Caressed by a Crimson Moon (Rulers of Darkness)

by Amanda J. Greene

  “Touch me,” Eva gasped. Desire controlled her mind as lust gripped her body.

  His black gaze jumped with dangerous delight. He spun her about, forcing her back against his chest, his hands gripping her hips as he pressed her front towards the hedge.

  Heaven help her, a bolt of treacherous excitement ran down her spine to curl her toes. She pressed her hips back and groaned at the feel of his hard cock against her ass.

  “Do you know who I am?” he asked, his lips brushing her ear.

  “Yes.”

  “Who?” His demand was rough and, god, she loved the anger that laced his voiced. On some level, she knew she must be losing her mind to desire this vampire. She did not care. She wanted him. Now. Primal, sexual need coursed through her in sweet agonizing pulsating waves.

  “H–Hadrian Lu–Lucretius,” she answered.

  Eva cried out in surprised pleasure as he slowly scraped his fangs and drew his tongue over her rapidly beating pulse. She tilted her head to the side, giving him better access to her neck.

  This was crazy, she should be begging him not to bite her, not panting for his touch. All her life she had been told a vampire’s bite was ruthless and excruciatingly painful, something to be avoided at all costs. But she wanted this.

  She frowned as she tried to analyze her reaction. She should be fighting him with every ounce of her strength. Instead she was aching with lust.

  His tongue caressed her neck and her thoughts scattered. Her head lolled back against his chest.

  Eva began to wriggle beneath his hold. She wanted to see him, to kiss his lips. It felt like an eternity since the last time she had been kissed. Would his fangs cut her? Something dark and wild in her roared at the thought. She tried to turn, but he kept her pinned.

  “You crave.” His fingers dug into her hips as he rubbed her against his shaft. He dipped his face down into the crook of her neck and took in a deep breath. She shuddered. He inhaled her scent, like an animal, like the beast that he was and it thrilled her. “I can scenes your need.”

  She boldly covered his hands with her own and he allowed her to slide their hands over her flat belly to her breasts. She moaned when he gave a gentle squeeze. Her breasts were bare beneath her tank top and she hated the thin material for being in the way. She wanted to feel his palms against her hard nipples.

  “Wild,” Hadrian breathed.

  She sighed and began to undulate her hips against him. He bit back a curse as fire spread through his veins.

  Take her.

  His fangs grew even longer, his nails lengthened to claws as his cock swelled. His eyes flicked from her breasts to her pulse and back. The vampire within him howled as he thought of pushing her jeans down, revealing her sex. She would be so hot, so wet. He could tell by her scent she was ready. He could drive into her as he pierced her flesh and drank deep.

  Take her.

  Eva reached up to circle her arms around his neck—

  She stumbled into the hedge. Whirling around she saw…nothing. He was gone. The absence of his body left her vulnerable to the cold and she quickly zipped up her jacket. She shook her head, trying to dislodge the sensual haze that clouded her thoughts.

  Her neck tingled and Eva hesitantly raised her hand, her fingers met smooth skin. He had not bitten her. Her cheeks flooded with heat. She had wanted him to sink his fangs deep within her. Her blush grew even darker as clarity began to set in. She had freely offered herself to him, mind, body, and…blood. She had been his for the taking.

  So why hadn’t he claimed what she had clearly offered?

  Eva walked over to the marble bench and sat. She rubbed her hands anxiously over her knees as she fought the urge to search him out, to find him and demand they continue. He had wakened something darkly feral within her and she frowned, one hundred percent confused.

  Why had she acted this way? Why did she want him so badly? She bounced her legs, barely resisting the need to hunt him.

  She knew vampires could control a human’s mind. The ability made hunting and feeding much easier. Had he done that to her? Possibly. But, if he had reached into her mind, why had he let her go? Why had he not taken what he wanted?

  “Because you’re a half-breed,” she spat.

  No man in his right mind would want a half-breed.

