by Emily Bex
He remembered her shooting the deer, and talking about honoring his spirit, something about the Native Americans absorbing the spirit of the animals they killed and watching her mark her face with the deer's blood. Was it the combination? Was it the combination of master's blood and her ritual? If that was the case, if that was what he had witnessed, then she would have the rarest gift of all, Animalism... vamps who communicate with animals. If that was her gift and she was yet to be turned... fuck! The power she would have once she was turned. Master would be so... fuck! He couldn’t tell master without letting him know he had been training her. Fuck, Luca! What have you gotten yourself into?
She ran back to the house with him in silence, his face in a frown as if deep in thought. As they reached the house, she started her cool-down routine, walking the yard to allow her heartbeat to resume its normal pace.
“So, what's next? The weight bench?”
The impact of what he had witnessed, of what she did not realize about herself, and what he couldn’t share had his head in a spin. “What? Oh, weight bench, yes.”
He assembled the bench and let her complete her exercises of free weights, push-ups, and sit-ups with the weight ball. He had been gradually increasing the weights, both the ones she lifted on the weight bench and the weight ball. She barely noticed the change anymore as he had increased the weight incrementally. He brought out the bow and let her practice. He knew she was ready to move to the crossbow. That had been her goal, her weapon of choice. He would start training her on that soon. She hit the bull’s eye now consistently. Her motions were becoming automatic, remove the bow from the quiver, position it, draw back the string, feel the wind, calculate her aim, hold her breath, release the arrow between heartbeats and hit the target. Of course, the target was stationary, and it posed no threat. He had no way to test her skills under pressure. Could she perform the same? But then, that was his job, and Shade's, to make sure she never had to. “Enough training for tonight, little warrior. The sun will be up soon.”
He watched her as she walked back into the house, and he was torn with what to do with the information in his head.
Kate headed back to their bedroom and took a quick shower, jumping into bed to read until Shade got there, but her eyes felt heavy. She set her book aside and thought she would take a short nap before he got home.
Shade teleported into the house. Gi was bringing Midnight up from the wine cellar. Gi looked at him and nodded, telling him the lady of the house was asleep in their room. Smiling wickedly, Shade loved waking her up. Quickly banging on Luca's door, he called out to Luca. “I know she’s asleep, let me use your shower. I want to sneak into the bedroom and not wake her.”
Luca nodded and returned to his easel, as Shade took a hot shower. Exiting the shower, slicking back his hair, he was still wet and naked when he teleported into their bedroom. He stopped dead in his tracks as he took in her beauty. Her crimson waves lay across the crisp white linens, her body soft and sweet. He reached out his hand to slide it along the elegant curve of her back, and over that sweet ass. Looking at her mouth, her lips were slightly parted.
Grinning, he grabbed one of the chairs and moved it beside the bed. He sat his naked ass down, lit up a smoke and stared at her. Propping his feet up on the mattress, he laid his head back and took a few drags from the cigarette, waiting for her to open her eyes.
She felt his presence, heard him moving a chair and then picked up the scent of his cigarette. He so rarely smoked inside. She pulled herself up from a deep sleep, groggy and confused, opening her eyes to see him sitting across from her, naked, skin and hair still damp from his shower, slowly inhaling on the cigarette, his cock already rigid and waiting. She smiled at him and reached out her hand, palm up as it lay on the bed. “Lover, finish that cigarette and come join me.”
He watched her eyes flutter, feeling her struggle to wake, and he knew she could feel him near. He sat and watched as those big, beautiful, dark eyes opened and scanned him from head to toe. “Si, mi amore, all yours.”
He saw that sleepy smile spread across those lips and his cock lurched. He could tell she was not yet fully awake, and that turned him on. As he put out the cigarette, her eyes closed once again. Oh yes, my minx, you want to play that game, we can play it.
