“You’ll learn to handle it with grace, darling. We all do. That is truly what makes us human.” She said with a smile. “Even when I join the world of the undead I think I’ll still hold onto that sense of weakness. I feel like it’s important to remember we don’t know everything. Not by a long shot.” She said as she stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. “It keeps us humble, my dear.” She said as she patted his cheek.
“I was never a humble man.” He said with a smile.
“Well you’re learning now.” She said as she perched on his desk.
She glanced down at the map and hummed softly, moving the little clay pieces around idly. “What was all this for?” She asked curiously, picking up one of the Taltos carvings, eyeing it with a keen amount of interest.
“I have the werewolf queen on my mind.”
“Werewolf queen? Is that what we’re calling her now?” She asked with a cocked brow.
Daemon leaned back, a smile playing on his lips as he hummed and ran his hands through his hair. “What would you call her?”
“Bitch.”
The lack of hesitation and pure bluntness of the comment made Daemon burst out laugh. “Very apt, darling. I will be sure to inform all of our servants to refer to her as ‘the bitch’.”
“Not ‘the bitch’. Just bitch.”
He smiled and nodded. “Well, whatever love wants, love gets.” He said, glancing back down at the map.
“I was planning out the best course of action.” He said, starting to move the pieces around the board. She’s going to attack again. She won’t let us embarrass her again. She has a doubtful army behind her and now she needs to prove herself.”
“What do you mean doubtful?”
“She’s leading an army of werewolves…Creatures who are notorious for not trusting anyone but their own kind and sometimes not even that.” He said simply. “I don’t know how she talked them into letting her lead, but all I can guess is that this group of werewolves are displaced…They had nowhere else to go.”
Her eyes widened a little bit. “They have no pack? But a pack is everything to werewolves.”
“That is exactly why I believe they’re willing to follow her. She’s offering them something they wouldn’t get anywhere else. Think about your friend Jamesson. He is linked to you and your family. That is his pack and that is why he’s willing to do anything to protect you.” He pointed out.
“So…These wolves with nowhere else to go were drawn in by her and she offered them a community?”
“Exactly.”
Mariska’s brows furrowed just a little and she looked down at the map, picking up a werewolf piece. She held them both in her hands, taking in the extraordinary detail that obviously went into making them. The wheels in her brain were turning, whirring and trying to come up with an answer to the very serious problem they were facing.
“What if we don’t need to have a war?” She said quickly, her breath hitching just a little.
“It would be a miracle if we could avoid this war but…That isn’t going to happen, darling.” He said simply, sighing and shaking his head. “She’s set on fighting and taking this island. She wants the secrets it holds and she wants our child.”
“I know that.” She was not sure what Bitch wanted with her baby, but she sure as hell was not getting the child. “I’m just thinking here, but what if we could take her power away.”
“You can’t drain the power from a Taltos. You know that.”
“Duh! What I’m saying is…What if we could turn the wolves against her or at least make them not want to fight us anymore?”
“How do you plan on doing that?”
“They’ve already lost so many and they clearly don’t trust her anymore. What if we offer them a new home here? Give them a choice.”
“Darling, what you’re saying is that we offer them amnesty and bring them into our midst? We allow them to walk amongst our people…I can’t take that risk.”
Her face fell just a little and she took a deep breath. “I suppose you’re right.”
He looked up at her and cupped her cheek. “Let’s not think of the war to come anymore…Not today. You shouldn’t be worrying about these things anyway. You have something far more important to focus on.” He said, bringing his hand to rest against her belly.
“I suppose you’re right…” She said, smiling weakly and pressing her hand against his.
“Of course I am. I’m always right.”
She chuckled softly, knowing he was trying to lighten the mood but she also knew that the worry in his eyes was very real and if he was worried, she knew there was something to worry about. It did not help that he was taking great care to hide his emotions from her. She was not going to call him on it but his fear hit her like a wall when she entered the room.
Mariska was not a psychic but she knew things were going to get very bad, very fast.
Chapter Three
Night fell on the castle and soon the only noises that could be heard were the sounds of lover’s giggling and running through the halls. Everyone knew that the night belonged to lovers and everyone took advantage of it. Even Jamesson and Elso had disappeared quickly after dinner.
The pattering of soft feet as the servants tried to sneak about always made Mariska smile. They were free to love one another openly as they did not belong to anyone. Servant was more of an archaic term that had just managed to work its way into the modern vernacular. Yet, even though they were considered their own beings with sovereign thought and decision, old habits die hard and many of them found it entertaining to pretend they were at risk of being ‘caught’.
Mariska did not mind this unspoken game. She found it to be rather charming if she was being honest. Daemon emerged from the bathroom in nothing but a pair of boxer briefs that hugged his strong, narrow hips, arms crossed over his chest.
“I will never understand the reasoning behind this game they play.” He said with a shy, chuckling softly to himself.
Mariska smiled, brushing her long, dark hair. “It’s a tradition darling. Don’t be so hard on them.”
“I just think it’s silly.”
