Quintus (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 9)

by Kym Grosso

  “Please. You can bite me. Do it,” she encouraged. Her tongue teased his finger as if it were his cock.

  “Jesus Christ, Gabby.” Quintus increased his pace, stroking in and out of her, his fangs burning to slice into her flesh.

  “Please, do it. Ah Goddess…I can’t stop…I’m…I’m coming,” she screamed.

  Quintus cursed, unable to control himself as his climax slammed into him. He struggled to rein in his primal urge, his fangs retreating as his lips kissed her shoulder. “Holy fuck…I…”

  She panted, begging him to bite her as he gave a final thrust, but he restrained himself, refusing to do it. Her emotions plowed through him like a freight train, but as quickly as they’d rushed over him, they ended. Gabriella sealed off her thoughts and Quintus knew for certain he’d have to let her go. He couldn’t bear to fall for a wolf whose mate would wait for her, or lose another woman like he’d lost Mao.

  As he eased out of her, she softly moaned, averting her gaze. He pressed a kiss to her shoulder, words failing him in the moment.

  “I need a minute,” she whispered, turning her face into the spray.

  Quintus backed out of the shower, reaching for a towel. The intimacy had smothered him, the space bringing air to his lungs. Jesus fucking Christ, what have I done? I’m a selfish bastard. The chaos of his thoughts would not settle. As he left the bathroom, he caught the sight of her chest rise in a subtle sob. He shook his head in disgust, aware he’d rejected her blood. It was for her own good, he told himself, yet the lie bored a hole in his gut.

  Chapter Six

  Gabriella shook with anger. Opening herself, being vulnerable to the vampire, emotionally, physically, had been a mistake. Jesus, what kind of a fucking idiot am I?

  She breathed slowly, recalling how he’d made love to her. He hadn’t even looked at her as he fucked her, let alone bit her. Yet he’d played her body like an instrument in a symphony with the magic of his lips and his hard-as-fuck cock stroking every inch of her pussy. She’d sensed the raw attraction threading through his psyche but he’d abruptly shut down, never tasting what she’d offered.

  Gabriella shook her head and leaned back into the shower, her body still sizzling from the mind-numbing orgasm. The droplets teased her taut nipples, ripe with desire. Her traitorous body yearned for the vampire, who’d denied her.

  Impure. Inbred. The taunts ran through her mind and she shoved them aside, reminding herself that Quintus wasn’t the coven. He was vampire, which perhaps, made it worse. Her blood had been good enough to save him yet now that he knew she was wolf, he wouldn’t drink from her.

  Gabriella’s chest ached, recalling how she’d begged him to bite her. The refusal had been a slap in the face. Her wolf had nearly submitted, crawling to the forefront of her psyche. Convinced the dominant vampire had somehow played with her mind, she attempted to cut off her emotions and ignore the hunger, but the beast stirred, howling, demanding it be let loose.

  For so long, she’d restrained her wolf, keeping it at bay. Ashamed of her lupine blood, she’d only shifted on the full moon, aware her magick would falter if she didn’t. But tonight, the wolf had grown increasingly restless. She’d always maintained control, but making love to Quintus had awakened her feral instincts. She craved his touch, ravenous for the man who’d resisted her blood.

  Humiliation and frustration boiled in her gut. Exhausted, she balled her hands into fists and spread her fingers wide, allowing her claws to extend. As she stepped out of the shower, beads of water spilled down her body, and she caught sight of her wild eyes in the mirror. Let her free, an inner voice whispered. Yes, she responded.

  A tornado of emotion swirled in her chest as Gabriella released her wolf and she surrendered to the transformation. As the pads of her feet hit the cool marble floor, the strength of her feral beast replaced the weakness of the witch. The vampire would not lie with her ever again once he saw the power of her wolf. She’d sleep alone, soundly, awaiting the magick of the moon.

  The scent of her vampire permeated the air, but as Gabriella loped into the bedroom, she immediately sensed his absence. Although the witch inside her mind immediately flared with both pain and desire, the wolf ignored the emotions, and stalked toward the bed. Its power would protect her by healing her from within, strengthening her magick and readying her for a fight.

