Blood Rising

by Amber Anthony

  “We started necking. She got off my dick and pulled me into bed, and I couldn’t fucking wait! She started with the fingernails and lips, riding my leg, drawing that long hair of hers over my chest. I was on fire. Then she rode me, arching that graceful neck above me, and I had to taste her.”

  “I wrapped my hand around the back of her neck and brought her down to me. She didn’t resist. Well, why would she? I’d fed from her before. We both came so damn hard, and she tasted like champagne and love and forever, and my next thought was to ask Rick how I could make things permanent. She was begging me for more… moaning and making these sexy noises…and I thought we’d always be like this… I was drinking her blood…delicious…then…it seemed like only an instant…I looked into her eyes and they were cold and…dead. Her lips were still warm, but there were no more kisses. Lilli was gone.”

  Matt sighed brokenly. “Without even knowing it, I’d taken too much.” Cat dragged in a shaky breath. “Can you even begin to understand what it’s like to kill someone you cherish during an act of love?”

  “No,” she whispered, a gentle hand reaching out to touch his arm. “I’m sorry, Matt.” She paused and considered. “All I know is, I love you, and I trust you. I know you’d never hurt me.”

  “I’d never mean to, no.” Fat lot of help those good intentions had been to Lilli.

  “You haven’t had sex with a mortal woman since then?”

  “No.”

  “Rick does. Other vampires do.”

  “They’re willing to risk it. Some are willing to turn their mortal partners if they go too far.”

  “You didn’t know how to turn her back then?”

  “Right. I didn’t.”

  “You know now?” She prodded.

  “In theory, yes.”

  “You’ve never actually done it?”

  “I won’t do it.” His jaw tight, he clipped his words.

  “Can you see where that’s a problem? You’re human right now, or close to human, or whatever. Maybe you can find the Humanité and it’ll stay that way. If it doesn’t, and you’re a vampire and I’m mortal, we can still be together,”

  “Really? You’re willing to die if things go too far?”

  “No, but there’s no reason I should have to. If you can’t join me in my world, I can join yours.” She watched him quietly for a beat while Matt struggled to formulate an answer she could accept. Finally, she shrugged. “I guess that needs to be understood by both of us. I’m not sure you can live with that thought.”

  “You understand that becoming a vampire is dying, Cat? Except there’s no streets of gold and meeting your maker. It’s just more of the same. Forever.”

  “More of the same with you? Sounds like heaven to me.”

  “Oh, God, Cat! Why do you say things like that?” Matt dragged her into his arms and held her close to his heart, ridiculously touched by her faith.

  “Because they’re true. I don’t begin to know how this will all work out. I just know somehow it will.”

  Experience showed Matt life wasn’t that simple. He sighed heavily. “I can’t fight both you and Rick.” He forced a smile at her upturned face. “For now.”

  She frowned. “Didn’t you and Rick say ‘now’ is all we have?”

  “Okay, for now.”

  * * * *

  Cat gusted a sigh and relaxed against him. She turned in his arms to visually explore the room. Filtered light struck bottle green walls from geometric Tiffany lamps. Heavy, dark oak furniture stood like massive soldiers on guard along the walls. Tobacco-colored leather chairs sat atop a richly hued Persian rug, inviting conversation. In a secluded alcove, screened by blood-crimson drapes, sat a bed. Covered in deep chocolate and red silk, it invited her to disappear into its depths.

  “This is your ‘dungeon?’” she asked wide-eyed.

  Matt frowned. “I prefer to call it the ‘playroom.’ Some Doms use what could justifiably be called a ‘dungeon.’”

  “Does Rick?”

  Matt stopped and stared at her for a moment. “Why do you ask?”

  “Well, I mean, it’s all kind of…forbidden and dark. It’s interesting.”

  “Are you saying you want to explore a Dom/sub relationship?”

  “Me? No. I’m just curious, that’s all. I…I looked it up on the Internet. It was…startling…some of it. I can’t understand why anyone…” She shuddered slightly. “Some of it…looked…intriguing.”

  A broad smile split Matt’s face. “I see.” His lips twitched. “What specifically did you find…intriguing?”

