Dangerous Retaliation (The Harcourte Vampyre Society Book 4)

by Kelley, Morgan

  Flynn patted him on his shoulder. “Sure he can. He’s born a killer, and he fought hard to survive Delina. This is going to be a cake walk.”

  When Jacques was gone, Flynn wanted to be sick.

  That was a total lie.

  They were screwed.

  Mathew wasn’t ready.

  Not now, and likely not ever.

  And they were going to pay because of it. Damn the vampyres and their stupid rules.

  * * * H a r c o u r t e * * *

  Jolie gazed out from the bathroom’s balcony at the star filled night.

  She was rattled.

  Scared.

  Sick.

  Jolie didn't want to die, and she certainly didn't want to risk her children. But what choice did she really have?

  This wasn’t about being gung-ho or a hero. It was about doing what she’d promised centuries ago. Jolie vowed to do whatever it took to save her family, and this had to happen--despite what her gut and heart were screaming.

  “I won’t let you be harmed, little ones,” she whispered fiercely. “You’ll be born and cherished. I already love you both so much. Tonight, I’ll fight to keep you safe.”

  There had to be a way.

  Somehow, she’d find a way to keep Mathew from getting killed and herself from being injured.

  There had to be a way.

  She heard him before she saw him. Turning, Jolie found Jacques standing there.

  It looked like round two was about to begin.

  “Just say it and get it over with, Jacques.”

  “I love you. Please protect yourself and our children.”

  Jolie wasn’t expecting those words from him. It caught her off guard, and she closed her eyes. When she opened them, there were tears there. She’d been prepared to fight, but not to have him dump his emotions out on the table.

  “Oh, Jacques,” she said, rushing into his arms when he opened them. As always, he was sacrificing his heart for hers. It wasn’t lost on Jolie that he was a damn good man.

  “You can do this, Jolie. I have faith in you.”

  Jolie found that little tiny thread of peace, and she clung to it for dear life. “I love you too, and I’m sorry that this is the final option we have. You have to believe I wouldn’t risk them unless I had no other choice.”

  “Just go and come back safe. It’s all I ask. I can’t go on without you, Jolie. We’re depending on your tenacity.”

  Jolie rubbed her cheek against his chest. “I’m coming home, Jacques. I swear. We have too much to live for not to return,” she answered, touching her stomach.

  While it killed him, Jacques kept up the brave front. She’d never let him go into battle afraid, and he wouldn’t allow her to do it either.

  They were a team.

  A unit.

  A family.

  “Let’s get dressed. Before you head out, I’m going to take you for a moonlight walk through the gardens.” Jacques led her to their quarters and the closet.

  Since he was meeting her half way, she’d do the same. Jolie would gladly give him this.

  “Where’s Flynn?” she asked, wanting them both by her side.

  “He’s getting Mathew up to speed.”

  It was said with no emotion.

  Then he turned.

  “I need a promise.”

  Jolie paused from getting into her leather gear. “What?”

  “If it starts to go bad, and it’s you or him, please cut your losses and come home to us. As a guardian, he knows he should sacrifice himself for you.”

  Jolie stared at him. “Jacques.”

  “Please, Jolie. Just give me this. I’m on the edge.”

  She turned so that he couldn’t see her eyes. “Zip me, please,” she asked.

  When his hand shook, her heart broke. “I promise, Jacques.” Jolie knew it was a lie, and it was best he didn't see her eyes. Jacques could always tell when she was hiding the truth.

  “Thank you,” he whispered, resting a kiss on the side of her throat. “I needed to hear that.”

  She held out her hand. “How about that walk?”

  He was ready.

  Jacques had no choice. He had to let her go into this fight with only Mathew and her wits.

  Fate had decided for them.

  Outside, he led her to the garden. Only then did it occur to her that the last time they were there, she’d had a meltdown.

  “Oh, Jacques! Did I destroy Louisa’s memorial?”

