by H. D. March
“How do you do that?”
“Don’t know, I used to do it a lot when—” and stopped, her smile vanished.
“When what, Jess?”
“Nothing.”
“Your parents?” he asked intuitively.
Her head cricked back and she stared up at him. “How do you know?”
“You were crying when you had a temperature and talking.”
“Oh.”
“Was it bad?”
Jess gave a brief nod. “Yes, I lived life in a constant battle. The hurtful things, the abuse they hurled at each other. That’s why I can never have a relationship and how I am, or was, a virgin. I couldn’t end up like that.”
The cabin came into sight, and Rune didn’t speak; a stilted silence buffeted over them. Jess broke it. “Can we sit outside?”
Rune dropped her carefully to her feet. He cupped her face and his lips melted over hers. Tears welled up in Jess’s eyes at his gentleness. “Love me, Rune?”
“I intend to.” Already, he was stripping out of his clothes.
Jess admired his body and the sexy black and red tattoo that circled his one heavy thigh, a weave of lines twirled around it.
“Come here.”
She stepped to him, and in seconds, her clothes joined his. His hands wandered over her, “You’ve lost a lot of weight.” He splayed fingers across her stomach. “Could you be pregnant, Jess?”
She swallowed whilst her palm crossed the slight swell. “No, I’m not; my stomach always bloats like this before I come on.” God, but she hated talking about her bodily functions. Couldn’t he leave it be? Her fingers searched out his erection, anything to take his thoughts away from fatherhood.
He gripped her wrist. “Ah, Jess, it’s been too long and I swear I’ll be shaming myself and coming now.”
“You haven’t been with anyone else?” Even saying the words sent a rip of jealousy soaring over her.
“No, Jess, I was too busy looking after you.”
“Oh, so, it was a chore?”
His voice smarted sharp, the irritation clear. “No, now, shut the hell up, sweet bitch, and let me love you.” He dropped down to the ground and rolled on his back pulling her with him. “I want you to ride me.”
She arched a brow in shock when he reached for his jeans and pulled out a condom.
“You haven’t taken your pill, I can’t take a chance.” He slid it on with an expert ease. “The last thing we need is an unwanted pregnancy.”
“That’s true.” She thought blank canvass; what she’d mistaken for concern at impending fatherhood was way wrong. He’d run a mile if she told him she was pregnant. A slap of self-pity and misery hit her. But hell, what did she expect? What did she want? She almost shook her head, she knew what she craved, but happy ever after didn’t exist.
She shrieked when his hands gripped around her waist and he sat her across him. A wickedly sinful smile creased his face. “My cock is all yours.”
Jess glanced down at his erection, it rose up tall and proud. Taking it in her hand, she ran her palm slowly up and down, hating the touch of plastic, yet intrigued as his eyes closed, and a shudder broke over his body. Raising up, she settled over him, and in a lazy ease fed his cock deep inside, sliding an inch at a time. She rocked her head back, relishing the sensation. How he filled her, touching every part.
His hands held her hips, he remained motionless until she was full of him. As she began to move, his hips thrust and gyrated, a slow rhythm built up. Jess arched into every gentle plunge, they made slow lazy love. It had a devastating effect on her, the burning heat blasted through her stomach, and the throbbing deep down hurt so much she didn’t know how she’d last.
Her scream blew around the glade, and she came on a hard orgasm, Rune following with a low growl close behind.
She collapsed over his body, her head lay on her chest the steady thumping of his heart beat beneath her. His erection remained deep within, she didn’t want to move. His hand stroked down her back, his breath blew out in short snaps.
And Jess knew without doubt she loved him, that somehow he’d gotten to her. Hell what was she talking about, he was everything she wanted in a man. Except there were a few problems, one he was undead, a real honest to God vampire, and two he didn’t give a toss about her. However in the short time they’d been together he had become her universe. It was just a shame she wasn’t allowed in his world.
