A Vampire's Salvation

by Alexis Morgan

  His grandmother was never one for fancy technology, so closing the shutters meant cranking each one shut by hand. Sunlight was no danger to Livi with her mixed human-vampire blood, but she helped him secure the cabin.

  He also double-checked to make sure both doors were bolted and barred shut. Even if someone else had a key, they still wouldn’t be able to get in. If Livi was wrong about Francine, or even if she wasn’t, there could be a wild card out there who wouldn’t be happy to have Cord out of prison and out to regain his position in the clan.

  When everything was secure, he met Livi at the steps. “You can have the bed in the loft. I’ll take the couch.”

  The thought of Livi in that big four-poster, curled up under one of his grandmother’s hand-pieced quilts had him hard and hurting. It had been more than fifteen years since he’d last had sex. As prison life had weakened him, he’d eventually lost the urge. But now, after two days of fresh blood and fresh air, all those desires were coming back with a vengeance, due in large part to the woman standing in front of him.

  She looked puzzled. “There’s only one bedroom in a cabin this size?”

  He kept his eyes focused on the lumpy couch where he’d be spending the long daylight hours alone. “Yeah, my grandmother didn’t want to encourage unwanted visitors. She turned my old room into an office as soon as I moved out. When I came back for a visit, I always used the couch.”

  Livi started up the stairs, but stopped on the first step and turned back to face him. “We’re adults. We could just share.”

  Gods above, he so didn’t need that image burning in his head. The woman had to have more sense than that. But then again maybe not, considering her skin was flushed rosy with heat, her heart was racing and those beautiful fangs were peeking out over her lower lip.

  “Livi, go upstairs and go now.”

  He grabbed on to the newel post with both hands and held on for dear life to keep from tossing her over his shoulder and pounding up the stairs as fast as he could. “Because if you don’t go right this minute, we’ll be doing a lot more than sharing a couple of blankets. It’s been too long for me. I have no control.”

  She didn’t budge. “And what if I want you out of control?”

  Chapter 5

  Gods, she was treading on the far edge of a major breach of chancellor ethics, but right now she simply didn’t care. She’d been craving this man’s touch for fifteen years. If he thought his control was shaky, well, so was hers.

  When he didn’t immediate answer, she backed up a step and then another, forgetting that retreat would likely trigger a male vampire’s predatory instincts. Cord’s dark eyes flared wide, and his head tipped back as if to better scent her arousal.

  When he lunged for her, she retreated up two more steps before he caught her. Her brain might not be functioning all that well, but her body knew exactly what it wanted—demanded, and right that minute.

  His hands, rough and callused from years on the road gang, grasped her arms, pulling her back down the steps to slam up against his rock-hard body. The jolt fed the growing ache inside of her. Sweet gods, yes, she wanted this, wanted him.

  Cord’s mouth ravaged hers with exquisite thoroughness, his tongue sweeping across hers, only to move on and trace the length of her fangs. She reciprocated, imagining how it would feel when he took her vein at the same time he took her body, impatient to experience it for real. She wrapped her legs around his hips, bringing the center of her need in direct contact with the bulge of his erection. It wasn’t nearly enough.

  Then Cord ripped his mouth from hers. “Livi, we’ve got to stop this now. Please.”

  Why? He clearly wanted her as much as she wanted him. He made no effort set her down, to back away, but the pained expression in his eyes made it clear he meant business.

  A bolt of pain, born of both bitter disappointment and acute embarrassment ripped through her chest. She let her feet drop back to the floor, determined to regain her dignity and to ignore the burn of tears in her eyes.

  Cord allowed her to put a small distance between them. But when she would have run up the stairs, he stepped in front of her.

  “Livi—”

  “No, Cord. No explanations necessary. You made yourself clear.”

  He reached out to wipe a tear from her cheek with the pad of his thumb. Gods, even that little touch was enough to rekindle the craving she had for more of the same.

  “No, I didn’t.”

  His big hand cupped her cheek, lifting her gaze up to meet his. She blinked when she saw the heat reflected there. Okay, maybe she should hear what he had to say.

  “I’m listening.”

  The tension his stance eased just a bit. “I’m still not a free man.”

  That was so not true. There was no way she’d let him go back to prison. “But, Cord—”

  He shut her up by swooping in to brush a soft kiss over her lips, stealing her breath away.

  “You said it yourself. According to the law, my engagement to Francine still stands. That’s true, isn’t it, Olivia?”

  His use of her real name was like a bucket of cold water in her face. “Yes, Cord, that’s true.”

  And honorable man that he was, even after all he’d been through and everything Francine had done, he was going to stand by his word. She had to admire his integrity. Damn the man, anyway.

  “Look, I just need to go to bed.”

  Although she’d rather run back to her transport and put far more distance between the two of them than a single flight of stairs. She picked up her suitcase and started climbing the steps again. At least this time, he didn’t try to stop her.

  But when she reached the top, he called her name.

  “Livi, there’s one more thing you should know.”

  He didn’t speak again until she relented and looked back down at him. “What’s that, Cord?”

