Key to Redemption

by Talia Gryphon

  “Come, bellissima, your hair is wet so I assume that you have bathed, but you are cold and this will warm you quickly.” He held out his hand to her.

  Kicking off her boots and pulling the shirt over her head followed by her bra, she took his hand. “Will you join me?” she asked shyly.

  Ice gray eyes widened a little, then crinkled at the edges as he nodded. His clothes were soon on the floor next to hers and he followed her into the shower, where she stood luxuriating in the warmth. Strong hands were soon rubbing the tension out of her neck and shoulders.

  “Thanks, Aleksei, that’s just wonderful.”

  “My pleasure, piccola. I am glad to be able to do something for you.”

  Maybe his voice sounded more forlorn than he’d intended, maybe Gill was feeling guilty, but she turned and reached up to kiss him. Aleksei happily complied, enjoying just being able to hold each other before something else happened to interrupt.

  Gillian’s hands wound their way down his iron-hard arms, skittered down his rib cage then moved toward his groin. She broke the kiss in surprise when Aleksei captured her wrists and held her away from him.

  “What? I’ve been neglecting you lately and I want to start something I’m sure we both want to finish.”

  “Do not do this, Gillian. Do not come from his bed into mine because you feel guilty. You do not owe me anything. We are here because you need a hot shower and I am giving you a massage. You have circles under your eyes. You are pale, and I can feel your weariness.”

  Catching her around the waist, he lifted her to him and kissed her thoroughly before she could protest, then put her down. “I am an adult, I can wait until you are through with Perrin and his demands on your time. And for the record, I want you to know how proud I am of you, of what you have done for that man. You have given him his life back, Gillian, much as you gave me mine and that is no small thing.”

  “I am not too tired and I am not feeling guilty.” She leaned against the wet tiles. “However, thank you for saying that. It doesn’t make me feel any less like I’m flaunting Perrin under your nose, but I appreciate it.” The Nile green eyes that she raised to his were anxious.

  “You have not flaunted anything, especially not Perrin. He needed you last night, piccola, it was not about the sex. He needed your kindness, acceptance and your strength. I am glad that you could help him.”

  Coloring in memory, she said, “I am sorry about that, you know. I intended to just walk home with him, then come to you, but he needed to cross one more hurdle. It was actually his idea, and as it turned out, if I had pushed him away, it really would have destroyed him.”

  “Think no more on it. We were well away from the village while you two were still strolling down the road. You do not need to be embarrassed.”

  “That was sort of a first for me too. He seems to have discovered a more assertive nature.”

  “Truly? In what manner?”

  “He took his mask off in the alley,” Gillian said.

  Aleksei searched her face for any sign that she was traumatized by what she’d seen. “How bad?”

  “Actually, it was very bad. He looks like someone tried to rip the living flesh off stone, chipping the stone in the process. It’s not remotely as horrifying as some things I’ve seen in combat or in the morgue, but I understand why he’s so terrified of sharing it with a lover,” she mused, remembering last night’s activities.

  “Do you think that his glamour and music might eventually heal him the way it improved Samuel’s appearance and transformed Tuuli?” Aleksei mused.

  Gillian perked up. “You’re a genius! I wonder if that would work!”

  He laughed, warm and comforting. “You are an eternal optimist, cara mia. I too hope that Perrin would be fully healed if such a thing were possible, but please take care in how you approach the subject. You have just convinced him that he is worthwhile as he is.”

  “Damn straight. I have to believe my patients are going to get better. And yes, I will be delicate.” She smiled. It was nice to have a conversation with Aleksei without fighting or worrying about what next bad thing was going to happen.

  “Are you warm enough now, piccola? Even a Vampire gets wrinkled after too long in hot water.”

  They exited the shower, Aleksei drying her off and insisting that she rest while he ordered her something to eat. Gillian was too tired to argue. He threw on a robe and left her briefly to consult the Brownies about food.

