Blood Ties (The Edge of Forever Book 2)

by D. C. Gambel

  I moaned in delight as his tongue moved with mine starting a frenzy deep inside me.

  “Do you want me to stop,” he whispered against my lips. I wrapped my arms around his neck pulling myself closer. I didn’t. My earlier guilt was replaced with lust. His hands traveled up and down my back, gliding across my slick skin. Then a thought ran through my mind. What if this wasn’t really what he wanted, but the sire bond?

  “Stop,” I heaved with everything I had.

  “What?” He pulled back looking into my eyes, unsure he heard me right. It gave me a moment to think.

  “As your sire, I command you to stop.” I forced the words out.

  “No,” he smiled. Then faster than I had ever seen him move, and in one fluid motion, Grayson spun me around so my back was to his chest. His hand slid down body resting between the junction of my thighs. His fingers lightly teased me causing me to gasp in pleasure. When I didn’t protest, he grasped my thigh in his hand so I was only standing on one foot and sheathed himself inside of me. He felt deeper in this position. I cried out from the pleasurable pain of his swift invasion. My back arched pressing my breast out which Grayson took as an invitation. With his free hand he tweaked and swirled, hardening my tender nipples until they pebbled, increasing my bliss. Before I had a chance to catch my breath from his penetrating advance, Grayson began moving, thrusting himself hard. I moaned and writhed, wrapping my arm around his neck so I had something to anchor myself to. His strength never wavered as he held me up while driving into me. When the orgasm ripped through me, my entire world shattered. I screamed his name and a few choice profanities.

  As my body settled, Grayson lowered my leg, but wrapped his arms gently around my waist when he saw my knees give. He let out a soft chuckle probably because he was pretty proud of himself. I could feel him still hard against me and it took me a moment to realize he hadn’t finished with me.

  “Why didn’t you too?” I questioned him over my shoulder.

  He pressed a light kiss to my nose. “Oh baby I’m not done with you yet. I just want to be able to lay you out in a bed to fully enjoy you.” My body quivered from the impression forming that there was more to come, completely forgetting my disobeyed order.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Once Grayson and I had washed every spec of blood from our bodies, we exited the shower in a cloud of steam. My earlier muscle aches forgotten, suddenly replaced with the thrill of what was ahead.

  “Grayson!” I screamed when I was instantly lifted into his strong arms like I weighed nothing. He had blurred out of nowhere. I wrapped my legs around his waist as I licked the water off his pulse.

  “Mm…” he groaned. I felt his palms cup my ass before running up to my hips. He tossed me onto the bed where I landed with a thump. I looked over his body admiring him as I had so many times before. I scanned over the planes of his chest, the ripples of his abs and lower still seeing him ready and waiting. Even after our shower escapades his erection hadn’t diminished. I bit my lip stifling a moan. Excitement coursed through me knowing that his body was for me, that I could cause that reaction with him.

  Grayson stealthily crawled across the bed, over the length of my body looking like a predator and I was his prey. This was the first time I had ever really felt like that with him. Maybe it was because, now, he was a predator. I watched his eyes and saw his normally smoky gray had been replaced by the vampire honey green. A crooked grin on his face showed me just a hint of fang and my body shivered from the prospect of him sinking those teeth into me.

  It was strange. Thoughts like that had never crossed my mind before when he had been human. I had been content with what we had. Now my body seemed to sense the change in him, recognizing the predator, and reveled in it.

  “God Gaby,” he whispered as he hovered above me. His eyes closed struggling with what he wanted to say. After the transition it could be tough. Your body wanted things that your mind wasn’t used to, blood being the main issue.

  He buried his head into my neck breathing me in deep then feathering kisses up my column. I arched my neck giving him better access. I wanted him to bite me almost as much as he wanted to. “I want to taste you. Will you please let me?”

