“You weren’t worried about the temperature last time.” Addison let a small smile grace her lips as she took the drink.
“Well, you might actually want to drink this one. It isn’t normal tea.” He spoke while sitting next to her.
Addison looked into his face and then into the cup. She could see he was right. It didn’t look like the drink she had had before. It was much darker and thicker than the tea she was used to. She blew on the hot liquid, which caused it to swirl in the mug. Light wisps of dark red swirled up from the bottom and mixed with the lighter brown liquid.
“This has blood in it?” She looked back up at Luke.
“Yes.”
Addison eyed him suspiciously, because she could tell by his tone that he wasn’t telling her the whole truth.
“What kind?”
“Try it. I think you’ll like it.”
Addison stared back down at the swirling colors and blew on it again. More swirling red came to the top. She held the mug closer to her face and sniffed. The drink smelled like a strong tea mixed with something all too familiar. It smelled awfully close to the smell that had hit her when she had bit Joe. It wasn’t the exact same smell, but very close.
“It’s human.” Her eyes flew back up to stare into Luke’s eyes. She could read that he was nervously waiting for her reaction.
“Yes,” he said in a soft, even tone.
“From where?” Addison’s heartbeat sped up a bit from its now-normal very few beats per minute. A spike of terror, but also excitement, ran through her.
Luke slid closer to her on the couch and put a hand on her thigh. He started to rub it gently and slowly. “Don’t worry. I didn’t kill anyone. I just stole it.”
More spikes of emotions came, disappointment followed by pleasure. Why had she felt disappointed when he said he hadn’t killed? A part of her wanted him to kill. Would that appease some of her guilt for wanting to do the same?
“Stole it?”
“Yes, there are actually a few ways that we can and have gotten human blood. We can get it from blood banks or, in rare instances, from the wounded.”
“Where did this come from?”
“Blood bank. There is a Revenant that works at one nearby. Normally, we would only do that on very special occasions. Once or twice a year, maybe. But I thought, possibly, you would require it more often. You know, to help with cravings.”
Addison’s eyes shot back and forth between the hot drink and Luke’s stare. He’s trying to help me control my feeding side. Can it work?
“Aren’t you afraid that this will only make my feeding need stronger? What if I can’t go back to animal blood once I drink this regularly?”
Addison started to lean forward to put the mug down on the table. She didn’t want it. Luke stopped her hand and held it and the mug tight. Then he gently leaned in and kissed her forehead. His lips transferred some of his emotions into her. He was scared, but of more than just her drinking this. Luke sat back and slowly released her hand. Addison just held the mug, stiff-armed.
“Addison, that is a possibility, but it might do just what I hope it will do. What if you drink real meals once every month and that holds back the cravings and thoughts? If we need to do it more, we can. It’s not going to be easy, but I’m willing to try, beautiful.” He brought his hand up to stroke her cheeks with the back of it. “I’m not willing to let you go without a fight.”
Addison’s reaction was not what maybe it should have been. She pulled away from him and stood from the couch. She set the mug down on the table and walked toward the hallway. She wanted a minute to process this, to figure this out.
“Addison.”
“Give me a minute.” She spoke into his mind.
Addison then started pacing back and forth in the hallway. Her first instinct was to run, as usual. She didn’t want to deal with this. She didn’t want to deal with blood cravings, with making her man steal for her, with disappointing herself or him. Gabe is probably right. I can’t fight the true me. I’m a Feeder. Do I want to try, for Luke? Yes, but is that selfish?
“No.” Luke’s voice popped up, interrupting her thoughts. She had been too distracted to block her intense thoughts and feelings from him.
Addison stopped pacing. She closed her eyes and the real truth hit her. If she decided she didn’t want to try with Luke, where would she go? Go it alone? Go to Gabe? She wanted neither, even if they might be the better choices. She wanted Luke, and if he was willing to try for her, she would stay. As long as he wanted her to.
Addison opened her eyes and walked back toward the living room, back toward her love. She slowly peered around the corner of the wall. She saw Luke standing now, next to the couch. He opened his arms, signaling her to come to him. She did, sheepishly.
When she reached him, he wrapped her in a tight bear hug. Luke bent forward and kissed her. The kiss was hard and passionate. His lips moved over hers slowly, but with purpose. He then slipped his tongue through her lips and started to lick hers. She returned every move he made.
Finally, she pulled back from the kiss. “Thank you, Sir. I hope I’m worth the extra work and danger.”
“You are.” Luke kissed her forehead softly. “You are.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Luke released his hold on her and stepped back to retrieve the mug. He turned back around and held it out to Addison. “Drink.”
With timid fingers, Addison took the cup from him. She looked down at the beverage one last time. She took a deep breath and then brought the mug to her lips, taking a small sip. When it ran over her tongue, her whole body felt a warming sensation.
Addison could taste both the tea and the blood, but neither were overpowering. I think that will be the key. If the mix is right, it will taste like the human part and the vampire part can coexist. Not too bland, but not too good, either.
“This is pretty good.” She spoke mentally to Luke while taking a bigger sip.
