Embrace the Mystery [03] Blood Rose Series (16 page)

“I know. And I don’t blame you. I don’t blame anyone. I just needed to leave the horror behind. So, I moved to Tennessee.”

“And you opened up your clinic and your gallery.”

“I did.”

When he released her hand, she fell silent and for a few minutes, he did as well, maybe letting the memories dissipate. The drums and music continued to fill the air.

He sipped his beer and glanced at her. “Since I told you two things, I think it only fair that you do the same.” His lips curved. “So, tell me something no one else knows about Batya, about the daughter of Davido.”

She thought back to her earlier revelation about the men she’d been with. She felt bad like she’d turned over a rock in her life and found a bunch of bugs crawling beneath.

She met his gaze. “All right, here goes. I’m not proud of the fact that I’ve always been with men that I could control. At the same time, you scare the shit of me for the exact opposite reason.”

He shifted in his chair, and his eyes flashed in the night. A shiver went through her and suddenly his mating vibration was just there, on her thighs and forcing the air from her lungs.

Tell me to stop, and I will.
His deep voice rumbled in her head.

But she didn’t. Her heart hammered louder than the drums and suddenly she knew exactly where she wanted this to go.
I want to know what it’s like just once.
She said nothing more, offered no further explanation.

He rose up from his chair, took her cup and said he’d be right back. He handed the cups over to the cook and bid Henry good-night. A boisterous, suggestive chant rose into the air along with a lot of laughter.

He smiled as he returned to her, something that told her he was a man with a plan.

He took her hand, lifting her to her feet, then led her to a portion well beyond their tent. She understood. The farther downstream they moved, the less likely they’d be seen, not at this distance.

“I need a bath.” She watched him strip, her vision adjusting. His boots came off first as he unzipped. His shirt came next, followed by his battle leathers.

And her heart pounded for more than one reason as he stepped into the waters. He was absurdly beautiful.

“It’s warmer than I thought it’d be.” He glanced up stream. “There must be a hot spring on some of that high ground.”

The water tempted her. He tempted her. And the drums called to something very realm-like in her soul, a fateful sensation of belonging with Quinlan, belonging
to
him.

Just to be safe, she set up an enthrallment shield around them both.

“Nice,” he said. “And I can see it better out in the open, like everything around us is slightly blurred.” He found a deep spot and floated, knees up, arms sweeping backward.

She took off her shoes, her jeans and shirt, then unhooked her bra. She heard him growl as she stepped out of her thong. She eased into the stream, taking care not to slip on the rocks. He was right. The water temp made it easy to slide into the slow moving stream, stretch and swim, if just a short distance. It felt wonderful and for the craziest moment, she wanted to stay right there forever, in the stream with Quinlan, bathing and swimming, soon-to-make love.

She rolled in the water, and floated on her back, not caring that her hair got soaked. She paddled gently against the current to keep herself in one spot. The drums were muffled with her ears below the stream’s surface.

Staring up at the stars and at the crescent moon, she let the stress of the past two nights drift away. She gave herself to the beauty of the moment, to the music and the pulse of the drums, to the starlight and moonlight, and to the soft feel of Quinlan’s vibrations as he touched her through the water.

She smiled.
That feels nice.

You’re beautiful—a pale island of delectable flesh on a dark slate of water. May I come to you?

The dominant man requested permission?

She smiled even more.
Yes. Please.

I have a condition.

Anything.
She couldn’t believe she’d said that. ‘Anything’. Without thinking, without protesting even a little, she’d agree to anything.

He chuckled softly. He was closer than she realized.

She lifted her head and found him just a few feet away, moving toward her, the waterline a few inches below his navel, pecs glistening in the glow of her fae night vision. He’d removed his clasp and his long thick hair hung around his shoulders.

Maybe because he knew she watched him, he lifted his arms, flexing, as he pushed his hair behind his back. His chest rippled as well as his arms. He looked incredible.
You’ll need to agree to this condition.

