Vampire in Atlantis wop-7

by Alyssa Day

  For the second time that night, her consciousness shattered, but this time it was from pure, blissful, pleasure.

  Waves of sensation rocked through and over her, centering on Daniel’s lips and fingers, and she reveled in the feeling, but she wanted more, somehow, more and more and she was sure she knew what that meant, even though she had no idea how the logistics of it all might possibly work out, so she did the bravest thing she could think of doing.

  The only thing she could think of doing.

  She reached down and took his manhood in her hand.

  This time, it was Daniel’s turn to gasp.

  * * *

  Daniel closed his eyes when Serai wrapped her slender fingers around his cock, and he wondered if possibly he really had died and gone to heaven when he walked into the sun. Sure, he’d faced danger and been stabbed in the interim, but if all that was just the windup to the big event, and heaven meant kissing Serai, and touching and pleasuring her while she reciprocated, then he’d happily offer to get stabbed every day for the rest of eternity.

  She was so unbearably beautiful he almost couldn’t stand to look at her; it was like looking into the face of the sun, and—like the sun—her beauty had the power to sear him to ash if he stood too close.

  He didn’t care. He was already burning, was already on fire; the flames analogy was working really, really well for him, especially if she’d just move her hand a little and, oh, hot damn, she tightened her fingers around his cock and started stroking him, and he thought he just might explode.

  “Serai, you can’t—If you do that, I’ll go off in your hand like a boy. Your touch—I’ve wanted you for so long, I just, oh, gods, you’re killing me here,” he said, groaning when she grinned up at him and continued stroking him, even more enthusiastically than before.

  She flashed a smile of pure joy, and it stunned him that she could radiate such perfect bliss when they were in so much danger, but then again, if she kept kissing his neck, he’d happily lie here forever.

  His fangs dropped down, involuntarily, and a wave of bloodlust slammed into him, reminding him of all that lovely blood rushing through her veins, so close to his mouth, so close to his teeth, and that her skin would be so easily pierced.

  He wanted to taste her.

  He needed to taste her.

  He did the next best thing. In one vampire-quick motion, he pulled her up and whipped her boots and clothes from her, and then he kissed his way down her perfect body, taking especial care with her lovely breasts, until she was moaning and tossing restlessly in his arms. When she was making little purring noises, he raised his head and looked up at her.

  “I’m going to taste you now. It may seem shocking to you, but it’s a natural way for lovers to be together, and I have to put my mouth on you or die from wanting you.” His voice sounded rough, even to his own ears, but he couldn’t help it. He was practically shaking from need and hunger, and if he didn’t have her soon he was sure his brain would explode into tiny, vampire-brain pieces.

  Her eyes were huge and hot, drowning blue, but she nodded, biting her lip, and he kissed his way down her belly until he reached his goal. He used his fingers to stroke her again, dipping them into her wet heat and then sliding them along her oh-so-sensitive clitoris, grinning fiercely when she cried out.

  “Yes. Just like that,” he said, and then he put his mouth on her and licked and sucked, holding her thighs down when her hips bucked up and off the blankets. He tested her with one finger, stroking in and out, and then a second, slowly at first, until she got used to the feel of his invasion of her most private place.

  Her movements became more frantic, and she clutched his hair and moaned, and he fastened his lips around her clit and sucked hard, and she shattered around him, crying out his name. He gently stroked her while the aftershocks took her, and then he rose over her and fitted his body between her legs.

  “I need to be inside you now,” he said, giving her a chance to say no, which would probably kill him, but even though he held his breath and held his body as still as he could to let her decide, she didn’t say no.

  She didn’t say yes.

  She just smiled and put her hand on his cock again.

  “Now would be good,” she whispered, still smiling, but he could see that she’d tensed up a little bit.

  “It will hurt a bit, just at first, but I promise to go as slowly and gently as you want me to,” he warned her.

  She tensed up just a little more, but gave him a look of such complete and utter trust that he wanted to slay dragons for her, wanted to protect her and love her for eternity, wanted—more than anything, talk about pressure, her first sex in eleven thousand years—to make the experience perfect for her.

