by Amy Robyn
“Are you…are you...a…a vampire?” She asks timidly. How would she know what a vampire is? She curses and then goes into a defensive position. She is getting ready to attack me, and that really shouldn’t be turning me on but my cock jerks as I see her fierce expression.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” I tell her, and it’s my turn to put my hands up in a gesture of harmlessness. I am far from harmless, but she will never see that side of me. With her, she will only get gentleness. Unless she needs a spanking and she might before the night is up.
“Why should I believe you. Vampires are soulless creatures who live for one thing…blood.” She says vehemently.
“Where did you hear that shit from?” I must ask because it sounds like what we used to hear in days past when they burned witches at the stake and occasionally a vampire. It also sounds like the teachings of a hunter. Have hunters infiltrated the U.S military? I sure as shit hope not. Though after what the vampire just said, it sounds like they very well could have. If that is true, we are all fucked.
Her lips tighten, and I know without a doubt that I’m training this group to fight vampires. I curse under my breath before I rush her. My mate is fast, and she knows where to hit for maximum effect. The problem is that she will never be as fast as a vampire nor will she ever be strong enough to inflict any damage. I side step her easily and grab her around the middle, making sure her arms are pinned as well. She curses, and I just hold her against me. She tries to kick her legs out, but I quickly catch them and pin them between my legs. Her head swings back and connects with my chin. It hurts and for a second my eyes water, but I know it probably hurt her more than it hurt me.
“Stop it now,” I shout and she freezes and then her body sags as a whimper escapes her mouth.
“I will not have you hurting yourself. You have no idea what you mean to me.” I scold her.
“I can tell you right now that everything you have heard about vampires is wrong.” I kiss the top of her head because I need to let her know that she means everything to me.
“We are neither soulless or evil. Yes, we need blood to survive, but we don’t kill. Hell, we drink bagged blood these days.” I tell her, and she looks up at me with her beautiful green eyes. She looks frightened and hurt. The frightened part I can handle more than the hurt.
“Why would they send us to you for training? Better yet, why are you with the military?” She asks, and I notice her heart is still racing as the vein on the side of her neck calls to me. I ignore my needs.
“I have been fighting wars and training men for centuries. I will always help humans because I was given a gift that should be used to help others. I also like the discipline the army requires. I didn’t have that kind of human life, and I found that I needed it after that life ended.” I tell her honestly.
“As to why they sent you to me, is because I’m the best. I have trained a lot of men, and they have gone on to do extraordinary things. I also think the military has been infiltrated by hunters. Hunters have been hunting us for as long as we have existed. They were religious zealots that believed they needed to destroy us for the good of humanity.” I pause for a moment.
“I think I have been discovered by your General as well. I didn’t leave and change my name soon enough.” I tell her, and I see her startled gasp. I know I have told her enough to peak her interest.
“I will let you go as long as you promise not to attack me again. I will never hurt you, but I don’t want you hurting yourself in your attempts to hurt me. Will you behave?” I ask, and she slowly relaxes more.
“I won’t attack you.” She says, and I slowly release her.
“Let’s go inside, and I will answer any questions you might have,” I tell her, and she starts laughing.
“Why in the hell would I go inside your house?” I step closer to her.
“Because I know and trust William, but I don’t know or trust the vampire he sent. I would like to have this discussion privately. Vampires can hear a whisper from miles away if they’re concentrating.” I look down at her and see her shoulders sag as she makes her decision.
“Fine.” She growls. She is sexy as fuck when she’s mad. I might need to piss her off more often just to see this side of her. Don’t get me wrong, I love the soft compliant side I have seen from her as well, but the fire I see in her eyes now is just as sexy. Who am I kidding, everything she does is sexy.
I open the door for her once I dig my keys out of my pocket. She steps over the threshold and stares around the open living room. She gasps and turns in a circle taking everything in. I look around to see what she sees even though I know the layout like the back of my hand. The living room is open with a vaulted ceiling. A large fireplace takes up one side of the room with a couch in front of it. On the wall opposite of it, there is a large screen television on the wall and a large couch and chairs sprawled out below it. She was probably expecting a cave or something. I grunt.
“Ask me anything,” I say as I take a seat on the couch in front of the fireplace. Paige joins me though she sits clear on the other end of it. I will allow the space for now if it makes her feel more comfortable.
“Did you choose to become a vampire?” She asks as she looks at me though she isn’t making eye contact. Her eyes are on my forehead instead. Strange.
“Yes and no. I was asked if I wanted to live. I was dying, and I said yes. I thought it was a strange question. Of course, I wanted to live. Who really wants to die when given a choice?” I shrug my shoulders, and she nods her head still looking at my forehead. What is with that?
“Have you ever killed anyone?” She asks, and I let out a long breath.
“I have been in many wars. Have you met anyone who has been in a war that hasn’t?” She shakes her head.
“That’s not what I meant. Have you killed someone by draining them of blood or out of anger?” She asks, and I swallow hard.
