Cimmerian Shade: A Limited Edition Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Collection

by Kiki Howell

  “Yes.” He tipped his head back, eyes closed, as he tangled his fingers into her hair, rocking his hips against her mouth. “Oh God, yes, Natalya.”

  He heard her low laugh, and then she drew him into her mouth, her lips and tongue working their magic on him. Her fingers played along his legs, rising to touch and caress him, adding to the sensation of the warmth of her mouth. The pleasure she created, grew, spiraled, and quickly moved out of his control. He found himself swept away in his own greedy pleasure, with a beautiful woman guiding him through the stormy seas of desire.

  His anger flared again, the desire to control her, rising to the surface. To give in to her would be to give up his control. He needed to possess her, and he needed to do that now. Through no fault of his own, he would be cast out of the Seethe at any time, Natalya ripped from his life. Before that happened, he wanted her, to consume her, leave his mark seared on her soul for all eternity. And in that moment, he realized that he would forever walk alone, an outcast who would never be accepted by full-blood vamps, and that he would lose Natalya the moment the Mistress decided upon it. His fate was no longer in his control. Gabriel had taken that control from him, the day he sunk his fangs into his neck, and changed him forever.

  “No,” he said hoarsely, pulling her away from him. “Not like this. I want to be in you, take you here and now.”

  She tried to rise, but he pushed her down to the forest floor. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she offered no argument. The expression on her face was a mix of confusion, and flaming desire for a man she knew could never be fully hers.

  She lay back on the grass, her dress taut across the swell of her breasts, the hard buttons of her nipples clearly visible, as they pushed against the fabric. Caine looked down at her, eyes taking in everything about her. She reached her arms toward him, an open invitation to him, surrendering to his need for her, and her need for him.

  “You’re beautiful.” He knelt beside her, and she pulled him closer. Beneath him, she arched into his arms, her legs moving restlessly in the fabric of her dress.

  Caine found her mouth, lips searing hers with a hard, passionate kiss. His hands went to her breasts, caressing the soft mounds, palming her nipples. The sounds she made were music to his ears, richly, deeply feminine, but filled with an edge that reminded him of the vampire who lay in his arms.

  His fingers moved to the side of her dress, finding the laces of her bodice, pulling and tugging, finally releasing them. Her dress slid from her shoulders, and he tugged it further, freeing her breasts. They gleamed pale in the darkness, round and full, irresistible.

  With a smile, he bent his head to those breasts, lips caressing where his fingers had been, and his tongue following a wandering trail toward one firm nipple. He pulled it into his mouth, briefly caressing it with his tongue before drawing it deeper, sucking with wild abandon.

  Natalya arched against him, crying out into the darkness. Caine slid one hand to the other breast, intent on not leaving it unattended. He was surprised to find Natalya’s hand, fingers rolling the firm nipple between her fingers. He smiled against the breast he suckled, gently pushing her fingers aside, taking their place with his own, rolling the nipple between his fingers.

  She shuddered at his touch, at his mouth on one breast, his hand splayed across the other. Her hips rose, pushing against his body, a sensuous movement, the promise of what was to come.

  With reluctance, he pulled away from her intoxicating breasts, working to pull her dress further down her body. He lifted his head, watching as, inch by inch, her body was revealed, all pale skin and smooth curves. When the dress reached her hips, he tugged it down and away, leaving Natalya lying naked on the leaves at the base of the tree.

  Caine sat back, quickly tugging his tunic over his head, pushing his leggings away. Natalya’s eyes were on his body, as his were on hers. He watched her a moment, as her eyes traveled to the apex of his thighs, those dark eyes widening slightly. He was almost overcome with the desire to have her see him, to see his arousal, to revel in her gaze.

  “Are you enjoying the view?”

  Her gaze rose to his, one eyebrow arched above her dark eyes. “Very much so. Are you?” She arched her back, breasts rising seductively. She pointed her toes, stretching her long legs, thighs glowing pale. He realized she must want the same, to be looked at, admired, to be coveted by someone.

