by L. Rosario
She was in serious trouble.
Sera took Valentino's hand and straddled him once more. He reared up between her legs, parting her feminine curls and tormenting her swollen sex. The only way to stay in control would be to take control. But did she dare? Did she even know how? Tamping down her nerves, she reached for his penis. He flexed within her grip, and she watched his face as she stroked him from root to tip.
"Is it all right if I set the pace?"
He nodded, clearly unable to speak. His adam's apple bobbed up and down with every hard swallow, and his nostrils flared in time to the tick in his jaw.
Still holding onto his thick erection, she got to her knees and put him at her opening. A little experience would have been nice right about now, but she assumed some things were just instinctive. Pressing down, she slid her hand away and took as much of him as she could. Turned out that was about half. With a gasp, she stilled and fell forward onto her hands. Doing so put her breasts over Valentino's mouth, and he didn't hesitate to take advantage.
While her thighs quivered and her vagina did its best to stretch, he cupped her and laved at her with his tongue. “Oh God..."
Unconsciously, her body accepted the rest of his length, and she climaxed the moment he was fully imbedded within her. Hanging her head and closing her eyes, she rode out the pulses of her orgasm. There was no end in sight as Valentino continued to suckle her breasts.
His hands found her hips, and he coaxed her to move. He released her nipple. “Ride me."
Sera dug her fangs into her bottom lip and complied. The moment she did, Valentino latched back onto her nipple and sucked it deep into his mouth. He bit her rather hard, awakening the one urge she didn't need right now. Behind her tight lids, she saw her face aiming for his neck. In her mouth, she tasted his blood, only to realize it was her blood.
Her fangs had torn her bottom lip.
With a little groan, Sera licked the blood away, hoping it would erase her desire for Valentino's. No such luck.
He deserted her breast and gripped her waist to move her upright. Their eyes locked, then she watched his gaze lower toward her mouth. A little frown indicated he'd noticed the blood staining her lip. “You're bleeding."
Sera nodded, not sure what to say. She licked her lip again, knowing the wound would close before long. There was really no need for Valentino to look so concern—
He reached for her and cupped the back of her head to pull her face down to his. He kissed her hard, and his tongue feathered right over the slit in her lip. If she didn't know any better, she'd say he actually sucked fresh blood from the wound. But he wouldn't wish to do that, would he?
* * * *
Wanting to taste Sera's blood was a surprise, but Valentino didn't regret his actions for one second once his mouth was sealed over hers. He sucked and sipped at her wounded lip until fresh blood pooled on his tongue, then he swallowed it down after savoring the odd flavor of it. It reminded him of the time he'd placed a penny between his lips while digging in his pocket for more change. Lost in the recollection, he didn't realize Sera meant to pull away until her mouth was no longer crushed to his.
"Stop it,” she breathed while struggling to sit up on his lap.
He blinked up at her and slowly ran his tongue across his lips. It didn't escape his notice how she watched the action like a hungry hawk. If she wanted to bite him so damn bad, why not just do it? He wouldn't mind. Maybe if he arched his head back and begged for it, she'd relent?
Or she'd slip off of him and make a beeline for the door?
That would be beyond annoying considering how incredibly good it felt to be sheathed inside her. The thought centered his focus on the joining of their bodies and he moved under her until she gasped adorably and bit her lip. If she wasn't careful, she'd bleed again.
"Do you want me on top?"
She blinked, looking a little confused by the offer, then shook her head and spread her hands over his chest. “No ... I ... like this."
So did he.
Concentrating his efforts with renewed purpose, he held her hips immobile against his pelvis and thrust up into her, determined to watch her climax again. When her lips parted and her lids lowered, he knew he almost had her. “Gonna come for me, baby?"
