by Virna DePaul
She shot to her feet. “So badly that you left! You didn’t even bother calling me all day.”
Jake stood as well, towering over her, getting in her face. “I couldn’t.”
“Oh right. You also ‘didn’t want to leave’ me. But you did. So what happened? Did you start having doubts about sleeping with someone from work?”
“No.”
“Were you worried that I’d start getting clingy, expecting things from you?”
“Stop it, Frankie—”
“No, wait, let me guess. You forgot to mention that you have a girlfriend and needed to officially break up with her before you—”
“Damn it, Frankie,” he roared. “I almost died!”
His words shut her up quick. There was no trace of amusement on his face. He looked completely serious.
“But—but if you’re a vampire—” she whispered.
“I am a vampire, Frankie. I’m immortal but not indestructible. Vampires can still die.” With a groan, he sat, collapsed back into the sofa cushions, tipped back his head, and covered his eyes with his palms. His heavy breaths rasped in the silence. When he finally lowered his hands, he looked pale. Tired.
Hesitantly, she sat beside him again.
Died. He’d almost died?
Her heart practically shriveled as she tried to imagine such a horrible thing. She placed a hand on his thigh, relieved when he didn’t jerk away. “What—what happened?”
He stared at her, straightened, then took her hand in his, rubbing his thumb softly against her palm. The gentle touch soothed her, and she couldn’t help herself—she reached up, pulled his face down, and kissed him. He groaned and opened his mouth, enticing her tongue to rub against his for several long, desperate moments. Finally, he pulled back, resting his forehead against hers while he cupped her face with hands that shook. She wrapped her fingers around his wrists, growing more and more scared by the second. “Tell me,” she urged.
“After you fell asleep, I heard a sound outside your front door, someone coming up the steps. I got up to investigate. I saw him—I could tell by the way he smelled that he was a vampire. He ran. I followed him, only to be blindsided. I had him subdued, but then three others showed up. They killed the vampire I’d subdued rather than allow him to reveal what he wanted with you. With us.”
Frankie gasped. “They killed him…and then they almost killed you?”
He shook his head. “That was their intent, but the sun was rising. I made it to cover, but just barely. I’d been exposed to the sun—even trace amounts of sunlight can kill a vampire—and it debilitated me. I was out for hours, Frankie. That’s why I didn’t answer any of your calls. I woke just before sunset and, even though I’d dragged the dead vampire’s body into the building with me, hoping to find out his identity, I found nothing. All I could think about was getting to the office and explaining to you what had happened. I didn’t want you to think…well, what you obviously ended up thinking.”
Frankie winced and smiled ruefully. “You mean that you’d used my body then tossed me aside like an overused dishrag.”
“Right,” Jake said. “Do you still believe that?”
Frankie bit her lip. He looked so uncertain. So afraid her answer was going to be “yes.” Instinctively, however, she knew he was telling the truth. She shook her head and his expression immediately filled with relief. “I did. But I don’t. Not anymore.”
He pulled her into his arms, hugging her so hard and so long she struggled to breath. “Jake. Jake! I can’t breathe,” she laughed.
He pulled back. “I’ll breathe for you,” he whispered, just before he claimed her mouth with another heart stopping kiss.
Several minutes later, he’d stripped her down to her underwear and was getting ready to divest her of those, too. She moaned when he sucked her nipple through the delicate fabric of her bra, but flinched when he cupped her between her thighs.
He immediately gentled his touch and pulled back. “Did I hurt you?”
“It’s just…I’m still a little sore. From last night.” She blushed, hating to admit the limitations of her human body but knowing he really would hurt her if he took her again.
He groaned, kissed her, but then pulled completely away.
“It’s okay,” she said quickly. “Just be gentle—”
He shook his head. “No, baby. I don’t want to cause you any amount of pain and I need to get my strength back anyway.”
She reached out and smoothed her hand against the evidence of his desire. “Seems like you’ve got plenty of strength left in you.”
He chuckled, carried her palm to his mouth, and kissed it. “Tonight, after the gala, I’ll show you just how strong I am when I’m with you. Only with you.”
She smiled, then jerked as the rest of his words sunk in. “Oh my God. The gala!” She looked at the clock and shot to her feet. “I completely forgot! We’re supposed to be there in twenty minutes!” She ran around, searching for an appropriate outfit and getting her stuff together, then stopped to glare at him. He hadn’t moved. In fact, he’d stretched out on her sofa, his hands folded lazily behind his head. “Aren’t you going to get ready?”
“And miss you running around in your underwear? Not a chance.”
***
They arrived at the Capitol Park Hotel thirty minutes later. Jake checked in with Dylan while Frankie made sure there weren’t any last minute emergencies with the decorators or caterers.
