E.V.I.E.: 13 Slayers, 13 Missions

by Lexi C. Foss

  Digging my hands under her, I scoop her up and into my arms carrying her toward the ensuite bathroom. “I need another shower. We’re both a sticky mess.”

  I expect her to argue, but instead she remains silent. Setting her down, I flick on the taps, run the water hot, and pull her into the huge walk-in shower. Finding the soap, I don’t allow her to retreat into a corner. Yukie’s whole body-jolts with awareness when I touch her. Hiding my knowing smirk, I lather her wet skin, enjoying how she trembles under my ministrations. I wash every inch of her with erotic thoroughness that makes me want to fuck her all over again. She’s practically purring by the time I reach for the shampoo. Moaning she tips back her head as I massage her scalp, washing out her damp locks.

  Carrying her back to bed, I do exactly that, taking her body over and over until we’re both too exhausted to move or think. Yukie’s head drifts to my shoulder when I roll her on top of me. Arms wrapped around her waist, I sense the moment she succumbs to sleep. I can’t keep my hands off her. This attraction between us is irresistible. Trust is a word I erased from my vocabulary a long time ago where women are concerned. Fate has put Yukie in my path. Whether she knows it or not, she belongs to me.

  Wrapped around her body, her alluring scent on my skin, I drift off into a light doze. When I awaken, it's to the sound of female shouts. My arms are empty of Yukie’s delicate frame molded to the length of mine. Instead she’s standing naked at the end of the bed facing off with a furious female vampire.

  Vanna Piovene.

  My soon to be fiancée.

  From the look on her face, she isn’t pleased to find another woman in my bed on the eve of my announcing our engagement. Any thought of it had vanished the moment I’d held Yukie in my arms.

  “You’re up here with this whore in your bed when you should be downstairs sharing our news.” Vanna spits with venom. “I can’t believe he sent me up here without warning me first.”

  Who? Mateo or my brother? My staff knows better, but I wouldn’t put it past Vincenzo or the wolf to let her up without giving me the heads up first.

  Yukie’s green eyes narrow dangerously. “Who are you calling a whore, blood sucker?”

  “Get dressed and get out.” Vanna tilts her nose up in disgust at the other woman standing so beautifully and confident before her in all her naked glory.” Your services are no longer needed for this evening”

  “Who the hell is this bitch?” my temptress demands, swiveling to where I’m still lounging on the bed. My groin gives a jolt in answer under the blanket that’s covering it. Her anger makes me horny as fuck.

  “Vanna Piovene.” I reveal, keeping my expression bland, the rampant lust I’m experiencing firmly leashed.

  “His fiancée,” she adds, although I’m yet to give her a ring to wear.

  Her attitude irks me. The most patient of men, she’s wearing mine thin. She’s acting like she’s jealous, but she knows there’s nothing between us. We aren’t in love. It’s all business. I’m not going to show guilt or remorse for taking what I want.

  Yukie tenses. “Fiancée?”

  “Not that it's any of your business.” I lift a shoulder in dismissal and watch my huntress closely. My words have the desired effect. She casts her eyes at Vanna giving her a long slow sweep that holds more than contempt. Jealously. It’s there even though she tries to hide it. Her tiger seethes just beneath the surface, ready to defend its territory. Breathtaking in her fury and passion just as I knew she would be. They shouldn’t even be in the same room, but I can’t stop this now. Have no desire to. Like tossing a pair of dice I’ve set in motion events I want to see play out. Watch their reactions and see how far they’ll go. Since Yukie came crashing into my life, my carefully laid plans have gone completely out the window. She’s the only woman to have ever gotten under my skin, burrowing herself deeply with her claws and teeth. At this point, I don’t think there’s any way to remove my little obsession even if I tried.

  She looks like she’s ready to kill me. They both do. Desire gathers in my loins at the thought of both of them crawling over me. Fuck, what a way to die.

  “I told you to leave,” Vanna snaps, sauntering up to jab a finger into Yukie’s shoulder. “Move, you little whore, or I’ll throw you out myself. Don’t you ever come back here. You're not welcome anymore.”

