by Rivi Jacks
I make a “humph” sound, and he laughs.
Tipping my chin up he gives me a quick kiss. “I need to make a call. Would you care to get me a drink?”
I slide off his lap and stand a little unsteadily. Holy hell, what this man does to me! “What would you like?” I ask, my voice breathy.
“Pour me some tequila in the glass sitting on the table there.”
I fetch the glass as he pulls out his cell, wondering who he’s calling. When I look around for a bottle, he points back to the bed, and I see it sitting on the nightstand.
“Clea.” I hesitate on my way across the room and then continue. “I’m going to turn my phone off; I don’t want to be disturbed. If there’s knock on my door—it better be a life or death emergency.”
At his words, I wonder if Clea and her husband are staying here at this resort too. I look at him on my way back with his drink, and he gives me his sexy half smile. Reaching the couch, I hand him his glass. Pulling the cell phone he gave me to use out of my pocket, I silence the ringer.
“Yes,” he continues. “What time?”
I move to the end of the couch, looking out at the mountains.
“That sounds fine… I’ll talk to you later.”
I glance over to see him punch in a new number.
“Max… I have something I need you to check out. There may be an influx of Kihn into this area… I need you to alert Taylor and Lucian… Yes, it’s important… I won’t be available until tomorrow so unless they are burning down the town of Sweetwater or someone is dying, it will have to wait… Yes. What did he say?” Lucas looks over at me and smiles. “That works… If any of Sofie’s friends or family ask about her, tell them she’s fine, and she will call them in the morning… Yes… I’ll talk to you then.”
I turn back as he tosses his phone over onto a nearby chair.
“Come here my pretty.” He crooks his finger at me, and I recall the last time he called me his pretty. I sit down beside him as his arm slides across my shoulders. “Would you like something to drink? Wine?”
“No thank you. Maybe later with dinner.”
He leans down to kiss my temple. “I may not let you out of this room to eat dinner.” His voice is raspy against my skin.
I look up into his gleaming eyes. “We can order room service,” I suggest, at once realizing I wouldn’t mind him keeping me a prisoner in this room as long as he was here with me.
“Are you hungry?”
“I just ate, Lucas.” This makes me think again about what he does for food.
“I have a question,” I say softly. He raises his eyebrow. “What… do you do… you know, about eating… when you’re away from home.”
He’s taking a sip of his drink, and I think my question surprises him. He lowers the glass and chuckles bluntly. “Are you afraid I’ll starve?”
“I just thought you might be—hungry.” I remember what he said about not asking a vampire if they’re hungry.
“Are you offering to feed me?” His voice is low and sensual.
My breath catches as his gaze holds mine. I swallow hard.
He leans down to kiss the top of my head. “I’m teasing you, Sofie.” But looking up at him, his eyes have taken on an intense, darkly guarded look. He downs the rest of his drink. “I actually need very little blood to survive. I told you that.”
He did? Maybe. I focus on that look in his eyes and if I would actually let him take blood from me. Damn! I bet it would hurt.
I shake myself mentally. “Why do you only need a little?”
“Because—of who I am.”
I frown.
“Are you ready for all this?” he asks, giving me a long questioning look.
Oh no! Is it bad? Why does he act worried?
I reach up and stroke the side of his jaw. “Yes, I am.” My voice sounds a little shaky as I hold his gaze.
“Okay.” He stretches his long legs out, getting comfortable, but he remains silent. I wait patiently. When he does speak, his voice is guarded. “My family—the Santiago—are royalty in the supernatural world.”
I abruptly sit up straight. I knew it! The first time he told me his full name, I was suspicious.
“We have been the ruling family since the beginning.” He pulls me back against him and picks up a lock of my hair, bringing it to his nose, inhaling deeply. “But, that is not the reason I need little blood.” I shift slightly so I can see his face.
“My mother was human when my father met her.” I raise my eyebrows in surprise. “She became pregnant—with me—soon after they met.”
