Undeniable

by Doreen Orsini

  She only hoped he’d believe he was her first after he entered her and found nothing barring his way.

  An hour past dusk, she sat clutching the phone and staring bleakly at her reflection in the mirror above her vanity. Her makeup couldn’t be more perfect. The sundress she’d bought that afternoon flattered her figure. Two thin straps tied at her shoulders were the only things holding it up and she’d imagined in the store how it would feel sliding over her bare breasts when Sebastian untied them, imagined his eyes when he beheld her sheer pink thong. High heeled shoes with a satin ribbon that tied around her ankle created the picture of innocence and sensuality she’d been striving for.

  But Sebastian never came.

  The doorbell rang, but it was her father.

  The phone rang, but it was Terry asking her to go to the movies.

  A car pulled up, but it was her neighbor’s date.

  And now it was ten and she was all dressed up with nowhere to go.

  The phone rang again. “Please, God, let it be him,” she prayed as she picked up the receiver. Keeping her voice calm, she said, “Hello?”

  “Oh, Diana. Thank God you’re home.”

  Diana gripped the phone. “What’s wrong, Stan?”

  “It’s Midnight. He got out again and I can’t get him to come in.”

  Diana’s chin dropped down to her chest. “Don’t worry, Stan. I’ll be right over.”

  “I’m sorry, Diana.”

  “That’s okay. I have nothing else to do.” Grabbing her coat, she cursed herself for bringing up vampires to Sebastian. He probably marked her off as a nut and had gone out with someone else.

  * * * * *

  Sebastian glanced at his watch and cursed.

  The sun had set later than usual, then, just as he was about to leave, Diego had arrived and insisted on speaking with him. After divulging that Olympia knew Diana and Sebastian were soul mates from the beginning, Diego begged Sebastian to help him find somewhere safe from Olympia’s wrath. Unable to ignore the terror in Diego’s eyes and saddened by way his scarred cheekbones had marred his looks, Sebastian had wasted another hour setting him up in Albany.

  When he finally approached Diana’s house, the sight of her father sitting on the steps of the porch forced him to park further down the street. He crept up to their house, his eyes focused on Frank Nostrum. The man leaned back, puffing on a cigar as he talked on the phone.

  Rage consumed Sebastian. He hid behind a tree. Listened.

  “Sure, Diana’s got it all under control. Hey, if anyone can coax him in, Diana can. When she talks the talk, they’ll follow her anywhere. Stan, relax. The dumb animals can’t resist her.”

  Sebastian felt his lungs seize. He slumped against the trunk, gazing up through the leaves at the stars, the gift he’d planned on surprising her with if she chose him tonight.

  “My mother says it’s her inner voice that speaks to them. They trust her. Yeah, he’ll come in. Rain tomorrow? Nah, the sky’s clear. Either way, he’ll be in the pen long before dawn.”

  Sebastian pushed himself away from the tree with trembling hands. Turning, he ran faster than he had ever run—not from the web Diana had supposedly spun to entrap him, not from a weapon more dangerous than any his kind had imagined—he ran from the truth, refusing to accept that the woman he’d fallen in love with and the woman the vampire hunter described were the same.

  At first he drove around aimlessly, wondering how he could ever return to the life he led before Diana. Eventually, he found himself standing in Colette’s backyard while Luna held a tea party with her dolls on the lawn.

  “Luna. Uncle Sebastian wants to ask you something.”

  Luna glanced up, a tea cup of water poised at her lips.

  Sebastian cleared his throat. He swallowed the lump lodged there since he left Diana’s house. “Has Diana ever spoken to you, well, like we do? Just with her mind?”

  “What a silly question.” Luna giggled and sipped at her tea. “Wanna join my tea party?”

  “Luna, answer Uncle Sebastian.” Colette reached out to grasp Sebastian’s hand. “He’s serious.”

  Luna rolled onto her back and burst into a new fit of giggles.

  Colette sat on a bench and covered her mouth, trying to hide her own laughter.

