Blood Mercy

by Olivia Starke

  The street lights were a dim orange through the dark tint of the windows. It was nearly four a.m., and Valerie still needed to dispose of the Dissenters’ bodies. She cringed. It was the part she hated most. If she couldn’t simply burn the bodies, they’d have to be dealt with by other means. Her mind filled with the gory images of what was to come.

  “Would you like some help with the disposal?”

  Valerie jumped as Remann’s deep voice cut through her thoughts. A shiver ran down her spine, and she wondered for a moment if he had read her thoughts.

  “It’s pretty messy. I don’t think you would enjoy it much.”

  “Perhaps it is the company I desire.” Remann chuckled. Goose bumps broke out over Valerie’s skin.

  Damn the man; how could she have such a reaction to a total playboy? She was sure he knew his powers, and that was what made it so goddamn maddening. She clenched her teeth.

  Fuck him.

  Valerie opened the door before the SUV had come to a complete stop. She hopped down and walked briskly for the door to the warehouse. She needed space, a lot of space. Within a moment Remann was at her side, and her irritation flared.

  “I got it—go home,” she said as she pushed the door open. The old musty smell of the warehouse hit her before the scent of blood filled her nostrils. It was a sickly, soured odor. Vampire blood tasted as it smelled—it kept them from feeding off their own kind.

  Remann’s gait didn’t falter. He reached her driver’s door first and placed his hand on the handle. Valerie came to an abrupt halt, nearly slamming into his large body. Mere inches from Remann, she could feel heat radiating from him. His scent enveloped her, warmed her and caused a blush to spread over her skin, right down between her thighs. She lifted her chin and stared into his face, not quite able to meet his mismatched eyes.

  “I imagine it is a grizzly task and to be done as quickly as possible. Would it not be better if you had some assistance?”

  “It is a grizzly task—that’s why I’m saying go home. I can’t imagine you’re the type who could stomach it.”

  Remann’s laughter echoed through the empty space.

  “My beautiful Valerie, I am a vampire as you are. I am quite used to the sight of blood and gore.”

  Valerie sighed, and her shoulders slumped.

  “Fine, follow me to my place. I have some acreage about thirty minutes north of here.”

  Remann beamed his charming smile, a smile that had gotten him everything he’d ever wanted, Valerie was sure.

  Would he get her?

  Even as a thrill raced through her body, settling between her legs, she growled.

  She’d just see about that.

  * * * * *

  Remann was pursuing her hard, yet he couldn’t stop himself. She had the body of a goddess, and he could all but taste her. He’d kept his desire in check, but as he followed her truck out of Houston, he let his thoughts run free. He wanted to watch her disrobe slowly. He’d take his time, testing her responses to his tongue as his hands learned each and every curve of her delicious body.

  Remann stroked himself through his slacks.

  Valerie was a challenge. She had a history that made her rigid. He wondered over the two wedding bands she wore around her neck. Had she been married before her change? What had happened? How had she become a vampire? Everyone had their stories, mostly sad and traumatic, when it came to the change. He and his twin brother had been turned during the Middle Ages. When the plague had swept through their village, he and Aiden and succumbed after they had tried to help those who were sick. A vampiress passing through and feeding on the easy prey plague victims offered had discovered the two on their death beds. She’d found them a novelty and had changed them, taking the two under her wing.

  Remann wanted to know Valerie’s history. He wanted to take away that distant expression she held in her eyes. He wanted to see her smile, and even laugh.

  He shook his head.

  He wanted to bed the woman—that was it.

  They drove down a long, dusty road as just the hints of coming dawn lay on the eastern horizon. Remann tapped his brakes as a jackrabbit bounded across the road ahead, barely discernable in the cloud of dust the brown truck was throwing up. An older two-story white house lay ahead, and the truck slowed. Remann parked out front as Valerie steered the truck to a big old tin-sided barn out back. He hopped out of his SUV and trotted to the barn.

  Valerie slid the door closed behind them and flipped on a light. She lifted the camper shell door.

  “So what are the plans?” Remann asked.

  “Last chance to beat it,” Valerie said as she let down the tail gate of the truck.

