Take Back the Night (Blood Brothers Book 3)

by Annie Harland Creek

“Your curls.”

  He shrugged and screwed up his face. “I know. They made me look like a dickhead, right?”

  She shook her head. “I liked them.” And I like you, she wished she had the confidence to add.

  “That sucks,” he groaned. “I should have known better than to take Corel’s advice.”

  Susie frowned. “David told you to cut your hair?”

  “He suggested a makeover.” He did a slow turn, modeling a new assemble. “What do you think?”

  She snorted, locking the door before returning to her desk. “I think David Corel should mind his own business. The new clothes are very lovely and suit you, but I don’t know why you needed to change your appearance. You were perfect the way you were.” She stopped at the desk, suddenly conscious of her words. Hesitant to face him.

  He cleared his throat. “You think I’m perfect?”

  Leaning on the desk for support, she took a deep breath and let the words spill out. Words she’d longed to say.

  “Maybe not perfect, but I think you’re beautiful. Inside and out.”

  “I’ve never been called beautiful before but…”

  She felt his hands on her upper arms.

  “I’ll answer to anything you call me, honey. Anything at all.”

  He turned her to face him and lifted her chin with the finger. The gentleness in his touch almost reduced her to tears.

  “I really want to kiss you now,” he told her.

  She nodded her approval and he closed the gap between them, tenderly, hesitantly, brushing his lips against hers. She waited for the impulse to pull away. It didn’t come, even when he slipped his tongue inside her mouth, deepening the kiss.

  Her hands cradled his head, holding him while his hands glided down the small of her back and further to cup her bottom. She could feel the hem of her skirt lift ever so slightly as his fingers traced her thigh. A shudder shook her body and he instantly pulled his hands away, breaking contact with her lips, stepping away.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t want to pressure you.” He shook his head. “You have complete control, I promise. We’ll take this as slow as you want.” He slipped a finger inside the collar of his shirt and scratched the skin on his neck. “I won’t lie to you. I want you. I want you so bad it’s killing me, but it’s not only the physical thing. I feel a real connection to you that I don’t want to screw up by rushing you into sex. Give me some encouragement, some kind word that’ll let me know you feel the same and I’ll wait for you. I’ll wait forever.”

  She reached up and touched his cheek. Those eyes. Those beautiful, kind, eyes. If eyes really were windows to the soul, Terry was indeed perfect.

  “I want you too,” she told him. “But … I’m afraid.”

  “I’d never hurt you—”

  “I know you wouldn’t.” She brushed a soft kiss on his lips. “I’m afraid that it’s too soon. Afraid that if I rush into this, I may relapse and I don’t want to lose you.”

  “You won’t lose me. Not now that I know you have feelings for me too. Still, I think you’re right. We should take things slowly. Wait until you’ve completely recovered.” His words sounded confident. His expression depicted a different emotion. A look of disappointment that hurt her heart.

  She knew exactly how he felt.

  “Let’s get out of here,” he suggested. “How about dinner?”

  She answered with a nod and a smile.

  “Give me a minute to turn off my computer.” He kissed her forehead before heading into his office. She watched him walk away and in that moment, she knew she’d made a mistake. There would never be anyone as kind, sweet, and understanding as Terry. He would wait for her. The question was, could she wait? He’d stolen her heart, long before she’d been prepared to give it. Her body had not only accepted the touch of his skin, she craved it. There was no denying the truth. She wanted him. Not in a year, a month or even a week. She wanted him now.

  Her heart skipped a beat, then made up for it with two extra beats. No, it’s not a heart attack, you won’t die if you do this. Slowly, she made her way toward his office, her hand shaking as she pushed open the door. Will he think less of me if I throw myself at him? She stepped inside the office, full of self-doubt, trepidation, and an arousal so strong it soaked her panties. He looked up from his desk and his eyebrows knit with concern. “Do you need something?”

  Her breath hitched. Yes, I need something. The gap in his cotton shirt revealed a few curls of blond chest hair and her fingers itched to twirl them between her fingers.

