by Tina Folsom
As he continued to lavish her breasts with kisses and caresses, his hand moved lower, stroking along her torso until he reached her panties. He slid his fingers between fabric and skin, exploring the coarse hair that guarded her sex.
A hitched breath escaped from Claire’s lips as he moved lower, but at the same time her hips tilted toward him in invitation.
“Yes, darling, I’m here,” he encouraged her and slipped lower, encountering warm and moist flesh that felt as smooth as silk. He bathed his fingers in her arousal, coating them with it before he moved back north.
“Oh, God!” she called out.
His experienced fingers found the tiny swollen organ that lay protected by a hood. He pulled the hood up, exposing her clit fully and slid one moist finger over it. Claire nearly leapt off the ground, her heartbeat accelerating in the same instant.
His own body heated when the scent of her arousal grew stronger. His cock pressed against her thigh, impatiently waiting to get its turn. But it would have to wait a little while longer.
With slow and steady movements, he circled the swollen bundle of nerves underneath his fingers. He kept his touch light, savoring the moment. She was at his mercy now. With his touch, he could command her body and give her pleasure. There would be no escape for her now. No turning back.
“For tonight you’ll be mine,” he murmured against her breasts. And he would take everything she was willing to give him—and more, he realized that too now. Because she had awakened not just the desire for sex in him, but a darker desire. One she would not freely agree to.
Suddenly impatient, he pulled his hand from her sex and gripped her panties. With one rapid movement, he ripped them off her.
“Fuck it,” he cursed and lowered himself between her legs, spreading them wider before lowering his head to her glistening pussy. He slung her legs over his shoulders, one to each side of his head and sunk his mouth onto her.
Surprised gasps echoed through the night. “Jake, oh my God!” she cried out. “You don’t have to…”
But her voice died when his tongue lapped over her slit, gathering her arousal. Her taste was intoxicating and invigorating at the same time. He sucked, nibbled, and licked, leaving no spot unexplored. She was beautiful in every way. Her body welcomed him and opened up to his caresses, to his tender ministrations as he now stroked his tongue over her clit and lavished it with gentle touches.
He loved the way she responded to him, the way she lay in front of him, spread out for him to do with as he pleased. His own excitement rose when he felt her body tense and press against him with more urgency. The sounds of pleasure coming from her intensified and spurred him on to give her more. Without removing his lips and tongue from her clit, he brought his hand to her sex and stroked against her soft folds. He extended his middle finger and probed, easing it into her with one continuous slow thrust.
Her muscles clamped around him tightly—more tightly than he would have expected. How long had it been since a man had touched her there? Since a man had driven his cock into her? The thought that nobody had done so in a long time, made him even more impatient to seat himself in her clenching pussy.
“Yes,” she moaned. “Oh please yes.”
Claire begging for it nearly made him spill. Fuck! He couldn’t hold back much longer if she continued like that.
Driving his finger harder into her, he sucked her clit deeper into his mouth and pressed his lips together. Her body erupted, the waves of her orgasm ripping through her and crashing against his lips. Her interior muscles spasmed around his finger, gripping him so firmly that he thought she’d never release him. Not that he would have cared. He loved being inside her.
It took minutes for her body to still and for Jake to remove his lips from her sweet sex. When he did so and looked at her, her eyes were closed. She breathed heavily.
“I’ve gotta be inside you now,” he told her and positioned himself between her legs, bringing his cock to her center.
Claire’s eyes opened slowly and a soft smile played around her lips. “Yes,” she whispered breathlessly. “Let me feel you.”
“You’ve made me so hard,” he pressed out between clenched teeth, barely able to prevent his fangs from descending. His hunger was pushing to the forefront now.
Unable to slow himself down, he thrust inside her with one powerful move, robbing her of the air in her lungs. As she took a breath, her eyes widened.
“Oh my god, you’re big. Even bigger than earlier.”
Most vampires were. Sex was part and parcel of who they were, and once turned, their vampire blood ensured their cocks were hard and big to pleasure their female partners and give them what they needed. With every stroke he became harder. Coated in her juices and submerged in her body, everything male in him surged to life.
Claire’s eyes rolled back and her mouth dropped open, her nipples turning into hard points once more. “Oh God!” she mumbled.
“I told you, you’ll feel more than just alive.” He smiled down at her and continued to drive in and out of her, increasing his speed. His body found its own rhythm, fucking her hard and fast. He pulled her legs up, spreading her wider in the process, plunging deeper. Her pussy gripped him even tighter now. On her face, he saw the signs of pure pleasure. Her skin took on a healthy tone now, making her look even more beautiful.
He wished he could have gone on forever, but her channel was clenching around him, and the scent of her arousal almost drove him insane with lust. Knowing she was as close as he, he increased his tempo and let himself go.
He felt the rush of his semen through his cock just as her interior muscles spasmed as her orgasm broke. He joined her, thrusting into oblivion with one last stroke, spilling inside her.
Breathing heavily, he dropped his head to the crook of her neck. “You’re perfect,” he repeated once more and kissed her neck only to realize that his fangs had descended.
