by Aubrey Ross
“Exactly.” She traced the outer edge of his ear then bent down to nip the lobe. “Do you have a problem with that?”
“I’ll let you know after I’ve had the opportunity to do my job.”
“Fair enough.” She straightened and looked at Lukas. “Why is this vampire out to get Rebecca?”
“It’s not personal. She just happens to fit his criteria. He wants a Dichotomy halfling who is able to transform at will.”
“Why?”
“He has reason to believe the key to controlling his solar trance is found in the blood of the Dichotomy.”
“‘He has reason to believe’? Does that mean his obsession is not misguided?”
“Perhaps.” His enigmatic smile warned her that he would divulge nothing more.
“If he’s likely to kill to get our blood, why don’t we just give him some?”
“You don’t know Taerok.” Lukas pushed back his chair and stood as well. “He’s ancient and evil. Anything that makes him more powerful is a very bad idea.”
“So we hide out in another dimension until…what?”
“Until the other Sentinels locate his lair. Max knows Taerok better than anyone else on Earth. He will find him. It’s just a matter of time.”
“Who is Max?”
“My commander.”
“Why does he know so much about this vampire?” She couldn’t seem to stem her barrage of questions.
“It’s a long story.”
“Is Max a vampire?”
“Max isn’t just a vampire.” Lucas chuckled. “Few of the Sentinels are just anything, and Max’s background is more unusual than most.”
“Do you have any idea how long we’ll need to stay here?”
Lucas shrugged. “Do you have somewhere else you need to be?”
“I don’t, but Rebecca’s schedule is always full.”
“Rebecca will do as she’s told.”
Bianca smiled at his imperious tone. “I’ll let you fight that out with Rebecca.” Lukas really was a handsome devil. In fact, they both were. She couldn’t help comparing the two men. Lukas was broader across the shoulders and more heavily muscled. They both had black hair, but Lukas’ grew in messy waves, while Katsu’s was sleek and silky.
“How long have you been employed by the McNeils?” Lukas asked Katsu.
“Two years.”
“And how long have you been sleeping with Bianca?” A smirk lifted one corner of Lukas’ mouth.
“That’s none of your business.”
“Everything about them is my business.”
Bianca caught the possessive “them” and smiled. This was the first time Lukas had included her in his train of thought. Perhaps Lukas had more potential than she’d first realized. Rebecca would never be truly happy with anyone who wasn’t attracted to her any more than she could be happy with someone who was indifferent to Rebecca. Despite their differences, they were one and the same.
Katsu scoffed. “Are you suddenly so interested because you’re desperate to fuck Rebecca or because you’re supposed to be protecting them?”
“Both.”
Katsu’s hostility eased. He’d obviously expected Lukas to deny the charge. “I’ve been Bianca’s lover for the past three months.”
“How did you find out she’s a Dichotomy?”
“I was aware of the Dichotomy before I met them. I worked for a family on the East Coast for almost eleven years.”
“In what capacity?”
“Personal security. They saw me compete and offered me a job. After I took a bullet for the youngest son, they trusted me enough to divulge their secrets.”
“They ‘saw you compete’? What does that mean?”
“He’s a world champion kick boxer,” Bianca explained.
“Which doesn’t mean shit when your adversary is a vampire,” Katsu grumbled.
“This situation is unique,” Lukas said. “You should still be proud of your accomplishments.”
Surprised by Lukas’ reaction, Bianca looked at him more closely. “What about you? How long have you been a Sentinel?”
“I met Max fourteen years ago when a rogue demon went on a rampage near my home. I joined the Paranormal Sentinel Network four months later. He’s remarkable.”
“And where do you call home?” Katsu wanted to know.
“I spent most of my childhood here in D’arcy Aiden, but my mother insisted I spend time in the human realm. My brother’s father was human, so she wanted us exposed to a variety of cultures. I was living in Santa Rosa when I first met Max. PSN headquarters is in Sacramento.”
“What do you like best about the human realm?” she asked as the men lapsed into silence.
