All That Bleeds

by Kimberly Frost

  “Your father worshipped her. He didn’t care about her affairs, as long as she lived and worked with him. He knew well enough that her passing infatuations with other men didn’t last. He’d had twenty years of experience.”

  “I doubt Calla would’ve been so understanding. Maybe you had my mother killed to cover up the affair. Or Calla did out of jealousy. My mom’s security detail was paid by the Etherlin Council, and you’re in charge.”

  Dimitri choked out a laugh and raised his hands. “Can you really accuse me of such a thing? I’ve looked after you your whole life.”

  “If I can suspect my own father, I can suspect my surrogate one.”

  “No one murdered Helene.”

  “Then what happened to her? One minute she was happy, living a perfect life. The next she was desperately depressed and then dead. Something happened. What was it?”

  Dimitri glanced to the corner and then drew her out of the room. “Let’s enjoy the fresh air for a moment,” he said, opening a door that led to a large patio. He sat on a bench and positioned himself so that his head was turned away from the security camera.

  “Something did happen. Helene stumbled onto a memory that caused us to investigate ancient lore, and we became convinced…” He shook his head, looking away. “If things had worked out, the discovery we hoped to make would’ve been of great benefit to mankind.”

  She thought about the stone with Phaedra’s witch’s symbol on it. It had been in Dimitri’s safe. There was certainly potential for disaster where black magic was involved, but of course they would have both known that.

  “Were you using black magic?”

  His brows shot up. “Of course not,” he said grimly.

  “What were you—?”

  “No,” he said, holding out a hand to ward off her questions. “I’ll never tell you or anyone else the details. It was her dying wish to have it concealed, to protect future generations from making the same mistake.”

  “I wouldn’t do anything dangerous.”

  Dimitri shook his head vigorously. “I’ve told you all I can. I want you to know that she loved you and Richard. She loved this community and lost her life in service to mankind. She was my very dear friend, and I miss her every day.”

  “I don’t understand why she would’ve chosen suicide if she loved everyone so much.”

  “Despair is a terrible thing.”

  “Despair over what? Over a mistake in the way she used her magic? Did someone get hurt or die because of something she did?”

  Dimitri clasped Alissa’s hands, holding them tight. “No one was hurt other than Helene.”

  “No one but me. And my father. And all her aspirants who never wrote again. She hurt a lot of people, actually, by leaving.”

  He sighed. “She dedicated her life to inspiring the talented. If she’d had a choice, she would never have done anything to harm them. And, of course, she never wanted to hurt you or Richard. You were precious to her.”

  “Why was I lied to? I was told that she was depressed for weeks and refused to meet with the council, but I know that’s not true. She had a meeting at the Dome right before she died,” Alissa said, following her instincts. “My father was so worried about it that he went along and waited while she met with them.”

  Dimitri nodded. “Helene was headstrong. The council felt she was recklessly pursuing knowledge that should have remained buried.”

  “About Phaedra?”

  Dimitri held up a finger to warn her not to go too far.

  “Why lie about the meeting?”

  “We didn’t want anyone looking into what she’d been doing before her death. Muses can experience intense passions and emotional swings when they become very involved with their aspirants, so that was the cover story.”

  “I want to know the truth. All of it. The wondering is like a hole inside me.”

  Dimitri took her face in his large hands and tipped it up. “I can’t break my promise to her, and I wouldn’t want to. I’ve spent the years since she died trying to protect you. I know that if she’d lived, you would’ve been Wreath Muse, and I’ve tried to help you achieve that status, at times ostracizing Cerise and my wife in the process. Do you think it’s been easy for my family to see me favor you?”

  “No. I realize now how much it’s upset them, but you’ve helped Cerise, too.”

  Dimitri shrugged and let go of Alissa’s face. “I’m faithful to causes that are just. Helene and I were ambitious, and we made a mistake together. She died because of that mistake. As the one left behind, I’ve been a father to her daughter. She would’ve done the same for Cerise and Dorie if I’d died instead of her.” He glanced away to the clouds and nodded. “I honor her memory. You should do the same.”

