by Celia Jade
His frown deepened as she climbed up the two steps and onto the landing. “You don’t answer your phone anymore?” he grumbled.
Stephanie schooled her face, already having decided on her position. “Sorry, Kyle. I lost my phone at the gym and recovered it only today. I was going to call you.”
He gave her a doubtful look before saying, “We need to talk.”
“Oh, okay. Want to come upstairs?”
“No. I don’t have time.”
She waited for him to continue.
“Look, last week Patrick and I got an unexpected transfer out of our department, plus an official warning about our professional conduct.” He injected some sarcasm into the last two words. “This happened soon after the Polasky raid and I want to know straight up if you had something to do with it.”
“What—the transfer?”
A muscle in his jaw began ticking. “Yeah.”
She put on a baffled look while praying he hadn’t seen those pictures. “Of course not. How could I?”
His eyes narrowed. “Because you seemed to be too curious about Jason Kelso and our mission.”
“And my curiosity led to your transfer?”
His look was long and hard. “Stephanie, I’m no idiot. You’ve always had an issue with our job, though I have no idea why since we bring fugitives to justice.”
She returned the hard look. “You know it’s not your job I have issues with.” She fished her key out of her bag. “Is there anything more?”
He scowled. “I don’t have proof, but my instinct tells me you had something to do with it.”
Stephanie let out a tired breath. “I swear I didn’t have anything to do with it.” It was the truth.
He seemed skeptical, but then he raised an accusing finger. “You’ve always been hiding something and I’m going to find out what it is, big sister.”
She felt the heat of his glare before he turned around and crossed the street to his car.
Spurred by the unpleasant emotions building inside, she almost ran up the three flights of stairs to her apartment, not bothering with the elevator. Mechanically, she drank a full glass of water, then dialed Maryann’s number, but hung up seconds later. She stared at her phone for a long moment then accessed her call log.
The angry restlessness that coursed under her skin needed a different kind of outlet…in the form of a certain hunky vampire. It was foolish… yeah…colossally foolish. But she’d deal with the consequences later.
Her teeth sank into her lip as Dex spoke to her on the phone. The deep velvet of his voice was a magnet to her senses. The need to see him, touch him, intensified with every passing second. Once she’d mentioned that she wanted to come over to his place, it set off a battery of questions, which she answered with thinning patience.
“Yes, I’ve been eating properly…no, I’m not dizzy.”
Finally, she cut him off. “I just need your address, Dex. There’s something I want to…discuss.”
It was a short drive to his place, which was in the same building as his brother’s. Except Dex’s condo was on another floor. She ignored the concern etched on his handsome face as she walked past him. Stephanie glanced around as she went deeper into his home. It had the exact same layout as his brother’s place, which was expected. The decor here was more masculine, darker tones and leather furniture. She dropped her jacket and her bag on one of the armchairs and turned to look at him.
Dex watched her with those smoky, investigator eyes, dark brows knotted above his nose. He’d changed into a different t-shirt, same jeans, she guessed. She let her gaze move over the basic male assets of his appearance, the rugged face, the broad muscles of his upper body, the distinct bulge in his crotch and the lean length of his legs.
Her blood pumped faster and her skin tautened with anticipation. This time, she welcomed her body’s response to him.
“What happened, Stephanie? And don’t bother lying,” he finally demanded.
He was too perceptive. “Family shit. Don’t want to talk about it.”
His frown deepened and he took a step closer. “Your brothers?”
She couldn’t wait any longer. She closed the distance between them and put her palm against his chest.
“Don’t talk. Don’t say a word.” She could indulge in him a few times—satiate her physical craving. A brief affair would surely flush him out of her system. People did that all the time.
His breath shifted as he covered her hand. “I think it’s too soon…” he replied, a deeper, coarse note in his voice.
“I’m well.” Stephanie lifted her gaze to his. “Take me to your room.”
A low sound curled in his throat as a flame flickered in his eyes. He looked like he was about to protest so she went up on her toes and nipped his lip.
