Ravenous Page 4

  With a wicked chuckle, he urged her backward. Her knees hit the edge of the couch and obediently buckled. She sprawled in the corner of the L-shaped sectional and he pulled her hips to the edge of the cushions. She lifted her bottom as he tugged her panties down and tossed the tiny garment over his shoulder. He knelt on the floor in front of her and spread her legs wide.

  "Don't resist your pleasure. Come as often as you can."

  Now there was a directive she was happy to accommodate.

  With a slow sweep of his tongue, he traced her slit from back to front then gently circled her clit. She shivered and moaned, grasping the back of her knees, brazenly holding her legs apart. His tongue caressed her folds, and his lips rubbed against her nether lips in a scintillating kiss. He grew bolder, delving deeper, gently sucking.

  Tension gathered, winding tighter with each pass of his tongue. He used his thumbs to hold her open and focused on her swollen clit. She yelped and bucked while he sucked and licked, insistently pushing her toward climax.

  Pleasure rushed through her, pulsing outward from her pussy until her breasts warmed and her toes curled. The withdrawal was subtle. She might have missed it if she hadn't been aware of his need. Energy flowed out of her body and into his with each tightening of her inner muscles. He prolonged her orgasm, building a new cycle of arousal within the echoes of the first.

  Her fangs distended and her gums burned. He raised her hips and draped her legs over his shoulders, fucking her with his tongue. She clasped the cushions and arched her back, coming again with a sharp cry. He fed more deeply this time, matching his extractions to the rhythm of her climax.

  He shifted her legs to his elbows and pushed to his feet. His cock found her entrance and thrust inside, filling her completely with one long drive. Only her shoulders remained on the sofa. The rest of her body arched toward his, suspended from his elbows. His hands clasped her waist, bracing her pelvis for the steady shuttle of his hips.

  She watched his face, awed by the savage beauty of his features. Golden light burned within his eyes, accenting the highlights in his long black hair. His lips parted as a strangled cry escaped his throat.

  His pace sped, his hips pumping faster, his cock driving deeper. Her inner muscles grasped him, and the longing to hold him inside forever expanded within her mind. She arched into each stroke, savoring the fullness and the building urgency.

  Lost in the pleasure, she opened her mind, accepting his mental penetration as readily as she took his body into hers. Intensity flared, triggering a sharp, sudden climax. She screamed. Her back bowed as he drove his full length into her slick heat. He shuddered violently, his cock bucking as he came in distinct spurts.

  Sensations swirled around her, pouring into and flowing out of her. She shook helplessly, her pussy echoing each rhythmic spasm of his cock. Long moments passed as they rode out the climax, returning to reality by degrees.

  His vibrant being remained in her mind, unique and unmistakable. “Why can I still sense you? I thought the link was part of feeding."

  He arched over her, cock still buried inside her, gaze locked on her face. “I'm not sure. I didn't create it intentionally."

  Deep within his being a barrier snapped into place. She sensed the change, felt the separation with painful clarity. He was hiding something, something important. “Can you ... disconnect it?"

  His lips pressed together and he slowly disentangled their bodies. “Do you want me to?"

  Shocked by his reluctance, she scrambled off the sofa and grabbed her discarded blouse. “Why would you want me to have access to your mind? Are you sure it was spontaneous?"

  He caught her arm, his expression inscrutable. “I don't know why the link formed or what the connection means. None of my other lovers were aware of my presence while I was feeding, much less afterward. It might be harmful if I pinch it off. I think we should find out more about it before we take action. That's all I was thinking."

  She sighed, holding the blouse in front of her like a shield. His disappointment was clear, as well as hints of other emotions. Even so, he was holding back, carefully protecting a certain section of his mind. She'd always been able to scan minds, to intentionally seek out thoughts and feelings. This was different, far more intimate.

  "Can you sense me as well?” Awareness made her skin tingle. She could roam at will, learn anything she wanted about him, test his sincerity and motivations. Except for that hidden corner of his mind. “Does this connection work both ways?"

