Unfortunately, vampire pregnancies were a difficult thing. Miscarriages were common. If the baby carried to term, sometimes both the baby and mother died in childbirth. This baby was a miracle and a curse at the same time. She protectively covered her stomach with both hands. She would do whatever it took to see this child born, even if it meant giving up her life.
Their eyes met in the mirror.
You won’t have to give up your life. Gage’s voice sounded heavy with emotion in her mind. I’ll protect you and our baby fiercely! I promise you, my love, we’ll have our miracle.
He crossed the room, coming behind his mate and encircled her in his arms. She settled back against him with a sigh. I know you will keep us safe. I have complete faith in you.
****
Katrina joined Marcus and Stephan on the terrace. It overlooked the strip, giving the trio a beautiful view of the neon forest before them. They watched the cars crawl by, the brake lights blinking like lights on a Christmas tree. The city was alive, the pulse of the strip keeping time with the blinking lights.
Stephan took a drink of his actual Bloody Mary and admired the view, but not the city. He only had eyes for Kat this evening. The short, black miniskirt she wore made of glossy vinyl that reflected the neon from the strip created a psychedelic pattern of swirls and lines as her hips swished back and forth when she meandered around the terrace. A red silk shirt and black stiletto heels completed her ensemble and sent need slamming hard into Stephan. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her, which he hoped was most likely the reaction she had hoped to elicit from him.
Marcus voiced what Stephan did not. “Wow Kat, you look amazing!” Marcus swept her into his arms and gave her a kiss on the cheek. A growl of warning escaped from Stephan’s throat.
Back off Marcus, she’s mine. He sent his mental warning directly through their mindlink, immediately wishing he had censored it.
She’s mine? Where had that come from? She wasn’t his. They hadn’t even gone out on a date. Sure they had been living together for weeks, but that didn’t count. Staying in separate rooms, they were nothing more than roommates, but the way he felt tonight made Stephan determined to change that. Those two little words, she’s mine, changed everything. His brain finally registered what his body had been trying to tell him since the first night they met, he wanted her. He wanted her near, wanted to be inside of her body and mind. Standing on the terrace, he knew he had to have her.
And he would.
The kind of male used to having what he wanted, he didn’t let anyone or anything get in his way. Being a warrior, he knew how to fight for what he desired. The only problem was he couldn’t fight to have Kat; he would have to win her, and tonight was as good a night to start as any.
“If you two will excuse me, I need to make a phone call.” Marcus slipped silently off the balcony leaving the couple alone, closing the sliding glass door with a snick behind him.
“Marcus is correct, you do look wonderful.” Stephan stepped closer to Katrina and tucked a stray golden curl behind her ear. He felt her shiver under his touch.
“Thank you.” Kat smiled up at him. “You look pretty good yourself.”
Stephan swept his long arm down his smoke gray dress shirt and matching designer slacks. “Thank you. I’m glad you like what you see.”
“Very much!” She murmured low as if she hoped he wouldn’t hear. Of course with his preternatural hearing, Stephan easily caught what she said.
He leaned into her, barely a breath’s space between them, to capture her eyes with his dark sensual gaze. “I’d like to take you out sometime.”
Kat swallowed hard, and in a breathy voice she replied, “I’d like that.”
“How about tonight?”
“I have to go to work.” Kat stared up at him with doe eyes. He wanted to get lost in those eyes forever and forget about the real world for a while, but she had to go soon.
Stephan quickly looked at his watch then back into Kat’s eyes. He could hear her heart beat faster and smiled, showing a hint of fang that he knew she found sexy. “Will you allow me to drive you to work?”
He would love to take her to work, for many reasons, not just because it would allow them a little more time together, but because a male wanted to do things for his female, protect her, care for her.
When she agreed, his heart soared in triumph, knowing he was on his way to making her his.
Chapter 9
Katrina donned her leather and lace costume and completed her make up routine in record time. As she sat at her makeup station humming to herself, Dana asked, “What’s with you tonight? You’re glowing.”