  “God yes!” I moaned without a conscious thought. I could feel him chuckle against my skin. He moved down my body, blanketing his way in deep kisses with a slight suction. At first I was disappointed that he hadn’t bitten me until he settled between my thighs, shoving them farther apart. I looked down at him and our gazes collided. He leaned down slowly, kissing the inside my thigh. His eyes met mine then mirrored his action on the other side. When his eyes fell on mine again there was a gleam in them that made my toes curl. His lips pulled up in a devilish smirk. Without warning, he launched himself to where I most desired. My spine arched and my toes curled. Instinctively, my legs tried to close from the sudden intensity, but Grayson held them open with more strength than he normally used. I tried to relax, but my body writhed against him. Wanting more? Needing him to stop? I didn’t know. He pulled back and my body ached from the loss.

  “Mmm, Gaby. You taste… different…Better,” he whispered before lowering himself to me again. My hips rocked against him, craving more. When he slipped his fingers into me, my body knew what it wanted. He angled his fingers up using a come hither motion, rubbing against the perfect spot. I felt the familiar build begin to rise starting deep in my core. With two fingers inside me, Grayson used his thumb from his opposite hand replacing his mouth rubbing rough circles around my sensitive nub. I looked down at him, his eyes meeting mine looked familiar, yet not, since they were still honey green. I could see the hunger in them. I reached down running my finger over my femoral artery, guiding him. He smiled as my body began spasming around his fingers. In a blur, he moved to my inner thigh, striking it quickly. I felt a sharp pinch then pleasure flowed through me washing over me like a warm waterfall. My skin tingled while my body quivered, but the sensation continued to flow until I thought I would liquefy. It was different than it had been. Our bond, that had been missing since I felt Grayson’s death, was reestablished. It bloomed in my chest and spread like wild fire. I could feel him as my blood flowed into him creating a bridge between us, bonding us once more. Reluctantly, Grayson retracted his fangs allowing my orgasm to ebb. I realized our blood ties had been there the entire time, but was damaged from his human death. The exchange of blood simply restored it.

  Before I could settle back into my body, he thrust himself deep into me pushing me over the cliff again. I continued to orgasm as his hips rapidly slammed against me. My nails dug into his back, marking him, but it only made him increase his rhythm. He kept me in a constant state of ecstasy as he pounded into me. Each thrust pushed me further up on the bed until I had to raise my hands above my head to keep from hitting my head on the headboard, but I didn’t dare ask him to stop. I felt my fangs grow to a sharp point, aching, begging to sink into flesh. Grayson’s muscles became rigid. He was close. I ran my hand into his hair, at the base of his neck. With a sharp grip, I pulled his head to the side and sank into his exposed neck. With a hard groan, I felt his body flood mine, filling it with the evidence of his pleasure he had been holding back. His blood tasted sweeter than it had when he’d been human. Something was different. It held strength it hadn’t before. I pulled back licking the wounds closed before I fell exhausted against the bed.

  Grayson rested his forehead against mine. Both of us panting from the exertion, but it was well worth it. I felt closer to him than I had earlier that night. The worry and turmoil, all but forgotten, in our erotic haze. Burying his head in my neck, I felt Grayson lightly chuckle. Hearing the lightness in his mood I couldn’t help but giggle back.

  “What?” I asked with a smile.

  “Is it bad I want you again?” he pulled back looking me in the eyes with an amused grin lingering across his face. My amusement vanished at his words. Again? He couldn’t be serious? I focused at where he rested, still buried inside of me. The
evidence of his arousal hadn’t faded a bit.

  “Grayson,” I hesitantly breathed, “I love you, but I can’t. I am so sorry.”

  His expression grew wicked as he rolled his hips slowly, making me gasp. “You sure I can’t persuade you?”

  I groaned. “I’m so exhausted, baby. I haven’t slept in forty eight hours.”

  He let out a breath that held an air of disappointment. Rolling himself off of me to lie on his side, he no longer pressed the matter. I immediately felt guilty. He had just given me so much pleasure. I had three orgasms to his one, anymore would be overwhelming. I could not take one more drop of pleasure, but I could certainly indulge his sexual appetite.

  I pressed my hand against his shoulder rolling him over on his back. “Gaby?” he implored inquisitively.

