Laura unlocked the door, pushing it wide for Shon to pass through with his precious burden.
“Take her to the bathroom,” Angel rasped as he stumbled inside the condo and closed the door behind him. “I need you to run a bath, Laura. Make it as hot as you can stand it.”
She hurried to fill the tub, with Ember’s cousin and boyfriend right on her heels. Shon held on to Ember as Angel peeled her wet clothes from her body, minus her bra and panties. The big Bulgarian began stripping out of his own soggy attire seconds later.
Chapter Three
After divesting himself of everything but his boxer briefs, Angel climbed over the side of the tub and sat with his arms out. “Give her to me.”
Shon carefully deposited Ember’s slight form onto Angel’s lap. A soft moan escaped her when she became partially submersed in the hot water. Angel leaned back against the tub and ran his palms up and down her arms.
“What can I do?” Laura hovered nearby, wringing her hands.
Angel’s vision grayed, but he kept his eyes open. “We wait.”
“You need to feed.” Shon’s voice sounded distant even though he stood less than three feet away.
“Feed? He really is a vampire?” Laura directed the question to Ember’s cousin in an I can’t believe I’m entertaining such a thing kind of tone.
“I know it’s hard for you to grasp, but it’s true,” Shon muttered quietly.
“Hard to grasp? That’s putting it lightly. So he’s not crazy?”
“He’s crazy all right.”
Angel would have smiled had his facial muscles worked. Ember’s asshole of a cousin was beginning to grow on him.
Laura plopped down on the side of the tub. Her eyes were huge, and the color had drained from her face. “This is by far the most bizarre thing I’ve ever heard.”
“I know, and I’m sorry I don’t have more time to explain,” Shon offered. “But he needs to feed.”
She stared at Shon with an incredulous look on her face.
“I want you to go next door to Ember’s and wait. I’ll be there to collect you after I get them taken care of,” Shon pressed.
Angel sensed that she wanted to argue, but she didn’t. Instead, she stood and stumbled from the room with a dazed look on her face.
Shon kneeled down until he became eye level with Angel. “Can you stay alert for five more minutes?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be back before you miss me. And we both know you will.”
Angel felt the instant Shon left the room. He tugged Ember closer, pressing his lips to the top of her head. A man’s scent still lingered in her hair, and he inhaled deeply, drawing it into himself. Clay.
Harper’s disgusting essence was so strong it drowned out any evidence of the Seeker that might still have been on her skin. She’d obviously been in Harper’s arms at some point in the day.
Angel’s stomach clenched with jealousy. He slid down as deep as possible into the water, completely submerging Ember save for her nose and mouth. He could barely lift his arm to grab the washcloth hanging from a small bar next to him.
After dunking it into the bath, he squeezed out as much excess water as he could, brought Ember’s head up, and cleansed Clay’s odor from her skin.
Shon reappeared a few minutes later, holding a limp body in his arms. “Your dinner.”
“Where the hell did you get her?” Angel inquired with a frown.
“She is a he, and I found him walking toward the parkway.”
Angel recoiled against the unconscious man’s stench. “Is that the best you could do?”
“Of course not. Now bottoms up.” Shon grinned and waved the stranger’s arm under Angel’s nose.
With a growl that promised retribution, Angel grabbed hold of the guy’s wrist and sank his fangs deep. The bitter taste of alcohol and drugs in the stranger’s blood turned Angel’s stomach, but the necessity of it far outweighed his repulsion.
He could feel his strength returning with every pull on the guy’s vein. No matter how unsavory the flavor, it did the trick.
With a shiver of revulsion, he retracted his fangs. “Get rid of him.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to cop a feel while he’s incapacitated?”
“Shon…”
“Fine. I’ll go put him someplace safe to sleep off his unfortunate concussion.” Ember’s cousin disappeared once again with his foul-smelling victim thrown over his shoulder.
Shon had no sooner cleared the door before Ember stirred in Angel’s arms. She tilted her head back and her eyelids fluttered open.
“Hi there.” He tightened his hold on her. “You gave us quite a scare, young lady.”
Confusion was evident in her eyes. “Where am I?”
“At my place. Do you remember anything that happened today?”
A frown marred her brow. She studied his face as if searching for answers. “I was with Clay, taking pictures.” Her gaze turned inward. “He got a call about a body behind a convenient store not far from where we happened to be. A woman had been murdered.”
Angel stared down into her expressive face, wishing he could remove every bad memory she’d ever had.
He brushed her wet hair back. “How did you end up at the park?”
Her hand flew to her throat, and her eyes grew huge. “He cut me.”
“It’s okay, baby. You’re fine. It’s healed up now.” Angel ran his palm up and down her back in a soothing motion. “Do you know who did this to you?”
She shook her head. “It was raining too hard to see, and he grabbed me from behind. My neck was sliced open. I felt it, Angel. How… I mean, I don’t understand.”
He tightened his arms around her as she told him about the body and what had been discovered at the scene. Angel was shocked to find out that Ember’s name had been carved into the woman’s skin. No seeker in history had ever done anything remotely close.
