Once his bond with Anat had been forged, he relied on her for information and surveillance. The maid kept him abreast of Anwar’s every move and had been instrumental in orchestrating his assassination. She was the one individual with the means and access to kill him. They’d agreed that inducing a heart attack would be the best course of action. Small doses of antifreeze infused in his food over a series of several months had worked like a charm. His plan would have come off without a hitch had it not been for Anwar’s family and his meddlesome business partner.
Soon after Anwar died, his daughter arrived in Cairo. At the behest of her cousin Husani, the family ordered an autopsy on the deceased man’s body. After a slew of tests had been administered, the toxicology report noted high levels of methanol and ethylene glycol in Anwar’s bloodstream. Both of these chemicals were active ingredients in antifreeze and could cause heart failure if ingested in large quantities. Because of his family’s inquisitiveness, it was only a matter of time before the killer’s identity would have been revealed. He had no choice but to cover his tracks.
Maliyah’s murder was the next logical step. According to his sources, twenty years had passed since the young girl visited the Egyptian capitol. He hadn’t expected her to show up in Cairo at all, let alone begin to raise questions about the manner in which Anwar died. But after two unsuccessful attempts on her life, one via a befuddled shooting and the second a failed bid to poisoning, he’d grown frustrated and angry. Not only because of Maliyah either.
Anwar’s business partner, Ramses Shakir, had turned out to be quite the shrewd adversary. He’d followed his trail from Cairo to Elephantine, the remote island off the coast of Aswan. Then, the bastard had the audacity to break into his house. While his bodyguards had been able to get off a shot, he knew the wound Ramses had suffered wouldn’t be life threatening. Before long, he’d be on his tail once again.
“Hurry up and finishing packing,” the man barked an order at Anat. “Our plane departs in two hours.”
“Where are we headed?” The maid kept her head lowered submissively.
“Back to Cairo. It’s time to put an end to his nonsense and claim what is rightfully mine.”
***
Maliyah’s stomach was twisted in knots. She had never felt more terrified in her life. Back in their hotel room, Ramses lie motionless on the mattress. His clothing was soaked in blood and he’d been unconscious for close to an hour.
“I need scissors to cut off his shirt,” Eva barked out the order. On autopilot, Maliyah hurried toward the bathroom, riffling through her makeup bag until she found the small pair she kept there. She handed the scissors to Eva, and then walked backwards until the heels of her feet collided with the wall farthest from the bed. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.
Please let him be okay.
By the time she opened up her eyes again, the two makeshift surgeons were ready to operate. “He’s comatose. He shouldn’t feel a thing,” Andreas said as he picked up a three-inch blade and ran his fingers across its serrated edge.
“Just in case, let’s pour some whiskey over his wounds before we pry the bullets out.”
Thank God for Eva’s suggestion. Even though the alcohol should have adequately numbed the area, Maliyah saw Ramses’ body tense every time Andreas touched the affected area. With each jab of the knife against skin, the vampire visibly flinched. Blood oozed out of his wounds, soiling the sheets.
“His blood supply will need to be replenished,” Eva said. “The few pints we brought with us on the trip won’t be enough to nurse him back to health. He’ll need to feed.”
The newlyweds both turned at the same time, staring up to meet Maliyah’s bewildered expression. Did they expect her to let Ramses drink her blood? Suddenly, her mouth went dry. It was as if a handful of cotton had been shoved down her throat, making it nearly impossible to speak. All she could do was shake her head in protest.
Andreas rubbed the bridge of his nose as if perplexed. “Sorry. You’re a couple. I just assumed Ramses had fed from you.”
“No.” It was the only response Maliyah could muster.
“That makes things a bit more challenging. I guess I’ll have to charm some old lady into making a plasma donation and keep our boy alive. It’s the least I can do for my father’s longtime friend.”
In all the chaos, Maliyah hadn’t noticed that Eva left the room. She couldn’t have been gone for long. When she returned, she held two see-through pouches filled with a deep red liquid. Using the scissors Maliyah had given her earlier, she snipped off the tip. Then, she pried open Ramses’ lips and inserted the plastic bag into his mouth. Almost instantly, she saw his mouth begin to move, suctioning the thick contents like a milkshake through a straw.
