Darkness In The Flames (48 page)

He caressed her cheek. “I know. For me too.”

“Is it always like this? The loving?” Her lids drooped over her dark eyes as she asked the question.

“No, sweetheart. Not like this. Of course I’ve taken women before. And I’ve fed from them if I needed to. But this? No. This is special. A moment out of time for both of us. Heart to heart, soul to soul.”

“Mmmm. Body to body.” She curled into his embrace. “And to think we shall do this for an eternity.” She stirred a little. “Nick? What about children? Is there a risk I might become pregnant?”

Nick turned her question over in his mind. “I cannot answer that, Verity. My supposition is that your body is now forever changed—to what you are. A vampire. Whether you can sustain life within you…well, I do not know. It seems unlikely though. I’m sorry.” He ran a hand through his hair, distressed at his thoughts. Suddenly aware that he would never hold his child in his arms.

“It’s all right.” She soothed him with her touch.

“It’s not, but thank you for saying that.” He sighed. “Most likely, your body would view an unborn child as an invader and expel it, healing you much as it does when you are injured. I cannot even guess as to whether you’ll have a monthly time, either, Verity.”

She snuffled tiredly. “I shall not miss it, believe me.”

He smiled then, touched by her unwavering honesty and the ease he found in discussing such matters with her. “Tomorrow we must move on.”

“If you think we should, then we shall.” She slurred the words as she tumbled into sleep.

Dawn approached, Nick knew. He felt his own slumber crawling up his limbs with its arrival. He yawned and tried to ignore the little tremor of apprehension.

Thérèse had found them. It was
definitely
time to move from their lair and seek a safer haven.

*~*~*~*

They lingered on their journey in spite of Nick’s concerns.

Verity was entranced by her new skills, eager to explore them and learn about them to their fullest.

She rejoiced in her eyesight and realized that Nick was learning to appreciate things he’d taken for granted. He was seeing their existence from a new perspective that encouraged him, lifted his soul and they shared their delight at seeing a family of badgers enjoying their nightly foray into the forest.

They listened together as owls hooted to each other and the trees around them rustled in the wind. They sensed the wildlife, merging more fully into the darkness that was now their home.

Certainly Verity missed the daylight. But this new way of living had merits of its own—merits Verity was determined to explore to their fullest. It was rough, of course. They had little in the way of coin to pay their way, but their needs were meager enough.

Clothing was a problem, but Nick had mysteriously produced a bundle that Verity found—to her enormous amazement—contained some of her own clothes. She’d turned wide eyes to Nick, but he’d merely answered with an innocent grin.

Or what he’d probably imagined to be an innocent grin.

He could only have obtained her dress and chemises from the Towers. The fact that he’d gone there at all sent a slight chill across her skin.

Verity let it go for the moment. Even thinking about that time at FitzAdams Tower was unpleasant. She was too engrossed in
today
to want to revisit
yesterday,
and yesterday no longer mattered. Not for a while, at least. She knew he’d tell her when he was ready.

“Why south, Nick?” She asked the question several days into their journey as they entered the New Forest, now readying itself for the winter.

“I’m not quite sure. But I was drawn here, drawn this way by something I read in a newspaper in London.”

Verity tilted her head, knowing he would tell her without any further encouragement from her.

“It was a short piece, a mere mention of a death in Hampshire.”

“A death?”

“A murder. Most horrid, according to the rather dramatically phrased paragraphs.” Nick frowned. “I felt—something. A stirring of that odd sense we have. Like a breath over the back of my neck. I knew I had to go south to a place called St. Chesswell’s.” He shrugged. “It may well be nothing at all. But there was little for me in London, so I figured it was as good a time as any to see if there was any basis for my reaction.”

He casually reached across the space between their horses and took her hand. “Fortunately for me, I found you along the way. Already this journey has provided more rewards than I dared ever hope for.”

“I’m the fortunate one.” She grinned at him. “Oh look.” She gestured with her free hand. “A barn. An old one too, by the looks of it. Will it suffice for us, do you think?”

