by S. N. Hunt
“Sarah, it has to be you. You are your father’s daughter. The rightful queen. Though you may not know your powers yet, they are there. Since you were a baby when I took you there, you had no magic reserves absorbed. That is why it was so safe to keep you there. You will just have to learn to use them. Without you, Micheal will revert. Will you doom him to a life of vampirism?”
Sarah looked into Shae’s eyes as the woman spoke. Exhaustion weighed down on her. She looked back at Micheal.
“When we first met, you had no body heat. You said your flesh was cold and dead. But that isn’t true anymore, is it?”
Micheal pulled his glove off and touched her hand. His skin was tan, healthy looking, and his grip was warm.
“I am already changing. Each day that I have spent with you has changed me back into a Guardian.”
Sarah stared down at his hand. Her mind flashing back to the kisses they had shared. She swallowed and licked her bottom lip. Her eyes traveling back up to the black void of his face. Her thoughts in a jumble.
“Well, I think that is enough for tonight, let’s get you into a room.” Shae cleared her throat and stood up quickly, stating, “And a bath. It has been a long journey for you and I am sure it will help. Let me just find my husband to arrange it.”
Shae walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her. Micheal grabbed her cloak from the hook and put it on her. She grabbed his wrist and stopped him for a moment.
“Why didn’t you tell me? You could have said all of this on the way here.”
Michael wrapped his arms around her and leaned into her. His scent enveloped her, and a flush warmed her face. He smelled of cool nights and the ocean. Her heart skipped a beat. He brought his face close to her. All she could see was the black hood and suddenly wished to see his eyes.
“If I had told you all this, would you have stayed? Or would you have run screaming into the night, thinking I was a lunatic?” He placed her hand on his chest where she faintly felt his heart beating, “I swore an oath to Shae. She bound it with magic. The oath stated I would allow her to tell you the story. I have missed the warmth of blood flowing through me. I have missed my heart beating. But most of all, I have missed having a purpose. Someone to protect. That someone is you.”
Chapter Fourteen
Shae led her and Micheal up what seemed like endless stairs. The stairs were wide enough for all three of them to walk side by side. She had explained that they only had one room left and that they would have to share. The double doors to the room were just as wide as the stairs.
One side of the door had a naked woman, the other, a naked man. When closed, the lovers looked to be embracing. The room was at the top of the inn and filled the entire top floor. The large king-size four-poster bed sat on a platform slightly off the ground. A black canopy draped around the top of it and hung in heavy curtains at each post. An enormous fireplace filled the opposite end of the room. The mantle had many scenes of lovers entwining. A fire blazed in it. There were large wingback chairs in front of the fire with a table large enough to hold food and drink for two. The table was carved in the same motif as the mantle.
To one side of the room sat a carved writing desk. It was carved whimsically with satyrs chasing nymphs. Peering closely, Sarah saw some satyrs had caught the nymphs. She blushed at the scenes. To the other side was the largest bathtub Sarah had ever seen. It was bigger than some hot tubs she had seen on tv. It too was carved with sensual displays of lovers in various positions.
“There is only one bed?” She asked Shae.
“Well, this is our honeymoon suite. Doesn’t get much use. Most travelers can’t afford it. Few newlyweds around. Who wants to get married in the Blood City?” She laughed nervously.
“It’s fine, Shae. We will make due. Water for the tub is all I ask for.” Micheal replied.
“Shamnus is coming right up with it. It has been a busy day for the inn. He has been stuck at the desk.”
At that very moment, the bedroom door swung open. Into the room strode a Centaur. His lower half was covered in chestnut fur that matched the mane of hair on his head. He was bare chested, and the muscles bunched under the weight of the water pails he carried. He set the pails next to the tub and leaned over, kissing Shae. Shae blushed and pushed him away.
“Sarah, this is my husband, Shamnus. You probably don’t remember him, but he was your nanny.” Shae leaned in close and whispered, “You probably won’t understand a thing he says. His Scottish burr only gets worse with time.”
“Ah heard that.” Shamnus smiled at her, “Weel, ye grew up intae a bonny thing. Ah hae missed ye mightly.”
He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight to his chest, lifting her feet off the ground. She squealed for a moment, but something was familiar about this man. She hesitantly hugged him back.
“Hug me lik’ ye mean it, lassie.”
She laughed and squeezed him as tightly as she could. He set her down and went back to work on the pails. The pails were small and there was no way that they would fill the tub. She was just about to ask if they needed help when she noticed the water just kept pouring out of the first pail. The tub got about half full when the pail finally stopped. He picked up the next pail and repeated. The tub was full to the brim in no time. Steam rolled off the surface of the water. She reached her hand in and the water was hot. She looked at Shamnus in amazement.
“Thae pails ur magic. Th’ cooncil juice wull aye bade taps aff. Whin yer dane, juist pull th’ plug in th’ middle o’ th’ tub. Identical wi’ th’ hearth. Th’ fire wull ne’er gang oot ‘n’ wull aye keep th’ room perfect temp.”
