by Lucinda Dark
“He’s agreed to help you with your vengeance,” Vampire-Torin said as he bent low and blew across the space between my neck and shoulder.
I shivered in his arms and leaned away. “It would have been nice to know that he wouldn’t recall the promise you swore to me.” I growled low in my throat as his touch wandered over the curve of my ass.
He chuckled, the sound vibrating through my nipples until they grew tight and pebble-hard. “Are you angry with me?” he asked, sliding those devious lips of his across my skin.
Without even meaning to, my head tilted back to give him better access. What the hell was wrong with me? Why did I let him do this here? Why didn’t I pull away? Was it because none of this was real? “Furious,” I said, gasping when he bit down lightly against the column of my throat, but not deep enough to sink his fangs in or draw blood. It was just enough to curl my toes and make my nerves stretch tautly until they were on the knife’s edge of too tight and ready to shatter.
The action brought me closer to a blinding white orgasm. With it, I managed to work up the energy to struggle against him. “Shhhh.” Vampire-Torin held me still, rolling so that he was on top of me fully, his body coming down hard over mine. “I won’t hurt you, dear mate.”
“W-what?” I stuttered as he spread my thighs and settled between them. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“What do you know about vampire mates, Barbie?” he asked.
“Nothing,” I answered. “It’s not exactly something I need to know in order to kill a vampire.”
“Au contraire, sweetheart.” He leaned down and whispered the words against my ear. “Vampire mates are a huge weakness to exploit.”
“Okay?” I squirmed in his grip, my thighs growing wetter as he brought his cock closer to my core and rubbed the underside of it instinctively against my folds. I gasped and shoved my hands up against his chest to stop him. “Don’t.” As difficult as it was in that moment, I managed to grit the word out between clenched teeth.
“You want me,” he said lightly. It wasn’t said with any sort of arrogance, but with simple confidence. A statement of fact.
I shook my head. “And yet, I’m still saying no.”
He pulled back, those unnatural red eyes of his roving over me curiously. “Why?” he asked.
At this moment? I had no fucking clue. But I knew if I gave in like this, I’d regret it. Instead of answering, I asked another question. “Why are you here?”
The muscles of his upper arms tightened as he continued to hold himself above me, observing me with those uncanny eyes of his. “You’re in danger, Barbie.”
I thought about that. It seemed Torin was right, danger was never far from me and I was never far from it. “From what this time?” I asked.
“I wish I could say,” he answered, lowering his chest back over me. His hands went to my outer thighs as he drew them over his hips. “Shhhh.” He hushed me again when I would have protested. “I will not test your breaking point tonight. I just want to make you feel good.”
“Tell me what you meant,” I ordered. “When you said I was in danger.”
He hummed, the sound moving across my skin in an invisible wave, leaving a trail of goosebumps all along the flesh of my back. Instead of answering, he directed my attention to the heat building between us—and the hardening cock between my legs. “I won’t push you, dear mate,” he said again. “But if you don’t give me this then I’m afraid Torin might suffer.”
I froze, letting him maneuver my limbs as he liked until I felt the head of his cock brush against my pussy once more, more firmly. Only then did I reach up and snap my hand around his neck, squeezing to get his attention. “Do. Not. Push. Me.” The warning was a dangerous growl.
He looked down at me, an ever present smirk gracing his beautiful lips. It was difficult for me to see Torin’s face without Torin there. His vampire was nothing like his human. Where the human side of Torin was serious—only sardonic in small intervals—his vampire shoved insistently against boundaries, laughed at my resistance, and tempted me far beyond what I was comfortable with. I tightened my grip on his throat.
“What the fuck do you mean Torin might suffer?” I demanded.
