Vampire: A Dark Protectors/Rebels Novella

by Rebecca Zanetti

  He set her on the bed and used his thumbs to slide her sweater up and over her head. Then he pulled her closer into a blood-stirring kiss, turning even her bones to mush. Her lungs seized, and she breathed him in. Then he pulled her sports bra over her head, baring her breasts.

  “God, you’re beautiful,” he murmured, gently tracing each breast and scraping the pads of his thumbs across her nipples.

  Electricity zagged from his touch to her core. She moaned and reached for his zipper.

  “Not yet.” He leaned down and pulled her jeans down her legs, his talented thumbs caressing her skin on the way. Her panties came next, and then she was completely nude. His wide palms spread across her thighs, and then he dipped his head, kissing her right on the sex.

  Her legs trembled. “Raine.” Every inch of her was hypersensitive and ready for him. Just for him.

  He chuckled and slid his fingers into the wetness of her sex. She sucked in a breath and opened wider for him, her body rioting with a need so great she couldn’t think. When he took his touch away, she swore.

  His chuckle was a dangerous tease.

  “I don’t want slow this first time,” she ground out, levering up on her elbows. “Later.”

  “Hmmm.” He leaned down again and kissed her, this time running his tongue between her folds. He found the aching bundle of nerves and sucked. Hard.

  She cried out at the searing pleasure and bucked against him. His strong hands went to her hips, and he held her to the bed, licking and sucking without mercy. Without giving her time to breathe, his wicked mouth drove her so high she could only fall over the cliff. She cried out, the orgasm rippling through her with a sharp edge she could barely ride.

  Sighing, she came down, even as her body was still on fire. For him. “Raine.”

  “Yeah.” He stood and shucked his pants, leaving his exquisite body on full display. A tattoo wound over his right arm, crested with an M with a bunch of spikes—much like the one on his hand but not quite as brutal looking. “You taste delicious, and we’re going to do that again tonight. A couple of times.” He moved up her body, his skin touching hers and his masculine scent surrounding her.

  She tunneled her hands through his hair, pulling the thick waves away from his face. Oh, she liked this face. She liked him. Maybe more than like, but that didn’t make sense. How could he be dying?

  “None of that.” He took her mouth, pulling her out of her sad thoughts and right into desperate passion. One wicked hand moved down her body and stroked her—demanding this time and not gentle. “You’re ready.”

  God, she was ready. “Yes,” she said against his mouth, her nipples hard against his even harder chest.

  He positioned himself between her thighs and pressed his thick head at her opening.

  Desire rushed through her, different than ever before. She held her breath, wanting something. Wanting him. Needing him.

  He kissed her again while pushing inside her, stretching her tight. Oh, there was so much of him. She held on, her heart beating wildly in her chest. Slowly, he kept pushing, not stopping. Taking her. Definitely taking her. Finally, he drove the last couple of inches right to the hilt.

  She arched at the overwhelming sense of him. Of invasion and of something else. Something that felt complete and whole. He pulled out only to power back inside her, setting up a slow and steady pace that had her fingers digging into his scalp.

  “You feel so good,” he ground out, his unreal green gaze capturing hers.

  He felt amazing. “Please don’t stop,” she whispered, her internal walls clamping down on him as if she’d never let him go.

  “I promise.” He drove harder, deeper, more.

  She came close to shattering several times, and the second she caught her breath, he paused or slowed down, keeping her on the edge. They rode that fine line, sweat dotting her forehead, her thoughts incoherent. Finally, she released his head and dug her nails into his chest. “Now, Raine. Now.”

  “Now,” he whispered, hammering into her with fierce power.

  She clamped her legs to his thighs and spiraled into a climax so wild she could only open her mouth silently. The orgasm shattered her, taking her thoughts and leaving a blinding pleasure behind.

  He followed a second later on a rough groan, his body jerking against her. His head dropped to her neck, and he scraped his teeth along her jugular.

  She caught her breath and turned her head instinctively, giving him better access.

