With glass in hand, he sat at the small desk and powered up his laptop. Logged into the secure site, he searched. Nothing. He stared at the unhelpful screen. By all accounts, he should be the only hunter here. Then again, if the women knew the man pulled from Moses Lake would turn, it made sense that one of them would have to be a hunter. Except that scenario was impossible. He was the only one. So a couple of million-dollar questions remained: who were the women in that autopsy suite and what were they doing with the vampire’s victim?
He tried some more search avenues and still came up with squat. Taking a long swallow of the scotch, he dug his cell phone out of the jeans he’d tossed on the bed. No sense screwing around, might as well go right to the top. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d been left out of the loop, and if this was one of those times, he wanted to know.
The call was answered on the first ring, it always was. “Colin.”
“Monsignor.”
“Is there a problem?”
“That’s what I’m calling to find out.”
“Perhaps you should explain.”
Colin did, in great detail. He finished by asking, “I was under the impression I was on this mission alone, am I mistaken?” The possibility that Monsignor would lie to him after all these years made him tense his shoulders and grind his teeth.
There was a long silence on the other end. “No, you are not.”
His shoulders relaxed, a little. “Then who do you think these women are?”
“I do not know,” the monsignor said on a sigh.
The phone still held to his ear, Colin walked onto the balcony and looked out over the river at the full moon. How many preternatural beings were out tonight? The moon huge and round was a call to the weres. And to the vampire he hunted.
“We need to know who they are.”
“Agreed. I’ll check with the council and call you with any additional information I discover.”
“I don’t like this, Monsignor. I don’t have a good feeling about any of it.”
“Neither do I.”
“I’ll be in touch tomorrow.” He was just about to click off when the monsignor’s voice stopped him.
“Colin?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Be careful.”
The two words sent a chill down his back. “Always.”
Chapter Four
With effort, Riah found her voice. “I…I came by to see what you found with the blood samples.” Adriana motioned for Riah to come into the house and so she did.
“Do you really want to talk about the results of the blood tests?” Adriana rested her back against the door, both hands on her hips. “Because, frankly, I don’t.”
“I don’t understand.” It was almost impossible to concentrate on anything except Adriana. She wasn’t just beautiful, she was stunning.
A slow, sexy smile turned up the corners of Adriana’s mouth. “It’s simple. I like you. You like me. We can dance around it all we want, Riah, but the truth’s right in front of us and has been for quite a while. I’m tired of the pretense.”
She could argue and even sound convincing, except she wouldn’t. Adriana wasn’t the only one tired of pretending. “It’s complicated.” Riah shifted from one foot to the other and refused to meet her eyes.
“Not really. I’m human. You’re a vampire. But, unless I’m mistaken, all the parts work the same.”
“That’s not what I mean.” Riah rubbed a hand over her eyes.
Adriana stood very close. Her body a whisper away from Riah’s. Her perfume sweet, alluring. “Then tell me what you mean.” Adriana ran her tongue along her bottom lip.
Riah’s fingers flexed. Adriana smelled like vanilla and woman. It made her want to run her hands down her dark, silky skin, across her lean hips and firm ass. To take one erect nipple into her mouth. It had been so very long.
She sighed and said, “I don’t get involved with friends. Ever.” It was never a good idea no matter how much she wanted to. She’d learned that lesson the hard way a long time ago.
“Why?” Adriana’s voice was very matter-of-fact.
Why? “Friends are too hard to come by.” That much of the truth was pretty cut and dried even if it wasn’t all of it.
“And you’re afraid if we become lovers it will end badly and we’ll no longer be friends?”
Thank God she understood. “Yes.”
“Bullshit.”
Riah jerked. She thought Adriana got it and agreed. “I don’t want to lose you as a friend,” she insisted. She valued her friendship with Adriana more than she wanted to make love to her.
Adriana took one of Riah’s hands and put it on her breast. Her skin was soft, hot. “You’re afraid of something, Riah Preston, but it’s not of losing me as a friend.”
