He went back to the love seat and sat down again. Resting an arm on the back, he gazed out the window. It was dark, and no cars traveled the street at this time of night. He couldn’t see lights in any other house on the street. It was almost as though they were all alone.
He should go back to Spokane and to his hotel, except he didn’t want to. He should be here. No, that wasn’t right either. He needed to be here. To put a hundred miles between himself and Ivy seemed wrong. So, he didn’t. He leaned back, finished the beer, and waited.
“You reach her?” he asked when Ivy walked in a few minutes later.
She nodded and sat beside him. The love seat wasn’t big so she sat very close. She smelled great.
“Yes. I explained what you discovered and told her my theory. She agreed.”
“Good,” he muttered, not listening as close as he should, though pleased that she’d gotten through to Riah.
It was foolish for him to be concerned about a vamp. His job was to put them down, all of them, yet here he was worried about keeping one alive. What was happening to him lately? It’d be a really good idea not to let Monsignor know about this most recent turn of events. They’d pull him in a heartbeat. He might be the only hunter still on the job, but that didn’t mean others couldn’t step into his shoes if need be. Yeah, he’d keep this little tidbit of info nice and close to the vest.
“She’s one of the good guys,” Ivy said softly, almost as if she could read his thoughts. Her hand covered his where it lay on his thigh.
He turned his head so he could see her face. The lighting was soft and her features were delicate, beautiful. Her skin was gorgeous, her lips full, kissable. She smelled like vanilla, sweet and fresh.
“I know,” he said quietly, shocked because he actually believed it.
Her dark eyes studied his face, then she surprised him by pressing a kiss to his lips. Her tongue touched his—hot, demanding. He groaned and shifted, the crotch of his pants suddenly very snug.
*
Riah was still fretting over the disturbing phone calls when she heard a soft knock on her front door.
“What now?” Looking through the peephole, she wrinkled her brow. Adriana stood on the front steps, a long, black coat pulled tight against the cool night air. Not good.
“Hey.” Adriana smiled when Riah opened the door.
“Is there a problem?” Something must be wrong with the samples from Jorge. Why else would Adriana be here? But she didn’t give off the vibes of someone who was worried or upset. In fact, her beautiful dark eyes seemed to dance.
Adriana stepped past Riah and into the house. “Yes, there’s definitely a problem,” she said in a happy voice.
Despite Adriana’s cheerful demeanor, Riah’s heart sank. She’d hoped they were close to the breakthrough they’d been spending so much time and energy on for so long. She closed the door. Might as well get the bad news over with.
“The problem,” Adriana said as she slid the coat slowly from her shoulders to reveal her naked body beneath, “was there I sat at home, all alone and really, really horny.”
The coat dropped like a puddle around Adriana’s feet. Her nipples grew hard as the cool air reached them.
“I…I…” Riah’s throat was dry.
Adriana took Riah’s hand and placed it on one of her breasts. Her erect nipple pushed against the palm of her hand, hot against her cool skin. The sensation was heart-stopping. She swallowed.
“Shhh.” Adriana kissed against her lips. “I’m horny, I’m wet, and I want only one woman. Please don’t make me go.”
Riah should pick the coat up from the floor, make Adriana put it back on, and send her home. No lasting good could come if they were to take this further. No good at all…
God, she tasted good though. Riah caressed the breast in her hand while she pulled Adriana close with her other arm. She was so hot.
“You should go,” she whispered.
“No, I shouldn’t.” Adriana began to unbutton Riah’s blouse, kissing each inch of skin she bared. Pushing the blouse aside, Adriana kissed Riah’s nipple through the fabric of her bra.
Riah sucked in a breath. “You’re making me insane,” she murmured.
Adriana’s laughter was light and happy. “Oh, baby, the last thing I want to do is send you over the edge.”
“What do you want to do?”
Adriana pulled back and smiled. “Now you’re talking. How do you feel about toys?”
