by Emily Bex
She called out his name when the explosion of pleasure hit her, wave after wave as he continued to lap at her, not allowing the orgasm to subside, but pushing her, over and over. Her head was thrown back, and she was gasping for air. Too much...too much. She felt him lick away the juices that run freely from her.
He crawled to the top of the bed and held her in his arms as she laid her head on his shoulder. She was completely spent and he loved that he had the power to give her pleasure beyond her body’s limits. No fucking mortal man would ever come close to what he could do to her. He kissed her neck softly, his lips at her ear. “Mi amore, come back to your savage lover.”
In the softest whisper, she answered him. “The things you do to me.”
”The night has just begun, bel.”
“Then maybe you’d like to join me in the shower first?”
She rolled out of bed and walked toward the bathroom, still wearing the black heels and the red corset which bared her ass and pushed her breasts up and out. She looked back at him over her shoulder and laughed. “A forest fire out of control, lover. We are a fire out of control.”
33
Since getting back from California, Shade was trying to get Alec’s warriors back on a schedule. He’d teleport into the Dead House most evenings, shortly after sunset, meeting up with Alec’s makeshift crew. He was trying to establish some routine and discipline within these ranks, so he tried to keep their schedule basically the same. They began every night huddled together in the command center, surrounded by maps and grids of downtown D.C. and Georgetown, along with his plans for whipping these misfits into something that resembled warriors. Alec wanted his territory protected, and anything that threatened his rise in the mortal world needed to disappear, without a trace of it ever having been there. Alec’s greatest fear was being exposed to the mortal world as a vampire. He’d never be able to step foot in the U.S. again for at least a century, and it would leave their entire vampire community at risk. Most mortals accepted vampires as myth, and the vamps wanted to keep it that way.
As he put the warriors through their paces, he was trying to assess their skill levels. Each of the mercenaries seemed to have one specific weapon they were good at, as opposed to his Medici warriors, who were equally skilled in all methods of fighting. These limited fighting skills weren’t going to be good enough on the streets if they ever encountered any real opposition. A true warrior needed to excel in the use of any weapon. In addition, he must be skilled in hand-to-hand, mixed martial arts combat, with the goal of slicing and dicing and bringing home the head of his enemy. This rag-tag group, one way or another, needed to be prepared in all areas. Tonight, Shade had decided he’d teach them the art of fighting with shuriken’s and show them what a shuriken could do to an errant rogue. In addition, they needed to learn how to play defense when some rogue sent a shuriken flying right for their throat.
“Listen up you bone heads. Head your sorry asses down to the lower level. I have some targets set up. You will earn your keep this night and I am going to give you a few lessons on shuriken’s. It is a vital weapon of choice for my warriors. You need to learn how to carry them in your leathers, how to throw them with precision and speed, and how to aim for the kill. Now move!”
Alec’s warriors grumbled under their breath but headed down the stairs to the large open space where three targets had been set up. Two were standard bulls-eye targets and one was a life-size human target. Each target was placed about fifty feet apart. He wanted to see the warriors throw and evaluate their technique. Shuriken’s, or throwing stars, came in many shapes and sizes, and some were specifically designed with blades that opened while in the air mid-throw and could do great damage. These were Shade’s favorite. When thrown with vampire speed, the enemy never saw them coming. Shade asked Tomas to step forward and demonstrate the proper technique for throwing the stars. Once Tomas had shown them the basics, Shade stepped up and challenged Tomas to a little competition.
"Tomas, let us have a little battle of our own."
Tomas nodded his head and smiled, whipping out his shuriken’s as Shade did the same. Asking Tomas if he was ready, he nodded his consent and they both threw their weapons at their respective targets. Shade and Tomas watched the stainless steel, razor-sharp stars fly through the air, knowing both of them were taking it easy so the warriors could see how they held and threw them. Shade shouted, "Again!"
Nodding to Tomas, they both pulled more shuriken’s from their leathers and their boots, picking up the speed, holding nothing back this time. The warriors watched in silence. The only sound anyone could hear was the whistling speed of the blades as they flew through the air and the small thud when they hit the target. When they were done with their demonstration, the warriors gave up a cheer and Shade knew this display would pique their interest to learn this skill.
They progressed through the night, he and Tomas working one on one with each warrior, teaching the proper technique in holding and throwing the stars. Shade taught them points to target on the human outline target, emphasizing that when thrown with enough speed and accuracy, a star could sever arteries and kill their opponent.
After working with the group, he split them into two teams, one assigned to Tomas and the other he kept for himself. Shade decided they were going to take it to the streets. This was the ultimate test, a learning exercise in survival and awareness on the highest level. They’d pit one team of warriors against the other, the only instructions, to go for a strike but not a kill shot. Shade knew from his life as a warrior the best way to test a skill was on the streets when your ass was on the line and it was kill or be killed.
He and Tomas took their teams and headed in separate parts of downtown D.C., and then the hunt was on. He and Tomas had agreed there’d be no communication between them. They wanted the hunt to be as real as possible. The war was on and may the best team win. They hunted each other, and the only weapon allowed for the exercise was throwing stars.
