by Casey Wyatt
“Keep your hands and arms away from the edge,” he shouted over the howling tempest.
I resisted the urge to add, “While the ride is still in motion.” The situation was too dire.
Ian rapidly tapped a series of buttons. The raging wind and dust was shut out by a dome-like barrier. The craft’s interior was dimly illuminated by a series of tiny overhead lights along the circumference of the dome.
“What is this?” I gave the barrier an experimental finger poke and hit solid matter. The view outside was blocked. Good thing because I’d rather not watch the gale rage over us.
“No idea. It should protect us until the storm is over.” Ian brushed dust off the back seats onto the floor. He pressed a small button on the armrest and the dust was whisked away. Where was this technology yesterday in the dome? “Come, sit down. We could be in here for a while.”
“Please tell me there’s something to do in this thing.” I crossed my arms tightly and closed my eyes. Claustrophobic panic surged up my spine.
“Sorry, luv. I don’t want to start pushing buttons to find out. I could accidentally open the dome at the wrong time.” The hovercraft shook hard to the left as if to emphasize the point.
I gripped the armrests. Do not freak out. I ignored Ian’s appraising once over.
“Allow me,” Ian gently pried my fingers off the armrest then lifted it, eliminating the separation between the seats. He slid over and gathered me in his arms.
We didn’t speak for a while. Ian’s chin rested on the top of my head. I hoped my hair at least smelled clean. Hygienic standards had taken a nose dive with the limited water supply on the ship. I casually pulled a lock of my hair under my nose and gave it a sniff. It didn’t smell like much of anything. Good enough.
“You’re beautiful, Cherry,” Ian said softly.
I peered upward, taking in the curve of his throat and chin. So smooth and unblemished. Not a single wrinkle or scar. He had been young like me when he was made. The press of his body, the scent of his skin, the sensation of his fingers against my back, teased my senses. I wanted to reach up and stroke the side of his face. To know the landscape of his velvet skin.
Ian closed his eyes. His chest heaved with a long deep pull.
Lust slammed into me. And not the blood kind either.
His nostrils flared, scenting my desire in the air. The tips of his fangs bit into his full bottom lip. When his hooded gaze latched onto my face, a warm wet heat soaked my core.
“Cherry,” he growled, low in warning. “Don’t tempt me.” His fingers dug into my lower back.
Tingling heat shot through my belly and down my thighs. I shifted so my face was closer to his. I licked my lips, my hands twitching to touch his face. Ian was painfully handsome. It’s not like I didn’t know that, but the close proximity and total privacy opened up pleasurable possibilities.
“Ian,” I paused, unsure of what to say.
A lazy smile curved his lips. He wanted me. He had told me the first time we met. I didn’t hear it, because in my profession, other people’s lust came with the job description. After a while it became background noise of the “you want fries with that” variety.
I wiggled closer, unable to escape Ian’s magnetic pull. He readjusted his arms around my body, making no overt moves, letting me have the control.
A lump of excitement filled my throat, then raced down my body, tightening my nipples into hard beads. Slight movement rubbed the jumpsuit against my skin, increasing the sensation.
Soft and low, I said, “I would like to kiss you.”
Ian’s face hovered near mine, waiting, allowing me to close the distance. I twined my fingers into his hair, caressing the silken locks with the pads of my fingertips. Ian’s neck muscles quivered ever so slightly.
Releasing the golden strands, I trailed my fingers down the side of his throat. I placed my palms on the sides of his angular cheeks, savoring his satiny flesh. I admired his control. When he closed his eyes with a sigh, I lost it.
My lips crashed into his. He fisted my hair and devoured my lips, sucking my tongue. Every nerve ending in my body shorted out. My nipples cried for his attention. I rubbed against his chest like a cat in heat. Moments later, in a tangle of limbs, Ian had me positioned over his lap, my chest level to his mouth. I started to go for my zipper, when Ian stilled my hand.
