by Sydney Addae
“I’m glad you showed up tonight, man. I don’t mind telling you that we were getting worried about her. She’s become more and more withdrawn.” Jonathan followed Baron’s gaze. “At least she’s talking and eating now. That’s a step in the right direction.
Baron nodded and looked at Kieran, who was on some type of communication device. Their eyes met. Kieran wrapped up his conversation and headed towards Baron.
“Any news on how far she may have traveled?” Baron questioned in a low tone.
“No, but she isn’t within miles, in any direction, of where we found her jacket. The frustrating part is her scent goes down the trail and then it vanishes. It goes cold. It’s like she disappeared out of the area. There’s not a trace.” Kieran pulled his hand through his short wavy hair and clenched his jaw. Although he watched the females as he spoke, there was a message for Baron in his words.
Baron froze at the wolf’s statement. As far as he knew, only vampires teleported with humans. Why would a vampire want Rissa? She was too small to be of much use. The possibility of vampires being involved threw him off. It changed the game entirely. He’d only become last of his line a couple of months ago; it wasn’t widely known. Was Rissa in danger because of him? What about Carrie? Did she have anything to do with this? So many random thoughts flew through his mind that he didn’t hear Simone call him. Kieran touched his arm, breaking his musings and pointed in Simone’s direction. He nodded and walked towards her.
“I’m tired, are you ready for bed?” she asked him. All eyes turned towards them. Simone stretched, closed her eyes and reached for him. “Do you want to stay here or go back to the hotel?” Surprising him with a choice.
Baron on the scene comforted Simone in a way she couldn’t fathom. It was like things clicked into place. The only people she’d depended on were Sharita and Camilla. Baron was quickly becoming a part of that circle. His commitment to her earlier broke her down and built her up at the same time. She’d seen his resolve when he wanted something. He didn’t back down, he didn’t quit. She banked on that as exhaustion hit her hard.
“That’s up to you. I’ll do whatever you want,” he murmured, gathering her gently in his arms. He leaned down and rubbed his chin on the top of her head. She moaned, causing a ripple of chuckles from her friends. Simone lifted her hand from Baron’s back and threw Camilla the bird. Everyone laughed.
“I need a bath, let’s go back to the hotel. We can have an early wake-up call and be back here at sunrise.” She yawned loudly and dropped her head against his chest while closing her eyes. Baron realized everyone was staring at them. He looked towards Camilla, who had become teary-eyed. Tressie stared at him as if he’d walked on water. Jonathan smiled like a loon while Robert and Kieran put the supplies in the boxes.
Baron pulled her closer and started walking with his arm wrapped around her waist. “Okay, so that’s what we are going to do, guys. I need to make a couple of calls and I need that location, Kieran.” Kieran nodded and mimicked a phone. Baron nodded as they made their way to the car.
Chapter 13
Baron and Simone’s suite was on the second floor. Camilla had brought Simone’s bag over earlier. She was so tired; Baron pushed her into the shower, washed her, and then put her to bed.
Two hours later, his peace was interrupted by Rauff and the Fem Anika. They’d requested a meeting with him. Not all vampires had the same abilities. It required practice to use more mental capacity. With the onset of blood banks and families, many vampires didn’t teleport, and utilized very little energy to live. Rauff was one of them. And since Baron had no intention of leaving Simone, the two came to his door.
Rauff and Anika approached Baron in the hall. Baron stood, feet braced, arms crossed. Anika smiled as she looked him over. He’d not invited nor contacted her. Her eyes lingered over his pants zipper and unbuttoned waistband. Licking her lips, she walked up to him and kissed his chest exposed by his open shirt. Baron glanced down at her head and closed his eyes as she licked him.
Gently, he pushed her off him. “Why are you here, Rauff?” True, he’d told Rauff where he was going, but he’d been doing that for years. Rauff knew he was a private person. Sliding his hands into his pocket, he toyed with the ring Marissa had given him. He’d found it earlier when he packed and decided to bring it along.
