LABanks - H2 Awakening

by user

  Sudden hunger made her hasten her steps while she stuffed a light wand in her back pocket and tried to find the winding path to the vending area that a busy nurse pointed out.

  "Hey" a familiar male voice said over her shoulder when she rounded a dim corridor.

  She turned quickly, and then relaxed. "Oh, my God…" She breathed out in a rush. "Are you all right?"

  Carlos nodded. "I've seen some things, though, in the last few hours that…" His voice trailed off and he just shook his head. "I was really worried about you."

  "I know… you don't even have to tell me—but I'm okay, too. Carlos, I thought…"

  His expression was so pained that she immediately filled his arms, and his hand went to her hair. He was cold, as though still in shock—just like Dan had been—his lowered body temperature no doubt the reason for the hard tremor that had run through him when she hugged him. She tried to warm him with her closeness, remembering what it was like the first time she'd had her own dark encounter, pouring all the tenderness and comfort she could into her touch. Sometimes that was the only antidote to fear—just human contact, which she now freely offered him, just like Shabazz had offered Marlene.

  Her hands stroked Carlos's back and caressed his tense shoulder blades, and she nestled her head against his chest, closing her eyes to absorb the wonderful relief of connecting with him. Her prayer had been answered: Carlos wasn't dead.

  Initially, a sensation of profound peace coated him with each gentle touch from her hands, but as her soft skin melted against his, its warmth created a burn that chased away the joyous freedom of feeling alive—replacing it with something else more primitive. Her skin and hair carried a fragrance that was an erotic lure as it threaded through his nasal passages and assaulted his mind. The feel of her locks under his fingers and against his palm awakened every nerve ending in him and permeated him with the desire to explore the other delicate textures she possessed.

  When she'd nestled against him, her form fit so perfectly against his body, sending a shard of wanton agony the length of him that made his lungs now battle for air.

  "Are you all right?" she whispered, peering up at him. "You didn't get hurt or scratched by anything, did you—that's not why you're here, is it?"

  She'd pulled her head away briefly to look at him. Her sudden vacancy left a cool spot on his chest that immediately ached for her to return to it and cover it. His gaze locked with hers; he could feel his eyelids lower, her brown iris stare too intense for him not to react… her lips had parted to murmur her question, and the full lushness of her mouth fractured his reason as he struggled not to lower his own upon hers to consume it.

  "Something was chasing Dan, and he got away… then I found my car, and got out of Dodge." He'd tell her anything to keep her within their embrace, to quiet her possible fears of him.

  His words were escaping on stilted breaths as the sensation of her in his arms rocked him where he stood. He held her by her shoulders, allowing his hands the luxury of grazing her skin—the torture of it exquisite.

  "After what I saw, I wanted to check some hospital records to see if I could find out what had happened to my family," he lied again. "But I have to wait until the admin offices are open in the morning." Baby, stay in my arms. Just a little longer, don't go.

  Then she touched his face and whispered to him that it would be all right, baby. She had no idea… His mouth found the center of her palm, and it was all he could do not to moan into her flesh… Imagining what the rest of her felt like forced his surrender until he completely lowered his lids. Her whisper was the most effective weapon in her arsenal, didn't she know? He pulled a deep inhale of her through his nose and opened his eyes. Her face was upturned to his, her gaze seeking.

  He could hear the blood rushing through her veins as her pulse quickened. She drew in shallow breaths that made her petite breasts rise and fall under the thin fabric of her damp T-shirt…

  the tips of them now tiny pebbles—he could feel them sting with a request that he couldn't address, not here. The scent of battle and earth was on her. She'd moistened and he could smell it, the faint, fragrant hint of her that splintered his facade of cool, made him swallow hard and start breathing through his mouth. The silence was deafening in this abandoned strip of space and time in the corridor, and it begged him to consider the possibilities.

  Intense female energy fused rapidly to invade his will, making him remember exactly what he was, above everything else—all male. Her belly, her thighs, her thickening delta was touching him from his waist down… and the question that he'd always wondered about began forming in her mind… what if?

