Deadly Deception

by Kris Norris

  “He’s not my friend,” she bit out, her soft voice trailing over his skin, stirring the fire growing inside him. “I’d merely stepped into the bar to get out of the rain when the bastard grabbed me and dragged me out the back door.” She snorted and rolled her eyes, crossing her arms on her chest. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I’d already kicked him…twice.”

  The smile that captured Rafe’s lips caught him by surprise. “So you did. Though it looked like he was still eager to…play.” He allowed his gaze to sweep the length of her body, pausing at her perky breasts and luscious hips. Damn if she didn’t have the kind of body he fantasised about. Not much upstairs, but her ass. Shit, it was a dream come true, with plenty of cushion to soften the impact when you fucked her hard from behind. He could only imagine what it’d be like to actually sample her ass. Had other men taken her like that, or would he be the first?

  She cleared her throat, dragging his attention back to her face. “Then I guess I’m lucky you came along. Now if you’ll excuse me…” She shifted slightly, a faint glimmer on her neck reflecting the eerie light. Rafe moved with her, focused on the small pendant nestled against her throat. It looked like a tiny tear shaped vial, adorned with a silver lid carved into a series of leaves. The fluid inside the pendant shimmered in the dull light, casting rainbow coloured dots across her skin. She stopped when he barred her way with one massive arm.

  “Where did you get that?’ he asked, nodding towards her neck.

  The woman palmed her hips, glaring back at him. “What on earth are you talking about? Where did I get what?”

  “The talisman around your neck.”

  “Talisman?” She looked at him as if he’d spoken another language. She lifted her hand, fingering the pendant. “You mean my necklace?”

  He nodded, unable to speak. The air seemed charged, prickling the hairs on the back of his neck. He watched as she caressed the smooth glass, running her fingers across the vial. The liquid inside glowed against her skin, fading from purple into black.

  “It’s an heirloom.”

  Her breath hitched as he reached up, tracing the suede cord with the tip of his finger. A spark erupted along his skin, tensing the muscles in his shoulders as he neared the small object. The light in the fluid increased, burning brighter. He stopped just shy of touching it, his gaze darting to hers. Her eyes had darkened, the green hidden by the black. She looked aroused and scared, and he wasn’t certain which outcome he hoped for. Her hand reached for his, grazing his skin as he touched the cool glass.

  “Well I’ll be damned,” was all he said before a brilliant flash erupted from the pendant, knocking him back. A wave of energy flowed through him, rippling outwards like the wake of an earthquake. It prickled his skin, electrifying every nerve as it billowed out, filling the alley before finally dissipating.

  Rafe staggered forward, bracing his weight against the building, trapping the woman between his arms. She mumbled something under her breath, splaying her hands across his chest. He forced himself to look up, cursing the decision the moment their eyes locked. It was her.

  Terryn could only stare at the man who held her captive with nothing more than his eyes. Sure she was wedged between his arms, her hands palming his broad chest, but it was his gaze that held her spellbound. Heat blazed from his pale eyes, turning the blue a deep shade of red. She blinked, a tendril of fear coiling in her stomach, but the crimson glow vanished. Her heart fluttered, making the world dip and sway. He looked more dangerous than the man crumpled on the pavement, but in a different way. His eyes spoke of heat and desire, of sexual promise and dark secrets. They burned like a man on the verge of discovering his greatest destiny, yet there was a sadness in them that tore at her heart.

  He released a long, slow breath though his chest barely moved as the soft swirl of air danced along her neck, sending a shiver of anticipation down her spine. She fought the desire to feel his muscles contracting beneath her fingers, using the last of her strength to keep her hands still. The man lowered his face to hers, brushing his lips along the curve of her neck until his words feathered across her ear.

  “Tell me your name.”

  His voice was dark, like a thick fog curling across the land, slowly cloaking the landscape. Another shiver shimmied along her skin, beading it beneath her clothes. She tilted her head, unconsciously exposing her neck to him and jumped at the raw, beast-like growl that rumbled through his chest and into her hands. She drew back, pressing her head against the hard brick.

  “Terryn.” It was all she could say before the soft press of his lips against her skin robbed the rest of her breath. It wasn’t quite a kiss, more like a gentle taste of her flesh, as if he wanted to categorise her very scent. He drew a deep breath, moaning at whatever aroma filled his head. She tried to move, but he inched closer, keeping her trapped between him and the wall.

  “A very unusual name,” he rasped, easing more of his body against her. The hard length of his cock pressed into her hip, and she contained all but a small whimper building in her chest. She’d never reacted this way to a man before and wasn’t quite prepared for the sudden onslaught of emotion. The man smiled against her skin. She felt every movement as his lips kicked up at the sides. While she couldn’t see it, she knew it was more of a sexual promise than a grin.

