by Shona Husk
He drew back, his hands still resting on the small of her back, and looked into her blue eyes. Now he understood why Owen had been angry and hurt about what he’d done, even though Jack had looked the other way—Owen was already in love with Katya.
“What’s wrong? Are you worried I’ll bite?”
Jack shook his head. “I trust you not to rip out my throat and keep Owen for yourself.” He even managed a small smile. “I’ve never been in love with more than one person. Have you?”
She tilted her chin to look up at him. “No. But I think it’s possible and I want to try.”
“You don’t feel any guilt?” Was that what he was feeling, or was it an uncertainty that everything would come crumbling down and leave him with nothing.
Katya shook her head. “Does Owen? What did he say?”
Even now she was concerned about Owen. It was strangely reassuring. “He wants us to be closer, to form the third side of a triangle. Apparently that’s the only way this will work.”
She nodded. “I trust him. If anyone would know, it would be him.”
“He’ll be thinking about us.”
“Mmm. So let’s not disappoint.” She threaded her fingers through his hair and drew him into a kiss that held nothing back. Her fangs slid over his lip with a slow rake that sent a tremor down his spine, but she didn’t break the skin this time and assume he wanted to be bitten. “Do you want me to bite?”
Jack swallowed. He did. But the only Vampire he’d allowed to bite him since he was almost killed was Owen, and even that had taken time. This was different, Katya was different. For saving Owen, he’d give her whatever she wanted. “Yes.”
Until he’d spoken, he hadn’t realized how much he wanted to feel her bite and put the old memory behind him. While there was no scar, no outward sign of the trauma, it was time to create a new memory. He took her hand, and after a moment’s hesitation, led her upstairs to the room he usually shared with Owen.
The sheets were still askew from where he hadn’t bothered to make the bed. He’d been unable to close his eyes because of the curiosity crawling in his veins. He glanced at Katya as she pulled the clip out of her hair and let the pale strands fall down her back in a long, silken wave.
Then she began unbuttoning her shirt. She’d always dressed professionally, even though Owen worked from home. He’d always thought it a little formal—he only got dressed up for meetings with clients—but he saw the attraction of a woman in a suit. His gaze lingered on her fingers as she revealed the curve of her breasts.
But he was distracted by her fangs pressing against her lip. The memory of pain sharpened and was closely followed fear. It was irrational. He liked to be bitten, but he trusted Owen completely. He didn’t know how Katya bit…was she careful or rough? Did she make it pleasurable or not care? His heart swelled and struggled to beat as lust battled with the old fear he’d thought he’d outgrown.
There was only one way to do this. And that wasn’t the way he’d done it with Owen—all tenderness and care. This needed to be done fast before he changed his mind.
He caught her hands and kissed her fingertips, never breaking eye contact. “Bite me, please.”
Katya looked at Jack for a moment. “I’ll make it good.”
“I hope so.”
She unbuttoned his shirt and eased it off his shoulders. Her fingers caressed his skin, gliding over the ridges of muscle. He almost shivered at her touch as if he was a nervous virgin who’d never been bitten.
“You do have one Vampire weakness.” She kissed his chest over his heart. Her tongue swept over his skin, her fangs gliding harmlessly over the surface.
Jack drew in a breath and raised his eyebrows. “And what would that be?”
“You long to be bitten. I can hear it in your heartbeat, smell it on your skin.” She ran her tongue over one of his flat brown nipples, her teeth raking over the peaking flesh.
He groaned but didn’t deny it. His fingers threaded into her hair and he brought her mouth to his, hot and hungry, but she didn’t give him what he wanted. Not yet. When biting, particularly someone who wasn’t Vampire, it was all about timing, no matter how bad they thought they wanted it. He’d been bitten enough times to know when it was done to give pleasure and when it was done to simply satisfy the Vampire—there was a big difference for the victim.
