“Do you want me as much as I want you?”
Still no words, but I nodded against him.
He pushed me harder against the wall. “I want to make you…come.”
I held onto him, fearing my legs wouldn’t hold me up. “Not here. Not in…” The last words came out only as a sigh.
“Please, Erin. I know I’ve left you hanging. I know you don’t understand why. I want you so much. Want you to feel good—”
Then footsteps.
He broke away.
“Dante.” His cousin River walked toward us. “There you are. I need to talk to you. Pronto.”
Chapter Eleven
Dante
Erin looked up at me, her green eyes glowing, her lips swollen and red from our kisses. River would know what we’d been doing.
I didn’t fucking care. The jolt from his interruption had taken care of my teeth but not my cock. It was still hard in my jeans.
I let go of Erin, only to grab her again as she started falling. “You okay?”
She nodded but gripped my forearm, the heat from her grasp transfusing into my skin. Her blood. It was close to the surface of her palm and fingertips. I drew in a deep, calming breath.
“Riv, you remember Erin.”
“Yeah. Nice to see you again.” He turned back to me. “I’m really sorry to interrupt. I mean really sorry. But this is important.”
Erin cleared her throat, her cheeks red with embarrassment. “I have to get back to the ER anyway. The administrator I came to see should be in soon.” She let go of my arm and walked away, her gait slightly unsteady.
“What was she doing here?” River asked. “Is that why you ran out of Em’s room?”
“Shit.”
I’d made like a jackrabbit as soon as the doctor said Em was pregnant. I’d smelled Erin, felt her presence, needed to see her. What must my sister be thinking?
“How long have I been gone?”
“About twenty-five minutes.”
I’d been making out with Erin for twenty-five minutes? Time was truly suspended when I was with her.
I inhaled. Her scent still clung to the air. My mind was muddled.
“What did you want again?”
“I know who the father is.”
“Huh?”
“Emilia wouldn’t tell us, but I know, Dante.”
I shook my head to clear it. Erin’s fragrance still hung inside my nose, nearly debilitating me.
“She wouldn’t tell you?”
“Said it was none of my fucking business, and that she was having the baby, damn it.”
“Okay. Okay.” I rubbed at my forehead. That sounded like the Em I remembered from when we were teens. “Now what?”
“She refuses to terminate the pregnancy.”
Now I understood. Our mother had died giving birth to Emilia, and full vampire women were rare. “Wait. Begin again.”
“She wouldn’t tell me who the father was, but I know who it is. Em has had a strangely familiar smell to me for a few weeks now, but I chalked it up to her hormones or whatever. Plus, she hadn’t been feeling well. But when the doctor said she was pregnant, I knew right away who the father is.”
“Don’t keep me in suspense.”
“My partner. Jay Hamilton. Erin’s brother.”
Whoa. My head spun with haze. “What?”
“What the hell is the matter with you, Dante?”
I was awash in Erin, unable to form a clear thought. But I had to. I willed myself back into my right mind. “I’m fine. So tell me again.”
“Jay Hamilton is the father of Em’s baby.”
“How could that be?”
“Either she had herself artificially inseminated with his sperm,” River said, “or more likely, they slept together.”
“She’s so young!”
“She’s twenty-five, Dante. Not fifteen, like she was when you left.”
My ire awakened. “Stop saying that.”
“Saying what?”
“That I left. You make it sound like I had a fucking choice in the matter. If I’d had it my way, I never would have gone. I’d have been here, learning all the shit that you already know. That Em already knows. I’m severely handicapped solely because I was taken against my will.”
“Look, I know you’ve been through a lot.”
“You don’t have half a fucking clue what I’ve been through. I’ve been through things you can’t even imagine in your tiny little mind.”
“Tiny little mind?” River advanced toward me. “Who do you think you’re talking to?”
My guard went up. Quick as a flash, I grabbed River by his collar and flattened him against the wall, fangs elongating. “Who the hell do you think you’re talking to? I’ve had things done to me that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy, and you say you know I’ve been through a lot? You don’t know shit! I ought to take your fucking head off.”
“Hey, calm down. Calm down.” He slowly moved his arm upward until his hand was over mine. “Let go of me.”
I unclenched my fist and moved away from him. Self-control.
I didn’t have it.
Not even slightly.
If I couldn’t control myself around River, how would I ever control myself with Erin?
“I’m sorry,” I said grimly, though my fangs didn’t withdraw.
“You’re right,” River said. “I can’t imagine what you’ve been through. I’m sorry. Trick of the trade. As a cop, I have to turn off my emotions in the line of duty a lot. If I didn’t, I couldn’t live with what I see sometimes. It’s fallen onto you, cuz, and I’m really, really sorry.”
I opened my mouth, but he held up his hand.
“Let me be sorry, Dante. I’ve been a douche. I get that you’re not ready to talk yet. Maybe you’ll never be ready, and that’s okay, even though I’d love to lock up whatever fucker did this to you. But this is about Em. And my partner. Em is determined to have this baby.”
I closed my eyes and inhaled, giving myself a few seconds. Then, “She’ll be okay. Emilia is strong. She has to be. I can’t lose her now that I just got her back.”
