Blood Slave

by Brannan Black

  A warning bell went off deep inside. Only one reason he would force me to find a knife. With a strength I didn’t know I had, I tore loose of his grip and raced for the bedroom. I slammed the door shut as unbelievable pain sliced into my head. I think I screamed as I fell to the floor, writhing in agony.

  Get up. Get the knife, end the pain. Over and over a voice whispered in my mind. I found myself clawing at a door that wouldn’t open. They all locked automatically when closed. Some part of me had known I wouldn’t be able to get out again. I jerked at the handle so hard I nearly ripped my shoulder out.

  I fought with all the will I had to ignore it. Focus on something else… but what? My head hit the door hard enough to make me see stars. No! I shouted inside. Get out of my head! I imagined a fire hose in my hand, blasting against that pressure.

  Suddenly it was gone. I collapsed on the floor feeling shaken and sick. My stomach rebelled. I made it as far as the bathroom before I started heaving up everything I’d eaten. Tears and sobs followed. I’d never imagined someone could assault me in such a way. I felt violated in the worst way. I crawled to the toilet and heaved over and over but there was nothing left to throw up.

  In a haze of fear and exhaustion, I cleaned up the floor then found the darkest corner I could to hide in. It wouldn’t protect me from Ferine but I still felt better.

  I heard the bedroom door open and curled tighter into a ball in the back of his closet.

  “Pet?” Dekker’s worried voice carried through the closet door but I couldn’t seem to move.

  “Pet? Kierra?” The light flipped on and I shrank back, squinting against its brightness.

  “Is she OK?” It sounded like Nate.

  Dekker crouched in front of me. “Are you all right? What happened?”

  “Fffferine.” All I could get out was his name.

  Dekker’s eyes grew dark and his face cold, then he softened. He cradled me in his arms and lifted me up. “Nate, check the security logs.”

  I found my feet as he guided me to the couch in front of the window. He pulled me down, wrapping his strong arms around me. Someone handed me a glass of wine. My hand shook slightly as I gulped it down.

  I heard Nate’s smooth drawl behind me. “Ferine was here with a few of his goons.”

  Dekker’s arms surrounded me with security and I burrowed against his chest. “Tell me what happened.”

  “Oh, God, Dek. I heard this voice in my head and this pressure. Shit, it really hurt! Like something wanted to split my skull open from the inside!” Once I got started it poured out in a torrent of pain and fear.

  Not one of the men standing around said a word. After a moment Dekker looked up at Nate. “Call Segrun. Set up a perimeter. Ace, check out the building security. He shouldn’t have been able to get that close.”

  I heard men moving, heard the door close, and then it was just us. I wanted to stay wrapped in his warmth forever but when he shifted I figured I should move. “Thanks, Dekker.”

  “For what? Leaving you here alone so one of Ferine’s scum could invade your mind?” He sounded disgusted as if it were his fault.

  I shook my head. “Not your fault, Dek. You warned me and I didn’t believe you.” I took a deep breath to steady my shaky nerves. “Did he do that to me before? Get in my head to make me go with him?”

  Dekker’s lips twisted into a wry grin. “Either that, or you’re way more stupid than I thought.”

  I slapped his arm in mock affront. “So why did it hurt this time? Because I wouldn’t do what he wanted?”

  Dekker’s fist clenched and a dark rage settled on his face as he spoke. “No, normally we can only persuade, suggest, not force, and most vamps have to be in the same room, even touching. No, this was something more. And being my blood slave should make you resistant to others’ influence. After we examine the security tapes, we’ll know how, and I will make sure he never does anything like this again.”

  I had no doubt he would find the guy and serve vampire justice on him. A memory surfaced. I’d seen Dekker look this murderous once before, when he confronted Ferine those few nights ago. “So who is Segrun?”

  A sly smile crossed his face. “My sister.”

  “Sister? As in thousand-year-old vampire sister?”

  He nodded. “A very old vampire offered to turn my hafna in return for our assistance. Segrun had fought at my side since she was old enough to hold a sword. In all, thirty-five of my forty-two warriors made the turn.”