  “Very much so.” He smiled down at her, exposing his fangs. “And now that we have admired one another, shall we?”

  She laughed, reaching with her arms, her thighs pale in the darkness, those wonderfully long thighs moving seductively against the forest floor. He moved between her legs, looked down at her with one last heated gaze, before he fell upon her.

  Within the space of a heartbeat, he took Natalya. She cried out, as he filled her, as he thrust into her, utterly and completely, taking control of her with a fury that shook him to his core. He remained buried in her heat, her body rocking beneath him, holding himself, as he let the feeling of being inside her fill him, consuming every cell of his being. And then it became impossible to hold back. The desire to push on, to satisfy and sate his desires and hers, grew too powerful to ignore.

  He sat back on his heels and gripped her hips, pulling her up his thighs. His newfound strength was a boon, and he used it to his advantage, grabbing her shoulders, pulling her up until she straddled his lap. He rose further, spreading his legs, until he was kneeling, Natalya impaled by his erection.

  He gripped her by the hips, fingers sinking into her soft flesh. With little effort, he controlled her movements, raising and lowering her in time with the upward movement of his hips. Natalya had no choice, but to wrap her arms around his neck, holding on, as he continued his relentless pace, thrusting ever harder into her body.

  Before long, she was gasping, face buried against his neck. Her breasts were pressed hard against his muscled chest, the soft swell of them warm against his skin. Lower, where they were joined, she was molten heat, her sheath surrounding him, caressing him, accepting him. He slid his hands lower, fingers splayed across her ass, clutching her curves, as he continued his fevered pounding.

  Natalya suddenly stiffened in his grasp, her body shuddering against him, her molten core turning fluid, wrapping around him in ever-increasing contractions. She cried out, finally pushing feebly against him, struggling weakly to be let go.

  “Please, Caine...oh, yes...please...” Entreaty to stop or continue, it didn’t matter to him.

  He was relentless, continuing his pace, even as she cried out again. Then her body arched violently, her head thrown back. A feral scream tore from her throat, as she convulsed ever more strongly in his arms, pulsing contractions gripping his cock.

  With a final thrust, Caine threw his head back, fingers digging into Natalya’s hips, holding her firmly, as he came. Every cell in his body came alive, and he was shouting her name, as he lost himself inside of her. The pleasure was like nothing he’d ever experienced—it consumed him completely; he lived it, breathed it, was it.

  The pleasure shot through his veins, and for a moment everything was forgotten; Natalya, the forest around him, the darkness. He was the darkness, then blazing sunlight, then he was nothing but sensation, hot and alive, and more wondrous than anything he’d ever felt.

  When it finally faded, when the world came back to him, or he back to the world, he fell to the forest floor, Natalya collapsing beside him. He was exhausted, sated in a way he’d never known as a human. He rolled onto his back, and pulled her against his chest.

  They lay for a long time, gasping, hearts racing. He must have dozed off at some point, although he wasn’t sure. But he was suddenly aware of Natalya prodding his arm, tugging at him, her words indistinct, but her voice urgent. Finally, one word broke through his languor.

  “Sunrise.”

  They made it back to her cottage just as the sun was rising. Natalya made a mad dash to her room, the door slamming shut behind her. Caine lingered, turne
d toward the east, the warmth of the rays just bearable on his face. He watched the world change color, the vibrant colors of the forest coming alive around him, the lines of light breaking through the trees, giving light to the shadows.

  He sighed deeply, his heart heavy, his eyes filled with sadness at all that he had lost. Then he turned his back on all of it, closing the door behind him.

  Chapter Six

  CAINE ROLLED OVER in bed, the damask sheets smooth, and cool beneath his body. The sun was on the cusp of setting, but not safely tucked beneath the horizon. Vampires were still sleeping, but Caine was wide awake. He thought it was the human remnant of him that had him waking at odd times, and that over time, he’d either adjust to sleeping at sunrise, and waking at sunset, or find a way to occupy himself during the twilight hours when he was restless.