Scouring the rooftops and then dropping down to street level, Shade took his group into their assigned grid and worked as a team; watching, stalking, feeling, and smelling anything they could find. Before long, Tomas' team was upon them. Shade’s team encircled them, flanking them from both sides until they were cornered in an alley with no outlet but up. The shuriken’s began to fly. Shade was impressed with how quickly some of them picked up the skill with just a single night of training. They were nothing but gypsy vampires looking for a buck and a place to be useful, and he had to not only teach them new skills but get them to work as a team.
The battle continued, and Shade had his opponent in sight. He felt him ready to pull his shuriken and aim straight at him, but Shade leaped well above them all and waited for the star to follow. Concentrating on the sound of it spinning, he was able to gauge that he was the ultimate target. He could hear the whistling getting closer, and he had no intention of returning fire, but showing this fucking young pup how to flip and avoid its deadly aim. Watch and learn.
Just as Shade spun into a backflip out of its path, another sound whistled through his brain. It was no shuriken, but something heavier and just as deadly. The arrow sped past his ear from behind him, blowing through his raven hair it was so close, and hit the shuriken midflight, knocking it off course.
Shade turned to see one of the warriors holding a crossbow. It was the mercenary known as Skelk. Skelk hired out wherever and to whoever would take him in. He nodded to Shade as he held up his crossbow. He had no fucking care that in the game they played tonight, shuriken’s were supposed to be the only weapon in use. Skelk would play by his own rules and show him the skill at which he already excelled. The precision with which Skelk used the crossbow impressed Shade. He earned his keep here, but he was strange, to say the least.
Skelk hated working ground level and stayed on the rooftops. He was the most anti-social fucker Shade had ever met, but he knew how to survive on the streets. Shade returned the nod and watched him fly over the rooft
ops and disappear. Shaking his head, Shade knew this was going to be a long road to bring this band of renegades into something he could work with. Each night he assessed their skills, their strengths, and weaknesses, taking into account what he could use them for and what they brought to the table. Tonight, Skelk made sure he was well aware of his value to this legion of Alec's warriors.
Shade’s biggest worry with mercenaries was that none of these bastards stayed any place for any amount of time. And if things really blew up, he’d have to pull in Medici Warriors. Alec had paid a high price to have him here, and Shade wasn’t going anywhere any time soon. Shade had plans of his own, and they included expansion of his territory here. Medici would roam and protect these streets at some point in the future and he was beginning to see that future much clearer now. It included a vibrant crimson-haired vixen, and her scent suddenly overwhelmed him with just the thought of her. It was time to head back to the Dead House, call it a good night’s work and head home, back to her.
34
Shade teleported to Bel Rosso with little time to spare before his death slumber took him. He sought out Kate but heard the familiar buzz of his cell. It was Luciano, saying Cory had returned after only one day and was ready to go to Florence. It was time Shade made a call to his Second-in-Command in Italy, his oldest friend and comrade, and his best warrior, Marco. He and Shade had grown up together in the camp, fought together, and as Shade was an only child, he loved Marco like a brother.
Marco ruled the warrior camp in Florence and was in charge of everything in Shade’s absence. They shared the same values and discipline as warriors, and when Shade needed advice, Marco was his go-to man. He wasn’t born Medici, but he might as well have been, in Shade’s mind. And right now, he needed to give Marco a heads up about Cory. He trusted no one else to get Cory settled into his new life, giving him some protection since he was a half-breed. Dialing up Marco from his cell, he knew Marco would be about ready to rise from his death slumber.
Marco answered. “Old man, your ass is missed here. What the fuck do you need?”
Laughing as he heard Marco’s voice, he ran his hand through his hair and then lit up a cigarette, and grinned from ear to ear. “I love you too, you old coot. Damn, it’s good to hear your voice. I got some news, so sit your rough ass down. Listen, fratello, I got a new one coming in. Luciano is bringing him over. He is American, real young. And he is no warrior.”
“Not a warrior? What in the hell am I supposed to do with his ass? Picked up another stray, I see. Cazzo, brother, how many times you going to send me strays to bust into shape?”
Shade took a deep breath and lowered his voice, knowing Marco would understand this was serious and must be handled with caution.
“His name is Cory. Frequented a club in California, he was a street-feeder there, sold his body and blood for money. Homeless kid, no coven, but he has talents. He has been abused, in more ways than one, Marco. I have contracted with him to make the leathers for the warriors, all custom design. He has mad skills with leather. Luciano has the complete list of supplies he will need and where I want him to be set up in the camp. And one more thing, fratello. He is a half-breed. Father was vamp, mother was mortal. Kid hasn’t had it easy. I want him off the streets and into a structured life. He is going to need protection. He has some vamp skills, but he is small and not strong, and you know he will take shit from the purebloods. He eats mortal food and drinks blood. Warriors are going to know soon enough. Hook him up with my boys Luca and Marcello. Get him settled in and acquainted. I want this kid to succeed, Marco.”
