“I needed to see you,” he murmured, his voice low and seductive. His gaze raked over her body, his eyes deep, dark pools of black liquid and wildness. “It has been too long since I have made love to you.”
Turning onto her side to face him, her lips curled up in a smile at his words. Propping herself up on her elbow, she shook her head with amusement. Did he really believe he could fool her? “Auberon, we have never made love, you and I.”
His head shot up and his startled gaze slammed into hers, the questions and disbelief apparent in his eyes. The bewilderment quickly faded, to be replaced with a wicked smile. He stood and stepped further into the circle of warm light. With an easy smile, he asked, “How do you know I am not Adam?”
She simply looked at him as if he were insane; it was so obvious, how could she not know? Closing her eyes, she could feel his anguish, his misery but she didn’t understand it. With a shrug, she looked at him and said, “I know.”
“You do not know,” he scoffed, moving closer to her bed, the hunger burning in his eyes as his gaze roamed over her body once more. “You are mistaken; I am Adam.”
“You're not,” she assured him, watching him as he stalked closer. He was exquisite, but he wasn’t Adam. An edge of desperation clung to him tonight, though Celeste wasn’t afraid. She felt his need, his compulsion, to understand, she just wasn’t sure what he needed to understand. “What are you doing here?”
“I had to make sure you were all right,” he murmured seductively, trailing a finger along her bare arm. “I fear I did not please you this afternoon.”
She tilted her head to the side, wondering what the hell Auberon was talking about. “In what way?”
“On the couch,” he whispered, watching his darker hand against her paler skin. Energy pulsed off her, deep and powerful; wells of fathomless energy not yet revealed. He closed his eyes in ecstasy, moistening his lips with his tongue. “I was too gentle when you needed a good, hard fuck.”
“You were watching us?” she asked, hearing the hiss of breath as he gasped. “Auberon? Were you there the entire time? Does Adam kn….”
“What have you done to my brother?” he interrupted, the frustration and incredulity in his voice as he finally gave up the pretense of being Adam. Of all the people to know the difference, it would have to be her, damning him to this torment of wanting and not having. He sat on the edge of her bed, absently trailing his finger from her knee to her hip. He lifted his head and looked at her face, her hazel eyes watching him, studying him. Understanding him. It was too much, he had to look away. “What have you done to me?”
“I haven’t done anything to you, Auberon,” she murmured, her heart breaking for him as she took in his chiseled profile. The soft light gleamed off his fangs, lending danger to his already lethal predator looks. Her finger tips brushed against his hand and he turned his head back, meeting her eyes once again. Despair and self-loathing swirled in their black depths and she wanted to weep for him.
“Yes, you have,” he breathed, his voice deepening, his determination hardening as he pushed her onto her back, ignoring the surprise widening her eyes. He crawled over her, covering her body with his. Holding himself above her, he settled his legs between her slender thighs and looked down at her. He yearned to touch her, take her; he was just going to take a little. “I want to experience what happens when he drinks from you.”
“Auberon,” she breathed, as waves of longing poured off of his skin. Her fingers brushed over his lips and she could feel his desire burning through his control. His erection pressed against her and she knew that he was close to the breaking point. Perhaps she could give him a taste of what he wanted, a nibble. It shouldn’t hurt; it never did with Adam.
“Please, Celeste,” he begged harshly, bending his head until his teeth were grazing her skin, his breath hot against her cool neck, his desperation breaking her heart. She realized he was naked and she stiffened below him, uncomfortable with his erection twitching against her thigh. Where did his clothes go? “Please.”
Squeezing her eyes closed, wanting to alleviate Auberon’s suffering, unable to deny his request, she tilted her head back and whispered, “Just a sip.”
Pain arced outwards as his fangs pierced her skin. Swallowing against the agony, she closed her eyes until the sharp ache subsided and the familiar pleasure returned. Through the rushing blood in her head, she heard Auberon groan his rapture; she hadn’t realized how intoxicating it was to be drained of blood. This was the first time she had been bitten without being aroused first and she found herself wanting to offer him everything short of sex. His body rocked against hers and he was taking too much; she was losing sensation in her body and she was falling closer to the darkness. What if he accidentally killed her?
