Soul Mate

by Jane Rochester

  “You look awfully serious all the sudden.” Nerves made her voice flutter, and she twisted her fingers together in her lap.

  “I have to ask you something important, Nora,” I said.

  “Okay.”

  “You know what I am. You like me. Feel a connection between us?”

  She paused then nodded, a sigh escaping. As if she’d revealed a heavy secret.

  Hope flared in my chest, so bright it hurt. “You are…important to me. I’d like to take you back to my room and make love to you.”

  Her eyes widened, but there was desire in her eyes. And the flutter of the pulse at her throat. “I don’t know. You’re a bit out of my league.”

  “Nonsense. Don’t think so hard. Think about what you want. Really want. Right now.” I wanted to talk about the idea of soul mates. To talk about forever. But I could see it wouldn’t be a good idea. Not yet. I stood, opening my hand to her, and waited.

  For a few agonizing moments, I thought she’d refuse. But then she gave a sharp nod and placed her hand into mine. Somehow, her decision changed something. Touching her wasn’t just warm. It was like touching an open flame. Hot and full of life and promise.

  She gasped, but instead of pulling away, she drew closer, her fingers squeezing mine tighter.

  “What was that?”

  The temptation to explain everything nearly dropped me to my knees. But instead, I brushed a loose curl from her cheek, reveling in the silky feel of her hair. Her eyes, which I’d only thought green before, were like emeralds, and I wanted to lose myself in them.

  “Vampires have the unique ability to know when someone is their perfect match. That’s what you just felt.”

  A smile curled across her lips, and I pulled her closer, my hands sliding around her waist. She didn’t look away. “Oh. Does it happen often?”

  I stifled a desperate laugh. She had no idea. “No. Not often.”

  Her gaze flicked to my lips, and her hands smoothed up my chest. She fit in all the right places, like her soft curves were made for mine. And I believed they had been.

  “I’ll take that as a sign then.”

  “A sign of what?” It was hard to concentrate with her so close. My cock stirred as I thought about exploring those curves in the comfort of my hotel room.

  She giggled. “That this is a good choice.”

  The waitress opened the door behind us, and Nora leapt back, her cheeks flushing.

  “Excuse me. I didn’t mean to intrude.”

  I waved a hand. “Have the check put on my account. I’m staying in the Skyline Suite. And please add a twenty percent tip for yourself.”

  “Thank you, sir.” She nodded. “Can I get you anything else?”

  Nora allowed me to slip my arm around her waist again. I smiled at the other woman. “No thanks. We were just leaving.”

  Nora grabbed her clutch and ducked her head, slipping from my hold as we walked out of the room. I could feel her discomfort as if it were my own. Amazing how quickly the bond between us grew.

  I took two long strides and threaded my fingers through hers. “You’re very cute when you’re blushing,” I whispered.

  She laughed and nodded to the host as we headed for the elevator. “Well, that’s good because I do it a lot.”

  I kept my hand on hers as I tugged her away from the elevator.

  “Where are we going?” She pointed to the opening elevator doors. “That’s the way out.”

  I shook my head. “No. The elevator to my suite is here.”

  We rounded a corner and I pulled my key card from my pocket, pushing it into the slot next to the door. It opened and we moved inside. Beside me, I could hear Nora’s heart pound.

  “Calm down, love. We aren’t going to do anything you don’t want to.”

  We slowed and stopped, and the door opened.

  Chapter Five

  We stepped into a tiny hallway, and Angus used his key to open the door in front of us. He motioned me inside first, and I barely managed to keep my jaw from dragging the ground.

  The whole suite appeared to take up the topmost part of the hotel, with solid walls of glass, except where a doorway led into what looked to be a bedroom. My eyes flicked away from there. The thought of using the bed made heat pulse between my legs, but I was still feeling like a fish out of water.

  “You must be rich as Croesus.”

  Angus took off his coat and threw it across the back of an oversized wing chair. He turned on a small lamp. For my benefit, I’m sure. Not his. According to Anna, a vampire didn’t need light to see in the dark.