  “Laugh all you want, but I just heard her father say she could lure them into the pen because she talks the talk,” he muttered, plopping down onto the bench. He flung his head back and gazed up at the moon. “Talks the talk. Dammit, Colette, you know what that means.”

  “Yes, I do. The men at the ranch told me the horses follow her back into the pen every time they escape because she talks the talk. The horses trust her.” Colette smiled down at Luna. “She’s a horse whisperer. Right, Luna?”

  “Yup. Diana said she always gets called by Stan—you know, Mommy, Old Jake—well, he calls her whenever a horse gets out. Cause she talks the talk.” Luna glanced down at her locket. “The horses know she’ll help them.”

  Sebastian recalled how on the Midnight Trail Diana had continually whispered in her horse’s ear, how it had tilted its head as if intently listening. Running his hands through his hair, he shook his head and grinned. “I’m such a fool.”

  Colette patted his knee. “We’re all fools when we fall in love, Sebastian. We constantly worry that our heart will be broken. Try to trust her. Especially tonight.”

  He planted a huge kiss on each of their cheeks before rushing out to his car. The ritual would begin much later than he’d hoped, but it would begin. He only hoped he’d be able to stop grinning by the time he saw Diana.

  And hurry, Sebastian, Colette called as he drove away. Damien and the elders are already waiting at the ritual grounds.

  Hating that the elders would bear witness to their bonding, Sebastian slammed his palm on the steering wheel and wished he were human.

  He found her a half hour later. He had no idea how he would seduce her if his late arrival had set up a wall of mistrust around her heart, but he had to succeed.

  * * * * *

  “Cheer up, Di. He was probably some married guy looking for a quickie.” Terry draped her arm over Diana’s slumped shoulders and steered her into the mall. “Let’s go check out the hot new manager at the Multiplex.”

  “No. Something must have happened. He would have at least called. Maybe I should check at the hospital.”

  Come to me.

  Diana glanced over her shoulder and watched the glass doors they had just walked through slowly close. Her heart lurched. No one had come in behind them.

  Come to me.

  She turned her head and stared the other way toward the doors to the east parking lot. The familiar cacophony of butterflies that always warned of Sebastian’s arrival took up residence in her chest. She started to walk toward the doors, her steps speeding up as the heat coiling tightly deep in her pussy grew more and more intense.

  “Di? Where are you going? Di!” Terry grabbed her arm.

  Diana glared at her and yanked her arm away. “Let go.”

  Terry gasped. “Great, you broke a nail. I just had them done too.”

  “Oh, God, I’m so sorry, Terry.” Her eyes darted between her friend and the dark exit.

  “Shit, Di. What’s gotten into you? You know the east lot is virtually empty at night. You do not want to go out there.”

  “Didn’t you hear him? Sebastian. I have to go, Terry,” she whispered, “Don’t tell anyone I left. He’s waiting for me.

  “I didn’t hear anything.” Terry’s eyes focused on the darkness beyond the glass. “Look, I don’t like this, not one bit. You sure that’s him?”

  Diana could barely hear over the pounding of her heart. “I have to go to him, Terry. I’m so hot for him I can barely wait.”

  “You mean you’re finally going to do it? With this Sebastian guy?” Terry stared at her a moment, then held up her hand. “No, don’t tell me. If this turns into an all-nighter, the less I know, the less I can tell.”


  “Promise me, Terry, if anybody asks, I spent the night at your apartment. Better yet, leave your phone off the hook.”

  Sebastian watched Diana turn away from her friend. Before taking a step in his direction, she wrung her hands. Her pounding heart resounded in his head. Lines of worry furrowed her brow. And still, she came to him.

  His soul mate, the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen, strode toward him in a wisp of a dress that clung to her every curve. Closing his eyes, he saw her without that dress, saw her dancing in the moonlight for wishes, for stars. He longed to kiss her full lips, skim his teeth along her slender neck.

  Last night, he had nearly lost control each time her lips rose to his, each time she had moaned and pressed her softness against his cock.

  Peering through the glass, he could see her steps falter, then stop. She raised her wrist and glanced at her watch. He’d wasted too much time already, had no time to deal with her anger, and reluctantly used his power to pluck it from her mind. Merging their minds, he compelled her to join him.