He heard Marco sigh loudly on the other end of the phone. “I fucking hear you, fratello. If Luciano knows what I need to do, it’s done, so relax, I got this. But, son of a bitch Shade, a half-breed? The vamps hate the half-breeds! Just once, you could give me an easy assignment. But I will make sure he gets settled, and Luca will look after him as well. You’re getting soft in your old age, picking up every stray pup.”
“Thanks, Marco. I’ll owe you one. And once Cory starts making their leathers, the warriors will accept him into the fold.”
Shade heard a long pause before Marco answered. “So, when were you planning on telling me the big news?”
Shade snubbed out his cigarette and sat up straight. Marco had heard the news about bel. Word of his mating was moving faster than he expected.
“So, you have heard. It’s true brother, I am mated. Don’t ask, I will explain as soon as I have some time to get over there, and you will meet her as I get things settled more here in the States. Just know one thing brother, I love her with my heart and soul. From the first glance, there was no going back. How is my boy Luca?”
“She must be some damn female if you fell that fast. Heard she was mortal, that should rile some Council ass, brother! But to answer your question, Luca is doing well. I am thinking of sending Marcello out to Siena to polish his leadership skills. Boy has a knack for it. He can get the warriors to move ass and take command. Thinking of putting him to the test, any ideas?”
Thoughts of Luca rolled through Shade’s mind. He had watched him grow into a warrior of merit and it made his heart fill with pride. “Sounds like a plan, keep an eye on him, he has a tendency to get a little wild with the females. Give him a post where he is more remote but has responsibility for a small group of warriors, test him there first and then move him on to bigger things. Don’t push him too fast, he will fuck it up, give him a fighting chance. He is going to be useful to us, fratello.”
Shade heard his bel stirring and needed to get back to her. “Bro, I got business to attend to, so take care of my boy Cory, keep me updated on the situation. Get to your post. I love your fucking old ass.”
He heard Marco’s laughter ring out loudly in his ear as Shade hung up the phone and went in search of bel. He’d only have a short time with her before his death slumber took him.
35
Returning from another night at the Dead House, he got home early. It had been an easy night training the warriors, nothing unusual. But Shade was restless, and it was all about one problem—his beast and Kate. The sex between them was hot and heavy and left him sated beyond comprehension. She filled his every need, but the beast was getting angrier about being held down. The sheer willpower it took to keep the beast under control was exhausting. The tension that hung over Shade was so thick he could cut it with a knife, the smallest thing could set off his temper without provocation, and that was very dangerous. He’d spoken to her many times about the darkness inside the beast and feared she’d be terrified if she ever saw him. He wasn’t sure his love for her would be enough to keep her from leaving him before he could get her turned.
Teleporting to Bel Rosso, he wasn’t ready to enter the house. She was waiting for him and he knew he had to settle himself in order to keep that black bastard at bay. Walking around the empty fields outside their home, things were always so quiet at this time of the morning. The sun was still below the horizon and he watched the house from a distance. He was thinking of all the things he’d already put her through and so much was still unknown to her. He sat down on a fence rail that was in great need of repair, running his hands through his hair and lit up a smoke. The fence railing gave slightly under his weight, the creaking of wood the only noise interrupting the early morning.
Looking solemnly at Bel Rosso, the outside of the house still needed some work, but the inside was taking great shape. She was fucking amazing, and he was beginning to wonder what in the hell he ever did before he met her. Memories of his dark past were fading fast, and that heinous existence was beginning to feel far behind. A soft light flickered on from their bedroom window and his eyes couldn’t stray from the silhouette of her standing there, staring out into the dark. His bel was waiting on him, and his beast sat up and growled. Shade stared at the moon and cursed the darkness that lived inside him.
His eyes drifted back to the window. He felt helpless against the demands of the beast, and when she was around
, he had less and less control. Yet, she held him like an angel and soothed the demons. He’d never met anyone who could hold him like that. He could feel her blood running through his veins. Her body called to him and he wanted to feel her beneath him. He picked up on her thoughts as she thought of him. She knew he was near. It was close to the time he usually got back every morning. She worried for him, and he’d yet to let her know the full extreme of his life as a warrior. He was aware she had a superficial understanding of what he did, but not the details of the death he dealt. He shielded her from that. She was his to protect and love, and nothing was going to keep him from her, not even the beast.
Jumping down from the fence railing, he knew the only thing that would calm him down and thrill him at the same time was standing in the window, waiting for him. He teleported directly into their bedroom, landing behind her as she still stood looking out the window.
“Ti amo, mi amore. Miss me?”
She startled at his voice behind her and quickly turned to greet him. "That was an unexpected entrance."
His restlessness dissipated instantly when he had her in his arms. But the nagging thoughts were still in the back of his mind. If he lost control of the beast, she would surely die. Shade vowed the beast wouldn’t take her from him. Her body was soft and warm in his embrace, and her lips tempted him, while the beast fought for release.
"Unexpected, but welcomed apparently!"
She ran her tongue from his collar bone, up his neck, across the course stubble to his jawline, before nipping hard on his chin. "Always welcome, lover. I missed you."
His body responded, and even as the beast fought, he’d never give up these moments with her. She deserved to be loved. Nuzzling into her neck, licking her vein, Shade pulled back. He needed to feed but the beast was so alive.