by Sophia North
Eager to end the conversation about Gabe, Hannah waved them along. "Come, I'll show the two of you out and make sure the place is locked up tight. It's funny how much larger a home feels when you are the only one in it."
At the front door, Vlad helped Penny with her coat. "Thank you for letting me in again, Hannah,” she said “I hope you know how much your friendship means to me. I don't have many."
"Nor I, and I don't plan on losing what few I have over a manpyre."
Penny laughed at the play on words. "Manpyre...I like it. And you're right, not even one of them should come between friends. Good night, Hannah."
"Night," she said. The firm click of the front door brought the ordeal of the party to an end. Setting her alarm, Hannah returned to the living room to finish clearing up.
In the shadows of the garden, she knew there was still one last guest. Not that she expected him to acknowledge his presence. Gliding around the room, she picked up various glasses and plates and took them to her open plan kitchen. Lawrence, in his wisdom, had arranged for caterers but without the staff, knowing Hannah would not have liked that level of formality. The plan was unpack, serve, then pack everything back up again in the catering racks provided, dirty and all, to be picked up in the morning from the service. Most of the gathering had already been done, there were just a few stragglers that Hannah now placed into boxes.
She knew Gabe would have a perfect view into the kitchen, thanks to the wall of French doors running the length of the back of the house. If he wanted to pretend she meant nothing, why not test how far she could tempt him. She'd taken great care in choosing her outfit tonight in case he decided to come calling.
Her silver mini-dress barely covered her ass and for once, Hannah had even shocked Lawrence with her choice of outfit. It was very unHannah. But ever since she'd started to make major changes, she'd been feeling bolder, more in control and the empowerment was seductive.
Slipping out of her high heels in front of the windows, she smiled softly when she detected his sharp intake of breath from outside. This was going to be fun. Her hand reached up to unfasten her loose chignon-styled hair, the feel of it brushing her back made her think of his fingers touching her body, rather than her raven tresses.
Gabe stood, hungrily taking in the picture Hannah presented. A silver goddess of seduction beckoning him to her rocky shore like the siren she was, his siren. And oh, how he heard her call.
The jealousy he'd felt when she'd commented on Ethan Lang's handsomeness had stunned him. He'd wanted to tear the young pup limb from limb at the merest hint of Hannah's interest. And he'd known the wolf, for what? All of a few hours at Ebony's and less than that tonight at Mitchell's. His anger wasn't rational.
And yet, another suspicion had started to grow. Was Hannah capable of detecting his presence?
Yes, yes, Hannah laughed silently. You are most correct, Gabriel Rosetti. I hear everything in your sly head. Stretching her neck to one side, she showed him her profile.
Gabe forgot all about what Hannah was up to after that move. He felt himself harden at the thought of kissing the elegant swan-like curve of her throat.
Then the atmosphere shifted. The same low rumble of energy he'd encountered at the British Museum rushed under his feet. Warlock's! The bastards were back.
"Hannah!" He ran from the shadows to the doors but couldn't open them. She'd never invited him in.
Hannah heard him call her name and was prepared to ignore it when an invisible hand clamped around her throat and squeezed. Choking, her body was drawn back into the large stainless steel refrigerator. Gasping, she managed to call out, "Gabe...come in."
Within the next breath, he was holding her in his arms. The invisible assailant had disappeared instantly after he entered the house.
"Hannah? Say something...please, cara mia, speak," Gabe whispered urgently.
Taking a great gasp of breath, Hannah expelled, "Gabriel...thank god you were here."
Holding her against him, he ran his hands over her body, searching for any injuries. She appeared to be in one piece and her calling him by his first name still rang pleasantly in his ear.
The feel of his hands on her made her grow warm. Flooded with memories of how they had felt before...in more intimate places, drew a shaky breath from her lips.
Aware they were on the kitchen floor, Gabe helped her to stand, denying an urge to take what he so wanted. Her. Against the cold granite top of the central island.