  “Um.” Cat felt a blush creep up her chest to her face.

  “Cat,” Matt assumed a commanding stance and tone, “any satisfying sexual relationship requires honest communication. I can’t give you what you want unless you share the information with me.”

  Cat giggled, not in the least intimidated by his demeanor and tone. “Okay. I can see that. So…it looks as if it might kinda be fun to be handcuffed, and you know, made to ‘take’ whatever your lover dishes out.”

  “So, if I did this…” In a flash Matt had her wrists pinned behind her back, held in his unbreakable grip, his leg positioned firmly between hers. “You’d find that a turn-on?”

  “I guess so. I’m not really sure…”

  “What else?” Matt asked. “What else seems intriguing?”

  “I…uh.” A long pause followed, during which Matt seemed perfectly content to wait just as they were, until she worked up the courage to say it. “Um…the vibrators seemed…” She swallowed hard. “The girl in the video seemed to be enjoying…a…um…vibrator.”

  Matt grinned. “Yeah? Vibrators can be fun. How would you like to try some of that?” His voice was low and husky.

  “I…uh.” Cat felt weak all over, but suddenly felt herself flush with arousal. “The nuns never mentioned this.”

  Matt laughed. “Let’s broaden your sexual repertoire a little.” He turned her to face him, her wrists still clasped behind her back. “As it happens, right in this room, I have handcuffs and vibrators.” He kissed her deeply, sex appeal fairly oozing off him.

  “You do?”

  “I do.” He drew her hard against his rigid length and ground against her, making her whimper. “Come with me.” It was part invitation and part command. Cat went willingly.

  Matt released her wrists. “Lose the clothes,” he ordered, and Cat hurried to obey. She stopped, hand at the zipper of her jeans.

  “Matt?”

  He frowned, looking back at her inquiringly as he drew a manacle from the side of the headboard. “Is there a problem?”

  “Just a little one.” She bit her bottom lip.

  “What is it?”

  “It’s just…the video reminded me, and I…should we have been using protection the past few days?”

  Matt drew in a deep breath, slightly tilting his head back. He gave her a worried look. “Oh.” He sighed out the breath. “No. No need to worry. Vampires are sterile. No vamp babies.” He smiled sadly. That stung. Cat hadn’t considered an inability to have his child. “We don’t carry disease either, so I guess that’s a positive.” He drew her partially bare form against him, and nuzzled her. “So, if that answers all your questions…” She nodded. “Good. Then strip.” There was a new bite to his command.

  She giggled. “Yes, sir.” She giggled again.

  He grinned. “You make a terrible sub.” Her panties fell to her ankles, and then she flipped them across the room with her toes. Matt growled.

  “On the bed, brat!”

  Cat obediently hopped onto the center of the bed and extended her arms to the side. “Like this?”

  Matt laughed, hands on his hips. “I think you should be a little more intimidated.”

  “Why? I trust you.”

  Matt shook his head. “Yeah, you do.” He’d make this good for her, knowing the day approached when he’d have to let her go. At least before he broke both their hearts, he could give her this.

 
; “Tell me how you feel when we’re done,” he growled.

  Cat swallowed hard. “Why? What are you…”

  Matt lifted her against the plushly padded headboard so she reclined comfortably, but still had a front-row view of all the wicked things he intended to do to her. With a dark grin cast her way, he clicked a soft, wide leather manacle around her left wrist. She swallowed again.

  “What are you going to do?” Another clicked around her right. He didn’t answer. “Matt?” A manacle secured her left ankle. “Aren’t you going to talk to me?” The final manacle closed around her right.

  “A true Dom wouldn’t explain himself,” Matt whispered against her ear. “Don’t ask again. Just. Feel.”

  Cat’s gaze searched his warily. He slid his little finger under the rim of each shackle, making sure none were too tight.

  “How do you feel?”

  “Helpless. How do you feel?”

  “I feel really good,” he admitted with a low, evil laugh. “Keep me posted.”