  “I’ve been thinking,” she told him as she rubbed the back of her neck, allowing her hand to move down, over her neck, and down the front of her blouse. His eyes followed the movement of her hand as her fingers paused at the top button and when she licked her lips, he gulped.

  “I’m listening,” he told her with a crack in his voice.

  She drew in a breath and let it out slowly as she told him, “Screw waiting.”

  His eyes widened. “Do you mean what I think you mean?”

  She answered with a nod, biting her bottom lip as he rose from his desk, the bulge in his trousers assuring her of his own arousal.

  He reached her in three strides. She wrapped her arms around his neck, cupping his head in her hand as he pressed his lips to hers. She opened her mouth as he deepened the kiss, slipping his tongue between her lips. His breath tasted of peppermint. She savored the sweet taste as she drew his tongue into her mouth, lapping the moisture as if she’d been dying of thirst and hadn’t realized until now. Oh, God, I need this.

  “You knew I’d come to you,” she groaned into his mouth.

  “Hoped,” he told her as his lips left her mouth to nibble her earlobe. “Hoped and prayed.”

  “That is such a good answer.” She grabbed his head, forcing him to face her, forcing his mouth back to hers, where it belonged. His tongue explored the inside of her mouth and she groaned his name as his hands tugged the hem of her skirt, drawing it up to her waist. A flood of damp heat rushed through her body, pooling between her legs, and she knew her panties were toast. Obliterated. With a swipe of his hand, he cleared the desk of all its clutter. He lifted her, stripping her of the sodden panties as he positioned her on the edge of the desk.

  She whimpered as he unclasped her bra and splayed his fingers over her bare breasts, squeezing them, molding them, rolling her nipples between his fingers. Her head fell back with a moan and she closed her eyes as his lips traced the curve of her chin, down her neck to the junction just above her collarbone. Teeth lightly scraped the skin on her throat. She gasped and opened her eyes. He broke contact with her skin. A flicker of apprehension flashed in his eyes. Genuine concern. It made her want him all the more. “Please, don’t stop.”

  As he fumbled with the buttons of his own shirt, she unzipped his fly and slid her hand inside his new trousers. Holy cow! She bit her bottom lip. Big. His cock trembled inside her clenched fist and her body reacted with another wave of damp heat. As if he’d understood her concern, he slipped a finger inside her, then a second, stretching her, teasing her, while his thumb strummed her throbbing clit. The pressure inside her built as the walls she’d erected to protect her heart came crashing down. Close. So close.

  “Inside me. Now,” she ordered, her hands gripping his firm buttocks, nails digging into his flesh. Drawing him to her.

  With a grunt, he laid her down on the desk, positioning himself between her legs. She wrapped her legs around his waist, hooking her ankles against the small of his back as she tilted her hips toward him. The tip of his cock tapped at her entrance and she knew she could deny him nothing. She dug her fingers into the soft, tight flesh of his buttocks, and with a thrust of her hips, she gave him no choice but to drive into her core. His groan encouraged her, thrilled her, and excited her. She held on for the ride as his flawlessly timed thrusts ignited nerves she’d forgotten existed, shattering her expectations into a million pieces.

  She arched her back, moaning h
er pleasure in short bursts of approval as a kaleidoscope of colors exploded behind her eyes.

  “Yes! Yes!”

  As another wave shook her body, she thrust out her chest, gasping when he sucked her right nipple into his mouth. The warmth of his breath. The swirl of his tongue. The nip of his teeth. She came in an explosion that obliterated him in the process. His body tensed as he groaned his release. His guttural moan reverberated over her breast as he shuddered, then flopped forward onto his elbows, breathless and physically wrecked.

  As she lay beneath him, stroking his damp flesh and trying to regulate her breathing, she noticed the scars on his body. Some quite old and faded. One large, still raw-looking scar stretching across half his mid-section. She gently touched her fingers to the wound, tracing it from end to end. At least four inches long.

  He grasped her hand, brought her fingers to his lips, and kissed them.

  “Not very pretty, is it?”

  “How did you get it?” she asked, suddenly aware of her own exposed skin and her own distinctive marks.

