The Warrior Vampire (41 page)

“She's one of them.” Chelle's dark tone slithered over Naya's skin. “Like the male who took us. She has the same scent. What are you doing with one of them, Ronan?”

“She's not like him.” Ronan reached up and cupped Naya's cheek. “She's my mate, Chelle.”

“Your
mate
?” Chelle didn't sound too happy and a wave of anxiety crested over Naya. “She's no vampire, Brother.”

“No,” he said with a gentle laugh. “She's a witch. A beautiful, powerful, fierce, and furious witch. And I love her.”

Any worry that she might have felt evaporated under Ronan's tender words. “And what do you say, witch?” Chelle was obviously protective of her brother, and Naya admired that. “How do you feel about being tethered to a vampire?”

Her gaze locked with his and Naya replied, “He's my mate. Our souls are bound. I love him and I dare
anyone
to try to come between us.”

They'd made solemn vows to each other and, in the presence of his sister, declared their love. Naya knew of no other ceremony that would bind them together more completely. They were one. Now and for always.

“Luz?” Magic was still too heavy in the air for her to come down, and though Ronan's sister seemed to have calmed, Naya wasn't convinced of Chelle's stability yet. They needed to get out of here, though. And had more cargo than her cousin's 4Runner could haul.

“Glad to know you're not dead!” Luz's words were laced with sarcasm as she shouted through the trapdoor opening. “You're
loca,
Naya! Letting yourself be some kind of vampire snack pack down there!”

Ronan chuckled and nuzzled Naya's throat. “You're not funny. Listen, can you call Manny and see if he can meet us out here with a U-Haul? We need something big enough to transport a large coffin.”

“Dioses mio!”
Luz's exasperated shout brought a smile to Naya's face. “Vampires, coffins. You're fucking nuts, Naya! What's next?”

“Next?” Ronan said softly. “We break a blood troth.”

One more obstacle. One more battle. And this was one fight that Naya was more than ready for. Whoever this female Siobhan was, she was going to know without a doubt to whom Ronan belonged. And Naya was more than ready to use any of the gifts at her disposal to drive her point home.

“Los Angeles?” She leaned in and planted a light kiss on his cheek. “I've never been. Should be an adventure.”

“Oh, love.” Ronan nipped at her ear and Naya's body was bathed in delicious chills. “We'll turn the town on its ear.”

“Manny will be here in a half hour!” Luz shouted through the floor. “No U-Haul places open during vampire-appropriate hours, but he's bringing a truck that'll work for now. And can you two please stop? You're grossing me out with your flirty talk!”

“Whoever that female is, I like her,” Chelle said weakly from her corner of the cell. “And I have to agree. You two are utterly disgusting.”

“They're just jealous,” Naya said to Ronan.

“Absolutely green,” he agreed.

“Gag!” Luz's voice carried from the ground floor. “Hurry up and get your asses up here, guys. You're creeping me out with the way you're just hanging out in that cage!”

“Again, I'm going to agree with my new best friend,” Chelle said. “I need to get the hell out of here.”

Naya couldn't have agreed more. “As soon as Manny gets here, we'll load up the chest and take it back to my house until we can rent a U-Haul tomorrow. I don't want anyone else in the pod getting any ideas about what Paul had stashed out here.”

“Good idea,” Ronan said. “Until then, I'm taking you to bed and we're not leaving your house until the sun sets tomorrow night.”

Naya could think of no better way to spend an entire day.

 

CHAPTER

36

What should have been a twelve-hour drive Ronan managed to accomplish in just under eleven. It was a damned good thing, too, because the sun nudged at the horizon by the time they made it to his penthouse apartment in the center of downtown. The sheer size of the city overwhelmed Naya, and it was so far from the places and people that were familiar to her she couldn't help the anxiety that twisted her stomach into a series of tight knots.

A hulking, broody vampire named Jenner met them at Ronan's building to take possession of the U-Haul and Chelle. “I'll meet you at sundown,” Jenner said as he took the keys from Ronan. “And don't worry, I'll make sure she's taken care of.”

“I have a feeling we have a lot to talk about,” Ronan replied as he eyed the other male with concern.

