by Sophia North
Gabriel's nostrils flared as he watched. He could smell her desire.
Grabbing hold of her foot, he pulled her towards him until his lips were able to touch her ankle. The contact made her moan.
Tracing his tongue up the side of her calf as he lowered it, he went down on his knees between her on the bed. His black trousers bulged with his thick erection.
Hannah licked her lips, eager to taste him as well. The tingling from her growing arousal made her squirm in delight. Knowing how much more thrilling it would be once he touched her, she grew wetter. She'd never been this turned on in her life.
Gabe moved his hand to her hot center, delighting in the dampness of the lace crotch on offer.
"Yes," Hannah rasped. "Touch me...taste me."
He wanted to rip the lace panties from her gently writhing body, but checked himself. Miss Woodville deserved careful exploration.
"How sweetly you plead, cara mia." His fingers traced the length of her lace covered pussy. Hooking a finger underneath the crotch of her underwear, his knuckle grazed the delicate lips of her womanhood. Fuck, she felt good, she was so wet for him.
Hannah rode his knuckle, up and down...up and down, gasping each time it rubbed against her clit. Gabe enjoyed watching her face as she controlled the pace of his stroking.
Switching to two fingers, he took over the rhythm of her budding orgasm. Hannah arched and threw her head back as Gabe increased the tempo.
When she finally felt his tongue lick the length of her, she nearly jumped from the bed. "Oh god, yes...don't stop."
Gabe had no intention of stopping. He wanted Hannah coming hard against his tongue. Demanded it actually.
Over and over, he tongued her, massaging the spot that made her cry out in pleasure. The sensation was like nothing she'd ever experienced and culminated in her yells of: "Jesus, Gabe. Yes...yes...yes!"
Her brain exploded into a million pieces and not one of them could formulate a thought. Her body jerked with the power of her orgasm. It's release flooded her senses with an intense pleasure.
Ding-dong! the doorbell to the suite sounded.
Dinner was served.
Chapter Twenty-One
SHE WAS STUFFED.
And utterly content...for now.
Draining the last of the wine from her glass, Hannah dangled it invitingly in Gabe's direction. It was her third, but why quibble. She was recovering, wasn't she?
Gabe grinned devilishly, as he splashed the wine into her awaiting glass, eventually emptying the bottle. "I'm afraid that's the last of it, love. I hadn't expected to remain in London for as long as I have and it's been hell on my wine rations."
Hannah sat back in the elegantly carved dining chair, wearing nothing but his shirt, completely unbuttoned.
It was fun to watch him admire her whilst she ate. He definitely had a thing for lingerie, the way his eyes devoured every inch she'd displayed helped grow her confidence. The wine didn't hurt either.
The truth was Hannah had never felt so alive as she did sitting there eating a totally inappropriate meal, with an equally inappropriate choice in lover. Honestly, it was laughable. Miss Nose-in-a-book did not have mind blowing sex with supernatural creatures. What would be next, shagging a werewolf? Preposterous.
But as far as Hannah was concerned she was most definitely going to take Gabriel back into the bedroom and have her way with him. A girl only lived once.
The only problem was, she wasn't quite certain how one went about seducing a vampyre. "So," she said, tracing the rim of her glass. "What shall we do next?"
Gabriel would have liked nothing more than to pick Hannah up and spend the day in bed with her. But duty called.
He'd already lost precious time tracking down Hannah's attacker by tarrying here with her. So unfortunately, making love to her for hours was not the wisest use of his time.
"You need to tell me everything you remember about the attack."
This was not the reply she was looking from him.
"I will...after."
Leaning up on her elbows, Hannah ensured he had a healthy view of her breasts from between the folds of his shirt. "Isn't there something more...interesting we can do? Talking is such a bore."
Her coquettishness was tempting...incredibly tempting. If only he hadn't rang for reinforcements. But alas, they were on their way.
"Hannah, our time is limited. Vlad and Penny will be here shortly. And making love to you is not something to be rushed."
