“Yes.” She nodded. “I know. I know the love we have is real. I will always cherish and respect our bond before everything else. But I’d rather not talk about it anymore unless…”
Worried, he frowned. “Unless what?”
“We get naked. I really need to feel your skin against mine right now.”
“That’s a perfectly sensible stipulation.”
***
She felt her inner muscle clench hungrily, her nipples hardened and breasts ached for his attention as his fingers worked to unbutton her shirt. He slowly pulled the shirt back and over her shoulders and let it drop to their feet. He leaned forward and his bare muscular chest pressed against her breasts, he claimed her mouth with his. They kissed eagerly, franticly, as if they’d never kissed before and feared it would be their last kiss.
She heard the sound of her heart beating. No. Not hers. It was his. It was calling her, tempting and beckoning her to take his blood. To taste it. Savor it. Something was wrong with her. Everything around her was going in slow motion and began to spin. Tangling her fingers in his hair and arching her body to get closer, she whispered. “Eli.” His name came out in a breathless plea for help. They had to stop.
“Shh. It’s nothing to fear. It’s the change in you. You can’t stop it once it has been awakened.”
“No.” He didn’t understand. It wasn’t matter of being aroused. Something had gone wrong. She was going nuts. She was too inflamed by whatever volatile force was raging to bust out of her. It wanted to take him, possess him. All of him. It was all she could do to stop it from hurting him.
Daring her to retaliate he bit down on her lower lip just hard enough to make it sting. “It’s you. It won’t hurt me. It only wants to come out and play. Let yourself lose on me, babe.”
“I can’t.” Struggling to catch her breath, her voice sounded like a strangled gasp.
She listened to herself panting when he reached between their bodies. “You will.” His lips, his tongue making love to hers as his hands cupping, squeezing her breast and way too sensitive nipples drove her wild with rampant lust. Slowly going down on his knees before her, he kissed his way from her mouth to her breasts, pausing to tease her nipples with his tongue, and then he worked his way down to her belly.
With strength she’d never known she reached down and shoved his shoulders. He actually tumbled backwards. Shocked, she stared at him. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Getting to his feet, he smiled. “Yes. You did. But that’s not what you really want to do to me.”
Unbuttoning and unzipping his jeans he took a step back and then he pulled them down and kicked them out of the way. He stood before without a stitch of clothing to cover him.
She loved looking at him, savoring the sight of him naked and aroused. The muscular curves and definitions of his body illuminated by the soft glow of the candle light caused her body to ache. “I’m starting to gain an appreciation for candlelight.”
“Are you?” he asked. The sound of his voice was deep, enticing. His eyes burning with his intense hunger for her. Only her. “Yes.” Needing to touch him, to explore his body, she closed the small gap between them. She ran her hands down his chest and belly, and then slowly made her way to his shoulders by tracing his defined muscles with the tips of her fingers. A low growl of approval rumbled in his chest, vibrated over her flesh, further arousing her as she moved her hands even lower for a scrumptious exploration of every hot, engorged manly inch of his body.
Cradling her ass, he lifted her. As she wrapped her legs around his body, he slowly pushed her back up against the wall. Bracing her with one hand, his other hand massaged her breasts as his thumbs teased and his fingers squeezed her nipples. Her pulse jumped as she arched her back to further push her breast into his palm. Her body trembled at the tumultuous combinations of blissful sensations running through her body.
Her mouth ached. She ran her tongue over her teeth. Her canines were longer, sharper and more pointed than normal. Like a…like his. She’d known it had happened, but she’d never really come to terms with the fact that his blood had truly changed her. In that moment she realized she could trust him and embrace the change or she could fear and try to overcome the intense passion and thirst for his blood that it created in her. Why fear it? The thought of tasting his blood no longer repulsed her in any way. Fearing it would make them both miserable. Deciding to embrace it, she bit down on his shoulder.
