Eternal 1: Eternal Embrace

by Ann Lory

  “I have never been a boyfriend before.”

  She was shocked. “Are you serious?”

  “Completely.”

  “I can’t believe it.”

  He kissed the tip of her nose. “Why do you say that?”

  “Have you seen yourself?”

  He laughed, and she didn’t think she’d ever heard a better sound.

  “Dimitri, will you come to my place tomorrow night and spend the evening with me? It will give me a chance to make up for my behavior tonight. I truly am sorry.”

  “No apologies are necessary, agapi mou. I think I like the thought of you feeling possessive about me.” He gently brushed his lips against hers. “I will bring a bottle of wine for tomorrow and we will share the evening together.”

  “See you at seven, then?”

  “Seven, it is.”

  Cassie stepped from his embrace and immediately felt the loss of his warmth. She reached her car, then faced him again. “I guess we’re more alike than we think, after all.”

  She climbed in and left, but not before she thought she heard him mutter, “I hope not.”

  Chapter Seven

  The next evening, Cassie frantically rushed around her apartment trying to get everything perfect for Dimitri’s arrival. She had stopped by the market and picked up fresh strawberries, cherries, fruit dip and whipped cream.

  By the time she got home, she was running a little behind. She threw everything on the kitchen table, then raced to her room and pulled out the little red teddy she had bought at the mall the previous day. It was simple, yet elegant, with thin straps and a neckline that plunged to show off her cleavage. The satiny smooth material fell well above her knees.

  Smiling, she laid the material on her bed, then ran back into the kitchen to prepare the fruit. She washed and arranged them on a tray with a small bowl of fruit dip and a larger bowl of the whipped cream in the center. She wanted to do something special for Dimitri and hoped he appreciated the naughty things they could do with these delicious items.

  Hurrying with a final inspection of her apartment, Cassie lit the candles, pleased at the dim glow that filled the room. Lastly, she folded one of her comforters and placed it on the floor beside the coffee table.

  The knock on the door surprised her. When she looked out the peephole and saw Dimitri standing there, she could hardly contain her excitement. She quickly unlocked the door, then sprinted to the bedroom as she yelled over her shoulder. “Come in! I’ll be just a minute. Please make yourself comfortable.”

  Dimitri entered the tiny apartment, the smell of food immediately assaulting his senses. His heart dropped as he saw the tray of fruit on the living room coffee table.

  Glancing around, he was able to take in more than the brief look he’d managed the day he’d picked her up to go to dinner. Her friend Kelly had kept him well occupied before he and Cassandra had gone on their way.

  He saw now that the living room and dining areas were one large room. A light-beige sofa with dark-green throw pillows tucked neatly in its corners effectively divided the two sections. A matching beige chair with an accompanying plush ottoman was cattycornered near the couch, and a television and entertainment center rested against the far wall with pictures of her family in various frames positioned above it. Off to the side, he noticed a bookshelf with romance novels tucked on their ledges and a CD player resting at the top. Flower bouquets and wreaths decorated the other walls. A closed door on another side must be her bedroom and a partially open one nearby probably led to the bathroom.

  Suddenly nervous, Dimitri went to the coffee table and set the wine he’d brought with him on its wooden surface. Although he was over five hundred years old, he was terrified of what might happen tonight. It was then that he noticed a large blanket on the side of the table and had the feeling he knew what she was planning. Oh, how he wanted every bit of it.

  He glanced around the apartment again. It was a feminine environment and smelled like the woman who dwelled there, permeated with the soft scent of lilacs, which did nothing to dampen his rising desire. The whisper of silk through the bedroom door distracted him even more and made it difficult to take his mind off thoughts of her bare flesh separated from him behind one thin wall.

  Once more, he looked at the food on the table and shuddered. He didn’t want to deceive her when she had gone to so much trouble for him, but he thought about the last time he had eaten real food, and his spirits dropped.

  The serving wench brought him his plate and ale; the dish was piled high with roast and potatoes. The smell disgusted him and his stomach heaved, but he forced down every bite, trying to convince himself he was not a creature of the night, that he could still eat like a normal person. But immediately after consuming the meal, he quickly ran from the tavern and was violently ill.

