When he opens them to look over at me, the pupils are dilated, his eyes nearly as black as they’d been in the bunker before we were attacked.
My phone rings from somewhere behind me, so I clear my throat and turn away before I drop my sheet and let him have me on my counter. I head into the bedroom and grab my cell from the top of the nightstand. “Hey, Ramirez, what’s up?”
“You sound better,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice.
“I’ve had a good last few days.”
“Vacation must have been nice.”
I snort. “If you can call it that.”
“You weren’t here, so yeah, I’m calling it that.”
If only you knew. “Everything okay?”
“Captain wants to know when you’re going to be back. Apparently, she’s no longer concerned that someone wants to skewer you.”
If you only knew just how true that is. “I’m actually in my apartment now. We got back into town last night.”
I can hear his sigh of relief carry through to me. “Good. When can you come in?”
“I can be there this morning.”
“That would be fantastic. You going by Jane’s?”
I smile. “I wasn’t going to, but I can if you need your blueberry fix.”
“You know, I feel as though I’ve earned it. I have been picking up the slack for your lazy ass for the last week.”
Chuckling, I shake my head. “Don’t be dramatic; it hasn’t been a full week. But, I guess I can treat you. She’s probably going to make me stay and eat. Sure you don’t want to just meet me there?”
“Nah, I have some paperwork to do. I’ll let the captain know you’re done being lazy.”
I chuckle. “See you soon.” I end the call and glance up as Elijah steps into the doorway of my bedroom. “Ramirez needs me to come in.”
“Is it safe?”
Shrugging, I drop my sheet. Elijah is on me before I can open the drawer of my dresser. His hard body presses against mine, pinning me to the wall as he devours my mouth. Tongue, teeth, furious passion, he drives me wild.
I groan, slipping my fingers into his hair and holding on while he fucks my mouth with a tongue that’s capable of the most delicious torment.
Trust me, I know that last bit from experience.
I tilt my head back, and he releases my mouth, trailing his lips down my throat until he reaches my collarbone. Wet warmth slides over my skin, and I suck in a breath, desperate for him to sink his teeth into me—literally. Elijah growls against my skin, the sound vibrating as his hand reaches down my side, slowly, torturing me with every sensual graze of my skin. “You are so fucking addicting, Rainey Astor.”
I clear my throat. “Funny, I feel the same way about you.”
“You’d better not go headfirst into any vampire nests today,” he warns, his hand tightening on my waist.
“Maybe I will,” I choke out.
Elijah pulls back and stares down at me.
“I rather think you enjoy saving me.”
He grins, the smile lacking humor but promising delectable punishment for my smartass comment. His hands slide down my body, and he lifts me, blurring across the room and tossing me back onto the mattress where he pins me just as he did against the wall.
“I’d rather be fighting alongside you,” he whispers, leaning down and pressing his lips to my jawline, just below my ear.
“Yeah?”
“Fuck yes. Your ass in tight pants?” He nips at my ear. “Fucking delicious sight to see.”
I arch up into him, wrapping my legs around his waist. “I can put them on and kick your ass later. Mr. and Mrs. Smith style.” He quirks an eyebrow at the mention of the movie that made constant rotation on Delaney’s and my movie nights.
“Not sure what that means, but if it’s you pressed against me, count me in.”
“You’ve never seen Mr. and Mrs. Smith?”
He shakes his head.
“We’re having a movie night. Soon.”
Chuckling, Elijah leans down and traces his lips over my jawline. Goosebumps break out on my skin as my nipples harden and warmth pools in my belly. I want him so fucking bad it’s ridiculous.
“Hardly seems fair that you’re not naked and I am.”
“Seems perfectly fair to me,” he says. Then, to my great disappointment, he pulls back and climbs off me. “As much as I’d love to spend the day fucking like the animals we both are, you have somewhere to be.”
I sit up, and he steps back to give me room, but his stance is still predatory.
I fucking love it.
“I was thinking about heading to Jane’s café for some breakfast. Would you care to join me?”
“You’d bring me there?”
“Why not?”
He crosses his arms. “Because you’re a hunter.”
“And you’re a vampire?”
He nods.
“Please, if I was still worried about that, we wouldn’t have done what we did last night more than once.”
Elijah grins and runs a hand through his hair. “As much as I would love to tag along, I think it’s probably best if I start looking into the Lunar Divide your sister uncovered.”
“You think you can find out what it means?”
“I think I have a few more contacts in the supernatural world than Delaney did. So, I’m hoping so.”
He wants it for himself.
You can’t trust him.
I bite down on the inside of my cheek, completely unsure how these thoughts are making their way into my brain. At this point, I feel like Elijah is the only person I can trust.
“You have to promise me that when you go to open it, you’ll wait for me.”
He opens his mouth to speak but shuts it just as quickly. I can see the argument on his face, the taut line of his jaw, the way he’s studying me. “I believe that I should look alone. At least until we know what it is.”
“What? Why?”
We are you.
Don’t let him take us!
He wants us for himself!
I shake my head to clear the echo of voices I don’t recognize. I must have really hit my head when I fell out of the bed.