They turned toward the structure, mostly concealed by large rhododendron bushes that sprawled raggedly around it. Several trees had protected it and the roof appeared solid.

Cautiously they entered, Verity learning to use her senses to detect any signs of life within. It was empty, unused for some time by the looks of it.

“Probably belongs to one of the New Forest tenants.” Nick glanced around. “They’re scattered here and there. I remember hearing that once a year those who graze in this area must account for their stock. Looks as if this is a staging area for the spring head count.”

Verity nodded, used to the country and its ways. “And it looks pretty sturdy.”

They were fortunate. It was secure, simply constructed of solid timbers and far enough off the beaten paths to provide them sanctuary for a night.

“‘Twill do.” Nick unsaddled his horse. “For this night, at least. Tomorrow we shall find an inn I think. We must try and restore ourselves to some kind of order and we’re near our destination. St. Chesswell’s is on the coast, which—by my reckoning—is probably no more than a night’s ride from here.”

Verity agreed. She had no wish to visit anywhere before she’d had chance to bathe and tidy herself. She unsaddled too, both of them silently removing the harnesses and the small bundles that composed their life’s possessions. Her gaze fell on the one thing she’d been glad Nick had let her carry with her.

A whip.

Her body flared to life and she quietly slipped it from its place behind the harness. She was strong now, she knew Nick’s body as well as he knew hers. This was a chance for her to fulfill a desire as yet unmet.

Now all she had to do was talk him into it.

The barn was quiet, that odd silence that comes from disuse and time. Nick pulled the stout door securely behind them and enclosed them in their private darkness, no obstacle to those who could see so clearly without the aid of light.

The routine of establishing a bed for themselves was easily accomplished. A mere gathering of some hay, the spreading of their cloaks and a thorough check to ensure that no light would enter when the sun rose.

It was late autumn now and the days were shortening, a benefit for ones such as themselves. They could enjoy a few more hours of wakefulness. Summer would take its toll, but by then?

Verity shrugged to herself. Who knew what lay ahead?

Nick was finishing his inspection of the barn. Now would be as good a time as any to begin her wicked fantasy.

She grinned and started to undress.

“Nick?”

He turned then paused as she slipped her shirt from her shoulders and let it fall.

“You are greedy, Verity. ‘Tis a greed I share.” He grinned back.

“Stay for a moment please. I would—I would have us take some different steps this night.” She held up her hand to hold him at bay.

Curiously he looked at her, then nodded. “Very well.” He crossed to the cloaks and sat down. “If it is your desire.”

“Oh it is. It very
much
is.”

Verity’s nipples were hardening even as she spoke, darts of excitement plunging deep into her belly. With teasing slowness she unfastened her breeches, holding them until she’d pried her boots from her feet.

Then she languorously let them fall, revealing her nudity, standing proudly before him without hesitation.

She saw his throat move as he swallowed and glimpsed a stirring beneath the fabric covering his groin. She was arousing him as much as she was arousing herself.

Her hands lifted to her hair and she untied the little knot of ribbon, shaking it free to fall around her shoulders, onto her breasts. Deliberately she stepped away from her clothes and moved to the wall of the barn.

“Can you see how much I want you, Nick?” Daringly, Verity let her hands roam over her skin to end at her breasts. “Can you see how my body aches for you?”

He cleared his throat and shifted urgently on the cloak. “Yes.”

She reached down and took the whip from beneath her bundle of clothing. Smoothly she unfurled it and tossed it, handle up, to Nick. “Then satisfy me, my love. Make my fantasies come true. Take me on a journey—come
with
me. Let’s explore something I’ve always dreamed about. Wished for in my hidden desires.”

She turned to the wall, crossed her wrists and raised her hands above her head in a position of vulnerability and submission. “I’m yours, Nick. Forever. Give me what I’ve so long desired.”

Verity paused, wondering if Nick fully understood. Then she heard the rustle as he moved and the slight whisper as he picked up the whip and tested it.

