Jabril

by D. B. Reynolds

  She fisted both hands in his short hair and tugged him back up the length of her body. “Fuck me, Raphael. Fuck me na—” Her demand turned into a groan of satisfaction as he obliged, driving his huge, hard cock deep between her legs in a single powerful thrust. She was wet and ready for him, trembling with need, and still he stretched her gloriously, burying his full length within her and holding it there, barely moving, gasping as her heat surrounded him. Her vision fogged with desire, Cyn watched him above her, his eyes closed with the effort of remaining still. She could feel his cock pulsing inside her, could see his chest moving with the beat of his heart, the bellow of his lungs. She reached up and ran her fingers softly over his brow, across the beautiful arch of his chiseled cheek bones and down to the fullness of his lips.

  His eyes opened and met her gaze, gleaming in the low light as he began to thrust. Slowly at first, a smooth slide in and out as her juices lubricated the movement, as her inner walls adjusted to his thickness and welcomed his invasion. Faster as the hunger grew, as she rose to meet him, wrapping her long legs around his back and pulling herself onto his shaft. Her climax started deep inside, a flexing of her womb that shuddered outward until it was caressing his cock, as he pumped even faster, driving them both to the point of delirium and beyond.

  Cyn screamed as the wave swept over her, bowing her back, seizing her muscles. She clung to Raphael, wanting this feeling, this joining of their bodies, to go on forever, hearing him roar when her climax rippled along his cock and triggered his own, milking him, draining him as his hot release filled her body.

  He collapsed against her, rolling over slightly to cradle her in his arms, taking his weight off her while keeping himself firmly sheathed inside. Cyn lay in his embrace, feeling his cock still flexing deep within her, trembling with the aftermath of their joining. Raphael tightened his arms, holding her as if she was something precious to him, something he'd feared lost and, now found, would never let go again.

  Cyn turned her face against his chest as the tears began to flow. “I missed you, too,” she whispered, not knowing if he'd hear.

  Raphael kissed her forehead and then her cheeks, tasting the tears. He grew still. "Lubimaya?"

  Cyn tried to control the terrible and foolish need to weep, embarrassed by her own naked emotion. “The dreams were nice, Raphael, but this was much better,” she managed to say, forcing a light laugh.

  He said nothing for a moment, while Cyn silently begged him to let it go. When he chuckled, she relaxed, hooking her leg around his hip and rolling over on top, with him still buried deep between her thighs. Meeting his gaze, she began to move slowly, rocking back and forth on his responsive shaft, tightening the muscles of her core, cupping her breasts in offering. His gaze grew heated and he hardened once again. He reached behind her to cup her ass in both hands, holding her against him as he began a steady in and out movement, taking control away from her. Cyn gasped as he went far deeper, filling her completely. Her eyes closed and she dropped onto his chest, relishing the feel of his hard muscle and silky hair against the softness of her breasts. She lifted enough to kiss him, caressing his distended fangs with her tongue, feeling the slight sting as she drew her own blood.

  Raphael growled her name, a rumble of sound low in his chest, vibrating through her bones. As her blood continued to flow, he gripped her tightly and flipped them both over, pounding now between her thighs, lifting her legs higher to delve deeper, driving into her with powerful thrusts that lifted her from the bed. Cyn whimpered softly, lost in the rush of sensation. She wrapped her arms ever more tightly around him, trapping him inside her, never wanting to let go. Another orgasm began a slow shudder through her body, and Raphael's mouth found the sweet vein in her neck. She trembled at the diamond hardness of his fangs against her skin, crying out when they pierced her vein, when she felt the pull of her blood as it slid down his throat. Every nerve in her body came alive at once, her soft cry of joy lost in the roar of Raphael's completion. His release shot deep inside her, and she convulsed in a searing orgasm, her nails opening bloody rows down his back, sending him into yet another climax, hard on the first.

