Viper (Sons of Sangue)

by Patricia A. Rasey

  “That sinking those teeth of yours into me could be so … so orgasmic.”

  Kane chuckled. Whatever he expected her to say, that wasn’t it. “You really have no idea then how talented my dick can be.”

  “I suggest you shut the hell up and show me.”

  * * *

  Another shiver passed through her as Kane moved from his sitting position and crawled in her direction. The man oozed sex. Of course, she’d never doubted that for a second. But the last few moments he spent touching her had laid proof to it in spades. She hadn’t had an orgasm in … scratch that, had never had an orgasm that epic!

  Who would have thought the act of drinking her blood could incite such rapture? No wonder Suzi and all her donor friends had signed up to the Suck-My-Blood-Club so willingly. She had been the one missing out all these years. Lord, she needed an industrial size fan just to cool her heated skin.

  Now to see him advancing on her like a cat to prey, her body hummed in anticipation. She had no doubt his lower anatomy was quite talented. After all, his past experience with women meant he had plenty of time to hone his skills.

  He braced himself on the tub, his arms hemming her in, then bent to capture a kiss. And kiss her he did. His mouth slanted over hers, his tongue snaking out, touching hers, the coppery taste of her blood still evident. Cara drew his tongue into her mouth and deepened the kiss as her hands slid up his chest and to his nape, anchoring him. Damn, if he was half as good in the sack as he was at kissing, she’d want to chain him to the mattress. Stephen King’s Misery came to mind. She doubted bored would ever enter the equation.

  And exactly when had she stopped thinking of him as a cold-blooded murder? As a blood-sucking vampire who drained people of their blood? About five minutes ago when he sank his fangs into her.

  Oh lord, she had to stop thinking about the case, vampires and psychotics, or she’d embarrass herself right into running for Kane’s quarters and locking him from the room. Not to mention missing out on the best sex she’d probably ever have. She needed to think of him as a fantasy, the perfect lover, pretend the darker side didn’t exist, at least until she discovered how talented his cock really was. Just the thought made her heart slam against her chest. The man was a walking wet-dream.

  His finger and forefinger tweaked her nipple, stealing her breath and stopping her from all sane thought. Well, the parts of her musings that weren’t living in a fantasy land, that is. As he twirled the tight bud between his fingers, Cara moaned against his mouth, wanting very much his mouth where his fingers were at the moment. She was going to enjoy ever inch … er, minute of him while she could. The morning would be early enough for regrets.

  And no doubt she would have them.

  Kane stood suddenly, lifting her, his large hands now cupping her backside. Her legs slipped about his waist, bringing his erection flush with her center. Were all vampires this well-endowed? She suddenly wondered how he’d possibly fit.

  “You have far too many clothes on, vampire,” she grumbled against his lips, earning her a chuckle.

  As he shoved at the waistband of his jeans and briefs with one hand, Cara used her heels on his rock-hard ass to help divest him of the barrier. The less between them, the quicker she could get to the best-sex-ever part. After the orgasm he had given her, she had no doubt he’d deliver.

  His erection sprang free. The soft steely skin rubbed against her wet clit. She wanted him inside her, to feel him completely fill her.

  “I don’t suppose you have a condom?”

  Cara could feel his answering humor rumble up from his gut since she was thoroughly wrapped around him like a cat clinging to a tree. She loved that his spirits were high, but at the moment, his laughter was not what she needed. She just might die from extreme longing. Was that even possible?

  “I don’t need one, Mia Bella.”

  “That’s all fine and dandy, but I’m not on birth control since having sex in the last couple of years wasn’t a priority.”

  His humor died as he looked at her point blank. Damn it, but Cara hadn’t meant to confess how long it had actually been since she had slept with a man.

  But rather than comment on her admission, he said, “I can’t get you pregnant.”

  Vampires couldn’t spawn babies? “Sterile?”

  “Not that I’m aware.”

  “Then why so certain?”

  “Because you aren’t a vampire.”

  “Oh.” She made a mental note to ask him about that later. “Diseases? It’s not like you’ve been celibate.”

