Caden pushed her gently back again, kneeling back in front of her legs. Watching her response, he slowly opened her legs, revealing her glistening folds. He let out a sharp breath, and Catherine whimpered at his hungry expression. Bending his head, he kissed along her thighs, teasing her as he moved further in between her thighs. Looking back up at her, he aroused her further as he ran a finger along her folds. Catherine’s head thrashed about on the pillow as she moved her hips towards him.
“You’re so wet…so hot” he murmured, sounding amazed. His hand moulded around the mound of dark curls in front of him, massaging her. “Gods, you’re dripping for me, aren’t you Catherine?” Her answer was to pant in desperate breaths, writhing against him. She felt a flood of moisture in her core as he looked at her with sinful eyes. Probing at her pussy, he gradually sank his finger inside, and placed his lips around her clit, sucking on it firmly. Catherine cried out, her eyes flying open at the touch, the ache inside her growing. Her skin now covered in a sheen of sweat, she leaned up on her elbows, and looked down at his dark head moving against her body.
“Please…Caden…I need you.” she whimpered, stroking her hand through his hair. He looked up, licking his lips, which made her gasp again. He saw the gasp, and grinned, devilishly.
“You taste delicious.” he remarked. “I wanted to get you ready, that’s all.”
Catherine arched her back, laying herself out on display for him, rolling her hips up to his tapering ones. “Please,” she purred, “I’m ready now. I ache, Caden.”
He growled at that, his eyes lighting up at her seductive movements. His fangs seemed to grow even longer as he moved across her, taking her wrists in one hand and pinned them above her head. The movement only made Catherine squirm more, desperate to know what he felt like inside her.
Still not wanting to hurt her, he placed himself at her entrance, pushing only slightly, letting it stretch to his size. They both moaned as they felt their skin truly touch each other for the first time, and he eased into her, filling her up. An agonised moan rolled from Catherine’s lips, as she rolled her hips again to let more of him in.
As he sank deep into her, up to the hilt, their eyes met. Both of them held their breath, wanting to see how the other would react. Holding her gaze, Caden withdrew and slid back into her, his cock sliding warmly along her velvety channel. Catherine’s eyes rolled back in her head, and she began that desperate, pleading breathing again. Caden growled in response, and withdrew again, slamming into her this time. He was met with a raptured moan.
Speeding up, he began to slide in and of her with ease, sinking in deep as she mewled and moaned. Caden’s thoughts began to grow hazy as he felt her tightening around his length, her breaths getting quicker and shallower as she grew close. He looked down at her, gritting his teeth. “Has anyone else ever made you feel like this.” he murmured. Catherine said nothing, but moaned again.
Caden paused, though it killed him to feel that giving flesh gripping his shaft like a silken glove. Tilting his head towards her, he asked, in a dangerous tone, “Tell me, Catherine, or I won’t continue.”
Her eyes opened wide, and she nodded frantically. “No-one, Caden…n-nobody has ever made me feel like this, ever.”
He grinned wickedly and stroked his hand along her soft thigh. “Spread your legs wider.” Almost to his surprise, she complied, surrendering herself further to him. He sank himself deep into her, the demon inside of him clawing to the surface, as he liked along her skin, tasting her, savouring her. Bending his head, he grazed his fangs along her neck, the tiniest touch as he thrust in and out, sending her spiralling closer and closer to the edge.
To his surprise, Catherine grabbed his head, pulling him closer to her neck. “I don’t know what you want to do…but that felt good…don’t stop!”
No, no…The demon inside of him awoke fully, driving him to possess her, to make her his.
He felt the pressure begin to build in his shaft as he pounded into her, almost making her teeth chatter with the force of the thrusts. Her soft moan sounded in his ear, and he crashed over the edge, bringing her with him. As her high-pitched cries sounded on and on, he sank his teeth, without thinking, straight into her tender throat. As his own orgasm raged through him, and the feeling of hers, her pussy fluttering around his cock, the taste of her metallic blood landed on his tongue. Closing his eyes in pleasure, he suckled on her, her rich, warm blood flooding through his system.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide in shock. What the fuck am I doing?
