by Jill Myles
“Actually,” Zane said, his hand caressing my hip in a possessive gesture, “I’m not commanding her to do anything. She has a mind of her own, and I rather like it.”
Isaiah’s lip curled in disgust.
“Yeah,” I said, feeling bold. “Show some respect.”
“Why should I respect your relationship with your master when you do not respect my relationship with my own slave? You are here, determined to take Penitence away from me simply because you do not agree with my methods of training her.” He gestured at me, then at the doors. “You will awaken my brides, and you will awaken them now!”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “No. Not until you free Remy from her obligation to you.”
“Is that so? Penitence,” Isaiah said in a warning tone. “Come to me.”
Remy stood.
Ethan jerked to his feet, tugging on her arm. “No, Remiza. Do not go to him.”
“Come to me,” Isaiah repeated in a calm voice, then added, “Come and give your master a kiss.”
Ethan growled with rage as Remy ripped free of his grasp and moved toward Isaiah. She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.
“Remiza,” Ethan said, clenching his fists, his voice hoarse with pain. “This is not you.”
“This is the woman I will allow her to be,” Isaiah said with a smirk.
“Then you’re not getting any of your freakish brides back until I get my friend back,” I said, leaping to my feet in anger. “Guess you’re going to have to make your own fucking breakfast and buff your own damn nails.”
He gave me a cold stare. “You think I care for these women? They are nothing to me.”
“Wrong,” I said. “They are highly trained servants who adore you. They’re fuck-buddies and worshippers and housekeeping all rolled into one. You may not care about them, but it’s certainly going to be annoying to have to get a totally new cult going and start over.” I studied my fingernails, feigning boredom. “Also? The human body can only exist without food and water for so long. Gonna be a little tricky explaining to the cops why you have thirty dead wives in your house.”
“You would kill them all to prove your point, then?” Isaiah asked, aghast.
Hell no, I wouldn’t. But he didn’t have to know that. “I would.”
His lip curled as he regarded me, and he turned to Remy. “This is what comes of cavorting with vampires. Do you see this, Penitence?”
Ethan stepped in front of Isaiah, his massive form dwarfing the Serim’s. “Her name is Remiza.”
“She belongs to me. I will call her whatever I like,” Isaiah said calmly.
Ethan leaned over the Serim, and I could have sworn I heard a growl rumble from his throat. “She does not belong to you.”
“You may threaten me but that will not make me release her.”
“It seems we’re at an impasse,” Zane said slowly, rising to his feet. He straightened the heavy leather duster he wore and tilted his head, staring down at Isaiah. “I propose a gamble.”
“A gamble?”
Zane smiled, the look sly and confident all at once. “A game of cards to determine the outcome. If you win, we’ll wake your wives and never return. Remy will be left with you.”
Ethan stiffened. “I do not agree to this.”
Zane gave him a bored look. “No one asked you.”
I wrung my hands and then waved Ethan over to one side, biting my lip. I trusted Zane. I knew what he was doing. At least, I was pretty sure he did.
The vampire’s gaze returned to the Serim’s face. “If we win, I want you to free Remy of all your commands. Forever. And that includes the hundred year deal you have with her.”
Isaiah scowled. “This is not a big enough deal. Throw in your succubus as well. You can command her to obey me.”
I stepped forward. “Now wait just a—”
“Done,” said Zane coolly, and I turned a wide-eyed, incredulous glare in his direction.
He winked at me, the movement so subtle I wasn’t sure if I imagined it or not. God, I hoped I wasn’t imagining it. “Now, Isaiah, name the card game.”
Isaiah studied us both for a moment, then smiled brilliantly. “Go Fish.”
I spluttered.
Ethan looked confused.
Zane’s cigarette drooped slightly, and I could have sworn his jaw hung open, just a little. “I meant cards as in poker. Five-card draw, Texas hold ’em, seven-card stud, blackjack—”
“You let me pick the game,” Isaiah said with a crazy glint in his eyes. “I chose.”
“Very well,” Zane drawled. “Get the cards.”
As soon as Isaiah turned away I gave Zane a long look. “I hope we’re not going to regret this.”
He grinned at me. “Me too.”
#
“Got any eights?”
“Go fish,” Zane said lazily, reaching over the cards to flick his cigarette against the ashtray.
I sat across the room, shifting in my chair anxiously and chewing my lip. Both Ethan and I had been exiled to the far end of the room so we couldn’t peek over the shoulders of the players and give away hints of what they held. Ethan had been more fidgety than I could handle, and I’d sent him to guard the doors to the sleeping girls’ chambers. A useless task, since they wouldn’t be waking up without me, but it gave him something to do other than stare at Remy’s bent head and clench his fists helplessly. I knew he wanted to attack Isaiah very badly, and the fact that he was Remy’s master—Remy’s sole master—meant that he had to live so Remy could.
