Heart of a Warrior

by Theodora Lane

  Ivan didn’t understand about being gay or not being gay. A fuck was a fuck, a suck a suck, and he didn’t care who was on the other end. After you live a few hundred years, gender just doesn’t mean shit. Sex was nothing but release.

  She shook her head. “But he liked to watch, you know, his male slaves with me. One time, Vlad visited, and he ordered me…” Her voice trembled as it faded, and she hugged herself.

  Ivan turned away so she couldn’t see his reaction to her. Her vulnerability got him, just begging to be protected and cared for. Bad idea, man. No fucking way. He’d just gone through hell with his apprentice, David, and look what happened.

  Six long months wasted.

  He did several push-ups as he leaned against the wall.

  If he was smart, he’d get rid of her as fast as he could. He could smell trouble all over her.

  “You want to stay here?” Ignoring his own advice, he waved his arm at the room as he continued pumping up and down, burning off the anger.

  “With you?” Her eyes narrowed. “As what?”

  “My slave, of course.” He stopped and looked over his shoulder, surprised she’d asked. Draco had spoiled her, the stupid fool. However, since he hadn't turned her, Ivan had no hold on her; she’d have to stay voluntarily.

  “Hell no.” She shook her head. “I’m not going to be anyone’s slave. Ever. Draco’s dead, and I’m free to choose. That’s how it works, isn’t it?” She jerked her chin up, but there was a waver in her voice, an almost childlike defiance.

  “Yeah, that’s how it works.” He didn’t want her to go, but letting her know that would give her the power. He'd grown to hate being alone, which is why he'd taken an apprentice for the first time in fifty years.

  “Just give me some clothes, and I’m out of here.” She jerked her thumb at the door.

  “Do you have somewhere to go?” He shouldn’t care.

  “Draco’s place. I guess I could walk there.” She shrugged her shoulders, and the shirt flashed a glimpse of blonde hair in the V of her long legs. The hem hit her at mid-thigh. She looked so small, so vulnerable, standing there engulfed by his shirt. He swallowed and locked down his feelings.

  “Fine. Do what you want.” He turned away from her again, his back muscles tense, his body rigid. Every part of him wanted her. He stole a glance at her from over his shoulder.

  She unbuttoned the shirt, slipped it from her shoulders, left it in a pile on the floor, and went to Ivan.

  She placed her hands gently on his back.

  “Don’t touch me! I didn’t give you permission,” Ivan snarled and extended his teeth. She jerked her hands away as if she’d been burned.

  Pushing past his threats and killer teeth, she reached out again. He could kill her easily, rip out her throat or snap her neck with his bare hands. She skimmed his skin with her fingertips. Under the steady pressure of her palms, his muscles began to relax.

  “You don’t need this anymore.” Moving in slow motion, she reached around him and found the buckle holding the scabbard. She drew the leather strap from the buckle, freeing him. The scabbard and sword dropped to the ground with a solid thunk.

  He took a deep breath and held it as she placed her hands on his back again.

  “I said don’t touch me.” A long growl rumbled in his chest, but she didn’t remove her hands. She had more guts than he’d given her credit for.

  Kneading hard muscles, she massaged his shoulders. He dipped his head forward as her strong fingers climbed the tight cords in his neck, and his continuous growl lessened.

  “Let’s get rid of this toga.” She hooked a finger under the fabric and slipped it off his shoulder. It joined the scabbard on the floor.

  She traced the outlines of the muscles across his back, then along the curve of his ass, the slope of his thighs, back up across his shoulders, and down his arms. She slid her hands lower to massage the small of his back.

  “Don’t touch me.” His voice was just above a hoarse whisper.

  “You need to be touched, Ivan.”

  She massaged the tight muscles of his arms. Her hands were surprisingly strong. She leaned her breasts against his back. The exact spot where the rock-hard points of her nipples pressed into his flesh tingled. He wanted them in his mouth, to taste them. Make her moan.

  She worked her way down to his ass, fingers stroking his skin, palms pressing against his muscles, demanding a response.

