Embrace the Fire

by Spring Stevens

  He laughed as her teeth grazed his skin. “For someone as innocent as you claim to be, you sure do know how to set my blood on fire.”

  Straddling his hips, she sat up and raked her nails down his chest. “You know that old saying isn’t true.”

  His white brows bunched. “What old saying is that?”

  Taking his hands and placing them on her breasts, she whispered, “You can teach an old dog new tricks.”

  He arched as she slid down onto his erection. As she rocked against him, he groaned with pleasure. “Then by all means, teach this old dog.”

  She smiled. “As you wish.”

  • • •

  Angelica watched Varick as he slept. He was the most beautiful man she had ever seen — so very perfect. Running her finger down his cheek, she smiled as his lip twitched. Her finger followed her gaze to his lips, and she giggled as he latched on to her fingertip and sucked playfully.

  “Did you have something particular in mind, or do you like your fingers in my mouth?” He rolled onto his side and wrapped his arm around her protectively. “Or should I show you far better uses for my mouth?”

  She grinned. “Far better uses?”

  He nodded and slid his hand down her back, over her hip, and between her thighs. Her legs parted, allowing him free access to her core. When his fingers slid over her heat, she groaned. When they slid into that heat, she gasped with pleasure.

  “Should my mouth follow my fingers?” In and out they worked at her, making her forget how to talk. “Or” — he brought his fingers to his lips — “Should I taste you like this?”

  Her eyes widened in shock as he licked the moisture from his fingers. “I want to lick you, Angel. I want to feast between your legs until you come in my mouth, until you beg me for mercy.”

  “I … ” She swallowed hard. “I don’t beg.”

  He grinned as he raised himself onto his elbow and rolled her onto her back. “Oh, but darling angel of mine, you will. Trust me, you will.”

  He slid down her body, kissing a path straight to her core. Arching under him, she met his tongue and fisted her hands in his hair as he laved her without mercy or a moment’s pause.

  “Varick!”

  He laughed. “Are you begging yet?”

  “No!” she screamed as he used his fangs and his tongue to torment her.

  He felt her building toward a climax as he nibbled at her flesh, her sweet, stormy taste running down the back of his throat and making his appetite grow hard and strong. She bucked under him, screamed his name, and tried to pull him up her body.

  He caught her hands and brought them between her legs as he sucked on her fingertips. “Come for me, Angelica. Right now.”

  He pressed her hand on her core and slid his tongue between her fingers, tasting her, making her entire body spasm with pleasure. “Come for me.”

  “Yes,” she breathed as he removed her hand and slid his finger deep inside her slick heat. “Make me come for you.”

  He growled as he forced her legs farther apart and licked her as he slid two fingers into her. She arched, her body burning hot as the coals in hell. He threw his head back and roared as she climaxed.

  Dragging himself up her trembling body, he settled between her legs and pushed his aching erection deep, her heat scalding him, covering him. He gasped as her nails raked down his chest and her legs wrapped around his hips. Every feral instinct he had overrode his meticulously planned-out lovemaking, and he slammed down hard — so hard the bed jerked and banged violently against the wall.

  Her hips arched upward, meeting his demand, needing his complete attention. He gave it all, drilled into her with force and need. His fangs elongated as she turned her head and bared her neck.

  “Bite me, Varick. Suck on me,” she begged. “Please, Varick, please finish me now.”

  Roaring, he struck, piercing her skin with precision. He pumped into her body as he drank from her throat. Her precious blood fed his pleasure, spiking his every emotion and filling every void he had ever had. Her body clenched, tightened around his flesh, causing his release to explode from him in tidal waves. She dug into his shoulders as her own release met and matched his.

  Collapsing on top of her, he chuckled. “Thought you said you don’t beg.”

  She shrugged breathlessly as she kissed his shoulder. “Changed … ” She panted. “Changed my mind, Vamp-boy.” She tried not to laugh but couldn’t keep from it. “I think I actually like it when you bite me.”

