“Nathan, are you okay?” She asked when she noticed the shift in his eyes.
“No,” he responded and turned from her. “Get out of the shower, Gina.”
“Why?”
“Just get out,” he said sternly.
“Not until you tell me why,” she told him. She would not be bossed around by this vampire.
“Because if you don’t, I’m going to violate my oath as an agent, and drink from you weather you say I can or not,” he admitted, and she sucked in a breath.
“And if I say you can?” She asked, still not backing down.
“Are you?” He asked and turned to face her. “Are you giving me permission to drink from your vein?”
“You were injured badly, and blood will help you heal faster,” she said and took a step toward him. When she tilted her head, he pulled her roughly against him.
“I need you to say the words,” he told her through clenched teeth.
“Nathan, drink from me and heal,” she told him, and without another thought, he struck.
Chapter Nine
When the taste of Gina’s blood hit his tongue, he groaned and pressed her into the wall of the shower. Her scent had affected him like none other, but the taste of her warm blood filling him made him dizzy.
“Oh, God,” she breathed out as his erection pressed into her stomach.
He wanted her more than he wanted anything else right now, but he wouldn’t take anything she wasn’t freely offering.
Releasing his bite, he closed the mark and rested his head in the hollow of her neck. Her body was vibrating as much as his was.
“Nathan,” she said, breathlessly.
He raised his head to look into her eyes, and everything he was feeling was reflected there.
“I want you beneath me,” he whispered gruffly.
“Yes,” she breathed nearly silently.
Needing no more encouragement, he lifted her into his arms, ignoring the pain in his shoulder as the last of the bones knitted back together, and carried her from the shower. Setting her on her feet, he quickly removed what clothing was between them, and picked her up once more.
“Nathan,” she breathed out again when the head of his cock pressed against her. She was more than ready to have him inside her.
“Gina,” he responded and laid her on the bed. “Tell me to stop and I will.”
“No,” she said and reached for him.
Growling softly, he joined her on the bed. He wanted to take his time with her, to savor her, but he was too close to snapping for that, this time.
Growling again, he pinned her beneath his body and captured her mouth with his. The kiss was searing, and the flames within him leaped. He was burning for her, and he knew that being inside her was the only way to stifle the flames.
Shifting so he could touch her, he slid a hand down and cupped her breast as he broke the kiss and looked into her eyes.
The heat in his eyes nearly made her orgasm.
“I wanted to take my time with you,” he said through clenched teeth, and she shook her head at him.
“Next time,” she breathed and shifted under him until the head of his cock aligned with her wet opening.
His control snapped further as he raised his hips and thrust into her.
She closed around him, and he nearly came at the feel of her surrounding him.
“Fuck,” he breathed as she raised her hips and took him deeper inside.
“Yes,” she responded before pressing her lips into the curve of his neck.
The feel of her lips on his neck, of her hands on his back, made him growl again as he pulled out of her and slammed back in hard.
Sliding his hands under her ass, he raised her hips off the bed and leaned off her a little so he could look at her. Her bronze skin was flushed, and her breathing was coming in pants as he drove into her again.
“Fuck, Gina,” he ground out as he reached between them and found her clit. When his thumb pressed against it, he slammed into her. Her cries echoed around the room as her sheath gripped him. It was all he could do to not come right then.
“Nathan!” she cried out as the first orgasm lead into a second.
When her short nails dug into his shoulders, he bent his head and sank his fangs into the tender flesh of her breast before spilling his seed deep inside her.
“Oh, God,” she cried out and followed him over the edge.
He released her breast, and went to close his mark, but she laid her hand on his head.
“Leave it,” she told him, and he looked at her in confusion. “No one but us will know it’s there, and I want you to leave it.”
“Are you sure?” He asked, but the thought of his mark permanently on her made him grow hard again.
“Yes,” she breathed then raised her hips and ground against him.
When he started moving inside her again, she moaned and met him thrust for thrust.
“Nathan!” she cried out as she exploded around him again and dug her nails into his back.
“Don’t hold back,” he told her gruffly.
“Nathan!” she cried out again when his lips pressed against her neck.
He wanted to bite her again, but he’d taken more of her blood than he’d intended already, and would not risk weakening her.
“Come for me, Gina,” he whispered in her ear, and she could hear the strain in his voice.
When she exploded around him again, he let himself follow her.
****
“Gina,” Baxter said as everyone loaded into the vehicles. They had cleaned up from the fight, and were getting back on the road, but he needed to make sure she was okay.
“Yes?” She asked as she looked up and smiled at him.
“Will you ride with me again?”
“I would love to.”
“Thank you,” he said, and she caught something in his voice that worried her.
“Are you okay?” She asked as she laid a hand on his arm.
“More than,” he responded and smiled at her.
“Nathan,” she said and laid her other hand on his cheek. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know,” he finally admitted. “After this morning, after tasting you, I feel different. I can’t really explain it, but I know I need to talk to the Senate about some things.”
