Sucker Punch: A Paranormal Women's Fiction Novel (First Fangs Club Book 3)

by Painter, Kristen

  He was embarrassed? “Oh, I find you very attractive. But the drugs are responsible for my behavior earlier.”

  “That’s too bad.”

  Was he flirting with her now? A new flush of need went through her. Whether he was or wasn’t, her body was responding. “You shouldn’t—”

  “I just mean you’re a beautiful woman. Any man would be crazy not to be interested. But I suppose you know that, being a vampire and all.” He came closer, stopping in front of her. “Where do you want me?”

  She looked up at him. He was tall and broad and smelled of aftershave, clean and fresh and delicious. Thinking of his features as chiseled seemed too on the nose, considering the kind of supernatural he was, but that word stuck in her head.

  “Governor?”

  “Hmm? Oh, right, sorry.” Having a brain and a body that were no longer listening to her was as frustrating as it was exhausting.

  The lopsided grin was back. It was the only part of him that wasn’t perfect, which made it remarkably endearing. “Hard to concentrate?”

  Not on him. “The drugs are making me foggy.”

  “Is that what it is?”

  What was he implying? She frowned. “What else would it be?”

  “You don’t think there’s something between us? My grandmother would call it a spark.”

  “It’s just the drugs.” There was no way she would admit to more in her current state.

  He nodded slowly, but his expression said he wasn’t the least bit convinced. “I’ll sit on the couch. Would that be okay?”

  Her mouth was dry. And her body was on fire. The perfect mix for combustion. “Yes.”

  He went to the couch. She followed and sat next to him, her knee touching his. How was she going to do this without making a fool of herself? Doubt crept in.

  She scooted back. “I don’t think I can do this.”

  “Why not? What are you afraid of? You can’t hurt me.”

  She gave him a sharp look. “That’s not what I’m afraid of.” Not after Charlie’s pep talk.

  “Then what?”

  “I might do something inappropriate.” Like maul him.

  He smirked but didn’t let it turn into a full smile. “How about I just give you a pass? Whatever happens, happens. We’ll just chalk it up to you not being you.”

  “You’re being awfully cavalier about this.”

  “I’m a consenting adult. I can handle it.”

  She ran her tongue over her fangs. His eyes tracked every move. “All right, then. Let’s do this.”

  He tipped his head back and to the side, keeping his eyes on her. “I’ve never been bitten before. This should be interesting.”

  “If you’ve never been bitten, how do you know my fangs will puncture your skin?”

  “It’s just a thing all gargoyles know.” He stretched his head back farther, offering himself to her.

  She couldn’t stop staring at his throat. His pulse thumped through his skin, his heartbeat clanging in her ears like a dinner bell. Her gums ached. “I thought you were, uh, going to give me your arm.”

  “I decided my neck would probably be easier. The skin’s a little thinner there.”

  He was the one getting bitten, so the choice was up to him, but sitting beside him made his throat hard to reach. She tucked her knees under her and twisted to face him. Still not the easiest position. She leaned in slowly, trying to work out where to put her hands and how to brace herself, and then he grasped her around the waist and moved her to straddle his lap.

  He was quick, giving her no time to do anything but gasp in surprise. He put his hands back on the couch as he straightened his head to look at her. “Isn’t that easier?”

  It was. She couldn’t argue with that. But it was far more intimate than was probably safe. “I wasn’t going to… That is, this is very close, and I—”

  “You’re about to bite me on the neck and drink my blood.” He squinted at her, clearly amused. “Close is unavoidable. No reason for things to be harder than they need to.”

  Fine. If that’s how he wanted to do this, like it was a game, she’d play. She put her fingers on his jaw and pushed his head back and to the side. Her senses, understanding what was about to happen, sharpened down to focus on him like he was the only living creature that existed in the world.

  She opened her mouth, fangs fully extended, and leaned in. She put her mouth on his wonderfully warm skin and scraped her fangs over his throat, instinctually finding the right spot on the vein. Then she sank her teeth in.

