Superstition

by Veronica Blake

  The instant their lips touched, his mouth pressed hard against hers as he shoved her against the wall just inside the doorway. The sound of the front door slamming shut behind him was as loud as roaring thunder but neither of them noticed.

  His hands encircled her waist as his hips pressed against her body. She felt his cock straining through the front of his jeans as it swelled into her abdomen. Her legs turned to pulp. The beaded evening bag made a slight crackling sound when it landed on the floor at their feet. The crotch of her lacy black G-string, and all areas of skin surrounding it, became soaked with her uncontrollable desire for this dangerously sexy vampire.

  Savory kisses devoured her lips, while his hands ran down her hips and under her fringed hem. He slid the dress up the short distance to her waist and let one of his hands find the thin thread of elastic on the side of her panties. With one yank, the delicate strap broke. He pulled the panties from her body and tossed them to the floor.

  Then, in a much gentler motion, he pushed her legs apart with one hand and let two fingers of the same hand find the soft folds of her clit. His fingertips rubbed between the silken creases causing her to grow so wet she felt a rush of heat soar through her face. But there was not time to dwell on embarrassment because his fingers slipped inside of her and began to work themselves in and out, around and around. Her body squirmed and writhed with the witchery being created by his long fingers.

  “Oh God, Mateo,” she cried out as she was seduced to the point of panting delirium.

  Her hands shook as she slid them from around his neck where they had naturally entangled themselves in his long hair and down to the shining buckle right above the huge hard ridge pushing against the strain of his jeans. The buckle fell away with her first attempt, and so did the snap at the top of his jeans. As her impatient fingers tugged his zipper down, his anxious cock popped out from the tight confines of the denim pants.

  She shoved his pants to his thighs as he hitched one of her legs up on his bare hip. For a moment, she massaged his rock-hard cock. It felt hot to her touch and the tip was swollen to the point it felt as if the skin was strained to the breaking point. Dawn’s pussy clenched with anticipation to have him inside of her.

  With exact precision, she positioned the inflated head to where his fingers had just been working their glorious magic. He grasped her buttocks and effortlessly held her up as he drove deeper inside her. His eagerness was apparent as he moved with the reckless abandonment this impetuous sexual act induced.

  Although he tried to hold her tighter against his body to protect her from hammering against the wall as much as possible, his efforts were in vain as they both clung to one another and crashed back and forth against the hard barrier in their throes of lust, abandoned cravings, and most of all, forever love.

  An ecstatic cry escaped from her lips as their bodies continued to mesh together, and the magnitude of their thrusts continued to grow. The fringe on her dress was swaying wildly against her bare buttocks. It was slapping against his hands where he held onto her hips.

  Oh yes, he was so right...fringe had a whole new meaning now.

  The excitement of this spontaneous act of raw desire drove her to the brink of madness. Intense pleasure built. It was uncontrollable and encompassed every one of her senses. She knew he was reaching the same level of frenzied climax by the increased force of his movements.

  Mateo exhaled a loud breath and she felt the gust of air ruffle through the long strands of the hair that tumbled down the sides of her neck. Her orgasm had come a few seconds before his, so she remained anchored to him and unmoving until he had a moment to regain his composure. A soft chuckle reached her ears. His words began haltingly and breathless.

  “I—think—we—better—not—stay—away from one another for so long next time.” He chortled again. “Damn, woman. You make me lose all sense of control, and until you, my entire life was about nothing but control.”

  She kissed the side of his head where his thick hair tumbled loosely over his ear now. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  He moaned in defeat, then pulled back from her and planted another wet kiss on her mouth. But he didn’t allow his lips to linger as if afraid he wouldn’t be able to restrain himself again. “I hope your neighbors in the adjoining apartment aren’t home,” he said with a smirk.

  Her neighbors were the last thing on her mind right now, Dawn thought as a sly smirk curved her lips. Nothing was going to take away from the excitement of the mad love they just made right here in the entryway to her apartment. Every time she walked into this room from this moment on, she was certain she was going to giggle and blush and get turned on all over again.

