by Vivian Wood
Before Gabriel could say another word, Cassie left him and strode across the dance floor, weaving between bodies on the crowded dance floor. Cassie caught Asangel’s attention immediately, and it was everything she could do to keep from blushing as the handsome Vampire raked his ice-blue gaze up and down her body. His appraisal seemed as honest as it was frank, and when Cassie’s eyes locked onto Asangel’s she found herself flattered at the curious hunger she found there.
Cassie played her cards for all they were worth, swaying her hips as she strode up to the Vampire, a knowing smirk on her lips. Her confident attitude must have worked, because two of Asangel’s admirers backed up as Cassie approached, giving her space to stop less than a foot in front of him.
“Enjoying the drink?” she asked, settling a hand on her hip and giving him an appraising glance of her own.
Asangel’s brows arched a little, a smile lifting the corners of his lips.
“Very much so,” he said, his Eastern European accent thick. “This blend is a favorite of mine, thank you.”
Cassie gave him a suggestive smirk and then held her hand out as she introduced herself.
“Cassandra,” she said.
“I know who you are, Oracle,” he said, his smile broadening as he took her hand, pressing his thumb against her gloved wrist to caress her pulse point. “I am Ciprian.”
“I know who you are, too,” Cassie bluffed, giving him a forced grin in return. The Oracle rose within her, giving her a flash of a softer, kinder-looking Ciprian offering his neck to a gorgeous brunette with dark coloring. The woman in the vision raised a brow and bared her fangs, then sunk her teeth into Ciprian’s neck, making them both moan in ecstasy.
Cassie sucked in a breath as she blinked the vision away. She couldn’t be certain, but she thought she’d just witnessed Ciprian’s transformation from human to Vampire. Ciprian didn’t so much as blink, but Cassie noticed an unmistakable hint of fang in his smile now.
“Ladies, go get a drink. I think the Oracle — Cassandra, that is, I think she deserves some privacy,” Ciprian said, waving his flock away.
They slunk off, shooting Cassie nasty looks, and Ciprian led her around the dance floor to what appeared to be his private booth. Ciprian directed her into one side of the high-walled leather booth, waiting until she’d slid around the table to the far side before joining her from the other side.
When Ciprian settled beside her, he was so close that his knee brushed Cassie’s. She summoned all her strength and kept her face blank, giving him nothing more than an expectant expression. She’d be damned if she was going to let some strange Vampire ruffle her feathers, especially if he was just testing her mettle.
“You want something, Oracle. I can smell it,” Ciprian said, leaning in to inhale her scent.
“Everyone wants something,” Cassie said, twining her fingers together in her lap and squeezing until her knuckles went white.
“Mmm,” Ciprian murmured, reaching out and brushing a lock of Cassie’s hair back from her temple, tucking it behind her ear in a tender gesture. He grazed her neck with the back of two fingers, making her jump. “I suppose they do. Tell me, Oracle, what would happen if I were to taste you? Do you think I would be able to glimpse my future?”
Cassie acted on reflex, bringing her hand up to knock his away. Ciprian favored her with a frown, but he pulled back a few inches.
“You’d better learn manners, little seer,” he informed her.
“Look over at the bar,” Cassie said, flying on blind hope. “The three big, brooding guys that are staring at us. You know who they are, I presume.”
Ciprian’s smile dimmed.
“I did wonder at the Guardians’ interest,” he said with a sigh. “Not to mention the fact that you reek of bear.”
Cassie started to argue with him, then shook her head. It was better not to play along with him.
“I want to know where Pere Mal is keeping his assets now,” Cassie said, going straight to the heart of the matter.
Ciprian’s eyebrows shot up and he gave a bark of laughter.
“Do you, now? What is the saying? I think people in hell want ice water,” he told her with an amused smile. “You’re a fool if you think I’ll give you information for free.”
Cassie narrowed her eyes, but she knew Ciprian was right.
“A trade, then,” she suggested.
Ciprian gave her another devilish grin.
“A taste of the Oracle?” he asked, wiggling his brows.
Cassie snorted.
