Amorie grinned at me and leaned her head against my shoulder. Her hair was so soft. “I know, cher. And I am sure that Ralof has told you that vampires are dangerous too, no?”
I slid my arm around her shoulders. “He did. And he didn’t seem too sure that you were safe company.”
“I have no desire to harm you, Dakota.” She met my eyes through her long, dark lashes.
I gazed down into her eyes, feeling the warmth of our connection despite the chill of her skin. I felt a tension building inside, and this time, it wasn’t fear. I closed the gap between our lips and she returned my kiss with passion. There was no hesitation or preamble. I could feel her desire in the way she pressed herself against me. She wanted me. My body responded to her desire with the warmth and tightness of its own hungers. I shuddered against her mouth as she slid her body atop mine, the long slit in her gown allowing her to straddle me effectively. I slid my hands along her thighs, up her hips, and rested them on the small of her back, pulling her against me as she broke contact with my lips to trail tender kisses down my cheek to my jaw.
I rolled my back with the shiver that ran down my spine as Amorie’s lips brushed my ear. Her wet lips caressed the skin just behind my earlobe and I groaned. I felt a tension building deep inside, but I figured it was just nervousness and ignored it. Her hands rose along my sides until she reached my shoulders, then pulled me into a soft embrace. I whispered her name in a pleasured sigh as she brought her chest firmly against mine, and much softness ensued. That feeling was nagging at my stomach. Her lips brushed my neck. I tensed suddenly and pulled away.
Amorie frowned and tilted her head. “Dakota?”
“What are you doing?” I demanded. Even I could hear the fear in my voice.
Amorie’s eyebrows knitted together in concern. “I am sorry. Did I do something you did not like?” I helplessly lifted a hand to my neck. Amorie’s eyes lit with comprehension and then apology. “Oh! Forgive me, Dakota. I should not have gotten so close.”
I was chewing at my lip again. “You mean, you weren’t going to bite me?”
Amorie quickly covered up a touch of hurt and shook her head. “No. Of course, not. Never without your permission.”
I nodded slowly. “I… I’m sorry.” I felt my cheeks burning with embarrassment. “I shouldn’t have assumed.”
“No, it is my fault for giving you that impression.” Amorie seemed to consider the closeness of our position. I thought for a moment she was going to move away, but she stayed, holding me gently instead. “I have pushed you, haven’t I?”
“What? No.” I pulled her closer. “I wanted this. I want you.” She still didn’t look convinced. “I just…” I glanced at the darkly tinted window. “I just don’t want you to bite me.”
Amorie nodded. “Then I will not.” I smiled up at her, relieved she wasn’t mad. She seemed hesitant. “May I ask why?”
I thought about that for a few seconds before answering. “Because, I don’t know what it would do to me. I’m afraid that it would make me… enthralled to you or something. Or, that you…”
“That I only want you for your blood?” The tone in her voice stung my heart. She was obviously sad that I would think that of her. “I understand.” I felt awful.
“I don’t… I don’t actually believe that you only want me for my blood.” I did my best to sound consoling, while showing the honesty in my voice. “I’m just afraid that if you did, I wouldn’t be able to tell.”
Amorie slid softly off of me and rested against my side. I slid my arm around her shoulders again and pulled her close. She wrapped an arm across my stomach and hugged me gently. “I understand. It is difficult for you to know what is true. I wish I could tell you that you are wrong to concern yourself with such things, but you are not. If I wanted you for your blood, and I wished you not to know this, you would not know.”
I played my fingers through the loose curls that dangled along her shoulder. “Then… How do I know?’
Amorie looked up at me. “How can I prove it to you? Even if there were something I could say to give you proof, you would not believe that you could be certain I spoke the truth.”
I thought about that as we rode for a long moment in silence. She was right. There was nothing she could say to solve my concern. If she told me an answer that satisfied my fear, I’d just believe she was playing me. I chewed that over for a long moment before speaking again. “Are you going to eat me?’
Amorie shook her head. “I do not wish to eat you. I can not say I would not like to drink of you. But I would not ever wish to eat you.”
