Текст книги "Bonds of Fire"
Автор книги: T. A. Grey
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Текущая страница: 17 (всего у книги 20 страниц)
Chapter 33
Four hours after she boarded the Amtrak from Oklahoma to California, Lucinda had finally given up on caring about the stares she received. Okay, almost given up.
She couldn’t help it, the constant quick glances made her feel like a sore thumb. It reminded her of the time back when she was almost too young to remember and learning the ways of a frimar.
One night she’d snuck out and gotten drunk with a local vampire boy. When she’d discreetly, or not so discreetly, gone back home her mother had been waiting for her, suspicion written in the lines of her face. That was the first time she’d ever lied. She’d smiled and fibbed saying she’d gone for a walk, nothing else, even as she’d stumbled into the wall. She’d tried to act as natural as possible to hide her drunken state but still her mother watched her with knowing eyes.
She felt the same feeling now. Like she was trying to hide what she really was among the humans. It was like they knew something wasn’t right with her.
Her family prided her on her unique position in the clan. Not just anyone could be a frimar. One had to come from a special bloodline that allowed the female to give blood without requiring it to feed.
She sort of existed...just like she did while living with Master Tyrian. Lucinda smiled and mentally corrected herself. Tyrian was not her Master anymore. The smile quickly died.
Now she had no Master. Not even the warrior Draven. Her chest constricted and she looked out the window, blinking fast to keep the hot tears from falling. How silly she’d been. Even now her foolish heart wanted her to get off this train and go back.
She’d barely been his frimar for a month but already she’d felt herself growing, strengthening—something she’d never felt before. It was with this new strength she’d found in herself the ability to yell at Draven, to even complain. And now she wanted more.
Her mother had warned her of this sin. She stood on a treacherous slope. To open a few doors as she’d done, might lead to more and more until she was out of control.
Giddy excitement made her heart race. She peered down the hall to a couple facing her. The girl was young, human. She wore a provocative amount of makeup and a pair of shorts so short, Lucinda was sure her bottom showed when she walked. It was scandalous...wrong. Yet the girl had no qualms about it, in fact she embraced herself in a way Lucinda envied deeply.
The girl had a young man with her and the two hadn’t stopped kissing except to get some air since they’d taken off from the station. Lucinda envied this woman for another reason.
At least she’d tasted that kind of life. Just a taste though...when she wanted to gorge. She looked down at herself and for the first time in her whole life wished she wore a pair of those shorts and one of those little tight shirts.
Maybe even one like Chloe Bellum liked to wear with strange phrases on the front. Her favorite had been a white shirt with big black letters that said, “Goes to bitch in .01 seconds.” She hadn’t entirely understood the phrase until Chloe laughingly explained it to her.
What to do now? One thing Lucinda knew for sure was that she couldn’t stay with Draven, even if he made her feel good, different. Being with him, being able to relax around him, so unlike Tyrian en Kulev, made her want more. It might be a slippery slope but for once she wanted to slide down, fall. The thrill, the excitement, it was enough to make her put shopping on her to do list. And a pair of small shorts at the top.
A frown pulled at her lips. She had no money. But she did have old jewelry she’d collected over the years. Surely that would fetch a nice price. That’s what she’d do, she decided with a smile. Sell her jewelry and buy the shortest, tightest clothes she could find. Already the thought of the freedom, of doing things for herself, had her practically bouncing in her seat.
Not for the first time since she got on the train did she regret the letter she left for Draven. The warrior was a good man. He didn’t deserve how she left him. But her courage wasn’t as strong as she’d like...yet. She couldn’t make herself stay to face him. She’d taken the cowards way and left a note. She’d debated long and hard on how much she should say to him in that letter.
She’d desperately wanted to tell him thank you for everything. For showing her the pleasure of flesh, the taste of passion, for allowing her to be herself. To learn herself.
But now she wanted more and Draven’s hesitance would only slow her down. Lucinda blushed at her blatant selfishness, a small giggle escaping. She quickly covered it before the humans went back to casting her darted glances.
CRACK!
A hard thump sounded from the back of the train. A woman screamed. The couple kissing stopped to peer towards the sound; a sleeping man lifted his head to look as well. Lucinda looked towards the sound. It was loud as if a large tree had fallen on top of the train.
Suddenly there was an explosion of noise from the back of the train. Lucinda tensed in her seat with fear. She’d never ridden a train before but she was certain this wasn’t usual. The door to her compartment was closed with only a small window showing into the passenger car behind her.
More voices came, shouting, a male. The crash of a door being slammed open followed by complete silence save for the motion of the train.