  She reached around and cupped his balls in her hand.

  A shudder passed through him. Unwilling to lose control, he fought the overwhelming desire for her. He struggled like a drowning man being pulled under, knowing it was useless, knowing he’d lose the fight.

  “When was the last time you made love to a woman?” she whispered, her mouth near his ear. She was tall, almost as tall as he.

  “I took a whore two nights ago and fed.” He was relieved his voice sounded normal.

  “That was a fuck. Doesn’t count.” She gave his balls a gentle squeeze. “When was the last time you made love?” She took his earlobe in her teeth and flicked it with her tongue. Blood rushed in a torrent to his cock as he lost the struggle and she pulled him under.

  Ivan’s breath came deeper. Closing his eyes, he tried to remember. Fifty years? A hundred? It all ran together after a few centuries. He remembered some wild music had been playing. Could it have been in the ’60s? The 1830s?

  I have lived too long.

  She ran her other hand over his tight butt cheek, interrupting his thoughts. He focused on where she touched him. Slipping her hand between his legs, she stroked the sensitive skin behind his balls. She slid her finger upward, and as she passed over his backdoor, she pressed against it.

  Ivan let a moan slip from his lips. Damn, this woman is good. He closed his eyes and slipped deeper. As she slid her other hand forward toward his balls, he spread his legs wider to signal his consent to being touched. His growl, a long purr now, resonated in his chest.

  She stroked him over and over, each time applying more pressure to his tight hole and giving his aching balls a squeeze. He looked down at his throbbing cock, swollen, almost standing straight up against his body now, begging for her attention. He’d given up trying to control it.

  “When was the last time you looked into a woman’s eyes and saw anticipation?” She explored the curves of his ear with her warm tongue.

  “Felt her reach for you, instead of trying to get away?” She slid her hands around his body to caress his chest, discovering his nipples. All his attention was on her voice and her touch as she circled his areoles with the sharp edges of her nails. The pull toward her was unrelenting.

  “Had her hips push against yours, asking you to bury your cock deeper inside her?” Dropping her hands from his chest, she pulled his hips back as she pressed her pelvis against his ass.

  “And when did you last really enjoy a woman, the way she smells, feels, tastes?”

  Then she let him go and her hand disappeared, her touch gone. He gave a soundless gasp. She shifted, reached around him, and at last, took his cock in her hand, her fingers wet. He smelled the rich aroma of arousal; she’d dipped her fingers into her own juices to use as a lubricant. Using long, firm, slow strokes, she glided up the engorged shaft as she spread her honey across the head of his cock with her thumb. A hiss escaped his clenched teeth.

  Her woman’s scent perfumed his cock. He was lost. Delicious. He inhaled, floating on his sensations, wanting nothing more than to taste her, to be inside her.

  She pulled away, took his hand, and led him to the bed. He would have followed her into sunshine if she’d taken him there. She climbed up, knelt facing him, and pulled him to her. Looking into his eyes, she waited.

  Ivan, fangs still extended in arousal, took her head in his hands and opened his mouth to attack hers.

  She pulled away. “No, not like that.” She ran her finger over his lips and then brushed her lips softly against his. Nibbled his lower lip. Ran her tongue over his lips,
only to delve softly between them, touch one fang with the tip of her tongue, and then pull away. Teasing him, making him unbearably hard.

  Ivan wanted her. Wanted her lips on his body. Wanted to feel her reach for him and see the hunger for him in her eyes. He felt incredibly aware and alive.

  Awakened.

  He waited, letting her play her tongue against his mouth. She brushed her lips to his again and then pulled away. Pressed them harder. This time, she opened her mouth in invitation. As he extended his tongue into her mouth, their tips touched. A jolt coursed through his body, and his cock stood even higher.

  Their tongues danced, explored their mouths, tested the sharpness of each other’s fangs, and then returned to dance again. Loving the sweet taste of her mouth, he could kiss her like this forever. Except for the incredible ache in his dick demanding more than just a kiss.

