by Mara Leigh
Leaning over the balcony, I take in the baby vamp. She’s dressed like a nun, but I admire how her unconstrained tits bounce in opposition to the rest of her body, her nipples growing hard against the friction of her unflattering dress. She’s not a great dancer, but there’s something wild and free about how she moves to the music. I can’t keep my eyes off her.
The DJs keep the tracks here current most nights. Most vamps prefer to live in the present, un-nostalgic for their pasts. Not me. I’d give my left nut to go back to the London of the 1960s. Wild days those were… I should never have left.
I shake my head. I do miss that era, but if I could turn back time, I wouldn’t change a thing. If I’d stayed in London I’d be an old man now. Fuck that.
“Like what you see?”
I turn to find Malcolm beside me, a knowing grin on his mug. My friend knows exactly where I was looking.
“Whatever do you mean?” I straighten off the balustrade.
He chuckles. “Listen. I need a favor.”
“What kind of favor?”
“It involves the purple-haired baby.”
My eyes widen, making no attempt to hide my interest. “I’m listening.”
“Her name’s Selina. She lost her Maker before she was weaned. She needs to feed, but from someone I trust.”
“What makes you think you can trust me?” My cock throbs at the mere thought of shagging that pretty young thing. There are dozens of hot birds in the club tonight, always are, and I have lots of options beyond Kara who’s already offered, but it’s clear what my free-ranging dick wants. It wants Selina.
Chapter 15
Selina
Astrid leads me off the dance floor and through the lounge behind it. Then we pass through a set of sheer curtains.
Behind the curtains, we’re surrounded by sofas, in coverings as diverse as velvet and latex, and many are occupied by couples, couples and small groups of vampires engaged in… well, just about every sexual act I’ve ever imagined—and many I haven’t.
I don’t know where to look. To my right, a woman has a finger buried in the ass of a male whose penis is deep in the mouth of another male who’s being penetrated from behind by yet another. Their movements are inconceivably fast, just like some of the sex I saw in Xavier’s court, and yet somehow all four of them are working in tandem, like there’s another soundtrack playing at ten times the speed of the club’s thumping music.
To my right, a woman’s sitting on the lap of a man, riding his erection with such speed I know the motion is faster than the human eye could detect—and all the while, their fangs are dug into each other’s necks. How do they keep from ripping out each other’s throats?
Astrid leans over and whispers. “You okay?”
I nod. “I didn’t realize this was a… a sex club.” My nerves are threatening to overtake my driving need for blood.
“It’s not a sex club.” She smiles. “Not really. Sometimes people get carried away when they feed.”
“In public?”
Astrid chuckles. “This isn’t exactly what I’d call public. And see all the doors?”
I shift my focus to the walls, only then noticing the lounge is lined by dozens of doors.
“Each leads to a private room.”
“Oh.” Fear overtakes my thirst. Am I going to be alone in one of those rooms with a vampire I’ve just met? What if he tries to rape me while I’m feeding? Worse, what if I don’t want to stop him?
“There they are!” Astrid takes my hand and leads me across the room toward Malcolm, who’s standing with an elegant vampire in a business suit.
The vampire is white, with neatly trimmed sideburns, but no beard or mustache. His hair, thick and dark, is parted on the right, long on the top but shorter on the sides, and dark waves drape casually across one of his strong eyebrows. His appearance is relaxed, but at the same time intentionally put together. His fine-boned facial features, his posture and his clothes all combine to make him very refined. Sophisticated and out of another time. As a vampire, he undoubtedly is.
The vampire smiles as we approach, and his gaze washes deliciously over my body, making me want to touch him, touch myself. I clasp my hands behind my back.
“Hello,” he says in what sounds like a faint British accent. “You must be Selina.” He holds his hand toward me and bows slightly.
I release one of my hands to take his, but instead of shaking it, like I expect, he increases his bow and gently kisses the back of my fingers.
