Crimson Heat: 4 (Vampira) (3 page)

The males were gasping, groaning and moaning. Tristan came inside her ass and at the last second Luca withdrew from her, spurting his release against her belly and ensuring that she didn’t become with child.

But she knew their mating wasn’t over. Jaymes still needed her. Within seconds, the bonds were gone from her wrists and ankles and Jaymes grabbed her by her waist. His hot hands seared her flesh and he lifted her easily, tossing her onto her bed. The males took turns in being the last with her. This was Jaymes’ time.

“Such a beautiful, inviting slave,” Jaymes whispered as he climbed over her.

She trembled with arousal as his fangs glistened and his eyes glowed as red as the Crimson Moon. Eager to accept him, she reached out and her palms slid over his strong back. She dug her fingers into him, urging him to hurry. He lowered himself on top of her, his muscular flesh, heavy and hot as he pressed his body against her. She cried out as the crest of his cock head speared past her pussy lips. She whimpered as he penetrated her in one quick thrust.

“You’re my little slave, Satin,” he whispered with possession against her mouth. “Don’t ever forget that. Mine.”

She moaned in answer. Yes, she was
his
. And Tristan’s and Luca’s.

His mouth fused over hers and her brain short-circuited, making her forget how to think. All she could do was feel his hard body pressing into hers. His mouth claiming hers. The wicked-hot gazes of the other two males as they watched.

Jaymes pulled out of her and then he thrust back in. Her vaginal muscles struggled to accompany his thick girth as he plunged deeper with every pistoning stroke. He grunted and groaned, his body tightening against her. He was nearing his climax. She shivered and whimpered against his hot mouth as the white-hot arcs of pleasure zipped out of nowhere and jolted into her.

His thrusts quickened and her entire being exploded. Shudders rocked through her. He kept pistoning harder and fiercer and rode the pleasure waves, galloping with them until she became nothing more than a mindless vessel of lust.

“Don’t ever leave me, Satin. Ever,” he mumbled against her lips.

She wanted to nod. Wished to reassure him. But she couldn’t tell him that they were her only weakness and that she didn’t plan on hanging around here to end her life as a slave.

She wouldn’t tell them a thing, because she knew if she did, her three males would only talk her out of it.

New York City, Present Day

Billionaire Lisbeth Crowe stared wide-eyed at the full-length mirror. She couldn’t believe how different she appeared in the blood-red, knee-length satin dress with sheer sleeves and bow straps. Fifty years acting like a human had made her used to wearing prim and proper business suits for the occasional mandatory business meeting. The rest of the time she slipped into comfortable loungewear and worked from one her several homes.

She
never
put on sexy dresses like this Zeena creation. She’d only wear something so alluring to seduce a vamp or three into her bed.

Lisbeth scolded herself for even thinking about males and doubly chastised herself for being so stupid in agreeing to be a model for her young friend Princess Zeena Bloodrayne’s autumn vampire line launch.

For the past fifty years, Lisbeth had effectively kept a low profile in the human world. She managed to avoid any kind of publicity, yet here she was stuck smack-dab in the middle of a New York fashion show, about to walk down the runway in the wiggliest high heels she’d ever worn.

Vampires alive!
She was going to faint from the fear of being in this social situation.

“Oh my gosh. You’re so gorgeous, Lis. So beautiful,” Zeena gushed as she raced into the small changing room with a beautiful red rose clasped in her right hand.

Lisbeth stiffened as she stared at the flower. Blood-red roses always brought back a rush of memories and fevered heat snapped through her like a live wire. Several males’ grunts and groans echoed from the past and she found herself thrust back in the dark dungeon cell she’d once called home, her body tied and positioned with red silky ropes as her males thrust into her captive body and brought her to spectacular orgasms.

Lisbeth swayed at the impact of her body tightening in remembrance as her thoughts raced back to reality.

Zeena laughed as she studied Lisbeth in the mirror. “Don’t be so nervous, Lis. No one is going to recognize you. You had plastic surgery, remember? But you’re going to be the talk of the show. You’re the hottest model I’ve got. You are so elegant and sophisticated. You really make the dress, and not the other way around.”

Lisbeth tried to breathe but couldn’t. The fabric embraced her breasts so tightly she could barely draw a breath. Oh yeah, she was going to pass out. She might have fainted had Zeena’s arms not curled around Lisbeth’s waist. Her friend hugged her so tight that guilt whipped through her for even thinking of not going through with walking down the aisle.

“You’re so sweet to be doing this for me,” Zeena whispered against Lisbeth’s ear as they both gazed into the mirror.

