Double Your Trouble

by Belita Renn

  She went to the sheriff and reported the theft of her clothing and personal items. She informed the sheriff that she knew Saul had given her things away, but she didn't want him arrested. “I just want a record of the theft. If it happens again, I want there to be a report of the first time. Saul has said he is going to get someone to look after him, since his mental condition is not good. I will not tell you what else happened, but I assure you there is enough to wonder about the stability of his mind. It was personal and embarrassing.” Let him wonder.

  "Ah, we did hear some rumors that were said to have come from Saul. As you two are friends, it was believed he knew the truth of the situation. You are a good friend to not have him arrested. I will check on him, and make certain he gets someone to keep an eye on him."

  "I'm not that great a friend, I did report him."

  "You're wrong, you have acted as a real friend would to help the situation; not to make it worse."

  She felt guilty, but she was angry today. The villagers were treating her poorly; Saul had treated her as though she meant nothing to him; and Cader and Valo were not cooperating with the conditions. She wanted to redo the list and she refused to go willingly to their narrow beds, and accept the bites and scars they would leave on her skin.

  Leaving the sheriff, she went home and ate a large meal. At dusk, she strolled to the local church. This would slow the vampires down, and make them think. She went inside and sat in the front pew by the central aisle. They wouldn't be able to enter here. This was a sanctuary, blessed by the church and protected from evil. They could use Saul against her; she knew that now. They could use anyone in the village to do their bidding. What amazed her was that they hadn't forced her to become their mistress. Oh sure, they had seduced her, and it had been great, but she had still been able to walk away this morning.

  Gana respected them for allowing her to maintain her pride and to make her own decisions. They were really rogues, dangerous and cunning. She wondered if they would allow her to use being their mistress as a new bargaining point.

  The little church grew dark as the sun sank behind the mountains. She wondered how they would flush her from this hiding place. It was actually fun trying to think of a way to avoid them. Certain they could not enter this holy place, she settled into a comfortable position to wait. It was vanity on her part that made her believe they would seek her out when they could easily take another woman as mistress.

  There were many lonely women in the village; women who had lost their men during the war with Napoleon, some with children who couldn't be abandoned. It was strange, but morality seemed to disappear when they looked at her with those eyes black with desire. Sighing, she crossed her arms and leaned against the back of the pew. The church was on the outskirts of their hamlet. If they chose to bring their poor, partially nude servants to fetch her from the sanctuary, she thought it possible they would snap out of the spell once inside the hallowed area. Grinning, she mused she might have found their one weakness. Dropping her arms, she rubbed her hands together, noting the tingling in her flesh. They had made her aware of her own flesh; for that, she was grateful.

  She had never felt more feminine. Never had she been more aware she was a woman and pleased to be one, than since the two vampires had started lusting after her. It was exciting to have two virile men wanting only her body. Their touch woke her flesh to a height of sensual awareness she hadn't known existed. Closing her eyes, she relived kissing them; how secure she felt in their arms. Funny that she had been so terrified by them and yet, in their arms, loving their bodies, she thought of them as men, not monsters. She truly enjoyed being with them and considered them quite pleasant company.

  They really are parasites living off the blood of others, but didn't humans live off the flesh of other animals? So we are monsters, too. Away from them, it was easy to think of all the reasons she shouldn't be involved with them. All it took to wipe such thoughts from her mind was for one of them to move close. Their clean scent had surprised her. She had thought their bodies would be soiled and smelly, but they were remarkably fresh, and tasted of a sweetness that reminded her of oranges. Yes, up close they were very appealing. Unlike the men of the village, they had playful personalities that revealed their confidence in their masculinity.

  Hearing a noise that sounded like a thump outside, she stiffened. Valo and Cader didn't make loud noises, they moved like predators with the stealth of a panther.

  The door of the church opened, and she turned around to see Saul walking through the doorway with an oil lamp in hand. Sighing, she turned to watch him walk down the aisle.

