Kiss of the Sun

by Racheal Pierce

  "You,” he answered. “Every day."

  Five

  Rosalind walked up and down the aisles in the food store. She grabbed packages while her mind wandered aimlessly. Maybe Bethany was right. Why should she have to be the one to bend to what he wanted? He was the one who denied his Chosen. Sent her away from his presence.

  Darius should work for her forgiveness and acceptance. He had had it once and lost it. Now he expected her to be a good little mortal now that he finally wanted her. To hell with him. She wasn't going to make his life easier.

  "His life is not always so easy."

  Rosalind barely contained her agitation. “The next vampire to enter my mind is going to get a serious whammy."

  Roman shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe if you hadn't been broadcasting so loudly I wouldn't have heard."

  "Oh, please! I may be mortal but I know only a Link can enter a mind. Protected or not."

  "What makes you think Darius’ life is so easy?” Roman fell into step beside her as she rummaged through the wrapped meat. He growled his disgust.

  Rosalind smiled as she turned to him, waving the package under his sensitive nose. “Darius is King. He can have anything and anyone he chooses. He has never been challenged nor has he lost any wars. His luck is great."

  "Luck,” he barked. “It takes great skill to keep this city at peace. Training to make sure a challenge is never issued. As to choices, you have taken those from him."

  "Ha! He had his choice years ago. What did he choose to do: send me to the borders, away from prying eyes."

  "Little girl, you need to get your facts straight. If Darius had not sent you away, you would have gone insane, or worse, died. Training to control powers such as yours takes years and an extreme amount of patience. Which you seem to lack."

  "Mortals don't have patience, remember? We only have a lifespan of a few decades. I will live mine to the fullest."

  Roman laughed. “Then why do you hide away from Darius?"

  "I am still angry with him."

  Roman listened to her voice. He did not sense anger coming from her, only an intense sadness. Her block against Darius seemed to be working better than he thought. She was only letting Darius feel her anger while holding her sorrow close. He knew his friend must not know how much she truly hurt, otherwise this standoff would have been over days ago. A Chosen Mate would never let another ache when he could easily take it away.

  "Blocking isn't healthy, Rosalind. Especially for Darius."

  "I don't have to give him complete access to myself, Roman. Only enough to keep him from unnecessary pain."

  "Then you know of the repercussions of the Psi Link?"

  "I spoke with Veronica,” was all she would reveal.

  "Speak to her again, Rosalind."

  "Why should I? I feel nothing from Darius. He is lucky I do not keep him out fully as he is doing to me!"

  "You know that headache you can't seem to get rid of?"

  "Yeah, so?"

  "That is Darius. He is also controlling what he is sending."

  Rosalind huffed, “That is just great, he gives me headaches."

  "No, Rozzy. You do not understand. Those aren't headaches. What you feel is Darius’ sorrow. His regret for what he did to you."

  "It is a damn small sorrow for what he did,” she muttered.

  Roman tried again to make her understand. “Darius is blocking what he can without actually closing the Link between you. If he wasn't blocking as much as he is, you would be unconscious."

  "What?” She did not believe Darius could feel that much emotion toward her.

  "Bloody hell!” he shouted. Roman grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the building. He stopped in a secluded alley.

  "Roman?"

  Roman lifted his hands to her temple. “With your permission my...” he stopped just in time, “may I?"

  "Sure, what the hell.” Rosalind had no idea what he was about to do, but if it made him go away she was all for it. Roman always made her uncomfortable when he did a mind meld.

  Rosalind closed her eyes and breathed deeply as Roman entered her mind. It wasn't like the death Touch—there was no pain, no pressure as images flowed freely into her mind. Each image was of Darius. He was a child in one, helping his family around a massive house. She had known his age but to see the proof of it was different.

  When she saw Darius walking along a forest path he was with another man. They were talking and laughing when they came across a band of thieves terrorizing travelers. They fought them off, but Darius had been wounded. Falling to the ground as the man with him tried to keep the danger away from his fallen friend. When he fell too the image blurred until Darius had awakened and the man lying next to him was dead. When a young Darius flipped him over Rosalind gasped, “Bastian."