  When Diana came through the doors, he stepped out of the shadows and silently called to her.

  She turned and smiled. As he took a step closer, the light from inside the mall lit his face. Her hand trembled as it rose to her neck. She glanced back at the doors.

  “I…last night…” Eyes filled with fear met his.

  Don’t fear me, Diana. I will never hurt you. Never.

  She tilted her head. “Did you say something?”

  He didn’t answer, merely held out his hand.

  Diana stared at it. “Where are we going?”

  Sebastian smiled. He knew exactly what she expected from this night. What she’d expected every night. What he, up ‘til now, had withheld.

  He doubted she’d come with him if he told her where he intended to take her, doubted, after the incident with the worms, that unless she were overpowered by her passion she’d willingly lie naked with him upon the sacred ground.

  But tonight he couldn’t take her, couldn’t compel her to leave with him. Tonight she had to come willingly. They could not leave until she placed her hand in his.

  She crossed her arms under her breasts and glared at him. “You don’t bother to call and let me know that you’re going to be late and now I’m supposed to just go off with you? Maybe I was wrong about you. Maybe I don’t know you as well as I thought I did.”

  His eyes fell to her chest and the small bumps from her erect nipples. He had to have her tonight, couldn’t waste any more time. Reluctantly, he blocked every thought in her mind except the desire he could smell racing through her veins. The more aroused he became, the more the blood she’d taken in boiled in response, inciting her to once again merge the two.

  She fought back with a mental shove that nearly succeeded in releasing her from his hold. He grinned, proud that she did not give in so easily. But the night was short and, unfortunately, he did not have the time to give her what he knew she needed, time to be sure that he should be her first.

  I will win, you know. He grinned smugly.

  Diana’s eyes opened wide. Her hand rose to grasp the locket that now hung from Luna’s neck.

  He took a step closer.

  Stop right there, buster!

  He obeyed with a bow.

  “You heard me,” she whispered, awe filling her voice. Her cheeks flushed. “You’ve heard me all along.”

  He chuckled and ran his knuckles down both sides of her neck, down over the swells of her heaving breasts. He stopped just short of touching her nipples. “Our souls were once one, goddess. We do not need words to know what the other desires.”

  He felt Diana’s valiant battle for control, but her mind welcomed his touch, her body craved it. “You know? About us being soul mates?”

  “Don’t you?”

  They stared into each other’s eyes.

  Submerged in her mind, Sebastian was shocked by the extent of her arousal. All of her nerve endings converged beneath his hands, waiting for them to continue. Her nipples throbbed painfully as they tightened. Her clit pulsed, her inner muscles tensed, and her body wept.

  A cloud passed over the moon, casting them in darkness. A cool breeze lifted the wisps of her curls. Diana shivered. Without a thought, he warmed the air surrounding them.

  “One night,” she murmured and reached out until her fingers left the cocoon of warmth, “by the lake. The air around me grew warm. And other nights…a warm breeze…” Her fingers trembled as she raised her hands to his face. “You?”

  Unable to speak, fearing her reaction, he nodded, inching his knuckles lower, closer to where she longed to feel their touch.

  “The breeze,” she breathed and glanced down at his hands resting on her breasts.

  Still unable to voice his confession, he whispered into her mind. Your breeze, goddess. Your phantom. Merging their memories of that first week, he watched her expression soften, then flush. And tonight…your lover.

  Blinking, Diana whimpered, “I’m dreaming aren’t I? You’re…I…I can’t handle this.”

  “Say the word and I’ll leave and never bother you again, Diana. Or take my hand, take me.”

  He thumped his knuckles, one by one, over her sensitive nipples. She swayed, then grabbed his hand.

  Before she could change her mind, before her hand could slide free and change the course of the night, Sebastian moved. He brought his mouth down upon hers. Opening up a small nick on the inside of the corner of his mouth, he gathered a few droplets of blood onto his tongue. When her lips opened beneath his assault, his tongue and life’s essence delved in.

