Deadly Alpha

by Brenda Sparks

  As he suckled, she shifted her body beneath him, planting her heels in the mattress, and arched her hips to drive him deeper inside of her. With every breath, a small mewling sound escaped her throat, making Marcus wild. An erotic moan flowed over her lips that he matched as he released her breasts to look down into her flushed face.

  “You’re beautiful,” he breathed, lowering his lips to take her mouth with a fierce, bruising kiss.

  Their bodies came together in a quick pace. The sound of their skin slapping together filled the room, music to their ears. The steady rhythm increased tempo as he brought them to the crescendo. Their desire flowed between their mindlink, feeding, building, until it became a fierce storm. It spurred him on, feeding his body’s reactions, her reactions. His pace quickened. Blood pounded in his ears. His balls tightened against his body when the pressure within built. His undoing was feeling her velvet muscles grip him in a satiny fist. They tumbled over the precipice together, his roar of ecstasy rivaling her own.

  Heaven.

  He now knew what Heaven must be like. Marcus marveled at the sight of her. Christina glowed with vitality and health from everything he’d given her. He collapsed on top of her and exhaled in a shudder, wondering in the miracle of her.

  Too soon he shifted off her, separating his shaft from her beautiful sheath. They lay holding each other as he answered the questions she asked about being a vampire.

  “I’m not going to be able to take the job in Atlanta now am I?”

  “I’m afraid not, cara. It would be too difficult as a new convert to be around the blood.”

  Christina turned in his arms. “What will I do now?” she asked.

  “I have an idea of what you could do now.” Marcus smiled and feathered kisses down her body.

  His hard shaft pressed against her thigh. “You’re ready to go again? So soon?”

  Marcus smiled a sheepish grin, “Just one of the benefits of being a vampire, my dear. You aren’t tired of me already, are you?”

  Christina looked at him from under hooded eyes. “I’ll never tire of you, lover.”

  “Good answer,” he remarked, blanketing her with his muscular body.

  ****

  After two more rounds of making love, Christina felt sated, her body deliciously sore. Marcus held her to him, looking deep into her emerald eyes.

  I’ve never seen anyone look more beautiful, Marcus thought to himself.

  I heard that, heartmate, Christina sent along their private channel.

  You’re getting good at using the mindlink.

  It’s not the only thing you think I’m getting good at. A sexy smile played over her pretty face.

  Marcus raised a questioning brow. Oh really? And just what do you think I think you are good at?

  Christina gave him a playful slap on his chest. Maybe I should show you what you think I’m good at.

  You’re insatiable, you little minx!

  You made me that way.

  Marcus’ arms expanded with Christina’s back when she yawned.

  I think you should show me later. You are tired, cara. You need your rest.

  But I don’t want to sleep. I want to stay awake with you.

  We have forever, my dear. We can afford to get a little sleep.

  The meaning of that statement hit Christina squarely. They really did have forever. She and Marcus had centuries together, and she was determined to make them the happiest centuries two people ever shared.

  Sure, there would be struggles, and she wasn’t exactly sure how she felt about not taking the job in Atlanta, but with Marcus by her side, she knew she could get through anything. She loved this man with all her heart and soul. In a short time, he had become her life, her reason for existing, and from their mindlink she knew he felt the same way toward her.

  “I love you, Marcus,” she murmured and snuggled sleepily against his bare chest.

  When he wrapped his arm tightly around her in a bracing hug, his warmth soaked into her body to create a lassitude that pulled her under.

  “I’ll love you forever,” he breathed as they drifted off to sleep.

  Epilogue

  Marcus strolled up to the glass door of the counseling center. He sauntered through and greeted the receptionist sitting behind the partition. “Good evening, Catherine. How are you doing?”

  Catherine, formerly given the nick name Food by Michael, gave him a shy smile. “Hi, handsome. I’m doing okay.”

  “You’re looking good. How’s the family doing?”

  “I think my parents have finally gotten used to the idea of me living here.”

  “I’m sure it wasn’t easy deciding not to go back to Virginia, but Christina is sure glad you decided to stay. She says you are invaluable here.”

  A sad smile came to Catherine’s face. “I just didn’t feel like I could say no to a chance to help her get this center up and running. It gave me a chance to help others like she helped me.” She shifted in her chair as if the memories made her uncomfortable. “I’ll buzz you in.”

  Marcus flashed her a sexy smile in an effort to alleviate her unease. “Thanks.”