  But he isn’t in his right mind, she thought then mentally shook herself. Stupid girl, she chided. Even if he hadn’t used his power on me and I do truly desire him, it doesn’t make a difference. He is a king and I’m a half-breed bastard that he’s been saddled with as a ward.

  She sighed and leaned back, titling her head up to the clear sky. The night was still. Silent. Her breathing had begun to slow, her heart returning to a normal pace while her body still throbbed with need.

  Out of all the rumors she had heard of Hadrian, none had warned her about how devastatingly handsome he is. Darkness clung to him and he wore power and malice like a second skin. Yet, his touch had been gentle and—she shivered—deliciously firm. He could have ripped her throat out with his fangs or he could have slaked his lust on her. Instead, he deserted her.

  A growl rumbled the night and Eva’s brow furrowed. It sounded like a jaguar. She glanced about, straining her hearing, trying to discern where it had come from. To her knowledge, there were no shape-shifters here besides—She slapped a hand over her mouth—Her. She had made the noise. Never before had she been able to growl, to channel the feral animal that lurked within every shape-shifter.

  She shook her head in disbelief. Something strange was happening to her. First, she had craved freedom of her room, then following her curiosity out of the castle. She had been compelled to enter the maze and this sexual madness with Hadrian. Everything pointed to what the pack called Drive, a behavior motivated by pure instinct. She was a half-breed and as such, she would never experience Drive. Or, should never.

  Eva gave a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping as she brought her hands up to massage her temples. Maybe she just needed some sleep. Jet lag could do strange things to people.

  * * * *

  Dark.

  Silent.

  Hadrian materialized in the safety of the clan’s mausoleum. The scent of dust, fresh roses and decay was welcoming and oddly soothing to his ravaged mind.

  He had almost taken Eva, there in the snow, like some animal. His fangs had been at her throat, his hands roaming her supple body. His cock was stiff and he groaned as he recalled the incredible sensations that swept through him as he pressed his hard length against her ass.

  She had been ready for him, he could scent her arousal, feel the heat that radiated from her soft flesh. Gods, she had been sweet fire in his arms.

  The demon in him roared in outrage as he had pulled away, teleporting to the crypt.

  His hands shook as he ran them over his head. He needed to gain control.

  The visions, he thought. They had made him weak, leaving his true nature free and the vampire within him was starved for freedom. For so long, he had kept his other half under constant mental lock and key, but tonight, his demon was at the fore and it had wanted Eva, her body and her blood.

  Terror struck him like a blow to the chest, sending him stumbling into the stone sarcophagus beside him.

  Thank the gods he had come to before…he couldn’t bring himself to think of the things he could—No, would have done to her. Closing his eyes, he sucked in breath after breath. Leaning against the tomb, he desperately searched for some sense of calm.

  He had lost control again and he would not be surprised if the girl demanded to be secured in another of his clan’s homes to escape him. How could he expect her to want to stay in a castle with a wild beast such as him? He had mucked things up and it was only her first night here. At the rate he was going, he would harm his ward and give the alpha of the Silveria Pack every reason not to trust him with one of his purebred daughters.

  The shifters needed this treaty. Without the Validus Clan’s support they would be destroyed by th
eir enemies, he thought even though none of that excused his treatment of the girl. He had nearly claimed her innocence in the snow and they had yet to even be formally introduced.

  She knew him. She had spoken his name, her words broken, her voice rasped with desire. Her head had lolled back, giving him complete accesses to her throat. She had taken his hands, drew them up her body to cup her breasts.

  He shuddered as a hiss passed his fangs. His body still burned for her as his cock strained against the roughness of his jeans.

  “Fuck,” he sighed, scrubbing his face with his hands as he slid to the floor, his back pressed against the chilled stone of the sarcophagus.

  He had to get a handle on himself.

  His predatory instincts had consumed him when he attacked Eva in the hall. Now, the vampire had nearly had its way with her in the labyrinth. The visions had weakened his mind, leaving him vulnerable to the whims of the demon that resided in his soul. Under normal circumstances he would never even attempt to take advantage of a woman.

