Romance with a Bite

by Tamsin Baker

  I sucked my bottom lip, tasting a drop of blood on my tongue. If I thought I’d experienced desire before, I was wrong. A heady tide of arousal surged through me, spiking with a need so great I wrapped my arms around Xander’s neck, threaded my fingers into the fine hair at his nape and kissed him hard. I groaned as I kissed him, rubbing my aching breasts against him.

  The slow burn that had started between my legs now throbbed. I needed to be touched there. If only he would undress me, cup me with his bare hand and slide his fingers through my folds. Spear me with his fingers, just like Davon had done. I needed release or I was going to burn up.

  Xander cupped my cheeks, resting his forehead against mine. His fingers tensed, his breath shuddered out as a violent quake rocked his body. “Ella, we need to stop.”

  “But I don’t want to stop.” I undid the top buttons of his shirt. Overcome with the urge to taste him, I dipped my face and licked at the area of skin I had bared. Delicious, just as I suspected.

  He stepped back, capturing my hands. I tried to remove his grip, but he held firm. “Calm, Ella.” His voice had changed. It was deeper, strained. The low tone reverberated through me.

  It took me a moment to focus, to understand what he was doing. I went to move towards him, but he stepped back and away from me. “Xander?”

  He drew in a deep, deep breath. “I thought I could do this. It would be so simple, to just take you, but…I have to go.”

  He stepped away from me. My body lurched, leaving me unbalanced, cold. Confused, I sought his face, but he had turned away as though he were ashamed of what he’d done. “I’m sorry, Ella, I…”

  Humiliation washed through me, cooling me more effectively than stepping into the blizzard that raged outside. I crossed my arms, trying to rub away the sudden chill. I should be used to this sort of rejection. It had been my mantra for years now. The outsider. The one nobody understands. The woman no man wants.

  “Did I do something wrong?” No doubt I had done something very wrong. First I’d allowed his friend Davon to feel me up and now I’d let Xander kiss me. God help me if I hadn’t responded the same way to both men. He was right to rebuff me. I should have more self-control.

  The thing was, I usually did.

  “No, Ella. It’s me. I have to stop. You’re not ready for the consequences.”

  “But...”

  He strode to the door, still averting his face and gestured to a section of the library. “The spells and curses are in this section. I insist you start there.”

  Then he disappeared.

  Again.

  Chapter Eleven

  Confused, it took me some time to pull myself together, not believing what I’d done. Mortified, I faced the window and focused on the driving snow on the other side, wishing it could white-wash this feeling from inside me.

  I couldn’t blame Xander. I didn’t even know why I’d started kissing him. He must think I’m such a slut. He’s probably thanking his lucky stars he got away when he did. I don’t know what had gotten into me since I’d been here. It was like I possessed no self-control, as though some secret part of me inside had finally been revealed and was making up for lost time.

  “Ella? Are you all right?”

  Damn. Cassius. I didn’t want him seeing me like this. I wiped tears from my face, pulling myself together before I turned around. “Yes, I’m fine.”

  The look on his face said he didn’t believe me. I wondered if they had a bet going between them. Who would be the first to bed the desperate idiot who tripped down a mountain?

  “I brought you coffee. You left the kitchen before you could drink it.” He held up a steaming mug and the aroma made my mouth water. Coffee was just what I needed. I was still tired, no doubt still recovering from my fever.

  I smiled, despite my dark feelings. “You always seem to be feeding me.” I didn’t want to think about how much I liked it. How much I might crave someone taking care of me for once, but I didn’t want to go down that slippery slope.

  I wasn’t going to set myself up to be rejected just like all the other times it had happened, no matter how tempting it might be to give in and allow myself to feel wanted. Desired. Maybe even loved. I huffed out loud, laughing at myself. Now that was nothing but a fantasy.

  “I like taking care of you, Ella.”

  He held the cup to me and I accepted it, wrapping my fingers around the warm ceramic. Our fingers brushed. I stepped back as a warmth flared through me and I was very aware that he was the only one of the three I hadn’t kissed.