Pressing her hands against his solid shoulders, their solid breadth as wide as Adam’s, their strength as impressive, she pushed but he didn’t budge. Unable to move him, her fingers curved into him, holding onto consciousness as he drained her and gave nothing in return. Her eyes fluttered as strange sensations began spiraling through her body, racing through her veins, invading her muscles. Brilliant colors exploded behind her eyes and she was positive she was going to die. “Auberon.”
*****
A groan of relief passed his lips when he had sunk his teeth into the tender flesh of her throat. The blood had burst into his mouth, filling him with warmth, with drugging ecstasy. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced, sweet and sultry; the essence of Celeste. His body tightened in almost painful pleasure and his erection strained against her, wanting to be buried in her heat. Fighting every instinct in his body to take her, his curled his hands around her upper arms, forcing his attention to the blood and not the desire that burned his body.
She breathed his name and his grip on her arms tightened but he was unable to let her go. Her blood began to spread out through his body, affecting his memory, his awareness. He had tasted this before, though it was nowhere near as powerful, as rich, as succulent. As he tried to place the sensation, he rubbed his cock against her thigh, the smooth skin alleviating some of the relentless lust that speared him. He was barely aware of the fact that her body had gone limp beneath him. Concentrating, he searched his mind; what was the memory?
Gloria!
He was reclining on the pillows, a beautiful Calix giving him the watered-down blood he desired; giving him her body as they both desired. There were a few other Apocritae there, taking what they wanted from the Calices eager to please. Just as he finished, the door opened and his gaze was drawn to the entrance.
It was Adam and walking behind him was a woman, a new Calix. Her shining black eyes danced with laughter but there was also a strange hint of sadness, of loss, of sacrifice. Adam’s expression was grim, rigid, as he led her to the Adytum, her new home. She smiled up at Adam, dazzling, but he did not seem to notice; instead his jaw was set and he refused to look at her. With a shrug, she ran a hand through her short, brown hair as she studied her new surroundings. “Can I please offer my services?”
“Not to me,” Adam murmured, his hand at the small of her back as he led her into the harem-like room, the other Calices glancing up with interest as Adam entered their inner sanctum, hoping that he would accept their blood, their bodies.
The newcomer's eyes were enormous orbs in her face as she saw the writhing bodies, the decadence. With a small smile, she scanned the room until her eyes landed on his and the smile widened. She clapped her hands in delight, not taking her eyes from Auberon as she murmured, “You have a twin.”
Adam looked up and met his eyes; Auberon could see the self-loathing in them. Without regard to his nudity, he lifted the Calix off of him and walked over to his brother and the newest Calix. Her eyes roamed over his body, the appreciation apparent in her gaze, her smile. Wrapping an arm around his, she looked up at Adam with large, pleading eyes, “Can I please your twin?”
Adam closed his eyes briefly and swallowed, the muscles in his neck clearl
y defined with the movement. He gave the woman a brief nod, “If Auberon wishes it.”
“Do you?” she asked hopefully, gazing up at him with the lust of a Calix.
Watching Adam, he nodded, “But first I need to speak to my brother.”
Adam shook his head, “I do not wish to speak, Auberon. I cannot.”
With a frown at his brother’s odd behavior, Auberon looked down at the woman wondering why she was upsetting to Adam. Leaning down, he closed his eyes and breathed her in. The fresh Calix smell, the last bit of humanity seeped out of her skin, beneath that was the scent of… afterbirth. His eyes shot open and he looked at Adam, “The child?”
Adam simply shrugged and left the room, painfully uncomfortable with what he had just done. Auberon wanted to go after him but the woman clung to his arm. Seizing the opportunity, he needed to talk to her before all of her memories became clouded, lost, to the haze of pleasure; to the transformation of being a Calix. It was surprising that her humanity had lasted as long as it had already; there wasn’t much time. “Tell me of the child.”
