Not His Vampire: Vampire Romance (Not This Series Book 3)

by Annie Nicholas

  “Jade?” Eoin shook his head. “This sounds like something I need to hear at length and not in some cold field.”

  “I am taking Trixie home.”

  The dragon nodded. “Come visit when you have time. I would like to hear this story and throw out those chains.” He launched himself into the sky, wings beating a storm of wind.

  Viktor pulled on his jacket.

  “You’re taking me home,” she asked quietly.

  “Yes.”

  Trixie clutched him tight the whole journey. Her lush body pressed to his back like a sweet temptation. As he parked in front of his home, his blood burned. Not to feed, but for his woman.

  Viktor helped her off and her legs wobbled unaccustomed to straddling something for so long. He supported her under the elbows until she found her land legs. Her gaze wandered behind him to the old brick building. “Is this your tattoo parlor?”

  He winced. “I prefer tattoo studio.” He hung his arm over her shoulder and faced his home. Two huge picture windows, painted black, cover the front of the shop, his name scrawled in gold across both.

  “I imagine you’re only open at night.”

  “Of course. Let me give you a tour.” He tugged her inside before she could reply, his heart a hummingbird in his chest. He wanted her to stay. To want to stay of her own free will, not because she had nowhere else to go.

  She wandered along the wall where he had framed pictures of his best work, her fingers tracing the images. He did not have much furnishings since he only worked on one customer at a time. She glanced over his equipment and inks.

  He leaned against the wall, following her graceful movements among his things, within his sanctuary. He had not invited another vampire inside since opening the shop.

  Pausing by a mirror, she opened her mouth and examined her fangs.

  “Is something wrong with your teeth?” He stood behind her.

  “Just wondering. Will the New Port nest accept me? Are they prissy like Riverbend or can they tolerate a dogcatcher in their ranks?”

  His brow furrowed. “You want to live with them?”

  “I’m not ready to return to Ruby and I refuse to live with the dragons.”

  “This is your home.” He kissed her cotton candy hair. His beacon in the night, his hope and future.

  She glanced at him. “No vampire nest. No Paulo.”

  Viktor growled. “Not unless you want him dead.” He traced the outline of her ear. “I had hoped you would remain here with me. Use your drawing skills to create unique tattoo designs.”

  She laughed and wrapped her arms loosely around his neck. “This feels right. A new home for my new life.”

  “A safe home, where I can protect you.”

  “And I can protect you.” She kissed the tip of his nose.

  “I know this is not a luxurious mansion. We could always look for a nicer home if you want.”

  “You’re never going to forgive me for that, are you?” She twisted and wrapped her arms around his neck. “This place is perfect. I have had enough of mansions and fancy gardens. I’ve decided fancy balls are not for me.” She pulled him down with her grip on his hair.

  Taking her mouth with a slow fury, he made it clear she was the sole focus of his life.

  She surrendered with a moan, opening herself to everything and anything he wanted. Fingernails teased over the tense muscles of his throat.

  He scooped her into his arms and carried her to the elevator.

  She pulled away and blinked at the pristine metallic walls. “Where does this go?”

  “You do not think I sleep in the studio with those big windows.” He chuckled at her blush.

  “Maybe.”

  The doors opened and she slipped from his arms.

  Stunned, Trixie blocked the exit from the elevator until Viktor guided her steps forward. The whole second floor was one huge apartment—gleaming wood floors, large living room with fireplace, and a bed against the far wall.

  “No kitchen,” she murmured.

  “No food to cook. I do have a small fridge for drinks and blood.” He brushed the hair away from her neck, his breath hot and heavy on her skin. His fingertips caressed her hips, his hands rising to slip under the hem of her shirt to splay across her lower abdomen.

  She spun around, pressed her mouth to his, putting one hand on the nape of his neck, holding him close, never going to let go. He was hers. Her vampire. Her lover.

  Not breaking the connection, Viktor lifted her up in his arms and carried her across the apartment. The comforter was soft against her back when he laid her down, his body a heavy, muscled weight.

  She spread her thighs to accommodate him, her core aching for him.

  He kissed his way along her throat as her fingers clenched on the muscled heat of his back. The cotton of his T-shirt crumpled under her grip.

  “I want all of you,” she whispered. She reached down and pulled her shirt over her head to throw it to the floor. It left her dressed in a bra of delicate lace, her breasts straining to be set free.

  Viktor gazed upon her chest and snapped the clasp so the lingerie fell off her shoulders. He ran his rough palms over her nipples.

  She moaned, arching her back into his touch.

