by Mary Abshire
"Yes," I said, his thick cock filling me. "Yes."
I teetered on the edge of ecstasy. He pumped into me and I gasped, so fucking close to my climax. The anticipation made me want to scream. I dug my nails into his wet skin. When he thrust into me again and pressed his sharp teeth into my neck, I couldn't resist anymore. My orgasm exploded like a bomb, tightening around his cock. Pleasure consumed me, leaving me panting and in a euphoric state of mind. With my insides milking him ravenously, his own release came shortly after mine. Tidal waves of satisfaction rippled through my body, sated from my release and overjoyed to feel his thick cock throbbing inside me.
Drake sucked gently on my neck. My overwhelmingly hot body embraced his cool one. I could only imagine how my heated blood must've tasted for him.
The heartbeat of ecstasy slowly faded. My legs trembled and a slight dizziness took hold of me. Drake glided his tongue along my neck. He brought his lips up to mine, then kissed them gently.
"I can never get enough of you," he said, gazing deep into my eyes. "If you choose to live out your days and die as everyone else, I will have to join you. I will not walk the Earth without you."
My heart jumped. "You would die with me?"
"I will, if that is what you decide."
Tears swelled in my eyes. Yes, I knew how much he loved me, but to willingly end his immortality to die with me seemed so Romeo and Juliet-esque.
"You are without a doubt the most wonderful, gracious, and loving man in the world. I truly feel blessed to have you."
Drake pressed his forehead to mine. "Thank you…for calling me a man instead of a vampire."
I kissed his soft lips. "You will always be my mine."
A wide smile emerged on his face. He gripped me under my arms, then lifted me off the ground. Quickly, I wrapped my arms and legs around him, keeping his rigid cock inside me.
"Your man wishes to pleasure you in the comfort of a soft bed."
"Mmm…I want my man to be happy. I'll gladly allow him to do as he pleases with me."
Chapter Four
I sat on a stool at the center island with my legs dangling and my elbows pressed on the countertop. My chin rested in the palms of my hands as I watched Drake. He stood in front of the stove, cooking soup for me. Black pajama bottoms covered the lower half of his fine body, leaving the top portion bare for my eyes to appreciate. He couldn't see my face, but a cheerful smile was waiting for him when he turned around. I adored my eternal lover.
The aroma of beef filled the kitchen and roused my hunger. The strong scent reminded me of the times Dani prepared dinner. She'd spend hours fixing meals to ensure they were perfect for the two of us. She loved to cook, unlike me. We had great times together.
I inhaled a deep breath as my mood dropped a notch. I missed Dani—my roommate, my co-worker, my best friend for three years. After Drake and I ran off together, I never once contacted to let her know I was alive. I didn't dare. Drake and I both knew someone from the VETOV would pay a visit to her. Because she was human, they could easily tap into her mind to extract information from her. So I couldn't risk calling her. Drake said they wouldn't harm her if she didn't know anything. Eventually, they'd give up and leave her alone. I believed him.
But when would they leave her alone? Five months had passed since we last spoke. How long would they follow her? How long would they watch her and listen to her conversations? Would they have given up on her by now? I had a niggling itch to find out.
Drake poured the soup into a bowl. After disposing the pot in the sink, he carried the steaming dish to the counter in front of me.
"It smells delicious." I wrapped my hands around the warm bowl. The strong scent of the beef floated into my nose, stirring my hunger.
"It might taste plain since I am without the proper seasonings to spice it up for you."
"It's fine." Steam drifted up from the dark liquid. I blew at the fluid and it rippled slightly.
"Do you know where the utensils are?" I asked.
He searched through the drawers, sliding them out, then pushing them back in place. Silverware clanked on the third drawer he tugged on.
"I would like to go to the store later and stock up on supplies," he said as he snatched a utensil. After sliding the drawer shut, he handed the spoon to me.
Potatoes, vegetables, and chunks of beef appeared as I stirred the soup. "Is it safe to go out?"
