Her discomfort attested to his inhumanly proportioned shaft—or maybe her mind was exaggerating the size because his was the only one she’d ever felt. Whichever it was, it wouldn’t deter her from being with him again. She closed her eyes, letting the hot water soak into her.
The bathroom door creaked open, startling her back to reality.
Ascher knocked on the shower door. “Mind if I join you?”
Shauna opened it, moving over to make room for him. “Of course not.”
Wrapping her in a tight embrace while kneading her shoulders, he mouthed, “Thought I might like to share a shower with you,” against her ear then gave her an apologetic stare. “I’m so sorry that I hurt you last night.”
He’d been in her mind. Her eyes wandered until he drew them into his, and she couldn’t look away. His stare was deep and entrancing, damn near hypnotic—a vampire mind control tactic, no doubt. His hands moved from her shoulders down to her breasts, continuing to massage her, only now her breasts were the beneficiaries of his hands’ undivided attention.
She soaped their bodies, creating a warm and slick friction between them. Their bodies slipped against one another, making the sensitive spots more susceptible to the other’s touch.
The feather soft touch of his fingertips caused her nipples to harden into stiff peaks. Groaning, he took the left breast into his mouth, teasing the nipple with his tongue. Her breathing became shallow as the warm, tingly sensations started. The soreness in her core mixed with a strange, prickly type heat.
He was making her burn.
The sensations deepened as he released the left breast and suckled at the right one, tweaking the other nipple with his thumb and forefinger. Her hand grasped the top of his head, raking her fingers through his shower damp hair. His tongue and fingertips continued teasing her, whipping her into a heated frenzy. Her breaths quickened as he pushed both breasts together, flicking his tongue across both rigid nipples.
Her heart thumped with a stuttering rhythm then her pulse picked up, beating double time to make up for the pause. She tried to speak but the sensations took her voice, leaving only pants of pleasure behind. Warm drones of electricity spiked in her body, concentrating in her nipples then traveling lower to the pulsing between her thighs. Her head was light—too light to hold her body up.
His red eyes gleamed with lust and a wicked fire that stunned her, paralyzing her body. Ascher lifted her, whirling her across the bathroom and landing her on the black marble countertop.
Excitement flooded her racing heart as she struggled to stay conscious. His hands explored her wet body—rubbing, caressing and stroking her all over. His tongue breached her lips, driving prickles of warmth throughout her overexcited form and causing her to squirm. He trailed her body with his hands, probing her with a gentle finger, pulling her bottom to the edge of the counter.
Ascher knelt on the floor in front of her, glancing up at her with sparkling eyes and a naughty grin.
“Ash,” she whispered with a rough voice that was hoarse from a night full of pleasured screaming. “What are you doing?”
“I hurt you. Now I have to make it better. Just relax and enjoy it.”
Shauna attempted to speak but his eyes burned her, his head shaking to discourage her protesting. His hand rested against her stomach, urging her back against the mirror.
He dove right in, his lips nibbling her sensitive bud while a circling tongue fluttered across her clit. She quivered as he opened her wider, burying his face into her. Her loud moans synchronized with the wild thrusting of her hips.
His tongue twisted, twirled and did wicked things that no human’s tongue should be capable of. Her hazy and incoherent mind remembered that he wasn’t an ordinary human—it was so easy to forget. Ascher was exceptional at pleasuring her. A rippling flush painted her thighs red with a love blush as her heart soared. She struggled to draw air into her heated body, the tingling and throbbing peaking inside of her. Her hips spiraled against his face as his tongue stirred her into convulsions.
Giving her a smug smile, he continued lapping her until she pushed his head away. “I surrender!” She leaned back against the mirror, struggling to catch her breath while raking her fingers through his damp hair.
Ascher rose up and kissed her. “Better?”
“You have no idea!”
* * * *
After the episode in the shower, Shauna went out like a light. Ascher crept out of his room and down to the great hall. He’d asked his brothers to meet him to discuss the Romania trip.
