by Nina Bangs
The memories came—the vampires, a woman beside Lia, Fin’s face, and then blackness.
Lia. She’d disappeared. Utah opened his eyes.
The woman leaning over him smiled. “So aggressive. So alive.”
As opposed to dead like her? Utah controlled his instinct to attack. That hadn’t worked well the first time he’d tried it.
He held completely still, not even breathing, as she trailed one finger down his throat. She paused where his pulse beat so hard she had to hear it.
Where was Lia? He didn’t dare take his eyes from the woman to look around.
“I have a lust for living things, my gorgeous one. I just drink them up.”
“Then they’re dead.” Way to go, Captain Obvious.
The woman’s eyes widened for a second and then she laughed—husky and warm. He could see her fangs.
“I keep my favorites alive. I sip from them and savor their unique flavors.” She leaned down and trailed her tongue over his pounding pulse. “It would be a sin to gulp someone as wonderful as you.”
So he wouldn’t die right now. That was something. He tried to move his arms. Restrained. Figured.
“What happened to the woman you took?” He had to know.
“Lia?” She leaned back to study him. “She’s quite an exciting acquisition. A human leader of vampires. I think I’ll keep her too. But of course I’ve attached a few conditions in her case.”
What conditions? At least she was still alive. Time to find out something about his captor. “Who’re you?”
She looked delighted that he’d asked. “I’m Christine. Which one of the Eleven are you?”
“Utah.” He narrowed his gaze. This must be Lia’s Chris. Her vampire hadn’t gotten the whole name out. If Christine weren’t a vampire bitch, he’d have to admit she was beautiful. There was nothing subtle about her. Long black hair, pale skin, almost black eyes, and full red lips. “How do you know about the Eleven?”
“Seir.” Amusement touched her eyes. “He explained all about 2012 and the immortals you’re hunting.” She shrugged. “I really don’t understand why you’re trying to protect humans. What have they really done for this planet? It’s time for another species to have a chance.”
“Did he mention why he was helping you?” Utah took stock of his surroundings. He was resting on some kind of cot. He tried to rock it. No luck. Must be bolted down. The room was tiny and bare except for one chair. Not large enough for his raptor.
“I got the impression he didn’t like your leader.” She pushed her hair away from her face. “Do you mind if I just take a little taste?”
Her smile promised he’d enjoy every sip she took. And if not for Rap, he probably would have.
“I can’t stop you.” But he was tempted to try. He clamped down on the impulse. Better to wait until he had space to free his beast.
Her laughter sounded wickedly delighted and as sexy as hell. He wasn’t tempted.
“You’re right, but I like to give those I treasure a feeling of empowerment.”
“Just do it.” He ground his teeth against his need to fight, to shout and curse at her. Memories of Rap’s death rolled over him. Still raw, still agonizing.
Christine didn’t need a second invite. With a small purr of pleasure, she grabbed his hair and tilted his head back, baring his throat.
And when he felt the sharp prick of her fangs, he tensed; refusing to give in to the pleasure her feeding offered him, focusing only on the pain, on his hate, on Lia.
When she finally released him and leaned back, he watched her. She licked his blood from her lips. His beast didn’t find that revolting. In fact, his beast thought he should return the favor by breaking his bindings and tearing out her throat. His beast was into primitive payback, no higher-level thinking skills needed.
That’s why he needed to keep his soul safely tucked in its cave. Teeth and claws alone wouldn’t get Lia and him out of here. He’d bet Christine had lots more like her on the other side of that door. He’d choose his moment. “Why not free my hands and feet? I’m not going anywhere.”
She raised one brow.
Utah swallowed his fury and said what needed saying. He couldn’t jeopardize Lia’s safety by indulging his temper. “Oh, come on. My raptor wouldn’t fit in here, so I won’t be turning my beast loose on you. And I can feel your power. I don’t think I’ll be much danger to you in my human form.” The truth. Her power almost suffocated him in this small space. If she was Adam’s competition, then he might as well pack his bags and leave town.
She thought about that for a moment and then released him. “Perhaps when we get to know each other a little better, you might see the advantage of working for me instead of Fin.”
“Could happen.” Utah forced thoughts of admiration, awe, and good old-fashioned fear to the forefront of his mind. With her power, he didn’t doubt for a moment that she was rooting around in his brain. He didn’t try to keep her out. That would just make her more suspicious and more determined to crack his code.
“What about Lia?” He didn’t want to sound like he was begging, but . . . he was begging.
Christine’s smile returned. “She’s fine. I’m not a complete barbarian. I’ll have her brought here after she’s had a chance to clean up.” Her smile widened. “Perhaps I’ll help you clean up”—she slid her gaze the length of his body—“after I’ve taken care of a few things.”
Utah watched her rise and move to the door. He locked his muscles to keep from leaping at her while he thought nonthreatening thoughts.
As soon as she left, he tested the door. Throwing himself at it and kicking had no effect. And since she hadn’t left a crowbar lying around, he was forced to give up the effort, at least for now.
A short time later, someone opened the door, pushed Lia inside, and relocked it. She just stood there staring at him.
