“Mommy,” the five-year-old boy says with wonder, “there’s a potty in here!”
His older sister ignores him, rushing to claim the cot she wants and tossing her backpack on top. “I love it, Uncle Asa! It’s better than camping. No woods or stinky outhouse to pee in!”
Bunny turns to me, a look of astonishment on her face. She opens her arms and walks to me with moisture in her eyes. On tiptoes, she wraps herself around my neck and hugs me.
Unsure what to do, I close my arms loosely around her and hug her back gently. “Thank you,” she rasps through a tear-ravaged voice. “You really went above and beyond.”
Her grip loosens and she steps back. She pushes her dirty blond hair off her face and dries an eye. I let go and look away, not sure what to say in the face of her gratitude. I shrug, glad to see the three are happy with the results. Vivian won’t be too pleased with the ruined sheets, but I’ll replace those before they get back.
“I’d offer to cook you a meal in thanks,” she says while looking over her shoulder at the squabbling children, “but we both know that won’t work. And I’d offer you your preferred meal, if I didn’t think Paul would be pissed.” She smiles on the last comment when turning back, letting me know she’s joking, but the sentiment is there.
A sharp squeeze around my heart surprises me. Absolute horror fills me for a second at the idea of biting her. Years of military training allow my face to remain expressionless so she’s not aware of my thoughts. “It was no trouble. I’m glad to be of help.”
I’d never want the physical pain of my bite to hurt someone I consider a friend. I look at the three a moment longer and then turn back to the main room, readying myself to leave. The agony of never having a family of my own overwhelms me. I hope Paul knows how lucky he is to have what will be denied to so many of us—forever.
Slipping the comfortable, stoic mask I always wear into place, I angle toward the steel door, remembering the map at the last minute.
“Asa?” I turn to Bunny while fumbling in my pocket for the paper. “How long do you think we’ll be down here?”
“I’m not sure. Probably only a few days. I’ll let you know.” I unfold the map and pass the hand-drawn image to her. “This is a diagram for the remaining one hundred yards to the door leading to the north wing. Only come to the basement if there is an emergency.”
She accepts the drawing and examines it. “This map isn’t complete. Where is the rest of it?”
“Vivian won’t allow maps of the tunnels. I did this partial so you’d get a general feel of where you were.”
She nods. “Okay, but staying inside these small rooms might prove difficult after two days or so.”
“Yeah, I know. But we might be using the tunnels and it really won’t be safe for the kids to be wandering. It’s very easy to get lost.” I smile. “Trust me.” I point to the hardwired phone on the wall. “This still works with local extensions on the property. Call us if you need anything.”
Bunny rests her small hand on my arm. “Really, Asa, I can’t thank you enough. Paul will be touched when he hears all you’ve done for us.”
I shrug again, realizing I’m doing that a lot right now, and feel really stupid. “You’re welcome. It was my pleasure to do it for the kids. It’s a difficult situation, and I know Paul would do the same for me.”
Bunny looks around the neat improvised room and shakes her head. “You obviously don’t know Paul as well as I do. Manual labor was never his thing.” She smiles to lessen the sharp implication of her words. “I love him to death,” she breaks off, laughing at her own pun. “More like, I love him after death. But he’s not the handiest guy on the planet.”
I start once again for the door. “Oh, and your satellite phone won’t work down here. You’ll have to come to the main level and use it near an uncovered window.”
She sighs and settles onto the couch. “Yeah, I figured it might be something like that. Thanks for letting me know.”
I nod my goodbye and close the door, hearing her and the kids calling out their thanks and goodnights. It’s almost five a.m. I wonder if she’ll be able to get them back to sleep tonight or if the little buggers will be up for the day.
Within a few minutes I’m in the command center. Eric kept watch while I readied the rooms and brought the small family underground. He’s stretched out, his feet up on the desk, alert and scanning the monitors. Good. Considering he napped only briefly before relieving me, I’m impressed he’s awake.
“Any news?” I ask, expecting nothing.
He turns to look at me, and yawns. “As a matter of fact, yes.”