Her eyes sprang open, and she dug her fangs into her bottom lip. The nod she offered was barely discernable, but he had no problem feeling the first powerful clench of her inner muscles. She gripped tight enough to nearly undo him, and he gritted his teeth and did his best to ignore the tightening in his balls. It didn't matter if he ended before she found her pleasure, but old habits were hard to break. He wanted her panting and happy; not because it was his job, but because he couldn't think of single thing lovelier.
Her nails raked over his chest, and she tossed her head back with a stifled gasp. Around his thrusting dick, she convulsed a few times and then liquefied with a single shudder. He couldn't take anymore. Closing his eyes and arching his head back into the bed, Valentino bucked up one more time and spilled his seed deep inside Sera.
Before the dazed bliss of his orgasm had a chance to wear off, the sharp sting of teeth pierced the skin just below his right ear. Sera's soft hair tickled his cheek, and he could feel the sporadic rise and fall of her breasts where they lay crammed against his chest. Not wanting to scare her away, he relaxed into her bite as the last pulse of his climax faded away.
* * * *
It wasn't until the sweet flavor of Valentino's blood touched the back of her tongue that Sera realized her control had snapped. By then, it was too late. His skin was trapped between her teeth, and his hands had gone limp against her hips. It was surrender, pure and simple, on both their parts, and she didn't have any desire to stop.
She drank until her skin grew almost too hot to bear. She'd never felt like this before. Even her first time feeding from Valentino hadn't felt this ... right. Not really wishing to, but knowing she must, she slid her fangs free and eased her mouth away from his tempting skin. His eyes slid to hers the moment she lifted her face. “Sorry,” she mumbled.
He shook his head and wrapped his arms around her waist to flatten her atop his body. “I told you it was all right. There was no reason for you to fight the urge as long as you did."
He'd never really understand, so she let it go. “What time do you have to go?” she asked against the steady pulse in his throat. Now that she was gleefully full of blood, the rhythm soothed instead of taunted.
"Curfew is at eight."
Sera lifted her head. “Curfew? You mean for the club? Do you live there?"
Instead of answering, he rolled her off him, then snuggled up to her back. “We'll talk about all that later, okay? How about we just enjoy what's going on here for the moment."
Sera stared across the room, focusing on the front of her chest of drawers. “What is going on?"
Valentino sighed behind her, ruffling her hair and sending a little shiver down her spine. “I don't know."
Yeah, neither did she.
After a few moments, she couldn't take the silence. “Valentino?"
"Hmm?"
"How long have you worked at Captive Fantasy?” He shifted his arms around her and she wondered if he might refuse to answer. It was a harmless question, wasn't it?
"A little over a year."
"Do you like it?” Sera bit her lip and stared hard without seeing a damn thing. No matter how he answered, it would irritate her. So why the heck ask the question?
He kissed her ear before answering. “It's a job, Sera.” Again he squeezed her tight. “Until you..."
She held her breath, but he didn't elaborate. He sighed and nuzzled her hair, and she wanted to beg him to finish what he was going to say. Until her, what? None of the other women mattered? She was different? With her, it wasn't just sex?
"It feels good laying here with you."
The unexpected words made her press her eyes shut. It did feel good. Scary good.
How long they lay toge
ther, pretending everything must be right with the world, Sera didn't know. Eventually, Valentino stirred and mumbled his desire to take a shower before heading back to the club. She pointed him in the direction of the bathroom, then tried not to stare as he walked naked from the room. Reaching for her robe, she wondered how one developed such a blasé attitude toward nakedness.
The phone rang just as Valentino turned on the water. Sera jumped off the bed to answer it without giving a single thought to who it might be. She instantly regretted her eagerness.
"Did it again, I see,” Constantine drawled.
"Why don't you leave me alone?” She sat down hard on the bed and stared out into the hall toward the bathroom door. Valentino was humming over the sound of the water.
"It's my job, you might say, to make sure you conduct yourself accordingly and it delights me to no end to finally watch you giving in to your true nature. I should seek this Valentino out and shake his hand."
The thought sickened her. “Don't you dare."
