He didn’t want to be evil again.
“You want her,” he said softly, still gazing upon Meena’s beautiful face as she slept in the seat next to him.
He took a deep breath and then exited the vehicle, heading around and getting Meena as well. She never stirred as he carried her sleeping form over the threshold of what he had always viewed as their future home. Though none who knew him would believe it. They saw him as a man with too much money, a mansion, and countless cars and expensive toys. They did not see him as a man who lived on a historic farm, painstakingly returning it to its original state, but with modern amenities.
Something about it had called to him. Much like Meena and the way she had always called to him. Without thought, he lifted her higher in his arms as he headed up the stairs. He kissed her forehead, his body tightening with need for her.
She whimpered and twisted against him. “Bhal?”
“Sleep, my love,” he said, and tensed.
My love?
He nearly missed a step. A small chuckle broke free from him. He would need to be renamed Two Left Feet at the rate he was going around Meena.
As he reached the top of the staircase, he headed for the master bedroom. He’d redone the entire home with UV-protected windows and plantation shutters. In addition, he’d hung thermal curtains to add yet another layer of protection from the sun’s harmful rays. He also made sure to keep a fresh stock of blood on hand, for long nights when he worked on the grounds. He’d been restoring one of the three barns on the property over the course of the last few months—stealing away whenever he had free time.
Bhaltair carried Meena to the king-size bed and laid her gently on it. He was about to walk away and leave her to rest while he made her a cup of tea when he noticed her shoes were still on. He removed them slowly, careful to not wake her, still unsure how she’d managed to heal herself by merely having a blood exchange with him.
Was Aine right?
Meena turned, her dark hair fanning out around her on the white pillow. Her ruby-red lips parted slightly, and it took all his control to avoid bending and sampling them. He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anything in his immortally long life. Hunger for her lanced through him, bringing his demon forward and nearly to the surface.
Staggering away from the edge of the bed, Bhaltair gasped and held up his hands as if to defend himself from what lay within him. “No. I’ll nae allow harm to come to her.”
He nearly drew upon his vampire speed to run out into the night and put as much distance between himself and Meena as he could, but that wasn’t what happened.
His demon didn’t want blood.
No.
It wanted sex.
With Meena.
Bhaltair shook his head, desperate to cling to control. He forced himself away from her more and found himself at the doorway to the master bathroom. He hurried into the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face, his hands going to the edges of the sink as he bent his head. He had not struggled with control like this for centuries.
Why now?
Why with Meena?
She is your mate. Aine is right.
With a gasp, he froze. No. He would have known sooner, right? He had heard Labrainn speak of Aine and how he’d known upon first glance that he wanted to make the woman his. Stamatis and Megan had wasted very little time joining after meeting. The few other vampires he knew with mates all claimed their women quickly after crossing paths with them.
A sobering thought came over him. Each of them had met their significant others when the women were already of an age to be claimed. Bhaltair had known Meena since she was but a babe in her mother’s womb. Had something inborn kept him from seeing her as a mate while she grew to be an adult woman?
Was that why he’d struggled so with his desires for her once she’d become of claiming age? Was Aine right?
“No,” he said, his voice hoarse. She wasn’t his, and to allow such foolish notions to enter his mind, even to merely entertain them, would cause him to unravel. Whatever was happening between them was a fluke. It would sort itself out, so long as he kept himself from doing anything stupid, such as walking into the other room and kissing her, like he wanted desperately to do.
“Bhaltair?” she asked, her voice cutting through his thoughts.
He wasted no time moving quickly to the side of the bed. She looked up at him with wide eyes. “Where are we?”
“Yer safe. I’ve nae heard anything of yer would-be-lover. I can go and check in. I know you wish to be with him and nae here with me.”
She moved with a speed that stunned him. Speed she should not have as she launched herself off the bed and at him.
He caught her around the waist. She wrapped her arms around him and held him, shaking in his arms.
