by Lexi C. Foss
Flipping through my emails, I came across an interesting file sent by a property manager in that district. The building that collapsed belonged to the Earl of Richmond, Beckett’s father.
“Son of a bitch,” I muttered.
I jumped up and ran down the hallway to find Bishop dutifully dusting the grand piano in the music room.
“Something wrong, Sir?” he asked.
“I need you order some food for Sam. Have it delivered. Thai, Chinese, or that Burger shop that she likes. You know the one. I’ve got to go downstairs and investigate some information that I just obtained. Will you keep an eye on her?”
“Of course. It would be my pleasure.” He bowed to me and walked into the kitchen. I ran across the hallway to my office. Moved my copy of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, which triggered a sliding door down into my dungeon. Unfortunately, it wasn’t anything like a sex dungeon. I did have chains and torture devices, but none of them were for pleasure. They were to force information out of our kind. Generally, pain wasn’t something that mattered to us, but there were certain spots on our bodies that we’d prefer not to have damaged. Which meant that my walls were covered in numerous clamps, binding devices, and other diabolical means of torment.
I made my way past the interrogation area to a back room filled with books and documents detailing the activities of the Fellowship. Searching through the annuals of our judgments, I found exactly what I needed.
In 1888, when the whole island was looking for Jack the Ripper, we had our own trouble. The Fellowship tracked and disposed of a vampire who had gone rogue. He had killed more than a dozen human females, dumping their bodies into the river. The vampire was the Duke of Richmond. Someone within Beckett Stuart’s line had damaged our lives sending his entire family into an early sleep. These events couldn’t be coincidence.
I grabbed the evidence I needed and dashed back up to the bedroom to tell Samarie. Only the bed was empty.
“Bishop!” I screamed.
He stood behind me. “She asked to leave. I couldn’t deny her.”
“You could have gotten me. How long ago did she leave? How did she leave?”
“She did not say how she was going to get home and she left about twenty minutes ago.”
I was furious with him, but I didn’t have time. I needed to catch her. If Beckett knew who and what she was, then he would do whatever it took to kill her.
“Sir, you should probably…”
I cut him off. “You should probably consider your job here as my employee. She is hurt and in danger. How dare you let her go?”
“I am not in the habit of forcing young women to do things against their will,” he said, following me through the house to the garage.
I stared at him. “Do you think I am?”
“Of course not, which is why let her go.”
I groaned as the garage door opened. “Argh!” I yelled in pain as the sun struck my skin. I ducked away into the shadowed corner. Bishop reached into his pocket and produced a tube of the sunscreen that I needed to be able to go outside in the sun. “We will discuss this more when I return.”
“Yes, sir.”
I turned my back on him, but hesitated. I wasn’t a ruthless master. I couldn’t leave like this. Turning back to him, I put my hand on his shoulder. “Bishop, I didn’t think I’d ever feel this way again, but I do. If something happens to her…”
“Trust her training, Sir. She isn’t weak.”
“I know that, but if I can protect her…”
“You shouldn’t be the one protecting her, because she can handle herself, but when you put her in a situation like bringing her here and pretty much giving her not choice but to recover in your home, then you aren’t protecting her.”
I swallowed, because he was right. “I have to go find her.”
“I understand, but remember, she doesn’t need a protector. She needs a partner.”
It had been too long since I’d been in any sort of real relationship that I’d practically forgotten what it was like. I’d seen Samarie as a prize. Something I wanted to trap and show her pleasures like she’s never known. She wasn’t a prize to be won, but a gift to be given. And she had to do the giving.
6
The Stakes
SAMARIE
By the time I got home, I could barely breathe. I managed to get the door to my flat open and fumble my way to the couch where I collapsed in pain and exhaustion. Jasper hadn’t done anything wrong, but I couldn’t stay at his home any longer. The dark gothic feel of the entire place reminded me of Vega DiRossi.