  Before she could recover more pictures passed with great speed. She was unable to follow some of them, but the emotions from each encounter she felt completely. Sadness, happiness, hope and a great sensation of helplessness. It was all Darius.

  Thousands of memories and feelings were kept locked away so that he could stand as King. She had never felt so alone in her life and she knew the emptiness was coming from Darius. “Stop, please,” she whispered.

  Roman slowly released her mind. He had not meant to show her as much as he had but somehow she had taken control. Showing, once again, her rightful place as Queen.

  "I need to go back,” she muttered to herself.

  Roman watched as she stumbled up the walkway. “Rosalind?"

  "Yeah?"

  "Remember, your own terms."

  Rosalind rolled her eyes when she realized she had been scammed by two vampires. Rosalind flicked her wrist and watched in amusement when he fell on his ass.

  "Very funny!” he yelled in amazement. It was rare for a master of three elements to be taken by surprise, especially when he was a master of wind himself. The very feminine laughter behind him did not surprise him.

  "She will be a great Ruler one day."

  He looked up at the woman before him. Her fire red hair flowed around her, giving her a theatrical flair he knew she enjoyed. When he stood up his six-and-a-half-foot frame towered over her five-foot-five slimness. “That she will, Beth.” He gave a satisfied smile when she backed away from him. Despite her teasing she always trembled when he came to near.

  Her green eyes sparked. “Want to go for a swim?"

  Roman groaned inwardly. This young vampire would be the death of him. He pulled her close. When she sucked in her breath at the contact he bunched her hair in his fist, making sure she felt his power. In seconds he had them both breezing over the city with the help of the wind. He loved being what he was: one of the most powerful vampires in this world. “Hold on tight, Beth.” He moved faster over the buildings until there were only trees that secluded a small pond that Bethany had revealed to him only days ago.

  When they landed gracefully on the grass he let her go, only to have her wrap her arms around his neck. He stayed bent toward her, always careful not to hurt her. “Bethany?” Roman could feel her heart beat erratically. A sure sign that she was turned on.

  She smiled wickedly at him as she carefully climbed up his strong body. Only Roman would she trust with her wellbeing.

  "Better be only me.” He spoke savagely as he squeezed her ass in his hands.

  She laughed softly as he boosted her to his waist. Her legs squeezed him in return. “Let's go swimming,” she purred as her sharp fangs grazed the skin of his neck.

  His arms constricted around him as he walked to the water. Their clothes fell to the ground as he moved. He was over three thousand years old. Any vampire worthy of their power could do such a simple task as undressing. It was efficient and it drove this woman wild.

  The water was ice cold. His fire heated it instantly to keep Bethany from feeling the chill. “You should be careful what you tempt, young one,” he whispered in her ear.

  The water lapped at her back, making the heavy
weight of her hair drag down her back. She could feel the rise of the water as he walked further into its depths. Roman held her close as the bottom dropped away. Together they floated just above the surface. Their legs tangled as they kicked.

  "You are supposed to hold on to me.” He smiled at her.

  Her eyes sparkled as she laughed. “I am holding on.” She tightened her arms around his neck as her body disappeared further into the water.

  Roman sucked in a deep breath as her breasts bobbed above the water. They barely touched his scorched skin. “Bethany.” Never had he lost control when he was with a woman.

  "I am not just any woman.” She licked his neck.

  Roman growled as her tongue smoothed over his skin. He arched his neck for her. His hands roamed down her porcelain skin. Despite their familiarity with each other this was the first time he has been able to see her naked body.

  The water that warmed her left her body. She wanted to feel only his touch. Nothing was to hinder their contact. She wrapped her legs around his waist. She sucked in a sharp breath when His hard shaft brushed her cleft. The very length of him had her worrying over the fit.