"Why? He obviously knows what you are, and it hasn't scared him away. Quite the opposite, I'd say."
"Did you call for a reason or just to irritate me?"
Constantine clucked his tongue. “I must admit, I don't really care for the attitude that has come along with the change in you. We'll have to temper that, I believe."
"You bring out the worst in me, Constantine. It has nothing to do with whether or not I drink fresh blood.” Or did it? A frown tugged her lips down.
"Believe what you must, my pet.” His tone told her how wrong she was. “There really was a reason for my call, however."
Sera waited out the silence, refusing to appear eager.
"You'll be expected to take your place among the coven now that you've embraced what you are."
"No.” She wanted no part of coven life. Her brief stay at the manor house in Nottingham, England had shown her such an existence was not for her. Just the mere thought of having to take a human servant turned her stomach.
What if it was Valentino?
She shook the annoying thought away, refusing to acknowledge its appeal.
"Regardless of what you might wish for, my pet,” Constantine went on. “Your American master will expect your presence at the coven. If you do not show yourself, I'll be forced to take you there. Neither of us really wants that, do we?"
Lord, no! She could happily live out the rest of eternity without laying eyes on Constantine again. “I'll think about it,” she halfheartedly conceded before hanging up. With a sigh, she closed her eyes and rubbed the ache in her temples. Only Constantine could give her this sort of headache.
"Who was that?"
Valentino's voice jerked her gaze toward the door. How long had he been standing there? Why the hell hadn't she heard him? And, Jesus Christ, could he look sexier?
His hair was ten shades darker, now that it was wet, and it clung to the side of his neck and dripped down over his shoulders. The fresh bite she'd given him was hidden, but the old one stood out against his skin, still looking angry and nasty. He had on nothing but one of her oversized, red bath towels and that was clutched precariously low on his hips. Lord, help her.
"Sera?"
She pulled her gaze from his body. “What?"
"Who was on the phone? You look upset."
She shrugged. “It was only work. No big deal."
He narrowed his gaze but didn't challenge her answer. “Do you have a razor I could borrow?"
The question drew her attention to the light dusting of stubble along his jaw and it occurred to her that it was the first sign of facial hair she'd seen. “How old are you?” The question sort of spurted out, but once she asked, her curiosity eagerly awaited the answer. Surely he was over eighteen?
Valentino frowned and took a moment to tighten the red towel around his hips. When he answered, he did so without meeting her gaze. “Twenty-two."
Oh Lord, that was young. Of course, in mortal years—ick, that made her feel like a dog or something—she was only twenty-five, but she felt centuries older. She was centuries older. What was she thinking to allow someone as young as Valentino into her life?
You were having a mind blowing orgasm, you weren't thinking.
Her inner voice was fast becoming as annoying as Constantine's phone calls.
Sera became aware of Valentino's gaze. He looked unsure all of a sudden, as if he feared she'd point to the door and kick him out. Looking like that? Not bloody likely. “I'll grab a razor for you.” She stood up, making sure her robe stayed tightly closed. “I hope you don't mind disposable?"
Valentino caught her as she tried to slip past him. His fingers were hot through the sleeve of her robe. “Does it matter how old I am?"
Somehow she'd known he wouldn't let this go. She shook her head. “Not at all. It's not as if you're my next boyfriend or anything."
He released her as if she'd burned him. “Yeah, right."
Damn.
Without another word, which was probably for the best, Sera hurried toward the bathroom. Valentino followed silently behind. Her hand trembled as she handed over the pink razor and she pulled back before his fingers had the chance to brush hers. “There's shaving cream above the sink, but it smells like watermelon."
His smile seemed forced. “Maybe it'll make me a hit tonight."
Okay, she deserved that, but it didn't make it hurt less. The thought of Jennifer being the one to enjoy his company tonight clawed through her insides like an angry virus. Sure, he hadn't admitted that it would be Jen, but Sera just knew. “Well, I'll let you do your thing.” She motioned toward the sink and backed toward the door. “If you need anything else, just holler."