Vega and I met in New York. He was assigned to me by E.V.I.E. He was my target, but I allowed myself to get too close to him. He convinced me that he’d changed, because he wanted to be with me. For a time, he was. In fact, E.V.I.E. pulled the contract on his head in exchange for his cooperation in hunting vampires in the city.
I fell hard. My mother was sick and dying. My father was an ocean away. I had very few friends. He gave me something I couldn’t find anywhere else. Peace and comfort. The incredibly hot sex had something to do with it, too. I’d never find a human man to treat my body like that.
One slip on his part resulted in a massacre. I knew the consequences. As did he. But as he knelt before me, crying and begging for his life, I hardened my heart and drove a stake through his.
I swore to myself that never again would I fall into that trap. And of course, the only person in England that I connected with was Jasper fucking Eden. Vampire.
Jasper and Vega couldn’t be more different. Vega was dark and broody. Just what you’d expect of a vampire if you’ve read any vampire romance book. Jasper, on the other hand, loved life and had blonde styled hair. He dressed like a prep. And his smile…yeah, well, it seemed I was doomed to find vampires attractive.
He would follow me back here, but at least I’d be on my own turf. I needed to get back down to the scene and see what I could find out about the fire and the deaths at the rave. However, my body protested. I succumbed to my injuries and pains, falling asleep on the couch.
Bastet decided to wake me up by pouncing from the arm of the couch onto my broken ribs. I jumped up screaming in pain. Also, someone was pounding on my door.
“Samarie! Open the door! Are you alright?!”
“Jasper,” I muttered.
Holding on to my bruised mid-section, I dragged myself to the door. I opened it to find him frantic.
“I’ve been banging on the door for twenty minutes. I’m sure your neighbors have called the cops,” he said.
“Get inside,” I huffed.
He stepped in quickly, but gently reached for me. “Sam.”
“I couldn’t stay there. I’ve been hurt worse. I just need to heal up and get back out there. You are a distraction that I can’t afford,” I said, pushing away from him. I crossed the receiving room to the statue of Bastet in the alcove between two large bookshelves.
Taking a deep breath, I reached across and touched the head of the statue as my own cat twirled around my legs. The healing power of the goddess flowed into my body, knitting together the broken bones and soothed the bruises. When the power stopped flowing, I knew I was healed.
Jasper had taken a seat on the couch. His mouth hung open in awe.
“Bastet. The goddess of women. My protector. This statue was uncovered in the tomb of Hapshepsut. Her reign as pharaoh in Egypt was one of the most prosperous. She thrived, and her power and essence influenced this icon. Now, it heals me when I need it. I don’t need your vampire blood to corrupt me. I am healed by the pure essence of a goddess.”
“That’s amazing. You are amazing. She must consider you worthy. I’ve always thought you were a goddess. From the moment I saw you. You are right. My blood is a curse. I swear to you that I won’t use it again,” he said, hanging his head.
My stubborn heart felt sorry for him, and I knelt down before him, lifting his face to mine. “You are not a curse. You made my move here easier. I thought I’d be here
alone.”
“I had ulterior motives,” he said with a sideways grin.
“To drink me?”
“Hell no. To fuck you.”
“Uh.” I didn’t know what to say to that.
“But one of our kind hurt you. I see that now. I guess that I was blind to it. You didn’t object to a relationship. You objected to what I am.” He’d finally seen past his own desires to the real reason I was rejecting him. It wasn’t because he wasn’t worthy. It was because he was what he was. He was what I hunted.
“We have a bad guy to catch.” I tried to reassure him that we were still in this fight together, and I wanted him to be a part of it.
“I’m all in. Whatever you need,” he said.
I needed clean clothes and a quick shower. “Stay here. If you so much as move from that couch, I will stake you.”
He nodded with a grin. Stupid, sweet lopsided grin.
