Area of Influence (Immortal Ops Book 8)

by Mandy M. Roth

“I hear water running upstairs,” he said, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. “Stay here. I’ll go check it out.”

  A half laugh came from her as she kept hold of his hand. “Stand down there, big guy. That’s just Fredrick. He’s drawing me a bath. It’s what he does when he realizes I’ve had a long day or night.”

  “Fredrick? You have a man here?” he asked. There was no masking the jealousy in his voice. “And he’s getting a bath ready for you?”

  His reaction was just what she needed to help pull her partway out of her funk. Lance was jealous over a ghost who, when living, had been old enough to be her grandfather. “Yes. I do have a man up there drawing a bath for me. He’s been dearly departed for a very long time, so you can relax and can the jealous-lover bit. Well, that’s if jealousy is what I’m sensing from you.”

  Lance took her hand in his and lifted it to his lips. He kissed the back of it. “Yes. That is what you’re sensing from me. Sorry. I don’t like the idea of you being with other men.”

  “What about you and other women?” she asked, instantly regretting the question. “I’m sure you have a long line of women behind you. Right?”

  He lowered his gaze. “Maybe. Probably. I don’t really know. They aren’t important here. Only you are. You’re mine.”

  “You do know we’re not a couple, right?” she asked, unsure if she believed her own words. She’d only just met him, but already she knew she didn’t want to be separated from him. And she knew that soon enough, they’d join, and it would be out of this world. “And I’m not yours.”

  “Yes. You are.” He kissed her hand again, and she nearly melted. Thankful she was already sitting down, Emi squirmed in her seat, causing Lance to grin cunningly. She couldn’t think about anything other than how tempting his lips looked. She already knew what he tasted like—vanilla.

  And she loved vanilla.

  “Tell me about the ghosts you see,” he said, easing into the chair next to hers. He kept her hand in his. “Have you always been able to see them?”

  She nodded. “I didn’t use to be able to tell them apart from the living. My uncle taught me how to spot and feel the differences. He helped me learn to control that gift, and several others he shared, too. I guess our family could always do it.”

  “He sounds like he loves you,” said Lance.

  She pressed a half smile to her face. “He did. He was like an uncle, a father, and an older brother all wrapped into one. He raised me after my parents died when I was little.”

  “Where is he now?” asked Lance, his blue gaze looking through her.

  “He’s dead. That darkness you felt tonight, that thing that sent those creatures after us—it killed him.”

  He frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that. Do you still see him? His spirit?”

  She shook her head. “I thought I would, but I’ve never seen him. Not for lack of trying, either.”

  “I’m sorry,” he repeated, and she knew he meant it. “And I’m sorry about tonight, sweetheart.”

  “I know,” she said, sitting up and leaning toward him. “It’s not your fault. Thank you for protecting me.”

  He drew her against his powerful frame and held her to him as they sat. “When you’re ready, we need to pack what you want, and we need to leave. Before sunrise, if possible.”

  Emi tensed, thinking about the way he’d changed during the attack. “W-what are you? And don’t say you’re like Frank was, because you’re not.”

  He ran his hand through the back of her hair and held her to him. “I can shift into a panther—fully. And I’m part vampire. When I want, I can be both. So if you break it down, Frank and I are the same, but his body rejected what was done to him. Mine didn’t.”

  She closed her eyes and fought against her mind’s urge to deny his words. She’d already seen the truth of them. And she knew there was more to life than most humans allowed themselves to believe. There were demons. There were ghosts. And now she knew there were other things that roamed the night. Men who could turn into animals. And men who drank blood.

  Why the hell not? She was being held by one of them now, and she didn’t want him to ever let her go.

  “You’re not scared of me?” he asked, still running his hand through her hair in a loving manner.

  “No. I’m afraid for you,” she confessed. “The dead who were in the Quarter were drawn to you. They sensed it on you. Death and life.”

