A Vampire's Thirst

by Bella Roccaforte

  A Vampire’s Thirst: Hunter

  Bella Roccaforte

  All Rights Reserved

  A novel set in A Vampire’s Thirst World Created by A K Michaels ©

  © 2018 Bella Roccaforte

  No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author. You must not circulate this book in any format. Doing so constitutes copyright infringement. Thanks for respecting the rights of the author.

  Disclaimer: This was a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictional manner. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, was purely coincidental.

  * * *

  Notice: This was an adult erotic paranormal romance with love scenes and mature situations.

  It was only intended for adult readers over the age of 18.

  * * *

  Cover design by: Monica La Porta. All stock purchased.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Epilogue

  Also by Bella Roccaforte

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  Runa stood at the large, wooden loom weaving the shuttle back and forth through the threads. She appeared oblivious though she heard him coming up the path.

  He couldn’t mask his heavy footsteps, he loved sneaking up on her.

  “I hear you.” The smile in her tone warmed the room.

  He lunged forward, looping his arms around her waist and kissing her bare skin. It had been months since he’d seen her.

  Her head rolled back with a gasp escaping. “I missed you, my fierce hunter.”

  “And I you, my love.” His breath brushed against her neck and he slid her dress down, revealing a tattoo on her back. “What was this?” He traced his finger along the lines of the symbol.

  “I missed you so much, I wanted part of my hunter to be with me always,” she said, dropping the shuttle from her hands.

  “It’s beautiful.” His lips grazed against her shoulder. “Just like my woman.”

  “Did you bring me something?” she asked, reveling in feel of his teeth raking against her skin.

  “Yes, something big,” he growled in her ear.

  Her hand slid up his leg, taking his hard member into her hands, stroking gently. “Something other than this?”

  “Is it not enough?” he asked, playfully pushing harder against her hand.

  She turned around in his arms, looping her fingers behind his neck. “It’s more than enough.”

  He hummed with delight at her touch, her fingers twisting in his braids. “Kiss me, my love.”

  Runa’s eyes closed, and she puckered her lips playfully.

  “It’s been too long.” He leaned down, covering her mouth with his.

  “Far too long,” she said in a breathy voice.

  Runa stepped back to unlace the front of her dress and dropped it to the floor, eliciting a low growl from her hunter.

  He traced his fingers along her gentle curves. “This was what kept me warm on the coldest of nights—thoughts of you.”

  He licked his lips, grabbing her ass and lifting her. She squealed with delight, wrapping her legs around him and staring him directly in the eye, “Once . . . then a bath.”

  He carried her across the open room to a platform bed lined with furs. He laid her down and took a moment to admire her naked form. He reached into one of his pouches and pulled something out balled in his fist.

  “Oh, what was that?” Anticipation danced in her eyes.

  “Something shiny,” he said, letting the chain unfurl directly above her, an iron key danged from the end.

  “A key, what does it unlock?” she asked.

  He leaned down close to her, “A tiny box that was empty, but I saw the intricate beauty of the filigree and knew it must be yours.”

  “I love it,” she said, sliding the chain over her neck.

  He tickled his lips against her breasts, taking one of her nipples into his mouth. Her heavy breath urged him on and she tangled her hands in his hair.

  He kissed lower to her belly, before standing to undress himself.

  Her hands glided over her own body as she watched him shed all the layers of clothing.

  He stroked his cock. “Are you ready?” He kneeled on the platform and playfully buried his nose at her core, giving one flick of his tongue. “Oh yes, you are.”

  He pulled her legs up, bringing her pussy closer. He watched her reactions, pressing the head of his cock against her clit. “I missed you.”

  Runa hooked her ankles together in the small of his back and thrusted forward, taking all of him in. Every contour of his member rubbed against her walls. He forced his thumb between them and rolled it over her swollen bundle of nerves.

  A breath hitched in her throat at the sharp pleasure, sending fire racing through her veins. Pleasure contorted his expression while her channel owned his cock.

  Her nipples puckered into hard buds as he rolled them between his thumb and forefinger. Taking ownership, he grabbed her breasts.

  Runa gasped for air, the orgasm building in her belly took full control of her body.

  Her movements became less metered and more urgent, his deep thrusts growing harder and faster. “Tell me you’re mine.”

  She gazed up with hooded eyes. “I’m yours.”

  He buried his cock inside her, holding still while her walls squeezed around him. He slid out slowly and thrusted into her again, watching the ecstasy build in her eyes.

  She bit down hard on her lip, writhing against his cock, her pussy begged for more of him inside her. He pounded hard against her rhythmically, the way she loved to be fucked.

