Something reached out from the darkness, gripped her by the hair, and yanked her off her feet. The feel of a sharp object pressed against her throat.
“It’s time for you to die, Madison.”
Madison screamed, lashing out with her arms and legs. Yet the harder she fought, the less she could move.
“Wake up, Madison!”
Was that Simon’s voice in her head? Had he come to help her?
“Simon,” she cried, reaching for him. “Help me!”
His arms came around her and he pulled her to her feet. “I got you. You’re alright, Madison. I got you.”
Madison shuddered in relief, holding tightly to Simon as he rocked her back and forth.
His hands ran up and down her back in a soothing motion. “Easy…it was just a dream. You’re okay now.”
Burrowing in closer, Madison buried her face against his neck, the sound of that hideous laugh still slithering through her psyche.
“Shhhhh.” He continued to hold her, his mere presence a calming relief.
And then she noticed his scent. That masculine essence that she’d picked up on before. She hiccupped, stunned to realize she’d been crying.
He pulled her in closer, his voice barely a whisper. “Don’t do that. Dammit, you’re killing me.”
Madison stilled, her lips brushing against the skin of his neck. She slowly dragged her face upward, her stomach in knots and her heart beating wildly.
The corner of Simon’s mouth rested against her own. He didn’t move, only continued to hold her. “Madison…”
She could feel his warm breath, smell its sweetness. How the hell could his breath smell so damn good?
He slowly inched his face around until his lips were touching hers.
A groan escaped him…or was it her? She wasn’t sure.
His lips brushed against hers before he eased them over to her cheek and caught the tear that hovered there. “Damn me,” he whispered, slanting his mouth over hers.
Madison lost all thought the moment Simon’s lips took control of hers. Gone was the nightmare…the anxiety…the terror.
Butterflies took flight inside her stomach. His scent encircled her; his taste consumed her.
His hands lowered down her back to grip her bottom. He pulled her tighter against him, his erection pressing near the juncture of her thighs. And then he rolled his hips.
Madison moaned into his mouth, an overwhelming need stirring in the pit of her stomach. She wanted him—this vampire she detested.
Reality came crashing in with a vengeance. Madison broke off the kiss and turned her face to the side. “Stop.”
Simon stilled. “Madison…”
“Let me go,” she whispered, horrified by what she’d done.
His arms fell away, but he didn’t back up. Madison was left with little choice but to inch around him or stand there and beg him to kiss her again. She chose to flee.
She padded barefoot down the hall and into the bathroom before turning on the faucet of the sink and splashing cold water on her overheated face. She’d kissed Simon Le Blanc. “Shit.”
A knock sounded on the front door causing Madison’s nerves to scatter throughout her body. She quickly dried her face and left the bathroom.
Roman’s voice reached her ears. “Madison really needs to be at the compound.”
Madison rounded the corner. “Roman.”
“Listen,” Roman began, striding toward her. “You’ll be a hell of a lot safer at the compound than you are here. Svetlana isn’t going to stop searching for Simon. No matter how strong he is, he won’t be able to stop her from killing you. She’s his maker, which means that he’s powerless where she’s concerned.”
Madison glanced at Simon to find him staring back at her with red, glowing eyes. “Roman’s right, Madison. You need to return to the compound. It’s the safest place for you.”
“I need to return?” Madison repeated his words. “And what are you planning to do, give yourself over to her?”
Simon shrugged. “If that’s what it takes.”
For some reason, the thought of Simon in Svetlana’s clutches sickened Madison. “It’s an idiotic plan.”
Chapter Thirteen
Simon watched the play of emotions on Madison’s expressive face. She wasn’t as immune to him as she’d like to think. She had also melted against him when he’d kissed her earlier. Her momentary surrender had been the most incredible sensation Simon had felt in decades. Hell, who was he kidding? More like centuries.
He ignored Madison’s idiotic comment and turned his attention to Roman. “I’ll surrender myself to Svetlana in exchange for Madison’s safety. Take her with you.”
“He’s not taking me anywhere!” Madison snapped, moving to step in front of Simon. “And I’ll not let you run back to that sharp-toothed bitch on my behalf. Forget it.”
Simon lifted an eyebrow. “Sharp-toothed?”
“You heard me. Now think of something else, because your plan is ridiculous.”
Simon couldn’t look away from Madison’s whiskey-colored eyes. Damn, but she was sexy when angry.
He peered over her head and met Roman’s quizzical gaze. “I’ll give you another twenty-four hours to locate Svetlana. If she hasn’t been destroyed by then, I’ll seek her out myself.”
Roman nodded.
Madison’s mouth fell open.
Simon sighed.
“Find her,” Madison demanded of Roman without turning to face him, “before she has a chance to torture Sawyer.”
It roasted Simon’s ass that Madison worried so much for Sawyer’s fate. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was infatuated with the wolf. His fangs threatened to elongate.
Roman spun toward the door. “I better get going. It’ll be daylight soon. I’ll check in with you the minute I find something.”
Simon watched him go, more than aware of Madison’s penetrating stare. He returned his attention to her upturned face. “What?”