  Laughter filled the air as he turned the corner of the tavern out of the alley where he had lost his dinner. She stood there, his maker, a smirk on her ruby-red lips. “You fool! I told you, you can only drink blood or red wine.”

  “I don’t want this life! I am not an animal!”

  “But you have it now, and you will feed, animal or not. Don’t you think I can feel your hunger?” Her arms stretched to indicate the mortals on the cobblestone street. “They are yours for the picking.”

  “You talk as if they are puppets to do with as you wish!” He made sure that his revulsion was quite clear.

  “They are. You are not mortal anymore, so stop thinking like one.” She moved closer to him, her lips lightly touching his. He jerked his head to the side. She laughed again, but there was no humor in her cold black eyes. “Feed, Dimitrius, or starve.” She turned away, disappearing into mist before his eyes. “I’ll check up on you every hundred years or so ... if you last that long.” Then she was gone.

  Dimitri shook his head. He hadn’t thought of Gabriella Delancré in a very long while. He pushed all further memories aside as Cassandra walked back into the room, stealing his breath at the sight that greeted him.

  She stood in front of her closed bedroom door, chestnut hair loose around her shoulders to frame her lovely face. Her eyes were a deep shade of purple, full of desire, and a red satin teddy fit against her like a second skin.

  He groaned as passion and hunger surged through him; he clenched his fists in his lap as he watched her approach him. She took the comforter from the floor and spread it out before she sank down across from him. Her sweet scent taunted and teased him, the blood seeming to call to him, alluring and intoxicating to his senses as her heightened emotions pumped the precious life through her body.

  “You don’t have to do this.” His voice was low and husky even to his own ears.

  She smiled, and he was sure it outshone the sun on the brightest of days. “I want to; for you, for us.”

  Dimitri slid off the couch and moved beside her, drinking in all of her. He lifted his hands and touched her shoulders, bringing his hands down over her arms, gripping tightly, but not enough to hurt her. He pulled her against him, her body flush against his. “Cassandra, you don’t know what you do to me.” His mouth slanted onto hers, devouring, demanding. She returned his kiss with equal passion and fire, her arms winding round his neck.

  He lifted away slightly, smiling at her groaned protest but making up for it as he trailed kisses along her shoulder, pushing the strap aside so that it fell and revealed one taut breast. He moved to the opposite shoulder, baring both mounds to his view. Dipping his head, he took one nipple, then the other into his mouth while he laid her back on the comforter, covering her body with his. She arched beneath him as he suckled one hard peak into his mouth, his tongue stroking, his teeth gently nipping. Her moans were driving him mad.

  Wanting to see all of her, Dimitri picked her up into his arms and placed her on the ottoman, loving how she looked with her lips swollen, the straps of the red teddy hanging around her elbows. He pushed the bottom of the material over her hips and cupped her rounded bottom. Reaching with
one hand, he grazed the neatly trimmed dark triangle between her legs.

  She gasped and pushed herself into the palm of his hand, letting his fingers delve and touch her in the most intimate way. He watched her face as he slipped one finger under the material and dipped inside her wet opening. Her eyes were clouded with passion, her body flushed and pulsing.

  She cried out as he thrust in and out, feeling her squeezing around him as she soon climaxed. Immediately, he leaned down and touched her with his lips, then pushed her back down, holding her there, as she almost came off the ottoman. He continued to devour her with his tongue, swirling around the swollen bud and the clenching opening below. She whimpered, music to his ears.

  Cassie thought she might explode. The sensations rioting through her surely could not be contained in her body alone. She writhed, frantic for him to continue, but at the same time begging him for mercy.

  Another climax burst through her; fleetingly she hoped the neighbors couldn’t hear her cries of ecstasy. She pushed at Dimitri’s hand and rose up, facing him. His eyes seemed incandescent, but surely that was a trick of the candle light.

