EcstasyEntwined

by Ju Dimello

  “Yes, it’s me.” He leaned in close to her ears, his fingers trailing over her arms, creating the impression of out-of-touch lovers. “Maybe we should move to one of the cozy corners, sweetheart.”

  She reared back suddenly as if waking up from a trance. “No.”

  Her eyes looked ready to pop out of her head before she glanced around and registered the unabashed curiosity their actions, or rather lack of action, incited. He tamped down a surge of irritation. What was that about? Did she think she could entice him over the phone, but act the shocked virgin in person?

  “Look, Elena, can we just talk?” He raked his fingers through his hair, unsure of how to proceed. “Please?”

  She gave a tentative jerk of her head and turned to grab her coffee. He let out the breath he didn’t realize he was holding. He picked up her muffin and followed close. If nothing else, the least he could do was tempt her taste buds with her favorites.

  He’d memorized every word of the file Leon had put together on her, until every tidbit of knowledge was etched into his memory. He could show her heaven if she gave them a chance, if he could convince her. To his chagrin, the ifs kept piling up. He shook his head and focused on her.

  Rounding on him the moment she reached a corner, she put her coffee down and grabbed his sleeves. “What do you want?” she asked.

  What did he want? Gregory schooled his face into a mask of indifference and pried her cold hands off his shirt, resisting the urge to kiss her whitened knuckles. “You invited me, remember?”

  He saw the exact instant she recalled her broken cry and the way she’d begged him to fill her. Resisting the temptation to call her bluff, he waited. His cock threatened to burst out of his pants when her eyes darkened, the violet swallowing the gray.

  “That—that was over the phone.” Pink spread across her face. “Under different circumstances.”

  He bridged the gap between them, pulling her deeper into the shadows, hiding from anyone who still bothered to glance their way. “Makes no difference.”

  She gnawed her lower lip, her eyes churning pools of emotions. “You don’t know what you’re asking for, Gregory.”

  Her strangled whisper jerked him closer to her mouth, as though he were a puppet whose strings were in her hands. At the last second, he detoured, nuzzling her neck, groaning at the pulse of her blood under his assaulting tongue. Her buttery cinnamon fragrance threatened to cut his control loose.

  He didn’t reply. Couldn’t. His gums throbbed with the effort to rein in his bloodlust and her defiance only made it harder. He needed her soft and compliant until his initial hunger passed. The more she resisted, the more she provoked his lust. How could he tell her that and not scare her senseless?

  His fangs elongated and he allowed himself a slight scrape on her skin—to satiate himself for the moment without piercing her… enough to show her he wasn’t joking.

  She stilled for an instant as if recognizing him for what he was. Would she push him away now that she knew he was a vampire? Except for her soft sigh, she showed no indication of her discovery.

  “Gregory…”

  Dread chased away his initial elation. What was she thinking? Feeling?

  He clenched his fingers with effort. If he touched her intimately now, he couldn’t guarantee remaining a gentleman. “If you’re unhappy that I tracked you, I apologize—”

  She shook her head, cutting him off. “No. It was nice meeting you. But you have to go.”

  Why? he wanted to ask when her violet-gray gaze filled with sadness. With her wavy brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, she looked the opposite of an alluring siren set out to seduce mankind.

  “Are you worried that you might hurt me with your voice?” he asked.

  Her blanched face spoke volumes. “Please, go,” she repeated.

  If he wasn’t such a determined bastard, the wobble in her tone would have made him turn back, acknowledge her fears and get the fuck out of her life. The desperation with which she had called his helpline—her need to connect—even with an unknown entity on the phone, had resonated with him. No one else evoked anything other than sympathy or a sense of righteousness he got from a job well done. He and Elena couldn’t be more suited for each other even if they tried. He hadn’t come this close to lose her because of her stubbornness to see reason.