She nodded, the water lapping at her shoulders.
Tell me.

You’ll have to do everything I say, when I say it.
He drew close and held her gaze tight to his.
Do you agree?

Batya stared into dark eyes that glittered with desire. His smoky, applewood scent floated around her, causing her nostrils to flare and her mouth to water. She nodded slowly, sinking her feet to the bottom of the stream and rising to meet him. The soft caress of his seductive vibration spread over her abdomen.

She didn’t touch him, though. Instead, she waited for him to speak, to command, to do whatever the hell he wanted with her. Had she really agreed to this? What, then, would the vampire require of her?

* * * * * * * * *

Quinlan didn’t recognize the sensation at first, the one that travelled through him head-to-foot and strengthened his muscles. Eventually, he hit on the name for it. She’d called it right, speaking of dominance. He wanted to rule her and his body loved the idea.

He also knew what he wanted from Batya, a kind of surrender she’d never given to any man before. She’d already turned over her will to him, and to some extent, her safety.

But there was more here, something he wanted to subdue and she wouldn’t like it at first, he was sure of that. He took her hand and led her from the stream, picking up all their clothes as he went. Once inside the tent, he dropped the lot by the flap. Even though she sustained the enthrallment shield, he lowered the flap so that nobody wandering by would be able to see her if her shield wavered.

She was for his eyes, no one else.

The staff had made up his bed and laid out towels. He picked one up and dried her off, stroking her full breasts, narrow waist, and rounded hips. He turned her and took his time with her bottom and between her legs, parting them with his hands, rubbing the towel back and forth slowly and on purpose until she moaned.

She was a sensual woman and he loved it, that she responded to all kinds of touch and stimulation. That he’d made her come with his vibration alone had kept him on the hunt, made him hunger for her knowing that there was more.

Right now, he was about to find out how much more.

He pulled the furs back and told her to lie down on her stomach but to spread her legs wide.

She crawled over the stiff mattress.

“I want you spread eagle.” He pushed the pillows out of the way.

The bed was small. Sleeping might be problematic, but he loved how her pale body filled the space over the black silk sheets. Henry had great staff and it showed.

He watched her breathing, the quick nervous rise and fall of her back, and his thighs tensed, his cock growing hard. He liked her in this state, the confident woman laid out, vulnerable, at his mercy.

He stretched out behind her, planting his hands on either side of her hips. What man didn’t love the sight of woman’s shapely ass and Batya’s was about perfect.

He kissed her, soft slow kisses moving from one side to the other, then dragging his wet tongue over her skin, lapping at times. Even her skin tasted of her tropical flower scent. He got lost in the sensation, nipping at her, then biting hard so that she cried out. Her pelvis rolled and she moaned, but he held her down.

Just feel me, feel what I’m doing, but don’t move.

Her breathing grew ragged, even rough. He watched her fingers clutch, then release the sheet repeatedly. But he wouldn’t let her hips rise and fall.

He shifted backwards, inching his mouth lower, to the soft flesh of her inner thighs, working his way to the center, lapping, nipping, sucking. He lifted her hips and put a pillow under them to raise them up to reach her better. He wanted to do more French kissing between her thighs.

Once he got the right position, he used his hands to massage her bottom as he kissed her the way he wanted to, swirling his tongue in and out, sucking at times, plucking at her lower lips, always massaging.

Her breathing had turned to a soft pant.
Quinlan, I need to move.

Stay put.
He pressed her hips down.

She cried out in frustration, but he continued lapping at her, savoring the taste of her that flowed over his tongue, her scent rich, his cock hard.

He opened up his vibration, focusing solely on his tongue. He plunged inside and let the vibrations flow. She tensed, but she was right on the edge. He added more vibration and thrust faster. She let out a long cry and he could feel by her inner pulses that she was coming. But he held her flat as he punched his tongue inside her, thrusting hard, sending wave after wave of vibration into her and through her.