  One big mistake.

  I watch as the whites in Yukie’s eyes turn a pure green, her irises glowing. Her stare is lethal and piercing. With a snarl, she explodes into fiery wrath, leaping at the other woman in blur.

  There’s no hold barred when they both go in for the attack. Pulling out each other's hair in fistfuls, they scratch and kick. Rage-filled screams come from both females. The definition of a full-on cat fight. Fast, vicious, and spontaneous, there’s no submission on either side. Claws extended, they slash at each other, until they are both covered in blood.

  It’s hot as fuck.

  Yukie rams my other lover’s head into the wall hard enough to leave a smear of blood on the pristine white plaster. The growl that leaves her is anything but human.

  I’ve never seen Vanna lose her cool until this moment. It cracks as her feature’s twist in a rage and fury. Screeching like a demented banshee, she contorts herself around, her claws clutching her attacker’s wrist. Using her vampiric strength, she smacks Yukie into the wall this time. Grabbing her by the throat, she lifts her off her feet and throws her through the window. Glass shatters as Yukie flies right through it onto the balcony beyond. Stepping over the broken shards, Vanna goes after her with a look that promises death to the woman she’s found me with.

  I’m out of bed in an instant, protective urges for my pussycat driving my actions. I barely feel the slice of the slivers of glass on my bare soles as I rush over them to reach the women.

  A roar rents the air. I’m in time to see Yukie’s beautiful white tiger leaping toward Vanna. Claws tearing through her flesh, it sinks its teeth into her neck tearing out chunks of throat in a frenzy. The weight of it crashing into her takes them both stumbling back. Before I can get there, they’re already tumbling over the edge. Racing to the railing, I lean over to see them both speeding to the ground below.

  Yukie’s feline gaze snaps to mine, and I swear I can see the beast's lips turned up in a wicked grin all the way down until she hits the pavement.

  11

  Yukie

  “No, open your eyes. I want to see you when you come, feel your body clench around mine,” the voice pants in my ear.

  Wrapping my legs around his lean hips, I obey, giving myself up to him.

  He visits me in the dark of the night, emptying my mind of everything except the blinding pleasure he brings, edged with the barest hint of the pain I crave. Two bodies meeting in carnal heat through passion and desire. Two souls laid bare, among the whispers of the night. Our secret. Our salvation. It grows more dangerous over time, but neither of us can walk away from this. We’re in too deep.

  Rolling over, my eyes flutter open, head pounding with a headache as the dream vanishing as sleep dissipates. It’s not the first erotic dream I’ve had, yet they all seemed to be jumbled. Snatches of scenes. Overwhelming pleasure and piece of conversation I don’t understand. Memories from previous loops? Things my subconscious mind is trying to link together or something more sinister? If someone is messing with my head, could they be connected?

  I recall the day before, the ground rushing up to meet me so fast all I’d been able to do was smile that I’d maimed the bitch who’d walked in on me and Dante. My tiger had been out for blood. The second I’d set eyes on her, it had been fighting to get out. A wild beast pulling against its leash. It’s hatred for the woman had been overpowering.

  I’ve brought this to a whole new level of crazy even for me.

  Fiancée.

  What a douchebag. Damn promiscuous vampire. Dante infuriates me, but I can’t seem to stop myself from wanting to touch and taste him every time we’re together. Being in heat sucks. My li
ps tingle as I remember his kisses. Tracing them with my fingertip, I close my eyes, and I swear I can smell his scent as I breathe in. Everything is tangled up. I hate him, but I want him at the same time.

  Pain shoots through my temples. Clutching my head as the migraine worsens, images explode through my mind out of nowhere.

  Vincenzo.

  His lips on mine, our bodies straining together as we fuck. My fingers tangled in the length of his black hair while his tongue delves between my legs bringing me to orgasm. Our lighthearted laughter. Intimate moments unfolding through my mind almost like someone has flipped a switch. They flood my synapses with happy memories and sensations. The scent of Vincenzo’s cologne and the soft sexy murmur of his voice. All the times he’d looked my way and I’d pretended not to notice.

