Taken (5 page)

“I accept your apology.” The grip on her arms gentled, the tautness of his strong jaw relaxing. “The girl shall remain with us, at least until she reaches an age that she can be mated to a male of her own choosing. We will sponsor her. Under my protection, she will remain safe.”

Lifting his hand, he smoothed her hair away from the right side of her neck. His eyes locked onto the vein pulsating wildly underneath her skin, the air charged with his arousal. “Now that this is resolved, let's move on to more pleasurable pursuits, shall we?”

Resolved?
Keely gaped at him in disbelief. She was hurt by his casual dismissal of her feelings. Maybe she'd been in the wrong, but so was Kosmas. He owed her an apology, as well.
A heartfelt one.
She needed to know that he wouldn't treat her as an inferior, should the day come again when they found themselves in the middle of a disagreement. His actions from the evening still stung.

His nimble fingers were quickly removing her clothing. “Wait,” she protested, but Kosmas ignored her. Baring her chest to his hungry gaze, his eyes flitted between each one of her heavy breasts an instant before his head lowered. Keely couldn't help her sigh of pleasure when he suckled one turgid nipple, his fingers expertly working the bud on her other breast.

“I'm not satisfied...” she began, determined to put an end to his play, regardless of how pleasurable it felt. Deep inside, she was raw. Hurt. Pleasure couldn't fill the void within her. She couldn't have sex with him, not without her heart involved. Somehow, it would cheapen everything that was between them.

Kosmas cut her off, as he lifted her to carry her to the bed. “Oh, you will be,” he assured her, his thick, meaty cock pressed against her front. He was so eager to bed her that he hadn't even bothered to undress. Instead, he'd freed himself through the front of his pants, his arousal hot and heated on her leg. “I won't stop until you are.”

Despite it all, her traitorous body continued to respond. At the edge of the bed, he turned her around, urging her body to bend over as his hands worked to spread her thighs. Immediately, one long, thick finger slid within her swollen hot folds. Kosmas growled at the contact. “You're so wet. I knew the moment I saw you that you wanted this as much as I do, that you needed it as much as me. God, I can't wait to fuck you, Keely. I see now what it means to fight and make up. The heat of our argument has just fueled the lust within me even more.”

With his erection poised at her entrance, he leaned over to nuzzle her neck. “And your anger has brought your blood to the surface, just begging me to drink. Everything about you is perfection. Sweet and utter perfection.”

He slid his shaft forward, careful not to penetrate her. Instead, he ran along the crease of her nether lips.
Teasing her.
She whimpered, craving the satisfaction that could only be found from his possession. Kosmas wasn't content to give it it her, he wanted more. She just didn't know what.

He didn't make her wait long. Flexing his hips again, he ordered, “Tell me what you want.”

Keely didn't immediately reply. Instead, her hands gripped the bedding underneath her, damning her total lack of control when it came to him. All she could think of was how pleasurable he felt inside of her, with his fangs locked in her neck, and his cock hitting all the right places. Another time he would have taken her, but not that night. No, he was determined to make her plead, determined to make her accountable for her choice to accept him within her body.

When his finger slid around the front of her hips to explore the swollen nub at the apex of her thighs, all was lost. “Damn you,” she ground out, fully surrendering. “God, I want you now, Kosmas.
Take me.
”

She felt as if they hadn't made love for weeks, rather than just a few scant hours. Need bubbled up within her, begging to be fulfilled. Carefully, gently, his fangs pierced her neck. At the same time, he penetrated her, much to her exquisite pleasure.

Distantly, she heard a small scream. To her surprise, Keely realized it was her. Her slippery wet passage eased his way, until he filled her so deeply she felt as if she would burst. Incoherent words of encouragement and pleasure slipped past her lips as he drank deeply of her blood, the feel of his tongue thrusting against her skin only fueling her desire.

Soon, much too soon, Kosmas broke away from her neck. “No,” she whimpered, wanting even more. Her lower body gripped him like a glove, her flesh squeezing as her body prepared to erupt in a mind blowing orgasm.

“Come for me, Keely,” he ordered her, his hands wrapped around her hips as he held her in place for his deep thrusts. “You know I can't take anymore blood, not with the baby. Show me how much you enjoy my big cock. I know you're at the brink. I can feel it.”

So was he.
His ball sack smacked against her, full and heavy. Slipping a hand between her legs, she cupped him in her hand before squeezing gently. His groan of pleasure filled the room, his shaft widening impossibly further within her. “God, baby, that feels so fucking good,” he encouraged her, the breathless sound of his voice fueling the euphoria inside of her. Kosmas was close to losing control, and when he did, he'd send her over the edge. She couldn't hold out against the heat of his semen as it jetted against her sensitive folds. Keely craved his release as much as she craved her own.