“If you drink from me, does it hurt me in any way? I presume it doesn’t have to kill me.”
“It would hurt, only for an instant, and then no more. It would not leave any lasting harm, and there would be no marks. It would do you no harm that would last beyond the morning.” She felt so small and soft in my arms. I felt awful for drilling her like this. But that tension in my gut urged me onward.
“Would it put me in your thrall? Or influence me in any way?”
Amorie met my eyes. “I could influence you with words. With my smile. I already have. Just as you have influenced me. With your wit. With your humor. With your adorable face.” I smiled despite the seriousness of the conversation as she gently stroked my cheek. Amorie’s expression softened. “It would not magically influence you for me to feed upon you. There is… an effect that takes place when a vampire feeds upon another creature. It is a sensation of pleasure that floods the donor’s body. It will not mystically deprive you of your senses, nor will it rob you of your will. Though you could become accustomed to it, and desire it more.”
“A sensation of pleasure, huh?” I waggled my eyebrows at her and she laughed, laying her forehead against my chest before meeting my eyes again.
“That doesn’t sound too bad.” I smiled at her softly.
“It can be. Some of my kin would make it so.”
I frowned. “Like Cuthbert?”
Amorie shrugged. “Perhaps. I do not know him well. He did seem possibly to be the violent type, no?”
“But you’re not?”
Amorie shook her head. “I do not typically enjoy feeding upon an unwilling participant. I prefer to drink what is freely given.”
I mulled that over for a few blocks before nodding again. “All right.”
Amorie tilted her head, lifting it from where she’d been resting against my shoulder. “Hmm?”
“I’ve decided to trust you.”
Amorie smiled at me warmly. “Just like that?”
I nodded. “You’re right. I can’t know if you will manipulate me. And we all manipulate each other anyway. All the time. I’ve been trying to manipulate you into liking me since the moment I first laid eyes on you. And you’ve had plenty of opportunity to hurt me if you’d wanted to. On top of that…” I considered then nodded to myself. “If Ralof had thought you were going to eat me, he would have told me to stay away from you.” That tension in my gut eased a little. I remembered that deep-down feeling was likely my wolf. I guess she believed in our new Alpha already too.
“He would have.” Amorie agreed. “He is a good Alpha.”
I felt that my wolf agreed with her. “So, what do we do now? I guess I kinda broke the mood with all my concerns.”
Amorie squeezed me softly. “It all depends on you, Dakota. If you are not comfortable, I understand. But if you do not wish me to bite you tonight, I will have to go soon so that I may feed myself before dawn.”
I frowned. I didn’t want Amorie to leave. The wolf felt uneasy inside me. I was unsure. “I don’t want you to go…” I murmured softly.
Amorie frowned apologetically. “I am sorry, ma chérie. I do not wish to give you such a decision, but food is a necessity.”
“Does hunting really take that long?” I leaned my head on her head, inhaling the incredible aroma of her perfume.
“That depends on many factors. It might not take too long, but I must
also have time to get back to Nashville and to the safety of my home before dawn.” She shifted against me, pressing her cold cheek against my bare shoulder.
“Oh, right. I forgot your place was all the way out there.” I frowned. Nashville was a solid three hour drive if you obeyed the speed limit. It was still over two if you didn’t. I considered at length as we rested against each other. Finally, I gathered up my courage and squeezed her against me. “Do it.”
“Are you certain?” She leaned toward me hungrily.
“I am.” I hoped I was.
Amorie leaned in and kissed me again. I felt her weight settle back onto my legs as I kissed her in return. I marveled this time at how little she weighed. Before, I’d been rather caught up in the moment and had not thought much of it, but I realized now she was not simply holding her weight off of me. I knew because she settled herself down on me and busied her hands with guiding mine back to their prior post on her lower back. The mood, as it turned out, was not lost after all. I felt my body reacting to the intoxicating feeling of her desire for me. She kissed me hungrily, and I showed her just how hungry I was in return.