Kat smiled. “I just feel really good, like everything is right with the world.”
Cathy slid her a suspicious glance. “It’s Stephan isn’t it? Something happen?”
Dana sat straighter in her chair and placed her brush on her makeup station. “Oh tell! I want to hear all about tall, dark, and handsome.”
Kat laughed. “There’s nothing to tell, he just brought me to work.”
“Must have been quite a ride, you are on cloud nine,” Cathy commented, applying an overly generous amount of rouge to her cheeks.
“It was an ordinary ride.” Katrina gave a carefree shrug before giving her friend a mischievous look. “But he did ask me out.”
“Ooooooh! That explains the humming. Where are you going?”
“He said it was a surprise, but we’re going tomorrow night.”
Before they could question her further, the stage manager did his stage call, and they scampered onto the stage. They stood frozen in their beginning positions, Kat front and center, as the curtain parted. The music started, and the women began their seductive dance. Kat felt particularly light on her feet. She had to struggle to keep her mind on the choreography and not on Stephan. As she danced, she imagined him in the audience and danced only for him.
****
On the arm of her mate, Andrea entered Reapers, noting the decor. The club, designed to showcase the show, discreetly housed a large bar in the back manned by four bartenders doing flips and tricks with the liquor bottles. The floor had three levels, the top two of which supported a series of tables and chairs positioned in half moon shapes toward the stage. The bottom level contained high backed semicircular private VIP booths where couples could sit on padded benches and view the show in virtual privacy corralled by tables with long white tableclothes. Big burly bouncers, most of whom her senses told her were vampires, patrolled along the walls, waiting to step in when needed.
At the front of the room, the spotlighted stage stood front and center with its blood-red curtains pulled back and the club’s beautiful dancers on display. The women cascaded in threes down a set of stairs onto the stage, swaying their hips, their red stiletto thigh-high boots clicking with each unified step. Their dance elicited from the customers exactly what was promised by the name of the show, desire. It filled the room, settling over Andrea as they made their way to a private booth.
The dancers twirled and swept their bodies in suggestive ways while the stage lights glistened off the shiny leather costumes, accenting their best assets. Each dancer wore a fire engine red smile designed to illicit thoughts of steamy wanton nights.
As Andrea and Gage watched the show, the mood of the crowd mixed with the swaying and gyrating hips on the stage in a titillating combination. The blonde in the middle looked particularly beautiful. Her hair glistening in the bright lights, she moved with a grace that drew the eye. Andrea could feel Gage’s lust rise as his gaze followed the woman.
Feeling practically naughty, Andrea moved her hand under the table onto Gage’s thigh. She squeezed as she leaned into him. “See the one in the middle with the long blonde hair and the large chest?”
“Yes,” Gage rasped as Andrea’s long fingers began making their way up his thigh.
“Isn’t she pretty?” She brushed her finger tips over the bulge in his pants.
“Yes.” Apparently
that was the most complicated statement he could make with her fingers dancing over his pants.
“I want you to think of us with her as I do this.” She moved her hand up to the fastenings on his slacks. With nimble fingers, she undid the hook and slid down the zipper, freeing his erection from the offensive material. She took him into her hand and stroked him with one long caress from the bottom to the tip, causing him to suck a deep breath.
“Do you like that?” she asked, knowing the answer before the question even left her lips.
“Yes,” he breathed.
“Can you say anything besides, yes?” She stroked him harder as his eyes tracked the sultry movements of the blonde on stage.
“Not. Right. Now.”
Andrea smiled.
****
Marcus sat outside his club, waiting in Stephan’s sleek silver Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Roadster with the top down. Looking exhausted, Kat sank into the ash-gray leather passenger seat, letting it cradle her tired muscles.
“You ready to go home?” asked Marcus, trying not to notice how long her legs looked peeking out from under the black mini she had changed into. He turned the key and brought all twelve cylinders to life, starting their short trip home.