Her fangs pressed against his lip in promise, she could almost taste the sweetness of his blood on her tongue. But she didn’t even scratch him. She wanted this to be more than a quick bite, even though that was what he claimed he wanted. Katya wanted Jack to remember the first time she bit him, she wanted him to get hard just at the thought, the way he did with Owen.
She kissed along his jaw, down his neck, while her hand slid between their bodies and stroked the length of his cock. He rolled his hips as if eager for her touch. She gave him that, opening his fly and slipping her hand around his hard shaft.
Her tongue flicked against the pulse in his neck, making it race afresh. So she did it again and let him feel the pressure of her teeth. He drew in a sharp breath, but his cock thrust into her hand as if torn between lust and old memories. Technically she’d already bitten him for the first time when she’d stolen a taste in the kitchen.
If she’d known more about his past, she wouldn’t have done that…and yet he hadn’t minded. But then there was a difference between a casual cut and actually biting deep with the intention of making him quiver. She nipped without breaking the skin, kissed the mark and then repeated.
Each time he responded with the little stutter of his heart, but the heavy pulse of fear diminished. The scent left his skin, so only the salt from the sea and the sweetness of his blood just beneath the surface remained. She ran her tongue over his pulse, hungry for a deeper taste of him.
Her fingers feathered along his cock. She swept her thumb over the smooth head, drawing out a bead of cum that she used to slick down his shaft. Then she worked her fist along his length. He groaned and she felt the vibration through her lips.
Now he wanted it…really wanted it instead of saying he did. His fingers were tangled in her hair and moving against her scalp as if he could keep her there. She doubted he had that much strength, but then she didn’t know much about dhampirs. Not dhampirs, but she knew Jack and she liked the way his pulse sounded and the way his toes curled in the carpet as he anticipated the bite.
She loved that he’d let her into his life and opened the door to his heart as well as Owen’s. She kissed his lips. Slowly, her tongue gliding over his. The moan was hers as he brought her hips hard against his. Her hand was trapped between them. She’d never have the words to say what she felt. She trailed kisses down his jaw, down his neck. He tipped his head a little. The unspoken cue a Vampire never missed no matter how slight.
Between beats of his heart, she slid her fangs into his neck. Sweetness filled her mouth. Intoxicating and vibrant—and nothing like Vampire blood. The bite was healing even as she swept her tongue over the marks. She squeezed his cock and gave him a hard stroke. She felt more than heard his growl of frustration. His fingers threaded into her hair as he brought her lips to his neck again. She paused, then bit again, and this time his back arched as if he was close to giving in to ecstasy. Her palm became slippery with pre-cum.
The hot lust she tasted in his blood filled her, pushing her higher without him doing anything. She hadn’t expected him to have this much effect on her. Maybe it was something in his blood or maybe it was the way he responded—like another Vampire.
Except he wasn’t, and damn, she wanted to be bitten. If Owen was here, she could be pressed between the two of them. Her panties dampened at the idea and her pussy clenched. What had been fantasy only days ago was now close to becoming reality. It was too good to be true. She didn’t want it to end. Her grip on his cock lightened, she didn’t want him to come too soon. His pulse steadied.
She kissed the bite, knowing he would be healed in a few heartbeats. Dhampirs healed even
faster than Vampires. He must have been in a hell of place to have almost been killed.
She rose onto the balls of her feet and whispered in his ear, “How’d I do?”
He smiled, his eyes dark with lust. Another reminder he wasn’t Vampire, a Vampire’s eyes would be drained of color by now. “If you do it again, I think I’ll come.”
“Promise?” Katya grinned and pushed his jeans over his hips.
He kicked them off and helped her out of her clothes, then drew her to him as he lay down on the bed. He kissed down her neck, nipping at the skin as if he were planning on biting. It was almost enough, but she wanted more. Then his mouth closed over one nipple and sucked, his tongue circling around the tight peak, and his teeth raking over her sensitive skin.
“Ah.” She fisted the sheets in her hands. She was surrounded by the scent of Jack and Owen and sex. For a moment she was overwhelmed with sensation. Her nerves were pulled tight as if she were on edge from just a few sure touches.
