by Unknown
Yet, it didn't match what he was feeling.
Picking her up from the floor, he carried her body to the large mahogany desk. Placing her on the corner, he cleared it of everything with one sweep of his arm. “I’m starving, Jolie,” he hissed, poising himself to take his mate.
Pushing Jolie to her back, Jacques leaned over her as she was draped across her desk. Without warning, he drove into her.
Jolie screamed his name as she bucked wildly. Never in her life had she seen Jacques this way before. It piqued her curiosity and made her crazy.
When her nails embedded themselves into his arms, he didn't even flinch or feel the pain. He simply continued taking her over and over as hard as he desired.
She was his.
Here was his mate.
Jolie continued to beg as he pillaged her body. All the words simply disappeared, as he chose to focus on the beast who he kept hidden just below the surface. Tonight, it was free, and he was helpless to put it back.
For now, they would need to ride out the storm and see what happened.
When he pulled out of her, she gasped, missing the feeling of him being buried in her body. “Don’t stop!” she pleaded, only to be picked up and carried away from the desk. This time, he placed her back against the wall as he returned to the brutal pace.
If she wanted more, he was obliged to give his mate anything she desired.
Wrapping her legs around his waist, Jolie instinctively, tried to hold onto him as he continued with his assault. Her forehead went to his shoulder, and he continued moving again. This time it was harder and faster, trying to quench an insatiable thirst that was holding his body captive.
Jolie didn't think she could last much longer as she writhed against him, begging for more.
Jacques ignored each and every one of her breathy pleas. When he felt the end coming, he yanked her hair roughly, pulling her head to the side. As he wrapped the silky length of it around his fist, the hunger grew.
It was time.
With one long thrust, he plunged his fangs savagely into her neck to begin taking what he desired. As her warm blood trickled across his tongue, Jacques slammed into her one last time, finally satiating the beast within. It was all a haze as he heard her scream and shatter. Jacques couldn’t focus as his body was too lost in the pleasure.
His awareness wavered as he heard himself shout her name.
Slowly, they slid to the floor as his whole body was racked with spasms. It felt as if the whole house shook to the foundation from their expelled energy.
Jacques didn’t know how long he was lying there, but when he looked over at Jolie, she was motionless beside him. A wave of panic rolled through him as he sat up and moved toward her.
Had he hurt her?
Vampyres could handle extreme sex, but even he was beginning to feel some aches and pains. He was careless with her body, and knew it wasn’t the way to treat your mate.
“Jolie, mon amour, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me,” he said, pulling her into his arms as he kissed her face. “Je t'aime,” Jacques whispered, nuzzling her neck as he silently willed her to answer him.
Panic was building.
Jolie opened her eyes and ran her fingers lovingly down his cheek. When she curled into his body, he thanked the powers that be that she was fine.
“Of course I’m good, Jacques. That was beyond amazing,” she said, reassuringly.
“I didn't hurt you?”
“No, and in fact, I’ve never felt so good.”
“I still should have been gentler with you.”
“My love, I’m good. I’ve never felt anything like that. It was as if you weren’t in your body anymore.”
“I wasn’t in control, and I couldn’t stop myself. You truly make me become a predator,” he admitted, picking her up to carry her out of the room.
They walked past a few of the family, uncaring that they were completely naked. It didn't bother their kind in the least. “I’m taking you to the bath. I want to cater to you for the rest of the evening.”
“I don’t believe that you’ll hear me complain,” Jolie answered, as she nuzzled his neck. “This is my favorite spot,” she whispered to him, leaving kisses on the sensitive part just below his ear.
He growled low in his chest, feeling the lust returning.
Jolie’s laughter filled his mind.
If she wasn’t speaking out loud, that meant she was drained. Instead of going out, they would rest early. Jacques didn't mind curling up in bed with his mate.
It would be his pleasure.
After holding her in the water, he carefully dried her off before tucking her beneath the silk sheets. When he climbed in beside her, she automatically curled into his body.
“I love you, Jacques,” she said softly.
There would never be anyone who owned his heart like she did. He knew it hundreds of years ago when he first saw her, and it still held true.
“Je t’aime, Jolie,” he replied, holding her close.
She let out a sigh and allowed death to pull her into the depths.
“Rest well, my angel,” he said, kissing her on the lips.
When the last breath seeped from her body, only then did he lock the doors and call for his own dark sleep.
He knew as the cold icy tendrils pulled him under, that he would follow her anywhere, even if it was to hell and back.
It was simply the truth.
There wasn’t anything that he wouldn’t do for love.
∞ Chapter Eleven ∞
Monday Morning
Death screamed as it tried desperately to keep its hold on her body. It was too early to relinquish control, but it was beat down by all the warmth and energy that was being offered.
Jolie could feel life returning as she was welcomed back to the land of the living. Slowly, the cold retreated from her. Her first thoughts went to her mate. She immediately scanned her surroundings to find her beloved Jacques.
“I’m right here, mon amour,” he said, kissing her face as he brushed aside a stray silky strand of hair.
“Have you been awake long?” she asked, curling against his body.
“No, and I wouldn’t even be up if you didn't need to get ready for work, but while you’re gone, I do have some things to take care of myself.”