Amorie’s body rolled against mine so elegantly. Her movements were fluid and graceful. I was hot beneath her chill touch. She trailed her cool kisses down my cheek and along my jaw, just as she had before, until she teased at my ear once again. I gasped at the sensation just as I had the first time. She laughed softly and whispered against my ear, “A sensitive spot for you, my little wolf?” I let out a shuddering little laugh and nodded dumbly. Amorie grinned against my ear as she pulled me tight against her, pressing her breasts against mine. I groaned. And then she struck.
I felt the sharp prick of Amorie’s fangs as they touched my skin, and it hurt for just an instant as she pushed them into my neck. I sucked in air through my teeth but I let it out in a breathless whimper. Her power washed over me, and the pain was gone. It was like we were suddenly connected on some level I couldn’t define. It wasn’t sheerly mental. I could feel her flooding my senses, rushing along my veins, pulsing in my chest. She wrapped her power around me and I was in ecstasy. My fingers curled against her back and I felt my hips gyrating toward her. She had me.
I groaned and pressed for her until she threw her head back, gasping in her own pleasure as she moved her hips against me. I watched her tongue roll languidly across her ruby lips before she ducked her head to my neck again and lapped up the blood that had spilt from twin punctures. Finally, she pressed a soft kiss to my neck and it sent a tingling chill along my neck and down my back. I rolled my hips with hers, filled with need. She leaned in close and laid her forehead against mine, breathing softly, “So good, my little wolf…”
I strained to reach her mouth with mine. She grinned at me teasingly. “Kiss me.” I demanded. Amorie smirked at me and complied.
14
Watching
The next night, my shift was unbelievably boring. It was hard to stand attentively and guard when memories of the night before kept drifting into my head unbidden. I couldn’t get Amorie, her scent, her cool skin, and her softness out of my head. Our evening had been wonderful and satisfying, fulfilling on many levels, some of which I hadn’t been fulfilled on in quite a long time, and some new levels I hadn’t been fulfilled on before at all. Amorie was just that good.
It was half-past nine when the the rumbling of Ralof’s Ram startled me out of the pensive staring contest I’d challenged the parking lot to an hour ago. Ralof pulled the oversized pickup into the parking space in front of me, and Andrei waved at me enthusiastically from the passenger’s seat. I smiled as my Alpha and his second got out of the truck and strolled up to the railing of the small side ramp I was standing on. Andrei wore a pair of khaki board shorts and a dark muscle shirt that showed off his copious ink, but Ralof was neatly attired in a dress shirt and slacks. I whistled at him playfully as he got out of the truck and he grinned in response. Ralof hoisted a fast food bag in a sort of wave and I wondered if this was some kind of secret werewolf greeting that I needed to start mimicking in the near future. Ralof handed the bag to me as he leaned against the railing in front of me and smiled. “Hail there, Dakota.” I grinned at his archaic language.
“Hail yourself. What’s this for?” I opened the bag and found a couple of thick sandwiches that smelled deliciously of roast beef and a box of curly fries. My stomach grumbled.
“With us, I find it is almost always helpful to have food around.” Ralof replied with a smirk. “Hungry werewolves are grumpy werewolves. Grumpy werewolves make poor company.”
“I bet. Hey there Andrei!” I waved at him as I unwrapped one of the sandwiches.
Andrei lifted his fist toward me and I bumped it with mine. “Hey there little sister. How’s it going?” The nickname made my chest feel all warm and fuzzy. Or maybe that was just Andrei’s infectiously cheery attitude. Either way, it felt wonderful to be accepted and cared for.
“Could be worse.” I mumbled through a bite of roast beef. “I hate perimeter duty. This humidity’s no good for my mood.”
“I hear ya.” Andrei grinned at me conspiratorially. “That’s why you swap the schedule around when no one’s looking to avoid the outdoor shift when it’s mucky out.”
Ralof stole a fry from the box I’d propped on the corner of the railing and gestured at Andrei with it. “Hah. Don’t give her advice she should not follow.” He gave Andrei a playfully reproachful expression and Andrei cheesed up his grin.
