OnsetofDanger

by Aubrey Ross

  “Glad to hear it.”

  “Then offer me your mouth so we can finalize the agreement.”

  Her face was on a level with the distinct ridge in the front of his jeans so his meaning was obvious. He didn’t want a kiss. He wanted to fuck her mouth. She generally enjoyed oral pleasures but this felt different somehow, more ritualistic.

  He brushed her hair back from her face then rested his hands on her shoulders, waiting.

  She unfastened his jeans and lowered the zipper, her pulse accelerating with each metallic click. She didn’t want a protector, didn’t want to be so helpless she couldn’t defend herself. Vladya hosts were strong, ruthless warriors. This felt like defeat before the battle was fought.

  His hands remained on her shoulders as she drew his cock out and caressed it. He was long and thick with a dramatically flared tip, surprisingly warm within the circle of her fingers. She slid her fist up and down as she eased her other hand inside his open pants and cupped his balls. He didn’t rush her, didn’t maneuver toward her mouth or pull her closer. She explored, learning his texture and scent before moving on to taste.

  She continued to pump his shaft and he shifted restlessly. His balls tightened, drawing up against his body. She bent toward him and teased the sensitive tip with her warm breath. He groaned and squeezed her shoulders.

  “The vow is sealed with an exchange of fluids, first come and then blood.” His gravelly tone sent a hot tingle down her spine and she looked up at him. His features were tense, eyes softly glowing with emerald intensity.

  Understanding the underlying caution, she finally took him into her mouth. She closed her lips around his tip and he surged deeper, sliding along her tongue until she was forced to breathe through her nose. Damn, the man was big. She pulled back, swirling her tongue as she retreated, then took him deep again.

  His fingers dug into her shoulders and she heard his throaty moan, sure signs that his control was slipping. With firm suction and the steady slide of her lips, she set out to shatter that control. She moved her hands to his hips and angled her head to better accommodate his size. He bumped the back of her mouth with each long stroke, but she controlled the movements so she didn’t feel trapped or overwhelmed.

  Her breasts swayed as she rocked back and forth and heat gathered between her thighs. Why was her body responding when she was focused completely on him? She swiped his tip with her tongue and his taste intensified. Her pussy tightened and her clit tingled as waves of heat washed over her body. Confused yet intrigued, she spread her legs and let air brush across her wet folds.

  “Faster.” He growled and moved his hands to her head. “Your scent is driving me crazy.”

  She tilted her head back as he began to move, his rhythm faster and deeper than hers had been. She spread her legs even wider and lowered her hands to her thighs, becoming a passive offering to his need. A fresh wave of sensation curled through her, trailing tingles in its wake. His cock slid against her lips, filling her mouth with his taste as she surrendered to the pleasure.

  He shoved to the back of her mouth and cried out then his seed splashed into her throat. She swallowed, shivered then swallowed again. Her core clenched with needful hunger but her orgasm remained just out of reach. Heat trailed down her throat and spread out from her stomach. She felt weightless and dizzy.

  He pulled out of her mouth and urged her onto her back. She gasped as her skin connected with the cold floor tiles, but he draped her legs over his shoulders and covered her slit with his mouth and she forgot all about her discomfort. Without finesse or hesitation, he devoured her cream. His tongue drove into her core and he slipped his hands under her ass, tilting her hips to an even better angle.

  Sensations ricocheted through her body. Heat shot through shivers and tingles turned back into heat. She wiggled and arched, feeling restless and wild. She buried her fingers in his hair and rubbed against his lips, but that only heightened the anxiousness.

  One of his hands released her behind as he raised his mouth from her creamy slit. He snarled and tossed his head, his eyes so bright she could feel his gaze on her damp flesh. He licked her slit from back to front, pausing to circle her clit. Then he thrust into her with his fingers as he looked into her eyes.

  “Come.” His voice was rough and low, his fangs fully distended. “I want to watch you shatter.”