  "Saul, it is good to see you again.” She was gambling the church would loosen the vampire's control over him. Instead of advancing down the central aisle, Saul moved to the side at the rear of the church and placed the lamp on a narrow table at the back wall. Without saying a word, he walked out the doorway, pulling the door closed behind him.

  Tension filled her body as she waited for the next move. When a few minutes passed and no one entered, she was tempted to go to the door and peek out. She rose, clenching her hands before her. Gana turned to face the door at the rear of the church. Hesitating, she watched the door a few moments longer. Was it safe to go near it?

  A large hand covered her mouth to prevent her from screaming. Another circled her body across her chest and clasped her firmly to his frame. Dragged backward, she was tilted off balance. Her body leaning against the torso, her feet stumbled backward to prevent falling. The person had caught her completely by surprise. She was being dragged past the priest's platform toward the back office. The person must have come through the side door at the back of the building that she had forgotten completely about because she thought it was secure. Earlier, she had checked and the door had been locked. A scarf was wrapped around the hand. The hand moved away and the scarf, which had a large knot in the middle, covered her mouth and prevented her from making more than a soft cry. The hand moved to her eyes blinding her.

  She struggled and finally went limp, attempting to fall. Someone grasped her feet and lifted them from the floor. She made muffled sounds of protest as she felt them carrying her across the church.

  "Keep quiet, whore, and you might live through this,” a deep gruff voice spoke harshly in her ear. “If you can whore for those two strangers, you can share that cunt with us."

  "We cannot. I understood we were going to help...” a whispered voice protested from her feet.

  "Shut up,” the harsh voice warned the other man. She recognized that tone; it was Saul. Had his mind really snapped? “She was waiting for her lovers. They were going to defile this holy place with their sexual depravity.” Saul stopped and the man holding her ankles grunted as he bumped into her feet. “Do you want that to happen?"

  "No."

  They bumped her against the frame of a wall as they moved through a doorway. They walked for a while, then she heard a door open and the cold air from the interior touched her skin. She was carried forward and placed on something hard. A body lay across her, holding her in place. A scarf quickly replaced the hand over her eyes. Scared now, she struggled in earnest. It was clear these two weren't working for the vampires. “Saul,” she mumbled behind the scarf. “Stop this, Saul."

  "Shut up.” A hard hand slapped her cheek, knocking her head sideways. Something was tied to her ankles holding them apart, then her hands were tugged above her head and tied. Tears leaked from her eyes. Gana whimpered, then cried out when hands covered her breasts and squeezed. A fist cuffed her jaw. “I warned you to keep quiet. If you don't want to get hurt, you will do as I instruct.” A hand tugged up her skirt and covered her mound. A finger was forced into her labia.

  A snarl came from a distance away. It was a feral, fierce snarl that had to belong to one of the vampires. She whimpered in relief, grateful they had found her. The hands fondling her body were withdrawn, loud grunts followed by a cry, then a slap and a thump. It was frightening being unable to see what was happe
ning.

  "We have you, Gana. You are safe,” Valo said in a soothing tone. She started crying, never had she been so relieved to be in a man's arms. His voice filled her with joy. The scarf was removed from her eyes, then the gag. Looking around the interior while they untied her, Gana realized she was in a crypt.

  "It's a crypt. I didn't think you could come onto blessed ground."

  "We are Carpathians,” Cader said. “Not the typical vamp-Count.” He quickly corrected, as they weren't alone in the crypt.

  "We are not touching anything, because it would cause us pain, but it will not kill us,” Valo volunteered softly.

  Cader gave him a hard glare. “Sit up, Gana. Are you harmed?” Taking her hand, he assisted her into a sitting position.

  "No, nothing serious. I will survive a few bruises."

  "Good. Let's get out of here. It's getting as dangerous to be in church as it is to be on the street,” Valo said.

  "I'll take her.” Cader's arm slid around her back when she sat up.

