Blood Lust

by Tricia Andersen

  Blood Lust

  The Gods of DC Series Book One

  Tricia Andersen

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Blood Lust (The Gods of DC Series One)

  Copyright © 2018 Tricia Andersen

  ISBN: 978-1538085271

  Edited by Wicked Muse Productions, Angie Stanton and Lisa Williams

  Cover design by Tricia Andersen

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  Special thanks to Angie Stanton, Lisa Williams and JMA. Without you, this book never would have been ready.

  This is dedicated to V.L. Locey and the ladies of Tuesday Tales.

  Your excitement for Ares made writing this incredibly fun.

  Love all of you!!

  This is also dedicated to Pixie. Love you girl!

  Chapter One

  The crowd that bustled around the arena floor unnerved Juliet. She gripped the hem of her tight, short skirt and tugged it down. She could feel her heart thunder in her chest as she studied the crowd. Men. Sexy, chiseled, virile men. She needed this. Yes, of course there was the occasional skimpy dressed bimbo clinging to them. They served their purpose when Juliet was in the mood. They were also easily disposable.

  As the lights lowered, those around her scurried to their seats. No one stood out to her yet. She fidgeted uneasily. She ached in a deep, ancient way. She hated it. It was a curse. There was no escape.

  The hot, brilliant spotlights above her lit up the chain link cage before her. This was the only place to sit at these fights. Right in the front row. She sat back as a smile spread across her lips. She had looked over to list of fighters. She knew nearly all of them. None of them had impressed her, drove her into the mad frenzy she desperately needed.

  But there were a couple of new names tonight. Even though no one in the crowd turned her head, something primal told her that her need would be sated.

  The announcer stepped into the steel structure and raised the microphone to his lips. “Ladies and gentlemen! Let’s get things started. Our first fight on the card tonight is a welterweight matchup. Fighting in the blue corner, a hometown boy you know and love, Reggie Austad.”

  Juliet focused on the curtained screens that separated the backstage from the arena. She had watched Reggie many times. There was even a time or two they got hot and heavy at the club. But he wasn’t the one. He couldn’t satisfy her needs. As the deep bass of the rap song shook the walls, he stood still for the officials to pat him down. After a quick hug for his corners, he hopped up the steps into the cage.

  “And in the red corner, a new face to this promotion but joining us with a seven and oh record, Romeo Lynch.”

  Juliet laughed to herself. He wasn’t the first Romeo she had encountered on her long journey during this lifetime. The reference to the classic tragedy wasn’t lost on her. But her amusement died when she laid eyes on him. He was sculpted like a Greek god. His hair was dark and thick. His arms and chest were covered in brilliant patterns etched into his skin. The sight of him made her whimper in delight. This was it. He was the one. That was if he survived the fight.

  Romeo completed the same ritual as Reggie had, then entered the cage. The announcer retreated from the mat, locking the chain link door behind him. The ref called the two men to the center of the mat.

  Juliet couldn’t tell what he said but listened intently. She couldn’t breathe as she waited anxiously for one word.

  “Fight!”

  The two men circled each other with gloves raised, stalking each other slowly. The crowd shouted their support but for who, it remained unclear. Finally, Reggie attacked with a flurry of punches. Romeo dodged them all, responding with a cross to the chin.

  They traded punches for nearly the entire first round. At some point, Reggie’s fist opened up a gash above Romeo’s eyebrow. A thin trail of crimson slithered down his face. Juliet swore she orgasmed at the sight of it. It was too much. She needed this. She was about to climb the cage herself for it.

  The round was nearly over when another well placed cross landed Reggie on his back. Romeo wasted no time descending on him, pounding on him as Reggie curled up in a ball on the mat to protect himself. Romeo climbed on his back, sliding his legs around Reggie’s hips to sink his hooks in. He yanked and wrenched at Reggie’s shoulders until he snaked an arm against his throat. As he fell back, he locked up the choke. Seconds later, Reggie tapped his arm.

  That was all Juliet could take. She sprung from her seat and fled the arena. She didn’t even wait to see Romeo get the victory. She ran the best she could in her heels out of the building and down the street. She didn’t stop until she was in the cool confines of the bar down the street. At that moment, it was empty. In a couple of hours, it would be wall to wall people. Prey. But not tonight.

  Tonight, she wanted just one man.

  She took her usual seat at the bar. Matt, the bartender, slid the wine glass of merlot in front of her. She thanked him with a smile. She drummed her ruby painted fingernails against the polished wood. Waiting would be torture. It would be agony. It would be...

  “Sam Adams, please.”

  Juliet turned her head towards the voice. She never heard the door open but she obviously wasn’t alone. Her heart lodged in her throat as Romeo smiled at her. He leaned against the bar now dressed in a tight fitting t-shirt and jeans. A butterfly bandage held the wound over his eye closed. His smile alone nearly sent her over the edge. She needed to keep her wits about her or she wouldn’t get what she so desperately needed from him.

  Matt shoved the bottle to Romeo then stalked off to the back.