  The little beings had taken over the attic, the uppermost floors and the kitchen, insisting that a castle needed a staff. Now they were the obtrusive chefs, housekeepers, butlers and concierge for the Rachlav Institute of Paramortal Healing, with Aleksei’s blessing. The Brownies were cheerful, underfoot, helpful, noisy and conspicuous, but everyone rather enjoyed having them around, especially at odd hours when someone wanted a snack or beverage.

  Perrin was still up and pacing, long after Gillian had left. They’d had an enjoyable time together, but since he knew he was leaving soon, he’d wanted to stay as close to her as possible all night, savor the experience with her just a little longer. He’d barely slept.

  Happy, feeling proficient in his ability to try to have a semblance of a normal life, Perrin still felt conflicted. He didn’t want to leave but knew he had no choice. Gillian had been more than accommodating, more than patient with him, in his weeks there. He felt more for her than gratitude, he was certain.

  Love? Was it really love? Surprised, he realized he didn’t know. Limited exposure to anyone his entire life, with the exception of the two protégées he thought he’d loved and his misguided notions from the theatre, had left him unprepared for the myriad of feelings he was experiencing.

  They hadn’t spent all their time in sexual situations. The majority of their time had been in straight therapy, getting him used to talking, sharing his thoughts and feelings; used to initiating touch and accepting it in return. His depression and suicidal thoughts had evaporated like brut champagne on the tongue.

  Gillian had been brilliant, caring and patient but always challenging him to rise higher than he’d thought possible. With a jolt, he also realized how much she’d suppressed her basic nature for his benefit. Gillian was a strong woman; a leader, a commander with a very dynamic personality and manner.

  Perrin let his thoughts solidify. She had been utterly passive in all their physical encounters until after the first time they’d had sex. Only then had she begun to acclimate him to a woman’s appetites and needs. Helping him understand that two people concerned with pleasing and enjoying each other was the ultimate turn-on.

  Yes, she’d pushed him along a little when he needed it but mostly allowed him to make all the decisions regarding the speed at which his therapy had progressed. Letting everything be his choice, remain in each newly acquired comfort zone until he was ready for each step.

  With her complete acceptance by making love with him unmasked, she forced him to consider the possibility that there might be one or more women who would take him as he was, if he let someone get to know him. It was a frightening yet exciting thought that he might have something to offer, something he could bring to a relationship.

  Perrin’s epiphany crashed into his logical mind like a bullet. He needed to shift his thinking, focus on his own life, not the thoughts of what he might or might not feel for Gillian. Her job was done. He wouldn’t know if he had a life until he actually started to live one.

  She hadn’t prepared him by making him dependent on her; she had prepared him by increasing his self-esteem in small, significant ways, producing a rock-solid base for him to build on. Whatever came his way, he could handle it.

  Encouraged by his private pep talk, Perrin had made a call to Helmut Gerhardt, asking for travel arrangements back to Paris. His therapy was over; it was time for life. The curtain had fallen on the wounded patient and risen on the man.

  When Aleksei returned with some soup and soda for Gillian, she was asleep. Lying there alone in the
huge bed, she looked so small and delicate. There were light shadows under her eyes and she was still pale. He woke her gently to let her eat. She needed to keep her strength up.

  Remaining on the edge of the bed, still in his robe, he kept her company while she ate. They talked about how they were handling the current situation and if Dracula knew that his number one psycho was dead.

  Sated with food and feeling her strength return, Gillian reached up and pulled his dark head down to hers for a deeply sensual kiss. It felt nice to be next to Aleksei again. He was comfortable, he smelled familiar and she didn’t have to give him instructions. He responded to her, gathering her closely to him, and plundering her mouth with his tongue.

  When Gillian reached inside his robe to grasp his rapidly hardening erection, he rolled toward her, pressing himself into her hand. He was hungry for her, and all his good intentions about letting her rest went right out the window. Her small strong fingers couldn’t meet around his thickness but she was doing a damn fine job of driving him crazy by slowly stroking him up and down.