***
“That’s it.” Eli threw his head back. His entire body shuddered with joy and pleasure. He nearly dropped to his knees. No words could ever come close to describing the exhilaration, the emotions he felt when her teeth pierced his skin and her lips and tongue began to move against him to take his blood into her body.
He was in heaven, a tantalizing hellish part of heaven, but it was the most wickedly divine place he’d ever journeyed. With her legs wrapped around his waist and the heat of her core pressed so open and invitingly against his belly he ached to lower her and plunge his hard throbbing cock into her but he feared doing anything to stop her. Closing his eyes he held himself in check while savoring the sensations and emotions her willing mouth and tongue working on him stirred in him.
When she lifted her head and looked into his eyes, she smiled. “That was just a little weird.”
“A wonderful kind of weird, I hope,” he said as he carried her over to the bed.
“I guess it was.”
She laughed as he tossed her onto the bed, spread her legs with his and then settled his body between her thighs. “That doesn’t sound encouraging. And you had better stop laughing.”
“It doesn’t matter if it was good. I like just realized I really, really like weird. And it’s your fault I’m laughing. You should’ve seen the look on your face.” She reached around him and scrapped her nails up his back and to shoulders and then pulled him down and kissed him.
***
He dipped his head to kiss her as she reached between their bodies and gripped his cock and rubbed the crown over her slick entrance. It was all the encouragement he needed. She moved her hand and arched her body upward to meet him as he pushed his throbbing erection through her hot, tight entrance. Once he was completely inside her, he paused to look down at her and make sure she was ready for more.
Their bodies entwined in love’s most intimate, sensual embrace their movements started out as an unhurried, controlled tempo, but quickly became more fervent and turbulent. He pounded into her wildly as she raised her hips to meet each thrust again and again. Her body was so hot and tight. The friction felt so damn good. He knew he wouldn’t last much longer. He slowed his pace and focused on kissing her in hopes of gaining control over his body. It didn’t work. She reached up tangled her fingers in his hair as she closed her eyes and screamed his name. Her sheath clamped down on him. So damn tight.
He thrust his cock into her again and again, harder and harder, faster and faster until he buried himself and allowed his seed to burst deep inside her body. Burying his face in the crook of her neck and shoulder, he fought to catch his breath.
“Holy shit, Eli. That was fantastic.”
Laughing he lifted his head to look at her. “I agree.”
“Let’s do it again.”
Wrapping his arms around her he took her with him as he rolled over onto his back. “Sure thing. But you get on top this time. I’m not sure I can move much.”
After they’d spent hours making love, Kara cuddled up to him and fell asleep. Sleep didn’t come so fast for him. Earlier in the evening when it had become apparent that the storm would likely knock the power out he’d seen a glimpse of her past. He felt the madness she experienced when her father locked her in a dark room. The fear and desperation, coupled with the sensation of spiders crawling over her flesh.
She’d never truly escaped her past. In some ways she was still that young, helpless little girl locked up in the dark. From now on, when the past pulled her in, he would go with her and pull her out. Wh
atever she needed he would give her.
He’d known her father was a bad man. It didn’t take a genius to figure that out. The man had put a hit out on her, but it was hard to believe, as a young girl her father had used darkness and isolation to punish her.
He knew she didn’t need to talk about it. She didn’t want his reassurance. She didn’t want or need his sympathy. She needed a distraction. She needed new memories to associate with the darkness. She needed a new beginning. And that’s exactly what he planned to give her.
~Twenty One~
KARA’S SLEEP WAS interrupted by a feminine presence and voice calling out her name in her mind. Mom?
That’s right, baby. It’s me.
No. Something was wrong. Seriously wrong. A cold and menacing shadow moved through her mind. It wasn’t her mom’s presence and voice. It felt intrusive and threatening. It was as if her mom wasn’t alone. She tried to connect with her mom on a deeper more intimate level as she had as a child, but she withdrew the instant she encountered something very dark and dangerous.
