by M. L. Guida
“Exactly how are you prepared?”
“I’m going to stop at my mother’s house and retrieve some weapons. My father taught both me and my brother how to shoot and how to use a knife.”
“What do you mean?”
“My father was an ex-Marine and never wanted his sons to lose in a fight. He was also a survivalist. He taught us how to hunt with a rifle and with a bow and arrow. Father thought hunting with a bow and arrow took more stealth.”
“Doesn’t Desmond know your abilities?”
He frowned. “Yes, why?”
“Because it only takes one cut to disarm you.”
“So, what do you propose?”
“As a newly turned vampire, you lack the antibodies to resist the hallowed mud.”
“I’m not a coward.”
“Did I say you were?”
“No, you didn’t.” But he gave her a hard stare. Mistrust flickered in his eyes.
“You need to drink more of my blood.”
For a long minute his eyes remained shocked and wary as if she just told him she was a banshee here to steal his soul.
“What?” he asked.
She ignored his shocked expression. “It will build up your resistance and enhance your vampire powers.”
“I don’t—”
“Aye, you do.” She wanted to shake some sense into the man. He didn’t understand what he was facing or why she went into hiding. “You’re walking straight into danger.”
She pulled her hair back, exposing her neck, but instead of drinking from her, he clasped her determined chin and turned it.
His eyes changed color again.
His blue eye transformed depending on his mood. Now, they were ultramarine. He tilted his head. She was drawn to his lips. Her heart skipped a beat in anticipation. She waited, wanting him to kiss her like he had the other night and releasing her pent up fear. When she parted her lips, he kissed the top of her forehead as if she were a small child rather than a woman eager to taste him again. She released a disappointed sigh.
He flashed her a knowing smile, as if he understood what she wanted but denied her. He wanted her to ask him to kiss her. Why all of a sudden had he turned into a gentleman?
“I’ve got to make a phone call,” he said.
“What?” She moistened her lips, wishing he’d give her a kiss to erase her rising annoyance. “Who?”
“Michael Aims.”
“He’s a member of your band, isn’t he?”
“My drummer. He’ll know what’s going down.”
“How do you know he’s not one of them?”
“A vampire killer? Because he doesn’t sport the tattoo like Desmond and Robbie.”
He pulled his iPhone out of his back pocket and punched in the numbers. Eleanor paced the kitchen floor, sure this was a dumb idea. Jayden’s theory was based on a flimsy clue. For all he knew, Michael Aims might not have a tattoo because he was afraid of needles.
“Aims?” Jayden said.
Eleanor stopped pacing, but her beating heart hopped down a rapid path as if it had leapt from her chest.
“I don’t know, you tell me, dude.” Jayden said as he walked slowly over to the patio doors that opened up to her walk-around deck that was now covered with snow. She wished she could see his face, especially his expressive eyes, but he was a vampire and cast no reflection on her glass doors.
“Yeah, I’m all right. No thanks to those two assholes.”
Blood pumped between Eleanor’s temples, thundering with frustration. As she walked, she beat her thighs to keep from strangling Jayden. How could he be so calm? Michael could be a vampire serial killer. She slid onto a bar stool and hid her clenched fists underneath her buttocks.
“What do you know about it?” Jayden put his arm up on the glass and leaned his forehead on his forearm. “Uh, uh.”
She forced the anger back.
Concentrate.
“And tonight?”
Stop. Damn it! She was tired of fighting hordes of monsters. When one vampire killer died, two more took his or her place.
“Later, bud.”
Jayden clicked the cellular phone. He lowered his arm and stared out the window. Tension bunched in his shoulders. Eleanor wanted to demand he tell her what Michael said, but she tapped her fingers on the counter like a jack hammer to keep from ripping the phone out of his hand.
He glanced over his shoulder. “I have a gig tonight.”
“What?”
“We’re booked all week.” He shoved the smart phone back into his pocket. “Nightmare’s scheduled for two nights at the Grill. I won’t let Justin Hammer down.”