  There was resistance she didn’t expect. But a second later, she broke through.

  He let out a small sound, not exactly one of pain.

  She was vaguely aware of his hands taking hold of her legs just above her knees and his fingers digging in, but she was lost to the moment. Kace’s blood was very different than Pierce’s. She could taste the power in it. Taste that he was something more than human. It wasn’t as sweet and easy as Pierce’s, though.

  It was as different as cold spring water was from dark beer.

  Then, just like with Yuri, something murky rose up inside her. Something primal and deep. The drugs twisted it into a hunger that felt unquenchable. It frightened her. Made her feel like if that something decided to drain Kace, he wouldn’t stand a chance.

  She wasn’t going to let that happen, though. She might be young, but she wasn’t exactly a newbie either. She knew more than when she’d first bitten Yuri. She dug into her small reserve of self-control and forced the darkness down.

  For a second, she was sure she’d won.

  Then something new surfaced within her. Desire that had nothing to do with blood and everything to do with the man beneath her.

  Time spiraled into a meaningless concept. His pulse filled her head like she was listening to her own heartbeat. The rhythm became part of her. She drank to appease her thirst, while hoping she could take enough to shut down the fresh desire that had arisen.

  Abandon danced at the edge of her senses. A kind of wildness that whispered, Take it all.

  She shoved it away, refusing to give in.

  Images filled her brain. Flashes that went by in an instant. Kace in military gear. An explosion. Blood. Bodies. Smoke and shrapnel. An overwhelming sense of loss and pain and grief.

  The images vanished as quickly as they’d arrived, and as they left, so did her hunger. It just vanished. Gratefully. Her fangs receded about halfway, and she sat back, a little dazed with the kind of blissful well-being that usually followed a great day at the spa.

  Warmth spread through her. The happy kind, not the unbearable kind she’d been feeling all day that made her want to stand under a cold shower.

  She leaned in toward him again, this time to run her tongue over the two puncture wounds, healing them like she did with Pierce.

  Kace’s eyes were closed, his head resting on the back of the couch. “What was that for?”

  “To mend the punctures.” He was truly gorgeous. “How do you feel?”

  The lopsided grin returned. “Like I just woke up on a lazy Sunday morning and know that I can lounge in bed for as long as I want.”

  She wiped the corners of her mouth just in case she hadn’t been as neat as she’d intended. “That sounds like a good thing.”

  He opened his eyes, straightening his head. “It is. I feel totally relaxed. I didn’t count on that. I thought it would hurt more, but it didn’t really hurt at all. How do you feel?”

  “Good. Better. More in control of what’s going on inside me.” She started to move off his lap to sit beside him, but he caught her by the arms and pulled her in, kissing her on the mouth.

  She was too blissed out to resist. Not that she wanted to. She kissed him back, careful not to graze him with her fangs.

  The kiss ended a second later, and she sat back. “What was that for?”

  “Because I wanted to. Since I saw you in the pool.”

  She smiled, unable to help herself, and got off his lap
to settle in beside him.

  He glanced over. “No comment, but you’re smiling. I’ll take it.”

  “Thanks for letting me do what I just did. I really needed that.”

  “You can do that whenever you need to.”

  “Good to know. Especially because I may need to again if these drugs stay in my system much longer.”

  A moment of silence passed. “Why did the fae drug you? Seems like a pretty directed move without motivation.”

  “Because…” There was no reason not to tell him that she could think of, so she explained what was going on. From Rixaline to Rico, she laid the whole thing out. “They’re just awful creatures.”

  “They’re afraid of you.”

  With a skeptical look, she turned her head to see him better. “I don’t think so.”

  “I do. Why else would they go the trouble of trying to incapacitate you?”

  Was he right? She narrowed her eyes, thinking back. “What did you mean when you said earlier that you’re glad the fae don’t like you?”

  “The fae hate gargoyles because they’re powerless against us.”

