Trained in Blood [Lords of the Expanse 2] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Honor James

  “No, no, and likely,” he murmured, his voice rough from sleep. “I was more curious though,” he said, stroking her cheek again lightly. “It’s rather trusting of you to sleep with someone you know is a Vampire.” Titan was a little confused about it as well. He had no idea why she’d be so willing to lie in the same room let alone plastered to him when he could have woken at any moment with not-so-pure intentions in mind.

  “First of all the ‘Vampire’ in question is my husband,” she began as she moved one hand up and cupped the side of his neck. “Secondly, the Vampire in question is also a man, one that I feel strongly about.” Licking her lips she looked him in the eyes. “Third, the Vampire in question isn’t the one that kills me or hurts me. He will never hurt me, and being a Seer I know this for truth.”

  Sliding his hand to curl around her neck he used his thumb to tip her chin up higher. Shifting slightly he moved his hand down to the curve of her bottom and pulled her up higher so they were nose to nose. Once he had her where he wanted her he stroked his thumb over her pulse for a few moments just staring into her eyes. Finally though, he knew he had to pull away. “I need to go feed, Violet, and then sleep some more.” His body was all out of sorts with the hard schedule he’d been pushing up to that point. “Stay here if you want or, if you don’t need more rest you might consider doing some more reading,” he said quietly, letting his arms loosen in preparation to get up from the bed.

  “Or you could just stay here with me, wrapped up in me and feed?” she asked in a cautious tone. “It’s selfish on my part mostly because I am very comfortable now and if you move I don’t think I will be able to get so cozy again. Don’t leave me, Titan? Take what you need from me, please?” This time it was the woman asking for him to take what he needed, what they both needed.

  His arms tightened before his brain even registered the thought and he looked at her for a long moment before he nodded slowly. He could see her resolve, her need, and a hint of fear in her eyes. Shifting he rolled them just a little so she was under him more than not. Brushing her hair back from her neck he stroked a finger down her thundering pulse. “Are you sure, Violet?” he asked because he couldn’t do this if she wasn’t. He couldn’t hurt her. He’d known that from the moment he’d heard her first speak.

  She nodded and looked into his eyes. “I am very sure, Titan, please.” She felt the burn of all his naked flesh pressing to her body, her frustratingly clothed body. “I need you, Titan. I’m your wife and should be able to give to you what you need and you are my husband and should give me what I need.” She smiled. “So it’s a good thing that our needs match right now.”

  He stayed still for another moment before he lowered his head to stroke his tongue over her skin, his eyes shuttering at her taste. Breathing her in for a slow minute he scraped the front of his long canines over her skin gently. He felt her tense and knew that just wouldn’t work so he slid a hand down her side and then up under her shirt. Stroking her skin he felt the shudder race through her a moment before she relaxed and, in that moment, he slid his teeth into her neck.

  Violet’s body clenched with the insertion of his teeth into her skin. She bit her lip and whimpered even as she lifted a leg and moved it to wrap around his butt. “Titan.” She moaned and felt his hand massaging her breast and tweaking her sensitive nipple. “Please.” Her hands moved around his waist and felt the expanse of skin there and shuddered when her hand moved between them and clenched around his rock-hard shaft. She began to pump him as he fed from her, her fingers moving up and down the long thickness of him even as she imagined him inside of her. She came hard, hot, and fast with those thoughts, desires, and once again cried out his name.

  Growling against her skin as he drank Titan couldn’t seem to control himself as he thrust into her hand. One hand was massaging her breast before he shifted enough to undo the top she wore and pushed it aside. Moaning when he put his hand on her bare flesh Titan came in her hand as he lifted his head. Shuddering in her palm he stared at her for long minutes. A slow line of blood trickled down her neck toward her chest. He blinked then lowered his head to slide his tongue from her chest and up to her throat. He stroked over her throat a few times before pulling back once more.