  Roman smiled into her eyes. “Don't worry, I will fit.” He said it with such confidence had she not been so consumed by him she would have called him arrogant.

  To wipe away said arrogance she forced the tide back so that they stood in the sand. No water protected them from prying eyes. Roman swore before falling to the sand. Instantly he covered her nude body with his own. Always protecting her, even from her self. His shaft nudged at her opening.

  Roman cupped her swollen breast in his strong hand. Her nipple, already hard, strained for anything he could give. “I would never be selfish, Bethany. We have been playing this game for too long for me to take my pleasure and leave you with nothing."

  His lips fell to her forehead in reassurance. Already her skin was drying from the water. He lifted his head to look for invaders, but there was a ten foot wall of water surrounded them. It was easy to forget that such a young vampire had beyond mastery of one element. It certainly helped that both her vampire parents were masters with the water element. “Nice."

  Her green eyes sparkled. “If you do not touch me I will bite you Roman. And it won't be a loving bite either."

  Roman reached down her body, his fingers grazing the skin of her smooth thigh. He curled his hand under her knee and pulled her leg until she wrapped it around his waist once again. His shifted his hips so that he did not enter her. She wasn't quite ready for that.

  "How do you know what I am ready for?” she demanded. Her other leg curled around him until he could not pull away from her anymore. She would have him. Now, tonight.

  Instead of answering her he finally did what she had wanted for many years. He kissed her. It wasn't a slow tender kiss, either. It was the kiss of a very dominant vampire who was not going to be questioned. His tongue forced its way into her mouth. She did not resist his invasion. Bethany had always known that Roman would not be gentle their first time. She had teased him too much for the past few months. Now he would take, finally, what she had freely offered.

  Bethany moved her hands around his neck, urging him closer to her. In seconds her hands were trapped above her head. Her wrists cuffed in one of his big hands. “Please,” she begged. He had to let her touch him.

  "No.” Sand replaced his hand. His power with the earth kept her from escaping her prison.

  "Damn it, Roman,” she hissed through her fangs. Her body bucked in challenge. She would not allow him to...

  Roman jerked away from her. His eyes fixed on her heaving breasts. “You allow nothing. I am an elder. Capable of more than you can conceive of. You allow nothing unless I say.” Without waiting for a response he pierced her breast with his fangs. Blood flooded his mouth, alerting his passion dazed mind of how deep he bit. But he didn't care, not now. She had teased him into this frenzy. Sending him mental images of herself—always naked and set in one seductive position after another. Every one of them submissive. Did she know what she had revealed with those images? Or was she taught? The very thought of another man teaching her the ways of a sub caused him to suck even more of her delicious blood into his starving body.

  Roman jerked his head up. His eyes flamed red. “Who has touched you?” he demanded to know.

  She looked at him blankly. “What?"

  His nails bit into her shoulders. Jealousy blinded him to what was so painfully obvious. “Who taught you to be submissive?"

  The pictures came quickly to her mind. She had just been trying to seduce him. Make him want her as she has always wanted him. Bethany knew nothing of being submissive. In her five hundred years of living no man had interested her enough to practice her wiles on, not until she had returned to the city all those years ago. “Roman,” she tried to reason with him, “why would you think..."

  His hand fisted into her hair, silencing her. It was dangerous to provoke a male vampire when he was in this kind of rage. “No other male will touch you.” To prove his claim he bit sharply into her other breast.

  Bethany felt the sting of his bite. She had no idea what had made him so angry a moment ago. If only she could see into his mind as well as he could see into hers. She lost all concentration when he shifted her further down his long body. He was going to kill her with his teasing before allowing her pleasure. Her hands surprisingly broke free of their imprisonment and she grabbed for his shoulders pulling and pushing him in urgency. Never had a bite been this arousing for her. This painfully wonderful feeling only he could invoke from her. Her hips thrust up at him. She felt his cock rub along her soaked nether lips.

  If only she could make him lose his precious restraint. She wanted him hard, fast, and out of control. They could go for slow and wonderful later.