He had made it more than clear he didn’t want any little vampires or whatever they were called. And then there was the fact she was terrified of a relationship, and knew that even if Rune returned her feelings, she daren’t risk it.
She rubbed a hand across her neck, it felt strange without the weight of her hair. Jess was still pissed with him, but after a few tidying up snips it didn’t look too bad.
“Getting used to it?” asked Rune as he watched her.
“I don’t have a lot of choice, I still can’t believe you cut it.” A sharp bite of anger infused her words, and recalled how he’d given her the carrier bag. What the hell did he expect? That she could stick it back on?
“Jess, all I was concerned about was you not going into sceptic shock.”
She gave a snort. A memory snuck in. “And another thing, were you that wolf up here?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes narrowed. “And you killed those men?”
“I had to.” Rune continued to soothe his hand across her skin, his fingers splayed across her back.
“Why? I don’t understand.”
“Because they were about to kill you, and also they’re part of the rogue vampires that are on a killing spree.”
She froze and sat up, “So, what I saw was real?”
He nodded. “Afraid so.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
He reached up; cupping her tit, his thumb stroked over her nipple. “You were scared enough, I didn’t want to add to it.”
“Very thoughtful of you.” She hesitated and wished he’d stop tuning her nipple in as if it were a knob on a radio. Because another splatter of horny hormones ram raided her fanny.
“So these rogue vampires, how do you know so much about them? Why isn’t it all over the news?”
“We’re keeping it under wraps; there would be mass hysteria if it were made public.”
“We?”
“I work undercover for a specialist unit.”
She digested the information he’d shared. Hell, it sounded like something out of a James Bond movie. “Like a detective agency?”
“Something along those lines, I help out now and then.”
“And those people in the drive through, they were killed by them?” she had to ask, still unable to get her head around it.
He gave a curt nod.
“So, how come you’re running Caprice?” Jess was curious.
“I used to work full time for the Bureau, then decided to quit, and bought this place.”
“So why—?”
“Why did I go back?” He gave a chuckle. “I needed the adrenalin boost it gave me.”
“Is it dangerous?” She didn’t like to think of Rune risking his life.
“It can be, but both myself and my colleague Wolfe have the bonus of being vampire. We’re difficult bastards to kill.”
Frigging hell, it sounded surreal. “Er, how long have you been, well, you know a vampire?” Up until now, she hadn’t questioned him. It was easier to accept what he was without the lurid details, doing what she always did, refused to face it. But now she was curious and wanted to know.
“Two hundred years.”
Shit, she hadn’t been expecting that. “I still can’t believe it, that you’re a well, you know, an undead?” The other thought crept in, how many women he’d slept with, and bet it was one hell of a high number. He was a randy bastard, and the green-eyed monster crushed her.
Jess slipped off him, her eyes dropped to his cock sheathed in a condom. Heck, she didn’t think they made them that
big. Rune pulled it off and slipped it into a nearby bag. He obviously believed in being prepared, she decided. “So, er, what do you eat?” The vampire films she’d seen involved a lot of killing. Hell, the one’s in real life did the same.
“I have blood fetched in, it’s quite civilised.” Rune rose and, taking her hand, helped her up. “Why? Do you think I go around in the dead of night drinking virgin’s blood?”
“Nah, think you’d starve to death because bet you any money you won’t find many of them around here.”
“I found one,” he reminded her with a wink.
“Ah, but I live down the road in Kelsey, it’s just shy of Northlands.” She pulled her skirt on, again surprised how loose it was.
“Whatever.” He roped an arm around her waist and walked beside her. Following the path back to the club. “I know how scared you were at what you saw, but, Jess, believe me when I say I’ll never hurt you.”
“I know, Rune, I know.” Little did he know, he was about to hurt her more than he’d ever realize. When she had to leave him.
In a comfortable silence, they ambled beneath the dappled lights of the trees that filtered overhead.
“You okay?” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
“Hmmm, just a little tired.” Jess screamed when she was scooped into his arms. “What are you doing?”
