I squirmed slightly, not even realising I was trying to get myself into a better position for him to go where I wanted him to be. He stilled my movements with a hand to my stomach and then continued to move away down my leg. I let out a stifled moan of frustration, but he just laughed and carried on, on his predetermined mission. Damn him, he was just trying to tease me to frustration. And it was bloody well working too.
His hand had started softly kneading the bend of my knee, which for some unknown reason sent me into a writhing mass of frustrated anguish, I couldn't even begin to understand why my knee would have such an effect on me. He seemed to like that response, so flipped me over onto my stomach so he could lavish kisses there instead. By this time I was putty in his hands. I could no further have got myself off that bed and relaunched my attack on him than fly to the moon.
He was relentless in his pursuit of teasing me, the fire that had begun to burn so intensely inside of me had all but taken over my entire body, I was a slave to the sensations Michel was creating, unable to stop moaning or thrashing about beneath his touch, his kisses, his soft nips and licks. He seemed to know exactly where to touch me to get the best response. I guess over a period of 500 years you pick up a trick or two.
Finally, when I thought I simply could not take it any longer, I felt his weight and warmth against the back of me, his breath against my neck, brushing through my hair, he lifted me up slightly with one hand and positioned himself between my legs. Then after a brief tease at my entrance, the hardness of him sliding through my wettest place, he pushed inside slowly, allowing me to feel every movement of his penetration, allowing me to stretch to fit him, but not so fast that it filled the gnawing need to feel him deep within. I moaned and heard someone who sounded vaguely like me saying, “Michel, please.”
“Tell me.” His voice was husky, barely contained.
“I want...” I paused, he had stopped moving, just stroking my hip with his thumb where he was still holding me up, his full bodyweight on his other arm.
“Tell me.”
“Don't stop! God, don't you dare stop!” I was breathless, I could feel a small bead of sweat trail down my back, between my shoulder blades, but the overriding thoughts in my body were: Don't stop. Deeper. Faster. Now!
He groaned as he began moving inside of me again and I heard his thoughts as he threw them at me, That is better, ma douce. Let me hear you. Let me be with you. Don't ever shut me out.
So, I didn't. I let my mind open up and the flood of emotions and feelings and sensations and thoughts go tumbling out towards him and felt a reciprocal wash of the same back from him at once, almost taking my breath away at the raw hunger and need from within him. My body was riding a wave of pure desire, every nerve ending on fire, every craving I had begging for their fill, every bit of tension he had built in my body pleading for release. He moved faster at my insistent cries, his own thoughts tumbling in a maelstrom of words; Beautiful. Perfect. So perfect. Mine. And then as his rhythm began to falter and my eyes started seeing bright flashes of lights, our breathing coming in uneven rasps, he switched to French, I don't even think he realised what he was doing. Ma petite belle lumière. Ma belle fille. Tu es parfaits, si parfaits.
I may not have understood every word he said, but I felt all of him in that moment. Nothing hidden, nothing contrived, it was all of him and it filled me up with such a beautiful sense of peace, such a wonderful sense of belonging. I felt tears roll down my face as we crested a wave of heat together and came floating down the other side.
We only allowed ourselves a few hours entangled in each others arms, whispering sweet words, basking in the afterglow of our love making, there was no time to enjoy the moment any longer. Although getting light out, we had a plane to catch. Cairo was waiting.
After being huddled into one of Michel's heavily tinted vehicles, driven by one of his day crew, we headed out to his private hangar at the airport. Bruno had been left in charge of the family business here in New Zealand while we would be gone, no one else was to accompany us. We both felt the less the better, together we would face this.
The time of the flight was not unimportant, it would mean we landed in Cairo right on their nightfall. The family jet, a Gulfstream G650, was fully enclosed in the hangar. As soon as we arrived the hangar doors were closed behind us blocking out the early morning sun which was still trying to make its way up over the horizon, and we made our way on board the blacked out jet. Inside, the windows were all completely shielded, operated automatically at a console beside one of the large leather seats. The interior was exactly as you would expect, soft cream leather, mahogany and maple wood trims, marble-like tiling and polished gold fixtures. The carpet a lush cream and gold design, a small dancing dragon imprinted in a coat of arms, you wouldn't even have noticed it without looking closely, but it was there.
