Dark Awakenings (Danse Macabre Book 2)

by Christina Quinn

  “Autumn, come here.” Aleksi’s voice held that tone to it that was all power and possession. I couldn’t help but to smile as I stepped towards him.

  “I’ll be right back,” I offered to my family before I followed Aleksi into the bedroom. The second the door closed he pulled me to him and crashed his lips into mine for a fierce kiss. He growled into my mouth as he tasted me with his tongue and nipped at my bottom lip with his teeth. He didn’t break the assault of kisses until I was light headed, and my body positively tingled with anticipation. When he finished, I was panting and beyond breathless as he purred to me, pressing his hard, thick, cock against me.

  “I wanted you all to myself today. But I’ll give you to your Mother for a little while. Tonight, however, you’re all mine.” He growled gruffly into my ear before playfully nipping at the cartilage coaxing a muffled yelp from my lips.

  That glimmer of pain made my hips reach for his. My body strained to gain pleasure from him, searching in vain for some form of delicious friction or soft caress. He smirked at my want, and as if he could sense my need he let a single finger trace its way down between my breasts, over the flat plane of my stomach to curve and trace between the moist lips of my sex. The path that digit traced was maddening as he held my gaze. It wasn’t enough pressure to push me over the edge into bliss, but just enough to keep the tension in my body rising—and to noticeably dampen my night gown. My mouth went slack as near silent moans escaped my lips and I rocked my hips against that skittering flange. My body felt like one throbbing needy pulse as his other hand slid to my throat and he slowly closed his hand, cutting off my breathing. Oh, I would never admit it aloud but I loved when he did it. The sensation of his hand around my throat never failed to make me sopping wet. My back arched as I started to see spots and he released his grip, it was like he could sense that I was on that razor thin edge. Then he stopped, removed his finger from between the lips of my sex and stepped away from me with a knowing smirk.

  “When I came out of Torpor I said things would be different and I meant it. Admittedly, certain situations have prevented me from following through with it. But as those are about to be settled tonight will be a small victory celebration for us. It will put all of those others who have touched you in my absence out of your head for good.” Oh, how he smiled at me. It was such a bright and cheerful smile directly juxtaposed with that darkness that lurked in those electric eyes, making that cerulean hue seem almost navy as he sucked on his bottom lip. I was admittedly a little frightened. Liar! Miss Manners’ assertion was echoed by my body as I felt my pulse throb distinctly between my legs. I pressed my knees together, the simple act of modesty making Aleksi’s smile flower into a broad smirk.

  After a while, I nodded—because I couldn’t find my voice. My nod won a happy purr from him as he stepped to my closet and slid the door open. He picked out my outfit for me. A bright red mini skirt and a black button down shirt. He even picked out the bra, a padded push-up, one that I would have never worn with the shirt he picked out. He’s making you dress like the slut you are on the inside! My lips pursed and I almost said something, especially when he stepped back and I noticed the lack of panties. His eyes raised to mine, oh he knew I wasn’t a fan of what he chose. I do believe that is the point.

  “Oh, before I forget. I brought you a small gift.” He reached into his coat pocket and fished out a choker necklace, it was that bright shade of red with a little, ornate, black filigree heart dangling from it. My, doesn’t that look like a collar you can wear in polite society. I swallowed with the observation and my eyes were fixed on his hand as he set it gently on top of the clothes he picked out for me. “This won’t be an everyday occurrence. But since you won’t be spending the day with me, I thought it would be a good time to test your obedience.”

  “A-and if I… I h-had objected?” I somehow managed to stammer out as my eyes met his.

  “You would have been punished, lovely Autumn. Hard enough that there would have been no question as to what was going on in this room.” Oh, baby. Maybe we should have been just a little naughty?

  I swallowed. “Oh.”

  “Indeed.” His voice was flat as he spoke, but his eyes couldn’t betray the heat that lurked there. “When you’re finished with your mother, send me a text and meet me at the Harker.”

  “Are you going to join me in the shower?”

