by Jane Hinchey
“See your first mistake,” I said conversationally, tugging on the lasso and reeling him in closer, “was taking my mom. I assumed you did it to get to me but seeing as you two knuckleheads appear to be here on your lonesome, I’m doubting that assumption. So spill. Why take my mom?”
“Boss wants Frank Shelton. There’s a reward. Figured we’d draw him out by taking his missus.”
Interesting. So the vampires were after my dad and were using tactics such as this to get him. Which means he wasn’t working with them. Or maybe he had been, once, but wasn’t anymore. The smell of burning flesh filled my nostrils, reminding me I had a vampire writhing at the end of my flaming lasso.
“Who’s your boss?” I asked, tugging again. The vampire bellowed “bitch” which I took to be an insult and not the name of his boss.
Since my foray into my powers and what I could really do had gone so well I decided to give it another shot, instead of a flaming lasso I thought of a freezing one. And as simple as that, with just a mere thought, the flames turned blue, the burning stopped and the vampire started to freeze. With another flick, I moved the lasso from over his shoulders to around one wrist only – I didn’t want to freeze his head, he wouldn’t be able to give me the answers I wanted if that were the case.
Ignoring the vile names the vampire was calling me, I watched as his hand turned blue then froze solid. Stepping forward I seized one finger and snapped it off.
The sound the vampire made was…unsettling. I felt a little squeamish at what I’d just done, but I just had to remind myself what the vampires had done to my Grandpa to push through it. Retribution would be mine.
“Who. Is. Your. Boss?” I seized another finger and snapped it off, tossing it over my shoulder.
“G…g…g…” the vampire stuttered, desperately tugging at the lasso. He could try all he liked, it would only loosen on my command. I have to admit the thrill of power went to my head just a little bit.
“Three more fingers to go and then I start on another part of your anatomy.” I tapped my foot. It had gone quiet outside and I wondered what Jordan was up to but didn’t take my attention away from stubby fingers in front of me.
“Gunslinger.” He finally spat out.
“Figured as much, but thanks.” I snapped the rest of his fingers off and he looked at his stump of a hand in utter horror.
“Where can I find Gunslinger?” I flicked the lasso and it released his hand and settled around his waist, snug as a bug in a rug. Looking around I spotted a knife wedged into the post where mom had been held and dragging the vampire with me, I retrieved it, then cut off the button on his jeans.
“You know where I’m going with this, right?” I arched a brow as I slid the tip of the knife into a belt loop and pushed downward. His jeans fell to his knees.
“Noooooo.” He sucked in a breath and looked down. Already his waist was turning blue, it wouldn’t be long before he was frozen from the waist down.
“Where is Gunslinger? Last time I’m asking.” I’d left him with his underwear in place because honestly, I didn’t really want to see his dick, but I’d cut that fucker clean off if it meant getting what I wanted.
“I don’t know! I’ve never met him. He has a circle, a select circle, and they pass on his orders.”
“Who told you that he wants my dad, and where can I find him?”
“Nick. Nick told me. He’s one of the inner circle. Hangs out at Stanley’s.”
“Oh. Right. Well, that was remarkably easy.” Retracting my lasso I gave the vampire a shove in the chest and he toppled over. Can’t run away when half your body is frozen.
“Thanks for the info.” Standing over him I slide the blade of the knife along my palm and held it over his mouth. As my blood dripped he yelled, “what are you doing,” then grabbed his throat and started to choke as my blood did its thing.
Wiping the blade on my jeans I stepped over his writhing body and headed outside to see what had happened with Jordan. Only he wasn’t outside. He was standing in the doorway, holding a vampire by the hair, watching me.
“Oh. How long have you been standing there?” I asked.
“Long enough.” I couldn’t tell if he was impressed or pissed off that I’d killed the vampire.
“Want me to deal with him?” I nodded at the vampire who was semi-conscious in his grip.
“Sure.” He tossed him to the ground, rolled him onto his back and held him there with a boot on his chest. I’d never seen anything so hot. Striding over I squeezed my fist a few times, my wound had started to heal but I managed a few drops of blood onto the man’s lips. His tongue darted out, scenting my blood, then the groaning began.