Valentino set the razor down and reached for her. Had she tried to dodge his grip, he wouldn't have been able to snare her wrist. Why hadn't she tried? He pulled her forward against his damp chest, and she inhaled the sharp scent of her body wash. Strange how the fragrance smelled entirely different on him.
"I don't want this to end here, Sera."
Neither did she, but admitting that seemed really dangerous for some reason.
He hooked a finger under her chin to force her gaze up. “Come to the club tonight, and I'll make sure you're the one I spend the night with."
"You promised Jennifer.” Ugh, saying it out loud hurt more.
"I don't care. Come, and I'll be yours. I swear it."
"I can't.” This had to end; they both realized that, didn't they? Better here and now, than later, after another glorious night of sex. With a shake of her head, she slid out of his grasp and hurried from the bathroom. Despite the churning in her stomach, she believed this was the best course of action.
Maybe someday Valentino would look back on this moment and agree?
Chapter Twelve
Valentino slammed the passenger door of Sera's Mustang and turned back to say good-bye. She peeled away from the curb without giving him the chance, and he could do nothing but stare after her. Damn, damn, damn.
The brief ride from her place to Captive Fantasy had been nothing but strained silence. He'd wanted to say something that would clear the air between them, but her tight expression had convinced him to keep his mouth shut. It made him wonder why she'd bothered to offer a ride, if she hadn't meant to utter a single word. Though, he could have ignored her erected wall and spoken at any point. Why the hell hadn't he?
Regret was going to be a tough pill to swallow now; especially if he never saw her again.
Shaking his head, Valentino stepped into the club and spotted Raphael waiting for him. His friend was already showered and dressed for work. Shit. So much for making curfew.
"Where the fuck have you been?” Raphael fired the question in lieu of a greeting. “We went back to the library, but there wasn't any sign of you, Becca, or the chic you were looking for. After asking the old guy at the desk if he knew anything, I figured it would be safer to leave before he decided to call the damn police. I suggest you start explaining right now.
"
Valentino brushed by his friend and headed through the empty club toward his room. Maybe it was the way he'd left things with Sera, or maybe it was the upcoming night and the commitment he'd made to Jennifer, but something was making him feel not so good. He wanted a nap before he had to clock in, which meant Raphael's annoying questions would have to wait.
"Not now, Raphael, okay?” Valentino tossed a look over his shoulder as he spoke and his hair slid away from his neck.
Raphael cursed under his breath. “Please tell me that isn't another bite?"
After shaking his hair forward, Valentino reached for the wound. Just like with the first one, it felt hot and sore, and it probably looked just as bad. He'd have to think of a way to cover both of them up. Too bad he hadn't thought to borrow make-up from Sera, not that she looked as if she needed any. He suspected her flawless complexion was the result of a very strict vampire diet instead of high-priced cosmetics.
"Did she bite you again, Val?"
Halting in his tracks, he turned to confront his friend. “Do I really owe you any explanations? Unless you're secretly working for Dr. Reynolds now in some capacity other than a sex slave, what I do is my business and not yours.” Regret, nausea and anger made his tone harder than he intended.
Raphael looked taken aback by the mild attack. “Wow, I take it things didn't go as planned with your girlfriend?"
"She's not my girlfriend.” Nor would she ever be. Sera had made that perfectly clear. Valentino turned his back and headed for his room again. This time, Raphael wisely chose not to follow.
Once inside his room, Valentino quickly stripped off his clothes and crawled into bed. He didn't have a lot of time, but he just wanted to close his eyes and let his stomach settle. The moment his head hit the pillow, however, he knew something was really wrong with him. Behind his lids, the world began to spin until his stomach decided to join in for the ride. Without a lot of warning, bile surged up the back of his throat and filled his mouth. The blanket fought him as he tried to get out of bed, and the room titled dangerously the moment he put his feet on the floor.
