When he didn’t say anything, I tapped him on the shoulder. “Are you going to tell me about this cup or what?”
“The cup is ancient. I’m not even sure how far back it goes. Apparently, if you drink the blood of an old vampire from it, you gain tremendous knowledge of the supernatural world.” He turned to me, eyes gleaming. “I’ve never seen it happen, but can you imagine?”
“Sounds like one step away from being a vampire.”
“My love, that only happens if I take your blood, then you drink mine. There is nothing to be concerned about.”
“Stop calling me that. We aren’t lovers.”
“But you want to be.” He walked over to me, brushing back my hair. “I can sense your desire. Smell it on you. You can’t deny it.”
Turning away, I brought my mind back to the cup. “If they’re after the cup, I assume it also means they’ll be needing you.” Then it dawned on me. “Jimmy must have taken it to the cave the day he released you.”
Nodding, Cathal smiled. “We must go look for it.”
Chapter Eleven
It was strange being in the car with Cathal. He sat in the passenger seat silently, sometimes glancing over in my direction. When he did it for the fifth time, I sighed.
“Why do you keep doing that?”
“I need to learn how to drive one of these.”
“You don’t...” I frowned. “I guess you weren’t around when the car was invented, huh?”
“No. I’m afraid I’ve missed a lot.” He pulled out a cell phone, staring at it. “I have no idea how to operate one of these, but the woman I spoke to says everyone has one.”
“You call people with it. I will call you on mine. I just need your phone number.” I grinned when he looked at me, confused. “Right. One step at a time. Once we’re done at the cave, I’ll show you how it works.”
Cathal nodded, smiling. “That would be excellent.”
Frowning, I pulled to the side of the road where the trail began. “This is it.”
He nodded. “Are you sure you want to go up there? The hike is long. I can just go myself.”
“I want to help look.”
He grinned mischievously. Not liking his look, I got out of the SUV and started up the path. Suddenly, he picked me up, making me gasp. I placed my arms around his neck.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
He kissed me lightly, then looked up the path. “Hold on.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Cathal...”
But it was too late. He used his vampire speed to get us up the path. I closed my eyes, not wanting to watch how fast the trees flew by. Something could happen, like a branch cutting off my head. I tucked my head into his chest, breathing in his smell.
When he finally slowed to a stop, I pulled away, waiting for him to put me down. When he didn’t, I looked up at his face. He stared at the cave, a faraway, dark look in his eyes.
“I hate this place,” he said softly.
I could only imagine what it would be like to be trapped inside a cave for so long. I cupped his face and rubbed his cheek with my thumb. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
Cathal looked down at me, eyebrow raised. “Are you? You think I should still be in there.”
My mouth opened to object, then I closed it. He was right. The man was still a killer. Then again, so was I. Confused, I shifted, looking at the ground. After a second, he finally put me down. I stumbled, taking a moment to stretch out my legs.
“Let’s start looking.”
He didn’t move. “Do you think I should still be in there, Demi?”
Sighing, I continued to kick at bushes and rocks. “My job is to protect people, Cathal. You kill them. Of course I think something should be done with you.”
“You want me dead?”
I spun around to face him, holding my arms out at my sides. “What do you want me to say? You kill. That’s who you are. You were put in here for being a murderer. I can’t condone that.”
I cried out in surprise when he swiftly came up to me, pushing me up against a tree. “What are you doing?” I whispered.
Cathal tucked my hair back behind my ear. “I’ve changed. You could say I learned my lesson.” He lowered his head, lips brushing mine. “Now that I met you, I want to do nothing but please you.”
I laughed breathlessly. “You can’t change. Vampires are born killers.”
He shrugged. “I’m trying to change. I haven’t murdered anyone since I saw you that first time.”
I searched his face, looking for deception. “Liar.”
Gripping my hair in his hand, he tilted back my head. “I promise you.” His mouth came down on mine, hot and eager. When his fangs scraped my lip, I moaned, surprising myself at how much that turned me on.
