by Darby London
Keane nodded. “The more I think upon the demons attacking her, the less I believe she is who we think her to be.”
He would have thought his brother affected by vapors had Keane still partaken in such things. He blinked slowly, sensing how on edge his brother was. “What is this you speak of?”
“She is not human.” Keane looked past him at the woman in the bed. “Hannah is something more.”
“Brother,” he said, touching Keane’s arm lightly. Power raced off his brother in amounts that weren’t normal. His brother’s demon was close to the surface. “Your obsession with her has twisted your mind. You will harm her.”
“I would never!” Keane snapped, fang flashing and his eyes swirling with the telltale signs of the demon close to being in command.
Janco kept his hand on Keane’s arm. “Restraining her is not the answer. Free her. Speak with her when she wakes from what I am assuming is your doing.”
“You assume correctly.” Keane shrugged. “I have waited too long for her. I can wait no more. There is something about her.”
Janco nodded. “She is your mate.”
“No,” Keane argued and then paused, his eyes widening. “No?”
Janco hated saying the words. Doing so meant he was giving up his chance at her, confirming the inevitable. “She is, Keane. Think.”
Keane did and staggered backwards, bumping into the hallway wall. “She is my mate.”
“I know,” Janco replied, sadness in his voice. “Brother, you cannot keep her tied up. That is not the way of things and you know I am right.”
Keane eyed him with an expression that warned he would fight, possibly to the death. “What do you care of her?”
Janco did not respond to the question, but rather slid his hand up to Keane’s shoulder. “I care of you. Step away from here and feed with me. Let us be sure you are well fed before she wakes. I do not wish to hear you moan and groan for eternity because you ate her.” Truth was he did not want Hannah harmed, but Keane was too close to being one with his demon to hear such things.
Keane snorted. “Very well.”
Janco led his brother from the room and exhaled. For now, Hannah was safe. She would sleep off the affects of Keane’s magik, and when she woke, Janco would make sure she was well and cared for.
Chapter Eight
Tugging at restraints holding her wrists and her ankles, Hannah stared around the room, confused as to where she was and how she'd come to be there. She was secured to a large bed with blood-red sheets. The last thing she remembered was being near the graveyard, Preyca coming, the demons and then Keane.
Keane.
She gasped. He was one of them—a vampire. And he had power over her that other vampires didn’t. Panic rose in her and she had to fight to stamp it down. Showing fear around a predator was beyond foolish. Besides, deep down she simply knew he wouldn’t hurt her. She just wasn’t sure how she was so sure of such a thing.
Her gaze darted around the room in search of him. She found him standing near a closed door, wearing no shirt and a pair of black leather pants. His feet were bare. His hair was disheveled. He looked like a rock star, oozing sex appeal, but his was mixed with danger.
He stepped into the room more, the walls his backdrop.
"Where am I?" demanded Hannah. She looked harder at him and the room they were in. It was filled with various items that looked like they could be used to torture a small army. She knew better. The wicked gleam in Keane's eyes said the tools were for something else. As moisture pooled at the apex of her thighs, she knew just what type of pain they were for—the type that brought pleasure along with it.
"Where am I?" she demanded again.
Keane's gaze slid over her. "Somewhere I have wanted you for two months now."
She jerked at the leather cuffs binding her wrists. "Why am I bound?"
He grinned mischievously.
She lowered her gaze. "You're a vampire."
"I am."
"It's what I do," she said, and yanked on the restraints again. "Release me."
He licked his lips. "You are safe here. More so than when left to your own devices."
She gritted her teeth.
"Be displeased all you like, my light," he returned. "The volatilisos demons attacked you. You are not safe and I wish to know why they would bother with a human. And I wish to know why a human would not fear a vampire."
She lifted her bound wrists. "Why would you bother binding a measly little human?"
"Cute, but I will not release you."
"There are laws against this sort of thing," she said partially under her breath, already knowing her captor wasn't human and didn't adhere to human laws.