“How long has it been since you’ve eaten?”
“Are you offering?”
“Of course not,” she snapped, moving back to the couch.
She lowered herself onto the cushions and covered her legs with the blanket. “But you need to feed if you’re going to outsmart that floosy. You have about an hour before sunrise, I suggest you get a move on.”
Simon almost laughed. “So, you want me to just race into town and snatch up the first person I see? How very sociopathic of you.”
Madison narrowed her eyes. “That’s not what I meant, freak. In case you haven’t noticed, we’re out in the middle of nowhere. Go suck on a bear.”
Amused by her suggestion, Simon murmured, “Are you speaking from experience?”
Madison threw a pillow at him.
Simon laughed on his way out the door. Though he’d always had a sadistic side, Madison seemed to bring it out more in him. Taunting her was way too easy. Not to mention enjoyable.
He took a deep breath before blurring his way deeper into the forest. As much as he abhorred drinking from an animal, Madison was right. He did need to feed if he expected to remain alert. It had, after all, been a good week since he’d last replenished.
Coming to a stop a few minutes later, Simon closed his eyes and opened his senses. The hoot of a distant owl blended with the sound of crickets. A twig snapped to his left and the trickle of running water could be heard on his right. There was a stream nearby.
Another twig snapped, followed by a crunch of leaves. Simon cranked his head in the direction of the sound, his nostrils instinctively flaring. A deer.
He was more than a little relieved it wasn’t a bear moving through the trees. Truth be told, Simon hated the feel of fur touching his tongue. At least deer weren’t known to shed.
With a sigh of resignation, Simon blasted toward the deer, overtaking it without much of a chase.
The animal’s eyes were wild with fear, terror seeping from its pores.
Simon’s fa
ngs descended without conscious thought. He leaned in toward the deer’s neck, and his gaze landed on a fawn staggering to its feet in some nearby brush.
Dammit, he silently cursed, staring into the fawn’s innocent eyes. He couldn’t drain the doe and leave her baby to die.
With a sigh of resignation, Simon pushed into the doe’s mind, filling her with calm. “Go now.”
The doe blinked once before Simon steadied her on her feet. She slowly moved toward her baby, stopping when she reached the fawn’s side.
Simon blurred his way deeper into the woods, releasing his hold on the doe’s mind as he ran. I must be growing soft.
Unsure of how much time had passed, Simon gave up the hunt and turned back toward the house where Madison no doubt slept. He hated the thought of leaving her unprotected, even for an hour. Worse still, he would have to leave her vulnerable while he slept today.
The only solace Simon had as he hurried back toward the house was that Svetlana would have to sleep also. But her minions were a different story.
Chapter Fourteen
Madison awoke to near freezing temperatures. She shivered beneath her blanket and glanced toward the fireplace to find nothing but ash.
Bringing her wrist up to her face, she squinted at her watch, shocked to see that it was one o’clock in the afternoon. She’d slept for hours.
Her teeth began to chatter. She huddled deeper into the blanket, knowing she needed to start another fire, yet dreading to get up.
Taking a fortified breath, Madison tossed back the cover and threw her feet over the side of the sofa. They promptly landed on Simon. “What the hell?”
Simon’s pale, shirtless figure lay on the floor next to the couch, perfectly still and looking like a Greek god.
Even in his death-like state, he was easy on the eyes, Madison noticed, unable to peel her gaze from his chiseled face.
She slowly reached down and gently ran her thumb over his lower lip. It was softer than it appeared.
Her gaze traveled down his wide chest to linger on his muscular abs. He had a thin trail of hair that ran from his navel to disappear beneath the waistband of his sweat pants.
What am I doing? She snatched her hand back and got to her feet, stepping over Simon’s large form on her way to the fireplace.
After adding enough wood to last for a few hours, Madison built a nice, toasty fire.
She dropped her weight into the closest chair, snatched her socks from the hearth, and pulled them on. Within minutes, her shivering stopped.
Heat began to drift into the room, warming her bones and relaxing her body. Her stomach picked that moment to growl.
She left her toasty seat in front of the fire and made her way into the kitchen. There, she found milk and a box of cereal that Simon had obviously bought on his trip into town. It would seem he’d thought of everything.
Madison ate like a woman starved. She finished off her cereal, washed her bowl, and trailed off to the bathroom.
Peeling out of her sweat suit, she turned on the water and stepped into the shower.
The warmth of the spray on the back of her head coaxed a moan from her. She stood beneath the heated water, enjoying the feel of it sluicing down her body. She shampooed her hair before reaching for the soap.
An image of Simon, lying shirtless on the floor, flashed through her mind. She swallowed hard and soaped up her arms, her head suddenly bombarded with memories of their kiss.
She unconsciously dragged the soap down her stomach, over her mound to the juncture of her thighs. Another moan left her lips with the feel of the slick soap against her most sensitive place.
She dropped her head back, the soap slipping free of her hold. Her fingers coasted lower, slick from the lavender-scented bubbles.
Madison moaned with the touch of her fingertips over her sensitive flesh. Her nipples hardened and her body came alive with every calculated pass of her trembling fingers.
