by Elliot Love
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"I must tell you, Summer. I want you to know everything." He turned to face her, placing his hands at her waist. "There is much to know so I will give you information as needed." Summer settled in and waited patiently—anxious to hear his story. Just listening to his silky voice set her at ease.
"Do you believe in the spirit world?" he asked.
"Yes. I believe in God and that there are evil forces too."
"There are so many more entities than people are aware of," he began. "My band started out as a typical rock band. We weren't always immortal. A few years ago the four of us decided to go diving off the coast of Spain. While swimming deep below the surface I came across a fascinating trinket lying on the ocean floor."
Her eyes lowered to the oddly shaped pendent at his neck. It was the same necklace he had been wearing since their first encounter.
"Is that the pendent you found? I noticed you were wearing it in my dream."
"Yes." He raised one eyebrow. "You have a sharp memory."
"It would be hard to forget anything about a man like you."
For a few seconds he just stared at her with an adoring smile, then he continued.
"I was pretty stoked to find such an unusual treasure so I put it on right away to stake my claim. Well ... stake my claim I did. Out of nowhere a vicious creature attacked me, bit my neck then went on to my mates. We managed to get away but felt quite ill upon coming to the surface. After 58
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receiving tetanus shots and antibiotics everyone seemed to make a complete recovery in time."
Summer sat quietly—hanging on his every word. His expression indicated he'd just begun.
"A few months after the attack we began noticing bizarre changes taking place in our bodies. Odd cravings. Extraordinary strength. But most upsetting ... weakening virility."
"Oh. You didn't seem, um, weak at all when we kissed." He smiled while taking a drink of bottled water. His eyes sparkled as they stared straight through her. A tingling sensation traveled up her spine at his penetrating look.
"That's because you received me," he said. "Unless a woman receives our bite we cannot make love to her. Our potency is in her blood."
"How did you learn this?"
"After almost a year, my search for information on this necklace led me to a remote island where I was guided to an eccentric old man living among the rocks. He wouldn't speak to me at first. But when I told him I'd been bitten after finding the gem he agreed to help. Apparently an ancient sea myth passed down through the ages told of a jilted lover who took her own life by leaping off a cliff into the ocean. Nahtosha carried with her a gift meant for her betrothed."
"Nahtosha?"
"Yes. That was her name."
"Aw, that's so sad." Summer wondered how any woman could take her own life over a man. Yet, her heart had already grown extremely attached to the incredible man 59
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sitting next to her. She pondered the lovely name. "Please ... finish the story."
His hands caressed her bare arms with feathery stokes as he spoke.
"One night Nahtosha went to her lover's villa to present him with a token of her undying love. A black 'Dragon's Tooth'
... the rarest jewel ever known to man. But when she arrived at his abode she caught him in the arms of another. It is said that her tears alone could have filled an ocean. But I think that's rather extreme. Either way, she took the necklace and her life to the bottom of the sea."
"And you were the lucky one to find it."
"Seems so." Savion's expression softened. "For the past three years I deemed it a curse. However, sitting here now, looking at you and knowing of your dark past, makes me believe it was destiny."
"How so?"
"I couldn't have found or rescued you from that man as a mere mortal. We were so far apart, Summer. But when you won those auctions, my heightened senses enabled me to feel you reaching out. I felt an undeniable connection to you." She held back on telling him that he'd been her fantasy all of her adult life. Or that her profound love for him served as a lifeline during her darkest days. Revealing her treasured dreams would make her feel vulnerable. Still, she did want him to know she had been sincere in her profession of love.
"I felt something the night I won. And when you appeared in my dream, the feeling became overpowering. I never considered it would lead to this. But I have no regrets. 60
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Whatever you are ... whatever forces brought us together, I am so very thankful they did."
"I'm happy to hear that. When not on tour with the band, we live on an island called Dunalino. It's a remote little isle deep in the tropics. I purchased it myself. The perks of fame and fortune." He laughed sardonically. "We needed a place away from the daily temptation to bite unwilling women. The craving for their blood can be quite overwhelming."
"So that's why you had Dustin handle the auctions. You needed a shipping address that couldn't be traced to you." He nodded. "And we try to keep a low profile. There are people who have heard of our fate and don't like us. They say we are cursed men. When we come into town for gigs, women always end up coming back with us. Some of the men prefer more than one mate. If the women are agreeable there is no problem with that."
Her mouth became suddenly dry. "Are you one of those men who want more than one woman?"
"Not at all. That's why I've been abstinent since the dragon-creature bit me. I want one pure woman to love and be my Senhora Do Sangue. I don't need the drama of a pack of hungry females."
" Senhora Do Sangue?"
"Lady of the Blood. That is what we call the chosen one who will receive my blood."
An odd sensation washed over her. "Is that what I am going to be?"
"Yes. Are you still willing?"
