Vampire's Thirst (The Awakening Series)

by Cynthia Garner

  “I want to believe it.” She sniffed, then smiled when he dug out a clean white handkerchief from his back pocket and handed it to her. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose. Crumpling the material in her fist, she whispered, “You’re the only person I know who carries one of those around.”

  “One never knows when a lady in distress might need a hankie.” He swiped his thumb over her cheek, scooping up a last bit of moisture. “I love you, Kimber.” He dropped his mouth on hers, lips moving, seeking. When her lips parted, his tongue stroked inside, languid, tender, moving her to tears again, though she managed to stem the tide.

  “Make love with me.” She dropped the handkerchief onto the coffee table and fisted her hands in his shirt. “I need to feel you inside me.”

  He muttered a curse and in a deft movement swept her beneath him. He settled his hips against her pelvis, making space for himself in the cradle of her thighs.

  She could feel the length of his erection pressing against her mound. With greedy hands she tugged his shirttail from his slacks. “Too many clothes.”

  He stood and stripped, his motions no less sexy for their efficiency. Before she could do much more than blink, he had her clothes off, too, and came back down on top of her. He kept his upper body off her but rolled his groin against her.

  Kimber pushed her hips up and moaned at the feel of Duncan’s hard length sliding against the lips of her sex. Just a couple of strokes against her labia and she was slick and hot. “Please,” she moaned.

  His mouth closed wetly around her nipple, suckling her with hard pulls of lips and tongue. He gave her other breast the same sweet treatment, acting like he could stay where he was for the next year or so.

  She wasn’t going to have any of that. “Inside me, Duncan,” she demanded. “Stop fooling around and fuck me.”

  He lifted his head and stared down at her. One corner of his mouth quirked. “And here I thought women wanted foreplay. You seem to complain if you don’t get it.”

  She smiled sweetly with bared teeth. “We want foreplay to get our motors revving. My motor’s already at about eight RPMs, so foreplay is just pissing me off.” She grabbed his shoulders, her nails biting into his skin. “Get. Inside. Me. Now.”

  The other side of his mouth curled up. “Yes, ma’am.” His big hands slid over her inner thighs and parted them slowly. He raised her left leg and hooked it over his right forearm and placed the head of his big, swollen cock at the slick entrance to her body. She trembled at the feel of his hot flesh against her, the intimacy of his touch. Leaning over her, he braced himself on his elbow and kissed her, murmuring against her lips, “You’re so beautiful. I love you.”

  He pressed into her, the broad head sliding in slowly, his girth stretching her sheath. He continued his slow glide in until his balls rested against the curve of her behind. Sensual pleasure tightened the lean lines of his face, glittered with silver fire in his eyes. Then he pulled back until only the head of his cock was inside her. With a taut smile, he began to thrust, in and out, slow strokes that gradually picked up speed until his hips hammered her. The sounds of flesh slapping against flesh filled the room.

  He tilted her pelvis and on each inward stroke he touched that sensitive bundle of nerves in her passage, making her tighten around him, causing her to gasp and moan with every jab of his hips. Lifting her head, she watched his possession of her, his cock coated with her juices, sliding into her pussy to the root.

  Another adjustment on her position increased the friction on her clit. As her arousal heightened, her body went taut. Higher and higher he took her until her inner muscles clamped down, clenching and releasing in a shattering climax. She screamed, her fingers digging into his hips.

  He thrust hard two more times and then shoved deep, holding himself still inside her and giving a shout of his own as he came. His hot ejaculate jetted into her sex. All she could do was hold on to him. His head tilted back, features relaxing in the aftermath, and he reversed their positions so he was on his back and she lay on top of him, their intimate connection unbroken.

  Breathing hard, she rested her head on his chest and snuggled into him. That had been amazingly intense, and right now, she had no doubts whatsoever that he loved and wanted her.

  “I didn’t hurt you, did I?” His voice was raspy and deeply satisfied.

  “Of course not.” She rubbed her cheek against his chest. “You gave me exactly what I wanted.”

