When Mora and Vlad entered the room, Lucian implored, “Please help her, Mora. I can’t lose my wife when I’ve just found her.”
Lucian moved out of the way, so Mora could check Rana. He trusted her explicitly. She had years of experience with old vampire medicine. She checked Rana’s pulse, looked at her pupils, listened to her heart.
“Her pulse is very weak.” When she touched her fingers to Rana’s throat once more, Mora quickly leaned near her mouth. She jerked up, saying, “She’s stopped breathing.”
Lucian’s heart thudded against his ribs like a caged animal while she showed him how to elevate Rana’s neck for CPR.
“Now, I’m going to press on her chest in three counts, after that you breathe for her, got it?”
Lucian nodded, his hands shaking as he waited for Mora to tell him to breathe for Rana. His stomach tightened in knots while they worked in unison to revive his mate, but after a few minutes, Mora put her hand on his arm.
“I’m so sorry, Lucian.”
Lucian set his jaw, his heart constricting. This loss was too great. One he’d never recover from. “Please leave us,” he said quietly.
Vlad and Mora reluctantly left him, shutting the door behind them.
When the door clicked closed, Lucian climbed back into the bed and gathered Rana in his arms, holding her close. As he rocked her, her head fell back like a broken flower. He touched her hair, her face, and her neck. “No, Rana, you can’t leave me.”
Lucian finally let the emotions he’d held back for so many years punch through to the surface—anguish over waiting and wanting for so long, pain for the brief time they had together, and regret for the family they would never have. He kissed her forehead and accepted the emptiness as deep sorrow filled the void left open once he surrendered his long suppressed feelings.
“She came back for you, you know.”
Lucian jerked his head up and focused on the man standing at the end of the bed. He wore a flowing white robe and a bright light surrounded him. Lucian clutched Rana closer, wincing at the pain the brilliant light caused.
“Rana died from the car accident,” the old man continued in an even tone. “I couldn’t change that. I only bought her time so she could help you. But now I’m here to set it right.” The old man looked at Rana, cradled in his arms. “Make her yours, Lucian. The child she carries is special. He possesses the psychic gift passed on from his mother. Raise him with your ideals in mind and keep your promise to rid the Kendrian vampires of the evil that permeates it.”
Before he could speak, the man vanished as quickly as he’d come.
Lucian lowered his hand to Rana’s stomach, blinking in awe. Our child.
As he looked at her beautiful face, her pale, flawless skin, her breathing suddenly started anew; a slow, sluggish whoosh of her blood pushing through her veins once more.
“Rana! I love you.”
Lucian tested her weak pulse with his lips, pressing a tender kiss to her skin. “I love you,” he whispered again, then he sank his teeth into her soft flesh. Her blood was the sweetest of wines as the warm liquid flowed into him, thrumming through his body, feeding the fire he knew would never extinguish between them.
When he gingerly closed her wounds, Rana stirred and moaned, her eyes fluttering open. She put a limp hand on his arm and met his gaze. “What happened?” Her brow puckered. “Where am I?”
He shook his head and pulled her close, saying huskily against her temple, “You’re home, sweet Rana, you’re home.”
“But…but…”
“Shh,” he said and ran his hand over her hair, soothing himself as much as her. “I want you to sleep now. We can talk later.”
“Lucian…” she began.
“Sleep, my love,” he commanded, compelling her.
Lucian watched her eyes drift closed, thankful for his ability to send her to sleep. He didn’t want her to suffer through the painful metamorphosis her human body would have to undergo as she became a vampire.
*
Lucian walked into the library and paused. Ian stood by the window, while his sister and uncle had each settled in the wingback chairs. “The others have left for the evening,” Sabryn said, quietly. Ian turned to him, concern in his eyes. Before he could ask, Lucian supplied the answer with a smile. “Rana is fine.”
“What?” his uncle Vlad said, looking pleasantly surprised.
“But she’s no longer human, is she?” Trish accused from the doorway. She glanced back toward the staircase, then returned her gaze to him, stating in a detached, matter-of-fact tone, “I heard her heart stop.”