“Yeah. I’m tired.” Kat laid her head back, a sigh escaping her lips before she closed her eyes. The wind whipped her hair behind her in golden waves when they pulled away from a stop light.
“Marcus, can I ask you about Stephan?”
Marcus tightened his grip on the leather wrapped steering wheel. “Yes.” His voice was as even as the expression on his face.
“I have to know. Does Stephan really like me or is he just attracted to me sexually?”
“That is a complicated question for a vampire. Our desire is different from humans. It’s not just sexual, or bloodlust or companionship. Our hunger can be a combination.”
“So how does Stephan hunger for me?” she asked, turning to look at him.
“Honestly, I don’t know for sure. He has blocked me from his mind. I can tell you that physical changes come over him when you enter the room. His muscles tense, his testosterone increases, pupils dilate. I’ve never seen him react to a woman the way he reacts to you.”
“Oh.”
“In fact, in the two hundred and fifty years I have known him, he has never been so cranky. I think that’s because of you too.”
“Thanks a lot!” Kat shot him a perturbed look, and Marcus smiled.
“That’s not a bad thing. I think you have gotten under his skin, and he doesn’t know how to react. It’s making him edgy.”
“Huh, that makes two of us.”
“Yeah. I know. If you two don’t hook up soon, I’m going to have to move out. I can’t take much more of your moods.” Marcus laughed as he pulled the car into valet parking.
They rode the elevator in companionable silence up to the penthouse. Before the doors opened, Kat turned to Marcus and gave him an affable hug.
“Not that I’m complaining, but what’s this for?” he asked, wrapping his arms around her back.
“For being such a good friend.”
Marcus stifled a moan. It felt good to have Kat in his arms. He loved the way she felt against him, and he knew that if she and Stephan became a couple, he was going to lose the ability to be close with her.
Most vampires didn’t share their mates with another, and Stephan was definitely the possessive type. This might be the last time they ever got to hug, and he wasn’t going to let it slip by. He rested his chin on the top of her head, absorbing the scent and feel of her, memorizing it for all time.
A pang of regret tightened his chest. Kat would not have an easy time if she became involved with Stephan. He was not a gentle man, but a warrior long ago hardened by battle. However, Marcus knew he would not stand in their way. They each deserved happiness. He only hoped they might find it in each other’s arms, without Kat getting hurt in the process.
He hugged her close, refusing to let her go even when the elevator door opened to reveal Stephan standing with his arms crossed over his thick chest. As his gaze drifted over the friends, his expression changed from one of welcome to a glaring sneer that left no question about whose arms Kat belonged in.
Chapter 10
Kat entered the living room dressed in black skinny jeans that accentuated her long legs, and her eyes immediately found the tall vampires in the middle of the room. Stephan stood next to Marcus rolling up his sleeves. He wore dark blue jeans and a fitted white oxford tucked neatly into his pants, emphasizing how his body created a Vee from his broad shoulders to his narrow waist. Yummy. Damn, she’d never seen anyone rock an oxford like him.
His eyes locked on her. Was he watching her hips? She gave them a little more swish than normal just in case as she crossed the room in her bright green T-shirt with the swirling design across the bosom. Her hair flowed down her back in smooth waves with each step. His gaze roamed over her then locked on her eyes. She felt as if she was falling into his dark, hungry gaze.
“Ready to go, Kitten?” he inquired, snapping her from her daze.
Kat brushed her sweaty palms down the thighs of her jeans. Her heart raced, aflutter with the anticipation and excitement of this evening’s events.
“I guess I’m ready.” She smiled up at him. “You still haven’t told me what we are doing.”
“I know. It’s a surprise, for me to know and you to find out,” he answered, cryptically, with a wink.
The phone rang, making Kat jump. Marcus picked up the receiver and murmured, “thanks” into the phone. “Your ride is here,” he called to the couple. “Have fun.”