Jack knew his way around a woman’s body. She sucked in a breath and pressed her thighs together, trapping his hand that had been sliding up her thigh toward her pussy.
“Have you ever had a woman in this bed?” She didn’t want to be one of many—even if the others had been human—she wanted to be the only.
He lifted his head, his brown eyes taking her in. “You’re the first. We’ve never needed anyone else.”
And if not for Owen’s ennui, they wouldn’t have needed her, even if they both had wanted her. Her desire cooled and she bit her lip, not sure what to say. Was she special or convenient? But she remembered the heat in Owen’s gaze, the way Jack had been watching her for the last week as he tried to approach her. If she’d resigned, would Owen have fought to keep her? Would Jack have pleaded for her to stay?
She gazed into Jack’s eyes and saw more than simple lust there, it settled the doubt that had been rising. He hadn’t been lying about being in love with two people and she had no doubt it was possible.
“I haven’t wanted anyone since Owen. You scared me a little, tempted me too much.” He kissed her navel, his tongue dipping in. “So efficient, so graceful.” He punctuated the words with kisses working lower. “And you had caught Owen’s eye.”
She drew in a breath and he glanced up.
“Yeah, I knew. But I wasn’t worried, not until Owen really started disengaging. Then I knew I had to act. I didn’t know what else to do but drag you in. Yet at the back of my mind, I couldn’t shake the doubt that I was doing it for myself.” He placed his lips on the top of her mound and her legs parted a fraction. “I swore I’d never do this.”
“Do you regret it?” She had to ask.
His breath skimmed over her skin. “No. Do you?”
“No.” She was living the dream, getting the rock star and his lover. She’d never stayed with any partner very long because she’d wanted something more. And now she had that.
He smiled, then he lowered his head and his tongue flicked against her clit.
A jolt of heat ran through her body and tightened her nerves. She gasped as Jack suckled on her sensitive flesh, the light touch of his teeth a delicate torture. If he was Vampire, his teeth would be in her thigh, but instead of tasting her blood, he was tasting the cream of her pussy.
She froze. And Owen’s cum.
She bit her lip and held her breath, expecting him to say something. What the hell was she doing?
Jack glanced up, his dark eyes filled with lust and a look that she usually only saw on Vampires. A predatory gleam. He passed for human so easily, yet had more in common with Vampires.
“What’s wrong?” His finger slid along her wet flesh and dipped into her core, slowly drawing out. Not enough to satisfy, just enough to tease.
“I should’ve showered.”
“Because I can taste him?”
Her cheeks burned hotter than any sunburn. She wanted to burst into flames and vanish into a pile of ash the way Vampires did in the movies. She made herself nod.
“You think I haven’t tasted him before?” His tongue stroked the slick folds of her pussy.
Of course he had, and then all she could think of was Jack kneeling in front of Owen, sucking his lover’s cock. It was enough to tip her over the edge. His thumb circled her clit, drawing out her climax as her core tightened around his fingers. She needed to feel his cock inside her, wanted her fangs in his skin as she rode him hard.
Katya sat up and pushed Jack onto his back. Her fangs were out, but she didn’t care. His eyes widened, and for a moment she thought he’d refuse, but he let her take control. The glint in his eyes and the half smile that curved his mouth was all she needed to see to know that it was okay this time…but next time would be different.
She straddled him, his cock nestled between the lips of her sex, hot and hard and tempting. She leaned forward and kissed along his collarbone, her teeth scoring his skin and drawing twin lines of blood. Her tongue traced the cuts as his hips bucked beneath her. She shifted, allowing his shaft to press up and into her pussy. Then she eased down, taking him fully. He felt different than Owen, the way he moved inside her was different. And she doubted Owen would let himself be tossed around so easily.
She ran her fingers over his chest. The cuts she’d made had closed, forming narrow pale scars that would no doubt be gone by morning. “You heal so fast.”
