Jaded

by Danielle James

  His blood heated her from the inside out.

  When she had finally drunk her fill, Jade pulled her teeth from his skin and licked the wound closed. She didn’t stop there. She dragged her tongue up the side of his neck to his ear. She nipped the lobe lightly and he let out a sigh of pleasure. She moved to his mouth, which was waiting for her. He pulled her head down to him and immediately began exploring her mouth with his tongue. He kissed her like he was starved for her, like he couldn’t get enough of her taste. Jade could reciprocate that feeling. She sucked his tongue into her mouth and his hips shoved upward.

  He broke the kiss to flip their position, settling himself between her legs. Jade brought her knees up and cradled his hips between them. “Michael,” she moaned his name.

  “I need you,” he told her. Jade smiled and Michael leaned back onto his knees. He reached down and took her shirt in both hands by the collar. With a quick jerk, he ripped the material down the middle, exposing her smooth stomach and her lacy red bra. “I would expect no less,” he grinned, admiring the lingerie.

  He bent down and kissed the tops of her breasts, slowly, savoring each inch of her soft skin. Then he pushed the material of her bra aside and sealed his mouth over one nipple.

  He flicked his tongue against the tight pebble until she arched her back beneath him, then he sucked it into his mouth. Jade held his head securely to her, begging him for more. As if he knew the other breast was being neglected, he shifted his head over and repeated his actions.

  Jade couldn’t stop her hips from rocking against him. As he tortured her nipples, she rubbed her core against his cock. It was barely confined in his boxers and when Jade looked down, she saw that the head had breached the waistline. As if it couldn’t wait for her either.

  Jade wanted to scream for him to just get inside of her. She wanted him hard, fast, and now. But at the same time, she loved how he was worshipping her body. He kissed over her stomach and stopped at her pants. Moving nearly as fast as she could, he pulled on the waist and had her pants and panties off and on the floor.

  “In a hurry?” Jade asked on a laugh.

  “I need to taste you,” he growled. And then pulled her legs wide and settled his shoulders between them.

  “Oh, God yes!!” Jade begged.

  Michael kissed the inside of her thigh, over her mound, then the other thigh. Jade knew she was trembling but could do nothing to contain it. His breath was hot on her skin and his hands were gentle and reverent.

  The first swipe of his tongue was nearly her undoing.

  Michael dove in with his mouth and licked at her mercilessly. He sucked her tender flesh into his mouth, and then released her to drive his tongue inside. “Oh, fuck,” he growled against her, his breath sending shivers all over her body. Jade was quickly approaching supernova levels. She just needed a tiny bit more.

  “Michael,” she moaned. “More.”

  He moved one hand under her leg and parted her folds. He ran his fingertip along her entrance before pushing first one, then two fingers inside her.

  Yes, this was what she needed. He returned his mouth to her and Jade could feel her insides coiling. As he gave her pleasure, he reveled in his own. Suddenly, he reared his head back. Jade saw the worried look on his face and his new fangs extended all the way down and she knew immediately what was going on. And holy hell if that wasn’t the hottest thing she had ever seen! Her mate was gorgeous all on his own, but with his mouth open and his teeth bared, he looked like walking sex. The expression of pure passion and the savage look of desperation to taste her had her insides fluttering in all directions.

  Michael felt his new teeth punch down in his mouth. They ached and pulsed, demanding that he do something, anything to sooth the ache they caused. He didn’t know what to do? He wanted to bite her, but what if he hurt her? He couldn’t do it. He didn’t know how.

  “There is a pretty good vein right here,” Jade offered. She knew he needed her help and it took all she had to be calm. She wanted his teeth in her skin now. She didn’t care if he was rough or gentle, just as long as he bit her. Please, just freaking bite, she thought. Her hand found its way to her inner thigh and her finger traced a path along the large vein that lay just beneath her skin.

  Michael watched her hand move and he could sense that what she said was true. He could almost see the vein pulsing under her skin. He felt a hunger for her, a need to mark her, in a way he had never felt before. He didn’t make a conscious effort to move, but he lowered his mouth to her leg and let his new teeth sink into her flesh.

  Jade had never given anyone the gift of her blood before Michael, and no one had ever had their teeth in her skin. When Michael bit, Jade’s entire body bowed off the bed. Every nerve in her body came alive. Intense pleasure washed over her and the feel of him drinking from her combined with his fingers buried inside her pushed her into an instant, shattering orgasm. She heard him moan and forced her eyes open. He was drinking from her thigh, his fingers dancing inside her, with his wings arched above him with a low flame glowing. Jade had just enough sense left in her brain to throw a fast shield around them so that he didn’t set anything on fire, and then let the orgasm consume her.

  When Michael was able to retract his fangs, he instinctively knew to lick the wounds closed. Then he shoved his boxers off and crawled up her body. “Now,” he grunted.

  “Fuck yes now,” Jade agreed. She pulled at his arms, trying to get him faster. His face was drawn into a serious mask of passion. He was no longer the easy going, let’s roll with it guy that she fell in love with, but an alpha vampire hybrid that was dead set on claiming his mate. Even better. Jade couldn’t wait to get him inside her. The fact that he needed to claim her as much as she needed to claim him was pushing her higher and higher.