“I’m not upset with you for keeping it from me anymore,” she told him.
“What I said when you had that dagger to my heart was true. I did a lot of things when I was with my creator that I wish I could take back. Times were different then, and so was I. I am not the man I was then,” he told her. “This morning when I saw you fighting those vampire, I knew in an instant that I could be that man again if something were to happen to you.”
“Nathan,” she said softly and slid her hand down his cheek. “I’m fine. You were the one who was injured.”
“I can’t help but worry about you. After everything that happened with your grandmother…” he started then trailed off.
“I know we have more we need to discuss, but it can wait until we’re in California. Right now, though, we have to get on the road. Whomever sent those vampire may send more when they don’t return.”
“Yeah,” he said and turned his face so he could kiss her palm.
“We will talk about everything once we’re at the compound,” she told him and thought about Zora. Maybe she should tell him about her daughter before they got there.
“Yes,” he said and kissed her palm again. “Including whatever you’re keeping from me.”
“Nathan,” she said and looked away from him.
“Gina, it’s okay. What I kept from you, what I still need to tell you, far outweighs anything you could be keeping from me.”
“I have a daughter,” she blurted out.
“I know,” he told her. “I’ve known since before she was born.”
“What? How?”
“Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” she answered immediately.
>
“Then trust that I will tell you everything once we’re in California.”
“Okay,” she said, then pulled away from him. “We need to get going.”
“Yeah,” he said and shook his head. He should have told her everything when he first started working with the Huntresses. Now, he’d have to tell her everything, and hope she could look beyond his past so they could have a future.
Chapter Ten
Two days later, Baxter was walking around the largest undeveloped area he’d seen in a very long time. The Huntress compound was set up like a small town within a wooded area beside a lake. He was just pulling out his phone to check in on Jensen when it rang.
Seeing Jensen’s number, he sighed and answered immediately. “What the fuck is going on down there?”
“Watson and Cook are inside the house with Booker and about two dozen other vampire,” Jensen answered.
“Is their cover good?” He asked, knowing Watson was more than capable, but not sure what Cook could handle yet.
“It is,” Jensen answered. “Watson is playing the clueless teen and Cook is her boyfriend. They just relocated here from Atlanta after a little trouble, and I already have Woods creating that trouble just in case they check it out.”
“Good,” Baxter said and sighed. “We’ve made it to the Huntress compound, and are getting the Huntresses up to speed on what’s been going on. They’re going to help with the search for Caia.”
“I should be there helping with that,” Jensen said, and he could hear the stress in his voice. “There’s something Johnson isn’t telling us, and I’m afraid it’s going to get us all killed.”
“I need you there, Zyan,” Baxter said, but he knew what Jensen was dealing with. “And I know he’s keeping something from us. Just watch each other’s backs and bring him in when this is over.”
“I will,” Jensen responded. “Watson and Cook are coming back out. I’ll check in again later, and boss, call me if there’s any word on Caia.”
“I will,” Baxter responded and ended the call just as Watson and Cook reached Jensen.
“Everything okay?” Karma asked from behind him.
“I don’t know,” he answered and ran his hand through his hair. “Johnson is keeping something from us. Something that could get people killed.”
“Johnson would never do anything to get a Huntress or another agent killed,” Karma told him. “Not intentionally, anyway. He’s a good vampire, and an awesome agent. Don’t forget that.”
“I know, but I also know what the bond can do, and if Maggie is in danger, he could be unpredictable.”
“Just as I would be if Dylan were in danger, or you would be if Gina were in danger.”
“Yeah, but the difference there is, Dylan and Gina are both trained killers.”
“And Ashtyn is working with Maggie as we speak. She called Nevaeh earlier and got permission to train Maggie.”
“I don’t know if that’ll make things better or worse,” Baxter commented and ran his hand through his hair again. “I guess all we can do for now is get things here packed up and start our search for Caia.”
“For now, I think you should talk to Gina and get all your shit worked out,” Nevaeh said from behind him. “Her house is by the lake. It’s blue, and she just went there with Zora.”
“I should give them time to catch up,” he said, but his eyes sought the house she was talking about.
“Zora is a Huntresses' kid and is used to Gina being away,” Nevaeh reminded him. “And I’m sure Gina wants you two to meet.”
“There are things I need to tell Gina about,” Baxter told them both. “Things that may make her turn away from me. I don’t think meeting her daughter is a good idea until after we’ve talked. I also need to discuss something with the Senate.”
“Why don’t you talk to the Senate first then?” Karma asked.
“Yeah,” Baxter said and looked toward where the Senate members were talking amongst themselves. “I’ll do that, then help with whatever needs to be done tonight. I’ll talk to Gina tomorrow after she’s had time with her daughter.”
“If that’s what you think is best,” Nevaeh said and shrugged. “Personally, though, I think you should talk to the Senate, then go talk to Gina. We’re going to be here for a few days while we try to find a lead on Caia, so there will be plenty of time to get everything packed up that hasn’t already been packed up.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he responded then looked at the Senate again. “I’ll go talk to them, then see what happens.”