  “As a vampire, I can’t get those either, Mia Bella. My blood regenerates at too high of a rate. You’re safe. I can’t get you pregnant and I won’t give you any STDs. Are we done with the questions?”

  His smile was so cute; she could hardly fault him for his lack of patience at her sudden inquisition. Instead of answering him, she brought her lips back to his and kissed him again, taking control of his mouth and receiving an answering growl.

  Kane turned and backed her against the wood paneling of the bathroom and entered her swiftly. Her gasp at his size lasted mere seconds as he started to move within her. Her back slid up the wall with each of his powerful thrusts, as he seat himself to the hilt, stretching her completely, before withdrawing and doing it all again.

  Words failed her. She couldn’t form a phrase if she wanted to. Her heart beat at the base of her skull as another climax rapidly approached. This wasn’t making love, nothing slow and gentle about the way Kane took her. No, he had been correct when he said he had wanted to fuck her.

  And he was doing a damn fine job of it.

  Their sweat-slicked bodies slid together as he continued to pump into her. Her mouth left his to nip his shoulder, giving him access to her throat. But instead of biting her like she desired, he ran his fangs over the flesh, teasing her with the points and causing a series of shivers to pulse through her, right before another orgasm slammed into her, rocking her to the core.

  Not that the first one hadn’t sent her to the moon and back, but this … this she couldn’t even describe. Kane shoved into her one last time before his ass muscles tightened and he reached his own peak. She could feel his cock pulsing inside her as the last of her own tremors subsided.

  No foreplay, no tender kisses, though she wouldn’t have had it any other way. After all, they were just two beings enjoying the moment, copulating due to the stress of being thrust together by some psychotic primordial vampire bent on sucking every last drop of blood from her.

  Kane slowly released his grip on her backside and allowed her to slide down the length of him. Cara wasn’t so sure she was going to be able to stand, but her wobbly knees held up. She was just about to ask him, “Now what?” when he patted her rear and told her to head for his room.

  “Lock the door this time, Mia Bella,” he said as she turned back in the doorway. She so wanted to invite him to join her but wasn’t sure she’d last another round. Besides, if the rest of the club members found out, Kane would suffer the fallout.

  Kane winked at her. “You better do as I say, Mia Bella, or you won’t be getting any sleep this night.”

  Cara smiled in return, then shut the door and turned the dead bolt. She leaned against the door for support. Had she really just given herself to her worst nightmare? Nope, she thought with a smile. She had just taken hold of a very sexy vampire and screwed his brains out.

  * * *

  “What have you gone and done now, dear brother?” Kaleb asked, his lips turned down as he entered the living area of the clubhouse.

  His hands made tight fists at his side, telling Kane what came next wasn’t going to be pretty. So much for waking up in a great mood. Kane didn’t care one iota what Kaleb or Grayson might have to say about his late night activities and wasn’t about to make this easy for his twin. What he and Cara shared last night, well, that was their business. End of story.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Kane said, pulling last n
ight’s tee over his head.

  He walked to the kitchen area, fetched a mug and poured himself a cup of coffee. He blew the steam across the surface before taking a healthy sip, feeling the answering warmth. The morning chill filled the air. This time of year, the nights cooled to the mid-thirties. Since he had yet to turn on the furnace or throw logs into the fireplace, the clubhouse was brisk. If Cara was going to spend her nights here, he’d need to change that. Kane took another sip from his coffee, and even though regular food didn’t do anything for him, he still enjoyed a good cup of coffee the way he did a shot of whisky.

  “You fucked her. Don’t even try to deny it. I could smell her desire the minute you entered the bathroom.”

  One of Kane’s brows quirked upward. “Listening against the door, were you? I believe that’s even beneath you.”

  “Like I had to. You could have been in the next building over and I still would have heard the two of you. Maybe you ought to learn the word discreet.”

  “With our close quarters and acute hearing, no way to avoid it. I’ve heard you and Grayson many a night, and you haven’t had to hear my opinion once on the matter. What you two do behind closed doors is no business of mine. Just as who I choose to fuck in none of yours.”

