Daniela glanced around the dusty catacombs. “I’m glad we came back here, Luc. It seems fitting.”
He nodded. After waking up from one of his dreams of Ancient Rome, he’d mentioned it to her and was surprised to learn that she’d been having the same dreams. As they discussed them, he finally admitted that perhaps there was some truth to Morwen’s claim that they’d been lovers in a past life. He only hoped this one wouldn’t end the same way the other did.
Daniela gave his hand another squeeze. “Shall we go back to Sophia’s?”
The sultry hint in her voice reawakened the desire he thought he’d satisfied that afternoon before they’d crawled out of bed. Even though he hadn’t tasted her blood since that night at Houska Castle, he still carried an insatiable appetite for her body. Thankfully, she seemed to have the same problem as him. “Sounds good to me.”
But instead of racing back to the small pensione, he led her down the Via Agrippa and stopped in front of a familiar café. “Remember this?”
Her brows furrowed together. “Should I?”
“Perhaps I should revive your memory.” He pushed her against the window like he had over a month ago and covered her mouth with his own. This time, however, there was no hesitation in her kiss. She returned his affection full force, her tongue coiling with his and fanning the slow burn of lust warming his blood.
Daniela broke away, gasping for air. “I think I remember now.”
“I remember that young punk asking if I was going to fuck you.”
She shivered when he said that, the same way she always responded when he used such coarse and blunt language with her. The only thing he’d discovered that aroused her more was a good spanking. “And are you going to fuck me?”
“Maybe.” He traced the seam of her trousers. The heat from her sex already hinted how much she wanted him, and he toyed with the idea of taking her right then and there.
She bit her bottom lip and wiggled free from his arms. “First one back to Sophia’s gets to be on top.”
She took off running down the street, but he caught up with her in a matter of steps and hoisted her over his shoulder. Her giggles grew louder as he sped back to the pensione, and by the time he was carrying her up the stairs, she’d developed full-blown belly laughs.
“Luc, when are you going to do the right thing and marry Daniela?” Sophia called after them.
“When I can convince her to say yes,” he replied and closed the door behind them. He tossed her on the bed. “I’m sure Sophia is praying for us right now so we won’t be living in sin anymore.”
Daniela waited until she stopped laughing before beckoning him to come closer. She grazed her finger over the ridge of his erection. His breath hitched from the sweet agony her touch provoked. Her grin widened and she lowered his zipper. “I can be rather stubborn. It might take you a while to convince me.”
“What do you have in mind?”
She pushed him back on the bed and removed her clothes before she straddled his waist. The softness of her bare ass teased his exposed cock as she leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. “I think this is a good start.”
He allowed her to cover his body with chaste kisses and meek caresses until he couldn’t stand it anymore. He shed the last of his clothes and lifted her hips until the head of his cock sat at the opening of her slick cunt. “Please, Daniela.”
She slowly eased onto him, taking him in inch by inch until he was fully seated inside her. A sigh broke free from her lips and she stared down at him. “I love you, Luc, and I thank you for being patient with me while I make up my mind. I promise I won’t keep you waiting long.”
He gulped and soaked in how beautiful she was while rocking on top of him, moving her hips in a seductive rhythm that had his balls already tightening from the orgasm building inside him. Even if she never agreed to be turned, he’d always remember moments like this.
Her movements became more frantic, more irregular, and the walls of her sex tightened around his cock. Her body shuddered.
“Yes, Luc, please.” She arched her head back and pulled his mouth to her neck. “Please take me. I’m ready.”
He could no longer resist her. His fangs pierced her skin. The sweet taste of temptation filled his mouth, and his world exploded in light.
About the Author
Growing up in small-town Alabama, I relied on storytelling as a natural way to pass the time and keep my two younger sisters entertained. Of course, that also means I’m inclined to suffer some of the same maladies of many Southern writers, which may include overuse of simile and metaphor, exaggeration, melodrama and the ever-popular long-winded sentence.
I currently live in Western Washington with my husband and daughter, maintaining my alter ego of mild-mannered physician by day while I continue to pursue writing on nights and weekends. I refer to it as “therapy”.
To learn more about me, please visit www.cristamchugh.com. Send an email to [email protected].
Look for these titles by Crista McHugh
Now Available:
Heart of a Huntress
Angelic Surrender
A legend…a myth…a high stakes game that could shatter them both.
Heart of a Huntress
© 2010 Crista McHugh
The Kavanaugh Foundation, Book 1
As one of the oldest surviving vampire hunters in the Foundation, Lana has learned the toughest lesson: success comes at a price. So while the yummy stranger she bumps into at Caesar’s trips all her temptation switches, duty comes first. Better to be alone than to gamble with someone else’s heart—or her own. Although maybe a one-night stand won’t hurt…
Byron has set a one-way course for revenge against the Vegas vampire who murdered his uncle. When he collides with Lana, though, her scent calls to him like a potent aphrodisiac. The only explanation: she’s his true-mate. And the timing couldn’t be worse. He can’t afford any distractions—not to mention it’ll be hell convincing her to love someone who sprouts fur and fangs every full moon.