  It ripped at his discipline—he studied her throat with care, and leaned in, allowing his nose to trail the length of it in a heated nuzzle. She smelled so good. She was so soft. Her body was yielding and her mind was issuing a plea, making an offer too difficult to refuse. In her mind he heard her moan softly as he continued to nuzzle her, and he had to fight the urge not to verbally respond. On the edge, he teetered, savoring every moment of her will-shattering temptation. It was a personal brand. Oh, yes, he was marked—she owned him… always had, didn't she know?

  The pulse of life in her jugular beat an insistent, seductive rhythm throughout his groin… blood, life, the motion to create life, friction, heat, it was one… and she had no idea how much he wanted to answer her questions… had for such a long time. Her mental gasp passed through his skeleton, tensing the muscles in his hips. Even a dead man could remember the ancient dance that made life worth living. She'd only been in his arms for a moment, but right now it felt like forever.

  His thoughts penetrated hers, thrusting against her mind the way he wanted to take her, whispering the answers. Yes, Damali. I know… me, too… but I can't promise to be gentle, can only promise that it'll be good… and, you, like me, will want more till we both drop.

  When her mind seized upon his and dragged him into an image of a shower, he saw her daydream, the fantasy… the premonition, he tasted her fear mixed with desire… in the shower she'd caused him to enter her, made it manifest until it had become real before he'd even been turned. He felt himself slipping as his discipline began to give way. Her nails slowly dug into his back. His lips found her ear and he sent a silent message into the hollow of it with his breath. Stop… because I can't.

  She flooded his system. Yes, she was a drug; Neteru. His hands trembled for just one hit. He could feel his incisors lengthening. His grip tightened against her upper arms. Saliva built in his mouth and his jaw tensed in preparation to unhinge, making him fight both needs at once. He dropped his head back as his eyes rolled toward his skull under his lids. She had no idea…

  "I gotta go," he said fast, pulling her to him hard and then pushing her away.

  "You can stay with us—a lot of stuff is going down… and it might be the safest place for you… I know you can't understand it all now, but I don't want anything to happen to you," she called after him, making him stop and turn to look at her.

  "Is that an open ended invitation?"

  Baby, let me go right now—I ain't no good for you like this.

  "Yeah," she whispered. "Any time. Mi casa es su casa… you once told me that."

  So he had… when he was a guardian, a living human. Oh, Damali, you just don't understand…

  Knowing that he was unable to restrain himself any longer, he paced farther away from her. He needed to get himself together, and distance from her was the only solution. He closed his eyes and swallowed hard again, fighting to steady his breathing.

  "If I'm invited, I promise you, I'll take you up on the invitation… after I handle my business."

  He had to turn and walk from her, the emotions she visited upon him were haunting. Forever now felt like a split second that gouged his body with want. "Live well… I'll be back… maybe on your birthday—stay safe, and say your prayers at night."

  She nodded, closed her eyes, and held up her hand, spreading her fingers like she wa
s touching one side of prison glass. He felt her remote palm through his back; it made him turn to face her and match her motion from across the hall. One more moment like this and he'd lose all control. Instead, he pulled away. He had to before he couldn't, but he made a fist to hold the sensation of her hand within his—and was gone.

  When she felt the abandonment of his touch, she wrapped her arms around herself in weary consolation. The fire that had been lit inside her was so all-consuming that for a moment she couldn't move. She had actually felt him across the room, and when her body had melted against his, she'd almost cried out it had felt so damned good. Guilt immediately assaulted her—what was she doing? Her teammates had been attacked, she'd just come from a vamp battle, the compound had been compromised, and yet she'd fallen into his arms and he'd made her get wet… dear God in Heaven what was happening?

  Still, to know that he was alive, safe, had made it through one more night just before dawn would crest through the large hospital plate glass windows, meant there was still hope, still time, no matter what he'd done wrong before.