“Now,” she purred.
He exhaled a raspy breath and lifted her into his arms with hardly any effort. Stephanie wrapped her hands around his neck as he marched down the wide corridor and into a large bedroom. When he lowered her feet to the carpet, he cupped her face, the dark intensity in his eyes snatching her breath. Desire crackled and circled around them.
There was no going back now. His thumb flicked over her lip before his mouth claimed hers. And she was lost. She barely remembered Dex removing her clothes or her hands pushing his shirt off. Her fingers dug into his midnight hair as his tongue invaded her mouth. She returned the kiss with equal passion, arching into him as the weight of his body pressed her onto his bed. She flicked her tongue boldly against his incisors, uncaring if they cut her. He pulled his mouth from hers and traced a path down her throat to the vein. They shared a moan as his incisors teased the spot, sending thousands of goose bumps across her skin.
“The scent of your blood drives me crazy,” he growled softly.
The need to exchange blood with him was stronger than the first time he’d kissed her. If she did, she’d give more of herself than she’d planned. But there was little control here. Some insane force had her in its grip from the moment she’d met him.
His hands swept over her, barely missing an inch, while his mouth trailed behind at a more leisurely pace, tasting, teasing, devouring. And—ooh!—nipping not so gently where it could. The wicked sensation made her blood surge even faster. Her sex dampened. God, how she ached for him inside her.
Ripples of pleasure danced through her as he filled his hands with her breasts and loved her nipples for so long her head fell back and a frayed sound broke free. Finally, he raised himself between her legs, one hand gliding down to her needy flesh. When his fingers swept over her folds, her hips jerked with wanton need.
“Mmm…so wet, baby…”
Stephanie propped herself higher on her elbows and bit her bottom lip as she looked at his erection. She’d imagined what his cock looked like, during those unwanted fantasies that crept into her mind at night. And she’d pictured it something like this—long and thick. But fantasies were one thing and this was…so hard and so real. She moistened her lips. There would be time to indulge in that later.
The heat of his gaze drew her eyes to his. The smoky depths had turned charcoal. She ground her hips in silent demand. Take me, Agent Mason. Her breath caught as he angled his cock and eased into her folds. He stretched her a bit at a time without taking his eyes from hers. The feeling was achingly erotic. He gave a firm thrust and filled her completely with a raw moan that echoed hers.
He closed his eyes for a moment, a look of sweet tension on his face. Then he leaned over her with one hand hooked under her thigh, and began moving inside her. Long, slow strokes at first, then long, fast ones.
“Ohh!” Coils of pleasure multiplied and tightened inside her. She felt her muscles contract and grip his hard flesh, wrenching a hoarse sound from his throat. She wrapped her free leg around him, holding him closer. His corded muscles rippled, taut with strength and control. Her fingers curled into the bed sheet as he pushed her toward the edge.
He dipped his head and nipped her
shoulder. The pain spiked her arousal. She raised herself and bit the full curve of his lower lip. He growled and took her harder. It was…savage. Oh, God…She felt heat pool in the tiny hollows of her body as a strong quiver went through her. Then snap. The tight coils unfurled in waves of pleasure so intense she thought she’d slipped off the edge of the world.
Unconsciously, she cried out Dex’s name as his mouth came down on hers. Her heart was still pounding as he plunged into her a few more times and when he made to pull out, she stopped him with her leg and her hands on his back.
“No…inside,” she urged breathlessly. She was on birth control.
His body tensed as he came, a hard groan of pleasure carrying her name. It brushed her ear as his mouth nuzzled her throat, teeth bearing down just enough to leave a mark. Their labored breathing was the only sound in the room for a long moment.
Dex slowly pulled out of her body and rolled over to the side, tucking her into him. Stephanie insinuated her leg between both of his and nuzzled contentedly against his neck, which smelled of that tantalizing pine and spice. His hand cupped one of her buttocks with a certain possessiveness she didn’t mind.