Lucian rubbed the back of his neck, hoping to release the tension that had taken over his body. Rana’s whole miraculous recovery was indeed beyond his comprehension. His mate may be fine now, but his body had been so tightly coiled throughout the whole ordeal, the bunched muscles in his neck and back would take more time to work themselves out.
He sighed. “It’s a long story, but suffice it to say, Rana’s my mate now. I sent her to sleep during the change.”
“So you saved her,” Trish said, her words more of a statement than a question.
Lucian met her gaze. “No, she saved me.”
Trish smiled, apparently liking his answer. It was the first smile he’d seen on her face since she arrived. He must’ve smiled back, because she frowned, then turned and walked away without a word. He chuckled when he heard her mumble down the hall, “You’re all still a bunch of freaks.”
His uncle shook his head and looked at the empty doorway. “That one is going to give us far more trouble. I feel it in my bones.” He turned to Lucian. “I’ll let Mora know the good news concerning Rana.”
Sabryn rushed across the room to hug him tight around his neck. “I knew you’d find peace and happiness one day, Lucian. I’m so thrilled for you.”
Lucian hugged her back, and then set her away from him to look into her lilac eyes. “Now it’s your turn. You deserve your own happiness, little sister.”
Sabryn punched his arm. “Already trying to kick me out, are you?”
“Not at all. I was only trying to—” He stopped mid sentence when he saw the gleam in her eye. She’d deftly changed the subject, putting him on the defensive on purpose.
Before he could call her out, she waved to their uncle. “Come on, Uncle Vlad. Let’s leave Lucian and Ian to strategize on how best to hunt down Drace.”
As soon as his family walked out, Lucian said, “I want him eliminated yesterday, Ian.”
Ian chuckled, always his laidback self. “No worries, Luc. Drace won’t live long.”
Lucian met his golden gaze. “Whatever it takes, my friend. Getting Drace will help establish your role as the new Ruean leader.” Then a thought occurred to him that might help Ian out, too. “Why don’t you ask Duncan to hunt with you? What better way to accomplish your goal of bringing your brother into both the human and the vampire world than for him to become a vampire hunter?”
“You have a valid point.” Ian grinned as he sat down. “It’s an angle I hadn’t considered with my brother, but Drace is mine, Luc. I’ll handle him myself. As for Duncan, it’ll have to be just the right kind of hunt or he’ll smell my efforts and take the exact opposite course.”
Lucian nodded. “I’ll leave the timing up to you then, but you may need some additional help, since you’ll have other responsibilities to fulfill as the Ruean leader.”
Ian rolled his eyes, mumbling, “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”
Lucian laughed, enjoying the rich, hearty feeling in his chest. It felt good to feel truly happy again. “I would say it was my magnetic personality, but you and I both know you don’t do anything you don’t want to do.”
*
Rana awoke to the sound of Lucian closing the door. She noted her naked state underneath the covers as she lifted her head and looked at the clock.
“Is it really eight o’clock in the evening?”
Lucian nodded as he str
ipped out of his navy blue sweater. Rana’s heart thudded against her ribs at the sight of his broad, muscular chest. She closed her eyes briefly and inhaled his scent. Even from across the room, she could smell the exotic aroma that was all Lucian.
He slipped out of his pants, stripping his silk boxers with them. As he turned toward the bed, his erection bounced against his lower stomach. Rana drew in her breath. The man really did have a magnificent body. She’d never tire of looking at him.
Wait a minute. Wasn’t she supposed to be dead? As Lucian approached, she heard his heart pounding, the rush of his blood as it coursed through his veins. The sound made her realize how incredibly thirsty she was. Okay, that’s a bit on the freaky side. The idea of rushing blood should make me nauseous, that is unless I’m a….
“Lucian?”
Lucian lay down beside her and propped himself up on an elbow while he gently pushed her onto her back. “Yes, love?” Leaning over her, he ran his hand down her neck and collarbone, then skimmed his fingers over her breast.
