by Trina M. Lee
“No,” he admitted, chewing nervously on his lower lip. “It’s not easy for me to be part of this, but this isn’t about making me comfortable. This is about what’s best for you.
And, as much as it does kill me a little, I'm a nervous wreck knowing the kind of danger you’re in.” He glared in Arys’ direction then, and I realized he blamed him for Harley’s intentions. Of course he did.
Arys returned the dark look with one that was carefully neutral. So, their fragile understanding had dissolved. That didn’t take long. Was it wrong that I preferred that?
My discomfort grew when neither of them broke eye contact. The negative energy grew thick with animosity. As if this wasn’t already difficult enough.
“Is there something that you’d like to say, Shaz?” Arys’ voice was low, menacing.
Shaz gave his platinum head a shake. “It’s already been said.”
“This is never going to end, is it?” I asked, looking back and forth between them.
With a toss of his head, Shaz assumed a casual expression. Feigned nonchalance wasn’t one of his strong suits, and I wasn’t buying it. “It’s all good, Lex. This is about you, not us.”
Arys sat back against the headboard with his arms crossed, glowering at nobody in particular. “Don’t let me kill her,” he said suddenly. “I’ve never had to stop myself before. I’ve never wanted to. This won’t be easy.”
The silence was heavy, and the atmosphere, thick with tension. Shaz looked at me so hard with so much emotion in his jade eyes that I started to come apart inside. He would go to the ends of the earth for me. I felt it, without a doubt when he replied, “Not a problem. I assume that means I can do whatever it takes, if it comes to that.”
Shaz gave me a wink and a grin, which was missed by Arys, who frowned. “Of course. No cheap shots, wolf.”
I was calmer than I should have been with the stimulating sensation of each man’s high-strung energy assaulting my senses. This was something I had to do. I grew more certain of it with every passing moment.
Arys moved quickly, jerking me up against his hard chest. I gasped and adrenaline crashed through my veins. “Listen closely to her heart,” Arys told Shaz. “It will be your guide. Don't let it grow too faint before you stop me. She can take more than a human, but it's hard to say how much more. She's already lost a fair amount of blood.” He peered at both of us through those midnight eyes. The hunger already filled him as the bloodlust fought for control.
Shaz flashed him a dirty look. “I'm not going to let her die. Not unless you intend to kill me first.”
Oh, that was just what I wanted to hear before putting myself completely into their hands. I needed to be able to trust both of them to hold it together. “Do you think you guys could lip each other off after we do this, when I'm not dead?”
“Sorry, Lex.” Shaz shifted so that he was closer to us, almost touching. His pure werewolf energy was calming.
I looked up at Arys, expecting him to ease me into this. I had no second thoughts; I just wanted it over. When he gazed down upon me, I felt more like food than I ever had before, including when walking into The Wicked Kiss. The anticipation of feasting upon my blood was quickly stripping his control away. It was that awareness that instilled the first trace of true terror within me.
I struggled to control my breathing as the adrenaline flooded me. Fear would drive him harder and faster, and yet, knowing that made me that much more afraid.
“Ready?” One word, one chance to turn back. At my stiff nod, he tilted my head to reveal the smooth, unbitten side of my neck. Physically, I felt pretty good after my encounter with Harley though I was reluctant to find out how much more I could take.
Had I expected Arys to hesitate? Possibly. What I hadn't expected was the rough way he grasped my upper arms, holding me immobile. I couldn't even open my mouth to complain before his mouth was on my skin, his fangs plunging deep.
My blood spilled, and a strangled cry filled the room that I vaguely knew was me. It was nothing like it had ever been when he'd fed from me during our lovemaking. This was pure agony. Every vein and artery in my body seemed to seize as he pulled my blood into him. I went cold inside; the chill forming in my core spread throughout my limbs.
I never could have imagined what being Arys' victim truly meant. Not until that moment. With his razor sharp fangs buried in my flesh and the intent to drain me, I had never feared him so thoroughly.