Riah raised both eyebrows and studied Adriana, who almost glowed with happiness. She finally hedged. “They can be fun.” When was the last time she’d even seen a toy, let alone used one? Of course, sex hadn’t exactly been high on her to-do list for quite a while.
From the floor, Adriana picked up the purse she’d had slung over one shoulder when she came in. She pulled out a strap-on, complete with a purple cock, wagged it in the air, and giggled. “Trust me, girlfriend, this’ll be fun. Now how about you get out of those clothes?”
A purple cock? Ah, why not––Adriana might be right. Fun could come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. “You’re full of surprises,” she told Adriana as she shed her clothes right where she stood.
“You ain’t seen nothing yet.” Adriana ran her hand down Riah’s body, pausing to rub her clit. One finger slipped inside and Riah sighed, pushing her hips against Adriana’s hand.
“You’re something,” Riah said, her head tilted back and her eyes closed. Adriana’s hand felt incredible. If she lived forever, she’d never tire of her touch.
“And you’re wet.”
“Can you blame me?” Riah said on a sigh.
“I was more worried.”
Riah opened her eyes and looked at Adriana. “Worried?”
All the merriment went out of Adriana’s face. Her dark eyes were serious and her lips trembled a little. “I was afraid you wouldn’t want me again.”
It would probably be better for them both if Riah lied. The problem was––she couldn’t. She couldn’t lie and she couldn’t let her go. “Oh, Jesus, Adriana, I want you so much I could come right now.”
Adriana smiled and moved her finger in and out of Riah. Once again, her eyes danced. “Really…”
“You’re driving me insane.” The words came out in a breathy whisper.
“Well, I told you I don’t want to do that. How about I just fuck you instead?”
Riah put a hand behind Adriana’s head, drew her close, and kissed her hard. “Oh, yes.”
As polite and conservative as Adriana was in the real world, inside the bedroom, she was just shy of being a dominatrix. It was a fantastic change for both of them. After some five hundred years, Riah was always confident and in control. Except with Adriana. It seemed so natural to give herself over to this woman who made her feel fresh and alive.
Enough reality seeped in for Riah to take stock of her position. They couldn’t stand in the foyer and make love. Well, they could, but there were better places than the hardwood entry. Riah hesitated only a moment before she took Adriana’s hand and led her down the hallway. She refused to think too hard about what she was going to do. Instead she pushed open her bedroom door and waved Adriana inside.
It was time for a change.
Adriana told her to lie across her big, comfortable bed on her stomach with her feet still on the floor. Once again, she tied Riah’s hands, then walked around to stand between her legs. She tingled from head to foot and, so far, Adriana hadn’t even touched her. There was no blindfold this time, but all she could see with her head turned to the side was the beautiful carved footboard.
Adriana pushed Riah’s legs until she was spread as far as she could before her fingers slid between Riah’s ass cheeks. If it was possible, she became even wetter. Adriana’s fingers continued to move, sliding in and out of her, touching, and stroking. Riah moaned and quivered, the restraints on her wrists and Adriana standing between her legs hampering her movements.
“Do you like this?” Adriana kissed her ass.<
br />
“Yes,” Riah whispered.
“Do you want more?” She flicked a finger over her clit.
“God, yes.”
Adriana stepped from between her legs and Riah stiffened. “Don’t go.”
“Not to worry, my love.” She kissed Riah’s lower back.
A moment later, Adriana stepped back between her legs and slipped several fingers inside her. She moved them slowly as Riah pushed against her, a volcano building heat and intensity.
“Hmmm, I think you’re ready.” Her fingers pulled away.
The sensation of the cock sliding into her had Riah shuddering and very nearly climaxing. She moaned louder and thrust her ass even harder against Adriana.
“You like the cock? You like the way I fuck you?”
“Yes.” She was breathless.
“Tell me what you want.”
Riah groaned, unable to say anything. She pushed back as much as she could.