  His hands rubbed up and down her back, and they remained as they were for several minutes. She found herself wishing they could stay like this forever, just the two of them at peace with themselves and the world.

  A knock at the door ended that little daydream.

  She sighed and climbed off him, moaning softly when his semihard cock slid out of her. “Later, baby.” She gave him a wink.

  His mouth tilted in that half-smile she loved and in silence they hurriedly dressed. He made sure she was decent before he walked over to the door and pulled it open.

  Kimber moved to a spot where she could see who was there. “Hi, Leon,” she called out, and waggled her fingers at him.

  “Hello, Ms. Treat,” he responded. He looked at Duncan and said, “Xavier Vachon and a human named Hunter McKay are here. Vachon says McKay’s a necromancer.” He glanced over Duncan’s shoulder to Kimber, then focused on Duncan again. “I put them across the hall in your office.” By the expression on his face, he clearly wanted to know why there was yet another necromancer on the premises, but he was too well trained to ask.

  “Thank you, Leon. We’ll be right over. Would you please bring Maggie and Brigid up?”

  Leon nodded and turned away.

  Duncan closed the door and gathered up his shoes and socks. He sat on the sofa and pulled them on.

  Kimber did the same.

  “Are you ready for this?” He looped his arms around her and clasped his hands loosely behind her back.

  She nodded. “As long as you trust Vachon, then I trust that he’s sent the best he had.”

  “I do trust him.” He opened the door and motioned her through.

  “Then let’s get this show on the road.” She grabbed his hand and gave it a brief squeeze before she let it go as they walked down the hallway. When they entered the office, a tall dark-haired human turned from where he’d been looking out the window. Xavier was lounging with legs crossed in one of the chairs in front of Duncan’s desk but he rose to his feet and faced them as well.

  Duncan held out his hand to the other vampire. “Xavier. It’s good to see you again.”

  Xavier shook Duncan’s hand. “You as well.” He looked at Kimber and tipped his chin in acknowledgment of her presence. “Ms. Treat.”

  “Please, call me Kimber.” See? She could be gracious when it called for it.

  Another incline of his head, then he swept an arm out to indicate the man standing by the windows. “This is Hunter McKay, the best necromancer Cleveland has to offer.”

  As the dark-haired man strode forward, the door opened and Maggie, Brigid, and Atticus entered the room. Leon closed the door, taking his place in front of it, a hulking, silent sentinel.

  Introductions were made and hands shaken in greeting. Hunter looked at Kimber and said, “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Kimber. May I call you Kimber?” At her nod, he went on. “I followed your career before the Outbreak. You had some really difficult cases that you handled with amazing adroitness.”

  “Thank you.” She could read the sincerity in his eyes and knew he wasn’t merely trying to butter her buns. “I think I recognize your name, too.” She narrowed her eyes, trying to place where she’d heard of him before. “There was something to do with the mayor…”

  His grin was a quick flash of white teeth. “Yeah, former mayor Martin Bradley. His Lazarus was just as much a curmudgeon as the old guy had been in life.”

  “Well, now that the pleasantries are over,” Duncan said with a hard glance at Hunter, “let us lay out the plan.”r />
  Kimber secretly thrilled to hear the tinge of jealousy in Duncan’s voice. Sure Hunter McKay was ruggedly handsome and he had necromancy in common with her, but he had nothing on Duncan. She’d reassure her lover as soon as she could.

  Fifteen minutes later, everyone was agreed on the strategy.

  Duncan looked toward the back of the room. “Leon, this is where it could get tricky.”

  “You think?” The big vampire grimaced as he seemed to realize he probably shouldn’t have said that out loud. He came closer and waited.

  Duncan narrowed his eyes but let that pass. He looked at Atticus. “You and Leon need to organize a squad to go out and bring in two dozen zombies. We’ll chain them a little differently than before so that they’re in a line to the fence.”

  “Like a bunch of undead dominoes,” Kimber offered with a grin. When no one smiled, she groused good-naturedly, “Tough room.”

  That got a snort from Hunter and a twitch of the lips from Xavier.