He turned his head, ready to apologise to Catherine, but a thrill ran through him, as he realised she could feel it as well. She was still writhing under him, pinned by his length. She slowly opened her eyes, a dazed look across them, and smiled at him.
“I don’t know how you did that, but it felt amazing.”
Laughing in relief, he cuddled into her, breathing in her sweet scent. “I don’t know how I did it either, but it did feel amazing. I’ve never felt anything like that in my whole life.”
Catherine shuffled off him, turning on her side so that she was facing him. She smiled, and ran her hand along his cheek. “And how long is your whole life?”
“So far? About one hundred and eighty-six years old. Give or take. I think it’s that, but I may have lost count sometime around the Thirties.” He shrugged, and pulled her closer against him, so that he could wrap his arm around her; as if to make sure she wouldn’t leave him.
“Wow. So…when you were talking about your step-mother and father…?”
Caden settled onto the pillow, his other hand lazily stroking her silky hair. “I was telling the truth. Although their ranch was one of the first ranches. The cotton industry had never really appealed to either of them.”
Catherine shook her head, smiling. “I still can’t believe it. That you’re actually a vampire.” Suddenly she thought of something, and the colour drained from her face. “Wait. You bit me-I’m not going to-!”
“No. There has to be a ritual first, don’t worry. I would never do anything you didn’t want me to do.”
Calming down, Catherine sank back into the pillow again. “You know…I kind of have my own secret I want to tell you too. I’m-“
“A Wiccan?” Caden grinned at her, enjoying her look of horror and surprise.
“What the…how did you know?”
“You don’t live as long as I do, and learn a few things about people. I passed through here about ninety years ago; I found out it was a town of Wiccans then.”
“Huh.” Catherine snuggled into him, smiling to herself. When she thought about it, why shouldn’t he know? A few hours ago she hadn’t believed vampires existed, goodness only knew what he knew.
Breathing in his delicious, woody scent, she closed her eyes, and welcomed the soft curtain of sleep…
Chapter 9
The next day, Catherine felt as though she had an extra lightness to her steps, as if nothing could go wrong. The previous night, Caden had driven her home, so that her mother wouldn’t panic. Joe was up, watching television in the sitting room; in his usual bad mood about her not returning sooner, but she didn’t bother to tell him about the car. She thought it would only add to her mother’s distress, and knowing that Caden was now watching out for her gave her strength.
As she woke up in her own bed, she could still feel Caden’s touch along her body. Smiling, she turned and rolled against her pillow, imagining it to be his firm body. Sunlight peered in through the gap in her light curtains, and birds sang merrily from outside, giving the morning a soft, dreamy feeling.
Catherine suddenly snapped into reality as she heard Joe’s voice, as you do when you hear something that isn’t normally in your house, when you’re still half asleep. Kicking back her sheets, she jumped out of bed, pacing quickly over to her bedroom door. Listening carefully, she strained to hear what was being said.
“…so we’ve called in…”
“…how did you find…”
“…and we’ve taken him into custody…”
Custody? They’ve found out who it is! Grabbing her robe and pulling it on quickly around herself, she ran out towards the kitchen, where she could hear the voices. As she entered, she stopped in shock, as she saw her mother talking now only to Joe, but also to Ellis. The smell of fresh coffee filled the air, and there was a sizzling pop from the bacon under the grill.
“Ah, Catherine, I’m glad you’re up, honey. Joe and Ellis have taken someone in.”
“Really? How did you find them?” A sense of relief washed over Catherine, as she thought of the men in the car from last night. She sank into one the kitchen chairs, its pine wood scraping along the rustic tiles below. Her mother turned and poured a mug of coffee, passing it over to Catherine, who took it gratefully.
“Well, you know that dagger? It had fingerprints all over it. There was nothing on the note, but we had enough. And we found a match. Turns out he was right here in town all along.” Joe puffed out his chest as if he were pleased, looking rather like a cockerel stuffed into a badly-fitting suit.
