9781936653027BorntobeWildArsuaga

by Cynthia Arsuaga

  Chapter 6

  The sun rose past high noon and advanced its descent into the west when Alexandra awoke from her restful sleep, in strange bed—a cozy bed with smooth, crisp sheets.

  Oh! Alex what have you done?

  Sitting erect, she grasped the soft cotton sheets to her chest then pulled them back to peek underneath. “Damn, stark naked. I didn’t dream it,” whispering softly. Alex fell flat back onto the stack of pillows, throwing her hands over her head, the sheets falling, revealing her breasts.

  “I guess I asked for it. Oh god, Stefan. What have you done to me? I’m violating so many rules right now. I have to focus and get a job done. Too much wine and drunk on sex doesn’t help the situation.”

  Throwing the covers off with one swift move, she sat briefly on the side of the bed, dangling her legs just shy of touching the floor. Which door in front of her entered into the bathroom? She vaguely remembered going there and then crawling back into bed before the sun came up. Picking the one to the right was a good guess. Standing in front of the vanity mirror, she scrutinized her nakedness for vampire prick marks. Stefan promised he wouldn’t bite her, but she didn’t want to take any chances. What rule was it? Hell, I can’t think straight anymore. What’s wrong with me?

  Satisfied there were no marks on her body, she let out a sigh of relief. Stefan was a man of his word after all, go figure. Opening the glass door, she reached into the tile-surround stall and turned on the faucet. A hot steamy shower should do the trick. Towels and toiletries—Orange and Bergamot shampoo and conditioner, Orange Blossom Bath Gel—were neatly stacked on a glass étagère next to the entrance. The man likes citrus scents? Hmm.

  The hot water softly flowed down her body from the rain-style showerhead and was ecstasy on her aching body. The lovemaking had been glorious. Sore muscles existed where they never had before. Closing her eyes, she took in the sensation of the water dancing over her skin.

  Alex reached for the shampoo and lathered the fragrant mixture into her long tresses. The aroma reminded her of the orange groves back home, sweet orange blossoms. Missing Florida and her family, knowing when the hunt for the rogue was completed, she’d return. She rinsed the shampoo from her hair. Using the loofah to scrub her body, she relished the sensual feeling on her skin. Taking a shower in a stall so luxurious was a pleasure she didn’t indulge in. The space could accommodate eight people, maybe more. Who needs a shower this big? Her experience consisted of interstate motels at worst and one time spent a vacation at a nice Nassau, Bahamas hotel at best. That one was like heaven. Vacation at home. Living this way—big house, on the beach, huge shower, and yummy soap, could be addictive.

  Stowing the loofah, she continued washing using her hands, running them over her sensitive skin. Her thoughts drifted to Stefan. Sensing his presence asleep somewhere in the house, but where she wasn’t sure. Were the feelings of his strong presence the result of their lovemaking or from his probing of her mind while he slept? Vamp mind control? Closing her eyes, she let her hands roam across the recently awakened rapacious skin, imagining the hands were his, gently caressing, and gliding across taut back, down over belly, and everywhere else.

  The power of her imagination rapidly stripped any inhibitions or doubts about what her body wanted. Arousal swept through her, whether from her hands or Stefan’s imaginary ones.

  “I'm going to make you come, prinţesa mea,” he whispered in her ear, or did her mind play tricks?

  His hands made their way onto her back, and he gently massaged from the shoulders to the curve of her buttocks. With soap, the orange blossom she noted. Closing her eyes, she enjoyed his touch and moaned, leaning back against the tiled wall. Her eyes popped open when she backed into something solid. Stefan! Turning quickly, she reached out for him, but he wasn’t there. Laughing to herself, she touched the wall. That wasn’t Stefan. It was the damn wall.

  “Alex, this is your fantasy. He’s not here!” Closing her eyes, she imagined Stefan standing behind, rubbing her back.

  “I’m here with you, relax, and enjoy it,” he murmured into her ear, “I told you, I’m going to make you come.”

  “Okay, sure, whatever you say, I’ll play along. This is my fantasy.” She echoed, laughing. What an understatement if ever there was one.

