House of Shadows

by Morgan Hawke

  Rick grabbed a fistful of Rowan’s soaking wet and half-plaited hair, and gave it a tug. “Hold still, damn it.” He let go only to pull the braid tighter. “Quit wiggling so I can finish this.”

  “I am holding still.” Rowan set her jaw. “You’re pulling my head all around!”

  “I’m almost done.”

  Rowan let out an exasperated sigh. “Thank the gods...”

  He tugged the braid taut, then wrapped the hair-elastic around the end. “Now you can wiggle all you want.” He leaned back over the bed to set the comb on the night table.

  The only mirror was in the bathroom so she couldn’t see what Rick had done. She put her hands up to feel the intricate weave of the French braid. Her right shoulder was stiff and ached. She fingered her hair and She looked over at Rick’s neat, four-strand braid. If my hair looks anything like that, I’m impressed.

  “The braids ought to keep us from getting snarled up together.” The tight braid emphasized the strong column of his throat and the broad musculature of his shoulders. He stood up and pulled the red towel from his loins to show an impressive erection. The dim light shadowed all the planes and hollows of his lean form.

  Rowan’s body gave her a sensual and vicious kick in the groin. I keep forgetting how beautiful he is. Her body coiled tight with hungry anticipation. She swallowed hard.

  Rick raised a brow. “Like what you see?”

  Rowan nodded, completely unable to speak.

  “Good.” He grinned shamelessly and walked toward the bed. “And give me that!”

  The towel wrapped around her torso was abruptly snatched away and thrown across the room. Her mouth was too dry to protest. Suddenly he was kneeling at her knees. She could smell the clean scent of soap and aroused male. His eyes were beaten copper and flame. His mouth was pale but lush and his lips parted.

  “Game’s over, Kitten.” He set his hands on her knees, parted them, spreading her. He moved between them. “Kiss me.” His voice was the barest of whispers.

  Rowan leaned forward, placed her hands on his shoulders, and touched her lips to his. His mouth opened and she felt his tongue reach in to stroke hers. His tongue was cool, as though he had been drinking something cold. She could taste his toothpaste.

  He turned his head and deepened the kiss, sucking on her lips and tongue. Heat flared deep and low inside. She caught the scent of her arousal and felt moisture gathering. He groaned and she felt his hands slide up her bare thighs to her waist, then higher. He cupped the fullness of her breasts. Rowan felt his thumbs rub against her nipples and jolted with sensual shock.

  His mouth left hers and she made a soft sound of disappointment. He stared at her with eyes darkened in passion and licked his lips. His head dipped and he took her nipple into his mouth. Bolts of pleasure raced straight down to her core. She clutched his shoulders and moaned. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to the bed’s edge. She felt his hand on her thigh and then his fingers touching her intimate and slick flesh. He slid a finger within and she arched up with the delicious invasion, wrapping her arms around his neck. His thumb stroked her clit. Her flesh caught fire and quivered with delicious hunger around him. Her breath caught in her throat and she bucked against his hand. His mouth released her nipple with a wet pop.

  “You’re ready for me right now,” he said in a hoarse voice.

  Rowan was unable to answer him; she was too busy writhing against his fingers. He pulled his hand away from her body and she moaned at the loss.

  Rick pulled back completely, sitting on his heels while he sucked her flavor from his fingers. He stared at her flushed face and reddened lips. His head tilted and his eyes narrowed with intent. He rose from his knees and stepped away from the bed. “We need to be careful of your right shoulder, so lie down on your side, facing the bathroom.”

  Rowan began to recline and had the hardest time looking away. He walked back around the bed and Rowan tilted back on her elbow to watch him.

  He unfolded a large, wine-red bath towel from the foot of the bed. “What I need is a rubber sheet,” he muttered. “This will have to do.” He came back to the bed and laid the towel out across the bed behind her. “We don’t want the cleaning staff thinking I’ve murdered someone.”

  That’s right. Rowan blushed ferociously. His cum is bloody and makes a mess.

  Rick climbed on and the bed dipped sharply on its old springs. “Stay on your side and lay down.”

