Illicit Hunger

by Dee Carney

  A silky voice said, “You don’t have to just stand there, you know.”

  His pulse quickened at the voice. Her voice.

  Without turning, he sighed. “Prima lux, I’m not comfortable with being in here at all. This is… inappropriate.”

  He could hear the rustle of her clothing as she walked across the room in some strapless number that left her back exposed. Although the skirts reached the floor, the top gave him a full-on erection. Beneath the layers of sheer material, he could see the outline of her nipples quite clearly. Thank the gods she wore a shawl over it when outside of her room and in the presence of others. But they weren’t outside of her room right now.

  “Jericho, we need to talk about what happened last night. In here is about the only place we’re guaranteed privacy.”

  “But prima lux…”

  “Would you just call me Lia, please? Out there, prima lux. In here, just Lia.” Her harsh tone softened. “Please.”

  “We really have nothing to talk about. We did what was necessary. I would do it again if it would save your life, prima lux.”

  Something soft hit his back. Startled, he turned to find one of her small throw pillows on the floor. When he glanced up, he found himself staring into her angry face. The torrential force of it caught him by surprise.

  “I have a name. It is Aurelia. Or Lia. Do you get that? Lia. Say it.”

  He arched an eyebrow and valiantly worked to hold his twitching mouth still. “Lia.”

  “Again.” The look on her face defied him to say anything other than what she directed him to say. “Lia.”

  His lips curved into a rueful smile. So this was the prima lux? Correction, Lia. Not the dainty little thing he took her for at first, at all. The commands, the tone were impressive.

  “Lia.”

  She stabbed a finger in his direction. “Out there, prima lux. In here, Lia. Got that?”

  He inclined his head. “As you wish, Lia.”

  “You’re damn right,” she snapped.

  Jericho couldn’t help himself. He laughed.

  A few minutes later, he sat across from her in a small receiving room. He was saved from embarrassing himself when she draped her shoulders with the shawl. As they progressed with their conversation, he started to realize he might have been wrong about this assignment, after all.

  The consummate hostess, she poured him hot coffee as they settled themselves at the table. That she would serve humbled him. He expected some servant of the family to shuffle in at any point and take over, but she seemed quite at ease with the task. If anyone outside heard of the vampire serving a were, the community would come to an immediate halt. And heads would roll.

  Most likely, his.

  “You’re not what I expected,” he said after taking a sip of the brew.

  The smile she gave him lit her eyes. “And what did you expect?”

  “I don’t know. You have all this.” He gestured to the room. “I just expected different from you pri—Lia.”

  “Don’t judge a book by its cover, Jericho.”

  She put down her cup and looked away. He took the opportunity to scrutinize her face. He was amazed to find her skin wasn’t the flawless porcelain he once took it for. An old scar ran a short distance along her jaw line. She also had a small smattering of freckles across her nose. Her large blue eyes drew him away from everything else, though. If she smiled, it gave her a glow that resonated from a beauty also found on the inside.

  Her gaze remained fixed on the picture hanging next to them. “You know, I’m no virgin, but I’m at a loss as to how to begin this conversation.”

  He coughed as he inhaled coffee down the wrong pipe. By the time he cleared his airway, a faint wheeze sounded from his lungs. “That’s as good a start as any.”

  She chuckled. “I suppose it is. And I suppose I should approach the rest by just jumping in with both feet?”

  “By all means.”

  “Okay, then. Well, I don’t know how or why, but we were intimate, Jericho. I could feel you, or something that represented you, inside my body. That’s never happened to me before, not while feeding.”

  Gods. Maybe both feet were a little too much. The erection he held at bay came roaring back with a vengeance.

  He shrugged, the gesture an attempt to shift his entire body and hide his enthusiastic friend. “It was probably a result of your being so close to death. I wouldn’t expect it to happen again.”

  “You think so?”

  “It’s possible and really, it doesn’t matter. It’s not something either of us plans on repeating, right?”

  Jericho brought the cup to his mouth, poised to take another sip. When she didn’t answer, he almost forgot he held it there. She nibbled on her thumbnail as she stared back at him. He could almost see a question forming in her mind.

  “Lia?”

  “I’m thinking.”

  He didn’t know whether or not he was secretly thrilled at how long it was taking her to respond with a simple no. “Lia…”

  “Wait. See, this is what I’m thinking…”

  She didn’t get to finish her sentence because Jericho went on alert. He put the cup down and raised his finger to his lips in a gesture for her silence. He couldn’t be concerned as to whether or not she would be offended because he had other things on his mind.

  Someone outside was listening at the door.

  Chapter Four

  “What is it?” she asked when Jericho started to rise.

  While keeping one hand raised for her to remain silent, his other hand drifted to the weapon on his hip. He maneuvered to place himself between Lia and the door, ready for anything. With the attack on her life the previous night, the reason for which had never been explained, he couldn’t be too careful.

  The faint scent of vampire drifted to him, but put him only a little at ease. The man last night had been a vampire too. It would be difficult to gain access to the inside of the complex for just anyone, but that didn’t make it impossible. Even if the person belonged, their hesitation outside of the door lasted far too long for his comfort.