  * * * *

  Cyn lay in Raphael's arms, panting for breath, stunned into stillness by the strength of her emotions, terrified she would wake up to discover it was nothing but another dream. Her heart sped even faster at the thought, and she tightened her hold on him, wishing never to wake up if it was a dream. As if sensing her fear, Raphael stroked a comforting hand down her back, kissing her sweat-dampened skin and licking the trails of blood from her neck.

  Fresh shivers of pleasure shot through her and she groaned. “Stop that,” she whispered, snugging closer to him. “I need at least a ten minute break here."

  Raphael laughed and kissed her hard on the mouth. “Ten minutes, ten years, ten centuries, sweet Cyn,” he murmured, suddenly serious. “I love you. Whatever time I have left is yours."

  Cyn froze, her heart thumping from something more than just the terrific sex. “I love you too,” she whispered, almost fearfully.

  "Then stay, my Cyn. Stay with me forever."

  * * * *

  Cyn knew dawn was coming when she heard the muffled thud of heavy doors slamming shut, closing them inside and everyone else out. Raphael stirred from a light doze as she sat up, the sheet falling away from her naked body.

  "I promised Liz I'd take her to her first driving lesson today,” she said.

  Raphael pulled her back down and leaned forward to suckle lazily on breasts still swollen and tender from their night together. He lifted his head long enough to say, “You can leave whenever you want. Everything will lock behind you.” Then he lowered his mouth to her breast once more, pushing her back to the pillows as his tongue wandered lower.

  "Will you be back?” he asked, his breath warm against the damp skin of her belly.

  "Try—” She gasped as his tongue rasped over her clit. She swallowed and started again. “Try to keep me away,” she managed.

  "No,” Raphael murmured. “Nothing will keep me from you. Remember that, my Cyn. Nothing."

  Cyn shivered in sudden foreboding and whispered a prayer to the winds that fate was occupied elsewhere this morning.

  Chapter Forty-eight

  Cyn took the front steps to Lucia's at a cheerful run, even though she'd had little more than two hours sleep. Her body was sore and aching, but it was the good sort of ache, the kind that leaves you feeling energized ... at least for a few hours. At some point, she was going to crash face first into a pillow, but not yet. Not even the wall-shaking noise level of the usual gang of teens watching television and playing games could faze her this morning.

  Lucia was on the phone in her office. She gave Cyn a silent once over and raised her eyebrow knowingly before going back to whatever bureaucrat she was arguing with. Cyn backtracked down the hall to the foot of the stairs and yelled for Liz. Not her usual mode of communication, but when in Rome...?

  Down the hall, she heard Lucia slam the phone with a curse, and she reentered the office in time to see her friend writing furious notes, muttering under her breath about the mouth-breathing idiots who ran the government these days. Lucia spun around and glared at Cyn.

  "And you!” she said, continuing her unrelated diatribe. “I know what you've been up to, you bitch. Look at you, all shiny and glowing with satisfaction while I'm down here in the trenches battling the morons over at social services. Tell me it wasn't the vampire."

  Cyn gave her a wide grin.

  "Oh, shit, Cyn, why would—” Luci stopped herself and looked closely at her friend. “You're happy,” she said, then squinted even closer. “No, you're in fucking love.” She sighed. “If you're happy, I'm happy. But, sweetie,” she put a hand on Cyn's arm. “Be careful."

  Cyn gave her a spontaneous hug, something she rarely did. Luci laughed and said, “Okay, now I know you're in love. But you tell that big bloodsucker if he breaks your heart again, I'm coming for him with a stake."

&nb
sp; Footsteps thundered down the stairs and Liz appeared in the doorway. She stopped when she saw the two women embracing. “What's up?” she said, sounding a little worried.

  "Not a thing,” Luci said quickly, giving Cyn a warning glance before she could respond with the obvious tasteless rejoinder. Not that she would have. Honest.

  "Hey, kid, Happy Birthday,” Cyn said cheerily. “You ready for the big day?"

  "Give me a break, like I've never driven before.” Liz rolled her eyes in the timeless disgust of all teenagers. “I need these stupid lessons to get my license, but it's not like I don't already know how to drive."

