Crimson Debt

by Evangeline Anderson

  “But, um, I thought…” I cleared my throat. “I thought you didn’t want me to touch you.”

  “I don’t.” He gave me a feral, hungry grin that sent a shiver through my entire body. “I want you to touch yourself.”

  “We’ve already been through this, Corbin. I don’t want to do that.”

  “Since you won’t tell me your desires, I need some other form of stimulation to ‘get off’ as you say in this century, Addison.” He frowned at me. “Remember, I’m trying to concentrate on sex. But the scent of your sweet blood still fills this little room. Please…” His eyes were almost pleading now. “Help me.”

  It didn’t seem I had a choice. “All right,” I said at last, my cheeks burning. “I…I’ll do it. But I want you to know this isn’t something I’ve ever done for any other guy before. I just…It’s so embarrassing.”

  Corbin’s only answer was a guttural growl. I got the message—I’d better get over my embarrassment in a hurry if I wanted to live. God, how had I gotten myself into this situation? Oh right, by thinking with my heart instead of my head. Or maybe the impulses had come from quite a bit lower…whatever, I was stuck now and this was the only way out.

  Slowly, feeling my cheeks flush with shame, I slid my hand down between my legs and cupped my pussy. I was still wet and sensitive and tender from the orgasm Corbin had given me earlier and I wasn’t sure if I could bear even my own touch. But from the look in Corbin’s eyes, I was going to have to try.

  “More,” he whispered hoarsely. “Spread yourself open, Addison. Slide your fingers deep into you sweet pussy for me.”

  Biting my lower lip again, I did as he said. My clit was swollen and extremely sensitive. I gave a little hiss of painful pleasure as my fingers slipped over the little bud.

  “Good,” Corbin growled as his hand began to move again, slipping slowly up and down his thick shaft. “Now stroke yourself, Addison. Make yourself come for me.”

  “I don’t…don’t know if I can,” I whispered as I continued to touch myself. “Once is usually my limit and I’m so sensitive…”

  “Yes, your soft little body is so sensitive and responsive.” He licked his lips, his eyes trained on mine as I continued to touch myself. “I wish I could taste those sweet juices I see coating your pussy. God, I’d love to feel you coming against my tongue.”

  I caught my breath as I continued to rub, sliding just the tips of my fingers along the side of my clit. I was much too tender to do more than indirect stimulation but to my surprise, it seemed it was going to be enough. The gentle teasing of my own fingers coupled with Corbin’s dirty talk was really doing it for me. In fact, I could already feel my body getting ready to climb the peak once more. God, could I really be this turned on after fearing for my life just minute before? And was I really going to come again?

  Apparently so, if we kept this up.

  “Keep touching yourself,” Corbin ordered, breaking my train of thought. “And keep your pussy open, I want to watch you stroke your aching little clit. I want to watch you come.”

  “Keep talking, then,” I flung back at him, my breath coming faster as I spoke.

  He raised an eyebrow at me. “Talking about…?”

  If my cheeks got any hotter my hair would catch fire. “Just keep on saying the things you’ve been saying. I need stimulation too, you know,” I said for clarification.

  “You like it when I describe what I want to do to you?” His hand sped up a little and so did mine. “You like dirty talk, Addison?”

  “I never have before,” I admitted.

  “Maybe you were never with a man who knew how to do it properly.”

  I nodded. Well, that could be said about most of my sex life. Sex with my ex had always been hit or miss and no one had ever made me come like Corbin had. Then again, no one had ever given me a screaming orgasm, threatened my life, and then decided we should go for round two. We were definitely in a unique situation here.

  “Talk,” I ordered him. “Come on, Corbin. Tell me more.”

  “I wish you weren’t quite so breakable, darling,” he growled softly. “Because what I’d really like right now is to put you on your hands and knees and take you from behind.”

  My breath caught in my throat. “R-really?” I murmured.

  Corbin nodded, his eyes half-lidded with lust.