Standing beside the bed, he slid his hands on either side of that gorgeous head and pulled her to the edge of the bed, as she laid on her back, allowing her head to hang over the edge, her hair hanging freely. He felt her moan and he wasn’t sure she was moaning from waking or wanting and at that point, he didn’t care. His beast saw what he was hungry for and Shade let him have her. Her back was arched, and her firm breasts displayed those sweet nipples, puckered tight and pleasing, pointed to the ceiling and his mouth watered. He felt his cock slide through that crimson and he moaned, the silky softness on his hard steeled, throbbing dick made him insane. He could cum hard in that hair right now. Grabbing his member in his hand, he slid it through her hair and along her cheek, back and forth. He lowered his head to her breasts and sucked her nipple into his mouth, swirling his tongue round and round that sweet bud.
She reached her hands over her head, and slid them along the backs of his thighs, gently raking his skin with her nails. “Lover, I never know what to expect with you.”
Feeling her hands raking his skin, made his beast come alive and he was hungry. He loved his bel, sleepy, sexy and naked. Pulling hard on her nipple, he stretched it and then popped it out of his mouth. He knew it was a pleasurable pain, one that sent streaks of erotic pleasure straight to her sweet sex. Her back arched more from the absence of his warm mouth and her head nestled deeper into his crotch, her hair tangled around his cock and balls and his growl was loud and guttural.
Bending further over her body, he nuzzled into her soft mound of red curls and blew his hot breath across her clit. Gripping the inside of her thighs, he spread her wide and looked at the soft, moist, pink lips and slid the tip of his tongue along them, just barely touching them and feeling her body writhe. Sliding his thumbs to either side of the hooded gem, he pulled it wide and circled his tongue over that sweet bud, then sucked hard.
Her hips arched to meet him, as she slid her hands up his thighs and grabbed his ass as he moved his hips, thrusting his cock into her hair. She brought her hands around the front of his hips and gripped his cock, wrapping her hair around it and sliding that red silk up and down the steeled hard shaft.
He lifted his head and roared. His fangs elongated, and his eyes lit the room in a crimson red as bright as bel’s hair. He grazed his fangs along her thigh and slid his fingers into her sweet honey and thrust into her as she stroked him. He felt his balls tighten and he held on as long as he could, being pushed over the edge from his obsessive fantasy of fucking her hair, cumming hard into the crimson silk. That beautiful red mane that had called to his soul since the moment he laid eyes on her. He roared as he came into her hair, no longer able to hold back the beast, as he bellowed, “Bel! Ti amo!”
Removing his fingers from her sweet honey pot, he drove his tongue deep and sucked every single drop of her sweetness his tongue could find, sucking and probing like a hungry beast and feeling her body tense, ready to cum. Pulling his tongue from her, he nuzzled and sucked her clit and felt her wanting him inside her deep, but his beast wouldn’t let her have that, teasing her, making her want more from him. “Cum!”
She released her hands from his cock and her tangled hair and slid them into his hair, gripping tightly as she held his mouth to her sex and thrusts her hips upward.
Feeling her body writhing for release, he sucked her clit and drove his fingers deep into her, and felt her body shake with release, his fingers soaked with the sweetest honey he had ever tasted. As her body relaxed, and the spasms of her orgasm faded, he didn’t let her rest long as he slid his wet fingers into her mouth and watched as she sucked her own juices from them. He kisses her hard on the lips, plunging his tongue deep inside her mouth, savoring the taste of he
r honey from her own lips.
He stood upright by the bed, her head still hanging over the edge and her hair tangled and wet from his orgasm and she looks ravaged and sexy. “Roll over.”
She rolled over onto her stomach, and he took two steps back as she reached out for him and he smiled wickedly. “Ah, no, sweet bel, I am not done.”
Walking around to the other side of the bed, he grasped her ankles and slid her on her tummy to the edge of the bed and leaned over her back, his lips next to her ear.
“Stand on the floor, my beautiful minx, and bend over the bed. Tell me,” nipping at her neck, he gripped a handful of her hair and turned her head to the side, “do you still love your beast?”
“I crave the beast. Please, lover.”