  Matt surveyed her spread-eagled body with relish. He saw the wild beat of her pulse in the arteries of her neck. Her skin flushed a rosy pink that he thought you really had to be a vampire to fully appreciate. She pulled at her restraints, just as every sub seemed compelled to do. She wouldn’t be moving much. He gave a satisfied chuckle, stood and shed his clothes, taking great pains to maintain eye contact. Let her sweat a little, heighten the anticipation.

  She turned her head in his direction as he opened and closed a drawer behind her, listened as he unwrapped a plastic cover, tensed with the metallic sound of batteries being loaded. He was back beside her on the bed.

  “Matt?” Her whisper was low and needy.

  Matt stretched out beside her. “I’m here, Cat. What are you feeling?”

  Cat frowned, trying to identify the sensation. “Um…insecure…I guess.”

  “Okay.” He ran a light fingertip from her chin, down her throat, between her breasts and across her abdomen to her navel. He stopped there and kissed her belly. “Do you know why you feel insecure?”

  “Because I have no control?”

  He kissed her neck, dotting kisses and nips and licks along the same route his finger took, but stopping at the valley between her breasts. “You only trust me if you have control?” He bathed the delicate skin under and along the side of her breast with his tongue. She shivered. He smiled. “Cat?” He repeated his sensuous bath on the other breast.

  Cat shivered again. “What?” she squeaked.

  “You only trust me if you have the power to escape me?”

  “No. Of course not.”

  She shivered more violently as his mouth descended on one of her pink nipples. He watched it engorge and pulse with need. Lavishing attention there, Matt tugged with a gentle bite, suckling strongly, and then backing off to lick delicately at the tip, repeating the combination of sensations again and again. She moaned and arched up to him. He laughed softly and evaded her attempt to put him right where she wanted him. Instead, he went to work on the other breast.

  Inspiration struck, and he rose to search the armoire. “I’m gonna work these gorgeous tits until you come,” he murmured, curling back against her, dropping a shiny object onto her flat belly. She strained to get a look at whatever he’d been after, but quickly abandoned the search as his teeth descended delicately on her aching nipples. “Mild tenderness can be stimulating during sex,” he informed her cheerfully. He worked and stroked and plumped her full breasts, the prickly stubble of his evening beard abraded her smooth skin; he suckled her relentlessly, and soon, Cat writhed beneath him and moaned his name.

  Matt plucked the thin chain from her abdomen. “Open your eyes, baby.” Cat’s lids fluttered languidly, her pupils were dilated. He held up the chain. “I thought tweezer clamps might be fun for you.”

  His words couldn’t penetrate the muzzy cocoon of arousal he’d created. “Tweezers for what?”

  “Nipple clamps.”

  These clamps were mild, not hurtful, but added plenty of stimulation. He sucked her nipple into his mouth, pressed it hard behind his teeth with his tongue and pulled. Cat groaned and squirmed under him. He grinned against her.

  “Tell me how these feel.” He closed the clamp over her right nipple and tightened it slightly. Cat gasped and turned huge, round eyes in his direction. She struggled against her restraints. Matt frowned. “Too much?”

  “No.” She shook her head emphatically.

  He smiled. “Good. Let’s try the other one.” He attached the corresponding clamp, and Cat moaned. Matt held up the thin silver chain running between them. “Now, I put this chain around my neck,” he continued. “If I tug on it,” she gasped, “it tightens. Feel that?”

  “Yes.”

  “You like it?”

  “I-I’m not sure. It’s…intense.”

  “That it is.” Matt paused, waiting for her gaze to meet his. “And, Cat, you think this is intense? You haven’t felt anything yet.” She gasped and struggled. “Ah…ah,” he admonished. “If you’re going to struggle, I think we’d better take the chain off. The more you do, the tighter the clamps get.” She whimpered, and he turned serious. “If anything I do actually hurts you, I expect you to let me know. This is supposed to heighten your experience, not hurt you. Okay?”

  “Yeah, okay.”

  The clamps should be losing their bite as she grew used to them. He reached behind her for something. Cat strained to see in her awkward position.

  “No peeking,” he admonished.

  “Why?”