  Looking up, his long hair falling across her body, he closed his hand on her breast and settled his weight more heavily on her.

  Then he kissed her and petted and stroked her torso with possessive hands that made it clear Viktor Petrov had claimed her as his. She’d never wanted anything more in her life.

  Material ripped as he tore his T-shirt and tossed the rags to the floor and the naked heat of his flesh was pressed to her breasts.

  She traced the complex spell tattoo on his shoulder, her blood permanently embedded in his pale skin. “Do you really think it will work?” All her hopes for the future laid in this artwork.

  Closing his hand around her throat, he lowered himself until their breaths kissed. “Yours does. Betty’s did. So will mine.” She met him kiss for kiss. Her need for him a mad thing, she made a distressed noise when he lifted his body off hers.

  A hot look before he undid the fastenings of her pants with desperate hands. It took mere seconds to pull off her jeans and panties and another to take off his own. “I am going to taste every inch of you.” He knelt between her legs and nipped at her sensitive inner thighs.

  “Viktor.” Her mind exploded, her body howling, a soundless moan, his mouth hot and demanding on her flesh, his rough hands on her thighs as he held them apart. “I want—I want…”

  He rose up over her body, bracing himself on his right arm, using his fingers on the other hand to brush back her hair. “Tell me.” His voice an erotic caress against her ear.

  “I want you inside me.”

  His thick eyelashes fluttered closed and his abdomen clenched as his erection pressed against her abdomen, impossibly hard. “There will be some discomfort.” He settled his hips between her thighs, his weight deliciously heavy. “Tell me if I am going too fast.”

  She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t nervous. She wanted to be with him. This magnificent, beautiful, caring vampire. Trixie wrapped her legs around Viktor. “Love me.”

  His responding kiss was a naked demand. “Spread your legs wider,” he ordered once he released her mouth. Their gazes locked as he began to push inside her.

  A painful stretch had her hissing at the need that still wanted all of him.

  He stopped. His jaw brutal line. “Are you hurting?”

  Tight and full to the point it was almost painful and exactly where she wanted him to be. “I’m…perfect.”

  He shuddered and pushed farther in, withdrawing slowly then returning until he was buried to the hilt inside her. “Trixie.” Stormy eyes with so much emotion, he moved in an easy rhythm. His body rigid, the tendons of his neck standing out starkly.

  “Faster.” A breathless demand.

  His fingers dug into her hips. “You sure?”

  “Yes.
” Clawing her nails into his muscled back, she attempted to help by arching her hips.

  Viktor pulled out only to slam back in hard. He pounded deeper, over and over again, a primitive, rough, spectacular taking.

  Coming so hard Trixie splintered. She clutched his sweat-slicked skin. Their hearts drumming to their own love song. It was a possessive, passionate claiming as she orgasmed.

  Viktor came with a violent cry, his breathing harsh and his body rigid. He fisted her hair in his hands, molten stare pinning her gaze. “You are mine.”

  Epilogue

  She parked the animal control truck in front of the new building for Almost Home Rescue. Though she would moonlight as an artist for Viktor, she still wanted to try to keep her job as one of the city’s animal control specialists, as long as she could be home before dawn. Her tattoo made her sunlight resistant, not sunlight proof.

  Betty and Ken had returned from their honeymoon last week. Her werewolf best friend had been less than pleased to find Trixie with a new set of fangs.

  Trixie’s phone dinged with a text.

  Ruby: I don’t feel like going into work tonight. Can you introduce me to any hot, billionaire vampires?

  Trixie: Sorry, they’re all poor douche bags in New Port. I got the only good one.

  Ruby: Betty forgive you yet.

  Trixie: No, she’s still angry. For now.

  Ruby: When are you coming for a visit? I miss you.

  Trixie: I’ll stop by on my break tomorrow night. Viktor will chaperone.

  Ruby: Great, I’ll stock up on blood. TTFN.

  A whimper drew Trixie’s attention. She reached back and scratched a floppy ear. “Betty is going to flip her lid over you, baby.” She led her latest animal retrieval to the service door of the rescue and rang the bell. It was late, but she knew Betty was still here unpacking. Her best friend opened the door.

  “Look who I found wandering the park all alone.” Trixie stepped back so Betty could see the Great Dane puppy Trixie had on a leash. She had spent the last hour chasing the pup and it had evaded her, even with her vampire speed.

  Betty sank to her knees and greeted her distant cousin with ear scratching and kisses. “She has a collar and a tag. You could have just taken her straight home.”

  “I am taking her home. This is just a pit-stop for kisses. Am I forgiven now?”