A blur of a dark figure blocked the window. Lucinda plastered her back to the window, lifting her carrying satchel in front of her as if that’d protect her.
“It’s a terrorist!” someone yelled.
The passenger car door slid open with a crash. The dark figure came through, a towering mass radiating anger. Long silvery hair shining brightly in the fluorescent light.
“Draven,” she whispered in awe.
The warrior’s eyes locked on her without having to scan the rest of the passengers. He simply found her.
He was before her in a second, silent and so fast the passengers gasped at his speed. To them he disappeared and reappeared, to her, he was simply rushing.
He hauled her up by her arms, making her heart race in an entirely different way.
“You left me!” It was an accusation.
She blinked at his tone.
“Indeed.” She honestly had no idea what to say to that because a strange feeling like hope was about to burst in her chest.
“Everybody leave,” he said quietly, his gray eyes never leaving hers.
The passengers exchanged hesitant glances.
“Now!” he bellowed.
All of them snatched their bags and ran for the next passenger car. The door slammed shut with a loud finality leaving Lucinda only to hear the thundering of her heart and the heavy beat of his.
He grabbed her arms, pushing her back against the window she’d sat panicked against only minutes before. He leaned into her, surrounding her with heat that brought back a rush of memories, feelings.
“You left me.”
Lucinda’s breath caught in her throat as she looked up at him. She couldn’t slow her breathing and with each breath, her breasts pushed against his chest again and again. It was pure torture. Tightening things inside her that only he’d made her feel...or touched.
Their eyes locked, his intense with anger, hers shining with excitement.
“You came for me,” she said.
He cupped her jaw, cradling her gently. Right before his lips touched hers he whispered in a voice so raw with emotion, she shivered. “Couldn’t let you go.”
Then his lips found hers. His lips tasted like the sweetest ecstasy. He claimed her, pressed hard then thrust inside with a slick move that stole her breath away.
She had no idea how long they stood there kissing. Minutes, hours. All she felt was the rocking of the train and the possessive touch of his mouth moving over hers.
He pulled away, breathing hard. His hand cupped her cheek then slid to caress her neck in a languorous sweep. His lips followed that path.
His hot breath against her neck sent shivers across her body. He pressed his lips against the base of her throat then slowly she felt the wet press of his tongue, tasting her. The licks became stronger, firmer as he felt her rapid pulse.
The sharp press of his fang shouldn’t have come as a surprise, but it startled her nonetheless.
“You will feed from me. Right here?” she said breathlessly. Her hands threaded through his long white hair, holding him close.
He didn’t answer, only pulled her closer into his body. It was most indecent, nearly unheard of to feed in public. Around humans, nonetheless.
She wasn’t even sure if he’d do it. But then his fangs sank into her, her flesh giving way so easily.
She gasped, and he groaned. He drew long pulls from her and with each one her body coiled tighter, grew wetter until she was moaning, arching restlessly against him.
He pulled back for a moment. A dab of crimson coating his bottom lip.
“So beautiful.” The way he said it struck a chord with her. He didn’t say it as if it were a compliment, there was something else to his voice that she couldn’t quite pinpoint.
He struck again and her eyes rolled back. It was never like this with Master Tyrian. Only him. Only Draven.
Suddenly warm air brushed along her bare legs. Strong hands traced the contours of her bare thighs before cupping her bare bottom in a predatory grip.
“Draven!”
Frantically she looked around but no one was in the car with them. No one dared to peer into the windows at them.
He pulled away from her neck with one final lick to seal the wounds. Before she could say another word, his mouth was back on hers. One hand moved around to the front to cup her sex. He groaned against her lips, the sound producing one of her own.
“I need you now,” he said against her lips.
Lucinda darted glances up and down the passenger car. Still no one. But that didn’t mean someone might not come in or peer into the window.
“No, Draven. Not here.”
His fingers slid into her wet lips finding her hot and wet. He thrust his tongue inside her mouth and she had the distinct feeling he was showing her what he wanted to do to her down there.
“Yes, here,” he growled.
And that was all warning she had before he pulled his hard cock out and pressed it between her legs. Lucinda’s eyes threatened to shut permanently. Her head wobbled side to side before finally falling back against the wall as he rubbed his cock along her wet sex.
He gripped her thigh in a hand, cupped a cheek in another, then lifted her as he fit himself to her and thrust inside.
She choked on a moan as he started filling her. She’d never been with a man before Draven. Even that had only been twice and her body still felt too tight to keep him in. He didn’t look like he minded though, in fact, his eyes nearly simmered with heat.