  He stilled and then gently kissed her. “Oh, baby. You have no idea,” he murmured, nipping her earlobe.

  She caressed down his sides, so content she wanted to purr. That was the most incredible sex ever created. She opened her eyes just as he lifted his head. For the briefest of seconds, his eyes looked like a pure silver. She blinked and then squinted. Nope. Green. A startling green, but definitely green. She grinned. “I think that blew my mind.” Now she was even seeing things.

  “Just wait,” he said, kissing her nose.

  She laughed. “I like that you’re close to your Grams.”

  “Me, too,” he said. “She’s a spitfire and reminds me of you.”

  Now that was the sweetest thing. “I get that from my mom. She’s a journalist right now in South Korea working on a story.” She’d like Raine quite a lot, actually.

  “What about your father?” Raine ran a lazy hand down her arm.

  She shrugged. “He left my mom when I was young and created another family. I know him but we’re not close. It’s my mom and me, and I had a great childhood and played tons of sports. Mom often coached whatever sport I was playing at the time. Then I went to college on a golf scholarship, which was pretty cool.”

  “I like that about you.” He kissed her forehead.

  She smiled and then blinked as she realized he was hardening inside her already. Wow. Just wow. “Are you a machine or what?” she murmured, her body perking up for another round.

  “Or what,” he confirmed, his mouth already on hers.

  Chapter 9

  Raine stared at the burned-out carcass of his truck. The silver paint had bubbled into black blobs, the interior was crusty, and the windows were all shattered.

  “It’s totaled,” Evan muttered, crouching down to peer beneath the sidewall.

  Raine looked at the demolished engine compartment. “Yep.” He measured the distance from the truck to the front door. “The guy could’ve just as easily thrown the projectiles through the front window.” The thought that Mariana had been that close to danger the night before tightened the muscles in his neck until his head ached.

  “This stalker has upped his game.” Evan peered into what used to be the back seat. “There was no hint of violence in the Dallas records.” He paused and turned toward Raine. “This is directed at you, but if he’s obsessed with Mariana, he’s going to see your new, ah, friendship as a betrayal.”

  Friendship. Well, that was one way to put it. The sounds of her sighs from the night before were still running through his head, and he wanted more. A lot more. “I’m aware,” Raine said, ignoring the smoke still wafting from the engine area.

  Evan dusted soot off his hands and stood to his full height. He’d filled out quite a bit since mating Tabi, although he’d been a big guy as a human. Well, he was still human but now had extra chromosomal pairs making him immortal. “I’m new to this world of yours.”

  “I know,” Raine said, studying a male he now considered a friend. “How are you doing?”

  Evan shrugged. “Fine, I guess. All of the secrecy and uncertainty is a pain, however. There aren’t any human males who’ve mated immortals that we can find. I’m sure they’re out there, but apparently I have to stay under the radar, so I don’t know what to expect.”

  “None of us know with you,” Raine admitted. “So long as you’re not nuts and trying to take out whole cities, I figure you’re fine.”

  “I don’t want to hurt anybody,” Evan said, looking like the cop he’d been for so long. �
��This new strength is taking some time to get used to, and I have to stop accidentally breaking cell phones or I’m going to run out of money. My senses are strong, too. I can smell Mariana all over you.”

  Raine tilted his head. Was Evan going to warn him off in an effort to protect the fragile shrink? “Your point?”

  The cop shrugged, looking around the quiet neighborhood. “If you’re immortal, why can’t you mate her? She obviously likes you, and immortality ain’t bad.”

  Raine didn’t have time for this. “I already explained enough. My time is limited.”

  Evan met his gaze directly, and a dark blue rim surrounded his normally blue iris. That was new. “Immortals don’t get sick, as far as I understand. So how is your time limited? You really are going to have to explain that.”

  “I really don’t,” Raine said mildly, acutely aware of the oath he’d taken at the age of ten to protect his family. His reaching out to Faith Cooper was as close to breaking that vow as he’d ever come, and he wasn’t going to change that with this new immortal. “Just promise that when I’m gone, you’ll look out for Mariana.”

