by Claudy Conn
“And this will affect humans…how?” I asked. This was all new to me. We didn’t have this problem in New York. All supernaturals seemed to have a silent pact of ‘live and let live’.
“Ah, lass, the ancients want humans to serve their needs. The Lycans and Shifters just want to live away from the fray…be free, but they are territorial. If the vampires go after the humans, they will usurp territory, and the wolf packs wouldna allow that. War will affect humans, make nae mistake.” He shook his head. “As it happens, both sides believe they are the superior race. Neither side wants to share territory or power. If war breaks out, we will have to call on everything we have in our arsenal to stop them. I have to get out of here…”
Well, there it was, all of it in one huge nutshell—trouble.
I didn’t have even a moment to contemplate the future because it was right then that a vision snapped into my head and took over.
I phased out. It was as though Devin and Jeremy were miles away. I could scarcely hear their voices as they discussed the present problem.
Everything for me moved into a vision in my head. I saw it all so clearly, and it was as real as the air I breathed.
Humans lined up, offering themselves to machines that took blood, leaving them weak and helpless but able to give more on the following day!
I saw packs of vicious werewolves attacking vampires, ripping out their throats, leaving them to burn. I saw rabid vampires, bitten by werewolves…raping women, viciously attacking everything in sight.
And I saw a huge wolf with deep yellow eyes. He raced towards me and lunged…but he didn’t attack. Instead, he bent and spoke into my head, “Get on me…now!”
In my vision, I seemed to know him, and did what he asked. We raced through war torn cities in Scotland.
I saw so many humans—dismembered, disfigured…vampires gagging as they died from the bites of Lycans…and Lycans being killed by vampires. Cities ravaged with violence and blood—everywhere.
A gasp escaped me as the vision vanished. I put my head in my hands and whispered, “No, oh, no. We have to stop this.”
~ Eight ~
I SAID GOOD NIGHT TO Jeremy, and made my way to the staircase. He called out, “Hold up, Bobbie.” I knew he wanted to talk about my vision. I had told him and Devin what I had seen, and a dead silence had taken over. In the end, both of them began arguing. I needed time.
I turned and smiled. He came up to me at the head of the wide staircase and took my hand. “Look, I don’t get visions, but from all my research…they aren’t a given. Visions are only one example of what might happen. We can stop this.”
“Yes, I know…but at the moment, I don’t know what the two of us can do…and even if I get Devin out in time…that is only three of us.”
“We have to find a catalyst, something other than us against them, and we will because we must.”
“I want to believe that,” I said doubtfully.
“Look, Bobbie…I had a sister once, I’ve come to feel I do again, so I don’t mean to tell you what to do, but…well, I believe from what my operative reported to me, Allora is tied up with the ancients in London and won’t be coming here anytime soon.”
“And?” I urged as he paused.
“And, as of now, she doesn’t realize your connection in all of this…or even mine. She will in the end, of course, attempt to kill us simply because we are in the way, whether she finds out who we are or not, but as of this moment, she probably doesn’t see any need to rush here willy-nilly. Immortals rarely rush about.”
“Oookayyy?” I eyed him.
He wiggled his eyebrows and I burst out laughing. “What is that supposed to mean?” I asked him.
“Right, so then, Mrs. Tunny and Davis have already retired for the evening. I’m headed to my suite to catch up on some paperwork I have got to get done, after which, I mean to sleep deeply and long. As we are here and well protected from demons, vamps, and a variety of supernaturals because of the Blood Wards, you could say…well…”
“You could say…well?” I repeated. “What are you trying to say, Jeremy?”
“Well…figure it out, kid,” he said, and took the stairs ahead of me two by two. He stopped at the top and looked down at me. “Headed for my suite now. Won’t be needing to see you ‘til morning.” He wiggled his brows again.
I laughed out loud. He was dear, so dear.
When people are thrown together in a dangerous situation, friendship cuts right through the bullshit and bonds you to one another quickly.
Devin stepped up to the barrier at that moment. He had walked away earlier, saying that he had an errand to attend to, which left Jeremy and I to study a manuscript on Lycans and Shifters.
I am always aware of how Devin’s sudden appearance takes my breath away. He stood now, near me, only the invisible divider between us, and I so wished he could reach out and take me in his arms.
He looked from me to Jeremy at the top of the stairs and Jeremy grinned. “Going into my room now, right now,” so saying, he did just that.
“He is in the right of it, lass,” Devin said on a low note.
“About what?” I asked, but I knew, I so knew.
“Bobbie lass…?” Devin said softly. “Cannae ye nae figure it out then?”
I smiled at him. “Figure it out?” I teased.
“Coom to me, lass,” he coaxed. “Now…ye have nae call to do otherwise.”
“I can’t. I should stay here and be here to help just in case…?” I didn’t sound in earnest, even to myself.
“Och aye, but ye are a brave lass, but dinnae think anything will happen tonight. Jeremy told me he is certain Allora has to remain in London for now, and besides that, she will use caution when she finally decides to descend upon us. She knows Jeremy is a warlock—and ye are a witch. Two immortals at the same time are nae something a vampire wants to face without careful consideration. She wouldna coom rushing in where a trap may be laid out for her.”
