Emma looked at Ash, and lifted her hand to gently stroke the woman’s hair. A feather light kiss was placed on Ash’s forehead, and a quiet sigh escaped her lips. Ash shifted up, and found Emma’s lips, the kiss that followed quickly heated up. She turned Ash so she was on her back, and quickly slid the black shorts over Ash’s hips and discarded them on the floor.
Ash sat up enough to pull her t-shirt off, while Emma took her tank top and panties off. Emma settled between Ash’s legs. Ash’s hands ached to touch as much of the woman as possible, and a loud moan escaped her lips as the weight of the other woman pushed down on her. She needed Emma to know how badly she wanted her.
Emma clung to Ash, her arms hooked under Ash’s shoulders. Nipping and sucking on Ash’s lips as their tongues teased and taunted each other. Emma pushed her thigh between Ash’s legs, and the brunette gasped when Emma’s leg made contact with the juncture between her thighs. She clutched the back of Emma’s head, her fingers pulling at the blonde, loose strands. Emma’s left hand found its way between her thighs, where her knee had been pressed. She cupped Ash hard, feeling her straining and pushing against her.
Ash clawed at Emma’s shoulders, pulling her mouth back to hers. Ash opened her eyes, and moved her head back so she could see Emma’s face. The woman’s eyes were slammed shut. Emma moved her mouth down to Ash’s breasts, placing kisses along the outer edge of her nipple, and then gently covering the hardened bud with her mouth.
Pressing Emma’s head tight against her, something like a growl came from Emma’s lips. Ash shifted her hips, and a plea of frustration came in a whisper. “Please, Em.”
Emma tilted her hand, bringing her thumb in contact with Ash’s swollen clit. A sharp intake of breath preceded Ash pulling Emma even tighter against her chest. Emma pushed the tip of her middle finger inside Ash. She couldn’t stifle her moan as she reveled in the tightness and wetness wrapping itself around her.
Emma slid the full length of her finger inside Ash, and then after a single thrust, added a second. Ash’s arms wrapped tightly around Emma as she moved inside her. Her hips rocked in unison with Emma’s fingers, and she moaned as Emma quickened her pace. Emma’s body began to shake uncontrollably as Ash neared her climax. Emma’s gasps, low and throaty, filled Ash’s ears as she tightened, and tensed around her fingers. Ash’s body seized, and she pushed and pulled at Emma’s shoulders as her orgasm washed over her.
Ash felt weak and she couldn’t stop shaking as Emma placed a series of kisses along her shoulder and neck. Not willing to move away from the beautiful woman, Ash clung to her. Emma pulled Ash’s face towards her. Her eyes still closed, Emma’s lips found Ash’s, and then she nestled her face in Ash’s neck.
Running the tips of her fingers up and down Emma’s back, Ash couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. She should have felt silly, this being at least the third time she had cried with Emma, but the soft kisses on her cheeks and neck along with whispered reassurances comforted Ash. Whatever the tensions and the stresses of that day, the touch of these lips and these hands had found Ash.
Chapter 12
“Good morning.” Emma’s voice broke through the deep sleep Ash was in. She was lying on her stomach, and turned over to see Emma standing next to the bed with a tray of food in front of her. “I popped out this morning and grabbed a few things. Hope it’s to your taste.”
Ash rubbed her eyes, and sat up. The blanket fell and reminded her she was naked. A rush of heat shot to her face as she recalled the night before, and the memory of Emma’s hands and mouth on her. She blushed. “I’m sure it’s fine.” She pushed herself up further on the bed.
“Eggs, toast, bacon and – ta-da! - coffee.” Emma smiled as she put the tray across Ash’s lap.
Ash grinned as Emma was clearly pleased. “You’re setting the bar pretty high here, Atman. Just so you know, toast and tea will be the extent of my culinary prowess when you sleep over.” There was a flash of uncertainty across Emma’s face, and Ash wondered if she was assuming too much about what last night meant.
“I have to go into work for a few hours, but don’t feel like you have to rush off.” Emma smiled as she headed toward the bathroom.
Ash felt a prickling at the back of her neck. The doctor’s tone didn’t feel right. “What’s wrong?” It was the first question that went through Ash’s mind, and it seemed the most direct.
