by Alice Wade
“At first.” Her words were so soft he had to lean down to catch them.
“At first? When did you give up this hope?”
Her words were like a stab in his heart. He never wanted her to doubt him. Ever. Her words made him angry at himself that it took him weeks to find her location and that was weeks of torture for her. His guilt tore into him because he’d caused her pain and torment, just of a different kind. He wasn’t sure he could agree to not retaliating against those others. Moreover, he knew that denial would be yet another hurt added to the pain he’s already caused. Talon tried to ease this moment by caressing her cheek with long fingers, but he saw she had more to say and remained silent.
“When they took Lainey and killed Quade. It broke me. I think that was why Kaen allowed humans to be in my cell—so I would find companionship only to lose them. He knew I felt their experiences and shared in their pain. You still had not come and I thought you never would because Kaen had finally outsmarted us.”
Her saddened eyes returned to his face, his gorgeous and strong face so foreign and alien to her. His conversion had made him into a god; perfection personified. His eyes were slanted and that icy blue ringed with black. His hair was short and kept neatly trimmed around his elegant ears, and his face was angular and strong with the softest skin she had ever felt.
He watched her carefully, evaluating each of her movements and her words but continued to say nothing.
“What happened?” Her question caused him to flinch. “What took you so long?”
His lips pulled downward in sadness, “I couldn’t find you.” The words were like acid on his lips as he spoke his shame. Shifting so he cupped her face, Talon’s face tightened with pain, “I knew who had you, but I kept being led on wild goose chases outside the city. I didn’t believe the signs, so kept coming back. I found you yesterday evening and took action immediately. I would never leave you behind.”
Talon leaned down and kissed her once softly, inhaling with emotion, “Never. I was about to raze the entire castle to the ground but was afraid of causing you harm if I didn’t know where you were.”
That made her chuckle. “You would have, wouldn’t you?” The intensity burning in his blue eyes frightened her at times like this. He was so powerful, smart, and unpredictable. That was what she loved about him.
“Yes. I would move mountains for you, Kailani.” Cocking his head, he paused. “I’ll think about what you asked but I’ll not make any promises. I love you beyond words and I’m driven to defend you. It’s all I know. What you are asking is that I look the other way which goes against everything I am, both vampire and elf.”
She nodded sadly, “I know. I would rather you harbor a simmering resentment towards me than be dead. I would much prefer to deal with your anger.”
He was done talking about this. He’d pulled her into this room to make love to her. He needed their bodies to dance in the familiar steps he missed. His eyes roamed down her body. “You are too dressed.”
She laughed again. “Let’s change that then.” With a wink, her arms reached out and gracefully stretched high above her head.
The motion earned a whimpering sound out of Talon and Kailani laughed as she rolled off the bed. It was the reaction she hoped for. She locked eyes with him as she untied the laces of her shirt, and when her hand slowly tugged the fabric free to expose her shoulder, then arm, breast…She relished the hunger burning those eyes.
While she undressed he had rolled onto his back and leaned against the headboard watching the woman who he knew would turn out to be the perfect vampire. He had not been disappointed. Within moments, she undressed and returned to the bed naked.
“When you watch me like that, it usually means you are thinking something,” she said as she crawled up his body and sat on his lap. At this angle, she looked straight into his blue eyes filled with an inferno of emotion. “Talk to me. Tell me what is on your mind.”
“I love you,” he said quietly while learning forward to steal a kiss.
She evaded him. “There is something beneath the hunger I see simmering there. There is never just one thought in your head. Talk to me,” she urged again. To further entice him, she kissed his neck along his jugular until he cleared his throat.
He took a deep breath, because he was afraid of how she would react to how he felt about the humans. She deserved to know and lready could tell something was wrong. Hiding it wouldn’t be good for him in the long run. “I’m not sure us helping the humans and specifically the woman Lainey was smart on our part. Now they’re our weakness and Kaen knows it.”
“Hmm, you think?” Kailani was half-listening. What held her fixation was his impeccable body lounging before her. Never in their incredibly long life would she get tired of looking at him or touching him…or tasting him. Unconsciously her incisors dropped, exposing her long white fangs. It was obvious she wasn’t listening.
“You know; if you had other things in mind, love, why did you ask me to share my thoughts?” he goaded her. Regardless if she ignored what he’d said, every time she admired him this way, his heart swelled. Groaning, Talon realized something else swelled at that thought, and heated pressure between her legs pulled a smile on her lips.
“I would ask the same thing. If you had other things on your mind, why did you begin to share?”
All of his focus was on the sensation of her naked body pressing against his. His craving for her churned and became painful. He wanted to reclaim her now. He also knew she preferred to be wooed first which dictated his slower pace. Tenderly he caressed her face, reinforcing his memory of each dimple, each mark before he captured her lips in a kiss that curled her toes. He too felt the same toe curling sensation as she kissed him back, flinching as she bit his lower lip.
“Play nice,” Talon mumbled against her lips before devouring her again, this time more slowly.
