by Jessica Lee
He would have to start again. But at least he knew where to focus his search: the Rose’s Thorn. Eve wouldn’t show herself again, but someone there had to possess knowledge of where she would hide.
“Seth.”
The unexpected mental call yanked his attention from the situation at hand. Shit. She was early.
“Yes, Mistress,” he replied silently.
“I’m waiting for you in your quarters. I do hope you have good news to share with me this evening.”
Seth cringed. Her games were a tedious but necessary evil. He suppressed the chuckle at the pun. Evil. An understatement for what lay beneath the gentle purr of the female upstairs.
Without a glance at either of the males bracketing his chair, Seth spouted his command and rose. “Dispose of them however you see fit.” Abrupt inhales resonated from the trio, mixed with a barrage of desperate cries for mercy. It would do them no good. About as much use to them as his pleas would be when he shared the latest failure to produce Eve. At least their pain came with an end in sight. His, on the other hand… He sighed and began his trek upstairs.
“I’m afraid the news will not be to your liking, Mistress,” he mentally transmitted. A shriek pierced his head, sending an icy chill of dread down his spine.
Chapter Eight
Hunger.
Two syllables.
One simple word.
But for a vampire, those six letters possessed the power to bend the mind of even the eldest creature of the night to its will. Guerin’s fangs bore into his lower lip. The copper taste of his own blood did little to sate the ravenous beast in his gut.
“Good. You’re coming around.”
Eve. On instinct, he inhaled deeply, drawing in her unique duo of fragrances—cinnamon vanilla. Mmm… Delicious and unsettling. They possessed the power to flip the switch on his hunger and divert his attention toward a desire of another kind: lust.
The ache in his fangs eased, and his incisors receded to a more tolerable position. He swallowed hard, working to find a hint of moisture in the desert he called a mouth. Judging from the strength and clarity of Eve’s voice, she’d fared better than he had.
He cracked one eye open, then another, and peered at his surroundings. Gray paneling encircled the room. Pale-yellow lighting glowed from a table at his right. A few feet away another small round table and two chairs sat beneath a heavily draped window.
Definitely not the Ritz, but at least he was silver cage–free, and getting out of here would prove much simpler. Because if he didn’t, it wouldn’t be long before the need to feed would haul his ass to the edge of his sanity.
Guerin rubbed a palm over his face, the stubble there way beyond a five o’clock shadow, and hoisted his aching and starved body in the direction of Eve’s voice. He blinked, and his heart stuttered even in its weakened state at the vision in front of him. Another lamp shone behind Eve, haloing a band of golden light around her raven hair.
An angel born from the womb of darkness? Was it even possible?
“Impressive,” she added from the wooden chair she’d placed near his bed. “I thought it would have taken much longer for you to recover from that amount of UV exposure.”
“What can I say?” Guerin drawled. “I’m an overachiever.” He nodded at the room around him. “Where are we?”
“Always the wise guy.” Eve glanced around the small quarters. “This is my backup place.” She settled her gaze on him. “A girl can never be over-prepared.” Eve threaded her fingers through her hair, pushing it away from her face. “Are you ever serious about anything?”
Guerin smirked. “Beautiful… Seriously, I would think that you’d like this side of me a hell of a lot better. It’s prettier.”
“What?” She tilted her head and tossed him a smug grin. “You don’t think I can handle the real Guerino Lombardi? The one who stays hidden behind the smart-ass remarks and charming smiles?”
A snort escaped his throat. “Handle it?” Guerin rolled onto his back and draped an arm over his eyes. “I’m sure Eve Devonshire can handle whatever is thrown at her.” After witnessing her talents for the past few days, psychic shock waves, walking in daylight, abilities he’d never seen even Kenric, a master vampire, wield, left no doubt the woman could handle whatever came her way. The genetic combination of a master vampire’s DNA crossed with an abnormally strong female vampire such as Marguerite had resulted in producing a hybrid offspring who could go toe-to-toe, and then some, with any vamp. And it was one mother of a turn-on. He sighed.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“Which was?”