Emma stopped and turned to face her. “I need to talk to you after you finish eating, and before I go to work.” Without another word, she went into the bathroom, and shut the door.
Ash put the piece of buttered toast she had just taken a bite of back on the sea glass colored plate, her appetite making a hasty retreat. Lifting the tray up, and placing it on the bed beside her, Ash slid out from under the warm blankets. After a few minutes, she managed to locate the shorts and Princeton t-shirt from last night. She picked up the tray, and made her way downstairs, determined not to be in the vulnerable position of naked and in Emma’s bed when they had their talk.
“There you are.” Emma was pinning her hair back in a bun as she walked into the kitchen. Frowning as she looked at the still full tray. “Not hungry?”
Ash steeled herself. The woman looked incredible. She was wearing a black, knee length, Prada skirt, and a slim fit cobalt blue silk blouse that accented her eyes so they seemed to glow. “I’ll eat a bit later. After the talk.” Ash slid onto one of the bar stools.
Emma ran her tongue across her bottom lip nervously. “Right.” She walked around the island and sat next to Ash. She laid her hand bag down next to her. “I haven’t been honest with you, and I - given the turn our relationship took yesterday, I need to tell you a few things.”
Ash swallowed hard. Her throat suddenly tight. She couldn’t imagine what the woman was going to tell her. Was she seeing someone else? Were her and Coleen serious? Did she used to be a man? A whole litany of possibilities shot through Ash’s head. “Okay.”
Emma managed a weak smile. “Your suspicions about the Garrett case are correct.”
Ash stared blankly at Emma. The casual way she stated this quintessential fact was beyond Ash’s comprehension. “Wha-” The woman swallowed, the bite of toast from earlier threating to make another appearance.
Emma took Ash’s hand. “Paul Garrett was murdered by a vampire. More to the point, Paul was murdered by Ela. It had to do with a nearly century old feud between Ela and Rachel Collins.”
Ash felt the sides of her vision narrowing and she reached for the counter top to steady herself. “Are you fucking with me?”
Emma squeezed Ash’s shoulder. “I assure you, given the carnage of the past few weeks, I would not - I would not fuck with you.”
Ash gasped for air, trying not to pass out. “Explain.”
Emma went to the sink and got Ash a glass of water. “Here, take this. Try to breathe. I can only imagine how shocking this is for you.”
Ash took the water, and drank the entire glass. “Can you? Can you imagine how shocking it is to be told all the books and movies are true?”
Emma cocked her head to the side. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
Ash looked at Emma. “How do you know all this?”
Emma bit her lower lip. “I agreed many years ago to keep secret certain aspects of the vampire world.”
Ash was shocked. “You mean you use your position to lie, and mislead authorities. Authorities like me.” The anger was righteous as it began coursing through Ash.
“Yes, but for the greater good Ash.” Emma’s eyes were pleading. “There’s an order to things that must be preserved. It serves no purpose for humans to know about vampires.”
Ash got up and began pacing. “Like hell it doesn’t!” She turned the full force of her wrath on Emma. “Maybe if we knew those things existed we could protect ourselves. We would know what to look for, and people like Paul Garrett wouldn’t be ripped apart by some blood thirsty maniac!”
“They’re not all like that Ash. Ela is an exception to
the rule.” Emma insisted.
“Says you. Says the woman who protects them.” Ash seethed. “Did Ela murder Cris and those other officers?”
Emma hesitated. “No. That was a lycan.”
Ash took a step back as if she had been slapped in the face. “For fuck’s sake!”
“Ash, please understand.” Emma took a step toward her. “It took me time to figure out what I should and shouldn’t tell you. Frankly what I could tell you.”
Ash clenched her teeth. “Why now?”
Emma looked down, and flicked her index finger back and forth across her thumb. “When I thought you were dead. When I - when we were together last night. I knew I lo-” The woman shook her head. “I knew I needed to tell you.”
“You mentioned Rachel Collins. She’s a vampire?” Ash refused to acknowledge Emma’s near confession of love. She refused to acknowledge her own feelings right now. The feelings of safety and intimacy that had given her so much joy last night, were being trampled on by lies and deceptions.