  The thought drew a dark laugh from him, the sound echoed through the centuries old mausoleum. He hadn’t been “normal” for over three hundred years. He no longer understood the definition of the word.

  Chapter Five

  “This first level is considered the social floor. Here, you will find everything,” Falcon had stated at the beginning of the tour and he was right.

  He had kicked off the excursion with breakfast, showing Eva the massive kitchen, large enough to cook for an army, and the smaller dining room, which could easily seat fifty. While Falcon explained how he had done everything possible to maintain the historical integrity of the castle through the extensive construction, Eva had savored a bowl of Frosted Flakes, a staple she had sorely missed while living deep within the Amazon.

  When she had finished, it was on to the billiards room, complete with seven tables, a full bar that extended across one wall along with a collection of old video arcade games. What interested her the most were the various polished suits of armor and medieval weaponry that decorated the room.

  Next, the monstrous movie theater with rows upon rows of oversized recliner seats, a popcorn machine, a slushy bar, and vending machines filled with a three-year supply of candy.

  “I thought vampires couldn’t eat food,” she said as she paused to snag a Snickers bar, another delicacy she had been deprived of far too long.

  “It’s not that we can’t, but we generally abstain from food. Occasionally, I do like to enjoy a hot fudge sundae,” he answered with a shrug. “Now, we have an obscenely large movie database which begins with silent films and ends with the latest box office releases. This theater is also connected to the Internet and you can instantly stream videos on the screen.”

  Eva’s eyes grew wide with shock. She now knew what she would be doing for the next few days, catching up on all the films she had missed over the years.

  As she tried to plan her movie marathon, debating whether she should begin with chick-flicks or horror, Falcon showed her into the solarium, with wall-to-wall windows, which were covered by heavy, retractable metal shades and housed only night blooming flowers.

  Eva’s jaw dropped when Falcon took her across the hall to the five-story library. Books extended from floor to ceiling and lined every wall. Tight, spiral staircases stood in each corner, every level accessible by wrought iron landings and walkways. It was a windowless space, except for a small reading nook tucked in the far left corner.

  “My king’s book collection is so extensive that we’ve changed many of the smaller rooms in the keep into storage. Feel free to read whatever you like, we have every genre you can think of published in every language. Even a few from antiquity and various other periods.”

  Has the king read all of these books? Eva wondered.

  Still dazed, Eva let Falcon guide her through the castle to the gym. She had never seen so many pieces of workout equipment. Dark blue mats covered the floor up to the full sized basketball court and stadium stands.

  “I’ve saved the best for last,” Falcon said ushering her from the gym. They entered the hall and ascended a wide staircase to the second level. He pushed open a set of double doors and Eva was swept away.

  The pool was long and narrow with glistening, tropical blue water. Lounge chairs lined the sides while a fully stocked bar was situated along the back wall, which was lined with covered windows. White, smooth marble columns reached to the ceiling, which was also lined with steel window covers. At night, the shades would retract allowing the brilliant moon to light the pool. The stars would twinkle as snow fell all around. The room would look like something out of a travel magazine, a pool area that belonged to an extravagant hotel.

  Eva was speechless as she wandered about the expansive room. This castle had everything. Never in her life had she imagined she would be staying in a place this beautiful.

  Stepping to the edge, she knelt down, and dipped her fingers in the water. It was warm.

  “Out there is a small balcony out there,” Falcon pointed to a door, “When the weather grows warmer, it should be rather nice. Naturally, you will be left alone. We vampires can’t sunbathe.”

  “But you can walk in the sun,” she pointed out.

  Falcon’s hand went up to his chest, his fingers capturing something that dangled from a necklace, but was hidden by his shirt collar. “I’m fortunate,” he muttered.