  She pulled him down as she lay back on the bed. As she spread her legs, his eager body covered hers. He caressed her breasts, rolled her nipples between his fingers. Now it was his turn to make her moan. He captured a hardened nipple in his mouth. Ivan suckled her like a starving baby. Pulling the dark rose of her pebbled nub into his mouth, he flicked it with his tongue as he wrapped his other hand in her hair and slid its silkiness through his fingers. He ground his hard cock against her soft belly as she moaned beneath him.

  Moving to the other breast, he gave it the attention it demanded. He would go mad if he didn’t take her soon, but he wanted to bring her so much pleasure. Wanted to hear her call his name when she came.

  Moaning, she responded to his touch like no female he could remember. Her body amazed him, and like some great cat, she arched against him, hips grinding into his hardness as she demanded he take her.

  “Ivan.” She raked her nails across his back as she wrapped her legs around his thighs, her feet pressing her need against the backs of his calves.

  Dropping his hand to her mound, he parted her folds, searching for the hidden source of her heat. He discovered her swollen nub, delved into her wet core. Annie cried out as she tightened around his finger. The sides of her core were like hot, wet silk as he explored them. She gasped as he pulled his finger out.

  He wanted her. Now. Guiding his cock to her opening, he pressed in. Her legs spread farther. Inch by incredible inch, he entered her as her body trembled against his. She bit his shoulder, drawing blood. He had to keep from exploding when her tongue lapped his blood like a kitten until the punctures healed.

  At last, he filled her and they were joined, body touching body. Goddamn, she was so tight around him.

  Ivan moved his hips slowly back, withdrawing. She whimpered. He returned, burying himself deep inside her. Pulled out to the very tip and slid back inside. Over and over, he delved inside her, wanting to make it last, to remember this moment until he died.

  They made slow love for a long time. Their arms wrapped tightly around each other, allowing no space between them. Sharing their breath and their heartbeats.

  Ivan pulled out completely. She made a small noise of distress. He had to taste her, had to know her flavor, commit it to memory. Sliding between her legs, he pushed her knees apart and then spread her nether lips with his fingers. As he dipped his head, he inhaled her perfume. It shot straight to his cock. Extending his tongue, he laved her pink clit. Her body quaked as he feasted on her juices, showing her no mercy.

  Lifting his head, he said, “You taste so damn good, baby.”

  Their gazes met and locked. He kept his vision on her face as his chin dipped to renew his attack. He raked her folds with his tongue, discovering each one as Annie’s eyes shuttered with the pleasure he brought her. He pressed his tongue against her nub, flicking it, sucking it until she bucked.

  By giving up control and letting her lead him, he’d never felt so powerful, so male, or so in control of a woman’s body.

  He held her hips as he buried his mouth against her core. She moaned, her hips pressing forward. He alternated between sucking her clit and fucking her with his tongue until her body tensed beneath his. Latching on to her clit, he rolled it between his teeth. Arching her back, she closed her eyes as she sucked in a deep breath.

  “Come for me, Annie.”

  His warm breath washed over her inner thighs as he coaxed her.

  “Make me.”

  He renewed the attack. She arched and writhed under him. He took her clit between his teeth again.

  “Oh God, yes, right there.” Then he flicked it with his tongue.

  “Ivan! Oh God, Ivan!” She moaned his name as the orgasm ripped through her. He held her thighs in his grip as she bucked against his teeth’s relentless grip on her clit. When the tremors of her orgasm ceased, she fell back, panting, her nipples like bullets.

  “God, that was good, Ivan.” Barely able to speak, her voice came out in a deep and husky whisper. “So sweet and strong.”

  He knelt in front of her, his cock jutting against his belly. “I can’t stand not being inside you for one more second.” Pulling her hips up his thighs, he plunged in.

  “Damn, Annie.” He groaned as he slid inside her warmth. Wet heat encased the tight muscles surrounding his shaft and held it in their grasp.

  Supporting himself on his arms, he looked down into her eyes. She wanted him, and he reveled in it. Ivan lowered his mouth to hers as she rose off the bed to reach for him. Eager, she wrapped her legs around his thighs, pressing him closer as he thrust hard and fast into her.