  Rowan dropped her head on the pillow.

  He stretched out behind her and slid up, coming up on his elbow. He dropped a quick kiss on her temple. “Good girl.” He pulled her braid up and coiled it on the pillow, then tapped her upper leg. “Bend your knee up.”

  Rowan lifted her knee, pressing her heel into the mattress. He drew closer, easing his legs between hers. His lightly furred thighs were rough against her smooth skin. His arm captured her waist and pulled her back against him. She felt the head of his erection brush her damp flesh and her body jumped in acute awareness. He pressed against her for entry.

  “Hold still,” he said in her ear.

  Rowan’s breath hitched in her throat and her body tensed. She felt his fingers slide down from her waist and dip between her thighs. He touched moist, inflamed flesh. An erotic bolt of pleasure made her gasp. Her neck arched back onto his shoulder. His hand moved to her thigh and gripped it. He thrust, sliding into her body in one long stroke. She let out a gasping breath and sheathed him.

  He groaned. “I love the feel of you wrapped around my dick...” He dropped from his elbow to grip her around the waist with both arms, holding her tightly. “Now, hold still and let me do the work.” He thrust again, harder and deeper. His strokes continued in long slow measured thrusts.

  Rowan struggled against his strength, wanting more.

  “If you don’t hold still, you’ll hurt yourself.”

  She worked to move her hips and her head thrashed. “I don’t care, I don’t care!”

  “Damn it, Rowan.” He grabbed a pillow, shoved it in front of her hips, then pushed her over onto her belly, trapping her legs between his. He caught her hands and forced them both above her head to keep her from using them for leverage. The pillow raised her hips just enough to give him clear access to her pouting and moist entrance.

  Rowan bucked her hips under him. He was too solid and far too heavy to shift. She let out a soft whimper. “I can’t move.”

  Rick bit back a laugh. “That’s the whole idea.”

  She strained to pull her wrists from his hands. “That’s not fair!”

  “It’s perfectly fair.” He used his free hand to position the engorged head of his cock against her wet cunt. “Just hold still and let me do the fucking.” He thrust into her wet sheath and gasped. With her legs held tight together, she was a very snug fit.

  Rowan moaned and shuddered beneath him. “Damn it!”

  He pulled back and thrust again, deeper, then again. His thrusts became faster and harder. The wet slap of flesh against flesh grew loud in the small room and the smell of raw sex scented the air.

  Rowan gasped and moaned. With each hammering thrust he shoved her closer to the sharp edge of ecstasy. The need for release coiled tighter and tighter until her body vibrated at a fever pitch. She felt a scream building in her throat.

  “Fuck!” Rick gasped in her ear. “I’m about to lose it.” He slowed his thrusts.

  “No, don’t stop!” Rowan fought under him. “Don’t stop now!”

  Rick groaned out a laugh. “Are you sure?”

  “Damn you, vampire...” Rowan turned her face in the pillow to look at him and bared her teeth. “Fuck me!”

  Rick grinned. “That sounds pretty sure to me.” He released her wrists and rose up on his knees. Rowan got her hands under her to rise. Rick shoved a hand between her shoulder blades and pressed her back down into the pillows. “Stay down.” He shook back his long braid “One prime fucking, coming up,” he said softly.

  Rowan felt on
e of his hands take hold of her hip. He tilted her onto her side and she looked up into his eyes glowing gold with passion and blood lust. His mouth was open in a breathtakingly sensual smile and his long teeth were plainly evident.

  He released one of her legs and lifted it over his shoulder. “Bend your lower leg around mine.” She crooked it under her. He dropped to his hands over her, trapping her on her side with one leg around his knee and the other crooked over his shoulder, wide open.

  Rowan stared up at his open mouth. He was only a kiss away. She shifted her hips and frowned. “Damn it, I still can’t move!”

  “I know.” He licked his lips. “But I can.”

  He thrust into her and she gasped. He was incredibly deep, but the position made it unexpectedly comfortable, too.

  He raised a brow. “Feel good?” He pulled back and thrust slowly while circling his hips.

