Jachin’s mouth claimed hers at the same time she felt a tugging sensation on her shirt. He ripped her shirt open, exposing her naked body. Buttons pinged off the dresser against the far wall. Ariel gasped at the cool air that puckered her nipples, loving the look of pure predatory hunger in his gaze.
Placing his hands back on the bed, he stared at her. Everywhere his gaze landed, she burned for his touch. She ran her palms along his shoulders and down his muscular chest.
When her fingers grazed his hard nipples, a growl rumbled underneath her hands. He lowered his head and flicked his tongue against one of her taut nipples, returning the favor.
She arched her back and whimpered, hoping he’d take the aching tip into his warm mouth. He splayed his fingers across her hips and pressed her body back against the bed, then dipped his head and captured the sensitive nipple between his lips.
When Jachin rolled his tongue around the tip, then began to suck hard, exquisite pleasure radiated down her breast, spreading to her lower muscles in torturous spasms of renewed arousal.
Ariel pressed his head close and closed her eyes at the blissful sensations splintering through her. She didn’t care that they were both soaking wet. All she cared about was having him deep inside her as soon as possible.
Digging her heels into the bed, she began to rock her hips, pleading, “Please, Jachin. I want you so much.”
He gripped her hips tight, holding her still as his mouth slid down her body, trailing hot kisses across her belly.
When his fingers tightened around her thighs, Ariel opened her eyes and lifted her head to see he was down on his knees on the floor at the end of the bed.
As he tugged her toward him, the sinful dark expression on his face told her exactly what he intended.
“I want to feel you inside—” she started to say but cut herself off in a gasp of pure decadence when his hot mouth connected with her pulsing sex.
Not as much as I want inside you. He spoke to her mentally at the same time his tongue dove deep in her channel, penetrating with aggressive, purposeful thrusts.
Ariel’s fingers fisted in his hair. She keened her approval, pressing against his mouth, squirming in feverish excitement. When he ran his tongue along her folds, then moved the firm bit of sensitive skin waiting for his attention in tight circles, she lost her ability to think. “Don’t stop,” she demanded, her skin flushing at the sheer pleasure she derived from his action.
He groaned and flattened his tongue against her, taking a leisurely lick along her sex before she felt a teasing sensation, the flirt of his finger along the edge of her entrance.
Ariel’s pulse thundered in her ears and her breathing turned ragged. She tugged hard on his hair. “Jachin, I can’t take any more!”
He growled low in his throat right before he slid a finger deep into her core. Ariel’s breath hitched at the intense pleasure having a part of him inside her elicited, but he began to suck on her at the same time he added another finger, and her world tilted into a series of heart-pounding tremors.
She canted her hips, bucking against his mouth and hand, so ready for release she wanted to scream.
His mouth moved for a brief instant and he replaced it with the insistent pressure of his thumb. Slowing his thrusts, he turned his fingers to rub on a sweet spot deep within her.
His fangs ran along her upper thigh, and Ariel’s excited pants turned to ragged, hitching breaths as heightened sensations built inside her.
“I can’t hold back,” she started to say.
“Come, Ariel,” he said in a raspy voice full of desire right before he plunged his fangs into the soft-erogenous place where her leg joined her body.
Ariel’s scream of pain quickly turned to a wail of blessed euphoria. Her body began to clench around his fingers in amazing climactic spasms of fulfillment. She bucked and moaned, riding the blissful feelings gripping her body in dreamlike pulses of ecstasy.
She dug her nails into his shoulders and wrapped a leg around his back, unwilling to let the indescribable awareness blossoming in her body end.
While her contractions slowed to tiny vibrations, Ariel came back to earth and the sensation of Jachin’s fingers stilling inside her. His warm tongue laved at her wounds in a slow, almost reverent adoration of her body.
“Jachin.” She lowered her leg from his back and smoothed her hands across his shoulders, enjoying the sinew underneath her palms. The muscles under her hands tightened and flexed before he withdrew his fingers from her and stood.
