Ranson, Tracy L. - Prince of Darkness [Bloodborn 3] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Tracy L. Ranson

  “One.”

  Drake sucked in a ragged breath, his fingers tightening on her shoulders. “I’ll bet the asshole didn’t take time to teach you anything.”

  Christine shrugged. She’d given herself to Jason because no one else wanted her. Sure, all he did was hop on, come, then hop off. No finesse or style. “No, he really didn’t. Before, the other night, I didn’t even know what an orgasm was until you gave it to me.”

  * * * *

  Drake’s fury at her former lover’s incompetence strained his resolve. How dare anyone treat this beautiful woman as though she were nothing? “I’m glad because I intend to do that as often as you’ll let me.”

  He noticed her eyes moisten but no tears flowed. “Thank you, but that’s not necessary.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  Christine squared her shoulders, her spin stiff. “I think it best that you leave now, Drake.”

  “I’m not leaving here until I’ve given you a lesson in sex.”

  “But—”

  He silenced her protests with a finger to her lips. She needed to spend some time with someone who cared, and he definitely did care about her. How or when it happened, he didn’t know. All he knew was that he needed to take care of her. “No buts. I’m your master, and you’re my student if you will. You’ve already had your first lesson the other night at Berserker. Now it’s time for lesson number two.”

  She appeared frightened but managed to keep her voice even. “What lesson is that?”

  “This.” Drake unbuckled his jeans and freed his cock. Christine emitted a sharp gasp, and he’d fully expected it. His prick wasn’t exactly on the normal side. Actually, most of the women in his village always vied for a spot in his bed because of the oversized organ. Dagmar had been the only one brave enough to marry him and take it on several times a day every day. “Touch me.”

  Christine reached out and caressed the tip, light and feathery. He sucked in a sharp breath at her magic touch. She was so damned good, more than she could have ever known.

  “Move down and touch my sac,” he instructed and closed his eyes, reveling in the bewitching power of her caress.

  She obeyed him without question, her nails scraping against his skin. Drake bucked against her hand. “Knead them slowly and gently.”

  He noticed a change in her movements as if her fear slowly ebbed away.

  She drew a fingertip up the underside of his cock toward the tip. A bit of pre-come glistened at the tip, a good sign.

  “Drop to your knees and take me into your mouth.”

  A shadow of fear crossed her face. “That big thing?”

  “Don’t worry about taking it in all the way—unless you want to,” he said with a sly grin. Maybe she’d at least give it a try.

  * * * *

  Christine sank to her knees in front of him and gripped his thick cock with both of her tiny hands. “I’m not very good at this.”

  Drake ran his fingers through her silky strands. “I’m a patient teacher, and if we have to keep doing this to give you some practice, then we will.”

  Christine stared at the thick cock in front of her. She’d never thought a man’s appendage had been much to look at before now, and she was hungry for his cock.

  She opened her mouth and plunged down, taking as many inches as she could and tried to keep from gagging. Up and down she bobbed, making sure she stroked him with her hands as well.

  “Lick the head,” Drake instructed in a strangled whisper.

  She followed his commanded and slathered the mushroom-like tip, making sure she encircled all edges.

  Drake gripped her head gently and held her still while he fucked her mouth in a slow motion. “That’s it, Christine, keep going.”

  She increased her sucking and her hand motions, up and down. Releasing one hand, she cupped his balls and kneaded them in conjunction with her licking and loving of him.

  “Oh, yeah, I’m almost there,” he said with gritted teeth.

  A strange sense of sexual power filled her, almost as if the fact he was about ready to come because of her motions brought it on. His pumping increased but not too much where she’d gag. He was perfect.

  Drake thrust harder than before and an explosion of hot salty warmth filled her mouth. “God, you’re wonderful,” he said in a strangled moan and thrust once more to empty his appendage.