  With exquisite care, he rinsed her back, his hands stroking her head, neck, and back, guiding the water to remove the last of the soap from her back. Alex surrendered to the tug of the burn building inside her lower belly. Sitting on the built-in tiled seat, she felt Stefan’s imaginary presence again, and found it difficult to imagine he wasn’t actually present. Bracing against the tiled wall, she spread her legs exposing a slick wet cunt to eager exploring hands. Stefan’s hands caressed her bare skin from behind, the water streaming down too sensual for her to withstand without reacting. In spite of herself, the back of her head came to rest on his chest, gentle and relaxed, the water from the shower head continuing to cascade over her. Again, she swore he sat close behind taking her to a place of ecstasy. The virtual caress and massage of her sensitive skin, built the arousal within her to heights of pleasure unmatched by her real experiences with other men. Damn, don’t stop.

  Lathered in creamy soap, Stefan’s large hands eagerly splayed over her soft, voluptuous breasts, massaging them. He teased her nipples, tugging and squeezing them, driving her out of her mind with the rousing touch of his hands. The foam ran down over her body from his deliberate, provocative vexing of her body, making its way over her stomach and hips. A soft moan escaped from tense lips. The fingers of one hand found their way to an ardent clitoris, rubbing the nub in tight circles. The ache within her core rose to an almost unbearable level of excitation, while the other hand continued to fondle her aching breasts.

  His fingers glided between her inner thighs, stroking the erogenous flesh with soap-filled hands. The butterfly touches from the tips of his fingers enraptured the most sensitive folds. As he bent over and leisurely continued down the insides of her legs.

  Stefan massaged her thighs and calves, working toward her warm, dark haven. Lowering his luscious mouth to her soft flesh, a firm, warm tongue flicked her inner lips. Sucking in her clit, he nibbled and tugged bringing her closer to her peak. Melting, she became one with the water as the skillful ministrations brought her to the edge of screaming. His hands and tongue worked magic, gliding over every inch of her body. “When did he move from behind me? Does it matter? It’s my fantasy.”

  One of his hands glided down to slip into her warm, sopping wet cunt. One finger entered her, and another. His fingers slowly pumped in and out. He made her experience the intense pleasure of feeling wet inside and out. “Come for me, sweetheart,” he whispered.

  “Yes, Stefan. I’m coming.”

  Moving one hand to her pussy, she continued to stimulate her clit with the other. First one finger, then another entered the wet cleft of her passion. The rhythmic manual motions slipped in and out. The surging sensation reverberated over every inch of her skin, as the juices seeped between legs tensed with expectation of imminent climax. The amorous nectars mingled with the orange blossom scented soap, the water, the imagined feel of Stefan. Everything blended together in a hot, aqueous mist. The euphoria swept her along eventually into a mind-blowing release.

  Crying out in throaty ecstasy, as heated breath past clenched teeth making sounds part rapturous and part feral. When it was over, Alex leaned forward on the shower seat, catching her breath.

  “My god, what the hell was that?” Standing slowly and turning the faucet off, she braced herself against the shower wall, feeling weak in her knees.

  His left arm snaked around her neck, and his wrist pressed firmly to her lips. Hot and wet. Not water, it was shut off.

  “Drink, prinţesa mea,” he whispered, with a strong command of his voice.

  Alex started. “What the fuck?” Stepping out of the shower; she fell to the floor, landing on the plush chenille throw rug.

  “Either I’m reall
y horny or the shower is possessed. Stefan if you’re doing this, stop it! Get out of my head. You promised. I’m not drinking blood!”

  She swore he was laughing, the rascal.

  Sitting on the floor for a few moments, to regain her composure, she savored the bewitching bliss. After a few minutes, she rose and wrapped one of the bath towels around her chest and set off in search of her clothes, which were nowhere to be found.

  Traipsing off down the hallway she decided to begin her search in the living room. The house seemed eerily quiet. The only sound came from the motor hum of the refrigerator echoing from the kitchen.

  The slacks, bra, and panties lay where they fell during foreplay, by the couch. Unfortunately, the top fell victim to Stefan’s exuberance. “Great, now what do I wear? Hmm, maybe Stefan has a T-shirt I can borrow.” Picking his clothes up along with her own, she brought them back to the bedroom.