“You shared his blood, Barbie,” he said simply. “My blood, or do you not recall?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Torin resists me almost as much as you do, sweetheart,” he answered, dipping his head despite my threat and licking up the center of my chest. My grasp on his throat weakened as his tongue darted a path past my chin and sank into my mouth. He kissed me like he was plundering a battlefield full of warriors—aggressively, dangerously. The kiss was full of blood pumping fervor and ferocity. When he finally released me, I was left gasping, my hand having fallen away from the column of his neck. He nudged my head to the side with the length of his nose and pressed the tip of it beneath my ear, inhaling sharply. “You smell like fire and chocolate. Blessed dark god, I want to feast on you.”
“Y-you haven’t answered my questions,” I reminded him shakily.
He sighed, the puff of air sliding over my flesh. I reached up and sank my nails into his shoulders. Something—anything—to keep me grounded when I felt like I was at risk of floating away into the pit of lust he was creating. “Torin is more human than vampire most days,” he said quietly, the explanation rolling over my ears as his hips rolled against the softness of my flesh below. I groaned, low and needy. “Unless he lets his emotions overtake him—anger, hatred, excitement—” he hissed the last word against my pulse, demonstrating just what kind of excitement he was referring to, “he can maintain control. Giving you our blood, however, has raised certain side effects—”
“These dreams?” I asked breathlessly as he reached down and gripped my thigh, leveraging it up higher on his hips as his fingers danced further between my legs, sliding through wetness to my clit. I sucked in air, but it never reached my lungs.
“Yes, dear mate,” he agreed. “The side effects include an increased level of attraction to the one whose blood you consumed.”
I shook my head as his hand teased at my clit and then he sank his fingers down until one wiggled into my entrance. My back arched and I clawed at the broad expanse of his back. “It’s not real,” I snapped, squeezing my eyes shut. That fucking hurt, but if what he said was true, then all of this desire, the lust, it wasn’t real. It was all fake. I was being manipulated.
“Not exactly.” Vampire-Torin thrust his finger into my core, withdrawing and driving in again until the movement had my hips wiggling and arching towards him on every forward thrust. “Drinking my blood cannot create attraction when there was none to begin with, dear mate. Fear not, everything you’re feeling—all of the pleasure I give—is real.”
I moaned as he pulled back, moving down my body until his mouth brushed against my stomach, tongue circling my belly button lightly before blazing a path straight for where his finger had moved in and out of my body. “I told you—” I started, the threat and warning clear despite my hoarse voice.
“Do not worry,” he said, a soft chuckle blowing across my sensitive, wet skin. “I told you I would not push you, and I won’t. But unless you allow me to give you some sort of pleasure and relieve this pressure inside both of us, then I’ll simply keep coming back.”
I closed my eyes, biting down hard on my lip as his words filtered through my head. Give in now or later? Those seemed to be my only options. What was I supposed to do?
“Barbie.” My name on his lips had me opening my eyes and looking down. That red gaze threw shadows across the pale flesh of my stomach, like lines of blood glowing unnaturally in the darkness of the shared dream. His tongue flicked out and licked against my clit. My lips parted and my hands shot down to his head, fingers threading through the dark locks of his hair. “Let me…” The whispered plea rocketed through me.
“Will he remember?” I asked. I didn’t know if I could do this and then go back
to normal if Torin would remember everything his vampire had done to me in this dream.
Vampire-Torin tilted his head and looked up at me. “It will be in the back of his mind,” he admitted. “He will never be sure. It will seem like a dream to him. He is with me, always. He may see us as two different people, but he and I are one and the same. My desires are his. His are mine. I—the vampire—may be in control, but he is at least somewhat aware of what we’re doing here as I am when his human side is in control.”
“He didn’t remember the promise you made me,” I pointed out, my nails scraping against his scalp.
“He did and he didn’t,” Vampire-Torin replied vaguely. “He was unwilling to admit it, but there is a reason why he took you to train with him and challenged you for the assistance you demanded. He felt obligated.”
“So, he will remember this then?” My breath sawed in and out of my chest. My lungs burning and knees shaking as I repressed my body’s desires.