Utah controlled his impulse to rush over and wrap his arms around her, to hold her close and absorb the warm realness of her. Safe. He wanted to promise that she’d always be safe with him. But he didn’t know if he could keep that promise, didn’t know if she’d appreciate his insinuation that she couldn’t keep herself safe.
He didn’t move. Something about the way she looked stopped him. She seemed brittle, as though even a touch might shatter her. Not fear. Something else.
What had Christine done to her? Her coat and weapons were gone. “Come over and sit down.” He patted the seat beside him on the cot.
She seemed to shudder, but then she walked over and sat next to him. “You’re okay. I was afraid . . .” Her voice trailed off as she ran her finger over his throat. “She bit you.”
“Yeah. It’s nothing. The vampire bitch thinks I’m pretty awesome, so she decided to keep me in working order by just taking a few sips.” He was trying to make light of it, to show Lia it was no big deal, nothing for her to get upset about.
She didn’t react the way he’d expected. “Vampire bitch? Is that one word or two?”
Her tone warned him to tread carefully. There was something here he didn’t understand. He shrugged. “Do you want me to call her something else?”
“Christine. You can call her Christine.” She lowered her head and knuckled her eyes. “Oh hell. Call her vampire bitch if you want. It doesn’t matter.”
“What happened?” Utah couldn’t keep his hands from her. He put his arms around her and pulled her close. She’d shed her coat somewhere, and he could feel her shoulders tighten. She was so slight next to his bulk. But she fought big, so he tended to forget her size. He tried to ignore his surge of protectiveness.
For a moment, she remained stiff in his embrace, but then she relaxed against him with a sigh.
They sat that way for a while. Utah smoothed his fingers over her hair. The damp Portland air had turned it into a riot of curls. He waited. She’d tell him when she was ready.
While he waited, he thought. He hadn’t wanted to like her, and he sure as hell hadn’t wanted to admire
her. Those kinds of feelings made things tougher in the end, because he’d bet anything that Adam had tagged her to kill him when his usefulness was over. It made sense. She’d be the one with the best chance of catching him off guard, and Utah figured Adam was the kind of guy who went with the odds. When she made her move, he’d have to . . .
Utah wouldn’t have hesitated over that word a week ago. Now? He’d have to find an alternative, because he couldn’t kill her.
Lia sighed, and his attention snapped back to her.
“She took me to another room something like this. Seemed like a storeroom of some kind with a bunch of gardening tools.” Lia didn’t look at him as she spoke. “Christine explained that she didn’t have any use for humans in her grand scheme of things, but that I fascinated her. A human leader of vampires. I was unique, and she liked unique. So she offered me a deal.”
Utah tightened his grip on her. He’d hate this deal, whatever it was.
“Christine has big plans. Portland won’t be able to hold her. She definitely wants Adam’s job. So she’ll need strong regional leaders she can count on.”
“She offered you a job?” That wasn’t bad. All they had to do was play along until Fin found them. And he would find them. Utah didn’t doubt that.
“Sort of.” Lia ran her hand absently along his thigh.
Utah sucked in his breath. Nothing like the danger of imminent death to trigger all kinds of appetites.
Lia stilled. She moved her hand from his thigh. He knew she sensed the need building in him. Was she afraid her touch would release his beast? Did she expect him to pounce on her? He smiled. Could happen. At least the pouncing part. She was safe from his soul, though. He’d bound it in chains forged from his will. At least the physical manifestation of his beast.
Utah felt his smile fade. She didn’t trust his control. Smart woman. Because his control was a tenuous thing at its best. At its worst? He thought back to the vampires he’d just destroyed. Not once had he considered letting them live until Lia got in his face.
He met her gaze. She didn’t look away.
“Make love to me, Utah.”
Chapter Eight
Lia watched him, searching for a clue to his thoughts. His expression didn’t change, but his eyes swam with conflicting emotions: shock, desire, suspicion.
“Now? Here?” Utah’s voice gave away nothing of what he felt.
“Yes.” She wasn’t about to try to explain, because that would lead to a lie. Lia hoped he wouldn’t muddy things up with lots of talk.
“Why?” He got up to pace, back and forth from the door to her in two quick strides, each step almost crackling with suppressed energy.
Now things got tricky. “Maybe the last few hours reminded me of my mortality. Maybe I don’t want to pass over to the other side with unfinished business.”
“That would be me?” He looked puzzled.
If that crease between his incredible eyes wasn’t so cute, she’d probably plant her fist right there. How could he not realize what she was trying to say?
“Maybe I want to go out with a smile on my face.” No smiling going on now, just a you-big-doofus glare.
He glanced at the door.
“No one will pop in anytime soon.” Christine would take a while locating her guy and then convincing him to pay a visit.
When Utah looked back at her, something hot and hungry glowed in his eyes.
Lia shivered. It was a good shiver, the kind you got right before opening the present you’d waited forever for. “And before you ask, yes, you’re the only one who can put that smile on my face.” She stood to emphasize her point.
There was one chair in the room. Without comment, he picked it up and wedged it under the doorknob.
She had time for only a startled squeak before he reached her and backed her against the wall.
