His hands tightened upon her hips before he pulled back far enough to regard her with a smoky gaze.
“How long it’s been since I’ve been treated as something other than a rabid animal.”
Her heart wrenched as she brushed her fingers across his sensuous lips. She knew all too well the feeling of being despised and unwanted in her own home. Of being brutally kicked back into place when she dared to defy her father.
How Dante had managed to endure his captivity for centuries was beyond comprehension.
“I’m sorry,” she husked. “No one deserves to be chained and held against their will.” She framed his beautiful face in her hands. “I swear I will do whatever I can to release you.”
His eyes flared as he claimed her lips in a kiss she felt to her very soul. Abby groaned, curling her toes in pleasure. Oh yeah, this vampire knew a thing or two about kissing. A woman could spend an eternity just being held in his arms.
Smoothing her hands through his satin hair, Abby sank into the sizzling heat. She was alive against all odds. She intended to appreciate every moment of what she had been given.
His hands slid slowly up the curve of her spine as his kiss deepened. His erection pressed into her stomach.
Abby forgot about dark wizards, hideous zombies, and missing witches. She forgot about everything but the searing pleasure of Dante’s touch.
For months she had fantasized about this man. Now that she knew up close and personal just what sort of lover he was, her hunger for him was near unbearable.
She heard his rasping groan as his hands shifted to cup the softness of her breasts. But even as she arched against his touch, he was reluctantly pulling away.
“Christ, what am I doing?” he muttered, shoving his hands roughly through his hair. “Let’s go before I manage to get us captured again.”
Taking her hand, Dante led her through the thickening trees, muttering beneath his breath at his brief distraction.
Abby did her own share of muttering. Certainly she was all for getting far away from the crazed wizard and his zombie posse. Putting several oceans between them didn’t seem an overreaction.
But she couldn’t deny a small measure of frustration.
Just once she wanted to be alone with Dante without the threat of horrible death hanging over their heads.
A few measly hours when they could enjoy each other in absolute peace.
It was enough to make any woman a bit grouchy.
They moved in silence for what seemed to be an eternity. Off and on, Dante would insist on carrying her so they could move quicker, but disliking the feel of being helpless, she preferred to trail behind him. Even if it meant tripping over every stray branch and bush that littered the woods. Damn nature.
At last she began to wonder if Dante intended for them to walk in circles for the rest of the night.
“Do you know where we’re going?” she demanded in suspicion.
“For help,” he retorted without missing a step. “The next time I face those zombies, I intend to have something that will frighten those sons of bitches back to the grave.”
She couldn’t argue with that.
“Good plan. Where is this something?”
“In Chicago.”
“Let me guess . . . Viper,” she said dryly.
That earned her a swift glance over his shoulder. “How did you know?”
“He seems the type to have a fascination with things that would frighten zombies.”
“You have no idea.” Without warning, he came to an abrupt halt. They had thankfully left behind the trees and now stood in what seemed to be an abandoned field. “Wait.”
Brushing things from her hair that she hoped to God were bits of leaves and branches, Abby regarded Dante with a faint frown.
“Don’t tell me you’re lost.”
Turning, he gave a lift of his perfect brows. “I’m never lost.”
Abby rolled her eyes. “Spoken like a true male.”
With a smug smile he once again took off. “This way.”
“You’re sure?” she demanded. “You aren’t just leading me around until we stumble over the car?”
“Were you born this aggravating or is it a skill you’ve developed just to annoy me?”
Her lips twitched. She couldn’t deny she enjoyed razzing Dante.
His own fault, of course.
He shouldn’t be so arrogant.
“Don’t flatter yourself. I’ve always been this aggravating.”
“Now, that I believe,” he muttered before tossing her a patronizing smile over his shoulder as he pointed to the outline of the abandoned factory buildings just off to the left. “There.”
She gave a sniff although she inwardly sighed in relief as she realized they were only a short distance from Viper’s car. She would give her soul to rest her aching legs.
“You don’t have to smirk. It’s unbecoming.”
Dante chuckled as he reached the car and leaned his large form against the hood. Bathed in moonlight with his shirt half open and his hair flowing about his perfect face, he appeared tall, dark, and edible.
A tasty hood ornament, indeed.
Folding his arms over his chest, he allowed one of those slow, wickedly naughty smiles to curve his lips.
“I think you owe me an apology for doubting my extraordinary powers for even a moment.”
Abby struggled not to melt at his feet.
She did have some pride.
“What sort of apology?”
The smile widened. “I have a few ideas. Unfortunately they include a soft bed, scented candles, and plenty of whipped cream. None of which I happen to have on hand.”
Abby’s mouth went dry. “Vampires eat whipped cream?”
“I don’t plan on being the one eating it.”
Oh. The air suddenly seemed too thick to breathe.
No doubt it had something to do with the image of having Dante spread upon a bed as she licked a layer of whipped cream from his hard body.
“Shameless,” she rasped.
He cast a glance toward the shadowed heavens. “Shameless and dead if we don’t hurry. Chicago isn’t getting any closer. It’s going to be a near thing as it is.”