“You go first,” she teased him boldly, her voice nearly unrecognizable as her own. It always happened to her, though. Her voice changed with her arousal, growing so hoarse and throaty that it nearly embarrassed her. “Or maybe you aren't as excited as I originally thought you were?” She ran a slim finger to the sensitive area that sat behind his testicles, letting the motion of his body do the rest.

Kosmas made a strangled noise in the back of his throat, his own fingers tightening on her skin. At the same time Keely felt him stiffen inside of her, just a moment before he flooded her insides. Even then, Kosmas remained as hard as a rock. The pleasure within her combined like a vortex at the exact spot where he released, before spiraling up within her to send her into an indescribable orgasm that seemed to last forever.

He pulled out of her. Keely turned around to face him, but strangely, she wanted to cry. Now that her passion had been spent, she was brutally forced back into the reality of where things stood between them. And despite the pleasure she'd experienced, it hadn't eased the hurt.

For several seconds they just stared at each other. In the past, Kosmas would have taken her in his arms, but not this time. Instead, he watched her with an unreadable expression on his face before turning away and saying grimly, “I'm going to clean up. After that, I'll call someone to replace the door... if my guards haven't done it already.”

He was dismissing her.
Clearly, Kosmas had no intentions of apologizing. It angered her. Did her mate really have so little disregard for her? “Aren't you forgetting something?” Keely asked him coolly, uncaring of her nudity. She crossed her arms over her breasts as she glared at him. “I've already told you that you aren't sleeping here.”

He stopped in his tracks, but he didn't turn to face her. “Then what the hell was that?” he asked her, his voice tight with his own anger.

“That was you not listening!” She stalked up to his back. “Did you really think I would just welcome you back with open arms, when you can't even apologize to me for what happened in the corridor?”

Kosmas finally turned to face her. “I don't see where I need to apologize, Keely. I'm leader of this town and the people that are in it. As my mate, you should have accepted my decision, whether you agreed with it or not.”

They were back to square one, much to her disappointment. “If you can't see where you were wrong, Kosmas, then we really have nothing to say to each other.” She watched him with bated breath, hoping her ploy would work. All it took was two simple words.

She didn't get them. Rather than apologizing, Kosmas shrugged. “So be it,” he replied, turning to continue his trek to the bathroom. “Regardless, though, I won't be leaving my rooms. If you want to be away from me so badly, I suggest you find alternate accommodations. I won't be leashed and made to respond to your commands, Keely, even if we are mated.”

Keely didn't reply as he disappeared within the other room, firmly shutting the door behind him.

Keely knocked tentatively at the closed door in front of her before lowering her hands down to her sides to wait. Upon waking that morning, she knew she had a busy day ahead of her. After all, it was Christmas Eve.

She hadn't seen Kosmas since the night before. In the end, she hadn't left, but he didn't seem to notice. Once the door had been repaired, he'd immediately sought out their bed... and for once, he'd remained on his side of it. She'd spent a lonely and miserable night sleeping in spurts until finally her exhaustion had worn her down.

Kosmas meant what he said. He had no intentions of apologizing, and he wasn't the type of man to back down. She could either accept it and move on, or she could simply continue on as she had, bitter and standoffish. Kosmas would never let her leave him, not that she'd considered it anyhow. The thought of not having him in her life was unbearable.

When Cara had arrived to dress her, she hadn't shown up empty handed. She'd also brought along the gifts that Keely had wanted, although they hadn't come easy. Fortunately for Keely, Cara was dating a guard that accompanied the crew on the trips to pick up new concubines. It was through him that she'd been able to arrange for the gifts she'd wanted for her mate.

But the events of the prior night had ruined the holiday for her. How could she give them to Kosmas, when everything had turned so sour between them? Would he even accept them? Even if he did, it wouldn't be what it could have been. She missed the man she'd fallen in love with. Would they ever be able to find their way back to what they'd once shared?

The door opened, revealing Cara and the girl from the evening before. The change in Abby was amazing. She'd cleaned up and was outfitted in an attractive dress. After a good night's sleep and some food, she looked a tad bit older than she had the night before, but not by much.

“Hello,” Keely greeted them both, pasting a warm smile on her face. To her relief, Abby smiled back. It was a good sign.

After they were all seated, Keely cleared her throat. “We didn't get the chance to properly meet last night, but my name is Keely. Not unlike you, I once lived on Earth, but I live here permanently now. Legionnaire really is a wonderful place to live, once you get past it being dark all the time. Are you settling in well?”

Abby nodded her head shyly before asking, “Are you a vampire, too?”

Keely and Cara exchanged amused looks. “Yes, I am now,” she replied cautiously, not wanting to frighten the girl. “But I wasn't always. When I came here, I was just as human as you are.”