He was powerless to do anything other than return her embrace. “I’m so verra sorry, lass. I should have never allowed harm to befall you, and I should have gone in search of yer Rudy the moment you requested it of me. Once we know the threat to you is no more, I’ll take my leave of you, and I will be the one to suggest to Labrainn that I be sent to Scotland to oversee affairs there.”
She leaned back, and the next he knew, she hauled off and slapped him across the face with enough force to actually make it sting.
He gasped, and she glared at him. “Don’t you dare talk about leaving me again. You think my sister is a hellion, you just watch, mister. I’ll show you what a woman on a rampage looks like if you dare try to leave me. I will not have my mate on the other side of the world. Understand me?”
Bhaltair heard her words, but the pull of her lips moving was too much for him to resist. In one quick motion, he captured her mouth with his, thrusting his tongue into her mouth, silencing her instantly.
She went limp in his arms, her tongue greeting his in return.
He knew he should release her and put distance between them, but he couldn’t. He found himself carrying her toward the wall, ravishing her mouth the entire way. Bhaltair pressed her body against the wall. He ground against her, wanting to be one with her.
She ripped at his shirt, exposing his chest. Bhaltair could barely think, let alone stop himself as he took her wrists, pulling her hands from him, the press of his body keeping hers pinned to the wall.
“Bhal,” she whispered, biting at his lower lip.
He shook as he fought for control of his raging need for her. “Meena, lass, I want you, but I do nae want to hurt you.”
She writhed against him, tipping her head back, exposing her neck to him. The temptation to sink his fangs into her creamy flesh was so great he wasn’t sure how he managed to avoid doing just that.
He was about to release her when white light burst free from her, bathing him and the room.
Instincts nearly had him diving out of the way, fearful the light would be as the sun’s rays were to him—deadly. But he couldn’t leave her. He held her as she cried out, the light dimming quickly, her gaze filled with confusion.
Inhaling, Bhaltair smelled it then—power. It was raw and thick all around them. It reminded him slightly of Aine’s, but it also had trace elements of vampire as well.
Meena struggled against his hold on her wrist. To his shock, she broke free. She grabbed his face, power still riding the air between them.
“Now,” she said, something off in her voice. “Take me now.”
“M-Meena, no,” he returned, desperately wanting to give her what she wanted.
In the blink of an eye, she was standing on her own, thrusting him backward, in the direction of the bed. Bhaltair hit it with such force he was surprised the frame didn’t buckle and break.
Meena moved at him with a speed that rivaled a vampire’s. She shook her head, worry crossing her face. He knew then she wasn’t in control of what was happening to her, and it scared her as much as the events surprised him. He caught her gently, dragging her down on top of him.
“I’ve got you, love.”
“Bhal,�
� she said against his ear, her nipples hard and easy to feel even through the material of her shirt. “What is happening?”
Every bit of doubt he had on if she was his mate or not, and if he’d claimed her vanished. He knew then Aine’s words were true. Meena was his.
“Yer nae human, lass. Yer my mate, my wife, and yer coming into yer full powers. Do nae be scared. I’m right here with you. Just let me love you.”
He barrel-rolled with her, putting himself on top. He touched her neck gently and then dipped his head, his mouth finding hers. Their kiss was tender, yet full of need. He broke the kiss long enough to speak. “I’ll be gentle with you, Meena. You have my word.”
She grabbed for him, kissing him with a hunger that made him smile against her lips. She wanted him too, and that meant the world to him. He skimmed his hands down her torso and eased them up and under the surgical scrub top she wore, exposing her bare breasts to him. His cock hardened to the point he was sure he would come then and there. Meena writhed under his touch, responding to him with ease.
“Yer mine, lass. All mine.”
Chapter 10
Meena tipped her head to the side as Bhaltair’s mouth closed over her nipple. She’d never felt so much pleasure before and thought for sure she’d burst from it. He managed to make her body burn even more when he rolled his tongue around her nipple as he ground his lower region against hers.
