Heart of a Vampire, Book Bundle (Books 1-3)

by Amber Kallyn

  “Nay.”

  She nodded, looking down at her lap.

  He stared at her as tiredness crept over him. In just a moment, he would get up and go to his room.

  * * *

  Dalia watched as Jordan’s eyes drifted closed. The lines around his eyes and mouth were pronounced, etched by worry and too many sleepless nights.

  She knew how he must feel, to have his sister gone. From all she’d seen, he was a man bound by duty. Not only was his sister missing, but so were other vampires. The strain of being unable to rescue them immediately must be taking its toll.

  When his eyes didn’t open, she sighed. She couldn’t bring herself to wake him. Let him sleep. The bed was big enough.

  She unlaced his black shoes and slipped them off, then grabbed a blanket and covered him.

  Turning the lights low, she slid into bed, head on her arm, as she stared at him. He’d been born in a different time, a different world from her own.

  Yet, he was brave, committed. He faced his duties with a resolve she’d never seen in the guys around her growing up other than her father. Her dad was one of the most heroic men she’d ever known.

  A pang clenched her heart from the sorrow of missing her family.

  If she managed somehow to get past this trial and everything else, she would see them again. Dalia didn’t care about rules or councils. Her family was a huge part of her life. And she couldn’t bear the thought of the pain they must be going through, thinking her dead—if they even believed those lies.

  She just hoped her death stayed a lie for long time.

  * * *

  Dalia dreamt. Warmth caressed her shoulders, her neck, her cheek. She turned her head and felt the pounding of a pulse against her lips.

  Hunger and instinct took over. She bit into flesh, drinking the sweet, hot blood.

  Someone shouted.

  She snapped her eyes open. Jordan rose above her, his arm stretched her way and his wrist at her mouth. She tried to push away, but the bed and his arm kept her there.

  “It’s all right. We were asleep.”

  “I was dreaming,” she mumbled against his moist skin, remembering the sexual tingling in her body. They flushed back now as she was irresistibly drawn to glance over his body.

  Either he’d had the same dream or always woke horny, but she was made very aware of how he was feeling at the moment.

  Electrifying heat stoked the flames rising inside her and she met Jordan’s gaze. His eyes were filled with sleep, as if he thought he might still be dreaming. He smiled, his fangs curving over his bottom lip.

  Slowly, so slow she thought time might have stopped, he leaned closer. He brushed his lips over hers and the flames inside her leapt up, trying to consume.

  She gasped, reaching cautiously to touch his muscled arm. His skin was smooth, overlying a strength that could crush her.

  He gently pushed her back into the pillows, nibbling and licking her lips. He kissed her softly, his lips pressing to hers. His body flexed above hers and she wanted to be naked, to feel skin on skin.

  Jordan lifted on his arms, staring down at her. His eyes flashed red, bright in the shadows of the night. She couldn’t stop a moan of pleasure at the wet heat of his kiss. Her eyes fluttered open and her mind flashed back. Thomas lay above her, forcing her clothes aside so he could pound away. She shuddered, drawing back and curling into herself.

  Jordan’s touch stilled, though he didn’t pull away. “Thomas violated you, didn’t he?”

  “I-I...” She didn’t know what to say. The thought of kissing Jordan didn’t scare her. He’d never harm her.

  But she never wanted to see that memory again.

  “How did you know?”

  “I have seen many women abused in my time. I have kissed you before, yet yesterday, when you remembered, your reactions told all.”

  She flushed with embarrassment, shame.

  Jordan grasped her hand gently. “I would never force you into anything you did not want. Do you know this?”

  “Of course,” she mumbled, the heat in her face telling her she was flaming red.

  “Then allow me to replace the ugliness with something sweeter.”

  * * *

  Jordan searched Dalia’s eyes, his chest tightening at the sight of horror and shame. She didn’t agree to his request, but neither did she say nay.

  If she would let him, he would override such memories of Thomas permanently.