  “Do you think I haven’t tried to do exactly that?”

  “In the past yes, but now you seem restless. I suppose managing Richard alone has taken its toll. You should’ve confided in me.”

  “But you’ll have to report what you know to the council, and that will ruin my chances for the Wreath.”

  “To some it will be more proof that you could become unstable, but others will see it as I do, that you were strong enough to take care of a sick father while still exceeding every expectation we had for you and maintaining a pristine image. That should count for something, and it will.”

  “Maybe,” she said.

  Dimitri embraced her briefly and stood. “We need to change for dinner. I’ll see you there.”

  Alissa stood, too, but spent a long time watching the sunset before she left the lounge. Seeing people in the hall who seemed to already know about her dad’s condition frustrated and upset her.

  Inside her room, she didn’t take a dinner dress from her closet or retouch her makeup. Instead she paced, pausing occasionally to straighten things that didn’t need straightening. When Merrick tapped on the door, she drew him inside.

  “Thank you for getting him settled. He seems more comfortable with you than most people.”

  “He thinks we’re kindred souls. He also thinks that now that I’m here to take care of you, any responsibility he had is gone.”

  She waved off the remark. “That’s nothing new. I love him, but he hasn’t taken care of me or himself for a long time,” she said. She pushed her hair back from her face and held it at the nape of her neck. “Word traveled fast. I passed a couple of council members in the hall. They wouldn’t make eye contact with me.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “And Dimitri’s hiding something. After the vote’s over, I’m going to push him to tell me more about the days leading up to my mother’s death. Tobin said the ventala syndicate thought Phaedra passed something on to my mother and me. I believe that my mother may have researched Phaedra’s life and memories, but I haven’t. Could the Jacobis be looking for the stone you found in Dimitri’s safe? Could they want it and believe that I have it? And if they’re trying to acquire it, why? Do they want to use it to raise a demon?” She walked to her makeup case and took out the stone. “It doesn’t look old enough to have come from Phaedra’s time.”

  “No, it’s not worn enough.”

  Alissa dropped it back into the case and began pacing again. “I’ve tried calling Tobin to move up the meeting, but he must have already gone to dinner.”

  “Speaking of dinner,” Merrick said, nodding at the clock.

  “You go. I don’t feel like walking in late to a million whispers, and I don’t feel like pretending that everything is fine.” She fluffed the couch’s throw pillows. “I also don’t want to hover around my dad, fretting like I’m five minutes from a breakdown myself.” She paused and shook her head. “He shouldn’t be here,” she said angrily. “But there isn’t time to drive him back without missing a bunch of obligations, and what would be the point anyway?” she asked, arranging the pillows by color, then rearranging them by size.

  “I apologize,” she said, finally looking at Merrick. “I’m out of sorts. Please go to dinner. I’m
not fit for company.”

  “Unless you think it’ll make the tongue-wagging worse, I’ll stay.”

  “Let them talk. If they suspect that we’re having an affair, it’ll likely sit better than the alternative, namely that I preferred to use my own security detail rather than ES.”

  “Are you hungry? They can send a tray for you, right?”

  “I’m not hungry. I’ll have something later. You know what I really want right now?”

  “Tell me.”

  “To lock the door and just sit here with you. Talking. Or not talking. I don’t care.”

  Merrick locked the door and took off his jacket, setting it on the back of the desk chair. Before he reached the couch, she held out a hand to stop him.

  “One more favor?”

  “The medallion?” he asked.

  She nodded. He slid his tie off and draped it over the suit coat. He unbuttoned a couple of buttons and divested himself of the medallion, leaving it on the desk.

  He sat sideways on the couch, so they faced each other. She studied him.

  “You have more than a five-o’clock shadow now.”

  “It’s later than five o’clock.”