After a good long minute of writhing and crying out, her body finally fell lax.
Oh, sweet Goddess, that was amazing, and what you can do with a vibration and your tongue—

He slapped her bottom.
No talking unless I give you permission.

She moaned and her fingers once more squeezed the sheets.

“I want you on your hands and knees.”

* * * * * * * * *

Batya struggled to rise up because the orgasm had sent her to the moon and she’d still not quite come back to earth. What Quinlan could do to her with his tongue and just a little vibration.

Now he wanted her on her hands and knees.

She finally found her balance and looked back at him, the thick, damp mass of her hair falling over her right shoulder.

His fingers still played with her ass and she loved it. She loved his fingers on her, his tongue, his lips, even his teeth when he nipped her.

He positioned his cock behind her and began to push inside, holding onto her hips, easing into her. She watched his eyes close as he penetrated her depths.

She was so wet for him and he was so big. He pulled back almost the full length of her except his tip, then shoved back inside letting her feel his thick stalk the entire distance.

She could feel his body revving up and she gasped knowing what would come. The vibration through his cock came as a soft tingle then a rumbling as she pushed back against him.

“Be still.” He slapped her ass again.

The sensation startled her. The sting remained, combining with the vibration and the thrust of his cock, to create something new, something electric, something she wanted more of.

She pushed back again.

Once more he slapped her, then leaned over her and bit down on the back of her neck, hard and not with his fangs.
You will obey me, Batya.

She didn’t understand what was happening to her, or why a strange vibration started up in her own body. She could hardly breathe.

That’s it. I’m feeling it now, your mating vibration is accepting me.
He rolled his hips, thrusting.
Damn that feels good.

Batya couldn’t help herself as she purposefully shoved her hips back hard.

No moving.

He bit down harder on her neck and reached around to pinch a nipple. He pumped in quick thrusts, grinding his teeth in to her neck and pinching her breast at the same time.

She cried out, wanting to tell him to stop because it hurt, yet not wanting him to stop.

She grew very still after which he eased up on the bite and the pinch, but increased the vibration deep inside. She moaned.

He rubbed her breasts now and licked the back of her neck, sucking in turns. He had big, fleshy hands and his touch sent a thrill through her. He added vibration to his fingertips and moved in slow circles as he thrust in and out.

Moving his lips to the side of her neck, he began to lick over her vein. She groaned, needing him to sink his fangs, to drink from her.

Do it.

He eased back and stopped the sensual thrust inside her.

She’d made a mistake. She’d commanded him and everything stopped.

Her body ached so deep inside for movement and vibration that she gave a groan.
I’m sorry mastyr.

Say it again, but look at me.

She shifted once more to look back at him. His expression was hard, commanding and her breathing hitched all over again. He looked dangerous, lethal, like he could tear her apart with a thought.

Her whole body quivered.
I’m sorry, mastyr. I humbly beg your pardon.

He wrapped the long, thick length of her hair around his forearm, and pulled so that she felt caught. Once more, desire rushed through her, of being pinned by Quinlan, held fast, unable to escape.

Much better.

Holding her gaze, he thrust into her again and once more let the vibrations flow through her breasts through his fingers and between her legs.

She moaned heavily, her own vibration seeking his and swirling over him. But he didn’t seem to complain about that. If anything, his realm vibration moved with hers, a kind of dance that echoed the heavy pounding of the drums.

She realized that their joined vibrations had synched with the drums, another erotic layer that had her well squeezing and released his stalk.

I’m going to take your blood, Cha, and you’re going to give it up for me. I’m going to drink until I’ve had my fill.

Yes, mastyr.
She’d learned her lesson.

He released her hair to slide his arm around her waist. He held her tight against him in order to keep the upper part of her still while he continued to push in and out of her with his cock. She could have come but she held back, knowing that the slide to ecstasy was a mere thought away. She wanted to wait. She wanted the drums at the brigade circle rising to a crescendo, she wanted Quinlan sucking hard at her neck and his hips moving vampire fast. She wanted his vibration filling every inch of her body, then she’d release.