News of the impending arrival of the couple was as effective as a cold shower.
"Why have you invited them here?" she squeaked, scrambling to button the shirt she was wearing. "I'm not exactly decent. Penny is going to have a field day when she's sees me dressed like this."
"It's for precisely that reason I rang her. You have nothing to wear and somehow I doubt your man Maltby would be too tickled to have you show up on the doorstep dressed in nothing but my shirt and coat. What would the neighbours think?"
She hadn't considered her clothing dilemma and its potential impact. Gabriel was correct, Maltby would not be amused. In fact, her not returning home without a quick text as to her whereabouts was going to have her in enough hot water already. Half-naked in a man's dress shirt would only add fuel to the flames.
"Do you know where my mobile is?" she asked in a panicky rush of words.
"Sadly, no. It was not on your person when I brought you here, nor were my Praetors able to locate it at the scene. It's the other reason I contacted Vlad. He has the means to shut the damn thing down."
Hannah was horrified. "You cannot cancel my mobile service...my world is on that phone."
"Which is precisely my point. I've never known such stupidity as humans dependency on technology. To leave the amount of personal data on something that can be so easily lost is madness."
"Well excuse me for embracing the future. You should try it sometime."
"I am the future and will do as I please."
Their argument bordered on the absurd and only saved from further descent into the ridiculous by the suite's doorbell ringing.
Finally, the Cavalry had arrived.
Hannah darted from the table into the bedroom, grabbing Gabe's leather coat from the bed. Slipping it on, she glanced down. It was far too big for her. But beggars can't be choosers, so she wrapped it around herself as best as she could, hoping it made her look somewhat decent.
"Hannah?" Penny called. Entering the main room of the suite, she took one look at Hannah's state and paused mid-stride. "Gabriel said you were attacked at the museum. Are you okay? Have to say you don't look too worse for wear." A smirk of amusement tugged at her lips.
"Please tell me you've brought some clothes. I've nothing to wear."
"So I see."
"Not now Penny!"
With a delicate shrug of the shoulder, Penny held her ground. "I don't know, Bookworm. I think the leather suits...gives you a..." she held a finger to her chin, as if in contemplation for just the right word. "...more dangerous air. Hannah Woodville, researcher by day...secret OO agent by night."
Penny's dramatic news voice annoyed Hannah. Gabe and Vlad could no doubt hear every word that passed between them. As it was, she wanted to crawl under the duvet and pretend her bedroom antics were not on full display. And Penny's behaviour was not helping.
Waiting until Hannah hit the shade of pink she was looking for, Penny eventually tossed a bag of clothes at her. "Courtesy of Simone's wardrobe. You and she share a love of sensibleness that escapes my fashion tastes."
As Hannah caught the bag, the coat gaped open to reveal her long naked legs.
"Typical. You tall peeps get the best legs," Penny complained.
Wrapped from behind by her husband's large muscular arms, Penny shrieked in surprise.
"Dragon, you've legs and curves enough for me," he growled in her ear. She swatted at him playfully.
"Soon enough all I'll be is one giant curve who cannot see her toes," she teased, p
ressing a quick kiss to his lips. "But honestly, Hannah has the legs of a dancer. Did you see?"
Vlad laughed as he nuzzled her temple. "I may be human again, but I'm not an idiot. I zaw nahzing, Herr Frauline." Glancing up, he nodded in Hannah's direction. "Morning Miss Woodville, you are looking completely clad from head to toe this fine day."
With the coat again closed, she gripped the bag of clothing like her life depended on it. "I'll go get dressed, shall I?" she announced, somewhat shrilly it had to be said, and marched herself off to the bedroom.
Spilling the contents of the bag on the bed, she rifled through the offerings until she settled on an outfit.
After a quick wash in the sink of the impressive marble ensuite, she opened the small cosmetic bag that had been tucked in with the clothes. Sisterhood had its perks. They knew exactly what was required to assist a sister in a bind. From a fresh toothbrush to lip gloss, all the basic needs had been provided.
