by M. J. O'Shea
“So others were actually killed.”
PC nodded. “Most of them were. Not very many were as lucky as me.” He seemed to realize that lucky probably wasn’t the best choice of words. “I didn’t mean…. Sorry, babe.”
“No, PC, it’s fine. We were lucky. Both of us. If me becoming a vampire saved your life, I’d do it a thousand times over again. Don’t apologize.”
“He must have been told that I’m always with these two.” He gestured at Zack and Noah. “Plus, you were seen with Zack that night we were hunting. And the vampire smelled me on you.”
“Oh Jesus. Now the lycan comment makes a lot more sense,” Noah mused.
“And because of that mistake, Miles is a vampire now.” PC might not have said the words, but his face told me he was beating himself up about it.
“I told you to quit apologizing. I’m glad they made a mistake. This sucks, but it was worth it. I’d die if I lost you.” It was out of my mouth before I realized how sappy and embarrassing it sounded. God, the guy finally just admitted that he wanted to be in a relationship with you, and you’re going all ‘till death do us part’ on him. Great way to scare him off.
Before I could get myself too worked up, PC gave me a soft look and kissed me, apparently not even remotely worried that his two best friends were sitting across the table grinning and elbowing each other. I wasn’t too worried either, because I was busy spinning from the shockwaves of pleasure that slammed through me. Finally, Noah cleared his throat.
“I’m glad you two are both okay, but can we please get back to the werewolf king?”
PC had to stop kissing me because he burst out laughing.
“Please don’t ever let my mother hear you call him that! She, along with most other lycans, think of the werewolves as dogs. The idea that they could have a king would sound preposterous to her.”
“And you wonder why they attacked?” I muttered.
“I told you the lycans were awful snobs. I’m not defending them. They are my family, though. And guys, for right now, at least, there is nothing we can do about this. The cold war that’s been going on between the lycans and the werewolves is hundreds of years old, and that vampire was right—it really has nothing to do with us. They wouldn’t want interference.”
“You sure about that?” Noah asked.
“Yeah. I’m sure. It would annoy the hell out of them to have the Hardy Boys interfering in their political maneuvering.”
“The Hardy Boys?” Noah looked angry at the idea. Justifiably, in my opinion.
“That’s how they see us—as little boys who play detective and try to save the day. I told you the elders are pretty impossible to tolerate most of the time. They irritate the shit out of me. Just let it go.”
Zack put his hand on the back of Noah’s neck. It was a much-needed calming gesture. Noah looked like he was about to lose it. It didn’t take long for the top to blow. PC had been about to say something when Noah interrupted.
“You know what? Screw them! I’m not going to let it go. I may not have been hunting as long as those mangy old dogs have been alive, but there’s a pile of dead humans, and it’s up to us to clean up that mess. They can kiss my butt if they think I’m going to curtsy and walk behind the curtains!”
PC made a choking noise. “Mangy old dogs? I think I like you when you’re pissed off.”
“Well, it’s crap! I agree that the thing between the lycans and the werewolves is partially out of our league, since it’s majorly political and has been going on forever, but it’s affecting us.” Noah gestured at me. “Don’t you think that makes it our business?”
“Yeah, and you took care of the vampire who bit Miles. I agree that we need to deal with the human deaths, but to actually step between the lycan council and the werewolves? It’s not a good idea—and probably really dangerous.”
Noah gaped at PC. I assumed that backing away from a fight (or balking at something dangerous) was about as out of character for him as public snuggling had been.
“So you’re really asking us not to get involved? The council can suck it as far as I’m concerned, but if you want us to stay out of it, I’ll do it. For you.”
PC sighed. “I think it’s probably best if we let them duke it out.”
“For now,” Noah qualified.
I’d been thinking while they spoke, trying to piece the whole thing together. “So all of those killings—if they were a warning to the lycans, what was the point of the warning?”