“She’s safe,” the woman answered, a sly smile curving her lips. “She was the one who…. Never mind." Pulling his arm, she began to lead him to another pile of pillows, as the gauzy material hanging from the ceiling fluttered about them. “Come, I wish to enjoy my new body.”
“What is your name?” Auberon asked, knowing the memories were too weak to withstand the lure of sex. Afterwards, if there was any humanity left, he would ask her;.
“Gloria,” she smiled, laying down and pulling him down on top of her, offering her body in return for oblivion.
“Gloria,” he murmured against Celeste’s neck, his fangs receding. In the years since that night, Gloria had become one of his favorite Calices, retaining a little more sweetness than the others; never completely surrendering her humanity. It was right there; everything made sense. The mother held on to the hope of seeing Celeste, always keeping a part of herself back. It should have been impossible for her to do so but somehow, someway….
Slowly, languidly, his eyes opened, meeting Celeste’s hazel eyes as she stared up at him. He noticed they were the same shape as Gloria’s and he wondered if Gloria had had beautiful hazel eyes before becoming a Calix. Their faces were identical, as was the color of their hair. Why didn’t he realize sooner that the girl was the child from twenty-three years ago? What was it the mother said, or started to say? She was the one who…. His lips curled up into a wry smile, impressed. The new Queen found a way to make her way into the world; her patience was astounding. The plan itself was genius: call out to an Apocritum to convert a pregnant woman on the verge of birth and then wait until the right moment.
Celeste was merely a pawn: the new Queen had created the perfect vessel to hold her until she could make her way into the world. He smiled, already impressed with the new Queen. If she could accomplish so much as an egg in an infant, how much more powerful was she going to be in twenty years when she was an adult? The little Goddess was right; it was going to be soon.
Celeste watched him with weary eyes before she hoarsely asked, “Did you say something?”
“No,” he said, the smile broadening to include his eyes as his cock abruptly tightened and orgasm exploded throughout his body. Hot liquid surged through his dick, pulsing outwards and burning his stomach. Flailing backwards, he sat on his knees, staring down at the clear moisture. Cautiously, he ran his fingers over it, feeling it stick to his skin. “What the hell?”
“See?” Celeste asked softly, Forcing her heavy eyes open, she looked at him, meeting his confused gaze, “I don’t change; you do. The child protects me….”
He gasped as her irises swirled with power, green, gold, and blue twirling around her black pupils. Yet, even as she closed her eyes, he could feel the change within himself; he could feel the burn of a million needles trying to repair what was lost. It was just a start; it would take years to replace what was stolen but the work had begun. He rubbed his fingers together, the slippery moisture shining in the faint light. Looking down at the beautiful girl, he whispered, “Are you sure?”
“Mmm-hmm,” she murmured, a slow smile spreading on her pale lips.
Studying the fluid a little more closely, he frowned. What was that line? A mother’s love, a final gift from beyond the grave. Oh, fuck! Did Celeste have to die for her child, for the new Queen?
He looked at her and started to panic. She was so pale, her flesh cool to the touch and her lips nearly white. He had taken too much! Shit! Leaning over her, he felt her breath against his cheek; she was utterly drained. Had he killed her? “Oh, baby, are you all right?”
“Yes,” she whispered, the sound barely reaching beyond her lips, though her strength was already returning. It was a strange feeling, of exhaustion and energy. “I could use some water, though; then my body can replace the blood in no time.”
He chuckled softly at her words, relief flooding him. Quickly, quietly, he went into the bathroom for her water. And as she drank, he climbed back into the bed, wrapping his body around her, holding her. After a long while, her color began returning to normal, he asked, “Are you truly okay?”
“Mmm,” she murmured, nodding her head against his shoulder. With her eyes closed, Auberon’s smell filled her senses. It was so similar to Adam’s, almost exactly the same. But the compelling hint of danger was stronger in Auberon. His skin was hot, as smooth as Adam’s. “Auberon, are you naked?”