  His fingers worked at his tie. “You make that sound like a bad thing.” He yanked the thing off and sighed, rubbing his neck. “I must admit, I am not a tie kind of guy.”

  “I’d think you’d be used to it by now.” I said.

  He shrugged. “I’m an Enforcer. No one really cares if I’m wearing a tie.”

  I thought I caught a whiff of self-loathing in his words. The bane of the vampire world, Enforcers did all the dirty work, and kept order. If blood had to be spilled, an Enforcer did so, keeping everyone else’s hands clean. Not a popular group of people. Then he wrapped an arm around my waist and held me against his chest.

  He slid a finger under my chin. “While the subject of ties is thrilling, I’ve been dying to taste your mouth all evening.”

  My blood pumped as if I’d finished running the mile. Desire burned in his dark eyes, and I felt an answering blaze in my core. I wanted this man—well, vampire—and he wanted me. My mind reached out, brushed against his and I smiled.

  He bent down, closing the last few inches and pressed his mouth against mine, gently at first. His hands stroked slow circles down my back. I relaxed against him, enjoying his body against mine. A million different fantasies played through my head, some mine, some picked up from my brush against his thoughts. Though I’d probably never get to enact any of them, as I’d probably die of heart failure when he took off his shirt.

  He chuckled and released my mouth. “No you won’t.”

  I pulled on a lock of hair where I’d wrapped it around my fingers. “Stop reading my mind.”

  His hands swept lower on my back. “You keep dropping your guard. I can’t help it.” He pressed a kiss to my shoulder. “Besides, you have some very interesting ideas.”

  I tilted my head, heat and liquid pulsing in my core each time his mouth pulled at my flesh. “So do you.”

  “Aren’t you getting a little warm in all those clothes?”

  I couldn’t help the giggles that escaped. He released me and stepped back. “What?”

  “Wow. I assumed a vampire could come up with something a teensy less cheesy.”

  His cheeks darkened. “I missed out on those lessons in vampire boot camp.”

  My nerves made my laughter die, and I bit my lip. “I’ll make you a deal.”

  He waited.

  “You don’t look too closely at my extra ten pounds, and I’ll ignore any cheesy lines. Although they are cute.”

  His eyes raked my body then held my gaze. “Don’t tell me you’re one of those women who thinks men only like well dressed toothpicks?”

  I shrugged. Thinking about my flaws wasn’t what I’d hoped we’d be doing at the moment.

  “Why is it that women always think they’re too fat? A skinny woman….” He stepped closer, his hands settling on my hips, his fingers smoothing over them and around to tug at the zipper on the back of my dress. “She wouldn’t not have curves like yours.”

  His fingers feathered across my skin, leaving a trail of goose bumps as he peeled the dress down my arms, revealing my black lace bra and panties. I was so glad I bought some special for this evening. Just in case.

  Letting go, the dress dropped to the floor and I stepped out of the circle of silk, shedding my heels as well.

  “Do you see anything like repulsion in my eyes? My mind?”

  I didn’t need to drop any mental barriers with him. He seemed to overpo
wer them altogether. Only desire and something soft met my gaze. His hands traced the strap of the bra that held my abundant cleavage in check, moved up to flick my nipples through the fabric. I bit my bottom lip.

  He blinked and looked up for a moment. “I think its time we took this out of the living room, don’t you?”

  Words wouldn’t form on my tongue, so I nodded.

  He kept hold of one hand and pulled me into the bedroom. Soft light from the city outside another wall of windows made his features even more rugged, and his eyes glittered. Angus kept me at arms length for a moment, his gaze moving over my skin like his hands had been.

  “You are gorgeous.” His voice was hoarse and warm with lust.

  With a groan, he tugged me against him. His clothes were rough against my skin, and I shuddered. Had I ever been so aware of my own body before? His hands fiddled with the back of my bra, until he drew the material down my arms, freeing my breasts. My nipples puckered and I felt it like he’d stroked them.

