Quench

by J. Hali Steele

  Quench

  J. Hali Steele

  Sequel to Hard Case.

  Alek is cursed. A tiger and lion mix, he also feels vampyre bloodlust. Finding a mate will require finding someone to sate that bloodlust and it has become increasingly clear that the two cats who live beneath his skin are outrageously, unbelievably picky. Then he meets Viviana, the one woman who ignites a fierce fire in his soul.

  Viviana, a vampyre warrior, is shocked to come face-to-face with the one creature who can turn her cool blood into a molten river. Her powers stolen, she has to count on the cat for everything—blood, even her life and when they’re together she becomes a wildcat in his arms. Viv wants Alek as her own, and no one, not even Alek himself, will stand in her way.

  Inside Scoop: Alek and Viviana share many erotic likings, including enjoying the occasional voyeuristic adventure as well as exhibitionist sex, when the desire strikes them.

  A Romantica® paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

  Quench

  J. Hali Steele

  Dedication

  To Nikita Isaac—without you most of my stories would still be in my head! Thank you for always being there.

  Chapter One

  Warriors, leather-clad fighting machines with arsenals of weapons deftly hidden beneath their coats. They were gladiators who fought to the death and belonged in an arena.

  Not striding through a hotel lobby in Amish Country.

  That’s where Alek Foress had found himself twenty-odd years ago protecting Nikolaus, the Kind prince. In fucking Lancaster County.

  All these years later, back in the California high desert, he was still addicted to the bastard’s blood and there were times he swore he smelled like a stinking lion.

  “Damn you’re in a nasty mood.” His friend’s laughter rang out in the little corner of the club Alek had chosen to hide in. The sound scraped his already raw nerves. “You striped beasts always smelled worse than us.”

  “Case, I don’t need any shit from you.” From the corner of his eye Alek saw Tres heading their way. He took in her green hair and curvy body before facing Case. The man grinned widely as his mate approached, a grin that reminded Alek he’d done the right thing by hiring Tres to handle Case’s club. Initially his friend had objected to his swanky voyeur club being run by a snow leopard shifter with green hair. But the spunky little cat had won the white lion’s heart and soul.

  “You both stink and have fleas.” Tres had read her mate’s mind. “Damn warm cats.”

  “Hey, baby.” Case’s large hands encircled Tres’ waist.

  Alek slouched deeper into the chair as he watched Case pull his mate into his lap. These two were one of the happiest couples he knew. They were also part of the reason for his frame of mind.

  Alek would never have a mate or know the kind of happiness they shared.

  Case nibbled on Tres’ neck and lifted her up. “Can you see to things for a bit? I need to talk to Alek.”

  She leaned in and kissed Case on the lips. “I’m famished and unless you want me biting a customer, don’t be too long.”

  “Greedy wench. I’ll take care of you later.”

  Alek watched her disappear down the hallway of the Looking Glass. He spun on Case and cut him down before he started.

  “Here’s where you tell me so what if I have lion’s blood running through my veins and you’re going to give me the bullshit about being lucky I have a tie to the royal family.” He lifted his glass, downed the Wild Turkey and fixed Case with a deadly stare. “How would you feel walking around for twenty damn years with a hard-on for a fucking male cat?” Lips drawn into a grimace, he ground the words between clenched teeth, “We don’t screw males.” Standing, he leaned and banged both hands flat down on the table. Alek lowered himself until he was eye to eye with his friend. “And now would not be the time to tell me to ‘relax, it’s the vampyre blood’ or ‘it’s no big deal’.” He straightened up, planning to leave.

  His head flew back with a snap and his body was flung down into the chair. It tipped back precariously on two legs.

  “I haven’t said anything yet.” Case glared at him with gleaming red eyes. “But someone needs to so you can get on with your life and stop this bullshit.”

  “What the hell was that?” Alek rubbed his jaw.

  “That was a white lion full of vampyre piss and vinegar trying to save his best friend from a life of loneliness.”

