Once Bitten: A Paranormal Vampire Romance (Arcane City Book 1)

by Tilly Hart

  I reached up and touched his cheek, pulling his lips to mine as I pressed the length of my body against his. Heat soared between us as I threw everything I had into the kiss, needing to feel him once more, to show him I had fire too. He reacted instantly, his hands working into my hair and gripping me firmly as he took over, his lips and tongue exploring me.

  All of my nerve endings tingled on high alert as his thigh pressed between mine, putting pressure just there. It drove me mad with longing and I’d have let him tear my clothes off there had he been inclined too. But he pulled back, staring into my eyes as I gasped in front of him.

  ‘You want this?’

  ‘Yes.’ I nodded eagerly as heat crept into my cheeks. I more than just wanted it, I needed it.

  ‘Later. Food first.’

  He sat on the bike before lifting me onto the back behind him. He made me feel like a paper doll, barely even making a noise as he put me effortlessly onto the pillion. Anxiety reared up, filled me with terror, but I gave up on my argument. My knuckles whitened as he revved the bike, the strong vibrations seeping up through my core the moment it started up.

  ‘Oh god,’ I sighed into his back, my face pressing against the rough embroidery of his jacket.

  ‘Yeah, try not to fall off if it makes you come.’

  ‘What? It won’t… it can’t…’

  ‘Yes, it can.’ And with those words we were off, slaloming our way through the city lights as my thighs clung in terror beside his hips.

  There was at least ten minutes of pure fear as adrenaline coursed from my head through to the tip of my toes before I could relax just enough to open an eye. The bright shop lights streamed past as I clutched myself against Jed’s back, my face sticking to the warm leather of his jacket as my stomach all but evacuated my mouth as we rounded a tight corner. Then it hit me. I’d given in the moment he’d turned me on, my desperation for touch seeping out of me like a foul smell.

  Shit Rebecca. What are you doing?

  But there was no exiting a bike mid-ride, so I screwed my eyes shut, berating myself for thinking I could deal with this level of madness. I could no longer ignore the intense rumbling between my thighs, the bike like a giant vibrator on acid, proved utterly distracting as I clung on for dear life.

  The thrum of the engine was low, but with each shift of the gears, or change in acceleration, the frequency of the vibrations altered, meaning I couldn’t even get used to one level of distraction before being thrown into another.

  I bit my lip as I squirmed behind Jed, the sensations building beneath me. I didn’t want to come on the bike; the thought made sweat gather at the base of my spine as I tried to think some very unsexy thoughts to ward off the impending orgasm.

  Old men in the sauna.

  The neighbour’s butt crack as he weeded the garden.

  God… A rough patch in the road made the bike jump, sending a fresh rush of tingles between my legs. It was at that moment I realised that I’d been looking for adventure my entire life, and even if it was only for a few days, it may be my only chance to embrace it.

  _Why am I fighting this? I wanted this. I wanted to feel alive, and to feel good. Just give in…_

  So I did. I stopped fighting the feelings and let them wash through me in a wave of excitement. Instead of trying to do everything not to give in, I gave in entirely. Let the universe deal me a hand for once. If I wanted to ditch the scheduled life, even just temporarily, I had to let go.

  I closed my eyes and leaned my face against his well muscled back, moaning softly as I let the sensations rule. I ached with need and pressed myself into him, grinding forward and down to sate that need.

  With every inch closer to orgasm, I gave up more of myself, let my guard down and let my body rule instead of my mind. I was nothing but a writhing, groaning slush pile of woman when the vibrations cut out.

  ‘Don’t stop,’ I said before I could stop myself, heat flushing into my cheeks as he got off the bike and grinned at me.

  ‘Told you.’

  ‘You said it would make me come. I didn’t.’

  ‘You would have.’ He picked me up by the waist and pulled me to him, tipping my head upwards as he pressed his lips to my neck, drawing them over the skin in a series of kisses. ‘But I have plenty of other ways to get you off, don’t worry.’

  And with those words muttered against my throat, any thoughts of leaving that night fled my near-orgasm addled brain.