She nodded. "Of course. I have not changed my mind." 61
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"Ah, Summer. I knew you were the one." He leaned forward, gently kissing her lips, then continued. "The old man told me that since I discovered the pendent and was the first man bitten, Nahtosha must have chosen me to find her jewel. Treasure hunters have been seeking the Dragon's Tooth for centuries to no avail. He was a deeply spiritual man and believed that she kept the jewel hidden, waiting for the right man to find it—to fulfill a heretical plan." Summer processed his words quickly. "Nahtosha wanted to carry out a scheme from the spirit world?"
"In a sense. One of the reasons the old man refused me at first is because I bear a striking resemblance to her lover, so he said. He didn't want to incur her wrath by speaking with me. I had to show him the unmistakable scar said to be a result of her bite. Convinced I was telling the truth, he relinquished all the details."
Savion moved his hair away for her to see. Summer reached up and lightly touched the T-shaped scar on his neck. A strong chill raced up her arm. Savion placed his hand over hers, holding it over the scar, then closed his eyes.
"Your touch..." He sighed deeply. "You will be the one who removes this painful scar. I know without a doubt I've found my soul mate."
The passion in his voice brought tears to her eyes. She spoke very softly. "Did the old man say what Nahtosha looked like?"
He opened his eyes halfway and stared back at her. She feels it too!
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"Yes ... before leaping off that cliff and becoming a vicious sea-creature, Nahtosha looked like you. He told me when I find a fair-skin virgin with golden hair and eyes like the ocean, she'd be the one woman strong enough to accept such a powerful fate. I thought he'd gone mad. The only virgin women I knew of were either teenagers or nuns. But you ... you really are the one."
An
eerie feeling crept over her. Somehow this all felt right, yet at the same time frightening. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned! The old cliché flitted through her mind. Nahtosha obviously had an unorthodox plan all right—to recreate what she had been denied. All at once Summer's life of chastity made sense. She had been chosen to fulfill a higher calling.
Savion read her thoughts. "You get it now ... don't you?"
"Yes," she replied softly. "Nahtosha chose us to live the life that was stolen from her."
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Seven
"Do you ever worry that someone might try and steal the pendent?"
Savion eased her into a tender embrace, shifting his position so that he leaned against the high arm of the sofa facing the length of the cushions. Tanned, muscular arms hugged her against his chest as he sat behind her with long legs stretched out on either side. He made her feel unbelievably safe.
"Nobody can touch the Dragon's Tooth uninvited. To do so causes them instant death. We discovered that by accident. A bit of an inconvenience it was, to lose one of our roadies, but Simon was a wanker anyway." He gave her a playful squeeze.
"Now you, my sweet ... may touch it any time because I have begun infusing my power into your soul. Nothing of mine will harm you."
She raised her eyebrows at his callous comment on Simon. His world must be a precarious one! Even knowing she should feel apprehension over diving into the unknown, Summer couldn't stop herself from wanting more of whatever he had to deliver.
"That explains the changes I've been feeling."
"Do they frighten you?"
"A little. I was able to read my brother-in-law's mind, which freaked me out a bit. I'm okay though. I'd go through anything to be with you." She tilted her face upwards to look at him.
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Savion lowered his head for a kiss. His lips touched hers lightly—slowly, several times for a tender lingering kiss.
"There is something you should know before I take you back to Dunalino."
"There's more?"
"As you are my chosen one, other males will seek a taste of your pure blood. It's like a drug to them, and they crave the highs of such a treat. Some will even risk punishment and being banned from Dunalino to obtain the ultimate high."
"Why only your chosen woman? Do they not have select women of their own?"
"I am the alpha male on Dunalino, not just because I own it. Nahtosha established my status by biting me first. I possess more power than all the other blood-dragons, and they know it. So naturally my woman's blood will carry the most intensity. A few of the men even believe that by securing a bite of the chosen female before her blood is sealed, they can steal my strength and reign with you as their Senhora Do Sangue. They would give up anything to attain such an esteemed position."
"Is there any truth to this notion of theirs?" He kissed the top of her head and sighed pensively.
"Perhaps. Therefore, I don't want to take any chances. I plan on keeping you safely guarded until our union is complete and you are officially my Senhora Do Sangue." This was the first time she heard him reveal what he and his kind were called. Blood-dragons. Fitting, I suppose, with the Dragon's Tooth as their symbol and their blood-sucking 65
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ways. A glorified vampire is what they are! And I'm now one of them!
"Blood-dragons, huh?"
"The title wasn't our doing. It's what the outsiders dubbed us. Like I said, there are mortals who would like to see us destroyed. They don't take kindly to the men swooping into town and seducing the women."
"Nahtosha cast her blight on them."
"So it seems. Yet I am the only one capable of traveling from place to place by using my mind. Among other things, Nahtosha's bite also enabled me to read other's thoughts and will my own into their mind when I so choose." He paused meditatively. "Sometimes, though, I cannot reach into the psyche of another if they have their guard up." Summer leaned her head back on his shoulder with a sigh.
