First Sight [Diablo Falls]

by Stephanie West

  "We have an unexpected early arrival coming in tomorrow." Sonja turned to Tyr, dismissing her without as much as hello.

  "Who?" Tyr groaned

  "Montezuma, and he's bringing damn near half his clan." Sonja set down the bags she was carrying.

  “Montezuma? Not the Montezuma,” Gwen blurted.

  “Yes. Bloody sacrifices and all,” Tyr replied before continuing his conversation with Sonja.

  Wow, okay. Why shouldn’t a five-hundred-year-old Aztec ruler be a vampire?

  She quietly listened as Tyr and Sonja talked about the arriving guests and meeting, hoping to learn more. As they spoke, in walked the other man who had been with them at The Cellar.

  "What's on the agenda for…?" the Spaniard stopped midsentence and looked at her, but not like Sonja had. His expression sparked with interest. "Well, hello. Who do we have here?" He strode toward her.

  Gwen couldn't help but smile. The Spaniard was full of himself for sure, but he had this playful quality that made up for it. She got the distinct impression that he went after anything in a skirt, but not because he was lecherous, he just loved women. He took her hand and started to lift it to his lips. Tyr was by her side in an instant. He knocked the Spaniard halfway across the room, while snarling something incoherent. Her eyes widened in shock at how fast and aggressive Tyr was. It was a good thing the man didn’t have a firm grasp on her hand or she would’ve landed in a heap on the floor beside him. She understood why Tyr intervened, the vampire couldn’t be allowed a taste of her blood, but was it really necessary to be so violent?

  "Understood. She's off limits." The flirt bowed his head in deference.

  "This is Gwen. She is under my protection. Only you two and Ethan are to know she's here, and absolutely no biting!"

  "Got it. An honor to meet you. I'm Ruiz and that's Sonja."

  Well at least Ruiz has manners.

  "Ruiz, Sonja, I'd like to say it was nice to meet you, however, I'm not here of my free will so...uh, yeah, no." She nodded to them, smiling flatly.

  Both Sonja and Ruiz looked questioningly at Tyr.

  "She refuses to accept she's in danger," Tyr said as he shoved the shopping bags Sonja brought toward her.

  Gwen glanced in at the new clothes and saw at least two designer labels atop the heaping pile. As if that makes everything all better.

  "And Tyr refuses to understand that being an ass and abducting me off the street is a piss poor way to garner trust," she growled back.

  Ruiz barked out a laugh, while Sonja’s eyes widened in surprise.

  Tyr turned on Ruiz. "Don't encourage the shrew!"

  "Shrew? Why you arrogant son of a bitch!" she shouted.

  Tyr ushered Sonja and Ruiz out and before she realized what was happening, he locked her in the penthouse alone.

  “This isn’t over!” she screamed.

  * * *

  Tyr

  Sonja left immediately to handle accommodations for their unexpected early arrival from Central America. Ruiz let out a full belly laugh as Gwen shrieked in rage inside his apartment. Tyr wanted to punch him in the throat. The way his friend looked at Gwen pissed him off and her receptive smile made it worse. He knew exactly what Ruiz saw. More than once he stared at her creamy lush thighs, following them up to the hem of his shirt, imagining what else lay beneath.

  Stop this! He shook his head at himself, and shoved down the pointless jealousy.

  "I didn't think you approved of keeping blood slaves," Ruiz commented when he finally stopped chuckling.

  "Gwen’s not a blood slave. "

  "You abducted her, and aren't keeping her under compulsion?" Ruiz cocked his head in confusion.

  "She's in danger, I meant that. And my compulsion doesn't work on her," he admitted to his friend.

  Ruiz’s eyes widened in shock. "Seriously? Wow, okay. So, what's the threat?"

  "Someone's trying to kill her. She knows, but is being stubborn." He wasn’t ready to tell his friends about Gwen’s blood, the fewer who knew the better.

  "It would be a shame to see the spirited little thing killed. But what happens once you’ve taken care of the problem, now that she’s aware of us?” Ruiz gestured at Tyr’s long hair which he hadn't chopped off for the day.

  "Yeah, I kind of acted without thinking this through."