Without a word, he turned and walked back into the bathroom.
Ariel sat up on her elbows and bit her lip. She glanced down at the bite wounds on her leg that were already almost closed. Her heart jerked at how much she’d enjoyed Jachin’s fangs sinking into her skin.
It was the heat of the moment, she rationalized as she got up from the bed and shivered. Pulling the wet shirt around her naked body, she followed Jachin into the bathroom, feeling confused…and oddly bereft, as if something special was slipping through her fingers.
He leaned on the counter, staring at himself through the misty fog on the mirror.
Ariel placed her hand on his arm. “Why did you walk away?” Uncertain why he’d left her, she struggled to get the words out. “Do—don’t you want—”
Before she could finish, Jachin had her pinned against the wall behind her. His intense, dark gaze locked with hers. Grabbing her hand, he cupped her palm over his impressive erection and bit out, “Hell, yes, I want! But you’re not mine to have.”
Ariel shook her head. “I don’t belong to anyone—” She cut herself off and pulled her hand away from his body. A sinking sensation weighed heavily in her stomach. “You’re still planning on taking me to your vampire leader, aren’t you?”
Jachin placed a hand on the wall above her head. “Remember when I said everyone has an agenda? Mine hasn’t changed. I’m not a good person, Ariel. Never forget that.”
Her chest burned with betrayal. She’d never felt so hurt in her life. “But…you saved Landon, the man responsible for capturing you. You’ve rescued me—”
“I saved Landon because I might need him. Period.” Jachin stepped away and the shower started up on its own again. Turning his back to her, he began to strip out of his wet jeans.
Ariel closed her eyes against the sight of his gorgeous naked backside. Not because she didn’t want to see it but because she couldn’t bear to. Her stomach churned as she walked out of the bathroom, hugging the torn shirt against her cold body.
Teeth chattering, she rifled through Landon’s drawers until she found an old pair of black sweatpants and a long-sleeved heather-gray T-shirt. Once she tugged off the wet shirt, she trembled all over while she jammed her legs into the pants.
Brushing away the tears stinging her eyes, she told herself the uncontrollable shivering was due to being cold. After she pulled on the dry T-shirt, she tied the sweatpants’ drawstring around her waist. Retrieving the torn, wet shirt, she walked down the stairs with heavy footsteps.
What an idiot I was to think anything had changed because I had saved him. I should’ve left his sorry ass behind while he was sleeping, she berated herself as she shoved the ruined shirt in the trash can in the kitchen.
“What is Landon?”
At Ariel’s question, Jachin paused on the top stair. His shower had been cold and bitterly disappointing. Ariel’s hurt expression when he’d told her never to forget what kind of person he was lingered in his mind, but he hadn’t lied to her. Everything he’d said was true. The one part he didn’t express to her was that he would live the rest of his life wishing he were Braeden and able to revel in her sweet body, to challenge her quick mind, as often as he wanted.
The thought of Braeden touching Ariel, let alone sinking his teeth in her delicate skin, made Jachin’s stomach churn and possessive anger burn in his chest.
Tension ebbed inside him as he stared down at Ariel sitting on the sofa on the floor below. He’d expected t
he silent treatment, not for her to ask questions about the Lupreda. But if she was going to live among the Sanguinas and become Braeden’s mate, it was probably a good idea for her to go in knowing their history.
“Landon is Lupreda,” he replied, continuing down the stairs.
Ariel eyed his navy-blue T-shirt and jeans. “Hopefully Landon won’t mind us borrowing his clothes.” She pulled her bare feet toward her butt and wrapped her arms around her bent knees, an expectant look on her face. “What is a Lupreda?”
Jachin sat down on the other end of the couch. He met her questioning gaze. “Lupreda are werewolves.”
He heard her heart rate ramp up as her eyes widened. “Werewolves? Where did they come from—” she started to ask, then cut herself off. “Don’t tell me our government had something to do with them, as well.”
