H.U.M.A.N.S (The Veiled World Book 1)

by Susan Reid

  Blood began to ooze and bubble up around my fingertips and both the vision and smell made me beyond ravenous. I was drooling like an infant now. Not only could I taste it in the back of my throat, I could hear the blood rushing through his veins in his desperate fight for survival and it literally drove me insane.

  He howled and writhed wildly, grabbing onto my wrist in an attempt to break my entire arm. His blood was cold and it felt like liquid silk. I fought against the urge to lick and suck on each of my fingertips, wanting to just end this fight right now.

  With my katana still in my grip, I swung it around and held it over his face with the blade pointing downward. I stabbed down directly into one eye to blind him. He screeched and began to tremble, fighting harder. I stood, withdrawing and bringing my katana across his neck in one clean stroke and watching as his head rolled slightly to the right. His face was still frozen in confused horror and his mouth moved like a fish out of water, gasping for its last breath.

  It was time to quickly burn all of the remains.

  Someone suddenly grabbed my arm, whirling me around forcefully.

  I brought my katana up, ready to slash until I recognized he preternaturally darkened face of Gage.

  Though a sheen of sweat glistened on his skin, there was hardly any trace of blood on his face except for a few dark smears around his lips and chin.

  Without a word, his hands reached around my neck pulling me up to his face —and then he forcefully kissed me, open-mouthed to create a seal around my lips with his.

  Allowing a flood of the still cold yet faintly warm, tantalizingly sweet flavor to rush into my mouth and coat my tongue, I recoiled when I quickly realized what he was doing at first.

  He was force feeding me as if I were a baby bird.

  I wanted to gag, disgusted and angry…and I should have but my reaction was the total and complete opposite.

  Son of a bitch! I didn’t want this! I can’t know the taste…

  I tried to push him away but he constrained me against him, his tongue swirling around to share the blood while exploring sensually as I drank. Even when it was gone, the flavor still lingered and I found myself sucking on his tongue for more. Once our fangs began to retract, the act became a more sensual and erotic kiss. How we managed not to bite through one another’s lips or gums was beyond me.

  Between the kiss and him giving me exactly what I’ve been trying to avoid but craving like crazy, I whimpered and moaned in both surrender and satisfaction.

  He wouldn’t let me go until I savored all of it and after a while, I had my arms around his neck, pulling him firmly to me to make sure that I had taken every last drop.

  The foreign and unique experience was full of passion and all I could think about was tearing off his clothes and doing him right here in the alley. He was an incredible kisser, which was a really good prelude as to just how good he was in bed.

  Didn’t he realize what he was doing to me? I could only imagine what having sex right after this would be like with him, it was something else that I had to have as much as this feed. Is that was he was trying to get me to want?

  I pulled back but he lingered, sucking on my bottom lip. I was breathless and fully turned on. I wouldn’t doubt that he was too...in fact, I know he was. He was still panting when we completely broke from the kiss. His sporadic man-handling of me and the way he shared my first taste of Nocturna blood strangely made me want him even more. He’ll be the only and the absolute last male to ever take that tact with me though.

  “Never play with or waste food, Tigress.” He whispered.

  Chapter 18

  Tigress.

  He already had a nickname for me and I would let him get away with that too. I actually liked it.

  Realizing why the girls carried such big purses, even just to carry the extra blood, didn’t really make sense to me until they whipped out portable, sophisticated blood collection kits and got to work. Gage had them trained like pet nurses. They used bottles, tubes, syringes, and pumps to collect as much blood from the three Nocturna as they could. A lot of blood came from the heart, which Gage squeezed into a funnel over a wine bottle. So that was why he ripped it out.

  Thank God.

  I could stomach the feed eventually but I refused to watch him scarf down a raw Nocturna heart.

  When we were done, we dumped the bodies and body parts into the dumpster and set it on fire, closing the lid so that it would die out on its own.

  The insane hunger had finally been quelled and now…I wanted nothing more than a really good fuck.

  I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what he was waiting on next.

  The ride back to his temporary abode was pretty quiet, initially. The girls were no longer looking at me with envious curiosity, it was more like a fond reverence now. With Gage, the chemistry that I was feeling simply because he was a hunter too had turned into a quickly growing flame that I didn’t want to ignore.

  “Not bad for the first hunt. You’re vicious, more of an aggressive fighter than a protective guardian.” He was smiling and his eyes were a subtle mixture of periwinkle and pewter, though swirling with power.

  “What’s the difference?”

  “Guardians remain on the defensive and fight to the death only when provoked or necessary. You strike me as an extremely skilled and violent assassin.”

  I smiled this time. “Is that a bad thing?”

  “It’s a surprising thing.”

  “Is that why you called me Tigress?”

  He laughed softly. “Partly. Seeing you fight was both arousing and entertaining but watching you do everything to avoid the feed quickly began to piss me off.”

  “So you forced it down my throat?”

  “I didn’t have to force anything once you opened your mouth and tasted it.”

  I bit my lip and blushed, desire beginning to stir wildly.

  How he managed to easily have this effect on me was getting frustrating.

  “Did I satisfy the majority of your questions and curiosities tonight?”