  Kane took another sip and hoped Kaleb would take the hint and leave him the hell alone. He was in no mood to discuss what had happened between him and the detective last night. He held no regrets when it came to the great sex they shared. Hell, no—he planned a repeat performance. Had that been all there was to it, there wouldn’t be a problem. But he had drunk from her, taken communion.

  Shit.

  If Kaleb or Grayson even suspected as much, there would be consequences. There should be consequences. But as long as there was a primordial running loose, threatening to drain Cara of her blood, he needed her close. And he needed the clubs’ cooperation to take him down. He couldn’t do it alone, and the club turning their back on him now could only prove deadly to Cara. So for now he’d keep that particular activity to himself, just as he would his fangs. He couldn’t allow himself another slip, no matter how tempting.

  Kaleb walked around the island, grabbed his own mug and poured himself a cup of coffee as well. Kane could feel him stewing beneath the surface. He knew his brother didn’t approve of his actions. Kaleb had never held his tongue before, and he doubted he’d start now.

  After glaring at Kane over his coffee cup, he finally slammed it on the island, brown liquid spilling over his hand and onto the counter. Most men would flinch at the scalding liquid splashing onto their flesh. But then they weren’t most men.

  “Just say it and get it over with, Hawk. My patience is wearing thin.”

  “Did you bite her?”

  “I’d like to know the answer to that question myself,” Grayson said as he exited his room, buttoning the front of his jeans, though opting to go shirtless.

  “Jesus, what the hell is it with you two?”

  “You knew when you brought her here this wasn’t a good idea,” Grayson said. “Why not pick up someone from the Rave like the rest of us?”

  “Oh, that’s rich coming from you, Gypsy. You who gets tired of the same ol’ too often to count. If I recall, it was you who pitched a fit a few days ago.”

  “I never said I only fuck girls from the Rave. I screw who I want and color their memories before I leave so that my appearance while fucking them doesn’t leave a lasting impression. Can’t very well conceal that. But communion? That’s another story. I may not like the rules, but I abide by them because I understand the need to keep our nature secret. Did you alter the detective’s memory from what she spied, Viper?”

  “You both already know she’s aware of what we are. I didn’t have to change her memory.”

  “And what happens should she decide she’s bored with you? Or better yet, threatens to tell others because you decide she’s not worth your time any longer? Bet you hadn’t thought of that.”

  “I’ll take care of it if and when the time arises.”

  “See that you do, Viper. I don’t care what you do, but we can’t risk her exposing us. Now stop dodging the real question,” Hawk said. “Did you bite her?”

  “No,” Kane lied, taking a quick sip of coffee so that his brothers wouldn’t detect it. Besides, from where he had left the twin holes, they’d never spy them.

  “Pray you don’t, brother.”

  “Or what? Are you threatening me, Hawk?”

  “You know the rules. You break them, I’ll see the entire club knows about your indiscretions. There won’t be a single Son who comes to your defense. She’s a cop, Viper. You best keep that in mind. She has the power to take us down. Can you imagine what would happen if she decided to take this shit to the media?”

  “I’m well aware of what she does for a living and her power in this community. If she proves to be a threat, then I’ll take care of her myself.”

  “What will you do to me, Kane? Kill me?”

  Damn it, he couldn’t catch a break. “Cara—”

  “No, Kane.” Cara glared at him, her gaze as hot as pokers. “I heard enough to know I’m not wanted here.”

  “You can’t defend yourself against this threat.”

  She laughed without humor, slinging her overnight bag over her shoulder. “It appears I cannot defend myself here either, nor can I trust you to defend me. I think I’ll take my chances with the primordial. At least with him, I know where I stand.”

  Cara walked to the front of the clubhouse, where she turned on the trio. “Don’t worry, boys … your secret is safe with me. Hell, I don’t even believe this supernatural shit.” With that, she turned and stalked out, the door closing behind her.

  “Great! That went well,” Kane grumbled.

  Thankfully, Grayson and Kaleb remained remarkably silent.

