by Cynthia Eden
“No more secrets. No lies.” He stood in the doorway, his shoulders stretching to absolutely fill that space. His eyes glittered at her and she was pretty sure she caught sight of fangs just beneath his sexy lips.
Ella swallowed. “You locked me in.”
He shut the door. Locked it once more. “For your safety.”
“I don’t like being locked up. Don’t do it again.”
Slowly, deliberately, he stalked toward her. Ella refused to back up.
“Can’t make that promise.” His voice had never sounded so rough. “When your safety is on the line, I’ll do whatever is necessary.”
Her gaze slid over him. She knew that scent— “Blood.”
“Not mine.” He stopped right in front of her. “But I’ll wash it off before I touch you. Nothing of them will touch you again.”
Unease slid through her. “Eric, what did you do?”
“They were going to cut off your wings.”
She flinched, but then her shoulders squared. “I suspected that was Keegan’s plan.” There had to be a reason he’d kept her alive after he’d taken her blood and made her take his. “Too bad for them, they didn’t know how to get the wings to appear.”
“You were too weak for them to come out,” Eric said. “They came back after you drank from me.”
That was certainly one of the reasons. “Your blood is very powerful.” You said no secrets, Eric. So tell me your secrets.
“It should be.” He smiled and, yes, he definitely had fangs. Wickedly sharp fangs. “You think it’s easy fighting the paranormals out there? I’ve taken down more alphas than I can count.”
It’s him. He’s the one. Euphoria and hope made her dizzy. He had to be the one. She wouldn’t want him this much if he wasn’t, right? And she did want him. Even when she’d been furious at him, the need had been there, simmering below her surface.
“I’m going to wash the blood away.” His teeth snapped together. “You’re gonna want to…stay away from me for a while.”
That was the last thing Ella wanted. “You’re the one who came to me.”
“I know. Because I can’t fucking stay away.” His gaze hardened. “So you have to be smarter than me. You know we’ll combust if we touch…”
Combust.
“I’ll wash the blood away.” He pointed to the room on the right. “You go in there and lock the door. I swear, I won’t come in after you. Not if you lock that door.”
She didn’t move. Ella wasn’t sure if she could move. Her life had been pain and fear and torment for so very long, but Eric was there now, and he was offering her more. The more she’d nearly stopped hoping to have. “And if I don’t lock the door?”
“Oh, sweetheart…”
That gravelly endearment made goosebumps rise on her arms.
“My control is shot to hell. You don’t—” His jaw clenched. “You don’t want to see me without it. No one does.”
Then he turned and made his way toward the bathroom. His movements were jerky.
“Actually,” Ella said softly when he reached that door, “I think I do.”
***
Keegan saw the SUVs at the old bar. Reece had been there—the other werewolf had picked the place for its remote location. He’d said it would be the perfect spot for an ambush.
They’d thought to ambush Ella when she came looking for them. It only made sense that a blood-thirsty creature like her would come searching for vengeance. After all, the desire for revenge was supposed to be in her blood. Revenge. Fury. Hate.
Everything dark…that was Ella.
But Ella hadn’t been the one to get ambushed. He knew those SUVs belonged to the government. Para Agents. They’d been there. Was Ella using them? Or were they using her?
He stayed back, not wanting to risk attracting their attention. There were only two SUVs left at the scene, and there was no sign of his pack.
Keegan figured that these guys must be the clean-up crew. Sooner or later, they’d be done, and then they’d return to their base.
He’d follow.
I’ll get my pack. And I’ll get her.
His burns ached. His body hurt. And the rage just grew even more within him.
***
He’d turned on the shower. Steam drifted from the bathroom, and Ella found herself heading toward that steam. She stripped as she walked, letting her clothes drop to the floor. There would be no going back after they joined. She knew that. But she didn’t want to go back. She’d been alone for so long. She’d stopped realizing just how much she craved contact.
Then she’d met Eric.
And the craving—it had come back.
The bathroom door was partially ajar. Her fingers pressed against the wood, opening the door farther. She could see Eric inside. Or at least, she could see the rough outline of his body through the steamy shower’s glass wall. He appeared to be leaning forward. Was his head under the spray of water?
She crept forward and reached out to open the glass door of the shower. It opened soundlessly, and she saw that, yes, the heavy spray was soaking his head. He had one hand propped forward, against the tile, and his other hand—
“I can do that for you,” Ella offered. Really, it would be no trouble at all.
His shoulders stiffened and in the next second, he was whirling around to face her. Water trickled down his body and her gaze hungrily followed that trail. His abs were amazing—rippling beneath the drops of water. There was so much power in his body. Leashed strength.
“Ella…” He said her name in disbelief.
And his cock. Sweet hell. She wanted him in her. So big and hard and stretching right toward her. Ella licked her lips. “Didn’t hear me come in?” She shook her head and stepped into the shower. His gaze was sweeping over her and the only word to describe his expression—lust. “I guess you were distracted by—”
He was on her in an instant. Eric pushed her back against the shower wall, and it was cold and hard against her shoulder blades. While he—he was hot. He pinned her there with his body as his mouth took hers. Not softly. No way. Hard and deep and consuming. His hands had locked around her waist, and her breasts thrust against his chest.