  The two men, Saul and the priest, were crumpled on the floor. Valo walked to Saul, and grasped the front of his shirt and tugged him from the wall. “Touch her again and you will die.” Holding him up at eye level, Saul's feet dangled in the air. Staring him in the eye, Valo took control of Saul's mind with simple hypnosis. At least that is what they called it; Gana didn't think there was anything simple about these two males. “You will lust for women but be unable to get an erection, nor will you be able to bring yourself to satisfy them any other way. You will not be aroused by male lovers, but you will only be able to get an erection and release with men, and you will be unable to resist the need for physical release they can provide.” He shoved Saul against the wall and released him.

  "Is that an evil twist or what?” Cader whispered in Gana's ear. “Valo is a master at the ironic."

  As he approached the priest, Gana gasped and leaned her body in his direction, instinctively wanting to protect him from harm. If Valo grabbed the priest as he had Saul, wouldn't he be endangering his life? The priest might be bad and a shame to his brothers of the cloth, still she was willing to wager the man had blessed his clothing.

  Moving to the priest, he stared the man in the eyes. “Did you really think I would allow you to rape my woman? You will be filled with guilt over this for the rest of your life. No amount of prayers will ever clean this insult to your record. No amount of pleading will gain you forgiveness.” Valo cursed the priest in the form of the old bible ways.

  "Now that was a good curse, my friend,” Cader praised, then turned to Gana. “I have never known of any curse he cast that has not to come to pass. It is a real gift he has gained from his years of quality service."

  Covering his face, the priest cried out in terror.

  She glanced back at the coffin where she had been tied. The ropes were tied to the pedestal beneath the coffin.

  "This kind of play should be by consent,” Cader said. Sliding his hand down, he grasped her buttocks. “It was my impression this game was not approved of by you."

  She shook her head. “Not for a moment, and never in a graveyard."

  "I don't know. Some of your better people reside in the crypts."

  "Indeed.” She chuckled; their wit was lifting her spirits a notch with each quip. She waited until he had carried her from the crypt before commenting on their performance. “You have done an excellent job learning how to curse, Valo."

  He sketched a formal bow that would have honored the royal courts. “Always willing to serve my Lady and protect her honor."

  She giggled. “Thank you for coming to my rescue, my Lords. How did you know I was there?"

  "We arrived as they were carrying you away."

  "What were you doing in that church after dark?” Cader queried, nuzzling his nose against her neck.

  Flinching toward him, she giggled, then laughed when he continued. “Waiting for you to come for me, of course."

  "As you knew we would."

  She nodded. “I want to renegotiate our deal."

  "Uh-oh. That will prove to be a problem. Valo is very firm in his belief not to redo what is completed. Especially when it is working so well. Do you want to leave us, Gana?"

  "No."

  "Then why bother the agreement?"

  "I don't like being your food."

  He chuckled. “It isn't for food we bit you. It makes our climax more intense. The bites will leave no marks on your body."

  "Oh, why didn't you tell me?"

  "I apologize. I didn't realize I needed to. You are our first mortal lover. The vampires knew."

  Holding her against his body, Cader flew to the castle. There he rubbed his hands over her body inspecting her. His concern touched her heart and she knew she definitely loved these men.

  "I'm all right, just a few bruises,” she consoled.

  "Your jaw has a nasty bruise.” His hand moved over her arms, then slid to her waist. “Let me love you, and erase this bad thing from your thoughts."

  "No. I want to remember that Saul isn't my friend."

  "Then let me love you. Let me show you how much you mean to me. I will never allow anyone to harm you without killing them as punishment by slow, painful degrees."

  "That was a nasty curse Valo placed on Saul. Is that a form of death by slow, painful degrees?"

  "He deserved it,” Cader dismissed, feeling no sympathy for the offender.

