The Red Veil Diaries (Volumes 1-4)

by Marianne Morea

  “Did it ever occur to you I got what I wanted from you, and now I’m done?” She met his eyes. “Why are you here, Dash? What’s there to solve?”

  “Us,” he replied.

  She dropped the soiled towel to the floor. “Us. And what does that mean, exactly?”

  Dash took a step forward, moving closer until they were toe-to-toe. “Whether you want to admit it or not, there’s something between us, Abby, and it’s buzzing like live current.”

  Running his knuckles over her bare arm, he grazed her bare nipple with his hand. “The thrill, the lust, but it’s more than that, and you know that, too.”

  Abigail’s hand shot up, seizing his wrist. She forced his hand down, spreading her legs. “Is this what you mean? Is this the profound connection we share?”

  He growled, cupping her mound and she hissed, as his thumb slid into her slick slit. She rocked her hips against his palm, riding his hand, and slipped her hand behind his head to urge his mouth to hers.

  The tip of tongue stroked the seam of his bottom lip and she sucked on the tender skin. Drawing blood with the edge of her fangs, her fingers dipped to free his cock from his pants.

  “You’re full of surprises, Dash,” she whispered as his thick member filled her smooth palm, a tight ring at the base of his shaft making her raise an eyebrow.

  He chuckled as she squeezed his shaft, her lips spreading in a grin across his mouth. “All the better to please you with, my dear.” His eyes closed as electricity skimmed over his corded flesh.

  “That’s my point. I never imagined you for the kind who’d settle for sloppy seconds.” She shoved him back, his hand jerking from her pussy. “Did you happen to pass the youngblood in my office as you sniffed around for me?”

  His eyes snapped open and his gaze flashed yellow in the mirror. Provoked, he growled low, but bit down on his urge to smash her face into the glass. He wouldn’t take the bait. Instead he pivoted her around with a rough shove toward their shared reflection.

  “Look at yourself, Abigail.” He gripped both wrists in one of his hands while fisting her hair in the other, forcing her to look in the mirror. “There’s a flush to your skin tonight that could pass for human, but you’re not, are you? You’re light years removed from the tenderness of a beating heart.”

  “A human heart was something I left behind a long time ago.” she snorted in reply. “Big deal.”

  Shaking his head, his lips were a thin, controlled line. “You’re a—”

  Her eyes flashed and she cut him off. “Go ahead, Dash. Say it. I dare you!”

  His eyes met her reflected glare, but he didn’t reply.

  “I’m a what?” She goaded again. “Say the words so I can rip your tongue out with my teeth!” She lifted her chin, her mirrored eyes as hard as flint.

  “Okay, Abigail. I’ll say it. Out loud. You’re a beautiful, foul-tempered wench sometimes, but behind your fanged bravado, you’re still the most exciting woman I’ve ever met. I can’t get enough of you, Abby, and if you stopped your bitchy bullshit for one moment, you might see you can’t get enough of me, either.”

  She blinked at him, but the shadow that crossed her face didn’t escape his notice. He let go of her shoulders, leaving her to watch in the mirror as he walked from the bathroom into the adjacent room.

  Standing with his back to her, he finally turned and sat on the edge of her bed. “Why do you insist on baiting me? I don’t appreciate whatever it is you’re playing at, Abby. We had a connection. I felt it. You felt it. So, what now?”

  Unapologetic, she smirked, grabbing a robe from the back of the bathroom door and shoved her arms into the sleeves. “I thought you liked playing with me.”

  Dash raked a hand through his hair. “Jesus, woman. Your emotional whiplash is killing me.”

  With the ghost of a smile, she tied the front of her robe. “If I wanted you dead, wolf, you’d be a drained pile of fur by now.”

  He got up from the bed and moved to stand in front of her again. “So why the attitude? I came here to talk, not have you bite off my head.” He smirked. “Though, you can use your teeth on my other head all you like.”

  Abigail’s lips pushed to one corner. “You interrupted my dinner, Dash. What else would you expect from a hungry vampire?”

  “First off, that wasn’t dinner, Abby. That was vampiric binge eating.”