  I got up to get another glass of wine while I digested that. “You must have had some reputation to warrant that vamp’s attention.”

  “I think it had more to do with being one of the few pagan companies left. Christians would have burned him for witchcraft.” He stood looking out over the city. “Don’t forget the rest of your things.”

  Several more boxes and two more suitcases sat just inside the door. They’d obviously gone to my apartment again, since the cases were mine. I stalked over and stood staring down at them with my hands on my hips. I didn’t know whether to hug Dekker or slap him.

  His voice right at my shoulder startled me. “I thought you might like more of your things.”

  I just nodded numbly.

  “There’s room in the closet and I made space in the dresser as well.” He traced a finger along my jaw. “Pet, talk to me.”

  “And say what? Something like ‘Yes Master, I’ll get this all cleaned up right away’?”

  Dekker turned me to face him and I raised my eyes to his. For the first time I saw the conflict inside him. “Shit, I can’t do this.” He dropped my chin and scrubbed his hand across his forehead like it hurt.

  “Do what?”

  “Pretend you’re just a blood slave. Kierra, I wanted a relationship between us, but not this one. Unfortunately, Vampire law and custom doesn’t recognize any other kind with a mortal. But I can’t stand the thought of breaking your spirit to turn you into the circle’s idea of a submissive slave.”

  His admission shocked me. But it did explain why his behavior toward me kept changing. I let out a deep breath. “So what do we do? I mean obviously I can’t leave here. Not after…” A shiver of fear ran icy fingers down my spine. “Not after what Ferine just tried.”

  He took me in his arms and held me close. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Kierra. Not Ferine, not the inner circle. No one will hurt you again.”

  I sighed into his arms, feeling so safe. I felt his dick rising against me and my sex warmed in response.

  His phone rang, startling us both. “Damn it.” He looked at it then back at me. “You feel up to putting some of this away while I go take care of some business?”

  I nodded and offered him a real smile. He returned it and headed for his office. “Dekker, thank you,” I called after him and waved at my stuff. It really was a sweet gesture.

  He paused at the door. “Just enriching my pet’s environment. I understand that’s very important.” He winked playfully at me.

  I chuckled and started with the suitcases. At least I knew where to put them. I stood in horrified embarrassment when I opened the first one and found my pink vibrator right on top.

  Chapter Six

  I woke to an empty bed, again. Kierra had been fast asleep by the time I’d come to bed and now, from the sound of it, she was in the kitchen. I sighed. It would take a while for her to adjust to a vampire’s sleep schedule. I’d just have to be patient, especially now that we had a better understanding.

  She must have been hard at work for some time. All the cabinets had been emptied and she was cleaning them before putting her stuff away. “Well, since you’re so busy, I guess I’ll follow suit and head to my office.” I couldn’t resist a light swat on her firm ass as I went by.

  I padded barefoot into my office. I started on my latest edit but my mind kept drifting. I kicked back in my chair and let it. How long before she gave in to her own needs? What about the pink vibrator? Should I leave it out, give her a hint? I could just s
ee her spread out on my bed, naked. One hand teasing a breast while the other thrust the vibrator in and out of her wet pussy. Her soft moans, her hips rocking in time to her thrusts. Then the other hand would stroke down to her clit, rubbing and pinching.

  My cock surged to attention, necessitating a little rearranging to avoid painful crushing. Damn, that was good stuff. I called up a new file and started writing.

  Lonely, bored and aching, she dug out her little pink friend… At last, her body writhed in wave after wave of release.

  No wait, it would be better if her man catches her at it.

  He stood in the doorway unnoticed. His cock surged hard as he watched her plunge the vibrator in deeper. Her moans flashed through him like liquid fire. He slipped his sweats down far enough to release his cock. A soft cry from his partner had him gritting his teeth to stay quiet, suppress his own moans of passion. He stroked his length, matching her rhythm. One last squeeze on her nipple and her hand reached for her clit. Closer, closer. He stroked harder, breath heaving. He knew she was close from her growing cries. He couldn’t stand it anymore.

  She jerked when his hand moved hers and his tongue took its place, driving her to come, hard.

