Killing the Bloodlust

by Terry Spear

  “I love it when a man resolves to do what I wanted him to do in the first place.”

  He laughed.

  After Crystal finished her ice cream, Robert hesitated to take the bowl back to the kitchen.

  “I promise I won’t leave the bed again.”

  He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I just don’t want you passing out and causing yourself further injury. I’ll be right back. Need anything else?”

  “Just a movie.”

  “Right.” He turned on the television, then handed her the controller. “I’ll be just a moment. I’ll let my brothers know what’s up.”

  It wasn’t long after he left before his brother Thomas knocked on the doorframe to get her attention, then ran his fingers through the graying hairs at his temples. “Robert said you were looking for someone to chase your nightmares away.”

  “Yes. But Robert finally reluctantly agreed to take the job.” She smoothed the comforter over her lap.

  “He says you mentioned Mark, but he couldn’t handle you.”

  She smiled. “Well, that was only when Robert seemed hesitant to help me out.”

  Thomas leaned against the doorframe and stuck his hands in his pockets. “He said you mentioned me.”

  “Well, Samuel, too, but Robert insisted that wouldn’t work, either.”

  Thomas’s face brightened. “And then there’s me,” he said again, with a quirky lopsided smile.

  She smiled, realizing Robert’s family had come to accept her somewhat, and the feeling was welcome after her own had excommunicated her.

  “Yes, well Robert agreed—”

  Robert suddenly slapped his brother on the shoulder. “Thanks for keeping an eye on her. I’ll take over from here.”

  She frowned at Robert, realizing finally what this was all about. Of all the underhanded, sneaky, despicable acts. “You had Thomas serve as security?”

  “Only so you wouldn’t climb out of bed without one of us helping you.”

  Helping her? Watching her! Making sure she didn’t let a vampire in.

  “If you find she’s too much to handle, let me know, and I’ll take over for you.” Thomas winked at Crystal. Her face instantly warmed, although she still couldn’t help being annoyed that he had served as a prison guard and not…well, whatever else she’d hoped his reason for coming to talk with her had been.

  When he left the room, Robert stripped down to navy blue silk boxers. “When I mentioned I was staying in here the night with you, my brothers weren’t much surprised.”

  Crystal closed her eyes, feeling suddenly very tired. “Well unfortunately, I think the medicine, injury, or something has worn me out.”

  He climbed under the covers, then pulled her close, the heat of his body warming her, his woodsy scent mixed with a bit of orange peels making him smell divine, and the firmness of his muscles made her feel protected and safe.

  “Too tired to watch the movie?” he asked.

  She nestled her head against his chest. “Watch whatever you’d like. It covers up the sound of Nicolai’s scratching. I just wanted to hear the sound of your heart beating and feel your hard body beneath mine.”

  “You talk much more like that, and it’ll get much harder.”

  She chuckled.

  He leaned down and kissed the top of her head, his hand stroking her back, the tender sensation warming her. She sighed deeply and snuggled with him more.

  “We’re not sure you’ll be completely healed by tomorrow, Crystal. My brothers talked about searching for Nicolai’s house again, but we can’t leave you home alone, and we don’t want to split up our forces.”

  “I’ll go with you.”

  “You might not be able to use your arm yet. I can’t allow you to be injured further.”

  “I’ll stay in the vehicle. Then I won’t be far away, and if you need my help, you can just whistle.”

  He chuckled. “I don’t whistle.”

  “Never? Comes in handy if you own a dog.”

  His arm tightened around her waist. “Hmm, that’s an idea. I could get you a guard dog.”

  She yawned. “Or lots of garlic.”

  His hand stroked her hip, the silky shirt sliding over her skin with the motion. “The lasagna was loaded with it.”

  “That’s what made it sooo good.”