I raise an eyebrow and wait for him to elaborate.
“Call came through from the airstrip. They got a radio signal from a small plane asking to land.”
“Really? The radio works? When did the call come in?”
“About five minutes ago. Yeah, something about radio waves not needing a cell tower but a direct radio frequency. It works as long as we have power.”
“Could we reach Coldfoot with it?”
“Not sure. Might be too far away. But I think it would only work if someone was listening.” Eric gets to his feet and stretches. “Don’t you want to know who’s about to land?”
“I know who it is—Cy.”
“He’s the one married to Aunt Cali, right?
“Yeah. I stayed with them for a couple of years after I got back to the States. They run that club up in Manhattan.”
“Yeah, I remember, now. When you were so close and yet still never visited us in West Milford.” His grimace quickly drops to show he’s joking. “I still haven’t talked to Aunt Cali since I changed. Funny how everyone always called her crazy when she talked about other species living among us. Turns out she wasn’t, huh?”
I nod. “Kind of ironic that she hooks up with a dead guy so soon after she was infected by a werewolf. He’s not bad, though. An information and computers expert. He runs all Vivian’s background checks and digs up dirt on people.”
“Isn’t he the one that gave you all the false info on Emiko three months ago?”
“Not his fault. Someone planted it. The fake cover was pretty in-depth and took some time to build. He’s more careful, now.”
Eric shifts his attention to the monitoring. “Really? Gee, that instills confidence. Hey, look at this.” He points on the screen where lights on the wings’ tips flash in the dark sky over the resort’s airport. “Something’s wrong. He’s coming in fast and his wings aren’t even.”
We watch the image together, waiting to see if he’ll make it in safely or crash trying. The small four-seater plane comes into view as it’s about to touch the ground. The wheels touch briefly before bouncing on the tarmac, careening the plane into the air off the runaway. Eric toggles the cameras to the next angle, ensuring we miss none of the action.
The wings totter up and down, and the nose keeps dipping. It takes some fighting on the pilot’s part but the aircraft touches down. The landing gear rips off from the impact and the plane thunders through the darkness, leaving a trail of sparks before skidding to a stop in the tundra beyond the airfield’s landing lights.
A figure emerges from the mangled hull, and in a blink it’s gone. The camera has trouble picking up what we could discern easily—a man racing toward the hangar.
“Holy shit!” Eric whips around. “Did you see that?”
“Yeah.” My brows draw together in worry. “That shouldn’t have happened. He’s been flying for years.”
“Maybe something happened to his plane.”
“Where’s Jon?” I ask, worried there may have indeed been something very wrong with Cy’s aircraft.
“He’s sleeping. He said to give him ‘til at least six.”
My watch reads quarter past five now, and darkness lasts until almost seven this morning. The phone on the desk rings and Eric jumps at the sudden sound. “Man I’m jittery. That landing was intense.”
I grab the phone and hear my
Aunt’s undead husband on the other end. “I made it. But just barely.”
“We were watching from here,” I say. “What happened?”
“Someone fired several rounds when I circled to land. I was pretty high up, so I’m guessing it was a long-range rifle. Took out a lot of my electrical systems and fluids started pouring out at an alarming rate. I’m lucky it didn’t go up in flames on the skid.”
“I don’t recommend you leave the building the conventional way. They could be watching the exits and vehicles.”
“What do you suggest?”
I weigh the options in my mind and realize Vivian and Rafe must trust Cy or they wouldn’t have used him as a backup plan if things went south and they hadn’t heard from us. Then again, they were probably counting on him coming with help and not being alone on the West Coast for a business trip at the time they made the arrangements. “Give me about twenty minutes, and I’ll be there from underground.”
“Underground passageways?” he barks out with a touch of disbelief in his tone. “This I’ve got to see.”
Chapter Seventeen
Vivian
It’s hours past dawn when Rafe and I enter our suite. The undead partying and verbal backstabbing continued for hours into the morning. Most of us older ones can stay up around the clock, if we want to. All we need is a blood pick me up, and we’re good to go.