  “So where would a man like Stefan keep his clothes?” She mused. “Hmm, the closet. Must be behind door number two.” After pushing the door open, she felt along the inside wall for a light switch. Flicking it on, her mouth gaped open. The expansive walk-in space lay before her, three times the size of the one she had back home.

  “Christ, I’ve never seen so much black in one place in my life.” The hanging rods held meticulously placed black slacks and jeans on one row and black cotton and silk shirts on another row. A bottom row revealed a few jackets, black in various shades and textures, some in leather, some with chains and studs. A stack of drawers lined the far end of the closet wall. Sweaters, black of course, were neatly folded and tucked onto cubby shelves.

  “Hmm. If I put a tape measure to each hanger, I bet they would be equidistant apart. Does the term compulsive obsessive come to mind? Jeez, the man needs some serious counseling and a stylist.” Running her hands along the precisely hung silk shirts, she couldn’t resist rearranging the distance between some of the hangers. Surveying her handiwork, summoned an involuntary snicker. Maybe she would wear one of the shirts instead of a T-shirt. The feel of her skin against the silk sure would be nicer, sexier.

  Selecting one of the silkier feeling shirts, it hung on her small frame like a tunic. She rolled up the sleeves and left the top two buttons unfastened. The silky fabric skimmed sensuously across her naked skin. The lingering scent of his cologne enveloped and transported her back to last night. Crossing her arms, and closing eyes, she sucked in the maleness she could only describe as Stefan. Instant wetness materialized between her legs again.

  “Shit, Alex, this guy’s a vamp. God have mercy on me, but he’s hot and so wrong for me at the same time. Aagh!”

  After making up the bed to distract her, she then folded her slacks, laid them on the bed, and hung Stefan’s slacks in the closet. After washing her lingerie in the basin, she went to the kitchen.

  Starving, she rummaged through the cabinets for something to eat. Nothing. Not even crackers, a consequence of not entertaining humans as he told her. Was she really the first to visit?

  Opening the refrigerator, she nearly fainted. The only contents were several plastic pouches of blood, whole red, sitting openly displayed. Slamming the door shut, she understood reality had slapped her up side the face again.

  Seeing the bags ruined her appetite. No wonder I’d never make a good doctor. I can’t stand the sight of blood. Not like this anyway.

  A note and money lay on the center island counter. From Stefan?

  Alexandra,

  I know you’ll be hungry when you wake. Here is money to order delivery. I prefer you not leave the house. Make yourself at home and I’ll see you tonight, sweetheart.

  Stefan

  P.S. 520 Oceanside Avenue

  “Wow, he thought about me.” Pressing the note to her chest, a soft warm feeling flowed through her. “How sweet. Maybe I misjudged him. He is an honorable man.” She sighed, contently.

  Glancing around for a phone, she remembered there was one in the study. Walking through the corridor to the room, she admired the photographs hung on the wall. Every photo is a sunrise. Interesting. Curiously familiar. Like the ones in the living room and the bedroom.

  No phone in the study either. A beeping noise broke the silence. She tracked it to her clutch. It was her cell phone. Retrieving the phone, she read the face¾twenty-two messages. “Good god, who’s trying to reach me?”

  Each message came from either her father or brother frantically wanting to know her whereabouts. Sitting in Stefan’s chair, she meticulously scrolled through them one after another. That’s the consequence of not checking in with them. They were on panic mode by the time they left the last message at 2:34 this morning, stating Jordan left Florida heading to Virginia.

  “Dammit, what is their problem? I’m a big girl. Do I have to check in every eight hours or something?” Dialing her father’s number first, he answered after two rings.

  “Dad, what’s with the messages? I’m fine.”

  “Baby, girl, we’ve been worried. You didn’t answer your phone or your messages. We thought something bad happened to ya.”

  “No, nothing happened. Tell me Jordan hasn’t left yet.”

  “Sorry hon, he left about three this morning. He should be there in a couple of hours.”

  “Oh, shit, Dad. Call and tell him to turn his ass around and go back home. I’m fine and don’t need my big brother babysitting me.”

  “You call him. He’s the one who insisted on going up there to rescue ya.”

  “Great. Now I have to deal with him meddling with my bounty.”