“Shall we go?” Stephan asked and formally offered his arm to Kat. She slipped her arm in his, feeling the tight muscles and sinew through his shirt. Wearing what looked like a forced smile, Marcus waved the pair off, bidding them goodnight.
Once downstairs, the parking attendant opened the limousine door for the couple. Kat crawled into the vehicle, giving Stephan a nice view of her derrière. Realizing what she had done, she peeked over her shoulder and smiled sheepishly at him.
Returning her grin, Stephan chuckled. “Nice view, Kitten.”
Stephan slid in beside her, tucking her under his arm. Kat watched out the window as they left the strip, and headed toward the airport.
“Are we going to the airport?” Kat asked with raised brows.
“Yes, that is where our journey begins this evening.”
“Journey?” Curiosity widened her eyes. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see, my little kitten.” A sexy smile spread across Stephan’s face. “I’ve planned a little adventure.”
A surprise. She loved surprises.
They arrived at the airport in record time. A moss green EC-130 helicopter awaited them. Inside, theater seating, covered in the finest leather, welcomed her. The spacious interior gave them freedom of movement, while the wrap around windows, allowed for an unobstructed view.
Once they settled in the soft leather seats of the aircraft, they donned their headsets.
“Ready to go?” cut in the pilot over the headset.
Kat nodded, looking up into Stephan’s eyes.
“We’re ready.” His deep voice rang through the intercom system causing a shiver down Kat’s back.
“We’re off,” said the pilot as the rotors spun to life. Small swirls of dust danced like mini tornadoes on the tarmac outside. Stephan reached up and hit a button on the ceiling of the craft, creating a private channel on which she and her date could speak.
Once in the air, he gestured out the window. Kat turned sideways to glance where he pointed. Stephan leaned his body against her back as he tapped on the glass. “Look, you don’t want to miss that view.”
It was difficult to concentrate with him pressed against her, but somehow she managed, and it was definitely worth the struggle. The view of the Vegas strip mesmerized her. She’d seen an aerial shot of the strip at night on TV, but it didn’t compar
e to the buffet of colors that fed her vision tonight. Below them an ocean of gold flowed where red, orange and pink neon creatures flitted about the blue and green neon coral.
As they flew, Stephan continued to describe points of interest. They flew over the Hoover Dam admiring the architecture and its grand scale. Lake Mead seemed smooth like blown sugar as they went by, the boats tucked neatly into its harbor for the night. With the hum of the rotor blades in the background, they listened to music in their headphones, lovely music. And she wondered if Stephan had specially chosen it for its romantic quality.
They arrived at the Grand Canyon and followed the Colorado River as it snaked through until they came to a cascading waterfall. The helicopter descended into the canyon past the rust colored waves on the rocky walls. They touched down beside the base of the falls, where the falling water met the still river causing a white wake that crashed with a purring sound. Kat watched as the full moon’s reflection shimmered and shook in the ripples of the water.
Once the rotors settled to a stop, Stephan handed Kat out of the helicopter, then grabbed a blue cooler and quilt from their hiding place in the chopper. He tucked her under his arm and escorted her to the falls. It felt natural, tucked up against his side. The smell of his cologne wafted on the breeze. She couldn’t help herself. She took a deep breath and knew she’d remember that delicious woodsy scent for the rest of her life.
When the sound of whirling rotors caught Kat’s attention, she turned and watched the helicopter ascend. Her long blonde hair whipped around her in the wash from the blades. She looked back at Stephan whose own hair was tied neatly back in a leather thong at his neck. As she worked to gather her whipping hair Kat asked, “Where is the helicopter going? It’s not leaving us here, is it?”
Stephan looked down at Kat, a mischievous smirk on his face. “Why so worried, Kitten? Are you afraid to be alone with me?”
“I don’t know. You are a big bad vampire after all. Should I be afraid of you?” she teased.
Alpha Mine (The Alpha Council Chronicles) Page 6