  "I can sense the link, but your emotions and thoughts are still guarded."

  "As I said before, shields are a necessity among the vampire elite."

  "I hope someday soon you'll feel comfortable enough to allow me beyond your shields. Until then I'll have to keep you on the brink of orgasm.” Teladorian took the blouse from her hand and tossed it toward the pile of their discarded clothing. “Silos will tidy up when he arrives in the morning,” he said when she started to object.

  "Who is Silos?"

  "Silos and his wife, Rachel, take care of the house and its occupants. They refer to themselves as a domestic team. They cook, clean, and hire others as the situation warrants. I'd be lost without them."

  She glanced around the living room and resentment flashed within her eyes. The emotion disappeared as suddenly as it had materialized, so he didn't question her about it. He took her by the hand and led her toward the hallway on the far side of the living room.

  Fucking her had been even more amazing than he'd anticipated. She'd responded without hesitation, and knowing her nature wasn't influenced by his hunger made the pleasure even sweeter. But why was she immune to his hunger? The question loitered in the back of his mind, keeping him from reveling in the perfection of their joining.

  His mother's belief that his one true mate would free him from the hunger had always amused and frustrated him. She'd never been able to explain how he would recognize this fabled mate, so Teladorian had dismissed the concept as romantic wishful thinking.

  Still, Sophie had been different from the start. He'd known she was special before he touched her, and making love with her had only solidified his belief that she was unique. Unique, absolutely. But his one true mate? That would require a lot more interaction.

  "Do you go to Station X a lot?” she asked as they rounded a corner and headed for the back of the house.

  "It's a necessary evil, I suppose. Randolph provides an environment both discreet and decadent."

  "You're on a first-name basis with the owner?"

  "Randolph Bronstein doesn't own Station X, but he's a shrewd manager."

  She stopped walking and faced him. “Do you own the club?"

  "Why was that your first guess?"

  "No one but the real owner would care about the distinction."

  "I own the lot. Azariel financed the building and recommended Bronstein. Azariel has known Randolph for years."

  "I see."

  He resumed his languid pace and she fell into step beside him. “Since you brought up Station X, what were you doing at the club tonight? How were the assassins able to corner you in that room?"

  She crossed her arms over her breasts and looked away. “My lover, or should I say ex-lover, set me up."

  "You know this for a fact or you suspect?"

  "Oh, I know it for a fact. He was there to open the door and escort me inside. He just didn't stick around for the slaughter."

  "I'm sorry.” He gave her hand a compassionate squeeze. “Had you been together long?"

  "About six months.” She pulled her hand out of his and tucked her hair behind her ear, feeling vulnerable and foolish.

  "Why did you meet him at the club? Don't you live alone?"

  "Despite the fiasco tonight, I tend to be overly cautious. My apartment is my sanctuary. It's where I sleep. No one goes there but me."

  "An understandable precaution.” He pushed open the door to their destination and motioned her inside.

  She stepped into
the solarium and froze. Floor to ceiling windows displayed an angled wedge of the backyard and the ocean beyond. The domed ceiling was also transparent, offering an unobstructed view of the star-studded sky.

  "Wow.” She spun in a slow circle, taking in the view from every angle. “This is amazing.” There was a large sunken spa, and a shower stall against the far wall. “What's through that door?"

  "A home gym."

  She shook her head and resentment sparked within her gaze again.

  "Why does that upset you?"

  "I can't help thinking of my father and the other clan lords.” She shivered. Her expression was suddenly as shuttered as her mind.

  He took her hand and led her to the shower stall. “Let's get you warmed up, then you can tell me all about your father."

  She reluctantly accepted his embrace while they waited for the water to warm. He stepped into the shower behind her and drew her back into his arms. Water saturated their hair and drenched their bodies. He enjoyed the soothing deluge and the softness of Sophie before reaching for the soap.

  "Why does this room make you think of your father?” He ignored her attempts to grab the soap and ran his sudsy hands over her shoulders and across her breasts.