  “Shh…” I pressed my finger to his lips silencing him. The corner of his mouth tugged up. I had never tried this before. It had taken me a while to gain control over my vampire side when aroused. Before, anytime I became sexual aroused, my fangs would descend, but now, with some focus, I could control it and there had been something I had been curious about trying.

  I moved tentatively down his body. I felt Grayson’s breathing increase, his pulse pounded against his skin. It amazed me how this man, with such a commanding presence, who had the world at his feet, could be so turned on by me. My body trembled with the power I held over his. It was a heady, intoxicating mix. I moved until my eyes locked with his straining erection. It jutted out begging for attention which I was more than happy to give. I grasped my hand around its base, feeling his pulse pound under my fingers. Grayson hissed at the contact, like my touch burned him. I let my eyes dance across him; absorbing every curve, every angle. I had never been this close to this part of him and I wanted to take my time, enjoying every second.

  I lowered my head placing a kiss on his tip and felt him inhale a sharp breath. The sound danced across my skin making me feel supreme, more in control. I looked up at Grayson, his eyes were locked on me wild with lust, and his mouth parted making him look so vulnerable.

  He reached down fisting my hair to see me better. “Are you sure?” he questioned, but his body pleaded for me not to stop. I watched his every reaction as I parted my lips and glided him into my mouth.

  “Ah…” he groaned. He was so large, my mouth felt stretched. I couldn’t take him all in so I used my hand to help extend the pleasure to his entire length. He tasted of my arousal mixed with a flavor that was completely him. Grayson’s hand controlled my pace, but he did not use his grip to force me to take in anymore of him. I bobbed up and down and moaned against him sending it vibrating through his hardened length. “Oh, Christ, Gaby,” he growled just before I felt him pulse against my lips. I had a split second to decide what to do, but I wanted to know what he tasted like so I continued my erotic torment until he spilled into my mouth and I swallowed every bit until he was empty. It was salty and thick, not something I really enjoyed, but given his reaction, it was something I wouldn’t mind doing for him again and again. I stroked him a few more times just to be certain I had milked him completely before I released him from my mouth.

  I scooted back up the bed laying my head on his shoulder borrowing into his side. He looked up at the ceiling with his other arm against his forehead.

  “Wow!” he mumbled. I smiled shyly. Grayson had been my first, but I knew I hadn’t been his, so I was always nervous when we tried new things that I might disappoint him. “That was certainly unexpected, but extremely appreciated.” He turned over to face me. “Why did you do that?”

  I shrugged running my fingertip along the planes of his chest. “I’ve wanted to for a while I just didn’t know how to initiate it. And I wanted to make you feel good without melting into a pile of mush.”

  “I like you in a pile of mush,” he chuckled lightly before his face turned serious. “I thought I lost you.”

  My brow knitted in confusion. “What do you mean?” I had thought I lost him, so hearing him say the words to me didn’t make sense.

  “I heard everything, Gaby.” His jaw tightened. His words caused my muscles to constrict. I hadn’t thought of Grayson during my fight with Anton other than my need to rescue him. That fact that he heard our exchange gripped me. “I heard you tell him how he disgusted you.” I gave him a gentle sympathetic smile. “I also heard you scream. I tried to get to you, to help you, but I couldn’t.” He no longer looked at me, but focused on the ceiling as he spoke. “I guess that’s why he did it the way he did. I was forced to hear your pain unable to do anything for you, while you knew I was suffering and unable to help me either.”

  “Grayson,” I cupped his cheek with me palm drawing his attention back to me. His eyes were full of remorse. “It’s over now.”

  “I hate what you had to do and I don’t even know quite what you did.”

  “Do you see me differently knowing that I’ve taken a life? That I’m a murderer?” I spoke past a lump forming in my throat.