Jolie sat up in the bed and regretfully slid past Jacques to get to her closet. As she stood in there, she was lost in thought over what to choose.
“Any idea what you’ll be wearing tonight to the club?” he asked, causing her to jump when he slipped his arms around her waist.
“I’m mulling it over.”
“Are we having another competition?” he asked.
“Jacques, why bother? I’m the queen of goth,” she teased, making him laugh. “Well? Do you know what you’re wearing?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact I do. I have some ideas, mon amour, and we shall see who’s impressed.”
Jacques helped her slide into her suit for work. Even in doctor apparel, she dazzled him. Secretly, when she was all prim and proper, it was maddening. Jolie was truly his dark angel.
“Jacques?”
He refocused on her. “I’m sorry. I was thinking. Did you say something?”
She grinned at him. “What were you thinking about?”
“I was daydreaming about you, Jolie. I would be completely lost without you.” He whispered more terms of endearment lovingly in her ear.
“I love you too, Jacques. Now, we must get some energy so we can go. I’ll feed from Louisa, and then I’ll take care of you,” she said, trying to locate her donor.
Calling to her, she waited for her reply. When it didn't come, she was confused.
Jolie considered the possibility that she was too weak from the sun. “Jacques, I can’t reach Louisa. Can you try?” she asked, pulling her hair back into a conservative twist.
“I can’t find her either. I’ll try for Chloe,” he said, reaching for the girl and requesting that she come to their
room immediately.
When she arrived, he waited for Jolie to feed. It was apparent that she wasn’t concentrating at all. It alarmed him that she was worried and not getting enough energy. Once out in the world, she would need to be fully fed.
Before sending her away, Jolie had to know. “Chloe, have you seen Louisa this morning?”
“Mistress, I haven’t.”
“That’s not like her to shirk her duties,” said Jacques.
Chloe tried to cover for her. “Well, she had a big date last night at a club. Maybe she slept in, or better yet is still naked in bed with some sexy man.”
If that were the case, Jolie didn't mind at all. “Maybe you’re right. Thank you, Chloe,” she stated, as the woman left. When the door closed, Jolie glanced over at her mate. “I have a very bad feeling, Jacques.”
“Don’t worry, mon amour. It’ll be fine,” he reassured her, as he lightly ran his hands down her back. “You didn't get enough energy from Chloe. You weren’t concentrating.”
“I know. You can have blood this morning, Jacques.”
As much as that idea pleased him, he wasn’t willing to drain her further. “I don’t need to, Jolie. I can call Mina to feed me.”
When he offered her a sweet, gentle kiss, she knew that he was trying to make her forget.
“I insist, Jacques. Besides, it will distract me.”
“Thank you, my love,” he replied, pushing her collar back before sinking his teeth into her smooth neck. When Jacques was finished, he grinned wickedly. “You’re delicious.”
It made her laugh.
“I’ll walk you to your car.”
“I need my briefcase. It’s in the kitchen,” Jolie added, taking his offered hand as they strolled through the house.
At the bottom of the grand staircase, they were preparing to head toward the kitchen when the doorbell rang.
“We might as well get it,” he stated.
Opening the door, they were both surprised to see the detectives standing there.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
Jacques came to her side and took her hand.
“We’re sorry to barge in on you so early,” said Brogan, sympathy filling his eyes.
“What happened?” she asked again, immediately feeling alarm, as the detective’s tone spoke volumes.
“Doctor Harcourte, we needed to ask you some questions,” said Detective Gress
“Okay. Please come in, gentlemen. Would you like some coffee? Tea?” she asked, knowing she was stalling the inevitable as she led them to the family room.
Something bad was coming.
“No thank you, Doctor.”
Both men sat on the couch. Finally, Brogan bit the bullet and started, “We had another murder last night. It was a young woman named Louisa Sanchez. When we came here the other day, we noticed that she worked for you.”
Jolie gasped.
Brogan continued, “We didn't want to make you come to the scene last night.”
Jacques pulled her against him. “Jolie, I’ll call the office and cancel your appointments.” Jacques took Jolie’s hand and spoke to her mind. “We’ll find them.”
“I know we will, but I loved her, Jacques. She helped me get ready for the club. I knew that she always went there, and I never thought to tell her to stop.”
“I don’t doubt they did this deliberately.”
“I’ll kill them, Jacques.”
“You won’t have to, mon amour. I’ll kill them for you.”
“Oh, Jacques, I’m sick over this.”
“Be calm until they leave, and we’ll get through this.”
“Oh God.”
“I’m here with you, mon amour.”
Jolie sat on the couch not feeling so calm and collected. She knew that both men were staring at her with nothing but sympathy, especially Detective Brogan.
He knew the truth of what this was costing her.
“Doctor Harcourte,” began Flynn, “how long had Louisa worked for you?” he asked, gently.
“Please, call me Jolie. I’m not feeling much like a doctor right now.”
He wanted to give her a little peace. “Certainly, Jolie. Please call me Flynn,” he offered, pointing at Detective Gress. “He’s Tommy.”