I heard Shaz' voice, but it sounded fuzzy and far away. He didn't make the mistake of intervening, instead watching helplessly as my vampire lover sucked me dry right before his very eyes.
Arys held me tightly to him; a low groan reverberated in his throat as he pulled hard at the wound. A jolt of searing hot pain burned through me, and as instinct kicked in, I struggled against him. He forced me back so that I lay flat on the bed and ground his fangs deeper until I thought that the pain would surely kill me before the blood loss did.
When he withdrew his fangs to let the blood rush freely against his tongue, I convulsed and shuddered amidst the sudden pull of power blanketing us. It rose up like a thunderstorm, crashing over us. Even as he stole my life source, our bond was as strong as ever.
The room began to spin, and I had to close my eyes as a wave of nausea threatened me. Every second brought me closer to certain death. I could feel it. Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea after all.
The audible beat of my heart grew louder in my ears until it was all I could hear.
Though I physically struggled uselessly beneath Arys, our power seemed to dance all around us. I knew Shaz was reacting to it when he reached to touch us both. One hand gripped Arys' forearm, ready to drag him off me. The other stroked a few long blonde tendrils that streamed out on the bed spread behind me.
I wanted to beg Arys to stop, but the words wouldn't form properly. All I could do was gasp for breath amid the pain. Forcing my eyes open, I was saddened to see that Shaz' face reflected my anguish. I saw his lips move but couldn't make sense of what he was saying.
It wasn't long before I was too weak to do more than listen to my heart slow. That's when everything went from slow motion to full speed ahead. Shaz jumped like he'd been electrocuted. He grabbed Arys and threw him in one solid motion. The sound of his body hitting the opposite wall caused a reverberation throughout the house.
My eyes rolled back in my head, and I battled to maintain my focus. Arys came back at Shaz fast, instinct driving him. Shaz was ready though, delivering a body slam that had Arys on the floor blinking up at him in shock.
“Finish this!” Shaz reached to drag him up, and Arys smacked him away. “Finish this now, before it's too late!”
I tried to roll over onto my side, and the exertion caused me to cough raggedly. It was enough to draw their attention to me. I couldn't move, try as I might. Everything was slowing inside me, and I was terrified, not that I would die, but that I would die here with each of them watching.
Arys was at my side in an instant, offering his wrist to me. “Take my blood, Alexa.
You must.” When I simply stared transfixed at the smooth alabaster skin, he grew panicked. “If you come any closer to death, you will rise as a vampire a lot sooner than intended. Or just be another victim.” His voice broke on the last word, and his unusual display of emotion was enough to break through the fog that clouded my brain.
When the bloodlust hit me, it was with full force. I had no physical strength to resist.
I didn't want his wrist though. The stark contrast between Arys' ebony hair and the pale skin of his neck drew my eye. All it took was a look, and he knew. Bending to bare his throat to me, I peeled back my lips to expose my ferocious fangs.
They were made for tearing and shredding, not piercing pretty little punctures like Arys'. I bit him quickly in an attempt to avoid doing serious damage. His blood hit my tongue, and it was like a rebirth. The power soared through me in a rush of electricity and fire.
It was so much more than a
taste. His jugular slowly but steadily pumped the hot crimson fluid into my mouth as I licked and sucked at the gash. The return of my strength was immediate. I wrapped my arms around him, holding him as close as physically possible. Shaz now stood by the bed watching us. As I fed from Arys, my power reached for my wolf.
His energy was alive and taunting; I itched to taste it again. With a finger, I beckoned him closer, something driving me that I wasn't controlling. Shaz eyed me warily, but he responded by kneeling on the bed near Arys and me.
Arys grunted and attempted to disengage himself from my grasp. It encouraged my hunger, and I resisted, clinging to him when he sat up. The strength with which I held him was unnatural, even for me, but he was still stronger. Gripping each of my wrists, he forced me back against the bed.
I felt the vicious grin that stole over my features, felt its evil to the root of my being.
I loved it. Arys' blood on my lips was warm and delicious as I ran my tongue over it.
Despite being pinned down by him, I had the sneaking suspicion that I could escape him if I really wanted to.