  “Trix,” Betty growled, sounding very werewolfy. “There’s nothing to forgive. I just can’t believe you didn’t call me when you became vampire. And I’m a little hurt.” Betty rose and hugged Trixie tight, and punched her arm. “Then you dragged Chris into this and my dad. Am I the last one to find out?”

  Trixie shrugged. “My boss doesn’t know.”

  “Oh, how reassuring.” Betty eyed her. “Everything okay at work?”

  “Sure. Kennels retrieved and boss-man is thrilled I want permanent night shifts.” She winked. No one at her job had noticed anything different about her. Viktor always made sure she fed before each shift. “I haven’t bitten anyone.”

  Betty frowned. “And Viktor?” Betty had expressed mixed feelings about him. He’d helped save Betty, but he’d also scared the crap out of her when she met him mid-blood-thirst-craze.

  “No signs of bloodlust. Eoin hasn’t thrown his chains away.” They still owed the dragon for the car they stole. Viktor kept mailing the dragon miniature toy vehicles and she kept expecting to find the tattoo studio torched.

  “You know I’m not a big fan of magic.” Betty rubbed the spot where her tattoo had been. “Especially when done by Jade.”

  It technically wasn’t Jade’s fault, but Trixie would pick her battles. She just wanted her best friend back. “Time will tell.” She eyed Betty’s flat stomach. “Any signs of pregnancy yet?”

  Betty snarled. “Stop that. I’m not ready. You’re as bad as Ken, my parents, and Ryota.” She sighed. “You know this puppy is super adorable. Let’s introduce her to Ken.” Betty gestured for Trixie to follow. “I have a pot of coffee on.” She paused as she crossed the threshold. “You can still drink coffee, right?”

  “I’d stake myself if I couldn’t.”

  Betty laughed. “I’d stake you too, if you couldn’t. Some things are sacred.” She went inside.

  Trixie glimpsed a familiar shadow in the dark.

  Viktor stepped into the light and dropped a seductive kiss on her lips.

  “Are you spying on me?”

  “Maybe I missed you.”

  “We need to find you some customers to keep you occupied.” She took his hand. “I think Ken wants Betty’s name inked on his body.”

  “No more werewolves.” Viktor shook his head. “I had my fill in Riverbend.”

  She drew him inside the rescue. “Come on, it will be fun. You can even misspell her name if you want.”

  His mischievous grin filled her with hope for their future.

  Thank you for taking the time to read Not His Vampire. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends or posting a short review. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend and much appreciated. The next book of this series is Not his Christmas.

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  Did you enjoy your read? Want to try a similar series by Annie?

  Vanguard Elite Series

  You can start with Bootcamp of Misfit Wolves free! Or free with KU.

  Ian’s alpha tosses him out of his car at a training camp for worthless and weak wolf shifters run by a crazy vampire.

  His only choice is to escape and go lone wolf.

  Until he runs into Clare…

  She actually volunteered for this gig.

  Her wolf is all alpha but it’s crammed into a petite package, and she definitely has no mercy when it comes to him.

  The work is hard.

  The training dangerous.

  Surviving is optional.

  Clare can’t stand Ian’s disregard for her authority and he hates her driven ambition.

  Sparks fly and teeth are bared. Opposites attract they say.

  If they don’t kill each other first.

  Books by Annie Nicholas

  Not this Series

  Not his Dragon

  Not his Werewolf

  Not his Vampire

  Vanguard Elite

  Bootcamp of Misfit Wolves

  A Taste of Shifter Geekdom

  Blind Wolf Bluff

  Penny of the Paranormal

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  The Vanguards series

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  Omegas in Love

  Sigma

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  Hunting Colby

  Chronicles of Eorthe

  Scent of Salvation

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  Lake City Series

  Ravenous (Free)

  Starved for Love

  Sinful Cravings

  Stand Alone Books

  Irresistible

  Koishi

  No Refuge

  Boarded

  For more information on coming releases go to http://www.annienicholas.com

  About the Author

  Annie Nicholas writes paranormal romance with a twist. She has courted vampires, hunted with shifters, and slain a dragon’s ego all with the might of her pen. Riding the wind of her imagination, she travels beyond the restraints of reality and shares them with anyone wanting to read her stories. Mother, daughter, and wife are some of the other hats she wears while hiking through the hills and dales of her adopted state of Vermont.

  Annie writes for Samhain Publishing, Carina Press, and Lyrical Press.

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  Published 2017

  Copyright by Annie Nicholas

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  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental and not intended by the author.

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