  “No, we have guests.” He clipped out before slipping out of the door, leaving me to stare at the clothing on the bed for a few moments before I gathered them up and took them into the bathroom with me.

  In all honesty, I don’t think I’ve ever showered and dressed quicker in my entire life. Within thirty minutes I had dried, dressed, done my makeup and put a few curls in my hair. The absence of panties made me acutely aware of how aroused I was while wearing the outfit. The very presence of the outfit reminded me of Aleksi, as did the lack of panties and the air that occasionally caressed my bare sex. When I walked out into the living room, I saw something I wasn’t expecting at all. Aleksi was holding Philippa in his arms and smiling down at the small bundle that beamed up at him with pure joy and love. I stared for a few moments, would he be that happy with our child? I hadn’t stopped having those visions, that blue eyed little boy was going to come someday. Aleksi handed the baby back to my sister and walked over to me.

  “I’m going to go rehearse with Evan while you’re out with your family.” As he spoke, his hand slid up under my skirt from behind and he slipped one of those long, pallid fingers inside of my sopping sex. I bit my bottom lip so hard I thought it’d bleed as he fingered me with languid strokes as my mother and sister played with the baby roughly four yards away. He leaned in close to me and whispered, “Good girl.” I almost lost it. Then as quickly as he began, he withdrew the finger from me and pulled my skirt back down and placed a chaste kiss on my forehead before stepping away. “It was a pleasure to meet you again, Mrs. Darling. And a pleasure to finally meet you, Claire. Have fun shopping.” Aleksi called before he left without another word, leaving me to stare after him as I lingered on a new found level of sexual frustration.

  Shopping was hell, and not just because of the lack of panties. I endured the barbs from my mother all day, and when I finally sent Aleksi the text I was wound like spring ready to pop. As the car took me to the Harker I watched as the street lights passed on the window, they were almost hypnotizing. My fingers toyed with the new choker as I thought about what awaited me in the ancient theatre and then those white lights twisted and warped.

  Before my eyes, in the reflection on the window was Gregory. I didn’t fight the vision, I let it show me what it wanted to. He was standing in an alleyway yelling at someone, I couldn’t hear anything but I saw it all. More importantly I knew where it was. He was by the university in one of the new apartment buildings. Everything about him screamed panic, something clearly wasn’t going as planned. Maybe he didn’t expect the Sun Cross to do what they did. The vision trailed him inside of the building and down into its depths where someone had put together a rather posh apartment for him. By the looks of it, he had been there a while and that simple realization broke the vision and the window of the car.

  The glass spider webbed and I gasped, my hand resting on my chest as my heart beat grew frantic.

  “Sorry, Miss. Sometimes gravel gets kicked up on the road and gets knocked into the window.”

  “Oh, it’s okay… it j-just…it just startled me was all.” I laughed nervously and toyed with the ends of my perfectly curled hair. Mustn’t let the good people know you’re telekinetic. I spent the rest of the drive nervously smoothing my skirt.

  When I arrived at the Harker I slipped out of the town car with a mumbled thank you and stared up at the century old building. I hesitated before I made my way to the stage door. After entering the code into the electric lock I stared down the mostly dark hallway and sighed. There was something about the old building that made me hesitate. I didn’t like how it felt, like it was
something alive. It was as though I was going in willingly to be devoured. The door squeaked loud and shrill as it closed behind me.

  Inside was dimly lit, the overhead fluoresces were turned off and the only light came from the security lights which were yellowed and old. My heels clicked ominously on the tile as I fished my phone out of my purse. Aleksi had never responded to my text message. Sighing I tucked it away and walked down the dimly lit halls. The lack of light played tricks with my eyes, and I could have sworn the shadows were moving. On top of everything it was unnervingly silent.