  Chapter 16

  Kane had too much to do today to concern himself with what the hell the detective was up to or what she had been thinking following her untimely entry into the club’s main room this morning. He had received a call from Red and knew that the Knights planned to run guns around Pleasant’s borders once the sun set. And since Cara had stupidly refused to be in his company for protection, he didn’t have a spare man to track her down and baby-sit her either. The Knights needed to be given clearance. Kane had to make sure the Sons were onboard, so a church meeting was called.

  This could be a very lucrative deal for them, income with little or no effort on their part. Plus, on the flip-side, he had to make sure he upheld his promise to the Sheriff’s Office and kept any violence out of Lane County. Knowing the Knights would likely try to run their guns under the radar, with or without the Sons’ approval, Kane wanted to spare the county the war that would surely ensue had he not agreed to the arrangement. By giving the Knights his backing, he ensured they wouldn’t go to battle over the needed route on the Knights’ end. Kane had chosen the path of least resistance.

  Besides, an alliance with the Knights could be to their benefit. Having a puppet club in their back pocket meant they always had backup when needed. Should anyone have issues with the Sons, then the Knights would have their back.

  Sitting at the head of the long table, Kane watched as each member filed in, Kaleb and Grayson sitting at his left and right respectively. He hoped to hell they kept their mouths shut about his late night activities, as Kane didn’t want to have to answer for his actions, at least not yet. Eventually the truth would come out and if need be, he’d step down as president. He had broken rules. Plain and simple. Being the president didn’t exempt him.

  But for now he needed time to figure this thing out with Cara and where it was heading. Having the primordial in town and targeting her meant he needed to keep her safe. Resigning as club pres would take away any control he might have over finding this son of a bitch and could put her at further risk without the Sons’ protection. Kane was only one vampire. Against a primordial, like it or not, he need the power of the MC.

&nbs
p; The door to the meeting room closed behind the last member. The large table seated fourteen with only one empty seat remaining, bringing Rosalee to the forefront of his thoughts. She had been responsible for the loss of Ion, his son, the empty seat he now stared at. His jaw ached from tension. No meeting ever went by without him feeling the loss burning a hole like acid in his gut. He should have taken her head and dealt with the repercussions of killing an original. Instead, he had turned his back and dismissed Rosalee from his life, leaving her no choice but to return to Italy and the rest of the primordials, as her stepfather demanded.

  In her own way, he knew Rosalee had loved him deeply, and he supposed he had felt much the same way at the time. But Rosalee had been a selfish bitch, not considering the possible ramifications of her cavalier actions. Actions Kane had forbid. With one single act of defiance, she had managed to destroy everything he had ever felt for her. In the end, Ion had lost his head because she hadn’t used hers. She had thought herself far superior to even Kane, that she was somehow untouchable. The cartel funding the rival MC had wanted restitution for the loss of one of their own.

  Yes, Rosalee was a powerful, ancient vampire.

  But taking on the drug cartel was pure idiocy on her part. The cartel wasn’t of the forgiving kind, and Ion had been the one to pay the price for Rosalee’s arrogance. Kane had warned her that the Devils of East L.A. were backed by a Mexican cartel and were not to be toyed with. Regardless of his charge, she had set out to teach the MC and the cartel a lesson for daring to cross state lines with their drugs, for trying to take over the entire west coast, therefore disrespecting the Sons.

  Setting out with Ion in tow, she took matters into her own hand. She had killed one of the heads of the cartel, sending a message loud and clear to his troops. His brother, not cowering from her actions, had given the order to take a Sons’ life.

  A life for a life.

  Kane would’ve rather given his own life.

  Rosalee had tried to get Kane to see reason that she, too, had suffered. But an agreement had been made with the cartel, Kane banished Rosalee not only from the Sons but from the States as well, sending her back home to Italy, leaving her no choice but to return to her stepfather. In the end, her stepfather had agreed that Rosalee had acted recklessly and forbade her to leave Italy ever again as punishment. When Mircea II of Wallachia spoke, all of the vampire community listened … including his wayward stepdaughter. Over ten years had passed, but he still felt the betrayal like it was yesterday.