  “Yes,” he answered honestly, wanting to see the new landscaping himself. He knew the gardeners came in and fixed the damage, making some improvements to her little haven.

  Jolie entered into the clearing and couldn’t believe her eyes. Everything was repaired and beautiful once again. Where the statue was once standing, a new monument was now erected and water tinkled out peacefully.

  They’d given her a fountain.

  Gone was the Goddess, and in its place was serenity.

  “Oh, Jacques! It’s amazing, but how?”

  “I’d like to take credit, but our Flynn handled this today while we were with death. He had the landscapers return and repair the damage,” he said, pulling her body gently against his own. “I think we should christen it,” he whispered, nipping at her throat.

  “Yes, we should. How could I skip that? This garden deserves some memories of love and beauty.”

  He braced for it. Jolie jumped, wrapping her long legs around his hips. With her hands, she buried them in his hair, so he was forced to stare into her eyes. “I love you. I’ll always love you, no matter where we travel in life. You’re my mate.”

  Her words touched him.

  Carrying Jolie across the grass, he found a corner of the clearing that called to him. “I think we should start here,” he growled, bringing her mouth hungrily to his own.

  Love erupted between them as it always did.

  Jacques wouldn’t let her go. Instead, he began devouring her in tiny bites and licks.

  Jolie shook in his arms. When he pressed her to the ground beneath him, she stared up into his eyes.

  Nothing was said.

  Then again, they’d loved each other a long time. Nothing was needed.

  Instead, her mouth sought his.

  Jolie teased him with her tongue and teeth, knowing it would drive him crazy. In that moment, there was nothing she wanted more than a frenetic bout of sex with one of the men she loved. Jolie slid her hands into his shirt and pulled, popping buttons and tearing silk. The sound enflamed both of them even more, as Jacques pressed her even deeper into the bed of flowers.

  “I need you, Jolie,” he growled, tearing at her clothing like a child trying to access his gifts on Christmas morning. When he had finally gotten her completely naked, he longingly stared down at her in the grass. Her fair flesh was surrounded by the pale white winter blooming jasmine and Christmas roses. “Jolie, your beauty always touches me,” he whispered to her in the flickering candle light.

  Jolie loved this man endlessly. “Just touch me, Jacques. Put your hands all over me. Help me forget what’s coming.”

  Jacques gave Jolie what she needed. With eager lips, he teased her creamy skin and full lush breasts.

  They called to the predator in him.

  While he tried to remain in control, there was a deep ache that only she could fill. It began in his gut and radiated outward. The anticipation of driving deep inside the wet warmth of her body called to him. As he lapped at her peaked nipples, Jolie shook beneath his body.

  “Jacques,” she moaned, a prisoner to his mouth and hands. Her fingers knotted in the black silkiness of his hair. “Mmmmm…”

  Jacques took a nipple between his lips as his fangs slid into his mouth. Biting down, he reveled in the flavor of her sweet blood. When she arched, he started sucking and making her wilder with each pull on her body.

  “Jacques, please,” she pleaded.

  He released her nipple and trailed kisses down her ribs to where their children were now j
ust beginning to form. He laid a kiss there and moved even lower to the wet heat that he desperately craved.

  She gasped.

  When he teased her breathlessly, she convulsed beneath his lips. Jacques continued to torment her by using his fingers. He couldn’t get enough, and her breathy little moans were making him crazy.

  It wasn’t easy to move slowly when the beast in him wanted to claim its mate.

  Jolie shook under his very eager mouth as the first wave of release ripped violently through her body. Jolie screamed his name before arching into the amazing ecstasy. The bright fragments of pleasure exploded around her as Jolie began falling away in a glittering wave.

  He never wanted to stop.

  “God, Jacques!” she whispered, as he crawled up her torso to continue his torment. He was licking his lips and smiling wickedly.

  “Mmmmm… you taste better than the finest wine, my love.”

  It was her turn to enjoy the moment.

  Pushing him off her body, Jolie reveled in the look of surprise on his face.

