Like an instant jolt of sexual energy, he became overwhelmed with the need to claim her. He slowly withdrew his fangs and moved up her body. Impaling her on his raging hard on. He rode her even more frantic than before, and he sank his teeth into her shoulder right where it met the curve of her neck. He drank from her and fucked her with a drive that scared him. He was going on pure instinct, and it wouldn’t be satisfied until she was his in every way.
Gretchen smiled to herself as she woke up tucked against Claude’s hard muscled body. His soft snores tickling the back of her neck. Last night had been beyond description and her body was definitely paying for the strenuous affair. She reached up to touch the place where Claude had bit her. Her skin was smooth and without flaw which made her feel a lot better.
When he’d initially struck, she’d frozen in panic, but there hadn’t been any pain, only intense pleasure that had made sex an all new experience for her. He’d bit her many places last night, but when he’d bit her there, it was like a revelation. Something shifted inside of her and made all the bad go away, nothing else in the world mattered except the two of them and the joining of their bodies.
No wonder Molly only brought other vampires home. Vampire sex is fucking awesome!
“Good morning beautiful.” Claude sleepy voice interrupted her mental Yes dance.
He placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, then her ear, and finally directly on the spot he had bit her shoulder. She shivered as arousal shot through her. She turned to face him. His hard member pressed against her belly. His hazel eyes were filled with emotion, with love, and it tugged at her heartstrings.
I should never have done this.
“About last night.” She started to get out of bed, but he grabbed her waist, holding her captive in his arms.
“Don’t.” There was a somber look in his eyes.
She opened her mouth again, but instead of allowing her to speak he kissed her. It wasn’t as rough as their previous kisses, but soft and gentle and full of unspoken promise. A promise of love and forever and Gretchen caved. She would surrender if only for this moment. If the last few days had shown her anything, it was that reality sucked and although she knew she had to return soon. For now, at least, she could believe in fairy tales.
Stranger danger
Declan smiled to himself as he scrolled through Gretchen’s old social site. Trying to find the bitch the old fashioned way hadn’t got him anywhere, but this was already showing some promise. The girl on the site was a far cry from the uptight mousy woman he had known. Pictures of her as a Blondie with straight hair scrolled across the screen. Most showed her with a drink in hand, smiling with other females with the same bleached and straightened style. California girls, you’ve got to love them.
Her last post had been some time before she had arrived in Scotland, but there was enough information left to discern the perfect way to get his revenge. The only male consistently featured on her site was actually her brother. He clicked on a link bringing him to the brother’s site.
Jackpot! The man still lived in their home town, luckily not too far from here.
He patted his pockets and cursed.
“Excuse me, I’m sorry to ask, but I forgot my cell at home. Mind if I borrow yours for minute?” he asked the young girl next to him.
At least having to use the public computers at the local library had been good for one thing. Declan wouldn’t have to wait until he was back at the cabin to make his call. Maura would be pissed that he’d forgotten his leash, but he hoped his new plan would ease the punishment he was sure to get.
The girl seemed shy but eventually nodded and carefully pushed her phone towards him. She eyed him anxiously as he picked it up and dialed the number listed on the brother’s site. The brother answered on the first ring.
“Hello,” a gruff male voice answered.
Declan smiled and cleared his throat. Remember be polite, no need to ruffle his feathers…yet.
“Is this Gregory Jones, brother of Gretchen Jones?”
The man on the other line sighed heavily into the phone, his breath coming across the receiver as static.
“Yeah, who’s asking?”
Great, he didn’t immediately hang up.
“My name is Declan Murray. I worked with your sister on the MacDonald estate. She has been absent for quite a while now. Has she contacted you or her family lately?”
“No, why do you ask?” There was an edge to her brother’s voice.
I guess old Gretch didn’t contact her family after all. Stupid Bitch. This was almost too easy.
“Oh, well, she left in kind of a rush so as a friend I thought it would be nice to bring her the things she left behind at her place? I’d have shipped them, but there were a few things I didn’t trust sending by mail. Is there any possibility we could meet up?”
There was a pause on the other end, as if the man were pondering the suggestion.
Come on, come on, just say yes!
Declan fought the urge to drum his fingers on the table in anticipation and frustration. The girl from whom he had borrowed the phone was staring at him intently. No need to arouse any suspicion from her or anyone else around them for that matter.
“Where and when?”
Finally, any longer and I might have lost my cool.
They finalized the details before Declan ended the call. He sat there reveling in satisfaction until the girl next to him tapped his shoulder.
“Excuse me sir, can I have my phone back now?” A hint of annoyance in her voice that undermined the shy hunch in her posture.
Declan smiled at the girl and handed her back her phone. He closed out his session on the computer and headed for the door. Nothing could get to him today. In a week’s time, Gretchen would be at his mercy once again.
Gregory went online and searched Declan Murray as soon as he’d given his name. He knew a few things from Gretchen’s perspective, but it never hurt to get a deeper understanding of a possible threat. Declan Murray didn’t have much of an online presence and the few articles that did pop up weren’t much help. He’d taken over for Dr. Aiken after his disappearance and was a member of some treasure hunters club, not a very popular one either judging by a few less than friendly comments on his profile. Not exactly the kind of guy who inspired loyalty or gained a following.