“A trap?” I brightened. “A trap? Of course. How brilliant of you. What we need to do is set a trap. Oh, Devin, what a clever boy you are! But…how, what kind of trap would stop or hold an ancient vampire?”
“Clever, am I? Coom to me now…give me an hour or two and nae only will I show ye how clever I can be…I’ll show ye how skilled,” he said, his voice low, seductive, and forceful.
His expression, his eyes, his voice worked their magic on me. More than anything I wanted to go to him, touch him, feel his touch, his kisses…
But I said, “First, tell me what kind of trap we can put together.” I can be single-minded and this notion had taken hold of me even through the heat he had engendered in all my lady parts. Damn, but I was hot for him. I felt so much desire that it was difficult to concentrate on anything else. My logic was easily and already defeated. I knew I was going to open the portal and run to him. I knew it.
“Nae,” he answered. “First, ye coom to me and then when ye have cleared m’head with yer soft touch and yer delicious kisses…”
His voice sent shivers through me and I clenched my thighs as I felt wetness pool in my tiny panties. “Ah…” was all I could say.
He laughed. “Ah? Aye then, coom to me and we’ll discuss what I know about traps and vampires.”
“And?” I pursed my lips. “What else?” My brain was focused on my body’s needs. My eyes swept over him, found the bulge in his jeans and it was as though I couldn’t breathe. I needed him in every imaginable way.
All at once, without saying the word to open the portal—it appeared. I hadn’t needed to even speak the word out loud. It opened with just a thought. My powers were increasing. I would have to explore this new development, but not now…now I couldn’t step through the portal fast enough!
This time when I went through the narrow sliver of a portal, I didn’t stumble and fall into his arms like before. No, but I found myself there all the same.
* * * * *
His mouth was on mine, parting my lips wit
h ease as his tongue slipped inside and taught me a tango that burned through every pleasure point I owned.
His kiss turned into many as we stood there together, and I don’t know when the thought came to me, but it must have, because all at once, we were both naked.
I knew that was my magic. I could feel its power in the air.
He pulled away from me, threw back his head and laughed. “There are advantages in having a witch as m’own, but, lass, magic yer clothes back on.”
“Wait…what?” I was surprised.
“I want the pleasure of undressing ye m’self,” he whispered, and nibbled at my neck.
Bam, my clothes were back on.
He took my tank top and slowly lifted it up and over my head, bending to kiss first one nipple and then the other. He took his time before he dropped my top to the lush grass.
I watched him fill his hands with my breasts before he suckled there, moaning as he licked and then gently pulled at my nipples between his teeth. Oh, hot damn, but he sent tingling sensations to my clit, and all I wanted to do was lie down and spread my legs.
I waved my finger and his jeans were in a pile behind him. He grinned. “Dinnae ye want the pleasure of removing them yerself?”
“I did remove them, and it was most pleasurable,” I said as I took his large hard cock in my hand. “See, let me show you how pleasurable.” I stroked him gently but with just enough friction to make him groan out my name.
I loved watching as he closed his eyes when I slowly worked his dick. I loved the feeling it gave me to give him pleasure.
His hands cupped my breasts a little more roughly, but it was good, so good. He worked my breasts even as I worked his cock—both of us fever bound.
Damn, but I don’t think I could have clenched my thighs any tighter. I was at the edge, where there is nothing but the need for primal release fighting the hedonistic sense of wanting the moment to go on forever.
I dropped down to my knees, out of his hold. Tall lush green was all around me, beneath me, around me. I stroked his balls as I licked the length of his cock, thinking soon he would be inside me, taking me, pleasuring me, and the notion made me suck hard and then harder still.
He called out my name, put his hands under my arms and pulled me up, to tell me fiercely, “I want more of yer delicious kisses, now, right now…”
All at once I heard a female’s voice cry out as though in pain. “Devin! How could you! Who is she to you?”
We broke away from one another and I saw the young girl, Loli. I had noted in the past when I watched her that she was infatuated with Devin. Right now, her face was drawn in pure rage. She looked more angry than heartsick and I wondered at it. For a moment, I doubted Devin. Had he led the young girl on? I had not witnessed anything like that, and yet…she looked as though she had been betrayed.
“Loli, go home,” Devin said firmly. “Ye shouldna be here at this hour, and ye shouldna be asking me such things.”
He was right. It was dark with only stars to give off some light. What was such a young woman doing here at this hour? At the same time, he didn’t make any attempt to introduce us, which would have been awkward I suppose.
When she only stood there, her fists clenched, staring at him, he repeated, “Loli…go on home.”
“No, you…you…said you cared for me. I thought…we could be together,” she accused with a finger jabbing the air. “I went to your cottage…because I thought you wanted me. I came here to find you, to tell you I was ready to be yours. Why did you let me think I was dear to you?”
“You are dear to me, as the daughter of my friend, as a child I watched grow up.”
“No, you always smile so sweetly at me…I thought…”
All at once I realized we were both naked and with a thought, we weren’t. At least it was dark enough that we appeared more as silhouettes as she stood there angry and accusing.
