“You’re not well.” Desire threaded its way through his harsh voice.
“We’ll talk about what’s ailing me later.” She yanked hard and he tumbled down beside her, surrendering without a fight.
The second their lips fused Rachel was lost. Her mind took a backseat to her need. She blindly stripped Gabriel’s shirt off, feeling the hard planes of muscle that had been hiding beneath. She couldn’t get enough of him. She wrapped her body around his, then let her fingers follow the dark trail of hair that led into his pants. Gabriel gasped when her hand closed around his hard length.
“Not yet,” he said through gritted teeth. He stopped her fingers from exploring further. “I want this to last.”
He reached for the front of her bra and ripped. The move freed her breasts and sent the material flying. Excitement zinged through her. She’d never felt so out of control. Rachel threaded her fingers through his hair and tugged his head forward. Tongues, lips and teeth collided as they devoured one another in a frenzy of melding flesh.
Gabriel tasted like sin and felt like forged steel. Rachel wanted to explore every inch of him, but he wouldn’t let her. His hands seemed to be everywhere at once, stroking and teasing her until Rachel was convinced she’d expire from sheer delight.
Somehow in the frenzy of hands and lips, he finished undressing them both. “I want you,” he murmured.
“I want you, too,” she said.
Gabriel pulled back. “Do you? Do you really?”
She was naked for cripes sake. What more was there to say? But from his stubborn expression, Rachel knew she wasn’t going to get off that easy.
“I’ve wanted you from the moment I laid eyes on you in the catacombs,” she said.
His blue eyes widened, then a beautiful smile spread across his face. “Then you shall have me for as long as you like.” Gabriel slipped down her body and parted her thighs. He had a very talented mouth that he put to good use. He explored every nook, every crevice until she thrashed upon the bed.
“Gabriel please!” Rachel grasped his hair, pulling him towards her and pushing him away in equal turns as he drove her higher and higher. It didn’t take long for her to reach her first peak, but he didn’t stop there. Gabriel continued to pleasure her from head to toe. Every time she tumbled into the abyss, he found her and drove her body even harder.
This was heaven. He was heaven. And she never wanted him to stop.
Rachel was a quivering pile of bliss by the time he rose up and positioned himself at her entrance. He kissed her tenderly, then rocked his hips forward. Gabriel was big and oh so hard. He not only filled her body completely, he filled the emptiness that had engulfed her. She canted her hips to take more of him.
He slipped in even deeper, then stilled. “Am I hurting you?”
“No.” Rachel shook her head. “I feel nothing but pleasure.”
“Good,” he growled, then began to move.
Sweat glistened on his forehead as Gabriel scalded her with his hard male flesh. Each thrust drove him a little deeper, forging a bond that until that moment Rachel didn’t know she wanted or needed.
Rachel’s hands danced along his spine, feeling the muscles bunch beneath her fingertips. So much power. So much control. And for this one moment, he was all hers. She wrapped her legs around his hips and let the pleasure sweep her away.
His hands clamped down on her shoulders and his thrusts grew harder. Gabriel’s lips latched onto one of her nipples and he sucked until Rachel moaned. The friction was too much. He was too much. He reached between their bodies and stroked, then pressed down on the bundle of nerves.
Rachel soared even higher and screamed out in passion. She clutched him harder.
His hips jerked, losing rhythm, then his mouth moved to her throat. She felt a slight sting below her ear, but the pain dissipated quickly as he lapped the spot and placed small kisses along the column of her neck. He rolled his hips once more. She arched into him and her teeth clamped down on his shoulder.
“Rachel!” Gabriel bellowed her name and his giant body shuddered as he followed her into oblivion.
It took several minutes before either of them could move. Before either of them wanted to. Gabriel slowly withdrew from her and gently kissed her lips. “Thank you,” he said.
Rachel frowned. “For what?”
“For sharing something so precious with me.” His thumb gently brushed her neck. The move sent tingles racing down her spine.