  Still kissing her, he lifted her into his arms and took to the sky. Soaring over the treetops, he headed to the clearing where the elders waited.

  Look up at the stars, Diana. Make a thousand wishes, my goddess, and I’ll grant each and every one.

  She tore her mouth from his. Instead of looking up at the sky, she gazed into his eyes and blessed him with another glimpse of the dawn that dwelled in hers. Doubts and fears he’d harbored since meeting her turned to ash beneath the radiance of her gaze.

  Wind lifted her hair as they descended. This time, shielded by the silken curtain of her hair, she brought her lips to his. Heedless of the late hour, of the elders waiting below, Sebastian slowed their descent and lost himself in their kiss.

  When their feet touched the blanket of grass in the clearing, he ended the kiss.

  Backing away, he started to unbutton his jeans.

  Looking dazed, she silently watched him remove his clothes. Still merged, he saw himself through her eyes, followed the path of her gaze. She took in the muscles on his arms and legs. Her eyes widened as they focused on the curls at the base of his cock. Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips. His cock jerked, growing longer then he thought it ever had. Blinking, she sent her gaze back up the length of his torso.

  “Your tattoo,” she said on a gasp. A smile swept across her face, lit her eyes.

  Touching the black raven tattooed across his chest, he grinned. “I take it you like tattoos?”

  “My grandmother said my soul mate would have one. A raven, just like yours.” Reaching out, she ran her fingers over the tattoo. Over his heart.

  The feel of her fingers burning a path across his skin never failed to amaze him. Tonight he would feel her searing touch over his entire body. Hissing from her fingertips grazing over his nipple, he stepped back. “Tonight, I please you.”

  Compelling her to remain where she was, he walked to the edge of the clearing and sat with his back against a tree. As he bent one leg, he nonchalantly rested his arm on his knee.

  Proving that his blood strengthened her, as he knew it would, she followed. Sebastian burned with desire as he watched her approach. When only a few feet separated them, he remembered that they were not alone. That the elders surrounded them as witnesses. They would remain until his union with Diana was consummated, until she offered her body and blood up to him.

 
“Undress for me, Diana. Let the greedy creatures of the night dwell upon your beauty. Show them that you are giving yourself to me of your own free will.”

  Diana peered into the shadows surrounding them. She jumped back when an owl hooted from a nearby tree. After a few agonizing moments, she met his gaze and untied the straps holding up her dress. As the dress slithered down her body, the collective gasp of the elders set his blood boiling. Still holding his gaze, she untied the sides of her thong. Completely exposed, her eyes once again darted to the shadows.

  “You’re beautiful, Diana. Any goddess would envy you.”

  “I’m afraid I’ll wake up and realize this was just another dream.”

  Taking her hands, he pulled her down onto his lap, turning her so his body shielded hers from the elders. He wanted to spread her legs and taste her sweet juices mixed with the essence of her life as he had that night in her bedroom, but he refused to expose her to the elders any more than was necessary.

  Sliding his hand down her belly to her silken curls, he spared a moment enjoying the pleasure of their touch upon his skin before delving further down. He caressed her swollen lips, spreading her moisture over them while his tongue imitated his movements on her mouth. When a warm drop landed on his thigh, he gave her what she had been silently begging for and plunged his fingers into her moist pussy. Her guttural moan sent a jolt of exquisite pain to his already engorged cock.

  Diana spread her legs wider and wider, covered his hand with both of hers and pushed his fingers deeper. With a growl, Sebastian took possession of her mouth and merged their minds. Her cries filled his head. The slick muscles surrounding his fingers convulsed as she shattered in his arms.

  Standing, supping on lips he dreamt of every day, he carried her to the center of the clearing. He laid her upon the damp ground, compelling her to feel the touch of satin. Opening her eyes when his lips released hers, she reached out.

  And screamed.

  Through her eyes, Sebastian saw himself kneeling between her legs, his blood-red eyes fixed on her terrified face. His fangs, so damn long from wanting her, so damn sharp. His heart shattered when she continued to scream and scrambled back. Tears filled her eyes.