  His fingers slid in and out, his thumb passing over her clit each time his fingers were buried inside her. She arched into the firm strokes and squeezed him with her inner muscles. Her skin felt tingly and tight and her blood seemed to sizzle. Pressure built within her, curling in on itself as she raced toward completion.

  She couldn’t escape the burning heat of his gaze. Closing her eyes only focused her mind on the sensations. His fingers fucked her mercilessly, his thumb demanding her surrender. Aggressive. Strigo. Master. He commanded her senses with inherent ease. Her body responded eagerly but her mind struggled against the inevitable end.

  “Look at me. You will not hide your pleasure from me.”

  Bracing herself for a fresh wave of emotion, she slowly opened her eyes.

  “Now come!”

  Pleasure burst at his command. Her pussy rippled, driving the sensations deep into her abdomen. She cried out and arched off the floor, driving his fingers even deeper into her aching cunt.

  Energy pulsed, Vladya energy. Her symbionts tossed, vibrating with urgency.

  Trepidation surged through her system, warnings she was unable, or unwilling, to heed.

  Bronik slipped his other hand out from under her and shoved his pants down around his knees. With one blinding-fast motion, he pulled his fingers out and positioned his shaft at her entrance. Then he grasped the backs of her knees and pushed her legs up and out as he drilled into her with his cock.

  Eloise cried out as he filled her. The ruthless position bent her in half and accentuated the pressure of his penetration. “Hold yourself just like this.” It wasn’t a suggestion.

  Her arms felt weighted and numb as she grasped the backs of her knees. The position had been shocking when he’d arranged her body that way. This was so much worse. She held herself open, knees to each side of her chest so he could still touch her breasts.

  He settled on his knees and squeezed her nipples, pressing and pulling until the tips were tightly beaded and hot. His cock remained deep inside her, an inescapable presence, intrusive yet still.

  “Do not resist and I will make this as painless as possible.”

  Dread washed over her, cold and sobering. He was going to form the link. He’d claimed her body and now he was going to enslave her mind. She let go of her knees and started to shove him away, emboldened by an instinct for self-preservation.

  He caught her wrists and pinned her hands to the floor on either side of her head. “This must be done. There is no other way.”

  His body arched over hers, large and threatening. “I don’t want—”

  “You’re frightened. That’s natural, but you don’t want to die.”

  His fingers threaded through hers, holding her hands to the floor. She was pinned beneath him, helpless and utterly out of options.

  “I cannot force this on you. You must be willing.”

  His claim would have been easier to believe if his cock weren’t deep inside her. He could easily force anything on her and they both knew it. Strigo strain excelled at mind manipulation. On Strigoia Prime they were heads of governments, industry magnates, kings. Vladya strain had been their henchmen, the force by which Strigo strain enforced their will. But always behind the fist had been the real power—Strigo strain.

  But this wasn’t Strigoia Prime. And her symbionts were barely alive.

  “Choose.”

  He couldn’t pass her energy without the link and without energy she would die.

  She couldn’t force the words past her dry lips, so she turned her head and bared her throat, demonstrating her decision.

  He swooped down and drove his fangs into h
er flesh. Searing pain stabbed into her neck, radiating deep into her chest. She screamed, trembling beneath him, but the worst was yet to come. He drank deeply for only a moment then his lips settled against her skin, his fangs still embedded in her neck.

  Reality slowed, sound fading to an indistinguishable buzz. She couldn’t move, couldn’t think beyond the inescapable realization that he was about to take over.

  Her symbionts surged, struggling, bucking, desperate to be free. They sensed her peril, knew their host was in mortal danger.

  Bronik pushed against her mental shields. Energy poured into the shields, instinctively reinforcing the barrier. But how had that happened unless… She scanned herself and her symbionts responded, faint and fatigued but present. They were alive and aware! Hope drove back the paralyzing fear and she began to struggle as well.

  Stop fighting me. I don’t want to hurt you.