Her eyes fluttered closed and she bit her lip to keep from moaning. She could get used to this. The thought dumped ice water onto her brain. She lived in New York. Gabriel was from Paris. No matter how wonderful this moment was it would eventually end. Better to make a clean break while most of her heart was intact.
Rachel looked at him and lied. “It was just sex,” she said, knowing it was so much more. Already she wanted him again. Craved him with an intensity that scared her.
Gabriel’s blue gaze bore into hers.
Rachel looked away, hoping he hadn’t seen too much.
With two fingers, he lifted her chin until she faced him once more. “No, it wasn’t, and you bloody well know it.”
Rachel’s heart fluttered at his admission, despite her resolve to remain detached. It would be so easy to love this man. She instantly shied away from the idea. It was too frightening of a thought, especially since she still hadn’t heard what Gabriel had to say. Who knows? She might not feel the same afterwards. Now she was lying to herself. It was already too late.
The vulnerability and need she’d seen in Gabriel’s blue eyes had allowed her to unlock the door to the pain she’d been harboring. Whether he realized it or not, he’d saved her. And Rachel was pretty sure she’d saved him back.
“Okay, let’s get this over with,” she said reluctantly. “What couldn’t you tell me at the restaurant?”
Gabriel rolled off her, taking his warmth with him. “I was hoping we could…” He glanced down.
She looked at the sheets below his waist. Talk about quick recoveries.
Rachel smiled. “Maybe later.”
“I doubt you’ll be in the mood after I explain what really happened the night you were attacked. In fact, I’ll be amazed if you don’t toss me out the room,” he said.
That gave her pause. She knew Gabriel wasn’t the one who’d attacked her. Seeing the man again had confirmed that, so what did he think would get him evicted?
“Not much shocks me these days,” Rachel said.
“This will,” he said. “What I’m about to tell you is going to sound utterly mad, but it’s the absolute truth.”
“Okay,” she said, wondering where he was going with this conversation.
He took a deep breath. “The man who attacked you wasn’t a man at all.”
“He was a woman?” she asked in confusion. No way could she have gotten that wrong. Rachel was certain the attacker was a man.
Gabriel shook his head. “No, he was a Sanguis.”
“Is that some kind of cult?” she asked.
“No cult,” he said. “The man was a blood.”
“A what?”
Gabriel sighed. “You were attacked by a vampyre.”
“I know he thought he was a vampire.”
“Not thought,” Gabriel said. “Is a vampyre.”
Her mind flashed to that night. For a moment she saw his fangs covered in blood and those glowing green eyes. Everything about him had been so…unnatural. Could there be any truth to what Gabriel was telling her?
No! She shook her head. Vampires did not exist. They were myths created by man. They weren’t real.
Rachel slowly sat up and pulled the covers close as fear engulfed her. He was insane. She’d been so blinded by the promise of passion that she’d ignored what her gut had been telling her all along. “Could you repeat that please?”
His chin dropped. “You heard me. I know how it sounds, but I can prove it.”
“Not necessary.” Rachel judged the dista
nce to the door.
“Unfortunately, I think it is,” Gabriel said. “You won’t believe me otherwise.”
Her hands shook. “Sure, I will.”
“Just know that I would never hurt you.” His voice cracked. “Ever.”
Rachel rose from the bed and grabbed her robe. “I think you need to leave. You are freaking me out.”
He gave her a sad smile. “Not as much as I’m about to,” he said, then revealed the tips of his fangs.
Rachel nearly tripping over her feet to get away. “Oh my God! What are you?”
“I’m a Sanguis. We call ourselves Sang here in France. It means blood.”
Her hands trembled as she fumbled with the lock on the door. “Are you telling me you’re like the creep who attacked me?” Horrified, Rachel reached for the spot on her neck where she’d felt the prick.
“No!” Gabriel’s jaw tensed. “I am nothing like the animal that attacked you. I clean up his messes.”
“You cover up crime scenes?” Her voice rose as anger replaced some of her fear.