“I wouldn’t exactly call it a warning,” PC answered. “More like posturing. Silivasi wanted us to know he’s got the vampires on his side—at least some of them.”
Noah spoke again. “What if we reach out to others, vampires who will help, hunters like Colin?”
PC chuckled and mimicked looking at a watch. “Backing off lasted about thirty seconds. That might be a land speed record, even for you. And really, Noah? You want to get the humans involved? Shit, that’s even worse than us in the council’s eyes. No. I told you, we have to let the lycans deal with this. If they want help, they’ll ask.”
Noah nodded slowly, obviously still loathing the idea of sitting back and letting things happen.
We’d moved to the living room couches. They were still talking, trying to figure out how to deal with the human deaths without stepping on lycan council toes, but I’d lost all ability to pay attention to what anyone was saying. I barely grasped the gist of what was going on.
PC started brushing my arm again, absentmindedly, while he was listening to something Zack said. The pads of his fingers traveled in a long slow path between my wrist and my elbow, circling languidly, absentmindedly. Every part of my body was on fire. The simple touch had me reeling. My pulse was racing; I could feel heat rising on my cheeks. Jesus, it’s only my arm…. Get a freaking grip. I tried to distract my body from reacting to PC’s touch so I didn’t embarrass myself. It wasn’t working.
I finally spoke up during a short silence. There was no way I could stay in public any longer with him touching me like he was. I was about to lose it.
“Can we go home, PC? I have a lot to think about.” My question was quiet but easily heard by all.
Zack took a good look at my face and chuckled.
“Think, huh? That what you kids are calling it? PC, what did I tell you about touching Miles? He’s about to explode over there.”
PC looked at my face and grinned. “Maybe we should go home.”
“Uh, not yet. We need to get some blood in Miles pretty soon. He’ll get sick if we don’t.”
The thought of blood made my mouth explode. Mmmm, wet delicious blood. It came instinctively, the thought of all that warm redness splashing in my throat. I had to admit it shocked me; I was a bit conflicted about the whole idea. The human that was still lurking in my brain was pretty disgusted, academically, at least. I hadn’t even eaten red meat since I was about twelve, and now I was lusting after blood? Again, it was something I knew I had to be okay with. I’d die if I chose to be stubborn. I had to have it, and as long as the person wasn’t hurt, then I guessed I didn’t really mind. The animal suffering had always been one of my arguments against eating meat—other than the gross meaty smell. Ugh. I guessed I had to deal with drinking blood, and morally it wasn’t that bad. I refused to really like it, though. It was just to survive. Right?
Yeah, that was a bunch of crap. The second I had my teeth in the neck of the fragrant (and can I say hot?) guy Noah picked out for me, I realized just how much I did like it. It felt seductively new and at the same time like something I’d been doing my whole life. Like it? I loved it.
In an effort to speed up my trip home, I agreed to go with Zack and Noah, and my very impatient boyfriend, to Red, the vampire bar. To drink someone’s blood. The last time I was there, I’d been a potential snack. It was still a trip to realize I was going to be one of the ones looking for something to snack on. PC got all grumbly and adorable at the idea of me sucking neck with some random guy. I coul
d’ve told him there wasn’t a single person in the world I wanted to touch other than him, but it was too much fun watching him fume. He knew that already anyway. It wouldn’t have made a difference if I said it out loud.
He still wants me.
Every time I thought it, I couldn’t help my huge smile. The bond was gone and I was a vampire, but he still wanted to touch me, to be close to my side, to clock anyone who even thought about looking at me on the side of the head. I probably should’ve been annoyed, but I loved it. I cuddled close to him the entire cab ride, which wasn’t too hard since there were four of us shoved into the backseat of our very colorful cab.
“You drink some blood, then we go home, right?” he whispered before dragging his teeth down the side of my neck. I gulped and squeezed my thighs together to hide my nearly instant arousal.
“Yes. Home,” I agreed.
