"Yes. Because in a city full of people those are the only monsters I've ever seen."
"It's easy to get tunnel vision." He gestured at me. "Look how I thought you were like the white devil."
"Well, I am pasty."
"Har har, Dianna. So, if vampires are real, do you think we have to get a wooden stake to kill him?"
"Well, I saw a movie where only silver worked." Movie night with Whisper. Who would have thought any of the corny movies could be relevant?
"Honestly, I feel crazy talking about this," he sighed.
"Me too." It was nice to have someone else, to be honest with someone besides Whisper about the monsters. "Why don't we research tonight, and meet up in the morning?" I got up, expecting to head out. My head felt funny.
"Uh, sorry, Dianna." Casteele looked sheepish. "When I thought you were a devil or demon, I drugged your beer. A lot."
"But, I had to open it?"
"A trick I never thought I'd use from a date rape case."
"Dammit, Casteele," I said my words slurring.
"It's Chance," he said as he caught me.
Chapter Twenty-One
Waking with a bit of a headache, I rested on a large bed with a blanket over me. Chance slept in a chair next to the bed with a knitted quilt around him. My clothes were still on, except for my socks. A digital clock read two thirty-three.
I held my head. Since Lake Clare, not even liquor had an effect on me. What had he drugged me with?
Chance started to shift around. I put another blanket on him, and he settled down.
I left the guest room and gathered my stuff. Then thought, I have no car where would I go. My phone started to ring, and I picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Ah, Miss Grant. Can I ask you why you aren't in your motel room," Roth's voice was crisp and low.
"What?" The drug's effect made me woozy, and I held a wall while I walked. "Where are you?"
"The question is: where are you?" His voice was icy.
"Roth, listen. It's a long story. I passed out at Casteele's place." It was true enough.
"Where are you," he asked.
"I can text you the address."
"I'll be there soon." Roth hung up.
Damn it. This stupid relationship couldn't catch one break. I hit my head against the phone.
Chance's eyes were puffy from sleeping as he came out of the room, "Dianna, you okay?"
I glared at him. "No. You drugged me."
"I thought you were a monster."
"You drugged me!" I stopped and closed my eyes. I put my arms behind my back, my left hand grabbing my right wrist. Opening my eyes, I asked, "Did your encounter with the creature gift you with any abilities?"
"No. Just the tattoo."
"Then back off Jason Lewis. I'm not as fast, but I'm stronger than you. I'll deal with him. Just stay out of my way." I breathed in deeply. "What is the address here?"
He told me as I typed to Roth, who had already sent two texts asking for it.
Rubbing his face, he said, "I'm sorry, Dianna, but what would you have done?"
"I don't know. I've never drugged anyone before." I stopped as an idea started.
"Maybe we can drug Lewis!" we said it at the same time.
"I'd say jinx, but I'm afraid you'd slug me."
"Good instincts, Chance. Stick with them."
"So who is your ride?"
"My angry boyfriend."
He winced. "Sorry."
"Roth has a temper. You shouldn't be around when I leave. I'll wait outside."
Chance shook his head. "No. You should have him come in. Tell him everything."
I thought about it and dismissed the idea. "We've had two almost full dates. No way am I going to say, hey I see monsters!"
"So you'd rather he think you cheated than let him know the truth?" He rubbed his eyes. "I'd want to know why you were at the handsome deputy's house. Alone. At, what time is it?"
"After two, and I'll let him know nothing happened. If he doesn't believe me that is his issue."
"I am going to wait right here. You said he has a temper and that you've been on two almost dates. The guy followed you to Solas. He sounds like a stalker."
Sighing, I said, "That sounds like an easier problem."
Chapter Twenty-Two
Roth's Maserati pulled up, its engine quietly purring. He left it on as he got out. His usually carefully styled black, and red streaked hair was disheveled falling over his eyes rather than slicked up and back. He was wearing loose black pants, sneakers, and a jacket.
Chance took it in, turning the toothpick in his mouth. "Oh, yeah. He looks like a winner Dianna."
Ignoring the snark, I opened the door. "Let me handle this."