Even though the question was directed towards his partner, his eyes were locked with the spring green orbs of the woman in front of him. She was perfection. Long red hair hung in large curls down her back. They moved with the slightest tilt on her part, almost appearing alive. Her lively green eyes were set in an angular face with high cheekbones. A flawless, milky white complexion with just the right amount of makeup and her red bow-shaped lips, beckoned. She looked as though she’d just walked off the runway in a pair of skin-tight jeans and a low plunging green V-neck sweater. Her hungry eyes stripped him bare as she licked her lips as if he were a tasty morsel. He stepped back.
Her siren’s smile made her appear sexy and innocent, a deadly combination for any sane man.
“Anika came by the club tonight looking for you. I told her I’d find you after she indicated a desire to have offspring for your line,” Rauff explained. His smile grew wider. “I remember you asking me for the names of Fems and thought this might be a good time for the two of you to meet.”
Baron looked at the tall redhead. He remembered her well and thought it interesting that she made no comment on his obvious physical changes. She didn’t appear surprised; there should have been some reaction, other than the obvious greed or lust. Idly, he wondered how many knew of his change. Rauff talked to a lot of people and news like this wouldn’t be contained. Still, he wished he had more time to be invisible. Once again he yearned for the days when no one noticed him.
Anika was the third Fem to contact him. Somewhat flattered, he smiled at the Fem. She moved in his direction.
“Hello Baron.”
“Hello Anika.”
“I understand you are looking for a Fem to mate with.”
“I am considering and weighing my options. Yes, I did ask Rauff to provide me with a list of available Fems.” Pausing, he continued. “We have been intimate before Anika. You denied my last petition three decades ago.”
“I want to mate with you, C.J. Baron. I will provide you with issue. How many do you want?” she asked huskily, stroking his chest with her long nails.
“Issue? No one has called them that in centuries, Anika,” Rauff said.
Anika sneered at him.
“Anika, we have mated before. What makes you think this time will be successful? You have the lowest conception rate of all the Fems. Do you honestly believe that everyone who came to you to breed was at fault as well?” Baron asked, stepping away from her.
Grabbing his waistband, she stopped him. “I want issue with you, Baron, last of your line. We will create a dynasty.” Palming him, she placed her hand on the top of the zipper and began pulling it down slowly.
“You are quite a man now, Baron. You excite me. I want you.” Anika pulled him out, dropped to her knees, and took him into her mouth.
Baron marveled at the amount of energy she put into mating with him. It was unusual. There were so few Fems; they merely had to indicate an interest and males lined up. Unfortunately, it fed the problem of greed. He yelped at the sharpness of her teeth. Then moaned at the pleasure he felt. Inhaling, he took in the pheromones Anika released into the air and shivered. She released him with a loud pop.
Standing, she slowly pulled down her top. Her breasts were large and sat high. Bending slightly, she pulled off her pants. She wore a small sheer thong, which left little to the imagination. Moving slowly, she placed her hands on her hips and began moving her feet in an erotic, intricate rhythmic pattern. He inhaled her scent and cursed himself for hardening as she moved closer. He could not look away. She was indeed beautiful, alive, and vibrant. His flesh called out a response as his eyes darkened.
Baron clenched hi
s teeth as his cock rose higher and harder, dripping fluid, refusing to be denied. Somehow his feet moved in her direction.
She smiled. Her fingers beckoned him closer. He wanted pure Vemdorians. His body and mind screamed for him to take her now. There was a whisper of dissent. He barely heard it. Licking his lips and then drawing in a breath, he smelled Anika’s essence in the air and hardened more.
His arms slowly rose to draw her in. The dissent came again, louder this time in the form of a question. “What if Simone did this with another?”
The question gut punched him. He stumbled back, shaking his head as a picture accompanied the question. Dark, billowing rage erupted. He covered his eyes as he tried to wipe the image from his mind. Anika touched his dwindling rod. He snatched her hand, holding her off while he fought to catch his breath. His heart accelerated, causing him to feel dizzy. Leaning forward, he chased the image of Simone on her knees with another from his mind. He’d kill anyone who touched her. He shuddered as his other hand replaced his confused appendage into safe keeping, zipping it away. Anika watched the entire process with a frown.