Jachin shook his head. “No, they weren’t created by the government.”
“But they were created, weren’t they? Who created them?”
Her probing stare made his chest constrict. He wasn’t sure why it mattered to him that she didn’t think the Sanguinas as a whole weren’t monsters, but it did.
He turned and bent his knee on the cushion between them, facing her. “We created the Lupreda.”
Her blond eyebrows rose in surprise. “Why?”
“To hunt.”
She let go of her knees and pulled her legs underneath her. Placing her hands on her thighs, she leaned closer, a challenge in her gaze. “What? Humans weren’t enough prey for the Sanguinas?”
His eyes narrowed at the sarcasm in her tone. “Humans were food. Weres were worthy adversaries.”
“Until the Sanguinas started getting sick.” She plunged on, dogged in her questions. “Did you take the Lupredas’ blood, too?”
“No, they were created, synthesized. Their blood wasn’t pure. It couldn’t sustain us like humans’ blood could.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, it’s always nice to be reminded that we’re part of a healthy diet plan for you.”
“Not anymore.”
“I’m thrilled to know there’s some natural justice in this world,” she said with a smirk.
“The humans’ blood turning poisonous wasn’t a natural occurrence, Ariel,” he replied in a cold tone.
“You think we poisoned ourselves on purpose?” she asked, incredulous.
“No, I think the Lupreda did it.”
Ariel let out a low whistle. “Well, they’d certainly had a reason to. No wonder Landon appeared to distrust you….” She paused. “So why did he help you—us?”
“Because of the prophecy.”
She frowned. “But the prophecy has to do with vampires making a comeback. Why would Landon want any part of that?”
Jachin met her confused gaze with a steady one. “Because I believe the prophecy will lead to eventual peace. Landon is of a similar mind. He wants peace between our two races.”
“And what about humans, Jachin? Where are we in this peaceful utopia you seek?”
Jachin’s defensive hackles rose at the bitter tone in her line of questioning. “You now know better than anyone how pleasurable a vampire’s bite can be.”
Her blue gaze flashed in anger. She opened her mouth to deny the truth of his comment but instead looked away. “That was an unusual circumstance. I doubt the general public will be clamoring to offer up a donation.”
Her words were like a knife twisting in his chest. He’d bitten her while he pleasured her because he’d wanted her to crave the sensation of his fangs digging deep…and, damn it to hell, he’d wanted to brand her as his.
He moved across the couch and turned her chin until her expressive eyes met his. “Would you prefer that I erase what happened between us from your memory?”
Jachin’s heart stuttered to a slow, sluggish beat while he awaited her answer.
Ariel’s eyes widened in surprise. “You can do that?”
He couldn’t stop his fingers from trailing down her neck. Her skin was so soft. “I’ve studied the art of mental manipulation, but it has to be done soon after the person experiences the event I need to erase, while his or her mind is still in a susceptible state.”
His gaze slid down the smooth column of her throat. He ached to plunge his fangs into her sweet skin once more, to hear her moan and call his name. He didn’t want to erase her memory, for his would always remain, teasing him in constant erotic torture.
Ariel closed her eyes and took an unsteady breath. He applied gentle pressure against her neck and heard her heartbeat ramp up. The realization that his touch affected her at such an intimate level made his pulse soar.
“What is your wish? Do you want to forget?” he forced himself to ask.
Her breathing turned shallow and her eyes snapped open. A look of resolve crossed her face. She straightened her spine and pushed his hand away from her throat.
“Yes.”
Chapter 9
J achin’s heart jerked. He never thought one word could cause him physical pain, but he was wrong. Just as he’d been wrong for allowing his emotions to come into play with Ariel.
She was a means to an end, a human pawn in the Sanguinas’ survival. Nothing more.
“As you wish,” he said right before he captured her mouth with his.
When she started to pull away, he cupped the back of her head and spoke in her mind. Relax. I seek nothing more than a distraction so your mind opens to me.
