Key to Conspiracy

by Talia Gryphon

  Right now, however, he had a matter to attend to. “Gillian.” One word in that deep, soft, velvet, magical voice and she felt heat race through her, pooling in various parts of her anatomy.

  “Yeah?” she gulped.

  “We need to talk.”

  “Okay.”

  He stared at her a moment in disbelief. “Now.”

  “I said okay.”

  “Good evening,” he said to no one in particular, shackling her arm and moving toward the castle.

  Gillian spoke up. “Don’t ever say that again.”

  He glanced down at her without slacking his stride. “Why not?”

  “Hello? Hammer Horror Films? B-movies? Bela Lugosi? Dracula?” She sounded annoyed.

  Aleksei couldn’t help it; he laughed, feeling a tremendous weight lift from his chest that he hadn’t been aware of. He had frightened her by saying “love,” but she was trying. Trying, exasperating, frustrating, maddening—a powerhouse of a woman whom he was finding he did not want to exist without.

  Pausing to scoop her up again in his arms, he tossed her over his shoulder, then walked unhurriedly into the castle with Gillian alternately laughing and swearing all the way, up the stairs and into their room, booting the door shut, then tossing her unceremoniously onto the bed.

  Gillian bounced and rolled away from him, coming up on all fours, then watched as he slowly unbuttoned his shirt, his eyes never leaving hers.

  “Did you have something in mind, Count Rachlav?”

  He moved toward her like a stalking panther, watching as her breathing sped up and her heart began to accelerate. “Perhaps.” Aleksei always was a man of few words.

  He closed the gap between them and she didn’t pull away. Their lips met; he flicked his tongue over hers, encouraging her to open her mouth for him. Tongues danced together and Gillian’s hands pushed the silk shirt from his shoulders, straightening until she was kneeling on the bed. Even sitting on the edge next to her, he was taller and she had to reach up to gather his long hair in her hands, pull him deeper into the kiss.

  Aleksei divested himself of his boots, never breaking the kiss. He reached for her and pulled her close, pulling her sweater up and over her head, delighted that she wasn’t wearing a bra. Gillian pressed against him, skin to skin, chest to chest. She couldn’t get close enough and straddled him where he sat, reveling in the feel of him, long, thick and hard, still encased in the black velvet pants he wore. Aleksei leaned back, taking her down with him, loving the feeling of her smaller, softer form fitting so perfectly against his own hard frame. When she slithered backward and off him, he reached for her but she stopped him, smiling. “No, this time is my turn.”

  Her husky voice tightened him further. Raised up on his elbows, he watched her as she kicked off her own boots, then slowly slid her fatigues down her hips, letting them puddle on the ground as she stepped out of them. Aleksei waved a hand, and candles sprung to life. Gillian’s delighted smile was his reward. Her attention turned back to him and she motioned for him to move back. He did as she asked, sliding back against the headboard as she crawled up onto the huge bed, pushing his legs apart so she could kneel between them and unfasten his velvet pants.

  Aleksei reached down to help her, but Gillian grinned wickedly, pushing his hands away—“Not a chance, Fang-boy”—and slid them down his narrow hips, letting him spring free to her hungry gaze.

  Dropping his pants to the ground, she crawled back up, kissing her way up one leg then back down another, her breasts brushing his aching arousal as she moved over him. She paused over his hipbones, running a hot, wet line with her tongue to the light brush of dark hair running down his flat abdomen. Fingernails lightly raked his hips, her warm breath caressed his velvet tip. Leaning back, eyes closed, Aleksei thought he would explode when her mouth closed over him.

  Gillian felt his pleasure through their link and increased her efforts. She teased him with her teeth, raking gently over the sensitive head before soothing it with her tongue, gently plying the slit before sliding him into her mouth. He was too large to take too deeply but she did what she could, applying a glorious suction as she pulled up, keeping her mouth firmly around him, her hand moving on his shaft in perfect synchronicity with her roving mouth.