“Slow down, luv.” Ian kissed me again. His cool mouth traveled along my throat, fangs grazing an erotic trail down to my collarbone. Lost in the sensation of his tongue and teeth, I didn’t realize he had unzipped my jumpsuit and freed my breasts.
A sharp tug at my nipple filled me with heat. I grasped his head between my palms, savoring each tug.
His erection rubbed between my legs, hitting my sensitive nub and shooting waves of pleasure throughout my body. I mewled, when his other hand slid from my back and circled around to my abdomen. I pulled upward, allowing his fingers to slip between my slick cleft. White hot heat blasted me. His fingers danced and teased with intense rhythm, driving me to the edge.
The scent of my passion drifted between us. Ian’s eyes snapped open, blue fire lit behind his eyes. With a hard suck Ian, detached from my breast and yanked my mouth to his. He bit into my tongue with his fangs, my blue blood spilled into his mouth.
I didn’t care. An epic orgasm built inside, ready to tear me apart. My clit throbbed so hard, I couldn’t help gyrating my hips in time to Ian’s fingers.
The power of my blood hit Ian. He tossed his head back and groaned, “Sweet Jesus!”
I bared my throat and begged. “Bite me!”
Ian’s fangs flashed. He struck. Teeth buried deep into my neck.
I screamed, pleasure ripping through me. I came with full force. My body shattered with a million tiny pulses.
We were still for a long moment. Ian moved first. He sealed my wounds with a lick across my neck. My hot and needy core shuddered at the sensation. When Ian slid his hand away, I tried not to whimper.
He cupped my face between his palms, my salty female scent still on his fingers. “You are full of surprises, sweetheart.”
I leaned forward and kissed him again, the taste of my blood lingered in his mouth. I tried not to diminish the after orgasm glow with worries about my special blood type. Truthfully, I had, for the first time forgotten about it.
“You’re secret’s safe with me. No one will harm you as long as I’m around.” Ian’s sincerity tugged at my heart. The romantic in me wanted to believe it. But, the woman hardened by experience had a “wait and see” attitude.
Ian nibbled at my throat as he covered me back up. The sandstorm continued to rage outside. The sun must have set, because the blowing winds picked up in intensity, shaking the ship harder than before.
I straddled Ian’s lap and gripped his shoulders. His erection hadn’t softened any. Poor guy. I sat down more heavily against him. He groaned and squeezed my ass, a twinkle in his eyes.
“I would love to take you right now, but there isn’t the room,” his face sobered up, “I want to make love to you someplace special, not in the backseat of a vehicle like a horny teenager.”
I smiled down at him and kissed his lips tenderly. “Why Ian, I don’t think anyone has ever said anything so romantic to me before.”
He laughed and pulled me closer. A wave of dizziness tilted the world sideways. I tried to cover, but Ian saw right through me. “Ah, I’m sorry. I took too much of your blood.” He reached over to a side compartment and depressed a panel. The compartment opened, filled with my favorite juice pouches.
Ian popped in the straw and took a sip first. “It’s fine. Drink up.”
When finished the whole thing, he fixed me with a long stare. “I still don’t like your color. When was the last time you fed?”
I shrugged. “Back on the ship. From Prior after I made Trent.” The captain was scared shitless of me. As he should be. Trent was also too new and too clueless to know there was anything special about my blood.
&n
bsp; Ian sighed heavily, shaking his head. “That won’t do. You need nourishment.”
“I know. Things have been a little crazy.” And without Jonathan, who would I ask? Jay was also a newbie and Prior, out of the question –once was enough. The vein at Ian’s neck beckoned me. I would never drink uninvited. It was no different than forcing sex on someone.
Strong hands gripped my face, gently tilting my chin up. “Remember the day we met. The revenants were after something.”
“Your blood.” Obviously.
“I have a secret too.” Ian punctured his jugular with a sharp fingernail, then drew my mouth down to his throat.
As soon as his blood touched my tongue, I understood. He was a blue blood like me.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The storm raged on for hours. Ian and I cuddled as best we could in the cramped quarters. He had stretched out horizontally along the back seat, his back resting against the armrest. My head rested on his chest. My body cushioned between his spread legs. If he was uncomfortable, he never mentioned it.
