by Ginna Moran
I reach behind me and unclasp my bra, letting it drop between us. “It is fun, isn’t it?”
His eyes flash silver with my words, and he leans up and taps his finger to the navigation screen, sending the car lurching forward again. I don’t even have a chance to react as Jameson flips me off him and into the backseat on the pile of blankets. He sets the autopilot controls in what looks like an endless loop around the property and then maneuvers between the seats to join me.
“Is this okay?” he whispers, sinking his weight onto me, kneeling on the seat between my bent legs. “Our night is free to do what we want. We’ll still have time for me to take you where I wanted to.”
I want to ask him where, but the desire crossing his face locks my words in my throat. Because I don’t really care. All I want is to enjoy my time with Jameson and to show him how much his soul baring meant to me. No one has ever told me anything like that before. No one has cared about what I wanted or my happiness. Everyone in my life before meeting the Royale brothers consisted of people wanting to use me for what I was. Even my own family. Everyone except my dad.
“It could be better,” I say, tugging at his jeans.
His eyes flash silver. “You’re right.”
He kicks off his pants, setting them with my dress. I lift my hips, licking my lips, giving him silent permission to undress me completely. Shifting out a blanket from beneath us, he wraps it around us, though I doubt anyone could see us at the speed the car races. I can’t help smirking to myself that Everett would flip his shit if he knew that Jameson dared take off my seat restraints, let alone take his eyes off of our surroundings.
Jameson kisses me softly, trailing his hands over my breasts and down my stomach, mapping my skin with his fingers, memorizing my body by his touch alone. I do the same, tugging his boxers down until he manages to get them off in the small space. Wrapping my fingers around his erection, I play with him until he slips a finger inside me, making me gasp.
“This okay?” he whispers, moving his finger until a burst of tingles shoots from between my legs and through the rest of me, and I release a moan under the sensation. With his other hand, he traces circles on my clit, increasing my pleasure to such an intensity that all I can do is clutch the blanket.
I’ve never felt anything like what Jameson does to me, and I can’t stop moaning and saying his name. A dozen emotions explode through me—from lust to ecstasy to something new and strange, completely unfamiliar.
I squirm and curl my toes, arching my back, unable to lie still through the sensations he creates with his hands. Opening my eyes, I meet his green gaze, his lips curved in a smile like he’s enjoying this as much as I am.
“I want you so badly,” I whisper, trying to grab for him.
“Not until you cum for me,” he says, his fangs protruding from beneath his lips as he speaks.
I can only respond with another moan, the pressure of his finger inside me growing more intense. I don’t even know what’s happening to my body, but I can’t stop gasping and moaning, my eyes watering as my emotions overwhelm me.
I scream out with the most intense orgasm I’ve ever felt, my whole body clenching, something insane happening inside me like I can feel the pleasure throughout my whole body. Even my fingers tingle with something indescribable.
Jameson slows down and kisses me.
“That was intense,” I whisper through another gasp, my body still buzzing.
“I could tell,” he says, smiling. “You got me a bit wet. I fucking love it.”
I laugh and shake my head, not even sure what he means by his words. He doesn’t let the space stay between us long and meets my lips for a passionate kiss, exploring my tongue with his, teasing me with his tip without fully entering until I reach down and grab his hips, guiding him into me completely.
He releases the sexiest moan, bending into me while holding himself up with his hands. His reaction to our bodies coming together makes me kiss his throat and graze my teeth down to his shoulder. I nip him without breaking his skin, and he rocks harder into me, adjusting my legs up onto his shoulders.
The shift of my body lets him thrust deeper inside me, his movements building toe-curling sensations through me. Jameson whispers into my ear, telling me everything he loves about me and how perfect I am, how hot and fierce and smart I am. I’ve never felt so good about myself in my life. So beautiful and sexy and like he sees me how I always saw myself—someone deserving of everything the world has to offer. It’s why I’ve been fighting against the ridiculous laws set by Donor Life Corp. Why I was willing to put those in need of help before me.
