She suddenly found herself in Angel’s arms. She hadn’t seen him move. “Calm down, baby. They are being told everything and will be taken someplace safe until this is over.”
“And where is safe? Is there even such a place?” She pulled back to search his gaze.
“I will find the Seeker, pluck out his eyes, and play golf with them. Trust me on that.”
“I do trust you, but we don’t even know who the Seeker is. We’re like sitting ducks, Angel.” Dizziness rushed through her, leaving her weak and shaky. “I’m going to finish up here, take a hot bath, and then call Mom to let her know I’m okay.”
“You can’t tell her where we are.” Angel spoke with quiet finality.
“What am I supposed to say when they ask?”
“You’re going to have to lie. Tell them you are somewhere in Miami or the Panhandle. Anywhere but here.”
Sweat beaded on her forehead as another warm sensation passed through her. “I’m going to take a bath,” she muttered, stepping around him.
“Lock the door.”
Something in his voice pulled her up short. She glanced over her shoulder, noticing the red swirling in the depths of his eyes before he turned away.
She shouldn’t have looked, she thought with a wince as the throbbing in her clit intensified.
“Ember…”
Her feet didn’t want to move anymore than her heart did.
“Go,” he growled. “Before I forget all the reasons why I shouldn’t take you on every piece of furniture in this house.”
Still, she hesitated. She wanted him with everything inside her. Her pussy grew wet with the thought of his hands on her body, touching her, learning her. No one had ever come close to rocking her the way Angel did.
“You’re killing me, baby. It’s taking everything I have to stay off you. I’m no saint, Ember. I’m a vampire. A very turned-on vampire, so please leave me and go take your bath.”
Wetness slicked her thighs through her shorts. She needed him to the point it was becoming painful again. “It hurts.”
The air whooshed from her lungs as she found herself flat of her back on the very island she’d just eaten on.
“Lift your hips,” he demanded from between her knees.
Ember couldn’t imagine anything sexier than Angel in that moment with his hair hanging loose around his face, his fangs fully extended, and crimson swirls circling his pupils.
She rose up enough so he could slide her shorts along with her panties down her legs and off her feet.
He dropped them on the floor and zeroed in on her exposed sex. “So beautiful and wet.”
Rising up on her elbows, Ember watched as he flattened his palms on the insides of her thighs, pushing her legs apart. His thumbs slid up to her outer lips with the slightest pressure, opening her for his view.
There was no doubt in her mind and no hesitation in her voice. Her body craved release and her heart craved Angel. “Yes. God, yes.”
Chapter Eleven
Angel’s gaze devoured Ember’s beautiful body, memorizing every curve and contour. She was perfection in its finest form from the soft indention connecting her legs to her pussy to the tiny dimple at the edge of her ass.
The vampire in him wanted nothing more than to bite that damn dimple, but he refrained. He’d enjoy her later after he brought her to orgasm several times.
Adding more pressure with his thumbs, Angel opened her wider. The scent of her arousal nearly drove him mad with lust. He glanced up her body, noticing the frantic pulse beating in her neck, matched only by the thundering of her heart.
He leaned in and gently swiped his tongue over her clit. She jerked beneath him, and her gasp echoed off the walls of the kitchen. Her incredible flavor coupled with the sounds she made sent him reeling. He wouldn’t be able to take much more, he thought with another swipe of his tongue.
His cock was hard enough to drive nails through concrete, but he wouldn’t take her. Not while she was in heat. As much as he wanted to thrust into her over and over, he would not continue to risk impregnating her. She deserved better from him.
A vision of her soft belly swollen with his child passed through his mind, and a fierce possessiveness overtook him. She belonged to him, damn it, along with any children she birthed in her lifetime. He would kill any man who dared to touch her.
Her back suddenly bowed off the table, and she locked her legs behind his neck. “Yes,” she moaned, squeezing him tighter as he wrapped his lips around her clit, sucking it into his mouth.
Angel inserted two fingers into her wet pussy, curling them forward in a come-to-me motion before lashing her hard, tiny nub with his tongue.
Her legs began to shake, hands flew to his hair, and a hoarse cry wrenched from her that shattered his will to hold back. His fangs shot down, and he jerked away.
She stared back at him with choppy breathing and crimson-colored eyes. “Don’t stop. I ache.”
Angel had never experienced anything quite like this before—one in the middle of changing and in heat simultaneously. She was an anomaly. “If I touch you again, I will take you.”
“Please,” she nearly shouted.
Every good intention Angel had flew out the window along with his common sense. Besides, he’d already taken her in the bathroom back at his condo a few hours before. Once more wouldn’t make a difference.
Unzipping his pants, Angel freed his engorged cock and stepped into the juncture of Ember’s thighs. “Hold on to me.” He entered her the second her feet connected behind his ass.
The feel of her hot, wet pussy squeezing his erection damn near buckled his knees. He grabbed on to the island top for support and thrust hard enough it scraped across the floor.
Ember’s sexy cries swirled inside his head, leaving him drunk on emotion. She was his and would be for the rest of their unnatural lives… His to pleasure, his to protect, and his to love.