  “I’m all yours for the duration,” Remann said. “For as long as you need me and in any way you desire, my beautiful Valerie.” He smiled at Valerie’s sharp intake of breath and the lovely way she blushed. She rolled her eyes and placed her hands on her hips.

  “Well, you see that large piece of equipment over there?” she asked, pointing to the side of the room. It had a curious spout that pointed out through a window. It took him several moments before he recognized its function.

  “Is that a wood chipper?” he asked.

  “Yup, this is where the fun begins,” she said. “Of course we have to get these guys into manageable pieces first.”

  She was testing him. He’d never gotten himself involved in his brother’s life as a Hunter, and for the first time he wondered if he, too, had the same systems. Remann squared his shoulders as Valerie walked over to several different-sized hand saws hanging on the wall.

  This was not his ideal way to spend the sunrise with a beautiful and desirable woman.

  * * * * *

  Remann was a trooper, she’d give him that. He never cringed and followed her instructions without complaint. Valerie listened to the stories of him and his twin brother Aiden and their childhood in medieval Europe, which explained his slight accent. He was of noble blood, which was a bit intimidating. She’d grown up in a small town in Oklahoma. He spoke fondly of his twin, and Valerie imagined what two Remanns would be like. Two men with his body, his looks, and his virility—a hot shudder coursed through her body. Remann didn’t miss it, and his mismatched eyes settled on her. They burned, like rays of the sun, and she couldn’t keep eye contact with him.

  Weakness—she hated weakness.

  With help, the job went more quickly than usual. Valerie realized she was in desperate need of a shower as she let her gaze travel down her clothes. They’d have to be burned, and Remann was in even worse shape. He had been dressed to attend a business meeting and not to dismember Dissenters. She placed her hands on her hips.

  “Well, I can offer you a shower, but I don’t have clothes that would fit you.”

  “I appreciate the offer. If you have a washing machine and dryer, I can at least make myself presentable enough.”

  Valerie nodded, and she made for the house with Remann on her heels.

  “Perhaps we should go green and conserve water by showering together,” Remann said.

  “How about you go jump in the shower and hand me out your clothes. I’ll throw them in the washer.”

  He studied her face, and Valerie found herself holding her breath against his powerful scent. She shifted from foot to foot and crossed her arms over her breasts. Remann shrugged, smiling as always.

  “You’d be so breathtaking with a smile,” he said after a moment. Caught off guard, Valerie stepped away from him. His voice was gentle and his eyes soft as they caressed her face.

  “The shower is down the hall to the right,” she said, pointing. Remann’s gaze lingered for several seconds before he turned and walked away.

  He’d piled his clothes outside the bathroom door, and Valerie stuffed them into the washer with a fair amount of stain treatment and detergent. It was a lost cause, she was sure. She sat at the kitchen table listening to the shower run, trying to not imagine the hot man naked beneath its spray. She found herself j
ealous of the water. Agitated, she rose and walked to the radio, flipping it on. A trendy country tune filled the kitchen, and she sat back down and closed her eyes. How she missed sleep, just to have a few hours of oblivion to be away from her thoughts. No one knew the value of sleep until he or she would never sleep again. Valerie rubbed her forehead.

  “Excuse me.”

  Valerie jumped at Remann’s voice. She opened her eyes, and her heart stopped as her throat constricted. In the kitchen doorway stood the most glorious sight she’d ever seen. Six feet four inches of raw, naked testosterone stood dripping wet and butt naked before her. Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes feasted on him of their own accord. He was all rock hard muscle, from his marvelously developed pecs, to his rippling six-pack, down to his…

  Her eyes widened as he grew hard before her very eyes. He was large, and she wondered how she’d ever take that all in. She couldn’t move or even blink.

  “There were no towels available,” Remann said, his voice sounding a million miles away. Her heart was ringing in her ears, and a jolt of desire shot through her. Her pussy tightened.

  Chapter Four

  Valerie stared, slack jawed. She should look away and find the man a towel, but she simply couldn’t move. His thighs were as muscular as the rest of him, lightly sprinkled with black hair, as was his chest. A vivid image began forming in her mind of Remann covering her body, sliding his thick cock inch by slow, wonderful inch inside of her. His deep, gravelly voice whispering to her all the delightful things he wanted to do with her.