Gathering her scattered thoughts, Abby attempted to determine how much of the night had passed. A stupid attempt. To her the morning arrived when her alarm went off, usually five or six times.
“If you’re worried, why don’t I drive and you hide in the trunk?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Why not?”
It was a perfectly reasonable solution.
Of course, he was a male despite the benefit of being a vampire. And in typical male fashion, he regarded her as if she had suggested he neuter himself.
“I prefer to risk the sun.”
Her lips thinned. “Are you implying that a woman can’t drive as well as a man?”
“I’m implying that the only way I’m getting into that trunk is if you join me,” he said dryly. “Besides, if Viper finds so much as a scratch on his car, being a pile of dust will be the least of my concerns.”
“And why would you think that I would scratch—”
Her words were brought to a rude halt by the simple means of Dante reaching out and hauling her against his chest. Once there, he sealed her lips with his own with a brief, scorching kiss.
“Please, lover, can we continue this argument in the car?” he murmured against her mouth.
“Oh, we’ll continue it,” she warned, not about to be so easily manipulated. At least not until they had that warm bed and whipped cream. “You can count on that.”
Chapter 14
In the end, Abby’s promise of a continuing argument proved to be an empty threat.
Her love for a rousing squabble was no match for her weariness. Dante had barely reached the interstate when her head had tilted to the side and her eyes slid closed.
Resisting the urge to halt the car and simply appreciate her peaceful beauty, Dante sped thro
ugh the empty streets and reached Viper’s lair well ahead of the sun. Parking in the private lot beneath the street, he carefully carried Abby to the room they had shared before.
He was beyond weary as he lowered Abby onto the wide bed. Not only from the exertions of the night, but also from the approaching dawn. Still, he forced himself to leave the room and search out Viper in his private chambers.
He found the vampire sprawled upon an antique chaise lounge attired in a brocade robe that was heavily embroidered with gold thread. The room itself would have made most collectors drool in envy.
Scattered over the priceless hand-woven carpets were carved and gilded furnishings that had once belonged to a Russian czar. The walls were decorated with hand-painted silk upholstery, the doors made of ebony inlaid with gold leaf, and the chandeliers studded with sapphires and pearls.
More stunning were the rare works of art that were carefully displayed behind temperature-controlled glass frames. Most were thought by the world to be lost, some even having been completely forgotten. Together they created a stunning beauty that was unsurpassed anywhere in the world.
Surrounded by furnishings fit for the finest palace and sipping a brandy that cost more than some small countries, Viper appeared every inch a pampered aristocrat.
It was only when one noted the cold, calculating glitter in his midnight eyes that the image of indolent hedonism was shattered.
A glitter that became even more pronounced as Dante briefly relayed what had occurred since he had left Chicago.
Rising to his feet, Viper regarded him with a sardonic expression. “Abominations, dark wizards, dead witches—I’ll give you this, Dante, you really know how to pick your women.”
“I didn’t exactly pick Abby, the Phoenix did.”
Perfect brows several shades darker than the silver hair slowly arched.
“You do realize you lost a perfect opportunity to be rid of your chains?”
Dante smiled wryly. The chains that held him to Abby would never be broken. No matter what happened to the bloody Phoenix.
“By allowing Abby to be sacrificed? Not a chance in hell.”
“You have it bad, my friend.” Viper stared at him for a long beat. “I know this voodoo priestess who has an incantation that could—”
“Thanks, but not necessary,” Dante firmly interrupted. “What I need are those damn witches.”
Viper’s lips thinned, but for a pleasant change he didn’t pursue his argument.
A relief, considering the elder vampire possessed the ability to bend others to his will whenever he desired to make the effort.
“You’re sure some survived?” he instead demanded.
“At least a few of them. I followed their tracks to the garage.”
“They could be anywhere.”
“They won’t go far from the Phoenix,” Dante pointed out. “Even if they don’t know the precise location or even who holds the Chalice, they sense its presence. Unfortunately I don’t have any means of contacting them.”
“I would hardly call that unfortunate.” The thin nose flared with distaste. “A pity the wizard didn’t wipe them out completely.”
A sentiment Dante would have agreed with thoroughly until Abby was thrust into carrying the Phoenix. Now his only concern was finding the means to release her from her burden.
“We have already been through this, Viper.”
“And you know my feelings.”
“In gruesome detail.” Dante raised a hand to rub the knotted muscles of his neck. “Will you help me?”
“You know you don’t have to ask. I may consider you all kinds of a fool, but I will always have your back.”
“Thank you,” Dante murmured with genuine sincerity.
“What do you need?”
“Protection.” Dante promptly answered. “Something small enough to carry but able to deal with the zombies.”
A smile twitched at the corners of Viper’s lips.
“No doubt I have something suitable in my vault,” he retorted. Dante knew Viper’s vault could arm entire countries. His arsenal ranged from prototype weapons stolen from top scientists to ancient armaments blessed with powerful magic. “What else?”
“I think someone should keep an eye on the wizard. He was calling upon powers that have been forgotten for centuries. He could be a problem.”