  He kissed her again, and slowly, ever so slowly, he entered her until he felt the resistance of her maidenhood. Then he froze, realizing half of him was afraid to hurt her and half of him wanted to thrust into her so far that he became part of her soul.

  Talk about performance anxiety.

  He was doomed.

  * * *

  Serai opened her eyes when Daniel stopped moving, and when she glanced up at him she realized that he’d closed his eyes. His arm and shoulder muscles were bunched so tightly that his body was shaking, and for a moment she wondered what was wrong.

  But then she knew.

  Her “I’m no gentleman” gentleman was afraid to hurt her. She took a deep breath and decided to take matters into her own hands, so to speak.

  “Daniel, listen to me. If you don’t make love to me right now, I’m going to scream really, really loudly, which will bring all the bad guys from miles around racing to find us, and that will ruin everything, and then—”

  She couldn’t think of what would happen after her “and then,” but it didn’t matter because Daniel opened his eyes and smiled and then he took her mouth in a hard, branding kiss, and when her body arched up to his of its own accord, he moved forward, driving into her, claiming her in the most primal way.

  She made a little sound of distress—he’d been right, it did hurt a little—but he held perfectly still and gave her a chance to adjust to his invasion. When she relaxed and could feel her inner muscles softening to welcome him, he began to move, thrusting gently into her body and then out again, over and over in rhythmic motions as timeless as the waves of the sea striking the shore.

  Her own passion rose to meet his, waves of ecstasy beginning to surface again as the feel of his erection, so large inside her, touched places she’d never known she had—nerves and centers of sensation she’d never known existed. Slowly, and then with growing intensity, she felt her passion for this man, finally in her arms, finally in her body, rise and encircle her with pure, almost magical sensation.

  She felt she could face anything and triumph—even if the witch forced power through the Emperor again, she could conquer them both with the power of her love for Daniel and this amazing, miraculous sensation.

  “I like affirming life very much,” she said breathlessly, and then he plunged deep inside her, deeper than he’d been before, and her entire consciousness, body and soul, jumped, spinning, off the edge of the world.

  * * *

  Daniel felt the exact moment Serai began to reach her peak, and he increased his pace, building her orgasm as high as he could and then prolonging it, while he captured her cries with his mouth. He kissed her, feeling every tremor and spasm in her body as an exquisite goad to his own pleasure, even while he tried to ensure hers. His cock had never been so sensitive, and he was fighting against release, trying to hold on, but two more thrusts and he was gone, coming and coming inside her, his cock and his brain emptied by sheer, world-shattering pleasure.

  He collapsed, but caught himself with his arms, careful not to crush her with his weight but needing to feel all of her body against his own. He pressed kisses against her cheeks, nose, and mouth, murmuring meaningless phrases, until they both stopped shaking.

  “You were right,” she
said seriously. “That was much better.”

  He laughed, delighted with her. Delighted with himself. Delighted with every damn thing in the universe.

  “I’m glad, because that’s only the beginning,” he said, kissing her again.

  She kissed him back but then suddenly stopped and pushed him away, her eyes dark and unfocused.

  “Reisen again?” he growled, thinking of all the ways he’d like to make the damn warrior suffer for interrupting them at such a private time.

  “No,” she finally said, narrowing her eyes. “Worse. The high prince of Atlantis is on his way here, with his brother.”

  “Here? Now?” He carefully disengaged from her body and started swearing, cursing viciously in at least three different languages.

  “They’ll be here in less than half an hour,” she said, calmly enough, but he knew her well enough to read the fire in her eyes. “Luckily I have another shirt, with the buttons intact. Time to make use of that river for the bath I’ve needed all day.”

  “I know they’re your royalty, mi amara, but I might have to kick their asses for them,” he growled.

  She pulled his head back down to hers and kissed him thoroughly and then stood up and headed for the water. “I may help you do it,” she said. “I’d enjoy that very much, I think.”

