Love Me to Death (Underveil)

by Marissa Clarke

  Elena unbuttoned his shirt.

  Questions that could wait…

  Then, she pulled down his pants, and he stepped out of them.

  Yeah. Questions that could wait a long time…

  And ran her hands down the outside of his thighs.

  A really long time…

  She trailed her hands back up to his waist again.

  …What questions?

  “Step in,” she said, picking up a bottle of soap.

  The warm water lapping over his skin was heaven. So was having his hair shampooed by possibly the most beautiful woman in the world. With unguarded appreciation, she helped him soap his entire body, and then after he rinsed, she drained the tub and refilled it with fresh, clear water. “How are your hands?”

  “What hands?”

  Her gaze trailed down his body, pausing at his cock, which had been rock hard since she appeared in his cell. “Yeah, what hands?” she repeated.

  They stared into each other’s eyes for a moment, and her brow furrowed.

  “Nik, I didn’t abandon you to—”

  “Stop. We’ll have centuries to talk about this. Right now, I need your hands on me. If you don’t touch me, I might go mad.”

  Turning her back to him, she untied the halter, which slipped to her feet, exposing her pale skin. His cock pulsed and he groaned. There were moments in that cell, when weakness would prevail and he’d contemplate never seeing her again—never hearing her laugh or touching her smooth, soft skin. But, just before he would allow the negativity to pull him under, he’d remember just how strong and smart she was. Somehow, he always knew she’d find a way to free him, and together they’d defeat Fydor.

  She slipped off her pants, and it took all he had not to touch himself to relieve the ache at the sight of her round, perfect ass—an ass he needed to get his hands on immediately, now that they had feeling again. Then she turned, and his breath caught. A fresh set of markings ran from under her breasts to her navel. Mesmerized, he couldn’t take his eyes off the new hieroglyphs. “What do they say?”

  “They say, I need you inside me right now, Nik. That my body is on fire for you.” She pulled the drain on the tub and stepped in, with a slender foot on either side of his waist and crouched over him. “That I missed you.” She took him in hand and positioned him, and in one movement, pushed down, taking him fully inside her body. His entire world tilted. The overwhelming heat and tightness of her—the rightness of her—took his breath away.

  Gripping the edge of the tub, he almost came on the spot. Simply being inside her made all the suffering of the last days worthwhile. Remaining absolutely silent, he took a shuddering breath through his nose and stared into her fascinating purple eyes.

  “You are very, very quiet, Nik.” Her teasing grin made him even harder. “Bear got your tongue?”

  “Empaths,” he whispered.

  “All gone.” She put her hands on his shoulders and rocked forward, then back, taking him even deeper. Then did it again. “Vlad relocated them for a few days. Feel free to shout my name at any time now.” She increased her speed, and he placed his hands on her thighs, loving the feel of her muscles flexing as she rode him.

  “My God.”

  “Elena is sufficient.” Faster still, she moved, breasts bouncing as her body slapped against his in the wet tub. “Missed you,” she said in a strained voice.

  Missing her didn’t begin to cover it. He loved her. Needed her like he needed air. She threw her head back and ground against him even harder until he was barely hanging on by a thread, his whole body humming with energy and pleasure. Nothing could be this right. “Need you to come,” she whispered.

  No problem there. When he felt the waves of her climax begin, he grabbed her ass and pulled her down against him, driving up as hard as he could, joining her. And, yes, even shouting her name.

  Elena popped another grape in her mouth while Nik finished off his second steak. “Nothing like room service,” she said.

  Obviously, if he had thought she’d betrayed him, he was well over it based on his reaction to her and his repeated promises to make love to her all day and night until they returned to the fortress to take on Fydor.

  His color had returned, and the injuries were fading to white scars. As she lay on the bed next to him, it was hard to recall her life before he entered it. Her memories of it since were frighteningly clear, though. Vlad had been right: perfect recall was more of a curse than a gift. It was much easier to justify actions when bias was involved. When she recalled Nik taking her prisoner now, she no longer saw it with the self-righteous indignation of a human being ripped from her life; she saw his side, too. A confused, betrayed Slayer wanting revenge for the death of a man he loved. He had never hated her. He had hated vampires—a gift from his uncle.

  Part of her hoped this ability would fade soon. Another knew that as Uniter, it would serve her well to see all sides. It was like mind reading, actually… just after the fact.

  “Your thoughts are far away,” he said, standing to place the tray on the floor next to the bed.

  “Right here with you.” He needed rest to heal completely. “You should sleep.”

  The look that crossed his face made her toes curl. Obviously, sleeping was not on the agenda, which suited her just fine.

  “Lose the towel before I lose my mind,” he said, completely naked, staring down at her from the other side of the bed. She pulled it off and pitched it on the floor, marveling at his beautiful, chiseled body. Even after extreme abuse in that cell, it had bounced back to its original, powerful, drool-worthy form. Wide shoulders, narrow hips. Mmm…

  He scanned her body, stopping on the markings on her ribs and belly. “What do they say?”