  More than friends or enemies.

  Closer than I’ve been allowed to remember until now. Maybe the spell we’re under is finally wearing thin.

  Reaching for my phone I tap off a message. Vinnie, I need to talk to you. Phone me when you get this after sunset. It’s important.

  Opting to take it easy, I spend the day lying in bed flicking through the channels and watching movies. Screw the Vampire King. If I’m on repeat, then today I’m taking a day off. Let him try to figure out how to break the spell. I have other things to concern me now. My true relationship with his younger brother. If it is real then it’s just another reason why I should stay the hell away from Dante.

  By the time sunset comes around, I’m bored, and I contemplate visiting Giovanni and Monica. Maybe they’ve made some progress. That’s even if they remember my visit from the other day. So far only Dante and I have remembered we’re on repeat. Sighing, I shut off the TV and toss the remote across the room.

  Just as it bounces on the floor, a knock on the door startles me.

  No one apart from Giovanni and Monica knows I’m here. I’m not expecting company. Moving from the bed, I collect my gun from its holster, where it’s draped over a chair. Padding to the door, I keep the weapon ready but out of sight as I open the door a crack and peer out.

  Vincenzo stands the other side wearing a charming smile, dressed in a tuxedo. “Surprise.”

  “What are you doing here? How did you know where I was staying? Did you get my text?” I question, eyeing the bags he’s carrying. From the tempting aromas coming from it, I can already guess what’s inside. “Aren’t you supposed to be at your brother’s engagement party?”

  I’m half tempted to mention the shitload of vampire assassins that will be waiting for Dante. No. Let the royal pain in the arse deal with them. I’m sure he’ll be prepared. After all, this isn’t our first time going around in circles.

  “I always know where to find you.” Holding them up, Vincenzo grins. “I come in peace, and I have Chinese takeout. Your favorite. I thought we could take this turn around off as you said you needed to talk. If we’re going to restart again anyway, why not enjoy it? Better than taking a nose dive off the top of a hotel again.”

  I frown, what he’s saying taking a split second to sink in. “You know about that? That we’re on a never ending merry-go round of Friday and Saturday?”

  “Kitty cat, you almost landed on me as you made a spectacular landing to splatter all over the pavement. And yes, I remember the day we’re now repeating. So does Mateo.”

  Vincenzo has always been persuasive. His silver tongue can talk anyone into anything. I note the use of the new nickname now he knows I have a shifter side. Better than fang buster and she-bitch, which have been his favorites to date. An echo of one of my dreams whispers into my head, but it's gone so fast I can’t grasp a hold of it.

  “Your brother is an arsehole with a capital A,” I mutter, stepping aside to let him in, giving into the temptation of food and someone to rant to.

  Vincenzo rolls his eyes, placing the bag down on the table. “So, we both have problematic family members. He and your sister are a matching pair. Kiko is an ice bitch of epic proportions. Forget about Dante. You have food, alcohol, and entertainment this evening. What more do you need? Something that doesn’t involve killing. By the way, are you planning to shoot me with that?”

  I raise the gun still held in my hand, aiming it in his direction. “Don’t tempt me.”

  “Have you thought that staying away from Dante might be the key to ending this spell?” He continues, raising an eyebrow.

  Padding to the chair, I slide my gun back into the safety of its holster and then turn to watch him pull out the aluminum packages from his bag. “He didn’t seem very interested about ending this fucking curse last time I saw him. I spoke to someone who’s had dealing in spells like this in the past.”

  He doesn’t pause in his task. “Then tell me.”

  “I think a tempus demon is messing with us, which means it's doing someone's bidding. Lucifer is careful to limit the abilities of his most powerful demons. It prevents the chance of rebellion, although that really hasn’t helped in the few times it’s happened in the past.”

  “Hmmm a demon.” Tugging off the lids of the containers, he fishes out a plastic fork and leaves it beside them.

  “We just need to figure out its purpose,” I continue, seating myself in the chair he holds out for me. “What the person who’s summoned it wants.”