  Every instinct within her told her to trust him… she'd practically felt the man's soul through his chest. It was as though they breathed as one. His thoughts had seared her, and the rock-solid length of him had brought on sudden delirium. Six feet two inches of all male… she'd needed to touch his back to keep from running her fingers through his hair… had needed to find his shoulder to keep her lips from finding his… had willed her thighs shut to keep them from wrapping around his waist… didn't he know? Her skin still hurt, ached from where he'd grazed it… branded it with his caress.

  The way he'd breathed a hot trail of desire against her throat had lit the ember that had always been there for him. The brief encounter simply made the fire burn hotter. It was as though her body was producing a secret river to put out the flame… she'd almost followed him when he walked away.

  She stroked her cheek with the warmth of her palm, still able to feel where he'd kissed it, where his hand had covered hers from a distance… Heaven help her, she could still feel him everywhere on her skin.

  Damali closed her eyes again, pulled by the sensation… she'd wanted him to kiss her so badly that her mouth had watered. She brought her hands up to her neck, needing to touch the frustrated place that had been left wanting. Whatever this thing was between them, it was so intense that it had left her trembling in the middle of the hospital hallway. She had to get it together, get some chips, and go back to the group. She took in several quick pants, then tried to breathe deeply to let out a hard exhale.

  "Wow…" she murmured, running her fingers through her locks. If a hug could do all that… then… dayum… what if? That had always been the question—their question.

  When she turned to find a machine, the sight of Marlene made her nearly jump out of her skin.

  * * *

  CHAPTER FOUR

  He'd walked as far as was necessary, beyond human suspicion, before hurling himself to a quiet place, under the streets, a dark cavern of cement sewer tunnel that would give him shelter from the sun when it came up. This was no way to live… and the irony was, he wasn't alive.

  Carlos placed both hands against the cool, damp, concrete wall, standing back from it, leaning on his palms as his head hung and he considered his fate.

  He had to get Damali out of his thoughts, out of his nose, out of his skin, his bloodstream, and his mind. His fangs wouldn't even retract as he thought about her and shut his eyes. He'd come so close. He could still feel her lacerating him with her softness. His breathing hadn't steadied, nor had his pulse. The ache for her was becoming so unbearable that he threw his head back, let out the moan that he'd sheltered for the duration of her embrace, and punched the wall in frustration—crumbling cement to leave a crater.

  "It's a real bitch, isn't it?"

  Spinning on the intruder, the fact that it was male redoubled his strength in preparation for instant battle. When he recognized his adversary, he knew it was a perfect night for Nuit to die. But Nuit just laughed, kept his distance, and circled him, cool.

  "Why don't you go eat and relax—you've got less than an hour before daylight, and this is no way for a man to try to sleep. Too late to go to New Orleans… the women are fantastic there, and the food excellent—blood alcohol levels are high, the cattle eat fantastic cuisine… a little wine in your system might help you drift off easier, but alas. Maybe another night."

  A combination of fury and humiliation gripped him. Carlos snarled, and rolled his shoulders.

  "That's better. You've got to pace yourself. I've heard a hit of Neteru will do that to you… You broke her off from the herd, didn't you?"

  Carlos growled low in his throat. "You never gave me a name."

  "Did I have to? You said name any one of them. I just did."

  Nuit smiled and circled him, breathing in deeply. "I can smell her on you. Amazing… you got close to her, but had the presence of mind to remember our deal. I would have been able to pick up the scent if you'd violated her, too." Nuit relaxed. "Very good. I won't have to kill you."

  Carlos narrowed his focus on Nuit, wondering which limb to tear from him first—not answering.

  "Now I better understand the block to my calls to you all night… if you had that hunt rush pumping through your system… yes… makes sense."

  "Then how did you find me?" Carlos paced back and forth, adrenaline spikes hard to shake as Nuit stoked and toyed with his anger.

  "Your agony could be heard for miles. I began to worry that you'd just been staked." Nuit laughed at his own joke, his guard seeming to become more relaxed.