“Modern attitudes about sex.” He grinned. “The Sidhe marry young and mate for life. Some take lovers, but few will touch someone with tainted blood.”
“Halflings are not accepted by the Sidhe?” She’d thought the outdated prejudice was unique to the Dichotomy.
“It’s not open hostility. More like an undercurrent of mistrust. Even so, my romantic prospects are rather dismal in this dimension.”
“I can’t think of anyone I know who is full-blooded anything.” Katsu shook his head. “Not that humans don’t have their share of prejudice. My parents work hard to preserve their Japanese heritage, but my grandfather was Italian.”
“Rebecca obviously has no problem with your tainted blood.” Bianca could still feel Lukas’ warm body pressed against her back and his fingers exploring her ass.
“I just hope she doesn’t use her sleep cycle to talk herself out of her attraction to me.”
“How long will she remain in sleep state?” Katsu asked.
“I can’t force her out. She’s stronger than I am.”
“You said her life seems like a dream to you. Will she experience whatever we do to you?” Lukas punctuated the question with a knee-melting smile.
Heat cascaded through her body, pooling between her legs. “Are you sure we’re safe here? I don’t want to distract you from your duties.”
“We were scanned as we entered the city,” Lukas assured her. “Even if Taerok figures out where I’ve taken you, which is doubtful, he’ll never make it past the sentries.”
“The Sidhe don’t trust vampires?”
“Not in the least.”
She hesitated for a moment longer, savoring anticipation’s warm tingle. “What did you have in mind?”
Chapter Five
Lukas watched passion unfurl within Bianca’s eyes. His chest tightened and his gut clenched. Would he ever be able to make Rebecca respond so readily? Bianca was sexy and confident. His attraction to her was undeniable. Still, the hunter in him craved the chase, needed the sense of victory as his quarry surrendered.
Pushing back his chair, he stood and moved around the table toward her. “Do you like playing games?”
“It depends on the game.”
“I think I stashed a deck of cards in the desk the last time I stayed here.” He crossed the room and began a hurried search.
“Strip poker?” Katsu suggested hopefully.
“I had something far more interesting in mind.” Lukas found the cards and motioned toward the thick carpet spread before the hearth. “This works better on the floor.” They sat cross-legged facing each other before he went on. “We’ll take turns dealing.” A card flew from his fingertips and sailed smoothly toward Katsu and then a second card to Bianca.
“We only need one card?” Katsu asked.
“The person with the highest card can ask for anything they want from each of the other two players.”
“Can it be different for each?” Bianca looked at her card as she waited for his answer.
“Sure. The players either fulfill the request or take off an article of clothing. Easy enough?”
“This is more like truth or dare than poker.” Bianca turned over her card. “I have an eight of spades.”
“Ten of diamonds.” Katsu wiggled his eyebrows, obvi
ously pleased with his luck.
“Six of diamonds. Katsu wins.”
He scratched his chin while his dark gaze devoured Bianca. “I want you naked, badly, but I suspect we’ll get there soon enough. Tell us—in great detail—a sexual fantasy that you’ve never been brave enough to try.”
“Are you sure you want to know? I’ve had some pretty outrageous fantasies.” Katsu nodded, urging her on. Her smoldering gaze darted from Katsu to Lukas and back. “I was at a party a couple years back. The hostess hired two male strippers.”
“You want us to strip for you?” Katsu’s brows drew together and he fidgeted conspicuously.
“You requested details,” Lukas admonished. “Don’t interrupt her again.”
She licked her lips, her gaze lingering on Lukas as she resumed her story. “The strippers were gorgeous, in great shape, and very well endowed. But as they danced it became apparent that they were more into each other than the largely female audience.” Her gaze returned to Katsu and she hesitated.
“Go on.” Lukas watched Katsu, gauging his reaction to the story. As Lukas had told them earlier, nothing engaged his interest faster than a challenge.
“With a little encouragement from the onlookers, the dancers kissed. One kiss led to another and pretty soon they were all over each other. The hostess stopped them before they did more than bump and grind, but they got me so hot I locked myself in the bathroom.”