He moves toward me, his hands landing on my shoulders, sliding up until he’s cupping the sides of my face. “You lost yourself for a while after that, Rainey. I think until we know what’s inside, it’s probably safer for you.”
“No. I want to be there, Elijah.”
“Rainey—”
“Delaney left that for me to find,” I say, trying to keep my tone level and as logical as possible. I completely understand his hesitation since, apparently, the last time I opened that box, I tried to kill him. But I have to be there. I cannot explain why or how I know it. I just do. “If you want to open it, that’s fine, but I want to be there when you crack open that particular box of worms.”
His jaw hardens, his mouth tightening into a flat line. “Fine. But if I tell you to run—”
“I’ll run as long as you’re right beside me.” I extend up onto my tiptoes and kiss him hard. “Probably. Until then, I need some food.” I turn away from him, bending over to reach the bottom drawer of my dresser.
He groans. “Fuck, woman. Are you trying to kill me?”
I throw a grin over my shoulder. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”
My bedroom is a mess, but I do my best to ignore it as I grab a bra and underwear from the drawer.
“I think you need to know something.”
I turn to face Elijah after clasping my bra behind my back. “What?”
The expression on his face is unreadable as he stands, still as a statue, behind me.
“What’s happening between us?” he says. “It’s not typical.”
I snort. “You can say that again.”
“It’s more than what we are.” Ice-blue eyes meet mine. “Rainey, I can feel your power; your blood is full of it, and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever tasted.”
&nbs
p; I raise an eyebrow, crossing my arms. “You think it has something to do with that box?”
“You were potent before—back in Salem—but now? There’s a hell of a lot more magic in your veins.” He closes his eyes and inhales. “I can sense it even now, and I crave it.”
“There may have been residual magic inside. After all, who the hell knows how old that box is.”
“Possibly.” But he doesn’t look the least bit convinced. “What about last night? You woke up on the floor. Has that ever happened before?”
“Waking up on the floor was a first,” I admit. After my blackouts, I’ve woken up in some weird places sure—violent places. But the middle of my floor? That was a first. “It’s been a stressful few days,” I tell him, hoping to ease some of the concern he’s wearing so plainly on his face. “Consider the last twenty-four hours. I mean, we both nearly died last night, flew halfway across the country, and had mind-blowing sex at least half a dozen times. That’s a hell of a lot in less than a day.” I don’t mention the voices, because those are more than likely a side effect of the stress—the exhaustion.
He may think my falling out of bed has something to do with the box, and it is possible. But honestly? I think I’m just worn the fuck out.
For the last two years, I’ve been hunting supernaturals every single night. Then, after about three hours of sleep, I’m getting back up to police humans.
They say there’s no rest for the wicked? Well, then, I’m about as wicked as they come. It’s more than likely that my no-rest policy is finally catching up to me.
“It has been an interesting few days,” he finally says.
“We’ll figure it out,” I promise him. “I bet after a few nights of good sleep, I’ll be good as new.”
“Until then, you’ll keep me apprised of any more attempts on your life?”
I grin at him. “You do realize I was doing a damn good job at keeping myself alive before your sexy ass waltzed into my life.”
He snorts. “First of all, I don’t waltz. At least not by choice. And second, while that may be true, I’d say I’ve done a better job of helping to keep you breathing over the last week.”
I wish I could argue, but I’m not one for futile attempts at keeping my pride. Facts are facts. And the fact is that I would have died in the tunnels if not for Elijah pulling me out.
I would have died in the alleyway had he not shown up.
And Doloris Taylor would have murdered me last night, just like she murdered my grandmother, if not for him.
But that doesn’t mean I’m going to start relying on the ancient vampire. Unfortunately, I’ve learned from experience that when you start counting on someone else, they tend to let you down. “I will be careful,” I promise. “However, what we have?” I gesture between us. “While it is important to me, very important,” I add quickly. “I’m not willing to lose myself to please you. I have every intention of going out and doing what my legacy demands of me.”
He grins at me, a savage smile that heats my blood and turns my insides to mush. “I don’t have a single qualm with that as long as you let me come too.”
“Deal.”
“Now,” I turn away, sauntering into my closet. I don’t have to turn to know he’s followed as I retrieve some black jeans and a white T-shirt. “If you don’t mind, I should be getting dressed.”
“I’m starting to rethink you leaving.”
I glance over at him. “Save it, Romeo. I’ve got shit to do.”
He lifts an eyebrow. “Romeo? You’d compare us to one of the most tragic love stories of all time?”
“Are we not doomed just like they were?” I ask in all honesty.
“We could just leave all this behind,” he offers. “Say fuck it and take off. I have houses all over the world. Just pick a place, and I’ll take you there.”
All playfulness has left his face, replaced by a determination I easily recognize as wanting to shield me from the wrath of his council and the fury of my kind when word gets out—which it will. I’m not foolish enough to think we can keep this hidden for long.
I know, without a doubt, Elijah would make good on his word, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to myself that part of me really wants to take him up on it. We could disappear, be gone without any more damage done.