  He withdrew, got her to her feet, and helped her to the bathroom. She emptied her mouth, and Drake cleaned up as well. When he finished, he perched himself on her sink and watched her brush her teeth with fascination. “You never cease to amaze me.”

  “What’s that?” she asked and spit out her foamy toothpaste.

  “You say you’re no good at sucking cock, but yet you made me come all over the place.”

  She stopped and stared at the mirror. “Please don’t lie to me. I can’t take lies just now.”

  “No, it’s true. I don’t think I’ve had better oral sex than this.”

  Christine wanted to cry but couldn’t. She hated when anyone told her a lie to make her feel better. “I don’t know how.”

  Drake spun her around. “Because you care no matter how much you say you don’t. That makes all the difference in the world.”

  Christine leaned against him and held on. “I wish I could believe that.”

  His strong arms wound around her. “Believe it because it’s true.” He glanced at his watch. “Oh, hell, look at the time.” He brushed a kiss across her forehead. “I’ve got to be at the club in a half hour. There’s some big deliveries coming in, and Nicholas can’t be there for them.”

  “Isn’t he the one with the exotic-looking Russian wife?”

  “Yep. He comes in now and then for deliveries, but he can’t be there today.”

  She gave him one last hug, holding on tightly because she didn’t really want to let go. “So much for the afternoon.”

  “Are you going to be down at the club tonight?”

  “Of course. There’s work to be done.”

  He lifted her chin and planted a scorching kiss on her. “Then I will be counting down the hours until I see you again.”

  Drake left the bathroom, and she heard him go down the hall with a whistle on his lips. The front door slammed, leaving her alone.

  Christine banged her fists against the sink. Why wouldn’t Jason’s ghost of mistrust ever leave her? This was the first man she’d been remotely intimate with in a long time, and somehow the bastard managed to ruin it though he’d moved away from Beaumont a few years prior.

  She left the bathroom and headed back to the bedroom. Spying her cell phone, she picked it up and flipped through her outgoing calls. She froze. There’d been no outgoing call to Drake. She looked up. If she didn’t call him, how in the hell did he know to show up at the coroner’s office? Hmm, something wasn’t jelling here, but she’d have to worry about that a little later. David was top priority right now.

  Picking up the manila envelope from the coroner’s office, she opened it and extracted the pictures.

  Some showed the body with the customary Y-shaped incision and some with the internal organs exposed. From what she could see, the body looked much older than David’s body.

  Finally, she came to the bottom of the stack. She gasped, looking at the last picture.

  It isn’t David.

  The man’s hair was grayed at the temples and wasn’t even the right color. The face was wrong and too ethnic looking.

  She threw the pictures across the room. If this wasn’t David, where was he? Whose ashes did she scatter into the ocean?

  Christine couldn’t take this back to the office, knowing what she did. Picking up her cell phone, she dialed Lou. An exasperated “Hello” hummed in her ear.

  “I’m not going to make it back today. I’m really sick,” she said, lying.

  “You seemed okay when you left here. Did you get the pictures?”

  “I did, but they don’t show much. Not sure what’s going on here.”
>
  “I can come by your place and pick them up.”

  “Oh, no, you can’t. I’m really sick. I’ve barely left the bathroom since I got home.”

  A pause then a sigh. “Okay, get it to me as soon as possible. If I don’t have it in forty-eight hours, I’m going to hunt you down.”

  “I wouldn’t have expected anything less.”

  “Hope you feel better,” he offered in a low tone.

  “Me too. Have a good day.” She clicked the phone shut, ending the call. The last thing she needed was more questions from him.

  Christine leaned against the plump pillows on her bed, threading her hands behind her head. This investigation had certainly taken a strange twist.

  * * * *

  Christine arrived at Berserker around nine o’clock in the evening. The man Drake had assigned to park her car stood outside, hands stuffed into deep into the pockets of his leather jacket. His wind chapped cheeks glowed red, his breath dancing on the chilly night air. She pulled up to the curb and got out, handing the keys to the man.

