by D McEntire
Without warning, Sonya jumped, causing the bed to shake.
"Oh, no, Brat!"
"Brat? Who's Brat?" Tank had no idea who she was talking about, but could tell whoever it was meant a lot to her.
"He's my cat. Oh, poor thing. I bet he's starving. I've got to get home."
Sonya started to wriggle, once again trying to get off the bed.
"I went to your house Sunday night. He was fine. And before I left, I filled both his food and water bowls."
Wariness crossed her face. He sensed her sudden tension and could almost see every muscle in her body standing at attention. She looked as though she was ready for battle. Tank almost smiled. He knew she was strong, but seeing this side of her was a welcome sight. He hoped never again to witness the frailness as she had lain in his bed suffering only hours before.
"Why were you at my house?"
If she couldn't get her head around the fact she was now a vampire, how was he going to get her to believe what he was about to say?
"I dreamt of you, and each dream had grown more intense than the first. You were afraid and called to me, but I had no idea where you were." Tank paused and scrubbed a hand over his face. "Look. I know it sounds crazy, but I couldn't push aside the possibility the dreams were real. That you were in trouble. In order to ease my mind, I went to your house to check on you, but you weren't there."
"If vampires exist, at this point I believe anything is possible."
Sonya seemed to relax. Tank decided to lighten the subject by talking about something which he hoped would make her smile.
"That cat of yours sure is something."
"Brat?"
"Yes. He was howling at the front door..."
"Howling?"
Tank chuckled at her raised eyebrows. Evidentially, she hadn't seen that side of the feline.
"Yes, howling. That's the only word I can think to describe it. Your door was unlocked so I stepped inside and called your name, but there was no answer. The cat was making such a racket. I figured he was hungry, so I went into the kitchen and found his food, with his help of course."
Sonya smiled, just as he'd hoped she would.
"Then the oddest thing happened. He dragged one of your shoes into the kitchen and practically threw it at my feet. As if that wasn't enough, he sat under the table and played hockey with a pair of your sunglass, which now need some repair I might add."
A slight smile crossed her face. Her eyes slowly opened, and what Tank saw behind the lids stopped time itself. She stared at him through pale, white eyes.
"Sonya, you have the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen." Tank couldn't mask the awe in his tone because it was genuine. Sonya started to lower her head, but he stopped her by placing a finger under her chin and gently lifting until he could see her entire face again. "Please, don't hide them. There's no reason to. If you'd feel more comfortable with your glasses, I have plenty you can use until yours are fixed."
Her nod caused her chin to slide away from his finger. His immediate impulse was to touch her again, but he returned his hand to his lap. "I understand how you feel. I wear sunglasses when I'm around others, except for the people here."
"Why?"
"Though I can see quite well, my eyes are almost the same color as yours. I was born with silver eyes. Quite unusual, don't you think?" He took a moment to pull the sheet up and cover her bare legs to keep her warm. He'd thought about dressing her in the pants Robyn had left along with the shirt, but figured in her current weakened condition the pants would be difficult to bother with when she needed to use the restroom.
"Yes, that is unusual," she replied.
A burning question entered Tank's mind. One he almost hated to ask for several reasons. Not only was he afraid Sonya may be involved with someone, he dreaded telling her that if she was, she had to sever ties with him. Revealing she was a vampire to humans was dangerous, not only for her, but for them all.
"Sonya. Is there someone who may be looking for you? Family perhaps?"
The shake of her head was slight, but it relayed volumes before she answered.
"No. My parents were killed in a plane accident while I was in college. My grandmother was all I had left, but she passed away three months ago."
The answer, laced with sorrow, ripped away Tank's relief she'd not mentioned a male's presence in her life. His heart went out to her. She had no one. Not true, he told himself. She had him, and he'd see to it she knew she wasn't alone. He'd convince her to lean on him. She was going to need him.
