He grimaced as he felt himself harden, wondering what the hell was going on with him today. Too long between women, that’s what it was. He hadn’t been out with a woman in weeks, no, probably months, if he was being honest. That’s all it was. He needed to get out with Sam and pick up a woman for the night. Have some fun and release.
*****
Starr threw herself onto the soft bed, sighing heavily and trying to get her breathing back under control. She tried to calm her thoughts and work her way through them. The way she was reacting to Ronan was like nothing she had experienced before. Her body seemingly having a mind of its own.
She had an ache deep inside her, way down low, one that needed some attention. Hell no! She was definitely not going to deal with that here and now. Not with a powerful Vamp just a few feet away, his acute hearing would pick absolutely everything up. She blushed as she imagined his reaction to hearing her pleasure herself. Wondered if he would come and join in…
With one deep breath in she wished he would, with the breath out...she wished he wouldn’t. What the hell! Her mind was all over the place. The way he was reacting to her, mirrored her own, and she had used her empath ability to try and find out what was going on. She felt his attraction to her, his arousal was deep inside him and she could feel him damp it down, as his eyes raked her body.
In that moment she almost willed him to take her in his arms, crush her to his hard body, have his lips take her mouth in a kiss she knew would make her knees weak. However, he only stood staring at her as she felt his inner struggle.
Jeez, he probably has a girlfriend, or a mate even, he was gorgeous, of course he would have someone special. She felt her heart hitch at that thought, that he had someone who he held in his arms, as he devoured her with his mouth. Starr was surprised when a tear escaped one of her eyes, feeling it run down the side of her face.
She swiped it away roughly. ‘Get a grip!’, she told herself as she settled down into the bed. She was so very tired and knew she needed to sleep, but doubted sleep would come. Not with all these thoughts and feelings running rampant through her.
Her mind was still thinking of the large, hard, Vampire, as her eyes slid closed and she fell over into sleep. A sleep that was full of dreams of her in Ronan’s arms, on his knee, underneath him as he took her to highs she had never experienced before.
Chapter 8
Ronan paced his living room, from one end of the panoramic window to the other, then back again. His arousal was still as great and his pants were tight across the front, uncomfortably so. He took his phone out and dialed Sam, to inform him he was now in charge for at least the day, maybe longer, explaining they had found the Dragon and he was now watching her.
Sam whooped down the phone and his exuberance was catching, Ronan found himself smiling and laughing with his friend. Sam assured him that everything would be just fine and Ronan groaned. Sam’s fine and his fine were two completely different things!
“Okay, I gotta go! Someone just got out of the elevator.” Ronan’s hearing easily picking up the doors opening and the low ping the elevator made.
Sam stopped laughing long enough to answer, “Righty o, see ya later.”
Ronan hung up and moved to unlock and unchain the door, his hearing picking up the soft footfalls...Esther...he would know her steps anywhere. Ronan opened the door, timing perfectly the Witch’s arrival. Her face lost in thought, Esther almost jumped as she realized the door was open and Ronan was standing in front of her.
She caught herself, smiled and looked up into his face. “Hello, Ronan, thought I would come for a chat. I’ve got some...things...on my mind. May I come in?”
Ronan moved to the side, motioning with his arm for the old woman to enter. He waited until she was all the way in before closing, locking and chaining the door. Esther frowning at him as he did this and felt a need to explain.
“It’s Starr, she’s kinda scared ‘n freaked out a bit. She kept locking and chaining the door, I’ve sent her for a lie down, but I don’t want her to get up and see I’ve unlocked everything. I don’t want to upset her any more than she already is.”
Esther nodded her head and moved onwards, heading towards the large sofa set in front of the flat-screen TV on the wall opposite the bar. She sat down but Ronan stood in front of the TV, a questioning look on his face. Esther didn’t do ‘visits’ or ‘house calls.’
Ronan stood for several moments, watching as Esther seemed to be gathering her thoughts before speaking. He was just about to start pacing when she finally looked up at him, a glint in her eyes.