Quinn, Tristan, and Zachary sat at the enormous wood table waiting for him.
Zachary was Tristan’s changeling—a child resulting from being turned. Zach’s motorcycle had gone off the road. Near death and bleeding out, Tristan wasn’t sure if he’d be able to save him. After his father’s accident on Laurel Pointe, Zach came up from Atlanta to help and planned to stay as long as Tristan needed him.
The room fell silent when Ascher entered, and he smirked at Quinn and Tristan’s wide, teasing smiles. Zachary looked down, purposely avoiding his eyes.
Quinn was the first to comment. “Where is Shauna? From the sounds of it, I’m surprised she’s still breathing.”
Tristan chuckled. “Dude, she was pretty loud last night.”
“Stop it guys. You won’t get me to talk about it,” Ascher growled.
Quinn laughed. “Then, you guys went at it again this morning? Wow!”
“Let’s just hope that you are infertile. After what we heard, she’d be knocked up for sure,” Tristan teased more.
Ascher mumbled a few curses in French. “Enough! I didn’t call you here to discuss my sex life. We need to talk about our trip tonight and what we’re going to do.”
Quinn snickered at his frustration. “Man, you’re cranky for someone who’s been having sex for the last eighteen hours.”
Tristan opened a set of floor plans and spread them out over the middle of the table. Everyone stared while flashing expressions full of shock.
“Where did you get those?” Ascher questioned Tristan.
“When you sent me to Romania to finalize the sealing that never happened.” Tristan glowered back. “I lifted them from Clive’s office. I also lifted these.” He tossed a set of rolled up papers across the table at him.
Ascher’s brow furrowed as he unrolled them. Shock rolled over him when he realized what he was holding. He glanced back at Tristan. “They had these? But how did they get these?”
Tristan shrugged.
Confusion blanketed Quinn’s face. “I wonder how long they’ve had blueprints to Bonheur. What did they plan to do with these?”
“An insurance policy,” Zachary speculated. “Maybe they suspected you’d chicken out. If you want my opinion, you dodged a bullet, Ascher.”
Ascher turned to Tristan. “Does Father know about this?”
“Of course not,” Tristan and Quinn answered simultaneously.
“He would attack them on principle alone. These blueprints prove that they didn’t trust us,” Tristan reminded everyone.
“I say we kick their asses and take names later.” Quinn did an impromptu hand chop on Zachary’s shoulder.
Zach laughed and gave Quinn a fist bump. “Awesome!”
Ascher huffed, “Do I always have to be the responsible one in the group?” He stood and paced the floor. “You know what the darklings are capable of. I’m also fairly sure that they have Katy.”
Zachary ceased his play fighting to ask, “Who’s Katy?”
“Shauna’s sister,” Tristan answered.
Ascher attempted to clarify the situation. “Ursula took her because she’s upset about the sealing.”
Quinn opened the vampire covenants and shouted, “This infraction alone is reason for us to retaliate.” He read from Section one thirty-seven. “No vampire shall knowingly take an innocent into captivity to settle a grievance with another clan.” Quinn slammed the book closed. “There’s our reason in black and w
hite for all to read!”
Ascher flushed with anxiety as he quoted a section of his own. “Section fifty-two says that anyone agreeing, either verbally or contractually, to a sealing can be granted excusal to make it null and void. It further states that if the transgression goes unresolved, the remedies can include death of the guilty party.”
“But Clive ended the war. He called a truce,” Tristan interjected.
Ascher’s eyes flashed red. “Do you honestly believe it’s that easy? If it’s over, where is Katy? Gabe sealed to Ursula weeks ago. Yet, Ursula continues to hold Katy prisoner!”
Quinn smirked. “You still have a grievance. The darklings attacked us after the truce. Even if they hadn’t, Zachary is Tristan’s changeling. Where is his justice? Katy is an innocent. She doesn’t even know what we are.” Flexing his huge bicep, he punched the air and growled, “An eye for an eye, brother.”
Ascher saddened. “That goes both ways. Ursula can’t get her virginity back, because I took it.”