  But I don’t need—

  His being stabbed into her mind and she screamed again. Had he not heard her plea or simply not cared that she’d changed her mind? She felt him searching, scanning, pushing ever deeper. Her symbionts flowed into her brain, congregating in an attempt to drive out the intruder.

  Strigo symbionts responded to the threat, speeding through her bloodstream and surrounding her Vladya symbionts. Energy sparked between the hostile strains, creating sharp stings inside Eloise’s brain. She gasped and shivered. “Make them stop.”

  Bronik eased back and called off his symbionts with a sharp mental command. His strain stopped the offensive but remained in position, surrounding the Vladya congregation.

  Are they strong enough to feed?

  Hunger blasted through her system, making her tremble and moan. Her fangs shot down so suddenly she pricked her lip and tasted blood, which only intensified the need. “Yes. Oh gods, yes!”

  Then feed. I’ll back off my symbionts so you receive only blood.

  She wanted to refuse, to ask for a human donor, but she was too desperate to wait. If he wanted her dead, she would have been dead several times over. He released one of her hands and brought his arm toward her face. She latched on to his wrist with brutal urgency, driving her fangs deep with one vicious bite.

  He gasped and his fangs slipped from her flesh. He released her other hand and braced himself against the floor. His hips pulled back then jerked forward, driving his entire length back into her pussy.

  Pleasure shot through her body and she groaned against his wrist. His blood tasted rich and exotic, different from any blood she’d ever tasted before. She wasn’t sure if she was just hungrier than she’d ever been or if his planet of origin accounted for the difference. She didn’t care! It felt so good to feed, to be functional again.

  Strength trickled back into her muscles and her senses cleared. She withdrew her fangs with a deep sigh and turned her face away from his wrist. As the bloodlust receded, she became progressively more aware of his big body moving over and into her.

  She raised her arms overhead and drew her legs up along his sides. Energy pulsed and sizzled, making her dizzy and drunk. She arched into his thrusts, accenting the friction and slide.

  “Welcome back.” He grinned at her, bloodstained lips framing his fangs. He’d never looked so savage or so appealing. Desire surged through her, reawakening her senses.

  Unable to remain passive, she tangled her fingers in his hair and drew his face down to hers. Their mouths met and meshed, the kiss instantly frantic. Their tongues curled and slid, mixing the taste of their blood into an intoxicating cocktail.

  He growled and she groaned, and their psychic link came to life. His emotions barreled into her mind, triggering a sudden, sharp orgasm. She cried out and arched violently as her inner muscles gripped his cock.

  She’d shared thoughts and the occasional feeling with others of her strain, but none of that compared with this intimate exchange. She felt what he felt, the warm grip of her passage and the softness of her breasts. His desire burned through her as well as his need to protect and please her. This wasn’t just sex for him. He felt a connection with her, something he had accepted but didn’t fully understand. The depth of his longing surprised and excited her. She’d had no idea all these feelings smoldered beneath his fierce exterior.

  His excitement fueled hers, motivating her to examine her own feelings more closely. She explored his amazing body with her hands while she flowed through his mind, acquainting herself with the real Bronik. He was brave and strong, loyal and honorable. And he was hers. The thought thrilled her, stoked her desire into a consuming intensity. She pushed all that urgency into his mind and basked in the blaze.

  Bronik gasped and shuddered then gripped her hips with both hands as he thrust fast and hard between her thighs. She watched his face, empowered by the frenzy she’d unleashed in him. She no longer felt helpless or lost. She surrendered to the intensity and offered herself without hesitation.

  He pounded into her, his head thrown back as he lost himself in the urgency. His demanding need spread through her like wildfire and she reveled in the heat. She was alive and whole again. Nothing had ever felt so liberating.

  Suddenly he dove and bit into her breast. The pain shoved her over the edge and she came in long, deep spasms. He wrapped his arms around her hips, anchoring her against him as his seed burst deep inside her. Each rush of pleasure echoed through her body, prolonging and intensifying her release. He shuddered and ground himself against her, wringing every last tingle from their joining.