  “Almost.”

  He grinned because he knew exactly what I was inferring.

  “How long before humans discover any trace evidence?”

  “They won’t. As long as you make sure that you leave none alive, the balance and system works. Just clean up after yourself the way you’ve always done it.”

  “That one that almost got away from you knew what you were. He saw you attack and feed, which is why he called you a cannibal. How long had you been after him?”

  “Not long but I got him in the end and that’s all that matters. The universe is a very large place though and I haven’t survived this long constantly worrying about being a target.”

  “They could be flushing you out too, you know. Sending in bait just like you’re doing.”

  He nodded. “I wouldn’t doubt that possibility for a second.”

  I guess that’s why he moves around a lot. No wonder the girls had to be thin or at least fit and in shape, in case they may need to temporarily hold their own, or run, and then be able to assist with the blood collecting in the midst of a deadly fight. My intense attraction suddenly included the want and need to protect him. It was part of my hunter and guardian mentality, which I’m sure he understood.

  I tried not to think about the fact that he had a wife and a daughter again. They obviously still meant the world to him, which they should, always. It was going to be a long and lonely ride back home to the island but if I messaged Marq for a late-night booty call on my way back, I know that he’d be there waiting for me when I got home.

  “Fernando can just go ahead and drop me off at the same point where we met.” I told him once we stopped in front of his house and the door opened.

  The girls climbed out but Gage remained.

  “You’re leaving?” He asked as if he assumed that I’d be staying the night.

  Well, after that kiss, or exchange, or whatever it was that we shared, deep down I really didn’t
want to.

  “It’s getting late.”

  “Boyfriend?” He had a slight grin on his face.

  I hesitated, taken off guard by his automatic insinuation.

  Marq wasn’t really a boyfriend and he also wasn’t the reason I needed to head back either.

  “No.”

  He playfully narrowed his eyes at me. “That really surprises me.”

  “Well, he’s not really a boyfriend.” I admitted guiltily.

  He nodded and laughed. “Just as I thought. If you want to at least shower first, you’re more than welcome. There’s plenty of new clothes about your size already here. I’m sure the girls will have something for you to change into afterwards. However, don’t feel the need to have to leave so soon, I do have several spare bedrooms and I don’t mind taking you back myself in the morning after breakfast.”

  I was stunned by his forward offer. No doubt he was setting up the scene and the opportunity…and I was walking right into it, hook, line, and sinker.

  Thinking of an excuse to not make it so obvious I replied, “Well, maybe a shower might be a good idea.” I finally agreed, not wanting the scent of any Nocturna blood to linger on me when I went back home.

  I was completely refreshed when I stepped out of the immaculate shower. Hair still damp and wrapped in a towel, I peered out of the bathroom door and scanned each end of the hallway.

  Where were the clothes Gage mentioned?

  Next to the bathroom door on my left, in an ornately carved chair, I spied a brand new, thigh- length, silk camisole and a pair of white lace panties. They both still had tags on them and were neatly folded and waiting for me.

  The camisole alone was $120. I found it lame that he was probably trying to impress me even more by purposefully leaving the price tag on. Besides, how in the world was this a complete change of clothes or even normal casual sleeping attire for a guest? This was lingerie for a hot and sexy evening.

  There was a confusing tug of war going on inside of me while I gaped down at the nightgown. One side being full on naughty lust and desire and the other being my rational good sense.

  A different girl rounded the corner with a duffel bag that I assumed were for my other clothes and items. She was smiling when she gestured to the camisole and panties.

  “¿Está bien, su tamaño? Señor Gage me pidió preparar un cuarto para usted. Está listo, de esta manera. Voy a limpiar tu otra ropa para usted también.” She held a hand out in the direction of the dim, cozy hallway where three closed doors lined each side behind her.

  Oh, so he was assuming I would decide to stay after all, huh? Not like I was going home in that nightgown anyway. I do admit that I was getting sleepy and even the thought of heading back home right now made me even more tired.

  I sighed, “Está bien. No tienes que lavar la ropa. Podrá ser vestida en un minuto.” I told her with a hand out so that she could hand me the duffel bag.

  The guest room was gorgeous and dust free. A sheer, cream colored canopy was draped over the head of a queen-sized poster bed that was covered in an expensive, luxurious red and gold duvet. Next to the bed on the nightstand, was a slender champagne glass filled with dark liquid on a small silver platter with a note that simply read: Nightcap.

  I was hesitant but I couldn’t help the smile that began to slowly spread across my face. Something about Gage was different from the males that I was used to and I wasn’t sure what to make of him.

  I stood in the full-length mirror next to a dark cherry oak armoire and lifted the camisole. All traces of the bite and scratches were completely gone and my skin was brand new again.

  Staring at my reflection, I examined my eyes. They did resemble that of a tiger; rich amber with red and gold flecks and a natural dark lining around each almond shaped eye beneath my dark lashes. It was almost as if the tiger part of me were becoming more prominent, which means that Cole would definitely be able to tell right away before any of the others did.

  How was I going to explain this?

  “So you decided to stay?” Gage asked from behind me.