  Roman licked the holes he had made. Instantly they vanished, leaving only the bruising he wished. He smiled lazily before looking up at her. He could feel her building urgency. It only made him want to go slower. “Slow and wonderful now.” He thrust up to her. At once he slid a slow inch into her tight sheath.

  Her eyes squeezed shut at the invasion. He was so big. She hadn't expected him to stretch her so much with only a sample of what he had. Her body trembled with need, but uncertainty filled her. She was a small woman. He was a magnificently huge male.

  Roman rolled until they were sitting in the sand. He kept her legs around him when she would have moved away. Her thoughts had bombarded him mind. Obviously she was so worried about them that she had not bothered to block her thoughts from him. He needed this woman like he needed air to breathe. “Wrap your arms around my neck.” He gripped her hips with his hands, lifting her carefully.

  Her breasts arched upward. A banquet for him to feast. Roman could not help himself. What better way to take away her fear and to continue the pleasure than to dine upon her flesh? Her blood had satisfied his stomach but his lust begged for more.

  "Roman,” she moaned. Her hips flexed between his tight hold. She pulled his hair so that his neck tipped back.

  Roman hissed in pleasure when he saw her fangs lengthen in need. “Yeah, baby."

  She traced his full lower lip with her thumb. His fangs peeked out from behind his closed mouth. “Let me feed."

  Roman shuddered as he turned his head so she could easily reach his vein. He held her wet, naked body close to his. He needed to feel her skin slide across his as she stood to her knees. Her long hair fell around them. Roman quickly wrapped it around his fist. He needed something to keep him anchored, to keep him from slamming hard and fast into her unprepared body.

  Bethany lazily brushed her body up his muscular torso. Her curls brushed along his smooth skin as she stood to her knees. She prayed that her pleasure weakened body would support her weight until she had Roman where she wanted him. Never before had he let her feed from him.

  To allow a female to feed from him was a privilege he rarely allowed. Roman was too strong to risk his powers being ‘bor
rowed’ for a few hours by some unsuspecting vamp.

  Her tongue brushed his collarbone, leaving small nips in his skin as she traveled further away from his neck. She was playing with him. He could feel her intent, her need to find where his control ended. “Bethany.” He gave a warning. She was too young, too inexperienced to face his more dominant side. He would bruise her. Maybe even hurt her in his frenzy.

  Bethany stilled as his worries passed inside her mind. He thought her weak, did he? Unable to take what he would undoubtedly want to do to her if they continued with their play? Her anger warred with her need to be with this one man. To finally have what they both have been hiding.

  "Fuck it,” she muttered. She sank her teeth into his skin. There was no pain because she chose not to let it hurt him. Her body throbbed as his power coursed its way through her aching body. Instantly her pleasure tripled, causing her legs to collapse. Her body fell hard into his lap.

  Roman held her head tightly to his neck, insuring she fed to her heart's content. Never would he allow her to go hungry. His other hand smoothed up her leg until he came to the curve of her hip. From there he inserted his questing hand between their lower bodies until his fingers meshed in her tight curls.

  She shaved. He could feel the smooth skin surrounding the small patch of hair hiding her slit. His fingers broke through the nearly nonexistent barrier. Finding her nub already hard and aching for his touch he pressed hard so she would feel what he was going to do.

  She sucked harder at his neck, uncaring of the blood she drained from his body. With such a little touch he could blind her to everything but fulfillment. She still gripped his hair tightly in one fist. She pulled as her hips pushed into his hand, giving as good as she got.

  Roman stopped in surprise. Had she just retaliated? He smiled to himself. He could feel his blood empowering her. For the first time he didn't care about what would happen if an untrained vampire tapped into his abilities. Bethany could do as she wished as long as she let him do what he wanted to her quivering body.

  His fingers explored her soaked lips. She opened her legs easily for him now. She had ceased to think of their fit, of the pain. She wanted him as he wanted her. Now, quick and hard.