Dirk The Savior - Book 3 of the Raven Series

by Rhiannon Neeley

  Dirk met his brother's glare with one of his own. “I can't let her die.”

  Completely out of character, Holt stepped in between them. “This is no time to argue. They both need attention.”

  John looked at Holt. “You know that we've never done this before. Brought one back. I will not allow one of them to live if this doesn't work.”

  “Don't worry,” Holt said, his face made of stone. “If it doesn't work, I'll destroy her myself.”

  Dirk shoved past the both of them and grabbed the stretcher where Casey lay unconscious. His mind was racing as his body sent what felt like shards of glass through his muscles. It had been hours since he had fed Casey and it would only be a few more hours before sundown. He pushed the stretcher toward the door, his heart thumping.

  Casey had to survive this.

  Had to.

  * * * *

  Casey was dreaming.

  It had to be a dream. Her life was not this nightmare that she was experiencing.

  She had felt movement of some sort but wasn't quite sure what it was. She wasn't sure of anything. She couldn't open her eyes, couldn't move.

  Memories pained her. Bobby Sue sinking her teeth into her neck. Passing out. Drifting in a black sea of limbo until that delicious salty liquid had entered her mouth. It had brought her back to the surface. Back to life. She remembered then where the sustaining liquid came from. Her Dirk. He had fed her his own blood.

  Horror shook her. She was one of them! She had fed from Dirk and it had filled her with satisfaction. She had gripped his arm, sucking his blood down her throat and it had quenched her thirst like nothing else would.

  Dirk, she cried out in her mind. Oh Dirk, I'm so sorry.

  Suddenly, lightning crackled through her. Casey reeled in pain. Her mind went blank, the blackness overtaking her again.

  * * * *

  John adjusted the flow of blood that pumped into Dirk. Dirk had passed out for a while but was now awake, feeling some pain but dealing with it. Dirk's eyes were bloodshot, his jaw tight. But his eyes never left the woman who lay on the stretcher three feet away.

  John touched Dirk's shoulder lightly. “You love her,” he said.

  Dirk slowly turned his head. “What Madison is to you,” he said, his voice shaky and dry, “Casey is to me.”

  John nodded.

  Dirk turned his head back toward the woman. “You told Mother,” he said.

  John sighed and looked at his mother who was bent over the woman. “Yes. I told her that Connor Fagan was now nothing more than a pile of ash. It was as if a light turned on behind her eyes. Like she was back.”

  “I hope she can save Casey, John.” Dirk looked up at John again. “If she can't, I don't want to live.”

  John fully understood what Dirk meant.

  * * * *

  Casey opened her eyes.

  She looked up at a high ceiling with dark wood beams crossing it. Where am I? she wondered. She began to stretch, her muscles tight. She stopped. She was lying in a bed. A very comfortable one.

  “How are you feeling?”

  Casey turned her head to find Dirk sitting beside the bed in a chair. Casey's smile was instant when she looked into his eyes, so bright blue that they gleamed in the dim light. “Wonderful,” she breathed, reaching for him.

  He rose from the chair and sat on the edge of the bed. “You had me so worried.”

  Casey ran her hands up his arms, over his chest, then rested them one on each side of his face. “I thought I'd lost you,” she said, tears of joy welling up in her eyes. Dirk scooped her up into his arms, hugging her tightly.

  “You'll never lose me,” he said.

  Casey felt completely whole, locked in his embrace. But she wanted to be closer still. She tilted her head back and gazed into his eyes. “Make love to me, Dirk.”

  Concern flickered over his face. “You've been through a lot. I don't know if you're up to it.”

  “Oh yes, I am.”

  “I don't want to hurt you.”

  “Stop arguing with me. Get in this bed.” She brushed a kiss across his lips.

  Moments later, he lay beside her, skin to skin.

  Casey lay close, pressing as much of her body against him as she could. She did feel wonderful. She felt their connection to each other was strong as steel. She had missed having such a connection to another person ever since her parents died. She had thought that she'd never find someone like this again. But now she had Dirk. And her body was feeling more human now. There was no burning hunger in her stomach. No pain. Just a slight stiffness throughout her body. “Am I okay?” she asked, tracing circles on Dirk's chest.