“The real Guerino? Who is he?”
“That wasn’t the question.” He slid his forearm away and turned his head toward her. “You asked if I thought you couldn’t handle it. And you got your answer.”
Eve’s expression cooled, right before she stood and nailed him with a hard glare. “No more games. Who the hell are you and what do you want with me?”
Guerin swung his legs over the side of the bed and launched himself to his feet. A loose gray pair of sweats dipped low around his hips. Well, thank Christ for small favors. At least his bare behind was finally covered. He ground his molars, searching for patience. For the strength to handle this the right way.
Fuck it. Guerin curled his fingers into a tight fist. She wanted to know why he was here, he’d give her all the damn info she begged for. Including the part where he’d helped to kill her mother… The world tilted on its axis. Whoa.
His stomach roiled.
He stumbled back, jamming his calves against the mattress frame to keep from falling on his ass. Reaching behind, he fumbled for something solid to keep him horizontal. The room dimmed, and Guerin plopped onto the mattress, his pulse thumping hard in his ears. Yeah. He’d tell her as soon as he got a handle on his lights. Guerin blinked, attempting to clear his vision. Eve was in his face. Her lips moved, but the steady drumbeat in his head garbled her words.
“Feed… Blood.”
Blood. She said something about blood. Yes. His fangs shoved through his upper gums to full extension at the same moment hot pain arrowed through his gut, ricocheting off his spine.
“Oh, fuck,” Guerin moaned, clutched his abdomen, and rolled backward. He’d pushed the hunger aside for too long. Out. He had to get out.
Guerin lunged for the other side of the bed. Cold sweat rolled down the side of his face and dripped into his eyes. He swiped at it with a trembling hand and forced himself to his feet once more.
“Get your ass back on the bed, vampire!” Eve appeared in front of him again, her fangs bared.
“Move,” he snarled. “Or I’ll do it for you.” In his current state, he didn’t trust being alone with her for one more second.
Instead of stepping aside, Guerin watched—mesmerized—as Eve lifted her wrist to her mouth and bit. A crimson stream bubbled up around the perfect curve of her lips, staining her flesh and evoking a cold shiver over his own.
His mouth watered.
Fangs throbbed.
Air scorched a path into his lungs.
He’d never wanted—craved—anything more in his life. And no way in hell did he have the patience or inclination to analyze which of the visions in front of him he desired more: Eve or the scarlet fluid escaping her vein.
Then she was there, without having to ask, her essence flowing onto his tongue.
And it was ambrosia.
He rocked on his heels, but Eve stretched her other arm across his lower back, steadying him. The assault of her flavor over his taste buds, the heat of her blood mingling with his, was unlike anything he’d ever experienced over the centuries. His cock surged to life. He groaned and gently sank his fangs, needing more. Eve mumbled something in response, then the warmth of her body enveloped him. She pressed into him, breasts to his chest, hip to hip, her heat seeping under his skin as her blood heated his veins. The roar of her heartbeat filled his head to near bursting. Eve was everywhere. Her essence
went cell-deep, sparking off his neurons and marking his soul. But the crazy shit was, at that moment, he didn’t give a damn.
She was pure indulgence. Hot, liquid sin. That last piece of delectable chocolate cake you knew you should walk away from, but if you didn’t have at least one more taste, life wouldn’t be worth living.
He glanced at the swell of her breasts against his chest, and it took every remaining fiber of his control not to take her down, bury his face, and continue to drink between what had to be nirvana.
“Enough,” she commanded. “Enough for now.” Eve brushed her fingers up his spine.
Guerin swirled his tongue over the wound, closing it, then kissed the evidence of his feeding. He followed the soft inside of her arm upward with his lips. Damn. Every inch of her was sweet. The rigid length of his erection pulsed behind the thin cotton of his pants. If the taste of her blood and the feel of her skin next to his had him this crazed, he could only imagine what the flavor of her arousal would to do his mind. And he would surely die if he didn’t find out soon.
At her neck, he teased the bounding pulse with his tongue, then lifted his head. Pale-blue eyes, glowing with desire, met his.