“That was…” apparently lost for words I filled in some of my own.
“Bad? Horrible? Insane?”
“Hot. Fucking hot. I’m so hard right now I don’t think I can walk.” He admitted.
“What?” I hadn’t been expecting that, glancing down I couldn’t help but notice what he’d said was true.
“Violence turns you on?” That concerned me just a little bit.
“No. Never. You – you turn me on. Seeing you in total control, so powerful.” He stopped talking and reached for me, tugging me to him and planting his mouth on mine. I had no arguments, for I was on a high all of my own. Seemed my power was an aphrodisiac for the both of us.
In an instant he had me pinned against a wooden support post, the long fingers of one hand bracing both wrists above my head while the other slipped beneath my shirt. His hand slid around my waist and up my spine, his fingers tracing the hollow of my vertebrae. He pushed my legs apart with his hips and pushed against me, the friction of our jeans causing a nuclear heat to build in my abdomen.
I tore one wrist free of his grasp and planted my hand on a steely buttock to pull him closer. He let a husky growl escape him. The deep sound reverberated through my bones, intoxicating me.
“Don’t send me away.” He breathed as if in pain. As if. I had an itch that only he could scratch, we had a chemistry I couldn’t deny – I refused to examine the fated mates bullshit – what mattered most to me here and now…was him. I’d never wanted anyone the way I wanted him, I craved him, beyond anything I’d ever craved before.
“I won’t.” My mouth against his, I said the words. This was as close as I’d get to commitment. He took it. Pressing against me, his hips rocking against mine, he kissed me like I’d never been kissed before.
It’s like every fantasy I’ve ever had finally coming to life. Reaching up I tangled my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer, kissing him deeper. He returned my kiss enthusiastically, one hand sought out the weight of my breast, coaxing my nipple to attention with a thumb. His mouth, so hot against mine, left to suckle the crest and only then did I realize he’d removed my shirt and released both breasts from their confines.
The blistering heat of his kiss engulfed me as he sucked my breast. My nipple tightened under his ministrations, hardening so fast, I almost cried out. The jolt of ecstasy was overwhelming. He switched from one breast to the other and then back again, offering them both the same amount of attention. Each time he drew on a pink crest, I felt a cutting bite of arousal lance through me. I looked down at him as he kneaded and suckled, his exquisite mouth beautiful against my pale flesh.
His mouth returned to mine and I wrapped my arms around his head as he laid me back, easing me onto the ground. Before he could rise off me, I reached down and fondled the erection that his jeans could barely contain. He sucked in a sharp breath, the air it stirred suddenly cool against my lips, causing another wave of raw desire to ripple through me. Before I knew it, he had peeled off my jeans. How he managed that stuff without my notice amazed me, but I lay on the ground, naked, gasping when, without the slightest bit of fanfare, he entered me in one long stroke.
I seized and clutched him to me, the sharp spike of need obliterating my self-control. He stayed there, buried inside me, allowing my body to adjust to the fullness of his
erection until I grabbed handfuls of hair, bit his shoulder, and shoved my hips against his, forcing him even deeper.
He growled against my ear, wrapped one arm under a knee, and drove into me again and again with quick, short bursts, causing the heat in my abdomen to swell, to swirl and churn, building with each thrust. My nipples were still sensitive. They rubbed against his chest with each thrust, doing their part to bring me to the edge.
I dug my nails into his flesh, urging him faster, begging him not to stop. To never stop. I buried my face in the crook of his neck as the fever inside me rose and burst like a floodtide crashing through a dam. Jordan growled again as his own climax shuddered through him. He trembled against me, his anguish just as powerful as mine, just as intoxicating. He held on to me so tight, it was almost painful and served only to send the crest of my orgasm higher. I rode it, revelling in the exhilaration that flooded my body and soul until ever so gently it ebbed, dissipating completely over the span of several heartbeats.
All around us, the barn burned. Oops.