  “Of course,” Evan said easily. “Tabi really likes her. I’m sure we’ll be able to find her a nice immortal to mate so she can live forever. My demoness seems to be a bit of a matchmaker, if you ask me.”

  Raine rolled his eyes. “Nice try.” The thought of Mariana mating somebody else was like a kick in the balls, but he wasn’t going to play that game with Evan. He stretched his neck and looked toward the quiet home. After going all night with the stunning brunette, he should be tired, but instead he felt invigorated. Healthy again.

  She had that effect on him.

  Shit. She was supposed to have that effect on him.

  Movement sounded, and two police cars zoomed down the street, screeching to a stop. The sheriff leaped out of his with his gun out. “Put your hands up. Now.”

  Raine looked at Evan and then back at the sheriff while the other officer opened her door and held her gun pointed at him. “What the hell?”

  Evan frowned at his former boss. “What in the world are you doing?”

  The sheriff ignored him. Today he’d dressed in a nicely pressed uniform, and his hair was groomed. He still had the slight beer belly going on, though. “Turn and put your hands on the vehicle, Maxwell.”

  Raine sighed. “I don’t have time for this shit, buddy. What’s going on?”

  Evan stepped toward the sheriff. “Baker—this is a bad idea.”

  “Shut up or I’ll arrest you, too,” the sheriff snapped. “Marlene. Now.”

  The blonde female officer strode around her car door, her gaze apologetic. “Turn around, Mr. Maxwell.”

  Mariana and Tabi walked out onto the porch.

  “What’s going on?” Mariana asked.

  Raine stiffened. “False arrest, apparently.” He could take care of the sheriff in a heartbeat, but the curvy blonde officer was just doing her job. He cut a look at Evan.

  Evan nodded. “I’ll take care of things here. Is there a lawyer you want me to call?”

  “Yeah. Hit speed dial 3 on my phone. It’s inside.” Raine turned and allowed the officer to cuff him and lead him to her car. He looked over the top of it. “Mariana? Stay inside and safe until I get out and begin legal proceedings against this dumbass sheriff.” Then he sat in the backseat, his temper at bay since Evan had promised to stay and look after Mariana along with Tabi. Although the way the demoness was staring at the sheriff, she might go for the brain attack. At this point, Raine didn’t care.

  The last thing he saw before the car sped away was Mariana’s pale face.

  * * * *

  This was unbelievable. Mariana stormed into her house and reached for Raine’s phone on the counter to speed dial # 3.

  “Yo, bro. You get the deed done?” A male voice came over the line—one with a similar deep timbre to Raine.

  “Um, this is Mariana Lopez and Raine Maxwell said to call this number?”

  Quiet came across for a second. “Is Raine all right?”

  “Healthy, yes. But he was just arrested and said to call you. Are you his lawyer?” She bit her lip.

  “If he needs a lawyer, then I’m his lawyer,” the guy said. “Mariana, huh?”

  She turned as Evan shut the front door and Tabi looked at her expectantly. “Yes.”

  “Good. I’m actually, uh, close by and will take care of this.” The guy disengaged the call.

  Mariana pulled the phone from her ear to stare at it. “Weird. Definitely weird.”

  The door opened, and the sheriff walked inside.

  “Get out of my house,” Mariana burst out, moving right for him. Her body was still tingling from the night she’d shared with Raine, and there was no way he should’ve been arrested.

  Tabi stopped her by the arm. “Hold on. Let me kick him out. I haven’t had any fun lately.” The miniature blonde rocked back on her heels as if ready for a good fight.

  Mariana paused. Oh, Tabi was tough, but she was half the size of the sheriff. “I can handle this.”

  “I’ve got it.” Evan yanked the door open wider and reached for the sheriff.

  “Wait,” Mariana ordered. “If you touch him, he’ll press charges. However, since he’s trespassing in my house—”

  “Enough,” the sheriff grumbled, his eyes blazing. It was odd that both he and Raine had green eyes, but the greens couldn’t be any different. Raine’s eyes were a deep and true green, while the sheriff’s were slightly muddy and cloudy.