  “I like these curves very much,” he said, tossing the bra aside and palmed my nipples, the calluses on his hands scraping the flesh and setting off explosions in my pussy. His mouth moved along my jaw line, leaving a trail of heat down my neck until he kissed the top of each breast and then pulled one nipple into his mouth.

  I whimpered at the sensation. He didn’t linger, instead his hands released me to smooth down my stomach and around to cup my ass. His fingers traced the line of my panties, then dipped beneath the waistband and pushed them past my hips.

  His hands dipped again, this time dragging a finger through my wet folds. I jerked as if he’d struck me. The force of my lust almost brought me to my knees. I wanted to feel his cock inside me so badly my core cramped with desire. And I wanted to see him naked. Standing there with him fully clothed was arousing, but it also left me frustrated.

  “You’re going to kill me,” I babbled. My fingers dug into his shoulders. “I’m going to explode into a pile of very aroused woman, and there’ll be no one to blame but you.”

  Chapter Six

  I chuckled. “How can I help you with that?”

  “Well, a start would be….” Nora’s fingers flew over the buttons on my shirt. “Getting us on equal footing.”

  It took a lot of effort not to just reach up and rip the shirt off. But I could see that she wanted to do it. She wanted to feel in control. She pushed the dress shirt off. Her hands traveled my chest and arms as if she mapped the curves with her fingertips. I stripped off my undershirt, unable to wait for her any longer. I could smell her arousal, and I desperately wanted to sheath myself in her softness.

  She stared at me, and I caught the echo of a question in her mind.

  Why on earth did he choose me?

  “Because you’re perfect,” I whispered. “And I haven’t wanted anyone else on earth as much as I want you.”

  She blushed, but I sensed her pleasure at my words. She pressed a kiss to my jaw as her fingers fumbled at my belt. When it didn’t cooperate, she dropped to her knees, determined to do this part herself. With a cry, she tossed it aside. Her eyes strayed to the outline of my cock straining against my pants. Just her look made it worse.

  As she unbuttoned my fly and drew down the zipper, her fingers brushed across the bulge deliberately. I nearly swallowed my tongue.

  My erection sprang free and Nora studied it with a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty. The thought of her leaning forward and wrapping her kiss-swollen lips around it had me clenching my hands into fists.

  A flicker of doubt and fear moved across her features.

  “Stop thinking badly of yourself. I can see it on your face and in your mind. You are not going to disappoint me,” I said.

  She sat back on her heels. “Let’s be honest here for a moment. You’re what, a million years old? I’m thirty and I’ve slept with one other guy years ago.”

  I growled and pulled her up until our bodies were pressed together. Everything throbbed. Including my spurt of jealousy at her previous lover. “First of all, I’m trying very hard not to think about ripping that other guy’s throat out, for your sake. Second, I’m four hundred. And I’ve been waiting a lifetime for you.”

  I nibbled at her shoulder, soothing away the nips with my tongue. She shivered, trying to grasp the thread of conversation and losing. I didn’t want her to think. She needed to feel. To stop analyzing things.

  My hands dipped lower, caressing her bottom until I could drag a finger through her folds. Her body trembled with pleasure, and she moaned, her fingers digging into my biceps.

  With one movement, I scooped her up and deposited her on the bed. She watched me, her breath coming in gasps, and her mind whirling with a thousand ideas. All of them looked good to me.

  I lay down next to her, caressing her soft skin, my fingers trailing over her breasts, down her belly to the patch of curls between her legs. She wiggled restlessly, and I cupped her sex in one hand.

  “What you lack in suave lines, you make up for in practice,” she whispered, her voice breathy.

  I chuckled, moving my hand away and stroking the inside of her thigh.

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  I took one nipple in my mouth, scraping my teeth across the bud, while my finger moved into her slick core. She arched her back, moaning softly, and giving me better access.