Hannah backed away from him, the rush of blood she felt from his touch made her question her usual prudish restraint. Then again, she'd consumed her fair share of champagne. Maybe that accounted for his effect on her senses.
"You knew I was in the garden?" he asked in a hushed tone.
"Yes, it is strange. I am able to sense you every time you're near..."
Her admission gave Gabe a feeling of satisfaction. It marked her as his, even if only he knew it.
"As I told you once before, cara mia, you are an irresistible attraction to me."
Hannah liked to hear of her power over him. It made her want to know where his limit was...in terms of her being resistible. Sidling up to him, she snaked her body against his as she gained the position she wanted - a full length body press against his rock solid one. He felt like a marble statue, but was in no way cold. Shallow breaths caught in her throat as she reached up to trace the fine planes of his face, his dark midnight hair brushed the back of her hands as he bowed his head slightly in welcome to her touch.
She moved forward and brushed her lips against his, "How about now, are you still willing to resist me?..." Tracing his lips with the tip of her tongue, begging for entry, she continued, "...refuse us both what we want?...desperately."
Gabe could have sooner resisted the urge to breathe as deny himself her sweet invitation. Hannah's seduction was not what he'd expected. But he wasn't about to refuse.
Pulling her tight against him, he let his hands drift over the open-back of her dress, retracing the very path her long hair had played upon earlier. So soft, so sweet. She begged to be savoured.
When his hands came to gently cup her bottom, Hannah moaned as he began to caress her already short skirt upwards until it rode the curve of her buttocks. What it did reveal were her satin panties. Gabe growled appreciatively. Pale pink was now his favourite colour.
Sweeping her into his arms, he carried her over to the large leather sectional and placed her down onto the wide chaise lounge it sported. Making a mental note to approve of her choice in furniture at a later date, he stepped back to remove his suit jacket. His hands then moved onto the buttons of his shirt. Its stark whiteness made him appear dangerously beautiful. Hannah laid back and watched him, appreciation glowing in her amber gaze. Tugging the tails free from his stylish black trousers, he advanced on her out-stretched body to capture her full lips in a fierce kiss.
Their tongues duelled endlessly with one another, as each drank their fill. Hannah could not remember kissing someone for so long. Her body came alive with every tender brush.
When Gabe urged her to sit forward so he could remove her dress, Hannah did so without hesitation. Running his hands over her generous breasts, he urged her nipples to stand firm in attention, awaiting the feel of his tongue. A task he wasted no time in providing as he lapped at each one. Aching in want, Hannah's head fell to the side, as she urged his kisses lower.
Taking his time, Gabriel paid homage to her flat stomach, and let his hand slip between her legs to caress her wet centre through the satin of her panties.
"Yes, please...more," she gasped in ecstasy as he slid first one, then two fingers inside her hot core. She felt so good on his wet fingers, Gabe was quickly between her legs and lifting her to his eager lips, having ripped the satin lace from her.
Penetrating her with his tongue, he loved hearing her gasps and moans, especially the repetition of his name with every thrust. He needed to be inside her but instead something made him pause.
Hannah sensed his hesitation and whispered, "Take me...complete me," she begged.
Freeing himself, he pressed against her. "Hannah," he whispered hoarsely, "are you sure?"
Touched by his need to have her permission, she rubbed against him. "Yes, Gabriel...I want you deep inside me."
With a groan he eased into her, taking it slow. Hannah whimpered, loving the way he filled her, stretched her to accommodate every inch of him. Penny may have quipped about not giving him an inch, but Hannah was more than happy to give him full access.
Gabe gritted his teeth at the feel of Hannah's tight warmth. It was like he was home...and he never wanted to leave again. Sliding in and out, he steadily increased the pace, until they were both lost in the throes of their joining. Caressing the bud of her clit, he could feel her tighten on him as she climaxed, this time yelling his name. Unable to resist, Gabe let go and joined her in ecstasy, his deep throated 'Hannah' filling the room.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
ON THE LARGE KING SIZE bed, Hannah and Gabriel laid entwined with one another. A silken sheet connected their bodies in a ripple of white.