  He rose up on his arms again to tower over her, his hips thrusting, reaching for his release. Reaching for every feeling, every sensation he could endure. He hit the wall holding him back, and then in one last thrust, he exploded over it, shooting into her.

  “Annie! Goddamn, you make me come!” he roared as he threw his head back with an intense pleasure he hadn’t felt in an eternity.

  Chest heaving, his head fell forward to touch her forehead, and he brushed his lips against hers. The aftershocks of his orgasm swept through him. His heartbeat slowed. He looked down at Annie and felt… Shit. He refused to name it, but he felt. Not much scared Ivan, but this did.

  Pulling back her long hair, she bent her head to the side and offered her neck to him. For a vampire, it was the most guarded spot on her body, the place where she had first been bitten. Had she ever offered it to another? Not to the vampire in the crypt; he'd taken it.

  “Suck me,” she whispered.

  Ivan opened his mouth and extended his canines. Dragging his tongue from her shoulder to her ear, he found her pulsing vein hinting at the blood moving just beneath her skin. Slowly, he sank his teeth into her firm flesh, claiming her. Wrapping his arms around her, Ivan held her tightly as he drank. She came again, silently shuddering against him.

  He released her, and she pushed him over to lie on top of him, her long, blonde hair trailing over his chest. She slid her hands over his arms, locked her fingers with his, and pulled his arms over his head.

  Captured.

  He turned his head to expose his throat. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d offered it to another vampire, if ever. All he knew was that he wanted…needed…to let her take him, to claim him as hers.

  Their gazes locked.

  “Suck me.”

  She did.

  — • —

  “We’ll take the Navigator; see if it has the keys,” Fiona ordered, pointing to one of several vehicles parked near the crypt.

  Nic stood in place and stared at her. The quivering mass of young virgin girlhood standing behind her eyed him warily. She was their protector, not him. It felt weird not to have the rescued girls fawning over him, thanking him, and as oftentimes before, offering him their bodies.

  Not that he ever, ever took them up on it. Popping virgins was not his thing. Popping anyone these days. Besides, these girls were no more than children, less than half his age.

  And he told himself, for God knows how many times, getting involved is not a good thing in his line of work. Especially with
someone you’ve rescued.

  He looked at the petite brunette as she herded the girls. Of course, technically he didn’t rescue her. He hated to admit it, but she’d done a damn fine job of whacking those vampires.

  Nic moved to the black Navigator and looked into the window. “Keys are in the ignition.”

  “Great. I’ll drive the SUV and you follow. We’ll take the girls home, and then I’ll dump the car.” She opened the back door and got the girls loaded inside. She turned back to Nic, still standing there.

  “What are you waiting for? Which one’s your car?”

  “The Jaguar.” He jerked his head in the direction of the car. She glanced at it and shrugged. “Nice ride.” Then she climbed into the SUV’s driver’s seat and started it up.

  Nic walked to his car, unbuckled his sword belt, opened the door, and tossed the long sword inside.

  “Who does she think she is?” He slid into his seat.

  “The hero.”

  “You know, I could take you back to that shop I found you in, Cho. I still have the receipt.”

  He cranked the engine and it sprang to life, humming powerfully just like its driver. Nic vibrated with frustrated sexuality, but he tried to concentrate on driving instead of listening to what every inch of his body was telling him.

  “Yep, she’s awesome.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “A good person to have at your back in a fight.”

  “I work alone.”

  “Girl like that, she could be a perfect match for the right kind of man.”

  “Forget it, Cho. I don’t get involved.”

  “You also aren’t getting laid, buddy.”

  “Not important. Got a job to do.”

  “When was the last time you got lucky? Oh, yeah, three years ago in New Orleans. It was just a quickie as I remember, and you were drunk.”

  “Shut up, Cho, or I’ll find that receipt.”

  “Admit it. She’s getting to you.”

  “You’re getting on my nerves.”

  “No, she’s getting on your nerves. You’re on fire, buddy. I can feel you from here.”