“Stay,” she begged. “Stay and make love to me, Henry. Please? I don’t want you to leave. I don’t care about the side effects. I’m willing to work through them. I just need you to stay and be with me.”
She could see the passion ignite in his eyes as he slowly cupped her face in his hands and leaned in, brushing his lips to hers. She ached for the sensual side of him. The night had been so raw and she needed to know that his feelings for her were not simply based on the physical, but that he could also give himself to her emotionally. His tongue softly pushed into her mouth and she welcomed him, intertwining her tongue with his. There was nothing rough or wild about it and as his lips caressed hers she felt more tears stream down her cheeks.
When he pulled away, he kept his eyes locked on hers and lifted her into his arms, cautious of her back although she reassured him she was fine.
They made their way up to her bedroom and Henry carried her to the bathroom and set her down. He dimmed the lights and filled the large tub with hot water and bubbles before slowly removing her clothes, piece by piece. When the tub was full and the bubbles had created a white shimmering mountain, Henry slipped out of his clothes, turned off the faucet, and helped Echo step in. The water burned, but it was also soothing.
He stepped in behind her and sank into the bubbles. Before he guided her down to him, he turned her body so that his face was level with her stomach.
“Everything about you is beautiful,” he whispered and softly kissed the scar that spread out across her flesh.
“It’s not beautiful, it’s hideous, and I can’t heal it.”
“The scar does not need healing, love, you do. Wear it with pride, as a badge of honor. Allow it to be a reminder of the trials you have faced and won. Let it become a piece of you, not something you wish never existed.”
Echo could feel tears brim her eyes. The scar had been symbolic of the life she had lost, but he was right. It was a piece of her, and everything it represented made her who she was today, here with Henry. It was time to change her thinking.
“Thank you.”
She seated herself in the tub and the heat stung as it caressed her back, but the pain quickly vanished and she leaned herself up against Henry’s chest, his arms wrapped around her.
Her head rested into the crook of his neck and she closed her eyes, savoring the moment of relaxation. She hadn’t realized how tired she truly was until the water had enveloped her, but the growing bulge that pressed into her back kept her alert and awakened her need. She felt Henry’s hand slide down the length of her torso and slip in between her legs, his fingers dancing across her mound. She pressed herself deeper into him and pushed her hips into hand. His finger traveled down her slit, parting the folds of skin that hid her from him. Once her entry was revealed, he gently pushed into her body. Echo bucked in response, her back arching naturally with need. He slipped a second finger inside and slowly fingered her as he circled his thumb across her nub.
His free hand slid up to her breast and he kneaded her fleshy mound in his palm as he rolled her nipple between his fingers.
“Oh, Henry,” she moaned as he worked her until her orgasm had built up to the point of breaking free. She writhed under his touch, rubbing her body along the firm length of his shaft, eager to bring him as much pleasure as he bestowed on her.
He groaned in response and slid a third finger deep into her pussy before increasing his speed, pumping his fingers in and out of her and pressing harder onto her clit as he continue to run circles over the increasingly sensitive bit. His hand moved over to her other breast and he pinched her nipple, perking it like he had the other one. The sensual pain combined with his intense treatment of her pussy broke the damn and Echo’s orgasm pulsed through her body as she came, her hips rocking against his hand. As her juices coated his fingers and her pussy walls constricted against him, Echo felt his dick twitch against her.
She flipped herself around, sliding away from Henry’s fingers, and straddled his lap, gripping his dick in her fist. She slid her hand up and down his marble-hard length and lifted herself up, hovering her opening above his rounded head. As she impaled her pussy with the thickness of his cock, they both moaned out in response. He felt so good inside her, her lips stretching around his girth to welcome him home. She worked herself up and down his length, sinking him deeper with each stroke until his dick was finally seated to the hilt. She slowly rocked her hips against him as he cupped her breasts in his hands and leaned forward to suck her nipples one by one into his mouth. He swirled his tongue around the pebbles and flicked his tongue over the tips and she reached back behind her, gripping his legs for support as she rode him.