  “We'll have to take blood samples for the next few days but otherwise. yes. You're going to be okay.”

  Casey sighed. “Are you okay, too?”

  Dirk squeezed her shoulders then gently laid her back. He hovered above her, searching her face. “As long as you're with me, I'll always be just fine.”

  Casey put her arms around his neck and drew him down. His kiss was gentle and warm. Casey moaned, knowing the hunger that she did feel—a hunger for him—would soon be staved off. If only for a while. She would never get her fill of him.

  As they explored each other's mouths with their tongues, Casey reached down and wrapped her hand around his already hard member. Her own juices began to dampen her. Then his fingers slid down her belly and on to her cleft, where he began to stroke her ever-so tenderly, driving her to the brink of insanity with his loving, warm hands and hot, wet mouth.

  Casey began to stroke him, moving her hand up and down the length of him lightly, playing her fingers over the slick tip of his cock where his pre-cum wet him. Dirk groaned, pulling away from her mouth. He took one of her straining nipples into his mouth and sucked lightly, sending shivers through her. Then his fingers entered her wet sheath ever so slowly. Casey let out a sigh.

  This is heaven, she thought. Pure heaven.

  Dirk raised his head. “I have to be inside you,” he said, his voice breathless.

  “Yes.”

  He braced himself above her and opened her legs wide with a nudge of his knee. “Tell me if I hurt you.” Then he carefully entered her.

  Casey gasped, the feeling of him inside her, so warm, made her muscles clench. Pleasure welled up in her belly, threatening to spill over.

  Dirk stopped, holding himself still. “Does it hurt?”

  “Oh God, no,” she said.

  He began to move, sliding in and out. Casey's pussy responded, milking him on each stroke. She felt the impending orgasm's rising tide welling up. She began to shake, struggling for control, wanting to wait, wanting to make it last because it felt … oh … so good.

  “Look at me, Casey,” Dirk said, his voice ragged.

  Casey met his eyes. Those blue eyes that she so loved were stormy with passion. Her hands grasped his shoulders. Dirk's rhythm increased, his eyes never leaving hers. Her body burned, begging her to allow the dam to break.

  “Come for me, baby,” Dirk said, “but don't look away. I want to see you come.” That was all it took. The dam burst. Casey's orgasm rocked her to the core, exploding. She let out a gasp. “Oh, Dirk.” Her body bucked, driving him deeper, her muscles spasming around his cock. She felt him grow amazingly thicker inside her. It sent her on a second wave of passion before the first had subsided. It rolled up through her, making her heart stutter, her tongue tingle.

  Her eyes never left his. The blue of his eyes darkened to almost violet. “Dirk,” she said, her throat raw, “Dirk, come inside me now. I want to feel it.”

  A growl rose in his throat. One hard stroke and he filled her with his hot seed. Casey clung to him, his body shuddering over and over until finally settling, both of them breathless.

  They both gasped for air. Dirk eased himself out of her and rolled over, lying on his back. Casey cuddled to his side. Dirk wrapped his arm around her, hugging her close.

  “Damn,” he said.

  “Yeah,”
she answered. Casey had never felt so fulfilled. So happy. So—home.

  Dirk cleared his throat. “I think you wore me out, woman.”

  Casey chuckled. “Just wait until I'm experienced,” she said, poking him in the side and making him jerk. “This was really only my second time, you know.” She looked up to find him smiling.

  “I'd be happy to be your instructor,” he said with a grin.

  “I wouldn't want any other.”

  Dirk patted her arm and then tightened his hug. “I think that lesson number three should wait for a while though. You need some rest and so do I.”

  Casey rose up, propping herself on his chest. “I don't know about you,” she said, “But I'm starving.”

  Dirk's eyebrows drew together. “What are you hungry for?”

  “Other than you? Um, maybe a tuna sandwich?”

  “Come on,” Dirk said, smiling. “Let's go see what we can rustle up.”

  When they reached the kitchen, Casey grabbed Dirk's arm, hesitating. The kitchen was full of people. All she was wearing was a robe. They all sat around a large table, each of them munching on something.

  “What's wrong?” Dirk asked, placing his hand over hers on his arm.