He approached and touched her ankle, where the restraint was. His hand was cool, yet heat flared from where his skin met hers. She gasped and he smiled, skimming his hand up her leather-covered leg.
"Keane."
"Tell me what the demons wanted with you," he said, his hand stopping at mid-thigh, driving her mad with desire for him.
"Please."
He leaned, his face moving close to hers. "Tell me, Hannah."
She wanted him and she shouldn't. She knew it was against her very code. But she couldn't stop herself. "Because I'm a slayer."
She waited for the attack she was sure would come. He jerked back and shook his head, as if not believing her. Then he eased close to her again and a half laugh tore free from him, sounding less than jovial. "This explains why you attract danger."
She watched him. "Are you going to kill me?"
"No," he whispered, his face near hers once more. "My kind do not harbor hate for yours."
"All vampires hate us," she countered, still wanting his lips on hers.
He ran his thumb over the corner of her mouth, tugging lightly on it. "I am unlike other vampires." He dipped his head, his lips finally touching hers. She closed her eyes, savoring his kiss as his tongue eased into her mouth. Her nipples hardened and her body ached for more than he was offering. Damn him for tying her down. She wanted to touch him.
His hands roamed over her stomach and to the top of her pants. He stopped kissing her and lifted his hand. Dagger-like nails emerged from the tips of his fingers. He raked one over the front of her leather pants, slicing them open as if they were nothing more than tissue paper. Sucking in a sharp breath, she watched, keeping still, afraid he'd cut her.
He eased the material away from her body, leaving her in nothing other than the corset. Keane's dark gaze slid lower, to her pussy. He tipped his head and inhaled. "Your smell has haunted my dreams."
"And you haunted mine," she reminded.
"I did."
"Why?"
He touched her thigh, his claws no more. "Because I do nothing other than be close to you."
She wasn't sure she was following.
"For two months, from the moment I saw you, you've become an obsession of mine." He slid his hand between her legs and cupped her mound. "I want you, Hannah."
"I want you too," she breathed.
He parted her slit and dipped a finger into her as his lips captured hers once more. Her moan of pleasure was lost in his mouth as his tongue laced with hers. He added another finger and she jerked against her restraints. He moved over her more, his mouth connecting to hers as he continued to bring her body closer and closer to culmination. When she could take no more, he withdrew his hand from her, his gaze lingering over her as he rose to his feet.
Watching him remove his clothing was the biggest exercise in restraint she’d ever had, and considering she was currently tied up, that was saying something. The man was a total tease, easing his clothing off piece by painfully slow piece, revealing a sculpted frame that she wanted to kiss, taste, touch and know better.
When he finally pushed away his pants and his cock was free, she gasped. The size of his member was impressive and made her mouth water. Damn him for being a hot, hung vampire.
Hannah wriggled against her bonds, not w
anting to get away, but unable to not at least try. Getting away from the bliss was the last thing she wanted. A pair of obsidian eyes stared back at her as she lay spread out upon the oversized crimson bed.
"You are so very beautiful," Keane whispered, his voice husky, holding a tone that made Hannah's entire body shiver in delight. He held a coin in his hand and stared down at her with a look that promised endless nights of pleasure.
Hannah tugged at the bonds again. "Why am I tied up? I'd never hurt you, Keane."
Something in his gaze shifted, taking on a predatory air. "As if you even could."
"K-Keane?" she asked, her voice wobbling.
The way he stared down at her made her breath catch and her anticipation flare throughout her body. Moisture pooled at the apex of her thighs. Her nipples tingled and Keane's gaze snapped to them. He licked his full lips. She knew one touch from him would ignite her deepest desires and she knew she was powerless to stop him.
She lifted a leg, rubbing her thighs together, trying to quench the need. "Keane. Please untie me."
"No," he said, walking towards her. "I rather like knowing where you are."