  "Right,” Cyn said, with a private grin for Lucia. “Let's get this useless exercise over with then. We'll be back in a couple of hours,” she added in Luci's direction. “You want anything while I'm out?"

  "Yeah, how about some of what you had last night,” Luci said dryly. “It's been awhile."

  Cyn laughed. Liz looked confused, but unwilling to admit she cared what they were talking about, she danced impatiently. “So are we doing this, or what?"

  "We're doing it and we're outta here. Call me if you think of anything, Luce. Anything I can bring you, anyway.” Luci's laughter followed them down the hall and out the door.

  * * * *

  The driving school was in West L.A.'s business district, an area of warehouses and light industry, not too far from the new para facility where Raphael had been so recently incarcerated. Normally, the driving instructor would have driven to the student's location, but since Liz's only current residence was the runaway shelter, Cyn figured it would be better to go to them and use her Malibu condo as Liz's official address. Not that most of these places cared overmuch about such niceties as a permanent address, but they were supposed to, and it would be Cyn's luck to get the one employee who'd bother to check.

  Liz had obtained a certified copy of her Texas birth certificate from Hewitt before she ran from Houston, knowing it would be necessary when the time came to safeguard her inheritance from Jabril. For now, it was her only proof of age and identification, and for backup, her “aunt” Cynthia was going along as a responsible adult. For her part, Aunt Cynthia wanted to stress that she was a very young aunt, more like a sister, really.

  Parking on the street was always problematic in this neighborhood, especially during the business week, so they swung into a parking garage about a block away from the school. Liz was telling her about an ongoing disagreement in the house that broke down to boys versus girls and something to do with movie selection. Cyn was only half-listening, her attention on a dark blue sedan that seemed to have picked them up as they passed the school and was now following them into the parking structure. She couldn't see much detail in the dim interior of the garage, but the very blandness of the vehicle made her uneasy. She'd considered having one of Raphael's human guards tag along today, but had dismissed the idea almost immediately. Her Glock was tucked beneath her jacket, secure in its usual shoulder rig. And it was daylight. The worst she would have to contend with was some hired thug of Jabril's. She could handle that.

  Nevertheless, when she turned off the ramp and saw the sedan drive by, continuing to the higher levels, she breathed a sigh of relief. Prowling up and down a couple of aisles, she finally slid the Land Rover into a slot not far from the open stairwell. Once out of the car, she paused for a careful look around the garage before opening the back passenger door to retrieve her backpack, telling herself she was worrying at shadows.

  The sudden rush of movement spun her around, half inside the back seat, too late to avoid the Taser that was shoved against her chest. Her teeth clenched and she gave an involuntary groan as she hit the truck's running board before falling awkwardly to the cold cement floor. She had a confused glimpse of the flushed face and white hair of Jabril's PI before he delivered a second Taser burst, and then the sound of Liz screaming her name as she rushed around the car.

  No, she thought as she fell into unconsciousness. No, Liz, run!

  Chapter Forty-nine

  "My lord."

  Raphael sat at his desk, reviewing the proposal for a new compound in Seattle. The human population there had grown substantially over the last hundred years, and his vampires in Washington were feeling the need for greater security. What had once been a rural retreat with few neighbors was now a bustling suburb, and his people were suggesting a move even further beyond the city limits. He gave Duncan an absent smile, wondering where Cyn was and how soon she would return. She'd said something about a birthday celebration for the girl Liz, but he had spent too many nights without her and wanted her here. Now.

  He glanced up casually and was abruptly aware of his lieutenant's solemn expression. “Duncan?"

  "I just took a call from Cynthia's friend Lucia Shinn. She runs the shelter where Mirabelle's sister Elizabeth has been staying. It seems Cynthia and Elizabeth never returned from their excursion to the driving school this morning, and Ms. Shinn has been unable to reach them despite repeated attempts."

  Raphael was on his feet. “Have you checked with Alexandra? Perhaps they're with Mirabelle.” He didn't believe it. If Cyn was on the estate, he'd know it; he'd feel it in his blood.