“Tell me!” Adriana slapped her ass.
“I want it all.”
Adriana grabbed her hips and pulled, moving the cock faster and faster. Her wrists burned with the rub of the restraints. Heat built inside Riah, her nipples tender against the fabric of the bedspread. She was as wet and hot as she’d ever been, so the cock slipped in and out with ease. She couldn’t take it, couldn’t stand the pressure a moment longer. Her breath seemed to catch in her throat. All of a sudden, everything exploded and she screamed.
Chapter Ten
What am I doing?
Ivy pulled away as her cheeks burned and her heart pounded. “I’m so sorry,” she sputtered.
His gaze was intense, his lips turned up in the slightest smile. He looked sexy, which sent a brand-new flush up her face.
“Nothing to be sorry for, although I’ve got to say, you surprised the daylights out of me.”
“I surprised myself too.” She didn’t normally kiss strange men—even really good-looking strange men.
He slouched back against the sofa and stretched his legs out. As he eyed her, he crossed one foot over the other. He didn’t look uncomfortable at all. In fact, he looked just the opposite.
“So what happened?” he asked as casual as if nothing had happened. “My stunning sex appeal? My smoky good looks? What?”
Ivy shifted on the sofa, pulling her legs up beneath her. She ran both hands through her hair and laughed. “No, none of that. It was more…I don’t know, I guess it was that you believed me.”
He raised both eyebrows. “Do you kiss everyone who agrees with you?”
She laughed softly and looked at her hands. “No.”
“Good.”
She snapped her gaze back to his face, and he studied her before saying, “Some people might misconstrue your intentions.”
“Did you?” She wasn’t sure what her intentions were. Only that they weren’t exactly what she’d classify as honorable in the strict sense of the word.
“No.”
Breathing seemed suddenly difficult and her thoughts raced back to that morning. Had she put on a decent pair of underwear?
Colin put his hand on hers once again. It was warm, comforting. “Something’s here,” he said, validating what swirled around inside her. “But tonight isn’t the time to find out what it is.”
“You feel it too?”
His hand squeezed hers. “Oh, yeah.”
“Thank God.” A weight lifted from Ivy’s shoulders.
“I think it’d be a really good idea if I headed back to Spokane.”
Ivy jumped up. “That’s nuts. It’s late and that’s over an hour’s drive. You might as well stay here and sleep.”
He raised an eyebrow, a slow smile turning up the corners of his mouth. “You want me to stay here and…sleep?”
“Yes,” she said slowly. “Sleep as in head on a pillow, all alone, with your eyes closed and your clothes on.”
“Clothes on. You’re sure?”
She swatted him on the arm. “I’m sure. Come on, the guest room’s down here.”
Ivy was acutely aware of him as he walked behind her down the short hallway. In the tidy spare bedroom, she motioned to the bed. He slid by, not touching her, yet only a breath away. She almost gasped. Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea after all.
“The bathroom is across the hall.” At least she sounded halfway normal.
“Thank you.” His gaze lingered on her face before she turned and nearly ran out.
In her room, Ivy rested her back against the closed door and let out a long breath. What a day. What could tomorrow possibly bring to top this? With a sigh, she pushed away from the door, stripped off her clothes, and crawled into her own bed. She usually slept in the buff and it usually felt great. Perhaps not such a great idea tonight.
After a minute, she got up, put on a nightshirt, then got back into bed. Naked, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to go to sleep with Colin right across the hall. She’d lie there imagining him likewise lying beneath the smooth sheets sans clothing. More to the point, imagining what his bare skin might feel like pressed against hers.
“Oh, Lord,” she muttered. “Not fair.”
*
The phone rang just as Riah and Adriana stepped out of the shower. Riah wrapped a towel around her and sprinted for the bedside table, leaving Adriana to dry off in the bathroom.
“Yes,” she said into the receiver as she watched Adriana stroll dry and naked from the bathroom, rubbing her damp hair with a towel. Her beauty nearly took Riah’s breath away.