  With obvious reluctance, he withdrew his fangs and rocked back onto his knees. He was still inside her, though the pressure had diminished considerably.

  “Did you know this would happen?” She watched him closely, determined to know the truth.

  “I thought it might but I didn’t want to give you false hope.” He heaved himself off her with a sigh and moved to sit beside her. “Your symbionts needed to feel threatened. Every creature is most dangerous when they’re fighting for their lives.” He righted his clothing and ran a hand through his sweat-damp hair. “How do you feel?”

  She stretched like a lazy cat just awakened from a long afternoon nap. His gaze swept the length of her naked body and desire smoldered within his eyes. She licked her lips, savoring the mixture of their blood. “I’ll admit this was pretty amazing but it wasn’t necessary. You need to release the link.”

  “I do, do I?” He chuckled and stood. “You think the ability to feed is all it will take to keep you alive? If anything you’re in more danger now. With your symbionts back online you’ll be easier to track.”

  She stood as well, facing him as her temper flared. “I’m not helpless anymore. I can take care of myself.”

  His gaze narrowed and his lips pressed into a disapproving line. “The vow is sealed. You have my protection whether you want it or not.”

  “The link was just formed.” Emboldened by desperation, she advanced, not stopping until they stood toe to toe. “I know you can dissolve it.”

  “You know nothing.” He collared her throat with one hand and leaned down until their lips touched. “If I dissolve the link you’ll be my prisoner again. I don’t think you’ll enjoy that nearly as much.”

  * * * * *

  Garrett’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as the prison complex came into view. Two nights on the road with Jackson were enough to make anyone stir-crazy. It would have been faster to travel as mist, but that would have required them both to leave all their possessions behind. Garrett wasn’t sure when, or if, he’d return to Tara’s Vancouver compound, so he’d filled his SUV with his belongings and headed south.

  When Tara told him she’d bought a prison, he’d thought she was joking. Utilizing the security of a functional prison made perfect sense and the facility she’d chosen was less than ten years old. Operated by a private security firm, the prison had suddenly closed when three consecutive contracts were awarded to competing companies. Turning a profit on the rehabilitation of criminals was becoming a popular
endeavor.

  “Isn’t this where they keep terrorists and ultraviolent inmates?” Jackson looked around with a mixture of curiosity and dread. Few things intimidated Vladya hosts but the possibility of imprisonment was certainly on the list.

  “You’re thinking of the supermax near Canon City. That’s farther south. There aren’t any inmates here. We have this entire complex to ourselves.” Garrett didn’t feel nearly as indifferent as he sounded. Tara’s thinly veiled rejection still chafed. He had managed this project remotely for the past six months and there was no legitimate reason he couldn’t have continued to do so. She wanted him out of the way and he wasn’t sure why. Had his defense of Eloise sparked Tara’s decision or was there another, more significant, reason for his exile?

  Mountains marched along the western horizon, contrasting sharply with the vast emptiness of the surrounding plains. Hazy twilight had all but surrendered to the coming night. High razor wire fences encircled the compact complex, which was arranged into four identical wards. A uniformed guard stepped out of his small brick building as they approached the main entrance.

  “Are they expecting us?” Jackson’s agitation was starting to annoy Garrett.

  “Of course. I called this morning to confirm.” He handed the guard his driver’s license and the guard asked for Jackson’s as well. “I told Dr. Cordell that we’d be arriving tonight.”

  “No one is allowed inside without an escort,” the guard told Garrett as he returned the IDs. “Someone will be out for you shortly.”

  Garrett felt as if he were leaving reality behind as he selected a parking place near the front door. The lot was nearly empty so it wasn’t difficult to find a spot. He turned off the engine and got out of the car. Cool stillness enveloped him yet the tranquility seemed out of place. This was a prison, a warehouse for those who refused to follow the rules. Or it had been until Tara found a unique use for the building’s redundant security features.

  Jackson joined him beside the car, looking around with obvious interest. “Are the test subjects here already?”