You’ll heal with it.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “I know a person that healed from it.”

  “We’ve never talked about doing something like that or crossing that line,” she breathed, feeling shock and betrayal wash over her. He’d made such sweet love to her and then carelessly put her in jeopardy… and to make up for it- he gave her his blood. What if she got sick or got some disease? Shouldn’t he have told her or warned her that he could lose control?

  “You should have asked me.”

  “Well, begging your pardon, but you were in no condition to answer.”

  “Because you lost control and wouldn’t stop!” she retorted and yanked her clothing off of the chair near where she was. Holding it against her, hiding her body, she got up and headed towards the bathroom.

  “Where are you going?”

  “Home.”

  “You are home.”

  “No, this is your home where you are comfortable doing whatever you want. I am going to my home where I have freedom, safety, and security.”

  “Vanessa, don’t be like this…”

  “Be like what?” she snapped suddenly. “Independent? Strong enough to stand up for myself? I’m not looking for someone to take on me and my issues, but I never thought you would take a decision from me or take advantage of me while I was down.”

  “I only wanted to keep you safe.”

  “Me too, Fiacha… me too,” she said sadly and shut the bathroom door, locking it. She tuned out his words as he knocked on the door, and dressed slowly. Glancing in the mirror, she saw that she looked like hell. Her forehead had a large knot on it and its proximity to her eye… she was sure to have a shiner in the morning.