This was why he could never lose her. This right here. She was his world, his life.
Talon lifted her light body using hands on her hips and adjusted her in order to slide easily within her body. He held her poised in that position, drowning in her molten eyes before he thrust into her depths.
Kailani released a primitive howl as Talon drove inside. It had been too long since they’d made love and she was swept away with the sensation of it. Talon knew what she liked and made sure her every desire was met. He gave her that with an intense and loving kiss.
“Talon,” she panted, “Faster.” Kailani knew that would free him to do what he now needed.
Just as their bodies collided, Talon gripped painfully at her hips, taking command of the rhythm and ground her on his body, lifting and sliding her back and forth. All through this, he snarled each time she sheathed him. He felt his feral side fight to come out and all he wanted was more.
Gasping for breath, she matched his snarls each time they joined. She had missed this, missed him. Throwing her head back while he ravaged her, Kailani screamed in utter joy as he thrust over and over into her depths.
Talon abruptly slowed the pace and shifted from a savage plundering to a sensual rhythm. It forced them to move in tandem as they danced. He smiled at her confusion when her head sprang forward after being taken so roughly a moment ago. The shift in pace was dramatic and he loved surprising her. As he slowed even further, not once did he release his hold on her hips. If he did, he knew he would allow her to take over and this night, he needed to dominate her completely. He had missed her.
Smirking, she wrapped her arms around his neck and matched his motion, giving back in kind what he was giving her. Together they created an erotic dance while joined so intimately; two lovers locked in each other’s embrace. Kailani felt him moving within her. She felt his chest rumble with pleasure. Making love to Talon was as rejuvenating as feeding. She opened her heart and let him fill her. Another grip on her hip confirmed his n
eed to control this, so she surrendered completely. This night was for Talon.
“Talon,” she whined as he continued with a slow and sensual pace, timed to her rising climax and orchestrated to her release. This was about pleasing her and only her. Using his hard shaft that held her speared on its entire length, he stroked her closer to that end result. These were the moments he loved dearly and he felt extremely fortunate that centuries before, she had agreed to be his partner for all eternity. He knew that if she had said no, he would have pursued Kailani until she finally said yes, for he had all the time in the world to devote to such activities.
“Oh, Talon,” another sound hissed from her lips and she wasn’t able to speak for a few breaths, “What has come over you tonight?” He was being particularly sensual and his movements were precise. Her lover was normally savage in his partaking of her body, but tonight he was being quite loving and desperate.
He lifted his hips off the bed to pushed into her, and she gasped again in surprise then laughed as the pleasure overrode the initial pain.
He was mesmerized how her breasts shook with each movement. He wanted to touch her there, wanted to squeeze, but he knew if he let go of her hip, the magic would be broken. Instead, Talon used his eyes instead to experience the wonder of his mate.
Her hands were braced flat on his broad chest, but as the tempo increased she shifted to clutch the head board instead. She held her body more stationary while he made love to her from below. Kailani felt so caught up in the ecstasy of the moment, she felt as if she were floating. “Seriously, what has gotten into you tonight?”
“Do I really need to answer that?” he grunted.
“I guess not, but whatever it is, I like it.” Kailani felt the churning blaze in her core soar to new heights. She was consumed in the sensations attacking her body and couldn’t do anything more than hold onto the headboard while he continued his slow domination of her body.
Just as the sensation claimed her, the implants Kaen left as a parting gift flared to existence. They blasted images of their carnal sex to Talon, his body stilling as he watched. Talon growled as Kaen ravaged his love in the most pornographic positions, stealing her honor from her. What drew his attention more than the savage rape being played out in graphic detail was the single tear that appeared in her eye to spill over and wet her cheek.
He focused on that one tear as it dropped out of the memory. Without conscious thought, Talon’s rage took over. His gentle lovemaking turned vicious as he fought the anger racing through his veins. Talon needed more, needed to feel as much of her as he could to help fend off the fury the images generated. Flipping her over, he positioned her kneeling on the bed and pinned her against the head board. He then thrust hard until he was buried within her moist recess. There was a flash of emotion that broke through his wrath, and it jolted him. Kailani felt ashamed for what had happened to her.
“Don’t,” he snarled. “Don’t you feel shame, Kailani.”
More images flashed through Talon’s mind. Vivid and real as if he were there in the room with them. Some scenes, Kaen even constructed as if Talon were looking through Kaen’s eye’s giving the torment a new dimension. However, Talon would not let Kaen take his love away for Kailani. He clenched his jaw and continued to focus on the one thing that burned his heart like acid and that was all he saw. One tear. One single tear. He didn’t see the following acts Kaen performed on her or the foul places he touched her. He only saw that she was saddened by this enough to cry. Kailani rarely cried.
That had his mind in the danger zone and his emotions careening out of control.
Kailani whimpered as his attentions began to hurt. “Talon...slow…down…please…”
That request broke the spell and both were released to their own minds again. Instantly, he slowed and draped his body over her back to kiss her neck and shoulder, pulling her against his chest so she knelt with him while still connected.