“Not a chance,” she said. “I was thinking something along the lines of a prophecy. A single prophecy, something I can draw on without a blood sacrifice.”
To her surprise, Ciprian sobered. He gave her a considering glance, then slowly nodded.
“I am looking for someone, too,” he said, his tone confidential. He grasped her wrist and pulled her close, whispering into her ear, “Kieran the Grey”.
A prickle of foreboding spread out across Cassie’s skin at the sound of the name. She tugged her wrist from Ciprian’s grasp, frowning. She didn’t know why, but when she closed her eyes and focused on the strange name, she felt uneasy, tense.
She saw a pair of green and gold eyes. A figure wrapped in shadow and mist… A busy street at night, filled with revelers and a brass band…
Her eyes flew open and she gasped.
“He’s in the city!” she said.
“Do you know where?” Ciprian said, licking his lips as he leaned in.
“Give me an address first,” Cassie said, shaking her head.
“He’s got a bunch of properties,” Ciprian said, holding up a hand when Cassie started to complain. “Look, I don’t know which one he’s keeping girls in, but if I had to guess, he’s moved them to someplace heavily protected. I can’t tell you which one, but I can get you a list of some of his more valued holdings. I’ll have one of the girls write down the addresses and deliver them to the handsome blond Guardian lurking in the corner over there.”
Ciprian nodded, drawing Cassie’s attention to Aeric, who was indeed watching her from the corner of the room, his expression steely.
“Fine,” Cassie said, turning back to the Vampire. “Your man is on Frenchmen Street right now, watching the crowds.”
“Hunting, more like,” Ciprian said. He gave Cassie another ghoulish smile and then shocked her by leaning forward to press his lips to hers.
“Mmf!” Cassie protested against his lips.
“Consider it a personal favor,” Ciprian said as he pulled back, then winked at her.
Cassie opened her mouth to protest, but half a second later she was roughly yanked out of the booth. Before she really understood what was going on, Ciprian was headed for the exit and she was in Gabriel’s arms.
“Are you okay?” Gabriel demanded, taking her to the far side of the bar and setting her down in a dimly lit corner. “Did he hurt you?”
“I’m fine,” Cassie said, staring up at Gabriel as he caged her against the wall with his arms. “Gabriel, I’m fine. I promise.”
“Good,” he said.
The next thing Cassie knew, Gabriel’s kiss consumed her every thought.
Chapter Six
The moment his lips touched Cassie’s, Gabriel knew he was lost. She seemed so small and fragile as he crowded her with his big body, advancing until his hips and chest pinned hers to the wall. Gabriel cradled her jaw with one hand, using his thumb to raise her chin, giving him greater access to her sweet mouth.
Cassie’s lips parted under Gabriel’s tongue and teeth, her tongue meeting his in timid strokes. She came alive at his touch, twining her arms around his neck and sinking her fingers into his thick chin-length hair, Gabriel’s bear growled with satisfaction.
His bear, usually a silent partner in their shared existence, was notably vocal about his appreciation for Cassie. His bear loved her scent, vanilla and spice layered over the musk of her arousal. His bear loved her body, curvy and strong, and the flash
y clothes she dressed those curves in. Most of all, his bear loved her fiery locks. Gabriel and his bear shared an intense desire to find out what it would look like spread out over Gabriel’s pillow while he made her scream with ecstasy.
He devoured her with his teeth and lips, his free hand sliding up from her waist to weigh one of her supple breasts. His fingers found her nipple through the scant material of her golden dress, pulling a gasp of surprise from Cassie’s lips when he pinched the pebbled tip.
He watched her face intently, trying to gauge what she liked and how much she could handle. His cock hardened at the flare of desire in her eyes at his playfully rough touch. If she liked that, they would indeed be well suited.
Pushing aside the thoughts of mating and suitability, Gabriel decided to see just how far Cassie would let him take things. If she liked a little spice, Gabriel would do his utmost to thrill her.
The music pounded all around them, the room growing dimmer while the dancers writhed to the pulsing beat. Gabriel tipped Cassie’s head back further and nipped a line from her shoulder up to her jaw, then sucked on her earlobe until she moaned, chest heaving temptingly. He skated his hands over her breasts, sliding his fingers under the low neckline of her dress, teasing the bare flesh he found there.