I quickly showered and thought about Jasper waiting in the receiving room. He wasn’t so bad. I just hated the fact that he was a vampire. Of course, regular guys had asked me out, and I’d turned them all down. I’d used the excuse of a recent bad relationship to get out of it. Jasper saw the truth now. But I also knew I was drawn to him and the danger that inherently followed vampires. My core ached to be satisfied. The magic wand in my dresser drawer wasn’t enough.
After dressing quickly, I returned to the living room to find Jasper patiently waiting. However, his hooded eyes warned me of his aroused state.
“I smell you,” he said.
“I just showered.”
“Yes, but you are needy,” he said as his fangs extended. He winced and tucked them back.
“Why did you come here?”
“Fuck, Sam. I want you more than anything, and I swear to you I’m not in it to hurt you. I’d rather stake myself than do that. You consume my thoughts and desires. I won’t stop until I’ve had you.” He was just as frustrated as I was, but I refused to give into him.
“We have a job to do.” I said it more for myself than him.
He ran his hand through his dirty blonde hair. “And we will do it. And you will go back to ignoring me when it’s over.”
“Whining isn’t attractive,” I said.
His fangs flared again and leaned back in the seat. His facial expression changed. He leered at me, making me uncomfortable. “I searched my records and found some interesting information about Beckett.” He proceeded to tell me about a prior Duke of Richmond who had stepped out of line and was executed by his own people for jeopardizing their existence. Jasper believed it was happening again. “I believe that certain families have a proclivity to break the laws. They cannot restrain themselves.”
“What a coincidence that you have all of this information,” I stated.
“It isn’t a coincidence. You see, I belong to…”
A knock on the door interrupted our conversation. I rose from my position and looked through the peep hole of the door.
“I didn’t expect him so soon,” I muttered.
“Who?” Jasper asked.
I opened the door. Viscount Beckett Stuart leaned on the doorframe holding a dozen blood red roses.
“Ah! Miss Bashir, I see that you have company,” he said with a sly grin.
“Don’t invite him in,” Jasper snarled.
“Would you like to come in?” I said to Beckett.
“Thank you, Beautiful,” he smiled and handed me the roses.
“Thanks. Have a seat,” I said. He smirked and made his way to the couch where Jasper watched him warily.
“I had to bring a peace offering,” he said, keeping his eyes on Jasper.
“You know him?” Jasper said, looking back and forth between us.
“You aren’t the only vampire in England that E.V.I.E. uses,” I said. I walked into the kitchen, leaving the two of them to either kill each other or come to a realization that we were all on the same team. I placed the roses in a vase and set them down on the coffee table in the receiving room.
The two vamps eyed each other.
“Sam, I need to talk to you in private,” Jasper said.
I sat down on the couch and patted the seat next to me. He flopped down in defeat as Beckett sat down in the high-backed chair across the room. He crossed his legs and leaned back like he was a king on his throne. When I left Jasper’s house, I had multiple messages from Jude informing me that Beckett had signed on to help find the culprit. He had also warned me not to trust him or Jasper. As I took the tube back to my flat, I called Beckett using the number Jude gave me and asked him to come over. I knew Jasper would arrive without invitation. I just didn’t expect to have the testosterone-laden stare contest.
As for Jasper, I knew that he wouldn’t hurt me. Beckett would have to prove himself. For the moment, I was enjoying the territorial gaze between the two vampires. Beckett looked confident and his eyes never wavered from Jasper. Almost as if he’d rather eat him than me.
“Now. Let’s talk about information. Beckett, what do you bring to the table?” I asked.
He lifted his eyebrow. “You ask me first?”
“Did I stutter?”
He huffed out a laugh. “No, you did not. I’ve been tracking the vampire for months, but he eludes me at every turn. I thought I had him last night until I saw you. I admit that I got distracted, because when an exquisite woman such as yourself enters a room, you draw all the attention. I’m sorry for any injuries you received due to my interaction with you.”