Chapter Fifteen
“And then she just lassoed the fucker with fire!” Tyler was holding centre court, filling in Cameron, Paige, and Cody everything that had happened that afternoon.
“But how?” Paige asked, “How did you know how to do it?”
“Actually, it was really easy…” I shrugged, “I just thought about it and it happened.”
“For real?” Cory’s eyes were wide with wonder. Paige had retrieved the fire slinger book and flipped it to the pages where we’d seen the fire lasso and the blue fire of ice. Jordan had volunteered to man the grill while Tyler and I brought everyone up to speed. Well, mostly Tyler. I had other things on my mind – like the hotter than hot sex I’d just had with Jordan.
Leaving the others to practice conjuring their new found skills I sauntered over to where Jordan was monitoring the steaks.
“You okay?” He asked when I stepped up next to him.
“Fine.” I nodded, feeling awkward. Jordan had been right. I was a hit it and quit it type girl, I wasn’t used to having conversations after the fact. But with Jordan I had no option, he was here, in my home, with my family. And the other little fact that was niggling away at me and I didn’t want to face, let alone admit, was that I liked it. I liked that he was here. With me. The thought terrified me. Was he right about the fated mate thing? Had I sealed my own fate by sleeping with him?
“Will you stop?” He murmured, voice low so the others couldn’t hear us. Not that they were interested in us at all, they were all on what was left of the back lawn, waving around fire lassoes. Bear was napping on the deck – and I’d been right, everyone could see him.
“Stop what?” Geez, now what had I done?
“Worrying. Stop worrying. I can see the cogs turning from here.”
Blowing out a sigh I raised my beer bottle to my lips and took a swig. Stop worrying. Right. Like I could turn it off so easily, if only I had a switch I could flick, that’d be awesome. I was so caught up in bitching about not worrying that I didn’t see him move, taken by surprise when my face was cupped in his big hands and his mouth was on mine.
It did the trick though. I stopped worrying. Now my worry turned to red-hot lust. Curling my arms around his neck, beer bottle dangling from my fingers, I kissed him back, giving him everything, no holding back, no secrets, no games.
We finally broke apart when the others noticed us and started hollering and hooting and shouting to get a room. Oh, I had a room, and it was just upstairs, and I wanted desperately to drag this handsome lawman up there and strip him naked…but apparently, the steaks were burning.
“That’s better.” He chuckled, ending the kiss and turning his attention back to the grill. I saluted my family and took their good-natured teasing in stride, joining them and letting my heightened energy burn off with lasso practice.
“Just a warning to Y'all,” I called out to them, “if you decide to give the whole body burning experience a try, it will burn your clothes off and I, for one, do not one to see any of you naked. You’ve been warned.”
Dinner was a loud and rambunctious affair. Cam had cleaned off the old wooden picnic table, Paige had dug out a tablecloth and placed some candles on it and we’d sat down to eat at sunset with much laughter and frivolity. Stomach full I sat back and watched the activity around me, a strange feeling inside. I placed a hand over my heart for a second, examining the feeling. I was…happy. My heart was full, right now, at this moment, my heart was full. It was a feeling I’d never felt before, it was euphoric and frightening and my eyes glassed over.
“Hey,” Jordan’s hand curled around mine and I turned to look at him. He’d sat next to me and our thighs had pressed together all evening and I’d decided it was one of the best feelings in the world. I wanted more of this. The thought alone scared the shit out of me. What was happening to me?
“I’m okay. I think I’m happy.” I whispered, resting my head briefly on his shoulder.
“You think?” He chuckled, dropping a kiss on the top of my head.
“It’s a foreign thing okay?” I protested half-heartedly, “I’ve had moments in Alaska where I’ve felt…satisfied, I guess is the best way to describe it. I’ve stood and watched the Aurora Borealis and been awed by mother nature herself. I’ve withstood twenty-four hours of daylight during an Alaskan summer, and mere hours of light during winter – all of it amazing. But this?” I indicated the people sitting around the table, “I don’t remember ever feeling like this. Complete.”
“I’m sorry.” He sounded miserable and I frowned at him, “you’re sorry that I’m happy?”
