Vampire Forgotten (10 page)

Mischa took a stumbling step backwards.  “But…but…I thought you were hungry.” Surely he wasn’t thinking about…no, he couldn’t drink human blood…could he?

“I am.”

The silky words glided over her skin like a lover’s caress, but she wanted to make absolutely clear she understood the huskiness of his voice, the spark she saw in his eyes. “For food,” she offered lamely.

“That, too.”

Like a flash fire, her skin heated.  She licked her lips with just the tip of her tongue.  “Weren’t you the one saying this shouldn’t happen? You did have a point, you know. I mean, we’re like night and day, pardon the pun.  We don’t have a lot in common.  I mean, I drink coffee.  You drink blood.  I like to tan in the summertime, and well, that’s not really an option for you.   I live in Boston in an apartment with thick rugs and classic paintings, and you live here, in Romania, in an age-old castle surrounding by portraits of dead people.  I really don’t think…”

“Do you want me?” he interrupted in a deadly quiet voice.

World failed her. How could he ask that?  Could he not hear every beat of her heart when he stood before he like this?  And wasn’t she the one who’d taken him in her mouth, enjoying the pleasure as much as he had?

“You already know the answer to that.”

He caught a fistful of her hair in a possessive grasp.  “I want to hear you say it.”

Mischa threw caution to the wind along with a healthy portion of her common sense.  “I want you.”

He danced her back toward a nearby tree and backed her against the rough trunk. “Do you want me here?”  At her nod, he continued.  “Now?”

Her breath shuddered out of her lungs.  “Yes.”

Rhad’s eyes smoked, and he slipped one hand between her legs, cupping her, molding her.  “Tonight is ours.  We’ll only think about the pleasures our bodies can give one another.  I will make you mine, and I will be yours.”  He bent his lips to her neck.  “For all time.”

Mischa’s head lolled back, and she moaned low in her throat.  His words faded in the distance as his lips created havoc within her mind.  She couldn’t think as her brain jumbled with feelings and emotions.  Pleasure.  Passion.  Perfection. 

Rhad’s hands began a slow, leisurely pace over her spine before sliding down to her bottom.  He cupped her soft flesh, lifting her against his growing erection.  Without words, he tipped her head back and lowered his lips to hers, drinking in softness of her lips, the heat of her mouth.  “I love how you taste,” he whispered before gliding his lips over her temples, her cheeks and back to her mouth. 

Mischa’s eyes closed.  Her hands scrambled to get underneath the thickness of his shirt.  She needed to touch him, to feel his hot flesh. 

“Slow down,” he instructed.  He dragged her shirt over her head and tossed it aside.  Though darkness bathed the forest, by the light of the moon, Mischa saw his eyes roam over her full breasts. He licked the top of one mound.  “I’ve thought about touching you like this again.  I’ve dreamed about it.” He dropped a kiss to her bare shoulder.

Mischa braced herself against the tree, her palms scraping the rough bark as she gave him full access to her bare skin.  The catch on her bra gave way, and she moved her arms long enough to slide the lacy material out of her way. 

“I’ve thought of little else since the first night we touched.  I’ve remembered this, the feel of your hands moving across my body, holding me.” The words were a powerful aphrodisiac, and Mischa tugged his head back down to her face, fusing her lips to his, taking the initiative.  Her tongue plowed against his, tasting his welcome.

With short, furious movements, Rhad popped open her jeans and tugged them down her legs.  His hands moved back up her thighs, skimming the lace of her panties before diving beneath the waistband to find her heat.  She bucked beneath the intrusion of his fingers, opening herself to his quest, and he groaned low in his throat, pressing tiny, heated kisses against her neck.

Her body burning, need clawing its way up her spine, Mischa shoved against his shoulders, dislodging him, tearing the shirt from his body.  Eager to feel his skin against hers. The sight of firm, solid muscle pulled a moan from her throat.