“Yes. She and Ela were lovers when they were both human. The records you found from the concentration camp, those weren’t relatives. It was Ela and Rachel.”
Emma looked down. “There was a falling out, and Ela holds Rachel responsible. Killing Garrett was meant to complicate Rachel and Sara Glass’ lives.” Emma spoke quickly.
Ash shook her head. “I have to talk to Rachel and Sara again.”
Emma nodded. “I understand.”
Ash looked at her. Her pulse racing as she struggled against the conflicting emotions of hurt and anger. “I don’t think you do, Emma.”
“Ash, I know I’ve betrayed your trust, and you blame me for Cris’ death.” Emma’s voice caught. “Please believe me. I had no way of knowing how quickly and badly things would spin out of control.” She put her hand on Ash’s shoulder, and had it quickly pushed away.
“Emma, I can’t even think about us right now after what you’ve told me.” She ran her fingers through her hair.
“There’s something else.” Emma took a deep breath.
“Christ, there’s more?” Ash sat back down on the stool, her morning rapidly reaching ridiculous.
“Lara.” Emma put her palms flat on the granite counter, refusing to make eye contact with Ash. “She’s a shifter, and if I’m right - in league with Ela.”
She’s going to be livid. The cryptic phrase Lara had uttered when they were breaking up came back to Ash. “She was sent after me?” Remembering Alan’s client Ana, Ash quickly pieced the horrific scenario together. “But why?”
Emma winced, chewing nervously at the inside of her cheek. “Ela is a sociopath, and I know it’s hard to hear, but she was doing it for her own amusement.” Emma rolled her neck back and forth as if it were stiff. “Eternity can be too long and too dull for some. Plus, from what Coleen has told me, Ela came over damaged.”
Ash’s brow furrowed. “Coleen is a vampire?” She held her hand up. “Of course she is. And Alan’s a vampire, and Amy is a shifter, and you’re a lycan, and the whole world has just spun off its axis.” Ash got up and grabbed a pad of paper and pen from the nook. “Write your address down.”
She walked toward the hall. “I’m calling a cab, and then I’m leaving. I need to go talk to Rachel and Sara.” Ash stopped, and turned to face Emma. “Unless you know who killed Cris?”
Emma stood, her hands behind her back, her head lowered. “I don’t.”
Ash threw her hands up in the air, and let out a mock laugh. “Well, that’s something.”
***
After showering, Ash had found Rachel Collins’ address on the county property tax site. The vampire was a home owner. Leaving her apartment and walking quickly toward her Jeep, Ash was struggling to keep her thoughts focused on the task at hand. She continued to replay Emma and hers conversation over in her head, and besides the obvious reasons, there was something more that didn’t sit right with Ash.
She pulled up in front of Rachel’s single story brick house in the north central neighborhood of Stone Oak. The neighborhood was newer, and catered to upper middle class families.
“Detective Haines. This is a surprise.” Ash was surprised Emma hadn’t called Rachel to warn her she was on her way.
“Ms. Collins. May I come in, please?” Ash looked closely at the woman. She was as beautiful and flawless as Ash remembered. Knowing now what Rachel was, Ash was even more surprised to see her standing in a doorway in the middle of the afternoon. Emma was right when she said it wasn’t like the books and movies.
“Please.” Rachel stepped back, allowing Ash to enter, then shut the door. “Your partner left me a message several days ago, and I’m sorry, but I was travelling for business and haven’t had a chance to get back to him.”
Ash walked into a living room adjacent to the entry way. It was decorated in dark, heavy furniture with a series of ornate tapestries hanging on the walls. “Detective Martinez was murdered, along with five other officers, yesterday.”
Rachel gasped. “I - I’m so sorry. What happened?”
Ash looked at the woman. Her reaction seemed sincere. “They were ambushed by a lycan.” Ash focused so she wouldn’t stumble over the word.
Rachel tilted her head back, the expression of concern replaced with an icy stare. The warmth and charm she had exuded was gone. “A what?”
Ash exhaled. “Don’t bullshit me, Ms. Collins. The jig is up.” It occurred to Ash that if what Emma said was true, she was inciting a vampire, behind closed doors, and could very easily become a mid-day snack.