One drink together turns into a daring night of passion. Their erotic interlude ends abruptly with the news that Lana’s partner has been abducted by the very vampire Byron seeks. Now Byron has no choice. He must reveal what he is and risk a rejection that could spell his own destruction…
Enjoy the following excerpt for Heart of a Huntress:
His voice almost growled the last sentence, like he wasn’t used to people challenging his orders. A shiver coursed down her spine. Normally she didn’t like domineering men, mainly because she could kick most of their asses when push came to shove. But Byron looked like the type that could match her, tit for tat. An equal. A challenge. She rattled off the address to her condo just off the Strip and nestled into his arms. It would be a short ride, but she might as well enjoy it while she could.
His arms wrapped around her, warm and comforting. How long had it been since she allowed herself to get physically close to someone like this? She knew getting involved with him was out of the question—too many complications—but would one night disrupt the balance of her life?
“Let me take a look at your ankle.”
He slid his hand down her leg and her sex tightened. An amused light shone in his eyes when she met his gaze, like he knew exactly how horny he was making her. And if she wasn’t mistaken, he was struggling to contain his arousal as much as she was.
He cleared his throat. “It’s already starting to swell a bit. Can you move it, wiggle your toes? Do we need to take a detour by the hospital to make sure it’s not broken?”
She followed his commands, wincing as she did. “I think I’ll survive. It’s just a sprain.”
“Good. Anything else?”
“Maybe some bruised ribs,” she admitted. Her mind played back the encounter with the last vampire, and a cold chill washed over her insides. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For saving my life. And for taking care of me afterwards.�
� God, she hated to admit she needed help. It gnawed at her gut, but if she had to be rescued by anyone, she would’ve picked him. “But you need to be careful. You saw what they’re like, and from what I overheard, they were setting up a trap.”
“For me or for you?”
“Me.”
A reckless grin spread across his face. “Then maybe you’re the one who needs to be more careful. Maybe you should take someone with you when you hunt.”
She glanced up at the driver, wondering how much he’d overheard and understood. “Let’s change the subject.”
“Of course,” he said as he ran one callused hand over her legs and massaged the base of her neck with the other. “What did you have in mind?”
One look told her exactly what he had on his mind. Even if she closed her eyes, the firm ridge in his pants pressing against her thigh made her all too aware of his thoughts. “Are you always this forward with women?”
“Sometimes. Actually, I’d say I’ve been holding back on you.”
“Why is that?”
“Because you’re different than most women.”
That was an understatement. How many women prowled the streets at night with a wooden stake in their purse?
“You seem to be the type who likes to call the shots,” he continued. The sensuous curve of his lips rose into a smile, making his implications clear. He was waiting on her to make the next move.
Her heart raced. One kiss wouldn’t cause too many problems, would it? Plus, it might calm the growing curiosity inside her. Before common sense could talk her out of it, she gently brushed her lips against his. They were warm, soft, yielding to hers.
When she tried to pull away, his fingers threaded through her hair. Her breath caught. The hunger in his hazel eyes told her he wanted more than that, and frankly, so did she. This time, when their lips met, she did the yielding. Her mouth parted and his tongue swept in.
Mmm…this is how a kiss should feel. Each sweep of his tongue, each nibble of his teeth, fanned the smoldering fire inside the lowest pit of her stomach. The stubble on his chin grated against her skin, adding a new sensation to her already hyper-aware brain. She curled his short hair around her fingers and held on for the ride, not wanting it to end.
A soft moan formed in his throat and he grew bolder in his advances. The hand on her leg worked its way under her dress. He stroked her seam through her already-soaked panties. Now it was her turn to moan. He repeated the action and she pressed against his hand, urging him to keep doing it, to go deeper next time.
A loud cough interrupted them, and Lana pulled away. The taxi was idling in the driveway of her condominium complex. Her cheeks burned. Had she really been so caught up in making out with a relative stranger in the backseat of a cab that she hadn’t realized they’d reached their destination?
Byron’s hand withdrew from under her dress. “Let me walk the lady upstairs, and I’ll be back in a moment.”
“Yeah, right,” the driver replied. “Just so you know, the meter’s running.”
“No problem.” He opened the door and scooped her back into his arms. “Got your keys, Lana?”
She searched her purse while she gave him directions to her unit. Despite the fact that she’d been sucking his face a few seconds ago, she couldn’t meet his eyes now. Once they entered the elevator, she whispered, “Sorry.”
“For what?”
“For acting that way in the cab. I usually have better control over myself.”
His laughter echoed off the stainless-steel walls. “So you’re saying you don’t normally hook up with random strangers?”
“You don’t have to say it that way!” She tried to wiggle out of his arms, but he held on to her tighter. “You really don’t have to carry me all the way up to my condo, you know.”
“What if I want to?”