Once the second bag of blood had been emptied, Maliyah could see a noticeable difference in her lover’s appearance. The sun-kissed olive complexion she was so fond of had returned to its former glory. His cheekbones filled out too, no longer sallow or sunken in.
The sun had begun to rise by the time Ramses had finished feeding. Eva helped her wash his torso, wiping away all traces of the aforementioned violence. Shaking off the sudden pang of jealousy brought on by watching another woman’s hands on her man, she quickly discarded his dirty clothes into a nearby bin. Then Andreas lifted him up and transferred his body from one mattress to the other. Meanwhile, Maliyah tossed the blood-soaked linens into the hamper and covered him from neck to toe in clean, cotton bed sheets.
“He needs rest. You can expect him to sleep for several hours. By nightfall, he’ll need to feed again. We’ll send somebody up, then he should be good as new.” Eva said, placing her hand over Maliyah’s trembling fingers. She squeezed them in a gesture of reassurance. A half-smile framed Maliyah’s face as she tried her best to keep the scared, insecure little girl inside under wraps. “You sure you’ll be okay?”
Eva never missed a beat. She proved very perceptive, surely an invaluable skill for a vampire huntress. She was smart as a whip and quick on her feet too, both important qualities needed to hold her own against the likes of the undead. Maliyah only wished that she could muster an ounce of the confident independence the other woman possessed.
“We’ll manage. Though if things take a turn for the worse, I won’t hesitate to come find you,” Maliyah assured them. With that, Andreas bowed his head and led his pregnant wife out of the hotel room. They must have sensed that Maliyah needed to be alone. To think. To process the events of the last few days.
As soon as they’d gone, Maliyah’s gaze drifted toward the rapidly healing immortal sprawled out on the bed. She exhaled deeply, hoping to shed the bundle of nervous energy that had built up inside her. If someone told her a few weeks ago that her life would be tilted so completely off its axis, Maliyah would have called them crazy. She’d fallen head over heels for a vampire, and then watched him teeter desperately on death’s doorstep, gunned down in cold blood by the people responsible for her father’s murder. It all seemed so unreal.
Maliyah had so many questions that needed to be answered. Who poisoned her father? And why? Would Ramses be able to help her track down the killer? More importantly, what would happen between them once the mystery of her father’s death had been solved?
As the never-ending stream of uncertainties swam through her mind, Maliyah felt her eyelids grow heavy. It had been an exhausting day and sleep beckoned. Since the one mattress had been stripped of its linens, she had no other choice but to squeeze into the bed next to Ramses, crawling under the covers to keep warm. Before long, she relaxed into the indentation between his chest and his one good arm. Her head rested against his bicep while her fingers traced the line of short, wiry hairs that began at his belly and dipped below his waist.
As fatigue settled in, Maliyah’s last thoughts were of Ramses. Her lover. Her protector. Hell, he’d risked his own life to help her find closure. Nobody else had ever put himself on the line for her quite like that. No matter how hard she tried to keep her dis
tance, the man had still managed to worm his way into her heart.
Chapter Fifteen
The Submission
Maliyah pried open her eyes, struggling to adjust her vision in order to see in the dim lit room. It was late afternoon. The curtains had been drawn all the way shut, a task Eva or Andreas must have completed before they retired to their suite. In hindsight, Maliyah was grateful. Ramses had suffered enough and she didn’t want him to have to endure any further discomfort as a result of the sun.
Stretching out her arms and legs, Maliyah tried to relieve some of the tension in her achy limbs. They had been up well-past dawn working to repair the damage the three bullet wounds had wrought on Ramses’ body. Because of the dim-lit surroundings, Maliyah couldn’t see whether or not his injuries had fully healed; she had to take the other couple’s word for granted when they told her he’d be good almost as new in the morning.