  She jumped onto the bed and settled onto the plush white comforter. With the house quiet and her wolf on the watch, Gabriella closed her lids, succumbing to the nurturing sleep. In the morning, she told herself. In the morning, I’ll get answers. Her whole life had been nothing but pain. Tonight was a lesson in trust and acceptance. No one ever wanted her, not even Quintus. But she’d choose herself and know that she was enough.

  Her dream was interrupted, and she went on alert, hearing the footsteps in the hallway. As her lids slowly opened, she caught sight of her magnificent vampire. A towel slung low around his hips, shadows of the candlelight danced on his sculpted abs. As he stepped into the bedroom, a low growl rattled in her throat.

  “You’re a…you’ve shifted.” Quintus held a bottle of wine and two glasses in one hand and a tray in the other.

  Gabriella grew louder, protesting as he took a deliberate step toward her.

  “We have to talk, Gabby,” he said, his voice soft. “Let me just…I want to see you.”

  She let out a loud bark as he drew closer, her hackles raised.

  “Your color, it’s unusual. Your fur. It’s black with tones of red and grays…you’re beautiful.”

  Her heart softened at his words. She’d been called all sorts of hideous names but never beautiful. No. Don’t listen to him. Let him go. You’ll get hurt. Protecting her heart was paramount if she ever were going to be free.

  “I thought the full moon was tomorrow,” he said, not as much as a question but a statement. He glanced at the New York City skyline through the floor-to-ceiling window then drifted his focus back to Gabriella. “What just happened in the shower…ah, bella. I know you wanted me to drink from you, but I couldn’t.”

  She bared her fangs in response, daring him to come closer. It was her who would draw blood if he touched her.

  He passed her on the bed, keeping his focus on her ebony eyes as he crossed the room to a sleek rosewood desk. As he turned his back to her, Gabriella noted her surroundings. With twenty-foot ceilings, the enormous master bedroom’s stark white walls contrasted with the deep cherry hardwood floors. Its contemporary furniture was a vast departure from the old world décor of his home in New Orleans.

  The sound of the glasses settling onto the wood refocused her attention, and she cautiously watched him pour the red wine. As he turned to her and lifted the rim to his lips, he gave a knowing smile. Her stomach flipped, his sexy gaze washing over her. In an attempt to ignore him, she shoved her humanity to the recesses of her mind, shifting all power to her beast.

  “The thing is my lovely little wolf, you’ve never been bitten.” Quintus slowly took a sip, his seductive eyes locked on hers. “I could lie and say I don’t want your blood.”

  Quintus made his way toward Gabriella. She snarled in response, her claws extending into the fabric.

  “Easy there, no need to tear up the bed. I mean, I’d be happy to do it the old-fashioned way but…ah well, perhaps that shouldn’t happen.”

  Gabriella glared at him in contempt.

  “Did you not feel my fangs on your skin?” he asked, his lips forming a sexy smile.

  She cocked her head, still baring her teeth at him. Of course she’d felt the scrape along her shoulder, teasing her into submission.

  “I wanted it every bit as much as you, but I have my reasons. I’m not ever going to lie to you. Even if I could, I wouldn’t use compulsion to make you think I bit you when I didn’t. My guess is that you wouldn’t be susceptible to my ability to do it anyway. Do you know how special that is? There have been very few people in my life who are immune. Viktor. But of course, he’s my brother. He has the gift
, as well, as did our sire. And then there was Mao,” he stated, turning to gaze out the window.

  Every muscle in her body tensed at the mention of another woman on his lips. Jealousy flared but she smothered the negative thought while remaining on alert.

  “She was a special creature. A pixiu. It doesn’t matter to say much more but she…well, I suppose she was somewhat of a shifter as well. Not in its true sense of the word like you, but she wasn’t human. I’m not sure if you realize but, although there’re certainly exceptions, vampires typically feed off of humans.”