  She laughed out loud. “Vampire’s don’t have eating disorders, dude. I don’t binge.”

  “If that wasn’t binge thirst, then what was it? With the amount of my blood in your veins, you shouldn’t be hungry for weeks.” He angled his head her way, a slow grin spreading on his face. “Unless you’re as insatiable in that department as you are in bed.”

  She smirked again. “You wish.”

  Dash hooked his fingers into her belted robe. “Are you telling me you aren’t insatiable?” He tugged her against him, letting the hard bar of his cock say the rest.

  Abigail lifted her chin, a denial on her lips, but before she could say a word, his mouth slanted over hers.

  “Denial is a river in Egypt, your Majesty. You want my dick so bad you tried to cock-block yourself gorging on that donor. Why is it so hard to admit you can’t get enough of me?”

  She snorted. “Nice try, wolf. You’re fun to pet, and play hide the stick with, but otherwise?” She shook her head. “Dogs may be man’s best friend, but wolves are pack only. I learned that a long time you’re your kind doesn’t play well with others. Not long term, anyway.”

  “And vampires do?” he shot back.

  “There’s no need for prolonged playtime, Dash. Short, hard and sweet. Be happy with that.”

  Dash heard her words, but her scent told him differently. “You’re lying, Abigail. You want more from me than just my dick and for longer than just a few days.”

  Her eyes found his. “Do you tempt me, Dash? She shrugged. “Yes.”

  “Then why—”

  She cut him off again. “Will this ever be more than a casual fuck?” She shook her head. “No. Been there, done that, and the experience was nothing short of a fur flying shit show with a steaming side dish of betrayal. So I use you for your dick. Big deal. Why should I care when wolves use my kind for a quick high and nothing more?”

  His jaw tightened. “I’m not the rest of my kind, Abby. When you figure that out, come find me.” He let go of her robe and stepped back.” Until then, I suggest you stay out of my way so I can finish the job we started.

  “I can’t do that.”

  He exhaled. “You can’t have you cake and eat it too, Abigail, regardless of what your vamp code tells you.”

  “It’s not that, Dash.”

  “Then whatever it is, just spit it out.”

  “One of the Jane Street donors is dead, and another is gravely ill. Your serum didn’t work. Sébastien is on his way home,” she said the words quickly.

  “What?” He stared at her. “When were you planning to tell me? Is this the reason you’re giving me the brush off?”

  She opened her mouth but then shut it again as if not sure what to say. “No, but it’s for the best.”

  “Why? So you can tell Sébastien this is my fault?” he shot back.

  Abigail blinked at him. “Of course not, but you’re as much to blame as I am.”

  He nodded. “You’re right. I am, but I’m the one who’s guilty of bury my problems in sex and blood instead of facing them.”

  “Guilty?” The word was half question, half accusation and she inhaled. In that moment her eyes changed. They weren’t her normal blue, nor were they vampiric red from blood and lust. They were a wild swirl of both.

  “How dare you!” She flew at him, pummeling his chest. “You should die of the guilt you carry! You left me without hope! I loved you and you broke my heart, leaving me with nothing but an empty hole and a stake through my chest! You betrayed me!”

  “What the fuck?” Stunned, he gripped her wrists. “Abigail! What the hell! Stop it!”
/>   She fought, snarling, her teeth gnashing at him.

  “Abigail Bigly! Stop. This. NOW!” He shook her hard, not knowing what else to do. It was as if she couldn’t hear him.

  At her full name, she crumpled in his arms, sobbing. “What you did killed me more than when Sébastien took my human life.”

  Mystified, he didn’t know what to say. “Abby, what are you talking about? I didn’t do anything to you.”

  “Liar!” Her sobs were soft hiccups.

  Dash’s mind raced. Did vampires have breakdowns? “Abigail—do you know where you are?” He cautiously stroked her damp hair. “It wasn’t me who hurt you. I swear it. What can do to help you?”

  She blinked and his words seemed to penetrate. Her eyes cleared and when awareness hit, she jerked back from him.

  She blinked at him, just as confused. “I’m so sorry, Dash. I don’t know what happened. Your scent—it—” She shook her head, her words trailing off.