  "She's worked under your skin, hasn't she?" Ruiz grinned at him.

  "The woman is a pain in my ass!"

  “Uh huh.”

  They headed to his office, and Ruiz laughed as he told him the sad tale of how Gwen pissed in his BMW. They chatted occasionally as he reviewed the accounts and reports. It was tedious keeping track of all his ventures, along with overseeing his territory. The peace and quiet was nice. After a bit Ruiz put his phone down.

  "Let’s go feed."

  "Didn't you do that last night?" He assumed Sonja took the man to one of their usual haunts.

  "No, we visited this club she likes, but Ethan called and she looked like a damn puppy so I told her to take off. The place really wasn't my style. I can't seem to get into the chicks who look like crypt keepers."

  "I'm waiting for the day Sonja asks to turn him,” Tyr chuckled. “Fine, come on, let’s go."

  On their way to the garage they saw his human assistant.

  “Ethan, keep an ear out for Gwen, but I wouldn’t recommend going into my place alone. Call me if you need to,” he warned.

  "Of course, sir. By the way, what happened to the BMW?" Ethan asked.

  Tyr growled when Ruiz started laughing again.

  "Just take it to Callum at Shift Auto."

  "You might want to roll the windows down," Ruiz snorted.

  * * *

  Gwen

  I can’t believe that ass hat locked me in his apartment. She pounded on the keypad by the door but achieved nothing.

  Gwen stomped over to the shopping bags and pulled out some of the clothes. She tugged on a pair of overpriced cotton shorts and a tank top. It wasn't something she'd wear out, but obviously she wasn't going anywhere.

  She glanced around her prison. Besides the baths and single bedroom, the apartment was one large open room. There was a dining table by the picture windows which were still shaded, a galley kitchen near the front door. The living room took up most of the space with its overgrown entertainment unit.

  Men are all the same with their giant televisions.

  On one wall hung a large painting that looked like a Van Gogh. It was a pastoral piece and very lovely. In another corner sat the oddest sculpture on a pedestal. It was a giant thumb with branches sticking out, a standing figure of a man, and a seated forlorn-looking winged figure. If she wasn't mistaken the signature said Dali.

  Gwen studied the TV but couldn't figure out the damn remote. He had an iPad, but must’ve taken it with him.

  What the hell am I going to do for hours, let alone days?

  With a frustrated groan she wandered into the kitchen. There were various snacks besides the remnants of her dinner, or was that breakfast? Too bad she wasn’t hungry. Her mood brightened slightly when she found the liquor cabinet.

  One Long Island Iced Tea coming up. It was going to take a shit ton of booze to numb her to this bizarre nightmare.

  She carried her drink to the bedroom and started looking through the drawers of his dresser, then the closet and finally the bathroom.

  God, the man has nothing exciting besides the few pieces of artwork to look at.

  She'd give anything for a shitty magazine at the moment. Talk about minimalist. And the level of neurotic organization to every drawer was truly pathological.

  Who folds their socks and underwear, then sorts them by color and type? Then there was the cost to everything. Just one suit in his closet could likely buy the house of my dreams.

  Gwen attempted the remote again but succeeded in only getting incredibly loud static.

  Dammit!

  She polished off a second drink as she sat on the leather couch ruminating about her f
ate. Tyr wasn't just arrogant, he lacked something vital. There weren't pictures of friends or little souvenirs, no random papers and pens. Everything was so sterile and utilitarian. The man existed but didn't live.

  Life is clutter and chaos. We don’t get everything exactly the way we want it, controlled and clean. She started to laugh as the thought rose in her mind. Look who’s talking. You are locked in an immaculate penthouse, most likely rescued from psycho Rob, and here you go bitching about how it was accomplished.

  Then again, the jury is still out on all that. The infuriating man was so certain holding her here was the best way to keep her safe and avert disaster, that he didn't even consider anything else. Averting fate was easier said than done.

  Gwen was all warm inside when she set down her third drink, realizing it was probably wise to stop while she was still upright. She stood up and looked around the place.

  “I think Tyr needs a little apartment makeover,” she decided with a giggle.

  The first drawer in the kitchen held silverware.

