by Nina Croft
She lifted her other hand. Her index finger extended, lengthened, white like ice, into a point, and she ran it across her wrist so the blood welled up, and he was lost. He took her arm, held it with both hands, and lifted it almost reverently to his mouth.
Don’t lose it. Don’t lose it.
He kept his gaze locked on hers as he licked along the cut and almost swooned. A shudder ran through him. Winter’s was different than the other blood he’d had, richer, warmer, full of life. He latched on, sucked hard, felt the warm blood fill his mouth, trickle down his throat, warm him, bring life back to the dead places. And deep inside him, his wolf blinked sleepily.
I can do this.
He took a deep breath, stroked his tongue along the cut, and held her away from him, just to prove he could.
She grinned. “That’s really impressive. I mean, I am really impressed. It’s a little scary how much control you have. Not normal. But you should take more. You need to be back to full strength, just in case.”
“You don’t mind? Does it hurt?” Roz had once told him that it could feel amazing, that Piers could make her come just from his bite. He’d informed her that was TMI—too much information. At the time, she’d been trying to point out that eating from the source wasn’t a bad thing, that in fact, it could be a very good thing. Maybe for her and Piers. They were in love.
“No, it doesn’t hurt,” Winter said. “It feels…sexy.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You ever fed a vampire before?”
“Are you mad? My dad would go crazy.”
He still had hold of her arm, and he tugged her closer. “I’m glad. I don’t want you feeding any other vampire.” One last tug and she fell against him, bracing herself with her free hand, her palm against his chest. “Just me.”
Under the sheet, his dick was hard, and his balls ached viciously. Last night, back in his apartment, before this had all begun, she’d nearly seduced him. Maybe it was time for the hunter to become the hunted. There were other veins he could drink from. He wanted to explore her body with his hands, his mouth. Taste her everywhere.
As he released his hold on her wrist, disappointment flashed across her face. But not for long. He grabbed her shoulders and hauled her across him, so she straddled his hips. Her eyes were wide.
He buried his face in the side of her neck, found the pulse point, bit down, and felt her stiffen against him. She tasted so good. He pulled back, then stroked the small bead of blood from her white skin with his tongue, sealing the wound.
“Wasn’t this where we were last night?” he asked. “Before we were so rudely interrupted.” Sliding his hand around the back of her neck, he urged her face to his, and kissed her, tasting blood as his fangs nicked her lips. This was obviously a learning process. He licked the blood away, savoring every drop, then kissed her again, careful and slowly, pushing his tongue into the sweetness, feeling her squirm closer in his arms.
Then he kissed along her jawline, nibbling, licking, intoxicated with the taste and scent of her. His tongue dipped into her ear, and she moaned and pushed against him. He kissed the pulse point in her throat, felt his hunger rise like an icy fire inside him. His wolf growled, and the hunger calmed. Raising his head, he stared into her dazed eyes.
“You want this?” he asked.
She ran her hand down over his cheek, her fingers trailing across his lower lip, then she leaned down to kiss him lightly. “I’ve wanted you from the moment I saw you.”
Really?
He’d ask her more about that when he wasn’t in such a hurry.
Slipping his hands under the hem of the robe, he tugged it open, slid it off her shoulders, and tossed it on the floor. Beneath it, she was naked, totally naked, and quite the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Her waist was tiny, curving out on either side to generous hips and firm, full breasts, tipped with dark red nipples, now tight little buds. Unable to resist, he lowered his head and kissed one carefully, licked it, holding her as the tremors ran through her body and her spine arched.
He shifted his hands to her hips, his fingers digging into the soft flesh, and then turned her quickly so she lay on her back, her eyes wide as he leaned over her.
For a moment, he just stared. Her skin was pale and flawless. The hair between her thighs midnight black.
He kissed her throat and then her breasts, sucking and nibbling and licking down her body. She tasted of ice cream, cool and sweet and totally delicious. He nipped at her nipples, and she squirmed, then he laid a trail of butterfly kisses over her flat belly, blowing softly on the curls at the base. Her thighs parted temptingly, and he shifted down the bed.
His dick was so hard, he might explode at any moment and that would be a waste. First, he needed to make her come, because he was pretty sure he was going to last no time. And maybe just one more little taste.
Lowering his head, he stroked his tongue along the seam of her sex, then kissed her inner thigh, ran his tongue along the line of the vein and felt the thrum of her pulse.
When he glanced up the line of her body, he found her staring down at him, her lips slightly parted. She gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, and his breath caught. But he wanted this, needed this. His hunger was overwhelming. He lowered his mouth again to her flesh, bit down, felt the moment his fangs pierced the vein and her warm blood filled his mouth. Heat and life flowed through him. And his need built inside him.
How had he ever done without this?
His hand slid up her other thigh, parted the folds of her sex, finding her hot and wet. He forced his fangs from her vein, licked at the small wound, then shifted slightly so he could place his mouth on her sex. She went still beneath him, then her hips lifted, pressing against him.
…
Holy moly.
Nothing had ever felt this good. Ever.
