Domiel

by McClure, Dawn

  Lying prone, her body stilled even more when he held his wrist over her mouth. He didn’t like a vampire sucking on him. Well, sucking on his blood anyway. She wasn’t so timid or stupid to deny his blood, because they both knew she desperately needed it, but she felt awkward. Seconds went by and she did nothing, his flesh so close her mouth watered.

  “Kels, I don’t mind. Really. Do you prefer the neck?”

  His body lying on top of hers? They’d be rolling in the sheets if she allowed herself to feed in that capacity. “No. Wrist will do.”

  More time lapsed. Her mouth watered. Her body craved sustenance, and yet she couldn’t make herself do it. His distaste for allowing vampires to feed from him was what stopped her from taking his blood when she’d been blinded.

  “I don’t have fangs. Can’t pierce myself.”

  His words might sound blasé, but she noted the tight line of his mouth, his expressionless face, his tense muscles. The beating of his pulse so close to her mouth lengthened her fangs. Without further prodding, she sank her fangs into him, instinct driving her to take his blood.

  A newly fallen angel, his blood was sweet, rich, and extremely exotic. She closed her eyes, relishing his thick life force as it slid over her tongue, all the while knowing he hated it, and respecting him for allowing her to feed. He knew she needed this, but he had no idea just how much. Her body responded swiftly. She began to heal, the tingling sensation traveling through her chest.

  Their legs shifted. Somehow his muscled thigh found its way between hers. Caught up in the moment and all the extreme sensations, she couldn’t stop her pelvis from grinding against him. Her hips came off the bed, his hips dipped lower to meet her halfway. He was suddenly on her—over her—and damn it felt good. She spread her legs wide, her body attuned to his needs, hoping his was doing much of the same.

  If someone had told her she’d be taking Domiel’s blood while lying on her back, practically dry humping him a week ago, she would have knocked their teeth out.

  Their clothing remained on, which had a crazy way of making everything seem a little naughtier. She gripped the comforter and released his wrist with a moan, her body desiring sex more than the blood now. Losing control was a little foreign to her. This wasn’t her first drink from a demon, though it felt like it. No, this was better. This was with Domiel.

  His whiskers brushed her cheek. “Take from my neck.”

  Apparently he was on the same page.

  Like a predator—which, she guessed she was—her arms snaked around his neck to hold him in place. He pumped against her as though they had no clothes on and he was deep inside of her. He unwrapped her arms from his neck, palmed her wrists, and held them down against the satin-wrapped pillowcases that cradled her head.

  Damn, his blood was potent—just as intoxicating as the sexual energy that rippled off his body. Wounds forgotten, she no longer felt pain, only pleasure. He didn’t like vampires doing this to him. He’s doing it for you.

  She needed blood and he was giving it to her, in more ways than one, true, but it would just be sex. She had to believe that. She had no room in her life for a partner right now. Not with that incubus on her ass. She’d be putting Domiel in danger.

  Her fears melted under the heat of his body. In the back of her mind, she knew she should be focusing on the incubus, doing whatever she could to clear her name, but she couldn’t drum up enough focus to give a damn. Not when every cell of her body was attuned to Domiel and the wicked things he was doing.

  The way he dominated their position, even while she was the one taking from him, was a total turn-on. Their foreplay made her feel out of control, and damned if she didn’t eat it up as fast as she was taking his blood. This is just sex. Only sex.

  She pulled back from his neck, licked his wound, and wrapped her legs around his waist. He could dematerialize their clothes with only a thought. She waited to feel his skin. Waited.

  Hesitation seeped off his body like steam rising off a hot concrete road after a cool afternoon shower. He couldn’t bear the feel of her fangs on him. That’s what this was. He was disgusted by it. Desire coursed through her body until his went completely rigid. She’d be damned—

  Breathing hard, he pulled back with an apology. She lay in numb awareness as he sat up on the side of the bed and adjusted his rumpled clothes. Droplets of blood slid down his neck and soaked into the collar of his shirt. She stared at the stain, unable to put a voice to the words congregating in her mind. Like a flock of birds frightened from the safety of a tree after a loud noise, her thoughts scattered when it dawned on her that he’d just shut her down.