“I am not going to do this, Anika. The timing is wrong for me,” he told her.
Her face morphed into an angry scowl. “Do you have any idea what you’re doing? You are nothing, how dare you turn me down!” she screeched, stepping backward. Her eyes bled to black as her hair blew in the breeze of her energy. She shook, baring fangs.
“I came up here for a child from the last one and you will not deny me,” she proclaimed to Baron. He watched her slow approach, gazing at her moving hair.
“I have denied you, Anika. Rauff is here and willing. Use him,” he offered as she released her smell into the atmosphere.
Rauff whimpered.
“No Baron, it must be you.”
“Why Anika, why does it have to be me? Who sent you?” he questioned as she reached him.
Lifting her hand to touch his hair, he moved to the side. She slit her eyes and reached for his face. He caught her hand. She struggled to move. He held her hand and grabbed the other as it came up.
“I didn’t give you permission to touch me.”
“I don’t need your permission. I am Fem Anika. I chose, I take, and I give,” she snorted her response.
“Not this time. I choose who to breed. I give my seed, not you.”
Anika screamed and attempted to snatch her arms away. Baron held her tight and then threw her away from him. She hit the wall with a loud thump. Immediately, she jumped at him, only to slam into his energy field. Bouncing against the wall, she caused the sconces in the hall to blink.
“Baron, Baron!” They heard Simone’s voice through the door. “Baron, the door won’t open. What’s going on out there?”
Baron watched the crafty smile appear on the Fem’s face in reaction to Simone’s voice as she changed direction. There was no way he’d allow her near Simone.
“Nothing much, Rauff wanted to talk to me about some things. He and his friend are leaving,” he announced, leveling a glare at Rauff. In that instant, he missed the quick movement as the Fem released the door. He heard the opening click and turned to face a sleepy Simone. She stuck her head out the door, took in the situation and shook her head.
Baron pivoted towards her as she walked into the hall tying her robe around her waist while staring at Anika in her naked glory. Simone’s mouth hung open as she looked at each of them. Anika smirked. Rauff reddened, and Baron searched for a plausible excuse.
“Hello, Rauff,” Simone said.
“Hello.” He nodded a greeting as he inched closer to Anika. A glare from that one stopped him in his tracks. Simone continued to stare at the naked woman who stood still and made no move to dress. Finally, she turned to Baron. Her frown deepened as she noticed his clothes. His shirt and pants were unbuttoned, but on. She glanced to Rauff, who was fully clothed.
“Baron?”
“Yes?”
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” Simone asked, as remnants of her sleep cleared from her eyes.
“Of course, let me send Rauff and his guest on their way and then I’ll be in.”
“No, I think I’ll wait right here until you’re done, so we can talk.”
“You are being rude, Baron. You have not introduced me to your... uh friend,” Anika purred.
“That’s because Rauff brought you here and he didn’t see fit to introduce you. So I don’t think I should,” Baron said in a hard tone.
Anika reddened under the slight and looked at Rauff, who coughed. “Oh yes, sorry about that. This is Anika.” He picked up her pants and top. “We need to get a move on; we have a long way to travel. It was good seeing you again.” He nodded in Simone’s direction.
Anika crossed her arms, staring at Simone and then Baron. “Baron, have you told her about our, uh past?”
“No, he hasn’t,” Simone inserted, hands resting on her hips. She wasn’t in the best of moods with all she had on her plate. But there was no way she was about to be toyed with. “He doesn’t need to. I take it he fucked you at some point in the past and you want more.”
Simone stepped to the side of Baron, ignoring the shocked expressions on the faces of the men, her attention on the woman in front of her. Simone knew the best way to deal with nasty was with nasty. In her present state of mind, she wanted someone to vent her frustration on.
“How very astute of you,” Anika cooed. “I don’t want him, just his child. Despite his reluctance now, it’s only a matter of time before he grows tired of you.” Ignoring the look of horror on Simone’s face, Anika smiled evilly at Baron.