Her mouth fell open. She froze as if he’d thrown a bucket of ice over her head.
“You’re surprised.” He strolled over.
“Surprised? You could say that.” She clenched her fists and pressed her arms to her sides, afraid she’d lunge and knock his stubborn head off. “Angry. Frustrated. Appalled.”
He put his hands on her shoulders and squeezed. “I’ll be fine. I know what I’m doing.”
She rolled her eyes at stupid male vanity and flicked his hands off her. “No, you don’t. Last night, you would have died, chucklehead, if I hadn’t been there.”
His cheek tensed, and blue eyes turned stormy gray. “I wasn’t prepared. This time, I will be.”
“Oh, really? How may I ask?”
“I’ll arrive late and stay away from Desmond and Robbie. Michael said he and Derrick were freaked out by those two. They think they’ve dropped acid.”
She raised her eyebrow. “Because they told them you’re a vampire?”
He shrugged as if this was normal conversation. “It doesn’t matter. Michael and Derrick didn’t believe them, and Michael said he’d personally keep them from doing anything stupid tonight.”
“You mean like staking you?”
“Yeah.”
Control fled. She’d had enough of his arrogance. Adrenaline pumped through her veins. She grabbed his shirt, lifting him off the ground over her head.
“What the fuck?” He grabbed her arm and pounded. “Put me down.”
“Shut up and listen, you Neanderthal.” She shook him and slammed the arrogant idiot on to his feet. “Staking through the heart is Hollywood, not reality. To kill a vampire you must cut their head off. Is that how you want to die?”
He jerked away. “Will you stop doing that?”
She put her hands on her hips. “Doing what?”
He towered over her. “Lording your strength over me.”
There was a venomous note in his voice; he obviously didn’t like being dominated.
He walked over to the counter and leaned against it with his arms crossed over his chest. “God, it makes me feel like I’m a damn hobbit and you’re a warrior elf maiden.”
She slid over to him and ran her hand over his tense bicep, molding her body against his. “I didn’t know you were so into elf maidens.”
His voice lost its poisonous edge, and he glanced at her, passion slowly filling his eyes.. “I was into J.R.R. Tolkien as a kid.”
“I donna want you going tonight. ’Tis too dangerous.”
“So, what are you going to do about it, elf maiden?”
The resentment in his voice broke down her anger. Jayden was a proud man and didn’t want to hide behind a woman’s skirts. Force would only brew a river of distance between them. She needed another way. She had to get him to drink her blood. The problem was, could she do it?
She inched around his muscular body to slide her hands up his chest. “I’m going to ask you again to take my blood.”
“I said no.”
She flashed him a smile. “Taking blood can be pleasurable.”
“What are you doing?”
She moistened her lip and ignored how her lungs threatened to burst. “I’m asking you…” She lowered her gaze, and her voice faded. She couldna bring herself to say it. To ask him.
“Ask me what?”
; The words were on the tip of her tongue, and if she didn’t utter them, he’d walk out the door to face the vampire killers. Alone. Forcing the words to come out, slowly, seductively, puckering her lips and using the huskiest Marilyn Monroe voice she could muster, she said, “To kiss me.”
“Kiss you?” His brows wrinkled. “Now?”
She slipped her hands around his neck and toyed her fingers through his long locks. She pouted her lips, knowing she was playing with danger. This wasn’t a man who liked to play high school games. “Why not?”
“Eleanor, you—”
“You don’t want to kiss me?”
“Did I say that?”
He locked his arms around her waist. Possessively. As if he had a right to hold her. The game was up. He made his move and bent his dark head, slowly, accepting her challenge. His long, dark eye-lashes outlined eyes filled with hunger. But it was his sensual lips that sucked her breath away. The stubble against his hard jaw reminded of her an outlaw. She could either act like a proud modern woman and take what was hers, or retreat like a meek Puritan and huddled in the corner, quoting scriptures. She was neither. She was an old vampire, possessing many powers, seduction being one of them. She wanted him and relaxed her body, molding it against his hardness.
