Daughters of Dracula (The Stoker Sisters #1)

by Kailin Gow

  The first tender brush of his lips left Sadie dizzy, and as he pressed for more, she felt her soul slowly open up to him. His mouth consumed her, filling all her thoughts, blocking out any other desire and leaving her breathless.

  But when he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in closer, pressed the length of her almost nude body against his, she felt a confusion of hunger and passion.

  As Keegan’s tongue slipped into her mouth, Sadie suddenly felt the tip of a fang emerge. Getting a grip on her growing passions, she pulled away, her tongue subconsciously passing over the retreating fang.

  “This is Keegan, too fast.” Her brain, still caught up in the sensations that had filled her, couldn’t compose a proper sentence and she knew she was spewing nonsense. Lack of proper feeding left her hungrier than usual, and the immensity of the passion she felt for him exacerbated the situation. “I mean, I’m not…”

  She knew what boys said about girls like her; girls who ignited the flames of passion only to extinguish them with a prudish and innocent bat of their eyes.

  “I’m not in a rush, Sadie.” His voice was husky and heavy, and though he showed his complete understanding, hunger still clung to his gaze.

  “Don’t hate me.”

  “I could never hate you, Sadie. It’s no big deal.”

  But just as he pulled away and turned to walk back to their picnic blanket, his brow furrow with conflicting emotions.

  Chapter 13

  “Not that I want to invite myself over again,” Keegan said to Sadie as they emerged from their science class. “But I was hoping you’d go over the periodic table with me.”

  Sadie kept a somber expression and stomped her way to her locker.

  Concerned, Keegan took her by the elbow and turned her to him. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I know I’ve been spending a lot of time at your place lately, but…”

  She cracked a broad, teasing grin. “Of course you can come, silly. Sorry, I’m only fooling around with you. All this science talk has left my brain eager to just laugh at nonsense. I love having you over, Keegan.”

  Haven’t been taken in, his smile was bashful, yet showed a trace of playful vengeance. “Just for that I might not bring my world famous ravioli for dinner.”

  He was so sweet, she thought as she put her things away in her locker and grabbed her purse. Not only did he give her a ride home every night, but he always brought something great for dinner. Too bad she and Alexis couldn’t really appreciate it. Not wanting any of it to go to waste, Sadie always brought whatever was left to a handful of homeless young men she’d become acquainted with on her midnight feedings.

  There were simply lost souls who were having an unfortunate start in life and Sadie wanted to do what she could to help them.

  “Mmm, sounds too good. You have to bring it over. I’ll make up for teasing you so childishly.”

  He kissed the tip of her nose and smiled. “You’re already forgiven.”

  In addition to his kind deeds, Keegan had also been instrumental in allowing Sadie to breeze through science. He was a natural and studying with him made everything easy to understand. Of course staring into his deep blue eyes tended to distract her at times, but that’s what made studying all the more pleasing.

  They arrived to find Alexis gone and though she’d been on good behavior of late, Sadie was nonetheless pleased to have the house to herself. Keegan settled into the sofa and after grabbing him a soda from the fridge, Sadie took a spot nearby and they ran through the table of elements.

  “You have such an easy way with all this,” Sadie said. They’d been running through them for almost an hour. He already knew them all by heart while she was still struggling with several of them. Her memory was usually considerably sharper than this and she wondered if her minimal feeding was affecting her mind. She looked at Keegan, appreciating everything about him…but why was her vampire senses weaken when she was around him?

  “They say you're good at what you enjoy and I just love this stuff.” He tapped his textbook affectionately. “Even if I didn’t have to learn it in school I’d want to look up all of this.”

  “I know what you mean. Only my love is for literature. I’ve loved all the books we’ve been asked to read and write about. If I can, I might even start a blog.” Sadie chuckled. That would be something… especially as an extension of her book club.

  The front door flew open, startling them both. A strong breeze carried a wealth of fresh air into the house, fluttering through Alexis’ long hair in the process.

