Their leader knew the “Midnight Shadows” were neither criminals nor killers. They were men trying to survive—to keep food on the table and a roof over the head of their families. They were men who had returned from fighting Napoleon to a land that lauded them as heroes and then offered them nothing to keep them alive or even cared if they died.
Jobs were scarce, children starved and the winters would surely claim more lives amongst the newly destitute. Robbery wasn’t noble, by any stretch of the imagination, but it kept the little ones fed at the cost of mere baubles from those who would not miss them. And it brought hope to a few who had all but given up.
Including their leader. Who was, at this moment, wondering if the whip was still in its place, coiled against a far wall of the cellar.
Tonight, it would administer discipline and reinforce a rule that had never been broken until a weapon had misfired. A weapon that should have been cleaned, primed and ready—and wasn’t.
Tonight that whip would taste Tim Cooper’s blood.
Chapter One
Sir Nicholas Blaine slid from his tired horse and tied the reins loosely around a convenient post, glancing at the eastern sky where there were no signs of dawn light creeping beneath the scudding clouds. He knew it was getting near time for him to sleep. To seek the darkness that protected him from the rays of the sun—and extinction.
Or maybe, thought Nick, he should just lie down in front of this tiny inn and let the searing brilliance claim him. Roast his pale flesh to a crisp and boil the blood that still moved through his veins in a strange silent flow of hunger and shadows.
Maybe it was time to surrender the tiny spark of existence he had left. To depart in an inferno of exploding particles and finally attain a merciful—if unspeakably painful—death.
He was weary of riding, weary of seeking out gloomy dark places to shelter, weary of this hellish existence. Weary of being a creature lost in some vague world that neither permitted him his final rest, nor the ordinary joys that humanity took for granted.
He was weary of being a vampire.
And for the millionth time, Nick Blaine cursed his cock for getting him into this mess in the first place.
He hammered a fist on the closed door, uncaring if the innkeeper slept. This night he would spend what little money he had on a room. He would rest on something resembling a bed in whatever luxury this downtrodden place could offer.
In surprisingly short order the door creaked ajar onto a wavering candle and a bleary eye assessed Nick. “Wotcher want?”
“A thousand gold guineas, five women to pleasure me and an estate to rival the Devonshires. But I’ll settle for a bed.”
A snort that might possibly have been a laugh greeted Nick’s lightning-fast response. “A bed I can do. The rest—”
“Yes. I sort of assumed that.” Nick eased past the innkeeper into the ill-lit interior. “I care not about the room, man. I’m weary enough to sleep on a wooden settle in a corner, but I’d prefer a mattress in a dark and silent room. ‘Tis all I require.”
“‘Tis all ye’ll get. Come wi’ me.” He turned and led Nick up a set of dusty stairs to the second floor, pausing outside a thick ungainly door. “This’ll do yer, then. See the missus on the morrow about payment.” He pushed the door open and promptly departed, taking his candle with him.
Nick curled his lip, guessing that the innkeeper would derive some wry amusement from hearing his “guest” blundering around in the darkness. Probably trying to teach wayward visitors that the proper time to arrive at a hostelry was before the host had retired for the night.
In this instance, the man was doomed to disappointment because Nicholas Blaine could see in the dark. It was one of the many changes he’d come to accept since being savagely mauled and bitten by the most incredibly sensual woman he’d ever met.
He’d not known when he first saw her that she was one of the most evil as well.
*~*~*~*
It had been snowing, that delicate light snow that dusts the world with fairy magic and glistens in the moonlight that follows.
Sir Nicholas Blaine had attended a conference in Europe, invited by a friend he’d met in London at another meeting of like-minded scientists. Those who were fascinated by the workings of the human body but cared not for the job of healing it or dissecting it.
They were “pure” researchers, taking information from diverse sources and assembling it into patterns that made sense, theories that explained how humans lived, thought, reproduced and survived.
It was heady stuff for Nick, a man who’d grown up with a fascination for all things germane to human existence. He’d read the great philosophers, devoured scientific tomes from past ages and met current practitioners. He loved the idea that there was an underlying principle to life—an explanation that would perhaps one day make all things clear to him.
He’d delved into the workings of the human body—poorly understood at best, although improving. He knew things, he’d seen things—for his time, Nick Blaine was an enlightened young man with a remarkable intellect.
And he was also a handsome young man with plenty of money at his disposal. So his tour through Europe was one of gaiety, scientific discourse—and pleasure. There were always women glad to dance with the attractive Englishman, and always women glad to do even more.
He’d gone from bed to bed, enjoying life to the fullest, pleasuring his partners in the way he’d learned from his physical researches. Women, he’d discovered, were seriously maligned by the current way of thinking.
They could very easily orgasm—in fact he believed they should—provided they were stimulated in the correct physical locations. He saw nothing wrong with this notion, unlike many of his peers who made it plain they believed their wives utterly incapable of such improper and lustful responses.
He shrugged. ‘Twas their business, not his. He noted he was seldom without female companionship, however.
The one time he was alone found him on his way to a small eastern European resort—Rogaška. He’d heard of the beneficial mineral waters and thought he might stop there if he had chance.