Ian rested underneath me, his face peaceful. Sleep wouldn’t come and I gave up. Instead, I used the time to study him and think about his earlier revelation. Blue bloods held their secret closely. Historically, our kind had been kidnapped, abused and treated like plasma factories. While attitudes had changed, they hadn’t change enough to suit Jonathan, hence the secrecy.
And it was obvious Ian echoed the same belief.
I wondered about his past again. Why was he a rogue? He clearly had leadership skills and sire-like tendencies. Had he been a sire once? What event led him to this place? Was he a victim of circumstance like me? Or did he bring this upon himself?
The ship bounced hard. I clutched Ian’s waist to keep from rolling off him.
“What’s happened?” He sat up, moving me with him.
“That was the hovercraft. I hope we haven’t been hit with anything.” I couldn’t image what, since the whole planet was covered in rocks. It’s not like a tree or building would collapse on us. “Do you think the colony is okay?”
“I hope so. This storm is pretty intense,” said Ian. Frown lines formed around his mouth. He raked his hair away from his face, then stretched his arms overhead. “Did you get any sleep?”
“A little. I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
“Such as?” Curiosity laced his voice. If ever there was a chance to ask about his past, it was now. He couldn’t run away.
“You. I figured since we have free time, maybe you could tell me about yourself.”
Ian went totally still. Vampire statue still, eyes focused on a spot past me. The eyes of a survivor. I knew that look. I’d seen it enough in my own mirror. “Ian, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to dredge up bad memories.”
“No, luv. It’s not that. It’s been so long since I’ve discussed my past with anyone.”
Oh. “Anyone special you mean?” Curses, why did I ask that? Now, I’d come across as needy or desperate. One massively good orgasm and I was already sizing him up for boyfriend material.
Again, I was caught by his intense stare. My blood sang as if sensing his scrutiny.
“Yes. I hadn’t realized, until you asked.” Ian waved me off when I tried to apologize again. “No worries. Like most of us, I have things I’d like to forget. But there’s more to it. When you’ve lived as many lifetimes as I have, even my own memories are so distant they seemed to have happened to someone else.”
I couldn’t imagine such a thing. Not yet. I was only in my early hundreds.
Ian pulled me back down onto his chest and stroked my back. “I was born so long ago. I don’t remember the actual date anymore.” His voice was a warm rumble in my ear. “My tribe, today they’re known as Celts, lived on the island of Britain, centuries before the Romans.”
Celtic tribes? Romans? I wrapped my brain around the math. He was several millennia old.
“Back in those days, my people believe in many pagan gods. The Druids guided us. I was an initiate. My father was Druid chief. And as his oldest son, I was expected to follow in his footsteps.”
Ian’s voice softened, “I miss my Da and my Ma. Even after so much time. My memory of them will never fade.” Sadness filled his voice. “I would have become the Chief Druid, except for a neighboring tribe. They invaded and killed everyone except me. They took me captive. A sacrifice to the gods.”
How awful.
“I was prepared to die. I had nothing left. No family, no friends, no clan.” He paused. “The enemy tribe had me trussed, ready to be burned. The fire had barely been lit, when an outsider entered the camp.”
I remained silent, anticipating what would come next.
“The stranger raised his arms and the flames were quenched. I nearly pissed myself with fear. A god had entered the Sacred Grove. My captors fled. A few of their Druids remained to pay homage. The god killed them. With monstrous fangs, he sucked the life right out of them, leaving me to watch.”
“His name was Adapa and he was a vampire. He had chosen me to be his undead son, to be groomed to lead his family someday. He said he could sense something special from the Gods in me. For thousands of years, I believed he chose me because my father was a Druid. Since we started this trip, I’ve developed a new theory.”
The three words: Brunii, Espirtii, Decaii popped into my mind.