“I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?” his voice was filled with regret and worry.
“A little but I’ll survive.” She adjusted herself on the bed, pushing her knees farther apart and pressed her hands into the headboard for support. She wasn’t ready to give Kaen what he wanted either.
Brushing her hair away, Talon kissed the skin along her neck down to her shoulder, and then moved back up to her ear. He quickly became intoxicated with her scent and her taste. She always carried the essence of fruit and, depending on her mood, would scent the room. Tonight it was raspberry and he savored the sweet aroma as her body produced it in waves.
“I’m sorry, regardless.” He crushed his face in the crook of her neck and inhaled, “You were right to prepare me for that, but it still didn’t help control the rage I feel for what he did to you, love. I’ll not be able to forget that you cried. I’m so sorry.”
She pushed back to entice him to move within her once more and met his slow movement, moaning in pleasure. He once more picked up that maddening and tender pace from before.
“Talon, it will happen again.” She cringed at the thought that each time she experienced an orgasm for the rest of their life, Talon would be punished with these images of Kaen taking her. It would eventually destroy him and the only way to break this was to kill Kaen.
“I won’t let Kaen take you from me. I’ll make love to you whenever I want and however often. Don’t shy away from this or he’s won.” Talon said softly against her neck, “Love me and don’t worry about me.”
“We have to kill him to end this. I can’t live like this.”
“I’ve come to the same conclusion, love,” he said between pushes, “He will die.” It felt good to say those words. He felt empowered to protect her. “Another reason why I should not give into your request to not retaliate. Don’t deny us peace, Kai. I’ll kill Kaen. If for no other reason, I want my mate back mind, heart, and soul.” His words were broken and rushed.
Reaching down and in front, his long fingers found her swollen clit and caressed it in time with his sensual strokes. He shivered at the feeling of gliding over her skin, slick and heated. She got lost to the feeling being so close to the first, but didn’t resist him. This time, it hit her fast and hard, sending her forward to press her body to the head board as she screamed in despair as Kaen’s images assaulted them both once more with vigor.
Talon was prepared and blocked his mind, this time he was marginally successful. So much so that he felt the tingle as his own fire erupted to mark her as his once more. Talon leaned forward and sank his teeth into her neck and allowed the endorphins from his venom to flood her system. That shock was enough to inflame her libido, dragging out a passionate scream. He needed to claim her again because she belonged to him, not Kaen. That would never change. What mattered was the woman in his embrace shaking as her body recovered.
He lowered her sweaty body to the mattress after pulling himself from her warmth, and turned to her ravaged face. Talon brushed her damp dark hair from her cheek, feeling his heart cramp at how vulnerable she appeared.
“Don’t feel shame, Kailani. Don’t give him that. I don’t hold anything against you.” Talon whispered and leaned in close, his lips almost touching her partially open mouth.
What she felt from those words terrified her, for she was ashamed. She gargled a single tortured sob but Talon wasn’t going to stand for it and closed the distance to claim her mouth in a loving and passionate kiss. It was a deep embrace, pressing his face into her as he tried to caress the shame from her mind. While he was kissing her, he shared his feelings on the matter through their bond and filled her mind with his own personal images of how he viewed her. She was perfection in his eye. She was his life. There was no shame in her actions and he loved her intensely still.
“How can you be so forgiving towards me?”
“Because you are my love. You can do no wrong with me and I’ll love you till the end of ti
me.”
“But those images—”
“—mean nothing. You haven’t anything to be ashamed of.”
“You are amazing.”
He nudged her with his mind, “I feel the same about you.”
Talon ended his kiss and pulled back, “Thank you. I’ve been desperate for a moment alone with you.” The sounds from the shantytown filtered through their private moment and he hung his head. “We should go though. You’ve signed me up for hard labor and I suppose I should make an appearance.”
Kailani blushed and buried her head in his sweaty chest, trying to melt into his comfortable form. She was overcome with her devotion to this man and didn’t want this moment to end. They had been too long apart. Now that they were past the surprise Kaen had planted, she didn’t want to leave his arms. All the feelings of hopelessness and abandonment evaporated as long as Talon held her close like this. However, he was right.
“The faster you complete your tasks, the faster we can pick up where we left off. Now, shall we get dressed?” she teased.
Talon was amused by her response to his seduction. She was resistant all night and he realized it was due to her fear of facing those implanted images. Now that they were past the initial shock, the sensual woman he knew was re-emerging.
With a groan, Kailani pushed back and rose to dress. This would have to wait. He was right, as always.
Chapter Five
Kaen watched Deandra in slumber for while before waking her. Now that he had felt and experienced Lainey, he was no longer thrilled with the shallow blonde. Encounters with her were more forced and not full of the same sexual fire as before. Even standing here, he could tell something was missing. With a repressed snarl, he knew he had to finish what he started and then get Lainey back.