  Twining his fingers in her hair, Aleksei flexed his hips involuntarily and groaned. She was going to kill him. That had probably been her plan all along. He just knew it. His heart was beating like a jackhammer; his body was on fire. The things she was doing with her tongue and her hands were driving every sane thought from his mind. Swearing in several languages, he dragged her up his body, trying not to be brutal as he fastened his mouth on hers, lifting her bottom and opening her thighs to settle her over him. His breath hissed between his teeth as he probed her heated entrance, slick with her own need.

  Gillian shifted restlessly as he moved her slowly down, inch by gratifying inch, feeling him stretching and filling her. Aleksei was trembling; the velvety caress of her, the tight wet bands of muscle that gripped him as he entered her were winding his body tighter. He fed his feelings to her, his heightened senses, let her know what she was doing to him. As their bodies met, he pressed against the back of her canal, making her shudder. He fit inside her as though he were made for her.

  Fangs broke through the soft tissues in his mouth, lengthening, demanding; the need to penetrate her in every way was hard on him, but he held back. Gillian felt the razor points with her tongue and knew what he needed, knew what she wanted to give him. She broke the kiss, feeling him seated as deeply as he could be, and pressed her hand to his chest so he would look at her. Pushing her own apprehension aside, she wanted to give him this gift.

  “Aleksei, I know you’ve fed tonight so I am not food.” Lazily, she reached up, her green eyes warm with welcome and passion, her lips moist and a little swollen from his kisses, and moved her hair away from her neck. “I want this tonight. I want to know what it’s like to really make love to you, the way you would have all along if I’d let you.”

  Molten silver eyes searched her face. He saw she meant it, but he had to give her a chance. His honor demanded it; his respect for her compelled it. Cupping her face with his large hands, he spoke softly, his voice dropping to a lower register, setting deeper fires within her. “Do you understand what you are asking, Gillian? Truly?”

  Goddess, his voice, his amazing voice. He made her wetter just saying a simple sentence than anyone else had during the throes of passion. “Yes, I believe I do.”

  “It means that you will truly be mine if we exchange blood, piccola. There will be no going back.” Right now, he was struggling not to roll her under him and plunge into her furiously as he felt fresh wetness bathe him.

  “You’re not going to drain me, are you?” She straightened a little to look at him skeptically, but it made him move inside her in such a way that she couldn’t think straight and she clutched his arms for support.

  Aleksei’s great strength came into play. He gathered her to him and shifted up on the bed so she was more firmly positioned. His body pulsed at the thought of tasting her, of having her with him, and she moaned, moving on him. If she kept that up, he wouldn’t be able to think. He grabbed her hips to hold her still. “It is not draining, Gillian. It is an exchange. A commitment.”

  Oh. That. A commitment. The “C” word. “Er . . . couldn’t you just take my blood?”

  He chuckled, making her squirm harder on him, and his breath slammed from his lungs at the sensation. “No. I do not want to merely taste what you are offering, piccola. I want to be with you. Now and when this is all over. I want you.”

  “Like a servant?” Her eyes narrowed.

  “Never. I want my partner, my mate.” He stroked her hair back. “Love, Gillian. I want love in my life. You bring that to me along with a renewed joy and interest in the world. Let me give it back and enjoy the giving.” He was so earnest, so sincere, so vulnerable. There it was again. This powerful being, this Vampire, was allowi
ng himself to be as vulnerable as she was. That made up her mind.

  She looked at him, wonderment plain on her face. If he was willing to open up like that to her, it was the least she could do to trust him. “Well, since you put it that way.”

  He watched her smile and it lit up his heart. This time his kiss would have melted metal. It definitely melted Gillian. She started to ride him, his fingers tightening on her hips and his arm locking her against his body as he pressed up to meet her. Somehow he shifted her on his cock and drove up and deep. The orgasm slammed into her, and she bucked as he swallowed her moan, her inner muscles clamping down and pulling him in farther.

  Aleksei took over, rolling her under him, sliding effortlessly into her mind as she welcomed him, pouring his own desire and need into her. He brought her quickly up again, her passion mirroring his own as his hips drove into her. Gillian arched upward, welcoming every deep stroke. His mouth moved over her jaw, her chin, feathered down her neck, sending flames and chills through her body. The rough velvet of his tongue stroked over her pulse and she stiffened just a little.