He shook his head. “No. Well, yes, but not like you’re insinuating.”
“You know who did this and you didn’t tell me,” she snarled to disguise the hurt. She cared about this man and he was no better than the perp. “How can you live with yourself?”
“What kind of man do you think I am?” he asked. “Wait, don’t answer that.”
Rachel stared at him, half expecting him to sprout horns. “You must really think I’m a fool.”
Gabriel looked tired when he finally met her gaze. “You are many things Rachel Chang, but a fool is not one of them. I don’t know who attacked you. If I did, justice would’ve been swift. I assure you. I’ve been trying to keep you safe.”
“How?” she shouted. “By lying to me?”
“Would you have believed me had I said something sooner?” he asked.
Hell, Rachel wasn’t sure she believed him now. Trouble was she’d been a cop long enough to know when someone was lying and as much as she didn’t like what he had to say, Rachel knew Gabriel wasn’t.
“What did the asshole that bit me really do to me?” She sank onto the floor by the door.
Gabriel sat up on the bed. The duvet fell to his waist, revealing a sculpted abdomen. Rachel drank the sight in, then forced her gaze away. The desire she felt now was tempered by sting of betrayal.
“A normal vampyre bite doesn’t do anything to a mortal other than leave them a little weak. Unfortunately when the vamp bit your arm, you struck him, shattering his nose. This caused an accidental blood exchange.”
“What does that mean exactly?” she asked. “Am I going to sprout wings and turn into a bat?”
Pain filled his eyes. “There’s no easy way to say this.”
“Gabriel, I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m not a patient person. Just tell me.”
“You’ve been infected. You’re dying, Rachel.” Gabriel’s voice held no emotion when he delivered the news.
Rachel had spent the last several months dodging the bullet that had been meant for her and now it had finally found her. Instead of fearing the future, she was strangely relieved. “How long do I have?”
“A day…perhaps three.”
The news sucker-punched her in the gut. Not enough time to get her affairs in order. Rachel had hoped it would be longer than that, but she recovered quickly. “You were obviously infected, how come you’re still alive?”
“Because my sire stayed around to make sure I was fed,” he said quietly.
Rachel’s lip curled in disgust, even though the thought of drinking blood wasn’t so gross anymore. “I take it since mine’s a psycho that’s not going to happen for me.”
Gabriel slowly shook his head. “No.”
“He’s the only one who can save me. Isn’t he?” She knew the answer, but she needed to hear it from him.
“Yes,” he said quietly.
Rachel glanced at the ceiling. Didn’t see this one coming, partner, she thought. Her mind was in turmoil, but one thing was clear. “That doesn’t leave us much time,” she said.
He looked at her. “Time for what?”
“To catch this bastard and get my necklace back.”
Gabriel stood, gloriously at ease with his nakedness. “Didn’t you hear what I said?”
“Every word.” Rachel rose and closed the distance between them.
Gabriel flinched when she touched his cheek.
“If what you say is true, I don’t have much time left. I plan to make every second count. That means I have to bring the bastard down now. Help or stay out of my way. It’s your choice.”
His brow furrowed. “You know I wouldn’t let you go after him alone. It would be suicide.”
She laughed. “I didn’t go down easy the first time. Don’t let my size fool you. I’m a tougher than I look.”
Gabriel kissed her. “Rachel Chang, you are a remarkable woman.”
Rachel blushed. “Bet you say that to all the girls.”
He stared at her. “I’ve never said that to anyone until now.” Gabriel took a deep breath. “Where should we start?”
“That’s easy,” Rachel said, grateful for the change in subject. “The catacombs. I chased him there once. There’s a good possibility he’ll show again. Besides, we have an advantage.”
Gabriel cocked his head. “What’s that?”
“Me.” Rachel shrugged. “He’s obviously after me. He wouldn’t have come by the hotel otherwise.”
He nodded. “You’ve seen his face. He knows you can identify him. That makes you a threat.”