Simon’s mouth on hers, his fingers caressing her; every indecent thought she could dream up overtook her.
Her thighs parted without preamble. Madison couldn’t seem to stop herself from envisioning Simon’s hands on her body.
She saw him there, touching her, coaxing her into a frenzy. And then he was on his knees in front of her, his tongue replacing his fingers.
The very room became too warm, and her legs began to shake uncontrollably. Still he tormented her.
“Come for me, Madison,” his deep voice demanded as his mouth closed over her, sucking her to completion.
Madison cried out, her voice guttural to her own ears. She came apart in that shower, unable to control the contractions from dominating her lower body.
The orgasm seemed to go on forever, leaving her weak and more than a little exhausted.
“Again,” his voice commanded; his hot, wet tongue gently circling her once more.
Madison wasn’t sure she could take another release such as the one she’d just had.
Simon tortured her with calculated strokes, holding her prisoner by some unseen force that threatened to buckle her knees.
And then his fingers were inside her, gently at first, ever moving, until they pumped into her with precision, brushing against a place she’d never known existed.
Another cry wrenched from her lips. Madison found it hard to breathe. Her breath punched in and out of her chest, drawing precious oxygen into her lungs.
She slumped back against the shower wall, riding out her release in a haze of desperation. She’d just orgasmed, not once but twice while fantasizing about the infuriating Simon Le Blanc.
* * * *
Simon lay in a sleep induced coma on the living room floor, unable to prevent himself from dominating Madison’s mind.
He’d felt the moment she touched herself in that shower. He wasn’t sure how he’d known her intensions, he only knew that he had.
His powers of persuasion had always been strong, even in his sleep. It’s how he was able to control Jeanie’s mind while he’d slept.
A pang of guilt assailed him with the memory of controlling Jeanie. He had needed her to kidnap Jacie. Not that he’d had any intension of harming the little girl. It had been her mother Lydia’s blood he’d needed to give him the power to destroy Svetlana.
Simon shook off his feelings of regret and concentrated on Madison. The soft sigh that escaped her hadn’t been lost on Simon, and he hadn’t the strength nor the will to stop himself from pressing into her mind.
The power of her orgasm had seeped into his very soul. He could feel her release as if it were his own. Simon had never connected with another being on a level such as this. Certainly not to the point he experienced their emotions. And Madison’s emotions were sparking through him like fire. God help me.
Chapter Fifteen
Simon’s eyes opened the second the sun began its descent. He arose from the floor; his senses in tune to Madison.
She picked that moment to step into the room, but she avoided his gaze. “You’re awake.”
“Any news?” He sauntered over to stoke the fire.
Madison shook her head. “Nothing yet. But then again, Roman will just be rising.”
Simon knew that. He opened his mouth to question her further, but she beat him to it.
“Did you feed?”
“Did you?” he retorted, picking up his sweatshirt and pulling it on.
She faced him then. “Can you be serious for once?”
“Put on your shoes and jacket. I want to show you something.”
Madison lifted an eyebrow, nodding toward the door. “Outside?”
“Yes, outside. Now bundle up.”
She remained still. “There are bears in these woods.”
“I’ll keep you safe from the bears. I promise.”
After another round of obvious contemplation, Madison pulled on her boots, and jacket. “This better good. It’s frikkin’ freezing out there.”
Simon unlocked the door and stepped outside. He waited f
or Madison to follow suit before closing it behind her. “Climb on.”
She looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “Your back?”
“No,” he murmured sarcastically, “my front.”
If looks could kill, Simon would be rotting in a grave right about then. “Of course my back.”
“I’d rather walk if it’s all the same to you.”
Simon took a patient breath. “It’s about three miles from here. We can spend the next hour traipsing through the woods in the dark, or you can hop on my back and we can scale that time back to two minutes. The choice is yours.”
Indecision became apparent in Madison’s eyes before she relaxed her stance and waved a hand in his direction. “Fine. Turn around.”
Simon gave her his back, bending his knees enough for her to climb on.
Once her arms were around his neck, he gripped her behind the knees and hoisted her up higher. “Hold on.” He broke into a run.
The feel of Madison clinging to his back, sent a slew of foreign sensations scattering throughout Simon’s body. His stomach tightened and his shaft hardened instantly.
His mind conjured up the moan he’d heard coming from the bathroom while Madison had showered. The soft sigh that escaped her when he’d pressed into her mind.
Simon had been all too aware of Madison’s sexual tension during her shower. He’d felt her hunger in the far recesses of his mind.
She tightened her hold, her face buried against the side of his neck, and he nearly dropped to his knees with need. Damn, but he could smell her intoxicating scent, feel the heat radiating from her body to seep into his own.
He slowed to a stop near the place he’d been before, and expanded his senses.
“Where are we?” she whispered near his ear.
“Shhhhh.” Simon closed his eyes and sought out the doe he’d ran across earlier. He scented her about a mile to the north.
He blasted forward once again until he located the mother deer and her fawn. “Stay quiet.”
Midnight Secrets Page 5