“I’m glad you like it, beautiful. Now, come sit down with me. This was just one thing on our list to discuss.”
Luke moved back to the couch and took a seat. He then patted the spot next to him, calling her over. Addison took one more gulp of the warm liquid and next took his suggestion and sat. At first, she didn’t speak or give him her attention. She was concentrating on the drink and how it was doing in her system.
Addison emptied the rest of the drink into her mouth and swished it around a bit before swallowing it. When she closed her eyes, she could almost see the liquid on its journey through her. It looked like a fluorescent bulb slowly lighting.
After the trail cooled inside her, she opened her eyes and turned to Luke. He wore a surprised smile.
“Your eyes are shining the brightest I’ve ever seen them. Your skin is...glowing,” Luke said with admiration.
Addison turned her head down in a bit of embarrassment. Luke reached out a hand and took the empty mug from her. He placed it off to the side and then took hold of her chin. He gently turned her face up and toward him. Addison held her breath and blinked a few rapid times.
“How do you feel?”
“Good, good.”
“How about feeding? Do you feel in control?”
Addison took a second to run through her mind and heart. Yes, she did feel a small tug inside her begging to hunt, feed, hurt someone. It was there, but not in charge, for now, anyway.
“I’m good.”
Luke studied her silently for several seconds, watching her for signs she was lying or losing her composure. Addison didn’t try to fake anything or try to oversell herself. She just sat there quietly and let him feel her, let him slither through her thoughts. He would see that the dark part of her wasn’t gone, but quieted.
When he was finally satisfied, he spoke to her in a serious tone. “Addison, we need to talk about what happened at the shop, too, the way the rage overtook you. The way you used the pain energy. That was the most powerful I’ve felt it. We’re going to have to wor
k on your control of that, as well.”
“I know. I was horrible. It was just that when I saw that girl... Jealousy is powerful.” Addison looked down at her lap and her fidgeting fingers.
“Addison, you have to trust my love for you. If you truly do, the jealousy can’t take over. Yes, that girl was flirting with me, but I wouldn’t have let it go any further than that. You have to know that.”
Addison looked up into Luke’s eyes with a few tears forming in hers. She saw the seriousness on his face, matching his tone. “Beautiful, I love you. I love you more than anyone before. You are mine, and I don’t take that lightly.”
His words blew around inside her head like they were carried on a gentle, warm breeze. The few tears multiplied and started running down her cheeks. Luke lifted a hand and softly wiped them away.
“Do you believe me? Do you trust me?”
Addison nodded, not wanting to speak.
“Okay, sweet. I think if we have more practice with the outside world, you will be better at dealing with things.”
“But even if I can control myself, I can’t change myself. I possess the evil power. You said so yourself that almost all Revenants with the pain energy are evil.”
Luke started stroking her thigh again. “Yes, almost all. Most Revenants’ problem is that the power and hunger go to their heads. They realize they can do whatever they wish. Even most humans wouldn’t be able to handle that. But I believe you can. I’ve seen your real heart and mind. You aren’t evil, Addison.”
She shook her head and looked down at his gentle hand touching her. It looked so right there. Although she felt a small empty hole still inside her, she knew what she had to do. She could and would be strong enough for him. Addison looked back up to meet his stare again. It was just as serious, but there was now more happiness there, too.
“You were scared in the shop, though. I saw it on your face,” Addison whispered.
Luke’s hand stopped moving on her leg. “Yes, I was scared by the pure force of your power, but not of you. I knew you just had to pull yourself back. You’ll get there, sweet. It might not be overnight, but you’ll get there.”
He leaned forward and left a trail of small kisses from her ear to the corner of her mouth. Addison turned her head, looking for his kiss. He responded with a sensual, caring kiss on her lips. He seemed to need this kiss as much as she did.
Luke continued the passionate kiss while starting to move his hand again. This time, he squeezed her leg and then moved his hand higher up her thigh to squeeze again. He pulled back just long enough to whisper against her lips.
“Thank you.”
The kiss continued and his hand moved even further up her leg, now reaching under the trim of her skirt. This time, Addison pulled back from the kiss. Luke seemed to not be able to stand not having his lips on her. He just moved them down to her neck as she spoke to him.
“For what?” Her words were breathy.
He answered her in between neck kisses. “For calling me from the forest. For not going with him.”
Addison tried to push him back so they could talk normally, but he refused and started to nibble on her ear. Her eyes fluttered shut and she started to forget what she wanted to say. As if he knew just how to end the conversation, Luke then slid his hand completely under her skirt. His fingers very lightly grazed her pussy lips.
Addison gasped and started to squirm away from him. Luke gripped her upper thigh even tighter, causing a bit of pain. He then took his other hand and wrapped it into her hair. His lips left her neck as he pulled on her hair, tilting her head back.
“No more talking.”
“But Luke, we need to talk about Gabe. We need—”
Luke growled an interruption. “Don’t bring up that name.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Luke still held her hair in his fist, but let her head tilt forward again. He then took her lips with his once more. His fingers between her legs started to play their dangerous game again. They were lightly grazing her pussy lips that were starting to become coated in her juices. Addison squirmed under his touch, not knowing whether she was fighting for him to stop or work faster.
