Both of her hands trailed up the insides of his thighs, to touch, caress, and learn. She softly raked her fingernails underneath his tight sac and then cupped his balls as she aligned her mouth over the top of his erection and swiped her tongue through the tiny slit.
Angel jerked in reaction, his voice deepening. “Ember. Fuck, baby.”
Her answer was to wrap her lips around the head of his cock and follow his hand on its downward descent, only to bask in the image of trailing his fist back up. She massaged his balls and applied more suction on the next glide down.
He gripped her hair, but he didn’t force her. Nonsensical words escaped him as Ember mastered him with her mouth, taking him deep in her throat and dragging her tongue along the underside of his shaft on her upward return.
His hold tightened in her hair. “You have to stop. I’m close.”
Ember ignored him, moving faster, swallowing the head of his cock as it touched the back of her throat. Her gums began to itch. The sharp points of new fangs pricked the inside of her top lip, and the copper taste of blood filled her mouth. Her eyes grew hot; chills peppered her skin. Satan himself wouldn’t have been able to stop her from what she did next. She bit him.
His ass shot off the chair, and a strangled sound ripped from him as he exploded inside her mouth. His big body shook with so much force she nearly lost her hold on him. She could feel his seed wrench from his cock before it jetted across her taste buds to mix with his blood. She moaned and drank everything he gave her. She’d never tasted anything as sweet as Angel’s blood, his seed…his very life force.
Ember wasn’t sure how long she drank before she realized he’d relaxed and was stroking her cheek. She gently licked the tiny puncture wounds before sitting back on her heels. Words weren’t necessary in that moment. Their emotions were passing between them in awe—beautiful, worshipping…reverent.
“I love you, Angel.”
Chapter Seven
Angel’s heart somersaulted. Ember had just voiced her feelings for him in his waking hour. He knew she loved him. He’d heard her say it once in the past while he’d slept. But to look into her eyes as the words drifted from her beautiful lips was more than he could have imagined. If anything happened to her, he wouldn’t survive. His soul would wither and die. A world without her in it would be unacceptable.
“Ember…” Words eluded him in that moment. The fear of losing her and the helplessness of not being able to fully protect her angered him.
Disappointment flashed in her eyes, signaling she’d picked up on his emotions. The last thing he wanted was to break the enchanted spell weaving around them.
“Come here, Ember.” He indicated for her to sit on his lap once more.
She slowly got to her feet and straddled his thighs. He reached over and switched on the lamp next to the chair, bathing the room in a warm glow.
He studied her pretty face, memorizing every detail from the tiny crease at the corner of her mouth to the faint freckles sprinkled across the bridge of her nose. “So beautiful.”
A hint of pink circled her pupils, attesting to the fact that she was changing. The more blood she took from him, the faster the transformation. She’s mine.
“Do you know what I want, Ember Burns?”
She shook her head even as desire darkened her eyes.
“To bury myself inside you…to possess you.” Blood rushed to his cock on cue. He knew it would always be like that with her.
“Yes,” she whispered softly, still holding his gaze.
He wrapped his hands around her waist, bringing her to his swollen shaft. She was so wet, he slipped across her entrance. “Grab on to my shoulders,” he groaned.
She obeyed, and he reached down to guide his cock to her opening. He bared his teeth as she eased down an inch, squeezing the head of his dick with the sweetest pleasure-pain. He hissed with the strain of holding back when he wanted nothing more than to thrust. Hard.
His hands locked onto her hips in an effort to keep from hurting her. She was already attempting to take him deeper. “Easy, baby. Put your hands on my knees and relax. I know what you need.”
He pushed into her another inch, feeling her stretch to accommodate his large size. She anchored herself by placing her hands on his knees, and her head dropped back, exposing her smooth neck. Soft sounds came from her throat as he continued to work his way inside her tight, hot pussy.
“So fucking sexy.”
Her fingers dug into his skin, and her body jerked. “Right there, Angel,” she gasped.
The corner of his mouth lifted in satisfaction. “Right here?” He dragged the head of his cock back over the spot he knew would drive her wild.
“Oh. God. Yes.” Her pussy clamped down on his dick, her breathing grew choppy, sweat beaded her chest, and her nails dug into his knees.
Angel held her suspended as he fucked her in short, fast strokes, nailing her G-spot repeatedly. He knew she was nearing orgasm by the wetness preceding the pulsing heat of her vaginal walls.
Her head snapped up, and he was stunned by the red shining in her eyes. His fangs elongated, his balls grew taut, and he snatched her forward. “Mine.”
Angel struck with the force of a cobra, burying his fangs and cock simultaneously to their base. The rush of her blood burst through his system to compete with the rush of his seed as it left his body, temporarily crippling him.
He bit down harder. His jaw locked up as Ember screamed his name, her pussy contracting around his sex in mind-shattering tension. He wanted to feel her come apart in his arms forever.
Long seconds ticked by, and Ember finally slumped in his arms. Still he drank. He couldn’t seem to get enough of her. She was quickly becoming an addiction.
She lifted an arm and cupped his face. Her softly spoken words constricted his chest. “I don’t want to bond with a man that doesn’t love me.”