  The second his seed began to spill on her hands she, too, came. Her body clenched hotly and she felt her panties drench with her orgasm. It took her several long minutes but she finally looked up at him and smiled. “That was…” It was so many things that she couldn’t just choose one. “I need you, husband.” She did, too. She wanted to feel the release he gave her, the release she gave him, when they were both connected.

  He wasn’t about to argue. He wanted their marriage consummated in the worst way. Shifting he got to his knees and lifted her to a sitting position to push her top off her arms. Laying her back down he slid his hands slowly down her torso to the top of her pants and undid them slowly before drawing them down her legs. Running his hands up her flesh he slipped a hand between her legs to cup her mound through her damp underwear, his fingers rubbing at her lightly before he slid one underneath to stroke her pussy.

  Her body responded to his touches, caresses, and she began to move her hands over his body as well. Looking into his eyes she gave him a sad smile. “I don’t come to you innocent like you deserve. Hell I am very far from innocent. Titan, are you sure that this is what you want?” Hooking his finger around her underwear he tore it quickly, tossing the shreds of silk aside before he touched her again, lying down at the same time. “I do not come to you as an innocent either, Violet. Would you turn me aside for that?” he asked. His culture did not view a woman’s virginity the same as most cultures did. It was prized when it was given, but experience also had its pluses.

  “Hell no.” She groaned and let her fingers again encircle his cock. “The practice you had was just something to lead you up to me. No more talking,” she demanded as she squeezed him again and began to move her fingers up and down his hard length. “There is a thing called fellatio. I want to do that, Titan, I want to take you into my mouth and lick you, suckle you, and taste you.” She shivered fully. “I don’t know which I want first, you inside of me or me licking you.”

  Smiling faintly at her words he pushed two fingers deep into her cunt. “Your choice, Violet,” he said quietly. Leaning in closer he bit her ear gently, his tongue stroking over the flesh before he suckled. “Choose, wife, but choose quickly,” he warned, “or I’ll choose for you.”

  “You first,” she said the moment his fingers began to stroke deep inside of her cunt. “I need you to take me, Titan. I want us to come together as one,” she whispered as she let his cock go and rubbed her leg against the hard length. She stroked him with one hand even as her other moved to cover the hand that was slowly moving in and out of her pussy.

  “Good choice,” he murmured as he slid a third finger into her cunt and stretched her more. “I want to feel you wrapped around me, your heat warming me, your silky pussy welcoming me.” He breathed as he found that special point inside of her vagina and stroked it.

  Her hand that held him to her leg stroked him harder, faster. The hand over her mound slid down slightly so that she could run her fingers over her clitoris in time with his strokes and she felt her eyes drifting closed in passion. “Titan, please,” she whimpered and rubbed faster, her orgasm building harder, hotter, and faster.

  “Scream for me, Violet.” He breathed out against her skin as he moved his hand faster, pushing his fingers into her cunt deeper. “Let me know if you like my touch, if you want more, if you want me,” he told her softly. He scraped his teeth gently down her skin, no canines though, just the blunt edges of regular teeth.

  She wanted him more than she wanted the next dredge of breath. It wasn’t long before she did just as he had demanded and screamed for him, his name falling from her lips as she climaxed so hard that she nearly bucked him from her and squeezed him tightly, only part of her brain recalling not to hurt him.

  Grindin
g his teeth together he fought not to spill again in her hand. Sliding his fingers free he pulled her hand from his cock and moved over her. As she relaxed he slid into her body, his lips on hers catching that first sound as they came together as men and women should.

  Her body welcomed him easily. She held him close with arms around his shoulders and legs around his hips, using his body to lift herself slightly as he slid his cock into her body. Her fingers and hands roamed all over his body as he thrust into her. “More,” came the gasped plea. “Harder.” Even as she spoke that word her hand moved to cover her pussy, her fingers on each side of his cock as he slammed in and out of her roughly. “Yes, so good,” she said, letting out a small sob.