  “I'm not…” She looked up at him. “I'm not dressed.”

  Dirk's eyes roamed over her. “I know.”

  Casey felt her face grow red with heat. She slapped at him.

  “Come on,” he said, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “You're fully covered. And besides, they're family.”

  “I don't know them,” Casey whispered sharply.

  “You might as well get used to them. They'll soon be your family, too.”

  Casey's heart hitched. Had he just said what she thought he said? She didn't have time to ask before they reached the table and the rest of the group.

  Dirk pulled out a chair for her and nudged her into it. “I think you all know Casey,” he said. Then he left her side and headed for the refrigerator.

  “Hi,” Casey said, demurely folding her hands in her lap. She crossed her legs, very aware that underneath the fluffy terrycloth robe, she wore nothing. “I must look a mess,” she said nervously.

  “You look just fine, my dear,” a small older woman said. She was seated directly across the table. “You may not remember me. I helped you through your 'incident'.”

  Casey did seem to remember her but it was a little foggy.

  The woman continued, the smile on her face genuine. “I'm Lark Raven. Dirk's mother.”

  Casey tried to swallow the lump in her throat. Good grief, I meet his mother just after having sex plus I have nothing on but a robe. Casey's mind reeled. Her face grew so hot she thought she would die of embarrassment. “N-nice to meet you.”

  Dirk's mother glared toward Dirk, who was rummaging in the 'fridge. “Dirk should have introduced you but since he didn't…”

  “Sorry,” Dirk said, eyebrows raised. He ducked his head back into the 'fridge.

  “…I will,” His mother continued. “This is John, my oldest son, and his wife, Madison.”

  Casey nodded at the couple sitting so close together they looked joined at the hip.

  “They just had the most beautiful little girl,” Lark said, beaming.

  “Congratulations,” Casey said.

  “These two here,” Lark began again, waving a hand at another couple, “are Eric, my next-eldest son, and his soon-to-be bride, Lydia.”

  “How do you do.” Casey could see the resemblance to Dirk in his brothers. They were both very handsome men but neither of them had Dirk's cool blue eyes.

  “And these two are my nephews, Drake and Holt.”

  “How ya feelin'?” the one with the spiked hair, Drake, asked.

  “Good. Thank you.” Casey frowned. “We've met, haven't we?” she asked, eyeing the two nephews.

  “Sort of,” Drake said.

  Dirk returned with a sandwich for her and a glass of milk. “Here you go. Now eat.”

  Casey didn't hesitate. Half-naked or not, she was starving. She bit into the tuna sandwich, barely able to stop herself from wolfing the rest of it down in two bites.

  “So tell me, Dirk,” the one called Eric said, “how in the heck did you get Fagan to go up in flames like that?”

  Dirk sat down in the empty chair beside Casey. He gave her a quick glance then turned back to Eric. “I lucked out. He was covered in coal oil. Very flammable.”

  “Wait a minute,” Casey mumbled, her mouth full of tuna. She took a quick sip of milk to wash it down. “I had coal oil on me too but I—uh—sweated it all off. How could he still have been covered in it?”

  Dirk turned to her and winked. “Vampires don't sweat.”

  Casey just looked at him. “Vampires don't sweat,” she repeated. “I guess I don't know as much about them as I thought. And you hunt them.”

  Dirk nodded.

  Casey sighed. “Boy, if this is what you do for a living, I've got a lot to learn.”

  Everyone at the table laughed.

  Dirk reached up and wiped something from her lip. “You'll have plenty of time. I expect my wife to know everything about what I do.”

  Casey's heart swelled so that she thought it would burst. She jumped out of her chair and planted herself on Dirk's lap. She kissed him long and hard, heedless of the others or her tuna breath.

  Applause filled the kitchen.

  Casey drew back and looked into the clear blue eyes that she hoped one day her children would have. “I love you, Dirk Raven,” she said.

  “I love you too, Casey Delaney.” Then he smiled, fangs and all.

  * * * *

  After a very much-needed sleep, Casey awakened to find herself alone in bed. Dirk was nowhere to be seen. She rose from the bed and opened the closet, crossing her fingers. Sure enough, Dirk had seen to it that there were some clothes in just her size. She quickly pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and left the room. She headed downstairs, not really sure of where she was going. The house was absolutely huge. She entered what must be the living room and stopped. Dirk's brother John was standing in front of the fireplace, his back to her.