  Yet.

  The thought whispered through my brain and I shoved it aside. While it was nice to think that three sexy, hot men really did want me, I had to face reality. I was delusional. I was here by happenstance and they were most probably bored, stuck in the middle of a snowstorm and I was a great diversion. A challenge.

  There could be nothing between us more than me being grateful that they’d saved me. When the storm cleared, I would not only leave this house, but I would leave Conway. I would pack up my and Mom’s belongings and just go. Someone Mom knew would look after the farm for us. I’d let them earn the profits the sheep would pull in. They could use the land however they wanted. It would be a great deal for them. Land like mine was a premium in this county, but I would do anything to get away from here.

  Even though I would leave with nothing, I had nothing to lose. I’d get a condo, a job and get Mom the medical help she needed. In a big hospital there would have to be someone that knew what ailed her.

  My lips twisted. If only I could get a hold of that mythical Vampire I’d just strangely read about in the Grimoire. Although, it had sounded more of a warning than a spell. They might just have the ju-ju I needed to cure her. Instead, I squared my shoulders, determined to put everything from my mind, and moved to the section of books Xander had pointed out. I needed something else to think about, rather than myself.

  “Xander said I’d be interested in this section.”

  “Curses?” Cassius walked over to me. I was aware of how tall he was compared to me. The fact he stood so close meant I felt his body warmth and unique, spicy masculine scent surround me. I moved towards the books, running the tips of my fingers over the spines.

  They were absolutely amazing. Beautiful. Leather bound, gold edged with intricate designs. They were very similar to my Grimoire, but also different. I’d thought my Grimoire would be the only unique book in existence, but I stood corrected. I nearly salivated looking at all of those pages and their secrets, waiting to be revealed.

  “Are these all yours?”

  Cassius nodded. “Yes. We’ve collected them over the last few decades.”

  I faced him, my brows rising. “Are you collectors?”

  I had to admit, I was intrigued and a little confused. Why would men living in the wilderness collect priceless books? I had to wonder again why they even lived here. I had to ignore my curiosity, though. Curiosity in someone meant interest and I didn’t want to appear to be interested.

  He frowned, selecting a book from the shelves. “Just looking for something.”

  He was so intent, his expression so sorrowful, that for an instant I wanted to renege on everything I’d just thought. Almost. “And did you find that something?”

  He snared me in a piercing gaze. “I think we finally did.”

  Again, that unnerving feeling washed through me. The feeling that everything going on around me had a double meaning, but I didn’t want to press. Didn’t want to find out, because if I did, I had the feeling that I’d become caught up in something I just might not like. Instead, remaining ignorant was the better option.

  “Do you mind if I read this one?”

  “Of course not. That’s why Xander brought you here.”

  I wondered if that was the only reason Xander had brought me here. He had kissed me when we’d been alone, and now that I was alone with Cassius, I had to wonder what his plans were. I tamped down the little shiver of awareness, ignoring i
t in favor of the books.

  “To read the books.”

  “To see what you would find interesting,” Cassius said.

  “Well, let’s see what I find interesting, then.”

  My fingers tingled as I ran them over the tops of the spines. One in particular vied for my attention. I carefully drew the volume from its place. The cover was just as much a work of art as my Grimoire. I ran my hand over the master level embossing. Symbols were designed into the cover, but they were slightly different than mine. The word “Curses” was engraved on the front in a beautiful script font.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  I had to wonder if someone from my ancestor’s era had also written this for her family. It looked about the same age. It was curious that they had a collection like this. I’d thought my book the only one in existence and I was intrigued there were more.

  “Yes. Beautiful.”

  I glanced at him, but his attention had drifted to the shelf above and I had to wonder to what he had directed his comment. “You may like to flip through these as well. Ah, you have your hands full. Here, come and sit down. You can start with the book you’ve chosen and I’ll find a couple of others you may find interesting as well.”