Cassie’s hands roamed his body, nails raking his back through his tux jacket. She pulled his dress shirt from his slacks and slipped her hands underneath, exploring his stomach, sides, and back in bold strokes. One of her hands dropped down to cup his erection through his pants, and her eyes flared with interest when she discovered his size and length.
Her tentative exploration, the way she ran her tongue over her bottom lip as she shaped his cock, the deep flush on her cheeks and chest… Gabriel ate her arousal up, kissing her and running his hands up and down her thighs. Raking his fingernails over the metallic fabric, he gathered some in each hand and slowly shimmied the front of the dress up and up and up until his hands found smooth, bare skin.
Cassie made a soft sound, though Gabriel wasn’t sure if it was excitement or uncertainty or both.
“Shhhh,” he whispered as he broke the kiss, leaning his forehead against hers.
Cassie stiffened ever so slightly as he cupped her intimately, his fingers curling to brush her sex through her panties.
“Gabriel!” she whispered, staring up at him breathlessly. “There are people here!”
“Are there?” Gabriel asked, trailing his fingertips higher until he plucked at the elastic band of her panties. “I only have eyes for one person, I’m afraid.”
“But they can see us! They can see me,” Cassie said, biting her lip.
“I doubt that I’m the only shifter fondling his mate in this room,” Gabriel said, arching a teasing brow.
Cassie’s mouth dipped into a frown.
“I’m not your mate,” she said, unamused.
“Cass…” Gabriel paused and gave her a fierce, possessive kiss, his fingers tracing a path back down her panties, exploring where the fabric clung to her damp sex. Cassie sighed against him and rolled her hips. Gabriel pushed the fabric aside to touch her hot, slick lower lips, groaning back into their kiss as he felt her for the first time. He angled his body to block any onlookers, wanting nothing to ruin the perfection of the moment.
He felt the resistance in her vanish as he slid a single fingertip up, seeking. He rubbed a slow circle against her clit and Cassie broke the kiss, flinging her head back, hitting it on the wall. She didn’t even flinch; she let out a stuttered gasp and a series of sexy little mmmms that drove Gabriel fucking crazy.
With Cassie soaking his fingers from just the barest touch, Gabriel knew he needed to take more, give her more. He traced his tongue over the sensitive curves of her ear, giving her earlobe a sharp nip as he slid one thick finger into her impossibly tight sheath. She arched her back as her body took his invasion and this time she cried out. Her hands came up to cup her own breasts through her dress, and Gabriel wished that the damn garment wasn’t so fancy, because he wanted nothing more than to rip it off her and lavish each of her breasts with his mouth.
“Fuck, I want you so badly, Cass,” Gabriel whispered in her ear.
“Take me,” she sighed. “I don’t care, I swear it.”
For the briefest moment, Gabriel considered it. Unzipping himself and fucking Cassie right here against the wall was one of the hottest things he could think of. It made his cock throb with need. But Cassie was going to be his mate one day, and he couldn’t have their first time happen in front of an audience. It was a tempting thought, but it wasn’t the right thing.
Instead he slid a second finger deep into her channel, turning his hand up so that he could use his thumb to massage her clit. He flexed and pumped his fingers, stroking her inner walls until her excitement covered his palm. Cassie panted and rocked into his touch.
“You’re going to come for me, Cass,” Gabriel coached, working her clit and her entrance, knowing that she was seconds from unraveling. “Aren’t you, darling? I know you’re so close…”
Gabriel dropped his head and gave her a long, sharp nip just where her neck met her shoulder. Cassie shuddered and cried out as her innermost muscles rippled, and then she exploded, convulsing tightly around his fingers.
“Jesus, Gabriel,” she whispered as he gently withdrew, righting her panties before letting the hem of her dress fall back to her feet.
He slipped his arms around Cassie’s waist, keeping her in their private bubble for a few more moments. Cassie sought his lips for a soft kiss, then let her head rest against his chest. Gabriel buried his nose in her brilliant red hair, avoiding the dainty gold adornment encircling her locks. He dragged in lungfuls of her intoxicating scent, feeling a sneaking suspicion that he’d just managed to change things between them drastically.