“I don’t know…I think it might be fun. The risk of being caught is kind of exciting…” She said, a shiver of pleasure running up her spine.
He cocked a brow and looked over at her, smirking as he crossed the room and wrapped his arms around her, his fingers brushing at the sheer blush pink cloth that barely covered her body.
“Is it?”
She chewed her bottom lip and nodded, dropping her hand behind her head so that her fingers tangled in his hair.
“I think so.”
“Mmmm…” He pulled her close before spinning her around and lifting her off the ground, carrying her over to the French doors that led out to the balcony.
She gasped but threw her arms around his shoulders, smiling and threading her fingers in his hair, allowing him to take her wherever he pleased. He settled her on a small meditation couch that had been placed on the balcony for her. Elso felt the fresh air would be good for the baby.
The wind whipped her hair around her and she gasped softly as Daemon tossed her onto the soft cushions and crawled over her, grinning.
“The entire kingdom could catch us here.” He whispered.
She gasped softly and her eyes widened as she considered her response. Before she could get any words out he claimed her lips, effectively silencing her, though she did not mind one bit.
As they kissed she felt her body heat up and her blood boiled, rolling into ecstasy. Every inch of her body was on fire, begging for Daemon. He turned her into a desperate woman very quickly. When they weren’t making love it was the only thing she could think of and it drove her crazy.
It was a miracle that they’d managed to keep their hands off each other this long, especially with the hormones raging inside of Mariska. Mariska was down to her barely there robe and Daemon only had his pants and underwear left and even those had started to come o
ff at some point
As they rolled around on the little bed Daemon laughed breathlessly, kissing her eagerly and starting to nip at her neck, trying to elicit desperate moans from his lover. He loved to hear the noises she made.
This desperation was something Mariska had never really experienced with a lover until she met Daemon. It was electrifying and amazing and she honestly did not think she could go without it anymore. Sure men had wanted her back in her old life, but there was always this shy hesitation that turned her off. Mariska was not the type of girl to hesitate and she did not want her lovers to either. She wanted someone who would throw her into the bed and ravish her until her legs shook.
She wanted a man like Daemon. A man who was not afraid to take charge and show her who was boss every now and then. She'd needed this excitement more than she could explain. Mariska needed to feel absolutely desired and she needed to be ravished. It seemed that Daemon was just the man to do it, too. She had always wanted a man like this in a one-night stand but she was more than happy to find a partner who made her feel this good.
His finger's slid down her sides as he captured her lips again, kissing her with enough force that she knew her lips with being a little bruised the next morning, though she could not bring herself to give a damn. She wanted to be bruised and marked by the time the sun came up. He found the ties of her robe and yanked at them until the sheer fabric fluttered to the ground.
Mariska could not help but moan as he pulled the robe away from her ample, round breasts, the material grazing her sensitive nipples. She watched Daemon's eyes find the rounded mounds, admiring them as his finger's came to tease her nipples, thumbs brushing over them.
She shuddered and let out a desperate sound and a shaky breath. Daemon smiled down at her, looking almost triumphant at the fact that he managed to get that sound out of her. He grinned wildly as he sat up, straddling her.
Slowly, he pulled the straps from her robe, the soft silk brushing against her tanned skin. He folded it in half and ran it up the valley between her breasts, licking his lips a little as the silk left a line of fire behind, her skin turning red under his deft touch.
She shivered at the touch, whimpering and arching her back against the gentle touches. She wanted so much more. She had absolutely no idea what he was going to do with it but hoped he would hurry it up. She was already soiling the sheets with her sweet, glistening nectar.
As if reading her mind, he grabbed the belt and looped it around the bed frame, bringing it back around and fastening her wrists so she could not move or pull away. Mariska had never been tied up before and the shock of it was accompanied by a long moan, signaling that she wanted this. She wanted him to take her, make her his. She’d never had thoughts like this during sex and they made her cheeks flush pink in embarrassment. She was becoming a slave to her desires and it was a strange thing she struggled to reconcile.
This type of possessiveness was still new to her. Every move he made kept her guessing and desperate to know what he was going to do next. Daemon was the type of man who might slap her ass or pull her hair. Lord knows she'd been waiting for a man like that for a long time.
Daemon laughed a little as he watched the heat creep up her chest and dust her cheeks. He knew she wanted him, but he had never been one to rush. He liked taking his time and making her turn to putty under his fingers. He gave the inside of her thighs a gentle slap, humming softly. She jumped and gasped, looking at him with big eyes. Another laugh leaped from him and he licked his lips
"Spread your legs, darling." He ordered, running his fingers along the smooth skin.
She obeyed him easily, spreading her legs as wide as they would go, inviting him to touch her. He ran his thumb along his lip, eyeing her dripping mound with a desperate hunger. She was dripping with essence. His heated gaze shot back up to her and he leaned over her, claiming her lips with another deep, hungry kiss
Mariska was not going to pretend not to stare. Her eyes fell on his thick cock, still slightly surprised even though she’d seen it before. Her lips remained parted and hungry as he leaning over her and nipped at her neck, already hard.