He placed his hands on her hips and slowed the rolling of her hips, drawing out every motion. He moved his legs and his thrust deepened, sending tremors through her body. A sigh escaped as every nerve waited to break. Her blood was pumping hard in her veins. And he was watching her, his heavy lidded gaze on the movement of her body and the swaying of her breasts.
With his eyes on her, she lifted one of his hands and brought it to her lips. She needed to bite even if she wasn’t being bitten. Jack was sweet like honey, like no one else she’d ever had. Because he was like no one else she’d ever been with. No one else had ever given her everything he valued and expected to get nothing back.
He closed his eyes as she kissed the blue vein in his wrist. He groaned, but the shudder ran through her. She was so close. As if he knew, his free hand slid over her thigh to her clit, the lightest of caresses on the already swollen, slick flesh. Her teeth nicked his skin and she came, riding him faster now that he’d released her hips.
His teeth were gritted as he came. His muscles tight in his neck. She wanted to see him with Owen. Bite him as Owen bit him and then watch Jack fall to pieces instead of being so controlled. Another ripple of satisfaction ran through her at the thought and left her short of breath. Carefully she lay down on his chest, her head on his shoulder, unwilling to break the connection yet.
She liked listening to his heart and feeling the heat seeping from his skin and into her. Falling for Jack was far too easy. She exhaled softly and then breathed him in. Jack’s arms went around her, his fingers tracing small shapes on her back. She wanted to melt and never get up.
This could work. It could really work. She could love both men and be loved back. And no one would feel brushed aside in the pursuit of living. But she understood why Jack hadn’t suggested that first. She wouldn’t have agreed to something so bold straight up. But now, she smiled to herself, the idea was tantalizing and possible. She lifted her head to look at him.
Jack looked her in the eye, but neither of them spoke. There was nothing to say. Unlike him, her emotions weren’t tangled with misplaced guilt. She kissed him lightly on the lips and eased off him.
“I’m going to have a shower.”
He nodded. “There’s clean towels in the cupboard.”
She walked to the bathroom, then glanced back. He hadn’t moved. Even though his face gave nothing away, she knew he was thinking about Owen. Owen needed to come home.
Chapter Seven
Jack brushed Katya’s long blonde hair off the pillow and away from his face. He’d forgotten how long hair ended up everywhere. It was very sexy to run his fingers thro
ugh, but not so much when getting woken up with the strands tickling his nose. He’d also forgotten what it was like to wake up next to a woman. The room was still cast in shadows. It wasn’t morning yet.
For a moment he lay still, listening. Not sure why he’d woken up—maybe because everything had been turned around. He should be waking up with Owen, and yet it didn’t feel wrong to have Katya next to him. What was wrong was Owen was missing. He reached out and grabbed his cell phone, then he typed a two-word message.
Come home.
He held the phone and stared at the screen, waiting for the return message, but none came. Owen was probably sleeping like any sensible person in the gray hours of almost morning. He rolled over and tried to go back to sleep, but his mind was awake. He moved closer to Katya and looped his arm over the curve of her waist. Her body was soft and curvy where Owen had muscle that had been forged fighting with sword and armor.
The scent and warmth of her skin tantalized him and his body woke. His cock stiffened as he lay alongside her body. Her butt nestled against his hips. He kissed the back of her neck, wanting to taste her, not her blood, but her skin. And not wanting to lie awake alone with only his thoughts for company.
Katya sighed but didn’t stir and he didn’t have the heart to rouse her. He waited a few more moments, then slid out of bed. He scooped his jeans off the floor, pulled them on and padded through the house. He’d have a coffee and do some work, then he’d try Owen again. He didn’t need forty-eight hours.
Did Owen? Was he still tormented over screwing Katya on the desk? Was he still pissed with Jack for opening that door? Or had he accepted his ennui and decided it was worth fighting?
From the kitchen, he could see light spilling under the study door. Had he left it on? With his hot coffee in one hand, he moved silently to the door and listened. Nothing. The house was quiet. If it were thieves, there’d have been more noise. He opened the door to turn off the light and almost dropped his cup.