  Just as he placed a hand on the doorknob, it turned. As the door opened, he stepped behind it, flattening himself against the wall. The move allowed the person to walk into the room without detecting him. From the open doorway, the eavesdropper would only see Lia still seated at the table.

  He watched as the servant he expected to serve them earlier swept into the room with a small platter of food. She placed it down on the table, acknowledging Lia with a polite greeting. Lia responded in kind, keeping her attention fixed to the servant. Nothing in her manner alerted the middle-aged woman of Jericho’s presence behind the door. He stayed there until she left the room, moving only once the door began to shut.

  “Did you think all that was really necessary?” Lia looked at him with her head cocked.

  “It can’t hurt to be careful. Though, her behavior bothers me. She knew I was here, yet didn’t act surprised when she did not see me,” he replied. He sheathed his weapon before joining her at the table again.

  “What makes you so certain?”

  “She listened at the door for almost a full minute before entering.”

  Lia’s eyes widened. “So what are you suggesting? I’m sure she only wanted to make sure she didn’t interrupt us at an inopportune time. Besides, what happens in my private quarters is not meant to be gossip fodder for the servants and, therefore, is none of her concern.”

  Jericho snorted.

  “Something on your mind, were?”

  “Have you thought about who might be trying to kill you, Lia? The attempt could have been successful.”

  She waved a dismissive hand. “It is part of who I am. Part of my life. I, in particular, especially until I am wed, will always be someone’s target.”

  “You don’t seem upset by it.”

  “Because it’s the way of things. Our community is strong and after I wed,” she paused, a dark cloud shadowing her face
, “after that day, the strength of my family will be unrivaled.”

  Jericho blinked at her in disbelief. “You say that as if you would expect no less. The attempts on your life, I mean.”

  Again, the wistful idea of living simply during his last days as a guard fluttered just beyond reach. If attempts on her life were part of her every day existence, as she insisted, he’d been placed in a precarious situation. If anything at all happened to her while she remained under his care, he could kiss his own ass goodbye.

  “Don’t take this the wrong way, Jericho, but no human or werewolf likes a vampire that is too strong and that’s what I’d be.”

  “Wait a minute,” he interrupted. “What does this have to do with werewolves or humans? A blood-sucker attacked you last night.”

  Her face reddened. “Of course not. It had to be a human or werewolf. You’re mistaken in your assumption.”

  “It is no assumption and I am not mistaken, Lia. I know what I scented last night. A vampire attacked you.”

  Lia chewed her bottom lip as she stared at him. Her voice chilled a few degrees when she finally spoke. “A vampire would never dare.”

  “What makes you so certain, so sure none of your kind is beneath assassinating you?”

  “Because I am prima lux! Second only to the Lugh. My wishes, my words are law! None of my kind would dare harm a hair on my body.”

  To argue with her would only fan her anger even further. He knew what he knew. The fair-haired man reeked of vampire and newly spilled blood—just as most others of his kind did. If she wanted to believe vamps were above killing one of their own, he could only prove it to her by exposing the assassin in the act. Since Ross had been unsuccessful in apprehending the man, future encounters seemed inevitable. Hopefully, she would be married before the next attempt and that burden wouldn’t be his to bear.

  Although, the thought of her marrying someone else made his stomach knot.

  “You look disturbed, Jericho. “ Her raised eyebrow and half-smile mocked him. “As if you don’t believe I have that power over my community.”

  Why didn’t she get it? Power—especially too much power—encouraged violence against her, not prevented it. Still, it was not his place to draw her attention to what seemed obvious to him.

  He inclined his head, dropping his eyes with the motion. “I did not mean to offend…”

  “Cut it out. Speak freely to me.”

  First he was to call her by name, then she encouraged him to speak freely? Her ancestors were probably not just turning in their graves, but spinning at full-throttle.

  “You are a fascinating person, Lia.”

  She laughed. “I seriously doubt that’s what you were thinking a moment ago.”

  “True,” he acknowledged with a smile. “But it’s what I’m thinking now.”

  “So you’re not going to tell me?”

  “What I was thinking?” He shook his head. “No, Lia. Not unless you order me to.”

  “Is it so bad?”

  “Not at all.”

  “Then I will wait until the day you think you can trust me enough to tell me what’s on your mind, Jericho.”

  One day they might get there, but he doubted it. He picked up his cooled coffee, took a sip and said, “Until that day, then.”

  * * * *

  Lia baited him every chance she got.

  Something about having him so close day after day roused her desire to push him into behaving some way other than with the detached emotion he wore as he waited by her side. He could be a slab of granite for all the excitement he showed as he stood by patiently as she finished her everyday chores and mundane tasks of her office. Of course, nothing about preparing to be the next Lugh was terribly stimulating, but he just stood there. It irritated her to no end. Especially since she got occasional peeks at the other side of him and knew something else existed beneath the sultry exterior.