  “Come sundown, I have every intention of getting to the bottom of Dwayne’s murder, whether it was Francine or someone else. I’ll need your help with that.”

  “That’s why I’m here. I’ll do my job.”

  His eyes had taken on that predatory gleam again. “But regardless of how that turns out, I’ll be ending my engagement with Francine. I need to make sure she has no legal recourse against me or my family other than what was spelled out in the prenuptial agreement.”

  Where was he going with this?

  “I can help with that. If I don’t have the clout, Ambrose will.”

  “Good. I just thought you should know what my plans were because you have a vested interest in all of this getting resolved fairly and fast.”

  “Why is that? So I can get back to my job?” How considerate of him.

  “No, because once I’m in the clear, I’ll be coming after you with everything I’ve got, Chancellor McCabe, and I intend to finish what we started a few minutes ago.”

  He actually licked the tips of his fangs and grinned up at her. “I’m going to be all over you, Livi, and I don’t plan on stopping for a very long time. If you’ve got a problem with that, you’d better let me know now.”

  She swallowed hard and studied the determination radiating from the alpha vampire staring up at her with pulsing heat in his gaze.

  Finally, she shook her head. “I’ve got no problem with that, Cord. No problem at all.”

  Feeling much better than she had only seconds before, she smiled back at him and headed for the bathroom to get ready for bed. The sooner they got to sleep, the sooner sundown would come.

  Cord was awake long before darkness fell. He’d slept better than he had the prior night, but still had some problems with the silence. He’d paced the floor a few times, once again having to practice taking full steps and ranging around the room in random patterns. Eventually he’d leave the limitations of prison life behind, but it would take time.

  He stared up at the ceiling. Livi had been stirring around up in the loft for some time. Was she staying up there because she didn’t want to wake him o
r because she wanted to avoid him?

  No, his Livi wasn’t afraid of much and especially not him. She’d take on his entire clan single-handed if that’s what it took to clear his name once and for all. He liked that about her; in fact, there was a whole lot about his chancellor that he liked, maybe even loved.

  He’d always known there was a surprisingly strong connection between the two of them, but he’d never let himself name what it was he was feeling for her. Gratitude for all her visits and caring had been part of it, but it had grown to be so much more than that.

  When the top step creaked, he threw back the old afghan his grandmother kept on the back of the couch and sat up. It was tempting to meet Livi at the bottom of the steps, but he didn’t want her think he was about to pounce. Not yet, anyway.

  Her smile was a bit shy. “Oh, you’re up. I wasn’t sure and didn’t want to wake you.”

  “I’ve been awake for a while.”

  She came closer to where he sat. “Trouble sleeping again?”

  “Not as much. Mainly it was because tonight promises to be eventful.”

  He stood and stretched, taking pleasure in the way her eyes followed his every move. Truth was, he added a few more moves just to bask in her approval a bit longer.

  “Want some breakfast?”

  “You stay.” She started for the kitchen. “It’s my turn to cook.”

  He followed her anyway. “I’ll make the coffee.”

  After he set the coffee to brew, he zapped a pack of blood in the microwave. Normally, he’d take it in the other room, but Livi didn’t seem to be bothered by watching a vamp feed. It fact, the whole scene felt surprisingly comfortable. Cozy, even. Definitely a far cry from eating slop at a battered and scarred table with two dozen other inmates.

  Livi plunked a plate down in front of him. “I don’t know where you were just then, Cord, but it wasn’t a good place.”

  He shook off the effects of the memories. “Sorry, I was just thinking about how weird all of this is. You know, in just two days going from swinging a pickax to sleeping on my grandmother’s couch.”

  Her soft green eyes looked at him with sympathy as she came around the counter to where he sat. She brushed her fingers over the short stubble of his buzz cut.

  “I imagine the memories will hit you at odd moments for a while to come.”

  Even knowing he was playing with fire, he tugged her down on his lap. “A kiss might help ward them off.”

  “You think so? Maybe we should test your theory.”

  Rather than the explosion of their last kiss, this was a coffee-flavored seduction. His hands ignored all his orders for them to behave, instead learning the curve of her hip, the way her breasts fit his palms, the round fullness of her backside. All perfect, all too tempting.

  He pulled back slowly, not wanting her to feel rejected, not again. His smile was rueful as he nuzzled her neck, tasting her skin right over a pulse point. “So much for my good intentions. I swear, Ambrose shouldn’t let you out in the field without posting a warning label on your uniform.”

  She laughed as she stood up. “I’ll be sure and pass along your suggestion. I’m sure he’ll get right on it.”

  Before Cord could respond, someone pounded on the front door. Just that quickly, Livi, the warm, willing woman disappeared. In her place stood Olivia McCabe, Senior Chancellor for the North American Coalition, her strong features radiating authority and determination.

  “Cord, are you ready for this?”

  They both knew things were going to get ugly before they got better. Someone he knew had let him rot in prison for fifteen years for a crime he hadn’t committed. His fangs dropped down, ready for a fight.

  “Oh, yeah, Madam Chancellor, I’m more than ready.”