  He lifted his head and rolled to his side as he pulled her into his arms. “Then I shall bite you often, and in places you’ll be dreaming about.”

  She hissed as his hand cupped her breast and his mouth sucked hard on her nipple. “Varick, let me catch my breath.”

  He licked and teased her with his fangs. “I think I like it when you beg.” He bit down playfully on the curve of her breast as his hand splayed across her hip. She grinned as her hand slid between their bodies and cupped his already growing erection. He groaned and caught her head with his hands.

  “Now,” she whispered, “I think I shall hear you do some begging.”

  Her fingers wrapped around him and gently pulled, gently glided up and down. Pushing his shoulder with her other hand, she had him on his back, his massive erection still in the palm of her hand. He hissed, his neck straining with tension and pleasure.

  She straddled his legs and watched his face as she used both hands to work him over. He arched under her, his hands fisting in the sheets, his claws ripping through the fabric and piercing his own skin.

  He looked up, met her eyes as she started lowering herself to him. He released the sheet and grabbed her face with both hands, stopping her progress, stopping her from going down on him.

  She smiled, removed his hands, and arched a brow. “Beg me, Varick. Beg me to do to you what you did to me.”

  “No,” he whispered as she placed his hands on her breast. “I’ve never begged.”

  Bending, she placed a kiss on the tender flesh of his netherhead. He roared, his back arching as the back of his head slammed into the pillows. When she took him into her sultry mouth, he swallowed the scream of pleasure.

  “Angelica.” His guttural cry fell on her ears but she chose to ignore it.

  She sucked hard, nipped at him until he looked up and opened his mouth. She sucked harder.

  “Angelica, you’re killing me.”

  Licking him from base to tip, she used her hands to assist in his pleasure. “Do you not like this?”

  He groaned as his hand caught her chin and forced her to look into his eyes. “Yes, I like it very much.”

  His eyes glowed, topaz to red in a flash, as she went down on him hard and without mercy. “Angelica, plea … ”

  She rubbed the smooth skin beneath his erection, felt the tension building in that tender area. “I love the way you taste. I love the way you react to my touch.”

  He jerked violently. “Please, Angelica, oh gods above and below, please finish me.”

  Beaming, she did as he begged of her.

  Chapter 31

  Half awake, half dreaming, Angelica watched Varick climb back into the bed. Two days had passed, and she had not left the bed for more than the time it took to shower or eat. Two days of blissful lovemaking and talking. It could not have been more perfect except for his occasional popping in and out.

  She took a deep, relaxing breath as he slid next to her and kissed her forehead. “Hi there.”

  He grinned, his white hair sliding down her cheek as he kissed her lips. “Hi. Sleepy?”

  She nodded as she closed her eyes and melted to his chest. “There’s something I need to ask you.”

  Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he arched a brow. “Ask.”

  She wasn’t really su
re how to go about asking without saying Zena’s name. One breath and then two, she pondered for a moment before asking.

  “Who is the woman who came here looking for you? I thought it was your grandmother but you said your grandmother was the queen of vampires, that she was confined in the Underworld.”

  He stilled, his fingernails softly grazing her skin. “What woman?” Fire glinted in his eyes.

  Angelica huffed. “It’s not likely you or any other guy could forget her. She’s darkly beautiful, sexy as hell, and has these really long, black, sharp fangs.”

  Varick sat up and turned her to look at him. “What was her name?”

  She watched and bit her lip as fury lit up his eyes. “I can’t tell you that.”

  “Angelica, tell me her name!” He ran his hands over her, looked at her questioningly. “Did she do anything to you?”

  Angelica shook her head, sheepishly murmuring, “Not exactly.”

  Varick’s lip twitched, his jaw tightening. “Did she threaten you?”

  Angelica yawned. “Not exactly.”

  He stood, his naked male body tempting her even in her sleepy state. “Could you stop saying that? How can you not exactly know? What did she want of me?”