I’d never spent so much time in my apartment before. It was amazing what difference one inhabitant made. Now I loved being there. I didn’t even ask if we were going to his place. So a quick drink to make Zack and Noah happy, then we could go home. Alone. I shivered.
The search for a compatible human was short. I was new and very unsure of myself, so I was happy to sample anything Noah brought my way. I didn’t seem to be like Noah, who only liked the taste of men, or like Zack who preferred women. My taste, or at least the smell, so far seemed to be individual. There were men who smelled fantastic and others who smelled oily and unappetizing and somehow more… bloody. The same was true of the women. There was a lighter smell to some of them, and it appealed to me much more.
Noah found me a guy who happened to have that lighter scent that I was drawn to. After a brief lesson on etiquette, led by Noah, with a few interjections from Jerry (my snack), I hesitatingly licked his neck, since Noah said my saliva would numb the skin and help it feel better for him, and then I bit in.
My plan of only drinking enough to survive was shot in about a nanosecond. The blood was delicious and sexy and primal, and it made me want to drag him to the ground and drink until I exploded. I loved the pure power that the blood gave me, the visceral thrill. I could feel his heartbeat, every lusty pump sending hot pleasure careening toward the back of my throat. He clutched the back of my head, fingers threading in my hair, and pulled me closer. I wanted more, I wanted to keep drinking. But I knew I couldn’t. I gently pulled my fangs from his neck, still marveling at the fact that they existed at all; then I swirled my tongue around the little puncture wounds, taking one last taste of blood and helping him heal.
I finally drew away and licked my lips, barely noticing the room around me, filled with humans and vampires and music and glowing purple lights. All I saw was PC. And, ohmygod, I was turned on.
I let go of the guy and thanked him. Before he was even five steps away, I pulled PC close for a long kiss. I couldn’t help it. I needed him.
“Was it so bad?” I whispered when we came up for air. I nibbled his bottom lip one last time because it was just that irresistible.
“Yes. I hated it. But you were sexy as hell at the same time. Just wish you could do that to me.”
I sniffed experimentally. Nope, didn’t want to bite. He smelled amazing, but boyfriend amazing, not food amazing. I was happy to taste his skin and nuzzle up to him and inhale. I did exactly that for a few moments, breathing him in and loving it. His smell heightened the arousal that was already pounding through my body.
“Can I go home now?” I asked Zack, talking over PC’s shoulder. Please, before I made a very public spectacle of myself.
He chuckled under his breath. “Yeah, you can go home.”
Chapter 15: Cheating…. A Lot
WE CUDDLED together in the back of a cab, as close to each other as we’d been when there were four people squished in the same area. The city streets had unclogged—it was nearly four in the morning, after all. I was grateful for the lack of traffic and our luck so far at missing all the forever-long lights. Both of us desperately needed to get home. I didn’t know exactly what was going to happen when we got there, but I knew it would be different. Not just because of my new vampire senses, but because for the first time, PC would be touching me because he wanted to. All on his own. I stroked his arm with my fingertips, loving the texture of his warm skin, the strong pulse of his blood.
“So would the council still approve of us being together?” I asked idly, still too drunk off my first hit of blood to think about whether or not it was the best subject to bring up.
PC gave me an odd little smile. “Of course. Why wouldn’t they?”
“Isn’t that obvious? The bond’s broken. I’m a vampire. Do we need any more reasons for them to not be okay with this?”
“It wouldn’t matter, I promise. Besides, it’s not their choice who I mate with anyway. They only get to approve who’s turned into a lycan. Since that’s not going to be you, we are now officially none of their business.”
I tried not to get too excited that he still used the word mate. “Oh. So then do you still want to go through with it?” He’d said he wanted to be with me. That didn’t mean he wanted marriage.
He leaned over on the cab seat and gave me a long kiss. A kiss that left me out of breath and wishing we were alone already.
