by T. A. White
Sadly, the minute was all I could spare. Leaving the bathtub for next time, I headed to the shower, divesting myself of my clothes and playing with the sprayers for a few minutes. It took that long just to figure the system out. The shower was one of those that had multiple sprayers that could hit you from different sides and strengths. After that, it took another few minutes to get the temperature just right. I let the water pound down on the back of my neck with the perfect amount of heat and just relaxed.
It took some willpower to drag myself out of the shower and not just stand under the sprayer for the rest of my life. Dried off, my brown hair tied back in a bun to keep my clothes from getting wet, I cleared a spot in the fogged-up mirror and grabbed a toothbrush that had been sitting wrapped on the counter. My grayish blue eyes looked back at me from pale skin made even paler by the fact that I hadn't been outside in over two years. I was tall, five feet seven inches, and made lean from my work as a bike messenger for Hermes. It probably helped that although I could eat a small amount of food, it lacked the nutrients my body could process. As a result, I didn't gain weight no matter how many bowls of black raspberry ice cream I consumed.
I'd chosen a black t-shirt and a faded pair of jeans that fit me well but were loose enough that I could move if I had to. While the jeans would be a little warm for June, they would protect my legs if I ended up on my bike again.
Ready, I stepped out of the bathroom and froze at the sight of a pair of long legs attached to a lean body whose owner's head rested on my pillow. Liam turned from his perusal of the ceiling and gave me a lazy smile.
"You shouldn't have bothered with the shower. You're just going to get all sweaty again," he said.
I frowned at him. "What are you doing in my bedroom?"
His smile widened to hold a wicked edge. "Where do you think I stayed during the day?"
"Your own bedroom."
His expression turned amused. "And leave you with the opportunity to sneak out if you woke sooner than expected?"
Damn.
He let out a laugh, the warm sound brushing against me and sending tingles down my spine. He would be handsome if I didn't want to stab him in the eye half the time.
"I'm surprised you're here yourself given how busy you are,” I said. "Where are your minions?"
He managed to turn his shrug into a thing of elegance. "They're all busy. I had a bit of time today and thought we could spend it together."
"You assume I want to spend time with you," I returned.
He didn't let my statement deter him. He sat up and swung his legs off the bed, standing in a graceful movement. "I suggest you put on clothes you can exercise in. I've decided to give you a little training this evening."
"I think I'm good. I have work anyways."
"Your first run isn't until one. You have a little time." He walked out of the room, leaving me to trail behind him like a lost little lamb.
"How do you know that?" I narrowed my eyes at him. "Did you call Jerry?"
Jerry was the owner of Hermes, and I had a hard time believing he would tell Liam anything. Jerry wasn't exactly the biggest fan of vampires. He only tolerated me because I was practically a newborn in vampire terms, and he owed my old captain a huge favor.
He tossed my phone over his shoulder. I caught it and looked down at it with a suspicious glance. It was unlocked, and my calendar was open. How did he unlock it? And what else had he stuck his nose into?
"Get changed, or you'll be training in what you're wearing," he called from the other room, his voice making it clear he was serious.
"I didn't bring any exercise gear," I shouted, trying one last time to get out of what was sure to be an embarrassing and painful experience.
"You've no doubt noticed by now that the room has been stocked with clothes in your size. Quit wasting time."
Yeah, and we'd be having a talk about how he'd got my sizes.
I stuck my tongue out at the door and headed for the dresser, grabbing the first pair of yoga pants I found. Pairing it with a sports bra and workout tank, I was ready in very little time. He was right; everything fit.
I appeared in the next room to find Liam standing in front of the fridge with a grimace of distaste as he held a bottle of blood up.
Seeing me, he closed the fridge and grabbed a glass from the cabinet. "Good, you listened."
"Like you gave me a choice."