“We’ll get her the best care,” River said. “She won’t even talk about terminating. It’d be one thing if she were married and had been trying to get pregnant. But that’s not the case. This is just an unfortunate accident.”
“It wasn’t an accident if she had herself inseminated.”
River didn’t respond.
“What about your partner? Does he want the baby?”
“My partner has never mentioned Em to me. Either he donated anonymously to a sperm bank, or he fucked your sister. Which do you think is more likely?”
My hackles rose. Now that I was in my right mind again, reality had hit me over the head with a mallet. Those teeth were never going to retract now. “Call your partner. Tell him to meet us here so I can kill the motherfucker.”
“I think you mean sisterfucker.”
“Not funny.” I clenched my hands into fists. “Why does she want to have the baby?”
“I don’t know,” River said. “But Emilia is strong-willed. Maybe you can talk to her. Convince her that the timing isn’t right. I hate the idea as much as you do, but I’m scared of losing her, man.”
“I can’t do that.” Absolutely not. I’d had my own will stolen for ten years. I would not try to make a decision for my sister, especially a decision I wasn’t sure was the right one, even if it would guarantee she’d live. “I won’t do that. She’s strong. She’ll make it.”
“Your mother was strong too. So was mine.”
An image of my mother popped into my mind. She was dark with blue eyes. Em looked a lot like her, while I favored my father. She was beautiful, but I had no real memories of her. I’d been three when she passed. My father had cared for us then, and Em, being a newborn, had taken most of his attention away from me. That was when I had begun to rely more on Bill.
“Yes, they were. Bill has money. We’ll get Em the b
est care out there.”
“Yeah, okay.” River sighed. “You’re right. I’m just scared shitless.”
“Me too.” I inhaled. Erin’s scent still hung in the air, though it was dissipating.
Emilia was fine for now. River was fine.
I was not fine. I’d promised Erin an orgasm, and I hadn’t delivered. I still didn’t trust myself with her, but I had to be near her. Had to feel her.
“Hey, I’ve got to go.”
“Where are you—”
I walked away from River.
And toward my heart’s desire.
Chapter Twelve
Erin
I’d been light-headed all through my meeting with the Tulane ER administrator, but fortunately, I was able to get the job done. I headed straight home for a quick breakfast and some shut-eye.
Dante never left my mind.
His kisses were unlike any kisses I’d ever experienced. They both excited me and subdued me. Gave to me and took from me. Fueled me with passion and desire, as well as agony…in a good way.
What I’d have given to have that orgasm he promised me. If only River hadn’t interrupted us. I’d never be able to look my brother’s partner in the eye again.
Once I’d eaten an English muffin and some granola, I yawned and headed upstairs for a hot bath. Yup, a nice fizzy bath bomb scented with lavender sounded heavenly.
I started running water in my tub, got out of my clothes, and threw them in the hamper. Then I tossed in the fragrant bath bomb and inhaled. Mmm, if that couldn’t make me relax, nothing could.
I stepped into the hot water and immersed myself.
Closing my eyes, I inhaled again, letting the tranquilizing fragrance soothe all of my senses.
“I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.”
My eyes shot open.
I knew that voice. The voice from my dreams.
Dante stood next to my tub, his dark eyes full of fire.
I rushed to cover myself with bubbles…until I realized I hadn’t used bubble bath.
Oh, well. He was going to see me naked eventually. At least I’d hoped so.
Emotion coursed through me. Not fear, though that would have made more sense. He’d never harmed me, and I had no reason to believe he would now. No, this was a deeper emotion—lust, desire, passion. Pure, raw need.
“How did you get in here?”
“You left your door unlocked again.”
“No. I didn’t.” I couldn’t have. I remembered locking it. Didn’t I? I’d been so light-headed after my necking session with Dante. Had I forgotten?
I had to stop doing that. My neighborhood was pretty safe, but still. Not smart. Especially if, as Abe Lincoln swore, ghosts and vampires walked the streets of New Orleans. The thought made me smile. He was a nice enough young man, but so delusional. Abe Lincoln couldn’t possibly be his real name.
“What do you want?”
“You.”
“I’m kind of in the middle of something here. Then I need to get some sleep. I work again tonight.”
“I won’t touch you.”
“You just said you wanted me.”
“I do. But I won’t touch you. I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because I can’t. Can we leave it at that?”
“No, we can’t leave it at that. It doesn’t make any sense. First you’re all over me, and then you take off. How many times has that happened now, Dante? How many times am I supposed to put up with it?”
No response.
“Aren’t you going to answer me?”
“I can’t. You’re naked. In a tub. You’re wet and naked. How am I supposed to concentrate on anything but that?”
“For God’s sake.” I stood and stepped out of the tub, brushing past Dante, and wrapped myself in a large brown towel. “Get out.”
“No.”
Tell him again. Tell him to leave. To get out. But the words wouldn’t form on my vocal cords.
Instead, other words crystallized. Stay. Please stay. Make love to me. Take what you need from me. Anything you need. I had to choke them back to keep them from spewing out of me.