  Aleksei lifted his dark head and looked at her, never breaking his rhythm. “Gillian, I will be yours too, cara mia. This goes both ways.” He gathered her tighter to him, still moving relentlessly inside her. “Give yourself to me, bellissima. This night, let me have all of you.”

  Consent formed in her mind, her eyes; she lay fully back, exposing her throat, fingers tight on his arms, her legs wrapping around his hips to pull him in deeper. Aleksei shuddered. The sight of her in complete surrender turned his heart over. His dark head bent, their hair, gold and black, intermingling on the pillow and at the juncture of their bodies as he brought them together over and over. Gill felt his teeth scrape gently, his tongue smoothing over her pulse, then fangs pierced deep.

  Intense pleasure, so close to pain that she gasped, roared through her. The deep pulling at her throat as he drank echoed the thrusting into her body and she careened over the edge of another explosive climax, crying out against his shoulder, biting him as she tried not to scream. Her teeth weren’t sharp enough to pierce him but Aleksei jerked, his pace increased, his body moving faster and harder. The taste of her danced on his tongue, sweet, hot, a soul’s addiction. He swirled his tongue over the tiny holes, sealing them.

  Reaching up, he slashed a small opening in his throat, then cupped her head, turning her mouth toward him. Gillian was too far into the seemingly endless climax to think, her body clenching over his, releasing, then grasping again. Aleksei supplied the illusion of need, her mouth fastened onto him and she took what he offered. She felt a brief moment of surprise when his blood flowed into her mouth. Realizing at once that he was making it pleasant for her, she relaxed and drank from him, thinking this couldn’t be worse than anything else she’d ever swallowed in her life.

  Instantly she felt him harden further, thickening, lengthening in anticipation of his climax. They were spiraling up together this time, but he held them at the pinnacle, increasing their pleasure to a fever pitch. She bit down, hoping to provide what he needed. Aleksei reacted, his hands tightening on her as he began almost frantically plunging into her, driven to the edge of his control by her attempt at Vampire Sexuality. Holding Gillian as tightly as he dared, he softly commanded her to stop before he lost his careful inhibitions with her completely. He moistened his finger with his saliva and sealed the small opening in his neck, then bent to take her mouth as he dropped his control and let them both fall into a glorious, explosive void.

  Both of them cried out into their kiss, Gillian pouring over him and Aleksei pouring into her. Their bodies were welded together as he strained at the apex of his final thrust, throwing his head back. She watched the tension flow over his face, then relax as the rush came; felt his deep heat bursting inside her. She couldn’t pull him in deep enough, get enough of him within her, though he was buried to the hilt. The waves kept coming in another endless climax and left them clinging to each other for stability.

  Immediately he rolled to keep his weight off her and pulled her bottom tightly against him, not wanting to relinquish a centimeter of her warmth. Gillian ran a finger along his chiseled jaw, and his silvery eyes swept down to meet hers. He was smiling with contentment. The woman he loved was in his arms, and he was deep within her body.

  “Did I hurt you, bellissima?” he asked gently. Gods above, his voice nearly made her climax.

  “Of course not.” Gillian smiled, shivering. “I love your passion, and I love making love with you.” Oh no. That breathy voice again. What the hell was wrong with her? Jesus, she sounded like a soap opera heroine.

  “But?” he pressed her.

  “I think I love you, but I’m not sure,” she said in a small voice, quite unlike the Gillian he knew. A faint blush rose to her cheeks and she looked away. Dammit all to hell, he did make her feel safe. Fine. She’d go with it. She let herself snuggle closer against his hard chest.

  Chuckling, he cradled her head to his chest, letting her hear his rioting heartbeat slowing to a normal level. She loved him. She was just too scared and too stubborn to admit it. That was all right. He could live with things the way they were until she was ready to tell him and to admit it to herself.

  Gillian fell asleep in his arms. Aleksei watched as her breathing changed to the deep, slow respiration of sleep. He stayed to watch her for a while, wanting to let this moment go on a little longer. When he finally disengaged from her body, he felt deprived of her warmth. Their combined scents lingered in the room and he began to harden from the memory. Watching her, he knew she was too tired for anther round of lovemaking so he tucked her in tenderly and let her sleep, brushing a kiss over her forehead as he gathered his clothing and left without a sound.