At the touch of his lips, a shockwave of electricity tightens the place between my legs and it radiates outward. I gasp.
He straightens and turns to Malcolm. “She’s utterly delightful.”
I gather my wits. “Nice to meet you, um, I didn’t catch your name.”
“Grayson Cumberland the fourth at your service.” He bows again.
I grin. I haven’t yet worked out whether his formal demeanor is real or mocking. I suspect it’s a little of both.
“Gray’s an old friend,” Malcolm tells me. “You’ll be in good hands.”
“The best.” He holds them in front of me, then he wiggles his index and middle fingers together, just slightly. Heat shoots through me again.
What is going on with my body?
“I’m just here to feed,” I say bluntly. “Nothing else.”
“Yes,” Astrid interjects. “Be good, Gray. A friend of ours is in love with Selina.”
In love? Joy rushes through me. Did Rock tell her that? Is it true or is she just saying that to make her point?
“Don’t worry, I will be, as ever, the consummate gentleman.” His clothes say gentleman, but the look he shoots me doesn’t. “And my vein is at your service, pet.”
I frown, unsure I like his mocking tone or condescending nickname, but then he bends toward me, inhales deeply and whispers against my ear, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll take very good care of you. I promise.” His breath snakes over my neck and into my hair, and my back undulates as if his hands are caressing my body.
My breasts grow heavy and sensitive, and I cross my arms over my chest, hoping to hide my obvious arousal.
“Shall we find a room?” Grayson asks, and panic clenches inside me.
I look at Astrid, who steps forward. “No private room, okay? Selina would rather stay where Malc and I can see you two.”
“Your wish is my command.” He grins, then reaches toward me. “Shall we?”
His long, manicured fingers beckon me, and I stare for what is probably too long before taking his extended hand.
Grayson lightly guides me across the room to a velvet couch in a dark corner. “Is this location acceptable?”
I turn back to see Astrid and Malcolm seated across the room in a spot with a clear view of us. They seem dangerously far away, but at this moment so does Grayson’s vein. I want it under my fangs. Now.
He sits on the sofa, then pats the cushion next to him. “Come on, pet. I won’t bite.” I sit and he leans over, his lips near my ear. “Not unless you invite me to.”
A shiver races through me, but I turn toward him and smile. “That’s not likely. Sorry.”
He leans back, stretching one arm along the arm of the sofa, the other along its back behind me. “No apologies required.” His deep blue eyes flash with mischief, intelligence and utter sexiness. “You’re the one in charge. How do you want me?”
Hard and fast and right now. Where did that thought come from? The only man I want is Rock.
But there’s something else I need from Grayson.
“I might…” I shake my head. “I’m not sure how this is done.”
He blinks in obvious surprise but it quickly changes to a soft delight. His hand traces down the side of my cheek, and I lean into his caress, marveling at how good it feels.
“Just tell me where you want my vein.” He tips his head to the side.
My chest rises and falls as I ponder what’s about to happen and how I can best keep things from seeming sex
ual.
“I promise to keep my hands to myself,” he says. “In fact, we can make sure of it.” He removes his deep red necktie and hands it to me. Standing, he removes his suit jacket and lays it carefully over the arm of a nearby chair, then he undoes the top few buttons of his shirt, stopping when he gets halfway down.
I try not to pant, unsure of how his removing his clothes is going to help him keep his hands to himself, but not wanting to stop him.
“Do you mind if I remove this garment?” he asks. “It’s Egyptian cotton, custom tailored. I’d rather not risk a bloodstain.”
“That’s fine.” My voice comes out hoarse and quiet. I’m so thirsty I could drink a gallon—of anything—but what I most want is Grayson’s blood, and as the moment draws near, my need grows even stronger. My fangs spring out, and a low growl rises from my throat.
“My goodness.” He smiles. “Someone’s getting impatient.” He turns, putting his arms behind his back and lifting them toward me. “Tie me up. Make sure I keep my hands to myself.”
