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caressing hands. “He is a shifter and will never understand the magnetism between
two vampires. Your hunger goes deeper than the need for a natural feed. I feel it
and it compels me to give you the very essence of my being.”
Rayne looped her finger beneath the sheer material and pulled on it to
expose one of her full round breasts. So plump and juicy. She palmed the soft flesh
and brushed the pad of her thumb over the taupe erect nipple. Mia sharply sucked
air through her teeth and hugged Rayne closer to her body.
“Oh, so ya"ll gonna just ignore me, huh?” Maurisio growled. “Mia, if she bites
you, I swear to God…!”
“I have never willingly offered my blood to anyone,” Mia whispered, grazing
her fingers along Rayne"s hairline. “And I"ve only desired to be bitten by Demetri,
but now, I offer to you my all. My body and blood. Tome de mí. Show me what it"s
like to be kissed with passion.” A gentle prick of her fang caused a small scarlet
bubble to rise up from the center of her tongue.
With a faint cry, Rayne attacked her mouth. Bitter, sweet nectar coated her
tongue and heightened her taste buds. Immediately, the lightheadedness fell away
from her. She deepened the kiss to absorb more of the taste, then just like that, the
sweetness was snatched away.
Through the hazy fog of lust, she watched Maurisio zip Mia across the
room, out of her reach.
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He turned to face her with his forearm over Mia"s throat. Mia struggled and
writhed in his grasp. His eyes were slits, irises lined in gold and his canines out in
full force.
“I"m trying to keep Katsumi"s blade from slicing through my goddamn
throat, and ya"ll are not helping,” he gnarled. “Now, I will say this one more time
for the sake of my life and sanity. Make the drink and stop playing with my
fucking emotions!” He released Mia and shoved her toward the bar.
Hissing, Mia whipped around and glared at him. “You are so over dramatic!
Dios mío! I"ll be glad when your wife returns from Paris.” She cut a glare at him as
she headed to the bar. “You are out of control when she"s away.”
“I"m out of control? I"m not the one serving up titty for dinner!”
“Oh hush. Why did you wake me if you were going to chastise me for
something I have no control over? You just wait…when Olivia gets back―”
“Just make the drink, goddammit!”
Olivia.
While they quarreled like an old married couple, the French woman"s face
came to her mind. “Olivia…” Rayne whispered, blinking rapidly. “Dark brown hair,
golden eyes… She"s your wife, right? And your maker. The female alpha of the
Chalvaiz clan,” she rambled off under her breath. “Sorry I"m blabbing. Ever since
me and Demetri—I dunno, I pull info from people without trying.”
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“No. You didn"t get that knowledge from my mind. I"m on lock, darling.”
Tapping his temple, he strolled over to his desk. “I would"ve known if you"d
slipped past my barrier to read my thoughts.” He flopped into the chair. “That"s
the blood memories.”
“Blood memories?”
“You picked up Demetri"s memories through his blood.” Mia sauntered
across the office like a floating goddess and slammed a glass of scotch on the desk.
The deep amber liquid splattered onto his shirt.
“Thank you,” he grunted, snatching the glass from the desk. “Bitch.”
“Don"t be surprised if you pick up on my memories also. I"m sure they"re not
as exciting as Demetri"s. My past is somewhat dull. Here, this should sate your
hunger until nightfall. One part Navan and two parts of yours truly,” she stated,
handing Rayne a glass full of a deep crimson liquid. “Even the smallest drop could
give you visions of a person"s whole life. The blood also keeps you connected to
him, and now me. No matter where we are, you will feel us.”
When Mia daintily lowered into the seat next to her, Rayne reached over,
looped her finger around the rosary beads and pulled it from her bosom. There,
hanging at the end of the beautiful pearls, was a small diamond cross.
“A cross? Well, that"s another vampire myth shattered.”
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Like a movie playing in fast forward, Mia"s life flitted across her mind.
Spellbound by the dark figure, Mia left the safe sanctuary of the church and found
herself wrapped in the dark lust of a master vampire. In a matter of minutes, she"d
been abducted and turned into a night walker; never see the light of day again.
“Oh, now I see. You were a nun,” Rayne whispered, twirling her fingers
around the pearls. “God is still with you, even though you"re a vampire?”
The sadness in Mia"s eyes wrenched her heart. “Si, he never leaves you. You
can only leave him.”
“But how? I thought all vampires are…damned, per say.”
“Yes, but when you hold God dear to your heart, live your life under his
glory, your relationship with him never dies. Even now, I feel him all around me,
within my dead heart. Some think of me as delusional.” Mia paused and offered a
pleasant smile. “Night demon or not, I know he still loves me.”
“You haven"t lost a bit of your faith. Even after some nasty vampire stole
your life from you.” Shaking her head, Rayne stared at her in disbelief. “I"m gonna
need for you to pass some that faith this way, „cause I"m…I"m drowning here,” she
finished on a sad chuckle.