“I killed the man who took my human life. He had also killed one of the women I was sworn to protect. Humans have monsters too you know. They can come in all forms. I have also killed hunters who dared to try and kill me and my kind for the sole purpose of the fact that we exist.” I say with indignation.
“I never have nor will I ever kill an innocent. I have never drained anyone of blood. For one, there is more blood in the human body than one vampire could consume and two, I have too much respect for human life. Why do you think I fight for them?” I say and her gaze finally meets mine but for only a second before moving back up to my forehead.
“Can you read minds and control people?” She asks, and I groan. There in lies the problem and why she won’t meet my eyes. She fears I will try and control her.
“Yes, but I don’t. I only have when under attack, and even then, it can be difficult. I can’t read or control you so you can stop staring at my forehead.” Her eyes meet mine again.
“Why am I different?” She asks, and I sigh. I close my eyes and run my hand through my short hair.
“Because you’re my mate,” I tell her, and she takes a deep breath.
“What does that mean?” She stares at me now, and I hear her heart rate pick up, but I do not scent her fear anymore.
“It means that you are the one woman I will never be able to control or read. You are the woman who has my heart beating again. You are the only woman in the world I could have children with and have all the things I thought I would never have. You are the woman that can ruin me if you choose to because without you I would die.” She gasps as I talk.
“Why?” She chokes out.
“Once a vampire meets his mate, he will no longer be able to ingest any blood but their mate’s,” I tell her, and she shakes her head.
“What if I can’t be that for you? What if I never allow you to feed on me?” She says, and I gaze into her beautiful eyes.
“Then I die,” I tell her honestly. She shakes her head again as though it will change my answer.
“Does that mean you’ll keep me, prisone
r, here?” She looks around; I’m sure looking for an escape.
“I would never hold you against your will. I would sooner die than take your choice away from you.” I tell her as my breathing picks up slightly at the thought of anyone trapping this beautiful creature even me. I would sooner destroy myself than ever harm her in any way.
“You mean that don’t you.” She asks and swallows hard again.
“I will never harm you or make you do anything you don’t want to do. If you come to me, it is your choice and your choice alone.” I tell her. She presses the heels of her hands against her eyes.
“I’m not sure what to think about all of this.” She finally looks up at me.
“How many mates have you had?” She asks, and her little fists clench in her lap.
“A vampire only ever has one mate. It took me centuries to find mine.” I say as I take her hand and open it. I kiss her palm.
“A vampire can’t even feel desire after he or she is changed until that vampire finds his or her mate,” Her eyes grow wide.
“I don’t understand. Everyone can feel desire.” I shake my head at her.
“A vampire does not have a beating heart. Therefore, blood doesn’t flow down there, if you know what I mean. Finding a mate starts the vampire’s heart beating again.” Her eyes widen again and a cute little O forms on her lips.
“Soooo…you haven’t had sex for centuries?” She asks incredulously as though the idea of a grown man not having sex is unfeasible.
“I have never had sex.” She gasps and then starts laughing. I scowl at her. How could she think that was funny?
“Now I know you’re bullshitting me. You made me cum so quickly as though you were an expert.” She must have realized what she said and blushes redder than I have ever seen.
“I worked in a brothel as a protector of the women. I never slept with any of them but they sure talked about what they liked, and I was a good listener.” I hate talking about that time in my life. It reminds me of what I gave up when I became a vampire. Though, now it doesn’t have the power to hurt me as much as it used to because I have a chance at that life now. She may not know it, but she is the best gift I have ever been given. She is giving me a chance to have a normal life. Well, as normal as I can have.
“You’re serious?” She says as she looks at me skeptically. She smiles at me, and some calm settles over me. If she’s smiling, that’s a good thing, right?
“Dead serious,” I say, and the smile disappears. Damn it.
“Dead.” She says under her breath. I take her hand and place it over my heart.
“Not anymore,” I tell her as I press her hand against my beating heart, willing her to feel how very much alive I am now.
“I was never really living before. I only started living when I saw you the first time. My heart started beating when I heard your voice. My body came alive with the first scent of you. You are the reason I breathe.” Literally. I think to myself. She is the very breath I take.
“My mission.” Her eyes widen, and not for the first time; I’m curious about what she is being trained to do. Then, I remember what the vampire said earlier. I hope she isn’t a part of that.
“The man who was here earlier mentioned that some of your people are being attacked by military units.” She says though it sounds more like she’s talking to herself than to me.
“Yes.” I tilt my head curiously at her. Her eyebrows pull together, and an adorable wrinkle appears between them.
“You need to get him back over here. We need to find out what’s happening. Do you trust the man who sent him?” She asks, and I think about William, and all that we have been through and the answer is simple. He risked his life to save mine once when the planes collided with the building I was in. I was pinned under the building as fuel burned hot around me. I would have died. Yes, I trust William with my life, and I owe him a life debt.
“Yes,” I tell her. She stands up and starts pacing. I watch her with fascination as she walks back and forth with her brows still pinched together. She is glorious.