  Juliet smiled coyly at the fighter. “Great job, tonight.”

  “You were there?” Romeo questioned before he took a swig of his beer.

  “Yes. Front row.”

  “And now you’re here.”

  “Yes I am.”

  “You didn’t stick around long.”

  “I’m waiting for someone important.”

  Romeo took another drink of beer before he spoke, “Who might that be?”

  Juliet slowly stood and crossed the bar to where he was standing. Her gaze locked with his as she wove her finger across his chest. She pressed her lips to his chin, grazing his flesh with her tongue. “You.”

  Romeo stood stone still for a long moment.

  Juliet cursed to herself. Was there another woman? Those guys were harder to break. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him set the bottle on the bar.

  The air was slammed out of her lungs as he pressed her against the bar and pinned her there with his body. He smothered her lips with his. His tongue searched for hers, as he tasted her.

  Screw blood. The taste of his beer set her on fire. She’d been with many men and she took what she wanted from them. She couldn’t understand what was different about this one. Everything about him made her want sex. Hot, passionate, unbridled sex.

  She felt his hand nudge the hem of her skirt higher and higher until the tips of his fingers brushed her panties. He shoved the fabric away and slipped a finger inside. She trembled as he stroked it in and out of her.

  Her voice broke as she spoke, “Should we go somewhere more private?”

  He chuckled. “Not yet.” He slipped another finger inside her. Juli
et clung to him as he dipped his mouth to her breasts and nipped. He latched onto the hard peak that popped up against the fabric.

  She looked up at the mirror. She found Matt watching them in the reflection. She couldn’t see where his hands were, but by the hard, determined look in his eyes, she could tell he was enjoying the show. She parted her legs so he could drive deeper.

  Romeo brushed her nub as he picked up the pace. That was all she needed. She cried out as she bucked hard against his hand, not stopping until the wave that blazed through her had cooled. It took several moments for her to refocus. Everything was a haze.

  “My hotel is right down the road,” Romeo whispered in her ear. “Shall we go?”

  Juliet nodded without a word.

  Romeo pulled his hand free from her. Reaching in his pocket with his other hand, he tossed a few bills on the bar then took her hand.

  Juliet clung to him as he led her from the bar down the few blocks to the hotel. She tried to focus. There were certain things she had to take away from this exchange. Her survival depended on it. But right now, all she desired was him, his body, his breath, his sex. Not having it would tear her apart. She was on the brink of insanity and she was slipping fast.

  As the elevator door closed to take them to his room, she pushed her body against him. She felt his cock hard against his jeans. Yet, he hardly responded. He kissed her. Each one was tantalizing. It was a drug she was quickly becoming addicted to. But that was it.

  She sprung the top button of his jeans.

  He pulled her hands free from it.

  “What the hell?” she protested.

  “All in good time. All in good time,” was all he would say.

  The long hallway to his room seemed to go on forever. Each step Juliet took was heavy. She stared at Romeo’s ass, wanting to bite it. What the hell was going on with her? She needed to shake loose of whatever spell he had on her.

  “This is it.”

  Juliet looked up to see him slip the card in the keylock and swipe. The click of the lock was music to her ears.

  He pushed the door open. “After you.”

  She stepped inside the room and looked around. It was nothing special, just a bed, couch and dresser with a television. The closed door must have been the bathroom.

  Her whole body jolted when he spoke. “Undress for me.”

  She turned and gaped at him. He couldn’t be serious. He was the prey and she was the predator. He had no idea what he was in for later tonight. But the objections in her head didn’t stop her hands from stripping the clothes from her body until she didn’t have a stitch on.

  “Beautiful,” he breathed as he tugged the shirt off over his head and tossed it on the floor. He pulled the zipper down on his jeans. Before he could shove them down, Juliet brushed his hands away and did it herself. His cock stood proudly against his belly. She dropped to her knees and gazed up at him. The hooded gaze he gave her melted her into the carpet. She wrapped her fingers around his erection and slid her grip up and down.

  He cursed as he threw his head back.

  She wrapped her mouth around him and sucked. She ran her tongue around the tip, lapping a drip of precum before she bobbed her head up and down. He wove his fingers into her hair as he groaned. She felt him buck, the tip hitting the back of her throat. Her eyes watered as he thrusted again and again.

  Suddenly, he pulled free. Letting her go, he pointed to the bed. “Lay down. On your back. I need to come.”

  She frowned at him. He couldn’t come in her mouth? She rose to her feet and spread out on the comforter. She barely settled on the mattress before he was on her. She gasped as his thick cock filled her. He sucked a pink nipple into his mouth, nibbling on the nub. She arched hard against him writhing as he drove deeper inside her. She cried out with each thrust. No lover she had was this big and she’d had thousands in her lifetime. He was going to split her in two.

  “You’re shaking,” he murmured in her ear.

  She’d been hoping he didn’t notice. Her whole body was quaking. She was on fire. Every bit of her ached. “Uh huh,” was all she could manage to get out.

  “Do you fear me?”