  “An old nemesis of Meaghan’s thought I would look better with my insides on the outside.” He paused for a moment and chuckled as if remembering a joke. She didn’t see the humor.

  “What about the others? The smaller, faded ones?” She slipped out from under him, gathering her clothes before scurrying to the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

  He called his answer from the other side of the door.

  “Gunshot wound on my shoulder, another knife wound to my right calf. The scar on my left knee is from surgery to my ACL. Too many tackles in my younger days.”

  He stepped back as she returned, dressed but still flushed with color from their recent strenuous activities. She opened her mouth to speak, closed it, and then took a deep breath.

  “Aren’t you going to mention my scars?”

  Reaching forward, he took her hands in his and shook his head.

  “Scars fade. Life goes on. You have a beautiful body. Don’t cover it because of a few scars.”

  A few? “I cover them so I can forget what happened to me.” She averted her eyes.

  He lifted her chin with his index finger, forcing her to face him. Forcing her to gaze into his beautiful green eyes.

  “Never forget. Never forgive. Turn your pain into anger and use it keep you safe, keep you focused. You’re a survivor. Never forget that. Think of those scars as badges of honor. You lived through horrors that the average Joe couldn’t comprehend. If you must let the marks define you, let it be as the strong, brave woman that you are.”

  Tears burned behind her eyes, blurring her vision, dampening her cheeks. He thinks I’m brave?

  Bang! They turned toward the door as another knock shook the very foundations of the building. Bang!

  “Get into the bathroom and lock the door!” he ordered as he pushed her into the room.

  ****

  Terry reached inside the secret drawer under his desk, retrieved his revolver, and tucked it into the jeans’ waistband behind his hip. Probably just a client, but no harm in being careful.

  He unlocked the front door and froze.

  A giant of a man stood in the doorway. His shoulders expanded the width of the frame, his head almost touching the top. Alabaster skin. Long, white-blonde hair tied in a ponytail. Piercing blue, cruel eyes that hinted his visit would not end on friendly terms. Shit! Another vampire!

  Before Terry had time to collect his thoughts, the vampire barged past him and into the main office, turning his head from side to side. “Where is David?”

  “What do you want with David?” Terry felt the weight of the gun in his belt but knew it wouldn’t buy him much time if the vampire attacked. He positioned himself between the man and the office door as he sent out a mental SOS.

  “None of your damned business,” the giant told him in no uncertain terms. He made a move toward the office, sniffing the air.

  Terry pulled out his revolver and pointed it at the man’s chest. Can’t let him near Susie.

  “Not another step, asshole!”

  The vampire glanced at the gun, then back at Terry. The corners of his mouth curled into a grin.

  “Really?”

  In a flash of speed, he snatched the gun from Terry’s hand and crushed it, dropping the pieces to the floor before grabbing Terry by the throat.

  “I want to see David Corel, now!” he bellowed as he lifted the detective off the ground.

  “Then turn around you, cantankerous bastard.”

  As he fell to the floor, Terry gasped for breath, sending his boss a telepathic message. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m glad to see you, Corel.”

  The vampires moved toward each other slowly. Terry planned his defense. Get Susie out of the building, break a piece of office furniture into a stake. He took another look at blondie, who towered above Corel. Put your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye.

  “I told you to wait for me in the carpark,” David reminded the other vampire as they gripped forearms in greeting. He motioned toward Terry with a tilt of his head. “Palmer here was preparing to stake you.”

  The vampire turned his head, dropping his chin and narrowing his eyebrows. His eyes stone-cold. “He can try.”

  Terry held out his hand in protest. “Thanks for the invitation, but I think I’ll give it a miss.” He raised himself off the ground and stood in the office doorframe, leaning against the wood.

  “He thinks he’s protecting someone in there.”

  David’s eyes widened. “Is Susie in there?”

  Terry nodded. “This … giant pounded on the door like he was trying to bring the building down. I told Susie to lock herself inside the bathroom.”

  “You’d better see if she’s all right.” David shooed him away with a wave of his hand but his expression showed real concern.

  “I’m … okay.”

  Susie stood behind him. More like cowered. Her body so close, he could feel her heart beating wildly in her chest.