Ronan was answered with a cranky grunt as Jenner hoisted himself up into the driver's seat and pulled onto the street with an angry squeal of tires.

“So, that was Jenner,” Ronan said with a shrug.

“He seems … nice.”

“Not at all,” Ronan said with a laugh. “But he's as loyal as they come.”

“Do you think Chelle is going to be okay?” Naya could only imagine what Ronan's sister had been through. According to him, her unique transformation kept her apart from the vampire collective memory and the interconnected energy that they shared. She was a creature created from magic and utterly alone. Naya's heart broke for Chelle, and she was going to do everything she could to help her. Naya had even offered her vein to Ronan's sister, but he'd refused to let Naya act as a donor while Chelle's thirst was still so volatile.

“She will be in time,” Ronan said. “We'll all help her.”

It would be a good while before their lives settled down. Naya agreed to return to Crescent City, as she was needed. With Paul in a secure facility managed by the Bororo tribe and the elders in the process of not only selecting a new chieftain but also dealing with a new—and very snarky—
bruja
in Luz, the transition was bound to be rocky. Ronan had his own issues to deal with. Since Chelle had fed, he no longer felt the effects of the dark magic, but it was going to take practice and a hell of a lot of research on Naya's part to help him master it. Ronan planned to bring Mikhail up to speed as soon as possible, and there was still the matter of Siobhan to deal with.

“Come on, love. Let's go inside.”

Naya looked out over the vast cityscape, taking in the lights and distant sounds. The sun would be up soon and they'd be shut inside for the day. Until then, she let the warm autumn breeze waft over her. The air was thick here. It lacked the clean forest smell that she was used to. The city below her was so busy. Too alive. Would there ever be moments of stillness? Of quiet? There was too much concrete and not enough nature.

“We'll find a place outside of the city.” Ronan came up behind her on the terrace and wrapped his arms around her waist. Naya relaxed into his embrace, allowing his wide chest to support her. “On the beach, maybe. Whatever makes you happy, Naya. Wherever you can be content.”

“I'm happy,” she assured him. “As long as I'm with you, I can deal with anything else.”

“You shouldn't have to
deal
with anything,” Ronan replied. His mouth found the sensitive skin below her ear and Naya shuddered. “I want you content. Happy. Every minute of every day.”

She turned in his embrace. His mouth found hers, igniting not only her desire but also her magic. With every passing day, Naya was learning better to control it, to give it purpose, and it slid over Ronan's skin, permeating his veins to form a protective barrier from the troth he'd given to Siobhan. Perhaps, after tomorrow night, Naya wouldn't have to protect him anymore.

He scooped her up in his arms and took her inside, away from the light that steadily crested the horizon. Once inside, he turned her again so that her back was flush with his chest. His penthouse was enormous. Three times the size of her house. Naya took in the lush furnishings, tasteful, high-end decorating, and wealth that surrounded her. Ronan had once been nothing more than a slave. He'd escaped from that life, become a powerful male who lived like a king.

And he belonged to
her
.

Ronan cupped her throat gently in his massive palm. The scrape of his fangs on her exposed throat sent a shiver over Naya's skin as his opposite hand plunged down past her belly. He unfastened her pants with deft haste and plunged into her underwear, catching her sex in his heated palm.

Her need for him was all-consuming.

Ronan's breath was hot in her ear as he stroked her pussy, his fingers feathering over her slick flesh in search of her clit. Naya gasped at the contact, pleasure radiating through her body as a deep, hollow ache opened up inside of her. He licked the flesh at her throat, nipped without breaking the skin. Surely teasing himself as much as he was her, withholding what they both wanted until the last possible moment.

He circled her clit with achingly slow precision, holding her immobile with the palm that still clutched her throat. They'd spent the entire previous day in bed, and the drive from Crescent City had been torture. Not being able to touch him, taste him, take him deep inside of her the way she wanted to. Gods, at this rate, how would they ever live normal lives when they were so utterly starved for each other's bodies?

Naya reached around to grab his thigh. She wanted him out of his damned pants. Naked. His gorgeous body bare for her to enjoy. She shoved at her own pants, working them down to her ankles, and kicked them and her underwear off, sending them over the arm of an overstuffed chair. She reached back, tugging at Ronan's fly, and he broke their contact only as long as it took to shed his clothes. Naya stripped off her shirt and bra and Ronan tackled her, bending her over the same chair that was now decorated with their discarded garments.

