“I can still hear you,” he told her in a singsong voice.
“Get the hell outta my head, vampire!” Vivien shouted, but laughed anyway.
She decided to think of turtles. Yeah, turtles, and furry bunnies—sex like rabbits. Dammit! He planted that shit in her head and she glared back at him through the rearview mirror where he was laughing hysterically.
“Asshole.”
“Sexy asshole.”
“I should let you starve,” she said.
“But you won’t.”
“Just shut up until we can pull over and know we’re safe, all right?”
Ryder made a zipping motion with his hand across his lips, but his eyes said something else entirely. Vivien didn’t know what to think, but one thing was for sure—the vampire was definitely growing on her and she liked him.
SIX
AFTER DRIVING down Interstate 10 for fifteen minutes with no sign of the coven warriors, it seemed the coast was clear for now. Ryder kept watching a nervous Vivien glance behind her, using every available mirror and window to her advantage.
“I believe we have lost them,” he said. “It should be safe to pull over in a few minutes.”
Vivien shook her head and glanced back at him. “I want to put a little more distance between us before we switch vehicles. How are you holding up back there?”
“I’m healing slowly, but my strength is somewhat diminished. I’m not sure how much I would be able to assist you if we were attacked,” he answered honestly.
Vivien cleared her throat and ran her hand through her hair. “All right, I’ll pull over at the next rest stop and let you drink from me, but no funny business. Are we clear?”
“Crystal,” he replied smiling. “And Vivien, thank you. I will not hurt you, only take what little I need to regenerate.”
“That’s good to know.” She smiled back, but Ryder could hear her thoughts raging. She was wondering if she would become some kind of blood slave or be addicted after one bite. He attempted to keep a straight face. The stories people contrived about vampires over the years seemed to grow more ridiculous with each new television series or supernatural book release.
The rest stop was two miles up ahead and Ryder felt Vivien’s apprehension from the backseat. He wanted to say something to reassure her, but thought it best to wait until it was time for him to begin.
When they pulled into the mostly vacant parking lot, Vivien put the vehicle in park and climbed into the backseat next to Ryder. Her eyes were wide, then began to radiate with magic again.
“Vivien, cloak your magic—concentrate.” He took her hand in his own, making small circles inside her palm. “I know you’re nervous, but you can’t allow your magic to rule over you, especially now. Please, just breathe. I will not harm you.”
“Shit.” Vivien took a long deep breath, closing her eyes for several moments. When she opened them, they were back to normal. “Okay, I’m ready. Sorry about that. It’s just that I’ve never allowed a vampire to feed from me, let alone be this close to me. I know you’re different. It’s just a defense mechanism.”
Ryder nodded, then looked into her eyes to ensure that she was indeed ready. The last thing he wanted was to frighten her. “I understand,” he said. “I’ll make this simple and drink from your wrist. My saliva has healing properties and I will close the puncture wounds immediately afterward.”
Vivien extended her right arm and shut her eyes tightly, scrunching her perfectly shaped nose. Ryder had to chuckle a bit. She peeked one eye open. “What’s so funny? Are you gonna do it or not?”
“Yes, it’s your expression. Try to relax and not look like you’re about to be eaten alive.” He tried not to laugh again, but it escaped him.
“Oh, for the love of—just do it already!” She pushed her wrist to Ryder’s lips and he inhaled deeply.
Ryder found it hard to breathe. The woman’s scent overwhelmed his senses and everything from her smart mouth, to her quirky nature turned him on. He wanted to drink from her, but he also wanted so much more.
He held onto her arm, then licked the throbbing vein along the inside of her wrist and fire raged throughout his entire body. His mind screamed “Mine” and his body wanted her, all of her. His fangs elongated with desire to make her his, but he knew he could only taste her, just this once. When his fangs pierced her delectable flesh, fireworks exploded behind his lids and he began to see scenes from what could only be Vivien’s life with her mother flash before his eyes. Vivien moaned, breaking his connection with the small snippet of her past, and Ryder drank one last gulp of her blood before reluctantly pulling away. He licked the wound closed, retracted his fangs and realized he was more turned on than he had ever been in his long life. He reached down and adjusted himself hoping Vivien wouldn’t notice.
