Zane’s Redemption

by Tina Folsom

  Fuck!

  Her muscles squeezed him, making him clench his jaw shut to avoid a premature release. He allowed the moans that built in his chest to emerge freely, unconcerned about exposing himself and the depth of pleasure she gave him. Portia’s hand on the back of his head held him to her hungry mouth, but even if she hadn’t held him so tightly, he wouldn’t have pulled back. Her fangs in his neck were the most intimate sensation he’d ever experienced.

  There was only one way to top it. Zane withdrew from her sheath only to plunge back inside, driving his cock harder and deeper into her than before. She was slick with her arousal, and every glide into her was pure silk on silk.

  His triumphant growl joined her soft moans when the realization of their actions finally sank in. Portia had given him not one gift, but two: she’d accepted his blood and given him her virginity. In return, he would do what she’d asked for; unleash his passion on her and make her feel desired. Because she was.

  The sounds of flesh slapping against flesh filled the room. Comingled with soft moans and sighs from Portia and the much more pronounced groans from him, a concert of lust and passion played out in the small house that had, until now, known only a quiet existence. No longer. The sounds of lovemaking bounced against the rafters and fell back onto them like waves crashing onto a beach.

  Their bodies moved in perfect rhythm as if they’d done this a thousand times. At the same time, everything was new. And while Zane knew that Portia had never been with a man, he felt the memories of other women vanish from him as if somebody had wiped his slate clean. He felt as much like a virgin as the pliable woman in his arms. Never had he felt anything as sensual and as beautiful as the union of their two bodies. He had no memory of ever having touched other women. Only Portia counted, only her pleasure was important. Because if he could pleasure her, it would only serve to double his own satisfaction.

  He worked his cock in and out of her, slamming his pelvis into her hard and fast, just the way she’d demanded earlier. He realized now that there was no way he could have gone slowly. Too much pent up lust drove him to pound his cock into her, to claim her pussy for himself, to make her want only him, no other man.

  The desire to brand her flitted through his mind, but he knew she was really branding him. Not only with her bite but with the imprint of her fingers on his skin, fingers that had turned into claws and dug into his flesh.

  Zane suddenly felt her withdraw her fangs from his neck and lick over the incisions, closing the skin with her saliva.

  “Don’t stop,” he urged her and lifted his head.

  She gazed back at him, her lips smeared with his blood, her eyes shining. She was even more beautiful now.

  “I love your taste.”

  Her admission made him want to howl at the moon like a wild animal. She carried his blood now, and she loved it. He couldn’t ask for more. It was already more than he’d ever expected. And now that his blood was running in her veins, he knew she was stronger. His blood would have a potent effect on her, one he was more than willing to exploit.

  Zane withdrew from her and lifted his body, only to flip Portia onto her stomach.

  “Oh!” was all that escaped her lips.

  “You did say not to hold back,” he reminded her and captured her hips in his hands, pulling them up.

  Her heart-shaped ass drew back, and her thighs spread.

  “Good girl,” he praised.

  She moaned when he slipped his hand between her cheeks and along her cleft before he thrust a finger into her warm slit.

  “I’m gonna fuck you from behind. You wanna know why?”

  “Why?” The word was more moan than voice.

  He positioned himself at her center, pulling out his finger and guiding his hard shaft to her glistening folds. Her skin was red and swollen, but he wouldn’t give her reprieve. She could take him.

  “When you’re on your hands and knees, I have complete control over you. I can fuck you as hard as I want to. You’ll be at my mercy.”

  “Yes … oh, God, yes …”

  Zane drove into her, ramming his rod into her to the hilt so hard, her entire body lifted and moved a couple of inches toward the headboard. He gripped her hips harder and pulled her back, impaling her so his entire length was buried in her.

  “Again,” she spurred him on.

  She didn’t need to tell him twice. Zane repeated his action and found a rhythm that was driving him quickly toward the abyss. But he couldn’t allow himself release before he’d made her come. Releasing her right hip, he slid his hand over her stomach and down to her nest of curls, finding her clit.

