The Thorndykes 1: Dispossessed

by Lynne Connolly

  They’d woken him, and he’d screamed with the pain, but he’d survived. He’d endured until his body had healed the worst of his injuries and expelled the poison of the silver. With their help. Lucille was so proud of him.

  She was exhausted, relief at his recovery making her even weaker. Jay and Nathan appeared unaffected, but she knew better. Jay had let her deeper into his mind, so his weariness affected her too. An edge of cynicism overlay his fatigue. He’d seen situations like this before, something she broached with him as they ate.

  “Too many times.” He exchanged a knowing glance with Nathan. “People have persecuted us for as long as we’ve been around.”

  “How long is that?”

  Her words evoked a smile. “We don’t know. Probably as long as mortals have been alive. The stories of dragons from the Middle Ages suggest shape-shifters went to ground. Similarly, bloodsucking monsters like us seem to have always existed.” His smile broadened when he saw her indignation. “Don’t forget, I chose to become a bloodsucking monster.”

  She longed to ask him why, and she sensed her brother listening from the bed. However, Nathan was an unknown quantity. Jay said he’d known him years ago. Did he know him well?

  Jay got to his feet. “I did it because I was bored. Someone offered, a man I seconded in a duel. He was mortally wounded at dawn. No chance he’d survive until nightfall, so he offered to convert me. I accepted.” He shrugged. “A spur-of-the-moment decision that gave me hundreds of years to wreak havoc in.”

  He walked toward Drew smiling easily, but the way he kept his inner barriers firmly shut and his mind even and calm told Lucille more than he might suspect. That regulation of his feelings, it meant he was hiding something. Maybe it was none of her business—for sure it wasn’t—but she didn’t like that clamming up.

  He lifted the tray from Drew’s lap. “You did well. A couple of nights, and you’ll be fine.”

  The terse praise meant a lot to Drew, Lucille could tell from the way her brother blushed fiery red. The curse of the redhead, when every emotion showed on the skin. Would she ever conquer that trait?

  “Don’t even try. The way your skin flushes in passion is a fantastic sight.”

  She smiled, glad the mood had lightened. She’d had about all the grimness she could take right now. “We should sleep.”

  “We’ll go nocturnal for a while,” Jay said. “Do those night shifts you suggested.”

  “Let me make a few calls. What do I tell people?”

  “As near the truth as we can. Tell them Drew was beaten up by thugs, and you want to look after him for a while. Nothing for them to worry about, but he’s badly shaken, and you don’t want to leave him too long.” He spread his hands. “Tell them he’s here. I found him and brought him home. I’ve already let people know I’m interested in you, so it won’t come as a total shock.” His face turned grim. “And it will let whoever it is know I am here, and I don’t consider any attacks on Talents light matters.”

  He glanced at Nathan, who nodded. “Don’t worry, we’ve done this before.”

  Nathan’s laugh rolled around the room. “There were times we tossed victims from one to the other, and they thought they were in control. Besides, this is the safest place for Drew.”

  Her attention went to the bed where her brother sat against a bank of pillows, pale but smiling. Yes, he was right. The security around this house, even on nonparty nights, far surpassed anything she could provide. While he was safe, she could think.

  Jay winked at Drew. “Besides, I want to teach you a few tricks.”

  “I can do that,” Nathan said. “You go. If we’re nocturnal, it’s time for bed.”

  “Sure.” Jay reached for Lucille, and without hesitation she took his hand. Only then did she glance over to where Drew watched her silently, his face a picture of blankness.

  She’d surprised him. Fuck, she’d surprised herself.

  Jay pulled her up and into the curve of his arm. “You must be beat. You worked harder than the rest of us last night. Come on.” Without further explanation, he guided her out of the room, along the short length of hallway into his suite.

  She hadn’t seen him give the order, but a tray of cold goodies lay on the table by the window, waiting for them. Pastries, fruit salad, cornflakes, and savories like ham and cheese. All beautifully arranged.