She moaned and watched him through her eyelashes, her legs still spread invitingly. Daemon moved along her body and settled between her legs, gripping her hips. He wrapped his strong arms around her, holding her close to his own solid body as he rocked his narrow hips, his throbbing member sliding between her thighs to tease her. He did not slip inside of her yet but still let her feel his throbbing member against her skin.
Mariska's head fell back and she arched herself against him as one of his free hands found her tender breasts. She was panting hard, looking up at him with a hazy, pleading gaze. It was hard to find words to describe how she was feeling in this moment. She whimpered his name, wanting to touch him but knowing she could not thanks to the thin piece of silk that kept her tied to the bed.
"Daemon...Daemon, I want you. All of you." She whispered, panting his name.
That was all he'd needed. An eager grin spread across his face and he leaned over her, his lips ghosting over hers as he slid inside of her, filling her up like no one else ever had. Her mouth fell open as his name slipped from between her lips like a prayer.
Mariska had made love and she'd fucked, but no one had ever worshiped her body like this. Daemon treated her body like a temple and every move he made was meant to bring her pleasure. Every time he thrust into her he hit the perfect spot. She hadn't even known that there was a perfect spot until she met Daemon. Each thrust pulled the coil in her belly tighter and tighter, the pleasure rushing through her and spreading through every inch of her body like molten liquid.
He never stopped kissing her. Sloppy, wet, eager kisses that spoke volumes to his need for her and his love. Mariska's toes curled and she could help but lift one leg and wrap it around his thin hips, somehow hoping to get more of him deep inside of her.
His grunts and moans only made her more eager and she tried to wrap her arms around him, but the silk kept her arms above her head, leaving her helpless and completely at his mercy. She begged for more as he kept the pace up. His movements quickened soon enough and she saw him di a hand between them.
Her eyes flew open and her hips began to buck with wild abandon when his fingers had found her clit, rubbing small, quick circles, matching the desperation of his thrusts. She gasped his name over, and over, the heat building inside of her as his name fell from her reverently.
When she came she finally finished the coil tightening in her belly snapped in half, filling her with the most delightfully warm feeling. Mariska's fingers began to tingle and then her toes. She felt warm all over and could not keep from crying his name loud enough to wake anyone who happened to be asleep.
She felt herself shoot among the stars and drift between galaxies. She was flying through space, drifting in a warm oblivion that almost made her feel at peace. It almost felt like she'd left her body and she suddenly understood why the French called it the little death.
Her mind was swimming and, she found it hard to be aware of anything other than the heat of his body against hers. She could hear Daemon groaning as he filled her to the brim until it spilled over onto the expensive sheets. Normally she would have been a little upset at the mess she would be facing the next morning but she could not find it in herself this time. Hell, she was having a hard time remembering where she was at this point.
When Mariska finally came back to earth it was with a shudder and heavy eyes. She was always the one to stay awake after sex. The one to clean up and go about her business after a desperately needed orgasm. Tonight that was not going to happen.
It felt strange to nearly pass out, tied to her own bed with a stranger lying next to her. She could hear Daemon's rhythmic breathing and knew she was not going to make it long enough to even say goodnight. She drifted off into a slumber that could not have been broken by the Taltos or even the gods.
***
The sun rose far too soon for Marisk
a’s liking and as the rays danced across her bare skin she realized she was still curled up on the bed she and Daemon had made love on the night before. The sun was warm and welcoming and Mariska had no intention of getting out of bed any time soon. She felt like a cat curled up under the warm rays.
Unfortunately, Daemon had other plans. He wandered onto the balcony dressed in a fluffy robe, holding a cup of coffee he had specially imported for her and a glass of what looked to be red wine. She’d learned long ago that he did not drink wine at all. In fact, he rarely consumed human foods since they made him rather sick. The liquid in the glass was thick, life sustaining blood.
At first, the concept of vampires drinking blood terrified her. She did not want to think about the fact that one day she might have to give blood to the man she loved. That was then and this was now. She’d reached a point where the concept of offering her blood to Daemon had ceased to be frightening and had at some point become rather erotic. She did not dare admit that, though. It felt silly.
It did make her feel better to know that he was not getting his blood from unwilling victims. The island was full of creatures the vampires could take blood from without getting sick. That being the case, there were basically blood drives going on all the time. Creatures could get blood drawn and build up a reserve for the vampires who inhabited the island. It was a very good for everyone and it kept everyone happy and fed.
“Are you just going to lay in bed all day?” He asked, that tender smile dancing across his face.
She sat up and sighed “I suppose not…I don’t think you’re going to let me.” She said with a soft smile.
“Not a chance. There’s a festival going on today.”
“A festival?”
“It’s a fertility celebration.”
She laughed a little and brushed some hair out of her eyes. “I suppose it’s fitting then.” She said as she stood, taking the offered coffee.
VAMPIRE:Vampire Guardian Series: Paranormal Mystery Vampire Alpha Male Romance (New Adult Contemporary Paranormal Royalty Fantasy Romance Collection)) Page 11