  “It suits you,” she said, running a finger over his jaw. “And having you here suits me, surprisingly.” She traced her fingertip over his lower lip. “And not so surprisingly.” Touching him caused an immediate shift in her thoughts. His magnetism and the jolt of their ever-present chemistry pulled her out of her turmoil and into the vortex of attraction that was always present between them. “Will you feel totally used if I take advantage of you to distract myself?”

  “Absolutely,” he said, mock affronted.

  She moved closer to him. “Then you’d better stop me,” she whispered, unbuttoning his shirt.

  “Yeah, I’ll do that,” he said in a husky voice.

  She quirked an eyebrow as she spread his shirt open. “Gorgeous,” she murmured. Her palms slid over his chest. His hands rested at his sides, unmoving, as she unfastened his belt and slid it from his trousers. She set the belt aside and waited a moment, but he still didn’t move. He only watched her with his characteristic intensity.

  She rose from the couch and unbuttoned her shirt. “Are you planning to just sit there?” she asked, shrugging off the blouse to expose her scalloped lace camisole. “Letting me do all the work?”

  “You’re doing fine so far,” he said, his low voice as smooth as a caress. “The part where I work is coming up.”

  She smiled and unzipped her skirt, letting it fall. It puddled on the floor, a halo of silky fabric around her feet. The cool air kissed her skin, raising gooseflesh. His dark gaze drank her in.

  She stepped forward and knelt on the carpet at his feet. Her fingers stroked his lower abs and traced the path of his dark hair as it trailed down. She liked touching him, liked being so close. She unbuttoned his pants and ran a fingertip over his zipper. His muscles tightened, but his stillness reigned.

  She watched his face through her lashes as she lowered the zipper. Darker than smoke, his gaze scorched her and their eyes locked. The corners of her mouth curved up as his cock jutted free of the fabric. He wanted her, but she would have him first. All that restrained power, the glint of danger just below the surface threatened, yet she knew she could do whatever she wanted.

  You want what I represent, he’d said. Freedom.

  Truer words were never spoken. And she intended to enjoy this freedom, to enjoy him, until nothing else in the world mattered.

  She lowered her eyes as she leaned forward.

  Every inch of him is beautiful. His father might have been a monster, but he’d given Merrick one gift. The preternatural perfection of the vampires. She closed her fingers around the base of him and licked the shaft then took it into her mouth. His muscles went rigid, and he exhaled hard. A drop of fluid salted her tongue.

  Yes, he’s mine, she thought and sucked as she bent forward, taking him deep.

  Christ, Merrick thought. He had the most beautiful girl in the world, an Etherlin muse, on her knees servicing him. The plan had been for him to worship her body, not the other way around, but there was no arguing with those lips. She sucked like an angel, her soft, wet mouth a tight vortex around him.

  He fought the building urgency. His hand cupped the back of her head to slow the rhythm, but she wasn’t having the change of pace. Her small hands took hold of his wrists. She raised her face, licking her lips tantalizingly, and trapped him with cool blue eyes.

  “Am I still doing fine so far?” she asked in a teasing voice that was pure sex.

  He nodded.

  “Then don’t interfere.”

  He quirked a brow, but tugged his arms free and put his hands behind his head, tipping it back against the cushions so he could stare at the ceiling. “Have me however you want because when you’re done that’s how I plan to have you.”

  He felt her shiver, but her bold voice didn’t betray nervousness. “When I’m done,” she said, “you may not have enough energy to do anything at all.”

  His laugh was a low rumble. “Alissa, I’ve waited five years for tonight. No matter what you do or how well you do it, once is never going to be enough for me.”

  “Let’s see you prove it,” she whispered, her hot breath tempting against his skin. He closed his eyes as Alissa drew him once more into the magic of her mouth.

  Merrick didn’t resist the driving pace she set, even though he would’ve liked for the experience to go on and on. There would be a lot more to savor soon, he thought as his pulse pounded. She’d questioned his stamina—had challenged him for a reason. She’d given him license to play games with her and he would. He’d enjoy it and would make sure she did, too.

