He was no longer human. He was a vampire.
It was hard to wrap his head around the idea. Sure, he’d grown up with a brother and sister who were half-breed werewolves, but he’d always been human. It was easier to accept the differences in others than to accept them in himself.
And what about Meredith and the Haven crew? He’d become good friends with them over the past five years. Would they even let him past the front door of the place anymore? He’d like to think so, but he couldn’t say for sure and that deeply worried him.
Not that he could blame them. Until he had a handle on his powers and the bloodlust that consumed newly made vampires, he wasn’t sure he could be trusted. And that was the part that bothered him most.
He’d always been self-contained and independent. He’d had to be. Now he was totally dependent on Damek for help, not only for himself but for Evie.
Evie. He shifted so he could see her face. She was such a contradiction. So petite in stature, but her personality was huge. She’d been terrified of Damek, yet she’d stood her ground with him. Craig well knew the power his friend wielded and had been terrified for a moment that Damek was going to kill her.
And that would have ended badly for everyone. A protective sensation welled up inside Craig, one that went straight to his very soul. He’d protect Evie at all costs, even against his friend.
Was this a byproduct of her being his maker? He wasn’t sure. Evie certainly felt no love toward the vampire who’d made her. On the contrary, she seemed determined to destroy him.
“You’re thinking so hard I can practically hear you.” Her low, silky voice whispered through his ears like the most soothing music.
Then what she’d said penetrated his thoughts. “You can hear me?”
She shook her head, her hair making a scrunching sound against the fabric of his shirt. “No. I can’t hear what you’re thinking, but I can feel you thinking, if that makes any sense.”
“It does.” He rubbed his hand up and down her arm, and she gave a contented sigh. “How are you feeling?”
She tilted her head back slightly and green eyes stared up at him. “I’m fine. The real question is how are you?”
They were so polite with one another. Craig almost smiled, but his body chose that moment to come roaring back to life. Throughout the conversion his body had been mostly numb, like a computer that had been asleep. Now he was awake and all his bodily functions were now coming back online with a vengeance. And at the top of the list was lust.
He was suddenly very aware of Evie as a woman, a very desirable woman. One of her breasts was pillowed against his chest, the weight of her leg rested across his thighs and her soft breath blew lightly against his skin.
“Evie.” He said her name and only that. He could barely think past the throbbing of his dick. He’d been aroused before but never like this. This need was a deep craving eating at his soul until he could resist no longer.
He leaned down, getting closer and closer to her very kissable mouth. Her full, pink lips parted on a gasp of surprise, but she didn’t move away, didn’t stop him. He kissed her lightly, gently. Not sure of his own strength, he was very careful as he moved his mouth over hers. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her.
He wasn’t the most experienced guy around, but he was no virgin either. He’d kissed his fair share of women, but kissing Evie was different. It felt new and fresh. Special.
He slipped his tongue past her lips and into her mouth. She moaned and her tongue welcomed his, stroking it. He could taste the remnants of the blood she’d drunk the night before and the flavor exploded in his mouth.
He needed more. Had to have it.
He rolled until she was flat on her back with him looming over her. Cupping the side of her face, he stared down at her. Objectively, he knew she wasn’t the most beautiful woman in the world, but objectivity no longer mattered. Instinctually, he knew she belonged to him. In his eyes, she was the most beguiling and stunning female he’d ever seen. There was something about her that tugged on his emotions as well as his intellect.
He wanted her.
“Stop me now if this isn’t what you want.” He rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip, and she flicked out her tongue to lick it.
In answer, Evie slid her hands up his arms and around his neck. She pulled him down to her and kissed him with a hunger that left him breathless.
Evie knew the very last thing she should do was to get involved in a physical relationship with Craig, but she couldn’t help herself. She’d been so cold and lost, alone for what seemed like forever. In truth, she’d been alone long before the vampire had found her. Craig filled all those empty places inside her, made her feel warm. More human than monster.
Was it wrong to use him this way?
Conscience pricking her, she managed to turn her head to the side and break the kiss. “Maybe we should stop.”
Craig stilled, the muscles in his shoulders tensing. “Do you want me to stop?”
No, she really didn’t. She wanted to lose herself in the heat they generated between them, to feel alive and good for what seemed like the first time in forever. “Getting involved this way probably isn’t smart.”
Evie was surprised she could actually string an entire sentence together. Her breasts ached to be touched, her teeth tingled and she knew her fangs were seconds away from making an appearance.
Craig wrapped his fingers around her neck and stared at the pulse in her throat. He licked his lips, and she could sense his growing hunger, both sexual and the bloodlust. Instead of frightening her, it excited her.
That was sick, wasn’t it? Evie wasn’t sure what was normal and what wasn’t anymore.
“Evie?”
She knew he would stop if she asked him to. There was a bedrock of goodness in Craig that nothing could change, not even the fact he was a vampire. For the first time since the creature had attacked her and changed her life, Evie felt a stirring of real hope. Hope that maybe her soul wasn’t lost, maybe she wasn’t destined to be a monster like the one who’d created her.
