“What?” She was sure she’d heard wrong.
The front door opened and shut with a solid thud. “I’m home, and I’m hungry!” Addy called. “Mom, Rachel? Where you at? I smell food!”
Wiping her eyes, she glanced from Kieran to Dylan. “My little sister is home from school.”
“School?” Kieran frowned. He didn’t know her sister was that young. The records didn’t indicate any younger children in the house.
“She’s in high school.” She shook her head. “She also doesn’t know a thing about you or what happened.”
Devon smiled at her and her heart melted. When he smiled, it completely transformed his face. “I know you didn’t say anything to expose supernaturals. As we told you, we’re here to protect you, and your family. I thought Kieran told you this.” He turned his gaze to him and Kieran shrugged with a lost expression on his face.
As scared as she had been, she believed them. “Addy, I’m in the kitchen.” She smiled when her younger sister came into the kitchen.
Kieran leaned in toward Rachel’s ear. His hot breath fanned across her creamy skin and she felt goosebumps rise over her flesh. “We need to talk in private.”
She turned and met Kieran’s gaze and she stood transfixed for a moment. Gold flecks swirled in the depths of his blue eyes. “Why?”
“We meant it when we said we were here to protect you.”
Rachel’s gaze darted over to Addy, who chatted with Devon as she moved the bacon off the burner. “I hope y’all stay for supper. My mom always makes plenty.”
“Addy, can you take over for me? I need to go and see what these guys want to show me.”
“Sure, you know I love making beans.” Addy’s attention fixed back to Devon. “So, are you going to stay?” Her eyes locked with Rachel’s. “You seem to really like my sister.” She giggled when Rachel threw a towel at her. “Seriously,” Addy added. “My mom would love it if you stayed.”
“Maybe we will,” Devon replied with a gentle smile. “Your parents seem like incredible people. I’d love to get to know them better.”
Addy smiled at them with a proud smile on her face. “They are.”
Emotion choked Rachel’s throat for a moment. It wasn’t often that Addy let her soft side show. She usually hid it under sarcasm and jokes. All three of them could have ended up in the abyss of the foster care system. Instead, they’d found loving parents. “Thank you, Addy. I think I saw Mom and Dad heading over to Matt’s place, if you need anything.”
Addy nodded as she poured the beans that had been simmering all day in seasoned and salted water into a strainer. “I’ll call over there when it’s done.” Addy pulled one of the beans out of the strainer, popped it into her mouth, and closed her eyes. “Perfectly tender.”
Devon took Rachel by the hand and led her out the back door. “Where can we go that we won’t be interrupted?”
She thought about her room, but that was too awkward. Visions of her being a teenager and sneaking a boy into her room almost made her giggle. Besides, there were better places to go and have a private talk with Devon and Kieran. “The horse barn has an apartment over it.” As they walked down the back-porch steps, Rachel’s shoulders drooped and her chin trembled slightly. This may be the last time she ever saw them. What if they were just coming to make sure she’d not said anything, and then say good-bye? It made her chest ache to think about never seeing them again. For the first time, she’d thought about a relationship, and not just someone to have fun with for a few weeks. With a sigh, she determined to live in the moment, and at the moment, they were here.
Kieran turned toward the barn and Devon followed. She had a moment to observe the two. Devon was the more alpha of the two, but it never stopped Kieran from taking charge from time to time.
The scent of hay and horses filled the air as they walked into the barn, and one of the horses trotted in as they entered. “Give me a moment to pour some feed in.” One way to be sure to live in the moment, is to stretch the moment out.
Kieran came over and helped her with the bag of feed. “You need to be careful with that hand.”
“It doesn’t hurt too much with the ice pack. I don’t think it was as bad as everyone thought.” The glare she got told her not to argue with them, so she watched Kieran pour just a bit of food into the tray and the horse trotted over.
“He is such a beggar.”
Taking his hand again in her good one, she let the two Vampires lead her up the stairs. Rachel’s eyes fixed to Devon’s ass that flexed in his black jeans as he climbed the stairs. Now that her fear had calmed down, her libido fired up as she remembered the feel of their muscles as they thrust into her body.