An early snowstorm made the chance a necessity.
Tucked into a valley, the Rogaška estate had drawn him, lured him with its lights and the soft mist that wreathed its many windows and the trees, most now bare of leaves as the winter set in.
He wondered if the mist was from the hot springs—if there was a chance he might still be able to bathe in the waters—and gladly rode to the magnificent chateau where a warm greeting awaited travelers like himself.
There were many visitors, even at this time of year, and Nick found himself content to rest a while, explore the surroundings and enjoy the convivial atmosphere. He’d been there several days when he finally got to see the mineral springs. A quiet space had been designed around one of them, more of a cave-like surrounding than a formal bathing room. It was empty when Nick broke away from one of the several rambunctious parties to investigate. He’d had enough wine to last him for some time, and wanted nothing more than to ease his body—and the headache he’d probably have to endure the next morning—in the calming waters.
He stripped and slid into the little pool with a sigh of relief. It was really quite delightful.
“It is lovely, is it not?”
The soft voice surprised Nick and he jumped, only to sink to his chin in confusion as he stared at the woman on the far side of the water. “Er…I…”
She laughed, a lilting sound that shot through Nick’s body to his cock. He hardened beneath the steaming water, his gaze glued to the luscious curves revealed by the light silk chemise and the tumbling curls of ferociously red hair that framed her face.
“I’m sure you will not mind if I join you. Such pleasure is all the better for being shared, wouldn’t you agree?”
Nick was pretty much bereft of speech at this point, staring helplessly as the woman began to disrobe. The cloak she’d brought with her was tossed aside and with mini
mal effort the silk gown pooled around her shapely ankles.
She was nude—totally and completely nude—and the sight drove every other thought out of Nick’s head. When she stretched her arms high to pin her hair up out of the way, he thought he’d come right then and there.
Skin whiter than milk coated every single inch of her, reflecting the candlelight off what seemed like yards of glorious legs. Her breasts were full and rounded, lying softly against her body, distended downward very slightly from their own weight. A weight he yearned to learn with his hands.
Her nipples were hardening buds surrounded by a small island of darker skin, peaks that called to his lips. Nick swallowed compulsively, already imagining those breasts in his mouth.
From there it was no distance at all to her pussy—the fiery red curls on her mound illuminating the vee of her thighs where he swore heaven would be awaiting him.
As if she knew his lustful thoughts the woman smiled, a seductively welcoming expression, accompanied by a slight parting of her legs—a quick flash of pussy lips shining and swollen pink.
Nick ached. Cock hard and distended now, he squirmed on the ledge beneath the water, wondering if she was offering herself to him, promising things only to tease and arouse him, or if she would name a price before he could fuck her.
Whatever she asked, she could damn well have it.
Nick couldn’t remember a woman this magnificent baring her body so shamelessly—so alluringly. He couldn’t recall such an overwhelming sense of urgency grabbing him by the balls. He hungered—for her body, her breasts, her pussy—for everything he could lay hands and mouth on.
He wanted to take her with a fierce desire that threatened to erase his natural gentility. He wanted to fuck her, to take his pleasure in her. He needed to do this, whether she found pleasure in it or not. For once, his need to bury himself in a woman’s sex overrode every other instinct he possessed.
It was wild, it was hot and it got hotter as she stepped gracefully down into the swirling and steaming pool that separated them.
“What’s your name?” She stood still for a moment, water lapping around her thighs.
Nick had to unscramble his wits to answer her. What the hell was his name? “Nick. Sir Nicholas Blaine. I’m from—”
She waved a hand. “It doesn’t matter, Nick Blaine. You’re here now. That’s what’s important.” She paused. “That—and this.”
Slowly, she raised her hands from the water and poured little rivulets down over her breasts. “You want to fuck me, don’t you?” The slight accent made her words even more appealing.
Nick nodded, then cleared his throat. “Of course. You are incredibly beautiful.” He surprised himself with his ability to actually string several words together.
Her hands slid to her shining wet nipples, rubbing them, pinching them, arousing them to even more rosy hardness. “I know. I love that you’re looking at me. It’s exciting.” She lifted her breasts toward him. “I am blessed to be able to find favor in your eyes. Because I like to fuck too.”
“You do?” Nick dragged his gaze from her breasts with difficulty, eventually managing to look her in the face. She was well-nigh perfect—full lips parted over perfect white teeth, skin clear and unblemished and her eyes—strangely dark. He’d expected green, but they were so dark he could not make out an iris or a pupil. They were striking, but no more so than her body.
“I love fucking, Nick. It makes me feel alive. Wanted. Desirable.”
Leaving her breasts, her hands went once more to the water and this time she showered the soft curve of her belly. Trails of glistening moisture rippled down to her pussy, dappling the red hair with diamond droplets.
His gaze moved, like a lodestone to north, following the water as it trickled over her. “Do you like fucking, Nick? Fucking until the world disappears and there’s nothing but heat and skin and the urge to come?”
“Yes. Oh yes.” Nick moved, his cock throbbing and pulsing with eagerness. “I like fucking.” He stood, letting his arousal break the surface of the water, showing her his male length with as much unselfconscious pride as she was exhibiting.