  “Is everyone clear on their responsibilities?” Duncan asked.

  “Yes, but I object to your involvement,” Atticus replied. He turned his silver eyes on Kimber for a long moment, then looked at Duncan once more. “You shouldn’t be risking your life. She can use me instead.”

  Duncan shook his head. “I won’t ask it of you, my friend.”

  “You’re not asking. I’m volunteering.”

  “No.” Duncan held up his hand when Atticus began to argue. “The decision’s been made. Kimber and I are in this together, all the way.” His gaze landed on her.

  The love and trust there brought a surge of emotion welling up in her. She blinked back tears. Now was not the time to fall apart. His life and the well-being of her baby depended on her staying in control.

  “How soon can you have things set up?” Duncan asked.

  Atticus glanced at Leon and the two of them seemed to share a silent conversation before Atticus said, “Give us six hours. We’ll be ready to go a couple of hours before dawn.”

  Duncan clapped his hands together. “All right, people. That gives us six hours to get mentally prepared and get set up with weapons as well.” His glance encompassed everyone in the room. “Good luck to us all.”

  As the others filed out of the office, Kimber went to Duncan. His arms enclosed her as he held her close. This was how she wanted to prepare herself. She wanted to be wrapped up in his love and support until the only thing she could believe in was that they would not—could not—fail.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Duncan stood in the courtyard beside Kimber and looked out over the restrained zombies. He bit back a laugh as he remembered her cheeky definition. Undead dominoes, indeed. He hoped they would be, because that would mean the cascading effect they were looking for would happen and this nightmare would end.

  Hunter, Maggie, and Brigid should join them any minute now. Natalie and Aodhán stood beside the main doors to the enclave, Aodhán with his long sword clasped in his hand. Natalie looked pale but resolute, and he saw she, too, held her trusty sword. It was about a third the length of the fey warrior’s, but Duncan had seen her use it and it was damned effective.

  Close to a hundred torches lit the enclosure where he stood as well as the fencing along the front gate, ensuring the area was almost as bright as if they stood in broad daylight. There were eighteen zombies chained in single file, starting at the door to the enclave building straight out to the outer fence where the last one was lashed to the reinforced steel fencing. More zombies had gathered on the outside, drawn by the noise from the clanking of the chains and by the bits of raw meat Atticus and his men had placed on the other side of the fence.

  He wrinkled his nose at the strong smell of decomposition. Most of these zombies looked like they’d been riding the apocalypse for months now. He looked more closely at the ones gathered on the other side of the fence and saw a few fresher-looking ones. He didn’t suppose it mattered, one way or another. But, damn, cleanup was going to be a bitch.

  Leon approached, a grim look on his face. “We may have a problem,” he said when he drew near.

  What now? “Tell me,” Duncan said.

  “Some of our people are…resistant.”

  When he didn’t go on, Duncan prompted, “Resistant to what, Leon?”

  He glanced at Kimber. “They don’t want her to fix this.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked. “They don’t want to stop the apocalypse?” She put up one hand and pinched her nose together, breathing shallowly through her mouth. He guessed the odor of decomp was getting to her.

  Leon shook his head. “They think if humans aren’t afraid of zombies, they won’t be willing donors. That they might, in fact, start targeting vampires, wanting to get rid of us, too.”

  “There’s always been that possibility,” Duncan responded. He swept out his arm, indicating the zombies on the other side of the fence, crowding against it, trying to get inside the compound. “But this is no way to live.”

  “You’re telling me,” Kimber said. “You’d think they’d want to fix this to get rid of the smell if nothing else.”

  Duncan couldn’t stop his lips from twitching into a small grin. Trust his Kimber to put her finger right on the pulse of things. “We’re survivors,” he said to Leon. “We’ll find a way.”

  “That’s what I told them,” Atticus said as he walked up to them, his face dark with a scowl. “Bunch of babies. They’ve had it easy over the last couple of months, having willing donors right here for the taking, and they don’t want to give that up. They’ve gotten soft. Don’t worry. I put the fear of the devil in them.” His silver eyes met Duncan’s. “There’s still time to change your mind. Let me do this for you.”