He kissed her forehead. “I wasn’t too rough, was I?”
The deep sensuality of his voice moved over her like a velvety caress. “Mmm…no, it was amazing,” she murmured and opened her eyes. “You’re my first vampire.”
A low chuckle rumbled in his chest. “I know…and I very much like the fact.” He squeezed her buttock.
Her gaze fell to his bicep and she frowned. “I did this?” Her fingers brushed over the three deep welts on his skin.
“Hmn…you’re a wild little thing.”
“Sorry.”
He grinned. “I wouldn’t want you any other way.”
Stephanie felt a stab of guilt knowing that she’d used him to assuage the distress caused by her encounter with Kyle. Yet, it was hardly the reason and she knew it. She’d come here because she couldn’t fight this inexplicable desire for him, which had robbed her of precious sleep at night. Even his original blackmail didn’t bother her anymore. He’d given her the choice to refuse and he’d cleared her of any possible incrimination in the Polasky case. Not to mention she was happy he’d transferred her brothers out of that department.
She brushed her hand over his chest. This couldn’t evolve to anything more, of course, and Dex was aware of her situation. It was…unfortunate. She swallowed the lump in her throat and cuddled closer to him.
Stephanie woke an hour later in the same position. It had been a long time since she’d had a peaceful nap. She stretched her legs and looked up at Dex. He’d been watching her sleep, apparently. His fingers were drawing lazy circles over her tattoo. To her surprise, her body stirred with need again.
His mouth edged into a smile. “You must be hungry.”
She returned the smile. “I suppose I could have a bite.”
He chuckled, a dark, sensual fire smoldering in the depths of his eyes. “Good.”
“Should we order out?”
Her breath hitched as his hand moved up and closed over her breast. “There are other ways to consume energy.”
A chuckle rose in her throat and she was about to reply when he lifted her into a sitting position next to him and brought his wrist to her mouth. Her heart skipped a beat and she questioned him with her eyes.
“Go ahead. Plenty of nutrients in blood.”
A fervent quiver went through her. She looked at his wrist for a long moment, the primal urge to bear down and drink his blood surging like a fierce tide inside her. She’d never bitten anyone…not for blood.
She shook her head and met his gaze. “I can’t.”
“You want to taste me.”
Desperately. She nodded slowly. “My teeth aren’t sharp enough. I’d hurt you.”
“They’re sharper than those of most humans and in time I could teach you how to drink properly.” Dex raised his wrist to his mouth and then offered his wounded flesh to her.
Her heart constricted. Vampires were usually selective about who they offered their blood to.
“Drink, sweetness,” he urged and brought his arm closer.
Despite the last shred of reason in her mind, Stephanie closed her fingers around his hand and pressed her mouth to his warm blood. Sensations exploded all along her nerves, right down to her toes. The intensity was so unexpected she pulled away, breathless. Dear God…this was nothing like drinking from a glass. It was primitive, thrilling.
Dex’s gaze fell to her mouth and he uttered something incoherent.
She licked her lips and squeezed new blood out of the twin cuts. When she made contact with his blood again, her own surged through her veins like warm silk. The dark spot inside her absorbed his essence with hungry urgency. He tasted sweeter than she expected with a note of something indefinable. Yum! would be an understatement.
Satisfied, she lifted her head and noted the fierce glow in Dex’s eyes. A mix of pleasure and pain flitted across his face as he wiped her lip with his finger. “Stephanie…”
His fingers wrapped around her wrist, bringing it to his mouth. He kissed the delicate inside and raised his eyes to hers. “I won’t hurt you,” he promised.
She nodded, surprised to feel no fear. She craved this more than anything else at the moment. He wet the area just below the veins with his tongue. She drew in a sharp breath as his fangs scraped her skin delicately. It was little more than a paper cut. He applied pressure to the wound until enough blood oozed out. His nostrils flared as he dipped his head.
