Raven lifted her head, and her eyes were filled with tears.
“Don’t cry, Raven,” Kristian said then he moved to stand in front of her.
He wrapped his arms around her.
“There’s nothing I can do to change what I am. I’m a slayer. I will fight evil and evil will find me even in my sleep. So yes, I accept everything that is going to happen in my life.”
Kristian pulled away from her. “What do you mean in your sleep?”
Raven wiped the tears away.
“Last night as I slept, I dreamed that I was in this hell. My room caught on fire and this voice kept taunting, asking me to let him out. Then this guy surrounded by fire climbed on my bed and jumped on me. I felt the fire on my skin burning me. As this guy held me down he kept saying let my master out. When I woke I was soaked with sweat and I knew that it wasn’t a dream.”
Kristian slid his hands up and down her arms.
“It was a dream, but not fully.”
“What does that mean?”
Kristian took Raven’s hand and pulled her to his bed. “The portal that opened was near your home. You were like a vessel for it. Maybe it was the fact that you were newly born that opened it, I can’t say for sure. This portal leads to a hell world for Karlem demons, very dangerous creatures, as I said before. As we researched, we found that no one has escaped from it.”
“So you’re saying that this hole is my fault?”
“No—no, that’s not what I’m saying. It could be, but I doubt it. Maybe something knew what you were, and with the magic around you they could more easily open it. I’m thinking it’s more of an inside thing, since you said that this burning demon asked you to let his master out.”
“Was it a Karlem demon that tried to burn me alive?”
Kristian shook his head. “No, I’m sure it wasn’t. The reason is that Karlem demons are very lazy when they are weak. There were many sacrifices done over the years and they were sent to that hell as well. I’m sure that burning person was nothing more than a slave who has been promised freedom from hell if he got the Karlem demon out.”
Kristian put his arms around Raven. She had started to tremble and he could smell the fear. He ran his hands up and down her arms when she laid her head on his shoulder.
“Could one of those sacrifices get out?”
“Not without us knowing it. We have Calvin Nolan working on closing it. He’s a very old and powerful warlock.”
“Warlock?”
“Yes, they live long past the human age. I have known some to be around two-hundred, but that’s it. They don’t age quickly, so they can keep up their appearance.”
Raven lifted her head. “Wow, I’m learning a lot today.”
“So while this portal is open I would like for you to stay here.”
“I can’t,” Raven quickly answered.
“Why not? If you think I’m going to try to make love to you I will not.”
Raven snorted. “Lies, but that’s not why not. I can’t just stay away from home for god knows how long. My mom already thinks I’m dating some old rich guy.”
“She does?”
“Yes. My dad saw the car and knew the price. Remember, I smacked you for that earlier.”
“How could I forget?” He rubbed his arm.
“Well, I told her that I’ve known you for a few months now and the window on my car is broken and my boyfriend who she has never met loaned me his very expensive car.”
“Well, I can always meet your parents if you like, just not now. As for you being out, we have people going to your home and retrieving some of your belongings. If you need anything special you have to let me know so I can tell them what it is. Your mother and father will be, in simple words, reprogrammed to think you are merely on a trip with friends.”
“And my parents are going to go for that?”
“They have no choice.”
“Can you do that mind thingy on me?”
Kristian shook his head. “It’s very hard to bend the will of a slayer. It has been tested, and you will not have to worry about someone willing you to kill yourself.”
“Cool. That’s good to know.”
“Now is there anything you want to do? You are a rich woman now, and can go buy anything your heart desires. You don’t want to go put some miles on that credit card of yours?”
Raven laughed. “This coming from a man who has God knows how much money and only one car?”
“I have the need to splurge a little. I have this wonderful woman in my life now. That’s all I will ever need.”
“No, I’m good with just being here with you. I can’t really wrap my brain around having so much money just yet.”
“So a dinner and a movie at home then? Sounds like something you would enjoy? What about anything from your home?”
“Yes it would be nice to just relax. I’m sure if they don’t get anything I need, which I find uneasy for me to have them in my underwear drawer, I guess we can go out and buy.”
“Sounds like a fun night then. Just the two of us.”
“Yes, it will be.”
Kristian tilted her head up to his. He leaned forward, capturing her lips in a searing kiss. Just touching her lips made his body come to life. His hand went to her head, holding her to him. When she gasped he slid his tongue inside her mouth, tasting her. She tasted so sweet, like nothing he’d ever tasted before. The need that rose inside him tripled the moment she responded to his kiss. Her hands went to his head as she returned the kiss with passion that he’d never experienced before. He needed her, needed to mate with her to make her his for all eternity.
They kissed for what seemed like hours before he pulled away from her. Raven’s lips were swollen and her breathing harsh. He ran his fingers down the side of her face to her neck. All the while she kept her eyes closed.
I need you.
Kristian could not ignore Raven’s voice in his mind. He doubted she knew she’d spoken to him that way, but he would explain that part of their relationship later.