“You need to get in contact with him.” She turns and looks at me. I lift a brow in her direction.
“Does this mean you’re not afraid of me anymore? Does this mean you’re willing to help us blood sucking, soulless fiends?” She blushes and turns away from me.
“If it were you who just heard someone you were growing to care about is not even human, what would you think?” Her voice trembles and I do not like that she’s upset.
“I would probably react the same way.” I stand up and wrap my arms around her. I turn her, so she’s facing me and lift her chin with my finger.
“All that matters are that you still care about me. Tell me you still care about me.” I ask as I look down into her eyes.
“I care about you. I’m scared of what you can do, but I know you won’t hurt me.” Thank fuck. I shudder as her words penetrate my body.
“Thank you,” I whisper against her head as I lightly kiss the top of it.
“You need to get in contact with your friend. I have a very bad feeling about what we’re being trained to do. I need to hear what happened to them.” She says, and I am shocked that she said even this much. She was practically born into the military, and still, she divulged as much as she has. It’s drilled into every elite soldier that you never divulge information about missions. I give her one more, soft kiss this time to the side of her neck. She shivers but doesn’t move away. Progress. I step away from her and reach for my phone. She sits back down as I dial a number I have not used in many years. I hope he hasn’t changed his number.
“Gabriel.” Gabriel answers and I chuckle. Gabriel has always been a stoic mother fucker, and I see that hasn’t changed.
“It’s Isaac. Is William available?” I ask, and Gabriel sighs through the line.
“You didn’t kill Thomas, did you? We have grown very fond of him.” Gabriel says in his typical expressionless voice.
“No, I sent him away, and I need to know if you guys can contact him and have him return,” I say, and Gabriel chuckles. I pull the phone from my ear and stare down at it. I have never heard Gabriel laugh. What the fuck is going on?
“I will call Thomas. Would you still like to talk to William? He just stepped into the room. Our mates are baking cookies, and he’s never far from his mate these days.” Their mates? Things are changing for all of us, it seems.
“Congratulations. Yes, I would still like to speak to him. Please contact Thomas I would like him here as soon as possible.” Gabriel chuckles again. The sound is so foreign to me.
“Always giving the orders. Here’s William.” The phone is shuffled around, and I hear women’s voices in the background.
“Isaac. Please tell me Thomas has reached you and he’s well.” William says. He always sounds so formal. He is the oldest amongst us though I am probably a close second.
“Yes, Thomas is fine. I sent him away. I didn’t like him close to my mate. I have Gabriel sending him back to me now.” I tell him. It’s good to hear my old friend’s voice though I wish it were for a different reason.
“Congratulations. It seems to be going around with us older vampires.” He says, and I can practically hear the smile in his voice.
“Don’t you find that odd that we’re all finding our mates at the same time as a new threat arises?” I ask him because he knows I do not believe in coincidences. There must be a reason we would find our mates now. Everyone knows that a mate’s blood makes you more powerful. With all of us older vampires, the most powerful of our kind, finding our mates, it makes me wonder what threat we are looking at. I believe we are being given this blessing so we can destroy our enemies.
“Michael and I were just discussing this yesterday. I do believe something is coming and we all need to be prepared. Would you be willing to come to Northridge?” William asks, and I look over at Paige who is watching me carefully.
“My mate will make that decision for us. I will leave i
t up to her. She is supposed to be going on a mission soon. I think your friend Thomas can fill in the blanks for us. I will let you know one way or another soon.” William sighs as I finish talking.
“We could use your help, my friend. We have three pregnant mates right now, and we have been attacked by a well-trained military unit.” He says, and I run a hand down my face. I would be going insane if it were my mate and she was pregnant.
“I understand. I will be in touch.” I hang the phone up and turn to Paige. My mate is truly beautiful as she bites into her full bottom lip. Her eyes are wide and assessing.
“You mean it, don’t you?” She asks, and I pull her into my arms.
“Every word I have said is true,” I tell her, and she lays her head on my chest, right over my heart that beats just for her.
“You’re the reason my heart beats. It beats only for you now.” I tell her, and she nuzzles into my chest. Her warmth seeps into me making my heart beat even faster. She lifts her head and pulls my head down to hers.
“Kiss me. Convince me that this is all real and I’m not about to wake up in my bed alone.” She says, and I cover her mouth with mine. I moan deep in my throat because I honestly thought I was about to lose her. I was worried that she was finding out too soon before she could start to love me. She pulls back, and her swollen lips beckon me to consume her, take her in all the ways I have dreamed of doing.
“If you can only drink my blood then how have you been feeding?” She asks, and again that wrinkle appears between her eyes. I run my thumb over it as I answer her question.
“I have had bagged blood, but I will no longer be able to ingest it now since this evening. I accidentally nicked your lip while we kiss and one drop was all it took. Now, I will no longer tolerate any other blood.” I tell her.
“I remember feeling a sting, but it went away quickly.” She takes my hand and moves it back to her hip so she can see my face again.
“My saliva will heal small cuts or puncture wounds.” She laughs softly.