He leaned in close, his breath warm on her neck, his words hot and impatient. “We both want you, but I don’t think we’ll all fit on that little cot.”
Lia surrendered to her need. She reached up to run her fingers through his hair, concentrating on the silky flow of it, storing the memory away. “Who’s going to have time to lie down?”
His soft laughter nestled close to her heart. It was a thing to be nurtured because it was so rare.
He shrugged out of his jacket and let it fall to the floor.
“It’s amazing how the threat of death brings everything into focus, makes it all more intense, more urgent.” She glided her hands up his arms and across his broad shoulders. His muscles bunched beneath her fingers.
“Not for me, sweetheart.”
He kissed the sensitive skin right behind her ear, and she made a small sound of pleasure. Lia abandoned his shoulders to sneak her hands under his shirt and massage a path down his back. Smooth. Sexy. Lia figured she’d die of pheromone fever if she kept touching him. But hey, everyone had to die sometime.
“I’ve felt this way since . . .” He paused to suck in his breath as she worked her fingers down the back of his jeans to cup his ass.
“Hmm? Since when?” She dug her fingers into his flesh, craving the realness, not caring if she left her desire imprinted on him. Lia smiled. He wouldn’t be showing his luscious butt to any of the Eleven with her fingerprints branding him.
“Since the first time I saw you.” Utah seemed surprised by his words.
Her fierce joy surprised Lia.
“You’re a dangerous woman.” He nipped gently at her earlobe and then kissed a path down the side of her neck. “I like that. A woman with a gun and sword makes me hard.”
She muffled her laughter against his chest. Her amusement faded as she felt the pounding of his heart. There was nothing calm or contained about it. The heart didn’t lie.
And while she was contemplating his heartbeat, he was busy doing other things. Utah tugged at the bottom of her shirt, and she reluctantly abandoned his gorgeous butt to raise her arms. He slipped it off in one swift movement along with her bra. Then he stripped off his own shirt.
“Wait. Not getting equal access here.” She laid claim to his belt.
“Then you’d better move fast.” He flicked his tongue across one nipple at the same time he somehow removed her pants.
Her panties were gone before she even had his jeans peeled down to mid-thigh. But Lia didn’t complain because she was enjoying the thrill of discovery too much. “No underwear?”
“Underwear isn’t natural.” He emphasized his point by nudging her panties out of the way with his toe while running his hands over her stomach and hips.
“Neither are jeans.” She finally was able to slide them down his legs. When had he gotten rid of his boots?
He stepped out of his jeans. “Yeah, but sitting in a jail cell doesn’t feel natural either. So I’ll put up with them.”
Lia lost track of the jeans discussion as he braced his hands against the wall on either side of her and leaned in. He took her mouth in a long, drugging kiss.
She wanted to savor the sensations, but there were too damn many of them. The texture of his tongue against hers, aggressively male. His taste. Nothing as dull as toothpaste. He tasted of the elemental and dangerous, of something that beckoned to the wild child in her.
He moved closer until they touched, fused from chest to thigh, forming a searing path of want that dried her mouth and turned the rest of her into a pliable conduit for anything he chose to do.
And as she concentrated on the pleasure-pain of her supersensitive nipples scraping across his skin, he whispered in her ear.
“You scare me.” He didn’t sound happy about the admission.
His warm breath touched nerve endings that raced the length of her body to trigger responses in other places. The lights flicked on in all her secret spots. She clenched her thighs, trying to maximize the sensation.
“How?” She was only half concentrating on his answer because she’d managed to work her hand between their bodies and was tracing a line with her fingers over
his hard stomach down, down, down.
“You make me . . .”
He simply stopped breathing as she reached her destination. Lia smoothed her fingers along the long, hard length of him. Utah shuddered against her. She cupped each sac, lightly tracing small circles of invitation with her fingernail before going on to the next.
“I make you what?” She was having some breathing problems of her own.
“Feel.” He breathed the word out on a long exhalation.
Lia muffled her laughter against his muscular chest. “Hate to break it to you, but I think it’d be pretty tough not to feel, considering.” She gently squeezed his sacs.
“Don’t mock me, woman.” He emphasized his fake ferocity by putting enough space between them so that he could reach his target.
He traced a path of hot anticipation around one breast with the tip of his finger before lowering his head. She couldn’t stop a small moan of joy as he closed his lips over her nipple and showed her the cost of that mockery. Please, please keep going while I think up more mockery.
Her world narrowed to one tiny point on her body. He scraped his teeth lightly across the sensitized nub before sliding his tongue back and forth, back and forth until she wanted to scream. She bit her lip to stop anything from escaping. The sound of too much enjoyment might annoy Christine’s minions.
But when he closed his lips tightly over the nipple and showed her the true meaning of “tease,” she had to do something or else explode messily all over him.
Tangling her fingers in his hair, she guided him to her other nipple. “You supersize my feelings, raptor.” She’d meant it to come out light and playful, but she recognized the desperation beneath the words. Lia was feeling too much right now, but she couldn’t stem the rising tide. She was in danger of drowning.
“Have. To. Explain.” Between each word, he worked his way down her body, kissing and nibbling an erratic path that threatened to wander off course a few times.