  I jumped slightly and turned to see…Oh hell.

  I don’t think a diamond could have been cut any better than he was, standing there in nothing more than a pair of dark blue pajama bottoms that hung loose around his waist. He was lean muscled, not bulky, and his skin was flawless, a perfect light sun-kissed shade.

  He must have simply teleported into the room. The door was still closed and I didn’t hear him open it. He was really dangerous the more I thought about it. Who knew how long he had been standing there checking me out before speaking. . . and why hadn’t I detected his presence come to think of it?

  “Thanks to your insistence — or your charming magic that you probably put on me when I wasn’t looking.” I narrowed my eyes at him.

  He flashed a dazzling smile.

  “I wouldn’t do that to you.”

  I pursed my lips and nodded. “Right. Is this your usual bedtime?”

  He was staring at me and not being shy about it at all as his gorgeous eyes roved over every inch of my body with a naughty sparkle. “Typically.”

  The air in between us began to grow warmer. I couldn’t stop myself from admiring his body either as he casually moved closer to me.

  “So, you’ve had a chance to eat, expend the building aggression in battle, and now…” He seductively lingered.

  An intense surge of passion burst in my core, rippling and spreading quickly down into my groin and breasts at just the thought of exactly what he was suggesting.

  Having his body grinding naked against mine was a powerful image and temptation that was slowly winning the tug of war.

  I sighed painfully because if it were up to just me, without thinking or even knowing about his family, then we’d be tearing up that bed, the floor, and the walls right now.

  “Gage, you already know that I’m incredibly attracted to you, so I won’t even try to lie about that.”

  “Good because I haven’t had to exercise this level of self-control in a very-long-time.”

  I gasped. That was all he said before he pulled me to him, his arms encircling me, holding me crushed against his hard body. I didn’t even see him move. His lips came down on mine firmly and they were warm and sweet, feeling like the softest velvet. The insistent probe of his sensuous tongue as it slipped into my mouth completely dominated mine. The combination of his scent, his hands all over the small of my back, hips, and ass had completely rendered my legs weak, quivering, and useless. I fell weakly into him for support.

  His rock solid arousal pressed urgently into my lower abdomen and then I was being lifted up off the ground.

  Hell yes, I was going to kiss him back. I’d be crazy to resist anyone who could kiss like he could.

  The soft, plush duvet was against my back and Gage was already on me, my panties slowly inching their way down as his hands explored without inhibition.

  Moaning and gasping, I pressed my hands against his chest …and forced him back.

  His eyes were steadily morphing back and forth from bright and dark the more aroused he became. He was breathing heavily in both anticipation and need. Thinking this was a teasing game of mine, he went for my mouth again.

  “No. I don’t wanna do this.” I murmured into his mouth, turning my head away from him.

  He ignored my words, continuing to suck on my neck. The tip of his warm tongue flicked teasingly against my skin as his warm hand slid down past my stomach, cupping me and skillfully working his fingers. I arched upwards with a lustful wail.

  He groaned softly close to my ear once his fingers began to eagerly explore anxiously, no doubt a fan of the full Brazilian.

  Shut up, Kai. Just let this happen!

  How he managed to have my toes curling already was deliciously amazing.

  “This is a bad idea.” I breathlessly insisted with another forceful shove against the rock hard, muscular pectorals of his bare chest. I gripped his wrist to stop his expe
rt manipulation of every single, sensitive nerve ending between my legs. His heart was racing beneath my fingertips but that aggressive resistance on my part had finally gained his attention. He stopped, looking down at me in confusion.

  “Your mouth is telling me one thing but your body…”

  “Ignore my body for now.”

  He smiled impishly and whispered, “That’s impossible.”

  I bit my bottom lip. “Seriously.”

  Dejectedly, he sighed, trying to read something in my eyes other than what I was saying. Then he took his time slowly rolling off of me and sitting up.

  Glancing down at the straining and very remarkable erection that he was working with made me shiver with excitement and anticipation but my brain was at war with my hormones.

  “Believe me, it isn’t because I don’t want to.”

  Confused and incredulous was soon replaced by an expression of frustration on his face. “You say you don’t want to do this and now you’re saying that it isn’t because you don’t want to?”

  I sat up too, frustrated with myself as I shimmied the camisole back down over my near nakedness. I caught him taking in every last inch of my bare breasts, stomach, and thighs as I did. His gaze alone was powerfully alluring enough to make me give in to him but I couldn’t.

  Wearing this and staying the night was probably not a good idea after all and I take blame for the decision.

  “I’d like to think that we could make a great team, especially now. We should probably just leave it at that. I don’t want to add sex into the equation.” I semi-lied.

  His brows rose and he seemed offended. “You’re joking, right?”

  Was he joking? Did he assume that it would be? That I would be game and okay with it? Well, yeah I guess I would have been if he weren’t married.

  I could make a good guess that Gage was probably used to getting any woman at any time that he wanted. I was beginning to think that this definitely wasn’t his first encounter with a female other than his wife, too. Why would it be? He’s a guy, he’s hot, and even being half-hunter and half-Nocturna the needs of the male species never seemed to deviate from the natural urge.