  He reached up, tracing her cheek, her jaw. Her skin was like rose petals, soft and velvety. Her eyes, luminous and bright, flickered with desire.

  She wanted him, but was afraid.

  Jordan would drive out her fears. He must. His jaw clenched. This intriguing woman should never have suffered. It didn’t matter he knew her not then, he still felt he should have saved her before it all.

  He hoped to make it right in the only way he knew how.

  Slowly he lowered his head to kiss her ear, sweeping his mouth over her jaw and to her lips. She eased into him the slightest bit.

  At the taste of her, he swelled, nearly bursting with need, but he reigned in his desires. He would take this slow, be gentle.

  Give her what she needed.

  He laid her back onto the bed and stretched out beside her, licking her lips like a cat with cream. She moaned against his touch.

  Hesitantly, she trailed her hand through his hair.

  Taking her sign of permission, Jordan lifted up, capturing her gaze as he untied her robe and spread it apart. Her nipples were puckered, straining against the silky nightgown.

  He gently cupped one in his hand, ignoring the way his groin tightened almost painfully.

  Dalia arched into his touch, but as he drew over her, she stiffened, her eyes wide.

  “I will never hurt you,” he whispered huskily, a sharp pain of anger piercing his soul.

  “I know. I’m sorry.” Her voice broke.

  “No.” He kissed her. “Do not apologize. You have nothing to be sorry for.”

  She trembled against him, but nodded.

  Realizing exactly what she must have remembered, Jordan stood and pulled her to her feet. “Better?”

  She swallowed and said, “Yes. Much.”

  “Good.” He slid the robe from her shoulders, letting it drop to the floor. “Were you a virgin before Thomas?”

  Dalia giggled. “Not quite.”

  He didn’t care for the way his gut clenched at that, but only said, “So you have other memories that are not painful.”

  “Yes.”

  Jordan was about to say ‘good’, but it stuck in his throat. Wordlessly, he kissed her again, this time lingering on her delectable mouth. Her lips parted for him and he dipped his tongue inside, tasting her sweetness.

  She twined her hands in his hair, meeting his kiss with her own desire. He slipped the straps of the gown from her shoulders. The silk slid down her body, baring her small, pert breasts, with their dusky nipples. He pushed it down over her hands and stepped back as her narrow waist and generous hips were revealed.

  Jordan drank in the sight reverently. His hands fisted as hot emotions filled him with a sensation of homecoming.

  “You’re beautiful,” he whispered.

  She blushed. “Not by today’s skinny standards.”

  “By mine.”

  Her gaze snapped to him and her cheeks reddened further.

  Jordan knelt before her, sliding the gown down to pool at her feet. He nuzzled her belly, holding her hips.

  She ran her hand over his head and he glanced up. Her bright eyes were reddening and her fangs were peeking out. Proof of her rising desires.

  He caressed her waist, her back, cupped her delectable ass.

  Slowly rising, he kissed along her belly and between the valley of her breasts. Cupping the mounds, he flicked his thumbs over her nipples. She shuddered beneath his touch.

  “Do you like that?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Good.” He licked
the slope of one breast, then captured her nipple between his teeth. Dalia moaned, pressing into him. He sucked her gently, then harder when she cupped his head and tugged him closer.

  He nibbled, using all the control he could muster to keep his fangs from drawing down. He wanted to sink into her flesh, taste her blood as he made her come. Wanted to make her completely his own.

  Drawing back, he put a little distance between them, trying to cool off a little. He reached for the buttons on his shirt, but she pushed his hands away.

  “Let me.”

  His groin throbbed beyond belief as she slid her shaking hands up his chest and to the top button.

  * * *

  Dalia loved the way he twitched beneath her fingers. Touching him didn’t bother her, or bring back those awful memories.

  Her body was flushed with heat and hunger and desire for Jordan. There wasn’t room for anything else.

  She slipped the last button undone and tugged his shirt off, her breath catching at the warrior’s muscular physic she beheld. He was gorgeously sexy.

