Dark Warrior's Legacy

by I. T. Lucas

  There was another benefit to the membership club formula. It might be far-fetched, but what if it lured immortal females as well? Logic dictated that immortal females’ sexual appetites matched those of the males, and therefore they also had to satisfy their needs with random mortals.

  The thing was, their detection was even trickier than that of the males. As far as he knew, their fangs were tiny and didn’t elongate, and he had no idea if they liked to bite or not. The only sure telltale sign was their superior strength. But again, it wasn’t as if they flaunted it indiscriminately.

  Still, a remote chance of snaring a coveted immortal female was better than none.

  Chapter 30: Dalhu

  Crouching, Dalhu snapped several pictures in quick succession, concentrating on Nathalie’s dress. He didn’t need Andrew and his lovely bride to pose for endless hours if he could capture their clothing on camera. As it was, they were getting impatient. “Just a few more,” he said.

  “I think you have enough.” Andrew lifted Nathalie an inch and repositioned her on his lap.

  Dalhu let his camera arm drop by his side. “Now why did you have to do that? You messed up the folds in her dress. They are not the same as before.”

  “My leg is getting numb.”

  Lifting the camera back up, Dalhu pinned Andrew with a hard stare. “No, it’s not, you are an immortal. Be a man and sit still for a few more minutes.”

  He’d made good progress with their portrait, but he was leaving for Hawaii later that evening and wanted to continue the work there. At this stage, with Nathalie’s face and hair done, and Andrew’s almost there, he could complete the rest using photographs instead of live modeling. Capturing the exact shade of their clothing wasn’t as important.

  “You really shouldn’t take work with you on your vacation,” Nathalie said for the tenth time. “You should enjoy your time off with Amanda.”

  Dalhu still couldn’t believe Kian had agreed to let him go. All he had to do was ask. It seemed he was indeed a fully-fledged member of the clan now. Except for one thing—no share in the profits. He still needed to earn his keep. But it didn’t bother him. He wasn’t a member by birthright and therefore didn’t deserve a share of the clan’s extensive fortune. He had all the riches he could have ever dreamt of. A female to love and who loved him back, a place to call home, and an occupation to help heal his soul and push the darkness away.

  He snapped another picture. “Amanda is going to be busy getting the rescued females settled. I’m sure I’ll have plenty of free time on my hands.”

  “Are you done?” Andrew grumbled.

  “Yes. You can get up.” Dalhu took the camera, a fancy piece of equipment Amanda had surprised him with, and hooked it up to his laptop to upload the pictures.

  Gently, as if she was a delicate flower, Andrew lifted Nathalie off his lap and helped her stand. Once he was sure she was steady, he stretched.

  The girl looked tired. While snapping pictures, Dalhu had noticed the dark circles under her big, brown eyes. He supposed it was to be expected in her condition. Not that he had any reference to judge by, but it made sense. Her body was working double duty now, doing everything it had always done while also building a new life.

  Quite miraculous.

  He glanced at Amanda who passed by the studio’s open door with another suitcase in hand, wondering how he would feel if she was with child.

  Crazy with worry, that’s how.

  From the little he’d learned while listening to Bridget talk about immortal pregnancies, he’d surmised that there was no risk to the mothers. If anything went wrong, their bodies’ rapid healing took care of it. But miscarriages were common, which was especially devastating given the low conception rate.

  Amanda had already lost a child and had barely survived the tragedy. Losing another would shatter her to pieces.

  If contraception were an option for immortals, he would have used it. Not that he didn’t want to have children, he would have loved nothing more, but risking Amanda’s mental health wasn’t worth it. Not to him.

  “Darlings,” she called while passing by again. “I hate to rush you, but Dalhu hasn’t packed yet. We need to go.”

  Andrew pulled Dalhu into a quick embrace and clapped him on his back. “Enjoy your vacation, Dalhu. See you in a few days.”

  Nathalie smiled. “Have fun,” she said, patting Dalhu’s arm on her way out.