“Bhal,” she whispered, running her hands through his hair, holding him to her breast. His fangs nicked her nipple, and a flash of pain raced through her, followed quickly by pleasure as Bhaltair began to suck. He increased his movements against her, grinding his clothed erection against her mound, causing liquid to pool at the apex of her thighs.
Meena arched her back, countering his movements, wanting more than he was offering. She wanted all of him, and he was taking far too long to get to the good parts. She whimpered, his name falling from her pursed lips once more.
He eased off her, taking the pleasure as he went. He undressed before her, giving her a show as he undid the buttons of his shirt and slid it off. The man was chiseled perfection, and her mouth watered at the sight of him. When he got to his belt, her eyes widened, and the edges of his lips quirked upward slowly. He knew the effect he was having on her.
She didn’t care. She wanted all of him and fast.
Lifting a hand, she reached for him, but he shook his head, easing his pants open, his long, thick cock breaking free and bobbing in the air. He was huge, and she wanted to touch him, taste him, feel him.
Meena attempted to sit up, but he was suddenly over her again, his clothing fully discarded, his naked body against her. He hooked a finger into the top of the scrub bottoms she wore and met her gaze. Flecks of black began to swim through his irises, and she knew he was fighting his vampire side. She didn’t care.
“Love me,” she said.
“Aye, lass. I intend to.” He lowered his head and trailed a line of kisses down to the top of the scrub bottoms. Using his teeth, Bhaltair tugged her bottoms down her body inch by painfully slow inch until they were off. She thought for sure she’d combust as he kissed her bare inner thighs, shoving them apart, leaving her pussy exposed to him.
Bhaltair growled and dipped his head, burying his face between her legs. Meena nearly came up and off the bed as he swiped his tongue over her clit. She gasped, her legs falling open more. He thrust a finger into her tight, wet channel, and it hurt at first, as he broke through her virgin barrier. She flinched, and Bhaltair increased his licks against her clit, chasing away the pain. Meena wasn’t sure how her body managed to adjust to his finger, but it did. Within seconds, he had another finger added to the mix, stretching her more and more.
Glancing down the length of herself, she met his hot, smoldering gaze. She’d never felt so free before, so wanton, and she loved every second of it. She touched the side of his head. “I love you.”
He lifted off her pussy, his chin glistening with the proof of just how much she enjoyed his actions. His gaze narrowed as he moved up and over her, clutching his erection with one hand. He lined up with her core and steadied himself with one arm above her. “I love you too, lass.”
She ran her hands up his arms and over his back. He stared down at her, passion burning in his dark eyes. His cock nudged at her thigh. She gasped at the feel and the size of it, convinced something so large would never fit into her.
His kisses came faster. She clung to him, opening her legs wider for him to settle between her thighs. He was too much, too big. Meena’s first reaction was to push him off, but her legs wrapped around his waist as if they were no longer taking signals from her brain. They wanted all of him. Her hips were next, swiveling under him as he began to inch slowly in and out of her.
Before she knew it, they’d struck a rhythm together, and the pain ebbed away. He plunged into her like a piston, hammering her body to the bed in a most delicious manner. She moaned, pleasure racing through her. He pumped harder, drilling into her, and she clung to him as pleasure built.
“Yes!” she cried as the muscles in her legs began to tighten, and her stomach quickened.
He kissed her, and she felt his fangs increasing in size. Their mouths followed the same erotic dance as their bodies, kissing, loving, exploring. Breaking the kiss, she offered Bhaltair her neck, knowing deep down that the vampire side of him craved the act as much as it did sex. She wanted him happy and fulfilled. Wanted to give her mate what he required.
Bhaltair drew away from her mouth and locked gazes with her. “Do you accept me?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
He struck, snake-like, at her neck.
There was no pain. Only pleasure that crashed over her, making her legs quiver. Bhaltair jerked above her, his body going rigid. His head remained down, and she knew he was still biting her neck, drinking from her.