  “Do you like that, Addison? Do you like to be held down and mounted? I would pin you to the bed, my darling. I would hold your hips and force you to be still as I slid my entire length deep into your unprotected pussy. Would you like that, do you think? Would you enjoy being filled by me?”

  God help me but the answer was yes. Even though I knew it was dangerous and illegal and I had just sworn to never, ever put myself in such a stupid position again, still I couldn’t help myself. I wanted him—maybe even as much as he wanted me.

  “Yes,” I whispered, filled with a strange mixture of shame and arousal. “Yes, I…yes.”

  “That’s good. Very good, my darling. Even though we won’t make love tonight, I like to know that you want to.” He licked his lips and the hand stroking his cock speeded up a little. “I want to feel your hot little pussy surrounding my cock. I want to fuck you long and hard and deep while you tremble under me and give yourself up completely to the pleasure I bring you.”

  “Corbin…” I whispered. My own fingers were flying faster now too and I could feel my second orgasm of the night building inside me. “God…”

  “I want you to be mine in more than name alone,” he growled, fisting his shaft even faster. “I want to fill you with my cock and my cum. I want my scent all over you so that no other male will dare to come near you.”

  Corbin’s voice was getting deeper and more guttural as he spoke and his red eyes were locked with mine. I found myself drowning in his feral gaze, unable to look away. God, the things he was saying shouldn’t turn me on. At no point in my life did I dream of being the exclusive property of a four-star vampire. And yet, somehow, his words were getting me off as much as my own fingers.

  “Oh,” I gasped as my pleasure peaked. I moaned and squeezed my thighs together as the orgasm overcame me “Oh, God.”

  “So beautiful, Addison. So fucking gorgeous when you come.” Corbin gave a hoarse growl and joined me, his cock throbbing in his fist as jet after jet of pearly white coated his rock hard abdomen. But he never looked away. The entire time his eyes held mine and I found myself completely unable to look away too.

  It seemed to last forever but finally the pleasure faded, releasing me from its iron grip. Corbin released me too—or his eyes did.

  Panting, I slid down the bed and turned on my side. Now that my orgasm was over, I was a conflicted mess. On one hand, I had put myself into an incredibly dangerous position and for what…because I wanted to have sex with a vampire I didn’t even like? Well, true, we hadn’t actually had sex and also I couldn’t quite seem to find it in me to dislike him anymore. But still…what was wrong with me? What was I doing? I was not making good choices lately—not at all.

  As I was mentally berating myself, Corbin got up from the bed and disappeared into the small, recessed bathroom for a moment. When he came back he was cleaned up and his jeans were neatly buttoned and zipped, hiding the thick monster of his cock behind their innocent blue denim. And most importantly, his eyes had gone from blood red back to their usual silver-blue.

  “Addison?” he murmured, reaching out to stroke my hair away from my forehead.

  “Don’t!” I flinched away from him instinctively.

  “Sorry, darling. But you don’t have to worry—the danger is over.”

  I looked up at him warily. “Do you promise?"

  He nodded and settled on the bed beside me. “The release I had got rid of the building tension.”

  “After you came this close to ripping me apart.” I sat up in bed and frowned at him. “I thought you said you could do it—that you could have sex with a human without losing control and killing her.”
>
  “And so I could,” Corbin said, looking very composed. “But no vampire ever made can have sex and feed at the same time while staying in their right mind. It’s important to concentrate on one and shut out the other. If you let the instincts for blood and sex merge…”

  I shuddered. “Then you have one very dead human. Which is what almost happened—admit it.”

  He nodded thoughtfully. “I should have been more careful with my fangs. I never meant to nick you. I…” He looked away. “I underestimated how much you would affect me.” Taking my hand in his, he looked me in the eyes. “That won’t happen again.”

  “You’re damn right it won’t.” I yanked my hand out of his. “Because we’re never going to get into this situation again.” I jumped off the bed and walked on wobbly legs over to my pile of clothes.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Corbin sounded amused.

  “I’m leaving. You’ve punished me more than enough.”