  Runa’s pleasure pooled between her thighs and the heavens exploded behind her lids. She let out a moan in tune with her hunter’s roar as he filled her pussy with his warm seed.

  “Runa, my love,” he said breathlessly, collapsing down onto her. “You are the only woman I ever want.”

  A lackadaisical smile lit her features. “Promise me.”

  “I promise you, I belong to you; mind, body and soul, or may the gods strike me down,” he proclaimed.

  “And I you,” she breathed, curling into him.

  * * *

  Hunter awakened disheveled and released a breath of disappointment at hearing cars passing by. He didn’t have to look, she wasn’t there and hadn’t been for thousands of years. He ran his fingers along the iron key hanging around his neck, bracing himself for the thoughts that always rolled through his memory when he dreamed of her. The visions of her laughing, dancing and caring for their sons. Her beauty was beyond comprehension.

  Hunter dropped the key back to his chest and stood from the bed. He watched from the window as the city came to life at nightfall.

  He focused on the people below, trying to empty his mind. His reflection sh
owed the remnants of the Viking he once was. His chiseled chest covered in tattoos, the scars of battle long since gone. He hardly recognized his neatly trimmed hair and beard.

  A flash of memory struck in his mind’s eye. He pressed his palms into his eyes, staunching the vision of his Runa lying still on the palette of furs, blood staining her chest.

  “I will come to you, my love. I will find a way into Valhalla,” he whispered to the stars, hoping she was there listening.

  Chapter 2

  Rook leaned across the scared Formica table. “You actually think I’m afraid of you?” She speared him with a steely glare, praying he couldn’t feel her shaking in her boots.

  “You should be, I could break your fragile little neck,” he answered, matching her stare.

  “Death doesn’t frighten me, and neither do you.” She pushed her unruly curls out of her eyes before sliding out of the booth.

  Jeziah snatched her wrist, stopping her short. With warning in her glare, she glowered down at his hand then into his eyes. “Do you know who I am?”

  “Yes, you’re the foolish girl that snitches for The Directive,” he scoffed, tightening his grip on her wrist. “A lowly human, in way over your head.”

  Rook jerked her hand away from him, “Don’t try me, vamp, or you’ll find out just how lowly I am.” She turned toward the door, addressing the bartender, “See you next time, Seamus, Jeziah’s picking up my tab.”

  “Sure thing, always a pleasure,” Seamus answered, absently polishing a glass.

  She flited out the door to the safety of the sunlight. She slung her backpack over her shoulder and strutted down the sidewalk, stopping at her favorite taco cart. “Julio! What’s free today?” She pumped her brow playfully.

  “Nothing is ever free.” Julio grimaced, “But for you, I have one vegetarian taco already made.”

  “Aren’t you a sweetie!” She took it and sniffed the package, knowing there was no food inside. “Mm, my favorite. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  “I’ll be here.” Julio tipped his head toward her, laughing. “One day you’ll pay for a meal.”

  She continued down the sidewalk and darted into the alley. “Yes, but not today,” she said, unwrapping the tinfoil from the wad of money. She slid a twenty-dollar bill out, stuffed it in her pocket and shoved the taco money into her bag.

  Rook went through the alley and came out on the next street over in Bywater to pop into the corner store for a snack. “No beignets today, Percy?” She smiled sweetly, putting the twenty on the counter.

  “You’d have to be here before noon for that.” Percy quirked his brow. “Just the hot dog?”

  “Yup, this will do,” she said, pushing the bill toward him.

  “On the house . . . those have been sitting on the roller for hours anyway.” He pushed the bill back toward her.

  Rook winked and shoved the twenty back into her jeans. “Just the way I like ‘em.”

  The bell rang as she opened the door and went on her way.

  A feeling of uneasiness came over her, putting her on alert. She patted her pocket to make sure she had her knife.

  “You know, you’d do well to be a little more discreet,” a creamy voice sounded from behind her.

  “Hello, Samuel.” She took a bite of her hot dog, and spoke with her mouth full. “Don’t talk to me about discretion, I heard you coming from a mile away.”

  Rook never broke her pace or her penchant for sarcasm. “Besides, while we’re talking about discretion, do you really think you should be seen speaking with me on the street like this? Out in the open? In the daylight no less?”

  Samuel chuckled. “A mile?”

  “Figure of speech.” She shrugged, taking another bite. “The point was, you’ve never been able to sneak up on me. I’d say I expected more from a shifter, but you’re so damn big there’s no way for you to keep quiet.”

  Samuel feigned offense. “I sneak up on lots of people.”

  “Like Jeziah?” She flashed a look upward, trying not to make eye contact with anyone unless she had to. Samuel was hot as hell, but one hundred percent off limits. He was a supernatural, she didn’t want that kind of complication in her life. Besides, he was Directive and she didn’t like cops.