Her voice fed the beast and he was out of control, Shade no longer reined him in. The beast loved her and would never harm her, and she returned that love, giving him what he needed. No other mortal could love him as she did, without fear, but unreservedly with her heart and soul. He stood upright, releasing her hair and slid his hands down her arms, grabbing her wrist and pulling them above her head, stretching out her beautiful back to the fullest, as he admired the curve of her spine, the narrow waist, her slender hips, and the delicious curve of her ass. He leaned forward and slid his cock between her beautiful chiseled ass cheeks and heard the moan of her want.
He stood upright as she remained bent over the bed, her hands stretched over her head, a goddess for his taking. Flipping her hair up over her head, he breathed heavy and hot on the back of her exposed neck and grazed his fangs slowly down her spine, letting them score her precious white skin, but not bringing forth blood.
His hands gripped her ass cheeks as he squeezed and released that soft yet firm flesh over and over. He dragged his face with his scruffy facial hair over her back, kissing the tracks made by his fangs. Squeezing her ass tight, he lifted her hips and watched her balance herself with her hands. His mouth sought out her sex once more, sucking at her, his tongue teasing her again, thrusting and flicking his tongue in and out. He moaned, letting her feel the vibrations of his desire through her body.
He pulled his mouth from her and thrust his cock hard into her, throwing back his head and roaring, his penis buried deep. He felt her muscles clench and grip him tight, taking every thick, hard inch of him inside her. Slapping her ass hard, he let his hand glide up her back and grip her hair like a bridle on a horse and wrapped that red around his hand.
He began a slow, deep penetrating thrust, pulling out, watching her sweet pink lips suck him right back in and he began to fuck her hard and deep, thrusting into her and feeling her respond, her hips bucking back into him, her head thrashing as she felt him deep inside her. Sliding his other hand under her, he fondled one of her breasts and squeezed it hard, pulling her up and nuzzling into her neck. He drove harder inside that ocean of sweetness, scorching his raging cock. “Cum for your beast, feel how much I want you, how much I need you!”
Sinking his fangs into her neck, he drew deep and erupted deep inside her, feeling their heat combine, as they went over the edge together.
They came together, and his primal growl echoed through the house. He felt her collapse over the bed, and he crawled in beside her, turning to her, pulling her close into his chest, and letting her catch her breath.
“I love you, Kate. I love you so much.” He kissed her forehead softly, then her nose and finally, her mouth, as the beast retreated. “Do you need to feed, mi amore?”
“No, lover. Hold me close, sleep next to me, don't let go.”
Wrapping her tight in his embrace, his legs entangled within hers, his arms holding her in safety, he felt her tuck her head under his chin and slip softly into sleep.
“I will always protect you, mi amore. Sleep. I am here for all eternity.”
Closing his eyes, he felt the death slumber carry him to her.
41
Teleporting back from Max's to her car in the gym garage, Rissa just sat there, trying to compose herself. She stared into nothingness, feeling much more for Max than she wanted to acknowledge and knowing Alec could smell nothing, know nothing. Alec thought she had been to the gym. Besides that, Alec seemed to be off on his own successful endeavors at the moment. Although he had never been in the habit of touching base with her, lately, he seemed oblivious to much of her activity. As long as she appeared to keep to her normal routine, she thought she would be safe.
Pulling into the drive, she saw he was home. She took a deep breath. Keep everything normal and light, Rissa. He won’t have a suspicion. How would she face him, and block all these feelings tearing her in half? She must continue to block all thoughts of Max once she got out of this car, and keep her wits about her. Walking into the house, it was quiet, and she listened and heard nothing. Biting her lip, she headed straight for the stairs, carrying her gym bag, wondering what he was up to.
Alec heard her come in and head for the stairs, another long session at the gym no doubt. He stepped out of the family room and called to her, “Rissa, could you join me, we need to talk.”
She was halfway up the stairs. Closing her eyes, taking a deep breath, she turned around and jogged back down the stairs and to the family room. Just relax Rissa, just relax. Walking in, she smiled. “Hi. You’re home early. Is everything all right, Alec?”
“Everything is fine, darling. Fix us a drink, will you? And come sit down, please. This discussion is long overdue.”