“Mmm.” She smiled as she eyed his swollen and purpling erection. “It looks like you’d be very good at fucking. With this.” A hand reached out and softly splashed a little water over his cock.
“I’d be honored to demonstrate…” Nick remained still, vestiges of sanity insisting that he let her make the first move, no matter that he could have ripped into her without any more conversation at all.
“My name is Thérèse. Shout it aloud when you come inside me, Nick. I shall scream for you.” She backed away until the edge of the pool hit her spine then paused. “Take me. Now. Any way you’d like, anything you’d enjoy.”
Her brilliant black gaze held him in thrall as she delicately spread her pussy lips wide in invitation.
Nick groaned, a lost man. In more ways than he’d realized as he fell to his knees and sucked her clit into his mouth.
They’d fucked right there in the pool, with her straddling him, riding him to her first orgasm and screaming his name into the darkness that surrounded them as she’d promised. He’d come too, and yet it hadn’t been enough for either of them.
Within moments they were touching again, this time Thérèse scratching Nick, digging her nails into his arms until she drew blood, desire boiling past civilized behavior into the fundamental need to mate.
He nipped her shoulder and she moaned her pleasure, turning in his arms and thrusting her ass against him even as she pulled him tight to her spine. “This way, Nick. It gives me great pleasure.”
He thrust his cock into her once more, slicking through the juices she wept so profusely. She bent over, resting on the side of the pool, reaching back and parting her ass cheeks with a sharp tug. “Here, Nick. Take me here. Make me feel it, damn you.”
Ripped from his touchstone of familiarity, Nick fell into a new and arousing cavern of lust.
A mad hunger burgeoned within him, erasing any thoughts of gentility, any vestiges of courtesy or chivalry. He grabbed his cock and sought her tight ring of rosy muscles, deaf to anything but the need to fuck.
She accepted him without a check, tight now, almost too tight for his hardness. It was enthrallingly arousing and she moaned her pleasure. “God, yes…more.”
Her white ass cheeks shone with sweat and water and obeying a blind impulse, Nick lifted his hand and smacked her—hard.
“Yes…oh God, Nick—yes—more—harder—” She sobbed out the words, her ass pushing against him in demanding thrusts, laughing and groaning as he obeyed her.
His palm came down sharply on the whiteness of her skin, leaving marks where he struck and the sound of his blows echoing over the bubbling water around them. She drove him higher, needy cries and mewls of pleasure greeting his every pounding slap, encouraging him to hit her again and again until her ass was red and glowing with heat from his rough punishment.
He was near his peak, balls hard between his legs, cock quivering with the need to erupt and flood her darkest places with his come.
She trembled too, muscles shuddering, breath panting harshly beneath him. Nick reached beneath her and savagely plunged his fingers into her body, thrusting again and again into her as he took her ass with his cock.
She screamed, a long howl of delight as she sank into great shaking spasms of orgasm around him.
He shouted her name as he exploded. “Thérèse…” Nick released his come, spurting hotly into her ass, muscles clenching and easing only to tighten again as his balls spewed their cargo down his cock and into the woman he held.
His world faded down to her ass and his orgasm, all else disappearing into the darkness. He barely noticed her straighten before him, so lost was he in his release.
He vaguely felt her tug free of his cock, but the warmth of the water in the pool cradled him as he softened and pulsed his final eruption. His knees weakened and he stumbled a little, glad of the shelf now
as he collapsed wearily onto the natural seat it offered, closing his eyes in exhaustion.
He sensed Thérèse as she drifted to his lap and straddled him once more, dappling a soft kiss on his ear.
“Mmm.” Automatically his arms lifted to hold her close and he opened his eyes with difficulty.
She smiled at him, catching him by surprise. Two long fangs lay pristinely against the swollen ruby lips.
He blinked and opened his mouth to speak.
It was too late.
He felt the first sharp ripping pain of her bite against his neck and the words on his lips became the beginnings of a scream, cut off before it could betray his agony.
At that moment, Sir Nicholas Blaine lost the only life he’d ever known, his existence swirling around him and dissipating into dark curls of blood diluted by the waters of the pool.
And yet he did not die. He became a creature who now slept in shadows and roamed the darkness.
He became a being who could be mistaken for a man—yet was not. Something that survived but did not live. He became something he despised and yet could not willingly end.
He became a vampire.
And it was this vampire that attempted to rest on a lumpy mattress in a darkened inn several long years later, only to be disturbed shortly thereafter by the sounds of horses, muffled but discernable to his vampiric and extraordinary sense of hearing.
Several persons were arriving at the inn and doing so in a manner that could only be described as surreptitious. Nick’s curiosity got the better of his tiredness.
After all, what did he have to lose?
Chapter Two
Nick moved silently from his room through the inn, making less sound than the walls and woodwork of the building itself. Creaks and groans from ancient timbers masked the passage of his feet as he followed the clinking jingle of harness and the thudding of hooves.
Although there was a perfectly usable barn not far away, Nick realized that these riders were much closer. The horses were turning, their saddles creaking as their riders dismounted.
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