Rajmund

by D. B. Reynolds

  She shivered beneath him. “I need you inside me. Please."

  He slid up her body, rubbing his chin, his chest, the hard length of his cock against her sensitized clit. “Tell me what you want, Sarah,” he demanded.

  She stared at him, hazel eyes dark with hunger and filled with tears. “Fuck me, Raj. Please fuck me."

  He rewarded her with a slow, satisfied grin, spreading her legs wide around his hips as he sank between her thighs. There was no need for foreplay. She was soaking wet and ready for him. But she was small. And he was not. He slid into her with a long, slow thrust, feeling her body's resistance as it made room for him. She was tight. So tight. She gasped loudly, her fingers tightening against his arms, the muscles of her slick, hot tunnel squeezing his cock in protest at his sudden invasion. He paused for a few seconds, letting her body adjust to his size, and then beginning to move carefully in and out, going deeper with every thrust until her inner muscles softened around him, caressing him in a welcoming embrace.

  He thrust hard, sinking himself into her to the hilt as he began fucking her in earnest, driving in and out, holding himself above her with his arms, watching her face, holding her gaze with every thrust of his body. She was murmuring his name, lost in pleasure, her overheated skin gleaming with sweat as she arched upward to meet him. He licked her skin, savoring yet another taste of her, salty and warm. She raised her knees higher and he pushed them against her chest so he could explore even deeper. She cried out and pulled him closer, her nails digging into his back.

  He growled his pleasure and drove even harder, her small body lifting with every downward stroke, her breasts shaking, nipples as hard and large as cherries, and flushed as bright a pink. He lowered his head and bit into one, tasting the red juice of her blood, listening to her screams of pleasure as she crested and climaxed one more time.

  The feel of her orgasm around his cock was too much for him. It rippled along his length like a thousand fingers, touching everywhere, stroking, massaging, encouraging, begging him to give up his seed. He threw back his head and roared as he crashed over the edge of desire and filled her completely.

  Raj collapsed against Sarah, not certain he could move, every breath filled with her scent. He could feel her heart beating beneath him, could smell the scent of her blood. He groaned and rolled over before he crushed her completely, pulling her against him and tucking her under his arm with her head on his chest. He stroked her long hair gently, hearing the rhythm of her breathing grow smooth and even as she slowly relaxed. Her eyes were closed, but she continued to caress him with one hand, starting high on his chest and gliding down over his ribs to his hip and back up again, over and over.

  This was a mistake. He knew that. But that didn't explain the bone-deep satisfaction he felt at having her lying sated and hot next to him, her blood already warming him as it coursed through his veins and into his heart. She was his. He'd known it from the moment he saw her, and no matter how much he fought it, no matter how much danger it put her in, he wanted her with him. In his bed, in his life. He sighed deeply, and Sarah's entire body shifted up and down with the movement of his chest.

  "If you say you're sorry,” she murmured drowsily, “I'm going to stake you while you sleep."

  Raj smiled and then laughed, holding her closer. “I'm not sorry,” he admitted. “Although this probably wasn't wise."

  "Wise be damned. We'd never leave our houses if all we cared about was being wise. I don't want to be wise, I want to live."

  "Ah."

  She sat up and stared down at him sternly, the effect ruined by the tumble of her blond hair, the sway of her gorgeous breasts.

  "Gods, you're beautiful,” he said softly. “I could stay here and make love to you for days."

  Sarah blushed, but gave him a very satisfied smile. “Only days?"

  "Well,” he began, pulling her closer so he could nuzzle one full mound. He bit her nipple lightly and said, “I have all the food I need right here, but you'll need to eat eventually, too."

  "Right,” she said, breathlessly, already arching her back to encourage his tongue in its renewed explorations. “Oh, God, Raj!"