“Did you touch yourself?” Lukas pictured her against a bathroom wall, desperate for release, her hand buried between her thighs.
“I locked the door and slipped off my panties. My pussy was so wet, my thighs were slippery. I imagined the dancers naked, so frantic for each other that they didn’t care who watched. The taller one bent his partner over the back of the sofa and the hostess handed him a tube of lubricant. Others joined in, holding his partner’s arms and legs, making sure he didn’t cool down or retreat into one of the bedrooms.”
“Did his reluctance excite you?” Lukas looked pointedly at Katsu as color crawled up the younger man’s neck. Despite his insistence that he wasn’t into men, a distinct bulge formed in the front of his jeans.
“I don’t think he was really reluctant. It was more like he wasn’t quite ready to acknowledge that aspect of his sexuality.”
“What happened next?” Katsu asked in a soft, shaky tone.
“The taller one lubed his fingers and prepared his partner for what was to come. He used his middle finger first, fucking him slowly until his partner moaned. He added a second finger and finally a third. I’ve never actually seen two men fuck, but it was all so clear in my mind. I could see those long fingers, shiny with lube, as they slid in and out of his ass.
“My orgasm was sharp and sudden, but it wasn’t enough. I lay down on the floor and finger-fucked myself while the scene played out in my mind.”
She glanced at Lukas then lowered her lashes, shielding the calculating gleam in her eyes. Was any of this true? He could picture her sneaking away to discreetly relieve the pressure, but the rest was just a bit too overblown.
“I saw the taller man’s cock press against the opening he’d so carefully prepared. The plump head slipped inside and they both shivered. He paused, making sure his partner fully absorbed the intense stretch. I pushed my fingers into my pussy as far as I could as I imagined his cock sliding deeper and deeper.”
“Enough,” Katsu whispered. “I get the idea.”
She ignored him. “I fucked myself with the same forceful rhythm as the man took his partner. It appeared almost violent. He held on to his partner’s hips and slammed him against the couch with each thrust. I arched off the floor and cried out when I came again. My pussy gripped my fingers so hard it hurt.”
“I’m not going to let Lukas fuck me,” Katsu said with more conviction, but his face was suspiciously flushed.
“Who said anything about Lukas?” She flashed a guileless smile. “I just responded to your request.”
“Sure you did.”
“What do you want from me?” Lukas asked.
“Nothing. I can see why women want you, but I’m not gay!”
“The game.” Lukas grinned, convinced Katsu was protesting far too vehemently. “I still owe you a request.”
Katsu exhaled sharply and ran his hands through his hair. He thought for a moment then said, “I want you to take off her clothes.”
Happy to oblige, Lukas caught Bianca’s wrist and dragged her onto his lap.
“This isn’t fair!” she cried through her laughter. “Undress yourself.”
“He’s obviously more interested in what’s beneath your clothes than what’s beneath mine.” She wiggled and swatted at his hands, but it made no difference. Lukas quickly unbuttoned her shirt and held her arms away from her torso. “You naughty girl. What did you do with your bra?”
“It’s in my pocket.” He pulled it out and tossed it aside. Her halfhearted attempt to fight him off only dislodged her shoes. He unfastened her pants and Katsu pulled them off. “You’re ganging up on me. Isn’t that against the rules?”
“You’re right.” Katsu cupped her breast, brushing his thumb over her nipple. “We’ll let you keep your panties. For now.”
She allowed his caress for a moment longer, then said, “It’s my deal.”
“In a minute.” Lukas buried his face in her soft hair and curved his fingers against the underside of her breast. Katsu accepted the offer, sucking deeply while his fingers rolled her other nipple. Lukas shifted her in his arms, resting her back against his chest. The position was nearly identical to how he’d held Rebecca. “Open your mind. Let her sense what you’re feeling.”
“I don’t have that much control.” She arched into Katsu’s kiss, pushing her nipple deeper into his mouth.
“I’ll help you. Open for me.”
Katsu kissed his way down her torso and covered her slit with his mouth. He breathed through the thin layer of silk and Bianca shivered. “Lift your hips,” he murmured against her sex. “I changed my mind. We need you naked.”