  She shifted her leg over his. He reached over and ran his hand over her bare skin. But it was the way she sought to kiss him again, his deliberate non-reaction made her think he was afraid she’d fall to pieces, scream out in pain if he touched her too much, that made her push for a reaction. She’d wanted this intimacy between them ever since she’d wrestled with him in his office. She wondered what it would be like to practice hand-to-hand combat maneuvers with him again especially if she could throw him, straddle him, and…

  His mouth sealed with hers, first gently, but then he was hungrily kissing hers, his tongue eagerly mating with hers as soon as she opened up to him. The sheets were tossed aside and somehow she was on her back, his body pressed between her legs, his erection stiff and eager and rocking against her as he explored her mouth with his tongue. Eyes locked, he watched her reaction, maybe expecting her to stop what they were doing because she was in pain, but she wanted this, would suffer any discomfort to be loved like this, if only just this once, by a hunter, who knew what her faults were, who didn’t seem to care.

  “Make love to me,” she whispered against his mouth.

  “You’re injured,” he countered in a raspy tone, their breathing hard.

  “Just my arm. And I’m feeling fine. Better than fine.”

  He frowned at her, and she was afraid he’d say no. Afraid he’d worry the medicine was doing the talking for her.

  She grasped his arm and squeezed. “Robert, if you reject me now, I’ll make you pay for it.”

  37

  Robert’s mouth inched up into a wry smile, and he gave his head a little shake. “Not on your life, Crystal.” He melded his mouth with hers again, pressing harder against her body as she moved her hips to maximize the contact.

  Tonight was all she had. Who knew what tomorrow would bring?

  She slipped her hands beneath the waistband of his boxers and ran her fingers over his tight buttocks. The next thing she knew, he was separating from her, and she was about to object when she realized he was taking his shirt off her.

  Before he could get his fill of her naked body, she was tugging his boxers down, afraid the medicine would really kick in, and she’d fall asleep in the middle of the act when she wanted to treasure every second of it.

  “Wait,” he said, reaching for his bedside table, then pulled out a small package.

  She could have told him she was on birth control pills, but he might have gotten the wrong idea about it, and she didn’t want to explain they were to regulate her menstrual cycles. But she eagerly slid the thin-skinned condom over his rigid erection with a firm stroking hold that made him groan with the need for release.

  His stilled her hands and rubbed his erection against her clitoris already swelling with the way he kissed her, his mouth moving to her breast. Licking, teasing the nipple, he suckled her, and she’d never felt anything so erotic as his warm tongue on her flesh, his hot breath ratcheting up the sensation. His hand thumbed the other nipple, stroking, caressing, and she arched her back, increasing the contact between them as she ached to have him inside her, closer, together as one.

  He must have sensed a change in her and moved his mouth to cover hers, thrusting his tongue inside her as his body rubbed against hers. She was climbing higher and higher to that exalted place of completion when he muffled her cry of rapture, his name only partly audible as she sank against the mattress.

  She was riding high on a tidal wave of pleasure when Robert nudged inside her.

  Crystal was his, Robert had realized the moment he had learned she had no one in the world to protect her, that she was special, that she was a rebel in her own way just like he was. He loved everything
about her, though he wished she’d be less prone to go after the bad guys and let him take the lead. But as much as he didn’t want her to do so, he still respected and admired her for it. And he couldn’t help but love the way she wanted to protect him from Nicolai. Not to mention that she’d gone after Yorovitch just so that Robert could safely leave the area.

  He cupped her face and kissed her mouth gently as he slid between her legs. She was so tight, he thought he couldn’t manage. Until she angled her hips so that he had easier access, could penetrate more deeply, and then he thrust. He heard the strange stillness outside, knew Nicolai was listening to their lovemaking, could hear their hearts beating at a rush, despite some inane movie playing on the television. Some primitive part of his hunter persona wanted the bastard to know he had claimed the huntress for his own. That the vampire kind could not have her no matter how much Nicolai wanted her.