Tears welled up in her eyes. “I couldn’t allow him to hurt anyone else because of me.”
Angel felt nauseous. Ember had planned on sacrificing herself to lure the Seeker away from her loved ones.
The sick feeling was short-lived, however, and in its place settled anger. “So you ran off on your own, hoping the Seeker would follow you?”
She averted her gaze. “I can’t even think about something happening to you, not to mention Laura or Shon. I didn’t really have a plan other than getting as far from you three as possible in hopes he would come after me.”
Once again, Angel wanted to turn her over his knee. Ember Wells definitely topped his list of exasperating women. It took considerable effort to unclench his teeth enough to speak. “If you ever put yourself in danger like that again, I will lock you up and swallow the damn key. Do I make myself clear?”
Rebellion flashed in her eyes. “I was trying to protect you.”
“And what about you? Did you ever stop to think of the consequences of your actions?”
“I was only—”
“If you die, I die.”
“What are you saying?”
“What he’s saying is, you’re bonded, mated, all but married to him,” Shon announced as he stepped back inside the bathroom. “Who did this to you, Em?”
Chapter Four
Ember’s mind reeled with everything that had taken place throughout the day, from going to the alley with Clay and finding the dead body behind that store to the sickening feel of a blade sinking into her skin.
She touched the newly healed wound on her neck and looked up at Shon. “I don’t know who attacked me. It all happened so fast. What do you mean by mated?” Her heart kicked up a beat as she glanced from her cousin to Angel.
“You’ve been sharing blood. Lots of blood. All of it actually, if the color of his skin is any indication.” Shon threw his hand out in Angel’s direction.
The next question came from Angel, and although his voice remained steady, the underlying anxiety couldn’t be mistaken.
“Is
there anything you can recall, baby? Maybe something he said or did. How about cologne? Could you tell if he wore any?”
Something passed through the back of her mind, yet was too far out of reach to grab onto. “I’m not sure.” She closed her eyes, concentrating on the feel of the cold picnic table, the rain, the wind, and the bone-deep fear she’d experienced in that park.
“Think, Ember. Anything at all? The slightest noise or smell no matter how insignificant it seems may be important.”
She lifted her lids and peered up at Angel. “I’m sorry. Everything is so muddled still.”
He bent and kissed her lips. “Don’t be sorry. You’re alive. That’s all that matters right now.”
“You didn’t catch his scent, Dimitrov?” Shon leaned against the sink with one booted foot crossed over the other. He raised an eyebrow.
Ember felt Angel stiffen beneath her. He responded in a deadly, soft tone. “Are you accusing me?”
“Should I be? “
“Okay, boys. Let’s not—”
“I couldn’t pick up on anything with the detective’s stench all over her,” Angel growled. “Where were you?”
Ember watched in dread as Shon slowly uncrossed his ankles and straightened. “Because she loves you, Dimitrov, I’m going to let that slide. Once.” He pushed away from the counter. “I’ll go check on Laura.”
Angel’s sigh was damn near strong enough to blow Ember’s hair dry. “I’m sorry, love, but he rubs me the wrong way sometimes.”
“You mean most of the time.”
“Yeah, that too. How are you feeling?”
She ignored the question and moved to get up. “I need to check on Laura. She has to be freaking out by now.”
“You need to rest more. You’re not completely healed yet. How does your chest feel?”
“My chest?”
Angel followed her out of the tub and wrapped her in a big, fluffy towel that still harbored his unique scent. “You weren’t breathing, and I...”
Surprised, Ember glanced up at him. “You performed CPR on me?”
“I had to. I’m sorry I hurt you.”
“You didn’t hurt me.” She ran a hand across her chest, testing the area. “See? I’m fine.”
“Thank God.” His arms came around her, pulling her into his embrace. Warmth flushed her body as she took a deep breath, drawing in his unique essence. Apparently being at death’s door didn’t slow her libido one bit.
“Ember, damn it.”
She turned and looked into his heavy-lidded gaze. The need she saw there matched her own. “Take me.”
Indecision radiated from him. “You’re too weak, and our company will be back at any moment.”
A ripple of heat rolled through her and sweat coated her top lip. She suddenly felt too hot for her own skin. Her gums were tingling with a painful sensation, and the need to bite down became unbearable.
She gripped his arm and spun him around, pushing his face against the wall. “I don’t think I can wait. It hurts, Angel. Please.”
* * * *
Angel had never seen this side of Ember. She’d just handled him like a seasoned vampire, throwing him around as if he weighed nothing. He wondered if she was even aware of her growing strength. One thing he knew for sure—her human side was ovulating, sending her vampire side into full-on heat. His dick hardened to the point of pain.
He glanced over his shoulder, locking gazes with her. The amount of red swirling around her pupils confirmed his suspicions; she was changing right before his eyes. It stunned him although it shouldn’t. She’d almost drained him earlier.
“As much as I’d love to accommodate you, I can’t. You should be resting, building your strength.”
She tightened her grip on his arm. The pain only served to remind him of what she’d been through earlier that day.