  “Now baby girl, don’t give Jordan grief. He’s only lookin’ out for his little sister. When he gets there, be nice. If everythin’ is fine, let him rest, and send him back home in a couple of days. He can help out in the meantime.”

  “In a day or two? Dad, I don’t need his help. I’m making good progress. I’ve made contact with the local chapter and the Enforcer with the local vamp family.” Her voice trailed off on the end.

  “Did ya say Enforcer, baby girl? They haven’t used mind control on ya have they? You’ve been following the rules, right?”

  “Of course, Dad. Don’t worry.”

  “Okay, you call when Jordan gets in.”

  “I will. Bye Dad. Say hi to Mom for me.”

  After hanging up with her dad, she immediately called Jordan and got his voicemail. She left a message to check in at the Holiday Inn Express and meet her at The Black Rose, giving the address, and the time to meet. Now, to figure out how to deal with Stefan and Jordan meeting. Big Brother meets Vamp Lover. Yeah that’ll go over like a lead balloon. Testosterone taken to a new level.

  Her appetite faded.

  As she put her cell phone back into her clutch, the mouse to the computer moved slightly. The monitor screen illuminated, catching her attention.

  Stefan didn’t shut the computer down. I can do more research to kill time.

  What appeared on the screen weren’t files of vamps from the Syndicate. Stefan’s message in the inbox flashed on the screen. And there at the top of the list, an urgent message waiting from someone named Sorin. Curiosity got the better of her.

  “Dare I?” Her fingers hovered over the keyboard ready to hit the ‘Enter’ key.

  “All’s fair in love in war, Stefan.” She hit the ‘Enter’ key.

  The message from Sorin stated ‘The package will arrive tonight, take care of it and put the plan in motion.’ What the hell did it mean? Stefan knows more about the virus then he let on? If not the virus, what else is he up to? No good I’m sure. Was he lying to her about everything? It shouldn’t have surprised her; he was a vamp after all. It looked like an example of Rule Number Three—Never Trust a Vamp. Maybe she read more into the message than it really was. Wanting to trust him, she wondered if it was possible.

  “Damn, I shouldn’t have read the message.”

  Too late now, the seed of doubt sprouted in her brain. A strategy to turn the tables around on him, to use him for information, and d
o the job she set out to do formed in her brain.

  The sex last night was a mistake, or maybe not. The situation could still work to her advantage. Stefan liked her. For all she knew, the bastard could be part of the whole virus conspiracy. Turn the situation around on him. He wanted blood and sex. A rogue and two hundred grand appeared a fair exchange. They’d use each other.

  Damn him! “Stupid Alex!” Frowning and more dismayed with her own actions then with Stefan’s, she remembered his nature. “Stupid, stupid, stupid, bloodsucking bastard. They’re all alike. Why did I think he’d be different? They want one thing, blood and use sex to get it.”

  Alex paced, with hands on hips, determined more than ever to get back on track. She had given in to her lust, but no more. Stefan was a means to an end, nothing more, a way to get the rogue, the money, and return home to never see Stefan again. Enough said.

  With Jordan arriving in a couple of hours, she didn’t look forward to handling damage control. The fact that Jordan was a bounty hunter should keep Stefan quiet about their liaison from last night. Stefan wouldn’t say a word if she asked him. Now, how to deal with Jordan? He’d have to know about her alliance with Stefan. Perhaps a little white lie that Stefan helped under orders from Gregori. Not far from the truth, actually, quite sellable.

  To keep her feelings in check, she needed more than mental blocks. “Warts, scars, and a three inch dick just aren’t working. Ha, especially the three inch dick part after last night.” Stefan burst her bubble on the myth formed in her mind on that one. Now, another flaw was needed to use against him. Funny, he actually did have a scar on his abdomen, small, but noticeable, and another on his back. Battle scars? Didn’t vampire blood heal wounds? Why didn’t he have a perfect body? Maybe the whole idea about miraculous powers of vamp blood was a fallacy. “Hmm, I think I’ll have to ask him about those scars and add the info to the hunter database.”

  Continuing to pace, she wondered. “What can I use to block my feelings? Think Alex. Think.” After a few moments, it dawned on her. Don’t find something about Stefan. She’d find something about herself. “I’m full of flaws. I can recite them to myself over and over with no problem. I do it now. Yeah, this will work.”