  Smiling as seductively as she could, she pushed him slightly backward, hoping he didn’t sense her anxiety. He stayed on his knees, breathing heavily as he watched her reach for his shirt and unbutton it, kissing his chest, then each nipple as they were exposed. Her hands worked on his belt and slacks, fumbling slightly as she unfastened it and lowered the zipper.

  Cassie marveled at the size of his cock as it sprang free; it was long and thick. She heard the hiss of his breath ring in her ears as she gingerly wrapped her fingers around him, the flesh feeling good in her hand. Getting a grip on her nerves, she lowered her head and took him into her mouth, counting on the sex books she and Kelly had read as teenagers to guide her through this.

  Dimitri shouted her name, his hands fisting in her hair as a guttural cry filled the apartment. She swirled her tongue around the tip of him, loving the taste of him, the sweet salty flavor, then down the shaft and back up to swallow as much of him as she could. His hips thrust forward when she sucked, pulling him in, then back out of her mouth.

  She’d never felt so wanton as she did then, had never wanted to do this with anyone else. But Dimitri was everything she’d ever dreamed of -- powerful, sexy, charming, gentle. More importantly, she loved the way he made her feel desirable, wanted, cherished.

  She folded her hand around the base of him while she continued to suck and torture him with her tongue. Shuddering, he withdrew from her slowly. She gazed up at him; his hands were clenched in fists at his sides. He was breathing more heavily now and looked pained, as if he were fighting something. Cassie didn’t want him to fight against this.

  She rose along his body, tugging his shirt out of his pants. She grinned and leaned over, feeling his hands on her hips, gripping her, pulling her bottom against his hard length. She grabbed a strawberry and dipped it in the waiting whipped cream, then turned back to kiss him, an arm tightly behind his shoulders. He practically swallowed her mouth, his tongue sweeping in hard against hers.

  She leaned away and held the strawberry up to his lips. He was about to take a bite, then seemed to realize something. A shutter came down over his face and he reared back.

  “Dimitri?”

  “I can’t eat that.”

  “Oh.” She brushed her finger over the whipped cream and dabbed it across a nipple.

  Dimitri shook his head. “Cassandra, I --”

  Disappointed, Cassie stared at him. “You mean you can’t eat that, either?”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I thought ...”

  Damn, he’d embarrassed her. It was the last thing he’d wanted to do. She placed the strawberry back on the tray and wiped the whipped cream from her nipple.

  “Don’t apologize, Cassandra. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

  “You didn’t.” It was a lie. He could hear the change in her heartbeat. “Let me move these out of the way then. Give me just a second.”

  She grabbed the tray and took it to the kitchen. He heard the clatter of the tray, then her curses at the sound of breaking glass. He stood to check on her, quickly tucking himself back into his pants, but stopped instantly. She’d cut herself; he could smell the sweet scent from here.

  He moved to the kitchen, trying to ignore the hunger that clawed at his stomach. It didn’t matter that he had fed well before coming to her home. Her essence was such temptation that it was extremely hard to resist a sip. Her blood tantalized his senses, and he almost cried out in his need.

  She was standing with a towel over her hand; little scarlet droplets stood out on the white countertop. He tried to keep his hands from shaking, felt his control slipping as he swiftly went to her bathroom and searched the medicine cabinet for bandages and ointment. He found both and returned to her.

  Her skin seemed to sear him when he took her hand in his. He pulled the towel away, grateful the injury was only a shallow cut despite the fact blood still seeped from it. Working silently, he pulled a plaster out of the box and removed the cap from the tube of first aid cream. Fighting against the threat of his lengthening incisors, he rubbed the unguent across the cut, then quickly covered it with a bandage.

  He could feel Cassie’s gaze on him and sensed her thoughts: he looked suddenly pale to her and she feared he would be sick.

  “Does the sight of blood bother you?”

  He nodded. “Yes, very much.”

  She snatched her hand from his. “I’m sorry, but thank you for helping me.”

