IM02 - Hunters & Prey (20 page)

“What about my friend?” The words flew from my mouth in a rush. “What about Fallon? I’m not losing my friend … I’ve dragged her into all of this.”

His jaw tightened, and he let out an impatient sigh. “Let us get through this mess with Santino first. Then we will figure out what to do about your human friend.”

“That’s not much of a reassuring answer.”

“It is the best answer I can give you. We have never dealt with human acquaintances. It is just not done.”

“But that doesn’t mean it can’t be.”

Lysander looked on me with pleading eyes. “Alyssa, please. I’ve already assured her safety in our home. I am trying to show you I care. Let that gesture be enough for now.”

I knew better than to press too hard about this. It was obvious that Lysander was trying, even if it was only to ensure I didn’t run off again. I leaned into him and wrapped my arms around his waist. “Okay,” I sighed. “For now.”

We stood under the soft cascade of warm water without speaking for a few moments. Through the glass shower door, the room became hazy as the bathroom filled with a thick cloud of steam.

Lysander finally broke the silence. “Do we forgive each other then? Can we try to be happy, my love?”

His hands caressed my back; feather-soft touches of his fingertips traced swirls and shapes on my skin.

“Mmm-hmm,” I mumbled. It was so hard to remain mad at Lysander when he was so adept at smoothing things over. I couldn’t resist the soothing feel of his hands. My muscles, still tense from stress, melted under his gentle strokes.

His hands sank lower down my back, applying more pressure, still tracing the random patterns into my skin.

“I can’t stay mad at you forever,” I said.

Warmth radiated between my thighs as his fingers traced around my hips. I reached out, taking one of Lysander’s hands, and guided it between my legs.

“Someone is impatient tonight.” He laughed.

I smiled seductively and batted my eyelashes at him.

A growl tore its way up his chest, rumbling out of him like the call of a hungry beast. His mouth again found mine. Lysander pushed me roughly up against the wall. His hands ran down my back and cupped my ass, kneading my skin. He ground his body into mine, pressing his already thickening member against me.

The warm pulsing between my legs intensified. Reaching down, I took his hard length into my hands. I broke from our kiss, looking up into his large dusky-grey eyes and gave him a mischievous smile.

I focused on Lysander’s eyes, willing him to see the erotic images playing in my head.

I squeezed a little, enjoying his weight and girth, teasing him with slow strokes, and was rewarded with a loud moan of approval.

His hands left my ass, tracing the curves of my hips, inching his magic fingers around slowly to the pulsing warmth between my legs. As his fingers neared their target, they changed direction, moving back to the outside of my thigh.

I groaned in frustration.

He leaned in and whispered into my ear. “I should punish you for leaving the way you did.” The heat from his breath sent a shiver down my spine.

“Not fair.”

He bit at my earlobe, not hard enough to break the skin, but enough to send another streak of pleasure straight to my sex.

He nipped at my skin, creating a trail down my neck, all the while heating my blood with need. His fangs scraped over the thundering pulse in my neck. His fingers again traced my legs, moving closer to the hot, needy flesh between them. My breath hitched in my chest, anticipation threatening to drive me to insanity. If he wouldn’t give me what I wanted soon, I’d have to force his hand.

Finally his finger found the spot, and at the same time, his fangs penetrated my skin. I gasped as his finger delved deep into me, sending pleasurable waves through my body.

The sensual pull of his mouth as he fed from my neck was like a euphoric drug coupled with his capable hands exploring my folds. I was paralyzed with ecstasy, enjoying every sensation, every pleasure he lavished on me.

My hand still firmly grasped his cock. In my euphoria, I had momentarily forgotten what I was doing. I caressed his thick length, wringing a loud moan from him. He released my neck, throwing his head backward. I stroked him hard, enjoying the look of bliss on his face.

“Who is teasing who here?” he said between moans of pleasure.

