by L. E. Wilson
Nik looked at him sideways, but refused to rise to the bait.
Aiden smirked to himself and walked over to his cell phone. “I’ll give Bill a holler and see if things are ready.”
“Who’s Bill?” Emma asked as Nik brought her oatmeal to her. She smiled at him in thanks, but he refused to look at her, just set down her bowl and walked away. He heard her sigh, then pick up her spoon and take a bite.
“Bill is a friend of ours,” Aiden told her as he plopped down in his office chair. “A human friend. He’s going to be our pilot.”
“And you trust him? I mean, I would imagine it must be frightening to have your lives in the hands of a human.”
“Yes, yes, terrifying…Bill! Aiden. How are we doing out there? Mm hmm. Good! One hour. We’re in the hanger. See you then.” Turning his chair around to face them, he informed Nik, “We’ll be ready in one hour. He’s just fueling up. I think I’m going to go find a meal for myself. I’m feeling a bit peckish.”
Grinning nefariously at Emma, who had stopped eating with the spoon midway to her mouth; he pulled on his boots and entered the code to unlock the RV. With a casual wave, he shut the door behind him with a bang.
Carefully setting her spoon back into the bowl, she asked, “When he says he’s going to find dinner, he means…a human dinner?”
“He’s a vampire, Em.” Nik re-locked the door and came over to sit across from her. “Don’t look at me like that. He won’t hurt anyone. Aiden’s prey of choice is usually a pretty little female who is more than happy to give him what he wants.”
She looked slightly relieved, but not completely convinced. “But don’t you all worry that someone will say something and your secret will be out?”
“Won’t happen. He erases their memory before he leaves them.” He didn’t mention that he only erased the feeding part, not the sex that inevitably came with it. Aiden liked to be remembered as the sex god he thought he was, at least until the female got too clingy.
Feeding and sex went hand in hand for vampires; it was hard to do one and not the other, as Nik’s little performance last night proved.
Thinking of the out of control lust that had overcome him in her kitchen, and the revelation afterwards, had Nik rubbing his palms restlessly up and down his thighs.
“You can do that? Erase memories?” At his nod, she asked him weakly, “Are you going to erase mine when you’re done with me?’
His eyes traveled over her. She had no makeup on, but her hazel-green eyes shone brightly from under dark lashes, and her strawberry hair was curling chaotically around her face. As he watched, a faint blush bloomed on her cheeks at his close perusal of her, and she lowered her gaze, hiding her eyes from him. She was absolutely lovely.
He didn’t mean to say it, he really didn’t. But it came out anyway. “I don’t think I’ll ever be done with you Emma.”
At his softly spoken words, her gaze flew back up and crashed with his across the small space of the vehicle. They stayed like that, the look between them saying more than words ever could, until Emma finally broke the connection by clearing her throat and looking away.
Getting up, she took her bowl to the sink and washed it, putting it back up into the cabinet. “Should I pack up some of this stuff to bring with us…? Nik?”
Nik ran his hands through his hair, tugging at it with both hands. What the fuck had made him say that out loud? He really needed to chill the fuck out with this bonded shit. He was never going to do anything about these feelings he had for her. It wasn’t fair of him to lead her on. Not even a little bit.
What the hell makes me think she’d even want to be with me anyway?
Taking a deep breath, he psyched himself up to harden his resolve against her. He shouldn’t even like her. Her sister was keeping his brother hostage. Well, not directly, but there was no way in hell Leeha would be able to hold him without her help.
Maybe Emma was just a really good actress. Maybe she knew about this all along. Maybe it was all a big plot to capture all of them. He was grasping at straws, he knew, but he needed to find something that would help him battle this obsession with her.
All of this ran through his head within just a few seconds as he stared at the table in front of him.
He realized she was asking him something. “What,” he snapped.
Visibly startled by the tone of his voice, Emma hesitantly asked him, “I asked if I should pack up some of the food to bring along with us, or is there stuff on the plane?”