“Carrying you. I don’t want a relapse.” Rune silenced her protest with lips that seared over hers.
“Honestly, I’m fine, and, Rune, you realize I need to leave soon.” The tension in his muscles hardened. “I’ve got a home and a job that I need to turn up to.”
§§§
Rune heard what she was saying and it made sense. But hell, he didn’t want her to go, whilst with him she was safe. Outside, he couldn’t protect her as he wanted to.
“We’ll see,” was all he said.
Once back at Caprice, he lay Jess on the bed; already her eyes were closing. And Rune experienced a fist clench his stomach, it squeezed his intestines. She looked so sweet, so innocent, and he knew he’d kill anyone that hurt her.
But what about himself?
Who would keep her safe from him?
He sat beside the bed in his usual chair. Rune needed to be close to her, it was a habit he’d developed and found he couldn’t break.
His mobile rang, and he held it up. “Hi, Jim,” he greeted the police inspector. “What’s up?”
“A friend of yours has been discovered dead in a motel room.”
“Who?”
“A lady called Storm.”
Rune frowned. Death was what she deserved. Rune knew he’d wanted to kill her himself after what she’d done to Jess. But who else had a motive? “How did it happen?”
“A silver ligature coiled around her neck.”
“Any suspects?”
“None.”
Rune nodded; at least with her out of the way, he felt slightly better about Jess leaving. Because he knew he’d have to allow her to go and get to the bottom of who led the rogue vampires. The fact that she’d be with Kitty and LeBron gave him a sense of relief, but what he wouldn’t do was leave her.
The overpowering sense of possession hit him, right in the solar plexus. He’d never ever been so concerned about another person; fuck, what was he talking about. Concern was putting it mildly, he discovered a numbing panic to keep her safe, to protect her at all costs. She might not be in his bedroom, but at night he’d be in hers.
§§§
Jess fluttered her eyes and looked around for Rune. The room was empty, she noticed the door ajar, the one that led to his pool. And rising, she padded towards it.
For a long drawn out time, she remained standing beside the flood of water, her wicked gaze rolled over Rune’s driving actions. She stood and witnessed his arms cutting through the lake in a driving spin. Quietly, she slipped in and, with long slow strokes, stalked him. He reached the end and, spinning around, came back towards her in a crawl; his head to the side, he drove forward. Jess dove beneath the water, and as he passed, she rose, catching his waist.
Her scream rang out at the fist that flashed towards her, stopping at the last moment. She stared up into Rune’s furious face, his fangs drawn ready to attack.
“Fucking hell, woman, what are you doing, sneaking up on me?”
“I thought, I…oh never mind.” She wrenched free of him, a tremor of fear coasted over her, she was pissed that her surprise had gone tits up, and swam away, determined to leave tonight.
His arm clamped around her, and he snatched her against him. His voice trembled. “I almost hit you.”
She struggled against him. “Yes, and now I’m leaving.”
“Sorry, little one, I acted on instinct, my mind elsewhere or otherwise I would have sensed you were here.”
“Yeah, well, my surprise has backfired, so I’m going, I’ll ring for a taxi.” Jess threw a temper strop, still shaken at the near miss. The image of the absolute fury on Rune’s face lingered. It reminded her of how he’d killed the werewolves or whatever they were. It gave her a terrifying insight of his life, and she didn’t like it.
“You aren’t going anywhere.” His head bent and his lips ghosted over hers. “I intend to fuck you, sweetheart.”
“Really?” Her temper evaporated, her common sense booked a holiday and her fanny took over.
“Yes really.” Rune floated across the water, pulling her body over him. He led her to the shallow end and, turning her around, placed her hands on the cool stone. “Remember the first time I took you?”
Jess tried to speak but her mouth was dry.
“And how you came?”
She opened her legs as his hand dipped down, his long fingers teased at her clit, and rubbed her with enticing circling strokes.