He was a pissant, certainly not the main threat, but Gregory was going to take this opportunity to get to the bottom of it. This Murray character had to be involved in whatever trouble Gretchen had found herself in. He would meet with him, beat the truth out of him, and then, if needed, turn the whole situation over to the authorities.
He didn’t even mind that the kid wanted to meet out in the woods. It was better for Gregory to placate his violent streak without having to worry about witnesses calling the cops. If Gregory could solve this problem then Gretchen could come home for good. That way he could make sure she managed to stay out of trouble for once in her life.
He dug around in his desk to find the card Gretchen’s friend had given him in case someone had contacted the family regarding her. Flipping the card in his fingers for a moment, Gregory decided to skip making that call. Claude Morgan didn’t look like he could fight worth a damn, but he had enough strength at least for Greg to feel comfortable letting him take care of his sister. He could handle this himself and would give the guy a call when he settled things with that Declan character. No need to get his sister all worried over nothing. He stuffed the card in his wallet and went back to work.
Two days of orgasmic bliss and Gretchen was ready to forget about her bid for independence. Watching Claude as he slept, he looked like the angel she had first thought he was. She traced his mouth with her finger, remembering the many ways he’d used it to bring her pleasure and not just the sexual kind. Claude was smart and funny and well, for lack of a better term, perfect.
In between sex they had talked about their favorite books, the direction they saw the economy heading, even a little abou
t all the traveling he’d done before the guys settled at the mansion. This man was a part of history, and she was seriously considering him as her future.
“Keep staring at me like that and we won’t make it to breakfast.” Claude shifted position pinning her under his body. He wiggled his eyebrows at her and she laughed.
“Can’t you just feed me?” Gretchen leaned over and licked him where he liked to drink from her.
He hissed and his hips pressed into her. He was aroused and she wasn’t in the mind to say no to a quickie. She reached down and guided him inside of her. Opening her legs wide so he could bury himself in deep. Without waiting for him to respond, she sank her teeth into him. Warm fresh blood filled her mouth as he filled her with his seed. Her own body fell into orgasmic bliss as she fed from him. She didn’t want it to end, but he finally pulled her away.
“I won’t be alive much longer if you take anymore,” He hissed falling to his side. He was a little paler than usual, and Gretchen instantly felt guilty.
“Sorry, I’ve never drank from anyone before.”
He looked at her, and a possessive look settled onto his face.
“You won’t be drinking from anyone, but me.” He growled pulling her into him he kissed her hard. Her body reacting instantly to his touch.
She had never been this horny in her life, but a soft knock on the door broke the sexual fog she was in.
“Everyone is waiting on you two.” Shane's voice called through the door.
“Be right out,” Gretchen called.
She kissed Claude one last time before getting out of bed. She threw on his oversized robe and waited for Claude to put on his pajama bottoms. There was no use getting dressed when they would only be discarded once breakfast was over.
They held hands as they entered the kitchen. All eyes were on them both curious and a little disgusted. Gretchen was surprised to see Molly was there also.
“You look sickeningly chipper for someone who’s supposed to be having a breakdown.” Molly said giving her a hug.
It was unexpected, but not unwelcome. She’d gotten closer to Molly in the last few months, but neither woman had ever been the affectionate type.
“I have an excellent physical therapist,” Gretchen whispered.
She knew the others could hear it well enough, but old habits die hard. Xander nearly spit out his sip of blood and Claude pulled Gretchen into his lap a proud look on his face.
Cat studied them for a moment before grinning like a lunatic.
“You’re mated!” She jumped up from her chair and began to do a happy dance.
Xander raised an eyebrow at his wife before chuckling and shaking his head. “It’s about time you settled down.”
“I don’t see why it’s such a big deal. We just had sex. Lots of amazing sex, but still just sex.” Gretchen felt Claude still beneath her and she turned to look at his face.
Cat stopped doing her happy dance and stormed around the table.
“You claimed her without telling her!” Cat pointed a finger in Claude’s face. Her jovial grin was now an angry snarl.
Xander moved quickly, putting himself between his wife and Claude as she yelled countless obscenities at him.
“Claimed me? What does that mean?” Gretchen moved away from Claude, feeling the need to put some distance between them. It was the only way she’d be able to think straight.
Claude sighed and hung his head. He pinched the bridge of his nose before turning a pleading look on her. “When a male and a female vampire share blood during sex it bonds them together. It’s like a wedding of sorts. You carry my presence with you in a deeper way now than even my bond to you as your sire. When you asked—I thought you knew.”
“You thought I knew!” Gretchen was horrified. He had tricked her, and now she was—she didn’t even want to think about it.
“You really are an ass,” Molly said and pulled Gretchen away from him.
Gretchen was so furious she didn’t even look back as Molly dragged her out to her waiting car.