  He rolled her under him, spreading her legs with his hips and sliding deep into her slippery, wet heat. Her body took him easily this time. She was still open, her walls still pulsing from their earlier lovemaking. He started slowly, thrusting in and out, withdrawing until only the tip of his cock rested against her and then plunging deep once again. She wrapped her legs around his hips, her cries of pleasure urging him to a faster speed. He felt her climax begin to rise, felt her body pulsing around him, sucking him in, caressing his cock until she fell over the edge of ecstasy and screamed wordlessly. Raj threw back his head and howled her name, claiming her to the world. She was his, only his, ever his.

  Sarah lay beneath the weight of Raj's big body, feeling as if her every bone, every muscle, every tendon had melted, leaving her a puddle of humanlike liquid. A very happy and satisfied liquid to be sure, but certainly not capable of anything so ambitious as movement. He muttered something she didn't catch, then lifted himself on his powerful arms and shifted to one side, one arm reaching out to scoop her in close, as if he feared she'd get away.

  She had no intention of going anywhere, but she knew Raj, and the next words out of his mouth were going to be something about keeping her far away from whatever was happening here in town. She was going to have to get used to that, she supposed. Used to having a bossy, arrogant, overly protective, wonderful, handsome lover of a vampire to care about her. Because he did care. He hadn't said it, not in words, but there was something about the way he held her, the way he looked down at her when they made love that said she mattered to him. He considered her his. And Sarah thought there were surely worse things in life than to be treasured by someone like Raj.

  "I'm surprised you knew that song. You Keep Me Hangin’ On by the Supremes,” he said unexpectedly. “That was before you were born."

  Sarah smiled against his chest. Okay, so maybe the second words out of his mouth, she thought dreamily. “When I was in that nut house my parents found for me—” He growled softly and she laid a kiss on his chest in thanks. “There was this nighttime orderly. The hospital didn't allow any music; they said it upset the patients, but this guy thought that was cruel and unusual punishment. So he snuck in a radio and we used to sit there listening to music."

  Raj made a grunting sound of disapproval. “Is that what you called it?"

  She smacked his chest in the very same spot she'd been kissing earlier. “He was way older than I was, old enough to be my grandfather almost, and he liked the oldies so that's what we listened to. Motown mostly; he loved his soul music.” She was quiet for a moment, remembering and then she said, “I'm surprised you knew the song."

  He huffed a dismissive breath. “I was running clubs in New York before you were born, little girl. And they weren't always the hot spots of Manhattan either. We started out with a working class dance club in Brooklyn back in the sixties."

  "Huh,” she said, as though thinking heavily. “So that means you're almost old enough to be my grandfather, too."

  Raj laughed. “Great, great grandfather, more likely, but who's counting."

  Sarah snuggled closer, happy that he could joke with her and wondering when that other subject was going to come up and ruin her evening. Not much longer, it turned out.

  "Sarah.” He took a deep breath.

  Here it comes, she thought.

  "You can't be a part of this investigation any longer. Just listen,” he added when she sat up and glared at him, stopping her protest before she could draw the breath to voice it. “This has become vampire business, and any humans involved will only get hurt. You'll have to trust me to take care of this, to find Trish and the others.” He met her gaze evenly. “You do trust me, don't you?"

  She gave him a narrow look. “That's a cheap trick, Raj.” He widened his eyes innocently. She blew out a disgusted breath. “Don'
t even give me that look,” she scoffed. She chewed the inside of her lip, then swore softly, “Damn it.” She drew her knees up and twisted around, so she was sitting next to him. “What will you do next?"

  Raj rested his head on one muscled arm, reaching out with the other to circle her body, cupping her ass with his hand. “I'm going to find out who's doing this and tear him apart."

  "It can't be that easy or you would have done it by now."

  He grinned. “I know more now than I did a few days ago. I didn't get much from Regina, but I got enough to know where to look. Trust me, sweetheart. This operation is about to be shut down."

  Sarah sighed, surrendering. “I can't sit here in the dark waiting for you. I'll go nuts."

  He laughed. “Don't worry. I won't leave you in my dungeon."

  "I didn't mean it when I said that."

  "I know. But I don't think I've ever seen you that angry before. It was . . . impressive."

