by Crissy Smith
Grant shook his head at the big man. “That’s not nice.”
Sam stuck his hands in his pants pockets, frowning, then turned and looked at her. “I wasn’t going to bite you,” he said.
“All done?” Grant asked. Paige nodded.
“I want you to meet someone,” he told her. They started back down the hallway with Sam following behind. Paige didn’t like having her back to the other man, but Grant had a good hold on her.
They stopped at the end of the hall. “If you’d like your own room, you can stay in this one,” he told her and opened the door.
A beautiful woman stood on the other side of the room. She was tall with long red hair. She nodded, asking, “Paige Gilmore?”
She tried to back up. This wasn’t just a woman—she was a vampire and power poured off of her.
“My name is Marissa. I would like to welcome you.” The woman held out her hand.
Grant was still blocking her escape by standing directly behind her. With no other choice, she placed her hand in the woman’s. Marissa smiled at her and after just a quick shake, let her go.
“I am the director here,” the woman went on to explain. “If you have any questions you can always come to me, or of course, Grant.”
“Where’s here?” she asked, suspiciously. The room was better than the underground cell she had been put in after she’d been made, but she was not ever going to be a prisoner again.
“This is a safe place where people like us can come to when they are in the city,” Marissa told her. “I set this place up a couple of years ago so new or injured vampires would have a place to go without fear.”
It sounded too good to be true. “Why?”
“Because I was once very much like you.”
Paige snorted in response. This woman was too powerful to have ever been like her. A vampire took some power from their Master when they were made. Then every time they killed or drank from another of their kind, they gained more.
“You don’t have to believe me,” Marissa told her reasonably. “But I am giving you a chance to learn everything you were not taught before going out on your own.”
“I’ve been on my own for the last couple of months and did just fine,” Paige argued.
“You were weak and ready to die,” Marissa told her smugly.
Paige looked over her shoulder at Grant. He only shrugged at her accusing look.
She turned her attention to the other woman. “I’m doing fine.”
Marissa moved quickly, placing her hands on either side of Paige’s face. Paige cried out in surprise.
She met the other woman’s eyes and found herself losing any fight left inside.
“You’re hurt and in need. I offer this to you,” Marissa told her quietly. “You have gifts you’ve yet to unlock, and others who would use you for their own purpose.”
Paige knew what the woman was doing. She was putting her in a trance but she couldn’t stop it.
“You will accept what I offer.”
Paige nodded.
Chapter Four
Paige was pissed. How dare that woman put her in a trance? She paced the room she’d been locked inside, trying to come up with a plan.
Never mind that her side no longer hurt or that the headache she’d had for months had finally gone away. The woman had put her in a trance and made her feel helpless once again.
Grant hadn’t been any help, only telling her this was for her own good and leaving.
She screamed and slammed her fist against the wall. The concrete didn’t even crack and her hand exploded with pain.
“Is that really going to solve anything?” someone asked from behind her.
Paige narrowed her eyes as Grant walked through the door and closed it.
“I want out of here,” she demanded.
“I’m sorry, Paige, but you need to be here. We can help you,” he told her with eyes that pleaded with her to understand.
“You can’t keep me hostage. You are no better than anyone else I’ve ever met,” she accused. So it may not have been completely true, but she had believed for a moment that everything would really be okay.
She had believed him.
And that’s what hurt the most. She had begun to think Grant was different. She had wanted to finally trust someone. She hadn’t recognised the feeling until she’d been betrayed.
“One day you’ll understand,” he told her with conviction.
Paige laughed. “Oh that’s rich. I’m not some little girl who needs her daddy to look out for her. I’ve made it on my own and I don’t need you.”
Grant was in front of her before she could blink. He yanked her to him. “Be careful how much you push, Paige,” he warned. “I want you. I want more than just your body, and I feel nothing fatherly towards you.”
Paige wrenched herself out of his arms. “Go to Hell!”
Grant’s eyes flashed. “I came in to see if you needed to feed. You didn’t take much this morning.”
“No, I don’t need to feed,” she yelled into his face. “I don’t need anything but to be let out!”
“If you do need anything just let me know,” Grant told her before walking to the door.
Paige had the strongest urge to reach out for him so she fisted her hands at her sides to help fight against it. Disgusted with herself, she threw herself onto the bed once the door closed.
* * * *
Paige didn’t know how long she slept but when she woke up she felt light-headed and confused. She tried to lift her head but her vision blurred, so she sank back down and pulled the covers over her.
The bed dipped down a little while later and Grant’s voice soothed her aching head. “Baby, what’s wrong? I can feel that you don’t feel well.”
Paige didn’t answer but was secretly relieved he was with her. She closed her eyes as he wrapped his arms around her.
Everything hurt. Her head, eyes, neck, her entire body. She tried to move away from him but found that made her feel sick.
“No. Don’t move,” he told her quietly.
“Stop touching me,” Paige tried to order him but it came out as a whine.
“I can’t. Not with you in pain.”