Although she hated to admit it, she wanted to stay in his arms. For once in her life, she felt less like a tough-as-nails huntress and more like a fairy-tale princess. Of course, what she wanted to do to him didn’t belong anywhere near a Disney movie.
The elevator doors opened, and something sank into her stomach like a lead weight. The end of the line. The end of the night with Byron. Why did that disappoint her so much? She should be focused on work, on composing a report to the Foundation about what had happened tonight and researching whoever this Klaus fellow was, but all she wanted to do was taste his lips again. Years of sex deprivation had finally caught up with her.
He set her down in front of her door. “Will you be okay from here?”
No, her mind screamed. He’d left her body aching and needy for more than just a kiss. She should be flattered that he’d left the taxi waiting downstairs, a sure sign that he didn’t want just a random hookup with her. Oh, dear God, was he disappointed with her? Had it been so long since she’d kissed someone that she sucked at it? Only one way to find out.
She seized the collar of his blazer and pulled him against her, her mouth devouring his. She tasted traces of the Jack and Coke he’d drunk earlier, along with something more primal, more sexual. Desire.
All semblances of self-control got tossed to the side. He pressed her against the door, pulling her injured leg up until it hooked around his waist and the hem of her dress gathered around her waist. His erection rubbed against her intimate areas, tormenting her with the layers of material that separated them.
He broke his lips away from hers and trailed them down her neck. The combination of his rough stubble mixed with the gentle flicks of his tongue and teasing nips of his teeth nearly sent her over the edge. Who cared if they were humping in the middle of the hallway? She wanted him to fuck her right here and now.
“Lana.” He moaned her name like a starving wolf presented with a haunch of fresh meat. His hands cupped her buttocks, raising her ever so slightly so his cock stimulated the exquisitely sensitive nub between her legs.
A shudder ripped through her body. She reached for the door handle, eager to continue this in her bed. Screw the cab waiting downstairs. She’d pay for the running meter at this point, so long as he left her a satisfied and exhausted puddle of flesh when he finished with her.
The door flew open beside her, and if Byron hadn’t caught her, they would’ve landed on the floor in a tangle of limbs. A petite Hispanic woman stared at them with round brown eyes.
Oh, shit, is this the wrong condo?
Her blood is his lifeline. His love could be her salvation….
In the Blood
© 2011 Abigail Barnette
Call girl Cassandra Connely drifts through life in a haze of guilt and sedatives, burdened by a deadly mistake from her past and plagued by nightmares of horrific, clawed creatures. Her newest client is a mouth-watering distraction, and she finds herself intrigued by Viktor Novotny’s eccentric…tastes. Until he touches her, and her nightmares become real.
One look at the woman in the hot red dress, and Viktor rests assured he will hang onto his humanity at least one more night. In the century since an attack turned him into a vampire and killed his wife, regular sexual encounters are his only defense against becoming a mindless Minion. Yet when Cassie agrees to be his companion—and meal—for the evening, she stirs his soul in a way he hasn’t felt since his lost lover.
Viktor’s haunted eyes pull at her heart, but Cassie cannot bear to feel anything, ever again. When she flees his apartment, though, she is in more peril than she knows. Tasting her blood without completing their union has left Viktor hungry for no other but her. And vulnerable to the very Minions that wait to drag him into the void. Worse, Cassie is their next target…
Warning: Contains explicit love scenes that will make your blood boil over, including a brief m/m encounter, ill-advised (but oh-so-sexy) use of sharp objects, and hypnotic kisses that could—just for a moment—make you imagine you are Viktor’s lady of the night.
Enjoy the following excerpt for In the Blood:
Viktor laid a hand on her knee, and it was cold thro
ugh her jeans. “Are you all right?”
She nodded stupidly. Of course she wasn’t all right. Nothing was all right. Either the monsters of her dreams were real or Viktor was part of her hallucination. In either case, she was crazy, and she had no clue how long she’d been that way.
For a long time, she said nothing, and he did not try to engage her. She stared out the window, imagining that all of the people on the sidewalks would turn to her with blank faces and yellow teeth. A woman juggled a paper bag of groceries on her arm, and Cassie watched with terrorized fascination, waiting for her to expose her startling lack of features. When she did turn her head, she was only another human being, but Cassie still startled.
Finally, she had the courage to ask Viktor. “What were those things?”
“Vampires.” The word was hard and unapologetic.
She nodded again, content to withdraw and continue staring out the dark-tinted glass as she slowly lost her mind.
Viktor was not as content to let her. “It was my fault. My mark is on you now, from feeding. They can track you, as they can track me.”
“Your mark?” Cassandra shook her head. “Did you know that would happen to me? That monsters would try to attack me? And you drank my blood anyway?”
Jesus, what was she saying? She couldn’t possibly believe a word he had to say.
“Usually, it does not happen this way. If we had—”
“Why would they be tracking you? They’re my nightmares. I’ve been dreaming about them my whole life.” Well, not her whole life. Ever since the accident. But she didn’t feel like rehashing those details with a stranger.
Kiss of Temptation: The Kavanaugh Foundation, Book 3 Page 14