  He sat back and studied Case Tangara. He’d known he had strength but hadn’t suspected anything like this. For now, his only option was to listen.

  Alek and Case were both part of the Kind species of big cats infected with blood of the undead. Both served as Sovereign warriors, known as the Reign, to protect the weaker of their brethren—the Sovereign Kind cats who refused to accept the vampyre way of life by ingesting human blood. They were animals and it was what they wanted to remain.

  Case continued, “We are what we are. Embrace your vamp powers and deal with it.”

  Alek’s mind wandered as Case babbled on about it being okay if a man wanted to make love to another man.

  A thousand years ago the undead had invaded the lions’ ancestral caves in the Balkan Mountains and the sons of bitches had contaminated the cats with their vile blood curse. Unfortunately the lions carried the thirst across continents to a multitude of animals. He used to lead the Reign. Stripped of his status, he didn’t give a shit anymore. His downfall came from spending too much time in women. Literally. He pined away even now, his cock throbbing in anticipation of the wet pleasure found between a willing set of shapely legs. Furry or not, he’d change to suit the situation.

  Leading the warriors hadn’t been his idea anyway. He’d assumed the position to stay near the prince.

  “So you wanted to stay near your blood source. Big fucking deal. You’ve had the benefit of the strongest blood of our kind and you’ve piddled it away fucking around. I love you, man but it’s time to grow up.” Case leveled somber green eyes in his direction. “Are you that worried about traveling to meet the prince?”

  Zeroing in on Case, Alek hissed. “Stay the hell out of my head. You want to know something, ask.” He could have motioned to the waitress for a drink but what the hell, there were some vamp powers worth embracing. He pulled a glass of alcohol out of thin air and took a big gulp. “Don’t ever restrain me again.”

  “Don’t act like an asshole and it won’t be necessary.”

  Setting his drink down, Alek sighed heavily and settled back into the chair. “No, I’m not worried about the royal family. Hell, his wife is half-human and will always do crazy shit.” Air whistled through his lips. “You don’t know what it’s like.”

  “I know what a vamp’s lust feels like. I enjoy it and so should you. It’s part of what we are.”

  “Male cats don’t go panting after each other. It’s-it’s not normal.”

  Case laughed so loudly a few of the club’s patrons turned to stare. “We aren’t normal in any sense of the word.”

  The addiction to the prince’s blood pulled at Alek, shattered his control again and again. It pushed him into the arms of any available woman just so he could prove his manhood. The weakness would never allow him to take a mate. He was unwilling to divulge his dark secret—his desire to take a man, namely the prince. Have him in every way.

  Alek had seen mated male cats take sustenance often. They always went for men and then they’d go home to feed their mates. How did they deal with it, fight the carnal urges that damn near drew him over the edge? What made him different? This wasn’t part of the beast’s nature. His craving came from his blood-lusting relatives. Goddamn vampyres.

  “On that thought, I need to feed my mate. Let me say this. Tres understands my sexual urges and accepts them. You
’ll find the right mate one day and she’ll accept all that you are, Alek.”

  “I’d never let her know.”

  “Then you’ll never have happiness. If that’s how you choose to live, so be it. I’ve done all I can.” His friend sniffed loudly, wrinkling his nose. “And you do smell like a lion today. You need a bath, my friend.”

  “Fuck you.”

  Case left him sitting where he’d found him—alone in a corner.

  He decided to leave tomorrow to itself. Tonight, he wanted to relax. The prince was off somewhere chasing his mate but he’d fed Alek well before he left.

  His cock was full and he’d bed the first female who showed up ready, willing and able.

  Alek sniffed the air while his eyes roamed the room in search of a candidate to take to one of the back rooms of the voyeur club. A few couples languished in softly lit booths while jazz quietly wafted from hidden speakers. He wondered which of them would end up in one of the many two-way mirrored rooms tonight watching others being pleasured and giving pleasure.

  A familiar scent filled his nostrils.