  Daniel followed her to the river, thinking of the saber-toothed tiger and grinning. “My money’s on you.”

  Chapter 21

  Still warm from Daniel’s lovemaking, Serai waited in the moonlight for the man who was to have made her queen of all Atlantis. She’d pictured this moment in her mind so many thousands of times, when she’d been held captive: her first conversation with whichever Atlantean prince would rescue her. Then, when she’d known Conlan was to be hers, she’d tried to listen for news of him during her brief periods of wakefulness each year.

  Sleeping Beauty waiting for Prince Get-me-the-hellsout-of-this-glass-coffin.

  But now she’d rescued herself. No more waiting. There was no need for the flutter of nerves churning through her stomach.

  “Not exactly how I’d hoped to spend the hour after making love to you for the very first time,” Daniel said, a rueful grin quirking up one corner of his mouth.

  An unexpected glow of warmth and happiness curled up through her, carrying with it a boost to her confidence. She had no need for nerves here. Conlan was the one who should be nervous. She’d show him what it meant to be a princess of the true Atlantis, the Seven Isles when they still rode the seas and Atlantis was a power unmatched in the world.

  Or she could always turn back into a tiger and bite him.

  “They’re coming,” Daniel warned, but she had no need for his vampire senses to know this.

  She could feel them, High Prince Conlan and his brother Ven, named the King’s Vengeance by tradition and right. She lifted her chin, squared her shoulders, and—for only an instant—wished she were wearing one of her rich gowns instead of the drab and masculine hiking clothes. But her gowns were rotted to dust by now, surely. Cloth could not survive the passage of time as well as magically preserved maidens.

  “Serai? Are you all right? I can keep them from you if you want me to. Just say the word. Ven is my friend, but I’d be happy to kick his ass for him if you need me to do it.”

  He glanced at her, his concern clear in his eyes, but he was smiling for her benefit. He rolled up the sleeves on his shirt, and her gaze was drawn to his muscled forearms. The arms that had held her so tenderly.

  “I love you, you know,” she told him. “Don’t respond to that, please. I just wanted you to know it, no matter what happens on this quest.”

  He opened and shut his mouth a couple of times, but honored her request and didn’t speak. Instead, he pulled her close and kissed her with so much fire and passion she was surprised they didn’t both burst into flames.

  A loud whistle interrupted them, but Daniel didn’t release her until a few seconds later. He smiled down at her with that hot, seductive smile of his, the smile that was only for her, and she relaxed even more.

  “If you need me, I’m right here, mi amara,” he said, for her ears only.

  She nodded and turned to the Atlanteans, sweeping a perfect court curtsy, as if she did indeed wear a silk and velvet gown. “Greetings, Your Highnesses.”

  They returned the gesture, bowing deeply. Conlan’s eyes were wide, but he didn’t say anything. Perhaps this meeting was as awkward for him as it was for her. They were stunning, of course; the Atlantean bloodline bred incredibly gorgeous men, and the royal genes held true in these two. Dark hair, eyes that looked ocean blue in the moonlight, and tall, strong, warrior bodies. But she had no false modesty about her own appearance, so she knew she held her own. She would be no humble maid in awe of the princes during this meeting.

  “Oh, boy,” said the one who wasn’t Conlan, and therefore must be Ven. He swept his keen gaze over her and then looked at Daniel standing next to her, holding her hand. “So, Daniel, is this your version of the princess and the frog? Beauty and the beast? Galadriel and Gimli?”

  Daniel stared back at the man she knew to be his friend, nothing but hard challenge plain on the lines and angles of his face. However, she’d seen a tiny flinch at the beauty and the beast reference. Something to pursue later, perhaps. For now she stared down the princes as if they were recalcitrant children who needed a nap.

  The thought of naps made her want to yawn, but she held it in. She would not show any weakness, even so tiny as that. Also, using a negotiating technique her father had taught her, she wouldn’t be the one to speak first. She waited.