“Thank you.” Jolie fought to continue on. “Louisa worked here for eight years. We were her only family,” Jolie whispered, brushing a tear from her cheek. Immediately, Jacques handed her a handful of Kleenex. Jolie went into his arms as he protective wrapped them around her.
“How did you meet her?”
“She came into my office one day.”
“She was a patient?” asked Gress, immediately sitting forward on the couch.
“Oh no, Tommy. She was looking for a job and saw an ad that I placed in the local paper. I was looking for staff for our home. I have many business ventures and needed a few personal assistants,” she said, wiping the slowly falling tears from her eyes.
“Do you know if she frequented ‘The Sanguivore’?” asked Brogan.
She stared at him and prayed that he would understand what she was about to do. While she could creep into his mind, she wasn’t able to speak to him without a blood donation.
“Not to my knowledge, Detective, but we can ask the staff later. Then, I’ll be more than happy to give you any information.”
“Thank you. That would be helpful.” Brogan got the distinct impression that she wasn’t being forthright, and then he recalled what she had said about giving him incorrect information while his partner was around.
“Did she suffer?”
“We’re sorry for your loss, but I have to tell you that this one wasn’t like the others. She wasn’t completely drained, and she fought for her life. We still didn't find any trace evidence, and the ME doesn’t believe that there’s any DNA either. We think it is the same killers, but she fought them and didn't give up.”
“I see.” The rage began to boil up in her.
“Flynn and I think that someone found out that you were helping the police and this is a personal shot at you. What do you think?”
She wiped her eyes. “You could be right.” Oh, they were, and there was going to be hell to pay when she found them.
Bloody, violent hell.
“Mr. Degaul, where were you last night?” asked Detective Gress.
“Please, call me, Jacques, and I was here the entire evening,” he replied, staring at Detective Brogan.
“Were you alone?”
“No, I was entertained by a very special woman,” he answered, touching Jolie’s cheek. It was quite clear to him that she was about to lose control.
“Was this the same young girl you left ‘The Sanguivore’ with?” asked Brogan, hoping to use the information to throw the man off kilter.
Vampyre or not, he didn't trust the Casanova.
Jacques looked confused, and then finally it dawned on him. “Of course I was with the same woman.”
“Could we get her name, so we can get an alibi for your whereabouts?” added Brogan, pleased that Jolie was hearing about his babe on the side.
“You’re obviously confused, because I was with Jolie all last night.”
“You said that you were with the same woman at the club,” continued Gress, and then he really looked at Jolie. Recognition slowly dawned that the conservatively dressed doctor, sitting demurely before him, was actually the same woman. “That was you?” he asked, incredulously.
Jolie barely heard him as the rage began ripping through her quiet appearance. “Yes, I was with him. We frequently go out, and we decided to try the club to listen for any word on the killers. Where else would one go looking for a vampyre killer, than a club catering to vampyre wannabes?”
“That was incredibly dangerous.” He was disappointed, but also excited that the demure doctor also had a sexy side. He hoped he would see it again.
Jolie could feel her vision going red and didn't believe that she could control it any longer. When she stood, both d
etectives stared at her.
“I can’t do this. I’m sorry,” she apologized, as she headed out of the room.
All three men watched her leave, until all that was left was the angry clicking of heels on the marble tiles. Little did they know that she was a bundle of dynamite waiting to go off.
“Gentlemen, I must go check on her,” Jacques said, getting more and more worried about Jolie.
As they all headed to the door, Brogan paused. “Tommy, I left my pen. I’ll meet you out at the car.”
The detective bounded out of the house, giving Flynn a few seconds alone with the male vampyre.
“Is she going to be okay?”
Jacques didn't know. “I’m not sure, but be here at eight, and we’ll head to the club. By then, she’ll be a little better, I’m sure. For now, she’ll grieve, and then take care of business.”
Brogan handed him his business card. “Call me if you need anything. We really do think that someone is trying to send Jolie a message,” Flynn reiterated. “Watch your backs.”
“I won’t leave her side,” Jacques promised.
He escorted the man out, and the second the door was closed, he headed off to find her. As Jacques approached, he didn't need to see what was happening to know that the shit was hitting the fan. Inside their room, he could hear the breaking of glass and destruction behind the locked door. Using his energy and mind, Jacques forced the locks open.
Inside, he couldn’t believe his eyes.
Standing in the middle of the chaos was his dark angel. Jolie’s hair whipped around her as debris exploded and shattered everywhere.
This was perhaps the first time that he seriously feared that she would hurt herself. As a glass vase whipped at him, he side stepped it to dodge the shards. All the roses, which he had placed there for her, were now nothing more than a plethora of flying petals.
When she turned toward him, his heart ached. Unfortunately, the pounding energy wouldn’t let him get any closer. As her eyes bled black, Jacques prayed nothing harmed her.
“They killed Louisa!” She screamed, as more of the antiques exploded around her. The storm was so violent, that the room was littered with debris.
“Jolie, we’ll find them. I need you to come here,” he pleaded, ducking under a flying footstool. It was as if a tornado was swirling destructively around her lithe body. When her favorite chair hit the wall, splintering all around her, Jacques knew that he needed to stop her.