  Crystal’s stroking his back finally registered, and Robert again concentrated on the delectable huntress beneath him, her floral scent, silky skin, the way her eyes were misty with desire. He kissed her mouth again, her lips softening against his as he thrust harder and more urgently. And then he came, felt her shudder deep inside, stroking him with her internal muscles. In an instance of clarity, he knew he shouldn’t have used a condom. He should have fully claimed her for his own with this first joining.

  He hadn’t meant to fall in love with her. But somehow it had happened. And she was his. Now, he just had to convince Crystal and his family, it was meant to be.

  About ten the next morning, Crystal opened her eyes and found Robert gone. She sat up quickly, relieved her senses had returned to normal. No dizziness, no feeling like her head was a washing machine in the middle of its spin cycle. She climbed out of bed, still careful not to use her right arm. The ache had disappeared, but only if she didn’t move it.

  She gritted her teeth and tried to move her injured arm slightly back and forth. Happily, the excruciating pain had gone. Only a soreness and stiffness remained. Another reason to be grateful for being a huntress and not a human.

  With the right motivation, she figured she could wield the sword again this morning. She headed for the bathroom, a shower, and a totally fresh outlook on life. Time to put an end to Nicolai’s stalking.

  When she had dressed in a black spandex shirt and a fresh pair of black jeans, she headed out of the room. The house remained surprisingly quiet. The men couldn’t have been asleep still. And where was Robert?

  She walked into the living room. Not a sign of anyone. And no indication that the brothers had made the room their bedroom for the night, either.

  She strode to the kitchen. Not a dirty dish, not a speck of mess anywhere. If Robert and his brothers had left her behind, she’d…she’d…her head pounded with renewed tension.

  With her left hand, she yanked the door open to the garage. The white convertible sat in place of the rental SUV. He must have sent the rental vehicle back.

  She hurried to the front window. Jerking the curtains open, she saw Thomas’s SUV had vanished. They had left without her. Now she was really pissed.

  She paced across the floor, her arms folded. She rubbed her tender shoulder for a moment, then headed for the umbrella rack. There, her favorite new weapon sat. The loaded cane. She grabbed it, then headed for the garage. Keys. She didn’t have his car keys. Damn.

  Pausing, she stared into the kitchen. Most likely he had a spare. But where would he keep it? She stalked into the kitchen and yanked the drawers open. No keys.

  She dashed back into the office. Searching through his desk and file cabinet revealed no sign of them.

  After returning to his bedroom, she yanked at the drawers to the bedside tables. In one, she found a set of keys. The label attached to the brass key ring indicated they were the spare set to his car.

  A slight smile crept across her face, though her cheeks had to be blistering red and her stomach clenched in anger that they’d left her behind.

  She rushed through the house and retrieved the cane before she entered the garage.

  When she pulled the car out of the garage, she noticed a small black car parked curbside halfway down the block. Her skin instantly crawled with anxiety. She couldn’t tell if anyone sat in the car, its windows were so darkly tinted.

  The vehicle’s headlights turned on as its engine switched on with a roar, and she hesitated. The car drove past Robert’s house at a crawl. Was the driver a human host? Did the host want her to follow him like Kostya had the first time? Or was the driver just a harmless visitor to the neighborhood?

  She backed down the driveway, then turned in the direction of the black car. He paused down the street, the brake lights reflecting off the black asphalt. He waited for her.

  As she grew closer, he drove off.

  She pulled the convertible to a dead stop.

  For weeks, she’d had to deal with the vampires on her own. So what was so different now?

  She tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. The black car pulled to the curb again and parked. Which vampire’s lair did he intend to take her to? Nicolai’s? Had to be. What would she find waiting for her there until he woke?

  Yet, a twinge of guilt tugged at her heart. She owed it to Robert to let him know where she’d gone. Just like he’d let her know. Yep. She slipped her foot from the brake to the gas pedal.