Pregnant? “But I thought—” I start to say.
“I—am the only known—truly born vampire.” I blink at him. “A supernatural phenomenon in the truest sense,” he says dryly. “My early life was much like any other human, but as I aged, things began to change. I slowly started craving blood and soon needed it to thrive. I have never needed much though—unlike other of my kind. By the time I was a teenager, most of my human—needs, were gone.”
“When was that?” I’d never asked him how old he was, and I wasn’t prepared for his answer either.
The skin around his eyes looks tight as he watches me. “The early fifteen hundreds.”
“What?” I exclaim. And with that said, the air sucks right out of my lungs. I look at him in disbelief.
He screws his eyes closed and inhales deeply before looking at me. “Sofie,” he says softly and reaches out his hand but makes no move to touch me.
I close my mouth. “You’re five hundred years old?”
He watches me carefully. “Actually, I’m twenty-seven. I’ll always be twenty-seven, in physical appearance and—” he smiles “—probably mentality.” His expression becomes serious again. “But in reality—yes. I am five hundred years old.”
My mouth drops open again.
Son of a bitch!
Lucas stands and walks back to the bed, returning with the tequila bottle. He pours a shot in his glass and hands it to me. I knock it back, gasping when it takes my breath, embracing the sharp burn that settles my sudden chill. He takes the glass and pours another shot.
The couch we sit on is placed in front of the windows, and I turn so I can look out at the amazing view, considering his revelation as he watches me. Eventually, I turn to look at him and his probing gaze.
“Are you okay?” he asks softly.
“I… think so,” I answer softly. He hands me the glass and this time I sip. “You said you are the only known… born vampire.” I look up. “How did the race of vampire begin then?”
“We have no answer for that.”
I frown as a whole slew of new questions starts to formulate.
“Are you ready to hear more?”
“Was that the most shocking?” By his expression, I know it’s not. I take a deep breath. “Give it to me.”
He smiles and reaches out to stroke the side of my face.
“About the time I was seventeen my parents, and the royal physician concluded there was something else that made me unique from other vampires.”
We gaze intently into each other’s eyes, and without realizing what I’m doing, I scoot closer to him. Lucas smiles, his eyes a gorgeous shade of silvery-green. He takes hold of my hand, and I look down to see his large one engulfing mine.
“There was an accident. One of several.” His grin is sheepish. “I was a bit of a daredevil.”
“Do tell,” I say teasingly.
“Yeah, well.” He frowns. “This one was more serious. I should have died.” My heart lurches at that thought. “Actually, I should have died in any number of accidents I had through the years.”
“But, isn’t it hard for a vampire to die?” Did he tell me that or is it just another one of t
he fairy tales?
“Not impossible, but yes, it is difficult.”
Taking a deep breath, I nod.
“Especially for me,” he says softly, watching me closely.
I frown. “For you?”
He nods slowly.
I swallow with difficulty. “You—can’t die?” I whisper.
He smiles slightly and looks down before meeting my gaze again. “I wouldn’t say that,” he murmurs.
“What would you say?”
He inhales deeply. “I’m sure I have… an Achilles heel, but…” He shrugs.
I sit quietly trying to absorb this information. No wonder he never told me, he was probably afraid I’d freak out on him. I still might. Not only is Lucas a vampire, but he’s five hundred freaking years old! I might find something funny in all of this if the moment weren’t so serious.
“Are you shocked?” he asks as I ponder his revelations. “You’re not saying much.” His voice sounds tight.
Shocked? No. Shocked isn’t the word I’d use. I’m blown away by his admission. How do I deal with his being part of a supernatural ruling family, that he is five hundred plus years old, and he could possibly be truly immortal? I feel very insignificant compared to his unparalleled uniqueness.
What the hell is he doing with me? I don’t want to dwell on that thought too long, though.