  Fully engorged, it peaked from beneath its hood. Drawing juices from her pussy, he moistened his finger and rubbed it over her sensitive organ, eliciting a pronounced moan from Portia.

  “Oh, God!” she gasped.

  Zane rubbed his thumb over it again, back and forth, then in a circle, steadily increasing the pressure. He watched for her reactions and honed his caress to her preference, all the while thrusting deep and hard into her from behind.

  When suddenly her interior muscles clenched around him, it hit him out of nowhere. His cock convulsed inside her, spewing his seed into her womb as she continued to milk him. He only slightly eased the pressure on her clit, allowing her to ride the waves that wracked her body. When they slowly subsided, he caressed the responsive bundle of nerves again, taking her over the edge once more until she finally collapsed beneath him.

  Refusing to leave her body, he rolled to the side, taking her with him. He pressed her cute ass into his groin, keeping himself lodged deep inside her. Her back molded to his chest as she sighed contently.

  Zane pulled the blanket over them and wrapped his arms around her.

  “Zane,” she murmured languidly.

  “Yes, baby girl?” He smoothed her hair back behind her ear.

  When she didn’t answer, he craned his neck to look at her face. Her eyes were closed, and her even breath confirmed that she was asleep.

  Asleep in his arms, trusting him to keep her safe. A virgin no more.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Quinn paid the cabbie and jumped out of the taxi, waiting until it disappeared down the hill before he walked back two blocks and turned into the next street, blending into the shadows of the large trees that lined it. Paranoia was hard to shake, and his years as a vampire had taught him never to let his guard down, even if he had no reason to believe that he was being followed. The last thing he wanted to do was to put one of his fellow vampires in jeopardy, particularly when he was here to ask for a favor.

  Just because Zane had disappeared with the girl didn’t mean that his other problems had just vanished with him. Finding out where the assassin had come from was still paramount, and once Quinn had a lead on that, he could use it to force Zane to come back. He knew his friend well enough to realize that once he had crucial information about Müller’s whereabouts, nothing could keep Zane from pursuing his ultimate goal: revenge. Not even a piece of ass as enticing at Portia—he hoped.

  With a sigh, he stopped in front of the modern home that sat high on Twin Peaks. Its floor-to-ceiling windows wrapped around two sides of the house, the back reaching into the mountain behind it. While impressive, it felt by no means out of place in this neighborhood. Just like a vampire’s home was meant to be: possessing all the amenities necessary for a comfortable life, yet fitting in and not attracting any unwanted attention.

  Quinn walked up to the entrance door and rang the bell. It took only a moment before it opened, yet it wasn’t Thomas who greeted him, but Nina, Amaury’s hot-headed mate. Her blond curls were tousled, and she looked slightly out of breath. Her sweat smelled sweet and ever so tempting. He could only imagine how her blood must taste, but he would never know for sure how rich and delicious it was. Only Amaury did. And he would kill anybody who touched her.

  “Oh, hey, Quinn.”

  “I won!” Eddie’s enthusiastic shout came from behind her.r />
  “Hey, Nina. Is Thomas in?”

  She opened the door all the way and motioned him to enter. “He and Amaury are downstairs in the garage.”

  Quinn entered the large open plan living area with the set of computers nestled in one corner and a large flat-screen TV mounted on one wall. Eddie, Nina’s brother stood in front of it, a white plastic object in his hands.

  “What are you guys doing?” Quinn asked, pointing at the screen, which showed some sort of green field.

  “Wii Tennis,” Eddie answered and grinned. “And I’m kicking my big sister’s butt!”

  Quinn smirked. Well, who wouldn’t want to kick that cute butt, or rather, slap it? Another thing he’d never get to do if he didn’t want to find himself at the end of a stake.

  “It’s only the second set; we said three out of five,” Nina reminded her brother and snatched the Wii controller from him.