  In the evenings, before she retired to bed, he accompanied her on walks through her father’s garden. The strolls were a habit her mother instilled in her before she died. Years later, Lia realized they were originally intended to heel some of the raging hormones of a teenage vampire. Now, they calmed the mind of a burgeoning politician.

  The first night, he walked a few steps behind her. Not close enough for conversation, but close enough to be at her side in the blink of an eye if need be.

  The following night, she let him keep up that distance for about ten minutes before she made him walk beside her. Conversation started slowly, but he made for an interesting partner.

  By the third night, he offered his arm—which she gladly clasped. The halting conversation she sparked the evening before flowed smoothly this night. He spoke of his homeland, a place he wanted to return to, while she told him of her youth in the community. By the end of the evening, she did not want to retire from his presence. He reminded her of Syler. Of the way he could make her forget who she was while in his presence. For that, she cherished him.

  No matter his apparent ease, every night the furtive glances at their surroundings might have been precautionary against any danger, but she suspected he kept an eye out for anyone who might not like the way they interacted. He was so hell-bent on maintaining appearances.

  As if it mattered. She was prima lux. No matter how many different ways she tried to explain it, he just didn’t get what that meant. But, no matter what, she appreciated the attempts at maintaining her reputation.

  Could she help it her reputation could stand a little tarnish and he was such a convenient target?

  “So you really think women with piercings in exotic places are sexy?”

  “Gods, Lia.” Jericho groaned. “How did we get on this topic?”

  She laughed at the consternation in his voice. If the moon shone brighter, she had no doubt as to the blush that would be coloring his cheeks. After catching her breath, she pleaded, “Just tell me!”

  “I will answer no such question from you.” The smile he tried to unsuccessfully squelch continued to turn up the corners of his mouth.

  Four days. In four short days they’d become friends. His sexual appeal often dropped in to say hello to her flustered hormones, but he seemed to have beaten any desires he may have harbored into submission.

  She was not so fortunate.

  When she looked up at him, she often glimpsed the pulse in his neck beating in tune just for her. He also had a unique scent of earthiness and cloves which lingered even when he left. Last night he leaned close and the urge to bite him again overwhelmed her. He didn’t seem to notice. But that moment went with her into the bedroom that night.

  “Oh, fine. But if you’re not going to answer that one, I have another one for you.”

  “I’m almost afraid to ask what it is,” he replied. A smile still curved his lips.

  “Well, this one’s a little personal.”

  “And asking me what I find sexy isn’t?”

  She thought for a minute on how best to phrase her question. “Is it true what they say about werewolves?”

  He shrugged. “I guess it depends on what they say.”

  “I was thinking about why it didn’t make sense for a vampire to attack me the other night.”

  “That again?”

  “And I came up with something that makes sense.”

  Her hand rested in the crook of his arm. When Jericho stopped walking, she paused beside him. “Go on,” he said, looking down on her.

  “You’re the first werewolf I’ve really gotten to know and I don’t have any one else to ask. So here goes.” Lia took a deep breath before continuing. “I’ve heard that weres can be a little… impulsive.”

  The moment she felt him tense, she regretted the statement.

  “Impulsive,” he repeated.

  In for a penny, in for a pound. “I’ve heard that sometimes they can… well, kind of lose control. That’s why they can be dangerous to have around.”

  He turned to face her, his eyes angry slits. “Do you
consider me too dangerous to be around you?”

  “No, of course not!” Gods, why had she started this conversation? “Just something I heard.”

  “Don’t be so quick to believe everything you hear, prima lux.”

  Now she’d done it. He only reverted to her title when they were alone if she pushed him too far. Any other friend would have stalked off by now. Her guard waited for her to make the first move. But if he were truly her friend and not just an employee, she should apologize. She had no problem apologizing as a vampire to a werewolf, but for the prima lux to apologize?

  Never.

  She bit her lip. Then again, never was such a strong word.

  Jericho raked a hand through his hair and blew out a breath. “Please don’t look so stricken. I did not mean to offend, Lia.”

  “You haven’t…”

  “What you’ve heard has some truth to it. Weres can be dangerous and impulsive. But for us, it has to do with the call of the moon. When that time comes, we are unpredictable. Thank the gods, we know in advance when it will happen.”

  “Only for one night, right? The full moon?”

  “Right,” he said. “I say we’re better off for knowing what will happen. Not like other creatures who can turn on a whim.”

  “Is that some sort of veiled shot at vampires?” She smiled.

  His gray eyes flashed at her. “If the shoe fits.”

  “Well,” she huffed, “I can’t speak for other vamps, but I am not impulsive.”

  “Oh?”

  “Do you think I’m impulsive?” It was her turn for hackles to rise.

  “I’d say in the right circumstances you could be.”

  Lia put balled up hands on her hips. “Oh yeah? And when would that be?”

  Jericho glanced down both directions of the path. She reacted on simple instinct by backing up when he rushed forward. In three large strides, he had her all but pinned between him and the tall hedges at her back. He stood close enough for her to feel the heat radiating from his body, less than an inch of space separating them.