  “I fucking love you,” he said as he took her mouth. He used one arm to support his weight and the other to lift one of her knees high as he pushed himself into her.

  Jade screamed out as he filled her completely. Michael’s hips began to move immediately, pushing further each time he thrust himself forward. He pushed his arm underneath her, angling his hand under her ass. He lifted her with each push into her, forcing their bodies as close as possible.

  Jade’s nails raked down his back and her hands settled on his ass. She pulled him into her, encouraging him to give her all he had.

  Jade forgot about everything. She forgot about how much it hurt while he was in Limbo. She forgot about the danger lurking just around the corner, she forgot about her family. Hell, she forgot her own name. All she could think about was Michael and the way he was claiming her. He was making love to her, but it was just as much proving that she belonged to him. He told her as much with every move of his hips, with every kiss of his lips. He was telling her with his body that he loved her and she was his, and she was doing the same to him.

  As their bodies came together again and again, the tension in Jade’s belly was nearing the breaking point. “Michael,” she begged, not having the ability to say more than his name and not knowing what exactly she needed.

  But he knew. He reached between their bodies and flicked the pad of his finger over her clit. Jade arched her back, shoving her breasts forward. Michael took a nipple between his teeth and bit gently. That was what she needed. She didn’t have a chance against the triple play he gave her. Her body coiled tight like a rubber band and then snapped.

  Wave after wave of pleasure crashed into her. She saw stars behind her eyes and was blind to everything else.

  Jade’s body clamped down on Michael’s cock, pulling him deeper inside her. He sucked at her nipple and she climaxed around him, it was all he could do to hold on and wait for her. As soon as she opened her eyes and stopped screaming, Michael let go. He pushed into her hard once, twice, three times. He heard himself chanting, “Mine, Mine, Mine,” as his body gave itself over to the love of his mate, the feeling of completeness, and the pleasure of the mother of all orgasms.

  When he coul
d finally breathe, he rolled gently off of her, taking her with him. He tucked Jade neatly to his side and held her close.

  “Mine,” she whispered.

  Michael heard her breathing even out and knew that he had worn her out. She had fallen asleep. He smiled a satisfied grin and relaxed with her in his arms.

  CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

  “Anubis, you have given me so much, you have given me all I could ever want or need. Because of you, I will be able to exact my revenge and lead for all eternity. I give this gift to you.” Stephan held the blade in his hand tighter. He moved to stand in front of the young woman that was securely fastened to his altar. “The blood of this virgin will flow in your honor,” he said. He had planned everything out so perfectly. He would set his plan in motion at sunset, while the vampires were still fussing over the firebird. They had never left the house, but time was getting short. He would attack tonight, while the firebird was still indisposed and his mate was weak.

  The woman’s eyes were wide with fear, but she made no sound. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of voicing her fear. She would not give him her soul. She knew exactly who he was. He had stolen her in the dead of night away from her family. He had talked insanely about how she was special and was going to be an important player in his plan. He lied and told her she would rule beside him if only she would let him into her heart. No way was that happening. She had given herself to God a long time ago. In her mind, she prayed. Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive our sins, as we forgive those who have sinned against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from this evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

  She felt a warmth surround her and lifted her soul from her body as Stephan drew the sharp blade across her throat. Her blood ran down her neck and pooled on the altar, but she felt no pain. As her soul left her body, she resisted the urge to giggle because no matter what this psycho did to her body, he could never have her soul.

  ***

  Anubis rolled his eyes as he watched the spirit of the young virgin leave Hell and drift toward the Heavens. This man was a powerful, sadistic, idiot. The blood meant nothing if the soul did not come with it. He had to give the man props for trying, though. It was no matter. Everything he gave to Stephan came with a price. That price was his soul. It would make a fine addition to his collection. What Stephan didn’t understand was that while Anubis craved and respected power, he was not exactly evil. He cared about numbers in his army. He cared about bringing the powerful to his side of the fence. When the time came to pay his dues, Stephan was going to be surprised.

  CHAPTER THIRTY SIX

  “So what exactly happened?” Michael asked Jade as he curled around her back and pulled her into his chest. Her hair was tickling his nose, but he didn’t move. Not now, not when he finally had her in his arms. He was content to stay in bed with her and make love to her every hour of every day until the end of time. They had dozed in between love making sessions all day, but this time they had both stayed awake.

  He brushed her hair off her neck and admired the healing marks his teeth had left in her delicate skin. He had learned to use his teeth quickly and he had used them several times over the course of the last night and day.

  “You were tricked,” she answered him. Michael had almost forgotten that he had even asked a question. Jade explained how he thought he was seeing her, but really it was Stephan in an astral projection. She explained how his soul was thrust into Limbo, and all they went through to get him back.

  “Ok, but who broke my wing, and why?” he asked.

  “You did, silly,” she said with a smile. “When you fell, you landed wrong. It wouldn’t heal while your soul was in between. Jacque tried to set it the best he could, but really all he could do was prevent further damage.”