“Do you remember it?”
“Yes,” she breathed. And bit her lip when his fingers slid in, coaxing and teasing her. “Oh, Rune, that is so good.”
“Then how about this, my sweet sub.” And with infinite ease drove forward. His one hand held her still, the other played and tugged at her nipple.
“Oh shit yes, Rune. Harder.”
“You sure?”
“Please?”
Rune released his pent up emotion, and plunged tunnelling deep, he pistoned in and out.
Jess curled her fingers on the stone, she trembled at the first shimmer of orgasm blowing over her, his thrusts becoming sharper. And she rolled back into him, against his chest, exploding into a wild climax.
Her heart raced and her breath hauled in on huge lunges. Rune remained wrapped over her. “You didn’t—”
“Wear a condom? I don’t carry them in here.”
“Sarcasm doesn’t suit you.” At once Jess felt hostile, and a bitterness invaded her. He didn’t want her, what Rune needed was sex, and plenty of it end of. So why was she beating herself up? There could never be anything between them and the sooner he was out of her life the better.
“It’s a fact.” Rune moved from her and Jess felt a chill. “So I suggest tomorrow you get the morning after pill.”
“I will, because then I intend returning home, it’s time.”
Rune studied her, his golden gaze swept her in. He hesitated as if he were about to say something, then he gave a brief nod. “Yes it is, I’ll take you first thing in the morning.”
His emotions flipped with the speed of an on off switch. Just like that. Did he have to make it so obvious he couldn’t wait to get rid of her? Couldn’t he pretend and hide his indifference? Or at least put up a bit of an argument, try and persuade her to stay another day. Hell, he wouldn’t have to try, one word and she’d jump at the chance.
Jess couldn’t decide if she experienced relief that she would be away from his mesmerizing character, along with his awesome body, or devastation because she wouldn’t see him again.
Throughout the night, he made love to her with a dark brooding intensity, and she clung to him. To every touch, kiss, and thrust of his cock. She to
ok his lips, committing them to memory, tasted his tongue and stored that sense away. Every part of his body she trailed her fingers over, determined to never forget one single inch of it.
And through it all, she choked back the tears.
Chapter Twenty-One
Jess sat watching the passing landscape, the atmosphere in the car frosty; hell, what was she talking about, it was way past that, it was polar cold. She glanced over to Rune; he appeared angry, the familiar tick of muscle nicked against his jaw.
He’d barely spoken except to tell her she’d be with LeBron and Kitty and he’d be making regular calls. That she was a prime witness to the killing in the diner.
Yeah, great, that’s all that concerned him, she was a witness. However, she’d already decided where she’d be staying, and it wouldn’t be with the love birds. Hell, she couldn’t cope with listening to them humping into the night.
Reaching the farm, she flung the door open and made to stomp away. Except Rune caught her and snatched her to him. “This is temporary, Jess, a short arrangement; do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Er, no.”
“I’m allowing this for your own good; there are things I need to do, and you’ll be safe here.”
“Good to know.” She refused to look at him because, if she did, she’d end up bawling.
He cupped her chin, her eyes glazed over, shimmering in the light. “Don’t you think I want you in my bed? But this needs to be, understand me, Jess. I have to stop these rogues, before we—”
She gave him a haunting, sad smile. Her palm soothed across her face. “It doesn’t matter, Rune, it’s over.” She hiccoughed, trying to contain her rampant emotions. God, she loved him, but to prove her love of him, she had to free him. She couldn’t ever put Rune through what her parents had put each other through, the scars ran too deep.
He pressed his lips against hers, his tongue flickered along the contours. “Once I’ve sorted out what I need to, I’ll be back.”
She clasped his head tight as he took her in a punishing kiss, her fingers filtered through his overlong tawny hair and she writhed against his erection. For one last time.
At once, he pulled back, his breathing erratic. “If I don’t let you go, I’ll be fucking you over the bonnet of the car.”
