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  His body moved silently from the living room to the kitchen. Even though he was fully clothed, I could appreciate the beauty of his broad, muscular shoulders, tapered waist, and tight butt. Damn, those jeans really did fit perfectly. Definitely owed Calliope a huge thank you for the bountiful view in front of me.

  He disappeared around the corner and I moved to follow him into the cool, dimly lit kitchen. A shiver ran up my spine as my bare feet touched the slate tile on the floor. My eyes adjusted to the dark and I grinned at the nice view of his frame. He was bent over, digging in the refrigerator, his body silhouetted by the light. Mostly what I could see was a nice view of his ass.

  “There’s grilled chicken breasts. Bella put some fresh bread in here for you and a few other vegetables, too. How about I make you a sandwich?”

  My brain took several seconds to register the question, but I still didn’t speak.

  “Bailey, please. Try to focus on something else or you aren’t going to get anything to eat right now.” He groaned and closed the fridge door holding an armful of groceries.

  “Sorry. Bad pheromones.” I grinned and snapped my attention to his face. For now I was willing to forget what I knew he wanted from me. Right now, it didn’t matter. I’d almost died today. All I wanted was to have his arms around me again. Feel him inside me.

  “Yes, very bad pheromones.” A glint of amusement flickered in his eyes, but he hid it quickly. Flip the switch by your shoulder, please.” He nodded his head toward the wall and I moved my hand in the dark until I felt the small lever.

  Light flooded the kitchen from the stainless steel lamps hanging from the ceiling. I blinked a few times and then rubbed my eyes and leaned against the opposite side of the counter where he’d dropped all the sandwich stuff.

  “Erick,” I pleaded. I wasn’t going to last. My appetite for food had vanished. All I could think about was being with him. I prayed he would get past the “feeding me” thing and let me eat afterward. My face was hot, my palms were damp, and I could feel my pulse in my sex. “Please.” I tried again.

  The desperation in my voice should’ve been embarrassing, but it wasn’t. All I was waiting on was a nod or a look or anything that said I could leap into his arms. He was holding himself back. I knew he was.

  Chapter 14

  A moment later I was in his arms and pushed up against the kitchen wall with a soft thud. Even in the midst of his passion, he could be gentle. I didn’t need to fear him or whatever he had planned for me. My heart wanted to think he might one day love me, but I was a human and he was a vampire. It wasn’t in the stars for us to be together for long, but perhaps I could have a short time in heaven with him on earth.

  I sighed as he trailed his lips up my neck, over my jawline, and then crushed his mouth over mine. He plunged his tongue inside and swept it through my mouth. His hands slid down to my ass and he squeezed before pulling my legs out from under me and guiding them around his waist. My pussy throbbed against his hard cock and I locked my ankles behind his back. He was so strong that he held me in place with little effort.

  I reached down between our bodies and fumbled with his pants until they came undone. He pushed them down, along with his boxers, until his cock sprang free.

  The robe came open easily, leaving only my soaked panties between him and my swollen pussy. I couldn’t get them off though, not with my legs firmly clasped around his waist.

  “You are amazing,” he growled, pulling his mouth from mine.

  I watched his eyes turn from their normal bright blue to the color of midnight rimmed with scarlet. “You make me feel again, kjaere. Things I never thought to find with another woman as long as I lived.”

  How did I respond to that? I couldn’t blurt out that I was falling in love with him. Not when I knew I’d have to leave. Not when I knew he wouldn’t be satisfied with what I could give him. My broken soul and body would never be enough.

  I wanted to stay with him, though. I wanted to tell him he made me feel safe and loved and valued. Something I hadn’t felt in a really long time. And something I wanted to keep feeling. I wanted to tell him I loved his overprotective nature. Craved it, even.

  “I need you. Please,” I whispered. Those four words were all I could get out.

  His hand slipped between my legs and tore my panties from my body like they were made of tissue. A shiver ran through me as I anticipated him filling me. He shifted me against the wall and used his hand to guide his length to my wet and wanting opening. The tip brushed my slick entrance and I moaned as nerves shot streaks of fire throughout my body. I was so warm against his cool, rock-hard body.