  He rolled me over so we were face to face. “Absolutely.” I cringed looking away, but Grayson grasped my chin forcing me to look into his gray eyes. “I see you. You’re brave and strong, not just physically, but mentally. You made a difficult choice that not many others could have made that saved both our lives.” My lips pulled up at the corners. “But, you are not a murderer, Gaby. Don’t ever think that of yourself. I will never ask you what happened and I will never bring it up again, but if you ever want to talk or tell me anything about what happened that night, know that I’m here for you. Always.” His eyes scanned my features, running his thumb down my cheek. “You’re tired?” I nodded against heavy eyelids. He wrapped his arms around me pulling me tightly against him. “Come here baby. You’ve had a rough day… or two. Get some rest.” Grayson lightly kissed my forehead. I was glad he didn’t press the issue. My mind hadn’t really processed what I had done to Anton. It was compartmentalized for another day. I thought I heard him say something else, but I was so drained that my exhaustion took over and I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  I awoke with a start reaching for Grayson, but finding I was alone. I sat up, dazed, running my hand over his side of the bed. The sheets were still warm. He couldn’t have been gone long. I looked at the clock noticing it was a little after midnight. Then I heard what had woken me. I was on my feet quickly, fumbling with the sheet wrapping myself in it then rushed to the bathroom. I tried the doorknob without thinking, but it was locked.

  “Grayson, are you alright?” I was positive I had heard noises before, but now all seemed silent.

  “I’m fine, Gaby. Go back to bed. I’ll be there in a moment.” His voice was muffled.

  An unsettling feeling fell over me; something about this just didn’t seem right. Not wanting to annoy him with persistent questions, I guided myself back to the bed staying wrapped in the sheet. I wasn’t sure what he was doing in there, but I was positive he wouldn’t want me there listening to him. Even with the unease bubbling inside me, I did my best to give him some space; after all, he had just come back from the dead, something I never experienced. Perhaps he really did need a few moments to himself.

  I must have drifted off, because when I woke again I was lying back in bed next to Grayson, like the middle of the night’s disruption had never happened. I looked over seeing he was resting peaceful. There was an ease about him while he slept. He looked almost childlike, younger than he did when he was awake with less weight on his shoulders. Unsure of how long he had been up during the night, I slid out of bed careful not to disturb him, wanting him to get as much rest as possible.

  I made my way to the bathroom at vampire speed to freshen up, shutting the door gingerly. The moment I was closed in that small space, it hit me like a slap in the face, leaving me slightly dazed from its sudden assault. Blood. It wasn’t fresh, but it couldn’t have been more than a few hours old. I curiously looked around the room. That’s when I saw it. Blood soaked toilet pap
er resting on top of the tiny bathroom trash can.

  I dismissed it remembering the blood bags I had thrown away the night before. Later, I would remember this moment as a relative clue when the pieces should have fallen into place, but it was easier to discard the notion that something was wrong.

  I heard movement outside the bathroom and knew Grayson was awake. After everything I had been through with Grayson and Anton, call me insatiable, but I wanted to be with him as much as possible. It would take me awhile to get over the fact that he was well, that everything was normal, or as normal as it could be with us being vampires. I just hoped my newfound clinginess didn’t drive Grayson insane.

  I stood there leaning against the doorframe watching him, momentarily stunned by his gloriously nude body moving across the room. I wasn’t sure if he even knew I was there. If he did, he showed no sign of it, not that his confidence would ever waver over something so commonplace as nudity. The longer he was a vampire, the better his senses would become. It wasn’t until he stood in front of the window with his hands on the drapes that I snapped out of my hypnotized state. I was slammed with fear like a cold gust of wind sinking into my bones. The sun. Grayson was a vampire now, a thought that seemed to have temporarily slipped his mind.

  “Stop!” I yelled before blurring towards him knowing I wouldn’t get to him in time. I had hoped the sire bond would take over. Even before his conscious brain would process me yelling, the newly developed fledgling part should hear the command from its sire and stop. It was like he didn’t hear me. Grayson opened the drapes and the sun kissed his skin for just a second before I slammed him into the wall with such force that his shoulder broke through the drywall.

  “What the hell, Gaby!” Grayson complained as I scanned his body with my eyes and hands, but saw no sign of a burn. My relief was short lived replaced with annoyance.