Slipping on wide white linen trousers, she pulled a sleeveless pale ice blue knitted top over her head. It fit her torso like a glove.
Repacking the bag, her fingers skimmed over Gabriel's white shirt. She hesitated. Should she?
Holding it to her nose, she could smell the faint scent of his cologne. She folded the shirt and put it in the bag. What? It obviously needed laundering and was the least she could do for his gallant rescue.
With a quick zip, she closed the bag and headed back into the fray.
"What do you mean you 'healed' her from the injuries she sustained? Vlad can he do that?" Penny's astonishment at the thought clearly expressed by her tone.
"Sweetheart, my knowledge of Praetor powers is rather limited seeing as until a few weeks ago I had no idea they existed." It was a reasonable point. Unfortunately for Vlad, Penny did not agree.
"You were an Elder, how is it possible you were unaware of the existence of an elite race of vamps?"
"Only a Grand Elder is privy to the truth. We serve him, not the Council," Gabe answered.
Vlad snorted with derision. "Rolfe did an excellent job of being clueless, I'll give him that. Terrible wartime leader, but evidently an excellent liar. You and your guard would have been useful to have on our side the first...and second time, Haan pulled his shit. If you are duty bound to protect Lowerton, where the fuck were you for the past year?"
Gabe reclined in the navy wingback chair. He wasn't used to being on the receiving end of an interrogation. "Otherwise occupied. We're here now," was his curt reply.
"Well, that's a relief," Vlad mocked.
"Welcome back," Gabe said, including Hannah in their conversation. "As you can hear, we are in the midst of discussing the events of last night...and beyond. Please, join us. We have yet to get to the bottom of what happened in the vaults and your input is required."
The jig was up and Gabe had ways of making Hannah talk. Her name was Penny.
"Hannah, sit here with me. I won't let these two brutes intimidate you."
With Hannah settled beside her, Penny wasted no time in taking over the questioning. "His High Holiness over there reckons Warlocks are behind the attack. Can you give us a description? Your attacker didn't have a hooked nose with warts, did he? A bit on the Cromwellian side, perhaps. You remember the portrait of him in the dining hall at Godolphin's. I always loved how they hung the Queen beside the notorious Lord Protector who signed Charles I's death warrant. Pure poetry."
Penny was obviously having none of Gabriel's Warlock theory.
Hannah suppressed a giggle. She could not get the image of Cromwell out of her head. The man had been one ugly Republican and if Warlocks did exist, surely he had been one of them.
"My attacker was invisible. I felt hands on me but nothing else. It was terrifying. One minute I was inspecting a curious box, with a mind of its own I might add, and the next I was being hurled around the vaults like a feather in the wind."
Hannah paused. The box! Where had Gabriel put it? The relic was priceless and she needed to ensure its safe return to the archives before it was discovered missing.
"Contrary to what Mrs. Vlad believes, Warlocks do exist and have recently declared their allegiance to Haan by joining the Serpent Brotherhood," Gabe explained.
"I have a name, High Holiness," Penny interjected sarcastically. "What is it with the vamp male species? Is being an arrogant bastard literally bred into your DNA?"
Gabe, in his arrogance, did not deign to reply. Her pet name for him may have had something to do with it.
This influx of human women into their world was proving to be a tedious affair for Gabriel. Between the uproar female vamps were staging because of their perceived loss in status, and this brief interlude with Penny, their sex was not faring well with him at the moment. Their annoying habit of questioning every little detail in some vain attempt to 'understand' was, quite frankly, doing his head in.
Except Hannah.
Hannah was different.
His body still ached for her. If only, if only.
Gabe returned back to the issue at hand. Hannah being attacked by Warlocks. The reason for their bold move eluded him. Yet, he suspected the current players in the room each held a piece of the puzzle which would assist him in unravelling the mystery.
Another motive behind his choice in assistants. The trio were keeping secrets, and he was determined to unearth them.