His heavy arousal pressed against her. Long and hard and she wanted to part her legs and take him inside. They didn’t need preliminaries. She was already turned on for him. She wanted him to thrust deep into her, and Ella didn’t want to think—not about anything. She just wanted to ride the wave of pleasure with him and forget everything else in the world.
Why not escape with him?
Why—
His hands were moving. Not down, but up. He’d pulled away from her mouth and now he stared down at her as his fingers slid over her breasts. Her nipples were tight and aching and when he touched them, a moan slipped from her lips.
“No…control…” Eric gritted out.
She smiled at him. “Good.” Ella could feel her fangs extending. Sex and bloodlust were always tied for her kind. Twisted all together. Physical desire just amplified her need to taste his blood and her physical desire was sure riding high right then.
He bent and took her nipple into his mouth. The water kept pounding down and she sank her fingers into his wet hair as she arched against him. He was laving her nipple. Licking her. Sucking. Kissing. Driving her desire up ever higher.
He kissed his way to her other breast. Gave the same sensual torment to that nipple. She was moaning and her hips were pushing against him. She wanted to ride him long and deep. Right there. Anywhere.
Her hands slid down his body. She wrapped her fingers around his cock. Stroked him, so thick and wide.
“Ella…” Her name was a warning. She was long past the warning point.
He locked his hands around her waist and lifted her up. Oh, yes, this position was so much better. She wrapped her legs around his hips, putting her sex right against him, then she rocked, moving her clit against that hard shaft again and again. The friction was wild, perfect, and wh
en he put his mouth on her neck, when she felt the score of his teeth against her—
Eric bit her.
She cried out and she came. Just like that—pleasure exploded within her and she climaxed in a hard, shaking rush.
He froze. “What the hell have I done?”
“Do it again,” Ella demanded instantly as she fought to catch her breath. “Again, again, again…”
But he was carrying her out of the shower. He wasn’t sinking into her. He was holding her with a grip gone far too tight.
“Eric!” She made her voice a demand. Ripples of pleasure still rushed through her body, but that pleasure was only the start. A sample. She wanted that release again and again and again. Endlessly. Until she went mad from it.
He didn’t let her go. He yanked off the water and carried her out of the bathroom. Fine, if he was going to play that way…
Ella kissed his neck. She sucked his skin and she nipped him. When his blood slid over her tongue, she nearly came again.
He staggered. “Ella, I’m trying—trying to hold…on…for you…”
She licked and kissed her way to his ear. “Don’t,” Ella whispered. “Let go. Fuck me like you want. Fuck me like I want.”
He lowered her onto the bed. His eyes—they seemed to burn with lust now. His jaw was clenched and red stained his cheeks. He parted her legs and pulled her to the edge of the bed. Then, his fingers thrust into her.
Ella knew he’d find her wet and ready. But she hadn’t anticipated that the pleasure would hit her again so viciously at his touch.
“Dangerous…” Eric whispered.
“I don’t care,” Ella said. “I don’t care what you are, I want you.”
Then he was positioning his cock at the entrance to her body. His hands caught hers. Their fingers twined together and he pushed her hands back against the mattress. He thrust into her, deep and hard.
Their gazes held. He sank into her, driving balls-deep in one smooth thrust. She lost her breath and didn’t care.
He withdrew.
Thrust again.
The fire in his eyes just burned brighter. Her need for him burned deeper.
Again and again, he thrust.
Ella turned her head, offering her neck to him. “Bite…”
“Shouldn’t…can’t…”
“With me,” Ella whispered as she closed her eyes and surrendered to the need blazing between them. “There isn’t a ‘can’t’.”
His mouth pressed to her neck.
“Do it, Eric.” She wanted this so much. Them linked fully, no holding back.
His teeth sank into her.
Her moan filled the air because the pleasure was roaring through her. His hips pistoned against her as he drove toward climax. The bed was squeaking and jerking beneath their bodies and he just moved harder. Deeper—
Then he stiffened, and shuddered against her. She felt his hot release inside of her, and it just amplified her pleasure. Her sex contracted, squeezing him tightly, and his lips slid over her neck. Pressing so lightly.
So tenderly.
Her eyes closed and a smile curved her lips. “That was…worth waiting for,” Ella whispered.
He pulled out of her, and she hated that. She really would enjoy another round or ten.
But he was tucking her under the covers. Wrapping his body around hers. Such a sweet gesture. So odd for their kind.
Drowsiness pulled at her. For the first time, she thought she might actually be able to lower her guard and sleep deeply. With his arms around her, she felt safe.
With her eyes still closed, Ella turned toward him. “I’m not alone any longer.” She’d found him. After all her searching, she’d found another just like her. She hadn’t seen his wings yet, but then, he hadn’t been enraged so they wouldn’t come out.
“No,” Eric’s voice was rough. “You aren’t.”
Her hand slid over his heart. She could feel that fast and hard rhythm. “Why do people think our kind are so evil?”
His heart jerked more beneath her touch.
She thought of the way he’d tucked her under the covers and warmth stole through her. “There is so much more to us than people think.”