Relief floods through me at his willingness to be tied up. I’m frightened by my out-of-control libido that wants this sexy vampire’s hands on me—and in me.
And I’m even more frightened by his desire. Desire that’s clear in his eyes.
With him tied up I’ll be the one in control. I can keep this all about feeding and ignore my misplaced lust. Hopefully the feeding will get rid of that longing, too.
As I bind his hands I fight the urge to lean into him, to rub my cheek on his strong body and feel the ridges of muscle that bunch when he pulls his hands back. He’s slender, but strong, and I long to trace my tongue over all the ridges that form his back and arms and neck.
When I finish, he tests my knot, demonstrating that he can’t pull his arms apart. Although I suspect he could if he really tried.
He turns toward me, a luscious smile on his lips, then returns to the sofa and sits, adjusting his arms behind him as he leans back. “This way okay? Or should I recline against the arm?” He nods to the side.
If he lies against the arm, I’ll have to lie down on top of him to reach his neck. In his current position, I can kneel beside him on the sofa. Seems safer than straddling him. “That looks fine.”
He nods, then exposes his vein.
Kneeling, I slide in close beside him. My heart is thumping out of control, and its beat mimics my overpowering urge to devour him in every way possible. A need that feels shameful and wrong, but at the same time so right.
Seeking support, I place my hand on his shoulder, and he sighs at the contact but doesn’t move.
My position might be less awkward if I straddled him, but his woolen pants are already straining to contain an obvious erection. I don’t want to lead him on or cause him any discomfort.
Leaving one hand on his shoulder, I cradle the back his head. His hair is soft and longer on the sides than it first looked and slicked back with some kind of gel, I realize as I thread my fingers through the curls. Slowly, I move my mouth close to his throat.
His blood is pounding, coursing underneath the surface and calling out to me as strongly as Pike’s did when I was starving.
I banish Pike from my thoughts and inhale, loving the smell, the spicy, fresh and incredibly male scent of Grayson. I lick his protruding vein.
Moaning, he adjusts his body, and his movement alarms me for a second, but he stays passive. Passive and yielding and utterly sexy.
I bite.
The instant my fangs dig into his skin I feel an ecstatic release. My entire body pulses with pleasure and a heightened hunger. Swallowing gulps so large they nearly choke me, I suck on the hot liquid that’s pouring from his vein and into my mouth and down my throat. My mind floats on a river of pure pleasure and joy.
Then power surges through my body, a power I’ve never felt before, my muscles tripling in size, nerves finding new pathways, brain building new synapses.
And all those feelings are nothing compared to what’s happening between my legs…
Gasping between gulps I realize the pressure against my sex isn’t my imagination. It’s his erection. In spite of my plans, I straddled Gray as I drank, and I’m rubbing his length with so much force I might crush him.
But instead of being crushed, he thrusts against me, meeting each of my undulations with equal force.
“Selina,” he groans. “Baby. You’d better slow down or you’ll suck me dry.”
I stop feeding. Releasing my fangs from his throat, I lick his wounds as they heal. But although I had enough control to stop feeding, I’m utterly unable to keep my hips from sliding, from grinding and pressing his thickness hard against my sex.
I’ve never felt like this. So powerful, so alive, so turned on.
I want Grayson. Now. I want him to fuck me, to use me however he wants and for as long as he wants. I want to use him, too.
Use him for more than I already have used him, that is. And boy did I use him. Every cell in my body is sparking with the power I found in his blood, and my sex is deriving unbelievable pleasure against his erection.
“Did you get your fill?” His voice is soft in my ear. “Because if you need more, if you permit me to feed from you—just a taste—then I’ll gain enough energy for you to take more.”
I hike up the hem of my dress so that my panties are in better contact with his ridge, and I thrust against him, rubbing up and down his length, loving how the head of his penis strikes each time I reach the top. No matter how long I keep this up, I’ll never get enough.