Kristian needed to touch her more, kiss her until their minds were fogged with nothing but need of each other. He sat back further on the bed, pulling her until she sat on top of him.
Raven opened her eyes when he made sure she could feel the evidence of his desire pressed against her. He pulled her to him, kissing her deeply again, this time pouring all his feelings for her into it.
Raven gasped and released him. Her body pressed closer to him, causing him to moan from the delicious friction.
“The feelings are overwhelming, I don’t feel anything but your need,” Raven whispered. “I need you.”
“Only if you are sure that you want me, Raven. I would give you anything. My world.”
“Yes. I want you, Kristian. Make love to me.”
Kristian experienced the same thing as Raven was at this moment. The bond they shared had opened up a link between them—his feelings where hers and vice versa. Each other’s passions fuelled the others until now nothing mattered but being together. The mating process had begun, and he would make sure that Raven enjoyed being with him.
Kristian grabbed her t-shirt and pulled it over her head. Her dark skin looked so delicious next to the white bra she had on. Kristian couldn’t stop himself as he leaned forward and placed a kiss between her breasts. It excited him more when she moaned just from his kiss. She craved more, wanting him to go faster, but he knew that she needed to go slow to understand what was about to happen to them.
Kristian pulled the bra straps down over her shoulders, giving him full access to her. He didn’t hesitate, he latched onto her right nipple, sucking it into his mouth. She rewarded him with a loud moan and pressed down on him. As he built her pleasure, he reached around, unhooking her bra with his hand.
“Oh God. You two are going to have sex aren’t you?”
Raven screamed at the sound of Shane’s voice. She moved from over Kristian, shielding herself as she ran into the bathroom.
To keep from choking his close friend, Kristian lay on the bed looking at the ceiling for a moment, then looked at Shane.
“Not anymore.” Kristian growled. “Ever heard of knocking? Or even feeling projections?”
Shane leaned against the door frame. “I did and I am very proud of you, but Arthas is downstairs.”
“And he couldn’t have waited?”
“I don’t know. How’s your stamina lately? Would he have to wait five minutes or five hours?”
“I need better friends.”
“No one is better than me.”
Kristian sat up on the bed, grabbed Raven’s shirt and walked to the bathroom. He tapped on the door.
“What?”
“I’m sorry, and here’s your shirt. Shane will apologize for his rudeness.”
Shane snatched the shirt out of Kristian’s hand. “Yes, here’s your shirt. Come out and I will give it to you.”
Raven opened the door and her arm shot out. “Give me my shirt.”
Shane teased her by letting her touch the shirt but drawing it away before she grasped it.
“Stop playing with her, Shane,” Kristian snapped.
“I’m not. She has to come out and get it.”
“No. Give me my damn shirt.”
“Oh, come on, Raven. I’ve seen people in bras before. I’m sure that Kristian wouldn’t mind me just peeking at you. Would you, Kristian?”
Kristian shook his head but smiled. Shane thought that his good looks would get him anywhere and he didn’t mind Raven showing off to Shane. Raven would be the one woman he wouldn’t share.
“Kristian, tell him to give me my damn shirt.”
“It’s not that easy, my lovely Raven. Shane is a pig and likes to play games. You can come out and get it and show him what he will never be able to touch.”
“You are as bad as him but fine.”
Raven opened the door and Kristian couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her jeans were low cut and hung on her waist. He had a perfect view of her toned stomach and abs. She really had nothing to hide. She was beautiful.
“Oh, nice,” Shane said.
Raven scowled. “May I have my shirt now, you pervert?”
“Not just yet. Spin around for me.”
Raven sighed and raised her hands, palms facing Shane. “See these hands?”
“Yes I do, going to slap me now? Hell, I have been slapped by many women.”
Raven kicked out and landed a very hard blow to Shane’s balls. Kristian could feel the painful blow for Shane. Even as a vampire, he knew that would hurt.
Shane groaned then went down to the floor without a word. As he fell, Raven grabbed her shirt.
“Bastard.”
Kristian let out a long laugh when Shane turned on his side on the floor when Raven walked over him. She walked up to Kristian and gave him a quick kiss before standing beside him.
“When I get the feeling back in my nuts I’m gonna kill you!”
Kristian held back the laughter bubbling inside him. Raven had projected doing that to Shane and he saw it way before she opened the door.
“You should have given me back my shirt. I don’t like being walked in on while I’m half naked.”
“Fuck…you…” Shane rolled onto his other side as he spoke.
“Not you.”
Shane snarled then jumped from the floor at Raven. Kristian knew that Shane was hurt, but he would not do anything to harm Raven, even with her kicking him in the balls, but he did want to scare her.
Raven moved away from Shane before he made contact, letting him run into the dresser. Instead of screaming, she took her elbow and jammed it into Shane’s back. Shane growled and turned over. He at lunged Raven again, this time connecting. They both went to the ground hard. Kristian decided this would be a fun thing to watch. If Shane got too rough with Raven, then he would intervene.