Pushing up with her legs, she raised her bottom off the floor and allowed him to drag her panties down her thighs. Lukas used her distraction to insinuate himself into her mind. She was open and welcoming, fully attuned to her body’s demands. He scanned her being, searching for the psychic thread that bound her to Rebecca.
Katsu traced her slit with tender patience. His gaze followed the leisurely movement of his fingers, filled with a combination of wonder and lust. “So soft.”
“Lick me,” she whispered. “I need your mouth.” She spread her legs, bending her knees to make room for Katsu between her thighs.
Deep in sleep state Rebecca stirred. Lukas locked on to her position and channeled Bianca’s emotions into her being. Rebecca tossed and twisted, resisting the sensations with all her strength. He wouldn’t allow her retreat, couldn’t accept her emotional reluctance.
Katsu followed the heated crease of Bianca’s pussy from her clit to her anus then back. “Yes.” She rocked against his mouth, lost in the blissful slide. “That feels so good.” He did it again and again, pausing to circle her clit at one end and her anus at the other.
Bianca held her folds open, offering an unobstructed view of her core. Katsu flicked his tongue over her clit, focusing his attention on the sensitive nub. She panted softly, her eyes tightly shut.
Maintaining an open link with Rebecca, Lukas rolled Bianca’s nipples and watched Katsu’s tongue wander across the heart of her sex. He stroked down one side of her slit, skirting her vaginal opening then licked his way up the other side.
“In me,” Bianca moaned. “Push your tongue up inside me.”
Katsu didn’t hesitate. Cupping her ass cheeks in his hands, he raised her to his mouth. He thrust in, his lips moving against her folds for a second before he pulled back.
The scent of her arousal filled the air. Lukas dragged it into his lungs and groaned. He had to taste her too. Reacting on instinct alone, he
grabbed the back of Katsu’s hair and pulled him up, away from Bianca’s pussy.
“Let me taste her.” He pressed his lips against Katsu and thrust his tongue into his mouth. Katsu tensed, but didn’t pull away. Lukas stroked his tongue over Katsu’s, greedily collecting Bianca’s cream. “So good,” he whispered, “give me more.”
Katsu stared into his eyes for a moment, his uncertainty obvious. Then he lowered his mouth to Bianca and recoated his lips and tongue. When he rose the second time, Bianca shifted out of the way, allowing Lukas to embrace Katsu directly.
Holding Katsu’s face between his hands, Lukas licked Bianca’s essence from his mouth, gently, thoroughly. Katsu parted his lips with a sigh and Lukas accepted the invitation. He slid in slowly, shifting Katsu’s head to the crook of his arm. Katsu closed his eyes and raised one hand to Lukas’ hair.
Blood surged through Lukas’ ears, creating a rhythmic rush. He took the kiss deeper as his hand slid down Katsu’s body. Katsu tensed when he unfastened his jeans, but Lukas didn’t stop kissing him.
Help me, Bianca. Move up behind him and help me undress him.
Her warm fingers covered his and Lukas opened his eyes. She smiled at him, passion burning in her eyes. Her fantasy might have been exaggerated, but this was definitely turning her on.
Distracted with long, deep kisses, Katsu made no objection when they undressed him. They separated just long enough for Bianca to slip his T-shirt off over his head. Then Lukas claimed his mouth again. Lukas stood, pulling Katsu with him, so Bianca could remove his pants.
Bianca wasn’t satisfied with Katsu’s nudity. She moved behind Lukas and went to work on his clothes. Lukas was thrilled to be rid of the uncomfortable pressure, and each brush of her clever fingers made him more anxious to explore.
As soon as their clothing lay in a messy heap, Lukas took one hand off Katsu and drew her against their sides. Understanding his intention, Katsu followed suit. They touched freely, hands sliding from one body to the other without prejudice.
Katsu was a bit tentative at first, but Bianca guided his hand to Lukas’ cock and they stroked his length together. Pleasure washed over Lukas, pushed along by their combined caress. Bianca took Lukas’ hand and drew him toward Katsu, completing the circle.