  With the buzzer sounding, Marcus turned the handle of the door separating the lobby from the rest of the building. He walked down the hallway toward his destination. As he passed one of the meeting rooms, he glanced in. The sight warmed his heart.

  Tammy and Anne led the support group session. Anne held the hand of the woman sitting beside her, while the woman relayed the story of how she came to be at the counseling center. Tammy crossed the room to get the woman a tissue. She looked up, noticed Marcus, then gave him a small smile and raised her hand to gesture hello. Marcus waved, before resuming his stroll.

  At the end of the hallway stood an unassuming door. The lettering on the frosted glass said, “Christina Prescott: Director.”

  Christina looked up from the desk she sat behind when he pushed through the door. The deadbolt clicked into place behind him, as Marcus subtly locked the office door. As always, he monitored her thoughts and found she rather liked the sight of her mate. The way he looked in his suit sent a flood of heat through her body that flowed over their link and right to his groin.

  “Hello, my love.” He glided toward her. “You’re working late tonight.”

  Christina stretched in the chair. “Tatiana came by to talk. She wants me to start a vampire support group for female vampires who have been abused. Apparently the victim from her latest case needs our help. After talking to her, I got busy creating a new group and completely lost track of time.”

  The pretty redhead glanced down at her watch, noting the time. “I missed our date didn’t I? I’m so sorry.”

  Marcus sat on the corner of her desk and stretched out his legs, crossing them at the ankles. “Forget it. We can go to dinner any time. I see Anne and Tammy are leading a session tonight.”

  “Their fifth, this week.”

  “You know, they amaze me. In only a year, they have gone from Michael’s victims, who by the way, were not able to speak of the trauma they suffered, to women who not only regained their lives but are now helping others who have been traumatized.”

  Tears welled in Christina’s beautiful green eyes. “I know. They are a real inspiration to the women who come here for help. Did I tell you Catherine has gone back to school? She is studying to be a psychiatrist. I offered her a job here when she graduates.”

  Marcus pulled his mate to him and kissed the tears from her cheeks. “You amaze me too. You felt a need to help Michael’s victims, and look what that has turned into. Hundreds of women have been helped by the counseling center you opened. I only see one problem.”

  “What’s that?”

  “The name on your door. Shouldn’t it read Christina Botticelli?”

  “Technically no, we still haven’t married.”

  “Well I think it is about time we rectify that. I planned to do this over a romantic candle-lit dinner, complete with violins and roses, but you stood me
up, so you’ve left me little choice.” Marcus dropped to one knee in front of her and pulled a red velvet box from his pocket.

  “Will you marry me, Christina Prescott?” He opened the box to reveal the three-carat, pear-shaped solitaire inside.

  “Yes, yes!” she squealed, jumping up and down.

  Marcus stood, removed the ring from the delicate velvet box and slipped it on her finger. It fit perfectly.

  Christina threw her arms around her heartmate and hugged him tightly, examining the ring behind his back.

  “We’ll have to set a date soon. I want a big wedding. I want all our friends there and the girls from work…. Oh, the girls from work, I have to go tell them.”

  Marcus tightened his hug, keeping her to him when she tried to pull away. “There will be time for that later, cara.”

  Christina gazed up into his deep brown eyes and smiled. “Thank you.”

  A grin tugged at the corners of Marcus’ full lips. “You’re thanking me for marrying you?’

  “No, not just for that. Thank you for everything: marrying me, making me the happiest woman in the world, helping me with this counseling center. I couldn’t have done it without your support and love, my heartmate.”

  Christina gave Marcus a kiss that said what her words did not. He reached behind them and swept the items from her desk with one grand motion. He then lowered her down on the desk and covered her with his body. Marcus gazed down into her emerald eyes, luxuriating in the love visible within.

  “You will always have my support and love, Christina. Always.”

  He sealed his pledge by loving her with his body and soul.

  A word about the author…

  Born in Virginia, Brenda Sparks now resides in the Sunshine State. Balancing her professional commitment to the local school district with her writing is challenging at times, but writing suspenseful paranormal romances is a passion that won’t be denied.

  Her idea of a perfect day is one spent in front of a computer with a hot cup of coffee, her fingers flying over the keys to send her characters off on their latest adventure.

  Brenda loves to connect with readers. Please visit her at www.brenda-sparks.com.

  Thank you for purchasing

  this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.