“Rach, is something wrong?” Sara Glass came into the room. Ash noticed immediately the more melodic tones of her voice, and her appearance was altered significantly.
She had been a very attractive woman before, but now, like Rachel, her skin was flawless and her features perfectly symmetrical. Her blonde hair hung loose around her shoulders, and was the color of golden wheat. The green of her eyes was sharper and nearly iridescent. Looking at Sara, a tension began to build at the back of Ash’s brain. A realization she was struggling to wrap her head around, as if her mind was willfully disregarding it.
“Detective Haines’ partner was murdered yesterday, along with five other officers.” Rachel looked at Sara and then back at Ash. “She’s making inquiries.”
Sara frowned. “Why would you be here for that, detective?”
Before Ash could answer, Rachel cleared her throat. “She believes a lycan committed the crimes.”
Sara’s eyebrow arched. “What?”
“Oh, would you both please give it a rest.” Ash practically shouted. “I mean, if I had any doubt about what Emma told me, looking at you sure as hell puts that to rest.” Ash gestured to Sara. “I mean look at you, Ms. Glass.”
Sara looked down, and then quickly back at Rachel who, after a few seconds, nodded. “What can we do for you, detective?”
Ash sighed. “Thank you, Ms. Glass, for not continuing to treat me like a complete idiot.”
“Have a seat.” Sara motioned to the sofa. “Rach, come sit with us.” Rachel didn’t speak, but took a seat next to Sara on the loveseat across from Ash. “You can imagine, detective, your visit comes as a surprise.” Sara was calm as she crossed her legs.
“Today is full of surprises, Ms. Glass.” Ash continued to be amazed at the woman’s transformation.
“Please call me Sara. I think we know enough about each other to dispense with the formalities.” Sara reached for Rachel’s hand.
“Very true, Sara.” Ash leaned back on the couch, Rachel’s stillness causing her to be cautious. “Ela Jacobs killed Paul Garrett to - and let me make sure I get this right - to in essence, fuck with you?” Ash looked at Rachel.
Rachel nodded. “Yes. We met in a Nazi labor camp during World War II. We were lovers and escaped together. I was turned, and then I accidentally killed her. A vampire named Coleen, turned Ela, and has subsequently admitted it was the worst decision of her existence.”
A slight s
mile came and went from Rachel’s lips. “Ela blamed me and has spent the better part of the past seventy years tracking me down. Wreaking havoc wherever she went would be an understatement.”
Ash shook her head. The realization that Coleen was involved from the beginning, and that Emma was in partnership with her, just further fueled Ash’s anger toward the woman. “Where is Ela now?”
“Dead.” Sara responded without hesitation.
Ash’s brow arched. “Dead? I thought your kind lived forever?”
“Nothing is forever if it isn’t taken care of properly.” Rachel said flatly. “And to be clear, detective, given Ela’s penchant for debauchery, may we assume any means by which she was ended would be above reproach - and the law?”
Ash looked back and forth between Rachel and Sara. Clearly one, if not both, of the women had killed Ela in retaliation, or for self-preservation. The cop in Ash said it didn’t matter what the motive was, they needed to be accountable. The pragmatist in Ash knew the letter of the law didn’t apply to someone who was technically dead. “You may assume that.”
“She kidnapped my sister, and meant to use her to bring Rachel and I out into the open so she could kill us both. She hadn’t anticipated my being turned, and I ended her.” Sara’s squeezed Rachel’s hand.
“And what about Lara Ramirez?” Ash asked.
The two vampires looked at each other. “I’m not familiar with her.” Rachel finally answered. “Who is she?”
“According to Emma, she’s a shifter in league with Ela.” Ash watched their reactions, and could see from Rachel’s sharp intake of breath she had caught them both off guard.
“What is it?” Sara asked Rachel.
Rachel looked at Sara and then back at Ash. “Shifters are descendants of the lycans. Cousins would be a good comparison. Most are born, some are turned, but the interdependency between the vampire and the shifter has – with more modern thinking – become taboo.”
Sara shook her head. “What does that mean?”
Becoming Forever (Waking Forever Series) Page 18