“Ah.” The dark eyes abruptly glittered with anticipation. “Perhaps I will toddle over for a visit. I haven’t gone against a decent wizard since the Middle Ages.”
Dante frowned. As a rule, Viper managed to avoid petty confrontations. Unlike most vampires, he didn’t feel the need to prove his balls by challenging every demon that crossed his path. Which was one of the reasons Dante preferred his company to others.
But there was a part of Viper that couldn’t resist a challenge. If he thought there might be something out there to give him a worthy battle, he wouldn’t hesitate to leap in with gun blazing.
Or fangs flashing.
“Be careful,” Dante warned sternly. “I don’t doubt he’ll have a few nasty tricks up his sleeve.”
Viper chuckled with cold amusement. “Trust me, Dante, no one can match me for nasty tricks.”
“That I well believe,” Dante muttered, reaching out to grasp his friend’s shoulder as his knees threatened to buckle.
“God, you can barely stand,” Viper growled, a hint of concern touching his lean features. “Go to bed. I will set a watch outside your rooms. You and your Abby are safe here.”
Dante nodded in relief. “You’re a good man, Viper.”
“Spread that around and I’ll chop you into bacon bits and leave you to the sun,” the older vampire warned.
“It goes with me to the grave.”
Feeling every one of his four hundred plus years, Dante made his way back through the darkened hallways. At least he would have a few hours of rest.
No wizards, witches, zombies, or demons.
Just Abby.
Heaven.
Entering the private apartment, he headed directly to the bedroom only to be halted by the unmistakable sound of splashing water.
The weariness slid away as a faint smile curved his lips. Altering his course, he moved toward the bathroom and stepped through the door to study the slender woman soaking in the vast tub.
Speaking of heaven . . .
If his heart still beat, it would have halted at the sight of the white skin glowing in the candlelight like the rarest pearl and her honey curls fanned about her gamine face. Thankfully the rest of his body functioned just fine. Dante allowed his gaze to trail over the soft thrust of her breasts to the tempting triangle of hair between her thighs, and he felt himself grow hard.
Painfully hard, he acknowledged as his erection bit into the buttons of his pants.
With perfect clarity, he recalled the feel of her warmth as she had held him in her arms and the aching pleasure as she had rode him to completion.
Ah, sweet heavens he wanted her.
No, he needed her.
With a desperation that made a mockery of mere lust.
Silently kicking off his boots and shrugging out of his shirt, Dante paced forward and settled on the edge of the tub.
“Is this a private party or can anyone join in?” he murmured softly.
With an obvious effort, Abby lifted her lids to regard him with a slumberous gaze.
“Dante,” she husked, making no attempt to cover her delectable curves. “I didn’t hear you return.”
He choked back a curse as his erection swelled in response to the beautiful vision below him.
He wanted to kiss every inch of her wet, slick skin. To sink between her thighs and taste her heat. To watch her eyes widen with pleasure as he entered her and to thrust both of them into mindless bliss.
His hand trembled with the force of his desire as he reached out to stroke his fingers down the curve of her neck. He could feel the softness of her skin, the heat of her rushing blood.
&nb
sp; “I thought you would be asleep by now,” he murmured.
She heaved a soft sigh. “This feels so good, I can’t make myself leave.”
Dante slowly smiled. “I have something that would feel even better.”
Her eyes darkened as a smile of pure temptation curved her lips.
“I don’t know.” Her gaze lingered on his bare chest. “This is pretty much at the top of the feel-good list.”
Rising to his feet, Dante quickly rid himself of his pants before he joined her in the heated water. The steam clouded about him, filled with the scent of vanilla and woman, rousing the predator that always lurked just beneath the surface.
With a growl of satisfaction, Dante pulled her into his arms as he performed a smooth roll, anchoring her atop his aching body with her legs straddling his hips.
He smiled into her startled eyes as he carefully smoothed her damp curls behind her ears.
“Lover, you’re just about to learn a whole new list.”
Her breath caught as his hands skimmed down the curve of her back to cup her backside, pressing her firmly against his throbbing shaft.
“You think you’re that good?” she breathed.
Dante chuckled as he lifted his head to nibble at the base of her throat.
“Oh, better. Much better.”
“I . . .” Her head tilted back as he gave her a small nip, her hips moving in silent encouragement. “Oh.”
Dante groaned. Her skin fascinated him. So soft. So warm.
He licked a hungry path to her breast.
The animal in him longed to simply thrust into her and find his release. There was something to be said for a swift, sweaty orgasm.
But not with Abby, he conceded.
This was not sex.
Not mindless coupling.
It was a joining that he could feel right to his dead heart.
Savoring the sweet taste of her, Dante circled her tightening nipple with the tip of his tongue. With light strokes he teased her until he heard her hiss of breath, and she grasped his head in her hands.
“Please,” she whispered.
“Is this what you want, lover?” he demanded, closing his lips about the peak to suckle her with gentle urgency.
“Yes.”
Her fingers tangled in his hair, her legs parting until she could rub herself against the length of his erection.
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