  My fangs burst from my gums and I turned away, panting. Her scent on my hands and in the air was like a drug. Drawing me closer to the brink of something. She was my Mate. The urge to bite into soft flesh and feel the taste of her blood ate at me. It would bind us together, irrevocably. She would become like me, and I wanted that. Wanted her more than I could handle.

  I felt her jerk, and she made a small noise.

  “Ignore that thought.”

  “I’m not sure I even caught all of it. But it was a bit…intense.” Her hand rubbed my shoulder, and concern mixed with desire and confusion in her look. “Are you all right?”

  “I will be. I just need a moment.”

  I must have flashed a little fang, because she tilted her head and pulled at my shoulder with more force. “Is this about blood?”

  “It’s about so much more than that,” I whispered.

  She moved through my mind, the touch like the brush of silk, and I cringed. I didn’t even have the decency to hide the truth from her.

  “Angus, I—”

  Shaking my head, I turned back to her. “It’s okay. You don’t need to say anything. I’m fine. You’re just more than I was ready for.” I crushed my desperation ruthlessly, pushing the need to claim her away. Tonight was about pleasing each other. Tomorrow would take care of itself.

  A wicked smile spread on her face and she glanced down at the erection in my lap. “I don’t know about that.”

  I smiled and pushed her back down to the bed. “Tease.”

  Chapter Seven

  If Angus could push away what I’d seen in his mind, I wouldn’t question it. To be honest, my own reaction to the idea of being his for eternity scared me. Rather than panicking, I’d felt warm. Pleased.

  His hands moved over my body again, his mouth covering mine and driving the thought from my head. He slid his tongue into my mouth at the same time his fingers pushed into my channel and I bucked beneath him. He continued to thrust into me, curled into that spot that had me lifting off the bed. He drew me to the edge of climax then stopped.

  I squirmed on the bed, my breath coming in gasps. “I need you. Please, Angus.”

  He moved away briefly, and I heard the nightstand drawer open and the tear of a condom package. With supernatural speed, he returned to press himself between my legs, the head of his cock nudging the slick folds of my sex. My hips bucked, trying to coax him in farther. My core cramped with the need to feel him moving inside me, and I whimpered. He was thick and long enough that I knew it would be a tight fit. But oh, I wanted it. Wanted him to claim me.

  “You’re mine, Nora. No one else’s.�
�� He pushed inside, slowly, stretching me until pleasure and pain become one and the same. “Forever.”

  I sobbed. “Yes. Yours. Forever.”

  His lips found mine again and I opened my eyes, my fingernails raking his back. His eyes were squeezed shut, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

  “Good Lord, you feel like heaven.”

  With a groan, he pulled back, and my fingernails dug into his shoulders. He thrust harder, his hips grinding against mine as he picked up speed. His mouth moved from mine down my neck until I felt sharp fangs scrape against my pulse point.

  The sensation went straight to my core and I tightened even more around him. He muttered a curse then jerked his hips. I was close. So close. Each pulse of his thick shaft touched me body and soul and bound us closer, until I couldn’t focus on anything but the pleasure.

  “Forever, Angus,” I whispered, and he sank his fangs deep into my neck. I didn’t protest, the feeling of his mouth pulling against my neck making everything seem that much more intense. I wanted to give him all of myself, and so I tilted my head and enjoyed the sensation.

  His body moved against mine in a hard rhythm and his cock seemed to grow even thicker. Each draw of his mouth on my neck combined with the blinding pleasure of our bodies, until my world exploded in sensation and I screamed his name. My pussy clutched at his cock, and he removed his mouth, his thrusts growing shorter until he tilted his head back and cried my name, finding his own release.

  Spent, he rolled away, pulling me against his chest. I lay there, trying to catch my breath.

  “Did you mean it?” My voice was soft, and sounded fragile. Exactly how I felt. He said we were soul mates, but hearing about a mated couple who remained exclusive and faithful was another matter entirely. In the few short hours we’d been together, I allowed myself the fantasy that we might become such a couple. But reality, now that dawn was beginning to color the carpeting with rosy hues, showed things in a harsher light.