“He will be aware and he will remember the desire and even, perhaps, pieces of this, but it is a dream to him. Nothing more,” Vampire-Torin said. “He does not realize that this is more than an average dream.” He grinned, his fangs sharp in the shadows. “Rest assured, he will remain ignorant of our deal should you wish to keep it to yourself.” I sighed, releasing all of the burning air in my lungs with a sound of relief. “Now, what is your decision?” he demanded.
I had only one choice. I couldn’t hold back anymore. My resistance was worn too thin. I had a sexy, naked vampire between my thighs, and so long as the repercussions of this decision remained trapped in the confines of this dream world, there was nothing left stopping me from taking advantage.
Leveraging my head up, as I sank my fingers further into his hair, I stared down at the twin red-dotted eyes. “Eat me.” The words were a harshly whispered double entendre. A shaky consent.
“Fear not, dear mate, I will devour you.” He stopped and licked his lips. “In the best way possible.” His breath slithered over the heated wet flesh of my pussy. “I will take until you have no more cream left to give and when you call out my name, I will know you are screaming your desire for me.”
Vampire-Torin’s eyes brightened, practically flaming into an illuminating raging fire as he descended. Lips touched my core. His tongue darted out, stroking back up to my clit as his fingers sank inside. First one and then two. My back arched. A cry of pleasure escaped my throat, no more words possible.
My thighs tightened. Vampire-Torin set his hands on either one and spread them wide as he sucked my clit between his lips and drove me half-mad. It was too much. It wasn’t enough. It was everything.
I screamed as my orgasm ripped through me, tearing my mind open and leaving me blown apart. My fingers clutched at his head. Warm liquid spilled over my palms. A sharp pain brought my head up as a new scream erupted from my throat. I jerked my gaze down and cursed as I saw his fangs against my skin, piercing the soft vulnerable section of my inner thigh. He released me almost as quickly as he’d bitten, licking up the blood he’d spilled.
That image was the last thing left as the shadows of the dream encroached on my vision, and I was left spiraling into oblivion.
Thirty-Three
Barbie
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Maverick’s question echoed up the hallway as we headed towards the indoor shooting range. I gulped down the rest of the coffee in my plastic throwaway cup and tossed it in the nearest trashcan and shook my head.
“I’m fine,” I repeated for the tenth time.
“You look like you got run over by a semi,” he commented dryly.
I sighed and looked back at him over my shoulder. “Just what a girl wants to hear.”
He shrugged. “You look like shit. I’m just saying maybe you should sit this one out.”
“Who’s going to teach you how to use that thing properly?” I asked, gesturing to the Glock in his hand. I was more than exhausted. I was jittery and on edge. The dream from the night before played over and over in my head, like a fucking film on eternal rotation. Vampire-Torin’s red eyes moving over me, his lips, his tongue, his fangs on my skin. I shivered as we hit the entrance to a larger room and strode down the line of sectioned off tables where a few others were up early enough to try their own hand at some practice shots.
A yawn overtook me as we found our section and I stepped up to the table previously set up. “I can manage,” Maverick said behind me. “Torin brought me here earlier this week.”
I didn’t doubt that, but I wanted to see his progress on my own. “Step up to the line,” I ordered, reaching into the bag I carried and withdrew a clip. “These are your average lead bullets,” I said. “Other than at practice, you’ll be carrying special bullets made of silver or soaked in holy water.”
“I know.” Maverick took the clip, his fingers brushing against mine. I ignored the zing of sensation that traveled up my arm.
“Alright.” I took a step back and gestured for him to move into position as he inserted the clip and double checked the weapon, flicking the safety off. I lifted two pairs of noise reduction ear muffs and handed him one. “Show me what you got,” I called as I settled them firmly in place on my head.
Maverick raised both arms, took aim, and pulled the trigger. The resounding echo of the gunshot was loud in my ears even with protection, but a few seconds later, someone else responded with their own barrage of bullets. I stared out at the target and frowned when Maverick lowered his arms and glanced at me.
“You’re all over the place,” I said with a sigh.
“What? But I hit the target.”
“I want you to focus on one place and try to hit that one place repeatedly, as many times as you can.”