  She should get him out of her system, Valerie decided, right then and there. Get a good tumble out of him and send him on his way. It made sense, perfect sense, actually. It’d been over a year since she’d had sex that wasn’t just a one-woman show.

  It was the most logical thing to do. He was smiling his usual smile, but his mismatched eyes had darkened. They were burning again, burning her skin as his eyes roamed down her body. She stood.

  “I-I...” She swallowed. “The towels, I forgot that they’re still in the dryer.”

  The washer kicked into the spin cycle, closely mirroring her thoughts. She took a small step toward him.

  * * * * *

  Remann’s heartbeat tripped up. He held his ground as Valerie took another tentative step in his direction, her eyes focused on his face. She licked her lips, and Remann trembled beneath his restraint. She would have to come to him; it would be the only way she would accept him.

  He wanted her beyond reason.

  No—he needed her beyond reason.

  She was a fire within his veins, consuming him from the inside out. He needed her as he needed air to survive. He needed her as he needed blood. He wanted to know the areas where Valerie’s heart lay. He wanted to know about her childhood, her first kiss, everything she was willing to offer him.

  Remann was falling into her large brown eyes that were a mixture of both fear and desire. They darted over his face, having yet to meet his own eyes directly.

  Valerie came to a stop mere inches from him. He could feel the heat from her body, and her soft, feminine scent filled his head as he inhaled it greedily. Nothing had ever smelled so sweet. She peered up at him through thick light brown lashes. Remann reached out, noting the slight tremble in his hand, and brushed a stray strand of silken hair from her cheek. He tucked it behind her ear.

  “I’m going to take my shower now,” she said. She took a shaky breath.

  Remann took her hand, warm and small in his gentle grasp, and turned toward the bathroom. She offered no resistance.

  He turned the shower on, adjusting the water to cool, as vampires had low tolerance for heat. Though she was caked with blood and grime, Valerie was the sexiest sight he could have imagined. Her eyes were uncertain, as were her movements as she began to slowly disrobe. Pulling her tank top over her head, Remann was pleased by the black satin bra exposed beneath. Her breasts filled the cups, and her nipples were pebbled, thrusting against the silky fabric. She kicked off her shoes and unbuttoned her jeans, sliding the zipper slowly down. The sound of the metal teeth giving way filled his ears. Valerie took a deep, shuddery breath before she pushed the denim over her hips and down to the floor.

  Remann sucked in a hard breath as his eyes feasted on her exposed flesh dressed in only her bra and matching panties. His cock throbbed as Valerie reached back and unhooked her bra. It fell away from her firm round breasts. She pushed her panties down, and Remann came undone. He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, his mouth finding hers. Her firm lips softened beneath his as her bare flesh molded to his own naked body. They moved as one to the shower.

  The cool water washed over their heated bodies, doing little to temper the raw lust that spread like fire between the two of them. Valerie’s kiss tasted of honey, and Remann wanted to devour her. His cock was lodged between his body and her stomach as Valerie’s hands explored the planes of his back. He wanted to turn her around, bend her over and slide his throbbing erection deep within her. Remann needed release.

  * * * * *

  Valerie glanced at his oddly colored eyes that were darkened with lust, before her gaze settled on his wonderful mouth. Remann reached behind her to grab the bar of soap from the shower caddy. He lathered the soap in his hands and turned her around. Then he pushed her braid out of the way and rubbed his hands over her shoulders, massaging her tight muscles. Valerie moaned, leaning into the pressure. His long, thick cock brushed her backside, and she felt her knees go weak. She braced a hand against the shower wall.

  Remann moved to her back, his thumbs where made never-ending circles, kneading and rubbing, until he reached her ass. He cupped her cheeks, using the strength of his fingers to knead the tight flesh.

  “Remann, I can’t take this, please.” Valerie’s knees were nearly knocking together as she sucked in gulps of air. Remann chuckled, grabbing the bar of soap again.

  “My beautiful Valerie, I must know every inch of you before we make love.” His voice was a gravelly whisper against her ear. Valerie clutched at the shower curtain.