“Oh. Um. Yeah, I don’t know. It would probably be a good idea.” He went over to help her, removing her recycled bag from where he’d stashed it in a drawer. “We probably won’t be able to fit it all. What would you like to bring?”
“Just some soup, bread…and a pear. Would you mind grabbing the tea? I can’t reach it.”
Stepping up behind her he reached over her head to grab the tea and agave sweetener for her. He heard her breath catch in her throat as he pressed the length of his body against her back.
Putting the items in the bag, he immediately backed off and leaned back against the opposite counter.
She was still for a moment, and then continued loading up her bag. “What exactly did you mean before, when you said that you’d never be done with me?”
He gave her nothing but a whole lot of silence in answer to her question. No way in hell he was answering that. Hanging his head, he let his hair hide his features as he stared at the floor, trying to think of a way to change the subject.
She repeated the question. “Nik. What did you mean?”
Raising his head, his blue eyes were icy. “Nothing. I didn’t mean anything.”
He felt like a bastard as he saw doubt, confusion, and finally self-loathing pass over her face along with a myriad of other emotions.
“Are you not affected by me at all?” she asked softly.
The despondency in her voice was all it took to break down his resistance. Her anger he could deal with. Her standoffishness he could deal with. But knowing he was causing her pain, of any sort? He could not deal with that.
Grabbing her hand, he slammed it onto his aching erection. The constant, fucking painful erection he had whenever he was within six feet of her. Groaning aloud at the feel of her touching him even through his jeans, he hissed, “Does this feel like I’m not affected by you Emma? Does it?”
Holding her hand there with his own, he braced himself on the cabinet behind her with his other arm and curled his hips forward, rubbing himself up and down her palm. His head fell forward until his forehead rested on her hair and he drew a ragged breath. Her answering arousal filled his nose until there was nothing else. Her heart was pounding as hard as his, and he would swear he could hear her blood rushing through her veins.
His fangs slammed down as he remembered the taste of her, in spite of the fact that he’d just fed. He needed to stop this, before he was unable to. Removing his hand from atop hers, he made to back away, but Emma grabbed him around the waist and pulled him back towards her while that other hand, oh yeah, that other hand, rubbed down his cock to his balls. His head fell back on a gasp as she gently squeezed them.
Holy shit. “Sweetheart, we need to stop.”
“I don’t want to stop,” she said huskily. Moving both hands to the front of his jeans, she undid the button and grasped the zipper with shaking hands, finally managing to get it down. As she slid her hands under the waistband along his hips to push them down, Nik grabbed her wrists, effectively halting her progress. With a sound of frustration, she looked up to glowing silver eyes. His face was tight and his lips were pulled back showing fully extended fangs.
He gritted out, “We have to stop. Now. Or I’m going to bend you over that counter and fuck you - hard.”
Instead of having the effect he was hoping for, his words brought on a fresh surge of the scent of her sex. He felt her trembling, and knew she’d be soaking wet for him. He ached to touch her there, to feel her desire for him. A deep growl ros
e up from low in his throat at the thought.
Leaning forward, she put her nose to his chest. Inhaling him deeply, she whispered, “Nikulas. Please.”
He was losing his inner battle. She was like a soft, curvy 12 gauge, blowing away all of his arguments. Her whispered plea screamed at him to take her. Take her, and make her his, and never let her go.
Releasing her wrists, he wrapped his arms around her head and shoulders, pulling her to him, struggling with the war raging within him between his desire and his fear. He heard her soft exhale as she slid her arms around his waist, her slender arms pulling him tighter to her.
A loud pounding at the door made them both jump guiltily away from each other.
“Nik! Let me in!” Aiden shouted from outside.
Back in their own corners, they stared at each other, catching their breath.
Aiden pounded on the door again, “Come on! Open up! The plane is ready.”
Giving Emma a look of betrayal she couldn’t understand, he strode over and entered the code to let Aiden in.