  Feral lust clawed her from within and Rowan closed her eyes and moaned with molten delight trying to arch her back under him.

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” he whispered. He dropped over top of her. His lips brushed the pulse beating in her throat and his arms framed her head. Her arms slid around his waist and pulled him closer.

  “Oh, yeah,” he said softly and slammed in, hard.

  Rowan cried out under him, her fingers digging into his skin. With strong, even strokes, he held her perfectly still and fucked her. She struggled to move in counterstroke but could only tremble in delight as he took her with his maddening thrusts. She was hammered gasping and crying, to the yawning precipice of explosive climax.

  He stroked her throat with his tongue searching for the fast-beating pulse. He held her thrashing head still with his palms and positioned his mouth. “Now,” he whispered below her ear.

  Her body jerked rigid and trembled on the edge. His lips closed on her throat and she felt the points of his teeth.

  “Cum now.” He thrust.

  Rowan’s mouth opened and her breath left her. Violent pleasure scorched her and swallowed her whole. There was a single moment of clarity and she felt Rick’s body shudder with climax and his cock flex within her. His teeth pierced her throat. Two bright points of pain blossomed and then she was locked in a second vortex of vicious ecstasy so strong she thought she was going to pass out. Her magic burst upwards and power exploded over them, overwhelming them both in a grasping fireball of ruthless red-violet rapture.

  * * *

  Rick collapsed face down, at her side and gasped for breath. “Holy shit, I was not expecting that.” His head was spinning from the power of the blood he’d just swallowed and the resultant explosion of magic that had hit him like a locomotive.

  Rowan moaned. Mmm, I feel good... She rolled onto her side and stretched like a well-petted cat.

  Rick watched her actions with amusement. “Enjoying yourself?”

  “Hmm?” Abruptly she rolled the other way and up against him. I feel so good... She pressed a small kiss on his throat and ran her foot up against his leg. “You’re warm.”

  Rick caught her face in his palms. Her eyes were dilated to pools of almost solid black shimmering with violet power. “Of course.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “I just drank your blood. All the potency in it makes me warm.”

  She squirmed out of his hands and snuggled up under his throat. You smell good... She smiled up at him. I feel so good, tumbled over and over in her mind.

  “Are you okay?” Rick intercepted her thoughts and felt a smile creeping across his face. I think she’s drunk from the shared power rush...

  She licked his nipple and he jumped.

  “Hey!” This close to orgasm, he was still very sensitive. She went for his other nipple. He chuckled and grabbed her hands, then sat up abruptly. The world spun. “Whoa...”

  He shook his head to clear it and discovered Rowan trying to climb into his lap. A look into her thoughts revealed simple repetitions of how good she was feeling. He choked on a laugh. “If sex puts you in this good a mood, I need to fuck you more often.”

  “Mmm, fuck,” she whispered and licked her lips.

  “Hello,” he whispered. “Anybody in there?”

  Rowan shook her head and let out a soft giggle. “Not right now.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know.” He blinked, grinned and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. She pressed kisses over his heart and he shook his head. I think I like her this affectionate. I’m just surprised she can move at all after that with a bullet wound. He frowned thoughtfully. And a fresh vampire bite...

  He carefully took her arms and pinned her to the mattress on her back. He turned her head to the side and she made soft sounds of protest. The two jagged marks on her throat had already closed. They were still red and angry, but there was hardly any bruising. It had taken her all night to recover from the last bite. Somehow she was healing faster than before.

  “Well, damn, that’s different.” He looked at the bandage on her shoulder and his brows lowered. Curiously, he peeled back the bandage. The hole was completely closed, pink and shiny with a fresh scar. It was definitely healing faster too. Her wound should not look this healed for another day or so. Could it be the sex? He released her and she yawned, curling up among the pillows.

  He snorted. “Now, you’re tired?” He got to his feet and his knees felt a little wobbly, but not too bad. He left her on the bed and went to get something to clean them both up with. When he returned with a damp cloth, she was curled up and sleeping.