  He cast a worried glance at Andrew, but apparently, the guy didn’t mind the small token of affection his fiancée had shown Dalhu. Kian was so much worse. He got angry if anyone’s eyes lingered on his wife for too long—and what he considered too long was about a half a second.

  Dalhu frowned. It was strange that he’d never experienced jealousy or possessiveness toward Amanda. It seemed he was the odd immortal in that regard. The only thing that bothered him about other males leering after her was that they didn’t deserve to even think about her, let alone have the nasty thoughts he knew they had. It was akin to sacrilege. Mortals shouldn’t have these kinds of thoughts about a goddess.

  Amanda wasn’t as openly affectionate toward him as Syssi and Nathalie were toward their mates. And yet he had never doubted her, or her love for him. He was as sure of it as he was of his own. She’d never mentioned a wedding either, and it was fine by him. The last thing he needed was to be the center of attention with several hundred clan members eyeing him with suspicion. He wasn’t naive; not everyone had accepted him wholeheartedly.

  “Dalhu!” she called from their walk-in closet. “Don’t just stand there, get moving! Do you want me to pack for you?”

  Not a bad idea. “Would you, please?”

  She marched into the studio and put her hands on her hips. “When I offered to do so this morning, you said you’d do it. I could’ve been done with it hours ago.”

  Amanda looked magnificent when she was angry, and Dalhu couldn’t help himself. He pulled her against his body and kissed her until her body went soft in his arms. “I’m sorry. I got carried away with the portrait, which I still need to pack carefully because the paint is wet. And then there are the rest of my supplies.”

  When she lifted her eyes to him, there was only love in those twin blue lakes. “Why are you taking so much stuff with you? We are only going for a few days.”

  “As I told you, I want to paint a Hawaiian sunset and sunrise because they are magnificent. Besides, it may take longer. You said so yourself.”

  She lifted her chin and kissed him lightly. “Okay. But when I say stop, you drop everything, and we go out to have fun.”

  A chuckle bubbled up from deep in his belly. “Was there a time when I didn’t? I always do what you want.”

  Her cheeks pinked and she rolled her eyes. “I wish. You never say no, but you use all kinds of delaying tactics.”

  “Oh, yeah? Give me one example.”

  She waved her hand at the room. “You were supposed to be done hours ago, and everything should have been packed already.”

  She had a point.

  He kissed her forehead. “I need to retain some male dignity, woman. Besides, what’s the rush? The plane isn’t going to leave without us.”

  They were taking the largest of the clan’s jets, and he was looking forward to experiencing the luxurious mode of transportation. Regrettably, they would be sharing the ride with the rescued females, and he would be exiled to the cockpit, out of their way. After what they’d been through, a male his size might look too intimidating to them.

  A pity. He would’ve loved to join the mile-high club.

  “I know, but I don’t want a group of twenty-four women waiting for us.”

  He sighed. “I wish we were flying by ourselves.”

  Her eyes sparkled as she asked, “Why? Did you have some naughty ideas?”

  “Aha.”

  “Don’t worry, darling.” She winked. “Leave it to Amanda. I’ll find a way.”

  His woman was the best. “I love you,” he said.

&n
bsp; “I love you too. Now hurry up and pack your supplies. I really don’t want to be late.”

  Chapter 31: Nathalie

  “How is Tiffany doing?” Andrew asked when Nathalie came back from saying goodbye to the girl, as well as to the rest of the women who were leaving for Hawaii.

  She sat next to him on the couch, kicked off her shoes, and tucked her feet under her. “Excited, a little anxious. This is going to be her first plane ride.”

  Andrew wrapped his arm around her, and she rested her head on his bicep. “What did Vanessa tell them about the trip? Were they already thralled?”

  “No, not yet. Amanda told them about this great job opportunity in a luxurious new hotel, with lodging and training included. She then asked each one of the girls if she was interested. Vanessa wanted to make sure they were told about it without influence to gauge their responses.”

  “And?”

