“Until now,” he said softly.
Sadie nodded but didn’t respond as her tears continued to fall silently. Damn it all to hell. He wanted to fix it. That’s what men do. Wolf. Human. Whatever. They fix shit. But this wasn’t something he could fix, and it was making him feel totally useless. Selfishly, he wanted to kiss the fear out of her, out of both of them. Killian wanted to make love to her so that they could both fall into the sweet abyss of abandon…but he didn’t. She was exhausted, both physically and emotionally, and what Sadie needed now, more than ever, was some rest.
“Just rest, Sadie.” Holding her shivering form against his, he pulled the comforter over both of them and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. “You’re safe with me…I promise.”
Chapter 15
Waking up from the most satisfying sleep of her life, Sadie stretched languidly in the nest of soft bedding. Her body felt strong, rested, and even more powerful than usual, which was odd considering she hadn’t fed in a while. A sleepy smile played at her lips when she recalled falling asleep in Killian’s arms and hearing him assure her that she’d be safe. He was right, because she did feel safe with him.
Safe and loved.
Sure, she might turn into a wolf at an inopportune moment, but knowing that Killian had her back made it oddly…okay. The man was solid, steady, and totally dependable. Her stable and predictable existence as a vampire may be unsteady now, but having Killian in her life seemed to offset that somehow. Being wrapped in his strong, warm embrace made her feel like she’d come home.
She was safe and she was home.
Most men would probably have tried to get lucky with a naked and vulnerable woman wrapped in their arms. To her surprise, Killian didn’t even make a suggestion about getting it on. He could have, and if he had, she would have gladly accepted. But he didn’t. In that moment, he wasn’t concerned with his own pleasure. All he had on his mind was her well-being…and his thoughtfulness was the biggest turn-on of all.
With the weight and warmth of his body absent from the bed, Sadie had no desire to linger there. Peeling her eyes open, she fully expected to see the shades still drawn over the floor-to-ceiling windows. To her surprise, however, they were wide open and provided a brilliant view of New York City at night. She pushed herself up onto her elbows, a smile playing at her lips as she looked around the spacious moonlit bedroom. Killian must have opened the shades for her. She shook her head as she pushed the covers aside and swung her feet over the edge. How funny that such a small, seemingly unimportant gesture like opening the shades could endear him to her even more.
Rising to her feet, she stretched her arms over her head but stilled when the sound of splashing water captured her attention. Her grin broadened. That meant only one thing. Killian was in the pool. Not bothering to put on any clothing, and knowing they were alone in the penthouse, Sadie padded quietly through the bedroom door and down the dark hallway toward the sound. Moving swiftly and silently, she crept over to the open sliding glass door and watched with rapt fascination as her lover swam through the aqua waters with strong, sure strokes. His nude, muscular body cut through the pool with all the power and precision one would expect from a werewolf prince like Killian Bane.
He was beautiful. Masculine. Strong. Enticing. Sweet Lord. The man was desire come to life. Killian Bane embodied everything a man should be, and not just in his physical form. His thoughtfulness, intelligence, and tenacity had drawn Sadie in and had her completely entranced. She smirked and stepped out onto the cool stones of the terrace. His wiseass sense of humor didn’t hurt either, and when he looked at her with that wicked twinkle in his eyes, it just about did her in every single time. Hell, the guy had it all. He was, quite literally, Prince Charming, werewolf or not. Sadie knew it was time to stop fighting the attraction.
She loved him.
She might not know what the future held, but one fact would remain. Despite her best efforts to prevent it, Sadie had fallen in love with Killian.
Is there room in there for me? Sadie asked as she strolled over to the edge of the pool. She stifled a laugh when Killian popped up out of the water like a cork and swam directly to the water’s edge. His heated gaze slid over her nude body from head to toe, and the hungry look in his eye made her wet. Naked and fully aware of her effect on him, she held her hands behind her back and gave him a coquettish look. “Or did you want to be alone?”
“Alone with you? Absolutely. Olivia and Xavier will be here soon enough. How’d you sleep?” Killian propped his arms on the edge of the pool and reached out, curling his hand around her ankle. He brushed his thumb over the top of her foot as his glowing amber stare drifted over her body before he finally looked her in the eye. “Did you get enough rest?”
“Plenty,” Sadie said with a sigh. “And right now, I’d say that sleeping is the last thing on my mind.”
Without waiting for him to respond, she playfully slipped her foot from his grasp and dove over his head into the pool behind him.
Before she could even emerge from the water, Killian wrapped one arm around her and pulled her to the surface. Sadie linked her arms around his neck and clung to him, reveling in the swirl of sensations. The delicious heat of his flesh pressed against hers as the cool waters of the pool surrounded them, creating an exotic combination.
Killian’s hands slid down and cupped her bare bottom as she wrapped her legs around his waist in one fluid gesture. His fierce, glowing gaze held hers and the thick length of his cock pressed between their bodies, its ridge sliding along her clit. Letting out a sigh of pleasure, Sadie wiggled her hips, tangling her fingers in his hair. Using the weightlessness of the water, she clung to him while slowly lifting and lowering her body, putting exactly the right amount of pressure in just the right spot.