He’s watching with a worried crease between his brows. I bring my legs up and rise to my knees. Facing him, I place my hands on either side of his handsome face. “None of that matters to me, Lucas.” I search his eyes. “All that is important to me—is what we feel for each other.”
“Sofie,” he moans, crushing me to his chest as his mouth comes down hungrily on mine. He reaches for my wrists, pulling them behind my back to hold in one of his large hands as the other hand goes to the back of my head. His fingers tighten in my hair as he pulls my head back, staring down into my face. Oh, my! That look. It’s fierce and possessive, heating my skin as he kisses me again, his teeth nipping at my lips, his tongue stroking mine, tasting every inch of my mouth. I moan when he nibbles across my jaw to my ear, promptly tracing it with his tongue, biting the sensitive lobe. A shiver moves across my skin, and I arch my neck as his lips nip and suck their way down, lingering over the pulse point. He puts his nose against the spot and inhales deeply. “You smell intoxicating, my sweet.” His lips fasten on that spot, pulling the delicate skin as he sucks. A wave of lust roars through me, and I squirm against him.
I suddenly find myself lying down with Lucas on top of me as he holds my wrists, keeping my arms pinned to the couch above my head. It doesn’t take much coaxing on his part for me to eagerly spread my legs when he wedges his knee between them, pushing his hard erection against my softness. When his hand goes under my sweater, covering my breast, I arch my back.
I want him. I will always want him. What he is—means nothing. All that matters is this—the want and need that exists between us. He is as essential to me as my next breath.
When I tug against his hold, he releases my hands, and I work them up under the back of his shirt. We stare into each other’s eyes as I rake my nails lightly over his skin, and he slides his free hand to my back, slipping it into my jeans, cupping my bare bottom. I arch a brow in mimic of his mannerism and follow his lead, sliding my hand down the back of his jeans, over his firm backside. He smiles and promptly pinches my nipple hard enough I gasp, involuntarily arching my back again. I push his shirt up, tugging until he raises his chest off me and I pull the front up, fastening my teeth on one of his nipples, tugging gently. He moans and pulls his hand from my pants to drift across my stomach before it delves down the front of my jeans, between my legs. I inhale sharply and catch the wicked gleam in his eyes.
I glance up at the window behind us that reveals the mountains beyond. “Maybe you should close the curtains,” I murmur as I lean up to bite his chin, my fingers working on the button to his jeans, pulling his zipper down. I run my tongue down his throat as I reach down the front of his pants, taking his growing erection in hand.
“Mmmm,” is his only response as he rubs his thumb over my clit and then gently pinches.
“Lucas!” I gasp, my legs wrapping around his. I press my mouth against his chest. “The curtains!” My voice comes out a little high pitched as he inserts a finger.
“There’s no one out there.” He’s inching my sweater up as he says this.
I pull my hand out of his pants and push against his chest as the other hand tries to dislodge his from the front of my jeans. “I’m not—doing this—with you in front of a window where anyone could walk by at any moment.”
Lucas looks down with an amused smirk. “Sofie, the sun is going down, there’s no light on in here, and our patio is private; no one is going to walk by.” He leans down to kiss me, sucking my bottom lip. “Trust me,” he murmurs as he inserts a second finger. I moan, and my grasp on his arm relaxes as he moves his fingers apart, stretching me. The feeling is exquisite. “Trust me?” he whispers. I hesitate before nodding my head in agreement, not quite capable of anything else. He curls his fingers and rubs against that highly sensitive spot that makes it impossible to think of anything other than I don’t want him to stop.
“Please,” I whimper and he pushes up my sweater to suckle my breast. “Ahhh!” I cry out as he increases the pressure and speed of his fingers. When he bites my nipple, I’m lost. My back bows off the couch with the force of my orgasm.
“Sofie.” Lucas’ voice is hoarse, and he clutches me to him as he sits, pulling me up onto his lap. I rest my head against his chest as he repeatedly threads his fingers through my hair, caressing my scalp.