  The two vampires stared at each other. Carlos analyzed the information contained in Nuit's statement, and immediately realized that it had opened an advantage—something he'd temporarily forgotten. One of his deals had made good. Nuit was blind to him, but didn't suspect the Vampire Council or the Covenant. Nuit assumed that the blocks to his calls had been produced by interaction with a Neteru's strong telepathic ability overriding his mental clarity. Perfect cover. Carlos almost smiled. Yeah, he had slayer in his system.

  He needed to play this to the bone. To kill Nuit now would be premature—two masters in a death struggle would go beyond dawn. Nuit needed to believe he had the advantage in order to open another opportunity to get to the cocky bastard when there was more time. It was all about power and control, as well as perception, illusion. Who had the power… and who believed they had the power. Plus, Nuit had eaten, he hadn't. Right now, Nuit possibly had the endurance advantage. Carlos carefully weighed his options. Even though he had the rage advantage, this would be a long fight. But if he garnered patience, another opportunity could be created to bring Nuit down. Carlos studied the situation, and put the roulette wheel in motion.

  "I got close, and couldn't raise anybody from our territorial pack by telepathy," Carlos finally said before Nuit became suspicious. "My focus was totally compromised… maybe overwhelmed is a better description," he added, feigning submission.

  Nuit looked at him hard, and then grinned. "I guess you did get close to her, or you wouldn't be down here in a sewer losing your mind. But, odd… it requires a master's patience, will power, and discipline not to have just taken her in public, which is where I can only assume you found her. Unless you do have some deference to your maker… hmmm. I bet it was positively torturing you not to have been able to—"

  "Fuck you!" The wound was too fresh for Nuit to dig his claws into it with a snide remark, and it was impossible to stop the visceral response. Carlos walked away from Nuit, but kept on his guard. The only thing that helped keep him from going for Nuit's throat was the fact that Nuit's comment exposed an important variable. Nuit didn't know he was looking at another master vampire.

  Nuit returned a cruel smile, taunting him with a slow, seductive response designed to stoke Carlos's rage. "Fuck me? Ahhh… Anytime, but not tonight. What happened to Raven?"

  "She went after the Neteru and got her ass
kicked."

  Nuit studied his nails. "That's a damned shame—she was good pussy. Well, you can always go make more."

  Carlos stared at him, disgusted. He would kill this motherfucker.

  "Oh, that's right—you're a second generation, and can only make thirds." Nuit laughed. "All right, all right, I know—you need me to make a female second to be on your level. We can arrange that. Just pick her out, since Raven misbehaved. I had also told her not to do the Neteru—ever. Just so you know, you and I are on the same page. Women can be so jealous at times. Foolish."

  "Yeah, well, she almost botched the delivery by sending six vamps after Damali's team, and then by going after the huntress herself."

  Nuit stared at Carlos hard. "The guardians are always expendable."

  Carlos shook his head. "Not if you want the huntress to feel safe and come out of hiding on her own."

  "That is brilliant… You do have a point."

  "You told me to bring her to you, untouched. Correct? And, that she had to comply of her own free will, or some shit like that, right?"

  Nuit nodded, no longer nonchalant. "You can get her to come to us freely?" Excitement exuded from him and he licked his lips, and then rubbed his jaw with his hand.

  "Your fangs are showing," Carlos said evenly. "Chill."

  "She'll do that to you. Forgive me," Nuit said on a deep breath. "Just one question… how in the hell did you back away?"

  The question gave Carlos pause, because in all honesty, he didn't know.

  "A sense of self-preservation," he finally replied, casting a disparaging glare toward Nuit. "I may be new, but I know better than to go against my maker… or a master vampire. If I chill, well, then it's all good."

  "The ability to govern such restraint is laudable… and very wise. Maybe making you wasn't such a bad decision after all." Nuit studied him for a moment and rubbed his palm over his jaw. "But you've never come to me to feed from my kills."