  Sarah snorted. “It got you off your ass, anyway."

  "Speaking of asses,” he patted hers appreciatively. “But first, I've got to call Em."

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  Chapter Forty-two

  "Raj!” Emelie's voice was as frantic as he'd ever heard it when she answered the phone.

  "Is everything all right there, Em?"

  "Yes,” she said quickly. “It was you I was . . . Is Sarah with you?"

  "Yes."

  "Is she . . . okay?"

  "Yeah, she is.” He mock-glared at Sarah when she grinned, obviously having guessed what Em's question had been and probably how she'd asked it too.

  "Well, shit,” Em swore. “About fucking time, too."

  "Listen, Em. I'll be back there before morning with Sarah, and I'll be staying. I want to hit the ground running tomorrow, so lay low tonight. If the guys want to feed from the vein, tell them to hunt the city, not the blood houses, and stay sharp. And I'm sure I don't have to tell you to be discreet."

  "My middle name, boss."

  "I never knew that."

  "Kiss my ass."

  "That's kiss my ass, my lord, to you.” Em's laughter cut off as he hit disconnect. “As for you, little one,” he murmured, pulling Sarah close and rolling her beneath him. “I have entirely different plans for your ass, although if you ask nicely, I will kiss it first."

  Her ass and every other part of her body was deliciously sore when she stepped into the shower, her muscles like rubber bands that had been stretched too far. She ducked her head under the hot water, letting it soak her hair and run down her back. It felt good, almost as good as the long, hard heat of Raj's body when he stepped into the shower behind her and pulled her against him.

  She let him support her as he reached for the soap and began running those wonderful big hands of his all over her body in a halfhearted effort to wash away the hours of sweat-soaked sex. She closed her eyes and leaned into him, half-asleep on her feet. “How long until sunrise,” she asked drowsily.

  "A couple of hours,” he murmured. He wrapped an arm around her waist, letting it slide up until her breasts rested heavily on his smoothly muscled forearm. His other hand slid down over her belly and between her legs, his fingers rocking gently in and out. She gasped as he stroked over her swollen clit, the sensation like an electrical shock starting between her legs and traveling up her to her breasts where her nipples hardened in immediate response. Raj chuckled softly against her ear. “I might just fuck you for days after all."

  She shivered as his words triggered memories of the last few hours, hours spent in a state of permanent arousal as the euphorics in his bite roared through her system over and over again until she was too limp to do anything but lie in his arms and tremble. She pressed her ass back against the hard length of his cock, kneading his thighs as she rubbed herself up and down, feeling his erection glide against her soap slicked skin. It was Raj's turn to groan, his arms tightening their hold on her, his hand between her legs pressing harder as he lowered his head to nuzzle her neck and shoulder, biting gently.

  Sarah writhed against his assault, wishing he was right, wishing they could stay in his underground hideaway, safe in its soft glow and silken sheets while the world and its stresses went on without them. She heard Raj's breath quicken as he lifted her from behind, trapping her against the wet, tiled wall and spreading her legs with one knee as he slid his full length deep inside her. She shuddered and cried out his name, twisting around as his mouth came down on hers with surprising ferocity, crushing his lips against her teeth so hard that his blood flowed, filling her mouth and throat. She choked and would have pulled away, but he held her steady, not letting go. “Just a sip, little one,” he murmured against her skin. “It's important.” His cock continued to pound in and out, his fingers playing her clit, overwhelming her with sensation, distracting her so that she drank the warm blood reflexively. “That's my good girl,” he whispered, redoubling his efforts until the power of his blood hit her, and he swallowed the scream of her first orgasm. Not stopping, he stroked harder, faster, exploding deep inside her as his fingers brought her over the edge one more time and she joined him in a surging climax that roared through her body, leaving her hanging limp in his arms.

  "Sarah."

  Her eyes fluttered open. There was water all around and the air was steaming. “Oh, shit,” she gasped. Raj laughed and she slapped at him. She'd fallen asleep in the damn shower. “Very funny. This is all your fault, you know."