After several minutes he asks, “Are you okay?”
I give him a croaky, “Hmmm.”
“And not a soul saw us,” he announces with laughter in his voice. He tips my chin up, and I lift my eyes to his. My breath exhales softly at the heat I see there. Keeping my gaze locked on his, I pull my legs up and turn to straddle him. Leaning in, I run my tongue along his jawline, loving the prickling sensation against my tongue.
“Your beard is getting long,” I whisper.
He buries his face against my neck, rubbing his chin up and down the delicate skin. “You don’t like my whiskers?”
I try to pull away. “I love your whiskers!” I giggle. He yanks up my sweater and buries his face between my breasts. “Lucas!” I laugh and try to pull away from him as I struggle to pull my sweater back down. “Stop!” I gasp as he leans me backward, rubbing his face down, over my stomach. I grab a handful of his hair, but it only seems to excite him more. “You’re giving me whisker burn!” I squeal and try to wriggle off his lap, but he pulls me close, leaning back against the couch. He buries his fingers in my hair, holding my head still as he ravages my mouth. When he finally lets me come up for air, I’m gasping for breath.
My eyes search his in awe of how much I want him. I run my fingers through his hair, further mussing it, and rest my forehead against his, trying to calm my racing heart. What he does to me!
Lucas runs his hands up my back, under my sweater. “My sweet.” His voice is low, sensual and it has me aching for him.
I reach down and push at the waistband of his jeans. He lifts me, setting me on the floor between his legs, and rises up off the couch just enough to push his jeans down over his hips. As he’s ridding himself of his pants, I pull mine down, sitting on the floor to finish pulling them off. We keep our eyes locked on each other.
He sits back, and I climb onto his lap, straddling him once more. He grips my waist, lifting me to my knees, his eyes intently gazing into mine. Bringing his hand between us, he grips his erection as he moves it between my legs rubbing it against my clit.
“Let me,” I whisper as my hand moves over his to encircle his erection. I think the heat in his eyes will scorch me
. I hover over him, lowering myself until he’s at my entrance, and then I push down onto him.
I gasp softly, sensitive from what he just did with his fingers, and as I press down, I mewl softly. Oh man, he’s big!
“Slow.” His voice is hoarse.
I start to move and commence with shallow strokes since this feels more intense taking him like this. His hands rest on my backside, letting me set the pace. I stare into eyes green as new grass as I take more of him inside me until he is almost completely embedded. I whimper, I don’t think I can take anymore.
Lucas sits up straighter, which pulls a moan from between my lips. “Relax.” His hands smooth up and down my back, soothing me. At the same moment that he grips my hips, he pushes hard up into me. I cry out as I’m fully seated on his hard length, and his arm encircles my waist to hold me in place as I buck against him. Growling deep in his chest, his free hand palms the weight of my breast as his thumb brushes back and forth over the nipple.
I wrap my arms around his shoulders and bury my face against his throat, my breath coming in gasps. “Lucas,” I moan his name. Oh, this feels—too much—too good. I wiggle gently on his lap, trying to accommodate his size. He releases his hold around my waist, bringing both hands up to thread his fingers through my hair, cradling my head as his mouth takes mine in a wildly possessive kiss. He bites my lips, licks and sucks until I’m moaning, his tongue stroking and tangling with mine in an erotic dance as old as time. When he frees my mouth, he fastens his lips over the pulse point on my neck, drawing the delicate skin into his mouth. It amazes me how arousing it is when he sucks there. It’s a direct line to my clit, and I cry out at the intense, almost painful sensation this elicits with him buried so deep within me.
He raises his head to look into my eyes, and my breath catches at the dark, primitive need I see there.
I need skin and tug on his shirt until he pulls it over his head and tosses it. Then he’s lifting my sweater up over my head, and it joins his shirt.