Ian continued, “We spent thousands of years together. I, the ever faithful son, ready to heed his father’s call when the moment came.” Ian faltered, emotion tripping him up. “It wasn’t meant to be.”
He swallowed hard. His voice quavered. “Once again, I was forced to watch my entire family burn. Adapa lost his bid for power against Victoria. During the battle, most of my family was killed. Adapa freed me from the bond and bid me to form my own family.”
Ian stopped speaking for a moment, his eyes distant.
“I’m sorry.” Sadness crashed over me. I knew what it was like to lose everyone. I didn’t want to repeat the experience ever again. “What did you do?”
“I hid for a century. Tired of factions and fighting, I vowed to stay out of vampire politics. I picked up strays as I went along, each damaged in his or her own way. None of us wanted to follow the traditional path. We took our chances and went rogue.”
“Much later, when she became queen, Victoria offered membership to me and my rogues. The night she died, she had sent me another note, asking me to consider her new project.”
“The Undead Space Initiative.” Of course, who else would have been rich enough and powerful enough to organize such a secret and massive venture? “But why was she so intent on you?”
A bitter smile played across Ian’s lips, “Vampires are so human at heart. Adapa was Victoria’s first son. And I was the only child he ever made, so she considered me his blood. Adapa was a blue blood too. Rather than make vampires, he acquired them.”
“Like father like son, taking in the strays and misfits.”
“Yes. I do take after him.” Ian hugged me tight across his chest. “The pain of losing another family caused me to swear off bonding with anyone ever again.”
“Until recently?”
“Yes. Victoria had concentrated her efforts to rein in my rogues. I think she believed if I had no foster family left, I would turn to her. Thalia hated my guts. I threatened her position. If I were brought into the fold, then maybe I would usurp her place as heir.”
I shook my head, part anger, part sadness. “What a tangled mess.”
“As a last ditch effort, I approached Jonathan. He was the one sire who was old enough and radical enough to embrace us. Without forcing undo obedience.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Jonathan was certainly unconventional. He was a live and let live type. Unless you crossed him. Wait. Jonathan was older than even you?”
“No. But he did have incredible strength. Cherry, do you mean to tell me you didn’t know he was a blue blood too?”
“Of course I did.” Not know. I had to be a complete
moron. Why didn’t I ever notice?
“Don’t fret, darling. When you get as old as Jonathan and I, we can conceal many things. Or choose to exercise our will and remove certain knowledge from younger or weak-minded vampires.”
“What’s the point of blue blood anyway?”
“Besides tasting damn good, it means you can make children and bind them to you.”
“That’s not what I heard.” Had Jonathan lied to me all those years ago? Were his “security” precautions for nothing? Maybe the subterfuge around my blood was a bunch of hokum.
“Luv, I don’t know why Jonathan told you differently. I’d only be guessing.”
I frowned, “Guess anyway.”
“Maybe he wanted to keep you with him. Or he was concerned you’d create your own family and work against him.”
“Not likely,” I scoffed. “I could care less about playing power games.”
“Which is why he chose you as his second.”
“What? How do you know that?” He could have mentioned it to me first.
“Jonathan confided in me. That day in the missile silo.” Ian sighed.
“He knew. Didn’t he? That Thalia would kill him.”
“Yes.”
Did Jonathan think I was too inept to handle the news?
“No. He knew you would be a good leader.”
Ian seemed kind of mad.
“I’m not mad at you,” he protested.
“Hey! Enough!” I sat up, jabbing my finger into his chest. “Stop reading my mind.”
“I can’t read your exact thoughts.” Ian hedged. When I glared, he held up his hands. “I can sense your emotions. In a general sort of way. Since we shared blood, it’s become a wee bit stronger.” He traced his fingers down between the V of my thighs.
Fire flared between my legs again. “How much stronger?”
“Strong enough.” His mouth covered mine in a deep, passion fueled kiss. For a moment, desire and masculine lust flowed into my mind. Distinct from my own. Maybe this connection was two way?
I kept kissing Ian. That question could wait until later.
~ * * * ~