  As I walked down the darkened halls I heard hushed voices that I could barely make out as I neared one of the rehearsal rooms. Here it was easy to see inside from the hall, there were no sound dampening walls to keep the music in and the noise from the hall out. The door was wooden and the glass pane in it was actually leaded. Inside Nikolai and Aleksi were talking in the middle of the room. Aleksi was shirtless and as always wearing those lovely tights and a black pair of ballet slippers. Nikolai wore a leather jacket and worn tight blue jeans that were ripped at the knee. His hair was getting longer, and it had almost tarnished to that same shade of near black as Aleksi’s. They almost looked like identical twins. Nikolai tilted his head and looked at me first. Aleksi was facing away from the door so I could forgive him not noticing that I was there. When I opened the door Nikolai flashed me a quick smirk.

  “How was shopping?” Aleksi asked as he slowly turned around and flashed me a dazzling smile that made me melt.

  “It was… an interesting experience.”

  “Are you still wet?” The simple words rolled off of his tongue and my face blushed deep red. “I seem to recall I left you absolutely sopping.”

  When I approached him, he pulled me into his arms kissing me quickly before turning me around. He handled me like a rag doll for a moment as he held me hostage, with my back pressed against his chest and his front teeth nipping at my throat. That sharp intense pain caught my breath and made me arch back against him, squirming in his arms as that familiar warmth spread through me. I almost forgot about Nikolai standing there watching me with those pale eyes full of desire, almost.

  “Kolen’ka, strip Autumn. I think she’s wearing entirely too many clothes, don’t you?” Aleksi growled before his tongue worked over those lovely teeth marks he left behind.

  Nikolai approached me hesitantly, but still his fingers eventually found the buttons to my coat. As he unfastened them and Aleksi continued teasing the flesh at my neck I couldn’t help but to wonder what changed. The prospect of having the two of them at once practically set my body on fire, but that went without saying. There was still, however, a string of curious doubt running through my mind since the last time Aleksi addressed the issue of Nikolai it was shortly after he had beat him…for holding my hand. Did a week of them living together really change that much? My internal questioning cooled my lust, even as Nikolai opened my shirt.

  Part of me wanted to ask what had changed, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Every time I got close to forming the words, Aleksi took my breath away with a well-timed bite. My breathing was shaky as Nikolai trailed his fingers down my sides and looped his thumbs into the waistband of my tiny miniskirt. I pressed my knees together as the anticipation ate at me and he slid the skirt down. As he knelt in front of me I crossed my ankles for all of the good it did. I was nude from the waist down, and the cool air on my damp sex only emphasized it.

  “Spread your legs,” Aleksi growled into my ear. “I’m not going to give the order again.” There was something about that tone that made me shiver. I slowly uncrossed my ankles and Nikolai trialed his hands up and down my thighs making me squirm all the more. “Good girl. Kolen’ka, reward Autumn for being such a good girl.” Aleksi groaned before he sunk his fangs into my throat. A soft little cry broke from my lips at the unexpected sting of splitting flesh. I tried to twist away from it, but Nikolai’s hands had my hips hostage. His mouth pressed against my needy throbbing sex and within seconds of Aleksi’s bite. Nikolai was lapping dexterously at the needy kernel of flesh at the apex of my sex, making my hips twist all the more. My brain had effectively melted, the mix of pleasure and pain was exquisite. All thought had effectively left my mind, and Miss Manners had been sent on vacation by Nikolai’s diligent oral administrations.

  As quick as they had set on me, they both stopped at the same time, leaving me on the very edge of orgasm. My chest was heaving with every breath as both released me and Nikolai stood. He walked to the corner behind me as Aleksi stepped in front of me, his eyes caught mine in that predatory hold and I let myself ride that wave of cerulean blue. He pushed the coat and shirt off of my shoulders the heavy mass of fabric hit the floor with an audible thud. Reaching behind me, he removed my bra with a deft flick of his wrist. As the silky fabric joined the rest of my clothes at my feet my nipples hardened in the cold. With one look at my nude body Aleksi growled and kissed me roughly. His hand wrapped around my throat as his tongue traced my lips and lanced into my mouth making me shiver and moan. He broke the kiss and traced along my nose with his. A lazy smile spread his lips and he held me close for a moment pressing his body to mine.