  “You didn’t think you’d be the only one who was going to feed some needs, did you?” Jolie whispered silkily in his ear as she climbed into his lap.

  “First, I need to feed, and then I’ll taste you inch by inch,” she stated, sliding her hand up his hard erection. When he threw back his head at her stroking, she struck, sinking her fangs deep into his throat. Once again, she found joy in the scent and taste of her mate. She buried her fingers in his shoulder length black hair and held him to her mouth.

  “Jolie, My God! You’re driving me wild,” he groaned, as she continued to stroke him as she fed. The sensation of the dual assault was making him crazy.

  Jolie pulled her mouth from his throat and roughly pushed him back. It was his turn to lie in the bed of flowers, as Jolie moved lower to his erection. It throbbed and twitched as she ran a finger down the length of him.

  “I won’t last if you continue,” Jacques hissed, through clenched teeth.

  “We’ll see,” she replied, taking him deep into her mouth. When Jolie began the torture of licking and teasing him, his body went taut. Slipping effortlessly into his mind, Jolie began inundating him with erotic pictures of them in frenzied mating. By the low growl answering her, she knew he was being pushed past his control.

  Moving to the pulsating head of his erection, Jolie swirled her tongue across the tip and knew he was close to losing his fight.

  The predator deep within his body screamed to hers.

  They both craved coming together to feed their mutual need.

  Jolie crawled across his body, watching his green eyes bleed black.

  “Jolie, please,” he whispered hoarsely. “NOW!”

  “Yes, Jacques,” she agreed, impaling herself on his erection. His hands went to her hips and began pulling her down in a frantic rhythm, forcing them both to the edge.

  There was a building heat in Jolie, but before she could utter another word, the fall began.

  Her mate pushed her over the edge.

  Everything around her went silent as she fought to stay coherent of her surroundings. When she could finally open her eyes again, Jolie found herself lying in Jacques’s arms as he spooned her lax body.

  “Jacques?” she asked. It was obvious that he didn't fall with her because his erection was throbbing against her back.

  He didn't speak.

  Instead, he attacked.

  While his mouth sought her throat to feed, his lower body found the wet, moist heat that called to him.

  She was trapped.

  Jolie struggled at first to move, but found herself pinned to the ground. The predator was loose, and she was the claimed prize.

  Jacques began working himself in and out of her body as he drank slowly from her. Need overcame everything in him.

  Jolie’s body absorbed his thrusts, and she could feel the heat rebuilding. When Jacques reached around to flick his fingers over her bundle of nerve endings, she convulsed and exploded in his arms.

  He waited for her to tumble, and with one hard thrust, he buried himself in her body. The eruption was so wild that he was forced to pull his fangs from her throat as he shouted in release.

  Jolie could barely catch her breath.

  Both lovers floated back into their bodies, as the colors died, the lights subsided, and breathing relaxed.

  “Did I hurt you?” he asked, instantly concerned after the pleasure started to dwindle.

  “No, you didn’t. I feel amazing, Jacques,” she admitted. His scent was all over her, and it offered Jolie so much peace. “Would it be wrong to just stay here the remainder of the night?”

  Jacques rolled over, tucking Jolie into his body. “That’s fine with me. We can stay right here until the sun comes up, my love. I’ll hold you and our children in my arms. In fact, we can call Flynn, and he can join us.”

  That sounded heavenly.

  “We could take turns having really hot sex,” he added, trying not to grin.

  Jolie slapped him on the shoulder. “You’re incorrigible.”

  “Why? If we both trapped you here in the garden, what do you think would happen? A tea party?” he asked, now grinning wickedly.

  She snorted.

  “I love you, Jolie.”

  “I love you too, Jacques. I’ll love you both forever--I swear,” she vowed, meaning every word.

  “Just return to me, mon amour.”

  Jolie caressed his cheek, but said nothing more. She wasn’t sure she really would.

  This was one hell of a gamble, and it was going to take everything she had to pull it off.

  God!

  She needed another miracle.