  “Not,” he assured her, “brought by the housekeeper who did her best to part us. You won’t be seeing her again.” He went into the kitchen, and the faucet went on as he filled the kettle. Already the sound was familiar to her.

  She couldn’t allow familiarity. Couldn’t let herself get too involved with this beautiful, complex man. He’d move on. His reputation said he was restless and averse to putting down roots. She’d read about him, looked at his online profile after he invited her to the party. That had come back to bite her in the butt as it was all she had to think about after he’d seemingly rejected her so ruthlessly.

  “Come and eat. You won’t be able to once you wake up after nightfall.”

  “What makes you believe I’ll sleep until nightfall?” She checked her watch. “It’s barely ten.”

  “We’ll see.” With an enigmatic smile, he motioned to the table. “I’ll join you when I’ve made the coffee.”

  She did as he asked. When she crossed one of the oriental rugs scattered around the room, she appreciated the shiny floorboards, then the richness of pure silk carpet under her lightly shod feet. That was luxury, to have the pleasure of touching nothing but the best.

  He brought the coffee over, the wide white cups exuding a heady aroma.

  “I thought you Brits liked tea.”

  “We do. But we like coffee too. Would you prefer tea?”

  She shook her head. “I can deal. You make surprisingly good coffee. For a Brit.”

  With laughter in his eyes, he put the cups down and hauled her to her feet, taking her off-kilter so she fell against him. Without waiting for her to regain her balance, he kissed her and took his time about it. He thrust his tongue into her mouth, making little sounds of enjoyment, rumbling against her lips. When he finally lifted his head, his eyes were gleaming with untold promise. “That was celebration. That, and I was longing to do it ever since we knew Drew was out of danger.” He kissed her again. “Nice kid.”

  “He’s over twenty.”

  “Like I said, nice kid.”

  She snuggled closer, pressed against his chest. “Do you think I’m a kid?”

  He growled. “Not when you do that, no. Never. But you eat. Hear me?”

  “We could eat later.” She emphasized her point by wriggling against his hard cock. “I want to celebrate too.” Euphoria poured through her. She had today, this beautiful room, this gorgeous man, and her brother was out of immediate peril.

  “I meant to let you sleep alone.” His protest sounded halfhearted at best.

  “No chance. After what you put me through? You’ve got to prove you want me.”

  “That shouldn’t be too difficult.”

  Without warning, he swung her into his arms and reached the bed in two strides before tossing her on to it, none too gently. She landed laughing, but he stopped that when he landed on top of her, surrounding her with powerful, hot male goodness.

  He had them stripped in a minute. Maybe less, she wasn’t counting. Greedily, she spread her hands over his chest, stroking, the crisp hair abrading her palms. Before she could caress down to his groin, he had her spread-eagled below him, her arms pinioned under his hands. He glanced down at her, letting out a groan. “Fuck, you look good. I love that little red bush, and the pink below. It’s just so…inviting.”

  Liquid escaped from her, soaking her pussy as he watched, licking his lips. “You deprived me of my breakfast,” he said. “I’m still hungry.”

  Kissing his way down from her navel, he subjected her to the best kind of torment. He paused at her hips, tickling them with his tongue, building her anticipation. Then he dived in, releas
ing her arms to cup her breasts while he devoured her. He licked away the wetness before he sucked her clit, working it with rhythmic pulls. She squirmed beneath him, cried out, then caught her breath, remembering her brother next door.

  He lifted his head long enough to say, “Make all the noise you like. Nobody can hear you. If they can, I don’t care. Maybe I want to make them jealous. Don’t hold back.”

  When he returned to work, she couldn’t hold in her cries of pleasure if she’d wanted to. Pulling her clit deep, he thrust his tongue into her pussy, stabbing and then retreating. Waves of enjoyment mingled in her mind, in their minds. She let him in, and as she came in throbbing pulses, opened her mind another layer.

  She’d never done that before, not with anyone. She felt safe here with Jay. That revealing made her vulnerable, but since he instantly did the same, he’d rendered himself that way too. Open to her. She could enter him, read him. Even their earlier feeding-while-fucking session hadn’t given them privileges like this.