  John was a very imposing figure. Tall and muscled, his long black hair rivaled her own. Nervous, Casey cleared her throat to let him know that he was no longer alone.

  John turned. Tucked in his arms was a tiny baby, wrapped in a pink blanket. The corner of John's mouth crooked up in a lopsided grin. “Just giving Madison a bit of a rest.”

  Casey crossed to him and looked down at the tiny scrunched up face. “She's beautiful.”

  “I think so,” John said.

  Casey looked up at him and smiled. He didn't look so imposing now.

  “Have you seen Dirk?” Casey asked.

  John lowered his eyebrows. “I believe he went shopping. Something about a ring?” A sparkle lit his dark eyes.

  Casey grinned so widely that it hurt.

  * * * *

  “Hey, John,” Drake said, striding into the room. “I wanted to let you know that I'm taking off for a few days.” Drake couldn't believe the change in Casey. She looked gorgeous. Not like she had looked, all stressed out, back there in Kentucky. She still had a couple of little scrapes on her face but Dirk was definitely a lucky man.

  “Where are you off to?” John asked, shifting the baby in his arms.

  “I've got a debt to pay, actually,” Drake said.

  “I suppose you deserve a few days off. Check in, alright?” John said.

  Drake threw him a salute. “Will do.” In a hurry to get gone, he headed out to the garage with one thing on his mind.

  A little red Mustang that was owned by a pretty blond named Grace, who had supplied him with some information when he needed it. Now that he thought about it, he remembered just how much Grace reminded him of Lydia, Eric's bride-to-be. They bore a striking resemblance to each other. Well, Drake had made a vow to pay her back for the information that she supplied and make it enjoyable for both of them.

  An
d that's just what he was going to do.

  After all, he'd just completed two assignments back to back. A man needed a little R and R once in a while, didn't he?

  * * * *

  Sheriff Grace Lee Shanley stood at the side of the clearing and lit a cigarette. Her hand shook as she touched the flame to the tip. She drew long and hard on the cigarette, filling her lungs. Then she blew the smoke out in exasperation. It was bad enough that the county was cutting the Sheriff's Department budget, which meant that she'd have fewer officers. Now she had what looked like a double murder on her hands.

  “I tole ya, Sheriff Shanley. That man what said he was a federal cop was sure strange actin',” Billy Ray said.

  “Let me get this straight,” Grace said, turning her gaze on Billy Ray. “You and Daniel were out hunting night before last and someone who said he was a Fed ran you off.”

  Billy Ray nodded. “I knew there was something up. That's why we come back out here this mornin'. Figured we better check around.”

  “Why'd you wait until this morning? Why didn't you come out yesterday morning?”

  Billy Ray shuffled his feet. “Was a little afraid to, I guess.”

  Grace dropped her cigarette and ground it out with the toe of her boot. “What were you hunting, Billy Ray? Nothing's in season.”

  Billy Ray took his hat off and clutched it in his hand. “Had a wolf kill one of my cows couple days ago. Thought we'd be able to track it. Get shut of it before it does more damage.”

  Grace puckered her lips. “There're no wolves around here.”

  Billy Ray's eyes widened. “I done saw it when it run off. There's one about, I'll tell you. A big one.”

  Grace sighed. She eyed the yellow tape that encircled the two bodies of the young women. There was a dead deer in the clearing. A wolf could have done it. They'd have to take a better look at the carcass to be able to tell. But the women … no wolf had done that damage. Two—decapitated—bodies, she reminded herself. The technicians were inside the circle of tape, gathering evidence. Grace shook her head. She couldn't figure it out. The bodies were obviously women but the weird thing was … they were nothing more than ash. Burned to cinders but the bodies still held their original shape. As long as you didn't touch them. If you did they crumbled wherever you touched. She tilted her head, squinting against the bright sunlight. Something niggled at her about the whole scene. Something familiar. The thought wouldn't quite come to her, wouldn't quite form. Oh well, she thought, it'll come sooner or later.