  He chuckled at her reaction, then sighed deeply as if he didn’t want to end this erotic experience. He clasped his hands around her waist and raised her body up slightly until their most intimate parts separated. There was an embarrassing suction sound, and a warm surge of bodily fluids flowed down the insides of her thighs. A hot blush flooded her face.

  “I-I should probably—” She motioned toward the door leading to her bedroom and bathroom with a tilting motion of her head.

  He nodded in agreement, smiled a bit seductively, and turned loose of her. As she walked precariously away she noticed he was bending down to pull up the pooled wad of denim material from around his ankles. A satisfied smile parted her lips. Hot damn. That was some wild and kinky action. And she loved it. Maybe next time maybe he could tie her up. She had some fringe he could use.

  ****

  The drive into Phoenix felt nothing short of incredible. Rock tunes blasted from the truck stereo. Mateo had made a special CD just for her with an assortment of rock songs. They were both giddy as they were lost and enthralled in the excitement of being together again; not talking about the inevitable, and most definitely basking in the glow of their recent act of primitive up-against-the-wall-love-making.

  The bright city lights of Phoenix swallowed them as he drove down the crowded streets. Dawn rarely came here, so she was enjoying a different pace from the more laid-back atmosphere in the smaller community of Apache Junction. As usual, he seemed to know exactly where he was going and before long they pulled into the parking lot of a towering hotel franchise. A flashing marquee announced the performance of Joseph Red Feather in the rooftop lounge.

  Mateo held her close against his side as they entered the elegant hotel lobby. She noticed several women glance their direction, their discriminating gazes checking her man out from head to toe, then appraising her with cool reserve. With her blonde hair and fair skin in contrast to his darker Native American coloring, Dawn thought they must look striking together, especially dressed as sharply as they were tonight.

  She also wondered if they both looked as radiant as she was feeling at this moment. Was it obvious that just a short time ago they were engaging in an unrestrained sexual escapade? Maybe it was flashing across their faces as brightly as the marquee outside, because she couldn’t wipe the silly grin off her face, and when she glanced at him, he wore a secretive smile on his lips, too.

  Heavy gold doors slid open as they waited for the elevator. She felt his hand rest protectively in the middle of her back as they entered the small enclosure and stepped to the back wall as several other people crowded in with them. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Did you put your panties back on?”

  Dawn stifled a cough and glanced sideways at the middle-aged woman standing beside her. A fire flamed through her face when the woman met her gaze and grinned. She leaned toward him and placed her evening bag over her mouth as she whispered back, “You ripped them off me, remember?” She gave him a coy wink and smiled smugly when she saw his mouth gape open. Ha! That will teach him. Of course, she had put on a new pair of panties before they left her apartment. It served him right, though. Now, he was standing here in this crowded elevator imaging she was as bare-assed as he was.

  Oh, why did she have to think of that? Now, she was imagining how
it felt a short time ago to undo his jeans and hold his hard cock in her hands, right before he crushed her up against the wall and put it—stop it.

  She could feel the perspiration popping out all over her face as her fresh pair of panties grew wet once again. Thankfully, the doors of the elevator parted and everyone began piling into the large foyer on the rooftop lounge. She stumbled forward with Mateo guiding her by the arm. She chanced a look at him. The mischievous smirk on his handsome face was infuriating.

  Once they stood in line to enter the lounge area, she tried to focus on something besides the lascivious activities she had planned for Mateo when they got home tonight. Home? With Mateo. That sounded so perfect. But she and Mateo would never have a real home together. No downer thoughts on this special night, she told herself in a firm inner voice.

  From inside the lounge she could already hear music. She reached out and grabbed his hand, entwining her fingers with his. He graced her with the familiar smile that seemed to radiate from the white brilliance of his teeth to the shimmering raven gaze of his eyes.

