Riding the Storm

by Candace Blevins

  She took his cock into her mouth, and then licked it all over before taking it into her mouth and down her throat this time, holding. She didn’t have to breathe, could stay like this forever, and he loved the way it felt.

  “My balls next, Kendra. Lick’em good.” He gave a guttural groan as she did, and when she finished, he took his shirt off and walked to the bed.

  “Strip, and take care of me from the toes up. When you finish, I intend to pound you into the mattress, and you aren’t going to climb on top, today.”

  Their sex over the past weeks had been mostly vanilla with just an edge of power exchange — the give and take of two people used to being in control. It was incredible, soul joining, mind melting sex, but they’d both known they needed more, though neither had brought it up. Eric wasn’t prepared to go into all-out-power exchange over Kendra yet, but he needed to be in control today, on top during sex, without her taking control for a while and flipping him so she rode him.

  She licked most of his body, caring for him, and making it as sensual as possible. Eric directed her, told her what to do, when to stay where she was, when to move on. He turned onto his stomach a few times, going back and forth so he didn’t feel vulnerable for long.

  They’d put needles through his eyelids, pulling them away from his eyes to keep from damaging his vision, and Kendra massaged his forehead with spit-damp fingers before lightly stroking his lids, making even this part of the massage erotic. She didn’t lick his face, she kissed and touched, and kept him hard as a rock throughout.

  When she made it to the top of his head and every puncture wound and abrasion on his body was healed, and the surface bruises a little faded, he changed places with her, putting her on her back, kissing her breasts, suckling her nipples, and then keeping eye contact as he sank his cock into her silky, tight, wet, heat. A vampire’s body was cool, but somehow, her pussy was always warm when he sank into it.

  He made love to her, slow and sensual, their gazes connected, and he no longer saw her as a monster. She’d never hurt him, never rip his body to pieces. She’d done it to avenge what’d been done to him, and while it was so far outside the realm of what he deemed acceptable, even for revenge, the other supernaturals seemed to think it an appropriate response, so either they were all psychotic, or she’d acted as expected in vampire/supernatural society.

  “I need to fuck you now, Kendra. Want you to come undone under me, wanna feel you come around my cock.”

  She nodded, and he leaned forward, put his right cheek to hers, and ordered, “Put your arms around me.”

  When she did, he pulled out, slammed home. Paused a brief second, did it again.

  And then he stopped pausing and did as he’d promised, hammering her through the mattress, hard and fast, knowing she could take it from him and he didn’t have to hold back.

  He brought her to two orgasms before he let go, coming deep inside her, and she came again when he did.

  Eric didn’t know how he knew, but he was aware of Kendra’s thirst for him, her desire to bite him, but he ignored it, and didn’t tell her to.

  And she didn’t ask.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Kendra stayed in bed with Eric until he fell asleep, and then went next door to Abbott’s.

  “Can I drink from one of your people, please?” She rarely asked him to feed her, but in times of war and fighting, the rules were a little different. Eric’s capture and rescue were a result of their political problems with South Carolina, so she was in her right to make the request.

  “Of course,” said Abbott. “Take a look at the schedule and choose… Actually, no. I’m giving you Beverly and Dana. Beverly’s chronic pain issues are causing her more problems this week, so take a few ounces from her and give her lots of pain killer. You need to heal someone now, make them feel better, and Beverly can give you that. Dana just returned from a trip to the Caribbean, and she should taste of sunshine and the ocean. She hasn’t fed anyone in two weeks and has a buildup, so you can get away with taking twenty to twenty-five ounces from her.”

  As always, Abbott knew what she needed, and she felt much better after feeding from them. She heard Abbott laying into one of the other girls with what sounded like his belt before he fucked and bit her, and smiled to herself as she climbed the steps to his living room. Abbott might not allow non-consensual slavery in his territory, but he had a whole stable of consensual slaves, here because they wanted to be, not because they were held captive.