  Dimitri couldn’t say anything. He wanted desperately to touch her satiny smooth skin again, to run his tongue along the pulse in her throat. Just a taste, only enough to ease the terrible longing, but he knew it would not be enough. The image of her lifeless in his arms, her precious blood staining his lips filled his mind. He could not bear the vision of her beautiful violet eyes pale and void of the radiant light that was hers alone.

  No, he refused to let that happen to her, refused to destroy her, but if he stayed he almost certainly would. After all, he’d almost lost control where she was concerned before; he’d never forgive himself if he did the unimaginable.

  “Come, sit. I’ll wrap you up in some blankets and make some hot tea.”

  He moaned and flinched from her touch, struggling with the beast that that tore at his very being. “No, I’m sorry, Cassandra. I must go.” Distantly, he heard her pet’s angry sounds and movements. Animals could always sense evil, he knew, and Cassandra had invited it into her home.

  “Are you sure you should --”

  Patches scratched at her bedroom door, meowing and growling up a storm, her paws hitting at the door.

  She reached for him and he seemed to cower from her touch, as if he feared it -- feared her. Her hands lowered to her sides helplessly. She felt as though he were running out of her life.

  “Yes, I’m sure. Good night, Cassandra; thank you for this evening.” His voice was clipped and sounded edged with pain. He swept past her and was out the door before she could say a word. She ran to the door and watched him drive away, her heart heavy with loss and confusion.

  When his car was out of sight, she slowly locked up, then went to her bedroom and opened the door. Patches came bounding out, prowling through the apartment, snarling and sniffing. When the cat apparently decided all was well, she ambled up to Cassie’s feet, back to meowing and purring. Cassie knelt down and picked up her pet, then dropped onto the couch with her. “Silly girl, what was that all about?”

  As she rubbed Patches’s head, her thoughts returned to Dimitri. “I hope he’s okay.” Her cat bumped her in the chin with her head. “He looked very ill.”

  The phone rang and Cassie jumped before reaching over the couch to grab it.

  “Hello.”

  “Cass?”

  “Hey, Kelly.”

  “What’s up? You sound funny?”

  “I think Dimitri’s sick. He left here in a rush and
he didn’t look well.”

  “I’m sorry. I hope he recovers soon. How are you?”

  “I’m fine,” Cassie paused, voice shaky, then began again. “I want to apologize again for the way I behaved yesterday. Your friendship means so much to me, and I was out of line.”

  “Don’t worry, all is forgotten. I tell you what. If he isn’t your man, I don’t know who is. Those claws were razor sharp.”

  Cassie laughed as Kelly teased her, then grew serious. “I really do love him, Kelly. I don’t know how it happened, but he’s the one.”

  “Wow, it is serious then.”

  “Yeah, I think it is.”

  “Well, since no one can seem to afford to go home, a bunch of us are doing Thanksgiving dinner at my place next week. Why don’t you two join us?”

  “That sounds great. I’ll ask Dimitri.”

  “Do that, and let me know.”

  “Okay, thanks, Kelly. Bye.” After she hung up, she cleared the dishes, then extinguished all the candles. Once she was done, she crawled into bed, achingly disappointed. Nothing had gone the way she’d planned this evening and here she was, spending another night without Dimitri. Sighing, she punched her pillow, rolled over and went to sleep.

  * * * * *

  The woman was unsuspecting as a dark shadow approached her. When she turned, she gave a startled gasp, then froze an instant before stepping into the shadow’s embrace. Eyes glowed with an unholy fire above fangs that sank into the flesh of the woman. Her soft moans filled the night as the beast fed on her, quenching his savage hunger. Abruptly, he glanced up as if looking right at her, as if he could sense her presence and her prying eyes. She could see his face clearly. He ...

  Cassie jolted up in bed. Another nightmare involving Dimitri. She clutched the blanket to her breasts, great big sobs tearing from her throat. Patches rubbed against her trying to offer comfort, but the sobs kept coming. Eventually she got her emotions under control and climbed out of bed. She was determined to get some answers. Why was she having these dreams; why did she keep imagining his voice in her head? Pulling on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, she dressed in the dark, then left her apartment.