  He slid his hand across the bed, and found the soft curve of a female form lying asleep next to him. He let his fingers explore for a moment, sliding up the rise of one long thigh, over the smooth skin of a hip, and down into the valley of a narrow waist.

  He hesitated, drawing slow circles on the satin skin, thinking of the best way to wake Natalya. Should he move his hand further upward, offer a gentle caress of one perfect breast, making her awakening slow, and subtle? Or should he retrace his path, dipping forward over the slope of her stomach, seeking a more direct approach?

  She stirred beneath him, pushing back against him, her body pressing against his erection. His hips flexed forward, surrounding himself with her warm, giving flesh. He smiled, deciding on a course of action. He slid his hand forward, fingers toying briefly with her navel, before sliding to the apex of her thighs. Natalya shifted her hips, her legs moving apart ever so slightly, a subtle, but provocative invitation that he had every intention of accepting.

  His fingers slipped further between her legs, and found her heated, ready for him. And he was just as heated for her, his erection a solid shaft, ready to plunder her depths.

  Natalya tipped her head back, face turned toward Caine. He sought her mouth, her tongue slipping out to meet his. He kissed her, gently at first, the kiss slowly deepening, until she was moaning against his mouth, and rocking her hips against him. Her subtle invitation had become a blatant one, one Caine could no longer ignore.

  He shifted her weight back against him, cradling her body in his arms. She went limp, and liquid in his grasp, like water seeking its level. As her body moved, she let one long thigh rise. Caine curved into her, the head of his erection sliding along the satin skin of her inner thigh, brushing against her heat. He pushed forward, hips shifting once more, and then he was there, sliding into her welcoming sheath. A low groan escaped his lips, matched by a soft moan from Natalya.

  Securely held against him, her smooth back against his chest, he cradled her, one hand cupping a full breast, pinching one furled nipple between his fingers. His other hand slid beneath that long luscious thigh, supporting her, but holding her in his control.

  With her so contained, Caine thrust forward, slowly, filling her completely with each stroke, relishing the soft giving feel of her buttocks against his body. The perfume of her arousal rose around them, the rich honey scent almost enough to drive him mad. She was as ripe as any fruit he’d ever eaten, and just as sweet.

  Caine buried his face against her shoulder, lips and tongue, and fangs brushing against her skin. He didn’t want to feed, necessarily, but the allure of her blood fueled him, drove him on, sent heat through him in a way he’d never experienced.

  Natalya tipped her neck, another invitation. He caressed her with his mouth, briefly, then felt for the pulse in her neck with his tongue. It throbbed in time with his thrusts, as if he were not contained by her, but moving through her entire body. It was a dizzying thought, and it drove him to the edge.

  His teeth grazed her, a torment and a promise. Natalya jerked in his arms, and he felt the first faint contractions around his erection. She was close, on the knife’s edge, poised to plummet into oblivion. And he would take her there.

  He thrust hard, as he sunk his teeth into her exquisite flesh, the first wave of blood washing over his tongue. She cried out, jerking forward, pulling against his arm. He tightened his grip as she shuddered, as wave after wave of her climax flooded her body. Caine felt every one of those waves, every sensation that she experienced. It was as if they were one, joined in ways he never thought possible.

  Her blood filled his mouth, her moans and cries filled his ears, and then he thrust hard, filling her with his seed, his body contracting so intensely that he saw stars behind his closed eyes. He drew a deep mouthful of her rich blood, as his body continued its release, his hips taking on a life of their own, his cock throbbing inside Natalya, caressed by her, as her climax continued, seemingly without end.

  And then suddenly it was over, and they were lying apart, breath tearing from his lungs. Natalya lay on her side, facing him, her face a pale oval in the dim room. She opened her eyes, and smiled at him. For an instant, he was lost in that smile, the look in her eyes, in the taste of her blood on his lips, in the tremors that still coursed through his body. He was lost in Natalya, and he didn’t wish to be found.

  “WE SHOULD GET UP.” Natalya traced a finger along Caine’s chest. He’d grown stronger, his muscles more defined, and she devoured him with her eyes, with her touch.