  “For now at least,” he murmured, watching as I turned my back to him and began to dress.

  “What is that supposed to mean?” I threw an irritated look over my shoulder. If he thought I was going to come down here to his “lair” and let him do anything even remotely sexual again, he had another think coming.

  Corbin’s eyes hardened. “It means, my darling, that you will accompany me to Celeste’s trial tomorrow night. And while we are there, I will have to prove in a very public and convincing way that I own you beyond the shadow of a doubt for Roderick’s benefit.”

  “What?” I spun around to face him, still buttoning my shirt. “What exactly is that going to entail?”

  “Don’t act so surprised.” He glared at me. “I told you what you did tonight would have consequences. Think about it, Addison—if I prove to Roderick that you are mine, he may be content to let us all go about our business. If I do not, he will almost certainly have me replaced. And since Taylor is now under my care and Celeste is the next most powerful vampire in my territory…”

  “Taylor would wind up right back with Celeste where she started,” I finished for him, feeling sick. “All right then.” I folded my arms over my chest. “But what are you going to do?”

  Corbin looked thoughtful. “That I shall have to think on. Be certain you’re here early tomorrow night so we can discuss it and form a plan.”

  I sighed and pulled on my pants. “So that’s it for tonight then? I can go?”

  An expression of sadness passed over his face, there and gone so quickly I wondered if I had imagined it.

  “I had hoped you might want to stay the remainder of the night here with me. The bed is quite comfortable.”

  “So you’re inviting me to a vampire slumber party? I don’t think so,” I said flatly. “Sorry, Corbin, but I don’t want to be here if you get horny again.”

  “I would do nothing but hold you, Addison. I would never ask you to pay the Crimson Debt for me.”

  I frowned. “You said that earlier when you were talking about finding a willing donor for Taylor. What does that mean, exactly—the Crimson Debt?”

  He sighed. “It’s a euphemism for feeding and sex at the same time. There is a reason for it, you know—it heals all wounds. Those of the body and of the heart.”

  I snorted. “All but the ones the human in question incurs, you mean.”

  Corbin nodded. “Paying the Crimson Debt—giving blood while making love—is a lethal combination, as we know, when a human is involved. But it is possible between two vampires or a vampire and another paranormal creature, such as a were or other shapeshifter.”

  “But you guys hate each other—vamps and weres, I mean,” I protested.

  Corbin shrugged. “Interspecies flings are generally frowned on, true. I’m just saying what’s possible.” He got off the bed and came to stand in front of me. “Just as it is possible for you to spend the night in my arms and not fear for your life.”

  I wanted to look away but again his eyes held me.

  “Corbin,” I whispered. “I…” But I didn’t know how to go on.

  “Stay with me, Addison,” he murmured, stroking my cheek gently. “Sleep in my arms. I’m sorry if I frightened you. I swear it won’t happen again.”

  “No, it won’t,” I said firmly, forcing myself to ignore the fire his tender touch started inside me. “Because I’m not going to put myself in that position again. And that means I have to leave, now.”

  “You’re afraid if you stay we will repeat our actions. Maybe even go further this time.” It wasn’t a question and by the lust I saw burning in his eyes he was already up for a repeat. Unfortunately, so was I—which meant I had to get away.

  “I need to go check on Taylor,” I said, keeping my voice as businesslike as possible. “I’ve fulfilled the terms of our agreement and allowed you to punish me. Now can I please go?”

  “Very well. But look at me, Addison, and understand me well.” He lifted his chin and his eyes burned into mine. “You will be here tomorrow night to attend Celeste’s trial and acknowledge my ownership of you publicly and without question. Until Roderick is satisfied and leaves town, you are mine. And as such, you will do exactly as I say. Understood?”

  I glared at him mutinously. So much for all his sweet talk of ‘sleeping in his arms.’ Probably he had just wanted to keep me down here with him to make sure I didn’t skip town before the trial.

  “Addison?” he murmured sternly. “I am waiting for an answer.”