  “Thanks so much for doing this for me. Let me get you something,” she said and opened her purse to get a few dollars out.

  The man held his hand up. “Mr. Haaken says no tips from you. He usually gives me fifty at the end of my shift for doing this.”

  She smiled. Once again, Drake took care of everything. “All right then. Can you at least tell me your name?”

  “Michael.”

  “Michael what?”

  “No last name. Just Michael’s good enough.”

  He reached out and took her keys. For the first time, she noticed old track marks on the back of his hands. Former junkie, she supposed, one that Drake had taken a chance on and had given a job to.

  Christine shook his hand. “Again, thank you.” She walked away with the roaring of her Mustang’s engine over her shoulder. She smiled. Maybe Drake did have a heart of gold that she was slowly discovering.

  She marched past the line around the block to the burly doorman who waved her in, much to the chagrin and catcalls of the other people waiting.

  “Why does she automatically get to go in?” shouted one partygoer.

  “Because she’s VIP, that’s why asshole,” the efficient doorman yelled back. “Go home. You’re not getting in tonight dickwad.”

  Christine swept in past the throng hovering near the door. The club was much livelier than before. Perching herself on a barstool, she ordered an apple martini. The short, plump bartender with the droopy mustache fixed it and slid the full glass across the granite bar top. “How much?”

  “No charge,” he said with a crooked smile. “Courtesy of Mr. Haaken.”

  “Oh,” she answered and slid a five across the counter. “This is for you.”

  He pushed the money back. “Per Mr. Haaken’s orders. No tips from you. He’ll take care of me at the end of the night.”

  “Very well,” she said with a sigh. “Where is Mr. Haaken?”

  “In his office. He’s expecting you.”

  “Thanks.” Christine slid off the barstool and straightened the little black number she was sporting tonight. The dress bared her back and shoulders with a thin strap of satin going around her neck. Her hem ended midthigh, giving everyone a great view of her legs. She was totally uncomfortable like this, but she didn’t have a choice. She needed to fit in with the crowd at Berserker and finish her investigation.

  She strode toward the door leading to Drake’s office on slightly unsteady legs. The platform pumps reminded her of fuck-me shoes, much higher than the ones she’d worn the other night. She wobbled a little bit but managed to stay on her feet. After tonight, she’d probably never wear them again.

  She placed a hand on the knob and turned, entering the dimly lit hallway. Strangely, the music seemed nonexistent here, almost as if Drake had everything soundproofed.

  At his door, she raised a hand and knocked. “Come in, Christine.”

  She pushed open the strong slab of wood. “How did you know it was me?”

  He spun around in his handcrafted leather chair and stared at her with a smile on his lips. His lusty gaze traveled up and down her body, as if he drank in her appearance. The corner of his lips curved up in appreciation.

  “Damn, you look good enough to eat. Did anyone ever tell you that you have gorgeous legs?”

  Christine took a tentative step in and closed the door, pushing his compliment from her mind. No time for pleasantries. “No.”

  “I’m surprised.”

  He stood up and closed the distance between them with several long strides. Touching her bare arms, he pulled her close.

  “You really are spectacular.”

  She pulled away from him with a reluctant jerk. The last thing she ever wanted to be was lied to. “Don’t say things you don’t mean, okay?”

  “That’s one thing about me you’ll learn, dearest Christine. I never lie. I’m not capable of it.”

  “All men are capable of lying. You’re no exception.”

  Drake’s chilly hands resumed their place on her shoulders and pulled her back. “I have no reason to lie, and I don’t care to. I merely speak the truth, and from your words, I know someone hurt you in the past by telling you that you’re worthless and ugly. To be honest, I’d love to get my hands on that person and tear them limb from limb for doing that to you.”

  “Doesn’t matter. He was right.” She stopped as those words slipped out. Sharing any bit of feeling with him wasn’t something she wanted to do—just yet.