"I wonder why she went after your friends when you're the one she wanted."
"Not quite sure why she attacked my mates. Perhaps simple revenge for a man's betrayal."
"If I were her, I'd do the same thing. Why not make men be the one to satisfy her need for justice? That must be why she went after your friends. Her hunger for revenge may take time to be sated."
Savion adored how she had reached into his heart so quickly and accepted everything he said. He caressed the bare skin above her navel while speaking. "For some reason she found favor with me to let me have this charm and set me above the others. I can't understand why, since I supposedly look like the man who broke her heart." 66
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"Maybe Nahtosha wanted to right the wrong to ease her pain. She used you to save another woman who has never known love ... in a sense saving herself." Savion gave her a questioning look. "So you believe the old man's theory that Nahtosha waited for me?"
"It makes perfect sense to me." Summer traced the lines of his slender hands folded at her waist. "It seems she kept the Dragon's Tooth hidden for the man who looks most like her lover. If what the religious man said is true ... I believe Nahtosha selected us because we are the closest she could come to recreating her lost love."
"I never thought of it in quite that way." Summer smiled. "You're not a woman."
"No ... but you are." He slid down into the cushions and pulled her around on top of him. "And I'm looking forward to finishing what we started this afternoon." She gingerly lifted the black pendent to admire it. "What is this made of?"
"Onyx and diamond dust."
"Wow. That does sound rare." Flipping the triangular, tooth-shaped charm between her fingers, she noticed the swirls of shimmering diamond dust picking up the day's last rays of sun filtering through the windows. "This is really quite exquisite close up. I've seen a lot of jewels but none so unique. The onyx carries an extremely high shine, and the crushed diamonds cast a captivating sparkle. When the light catches it just right your Dragon's Tooth looks like a black diamond. A very large one at that."
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He placed a gentle hand over hers at his neck. "I didn't know you were a jewelry connoisseur."
"Ah, well." She sighed. "I've acquired many precious gems over the years. Guilty men pay much to protect their reputation."
"I must make you stronger." His hand brushed her cheek. A serious expression shadowed the handsome features of his face. "You will need more strength so that when we return to Dunalino you can return my bite. Soon you will begin craving my blood."
She felt her pulse quicken at the thought. "I will?"
"I cannot let you bite me until I'm absolutely certain you are strong enough to absorb the power of my blood." He laid his hand alongside her cheek, staring intently into her eyes.
"Once you have placed your bite on me ... you'll be my Senhora Do Sangue. The men will back off. When we become one, their fear of the Dragon's Tooth will keep them at bay."
"Because of what happened to your roadie?"
"I love how you comprehend everything about me so easily." His eyes shone with open adoration. "Yes, because of what happened to Simon. They will not risk touching you once our blood is sealed because you will share ownership of the pendent as my sovereign soul mate. To touch you uninvited will cause them instant death"
She smiled, happy that she'd pleased him. "How do I become strong enough?"
His teeth playfully nipped at her lip. "By continuing to receive me just as you have. The time has come to take our relationship to the next level."
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"I will take it slow with you, my sweet." His lips touched hers for a tender, lingering kiss. "I promise never to hurt you. We will make love slowly and beautifully. Are you ready to take that step?"
Her body shivered with anticipation. "Yes, Savion. I have dreamed of this day for a long time. Make love to me." She gazed up at him longingly as he rolled over to lie above her. A quick glance out the window revealed the sun had just dipped below the horizon. Streaks of gold, pink and blue laced the skies. Her eyes, misty with emotion, returned to his. She wanted her first time to be perfect.
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Eight
"Summer!" a familiar voice called from outside her suite, followed by loud rapping on the door. "Are you okay? You never called us to pick you up for the service. We must get going!"
Savion stared down at her with passion-glazed eyes. Then he gave her a relenting smile. "Have you forgotten something?"
"I'm so sorry. The time got away from me. Tonight is the service for my mother. That's my sister, Dori, here to drive me over."
"No worries, love." He placed a quick, sweet kiss on her lips. "Take care of business. I will be back." Before she blinked twice Savion had disappeared. A rush of sudden isolation flooded her. Already she missed his essence. Struggling to compose herself, she straightened her hair and clothes, then opened the door feeling somewhat foggy.
"Hi, Dori. Come on in. I'll be ready in a minute." Dori obviously noticed Summer's muddled state. "Have you been crying, Summer? I can only imagine how hard this has been on you after not seeing Mom since your wedding. I should've insisted you stay with us. You shouldn't be here alone."
"No ... I'm fine. I'm sorry, Dori, but you and your family are practically strangers to me now. I am more comfortable here."
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"Do you want me to call Eric? Perhaps he can get away early."
"No!" Summer grabbed Dori's arm. " Never bother Eric when he is on business. He gets very upset." Dori looked down at Summer's hand clutching her arm.