Her young friend was beautiful. Her cheeks were powdered with a pink blush and a fake mole dotted the left tip of her lip. She wore her bangs short, just above her perfect arched eyebrows. She’d dyed her normally straight black shoulder-length hair a pleasing golden-brown color and streaked it with dark-blue highlights to match the blue of her contact lenses. Smart look.

Pride flooded Lisbeth. Her friend was a vampire living in the human world. She was Zeena Bloodrayne, up-and-coming New York fashion designer and princess vampire of the Crystal Clan. Her eyes sparkled with happiness as she stared at Lisbeth. She smiled so happily that Lisbeth’s guilt vanished as she remembered why she was doing this—thanks to a couple of models who’d decided not to show up for the show. Zeena had been freaking out all over the place until her twin sister Christina had suggested Lisbeth step in.

“When they see how gorgeous you are, they’ll know I am serious about being a fashion designer.”

Lisbeth once again gazed at herself. Christina had given her a sweeping updo, bringing her mid-back-length brunette-dyed hair up at the back and off her long neck and pinning it with a gorgeous diamond-studded comb. Several ringlets were draped around her heart-shaped face to soften her features. They’d given her long eyelashes a thick application of black mascara and her lips a dash of blood-red lipstick that matched the dress. With her naturally white vampire skin, she did look like a vampire, minus the fangs.

“Come on, ladies!” Christina Bloodrayne’s sharp voice shot through the dressing room like a bullet. She rushed in, clapping her hands as she tossed out instructions. “You’re up next, Lisbeth. And Zeena, you’re to come in right after Lisbeth returns from the runway walk. And Zeena, don’t forget to take your bows.”

Zeena let Lisbeth go and raced over to a nearby shelf where she frantically rustled through some items. “I almost forgot the fake fangs. Oh my vampires! Where are they?”

“No time, Zeena. She’s got to go out there now!” Christina hissed as she rushed to her sister and took the red rose, thrusting it at Lisbeth.

“Go, now. You’re up.” Christina motioned to Lisbeth to follow her out.

“But the fangs—I can’t find them. It won’t be the same without fangs.” Zeena’s plea gripped Lisbeth.

“I’ll use my own,” she called back. In a second, Lisbeth unleashed her own fangs, allowing them to spear past and over her lips.

“Woah,” Christina laughed. “Don’t make it so real.”

Lisbeth grinned. She tried to take another deep breath, failed and willed her feet not to wobble as she stepped out onto the too long runway.

The instant she appeared from behind the blood-red curtains the crowd exploded with loud cheers, making her tense with nervousness. How in the world did the humans handle these high heels and why did they make so much noise when they liked something? Lisbeth forced herself to continue walking, hoping she wouldn’t fall and make a fool of herself. Keeping her gaze straight ahead as she’d been instructed to do earlier, she prayed for all this to be over as quickly as possible.

* * * * *

Stefan Gorbin drooled as the tall brown-haired female wearing the slinky red dress and holding a red rose in her slender hands erupted onto the stage. Those white fangs of hers appeared so real, they just had to be.

Hmm, vampire? There were plenty of vampires living among the humans, which made them easy prey for nourishment. Using his x-ray vision, he gazed beneath her clothing, admiring the succulent outline of her curvy body. His gift of seeing through clothing was why he came to these events. He appreciated this female’s large pert breasts, her slender waist and wide hips and—

He zeroed in on the tattoo on her left butt cheek. Although it had been surgically concealed, he had no problem making out the imprint on her flesh of a blood-red rose, its stem intertwined with a black chain.

Crimson slave
.

He blinked as shock rolled over him in a dark shuddering wave. His gaze snapped to the female’s face. He didn’t recognize her, yet something about her seemed familiar. But what? Was it her confident stride as she walked down the runway? Or the extra-long fangs peeking out from between slightly parted luscious red lips?

He sniffed the air, inhaling human scents and a couple of vampire scents, tossing them aside, until he was able to focus on hers.

She smelled ultra-sweet.

Sweet
.

That word struck a chord and he sucked in a shaken breath. Was this Queen Crimson’s runaway blood slave? The one the Queen had always bragged tasted so sweet that she’d almost killed her on numerous occasions while feeding on her?

Stefan’s fangs unsheathed and lengthened with excitement. He covered his mouth with his hand so none of the nearby humans would notice. He needed to contact the Queen right away. Yet, it would be impossible to dematerialize right here in the fashion show. A pact existed among all the vampire clans that under no circumstances must vampires arouse suspicion in humans that vampires continued to exist.

He slouched in his chair, hiding behind the humans in front of him so the female wouldn’t see him. He would wait until her back was turned and walk to the restroom and dematerialize. Unfortunately, the longer he stayed, the bigger the chance that she might recognize him and his scent even after all these years. He had, after all, been her dungeon guard and he’d made her life a living hell while out of the Queen’s watchful observation.