  “Why, hello lovebirds. How quaint to see your heads bowed together so studiously.” Alexis kicked off her sandals, letting one fall by the door while the other flew clear into the kitchen.

  Glum, Sadie stared at the discarded sandal at the door, but refrained from complaining to her sister. “We were just finishing up.” She slammed her book shut, letting the frustration she felt out on science.

  “Oh, am I just in time for dinner?” Alexis sauntered into the kitchen to find some food. She never failed to make an exaggerated show of her appreciation for Keegan’s cooking.

  Always of service, Keegan jumped to his feet. “All that’s left to do is warm it up.”

  Fifteen minutes later they were enjoying his ravioli. Keegan continued to intermittently test Sadie on the elements and their properties, at times elaborating where science collided with cooking.

  “It’s like alchemy,” he said. “You never know what incredible concoction you may come up with. You know sodium, or salt, isn’t just a matter of taste. It serves a scientific purpose. Don’t you just love it when your two favorite things meet up to become one?” He beamed as he glanced from Sadie to Alexis.

  When his eyes rested on Alexis a little longer, Sadie almost gagged. Though she knew Keegan really liked her, she had to constantly struggle with a tiresome sense of insecurity. His last statement along with the way he’d looked at her and her sister left her wondering if he was still talking about science and cooking or his growing affection for both of them. Since the book club, it was as if Keegan couldn’t help noticing Alexis whenever she appeared.

  I don’t want to have to compete with my sister, she thought.

  She glanced sidelong at Alexis, who looked like she just stepped out of a fashion magazine. She’d adjusted to the fashion sense of America far better than Sadie had.

  Letting her eyes fall to her own simple pink t-shirt, she let out a silent and tired sigh. The effort of battling for his attention was exhausting, yet she had too much pride to play the game the way Alexis did. Never would she stoop so low as to dress provocatively and gain his love with her body.

  “Speaking of science, there’s a great movie in town,” Alexis said. “Any takers?”

  “Sure. What movie?” Keegan said.

  “Frat House Party.”

  Sadie shook her head. “What does that have to do with science?”

  With a quick back shove of her chair, Alexis rose and let her fork fall into her plate with a loud clang. “Nothing, little sis. I was just trying to segue out of all this dull academic talk.” She flashed Keegan an apologetic grin then returned her irritated grimace to Sadie. Clenching her teeth, she hissed, “Get off my back.”

  Tension in the house had never ceased rising, and it had reached an all-time high. Between Alexis’ tornado effect on the house and her blatant seduction attempts on Keegan, Sadie had come to find living with her intolerable, but she was yet to find an alternative to their living arrangement.

  Then again, she knew her meticulous and orderly ways could at times be annoying. Towels in the bathroom had to hang just right. Jars and bottles had to be properly aligned in the pantry. Bills and bank notices had to be filed in a precise manner.

  After months spent trying to get Alexis to understand her method and after pointing to every little thing Alexis left hanging around the house, Sadie had only recently decided to just shut up and clean up.

  “I’m going to go splas
h cool water on my face, change into something hot and meet you guys out by the car.” Alexis strutted out and slammed her bedroom door behind her.

  “She’s got quite a temper,” Keegan said.

  Sadie piled the dinner dishes one atop the other and brought them to the kitchen counter. Her own temper was flaring up and she had to bite down to control it.

  “I guess it mustn’t always be easy to live with a sibling.” He’d come up behind her and wrapped his strong arms around her.

  A smile instantly erased all the angst her sister so easily created. Keegan’s arms were warm, his hold tender despite the enormous strength he had. He brushed his lips across her temple, gently groaning his hunger for her. “I would have given anything to have a brother,” he murmured.

  While her tiny fingers worked to lace through his, she glanced back at him. “I guess I should learn to appreciate her more.”

  “People come and go in your life, but a sibling is there forever.”

  Forever. The thought wasn’t comforting at all.

  Keegan helped clean up the rest of the dinner mess while Sadie quickly freshened up for their outing. Hand in hand they headed out to the truck to wait for Alexis. Twenty minutes later she emerged, smiling and oblivious of how long she’d kept them waiting.