Auberon actually felt himself blush, something he didn’t ever recall doing before. Willing a pair of flannel pants on, he hurriedly answered, “No.”
She laughed softly at that, snuggling closer to the warm body. She was so lethargic; her body felt so heavy and Auberon provided wonderful heat and the feeling of safety, in spite of the danger that surrounded him. He was better than a teddy bear. Unfortunately, she wasn’t tired; her thoughts were buzzing at a thousand miles an hour, yet nothing was coherent. There was fear and apprehension, but also incredible joy. And love.
She tilted her head back and smiled up at him, “I’m glad you guys are in my life and though it’s so good to be home, I can’t remember why I didn’t want to stay with Adam.”
Crooking his lips into a sexy half-smile, he lightly caressed her cheek with his finger tip, “Then perhaps it was a good thing that I was not the one standing in the Louvre that day otherwise we would still be in Paris.”
She laughed softly, absently smoothing her hand over the hard muscles of his chest and unwittingly sending tendrils of lust straight to his groin. “If I didn’t stay for Adam, I doubt I would have stayed for you either.”
“You wound me, baby,” he said lightly, purposefully keeping the pain from his voice even as the words cut to the bone. He couldn’t let her know how much she had affected him, how much he worshipped her.
Feeling pathetic, he got drunk on the feel of her in his arms, against his body. He breathed in her sweet, intoxicating scent, wanting to memorize every detail. He wanted the moment to last forever, to pretend that she was his, if only for the night. In that instant, he knew he would do anything to keep her safe. He would do everything in his power to make sure Celeste survived the birth of her child but he also knew that he had to take her to the Adytum to meet the mother that died to give her child life.
“It’s so nice being with you; you make me feel… safe,” she murmured, snuggling further into his arms and closing her eyes, a content smile on her lovely lips. Before Auberon could swell with pleasure, she continued, “You are my family now.”
Laughing it off, he faced her, aching to be her lover as well. However, being newly introduced to the pathetic side of himself, he would take any crumb she gave him. “You should rest.”
“I can’t sleep,” she confessed, now drawing figure eights on his chest with her fingers. “I can barely move but I am wide awake. Talk to me, Auberon; tell me everything will be okay."
“If you survive.” At her gasp, he realized he had said his thoughts
out loud and clenched his jaw. Why couldn’t he control his tongue around her? She asks a damn question and he freaking answers; it was ridiculous! Tightening his hold on her, he kissed the top of her head, “It will be okay, Celeste. You have me and Adam on your side and I think we might be able to count on a third Apocritum.”
“A third Apocritum?” she asked. “Out of all the Apocritae, we have three on our side?”
“Maybe more,” he offered. “I do have a vague sense of discontent among the Hive but they cannot afford to have overtly treasonous feelings because Mother would destroy the traitor who held such thoughts.”
“Then who is the third Apocritum that we might have on our side?” she asked.
He ground his teeth together to prevent the answer from spewing forth but it was too much. Through a clenched jaw, he mumbled, “Adam and I have a brother who broke free nearly two millennia ago. He remains hidden in plain sight, or he did before he went underground with Rebecca Lewis.”
“Beck,” Celeste breathed. “I remembered the truth about her. I thought she had died but Ge… a friend told me she was still alive. She’s with your brother?”
His jaw hurt from the battle of keeping quiet and failing. “Yes.”
“If they are in hiding, how will he be of any use to us?” she frowned.
He gave up trying to fight his desire to answer her and sighed in surrender. “I have a way to get in touch with him if necessary; I simply haven’t used it before because I did not want Mother to learn he was still alive.”
Her sharp intake of breath indicated her shock, “She thinks he’s dead? Are you and Adam going to have to fake your deaths to be free as well?”
“We’re already free; well, very nearly so,” he told her, his brow furrowing as he heard his speech patterns; they were different somehow; less priggish. “You should get some rest now.”
Awakening Page 17