I was expecting Roth's anger. His rage. Instead, he enveloped me in a bear hug.
"Dianna, did this chancer harm you?" His lips tickled my ear as he spoke in low tones.
"No. He didn't." Roth's body heat comforted me. I leaned into it and said, "I passed out. He put me in a guest bed. I just woke up when you called."
Roth's body lost some of its tension. He said something in what sounded like a prayer in Latin in my hair and kissed it.
"What," I asked.
Moving away, Roth took one of my hands in his. "Deputy Casteele, was it?"
Chance nodded.
"Thank you for taking care of my girl, but take this to heart when I say fuck off."
"Ah, with a mouth like that you two were made for each other. How could I possibly interfere?" Chance wore a smug smile on his face and winked at me.
Roth's body tensed, "You can't, and you'd be foolish for-" He stopped.
My gaze followed Roth's. Chance's button up shirt was unbuttoned, and the small tattoo was partially visible.
Roth said, "Best of luck, Deputy." He started to pull me towards the car.
I pulled away. "Hey. Don't try and drag me around. And I don't belong to you. I belong to myself."
Letting go of my hand, Roth put his head on the top of the car.
Chance watched from his doorway. "You feel safe with him, Dianna?"
"Get off my side."
Chance snorted.
Roth looked up at the sky. "Get in the car, Dianna."
My back went up even more. I wasn't a toy, a pet, or an object.
Before I could put the angry thoughts to words, Roth whispered, "Please."
It reminded me of how he'd begged me to choose him. I didn't wave to Chance as I got in the car. Roth got in after I sat down.
Before I could put on my seatbelt, Roth grabbed the back of my head and pulled me in for a kiss. His hot mouth devoured mine, while his tongue pushed inside. I wanted more. Leaning into him and moaning, I gave into his fire. He groaned but let me go. He put his head on my shoulder.
My breath came out unsteady as I held on to the last of my control. "Roth," I said.
Roth lifted up his head. His blue eyes pierced me, laying me bare. He waited until I put on my seatbelt before backing up.
"Nothing happened," I said.
Closing his eyes for a second, he took a deep breath. "I know."
He put the car in drive and kept one of my hands trapped in his on his thigh. Moving it to shift.
Taking in his beauty, I wondered how I could have been such an idiot. I liked him. He liked me. Why'd it have to be complicated? As my eyes drifted shut, I heard Roth singing to the song on the radio.
Chapter Twenty-Three
I woke up as Roth lifted me out of the car. I didn't like feeling so helpless. I wanted to walk.
Rather than fight over something so small, again, I let it go. I still felt groggy from whatever Chance had given me. We drove off the main roads, onto a dirt path. It led to a cabin. Well, it looked like a decent sized house covered in a cabin-like exterior. The interior was wooden, with a lot of animal trophies on the wall. The entryway was pretty much the living room, with the kitchen area and table and chairs off to the left. It was all in highly polished wo
od. Even the countertops.
Maybe what medicine Chance used, I could dose Lewis with it. If he really were a vampire, or something similar enough to it, he’d probably heal damage.
I wondered if he had to drink blood to heal. That could be an edge too. Get him away from town, drug him, stake him. But if that didn't work, decapitation usually stopped the freakish monsters in the city. Chance might be able to provide the drug or drugs and an idea for where Jason Lewis could be hiding.
Roth put me down on a couch and kissed my cheek. His hand cupped my chin.
I rubbed against it.
He leaned in and brushed my lips with his.
My pulse sped up.
He moved away. After a moment there was the noise of a shower running.
Roth came out and said, "You can take a shower first."
"Uh, Roth." We hadn't even talked about sleeping arrangements. I'd never spent the night with a man. Alone.
"There are two rooms. Two separate beds." He threw himself on the couch face down. He said, "I'm trying to not jump on you, Di. Wash up. It is in the bedroom to the left."
Deciding once again to not argue, I took a shower first. When I got out, I half expected Roth to grab me or be waiting for me. He wasn't. I had on a long sleeved cotton nightshirt and flannel pants. Roth was still lying on the couch. He'd fallen asleep.