  More. I wanted more. So much more. I was on the cusp of an orgasm and he wasn’t even inside me yet.

  “My beautiful Bailey.” His voice was deep and held a tenderness that shattered what was left of my defenses. He hadn’t said he loved me, but the affection in his words and actions spoke louder than any declaration ever could.

  He drove into me, pushing me harder against the kitchen wall. My breasts pressed into his chest and my pussy clamped down hard on his swollen cock as it filled me completely. His mouth went to my neck and I felt the slight pinch as he bit into me.

  The sensation of him drinking was just enough to push me over the edge and my orgasm came crashing down on us both like huge waves in a storm. I cried out and clung to him as he pumped in and out, driving me higher and higher, all the while drinking from me, sending delightful sensations throughout my already overstimulated body.

  Yes.

  It was the only word on my mind as he moved me from the wall and sped us up to the bed I wanted to call mine, if given the chance.

  I opened my eyes and stretched, groaning at the soreness in my girly parts. Even my nipples were still sensitive. I lifted the sheet gingerly and sat up on the edge of the bed.

  Erick had asked me last night, after making love to me for hours, if he could take me to the Castle today. Of course I’d agreed … to think about it. The man had just plied me with a half-dozen orgasms. Any woman would have said yes to anything he requested.

  Like I was really up for “activities” at a BDSM club. I’d almost died yesterday from a stab wound. I wasn’t stupid.

  Darius was still out there. Waiting. Watching. Even I knew the fires he was setting all over town were just a distraction to get me alone and separated—vulnerable. I was no stranger to being hunted by a psychopath. The asshole Djinn could get in line. Mostly, I hated that I was putting my new friends in danger. People who barely knew me were fighting to protect me—risking their lives.

  Instead of hunting down the crazy psycho, Erick wanted to go “play” at the Castle. What did he really think he was going to accomplish? He’d promised no pain and no restraints. What was left? Was there any point?

  But, I did hate that just the sound of that whip had brought me to my knees. It pissed me off. I wanted to believe I was stronger than that. If there was something Erick could do to help me regain my confidence and lose some of my anxiety, maybe I should give it a try.

  After a hot shower, I opened the closet doors to grab a robe. My gaze flew to where the black canvas bag had been. It was gone. In its place were shoeboxes. Every pair Calliope and I had chosen the day before was neatly stacked in rows. A smile spread across my face at his thoughtfulness. When he’d had time to get them, I had no idea. He likely snuck them in that morning while I was sleeping.

  Then I looked further and realized he’d also hung up every piece of clothing from the bags of things she’d told me I needed to have. I stepped forward and ran my hand along the edges of the beautiful clothes. A tear welled up and ran down my cheek.

  He was determined.

  Was I going to be able to say goodbye? Years ago, I had accepted that I didn’t get a happy ending. It just wasn’t in the cards for me. Why was Erick torturing me with the hope that it could be different? Kevin wouldn’t let it happen. I wouldn’t stay in Sanctuary if he found me. He’d hurt my friends. Even if he
couldn’t do it personally, he’d find a way to ruin this beautiful place.

  Taking a deep breath, I took a matching pair of black panties and a bra from a small basket he’d put next to the stack of shoeboxes. A little note was stuck at the top in his scribble—not sure where you would want these. I grinned, glad I hadn’t had to hunt through his dresser in the bedroom.

  After slipping the perfectly fitting bits of lace into place, I took a pair of soft, denim shorts and an aqua blue tank from the rail. The clothes fit perfectly in moments, as expected. The shorts clung to my ass in a way I knew Erick would appreciate, and the neck of the tank was just low enough to give a peek at the cleavage the bra helped to showcase.

  Time to play. Maybe …

  I pulled out a pair of slip-on sandals and headed to the sink to brush my teeth and my hair. Another note was stuck to the mirror—be right back, went to Rose’s to get you some breakfast. Looking forward to playing.