  "If you're suggesting that I've exhausted you with my extraordinary sexual prowess, I am happy to take the blame."

  She turned and yawned into his chest. “Am I clean yet?"

  "Yes. As clean and sweet as always.” He reached over her shoulder and turned off the water. “Come on. Let's get you dry and dressed. We're going to the warehouse for the day."

  "You're staying there too?"

  "It's either that or we both stay here, and I don't think you want that."

  Sarah thought about being locked in Raj's vault-bedroom all day, with him lying all but lifeless on the bed. “No,” she said, shaking her head. “But is there room for you over there?"

  Raj laughed. “I think they'll make room for their lord and master. Besides, after last night, Krystof knows you're mine, and I don't want you too far away until this thing is done."

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  Chapter Forty-three

  "You see this door?"

  Sarah stopped and turned to examine the warehouse door she'd just walked through. She looked up at Raj with a frown of confusion. “Yeah?"

  "You don't go past this door until I'm standing next to you."

  Sarah gave him a skeptical look. “Yeah, right."

  "I'm serious, Sarah. You're perfectly safe as long as you stay here, and I trust my human guards completely. If I didn't, you'd be downstairs with me whether you wanted to be or not."

  Sarah opened her mouth to protest his usual high-handed treatment, but he was suddenly right next to her, pulling her against his chest. “I trust them, but I'm trusting you, too, Sarah. Don't make me come looking for you because I will find you. I've tasted your blood and you've tasted mine. You can't hide from me and I will be pissed."

  Sarah stretched up to put her arms around his neck and tugged his face down for a long, slow kiss. “All right."

  "Come on,” he said, putting his lips next to her ear. “I'll tuck you in.” Her entire body flushed with heat at the suggestion in his words and she glanced at her watch. Raj laughed knowingly. “There's time, sweetheart,” he said. “There's always time."

  Sarah pushed aside the too warm blankets and rolled over. She might have been tired enough to fall asleep standing in the shower, but this bed was too hard and every time she closed her eyes, all she could see was Raj, his blue eyes glowing with satisfaction as she shuddered beneath him, wave after wave of orgasm rolling over her helplessly. She swore softly and sat up, reaching for the bottle of water she'd left on the cheap nightstand. As weird as she'd fo
und the idea of drinking even the smallest amount of Raj's blood, there was only one word for what she'd felt as his blood rolled down her throat and his cock pounded into her body. Ecstasy, utter and complete ecstasy. Just thinking about it had her shivering eagerly, her breasts swelling, nipples hardening, that tight anticipation between her legs. She sighed and checked her watch. Hours to go yet. Raj would be laughing in his sleep if he could see her now.

  But at least the little bit of blood she'd consumed had helped with the aches and pains after a long night of sex, especially since she'd been celibate for over a year. What soreness she'd experienced was already beginning to fade, thanks to the healing effect of vampire blood. Clearly, there were definite advantages to having a vampire lover. Apart from the incredible sex, of course. Cyn had dropped hints, more than hints really, of mind-blowing sex. But Sarah hadn't understood until now. And sex with Raj was more than just sex. It was, well, it was that trite old phrase . . . making love. There was more between them than simple sexual attraction. Way more. It seemed impossible that she could love someone after so short a time, but she did. She loved Raj. Absolutely, totally, head-over-heels love. Who would have thought? She laughed out loud and covered her mouth quickly, not wanting anyone to hear.

  My God, what would her colleagues at the university think? Proper little Professor Stratton—her thoughts stuttered to a halt. But she wasn't Professor Stratton anymore, was she? That part of her life was gone. The truth was a dark cloud hanging over her happiness, and she shoved it aside along with the blankets. She wasn't going to think about that today.

  She swung out of bed. There were hours to kill before sunset. Hours before she could see Raj and he could make her forget all about ruined careers. She sighed and looked around. Well, she might have to stay in the warehouse, but she sure as hell wasn't going to stay in this damn room all day. She needed to work off some energy or she really was going to go nuts.