"I checked on the weather while you were napping. The storm has passed, but more snow is expected in a couple days."
"Great," I said, lacking any enthusiasm. Then I filled my mouth with a spoonful of soup. Drake was right—it tasted a bit bland. Though he never sampled the food he prepared for me, he always seasoned it, then somehow the food always tasted perfect. I don't know how he managed to do it, but maybe his sense of smell guided him.
"How is it?" he asked.
I swallowed and shrugged. "Just as you predicted."
He chuckled. "I will start a list. We can leave in an hour or so."
"What about the sun?" I glanced past him at the small window above the sink. Dark brown curtains covered it, but a hint of light peeked around the edge from the top.
"I will be fine. The hours of daylight are fewer here. For the next couple of months, you will not see more than six to seven hours of the sun. It sets early, and rises late." He returned to the sink, then twisted the faucet handle.
My thoughts returned to Dani while I ate my soup and Drake rinsed the pot. I wanted to find a way to contact her without risking her life or mine.
"Do you think the VETOV are still watching Dani?" I asked.
"Possibly."
The smallest of chance instilled enough fear in me and prevented me from trying to call her.
Drake turned off the water, shook his hands over the sink, then faced me. "I researched online for the local murders. The police are not reporting much. They state someone stabbed a local resident, but nothing more. I found several forums with messages posted by eyewitnesses who found the victims. From what I read, the murders seem similar. I suggest we wait for Anthony to provide us with information before we talk to anyone." He surveyed the kitchen as if searching for something. Finding a towel near the stove, he went to retrieve it.
Listening to Drake gave rise to an idea. While I couldn't call Dani in case a vampire watched over her, I could find a way to get a message to her. "Are the laptops set up?"
"Mine is in the office, down the hall," he said as he wiped his hands. "I haven't unpacked your laptop yet."
"Mind if I use yours?" I asked. "I'd like to do some research before we leave."
"Sure."
I lifted my spoon and blew on it as Drake walked around the center island. Standing behind me, he wrapped his arms around my ribcage, then pressed his lips to my ear. The hug surprised me. My spoon tilted mid-air and I spilled soup back into the bowl.
"I'll make a list of supplies and finish unpacking. Let me know when you are ready to leave," he said.
His arms slipped away and the soothing energy from his touch vanished. I glanced over my shoulder and watched him stride down the hall until he disappeared. The vamp had an aura of confidence, power, and strength that I could marvel at all day long. And to think he loved me, a half-demon. Yeah, I was happy and very lucky.
Once I finished eating, I rinsed the bowl before I stuck it in the dishwasher. I dropped my spoon in the utensil holder, then headed for the office.
I stopped inside the door and flipped the light switch. Drake's laptop and a printer sat on top of a long desk that faced the wall on my left. A black leather chair was pushed up to the desk. The room was bare without a single piece of artwork. Even the bookshelf by the window was empty. Having found what I needed, I rolled the seat away from the desk before I sat, then I powered up his laptop.
While I waited for the Internet browser to appear, I thought about how I could get a message to Dani without the VETOV suspecting that the message came from me. I couldn't send an e-mail message
to her or go to her paranormal investigation website, in case they were monitoring. So how could I reach her?
The Internet browser loaded, showing the Google screen. As I stared at it, I recalled a forum Dani visited for socializing with others interested in paranormal activities. In the search box, I typed in the name. The site popped up within seconds. Great, but I didn't have any log-in information. Typing fast, I created a new Gmail account. I needed one anyway to apply for jobs online. After I finished establishing a new e-mail account, I returned to the forum, then created a new log-in ID. Within a matter of minutes, I entered the forum.
A long list of discussion threads appeared. I took a deep breath, realizing it would take time to go through each one. Ah, but it would be worth the time spent if I could find her. Starting with discussions created five months ago, I clicked on the links and read the messages.