“No,” he chuckled, shaking his head, “I’m sorry that this is the first time you’ve felt that way, that a simple family barbeque is something so unique to you. You should have grown up with this.”
“Oh we had family get-togethers, don’t get me wrong,” I assured him.
“It’s just that she was always in trouble, for something.” Cameron chimed in.
“Pretty much.” I agreed. “I was usually sent to my room early or made to go and sit in the car if we were at someone else’s house.”
“Usually because you’d flick food at whoever was sitting opposite you.” Tyler chuckled.
“You knuckleheads would goad me into it and I wasn’t smart enough to ignore you. Pulling faces at me, flipping me the bird. You’d never get caught because it was expected of me to misbehave.” I laughed, remembering many a dinner time with my brothers goading me into throwing a pea at them, or flicking a spoonful of mashed potatoes across the table.
“Dad really did keep a close eye on you.” Cam agreed.
“Speaking of dad…do any of you know where he is? Tyler said he wasn’t home when he took mom back.” Rather than leaving her home alone, traumatized, Tyler had taken her to Uncle Glenn and Aunt Martha’s house, Veronica and Travis’s parents. Aunt Martha was a nurse and we figured mom would be in good hands – she hadn’t been seriously injured in the kidnapping, aside from a laceration to her forehead when they’d knocked her head against the car when they took her.
Cam and Tyler both shook their heads. “I’ve tried his cell. Nothing.”
I looked at Jordan, wondering if I should tell them what the vampire had told me – that they’d taken mom to lure dad to them. I still hadn’t told them about the file Grandpa had on him – I wasn’t sure if I ever would.
“Maybe he took a job out of town?” Tyler suggested. Dad worked in construction. He’d been hands-on, starting as a labourer and working his way up the chain while he studied architecture on the side. Now he worked mainly in an office in Maxxan, specializing in renovating old buildings into something new.
“I called his office,” I said, “they told me he’d taken some leave time.”
“That’s weird.” Cam looked at Tyler then back to me, “why wouldn’t dad tell mom? And if he’s gone away for a few days, why not take her with him? Is everything okay with those two?”
/> “You think they’re having marital problems?” It was Tyler who suggested it. It wouldn’t surprise me if they were, dad always overrode my mom in everything, it was his way or no way. But mom had stayed with him, loved him in spite of his assholish douchery, so why break up now? And it wasn’t mom who’d left, but dad. It didn’t make sense and I didn’t buy it for a moment.
“I’ll see if mom and dad know anything. Maybe Uncle Frank said something to them.” Cory offered. Couldn’t hurt, but I didn’t think it would amount to anything. My dad was involved in something, I was reasonably sure of it now. Everything that had happened was too coincidental.
* * *
“Raelene.”
I sat up in bed, hand to my chest. Who was here? Who had called my name?
“Grandpa?” I swear it had been his voice that I’d heard. The room was illuminated by the moonlight shining through the window yet I couldn’t see anyone.
“Rae. Sugarplum.” It was definitely Grandpa – he was the only one who’d ever called me Sugarplum. Sliding out of bed I tilted my head and listened intently.
“Where are you, Grandpa?” I wasn’t afraid, but maybe I should have been. I mean ghosts? But considering I had a hell hound as a pet, I didn’t think being visited by the ghost of my grandfather was anything to be scared of.
“Rae.” This time it sounded like he was on the other side of my bedroom door. Opening the door, I stepped out into the hallway. There! I caught a glimpse of a shadow, a blur out the corner of my eye. I followed. Downstairs, he had to have gone downstairs.
“Grandpa?” I called, my bare feet making no sound as I made my way down the stairs. It was dark, the moonlight not reaching this part of the house. I flicked the light switch and a dull yellow light illuminated the passageway running through the centre of the house.
Hearing a creak coming from the den I flicked on that light too, stood in the doorway and examined the room. Not much had changed. I’d packed up more books before heading to bed. I hadn’t found anything of interest yet, but one bookcase was completely empty. Then I saw him! Standing in front of that bookcase, shimmering in and out of view, was Grandpa. My heart thundered in my chest.