  Her breath short from her climax and the intimacy, she watched him as if in a dream, rising up and over her. He guided his cock to her pussy, twirled it at her entrance to lubricate it and mingle their juices, then pushed in. Slow and steady, as if they had all the time in the world, he slid deep, her body yielding ready to welcome him.

  She spread her hands on his biceps, curled them around his upper arms as far as she could, and watched him pound into her. Ripples of sensation spread to waves, encompassing her whole body, radiating from her pussy. Arching her back, she pressed her calves against the mattress. Straightforward, frantic fucking, both of them with the same objective—to come and celebrate each other in joy.

  She twisted and cried his name, urging him to come with her body and mind, and then he gave in.

  He thrust deeply, held himself inside her while he gazed into her eyes, and then took his pleasure. The only words she heard were, “So good!” but he expressed himself better with his body, embracing her in hot waves of need and fulfillment.

  At last she was safe, ready to let go.

  He rolled to one side and gathered her up close. She snuggled in, prepared for sleep, her thoughts drifting already. He roused her with a sharp touch to her mind. “Remember what I said. We have to eat. Although I’d rather sleep and then go again. I’m sorry I couldn’t be subtle, give you more, but I needed you.”

  Only then did she realize how much the ordeal had taken out of him. “You did more than the rest of us, didn’t you?”

  “Except for Nathan. We’re older; we can take it,” he told her without apology. “You couldn’t give him the kind of support he required.”

  “I’m not as ruthless. I couldn’t have pushed him as hard as you did.”

  “No.” He kissed her forehead. “I’m glad of that. Nobody should be that ruthless.” He cupped the back of her head and nestled her against his chest. “It’s like a process of mourning, living a long life. At first, denial. No, it’s not true. Then anger, when you see friends and family die. Bargaining, when you think you can barter for people you love. Or find someone to convert them. Then guilt that you’ve lived longer than they have. Depression, which is the most dangerous phase of all, because nothing matters. That was when I did some fucking stupid things. Acceptance comes at a price.” Gently he drew back so he could look down at her face. “I don’t want you to go through that. Fuck, I don’t want anybody to. I don’t think it’s inevitable. You’re vampire-born, so it won’t be as bad. Many of your loved ones will live.”

  “What brought that on?”

  “Seeing your brother so close to death.” She loved that he answered her so honestly without prevarication. “He’s so young. It would have been worse than a tragedy. If that had happened, I’d have kidnapped you to get you to safety. Fuck your bar, fuck everything except keeping you safe.” His lips turned in a wry grimace, and he settled a quick, hard kiss on her mouth. “I’m getting soft in my old age.”

  “You’re a very protective man.” She liked it, though she shouldn’t, but to have someone to lean on for once in her life—that was a luxury she never imagined she’d have. Nor did she fool herself. She wouldn’t have it for long this time either. She couldn’t hold a man like this. Jay was infinitely stronger, he knew more, he’d seen more; probably fucked more beautiful and accomplished women too. Certainly women with more experience than she had. She was a baby to a vampire in his prime.

  “Never think that way.” As if compelled, he kissed her again, taking her in a way that was desperate. Greedy. “You’re worth it, as I heard somebody say.” Smiling, he tipped up her chin, held it so she met his gaze. Or maybe he was just good at appearing that way. How the hell did she know? “Bright, clever, beautiful, and you’re teaching me things I once knew and I forgot. Like how to have fun, and how to take people at face value. Distrust is corrosive, and something I have to unlearn, I’m thinking.”

  “You have to have a bit of it.”

  “For self-preservation, yes. But not everyone you meet, every time. When I caught you walking that damned dog, I thought you were an intruder out to spy on me. My automatic assumption. And it wasn’t so. I had no right to think that way.” He smiled and gave her another kiss. “Even if you were, I’d have to consider it worthwhile.”

  She didn’t understand the last remark but was too tired to ask him what he meant. Immediately he picked up on her thoughts. “We’ll shower, eat, and sleep. Sound good to you?”