His hair was still a mess and fell over one of his eyes while he rested. His thick black brows and eyelashes on his lightly tanned skin made my heart skip a beat. He looked like an angel, lying there so peacefully. Without realizing it, I was crouching next to him and caressing his hair. I moved my hand away.
What did I feel for Roth? I enjoyed his company, his wit, and his passion. But I didn't like his quick temper. His hair was so silky under my fingers.
The heat from his body drew my hand towards it. I lightly touched it and felt the strength in his arm. "Roth," I whispered. "I really like you. But I don't know if I can love anymore." I rested my cheek on his, rubbing against it, enjoying the feeling of his stubble. "With you, I want to remember how." I lightly kissed his cheek.
His dark eyebrows were thick, but like everything about him, manicured. One pale blue eye opened. "Dianna. That is foul play." His arm encircled me, trapping me as he rolled over. He pulled me on top of him. His erection pressed against my pants.
It was so warm, my body clenched in a spasm, remembering how close we had come. "Roth," I said. "I want you."
He moved, gently pulling my face to his. "You have me."
His eyes closed as did mine as our lips met. His fiery kiss was still full of passion but held a new quality to it. His tongue lashing at mine took away any more coherent thoughts. His hands rubbed against my sides, then found my hips, pressing me into him. Moaning, his lips moved from my mouth to my neck.
"Dianna, I am more with you." His tongue licked my neck. "You are my guiding star." He nipped and sucked in a rhythm matched by his hips.
Matching the pace, my legs tightened around him.
Roth moved, sitting up, kissing my neck roughly and marking it again. "My heart has been silent until you," his said roughly.
"Roth," I started, but I wanted his warmth to stay close. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I gave in to the pleasure he offered.
He stood up on the couch and carried me the bedroom. He put me down on the bed. It was a wooden sleigh bed. The white and pink floral duvet, the soft down comfort inside it making the bed's mattress feel like a cloud. He kicked off his shoes and pulled off his pants.
"Do you ever wear underwear," I asked.
His devilish grin back, he said, "Seldom." He leaped next to me on the bed.
The bed bounced me lightly.
Propped on an elbow, he slid his hands under the shirt. He lifted it up slowly. The feeling of his hair tickling my stomach as he kissed around my naval made me half-giggle and cry out.
"Are you ticklish," he asked.
His eyes peered out from his hair, and my heart started pounding harder. "Roth," I said trying to convey what I was suddenly feeling.
He stopped. Our gaze stayed locked on each other. "Dianna, I have some things I want to tell you," his eyes clouded and he slightly frowned. Smiling, he shook his head and said, "But now, I need to feel you wrapped around me."
Roth moved down to untie the drawstring on my pants. Bit by bit, he lowered them. His hot breath on my panties made me squirm. Taking off my jeans and socks, he tossed them to the floor. His hands went to my thighs, rubbing them as he knelt between them.
"Watching you as pleasure overtakes your body."
His hands moved as he leaned forward, pushing his hands under my top. His fingers barely touched the bottom of my bra.
I moved to take off my top, and he pushed me back on the bed.
"Oh, no, Dianna. I'm taking my time."
My hips lifted towards him.
His long fingers moved to cup my breasts. Arching into the sensations, a cry escaped from my mouth. Roth pushed the shirt up over my breasts and bra. His kisses moved upwards. This was taking too long!
I pushed him off, ripping off my shirt over my head.
Chuckling, Roth pushed me back down on the bed. "Patience, Di."
The slight stubble of daily growth tickled as he kissed my neck.
"You're so beautiful, Dianna." Desire made his accent more pronounced.
The feeling of his hard body pressed on mine made me tremble. Hot lips singed my flesh as one hand rubbed the front of me lacy undies. His erection was still firm and big. Throbbing near my passage.
I moaned as he rubbed a breast while moving me against him. Crying out, my head fell back while his mouth continued to kiss my neck. His fingers found my nipple again as he kept squeezing me. His other hand moved, petting the most intimate part of me. Swept away by his fiery touch, I grabbed onto his arms.