Esther took a deep breath before starting to talk, haltingly at first, “So, Ronan, I’ve put all the wards, alerts and some other things in place. I’ve also asked Sam to make sure that there are more patrols out around here and to let everyone know to look out for any hunters.” Ronan nodded. “I’m not here to discuss those things though. What I am here to discuss is Starr, or, more importantly, you and Starr...”
Ronan frowned down at the Witch, interrupting her, his tone sharp. “What exactly do you mean?”
Esther moved her head to the side, as if appraising exactly what she would, or should, say. “I have some feelings on the matter of Starr, and you. I can sense the attraction between you. Please don’t try and deny it, you would only insult me and trust me, Ronan, you do not want to do that. I have also had a vision and in that vision you and Starr are together, properly together, as a mated couple...”
Ronan snarled his interruption this time. “What? What the fuck are you talking about?”
Esther sighed. “Please stop butting in, Ronan! It’s very annoying! I think my words were crystal clear. I saw you and Starr together. I also saw you in a very dangerous situation and I can only guess at the where and why, at this time. I am going to work on it, try and garner more information, but at this time I can only tell you to be careful. I can also feel your inner struggle regarding Starr. You have to stop this battle inside you. It is your destiny to be with her. You cannot fight this, Ronan, so don’t even try. Now, do you have any questions?”
Ronan stood still as a statue as he stared at the old woman on his sofa. Starr was his mate? Impossible! He took a moment to get his tongue working. “She’s young and needs a mate that she can have family with. She’s lost everyone she loves, so she needs to have her own family. She can’t have that with me. I can’t be her mate.”
Esther was staring intently at him now, with a look so disconcerting it had him shuffle his feet anxiously. Not his normal reaction to anything, far less news of this magnitude. The old woman broke eye contact, turning to stare out of the window for a moment, before returning her gaze to him.
The Witch inclined her head. “I can understand your reasoning; however, you realize that for you to find a mate and then let that mate go...for whatever reason...the chances of you finding another are, remote, if not impossible. Are you willing to throw that away? Are you willing to live alone, Ronan, for eternity?”
His breath caught in his throat. Ronan knew the Witch was speaking the truth. Vampires had a hard enough time of finding a true mate. For him to pass up his chance to be with Starr truly meant he would be forever alone. That prospect didn’t sit well with him, but he would do it, for her, for Starr. He wouldn’t tie her down to him, with no prospect of her ever having children. He refused to do that to her. He nodded his head once and felt as if his heart actually ached. His mind was made up and he wouldn’t change it, no matter how he felt.
Esther sighed heavily. “So be it, but I am not convinced you have a choice in the matter.”
Ronan was just about to argue when Esther got up, moving quickly to the door, where she unlocked and opened it before turning back to face him. Her look was inscrutable as she nodded once then left.
He seemed to be stuck in place and it took him a moment before he could make his legs work, to go lock and chain the door again. His thoughts were tumbling around in his brain and he needed something to take his mind off w
hat Esther had said...and his decision.
Ronan went to his small gym, stripping off his weapons and top half, leaving only his combat pants on, as he attacked every piece of equipment he had. He had no idea how long he worked out, sweat was dripping freely from his body as he continued on. Ronan knew if he stopped he would have to think, about Starr, and he just couldn’t do that. Not yet anyway.
*****
Starr woke up far too soon, she was still tired, but the dreams she was having tore her from her slumber. She awoke hot, bothered, breathless and downright horny. She threw the covers off and went for a shower, keeping the temperature low, almost cold, to try and rid herself of all the scenes that were still playing in her head.
After quite some time in the cool water she started to shiver and thought she better get out. Dragons didn’t like the cold. Toweling off quickly, she looked through the items in the box, which she had brought through to her room earlier. There were some items of underwear and some casual clothes, all her size, apart from the bra that lay at the bottom, there was no way it would fit her. She pulled on a pair of panties then jeans, tugging on a sleeveless vest top without a bra.
