Tall, Dark and Paranormal: 10 Thrilling Tales of Sexy Alpha Bad Boys

by Opal Carew

  Her eyes opened wide and her hands grabbed at him in a defensive posture. He held her hands still, his mouth kissing hers to keep her quiet. Their actions awakened his uncontrollable longing for her all over again. The ache in his groin doubled when she flicked her tongue against his mouth.

  Awake, she was pleased to see him again, thrilling him to no end.

  He whispered in her ear, “We must talk.” He pulled at her hand to get her to come with him.

  Very carefully, she climbed out of bed and walked cautiously with Adonis toward the bedroom door. The floorboards creaked and she paused. When her sleeping companion didn’t stir, Rachael opened the door and walked into the dark hall.

  After closing the door behind her, Adonis led her down the stairs and into the parlor. Furnished with three couches, a coffee table and several end tables, the room seemed to serve quite a number of guests at one time. He closed the door and led her to a sofa by the window, farthest from the door.

  After he sat her down on the velvet sofa, he joined her.

  “Adonis,” she whispered. Just the way she said his name, lovingly, longingly, stirred his loins all over again.

  He pressed his lips against hers and she kissed him back, lips soft and greedy for more. Her hands groped at his freed hair, her touch feeding his need to touch her back. He kneaded her shoulders, rousing her, the musky smell of her revealing she was ready for him. He needed to work out his plans with her, a way of meeting her uncle and getting him to agree about allowing Adonis to hunt with them. But her intimate touch made him lose his thought processes entirely.

  He lowered his hands to her breasts and massaged them through her silky gown, firm, full, the nipples hardening to rigid points. She moaned and leaned back into the couch, enticing him to take his fill.

  “Rachael,” he said hoarsely. He’d never wanted a woman so completely and her actions only furthered his desire to fulfill his raging lust for her. He nuzzled his mouth against her soft throat, her light floral fragrance tantalizing him more. “We’ve got to talk.” Talking would be the only way to cool his libido.

  She swallowed hard and tugged at his shirt. “Make love to me. I want you and you want me. I already told Michael. He’ll tell my uncle. I don’t care what happens now. I told him I wouldn’t marry anyone but you.”

  Adonis leaned away from her. She’d gone against her family, her own kind, and promised to give herself to a hunter turned vampire forever. She’d chosen him despite what he was. “But—”

  She placed her fingers against his lips. “I want you, Adonis. No other man will do. You’re right. We’ll leave here and live somewhere else if we have to. But I won’t live without you. Forever, I’ve felt like an outsider, different. You’re the only one who has ever made me accept the way I am, who doesn’t look at my scar, and then turn to me with forced sympathy or concern. And you helped me to take down two ancient vampires.”

  “But I wasn’t there when you did it, Rachael. I hadn’t protected you like I should have.”

  She touched his chest. “You protected me from Piaras, made sure I didn’t have to face all three of them. Without your help, I would never have proved to myself that I could fight them and win. You gave me a piece of my life back. I’m no longer terrified of facing them.”

  She would give up her family and her way of life to live with him.

  Suddenly he felt selfish. He wanted her for all eternity. But now was not the time to satisfy his sexual craving. He pressed his body against hers and hugged her tightly. Just feeling her warm, soft body securely wrapped in his arms would have to satisfy his burning need tonight.

  “I couldn’t be happier that you’ve selected me. But we should wait.”

  “I don’t want to wait.” She squirmed under him. “You don’t already have a mate, do you?”

  He chuckled. “Where did you get an idea like that?”

  “Michael.”

  He shook his head. “No. I’ve never had a mate.”

  “But you’ve been with women before.”

  “It’s an accepted practice that the hunter is well versed in—”

  “You’re not shy, are you?”

  He had to squelch the urge to laugh out loud and combed his fingers through her golden curls. “We’re in the parlor of your uncle’s house. If the lady who was sleeping with you discovers you’re missing from your bed, she’ll sound the alarm. And when they find you lying naked on the couch in the parlor in the throes of passion with a—”

  She tugged at her gown locked between them. “I don’t have to remove it.”