“Yes.” I pant. “Yes. Feed from me. Take whatever you need.”
In a flash, I’m on my back, his fangs against my neck and his pelvis grinding even more aggressively into my sex. Now he’s on top, the angle’s more direct and he strikes my clit with each hard stroke.
Pleasure grows inside. I’m going to come. I want to come.
He strokes his fangs along the side of my neck.
My orgasm explodes, sweeping me away as we grind our bodies together, but before I can ride out my climax, and before he can bite, it’s all over.
Gray’s body flies back from mine and topples over the other end of the sofa. Astrid stands over me, looking down with concern in her eyes.
“Shit, Gray.” Malcolm unties Gray’s hands as the latter kneels beyond the end of the sofa. “You said you wouldn’t. You promised.”
Gray looks into my eyes with so much intensity I feel like he’s actually inside me, and I squirm, wishing Malcolm and Astrid would vanish, wishing I’d opted for that private room. And most of all, wishing I could free Gray’s throbbing cock from his pants and thrust it inside me, right now.
I want that even more badly than I wanted his blood. But as we stare into each other’s eyes, his expression softens, grows less hungry, and my breathing slows, too.
“It’s okay,” I tell Astrid and Malcolm, while still looking at Gray. “I told him he could feed. He kept his promise. It’s not his fault.”
Gray licks his lips, his eyes half closing as if just this tongue on my skin was the best thing he’s ever tasted.
“Okay then,” Astrid says. “That was exciting.” She rolls her eyes looking at Gray. “Put that thing away, will you?”
Still on his knees, Gray adjusts himself. I hear a zipper and my insides cry as I rise to my knees, hoping for a better view, but I’m too late. I thought he’d been covered the whole time. Did I open his fly? His hands were tied. I must have.
I rise to my feet and sway, unused to the new power coursing inside me. Astrid steadies me.
“How about we go to the ladies’ to freshen up.” She puts her hand around my waist.
I follow her, more like stumble beside her, and the entire way I look over my shoulder, unable to take my eyes off Gray.
Selina
I lean against the ladies’ room counter, trying to get my heart rate and breathing back to normal. My underwear is soaked and I try to resist squirming, my arousal is still off the charts.
She rubs my shoulder. “I know, baby. But what just happened is perfectly normal.”
I draw long, sucking breaths, trying to return my body to a state that I recognize. Then I freeze, realizing what I said. I used the L word about Rock, and as crazy as it seems after knowing him such a short time, I meant it.
It doesn’t feel right that I told Astrid before telling Rock, but the idea of confessing my feelings to Rock sends another wave of anxiety coursing through me. I’ve already trusted him with my life. Can I trust him with my heart?
Everyone in my life who claimed to love me—my mother, the stepmonster, Xavier—they all hurt me in ways beyond belief. I don’t trust love.
Something is broken inside me, and what I just did with Gray proves it.
“How is this normal?” I ask Astrid. “I don’t even know Gray. I barely talked to him before we…before I…” I shake my head. “How did I get so out of control?”
She pulls me over to a chaise at the side of the room and we sit, her holding my hands. “Lots of people have strong reactions the first time they drink from a vampire who’s not their Maker, and…” She glances away.
“And what?” I prod. “I need to learn.”
She nods, looking me directly in the eyes. “Passion during feeding is common. It can build strong bonds.”
“So, now I’ve got some kind of bond with this guy?” I say the words with horror, but in truth it doesn’t sound so bad. I must still be under the effects of his blood.
She shakes her head. “What you’re feeling right now is lust. It will wear off.” She bites her lower lip. “But…”
“But what?”
“I’ve never seen Gray like that before. That’s why we chose him for you. Over the decades, I’ve seen him with plenty of women and a few men, too. He’s popular. He can get anyone he wants, but I’ve never seen him so…so utterly absorbed.”
I try to hide how happy her words make me. I wish I could hide it from myself.