  “Is there a need?” He took her hand, kissing each finger, before setting it back against his skin.

  “Not really, I guess. You’ve fed...” She heard his soft laugh. “And I’m not in need right now.”

  “Then we should stay here.” Caine pulled her against him, settling them more firmly into the mattress. Natalya listened to the night sounds outside the cottage, the call of a whippoorwill, the answer of its mate. Then silence, deep and complete.

  “I’m glad you finally decided to return to your own bed, Natalya. Your generosity, and concern over my health is greatly appreciated, but seducing you on that creaky cot was becoming tedious. This bed is much more suited to amorous pursuits.”

  Her lips curved into a smile. “I’m not sure the cot will ever be useful again. It’s a bit creakier than it was...before.”

  “Is it customary for vampires to sleep in such luxury?” He ran his hand over the linen covering her shoulder. “I thought all vampires craved dark coffins, and black shrouds.”

  “I enjoy the finer things in life.” Even to her own ears, she sounded haughty. She laughed. “I’ve accumulated all this over the years.

  She rose up on her elbow, gazing down at him. “You’re quite full of yourself tonight, aren’t you?”

  He stretched, resting one arm behind his head, grinning up at her. “I guess I am. And is that a problem?”

  She grinned back, swatting playfully at his chest. “No, not really. I’m pleased to see you in good spirits.” Her grin faded. “It’s been hard for you, harder than I can imagine. To see you smile, well, it’s lifted a weight from my heart.” She settled back against his chest.

  Caine sighed, his chest rising beneath her cheek. “It’s different, day to day. Sometimes I want to rip out the throat of your Seethe Mistress, make her suffer as I do.”

  Natalya tensed, brows drawing together. The words, though harsh, were spoken with no trace of anger, as matter of fact, as if he were telling her the phase of the moon. She held her breath, waiting for him to continue.

  “But there are more days now that are better, where things seem easier. Life isn’t such a struggle.” He squeezed her shoulder. “Being here with you makes life that much easier.”

  He planted a kiss on the top of her head. “You’ve taken what could have been a living hell, and made it as close to heaven, as it can be. Sad that it will have to end soon.”

  Natalya sat up again, looking down at Caine. In the dim room, his eyes were luminous, fixed on her face.

  “What are you saying, Caine?”

  He sat up suddenly, hands gripping her shoulders. “I’m saying that I love you, Na
talya. And that when I’m gone, I can only hope you’ll remember me, remember what we’ve had here.”

  There was a moment where Natalya could not speak. They’d been so happy these past few days, living in this little bubble of oblivion, of denial of their future. It had been another foolish hope of hers that Mistress would let Caine stay: a dream, nothing more. Mistress had made her decision and she—and Caine—would have to abide by it. There was no other choice now.

  She’d pushed it from her mind, wanting to forget. But Caine hadn’t. How could he, when his life rested on that decision? And when he left, she’d be alone again.

  “ARE YOU SURE YOU’LL be all right on your own?” Natalya asked, brows drawn together. She watched Caine, sitting on the bench by the hearth, as he made the final preparations for his first official hunt—alone.

  “I’ll be fine.” He looked up from lacing his boots. “You’ve taught me very well these past few weeks. Nothing out there is going to get me tonight.”

  Her brow still remained creased. “I still worry. There are dangers afoot, things you’re not prepared for...” Her voice faded under his gaze.

  “Natalya.” He rose, coming to stand before her. “I can take care of myself. Please, you’ll worry yourself into some kind of state of ill health.”

  She regarded him solemnly. He set his finger beneath her chin. “That was meant to make you smile. You know, a vampire in an ill state of health? A jest?” He held her gaze in the face of her silence, then shook his head, a smile turning up his lips.

  “Maybe it’s not the right night for the humor.” He leaned forward, kissing her quickly. “I’ll be fine, Natalya.”

  He moved toward the door, stopping with his hand on the latch, then turned back to her. She stood in the glow of a single candle, but he could see every detail of her: the hands clasped tightly before her, eyes dark with worry, the corners of her mouth downturned.