  He sighed. “Were they around Auberi and Blaise, too?”

  “No,” she said. “When they came, all the spirits I’d been seeing vanished. Why? Are they like you?”

  “Not exactly,” he said softly. “They’re vampires. They don’t shift into animals too.”

  Emi put her hand to Lance’s chest. “Vampires, shifters, and hybrids…oh, my!”

  He chuckled. “Yeah. It’s a lot to take in. I know. You okay with it?”

  “I know I shouldn’t be because it’s crazy, but I’ve seen so much in my life that I’m open to just about anything,” she confessed. She drew in his scent again and found herself snuggling her face against his chest more, nearly climbing onto his lap.

  “Good girl,” he said, kissing the top of her head.

  “Lance?”

  He tensed at the name but answered, “Yes?”

  “Why do I want to touch you so much?”

  “My animal magnetism,” he said, his voice light.

  She laughed. “Seriously.”

  “Because we’re mates,” he said matter-of-factly, like she had a clue what that meant. He tugged lightly on her hair, forcing her to look up at him. She did. He kissed the tip of her nose. “That means we were made for one another. That our souls are linked.”

  She’d heard her uncle hint at such a thing before, but he’d never given it a name. He’d only said that her mother had thought her father was linked to her soul.

  Lance cupped her face. “At first the urge to claim you scared the hell out of me. And I tried to deny who you are to me. But you’re the one real true thing I know in my life. I know you’re my mate. I know we’re meant to be together forever. I don’t care that you say you’ve never met me before. I know you—my soul knows you. And it’s taking every fucking ounce of me to keep from spreading you out on this table and doing what I want to do to you.”

  Emi couldn’t tear her gaze from his. The man was stunningly handsome, and touching him felt right. It felt like she’d been waiting to make contact with him all her life, and she couldn’t imagine going back to existing without him. Maybe he was right. Maybe they were made for one another.

  Then again, maybe he’d end up hurt because of her. Because of what was after her. The idea of Lance being harmed because of something she’d brought into his life made her start to cry again.

  He offered a lopsided smile. “I tell you that I want to do you on the table and you cry.”

  She laughed through her tears. “No. I’m game for that. I just don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  He perked, his gaze sliding to the kitchen table and then back to her. He swallowed hard enough for her to see and hear. “Game for that?”

  She touched his bottom lip with her thumb. “Lance, from the moment I saw you on Bourbon Street, I’ve wanted to jump your bones. That isn’t in question. What is…is what the hell is after me and why did it send a bunch of Franks to get me?”

  “You keep calling me Lance,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Why?”

  “Because it’s your name,” she said, tugging lightly on his lip. “And while you’re every bit the Norse god, Thor isn’t the real you. I think you know that.”

  He nodded.

  “Do you want me to call you Thor? I will.”

  “No. I like that you call me Lance,” he said, his gaze flickering back to the tabletop. She knew what was on his mind. It was on hers too.

  Boldly, Emi slipped out of her chair and onto his lap fully. She wrapped her arms around his neck as she did, wanting the warmth he provided. He l
ifted her so she could straddle him better.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Thor ran his hands up her back. “Emi.”

  She kissed him and he found himself taking hold of her peasant skirt and inching it up her legs. When it was up and over her thighs, he eased his hand between them and paused, waiting for her reaction to his intimate touch.

  Emi surprised him by pushing her hands down as she kissed him, going for the button of his jeans. She undid it with an urgency that excited him. Within seconds, she had his cock out and was stroking it, bringing him near the edge of culmination with nothing more than her expert touch.

  Her tongue dove around his as she tugged on his cock, easing up on his lap more. He went for her panties and intended to take his time with her, ease them off and explore her. The second his fingers skimmed her moist heat, he lost control and struggled to keep from doing a partial shift.

  Growling, he tore her panties, opening her legs wide and giving him access to her body. Thor broke the kiss and stiffened. “I’m sorry.”