Ariel’s mouth slowly softened under his until her lips parted.
At the same time Jachin’s tongue touched hers in a lingering sensual dance, he entered her mind and began to manipulate it. Starting from the moment she sang to him on the couch until right before she watched him get in the shower alone, he pushed every memory of their intimate time together to her subconscious.
As he worked through the delicate intricacies of her mind, Jachin’s body tightened in arousal all over again. He felt what she felt—how much she’d enjoyed his hands on her skin, his fingers sliding inside her, his mouth claiming her. He experienced her aching need to be filled, her desire for him to take her fully. His gut clenched, causing him to pause the process.
The deep emotional connection with Ariel surprised him. He’d never experienced the emotions of another during memory erasure before. For a split second his selfish desires demanded he stop the process entirely. Why did she want to forget how good he made her feel? Was it because he was a vampire?
He kissed her harder, slanting his mouth across hers as anger whipped through him, slamming into his chest. Ariel responded to his kiss, moaning against his mouth, spiking his fury.
Denting his pride.
Jachin refocused on the task, but for some reason he couldn’t bring himself to wipe the memory of their intimacy from her mind altogether. She might not consciously remember the events, but at least a part of her would feel connected to him, even if she didn’t know why.
When she shoved at his chest and made angry muffled sounds, Jachin knew he’d been successful.
With deep regret, he pulled away. “Thank you for healing my wounds.”
She stood and quickly glanced down at her shirt and sweatpants in confusion before narrowing her gaze on him. “Considering you still plan on taking me to your vampire leader, I should’ve let you suffer.” Without another word, she turned away.
Even as she walked up the stairs, her footfalls heavy with anger and her spine rigid with resentment, his body instantly reacted to her outward display of inner strength. Her pride made her so much stronger than he’d ever given a human credit for in the past.
His appreciative gaze slid down her back to the curve of her hips outlined by the cinched sweatpants. For the first time in his life Jachin wished he was human and free to indulge in the hunger and desire that raged inside him.
Upstairs in the master bedroom, Ariel paced back and forth on the carpet. Fury festered within her, a bulging wound ready to explode. It bothered her that she didn’t know why she’d been wet and
cold upstairs earlier. She just knew she’d had to change. Her chest physically ached, she was so tense. She vaguely remembered arguing with Jachin, but she felt as if she’d lost a period of time.
One part of her memory stood out in vivid clarity. After all her efforts to save him, Jachin’s unwavering determination to take her to the Sanguinas leader hurt deeply. But as much as that bothered her, what shook her up more was the passionate depth of his kiss. It spoke of emotions she knew the man wasn’t capable of.
And what of your own response? It took all your willpower not to respond when you desperately wanted to. Why are you so attracted to this man? Why do you forget he’s a self-serving, coldhearted beast with his own twisted agenda whenever his lips touch yours? she berated herself as she nibbled on her fingernail.
Ariel stopped pacing and rubbed her temples, seeking an answer to the mess her life had become. The Garotters hadn’t planned to let her go. And she was pretty sure they still had connections to the police, if indirectly. Even if she got away, she couldn’t trust law enforcement. Landon was the only person she felt she could go to for help, but, other than remaining at his house until he showed up, she had no idea how to contact him.
Loud bamming at the front door drew her attention. She moved to the banister to peer downstairs in time to see the door splinter off its hinges and slam against the wall as two men rushed inside.
Her heart stuttered and her gaze jerked to Jachin, who was already standing in an attack position.
Get the hell out of here! Jachin spoke in her mind when the two men flew across the room in superhuman speed toward him. At that heart-stopping moment she realized two facts: the men below weren’t vampires, since they’d attacked during the day; and if Jachin told her to leave, that meant he wasn’t sure he’d win this fight.
She might be furious with the vampire, but she respected his judgment. She turned and ran to the window, pulling back the drapes. Squinting at the sunlight that shined in her eyes, she flipped the lever on the window and lifted the glass up.
Scions: Resurrection Page 13