  Cader carried her to the castle tower and positioned her before the window so she could gaze at the night stars above the little village below. “See how small everything is. I intend to make your experience tonight as small and unimportant as that farthest star.” Raking his fingers over her neck, he brushed her hair aside, his soft fingertips sending a shiver down her spine. The tension in her body seemed stronger now that she had realized she was in love with Cader and Valo. It wasn't normal to love two men, but they worked together so smoothly, it was almost as though one was an extension of the other, one man divided into two. She wouldn't express her feelings to them, because their masculine ego would object. Each felt individual strong emotions; they were both special and would expect her to know this, and she did. They both filled her heart with such strong emotions, she felt as though her chest couldn't contain it all.

  Kissing her neck, his nimble fingers worked the ties of the gown she wore. Smoothing his large hands over her shoulders and down her arms, he pushed the material downward until her breasts were revealed. The night air was cold and her nipples hardened instantly.

  "It's cold."

  "You'll survive.” Kissing down her shoulder, he raked the sleeves lower until he could push the material off her hands. He pushed the gown downward, off her hips, revealing her warm flesh to the cold air. It seemed to buff at her skin, chilling it and giving her goosebumps. The gown puddled around her feet, keeping that one small portion of her body from the cold. Cold air stroked her thighs, stomach, ribs, breast, and buttocks making her very aware of each individual part that was exposed.

  Cader's arms came around her; normally his cold skin gave her the shivers. Now he actually felt warm, her flesh longed to rub against him for his body heat. His large hands cupped her breasts and hefted them.

  "These breasts are the most beautiful in the world. I wish you wouldn't cover them. You don't need to worry. The servants won't remember seeing your breasts after leaving the room.

  "But while they were in the room, I would be embarrassed and self-conscious."

  He sighed. Bending lower, he licked the cheeks of her buttock. The wet tongue felt warm against her cold skin. She was freezing and would probably be sick tomorrow, but it felt good right now. Her body felt flushed and hot on the inside, even if her skin was cold. Suddenly she decided this could be how the vampires felt when they made love to her.

  Spreading her legs, he slipped between them to the front of her body. She started to step away but he ordered her to stay. Keeping her facing the window, he spread her labia lips and allowed the col
d air to touch her clit, a shiver shook her tense body. Her muscles locked with the tension of expectation as she waited for his hot tongue to caress her clit. He made her wait, and holding her labia open, he allowed the tender flower to grow cold. Finally, his mouth covered her sex, his hot breath surrounded her cold flesh. The bones in her legs melted and she sank down onto his shoulders. Holding tight to the wall with clenched fingers, she hunched against his face. Her juice had to be dripping on his chest by now. Leaning his head and back against the wall, he ordered her to press her breasts against the cold stone. Obeying him, she leaned forward and pressed her hard nipples against what felt like ice. He loved her slowly, taking her to heights of bliss and making her cry out his name before he would allow her release. Shifting his body beneath the window, her breasts protruded into the opening. Her vision was filled with the night and open space around her. When he pushed a finger into her sheath, it was as if that digit was the center of her world. Licking her clit and rubbing his nose against her mons, he worked another finger into her and slowly made love to her. Gripping the wall at each side of the opening, tears of pleasure rolled down her cheeks. Cader was making love to her, with all his concentration focused on her pleasure. He made her feel like a goddess. A deep climax shattered her control, making her jerk in small, intense spasms. He smiled and slipped her thighs from his shoulders and allowed her to slide down his torso. He was still fully clothed. Smiling, he kissed her gently.

  "Valo has arrived. He will be up in a moment."

  "How do you know?"

  "I hear him."

  "Oh."

  A moment later, Valo entered the room with silent steps. Had she not been looking for him, she wouldn't have known he had arrived. “You are amazing, Cader,” she whispered.

  "I know.” Smiling, he lifted her up into the air. Valo plucked her from his hands and pressed her to his torso. Fully clothed, he still wore his long coat.

  "Wrap your legs around my waist.” She did as instructed and reveled as the warmth of her body penetrated his clothing. Wrapping his coat around her naked body, his black eyes gazed at her with intense concern. “Is my lady feeling better?"