“A lot more…” His lips brushed across her temple. “Go to sleep, Ella. We’ll talk when you wake.”
Talk. Right. They could do that. Or maybe they could have lots and lots more sex.
She wanted to know how someone like him had come to be in power at the Para Unit. Though, Ella supposed it made sense. Their kind was so powerful, why not hunt the others? Especially if…well, they may have been responsible for creating all of those others so long ago.
Some said they were the original evil.
“Never…wanted to be evil,” Ella said.
“You aren’t.” His immediate reply.
That was nice. Really sweet.
She was still smiling as she slipped into sleep.
***
What in the hell did I just do? Eric stared up at the ceiling, with Ella cuddled close to him.
He’d fucked her, yes. He’d taken Ella’s blood.
He never took blood. Certainly never during sex. But he hadn’t been able to stop himself. And Ella’s blood—it had been like sweet candy on his tongue. He hadn’t been able to get enough, and pleasure had erupted within him when he’d drank from her.
He’d gotten lost.
Even now, he felt a bit drunk from her blood. His head was spinning, and his fangs were still out. The muscles in his body seemed to be stretching, and he didn’t even know what was up with that shit.
What he did know…it was that he didn’t want to move. That he just wanted to keep laying right there, with Ella in his arms. The scent of lilacs was all around him now, and he pretty much loved that scent. She was soft and warm, and for the first time in longer than he could remember, Eric actually felt at peace.
He tightened his hold on her, and his eyes closed.
Chapter Seven
She dreamed of deserts. Of gunfire. Of blood and cries that filled the night. She dreamed of choking on her own blood and of feeling her body ice as death swept near.
She saw a man bend before her. A man with eyes that blazed with emotion. He was in the battle. He was bloody. He had fangs. Vampire.
He was—death?
“Do you want to live?”
Yes, always, yes.
But then the man was gone. Everything was gone. There was only darkness…
***
Eric dreamed of pain. Of a small basement and restraints that burned and never gave way. He dreamed of a hunger that wouldn’t end. Of a sadistic werewolf who laughed as he starved.
“I’ll take every bit of power you have. You won’t have anything left…”
The werewolf bit him and he screamed as his flesh tore. But he swore, one day, he would get out. He would kill that werewolf.
He would destroy Keegan and every member of his pack.
Keegan’s laughter faded and then there was only darkness.
***
A loud pounding yanked Eric from sleep. He awoke with a start¸ his breath heaving out and his body jerking upright.
I’m not alone.
Ella’s soft body slid against his. “What’s happening?”
For a moment, he just blinked, lost, as he stared at her. Her thick, dark hair tumbled over her shoulders. Her eyes were so wide and deep.
There she is.
Why the hell did he feel as if he’d just found something he’d lost?
The pounding came again. Eric climbed from the bed. He swiped his hand over his face. “It’s probably about Reece. The SOB must have decided to tell me about Keegan.” He grabbed a pair of jeans. “Go back to sleep. I’ll handle this.”
“What?”
But he was already hurrying through the apartment. He unlocked the door, and sure enough, Connor stood on the other side. But Connor wasn’t alone. Shane August stood behind him.
That sure was fast.
He
’d wanted Shane brought in so he could talk to the guy, but Eric hadn’t expected the vampire to be there within the hour. “How’d you get here so soon?” Eric asked.
Shane lifted a brow. “It’s after dawn. It took me five hours to get here.”
Five hours? Hell, he’d really gone into some kind of deep sleep with Ella. He usually only managed an hour or two of sleep. Because of his modifications, he didn’t really need more.
“Reece is begging to talk,” Connor told him. “Figured you’d want to come and join that sit-down.”
Damn straight.
“But you might want to put on a shirt first. Do us all a damn favor there,” Connor added.
Growling, Eric turned away—and found Ella walking toward them.
She’d dressed—in one of his t-shirts that she’d knotted near her waist, and she had on her skirt from earlier—a skirt that showed off her legs to perfection. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders and a faint hint of color lined her cheeks. She looked sexy, wicked hot—and totally like she’d just been in his bed.
And I want her back there, ASAP.
Connor and Shane had gone dead silent behind him.
Ella didn’t even glance at the other men. Her gaze was locked fully on Eric. “If Reece is talking about Keegan, I want to be there. You aren’t shutting me out again.” She stalked toward him, stopping only when they were less than a foot apart. “And you’re not locking me in this room again, either. Getting locked up wasn’t part of our deal.”
For just a moment, he had a flash of another place. A dusty, smelly basement. No light. Just bugs crawling on the floor. And chains that wouldn’t break. I’ll take every bit of power that you have.
“No,” Eric cleared his throat. “I’m not locking you in.”
“Oh, hell,” Connor muttered, “is she using mind control on him?”
He tossed a glare over his shoulder. “Ella isn’t the enemy. Reece came after her. He’s made her life hell. She deserves to see him brought to justice.” His hand caught hers and he squeezed her fingers. “We’ve got a deal on that.”
Then he pulled her to his side as they faced off against the other two. If Shane or Connor had a problem with Ella, that would just be too bad.