  She released his cock and cupped his face. “I want you in me. Stop apologizing and do me. Make me forget everything for just a bit.”

  “With fucking pleasure,” he said, lining up beneath her, his mouth finding hers once more.

  As he pressed into her, he clenched his jaw at the tightness. Dear gods, how was he supposed to keep going and not come then and there? “Emi?”

  She bit at his lower lip. “Lance, please.”

  “Is this your first time?” he asked, wanting to be gentle with her.

  She shook her head.

  He wasn’t sure he believed her. Not with how hard it was to enter her. Sure, he wasn’t a small guy, but her body wasn’t having any of it. He caught hold of the back of her hair and tugged, forcing her head back as he kissed her neck and then used his free hand to ease one of the straps of her shirt over her shoulder. As he did, he realized Emi wasn’t wearing a bra.

  Within a few short movements, he had one of her breasts exposed, her dark nipple there for the taking. And take he did.

  Thor’s animal side came flooding up, wanting to sink its teeth into the tender flesh there before fucking the woman into oblivion. His vampire side was no better, wanting him to sink his fangs into her and taste her blood.

  All he wanted to do was fuck her, but he couldn’t. Not without hurting her.

  He licked her nipple and then eased his mouth over it, sucking on it, teasing it sweetly. She responded, grinding her body on his, causing her core to relax slightly, giving him the chance he needed to ease into her.

  He took it, pushing in more, inch by painfully slow inch. He had to bite his inner cheek to focus on anything other than just how good she felt. It was that or come then and there. When he was finally in to the hilt, he had to catch hold of Emi’s hips to keep her still. If she dared move more, he’d lose it.

  Her dark gaze slid over him as she lowered her head, her lips trailing kisses all over his face. She whimpered, and he released his hold on her, letting her move freely. The little minx began to ride him hard and fast, to the point he threw his hands out to his sides as they partially shifted into panther form.

  Suddenly, Thor could hear her heart beating, see her veins pulsing. The temptation to taste her blood was so great, he had to close his eyes tight as she rode him, her body drawing pleasure from him. All the while, he felt like he was about to jettison seed into her at an alarming rate.

  Do not come.

  Do not bite her.

  Do not claim her.

  Fuck.

  Oh fuck.

  Holy shit, I’m going to come, bite her, and claim her.

  Fuck.

  Her lips moved over his and he kept his arms out wide, afraid he’d cut her without meaning to. She rode him faster, and he couldn’t stop his beast from surging up more, making fur sprout over his arms and his upper chest. His eyes snapped open, and he froze, sure he’d scared her and the pleasure would end.

  Emi looked him over, and then she grinned before biting her lower lip. She yanked his shirt over his head and tossed it aside. She ran her hands through the extra hair on his chest and then began to move up and down on him slowly, making figure-eight patterns with her hips as she did.

  He was going to die then and there.

  She was going to kill him with sex.

  And I’ll die a happy man.

  “Lance,” she said, her lips near his. “Touch me.”

  “I can’t,” he said, hating his lack of control. “I’ll hurt you.”

  She ran her hands down his arms, but hers weren’t long enough to reach his hands. She pulled on his forearms. “Touch me, Lance. You won’t hurt me.”

  Reluctantly, he gave in and brought his clawed hands in more. As he touched her, he instantly found his center of control, and his body returned to normal form. He used the moment to slide his hands up and under her shirt and cup her breasts.

  She increased her pace on him. “Mm, you feel so good.”

  “Sweetheart, I’ve never, ever felt anything as good as you.” He didn’t need his memories to know as much.

  She went for his mouth again, and he squeezed her breasts as she bounced on his lap, taking his cock deep into her tight body. He felt her coming a second before she cried out and bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.

  His darkness reared its ugly head, liking the pain and the blood play.

  Emi licked the blood from his lips, and the second she swallowed, it felt as if Thor was slipping out of his body and into her. He blinked, positive he saw himself through her eyes, felt what she felt—confused, happy, sad, scared, safe, and the stirrings of love.