  As she drew nearer the black car, he pulled out again. Just like Kostya, he ensured he didn’t lose her on the back roads. They ended up on the main artery shooting down from Dallas to San Antonio, and then headed north. Where in the world was he taking her?

  He slowed at an off-ramp. Tulenberg. She followed the car down the main street, then into a warehouse district. Not a home this time? Nicolai couldn’t be sleeping in a crate.

  The black car pulled up to a warehouse door cut into the redbrick building. It rolled open, and he drove in. She parked the car across the street. No way was she taking her car inside there. She wanted a fast getaway should she need one.

  She chewed on her lip. For a moment, she wished Robert and his brothers accompanied her. Then again, they didn’t want her to be with them. She was certain they wouldn’t take her on a hunt. Alone was the only way she could ever work. She only hoped none of the hosts were armed this time. She really hated injuring them. They couldn’t help that they could so easily be controlled by the bloodsuckers.

  She pushed the car door open, then reached back inside and grasped the cane. With a deep breath, she shut the door and darted across the empty street.

  The brick building filled a block square. High above, black paint covered a row of windows.

  She walked up the gray sidewalk toward the building. The adrenaline racing through her veins readied her to face her next challenge. When she reached the open doorway, she peered inside.

  Crates reached fifteen feet high forming a maze of wooden walls. She counted twenty male hosts watching her from scattered positions in the building. Even with her superior strength, an overwhelming number of male hosts could still overpower her. If she could see as many as twenty, how many more hid behind the wood-slatted walls?

  “I came to see Nicolai.” Her voice demanded with authority as her heart beat rapidly.

  One of the men motioned toward a makeshift hall.

  This was a mistake.

  She backed out of the doorway, her cane ready to do battle.

  Doors slammed to a vehicle parked curbside across the street, one, two, three, and four. Running footsteps approaching her made her whip around to face the new threat.

  Seeing Robert and his brothers dashing toward her, filled her with a wash of relief. Robert grabbed her arm to her annoyance though, and pushed her toward the car. “Wait for us in the vehicle, or return to my house.”

  Without another word, he and his brothers darted into the building before the hosts could shut the warehouse door. Crystal followed behind them and when the men fought the onslaught of hosts, she dashed down the hallway she’d been
directed toward initially.

  The blood pounded in her ears as she crept down the narrow passage, crates stacked ten feet high. Her boots kicked up packing straw scattered on the cement floor when she headed first right, then left, then straight ahead.

  The hallway suddenly dead-ended.

  “Now!” a male shouted.

  Looking up, she saw five hosts spreading a fishing net ten feet above her head. Before she could avoid it, two hosts blocked her exit from the passage.

  She pulled out the sword and slashed at the web of hemp mesh covering her.

  “Grab her!”

  “Not the way she’s swinging that sword.”

  She sliced through a section and freed herself, then pointed the sword at the two men. “Back out of here and I won’t hurt you.”

  When they didn’t move, she sheathed the sword in the cane, then swung it at the older of the hosts nearest her. She struck his shoulder with such force, he cried out, and dropped to his knees.

  “Where’s Nicolai?”

  “He’s not here. He’s never to be disturbed during the day…ever.”

  “He disturbs my sleep. I’ll disturb his back.” She swung the cane back and forth and the younger man backed down the hall. “Whose lair is this?”

  “No one’s here right now. We were to bring you here, then take you to see Nicolai afterward.”

  “Once I was unable to harm him. Is he that afraid of me?”

  “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll go to him, before he loses patience with you.”

  “Take me to him, now.”

  “I can’t.”

  She poked the cane at his chest. “Why not?”

  “None of us know where he sleeps, except for those who are with him.”

  “So call those who are with him and tell him you’ve caught me. Then ask where you are to take me.”

  “The vampires can read my mind. If one told Nicolai you were caught, and he discovered you were not, I’d be a dead man.”

  “Living as a human host…you already are.”

  The sound of a vampire screaming in its death throes made her raise her brows at the man. “No vampires are sleeping here?”