Jameson props himself on one arm, his muscles flexing with his movements, and reaches under my back to pull me close to him. Our hearts race each other, bumping and crashing in out-of-control beats in an attempt to be as close as the rest of us.
Releasing a moan into my shoulder, Jameson grazes his fangs across my skin, the sudden sensation sending a wave of crashing desire through me. I nearly ask him to bite me, but he slows down, pressing his weight into me, and brushes his lips over my hot skin.
“I’m so crazy for you, Gwen,” he murmurs, leaning up to comb the hair from my forehead. “This was better than I imagined.”
“It was perfect,” I say, sliding my hands around his neck. “I loved sharing this moment with you. I’ve imagined it myself, too. I didn’t think it could be better, but it was. I’m so glad you’re mine, Jameson.”
He furrows his brows at my words and releases a deep growl, startling me. I lie in shock as he pulls himself off of me and reaches under the seat, yanking out a hidden dagger. My fear instincts ignite, stealing the warmth burning over my skin.
Something hits the car, crashing into the window.
Jameson stifles my scream with his hand, and we both jerk our attention to the front windshield. An unfamiliar vampire crouches on the hood, peering at us in the backseat. He flashes his fangs in a creepy-ass smile, and then he punches his fist to the glass, trying to shatter it.
Jameson scrambles to give me my clothes, ignoring the vampire trying to get into the car. “Hurry, Gwen. It’s resistant to weapons, but with enough continuous force, the douche can break it.”
A crack cuts through my heavy breathing.
The windshield shatters.
Chapter 9
Can’t Be Claimed
JAMESON RAMS HIS BLADE INTO the vampire’s neck. Blood cascades over the dash, but the vampire manages to shimmy into the car enough to turn off the autopilot. The car jerks, sending us fishtailing. Jameson punches the vampire so hard that he loses his grip and flies off and under the car.
I screech and slide across the seat, the out-of-control car spinning too fast for me to grab anything to brace myself with. Jameson holds onto the seat and leans forward, jabbing his finger on the navigation screen until the car activates the brakes. Smoke wafts through the air, the tires burning off their rubber from the sudden move. The force of skidding to a stop sends me slamming into the driver’s seat. The car comes to a halt, and Jameson cuts the engine and hops out to thrust the back door open to get to me.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!” Jameson’s voice echoes through the air as he leans in to look at me on the floor. He waves his hands in my face, his eyes flashing crazy silver. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him panic like this before. “Gwen, don’t move, okay? You’re hurt, and I don’t know to what extent.”
I blink a few times and touch my forehead, my skin stinging. Blood coats my fingers. I scrunch my nose and grab one of the blankets to press against the gash. I’ve seen head wounds gush blood on my brothers but the injury turns out not to be that bad. With the way Jameson looks at me, I’d think my head is about to fall off. I touch my neck next to be sure. “I-I’m okay. It’s just a cut. It doesn’t hurt too badly. I am a little dizzy from all the spinning though.”
He touches the blanket I use to try to staunch the blood. “I think it’s worse. You’re bleeding everywhere. Fuck. Please don’t die on
me, Gwen. Just hold on. Mikkalo will be here any second.”
I laugh. I can’t help it. “Jamie, relax. I’ve been injured worse. It’s not as bad as it looks.”
“But this shouldn’t have happened. Had I listened to Ev—”
Grabbing the front of his shirt, I yank him to me and stop him from spilling his guilt like the blood that drips down my face. Jameson sucks in a haggard breath and pulls back, cupping my cheeks to search my eyes to see if I’m lying to him about being okay.
“Please don’t kiss me again right now,” he murmurs. “This is never how I want to taste your blood, though it’s so fucking good.”
I raise my eyebrow with a smirk. “I’ll throat punch you if you even try to lick my face. Only I can be that savage, but you don’t have a single scratch to take care of with my mouth. Kind of rude, to be honest.”
Releasing a breathless laugh, he hugs me, lifting me from the floor and back onto the seat. “I’m so relieved to hear you joke around, even if you’re such a tease, Gigi. Letting all of that deliciousness go to waste.”