  “Powerless?”

  “With a few exceptions, like your fangs, we’re pretty indestructible.”

  The images she’d seen while drinking from him made sense now. He’d been the only one of his company of soldiers to survive an attack. All because of what he was.

  She sat up a little straighter. “Would you like to join my team?”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Kace grinned. “Help you raid the fae stronghold? I’m all in for that.”

  “Good.” Donna smiled back. He’d be a welcome addition. “I’ll introduce you to Temo, my head of security.”

  “I know Temo.”

  “You do?”

  “I’ve lived in this building for a few years.”

  “Oh. Right.” That brought a question to Donna’s mind. “Do you know Claudette too?”

  “I do. Although not in the biblical way, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  Her eyes rounded. “It wasn’t.”

  But there was still something very satisfactory in his answer.

  He laughed. “I also know Temo because I worked personal security for Claudette a few times. Why she didn’t use him, I don’t know. But it was no big deal. Went to a couple of parties with her and played bodyguard. She likes that look.”

  Donna knew why Claudette didn’t use Temo. He’d caught her and Fitzhugh getting overly acquainted in the back of the SUV once, and she’d frozen him out after that. “What do you mean by ‘that look’?”

  “You know, like she’s important enough to need protection. And I’m not saying this job isn’t important. It is. But she didn’t really do enough as governor to get the kind of attention that might require security. If that makes sense.”

  “You mean she didn’t give any dhamfirs sanctuary.”

  “Exactly. Nothing even close. In fact, she didn’t seem to do much more than hang out with Governor Fitzhugh and throw parties with him. I’ve done security work for him, too, by the way.”

  She frowned. “He’s a jerk.”

  “I see you’ve met.”

  “My assistant, Pierce, punched him recently.”

  “Wow.” Kace looked impressed. “I’d like to meet that guy. Fitzhugh has had that coming for a while. Any particular reason?”

  “Fitzhugh insulted me, basically. He was drunk and spouting off. He wanted me to throw a party with him, too, and I said no. He didn’t like me after that.” Donna shrugged. “Anyway, let’s go find Temo and get you up to speed. I have a lot to take care of.”

  “I can imagine.” He stood and offered her his hand.

  She took it, and he helped her up, pulling her against his chest to kiss her again.

  After a moment, she reluctantly pushed away. Only the fact that she’d just fed kept her hormones in check. “No more of that. My system can’t take it right now.”

  “Sorry. I couldn’t stop myself. But I won’t do it again. Until you’re ready for me to do it again.”

  “Good to know.” She made a face at him before heading for the door. He was a great kisser, but maybe a little too young for her. Not to mention that if she wasn’t going to get involved with Pierce because of their working relationship, she couldn’t very well turn around and start something with the temporary security guy.

  Maybe when this was over and Kace was no longer on her payroll, she’d revisit that. Right now, her focus had to be on rescuing Rico. She walked out into the kitchen. “Temo? Are you around?”

  “Downstairs, boss,” he called up the steps. “You need me?”

  “Yes, please,” she called back.

  Thumping footsteps announced his jog up the stairs. He smiled when he saw Kace. “Hey, bro, what’s up?”

  “I’m joining the team for the raid.”

  Temo’s brows rose as a curious look crossed his face. “I would have already asked you, but I thought you were done working security for the governor.”

  “That was the old one.” Kace tipped his head toward Donna. “I like the new one a lot better.”

  “I bet you do.” Temo laughed. “Good to have you on board. Come on downstairs, and we can go over the game plan.”

  Donna stopped him. “Temo, any word from Ishalan on the antidote?”

  “Just that he’s working on it. That might be a tricky one for him, given that he’s so far removed from the inner workings of things.”

  She sighed. “Worth a shot.”

  “I’ll let you know the moment I hear more.”

  “Thanks.”

  They left, and she went to the salon. She stood at the door until there seemed to be a natural break in the activity. “Jerabeth, I hate to interrupt, but could I have a minute of your time?”