Craig started to move away from her and she panicked, throwing herself at him. “No, don’t leave me.”
He wrapped his strong arms around her and eased onto his back, taking her with him. She lay on her side watching him intently.
“I won’t leave you, but we don’t have to do this if it’s not what you want. I didn’t mean to pressure you.”
Evie could see perfectly in the dark and there was no mistaking the bulge in the front of his jeans. Craig was very aroused. Her heart almost melted and her chest constricted with suppressed emotion. “It’s not that I don’t want you. I want you too much.” There was no way she could be any less than honest with Craig. She’d never been the type to play games in a relationship, and there was no place for any of that kind of thing between them.
Craig rolled out of bed and held out his hand. “How about we get a shower and see how things go from there.”
It would be smarter if they showered separately and then found their hosts. They needed to talk with them, to find out what came next. That would be the intelligent, the right thing to do.
Evie took Craig’s hand and let him help her from the bed. Screw the smart thing, being with Craig was more important, something she had to do.
Nothing in her life made sense. In all the plans she’d made over the years, she’d definitely never included becoming a vampire in them. She had no idea if she could ever go back to her apartment again or if she’d lose all her belongings when her rent wasn’t paid next week. She had no idea what would happen with her art, her paintings. Having children and a family was no longer a possibility. Her heart ached for that, but there was no use bemoaning what could not be.
So much was lost to her.
But Craig was standing beside her, waiting and watching. He wanted her. He knew what she was and he still wanted her.
“Let’s get a shower.”
Craig wished he knew what wa
s going on inside Evie’s head but wasn’t sure reading minds was one of his new powers. He didn’t want to test it on Evie. At least not yet. He didn’t think she’d like him peeking at her thoughts, and he was also afraid he might hurt her if he tried. Plus, he respected her right to privacy. He sure as hell didn’t want anyone reading his thoughts without his permission.
It was enough that he could sense her emotions and knew she was confused. He could relate.
He’d have to have a long talk with Damek later to find out how the whole vampire thing worked. Did he have whatever powers he would have, or would more develop over time? He’d spent most of his life researching werewolves not vampires. Actually, he’d spent most of his time researching paranormal bounty hunters of all kinds. He knew the basics about vampires, but not much else. They were secretive creatures, and none so much as Damek.
But that was for later. Right now, Evie was beside him, her hand trustingly in his. He led her into the attached bathroom, not bothering to turn on the light. His new vision was incredible, and the fact that he could see without his glasses was still something that would take some getting used to.
What surprised him most was the lack of sound. Other than their breathing and their slow heartbeats, there was no other sound. “Do you hear it?” he asked.
Evie tilted her head to one side and her hair fell over her shoulder in a tangled curtain. “Hear what?”
“Exactly. It’s so quiet.”
She turned her head slowly to one side then to the other. “There must be soundproofing in the walls.”
“Or maybe we’re both just getting better at blocking extraneous noise.” Craig concentrated on dropping his protective walls and listening. He could hear traffic in the distance and the murmur of Damek and Sonia down the hallway. He put his barriers back up immediately, not wanting to intrude on them.
Pleased with his new discovery, he looked down at Evie and immediately forgot what he’d meant to say. She was smiling at him. It wasn’t a big smile, more a tilting of the corners of her lips. But there was a light in her eyes as well that made them shimmer. She looked happy.
Lust exploded inside him, tempered with a softer emotion he wasn’t ready to name. He reached for her, needing to touch her, to know she was real. He put his hands on her sides, lifted her and set her down on top of the marble vanity. Evie grabbed his biceps, steadying herself. He nudged her legs apart and made a place for himself.
The kiss was explosive. As though they’d both passed some point of no return, there was no being gentle for either of them.
He ate at her lips, loving their taste, their texture, the way she parted them for him. He felt like a conquering king, a marauder as he claimed her. And she was right there with him, digging her nails into his flesh, opening her mouth wider, tangling her tongue with his.
“God, Evie.” He kissed a trail down her jawline and then up to her ear. He caught the lobe and nipped it. She gasped and wrapped her legs around his waist.
Craig wouldn’t have been surprised if steam came out his ears. His cock was ready to explode. But he couldn’t let that happen. He had to get inside her first.
He pulled back, grabbed the hem of her shirt and dragged it over her head. She grabbed his T-shirt and he heard a loud rip. The fabric parted from hem to neck. He laughed at her impatience, pulled away the remnants and tossed the torn garment aside.
She was wearing a bra, but he had that off in a blink, amazed he could move so fast and efficiently when he was trembling inside. He covered her breasts with his hands, weighing the small, firm mounds. The tips puckered, stabbing his palms. He growled, shocked by how possessive he felt.
Evie placed her hands on his chest and kneaded the hard muscles. Her hands were small and warm and quickly found his flat nipples, teasing them.
Lust swamped him, greater than the bloodlust he’d felt earlier. He caught his reflection in the bathroom mirror and saw the red-tinged eyes staring back at him.
He shook himself, desperate to regain control. It wasn’t easy with Evie’s head tilted back, exposing her long, slender neck. Her hair tumbled down her back and her skin was as pale as cream. Her lips were moist from his kisses, her eyes half-closed.