Hannah stirred, luxuriating in the feel of Gabe's body pressed against her. She wasn't quite certain when they had made it to the bedroom. She had years of sexual congress to catch up on and had demanded much of her Praetor lover...in many rooms, in many positions.
Sensing him watching her, she cracked open an eye.
The sun caught the near blue sheen of his raven locks, his deep green eyes warmed by the desire he felt. Hannah stretched and grinned at him coquettishly. "Good...morning?" she asked tentatively.
"Early afternoon, minx. You kept me up most of the night." He nipped her shoulder. Hannah laughed and swatted him away.
"I cannot be held responsible for wanting you...so much," she confessed boldly, tracing the Praetor tattoo on his chest before slipping her hand down the hard planes of his stomach to emphasise her point.
"Hannah," Gabe growled, appreciating the gesture but staying her hand. "I think we need to discuss a few things first."
"You are always trying to get us to talk, how utterly predictable. The last time you insisted, we never got to the good part."
Wrapping her in the sheet, Gabe brought her to lie along the length of his body...clad only in silk. The act was not having the desired effect on dampening his arousal. The feel of her in silk only succeeded in making him harder.
Hannah felt him against her buttock and rubbed in appreciation, hoping it would urge him on. It didn't. Gabe had a few things to say and as delectable as she was being, he wouldn't be diverted.
Clamping her firmly between his legs, he stopped any further squirming. Hannah sighed and propped her chin in her hands to stare up at him. "You are no fun," she said petulantly.
Gabe laughed and kissed her wrinkled brow. "And you are incorrigible."
"I've been patiently waiting for you for the past nigh on thirty years," she retorted.
Her confession was like a douse of cold water. What did she mean by that? Awaiting him in what way?
"Are we back to our quid quo pro ways?" she asked, sensing she'd bothered him with her flippant remark.
Gabe stared into her beautiful amber eyes and wished it wasn't so...but they could no longer avoid talking about what had happened between them...beyond their mind-blowing sex. Hannah was changing and he needed to tell her the truth about giving her his Praetor blood.
He sensed that may not go too well for him. But at least gentle questioning would allowed him the opportunity to choose his words carefully. And monitor his thoughts now that she could read them.
"Yes, if that's the bargain you'd like to strike," he said, secretly hoping she had her own questions about what was happening to her and wouldn't have to out and out tell her.
"Who shall go first?"
"Ladies always have the advantage with me."
Oh yes, the ladies. What an excellent place to start.
Intent on slowly leading him to the point she wanted to make about his extracurricular activities with another woman, she asked, "Why am I able to see other's memories so vividly?"
Pleased she was willing to kick things off with such incisive questioning, Gabe smiled. "Memories, you say? Not thoughts? As a Seer, I'd imagine they have been enhanced somewhat since our night at Claridge's."
Hannah reared back. How had he managed to side-step her so quickly with such a declaration?
"You are aware of my gift? That doesn't seem quite fair, as I know very little about you and your capabilities."
"But my sweet, it is your turn again to ask me an extra question. I asked two earlier...don't tell me you've already lost count. How very disappointing," he teased, but in truth was trying to confuse her into revealing more.
"Very well, tell me what it means to be an Ultimate vampyre...a Praetor?"
"Hmmm, that seems like a whole host of questions in one...not exactly fair. Could you be a bit more specific?"
Hannah was starting to not like their little game very much. She'd rather they moved back to more pleasurable distractions.
Running the tip of her tongue around the ouroboros tattoo on his chest, Hannah looked up at him through her lashes. "I'm not the one who wants to play this particular game," she complained and finished by licking his nipple at the centre of the circular serpent. She rather liked his many tattoos, but the ouroboros held her attention the most.