  “Unanimous excitement. Come on, who wouldn’t want to move to Hawaii with a guaranteed, well-paying job?”

  “Not me.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I love it here. Just look at this apartment. And most of the people we love are within an elevator ride.”

  Nathalie snuggled up to Andrew and pushed her hand under his T-shirt, resting it on his warm skin. “Yeah, I don’t want to go anywhere either. Syssi showed me the movie theater in the basement, we should try it out.”

  Andrew kissed her forehead. “You know what we haven’t done yet?”

  Stifling a chuckle, Nathalie sighed dramatically and asked, “What?” Knowing Andrew, whatever it was, it surely had something to do with sex.

  He leaned and whispered, his hot breath tickling her ear. “We didn’t try sex in the tub yet.”

  “Nor did we try the kitchen counter…” she added.

  “Or the lounge chair on the balcony outside our room.”

  “Pervert.”

  Andrew released an offended puff. “Get your head out of the gutter, woman, I was talking about sunbathing.”

  Yeah, right.

  She looked up at his smirking face and arched a brow. “Really?”

  “No, not really.”

  Andrew was so predictable, but in a good way. She wouldn’t want him to change a bit.

  “We have to wait until my father is asleep.”

  “I think he already is. I hear snoring from his room.”

  Nathalie sighed. With his new and improved hearing, there was no doubt that what he heard was true. “He must’ve fallen asleep in the BarcaLounger. I’ll better check up on him.”

  “While you do that, I’ll fill the tub.”

  “Sounds good.”

  As she’d suspected, she found Papi asleep in his chair. He’d reclined it fully, so it was almost flat. The television was still droning in the background, but she didn’t turn it off. Papi slept like a baby with the television on but woke up the moment it was turned off.

  Instead, she picked up the blanket that had slid down to the floor and covered him, then snatched a pillow from the bed and tucked it under his head. Satisfied that he was comfortable, she tiptoed out and closed the door quietly behind her.

  Once again, as she walked the twenty feet or so from his room to the master bedroom, Nathalie felt like skipping with joy. Finally, they had some privacy.

  Her grin grew wider when she found Andrew lying in the rapidly filling bathtub, his magnificent nude body a vision to behold. For a moment she just gazed at him, getting her fill of his masculine yumminess.

  “Are you going to just stand there? Or are you going to join me?”

  Damn his hearing. He’d known she was there, ogling him. As if the guy needed any more fodder for his ego.

  She made quick work of shedding her clothes and walked over to the tub. “Is the water hot?”

  She lifted a foot over the rim and dipped her toes. It was slightly too warm for her liking. She remembered reading somewhere that it wasn’t good for the baby.

  “Could you add a little more cold water, please?”

  Andrew made a face but did as she asked.

  She waited a few moments for the water to chill and lifted her other foot over the rim. “That’s more like it.”

  Nathalie lowered herself into the water and sat across from Andrew. The tub was so wide that they could lie side by side without touching, but what was the fun in that?

  Andrew was of the same opinion. “What are you doing over there, love, come here,” he said tapping his muscular chest.

  “Much better,” he said as she laid her back against his chest, her head resting comfortably on his hard muscles.

  “How are your breasts? Still tender?” Andrew cupped them gently.

  Nathalie loved her new larger boobs, they looked great, but she missed the sensation of Andrew’s fingers, tugging her tight buds. He was always gentle, but now even the slightest touch hurt too much to be pleasurable.

  “Unfortunately, yes.”

  “Poor baby.” Andrew circled his thumbs over her areoles, avoiding her stiff nipples. “How about my tongue? If I lick very gently?”

  His cock twitched against her backside. The idea of licking her nipples was apparently turning him on.

  She sighed. “I like lying like this. I don’t want to turn around. Maybe a little later.” She wiggled her butt, giving his hard length a rub.