  Time to change the subject. “Rachael, how did you tell your family we met?”

  “At the main library. You’d run into me while reading a book on antiques and knocked a bunch of mystery books out of my hands. Then I left my library card on the counter by accident. You found out where I lived and brought it to me. And you invited yourself in for lunch.”

  He smiled at the thought of Gregory’s red face when he told him to get lost. Adonis touched her breast again, possessively. “Tell your family you want to get some books at the library.”

  “But... “

  “I want to meet your uncle. You can invite me to the house, and I can ask to see you as a hunter should a huntress he wishes to pursue.”

  She slipped her fingers under his shirt and touched his nipples.

  He knew he shouldn’t want her, shouldn’t take her, but the battle raged on when his body readied itself for action.

  “I’ll kill Piaras before he ever touches me.” She wiggled beneath Adonis, stirring him up, squirming to unpin her legs from beneath his. With her insistent action, she soon freed her legs and spread them apart. Before he could stop himself, he slipped between her legs, his groin pressing hard against her mound. He knew then, he was losing the battle.

  Already light perspiration covered her skin, her breathing had grown rapid, and her eyes had darkened. She was a seductress, having the power to control him greater than any vampire could rule a human. Yet if she were to rule him for the rest of his days, he’d give in to her charms, without reservation.

  She arched her back encouraging him to fill her with his desire, his need throbbing with urgency. Then she yanked at her gown again, attempting to expose herself to him. He gritted his teeth, trying not to spill his seed in his pants with the way she rubbed against him.

  “Rachael,” he murmured, his hands locked onto her long curls, dangling over her shoulders, his lips mouthing her throat. “Hunters don’t use protection when we take a huntress. She’s meant to be ours forever. She’s to carry our offspring, to keep our kind alive.”

  Rachael slipped her hand between them and ran her fingers along his zipper, her touch making his erection jump.

  He groaned.

  “Don’t you think I know that? Hurry up, Adonis, before Trish misses me.”

  He’d given it his best shot to convince her not to go through with it. But his burning desire to have her, wreaked havoc with his knowledge that he should wait.

  She unbuckled his belt, then yanked his zipper down.

  Her fingers touched the length of him, nearly drawing him over the edge. He hesitated only briefly, the longing to take her for his own, overwhelming any caution he might have. He tore his trousers off and jerked her gown up exposing the triangle of golden curls between her legs. She smelled sweet and musky, ready for his penetration. “We’ll do this right, next time.”

  She smiled. “Is there a better way to do it?”

  “Yes, without pressure and with a lot more foreplay.”

  His voice was dark and gruff when he touched her swollen nub, then slipped his fingers inside her. Warm and wet she was definitely physically ready, but what about mentally? He pulled her gown higher, exposing her breasts, then molded them in his hands. Leaning down, he traced his tongue over the tip of one, firmly aroused. She closed her eyes and ran her fingers over his hair. Concern about getting caught forced him to move more quickly than he wanted.

&n
bsp; He captured her face in his hands and drove his tongue into her mouth, forcefully, demanding attention. She responded, touching hers to his, but when she reached down to grasp his butt, he couldn’t wait any longer. If he entered her now, he feared he would lose himself should she change her mind. The ache for her had intensified to an excruciatingly sweet pain. “I’m not sure I can stop, if you change your... “

  “Please,” she pleaded. “I love you and want you to make love to me. And I know you want me, too.”

  He kissed her mouth again, nipping at her bottom lip, then thrust his erection between her legs, into her tight channel. She gasped and he quickly withdrew.

  “Are you all right?” he asked, kissing her cheek.

  “You’re so big.”

  He smiled. “You’re so tight, but you’ll get used to me.”

  She yanked at his hair draped over his shoulders. “Hurry, Adonis.”

  Worried he’d hurt her, he was reluctant to push as far as he could, not tonight, not with everything going against them.