He smiled. He was about to make her life hell once again.

* * * * *

“She’s so beautiful,” Zeena whispered from behind the curtain as she peeked out and watched Lisbeth turn on the runway with ease and elegance, her hips sashaying like a pro as strolled back toward them.

“The crowd loves her,” Christina replied from beside her. “They’ve been cheering nonstop since she stepped out there. Your competitors will snap her up if you’re not careful.”

Zeena shook her head as defiance raged through her. “No way, she’s mine.”

It was then that Christina chuckled and Zeena realized her sister was making fun of her. She gazed over at her. Amusement danced in Christina’s dark-brown eyes as she shook her head, seemingly feeling sorry for Zeena.

“Lisbeth is doing you a favor, Zee. She doesn’t have the time to be a fashion model, remember? She’s CEO and owner of Au Naturel Condoms.” She lowered her voice. “And she’s with Vampira for a reason. She needs to keep a low profile. This is a one-time deal.”

Irritation breathed through her. “Lisbeth deserves a bit of fun. She never goes out and all she does is hide in her numerous homes, running her business through her computers. She needs a life and if I can give her one, then I will.”

Christina shook her head. “We’ve known her all our lives and she’s always kept to herself, except when she’s with us and Mom or other Vampira members. You need not to get your hopes up, Zee. Okay? Don’t push her.”

Zeena’s hopes of having Lisbeth for her hot model plummeted. Her sister was right. They needed to keep protecting Lisbeth and she needed to not pester her about modeling again for her.

Darn it! She’d let her need for breaking into the competitive human world of fashion cloud her judgment for her friend. Christina was right, of course.

Zeena refocused her attention to Lisbeth who was now halfway back. She looked so sexy and stunning in that red dress and the crowd was still cheering. They loved her. Just as Zeena and Christina loved her.

She burst with happiness as Lisbeth flashed Zeena a smile, showing off her huge white fangs, and tossed her a wink.

A moment later, Lisbeth stepped behind the curtains, her eyes closing as she kicked off her shoes. From the auditorium, the crowd continued to cheer, and then a chant began to an almost deafening roar.

Sexy vampiress. Sexy vampiress.

“Okay, I have an idea. Lisbeth, they love you.” Christina laughed. “They want you back out there. Both of you go out right now. And don’t forget to bow.”

“But I don’t have my shoes,” Lisbeth complained as Zeena grabbed Lisbeth’s hand and led her back out onto the runway. The crowd went wild. Zeena melted into the noise, loving the furious applause. She swore this was the happiest day of her life.

* * * * *

It was the worst day of Lisbeth’s life. Okay, almost. But tears of joy filled Zeena’s eyes and Lisbeth held tighter to her friend’s hand, lifting it up into the air. The crowd cheered louder.

“It appears your Zeena vampire line is a hit,” Lisbeth shouted to Zeena. Her young friend laughed.

It was then Lisbeth sniffed a familiar, rancid scent wafting through the warm, stuffy air. Her body went cold with remembrance of clanging slave cell doors and the quick-paced boots of her guard. No, it couldn’t be
him
out there.

She sniffed the air, but the smell was gone. Had it been her imagination? Or was it reality?

A strong need to flee zipped through her, yet she forced herself to stand here with Zeena and embrace the whistles and hand-clapping of the humans. She scanned the audience, but she couldn’t see anyone she knew.

The uncomfortable smell from her old life had to be her imagination.

It had to be.

* * * * *

Queen Crimson’s hand tightened around her cane and she could barely contain her excitement.

“You are sure of this?” she asked the vampire who’d once been in charge of her blood slaves. Since her favorite slave had escaped on his watch she’d demoted him to searching for blood slaves for her. Humans, in particular, that wouldn’t be missed. Plenty of humans disappeared without a trace out in their world, and Queen Crimson took full advantage of the statistics.

Since her most favorite blood slave had escaped, Queen Crimson had had a ferocious appetite for finding Satin or someone who would match Satin’s sweetness. Unfortunately, she had been unsuccessful.

“She has an altered face, but humans have had plastic surgery for many years now. They can change faces, but she wears your brand beneath the altering. The rose with the chain. And I recognized her scent. Sweet. Perhaps, even sweeter now that she has aged a bit more.”

The Queen nodded as a familiar rage whipped through her. He
should
recognize her favorite slave’s scent. He’d been her guard. He should have prevented her from escaping.

Now he told her he’d found her precious missing slave and Queen Crimson could barely restrain herself from lifting the ban on the dematerializing mind control she held over her people so she could go out into the world and get Satin herself.