  She squirmed and shivered as his touch grew bolder. “I'm supposed to think while you do that?"

  He chuckled, pushing one slippery hand between her thighs. “Thinking is always optional."

  Grasping his shoulders with both hands, she moved her legs apart and created more room for his hand. He stroked her delicate folds and pushed into her core, sighing as her snug passage enveloped his fingers.

  "Tell me about your father.” He lightly scanned her mind as he caressed her pussy, hoping the pleasure would allow him to slip beyond her mental shields. “Talk.” His thumb circled her clit. “I won't let you come until you satisfy my curiosity."

  "This is sensory blackmail.” She rocked her hips, accenting the subtle slide of his fingers. “My father is ancient as well as organic. He has amassed a fortune few can comprehend. His lifestyle is indulgent, to say the least."

  "And you disapprove?” He sensed her resentment, but there were other emotions as well. Disappointment, frustration, and loyalty.

  "I find his extravagance wasteful, but our conflict is more fundamental."

  "I'm listening."

  She rode his hand, her fingernails biting into his shoulders. “This is cruel."

  "Finish your explanation and I'll reward you."

  "Organic females are expected to mate with organic males."

  "But your mother wasn't a vampire."

  "It doesn't matter. I was born, not transformed, which makes me organic.” She squeezed his fingers and licked her lips. “I refused every match my father proposed until he threatened to disown me. As I said, I don't respond well to ultimatums.” As she moved closer to present events, her emotions intensified.

  "What did you do?"

  "I moved away from home and got a job.” A ripple of satisfaction accompanied the fact. She was proud of her accomplishments. “I worked my way through college and built a career that has allowed me to make my own decisions."

  "What is your vocation?"

  "I tutor—college—students.” She gasped softly as his fingers continued their steady fucking. Her arousal seeped into his mind, blistering hot and desperately close to orgasm.

  Not ready for the exchange to end, he slowed then gently withdrew his fingers. She closed her eyes with a frustrated moan. “Are you happy with your choices?"

  She looked up at him with mutiny in her eyes. “Why did you stop?"

  "We're not finished. Answer the question."

  "For the most part. I'm responsible for my actions, but only my actions."

  "Turn around.” After a slight hesitation, she obeyed. He guided her hands to the wall in front of her and coated his hands with a fresh layer of lather. Water ran down her back, accenting the ivory perfection of her skin and the sleek roundness of her ass.

  He explored her breasts with one hand and returned the other to her pussy. She wiggled and tossed her hair, showering his face with droplets of water. Her back arched, offering him better access to her feminine passage. She tightened her inner muscles, caressing his fingers as he slid in and out.

  "Does that feel good?” He leaned in and whispered the question into her ear.

  "Not as good as your cock felt, but I'm not complaining."

  He smiled at her convoluted challenge. She was comfortable with her sexuality, which made him anxious to explore her boundaries and test her limits. “Have you ever taken a cock up your ass?"

  "I won't do it without lube. I'm not into pain."

  Her cunt tightened rhythmically. The thought obviously excited her. “What about spankings?” He abandoned her breasts for a moment and squeezed her ass. “I'd love to warm these smooth white cheeks, while you wiggle across my lap."

  A throaty moan was her only reply, but her hips rocked, driving his fingers deeper. He gathered cream from her pussy and moved to her other opening. She stilled as he circled her anus, announcing his intention and stimulating her nerve endings. He pushed past her sphincter, savoring the heat and the firm grip of the stubborn muscle. With his other hand, he found her clit and lightly plucked the tiny knot of flesh.

  She gasped and jerked, driving her body onto his finger. “Fuck, that feels good."

  He pulled back then drove deep, rubbing her clit as he invaded her ass. She locked her elbows and pushed to the balls of her feet, creating a better angle for his finger. Her pleasure swelled, sizzling across their link and flowing into him. He didn't need to draw from her. She fed him selflessly, offering as much as he was able to absorb.

  Adding a second finger, he propelled her past rippling sensations and into screaming oblivion. She came hard, her knees buckling as pleasure ricocheted between them.