Rhad pulled her even closer until their bodies were so close they seemed to meld into one another.  “Look at me, my love,” he urged, his hands now moving over her body, finding the most sensitive spots.  

Her clothes fell away as if by their own will, and the night air caressed her bare skin. She pushed and tugged until she could feel Rhad’s nude body against hers. And while the night came alive with nocturnal sounds, she gave herself to him, to this strange, powerful vampire.

Their bodies joined, gliding together in symbiotic rhythm. Gazes locked, fingers linked. Mischa arched into him, accepting what he offered, giving just as much until that moment of exquisite pleasure consumed her. 

Her heart pounded so loudly she heard it, and her head dropped against his chest. Somehow, they’d managed to stay upright, though she wasn’t sure how much longer her legs would hold her. “Another perfect moment,” she finally managed to say after she’d regained some breaths.

Rhad nuzzled her neck.  “Perfect would have been on a bed with candles glowing and the whisper of wind in your hair.”

She slid her palm alongside his cheek, the rasp of his stubble tickling her skin.  “No, I’m pretty sure this was perfect.  The other stuff would have just been overkill.”

Laughter rumbled in Rhad’s chest, and he kissed the top of her head. “I’m glad you came to my house, Mischa Bonovich.”

She moved her lips over his damp flesh.  “Me, too.”

He held her until his stomach began to rumble, a reminder that he still hadn’t eaten.

“You should go eat.” Her nose wrinkled. “That sounds strange to say it.”

He smiled and pushed himself away, dressing silently. “You shall remain here.”

She gave him a mocking salute. “Yes, Master. Now, go. I’ll be fine.”

Something flashed in his eyes, something she couldn’t read, but then he was gone, leaving her with a knotted stomach and more than a little concern.

Hamrick crouched low, his body shielded by a large copse of trees. He couldn’t believe the fates had finally smiled on him. Mischa Bonovich stood less than ten feet away from him. All alone now that Rhad Valentine had taken off into the woods. For whatever reason, the dumbass had left her by herself.

And now was his chance.

The guy from the bar, Hamrick hadn’t cared enough to learn his name, snagged hold of his arm, but Hamrick quickly tugged free.

“I’ve got some business to take care of with this lady. You can beat it now.” He stuffed some money into the man’s hand and jerked his head toward the path they’d just taken. He doubted the guy understood a word he’d said.

The man lowered his flashlight and shook his head vigorously. He pointed up the path.

Hamrick handed over some more money and gave the guy a push. It took several more tries before the guide gave in. Clutching the money in one hand and the only flashlight in the other, the man traipsed back down the path.

Hamrick grinned. “Yeah, that’s right, buddy. You go on. Mischa will take me right where I need to go.”

Rhad watched Mischa a moment longer before he slipped deeper into the darkness.  He shouldn’t have made love to her again. It was only going to make matters worse once the truth was revealed. Mischa had no intentions of staying in Romania once she found her sister.  Only, she was expecting Rianna to be alive.

How would the knowledge of Rianna’s death change the course of Mischa’s life?  Would she decide to stay in Romania, or would she return to the States and to her lonely life there?  He couldn’t go with her.  The shaman had warned him he could not leave his country or the craving for human blood would overtake him.  But could he allow Mischa to leave? 

She’d touched him.  No woman had ever done that before.  No woman had ever gotten close enough to spawn these types of feelings inside of him.  People had marked him as a monster, a creature to be feared.  They couldn’t have known of his inability to harm an innocent being. 

His stomach rumbled again, and he began his search for sustenance.  Shifting into subtle mode, he prowled, dropping lower until he became level with the low-hanging branches of the bare bushes.  Minutes passed as he waited.

He heard a crunch, just a slight noise, really, but it could signify dinner. His fangs lengthened, and just as his nose caught the scent, another image stopped him in his tracks.

It was Mischa…trapped and helpless…in danger. With a loud roar, he spun around and raced through the forest.

Chapter Five

Mischa didn’t know who held her, but the hand covering her mouth stank of sweat. Her stomach roiled, and she increased her struggles. 