  “These belong in the bathroom.” She nodded.

  She carried the utensil tray into the bathroom, emptied the vanity drawer and dumped the knives, forks and spoons in. Gwen snorted, imagining Tyr’s expression as she swapped the contents of nearly every drawer and closet in the apartment. Feeling pleased with herself, she staggered to his king-sized bed, curled up and fell fast asleep.

  * * *

  Tyr

  Tyr pulled his fangs out of the neck of a dark-haired female. He wasn't really in the mood to feed, despite the way she moaned and writhed on his lap. Hidden in the shadowy corner booth of the club, he could have his way with the woman, and she was more than willing, but for some reason he didn’t rise to the occasion. Unbidden, his thoughts drifted to the woman locked in his penthouse, and his cock jumped. Tyr growled, frustrated with himself, and set aside the overeager admirer on his lap then rose from the booth.

  “Leaving?” Ruiz asked after releasing the wrist of the blonde he was sampling. At least he thought she was blonde, her head was currently below the table.

  “I am. Sorry,” he apologized to his friend for cutting their evening short.

  “Mind if I stay?” Ruiz grunted, the sound of vigorous sucking nearly drowning out his words.

  “No, enjoy,” Tyr chuckled.

  "Don't go," his raven-haired admirer entreated, her pupils still dilated from the euphoria his bite caused.

  Any other night and he might have considered it, but his cock clearly wasn’t interested, not in her.

  “Don’t fret, dear, I’m sure Ruiz can show you a good time.”

  “Si.” Ruiz nodded and pulled the woman in for a kiss.

  Tyr got home and headed straight for his penthouse. It was obvious Gwen had tampered with the control pad, unsuccessfully. All was quiet and nothing was laying smashed into a million pieces. That was an improvement from the night before. So why did it worry him more than her fit?

  Where is the little menace?

  He halted in the doorway of the bedroom. There she lay sprawled out in the middle of his bed, her arms and legs going every which way. The image of her tied up naked and spread eagle as he ravenously ate her pussy popped into his mind.

  He groaned in frustration as he strode into the bathroom then again froze.

  “Seriously, woman!” He eyed the towels littering the floor.

  Tyr panned the counter, shocked at how swiftly the maddening woman had taken over. A hairclip, her necklace, pink brush, toothbrush, lotion and a dozen other feminine things he assumed Ethan bought cluttered the counter. The sight fueled his turbulent thoughts. It was emblematic of the chaos he felt descending.

  He stripped, tossed his clothes and the dirty towels into the laundry chute, then stared down at his stiff cock. The damn thing didn’t care that Gwen was the goddess Pandora in the flesh. He fisted it and roughly started stroking the angry beast. His hand worked faster, punishing his flesh. Tyr gripped the counter, groaning as he came, the image of the smart-mouthed redhead in his mind.

  He turned on the shower, then opened the closet and reached for a clean towel.

  “What the fuck!” He gaped at the chips, cereal, pots and pans lining the shelves.

  Tyr turned to grab his robe but it wasn't on its usual hook. He couldn't even throw his clothes back on since he tossed them down the chute. He should’ve known he’d gotten off too easy. The gods only knew what else she meddled with.

  "Gwen!" he bellowed as he yanked open the bathroom door.

  Chapter Eight

  Gwen

  The sound of Tyr roaring her name pulled her from a pleasant dream.

  What now?

  She groggily rolled over then froze when she saw him. Tyr stood in the doorway gloriously naked. His chest was chiseled perfection, his abs were a well-defined six-pack. The muscles bracketing his hips pointed toward the most impressive and daunting cock she’d ever seen.

  Oh, holy shit, he’s hung like a horse. It was damn near frightening.

  If that wasn't unnerving enough, his angry expression sure was. His fists clenched with barely restrained anger. He marched toward her, his behemoth cock swaying.

  "What the fuck did you do with the gods damn towels?" he growled as he loomed over her.

  Gwen blinked in confusion, her evening activities slowly coming back to her. Oh yeah. She almost smiled but thought better of it.

  "I got bored so I decided to rearrange a bit,” she replied as innocently as she could muster, doing her best to not stare at his dick.