  “And you are?” she managed to rasp, wishing the scenery would stop spinning long enough for her to catch her breath.

  “My name is Rafael, but I prefer Rafe.”

  The deep timbre of his voice seeped into her, warming a hidden pool of moisture she didn’t know existed. She’d only had one lover in her twenty-five years, and he’d been more of a desperation fuck than a boyfriend. But Rafe evoked sensations bordering on orgasmic with nothing more than the sultry echo of his words. She met his gaze as he eased away, instantly missing his heat. He stared at his hand as he reached up and caressed the smooth pendant around her neck again.

  “How long have you had this?”

  She shrugged, bothered by the pesky details. She wanted him back against her, his body surrounding her as he sheathed himself inside her wet heat. Rafe chuckled as if he could hear her thoughts, brushing a single finger along her collarbone as he held the pendant in his hand.

  “I—I don’t know. Like I said. It’s a family heirloom. It belonged to my grandmother.”

  “And many of her grandmothers before her,” he added, releasing the necklace, allowing his finger to linger against her chest. “Your skin is so smooth, so soft.” He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. “And your scent…it’s enough to drive a man insane with hunger.” He opened his eyes and grinned at her. “Though I’m hardly a man.”

  Terryn furrowed her brow at the odd statement. Though there was something different about him, a strange hollowness she couldn’t quite place, he was definitely all man. Judging from the size of his masculinity, she’d be hard pressed to fit him inside her. She started to speak when he silenced her with a cool finger across her lips.

  “There is much we need to discuss,” he began, backing away and claiming her hand in his. “But it’s not safe to talk out here.” He looked around as if he could see evil lurking in the shadows. “Come with me. We need to find a place more…private.”

  Rafe took a large step back, tugging her hand. Her body rejoiced at the thought of getting private with him, but her senses seemed to slam back into place once his body left hers. She pulled against his hold, freeing her arm. His eyes narrowed, but he remained still.

  “Look, buddy. I appreciate your help, but I’m not the kind of girl who jumps into bed with every guy who throws a few punches and oozes charm. While I find the idea of sleeping with you intriguing, I—”

  Her last word was still formed on her tongue when his body crushed her into the wall. God, he’d moved so damn fast she hadn’t even seen him take the few steps separating them. His hands wrapped around her wrists, pinning them beside her hips as his lips brushed hers.

  “Do you think this is about sex?
” he rasped, liquefying the arousal just staring to cool. “Hell, if I only wanted to fuck you I’d have your legs wrapped around my back and my cock speared inside your hot little pussy already.” He rubbed the head of his erection across her hip, coaxing a husky moan from her lips. “There’s far more at stake here than your pleasure.” His voice softened for a moment and his hands seemed to cup more than clench. “But mark my words, my sweet. Before this night is through, you’ll be so full of me you’ll taste my release in your throat when I pump my seed inside you.”

  Terryn could only blink as he stepped back, grabbed her hand and led her up the alley, the dark promise of his words still echoing through the rain.

  * * * *

  Rafe headed for the street, his pace steady, commanding. Though he couldn’t sense any of his brethren in the immediate vicinity, he knew it was just a matter of time before the hunt would begin. While he could more than hold his own in a fight, challenging an army of rogue vampires wasn’t going to end well.

  Fuck! Why the hell did he have to fulfil his prophecy tonight? All Hallow’s Eve marked the one night where the boundary between hell and earth was at its weakest…the one night when evil would have the upper hand.

  “Wait. Rafe! Where are we going?”

  Terryn lagged behind him, looking back over her shoulder as if she expected creatures to crawl out of the shadows. He chuckled, wondering if she realised how close to the truth her thoughts were.

  “What do you mean you’re hardly a man?”

  Rafe paused just long enough for her to stumble up beside him before he rounded the corner and headed for the bar. He needed to get her inside, buy a little time, before her damn pendant released another energy wave. His skin was still charged from the first ripple and he didn’t need the necklace pulsing out their location like a bloody beacon.

  He walked straight to the door, ignoring the line snaking down the street. A large man dressed as Batman stepped in front of him, the man’s chiselled forearm blocking the entrance. He mumbled something lost to the beat of the music and motioned towards the end of the line. Rafe tamped down the need to crush the guy, baring his teeth as his human form faded, morphing into the beast-like features of the creature lurking inside him. The man’s face paled as a shudder quivered through him. Rafe trailed his tongue along the two sharp points filling his mouth and nodded towards the door. A garbled whimper was his only reply as he opened the door and walked inside.