Next to her, Ramses lie shirtless. She could feel the solid wall of muscle that pressed against the material of her silk chemise. Last night, Maliyah had been so exhausted, she’d forgotten to change into her pajamas before falling asleep. She was lucky she’d been able to remove her leather pants.
Ramses’ breathing was warm. It came out even and well regulated against her bare shoulder. Through his thin cotton boxers, she sensed him stir. He was aroused, a fact which peaked her own desire. Regardless of the fears and insecurities she’d felt earlier, Maliyah wanted him.
Her lover was a vampire. Big deal! Maliyah needed to let go of the preconceived notions she held about his kind. So what if he had fangs and claws! Those physical characteristics didn’t define him. Actions spoke louder than words and the time had come to accept the feelings she felt for him. After all, the tidal wave of emotions she experienced every time he drew near wouldn’t simply disappear.
Truth be told, nothing he could do or say could scare her anymore. He’d proven himself by risking his life over and over again to keep her safe. Ramses was the same man who, as a child, had lavished her with gifts and attention. As an adult, he’d awakened her femininity and made her feel things she’d never dreamed possible.
Maliyah flipped over on the mattress, coming face to face with her lover. She was able to make out the outline of his torso and the slight red tinge of his eyes. He was awake, but other than that, she had no idea what to expect. Regardless, her fingers started to move, tangling in the loose strands of hair that blanketed his pillow. The back of her hand brushed against his cheek, and the five o’clock shadow that had grown there bristled her sensitive skin. The sensation sent shivers down Maliyah’s spine.
“Ramses,” she whispered into the darkness. “I was afraid I’d lost you. I never want to feel that way again.”
Ramses reached out to touch her. Suddenly, his eyes became ever brighter, the deep red hue emanating intense desire and emotional vulnerability. “Are you sure about this, habibti?”
“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life. Make love to me. Please.”
Ramses rose up off the mattress, propping his head on one elbow. Then, he inched slowly toward her face. Before his mouth reached her lips, he stopped short as if to second-guess his intentions. After a brief hesitation, their lips finally met. The kiss was soft and languorous. So utterly sweet. Maliyah waited for lust to consume them like it had before, but instead, Ramses showed a great deal of patience and restraint. Was he worried about hurting her? Or worse yet, that she’d reject him again?
“Ramses, don’t hold back. I want you. All of you,” she told him, wrapping her arms around his waist so that their half-naked bodies were inextricably entwined. Still, Maliyah needed more. She rubbed her palms gently up and down his chest, reveling in the feel of his smooth skin. It seemed his wounds had fully healed.
Maliyah made quick work by removing her chemise, then cuddled up against her lover. Skin to skin, she experienced the renewed heat from his kiss, the force of which caused her flesh to tingle, her womb to convulse. She whimpered into his mouth, arching her back off the mattress to move even closer.
Ramses’ shaft rubbed against the entrance to her pussy, teasing Maliyah through the thong she wore. Soon she became slick with desire. In one fell swoop, Ramses had removed both of their undergarments and pinned Maliyah to the mattress below him. Without preamble, the tip of his cock surged ahead, parting her slick folds. His entire length instantly sheathed itself to the hilt. No unnecessary foreplay. It was exactly what both of them needed. Ramses pumped inside her at a rapid, exhilarating pace. At first glance, he appeared to have total control. However, upon careful scrutiny, Maliyah noticed that his eyes were completely shut. Wrinkles began to form at the corners of his mouth etching a half-smile, half-scowl across his face.
Perspiration mingled with the fragrant scent of their combined arousal while his cock pistoned inside her again and again. Sweat coated their bodies with a thin sheen of moisture. Instantly, the inner walls of her pussy clenched, clamping down on his shaft with an impenetrable grip.
“Ya Allah! I’m so close, habibti,” Ramses roared, his eyes opened abruptly and once again, they had clouded over, transformed into a swirling, red haze. His hands pinned both of her wrists to the mattress as she felt his claws extend. They dug into her forearms, the agony in absolute contrast to the bliss his cock had wrought. Yet for some inexplicable reason, the dual sensations served as the ultimate form of stimulation.