  Conlan finally nodded, as if acknowledging that she’d won this round, and bowed again. “Lady Serai, I wish to formally welcome you to Atlantis and ask you to return.”

  Ah. Bad, bad beginning.

  Bad.

  “I have no need of your welcome to my home, youngling,” she said, putting all the haughty arrogance of a princess of ancient Atlantis in her voice and stance. “I walked the fields of our lands when you were not even a wish in your great-great-grandmother’s heart, or a drop of seed in your great-great-grandfather’s sac.”

  Ven started laughing. “Oh, are we going to be great friends or what? Also, please don’t call me Highness, Lady Serai. Just Ven.”

  He crossed to her, extending his hand, and she took it almost without meaning to, because she was so surprised by his reaction. He bowed over her hand, but he was still chuckling. When he straightened, he grinned at Daniel and then lightly punched him on the shoulder.

  “You’re in big trouble now, aren’t you, my friend?”

  Daniel pressed his lips together, but she could see the answering grin trying to escape. “I had considered that thought,” he said, flashing an amused glance at Serai.

  “You presume too much, vampire,” Conlan said. An edge of menace turned his words to daggers, meant to wound or warn.

  Serai was unimpressed.

  Apparently, so was Daniel. “You might want to think again, if you’re going to tell me what I may or may not presume to do, Atlantean,” Daniel said.

  Serai thought for a moment and then raised her hands, palms up, and called to small spheres of energy to manifest in each; a clear visual warning that she was not defenseless. She waited until she had the attention of all three of them, after Daniel and Conlan stopped the ridiculous male posturing.

  “I need no one, least of all a child of a prince, to tell me what I may do. You lost all right to give advice on my future when you abandoned me to my crystal prison in order to claim your human woman, Prince Conlan,” she said.

  Conlan’s eyes widened, and his mouth fell open a little. Not used to anyone speaking up to him, perhaps. Too bad for him.

  She inclined her head as another memory surfaced. “My congratulations on your marriage and the birth of your heir. I trust both mother and son are well.”

  “Yes, they are very well, and Riley is anxious to meet you. If—if that would be acceptable t
o you,” he said stiffly, probably suddenly realizing exactly how awkward that meeting would be.

  Hello, my wife, meet the woman who was meant to be my wife. Let’s all have a glass of wine and discuss.

  She smiled at the thought and allowed the energy spheres to vanish.

  “Good you have a sense of humor. You’re going to need it,” Ven said. “But we’re on the clock here. Do you want to tell us what happened? How the stasis pod exploded?”

  He glanced at Conlan, and they appeared to have a mental conversation. Ven nodded and turned toward Serai, taking her hands. Daniel tensed and stepped closer, but made no other move. She could feel how much he trusted at least the younger prince and, if not trusted, exactly, still respected Conlan.

  “We have some very bad news,” Ven said, no trace of his smile remaining. “Delia—she died. Some sort of malfunction in the Emperor’s power, and—”

  She cut him off and pulled her hands from his. “I know. I felt her die. More will die if I don’t find the Emperor soon; I know this, too. Is that what you came to tell me? Surely your brother didn’t come to apologize to me after all this time.”

  “I apologized to you, Serai,” Conlan said, stepping closer, his gaze searing into her. “You were asleep, of course, but how else was I to do it? We have had our finest minds trying to solve the problem of the stasis pods so that we could release you and the others, but apparently the Emperor has been malfunctioning for quite some time, unknown to us.”

  “How is that possible? How is possible that the king-to-be of Atlantis can be unaware that the six surviving citizens of Atlantean ancient civilization were in danger of dying horribly, trapped in crystal cages? Trapped for thousands of years beyond what we were originally told; for millennia past what we were promised.”

  Conlan threw his hands in the air, frustration written all over his face. “How could I know what you were originally promised? All records of the event are lost.”

  Serai had started pacing, but then she whirled around in shock to face him. “Lost? Lost? In an underwater city trapped under its own prison—an all-encompassing dome? Where, pray tell me, O High Prince Conlan, where could those scrolls possibly have gone?”