“You think I’m the tease? You’re the one standing there half-naked, sexy-as-hell, and haven’t even offered me a taste to help me heal quicker. Do you know how hungry you make me just standing there?” I snap my teeth at him, hoping the lightness of my voice chills him out.
Without hesitating, Jameson bites his arm and holds it out to me. “I’m fucking failing you all over the place. This should’ve been the first thing I did.”
“Hell yeah, it should’ve been. What the hell, Jameson? Is our girl okay? Are you?” Mikkalo’s voice sounds from outside the car. I hear the soft thuds of his footsteps as he approaches the car to peer at me underneath Jameson.
Jameson presses his arm to my mouth when I’m too slow to react to his offering, now distracted by Mikkalo’s arrival. Had he been Bronx or Everett, I’m nearly certain I would have had to get in the middle before they started a fight.
“Gigi says she’s fine, but I’m not sure if she’s just trying to stop me from flipping out,” he says, studying my gaze. “Look at all the blood.”
Mikkalo’s nostrils flare. “Our girl’s tough. If she says she’s okay, I believe her. She’s not as fragile as Everett thinks.”
They talk to each other like I’m not lying here, sucking Jameson’s arm. Before, I’d think they were rude, but now that I know how they feel about blood exchanges and how intimate it can be, I know Mikkalo’s purposely ignoring me to give us some fake privacy. Kind of like how Jameson tried his best to act like he didn’t find me and Bronx naked.
“I just—I fucked up. She should’ve never gotten hurt. Some asshole came out of nowhere and attacked the car. He managed to shatter the windshield and knock off the autopilot while...” Jameson’s voice trails off as he looks at me. “We were distracted. I was more concerned about other things.”
Mikkalo rubs his hand on the back of his neck. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t just admit that you took your eyes off your surroundings.”
“It was my fault,” I say, managing to pull my mouth from Jameson’s arm.
Mikkalo closes the space to me and reaches out to touch my cheek from over Jameson’s shoulder. “And that’s why I didn’t hear anything. I wouldn’t resist you, either.”
I grin at him. “Thanks, Mikkalo. You’re the best. And I’ll remember that.”
He meets my gaze. “Is that so?”
I don’t get a chance to respond to his playfulness. A beep comes from Mikkalo’s pocket, and he tugs out his com device. Frowning, he peers at the screen a moment before reaching into his jacket to pull out a dagger. I don’t even see the strange vampire approach until Mikkalo already shoves the blade into his chest and kicks him back.
He yanks the guy off the ground and spins him around, restraining him. “Is this the fucker who attacked you?”
Jameson pushes from the backseat to stand up to get a better look. “No. That guy is probably still bleeding out on the road back there. We hit him.” Grabbing the front of the guy’s shaggy hair, Jameson yanks it from the guy’s forehead, making him wince. The guy growls and snaps his fangs but doesn’t say anything. “No marks. Not an outcast.”
Mikkalo shoves the guy toward Jameson. Jameson easily snatches him and takes over restraining him. I can tell by how effortlessly they work together that they’ve done this before. Of course they have. Probably a whole bunch of times. They do deal with all of the problems in the region.
“Listen carefully. I’m going to give you one chance to give me answers,” Mikkalo says, his deep voice sending a chill through me. “What coven do you belong to?”
The vampire tightens his jaw without answering.
Mikkalo jams his dagger into the guy’s chest, making him holler.
“Okay, okay!” the guy wails. “I’ll talk. Don’t kill me.”
“What coven?” Mikkalo repeats.
“No coven you know of. I’m not an outcast either. Just unregistered,” the guy says.
I sit up on the backseat, and the guy’s gaze darts past Mikkalo to glance at me. A weird familiarity tugs at my mind, but I can’t place him anywhere. If the vampire is unregistered, he might be a blood source to Blood Rebels, maybe even the same ones who tried to take me.
Mikkalo punches him. “Look at her again, and I’ll cut your head off.”
“I’m sorry. I just—” The guy snaps his mouth shut and trains his gaze to the ground, though I know he still pays attention to me.