  He followed her down, moving his hands to support her as energy saturated his being. She groaned and shuddered. He cradled her against his chest, dazed by the unexpected intensity.

  She shifted in his embrace, a soft moan escaping between her lips. Her fangs gleamed in the moonlight and she slowly opened her eyes. “If we keep this up, you're going to kill me."

  He kissed her temple, trying not to reveal his concern. “Your death is the farthest thing from my mind.” He meant every word, but uncertainty surged within him. How could she be his “perfect mate” if they couldn't sustain each other?

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  Chapter Four

  Fascinated by the complex emotions twisting through Azariel's mind, Cadin explored the demon's thoughts. Azariel was actually half demon, but demon spawn sounded even more insulting than demon.

  Azariel hadn't planned on returning to Teladorian's house until the following day. Cadin launched a compulsion urging the demon to reconsider. A surge of jealousy responded to the compulsion and Azariel resisted the urge with surprising strength. Jealousy? Cadin didn't understand the reaction, so he delved deeper into the demon's subconscious.

  What had inspired the jealousy? A young woman's image flared to life within Azariel's mind. Did the demon want the woman or did he want Teladorian? Either development offered Cadin an opportunity to play. Duarte wanted to understand the emotional dynamics surrounding Teladorian and nothing revealed a person's true nature faster than conflict.

  They arrived at the modern mansion Teladorian called home. After activating the security gate with a numerical code, Azariel transmitted his identity and passed unhampered through Teladorian's infamous shields. He approached the front door with casual familiarity. He had a room on the second floor and frequently stayed here for extended periods of time. He might be Teladorian's best friend, but he was still a guest in the house, so he reached toward the doorbell.

  Cadin quelled the impulse and instructed Azariel to let himself in. Teladorian wasn't expecting visitors. Cadin could sense his presence near the back of the house. He was with the woman, and all the other ro
oms were empty.

  Reluctantly, Azariel punched in the master code and deactivated the security system. After another moment's hesitation, he stepped into the elegant foyer. He started to call out, but Cadin squelched that impulse as well. Azariel spotted the trail of discarded clothing and a fresh rush of jealousy overtook him.

  The emotion was more focused this time and Cadin easily unraveled the situation. Azariel lusted after Teladorian, but his best friend swore he was only attracted to females. Oh, this was far more interesting than Cadin had anticipated. Reinforcing Azariel's natural curiosity, Cadin rushed on ahead.

  Teladorian sat on the edge of a spa, his legs submerged in the churning water. Sophie knelt on the bench between his knees, waist deep in the water as she sucked his cock. His head was thrown back in ecstasy, hands braced on the tiled floor. He was nearing climax, so Cadin pushed back his peak, making sure Azariel walked in on the scene.

  Azariel stumbled to a stop just inside the doorway. His eyes widened as he watched Sophie's head bob and her mouth slide up and down along Teladorian's shaft. Forcing down his disappointment with steely determination, Azariel manufactured a lazy smile. “You're obviously enjoying yourselves. May I interrupt for just a moment?"

  Oh, that would never do. Cadin shoved a thought into Sophie's mind as she straightened and looked over her shoulder. “Why don't you join us?” She looked up at Teladorian and smiled. “You don't mind, do you?"

  The conflict twisting through him didn't show on his handsome face. He had just begun exploring his new lover. He wasn't ready to share the experience with anyone. “Not at all.” His tone was even despite the reluctance tumbling within him. “Azariel's always welcome."

  Azariel's dark gaze moved from Sophie to Teladorian and back. “Are you sure? I'm not going to take it well if you change your mind after I've undressed."

  Resigned to the interruption, yet unsure how it would play out, Teladorian teetered on the peak of indecision. Cadin gave him a mental nudge and he sighed. “Actually, we've run into a complication.” He caressed Sophie's profile with his gaze as she shifted her focus between the two men. “Sophie's hunger builds each time I feed, but I can't produce blood fast enough to keep her satisfied."