I matched his movements with my lower body. Roth groaned and lifted undies up. His hand lightly caressed the yielding flesh. Slowly touching me up and down.
I wanted to kiss him. His tongue licked where he had been sucking. His lips returned to mine, moving from my neck as if summoned. My lips were pliant against his firm mouth. He pulled up, his lids half-lowered.
"Touch me," he moaned.
Excited, I moved a hand as best I could; searching for that yearning heat. Finding it, I encircled it as best I could. He was just too big for my hand to go around. His whole body shuddered as he pressed against my hand.
"Dianna," he said my name with such yearning a thrill went through me.
He moved against my hand a few times before stopping. His breathing changed. Roth slowly moved the fabric of my panties aside even more and pushed a finger inside me. I moved against it, while rubbing his shaft, it pulsed under my hand.
"You are already wet, Di," Roth whispered in my ear. He whispered something.
I couldn't make it out. "What," I asked.
He moved under me, and I moaned looking up at his dark beauty. "You are beautiful." Removing my hand wrapped around him, he said, "Enough or I won't last."
He lifted one of my arms and held it out, staring at it intently. Putting his hand around my wrist, he said something.
My hands and wrists tingled, like a static shock. "Ouch," I said.
He swore under his breath. It sounded like ash.
I dismissed it and tugged at my wrist.
Staring into my eyes, he let go of my arms.
I moved to kiss him, and he let me take the lead. I teased him with my tongue. He responded to me and pushed at my entrance with his fingers slightly. My body ached and started to throb. His fingers pressed more firmly, and I moved against them. My head fell against the bed as his long fingers stroked a rhythm. Pushing two fingers inside me, the panties fabric rubbed me. My hands clutched at his shirt as he moved his fingers.
He took a nipple into his mouth, and I felt the heat through the cotton fabric. His tongue caressed the bud spreading the blaze and a tightness that made me squirm beneath him. W
rithing against his exploring fingers and hot mouth, I tried to give him pleasure. Touching his chest with my hand, I moaned. His thumb circled my nub.
I thrust my hips upwards. Gazing into Roth’s eyes, I saw the struggle to remain in control. "Take me."
His breathing was rapid as he said, "Not yet."
His hands went under me, unhooking the bra in a swift motion. Tossing it aside, his gaze stayed on them. "You are glorious, Dianna."
Writhing under him, I begged, "Please."
"Patience," he said. His mouth came down on my bare breast, taking a nipple into his mouth.
Screaming at the sensation, my muscles squeezed. I arched into Roth.
His hands cupped my breasts, squeezing them while he licked at the buds.
"Roth," I cried out. Everything started to tense while feeling swollen at the same time.
Layers of civility shed, as he lifted up. His body was taut with need; his jaw had a tick in it as he fought for control. He moved lower and licked where his fingers played with me. My hips moved against him involuntarily, desperate for his kisses. Flicking me with his tongue, he kept a rhythm with his hands.
"You are clenching around me," he whispered. "Let me have you, Dianna."
His thumb took the place of his tongue as his mouth met mine. The scent of honey and cloves filled the room. He put the tip of his shaft at my opening, pushing the panties aside. My body eagerly opened for him. He was so thick at the entrance.
"Hold still, I don't want to hurt you."
Impatient, I lifted my hips to take him in.
The angle changed, his tip slid inside me. He filled me so much it felt like I would break from stretching to take him in. I grabbed onto his shoulders.
His face changed, as a primitive need took over. "Mine," he rasped. Thrusting in fully, he said, "Take me inside you, Dianna."
His shaft was large. It hurt to take him in. Hands were at my hips forcing them into his rhythm.
My nub constantly rubbed on his thickness, stretching me and ripping the panties that I still wore. The lace and satin rubbing me on the outside, while he took me was too much. I held on screaming out to him, helpless as the pleasure of his body took me over the edge. Everything clenched tighter around him as waves of pleasure poured through me. Spasms rocked my body. Clutching at him in desperation as he grew thicker and his thrusts quickened.
Dead Chance Page 11