“Are you all right?” he asked. Her eyes were still closed, and she was leaning against the seat with a euphoric smile. He assumed that would be a yes.
“Never better,” she replied in a sultry voice, then reached over and clutched his head in a tight grip. “Kiss me. Now.”
Ryder didn’t have to think, he did as she commanded and crushed his lips against hers, parting her mouth with his tongue. She jerked him forward, not breaking the kiss, and threw her arms around his neck, pulling him close. He could feel the swell of her breasts against his chest and his arousal became even more prominent.
He darted his tongue into her mouth and she tasted even better than he imagined—he couldn’t get enough. His fangs elongated of their own accord and Vivien gasped. She swirled her tongue around them and Ryder nearly came undone. He cupped her breast with his right hand, feeling her hardened nipple through her blouse. He needed to taste it. When he flicked the tiny nub with his thumb, Vivien cried out and straddled his waist, then began grinding her hips against his hard length.
She pulled away from his mouth, then licked his neck and bit down hard. Ryder groaned in pleasure. He wanted to taste her again, feel her. He moved her skirt to her waist and slid her red silk panties to the side—she was ready for him. When he slipped two fingers inside her slick entrance, she gasped. He circled her clit with his thumb and she cried out for more. He knew she was close; he could feel it within every fiber of his being. She continued to ride his fingers—oh, how he just wanted to taste her wet center. After a few more strokes, Vivien’s entire body shuddered, and she threw her head back in what looked like ecstasy. She shouted his name and pulled him in for another demanding kiss, then rested her head on his shoulder.
Vivien peeled herself off of Ryder’s lap, having no idea what had come over her. They were running from a murderous coven of witches and she allowed her hormones to take over after letting him drink from her. She wondered if it would always feel like that if she fed him again. Damn, she had never felt so turned on before. She wanted to do it again, but feel him inside of her next time. Shit. She needed to slap some sense into herself and get back on the road.
After adjusting her clothes, she climbed back into the front seat. She could feel Ryder’s eyes on her. “Are you all better now?” she asked glancing back through the rearview mirror, not really wanting to acknowledge what had just happened.
He cleared his throat. “Yes, um, thank you?” He raised a questioning brow, like he didn’t know what to say and Vivien laughed.
“We need to get back on the road. We have no idea if they’re tracking us again,” she said, shoving the gearshift in drive, then taking off toward the exit. It was nearing ten thirty a.m. now and she was starving, but the thought of food or stopping again until nightfall was out of the question, unless she had to pee—or gas, they might need gas. They could ditch the SUV later. Her mind was running in ten different directions, most likely because she just had an amazing orgasm that had her seeing stars, rainbows and, yeah… She just made out with a vampire. One hell of a sexy ass vampire.
“You know, I can still hear your thoughts when you project them,” Ryder said from the back. She glanced at him aga
in and the grin he was sporting said he had heard everything. She really needed to learn how to block her thoughts. Dammit.
“Good.” She smirked back. “It would be nice if I knew what you were thinking.”
“Vivien, my dear, you really don’t want to know what I’m thinking right now. Let’s just say if we weren’t on the run, you wouldn’t be driving, and we wouldn’t be doing much talking.”
Vivien took a deep breath. She was thinking the exact same thing, but no. One small lapse, that was all it was. She was good. Never again. She decided she would keep telling herself that.
Ignoring his statement, she asked, “How much longer ‘til New Orleans?” She knew it was a long drive but decided to change the subject.
“About twenty hours if we drive all day and through the night,” Ryder answered, then continued, “but we’ll have to stop eventually. I know you need to eat. We must also acquire a suitable change of clothes, then find a place to shower and rest, even if it is for a short time.”