“Beautiful,” he breathed. Guerin cupped her face, holding her gaze, and brought her mouth to within a hairbreadth of his own.
“Guerin…,” she whispered. “I—”
He brushed his lips over hers, stealing the small gasp of air she’d released, then pulled back. “Need you.” Before she could respond, Guerin wrapped his arms around her, spun, and lowered her onto the bed. Their mouths, tongues, intertwined in a kiss that threatened to consume him. Before Guerin was ready to let go, Eve broke away, and he found their positions quickly reversed.
“Let’s get one thing straight, Lombardi,” she stated, straddling Guerin’s hips. “I’m not one of your weak human conquests.” Without warning, Eve snatched his arms from the bed, spread them wide, and pinned him to the mattress. Not unusual for a female vamp, except with Eve, the maneuver had been performed by her mind.
He was so fucking hard.
One touch. Shit. One damn touch from her and he’d blow.
Guerin gritted his teeth for strength. Eve reached for the hemline of her T-shirt. Then with a move he never knew could be so seductive, she tugged it over her head. Long midnight tresses fell free and skated over her skin. Full creamy white breasts, their nipples taut and a deep rose color, rocked inches from his chin. Even if he’d wanted to, Guerin couldn’t have contained the groan emanating from his throat.
Eve leaned forward, braced her upper body with one hand against his pec, and gripped his chin with her other. The look she nailed him with had his balls drawn taut. She licked her lips, then added, “I decide when—or if—I’m topped.”
Christ. His eyelids shuttered under the assault on his senses. She was dominant lust personified. He sucked in a stabilizing breath.
His former Mistress had pushed his boundaries—his love—to the breaking point. She’d been so eager to see how far he would go to please her. Guerin had learned too late that she had only been about the game of manipulation. After his years with Daniela, Guerin had shut himself down with a vow: he would never repeat the same mistake twice. Never again would he risk falling for a female vampire. Especially one with a taste for domination and sadism.
Yet here he was with Eve and on the verge of unleashing the animal he’d long since locked down inside his mind. But God help him, he didn’t possess the strength to push her away. He’d promised himself he’d never submit again, but right now, he’d die if he didn’t have her. And he wouldn’t have her any other way.
“Yes,” he whispered. “You decide.”
“Yes. I do,” she purred. Eve moved lower, taking Guerin’s sweats down his thighs. His erection sprang free from its confines, arching up to rest on his lower abdomen. The cool night air inside the room did little to subdue the hot need in his shaft. Not when the vision fueling his lust was now naked, and her warm body slid up his. Like a panther stalking its prey, she was grace in motion, shifting and stroking every inch of him, as if she were leaving her scent, her mark, on his flesh in her wake.
Finally, Eve straddled his waist, the heat of her pussy branding him. Guerin tossed his head back. His biceps strained against her hold. Holy hell. She was going to kill him before he ever got the chance to love her.
Whoa. Love her?
He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. Where had that come from? The residual traces of hunger must be messing with his mind. Lust and sex. That’s what this was. She knew it, and he knew it. Besides, he’d long since learned that love had no business in the middle of a good fuck.
Guerin opened his eyes. “Come to me,” he uttered, his voice low and gravelly in his ears. “Let me taste you”—he narrowed his gaze—“pleasure you.”
A shuddering breath escaped her, and she scooted forward. Eve tilted her upper body toward him, grasped the headboard, and teased the hard pebble of her nipple over his lips.
“Take it,” she breathed.
Damn. He didn’t have to be told twice. Guerin sucked it in and gently scraped his teeth across the sensitive tip. Eve hissed.