Don’t leave me! I need you!
She heard desperation in the voice claiming to be her mom. She also heard and felt anger. Not a little, but a great deal of indignation for her. Who are you?
What do you mean? I’m your mom. Come to me, Kara. Please. Help me.
She felt a strange dizzying sensation in her head and a twisting in her gut. Whoever was pretending to be her mom was attempting to use compulsion to force her into obedience. The link she’d shared with her mom, the mom she’d known as a child, wouldn’t cause her to feel encroached upon. We will come to you soon.
No. Come alone. Come now while he is asleep.
Yeah right. It wasn’t her mom. She wasn’t going to fall for it, but she also wasn’t going to totally break the connection just yet. She wanted to figure out who was presenting him or herself as her mother. Why?
He will stop you. The voice, an inhuman growl, no longer resembled her mom’s voice at all. It was Jeremy, the vampire who’d tied her and Eli to the tree. Shoving him out of her mind, she opened her eyes and sat up.
As if her movement had disrupted his sleep, Eli made a groaning sound as he rolled over from his back onto his belly. She needed a moment alone to think. To avoid waking him she sat still and silent for a moment and then she slowly, carefully scooted until her legs dangled over the edge of the bed.
Standing up, she raised her arms and stretched her back as she looked around the room for something to wear. Spotting the shirt Eli had given her to wear she walked across the room to where it had been tossed onto the floor. She put it on and walked out of the room.
She got the shock of her life when she got to the bottom of the steps and saw men sprawled out everywhere sleeping. Deciding to go back up to the room she took a step back. The wood creaked beneath her foot. She saw a blur of motion. A second later every man was on his feet and every eye was focused on her for what seemed like forever and a day or two. They were all frowning at her as if she was doing something wrong.
“I was hoping to find and make some coffee. Do any of you know where the kitchen is?” she asked.
One man stepped forward. “Where’s Eli?”
“Sleeping.” Smiling as if amused the men all looked around at each other. “What?”
“Nothing. Sorry.” The man who’d stepped forward motioned for her to follow him. “I’ll take you to the kitchen.”
“Thanks.” Just before entering the kitchen she felt the sensation of being followed. Sure enough a group of men were right on her tail. They were all good looking and taller than the average man with broad shoulders and chests, and they all had I’m up to no good smiles on their faces. She was beginning to dislike them. What the hell was so amusing?
All of them wanted coffee. She’d made three pots before she was able to sit down and enjoy a cup. Not that it was truly enjoyable. None of them bothered to introduce themselves or talk to her other than to thank her and tell her that she made great coffee. Most just stared at her while a few of them fried what appeared to be ten pounds of bacon, three dozen eggs and a mountain of pancakes.
She was sitting down to eat with a pack of wolves. It should’ve frightened her, but it didn’t. Not really. Seeing them eat was shocking. They could really put it away. She knew they were no threat to her. She’d just started to sip her second cup of coffee when Eli, wearing absolutely nothing, rushed into the kitchen. He looked furious. All the guys fled the kitchen so fast she didn’t even see them move. One minute they were sitting there and the next they were gone.
“You have an exceptionally hot, sexy body. I love looking at you. I really do. But…” Mouth half open she stared at him for a few seconds, and then she busted out laughing.
“You think scaring the hell out of me is funny?” He glanced down at himself. “I’ll be right back.” He turned to leave.
“Wait.” When he didn’t stop she spanked his bare ass. Why? Why not? He had a very nice ass. The kind of ass that begged to be spanked.
Growling, he spun around. “What?”
“How did I scare you?”
“You were gone when I woke up.” He didn’t give her a chance to respond. He walked out of the kitchen.
Momentarily shocked by his irrational behavior she stood there for a short period before she followed him out of the kitchen determined to set him straight. If they had any hope of lasting as a couple she needed to make sure he thought twice before getting all bent out of shape over something as silly as her getting out of bed and leaving him to sleep.