She knew he was right, especially about the shower. But how much further until she would feel safe? She realized that was a dumb question; she wouldn’t feel safe until those murderous bastards were all dead or she was off their radar.
Vivien nodded. “You’re right. We’ll ditch this vehicle in the next city and find a place to rest and eat. I’m running on pure adrenaline right now.”
No sooner had the words left her lips, than an unnatural storm began to spread across the sky above them. Rain poured down from every direction making it hard for Vivien to see the road ahead. Thunder clapped loudly, and lightning struck within feet of the vehicle. She knew it was the warriors; they had tracked her magic again and weren’t too far behind. With her heart thudding in her chest, she stomped the gas pedal and prayed they would make it out of the storm. She had been in a similar situation with her mother when she was young, and they’d barely escaped with their lives. She only needed to outrun the monsoon the witches had generated.
“Vivien, what’s going on?” Ryder asked, sitting forward.
“It’s them. They created this storm.” She threw her right hand to the side, motioning toward the chaos outside, then wrapped it back around the steering wheel. “Hang on. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride.”
Cars were slowing down all around them, but Vivien didn’t let that stop her. She took the emergency lane, driving as fast as she could with almost zero visibility.
An exit was coming up and a car swerved in front of her. She had three choices: hit the ditch, attempt to maneuver the tank and possibly miss the car, or crash into another vehicle in the right lane. She chose Magic. Screw it.
Vivien waved her right hand, clearing a path for both cars and sped through into the middle lane. She took a deep breath knowing the warriors would be able to track her, but she wasn’t about to risk anyone else’s life.
She swerved to the left to go around a semi and punched the gas. The wind seemed to be blowing harder than before, moving the SUV from side to side, making it hard for Vivien to maintain control. Blankets of rain continued to pour down and it was all she could do to concentrate. She had a white-knuckle grip on the wheel.
“Vivien, I think we should slow down,” Ryder urged her. “We’re beginning to hydroplane.”
She whipped her head around. “If we slow down, we’re dead. Do you understand?” Then she quickly turned back to the road. “I can’t stop now. Once we make it to the other side of the storm, we’ll be in the clear.”
She could hear Ryder mumbling something under his breath, but she didn’t care. She had stayed alive this long and wasn’t about to die on a damned freeway.
“Look, I don’t think we’re going to make it to New Orleans,” Ryder said. “I’ll call Tristan back and see if he and his friends will meet us somewhere in the middle. It seems we’re going to have to fight the Garginton warriors one way or another.”
“Fine,” Vivien reluctantly agreed. “Whatever it takes, but please understand, your friends may lose their lives. These people, these witches are ruthless and don’t care who they have to kill to get to me. They think I’m some kind of demon set to destroy their kind. They’re insane.”
A small Honda slid into Vivien’s lane, cutting her off. “Son of bitch!” She veered into the emergency lane on the left-hand side. Up ahead, she could barely see the sun through the sheets of rain, but she knew in her gut they were getting close. Then all of a sudden, a loud crash rang out from the back, causing the ass end of the SUV to slide sideways, hitting the median. Vivien corrected, then punched the gas.
“What the fu—” Ryder was cut off when the back window shattered and what looked like a lightning bolt sailed through the middle of the vehicle, exiting through the front windshield, leaving a smoking hole.
“Ryder! Are you okay?” Vivien couldn’t turn around. She could feel the magic from the warriors surrounding them. She pushed the gas pedal to the floor, then jerked back into the left lane. Without looking, she made a path to the right lane with her mind, then cut across all three lanes of traffic, hoping to lose them. There was an exit coming up. The sky was clear just over the hill.
“What the hell was that?” Ryder shouted from the floorboard.
“Um, a lightning bolt I think? Who knows, but we have to lose them and fast!”
Without another thought, Vivien slammed on the gas, taking a rural exit. She didn’t even bother stopping at the light. Fishtailing, she turned right, heading away from the storm. The only problem was, now a gaping hole in the back window allowed the sun’s rays to stream inside and she knew she needed another vehicle; otherwise they ran the risk of Ryder frying in the sun again.