Maverick scowled. “I can’t hit the same place multiple times.”
“You can,” I pressed, handing him another clip. After he inserted it, I took the Glock from him, dropped the bag, and stepped up alongside him. I aimed the barrel at the target several yards away and pulled the trigger. Holding my finger down, a quick succession of bullets left the chamber. I lowered the gun and stepped back. “Look.”
Maverick’s head lifted and he squinted down the way. “I can’t see that far.”
I reached down and pressed a button beneath the table, causing the person shaped target to move forward until it was much closer. Right there, in the center of the outline of the person’s skull, were several shots circling the cross in the forehead, and then one right over where the cross met.
“I’ve been shooting since before I could drive a car,” I said, handing his gun back to him. Maverick was silent for a moment and I waited to see what he would say or do. He stared down at the gun in his grip, his hand squeezing it as his knuckles turned white. “Mav?” Hesitantly, I reached for him, placing my hand on his arm. “It’s not your fault. You just started. More practice will help.” Guilt ate at my chest, but at the same time, he needed to know that this wasn’t just a game. He knew about vampires now and that put him at risk. He needed to be able to protect himself.
“Am I a danger to you?” His voice was so quiet, I almost didn’t hear the question.
I looked up. “What?”
Maverick set the gun down on the table in front of us and turned to me, pulling off his ear protection. “Am I putting you in more danger?” he asked.
I shook my head, taking mine off as well. “Don’t worry about that,” I said. “Don’t worry about whether or not I’m in danger. Focus on protecting yourself first.”
“I can’t do that.” My eyes widened as he stepped forward and without thinking, my legs went back and I smacked into the cubicle wall.
“You have to,” I snapped. His head dipped and he sighed as his forehead pressed against mine, his eyes closing. “Mav? Are you okay?”
He cupped my cheek and I froze, startled. What the fuck? “I don’t want to get you hurt,” he said gruffly, his eyes sliding open again. They pierced me through, a blade sliding between my ribs. F
uck.
I cleared my throat and sidled out from between him and the wall. “You’re not going to get me hurt,” I said. “Just keep practicing.” I looked away as I snatched up the bag and took out all of the clips I’d brought, setting them on the table. “Stay here and keep hitting that target.”
“Barbie, where are you going?”
I yanked out my cell and backed out of the cubicle.
“I’m … ah … I forgot I had plans with Olivia,” I lied, avoiding his eyes as I took another step back, my heart in my throat. Shit, fuck. I really needed to get the fuck out of here. “I have to go get a dress for Homecoming. It’s next weekend.”
“You—”
“I’ll see you back at home.” I bolted. There was no other word for it. I ran like a bat out of fucking hell and slammed through the thick double metal doors at the end of the room, pressing the call button on my phone almost as soon as I was out of his sight. Beth had told me that my car would be delayed for several more weeks, unfortunately, and I had no other way out. I needed a rescue.
“Barbie?” Olivia’s cheery voice echoed in my ears.
“Can you give me a ride?” I blurted as I hit the sidewalk outside of the shooting range building.
“Uh, yeah sure?” she said, her voice rising in pitch with her confusion.
I sighed, already hating what I was sure would be several hours of pure, unadulterated torment, but it was either this or staying behind in close proximity with Maverick. And after what I’d allowed myself to do with Vampire-Torin, I didn’t trust myself anymore. “I need a dress for Homecoming,” I said weakly.
There was a breath of silence and then a quick intake of air as she squealed in my ear. “I knew you were going!” she screamed. “Oh my God, I’ll be right there. Don’t move a muscle. I know just the place and they do alterations too.”
The sound of stuff being thrown, keys being jangled, and the soft, but quick patter of heels on hardwood floors echoed in my ears a split second before a car door closed on the other end of the line and the phone went dead. I pursed my lips. She hadn’t even waited for me to tell her where I was. I typed out a quick text with the address of the shooting range and leaned back on my heels, looking up at the gray clouds churning overhead. A wind whipped down the street, tearing through the light jacket I had on.