Abby appeared to ponder her words for a moment. She was a pretty child, with delicate features and kind eyes. One day, she'd be a great beauty. “Will I have to become a vampire to stay here?” the girl asked her, her lips turned down. It was a prospect she clearly didn't anticipate.

Keely reached over to pat her hand. “Of course not,” she reassured her, her mind racing as she tried to find the right words to ease her distress. “I know that when I lived on Earth, it wasn't a very pleasant place to be. In fact, it was downright horrible at times, and in a way, I just grew to accept that. And when I was brought here, I was terrified. After all, the majority of people here are vampires, and we all know what kind of reputation they have.”

“But it's nothing like I imagined, and it's a fact that I realized pretty quickly. Here on Legionnaire, you'll be treated much better than you ever would be on Earth, I'm sorry to say. There is plenty of food and clothing and anything else that you could wish for. All you have to do is ask.”

Abby sighed, a wistful expression on her face. She surprised Keely when she said, “I know. I already like it here, but I miss my mom and dad. Returning back home won't bring them back, though. I know they would have never left me, not if they would have had the choice. But they got sick. So did the rest of my family.” Tears slid down her pale face, as she broke off to look down at her clasped hands.

For such a young age, Abby was quite wise.
In a way, the girl reminded her of herself, although she'd been older when she lost her own parents. It was something that no child should ever have to go through. And after speaking with her, Keely actually felt relieved that Abby was there. Between her and Kosmas, they could give her the chance for a wonderful life. Her mate had made the right decision, it had just taken a while for her to figure it all out.

“My mate, Kosmas, and I are going to sponsor you,” Keely told her firmly, hating to see the child so grieved. “We live in the same wing as you, in fact our rooms are not too far from yours. We can't take the place of your parents, nor would we want to, but I hope one day you will accept us as an extension of your family. I already view you as part of mine.”

Abby nodded, but she didn't look up. Keely decided it was time for a change of subject. “Did you know that it's Christmas Eve? Something tells me that Santa Clause is going to be making the rounds, even on Legionnaire.”

She looked up at her, her eyes filled with interest. “So Santa isn't afraid of vampires?” she asked, touching Keely's heart with her sincerity. “He really comes here?”

“Sure!” Keely exclaimed, not about to destroy her hopes by telling her it was actually the first Christmas the vampires were celebrating. Even Cara nodded in encouragement.
Abby would have her Christmas, she'd make sure of that.
“There are lots of kids here in Golden Harbor that I'm positive will be watching and waiting for him to sneak down their chimneys. And he'll be searching for you, too,” she added, with a wink. “Thank goodness the palace has lots of fireplaces.”

To her surprise, Abby jumped to her feet and ran to hug her. Keely held her close, tears stinging her eyes. She'd found a kindred spirit in Abby, a child that reminded her much of herself. Having the girl in her life was like being handed a little piece of her own history. She couldn't save Earth, but she could provide the little mortal with a better life, a happier life. And on Legionnaire, Abby would be loved.

After a moment, Abby returned to her seat, but the change in her was incredible. She was smiling from ear to ear, her face relaxed as if she were at peace with her new circumstances.
Good,
Keely thought to herself.
It would make her transition so much easier.

“Now,” she told her, relaxing into her own seat. “Why don't you show me some of your new dresses? If I know Cara, your closet is full of the best ones to be found on Legionnaire. After we're done, we'll pick out something for the celebration tomorrow night. It's going to be a lot of fun, and we want to make sure you've got the perfect dress.”

*

“You need to apologize, too,” Kosmas sneered in a low voice, as he hammered at a piece of wood that acted as a roof for Santa's workshop. The hammer missed the nail, hitting his thumb instead. With a curse he dropped it, before surveying the damage to his nail. “Dammit,” he swore, gripping the sore appendage tightly. It hurt like hell.

“Troubles in paradise?” Zander asked in a superior tone, looking between Kosmas and the wood with a raised eyebrow. “Or has insanity finally set in?”

Kosmas glared at him. “Don't you have anything better to do than sneak around and spy on those of us that are actually working?” He picked up the hammer and held it out to Zander before adding, “Go ahead, if you think you can do better.”

Zander took it as he shrugged. Walking around Kosmas, he studied the nail before bringing it down. It was a direct hit. In just a second, he had the nail fully embedded in the wood.
The bastard.

“Thanks to you, my job is tomorrow,” Zander grumbled. “Look around. There are a ton of guards that you could have picked to wear that ridiculous costume, yet you picked me. I thought this was supposed to be a celebration, not punishment.”

Kosmas had to grin at the look of distaste on Zander's face. “When I saw that costume, I just knew it had to be you,” he told him wryly, enjoying the other man's discomfort. At least it was a reaction. “I mean, who else could fill it out like you will? It's as if it were made for you. Just don't forget a pillow.”