“Jacks,” Zane said calmly, then lit another cigarette. He’d smoked three of them since they’d started playing. I didn’t know if that was a good sign or a bad one. Was he smoking so many because he was anxious? Or was he trying to make Isaiah think he was anxious? It drove me nuts trying to figure it out.
Across the room, Isaiah slapped a card down on the table and glared at Zane. He shoved it toward the vampire. Zane picked it up calmly, added three cards of his own to it, and laid the set down on the table.
“Twos?” Isaiah said.
“Go fish,” Zane drawled.
The Serim muttered under his breath and drew another card. Before he even had it in his hand, Zane smiled and tossed his cigarette into the nearby cup he’d designated as an ashtray. “Aces?”
Isaiah’s face went purple and he flung his cards down on the table.
Zane grinned. “That makes nine books for me, and that wins the game.”
Isaiah stood and flipped the table over in a rage. I jumped up, my heart pounding.
Zane stared calmly at him. He didn’t get up from his sprawled, lazy position in the chair. His feet were crossed at the ankles and stretched under the now-missing table. “I won fair and square.”
“That game wasn’t a fair competition. I demand we play another game.” His eyes darted wildly as he thought. “Jacks—no, wait! Uno!”
Zane got to his feet, slowly. “I’m not playing more games.”
“Poker, then,” Isaiah said. “That was what you wanted to play.”
“No poker,” Zane replied, then leaned into the Serim’s face. “I won. Game over.”
“Arm wrestling,” Isaiah declared. “We should do best two out of three, easily—”
Zane reached over the upended table and grabbed the Serim by the throat. He lifted the smaller man off the ground. “I said I won.” His voice was low and dangerous. “Are you going to uphold your end of the bargain? I can be really unpleasant when I’m betrayed.”
Isaiah swallowed hard and glared at Zane’s red-eyed gaze, too close to his own. He tilted his head slightly in acknowledgment. “Fine. You win.”
“That’s better,” Zane said in a low, dangerous voice. He dropped Isaiah on the ground and the Serim landed on his feet, wobbling. “Look at it this way. You don’t want her around any more than she wants to be here. You’ve got a house full of women ready to serve you and adore you. Why harp on that one?”
“You are right,” Isaiah said
. “That one is a fool, and an unattractive one to boot. I am much happier with my wives, and they will be much happier without this one around.”
“Can’t argue with that,” Zane said, releasing Isaiah and lowering him back to the floor.
“Zane,” I said in a warning tone.
He flashed a wink over at me. “Just calling it like I see it.”
I rolled my eyes.
Isaiah sniffed and straightened his robes. “If I free her, none of you must ever set foot in this house again.”
“Just fine by me,” Zane said. “You free her of all your commands, though.”
“Penitence,” Isaiah said, looking over at Remy’s bowed figure. “You are free to go. I lift all of my commands. Ignore them from now on.”
Remy sat up and flexed her jaw as if testing it. Then she gave Isaiah a withering look. “If I’m such a bother, why do you keep making me come back?”
“Remy, let’s just go—” I began.
“I brought you into this world,” Isaiah said, tugging and smoothing a wrinkle in his robe sleeve. “I feel a certain responsibility to train you for the next idiot foolish enough to take you on.”
Remy gasped in outrage. “You are such a dick. You too,” she said, wiggling a manicured finger at my vampire. “Don’t think I didn’t hear you agreeing with him.”
“I am dumping you, Penitence,” Isaiah said. “You and I are done.”
“Dumping me? You can’t dump me if we were never in a relationship!” Her shoulders heaved as if she wanted to scream. “Newsflash, buddy—master and slave is not a real relationship. I may suck your—”
I clapped a hand over Remy’s mouth and squeezed her close. “She is just giddy with appreciation, Isaiah,” I said. I pinched Remy’s arm with my other hand. “She just needs a moment to let it sink in.”
Isaiah’s lip curled a little. “I realize she must be quite giddy at my gift, but she can let it sink in somewhere else.”
Remy’s hands formed claws as he turned his back, and she moved to attack him.
I grabbed her arms, holding her down.
“Giddy,” she muttered. “Just giddy.”
“Remiza!” Ethan bellowed, and the doors to the dorm wing of the house flew open. He burst in, eyes scanning the room for his beloved. “I hear your voice! Are you well again?”
Just like that, Remy’s anger melted and she bounded across the room to him. “My sweet enforcer!” she cooed. “You saved me, Pooky!”
“Actually,” Zane said, moving to my side and sliding a warm hand around my waist. “I don’t think he did much than sit around and glare at people. I had to do all the hard work.”
“Thanks, Pooky,” I said and patted his cheek. “Now I need to wake up those girls so we can get out of here.”
#
Twenty minutes later, the girls were awake, Isaiah had shooed us off his property, and we’d driven maybe twenty minutes down the road before stopping at a motel. Because it was so close to Zane’s hibernation and he hadn’t yet fed, we weren’t going to make it back to New City. His eyes were so red with hunger they were nearly feral. Remy and I were both starting to feel the pangs of the Itch, and I caught Remy casting lascivious glances over at the big enforcer.