His voice and face deemed him to be sincere, but vampires were crafty with emotions. They knew how to toy with a human. Like playing with their food.
“How do you know me?” I asked.
He uncrossed his legs and leaned forward placing his elbows on his knees. His dark eyes fixed on me. “We know when a slayer is in our midst. You smell like power. I took a guess.”
“No, it was more than that,” I said.
“If you mean that I detected the scent of another vampire on you, then that wasn’t a guess. I didn’t imagine it to be Eden,” he said in the most condescending manner.
“It’s not Jasper,” I said.
“You have another vampire lover?” Beckett asked.
“I did until I dusted him.” He stopped moving and the room fell into an eerie silence. I let that sink in for a minute before speaking again. “So, if you think you can get me into your bed, you will pay with your life.”
He leaned back and smiled. “No, it just means that I’ll have to tie you down to get what I want.”
“You aren’t touching her,” Jasper said.
I cleared my throat and Jasper leaned back into the couch with a groan.
“It’s not nice to castrate a man in front of his competition,” Beckett said.
“What do you know about the vampire taking the woman from the raves?” I pressed forward with the matter at hand.
“It’s not just women. There have been men taken, too. Doesn’t mean that vamp doesn’t enjoy the sexual pleasures of both sexes, but more than likely, it means he is stealing them for blood slaves,” Beckett said.
“And it has to be peerage that is currently located in London,” I added.
“It is the season, my dear. All the peerage that is peerage, is in London. While it doesn’t hold the meaning that it once did, the season is important to us. Lots of charity events and polo matches. In fact, I do believe that Jasper and I are competing tomorrow. Correct?” Beckett asked Jasper.
“Yes,” Jasper resigned.
“Well, ol’ chap, I can’t wait to see what you are made of. As for you, Miss Samarie, I would be honored if you would go to the match as my guest,” Beckett said.
“I already have a date,” I replied, slipping my arm through a shocked Jasper’s arm. He placed his hand over mine and gave me a questioning look. I didn’t have to spell it out for him. He understood that I didn’t trust Beckett.
“You win this round, Eden. I will be in touch, and I will see you both tomorr
ow,” Beckett said, standing up from the chair. He straightened his jacket and walked confidently to the door. I joined him, and he lightly touched my cheek. “You are a rare beauty, Miss Bashir. I swear to you that I have no intention of harming you. Not now. Not ever.”
“You will have to earn my trust,” I said flatly. He looked over my shoulder at Jasper who had stood to watch him leave.
He leaned forward to whisper in my ear, which made no sense because Jasper could hear whatever he said. Vampire hearing.
“I will earn much more than your trust. I will earn the satisfaction of hearing you scream my name as I bury my face in your pussy,” he said.
I forced back the surge of desire that rose inside of me. I loved a dirty talking man. “That won’t happen,” I said weakly.
He smirked and left the room. Before I could shut the door, Jasper had crossed the room and stood behind me. I spun around to face him as he stepped forward pressing my back to the door.
“Is that what you want? Someone to talk to you like you are a piece of fuck meat?” he asked.
“Jasper, don’t,” I warned.
“Don’t what?” he asked as he sank to his knees. He wrapped his hands around my ass and dragged my body to his face. “My god, I smell you. He turned you on, and it’s driving me wild.” He looked up at me. “This is mine, and he can get in line.”
“It’s not yours or his,” I said. Beckett had already heighted my desire with his words, and now with Jasper kneeling at my feet, I had no defenses. My body began to shake with anticipation. There was nothing I could do to hold back. A man at my knees had weakened me.
“Maybe not, but you want this,” he said, reaching up to my waistband. I grabbed his hands.
“Jasper.” My last lame attempt to stop him failed.
“Tell me no, Goddess. I’ll stop, but you and I both know you need this,” he said, nudging my crotch with his nose. “No strings. No expectations. Let me please you.”
“We have work to do,” I said.