  “Rafe. Stop.” Terryn pulled against his hold again. “Do you know what kind of bar this is?“

  He turned to face her, his hand curling around her waist. “I’ve got a pretty good idea,” he said, holding back a curse when two guys knocked his back as they strutted past. “Just stay close and keep your body plastered to mine. We need to find a couple of empty seats.”

  “What we need is for you to explain what the hell we’re doing in here.”

  “Just stay close,” he repeated. “There’s usually a few available at the back.”

  Fear and curiosity flared in her eyes before she gave him a curt nod, following him through the throng of people wedged inside the bar, her hip never leaving his. The sharp smell of sweat and lust assaulted his senses, lingering with the heady scent of sex. He passed the hallway he knew led to the private rooms and claimed two stools in the far corner. He motioned to Terryn, watching as she scanned the room once before settling on the seat. He slid in beside her, folding his hands on the bar.

  “So you’ve been here before?” she asked.

  “A few times.”

  He nodded at the bartender, tossing some money at the man, before locking his eyes on hers again. She was watching him, trying to picture what he looked like naked. He smiled, loving how a light flush laced her cheeks and down her neck when she realised he’d deciphered her thoughts.

  “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” she mumbled, staring at her hands.

  “As long as you make me one promise.”

  She met his gaze, not hiding the effort it took. “What’s that?”

  “To keep an open mind.”

  She snorted in a typically feminine way that made his cock peak against his jeans. Damn if she wasn’t a tempting little witch he’d enjoy taming.

  “Fine. I’ll keep my mind completely open. So start talking.”

  Rafe nodded, pausing just long enough to probe the bar, ensuring they were still alone. They had time, though how much was yet to be determined. He met Terryn’s gaze, smiling at the way she worried her bottom lip between her teeth. It was full and a deep shade of pink. He wondered if her nipples matched them or if her pussy turned the same colour as arousal flooded it, engorging the lips until they parted in anticipation.

  He forced the images aside, hoping his cock didn’t burst the seam of his pants. After a century of sleep, it seemed determined to make its presence known. He pointed at her necklace. “We’ll start with something simple. That pretty little pendant dangling against your neck is much more than just a piece of spun glass. It’s an ancient talisman, crafted four thousand years ago, when the first of my kind walked the earth. The fluid inside is the very blood of the earliest lineage of my clan, and it holds more power than this world has seen in hundreds of centuries.”

  Terryn held up her hand, halting him. “The blood of your people?” She shook her head. “What are you trying to tell me? What are you?”

  “We’re known by many names, but you would call me a vampire.”

  Terryn’s face paled and her eyes widened. Rafe dug into her thoughts, smiling at the images in her mind. Either she was into bondage more than he’d ever imagined, or she was picturing him strapped in a straightjacket.

  “I’m not insane, nor am I lying. So get that straight jacket right out of your head. There’s more and we don’t have much time.”

  If possible her cheeks paled further, but she gave him a guarded nod.

  “Good. Now listen carefully. Several of these talisman were created, each one unique. No one knows for certain why, but shortly after their creation, they were buried in a secret tomb. Five hundred years ago, the tomb was opened, and the pendants scattered across the earth. As a result, the remaining kin created creatures called Enforcers—vampires whose sole purpose was to find and guard each talisman until the power within was no longer a threat.” Rafe reached over and caressed the skin just below the vial. “I’ve been searching for you…for this,” he said, grazing his fingers over the smooth glass, closing his eyes against the rush of energy as the pendant glowed first purple, then black, “for centuries.”

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  About the Author

  Author, single mother, slave to chaos—she’s a jack-of-all-trades who’s constantly looking for her ever elusive clone.

  Kris started writing some years back, and it took her a while to realise she wasn’t destined for the padded room, and that the voices chattering away in her head were really other characters trying to take shape—and since they weren’t telling her to conquer the human race, she went with it. Though she supposes if they had…insert evil laugh.

  Kris loves writing erotic novels. She loves heroines who kick butt, heroes who are larger than life and sizzling sex scenes that leave you feeling just a bit breathless.

  Email: contactme@krisnorris.ca

  Kris loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.total-e-bound.com.

  Also by Kris Norris

  Keeping Faith

  Dark Prophecy: Sacred Talisman

  ’Til Death: Deadly Vision

  ’Til Death: Deadly Obsession

  Dark Prophecy: Twice Bitten

  Enchanted Lovers: Healing Hands

  Christmas Crackers: Centrefold

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