"Sonya, I can return to your house this evening and get Brat as well as anything else you need," he said to ease her into another topic and another frame of thought. Unfortunately, the direction she headed was not what he'd intended.
"That's really nice of you, but I should return home. The winter break is almost over. I have to get ready for when the class returns."
Inwardly, Tank grimaced. She still didn't grasp the enormity of the situation. Either that or she refused to believe the finality of her former life--the life of a human. There was no way she could return to teaching at the school unless it was at night.
Tank's heart ached at how hurt she was going to be when it finally sank in. Teaching music to the children obviously meant everything to her, and now David had taken it away. Actually, he had taken everything from her. Sonya's entire life, not just her job, had now changed, and there was no going back.
"Sonya," he began slowly, trying desperately to ease her into understanding.
The look on her face made him stop. Her eyes grew wide, and she became utterly still.
"Sonya, what's wrong?"
"I...I feel...strange," she said, bringing a trembling hand to her mouth where she touched her teeth.
Tank leaned forward and examined Sonya's canines behind her prodding fingertips. They were lengthening ever so slowly. The hunger had begun.
"Sonya," he said softly. "I want you to relax and listen to me. You need to trust me. I'll help you through this. It'll be okay, I promise."
Pulling Sonya onto his lap, Tank settled himself against the headboard of the bed. He wanted to make sure they were both comfortable while she sated her body's need for blood.
Having her on his lap and in his arms felt so natural it astounded him. As he relished her warm, soft skin next to his, he wondered how he'd gotten by all these years. Now that he knew the joy of having someone, no Sonya, in his arms, how would he ever let her go?
A moan reached his ears, bringing him out of his thoughts. He clasped a hand over hers and squeezed. "Sonya, as I said before, your body needs blood to finish the change and make you strong again. There are a few ways we can do this. We'll do whatever you feel most comfortable with."
Even though she made no answer, Tank knew she'd heard him, so he continued, "You're going to drink from me. I'm holding you this way so we can both be comfortable. From here you can take from my neck or my wrist. We could try other easy access points if this isn't acceptable."
Tank had been telling the truth, Sonya realized. She was a vampire. Still, she tried to push the reality aside. She'd listened to everything Tank had told her, and now he wanted her to drink blood--his blood.
The entire time Tank had been talking, her mind had been racing with everything that has happened and all he'd told her, but deep inside, her body reveled in his touch, his warmth, his scent.
Feelings and urges seeped into her mind and body out of nowhere. She felt drawn to the idea of what he said she had to do. But could she? It not only seemed wrong because people didn't drink blood from one another, it seemed so...intimate.
As her teeth elongated, and her body tingled with need, her mind began a war with itself. The eeew, yuck, no way, uh-uh warred with need, want, him, now. "I...I don't know."
"Sonya."
That one word was laced with desire so thick, she could almost taste it. Tank must have caught himself because when he spoke again, his tone was more matter-of-fact, though still soft and reassurin
g. He cradled the side of her head and gently pushed it to rest on his shoulder where she found herself nuzzled against his neck.
"Take from here. I think you'll be more comfortable this way. Don't feel ashamed or embarrassed, and don't be afraid. This is a normal thing for vampires, and I offer myself to you."
Sonya groaned. Her insides ached with need--need for blood to complete the process and strengthen every organ, bone and tissue within her body. Could she sink her teeth into his flesh?
Tank slid the palm of his hand to the nape of her neck and pulled her closer. She felt his body tense as he murmured words she couldn't focus enough to understand.
When Sonya pressed her lips to his skin, her nostrils filled with the scent of him, and it pulled her in. Her mind lost the battle to her senses. She gave in to the urge to taste the man who held her in his arms.
Tracing the line of his jaw with her tongue, she tasted his salty skin and felt the texture of stubble on her tongue. Traveling lower, down the side of his neck, the pulse of his blood beat against her tongue. The pace of its rhythm increased, beating faster and faster.