  Sadie’s mouth opened in disbelief and she heard Keegan give off some strange animalistic groan of appreciation.

  Wearing a black skintight cat suit, her every curve was explicitly and enticingly displayed. Cut in a daringly low V-neck, the laced bodice, with its web of satin ribbon that began at her navel, was cleverly left as wide as was permitted, exposing the weight of her breasts. Her four inch spike heels added length and definition to her already shapely legs and her heavy make-up, dramatic and fiery, emphasized the danger she sought. With catlike precision, Alexis took long, slow strides down the walkway. Her lips, dark and glossy, parted in hunger then spread into a sultry grin, while her tongue visibly rolled along her teeth. She’d pulled back her dark hair, letting it fall down her back in a sheen of black velvet. She looked every bit the vampire seductress that she was.

  “You look great, Alexis,” Keegan offered as she got in.

  All Sadie could do was bite her lip and stare out her passenger window. She felt virtually invisible, shadowed in Alexis’ brilliant spotlight. Then she felt the warmth of Keegan’s hand over hers and turned to him.

  His eyes steadily on hers, he brought her palm to his mouth and pressed his lips to her skin, mouthing, “You’re exquisite.”

  They drove off and barely made it to the theater in time for the seven o’clock showing. Seated firmly between her sister and her boyfriend, Sadie enjoyed the movie, letting the silliness of the comedy wash away the frustrations of the day.

  “That was better than I thought,” Keegan announced as they walked out.

  “Not bad,” Alexis conceded.

  They stepped outside and Sadie immediately wrapped her arms around herself as the chill of the night air greeted them.

  “Darn it,” she exclaimed. “I forgot my jacket. Wait for me here.”

  **********

  A thrill shot through Alexis at the thought of a moment alone with Keegan. Though his love for Sadie was obvious, his attraction to her was also apparent. She’d seen the way he looked at her, the hunger in his eyes whenever she entered the room.

  Her sweet little sister might have the makings for a proper wife, but Alexis could sense the passion and intensity in Keegan that could match Alexis’. He was like no human she had met, and each time she came near him, she wanted more of him…his scent, his touch, and his very soul.

  “We’ll cut through here,” he suggested, pointing to the alley way. They’d left his truck one street down and the alley offered a quick shortcut.

  But only two steps in, the decision proved to be bloody.

  A grimy shadow appeared from the darkness and stabbed Keegan without warning. Screeching in pain, Keegan grabbed his bleeding thigh and leaned back against the wall. The shadow moved in over him, eager for more blood.

  Instantly, Alexis smelled the blood that gushed from Keegan’s wound and her eyes widened with hunger and anticipation. But his assailant had to be dealt with first. Before he could go in for the kill, she grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and threw him into the air.

  While the young thug was airborne, she realized the excessive strength she’d displayed. Hopefully the cover of darkness would shadow the true goings on and Keegan wouldn’t be the wiser.

  The young man landed head first, his head sounding very much like a large hard-boiled egg crashing to the floor.

  Alexis turned her attention to Keegan and saw in his steady gaze just how much he’d seen of her ability. She’d shown too much, but there was no going back now. As he squeezed his leg just above his wound, his eyes remained on her, awed, impressed then afraid and confused.

  Alexis sighed then cupped Keegan’s face turning his eyes to look into hers. “You will forget you saw me throwing the man. You will remember…” she smiled wickedly laying on the compulsion thickly, “how good I look, how much you want me, and how good we would be together…” With her eyes focused on the blood of his wound, Alexis controlled the hunger that threatened to take over. The sight of his blood excited her and a part of her was thrilled by the fear in his eyes.

  It intensified as she approached and she saw him search, with hand and eyes, for some sort of weapon with which to defend himself.