“Alexa?” Arys stared into my eyes, searching for a sign of sanity. He turned my head to examine the bite on my neck.
Shaz swore softly and gravitated closer to me on the bed. “It's already healing.”
“Yes. Thank God. I thought I'd gone too far.” Arys' voice held a tremor.
I rolled my head so that I could look at each of them in turn. Their expressions couldn't have been more different. Arys was hard to read, his careful mask back in place.
He stank of guilt though, and it turned my stomach. A glance at Shaz revealed curiosity and concern. He reached for me, and Arys released one of my arms.
“Shaz?” My voice came out hoarse and scratchy. “I can't…” I longed to warn him, to tell him what I was feeling, but all I saw and felt was the hunger.
When I lunged at him, Arys was ready for it. He jerked me away from Shaz hard enough to make me cry out. My shoulder burned, and I turned on him, snarling and snapping. Like the first time I'd experienced Arys' bloodlust, I saw through a red haze.
Blood and death. It was all I cared about in that moment.
It took both men to wrestle me down, and I didn't make it easy for them. The need to feel something die as I bathed in the heady glow of blood and power consumed me until I was lost inside it. I fought them until I was exhausted.
“I'm sorry,” I whispered, unable to take my eyes off my beautiful white wolf. I knew by the look on his face that my eyes were Arys' sensational blue. “It just aches so bad inside.”
“What the hell is happening to her?” Shaz directed his words at Arys, but he had eyes only for me.
Arys sounded defeated when he replied. He held my arms at an incredibly painful angle but it was helping me see through the blood hunger. “It's the bloodlust driving her.
The bond has been formed, and she's experiencing her own hunger, not just remnants of mine. The worst of it will pass … eventually.”
“I'm ok. Don't talk about me like I'm not right here.” That had been snappier than I'd meant for it to be. “Please let me go. I feel like a prisoner.”
Instead of doing as I asked, they looked at one another to decide. That infuriated me, stirring the power inside me in a negative way. Arys studied me with a look heavy with contemplation. Shaz just appeared confused.
Nodding to Shaz, Arys slowly began to release his hold on me. “Get into bed with her, but keep your guard up. She may not even know what she's saying.”
Like hell I didn't. I knew what I said. And, I knew what I wanted, needed. I eyed Shaz hungrily as he slipped back into the bed next to me.
Shaz drew me back against his chest so that he spooned me. Arys wasted no time pressing his nakedness against me, eliminating any possibility of space between us. He was careful not to reach into Shaz’ personal space when he laid a hand on my hip.
“Alexa,” his velvety smooth voice was barely a whisper. “The hunger can be fed by more than blood.”
All it took was the touch of my two lovers to stir the hot embers of the fire simmering in my core. The hunger refused to fade, but it wasn't averse to taking a new direction.
Arys’ eyes were heavy upon me. My breath caught, and I waited in eager anticipation as he slowly brought his face towards mine. My eyes closed and vision ceased to be my main sense. Scent and touch took over as he explored the inside of my mouth with his tongue. He tasted slightly like blood and spice, which triggering a yearning in me for more. I instinctually reached to bury my fingers in his thick, glossy hair.
There was the barest movement at my back as Shaz pulled my long hair to the side, baring the back of my neck. When his mouth came to rest against my sensitive flesh, I quivered between their two firm bodies. His lips and tongue traced hot, wet circles along my sensitive skin, and I became flushed with heat and desire.
Both my body and power eagerly anticipated the joys of two men. I couldn’t hold back the urges that drove me to consume, to take what they were giving and more, should I so desire.
Arys deepened the kiss, and I fell into his seduction. There was possessiveness to his touch that spoke volumes of need. When he nipped and bit my tongue and lower lip, Shaz did the same along the back of my neck. It was a hot spot for me that he knew would bring about the desired response.
A throb began between my legs as Shaz ran a gentle hand down to my thigh where my robe parted. His fingers grazed my skin, stirring the nerve endings to life. A tingle spread from where he touched until it filled my entire body with a warm glow.