The aftereffects of sharing blood with him returned, making her head heavy. Hannah groaned and closed her eyes as images of Keane bedding woman after woman entered her mind. He didn't just fuck them. He seemed to take great pleasure from being as hardcore as he could with them, bloodletting in the process. The room he did it all in wasn't just similar to the one he held her in now, it was identical.
Her eyes snapped open and she sucked in a deep breath. "No."
"No?" He arched a brow. "Don't you mean no, Master?"
He’d seemed so caring before. Like he wanted to please her and take care of her. "This isn't you."
"Oh, really?"
*
Hannah's chin lifted defiantly and her eyes narrowed. Keane knew he should back down, let her win this battle of wills, but he could not. His cock throbbed with the need to fill her, and his mouth burned for the change. His incisors wanted to extend and be allowed to sink into her tender flesh. The demon in him wanted to taste her blood, let it ooze down his throat as he sucked and fucked her. He'd gone too long. Wanted her too much to stop now. No. Now she would submit. She would concede defeat this round. There was no other option.
Keane's darkness would not be denied. "You will submit to me," he said, his voice low, devoid of any additional magical push.
He skimmed the edge of the coin down her naked body, circling her nipples several times before heading towards her cunt. He watched as she arched, pushing her breasts higher. She tugged at the bonds holding her, her eyes full of fire and lust.
He bent, capturing a nipple with his mouth and sucking gently. So sweet. So pure.
She moaned. The sound was music to his ears.
"Tell me you want me," he whispered hoarsely, on the verge of losing what thin control he still maintained.
She shook her head, her willpower impressive. "I-I don't."
It was a lie. He could sense her body chemistry changing as she said it. Her heart rate quickened and sweat began to form. He licked a long line from her nipple up to her neck. Pressing his lips to her pulsing vein, Keane considered sampling her blood. She gasped and wiggled against him.
"Keane."
He knew tasting her would leave him a slave to her passion. His bond with her was too strong to add the taking of her blood. Already he'd shared his with her. To take from her, during the height of passion, would leave him mated to her.
My mate.
His cock stirred with excitement, clearly pleased with the idea of being sworn to only her. Still, Keane resisted. He drew back, his gaze hardening as he stared down at Hannah. The demon he was one with surfaced quickly, taking the lead. He grabbed his shaft, stroking it lazily, toying with the bead of pre-cum that leaked from the tip. He rubbed it over the head, taking his time, thinking of everything he planned to do to her. His fangs had descended and he raked his tongue over one, his gaze remaining locked on Hannah.
"Tell me, Hannah. Tell me that you want me. That you desire me."
She struggled against her restraints. "K-Keane, your voice. It's deeper. Please."
A sinister smile graced his face. "That's it, my light, beg."
He moved closer to her, caressing one of her nipples as he continued to stroke his cock. Dipping his head, he sampled her flesh again, kissing it, licking a line across it, careful not to nick her. He may have surrendered to his demon side, but he'd not given in on avoiding mating to her.
Her arousal was evident; still, he skimmed a finger down her and pressed it between her hot thighs. So wet. So ready. So untouched?
He paused. “A virgin?”
She nodded, biting at her lower lip.
He was out of touch with modern ways, but he did not believe it common for a woman her age—in her early twenties—to still be untouched by a man. He was about to comment when he thought harder upon it, upon her and who he suspected she was to him.
His mate.
If that were true, she would not have wanted another male near her. Her body would have naturally turned off sexually when anyone other than her mate was near. The thought both warmed and frightened him. His mate? Could she be?
She bucked against the intrusion, her pussy tight, sucking his finger back into it. With a slight pop, he pulled free and brought his damp finger to his lips, licking her cream from it. His eyes rolled to the back of his head as a moan tore free of him.
Delicious. Just as he knew she would be.
Hannah whimpered, arching to him.
"You want more?" asked Keane.
"I want you," she said. "Not the demon. Just you."
Spreading her velvety folds, he continued working his prick. "You will take what I decide to give you, am I clear?"