Gabe pulled her up and kissed her deeply, opening up her sensual nature in order to gain a foothold over her. With a silent command to cease kissing him, he waited to see if it held. Hannah stopped a moment later, none the wiser of what he'd done.
Freeing his thoughts, he silently asked: Do you want me to make love to you again?
She did not reply. How strange? She could no longer read his thoughts. What could it mean?
Hannah drummed her fingers against his chest. "I'm still awaiting an answer...unless you have grown bored."
Gabe shook the fog from his head. He'd been lost in his thoughts now that he could have them freely again. "What is a Praetor? Not an easy question to answer. Truth is, no one really knows how we came to be...only that for as long as records exist, so have we. Granted we have be known by many names other than Praetor."
Hannah perked up. She was very interested in knowing more about his history, he'd started to tell her that night in the library, but then they kissed...and kissed until Pierce arrived. "Tell me more about your family and its legacy."
"Very well, let's start at the beginning. As you know, I was born in 1455 and ascended to my vampyre form at the age of thirty. My father, however, was Legatus of the Praetorian Guard, not that I knew it at the time, nor that my brothers were also Praetors."
"Your entire family were Praetor's, is that because of your family's legacy?"
"Not every male child my father sired became a Praetor, only certain vamps are chosen to receive the mark. And my destiny was only to be a vampyre."
"Only?" Hannah teased. "If that is so, how are you who you are now?"
"As I mentioned, a terrible tragedy befell my family and I was made Praetor and Legatus at the moment my father and brothers were annihilated. The truth is, the title I now hold was meant for my eldest brother, Raphael."
Hannah felt for his loss. "It must have been terrible to lose your entire family. No wonder you take your duty so seriously."
Gabe laughed bitterly. "I rejected everything they were. I hated my father and brothers."
This was a shocking reveal. "Why would you hate them?"
"My father was a lying cold hearted bastard who drove my mother to an early grave. As for my brothers, they had planned to have me murdered. So great was their hate of me. The son they believed our father cherished above them. It was fucking biblical."
"And yet, you have taken on the duty of being Legatus and now Consul, if I understand correctly."
"I took on my duty for my Praetors...they needed me to lead. But I did it my own way...eventually."
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Hannah's quizzical look made him elaborate. "The Praetorian Guard rise and sleep according to the threats made to the Empire...we serve the King, Rex Absoluta, when the need demands it. The deaths of my family, and the entire Praetorian Guard in 1666 triggered my sleep until 1881. But when I rose, I thought I was the last of the Praetorians and so turned from my duty. I may have hated my family but I would avenge their deaths and at the time I blamed Lowerton leadership for their being wiped out."
"But if the Praetorian Guard were gone, where have all the new ones come from? Penny told me Vlad has recently transformed into a Praetor, how is that possible?"
"Can't say I know completely, but it appears when one is lost, another eventually is made to replace the fallen. And when they transform, their first act is to seek me out, as their leader."
"I'm speechless. And I thought I had dramatics with Beka."
Stirred by recounting his past to her, Gabe remained silent. The memories were more painful than he'd expected and he didn't like feeling weak. Wanting to drive them away, he rubbed Hannah's shoulder absentmindedly.
He had yet to tell her about how he'd fed her his blood in order to save her...and that he wasn't sure of the ramifications. It had to be forbidden for a reason, but for the life of him he couldn't remember the details. A fact Tiberius would no doubt relish reminding him.
Not ready to reveal the truth to her yet, he silently regretted opening up the discussion without thinking it through. She continued to worm her way into emotions and it was playing havoc with his logic.
There was one way to take the conversation elsewhere.
"I'd rather have you breathless," he murmured seductively, as he rolled her beneath him and made love to her again.
The hour had grown late by the time Gabe had taken his fill of the delectable Countess. Cradling her in his arms, he pressed a kiss to her brow to rouse her.
"Don't know about you, but I am famished," she said, sighing in contentment at finally feeling satiated.