  Exactly the same way he felt about her.

  In an instant, he was back in his body again, unsure what had just happened. He was also unable to stop his fangs from distending. As he was about to try to make them to retract, Emi kissed him quickly, thrusting her tongue into his mouth, catching it on one of his fangs.

  As her coppery blood spilled onto Thor’s tongue, his shifter and vampire sides went nuts.

  She tasted even better than he’d imagined.

  Mine.

  The word beat at him, wanting out.

  With a gasp, he was suddenly seeing from her point of view again, feeling her feelings again. Confusion gripped him as he seemed to slam into his own body once more.

  Emi cried out again, and her pussy tightened around his cock.

  Thor tried to hold on longer but couldn’t. With a growl, he came in scalding waves into her. His body tight. “Mine,” he said before thinking better of it.

  He sucked in a big breath, terrified he’d just laid claim to her.

  Had he? She hadn’t said it back to him. Didn’t she have to say it too? And they hadn’t bitten one another, so they couldn’t be mated yet. Right?

  Worry gnawed at his gut.

  She kissed him, and he stood, staying rooted in her, still coming. He leaned their joined bodies over the kitchen table and swept whatever was on it onto the floor. The coffee mug broke, spilling chicory coffee everywhere.

  He didn’t care.

  All that mattered was being in Emi. With his cock still ready for more, Thor began to pump in and out of his woman, taking his time loving her.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Thor withdrew from Emi, instantly missing the feel of her hot, wet sheath wrapped around his cock. He wanted to ram back into her and give in to the baser need to lay claim to her and make her his for all time. He could. She was right there, ready for the taking, her breasts full, her legs spread, her sex near the head of his cock. He watched as their combined juices leaked from her.

  Unable to stop himself, Thor rubbed the tip of his dick through it and teased her tight opening.

  Slide home. Claim her.

  The need pulsed through him.

  She ran her hands over his chest, raking her nails on his skin slightly. The action felt good and appealed to his darker side. It liked the temptation of pain with sex, and wan
ted more.

  “Keep that up, and I’ll be back in you,” he warned, still rubbing the head of his cock against her entrance.

  She squirmed and took the tip of his dick into her body. “Promise?”

  A low growl came from him as he struggled to keep control of his darkness. “Emi, I can’t. I came so close to biting you during sex.”

  Her eyes widened. “Biting me? Is that because of the vampire in you?”

  He nearly laughed at how innocent her question was. “Partly. But the animal in me wants the same thing. They don’t often work together, so when they do, it’s extra hard for me to stay in control.”

  “Why do they want to bite me?” she asked, her voice light, her hips still squirming, teasing him.

  He left his cock partly in her, wanting to drive deep but holding back. He grit his teeth. “It’s how my kind mate. We fuck and we bite. There is blood involved, and then the pair is bonded—for life.”

  “That sounds hot and scary,” she said, raking her nails lightly over his torso once more. “Would it hurt? You biting me?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know.” He stared down at her neck and shoulder, wanting to sink his fangs into her while he drove his body into hers. “I don’t think I’ve ever claimed anyone before.”

  As he said it, he knew deep down that he hadn’t. That he’d teetered on the edge once before in his life, though he couldn’t recall the specifics, but even that hadn’t been like this. It hadn’t been this call he felt in his bones to make the woman beneath him his forever.

  “When you say for life, what does that mean exactly?” she asked, moving her hips just right and driving herself onto his cock more.

  He closed his eyes for a fraction of a second to compose himself. “I’m immortal. Claiming you would make your lifespan match mine.”

  He resisted the urge to explain to her that it would also mean she’d suffer greatly when he died, and possibly perish herself. That was why he couldn’t give in and claim her. He was bound to Pierre, and one way or another he had to break that bond, which would result in his death.

  He would never let Emi suffer because of that.