"And you know this for certain, how?" Vlad asked Gabe, referring to his theory. "There haven't been Warlocks in the UK for centuries. As Watchers, we were vigilant in ensuring it stayed that way too. And they sure as shit do not care for us vamps. Which makes their allegiance to a brotherhood intent on installing a demented megalomaniac vamp at the helm highly questionable."
"Believe me, I know Warlocks. They made their presence known to me the other night at Ebony's."
"I see. And how exactly did they do that? I was there and didn't see any fucking Warlocks lurking about. Couple of cunt wolves and that Yank prick Hannah wisely cut loose...but, Warlocks? Nada. Let me guess, they were the ones who sent you the telegram."
"This is a discussion for another time."
Gabe's meaning to Vlad was clear. Stay on topic and keep the extraneous chit-chat to a minimum. There was no need to provide the ladies with details that did not concern them. It would only cause problems down the line.
Hannah's eyes flew to Gabriel. She didn't like the idea of him and Pierce having run-ins. Their relationship may be over, but she still wouldn't like to see him come to any harm because of her. And she had a sneaking suspicion he might should he and Gabe kept coming into contact. The animosity between them had been palatable in the library, and that was with her being present. She shuddered to imagine their behaviour when she wasn't.
"What wolves?" Penny piped in with, again derailing the conversation. "Vlad, you didn't tell me about any wolves."
Gabriel's arched 'you see what comes of it' eyebrow grated Vlad's last nerve. "I did not consider the Lang's presence relevant, darling." He absolutely did, but the Consul cunt had unfortunately found the chink in his armour. Pleasing his wife.
Penny was not 100% satisfied, she knew her husband had a tendency to be loose with the truth. The Lang discussion was not over. She was still smarting over Ethan Lang's appalling treatment of her during the investigation when her paintings had been stolen. The young whelp had had the tenacity to suspect she'd been in on it because of her vamp loving ways. The arrogant pup!
All the bouncing between warlocks and werewolves was starting to give Hannah an almighty headache. That, or her wine buzz had worn off. Either way, her patience was wearing thin.
"Are warlocks capable of attacking someone from afar? she asked, "Because I can assure everyone, whomever is responsible was not physically in the vault. It was more like a force of energy assaulted me."
Vlad scratched his chin. "Sounds like Warlocks to me. Fuck. I hate those slimy bastards."
"On that we agree," Gabe replied.
Finally, progress. Time to imple
ment step two.
Gabe had yet to come up with a plausible reason for the attack on Hannah. The fact he wanted her in his bed did not offer much of a credible motive. He doubted the Warlocks responsible were even aware of who she was to him, so choosing her as a target to make a point was flimsy at best. And being a good Roman, he faithfully employed the old adage of all roads leading to one place to his reasoning.
Which in this case, led back to the night when Hannah had showed up at Simone's. He'd never believed the cover story of her assisting Simone to find a book about 'female things' at the museum. What a crock that had been.
The only information he'd managed to glean from her that night in the library had something to do with a dragon...and it's curse.
An interesting theme he was also picking up on from Vlad and Penny’s thoughts.
Gabe had been surprised by their free flow of information since arriving. Humans tended to be on the wary side when in the presence of a vamp able to read minds. And to be fair, for the most part the pair had been careful, Vlad especially.
But not now. In truth, Gabe was getting far too much information from them.
"Jesus, you know things really are in the shit when you start having assholes agree with you," Vlad commented.
"Worse still, when they call you on it," Gabe returned. "So, who wants to tell me about this Dragon Curse you are all trying to keep me from knowing about?"
Chapter Twenty-Two
YOU COULD HAVE HEARD a pin drop.
And in the end, Penny reacted first.
Reaching over, she smacked Hannah across the top of her arm. "The onyx doesn't work."
Rubbing her upper arm, Hannah complained, "And that required my being hit, why?"
"You're closest," Penny countered nonsensically.
Gabe watched their exchange, hiding a smile. That they'd believed a crystal would prevent him from exercising his Praetor powers was amusing.