“Okay,” Harrison said and looked at Nevaeh. He knew what Baxter was going through, and felt nothing but sympathy for the younger vampire.
“Hope you get your answers,” Karma told him, then turned and walked away. Dylan followed her, and Harrison and Nevaeh fell in behind them.
Once he was alone, he inhaled deeply and walked to the Senate members.
“How can we help you, young Baxter?” Ramsey asked when Baxter stopped beside him.
“I have a few questions,” Baxter said and looked from one Senate member to the next before looking back at Ramsey.
“Ask away,” Eduardo urged.
“A few years after I was turned, I tasted the blood of someone, and it changed who I was. I was never able to leave her for long, but I refused to bring her into my world, so I watched her, and protected her the best I could. When I learned about the copula bond, I assumed she was mine, and that I had lost her forever because she’d been killed a few years after I tasted her. Before she was killed, she had a daughter. I watched over and protected her daughter, and when she had a daughter, I watched over and protected her, too,” Baxter told them.
“The daughter of your coupla’s daughter is Gina,” Ramsey said and smiled. “It all makes sense now.”
“What does?” Baxter asked. “Because none of this makes sense to me.”
“You recognize her as your copula because she shares the DNA of the woman you drank from many years ago. She was born after your copula passed, correct?” Ramsey asked and his smile grew when Baxter nodded. “Transference. Some believe that when someone passes and their work in this life isn’t finished, their spirit lingers until a babe is born within their bloodline. When the babe takes its first breath, the spirit enters their body, and the babe takes on the task they left unfinished.”
“So, you’re saying that when Indigo was killed, her spirit lingered until Gina was born?”
“Yes,” Eduardo responded.
“Was Indigo my copula, or is Gina?”
“Both,” Constance answered his question. “Indigo was your copula while she was alive. Upon Gina’s birth, your bond with her transferred to Gina. Had you and Gina never met, your bond with Indigo would have died, but since you have, your soul recognized hers and the bond reformed.”
“It’s simple, really,” Aleyn said and Baxter shook his head.
“Yes, simple. Kinda like quantum physics or Chinese algebra,” Baxter muttered, and the Senate chuckled.
“Gina is your copula. Your soul recognizes hers as your other half,” Ramsey told him.
“And whatever bond you had with her grandmother is gone. She is your lifemate, she is yours,” Eduardo added and smiled.
“Okay,” Baxter said and sighed.
“We will speak with her if you would like,” Langley offered.
“No,” Baxter answered. “I need to talk to her about a few other things, too. This will be the easy part to explain.”
“Good luck, young Baxter,” Dristen said and looked over his shoulder. “It seems your lifemate is looking for you.”
When Baxter turned around, he spotted Gina standing in the door of what he thought was a large cafeteria area. When she spotted him, she grinned and motioned for him to join her.
“Now or never,” Baxter said then walked to the woman he knew he wanted to spend eternity with.
Chapter Eleven
“Nathan,” Gina said softly, when Baxter stopped beside her
.
“I talked to the Senate,” he told her.
“I saw them,” she responded then stepped through the door. “There’s someone I’d like for you to meet.”
When she stopped beside a table, Baxter looked at the child sitting there and took a step back. She was the exact image of Gina at that age, and he was instantly reminded of what he needed to talk to her about.
“Nathan Baxter, I would like for you to meet my daughter, Zora,” she said and laid her hand on the child’s shoulder.
“Hello, Zora,” Baxter said as he knelt in front of the child.
“You’re a vampire,” Zora observed, and Baxter looked at Gina for a second before looking back to the child.
“I am,” he responded, even though it wasn’t a question.
“My mommy and the other Huntresses told me there are good vampire out there. You’re one of the good vampire, or my mommy would have killed you already.”
“She would have,” he responded and looked back at Gina. “But your mommy and I are friends. She wouldn’t hurt a friend, would she?”
“No,” Zora answered.
“Zora,” Gina said, and the child turned her knowledgeable eyes toward her. “Do you mind if Nathan and I go somewhere to talk?”
“No, Mommy,” Zora answered and looked back at Baxter. “He’s a nice vampire.”
“He is,” Gina said and smiled at her daughter. “I’ll be back in a few minutes, then we can go play checkers.”
“I’ve been playing checkers with Malinda,” Zora said and looked at the Huntress who usually volunteered to stay with the kids when they hunted.
“Good, we’ll see if you can beat me now,” Gina told her, then dropped a kiss on the top of her head before looking at Baxter. “Walk with me.”
“Anywhere,” he said, and followed her when she turned and headed toward a door in the back of the building.
“What did the Senate say?” She asked as soon as they were out the door.
He looked out over the large lake and closed his eyes for a second before he answered her. “They told me when your grandmother passed, her spirit lingered here until you were born. Then it went into you and my bond with her reformed in you. They told me that had you and I never met, my bond with her would have died, but since we did, you are my copula.”
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