Usually, our spouses and dates can’t keep up the pace and need to call an end to the gathering or they’ll drop where they stand. Rafe is no exception, and I knew if we didn’t break when we did, there’d be no fun in our suite.
Rafe’s warm hands glide down my back. A loving glow envelops me as I step over the threshold into the beautiful room. The Tribunal never skimps on décor—the rich antiques and expensive blue and yellow silks and brocades of the suite don’t disappoint.
“Are we safe here?” Rafe asks.
I look around, wondering if the Tribunal’s vow of no harm to guests will be enough to protect us. “As much as we can be. I doubt Coraline would make a move less than twelve hours after we show up.” The creep of apprehension climbs my spine. “But, we can lock the thick doors, lower the steel blinds, and re-evaluate in a day.”
Rafe checks the door while I flip the window switch that will darken the room when we rest. “If it appears that Coraline, or anyone else, is circling too close, we can leave and stay somewhere else in the city.”
Rafe takes off his jacket and drapes it over the back of a nearby chair. “Would some random hotel in the city be any better?”
I shrug, still unsure exactly what we’re getting into and worried for the first time in years. “I’d like to think it would make us more difficult to find during the day.”
“You feel like rehashing all the people who gave you the stink eye tonight?” Rafe asks.
A sigh escapes as I step out of my heels, thankful to give my feet a break after all our dancing. “No, not really. They’ll still be there when we wake.” My gown fits snug over my hips—the only way this number will come off is with the release of the zipper. I reach behind for the clasp, but my lover’s eager hand beats me to it.
“Here, let me.”
As my husband lowers it one slow inch at a time, I strip off the long gloves and toss them on a nearby chair.
“You love dragging it out, don’t you?” I murmur over my shoulder.
“Every day feels like Christmas when the present is this nicely wrapped.” Once the zipper stops, his warm palm slips in to cup my ass. “I’ve been aching to do this all night.”
Recalling his hot hand on my thighs when he sliced the material before our tango, I’ll admit, I’ve ached for it, too. The dress slinks down, and I catch the edge before revealing my bare breasts.
Rafe smoothes one last caress over my bare buttock before withdrawing his hand. “I’ve got it, darling.”
He steps closer, nestling his growing, pant-covered cock against my ass and wraps his arms around, taking the top edge of my dress in one hand. With the other, he skims beneath the purple silk and caresses my breast. He weighs it in his hand then uses a thumb and forefinger to tease and pull the taut nipple.
Jolts of pleasure spike from the tortured peak to my pussy, drawing a soft moan from my lips. “You’ve certainly ‘got’ something there, mister. Care to continue?”
Warm lips trail soft kisses down the side of my neck and I lean my head to the right to give my husband better access. Every few kisses he nibbles on the skin, exciting me further with his teeth. “You know I love it when you bite.”
“Precisely, my dear. I’m no fool. I thought a little boost between us might be a good idea, too. Considering the company we’re keeping.”
His teeth latch onto my shoulder muscle, bringing an exquisite pinch of pain to focus my attention on every hard tooth digging into my flesh. Oh... and then there’s the slippery wet tongue soothing the spot afterward… “What was that, dear? You lost me for a moment there.”
“I’m thinking…” he bites down again. “… I should take blood from you while we’re in this nest of vipers.”
“Yes, good point.”
He drops his hold on my dress and the material puddles at my feet. Two warm palms grasp and fondle my breasts, pulling the engorged tips while he bites firmly on the skin between my ear and my shoulder.
“Need some help?” I ask when he clamps down once more, harder this time, bringing the pleasure and pain to a near orgasmic level. He murmurs his approval against my skin, and I reach up with one sharp nail to help.
Rafe pulls his hot sucking mouth away for a moment while I pierce my skin right over the thick pulsing vein in my neck. Warm blood cascades out of the new wound and my lover’s mouth latches over the small hole, lapping at my flesh and drinking deep.
One hand leaves my chest and travels down my body in a long sinuous path. My God, when he drinks from me it feels like every inch of my skin is alive.