“You expect Baron to fuck you and make you pregnant? Damn girl, have some pride. You got naked, showed him what he’d get, and he still turned your ass down. Yet you are trying to make me feel as if I’m wasting my time?” Simone tilted her head, looking at Anika as if she were delusional. “Tell you what. When I’m done with him, I’ll send you my leftovers. Maybe he’ll settle for your ass then.” Simone sneered, enjoying the heightened color on the other woman. They both stared at each other. The men wisely remained silent.
Anika looked away first, toward Baron. “Some other time, Baron, remember I always get what I want.” She blew him a kiss that caused Simone to ball her fist. “We will have issue.” She turned and walked towards Rauff.
“Baron, I’ll wait for you in the room. The air stinks out here. Don’t take too long.” Simone walked back inside but didn’t close the door.
Relieved Simone was out of the hall, he stepped in front of the door, threw up a shield so she couldn’t hear them, and looked at Rauff with disgust.
“Take her and leave. I am not interested. Furthermore, do not intrude again without my permission.” Baron spoke in a tight voice as he thought what could have happened if the Fem had her way. Simone would never have forgiven him and his vision of her with another would’ve come true. That sobering reality fueled his anger.
Rauff looked between the two of them and backed away. “No, Baron, I’m not getting involved in this. The two of you will have to work this out.” He laughed nervously.
“You were involved the moment you brought her here. I did not invite either of you. Also, there is nothing to work out. I am not about to waste my seed on her.” Baron turned in spite of the glares and hisses sent his way from the Fem. When she took a menacing step in his direction, he bared his fangs, causing her to freeze in place just as he heard the wolves.
Kieran and his brother turned the corner of the hall. Within seconds they fell backward. In quick motion, they jumped up, placed their hands in front of them; they drew them back as if burned. They stared in his direction while he engaged in conversation with Rauff.
“Baron, are you crazy?” Rauff huffed. “What happened to keeping the line pure and shit. I thought this was what you wanted. You are going to blow this over a hum...” Rauff did not have the opportunity to finish his statement before Baron grabbed him by the neck, lifted him off the ground and squeezed. Rauff
’s eyes bulged as he wheezed. Baron shook him like a rag doll and threw him down.
“You will die this night if you finish that statement.” Baron’s voice dropped two octaves; his eyes itched meaning, they’d bled all color and were blazing white with red rims. Baron sensed Lukian’s presence and dropped Rauff, who rolled on the ground wheezing. Anger boiled in Baron over Rauff’s actions and remarks. Never had the desire to hurt someone being so strong. On some level he knew this was not his normal response. It wasn’t rational. Yet, he knew he would dismember anyone who got in his way at that moment. No one would harm Simone. Why he felt that way didn’t matter at the moment.
“Baron, what the fuck is going on here? Rauff, what are you...? Did you do that to him, Baron?” Lukian spoke from a distance. Baron presented fangs in his direction and growled.
“Baron, will you at least let me come in? And Anika needs to put on some clothes before someone comes by.” Lukian pleaded while reaching forward, touching the energy barrier Baron had thrown up. Baron reached down and picked up Rauff by his coat lapels. The marks around his neck faded as Rauff stared angrily at Baron. Without hesitation, Baron dove into his mind, rifling through information to see what Rauff had been up to. The attack was so swift and thorough, Rauff didn’t have an opportunity to defend himself. When Baron was done, Rauff’s head lolled listlessly. They gazed at each other. Baron was disgusted by what he saw, but not surprised. Rauff was a master con and had underestimated Baron one time too many. He released his hold, Rauff dropped to the floor.
“You need to leave,” he spat at Anika. “What he promised you was not his to give. I can tell you this, no offspring of mine will ever be fostered or sold. The responsibility of my line is too great and I never intended to pass my duties to someone else. As I said earlier, I will choose the bearer of my seed. It will never be you. Do not come near me again.” She shuddered, inhaling and backing away. Blindly, she reached for her top and covered herself. Picking up her pants, she threw them over her arm.