He knew what his vampire side demanded from him now. And he couldn’t deny himself what he’d craved ever since he’d first touched her: her blood.
“Claire,” he said softly, whispering into her ear. “I can’t stop.”
He licked over the plump vein in her neck and peeled his lips back from his teeth. When his fangs touched her smooth skin, he sensed her shiver beneath him.
Using his suggestive powers, powers every vampire possessed, he sent his thoughts to her.
Feel my kiss. Feel my lips caress you, my tongue lick you.
Then he sank his fangs into her neck and pierced her vein. Rich blood ran over his tongue and down his throat, revitalizing his body. All the while Claire was fully conscious and aware of everything around her—his cock gently thrusting into her, his hands caressing her—except for one thing: she believed that he was kissing her neck, not biting her.
Claire moaned softly.
“Yes. Take from me,” she murmured.
Shock coursed through him. Was she aware of what he was doing? Or was she merely drowning in the wave of sexual bliss that his bite was heightening?
Could she feel him? Damn it, he wanted her to feel him. To know he was drinking her blood, though he knew it wasn’t wise. He wanted her to know what he was: a creature of the night, a man who thirsted for human blood; a vampire.
He sent a question into her mind. Claire, do you like what I’m doing? He sucked harder on her vein while he thrust in and out of her sex.
“More…”
Yes, darling, I’ll give you more.
Because he wanted more, too. More of Claire.
5
Claire had woken in her own bed, alone, her body still humming from a night of lovemaking with Jake. To her surprise, she wore her nightgown. For a moment she lay there, daydreaming. She felt no regret having given herself to a stranger she’d met only hours earlier. In fact, it had been liberating to be with a man who knew nothing about her. She could just pretend to be who she wanted to be: a young woman who had her life ahead of her.
She couldn’t re
member how she’d gotten back to her room. And she’d had strange dreams: of Jake biting her neck while he made love to her the second time. She’d enjoyed it, loved the way it had made her feel. She shook her head at the strange notion and got out of bed.
Instantly she swayed, her head suddenly pounding. A sharp stab of pain radiated through her. “Oh God, no!” she whimpered. Another attack was imminent. She searched her room for her handbag and found it sitting on a chair. She rushed to it and opened it, rummaging through it, trying to find her pills. But she couldn’t see them. Frantically she spilled the contents of her bag onto the bed, but her pill bottle was not among them.
Another stab of pain assaulted her. She gripped the bed frame for support, waiting for the wave to pass. Then she ran to the door. She had to get Mrs. Adams to call the doctor who she’d seen a few days earlier.
As she grabbed the door knob, her eyes fell onto the dresser next to it. On it stood her pill bottle, a neatly written note underneath it.
I found it in the hallway, it said on stationary belonging to Sunseekers Inn.
Relieved, she snatched the bottle, twisted its top off and popped two pills into her mouth. She swallowed them down with the last swig of the water from the bottle that stood on her nightstand.
Her heart beat frantically now, and none of the bliss she’d felt last night was left. Her illness was encroaching further and further into her life, trying to wipe out any joy she had.
She didn’t want to wither away and have the last image of her life be that of excruciating pain. No, the thing she wanted to remember was the pleasure she’d felt when making love to Jake. She wouldn’t allow her illness to overshadow that. That’s why she had to take charge of her life—or rather, her death.
She’d never truly believed in the power of the hot spring. She’d lied to herself, not wanting to confront the inevitable. But now she was strong enough. She’d felt something beautiful the night before, and she wanted to leave this world while this memory was still strong in her mind. For a few hours she’d been happy. It was all she could have hoped for.
Ignoring the pain in her head she set her bag on the bed and started packing, even though where she was going, she couldn’t take anything with her.
~ ~ ~
Jake woke from an uneasy sleep. During the entire day, he’d drifted in and out of sleep, which was unusual for him. But the events of the previous night had shaken him. His mind couldn’t rest; it was working overtime. It wasn’t fair that Claire should die so young, when he was contemplating taking his own life. How ironic was that? She wanted to live and would die, whereas he wanted to die and would live forever. Life was cruel.
Last night he’d felt needed for the first time in his life. Needed by another person. He’d been able to give Claire pleasure and make her feel desired because he desired her. More than he’d desired any other woman before. Was it because he wanted to save her? Or was it more? Had he finally met a woman who could give him the purpose in his life that he so desperately craved? Had he found somebody to take care of, somebody to give his soul to?
And what about the reason that had brought him to the island? If the hot spring really had any powers, then why wasn’t it granting Claire’s wish? Or did it indeed need a sacrifice, one that he could make?
He had to speak to Claire. After last night he felt close to her, and he hoped she felt the same. If she did, there was something he could offer her. But it had to be her choice.
Impatient for the sun to set, Jake took a shower and got dressed. As soon as the sun dipped below the horizon, he tore out of his room and headed for Claire’s. He knocked at the door, but there was no answer. He tried the door knob and it turned. When he looked inside the room, he jerked back involuntarily: the bed was made and the room was empty. All of Claire’s personal effects were gone.