  Aaron, Nathan, Gavin, and Fawne were in the living room, discussing Mitroff’s weaknesses and strengths.

  “Do we have a plan, or are we still coming up with it?” she asked.

  “We have the beginnings of a couple of plans, but nothing concrete,” Nathan told her.

  “I know where Abbott is with the Concilio, holding them over a barrel because they either didn’t realize Natalia was using her spot on the Media Council as a political podium, or knew and didn’t care — either way, someone’s head will have to roll, and no one is interested in pissing off The Abbott and making themselves a target.”

  “You’ll probably still face some sanctions,” Gavin pointed out. “Two of the wolves and one of the tigers you took out are high ranking enough we’ll have some political problems from it, at least.”

  Kendra shrugged, unconcerned and unapologetic. “I don’t want to share Eric’s memory of the event, but if I have to, no one will fault me for my actions. I know there are some who’ll be pissed I put the life of a human over the lives of supernaturals, but he was officially under my protection and Abbott’s when he was taken, so I was in my right to make a point.”

  She looked at Nathan and asked, “Are the two of us okay? Besides the tiger in question, I took out a number of other cats.”

  “You did,” he answered, his voice dry and unemotional, giving nothing away. “And I’ve heard eyewitness accounts from some of the cats you let live, who were witness to the torture and slaughter. I don’t take issue with the Tiger in question, but there is one Bobcat I need more information about. You and I can speak about it later.”

  She’d only killed one bobcat, and she wanted to clear the air now. “The bobcat fucked Eric’s throat. He wasn’t terribly cruel, but he did ejaculate into his stomach, knowing the human was bound and couldn’t stop what was happening to him. I gave the bobcat the option of a painless death if he answered my questions. He did, and I snapped his neck.”

  Nathan was sitting in an armed, upholstered chair, totally looking his part as King of the Lions, and he leaned back and tilted his head. “The man had been married a year and a half, and they have a three month old baby.”

  “There are consequences for one’s actions. If he didn’t want to be taken from his family, he shouldn’t have face-fucked someone under the protection of The Abbott and his third.”

  Aaron looked back and forth between the two and said, “Nathan, Kendra’s speaking with her emotions at the moment. I would advise either waiting a day or two to discuss an amenable response, or having this discussion with the Master Vampire who gave her permission to handle the situation in the way she felt appropriate.”

  Abbott stepped into the room and said, “An excellent suggestion.” He looked to Nathan and said, “No public apology, but I will arrange for my insurance company to notify the widow with information about a twenty thousand dollar life insurance policy.”

  “Fifty,” Nathan countered.

  “Done.” Abbott looked to Kendra and said, “This doesn’t negate the point you made with his death, but it will help a widow and a fatherless child, and will keep things smooth between us and an important friend and ally.”

  She didn’t like it, but wasn’t prepared to argue the point, either. Three months from now she’d probably see it as the sensible solution, even if it pissed her off now.

  Aaron gave them all the information his tech people and hackers had been able to get him on Mitroff’s people, and added, “I have a lone-wolf hacker friend digg
ing for what he can find, as well. I believe the largest concentration of their people is in Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville. However, the Eagles seem to have congregated just over the state line from Augusta, GA, and then there’s a lot of shapeshifters in the suburbs of Charlotte, also just over the state line. If possible, I’d like to put together five teams and hit every city simultaneously.” He looked at Abbott. “If your people can handle two teams, Nathan will run the Drake Security team, and Sophia and I will run a team populated by lone wolves, swans, owls, and a couple of dragons. I’ve convinced the Master Vampire in Atlanta to take care of the enclave just over the line from Augusta, since the fact they’re working in Georgia while living in South Carolina is a personal affront to him.”

  The group debated timing, struck a countdown for fifty-two hours from the current time, and split up to contact their people and plan their individual raids.