I sunk into one of the seats on the large couch and felt the softness wrap around me, I failed to stifle a moan. Michel laughed as he came to sit next to me, pulling me to him, so his arm was around my shoulders and my back was against his side. I loved being this close to him, feeling his warmth, the rise and fall of his chest. I rested my head back against him and savoured the contact.
“Why don't you sleep, ma douce, it is a very long flight and you will need your energy, I think.”
Sleep sounded about right then and with his warmth around me and the softness of the leather I was asleep before the plane had finished taxiing and lifted in the air.
I'm not sure how I managed it, but I'd somehow slept so deeply I hadn't felt Michel move me at all. I was no longer wrapped in Michel's arms, but my head was instead resting in his lap. His hand was absently stroking my hair while the other held a small tablet computer with a magazine or newspaper displayed on its screen. He hadn't moved when I opened my eyes, but I knew he'd know I was awake, feel my emotions, notice the change in my breathing.
“How long have I been asleep?” I stretched then, lengthening my legs and arms and arching my back. When I looked up at Michel he had a look of such tenderness on his face, it made it hard to believe this man was in fact a vampire. Oh, how the times are changing.
“We are almost there, ma douce. You have slept well.”
I rolled myself into a sitting position. “The whole trip?” God damn, I must have been tired.
Michel just smiled. “You clearly needed it, I did not think it wise to disturb you, despite the desire to do so on many occasions. You did not even stir for our refuelling stops. So, waking you for my desires seemed unfair.”
I rolled my eyes at that and received a staged look that shouted, what? in return.
“How long until we land?”
Michel was about to answer when one of his staff entered with a tray of food for me, fresh fruit, toast and jam and coffee; sweet, beautiful, aromatic, freshly ground and brewed, coffee. I could have kissed him. The guy, a human, nodded and quickly left. Michel settled back to watch me eat, sometimes I think it might be his favourite pastime, well maybe his second, anyway.
“We should land in an hour.”
Good that would allow me time to eat and freshen up, use that gorgeous well appointed bathroom I had spied in a brief glimpse earlier. Nothing like landing after a full day's flying to feel all sweaty and gritty and not at your best. I'm sure vampires can manage it OK, but not little old vampire hunters, that's for sure. The thought of disembarking from this little slice of airborne heaven into the heat that was Cairo at this time of year, wasn't appealing.
As I munched on my yummy breakfast, I asked, “What's the plan when we land?”
“We shall try to contact Nafrini, from what you said, they had a respite from the Cadre, thanks to your involvement,” - he no longer looked like he was going to have a coronary over that, but he did stress the words ever so slightly - “they may have been able to move their kin to safety and can now work with us to locate their lost Nosferatin and perhaps organise an attack against the Cadre. It is Nafrini's soil, I will have to
adhere to her wishes.”
Yes, can't upset the powerful joined Nosferatu, we were visitors in her land, albeit invited and allied for the moment, we would still need to be careful how we went.
I freshened up in the bathroom after that, relishing the multi-headed shower facilities and smelly lotions and shampoos. I was sure I'd smell like a florist when I stepped out of the stall, but it seemed subtle, even in the smaller room. The plushness of the jet was just as obvious in here, lovely fittings trimmed in gold, with cream and gold tiles, once again sporting the dancing dragon discretely here and there. I'd have to ask Michel what the dragon meant, I hadn't seen it anywhere else, just here on board his plane.