  I followed him to a padded armchair that looked as though it belonged to the last century. He helped me sit and then brought a small side table next to me, where he placed my cup of coffee in easy reach.

  “Thank you,” I said.

  He smiled and yet there seemed to be something more cautious in his gaze. “You never know what mystery you may solve in those pages.”

  “What mystery would that be?”

  “Maybe of life itself, you never know.” He winked and the playful Cassius was back.

  Leaning back into the chair, I watched him a moment while he became lost in thought and selected a book from the shelves for himself. He sat in the chair next to me and started to read without another word. So, I wasn’t going to be left to myself.

  Strangely, his company was a comfort. I watched him for a moment, but he was deep in his book. It had been so long since I’d been able to do something as simple as sit and read. Especially with someone who joined me.

  I settled the book I had chosen on my lap and opened the cover. The smell of old parchment and mustiness rose from the old treasure. These books were positively ancient and that only served to stir my interest.

  Maybe reading was a good option. It was certainly better than trying to work out if I was missing something really, really important, or if I was merely out of sorts and this entire situation was just my imagination.

  Chapter Twelve

  My mother sat at the fire, which was strange because we didn’t have an open fire in our house. Not like this one. Our little house was far too small for one this size. The flames danced high, the thick mantle the only protection between it and the house.

  Our house. I was home!

  “Mom!” I took a step towards her but invisible hands held me back as three men approached her from behind. I couldn’t see their faces with the light, but Mom seemed completely unaware of their existence.

  She didn’t look well. Her bony hands clutched the armrests of the chair, while her head was slumped over her chest, dozing. She looked small and frail. She’d lost weight because I wasn’t there to feed her. Judging by the state of her hair, clothing and the disheveled room, no one else had looked after her, either.

  I had to get to her and tend her. I struggled against immovable hands. “Let me go! Let me get to her.”

  But I remained restrained in place as the three shadowed figures surrounded her. One of the men brushed the hair from her neck and knelt at her side. She didn’t stir, even with that intimate gesture.

  Panic seized me, making me short of breath. “What are you doing to her?”

  I didn’t know if they heard me or if they merely ignored me. My heart pounded and I struggled anew as one of the men came nose to nose with her. He opened his mouth and I stopped breathing when his canine teeth descended into thin, white deadly points. He bent his head to her neck. His teeth sunk into her skin, latching on to her jugular. She didn’t even stir.

  I struggled more, but it made no difference. I was helpless but to watch. Finally, he slowly and almost tenderly withdrew. Mom’s head fell to the side. She could be asleep, but I couldn’t see her chest rise. She was still. Too still. Blood ran from twin points from her neck to stain the collar of her white shirt.

  “What have you done to her?”

  His face turned to me, lips coated with blood, teeth grotesquely distended.

  Red, so much red.

  His eyes pierced me. The others turned. White teeth glinted in the firelight at the corner of their mouths. I gasped. Davon. Cassius. Xander.

  Xander stood and wiped the corner of his mouth. Blood smeared on the back of his hand as he stalked toward me. Davon and Cassius flanked him. Slow, determined steps brought them closer.

  A sound came from my mouth, unlike any I’d made before. Something a small, horrified animal might make in the face of abject terror. Even then, I couldn’t look away and I stared straight into eyes that were so changed from what they once were.

  Black pupils were edged by blood-red. Gone was the caramel, the greens of the ocean and the blue of the sky. All were trained on me. Predators seeing their prey.

  My feet slipped, but there was no traction. Nothing to keep me rooted in place and nothing to stop them from the intent that was clear on their faces. And what I saw made me hollow inside.

  “What are you doing?”

  Xander traced the line of my cheek with his fingertips before placing his knuckle beneath my chin. “We are claiming you, Tu Ena. Through you, we will find our freedom.”

  He moved impossibly fast, coming to stand so close, the full front of my body touched his—my knees, thighs, abdomen and breasts. His body heat, his masculine smell enveloped me.