  “Fine,” I said at last. “I’ll be here and I’ll pretend to be your good little glam-slave consort. But as soon as this is all over and Roderick leaves town, you and I are over. Understand?”

  He frowned. “Perfectly.”

  “Good. So let me go.”

  “Not yet.” He tilted my chin to the side, baring my neck.

  “What are you doing?” I tried to pull back but his grip was like iron.

  “You’re still bleeding a little from where I nicked you. I can’t send you back up to a building full of vampires like this.”

  Before I could protest that I was fine, he was licking me. His tongue felt hot and wet as it glided over my skin and I couldn’t help catching my breath as his healing touch stirred up all the lust I’d been trying to push down. It rose in me again, threatening to swamp me like a tidal wave.

  “Corbin,” I protested breathlessly, but he didn’t stop—not yet. He seemed to be taking an awfully long time to heal such a little scratch but I was losing my ability to care. The warm, wet sensation of his tongue lapping over my sensitive flesh was making me weak in the knees. My nipples were hard and my pussy was wet all over again.

  Stop it, I told myself sternly. Stop reacting—that’s what he wants.

  But I couldn’t help myself. By the time Corbin finally released me, I was so weak in the knees I was afraid I might fall over.

  He smirked as he walked around me and opened the thick bank vault door.

  “I trust you’ll have a pleasant night’s sleep after you check on your friend.”

  “I’m sure I will,” I said with as much dignity as I could muster. I left the door and climbed the steps without looking at him again but I could still feel those cool, silver-blue eyes on me every step of the way.

  “Good night, Addison,” I heard him murmur, far behind me when I finally reached the top. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

  That’s what I’m afraid of! Without answering, I left and went looking for Taylor. I didn’t want anything else to do with Corbin tonight—not if I could help it.

  Chapter Eight

  I found Taylor in a small dark room not much bigger than a janitor’s closet. Someone had jammed a tiny folding cot in there with one small, flat pillow and a scratchy puke-green blanket. All in all, it didn’t look very comfortable. Although it was miles better than the opulent bedroom in Celeste’s mansion where my friend had so lately been tied up and tortured.

  Taylor must have thought the same way because the minute I came into her tiny r
oom, she threw herself in my arms and hugged me.

  “Oh, Addison, you shouldn’t have! Thank you so much but I wish you hadn’t done it.”

  “I only did what any good friend would do,” I protested.

  “No, you didn’t. You went above and beyond. Way beyond.” Her dark eyes widened. “I can’t believe you put yourself in Corbin’s power just to help me.”

  I made a shooing motion with one hand. “Please, it’s no big deal. I’m just pretending to be his girlfriend until that Inquisitor bastard leaves town.”

  “Shhh!” Taylor looked around warily as though someone might be listening in under the door of her crappy little room.

  “What?” I frowned at her. “I’ll call him that to his face and a lot worse after what he…” But I couldn’t finish. The pain in her eyes was still too new, too fresh. “Oh, Taylor,” I murmured, patting her arm.

  She sniffed and shook her head decisively. “No, don’t, Addison. I don’t…don’t want to cry anymore. Not now. Besides, I don’t have a right to complain to you, not after what you did for me.”

  “Oh come on.” I shifted uncomfortably. “Don’t start that again.”

  “What did he do to you?” she demanded in a low voice. “I heard him talking about punishing you. I know you thought I was too wrapped up in myself to notice but I heard that—did he hurt you?”

  I thought of Corbin’s method of “punishment” and hoped very much that my face wasn’t as red as my hair.

  “Um…” I shifted again. “You mind if I sit on the bed? It’s been a long day…er, night.”

  “Sure.” Taylor sat beside me and the little cot creaked with our combined weight. “You still didn’t answer my question,” she said.

  “And I’m not going to,” I said firmly. “Let’s just say I’m not hurt and leave it at that.”

  “But Addison—”

  “Taylor, I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Okay. I’m sorry.” She looked down at her hands, clasped loosely in her lap. “I didn’t mean to pry. I just feel so bad about what happened to you—whatever it was.”