Once over the hill, Vivien breathed a sigh of relief and slowed down. They had made it out of the magical storm, but that didn’t mean they were off their radar just yet, only that they hadn’t been caught. “Hey, do you think you can avoid the sun from down there until I find us another car or motel?” she asked.
“Sure. It’s actually quite comfortable down here. I’m beginning to enjoy it,” Ryder replied sarcastically.
“Smart ass. We’re in the middle of nowhere. It shouldn’t be hard to find a bed and breakfast.” She kept glancing from side to side seeing nothing but fields and, well, nothing.
Ryder laughed. “Sweetheart, this isn’t LA. We’re in the sticks of Oklahoma. The only thing we’re going to find out here is another shithole, much like Hal’s, if we’re lucky.”
Vivien had had enough. She was done. She was done with being chased. Done with running from psychos, and so done with not having a freakin’ shower or a decent place to lay her head for a few hours. “For the love of all things holy, if you don’t shut up,” she said through gritted teeth. “I can’t take much more, okay? I need sleep and coffee! I’m over this day.”
“Not in the laughing mood, I suppose. I apologize. Maybe we’ll find something nice.”
He was patronizing her now. Or just being Ryder, but whatever. She seriously needed to calm down. She was beginning to get on her own nerves. What was with her mood? Or was it just her attitude? She assumed it was a little bit of everything—her life being turned upside down again after so many years of what she considered normalcy. Now she just wanted to cry. But she didn’t cry, especially in front of a man. Nope. She did realize that she didn’t need to take out her frustrations on Ryder. She might apologize to him later. Maybe.
“Apology accepted,” Ryder called out from the back in a voice that sounded like he was attempting to hold back yet another a laugh.
Vivien burst out laughing. Why not? They were on the run and she needed to lighten up and clear her head. “You’re such a shit, but thanks. Oh, and please try to stay out of my head. Can I at least try to rant in private?”
“I will do my best,” he replied.
Up ahead, Vivien could see a small sign—it was a freakin’ bed and breakfast with cozy little shops lined along the street. She wanted to jump up and down in her seat and giggle like a schoolgirl. The
place looked clean and inviting—she could shower and change. She hoped Ryder had money.
Vivien pulled into the gravel parking lot under a large shade tree and put the truck in park.
“I would have never thought that a place like this existed in this part of Oklahoma,” Ryder said, looking through the tinted window of the second-row seating area.
“It’s nice, huh?” Vivien exclaimed. She was so excited. It was a white three-story farmhouse with a huge wraparound porch that had been converted into a little bed and breakfast. It had the perfect small-town charm, with black shutters and perfectly manicured landscaping surrounding the front walk. Four rocking chairs sat along the cedar porch with a hanging swing on each corner. There was also an outdoor eating area situated in the backyard beneath a trellis and another inside a white gazebo surrounded by colorful flowerbeds. It was breathtaking.
Shops and tiny cafés lined the street on both sides. Vivien thought if she weren’t running for her life, this would be a nice place for a getaway.
“How do you suppose we go about this?” Ryder asked. “I have plenty of cash, but I’m not exactly sure how I’m going to get inside without getting a little crispy.” He looked to Vivien, raising a brow. He was leaning all the way against the door, avoiding the sunlight from the broken window.
Vivien thought about it for a moment. She could pay for the room, then bring down a towel to cover his head, right? She honestly had no idea. He was the first vampire that she didn’t want to roast in the sun. “I’ll figure something out,” she answered. “Just give me some money and I’ll check us in. Be back in a few.” She leaned over the seat and held her hand out with a smile.
Ryder had a look of mischief in his eyes. “Here you go. Two hundred should do it.” Vivien winked at him, opened her door and hopped out quickly, slamming the door shut behind her.
Shadows and Stars Page 80