  Mariana held up a hand. “Sheriff—”

  “Buck Baker. Please call me Buck. Please.” The sheriff tapped a manilla file folder against one hand. “Tell your friends to leave and let me help you.”

  “Not a chance in hell,” Tabi said, her voice sweet and her eyes glowering.

  The sheriff looked down at the file folder. “You need to see this.”

  Mariana frowned. “What is it?”

  He moved into the living room and sat on the sofa.

  Mariana steeled her shoulders and walked into her living room, choosing the seat across the coffee table. Tabi sat in the other chair while Evan remained standing like a guard at post. “What’s in the folder?”

  The sheriff set the papers on the table and flipped the folder around with one finger. “Raine Maxwell has been stalking you since you were in Dallas.”

  She looked down at the top flap. “That’s impossible.” Her neck—and her thighs—were both whisker burned from the man.

  “Okay.” The sheriff opened the file folder to show a picture of Raine sitting on a park bench with a blue ball cap over his thick hair. He had a latte in one hand and his phone in the other, and he looked relaxed.

  A lump rose in Mariana’s throat. “That’s across from my old clinic in Dallas.” Her ears started to ring. This couldn’t be happening.

  The sheriff slid the photo out of the way to show two more, one at her dry cleaners with her in the front of the line and the other when she was out with friends at a steak restaurant. There he sat at the bar, out of her line of sight but clearly keeping her within his. “I can’t breathe.” She shoved the pictures away.

  Tabi took them, looking each over. “Where did you get these, Sheriff?”

  “The Dallas police sent copies of all surveillance they’ve captured in the case, and as you can tell, Raine is difficult to make out as the same guy in each one. Mariana, you probably looked at some of the videos and didn’t recognize him.”

  “Because I hadn’t met him yet,” she said slowly. “Not until he showed up at the anger management group.”

  The sheriff winced and tugged out another piece of paper from the bottom of the pile showing ‘no records found.’ “Speaking of which, I went through all of our recent court records, and he wasn’t arrested or sent to anger management by a judge. Whatever documentation he gave to you was falsified.”

  Evan leaned closer to peer at the photos. “Is that normal?” He seemed to be asking Tabi.
r />   “Of course not,” Mariana burst out. “That’s creepy and stalkerish.”

  Tabi nodded. “I agree. That is not normal behavior. For anybody.”

  Mariana held a hand to her trembling mouth. Raine had watched her in Dallas, and here he was now in Indiana. She’d trusted him. Heck. She’d slept with him. “How can it be him?” she whispered.

  The sheriff leaned over and patted her hand with his smooth one. “These guys are really good at what they do. Anybody would’ve fallen for his charm.”

  Fallen for his charm? She’d fallen right into his bed. Her heart hurt worse than her head right now, and there was a migraine on its way. “These pictures aren’t enough to show a stalking case, right? I mean, we have to prove he sent the flowers.”

  “And bombed his own truck?” Tabi asked, setting down the pictures. “That doesn’t make any sense. Why would he ruin his truck?”

  The sheriff spared her a glance. “Obviously to throw us off his tail as well as make Mariana feel vulnerable and in need of protection, which he was more than happy to provide.”

  He’d provided more than that. Multiple orgasms to be exact. Mariana clenched her teeth together. “I feel sick.” He’d seemed so genuine and kind. “What about this disease he has? Is that false, too?” Her head was telling her to look at the evidence, but her heart was still fighting the reality. Those pictures were real and did not lie.

  The sheriff snorted. “He has a disease?”

  “A degenerative one,” Mariana said slowly.

  “Yeah. He looks sick,” the sheriff muttered. “Not. Unbelievable.”

  Mariana rubbed her hands down her jeans. “I did wonder how the guy found me here. If Raine was the stalker in Dallas, he must’ve followed me.” But it didn’t feel right. Not after the night they’d shared.

  The sheriff patted her hand again. “I’m glad we arrested him.”