“I can’t believe this.” Gretchen was crying now. Reality had reared its ugly head, and there was no place to escape.
turning point
Claude smiled wanly at the desperate woman in front of him as she rubbed her body against his. Claude hated clubs, but they were the perfect hunting ground for Maura. Not just Maura, but other vampires as well. Of course, they had cleared out as soon as he had made an appearance.
Other vamps in the area weren’t exactly fond of anyone sired by Maura. Not that he could blame them. In the old days, as Maura’s man slave, he’d been ordered to destroy any vampire he came across. Killing one’s own kind was as much as a black mark on him as having Maura’s blood in his veins.
“You want to get out of here,” the woman purred, bringing Claude’s attention back to her.
Claude took a good look at the woman for the first time since she’d sidled up to him on the dance floor. She was pretty and willing, his only requirements for a sexual partner. Before Gretchen, he probably would have said yes immediately. After Gretchen, the woman’s over-done makeup and glitter covered clothes were a complete turn off.
“Maybe another time,” Claude said, though he didn’t mean it.
The woman huffed and stormed away from him towards the bar. She obviously wasn’t used to being rejected. With her gone, Claude did another walk around the club, but there was nothing of concern at this particular venue. Claude checked his watch and saw the night was only half way over. Either Maura was hunting elsewhere or her new minions were smart enough not to stalk the clubs until closer to closing time.
From what Claude remembered of Declan, it was probably the latter. Declan wasn’t particularly bad looking, but his personality was enough to turn any woman away, even the desperate and drunk ones. The ratio of men to women in the club began to shift into the red zone, so Claude decided to try one more place before calling tonight’s hunt a bust.
He took a deep breath as he exited, clearing his nostrils of the pungent cocktail of sweat, perfume, and alcohol. He’d take the long way to the next club before putting his nose through that torment again. He probably should have started there first, seeing that the first and only sighting of Declan had been at this particular venue.
“Are you stalking me now?” A familiar voice said when he entered.
Claude frowned before turning to Molly.
“No, I’m hunting.”
She raised an eyebrow at him, her arms crossed over her chest.
“I thought you were strictly into bagged blood? Well, I guess if anyone broke the mold you would be the one.”
“Hunting Maura. What are you doing here?”
“This is my club. How do you think I was able to afford to leave so quickly?”
That was an interesting bit of news. Cat had mentioned that Molly owned a business, but hadn’t given any more detail than that. He should have figured that Molly hadn’t just been enjoying a night on the town when she’d spotted Declan.
“What about Gretchen?” His curiosity got the better of him. He was trying his best to give her space, but it was a harder task after mating her.
“Don’t worry about her. Just leave, if I see any sign of Maura I’ll call.”
Of course, Molly wasn’t willing to share with him. There was no love lost between the two of them. Even before Molly’s death they had been somewhat at odds. Now, after last month’s screw up, both Molly and Cat had circled their wagons around Gretchen as if he were a real danger to her.
“Fine, but be sure to call. I know you think you’re all badass now, but trust me when I say Maura is a lot more than you could handle on your own.”
“I’m not an idiot, now get out of my club before I have security throw you out.”
Claude left and headed to a nearby bar. The only two dance halls had been a bust, but the town dive bar might be a better hunting ground than expected. A few blocks from Molly’s club he caught an all too familiar scent coming f
rom a dark alley, death. He poked his head around the corner using his excellent vision to make sure he wasn’t walking into a trap. Satisfied that it was clear he made his way into the alley.
The smell got stronger as he approached a group of dumpsters, the smell mixing with that of rotten food. The smell of death was strongest at the trash bins, but there was no hint of blood, not even a drop. Taking another look up and down the alley he cursed before lifting himself up to look into the dumpster. Under a thin layer of raw garbage lay the pale exsanguinated bodies of three women. Maura! Anger and fear sliced through him as he took in their familiar features. All three women had brown curly hair and light freckling on their cheeks.
Gregory stepped out of the car and eyed the cabin in front of him. It was larger than he had thought it would be. Hell, it was almost a lodge with two stories and a wraparound porch. It looked straight out of a magazine, dark green shutters and all. Greg felt around his back, his hand going to his pistol. He was sure he wouldn’t need it, but he brought it just case. It was time for some answers.
He marched up the stairs and knocked on the door. There was no answer, so he knocked again. He checked his watch, and it was the time they had agreed to meet. Maybe the kid had thought better of his plan. Greg was just about to leave when the door swung open. Instead of the man he was expecting, stood an older woman. She was gorgeous with her long flowing black hair and pouty red lips. The only thing that gave away her age were the soft wrinkles around her eyes and mouth. Greg’s dick jumped in his pants as she eyed him and licked her lips.
“Sorry Ma’am, I think I got the wrong cabin.” Gregory nodded at the woman, but her smile faded into a scowl at his words.
“Did you just call me Ma’am?” Her voice dropped to a deadly low tone.
Sensing that something wasn’t quite right with this situation Greg began to edge his way back down the stairs only to encounter a solid wall of muscle at his back. He turned to see the biggest SOB he’d ever encountered glaring down at him. Not one to be intimidated, Greg puffed up his chest and glared back.
Claude's Conquest (Maura's Men Book 2) Page 11