  “No, he wasn’t, and I don’t want to hear that out of your mouth again. I don’t know what I have to do to make you understand that, but I will, no matter how long it takes me to do it.”

  Drake crushed her to him and captured her lips with such a fevered hunger that she was blown away.

  * * * *

  He tasted the hesitation in her kiss, but Odin be damned, he wanted her terribly. The way she looked tonight did it for him, from the dress to the hair. He sensed and smelled her desire the minute she walked in. Oh, yeah, she wanted him just as badly.

  Drake brushed his hands down her back to her perfect heart-shaped ass, cupped each half globe, and pushed her against his hard cock in provocative temptation. If his ready dick didn’t assure her that he wanted her, nothing would.

  Christine broke the kiss and pushed away. “As much as I want to keep that up, I can’t.”

  His brow curiously. “Why not?”

  “I’ve got work to do,” she said in a sharp tone. “Was there anything you needed to talk to me about?”

  Drake growled low and slid his ass on the desk. “I think I already did.”

  “Be serious.”

  He shrugged. “Actually, I am. What I did want to talk to you about was not investigating David’s death, at least not tonight.”

  “Why not?”

  How should he tell her that Zakara’s minions moved about the club, shrouded in her spells to keep them hidden from his detection? Her human mind couldn’t comprehend the fact vampires moved among the living much like anyone else. Some could move about during the day, but most existed under the cover of darkness. “I have my reasons.”

  Christine’s beautifully formed mouth turned into a frown. “Tell me why I shouldn’t go ahead, and I might consider it.”

  He held back. “I can’t for now. Later, I’ll be able to discuss them with you, but not right now.” He hated being arrogant and pushy, but this case called for it.

  “Well, you’ve said your peace and expressed your concerns, but I’m afraid I can’t stop tonight or any other time. David is out there, and I’m determined to find him.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  * * * *

  Christine wavered over whether she should tell him what she found or didn’t find. It was police business and not for a civilian to know. “Because he is, that’s all I can tell you.”

  His eyes narrowed into a mask of deep concern. “You said you scattered his ashes in t
he ocean weeks ago. Why do you think he’s still alive?”

  Christine squared her shoulders. She didn’t owe him or anyone else any explanation for what she needed to do. “As I’ve said before, that’s all I can tell you. Now, if you don’t need to talk to me about anything else, I need to get my night started.”

  She spun on her heel and left the ornate office and Drake behind. She really liked him a lot but not his overbearing attitude about her investigation. First and foremost, she was a cop who could handle anything thrown her way.

  Her head roared with an anxious flow of emotions as she laid her hand on the knob of the outer door. She had to find something out about David tonight, or she might never find out what actually happened.

  * * * *

  Drake stared at the closed door vacated by Christine, silently cursing himself. He should have glamoured her to keep her out of danger but to what end? The human mind hadn’t been built for continuous glamouring, no matter how much it might be required.

  “What do you plan on doing?”

  He whirled about at Alexandra’s throaty voice echoing from the dark shadows of his office. “Please tell me you weren’t hiding there all the time.”

  She stepped beyond the confines of the darkness dressed in her hunting clothes. “Oh, hell no. Please, I’m not pervert—at least not like that.” She laughed and tossed her wild mane of black hair over her shoulder. “Seems like your plaything has a mind of her own.”

  His fists bunched at the sides. He hated when Alex did this. “She’s not a plaything. She’s a woman who needs a little caring and understanding.”

  “Plus a bit more I would say.” Alexandra chuckled. “I think my dear Drake has found his mate.”

  He held his fury in check. He didn’t want anyone to know what was going on, for he barely knew himself. He couldn’t say he was in love with Christine, but he knew he wanted her more than anything right now. Her naïveté drew him like a beacon, a light he could see himself consumed with. Under his tutelage, she would blossom like a flower after the first warm day of spring. “I wouldn’t go that far.”