As soon as Ethan stopped the car, Remy dove onto him like a starving woman. She began to kiss his neck and they tumbled out of the car and onto the parking lot, making out.
I stepped over them. “I’ll uh, I’ll just get the keys to the rooms, guys. Wait here.”
They didn’t even look up. Remy’s hand slid down Ethan’s leg and then he gave a sharp groan. I averted my eyes and rushed to the office. A few minutes later, I had two room keys to the motel and I handed one over to Remy and Ethan.
Ethan took the key, hauled Remy against him bodily, and then they were staggering to the room, tearing each other’s clothes off and making out. They’d barely made it into the room before they fell on the bed, and clothing flew onto the floor. Yikes. I moved to the door and slammed it shut, wincing at the ravenous sounds I could hear too clearly through the cheap motel door. It was all tongues and smacking, the occasional groan, and a whispered ‘Pooky’ here and there.
At least Remy was back to normal.
Zane had already opened our room and I stepped inside, shutting the door behind me and throwing the bolt. I had no more than finished turning the lock when he moved behind me, stroking my hair off my neck and pressing a kiss there. His hand stole to my front, cupping one of my breasts through the thin robe. His fingers lightly brushed against the aching nipple, and my body instantly flooded with need.
“Looks like we finally get some alone time,” Zane murmured against my neck. He inhaled sharply, tasting my scent.
“Think Isaiah’s really gone for now?” I asked. “Or do you think we’ll have to worry about him showing up again?”
He ran his tongue over the side of my neck and I moaned. “There’s a reason why Serim like him live alone and surround themselves with human women, princess. He’s a weakling and a coward. If he ever shows up again—and I don’t think he will—I’ll take care of him.”
I reached backward and twined my fingers in his hair even as he pressed kisses on the side of my neck, fiercely hungry but taking the time to tease me first. His fingers continued to brush the tip of one breast, coaxing it to a hard point through the fabric of my stupid white robe.
“What you did back there for Remy,” I breathed between strokes of his fingers against my breasts. “That was very sweet of you…” My fingers jerked his hair and pulled his neck back. “Until you offered me up as part of the deal, you jerk. What the hell were you thinking?”
Zane grinned, and the smile was more fang than anything else. Instead of scaring me, it made my sex pulse with need. I knew what those were for. And where he was going to put them.
A shiver of longing ripped through me. “You’re not answering the question.”
“You were never in danger, my love,” Zane said, wrapping his arms around my waist and dragging me over to the bed. He pushed me down onto my back, his fingers hiking up the hem of my robe and exposing my wet, slick sex. His hand slipped to the buckle of his belt, and then it was gone, and his jeans were undone. I watched him with avid eyes and raised my hips when I felt the heated length of him probe against my core.
“Why was I never in danger?” I panted.
“Because I cheated,” he said and thrust fiercely inside of me in one hard slam.
“Cheated?” I gasped, my nails digging into his shoulders. God, he was so deep inside me that I was losing track of what we were talking about. “Cheated at cards?”
“Abso-fucking-lutely,” he said with a savage grin and thrust hard into me once more. “Fuck playing fair. I play to win.”
And then he leaned in to kiss me, his fangs nipping at my lower lip, his hot skin burning against mine. His weight over me was the most beautiful and sinful thing ever. “Oh god,” I whimpered. “I love you, Zane. I’m so glad you’re my master.”
“Always and forever, Jackie,” he said as he thrust into my slick, tight warmth again. I felt his mouth against my neck a moment before his fangs sank in.
I orgasmed twice. Instantly. One on top of the other. And as he drank, he continued to thrust into me, building another orgasm slowly until I was crying out his name and how much I loved him, and we exploded together, his teeth locked against my throat. He drank for a moment longer, and I protested when his fangs slid out of my throat, clenching my body against his as if that’d somehow hold him closer to me. I never wanted to let him go.
He licked my throat once. “Drank a little too much. Sorry about the nap, princess.”
“Drink all you want,” I said slowly, feeling the languor that came from the vampire bite flooding through my veins. My eyes drooped and I clutched him to me, felt him still seated deep inside my body, his hips between my thighs. “And thank you…” I murmured.
“For what?” His hand brushed a lock of hair off of my face.
He kissed my neck, my collarbones, my breasts, the sensation barely registering in my now-blissed-out-and-far-too-sleepy mind. “I did it for you, princess. We’re a team. Your wants and needs are mine too. For now and forever.”
A team. For now and forever. I’d take that.
About JILL MYLES
Jill Myles writes under two other pen names - Jessica Sims and Jessica Clare. She lives in Texas with her husband and spends all of her waking moments plotting the downfall of her characters. Well, not really. You can read more about Jill and her upcoming projects at www.jillmyles.com
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SUCCUBUS, INTERRUPTEDJILL MYLES