“Yes, I still want to. I told you. Nothing has changed for me. You just have some dietary restrictions that you didn’t used to have, that’s all that’s different, right?” He nuzzled my neck laughingly and slung my leg over his.
“Yeah. Except for the minor problem of the missing bond… and of course there’s always your categorical hatred of all things commitment related, which must be rearing its ugly head now that the imprinting no longer exists.”
“Listen, Miles, about that….” He ran his hand up under my shirt to caress a sensitive nipple. My body burst into waves of pleasure. I batted at his hand.
“PC, we’re in a cab! Behave!”
“Mmm-hmm.” He wasn’t listening. I didn’t really want him to anyway.
“Uh, PC?” One more stab at rationality. “If we’re being mated like planned, then don’t we still have to follow their rules?”
He growled softly against my neck. “Screw the rules. I need you.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
OHMYGOD, OHMYGOD. I unlocked my door trembling and grinning. I couldn’t believe he was finally giving in… no, not giving in. That would make it seem like I’d pressured him. He’d said it on his own. I need you. Just the thought of those three low-spoken words made my spine break into shivers. I needed him too. It had only been a few weeks, but I felt like I’d waited a lifetime to finally have him become a part of me.
He closed the door forcefully and pushed me up against the wall just inside. His mouth was at my throat, his thigh pressed between mine. It was just enough to drive me crazy. I rolled my hips trying to increase the pressure and moaned when he sucked the skin of my neck between his teeth.
I shoved my hands between us and started unbuttoning my shirt, frantic to get rid of the annoying clothes that were keeping me from feeling his skin against mine.
“Shirt. Off,” I commanded, tugging at his hem as soon as my shirt had hit the floor. He raised his arms with a grin and pulled me to him as soon as he was free. “Love your skin, it’s so soft and warm,” I moaned against his lips. I couldn’t get enough of touching him. I trailed my fingers up and down his spine, into the waistband of his jeans and over the round curve of his sexy little ass.
He pushed closer to me. “I love how you touch me. I want your hands on me always.”
Always. I promise, my love. It really wasn’t any different. The way he felt so perfect against my body, how much I wanted to be near him all the time. Love felt just like being bonded did. There was a reason I’d always had trouble telling which one I was feeling. Now I knew. I loved him. For sure. And while he hadn’t gone so far as to say the same, at least I knew he wanted me… for now. I’d take that much as long as I could have it.<
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“I want you,” I whispered.
“I want you too,” he murmured in answer.
I gulped hard and nodded. I wasn’t nervous, just filled with pure shining lust. My hands shook from it when I unbuttoned his pants. He pushed the jeans and his briefs down and stepped out of them, walking me across the tiny room toward my bed.
It seemed like years ago that we had been there last, when in fact it had only been earlier that afternoon. How things had changed since then. I wasn’t sure any longer that it was for the worse. We were still together.
And he was finally taking me to bed to make me his in every way possible.
He laid me down, kissing my neck, my chest, biting and sucking at my nipples.
“You’re so beautiful. Gorgeous skin, lean muscles.” He kissed my belly. “Soft in all the right places. I feel like I’ve been waiting for this forever.”
Then he unbuttoned my jeans and kissed every centimeter of skin that was revealed as he pulled them down my legs and off, tossing them away.
He kissed my knees, the insides of my thighs, sucked on my hipbones until I was sure there’d be a mark. I panted and squirmed on the bed, loving his kisses but wanting so much more.
It was amazing. No, amazing didn’t describe it. Nothing could.
My new skin reveled in the delicious sensations, felt every nuance of his tongue, his lips. Just that quickly, I could feel my body racing toward a climax I wasn’t nearly ready to feel.
“Mmmm, so good. I love your taste.” A shot of heat zapped across my already insanely turned-on skin.
“C’mere,” I ground out, already barely able to speak. I needed to feel him against me, have his weight on top of me. The contact was necessary to survive. PC crawled over me, resting on his elbows.