Sonya scraped the ends of her fangs on his neck, getting the feel of them against flesh. The sensation shocked her. She had no idea teeth were so sensitive and the sensation would be much more than just feeling pressure against them.
"I'm sorry to hurt you," she whispered, hearing the tremble in her voice.
Sonya opened her mouth wide, held her breath then slowly sank her teeth into the spot where her tongue had felt the pulsing of his blood. His blood flowed into her mouth, covering her taste buds with warm, sweet liquid. She'd expected it to be coppery and bitter as David's had been, but Tank's was heaven. Surprisingly, her gag reflex didn't kick in as it had done when David had forced her to drink his blood.
With every swallow, warmth spread throughout her entire body. The dry, parched sensation she'd felt upon awakening slowly faded.
Emotions warred. Although the taste and feel of Tank was exquisite, she couldn't let go of the reality of what had happened to her and what she was now doing as a result. Her heart ached at what had become of her life, and she couldn't hold back tears welling under her closed eyelids.
Tank fisted his hands in the bed covers, and he fought to keep himself still while Sonya fed from his neck. He was overcome with a sense of euphoria at the act of sharing something so important with this woman. He also felt possessiveness lingering at the back of his mind. Honor and duty declared Sonya was under his protection, but his inner beast roared she was his.
Tank's body sang as Sonya continued to feed. His soul said she was meant to be in his arms, taking into herself a part of him. His heart said this was far beyond giving his blood to a brother or sister in need, and he agreed. There was definitely no comparison there.
His mind raised the caution flag. They were strangers, and Sonya was only taking what her body needed.
A drop of moisture landed on his neck and rolled down his collarbone. Blindly, Tank reached up and cupped the side of Sonya's face as she fed. He used his thumb to brush across her cheek, where he discovered the source of the liquid. An unmistakable line of tears trailed from her eyelashes, then plopped onto his skin after reaching the end of her face.
"Shh..." he soothed as he used his thumb to wipe away the tears. Sorrow ebbed like a tide over his heart. Tank struggled to tamp down his anger over her needless victimization.
Her soft hand slid along his chest.
"Sonya," Tank breathed, getting worked up from her touch. When she shifted, swung her leg over and straddled him, his ears began to ring from the rapid beating of his heart. Her nipples beneath the flannel shirt she wore were hard peaks pressed against his chest. They glided over his bare skin as she began to rock, grinding her sex over the growing erection threatening to burst through the fabric of his leather pants. The restriction grew painful, but he didn't dare move, fearing if he let go of the bed, where he now had both hands buried deep within the mattress, he'd lose control and take her--fast and hard.
She moaned once more, and he gritted his teeth at the vibration against his neck.
The mewling sounds of pleasure Sonya emitted threatened to strip away all conscious thought. He prayed to the powers that be she'd find her release and deliver him from this exquisite torture.
It took a lot of focus and deep breathing to keep Tank from going over the edge, but now was not the time, or place. When Sonya regained her senses and came down from the throes of passion brought on by the hunger, she was going to feel worse than she had before. The idea Sonya would relish this as much as he did was ludicrous, he told himself. When this was over one hell-of-a head-on collision of shame and embarrassment awaited. Some major syllable dropping was going to have to take place to stop it.
Sonya held on to the hard muscles of Tank's shoulders as her arousal grew into a heated frenzy. She couldn't stop herself from pressing down onto his erection through his pants. Every one of her senses came alive, heightened to the nth degree. Her mind screamed more.
The taste of his blood in her mouth, the feel of his hard muscles and sweat-slicked skin under her hands, the smell of his masculine scent--strong and erotic--and the sound he made deep in his throat as she moved over him, all pressed in on her, sending her plummeting over the edge to ecstasy.
Sonya released Tank's neck and fell against his chest. Breathing was difficult and came out in near gulps.
As the fog in her head cleared, lead seemed to take up residence in her bloodstream, spreading slowly through her veins. Every bone and muscle, which had tingled only moments ago with the warmth and energy of Tank's blood, now seemed to have taken the rest of the day off.