  Starting a new set, she moved into position and swung her right arm as if she were holding a tennis racket. Pinging sounds came from the TV. Her boobs bounced as her arm came full circle, and Quinn had to tear his eyes away from the lovely sight. He definitely had a thing for hot women, particularly those who belonged to other men. At least that way, he knew for sure that none of them would snare him in her net and force him to settle down. Getting married was furthest from his mind—who’d ever heard of a married playboy? And that’s what he was, a playboy. Hefner was an inexperienced schoolboy compared to him.

  Quinn grinned to himself and headed down the stairs that led into the garage. As he approached, he could already hear Thomas’ and Amaury’s voices.

  Knocking briefly at the door at the bottom of the stairs, he entered.

  “Hey, guys.”

  Thomas and Amaury both looked at him and greeted him with enthusiasm.

  “About time we get to see you,” Amaury said and clasped Quinn’s hand.

  “Hey, Quinn.” Thomas waved a hand in greeting then wiped it on his grease smeared pants.

  Quinn cast a quick glance at the motorcycle next to him, noticing that half the engine seemed to be missing. “Working on another bike?”

  “Just a few minor repairs.”

  Quinn raised a doubting eyebrow. “If you say so.” If taking an engine apart and putting it back together was minor, then how hard could it be for this technical genius to pry a computer chip from that mangled cell phone Quinn still had in his pocket?

  “So, about Zane,” Amaury started and gave him a long look.

  “Yeah, not a good situation,” Quinn felt compelled to say.

  Thomas took a step closer. “Kind of strange that you didn’t notice what was going on inside him, particularly since you’ve known him the longest.”

  Quinn shrugged, not willing to give away his secrets. “You know how unreadable he is. Hey, what’s done is done. Any sightings of his Hummer?”

  Amaury shook his head. “Nothing so far. He’s vanished.”

  Thomas interrupted. “I have an automated software program running right now to get into Zane’s personal accounts. I tell you, that guy’s paranoid. Everything is encrypted to the hilt. But I’ll get in sooner or later.”

  “What do you hope to find?” Quinn asked.

  “He must have had an idea where to take Portia. He wouldn’t just go to a hotel; that’s too dangerous once it’s daytime. I’m guessing he has a place somewhere.”

  “Not that Zane ever mentioned any of that to us,” Amaury added and gave Quinn a penetrating look. “Maybe he’s said something to you. Has he contacted you?”

  “Listen, Amaury, and you too, Thomas, just because I’m his oldest and closest friend doesn’t mean he tells me shit. I’m the first one to admit that Zane is on the edge, but I don’t like it when you guys insinuate that I should have known, or that I know something I’m not telling. I’m as loyal to Scanguards as the two of you.” Offense was better than defense; he hoped this would take the heat off him.

  Amaury raised his hands in capitulation. “Hey, no offense. We’re just all a little agitated.”

  Thomas nodded in agreement. “I blame myself. I should have said something earlier, but I figured a warning would be sufficient.”

  “Said what earlier?” Quinn wanted to know, his hackles rising.

  “That I noticed something going on between him and his charge. But by the time I told Samson, it was already too late.”

  Shit! So Thomas was the one who’d ratted on Zane. Quinn gritted his teeth.

  Thomas held up his hand. “I know what you’re thinking, but it wasn’t like that. Samson already had a suspicion. I only confirmed it. And I would do it again. What I regret is that we didn’t tell Zane to his face. If we’d done that maybe we would have realized what he was planning.”

  Quinn kept his anger in check. It would do no good to pick a fight with Thomas, particularly since he still hadn’t come to what he was there to ask for.

  “I doubt even that would have made a difference. Zane hides his emotions better than anybody,” Amaury added and gave Thomas a friendly slap on the shoulder.

  “Hey, Thomas, given your sentiment about how things went down with Zane, maybe you wanna help me try to coax him back,” Quinn baited his colleague.

  Thomas’ eyebrows went up. “Coax Zane? How?”

  Quinn pulled the mangled cell phone from his pocket, drawing both Amaury’s and Thomas’ gaze onto it.