He trailed his hands up to her neck and pulled her hair off to one side, his eyes displaying his need to taste her again. The desire to feel him feed from her sparked promise of a second orgasm. His lust for her blood was intoxicating, and she found she wanted him to feed possibly as much as he did. She tilted her head, opening her neck in invitation, her heartbeat racing in anticipation. Henry leaned in and breathed her scent before kissing her soft spot. Echo closed her eyes as she continued to rock her hips when the now-familiar feeling of Henry’s teeth sinking into her flesh surged through her. She didn’t register the pain as she felt him gently drink from her, but the arousal from it and his moans of pleasure triggered her to ride him harder. She pumped her hips hard against him as his dick pushed against every sensual button inside her body and another orgasm flooded her. As she came, her walls constricted around Henry’s shaft and she felt him twitch in her right before his seed filled her. He bit down harder upon his release and Echo rode him hard until she milked him dry. Sparks filled her vision, she panted from the effort, and her pussy pulsed from the extreme sensation that coursed through her body.
When Henry was spent, he pulled away from her neck and licked the excess blood from his lips.
“Did I hurt you?” he asked breathlessly.
“No,” she admitted, “I like how it feels.”
He brushed his hand over the bite mark, wiping away the little bit of blood that dripped from the wounds.
“It’s already healing.”
“I know. I can feel it.”
“How did you know healing was one of your gifts?”
She smiled at the memory. “The first night we met, and you scared the shit out of me…after you left, my cuts from the glass healed over.”
“Oh yeah.” He laughed. “The hot tub…damn I wanted you. You’re so sexy when you’re pissed.”
“Whatever, creeper!” she joked. “What kind of freak sneaks up on a helpless woman who is enjoying a soak?”
“The kind who is tired of watching from afar.” His eyes took on a meaningful stare.
“It’s still creepy.” She giggled. “But you don’t have to hide from me anymore. I want you with me, Henry, always.
“I’m not going anywhere. As long as you’ll have me, I’m yours.”
Her heart melted. Life had changed so drastically and somehow, through it all, she managed to find the man she had been looking for all along.
“Good.” She leaned down and kissed him, knowing that Henry would never leave her side,
“And next time, you can join me in the hot tub.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Paige stood in the center of a group of trees and waited anxiously. She knew it was a bad idea to be out here alone, but the scales had tipped and it was time for a major change. From behind her she heard a twig crack and spun in defense, ready to release her gift if necessary.
“You’re awfully jumpy.”
Corrine stepped out from behind one of the larger trees. A wicked grin crossed her face.
Paige’s skin pricked in fear and she wondered if she’d made a mistake meeting her.
“It’s because you’re a freak,” she snapped. “You’re losing your touch—I’ve never heard you sneak up on me before.”
“Yes, well”—Corrine frowned—“I’m a little on edge myself.�
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Paige looked around, searching for more of the creatures who could be hiding amongst the trees.
“Where are your minions?”
“They’ve all fled until I send word that it’s safe.” She paused and looked around, ensuring that Paige had come alone as requested. “They bonded.”
“Yeah, I could feel the shift in the balance.”
“I can’t touch her gift now. Henry protects her and he won’t hesitate to kill me if he thinks I’m a threat.”
“So, what do you want me to do about it? Echo doesn’t trust me anymore. Your baby brother has a big mouth and she ran to Bridgette. She’ll never let me near her again and if Henry’s onto your scent, she won’t pause to sick him after me as well.”
Corrine paced and Paige knew she was working through the puzzle.
“We can’t just let them be, Paige. As their bond grows, she’ll begin to hunger for his blood. Knowing the risks won’t stop him from giving in to her. He’ll be able to distract her for a while, but the thirst will become all consuming. She might even go as far as to feed without his permission.”
That was the big problem, wasn’t it? There had never been a Witch that was turned that could contain both powers and Echo would become a twisted monster. Henry wouldn’t even be able to stop her—and all of their kind would be in danger. She could wipe out every Witch and Vampire in existence.
“I’m not thrilled with the idea that we are forced to work together, but I will do whatever it takes to stop her.”