One part of her wanted to snatch her hand away. The other part couldn’t, the feel of the full, lush breast making her breath come faster. “What do you want from me?” she rasped, and hated the way she sounded almost desperate.
“You know what I want and tonight we’re done with pretending. I love you, Riah, and I want to make love to you. You don’t have to love me back, I’ve enough for us both. Just don’t deny me. I’ve waited a very long time for this.”
Her mind screamed no. Her heart, yes. Her heart won. Riah put her free hand behind Adriana’s head, pulled her close, and kissed her. She left her other hand on Adriana’s breast, brushing her thumb over the erect nipple.
“I can’t believe you answered the door naked,” Riah said with a laugh when she came up for air. God, how wonderful Adriana tasted.
Adriana smiled and tilted her head to one side. Her eyes sparkled. “I saw your car in the driveway and decided it was now or never. I was out of my clothes in about ten seconds. You know the old saying, no guts, no glory.”
Riah laughed and hugged her. “Silly girl.”
“Horny girl, you mean.” Adriana stepped back and winked.
She took Riah’s hand and pulled her down a hallway. Riah didn’t resist. In the big picture, a good idea would be to turn around and go home. She kept walking.
The door at the end of the hallway opened into a large tasteful bedroom. The bed was a big four-poster of rich mahogany covered with a deep red duvet and mounds of pillows. Adriana slid to the center of the bed and rested back against the pillows. Her body was gorgeous, with nice rounded hips and full breasts with dark nipples.
“Okay, vamp, let’s see the goods.”
“You’re a bit bossy.” Riah raised an eyebrow. This was a side of Adriana she’d never seen before. She liked it.
“Oh, I can be more than bossy. I can be downright domineering.” Adriana licked her lips and smiled.
Riah smiled back. “I’m liking you better by the minute.”
“Then strip.”
So that’s how it was going to be. A little wild, a little daring, and a whole lot exciting. The quiet ones were always full of surprises.
A buzz rippled through Riah’s body and her fingers trembled as she slipped out of her shirt. Kicking off her shoes, she pushed jeans and panties down her legs. Cool air met her bare skin.
“Nice,” Adriana murmured from the bed, one hand stroking the patch of black hair between her legs. “Let’s see the rest.”
Slowly, Riah unhooked the lacy black bra. It fell to the floor on top of the rest of her discarded clothing.
At the bed, she lowered herself next to Adriana. Again, she kissed Adriana, parting her lips with her tongue to push inside. She tasted sweet, which made her want more.
She explored Adriana’s body, her skin hot. She reached between her legs, wanting to feel the wetness and the warmth there, but Adriana stopped her.
“Do you trust me?” Adriana asked against her lips, biting lightly but hard enough to draw just a hint of blood.
The metallic taste of blood sent a feverish rush throughout Riah’s body. She shuddered but held tight to her control even as her fangs lengthened just a touch. She took a deep breath, and
they receded.
Riah pulled away to study Adriana’s face. She didn’t have to think long for the answer. “Of course I do.”
Very few people were privy to the secret of her life, and the fact that Adriana was one of them seemed, at least to Riah, to speak to the issue of trust. She was surprised Adriana even felt she needed to ask.
Adriana smiled and rolled away. Before Riah could protest, Adriana pulled four silken scarves from the bedside table. All were a beautiful shade of emerald. “Do you trust me?” she asked again, and waved the scarves over the bed.
For a moment Riah drew a blank, and then it hit her. Her entire body tingled. Talk about surprises. Adriana seemed full of them tonight.
“Yes,” she answered on a sly smile.
She moved to the center of the bed. On her back, she settled her head against the pillows. She spread her legs and arms as if she was making a snow angel.
Adriana took the scarves and one by one tied her hands and feet to the four bedposts. Her touch was gentle as she wrapped each scarf around an ankle or a wrist. As she tied each hand, she kissed the palm. As she tied each ankle, she kissed the bottom of each foot. Riah’s heart pounded like a drum at each feather-light touch of Adriana’s lips. It was as close as she ever got to feeling alive again.