By the time Ramses sank his fangs into her neck, she was deliriously intoxicated from the mixture of pain and pleasure that had taken over her body. As Ramses drank his fill, every muscle in his body flexed, and his cock pulsed wildly against her engorged clitoris. He growled as seed spewed into her core. Moments later, his tongue swept across the twin pinpricks he’d left on her throat, clotting the blood that flowed from within. Then, he rolled over onto the pillow next to her, sporting a satisfied grin.
“I hope I wasn’t too rough on you,” Ramses said, caressing her cheek. “I tried to hold back the thirst, but I lost a lot of blood last night. My instincts prevailed.”
Maliyah smiled back. “Too rough? Not a chance!”
Never in her life had she endured anything like the erotic bite of a vampire. Even though she knew her lover hadn’t slipped her an illicit substance, she felt a bit loopy, her insides a muddled jumble of sorts. She tried to sit up and shake the cobwebs from the corners of her mind, but the movement only caused her head to spin all the more.
“Wow! I feel sort of dizzy. What’s going on?”
“Relax and let me get you something to drink,” Ramses replied, a worrisome expression pained his face. “I may have taken a tad too much blood. You’ll need to rehydrate.”
Ramses switched on the lamp next to the bed, then strode naked across the room. Maliyah stared briefly at his bare chest. Miraculously the bullet wounds had healed without leaving so much as a scar. She found herself distracted by the beauty of his naked flesh, enthralled by the firmness of his ass as he took one deliberate step after another. The man had the body of an Egyptian god and she couldn’t help but catch a glimpse. He slid open the closet door and pulled out a chilled bottle of water from the small refrigerator that sat on the floor.
As he made his back to the bed, she heard his cell phone beep and saw a message pop up on the screen. Immediately, he picked it up, typed in a response, and then set the phone back down on the nightstand.
“Who was that?”
“Andreas, just making sure I’d had dinner.” Ramses smiled as he twisted off the top of the water bottle and handed her a drink. “I told him you were happy to oblige.”
Maliyah grinned from ear to ear. Then she downed several long sips, and leaned back into a mass of pillows. She felt relaxed. Content. The light touch of Ramses’ fingers swept across her forehead as sleep called to her once more. Her eyes soon drifted shut.
“Get some rest, habibti,” he said, placing a kiss to the tip of her upturned nose. “The search for your father’s killer resumes at sunset.”
&
nbsp; Chapter Sixteen
The Betrayal
Forty-eight hours had passed and still, there was no sign of Anat or the man that had enlisted her to do his dirty work. The listening device Ramses planted in the house by the beach emitted nothing but white noise. From a safe distance away, he and Andreas cased the place out, searching for any indication that the couple might return. But they appeared to have gone dark. With no trace of Anat or her accomplice, the two men were fairly certain they’d made a hasty retreat following the shooting that had occurred.
Maliyah seemed to be getting antsy too. Instinctively, Ramses knew that she wouldn’t continue to sip Mai Tai’s by the pool, twiddling her thumbs with a pregnant vampire hunter by her side. At least, not while her father’s killer remained at large.
Ramses understood her indignance. He, too, had grown impatient. He wanted to find the bastard responsible for his best friend’s death and move on with his life. Hopefully, that life included Maliyah. Already, she’d surpassed his every expectation. She was beautiful and smart, a freethinking, independent spirit like no other woman he’d ever encountered. Ramses closed his eyes, conjuring an image of Maliyah in his mind. He pictured them holding hands as they walked along the Nile. His lover’s long hair blowing in the breeze, her slender shoulders a personification of poise and grace. In the past few weeks, she’d proven her strength of will. She’d been apprehensive at first, but then willingly surrendered, accepting him with all his horrific flaws. It was the first time that the man and monster dwelling inside him had endured a peaceful co-existence.
It wouldn’t be easy for a mortal to share his or her life with a vampire. He’d known few couples in the same predicament that could make it work. Ramses was no exception to the rule. He knew he wasn’t boyfriend material. He’d spent too many years obsessed with gluttony and the drive to seize all that his supernatural powers had in store to care about what another person needed or desired.
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