Craig’s hands shook as he undid the zipper of her black jeans. And if he had any doubts about if Evie wanted this as badly as he did, they disappeared when she helped him strip her jeans and panties off. It only took seconds and he had her sitting totally naked on the marble countertop in front of him.
He moaned as the sweet scent of her arousal tickled his nostrils. He licked his lips and his tongue touched a sharp fang. Craig went to his knees and pulled her butt to the edge of the counter. He pushed her thighs wider and pulled her legs over his shoulders.
Perfect.
He could see her pink pussy, swollen with need, liquid with arousal. He leaned inward and stroked his tongue over her slick folds. Evie gasped, tightening her thighs around his head.
He growled with pleasure and dipped his tongue inside her hot, molten core, pushing it as far as it would go.
“Craig.” His name was a plea, a promise as it fell from her lips. His cock was as hard as steel, but not nearly as cold. He was burning up inside, like he had a fever, but one only she could cure.
One of his fangs accidentally pierced her delicate flesh. She cried out and he jerked back, horrified by what he’d done. A single drop of blood welled up. He looked up, but she guided his head back to her.
Taking a deep breath, he inhaled the sweet scent of her blood mingling with that of her musky arousal. He touched the tip of his tongue to the single droplet. Ambrosia.
Lust rolled through him like a runaway freight train. Unstoppable. He captured her clit between his lips and sucked, careful not to cut her again. She arched her back and cried out his name. He loved the sound of it falling from her lips.
She caught his head between her hands and pulled him closer. He felt her convulsing against him. Knew he had to get inside, to feel the warm walls of her pussy closing around his cock.
He stood, ripped open the front of his jeans and pushed them down until his dick popped free. Grabbing her into his arms, he pressed her back against the bathroom door and fitted the head of his cock against her opening. Praying for control, he pushed his way inside.
Evie was surprised she was still breathing. Surely her orgasm must have killed her. She’d never felt anything like it in her life. It made all her other sexual experiences pale in comparison.
When Craig’s fang had accidentally cut her in such a sensitive spot, instead of being appalled or afraid, she’d been filled with a need for him to taste her blood, to take it and her. Rather than fighting it, she’d given in to the urge, pulling him to her. When his tongue had lapped up her blood, she’d almost come. When he’d sucked her clit, she’d orgasmed so strongly she’d splintered into a million pieces.
Now her back was against the door and he was pushing his way inside her. She couldn’t remember moving at all. Craig was fast and strong, even stronger than she was. She didn’t have to worry about hurting him like she would with a human male. She could be herself and not be afraid.
His cock was thick and he stretched the walls of her pussy, demanding she accept him. She locked her arms around his neck and her legs around his hips and arched against him.
“Fuck, Evie.” His vocabulary had shrunk dramatically in the past few minutes, giving her a sense of feminine power. He forged inward and she bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out. He was long and thick and she’d never felt so full before. It was almost overwhelming, but she wanted all of him.
They were both panting hard by the time he was seated to the hilt. He rested his forehead against the door next to her, his lungs expanding and contracting. She gasped for breath and just hung on. Both of them simply clung to one another. She had no idea how much time passed.
Then Craig began to move.
Slowly at first, he circled his hips, withdrawing the slightest bit before pushing h
is way back inside her. She moaned when his pelvic bone brushed her clit and angled her hips so it would happen again.
Craig laughed and the lighthearted sound pleased her. Before long, his thrusts were harder and faster. He powered his way in and out of her, his cock stimulating and stretching her inner channel with every penetration.
She skimmed her hands over his broad shoulders, across his strong back, down his muscular arms. She licked and nipped at his neck, careful not to break the skin.
Craig swore under his breath, his movements growing faster and more frantic. Heat built in her core and she knew she was close once again.
“Bite me,” he ordered.
Her fangs ached and she licked her lips in anticipation of tasting his blood. Yet fear stopped her. What if she took too much? What if she hurt him?
“Do it,” he commanded as his hips pounded against her.
He tilted his head to one side, exposing the thick column of his neck, and she was lost. Her fangs dropped down and she sank them into his skin. Blood spurted into her mouth, sweet and savory. The taste of him flooded her senses, rocking her to her very soul. He groaned and fucked her even harder.
Then he angled his head and sank his fangs into her neck. She screamed his name and came fast and furious, lost in the maelstrom that engulfed them both.
The first thing she became aware of was the smell of blood. Her eyes flew open and horror filled her as blood dripped slowly from the bite she’d made in Craig’s neck. She leaned forward and licked the wound, stopping the bleeding. Thankfully, her saliva contained some kind of antibodies that did that. Might not be sanitary but it worked.
“I’m so sorry.” Shame filled her and she tried to get away.
Craig tightened his hold on her and nuzzled her neck. “I’m not. That was amazing.” He lifted his head and kissed her lips, hard and fast. “Are you okay? Was I too rough?”
Evie realized he was as unsure as she was, still trying to understand his own strength and this new world they both occupied.
Craig's Heart Page 5