Winter closed her eyes and let the waves of pleasure wash over her, coalescing in her belly, building…
His tongue stroked along the length of her, lapping at her, teasing circles around her clit until she almost screamed with the need. She pushed up against him, and at last, he was there. Sucking and nibbling, pressing with the flat of his tongue, then teasing with the tip. Everything tingled, as if she was filled with fairy dust, and she was going to burst into flames and be totally consumed. Then he bit down gently, and everything tightened. He stroked with his tongue, and she exploded into a thousand glittery pieces. As she tumbled through space, he kissed her, and she was flying.
She opened her eyes as he crawled up the bed, settling between her thighs. For a second, he stared down at her, his eyes glowing crimson, and she could smell the woodsy scent of werewolf. Then he pushed inside while her orgasm still rippled through her. He was big, and he stretched her, the sensation bordering on pain, and it felt so good.
He pulled out, and pleasure shivered through her. Then he shoved back in, grinding his hips against her. Her spine arched, and she came again.
She was vaguely aware of him coming inside her, but it was a blur of mingled pleasure and pain. He crashed down onto her and the air whooshed from her lungs. Then he rolled her so she was sprawled across him, his big hands holding her tight.
“Thank you,” he said.
“My pleasure. Really, it was.”
A chuckle rumbled through him.
They had to move, make a plan. But she allowed herself just a few moments, with him still inside her. If she wasn’t mistaken, he was growing hard again.
Well, maybe there was time for a quickie.
Chapter Ten
Half an hour later, they were on the road heading into the darkness. Snow was falling again, and Ryan was driving. Winter sat beside him, munching on a packet of chocolate cookies to get her strength up—she was feeling a little lightheaded from blood loss.
She swallowed the last, brushed the crumbs off her fingers, and cast him a sideways glance. As if sensing her attention, he looked away from the road and flashed her a grin. He was wearing the clothes she’d picked up
on the way to the hotel last night—his own had been a little bloody—black jeans and a black shirt. With the leather coat over the top, he looked lean and mean and super cool. He also appeared more relaxed than she’d ever seen him. At peace with himself.
Great sex would do that. She felt all boneless and melty, and she hoped they would get to do it again. And again. But first she had a confession to make, and she just hoped it wouldn’t totally ruin the mood and make him hate her.
“What’s the plan?” she asked. They had a three-hour drive before they arrived at Ryan’s old hometown. That would get them there sometime before eleven.
“We go in there, pick Liam up, and head back to London. There should be plenty of time to get back before dawn.”
“And are you going to tell him?”
“Tell him what?”
“What happened? What you are.”
He snorted. “I don’t think so. I mean, what am I supposed to say? Hi, Liam, sorry I haven’t seen you since your mom died, but I’m a vampire and a werewolf now, and it’s been a little difficult. You want to come and live with me?” He ran a hand through his messy hair. “He’d probably run so fast in the opposite direction, we’d never catch him.”
She grinned. “You might be right. But you’ll have to tell him sometime.”
“When we get back to the Order and he can’t run.” He sighed. “I’d hoped to keep him out of this life. At least until he was grown up and could make his own decisions about whether he wanted anything to do with me.”
She thought of Liam’s letter and the tearstains. “He wants you. You’re his only family.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve no choice now. They’ve already used him against me once. I won’t risk that happening for real next time.”
She bit her lip. Now was the time to make that confession. But she didn’t want him to hate her. She wasn’t quite sure what she wanted, but she hoped her future would be at the Order, maybe working alongside Ryan. Getting to know him better. Part of her wished she was the sort of girl who could offer him more, and that he was the sort of man who would appreciate the offer. But she suspected they were both too set in their ways, and she never wanted to hurt him. They could still be friends. With lots of benefits.
But she couldn’t be his friend with the lie between them.
“You’ve gone quiet,” Ryan said.
She cleared her throat. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
“There is?”
“And I think you’re going to be mad at me. But I just wanted to help. Only I didn’t know about the price on your head. I would never have done it, if I’d known.”
“Done what?”
She took a deep breath. “I got someone to make that phone call to you. Last night. And pretend that they had Liam.” He didn’t say anything. Maybe he’d never say anything to her again. Still, she forced herself to go on. “It was obvious that you wanted to see Liam, and you were only staying away out of some misguided idea that he was better off without you in his life.”
“But you knew better.”
“Yes. No. Maybe. As I got to know you, I realized that the only way you would give in and go to him was if you believed he needed you. And he does.”
The car was slowing, and Ryan pulled over to the side of the road. As they came to a stop, he turned in his seat to peer at her. “Let me get this straight. You got someone to pretend they had kidnapped my nephew so I would go running to the rescue?”
“Yes. And it worked beautifully. I was so pleased with myself. Except then Graham told me that this Marissa wolf had put a price on your head, and I knew I’d sent you into danger. I couldn’t have lived with myself if anything had happened to you, not to mention Piers would have eviscerated me. I was supposed to keep you safe.”
“Yeah, not particularly effective bodyguarding.”
“Total crap,” she muttered. She studied him, trying to read his body language. Was he furious with her? Would he lose it?
“So you came running to the rescue?”