  Sliding the flats of his long canines over her skin he lapped at her flesh slowly, the movements gentle compared to what was happening elsewhere. Capturing her breast in a hand he squeezed slightly as he set his mouth to it, pulling her nipple into his mouth between the long teeth and then flicking at the tight bud with the flats. Nibbling carefully at her soft skin he lifted her hips to give him better access as he moved even harder, needing her even more than he could have thought possible.

  “Titan.” She gasped as he lifted her hips to take her harder, faster. Her hands clenched on his shoulders while he teased and licked her breasts, she even gave a soft screamed as she spasmed suddenly, unexpectedly.

  His movements were harder now, harsher, his hips bucking in to meet her body with little to no control. A soft rumble of sound came from his chest as he felt her beginning to fall apart. Nibbling at her skin he shifted to the other breast to tease the flesh there, his tongue sliding over the strong pulse under the soft flesh.

  “Bite me,” she whispered softly, begging him. “Feed from me, Titan, please.” She begged him without pausing as she moved on him again and again, her body in complete union with his. “Come with me,” was the final demand that she placed on him.

  Licking at the soft flesh he met her eyes and, ever so slowly, he pressed his teeth into the vein in her breast holding her to him tightly as she arched into him. Growling he fed slowly, only taking a little from her as he came, his body surging into hers and spilling deep.

  She tightened on him again as she felt him spilling deep inside of her body and gasped in shock as she came a second time. Only it wasn’t so much him coming deep inside of her so much as it actually was feeling him biting her. She cried out and cradled him close to her, holding his head close to her heart as he so lightly fed from her. She had been taught that the Vampires brutalized their donors when they fed but what she felt when he so carefully drank from her was pleasure, but even more than that she felt cherished.

  Shuddering slightly Titan eased his teeth from her soft flesh and, much like a cat, lapped at her flesh. Rolling slowly, his arms holding her close, he settled to his back with her draped over top of him. Pushing her hair back he shifted just enough that she could see him. “Violet.” He murmured her name almost sleepily. “Are you all right?” he asked in a concerned tone.

  She was obviously sleepy, but beginning to cool, a shiver working over her skin, as she shook her head in answer. “No, I’m cold, Titan,” she grumbled not moving from where she was draped. “Not moving though. Cover us up and just stay with me?” She pulled back to look down into his face. “Stay inside of my body? For just a little while longer?”

  Reaching down he caught at the covers that they’d pushed close to falling onto the floor during their lovemaking. “As long as you wish, my Lady,” he said softly as he wrapped the heavy blankets over her body and then put his arms around her. “Sleep, my Lady,” he murmured against her hair. “Soon enough you will need to be awake and alert so you should gain whatever respite and comfort you can from this moment and hold to it.”

  “Violet. Vi-O-Let,” she muttered and yawned again. “That’s my name, Titan, Violet. We are married, we are lovers. I think you should be able to call me by my name, especially when we are all wrapped up in each other’s arms.” She never opened her eyes, never moved, just lay there on him with a goofy smile on her face.

  “As you wish, my Lady,” he murmured softly, a small tease. He had a sense of humor, nice to know, but as with most Vampires, he never really showed it. Stroking her hair lightly he closed his eyes and let out a soft and very satisfied sigh. “Sleep, Violet, we will talk more later,” he whispered moments before he slid into a light sleep, his body still needing more rest.

  When she felt him fall asleep she so very quietly whispered, “I could love you, Titan. Show me the way.” It was honest and sincere, and filled with fear. Quieting once more, however, she nestled close to him and was soon sound asleep, far deeper asleep than he was.

  Chapter Seven

  Stretching slowly, very aware of the warm female form wrapped around him Titan opened his eyes. All he saw was a mess of hair and smiled ever so slightly as he brushed back her hair careful not to pull it. She was beautiful and too perfect. He let out a breath. He’d tricked her to get her where he wanted her, needed her from that moment in the shuttle bay when she’d given as good as she got and then capitulated and kneeled.