  When she reached for his belt, Jordan stepped back. “Not yet.”

  He kissed her, not as gentle as before. At last. She yearned for his touch. Grasping his hands, she led him to her breasts. He caressed her chest, teased her nipples as he stepped her back towards the bed.

  He eased her down to sit on the edge, then fell to his knees between her thighs. His calloused hands traced her knees, up her thighs as he pushed her legs apart. He flicked his tongue over one nipple, then licked down her belly.

  She gasped when his hot mouth covered her mound. His tongue teased against her flesh, slipped inside her.

  She moaned, arching up to give him more access. He gripped her butt, lifting her hips to his mouth. She could think of nothing but what this man was making her feel.

  He was being so gentle, as if assuring her again and again that with him, she was safe. And she melted inside.

  The scruff on his chin tickled her inner thighs as he licked her, suckling so sweetly. Her heart filled with heat as her body exploded. She shuddered against him, breathing heavily from the convulsions spilling through her body.

  He licked her one last time and smiled. “Delicious.”

  Standing, he unbuckled his belt and slid his trousers down, kicking them off. He reached for his silk boxers, but she held up a hand.

  “Leave them.”

  He raised a brow with a smirk but kept them on.

  As he moved toward her, Dalia couldn’t stop from stiffening. He turned, laying on his back beside her.

  “Do you enjoy being on top?” he asked, fingers entwining with hers.

  Actually, she did. It hit her what he was doing—giving her the control. Fear drifted away as if it were meaningless here. And between them, it was.

  With a grin, she moved above him and straddled his thighs. “Yes. I do.”

  She traced her hands over his pecks and his nipples, down the thin blond trail on his stomach. He grasped her butt, rubbing softly.

  Easing over him, she licked first one nipple, then the other. His breath caught as she followed the path of her hands along his belly.

  Scooting down, she hooked his boxers, tented by his erection, and tugged them down. He sprang free, long and thick.

  Dalia slid his boxers to his ankles before moving back up, blowing on his length as she passed. She kissed up his stomach and chest, swirled her tongue around a nipple and lightly bit.

  He groaned and bucked beneath her. She’d drawn blood. Licking the salty sweetness, she realized how badly taking his blood turned him on.

  And she grinned with the knowledge. The power this man didn’t mind her having. Something inside her warmed, softening, as she looking into his eyes. They shone, blue surrounded by red, full of the same emotions inside her.

  She reached between them, positioning his hardness at her already slick entrance. Nuzzling his throat, she bit at the same time she plunged down his length.

  He cried out, arms wrapping around her. “Can I bite you?”

  “Please,” she moaned as he filled her fully. His length throbbed inside her as she eased up.

  He licked her neck, pushing her up until they were both sitting. She slid down his length, rocking back and forth as he nipped her breast with a fang.

  Blood welled on her skin and he lapped at it, his eyes glazing over.

  She rode him, taking his blood in as he drank hers.

  Ripples of pleasure spread through her. Jordan groaned, clasping her waist and moving her faster.

  She jerked on his hair, raising his mouth to her own. The taste of her blood on his tongue drove her crazy. She rose and fell with him guiding her. Sparks flowed between them, enveloping them with energy. Dalia screamed into his mouth as she came, her body rocking to the orgasmic shudders again and again.

  He kissed her hard, frenzied as he pumped into her. Then he groaned with his own release.

  His grip on her waist slowed her movements. They leaned against each other, skin slick with sweat. As their labored breathing slowing, he laid back, drawing her over him, plastered to his chest.

  She smiled dreamily as his arms wrapped around her, holding her tight.

  Safe.

  Protected.

  Chapter Twelve

  Dalia woke to the room filled with the colorful hues of dawn. She was full, with Jordan’s blood, his touch, his scent. He was stretched out, his arms raised above his head. His wide, strong chest rose and fell with even breaths. His long fingers twitched and she remembered the feel of them on her skin.