She grinned. “Perfect, so let’s give him what he wants.”
Gabriel turned away. “It’s too dangerous.”
Rachel snorted. “I’m dying. There’s nothing else he can do to me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Gabriel said. “There are a lot of things worse than death.”
*
SIX
The plan wasn’t foolproof, but it was the best they could do under the circumstances. The bodies of the two women Rachel had seen in her dreams had been discovered, one by Gabriel’s team and the other by the Parisian police. The fact that the police had been brought in troubled the Sanguis High Council. A termination order had been given to the Trackers of Paris. There would be no trial.
Somehow the killer was keeping tabs on Rachel. She and Gabriel were counting on the fact that he’d follow her, if she left herself open for attack. The best place to do that was in the catacombs. She made sure to leisurely stroll past the cemetery on her way to the entrance. Rachel wanted to make sure the killer saw her. She bought the last ticket for the tour, then carefully slipped away from the group when they reached the wall of the dead.
Hiding until the catacombs closed for the evening hadn’t been difficult, although it did require crawling on mountains of bones. When this was over, Rachel planned to shower for at least two hours. She hid in the shadows upon a pile of skulls and concentrated on not moving.
Mentally she kept apologizing to the dead for the inconvenience. When the last employee did their rounds, she slowly made her way off her bed of bones. Human remains from the eighteenth century crunched beneath her booted feet. Somewhere nearby Gabriel waited, careful not to give his presence away.
Despite everything that had happened over the last two days, Rachel felt at peace for the first time in a year. She’d be dead in three days time. Most people didn’t get the luxury of knowing when their number was up. She’d be able to say her goodbyes, if she lived through the night. Not that there were many people in her life these days, but at least she’d get the chance. It was more than Paul got.
She turned on her flashlight and made her way down the path toward the sound of water dripping. There was no guarantee the killer would show tonight or any other night for that matter. He knew she was dying. All he had to do was wait, but they were counting on his arrogance to flush him out.
Rachel reached the ston
e chalice, which held water that steadily dripped from the ceiling. She and Gabriel had picked the spot earlier because the area was wider here than along the rest of the trail. There were no benches, so Rachel had to stand. She leaned against a wide column that looked to be holding up the cave-like roof, then extinguished the flashlight allowing the darkness to envelop her. Nothing left to do but wait.
The drip, drip, drip of the water onto the stone lulled her mind. Rachel replayed much of her life and realized with the exception of Paul’s death she had few regrets. Even though Gabriel had deceived her, she didn’t regret what they’d done, what they’d shared. Their lovemaking had been one of the best moments of her life. She’d come to Paris to contemplate ending her existence only to discover a reason to live. Too bad it was too late.
Drip, drip, drip, silence.
Rachel waited for the next drip, but it never came. Fear slithered down her spine and made gooseflesh rise on her arms. She slowly straightened. Her ears strained to hear movement. Something nearby had stopped the water. Something that liked hiding in the dark. The hair on Rachel’s neck rose.
“I know you’re here,” she said. “So you might as well just come out.”
“Come all this way for your necklace,” a male voice said far too close for comfort. His mocking tone made her want to punch him in the face again.
“Yes,” she said. “And to get justice for the women you killed.”
He laughed, the sound rusty from disuse. “We both know that’s not going to happen.”
A cool chain touched the skin on the back of her hand—Paul’s necklace. Rachel snatched for it, but missed.
“So close,” he said smugly. “Now what am I going to do with you? I have to admit I haven’t encountered a woman like you. Where’d you learn to hit like that?”
“The playground in Jersey,” she said.
“Figures,” he said. “What is so special about this useless chain that you’d risk your life to retrieve it?”
Rachel debated whether to answer. He already knew that it meant a lot to her. If he found out its sentimental value, then he might toss it among the bones. If he did that, she’d never find it.
Love's First Bite: Bad Boys and Alpha Vampires Boxed Set (6 book bundle) Page 82