  ‘One thing,’ I said, pulling back to look at him. ‘What we eating?’

  His face cracked into a smile as his eyebrows rose a little. ‘Pizza.’

  We didn’t eat in the cafe. Jed wanted to lie low, so we took the pizza on another short - infuriating - ride to sit on the overpass, leaning on the barrier and watching the night traffic zip by beneath us.

  My stomach growled at the promise of food. After over twenty-four hours from my last meal, it turned out I was ravenous. Jed didn’t berate me when I practically inhaled more than my fair share of the hot, cheesy slices.

  ‘God I needed that,’ I breathed, feeling shy about how I‘d brazenly kissed Jed, and my following performance on his bike.

  ‘Not the only thing you seem to need.’ There was no malice in his words, just a twinkle in his eye.

  ‘Hey, you’re not so hands off yourself, remember?’

  ‘Never said I wasn’t. I told you I wanted you.’ There it was again, those words I’d longed to hear.

  ‘It’s not that I don’t want to sleep with you. You are the most exciting thing that’s happened to my life in a very long time. It’s just a weird time, especially after yesterday. My emotions are a mess.’

  ‘There doesn’t have to be emotions involved. You’ll go on with your life soon enough, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the interim.’

  ‘I just keep picturing the guy, you know?’

  Jed nodded and turned to face me, putting his back to the railing. ‘It will be there for a while. You’d have to be a psychopath to not be affected by it. It was an accident. And if he’d have survived, we’d both likely be dead. When it comes down to survival, you need to do what’s necessary.’

  ‘I guess.’

  ‘Doing something terrible doesn’t make you evil, it’s just a part of life. Bad and good is a fallacy. Even the worst people have redeeming qualities, and even the best sport secrets. You’ve just got to keep going.’

  I smiled at Jed and brushed my hair from my face, the evening breeze soon wrapping it back around my cheeks. ‘Thank you. For getting me out of there. And for letting me stay. It’s kind of you.’

  Jed chuckled, ‘It wasn’t wholly altruistic on my part. Will someone be wondering where you are?’

  ‘Ben has been texting.’

  ‘The jack-in-a-cup guy?’ I snorted, my spilling my words the other night coming back to me.

  ‘Yes. He doesn’t like not being in control of the schedule, he’ll be shitting hedgehogs at me walking out. He knows I have no one else, he’d have expected me back after a few hours to cool off. But I’m done.’

  ‘Was it that bad?’

  ‘Not at first, it was never head over heels intense love. It was, steady. Sensible. But I ruined it all with my barren womb.’ I bit my lips as the words slipped out, an excellent way to make myself even less attractive.

  ‘Who cares about your womb? There are other ways to get a kid these days.’ He saw me flinch and back tracked, pushing his hand through his hair. ‘Sorry, that was insensitive.’

  ‘No, it’s fine. I didn’t even want kids, not really. I only went along with it because I thought it would make Ben happier. The IVF was brutal, but I’m not sorry it didn’t work.’

  ‘He’s an idiot.’

  ‘He is,’ I agreed.

  ‘What about you? Have you ever been in love?’

  Jed cleared his throat and pinned me with a stare from his piercing green eyes. ‘There is only two things I love, both involve riding. Ready to go back to the club?’

  I sto
le another look at the bike, my tummy churning at the thought. Jed leaned in close to me, his hands at my waist as he guided me forward. ‘You can always bite my leather jacket if it gets too much…’

  And just like that, the arrogant side returned.

  Eight

  JED

  My intention to squirrel Rebecca away in my room had failed spectacularly upon our return to the club. While the memory of her quivering and panting behind me on my bike clouded my focus, the others set upon us the moment we entered the clubroom.

  Angus had invited Rebecca over to watch some singing contest on the box, and to my annoyance, she’d agreed. She may have been less forthcoming if she knew that the others who surrounded them were blood thirsty monsters.

  Not that I could talk.

  A tendril of envy gripped at my chest as I watched Angus chat to Rebecca, her smiling and laughing with ease next to the ageing human. Perhaps it was their humanity which linked them. But I wanted her to myself.