“And Shauna is going to grieve for her sister if she dies.” Tristan added a new wrinkle to the discussion.
“Don’t you want justice for her?” Zachary asked.
The darklings were despicable, of this there was no doubt. Ascher’s lip stiffened as his jaw clenched. “We’re leaving tonight! The element of surprise will give us an advantage.”
Quinn smiled a ruthless and wicked grin. “Excellent plan my young, half-blooded brother.”
* * * *
That afternoon Shauna and Ascher decided to forget about the late flight he was catching and concentrate on being together. Lucy fixed her dinner—spinach salad and homemade cheese ravioli in a cream sauce so good it melted in her mouth. After dinner, they walked to their suite.
“I feel like I’m gaining so much weight eating Lucy’s delicious cooking.”
“Are you kidding me? Shauna, you look great!”
They made small talk about unimportant things, the heaviest subject masked with forced smiles and nervous laughter. Ascher was going away soon, and he might not come back.
Always a gentleman, he opened the door, allowing her to pass first. The room was dark, except for beige candles placed along the fireplace. A bottle of wine sat chilling on the table, a silver tray lying beside it. He picked it up and handed it to her.
“This is for you; I had Lucy make it special.”
Shauna gave him a suspicious stare as she lifted the lid.
“Mousse au chocolat,” he said, accenting his words with perfect French articulation.
It still surprised her when he spoke a random word or phrase in his ancestral language. “But how did you know?”
He pointed to his head.
“I really hate when you do that.”
“Anything that I channel from your mind, you could tell me. Why don’t you tell me more things about yourself?”
Shauna sat on the couch and ate a spoonful of the mousse. She opened her mouth to speak then paused, her eyes rolling as the creamy mixture dissolved on her tongue. “That is so good.”
Ascher laughed.
She remembered the subject and attempted to speak. “I’m not much of a talker. I was closest to my sister, and she knew everything about me. I didn’t need to tell her things.”
“But if we are to trust one another, we have to communicate. Physical love is the easy part. It takes nothing. True intimacy encompasses many things: trust, love and understanding.” He grabbed her hands. “I don’t want to just be your lover, Shauna. I believe our relationship to be so much more. I want to be your mate, your companion, the other half of your soul. How can I do that if you won’t let me in?”
“And what makes you think I’m holding anything back?”
“Just a feeling I get.”
Shauna continued to stare at him, waiting for him to clarify his last statement.
“There are clusters of guarded memories in your mind, and I’m not sure why. I have reason to believe that they’re repressed and so painful that you’re choosing to displace them.”
“You and your psycho mumbling,” she muttered.
“Haven’t you ever wondered why you can’t remember some of your childhood?”
“My childhood pretty much sucked. I had a verbally abusive father, an enabler for a mother and they forced me to practice a religion I didn’t believe in. There’s no wonder that I block it out!”
“We’re supposed to be enjoying our time together and not talking about things that stress us out. When I return, we’ll sort through it. Did you call Ags today?”
She nodded.
“She’s well?”
“Yes.”
“Olivia and Aaris are here. I’ve asked Olivia to watch over you while I’m gone.”
“Who are they?”
“Aaris is a direct blood descendent and Olivia is his mate.”
“Was she human when they sealed?”
“No.” He avoided her eyes.
“What does that face mean, Ascher?”
“She was sealed to another, but he perished in battle.”
A sick feeling washed over her as she absorbed his last statement. “I’m scared, Ascher.”
He cradled her head in his hands. “I know this is hard for you. If I don’t go, Ursula and her clan will taunt us and hunt us, possibly kill us—one by one. We have to show them that we’re strong and capable of hurting them. I want you to think about seeing your sister again. Think about how happy you’ll be to have her home.”
Shauna jumped up and paced the floor. “Who’ll lose their life or existence because of this—because of me? I can’t live with that on my conscience. Every day, you risk your life because you love me. I’m not good enough of a reason for you, or any of your kin to die. I’m not worth it, Ascher. I’m not worth it!” She slid down against the wall, drawing her legs to her chest to weep.
