by Lydia Dare
Blaire closed her hand around the ring. The truth was that she didn’t know what to believe anymore. It could be James’ ring, or it could simply be a ring similar to Blodswell’s. The earl himself admitted the rings had come from her coven. Why should her ring look different? The similarity between the two meant nothing, not really.
Her mother had told her never to remove the ring. That it would save her life someday. What to do? Show the ring to James and let him tell her whether or not it was the one he sought? Or tuck it away inside her trunk? Blaire shook her head. That didn’t seem the answer. Her mother had begged her never to remove it from her neck.
She sighed, then stepped out of her slippers and fell onto the bed, staring up at the canopy. When had life become so complicated? A fortnight ago she hadn’t suffered from any of her current worries. Her biggest problem had been finding the funds to pay the butcher or making certain Brannock was studying his arithmetic. Mystical rings and vampyre vengeances were a far cry from those normal domestic matters.
Then there was the matter of Cait’s vision. Alec’s warning once again echoed in her ears. Cait had sent him all the way from Edinburgh to protect her. She’d even confided the truth about their coven to the man to keep Blaire safe. Who had Cait seen in her vision? Was it Sarah Reese or Mr. Trevelyan the clairvoyant witch had seen? Or was it James? Kettering was dead, or at least the undead. If Cait meant him, she certainly had the right of it. But a monster? Blaire couldn’t imagine anyone referring to James in that manner. On the contrary, he was a true gentleman. An honorable one. Yet the previous Còig had trapped him for some reason. Blast her mother for not confiding all to her!
James’ ruggedly handsome face flashed into her mind, but Blaire shook away the image. She couldn’t afford to lose her heart to James. She needed to keep a clear head, but that seemed near impossible whenever she was in his presence. And would it be even more difficult after he marked her as his? Her face heated at the thought. What did he intend to do with her this evening?
A pleasure, he’d said. Heaven help her. Would she live through whatever he had planned for her? She turned on her side and hugged a pillow to her chest. Question after question popped in Blaire’s mind. How long would she have to wait for him? Patience had never been her strong suit. Though, at the moment, she was relieved he hadn’t yet come to her.
And what sort of warrior witch did that make her? Shouldn’t she be a bit braver than that? If only she knew what to expect, it would relieve her anxiety tenfold. Question after question popped into Blaire’s mind. What would he expect of her? Should she know what to do? Would it come naturally? And what should she wear? The dress she’d worn to dinner or her nightrail?
She sat up, and the ring thudded against her chest. The ring. Blaire sighed. She wasn’t quite certain what to do about that situation at the moment. Show it to James or hide it? Finally, she tossed it over her shoulder so it hung down her back. She’d worry about the ring tomorrow, after she knew what she was dealing with. After all, she wasn’t completely certain it even was the ring he sought.
Blaire rose from her spot and began to pace the floor. Time was ticking away. She really should change. She crossed the room to her wardrobe and shrugged out of her dress and into her nightrail. Then she flopped back on the bed to await her fate. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, then exhaled just as slowly. If he didn’t arrive soon, she’d be a bundle of insatiable nerves by the time he did. She jumped up to pace again. As she made her first pass across the room, the soft snick of her door opening jerked her from her tumultuous thoughts.
James stepped inside and closed the door softly behind him.
“Where have ye been?” she asked quickly.
“You left me mere moments ago, Blaire,” he reminded her with a smile. “But once I heard you begin to pace, I knew you’d wear a groove in the floor if I didn’t make an appearance soon.”
“Are ye certain this is best? Truly certain, James. I’m a battle-born witch. I can come up with somethin’ ta protect myself. And my family.”
“You might be able to.” He nodded indulgently. Then he was across the room in a flash, tilting her chin up. “But I want to take you more than anything I’ve ever wanted, Blaire. Allow me a moment of selfishness in the guise of keeping you safe.”
He wanted her. He truly wanted her?
“Do ye want me, James. Or would any pretty lass do?”