She didn’t try to move away but she knew she had to voice some kind of protest. None would come.
“You shouldn’t be sick,” he murmured to her. “I want to make you feel better.”
Just being with him was already helping. Not that she would tell him that.
Grant placed his hand over Paige’s forehead, shocked to feel she was burning up. Vampires couldn’t get sick.
He pulled her into his lap before yanking his cell phone out of his back pocket and dialling. Paige shivered his in arms.
“Answer, damn it!” he yelled into the phone.
“’Lo.”
“Sam, I need you to grab Marissa and come to Paige’s room. Something is wrong,” Grant told his friend, close to hysterical.
He was relieved when Sam quickly agreed. “On our way.”
Grant closed the phone and ran his lips over Paige’s check. “It’ll be all right baby. Stay with me,” he murmured to her.
She didn’t respond and that scared him to death.
The door opened and Marissa rushed in with Sam right behind her.
“What happened?” Marissa asked as she knelt next to the bed.
“I don’t know. After I came back from my rounds I found her like this,” Grant confessed. “She’s burning up and won’t stop shaking.”
“Let me see,” Marissa ordered gently and lifted Paige’s head.
“Open your eyes, baby,” Grant whispered to Paige. “Please, open your eyes.”
Paige’s eyes fluttered open for a few seconds before they closed again.
“Okay,” Marissa sighed and placed Paige’s head gently back down.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Marissa stood but kept her gaze on Paige. When she finally looked at him her eyes were full of emotion.
> “You bonded with her,” she said simply.
“I, what? How?”
He got a look, somewhat like a mother gives a child when they are being naïve, and Grant frowned back.
“I know how to bond, but I didn’t,” he said. It was not like you can bond by accident. Ancient words are spoken, the exchange of blood, and only the deepest connection would even be granted a bond. Usually it was only between a newly turned vampire and their Master.
“Well, obviously you did. Sometimes when it’s meant to be, it just happens,” Marissa informed him with a shrug.
“That…that is your answer?” he practically yelled at her.
She lifted and eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest.
Grant dropped his head. “Sorry,” he told her. It wasn’t Marissa’s fault and she was just telling him what she knew.
“Is it really so bad?” Sam asked from his spot against the wall.
Grant didn’t even lift his head. Of course it wasn’t bad but it did come as a shock. “No,” he admitted.
Paige shifted in his arms and he no longer felt her body’s heat like he had.
“She needs your blood. The more she drinks, the faster the bonding effect will wear off,” Marissa told him.
Grant nodded. It was no hardship for him to let Paige drink from him. Still, he needed answers because he had no doubt when Paige was feeling better she would have tons of questions. “Why wasn’t I affected?”
“You are much stronger than her. Remember that while you were made at once, the girls were slowly turned so they would be weaker.”
Grant felt even guiltier. He’d never wanted to hurt Paige.
“The first twenty-four hours are the hardest. You shouldn’t be away from each other once you bond.”
Grant didn’t ever want to be away from her again.
“With no Master, she will feel the connection to you, and you alone.”
Grant couldn’t help the small part of him that was relieved by that.
* * * *
Paige woke up every couple of hours and each time she did, Grant was holding her. Each time she told him not to, but she wasn’t sure if she ever actually said it out loud.
This time when Paige awoke, she was alone in the bed. Slowly opening her eyes, she blinked several times trying to clear her vision. Her stomach cramped and she was almost overwhelmed with the need to feed.
Paige jumped when she noticed the man leaning against the wall. It was the vampire she had met in the hall earlier. He stood staring at her with his arms over his chest.
“So you’re awake now? Are you going to stay that way?” he asked, pushing away from the wall.
Paige looked around and saw they were the only two in the room. As he walked closer, she tried to make myself smaller.
“Still afraid I’m gonna munch on you, huh?”
She didn’t answer, just continued to watch him.
He shook his head and pulled out a cell phone. He punched some numbers and then said. “She’s awake.”
She didn’t know who he had called but knew she had to get out, now! Paige looked towards the door. She was very hungry.
“You’d never make it,” he told her as if he could read her mind.
Paige thought of her options. She was still weak. Usually she only fed once a week, but for whatever reason, she was drained almost completely.
She could make a run for it, but he was right—she’d never make it. That left only one option…
“What’s your name again,” she asked Sam sweetly. She already knew it but it was a good opening line.
His eyes widened in surprise, but he answered, “Sam.”
“Oh yes, Sam. Who did you just call?” she asked, unsure how much time she had.
“Grant,” he answered immediately and took a step towards her.
“Where is Grant?” she asked, making sure he kept looking into her eyes. This was how she brought her prey to her. Made them focus on her. Sam was a powerful vampire and if she could get some of his blood, she might be able to make her escape.
His eyes were dilated and she watched him lick his lips. “He went to feed. He’ll be back.”
That meant she didn’t have much time. “Come here, Sam. Please?” she dragged out the last word.