I dressed quickly, I could feel the plane begin to descend, my ears needing a stretch of my jaw to pop them. It was a slow decompression, but a sure signal we were approaching Cairo International Airport. From my Dream Walking experience yesterday I knew it would be hot. I had opted for a lightweight three-quarter length sleeve blouse in a light dove grey with close fitting Capri pants, covering my knees, in black. I wanted to blend into the shadows to keep from being seen by the creatures of the night, but I also didn't want to attract any unwanted attention from the Norms either. Dressing appropriately for Egypt made sense.
When I came out of the bathroom Michel had also changed, not too dissimilar from his usual attire, all black and totally sexy. He was sitting back down on the couch looking relaxed, not at all concerned about what might face us. “I have organised a car to meet us on the tarmac, we shall just have to head directly towards Cairo city centre and try to locate Nafrini there.”
“Do you have ideas on where to start?”
“It shouldn't be hard, she will sense me as soon as we land. She will no doubt come to us if able.”
Oh, I had forgotten that master vampires of Michel's and Nafrini's level could sense each other. Michel was always aware when someone powerful had entered his city. Handy, I guess, if you want to keep hold of your territory from encroaching vampires.
The plane touched down lightly and after a couple of minutes came to rest away from the main Cairo terminals, near hangars which were obviously an area for private jets and the like. I had expected us to be met by customs or something similar, but when the door to the jet was opened, there was just a solitary limousine on the tarmac and a lone figure waiting beside it.
We came down the stairs and walked towards the car. The heat hit like a solid wall, it felt like I was pushing my way through thick molasses. But at the sight of who was waiting for us I couldn't help it, I couldn't keep the smile from my eyes, or the idiotic grin from my face. He stepped up and took my hand, bending over at the waist and laying a light kiss across my knuckles. His eyes danced in the artificial lighting, his smile blinding all on its own.
“Kiwi. We finally meet in person and you are even more beautiful than I could ever have imagined.”
I didn't get to answer, because anything I could have or would have said, was drowned out by a long, low and menacing growl at my side.
So much for diplomacy.
Chapter 34
Heliopolis
Nero didn't even react, just slowly lowered my hand, never breaking eye contact with me. Eventually, he did let go and turned to bow to Michel.
“Welcome, Michel Durand, to Cairo. Nafrini Al-Suyuti welcomes you to her land.”
He said all of this whilst still bowing, head low in respect. He rose now and looked Michel in the eye, never even blanching at the slight glow of magenta and amethyst that had taken up residence there.
“It is kind of Nafrini to provide us with a driver.” I'm quite sure that Michel had meant that statement exactly how it sounded. He knew damn well this had to be Nafrini's kindred Nosferatin, but he was also making damn sure Nero knew he wasn't impressed. Men.
“So, what's the plan, Nero?” I thought I'd better get us back on track or we'd end up having a duel right here. I didn't fancy Nero's chances against Michel, but then again, Nero did have some wicked moves.
Immediately Nero shifted his full attention back to me with another of his dazzling smiles. He had been all serious and lacking any facial expression, other than polite welcome, when addressing Michel, but now he lit up like a Christmas Tree, all light and happy glow. What was he playing at, antagonising a vampire who had come to help him? Was he seriously that reckless?
I tried to ignore the look he was giving me and knew that no matter what was happening on my face, no matter how good I was at schooling my features to a pleasant mask, Michel had already registered my emotional response to Nero. This was so not going how I had expected it. What had I thought would happen? Well, I admit, I kinda forgot all about the emotion reading thing and just was looking forward to meeting my Nosferatin idol. Because that's what Nero was, I decided, someone I truly looked up to, someone who could teach me so much. I put as much of those thoughts into my head as possible, hoping my emotions, or perhaps a stray projected thought, would reflect that instead.
“We have relocated our family and have been awaiting your arrival to mount an attack.”
“You know where they are?” I was surprised and amazed he had accomplished so much since I had last seen him in the Dream Walk.
“Yes, I shall brief you both on the way, there is not much time to waste.” He seemed very pleased with the news he was relaying, I couldn't blame him, this was exactly what we needed. We all climbed in the back of the car, which had a driver all of its own, that no doubt Michel had been well aware of when he made that little remark. A human's scent and heartbeat stand out quite easily to a nearby vampire.