  * * *

  Rowan awoke to the rich scent of Columbian coffee. Her stomach rumbled in interest and her eyes snapped open. She sat up with barely a twinge in her shoulder. The lights were up just enough to see the velvet bathrobe tossed over the foot of the bed. She looked up. Somewhere over her head, Rowan felt Rick’s reassuring presence. He was doing something that had his complete attention.

  His march of thoughts came to an abrupt halt. Are you up, finally?

  Rowan grinned. “Is that coffee I smell?” she asked the ceiling and grabbed for the robe.

  Yes, come on up and get some. It’s two in the afternoon on a bright sunny Saturday, not that I can go out in it, but you can if you like. Rick was certainly pleased about something. Oh, and we have some details to hammer out, but I think I have all your affairs in order.

  “Huh?” Rowan frowned. “All what affairs?”

  So you can move in with me. Smug satisfaction shimmered through their link. I have a mover ready to get your stuff on Monday, and I even located a possible job at the State Library by the University. They’d love to have you.

  Rowan tied the velvet belt around her waist and headed for the stairs. “Hey, wait a friggin’ minute, Mr. High and Mighty Vampire! You got movers lined up and me a job? Those are my decisions to make!”

  A flare of annoyance came from Rick. You already agreed to move in, don’t back out on me now.

  Rowan stopped halfway up the stairs. “I did? I don’t remember...”

  Yes. You did. There was a bolt of possessiveness riding the shimmer of real anger coming from him.

  Rowan grabbed the banister and climbed. “Of all the insufferable, high-handed, dirty tricks...” She reached the landing to find Rick leaning against the door.

  “You are moving in with me, so I can keep an eye on you.” He raised an annoyed brow. “Just give it up, will you?”

  Rowan speared him with a look. “You had no right...”

  He straightened and took a menacing step toward her. “I have every right.”

  Rowan took an alarmed step back and her heel thunked against the wall. She stopped and glared. “This is my life you’re taking over!”

  Rick nodded and closed the distance between them. “Yes, I am.” He set his hands on the wall to either side of her shoulders, trapping her. He brought his face within inches of hers. His eyes were copper bright with heat. “And you know why?”

  Rowan held her ground, such as it was, with her back to the wall. She was determined to be angry but it wa
s difficult to be angry with someone who just saved her from a psychopathic sorcerer and a bullet. She took a steadying breath. “No. Why?”

  A cool smile curled his lips. “Because you love me, stupid.”

  Rowan blinked. “I do?”

  His eyes focused on her mouth. “Of course. I can tell.” His lips captured hers in a searing kiss, devouring her, pressing her back against the wall.

  Rowan moaned under his possessive kiss.

  He broke the kiss to stare at her. “God, I almost lost you. You were bleeding all over the place, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I could feel you fading right in my arms.” He closed his eyes and pressed her against his heart. “I couldn’t take it if something happened to you. Damn it, Rowan, you have to stay, so I can keep an eye on you. I don’t think...” He took a harsh breath. “I don’t think I can live without you.”

  She could feel fear and concern for her pulsing through their link threaded with determination. Her heart ached in her chest, echoing his feelings back with fear for him, concern for him... She blinked in shock. She did love him. Rowan felt a hot tear slide down her cheek. She gave him a tight smile. “I guess you’re right. I do love you.”

  “God...” He crushed her in his arms. “And I love you.”

  Rowan wrapped her arms around his neck. “Well, if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll try not to catch any more bullets.”

  Rick choked out a laugh. “Yes, that will make me feel lots better.” He released her, and cupped her face in his palms. “I’ve been alive for over seventy years, and you are the very first woman I have been able to be completely honest with. You are the only person in my life who knows me as both a man and a vampire. Do you have any idea what it’s like to have someone accept all of you?”

  Rowan bit her lip. “I have some idea. Every man I know runs as soon as they figure out what my magic does to them. You’re the only one who hasn’t.”

  Rick grinned. “See? We were meant for each other.”

  Rowan smiled back. “I guess you’re right.”

  “I’m right twice in a row?” Rick rolled his eyes. “I bet that sets some kind of record.”