  “I love you,” he purred happily to me as he took a step back. I turned and found Nikolai on a chair tying something to an old rusty chain that dangled from the ceiling. “In the early days of Danse du Nuit, this was where we naughty vampires were punished. And you Autumn, have been a very naughty girl. Your Pointe shoes are in the bag in the corner, put them on.” The order made me swallow and my heart beat quicken as I watched Nikolai finish tying a long bright red ribbon from that old chain. I slipped out of my heels and walked to the bag in the back with my head held high. I could feel their eyes on me and their barely contained desire.

  When I opened the bag my eyes went wide. It wasn’t just my Pointe shoes in the black book bag. No, there was a riding crop, a box of condoms, various small clamps with weights, a bottle of lube and several other floggers. My mind drifted to what Aleksi had said when he showed me Nikolai’s closet full of his toys. ‘We barely scratched the surface’ the words lingered with me as I stretched and stared at my bright red shoes. Yet at the same time I was utterly titillated. I slid the little gel pads over my toes and put on my Pointe shoes, carefully tying the vibrant red ribbon. Flexing my feet a few times I stood and raised en Pointe for a moment before lowering and walking to stand in front of Aleksi. He slid his hands up and down my sides for a few moments, the innocuous touch frustrating me and making my hips twist.

  “Mm, so impatient.” He practically cackled before he stepped away from me and walked over to where Nikolai was standing. I followed him because I knew that was what he wanted. I also knew what was to come.

  Once I was standing under the ribbon, Aleksi took another length of that soft fabric and tied my wrists together and then raised them above my head. Nikolai wrapped the other end of ribbon dangling from the chain between my hands until I was just barely able to stand while raised en Pointe.

  “Since we are playing with Kolen’ka there will be a safe-word, for both of you. It will be… coffin.” Aleksi laughed at his joke and leaned forward to kiss my throat. “Say it.” He whispered against my skin. The tone of his voice made me press my knees together.

  “C-c-coffin.” I finally managed to say as his hand stroked up my thigh. His fingers, however, stopped short of that drooling greedy mouth at the apex of my body.

  “Perfect.” He breathed against my throat before stepping away. “This is going to be extremely intense.”

  “You said that last time.” I smiled at him, he reached out and caressed across my jaw.

  “This won’t be like last time.”

  As he spoke Nikolai walked up beside him. Sometime while he was behind me he had shed his coat and shirt leaving him in nothing but his jeans which rode low on his hips. A purr of approval left Aleksi’s throat as he took in Nikolai’s half naked form. Then suddenly and without warning he pulled the younger
vampire in for a deep kiss. Something was definitely wrong. Aleksi was not Colette, he had made it very clear that he wasn’t interested in Nikolai. Something about the kiss between the two of them made me start to panic, the chains over my head jingled as I fought them and with my telekinesis I tried to pull the ribbon free.

  “Coffin!” I spoke softly, my voice had never been so sure as I watched the two of them make out. “Coffin!” I called louder. Aleksi broke the kiss and turned to me.

  “But I haven’t even touched you that hardly seems fair.”

  “L-let me d-down, I d-don-don’t want t-to do this.” You’re really going to stop because of that? A shape in the shadows moved.

  As Aleksi and Nikolai parted completely I could feel their disappointment in tandem and it almost made me disappointed too… almost. Neither of them moved to untie me though, instead they both surveyed my body like the predators they were. Aleksi took a step forward, with his head lulled to the side a bit.

  “Oh, but you do.” He purred as he closed the distance between us and slipped his hand between my legs. His fingers probed my wetness coaxing a soft moan from my lips. Just give in, if something is wrong with them it has nothing to do with you. Enjoy this. Miss Manners, as always, had turned selfish with Aleksi’s touch. Those long pale fingers worked their way inside of me in the way that only Aleksi knew how. A moan broke my lips, instantly coloring my cheeks. “That’s it… just give in.” He whispered to me.