“Yes, except they ran you off the road before I got there, and I thought I was too late and…” She ran out of words.
He was silent for a moment.
Here it comes.
He was going to blast into her. Maybe rip her head off. Drain her dry. Hide her body.
Instead, he chuckled. She stared at him in disbelief. “You’re not angry?”
“I’m fucking furious.” He sighed and shook his head. “Why?”
“I just wanted to help. I could tell you felt bad about Liam. And Christmas is a time for families. And—”
“Enough,” he said. “You did it. You’re sorry. And you did come and rescue me after all.” He blew out his breath. “We need to move on.”
She reached out and rested her hand on his arm. “But it means the wolves didn’t go after your nephew. So maybe you can leave him where he is, after all. If that’s what you want, what you think is best.”
“No. We stick to the plan. When I thought I wasn’t going to make it, I promised myself that if I did survive, I would go and see Liam. Make sure he knows there’s a place for him with me.”
He switched on the engine and pulled onto the road.
Winter stared out of the windshield as the snow fell, cocooning them in their own little world. She was glad he was going anyway. For both him and Liam.
“I think you’re doing the right thing. It’s horrible to lose someone you love and not know why.”
“Who did you lose?” he asked.
She watched the snow for a minute before answering. “My mom. When I was four. She just left. She was a pixie and they’re not known for commitment. My dad said she just wanted her freedom. I guess she wanted it more than she wanted me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too.”
“You’re a pixie? I remember now—you’re fickle.”
“Half pixie. But I take after my mom apparently, though I don’t remember her that well. It’s why my dad worries about me. I’m impulsive, with commitment issues. At least you won’t have to be concerned about me getting all heavy and serious on you. You know, because we had sex and everything.”
“I’m not concerned.”
“I made a vow when I was six years old that I would never fall in love, because I couldn’t trust myself to stay.”
“You don’t have to worry, either. I’m not big on commitment.”
Maybe she wanted to worry a little bit. She wanted to ask why, but that was a conversation for another time. “We’ll keep it light then? And just, you know…be together, until we don’t want to be together.”
“Sounds like a plan. Actually, there is a favor you can do for me.”
“Anything.”
“If he comes with us, will you look after Liam for me tomorrow? During the day, while I sleep. It’s Christmas. I don’t want him to be alone.”
“I’d love to.” Relief washed though her. Ryan didn’t hate her. Liam was going to be with his uncle for Christmas. And after the holidays, she would get her job at the Order. Everything was going to work out. “Let’s go get him and take him home.”
Chapter Eleven
Almost Christmas
Ryan could tell the house was empty as they walked up the driveway. Through the open curtains, the silver lights of a Christmas tree flickered, but otherwise, the building was in darkness. He supposed they could all be in bed. But the place had an empty feel to it.
“They’re not here,” she murmured from beside him.
“No.” Had something happened? They’d arrived later than they’d expected. The snow had thickened, and he’d had to crawl along in almost zero visibility. Luckily, the snow plows had been out—eager to get their Christmas overtime—and the roads were clear. Otherwise, they would have been walking. Now the snow had stopped, and everything was a glittering wonderland. It was going to be a white Christmas. Above him, the sky had cleared, and the stars shone down. He glanced at his watch—it was just before midnight.<
br />
Where was Liam?
As he approached the front door, he saw an envelope stuck to the glass, with Ryan scrawled across the back. He tore it off and pulled out the note.
Ryan, you bastard, where the hell are you? I’ve been trying to call you since nine. No fucking answer. We’ve gone to midnight mass. You’d better be here when we get back. Steve.
“They’ve gone to church,” he told Winter.
“Do we wait?”
“No. Let’s walk over there. It’s only ten minutes away.” He couldn’t face hanging around, waiting. And after the long drive, it would be a relief to stretch his legs.
He felt good both physically and mentally, better than he could ever remember feeling. Vitally alive, which was ironic, really.
The snow was crunchy underfoot. Winter walked beside him and after a minute, she slipped her small hand into his.
He’d forgiven her. It had been easy; he’d been more shocked by her sheer audacity than angry. And even a little amused. Perhaps his reaction was less than altruistic, because he wanted to make love to her again. He could hardly do that if he was at odds with her. And already, he hungered for her blood.
Blood and sex. He was a simple guy.
But it was more than that. She was right. Subconsciously, he’d been riddled with guilt over ignoring Liam, because it hadn’t been the totally selfless act Winter had described. Yes, he hadn’t wanted to bring Liam into his fucked-up world, but it had been almost a relief to have a justifiable reason for staying away. Being a vampire gave him the perfect excuse for keeping to himself and not letting anyone close.
He was a coward. He always had been, as far as commitment was concerned.
“You know,” he said. “I lost my mother as well. When I was eight. She got fed up with waiting while my dad went in and out of prison, and just walked away from us all.”
“I’m sorry, Ryan.”
“I never heard from her again.”
Scary how their pasts were so similar. As were the results—both terrified to commit. He’d hated his dad, and had held his sister at arm’s length, because he hadn’t trusted her to stay. And as soon as he was able, he’d gotten as far from this town as he could, heading south and losing himself in the anonymity of London.