  She wanted tell him, but the timing was wrong. There were too many variables, and seeing backward had given her clear insight into his motives. She now knew that all those times he’d acted like an overbearing ass, he’d only been trying to protect her. Keeping her safe had been his top priority, and would continue to be. If he knew about the baby, he’d be so distracted by protecting her and his child that he’d be less effective. In order to defeat Fydor, he needed to be in top form. So did she. Telling him about the baby would have to wait. She needed his blood, so she needed him rested and strong.

  “I’ll tell you only after you’re a good boy and get some sleep.”

  Like a powerful predator, he climbed onto the bed and loomed over her. “I’ll show you good.” He grabbed her and pulled her to the center of the bed, pushing her to her back. She giggled. “I’ll show you great,” he said, pinning her arms over her head.

  She didn’t fight him, but simply watched in amazement as he took total control. No snow, no cord, no fear—other than a tiny tinge of anxiety over his reception to her news. But that could wait. Right now, she needed this and so did he.

  “In fact, I’ll show you stars, Elena Arcos.” Arms still pinned above her head, he shoved her legs apart with his knees and settled his body over hers. His weight felt amazing as it pushed her into the soft mattress. She was completely pinned and possessed, and she loved it. She loved him.

  “Nik, I—”

  He cut her off with a searing kiss that took her breath away. No gentle lead in. He angled his mouth over hers and was relentless, coaxing, stroking her tongue with his, nipping her bottom lip, all the while his body rocked in a rhythm letting her know exactly what he planned. But not yet.

  “I’m going to kiss you all over your incredible body, and after you come at least twice, I’m going to fuck you so hard we both have to sleep in order to recuperate.”

  “Using only your mouth or your hand this time?”

  A cocky smile caused his dimple to show. “Baby, this time, I’m going to use my whole body.”

  Her mind and her newly immortal body rejoiced, anticipation zinging through her, as he moved down, kissing a hot trail from her breasts to her navel to the place where she needed him most. And after she’d come twice, as pr
escribed, he finally covered her body with his and pushed his hard, hot length inside her, filling her completely, but only making the longing stronger.

  “Yes,” she murmured. “Nik, please.”

  He lowered onto his elbows and took her earlobe between his teeth. “Tell me what the markings say.”

  No. Not this. Not now. She wrapped her legs around his waist and angled up to take him deeper and fill the ache. He reacted with a gratifying thrust. She groaned, and he did it again. Soon, he was pumping into her in a rhythm that was sure to put her over the edge, their sweat slicked bodies sliding against each other as he twined his fingers into her hair. She unwound her legs from around his body and dug her heels into the bed, meeting his thrusts, and right as she reached that edge, he stopped.

  What the hell? She thrust up and he didn’t react. Opening her eyes, she found him staring down at her. Sweat beading on his forehead, expression grim.

  “Tell me,” he said, voice strained.

  “After you sleep.”

  “Now.”

  “After we finish.”

  “Now.”

  An involuntary tear trailed from the corner of her eye down her temple. He brushed it away with his thumb. He deserved to know. Maybe they could take up where they left off later, depending on how he took the news. “I’m pregnant.” She straightened her legs, half expecting him to pull out. Instead, he remained perfectly still, hard and hot inside her.

  His brow furrowed. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” When he didn’t respond, she added, “You don’t look happy.”

  “I’m confused. This is physically impossible. How do you know?”

  “Stefan read the glyphs…and I’m late.”

  When he still didn’t react, her heart ached like it had shattered. She didn’t know what she had expected, but this wasn’t it. She felt helpless pinned beneath him, his body still inside hers. She needed to get away.

  And then he moved: a long, slow withdrawal, followed by a strong push back to bury himself deep inside her. A beautiful, brilliant smile lit his face. “You have just made me the happiest man on this planet. Or any other, for that matter.”

  Her head reeled. The man never failed to surprise her. Good thing they had centuries, so she could get a chance to figure him out. “Really?”

  He thrust again, harder this time. “Really.”

  Twining her fingers in his hair, she pulled him down for a kiss, and he increased the tempo of his body and kissed her like he’d die if they stopped. She raked her nails down his back, and he groaned, then froze. “I can’t hurt you, can I? I mean, the baby and all.”

  She almost laughed, but bit her lip instead. “Only if you stop.”

  “Well, we can’t have that, can we?”

  She dug her heels into the mattress again and met him thrust for thrust until the bed creaked like it was going to break apart.

  She needed more. Something else, but he needed rest.

  “Do it, Elena, I can’t hold out much longer. Bite me.”

  He knew. Her fangs elongated, and she arched up, burying them in his skin, his rich blood filling her mouth, and she came instantly. He’d made good on his promise to make her see stars.

  “Yes,” he groaned. His body stilled as he pulsed inside her, riding his own waves of passion while her orgasm seemed to stretch on and on, pulling her fear and anxiety away with it as it started to fade.

  “Nik,” she whispered, tremors finally easing.

  “Yes, say it again.”

  “Nik.”

  “Once more.”

  “I love you, Nikolai Itzov.”

  His gold eyes seemed to glow as they bored into hers. “And I love you, Elena Arcos.”