  She shrugged and turned away so he could not see the anger lighting her face on fire. “I’m not sure. Well, not exactly, but I have my own theories on that one. She said she wanted you, and offered me a deal she apparently thought I would not refuse.”

  She could hear his heels hitting the floor in a pacing motion, back and forth. “What offer?”

  “Immortality.” Angelica shivered as ice hit her blood veins. “She wants you, and wanted to use me as bait to get you.”

  Another wave of cold dread hit her in the chest as Varick asked another series of questions; at least, she thought he had. Her head pounded, her temples rippling with pain and tension. She grimaced as Varick grabbed her arms and twisted her around to meet his stare. She watched his lips move, his fangs flashing, and knew he was angry about something, but she couldn’t hear him, could barely feel his hands upon her shoulders.

  She opened her mouth and gasped as all the air left her lungs. Nothing but a burning in her chest remained. She clutched at his arms, fear surfacing in her eyes. He was still ranting about whatever it was he was angry about as she tried to pull away and stand. He was in her face, and his hands caught at her shoulders as she slid backwards from the bed and landed in a heap on the floor.

  “Varick.” Her throat grew tighter with each breath. “Help … me.”

  Hot tears burned a trail down her face as another wave of ice pelted through her veins. He was in front of her, picking her up when Zena’s voice filled her ears, filled her mind. Clutching her head, she tried to scream out, tried to breathe.

  “Foolish girl! He is mine! And I will have him, all of him!”

  Looking wildly around his shoulder, she clutched at her throat, focused on her lungs, forced herself to take a breath. “Varick, she is here.”

  Varick dropped her to the bed and turned, his stance protective, his roar loud and laced with warning. “Where is she?”

  “Reach out and grab him! Say my name! Bring him to me!”

  Angelica shook her head. “No!”

  Varick turned and reached for her. Scrambling away, she held out her hand and shook her head. “Don’t touch me!”

  “How can I fight what I cannot see, Angelica?” His deep voice vibrated, bounced around the room with menace. “Tell me where she is!”

  She pointed to her head, shoved her hand in front of him, and stepped back as he came forward. “No!”

  “You pathetic little idiot! He will tire of you; he will use you for your blood. Take my offer. Grab him now!”

  She stared into his eyes, knowing she would never allow Zena the pleasure of taking Varick from her. She dodged his hands and shook her head as he reached for her.

  Varick bared his fangs. “Angelica! Tell me who she is!”

  Wrapping the sheet around her, she bent to retrieve her clothing. “I can’t say her name! But I think she’s your grandmother and she isn’t trapped in the Underworld.” Digging in her pocket, she grasped the pendant Alera had given her and held it up by its golden chain for Varick to look at. “What is this to you?”

  He narrowed his eyes. “Drop that pendant now! It belongs to the goddess Grace.”

  Angelica gasped as pain shot down her spine. “I need to tell you. Your grandmother … ”

  Varick stepped closer as she closed her eyes and tried to continue. “She came here and wanted me to bring you to her.” She fell as another wave of pain hit her in the chest. “She wants me to bring you to the Underworld.”

  Varick reached for her, and she scrambled backwards. “No. I will go, but not with you. I won’t let her have you; I won’t let her take you from me.”

  Angelica pulled herself to her feet and twisted out of Varick’s reach as she clutched the pendant to her chest. “Don’t touch me.”

  Time slowed, the hands of destiny and fate carving out two distinct paths before Varick. His future was his to choose. Charon appeared cloaked and unseen at Angelica’s right as she slipped the chain around her neck.

  Whispering Charon leaned down to Angelica’s ear and forced his compelling voice into her mind. “Say her name. For his sake, say her name!”

  Gasping as time released its hold, Angelica screamed, “Zena!”

  • • •

  Varick leapt as Angelica vanished, his hands clutching at the mist before him. “No, no!”

  He turned as Gyth, Alexander, and Apoc appeared. “No!”