He pulled back to watch her face as he held himself as deep as he could. She was hot and tight around him. It was only a matter of seconds before she was squirming in his grasp for something more.
“Draven,” she whispered raggedly.
He closed his eyes and started to thrust. He hit her deep and hard, unrelenting. His pace quickened fast like he had no control over himself.
Lucinda had only one choice—to hold on as he took her. It was rough and wild. Skin slapping together, harsh noises mixing as he plummeted her depths with a passion that tightened her sex into an impossible point.
She opened her mouth to scream but he caught it in a kiss, leaving her shuddering and moaning into his mouth as her body fiercely exploded around him. He followed her.
Hands bruising her flesh, he held her hard to him as he hammered into her, spurred on by her wet release. His face became a pained expression, his neck tightening with veins and tendons flexing.
On a harsh groan he landed deep, slammed his mouth down on hers and jetted his hot seed inside her.
The passenger car door slid open.
“What the heck is going on here?” yelled a man wearing a train attendant’s uniform.
Lucinda’s cheeks blushed with mortification as she pushed away from Draven and righted her dress.
Draven wasn’t nearly so fazed. He casually pulled his pants up as if the attendant had just walked in on them sharing tea not...sex.
“I said what the hell is going on here?”
Draven sent the man an arrogant look. Then he grabbed Lucinda’s hand and the world dissolved around them.
Chapter 34
“I said hold on a sec!”
Jackie tossed back the covers and pulled a robe on as she half-weaved/half-stumbled to the front door. The pounding still didn’t stop. Ready to kill whoever dared to interrupt her sleep, she threw open the door and bared her teeth at her newest victim.
Thane Vanner did not look impressed with her anger.
“I need to talk to you,” he said curtly.
She looked at her wall clock and saw that it was almost three in the morning. “Now?” she said in disbelief.
He nodded and stepped past her.
“Um, excuse me. You can’t just saunter in here like you own the place.”
Ignoring her, he took a seat at her couch. “You said you’d always talk to me if I ever needed it. I’m calling you on that right now.”
Jackie’s mind struggled to think of when she’d said something so stupid, but then her mind flashed back to the drunken night at the club when he came and got her. And changed her life.
“Dammit,” she muttered and closed the door. This must be her punishment for trying to get hammered. It wasn’t even something she usually partook in. But of course he’d use that against her. The bastard.
Instead of taking a seat she stood a good fifteen feet away from him. She’d prefer more distance but her place wasn’t that big.
“What do you want?”
He sighed and ran a hand over the back of his neck. He really did look like hell. Dark circles formed shadows under his eyes and he looked haggard from his messy hair to his wrinkled clothes.
“I can’t sleep. Hell, I feel like I can’t even think straight anymore.”
With a sigh, Jackie took a seat on the sofa furthest from him. “Why’s that?”
He pinned her with a glare. His eyes were dark but vibrant. “Because of you.”
“I can’t fall asleep,” she heard him saying. “And when I do I just dream. Dream, dream, dream. They’re so vivid, so acute that I don’t know if I want to stay asleep or wake up.” He sounded so pained; Jackie had to resist the urge to go to him.
“Are you having nightmares?”
He threw back his head and laughed. Frowning, she didn’t think any of this was funny at all. He looked back at her with a sad smile.
“I dream of you, Jackie.”
Now it was her turn to laugh though hers held an edge of hysteria to it. She blinked at him, words failing her. She’d never had a man lose sleep over her in her entire life. She’d laugh at the thought that Thane lost sleep over her but deep down she knew...and he knew. The word mate bounced around in her head.
“Of course, why didn’t I think of that,” she said dryly.
He ignored her barb. “I’ve dreamt of you for years.”
Jackie’s eyes shot wide. Her heart fluttered in her chest, started pounding wildly.
“I used to have these dreams on occasion. Maybe a few times a month. About a redheaded woman coming to me, making love to me. I never really saw her face but it didn’t matter.”
Jackie snorted and he leveled his piercing gaze on her. It cut her snort short. Jackie wouldn’t know until later that when she lashed out it wasn’t because she was mad, but afraid to see the truth.
“You only never saw her face because it was unnecessary, Thane. Just another woman in your bed.”
Anger flared in his eyes, his jaw tightened and it was enough that she looked away from him. In a flash of movement, he was in front of her. He snagged the front of her robe and pulled her up against him. She didn’t struggle, too surprised by his actions.
“It wasn’t just another woman and you know it. It was you. It’s always been you.”
She met his hard stare with one of her own. “Liar.”