  Duncan put a hand on Atticus’s shoulder. “I appreciate the offer, old friend. I do. But this is something Kimber and I must do. I can’t explain it other than to say I know this in my gut that she and I have to face this together.” When his friend’s gaze narrowed on Kimber, Duncan added, “And don’t even think to threaten her, Atticus. If I end up injured, or worse, it won’t be because of Kimber’s intention or negligence. Do you understand?”

  A muscle flexed in Atticus’s jaw. “Yes,” he finally said. “But I don’t like it. For the record.”

  “You don’t have to like it,” Duncan responded. “And, Atticus? If something happens to me, you’re my successor. And no action is to be taken against any of the necromancers or Brigid. Understood?”

  Atticus gave an abrupt nod, then turned and headed toward the fence where a line of armed vampires stood ready in case the zombies broke through.

  Duncan turned to Kimber and drew her into his arms. He rested his forehead against hers and simply held her, feeling her warmth under his hands, her breasts rising and falling with her breaths against his chest. Very soon it would all be over, one way or another. “Whatever happens,” he whispered, “know that I love you.”

  A sighing sob broke from her. “I love you, too, Duncan. So much.” She curled her fingers into his back, digging into him through the soft material of his T-shirt. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “I know you won’t let it, sweetheart.” He did have faith in her love, in her abilities, but he was also realistic. Sometimes things happened beyond a person’s control and you simply did the best you could with what you were given. He wouldn’t hold her responsible if things went sideways.

  He heard footsteps approaching and looked up to see Maggie, Hunter, and Brigid approaching. “The other necromancers and Brigid are here,” he told Kimber.

  She pulled away from him and gave a watery smile to her colleagues. Concern on her face, she placed a slender hand on Maggie’s shoulder. “Are you sure you want to do this?” She glanced at the woman’s protruding belly. “It’s not just you we have to worry about.”

  “It’s the same for you, isn’t it?” came the tart rejoinder with an equally sharp look at Kimber’s midsection. “Did you think word wouldn’t get out?
” Maggie asked with a smirk.

  Kimber heaved a sigh. “No, I suppose not.” She looked at Hunter. “You and Maggie need to focus your attention on me, help me tap into the Unseen that’s in Duncan. We should only need a little bit to allow Brigid to focus that energy into laserlike precision to blast it into the zombies. Then, boom! Implosion.” She swallowed. “I hope.”

  “It will work.” Maggie’s voice was as serene as the expression that crossed her face. “I know it will.”

  Hunter nodded.

  “All right, then. Let’s do this.” Kimber reached for Duncan and squeezed his hand. “Are you ready?”

  He leaned down and kissed her on the mouth, pouring all the love he felt for her in that one soft caress. “I’m ready,” he said as he straightened.

  She blew out a breath. “Here we go.”

  Maggie stepped closer and grabbed Kimber’s other hand, and Hunter slid a hand around the back of her neck. Duncan knew skin on skin was the best way to go, the only way to get the most power quickly, but it rankled to see another man’s hand on the woman he loved.

  Kimber closed her eyes and inhaled slowly. Her fingers tightened on his hand. He watched as both Maggie’s and Hunter’s eyes fluttered closed, and Brigid moved forward until she stood between but slightly behind them. She put her hands on Maggie’s and Hunter’s shoulders and stared straight ahead at Kimber.

  Duncan felt the skin on his hand tighten, then flare with prickles of heat that was borderline painful. Another surge and he choked back a yelp that wanted to burst past his teeth. Now that time it had hurt.

  Her touch grew hot in his. Nerve endings flared, beginning at his hand and traveling up his arm to shoot throughout his body. Searing pain like he’d never felt before made his knees buckle, and he stayed on his feet with effort.

  Trying to keep his mind off the agony wracking him, he focused his attention on Kimber. Her pouty lips were drawn into a frown of concentration, and for once, she didn’t appear to be in pain. Even as he watched, her face settled into lines of contentment and he realized abruptly that she was taking pleasure in drawing his life force from him.