  Tyr stalked over to his dresser, tugged open the underwear drawer to find foil and sandwich bags. His ass was so scrumptious, she was mesmerized until he spun around and pinned her with his furious gaze.

  "Fine, I prefer to sleep naked anyway!" he rumbled.

  Tyr was beside the bed so fast her head spun. He gripped her around the middle and yanked her against his nude body. She felt the press of him at her ass and back.

  "Do you plan on forcing me to sleep with you every night?" she demanded, desperately trying to ignore the feel of his powerful body.

  "I refuse to let you roam free while I sleep. I prefer to wake up with all my body parts intact," he grumbled into her ear.

  Tyr gripped her so tight it almost hurt. He didn’t smell like sandalwood tonight, instead he scented of women’s perfume.

  "You stink like a cheap hooker."

  "I tried to shower but someone's hidden all the towels," he huffed.

  "Yeah, well, some kinds of filth can't be washed off," she informed him with disgust. The thought of Tyr with some whore while she was locked in his apartment bored and alone angered her.

  "Too bad, sweetheart. At least the hooker knew how to do more with her mouth than piss me off."

  Her mouth opened in shock. The son of a bitch was such an ass.

  "I'm sure you had her just where you wanted her, down on her knees where you think everyone should be, catering to your every whim. I'm sorry but I prefer my lovers to know how to find the G-spot and be a bit less selfish."

  She found herself pinned on her back in an instant.

  "The things I’ve learned in two thousand years about bringing a woman pleasure would make even a shrew like you beg for more," Tyr growled as his massive nude body pressed her into the mattress.

  "Oh please, you are so full of yourself. I'm sure half the women you've been with fake it just to get the thrashing sweaty barbarian off them." She started to moan, feigning orgasm.

  * * *

  Tyr

  Gwen moaned, mockingly calling out his name. Even though he knew she was teasing, his cock jerked, hearing the erotic sounds fall from her ruby lips.

  She’s driving me insane.

  The woman didn't know who she was taunting. It was hard enough restraining the primal side of himself on a daily basis. Then this mouthy wench comes along and pokes the beast. She riled him in ways no one dared since he’d been reborn. His cock swelled and his fangs itched, both achin
g to sink into the fiery vixen. Tyr gripped Gwen’s wrists and yanked them above her head.

  "Challenge accepted," he hissed as his mouth descended on hers.

  * * *

  Gwen

  Oh shit. What have I done?

  Her heart sped up as Tyr’s pupils swelled, the black swallowing up his blue eyes. His stiff cock pressed into her thigh. If she thought it looked large before, she was sorely mistaken, because it felt positively monstrous. His lips crushed against hers as he restrained her arms above her head. Her lips were parted in shock. Tyr took full advantage of the opportunity and thrust his tongue in. He tasted like aged whiskey. She was too stunned to respond as his tongue explored her mouth.

  The tension between them had been building, but she’d never been one to back down. The men she’d known in the past couldn’t handle her. She was too blunt with her opinions and desires that they never stuck around long and neither did she, moving from place to place. Except Tyr wasn’t just any man. He was the definition of dominance. A part of her knew that taunting him would have consequences, yet she did it anyway. A shiver of desire coursed up her spine at the way he handled her roughly, making her nipples harden.

  Tyr tugged at her bottom lip with his blunt front teeth as he kicked her knees apart. He wedged his hips between her thighs, the swell of his cock grinding into her clit. She jerked when a spike of pleasure shot through her. The cotton shorts she wore did little to dull the sensation. Gwen found herself returning his kiss with fervor, sucking his tongue and nipping at it.

  No, no, no. She turned her head, unwilling to give in so easily.

  Still gripping her wrists in one hand, Tyr reached down with the other and tore her tank top. She gasped, her eyes widening at how effectively he exposed her breasts.

  “Fucking asshole!” she snapped at him.

  “Is that a request?”

  Her mouth gaped in shock and indignation. Tyr grinned lasciviously, baring his fangs before descending on her breasts. She repressed a moan when his mouth wrapped around one nipple, sucking it with strong pulls. The tug went all the way to her aching core, making her pussy cramp with need.