Her hips kept grinding while she fought his kiss. She turned her head to the side, causing his hold on her hair to become painful. She whimpered while he growled in disapproval.
“Luke, please. I have questions about the past. I need to know things so I can better see where I fit into this strange triangle.”
Luke responded to her defiance by pulling even harder on her hair. Addison whined as he tilted her head back. He upped his game then by letting his finger slip just between her pussy lips. He didn’t enter her, just slid one finger up and down, parting her lips. It was torture, she thought.
“Not now!”
He pulled harder on her hair, causing a pained moan to come from Addison. She knew deep down that she had the power to stop him in his tracks, if she wanted. She also knew that she didn’t want that. As if to drive that point home, Luke let up on her hair a bit while simultaneously sliding his now-wet finger into her cunt.
Addison moaned loudly as his digit started to slowly move back and forth inside. He released her head and took her mouth with his. Luke’s tongue slipped inside, between her lips, as he added a second finger into her opening. She whimpered into his mouth as her clit started to throb.
He continued the kiss and his finger play for several more seconds. Addison’s body was becoming completely his. His every move, his every touch, her body just waited to respond to him. Luke kept his fingers inside her as he stopped the kiss. He pulled back and Addison was left panting and whining softly.
“This is going to go my way. I’m going to punish you for your behavior today. Do you understand me?”
“Yes.” Addison’s mouth answered without her even thinking.
“Good girl. I want you naked and waiting for me in my bed. Go.” He pulled back from her, sliding his fingers from her overly wet cunt.
She didn’t hesitate at all. Addison hopped up from the couch and headed down the hallway just like the good submissive he wanted. As she entered the bedroom, she hastily discarded her top and skirt, not caring where they fell. As she crawled onto his bed, Addison took a moment to try and calm her mind.
She could stop him. She could fight him, but she desperately needed this. Addison wasn’t just beginning to thrive under pain, but she also needed him to take charge. She wanted to be completely under his control. She wanted to be pushed past her breaking point and then reeled back in. Tonight, Luke would be her Dominant and she would be his willing submissive. The thought was already driving some of her guilt away.
Addison sat naked and let the anticipation roll through her. She listened carefully and didn’t hear anything for a long while. Was he toying with her? Letting her nervousness build? She fought the urge to walk back out to the living room to check on him. She would wait. He was in control.
After what seemed like an eternity, she finally heard movement, but in the wrong direction. It sounded like he went back to the kitchen. He is toying with me. A slow smile curled her lips. After hearing more quiet movements, something had Addison jumping. A large slamming sound echoed through the house, as if Luke was hitting the kitchen table.
Addison stepped off the bed and was going to go check on Luke when the sound came again. Was this part of his game? Then, a realization hit her. This sounded an awful lot like the loud thumps she had heard in the woods. Both times, those noises had warned of his arrival. Is that like a “watch the fuck out, I’m coming” signal?
All was quiet and Addison decided that that was another question to add to her list for later. She turned around and climbed back on the bed. Her senses were heightened now. She almost felt like the damsel-in-distress in a horror movie, a scared little girl listening to the monster coming for her. A shiver ran through her as her smile returned. Maybe that is exactly how he wants me to feel. Addison suppressed a giggle.
She sat on
her knees, naked and waiting on his bed for several more minutes. The anticipation was making her antsy and she had to calm herself several times. Her mind started to go through “punishments” that Luke might use. This was causing more electricity to flow through her wet pussy and enlarged clit. Addison squirmed a few times, causing tingles to run over her button.
Just when she didn’t think she could stop herself from leaving the room to find Luke, she heard the doorknob jiggle. Her breathing had already stopped, but Addison then clenched her whole body tightly as the door opened. Her eyes widened as she saw Luke enter. He was now completely nude and he was swinging something in his hand.
Addison’s eyes darted from his face, to his erection, to his toy. Luke wore a wicked smile as the thing in his hand twirled. It took Addison a few seconds to see what it was—a paddle. An instant jolt of awareness ran through her cunt as her inner muscles tightened in eagerness.
“That pretty little ass is going to be sore and pink when I’m finished with it. But it deserves every swat it gets, doesn’t it?” Luke spoke while still swinging the paddle and walking toward Addison.
The breath she had been holding rushed from her and Addison started to pant. She felt her pussy lips wet further as she squirmed on the bed. Addison felt her nipples harden. She stared up at Luke and didn’t try to hide her desire. He would know, anyway.
“Answer me. You’ve been bad, haven’t you? And you need someone to teach you a lesson?”
“Yes.”
Luke stopped swinging the paddle and let it hang from his hand, right in front of her face. Addison could now see it was a smooth, black leather paddle, but something on it caused her stomach to drop for a second. There were three metal studs on the end of each side. They were shiny, silver and rounded.
Addison’s eyes widened even further and she flicked her stare up to Luke’s face. His smile had grown and had become cockier.
“Now ask me nicely, little one.”
Once Bitten, Twice Seduced [Revenants 1] (Siren Publishing Allure) Page 13