  A knock on my door jerked me back to reality. I switched back to my edits.

  “Dekker, can I come in? I have a couple of questions for you.”

  I smoothed a hand down my raging hard-on and keyed open the door. I lifted my brow in question but she seemed more interested in seeing what was inside.

  “You wanted something, other than to look at my office?” I grinned down at her blush and waved her in.

  “Ah, sorry, just wanted your OK before I rearranged any more stuff…” She zeroed in on my laptop. “Hey, I thought you were working in here, not reading! This is an AJ Dane isn’t it?”

  I nodded with a sly smile.

  “I thought I had read all of hers. Must be new. When did it come out?”

  “It’s not out yet because he hasn’t finished his edits. Keeps getting distracted by a certain female.”

  She stared uncomprehending for a moment. “You’re AJ Dane?”

  I shrugged but couldn’t keep the grin from my face.

  “A thousand-year-old vampire -- Viking vampire -- and you write romance novels?” She looked from me, to my wall of weapons, to the story on the screen.

  “Paranormal romance.” I cocked my head, trying to gauge her reaction. It looked like she was shaking. Was something wrong? Then the laughter started. I glared at her. “There is nothing wrong with being a writer. I’ve been on several bestseller lists.”

  She choked back on her laughs. “The others know about this? Ferine knows about your work?”

  “Yeah, so?” I crossed my arms, feeling rather put out.

  “No freaking wonder the man keeps dissing you.” She choked trying not to laugh, then gave up and let it out.

  I should have been used to this. Romance writers get no respect whatsoever, and a man, even less.

  “Sorry, it’s just, well… Vicious Viking and all.” She snickered. “So I guess your books are inspired by your life or your friends?”

  I nodded. “Some parts. Want to see my most recent inspiration? I haven’t decided where to use it yet. Might have to write a whole new book around it.” I pulled up the piece I’d just written.

  I watched her face as she read. She grew more flushed by the moment. I could hear her heart speeding up and smell her sweet juices flowing. I half sat on the desk, watching her as she devoured the short but hot scene. “Must be a pretty good piece, even before editing.” I lightly caressed down her chest to brush her breast. She sucked in a breath.

  “You wrote this about me?” She flushed brighter red. I raised her chin so she’d look at me.

  “I did.” My voice dropped to a deep rumble of passion.

  She swallowed and glanced down at the bulge stretching my jeans and sucked in a huge breath and held it.

  “So, pet, you going to leave me like this again?” I caressed her breast harder, finding her nipple and teasing it through her T-shirt.

  She choked off a moan. “Dekker, I…” She swallowed but seemed unable to form thoughts, much less words.

  I leaned close, my breath tickling across her face. “Yes, pet? You want something?” My lips brushed hers as soft as a butterfly’s wing. Her eyes fluttered closed but she made no move to deepen our kiss. I pulled back and waited.

  After a moment she found her voice. “Dek, I’m sorry about laughing at you. You really are a good writer. It’s just, I don’t know, ironic? A Viking vampire writing romance stories about vampires?” She shrugged her shoulders in apology but refused to look at me.

  “They always say write what you know…”

  She nodded and asked with a wicked look, “So which character is you?”

  “They all are -- and none of them. I do draw on my millennium of experience.” I slipped close enough to tease my fingers through her hair.

  She blushed slightly.

  “Let me guess, one of my boys featured in your dreams? Maybe while playing with that wicked pink B.O.B.?” I teased with a wicked grin. She just blushed harder, and shrugged, but she leaned into my touch. I trailed my finger down through her hair to lie over her breast, then stroked along it, making sure to graze her nipple.

  The flutter of her eyes and the flush rising in her cheeks urged me on. Please don’t let her back out this time. Damn, my cock might just explode. Her eyes met mine. Her lips parted in a soft gasp as I ran my finger softly across them. She swept her hair aside, baring her neck in an open invitation. I smiled softly and leaned down to kiss her neck, ear, and work my way along her jaw.

  My lips hovered at the corner of hers. “I’m not going to drink your blood tonight.”

  She turned to me with a quizzical look.