  Pres pressed a beer into my hand and leaned back against the bar next to me. ‘She’s still here then?’

  ‘Obviously.’

  ‘I’d have thought you’d have done what you wanted by now and let her go.’

  My hand clasped the neck of the bottle tightly as I lowered my voice. ‘It’s not like that.’

  Pres’ face took on a stony demeanour as he watched Rebecca giggling with Angus. ‘It had better be like that. Keeping a human around for a day or two as a plaything is fine. Having grand notions of more isn’t shit I need around here.’

  ‘I’ve put up with your human being around. I’ve put up with your incessant search for her after every reincarnation, and the devastation each time her life draws to a close. Why is it okay for you but not for me?’

  ‘Listen, Jed. It’s not the same. Samiyah loved me when I was human, our love was grounded with blood. It kills me thatI find her only to lose her again and again. You don’t want that. Mate with your own kind if you are looking for anything more than a hole to fill. Humans are like bugs, they may shine brightly for a brief time, but they come and go in the blink of an eye.’

  The older vampire’s eyes had grown misty as he spoke. They always did when he spoke of her.

  ‘Why don’t you turn her? Then you could stay together forever.’

  ‘She’s never said yes. And I can’t do it to her without her consent. This is no life. Not really. Most of the world thinks we’re a myth, and the rest want to control us or kill us.’

  The beer was cool as it filtered down my throat. Not that it was necessary, only blood brought us the energy we needed.

  ‘I’m just keeping her safe until after they’ve dealt with Greyson. After that, she’ll be gone.’

  ‘Good.’ Pres cleared his throat. ‘You need to go see Calvin tonight.’

  Shit. He would be pissed about one of his pack being killed, even if they were throwing his plans up in the air. But Pres was the boss.

  ‘Later,’ I said.

  ‘Just remember, anything based on lies will never work. Until she knows what you are, you’re deceiving her. And if there is one thing I’ve learned, women don’t like deception.’

  ‘Does anyone?’

  Pres nudged me as he pushed away from the bar. ‘Depends on the lie. Just remember what you are. Vampires don’t get happy ever afters. Ever after is a long time when you’re immortal.’

  ‘I’ll take some happy over none.’

  With a shrug, Pres left me standing there alone, watching Rebecca light up at Angus’ commentary. I would tell her. In a few days, once her leaving would be safe.

  I remained on the fringe of the sizeable room, watching and contemplating, until Pippa wondered in, looking like a lost lamb in the den of predators.

  ‘Who’s turn is it to eat me tonight?’ She swayed on the spot, unzipping her top and revealing an eyeful of cleavage and neck.

  Shit. Fucking blood junkies.

  Rebecca’s eyes were wide as Pippa draped herself over Vance, one of the newer vampires, and a terrible choice for feeding. He had grasped no sense of control over himself yet. But I had no time to worry about Pippa, I needed to get Rebecca out of there before his fangs appeared.

  I stormed across the room and picked Rebecca up by the waist, throwing her over my shoulder as she complained.

  ‘What are you doing, Jed? Put me down.’ She wriggled like a fucking eel, and I was glad of my superior strength. If I’d have been human, she would be flat on her ass.

  ‘Bed time.’

  ‘We’ve not long woken up!’ Snickers erupted behind us, but I didn’t look back.

  I locked my door behind me and threw Rebecca down on the bed in one gigantic pile of fury.

  ‘You can’t just pick me up and throw me in your room. I was having fun.’

  ‘Yeah, well, the fun’s over for now.’

  ‘Why? What did the girl mean by eat me?’ My mind whirred at her question, I couldn’t tell her the truth, could I? No. I needed a distraction. And in the brief time I’d known Rebecca, there was only one distraction that had worked.

  ‘I’ll show you.’

  Rebecca barely had time to take a breath before I was on her, my tongue separating her lips as I kissed her. If she had any objection, it wasn’t clear. Her body trembled beneath me as I pressed myself against her, kissing her with all the hunger she wrought in me.

