by Morgan Hawke
The vampire's arms dropped, and he had to step forward to keep from falling. He rubbed his wrists and a calculating expression flashed across his face. He lunged at her in a blur of inhuman speed.
Sygni blinked and found her back pressed against the stone floor, staring up at the grinning vampire with her arms stretched over her head. Somehow he had managed to settle between her thighs with her knees up and splayed. She had no memory of how it had happened. He had moved that fast. She shifted under him. He was incredibly heavy and had her pinned to the floor with his weight. She raised her brow. “Galen, I told you to be good."
"Oh, I will.” Galen licked his lips and ground his hips onto hers, letting her feel the heated length of his unabated erection. A soft rumble that sounded suspiciously like a purr vibrated from the base of his throat. “I promise I'll be very, very good."
Sygni fisted her hands and leveled a hard stare at the vampire. “Galen..."
The vampire covered her lips with his.
Huh? Sygni's mouth opened in surprise. His tongue surged in ... warm, wet and possessive, stroking against hers with devastating skill. He was thorough in his exploration but surprisingly gentle, considering his incredible strength, and sharp teeth.
Damn ... She loved a good kisser ... and he was really, really good.
The vampire angled his head for better access and shifted atop her. His hand wormed into her jacket to take possession of her breast. He squeezed with careful strength.
They both moaned.
He rolled her hard nipple in his fingers.
Sygni whimpered softly. Her core gave a hard and vicious throb. He was damned good. She never got this hot this fast!
He released her lips. “That's what I want to hear.” He grabbed her jacket and jerked it back, exposing her breast. He took her nipple with his heated mouth and skillful tongue.
Ruthless and agonizing lust coiled tight in her core. She groaned and arched up against him, pressing her overheating crotch against his delicious length. It had been too long since she'd had a good hard fuck with a skilled lover.
He caught her nipple in his teeth and gently tugged. Then not so gently...
Sygni's hips bucked as erotic shocks burned from her antagonized nipple straight to her throbbing clit. Son of a bitch! If he kept that up, she was going to cum in her pants!
His hand slid down to her crotch. He closed his palm over her, pressing his middle finger directly over the seam that centered atop her clit and squeezed.
Sygni felt her breath catch in her throat. Her core throbbed hard in ravenous greed. Her body tightened and pulsed on the very edge of explosion...
He chuckled. “You are about to cum in my hand.” He pressed his mouth against her throat until she could feel the hard points of his long teeth. “Tell me now, sorceress, who has bitten off more than they can chew?"
His words were cold water thrown into her face. Sygni gasped. The stupid arrogant shit! If he had kept his taunting comments to himself, she would have let him ride her to both their satisfaction, but no ... he had to open his damned mouth! That was it! This game was over!
"Who bit off more than they can chew?” Sygni focused the power within her and reached for the spell she had bound him in. “You have, vampire. Sit!"
Galen was flung from her as though thrown. “Fuck!” he shouted. He twisted in mid-air and landed on his feet, but her spell immediately forced him to his knees. His hands were pulled behind him. He jerked, but his wrists were locked together by her spell. Nor could he move from his knees. “Damn it!"
Sygni rolled to her feet in one smooth motion and straightened her jacket. “I told you to be good.” You big, arrogant bastard...
"What the fuck did you do?” Galen tossed his head and twisted but was completely unable to move from where he knelt on the stone floor.
Sygni glared at him. “Did you really think I would leave you unbound? Just how stupid do you think I am?"
He glared right back. “I wasn't going to take more than a sip!"
Sygni curled her lip. Her clit throbbed with unrelieved tension and her nipples were hard enough to cut glass. “If you hadn't opened your damned mouth and made that crack, we would have been fucking by now!"
"Piss...” He dropped his chin and his lip curled in a mutinous snarl.
Sygni folded her arms across her chest. “Are you ready to act like a man rather than a beast and walk on your own, or do I have to keep you restrained?"
He focused on the floor. “Do I have a choice?"
Sygni's fingers tightened on her crossed arms. Sexual frustration seriously cut into her patience. “I just gave you one."
Galen turned his head away and his jaw tightened. “I'll control myself."