“A pillow?” Zander stopped hammering to shoot him a puzzled look. “What the hell would I need a pillow for?”

“For the stomach,” Kosmas retorted, swallowing hard to hold back his chortle. Seeing Zander's befuddlement almost made his sore thumb worth it. Almost. “Surely, you've seen the pictures? Santa Clause is a portly guy. Probably from all the milk and cookies.”

The puzzled expression disappeared, replaced with an expression that promised retribution. Zander's jaw tightened as he resumed his task. It was too much. Kosmas laughed out loud, his problems with Keely temporarily forgotten. The other guards stopped to stare, curious as to what amused him so much. It only added to the ridiculousness of the moment.

Finally, he stopped laughing. “Look, despite how silly it might seem to you, think of the good you're doing. The humans here will appreciate it, and I'm sure all the children will, too. It has given our people a holiday to celebrate, and it's for a good cause. Even I am anticipating it. Maybe Keely is right. There really is something magical about Christmas.”

And it wasn't the only thing his mate had been right about.
As much as it stung his pride, he knew he owed her an apology. He'd known it all along, but conceit had kept him from obliging her with one. Secretly, Kosmas had hoped that seducing her would right his wrongs, but it hadn't. There was only one way for them to move past their disagreement. Like it or not, he was long overdue for a talk with his mate.

If he hadn't waited too long.
He should have done it the evening before. Instead of fixing it, though, he'd spent the night tossing and turning, when he was sure she was asleep. Neither one of them had really rested, which was especially bad for Keely. She needed all the sleep she could get.

He couldn't let it go on another night. There was too much at stake, and the longer he allowed it to continue would only make it that much harder to right. He wouldn't allow his pride to ruin their Christmas.

“It didn't sound like you thought she was right when I arrived,” Zander observed, casting a quick glance in his direction. “In fact, you sounded downright miserable.”

“Do you know what you need?” Kosmas growled, picking up a paint brush and a can of paint. Time was running out. They had to have their preparations done that evening, which was why he was knee deep in it all. There wouldn't be time the following day.

“I can't imagine,” Zander shot back, lifting a square piece of wood for the next design that was on the plans. Kosmas had put a lot of details into the preparations, leaving nothing to chance. They were currently working on a recreation of Santa's village. “Knowing you, I'm afraid to ask.”

“You need a mate,” Kosmas informed him dryly, making quick work of the painting. “Even I can see this. You're wound up so tight that one day you're going to explode. I didn't ask you to take over Diabolos just to see that happen,” he warned him, completely serious. “Even though you say you don't want one, tomorrow night would be a good time to select one. All of the new arrivals are beautiful, and I'm willing to bet they are fertile, too. You could start a whole new life this Christmas. All you have to do is agree to take one of them.”

“No,” Zander said vehemently, surprising Kosmas with his intensity. “Hell, no. Didn't you hear a word I said yesterday? Just because you're mated doesn't mean that everyone else should be. You're happy. I get it, but don't try to ram the concept down everyone else's throat. I'm happy as I am. I don't want or need a commitment.”

“I could order you to take a mate,” Kosmas replied grimly, seriously considering doing it. “In your position, you almost have to have one. Said position isn't guaranteed, though.” He shot Zander a admonishing look, showing him how determined he really was. “The first time you fuck up, you're out of there.”

“You've been leader of Golden Harbor for years, and you weren't mated,” Zander pointed out, in a low, angry voice. “So where the fuck do you get off demanding I take one?”

“You and I are as different as night and day,” Kosmas retorted, his words sparking his own ire. Zander was about to seriously piss him off. Santa's roof was one second away from getting a hole in it, the size of the other vampire's head. “Not only did I have better control over my emotions, but I also had a harem. What in the hell do you have, except for your hand? And it's doubtful you're even using that,” he added, in a disgusted voice. “I don't know what the hell is wrong with you, and at this point I don't care. Just fix it, before I fix it for you.”

“Fine,” Zander bit out, laying the hammer down on the table. “I'll make sure to fucking do that.”

“Good,” Kosmas replied, filled with satisfaction. “See that you do.”

He watched the other vampire stalk away. Harsh as his words might have been, in the end, he was doing Zander a favor. Hopefully, he would realize that and take his words seriously. Zander was running around like a loose cannon, and eventually the other man would explode. It was time he was settled, with a mate to ease him.

After he was no longer visible, Kosmas checked on the activity around them, surveying the work that had already been done. It was coming together even better than he had hoped. Slowly but surely, the entire amphitheater was being transformed. Kosmas hadn't been lying. He was anticipating the holidays just as much as his mate did. Christmas was a time for new beginnings, and he wanted a fresh one with his mate.