Emma turned around and put her back to the door. Closing the cabinet, she scampered off towards the bedroom just as Aiden climbed up the steps to come inside.
“Hallo you two! What’s going…”? He stopped as he lifted his nose and got a good whiff of the lingering scents in the air. “Ahhhh…” Smiling from ear to ear, he watched Emma hurrying to the back and then turned to Nik, staring pointedly at his opened pants.
“Interrupt something, did I?” His grin widened as Nik stormed off to the bathroom without a word. The click of the lock echoed through the interior right before the shower came on.
Aiden looked around at the suddenly empty space. “Was it something I said?”
Turning on the water as hot as he could stand it, Nik yanked his shirt over his head and threw it on the floor. Grabbing the waistband of his pants and boxer briefs together, he let out a hiss as the material slid over his still raging erection. It sprang free, hanging heavily at the juncture of his hips as he kicked off his pants and underwear and got into the shower stall. He moaned aloud as the spray of water hit him, his abs tightening and his cock kicking up in response. He needed some relief from this, or he was never going to make it to Seattle.
Palming his thick length, he slid his hand up and down along the shaft, slowly at first, the water making it slick, squeezing the head as he came to the top. He thought of Emma’s small hand covering him, and his hips started pumping faster of their own accord, his grip tightening as he imagined it was her holding him. His breathing grew harsh and his heart pounded loudly in his chest.
Closing his eyes, he remembered the feel of her perfect little ass in his palm, her breasts pressed against his ribs as he kissed her the first time. He remembered sinking his fangs into her lip, her blood on his tongue…
Out of his mind with lust for her, he turned his head and sank his fangs into his own arm, feeding from himself. Bracing that arm against the wall as he continued to drink, he felt his balls tighten and his cock start to pulse in his hand as he came almost violently, exploding onto the wall in front of him as his whole body surged forward, instinctively looking for his witch.
Biting down harder on his arm to smother the yell that erupted from his chest, he rode out his orgasm for long minutes, until finally, with a few last strokes, he released himself. Removing his fangs from his arm, he licked the wound closed and dropped his head as he steadied himself against the side of the stall.
He stayed as he was for a long moment, eyes closed, powerful arms hanging limply at his sides, hot water pounding on his hanging head, trying to catch his breath.
Eventually, he straightened up and wiped the water out of his eyes. Looking down his ridged stomach to his still-hard cock, he came to the realization that he was fighting a losing battle.
He’d hoped that taking care of it himself would at least release some tension, and it had. A bit.
Yet, it didn’t change anything. He still wanted Emma. Every cell in his body craved her. He wanted all of her. Completely. And it pissed him off because this was a distraction he did not need right now.
Speaking of which, he had a plane to catch. Grabbing the shampoo, he scrubbed his head and body clean and quickly rinsed off, then shut off the water. He rubbed himself nearly raw with the towel, and threw on some running pants and a T-shirt, then shook the water from his hair.
Grabbing his stuff, he went out into the RV to find Emma and Aiden already gone. Gritting his teeth at the idea of them alone together, he shoved everything into his travel bag, slipped on his sneakers, and slammed out of the RV, not even bothering to lock it behind him.
Chapter Fifteen
Emma walked out to the runway alongside Aiden towards the small, private jet they would be taking to Seattle. The night air was chilly, but refreshing, and helped clear her head.
He had his duffle bag slung over one shoulder and was carrying her small suitcase in the other hand. Emma brought along her backpack and bag of food. Glancing sideways at her companion, she couldn’t keep from asking sarcastically, “So, did you find someone to eat?”
Aiden raised his eyebrows, “Are you jealous, luv?”
“No!” She shuddered slightly as he chuckled.
“Actually, I did find quite a delectable young flight attendant…” Sneaking a peak at Emma, who had a sudden fascination with the nonexistent scenery, he elaborated, “A voluptuous brunette, with juicy arteries and huge tits…”
“Ug! Never mind!” If her hands had been free she would’ve slapped them over her ears. Since that wasn’t an option, she stepped farther away from him and walked faster as he made gross smacking noises at her with his lips.