  “Awfully confidant my answer will be yes, aren’t you?” I huffed and ran a comb through my wet hair before braiding it into a long tail. I hadn’t actually agreed to more than considering it, but Erick was right. He knew my answer would be yes, because he knew I trusted him completely.

  “Yes to what, Bailey? Spreading your legs for that undead thing again? Are you letting it drink from you?”

  I looked up into the mirror, dropped the comb, and froze. Kevin stared back at me in the reflection. I whirled around to face him and felt sick. My stomach crawled into my throat.

  “H-how?”

  “You’re not as smart as you think, bitch.”

  “I am, you just have a badge you use unfairly.” Where had that come from?

  A cruel smile twisted his face. “You think since you hooked up with an Other, I can’t get to you.” He made a clucking sound with his tongue and shook his head. “I have to admit, your coming all the way out here to nowhere did slow me down just a hair.”

  I swallowed and took another step backward. “Erick!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. “Help!”

  Kevin rushed and I dodged around the tub in the center of the bathroom, but he jumped it and tackled me to the floor. Air rushed from my lungs as his weight pushed down on me. I kicked and screamed. Erick wouldn’t let him take me. He would protect me.

  “Stupid, bitch. He’s not coming to help you, Bailey. I made sure he met up with the Djinn that stalked you to the bus station. Apparently you are a popular commodity. Plus, we had a common enemy.”

  Erick! No. No. No. Kevin had always hated Others. Why would he work with a Djinn? Why would Darius work with him? How had they even met?

  “No, please!” I screamed again, landing a good kick to his gut. But, he returned the hit with one to my ribs and I heard something crack. Pain like a hot poker shot through my chest.

  He straddled me on the floor, pinning me down. At six-feet, heavily-muscled, and angry, I didn’t have a shot in hell, but I wouldn’t stop fighting. I had never given up on anything. I knew I wasn’t getting out of this, though.

  Another punch struck the other side of my torso, pushing an agonizing wail from my chest. Another shot of pain ripped through my chest. Breathing was difficult and the familiar taste of blood reappeared in my mouth.

  “Even the Djinn was stupid. He thought I’d share you with him, but I didn’t come all this way to let someone else have you.” He grabbed my wrists and held them above my head with one hand as he squeezed and pinched my breasts.

  “He’ll k-kill you.” I coughed, struggling to draw a breath. Of course if the Djinn didn’t kill him, Erick would.

  Kevin’s brown eyes were dark, reflecting what I could only imagine were the depths of hell itself. My heart skipped a beat. He’d come to kill me this time. Gone was his desire to take me and lock me away.

  “By the time he realizes I decided against our arrangement, I’ll be gone and your vampire won’t know I was ever here.”

  Arrogance and evil wrapped into one. I couldn’t believe he would consider double-crossing a Djinn, not that I was going to complain. I didn’t want to see Darius any more than I wanted to see Kevin.

  “He will kn-know and he’ll hunt you until he finds you.” My anger helped me growl out the words. He was wrong if he thought he could get away with this. I had vampires, dragons, and all kinds of Others who would avenge my death. I knew they would. He wouldn’t survive for long after I was dead. That knowledge gave me some satisfaction.

  His fist connected with my ribcage again and I gasped as the small amount of air I’d been pulling in was knocked from my struggling lungs. I twisted on the floor, opening my mouth to scream and was unable to produce any sound.

  I couldn’t breathe. My lungs refused to expand.

  My pulse roared in my ears and all my senses reeled from the fiery pain radiating out from the ribs he’d broken and rammed into my lungs. He had let go of my wrists, but I didn’t have the strength left to raise them from the floor.

  I saw a flash of metal a second before I felt it draw across my neck. Warmth seeped from my body and my blurring vision faded to darkness.

  The pain was fading, but so was my life.

  Chapter 15

  Erick’s voice rumbled next to me.

  How was that possible? Hadn’t I died? Didn’t Kevin cut my throat?