  As they were ushered into the elegant restaurant and lounge on the rooftop of this high-rise hotel, Dawn gasped at the sight before her. The entire room was encased in sky high windows, which gave the illusion of being out in the open. The tables, railings, and everything in between were lit with twinkling white lights. Beyond the windows, the entire city of Phoenix was spread out on the sprawling desert floor. Millions of lights from the buildings below seemed to be an extension of the lights from this room.

  The amazing visual took her breath away, and combined with the mystical rifts of Joseph Red Feather’s guitar, she felt as if she had crossed into another fantasy world. This was a common occurrence since Mateo Two Moons entered her life.

  He pulled her chair out for her when they were directed to their table by a young waitress who appeared to be of a Native American descent. She couldn’t keep her flirty gaze off Mateo as she placed drink and food menus on the white tablecloth. Dawn noticed he seemed completely oblivious to the girl’s open drooling and focused his attention toward the musician on the stage at the opposite end of the room.

  “Joseph’s great, isn’t he,” he said as he reached across the table and grabbed her hand.

  “Most definitely,” she agreed. She loved the sound of the Apache musician’s music, but she loved watching her sexy Apache vampire even more. By the look of excitement on his face, it was so apparent how much he enjoyed being here, and hearing his favorite musician in person. The flickering of the white lights seemed to mirror the sparkle in his eyes. He glanced at her and their gazes caressed one another as he squeezed her hand gently. A soft smile curved his full lips. Her love for this immortal man consumed every inch of her soul and physical body.

  The bottle of expensive champagne they drank was perfect. The filet mignon they ordered for dinner was perfect. Mateo was perfect—as always. Joseph Red Feather was perfect. Right now, everything in Dawn’s world seemed just perfect again.

  When there was a break in the music, she excused herself from the table to freshen up her makeup and to make sure her hair was still holding its carefully styled just-got-laid-look she paid so much money to achieve. Once in the ladies’ room, she stood before the mirror and stared at her glowing image.

  It had been hours since their enthusiastic tryst against the wall in her apartment, but she was still radiating a special glow only an act of such intense sexual activity could inspire. A smile claimed her kiss swollen lips as she thought about the amazing man who waited for her in the next room.

  The vampire?

  The unbelievable and secret world he claimed to exist in when he was away from her could not be as awful as it seemed if he was a part of it. But she was not going to think about any of that stuff tonight, she reminded herself.

  The music was beginning again as Joseph Red Feather started his last music set of the evening. Grabbing her evening bag, she headed out of the ladies’ room. She had only taken a couple of steps, though, when the breath stopped short in her chest and her feet ceased to move.

  Mateo was walking toward her. Like a sleek dark panther, he moved through the crowd on the dance floor. His long hair had slipped out from behind one of his ears, partially covering his eye on that side of his face, and tumbling provocatively over one of his broad shoulders. Wearing all black, and in this dim lighting, his raven hair seemed to blend into his black jacket and shirt, making it appear as if his thick tresses had no ending.

  She reminded herself to breathe.

  As he drew nearer, she could see the suggestive glint in his dark gaze. His thoughts were as transparent as the glass enclosure surrounding this rooftop establishment. Was he going to seduce her right here? Right now? She could only hope.

  He was still several steps away, but his burning gaze was reaching out and touching her entire body intimately. His eyes moved over her with slow persuasion, before coming to rest on her trembling lips, which were parted with the panting breaths she was now taking.

  If he kissed her right now, she was sure she would be the one who would lose control this time, and they might have a repeat performance of the one they had earlier tonight in her apartment—right here in the middle of the dance floor.

  She drew in a ragged breath and unconsciously held it at the back of her throat for a moment before exhaling it in one sharp gust.

  A slightly crooked smile curved his full lips as he held his hand out toward her. Her legs felt unsteady and weak on her sky-high stilettos.

  “May I have this dance, Miss Malone?” he asked in a deep husky tone.

  Swoon. Swoon. Swoon.

