Vows of a Vampire (6 page)

Varick clenched his jaw. “I’m not Dante. I can never
be
Dante.”

Blake averted his icy stare. “No one is asking you to be him, but he left you in charge. Sometimes we don’t get a say in things. Sometimes we have to accept things for the way they are. It’s not as if you can’t change. There are ways to bring balance back. It won’t happen all at once, but it will help you gain back respect of your brothers if they see you try.”

He appreciated the sound advice, but he couldn’t let go. He didn’t know how. “So much time has passed and I still can’t get my head around what happened. His death tortures me every single day. My desire for Aubrey tortures me every single day. I’m torn between what’s expected of me, and what I want.”

Blake approached and rested a hand on his shoulder. “You have to stop thinking that she’s yours. You have to accept she may never want to be with you.”

The truth had a way of ripping the hope right out of him. “What else can I say except that you’re right? It doesn’t make sense to be so overly protective of her, but I am. To the point of being possessive. I cringe whenever she’s with another man. I find myself willing her to find fault in the men she dates, just so she won’t stay with them.”

Blake shook his head. “I’m not sure Dante would approve of you playing with her emotions.”

He
didn’t approve of playing with her emotions. “No, he wouldn’t, not fully. He’d understand, but not approve. I promised to watch over her, and I’ve kept that promise. I never promised I wouldn’t fall in love with her. “

His brother suppressed a laugh. “That is part of protecting her, is it not? Part of keeping her safe is to not introduce her to new dangers. So in fact, you’ve not kept your promise at all.”

Varick frowned. “You’re not helping.”

Arms crossed, Blake sent him a challenging look. “I’m also not going to tell you what you want to hear. Consider me a voice of reason. You need to make the coven your priority, and you need to find a way to detach yourself from Aubrey.”

He let out a heavy sigh. “Shouldn’t be too hard, at this point. She doesn’t want me watching over her anymore.”

Blake patted his shoulder. “Praise her for saying so. You put her in danger whenever you’re together, whether she’s here or you’re there. Dante learned the hard way and you should have learned that from him.”

The thought of letting go hurt at a core level. “You’re right. Thank you. If you’d keep this between us, I’d appreciate it.”

“Done. No one else knows?”

“Vindi, but she keeps to herself. She’s the only Vamp who doesn’t try to seduce me.”

Blake raised an inquisitive brow. “Why does she know?”

“I asked her to bring Aubrey a glass of wine when I brought her here, to help loosen her up. Apparently Vindi approves of my taste in mortals.”

“Gotcha. I still can’t believe you brought her here of all places.”

Varick rubbed the back of his neck. “It was in the West Chambers. Like I said, it’s deserted.”

Blake flashed him a wide grin. “You got lucky this time. Let’s just hope no one goes in that part of the mansion for another decade. Tell me, brother, for I’m terribly curious, how do you keep yourself from tasting her essence? How can you go before a mortal woman and not take advantage of her?”

He answered with pride. “I love her. I swear, something drew me to that woman before I ever got to know her.”

“You’re just like Dante. A hopeless romantic.”

Varick held up his hands in mock submission. “Is that a bad thing to be?”

Blake snorted. “It’s dangerous. Anything pertaining to love is dangerous. It’s why we slake our desires with the Vamps. No commitments, no complications, just raw sex.”

If his brother saw Aubrey, he’d know why the Vamps didn’t interest him. “How can I be with another when I’m in love with someone else?”

“I’ve yet to understand how you can refuse Melenge.”

His breath stilled at her name. Something about that Vamp made his skin crawl, despite her overwhelming beauty. “Don’t get me started on her. I’ve warded her off three times this week alone.”

Blake gave him a knowing look. “Well, brother, I’ll be off. If you’d like to talk more later, you know where to find me.”

“I appreciate you listening.”

Relief spread through him as Blake disappeared into the dark hallway. It was good to get some things off his chest. Not surprisingly, Blake had been right about everything. Especially about Aubrey.

He’d watched her grow up. The way her figure had changed. How her hair swept along the delicious arch of her back. His body responded to every curve of her flesh. He fell in love with the sound of her voice when she cried out in the night.

Varick paced, caught between a promise and a request from the two people he cared most about. Aubrey was a grown woman and didn’t need looking after, but if something did happen to her and it could have been prevented, he’d never forgive himself.

Aubrey sat in front of the vanity, easing a wooden brush through her hair. She glanced around her small, plain room. Only a few knickknacks hung on the otherwise empty walls. There were no pictures, perfume bottles, or jewellery on the dresser, only a few books dog-eared in several places. She’d meant to fix up the place, but never quite got around to it. She was notorious for starting things, but never one to finish. It didn’t seem to matter what, either. Relationships, books, projects, jobs… Her life was all about starting over, hoping one time she might get it right.

Since Varick left, she’d felt strangely exposed. Vulnerable. For whatever reason, she’d known he was there, before ever truly knowing. Without him guiding her, an eerie cold clung to her skin.

How could a man she’d never met before know so much about her? Why did he make such a big deal about a promise? As she understood it, promises were made and broken all the time. White lies to make a person feel better without any meaning behind them. When had any man promised her one thing and actually followed through?