Pulling away, I stared up at him, confused by the different emotions running through my body. “You confuse me.” I looked away. Just as I did, I spotted something silver behind a bush.
I gasped. “I think I found it.”
Pushing past him, I hurried to grab it. Sure enough, it was the cup. It wasn’t as big as I imagined, more like a wine glass, but was heavy. I brushed off the dirt that had gathered in the grooves of the design. It was beautiful scrollwork.
“That’s it!” He grinned. “Do you want to try it?”
My head snapped up in alarm. “What do you mean?”
“Do you want to gain knowledge?” Cathal unbuttoned his sleeve and rolled it up. Watching me, he exposed his fangs, waiting.
“Wait! I can’t.” I handed the cup to him. “I don’t want to drink vampire blood.”
“But there’s no harm.”
Shaking my head, I walked away from him, heading back down the path. “Still, I can’t bring myself to do it.”
“You’ll be a powerful hunter.” Cathal hurried after me and grabbed my shoulder. “You don’t have to fear drinking vampire blood. I don’t even have all the knowledge that comes with this cup. It somehow holds all the power. I can’t even begin to guess what you will know after you drink.”
I frowned, looking up at him. “You would let me drink from this knowing that I may finally have the knowledge to kill you?”
Nodding, Cathal handed me the cup. “I want you to have it. When you’re ready, just let me know.”
Accepting it, I shoved it into my coat. “I don’t ever plan on being ready.”
At his sigh, I started back down the path. I didn’t want him picking me up and racing me down to the SUV. My legs were still shaky from the first time. I felt the bulge of the cup in my coat, knowing I had to keep it to myself. If anyone found out about it, they would do anything to take it from me. That would not happen.
WE WENT OUT HUNTING again, checking alleys this time. Bear told Troy to come with him, which meant I was stuck with Jesse. Blair and Ruby thought they were doing me a favor by suggesting Jesse come with me instead of them, but they really weren’t. There was just something off about him, and I didn’t care to find out what it was
“We should check out this alley,” he suggested. There was an abandoned car parked down it, trash scattered about.
Shrugging, I followed. There didn’t seem to be anyone there, but then again, it was dark at the end. I started to tell him nobody was down there when he turned around to look at me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, looking behind me.
Jesse pushed me up against the building. I glared, shoving him away. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
He grinned, stepping back. “You like it rough? You seem like that type.” Pushing me back against the wall again, he pressed his body to mine. “You let Troy have all the fun with you. I feel kind of left out.”
“Because you’re a creep. Now back the fuck off,” I growled.
When he hands came up to wrap around my waist, he froze, feeling the cup in my jacket. “What’s this?”
“Weapons.” I quickly lifted my knee, hitting him right in the balls.
“Fuck!
” He bent over, holding himself as his face turned red. “Why the hell did you do that?”
“A warning. If you push yourself on me again, I will do more than hit your balls.”
“You bitch!” Jesse stood and swung out with his fist, hitting me in the face. I wasn’t expecting it, so I fell back against the wall, my head hitting the brick. “I tried to be nice to you, hoping you’d give me a chance. Instead, you want some player like Troy. What does he have that I don’t?”
I saw black spots in my vision, blinking furiously to try and clear them. “Is it that hard for you to get laid, Jesse? You’re a good-looking guy, so it must be the personality that’s shit.”
He swung out again, so I closed my eyes. I was too dizzy and sick to my stomach to block or throw my own punch.
When it never came, I opened my eyes. Cathal held Jesse’s arm in an iron grip. His eyes were dark, furious, his fangs revealed.
“Cathal! Don’t!” I pleaded.
“He deserves it. He put his hands on you, hurt you.” He spun Jesse around and slammed him back against the wall.
“You’ve been talking to this bloodsucker the whole time? I can’t believe it! You’re a traitor!” Jesse shouted. “A fucking whore!”