  He rolled off and pulled her against his hard body. Never had she felt this relaxed and complete. This man, this child, this world. If they survived the next few days, they had a real future. “I thought Slayers didn’t love.”

  “So did I.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  The woman in the vision had black hair and gold eyes. Her face showed no fear whatsoever as a man in a uniform like Claude’s lit the wood piled beneath and around her. She didn’t struggle against the chains, nor did she cry out as the flames danced all around the stake to which she was bound. “Forgive me, Queen Tatiana,” the man said, backing away.

  Shit. It was Nik’s mother.

  Elena rolled over in the bed and ran her hand over Nik’s smooth chest, and he smiled. “Again, so soon? You’re relentless.” He shifted to face her. “I like it.” His smile faded as he studied her. “Something’s wrong.”

  “Yes, I…” How do you tell someone his mother is going to be burned alive? She swallowed and took a deep breath. By being straightforward and putting it out there. That’s what she would want were the tables reversed. “I had a vision. Your mother’s name is Tatiana, right?” He didn’t react, but she already knew the answer. “She is going to be…” It was harder than expected. “Fydor is going to…” Another breath. “I saw her burning at the stake. I’m so sorry.”

  Deliberately and slowly, he sat up and swung his feet over the side of the bed. “I must go.”

  She mirrored his motions. The floor was cold under her bare feet. “I’ll come with you.”

  “No!” His response was so immediate and forceful that she flinched. “You will stay here where you’re safe.”

  His reaction didn’t surprise her, but it rankled just the same. Charge tingled in her palms. She closed her eyes and willed the current to subside. Seeing the past with Vlad’s “gift” had given her a much better understanding of his Slayer mentality, and she knew the best way to deal with him was to not strip him of control.

  Without arguing, which was a close to impossible feat, she padded to the bathroom and pulled on her clothes. He couldn’t stop her from going, so feuding with him was a waste of time and energy.

  He was still naked when she returned to the bedroom, pacing like a caged lion. Leaning against the doorframe, she watched him until he stopped abruptly and ran his hands through his hair. “I need your help,” he said.

  Well, what do you know? He came around to reason a lot faster than expected. “Okay.”

  “I need you to go find me some clothes. Mine are destroyed for the most part.”

  So much for reason. “I’ll do it if I can come with you and help you get your mother out of there.”

  “No.” He opened the door and disappeared into the hallway.

  Well, that worked great. Yeah. Awesome. Way to be reasonable, Nik. She sighed and followed him. No sign of him anywhere, but as she neared the great hall where she had first arrived, male voices fell silent, and in an old-fashioned gesture, Vlad stood. Two men dressed in brown, hooded cloaks seated at the table also rose. Empath vampires. She intentionally calmed her emotions. Surely Nik wouldn’t teleport out to save his mother naked.

  “One would hope not,” Vlad said.

  “Do you know where he is?”

  He closed his eyes, then after several moments, shook his head. “None of my staff have seen him… Oh, wait.” He smiled and opened his eyes. “My cook thinks he has a nice ass.”

  She wasn’t sure whether to be amused or jealous, but she knew to keep her emotions in check. “So, he’s in the kitchen?”

  “Was. Would you like to join us?” He gestured to the two men at the table, who like him, were still standing.

  “No, thank you.” She didn’t want to join them. She wanted to join Nik before he zapped out on a suicide mission to rescue his mother.

  He gestured to the chair to his right. “Please sit. What we are discussing involves you.” When she hesitated, he held his hand out. She could totally see him fitting in centuries ago in a more formal society. “Please, Elena. He cannot ‘zap’ anywhere without me. The entire mountain is secured to where no one can teleport without possessing something of my person.”

  And what the hell did that mean? “I teleported to go get him out of that cell.”

&nb
sp; “Yes, you were in possession of something of my body.”

  His blood.

  “Yes.” He wiggled his fingers and she placed her hand in his. With a gentle tug, he pulled her to the chair next to him. Once she sat, the others did, too, which was weird, but oddly flattering.

  “Several of the Underveil factions have already mobilized. Sending the dungeon prisoners as emissaries was an excellent idea.”

  It had been Aleksi’s idea. Elena wondered how she was faring. Her chest ached when she thought of how she’d found her tied to the bed, coated in blood. That memory, though, didn’t present an alternative interpretation of Fydor’s character thanks to Vlad’s gift of seeing the past with unbiased clarity. Nothing but rage and fear of Borya colored Fydor’s actions, which in some ways helped. Discovering any sympathetic or redeeming traits in the man would make it harder to do what she had to do.

  “Most of the Underveil factions have mobilized and will be poised to strike once it’s dark,” he continued. “The wood elves and some of the shifter groups are still siding with Fydor’s revolutionist movement, but the rest have taken up arms for the resistance.”

  “Have we heard from the light elves yet?” the hooded vampire to his left asked in a monotone, expressionless voice. Her father had been an empath, but he was always charming and animated—at least around her he had been.

  “No, but I’ve known Dalra and Leione for over six centuries. They will join us.”

  The other empath spoke with the same odd lack of expression. “They have always remained neutral and apart from the rest of the Underveil factions. Don’t you expect they will simply avoid the conflict altogether like they have in the past?”