  She reached down and pressed his ass, pressuring him to enter her. He slipped back inside her slowly, stretching her to accommodate him, and then he thrust deeply. Again she gasped and he tried to ease out, but she locked her arms onto his backside.

  “Don’t you dare,” she warned.

  He chuckled and her lips turned up in response. Beguiling was what she was. A temptress. He nuzzled her neck as he thrust deeply, her body stretching around him in a feminine silky grasp. He fought the bloodlust that centered in his teeth, eager to extend.

  She thrust her pelvis at him move for move as he ground against her. And then he couldn’t hold back any longer. His teeth extended as he neared his peak. Her body shuddered around him as she spoke his name in a whispered siren’s call. Touching his teeth to her throat, he battled the urge to sink them into her exposed vein. And then his seed spilled inside her. He clenched his teeth, the climax nothing like anything he’d ever experienced... like sailing around the world on a glassy sea—no rough edges, just pure silken delight. He knew the pleasure he felt was only due to the love he had for Rachael.

  They let out their breaths in unison. Tiny shivers racked her body and the spasms she had, gripped him with satisfaction.

  “I love you, Rachael, and no one can ever keep us apart,” he promised as his mouth sought to kiss hers again. He’d never erase the vampire in him, but he was whole again, completed by the love he shared with her.

  When he tried to withdraw, she held on tight. “I don’t want you to ever let go of me, Adonis. Never let me go.”

  “You’re mine now, Rachael. I should have waited. But, now I have to meet with your uncle and get his permission for me to see you.”

  “And if he doesn’t give it?”

  He kissed her lips. “You’re mine anyway.”

  “You’ll allow me to hunt, won’t you? Even after we have children.”

  “I wouldn’t want you injured—”

  “You’re not like the others, Adonis. If I want to hunt further... “

  He smiled. “You’re not like any other woman I’ve ever known. But if you choose to hunt, I insist I go with you.”

  “It’s a deal.”

  The sound of footsteps headed for the parlor. Adonis jumped off Rachael and grabbed his pants. Damn, he still hadn’t told her about Michael and the contract Piaras wanted him to carry out. “The library, tomorrow.”

  “I love you,” she whispered back and yanked down her gown.

  He didn’t have a chance to respond as the door to the parlor opened with a squeak.

  Chapter 13

  Mary and Trish entered the parlor and flipped on a light as Rachael sat up on the couch and pretended to wipe the sleep from her eyes. “What time is it?”

  “My God, Rachael. We were about to sound the alarm that you’d vanished.” Trish folded her arms.

  Mary took a deep breath. “Trish came and woke me. And Ned’s getting dressed right now. He’ll be rousing the others as we speak.”

  Rachael rolled off the couch and tugged an afghan off the arm. “Trish kept talking in her sleep. It was quieter down here.” She pulled the afghan around her shoulders and walked toward them. “How does Ferris put up with it?”

  Trish frowned at her. “He’s never said anything about me talking in my sleep. And you shouldn’t be running around the house half naked with three of your suitors staying here the night.”

  When they walked out of the room, Rachael said, “I forgot my robe. Tomorrow I want to return for it. And I want to go to the library to get some more books.”

  Lights turned on suddenly in the living room as they made their way to the stairs. Ned wrinkled his brow. “You found her, I see.”

  “Sleeping in the parlor. She says I talk in my sleep.”

  Ferris bolted down the stairs and shook his head.

  “Your wife can return to your bed.” Rachael strode toward the stairs. Gregory appeared at the top. She paused, then ran up the stairs. “Night all.” She hurried past Gregory, then walked into her room and closed the door.

  A few minutes later, the door opened again. Rachael climbed under the covers as Trish rejoined her in bed.

  Trish scolded, “If I talk again in my sleep, nudge me. I’ll quit. But you’re not to leave the room again until it’s light out.”