She closed her eyes and allowed him to take possession of her mouth, to set the pace. At first, it was an easy, leisurely kiss where they explored each others’ mouths, discovering deep secrets. His arms tightened around her, trapping her against him. She felt his growing erection against her abdomen. A web of fear shot over her, trapping her in the same nightmare of being raped again and again.
“You’re tensing,” he said, his arms loosening.
“Donna stop, please,” she said, hating to beg. Her breath was loud and hard against her ears as if she had finished running a marathon.
Doubt and unease reflected in his now blue-green eyes.
“Please,” she silently mouthed.
His jaw tightened. He held her again, prisoner against his body, his erection showing how much he wanted her. He lowered his head. This time, the kiss demanded she not breakaway. He hadn’t needed to worry. Her body was heavy and achy and desiring things she was too terrified to name.
A dizzying snowstorm of feeling swept her into a world beyond her comfort zone. Here she would have to shove away her darkest fears and trust that Jayden wouldn’t hurt her that he was a different man. An honorable man.
He lifted his mouth and laid his forehead on hers. “We need to stop while I still can.”
“Why do you keep making me plead? Does it give you pleasure?”
“No, not at all. You’re so vulnerable.”
Thinking of how minutes before she’d lifted him into the air like a dumb bell, she raised her eyebrow and smirked. “I’m not that vulnerable. It’s not like I haven’t slept with other men since….that night.” It just had been a disaster, disappointing.
He frowned and held her close. “You may be stronger than me, girl. But I know journeying to the next step scares the pants off you.”
She nodded. “I know you’re the man who will chase away my fears and replace them with passion. Am I wrong about this?”
“No,” he said. “But we need to go slow.”
She twirled his hair through her fingers. “Aye, we do. I’m not asking you to make love to me, but I am asking you to take my blood. Please.”
“You’re not going to give up on this, are you?”
“No, I’m not.” She lifted her wrist to his lips.
He leaned back as if her wrist was foul, and she frowned.
“Not like this,” he said. “This is too barbaric.”
Before she could argue with him, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to her bed where he lay her gently down. He followed along side her and kissed her deeply, his masculine taste filling her senses.
“Someday I will defeat your nightmares, Eleanor, and replace them with dreams.”
Heat warmed her cheeks.
“But tonight,” he said. “I will accept your dark gift, but I will take it with pleasure.”
Hope swelled inside her. “You’re not going to the gig?”
“That’s not for a couple of hours.” He brushed her hair behind her ear and kissed her neck, awaking sensitive nerves inside her. “Do you trust me?”
“Aye,” she said and met his stare. Her strong voice hid the growing trepidation inside her that it would be painful like last time. Jayden was twice as tall as Emmet Carver, and when Emmet had taken her, she thought he’d split her in two. Or would it be disappointing like the last two men she had been with? The foreplay had been almost non-existent and the act itself quick and messy.
He untied the white belt that held her robe together, and she wished she had her nightshirt underneath. Cold air rushed over her skin, and she shuddered. Her heart thundered. She couldn’t look into his eyes as he gazed at her half naked body.
“You’re beautiful, Eleanor.”
Her belly turned to dough, and her breasts grew taunt and sensitive. She nodded, not sure what to say, her hands gripping the comforter, wishing she could wiggle underneath the blanket.
He tore off his shirt and tossed it to the floor. Hands were on either side of her head. “Look at me.”
She bit her lip and tore her gaze from the ceiling.
He shook his head. “I shouldn’t be doing this. You’re so tense. I feel like I’m a lion about to devour a defenseless lamb.”
She tilted her chin and at last found her courage. “A lamb that just kicked your arse.”
He laughed, warm and genuine, and bent his head back. The tension faded, and she found herself smiling. She released her death grip on the comforter and reached a hand to his stubbled cheek. He gave her a quizzical look.