She wasn’t surprised to find him standing, fully clothed, at the bottom of the stairs glaring at the other guys. “What’s your excuse? Why didn’t you wake me up?” He didn’t raise his voice, but he was clearly mad at them.
“They wanted to wake you up, but I told them to leave you alone,” she lied.
Though the moment she spoke all the other guys turned their heads and stared at her, with shocked expressions, Eli didn’t even glance at her. “And you listened to her?”
“Why not?” she asked.
“One of you should’ve had enough sense to wake me up.”
He still didn’t turn to look at her. She wasn’t letting him get away with ignoring her in front of them. “I’ve always viewed getting my ass out of bed as a personal responsibility. Don’t you think you’re being just a bit overdramatic, Eli?”
A few of the men chuckled, but it was obvious they tried to hide it by coughing and covering their mouths as they looked away from her.
Eli kept his back to her. “Not now, Kara. Go up the room and get dressed.”
“No.” He finally turned his head to look at her so she continued, “I won’t lie. I’m disappointed that you woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I thought last night was quite satisfying. I woke up with a smile. Judging your foul mood it must not have been that satisfying for you.”
At that moment he turned his entire body to her. “Quite satisfying? That’s it?” Revealing his very sharp lengthened canines he smiled at her as he locked his burning golden gaze with hers. “In my opinion our lovemaking was inconceivably incredible last night.” The low, nearly indiscernible growl accompanied his voice caught and held her captive. Her entire body tingled as erotic memories of their night played like a movie through her mind. “Go up to the room and get dressed.” After abruptly pausing the best ever movie that ever played out in her mind, he turned away from her to address the guys. “Go out and…”
“No,” she interrupted. “I will not go upstairs to get dressed until I’m damn good and ready to do it.”
“Go out and check the entire perimeter. We will be leaving within the hour,” he finished, and then he turned to face her. “Didn’t I tell you to go upstairs?”
Frowning, she glared at him. “You sure did.”
“And yet you didn’t do it.”
“I wasn’t damn good and ready yet.” She was so mad at him for getting mad and acting like a jerk because she’d broken
a rule by leaving him in bed alone. His obvious assumption that she had to cater to his every demand was despicable. She wasn’t going to bow down to him. She’d had a terrible morning. Being led to believe her mom was trying to communicate with her only to discover it wasn’t her mom was no picnic. Worried she would have a meltdown and start bawling like a baby, she decided to get away from him for a few moments. “I am ready now.” She turned away from him.
***
Eli stared at her as she walked up the stairs, though she looked good in his shirt, that didn’t have anything to do with his inability to take his eyes off her. He was shocked when he touched the surface of her mind and realized Jeremy had managed to get into her head and communicate with her. It meant he was near. Too near. He should’ve known the vampire was close enough to mess with her.
When he heard the lock on his bedroom door click he ran up the stairs. Gripping the handle in his right fist, he knocked on the door with his left. “Open the door, Kara.”
“Go away.”
She was standing too close to the door for him to break it down so he decided to wait her out. “I need to talk to you.”
“Later. I’m getting dressed.”
“I wasn’t mad at you.” He gathered from her thoughts that what bothered her the most was that she believed he was mad at her.
“Liar.”
He listened as she walked away from the door. “I was worried.” Worried wasn’t even close to describing the fear he felt when he realized she wasn’t in bed with him. In the few seconds it took to get down the stairs and make his way into the kitchen many terrible scenarios of what could’ve happened to her while he was asleep crossed his mind. He was so panic-stricken that he didn’t even smell the bacon until he entered the kitchen.
“Whatever.” Deciding she was far enough away from the door, he ripped it off its hinges and tossed it aside. Shaking her head she looked down at the door and rolled her eyes. “I hope that wasn’t your way of trying to convince me that you aren’t mad at me.”
“I’m not mad at you.”
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