A broken cry escaped her. Her back arched and she gripped his shoulder as he fed on her. Ecstasy. The air crackled with a heady, lustful energy. In her passion-hazed state, she reached out and wrapped her hand around his hard cock, her fingertips barely closing around its girth. She glided her hand up and down the shaft, exploring its silky smoothness and the pulse on the underside. She stroked him a few more times and a drop of arousal beaded at the round tip. Moving closer, she straddled him, taking him deep inside her. He moaned and sucked harder as she moved her throbbing flesh over his. Tears pricked her eyes. If she could die this way, she would.
* * * *
The twin assault of pleasure was unbearable—drinking Stephanie’s blood while her pussy worked his cock. Careful not to overindulge, Dex coated Stephanie’s wound with saliva, which would help clot and heal it faster. Hers was the tastiest blood he’d ever had. The scent alone drove him mad. This woman was special and he was falling for her hard. He’d exchanged blood with other women, but the experience hadn’t been half as intense or erotic. He watched her ride him as he lay back, enjoying the passion in her dark brown eyes, the erotic sounds that parted her lips, and the sway of her full breasts. He’d been pleasantly surprised when she’d made him come inside her. It intensified their union.
Someone had upset her earlier today and he suspected it was one of the reasons she’d come by. The fact was, she needed this as much as he did, even if she didn’t admit it aloud. Stephanie Dubois was one proud, hard-headed woman. He hid a smile. She’d go home and try to convince herself that this was only physical attraction.
As the pressure in his cock increased, he urged her onto her knees and glided into her sleek heat from behind. He grasped her hips and gave one pert buttock a firm smack. Dex wasn’t prepared to let her slip out of his life. Their paths hadn’t crossed out of coincidence. Her sweet flesh contracted around his with the onslaught of climax and he drove into her until he surrendered to his release.
They’d ordered pizza, relaxed in the living room, and made love several more times before ten that night. He escorted her to her car though she insisted he didn’t have to. He’d asked her to stay the night, but she’d declined because she was going to work tomorrow. Dex wasn’t going to press her about that.
The cool air rustled her tousled hair. He brushed a stray lock behind her ear and held her gaze for a silent moment. “Tell your family about your nature, Stephanie.”
Her brows came together. “What?”
“You’ll never accept yourself so long as you hide your nature from your family.”
She expelled a quick breath. “Dex, we shared something amazing and I’ll never forget it. But my family is my business, okay?”
It was a reaction he expected. “It’s my business because I care about you.”
She averted her gaze. “I have to go.”
He slid his hand inside her open jacket to her waist, and brushed his mouth against hers in a gentle, but deep kiss. He felt the hitch of breath in her throat.
“Good night, Stephanie.”
Uncertainty shadowed her brown eyes as she looked at him. After a moment, she said, “Good night.” She unlocked the car and got in.
Dex put his hand on the open door. “One more thing. If you think this was no-strings sex, you’re way off, sweetheart.” He winked and headed back to the building.
Chapter Eight
How presumptuous…and…audacious! To trick her into coming here, and using Ray as an excuse, of all things.
“Ray wants to see you.” He’d told her.
But Ray was well. In fact, when she’d talked to Victor a few days ago, he’d told her that Ray was making a remarkable recovery.
Stephanie had rushed over only to find out that Ray hadn’t wanted to see her.
“You’re horrible,” she muttered for the tenth time and gasped as he tweaked her nipples under the jets of water in his shower.
“I wish I’d done it sooner. But you’re one obstinate woman.”
“It’s just sex,” she retorted. She’d avoided Dex for almost a week after their first sexual encounter—depriving herself of the best sex she’d ever had. She had to nip it in the bud, otherwise she’d never be able to forget about him. If he were human it would be a different story. If he were human, you wouldn’t want him so much, interjected the sprite in her head.
His fingers caressed the aching flesh between her thighs and her nails curled into the sculpted muscles of his shoulders. “I forbid you to say that, Stephanie.” His teeth gave her earlobe a sharp tug that sent myriad goose bumps over her skin.