His eyes narrowed dangerously, the brown irises darkening to near black. “Don’t push me tonight, Jacquelyn. Don’t make me break my promise.”
Her stomach tightened with delight—the opposite reaction she wanted to have around him.
“I didn’t come to you, Thane,” she whispered.
His hands slid down over her robe, reaching around her back to arch her into him.
He leaned down and she jerked her head away, her heart racing with fear that he’d kiss her. If he kissed her and then she wouldn’t be able to let him stop. Her resistance had been steadily falling every day. Each touch, each kiss tore at that resistance with the power of a sledgehammer wielded by a giant.
He didn’t kiss her. His lips touched her ear and said in a voice that brought shivers over her body, “You did in my dream tonight.”
The heat of his hands warmed her through her thick cotton robe. His caresses were subtle, massaging circles that aroused her better than her own nighttime fantasies.
“Give us a chance,” he said in that haunting voice that beckoned her to follow him. That said everything would be okay.
She didn’t try to stop it as her hands ran up the hard expanse of his chest to curl around his hard shoulders. She had to touch him. Had to feel him before she lost all train of thought.
“I will take care of you. I will love you,” he whispered. He kissed her neck in soft, teasing bites that made her breasts feel heavy and full.
“It’s not fair.”
His hands tightened around her, sweeping up and down her back in long comforting motions.
“I know, baby. I wish I could take things back. I wish I would have been strong enough to chase after you a long, long time ago.”
Jackie blinked slowly as her mind cleared just a tad from the hazy fog around them.
“What are you talking about?”
He nuzzled her shoulder before answering. She hadn’t even realized he’d swept the robe off one shoulder until he did it. He placed a hot, open-mouthed kiss there.
“You always scared the hell out of me,” he said with a soft chuckle.
She tried to think. She knew what he was saying was important but his touch kept making her eyes close and her body go lax. Thinking fast, she wrapped her arms around her neck, pulling her in closer to the amazing warmth of his body. She clenched tight to keep her mind focused.
“What do you mean?”
Sighing, he trailed his lips across her collarbone to the other side of her neck to give her more of those soft kisses.
“Strong, confident Jackie. She’d laugh at me if I asked her out. She’d shun me with her eyes before the ‘no’ ever formed from her pretty little lips.”
Jackie’s heart took a staggering step in her chest. He’d been interested in her this whole time? Her stubbornness was the reason he never...? She quickly tried to deny it, but she couldn’t form the words. They stopped in her throat and a horrible feeling came over her like a dark cloud.
He was right.
She wouldn’t have said yes. She’d been too scared...just like she was now.
Hands tightening in his long, shaggy hair she whispered her fear to him. He squeezed her tight against him with a bone-deep sigh.
“I know, baby. I know.”
Then he kissed her, and she didn’t plan on stopping him ever again.
His mouth took hers with a passion that swept her up and warmed her body down to her toes. Any lingering doubts and fears evaporated like hot water in a snowstorm. She kissed him back just as fiercely. With tongue and lips, they met each other match for match, stroke for stroke. Years of passionate glances, nighttime dreams, and yearning all collided together until they were frantically pulling at each other’s clothes.
Jackie laughed. They were like two lovers in a race to see who could take off the other’s clothes first. He won. Though, not fair, considering she only wore a robe.
His hands touched her everywhere, leaving no inch untouched as he molded her to him with husky, satisfied groans.
“I accept you,” she said.
His roaming hands stilled against her. His mouth lifted from her breast; he watched her with a mask of disbelief.
“You do?” he said in disbelief.
She nodded and rushed on before she lost all her courage. “You were right. I was always so scared but...I don’t want to be that person anymore, running, hiding from what she wants.”
Unease flashed across his face. “Even if that means seeing faces of women I...” He stopped, unable to finish the sentence.
Jackie’s heart seized up at the reminder, but then she relaxed. He was in her home; she was in his arms, and he was her mate. No one could break that bond.
“Even if,” she said with a small smile. “For someone who prides herself on being strong, I’ve been such a coward.”
As if unable to help himself, his hands reached down to cup her bare bottom and arch her against him. She had trouble opening her eyes as she grew wet between her legs.
“Thane, take me. As a mate,” she said huskily.
He didn’t need any more words.
Their mouths came together in a passionate mating. Wet lips fused together then swept open for dueling tongues. She pulled down the zipper of his pants and the soft rustling of fabric as they fell was music to her ears.
She grasped hold of his cock and moaned at the feel of him. He was thick, hot, and so hard in her hand. She couldn’t keep herself from stroking him up and down the rigid staff, just as she’d seen him do in the shower.