The internal struggle to regain control of his actions and words was waged, but the demon was stronger when it came to Hannah. It knew she was his weakness. He slipped a finger into her mound and she wiggled her hips, causing his thumb to brush over her swollen bud. She tossed her head back, gasping for breath, the smell of her cream growing. She was close to coming but he didn't want her to do so just yet.
"Stop," he commanded.
Her body obeyed him and she thrashed, shaking her head, begging for more. Keane stepped back and began working his cock faster, the sight of her glistening pussy unbelievably erotic. Hannah was there, spread out for the taking.
"Please untie me," she pleaded.
Flashing fang, he hissed, not wanting to hear any more of her requests. The fear that shone in Hannah's eyes made his chest tight. At that moment, he hated himself—what he was—what he always would be.
Seizing hold of the coin nearest him, he crushed it his hand, shocking her as it turned to dust, and then tossing it away. It landed unharmed, in full coin shape, as if it had never been touched. The Devil side laid faceup, as if mocking him. The irony was not lost on him. He could not escape what he was and what it was he was doing.
"Keane, please," she begged. "Don't do this. Not like this."
He pinched her nipple hard enough to make her jerk beneath him. "Tell me you don't really like how I make you feel."
He knew she did. Her cunt was dripping with desire. He could smell it all around him. Easing himself over her, he stared down, encouraged by the fright in her eyes. It did something to the demon side of him that he couldn't explain. He thrust a finger into her and nearly came at the sensation of her pink lower lips wrapping around him once more. He shivered with feral awareness and pre-cum continued to leak from the tip of his dick.
With his free hand, Keane took hold of his shaft, stroking it as he continued to finger-fuck Hannah. She wiggled, her gaze still stubborn but her body submissive.
"If you are good, I will give you what you want."
She jerked against her restraints. "I don't want this."
He pulled cream from her cunt and lifted it to her lips, wiping it across them slowly. "Thi
s says otherwise, my light."
He bent and licked the cream from her lips, taking time to kiss her while he was there. Their tongues mated as their bodies soon would. For as defiant as Hannah was, she returned his kiss with passion. He rubbed his cock against her thigh and dry-fucked her leg. She bucked against him, her breathing growing rapid. He wanted to come all over her body and see her glistening with his seed, but he held back.
Her tits bounced, her nipples scraping his chest. The temptation to toy with them was too great to resist. She shook her head as he began kneading her breasts and showering kisses over them. He nipped playfully at her creamy skin, careful not to draw blood for fear of bonding completely with her.
Dragging his hands down her sides, he fought to keep from coming as her body responded to his touch. She whimpered as his face came to just above her pussy. He locked gazes with her. "Submit to me. Tell me that you want me to take you. Show me you'll accept who I truly am, my light."
Shocked by his use of the pet name again and the fact he seemed to be seeking her approval on being born a vampire, Keane moved back onto his knees.
Hannah stared down the length of herself at him and for the first time since he'd tied her down, she smiled. "You don't get it. I want you, but not like this. Not the way you've taken other--" She closed her eyes. "--women."
*
Keane stared around the room and realized he was doing just that. He was trying to objectify her to stay removed from what was happening. He had played this scenario out with human women before, tying them down, fucking and sucking from them. Yes, they enjoyed it, but they rarely lived to tell the tale, and Hannah knew as much. He'd been foolish enough to partially bond with her, allowing her access to his memories.
Parting her legs, he stared down at the sight of her pussy spread out before him. A tiny thatch of hair ran in a strip over her mound. Her clit was swollen and it was easy to see she was excited. He took a deep breath, hoping to regain his focus and do what he did best, use a woman and be done with her.
Her sweet scent filled his head and left his mouth watering with the urge to bite her. His eyes snapped open and he saw how tiny she looked on the oversized bed, how vulnerable she was. It had seemed erotic before, knowing the power he had over the women he bedded. In many ways, it still was, but the difference was he cared how Hannah viewed him.