When Gil had first given her the key to his house, he’d said it was practice for when they moved into their first home together. A home, a safe place to be herself. Words she’d always longed to hear. She’d thought things were going too fast, having only dated for six months at the time, but he’d assured her the emotions he held for her were real and undeniable. The keys had opened a door all right and shown her what a trusting fool she’d been.

She’d always had a void in her life. When her mother died, she was thrust into several foster homes before an aunt she’d never known had taken her in. The woman was far removed from the idea of sensitivity and compassion. Aubrey had resigned herself to believe that in the end, no one cared.

A tear started and she cursed for feeling sorry for herself.

Aubrey raised her hands above her head and stretched. The night had been anything but normal. Mentally and physically exhausted, she changed into her nightgown and swept her hair up into a bun with a few tendrils loose on the sides. The image of the man in white popped in her mind. Immediately she thought of Varick. Her body responded with a liquid sigh. Despite the strangeness of the night, she’d felt protected around him. His touch mysteriously familiar in an arousing way. She’d thought it best to keep her guard up even when she secretly welcomed his touch. To throw herself at someone she didn’t know made her uneasy, but somehow she knew him. All this time he claimed to be watching her. He’d saved her. What if he was the guardian from her dreams? Without her guardian, would she ever wake up from her nightmares?

Within minutes of falling asleep, she dreamt of the white figure, only this time she could clearly see Varick’s face. He lay outstretched on a luxurious four-poster bed beside her, their bodies naked. She licked her lips as she eyed his massive length. Would she be able to accommodate him? How far would he stretch her? The idea left her breathless.

Wild with desire, she ran her fingertips along the smooth planes of his body. When their gazes met, she noticed the hunger in his eyes and matched it. He positioned himself above her body, his lips unbearably close to her left nipple. His tantalising musky scent seduced her into submission. Boldly she cupped his face and pulled him close.

He tasted of a cassis wine. His breath lingered in the back of her throat as their tongues stroked between fervid kisses. When he paused for air, she noted the passion in his eyes.

Aubrey cleared her throat to speak. “It’s always been you in my dreams.”

He nodded and caressed her breast. “Yes.”

“It’s always you leaving me wanting more when I wake with my sheets soaked and thighs quivering.”

His extended smile spoke volumes. “Yes.”

The white figure knew every pleasurable zone in and on her body. Knowing this, how could she ask him to stay away? Boldly, she made her demands very clear. “Then I want you to fuck me right now and not hold back. Give me all of yourself and prove to me that what you feel for me is real. Show me the level of your devotion.”

He chuckled and brushed his nose against hers. “You wouldn’t last if I did that.”

She paused, their lips close to touching. “How do you mean?”

Her body melted under his smouldering gaze.

“I could fuck you into oblivion.”

Heat crept up her neck and settled around her shoulders. She tried to think of something…anything intelligent to say in response, but before she could he sealed his lips over hers and delivered a dominating kiss that made her head spin. Warmth spread from her lips, through her belly, and down to her toes. She closed her eyes and allowed the moment to stir sensations deep inside.

Aubrey wanted this right now. To let go of her inhibitions and act out all her deepest, darkest desires. Make him take her on a mind-blowing adventure.

As they kissed his hands cupped her breasts, kneading them one at a time. He bent forward and took one hardened tip in his mouth, lolling it around with his lips and tongue. She moaned and arched her back. Thrills of bliss rippled through her belly. His cock was so close, it drummed against her upper thigh.

She rocked her pelvis, letting him know he could fuck her anytime. Giving him an open invitation to relieve her of the building orgasm raging inside. As if reading her mind, he shifted his cock between her thighs and rested the tip against her pussy.

A rush of adrenaline coursed through her veins, fizzing inside her head and made her more lightheaded than before. Why did he make her wait? Her body trembled as she lay at his mercy, his teeth around her nipple and his cock at the entry of her sex. Each kiss, stroke, caress had her fumbling toward ecstasy.

Desperate to have him inside her, she reached down and stroked his cock, her fingers wrapping around the smooth, thick flesh. He groaned into her neck.

“You make my cock so hard, sweetheart.”

She nearly came undone at his words. “I know you want to take it slow, but I need you now.”

He laughed huskily. “You mortals rush everything.”

His finger flicked at her clit again and her legs shook. She stroked his cock harder and faster, swivelling her palm along the slick head. Varick nibbled at her earlobe then dragged his moist tongue between her breasts. For a moment she tensed as his cock prodded heavily against her pussy. Legs stretched wide, she welcomed him in.

“Not yet,” he growled under his breath.

Aubrey groaned. Didn’t he realise how hot she was for him? How ready and wet? “Damn you, I said take me now,” she cried.

He shot her a penetrating look. “Oh, I’ll take you.”

Varick lowered his head between her breasts and down her belly, inching lower at his own pace. A rush of sensations hit her hard once he stopped with his face half an inch from her sweet spot. His searing breath against her clit made her body buck. How would she handle him fucking her with his mouth? She held her breath and waited.

He dabbled along the tufts of her pubic hair, grazing along her swollen clit. With his fingers he stretched her, his control rousing her beyond all comprehension. The moment his tongue made contact, she gasped, her body thrashing from uncontrollable spasms.

Varick flashed her a thigh-melting smile. “Ah, you like that.”

She fucking loved it. “Yes.”

He circled her clit several times with his tongue and pumped two fingers inside her heated core. Tears formed in the corner of her eyes, the pleasure exquisitely intense, almost too overwhelming.