  "Ms. Shinn tells me she called Alexandra's manor immediately after sunset."

  Raphael and Duncan shared a look. “And yet no one from the manor has contacted me."

  "Ms. Shinn became worried enough that she called us directly, tracing the number through your commercial front."

  The house phone rang and Duncan picked it up, listened for several minutes and issued a terse command. He hung up and turned to Raphael. “Our security hooked into the GPS on Cynthia's truck sometime ago. It was without her knowledge, but I thought it wise—"

  Raphael cut him off. “Where is she?"

  "Her vehicle,” Duncan stressed, “followed the expected pattern this morning, going first to pick up Elizabeth, then to a location near the driving school, most likely a parking structure. It stayed there for a very brief time, a matter of minutes, not long enough to have conducted any sort of business. Since then it has been moving steadily in a southeasterly direction, allowing for multiple refueling stops. It is now slightly west of Tucson in Arizona."

  "You called her cell phone?” Raphael asked as he strode for the door.

  "No answer, but we've traced the phone's GPS to the assumed parking structure near the driving school, which suggests either the phone is not with her or—"

  "Or she's not moving. Get someone on the ground."

  "Already on the way, my lord. I should have a report momentarily.” He hurried to keep up with Raphael, who was taking the stairs two at a time. Juro met them at the bottom and led the way through the big double doors and out to the driveway where two SUVs waited, engines idling.

  Duncan's phone rang again as they sped down Pacific Coast Highway toward Santa Monica, the direction of both the airport and Cyn's last known location. Raphael was aware of the phone's ringing and of Duncan's low-voiced conversation, but his mind was filled with thoughts of Cyn. He had enemies. And Cyn was too human, too vulnerable. And too important to him, dammit.

  Duncan finished his call. “The phone has been found in a parking garage, along with her backpack,” he said grimly. “Her last call was to her own home number right after she left the estate this morning. Probably checking messages."

  In the front seat, Juro looked over his shoulder and spoke without being asked. “We have filed a flight plan to Tucson, my lord,” he said. “Your people in Phoenix will meet us on the ground."

  Chapter Fifty

  Everything ached. Cyn tried to move, to relieve the pressure on her right arm which was twisted somehow and beginning to fall asleep. Panic flared as memory returned, but she forced herself to remain still and quiet.

  She was in a car, or a vehicle of some sort, and moving. There was tape across her mouth; she could feel the pull of the adhesive on her cheeks. Her hands and feet were bound, probably with the same tape as her mouth, and
her hands were behind her back. She heard soft sobbing nearby. So she wasn't alone in her captivity. Elizabeth, she remembered, and knew immediately who had them, even before her brain produced the final image it had seen before her loss of consciousness. That damned thick-necked PI of Jabril's. Which meant they were on their way back to Texas. But how far had they gotten?

  She rolled over and struggled to see something, anything, thankful the asshole hadn't blindfolded her at least. It was dark outside, utterly dark, made even more so by the tinted windows of the Land Rover. Land Rover. They were in the cargo compartment of her own truck, which was actually very good news. If she could get loose somehow, there were weapons hidden in here that would come in very handy, even against a vampire. Especially against a vampire.

  She scooted around carefully, taking in more detail. Liz lay next to her, similarly bound. She was staring mutely at Cyn with eyes that were swollen and red from crying, so she'd probably been conscious for awhile. Hopefully that meant the younger woman hadn't been Tasered, or at least not as much. Cyn met the girl's gaze carefully, making certain she knew Cyn was awake and aware. The look of terror on her face said she understood as well as Cyn who had them and what the future might hold if they didn't manage to escape. Cyn felt a surge of angry frustration at their predicament, but fought it down, saving it for later. She would use that anger, but not yet.

  Okay, so they were in her truck and the PI was probably driving. He'd been alone when he Tasered her—she felt a renewed rage surge at the memory and swore she'd pay him back in kind if she ever got the chance. But how to get that chance?