His free hand reached and covered mine as I stroked him. He rested there, holding my hand, guiding my strokes as his eyes rolled into his head. The right corner of is mouth rose in a crooked smile and he moaned again.

Suddenly, his hand gripped mine, stopping me. He pulled my hand away. “Not yet.” He sighed. “I’ve not properly taken care of you.”

He leaned in for a gentle kiss. His lips touched mine, light as a feather, but he didn’t linger long. Slowly, he kissed a path from my mouth to my neck. From my neck, he blazed a trail of light kisses to my breast, stopping to nip playfully at each one. From my breast he moved down, stopping briefly at my navel, before traveling lower.

I leaned my head back against the wall as his tongue worked its magic, writing invisible words of ecstasy onto my clit.

I mumbled unintelligible words of pleasure, calling his name between moans and gasps. He was an expert at the art of love, and used his skills to command my body.

I cried out as the cresting wave of pleasure washed over me. The pulses of ecstasy making my knees weak. I buckled against the wall, almost falling on top of Lysander.

He stood up, smiling wide, clearly proud of the pleasure he had given me. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and stood on tip toes to kiss him.

His arms encircled me, lifting me up. I wrapped my legs around him and felt the tip of his thick head graze my folds. He leaned me against the wall again and with a powerful thrust, impaled me onto his hard length.

“Oh God,” I moaned, as full length of his shaft filled me. He waited a second, allowing my body adjust to his thickness.

Through our connection, I felt the torture of that momentary pause. Lysander struggled to hold back; he wanted to charge into my ready and willing body, though that conflicted with his desire to draw out the pleasure.

He started slowly, gently thrusting, pressing my back into the wall as he drove into me.

I gripped his shoulders and thrust my hips in return to meet his charge, ensuring every inch of his thickness would fill me.

The slow rhythm soon became a fevered rush as together, through our bond, we shared every blissful, toe-curling sensation.

I held on tightly as he plunged harder and deeper into me, finding that secret spot inside that caused stars to dance in my vision. I dug my nails into his skin, and my breath came in short staccato bursts as I rode high onto the cresting wave of ecstasy. Closing my eyes, I threw my head back, screaming out Lysander’s name. He too let out his own primal growl as we came together.

Out of breath and completely spent, we remained motionless for a few moments, enjoying the aftershocks of our pleasure.

CHAPTER 14

*****

I
had a sneaking suspicion that Fallon would try to make a break for it while we all slept, but I was wrong. After having slept all day, thankfully with no nightmares, I awoke to find her eating a pizza in the dining room.

“You look surprised to see me,” she said in a cheery voice.

“And you look surprisingly comfortable here,” I replied.

Fallon took a big bite from a slice of supreme pizza before replying. “Yeah, well, I figure I’m pretty safe here … during the day.”

The smell wafted to my nose: cooked tomatoes, mushrooms, cheese, and black olives. It turned my stomach. “You didn’t have that delivered, did you?” I covered my nose with my hand.

“Nah.” She shook her head. “Give me a little credit, will ya? I’m not completely stupid. You guys had no food, so I stepped out for a minute and found a grocery store nearby. Oh, and by the way. Thanks for leaving me with the vamps while you went off and fucked your boyfriend.”

Heat spread across my face. I was glad I was partially hidden by my hand, still covering my nose. “Sorry about that. We got kind of carried away.”

“Yeah, the whole house heard.” She winked at me and took another bite from her pizza. “Sounded like you had a good—”

“I get it, I’m sorry.” I was willing to bet my face was as red as the pizza sauce. Sheepishly, I looked away, quickly thinking of a change of subject. “So… I’m guessing the clan was nice to you, while I was … uh … occupied?”

“Oh, yeah. Crystal was really nice. I chatted with her and Rozaline too for a while. They really have some neat stories to tell. How long have they been around?”

I had to think for a second before answering. I knew Rozaline was turned by Lysander after he escaped from Kallisto’s coven. “Roz has been around since, about the 1300’s, I believe. And Crystal’s a few hundred years younger, I think. Never really asked them their ages.” I chuckled. “You know, it’s not polite.”