  With lathered hands he kneaded and massaged each thigh, just brushing her aching pussy with his long, languid, deep strokes. She willed her legs to hold her as he worked his way down to her ankles. He stood and turned her around. After he lathered his hands, Remann washed each arm down to her fingertips. He moved to her breasts, and Valerie’s head fell back as tiny whimpers escaped her throat. He cupped each one in his broad hands, squeezing in a gentle but firm rhythm. The pads of his thumbs flicked across her nipples, and Valerie bit her lower lip. Her nails raked over his biceps.

  “This isn’t nice, you teasing me this way,” Valerie said, her ears ringing with her rushing blood and the sound of the running water. Remann chuckled and let his hands travel to her stomach. They dipped lower and brushed the front of her thighs. He pushed her against the back shower wall and knelt before her, his soapy hands working to down to her ankles.

  Then the fun really began.

  Remann’s lips touched the thin strip of hair leading to her slit, and Valerie gasped, her hands slapping against the tiles behind her. He pushed her leg over, and she propped her foot on the side of the bathtub. His tongue darted out, parted her lips, and brushed lightly over her swollen clit. The sight of his dark wet hair, and the water rivulets falling down the muscles of his back as his tongue pushed deeper with each thrust, nearly sent her over the edge. She sucked in ragged breaths, and wound her fingers within his thick, silky locks. Remann’s finger toyed with her opening before it slipped in just enough to press against her G-spot towards the front. She clenched her muscles, needing more penetration. She needed his incredible girth filling her.

  “Remann, please, I want your cock inside of me,” she said with growing impatience. “Now, Remann.”

  He pulled back, a chuckle escaping his throat. He peered up at her, smiling, his canines extended as a vampire’s do when they’re stimulated. He was in control of her, and he was relishin
g that power, Valerie realized. Something within her rebelled against that loss of control. She’d have Remann her way or no way at all.

  She thrust back the shower curtain and stepped from the shower.

  “Turn off the water,” she said to him. Remann’s brows knit together, his smile fading, but he did as she asked. Her pussy was tight and painful as she left the bathroom, and Remann followed along behind. His labored breaths filled the hallway with their harsh sound.

  She walked into the kitchen. Another trendy country tune played on the radio. Valerie pulled out a chair from the kitchen table and positioned it in the middle of the small kitchen.

  “Sit,” she said, adding a commanding authority to her voice. Remann cocked his head, but seemed to pick up on the game. His smile lit up his face once more, and his mismatched eyes crinkled at the corners.

  * * * * *

  “As you command, my beauty,” Remann said; his eyes feasted on the way the water left slick trails over her skin. He noted Valerie’s hair was still in a tight wet braid, and he longed to release it and see its soft waves framing her delicate shoulders. The wooden chair was cold and hard, but he ignored the discomfort as Valerie walked into the laundry room. Cool air caressed his skin, and his cock throbbed. He stroked it firmly sending a hot wave of pleasure through his system. Precum oozed from the tip. Valerie reappeared and cocked an eyebrow.

  “Perhaps you don’t need me.” She watched the movement of his hand closely, and Remann knew she was enjoying his show. She licked her lips before she brought her hand from behind her back. A pair of handcuffs dangled from one finger. Remann groaned in pleasure.

  “Titanium, nearly impossible for our kind to break,” Valerie said. Her eyes brightened, but her lips remained in their firm line. “I use these from time to time in interrogations.”

  She walked to him, her hips swaying provocatively. Her pussy was swollen where he had teased her, and he longed to devour her until he felt her orgasm on his tongue. She walked around the chair and snapped the cuffs firmly around his wrists. Remann trembled in anticipation. She came back around and, without wasting a moment, dropped to her knees, pressed his thighs wide apart, and closed her mouth around his tip. A groan escaped his throat, and his head fell back. Her hands wrapped around his shaft, stroking it with a firm grip. Remann’s fists clenched and strained against the cuffs, which held firm. Her tongue roughly massaged him as one of her hands began toying with his nuts. He felt them tighten as his orgasm approached, the waves of pleasure hitting him faster and harder.