I smiled at the two of them, marveling at how comfortable I felt in their presence. “So what brings you two to my place of work this evening?” I glanced at Ralof’s fancy duds pointedly. “And why’re you all dressed up?”
Ralof grunted curiously at me. “Dressed up? These are just my work clothes.”
“Work clothes? Do you run a bank or something?” I took another bite of my sandwich.
“I work as an attorney.” I raised my eyebrows in surprise and Ralof continued. “I spend a lot of my time handling legal matters for the pack, and for other… werewolf-related events.”
I blinked. “The government knows about werewolves?”
Ralof shook his head. “No. But that’s exactly why it’s important for werewolves to have someone who can represent them in legal matters who knows how to handle the Unawakened without raising any alarms.”
I considered that. “So basically, you’re a lawyer slash spin doctor?”
Ralof nodded. “You could say that. Though I do several other things as well, like defending our local preserves, protecting the rights of the local wildlife, and representing the tribes from time to time.”
“Wow. More like lawyer slash superhero then.”
Ralof grinned at me. “The money is not bad either, and that allows me to take care of the pack and provide a safe place for them, even feed them from time to time.” He nudged the fast food bag.
I nodded as I finished my sandwich. “Thanks for the food. I didn’t have time to grab breakfast on my way out so I was kinda ravenous.” I stuffed a few fries in my mouth and eyed the other sandwich.
“Oh?” Andrei grinned at me. “Stayed out too late partying?”
I smirked at him as I opened the other sandwich. “Maybe.”
“Ooo. Hope you didn’t have too much fun without me.” Ralof thumped Andrei lightly on the shoulder, eliciting an even more wolfish grin from the younger man.
I grinned at them both. “I had a date.”
Ralof stiffened ever so slightly and I knew he’d guessed who my date had been with. Andrei nudged my arm with his knuckles. “Oooh. Was he cute?”
I crinkled my nose. “She. Was… gorgeous.” The look Ralof was giving me said he had definitely guessed and he didn’t seem super excited about it.
Andrei waggled his eyebrows. “Ahh, she. Sweet.” Ralof gave him a look and Andrei tilted his head slightly in a jerking motion I felt I should have understood but didn’t.
Ralof captured my eyes, “With Amorie, I take it?” Yup. He’d g
uessed. I grinned in reply. Ralof made a rumbling sound that resonated from his chest. “Be careful, Dakota.” He hesitated just slightly as if he was considering his words more carefully. “We can not trust the vampires. I do not want you getting hurt.”
“I think if she’d wanted to hurt me, she’d have done it when I was Unawakened. Or at least before handing me over to you for protection.” I felt my head ducking ever so slightly even as Ralof held my gaze.
“Perhaps. But with vampires, we can never be so sure. Just…” he put a hand on my arm. “Be careful.”
I nodded my head once. “I will, Ralof. Thank you.” He nodded, acknowledging my acceptance of his warning. I liked that he was looking out for me, but I really hadn’t wanted him to tell me not to see her again. One part of me felt I’d be hard pressed to go against him directly, but the other part wasn’t so sure I’d have listened. “So… Did you find anything out?”
Ralof nodded, resting his arms on the rail in front of me again. “I did. I found out that your situation is indeed unusual. None of my contacts had heard of such a thing as a werewolf who could not shift at your age. I did some calling around, and finally got in touch with SII. I hate to think that they can find the werewolf answers that I cannot, but… Sadly, I’m afraid talking to them will be your best option at this point. They will likely know what to do, or at least where to go from here.”
I nodded, chewing my roast beef thoughtfully. “Can they help me with the green burny hands thing too?”
Ralof furrowed his brow and huffed slightly. “I still do not know anything about that, but I imagine they will be able to help you get in touch with the Magister’s Court if nothing else.”
“Okay. So, how do I get in touch with them?”
“I will take you to them. Their nearest headquarters is in Nashville.” Ralof said.
“Oh. Okay. That’s less cryptic than I was expecting. So when?”
Ralof seemed amused. “We could go the day after tomorrow if you are available.”
Awakened (Auralight Codex: Dakota Shepherd Book 1) Page 10