Catherine took a sip of the coffee, her morning feeling brighter and brighter every moment. A new boyfriend, sunshine, and the bastard who sent her that note was now in jail. Not to mention the new gorgeous boyfriend was supernatural himself, and knew she was a witch. She felt like turning cartwheels. “So who was it?”
Ellis chimed in this time, his high-pitched voice sounding full of excitement. He hugged his coffee mug, leaning back against the granite work-top. Catherine’s mum had always liked the European style when she was over in England, which was why the inside of their house was anything but traditional. “Turns out it was a stranger who had been staying here a few days. We picked him up an hour ago at Mrs Delfoy’s guest house. Name of Caden Rouquette.”
Catherine nearly dropped her coffee mug. She just managed to place it on the kitchen table, her face turning ashen-white. Her hands trembled as she placed it down, making a clattering sound. Her mother and the two police officers turned and frowned at the movement. “W-What? That…that can’t b-be.”
“Why not?” Joe walked over, and looked down at her, his brow furrowed tightly. “Do you know him?”
Shakily, Catherine nodded. “Y-Yes. Shawna and I met the other day. But…it couldn’t be him. It couldn’t be.” She thought over the events of the previous night, and the past few days. If he had wanted to harm her, surely he would have done it then.
“And why not?”
Catherine’s face flamed, as she realised she was going to have to explain where she had been last night. Not something one really wants to do in front of their mother. Feeling her stomach knotting up, she stuttered, “Well…I, um…I-I was with him last night.”
Mya raised her eyebrows, and folded her arms across her chest, her floaty robe rippling at the movement. “Oh? What do you mean?”
Clearing her throat, Catherine tried to look at the floor, ending up looking at Ellis’ shoes instead. “I mean…I-I spent the night with him.” There has never been a better time for the floor to open up and swallow me…”There was plenty of chance for him to hurt me then.”
Ellis and Joe looked at one another, chancing a glance towards Mya. She looked as though she couldn’t be more confused. Joe shrugged. “I’m afraid I’ve worked my job for over fifteen years…and I still couldn’t work out what goes through a criminal’s mind, Catherine. I’m afraid it was definitely his fingerprints we found. The lab sent the results this morning.”
As if he was bored of explaining this to her, he turned abruptly to Mya, and nodded at her. “I’ll come by later, Mya. I’d appreciate it if either of you could come down and just look over a few things with us at the station. Good morning to you, hon.” Turning back, he tilted his hat at Catherine.
After they had left, Catherine and Mya just looked at each other, an uncomfortable silence filling the space between them. Catherine licked her lips nervously, and turned her attention back to her coffee mug, staring deep into the dark liquid. Mya sighed, and strode across the kitchen, her robe floating behind her like a cape.
Pausing behind one of the chairs, she rested her hands on the back of it, and tapped her fingers. Catherine continued to stare into her coffee. Mya pulled the chair out, and sat down, seating herself so that she was looking directly at Catherine’s face. “Honey…you needn’t be embarrassed about having found a young man you like. Believe me, I was the same with your dad. But they found his fingerprints-“
“Mum, I don’t know how they matched them up with him, but I promise you it wasn’t him.” She thought once more about telling her mum about the car, but decided it was long past the point for that. “I don’t know how to explain to you that he didn’t do it, but he didn’t! I haven’t imagined how he feels for me, and he cares about me.” Angrily, she took a sip from the now warm coffee, and banged the ceramic back down onto the table.
Mya put a hand out, and laid it tenderly on her daughter’s arm. “Sweetie…I think this is going to sound like the stupidest thing I’ve ever said, but…if you know he didn’t do it, then maybe you’re right.”
Catherine looked in shock, blinking at her mother. “Sorry?”
Mya held her hands out in an apologetic gesture, and shrugged. “I trust you darling. I am not, by the way, saying go down there and profess your undying love for him. But…I understand how the ones who killed your father can trick people, and maybe they got into the lab, I don’t know.”