  When he pushed from the bed and disappeared into the bathroom she felt the tingle in her eyes, aware they had gone white, her emotions spiked.

  He’d slept with half the fucking Alliance. What the fuck had just happened? Was he really that revolted by her feeding? Or was it just her?

  Shame hit her in the gut and made her sick to her stomach. She should never have accepted his offer. What she’d done sickened him, obviously.

  She closed her eyes, wishing for the first time she could take back what she’d just done, wishing she’d never tasted such sweetness.

  * * * *

  Domiel splashed cold water on his face, braced himself against the cold porcelain counter, and counted to twenty. Water dripping off his eyelashes, his heartbeat erratic, he took a hard look at himself in the mirror at the twin red marks that now marred the skin on his neck.

  His first impulse when she’d bit into his neck had been to remove their clothing with his powers, slide into her, and make her his. He’d wanted to crush her in his embrace, squeeze her until their bodies became one. He’d felt … violent.

  Nothing like his former sexual encounters. With Kels he’d nearly come undone. And there was no way in hell that could be safe for her. He could have hurt her, and wasn’t that fucking ironic? He was afraid to hurt her, and he was tasked with ending her life.

  He wanted so much more than sex. Sex changed nothing, and hadn’t he found that out time and time again? His biggest fear had ridden him until he’d pulled away from her; what if they had sex and nothing between them changed? Lying with someone should mean something, should bring them closer together.

  What if that didn’t happen with Kels?

  The bathroom door burst open, banging against the wall with a resounding thud. He twisted in the direction and his breath caught.

  It was easy to envision what Kelsey had looked like when she’d been possessed. Her eyes were glowing white, her blond hair a wild mess from their time shared on the bed. Her shirt was torn in the front from where she’d stabbed herself, the jagged edges of the material matching the irregularity of his breathing.

  “You sleep with half the Alliance but turn a cold shoulder when it comes to me? Did my vampirism sicken you that much? Do I sicken you?”

  He stood stunned. “What?” That was absurd, but then again, what other conclusion could she draw from his actions? “No, that’s not it. I just…” What the hell was he supposed to say? I’m scared that sex with you won’t mean anything, just like all the others? He might as well put a bow in his hair and start wearing heels.

  “Just what?”

  She was hurt, but he couldn’t very well say what was on his mind. “Do you need more blood?”

  Lame. So lame.

  The slow shake of her head made his head swim with possibilities. He’d had women back him into corners before, beg him for his affection. This was something entirely different. It was mutual. He wanted her just as badly as she seemed to want him.

  Before he could respond, his back was against the cold tiles of the bathroom wall. He hadn’t even seen her move. Trapped between the shower door to his left, a wicker tower filled with towels and toiletries to his right, and a wicked-looking Kelsey at his front, he’d never been so aroused.

  “I won’t bite you. I promise.”

  Her fangs ripping his T-shirt in half set the tone. It wa
s the green light he’d needed. She could handle anything he dished out, she was a vampire for fuck’s sake, and if sex changed nothing between them, he could try again. And again. And, goddamnit, again.

  He fisted his hand in her hair, brought her face inches from his own. Fangs were his least favorite aspect of a female vampire’s body, but on Kels it worked. Holy shit, did it work, and he’d let her know. He didn’t want her thinking he found her way of living sick. He bent his head down, licked the tip of each fang, drawing his own blood. She moaned against his mouth, punctured his bottom lip. He’d be a bloody, bruised, deliriously happy demon when they were through.

  He dematerialized her clothes, left his on. She had a very inventive way of removing them from his body, so he’d be damned if he took the opportunity away from her.

  She didn’t disappoint.

  Within seconds his shirt had been reduced to shredded rags on the floor, nothing but a delicious memory. She licked and bit her way to his zipper, ran her tongue over his abs, taking her time as she explored his body. The anticipation was driving him mad.