"I’ve told you before. We always have a choice. It's just that some of those choices are acceptable and some not. You chose the one that allowed you to keep your dignity. This time." He slid the glass containing the blood towards me. "Since you listened, I won't force you to take blood from a live donor."
"Mighty big of you," I said in a dry voice.
He met my eyes with a serious gaze. "Make no mistake, Aileen, there will come a time when I force the issue. You need to learn how to drink blood from the source. Not only for your safety but for the safety of those around you."
I gave him my best stubborn look, the one that my mom used to get when she tried to make me eat my vegetables.
His gaze softened. "We both know it wouldn't take much for your will to break."
My look turned dirty. He was referencing the time when I'd been forced to take blood from him. One little cut on his neck and I'd latched on like a damn leech.
"I might surprise you," I said. Not the most original come back, but it was all I had.
He gave me a dark smile. "You just might." He walked around the counter. "Now, drink up. You're going to need the blood for what I have in store for you."
I grumbled but drained the glass as quickly as I could. My stomach tried to revolt against it as it oozed down my throat. My gag reflex nearly kicked in, and it was only through sheer will power that I managed to keep it down. Gone was the electric feeling of life that used to be there when I had a glass of the red stuff. Now, it was like ten-day old roadkill. It might technically have what you need, but it wasn't going to go down easy.
Liam's gaze was sympathetic. "It'll only get worse from here on out."
I set the glass down hard. "Let's go."
I didn't want to talk about my drinking habits. Not with him. Not when he was the reason I recognized the difference in the first place.
He held my gaze for a long moment but didn't fight me on it. Somehow that made me feel worse than if he had.
*
A hard blow to my stomach forced my breath out of my body. I fought the instinct to curl around the sore spot and kept my hands up, protecting my head from the follow-up fist.
"Move faster," Liam ordered, his voice so calm that just listening to it made me want to tear out all his hair—especially given the number of bruises already dotting my body. The man hit like a sledgehammer and had about as much mercy as one too. "Stop. Letting. Me. Hit. You." Each word was punctuated by a blow. One to my chest, one to my back, a kick to one thigh, a fist to the side of my head.
"I. Am. Trying." I tried dodging and received a cuff to the other side of my head for my troubles.
"Try harder," Liam barked.
It wasn't like I hadn't been trying for the last hour. He was faster. Stronger. And he wasn't afraid to use either against me. It was like trying to fight someone while standing in quicksand. My mind was willing; my body had to slog through a soupy, glop-like mess. Any benefit the blood might have afforded me had disappeared long ago. I was back to healing human-slow and feeling every one of the spots Liam targeted.
"Come on, soldier. Do something. Do anything."
I gritted my teeth and swung, knowing he wouldn't be there even as I started to move. He slid to the side, his lips turned up in that insufferable smirk he'd worn for this entire torture session. He kicked out with one leg, sending me crashing to the ground. My back protested as I hit with a hard thud. I lay there for a long moment, trying to get back my breath.
A movement out of the corner of my eye had me rolling out of range. Liam's foot landed where I'd just lain.
"R
eally? Kicking someone when they're down?"
He shrugged. "Your enemy won't give you time to catch your breath. Best you learn that here, where the worst you'll receive are some bruised ribs. Out there you could suffer a lot worse."
Nathan chuckled as he walked past us to the weight bench in the corner. "Don't let him kid you. He's just a perverse fuck."
We weren't the only ones using the gym in the basement. There were several moving from machine to machine. The human I met last night—I think I remember his name was Theo—was already lifting weights when Liam had forced this little training session on me. Nathan had joined us shortly after we arrived.
"You're a vampire. Use some of that speed I know you have," Liam ordered, ignoring his minion.
I was a yearling. The only speed I was capable of was the kind that allowed me to disappear after Thanksgiving with the family, so I didn't get stuck doing an entire kitchen's worth of dishes.
"Come on. Dig deep. Show me some of that stubbornness you're known for."
I'd really like to. If they ever gave me back my weapons, I'd be sure to.