“I have plenty faith to give.” Mia took her hand and kissed it. “My human life
had not been without pain and my life in death has not been without blessings.
Here with Maurisio, I hang onto my morality and humanity. It"s not the same as
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living life under the Divine, but I don"t complain because this is the life he has
granted me. I give all of my thanks to God for giving Demetri the power to rescue
me and bring me here. He was supposed to take my head, after slaying my maker,
but he didn"t. He saw the light in my heart.”
Mia flipped her hair back from her face and dabbed at a blood tear that
threaten to drip out of the corner of her eye. “Rayne, I"m not sure what your
purpose is, but you have been given the ability to walk in daylight for a reason.
Don"t you dare think because vampirism flows through your veins you are created
to serve Satan. He does not own you,” she uttered with a voice of passion.
“Remember that when he comes to you, eager to claim your soul.”
“I don"t think you have to worry „bout that,” Maurisio interjected on a heavy
exhale, followed by a cloud of smoke. “Last time I checked, the devil doesn"t
meddle with the white light, but then again…” He quaffed the scotch in one big
gulp before offering her a devilish grin. “You"ve gotten mighty cozy with my
brother and he"s the devil"s running mate, so to speak. But don"t take my word for
it. That"s just what I"ve heard.”
“What you"ve heard? He"s your brother,” Rayne settled back, crossed her
legs and took a healthy sip of her blood laced vanilla cognac while Mia played in
her hair. “I mean, you should know more about him than anyone else.”
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“I do, bu
t I can"t say I know everything about him. Before he was turned,
yeah…now, I"m not so sure. You see a Xsonri is the most unpredictable creature
ever created. What you get one night might not necessarily be the same thing you
get the next night, which is why I want you to be careful.”
Mia nodded in agreement.
“He"s smooth and convincing without a doubt, but once he flips the script…”
“Flip the script, huh? You"re one to talk, wolf man.”
“Touché,” he chuckled, wagging his blunt at her. “Yeah, we may be a little
psychotic, but you"re far more frightening than both of us put together, girl.”
Rayne rolled her eyes and murmured, “I don"t think so.”
“Ha! You cracked my fucking dance floor leaping at Armando like a wild ass
cat and that"s only a sample of how dangerous you are. I feel what my brother
poured into you, and frankly, it"s got me a little concerned. He practically tried to
give you his whole damn life force and probably would have if he could"ve.
Understand, Demetri"s on top of the food chain. No one charms him, and the last
person before you who got a taste of his blood was his maker.”
“Naw, there was no charming going on,” she argued. “We just have…a super
strong connection with each another.”
“Strong connection. I bet.” Grinning impishly, he rocked back and forth in
his chair. “This is very interesting to me. My brother hasn"t courted a woman in
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over three hundred years, and yet you come along with your sexy chocolate ass,
and receive what some female vamps have killed to get, his blood and his heart.
That must be some sweet ass you got on you,” he teased with laughing eyes. “It
damn sure smells sweet. Did you pop it and roll it for him like you do in your
videos?” He jerked in his chair, mimicking her dance moves. “C"mon do it for me
real quick.”
“Maurisio!” Mia exclaimed. “Stop it!”
“Oh girl, you have me about to bust all over myself when I watch you.
Especially that one video—what"s it called? Body Language? That joint right there,
whaat―I don"t care where I am, if I even hear that song, I"m putting my dick in
somebody.”
Nibbling on her tongue ring, Rayne held back the need to burst into
laughter. As mannish as he was, she couldn"t get mad at him. Aside from his
roguish charm, he was a straight shooter and wasn"t afraid to speak his mind. The
type of man you either loved or hated.
She took a gulp of her drink without taking her laughing eyes from his. “I
can"t believe you"re Demetri"s brother. You are crazy, for real. Off the damn chain,
literally.”
“And you don"t think he is too? He"s worse than me! The only difference
between us is, he hides his crazy and I don"t.”
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She giggled then fell silent. As she briefly closed her eyes, images of the
dream she had came forth. “You said I have his memories…”
His eyes glazed over in sorrow, like he knew what she was about to say.
“I had a dream about…” She tried to blink away the tears that surfaced with
the memorable pain. “Your mother—God, I don"t even know how to ask this.” She
couldn"t hold it back. Tears fell unrestrained. Mia leaned over and wrapped her
arms around her. “What happened that night, Maurisio?”
Slowly, he took the blunt from his mouth, placed it in the ashtray and
stroked his goatee. “Rayne, I can"t…” Wetting his lips, he raked his fingers through
his hair then glanced up. “Damn girl, you know how to blow my high. That"s one
day I"m still not strong enough to discuss. You"d think after all this time—naw,
you can"t get it from me. And don"t even mention it to Demetri. He gets—just don"t
say anything about it, „kay.” The pain in his voice scarred her heart. “If you have to
know, ask my wife when you meet her. She"s the only one who can talk about it
without having a nervous fucking breakdown.”