  Law and Dace were here. He’d been told to expect them. They’d all been summoned to join the prince in his search.

  The prince’s brothers spent most of their lives in Europe and were considered master vamps. They lived totally on blood, ignoring their beasts completely. They were adept at hiding in plain sight. This close to home they must not be concerned or he would have never smelled them.

  He decided to follow the trail, which led to one of the back rooms. Hell, he’d surprise them and maybe they could grab something to eat together. He hadn’t hunted in the vampyre way in a long time. Too long.

  The hallway he traveled was empty. Alek stopped in front of the room housing Law, Dace, a few humans and a full vampyre whose scent he didn’t know. Strange. Masking his odor, he vanished to materialize on the other side of the door.

  Before he could move the stranger had him at knifepoint from behind. The lights were dim but he could see two human couples lounging sleepily on the sofa. Dace glared from a small bar in the back.

  Law was the first to speak. “You’re living dangerously tonight.”

  “We flashed by you and thought we’d stop later and catch up.” Dace’s low laugh was sinister as he eyed the humans. “We were grabbing a feed first.”

  Alek remained motionless with the knife pressed into the skin of his throat. A cold trickle of blood slid down his neck as the stranger used one hand to pat him down as if it were a cheap stickup. When the hand came around and grabbed his cock, he made his move.

  Lightning fast, he reached over his shoulder and grasped the stranger by his head and flipped him onto the floor. The tip of Alek’s knife now pierced the other’s neck and drew blood.

  “Unless you want what you just had to be your last meal, I suggest you don’t put your hand on my balls again.”

  “Get your ass off me and I’ll be glad to oblige. Fuck, never mind, your cock feels pretty damn good right where it is.” A slender body pushed up against him.

  The voice stilled him and he inhaled deeply. Alek’s breath caught in his throat. Truth assaulted his nostrils and he wondered how the hell he’d missed it. Delicious female scent wafted over him. Shit! A freaking woman had held him at knifepoint and she smelled full-out vamp. Pulling his blade back, he released her and stood while she came to her feet with a lithe move that impressed him. Close to his height, taut muscles twitched with readiness as her weapon flipped back and forth through nimble fingers.

  “What the fuck did you think you were doing?” Alek asked.

  “What in hell were you doing trying to sneak up on us? You ever hear of knocking? I thought you Kind had a thing about privacy.” She peered at Law. “Who the hell is this guy?”

  “Trust me, Viv, he’s not a cat you want to mess with, understand? Put the knife away.”

  Dace’s snicker filtered through the room.

  “Don’t call me Viv, no one here knows me that well. I’m Viviana. If anyone gives a shit about a last name, too bad.”

  The vamp amazed and flustered Alek at the same time.

  Her feminine chin jutted toward him. “Who’s Mr. Got-a-helluva-package?”

  Law choked. “That’s Alek.”

  “Ahh, your lofty Reign leader. How you doing? Nice cock you got there.” She motioned to the couples on the sofa. “Help yourself to a bite.” Viviana laughed in his face when his jaw dropped. “You cats need to stop being so damn finicky.”

  Surprised by her boldness, he snapped his mouth closed. He’d never met a woman like her in his life. She had the foulest mouth he’d ever heard, no modesty at all and she felt like a wet dream about to pop.

  Alek’s dick was hard as a stick of dynamite and it felt ready to blow any damn minute. Christ! What was up with this female? And what the fuck was up with him?

  Her moonlit blue eyes pierced him before she vanished.

  He wasn’t hungry anymore. Not for food anyway.

  Before he sheathed his knife he ran the tip of it over his tongue. The vamp’s blood tingled there, sending another hot stab of desire right to his crotch. The taste of her called so loudly to him he followed Viviana right through the door. The last thing he heard was the brothers laughing.

  Alek blatantly checked out her backside, pleased by the sight of her tight ass swinging in front of him. Platinum-blonde hair hung down her back in a severe plait. Black leather hugged her lithe body like a second skin and her long legs ate the hallway up. She was tall, damn near reaching his six foot four inches in her stiletto boots. Oh he could work her for a long time. The package she’d fondled earlier was still hard.