Trying to second-guess him, she tried to figure out what could be on his mind. “Of course, Alec.”
Walking over to pour the Midnight, she stood in front of the small bar, so he couldn’t see her hands tremble as she fought to keep her thoughts guarded. She laid her hands flat on the marble surface to steady them. Long overdue. What does that mean? She controlled her heart rate, poured two Midnights, and turned around with a soft smile. “Long overdue? Please tell me this isn’t about the protector, Alec.” Be careful Rissa. Be positive. She handed him the glass and sat down across from him, taking a small sip of the Midnight before looking up at him with questioning eyes.
“The protector?” He chuckled to himself. “No, my darling, this isn’t about the protector. You know I love you. I expect much and take a lot for granted and never see the need for conventional displays of affection. You know that about me.”
Looking down at her glass, she ran her finger over the rim. “Yes, Alec, I know you love me in your own way.” She looked up at him and those icy blue eyes, sharp and cold, always scheming and planning, not the warm intensity of love that beamed at her from Max.
He took a drink of the Midnight before proceeding, “Well, I think I may have an event planning job for you. That is, if you want it.”
She looked away, thinking to herself, Of course you do, something to benefit your climb to the top. Something to make you look incredible and the woman behind you will always help you get there. She turned back to him as she answered, “I’m always open to helping you, Alec, in every way I can. Anyone I know?”
Alec chuckled. “Oh, I think you know her well.”
Her curiosity was piqued and her heart raced, wondering what he was up to. “What’s going on, Alec?”
“Can you plan a wedding, my darling, an extravagant wedding? Something the likes of which D.C. has never seen?”
Watching his face, hearing his chuckle, he seemed quite amused at her curiosity. She ran through her head the vast list of contacts, trying to recall any recent engagement announcements but could think of nothing. “Alec, I know I’ve been busy, but if someone of importance were getting married, and in need of such an elaborate event, I’d be the first person they’d call.” She flipped her hair back and sat up straighter in her chair. “But of course, I can handle it, It’s what I do best.”
He sat his drink down as he walked to her. “Good, then I think you need to get busy planning our wedding.”
He slipped the large 20-karat pear-shaped diamond ring out of his pocket and place
d it on her hand. “I know marriage is not conventional for vampires, my darling, but we live in a mortal world and in a mortal world, you would not be my mate, but my wife. Can I assume you have no objections?”
As the words rolled from him, she couldn’t believe what he was saying, marriage? A wedding? She knew her face showed her surprise, and her heart was screaming. Isn’t this what you wanted, Rissa? Isn’t this how you wanted your vampire to be? Her mind whirled as she recalled the afternoon spent in Max's arms, the kisses that burned her skin, the words he spoke, always loving, caring, and kind. She looked at the ring and its meaning felt empty to her. It was just a facade, an act he performed for the mortal world. Oh Alec, why can’t you understand how much I want this? I want this moment to be special. “It’s beautiful, Alec. I… a wedding… I’m sorry. I’m so taken off guard. I had no idea you wanted this. You never mentioned it, but of course, it’s for the mortals. No objections, none.”
She looked to him, praying to see something soft, something more than the cold blood that ran in his veins. Please, Alec, give me something!
“My darling, you’re already my mate, and there’s no greater show of love for a male to claim a female as his mate, in our world. But we straddle both worlds, and I'm afraid that explanation will never fly in an interview, now, will it? We are both asked constantly about our status, when will we marry? How do I tell them their conventional marriage doesn't compare to a vampire mating? Mortals divorce like it’s nothing, their marriage vows mean nothing. But a mate? A mate is for all eternity, my darling. I’ve already committed that to you, so this pales in comparison, in my eyes. But you were a mortal girl once, maybe you see it differently? At any rate, I guess I’m asking in the most unconventional way, and trust me, in 750 years, these are words I’ve never uttered, but will you be my wife?”
He said all the right words, and she knew he loved her in his own way, and her blood tears streamed softly down her face, unable to stop the emotional roller coaster of this day. “I love you, Alec. Yes, yes, yes!”