Once Riah was all tied up, Adriana moved back onto the bed to straddle her. She was wet, hot, and Riah pushed against her. The buzz became a roar.
“Patience, my love.” Adriana kissed her, and this time she was the one who pushed her tongue in. “Your safe word is ‘sunlight.’”
“Safe word,” Riah whispered. Why would she need a safe word? If she wanted out of the restraints, she’d be free in less than a second. She was only lying here tied up because she chose to allow it.
As if reading her thoughts, Adriana said, “This is about pleasure, Riah, not power. If I do anything to you that isn’t pleasurable, say the safe word and I’ll stop. No questions asked.” She ran her hand down Riah’s cheek, her neck, and across her sensitive breasts.
Riah smiled. “Sounds perfect.”
Adriana reached into the drawer of the nightstand once more, a breast brushing Riah’s lips. When she straightened up, she held a black scarf in her hand. Where were all the scarves coming from?
Adriana held it in both hands and bent forward. This time, her erect nipple met Riah’s mouth full on, and she sucked it greedily. As she did, Adriana gently tied the silky black scarf around her eyes, sending her into delicious darkness.
*
Jorge Santos left his wife’s house even though he didn’t like it. He didn’t agree with Ivy at all. But, at times it was much better to retreat than to fight with her. Tonight was definitely one for retreat. Ivy was a woman of moods, and she was in one now. She was much more fun when she was relaxed and pliable. Of course, it had been a really long time since she’d been either. At least around him.
The parking lot at his favorite lounge was full when he pulled in. Good. He needed more than just a drink, and by the look of things, the field would be promising. It took two complete loops around the lot before he found a space for the truck.
He flipped down the visor and studied himself in the small lighted mirror. He smiled, ran a hand over his hair, and pushed the visor back up. He popped open the glove box and took out a small bottle of cologne, splashed a little in his hands, and patted his neck. He rolled his head before straightening his shirt. Now, he was ready.
Inside, a band played and the noise level was just this side of a roar. Perfect. Jorge sauntered into the lounge and could feel eyes on him as he crossed to the bar. His smile was his best feature. It drew women like flies.
He scanned the room at the same time he moved through it and quickly forgot his irritation at Ivy’s rebuff. One woman’s rejection was another woman’s golden opportunity.
It might turn out to be a great night after all. He liked what he was seeing. “Promising” didn’t begin to describe the crowd tonight, even given the late hour. He winked at a black-haired beauty in a skin-tight shirt that barely kept her boobs from falling out. Un hombre feliz.
It wasn’t boob-girl that made his groin tighten, though. Not even close. He picked up the beer the bartender slid across to him and took a swallow without taking his eyes off the beautiful woman in a far booth. The beer was icy and delicious, while his body grew hotter by the second. The woman’s gaze met his and never wavered. As he walked to her booth, he licked his lips.
“Hola.” He propped himself against the outside of the booth, making sure to turn his hips in her direction. Not a bad idea to display the goods.
“Hello.” She drew the word out slow, sexy.
Jorge swept his gaze over her. Nice. Her long, dark blond hair fell over her shoulders in golden waves reaching her waist. He did love long hair. Never did understand why Ivy cut hers off. Green eyes peered at him from beneath long lush lashes. Her lips, red and full, beckoned to be kissed. Her skin was so white and smooth it seemed to scream for the pleasing touch of his skilled hands.
He set his beer on her table and held out a hand. “Would you like to dance?” He wanted to press his body very close to hers. Not just gift her with a look at the goods, but let her feel too. Hard to resist what he had to offer.
“Very much.” She took his outstretched hand and he pulled her to her feet. Her hand was cool yet soft in his, tiny with long, elegant fingers.