The urge to claim her was growing by the moment, the need strengthened by touching her, watching her cry out and release at his hand. His doing. His mate.
“Gabriel?” Cassie’s lips moved against his chest, her voice so quiet he could barely hear it over the sound of the music.
“Yes, darling?” The word slipped past his lips for the second time in mere minutes, and Gabriel found himself wincing.
“Take me home? To the Manor, I mean,” she said, letting her head fall to the side so that Gabriel could see her expression. It was different than what he’d seen on her before. Tired, but more than that… vulnerable.
A tiny part of Gabriel shouted that he should flee, run away before he managed to foul things up, before he could hurt such a perfect creature. But the bigger part of him, the selfish, hungry, lonely part, just gave her a brittle smile and a nod.
“Of course,” he said, lifting her up in his arms.
Cassie clung to him as he swept her from the club, not even pausing to find his fellow Guardians before he hailed their car. By the time he’d climbed into the back seat of the SUV, Cassie was dead asleep in his arms, a smile on her lips.
He was more torn than he’d ever been. Even in his lowest moment, signing away his life to Mere Marie in exchange for the life of his sister, he’d known what he must do. He’d been the one to kill his sister, playing with magic he couldn’t control; he would have given anything to save Caroline, and he’d paid for his foolishness in spades. His old life was gone, and now…
Now, he was not a free man. He was a Guardian first and foremost. Choosing or discarding Cassie should be simple enough, a well-considered decision made after he factored in his past mistakes and his loyalty to Mere Marie.
He shouldn’t have ever laid a finger on Cassie, mating call or no.
But then, he looked at her, and something in him refused to push her away. In the space of a few days, he’d started to lose his sense of self, his sense of anything but a bear shifter desiring his mate. He wanted her, all of her, but he’d already once proven he couldn’t be trusted to care for a woman, no matter how strongly he felt about her.
Gabriel had died, it seemed. That was the
only way to explain the fact that he’d been given a mate, a rare enough thing in itself. But this mate, this delicate beauty, enough to tempt him to any level of sin -- death itself was the only explanation for the strange turn of events. The only problem was that, if he had indeed died, he wasn’t yet certain if he’d gone to Heaven or Hell.
Looking down at the woman sleeping in his arms, Gabriel couldn’t begin to decide.
“Look who’s finally up!” Echo’s teasing scold was the first thing Gabriel heard when he walked into the common room a day and a half later.
After his little tete-a-tete with Cassie at the club, Gabriel ended up tucking her into bed in the guest bedroom on his floor of the Manor. When Gabriel returned to his own bedroom, he’d only managed to remove his bowtie before Aeric sent him a text alerting him to a Kith emergency. All hands on deck, Guardian-wise.
Gabriel, Aeric, and Rhys were tied up with a Vampire attack, a report of suspicious activity in St. Louis Cemetery #1 that just turned out to be a bunch of human kids fooling around, and then they spent a good deal of time pursuing and containing an out-of-control werewolf on the loose near an elementary school. On top of all that, Gabriel only snatched a few hours before his patrol, so when he’d crawled into bed at dawn, he’d slept much later than usual.
Gabriel looked at his wristwatch.
“What, it’s only… two in the afternoon,” he told Echo as he walked into the kitchen area.
He nearly stopped short at the sight that met him. Echo and Aeric sat on stools at the kitchen island bar, eagerly watching Rhys and Cassie, who wore matching blue and white polka dot aprons. The apron looked appropriate on Cassie, cute even, but Rhys dwarfed it in a way that was indescribably funny. From the look on Echo’s face, Gabriel guessed that Echo had forced it on her mate, and was now admiring her own handiwork.
Cassie and Rhys stood over the stove facing the kitchen island, each stirring their own massive, fragrant pot of brown liquid. Duverjay hovered right behind them, watching anxiously. Whether he was afraid of the mess they’d make or afraid that someone might replace him as the Manor’s best cook, Gabriel couldn’t tell, but the butler looked entirely distressed.