  “There’s some information he’s after, and I’m pretty sure that if I can get it for him, he’ll come running back.”

  Even though he’d promised Zane not to let Thomas know that this had anything to do with him, this was a promise he couldn’t keep. Thomas would work on this problem with much more speed and energy if he knew it could bring Zane back.

  “Information in that piece of shit?” Amaury asked full of doubt.

  “What kind of information?” Thomas added.

  “Phone numbers, contact info, anything you can pry out of it.”

  Quinn tossed the phone to Thomas who caught it in one hand. He turned it between his fingers and looked at it from all sides.

  Then he raised his eyes. “Explosion?”

  Quinn shrugged. “Can you salvage the chip?”

  “Maybe.”

  “I thought you were a genius,” Quinn needled him.

  “And I thought you were loyal to Scanguards.”

  “It’s nothing to do with Scanguards,” Quinn protested. “And that’s all I can tell you.”

  “For now,” Thomas said calmly, “I’m going with it, but if something turns out to be fishy, I’ll demand the whole story.”

  “Fair enough.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Portia traced her fingers over Zane’s arm, feeling an intimacy and connection that she’d thought impossible before. Being in Zane’s arms had exceeded all her wildest dreams. The pain of losing her virginity had been fleeting and had been instantly replaced by intense pleasure that had built and built until she’d thought she could take no more.

  She purred like a content cat and snuggled closer to Zane’s lean body.

  “My sentiments exactly,” he husked at her ear, and pulled her lobe between his lips, humming softly.

  Her smile intensified as if wanting to permanently imprint itself on her face. “I liked it.”

  “Just ‘liked’?” he growled while his hand on her stomach pressed her firmer into the curve of his body—his still very hard body. “You practically passed out.”

  Her cheeks flamed. “I nodded off. Sorry.”

  He lifted her chin with the tip of his fingers and turned her face to him. “Don’t be. I like holding you.”

  “Just ‘like’?” she teased back.

  His eyes sparkled in response. “What do you think?”

  Portia turned in his arms and stroked her hand over the spot on his neck where she’d bitten him. The skin had instantly mended, repairing itself, but she could still visualize the tiny wound.

  Zane’s eyes darkened, and a moan issue
d from his chest. “I can still feel your fangs there.” He pulled her closer.

  She licked her lips, remembering his rich taste, suddenly hungry for more. “Can we do it again?”

  “Just the biting?”

  “No. Both.”

  “Biting and making love?”

  Portia felt warmth spread in her belly. “I want both.”

  “Anytime, baby girl. You just tell me when you’re ready for me.”

  Encouraged by his tender voice and the warmth she felt from him, she brushed her fingers over his forearm again, lingering over the tattoo on its inside. She dropped her gaze to it and felt him shift.

  “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to …”

  “Portia …”

  His muscles tensed.

  “You must have gone through a horrible time.” She’d sensed earlier that whatever things he’d experienced in the death camps, had shaped his beliefs about himself. And now that she’d experienced the passion that was inside of Zane, she wanted more. She wanted to understand him, to find out what else was inside him. If he let her in.

  “It’s best to forget it.”

  “But you haven’t forgotten.” Beneath her fingers, the tattoo seemed to burn.

  Zane squeezed his eyes shut. “No. I can never forget.”

  Her hand went to his cheek, cupping it. He jerked for a split-second, then placed his own palm over her hand.

  “Why do you want to know about it?” He opened his eyes and gazed at her.

  “Because I want to know who you are.” She collected all her courage to speak the next words. “Because I’m falling in love with you.”

  A flash of despair lit in his eyes. “Oh, God, Portia. Please don’t … You’re young. This is your first experience. You don’t know what you’re feeling.”

  Portia shook her head. Her feelings toward him were intense and honest, and most of all, very clear: it wasn’t simply desire that held her captured in his arms, it was something deeper and more potent than anything else she’d ever experienced. “I know what I feel.”