Time dragged as I searched through comments about ghosts, hauntings, seeing orbs, investigations, and sightings of alien spaceships. A chuckle leapt from me, reading about spaceships.
"Finding anything?" Drake strode into the room dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved sweater. He stopped at my side.
Tired of reading, I slouched in the chair. "No."
He directed his gaze to the screen. "What are you looking for?"
"I know I can't contact Dani or send her an e-mail. So, I thought I'd check out the forum she used to visit."
"Jessie, are you sure you should do that?" The alarm in his tone clearly indicated his concern.
"I miss her and I want to know that she is all right. I lived and worked with her for three years. I can't just forget about her."
"If the VETOV are still following her, they can probe her mind. They can find out if she has had contact with you."
"I know the risk involved. I'm being careful. I may not even find a posting from her in the forum, but I thought it was worth checking out."
Drake crossed his arms, and stared at me in a way that made me think his mind was calculating his response. "I have some contacts not far from Indiana. I can call one of them and see if they can look in on her."
"That's a great idea." If I didn't find anything in the forum, at least Drake's source might be able to help ease my mind.
Drake lowered his arms. "Will you be ready soon?"
"Yeah, give me ten minutes."
He kissed my head before he walked out.
I stared at the number of total pages at the bottom of the screen. I'd searched through two months' worth of messages and still had twenty pages to review. Maybe Drake was right. I should just let his friend check up on Dani. Maybe, for her safety and mine, she should believe I was dead and gone.
No, I couldn't let go of my best friend that easily. I clicked on the page numbers, then quickly scanned through the topics without going into each discussion. Five more minutes of searching wouldn't hurt. I pressed the button on the keypad for the sixth time. Within the list of titles, a curious one read Indy Warlock Seeking Soul Mate. A spark of excitement awakened me. I knew a warlock in Indy.
Browsing through the long list of replies, the volume of flirtatious responses amazed me. Did people really believe they could find a soul mate from the World Wide Web? The thought made me chuckle. At the bottom, I found the original posting from two months ago. The signature at the bottom of the message showed the name Mark.
My pulse quickened. It had to be him—the warlock Dani and I worked with. I'd known Mark for only a few weeks. He was always kind, supportive, and willing to listen to me. There couldn't be many warlocks in Indianapolis by the name of Mark. The fact that he'd posted in a paranormal forum convinced me the message came from the same Mark I knew. Maybe Dani asked him to post the message, hoping I would see it and contact him. She was clever enough to conjure such an idea.
I dragged my finger over the pad, then hit the reply link. The keys clicked fast as I typed a message. Woman with soul missing her partner. I signed my name Danielle, which was Dani's true name that she hated. Mark would have to know the message was from me.
After I posted the response, I shut off the power to the laptop. A new sense of joy filled me, hopeful I'd find out how my best friend had fared all these months after I'd disappeared. The temptation to stay online and wait pricked at me, but I resisted. Besides, it might be days, or longer, before he'd reply.
Knowing Drake was waiting for me, I rushed down the stairs. I ran into the bedroom and found him lying on the bed with his back against the headboard. My laptop sat propped open on his lap.
"I'm ready. I just need to throw on some clothes." I dashed to the dresser, then opened the first drawer.
"Top left," he said. "Jeans are hanging in the closet."
Smiling, I closed the drawer, then opened the correct one. I snatched a bra, strapped it on me, and then dashed to the closet. Had I unpacked, I would've left all the jeans folded in drawers. But not Drake. He preferred to hang everything up. I'd once found my bras hanging on a hook in a closet. I'd quickly gathered them together, stuffed them into a drawer, and let him know they belonged with my underwear. He understood my rationale for hiding my undergarments, but I couldn't convince him to leave other clothes folded in drawers.
Fully clothed, I headed to the bedroom. Drake appeared at the door and I nearly ran into him.
"Did you find anything?" he asked, holding my vest jacket up for me.