  “Better than good.” She sighed and relaxed into his arms, knowing he’d care for her if she asked him to. Worry and the exertion of keeping her mind firmly fixed in Drew’s while he’d fought the deadly allergy had taken its toll. Now the backlash hit her with a viciousness that took her completely by surprise.

  “Adrenaline slump,” he said. “Me too. Come on before it takes us over.”

  “So what happens next?” She yawned, unable to stifle it.

  “We make our plans.”

  Normally Lucille hated being sheltered and pampered, but this time she was too drained to protest. She surrendered herself into Jay’s hands.

  After a quick bite, they gave up on the shower and fell into bed together.

  After she’d slept much longer than she could ever remember in her adult life, he went to the bathroom and poured a bath for them. In his deep tub, he held her and washed her, moving the cloth slowly over her skin until she shuddered with pleasure. Then he made love to her.

  That was the only way she could explain it. It wasn’t fucking, nothing frantic, but slow and careful. Each move he made was meticulous and controlled. He soaped her, careful to cover every part of her body while she lay against him.

  She let him do whatever he wanted, finding solace and peace in his arms. Slowly, he shifted that to excitement. By the time he filled a sponge with water and trickled it over her breasts, her nipples had hardened, and her pussy had come to life. Her initial euphoria over her brother’s recovery had melted into a darker mood, and he’d sensed it.

  Of course he did. When she tried to talk to him about it, he hushed her and laid a series of kisses on her mouth. He only ventured inside on the final touch of his lips to hers. He held her jaw and caressed it with featherlight touches as he explored her, stroking with a masterful demand that would take no denial.

  Why should she, when he was giving her so much pleasure? After dropping the sponge, he stroked down her body to her cleft. He touched her clit and then went down to her opening in long strokes. She responded like a cat, purring into his mouth and twisting in his arms so she could face him.

  He helped her spread her thighs and cupped her ass, lifting her so she nestled close to his heavy erection, now adorned by the bar he’d told her about before. He left it up to her to take him. His longing poured into her mind. She appreciated the courage to open that far, to let her feel the emotions close to his very soul.

  She’d have to trust him in return, and how could she do that? The long training from her parents had made her instincti
vely wary of having that much faith in anyone. Her mind closed of its own volition, but she forced it open again. To the next level. She could give him more, layer by layer, but here in the deeper recesses of her mind, she felt closer to Jay than she had to anyone else before.

  He was a master of seduction—she should never forget that. He’d probably had more women than he could count. She feared she was another conquest, although she sensed his inner integrity. It surrounded her, as gorgeous as everything else about him. He hummed into her mouth, a sound of utter, simple happiness. Then he deepened his kiss, and she took him in.

  It felt natural. So much that it scared her because this wouldn’t last. Couldn’t. He’d move on. Perhaps one day when she’d lived a little more, she could come to him as an equal and claim him. Most likely, they’d both have gone to different people, new experiences.

  He helped her set a rhythm, steady and undemanding, guaranteed to take them to ecstasy but in a different way than before. Infinitely more profound, or it seemed so.

  The kiss finished, and she drew away enough so she could gaze into his eyes. “This must be as normal to you as your vampire state.”

  “Not anymore. I’ve been vampire a very long time. My mortal existence lasted a mere twenty-five years. But childhood experiences have a lot to do with later opinions.” He slid inside her, the bar through his piercing blazing its trail along her inner walls, making her shudder in delight.

  “You’ve spoiled me for other men.”

  “I don’t want to do that.”

  She smiled down at him. “Really? How many men would say that?”

  “A man who cares about his woman’s happiness.”

  Implied, the knowledge that they’d part. How could she think they wouldn’t? They’d known each other for less than a week. No way could that constitute anything permanent. True, the mental level that connected them allowed for deeper exploration, and they couldn’t lie to each other. Not anymore.

  “Friendship, Lucille, with benefits. Wonderful benefits.” He closed his eyes, and his expression grew taut as she sensed him forcing down his orgasm, but the sight and sense of him proved a trigger for her. She gasped, made a choked sound, and came, her pussy pulsing around him.