My family’s money would be more than enough to live off of. Add Elijah’s wealth to that, and we could probably live forever without ever having to work another day of our lives.
But that would mean leaving Jane.
Leaving Ramirez.
And I don’t think I can do that.
“I know it’s not you,” he adds before I can reply. “But if shit gets bad, Rainey, please promise me you’ll consider it. I can’t lose you.” His words strained, face somber, I know he’s reminded of losing his human fiancée all those centuries ago.
I step forward and reach up to run my fingertips over his jaw. “I’m not human, Elijah.”
Closing his eyes, he nods.
“We will survive this, and then we can take a long-ass vacation. A real one.”
Elijah’s eyes open, and he grips my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
2
Rainey
Jane’s coffee shop is bustling this morning. Humans fill the tables, their smiles and laughter carrying throughout the space as though there is not a care in the world.
I envy them.
Have ever since I was old enough to realize that I was born into a permanent prison sentence. Or is a work-release program more akin to the legacy I find myself trapped in?
Jane is happily helping another customer, but the second she sees me, she lifts her hand in a wave, and her smile brightens.
Going almost a week without seeing my best friend has been a hell of a lot more difficult than I thought it would be.
Jane swings over to the coffee pot and pours a fresh mug before walking over to me. “I’m sorry, do I know you?” she asks, setting the steaming porcelain in front of me.
“Don’t be a bitch.”
She gasps and feigns surprise. “Could it be? Has Detective Rainey Astor returned from her trip to bedsheet bliss with tall, sexy, and Irish?”
Heat flushes my cheeks, and I take a sip of my coffee.
“Oh my gosh! You totally did!” She smacks my arm playfully. “Tell me everything.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be working?”
“I won’t tell my boss if you don’t,” she jokes.
I roll my eyes. “We’ve never been one to dish on random fucks; why would we start now?”
“Um, first of all, the guy had his car blown up over you and still stuck around, so I hardly consider him a random fuck. And second, let’s be real. Neither of us ever had anything quite as delicious as Elijah Hawthorne to talk about.”
I’m unable to chase the smile off my face as the memory of last night comes front and center. Him slamming me into a wall, filling me completely.
Last night is not something I’ll ever forget. That’s for damn sure.
Jane winces when I don’t respond. “Eek, was it a major letdown?”
“It was not. Not even a little bit,” I reply immediately.
The bell above the door rings, so Jane turns away from me to deal with the new customer, leaving me to drink my coffee in peace. At least for the moment. My cell dings, so I pull it out and check the readout.
Jack: Can we talk? Please?
I don’t even bother responding. There’s not a damn thing I have to say to the hunter who lied to me about my sister. Jack Keller knew her and then pretended he didn’t in order to get close to me. Why? I have no fucking clue and no intention of even bothering to try to find out.
Because while I make it a general rule to try and not kill other hunters, I have a sneaking suspicion I might just make an exception for him.
Especially if he ignores my threat and shows back up in my life.
“Okay, spill.” Jane moves back
in front of me.
“I came here to eat,” I reply dryly. “Such horrible service. I’d like to talk to the owner.”
Jane rolls her eyes before leveling a mismatched gaze on mine. “So dramatic. Give me a minute.” She disappears into the back and emerges a few minutes later with a steaming hot croissant. “Here. Now, spill.”
“What are we spilling?” Minnie asks, coming to stand beside her boss.
“What the hell is this? Conversation corner?” I ask. Neither woman moves. Instead, they both just stare expectantly at me.
“You owe us,” Jane says. “Let us live vicariously through you, please. Don’t be a prude.” She pouts.
I can see when I’ve lost, so instead of trying to deny any further, I sigh. “Look, it was sexy, passionate, and rough.”
“Rough as in…” Minnie trails off. She just got out of an abusive relationship, so I know where her mind is going.
“As in he pinned me up against a wall and fucked me senseless. I’m pretty sure we dented the sheetrock in my bathroom.”
Both women beam.
“The bathroom? Shit, you two couldn’t even make it to the bed?” Minnie asks, her eyes wide.
“Not the first time.”
“You did it more than once?”
“I think I lost count at six.”
“Holy shit,” Jane whispers. “The guy’s like the energizer bunny.”
More like a predatory bloodsucker.
“Maybe he’s an Edward,” Jane jokes. “Got that undead stamina.”
Her words hit so close to home I snort, and hot coffee burns as I cough and try to suck in a breath. When I glance up at Jane, she’s grinning at me. “Did you seriously just compare the man I’m sleeping with to a fictional, broody, perma-teenager who sparkles in the sunlight?”
“I did. And kudos to you for getting the Twilight reference.”
“How could I not? You made me watch that movie seven times…while it was still in the theatre.”
She shrugs. “Fun times. Besides, Midnight Sun just came out, and I’m re-obsessed. Be ready for a movie binge soon. Maybe you can bring Elijah.” She winks, and I roll my eyes.
Blood Captive: A Paranormal Vampire Romance (Vampire Huntress Chronicles Book 2) Page 2