Sprawled against Tank's chest, Sonya told herself she needed to move, but as she started to do just that, reality struck. She found she'd been straddling Tank and a rock solid bulge was pressed hard between her legs. Her mind replayed how she'd gotten into that position. Mortified she'd practically mauled the man, she was minutely glad for her blindness. It meant she couldn't see the expression on his face. What he must think.
Without lifting her head or raising her eyelids, Sonya limply tried to push herself off Tank's chest. Nothing. She couldn't move. The quick pounding in her heart started once again. This time it wasn't from arousal. She was in full panic mode.
Tank fought to regain control of his urge to roll over and cover Sonya's body with his. When she stilled, then collapsed on his chest, he almost breathed a sigh of relief. The pounding of her heart seemed to match the rhythm of his own.
He knew he needed to say something about what just happened, but no words came to mind. At least none he should say at the moment. Like a coward, he decided to take the easy way out and leave the room. "Sonya, you need to rest now. Give your body a chance to heal. When you wake, you should feel much better."
To ease the awkwardness, he lifted her from his lap and placed her at his side. Without a word, he pulled the covers over her body and eased off the bed.
Tank's erection throbbed, and he desperately needed to put some distance between him and Sonya before he cracked. "If you need anything, there's an intercom above the headboard."
Reaching for her hand, he touched it gently before grasping it, ignoring her slight flinch at the unexpected contact. In slow motion, he lifted it to show her the location of the intercom as well as the placement of the second button.
"This one rings downstairs, and either I or one of the others will hear it."
"Others?"
"Yes. Three of my men live here as well as their mates. And, of course, there's Si and Mya."
Sonya lowered her arm.
"Mates?"
Tank had momentarily forgotten Sonya didn't yet know their ways or their use of terms. "Their wives."
Sonya's fingers tugged absently at the seam of the blanket.
"Are you married?"
The question momentarily stunned him. Did her curiosity imply interest?
"No, I'm not. There's no female i
n my life." Yet. If he had his way, Sonya would be his female. When you have your way, the beast inside corrected.
"Your accent. Where are you from?"
The thought of his homeland threatened to pull him into memories he thought best forgotten. "Nigeria."
"Oh," she said with a slight nod, then frowned. "You mentioned your men. Are you a part of the military?"
"Something like that."
Tank really needed to get some fresh air. Flashes of memories of his home warred with more pleasant thoughts, like having Sonya feed from him again as he did all sorts of wonderful things to her body while she sucked at his neck. All these thoughts bounced around his head like a child on a jungle gym. A headache, worse than the ache behind his leathers, was forming. "We'll talk after you've rested. I'll explain everything and answer any questions you have, but right now you need sleep. I'll check on you later."
Turning away from the beautiful woman lying in his bed, a feat he found harder than anything he'd ever had to do, Tank started for the door.
"Tank?"
Sonya's voice softly calling his name washed over his very soul. He turned to face her. "Yes?"
"Thank you for saving me and for helping me. I..."
Tank cut off her thanks. Inside he still damned himself for not getting to her sooner. She'd called out to him in his dreams, begging for his help even before David had taken her. The dreams had visited him daily for a reason, and he couldn't stop the blame game playing in his head. He had failed her.
"There's no need to thank me, Sonya. I'm just glad I found you. You're safe. David can't get you here. Sleep. We'll talk more, later."
When she nodded, then turned on her side, Tank waited a moment, staring at her lovely form before he stepped out of his bedroom and quietly closed the door. He stood motionless a moment, leaning his forehead against the door as he attempted to gather himself before going downstairs.
A cold shower and a few hours of daytime sleep was what he needed. Pushing himself away from the door, he realized he wore only his pants. Before bathing Sonya, he'd removed his shirt and shoes. And right now, his pants sported a tent big enough to house an army.