He retracted his fangs and hugged her to him. She thought he didn’t care for her? “Ember—“
“Well, isn’t this amusing?”
Angel bolted from his seat and pushed Ember behind him before she could gasp. She snatched her shirt off the floor and had it over her head with the quickness of a vampire.
“Get out,” he growled.
Gina Calimari stood in the doorway looking as beautiful as a porcelain doll. But beauty being skin-deep, as the old cliché went, fit her. Inside she was a rotted corpse of evil and corruption.
“What are you doing here?” Angel asked, but he knew the answer. Rage coiled in his gut.
“Looking for my new pet, of course, until I recognized the sound of your orgasm. You have always been very vocal, my dear. I could hear you clear to the parkway.” She stepped into the room. “Speaking of pets, who hides behind you, skittish as a stray cat?”
“Don’t even look at her, Calimari. Remove yourself from my home. You’re neither invited or welcome here.”
“You should have thought of that before you left the door open for any old peeping Tom to watch you play with your food. It is rather entertaining, you realize.”
Ember stepped up beside him with fire in her eyes. “I believe you were asked to leave.”
“Well, well. The little stray has spirit. I see you don’t have this one collared yet. Perhaps I’ll purchase you a leash for your housewarming gift.”
Angel felt Ember tense. He had no doubt she was about to spring. He moved in front of his little hellcat before she got herself killed. “Get the fuck out, Gina.”
“Is that any way to treat an old friend, Angelo? You seem to have lost your manners, but considering the company you keep, it’s certainly understandable.”
Angel threw his arm out to stop Ember from jumping around him. She had no idea the power Gina possessed or that she could kill them both if she were so inclined.
The elder vampire flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder and smiled, showing perfect white teeth adorned with two dainty fangs. She licked her ruby-red lips and winked. “Smart move, A
ngelo. Smart indeed.” And with that she was gone as quietly as she had appeared.
Chapter Eight
Ember was livid. The stunning blonde who had just left Angel’s condo was apparently an old lover, and obviously reluctant to give up the position.
Jealousy quickly replaced her ire. The woman was so beautiful it hurt to look at her—from her small, straight nose to her sparkling blue eyes. Her rounded, full breasts and tiny waist only added to her appeal. But the formfitting black dress was the real doozy. Who ran around in a getup like that at four in the morning, looking like they’d just stepped off the runway? Ember seethed as she imagined giving her a little push on the stairs and breaking her alabaster neck.
Angel touched her arm, bringing her out of her murderous contemplation. “I’m sorry—“
“Don’t.” She pulled away. “I need to go home and get some rest.”
“You can sleep here.”
His apologetic tone did nothing to soothe her feelings. She wanted to hurt Gina with her new fangs, and then pull the woman’s own dainty canines out by the roots with pliers and feed them to her.
“I won’t let you go home alone with the Seeker on the loose and Gina trolling the neighborhood. You’ll stay here.” A muscle ticked along his jaw, something she was beginning to associate with his tension.
“You won’t let me?”
“I’ll restrain you if I have to.”
Her mouth dropped open. “What?”
“I’ll do what it takes to keep you safe.” His eyes narrowed with finality.
“Fine. I’ll be on the couch.” She stormed from the room, hoping to at least make a dramatic exit after losing the argument. It was all she had left.
She wasn’t surprised to find Angel sitting in a chair when she rounded the corner to the living room. Of course he wouldn’t let her have this one small victory.
He spoke before she could reprimand him. “You can sleep in a comfortable bed with me, or I can sleep on the lumpy couch with you. The choice is yours, Ember Yearns.”
“Nice. Another nickname. Better stick with Burns tonight. Just not in the way you want.”
“Are you sure about that?” He was suddenly cupping her face, his lips covering hers. The feel of his tongue invading her mouth sent warm flutters through her abdomen. And just like that, she wanted him again.
He broke off the kiss and held out his hand, his eyes sparkling with mirth. “Come to bed, Miss Yearns.”
“Oh, go to hell, Angela.”
They simultaneously burst into laughter, a deep belly laugh that left Ember weak and exhausted. She accepted his outstretched hand and followed him back to his proverbial bat cave.
He pulled back the covers and patted the mattress. “After you, your highness.”
“Thank you, your erection.” Ember inwardly grinned at his expression as she crawled under the comforter with a straight face.
Angel glanced down with a shrug, like being nude and sporting a hard-on was completely normal. “See what you do to me?”
He walked over to the glass sliding door to shut and lock it before turning off the lamp and climbing in bed beside Ember.
“Are you sure it wasn’t Miss Congeniality that caused it?”
He pulled her into his arms. “You’re cute when you’re jealous.”
“Hello, pot. Are you calling the kettle black? At least I haven’t slept with Clay, which is more than I can say for you.”
“I haven’t slept with Clay either and you’d better not if you want him to live.”
Ember sighed, snuggling closer to his warm body. “Bully.”
Neither of them spoke again as Angel ran his fingers through her hair in long lazy strokes, gently tugging at random tangles. Ember’s eyes rolled back in pleasure. His soft chuckle was the last thing she heard before blissful sleep claimed her.