Nero briefed us on what they had uncovered today as we drove through Cairo's streets heading towards her city centre. Everywhere I looked out of the windows I could see Date Palms swaying in the evening breeze, nothing like our quasi-palm trees back home, the Nikau Palm, these were the real deal. I was also surprised to see so much sand, a reminder of how close the desert was, but interspersed with that sand was a lushness, beautiful greens, like an oasis, right on the side of the road as we zipped past.
The buildings became more impressive as we headed away from the airport, sand coloured, thick set structures, with arched windows and faux balconies, the sidewalks crowded with colourful swaths of cloth. I had expected to see only light coloured clothing, tans and whites, similar to what I had seen Nero in before, but the colour was cheerful and vibrant, quite different from my imaginings. They turned the mono-toned buildings into a backdrop fit for an opera, the coloured clothing making the people stand out in stark relief. There was, of course, a lot of people in whites and pale colours, but they simply blended into the crowd, lost in a kaleidoscope of colours.
Market stalls swam past us as we slowed to negotiate traffic and pedestrians. I glimpsed even more colourful table cloths with bright blue and green and red Hookahs for sale. Followed on with tea houses, street side seating overflowing with faces, some drinking coffee, others just laughing and talking and more still smoking their Hookahs. It occurred to me, that most of those I witnessed were male, but I didn't have time to consider this further as we had arrived at Nafrini's new residence.
Even I felt the wards as we passed under a heavy archway into a cobbled courtyard within. I could see figures surrounding the area, some half hidden in the shadows by the columns supporting more arches, some up higher on balconies and even more at the entrance securing the door behind us. All reeking Sanguis Vitam. Nafrini hadn't taken as large a hit to her entourage as I had expected.
All around the courtyard were windows and doors decorated in ornate carved wooden designs. Beautiful intricate arches, with circles set in relief inside, they looked like a stencil, so pretty and perfect, lay them down on a sheet of paper and trace a pattern through the holes. They were stunning and so unlike anything I had ever seen before in my life.
The door to the limousine was opened and we all stepped out into the heat of night again. Michel took my hand as soon as I exited behind him, it wasn't an unusual
gesture, but I had the feeling it was premeditated, for Nero's benefit. Nero didn't show any signs of noticing and simply led the way into the building itself.
We were greeted by further vampires and in amongst them a large number of humans, all moving around doing their own thing. The sense of community I felt from them was astounding. Vampires were talking to humans with respect and vice versa. There was no overt use of powers here, just one being talking or interacting with another. A part of me realised the rest of the world could gain a lot from what Nafrini and Nero had achieved here.
The inside of the building was as beautiful as the out, lovely furnishings, similar in design to those I had seen in the Dream Walk. Bright colours and rich tapestries, ornate furniture and comfortable covers, pillows upon pillows and a slightly fruity smell in the air. Cinnamon mixed with apple, I think. There was a lot of marble and wood and smooth white sandblasted walls, all of which lent itself to the plush furnishings gracefully, interspersed here and there with delicate statues on high plinths.
Despite having to move so quickly, Nafrini had somehow secured a palace for her people in just under 24 hours since I had last been with them. Influential, she clearly was.
Finally we entered a smaller room, decorated much the same as elsewhere, cushions on the floor to the side, a desk with comfortable chairs surrounding it, bookcases behind filled to the brim with brightly coloured leather bindings. Standing at the far end of the room was an elegant, beautifully clothed woman, she was perhaps almost six feet tall, with fine features on her deeply tanned face, high cheek bones and delicate long fingers in her hands. She had long black hair down past her waist, loose and shiny and shimmering in the candle light of the room. She was dressed in the most beautiful shade of purple, amethyst mixed with pomegranate, long sheaths of fabric, folding over themselves and draped perfectly over her shoulders, showing just the barest hint of smooth skin beneath.
Kindred (Kindred, Book 1) Page 35