At the top of the wooden stairs was a landing that had polished hardwood floors and an oak banister. There was a large vinyl tray that held a scraper and a place for mucky boots. Out of habit, she slipped off her shoes and placed them on the shelf that sat next to the muddy boot tray.
She watched as both Vampires kicked their shoes off and placed them next to hers, and then entered the apartment.
“It’s empty right now. Daddy was talking about hiring some people to deal with the threat to the cattle.”
“I know. Your father is going to hire us to guard the animals at night.”
“Really? You sound rather confident about that.”
Devon nodded. “Dylan is making sure you father hires us. We come with glowing recommendations.”
She attempted to laugh at the idea of the two Vampires playing cowboys on her dad’s ranch. Her attempt to cheer herself up.
Devon didn’t speak as he approached her. His movements were sleek yet powerful as he stalked her like a predator and she was his prey. She backed up until she hit a wall and she found herself caged between the wall and his massive body.
Kieran stood to another side of her and smiled down at her. “We need to get you fixed up before your adrenaline fades even more. Then, a bit of ice water won’t help your hand anymore.”
“Do you have something I can put on my hand? It is starting to hurt a bit.” She felt her voice hitch.
“I am going to feed you some of my blood. It will help.” Devon kept his gaze locked on hers.
Her mouth dropped open. “I’m not drinking your blood. I’m not a Vampire, and I don’t want to be one.”
Kieran groaned and rolled his eyes. “Save us from yet another myth that if you drink a Vampire’s blood, you become a Vampire.”
“Don’t you become like a slave or something?”
“No, I am not making you my slave. I am making a blood bond with you, though. I will be more in tune with your emotions, but without me draining your blood, you will not be turned into a slave.”
“A blood bond?” She wasn’t sure if she liked that either. What if they could force her to do things? Wait, couldn’t they already? Vampires could compel people to do whatever they wanted. It was rather scary to think about.
“It really isn’t a big deal. Devon will be more in tune to how you are feeling. He’ll be able to find you easier if you’re ever lost and stuff like that. Nothing gory.” Kieran smiled.
She opened her mouth and then closed it. “I can’t do it.”
“We’ll distract you, love. You won’t even realize you’ve done it, most likely.” Kieran pulled her closer to him and unbuttoned her shirt and exposing her tight nipples. He sucked it into his mouth and let his teeth drag over her sensitive buds.
She let her head fall back and let her good hand run through Kieran’s silky hair as his tongue flicked over her nipple.
Cool sheets hit her back as Kieran nipped and then laved her nipple, and then cool air hit her heated flesh as Devon pulled away her shorts.
“I’ve been waiting to taste you again.” Devon spread her soft petals and then buried his face in her wet heat and he began to fuck her with his tongue.
Her hips moved and her back arched as Devon made a meal of her. When he pulled away and cold air brushed her heated flesh, s
he nearly cried out in disappointment, but then Devon’s large finger dove into her pussy, while his tongue began stroking her clit.
Her mouth gaped open wide as she panted for air. Her orgasm was rushing toward her, but then Devon eased off her body.
Rachel’s eyes opened for a moment, but then Kieran’s wrist was at her mouth.
“Open.”
She turned her face away. She just could not bring herself to drink blood. Maybe her dad would drive her to urgent care and she could get a shot for the pain. Strong fingers gripped her jaw, and forced her mouth open. “I said drink it, Rachel.”
Blinking at the command in Kieran’s tone, she opened her mouth. Kieran bit his own wrist, and then he placed it on her lips. “Drink, love. Drink until you can’t take anymore.”
She tried to turn her head, but Kieran’s wrist locked her in place. Blood filled her mouth, and she was shocked at the spicy flavor. It reminded her something like hot apple cider with extra cloves and cinnamon.
Despite how horrible she thought it would be, she swallowed the mouthful of blood. It was warm and didn’t taste anything like she expected. What did come as a surprise was the giddy feeling she experienced. Someone took the ice pack, and she noticed the pain was gone.