His fingers coil in the soft mat of hair atop of my mound before plunging deep between the wet folds to find the hard nub of my clit, already swollen with desire. I reach behind to stroke his shaft through his trousers and snake the other hand to cradle his head against my neck. “Bite me again, baby.”
His finger teases my hard button as he bites the healing wound, pressing it open for more hot liquid to flow into his mouth. He moans against my flesh, taking in my stronger vampire blood. From experience I know what I’ve got in store for me. Whenever he drinks from me it works like Viagra, fueling him through the night to relentlessly do me over and over until we’re both begging for mercy.
A tightness coils in my pelvic muscles, the innuendos and suggestions from the evening push me to a fast peak. “More, take more,” I whisper as my crest sends me up and away. The small cut over my artery heals as he clamps down, catapulting me that last little bit into oblivion.
My hips buck forward, spasms rippling across my frame. A tantalizing pain centers on my nipple when he pinches and pulls at the height of my release. “Yes!”
I slump against his well-muscled body, relaxing in the afterglow of orgasm—content to enjoy the rush for a moment. This is only the beginning of our fun and to drag out his satisfaction too long would be cruel and unusual punishment.
Rafe licks my neck with the tip of his tongue, igniting senses on the freshly healed skin. “That was divine, my dear,” he says in a soft voice, rough with desire.
A low chuckle escapes as I turn, naked, in his arms. “Isn’t that my line? I’m the one you brought to a glorious peak… and all while you’re fully clothed. Aren’t you just the over-achiever?”
He unwraps my arms from where they coiled around his neck. “Well, then... I think it’s time we got more equal in the clothing department.” He strips out of his expensive tux, diamond buttons popping and flying in his haste. His lightly haired chest and defined body never fail to draw a deep passion from me, no matter how recently I came. I want to not only possess him, but own his very desire. Wrap him up in my ess
ence until nothing exists, but the two of us.
A simmering heat burns deep in Rafe’s gaze. A fire I see only after he’s fed from me and has gladiator strength at his beck and call. “I will make you scream tonight, Dria.” His cock juts out as he stalks closer to me, driving me against the huge four-poster bed in the middle of the suite. “I will make you remember why you choose me as your mate and not any of those other men we saw tonight.”
Ahh… so he’s feeling a little possessive of me, is he? That’s fine with me. A slightly jealous lover can also be an extremely passionate one. “Will you now?” I can’t resist baiting him. Truth be told, I like when he’s a little rough. The back of my knees hit the bed and I lay back, staring into the eyes of my lover the entire time.
He looms over me. His proud cock bobbing in all its glory, slick with pre-come and pulsing with his heartbeat. The engorged head begs for a delicate tongue to lick it, and I rise onto my elbows to comply.
“Oh no, you don’t.” Work roughened hands push me down then slide lower to spread my thighs. “That first one was just a warm up. Wait and see what I have planned for you.”
Before I can protest, he kneels between my knees and dips his head to my swollen nether lips. Two thumbs spread my folds and a wet, pointed tongue strokes the sides of my aroused clit. Warm breath replaces the pressure as he blows on the sensitive skin, bowing my body off the bed in response. “That’s it, liebling. You like that, don’t you?” He blows on my aroused flesh again, sending me racing toward another release. I’m close to coming—and when he changes tactics, I know he senses it, too.
Two thick fingers plunge into my wet depths, stretching the entrance and sending a flood of sensations coursing through me. My hips circle of their own accord, seeking the pressure I need to go over the edge once more. “You know what I like better than finger fucking this tight little pussy of yours?”
My head thrashes back and forth on the bed, unsure if he wants an answer or he’s teasing me. Without waiting for a reply, he amps the tempo on his plunging fingers and latches his mouth over my clit. He sucks the swollen flesh between his lips then tickles it with his tongue. The pressure building in my middle shoots through my body in shuddering waves as my second crest washes over me. My back arches and his free hand grabs my hip, pinning me while he rides my peak higher and longer with his clever tongue and thick fingers.
Big Game (The V V Inn, Book 3) Page 15