  She smelled faintly of my deodorant and pizza on the surface, but the more I kissed her, the more attuned to her I became. Soon she reeked of lust and longing as I moved my lips to her neck, the burning desire to taste her blood thudding through me. My eyes rolled back as my fangs descended, every inch of me craving her. Sex was intimate, but it paled compared to feasting. Just for a moment, I let my fangs graze her skin, her veins calling out to my inner beast, begging to be invaded.

  I closed my eyes and retracted my fangs, soothing the spot with my lips instead. With adrenaline coursing through me, I kissed my way down her stomach, yanking her jeans down as I went.

  ‘What are you doing?’ she said, her voice far off and hazy, filled with the languid hush of desire.

  ‘Eating you.’

  ‘You mean—’ I cut her off as my mouth settled over her already wet panties, kissing her at her core. ‘Oh, holy fuck.’

  I grinned at her reaction, her body jolting with each movement. No matter what I told Pres, or myself, I wanted her, human or not.

  Her underpants soon joined her jeans on the floor, and I splayed her open beneath me, admiring her. She tried to close her thighs as I took my time looking at her, but I pinned them wide, knowing she wouldn’t have the strength to stop me. Her cheeks flushed as I did, and her embarrassment only turned me on all the more.

  I leaned close to her, my mouth just a hairs-breadth from her wetness. ‘Do you want this?’

  Rebecca buried her face in her hands and groaned. ‘Yes. I do.’

  ‘Tell me.’

  ‘I want you to… to… taste me.’

  ‘I will do more than just taste you, Rebecca.’ I planted my mouth over her and drove my tongue along her desperate flesh. Her hips rocked against my face as she moaned, but I kept her pinned wide for me.

  ‘Fuck,’ she whimpered as I slid my tongue from her ass right up to the knotted bundle of nerves. The noises she made had me hard as granite below the belt, and the temptation to sink myself into her splayed folds was overwhelming. But this was her distraction, not mine. I needed her tired, but I still had places to be before dawn.

  I lost myself in licking and sucking until I felt her tense under my hands, the telltale pulsing evident beneath my chin.

  I pressed three fingers home, tipping her over the edge and into orgasm. Her cries of pleasure pierced me and sent a bundle of emotions driving through me. I was impossibly hard, desperate to hold her, to fuck her, to keep her safe in my bed until the danger had passed. Her muscles crushed against my fingers as she rode them until the wave disappeared, her body going limp against the bed. She looked fucking a
dorable as she lay there, sated, in nothing but her tee-shirt, her tousled hair spread around her and her cheeks flushed red.

  ‘I’d forgotten…’ she mumbled, her voice trembling as she gathered her breath.

  ‘Forgotten?’

  ‘It’s been about a decade since anyone has done that, and never as good as that.’ She pulled me to her and kissed me deeply, her thanks pouring into me with her touch. Her hand slid to my jeans and grazed against my cock, making me growl in response. Fucking Calvin. I wanted to stay, but shit needed taking care of. I held her wrist and kissed her on the side of her jaw.

  ‘I can’t, not right now. Pres has a job for me.’

  ‘Can’t it wait until morning?’ she breathed in my ear, nipping at my neck with her teeth.

  ‘No, it can’t.’

  Her eyebrows knitted together in confusion as her mouth formed into a pout. ‘You can’t just… do that… and leave.’

  I smirked at her as I stood up, adjusting my painfully erect dick before pulling on my jacket. ‘It’s not that I want to. I’d rather stay and do ungodly things to you all night. To hear you begging and moaning and whimpering until the early hours. And I will. Just not tonight.’

  She looked pissed as I headed for the door. ‘So what about me?’

  ‘You should stay in here and sleep.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘If I’m not here, you stay in this room, with the door locked. Do you hear me? They are my brothers, but it doesn’t mean you’re safe with them. You’re still a stranger to them.’

  I trusted most of my fellow vampires, but some younger ones were still loose cannons. Sending a human reeking of arousal out amongst them would be foolish.

  ‘Okay.’ Rebecca said, sliding herself under the covers and picking up her discarded phone with a pout. ‘I have stuff to catch up on, anyway.’

  ‘I’ll be back as soon as I can.’

  ‘You’d better be sporting pancakes.’