Corrine nodded in agreement. Paige wasn’t an Abbott. Her family was born of a darker gift, but the Vampires still did not trust them and vice versa. They simply coexisted with a silent truce, agreeing to disagree yet not harm one another. Still, none of them let their guard down when the other was around.
“What if he knocks her up?” Paige questioned. “He can do that right? She doesn’t have to be human for his seed to take hold, does she?”
“As far as I know, a child is not a concern. Her body should reject his seed, seeing it as a threat. A pregnancy would kill her so her gift protects her. Think of it as supernatural birth control.”
“I see.” Paige considered the implications of a baby born with both gifts and she shuddered at the thought. She hoped the virtual condom didn’t break and let one of his little swimmers in. “So, what’s the plan?”
“Your family has access to the darker spells. We need to find one that will compromise their bond. I’ll do research on my end and you see what you can find. Together we should be able to combine our efforts and find a magic strong enough to at least crack it. Once the bond is compromised, they’ll self-destruct.”
“What if we don’t find anything? Do you have a Plan B?”
Corrine’s wicked smile returned and Paige couldn’t help but shiver under her stare. That woman was pure, unadulterated evil.
“I have a few tricks up my sleeve,” she assured her. “However, I don’t want to go to such extreme measures unless we have no other choice.”
“How long do we have?”
“Their bond is already surprisingly strong. I felt it once it had been completed. If I’m right, which is typically always, I’d say by the summer solstice at the latest.”
Wow, she was full of herself.
“All right. I’ll get started right away and keep you updated in my progress. Do me a favor though?”
“What?”
“Next time we meet”—Paige glared into Corrine’s lackluster eyes—“make sure you feed beforehand. It’s creepy enough being out here alone with you, let alone when you’re fucking thirsty.”
Corrine laughed as she slid her tongue across the sharp points of her teeth.
“I’ll do what I can.”
Without another word she slipped back into the darkness of the woods and left Paige alone once more. Corrine may have a trick or two up her sleeve, but so did Paige and she wasn’t going to risk losing her life because Corrine’s ego prevented immediate action.
“She’s gone,” she called into the shadows.
A man stepped out of the shadows and walked over to Paige, taking her hands in his,
“Did you get all you needed?”
Paige nodded up at the crystal-blue eyes and welcomed the passionate kiss that was offered her. His kisses always ignited her desire and she reached down and rubbed her hand along the bulge of his crotch.
“When was the last time you fucked me beneath the stars?”
Charlie slid his hand under the hem of Paige’s skirt and pushed his finger deep into her wet opening.
“Far too long, my sweet. Far, far too long.”
THE END
WWW.TASHABLACKSTONE.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
There was never a day in Tasha’s life when she wasn’t creating new worlds, characters, or story lines. Even as a little girl, she was often locked away in her grandfather’s office drawing, cutting, pasting, and writing short stories to give to her mom. Using all methods from crayons, pens and pencils, typewriters, and word processors, she found her favorite was the typewriter. The clickity-clack sound that the keys made as she wrote her stories ignited excitement, and at the young age of eight, she knew she wanted to grow up and be a writer.
Tasha thanks her grandma for her love of books. Her grandma’s home was, in all aspects, a library with hundreds and hundreds of books on the shelves, all of which Tasha was allowed to read regardless of her age. With the exception of the typical children’s faeire tales, Eye of the Dragon by Stephen King was the first fantasy novel Tasha had read and she was hooked. The freedom to create a world without having to follow traditional rules was the most amazing thing ever! Of course, as she grew and decided that boys were no longer gross and infected with cooties, but rather cute and tempting, she turned to romance. Her favorite pastime became writing short stories for her friends and featuring them as the heroine and their crushes as the love interest. When one of the moms found a story and mistook it for a real event, Tasha knew writing truly was her calling.
Though it took a little longer than she had hoped to achieve her dream, the waiting was well worth it. She is thrilled to add published author to her list of accomplishments.
For all titles by Tasha Blackstone, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/tasha-blackstone
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Echo in the Night [Echo's Song] (Siren Publishing Allure) Page 16