  His eyes searched hers trying to understand as she mumbled to herself. “My scent, what? Abby?”

  She didn’t answer.

  Reaching for her, he folded her in his arms and kissed her forehead. “I don’t know what just happened, Abigail, and I don’t think you do either, but I swear I’ll help you figure it out once this serum issue is cleared up.”

  Embarrassed, she sucked in a ragged breath and nodded. Straightening, she took a step from him again, wiping her face on the back of her hand.

  With a small smirk of a grin, he puffed out a breath. “You’re a complete mess, you know that?”

  She laughed looking at the red tear stains smeared on her hands and wrists. “Inside and out, it seems.”

  With a sad smile, she motioned to the crimson marks dotting his shirt and his neck. “Looks like I got you good, too.”

  Dash reached for her hand again. “I would say so. Inside and out.” He gave her fingers a squeeze.

  Walking her backwards, he steered her into the bathroom until her butt pressed against the porcelain vanity. He untied her robe, slipping it from her shoulders. Lacing his fingers with hers, he pushed both hands to her pussy and stroked her clit with his thumb.

  “You asked if this was our profound connection,” he said, his lips hovering over hers. “It’s part of it, Abigail.” His rough pad circled her nub. “Want to help figure out the rest?”

  Dash lifted her onto the vanity and she spread her legs, her knees on either side of his hips. He reached behind and turned on the tap, letting hot water run.

  Stepping back, he stripped his ruined shirt from his body, letting it drop to the floor before doing the same with his pants.

  Naked, he moved between her knees again and kissed her, reaching for a washcloth from the shelf above the toilet.

  His fingers slide over her lower back to the curve of her ass, his thumbs running along the soft globes before he dipped the square into the steaming water.

  Dash bit her bottom lip, drawing the tender flesh through his teeth as he pulled the dripping washcloth from the basin.

  Wiping her cheeks and neck, he let the mix of water and blood drip over her breasts and belly. He repeated the motion, grazing the rough terry over her nipples before squeezing fresh water over the firm mounds.

  He let the clean water pool, mixing with her slick juices until he washed away every trace of the youngblood, earlier.

  With a groan, he licked the trace blood from her taut peaks, working his way to the juncture between her legs. “Your pussy is soaked, Abby. Even more than the rest of you.”

  She leaned back, gripping the side edges of the porcelain, spreading her knees even wider as he licked her slick folds.

  He teased her clit with the rough edge of the terrycloth and she gasped, jerking her ass closer to the end of the vanity and further into his mouth.

  “You’re mine, Abigail Bigly. MINE until I say otherwise, and that’s never going to happen.”

  Dropping the cloth, he straightened before grabbing both her wrists. He held them in one hand behind her back as she arched forward. He bit her nipples, sucking the hard peaks until she begged for his cock.

  He shook his head. “Not until I say. You’re a control freak, Abigail. Too much so. You’ve baited me and tried to ride roughshod, but your nickname means nothing tonight. I call the shots.”

  Holding her hostage, he slid her forward, and when her feet hit the floor he pulled her hands around toward her belly, but didn’t release his grip.

  “On your knees, Abby.” He helped her sink to the floor, keeping her hands locked above her head.

  Her pink tongue darted out to moisten her lips and his cock jerked in response. He pressed his thick head to her lips. “Take every inch.”

  She opened her mouth and sucked him in, taking his full length. Dash growled, holding her wrists tight as he fucked her mouth.

  He pushed her arms back, folding her elbows so he could grab the hair at the nape of her neck, keeping her locked, pushing her to take him deeper into her throat.

  His head swelled to near bursting and he pulled his cock from her mouth. He wrapped his hand around his shaft and squeezed, running his palm over his smooth, full head.

  “Show me your tongue,” he growled.

  Abigail parted her lips and licked the underside of his bulging head, cupping the pearl of cum at its end with the tip of her tongue.

  The raspy feel sent Dash over the edge and he fisted the back of her head, urging her face up. Throwing his head back, he roared as spurts shot from his cock, hot and salty, onto her tongue and face.