“I might consider removing my hand if you promise not to scream,” a gravelly voice whispered in her ear. 

She bobbed her head instantly. The ability to talk would greatly improve her odds.

“Where’s your vampire?”

Mischa’s blood went cold.  Her captor didn’t want her, but terror raced through her veins.  Only two kinds of people went looking for vampires.  Idiots and hunters.  Or a combination of both.

Taking hold of her arm, the man spun her around. Up close, he didn’t look like the type of man who’d be out hunting vampires. With neatly clipped hair and a pale face, he belonged behind a desk rather than wandering about in the Romanian mountains.

 “I asked you a question, Miss Bonovich.”

He knew her name! Had he been following them, waiting for just the right moment to get her alone? But no, he’d asked about Rhad. Still, maybe he was figuring his odds of taking her before Rhad could return. But what would he want with her?

The man poked her just above her collar bone. “Answer me, damnit.”

Mischa squared her shoulders and pinned him with a cold stare. “What do you think you’re doing?  Release me at once.”  She hoped she injected just the right amount of old-fashioned indignity into her voice.

He slid one arm around her waist, and Mischa caught a glimpse of a shiny Rolex encircling his wrist. This wasn’t an ordinary thug. For some reason, the knowledge made her heart drop a little lower.

“I’ve got a better idea. Why don’t you come with me?” He started to lead her away from the clearing.

Her temperature rising, Mischa dug in her heels and forced herself to remain calm.
Think, Mischa. You can do this. Just keep him busy until Rhad returns.
 “Why? What do you want with me?”   

Her captor’s breath hissed out near her ear, and he caught hold of her hair and gave it a sharp tug.  “What I want from you is the way to the shaman, and if you want to stay alive, you’ll lead me to him.” His hand tightened. “Because I’d really hate to break your lovely little neck just as I did your sister’s.”

Mischa gasped, the man’s words nearly driving her to her knees. Grief swelled within her, taking on a mind of its own. No, he was toying with her. Trying to unnerve her, take away her ability to be rational. And he was succeeding.

She couldn’t think, could barely breathe. Was Rhianna really dead? No, it couldn’t be true. She would know it, would feel it. Wouldn’t she?

Twigs snapped, and leaves crunched as booted feet smacked the ground less than a yard away from where Mischa stood in captivity.  Dully, she caught sight of Rhad’s face…his furious, cold face with those beautiful eyes narrowed to slits. 

“Let go of her,” he said in a low, deadly tone of voice.

The arm around Mischa’s waist shook, but her captor’s response was full of bravado.  “I’ll make a deal with you.  Your life for hers.”  He held up a gun Mischa hadn’t even noticed before.  “I promise I’ll make it quick.”

Rhad came closer, and the man behind Mischa tensed.  “I don’t make deals with my enemies.”

“Then just walk away. I’ll leave with Miss Bonovich, and you can live to see another day. Or night.”  

“That’s not going to happen. You’re holding a woman I care about, and letting you leave with her, well, let’s just say that doesn’t fit with my plans.” The arm around her waist tightened, but Mischa was beyond caring.  

“He said he killed Rianna.” The words came out so brokenly, she wondered if Rhad could even understand what she’d said.

His eyes locked with hers. “Mischa, I need you to concentrate.”

“I think it’s kind of hard for her to concentrate when she’s just gotten the bad news about her sister.”

Rhad took another step forward.  “What’s your name?” he asked the hunter.

Mischa heard the man swallow hard.  “I guess it’s only fair that you know who killed you. My name’s Hamrick, and this sweet little lady here has something I need.”

“Well, Hamrick,” Rhad continued as though the man had never spoken, “I need you to release her.”

Hamrick laughed, though the sound trembled. “You seem to forget who’s holding the gun here.” In spite of the strength of his words, the man still took several stumbling steps backwards, dragging Mischa with him.  “And if you come any closer, I’m going to have to kill her.”