For a moment, she was so focused on Adriana, the words coming from the other side of the phone line were an incoherent jumble. Something finally got through the desire fogging her mind. It was two words: “dead” and “patrolman.”
“Repeat that.” She was no longer looking at Adriana and her body cooled as the import of the caller’s message hit home.
Five minutes later, Riah replaced the phone on the nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed. She closed her eyes and took a couple of long, deep breaths while rubbing her temples with the tips of her fingers. Headaches weren’t solely for the living.
“What’s happened?”
Adriana came up behind and wrapped her arms around Riah’s shoulders. Adriana’s full, warm breasts against her back were soothing and she smelled of mango shampoo. What Riah wouldn’t give to fall back against the pillows and make sweet love again. That would chase the headache far away. Except nothing was sweet right now, and making love wasn’t in the cards.
“A Stater has been murdered.” It didn’t sound any better coming from her lips. It sent a sick feeling deep into the pit of her stomach.
Adriana’s arms tightened around her. “How?”
Riah heard the note in Adriana’s rhetorical question. Death was on the wind heading their way. They all felt it.
What was going on? Vampires killing humans was nothing new. She’d seen too many deaths like that to count over the years, yet the recent ones were odd. Particularly in the twenty-first century where experts questioned and studied death at the most minute levels.
Hundreds of years ago, leaving a dead body along the road wasn’t as dangerous as it was today. Certainly, people questioned the how and the why, but forensic science hadn’t advanced enough to track the nocturnal killers. Today, the true answers weren’t much easier, though following the evidence back to the killer was. Most vampires in this century were smart enough to cover their movements and make bodies disappear. Vamps didn’t drop one out in the open—unless they wanted to.
“I don’t know what’s happening,” she finally admitted.
“I don’t either, but if we don’t get a little rest, neither of us will be any good.” Adriana slid off the bed and started out the door.
Riah cocked her head and watched in silence as Adriana disappeared, only to reappear a minute later wrapped in her coat, wearing her shoes, and clutching her bag slung over one shoulder.
“You’re leaving?” After Riah had made the huge step of allowing Ad
riana into her bedroom, it seemed impossible she’d just get up and leave.
Adriana nodded. “Yup.”
“Why?”
Adriana stepped closer and touched her face with the tips of her fingers. “Because, we both need time and space. You’re fantastic, Riah, and the kind of lover I only dreamed of. But I’m not stupid. Expecting you to love me in return is wishful thinking.”
“Did I do something? Say something?”
The smile touching Adriana’s lips was a little sad. “No, you didn’t have to.”
Riah’s eyes narrowed. “Meaning?”
Adriana waved a hand toward the painting over the fireplace. “This is a special place for you. I’d have to be blind not to see it and I can sure feel it. Why you allowed me in, I don’t know, and I’m not sure even you do. But you’re not ready for anything more, and I don’t intend to push.”
“You don’t have to go.” She wasn’t being polite, she really meant it. Everything Adriana said was true and, no, she didn’t understand why she’d decided tonight was the night. All that aside, she didn’t want Adriana to leave.
Adriana walked back to the door, her hand on the knob. “Yes, Riah, I do. I’ll come by the office later.”
Riah heard the front door open and close, then the faint sound of Adriana’s car as she drove into the night. Adriana wasn’t wrong about anything. This room was more than her bedroom; it was a shrine to a love many centuries in the past. She adored it, the color and texture of the room. The smell of the fabrics and the flowers.
In every place she’d lived over the last five centuries, her bedroom remained essentially the same. The furniture, the bedding, the portrait––all were the same. It was comfortable and soothing. Now, as she lay in the silence of the empty room, she wondered if perhaps the time had finally come to move on.
*
Colin lay in the darkness, his mind spinning. It was hard to gauge the progress of this hunt. It shouldn’t be much different from any other hunt, yet it was. If only he could figure it out.
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