  Michael nodded. After all he had seen, hell, been through, he could believe that. “You didn’t feed while I was away,” he remarked. He had noticed her color immediately but had not gotten all over her about it. He was going to now.

  “I couldn’t,” Jade answered. “It just wasn’t right.”

  “Listen to me,” he told her in his best no nonsense voice. “If we are ever separated again, and I hope we never are, but if it comes to that, you take what you need. Don’t make yourself weak because you’re afraid of offending me. It’s my job to keep you happy and healthy. I do it with pride. Besides, I like it when you bite.”

  “I kind of like it when you bite too,” she giggled. The marks he made on her neck tingled with the memory.

  “Yeah, speaking of that,” Michael said into her hair just before lifting his head to see her face, “How exactly did that happen?”

  “Well,” Jade replied, turning her body to face him, “It’s like when your mom and dad mated. Your mom took on some of Phoenix’s magic. His ability to heal himself, specifically.”

  “That was when she was pregnant with me,” Michael reminded her. “That was all me, I think.”

  “Ok, but look at Rebel and Leigh,” Jade countered, “Leigh’s magic is so strong, and it is normal for a dragon to share their magic with their mate. Jacque figured out a long time ago that Leigh and Phoenix were distant cousins or something. When we made our mating complete, we shared our own gifts. Besides, it’s common knowledge that if you drink more than a sip from a vampire you risk starting the change. Maybe you changed, at least in part. I don’t know if I got anything from you, and I hope I do. Preferably wings. That would be nice.”

  “Pffft,” Michael said while rolling his eyes. “I’m the only one awesome enough in this relationship to have wings.”

  “Ha!” Jade barked out a short laugh. “As I was saying, I don’t know yet if you shared any magic with me, but you adapted to being mated to a vampire. You grew fangs. It’s possible that I might still yet grow some wings.”

  “Ok, but don’t be too disappointed if you don’t,” Michael said. “Besides, I like you just the way you are.”

  “You better,” she grinned.

  “This is going to be awesome,” he sighed.

  “What is?” Jade asked him, cuddling into his side.

  “Being mated to you,” he answered. “Just think about what our kids are going to be like.”

  Jade sat up. “Wait, who said anything about kids?”

  “Don’t you want children?” he asked.

  Jade shrugged her shoulders. “I never thought about it. All I have thought about for the last few months is that my mate was coming for me. I tried to see our future, but it has been blocked from me. Frankie says I have to do it the hard way like everyone else.”

  “It must be terrible,” he laughed, “Having to do things the way all of us regular folks do.”

  “You are anything but regular,” Jade corrected him.

  He saw the light shimmering in her eyes and it warmed his heart. Yes she was his mate, and he was hers. But it went deeper than that. It went further than physical or mental connections, more than just being perfect for each other. It was as if destiny knew that one day they would meet and carved a place out of his heart especially for her. He loved her with every fiber of his being. He loved her laugh, he loved her music, and he loved her alpha personality that would send many men running. But not Michael. He cherished every detail of his mate. He had always known that she was special and he had loved her his whole life. He just didn’t know how much it would be.

  “I know, me too,” Jade said out loud.

  “Were you just in my head?” he asked, giving her a playful warning look.

  Jade shrugged. “You were projecting.”

  “Yeah right,” he laughed. “Don’t worry, you can get in here,” he tapped his temple, “Any time you want. I have nothing to hide from you. I will never hide from you.”

  Jade leaned down and put her head on his chest, listening to his heart thump steadily beneath his skin. �
��I will never hide from you either.”

  Michael’s face became serious. “You know he’s coming back for us, right?”

  “I have no doubt,” Jade said, sobering. She didn’t have to ask who “he” was. Stephan. Michael’s parents had thwarted his attempts before, and he was insane with the need for revenge. If there was one constant with psychos, they didn’t know when to give up.

  “It’s getting dark outside,” Michael said to the ceiling. He didn’t really understand why, but he knew they needed to get up and get going. If nothing else, he needed to call his mother and let her know he was alright. There was no way he was going to tell her what was going on, though. He didn’t want her coming to his rescue. Not that he didn’t want her around, but he could never forgive himself if she were injured–or worse. Which also meant he couldn’t tell his father. If Phoenix came, Kelly would too. He could not and would not put them in danger. It was bad enough that everyone else who lived in the estate was a target.

  “We need to go talk to everyone,” Jade told him. “I want the humans out of here. Tonight.”

  “It’s like you can read my mind,” he grinned at her.

  They pulled themselves out of bed and got dressed. It was only a matter of minutes before they were downstairs where a family meeting had already begun without them.

  “Well, it’s about time,” Antonio feigned exasperation from his perch on the sofa. He had a box of cookies in his lap and he and Rebel were munching noisily on them.

  “Get out of my cookies,” Jade snapped and tried to grab the box.

  “No way, princess,” Rebel yelled as he bolted over the back of the sofa. “These are mine.”

  “You are always in my snacks,” Jade said with a shake of her head. “We have something serious we want to talk to you all about.”