by Fawn Lowery
I sense your distress…and something more, Ronna. You are aroused.
She sucked in a quick breath. Chandler had managed to figure out the zipper of her jeans and pushed them off her hips. All that lay between her moist crotch and his hard needing cock was a thin film of silk panty.
He was barbaric as he tried to bare her crotch. In his hurried fumbling, his knuckles brushed her clitoris and sent her into a gasping fit. She lunged upward, surprising him, and freeing her hands at the same time. She yelled and pushed him backward, causing him to lose his balance and roll on his side.
Ronna scrambled to her knees, fumbling to pull her jeans up over her hips.
Marcus! Get here now! Chandler is here—
I am moments away, Ronna.
Chandler caught her around the waist and pulled her back, pushing her down on the floor.
She screamed and tried to get away, only to end up beneath him once more. She scuffled with him as he tried to grab her wrists.
“Stop! You’ll be sorry when Marcus gets here!”
He stilled suddenly and fear shot through Ronna. His eyes were glowing red, like Marcus' did when he became angry or was about to feed. She saw the white tips of fangs poking out of his mouth as he slowly lowered his head toward her.
“Oh please, don’t bite me, Chandler.”
“I feed first—then we rut.”
“Marcus will be mad.”
“Why would Marcus object to my feeding? I am famished.”
“Because…I’m Marcus' woman.”
CHAPTER 24
Chandler paused, pulled back, stared down at her with glowing red eyes.
Ronna hurried to take advantage of his hesitation. She rolled to one side and scrambled to her feet. Racing across the room, she almost collided with Marcus as he appeared in the doorway.
“Marcus!” She rushed in to his arms.
She felt Marcus’ uncertainty as he gazed at his brother sitting on the floor.
“Chandler.” He hugged Ronna briefly and then released her to cross the room. “You are a free man again.” He reached one hand to his brother, helping him to his feet.
Ronna leaned against the wall near the doorway and stared at the two. Had she really confessed to Chandler that she was Marcus' woman? The thought clung to her mind. Under the circumstances, it had been the right words to utter. Apparently there was honor among the brothers.
Or a little respect for whatever wench he was fucking at the time.
She saw the curious glint in Marcus' eyes as he glanced over his shoulder at her. Surely he would question what had gone on once Chandler had been freed—the curiosity in his black eyes said as much.
Marcus embraced Chandler and the younger brother appeared genuinely happy to see him.
“You must nourish yourself.”
Marcus drew a sharp nail across his wrist and offered his blood to Chandler.
Chandler grabbed the opportunity to feed. He clamped his mouth over the flowing vein and drank.
Ronna turned away, horrified at the sight.
* * * *
Ronna stood across the room and gazed at the gathering. Duella, Jarharis, Chandler and Marcus were having a happy reunion. She looked on, the sight of Chandler drinking blood from his brother’s wrist, still very vivid in her mind.
The notion to leave and never think about Marcus again materialized in her brain. She had hoped to be gone before Marcus awoke. She chewed on her lip. The urge to grasp the amulet and wish herself home grew strong within her. She raised one hand and curled her fingers around the gem. Perhaps she could disappear while Marcus was occupied with seeing his long lost brothers. Maybe he wouldn’t miss her for a while. Maybe he wouldn’t even remember her after a few years.
She fought the onset of tears. The life of a vampire was too horrific for her taste. She could no more imagine herself surviving on blood than she could envision herself being voted the witch of the century.
As if there is such a thing as witch of the century.
Her silent thought drew Marcus' attention away from his brothers. He turned curious eyes on her standing across the room.
She tried to smile at him, tried to convey the feeling that all was well now that all his brothers had been found and freed, but she fell short of convincing him. The look of puzzlement in his dark eyes said as much.
“My brothers, we are very much in Ronna’s debt. She found each of us and freed us from the witch’s evil spell.” Marcus turned a smiling face on Ronna.
She glanced from one brother to the other, her gaze falling lastly on Chandler. He looked a little sheepish when their eyes met. Well, she told him he would be sorry.
They came toward her all at once, their arms open, smiles on their faces. She felt a rush of warmth surge through her insides. The sincerity on their faces spoke of their gratitude. They were genuinely grateful to her for saving them from the horrible fate bestowed on them by Drucella.
She returned their hugs when they enfolded her in their arms. Chandler appeared the most standoffish of the brothers, perhaps because of his desire to take her sexually before Marcus arrived. She smiled up at him, letting him know that all was forgiven. Had it been under different circumstances—well, he was incredibly handsome—and the size of his cock—
“Enough,” Marcus announced, pulling Ronna from the circle his brothers had formed around her. “She is mine. You are free now to find wenches of your own.” He laughed and was joined in laughter by his brothers.
“What will you do now, Marcus?” Jarharis inquired, his handsome head tipped in Marcus' direction so as not to miss a word of his brother’s plans. “The manor is not as it once was. Many of the villagers have left the area. There are few to service your wishes. And too, there is no longer a massive army needing leadership into battle.”
Marcus glanced at Ronna. “This lovely witch has stolen my heart.” He embraced her. “I will go where she goes.”