  Alexis inserted her finger into the last tab of her laced up satin ribbon and with a single flick of her wrist, pulled the length of ribbon free, further exposing her flesh. She delighted in Keegan’s cocked brow and knelt before him to make swift work of wrapping the length of satin around Keegan’s thigh. Blood stained her fingers as she worked, heightening her hunger.

  Her breathing was labored, each intake of air bringing the tantalizing scent of nourishment to her nose. She licked her lips and contemplated tasting just a drop.

  “This should slow the bleeding until we can get you to the hospital,” she said. One hand held onto the back of his injured thigh while the other clung to his healthy leg. With her face so close to the wound, she could almost taste him and her fangs slowly crept out in anticipation.

  She rose to face him, slyly licking her fingers on the way. Her hunger for him intensified until she caught the strange look in his eyes.

  It was as if he knew her. Not as Alexis. Not as Sadie’s sister. But he knew her, deep inside and with intricate precision. His hand took hers and held on, bringing her back to a time she’d almost forgotten. The softness of his skin, the firm grip of his fingers and the warmth that sent thrills throughout her body, all as Ashwin had once made her feel.

  She leaned into him, wanting to feel more of the sensations the years had erased. In the dim light, she could almost see Ashwin’s features; his amused grin and fiery eyes. All that remained was the taste of his lips and the heat of his tongue.

  His hands gripped her tiny waist, holding her close. His lips parted, hungry and prepared to devour.

  Alexis was suddenly breathless and lightheaded. Her love for Ashwin rushed over her, drowning her with a need to be secure in his arms. She brushed her hand over his smooth cheek and brought her lips to the edge of his sharp jaw.

  Her eyes caught on the movement of a shadow; a shadow that had come from the lit street, but had remained immobile since. Alexis wanted to ignore it. She wanted to fight it. This moment was too good and she’d waited so long to feel this much passion again. Right or wrong, she refused to relinquish the sensations her body played with.

  But Keegan saw it too, and his control proved stronger than hers. His hold of her waist became firm where it’d been sensual and his intent to push her away was clear as his eyes focused on Sadie.

  Alexis pulled out her cool veneer and backed away from Keegan before he could push her further.

  “Your boyfriend was attacked by a mugger,” she quickly explained. She straightened up and b
acked away.

  “We’ll get you to the hospital,” Sadie said. She scrutinized Keegan, looking into his eyes, looking for traces of Alexis’ handiwork.

  Alexis knew Sadie suspected her of having already turned him. “Give me your keys.” She said forcefully to Keegan. “I’ll bring your truck around.”

  Before walking away, she gripped Sadie’s arm and pulled her close. “I know what you're thinking. I’m not that vile a witch, Sadie. I didn’t touch him. I didn’t even lick the wound as I could have. I used my lace as a tourniquet instead. So stop with the sad doe eyes already.”

  “Don’t even talk to me,” Sadie said, her soft voice filled with anger and hurt. “You’ve been trying to steal him away from me since day one, and now I’ve seen you’ve reached a new low – using compulsion to get him to kiss you! I thought we can be like sisters again…the way we were when we were human…at Stoker Manor, but I was wrong.”

  “Is this what it’s about?” Alexis asked in disbelief. “Us moving here to Summerlin, trying to live with each other…like our own mini-coven…so you can feel human again?” Alexis chuckled. “Get this, little sister, we are vampires. We can’t be human no matter what we try. We couldn’t stand each other when we were human. What makes you think we can now? As vampires, our feelings are magnified tenfold. So, get this, Sadie, when we were sisters we fought for everything against each other. Now is no different. I want Keegan, and he will be mine.”

  Alexis stormed off, leaving Sadie fuming. She meant what she said about Keegan…he will be hers. Keegan’s passion was young, untamed, virtually untried. There was an innocence about him that made his sexual energy all the more powerful. It was virile and difficult to contain.

  Not since Lord Ashwin had she felt such power in a man. Not since centuries past had she met a man who could match her wit, her passion and her strength. Yet in all that strength and power there was something kind, soft and gentle. He had the makings of a fine gentleman. Perhaps the closest thing to nobility she would find in this new country.