Where the hell was Nikulas?
Aiden easily caught up to her. “Seriously, luv, do you really think I eat people? I’m not Hannibal Lector, though we do share the same hilarious wit, don’t you think? I guess you really don’t know me well enough yet, but no worries! We’ll have plenty of time for that on the plane ride! By the time we reach Seattle, we’ll be best mates, you and I.” Scooting up in front of her, he walked backwards, his eyes sparkling at the prospect of a new friend.
Rolling her eyes, Emma looked back over her shoulder to see Nik following them at an easy run.
Oh, Thank God.
Swiveling her head back around, she ran smack into Aiden, who had come to a dead stop, and was staring at her with a hurt look on his face. “Oh! Sorry!” She exclaimed. “I didn’t realize you’d stopped. Directly in front of me.”
Tilting his head with a sad frown, he asked, “You really don’t want to be my friend, Emma?”
Are you kidding me? “Um. I didn’t say that, Aiden.”
“But you rolled your eyes at me,” he declared. “I saw you.”
“Oh, nooo…no…I was just wondering what was taking Nik so long.” She silently begged that the vampire in question hurry it the hell up. She should’ve waited for him instead of being so anxious to get out of that damn RV.
A breathtaking smile lit up Aiden’s face. It really was too bad he was a total nut job.
“Oh! He’s on his way. I see him coming now.” He turned around and started walking again. “Come along then.”
Dragging her feet, she followed behind him, glancing back once more to reassure herself that Nik had almost caught up. Honestly, he made her a bit nervous, this one.
Chapter Sixteen
The first half of the plane ride to Seattle was uneventful, other than Aiden’s insistent overtures of friendship to Emma, which consisted of him sitting in the luxury seat facing her, and intermittently regaling her with stories of his riskiest sexual exploits and trying to convince her that she is, indeed, a witch.
Around his tenth or eleventh try to goad her “witchy side” into appearing, her head fell wearily back onto the headrest and she released a groan of frustration. “Aiden! I’m telling you for the last time, I am NOT a witch! I can’t see the future! I can’t control the weather, or fire…or anythin
g! And even if I could, which I can’t, but even if I could, I shouldn’t be trying to do any of that while forty thousand feet in the air!!”
“So you’re telling me that nothing unusual ever happens when you’re around?” he insisted.
“That has nothing to do with anything…” she began.
“Just try,” he insisted, as she threw up her hands angrily.
They both turned to Nik, who, up until now, had been sitting quietly across the aisle keeping a wary eye on the two of them.
“Would you please tell her that she is a witch?”
“Would you please tell him I am NOT a witch?”
Talking over each other, they returned to arguing amongst themselves.
“I am not!”
“You are!”
Nik’s patience, both with the arguing and the monopolizing of Emma’s attention, had come to an end. “Enough!” he roared.
They were acting like two recalcitrant children. The dirty looks they were now shooting at each other reiterating that fact. And didn’t that just piss him off. “I am NOT the parent here, goddammit!” he shouted to the plane in general.
“Of course you’re not the parent, mate,” Aiden scoffed. “That would just be silly, as Luukas is the Master Vampire.” Cocking his head to the side, he regarded his friend’s grumpy countenance. “Nik, there’s something eating at you. You just haven’t been yourself since you brought Emma here aboard.” Snapping his fingers, he exclaimed, “I know! Would it help if we talked about it?”
Nik widened his eyes at Aiden, and with a pointed glance towards Emma, who was busy trying to look as disinterested as possible, told him, “No. It most certainly would not help to talk about it at this moment.”
Sitting back in his seat, Aiden crossed his legs and steepled his fingers under his chin. “I disagree. I think it would help immensely to get a certain something off your chest, so to speak.”
He was going to kill his best friend. He really was. Slowly. And so very painfully. “I’m warning you, Aid…Shut. Up.”