  Gabriella recalled the humans at the club, aware he’d fed off of them, most likely using them for sex as well. She loathed the blood clubs, donors desperate for an experience and shifters seeking more of the same. Although she’d felt like a whore selling her blood, she’d never let them have more, not her flesh. The temptation of the orgasm incited by their bite lingered in her thoughts but she’d never been willing to give herself to anyone…until Quintus.

  “Humans have never been anything more than food, a simple necessary means to an end. Perhaps some more enjoyable than others. But there has been no one in my life like Mao…no one who I’ve bonded with…until…” He sighed, and turned toward Gabriella. “You’re an unexpected complication. I keep saying that there’s something about you, but you see, I’ve suspected it’s so much more.”

  Quintus approached the bed, drawing closer to his wolf. “Easy, bella. I’m just going to sit down here. No fighting. Just talking. Now, I’m not sure what made you shift before the moon or if this is something you can just do on demand, but you can’t stay that way forever.”

  Gabriella gave a soft whine as he sat gently on the mattress, coming within inches of her lupine form. The scent of her vampire called to her, tempting her to shift.

  “What happened back there?” He gave a loud sigh. “Your blood saved me in New Orleans. But I suspect that when I bite you…there is no going back once I do it. You’re a virgin, si? Never been bitten?”

  Her wide eyes blinked, acknowledging his statement. Never allowing the vampires who bought her blood to feed directly had been essential to her survival. Mostly working through third parties, she remained anonymous. Her magical blood was a rare commodity. Permitting them to bite would have relegated her to the ranks of a donor. Gabriella didn’t seek the rush of being bitten by strangers, or the sex that would have followed.

  “There’s nothing wrong with that. But this connection between us…”

  She refused to change, although she desperately yearned to touch him.

  “On an average day, when I bite someone, there’s sometimes a slight tie to the human. For at least that moment in time, I can feel their emotions, but it ends there. With you, you must understand, this is not something I can take back. If I bite you and we bond, it could be permanent. I can’t be sure if you’re the one until I bite you, but instinct tells me…”

  Mate. The word danced in her thoughts. Although aware that wolves mated, she never suspected it could happen to her. Not being of pack, it’d been unlikely she’d meet anyone.

  “I know what you’re thinking. Wolves mate with wolves. And this is true. It’s crossed my mind that although we have this connection, perhaps your mate is out there somewhere waiting for you. And if that’s so, that you have a mate, someone other than me, then I suppose I’m simply just enamored with you.” He took a sip of his wine, gently setting the glass on the night table. “The only way to test this is for me to bite you. To see if the bond is there. Of course it sounds easy enough, but bella, you’ve never been bitten. This is not a choice to be made lightly. I could not allow myself to bite you, no matter how much I wanted to. It would not be wise or honorable.”

  Gabriella’s heart squeezed at his words. As he reached for her, she stilled in anticipation of his touch. Her body sizzled with magick as his palm ran over her head and down her flank.

  “You’re beautiful, Gabriella. As a wolf. As a witch. This coven, these people who called you impure, they’re wrong. You’re unique. Any pack would have been privileged to have you.”

  As Quintus shifted off the bed and crossed the room, the loss of his warmth saddened her. She’d never been told she was beautiful.

  “You must be hungry,” he said, reaching for a tray. “I apologize but with all my travel as of late, I’m not fully stocked. But apples and cheese do stay well.”

  She whined, not for food but for his touch. As if he’d read her mind, he returned to the bed, setting the tray next to his wine.

  “I can feel you, Gabby. Even as wolf, I feel you inside me. This isn’t natural for me. I don’t want to hurt you. I won’t hurt you. So I’m sorry, but we cannot do this.”

  Anger burned hot inside of her. Why did he get to make the decision about whether she was bitten? The magick blistered bright, forcing the transformation. She gasped for breath as her shift completed, her eyes set on his.

  “I’m no different than the other donors. I wanted this. Do you have any idea what I offered you?” she stated, her voice raised.

  “You are different than the others,” he challenged.

  “So what is this between us? You fuck me but you feed from humans. You tell me we’re connected but you won’t bite me to find out if I’m supposed to be with you because I’m a…haven’t ever been bitten.” Gabriella shoved up to sit, fury in her eyes. “Jesus, I should have never asked you for help.”

