by Flynn, Mac
He broke our kiss and pressed his lips against my neck. My body was afire with sweet, sinful lust as I clutched onto him. I shivered as one of his hands slipped between my legs. His fingers parted my wet folds and brushed against my nub. Tingles of pleasure raced up and down my skin, teasing me with hints of orgasm. His finger stroked me, eliciting from me a shudder and a soft cry. I rocked in time with his finger. My breaths came out in quick, shallow pants.
"Oh god," I moaned. I tilted back my head and closed my eyes. "Oh god, yes. Please don't stop."
His lips brushed against my ear and his chuckle tingled my skin. "Tell me how badly you want this."
I shuddered. My tongue flicked out and licked my dry lips. "So bad."
His finger stroked me faster. My carnal desire overrode my conscious thoughts. I groaned and rocked harder against him. It felt so good, so right to be touched by him, to be pleasured by him.
He watched me, his bright eyes taking in the bliss that was shown on my face. "Louder. I want to hear every cry and moan."
I gasped as he penetrated into my moist center with his finger. My hunger grew the more he pleasured me, but it still wasn't enough. I needed him, all of him. I needed him to take me and ravish me, to satiate this deep hunger that consumed me.
"Please," I groaned. I brushed my lips against his. My hoarse voice was thick with my need. "Please take me. Make me yours."
His restraint broke. He pulled out his finger and thrust his manhood deep into me. I cried out as he penetrated me again and again. Every stroke, every feel of him inside me stoked my lustful fire. This was what I craved, what I desired. Him claiming me, dominating me and filling me.
"Oh god," I whispered. My hands slid along his hard chest, taking him in by touch. I pressed my swollen breasts against his hot, bare skin and groaned as he massaged my pert buds. "Yes. Oh god, don't stop. Don't ever stop."
He grunted. His pace quickened. I could barely follow. Tingles of orgasm rippled through my body. I clutched onto him as a thick wave of sweet pleasure overwhelmed me. My cries filled the limo as he filled me with himself.
I fell exhausted against him. My chin rested on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around me and leaned back against the seat. We lay still for a while before I leaned my cheek against his hot skin and smiled up at him. "You're a real animal, you know that?"
Simon chuckled. The soft vibration tingled my body. "I have been told that."
A soft sigh escaped my lips. I closed my eyes as I felt myself drift off into sleep. "Those people. . .better not. . .have been women."
"None so important as you."
A smile curled onto my lips before I drifted off into sleep.
Spell Snatching
CHAPTER 1
I'd hoped my disappearance and inevitable undeath would get me out of jury duty. Turns out it made me Exhibit A in a trial for my life, and the life of my lover.
But first, the night started as any other two weeks after our last adventure. Well, it was almost night. The sun had a half hour before setting when a tremendous shattering of glass woke me. I started up and looked around the room. The door was shut. I glanced at the other half of the bed. Simon was gone.
I heard another crash. It came from the living room. I flung the sheets around me and raced to the door. Something slammed against the door and tore it off its hinges. I threw myself to the side onto the floor. The door flew past me and clattered against the foot of the bed.
I lifted my head. My eyes widened as I beheld a shadow in the door. The shadow had bright red eyes, but they didn't belong to Simon. The figure was shorter and wore a full tactical-gear setup complete with ski-mask and gloves.
Behind the shadow in the living room was a small war. Simon and Certus duked it out with a half dozen other people with terrible fashion sense. The shadow strode toward me and stretched out their hand. I backed up on my hands and knees, and became entangled in the sheets. The intruder grabbed the end and tried to pull both me and the blanket toward them.
I yanked, they pulled, and the sheet slowly slid off me. I rolled onto my stomach and my hand grasped one corner of the door. My fingers wrapped around the wood just as the intruder dragged me to them. I pulled the door into both my hands and swung around, swinging the door with me. The wood connected with the side of the intruder's face. They stumbled to one side and released my sheet.