  Gillian woke late in the afternoon the next day as the sun was descending. She stretched and immediately wished she hadn’t. Every muscle was wound tight and ached. Gingerly she set her feet on the floor and wobbled toward the shower. Standing in the steaming water, she felt her muscles relax. Well, most of them anyway. Thank all that was holy, she wouldn’t have to walk much or ride horseback. Aleksei’s and her combined enthusiasm the night before had left her a little tender. Tanis’s similar predicament with Jenna flashed through her mind. Karma. Definitely karma. This was what she got for snickering at the Vampire’s situation after Jenna had worked him over.

  Dried and dressed, she appraised herself in case of inspection by her sharp-toothed friends. Who was she kidding? She’d be inspected all right. Neck check. Hmmm, no marks. How did he manage that? Lips, a little puffy, can cover with light lipstick—nope, a dead giveaway; she rarely wore it. Eyes bright and clear, complexion normal, not pale or flushed. Hair, damp but otherwise manageable. Experimentally she walked away from the mirror, then turned and walked toward it, a smallish figure in her cargo pants, hiking boots, brown short-sleeved shirt and safari vest. Ack! Even to her eyes her walk was careful. Good Lord, she couldn’t go downstairs yet. Trocar was probably there and Tanis, not to mention the Egyptians.

  A soft knock on her door startled her, “Yes?”

  “May I come in, cara?”

  Aleksei. Hooray for early-rising Vampires.

  “Sure.”

  He moved into the room with that mesmerizing grace only a Vampire or Elf could manage. Goddess, he was gorgeous. Black velvet pants again but these were laced up the front, tucked into calf-high velvet boots. His shirt was dark burgundy, no lace, but silk. It had no collar and allowed his hair to shift in a most becoming manner over his broad shoulders. Smiling, he bent to wrap her in his arms and kissed her. Gillian started to protest then relaxed into his embrace. Pressed against him, she could feel the strong demands of his body, smell his comforting scent, cardamom and nutmeg. Hell, he was hard already. And now she was wet. Wonderful. They had to get this out of their system or they’d be crawling all over each other everywhere.

  “That is a delightful thought, piccola,” he murmured in her mind, making her breasts
ache and her pelvis clench. Her scent called to him and he released her with effort, knowing she had other things on her mind besides him, regretfully.

  Laughing, she turned away, grabbing her backpack and notebook. Aleksei immediately noticed her stiffness and careful walk and swore, “Dio, innamorata, I have hurt you.” He was at her side instantly, caressing her back, turning her face up to him. “Gillian, I am sorry if I was too rough with you.”

  She smiled up at him and turned her mouth to kiss his palm. “No, we were both a little enthusiastic. I’m just a little tender. It’s no problem.”

  Heart melting at her defense of him, he bent to lift her and sit her on the bed. “Take your pants off,” he ordered her.

  “What?” she snorted. “You and I just got up. You need to feed and get to your meeting and I have got to go back to Dante’s and get a situation resolved. Oh, and I will take Trocar with me, so don’t worry.” Scooting forward, she tried to move around him, but he held her shoulder and pressed her gently backward until she was flat on her back, her butt on the edge of the mattress.

  “My saliva has healing properties.”

  Shocked, she looked up at the most wicked smile she had ever seen on anyone grace his sculpted face.

  Embarrassed, she covered her face with her notebook. This was just mortifying. Here he was offering to . . . She suppressed a shriek when he stripped her pants down to her ankles and pressed her legs apart, opening her fully to his scalding hot gaze. He knew she was wet and ready prior to looking at her. Before she could smack him with her notebook, he knelt; his hot mouth fastened on her and she stuffed her fist in her mouth to stifle the scream that rose in her throat at the first touch of his tongue.

  Aleksei held an arm across her pelvis, holding her still when she would have wriggled away. His tongue stroked and caressed, covering every soft, delicious fold and every sweet valley. His other hand held her open, her flesh deep pink, swollen and tender. The taste of her and her small cries hardened his body to a painful ache but he pushed his own need down to attend to her.