  “Sure, Governor. Doctor, I’ll be right back.”

  “Take your time.” Dr. Fox switched on a machine that started spinning a batch of vials. “We’re just waiting on this next set of results.”

  Jerabeth walked out to the hall. “What can I do for you?”

  “Let’s talk in the office.” A moment later, that’s where they were, door closed, Charlie at her computer. Donna sat at her desk, indicating Jerabeth should take a chair too. “You know that I don’t have an issue with the sun the way most vampires do.”

  Jerabeth straightened, tensing. “Yes, but I swear I haven’t told a soul.”

  “I know. That’s not why we’re having this conversation. We’re having it because I need you to come up with a plausible spell or potion or something that might make that possible. I need an explanation.”

  “Oh.” The witch sat back, looking greatly relieved. “Does it actually have to work?”

  “That would probably be for the best. In case someone wants to test it.” Donna groaned. “I’m asking too much of you. I’m sorry. Your plate is already full, and I just asked you to make room for dessert.”

  “I could call in some help. If that’s okay with you. She wouldn’t need to know more than the brief. Create a spell or potion that can keep a vampire safe from the sun for an extended period of time. With you running this raid at dawn, it’s completely plausible. Although I have to tell you, this is something vampires have been after witches to create for years. No one’s been successful at a long-term potion yet.”

  “That doesn’t make this easy, does it?”

  “No. It could also make me a target.”

  “You know you have my full protection if that becomes an issue.”

  Jerabeth nodded. “I appreciate that. We just might need to say the formula became unstable or something. Enough that no one wants it.”

  “Good to know.” Donna sat up a little. “Who are you thinking about asking for help?”

  “The first witch that comes to mind is Harper Ferris. Harper is a solid potion-maker. I think she could do it. Or possibly her sister Reggie. She has a particular vendetta against the fae anyway, seeing as how her fiancé was killed by one.”


  “Wait a minute. You’re talking about the witches who make the leather goods with their father?” Donna glanced at Charlie, then back at Jerabeth.

  She nodded. “Yes. Ferris & Coven. Daisy, Harper, and Regina are Will Ferris’s daughters. I’m sure they’d help, considering the situation.”

  “The coat they made me is amazing. Please do reach out to them.”

  Jerabeth got up. “I’ll do it immediately.”

  “Good. Time is short, Jerabeth. I need something believable to cover my daywalking abilities before I leave for the stronghold.”

  “Understood. I will do my best.” She left.

  Donna exhaled loudly, propping her elbows on her desk and leaning her head into her hands.

  “There are a lot of moving parts, aren’t there?” Charlie asked.

  Donna nodded. “Do governors get to take vacations? Because I feel like I’m going to need one.”

  “I bet. Since you’re here, do you want to check out the armory and pick out a sword you like for the raid?”

  Donna moved one hand so she could turn her head and stare at her admin. “A sword?”

  “You’re going to need a weapon for this fight. An iron-edged sword is what most vampires favor in close combat with fae. If distance was involved, I’d suggest a crossbow with iron-tipped arrows, but I’m not sure that’s right for this.”

  Donna sat up. “Just one small thing. I don’t have a clue how to use a sword.”

  “I realize you haven’t been trained. We’ll address that at a future date, but you’re a vampire. You have speed and strength. That alone will give you enough skill with a sword to defend yourself. Plus, with the iron-edged sword, you don’t have to worry about a fae taking the sword and using it against you. Just touching it would burn them.”

  “So a sword is just standard-issue.”

  “Pretty much.”

  Donna squinted. “We have an armory?”

  Charlie smiled and nodded at the louvered doors across from Donna’s desk. “Do you think that closet is filled with office supplies?”

  “Yes.”

  Charlie got up and opened the doors wide, revealing an impressive array of weapons, mostly an assortment of blades, short and long, but also several crossbows and a couple of other things Donna didn’t know the names of.