I jumped to my feet and ran out of the room. Simon tossed an enemy through the far window and turned in time to catch me in his arms. The last rays of the setting sun caused smoke to rise from his body, but he grimaced and bared it.
I grabbed his nightshirt and looked over the destruction of the living room. "What the hell is going on?"
He clutched me against his chest and looked past me. "A great deal of trouble."
I followed his gaze and my eyes widened. Another half dozen dark figures rushed into the penthouse. Some of them tackled Certus, and the rest surrounded us.
One of them stepped forward. "Simon Cruor, you and your companions are commanded to come with us."
He arched an eyebrow. "And if I refuse?"
The intruder's red eyes fell on me. "We can't be held responsible for the consequences." In the background the half dozen other intruders yanked Certus to his feet and pulled his arms behind his back. His face was bloodied and his clothes were torn.
Simon's eyes flickered from Certus to the lead intruder, and he tightened his grip on me. "You may tell Basileus we will go with you. Merely allow us a few minutes to dress ourselves appropriately for him."
The intruder narrowed his eyes, but nodded. "Ten minutes. No more."
Simon nodded at Certus. "And free my servant."
The intruder half-turned to his companions. They released Certus and gathered at the front of the penthouse. The leader stepped back and swept his arm over the penthouse. "You have ten minutes."
Simon glanced at Certus and led me to the bedroom. Certus followed and shoved the door into place.
I readjusted my impromptu robes and frowned. "What the hell is going on?" I hissed.
Simon's eyes remained on the door. "It appears I unwisely ignored Sarpa's warning, and Basileus has come for us." He pursed his lips. "No doubt to be judged under his 'justice.'"
"But who's Basileus?" I asked him.
Simon strode over to the closet and pulled out a pair of my pants and a blouse. "An old vampire who has set it upon himself to be the arbiter of paranormal creatures within this city." He strode over to the bed and tossed the clothes on the mattress. "And he does not accept refusals with his invitations."
I jerked my thumb over my shoulder at the door. "And those guys are what?"
Simon paused and glared at the door. "They are his 'escort' service. Apparently he suspected I wouldn't heed a written invitation."
I snorted. "I wonder why he'd think that. So we're going where?"
"To Avalon Island in the bay where Basileus will no doubt pass judgment on us."
I frowned. "But we haven't done-well, we haven't done too much wrong, have we?"
Simon pursed his lips. "That remains to be seen. Now dress."
"I can't wait to see the jury of our peers. . ." I muttered as my eyes flickered to Certus. He stood with his back to us and his eyes on the door.
I slipped the sheet off and hurriedly dressed. Simon looped his arm through mine and led us out of the room. The intruders stood where we left them. Their leader stepped forward and gestured to the front door.
"If you will follow us."
A long elevator ride and a quick walk through the foyer, and we were on the streets. A single black limo sat on the curb. The leader opened the door, and we slid inside. The door was shut and the car pulled into traffic.
I looked out the window and squirmed in the seat beside Simon. "So have you ever met this Basileus guy?"
Simon nodded. "Many times over the centuries."
"And I'm guessing you two don't see eye-to-eye."
A small smile slipped onto Simon's lips
. "Not often."
My heart sank. Simon grasped my chin between his fingers and lifted my eyes to his. "Whatever happens, know that you will be safe." He glanced across the way at Certus. "If the worst comes, I entrust her safety to you."
Certus closed his eyes and bowed his head. "I gladly accept responsibility."
And that was the cheerful car ride to the private docks. We were taken aboard a large yacht that resembled a cruise liner and guided to the bow. The car in which we traveled was taken below deck via a loading ramp. The ship weighed anchor and the shoreline receded behind us. Before us was the dark waves of the bay and the black silhouette of Avalon Island.