Ronan urged one leg up on the arm and Naya obliged, resting her forearms in front of her. “Don't make me wait, Ronan. I want it hard. Gods, I need you to fuck me hard.”

Desperation tightened Naya's chest. Her need for the male bent over her, mindless. He cupped her breast, plucking at the hardened peak of her nipple, and a ripple of sensation shot through Naya's body and settled in her pussy. Her clit throbbed with each delicious tug as Ronan continued to stoke her desire to a frenzied, mindless want that had her arching her back and thrusting her ass up toward him. If he didn't take her soon, she'd go out of her mind.

Ronan's tongue traced a path up Naya's spine, the wet heat causing her to shudder. His teeth grazed her shoulder and she tensed beneath him. Would he break the skin this time? He ventured to her other shoulder and Naya let out a frustrated whimper. “Ronan.” Desperation accented her tone. “Please.”

He knew exactly what to do to bring her to the height of pleasure without allowing her release. With a gentle flick of his fingers he reached between her thighs to brush her clit, and Naya cried out. She rocked back, desperate to increase the pressure, but he pulled away, allowing her not an ounce of control. He could keep her this way for hours. She was at his mercy. It was a dark, delicious torture that only made her want more. Naya was lost. Insatiable. Ronan drove her mad with want. And it only showed how powerful his hold on her was that she didn't want the sweet torture to end.

*   *   *

A savage need for the female in his arms overtook Ronan. She was so wet, so willing and responsive, and just as far gone for him as he was for her. The drive to L.A. had been infuriating. A race against daylight that allowed for no pit stops. Eleven hours next to his mate while her scent engulfed him, her mere presence aroused him. He couldn't wait to get her up to his penthouse so he could fuck her. He wanted it slow and steady. A build that took hours to sate. He wanted to take her with a fierceness that left them both breathless and shaking. He wanted to lap at her pussy until he'd had his fill. They had hours to kill until sundown, and Ronan intended to spend every one of them naked and in Naya's arms.

“Ronan, fuck me. I can't wait another second.”

Right now his mate wanted him intensely. He was more than ready to oblige her. His cock pulsed hot and hard between his legs, brushing against her ass as he gave shallow thrusts of his hips. Her pussy dripped with her arousal, so slick and wet and hot that it drove him crazy. He spread the wetness over her mound, across her thighs, and up through the crease of her ass.

He couldn't wait another second to fuck her.

Ronan thrust hard and deep, a shout erupting from his throat as her tight heat accepted him. He lay over her, panting through the intense pleasure. Naya arched her shapely back and rocked against him. He pulled out, grabbing his cock in his hand as he slid the crown against the tight bud of Naya's clit. The sensation was intense for both of them and Naya's limbs trembled as he repeated the action. He guided his cock back to her entrance and thrust home, eliciting a cry of passion from his mate as he pulled out again, teasing them both with the contact, only to sheath himself in her welcoming warmth once again.

Naya fisted the cushion of the chair, grinding against him as little desperate mewls of sound burst from her lips. Ronan's pace increased, his own breath sawing in and out of his chest as he fucked her with all the desperation of a male about to get his final glimpse of life. His want for her would never slacken. He would never
not
be starved for her. She was his air, his sustenance, the very thing that kept him alive. His fingertips dug into Naya's soft hips as he fucked her, each punishing thrust a claim on her body. She reached back and clutched his thigh, her nails biting into the flesh, marking him as hers. Nothing—
no one
—would ever come between them.

A low moan built in Naya's throat as her sex clenched around Ronan's shaft. A tremor rippled through her body and she called out as she came, a string of words in that strange esoteric language that brought magic to life in her palm. Rose gold dust painted Naya's body as her pussy constricted around him, milking him and drawing him deep. Pressure built in his sac, working its way up the thick length of his cock, and Ronan bent over her. He buried his fangs in the juncture of her throat and shoulder and the skin gave way with a pop as his orgasm burst upon him, sending seismic waves of sensation through his body.