by Donna Grant
Vincent’s look turned stony. “All three were connected to us somehow, whether being asked out by one of us, a friends with benefits arrangement, or even just a phone call.”
“Yep. You already said you think it was because Beau spoke with me today.”
His hesitation made fear snake down her spine, but it was the look of regret that made her take a step back.
“You felt something last night on the pier,” he said.
Olivia realized two things in that moment: Vincent had seen her, and so had the creature.
She weakly nodded. “I knew something was there. I felt it.”
“I was tracking it. It stopped near your house. That’s when I looked away long enough to spot you, and then it was gone.”
Olivia pulled out a chair and practically fell on it. “You knew it was coming for me.”
“Which was the only reason it didn’t get you.” He waved his hand at the map. “We’ve searched this entire bayou and the surrounding areas to no avail. We can’t find this thing.”
Her grandmother had never had anything negative to say about the Chiassons. Olivia had graduated with Lincoln, but he hadn’t paid her any attention. In fact, the Chiassons were usually never around for any school functions or even parties.
Now she understood why.
Vincent ran a hand through his dark hair. “My family has been hunting since our ancestor followed a creature to Nova Scotia from France, and then Nova Scotia to here.”
Now she understood why they kept themselves apart from others. Few would believe what they did, and the others who did would want to keep their distance just in case.
“Thank you for tonight. You saved me.”
He shrugged, almost as if he wasn’t used to the praise. Olivia rose and moved to stand beside him. She gazed at the map, seeing the three X’s where she surmised the victims had been found.
“We’ve never brought anyone into our home,” he said.
She looked at him, surprised by his words. “Then I should thank you again.”
His hand brushed hers, sending chills racing along her skin at the contact. She had been in his arms, molded to his body, and yet so simple a touch could turn her to mush.
She hungered for more.
Breathing became difficult when she was once more caught in the web of desire. It tightened around them, pulling them closer – urging them deeper.
She lifted her face as Vincent lowered his. Their gazes clashed, tangled. She feared where this was going, feared how desperately she needed his touch.
Some might say it was the trauma she had been through that night, but Olivia knew differently. She had always felt this way toward Vincent. She just hadn’t been this close to see how far it might go.
Beau stepped into the kitchen and said, “The three of us are going hunting. You’ve...ah...got things covered here I see.”
“Go,” Vincent growled.
Olivia shivered, not from his tone, but from the raw need in his gaze. No one had ever looked at her with such longing, such fire before.
It wasn’t long before the house grew quiet after the other three exited, leaving her alone with Vincent. Would he finally kiss her?
“I’ll see to your wound now,” he said and turned away.
Olivia was crushed. So much for that kiss. She held out her arm as he unwrapped the part of his shirt he had torn off and set about cleaning the wound before he wrapped it in clean gauze.
“Your turn,” she said when he finished.
He hesitated for just a second before he jerked off his torn and bloodied black tee. She bit her lip when she saw the scars that covered his body, and he would have four new ones to add to it.
The slashes from the creature went deep, gorging the skin. “You need to go the hospital for stitches.”
Vincent was shaking his head before she finished talking. “Take the jar I just used on you. Spread the contents liberally over the wounds.”
Olivia looked at the simple jar. “What’s in the jar?”
“Herbs to heal us. We can’t exactly go to the ER every time we have a run-in with the creatures. Our ancestors came up with ways for us to take care of things here.”
Olivia set about following his instructions until all four slashes were cleaned. She taped a piece of gauze over it and stepped back to survey her work.
“Thanks. Time for you to go to bed,” he said without even looking at her.
As if she could sleep now. She was being chased by a creature that could disappear at will, learned that her grandmother’s house was protected by Hoodoo, and discovered that the rumors about the Chiassons were true. Not to mention she had come close – twice – to kissing Vincent.
Sleep was the last thing on her mind.
“Isn’t there something else I can do to help you? I can cook or clean or –”
“You’d be in the way. Follow me. I’ll show you to a room.”
Olivia stomped after him. “I’m not tired. Need I remind you that this thing is after me?”
He was halfway up the stairs when he turned around and walked back to her. “Need I remind you that we hunt these things?”
“I want to help.”
“No.” He pivoted and walked back up the stairs.
“I want to be useful.”
In an instant, he was before her again. “And I don’t want you to die!”
The impact of his words went right through her. They held a deeper meaning. She saw it there in his eyes, right before it was replaced with that glowing flame of desire again.
“I won’t.”
“No, you won’t,” he said before he claimed her lips.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Vincent allowed himself one taste of her. That’s all he was going to take. Then their lips met. The desire that had been riding him erupted into a firestorm of need.
He pulled back, startled by the intensity of longing. Olivia’s eyes reflected his surprise – and hunger.
It was a mistake to give in, a mistake to allow himself to think he could hold Olivia Breaux in his arms and not pay the consequences later.