  Not wanting to pry, Eva changed the subject, “Well, Falcon, I’m at a loss. This place is gorgeous. A huge step up from my little hovel in the jungle.” From one extreme to the other, she thought. “I don’t know where I should begin. Should I lounge here and enjoy the hot tub, or numb my brain with some flicks, or start hoarding books?”

  Falcon chuckled as he glanced at his watch. “Well, I’ve arranged a few interviews today, hoping to find a chef. They should be arriving in about fifty-five minutes.”

  “You, Mr. Occasional Hot Fudge Sundae, are going to interview cooks?” she teased with a smile.

  “If you don’t mind joining me, you can sample their food since each will be providing a demonstration.”

  “I can’t wait,” she beamed.

  Falcon pulled a paper from the inside pocket of his blazer. “I almost forgot. I’ve drawn this up for you. It is a map of the castle and the grounds.”

  “Thank you,” she said taking the paper. She quickly unfolded it and scanned the drawing. He had even provided a layout for the labyrinth and circled the greenhouse at the center.

  Eva frowned as she noticed the entire west wing of the castle, with the exception of the first and second level were missing. Also, the hall made of windows she had seen earlier was not on the map.

  How odd. Falcon must have done it for a reason…the king, maybe?

  The west wing must belong to King Hadrian. She gave a little pout of disappointment. She had been looking forward to seeing the hall of windows, which was incredibly high up. The view would have been spectacular.

  But I don’t need another run in with that particular vampire, she reminded herself as she folded the map and placed it in the back pocket of her jeans.

  “Well, I’ll leave you to decide what you would like to do first and I’ll see you in the kitchen at three.”

  He bowed his head slightly then turned on his heel and disappeared out the doors.

  Eva sighed and sat on a lounge chair. What did she want to do first? She felt like a child at Disney World, too many options, too many exciting things. After some thought, she decided to hit the library first to pick out a book or two. Then, she would sit in on the chef interviews and taste test with Falcon before rounding out her evening with a movie and a nice soak in the hot tub. While relaxing she would come up with an educational plan. She needed to catch up with human society if she were to blend in.

  Standing, she exited the pool area and retraced her steps, not wanting to get lost. She would have to study the map Falcon gave her later.

  Once she reached the first floor
she cast a glance at the gym. Even though it looked nothing like her uncle’s combined jiu-jitsu and yoga studio, it had reminded her of happy memories. Every day, after school, she and her mother would go to the studio. Two days a week they did yoga together, while the remaining three days were devoted to training. Her uncle taught her well. She had even participated in a few jiu-jitsu matches and had won them all.

  Stepping to one of the black punching bags, Eva tested it with a shove. She watched it swing a few times before steadying it. Then she took up her stance, dancing on the balls of her feet. Envisioning Teresa’s face, she began to hit the bag, hesitantly at first, but her attack soon became wild. She delivered blow after blow with amazing speed, releasing pent-up aggression. She landed a few kicks, keeping her breathing controlled and even, like her uncle had taught her.

  The pinpricks of awareness tickled her nape as she swung around for another hit, her arm raised, her fist tight. The loud smack of flesh-to-flesh impact rattled her eardrums in the silence of the gym.

  “Hello, half-breed.”

  Eva’s mind went numb. Hadrian stood before her, his lean muscled chest bare, workout shorts hugging his hips. A smile curled his sensual lips as she continued to stare. Her heart began to race as she lost control of her breathing. Lust exploded from her as her eyes focused on his chiseled abs.

  “We keep running into each other,” he said.

  His voice caused her to shiver and drew her gaze to his.

  Realizing she was standing, gaping at him with her mouth open, she snapped her jaw closed, shook her head and frowned. Why did her knuckles sting. Glancing down her eyes grew wide. He had caught her fist.

  “Your skill is impressive. Who taught you how to fight?”

  Did he just ask me a question? Oh, come on, Eva, you’ve seen plenty of men. The males in the pack hardly ever wore shirts. She exhaled a breath she had not realized she had been holding. But damn, none of them ever looked this drop dead sexy. Oh my god, focus!