  Grabbing the bottle of whisky he has from the other bag, he takes a seat on the end of the bed. “Do you know how many enemies my brother has? He’s royalty. The untouchable Vampire King of Rome. He’s pissed off enough people over the centuries I doubt there’s a notebook thick enough to fill all the names.”

  “Point taken. By the way, I think these are for you.” I throw him the black, velvet box that’s back on the table. It just shows there’s no point moving things when they just appearing where they were before every time I wake up.

  Catching it easily with one hand, he snaps it open and looks at the contents. “Cufflinks? I’m touched. Thank you.”

  “Are you my boyfriend now? Are we a thing? Dating?” I find myself blurting out before I can stop myself. “I’ve been remembering stuff happening between us. I want to know if you do too?”

  Amusement gleams in Vincenzo blue eyes. “If I say yes are you going to shoot me?”

  “No...but are you?” Picking up the plastic fork he’s left, I spear some noodles in one of the containers with a little more force than I intend.

  “We haven’t made it official to everyone yet or anything…but yes we’re dating.” Tucking the velvet box away in his pocket, he twists the lid off the bottle of whisky before taking a long swig of the liquid.

  “My memories are like swiss cheese with plenty of holes. I only remember chunks at the moment, and not everything makes sense. It’s like I’m trying to piece together pages from a torn-up book. Seeing where each one fits.” Munching on my dinner, I watch him kick off his shoes and make himself more comfortable on the mattress.

  Vincenzo shrugs. “Maybe we all have a different set of memories that the spell or whatever is doing this allowed us to keep, or maybe this demon is shuffling them like a pack of cards. Letting us remember different things each time around. Maybe it’s after a certain outcome, trying each time to get what it wants. Do you have any porn channels?”

  His bad influence hijacks my mouth. “The remotes on the floor by the window. They have a couple of good channels on pay to view.”

  While he finds the remote and starts scrolling through what’s on offer, I savor the Chinese takeout. Dinner finished, I leave the empty containers and join Vincenzo on the bed. He’s found a porno to watch with two guys pounding into a woman. She’s dressed up like a peasant girl from medieval times and from the chainmail I’m guessing they’re supposed to be knights.

  “Can you help me take care of this?” he asks, lazily pointing at his erection outlined by the material of his trousers.

  Retrieving the bottle of whisky from his hand I shake my head. “Take care of it yourself.”

  “I’ll be generous.” He sm
irks, watching me drinking from where his lips have just been pressed. “No hands are allowed only your mouth.”

  Wrapping his arm around my waist, he jerks me off my spot on the mattress and onto his lap. Grabbing the bottle out of my hand, he pries it from my grip and brings the end to his lips to take a long swig.

  “Do you remember the time we sneaked into the Louvre museum and fucked in front of the Mona Lisa? We definitely gave her something to smile about that night.” I’m laughing so hard at the sudden big bright memory I can hardly breathe. Especially recalling how the security guards had almost caught us. It’s strange how it ignites like a solar flare from the tangled mess inside my brain.

  I wiggle against the long, hard ridge pressing against my arse. Glancing over my shoulder my eyes meet his. “Vinnie, what are we doing? Are we really dating now or is this one of your jokes? I remember our friendship and all the meaningless sex. Other stuff...not so much.”

  Leaning to his left, he discards the bottle on the bedside table before rolling us over on the mattress. He has me pinned beneath him before I can think. “I thought that was obvious.”

  The scent of Vincenzo fills my nose as he presses against me. Bourbon, not the wine that Dante drinks. Wait, how do I know what his older brother enjoys more? The thought is short and fleeting.

  Kissing me hungrily, Vincenzo’s tongue seeks entry into my mouth. I’m not surprised by his ferocity. I have a feeling its always been like this between us. Granting permission, my own tongue dances with his, the taste of bourbon permeating my mouth and senses.

  “I want you,” he rasps when he finally pulls away.

  “You're drunk,” I counter, knowing from the handful of memories of us together it's never made a difference in the past. The times we’ve had our secret clandestine hook-ups.