“Jayden, no matter when I give myself to a man now or later, it will be difficult. It’s been a long time since I’ve been with anyone. Sex has been nothing but a disappointment for me. I just hope I donna disappoint you.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because you’re used to women who are more experienced and donna have the same problems I have.”
He ran his hand down her side and she sucked in her breath. “You’re right, I am. But those women don’t have your fire. A fire that lights up a room and douses any other woman there.”
Did he really feel that way?
He kissed her, and she moved her hands over his naked back, feeling his muscles ripple beneath her. She moved her hand down his hard back. Every since she saw him bathed in sweat—dancing and singing on the state—she’d fantasized about running her palm over his naked skin. Sensations rushed over her at being skin-to-skin with Jayden. Never had she thought she’d enjoy this type of intimacy between a man and a woman. She liked how he crushed her, and how her breasts pushed against his smooth chest. He placed a rough hand on her breast and massaged it slowly. She stiffened at the intimate touch, but his lips and tongue drew her into a deep blissful kiss, and she relaxed. He left her mouth and suckled her neck.
She labored to breathe, trying not to fall into a complete panic fit and shove him off her and run into the bathroom and lock the door.
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
When his hot mouth captured a nipple, the panic attack came full force, and she jolted.
“Are you okay?” he asked, apprehension rested with each word.
Did he think she’d throw him out her second story window? “I’m fine. You startled me.”
“Eleanor, I promise you this is pleasurable. Will you believe me?”
Not able to find the words to argue, she nodded and swallowed. She laid her head on the down pillow and examined the sculpted white ceiling, pretending it was more fascinating than a velvet tongue teasing her nipple.
When his tongue first swirled around her sensitive nipple and she didn’t burst into flames of shame, it was with a sweet fascination that she watched him lave her, coaxing her nipple into a hard peak. Jayden replaced her
gnawing fear with a demanding desire. She ran her fingers through his dark hair liking how the strands caressed her. Stark pleasure rippled through her, and wetness coated her lacy panties. Jayden was tender and slow with his movements as his hand massaged and toyed with her other breast, bringing her body to life. Sensuality awakened, and tingling sensations rushed through her. A steady pulse thumped at her feminine core, and she wanted—pleasure, to experience an orgasm, not to be disappointed again and again. Jayden had taken control of her body and whim. He was now the master, a kind, but determined, lustful master.
He left her breast, only to lavish his attention on the other one. She’d never experienced such intimate pleasure and couldn’t believe how much she enjoyed his tongue on her naked skin. He kissed his way down to her navel, where he explored her bellybutton, his hair tickling her. Chills of desire shook her, and she wanted something more, but was too afraid to ask. She tried to breathe, but it was as if she’d forgotten how to inhale and exhale. Her breath came out in short quick gasps.
Jayden licked and sucked his way up her torso until he came to her neck. A calloused hand pinched her budded nipple, and she cried out, not from pain, but pleasure. Hot lips kissed her neck. “Are you sure you want me to take your blood?”
“Aye, please.” She arched her head back and pressed her nipples against his hard chest.
He lifted his head and peeled his lips back, fangs elongated. When he set his mouth down onto the curve of her neck, he drew blood. With each gentle suck, lightning pleasure shot through her, and she released a soft, ragged moan. His hand toyed and pulled her nipple. Wetness blossomed between her thighs. Her heart sent blood thumping down to her core, and she dug her nails into his massive shoulders as her first orgasm consumed her, shattering all her fears and replacing them with a fiery delight. She screamed out his name.
“Eleanor, are you all right?” He asked. Horror reflected in his eyes. “I shouldn’t have done this.”
“No, don’t you understand,” she panted, not sure she could even get the word out. “You didn’t hurt me. You…gave…me—”
Warmth flushed down her body from her cheeks to her toes.
The horror left his eyes. His lips curled into a teasing smile. “Are you trying to say you had your first orgasm?”