Growling, Cathal lifted his arm to hit Jesse in the face, but I grabbed it. “Don’t hurt him. He’s an asshole, but you can’t kill him.”
“No wonder you won’t fuck me. You’re already screwing a leech.”
Cathal shook me off, raising his arm again. I stepped in front of Jesse and looked into Cathal’s eyes, holding my hands out. “He’s not worth it.”
Lowering his arm, he pulled Jesse close to him so he could gaze into his eyes. “You’ll forget I was here. You decided to go hunting alone after Demi refused your advances. You will no longer attempt to flirt with her. Do you understand?”
Staring at Jesse, I frowned. He looked to be in some kind of trance, not blinking as he stared into Cathal’s eyes. “What did you do?” I asked, waving a hand in front of the asshole’s face.
“I enthralled him. Only old vampires can do it.” He released Jesse. “Go. Get out of this place.”
Jesse stumbled down the alley, not looking back once. I turned to Cathal in shock, examining his handsome face. “I can’t believe you did that. Have you done that to me?” I suddenly got angry. “Please tell me you never did that to me.”
Frowning, Cathal started after Jesse until he turned the corner. “Never. I wouldn’t begin our relationship that way.”
“We don’t have a relationship.”
“You should have let me kill him!” He looked at me, anger marring his face. “Do you know how hard it was to control myself? I wanted his blood on my hands. Wanted to feel the warmth dripping between my fingers. He deserves much worse. Do you have feelings for the fool?”
I gasped. “No! He’s a dick.”
“Then you should have let me kill him.”
“You don’t have to kill everyone you hate, Cathal.”
Shaking his head, he started walking down the alley. “He could have done much worse to you. You’re lucky I came along.”
“I could have handled him.” He didn’t stop, so I hurried after him, grabbing his arm. “Where are you going?”
“Away. I’m too angry right now. I need some space.”
Surprised, I stopped where I was. “Fine! Then just stay away permanently!”
Cathal spun around, eyes flashing. He growled, advancing toward me. I started backing up, then he was on me. I opened my mouth to scream, but his arms wrapped around my body, my surroundings darkening.
“LET GO OF ME!” I SHOUTED, pushing against him.
Cathal released me and I stumbled, dizzy. Reaching out, I felt a wall, bracing myself against it. Where the fuck were we? Was I his prisoner now?
Blinking several times, I looked in his direction. When the two of him formed into one again, I saw him taking of his jacket, tossing it onto a couch. We were at his apartment?
“Why are we here?” I demanded, glaring at him.
He unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt, rolling up his sleeves. “So we can talk.”
“I told you to leave me alone. What don’t you understand about that?” Finally able to stand on my own, I crossed my arms over my chest, lifting my chin.
Cathal chuckled, stalking toward me. “You can’t get rid of me, Demi. This is forever. There is no escaping what we have.” His gaze went to where Jesse hit me. Immediately his eyes darkened.
“You’re delusional. I think living in that cave went to your head,” I spat, backing up into the wall.
“Your words are brutal, but I know you don’t mean them.” He pressed his body against mine, looking down at me.
Raising my hands, I pushed against his chest. “Get off me!” I shoved, but he grabbed my wrists, holding them over my head.
“Fight me. I kind of like it.”
“Bastard!”
Cathal’s lips came crashing down over mine. I struggled against his hold for a moment, but then surrendered, returning the kiss with a moan. He growled, kissing the side of my face, then my jaw. Gasping, I tilted my head so he could reach my neck, shivering when I felt his fangs scrape over the sensitive skin. He held onto my wrists with one hand, his other one trailing under my shirt, brushing my skin with his fingers. When his hand closed over my breast, I moaned, arching into his touch. My gun dug into my back, so I pulled one of my hands free, albeit with a little reluctance from him, and set it on the table near the door.