The small bag that held toiletries also had a brush, which she used to tease out the knots that her restless sleep had given her. She finally untangled her hair and the brush ran through freely. Her long, black, locks cascaded down her back, still wet, clinging in parts to her back. Starr gave it one last brush through then headed out of her bedroom, wanting to triple check the door was still locked, and to see if Ronan had kept his word.
The door was as she had left it, locked and chained, but Ronan wasn’t in the living area or the kitchen. Frowning, Starr used her acute hearing and heard what sounded like a fight. She could clearly hear thuds against something hard and grunts, presumably from Ronan, and whomever he was fighting. Her heart rate shot up and she ran, using her Dragon speed, towards the sounds.
Starr rushed through a doorway and skidded to a stop. Her face flushed with embarrassment at the sight before her. Ronan wasn’t fighting, he was training, using one of those large, hanging, punchbags. He was knocking hell out of the bag, its leather was burst in several places, its stuffing was falling onto the floor. She stared wide eyed as he continued, oblivious to the damage he was doing...and to her presence.
Starr stared, taking in his sweat soaked body, his top half naked so she had a clear view of his muscles working as he punched and punched the bag. She noticed a tribal tattoo on his left upper arm, winding its way up and over his shoulder, the ink rippling as he moved. She wondered what his muscles would feel like under her fingertips, beneath her tongue. A gasp escaped her before she could stop it and that’s when Ronan became aware she was there.
He stopped mid-punch and turned quickly, using his right forearm to wipe the sweat that was dripping into his eyes. Those eyes locked on hers and for a split second she saw them smile, before they changed. The change had her stomach clench, as she saw a cold, detached, look come over his features.
‘What the hell?’ she thought as he turned to continue punching the bag. Her heart lurched, her stomach roiled, as she turned and ran from the room.
She was an idiot! A complete and utter fool! How could she have ever thought he was interested in her? He was like a Greek god and she was, well, she was...lanky, too tall, with slim hips, small breasts...no womanly curves. Of course he wouldn’t be interested in her. Even if she had a passable face, and guys had said she was pretty, her eyes especially attracted comments. Although, quite a few times, it had resulted in a rather nasty argument whenever some guys persisted in insisting she must wear colored contacts.
As she reached the lounge area she stopped, breathing hard, as she made her way to the bar. Starr grabbed the first bottle that came to hand, poured a large measure, then knocked it back in one. This only resulted in a coughing fit as the liquid burned down her throat. After she stopped coughing she managed to get herself under control. So, Ronan, didn’t quite feel the same as she did, so what. She had been on her own for so long it would make no difference to continue. She’d suck it up and get on with her life.
At least here she was safe. She could play cool ‘n calm, of course she could, she told herself half halfheartedly.
Ronan was still in the room he had fitted out as a gym, so she took the time to poke around. She was surprised to see a large bookshelf at the far end of the bar, stocked full of books of every genre, age, type. She used to love to read, only stopping after her brother was taken. She needed to be on alert at all times. If she was engrossed in a book she would’ve been caught long ago.
Starr’s fingers ran over the spines of several books as she tried to decide which one to read. An old classic or a new romance? Choices, choices, she wasn’t sure and was astonished that those types of books would even be there. She couldn’t see the large Vampire sitting reading a romance.
A thought passed through her–maybe those books were a girlfriend’s. Her stomach clenched and her hand jumped away from the romance as if it were a stick of dynamite. Her hand wandered again and she grabbed a newish thriller, turned and carried it to the leather recliner set in front of the window.
Sitting down, pulling her legs up, opening the book, she started to read...totally getting lost in the story.
*****
That was where Ronan found her several hours later, after he had beaten his punch bag so severely that it now lay in tatters in his gym. He had taken a shower in the bath attached to the gym, pulling on a pair of spare jogging pants he had lying around in the room. He sensed her before he saw her, she was totally unaware that he was there. Ronan watched as she nibbled her lip, her eyes widening then her head nodding slightly as she read, curled up in his chair.