Ronna tried not to show her surprise. She hadn’t even thought for a second that Marcus was planning on returning with her to her time period—once his brothers were found. She had foolishly been under the impression that he wanted her to stay at Morganford with him. She lowered her eyes, aware that if she met his gaze, he would read the turbulent message in her eyes.
“My brother,” Jarharis said. “Perhaps we all could return together.”
Ronna almost choked. Surely he was kidding! How could she justify turning four vampires loose in Brooklyn?
“Life in another century? I would relish it!” Duella said. He smiled broadly, looking from one brother to the other. “But is such a thing possible?”
“Indeed it is,” Marcus assured them.
“But how?” Chandler inquired, a puzzled look wreathing his handsome face.
“Ronna is a very powerful witch,” Marcus said.
Ronna felt relief travel through her. For a second she feared Marcus was going to reveal her secret.
“She wears the amulet around her neck—like the witches of the coven,” Jarharis noted, his voice flat and emotionless.
Ronna’s relief was short lived. She darted her gaze toward Jarharis. The studying look on his face revealed his puzzlement—and his determination to unravel the mystery of his brother’s words.
“But unlike the witches of Morganford coven, Ronna is not evil. She is a good witch. Can you not see from her efforts to free all of you?”
“We are all grateful, Marcus. We have expressed our gratitude,” Jarharis qualified. “But what is the meaning of the amulet she wears? We removed the talisman from the necks of the other witches—but we do not know their secrets.” He poked his hand into his britches pocket and pulled out one of the amulets he had taken off the witch he had killed when he awoke and needed to feed. “How do we unlock their magic?”
All eyes turned to Ronna.
She glanced from one vampire to the other, finally pinning her gaze on Marcus. “I can’t answer your queries. I don’t even know the full capabilities of the amulet I wear.” S
he raised her hand and grasped her amulet.
“I too have an amulet I took from the neck of a witch,” Duella announced. He pulled aside his shirt and revealed the bead hanging around his neck.
Ronna was shocked to see that Duella was wearing the amulet. All her life she had been unable to remove the necklace—how was it that Duella had managed to place it around his neck? Had it lost its powers?
She gazed at the charm suspended around his neck and nestled in the fine black hair splayed across his chest as a terrible thought occurred to her.
Perhaps the amulet serves only to enhance the relationship between the vampire and the dark one. If that is true, then the dark one allowed Duella to place the amulet around his neck.
The thought made her shiver with dread. Why hadn’t she made it a point to see that the amulets were destroyed? Having them remain in existence only gave the dark one more power with which to manipulate unsuspecting people.
No, she couldn’t allow them to come back to her century. She couldn’t allow them to be free in the time she knew. True, it was an unpredictable time—but to deliberately allow vampires armed with amulets loose in Brooklyn—
I’ve been called crazy—
“My love,” Marcus said. “Now that my brothers have been rescued…” His voice trailed off as he tightened his arm around her waist.
She realized then that he knew of her thought about the amulet and the dark one.
“Perhaps it would be wise to allow them to return to your time with us.”
He had voiced the very thing she didn’t want to let happen. She lowered her gaze, trying to think of some way out of the situation.
“Tiana. I forgot about the fairy, Marcus. I left her cooling her heels in a cage at Morganford. I should go release her.” Actually, she didn’t give a shit about the saucy little imp but if it would buy her some time away from the vampires…
“I’ll take care of Tiana,” Jarharis announced.
He was gone in an instant, shape shifting and flying from the room.
Ronna felt her stomach tremor. Jarharis had taken any chance she may have had to escape away in the blink of an eye. She sucked in a deep breath and turned her gaze upward to meet Marcus’ curious black eyes.
“What is it? You are uneasy about something.”
She forced a smile.
“Come. We will talk.” He took her hand and led her from the room. Within seconds he lifted her into his arms and took to the air.
Ronna held tightly to his neck and wondered where in the world he was taking her. He had left the grounds of the castle far behind and she could see the dark waters of the ocean beneath their bodies.
Marcus held her and traveled a great distance through the darkness, silently.
Ronna tried to keep her mind blank for fear he would question her reluctance to have his brothers accompany them to her time period. She bit her lip. Thank God the darkness concealed her face from Marcus' scrutinizing eyes.
The breeze was chilling against her face and just about the time she thought she was frozen, Marcus descended. He released her gently, setting her on the ground as if she were a prized possession.
His tenderness almost made her cry. She had wanted to be gone by the time he awoke, but Chandler’s rambunctious behavior—and her madcap antics to destroy the viewing pot—had caused her to run out of time. She felt her temples pound. What could she possibly say to Marcus to make him understand?
She found they had descended to a small island. It was lush with greenery and tall, towering trees that swayed softly in the breeze off the water. So unlike the coldness of winter surrounding Morganford and Drucella’s castle. She looked around, marveling, as the moonlight illuminated everything in a beautiful silvery glow.
He clutched her elbow, grabbing her attention away from their surroundings. He pulled her into his arms and lowered his head to claim her mouth.