Her nipples and pussy warmed even though the cool air of the room had been cold just a moment ago. Kieran groaned, as well, and she felt his cock swelling against her side.
“Do it now. She’s our mate,” Devon said.
She couldn’t concentrate on what Devon meant. She sucked at Kieran’s arm and swallowed down the sweetest flavor ever, and then felt another erotic rush. Her pussy pulsed, and she pushed her chest up. Someone, anyone, please stroke my nipples. God, they ache.
“I’m going to fuck you now, Rachel. You’re mine, do you understand?”
She could only groan and wiggle her hips at the prospect of Kieran easing the ache between her legs. The head of his cock pushed into her hot pussy and she let out a cry. “Oh please. I need you.” Her hands stroked against his back and she marveled at the lack of any discomfort from where the stove burned her.
“You had a taste of my blood, Rachel. It’s the call to mate. It will not ease until our union is sealed,” Kieran whispered.
“Oh, please, I need you so much!” Who was this wild woman begging him for sex? She’d never begged like this before. Then again, she’d never had this kind of lust burning in her wet pussy before. She tried to shove her body against Kieran’s cock so he would enter her. She needed him to ease the ache in her pussy. She felt her own nectar making her ready for her mate to claim her.
When Kieran shoved into her body, hard and fast, she could only arch her back as all thought left her brain. It felt like a mix of a hot iron and the most intense orgasm of her life. She reached out and felt Devon take her hand. He whispered words she couldn’t understand as Kieran thrust into her.
“Oh god, what’s happening to me?” She came with a high cry, but within a few seconds, her orgasm was building once again. She’d never felt anything like this before.
“You tasted his blood. You’re his intended mate and your body knows it.” Devon took her mouth in a passionate kiss while his fingers plucked at her nipples. He looked up for a moment. “Your body longs for its fated mate, just as your soul does.”
He took her mouth again as her pussy clenched around Kieran’s cock once again. Surely, she couldn’t come again. She felt as though Kieran wrung the last orgasm from her when Devon lifted and bit into his own arm and placed the bleeding wound to her lips. “Drink.”
She drank down Devon’s blood and noticed his blood had more of a sweeter taste than Kieran’s. She felt a little stronger and she noticed her shoulder pain was much better, as well.
Just as she cried out, Kieran’s body froze and he roared out his own release. It felt hot as jets of Kieran’s semen filled her and then he collapsed on her.
Her body was sated for only a moment before the feeling swamped her again. “It’s starting again.”
Kieran moved off her and Devon took her place. “You’re our fated mate and fate refuses to wait any longer.” He lined up his cock with her wet pussy. His large cock filled her with one, long thrust.
She cried out as her pussy tightened around his engorged erection as he sank balls deep into her scorching pussy.
He gripped her ass as he drove his cock into her, and the head of his shaft hit her G-spot. She opened her mouth, but only a strained whimper would come out as a white hot blazing orgasm engulfed her. Time seemed to stop, and all that she could feel was wave upon wave of pleasure. As the feeling slowly abated, she heard Devon moaning out his own pleasure. She held him as his head rested in the crook of her neck. Mine, they’re both mine now. Nothing will ever separate us again.
For long moments, they just held each other. When she lifted her hand, she realized the pain was nowhere near as bad.
“Let’s take a look at your hand, darlin’.” Kieran sat up and pulled her up with him.
“Move your fingers,” Devon ordered her, still sounding breathless.
She held her breath, but again, no pain. It was far more like a mild sunburn than a nasty burn from a hot burner.
“Good, we did more than I expected. I had thought we’d need to call Yerel tonight to look at her, but we’ll keep it covered and have him look at it tomorrow.”
“What happened? Why doesn’t my hand hurt?”
“I told you,” Kieran said with a told-you-so smile. “My blood is speeding your healing. Your burn feels like it’s had weeks of healing due to our blood. Yerel still may need to treat it, if it was deep in your tissues. We’ll know by morning.”
“Thank you.” She moved her hand again, amazed that it didn’t hurt.