  “Because I said so,” he clipped arrogantly then softened his voice. “And because you trust me, remember? Eyes forward, gaze always on me.” Cat sighed, snorted, but kept her gaze on him. “Good girl. Keep looking at me unless I give you permission to look around.”

  “You’re enjoying bossing me around way too much!” She glared at him. “I don’t want to play anymore. Let me go.”

  “Uh-uh. You’re right where I want you, and I plan for you to stay there unless you specifically tell me ‘no.’ If you say ‘no,’ I’ll stop and we’ll go home.”

  Cat hesitated. “I don’t want you to stop. It’s just that I want to touch you. I want to participate.”

  Matt chuckled low. “You’re participating, baby, believe me.” He dipped his hand into the wet cleft of her pussy and drew it out saturated with her fluids. He painted her cream over her throbbing nipple. “See?” he taunted. “You’re participating plenty.” He licked the slick fluid off her excited peak with relish, exaggerating his tugs and lip smacks until he was sure she understood he enjoyed himself. “You taste delicious.”

  Her gaze devoured him, and he thrust his fingers into her hair and drew her up into a hungry, plundering kiss. What would he do when he was no longer human, when he could no longer kiss and touch and love her this way? Cat moaned and writhed under his lips, the look on her face telegraphing her longing. She panted and bucked up to him.

  “Matt, c’mon. Untie me and let me touch you.”

  Matt grinned wickedly. “In a little while. When I’m ready. Until then…”

  He slid down her body, using his tongue to pave the way, savoring the texture of her light golden skin, and the sweet saltiness of its taste. He ran his hands and sensitive fingertips over the rises and hollows of her slender form, relishing the grain of her skin, the feel of it sliding against his own.

  Her gaze followed his single-minded fervor to taste and touch every part of her. She gave herself over to his ministrations, arching up as much as her bonds allowed, gasping when the clamps stung a little more on her nipples. Her body showed her willingness to please him.

  “Aw, Cat,” he groaned, “I wanna drink you in! Make you mine completely.” He worked his way down to her spread pussy. Her parted legs shook as he used his thumbs to peel back the vibrantly pink petals of her lips engorged with arousal, wet with passion. “Look at that,” he crooned. “You’re gushing for me.” He licked suddenly dry lips. “Are you
watching?” He glanced up at her, feeling the human blush of passion suffuse his face. “You make me so fucking hot, baby.”

  “Matt!” Her cry was needy.

  “Watch me eat you.” He fell to his stomach between her legs. “I can lick you right here.” He licked along the side of her clit, up and down on the right, and then the left. “Yeah, it’s the left side for you, isn’t it?” he observed, watching her reaction. “Fascinating how our nerves work, don’t you think?” She twisted and cried out again as he went for that sensitive left side. He kept up his attentions there until once again she was right at the edge, then he sighed and pulled away.

  “Matt! Damn it!” She moaned in frustration.

  “What’s the matter, Cat?” he asked innocently. “You wanna come?”

  “It would be nice,” she gritted through clenched teeth.

  “Well, why don’t you?”

  “Because you keep stopping just when…”

  “Yeah, I understand.” Matt teased her, running his forefinger over her clit with a touch so soft it was almost non-existent, but the response it generated in Cat left her shaking. “I should probably let you up in a little while so you can get some relief.”

  “I-In a little while?” she stuttered in disbelief. “I swear to God, Matt, payback is a bitch! You remember that!”

  “Hmm. Well, tell me how you feel about that after we’re through.” He rose off the bed. His engorged cock stretched up toward his navel, the thick ropey veins winding around it throbbing to the beat of his heart. “First, would you mind just giving me a little love?”

  He crawled, straddling her body with his knees, and Cat eagerly licked her lips. She was more than willing to suck him into the hot cavern of her mouth. Matt groaned his delight as she licked, tongued his thick, ruddy glans, and then dropped her head to take him into her mouth. She inhaled him, engulfed him, drank him down to the point where Matt had to draw away or explode. Shaking slightly with pre-shocks, he freed her wrists. Cat followed him, wound her arms around him and sucked him into her mouth as far as she could.