She released a sigh and kissed him back, twining her arms around his wide shoulders. She leaned into his strong body, forgetting for a time that he was a vampire and she had wanted to flee from him. In some incredible way, his familiarity was comforting to her senses.
His hands rose to stroke her back, slowly, sensuously. His mouth was gentle on her lips, taking her sweetness with soft kisses that served only to arouse the need within her. She moaned and pressed her breasts into his chest.
He lowered his hand to grasp her buttocks, pressing her abdomen against his crotch. A hard cock was forming between his legs and a breath caught in her throat when she realized he intended to make love to her.
She thought briefly of her decision to leave him, of her selfish need to return to her old life without bothering with him any longer. She felt a sharp pain cut across her insides. She could no more deny him then she could deny the fact that she wanted him to take her right there in the soft green grass of the island.
She snaked her hands up his shirt, feeling his back. The muscles there were long and ropy, taut beneath the covering of smooth skin. He was cool to her touch—a shard of regret stabbed her insides.
He is not mortal.
My sweet, I cannot change what I am. He pulled his mouth from hers and gazed down at her.
His face was only a shadow in the moonlight filtering through the swaying treetops. Though she could not make out his handsome features, she felt his plight at her thoughts. She fought the onset of tears.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Marcus.” There was a tremor in her voice. “But we both know why you brought me out here.”
He pulled in a long breath and stroked her hair before he released her. “I love you, Ronna.”
His words brought tears spilling down her cheeks. She turned her back to him, afraid he might see how his words affected her with his keen eyesight. She bit her lip when he placed his hands on her shoulders and drew her body back against his. His erection was firm against her buttock, making her close her eyes and regret that she had not encouraged him to make love to her.
“I am sorry you can not return my love.”
The tone of his voice shot straight to her heart, making her wince. “Marcus, we have only known each other a short time—“
“And yet you cannot come to terms with my being a vampire.”
“I’m sorry. I—“
He grabbed her shoulders, turning her around to face him. “I’ve never loved a woman as I love you, Ronna. When I say that we are soul mates, I mean that you are the only woman in the world for me. We belong together.”
His voice was tinged with authority, as though he were trying to make her believe as he did. She placed one palm against his chest. “Maybe if we had met under different circumstances—“
Why did I say that?
He chuckled and tugged her into his arms. “My sweet Ronna. You are confused. You need time to think things through.”
“Yes. You’re right. I need time.” She rolled her eyes in consternation and released a sigh of relief.
“Then my darling, you shall have time—time to think and consider things.”
CHAPTER 25
Marcus sat her down in the courtyard of his estate, gently, her feet touching the gravel while he steadied her with one hand. He had been silent on the flight from the island and Ronna had been unable to sense his mood, though she doubted it was anything but jubilant since she had just as well said she wanted to return home without him or his brothers. She considered their conversation about her taking time to decide if she could ever love him. Her heart pained with the regret that sounded in his voice.
Marcus led the way into the house. Ronna followed a short distance behind. She felt as though she had erected a wall between them, a wall that would forever be standing. She could no more bring herself to admit her love for him than she could understand why she had not returned home the minute she understood that the amulet could transport her there. Her temples throbbed with the ordeal.
Marcus lit a fire in the hearth and took a seat nearby. Ronna glanced at him as she entered th
e room. He was seated in the straight-armed chair she had tied him in when she thought she could force him to answer her questions. She smiled slightly. She had been silly to think she could control him. In the end, he had allowed her to see that he had been compliant just to placate her.
“Marcus.” She crossed the floor to where he sat and took a seat on his knee. She wound one arm around his neck and kissed his temple.
He pulled her against his chest and covered her left breast with his hand. “I may be a vampire, Ronna, but I have all the sexual needs of a mortal man.” He moved her suddenly, splaying her across his lap, her legs open to his investigative hands. He cupped her crotch. “I intend to make love to you. Do you want me to take you here, in this damn chair, or do you want me to carry you upstairs to bed?”
His voice was gruff, his erection straining at his crotch.
Ronna released a shiver of longing and leaned in to kiss his mouth.
He moaned and clutched her face in one hand, pressing his lips solidly against hers.
She tasted blood on her tongue as his kiss broke the skin on her lip. She closed her eyes tightly and allowed him to take control.
He lifted her from his lap and stood, then crossed the room to the stairway. With little effort he carried her up the winding stairs and down the long hallway to the bed she slept in. He lowered her gently, his lips still clinging to hers.
Tears flooded her eyes as she realized she had hurt him and for her own selfish reasons. What did it matter that he was a vampire? He held all the emotions of a man—mortal or immortal. He could make love to her and fulfill every one of her expectations. He was everything she wanted in a man—and more.
Marcus, please forgive me.
Shhhh. There is nothing to forgive.
He removed her clothing so quickly that she barely had time to realize she was naked. He joined her on the bed, his body big and pressing against hers as if he would never let her go. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and drove her mouth against his.
All her life she had been searching for something. Foolishly she had thought it was family. As she kissed Marcus and felt his love for her seep into every pore of her body, she realized with wonderment that he was her every fulfilling desire.