I clutched onto the railing and watched the island grow larger. In an hour the island loomed ahead of us. Two long white docks stood as sentries over the water and connected with the shoreline of the island. The yacht parked in the largest berth that sat closest to the island. The docks ended at the land where they met a paved road. The road wound its way up a steep, terraced hill littered with boulders, wild flowers, and tall softwood trees.
The top was topped with a large fortress-like abode that shattered the endless blue sky above the island. The walls were a gloomy gray and topped by a parapet. A single stone tower stood at attention at the front left corner. The tall, thin windows gazed out on the waters with haughty indifference. A large lawn surrounded the bottom of the walls like a green moat, and I glimpsed a few smaller buildings on the grounds.
The car was removed from the ship and we were driven up the road to the castle. The leader of the cloaked figures led us beneath the archway and into the foyer of the spacious stone structure. Above us soared the high ceiling with its open rafter layout. The back wall held a long reception desk and to the right were the stone stairs that led to the higher floors. A passageway to the right of the stairs led to other rooms on the ground floor. To our left and right were wooden archways. The left led to a large dining room while the right was a grand sitting room.
It was to that room that we were led. The long sitting room contained the living room furniture and a pair of pool tables at the back. The dark paneled walls flanked a large stone fireplace centered in the wall opposite the entrance. The thick curtains on either side the wide paned windows were open and let us look out on the yard and the open waters of the bay.
I jumped when the doors behind us were shut with a soft, ominous click. The lead intruder and his minions had left us.
But we weren't the first ones in the room. A man rose from one of the chairs and turned to us. He was about forty-five with gray streaks in his temples and a complexion that was a blood-brother to that of Simon.
The man smiled and bowed his head to us. "Good evening, my honored guests."
CHAPTER 2
Simon wrapped his arm around me and his eyebrows crashed down. "Why have you brought us here, Basileus?"
Basileus picked up a wine glass from the table beside his chair and held it up. "First, won't you have a drink with me?" My nostrils flared when I smelled the scent of blood in the glass.
Simon tightened his grip on me. "A prisoner has a right to know why they have been imprisoned."
Basileus sighed and put the glass down. "I see we are to be enemies here. It is all your fault, you know. You forced my hand in bringing you here."
"Do tell," Simon quipped.
Basileus stepped back and swept his hand over the furniture. "If you would have a seat, then I will be glad to discuss the matter with you."
Simon led our group to the furniture. He and I took our seats on a horse-hair couch, and Certus placed himself opposite us and to the right of Basileus's chair.
Our 'host' seated himself and studied us. "I am sure I don't need to list your recent exploits, particularly since she-" he nodded at me, "-came into your life."
Simon arched an eyebrow. "What has our entertainment to do with you?"
Basileus frowned. He sat at attention and the clip of his words quickened. "What you term 'entertainment' is a risk to the entire paranormal community. Your reckless behavior threatens to reveal us to the human world."
A crooked grin onto Simon's lips. "Has it?"
Basileus shifted in his seat. "No, but as I said, you have been most reckless and-"
"And I see no reason why we have been kidnapped and brought here," Simon interrupted. "We have broken no laws, written or otherwise. We have merely played the game, and in one of our games-" his gaze met that of Basileus, "-you lost."
Basileus's eyebrows crashed down. His lips curled back and revealed his long, sharp teeth. "Yes, I admit you humiliated me when you stole that shipment. However, I consider it a learning experience and hold no ill-will toward you."
I snorted. "So that's why your invitation was at the end of a bunch of fists."
Basileus coughed into his hand. "The manner in which I brought you was necessary. I believed you would refuse a less direct request."
Simon nodded. "You would be correct. We had no need to see you."
Basileus frowned. "I told you before you knowingly risked the exposure of every paranormal creature in the city with your recklessness. That is why I have brought you here to face punishment." His eyes fell on Certus and me. "I will, however, not hold vampire fledglings responsible for the actions of their masters, nor even their own while under his influence."
"And what is that punishment?" Simon inquired.