“That towel makes your eyes so green,” he said.
I opened my mouth but shut it quickly. God, the man was beautiful. His wavy dark hair sat on his shoulders, and his big espresso eyes were heavily lashed and full of fire.
His dick was hard. The bulge in his jeans was apparent.
He looked so different from the first time I’d laid eyes on him only a short time ago. He’d been beautiful then, but now…
Please. Tie me up. Blindfold me. Whip me.
Where had those words come from? Luckily I kept from voicing them. But though I stopped my words, I couldn’t stop my body. I walked toward him and dropped my towel.
“What do you want from me?” I asked.
“I want you to touch me, Erin. Please.”
I reached upward and cupped one of his cheeks, his stubble growth prickly against my palm.
He closed his eyes. “Your touch ignites something in me. Something I’ve never known. I can feel the blood beneath your fingertips, the warmth.”
His words were oddly arousing. I caressed his cheek, marveling at his beauty.
“And your scent,” he continued. “I can’t get enough of it.”
“It’s just a lavender bath bomb.” I inhaled.
Then I smashed my naked body against him, as if he were a magnet and I were a giant paper clip.
His arms did not go around me.
He was holding to his promise not to touch me. But I didn’t know why.
“Touch me, please, Dante. I need your touch. I yearn for it.”
“I can’t, love, no matter how much I want to.”
I moved slightly away from him, far enough that I could look into his gorgeous eyes. “Why not?”
“Someday I hope I can tell you. I hope I can share all that I am with you. But I can’t right now. Not today.”
“Please. You can trust me.”
“Yes, I think I can.” He smiled. “I feel that I can.”
“Then why not now?”
Chapter Thirteen
Dante
How I wanted to respond. Wanted to divulge to her every secret I held.
But I couldn’t risk it. Not when even I didn’t understand so much of it.
I’d vowed to protect her from me. Being here was in itself a violation of that promise, but I had to have what I could of her, I had to let her touch me.
I needed that much, at least.
If I didn’t touch her consciously, I could keep the blood lust at bay.
At least that’s what I told myself. It was something I recalled hearing long ago, before I’d been taken. I couldn’t recall the source, but it had to be true. Didn’t it?
“Just touch me. Please, Erin. Run your fingers over every inch of my body. Let me feel your touch. Your caress.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I know. And I’m sorry.”
She pulled back, releasing me. “That’s not what I mean. I mean I don’t understand why moving away from you is so…so…difficult. It’s like I’m meant to be near you.”
So she felt it too.
“Yet you tell me you won’t touch me. You’ve left me so many times after touching me. It’s as if something about me…repulses you.”
I closed my eyes, envisioning the bite marks on Erin’s supple inner thigh. Had I actually been repulsed? My heart sped. Not repulsed by Erin, but yes, the bite marks—someone else’s bite marks—on her beautiful body had repulsed me. Angered me.
Made me go mad with a lust to eliminate whoever had marred her, whoever had taken blood that was mine.
I hadn’t been able to protect her from whoever was feeding on her. Hadn’t been able to protect what was mine.
I opened my eyes and gazed into hers.
I had no business being here.
Not when I couldn’t protect her from the world.
“I need to leave.” I pushed her away.
She shook her head, letting out a huff. “You’re really going to do this again, aren’t you? You’re going to get me all hot and bothered and then leave me. Fine. Two can play this game. If you leave me now, don’t come near me again, Dante. I mean it.”
Her words fueled something in me, a compulsion I couldn’t control.
She stood against the closed door of her bathroom, her hands splayed against the wood, as if she were trying to keep herself from flying back into my arms.
Yes, she felt something. She felt the same pull I did. She said the words—told me to leave—but she didn’t mean them.
“Tell me what you want, Erin. Tell me what you want me to do to you.”
She closed her eyes. “Get out. Now. Don’t ever come near me again.”
“That’s not what you really want.”
“It is. It truly is.”
I advanced toward her and cupped both her cheeks, reneging on my vow not to touch her. The bursting of her capillaries awoke the hunger in me even more. I consciously tamped it down. “Open your eyes. Look at me.”
To my surprise, she obeyed, her light-green eyes glazed with desire.
“I wish I could make you understand. I wish I understood myself what I’m feeling. I wish—” My lust took over, and I crushed my mouth to hers. We kissed for a few precious moments, until she broke the kiss with a loud smack.
“You asked me what I want. I want you to take me to my bed. I want you to use that gorgeous body of yours to give me pleasure. Every single dirty pleasure you can think of. I want your tongue in my mouth, on my nipples, in my pussy. I want you to bring me to orgasm like you promised to earlier. And then I want to bring you to orgasm. I want to feel your body shiver as you climax into me. I want you, Dante. I want you to make love to me.”
My loins ignited.
I was already hard, but now the zing in my gums began.
I squeezed my eyes shut, willing my fangs not to elongate.
Please. Please. Let me be with her just this once. Let me know what she feels like against my body. I won’t take her blood. I will control myself. Please.
Unchained: Blood Bond Saga: Volume One Page 14