Yet even as those thoughts ran through his mind, he slid his hand into the thick tresses at her neck and yanked her against him for another kiss.
Desire licked at him, urging him onward. Their kiss was fierce, fiery. Passion sizzled between them, scorching them with the promise of pleasure.
There was only one thought in Vincent’s mind – to claim Olivia as his.
If only for one night.
He ended the kiss and lifted her in his arms while he waited for her to put a stop to their encounter. Instead, she looped her arm around him and smiled.
Vincent took the stairs three at a time. He strode down the hallway and shouldered open his door before kicking it shut as he carried her into his room.
All the while, her hands had been caressing his chest and shoulders. It drove him mad with need. The feel of her hands on him, stroking him was more than he could take. His chest heaved, his blood burned.
He slowly released her legs and let her slide down his body. Somehow Vincent stood still so she could continue her exploration.
“So many scars,” she said softly. “So much pain.”
She didn’t know the half of it, and yet with her touch, he couldn’t seem to recall anything other than his desire. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth when her hands went to the waist of his jeans.
A moan exploded from him as her hand ran over his aching cock through his jeans. His eyes flew open to see her looking down at the hard length of him.
Didn’t she know she was pushing him to the edge of reason? Didn’t she know how desperately he needed to fill her?
Vincent could wait no more. He grabbed the hem of her shirt and roughly pulled it over her head. She unbuttoned her jeans and began to push them down her hips when he took her mouth again.
She was out of her pants in record time. Then both of their hands fumbled with getting his jeans off. Vincent couldn’t
remember getting out of his clothes so quickly, but then again, he hadn’t had Olivia in his arms.
His hand caressed her back while he tightened his hold on her. With a twist of his fingers, he had her bra unhooked. She pulled back long enough to take it off and fling it aside.
Her smile enchanted him, mesmerized him. Captivated him.
He watched, his breath caught in his throat, as she stepped out of his arms and slowly removed her black lace panties. Vincent feasted his eyes on the beauty before him.
“You’re exquisite.” It’s the only word that could come close to describing her.
Her skin, tinged a constant tan from her heritage, was flawless. Her glorious curves – from her full breasts to her small waist and flared hips - made his cock jump in anticipation.
A smile formed when the dark bud of a nipple tightened under his gaze. Her chest heaved as she watched him with hooded eyes.
Vincent caressed her hip, then moved around to her shapely bum and squeezed. A soft moan passed through her lips. Her arms wound around his neck, bringing their bodies together. He ground his cock against her, wringing a groan from both of them.
He hissed in a breath when her fingers delved into his hair and her nails lightly scoured his scalp.
“Please, Vincent. Please, don’t make me wait for you any longer.”
Her whispered plea was his undoing. He walked her to his bed and fell upon it, taking her with him. They came together as one, their lips seeking, their hands learning.
Vincent cupped her breast and squeezed. He thumbed her nipple, causing her to jerk her hips against him. If he was only going to have one night with Olivia, he wanted her screaming his name, the night burned in her memory.
He slid down her body to take a taunt nipple in his mouth. While his tongue teased the tiny bud, he cupped her sex and felt the moisture of her arousal.
He dipped a finger inside her and heard her moan as her hips rose against him. His thumb found her clit and began to circle it, slowly at first, and then increasing the harder he sucked at her nipple.
Her nails dug into his arms, her back arched off the bed, and her moans turned into soft cries. He continued his assault until he felt her body tighten.
Olivia wanted to scream when Vincent abruptly ceased and moved down until his mouth was between her legs. She shook her head. There was no way she was going to let him have all the fun.
After all, she had barely gotten to explore that hard, amazingly ripped body of his. She wanted more time to explore him, to learn what drove him wild.
She scrambled up and motioned to him with her finger. His blue gaze narrowed, but his smile said he was game. He crawled toward her. When he got even with her, she shoved him onto his back.
Her gaze raked over his chiseled abdomen to his narrow hips. Muscles bunched, waiting and ready. She splayed both hands on his chest and smoothed them over every valley and ridge of his muscles.
Just out of reach was his cock. She drew her hands closer and closer to his arousal, watching it jump each time. His length begged to be touched.
Olivia straddled his chest, putting her back to him as she took his rod in hand. She wrapped her fingers around him and stroked up and down his impressive length.
His moan brought a smile to her lips. She leaned down and brought the tip of his arousal into her mouth. His fingers clenched at her hips. A moment later, and it was her turn to moan when his tongue flicked over her clit.
She took him deeper in her mouth letting her hands rub his length and his sac. It was hard for her to concentrate since his tongue was doing amazing things to her, sending her closer and closer to the edge of her climax once again.
Would he let her fall this time? Or would he pull back again?
She trembled as he pushed a finger inside her while he tongued her clit. When the second finger entered her, she sucked him harder. If she was going to be brought to the edge, so was he.
Olivia was suddenly thrown onto her back and Vincent loomed over her. Her legs were held wide and his cock brushed her sex. She urged him closer, needing to feel him inside her.