  His hands itched to touch the walnut-brown skin he knew would feel like satin. And her smell drove him nuts. Damn! Could one drop of blood have… Hell, maybe he was in heat.

  Strictly a cat man, he couldn’t believe how much the bloodsucker turned him on.

  “You’re a bloodsucker too and no matter what you cats believe, you’re no better than we are.” She pushed at his mind, had entered his thoughts.

  Alek jumped at the echoing sound of her voice.

  Concentrate. Keeping her out wouldn’t be impossible but it required him being more aware if she intended to hang around. Locking his shields tight, Alek slid his tongue over lips that still held her exotic taste.

  He did something he wouldn’t normally do out of respect for another’s privacy. Alek eased past her mental barrier and invaded her mind. It was too easy. Viviana wanted him there. What he saw had his cock leaking like a faucet. She wanted to handle him, stroke and hold his cock, guide it inside her.

  Oh yeah, he was willing to be handled by her for a couple hours before sunrise.

  Suited him fine.

  She continued into the main area of the club with him on her heels. He continued to pick around in her head and found she couldn’t read Law or Dace either. Unaware of the lion’s pure royal blood pumping through his veins, Viviana made the mistake of thinking he was just a Kind tiger.

  Alek stopped dead in his tracks. What was he doing?

  A woman like her, a vamp, wouldn’t understand his weakness. His thoughts turned to his beasts. For some odd reason his lion lay still, quietly purring. His ever-vigilant tiger stood at peace. Neither animal displayed agitation or cried out for blood.

  His cock was still hard, and Alek knew there would be no satisfaction with anyone else tonight. In a fog of anguish, he started to walk again. Viviana’s eyes followed him from where she sat at the bar. He went straight through the club and out the door.

  How fucked-up his life was.

  When he reached the parking lot, he raised his head and roared into the night, not caring who heard or saw him.

  Pain too great to hold inside poured from his body into the air. The thunderous sound battered against tree limbs, sending some crashing to the ground.

  Chapter Two

  Viviana smiled as she made her way down the long hallway. The Reign leader f
ollowed her and his spicy scent filled her nostrils. She liked how he’d felt sprawled on top of her with his emerald-green eyes glittering. If his hair hadn’t been a dead giveaway she would have known he was tiger from his smell. The Sovereign warriors had a reputation for being badass and if this one was like the brothers, she wouldn’t mind knowing him better or getting her hands buried in his ruff.

  Her blade burned hot in her hand. Unaware she still held it, Viv stared at a drop of blood glistening under the soft lights. Sweet Jesus, she wanted to lick it, taste it, and she did. Her nipples hardened immediately and her vagina clenched, sending moisture sliding from her core into the seat of her pants. What in hell was that?

  Careful or he’ll smell my desire.

  Pushing at his mind, she caught only a glimpse before banging into a steel wall. Viv couldn’t get in. The brothers carried strong royal blood in their veins and it had always caused trouble when she tried to read them. They were direct descendants of the original beasts turned by her ancestors. This was different. She’d never felt anything like it.

  Alek, a Siberian tiger, had the same mental print as a lion.

  Viv hadn’t counted on the excitement that fluttered in her stomach. To restrain her out-of-control body she reminded herself of his nasty thought about her species. It had pissed her off and she’d berated him for thinking of her as a bloodsucker. The Kind were no better.

  “Goddamn fur balls.”

  Confused by her emotions, she wanted to fuck with him. Allowing him access to one part of her mind, she let him have a thought that should keep him swollen and painfully erect. I wouldn’t mind handling a nice piece of ass like yours before sunrise.

  Viv’s aroma quickly filled the small space and she knew her scent would snare the beast in him. The effort to close her mind weakened her tremendously. Stronger shields would definitely be called for if she planned to hang around him. What if she wasn’t able to keep him out while they trekked after the prince?