I did this, Frankie thought as she glanced around the elaborately decorated banquet room. She hadn’t set everything up, but she’d been the one to instruct the staff on the smallest of details. They’d done a wonderful job.
Everything was perfect. Everything was in its place.
A sense of pride filled her and she glanced at her watch. Within the hour, there’d be two hundred guests filling these tables, each signing a check for a thousand dollars or more in exchange for some filet mignon and a commitment by the governor to continue his green agenda.
“It looks like a St. Patrick’s Day party gone crazy in here.”
Frankie frowned, but instantly smoothed her expression before she turned to face Thad Morris, the governor’s Communications Director. “You know what I always say,” she said in a mild, unshakeable tone. “When it comes to asking people for money, subtlety is best left on the doorstep. The only way these people are going to give us what we want is if they truly believe in the governor’s dedication to going green. Think of the tablecloths as a subliminal message.
Morris grinned good-naturedly and planted a heavy hand on Frankie’s shoulder. Although she stiffened, Frankie refrained from throwing the offending appendage off of her.
She glanced around for Jake, but he was still talking to Dylan. Leaning in close, Morris whispered, “If anyone can pull it off, you can, eh Frankie?”
She smiled stiffly and nodded in silent agreement, breathing in a sigh of relief when Morris slowly withdrew his hand then walked across the room to join the governor and several other men.
Just then, Jake stepped into her line of vision. Her body reacted the way it always did when she caught sight of him. With longing.
Him. I want him.
She’d been so angry with him, so hurt all day, only to learn that he’d almost died. Renewed panic made her tremble. She could have lost him! Forever. And then she’d gotten that e-mail at work and he’d taken it so seriously.
Fear crept inside her, chilling her skin. Frantically, she pushed her fear away. She couldn’t let a vaguely worded email paralyze her. She was here with Jake. That meant she was safe. They both were.
She’d been a fool to let a few aches stop them from making love again. True, he’d promised to give her his full attention after the gala, but she just couldn’t wait that long to have him again.
Things were set in here and they had time before the guests began to arrive. Perhaps they could sneak out for a while. Get a room… Because she wanted—no, she needed to feel his hands on her, h
is mouth on hers, and the beat of his heart against her own.
Just then, Jake looked up and his gaze met hers. He grinned and winked, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.
Only he didn’t.
He had no idea how wicked her thoughts were or how wicked she could be, at least where he was concerned. Maybe it was time to show him…
She looked around until she saw Dylan. She supposed she should apologize to the man. And then she’d ask him for a little favor…
CHAPTER 8
Frankie was up to something, Jake thought, and he was pretty sure it was something he was going to like. A lot.
They’d barely checked in with the rest of the staff when Frankie had walked up to him and, calm as could be, slipped him a room key. Then she’d whispered, “Ten minutes,” before slipping out of the ballroom.
He’d been hard ever since.
He’d literally counted the seconds while talking to Dylan. His friend had assured him that everything was running smoothly, that they had more than enough men to handle security, and that he’d cover for Jake for thirty minutes or so until the guests arrived.
Not as much time as he wanted, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. And since Jake’s body was begging him for another turn at Frankie, he’d take what he could get.
When he’d entered the hotel room, the shower was running and there was a note on the lavish king-size bed. Now, propped up against several pillows, he could still hear the sound of running water through the bathroom door. She’d drawn the curtains closed, casting the room in soft candlelight.
She’d been so angry with him earlier and he thanked his lucky stars that she’d believed him about what had happened. They hadn’t talked about the email she’d received since they’d left the office. She clearly wanted to forget about the threatening email and shove Ryan Turner back into the neat little compartment in her mind; Jake was perfectly willing to give her that, at least for the moment. Eventually they’d have to face the threat head on, but for now Dylan was handling things and Frankie was in the safest place possible—with him.
In her written instructions, she’d ordered him to lie down on her bed, wait until he heard the water in the bathroom turn off, then look inside her nightstand drawer. She’d mentioned she was going to slip into something far less comfortable, and that he was going to like it.
Closing his eyes, he imagined her poured into some nasty lingerie. Perhaps a black leather corset that pushed her breasts up so high her nipples would be completely visible. He’d have her rouge them a deep red so that when they were finished making love he’d have scarlet streaks marking his chest, his face, his dick—wherever she rubbed against him.
Tit for tat. Because he’d mark her, too—just like he’d done last night. He hadn’t gone crazy—he’d left only a slight bruise on her neck, which she’d been able to cover with make-up. Part of him, however, longed to mark her so thoroughly that no amount of make-up could disguise it. He wanted others to see that she was his.
The water shut off.
He sat up in anticipation, shrugged off his jacket, then slipped off his weapon and put it inside the nightstand drawer she’d mentioned. Then he stared at the handcuffs and velvet blindfold inside the drawer, took them out, placed them on the bed, and stripped bare.