Panicked, he rushed downstairs and found Mrs. Adams behind the reception counter.
“Miss Culver, where is she?” he asked without as much as a greeting.
Mrs. Adams raised her eyebrows and gave him a curious look. “She checked out.”
His heart stopped. “Where did she go?”
“I don’t know.”
“What did she say to you? She must have said something.” He didn’t care that he sounded desperate.
Mrs. Adams frowned. “Now that you’re asking. Well, hmm, she said she was ready to leave now. When I asked her where she was heading, she just said where there is no pain.”
His heart clenched. “And you didn’t stop her?” But he didn’t wait for her answer and instead charged out of the house.
Jake stared into the night. Where would she go to end it all? Where would he go? For a moment he let his mind travel, then he could see the place where he would go to end his life: the last place where he’d been happy.
He ran as fast as he could, not caring if anybody saw him and wondered how a man could run as fast as a car. He had to get to Claire. His legs carried him to the beach where they’d made love the night before. He passed the shed, his eyes scanning the shore, when he perceived a movement, where the waves crashed against a small outcropping of rocks.
Claire stood there at the ledge, looking into the distance.
“Claire!” he screamed, but she didn’t turn her head. She probably couldn’t hear him over the surf that had already drenched her clothes.
He sprinted toward the rocks, his feet sinking into the wet sand with every forceful step. But he didn’t let this slow him down. He knew he had to reach her, because her intention was evident from the way she leaned toward the waves. Any second now, she would jump, and the surf would swallow her up and slam her against the rocks.
He couldn’t let it happen. And suddenly he knew that there was a way for both of them to get their wish. As he ran toward her and raced up the rocks, he finally realized what his heart’s true desire was. It wasn’t to be mortal again; it was to regain his humanity, to feel needed, to feel loved. Claire was the key. That’s why he was here. Not for the magical spring, but to save her.
And he couldn’t fail now. Not when he was so close. Not when so much was at stake.
As he reached the top of the rocks, another big wave crashed, hitting Claire.
He stretched out his arms, barreling toward her, but the wave swept her up, made her lose her footing.
“Nooooooo!” The scream dislodged from his throat as he lunged for her with superhuman strength and speed. His fingers found purchase, wrapping around her arm. He pulled her from the clutches of the dark ocean, dragging her toward him, holding her tightly to him, as the next wave already built. But by the time it crashed against the rocks, he’d already carried Claire to safety.
She seemed dazed in his arms as he carried her to the beach and brought them down in the dry sand. Finally, relief flooded him, and he dared breathe again.
A sob tore from her. “Why didn’t you let me die, Jake?”
“Shh, darling,” he cooed.
She struggled in his arms, pushing against him. “I have brain cancer. I can’t take the pain any longer…”
He drew her closer to his chest and stroked his palm over her wet hair, feeling her shiver. “I know, darling.”
She braced her hands against his chest, pushing him. “You knew?”
“I found your pill bottle. Mrs. Adams told me the rest.”
Another sob tore from her chest. “Is that why you slept with me? Because you pitied me?”
“No! I made love to you because I desire you. I want you more than anything else in this life.” It was the truth, though he had no idea how it had happened. Maybe it was fate. Or maybe it was the magical spring.
More tears streamed over her cheeks. With his thumb he wiped them away.
“Claire, what I tell you now might seem fantastic, but it’s the truth. Do you think you can keep an open mind?”
“About what?”
“You want to live, don’t you?”
A sob bigger than the previous one disturbed the night.
“Then I have a solution for you. The spring worked, Claire. Because it brought us together. You’ve wished for a cure. I can give you one.”
Her big blue eyes stared at him, half in hope, half in doubt. “How?”
“I’m a vampire, Claire, I’m immortal, and I can give you immortality.”
He watched her eyes as her expression changed to disbelief. “No.” She shook her head and pulled back. “No.”
“It’s true. And you know it. Deep down you know, don’t you?” He focused his gaze on the spot on her neck where he’d bitten her the night before.
Her hand came up to touch that same spot.
“You know it because you felt it last night. You sensed my bite.”
Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but nothing came out. Then she stroked over her neck. “I dreamed it.”
“It wasn’t a dream. When I made love to you the second time, I used my suggestive powers to make you believe my bite was just a kiss. But I think I didn’t use my powers to their full extent, because deep down I wanted you to know what I was doing.”
Slowly, realization seemed to settle in. “You drank my blood.”
He nodded and put his hand on her neck, brushing over the bite mark. Only he and other vampires could see it. To humans, the mark was invisible. “And I loved it. Let me give you something in return. Let me help you.”
“How?” she whispered and looked straight at him.
“I can turn you into a vampire. It will wipe out any illness or disease you have. You’ll be immortal and without pain.”
“Immortal? And how would I live? In the dark? Drinking blood?” Her lips trembled.
“The dark can be beautiful.” He pointed to the canopy of stars in the night sky. “Even in the dark there’s light, there’s beauty.”