  “I told you I would help you and I will. I helped you right now. Don’t you understand what could happen if I bite you?” Quintus’ intense stare held hers as if daring her to move.

  “I get that you bite thousands of women. Fuck them too. That’s what I get. But me, what? I’m good enough to save you but not good enough to drink from. And your reasoning is that we might be bonded? You don’t want to risk doing that with someone like me.” Gabriella blew out a breath, and shook her head, averting her gaze. “Nope, you know what? I shouldn’t have had sex with you. I shouldn’t have asked you for help. And I shouldn’t be here.”

  “Do you want a bond with someone who will need to feed from you? Let’s say I’m right. You’re my mate. That somehow, the Goddess sees fit for me to bond with a witch, a shifter, never a human. Do you know what it means to be food? Because I can tell you this, feeding off others, it’s intimate. If you don’t like it, I still need to eat. Would you want to bond with a male who feeds off strangers? Is that what you want? Because that’s where this is headed.”

  Gabriella leapt off the bed, running towards the door. Naked, she hadn’t given a thought to where she was going. She only knew she needed to escape the pain of rejection. Craving Quintus, wanting him to bite her wasn’t rational, yet the obsession grew by the second. All the other women had been good enough. Not me.

  Within seconds, he flew across the room. Firm hands spun her shoulders around, pinning her naked form to the wall. The heat of his body emanated onto her skin as he caged her with his palms planted firmly to her sides.

  “Let me go,” she demanded, releasing her magick. His body brushed hers and her traitorous nipples stood erect in arousal.

  “If we’re bonded, this is not something I can undo. I’m powerful. Lethal. Ruthless. You don’t even know me, Gabriella. It would be hard but I could let you walk away now. But if I bite you…once this starts…”

  She gasped as his fangs dropped, the sight of them inciting exhilaration deep in her belly. Without thinking, she reached for his face, her palm on his cheek, but his expression didn’t soften as he continued.

  “I crave you like no other woman. But if you choose to be mine and bond with me, you’ll either allow me to feed from you, or I will have to have others. I can’t force this decision on you.”

  “I’m not supposed to have a vampire as a mate.” Sliding the pad of her finger down his fang, she met his gaze. Gabriella’s chest rose as she inhaled and released a deep breath. “I never expected this could happen. I don’t know what it means to be bonded to another, yet my beast…s
he wants you.”

  “I can choose not to bond, Gabby. It would be hard, but I could do it. If I bite you and I’m wrong about us, if I’m not your mate, your wolf…she may find someone else who is. After you’re safe, you can still walk away from me and this life of mine.”

  “I…I don’t know why I want this…no, I need this,” she whispered. Arousal twisted through her as she stroked his sharp fang. With the brush of his erection against her stomach, she shivered in anticipation of his touch. “Quintus. Be clear on this. If you’re my mate, there will be no others. Only me.”

  “Be aware you play with fire, pet. I am thousands of years old. I’ve killed more men than I can count. The power within me is held by few who roam this earth. And you’re but a child. The bitter darkness in my soul, it craves the light within you.”

  “The energy between us…I can’t explain it. I want you to be my first. But there are times…” Quintus terrified her with his sheer power, yet her magick, her very soul craved to breathe the same air with him. “Tonight in that club. Those people…”

  “My people…”

  “They scare me. They do as they wish, only complying with society’s rules because a leader makes them.” On the rare occasions she’d been forced to go into a vampire club, she’d witnessed ruthless acts of violence. “If you weren’t there tonight, Ravi would have killed me.”

  “If you say yes, and you’re mine, you’re going to be part of my world. I’ll protect you but you must learn to submit. Your wolf knows this.” Quintus sucked her finger into his mouth and released it, the sharp tip of his pointed tooth scraping over its pad.

  “I’m also a witch,” she countered. As he rocked his hard cock against her hip, her pussy clenched in arousal. “I…I’m not like the others.”

  “Tell me, mi bella. Do you understand what it would be like to be food? To make love and be bitten, to be only mine?” His mouth brushed a rough kiss to her chin, and he sucked her bottom lip.