“Ember? I—” The vibration of his cell interrupted his confession. It could only be his parents, Shon, or Laura. No one else had his number besides Ember.
“Angel, don’t stop. I’m so close.”
He couldn’t stop if he wanted to. And he damn sure didn’t want to. Flattening his body over hers, he ground his pelvis against her and then thrust, repeating the action over and over.
With a handful of her hair, he jerked her head to the side. “Say it,” he growled, dragging his teeth across the soft skin of her neck.
“I’m yours, Angel, always yours. Oh, God…please do it.”
Angel struck, sinking his fangs into the pulse point in her throat. The feel of her sweet blood rushing through his system was almost as powerful as his seed rushing from his cock.
Ember came apart beneath him, mumbling erotic words in his ear that triggered another orgasm. Angel’s eyes rolled back in bliss as his body shuddered uncontrollably.
Without warning, she yanked his lips from her throat and sank her own dainty fangs into the crook of his neck. He wouldn’t have believed it possible before tonight, but more of his seed exploded from his body with the first pull from her warm mouth.
“Ah, baby. Fuck,” Angel groaned, turning his head to give her better access. If he died in that moment, he’d die happy. No heaven imaginable could possibly compare to being inside Ember while she fed from him.
Several minutes passed before she licked his wound and sighed in his ear. “Angel?”
“Hmmm?”
“Your phone is ringing again.”
“I hear it.” He wanted to stay exactly where he was.
“It could be about my parents.”
The insecurity in her voice tore at his heart. “I’ll get it.”
With a deep sigh, he pulled from her snug body, licked her own wound closed, and helped her to her feet. He retrieved her shorts from the floor and handed them to her before righting his jeans.
Angel fished his cell from his pocket and swiped his thumb across the screen. He noticed his hands still shook and wond
ered if he’d ever get used to making love with Ember. “There’s a voicemail.”
She donned her shorts and came to stand next to him. “Put it on speaker.”
He keyed in his password and pressed the number one digit to play the message. Hi, son, it’s Mom. Ember’s parents are with us now. We are on our way to the airport. Vince is waiting for us there and will take us home. Please keep yourself safe. We are ditching our phones as soon as we take flight in case the worst happens and someone gets a hold of either of your cells. We can’t risk them being traced. Your father and I love you, and we’ll check in as soon as we can.
Both of her parents would be secure, Angel thought with relief. That relief, however, was short-lived when he looked into Ember’s eyes. She would never be safe as long as the Seeker still had breath. Angel would take her from this place, he silently vowed, until all danger had been obliterated.
“I’m sorry you didn’t get a chance to speak to your folks, Ember. I’ll take you to them soon. I promise.”
“They must be so scared, Angel. What if the Seeker gets to them before we do?” The tears swimming in her eyes were a kick to his gut.
“He won’t,” Angel swore, taking hold of her shoulders.
“You can’t know that for certain. How can you be so sure?”
Angel’s grip tightened. “Because my grandfather, Marco, is the descendent of Vlad the Impaler. He’s one of the most powerful vampires in the world.”
“But you said he disappeared after his wife was murdered.”
“It is not he that awaits our parents’ arrival.”
“Then who?”
“Vlad himself.”
“Dracula?” Ember’s eyes grew huge. “Oh, my God. How is he still alive? He has to be ancient.”
Angel’s lips twitched. If she had any idea how much her statement would be frowned upon amongst his people, she would probably faint. “He doesn’t like to be referred to as ancient.”
“I bet. Just how old is he?”
“He’s one of the oldest living vampires in existence, but no one truly knows.”
“Haven’t you ever asked him?”
Angel grinned. “No. I value my head too much.”
“How odd that no one has asked. I’m going to take that bath now.” She rubbed at her eyes and moved off in the direction of the bathroom.
Angel watched her go with a silent groan. She had no idea what she did to him with her hair hanging loose down her back and those shorts hugging her ass. He wanted her again. I’m so screwed.
Chapter Twelve
Ember exhaled a sigh as she sank neck deep into the Jacuzzi. The hot water felt amazing on her skin and the bath salts Angel had provided rose up with the steam, tickling her senses.
The love they’d just made had been incredible if not risky, and she couldn’t have stopped it if she’d wanted to. In all honesty, she craved him again and probably would forever.
A light knock on the door brought her out of her musing. “It’s open.”
Angel entered the room carrying a glass of wine and two fluffy pink towels. The intoxicating scent that always surrounded him drifted up Ember’s nose and made a beeline for her clit.
He handed her the wine and set the towels on a small table next to the tub. “I’ll go so you can finish your bath.”
“Wait.” She inwardly cringed. The demand sounded desperate to her own ears. “Sit.”
He stopped next to the tub. “Ember, baby. If I don’t leave right this second, I’m going to take you again…hard. You’re in heat and your body calls to mine.”
She sat up straighter, allowing her breasts to crest the water. “Then what are you waiting for?”
* * * *
Laura stretched and rolled out of bed with one eye open. She hated mornings with a passion, especially after she’d been up most of the night, and it was still dark out, but the many nightmares interrupting her sleep deemed she get up.