  Rachael’s body felt the afterglow of Adonis’s loving. Her whole body was thoroughly warm and loved. And for the rest of the night, she’d relive his having been with her. She was determined that no one would keep them apart permanently. Not with the way she felt about him. He was hers forever... only now she really had to force her uncle’s approval.

  And hope no one found out what Adonis and his sister truly were.

  ***

  Early the next morning, Rachael walked into the kitchen where Trish, Mary and Lynella busily prepared the morning meal. The conversation that had filled the room suddenly ceased. They’d been talking about her again.

  She guessed she was the only one in the family stirring things up at the moment. It hadn’t been too long before that Michael had been kicked out of the family after he took down a vampire Uncle Tobias hadn’t wanted him to target so soon. The vampire was a rogue, ruthless and deserved to die, but Uncle Tobias had the final say, always, as to whom they hunted and when the hunting expeditions took place, concerned that his hunters would always be a success. That none of them would die. Michael was sometimes too hot headed.

  The tongues wagged for months about Michael’s rogue exploits once he left the family. It was good to see him with his family again, only she wished she hadn’t been the reason.

  She pulled a coffee mug from the cupboard. “So what’s being said this morning, ladies?”

  Lynella leaned back against the island counter, folded her arms, and narrowed her eyes. “I don’t know why you believe you’re so special that you think you can dictate to your uncle which man you will marry.”

  Rachael smiled. “Well, your husband is truly a dear, and if he wasn’t already taken, I’d have asked for his hand instead.”

  “You shouldn’t joke about things like that,” Trish warned as she shoved a cookie sheet covered with biscuits into the oven.

  “Nonsense. Everyone knows what a hunk he is. And kind and considerate, too.” Unlike his wife, the witch.

  Lynella tilted her chin up. “Michael says you want to marry this Adonis Cameron. The men are having a council meeting about it as we speak.”

  Rachael glanced back at the hall that led to the room. Her temperature instantly elevated several degrees. She wondered why she’d seen no sign of any of the men this morning.

  Lynella smirked. “Your uncle won’t allow you to marry an outsider. Gregory and some of your other suitors are quite adamant about it.”

  Rachael tucked a piece of hair dangling against her cheek behind her ear as she attempted to calm her growing upset.

  Mary stirred sausage links in a frying pan. “We don’t know what Uncle Tobias�
�s decision will be, Lynella. Quit trying to incite hard feelings again.”

  “Do you ladies need my help?” Rachael asked.

  “You can set out water and juice glasses,” Trish said.

  “Will do. Be back down in a moment.” One meal Rachael never ate was breakfast. She wasn’t about to start now.

  She dashed up to her room, grabbed her purse, and headed for Trish’s room. In there, she found the car keys to Ferris’s vehicle. Without hesitation, she hurried out of the house, and jumped into her cousin’s car.

  Her cousin would be furious. Her uncle would be angrier. Still, she wasn’t going to play along with the family rules any longer. She meant business and she wanted them to know it. She’d marry Adonis, or not marry ever. More than anything, she was important to the family in providing new offspring. And she would—Adonis’s—she hoped.

  She took a deep breath and drove toward the city. She’d never agreed to a time to meet Adonis at the library. Maybe he’d meant to meet her there anytime. Sure, he couldn’t be assured when she’d arrive there.

  Nearly an hour later, she arrived at the main library. White marble steps and Grecian columns welcomed the patrons into the three-story building. She ran up the steps, and once inside, crossed the floor to the library computer to search the card catalogue for mystery books.

  A hand touched her shoulder. A trickle of fear spread through her body. She whipped around to find Adonis, his eyes sparkling with mischief, his dark hair neatly pulled back in a ponytail. He smiled. Her heart warmed and she smiled back, her gaze taking in every bit of him.

  The turtleneck he wore fit snugly against his chest, showing the contours of his muscular body. Instantly, she thought of how they’d touched on the sofa, their bodies partially naked, moving erotically against one another.

  He glanced down at her navy turtleneck. Already the tips of her breasts tightened. “You’re glad to see me.”