“Careful, Shane, she might beat your ass,” Kristian taunted.
Shane sat on top of Raven, holding her down with one arm. “If Raven beats me you can slap me and call me Susan.”
Raven lifted her legs, tossing Shane over her shoulders and onto his back. She pushed up and the moment his back touched the ground she sat on his chest.
“Holy shit!” Shane said as Raven leaned down and grabbed his shirt.
Raven smiled.
“All right, Susan.” Raven slapped Shane hard. “Next time you come into a room, you need to knock!”
Kristian laughed so hard that he couldn’t think straight.
“Enough,” Arthas said from the doorway.
Raven snarled at Shane before standing and releasing his shirt and standing.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Arthas asked.
“Nothing serious,” Shane said as he stood.
Arthas lifted an eyebrow. “Nothing? The slayer had you pinned to the floor and was slapping you while calling you Susan and you say nothing?”
“Maybe he deserved it, dear,” Jana said from behind Arthas.
“No, I said nothing serious.”
“Raven?” Arthas questioned.
“It wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle.”
“Ah, the slayer is becoming as she must. I’m impressed that you took down an eight hundred year old vampire.”
Shane snorted. “I was only playing with her.”
Yes, he was playing with her, but Kristian knew that Shane was surprised when Raven got the upper hand on him. That made him proud to see her in action on her own.
“Very well. I will let you three get back to your unusual play. I was in the area and instead of calling I decided to stop by to make sure the slayer was safe.”
“I assured you that I would keep her safe and I have,” Kristian told him.
“I had no doubts. My next concern is that an hour ago, two of my men found two freshly-dead bodies in the woods here.”
“Really? How fresh?” Kristian asked.
“Maybe two hours or less.”
“Alec?” Raven said.
“Alec Sullivan? Is that who you are referring to?” Arthas questioned.
“Yeah. I met him today and left a message for you at the Council.”
“Oh yes, I read your message and I sent for him the moment I did. They say he was leaving Meadville High School when they spotted him. He did not resist and came in.”
“So he’s been there all this time?”
“Yes, I called the Council the moment the bodies were discovered and they said that he had been there for a while.”
“So it couldn’t have been him,” Kristian pointed out.
“Get her trained and I want you to go out tonight and see if you can find any leads to who did this. There is a vampire in this town who I dare to show his face for killing.”
“Yes, sir,” Kristian said.
“Have a good day and, slayer, don’t beat up on Shane too much. He does not know when to stop.”
Raven looked at Shane then back to Arthas.
“I do promise not to kill him, but I don’t promise that I won’t break a rib or two in the process.”
“Oh, I like that. Slayers are so powerful once they have accepted their fate,” Arthas said before leaving.
Kristian took Raven’s hand to make her look at him. His little slayer was not so little anymore. With each passing moment Raven’s mind, body and soul were changing. Her fears would be a thing of the past. Her body would become stronger than his. Her soul would be, as they said, no more. She would be the same person, but fearless, one who thought nothing could take her down.
“Kristian, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. We have about six hours until dark—care to go watch a movie or do you want to beat up on Shane some more?”
“The part of beating up Shane is tempting, but I would have more fun with you.”
“Screw you both. As soon as I get the feeling back in my balls, it’s on, Raven.”
“Promises, Promises.”
Raven proceeded out the door. Kri
stian wanted to suggest they stay in here, lock the door this time, and make love, but he had a lifetime to make love to his mate. Now, he had to try to get her to control the changes in her body.
* * * *
Raven snuggled closer to Kristian on the couch. He lay on his back with her on her stomach, half on him and half on the couch. As the movie went on, Kristian would caress her arm or back with his hand, and frankly it drove her mad. She had hoped that he would ask her to stay in the bedroom but he hadn’t. She knew that Kristian wanted to take it slow but this was moving backwards. Something had begun to boil inside her and she didn’t want it to stop.
The whole thing with Shane kept replaying over and over in her mind. The old Raven was dying and this new and improved Raven was coming to life. She felt that she could take him out, and she had.
“Kristian?”
“Yes?”
“Tell me about you. We were about to have sex after not even forty-eight hours of knowing each other, and I don’t know much about you.”
Kristian sighed. “There’s not much to tell you about me. I’m a four-hundred and twenty-six year old vampire with a very boring lifestyle.”
“Why don’t I believe that your life is boring? What aren’t you telling me, Mr. Blackburn?”
Kristian laughed, his body vibrating as he did. It felt so good to be lying next to him. To her, nothing could get better than this.
“I’m not lying to you.”
“What about your parents? Would they accept you dating a younger female? A black female at that?”
“Yes and no.”
“No?”
“That’s something difficult to explain, and I really don’t want to get into it right now. Just know that as long as I accept you, that’s all that matters.”
Raven sat up on her arms, looking up at him.
“Are you saying that they will not accept me?”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying, Raven.”
“Then what? I know there is something between us that I have no idea about, but I need to know who I have to defend myself from.”
Raven's Desires (Night Hunters) Page 12