“I do care for ye…as I would a sister, a friend…a young friend,” he answered. “I never gave ye cause to…”
“I hate you!” she spat and then looked at me. “I don’t know who you are…but you don’t belong here. We have rules and you are an outsider!” she said, and turned sharply and ran through the tall grass, I suppose in the direction of her home.
“Go after her,” I told Devin.
“Nae. That would only encourage her to believe I am romantically interested in her. I had hoped she would grow out of her…”
“Given time, maybe, but you are too gorgeous, too mysterious, too everything…so it would have taken a long time. However, finding out this way is sad,” I said.
“Finding out what? Dinnae ye see, lass, I have been telling her she isn’t for me and in fact, pushing her to another, a youth that is totally devoted and suited to her. He is a fine lad who wants to court her, but she’ll have none of him. Maybe now…that will change.”
I started to pull away, thinking it was time for me to return to my room. It didn’t seem right to stay after this incident.
Devin took hold of me and brought me in close. “Nae…ye cannae leave me because of this childish nonsense.”
“You must have given her some cause to hope, and I…” I heard the accusation in my voice as soon as I said the words. It wasn’t fair and I silently chided myself. I had seen him turn her away in the past when I watched from the other side. He had not given her any cause and I knew it.
His blue eyes widened. “Nae! I have always sent her home. I dinnae touch the child. I wouldna do such a thing. Do ye think otherwise, Bobbie lass, do ye?”
“No, I don’t think otherwise,” I whispered. “But I do think, well, I should go back now.”
“Nae…why?”
“Because…I feel for her. And somehow it doesn’t feel right.”
He touched my chest where my heart pounded wildly as it pumped blood into my head and clogged all but emotion. He then slapped his own chest where his vampire heart lay and snapped, “Us…we beat for each other. We cannae help what others think and do, but we can help each other, be there for one another, Bobbie…always. Lass, dinnae ye feel it? Dinnae ye see, ye are mine and I pledge ye m’self. Dinnae leave me now.”
Without waiting for my answer, he scooped me up and without another word we traveled vampire speed to his cottage.
Everything streamed by my vision in a flash of color. In Trinity, the landscapes change abruptly. We had been in the jungle where the invisible barrier (a portal of some sort) gave him visual access. We zoomed over the plain, through the forest to the clearing all so fast it was difficult to think.
At the front porch of his cottage, he flung open his front door and marched through the living quarters to his bedroom, where he dropped me without ceremony onto his large bed.
His face was drawn in passion and more. He looked at me as though I was everything he needed to breathe and once again, he had stolen my breath right out of my lungs.
“Do yer magic, love, this time, I cannae wait. Clothes off now…or would ye prefer I rip them off? I wouldna mind that m’self, ye see, so make yer decision and do it quickly, and do it now, lass.” He frowned and paused before he asked, “Or do ye say me nae?”
My answer came with magic.
One thought and we were naked once more.
He laughed and it was the sound of pure joy!
Oh, I loved his laugh. The next moment he was on the bed with me, and as he took my knees and bent them up and back so my thighs were neatly spread apart, his tone changed and his voice came low and hoarse. “I think I’ll start with dessert and work m’way up for the main course, what say ye?”
“Yae…I say yae.”
* * * * *
I awoke with a start.
I was in bed with a vampire—my vampire, but a vampire all the same. I thought about the trust I must have in him and smiled.
I gently moved as his one arm was slung over me and he murmured, “Bobbie lass, m’own sweet love. Dinnae think of leaving me yet. Go back to sleep, lass…or are ye lo
oking for some attention, attention I will gladly give ye?”
I turned in his embrace to face him. Oh, hot damn, he was so gorgeous and those blue eyes with the sleepy lashes lowered made me want to stay right where I was forever. However, I had responsibilities—one of which was research. I had to discover the spell my grandmother used to lock him in Trinity! “What time is it? I better get back…”
“Nae, let me show ye why,” he whispered, and all at once he straddled me and put my wrists above my head.
I laughed, but my body told him okay, even though my mouth said, “No…I won’t be able to walk.”
“Yer an immortal witch, lass, ye’ll recover,” he said hungrily as he took his cock and rubbed the opening between my legs where I was already wet and ready.
Holy fuck, he was big and he knew just how to move his dick because I instantly opened wider to receive all of him. He took that invitation and rammed himself hard and fast and pumped into me in an erotic movement that made me arch for more.
“There now,” he said. “Tell me ye want to go and I’ll let ye, right now, I’ll let ye.” He pulled out of me and it felt like I was falling from a cloud in the sky.
“No, no…not going yet. Inside…now!” I told him.
He rammed himself inside harder, and began a dance that took me into a star lit sky and promised primal relief. “Like this, lass? Tell me, lass…like this?”
“Yes, like that…fuck me like that,” I demanded, burning now for everything he had to give. “Devin…oh Devin…I…”
He took me with a wildness that set my blood bubbling and screaming for more. He moved in a way that brought me to a pinnacle called the land of pleasure. I pumped against his feral movements. My hips moved in rhythm to his dance and I succumbed to his ministrations as my body stiffened, ready, so ready to go off. And just at that moment, he pulled out of me!