  Her long nails raked against his jeans, right over his erection. When she looked up, blond hair wild, eyes dangerously devoid of color, and smiled wickedly at him, he could have sworn on a stack of bibles he was in love. Blasphemy and irony aside, it was the absolute truth.

  She unzipped him with her teeth, and he said a prayer of thanks. She was through with teasing. Taking his length in her small palms, she wrapped her warm, moist mouth over him.

  Pulling back she flicked her tongue over the head. “Love the tat.”

  She nearly worked him to orgasm with her tongue, her warm palms cupping his sac. He couldn’t take it any longer. He brought her to her feet, coaxed her to wrap her arms around his neck, then cradled her to his body and moved back into the bedroom. He wasn’t going to lay her on cold tiles when he paid her back in kind. No concrete floor of the armory for her.

  Over the soft comforter of the bed, he laid his weight over hers, ran his hands over her body, learning every curve. Her soft moans were answers to every one of his sexual questions concerning her likes and dislikes. She didn’t like his tongue in her naval, but she loved his kisses on her inner thigh. Light touches on her sides made her giggle, nibbling behind her knees prompted her to suck in her breath.

  Warm breath blown across her sex and she went ramrod stiff on the bed. Learning what turned her on turned him on. There was no question in his mind that he’d not prolong this foreplay. She’d be begging him to take her before he gave in.

  He wanted to hear her moan his name.

  Chapter Eight

  Very few beings were privy to the knowledge that a demon could be controlled with a few simple words and the knowledge of their name.

  Alexia was one of those privileged people.

  Jade had taught her the incantation concerning demonic control, and she used it now to keep Azazel in line, as she’d done to him before. Only this time her husband found zero amusement in her skill, and she knew it.

  She’d commanded him to sit and be quiet, and until she commanded something else from him, he wasn’t moving off the bed, and damned if he couldn’t form a single word. Light green eyes that normally gazed at her lovingly, cut a hole through her heart right now. If looks could kill, her headstone would have been ordered exactly eight hours ago, when she’d used the incantation. Damn was he pissed, but he had nothing on her. She was ready to take down the entire Alliance.

  Jade plopped down on the bed next to Azazel, knowing very well he wanted to kill her but couldn’t. “You can start by searching the area around the catacombs, where you found Kels before. I think the person who’s framing her had something to do with her possession.”

  “I agree.” Lexie’s earlier connection to Kels had been cut short for some reason, but the good news was that Domiel had agreed to give Kels time to clear her name. Hell, that demon would do just about anything if you threw him a bone flavored with sex. And it was no secret Kels was in a sexual drought. Pair that with a walking erection and you got two people bound to heat up the sheets.

  “Can you give us a minute?” she asked, nodding toward Azazel.

  Jade smiled knowingly as she slid off the bed. It was tough fighting against the very men who held their hearts, but she and Jade were too strong willed not to help Kels.

  “I’ll be primping in the bathroom. Getting all masculine and shit.”

  Alexia rolled her eyes and sat on the edge of the bed across from a very aggressive-looking Azazel. Most couples were either alike or complete opposites. She and Azazel were the former. Both born fighters with built-in tempers, they often knew what the other was thinking, and could always calm the storm in each other’s eyes.

  Not this time.

  When Ambrose held her against her will, Azazel had agreed that it was the best choice given the circumstances involving Kels. Her own husband had allowed the Alliance to put her under lock and key. Part of her figured this was her retribution against that bullshit he’d pulled.

  “Listen, I know you’d like nothing more than to see my head on a spike right about now, but damn it, you know me better. We fell in love while I was trying to save Kels, so why would I allow the Alliance to take her down now? I haven’t changed. I’m sorry. This is the only way. If I knew you’d help instead of hinder, I’d let go of the power I have over you.”