His lips tore away from hers to suck her breast into his mouth. When her back hit the front door, she sighed, her hands eagerly running over the strong bunch of muscles in his back and shoulders.
“Thane.” Her whisper was like a silken caress to his ears.
He grunted against her breast then released it. He gave her one last searing look before his eyes traced over her naked body, lingering on her high, full breasts, stomach, and firm thighs before landing on the thin line of hair leading to her sex. His eyes took on a darker light then; his cock bobbed, eager for her.
“More beautiful than I imagined.” His sweet words brought a flush of pleasure to her cheeks.
When he grabbed her bottom and lifted her against the door, she went willingly, her legs wrapping around his tight waist. She had only a moment’s hesitation. Should she tell him?
But then his tongue was working in and out of her mouth again and the hard round tip of him was sliding along her sex. Their moans filled the room as the scent of sex and sweat coated their skin.
Cock wet with her cream he slid the tip to her entrance and pushed in the barest of inches. Jackie’s eyes flew wide and she wrapped her arms tight around him. He took that as an invitation and buried his head in her neck, giving her sharp bites meant to show her his dominance. It only made her wetter.
He drove inside her a little more and she felt her channel spreading in a good but strange way. She’d only ever done it with her own fingers, but he was much thicker and hotter. The sensation was erotic and delicious as he pulled back out then worked back in again until he hit a barrier.
Startled, he pulled back to stare. “Jackie?”
She blushed crimson. He saw it and smiled softly. The kiss he gave her was sweet and gentle. When he pulled away the vice she held around him loosened some around his shaft.
“I’ll never forget this gift, Jackie.”
Then his soft expression transformed into a mask of erotic pain. He closed his eyes hard, gripped her hips in his hands and said, “Hold on baby. I hope this doesn’t hurt much.”
Then he thrust inside.
Jackie felt like she was torn apart. Her channel, even slick with need, stretched to a nearly unbearable level, burning and stinging at the intrusion.
“Thane, Thane, Thane,” she whispered, her head shaking side to side.
“I’m so sorry, honey.” His hand reached between them to caress her swollen bud in tight, quick circles.
Jackie gasped as her body tightened with an onslaught that would surely kill her. The burning sensation lessened until it was only a minor ache and so she relaxed her leg’s death grip around his hips. His shoulders sagged with relief and then he was pulling out of her so slowly, dragging through her wet, soft channel.
He groaned then couldn’t stop kissing her and tasting her as he slowly worked his way back in. And he never stopped working his magic on her clitoris, moving faster and faster. Jackie’s heart raced in her ears, blood pumping so hard. She wanted him to move faster but couldn’t speak as her throat was dry and tight.
Her fingers curled hard into his back, nails piercing. As if unable to contain himself, he groaned and thrust in a little bit harder. Jackie let out a cry as that thrust curled her toes and hardened her nipples into hard, painful peaks.
His eyes took everything in and then he was moving harder between her thighs. His thrusts were slow, measured but landed against her with a slapping of flesh.
Jackie lasted only a few more of those delicious thrusts because then she was blinded by piercing, wonderful pleasure. She shouted, her body tightening everywhere, eyes going blind, and she shuddered around him. Milking, shaking, and crying out as her body burst with hot pleasure.
Somehow she managed to stay with him and for that she was grateful, because she got to see him lose control. His hands left her sex to grip her ass in a hard grip, then he was thrusting inside her in fast, hard strokes.
He slid even easier inside her as her fresh cream coated him. Breathing heavy and erratic, he leaned back over her neck and bit her once.
Skin broke, blood poured out, and then he was mating with her. Jackie never knew, never expected...the incredible amount of pleasure that came with his bite. The heat inside her came back in full force as if this was all leading to one big build up and her previous release was just a tiny scratch on the surface. For a moment, her heart pounded with fear. Could she even survive this?
But she had no time to think about that question because he pulled back with a husky grunt and said, “Your turn.”
In the true ritual of shapeshifters mating, Jackie kissed his neck then used the beast’s strength inside her to break his skin. He tasted like he smelled—earthy and rich. She took all that she needed and pulled away as her body tore apart.
Screams pulled from her throat, deep within her chest as she came and came. He drove into her with a shout, and somehow he rode her through the waves crashing inside her body. He landed deep and jetted hot and thick inside her.
They were one.
Jackie had never felt better than she did in that moment. She let him carry her to bed because she couldn’t move. She settled across his bare chest with a sigh and fell asleep in her mate’s arms.