He understood.

“Give me what I want, my love. Give me the pain—
and
the pleasure.
Please.
”

Chapter Fifteen

Nick weighed the whip thoughtfully in his hand.

He needed no words, no pictures drawn—they were all there in his head. Verity was his match in so many more ways than he could have ever wished for.

He stripped from his shirt in seconds flat and then stood, in boots and breeches, toying with the length of leather and appreciating the sight of her, naked, awaiting his pleasure.

At this moment his existence was all sweet desire and urgent need. Gone were the shadows that had haunted him since Rogaška and Thérèse. Now there was Verity. And the violent loving she demanded.

He would give her what they
both
wanted.

A quick flick of his wrist and the thong kissed her buttocks, a stinging lick of leather against soft skin.

She moaned, a soft, drawn-out sigh of delight. “Ohhhh,
yes
.”

Again Nick flicked the whip, this time landing more solidly on her other cheek. And once more she moaned as he watched the red line of his blow appear on the white skin.

He was hard now, rock hard, enjoying this moment of domination. He knew this aroused him sexually—it had since he was transformed. Perhaps in his mind he was punishing Thérèse. Perhaps it was just the simple pleasure of being totally in control of a woman he was going to fuck.

He didn’t know and right now he didn’t care. Verity was enjoying it just as much as he was. And that would suffice for both of them.

He thought for a second or two then reached for the ribbon she’d used to bind her hair. One stride brought him to her back and she jumped as he grasped her wrists and lashed them together above her head. There was a hook on the wall—one of many around the barn.

He tugged and lifted her bound arms, hooking her helplessly in position.

Then he unfastened his breeches, letting his solid cock free and rubbing it hard against her ass. His moves forced her into the rough wall, crushing nipples and breasts into the wood.

She moaned again.

“You have submitted, Verity. Submitted to
me
.”

“Yessss…” She hissed the whisper, wriggling her hips against his cock. “Yes, Nick.
More
.”

His hand delved between her thighs, finding her wetness, her swollen pussy lips and fondling them roughly. This was not the time for delicacy. She wanted the harsh caresses of his whip and his hands.

“Very well. You shall have more because I choose to give it. Before I fuck you, you will beg me, Verity. Beg me for what you want. Do you understand?”

He pushed two fingers deep inside her, stretching her as his cock pushed a little way between her cheeks.

The dual assault brought a muted cry of pleasure from her throat. “Dear God, yes. I understand.”

“Good.” He withdrew both cock and fingers and stepped away, toeing off his boots with difficulty. He was
so
eager to take her. To claim her as his once more. But he knew that the more time he made her wait, the better it would be—for both of them.

So he shed the remainder of his clothes at his leisure. She would know from the sounds he made what he was doing, but she had not turned her head to look at him. She did not need to.

The trust between them was implicit. He would not harm her—merely take her
and
himself where they both desired to be.

The whip flicked rapidly once more, whistling as it fell beneath one ripe buttock, then rapidly repeating the swing to land on the other. Nick kept up the barrage of blows, watching the redness spread over the white globes, noting the tremors in her thighs and the eager thrust of her hips as she pushed back to meet his punishment willingly.

“Move your feet. Wide apart.” He flicked the whip around her waist, knowing it would catch the underside of her breast. “Do it now.”

Obediently she nodded, spreading her thighs as far as she was able given her position and the difficult of moving with arms tied high above her.

Nick breathed in the scent of his woman’s arousal. Drops of moisture dappled her thighs as he laid the leather thong on them, sometimes outside, sometimes inside where the nerve endings were alert for every light touch, let alone the sting of his whip.

Finally he flicked it between those thighs, catching her pussy lips with the lightest yet most stinging of lashes.

She cried out. “Oh God, Nick. I’ll come…I’ll
come
…”

He paused. “Not yet. When I say so, not before.”

She sobbed. “I don’t know if I can…so close, I’m so close…”