Narrowing her eyes, Catherine looked ponderingly at her mother. “Look, you have to tell me something-who are these ‘ones’? You’ve always talked about them as if you know who they are.”
The chair scraped across the floor as Mya rose up again. A far-away look on her face, she looked out of the window, watching two birds busily making a nest high up in one of the trees in the garden. The sight made her think back to her husband and she closed her eyes, the sadness bubbling behind them. “I know who took your father, honey. And what’s more, I know why. I didn’t tell you because…well, you were too young at the time, and then it just became harder and harder to tell you.’
‘You know your father was a Wiccan, but not how important a Wiccan he was. Your father, Declan Adams, was part of a worldwide witch’s council known as The Gathering. Their purpose is to protect people from witches who might go rogue, witches who preform, shall we say…unsavoury magic. They hold a centre of power, and the source of this power is twelve orbs. Your father had gone to search for one of these orbs, and I was expecting him back the night he disappeared.”
“What happened? Why did he never come back?” Catherine whispered, her mother’s story weaving out for her in her head, lost in it.
“Well, do you remember that knock on the door that night? It was one of them. They left before I got a chance to see them, but they left a parcel for me…a…your father’s ring finger, with his wedding band. It was their way of saying his was dead, the sick bastards!” Mya’s voice cracked, and she held back a sob. As she regained her composure, she continued. “I knew then that he had failed. But you see, he was special even amongst Wiccans. What is the rarest thing a Wiccan can be?”
Thinking for a moment, Catherine then answered, unsurely, “A spirit elemental…?”
“Correct. And that’s exactly what your father was. A very strong one. I’ve always thought the reason you couldn’t find your element all these years was because you took after him…you’ve never tested to see if your element was spirit.”
Catherine’s jaw dropped. “W-What? My father was a spirit elemental witch? Why have you never said anything?”
As if to comfort herself from an unseen cold, Mya rubbed her hands up and down her arms, shaking her head. She turned around, and leaned against the sink, tiredly looking into the vivid green eyes of her daughter. “Because I never wanted them to pick up on you. I thought if perhaps you didn’t use your powers, then they wouldn’t be able to track you. I know it was selfish of me, but…I just wanted to protect us bot
h.”
“No, mum, I understand.” Catherine rose up from her chair, and ran over to her mum, throwing her arms around her. Mya sobbed and hugged her daughter back, while Catherine murmured soothingly to her. After a few minutes, Mya’s sobs quietened, and Catherine sat back down, as her mum wiped at her face with her robe sleeve.
“So, do you think I could have the same element as dad? I wouldn’t even begin to know how to train for that.”
Mya smiled slightly, remembering her husband training in front of her. “He used to say it was all energies that he used. That he would draw them in somehow from people and objects around him, using their lifeforce. He used to joke that he was like an ‘elemental vampire’.”
At her mother’s words, Catherine jumped. Mya narrowed her eyes. “What did I say?”
“Nothing. Nothing mum. I…I just have to be somewhere, that’s all. I’ve got to go and talk to someone.” Jumping up, Catherine spun around, kissing her mum on the forehead, and ran towards her bedroom.
Chapter 10
“Come on Susan! I only need to see him for a moment.”
The middle-aged woman behind the desk looked up at her, blond hair piled up into a tight bun on top of her head, fifties-style glasses perched precariously on her nose. She wrinkled her nose as she looked upwards, chewing her gum noisily. This was Susan Mattner, who worked as a secretary for the station every other day.
She held out her hands. “Look, I’m sorry honey, but I just can’t let you see the guy without Joe or Ellis giving their say-so. And they ain’t here right now.”
Catherine actually stamped her foot. This was ridiculous. She wasn’t going to break him out; she was just going to speak to him for a second. Gripping her bag handle tightly, she chewed her lip, trying to think of what to say. “Look, Susan…”
With You In Spirit (The Bassinville Witches Series) Page 6