She brought his lips to hers and brushed her mouth lightly over his while continuing to rock her hips against him. With every pass, the pleasure built. Tiny licks of fire sizzled through her blood as the orgasm coiled hard and fast. Killian held her bottom with one hand and grabbed her head with the other, taking control of the kiss. His tongue demanded entrance, and Sadie was more than happy to allow it. Kissing her deeply, and with Sadie sliding her sex along his cock, he walked over to the steps. Breaking the kiss, he hooked his hands under Sadie’s arms and placed her on the top step in one swift movement.
A whimper of protest escaped her lips as her fangs broke free and she reached for Killian, already mourning the loss of his body melding against hers. Cool water sloshed over her sensitized skin and barely covered the swollen flesh of her sex. The sensation was surprisingly erotic and made her moan with wanting, but she needed more. She needed him. With that wicked grin, he shook his head and grabbed her wrists, preventing her from touching him.
“Put your arms over your head,” he said in a firm, commanding tone. He knelt on the steps in front of her, sliding his hands along the slick flesh of her arms. “That’s it.” While he spoke, he kept his voice low and trailed his fingertips over her breasts and along her quivering belly. “Now, I want you to open your legs for me…wide.”
Holding her arms high above her head, Sadie arched her back as she complied with his request. She whimpered as the water fluttered over her clit in wicked little passes, sending zings of pleasure to her core. Killian held her gaze as his strong hands curled beneath the crook of her legs and tugged them wider still. The sudden, abrupt motion sent another shot of gratification through her, making her practically beg him to fuck her. She wanted him put her out of her misery, to take her over the cliff that she clung to and make her scream his name.
“Perfect,” Killian whispered. His glowing stare drifted over her as a gentle breeze wafted past, making her nipples harden into sharp points. Delicious shivers of anticipation flickered up her spine and she arched toward him, eager for his touch. “I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing you like this, Sadie. Naked, vulnerable, and bared
just for me to see.”
“Please, Killian.” Lips parted and fangs bared, Sadie tossed her head back and clasped her hands together. “Taste me,” she rasped shamelessly.
His hands curled around the crook of her knee, and he pulled her wider before leaning in and blowing gently over her exposed sex. Sadie let out a sound of pure ecstasy as Killian finally caved in and gave her what she so desperately wanted. His hot mouth covered her, his tongue sweeping over her clit in one strong stroke. Pleasure ripped through her as he continued his merciless assault, licking and suckling her to the brink of orgasm. With the sweet, torturous coil of lust tightening in her belly, Sadie looked down and the erotic sight of Killian’s head between her legs, combined with the feel of his mouth on her pussy, sent her right over the edge.
The powerful orgasm ripped through Sadie and she shouted his name as her body convulsed with wave after wave of pleasure. Needing more, wanting to give him the same carnal release, Sadie grabbed Killian’s head with both hands and urged him to kiss her. In a blur of flesh, he rose to meet her and covered her mouth with his in a deep, searing kiss. With the strength of a vampire, Sadie turned Killian’s body as she kissed him, putting him firmly on the steps beneath her. In one swift movement, she straddled him and impaled herself on his thick shaft.
Killian shouted her name as she rode him, his fingers digging into her hips with every pass. She tangled her fingers in his hair and he captured her nipples between his eager lips. Clinging to him and taking him deeper each time, Sadie tilted his head and scraped her fangs along the side of his neck. She knew she shouldn’t. She’d taken enough of his blood already, but the voice of reason was no match for the bellowing cry of lust.
With her lover pumping into her at a more furious pace, Sadie did the one thing that came most naturally to all vampires…especially with their bloodmates. As her fangs sank into his flesh and she took his powerful blood inside her, Sadie touched his mind with a shuddering whisper. I love you, Killian.
The now-familiar beat of her own heart began to throb as she merged with him on both the physical and mental plane. Warmth fired through her blood, and as the hypnotic pulse filled her, Sadie surrendered to it.
She surrendered to him. Her body, her heart, her life. All of it.
In one final thrust, and with minds and bodies merged, Sadie and Killian clung to each other as they plummeted over the edge toward an unknown future.
* * *
Killian stood at the stove, whipping up a midnight snack. Somehow pancakes always tasted better in the middle of the night. A smile curved his lips. Then again, after being with Sadie, pretty much anything would taste good. Hell, even the idea of being king sounded more palatable if he could have Sadie by his side. His smile faded as the thought drifted through his mind. His people were unlikely to ever accept a vampire for their queen.
Like his father said, a lot can change in five years.
Shoving thoughts of the future aside, Killian scooped the pancakes onto the plate before dumping the pans in the sink and going to the refrigerator for syrup. He was digging through the various containers of leftovers when a beautiful, sexy voice drifted over his shoulder.
“That’s a hell of a view.” Sadie’s arms linked around his waist and she pressed a kiss to his shoulder. Her heart still beat in her chest and a steady breathing pattern still flowed through her lungs, but Killian refrained from commenting. They both knew the side effects of his blood were lasting longer each time and yet neither of them said a word. It was the proverbial elephant in the room. “Even with a pair of boxers covering it up, you have one fine-lookin’ backside.”