Sygni nodded. “Good. You may rise."
Galen's body abruptly relaxed. He rose to his feet with feline grace. “Sygni, what exactly are you?"
Sygni waved her hand, signaling him to follow. “I'm a magus, a corporate level sorceress. I get paid the big bucks to deal with magical and paranormal problems.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Like you.” She tilted her head toward the stairs. “Come on, my bike's outside."
* * * *
Morwyn met them at the bottom of the main staircase. She looked up, and up at the vampire. Her green eyes opened wide. “Whoa ... big. I see why you needed the kilt."
Sygni's smile was tight. “This is Galen. Galen, this is Morwyn, the Arcanum librarian."
Galen raised his brow at the tiny librarian. “This is your kilt?"
Morwyn frowned at Galen. “It belonged to one of my exes.” She tilted her head. “It looks a lot better on you."
Galen's brows shot up. “You think so?"
Morwyn nodded. “Definitely.” She followed Sygni and Galen to the front door. “You're leaving?"
Sygni nodded. “I'm taking him back to my place."
Morwyn rolled her eyes as she opened the massive front door. “Why am I not surprised?"
Sygni glanced back at her friend. “What's that supposed to mean?"
Morwyn grinned. “Oh, come on! Everyone knows that you're a sucker for a pretty face."
Sygni strode down the front steps, refusing to comment, or acknowledge Galen's sudden grin. The librarian was right, she did have something of a reputation for carving a swathe through the male population, though no one ever stayed long. She scowled. It wasn't her fault they couldn't handle dealing with a professional sorceress.
Galen stopped before the motorcycle and stared. “That is the biggest damned bike I've ever seen. Is that a V6 engine block?"
Sygni rolled her eyes. “Yes, it is.” She walked over to the Valkyrie and lifted her overcoat from the bike's saddle. “This is a Valkyrie 2100."
Morwyn laughed. “I said the same thing when I saw it."
Galen shook his head. “Bikes were nothing like this in my day."
"Your day?” Morwyn frowned at Galen. “I ah, don't mean to be rude, but I just noticed your aura. What are you?"
Galen abruptly blushed and looked down at the asphalt.
Sygni shoved her arms into her coat and tilted her head at Galen. “He's a vampire."
Morwyn's eyes widened and she took a startled step back. “A vampire? A real one?"
Galen sighed, then delivered an elegant bow. “In the flesh."
Sygni rolled her eyes and zipped her coat. “So to speak.” Bloody Night's Mother, now he was flirting with Morwyn. “Galen was raised from the grave.” She reached for her helmet.
"A vampire from a corpse?” Morwyn's mouth popped open. “Who the hell would do a thing like that?” She shook her head. “I'm sorry, Galen."
Galen shrugged. “I'm okay with it."
Sygni tossed her leg over the bike's saddle. “He was sent here to get the Book of the Moon.” She inserted the key and waved her hand over the bike's engine. The Valkyrie leveled out to balance on its two wheels, lifting her feet from the ground. She tapped the kickstand with her toe and it folded neatly away.
Morwyn frowned feroci
ously. “But you have that book."
Sygni nodded. “More to the point, you do remember what the Book of the Moon is for?” She set the black helmet on her head with the visor raised.
Morwyn focused on Sygni. “The Book of the Moon? But it only does one thing..."
Sygni nodded as she buckled the chinstrap to her helmet. “That's right, it's for making werewolves."
Morwyn shook her head. “But why would anyone want to make a werewolf?"
Sygni glanced at Galen. “Likely for the same reason he made a vampire."
Galen threw up his hands. “Don't look at me! I have no idea why he raised me. Hell, I didn't even know vampires existed until I woke up on a table and he told me what I was."
Morwyn tilted her head. “So what did he do with you?"
Galen focused on the huge motorcycle balancing on magic. “Nothing. I was locked in a basement until early last week when he sent me after the book."
Morwyn frowned. “He kept you in a basement for a whole week? How did he feed you? I mean you're a vampire and all..."
Galen grimaced. “He tossed in the occasional bag of medical blood.” His expression twisted with disgust. “The shit was ice cold, too. I think he kept it refrigerated."