  Aleksei’s large hand deftly untied her robe and slipped inside to caress her hip and bottom. Moaning, she shifted closer and moved her legs apart in invitation. He didn’t disappoint her. Laying her back, he covered her with his larger frame, sliding long elegant fingers through her dark golden curls to find her wet and hot. Cupping her bottom, he slid into her without further preamble as she positioned him hurriedly at her opening, making both of them gasp from the shock of his sudden deep entry.

  As her body gripped him eagerly, Aleksei held still, allowing them both the glory of being conjoined once again. They realized how much each of them had missed the other as Aleksei brought them together again and again. Gillian made appreciative noises in her throat as his hand found her breast, his mouth moving hotly over her neck and shoulder.

  She grasped him tightly, enjoying the feeling of him caressing her from the inside and out. Goddess, she had missed his skillful touch. The orgy in the compound didn’t count; this was the first time they’d really been together in weeks.

  Raising his head, he looked down at her, watching her eyes dilate in passion. “I have missed you, piccola,” he said hoarsely. “You and making love with you.”

  “I have too,” she agreed, running her hands up his back to his shoulders.

  He fit inside her perfectly, every velvety inch sliding insistently within her. “Give yourself to me, innamorata, let go, let it come.” His voice was deeper, more urgent, as she became more vocal beneath him.

  Their eyes were locked as he shifted forward to bring them both to the pinnacle they so insistently sought. Gillian deftly raised her hand, moving her hair back, away from her neck.

  “Penetrate me,” she whispered, and watched his eyes blaze with banked fires.

  Aleksei nearly growled at the sight as fangs exploded in his mouth. Having her like this, completely open to him and offering him her blood, sent the pressure at the base of his spine upward and outward.

  It had been so long since he’d been inside her, too long since he’d tasted her spicy sweetness. He swelled fuller and tighter as his seed began its explosive journey up and out. He bent his dark head dutifully to her neck, praying he could hold on for a few more moments.

  She tensed a little as his fangs scraped gently, then she nearly screamed as he drove them home. It was instant, excruciating pleasure that flooded her as he began a rhythmic pull at her neck, timed perfectly with his imperative thrusts while she climaxed with an inarticulate cry.

  Aleksei’s own moan of completion came from deep in his chest as he felt her bear down around him. He locked her to him; the sweet, spicy taste of her on his tongue jolted through him as he erupted in heavy jets. He shuddered as his sex-starved body found satisfaction with the one woman he wanted to remain with.

  Even as overwhelmed as he was with her gift, he stopped himself before he took too much blood. His velvety tongue swirled over the pinpricks from his fangs, instantly healing the tiny wounds. He returned to her mouth to kiss her deeply, passionately; holding her body as tightly as he dared, their hips still welded together.

  As he drew back, Gillian whispered to him, her hands smoothing back his long, black hair, “Don’t pull out. I want to feel you a little longer.”

  He was overcome and dipped his head again to kiss her so she wouldn’t see the deep emotions roiling in his eyes. Aleksei held her awhile longer, then withdrew to lie beside her, tuck her in and stroke her hair. Gillian was too tired to argue about being babied and let him. Later, she stirred, coming out of her sleep to find him resolutely watching over her. For once exercising discretion on her possible comments, she snuggled deeper into his arms and let herself enjoy him caring for her.

  When she could delay getting up no longer, she sat up, intending to get dressed. Aleksei had other thoughts. He pinned her to the bed, and they were soon involved in a rapidly escalating erotic wrestling match, culminating with a firestorm of passion that left them both breathless but fulfilled.

  He let her up then and watched as she transformed from a small defenseless woman into a capable healer of souls. Dressed simply in a pair of khaki carpenter pants and an olive green T-shirt, Gill brushed her hair and applied a light coat of mascara without really looking at herself in the mirror. She had no vanity and no fear. She’d expunged and settled her issues with the Ripper. He was unable to haunt her thoughts anymore.

  Aleksei waited until she was finished, then told her that her new patient had contacted the Institute, saying he was ready to meet with her that night at ten o’clock at the Inn. She had plenty of time to get there, and Aleksei said he would go with her, to make sure she felt safe. Everyone was still a little jumpy after the Ripper incident. An anonymous Vampire patient insisting on complete and utter privacy made everybody nervous.