  Abigail squeezed his shaft, her hands milking him as she lapped every ounce, sucking his engorged head until he slumped forward, his arms around her shoulders.

  Shaking, she pushed him back and climbed to her feet, her own body demanding satisfaction. Wiggling herself onto the vanity, she spread her knees, slipping a finger between her shaved folds.

  “My turn,” she murmured.

  Cock still hard, he dipped his head and licked her clit, savoring the slick, sweet taste. His tongue laved her wet slit in short quick strokes, his hands gripping the sweet curve of her hips.

  He shoved her thighs wider, letting his fingers delve inside her moist sex, her juices slick against his palm while his tongue and teeth worked her hard nub.

  His mouth moved in time with his fingers, and Abigail fisted his hair, grinding her pussy farther into his hand. She cried out, her hips thrusting as she rode his palm, his mouth sucking her clit until her climax rocked her backward and her head cracked the mirror behind her.

  Dash didn’t blink. Instead he lifted her onto his thick cock and shoved her against the bathroom wall, burying his member hard and deep into her pussy.

  She locked her legs around his waist and he rode her hard, his hips bucking and thrusting upward until she exploded again, her fingers digging into his back as her juices dripped down his balls.

  Exhausted, she slumped against his shoulder, her body shuddering with aftershocks.

  With a grin he, nudged her chin up, taking her mouth, again. He kissed her gently, the taste of their mingled essence teasing his tongue.

  “Now you know,” he whispered against her lips.

  “Know what?” she replied with a gasp.

  “What being a bitch will get you when you play with the big dogs.”

  Abigail nipped the bottom edge of his lip. “I can always bite back. Don’t tempt me.”

  The erotic mental picture made his cock stir within her and Abigail’s breath hitched in her throat.

  “God help me, woman, everything about you tempts me.”

  9

  “I cannot and will not have this in my absence, Abigail. I am most disappointed,” the master vampire frowned.

  They were alone in the council room. Sébastien with his back to the crackling fire, pacing before he settled into his council chair, and Bette and Abigail side-by-side in front of him. Summoned.

  Against Sean’s better judgement, the wolves were in attendance as
well, relegated to the back of the room. The Alpha of the Brethren of Weres and his mate did not look happy.

  Dash watched Abigail. She stood straight with her head high while Bette fidgeted. Every muscle twitched in his body with the need to protect, to shove Abigail behind him and take whatever the master vampire dished out.

  He knew it wasn’t his place to interfere or interject, and reminders of where they were and who they faced loomed as large as the specter of the empty council chairs on either side of the master. What could he do? As it was, Sean barely had a say.

  Four powerful vampires encompassed the New York council, and Sébastien was first among them. The others were not present, but with a snap of his fingers they would come and Abigail and Bette would suffer, unless their master was persuaded otherwise.

  Abigail would take the heat, and Dash’s jaw clenched with the knowledge. The realization like vinegar in his mouth.

  She dipped her chin before lifting her eyes to meet Sébastien’s unwavering stare.

  “There is nothing I can say in my defense. I allowed myself to become distracted, and in doing so failed in my duties. I’m sorry, Sébastien.” Abigail didn’t blink, her voice surprisingly steady, considering.

  He eyed her, his lips a harsh line. “Ah, but from the sweet glow evidenced in your skin and your even sweeter scent, clearly not sorry enough.”

  The vampire slid his eyes to where Dash and Gehrig stood, and quietly sniffed. “One need not stretch the imagination to guess what was so diverting.”

  Sébastien templed his fingers, shifting his attention to Sean. “I trusted you to choose emissaries that would uphold our truce, not abuse my hospitality.”

  Sean’s eyes were flinty, but from his stance it was clear he measured his words. “I have no doubt my hunters made a foolish choice, though I wouldn’t go as far as to claim your hospitality was abused. Not when the home team was so willing.” His eyes turned to the two vampires standing in front of their master.

  “Fraternization is strictly forbidden,” the alpha continued. “Especially when on assignment, and liaisons with vampires are doubly so. I’m not thrilled with the incident, but it’s done, and we have more important issues to discuss.”