She grabbed his wrist before he could continue his downward path and heard his heart beat trip. “Am I a vampire?”
Lucian smiled and kissed her forehead. “Yes, you are. It appears you were given a second chance at life. One with me.”
“But I was supposed to die.” Happiness and confusion warred within her.
Lucian pulled his wrist from her loosened grasp and clasped her hand in his. Sliding their hands lower, he splayed her fingers over her belly, covering her hand with his larger one.
“You have a reason to live other than for us.”
Rana jerked her gaze back to his silver one.
He smiled. “You carry our child. The next Vité.” He chuckled. “And apparently he’s going to be quite special according to an angelic friend of yours.”
She smiled. “A child?”
Our child, he answered in her mind and brought her hand to his lips.
She was going to have a child. With Lucian. Rana gave in to the excitement that coursed through her. With a seductive smile, she pulled his hand to her mouth. She returned the favor, kissing his fingers, but instead of letting his hand go, she put her lips around his finger, sucking it into her mouth.
Lucian’s breathing changed, blatant desire reflected in his eyes. When she sat up and straddled his hips, running her hands over his chest, he leaned back against the headboard and growled his approval.
“You’re all mine,” she said as she slid her warm, moist entrance along his hard length.
Lucian grasped her waist. Lifting her, he thrust deep inside her, touching her womb. She gasped in delight at the pain-pleasure she experienced as his cock forced her body to immediately adjust to his size and length.
Lucian’s expression turned to one of concern. “The baby?”
“Is just fine,” she finished with a smile and she began to rock against his hard body.
Her seductive pace made him inhale deeply, “You feel so good. I could stay buried in you for a week.”
“Will a few centuries be enough time?” Rana grinned as she rose up on her knees and then sank back down, causing him to groan his satisfaction. The glide of him deep within her made her shudder in excited anticipation. Her vampire heart couldn’t keep up with her spiraling emotions. It thumped slowly underneath her ribcage, heightening her arousal, making her want to know what it would take to make her heart beat harder. Lucian’s strong hands clamped around her waist and guided her movements, feeding the coiled tension burning within her.
She kissed his neck, reveling in his ragged breathing, and the upward thrust of his hips against hers. He smelled spicy and clean and totally aroused. The new scents and heightened sound of his pumping heart and racing blood only fueled her desire. Her nostrils flared and the strange sensation of her canines lengthening made her feel so totally out of control, she paused her movements.
Before she could pull back, Lucian clasped a firm hand on the back of her neck while he drove into her. “Feed, Rana,” he rasped out the order.
Rana moaned at the pleasure his powerful thrust caused. Gaining control of her emotions, she gave into her new primal instincts and slid her teeth into his throat. Lucian let out a low growl and climaxed as she fed, his forceful thrusts sending her over the edge right along with him. His blood tasted heady and powerful. She wanted more, more, more! Her mind had a hard time deciding which satisfied her the most; his blood coursing down her throat or the amazing climax she’d just experienced with him.
When her thirst abated, she reluctantly pulled away, licking the wounds closed on his neck. Gazing into his silver eyes, she asked, “Is it always like that when you feed? So incredibly, emotionally erotic?”
Lucian drew a finger along her cheek and jaw line. “No. Only with your anima is it like this, Rana love.”
Rana gave him a stern look. “Good, because I was beginning to wonder if you feeding on men would be a problem for me, too.”
Lucian chuckled as he reached over to pull something from the nightstand drawer. Leaning back against the headboard, he turned her around and gathered her in his arms. As she settled her back against his chest, he lifted her hand and touched the ring on her finger. When he effortlessly slid the piece of jewelry off her hand, Rana stared in shock. “How did you do that?”
“Magic,” he said, sounding a bit cocky. She could only stare in silence as he added a thin band to the ring, then slid it back on.
Where there had been a teardrop cutout at the top of the ring, a single teardrop shimmering stone was nestled in its space, right in the middle of the two blood red gems.
She held up her hand and the stones glittered together in the light, making her sigh happily. “It finally looks complete.”