  There was another tricky matter to contend with… His fangs still throbbed with the need to taste her blood, to assuage the lust roaring through him. Every second he’d spent away from her had been pure agony. A few seconds in her presence soothed him and stirred his arousal. His cock still pushed hot and hard against his slacks, not caring they were in public.

  In an effort to hide the obvious, he took a seat, gesturing her to do the same. Defying him, she remained standing. He caught her wrists, tugging her over to sit beside him. Her nostrils flared and she pressed her lips into a thin line.

  He bit down on the tempting prospect of getting her to open her mouth with his tongue. “You know you can talk to me, Lena. I’m not such a monster.”

  She sagged beside him, picking up her mug of probably now cold coffee. “Easy for you to say when your voice doesn’t make people go mad. Your voice doesn’t kill anyone. And I assume your helpline is a way to get immortals to connect with each other.”

  “Figured that one out, did you?” He reached out to tuck a wayward curl into the colorful hairband. “If my thrall wouldn’t work on you, your charms won’t work on me.”

  He paused, allowing his words to sink in and continued before she could protest. “I’m just asking you to give us a chance before pushing me away.”

  Leaning back in the spacious, comfortable booth, he observed the play of emotions across her face. He had her there and she knew it.

  “I—” She licked her lips. “I don’t know what to say.”

  Hope sparked to life inside him. He could afford to be magnanimous, as long as she didn’t give him the boot. If she by chance asked him to get lost, he’d be tempted to take more drastic measures, like tossing her over his shoulders to take her home or getting down on his knees to beg. Neither prospect enticed him.

  He bit back a snarl when the darkness he’d managed to keep at bay for the whole week reared its head. “For now, eat.”

  Hesitation warred on her face. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before twirling the spoon and taking it to her mouth. Her tongue darted out to lick the creamy concoction and he bit back a groan. Silence reigned for a few minutes.

  “Feel free to dig in, but make sure you order one more for me.” She gestured to the muffin while alternatively sipping her coffee and nibbling the whipped cream.

  “Sure.” Grinning, he accepted what he recognized as a rare offer. His woman loved her sweets. He couldn’t wait to find out what else she couldn’t live without and if that might include him. He was ready to use anything at his disposal to sneak into her life, including what he did best—taking charge.

  “After eating…” Her head whipped up, her gaze fixed on his as he deliberated on his next words, chewing on the heavenly muffin. “We’ll continue our discussion in a more private setting.”

  Private setting?

  Elena gulped her coffee, choked and sputtered into the paper towel she grabbed just in time. Gregory scooted closer in an instant. Her eyes watered as he pulled her onto his lap and smoothed his hand over her back, cursing when the coughs racked her body. She took the proffered glass of water, taking baby sips to clear her burning throat.

  Didn’t the man—the vampire—know the word subtle? His insistent hardness dug into her back. Her face flamed, her breathing threatened to warp into overdrive again. She squirmed, giving an easy laugh, only to have it come out a chortle. Her coat slipped and she landed beside him in a heap.

  Way to go, girl!

  “There,” she croaked, trying to cover up her embarrassment. “Now I’ve gone and wrinkled your suit.”

  He brushed off her concern with a wave of his hand. “That’
s nothing. You are the one who matters.”

  His words shouldn’t have registered, but instead, they returned the flutter in her belly, along with an arousal that soon spread to her limbs as surely as wildfire. She jumped back in an effort to put more distance between them, attempting to quell her awakening instincts—that of a siren set on seduction.

  “You okay?” he asked, frowning at her prolonged musing.

  Okay now or okay to take him home?

  She cleared her throat. “I guess so.” She rubbed her palms over her eyes and glanced around. Thankfully, the crowd had long dissipated as the rain had slowed into a drizzle. She sensed the coiled tension emanating from him in silent waves. What did she do now?

  “Jeez!” A sigh slipped past her lips and she opted for honesty. “This is all so awkward.”

  He caught her wrist again, his fingers branding her skin. “What is?”