  He groaned and without thinking, he reached for her head. He caught himself before he touched her silky hair and yanked the hand back. He pinned it behind his neck, pressing his head against the couch cushion as he thrust.

  Fuck, that feels amazing.

  The surprises with Alissa never ended. He’d expected to find her pretty innocent; he thought he’d have to teach her how to enjoy her own body and his, but she was never what she seemed. She was always better.

  His muscles clenched, his balls tightened, and he erupted.

  She leaned back to catch her breath with her bright eyes alight like blue flames, and she said, “Now I want you naked.”

  “What a coincidence,” he murmured, his heart just beginning to slow to a normal rate.

  “Undress for me.”

  He released his hands from behind his neck and stretched his arms. He raised his head so he and Alissa could lock eyes.

  “It’s interesting how you think you’re in charge,” he said. He shook his head slowly, meaningfully.

  He flexed his biceps, and she caught the movement, glancing at them.

  Yeah, sweetheart, my arms are at least twice the size of yours, and they want something to do during the next round.

  She set her hands on his thighs and pushed off them to stand. She was such a gorgeous vision in her pale lace underwear.

  “You can’t deny that you enjoyed me taking charge.”

  “Why would I deny it?” he asked, standing. He shrugged off his shirt and tossed it aside, never taking his eyes off her lithe body. He stripped to the skin in quick fluid movements then picked her up without breaking stride and took her to the bed.

  Her fingers caught the hem of her camisole, but he stayed the movement with a shake of his head.

  “I thought I’d help. As nice as it would be, we don’t have all night,” she said.

  A part of her is still afraid of me. She wants to feel like she’s directing things.

  That didn’t suit Merrick. If she were in control, she might try to hold back some part of herself. He wanted all of her.

  I’m going to touch and taste every inch of you, and I’m going to take my time.

  “People may interrupt—”

  I dare them to try, he thought as he kissed
her. He let darkness leak into his voice when he said, “The rest of the world can go to hell.”

  Alissa blinked, her cheeks flushing beautifully. He lowered his body next to hers and noted the scent of vanilla and muse blood and arousal perfuming the air. His gaze fixed on where the white cream of her breasts swelled over the top of the camisole’s lace.

  “James?”

  “What?” he asked.

  “Promise me one thing,” she whispered, her voice soft and sweet and full of persuasive magic that didn’t have a prayer of controlling the lust that raged inside him.

  “Don’t bite me hard enough to leave scars.”

  The ruthless vampire side of him wanted nothing to do with any promises of restraint. It wanted blood and sex, preferably at the same time. But there was another part of him that could never get enough of this girl and her letters. He wouldn’t hurt her tonight and forfeit all the other nights he might have with her in the future.

  His hand cupped her breast and pinched her nipple, slowly applying more pressure until her body arched and her pupils dilated in pained excitement.

  “No biting deep enough to leave scars? That’s all you’d bar me from doing?” His wicked smile made her lick her lips nervously. “You’re going to have to learn how to negotiate.” He pulled the lace down to expose her nipple, now tight and dusky pink. His lips closed around it, and her fingers slid into his hair, beckoning him closer. He sucked the tip of her breast into his mouth.

  “What would be the point of learning to better negotiate? Would you have allowed me to lay down a lot of rules?” she asked breathlessly.

  He raised his face a few inches, studying the pink tint his mouth had left on her pale skin. Strawberries and cream. Her body’s response to him would be a feast for every one of his senses.

  “Rules?” he murmured, shaking his head. His gaze slid momentarily to her exquisite face. “If you want something tame, don’t keep a lion for a pet.”

  Her fingers tugged his hair absently. “I don’t want something tame. I want you.”

  “That’s convenient since you’re going to have me,” Merrick said and bent his head again.

  Increasingly warm and hungry for him, Alissa tried to tease Merrick into satisfying her quickly, but his infamous control continued. It was excruciating and delicious.