She was even more beautiful standing up. She wasn’t very tall, barely over five feet, yet possessed a presence that made her seem anything but small. Jorge liked his women substantial, though he could certainly make an exception for this one. Tiny as she might be, she had beautiful breasts and a small, tight ass. Her hair was soft and shiny as he wound his hands through it and brought it to his face to inhale its sweet scent. Perfection in a petite package.
“I’m Jorge,” he told her as he pulled her into his arms, pressing close against her. Her breasts pushed into his chest and his cock immediately responded. He moved even closer, knowing the feel of his big cock would please her. All the women liked what he could deliver, while men envied him. It was just one of his many charms and one he was particularly proud of.
She rubbed suggestively against his hardness. “Jorge,” she said slowly. “You like what you see? What you feel?”
“Sí.” He moved his hands from her back to her ass. It felt as perfect as it looked in the short black skirt.
“And I like what I feel,” she purred as she rubbed her hips against his hard-on. “Shall we leave this place?”
Jorge silently congratulated himself. He was so good, he didn’t even have to buy her a drink. He laughed and spun her with one hand. His mama should have called him Lucky. “We shall.”
Outside, he hit the keychain remote to unlock the truck doors. The doors clicked and the lights flickered. At the passenger door, he grabbed her around the waist and picked her up. He kissed her hard before depositing her in the leather seat. Pausing at the driver’s side door, he grabbed his jeans and pulled. His crotch was getting very tight.
“Any place in particular?” Jorge asked as he drove out of the parking lot. He hoped she’d pick somewhere close. He wasn’t sure how long he could stay bound up in his jeans.
She ran a finger down his cheek. “The old cemetery.”
Jorge turned his head to stare at her. “What?”
She gave him a dazzling smile and a wink. “I like it a little kinky. Is that a problem for you?” she drawled.
Okay, so maybe he did hear her right. Freaky little bitch. The night just kept getting better. “Oh, no, mujer atractiva. Kinky is just my style.”
He laughed, ran one hand down her exposed thigh, and turned the truck east with the other. Could this babe get any hotter?
Jorge drove the back roads, turning and stopping a couple of times to get his bearings. The cemetery sat in the middle of nowhere, a square patch of trees and headstones. In an otherwise vast, boring flatland, it was the only disruption.
&n
bsp; The sky overhead was pitch black, punctuated by a mantle of twinkling stars and a round full moon. It was easy to get lost when it was so dark and everything looked the same. His throbbing cock urged him to find the cemetery, and quickly. Finally, the stand of trees that defined the perimeter came into view.
He’d barely put the truck in Park when she jumped out to run past several large weeping willows and the veterans’ memorial before stopping in the middle of the cemetery. Jorge followed, his blood pumping and his heart racing as he weaved between headstones.
The sooner he could get out of these jeans, the better. “Tight” didn’t even begin to describe them. He caught the beauty in his arms and kissed her. She kissed him back, hard and hungry, her tongue thrusting into his mouth. What a tigress.
He sighed as she nuzzled his neck with warm kisses. “You never told me your name,” he said in a husky voice as he slid his hands beneath her little skirt. She wore nothing underneath.
Why weren’t they getting out of their clothes? The kisses were nice, but it was time to get down and dirty.
Her laugh was soft. “No, I did not.”
The last thing Jorge felt was the sting of her fangs as they sank into his neck.
*
Adriana started at Riah’s lips and kissed all the way down her body. At her nipples, she bit, the pain sweet. Riah bucked against the sensation and Adriana laughed.
“Patience, my love, we’re just getting started.” Her tongue was hot against Riah’s cool skin.
Riah was awash in sensation, and so far all Adriana had touched her with was her mouth. She hadn’t even used her hands. As soon as the thought flitted through her mind, Adriana surprised her when she brushed a fingertip between her folds and across her clit. A moment later, she slipped a finger inside. Riah was wet and ready. She pulled at her restraints, pushing against the feel of Adriana’s finger inside her. Adriana slipped in another finger and moved them both in and out with agonizing slowness.
Crimson Vengeance Page 4