  “I want to know who tipped him off,” Samuel growled, balling his fists.

  “Easy peasy.” Rook tossed the wrapper from her hot dog in a trashcan they were passing.

  “If it’s so easy, why don’t you get me the info?” he said with an edge of irritation.

  “I already have it.” She made a quick left turn.

  “Then who was it? It was Bryson, wasn’t it? I knew that son-of-a-bitch was dirty.” Samuel shook his head.

  “No, asshole, it was you,” she said, picking up her pace slightly.

  Samuel grabbed Rook by the shoulders and pushed her up against the brick building. “Don’t play with me, human.”

  Rook fortified herself, glancing at his hands on her shoulders then glared up at him with grit in her tone, “Get your paws off me.”

  “I’m tired of your games, Rook.” Samuel released her, blowing out a frustrated breath. “Everyone else may think you’re cute, but I don’t. This was serious. We’ve got a group of vamps running blood slaves through my city and it has to stop.”

  Rook pursed her lips. “The blood slave trade or the fact that they’re coming through your city?” She made quotie fingers.

  Samuel stopped and thought for a moment, catching the rare seriousness in her tone. “Both.”

  “Good, then know when I say it was you that tipped him off, I’m telling the truth,” she said, leaning back against the wall. “I was there, I saw the boat pull up to the dock. Jeziah was about to open hull and then he turned around and looked right in your direction. He could smell you. I could hear you coming and as you like to remind me on a regular basis, I’m just a human.”

  “There’s no way.” He turned away from her, running his fingers through his long blond hair.

  “Think about it, if he had been tipped off, the boat never would’ve made it to the dock. You were there, you saw it.”

  Samuel gave her theory some thought. “So what do we do?”

  “Stay far enough away and let them get everyone off the boat. Bust them after they get them loaded into the next transport. Or bust them before they get to the dock,” she said as though it’s simple.

  “Do you know when the next shipment is coming in?” he asked.

  “It’ll be a while.” She glanced down at the ground. “Word is they’re running them through Biloxi now.”

  “Fuck!” Samuel balled his fists at his side, pacing.

  “If you want to get them so bad, go to Biloxi.” Rook started walking away.

  “I’m not done with you,” he called after her.

  “Then you’d better start walking, I’ve got someplace to be,” she said over her shoulder.

  “I can’t bust them in Biloxi.” Frustration riddled his tone.

  “If you want to stop it so bad, call your buddies in Biloxi,” she said simply.

  Samuel let out a low growl.

  “Ah, I see.” She turned, looking up at him with a knowing smile. “This is about you busting Jeziah.”

  “Yes, I want that fucker put away. I want to see the look on his face when I put his ass down.”

  “Then stop being a pussy and just kill him.” She popped a piece of gum into her mouth and offered him a piece. “Gum?”

  He waved his hand no. “I can’t just kill him.”

  “Why not?”

  “That’s not how it works, I like my job.” He shrugged.

  “Well, the problem is, Jeziah isn’t at the top of that food chain,” Rook said, deep in thought. “You can kill him and honestly, no one would notice. The vamps would have a replacement in minutes.”

  “That’s true,” Samuel admitted.

  “So, call Biloxi, tell them blood slaves are coming in and at least get it shut down at that port.” She stopped and looke
d him hard in the eye. “It’s the right thing to do.”

  Samuel’s expression fell. “You’re right.”

  “I know I’m right.” She smiled. “Now go do your thing and I’m going to do mine.”

  “I don’t suppose you have any info on who is at the top.”

  “Not yet, but I’m getting closer.” She pondered. “I have some ideas, I’ll let you know when I have something concrete.”

  “What about the Purists?” He lowered his voice.

  “That I don’t know anything about. So far as I know it’s a myth,” she said quickly. “I gotta go.”

  “You are going,” he pointed out.

  “I’ve got to go where I don’t want you going with me.” She pinned him with a look.

  “When will I hear from you again?” He asked.

  “Give me a couple of days,” she said, walking away from him.

  “Hey, Rook.”

  “Yeah?” She turned around, walking backward.

  “Be careful.” The worry in his tone warmed her.

  “I can take care of myself,” she said, turning back around. “You take care of yourself, Jeziah ain’t no joke.”

  “Neither am I,” he grunted.

  “You’re a big puppy.” She waved with a laugh. “But if you ever put me up against a wall like that again, I’ll gut you.”

  * * *

  Rook pushed the red door open to Vivienne’s. “Hey, beautiful!”

  “What are you doing here?” Vivienne came from behind the counter, dodging the herbs hanging from the ceiling. “Smelling of werewolf.” She eyed her suspiciously.