Basileus looked into Simon's eyes. "Destruction."
My heart skipped a beat. I jumped to my feet and balled my hands into fists at my sides. "You can't be serious! Who the hell made you God that you could just take anybody out and kill them?"
Basileus sighed. "I said-"
"I know what you said!" I snapped. "I don't care if it's destruction or digestion! It still means you're murdering people!"
Simon's heavy hand fell on my shoulder. I looked up to see his gaze fell on Basileus and eyes were narrowed. "You are a man, such as you are, of your worthless principles, but you have not waited this long to bring us here without reason."
Basileus frowned. "I told you-"
"That you wished to punish our past transgressions, but your timing is slightly late." A sly smile curled onto Simon's lips. "If I believed my senses, I would wonder if you hadn't brought us here for some purpose other than to destroy me."
Basileus' face darkened and he turned his face away from us. "We shall say your punishment is well-deserved." His eyes flickered back to us. "That is, unless you were to do something for me."
Simon arched an eyebrow. "And that would be what?"
Basileus swept his hand toward the entrance to the room. "If you would come with me."
Our kind host led us from the room and up the grand stairs. Simon and I walked shoulder-to-shoulder. Certus sidled up to walk behind and to Simon's right. I watched his lips move, but no sound came to my ears.
Simon smiled and shook his head. "I don't believe that will be necessary." Certus bowed his head and retreated a few steps.
I glanced at Simon. "What's that about?"
He chuckled. "Certus was curious to know if I wished to leave immediately and if he should prepare the boat for departure."
I blinked at him. "We can leave any time?"
Simon's eyes glistened with that dangerous glint. "Perhaps."
Basileus guided us deep into the second floor of his large home. He stopped at a door in the far right corner of the building. The entrance was decorated with painted diagrams and stick-figure symbols. The largest of the paintings was a hexagram made up of two interlocking triangles, each painted different colors. One was red, and the other black.
We entered and found ourselves in a small suite. The space wreaked of herbs and burnt food. Tables covered the space in front of us, and atop them were chicken feathers, bones from a wide assortment of small animals, and large glass vials filled with brackish-looking liquids.
Opposite the entrance were large windows and a sliding glass door that looked out on a balcony, and beyond that the
rocks and the bay water that crashed into them. To our left lay a kitchen, and beyond that a short hallway to a closed door and a bathroom.
Basileus led us through to the closed door where he leaned toward the entrance and knocked. "Madam Bentley? May we enter?"
"Come in," croaked a voice that sounded a thousand years old.
Our host opened the portal and revealed a bedroom draped in black. Black curtains covered the windows to the bay, black rugs covered the floor, and black covers were draped over a small figure on the small bed.
It was a woman. She appeared to be just shy of Methuselah's age with her thin strands of white hair and so many wrinkles she would make a basset hound jealous. Her short stature barely reached the end of the five-foot long bed, and her gnarled hands with long, sharp fingernails clutched the top of the covers. Her attire, was little we could see, was a simple black dress, and atop her head was a small, round hot water bottle. The woman's face was a ghastly pale color, worse than Simon's, and her eyes were filmy.
She leaned forward and squinted her eyes at us. "What is it? What's wanted?"
Basileus walked over to her bedside and bowed to her. "I apologize for interrupting you, Madam Bentley, but I may have a solution to your problem."
The old woman scowled at him. "It's nothing my skills can't cure if I could just-" She was interrupted by a violent coughing fit. Her whole body trembled beneath the covers. She gathered herself and fell back against her pillows. "If I could just get out of this blasted bed."
Basileus bowed his head. "I understand that, Madam Bentley, but-"
"But nothing!" Her furious gaze fell on Simon. Her eyes narrowed and she pointed a trembling finger at him. "What is he doing here?"
Simon smiled and strode forward. He stopped beside the bed and bowed low to her. "Good afternoon, Madam Bentley."