She ran her hands into his hair. “Mine,” she whispered. The pleasure reached new levels and she cried out, her body shaking beneath him as she orgasmed. The pleasure surged through her lower regions and she cried out, grabbing a handful of his hair with one hand and raking her nails down his back with the other. Her hips erupted in uncontrollable undulations as her pussy spasmed around his cock. Bhaltair thrust in deep, his fangs still in her neck, as his body tensed. She knew he was coming in her, filling her with his seed.
Meena eased her hold on his hair and kissed his temple as he drew off her neck and licked the area he’d bitten. He stayed rooted deep in her body. “Meena, did I harm you?”
Her eyes widened a second before she found herself laughing. “Ohmygod, if that was your idea of hurting me, do it again.”
He offered a bad-boy smile. “With pleasure, my love.”
She touched his cheek. “Are you okay with the idea of me being your mate? I know I’m not what you originally wanted.”
Bhaltair stayed above her. “Meena, look around at this house. I bought it for you, for us, long ago. And even though the dream of you and me together here seemed like a fantasy that could never happen, I know now I’ve spent the last twenty plus years preparing for you to be my wife. I’m sorry I was too stubborn to admit that fact.”
She lifted the hand she’d raked down his back and noticed blood on her fingers. “Sorry.”
He waggled his brows. “Do nae apologize. Blood turns me on even more.”
She gulped. “I was kidding about doing it again. I need a few minutes. You’re a big guy and it was my first time.”
“I love you,” he said, kissing her tenderly.
Chapter 11
Bhaltair stood behind his wife as she sat in a chair in the living room of the farmhouse. Labrainn and Stamatis stood opposite him, both looking less than pleased to see him touching Meena. Aine, who was between the two vampires, couldn’t seem to stop smiling. Megan, who was sitting on the sofa, looked happy as well.
Megan spoke. “How does it feel to be someone’s wife?”
Meena took a deep breath, moving her hand
over Bhaltair’s on her shoulder. “Good. Really good, Mom. Tell me the truth, how many times did Dad threaten to kill my husband?”
Megan snorted. “I lost count around fifty. Your grandfather was worse.”
Labrainn huffed. “She’s just a babe. Too young to wed.”
“Dad, I mated with Stamatis around the same age,” said Megan.
Labrainn gave Stamatis a hard stare. “Do nae remind me.”
Whitney entered and glanced around. “Nice place. They tell me it’s yours.”
“Ours,” said Bhaltair, rubbing his wife’s shoulders tenderly. “What have you learned of the attack on Meena?”
Whitney continued. “It was planned. We tracked the hybrids’ trails back to a lab on campus.”
Meena gasped. “Rudy’s lab?”
Labrainn locked gazes with Bhaltair, and he felt the familiar tug of his master’s voice in his mind. Who is this Rudy?
A man who thought he could dare touch my woman.
Stamatis stepped forward. “Sweetheart, Rudy was one of the hybrids. Sambora came to the scene and verified the tests PSI was doing. Rudy was one of the hybrids that Bhaltair killed.”
Meena looked up at him and he waited, expecting his mate to be angry with him. She sighed. “One of them knew my name. That was him, wasn’t it?”
“More than likely, my love.”
She stiffened. “I’m so sorry I brought that into your life.”
She was sorry?
Bhaltair moved around, stood before her and bent, taking her hands in his. “Meena, you dinnae bring anything bad into my life.”
Whitney cleared his throat. “PSI thinks Rudy was working for some place they call the Corporation. From the sounds of it, the thing is evil to the bone.”
Meena closed her eyes and a lone tear fell down her cheek. “I’m so sorry, Bhal. I should have known.”
“Lass, do nae weep. I will be forced to seek out a voodoo priestess and raise Rudy from the dead so that I can kill him again.”
Taming the Vampire: Over 25 All New Paranormal Alpha Male Tales of Contemporary, Military, Shifters, Billionaires, Werewolves, Magic, Fae, Witches, Dragons, Demons & More Page 50