I slid my arms through the holes. "I think I found a posting from Mark, the warlock I worked with. I sent a somewhat cryptic response. We'll see if he responds."
"I sent a message to my friend in Toronto. When he replies, I will ask him to travel to Indianapolis."
"Is he trustworthy?"
Drake grabbed his coat from the recliner. "Very. I would not have reached out to him otherwise."
"Will your friend be safe if he tries to look in on Dani?" I asked while he slipped on his leather jacket.
"Yes, he is a sorcerer. He can disguise and cloak himself."
I lifted a brow. "A sorcerer? What other friends do you have?"
The first week I'd spent with him in Chicago, he'd taken me to a gypsy card reader—another friend of his. I'd learned a great deal about Drake, and myself, after I met her. Meeting Anthony, a priest, had been an additional surprise. The vamp had quite the variety of acquaintances.
His lips curled into a playful smile. "I have many friends."
What a vague answer. Even after spending five months alone with Drake, I still had much to learn about him.
"You never cease to amaze me."
He cupped my face in his hands, then planted a tender kiss on my lips. A warm, fuzzy feeling stirred within me, tempting me to delay our shopping excursion.
"If you're not happy, I'm not happy," he said.
The man heated me up fast. If we didn't go, my desire would force me to pin him down on the bed so I could take full advantage of him.
"I think we better go before I overheat," I said.
Drake pressed his lips to mine again. He slid his tongue into my mouth and kissed me with a hungry zeal. Blood rushed to my heart. My temperature rose as passion flamed within me, hungry to feel, touch, and play. Fuck it! I backed him up and pressed my body to his until we crashed onto the bed. Shopping would have to wait.
Chapter Five
People crowded the store while kids ran around yelling, as if they were at a playground. Considering the amount of snow outside, I understood their wildness. Drake stood in front of his cart, looking down at the selection of meat in the glass case. His brown locks stuck out from underneath his hat, giving him a devilishly handsome appearance. The loud screams from the young ones didn't faze him at all. I stood a few feet away with my own cart since he'd packed his with groceries. The man astounded me with his long list of supplies and knowledge of food. Okay, I needed to ask him.
After the aisle cleared, I pushed my cart closer to him. "How do you know so much about food and cooking?"
He gave me a grin. "I watch television while you are sle
eping."
"You learned to cook from the TV?" Not a bad idea. Maybe I needed to watch the Food Network.
"I found recipes on the Internet, too." He resumed scanning the meat, then picked up a thick steak. "Do you have something in particular you want me to fix? I noticed you enjoy beef products."
Smiling, I shook my head in disbelief. A vampire had more knowledge about food and cooking than I did. How funny was that?
"Or would you prefer something else?"
"Beef is fine. I'm just a little jealous that you know more about cooking than I do."
He set the package in the cart. "Do you want me to stop?"
"Hell no." I blurted out, and his lips twitched. "If you stop, I may starve to death."
My attention shifted when a little kid ran by, his boots smacking on the floor. He lifted his arms in the air and screamed until he bumped into another kid older than him. The two boys pushed each other playfully. A woman standing nearby fussed at them. And to think I had considered having kids in the future. Was I nuts?
"Ready?" Drake asked.
Anxious to get away from the rugrats, I nodded and swung my cart around. Drake led the way, weaving through the cluster of carts, kids, and adults chatting. We reached the front of the store and every checkout line extended near the aisles. I sighed in disgust as I trailed Drake to one of the lines.
The hairs on the back of my neck twitched and my temperature rose while we waited to check out. Since we'd entered the store, I sensed extra energy, but I didn't question Drake to see if he had. With so many people within such a small establishment, running into a werewolf or demon seemed inevitable.
After a lengthy wait, Drake unloaded his goods on the conveyor belt. A heatwave rushed over me as I stepped in front of my cart to help him. Drake paused, faced me, and twitched his nose. I sensed he had picked up the demon's scent just as I had detected the energy.