“You listen to me, Shauna. I’m willing to make any sacrifice to keep you safe. If it means my life for yours, I’d gladly give up my existence for you.” He placed his hand against her pounding heart. “My heartbeat is yours. This moment right here, with you, is worth more to me than ten lifetimes without you.”
“But what about—”
He pulled her closer to him, placing his finger over her mouth. “What is it with you and worry? No more worrying, Shauna and no more words.”
“That’s clever of you to use my own words against me.”
Ascher lifted her into his arms. “I think I have something to take your mind off your worry. There are so many other uses for our time together.”
* * * *
Ascher carried her over to the bed, placing her on the edge. She gave him a deep, lingering kiss as he eased himself out of his clothing. He slid his hands easily over her shoulders, smoothing her dress off, causing it to slink to the floor. Her underwear and bra soon joined the dress on the gray tile.
Kissing and caressing her, Ascher savored the way she tasted and felt, letting it fuel the fire inside him. Her carotid was easier to ignore the more they made love, as he barely noticed it now. His pulse remained calm, and his fangs didn’t threaten to emerge.
He stared down at her naked body. The things that made her human, also made her very desirable. “You are so beautiful. Do you know that?”
Shauna gave him a dumbfounded expression. “No matter how many times you say that, I never get used to hearing it. You’re the beautiful one.” She sighed. “What are you doing in love with me?”
In a move so fast that her eyes crossed, he disappeared then reappeared in the middle of the bed, behind her. He turned her to him, resting his hands at the small of her back, pulling her closer until she was in his lap—her legs wrapping around him. They stared into one another’s eyes, their bodies clinging.
Shauna sat at eye level with him, unlike when they stood and he towered above her.
Ascher's hands wandered over her body while his mouth kissed the tender skin along her neck. He paused to flip her onto the bed but her arms rem
ained locked around him, preventing him from laying her down.
Pushing him down on the bed, she shook her head and whispered, “No,” raising herself above him, freeing his erection from the pressure of her bottom. Kissing his neck and chest, she made her way down his quivering stomach and its thin trail of dark hair. She grasped him, wrapping her hand around his engorged rod. It reacted to her touch by standing at full attention.
A yearning sparked in him, a feeling he’d only imagined in his mind. It felt good—too good to be right. It was wrong—very wrong. Ascher groaned and gently wound his hand into her hair, making sure to get a good handful. He couldn’t let her do that, not while she was still human.
“Shauna, no,” he whispered, bringing her head back up to his.
She glanced at him, a combination of bewilderment and hurt in her eyes. “Why? You’ve pleasured me in this way. I just wanted to return the favor.”
“Doing that could be so dangerous for you. Only after we seal.”
Her eyes rounded with fear. “Why is it so dangerous for me?”
Grabbing both sides of her head, he said, “I’ve talked to Tristan about that. He said I might lose control. This is why I can’t allow you to do that. I can’t guarantee your safety otherwise. Vampire bodies are very sensitive. When we make love, it’s physical. We growl, scratch, and sometimes bite one another. That’s why I teased you about seeming immortal. I only scratched you after you scratched me. I’ve never felt as out of control as the first time we were together.”
“I’m sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for? There’s no need to be sorry, but I still have to mind myself when we’re together. You’re still in danger when we make love. I’m able to better control myself now that you’re no longer a trinity, but your blood still appeals to me, and I could still harm you if I’m not careful. Have patience, we’ll make love many more times. When the time is right, we’ll explore new and exciting ways to pleasure one another. I look forward to experiencing everything with you. Don’t worry, I’m very satisfied with our lovemaking—you’re amazing.”
Ascher sifted his hands through her hair, pulling her face and lips back to his. He was also satisfied with his newfound self-control. His thirst was minimal and his eyes weren’t morphing. It was nice to look normal, even if he wasn’t. He couldn’t imagine how difficult it must be to make love to someone who tended to look more beastly than human.
The Progeny (The Progeny Series) Page 21