  I inhaled deeply, my terror fading until a calmness overcame me. The place between my thighs swelled and throbbed as tension of an entirely different kind began to thrum within me.

  “I don’t want to be claimed.” Even to my own ears, my voice lacked conviction. Davon and Cassius framed either side of me, each taking hold of a shoulder. The invisible hands vanished, but I was still held in place just as firmly.

  “This will be as pleasurable for me as it will be for you. I promise.” I was drawn into Xander’s gaze. His eyes were all that I could focus on, all I wanted. He bent his head, capturing my mouth with his.

  It was a tender kiss at first, but he pinched my chin between his knuckle and thumb and his kiss became more aggressive. His tongue plundered my mouth, but I didn’t care as arousal swept me away.

  I groaned into his mouth, settling my hands on his shoulders, as his lips and tongue ravaged me until I was a senseless mess. Tension built, locked behind an invisible dam I had no idea how to break. All I knew was that I wanted him. Needed him. I couldn’t get enough. He was intoxicating.

  My legs weakened. Xander’s arms banded around me, forcing me against his body. His erection pulsed against my abdomen, hard enough for me feel his full length, even through his clothing.

  There was a brush of fingers in my hair, the sweep of lips against the skin at my neck. Cassius nuzzled my ear, drawing the lobe into his mouth, teasing and sucking. Davon’s palm smoothed over my back until he reached my buttocks.

  He palmed the globes and then slid his fingers between my thighs from behind. Tingles raced from the pressure, the seam of my jeans adding to the delicious friction.

  I parted my thighs, allowing his fingers to rock against me. He increased the pressure and soon my hips were moving against his hand. I crushed my breasts against Xander, my nipples rock-hard twin points. The pressure ramped up, making me extra sensitive to each arousing caress, brush of lips, and Xander’s sensual invasion of my mouth.

  A part of me wanted them to stop, but that was a far distant part that was receding more and more with
each passing moment. Somewhere inside of me, I knew this was wrong on so many levels, but for the life of me, I couldn’t remember why.

  I didn’t care that there were three of them, touching me with obvious intent, stoking my desire until the only thing I cared about was their hands, their lips, their tongues. All leading me to a pinnacle I ached to reach.

  Cassius curved his fingers around the back of my neck. An adjustment to his fingers had my head falling back, stretching and exposing my neck. He nuzzled my skin, his nose brushing up and down, his lips trailing a heated wake where he touched me.

  Cassius pressed his lips against mine. Tender at first, but then his lips parted and his tongue slid into my mouth, sweeping inside as though he had every right. And he had. I couldn’t deny him. Instead, I returned his kiss, unable to stop the slide of my tongue against his.

  His kiss wasn’t as brutal as Xander’s, but it was still a statement of ownership. Controlled. And damn if that didn’t send my blood to the boiling point. He worked my mouth masterfully, obliterating my mind except for the knowledge I was helpless against their onslaught.

  He eased away, trailing light kisses from my mouth to my jaw, and to the tender place where my neck met my shoulder. Goosebumps rose on my skin with two hot, wet mouths claiming me.

  And yet, there was something missing. No sooner had I thought this, than Davon lifted my arm, kissing the tender underside of my wrist. His lips suckled. Something hard and sharp scraped my skin but it was gone just as fast. A sigh rippled through me as a sense of completion built with all three mouths on me.

  Xander shifted, a subtle move but one that allowed a shard of clarity to enter my mind. A ripple of apprehension unsettled my hazy arousal. His lips changed from one of kissing to only lightly touching the surface of my skin. Cassius did the same. Their teeth angled, dimpling my skin. Two mouths at my neck, Davon’s at my wrist.

  “What’s going on..?”

  I only had a moment to stiffen in shock before a sharp pain sliced into my neck. Xanders lips enveloped me. Suction drew from my vein before a euphoric sensation rocketed through me. Cassius’ teeth sank through my skin next. Pain at my wrist as Davon tore the delicate webbing of veins with his teeth. My mouth fell open, but no sound emerged.