  “I wasn’t looking for a relationship. I just needed someone to talk to. And—” She took a deep breath, willed herself to ignore his hopeful expression and continued, “You were just a voice to me. I never imagined running into you in person.” She dared a glance at him beneath lowered lashes and tugged her hand away.

  Giving her a charming grin, he pulled out his cell phone with a flourish. “Ah! Calling you I can oblige.”

  Why did slugging him seem such a great idea? She bared her teeth. “Is that supposed to be funny?”

  “I tried.” With a contrite look, he ran his fingers through his hair, mussing his perfect persona, turning more approachable by the minute. “So, meeting me is a bad thing because…?”

  She allowed herself to brazenly take him in. And stared, her mouth open. After all, he was the one who barged into her comfort zone. She didn’t do tall, devastating strangers, dammit! Much as she might like to.

  She curled her fingers on the soft suede cushion, the urge to fist her hands in his hair and pull him down until his lips captured hers, too overwhelming. His spicy scent mingled with the aroma of baking and coffee, enticing her to dizzying heights.

  “Earth to Lena.”

  The wry twist of his lips managed to pry her tongue from the roof of her parched mouth. Ah, his question.

  “I know nothing about you,” she blurted.

  “Why do you think there’s this thing called dating?” He smiled. “We could do that if you want to. Anything else?”

  “Yes.” She gulped, realizing that sex was going to be more prominent than the other aspects if she agreed to take him home. She needed to know if she could trust him. “Your helpline promised anonymity. How did you find me?”

  He plunged his hands into his hair, thoroughly mussing his hairstyle, and his eyes locked with hers. “I couldn’t trace your call due to the security measures I put in place. I—I asked for help from a friend, someone who got me your details,” he said with a grimace, as if calling in favors wasn’t his cup of tea.

  As if he were as wary as her. She shook her head, trying not to read too much between the lines. She believed she’d kept a low profile. Fat lot of good it did when someone easily traced her here.

  For all she knew, he could be a serial killer. One who bestowed the vampire’s kiss in the middle of wild, passionate sex. Her neck, as if on cue, throbbed in time with her clit, wanting both. Maybe he killed women by giving extreme pleasure. She chortled at the thought. Sobering up, she swallowed past the bitter taste on her tongue. She didn’t like imagining him with any other woman.

  She glanced at his rugged face. She’d expected to feel angry, but the way he’d probably broken a few rules to get to her sent a wave of want pulsing through her and a longing for him to assuage her desires. Her insides unfurled with excitement, even though common sense warned her to stay put.

  Questions clamored in her brain, which seemed to have short-circuited in his presence. Curiosity propelled to ask, “Why?”

  He ran a warm finger over her cheek and paused at her lower lip before he curled his hand around her waist, pulling her close. Heat licked her skin where he touched.

  “Why would anyone take such pains to track down someone they knew only over the phone?”

  Opening her mouth to answer didn’t dislodge the sudden lump in her throat. Over the phone was one thing and in person was another. She swallowed and tried to speak again. “I don’t know. You tell me.” Her voice came out hoarse, a whisper.

  Without replying, he cocked his head, waiting for her to figure it out. She did, but still couldn’t help the obvious question from slipping out. “What do you really want, Gregory?” she asked again.

  He looked relieved, as if he finally had something to answer. “You.”

  Her weekly indulgence—her sweet treats—suddenly paled in comparison to the temptation of the virile male ready to take control. She recognized the determined glint in his eyes and the way his fingers still lingered on her back, burning through the layers of clothes in a simple, yet possessive gesture.

  The question was, was she ready to hand over the reins?

  Chapter Four

  Greg waited for her to assimilate his straightforward answer, devouring her as if he was a starving man. Without her, he had been starving.

  He wanted to fuck her until he imprinted himself on her, in her, and bombard her with so much pleasure she whimpered only his name, even in sleep.

  The intensity of his thoughts startled him, terrified him. His sudden fascination with her made everything else seem negligible. The darkness inside him ebbed and flowed, filling every pore. The more he stayed away from the breath of fresh air she provided, the closer the madness crept. How had the other vampires borne this cross? Could he even hope to control his bloodlust around her?