“Anything for our mate. We’d do anything for you.” She closed her eyes to those words and forced herself to forget about all the fear. They were here. They came because they wanted her. That was enough for now.
Chapter Twelve
The dining room table was full of food and people. Rachel’s family put on a feast for the dinner table. Even though Devon didn’t need human food for nourishment, he could eat it, and even taste it. Some Vampires even enjoyed human food, although it did nothing to nourish them, and often upset their digestive system if they consumed too much.
He poured another glass of blood that he’d brought, claiming it was a type of wine both he and Kieran enjoyed. Thankfully, no one else in the family drank wine, so they didn’t have to explain or suggest to the family that they wouldn’t like this wine at all.
Devon watched, fascinated, as her family passed the dishes around with good humor and obvious affection. Accepting Rachel’s mom’s invitation to stay for supper had much more to do with getting information than staying close to her. He wanted answers about who she was and why she suddenly grew terrified of him at the club in Tennessee. He’d wondered if she worried, her family was harsh and unforgiving. It was plain to see now that it was the opposite. Humans could not fake this kind of closeness, and even if they were, Kieran would have picked up on the fear below the smiling faces. It gave him insight into her that he never would have been able to see. Devon didn’t even need to try and pay attention to the aurora around the parents to know what good people they were. Now he understood why she talked of going home so often. She wasn’t trying to get away from Lycans or any other supernatural races, but she simply came from a close-knit family.
“Sis, did you make these beans?” Matt pointed to the beans with his fork as he eyed his younger sister, Addy.
“A little. She started them. I just finished them when she went to go make out with her boyfriends.”
Kieran laughed as Rachel nearly choked on her cornbread and grabbed her glass of sweet tea.
Encouraged by the laughter, Addy closed her eyes. “They were smooching really loud and probably groping. ‘Oh Devon, you came to see me. I love you so much. Kiss me again.’” Addy raised her voice to a higher pitched and overly exaggerat
ed body language as she tilted her head and made kissing noises.
Rachel’s mouth froze in an O of shock as she placed her tea back on the table and her cheeks flushed red. Her gaze jerked from her mom to her dad, and then she stared at the table.
Devon longed to go to her and wrap her in his arms. Smaller siblings teasing could be hard to deal with at times. He glanced at Addy and he didn’t detect any malice in her teasing. She was just a typical human adolescent who was teasing her sister about a lover.
Kieran must have felt the same thing with his empathic abilities. His smile continued, although he hid it behind taking a sip of blood from the wine glass, and he nearly laughed as Addy puckered up her lips to add some more action into her play by play of their romantic encounter.
“Addy,” Dean reproached her while giving her a stern look. The girl stopped her kissing sounds and dropped her hands.
“Yes, Daddy?” Addy’s face turned into a mask of innocence.
Dean didn’t say a word. He simply stared at his daughter, and it held all the reprimand of a stern lecture.
Addy didn’t miss the meaning as she dropped the teasing expression. “Sorry.” Addy picked up her fork, chose a pork chop off the platter and placed it on her plate by the beans and cornbread.
Dylan walked in, holding his cell phone. He cleared his throat softly, making Kieran and Devon both look his way. “I just got off the phone with Sam.”
“Dylan,” Karen exclaimed. “I thought you’d left. Come and sit down, we saved a place for you.”
Dylan’s face almost took on a youthful appearance as he stared at the table that was laden with the family feast. “I’d love to. You sure, though? I have a sandwich in my car.”
Karen made a scoffing noise of disgust. “Get in here and get yourself a plate of food. A sandwich for supper.” She scoffed in disgust again. “You’d starve to death trying to feed all those muscles with two slices of bread and lunch meat.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Devon noticed that Addy had gone very still, suddenly losing interest in cutting her pork chop. Was she frightened of Dylan? She had no reason to be. He turned his attention more toward Addy. Her eyes had widened and her pupils dilated, and her eyes were nearly smoldering with intensity. She smoothed her hair down and twirled her ponytail a few times.
Vampires' Embrace [Southern Supernatural Alphas] (Siren Publishing Menage Amour) Page 13