  He couldn’t talk. She contemplated keeping it that way, but eventually she had to listen to him. She spoke perfectly in the demonic tongue. “Azazel may speak freely, but may not move his arms or legs.”

  She might be fearless, but she wasn’t stupid.

  The muscle in his jaw worked for a good two minutes before he spoke, and when he did, it came out in a growl. “Do what you must.”

  Well, she hadn’t been expecting that, but at least he hadn’t brought up the big D word—divorce. Maybe You crazy bitch or something along those lines, but a forced acquiescence? “You know I love you. You don’t want your ring back, do you?”

  His sexy light green eyes were slowly giving way to demonic red. Not a good sign. Damn it all to hell, they were still in their honeymoon phase. The stunt she was pulling could have her groveling for months when all was said and done, and she didn’t do kissing-up very well.

  With safety in the knowledge that he couldn’t move, she leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the lips. Even though he was under her control, she didn’t think lingering would be a wise decision.

  What she wouldn’t give to have him on her side. He’d saved Kels once, but she couldn’t trust him to have her friend’s back this time. He’d already made it clear whose side he was on, and it wasn’t hers.

  Jade emerged from the bathroom, pulling her out of her morose thoughts, looking like Azazel’s twin. Right down to his scowl and leather. Her morphing ability would kick them in the right direction.

  Jade winked at Lexie. “Hey, baby. I still love you.”

  It was enough to crack a smile on Lexie’s face.

  Azazel was less than amused. “Samael will detect your energy within three miles. Didn’t you morph into Ambrose once, and he caught you within seconds?”

  “Azazel will remain silent.” Alexia said in the demonic tongue. To Jade, she asked, “You talk to your friend?”

  “Yep. She told me exactly how to mix my energy with Azazel’s, but you’re not going to like it.”

  She doubted she would. Last time Jade had morphed to gain information from Samael, Samael had known it was her from the get-go, even though she’d looked every inch the leader of the Alliance. “Well?”

  “I have to feed from him.”

  Alexia ground her teeth. She had no doubt that Jade loved Samael, but taking blood from Azazel was damn near the same thing as sleeping with him, as far as Lexie was concerned. “I’ve had his blood for months, but my energy hasn’t changed to indicate his.”

  “There’s a spell to go with it. She says it works like a charm, pun intended.”

&nbs
p; Jade wasn’t pushing the idea on her, she was merely relaying the facts. It sat so ill with Lexie, she actually felt sick to her stomach. “And there’s no way Samael will be able to detect it’s you?”

  “No.”

  Azazel would no doubt get hard in the process. Jade would feel the sexual awareness as well.

  As she waited for the right answer to pop up and relieve the stress of making the decision herself, she took a hard look at Azazel. It came down to one thing; she had no choice. She watched Azazel’s eyes turn cold as she made her decision. “A mission is a mission. Take from his wrist.”

  “I’ll stay in his form while I do it. That should take the edge off.”

  “Until you get a woody.”

  Jade’s color drained. “I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.”

  Alexia got up and took Jade aside. She took her aside more out of habit than for affect. She knew damn well Azazel could hear her, but she didn’t really care. He was seriously indisposed at the moment. “You’re like a sister to me, but you know I’m taking one for the team right now? A major hit.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then you better make damned sure this isn’t for nothing. If you fuck this up, not only will I have basically handed my husband over to you, but Kels will suffer.”

  “Have you had a vision?”

  She’d waited for a vision for hours. “No.”

  “Things will work out, Lexie. They always do.”

  It was the first time Alexia didn’t feel the sweet taste of victory before a fight. And the lack of vision made her wonder who else might be in the hot seat.

  With her stomach in knots, she muttered, “Do it.”

  “Do you want to leave the room?”

  She did, but couldn’t bring herself to do it. Like it or not, she was part of this equation. “No.”

  Vampires took blood. It was in their nature. Still, when Jade settled down next to Azazel, Lexie felt as though the situation was anything but natural. She heard Jade mumble, “Sorry,” and then she lifted Azazel’s arm and sank her fangs into his skin.