As I closed my eyes, I had the sense we were moving, suddenly feeling something soft under me. When I opened them again, I lay on the bed in his room. My eyes rolled back when he pushed my shirt up and kissed my stomach, raising it higher to expose my bra. His mouth trailed up until he was between my breasts, pulling the cup of my bra down and closing his mouth over my left nipple. I gasped, gripping his hair as his tongue flicked it.
With his other hand, he began to unbutton and unzip my jeans. Slowly, he slid them down, making sure to run his hand over my bare skin as he did. He covered my mouth again, touching his tongue to mine as he positioned himself between my legs. I knew what we were doing was wrong, but I couldn’t help the overwhelming desire I felt. His body covering mine felt like I had finally found my missing piece.
He slipped his hand beneath my panties, searching for my heat. When his finger slipped inside me, I cried out, arching my body. Cathal groaned, kissing me some more as he pushed a second finger into me. Feeling my orgasm building, I started to pull at his shirt, wanting to feel his skin against mine. He grinned when I pulled, buttons popping off. My eyes widened at his bare chest. He was amazing, more perfect than I could have imagined.
Kissing his chest, I tried to undo his pants, but he shook his head.
“I just want you to feel. Let yourself go.”
Falling back onto the bed, I relished in the feeling of his fingers moving in and out of me. He leaned down, brushing his lips against mine. His fangs grazed my lower lip. When I hissed from the sudden sting of pain, his mouth closed over mine, tongue running over my bottom lip.
Heat rose through my body, my toes curling as the tingle rushed up my spine. I cried out, digging my nails into his back as I fell over the edge.
Moving my hand, I grabbed his hard length through his pants, trying to urge him to take his clothes off, but he grabbed my wrist.
“Not yet. You’ll hate me if we do it too soon.”
Disappointed, I let my hand drop. He kissed me softly, then lay down next to me. His fingers brushed along my stomach. “I have seen many beautiful women, but none can compare to you.”
I turned onto my side to face him, brushing back some of his disheveled hair. “You tasted my blood.”
He fell back onto the bed and sighed. “Yes.”
Frowning, I scooted out of the bed, grabbing my jeans. I pulled down my shirt and straightened my jacket. “That’s the first step to becoming a vampire, Cathal. You should have asked me.” When I slippe
d on my jeans, I glanced over at him. He hadn’t moved. By the expression on his face, he appeared to be disappointed with himself.
“I’m sorry, Demi. I would ask for forgiveness, but I deserve none.”
“You’re right. You don’t.”
Grabbing my boots, I slipped them on. How I managed to get those off was beyond me. I couldn’t even remember taking them off.
I headed out to the living room, grabbing my gun and shoving it into the waistband at my back. He didn’t even bother to come out of the bedroom. Disappointed, I took one last look over my shoulder, then left.
Chapter Twelve
Glancing down at my phone, I saw four missed calls. Swearing, I scrolled through to see who they were from. Two were from Jesse, the other two from Seth. Jesse must have told them what happened. Why else would Seth call? Maybe they got into some trouble. A little worried, I opened my contact list, selected Seth’s number, and pressed it to my ear.
“Where are you?” he demanded.
“Out hunting. Why?”
“Jesse said you two got into an argument and separated.”
“Did he tell you what the argument was about?”
Seth was silent. “No, but I have a feeling I won’t like it.”
“Where are you?”
“We found a vamp nest near the hospital.”
“Which one?”
When he told me, I groaned. That was quite a distance away.
I told him I was on my way, then called a taxi and leaned against Cathal’s building to wait. A little hurt he didn’t chase after me, I tried to focus on what I knew.
We had to find that jorōgumo before she murdered anyone else. I was shocked that something like her existed. Once I got back to the SUV and my laptop, I’d find somewhere with Wi-Fi and do some research.
Clenching my fist, I looked up to the sky, wishing life were a little bit easier. Once again, I had to get away from everyone in order to figure things out. That was the problem with hiding information. Maybe I should tell them about Cathal, but I knew they would never understand.
Demi's at Stake Page 8