Sygni snorted. “One normally refrigerates medical blood.” She reached into her coat pocket for her riding gloves. It was going to be chilly on the ride to the city this late at night. She glanced at Galen's naked chest and winced.
Galen scowled. “Bagged blood is nasty, and something is definitely missing in it. When he finally let me out I looked like a walking skeleton. As soon as I started drinking live blood, I started filling out."
Morwyn's face blanched. “You killed people?"
Galen shook his head. “No. I only need about a pint every now and again.” He shrugged. “So far I've been doing just fine sipping here and there.” His gaze settled on Sygni. “For some reason, no one else seems to mind, they just think it's kinky."
Morwyn delivered a tight smile. “I can see that, especially in the fetish crowd. Cute as you are, finding willing donors must have been easy."
Galen grinned at her. “You think I'm cute?"
Morwyn stepped back hastily. “In a way-too-big-for-me kind of way. You're nice to look at, but definitely not my type."
"Quit flirting and mount up.” Sygni held her hand out to Galen. “It's going to be a long, cold ride to the city."
"Tell me about it.” Galen grasped her forearm and tugged his kilt up over his knee with the other hand.
Morwyn bit her lip. “He's going to freeze on the back of that."
Sygni sighed. “I'll set a warming spell..."
"Wait, I have a better idea!” Morwyn turned toward the stairs. “Stay right there! I think I have something that will fit him.” She fled into the castle.
Galen released Sygni's arm and stepped back. “I don't get it...” He looked toward the castle. “I came here to steal from her, why is she being so nice?"
Sygni smiled after her friend. “She's known for taking in strays.” Her smile twisted. “She took me in."
Galen turned to Sygni. “You?"
Sygni sighed deeply under the weight of memory. “I wouldn't be the sorceress I am today if she hadn't let a ragged street punk into her home to read her books. She was the first person to teach me to control my magic.” She turned to Galen and put as much warning as she could in her stare. “I would do anything for her. Anything."
Galen smiled gently. “I can see that."
Sygni raised her brow. “What I want to know is how come you're so polite with Morwyn? Did you finally remember your manners or something?"
Galen jabbed his thumb in the direction of the castle. “She didn't chain me up, take all my clothes, tease the fuck out of me, and then put me in this get-up!” He lifted his chin. “Why? Are you jealous?"
"Jealous!” Sygni set her hands on her hips. “You're just pissed that the sweet little girl caught the big, bad vampire thief!"
"Sweet, my ass!” Galen curled his lip baring curved incisor. “And I told you, I don't have choice here. I have to get that book or I'm grave-dirt!"
"Oh come on, you two!” Morwyn came running out of the door with a long length of black leather draped across her arms. “I leave you for five minutes and you're already fighting? Give it a rest!” She shot a glare at both of them, and unfolded a double-breasted coat lined with curly black lamb's fleece. It dragged the ground when she held it up. “Galen, try this on."
Sygni bit her lip. “Morwyn, isn't that your dad's coat?"
Morwyn lifted her chin. “Dad has been dead for over twelve years, and Galen needs it."
Galen took the coat. “I'll return this as soon as I can.” He slid his arms in and it settled neatly on his broad shoulders. The full skirts flowed nearly to his ankles. He pulled it closed and fastened the oversized buttons all the way up, until the curly black fleece on the collar framed his jaw. He knotted the belt. “Thank you."
"You're welcome.” Morwyn's smile was tight. “It looks good on you."
Galen nodded at the tiny librarian. “I'll take good care of it.” Sygni held out her arm for him to grasp and he tossed a long leg over the bike. He settled in the passenger saddle and twitched at the coat and his kilt to tuck them around his legs.
Morwyn stepped back. “Play nice, you two."
Galen grinned at Morwyn. “Who, me? I always play nice.” He leaned forward and wrapped his arms snugly around her smaller form.
Sygni snorted. “This from the guy that wants to spank my ass?"
Galen chuckled against her back. “Among other things."
Sygni snapped down the visor and opened the throttle. “Hang on!"