He growled lightly, his grip tightening almost imperceptibly. “If I wanted any lass, I could have gone off to find one as soon as you woke me, Blaire. But I’ve wanted you so badly that I’ve only taken sustenance from nonhuman sources since I came back to life.”
“I doona understand.” Her head was spinning more than a bit.
“If I’d wanted any lass, I could have charmed one easily and taken from her. Yet no one but you will do.” He spun away from her quickly.
She tugged his sleeve sharply. “James!”
He turned to her slowly, his black-as-night eyes revealing more than his words ever could. His fangs had distended and toyed with his lower lip. Blaire stepped back.
“You have two options, love,” he teased her as he took a step in her direction.
“And they are?” Her voice shook a bit.
He smiled. Of course, he noticed. “I can tuck you into bed and give you a nice glass of warm milk to help you relax. I could even tell you a story.”
She swatted his chest. “Stop teasin’ me.”
He forced her backward with his steps until the backs of her knees hit the bed and she had no choice but to sit. It was an odd sensation, allowing him to have this power over her.
“Scoot back,” he said. She didn’t even think twice before she scrambled back on the bed, allowing him room to sit beside her.
“Should I just lie here quietly?”
“Do you know how to be quiet?” He chuckled. The blasted man chuckled as he tugged off one of his boots and let it thunk to the floor.
“Ye are no’ humorous,” she grunted.
His other boot hit the floor as he said, “I don’t want you to lie beneath me, solid as a stone, no.” His black eyes twinkled. “I like for my prey to still be moving.”
“Bloody hell, I’ve become prey,” she groaned.
“Where did you learn to curse like a man?” he asked, a grin pasted across his pretty mouth.
“I was born ta battle. It’s no’ likely ye will find me practicin’ my parlor manners before ye’ll find me sharpenin’ my blade.” She glanced over at him. “I am fully aware that most men find it ta be a detriment. But I never could bring myself ta care. Does it bother ye?”
“I find it charming.”
“I could tell ye I’ll try ta act like a lady, but I’d be lyin’.”
“I prefer you just as you are.” He shrugged his shoulders, as comfortable as if they were discussing the weather.
“What will I taste like?” she asked in a very small voice. She’d never been afraid before in her life. But the very thought of James sinking his teeth into her skin made her both fearful and anticipatory at the same time.
“Heaven, I’d wager.”
“Ye are no’ amusin’ in the least, James. I am bein’ serious. This is my flesh we’re talkin’ about.”
“And such lovely flesh it is,” he said as he trailed his fingers down her exposed forearm and then back up to rest beneath the ruffled cuff at her elbow.
“Is that where ye’ll bite me?” She flipped her wrist over so he could see the blue veins that rested just beneath the surface.
“Probably not,” he said absently as he lifted her wrist to his mouth and inhaled deeply. The wind from his breath tickled her sensitive skin.
“James!” She shoved him, but he just chuckled in response.
“All in due time, Blaire. Have patience, love.”
“What are we waitin’ for? I am here. Ye are here. Let’s get on with it.”
“Are you always so impatient?”
“Probably.”
“If I wasn’t here to slow you down, you would suck all the enjoyment right out of the moment.”
“I am no’ the one who will be doing the suckin’, James.”
His gaze darkened perceptibly.
***
If James had to wait for one more moment to taste her, he’d lose what little bit of control he had left. The lavender scent of her combined with the sound of the blood pulsing within her veins was enough to make him embarrass himself completely. After all, it had been decades since he’d had a woman.
“Now what do we do?” she asked as she tugged at her sleeve, exposing her wrist for him again. She held it out to him. “Is this what ye want?”
“Why are you in such a hurry?” he asked as he tucked a lock of her sable hair behind her ear.
“Is it supposed ta be done slowly? Ye have ta tell me if I do somethin’ wrong. I’ve never been a meal before.”
“You could not possibly do anything wrong.” He chuckled. She was absolutely perfect. Her quick wit made him laugh. Her intelligence was like an aphrodisiac. Her scent made his mouth water.