  “Sometimes, Kierra, it’s about sex with someone I care about, not blood.” I brushed my lips across hers. When she softened, I deepened the kiss, parting her lips and delving inside to taste her sweet mouth.

  When I let her up for air she murmured, “What if I wanted you to?”

  “Not tonight. I want you to know how much I want you, not your blood.” I leaned closer to claim her lips before she could respond.

  My tongue teased its way inside her mouth and she answered it, tangling her tongue with mine. I stroked her breast then cupped it gently. Her nipples rose hard against her bra. I teased one through the fabric. She moaned against my mouth.

  I worked it in circles until she arched into my hand demanding more.

  “Tell me you want this, Kierra.” I pulled away so I could see her face clearly.

  She ran a finger along the side of my face and over to my lips. I parted them slightly and licked the tip of her finger just before I sucked it into my mouth. A soft moan signaled her enjoyment.

  “Yes, Dek, I want this. I want you.” She breathed softly into my face. Her lips replaced her finger and our tongues danced. She yelped as I swept her up and carried her to my bed.

  I wanted to do it right this time. I stretched out beside her, draping one leg over hers, parting her thighs to rest firmly against her sex. She slid her hand under my shirt, trailing warm tingles in her wake.

  She combed across my chest to find and rub a nipple in circles. Then took it between two fingers, rolling it until it hardened. My breath caught and sighed out, my cock pulsed hard against my jeans.

  I stripped off my shirt, then tugged hers up and off. Her bra quickly followed. I feasted my gaze on her firm, round breasts, with their dark red nipples standing out just begging for attention. I bent to lick, then suck one in. Her eyes fluttered closed in delight and she pressed up for more. I reached for the other one and she gasped again.

  “Ah, pet, you are so beautiful I could come just watching as I pleasure you.” I swept a hand down her toned middle to tease at the top of her jeans. Her heart sped up and her breathing spiked. I stroked along the outside of her jeans down along her inner thigh and then back up t
he other one.

  Impatiently, she rolled to her side and tugged my hair until my lips met hers. She palmed my hard cock through my pants and swallowed my moans of pleasure with her kiss. She tossed a leg over mine, pressing her sex against me while thrusting softly.

  I flipped her over and stripped her jeans off. A quick caress and her panties followed.

  I stood up to strip while I feasted on her beauty, spread out on my bed, hair spilling around her head, breasts begging to be suckled and her sex slick with cream ready and waiting for me.

  I crouched over her, devouring her lips, leaving a hot trail of kisses down to her breasts. She moaned and arched into me as I licked around her nipple, then sucked it in. Each of her moans and sighs went straight to my cock.

  Her firm grasp on my cock nearly killed me it felt so good. “Ahh, yes!” I bucked into her hand.

  “Dek, do we need to worry about protection?”

  I snickered as I shifted to pin her body with mine. “Mmmmm. You’re more likely to get pregnant by a mortal while on the pill and using a condom than by me. And we don’t get sick or carry disease.” Gods, she felt so good under me.

  I shifted enough to slip a finger down to her clit. She gasped and surged up, grinding against my finger, and I slipped it lower. “Ahhh, so wet!” I stroked her labia then dove in. She moaned and rocked her hips against my hand and I slipped another finger inside, stroking and stretching her.

  “Please, Dek. Now please.” She strained against my hand and her fingers brushed the head of my cock.

  I shifted to stroke the lips of her pussy with the head of my cock. My eyes flickered shut as heat pulsed up my cock. And right into my fangs. I fought the urge to bite and slowly thrust into her. She rose to meet me, sighing and moaning with each thrust.

  I rose up on my hands as far from her neck as I could. A thrust and then roll of my hips had her moaning and straining against me.

  Her sex clinched and tightened as her climax neared. She grasped my hips, rising off the bed to meet me, harder, faster. She shuddered and cried out as her pussy pulsed.

  It sent me crying out into my own orgasm. My whole body pulsed with each spurt, her pussy answering with a pulse of its own. Still breathing hard, I gave her one last lingering kiss then rolled off so I didn’t crush her. A feeling of strength filled me from our lovemaking, much as her blood would have.