“Thanks. Yours isn’t so bad either.” Killian straightened and spun around to face her. Shutting the door behind him, he held up the syrup and kissed her lips firmly while linking one arm around her. He waggled his eyebrows at her and smacked her butt. “Then again, your front is pretty nice too. Even if you are obstructing my view with one of my shirts.” He placed the syrup on the counter so he could wrap both arms around her. He settled his hands along the top of her round bottom and sighed. “Actually, my shirt looks much better on you than it does on me. But do you know where it would look even better?”
“Where?” Sadie giggled and looked up at him with those smiling dark eyes.
“Balled up in the corner of the room,” he said with a wicked grin before leaning in and nibbling her neck, which elicited a louder giggle from Sadie. Killian stilled and lifted his head, peering at her intently as she tried to wiggle out of his embrace. “So it looks like I’m not the only one who’s ticklish.”
Without any warning, Killian leaned in and nuzzled her neck with his scruffy cheek. Sadie shrieked in protest as he blew raspberries along her throat, which had her shaking in his arms with laughter.
“Okay, okay, I give,” she said through a shuddering breath. An uncomfortable expression flickered across her face as she stilled in his arms and caught her breath. “Sorry…the breathing thing is still making me feel weird.”
“Right.” Killian nodded and kissed her forehead. “It’s lasting longer this time,” he said quietly.
“I guess.” Sadie lifted one shoulder and slipped out of his arms. Her lovely bare legs peeked out beneath the hem of his shirt, which drifted along the middle of her thighs. She looked positively tiny and fragile as she walked to the end of the kitchen island. Keeping her back to him, she strolled around the open first floor of the penthouse before finally stopping at the enormous windows. “It will stop soon. It always does.”
Killian stared at her with that same feeling of helplessness. As much as he wanted to help her, there was little he could do.
“Are you hungry?” he asked, knowing that food was about the only thing he could offer. “Olivia brought a supply of blood for you. I could heat some up.”
“No.” Sadie shook her head and continued staring out at the New York City night. “I’m not hungry.” She let out a nervous laugh and glanced over her shoulder. “Actually, your pancakes and bacon smell really good.”
“Do you want to try some?” he asked slowly.
“No,” she said abruptly. She looked back out the window and shrugged. “I’m not hungry. I guess your blood was enough.”
“Sadie—” Killian was cut off when the shrill chirp of his phone echoed through the apartment. He’d left the damn thing to charge because he’d let it go completely dead for the past several hours. Based on the series of alerts coming through, he had more than a few messages. Taking care of Sadie took priority over his stupid phone, so whoever it was could wait. Before that thought had even finished, the damn thing started ringing with yet another call. “I have to answer it. It might be Olivia or Xavier with news.”
He snagged it from the charger, and the number glaring up at him from the screen was not the one he expected. It wasn’t Olivia or Xavier; it was David. Not only that, but he had about twenty missed calls and voice mails from his mother, his sister, and General Wolcott. Killian’s brow furrowed and a knot of dread formed in his gut. It had begun. Damn it all to hell. His father had probably told the others about what was going on with Sadie, and if he hadn’t, it was a surefire bet that Christina had. Damn that woman.
Killian punched the button and reluctantly answered the call.
“What’s up, David?” Killian asked while turning his gaze to Sadie who still stood by the window. “I’m kind of in the middle of something, but it looks like I have a hundred missed calls from back home.”
“We have a problem.” David’s voice was edged with anger.
“Aren’t you bouncing at the club?” Killian glanced at the clock on the stove. It was after three in the morning and they were probably still cleaning up. “What the hell is going on?”
“It’s your father.” David was keeping his voice low, and based on the background noise, he was probably standing outside the club. “I just got a call from your mother
. The king and the others never came home. The pilot isn’t answering his phone either. I called JFK and the king’s jet is in the charter hangar, but the damn pilot is nowhere to be found.”
“What about Christina?” Killian asked as Sadie turned to face him with a concerned expression. “Did she check out of the hotel?”
“Yes.” David’s voice was edged with fury. “They checked out yesterday, not long after your father was at the Loup Garou. They should have been long gone and home by now. The general is ready to bring all-out war to the city. He’s convinced that the vamps have done something to them.”
“No one has been able to telepath with them?” Killian’s jaw clenched and tension fired through him. “None of them?”
“Nope.” David sounded as freaked out as Killian felt. “Total radio silence. General Wolcott is ready to declare fucking war. The only reason he hasn’t hauled his ass here is because the king placed him in charge of the territory before he left. But I don’t know how long the son of a bitch is going to follow protocol. If he doesn’t hear from Christina soon…Killian…he’s ready to send his soldiers here to confront the czars.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Killian barked. “The czars would never—”
Sadie closed the distance between them in a blur. What about the czars, Killian?
My father, Christina, the girls, and Ivan are missing. His mouth set in a tight line and Sadie immediately wrapped her arms around his waist to comfort him. He rubbed her back and felt some of his tension ease but that nagging knot of dread lingered. So is the pilot of my father’s private jet.
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