“And so am I,” Lucian said and kissed her neck. Running his thumb over the ring, he continued, “Now you have a part of me and a part of you.”
Rana’s heart contracted as her excitement grew. She glanced at him. “The stone in the middle? Is it really from my tear?”
He nodded.
Her sluggish heart beat faster. She looked back at the ring. “And the red ones?”
“Are my blood. I will always love and protect you.”
His declaration, and how he’d tied it symbolically into the ring, melted her heart, but it also triggered a realization. She met his gaze. “Did you compel my father to leave?”
Lucian’s lips thinned. “The bastard got off lucky as far as I was concerned. He’ll never bother you or your family again.”
Rana’s love was so great for this man. He made sure to protect not just her but her mother as well. “Thank you!” she whispered, too choked up to say any more.
Lucian laced his fingers with hers and held her ring up to the light. Blood and tears, Rana love. I think we’ve shed enough, don’t you?
Her heart soared. Smiling, Rana snuggled into his warmth, appreciating the secure feeling of his strong arms around her. She kissed his hand, happier than she’d ever been. A life with Lucian and their child. I love you with all my heart, she whispered in his mind. And yes, I believe we’ve both paid our dues.
I hope you enjoyed Lucian and Rana’s story!
If you found A TASTE FOR PASSION an entertaining and enjoyable read, I hope you’ll consider taking the time to leave a review and share your thoughts in the online bookstore where you purchased it. Your review could be the one to help another reader decide to read A TASTE FOR PASSION!
I hope you’ll check out the rest of the books in the KENDRIAN VAMPIRES series! To keep up to date on when the next Patrice Michelle book will release, join my free newsletter http://bit.ly/11tqAQN
Other works by Patrice Michelle
Bad in Boots series
Harm’s Hunger
Ty’s Temptation
Colt’s Choice
Josh’s Justice
Kendrian Vampires series
A Taste for Passion
A Taste for Revenge
A Taste for Control
Other works by Patrice Michelle writing as P.T. Michelle
Brightest Kind of Darkness series
Ethan (Prequel)
Brightest Kind of Darkness (Book 1)
Lucid (Book 2)
Destiny (Book 3)
Coming 2014 (Book 4)
About the Author
Born and raised in the Southeast, award-winning author Patrice Michelle gave up her financial calculator for a keyboard and never looked back. Thanks to an open-minded family who taught her that life isn’t as black and white as we’re conditioned to believe, she pens her novels with the belief that various shades of gray are a lot more interesting. She’s a natural with a point-and-shoot camera, likes to fiddle with graphic design and, to the relief of her family, strums her guitar to an audience of one.
To learn more about Patrice’s fiction, visit her at the following places:
Website
http://www.ptmichelle.com
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/PTMichelleAuthor
Twitter
http://www.twitter/pt_michelle
Newsletter (free newsletter announcing releases and special contests)
http://bit.ly/11tqAQN
CAPTURED
By
Erica Stevens
CHAPTER 1
Blood slave.
The words were enough to send a cold chill of terror down Arianna’s spine. She shuddered, swallowing heavily, and repeatedly, as she tried to wet her suddenly very parched throat. Her lips were sore, she could taste her dried blood upon them as they were chapped and cracking. She’d had nothing to drink in hours, she was thirsty and her mouth was dry as cotton. The fire that had consumed parts of the forest had burned her throat, and she could taste the ash upon her tongue. The smell of smoke clung to her, cloying in its acrid odor. She would have given anything for some water, but she was fairly certain that her misery and discomfort would soon be coming to an end anyway.
The dead did not require water after all.
Surprisingly, the thought of dying aroused even less fear in her than the alternative did, and that was becoming a blood slave. Though the notion had never entered her mind before, she realized she’d prefer to take her own life before such a thing happened to her. The thought of being kept, of being trapped and used for the most disgusting means known to man, was enough to make her want to rip out her hair and run screaming in horror.
Love's First Bite: Bad Boys and Alpha Vampires Boxed Set (6 book bundle) Page 59