She stumbled into the bathroom, flipped on the light, and started the shower. It’s going to be a long day.
Ember’s damn cousin picked that moment to steal into her thoughts. She wondered if he was asleep yet or if he waited until daylight to pass out or whatever his kind did.
After a quick wash and rinse, Laura climbed out and brushed her teeth. She dressed in record time, slipped on her heels, and rushed into the living room to find it empty.
“Shon?” No answer.
A little disappointed that he hadn’t stayed, she picked up her cell and sent him a text. Heading to work. Call me when you get up this evening.
She dropped the phone in her purse that hung by the bar and checked her watch. It was only five thirty, and the sun wouldn’t be up for another hour.
Her stomach growled, and she realized she’d skipped dinner the night before. With so much time to spare, she perused the fridge. She grabbed the eggs, orange juice, and two pieces of bread.
“Want some breakfast, Milo?” The calico cat sprawled out on the back of the couch made a loud meow sound and swooshed her tail in response.
“If you only knew where this egg came from, you’d mow me down to get to it.” Laura opened a can of cat food and spooned it into a shiny bowl next to the bar. “Come get it.”
The cat suddenly hissed and bounded off the couch.
“What’s the matter girl? Did something—”
“Don’t move.”
Laura opened her mouth to scream as a wet cloth covered her face. She kicked out with everything she had but was no match for the one that held her. Shock blazed through her body along with confusion. “You…”
The room went black.
To be continued…
The Seeker
EMBER TURNS
Book Five
By Ditter Kellen
Chapter One
Angel fought his way up from the fog. The heaviness in his limbs enraged him as he expanded his senses throughout the house. Ember was gone.
The sun wasn’t due to set for nearly an hour, he surmised by the weakened state of his body. Ember could be injured or dead by then.
Summoning every ounce of strength he had, Angel rolled from the bed to his hands and knees. He began to crawl in the direction he remembered the windows to be, stopping when the sun’s heat touched his face. His hand shook as he reached for the blackout curtain that separated him from the powerful UV rays.
“Oh, my God, what are you doing?”
Angel collapsed in relief at the sound of Ember’s voice. He didn’t care that he lay in a naked heap completely unmanned in front of her. No, she was alive and that was all that mattered to him.
“Ember…”
“Have you lost your mind?” She wrapped her arms around him and helped him to stand.
He somehow managed to stagger back to the bed with her assistance and pulled her down with him. His speech was slurred, but legible. “Do not leave again.”
She cuddled up next to him and threw one of her legs over his. “I didn’t leave. I was out back picking some fruit. There are tons of orange trees here. It’s like a vitamin C festival at this place.”
He would have smiled if he’d had the energy. His lids cracked open enough he could see her beautiful face. “Never had an orange…”
She appeared saddened. “You have no idea what you’re missing.”
“Tell me.”
“Tell you what it tastes like?”
At his weak nod, she continued. “Okay, well, hmmm. Let’s see. I’ll try to describe it in a way you will understand.”
He could feel himself slowly gaining strength as he stared into her amazing eyes. His gaze lowered to her mouth to be mesmerized while she spoke.
“It’s sweet, but a little tart. Cool and soft…wet and delicious.”
“Like you.”
Ember laughed, filling the room with her essence. “From the mouths of vampires.”
“Don’t ever leave again without telling me.”
“I only went outside. I checked the came
ras, and the gate was still locked.”
“Doesn’t matter. I can’t protect you during the daylight.”
Ember moved to sit up. “About that. It took some doing to be able to step outside this morning. I had to wear long sleeves and sunglasses. My face stung like the devil had kissed it. With a torch.”
“I’m sorry.” And he was. He hated that she had to lose that part of herself, but was relieved she’d be with him forever.
“It’s fine, Angel. I’ve been doing some thinking, and I’ve come to the conclusion that no matter what I do at this point, I’m going to have to give up my job.”
“Baby…”
“No, let me finish,” she continued. “I can start my own business. Call it Burns Investigations.”
The sun would be setting soon, and he could feel the weight of the day slowly leaving his body. “Burns Investigations?”
“Fitting, huh?” She smiled, looking like the cat that swallowed the canary.
“You don’t need to work, babe. I have more money than you can ever spend.”
“The key word here is you.”
“It’s yours if you want it. All of it.” And he meant it. She could have everything he owned or would ever own.
She jumped to the floor and began to pace along the foot of the bed. “As much as I appreciate your generous offer, I prefer not to be a kept woman. And besides, I would shrivel up and die if I didn’t work.”
“A kept woman? Come here.” He indicated the spot next to him with a tilt of his head.
Ember continued to pace. “Well, yes. I’m not sure what they are called in your world, but in mine, it’s kept.”
Angel wanted to laugh, but didn’t dare. She thought he only wanted her for sex. Ah, if she only knew.
* * * *
Ember couldn’t stop her feet from moving nor could she meet her big Bulgarian’s perpetual gaze. She’d said far too much and wanted nothing more than to run, but that would be hard to do with her foot stuck in her mouth.
Ember (The Seeker Series Book 1) Page 19