  I opened my eyes and winced at the light flooding into the far end of the room. The smell of peppermint on Erick’s breath was pleasant, but more overwhelming than usual. I could also smell Calliope’s spicy perfume and Rose’s honey oatmeal shampoo, but I didn’t see them in the room. They had been there, though. Maybe a few hours ago.

  “Bailey.” Erick laid a hand on my wrist and I growled.

  Growled? What the hell? What was wrong with me?!

  I sat up. The urge to eat was overwhelming. “I’m starving,” I croaked, my voice hoarse and cracking. I buried my face in my hands. My head felt like it was about to split in half.

  “Here.”

  Looking between my fingers, I watched Erick pick up a cup from the nightstand and offer it to me. I took the cup and scrunched my face. It was filled with a dark red, thick liquid.

  Oh, God! No!

  “I’m … I died. H-he killed me!”

  “He paid for what he did to you, Bailey. I tore his beating heart from his chest, just as I promised I would.” Erick knelt at the side of the bed, his eyes glassy. “Forgive me for failing you, min kjaereste.”

  I did.

  It wasn’t his fault.

  Even the Oracle had said he couldn’t change my fate. Apparently, she was correct. Score one for the crotchety, old know-it-all.

  “I couldn’t get to you in time. I tried, Bailey. You must believe I tried. Darius was working with him. I heard you calling and he kept me from you.” His anger and guilt showed in his red-rimmed eyes.

  Not quite ready to down blood like water, I set the glass back on the nightstand and reached for him, pulling him close. He crawled into the bed next to me and nuzzled my neck before kissing my lips softly. We settled back against the pillows and I snuggled into the crook of his shoulder. He smelled sweet and the scent of his blood made my mouth water. I felt my fangs lengthen in my mouth and I shook my head, trying to clear away the sensation.

  “I know, Erick. He told me Darius was keeping you away. I told him you’d kill him.”

  “I did.” He buried his face in my hair and took a deep breath. “Gods, Bailey. It’d been so many hours since you had my blood. There was no guarantee you would turn.”

  “I’m here.” I wasn’t sure exactly what it meant to be what I was, but if I had survived the trauma of my human life, I could survive being an Other, too.

  We lay quietly for a while. I don’t know how long. He let me have the time I needed to process.

  Kevin had killed me.

  I was a vampire.

  All my running had been for nothing … and yet, I was here in this little town called Sanctuary, wrapped in the arms of the strongest, kindest man, one who would g
o to the ends of the earth to protect and care for me. The Oracle said I’d been on a path to them for a long time. That my ancestors had magick in their blood.

  I wasn’t sure I believed in fate, but the stars had truly aligned for me to end up where I was right now.

  An unfamiliar pain surged from a place deep inside.

  Blood. I couldn’t deny the craving any longer.

  I pushed against Erick’s chest and sat up again. “I think I need that cup after all.”

  He sat up next to me and handed me the glass.

  I took a small sip, expecting it to be terrible. Instead, it was sweet and I gulped it down, wishing there was more. Running my tongue across my teeth, I paused, surprised to find fangs. I shouldn’t have been surprised. I’d felt them descend earlier. I knew I was a vampire and vampires had fangs. But it still brought tears to my eyes. Fear of the unknown. I knew how to survive as a human. What was the world going to be like as a vampire?

  “What’s going to happen to me?”

  “You will stay with me in Sanctuary … if you choose.”

  “I have a choice?” Wouldn’t Rose and the Sisters have a bit to say about me leaving? That Arlea woman had seemed quite confident I was supposed to be part of their little system.

  “Yes. But, taking on the role of Protector is not something you should agree to lightly. This is a cause we have been fighting for millennia.”

  “Where would I go?”

  “Anywhere you wanted to go. I would make sure you had everything you could ever want.”

  “You would do that? Go against your friends? Go against the Oracle? You would let me leave?”

  “I don’t want you to go, Bailey. But I would let you, if that is what would make you happy.” His eyes were focused on the bedding, refusing to make contact with my gaze.