  He liked women, admired them and fucked them for pleasure. Blood, well, that was a necessity, a feeding ritual he’d learned to live with every week. Until her. Elena prodded his vampire to surface, tempting his senses and libido and nudging the dark hunger awake. No woman had remotely grazed the surface of his interest and the virile male part of him couldn’t wait to explore more.

  Her slender body trembled under the coat as if she read his mind. Damn if the silhouette of her curves didn’t make his cock jump in anticipation. Her wide eyes drew and held his gaze.

  Her delicate jaw turned hard enough to break steel and he realized the wheels of her mind had stopped spinning. He braced himself for her refusal, willing himself not to react.

  “Yes.” The single word spilled from her mouth before he could blink.

  Yes? A wide grin split his face in spite of his resolution to remain calm, controlled.

  She pursed her lips. “For now.”

  Aw! Fuck! It took months to get her to open up to him over the phone. What did she mean? Give her space and don’t blow up the progress you’ve made so far.

  He hid his disappointment with a roguish grin. “Is that some new dating terminology I’m not familiar with?”

  “No.” She plucked at the nonexistent lint on her coat, pulling away from his grasp. “I haven’t exactly dated an immortal before.”

  The underlying panic in her voice softened his undead heart. “You’re afraid of me?”

  The errant curl escaped her band when she shook her head. He balled his fingers into fists.

  “One of my friends had a vampire lover. It was long ago. I-I’ve heard of the fantastic things they did.” She wrinkled her nose. “TMI, anyway.” Giving him an unsure smile, she added, “I feel it’s better we give ourselves a timeline to see if we fit into each other’s lives. At the end of it, if either of us is uncomfortable, we call it a day and move on.”

  Blood roared in his ears. Denial hovered on his lips. Everything in him protested against what she suggested. The logical part of him recognized where she was coming from, but the rest of him—no way could he stay away from her. Not if he tasted her blood and found her to be his missing half—the one who would complete him. One week without her had seemed equivalent to a long, torturous year.

  “Fine,” he b
it out before he could haul her to his place and cut loose his decency.

  He leaned in close, brushing his lips across hers. Her breath stuttered. Resisting the urge to grin, he gestured Elena to go first and, giving him a tight-lipped smile, she did. He followed close, not willing to let her out of his sight.

  He’d take it one moment at a time. For tonight, she belonged with him.

  * * * * *

  It was a surprisingly short ride from the coffee shop to her small bungalow.

  Darkness had settled over the city and he pulled into her driveway, parking beside her. Her boots slapping the wet concrete, she hurried to open the door while Gregory stood for a few moments, savoring the lingering slight drizzle heralding an early spring.

  He took in the well-manicured garden leading up to the front porch and followed slowly, relishing the crisp bite in the air.

  It had been way too long since he’d taken a night off from work. If not for her, he might have still been huddled in his office, neither bothering to glance outside the high-rise building nor realize life was passing by while he drove himself onward and upward. After all, if not for work, what else did he have?

  “Are you coming in, Gregory?”

  Her soft voice carried easily to him on the night air, and in an instant, he hardened again.

  Jesus! What was up with him? One would think he hadn’t climaxed in ages, while his last date was… Hell! He couldn’t recall the last time he’d had a woman in his bed. But then, he’d never been at someone’s place long enough to use the bed either.

  The dim front lights silhouetted her in the doorway. He stood at the threshold, his pulse increasing as he stepped inside. The mixed scents of cinnamon and cookies hit him first, followed close by the comforting warmth he associated with her. An impressive collection of books, rivaling his, greeted him from the rosewood shelves. The U-shaped couch placed strategically in the corner had him imagining her draped on the plush cushion with a book in hand. Sexy didn’t cover the reaction the image evoked. Against the tan carpet, the lime green color of the couch was a pleasant contrast, providing him a secret glimpse of her personality.