Arys’ lips moved to the corner of my mouth in a slow, lazy motion. Tipping my head up ever so slightly, he kissed the soft spot beneath my chin before lavishing my neck with moist little love bites.
My breathing grew heavy as the burning hot power built along with the physical lust.
As I tuned into my metaphysical side, I was able to clearly taste and feel each of their differing energies: warm and cool, life and death, the power in my core was ravenous, with a viciousness I’d had yet to experience. I was intrigued by what they had to give, and I couldn’t help but want it all.
I moaned softly when I felt Shaz press against my ass, rock hard and persistent as his lips traveled down the curve of my neck to my shoulder. The hand on my thigh grew painful as his fingernails became claws. It was a delicious pain though, one that made me itch for more. I ground my butt against him so that his breath came in a hot pant against my skin.
My hands glided over Arys’ taut chest and abdomen, feeling the muscles ripple beneath my fingertips. There wasn’t a lot I could do caught between them the way I was.
It was both intimidating and exciting as they dominated me together.
As Shaz alternately stroked and clawed his way to the lacy string of my thong underwear, Arys boldly slid a hand inside my robe and deftly parted it completely. His cool hands on my naked flesh fed the growing desire, and I arched my back with a sigh when he cupped my breasts.
A sexy, low growl rumbled in Shaz’ throat, increasing my need as the sound touched me in intimate ways. With each one of them kissing, licking and touching me, I grew weaker willed by the second.
The first shock of anxiety resurfaced when my dark vampire moved so that he could take one of my nipples into his mouth. I tensed, waiting for Shaz’ reaction to such a private act. I was astonished when Arys disrobed me with an aggression that defied my halfhearted attempt to resist. My robe hit the floor, leaving me thoroughly naked.
My blood rushed, and I felt lightheaded. It was surreal, like a dream. I almost doubted this was really happening. Those doubts were banished when Shaz gently turned my head so that he could kiss me while the vampire feasted on my breasts. The musky taste of wolf was heavenly. He was my mate, and I longed for him desperately.
I moaned into Shaz’ mouth when Arys plunged a hand between my legs. He rubbed his fingers back and forth over my wet opening before forcing two of them inside me with the roughness I�
��d come to know and love from him.
The power that commanded Arys and I once again expanded to include Shaz as his Were energy enticed it to take note of him. As the physical pleasures grew, so did the blinding rush of power that had never taken no for an answer.
I kissed my wolf with a passion that knew no limits. Our tongues seemed to dance together. No sooner had Arys abandoned my breasts than Shaz had his hands full of them, kneading and pinching. Small noises of contentment came from him. His energy was wild and delicious, and I savored it.
Arys continued to work me with his hand; his intense gaze rested heavy upon me.
The hunger in his eyes was raw, frightening. The rush of power in the room was near deafening.
I moaned as the waves of an approaching orgasm began to stir inside me. Arys’ slick fingers slid in and out of my body, pausing to rub the little sensitive nub that had me writhing between them on the bed.
The combination of their hands and mouths upon me was more than I could take without my sanity collapsing into fragments. The orgasmic sensations built until I reached the breaking point.
I cried out in ecstasy as I exploded with climax. The intensity nearly brought tears to my eyes as my body spasmed uncontrollably. Shaz showered my face with kisses as I clung to him. I could feel the vibration as he shuddered under the pull of so much high-strung power.
His arms went around me in a tight embrace. Arys curled up on the other side of me so that I was locked between their bodies. It felt so perfectly right. I clutched Shaz’ hand, entwining our fingers together.
The afterglow was sensational. I snuggled into the feeling as if it were a warm blanket on a cold night. Despite the power humming all around us, I was calm and peaceful.
I was overdosed on everything they’d each given me, most all, love. I sunk into blissful slumber with a smile on my lips. My vampire’s cool body conformed to mine as if it had been made to do so. And, though I was drunk on the two of them, I wasn’t so far gone that I didn’t notice the desperate need in Arys’ touch as his arm wrapped firmly around my waist.