  ∞ Chapter Twenty ∞

  Sunday Late Evening

  Jolie stood with Clariel in her closet, staring at her reflection in the mirror. After her little romp with Jacques in the garden, she had to shower and redress for the evening’s events.

  For what was coming, she’d need help.

  Jolie had to go in carrying as many weapons as possible, if she was going to make it out alive. Plus, she wanted to spend some time with anyone but her mates. Each time she looked at them, there was fear and terror in her heart.

  What if she died?

  What if she lost the children?

  What if…?

  It was making her insane, so she opted to spend time with Clariel. Normally, the woman would distract her enough that she could get the job done.

  Or that’s what she hoped would happen.

  “You look good, Mistress,” Clariel stated, finishing her duty as dresser for the mistress.

  “I feel good,” she said, lying her ass off. In actuality, Jolie wanted to weep.

  “You’re upset. I can hear it in your voice.”

  Jolie stared at her, wondering if the woman had forgiven her for letting her mate get killed.

  “I’m fine.”

  Clariel moved closer, taking the mistress’s hand in hers. “When Trina died, you helped me heal. What’s bothering you, Mistress?”

  The dam broke.

  She told her everything, letting it purge from her in wave after wave of pain. The lesser vampyre didn't interrupt, but instead listen.

  When Jolie was done, Clariel finally broke her silence. “You’re not giving him enough credit. Mathew would fight to the death for you, Mistress. He loves you.”

  Yeah, that was part of the problem.

  “Trust him. He’s used to fighting to stay alive. You worry about you, and he’ll have your back.”

  Jolie sighed as Clariel moved her around. As she zipped the back of her snug leather shirt, she whispered in her ear. “You’ll be coming back, Mistress. You’re hard to kill. You have to believe in you too.”

  She needed this.

  “Thank you, Clariel,” she stated.

  “Now, you have a bigger thing to worry about,” Clariel admitted.

  Jolie turned, looking confused. “I do?”

  “Do they make leather mat
ernity clothes?” she inquired.

  “If not, you’ll have to wear pretty flowered ones that say ‘Baby on Board’.”

  She was horrified.

  “Are you trying to make me cry?” she asked.

  Clariel struggled to keep a straight face.

  “If that happens, I’ll take my own life,” Jolie admitted. “I can’t be some fat frumpy pregnant woman. I have two mates to keep happy.”

  She laughed. “Mistress, here’s a little newsflash. Master Jacques and Flynn would love you covered in mud and slime. I think some floral polyester in day-glow colors won’t deter them.”

  She stared open mouthed.

  “We should go. It’s time, Mistress.”

  When Clariel held out her hand, Jolie took it. She needed the reassurance. In her bedroom, there were four men waiting for her-two mates, a vampyre, and a human cop.

  Her life was definitely odd.

  She started to laugh.

  The men looked at her like she was crazy.

  “I’m ready,” she stated, knowing her mates were going to arm her to the nines. Flynn was holding two guns, and Jacques had a handful of silver daggers.

  “You look fierce, my love,” he stated.

  When he placed a gentle kiss on her lips, Jolie found a little calm to get her through what was coming.

  “Oh yeah, baby! You look like you plan on tearing someone to pieces,” offered Flynn.

  When he approached, she took his guns and tucked them in the back of her pants. As he tried to step back, she grabbed his arm.

  “What?” he asked.

  Forcefully, she pulled his mouth down to hers. When his arms wrapped around her body, lifting her from her toes, Jolie dove into one hell of a kiss.

  While everyone stared, she made love to her human mate’s mouth. When he moaned deep in his chest, only then did she set him free.

  “Holy shit,” he muttered, his eyes now dark blue-black and his fangs in his mouth. “What did I do to deserve that? I’m so doing it again and again.”

  As she was still pressed to his body, inches off the floor, she stared into his eyes. “That was for the garden, giving Jacques and I time together, and for being a really amazing man.”

  He wiggled his eyebrows. “You’re lucky to have me. I’m a catch.”