  Her heart sped up and her stomach growled—not in hunger for blood, but to have this man love her again.

  He moved and she jerked her gaze to his face. He stared at her, reflected desire flushing his eyes.

  She didn’t know what to say to him.

  She didn’t know how things between them had changed. What it meant to him.

  Making love to him opened her wide to more pain. She didn’t know how to handle that right now.

  She blinked and the spell was broken. “I’m going to get food.”

  Edging out of the bed, she pulled on a thick robe and some fuzzy slippers. She headed downstairs, for the kitchen. From the heated compartment, she grabbed a medical bag of blood and gulped it down. It eased the small fire in her stomach, but more, it calmed her, helped her think.

  As Dalia was pulling out a few more bags to take to her room for Jordan, a wooden bowl clattered on the floor.

  She spun and faced the kid Robby.

  He grabbed the bowl from the floor and set it on the counter, then turned to walk out.

  “I didn’t do what they say,” she told him softly.

  His back to her, he shrugged. “How do I know?”

  Dalia laid the warm bags of blood on the island counter, but didn’t approach him any further. “Did you ever see or hear about me torturing people?”

  “We’re not people. We’re vampires.”

  She sighed. “Did you.”

  He slowly turned, still not meeting her eyes, but it was a start. “No.”

  “The wolves are lying. I may not remember what happened, but I know who I am. I’d never hurt anyone like that.”

  Robby lifted his chin, his back straightening. He met her gaze, and his dark eyes were red, shining with tears. “Everyone does stuff they don’t want to if they’re forced into it.”

  She nodded, thinking over his words. “You’re right. But I still don’t believe I could ever do what they say I did.”

  He gave her a wobbly half-smile. “Really?”

  “Mostly.” She couldn’t lie to his innocent face.

  “If you’re forced into doing something, then you’re not really all the way responsible, right?”

  Not in her mind, but she didn’t voice her opinion.

  “So, you’re a good guy after all.” Robby practically skipped from the room, leaving Dalia standing there, confused.

  She didn’t want to think of the possibil
ities the boy had brought up, didn’t want to consider she might have done exactly what the wolves accused her of. Forced or not, it didn’t matter.

  Dalia didn’t think she could bear regaining memories of slicing a little girl’s ear off. It would destroy her soul.

  Slowly, numb, she grabbed the bags of blood and headed back to her room. Jordan lay on the bed, leaning against the headboard, his arms crossed over a chest she could barely look away from. She remembered how he felt, tasted. When she finally met his gaze, it was to find his eyes dark and hooded.

  With shaking hands, she set the blood on the table by the bed, then headed for the window, watching the slow sun rise as he got out of bed and dressed.

  His movements were whisper quiet. She jumped as he rubbed his hands down her arms, his chest pressed to her back. “I’m fully satisfied,” he murmured against her hair.

  She was, and yet, she wasn’t. A dark cloud hovered over them both. The things she’d been accused of and his missing family.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  Besides the fact they’d made love and she could only act like some shy virgin because she didn’t know what to say? Didn’t know what to think? Instead, she replied, “Am I that obvious?”

  “I can... sense your distress.”

  She turned and met his gaze. “How?”

  He shrugged. “I’m your sire.” Yet his voice caught as if he wasn’t telling her everything.

  She didn’t push, still too numb from her thoughts to really care.

  “Tell me what is wrong.” He ran his hands up and down her arms. His heat slowly filled her, waking all her senses.

  “I just... maybe I did what the wolves claim.”

  His movements stopped. “I don’t believe it,” he replied, a hard edge to his tone.

  “Thomas was evil. If he forced me to participate in his tortures—”

  “Then we will deal with it. Even so, that doesn’t necessarily make you guilty.”

  Her chest burned, her eyes watered. She stared at the buttons on his shirt. “I don’t think I can.”

  Jordan lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “You can. We can.”

  She tried to pull back, but he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and led her to the bed. He sat, dragging her down beside him, and held her to his side.