  Charon laughed as he made his black-robed presence known. “Yes, Varick, she is gone.”

  At a snap of his fingers, leather covered Varick’s body, and there was a thunk of metal as his weapons followed. Rage burned brightly in his heart and glowed forth from his eyes as he turned to Gyth and roared, “Open a portal to the Underworld now!”

  Charon waved his hand and time once again stood still, leaving Varick and himself unaffected. “Gyth cannot open a portal.”

  Varick spun around, grasped Charon by the throat, and tore the hood away. “Gyth is the king of the Heavens; he can do anything he wants.”

  Charon laughed. “Gyth cannot open the portals I control. He is unwilling to pay the ferryman. Unwilling to give me what I want.”

  Snarling, Varick let his sword appear and pressed the burning tip to Charon’s throat. “Then what price must I pay?”

  Smiling, Charon pulled back from Varick’ hold. “What’s Angelica’s life worth to you?”

  “What do you want?” Varick’s eyes glowed red as the beast surfaced under his skin. “Why would I believe you? You’re just an old misbegotten god from times long past and forgotten.”

  Hissing with unrestrained anger, Charon moved so fast Varick couldn’t track him. Varick gasped when Charon slammed his hands into Varick’ chest. “I want … ” He paused as Varick punched into the wall and the painting above the fireplace fell, the glass shattering. “I want the set of books that are sisters to the Book of Creation. I want the set that are brothers to the book. And I want the Book of Destruction.”

  Varick licked his lip as blood trickled down his chin. “I don’t know anything about these books. I want her back. I want her safe.”

  “A bargain between us, then? For her safe return?” Charon watched as Varick staggered forward. “You will do as I say.”

  He grunted. “Is that all?”

  Charon waved his hand, and Varick stepped back as a small ball of water appeared between them. “Not exactly.”

  Before Varick could blink, the god had taken the ball and grabbed his wrist. The air bubbled and swooshed as he felt himself sucked into a vortex of purples and blues. And then blackness consumed his sight.
All Varick could hear was the deep baritone of the River Styx and the whispers the river fed through him.

  Chapter 32

  The witch stood limply before Grace in Grace’s white-walled chambers. The look on her face was slack, and her blue eyes were quite empty. The goddess gritted her teeth. This was the way Damon liked his followers — mindless and obedient. Obedience she could understand, but this slack-jawed emptiness was repulsive.

  Swallowing, Grace spoke. “Damon, it is Grace. We need to talk before Gyth figures out I have one of your witches in my chambers.”

  The witch swayed, her mouth dropping open. Grace grimaced as the star on the witch’s forehead glowed, sizzled, and smoked as the flesh charred.

  Damon’s voice was warped, yet as seductive as ever as it fell from the witch’s tongue. “Grace? What could you, Gyth’s little pet, possibly want to talk to me, the stuff of nightmares and perversions, about?”

  “Funny you should mention Gyth’s name.” Grace forced a smile.

  “Funny you mentioned him first.” He laughed, the sound much like that of a well-fed jackal. “Tell me what is so dire you are willing to cross your master.”

  She calmly said, “He is not my master.”

  “Perhaps you want to come to my side of things.” Again his laughter echoed around her. “I could show you things that would set your blood on fire, make your heart race with need and want.”

  “Make my skin crawl?” Grace turned on her heel, knowing he watched her with wariness.

  “Better yet, I could make your skin fall from your bones as I enjoy watching you scream in pain.”

  “In your dreams, Damon, in your dreams.” Turning back, she decided to get it over with. “Zena and I had a bargain. I told her about Charon’s portals. She has been using them to convince Varick Ta Farg to kill Gyth. I suspect she has taken drastic action in her desire for this Destroyer.”

  “What do you mean, drastic actions?”

  “She has found a portal, and it has been opened.” She knew she had him right where she wanted him. “I now see Zena is a weak link. I would like to make new allies, and you’re the perfect candidate.”