She wanted to restrain him. With metal cuffs, no less. They weren’t silver so they didn’t burn his skin, but he still had to push away his natural reluctance anyway. He’d never let a lover restrain him. He’d let her do it because she was his mate, but it wouldn’t be easy for him.
He eased himself back on the bed.
Exhaling, he closed his eyes and pictured her body, wet and rosy from the shower. Wrapping his palm around his dick, he squeezed and rubbed himself. It felt good but it wasn’t enough. He wanted her hands on him. Her mouth. He wanted to drink from her again.
The bathroom door opened and… fuck… She wore a teddy. Certainly not the one he’d imagined; this one was even better. It was a frothy confection of virginal white lace and hooker styling. The white garter belt and stockings she wore made her slim legs look a mile long. Her breasts were covered, just a hint of curves visible above her neckline, but the cut-out at her crotch showed the faintest glimmer of pink, moist flesh.
He instantly grew harder, his dick towering towards his belly and quivering with eagerness.
“I’m glad you waited to let me do the honors,” she whispered. She walked toward him, trailing her fingers across his naked flesh. He instantly resisted her attempts to place his hands above his head, but she pushed harder, using leverage and the distraction of a kiss until he forced his arms to relax.
He felt the cool, hard press of metal around his wrists. His arms stretched taut as she secured them to the bed, only the slight shaking of her hands revealing her nervousness.
He gritted his teeth at the way her lace teddy rubbed against his skin and nipples. It gave him what he wanted. Contrast. Hard and soft. Cold and hot. Raging awareness of the here and now that was addictive.
He stared into her eyes. His muscles tightened when she rubbed against him again. He groaned and marveled once more at her increased assertiveness.
Last night, she’d let him lead her. Today, she was doing the driving. Whether it was because she was still pissed at waking up alone or because she was testing his limits, wondering if her aggression would drive him away, he didn’t know.
He didn’t care. He’d take everything she dished out and love it.
“That’s a good boy,” she whispered. “You’re such a big, strong vampire. So capable. So concerned for everyone’s well-being, including mine. I’m going to reward you for that. It’ll be so good to let go of your control, won’t it baby? So good.”
She reached into a dresser drawer and took out some silk scarves. Quickly, she moved down his body and tied his feet to the frame. Moving lazily, she got on the bed, a naughty smile quirking one corner of her mouth. She crawled toward him and then, shifting so she presented her ass to him, she sucked his cock into her mouth, concentrating on the sensitive head.
Liquid-tight heat surrounded him. He closed his eyes and moaned. For a second, he couldn’t help himself—he reached out with his mind and thought about caressing the globes of her buttocks, knowing she would feel it just as surely as if he’d touched her. She mewled and squeezed him with her hand, milking him until agony pierced his balls. He punched his hips up, plunging his aching flesh deeper into her mouth. She sucked harder, and he grimaced when the pressure in his balls grew so intense, he knew he was going to come. Then she pulled back.
He growled and strained against his binds. “What the hell—?”
She stood and slowly peeled off her stockings, then the white teddy. “That’s some…trick. Touching me with just your mind. Any other talents I should know about?”
“Plenty more. Release me and I’ll show you.”
She laughed. “I don’t think so.” Picking up the velvet blindfold, she wrapped it around his cock and squeezed softly.
He arched into her fist and hissed. “Take me,” he commanded. “Take me inside you.”
She shook her head, her defiance driving him crazy.
“I can make you,” he threatened, even though he had no intention of doing so. “Mind control, remember?” He lowered his voice. “Is there anything you want me to make you do, Frankie? Anything dirty that you’ve been too ashamed to try? Because if I make you do it, then you can’t be blamed, can you? You can just lie back and enjoy it.”
Her breathing escalated. “It?” she squeaked out.
He shrugged. “You tell me. What would it be? You want me to tie you down? Spank you? Bring in another man? Come inside your ass? I can do it all. Whatever you want. However you want.”
“However I want?” she said
He nodded. “So what’s it going to be?”
After a slight hesitation, she straddled him once more. Then, breasts swaying against his chest, she unlocked the handcuffs from the bed. Im
mediately, he nudged her away to undo the scarves at his feet. He turned toward her, waiting.
She opened her arms to him. “I want you to make love to me. Slowly. Tenderly. As if we have all the time in the world.”
He felt a grin split his face. “That sounds perfect,” he said.
And all the time in the world was exactly what they had, Jake thought.
CHAPTER 9
Frankie had tried to play the femme fatale. She’d had fantasies about using cuffs on Jake ever since she’d met him, and she’d eagerly seized what might have been her last opportunity to fulfill that fantasy. She’d been so excited about what would happen next that she hadn’t even hesitated to ask Dylan for his pair of cuffs. The fact that this encounter might help her forget that damn email would just be the icing on the cake.