It worked like a charm. Sam knelt in front of her on the floor. With as tall as he was, it put him in the perfect position.
“I’m hungry, Sam.”
He nodded happily.
She felt just a twinge of guilt. She quickly shook it off. She wasn’t there by choice, and she had to feed. She could give the person pleasure when she drank from them. She never had sex with anyone when she fed, but left him or her with the feeling they had. Well…never before Grant that morning.
Grant… Another twinge of guilt.
Sam moaned and it echoed through the room. She scooted closer to him and one large arm went around her back. She sucked in her breath. He was a big guy. Strong. Maybe this hadn’t been a good idea.
“Bite me,” Sam told her, tightening his arm.
Well, she’d started this. She could feel her teeth lengthen with need.
Paige repositioned her hands to bend his neck to the side and he moaned again. She didn’t hear the door open.
“What in the Hell is going on in here?” A loud angry voice interrupted.
Sam didn’t even move. She looked over his shoulder and growled at Grant. It was the best she could do with her teeth still sticking out.
“Paige. Let go of Sam.”
She looked from Sam to Grant, and then shook her head vigorously. She was really hungry and Sam was willing.
“Paige. I know you’re hungry, honey. That’s why I left you to feed. So I could come back to take care of you,” he told her.
That sounded nice. And she’d already fed from Grant and he had tasted good but Sam was right there…
“Come to me and I’ll feed you,” Grant started forwards as he spoke.
She could hear him but the words weren’t making sense. She could almost feel the pounding of Sam’s heart pumping his blood.
“Paige. Let him go, honey.”
She was pretty sure she whimpered. Then Sam leaned into her.
“Sam,” Grant clipped out.
Sam blinked but didn’t release her.
“Paige, let him go.”
This time Paige knew she whimpered when he got on the bed behind her, placing his hands on her hips, pulling her away from Sam.
“Paige, please let go of Sam. He’d hurt you and it wouldn’t be his fault. You’ve put him under your trance, and he will do whatever it takes to be with you. Let him go.”
She ran her hand down Sam’s neck watching his pulse until Grant grabbed her hand in his. Sam had pressed even closer.
Paige strained towards him but Grant’s hold was stronger. He released Sam’s arms from around her and they fell limp to his side.
“Look at me. Paige. Concentrate on me.” He moved her face so she could only see him. “That’s right, baby, look into my eyes.”
Without taking his eyes from her, he told Sam to go. Grant pressed Paige close to him. She let go of her thrall on Sam to grab hold of Grant.
Paige turned her body and rubbed against him. She felt his hands run over her back as he pulled her against him. God, he was strong. His scent was almost overpowering. She wanted it.
“Sam, go!” Grant ordered.
Paige ran her hands over his chest and pulled at his shirt. He moved his hands from her body to pull it over his head before he grabbed her and laid her back on the bed underneath him. She was still running her hands over his chest and back when he nipped her ear with his teeth.
Paige moaned and dug her nails down his back. He arched, pressing against her intimately and she ground back.
“Do you want to bite me?” he asked, running his teeth down her neck.
Paige shuddered and moaned.
“Bite me.”
She did. In the crook between his neck and
shoulder, she bit him and drank. He ground his body into hers, and if they hadn’t had clothes on, they’d have been having sex. His hand slid under her shirt and he teased her nipples.
She pulled his blood into her mouth faster and lifted her hips to hump him.
Paige filled her mouth with his blood until he pulled away. She immediately went for him again, but Grant held her arms down.
“No more, Paige. You’ll get sick. Let it go.”
She wanted more. Somewhere in her brain, she knew he was right but she still wanted more. “No, please more,” she begged. She wrapped her legs around his waist and cupped him over his pants. “More.”
“Oh God, baby, you’re going to kill me,” he groaned.
“More,” she demanded.
He cursed and rolled her onto her stomach then yanked her pants down.
She cried out into the bed as a finger entered her. She thrust back against his hand and he added another one.
“That’s it, baby. Let it go,” Grant encouraged.
So she rode his hand as the pressure built. His other one circled around and played with her breasts.
“Grant,” Paige panted out, not sure what she was asking.
His hands left her for only a minute before she felt the blunt head of his cock. She rocked back trying to get him inside.
One hand on her hip pulled her back until she was impaled on his shaft.
“Yes!” Paige cried out.
Both hands were now grasping her hips hard as he began to ride her, each withdrawal and plunge harder than the last.
Paige threw her head back as his breath came out in pants against the back of her neck.
“Let go, baby. Let go!” he encouraged as he wrapped one hand around and started to manipulate her clit. Paige bucked, thrust back, as he slammed inside. She screamed as the climax racked her body. Shaky, weak and limp, she collapsed as Grant emptied his seed and came.
Chapter Five
A soft knock at the door surprised Paige as she waited. After she’d fallen asleep with Grant, he’d awakened her several hours later and made love to her again, before telling her he had to check on something.
She didn’t have a watch but she was sure that was hours ago.