  Chapter 6

  Before turning the final lock, Cord took a deep breath and searched for some calm. His blood was running hot from kissing Livi, and there was a very good chance his soon-to-be ex-fiancée was waiting on the other side of the thick oak door.

  For a brief second, he was tempted to leave the world shut outside while he dragged his chancellor upstairs to bed. Getting naked with Livi would be a lot more satisfying than getting down and dirty with Francine over the clan’s finances and rehashing the past fifteen years.

  But he wanted more than a one night fling with Livi, and he needed to sever all contact with Francine before that could happen. It all boiled down to the fact he had no future with Livi until he faced his past.

  He flipped the lock and yanked the door open. As soon as he did, the vampire standing on the porch launched herself straight at him.

  “Cord! Sorry to arrive unannounced, but when they told me you were back, I just couldn’t wait.”

  He backed farther into the room, Francine still clinging to his neck. Her performance would’ve been more convincing if he hadn’t seen the absolute fury in her eyes just before she buried her face against his chest.

  Olivia stood across the room in full chancellor mode, with her fangs out and her arms crossed over her chest. He shot her an apologetic look as he worked to break Francine’s near choke hold on his neck.

  Livi wasn’t as patient. “Ms. Clark, I hate to interrupt this little reunion scene of yours, but I’m here on official Coalition business and would like to get started.”

  Francine stiffened and finally let go. When she stepped back, a single tear trickled down each cheek as she smiled at him. If not for the reptilian chill in her blue eyes when she glanced in Olivia’s direction, he might have even bought what she was selling. Had she always been such an accomplished actress?

  The two women stared at each other, obviously sizing up the competition. Neither looked impressed.

  Francine finally broke the silence. “Excuse me, but you would be?”

  Cord would’ve hated having that particular smile of Olivia’s aimed at him. Certain parts of his anatomy were sensitive to that much cold. Luckily, for the moment, it appeared both women had forgotten he existed.

  “I would be the chancellor in charge of the investigation into the recent murder of Dwayne Delaney. Also, I’m here to oversee the immediate transfer of control of all clan assets back to Mr. Kilpatrick and to ensure the transition goes quickly and smoothly. I’m sure you would agree, Ms. Clark, that would be in the best interests of everyone.”

  If Olivia was all ice and cold, Francine was fire and flames. On the surface, she was every inch the elegant high-born vampire female, from her tailored clothes down to her designer shoes. Cord might be years behind on current fashion, but money always showed. But all of that was simply surface trappings meant to disguise her sharp mind and even sharper fangs.

  Francine glanced in his direction, clearly trying to assess where he stood in all of this. He spread his feet wide and crossed his arms over his chest, an unspoken declaration that he wasn’t going anywhere soon.

  “Cord, darling, I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I feel I must be blunt.”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “Go right ahead, Francine. There’s not much that’s going to hurt my feelings after the past fifteen years.”

  She flinched. “What happened to your voice?”

  “My throat was slit.” He kept his face impassive. “Thanks for asking, but you were saying?”

  Francine was having trouble trying to decide which of them to look at. Her eyes flickered from one to the other before finally settling on Cord. Did she think he was the softer touch? If so, she was in for a surprise.

  “I was just saying that you’ve been out of the loop on the clan’s business affairs for fifteen years. You can’t possibly expect to transition back into your previous life and pick up all the pieces overnight. I understand that you will want to become more active, but these things take time. Ask anybody.”

  Olivia stepped forward and held out a folded sheet of paper. “Actually, Ms. Clark, I did ask somebody—Judge Willard, to be specific. When he set aside Cord’s conviction, he also set aside the clause you invoked
fifteen years ago. If you read this court order, you’ll see that as of yesterday morning, all of Cord’s previous holdings and any moneys that have accrued in the interim have reverted to his control.”

  Francine’s mouth was working, but nothing was coming out. Finally, she snapped it shut and snatched the paper from Olivia’s hand. As she read it, her face flushed hot, and she stamped her foot in pure frustration.

  “You’ll understand that when dealing with this amount of money and complicated business affairs, I will be consulting with my own attorneys before I accept this as valid.”

  Then she smiled at Cord. “Of course, now that you’re finally out of prison, we can proceed with our wedding plans. Once we’re married, all of this will be moot.”

  She sidled closer and looped her arm through his, probably hoping a physical connection would nudge him over to her side of things. Not so much. He removed his arm from hers and stepped away.

  “I’m sorry, Francine, but I can’t in good conscience hold you to our marriage contract. I’m not the same man that you agreed to marry.”

  Or the same fool.

  Once again, she backed away and regrouped. She was nothing if not resilient. “Well, you’ll be hearing from my attorneys on that, as well, Cord. I’ve stood by you all this time. I can’t believe that you’d abandon me now.”

  Olivia entered the conversation again. “Your definition of standing by your fiancée is certainly an odd one, Ms. Clark. According to the prison records, you didn’t make a single trip to visit Mr. Kilpatrick in all of that time. Nor did you write him a letter, send an email or make a phone call. I know. I checked. The judge concurs. He’s willing to entertain a petition from Mr. Kilpatrick for a dissolution of the contract with no penalties. You should have read the fine print.”