Ronan’s jaw clenched tightly at the sight, she seemed so...perfect...in his space. He could even see himself lying back with her curled up on top of him as she read. It was a sight he knew wouldn’t happen, couldn’t happen, and he clenched his jaw tighter.
It took him a few minutes to regain control and then he coughed, making Starr jump almost right off the chair. Her head spun around and found him watching her, a small smile crept onto her face.
Starr seemed to steel herself before she spoke. “Hi, you killed the bag yet, Fang?”
Ronan laughed, not expecting her to make fun of him in such a way. When he stopped, she was still watching him, wary, as if he was a wild animal she wasn’t sure of. Maybe he was.
“Yeah, I kinda did. I’ll need a new one. Are you okay? Hungry?” Ronan’s body had relaxed slightly, after the laughter broke the tension in his body, and his tone was friendly, but not overly so.
Starr nodded. “Yes, I’m starving actually, what do you have?”
Ronan realized he would need to get some groceries delivered, not just the basics that Esther got sent up earlier. “There’s bread, some stuff for sandwiches, bacon, eggs, milk...”
Starr stood up. “I’ll make an omelet, that’s fine for now.”
Starr walked through to the kitchen and he followed, noting she didn’t have a bra on underneath her top. Ronan was certain he could make out the small buds of her nipples straining against the material of her vest. His stomach clenched again and he almost snarled aloud.
Ronan needed some space, he had to get out of the apartment, before he did something he knew he would regret. He left Starr in the kitchen and went to his own room, getting dressed quickly before returning. The smell of the food met him and he stopped at the door, not entering the area that Starr occupied.
“I’m going to go get some supplies and I have some work things I need to check on. Esther has already put all the wards ‘n stuff up so you are perfectly safe. I won’t be long.” Ronan didn’t give her the chance to argue, he turned and got out of there as quick as he could.
He had only taken two steps down the hall towards the elevator when he heard the lock and chain being engaged on the door.
*****
Starr was just about to r
eact to Ronan’s words, when she realized he no longer stood in the doorway. He had moved so fast that she had no time to tell him ‘No, don’t leave me alone’ her words dying on her lips as fear gnawed at her belly.
She knew that Esther had placed spells and wards, but she felt very vulnerable indoors, always had. Starr stayed outside more often than not, or at least in a building that had easy exits in case of emergency. She couldn’t transform while in the apartment–it would destroy it if she did. So, her heart hammered, her breathing increased, and she ran and locked and chained the door.
Futile, she knew, if a Vampire wanted through the door, they would do so easily. She knew that, her brain just wouldn’t let her to leave the door unlocked though. Starr leaned against the wood, trying to get her breathing back under control. What the hell was wrong with him? Hot and cold, that’s the way he had been since they met. She had no idea what was going on with him...or herself.
She did know that she had the stirrings of feelings for him deep down inside her. Shoot! She would need to stop all this nonsense and get a grip. She had no time to indulge in stupid fantasies. She had to just forget about him and try and survive...as usual.
Her nose alerted her to a pungent odor–her omelet was burning! She darted towards the kitchen, hoping to save it, but the omlet was beyond salvation. Starr had to throw it out and start again. She managed to cook this one without any mishaps and sat at the counter eating slowly. Her appetite now gone, but knowing she had to eat.
Starr knew she had been neglecting her health, not eating properly. Determined to change that now, she would eat, get stronger, take out any hunters that threatened her and maybe, possibly, be able to lead some kind of a normal life.
That’s what she hoped, prayed, wished for as she ate her omelet.
Chapter 9
The next few days ran into a week, then two. Every single day torture for Ronan. Being in such close proximity to Starr was starting to take its toll! He was cranky, bad tempered and downright rude at times. Starr seemed to mirror his mood as she now only referred to him as bloodsucker. On occasion, when she seemed to be in a better mood, she would use Fang. Whenever she did his reaction was instant and he would have to leave the room, sometimes the apartment, before he acted on his feelings. He was strung so tight he didn’t know how long it would be before he snapped.
The Dragon and the Vampire Page 8