  Her mind went blank. Did she? The answer was a resounding yes. He was supposed to be just some amateur fighter. Easy pickings. Instead, she was his bitch. She swallowed hard.

  His strokes grew quicker as his jagged breathing echoed in her ears. “What do you want, baby?”

  “I want to come.”

  His hand slipped between their bodies. He pinched her nub between his fingers. “Come for me.”

  Juliet bucked hard as the fiery bliss tore violently through her. She cried out at the sweet release. She heard him roar as he swelled inside her. He filled her, the warm rush sending another quake through her.

  As she settled from her orgasm, her gaze focused on his neck. It was there. His jugular. Her mission. It was so close. He dropped his head to her shoulder as he panted hard. She could feel his cock twitch inside her. It made her whimper. She buried her hand in his thick hair and turned her head to him. She opened her lips. Her fangs scraped his skin.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  Juliet lifted her head, meeting Romeo’s dark stare. His glare terrified her. She couldn’t speak.

  “You don’t think you’re going to fuck me then drain me dry, do you? I know what you are. Got to admit. You’re my first vampire. Not bad.”

  It took a moment for Juliet to find her voice. “Who are you? What are you?”

  He arched his hips, filling her deeper. He was still hard. She moaned as another wave washed over her. She was going to die having sex with him. And she couldn’t die. He couldn’t be human.

  “You thought I looked like a Greek god, huh? Well, you have no idea how right you are.”

  “God? You’re a god?”

  He buried himself deeper, harder, faster. He grunted with each stroke. “Oh, baby. Yes, I am. My real name is Ares. Sorry to spoil your little romantic fantasy. You can call me Romeo if you really want.”

  “The god of war.”

  “Yes. It might not have been much of a battle but I’m certainly going to claim my spoils. I’m not about to let you go. You’re mine now. I need someone who can keep up with my appetite. And your lust for blood.” He groaned as he feasted on the curve of her neck.

  Juliet cried out again as she felt him throb inside her. All she could do was surrender to him. He knew her thoughts. He commanded her body like it was his weapon. She was an eternal, dominant predator. And she was no match for him.

  As she succumbed to his pleasure, she gave herself to him. He was still her prey. Maybe she couldn’t drain his blood for her survival but he offered her so much more. She wanted him. She wanted his body, his lust, his everything.

  It was going to be a long night. As he feasted on a peaked nipple, she was already dreading leaving him before the sun rose.

  * * * *

  Juliet felt the ache resonate through her body before her senses came to her. It had been a long time since sex left her hurting. It wasn’t that Ares was rough with her. On the contrary, he was the most gentle and tender lover she ever had in the few centuries she walked this cursed planet. But they went all night with very few moments to rest. It had to be just before dawn when she fell asleep on his shoulder.

  She clenched her eyes closed tight. Ares. The Greek god of war. She thought she had lined up another victim to feast on. The fighter she chose was quite a specimen for a mortal man. Except he wasn’t a man. He was a god. A fucking Greek god. Fabulous.

  She let out a tiny moan at the feel of silk against her naked skin. She didn’t remember this from the hotel bed the night before. Had the sex made her that delirious? She didn’t think so. She yawned as she slowly fluttered her eyes open.

  Above her was the bluest skin she’d ever seen. It was peppered with white, fluffy, cotton ball like clouds. The stream of sunshine warmed her. Memories of her past life, of days in the French court
filled her mind. It felt peaceful.

  Her heart slammed into her throat then pounded uncontrollably. She whimpered. Sunlight meant death. That son of a bitch knew she was a vampire. He left her out in the sunlight to die. She trembled violently as she frowned. As high up as it was, she should have already been dead. Where the hell was she? She searched around her frantically.

  “Good morning, sleepyhead.”

  Juliet searched around her as she tugged the blood red silk sheet to her naked body. There might have been a clear, blue sky above her but the walls were rock. It took a few moments to take everything in. Finally, her gaze stopped on Ares staring down from the ledge above her. She groaned as she slowly calmed down. The image of him dressed in tight fitting jeans and a nineties band t-shirt set loose the lust in her again.

  Juliet bit her lip. “Where am I?” She pointed to the ceiling. “And what is that?”

  Ares studied her then descended the stone staircase from above. “The sun was just about to come up. I didn’t figure you’d want to stick around until it did. Here, you’re safe. It’s a little past noon right now and look, you’re still here and kicking.” He looked up at the ceiling. “And that is an illusion. I’m a god. I thought I would do something nice for you. It’s probably been awhile since you’ve seen a summer sky.”

  “Just before the French Revolution.”

  “So you’re French. Nice.”

  “Why did you bring me here?”

  Ares stopped at the foot of the large, round bed she was lying in and crossed his arms over his broad chest. “I told you. The sun was coming up.”

  She cocked her head to the side, letting her ebony curls fall down her bare shoulder. “You could have sent me back to my place. Or just let me burn to ashes at sun up. Try again.”

  He smirked at her. “I told you. You belong to me. You are mine. No mortal can fuck me like you did. Besides, we share the same staple to our existence. Blood. You drink it. I shed it.”