His gaze held hers as he slowly entered her, stretching her, filling her. She moaned, hungry for more.
He began to move, leisurely at first, but steadily building. She wrapped her legs around him and lifted her hips to meet his thrusts, sending him deeper inside of her.
Vincent’s arms shook as he held himself over Olivia. She was a beautiful sight to behold with her black hair against his white sheets and her mouth open on a scream.
As soon as her legs wrapped around him, he wanted to bury himself deep within her. He tried to hold back, but she refused to let him. The harder he thrust, the more pleasure spread over her face and the louder her cries became.
This time when he felt her body tighten he didn’t stop her. Vincent was awestruck by the sight of her flushed skin as the climax struck. She screamed his name, her body jerking with the force of the pleasure.
Vincent didn’t relent. He ruthlessly pounded her until her cries grew faint. Only then did he pull out long enough to flip her onto her stomach.
He ran a hand over her smooth ass and pulled her to the edge of the bed so that her legs hung off. With one thrust, he entered her.
She moaned, her fingers digging into the sheets. He held her hips and filled her again and again, harder, deeper. To his shock, she began to move with him.
And it sent him spiraling out of control, the orgasm so forceful that it took his breath. He pulled out of her at the last minute and spilled his seed on her back.
Vincent grabbed a discarded shirt and wiped away the remnants of his climax. He started to turn away when Olivia grabbed his hand.
He looked into her black eyes and saw only satisfaction reflected there. Tossing the shirt side, he climbed into bed and lay on his back. A moment later, she snuggled against him.
Vincent put one hand behind his head, the other he wrapped around Olivia. He stared at the ceiling wondering how he could have another night with her.
“I never thought I’d get to kiss you,” she said.
He glanced down at her with a frown. “What?”
“It was well known that the Chiasson’s were hard to catch. Some girls said each of y’all had girlfriends in other parishes. I used to do all sorts of things to try and get you to notice me.”
“I noticed you,” he confessed.
Olivia leaned up on her elbow. “You did? I had no idea.”
“Take a look around. How could any of us bring a girlfriend into this? We couldn’t. So, we didn’t.”
She returned to his chest. “Sounds like a lonely life.”
“At times it is.”
“And now? What happens between us next?”
Vincent took a deep breath and slowly released it. “We’ll find whatever is after you and end it.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
He knew that, but he couldn’t tell her what she wanted to hear. Nor would he lie to her. It was better to ignore the question all together.
“I see,” she murmured.
Vincent clenched his jaw. It wasn’t the first time he hated the life he’d been born into. Someone had to do it. He just wished it didn’t always have to be their family.
His father and ancestors had managed to find love, but with it had come devastating loss. Every male Chiasson had lost his wife. Not all had been killed by the very beings the Chiasson’s hunted, but many of them had. His mother included.
“Will you live your life alone then?” Olivia asked.
Vincent shrugged and opened his eyes. “Most likely. Christian and Beau will carry on the Chiasson name. Lincoln probably will as well.”
“But not you.”
It wasn’t a question, and he didn’t treat it as such. “I have my reasons.”
“Because of your parent’s deaths?” She tapped his chest with a finger. “It didn’t take much to put two and two together. The story around town was that your parents died in a boat
ing accident, but I gather it was one of these things you hunt.”
He nodded, unable to voice the words.
“I’m so sorry, Vincent.” She tightened her arm across his chest in a half hug. “I lost my parents as well.”
“You don’t remember me being there, do you?”
There was a beat of silence before she rose up to look at him. “At Maman’s. Yes, you were there when they came to tell her about my parent’s car accident.”
He waited, knowing she was smart enough now to put it together. Would she hate him for keeping the truth from her all this time? He wouldn’t blame her if she did.
“Oh, God,” she said as she jerked upright. “My parents didn’t die in a car accident, did they?”
Vincent sat up and tucked her hair behind her ear so he could see her face. “They happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The demon didn’t target them. It ran from us and headed straight to the road where your parents were on their way to dinner.”
Her eyes swam with tears. “Did you kill the demon?”
“That night before we notified Maria.”
“I’m glad.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
All these years she had thought her parents died in a car accident. In a way they did, but not by running off the road because of a blown tire as she had been told.
Then there were the Hoodoo symbols on her grandmother’s house. So many secrets. What else was being kept hidden from her?
She turned her gaze to Vincent who watched her carefully. “What is it about our parish that brings these creatures?”
The relief on Vincent’s face was plain to see. He leaned back against the headboard. “I asked my father that same question when I was eight years old. The truth is that the creatures are everywhere. We’re one of the few families throughout the States who protect an area.”
“There are more families like yours?” She couldn’t imagine there being anyone like the Chiassons, with their vivid blue eyes and warrior attitude.
“A few.”
When his eyes dropped to her chest, Olivia realized she was still naked. Her breast swelled and her nipples puckered under his gaze.