“You what?” I can’t stop my question from ringing through the air. Getting to my feet, I clutch the roof of the car to get my shit together. The gash on my forehead has already stopped bleeding, so I toss the bloody blanket onto the backseat.
Mikkalo turns his head to me. “I got this.”
I stroll closer. “No, I want to hear what he has to say.”
Jameson hooks his arm around the guy’s throat, gripping him tighter. He and Mikkalo both stiffen like they wish I’d stay back. But I don’t want to. This guy and whoever the hell the other dickhead was just interrupted one of the best moments of my life. And I’m pissed the fuck off. These damn blood sources have been nothing but a pain in my neck the last few years, trying to mess up my life. First Laredo and now this?
“Gigi,” Jameson says. “Whatever he has to say isn’t important. We need to know why he’s here.”
I step close to Mikkalo, and he automatically reaches to link his fingers through mine, stopping me from trying to move past him to meet the strangely familiar vampire straight on. I doubt I could get a foot within his reach even if I try, so I relent to Mikkalo’s need to protect me and stand on my tiptoes to glare at the guy from behind the sexy solid wall of protectiveness Mikkalo creates with his hard, muscular body.
“He’s here because of me,” I say to Mikkalo. “So, yeah. It’s important to know what he was thinking.”
Jameson shakes him. “Go on. Tell us. But I swear to the fucking universe if you say something to upset our girl, I’ll rip your head off.”
The guy continues to stare at the ground. “All I was going to say is that I can’t believe it’s her.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Mikkalo asks, aiming his dagger again. “Did Blood Rebels send you?”
Glancing up, the guy meets Mikkalo’s expression. “I’m here to collect the Gallagher descendants.” He didn’t answer the question.
“My brothers aren’t here.” My. Dumb. Mouth. I wish I could take back the words.
“I’m well aware of that,” he says.
Mikkalo punches him in the stomach, making him heave. “Don’t talk to her. And whatever you think you’re doing—it’s not happening. She’s ours.”
“You can’t claim someone who doesn’t belong to you.”
Oh shit.
Mikkalo roars and crashes into the guy, knocking him and Jameson into the dirt. Jameson grips the guy, holding him in place while Mikkalo punches him in the face until blood bursts from a split on his lip. I rush forward, and
Mikkalo hops up and spins around to lift me off my feet like holding me is the only thing stopping him from pulverizing this guy.
I clutch Mikkalo’s face. “Take a breath.” I motion for him to breathe with me, and a hint of the vampire’s blood trickles to me. And what the hell? It smells familiar, but I still can’t place him in my memory.
Jameson manages to launch back to his feet, still restraining the guy. “Let’s get one thing straight, asshole. Gwen does belong to us. She has willingly taken the Royale name. She is ours.”
The guy growls. “You can’t claim someone who doesn’t belong to you,” he repeats.
Jameson’s eyes flash silver, and he throws the guy to the ground and stomps his stomach so that he can’t fly to his feet. “Well, we’ve claimed her. She’s claimed us. Now, I’ll give you one more chance. Tell us where the Blood Rebels are, and we’ll consider letting you live.”
“They’re just outside the Bellamy Region,” he says.
“The old Bellamy Region doesn’t exist anymore,” Mikkalo says. “And I’ve heard enough, Jameson. End him. That’s an order.”
“Gwen!” the vampire yells, using my name for the first time. “You’ll never see Grayson again if they kill me. We’ve already collected him.”
I throw my hands out. “Jameson, wait.”
“He’s lying, Gwen,” Jameson says. “We have a lead, remember?”
“I can show you,” the guy says. “In my pocket.”
“Jamie, please. Just check. That’s all I’m asking.” My soft voice is enough to get him to relax his shoulders.
“You know if Grayson is with Blood Rebels what it means, right?” he asks me, glancing in my direction.
The guy tightens his jaw, flicking his attention to me for the second time. “He’s waiting for you, Gwen. He begged us to bring you to him. The elders want nothing more than to have you home.”
I blink a few times at his words. He’s lying. I know he is. I’ve been deemed a traitor to humanity. The elders don’t want me home. They want me dead. As for Grayson, he would go along with what the elders say just like Kyler.