We circled each other. Me, looking for a window. Him, probably trying to find a place he hadn't already abused.
Don't focus on the coming pain. Focus on what you can do. I wasn't going to beat him through strength or speed or even experience. It was clear I was outmatched in all three. That left trickery.
He threw a strike aimed at my face. Using one hand, I pushed it to the side and grabbed the back of his head with the other. I stepped forward, releasing the block and aimed for his head. He was gone before I could connect.
"Good, you're beginning to use your brain," he growled against my ear.
A heavy blow to the back of my knee and a hard push against my shoulder sent me crashing back to the ground.
"Again." He stepped towards me, and I popped to my feet. His smirk told me he'd planned to kick me again. Sadistic bastard.
He didn't wait for me to catch my breath, advancing on me faster than I could blink. The punch he threw was human slow. I slid to the side, already looking for the next one. There. I blocked, stepped forward, throwing several strikes and adding in a kick, trying to overwhelm his mind so that something might land.
It seemed to work. For a moment.
Out of nowhere, a force hit with the strength of a hurricane behind it. I crashed to the ground, the lights fading.
"Aileen?"
"You shouldn't have hit her so hard. She can't take our kind of damage," Nathan chided.
My eyes snapped open. Liam's concerned face above me and Nathan standing over him. I didn't think, just reacted.
I threw a punch, hitting him in the throat. He made a choking sound as I grabbed his arm and jerked, sending him off balance and rolling to a seated position on top of him. There was a shout behind me as my fists flew, raining down blows on his head, shoulders and chest as fast as I could move my arms.
Quick as a snake, he grabbed each wrist in an unbreakable grip, his eyes almost glowing as they peered up at me. His fangs peeked out of his mouth as he gave me a dark smile.
Before I could move, he rolled us over—me on my back, my hands held down next to my head, him wedged between my legs. "Knew you had it in you."
I snarled at him, beyond thought. Beyond reasoning. I lurched up, burying my fangs in his throat. He gave a guttural groan, his hands sliding from my wrists to cradle my head. Blood, that delicious giver of life, slid down my throat. It was nothing like that tepid stuff from my refrigerator. This was the real deal, sending energy zapping along my nerve endings.
"It's fine. Go." Liam's voice was hoarse and seemed to come from a distance, or maybe it was because I had better things on my mind. Like the arousal building at my core. An arousal Liam fed as he pressed his hard length against me. His voice muttered a few foreign sounding words; I was too far gone to even begin to guess what language he was speaking.
He buried his fingers in my hair, tugging lightly, and then a little harder until I unlatched. He pressed a hard kiss to my lips. I lifted, trying to rub all of me against him, need building deep inside, unlike any I'd felt before.
Everything felt more. More decadent. More wicked. Just more.
It was like being on a roller coaster with no seat belt, no guard rails, and no assurance that the next drop wouldn't be the last. Each kiss was intoxicating in its intensity.
He angled my head, nuzzling my neck before there was a sharp sting and then warm pleasure. Whatever I had felt biting him was nothing compared to this. A tidal wave of feeling swamped me, setting my entire body alight as need threatened to consume. A moan escaped me, and I writhed under him. His hold on me tightened, an animal-like growl escaping him.
"You’re needed elsewhere," a crisp voice said, breaking through the haze.
Liam's lips slid from my neck, and his head came up with a snarl. His eyes were a blue bright enough to burn. They were the color of a raging, hot fire.
"Don't bare your fangs at me," the voice snapped. "There's been an issue, and your men are too afraid to interrupt you right now."
I came back to myself slowly, the passion fading enough so I could think again. I changed my grip so that I pushed Liam away. His eyes swung back to me, his fangs bared as he grumbled a warning.
"Stop moving. You've triggered his instincts. Give him a moment to calm," Thomas said, sounding irritated. "Liam, that's enough."