  Aaron’s lone-wolf hacker, Brain, came through with a lot more information over the next day, and by the time they were all suiting up for battle, Kendra was certain they were ready. She and Abbott were hitting Charleston, as she wanted a piece of Natalia, who’d been communicating to people from a hidden underground bunker. Mitroff had no idea they’d found it, but Brain had not only managed coordinates, but also high resolution aerial shots showing them exactly how to get into the bunker.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Eric paced back and forth in the basement of TBC. He’d learned the Master Vampire had put what he termed an impenetrable bunker below the club, and had amassed a number of people important to him who weren’t fighting, so they’d be safe while a whole lot of Abbott’s people and allies attacked a shit ton of their South Carolina enemies.

  Kendra had told him a huge black man named Isaac was in charge, and as long as he followed Isaac’s instructions, Eric would be safe.

  “You’re going to wear the carpet out,” a cute redhead told him. “Come sit with us and talk. I’m Bethany, this is Gen.”

  He smiled and sat at their table. “I’m Eric. Can I ask how you’re connected to all of this?”

  “I’m married to someone who’s fighting, and Bethany here’s my best friend, so she’s also under his protection. Usually, that keeps us safe, but apparently tonight and the next couple of days, it could put us in danger. Who’re you connected to?”

  “I’ve been seeing Kendra, and I’ve done some contract work for Abbott, which puts me under his protection.” He shrugged. “Like you said, it usually keeps me safe, not so much tonight.”

  He talked to the girls a while, and Isaac sat with them and cut up a little, too. Eventually, they all moseyed off to a room with cots, and Eric worried about Kendra instead of sleeping. He knew the vampires would be going somewhere else to bed down for the day, but Kendra had promised she’d contact him telepathically when she got back.

  So, when he heard Abbott’s voice in his head instead of Kendra’s, his heart went into his stomach.

  Eric?

  Yes, are you okay? Is Kendra?

  I’m fine, though I won’t be coming back to Chattanooga this night. Kendra had made emergency preparations for a daytime resting place outside of Charleston, and she’s going to have to make use of them. I understand you and Ranger have plans for tomorrow. Aaron will brief Ranger on safety and security protocols, and they’ll be sure you stay safe.

  Is Kendra okay? Eric demanded.

  She will be. I’m sorry to cut you off short, but I have others to contact, and much to do before dawn takes me. Please stay with Ranger tomorrow. We’ll speak again tomorrow night.

  Eric slept a few hours, and when he awakened, discovered Isaac had arranged for a large buffet breakfast to be served upstairs off the main bar of The Billiard Club. He was happy to see Gen in the arms of a big, burly, barrel-chested guy in a motorcycle club vest, and he walked to them when Bethany waved him over.

  “Eric, this is Duke. Duke, Eric.” She looked at Duke and said, “Eric didn’t seem to know anyone last night so we invited him to sit with us. He’s dating Kendra. One of Abbott’s people.” She gave Eric a questioning look and asked, “Did she make it back okay?”

  Eric shook his head. “No. Abbott let me know she’d made emergency arrangements for a place to stay, and had to make use of them. I couldn’t get anything else out of him.”

  Another guy in a motorcycle vest walked over, this one tall and thin. “Kendra is Abbott’s third in command,” he told Duke, before looking at Eric. “The Charleston battle went off the original plan, but if Kendra made it to a safe place to bed down for the night, she should be fine.” He took a breath, looked as if he were considering his next words carefully, and said, “Rumor has it, someone who’s intent on sending a message wanted to draw the message out over days, not over a single night.”

  Eric looked down, realizing this man was trying to tell him Kendra had Natalia and planned to torture her for days before she killed her.

  “You stuck here for the day?” Duke asked. “If so, we’re planning a bike ride up to Fall Creek Falls today, got a couple dozen people going. You can follow us in your car, or we have some bikes in the shop we can rent you for the day, if you know how to ride.”

  Eric smiled in thanks, but shook his head. “Thanks for the offer, but my uncle works for Drake Security, and he’ll be here to get me in about an hour. I actually have a BMW S1000RR, though I’m not sure if you’d allow it on the road with ya’ll. You just do U.S. made bikes, right?”