  Pavel had taken the call so Aleksei had no immediate impressions to provide her. Gillian interrupted to explain that he couldn’t go as the patient had asked Helmut for total anonymity. She’d take Daed and Trocar instead. There was no chance they would have any knowledge about the Vampire they were about to meet.

  With Aleksei’s newfound power level, he might recognize the individual and they couldn’t let that happen. Daed would go as medical director of the Institute. Trocar could come as . . . well, Trocar was sort of a heavily armed, lethal security blanket in case there were any further unpleasant surprises leftover from Jack or his Master.

  Aleksei wasn’t happy with the idea and insisted that she remain in the bar at the Inn, where Radu also could keep watch. The Innkeeper, Radu Smirnoff, whose name always caused double-takes and giggles, was one of Aleksei’s loyalists. Human and reliable, Radu had always been a trusted wellspring of information and sharing.

  Thankfully, Gillian agreed. Gathering her notepad and the forms she’d need, she took Aleksei’s hand and they went downstairs together. When they reached the hallway, Pavel was there to tell Aleksei that there was an urgent message regarding an attack consisting of several Vampires and Shifters on a communal farm homestead near the village. There were over a hundred men, women and children under attack.

  Swearing, Aleksei excused himself to take the call while Gillian waited by the fireplace, watching a little procession of Brownies coming down the hallway from the kitchen. They had a fairy-tale version of a flatbed trailer which they were pulling. On it was a cup of coffee, creamed and sugared just like she made it herself.

  “Gillian Big, we know that you have not visited the kitchen today, and to prevent any personal mishaps, we bring you . . . your awakening beverage!” the closest to her shouted. The others drew the cart around to her feet.

  She dropped to one knee to take the cup and thank them seriously. “Thank you. The Brownies of Castle Rachlav are kind and wise.”

  Gillian knew they weren’t being obnoxious; they were just being nice, so she’d let them. Aleksei would be proud of her, letting the little creatures help her out like that. Maybe she was making progress.
Nah. Too soon. She sipped the coffee gratefully and lit a cigarette.

  “Are you recovered, Gillyflower?” Trocar’s dulcet tones crawled down her spine.

  “Well enough.”

  “I rejoice.”

  She had to smile. Trocar was so unbelievably deadly and so wholly without remorse generally that she forgot sometimes when he was truly just being kind. She was feeling more awake with caffeine in her system.

  “What about you, Trocar? Everything all right?” Turning, she set her paperwork down and continued to enjoy her coffee.

  “I could quip something delightful about ‘squid happens’ but I suppose I really do not understand the Human sense of humor,” he said dryly.

  Gill spit coffee on the fireplace, coughing, laughing and trying not to drown. “Goddammit, Trocar!” she gasped when she could draw air into her objecting lungs. “Did you have to bring that visual back up on my mental screen?”

  “Perhaps it will make your day a little brighter, knowing that I was not sure if I was being digested or molested.” He scowled at her. No mean trick for an Elf with his remarkable beauty.

  “Oh gods, Trocar, I am sorry. It was just the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen. You, with hair still all perfectly yummy amidst that Sluagh. It was a nightmare version of an oxymoron.” She was still giggling in between sentences and the Dark Elf rolled his eyes, leaning against the wall, waiting for her to get control of herself.

  Aleksei came out just then. He glanced at Trocar, who was wearing the look of the long suffering, and Gillian, who was still giggling and wiping something wet off the fireplace. They seemed fine so he went ahead with what he wanted to say. “Piccola, I am sorry but I must rally my Vampires and the Wolves and take care of this problem.”

  “I’ll be fine, Aleksei, I have backup. You go do what you have to do and I’ll go see my patient.”

  “I am glad that you are taking Trocar and Daed with you, cara. Jack is well and truly dead but the Master who controlled him will know he is dead and want retribution. That may be the purpose of this particular attack.”