He paused and dipped his head. For the longest time no one said a word.
Only the sound of Bob Marley"s voice filtered through the air.
“That day is the reason why Demetri is the way he is, and that"s all I"m
gonna tell you „bout that.” Sighing, he flipped his hair from his shoulders. “So, I
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suppose you want me to tell you where Demetri sleeps during the day, where he
lives.”
She wiped at her eyes, glanced at Mia then looked at him. “Yeah, I mean, I
would"ve asked him this morning, but the sun—do you think I"m being too—”
“Hasty? Yes, but I wouldn"t give it to you if I didn"t think he wanted you to
have it.” Leaning forward, he quickly jotted something down on a piece of paper.
“For this, I want you to do me a favor.”
Rayne folded her arms and pursed her lips. “If it requires me doing any of the
nasty images you"re sending my way, then that"s a negative, playa.”
Mia giggled and Maurisio erupted in laughter. “Had to try.”
He casually lifted his hand and a small gust of wind shuffled the papers on
his desk then blew the piece of paper across the office right into her hand.
“Wow,” she muttered, staring at him wide eyed. “You got it like that?”
Chuckling, he leaned back and placed his feet up on the desk. “You don"t
know the half of it, sweetheart. Maybe I"ll show you one day.”
She finished the last of her drink, gently set it on the glass cocktail table and
stood. “Looking forward to it. Thanks for the drink.” She glanced at the address,
folded it then stuck it in her pocket. “And uh, again, I"m sorry about that, uh, lil"
thing that went down in the club. Could you not tell Demetri „bout that?”
He stood. “My lips are sealed. But about Demetri and my favor…”
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“Why do I get the feeling like this is gonna be something I don"t wanna
hear?”
“Because it"s not,” he sighed. “I gave you the address „cause I know my
brother would kick my ass if I didn"t give it to you, but I have to ask you not to go
see him after you leave here.”
“You serious? I went through all this mess to get here, got violated by some
deranged wolf boy and you"re asking me not to go to him?”
She could feel Demetri all around her, his presence, and could sense he was
several miles from where she stood, but she couldn"t pinpoint his exact location
like Imrie said she could, and that alone irritated the hell out of her. Knowing he
was close, but out of her reach increased her need for him.
Rayne shook her head. “I"m sorry, but…I can"t do that. I need to see him,
Maurisio.”
“Let me get this, papi,” Mia interjected. “Because you"re new to this, you
should give it time to settle in. Demetri"s blood gives this dark life meaning. Créame,
I know. But when you leave this place, a dose of human reality is going to hit you
hard and you might lose it a little bit.”
Rayne huffed. “Listen Mia, I appreciate you trying to explain things to me,
but I"m not in the mind set to get lectured right now. I just need him. Easy fix to
my problem.”
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“Mami, I understand what you"re going through, and it"s hard, but you have
to listen to us. He"s in a
state of slumber and he needs to stay until nightfall. He
expended a lot of energy when he shared his life force with you. If you go to him
now, you will awaken his hunger for blood and I know you don"t understand the
difference yet—”
“I understand the difference just fine,” she snapped in aggravation. “D
explained it to me.”
“He didn"t explain this to you. A Xsonri"s blood lust is like thirty new
vampires out on the hunt. It"s intense and unstoppable. And I hate to say it, but he
will most likely start with you, and kill you in a fit of passion.”
Rayne slapped her hand over her chest and leered at her in disbelief.
“OhmyGod! What?”
“Ask yourself this, why didn"t he take you with him this morning, after
everything you two shared?” Maurisio pointed out. “„Cause he didn"t want to wake
up with that urge, and feed on you, that"s why.”
“This is true,” Mia conceded. “You will feel this same lust when you take
your full shift as a Xsonri and only then will you understand.”
“Naw, I don"t think I wanna understand that part.”
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“Just to clear this up, we"re not saying he would want to kill you, Rayne,”
Maurisio added in a calming voice. “He just wouldn"t have a choice. He has to feed
that demon inside.”
“When he"s asleep, he can control it. Go home and wait for him. Créame, he
will come to you at nightfall. If you need to connect with him before then, close
your eyes and call his name. Talk to him. He"ll hear you, but keep it brief because
he may suffer the sun to come to your side.”
The doors to the elevator separated. In walked a woman with long sandy
blonde hair and the eyes of a fox. She was decked out in a fitted chuffer"s uniform.
Her cleavage protruded from the low neckline. Maurisio swaggered over to her
and slapped her ass. The woman yelped like a frightened dog then giggled
playfully.
“This is Candy. She"ll take you anywhere you wanna go…”
Candy reached into her pocket and handed him something.
“Except to my brother"s house, of course.” He sauntered over to Rayne with
his arm extended. “I think these are yours.”
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