  “I like it too,” he whispered and leaned to kiss her neck in the spot where it met her shoulder, then nipped a little, letting his new fangs scrape against her skin. She was getting used to them, and fear was the furthest thing from her mind when she felt them press against her skin. In fact, she was kind of craving a bite. Not that she was going to admit it to Andrew, not yet.

  One of his large hands abandoned her breast and slipped lower to cup her center, his middle finger parting her folds. She was wet for him; his hands on her breasts had been enough to turn her on.

  The moan she let out was unrestrained, and it felt damn good not worry about making noise.

  “You like that, baby?”

  “Yes, please, more.”

  His finger slipped into her, then was joined by another while his thumb pressed against her clit.

  “Yes, just like that.” She rubbed her butt against his cock.

  Andrew hissed into her ear and caught her chin, twisting her head around and taking her mouth in a hungry kiss.

  The sound of water splashing out of the tub made her turn back. “Oh, my God, we are causing a flood.” She leaped to turn the faucet off, while Andrew opened the drain.

  Nathalie looked at the big puddle on the floor. “Our second week at the keep, and we are already causing destruction. They are going to kick us out.”

  “It’s nothing.” Andrew stepped out of the tub and grabbed a towel. He dropped it on the floor and let it absorb the water, then used another one to mop up the rest. In a few moments, he had the situation under control and was ready to get back inside.

  She grimaced. “Sorry, it kind of spoiled the mood for me to keep fooling around in the bathtub. How about we dry off and continue in our nice king-sized bed?”

  Andrew grabbed a fresh towel and spread it out for her to step into. “Your wish is my command, my lady. I’m your humble servant.”

  “Humble my foot.” She snorted as she stepped into the large bath sheet he was holding up. Andrew wrapped her in it, and then lifted her into his arms.

  Chapter 32: Andrew

  As he lowered Nathalie to the bed, Andrew waited for her to climb under the covers before taking the towel he’d wrapped her in and drying himself off.

  “My hair is wet, and I’m wetting the pillow,” she complained.

  “I don’t really care, baby. All I want to do now is to lick you all over.”

  He dropped the towel on the floor and dove under the covers with her. Her skin was cold against his, and he hugged her close to warm her up.

  “Your body is always so warm,” she mumbled into his chest. “It’s like snuggling up to a furnace.” />
  “Glad to be useful.”

  She felt so small in his arms, fragile, and for a moment, his heart skipped a few beats as it was seized by worry. Damn, despite Bridget’s reassurances that Nathalie was strong and healthy, that uneasy feeling wasn’t going to leave him until she woke up on the other side of her transition.

  On some subconscious level, Andrew wished she wasn’t pregnant. It would’ve made everything so much easier—an unpleasant and disturbing thought that he pushed away as soon as it materialized. The child was a blessing. He should never think of her as anything less than a miracle. Nathalie would be fine and so would their daughter.

  “Did the flood spoil it for you too?” Nathalie moved her thigh to rub against his deflated manhood.

  “No, of course not. It was cold,” he lied. No reason to tell her he was worried. Nathalie needed him to be strong for her. “But keep rubbing me like that a few seconds more and see what it gets you.”

  She smiled mischievously. “I’ll do better than that.” Her soft hand closed around his hardening cock, and Andrew forgot what caused him distress a moment ago. Up and down and back up again her palm went, until he was as hard as a wooden club. A few more and he would embarrass himself all over her hand like a teenager.

  “Are you warm enough?” he asked a moment before flinging the blanket off Nathalie and exposing her sexy, nude curves to his ravenous eyes.

  “I was,” she complained.

  He covered her with his body, kissing her long and deep before sliding down to pay careful attention to her nipples. Just as he’d promised, he lapped gently at each turgid nub, his hands plumping her breasts just as gently.

  “Okay?” he asked between licks.

  “Perfect,” she breathed, arching her back and offering him more.

  He took one nipple between his lips, applying the barest of pressure, and then resumed his licking. Nathalie’s fingers raked his hair, encouraging him to continue, but he had other plans. With a last feathery kiss to each peak, he slid further down until his mouth was aligned with her mound.