The Valkyrie roared to life and lunged forward to turn sharply toward the gates. Galen leaned into the bike's turns with ease, then looked over his shoulder and waved at the librarian. The massive bike howled past the gates onto the street and carried them both into the autumn darkness.
~ Four ~
The massive Valkyrie roared from the ramp onto the long night-black and forest-lined highway. The high tech bike was the only thing moving under the stars with only wind for company.
Sygni set her cruise control to maintain her speed. It was a straight shot from here into the city, but that was still a long way off. She stared at the road through her visor, bewitched for night-vision. The headlamp was the only brightness in the surrounding darkness. Galen was a warm weight against her back.
She was taking a vampire home with her. Blood and doom, what was she thinking? She ground her teeth in annoyance. What kind of a dumb ass would make a vampire anyway? A vampire needed more care than a damned familiar. They had to be fed fresh blood regularly and kept safe during the day. They were only good for two things: sex and assassination. Because of what they were, they couldn't do much else. This one wasn't a killer by nature, so all that was left was a sex toy. He certainly had the skills for it. She frowned. She couldn't imagine being raised just for someone to fuck. It was like he was an object.
She frowned at the road. Galen was not an object; he was a person. In fact, he seemed to be a decent guy, for someone undead. Sure he had a handicap, a severe allergy to daylight ... Come to think of it, she needed to ask how bad that was. She had no idea if the legends were right about sunlight actually harming him. She'd have to make sure the curtains were kept closed during the day. Damn, this was a freaking pain in the ass.
What in blazing fury was she going to do with him? She had no intention of handing over a book that held the spell for making werewolves. A werewolf was even tougher to fix than a vampire. But if she didn't hand it over, he'd revert to being a corpse. All that feral beauty lost to dust.
She scowled. She did not want Galen to revert back to being a corpse. Sure, he was a vampire, but that wasn't his fault. He deserved to have what little life he was granted, and he shouldn't have to live it as somebody's sex toy or killing slave.
Maybe there was a way to pull off the sor
cerer's dispel-bind? Formula and mage-craft streamed through her thoughts. It might just be possible, but she'd have to be very careful to keep him from falling apart once she dismantled the binding...
Sygni's attention jerked back to her passenger. Galen's hands had moved under her coat and settled on her inner thighs with his fingers far too close to her crotch. “Watch where your fingers are going!” she shouted over the wind.
"I know exactly where my fingers are!” he shouted back, echoing her early comment. He lifted one hand from her lap and grabbed the zipper tab at her throat, drawing it down to just below her breasts.
Sygni gasped as the chill wind dove into her coat. “What are you doing?"
"My hands are cold!” Galen shoved one hand into her coat, burrowing under her silk blouse. His palm closed around her breast. “Oh, yeah...” His hand on her thigh shifted higher until he cupped her crotch. “My hands are warm now!"
Sygni choked. “Mother Night!” One of his fingers was putting pressure on the seam riding her clit, and he had her nipple trapped between the fingers of his other hand. There wasn't a damn thing she could do about it, either. She couldn't take her hands from the bike's handlebars or shift in the saddle to get out of the way. Magic or no magic, at this speed with two riders any sudden move would change the bike's balance and cause an accident. “Do not make me wreck!"
"Don't move, and we'll both be fine!” His chuckle vibrated against her back. He slid his palm deeper under her crotch, putting just a bit more pressure on her clit. His hand tightened on her breast, pinching the nipple between his fingers.
A flash of erotic heat speared through her and a small yelp escaped her lips. “Galen!"
"What's the matter, sorceress? Can't take the pressure?"
Sygni grit her teeth. “I can take anything you can dish out!"
"Oh, really?” Both of his hands began tightening, pinching her nipple and pressing against the seam riding her clit in a slow counter-rhythm.
Sygni swallowed a gasp. Warm curls of pleasure pulsed in tempo with his hands. Moisture pooled in her panties and her body tightened hungrily. She groaned. Son of a bitch! How does he keep doing this to me? I'm never this responsive to anyone! She focused on the road and grimly worked to ignore the slow rise of sensual tension. I can take it, she reminded herself forcefully. But he's going to royally pay for this.