* * * *
Laura held the wheel in a white-knuckled grip and let out a string of curses that were usually alcohol induced. Once again she was headed to Ember’s at breakneck speed. Detective Harper drove in front of her with lights and sirens on, blowing by cars like they were tied to a tree. If he slowed suddenly, she would kiss his bumper.
Another body had been found at dawn. Death by asphyxiation. The ligature marks on the deceased woman’s neck resembled those on the Watcher’s previous victim. Her corpse had been left nude in an alley with no signs of sexual assault. One thing separated this murder from the others—her teeth had been forcibly removed postmortem.
“Damn it, Ember. Please be okay,” Laura whispered. If something has happened to you… She couldn’t finish the thought.
They exited the parkway, weaving in and out of traffic and running red lights.
Laura’s cell phone rang from its resting place on her lap. She snatched it up “Em?”
“You’re too late.” A raspy voice wheezed on the other end of the line.
She could barely speak around the lump in her throat. “Who is this?”
Silence.
The phone slid from her numb fingers as the softly spoken words reverberated through her mind in sickening detail. You’re too late, too late…late…
Laura punched the gas pedal, passing Clay in a desperate attempt to reach Ember. Tears of panic filled her eyes, and dread coiled in her stomach. She couldn’t lose her best friend. She wouldn’t.
She sped into the parking lot of Ember’s condo with the skill of a professional driver, pulling up next to the stairs and taking up several reserved spaces. She threw the car in park and jumped out.
“Son of a bitch,” Clay barked as he slid his vehicle up beside hers and jerked his door open. “What the hell was that all about?”
“He called. We have to hurry.” But she was already running up the stairs. The sound of Clay’s boots slapping on the wood assured her he was right on her heels.
“Who called?”
“The Watcher,” Laura threw over her shoulder as she reached the door and raised her fist to knock.
“Wait,” Clay ordered, shouldering her aside.
Harper drew his gun and tried the doorknob. To Laura’s relief, it turned with ease. He signaled for her to be quiet as he slowly eased the door open and motioned for her to stay close.
Laura’s heart pounded as they crept along the foyer with their backs to the wall. They stopped at the kitchen, and Clay swung his gun in that direction before following through with his body. They moved from room to room in that same fashion, each time finding it empty.
“Where can she be?” Laura asked in a high-pitched voice as she stared around Ember’s bedroom. “Her bed looks slept in, and the glass sliding door is standing open. You don’t think he took her, do you?”
He glanced at her with a raised eyebrow. “Over the balcony?”
Clay holstered his weapon and went back into the kitchen with Laura practically glued to his back, fighting panic.
“She had guests.” He indicated three empty glasses on the bar.
Laura pushed past him and noticed Ember’s purse. “She wouldn’t leave without this.”
“Don’t touch it,” Clay ordered. “It may be considered evidence if…” He looked away, snagged a paper towel from the holder above the sink, and used it to pick up one of the glasses. He brought it to his nose and sniffed before replacing it on the bar. “Wine.”
A thought struck Laura. “There’s one place we haven’t checked.”
Clay’s eyes narrowed, but he only nodded. “Let’s go.”
They hurried outside to Angel’s condo. Clay rapped on the door with the side of his fist hard enough to rattle the window next to it. He waited a beat and knocked again. No answer.
Clay abandoned his position and rushed back inside Ember’s condo, leaving Laura no choice but to run to keep up. “What are you doing?”
He ignored her question and stormed down the hall through Ember’s room and onto her balcony.
“What are you looking for?” Laura stepped through the glass door in time to watch the det
ective lean down to sniff at a half-smoked cigar lying on a small table.
“Stay here. I mean it.” Clay climbed over the rail of Angel’s balcony with the ease of a cat and dropped softly on the other side.
Like hell, Laura thought, throwing her leg over the way she’d just seen Clay do. He glanced back at her with a dangerous glint in his eyes. “I told you to stay put.”
“I’m coming with you. She’s my best friend.” She lifted her chin, daring him to try to stop her.
Clay shook his head and made a beeline for the glass door, muttering under his breath, “Damn stubborn woman.”
Chapter Nine
Ember jerked awake at the sound of an insistent pounding coming from somewhere close by. Her gaze darted around the room, but nothing made sense. Her head ached, and her throat felt parched. She couldn’t recall ever being so thirsty in her life.
Another round of banging brought her upright in bed. What the hell?
She shifted her attention to the sleeping form beside her, and everything came flooding back, from the Miller house incident to Gina’s untimely arrival. She’d fallen asleep in Angel’s bed.
“Ember, are you in there?” Laura’s muffled voice came from the balcony.
A gasp escaped Ember as she looked at the digital clock on the nightstand. “Holy shit.” She dragged the covers over Angel for protection before jumping from the bed and stumbling to the glass door. “Hang on.”
The sun blinded her as she pulled back the curtain a few inches, unlocked, and slid the door open. It took her a moment to adjust to the brilliant light before she noticed the detective standing next to Laura.
“Are you okay?” Laura asked, barreling her way into the room.
“I’m fine.” Ember squinted against the UV hell beaming into her eyes.
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