  “Yeah, for members, but we occasionally give the okay for someone to ride with us on a crotch rocket. Good to know you’ll be taken care of today. Will you be back tonight?”

  Eric shook his head. “I don’t know. Abbott’s cryptic message was to tell me my uncle had been briefed and would have instructions.”

  A few minutes into the conversation, Brain used a phrase that caught Eric’s attention, and he asked, “You’re in IT?”

  Brain hesitated, and Gen said, “Yeah, he is. Why?”

  Eric shrugged. “I write computer games.”

  Ten minutes later Eric and Brain exchanged contact information with each other when the rest of the table complained they had no idea what the two were talking about.

  Eric waved goodbye as they left, told them to be safe on their ride, and found an empty corner where he could open his laptop and work until Ranger arrived to pick him up.

  He’d lost track of the people around him, and looked up with pleased surprise when his uncle sat at his table. Ranger shook his head told him, “Sometimes it’s hard to believe you’re related to your father and me. You’re in a room full of supernaturals and the people connected to them, and you had no idea of your surroundings.”

  “This is supposed to be a safe place, right? That’s why I’m here?”

  Ranger sighed. “Yeah. What do you want to do today? If you have work to do I can set you up somewhere quiet, but I was kind of hoping you could show me some climbing spots. My fingers are itching for a good cliff face, and the weather is beautiful.”

  Eric saved his work, watched it upload to his cloud server, and closed his laptop. “I don’t have any equipment with me, is it safe to run by the yacht and pick it up?”

  “I have equipment. The only thing you’ll need is shoes, and I have enough cash to stop and buy some on the way.”

  Getting out in the sunshine, pushing his body to the limit, and the adrenaline rush of being so high, and going even higher, was exactly what Eric needed. His muscles were sore from being forced into the same position for so long during his torture, and his ass, thighs, calves, and upper back were bruised from being beaten… but getting his blood flowing through the muscles, pushing them, taking them to the edge of their endurance, reminded him he was alive and his tormentors were dead, and life was good.

  He was debating whether he should feel joy the assholes were dead, when Ranger asked, “What’s bothering you?”

  “Fuck, Ranger… that’s how you’ve been able to read me so well all my life? Your sense of smel
l?”

  “Partly. You’ve been into the climb, your mind focused only on where your hands and feet were going next, but your scent just changed. Something you wanna talk about?”

  Ranger adjusted his ropes so he could turn sideways, a single toe in a crevice balancing him, and it made Eric remember Jonathan’s description of how Kendra had cut fingers and toes off, and where she’d put them.

  Eric adjusted his ropes and harnesses as well, but he had a few inches of a ledge he could put the ball of his foot on. “You know what she did to the people who hurt me. You probably know more than me, because I know you’re friends with some of the people in the rescue party.”

  “You know the highlights. I don’t think you want or need to know the gory details.”

  He both wanted and didn’t want to know the details, but for now, he needed to stay on topic. “I’m happy they’re dead, and I’m not sure I should feel so smug about the fact I’m alive and they aren’t. I mean… of course I’m happy I’m alive, I’m just not sure I should be so full of joy at the loss of life. Especially since they died such horrific deaths.”

  “I can understand the sadness at the loss of life, but I have to admit I’m happy they’re dead, and I’m pleased Kendra killed them in such a grisly, painful, horrific, fashion. No one’s gonna hurt you again, and if they do so accidently, they’ll go down on their knees and beg forgiveness, and do everything they can to make it right.”

  “Abbott said you were briefed about safety protocols.” He looked around. “How is this safe?”

  “It isn’t part of your regular routine. No one will know to look for us here. We haven’t mentioned it on any electronic means, and we bought the shoes with cash. No one followed us, and I’m in a Drake Security vehicle with no GPS. You have a choice of going back to TBC tonight, or I have camping equipment with me, and I was thinking maybe we’d head to Lost Creek tonight, if you want to stay away from others. Just the two of us in the wilderness.”