“Easy, baby.” His voice deepened as more blood rushed to his already engorged cock. “Once you’ve had some sleep and healed completely—”
Ember captured his erection, effectively cutting him off. “Angel,” she pleaded, giving him a firm squeeze.
Angel was at a loss. He’d never been with a half-turned fledgling before and certainly not one in her first bout of heat. If it were anyone else, he’d have spun her around and fucked her over the sink, but this was Ember, the love of his life. He would never intentionally cause her pain.
She suddenly leaned in and ground against his ass. “Take me.”
Angel slowly turned to face her. “Baby…”
“I need you,” she breathed.
Her voice sounded strained and raspy, and damn him for being turned on by it.
Angel couldn’t remember his dick ever being as hard as it was in that moment. He lifted his arms in time to catch her as she leapt on him. Her legs wrapped around his waist, locking behind him in a hold he would be hard pressed to break.
The heat from her pussy seeped through his boxers, burning his oversensitive erection. She suddenly reached down between their bodies and ripped the offensive material off him before tearing her own panties free.
“Ember, wait—”
Her mouth came down over his as she jerked up and seated herself balls-deep onto his cock.
Angel lost his mind.
He gripped her ass and walked them toward the counter, feeling Ember slide up and down his shaft with every step he took. He gritted his teeth, fighting the impending orgasm threatening to unman him.
The second Ember’s ass touched the counter, Angel dipped his arms under her knees, spread her open, and thrust. Hard.
Her sexy cries were lost inside his mouth as he slammed into her again and again. He couldn’t stop kissing her. His lips and tongue mated with hers as his body rushed toward a place he craved with everything in him. A place of completion, of paradise, of home.
Her pussy grew slicker, hotter, and tighter if that were possible. She ground against him, her hands flew to his hair, and her dainty fangs lengthened, touching his bottom lip. He almost smiled until she raked her tongue across his own sharp points and the sweet taste of her blood filled his mouth.
His eyes grew hot, the room changed color, and his knees threatened to buckle. “Hold on,” he growled an instant before he locked his arms under her knees, sucked her tongue deep into his mouth, and jerked her from the counter, spinning them around.
They slammed into the wall with enough force the sheetrock cracked. Ember fucked him stroke for stroke as he pistoned into her uncontrollably. Somewhere in the far reaches of his mind he knew he should pull back, but then she bit his tongue, sucking his blood into her sweet little mouth with wild abandon.
Angel came. He could no more stop it than he could stop Ember from draining him now if she so desired. His eyes rolled back and his knees hit the floor with her still wrapped around him. He somehow managed to hold on to her as his seed exploded inside her in powerful jets of euphoria that stopped his breath.
Chapter Five
Ember shuddered on Angel’s lap as the last of her orgasm faded to a soft throb. She’d never lost control like that before. Her body housed a raging fever that seemed to burn through her system like lava.
“What’s happening to me?”
He pulled her tighter against him. “You’re going into heat.”
That brought her head up. “I’m what?”
“Your human side is ovulating, forcing your vampire side into an early heat.”
Ember studied the sincerity in his eyes as a fresh round of desire washed through her aching body, wringing a moan from her tired lips.
“I’m sorry, baby. I should never have allowed this to happen.” He stood in one fluid motion with her legs still locked behind his back.
She unhooked her feet as the sting of his words settled in. “I can stand.”
“Stop arguing.” He swung her up into his arms and opened the door.
Ember watched as he poked his head around the doorjamb before stepping into his room. He gently laid her on his bed and
covered her with a blanket. “Can I get you anything? Are you hungry or thirsty?”
“Some answers would be nice.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Sure. Ask away.”
“This heat thing. What should I expect and how long does it last?” She fidgeted with the blanket.
He appeared uncomfortable. “Normally, three days.”
“Can I get pregnant? I mean, I’m on the pill.”
“I don’t know. The pill doesn’t work on vampires. And you’re getting close to a complete change. However, you are still part human, so I’m assuming you’re safe.”
“You’re assuming?” Ember wasn’t sure how she felt about that. To be the mother of Angel’s child would be one of the most beautiful things she could imagine, but to bring a baby into the world with a target on his or her head would be unthinkable.
Angel took a seat on the edge of the bed. “I’ve never been in this situation, so this is a first for both of us.”
“How is it that you never had children? I’m sure the women have been lined up to be with you since you were old enough to drive.”
“I’ve always been extremely careful, and I have never met anyone I wanted to have a child with.”
His words stung more than she’d imagined they would. Ember plucked at a piece of invisible lint on the blanket to avoid eye contact. “I see.”
“And for your information, I was old enough to drive before there were things to drive.”
Ember’s mouth fell open. “How old are you?”
“Older than you.” He smiled and kissed her nose.
“How long do vampires live?”
“Some live longer than others, but a very long time.”
It didn’t take a rocket scientist to see that he was hedging. “What are you not telling me?”
“Nothing. I just think you need to sleep for a while. I should never have allowed things to get out of hand earlier.” He stood and donned a robe.
“Where are you going?”
“To make you a drink and check on our guests. I’ll be right back.”
Ember (The Seeker Series Book 1) Page 16