“I seriously doubt vampire women have the same issue with age as us mortals,” Fallon said as she brought her hands to her face and stretched the skin in a mock facial.

“Yes, immortality is better than any anti-wrinkle cream.” Crystal’s voice shocked us both. “And for the record, I’m five hundred and twenty-six years old.” She stood in the archway to the hall, looking like a statue of a Greek goddess. She wore an old fashioned cream-colored night dress that hung delicately off her shoulders. Her hair had been pulled away from her face into a tight braid, holding back her natural wild, curly locks.

“Good evening, Crystal,” I said as cheerfully as I could, feeling a bit embarrassed that she had walked in on us chatting about her. “Sorry, we were just—”

“Curiosity is natural, Alyssa. Don’t be ashamed. I’m sure Fallon has lots more questions about us, and I’d be happy to answer.” She walked gracefully toward us and took a seat at the table.

“You’re awesome, Crystal,” I said.

Fallon swallowed a final bite of pizza and wiped her face with a napkin before speaking. “Really, I don’t want to pry. I just can’t imagine all of the history you’ve gotten to experience.”

“Well, if it’s history you’re after, you should talk to Lysander. He’s the true historian of our group.” She pointed toward the other room. “He’s filled the library in the living room with all of the things he’s experienced.”

Fallon frowned and looked down at her hands. “I don’t think he likes me much.”

“He’s protective of us all, and the fact that a mortal …” Crystal nodded at Fallon. “…knows about us is unsettling to him.”

“No, I think he hates me because Alyssa and I are close.”

“He doesn’t hate you, dear,” Crystal said. “This situation is not a normal one. Your friendship with Alyssa isn’t the issue. It’s your mortality. The liability that comes with that is a potential problem.”

“Yeah, I get it.” Fallon stood, grabbed her plate, and then walked into the kitchen. Her voice trailed behind her. “Things would be easier if I were a vampire.”

The faucet turned on. I assumed she must be washing her dish.
How thoughtful.

“I just don’t want to be one,” Fallen called out from the kitchen. “I want to get older. I want a family. I want to have kids some day and see them have kids. It’s not that I don’t appreciate what’s being offered. It’s just, if given a choice… ” The sound of running water stopped and Fallon walked back into the dining room, drying her hands on a red dishtowel. “I want to remain human.”

Crystal beamed at Fallon. “And I will respect that choice along with Alyssa. I’ll admit I have been saddened in the past that I couldn’t bear a child. It is a beautiful thing to be able to create life. I have a feeling you’ll make a wonderful mother some day.”

Fallon breathed a sigh of relief and sat next to Crystal.

Drew’s voice called from the hallway. “Alyssa, a word, if you please.”

His tone bothered me. Normally, Drew was the easygoing one, like his mate. The stiff way he asked to talk to me now hinted otherwise. I tried to force away the frown etching its way across my face. I didn’t want to alarm Fallon with any unnecessary worry. “Be right back,” I said in a breath and hopped out of my seat.

Drew’s large frame filled the hallway. He stood just past the arched opening so that Crystal and Fallon wouldn’t be able to see him from the table. His lips formed a tight line across his face. I knew whatever it was he was about to say wasn’t going to be happy.

“A word of warning,” He cleared his throat, and bent down low to speak in my ear. “You do understand that we cannot guarantee to protect your human friend. If we choose to assist Santino and take out the Acta Sanctorum, that will be our focus, not her safety. Your friend is no match for a vampire or for the Saints. I suggest you send her away. Now.”

“What? We can’t do that to her. She has nowhere else to go.” I tried to keep my voice down, but my anger and worry turned the volume up.

Drew crossed his arms over his chest. “You must make her understand. If she is not one of us, she is vulnerable. As a mortal she is easy to kill, and as your friend, she will be a target. I’m not forcing you to do anything; this is just a warning.” He walked away before I could respond.