“Ye will no’ hurt me, will ye?” she asked quietly as she tilted her head at him.
“I’ll do my best not to hurt you. It has been decades since I’ve had fresh human blood.” He paused briefly to search her beautiful face. So trusting. So, perfect. “Not to mention a lovely female beneath me.”
James dropped his head and pressed his lips to the side of her neck. He was right. She tasted like heaven.
“Tell me what it will be like, James,” she said softly as her hand came up to clutch the back of his neck. The pulse at the base of her throat sped up.
He gently lifted her and righted her in the center of the bed, then climbed slowly on his hands and knees to where he hovered over her. She looked up at him with her soft, anxious grey eyes, her dark lashes sweeping across her cheeks like fans.
James touched his lips to hers, intending to give her a comforting kiss, one meant to show her affection. But she pulled his head down to hers when he would have lifted from on top of her and moved into his kiss.
“If you do that again, I’ll lay all the blame at your feet when this goes poorly,” he growled.
“Ye said ye wanted yer prey ta still be movin’,” she quipped.
He pressed his face into her neck and inhaled. “I’d never expect you to just lie beneath me.”
James tugged at the laces of her nightrail, exposing her neck to his gaze. She shifted her body to allow him better access.
“You might have to take this off,” he muttered, but watched her expression.
“Why?” Her eyes grew wide.
“I need to find the best place to bite you. And you have places all over to choose from.” A poor excuse he knew. He’d probably have fared better if he’d just said ‘because I want to see you naked’ as she looked at him like he was speaking in tongues.
“James?” she asked hesitantly.
“Yes, love?”
“Ye plan ta only take my blood and no’ my innocence?”
“That’s my plan.” It would be deuced hard, but he’d do it. His number-one objective was keeping her safe. His own needs were secondary.
James studied the side of her neck for another moment and frowned. “If I bite you there, it’ll leave a mark.”
She covered the area protectively. “So, other people would ken?” she cried, sitting up quickly.
“Aye, but only if I take you there. I can take you down there,” he pointed down below her waist, “and no one will ever know. Aside from the two of us.” And I’ll think about it day and night. I’m afraid I will never forget the taste of Blaire Lindsay.
“Where is down there?” Her voice quavered.
“I’ll show you,” he assured her. He tugged at the hem of her nightrail. “Can I take this off?”
“No!” she gasped.
“There’s no need to be fretful,” he said softly.
“How the devil would ye feel if ye thought ye were goin’ ta be a meal and then find out ye have ta be a naked meal?”
James bent quickly and kissed her. If he allowed her any more time to think about their situation, the sun would be up and the night would be lost. Blaire would be lost—to him.
She hesitantly kissed him back. “That’s it, Blaire,” he crooned to her as he kissed down the side of her neck, abrading her gently with his teeth, which were still distended. He tugged at the collar of her nightrail until he’d exposed the swell of her breast. Her nipple lay trapped by the offending fabric where it insistently pressed, as though aching for his touch.
“Blaire,” he groaned. “I can’t get to you if you’re all covered up.”
Blaire lifted her bottom from the bed long enough to tug her nightrail from beneath her and draw it over her head. James sat back and devoured her with his gaze. He’d never seen a more perfect woman. His Blaire felt no need to cover her body. Not in the least. In fact, it appeared as though she took great pride in the fact that she had his complete attention.
James reached down and shifted his trousers. She’d have to be blind not to see the length of him pressing insistently against the fabric.
“Take those off,” she said. Dangerous suggestion that it was, James couldn’t help but follow her command. Within seconds, he sat before her as naked as she was, his length jutting before her. She reached for him, but he grabbed her hands.
“Not tonight.”
James pressed her back against the bed, coming to rest on top of her, his hot, hard body in a position where it could completely overwhelm her. In any other situation, she’d probably have fought for the upper hand. Did she trust the man who was about to take from her?