  “Do you need me?” She was more than half-asleep and her sleep-filled tone indicated it. “Am I too heavy?” she asked even as she tried to move from his chest. “Titan, what’s wrong?” She had moved enough to see his face and touched her fingers to his left cheek. “Are you all right?”

  “You’re not too heavy, my Lady,” he murmured softly, “never that. I will be all right.” In time, the guilt would slowly sink into the bowels of his gut and eat at him silently. “Just an internal debate that is not going well for me obviously,” he said with a hint of a smile.

  “Can I join in and view that debate?” she asked as she stacked her hands under her chin and watched him. “You do know that you can tell me anything, at anytime, right, Titan?” Fingers idly stroked over his chest before she averted her gaze with a wrinkle of her nose, her eyes darting back and forth for a time.

  Lifting a hand he stroked a finger down her cheek lightly. “I will work on that, Violet,” he said softly. “But you will need to give me time to adjust. I am not used to having someone to confide in.” His life had been more of the keep-a-secret-and-stay-alive kind. “How are you feeling, wife?” he asked, gently stroking his finger over her soft skin once more before letting his hand fall.

  “Happy.” She gave him, “I am content with our life, Titan. I am happy to be able to sleep in the same bed with my husband and even though we were only just married, I know that we were meant to be together.”

  Lifting a brow at her proclamation he tipped his head slightly. “That is a good thing, wife,” he said softly. “Have you thought of what you will say to the Alliance upon our return in just over a day?” he asked. He hated having to bring up the circumstances under which they had been brought together, but he could not forget it until his leaders gave their official approval for the marriage. They could, depending on her, take her away and he’d never see her ever again.

  She went cold with the reality of life for them. Shaking her head she spoke. “I have no idea what I will say to them.” She had a really, really bad feeling that no matter what she said and no matter that he married her it wouldn’t make a difference. She had a feeling that her lot in life was sealed, but she would face whatever hand was dealt to her with the dignity being a Vampire Warlord’s wife deserved. “Promise me if they take me from you that you will go on? That you will find someone to replace me as your wife?”

  “Do not jump to conclusions of what may or may not be, Violet. You cannot any more than I read the minds of the Alliance. Just answer their questions and, when they ask your thoughts on the marriage and the way it was done, be honest,” he advised even as his gut clenched. “I will be there with you but I likely will not have a say as I’ve already told them my opinion and it is on public record.”

  She nodded and sighed. “No, but I can see the future,” she whispered quietly even as she laid her head back
on his chest. No longer sleepy she just lay there, holding onto him and creating memories. “Go back to sleep, Titan. It has been a very long and trying day for you.”

  “The future is not set in stone, Violet. It is what we make of it,” he murmured softly. “We will have our life together. We will talk before we meet with them. By then I will have a feel of what their mood might be.”

  “I hope so because I want this life. In the meantime I should think of what I am going to say to the men of the council.” She shrugged and bowed her head. “Good night,” she muttered and kissed his chest again. “I need more sleep I think, Titan, good night.”

  “Good night, my wife,” he said softly, stroking her hair gently as he held her to him. As she rested he stared blankly up at the ceiling, his mind in total turmoil as he fought to keep his thoughts on track. He needed to find a way to ensure her safety and to ensure that the Alliance could find no reason to annul their marriage and he only had thirty hours to do it.

  Chapter Eight

  Time waited for no one. It marched on silent bootheels or in a deafening pace. As she watched his home world come into view it was the roar of the deafening pace that had caught up with her. She still didn’t know how to convince his Alliance council to allow her to remain with her husband. There was nothing she could say to them, nothing she could give them. She had the coordinates to the training planet but she was certain that was stripped and moved by now. She had nothing save for her word. “I’m scared, Titan,” she whispered when she felt his hands move around her waist in the privacy of their chambers.

  Wrapping his arms around her he drew her back against him and kissed her neck gently. “Do not fear, wife. I will not let them do you harm,” he said quietly. “Just be who you are, Violet. Let them see you for the woman you are and they will not tear us apart.” If they did there would be hell to pay.