The blue in Liam's eyes faded to normal—still bluer than any other eyes I'd ever seen, but no longer so bright you'd be able to see them in the dark.
"Liam," Thomas barked.
The fangs in Liam's mouth snicked up and a look of annoyance crossed his face. He dropped one last kiss on my lips, his eyes soft, before rolling off me. "I heard you the first time, Thomas. There's no need to shout."
I wriggled to sitting, asking myself what had just happened. I'd attacked without thinking. Then I'd bitten him—again without thinking or any semblance of control. I'd lost track of my surroundings, which I was thankful to notice were clear of all but the two of us and Thomas.
Whoever’d had the foresight to vacate the room while Liam and I were rolling around exchanging saliva and other fluids would forever have my gratitude. Last thing I needed was to develop a reputation. Say what you want about equal rights, but there was a definite double standard between men and women when it came to sex. Liam would be the stud who got in the newbie's pants, while I would be the easy slut who let him.
I'd seen it time and time again. When my coworkers were mostly men, I'd learned to keep that part of my life separate. It was just good business not to date where you worked. It had meant for a lonely time in the military, but the drama-free workplace had been worth it.
Thomas arched an eyebrow. "Really? Because I've been standing here for several minutes trying to get your attention."
"What do you want?" Liam sounded like he was in a bad mood.
"As I said, there's been a situation that requires your attention, and Aileen is late for her appointment."
"What kind of situation?"
"What appointment?"
The questions were asked at the same time. For the first time since Thomas had interrupted us—a fact I'd be grateful for, just as soon as I got over the embarrassment—a trace of amusement showed on his face.
"One of the companions was attacked by what he is describing as a large dog-like creature. Probably a werewolf." Thomas’s focus shifted to me as if he hadn't just dropped a potential bomb. "As for you, you have an appointment with one of our doctors to get checked out."
"This is why we have the newly turned under such strict security," Liam told me, his glare a fierce thing. "If your friend attacked a vampire's companion, it will not go well for her when she's found."
"You don't know it's her. There are a lot of things out there someone could mistake for a werewolf." I could name three off the top of my head. "For all you know, it's a rabid dog."
Liam jackknifed to standing. "I hope, for
your sake, that you’re correct."
I was on my feet in the next moment, blinking at the speed with which I moved. Come to think of it, the bruises and aches that had punctuated my movement before our horizontal wrestling match were gone. My body felt better than it had in forever. I felt like I could run a two-minute mile, jump a tall building and lift a car—all at the same time.
"I'm coming with you," I said.
Thomas stepped forward. "Appointment first."
"You keep saying that, but I never agreed to see a doctor. How do you guys have doctors anyway?" The spooks preferred to keep their presence hidden from humans. I had a hard time believing they would allow one to give them regular checkups. It'd be too easy for that human to expose them to other humans.
"Our vampires are capable of attending medical school," Thomas said, his eyes coolly amused. "We have a few who have an interest in the medical field and make it a point of keeping up with all new techniques and research."
"As for your appointment, we decided it would be best that you see one while you're here to make sure everything is as it should be," Liam told me.
"You decided? I take it, I don't have a choice in this."
Their silence was answer enough.
There it was. The thing that drove me crazy about vampires. They made decisions for me—without ever once consulting me. I wasn't a child and had no intention of handing my life over for anyone else to plan or guide. I'd done that once, and it had not ended well. Never again.
"We don't know how you were able to survive the curse that prevented Thomas from siring more vampires. We had your background checked and know you aren't one of his descendants. It’s in everyone's best interests to figure out why," Liam said.
I studied him with narrowed eyes, trying to see if there was more to it than that. His explanation made sense, and it wasn't one I objected to. That didn't mean I appreciated them making these decisions for me.
"It can't wait until after we talk to the companion?" I knew before I asked the question what the answer would be but wanted to try anyway.
Thomas gave a small shake of his head. "This has waited long enough."