“James,” she sighed as he tongued her nipple with the utmost care. He drew the peak into his mouth as his hand explored the rest of her body. Soon she’d be begging if he didn’t do something to ease the ache he was building within her. He could already tell.
“In the interest of full disclosure,” he said quickly, “I’m going to bite you down here.” His hand slid down her belly and into her curls, where his thumb began the most delicious movement that had her arching against him.
“There?” She sat up on her elbows and looked down at him.
James slid down between her thighs until he hovered over her most secret place, stroking softly.
“More,” she cried as her hands slid into his hair, just before he pressed his lips to her center. “Bloody hell,” she ground out. “Please, James,” she begged.
James licked lightly across that little spot that drove her wild and closed his mouth gently over it to draw deeply on her flesh.
Blaire’s heels dug into the bed as she arched against his mouth, completely unashamed of her nakedness. Unashamed of his actions. She cursed fluidly as she got closer and closer to that peak.
He replaced his mouth with his thumb and turned his head into her inner thigh, where he licked slowly across her skin. James licked across her soft flesh as his thumb continued its slow torment. He followed the cues from her body, the arch of her hips, the sounds of pleasure that left her lips, the tug of her hands in his hair, and the bite of her fingernails against his bare shoulders.
When she finally tensed, her pleasure erupting, he bit into the soft flesh of her thigh, drawing the essence of her life into him quickly, drinking her in, ready to drown in her. He took her pleasure inside himself. And gave her his own in return. “James!” she called as he reached his own peak like a green lad against the linens. Of course, she’d felt it. Just as he’d felt her pleasure within himself, she’d felt his within her.
Blaire cried out so loudly, he feared she’d raise the rest of the family from their beds. He slowed his thumb and decreased the pressure of his mouth against her skin until he broke his hold. Then he licked gently across the wound to close the two small pricks in her skin.
James crawled up her body slowly, looking down at her, hoping his adoration shone in his eyes.
&nbs
p; Blaire reached up a shaking hand to gently wipe the corner of his mouth where her blood had spilled over the seams of his lips. “Since that’s yer first meal in decades, I’ll forgive ye for bein’ a little messy,” she laughed lightly, her body rumbling with mirth beneath his. James flipped over onto his back beside her and then rolled her over to rest on top of him. She looked down at him, a dreamy look in her eyes. “So, how was I?”
James licked his lips and smiled. “You’re a tasty little witch.”
In truth, she was more than he could ever have hoped for. More than he’d ever wanted. More than he deserved. She was Blaire. His Blaire.
James sighed, knowing the idea was fanciful. If only she could be his in every way until the end of time. But it wasn’t to be. Time was fleeting, he knew quite well. Still, he couldn’t help but wish for more. If he could only have her always, living for eternity wouldn’t seem quite so lonely. Though always for a vampyre and always for a human meant two very different things. A quick twinge of pain pulsed within his chest, and James sucked in a surprised breath. What the devil was wrong with him?
“Are ye all right?” Concern clouded Blaire’s pretty grey eyes as she peered down at him.
“It’s nothing,” he lied once more. She had enough to worry about with Sarah and Trevelyan lurking nearby. He wouldn’t give her anything else to fret over, especially not when she should still be basking in their shared moment. “Just reacting to my first bit of human blood in ages.”
A relieved smile lit her face. “Ye scared me.” She pressed a soft kiss to his chest.
Truthfully, he was a little scared himself. He needed to be at his strongest when he faced his enemies and this strange pain did not bode well. Hopefully, Blodswell would know what was to be done about this unfortunate complication.
James urged her to snuggle beside him, and he draped his arm protectively over her middle. “Try to get some sleep, love. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
Amazingly, she heeded his advice, and before long she was fast asleep…
James’ eyes flew open. It was still dark. He’d probably just dozed for a few minutes. At least he hoped it was only a few minutes. He unfolded himself from Blaire’s arms and tucked the counterpane over her lithe form. No matter how strong she was in the light of day, at night she was as soft as any flower.