  She stared at him with wide eyes. She couldn’t speak, so she merely nodded her head and reached out to take his hand. As their fingers entwined, Dawn was sure fireworks just went off overhead. He pulled her into his arms and they moved into the throng of other couples dancing to the slow romantic music. But she didn’t notice anyone other than the immortal man who held her in his loving embrace.

  Her head rested in the crook of his neck and she breathed in the musky scent of his intoxicating cologne. One of his arms encircled her waist, holding her as close to him as possible. Their other hands were clasped together against their sides as they swayed to the haunting music wafting among the twinkling lights encircling the dance floor.

  If it could be in her power she would never allow this enchanting night to end. She knew without a doubt this was where she had always been destined to be—in his arms now and always.

  As the music gently faded away, Mateo bent her backward with a graceful dip and leaned down over her. Time was suspended in this amorous moment as his mouth descended on her lips and claimed them with a tender kiss. It was more enchanting than a dream. And this was a dreamland Dawn wished she could stay in forever.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “Your place or mine?” Mateo asked as they passed the Apache Junction City Limits sign.

  Dawn drew in a heavy sigh. The new Joseph Red Feather CD Mateo purchased from the musician’s stash of merchandise on a table in the hotel lobby played softly from the truck stereo. As always, when they were in his truck, their hands were entwined.

  “I love the condo. It’s so beautiful, but I hate being there when you’re not.”

  “I’ll be there with you until right before sunrise.”

  She nodded slightly. “But then I wake up and you’re gone. My imagination and emotions go crazy. I’m either scared shitless or I’m so desperate to see you. I can’t stand it.”

  “I prefer the second choice,” he said, chuckling. His voice grew more serious. “I’m sorry you are so afraid. I hope you know I didn’t expect things to turn out this way.”

  She squeezed his hand tighter. “I know, but there is so much I still don’t understand.” Endless questions just started falling from her mouth and she couldn’t stop them.

  “Will I still know who I am when you take me to the mountain? Will I ever see my parents or my brother a
nd sister-in-law again? Will I remember any of them? What about my teaching career? Will everyone just think I’m dead? And what about those babies you say we are going to have? Will I be able to love them and watch them grow once I’m fully under your vampire control? Most of all, will I still feel this intense desire and overwhelming love for you I am feeling right this very second?”

  Mateo turned to stare at her. He untangled his hand from hers and put both his hands on the steering wheel as he slowed the truck down and pulled over to the side of the road. He turned in his seat and reached out both hands, placing one on each side of her face.

  “Udaya—Dawn, I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you everything before. I’ve left you alone with all your fears and questions, and that was so wrong of me.”

  Her head tilted to the side and she closed her eyes for an instant as she let his hands cradle her face. When he was touching her like this, it was so easy to pretend he was just the human man she loved with all her heart and soul, and they were just a normal couple in love. She opened her eyes and met his troubled gaze. “I don’t want to just be an empty, mindless shell of a woman whose only purpose is to have half-breed babies until I get too old to be useful anymore.”

  He gently pushed one of the long strands of blonde hair away from her cheek and smoothed it behind her ear. “Your beautiful inner soul will never die, and you will still be the loving passionate woman you are now. You will remember your family with fond memories. But you will have no desire to see them again. Once I complete the mating process, you will not want to be anywhere but on the mountain with me and our children when we have them. Your life will be devoted to the Clan and you will live forever. As I’ve told you before, this is your fate and nothing can prevent it from happening.”

  Dawn was helpless to stop the shudder that shook through her body. “I will never die? I would become like you? A dham-vamp-pire?”

  He shook his head as a slight smile touched his mouth. “A vampire. Remember, a dhampyre is half-human and half-vampire, like our children will be. But I will not turn you into a vampire for a very long time, not until—” He shook his head again, adding, “This is not the place for us to have this talk. I’ll take you home then I will explain everything.” He hands slid away from Dawn’s face as his attention returned to driving.