“Oh, God.” She slipped her fingers into his hair, nails biting into his scalp. Fuck yeah. Guerin opened wider, taking the entire dark areola into his mouth. So soft. Sweet. He circled the hard nub with his tongue before flicking it over the end. She pressed him closer, urging him on with a moan. He sucked hard, then pulsed on the engorged nipple. “Guerin…,” she cried out. “I need…”
Guerin broke his hold. “Let me give you what you need.” Eve glanced down, and in the soft room light, her cheeks were flushed with arousal. Her gaze flickered toward either of his arms and the pressure holding them in place vanished. Guerin didn’t waste another second questioning her motives or her reason for releasing him. Instinct had him gripping her hips and pulling her forward until her bare sex rested over his face. He darted his tongue out, sinking it between her folds and stroking upward to her swollen clit. Eve arched in response and rocked her hips as if searching for more. Guerin slid his palms down and cupped her ass, holding her in place. Right where he wanted her. So damn delicious. He worked up and down, back and forth, sucking, licking, pushing her to the edge, then reeling her back. At the apex of her swollen, pulsing core, Guerin drew lazy circles. Everything about her from the way she tasted, her scent—hell—even the feel of her pussy on his tongue drove him wild. He didn’t care if he never came up for air.
“Guerin…,” she gasped, a hard quake rocking her body. “I need to come… Now.”
His cock twitched, and he glanced up. “Once more.”
“What?” Eve dropped her gaze to his.
“Beg.” Guerin lifted a brow. “So fucking hot.”
“Never,” she growled. “I don’t beg.” Her voice dropped to a sexy purr, and her almond-shaped eyes narrowed on him.
Tucking his chin, Guerin sent a hot puff of air over her clit. Her breath hitched, and the headboard jerked in her grasp.
“Oh God. I swear, Lombardi, I’m going to…” She shook her head.
“Don’t tease, beautiful.” Guerin slowly shifted one hand, allowing the tip of his finger to ease inside her slick core. Eve’s head lolled between her shoulders.
“More. Yes…” Her hips flexed, beckoning. And he obliged, sinking deeper. Christ. She was so hot, wet, her muscles tightening around him. He squeezed his eyes shut. How in the hell would he survive with his shaft buried inside her? His heart slammed against his chest at the thought. In and out he pumped. Panting hard, Eve rocked in time with him. Guerin slid a second digit inside and flicked his tongue over her engorged nub.
“Not enough,” she groaned. “Dammit, Guerin… Do it!”
Guerin wrapped his lips around the swollen bundle of nerves and sucked. As if lightning had reached through the plaster ceiling and arrowed down her spine, Eve jolted and cried out. Guerin continued working her clit. Hot arousal flowed over his han
d, her sweet flavor making its way inside his mouth and coating his tongue. He groaned.
Eve released her hold on the headboard and melted backward onto the mattress. But he didn’t let go. Not yet. Guerin rose, following her.
“No more,” she uttered on a groan. Tiny tremors shook her thighs with each gentle pull he gave to her clit. Guerin made one more pass from where his fingers still stroked inside her to her sensitive bud, taking in every drop, then moved to the throbbing pulse at her groin. He nuzzled her there. The heat of the fast-moving blood beneath warmed his cheeks, his lips. His fangs burst from his gums, and he dragged the pointed tips over her soft flesh. As if on their own accord, her legs spread wider in response. “Oh my God…,” Eve called out, her tone desperate with need. “Yes. Christ, yes.”
He struck. Hot blood filled his mouth as his name filled the room. Guerin held her in place with one hand as another orgasm erupted along her arms and legs. He swallowed hard, reveling in the strength and potency of her blood. But it wasn’t enough.
Inside. With everything in his being, he needed to be inside her, feel the silken walls of her pussy grip his cock. Guerin sealed her wound with his tongue and slipped his fingers free.
“Come to me, beautiful.” He slid his forearms under her shoulders, taking her into a sitting position before lifting her slightly from the mattress and easing her toward him. “Take me,” he growled. Eve placed her legs over his thighs and hovered over the head of his pulsing erection. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in, balancing herself over his cock.
“You want to fuck me?” she whispered in his ear.
Electricity zigzagged down his back. He arched and thrust his hands into the hair at her nape. “Christ!” He pressed her down in the direction of his aching rod, but she wouldn’t be moved. Holy mother of… She was so damn close. The hot trickle of her arousal trailed down the backside of his cock.