  “I’m sorry, Susie,” David told her before punching the giant on his shoulder. “Nice work, Christoff. It’s her first day on the job and you almost scared the panties off her.”

  Christoff’s expression remained stoic. He sniffed the air again. “I think you’ll find her panties in the wastepaper bin.”

  Susie gasped.

  David’s mouth gaped open and his arms dropped by his sides. “Excuse me?”

  “Your employees”—Christoff motioned to Susie and Terry—“they’ve been fornicating on the desk. I hope that’s not your office.”

  “Oh, my God, oh, my God,” Susie squealed as she ran back to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

  “Who the fuck do you think you are?” Terry challenged, thrusting out his chest in the hope of looking at least a little intimidating. “How dare you embarrass her like that!”

  David stood between them.

  “I’m afraid my old friend Christoff hasn’t mastered social skills, nor does he have any filters.”

  He continued the conversation using their telepathic link. “Seriously, Palmer? You screwed her on the desk?”

  “It just … happened. It wasn’t her fault, Corel. Don’t punish her, punish me.”

  “Punish? Congratulate seems more appropriate. Both of you have been wound so tight, I was expecting you to self-combust. Seriously, though. It’s a big step for her to trust you. Don’t let her down.”

  Terry gazed over at Christoff who had wandered back into the hallway.

  “I have a feeling that your friend there may have driven our progress back a few steps. What the fuck is he doing here, anyway?”

  “We’ll discuss that later. I think it’s best if we leave. Christoff’s presence is only likely to worry Susie further.”

  Terry nodded. Biggest damn man he’d ever seen. “Sure. Later.”

  ****

  “They’re gone.”

  Susie tried to answer, but the words wouldn’t come.
She sat on the cold, tiled floor of the bathroom, leaning against the door, her hands still covering her face. If only the ground would open up and swallow her.

  “Susie? Are you okay?”

  “Are you sure they’re gone?” How could she face David after what that monster told him? She’d never been more humiliated and yet, worse than that, the huge vampire brought back the memories she’d tried so hard to forget.

  “Look. You can’t stay in there forever.”

  The cold tiles against her bare skin reminded her of the vampire’s statement. I think you’ll find her panties in the wastepaper bin.

  Can I die of embarrassment?

  “I need my handbag,” she told him, remembering that she always kept a spare pair of panties in case of menstrual emergencies.

  What was it that Mom always said? Make sure you’re always wearing a clean pair of panties in case you get hit by a bus. Or in Mom’s case, a semi-trailer. Unfortunately, clean panties would not have saved Mom or Dad. They were killed instantly, leaving an eighteen-year-old only child without parents, without a home, insurance, or any type of inheritance to support her while she grieved her loss. She cupped her hands to her face, trying to block out the memories that seemed to be flooding back. Why is this happening to me?

  The soft knock on wood shocked her back to reality.

  “Here’s your purse.”

  Slowly rising to her feet, she unlocked the door and opened it slightly, leaving only enough of a gap to allow Terry to pass her handbag. As she clutched the handle, he placed his hand over hers.

  “I’d never let anyone hurt you, honey. I promise.”

  “Please,” she whispered, “just give me a few more minutes to straighten myself up.”

  “Sure,” he said as she closed the door, locking it once again. “Take as much time as you need.”

  Time? She shook her head. How much time would it take to erase all the horrors of her past? The death of her parents. Patrick’s betrayal. The vile creatures who’d stolen her independence. What chance did she have while surrounded by their kind, day and night? A shiver ran through her body. If both David and the other vampire were here, it must be dark outside. Rummaging through her bag, she found the spare panties and wiggled into them, adjusting her skirt and smoothing out the wrinkles. She caught her reflection in the mirror and gasped. Pink splotches stained the pale skin on her neck. Love bites. She opened her blouse a little, noticing more marks on her breasts, a deeper color than her nipples. She thought of Terry. His mouth on her bare skin, sucking, nipping, pleasuring her beyond anything she’d ever experienced. Terry. The man who brought her back from the brink of despair. Who taught her how to trust. Who waited outside the bathroom door to escort her to dinner.