Shae laughed at the bewildered look on Sarah’s face, “It’s magic. Just pull the plug in the tub when you are done. The fire will burn all night, no need to tend it. It will always keep the room a perfect temperature for you.”
Shae grabbed Shamnus arm and pulled him to the door. “Wummin, she knew whit th’ hell ah said. How come dae ye aye git tae rame it tae a’ body? Ah amen’t a speaking Sassenach?”
Shae smiled and waved as she pulled Shamnus through the door. Sarah could hear him still arguing with her, though she only understood half of what he said. She smiled and chuckled a little as she overheard Shae’s reply.
“Cause nobody understands you! You think I enjoy being a Scottish burr translator. You damn donkey!”
Turning back to the tub, she saw Micheal staring at it. He had removed his cloak and set it across the writing desk. He removed his hood and laid it on top of the cloak. His coal black hair shined in the firelight.
Seeing her studying him, he smiled and removed his black gloves. Heat curled in her belly and her cheeks grew warm with a flush. He reached down and pulled the hem of his shirt out of his pants. Realizing he was about to disrobe, Sarah quickly turned around. He chuckled from behind her.
“I plan to bathe in that water. If you want fresh clean water, you might want to disrobe yourself.”
“I don’t think that this is very appropriate. Perhaps, we can hang a sheet and take turns. Shamnus said the water wouldn’t get cold. Maybe it will stay clean too.” She hated how shaky her voice sounded.
She felt self-conscious suddenly. They had shared kisses, and he had seen her naked multiple times. Something about the intimacy of the room made it seem different. His hands settled on her shoulders and made her jump. She hadn’t realized how close he was or how quietly he could move.
“The water will not stay clean. We will be together from here on out till eternity. I am your Guardian, your protector, your shadow. We are bonded now and forever. We will share our lives. I will share in your death. I think seeing each other naked is the least of our worries.”
He spun her around to face him. His scent flowed over her and she sighed. He stood before her in only his pants and boots. His chest was smooth and muscled. She resisted the urge to reach out and touch him. He removed her cloak from her shoulders and tossed it to the side.
Looking up into his eye
s, she said, “If I didn’t know any better, I would think you are trying to seduce me.”
He smiled lazily, “Perhaps I am.”
Chapter Fifteen
Micheal threaded his hands through Sarah’s hair and tilted her head back gently. She could see more of his fangs as he smiled down at her. She lost herself in the deep red of his eyes. His hands massaged against her scalp. He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her softly.
She knew little about sex. She had only had one experience in her life with a boy at the orphanage. They had been only sixteen. He had made her think she was special by sneaking her treats and always complimenting her. He had never sparked a fire in her blood, but he had been nice. At the tender age of sixteen, she thought that meant something.
She had thought long and hard about whether or not to give in to him. He had been gentle at first, but when they had finally gone further, he changed. She remembered him holding her down and forcing his cock in. He only had pumped in and out a few times, then collapsed on her. She just laid there and cried. He had gotten off her and walked out of her room without a second glance. The next morning, he had moved on to the next girl. She swore to never fall for that trick again.
Now here she was in the arms of another man, a former vampire at that. He was being gentle, but would he stay that way? Her mind warred with her body. He flicked his tongue against her lips as if asking for permission. She parted her lips and fire rage through her veins. Her doubts melting away into a warm puddle in her belly. He pulled her closer against him. He lifted his lips away from her mouth and gazed down into her eyes. She noticed his eyes were now a darker red than before.
“Let me love you, princess. It is all I have wanted to do since I first saw you. Just say the word.”
She looked deep into his eyes. Her uncertainty warring with her body. She knew she wanted him, but would it last? She had experienced nothing like this with anyone before. Like a fire was boiling her from the inside out. She had lived her life alone, and she was tired of being that way. She wanted to know love at least once in her life.
“Please love me, Micheal. Make the loneliness go away.”
He smiled down at her and kissed her deeply. He reached for the ties of her bodice, slowly undoing them. He gently slipped it off her shoulders. He tossed it to the side and leaned down, kissing the curve of a breast through her underdress. She felt a jolt of warmth where his lips touched her. Her knees buckled, and she leaned against him. He wrapped his arms around her and she grabbed onto his shoulders. As she laid her hand on his bare skin, she felt the muscles bunching under his skin.
He stood up and took her hand. He pressed it to his chest. She could just barely feel his heart beating. It was slow and faint, but it was there. He laid his hands on her hips and pulled her underdress up. When the hem reached his hands, he pulled it over her head. He let it drift to the ground as he unsnapped her bra. Stepping back, he gazed at her. She felt self-conscious for a moment and covered herself. He grabbed her hands and pulled them away.
“You are beautiful, Sarah. Never cover yourself.”
He knelt in front of her and pulled her against him. He took her left nipple into his mouth and his hand caressed the right. She moaned low in her throat and arched her back. He switched sides as her hands threaded through his hair. She felt herself getting wet, and she whimpered.
He pulled from her for a moment, the absence of his skin causing goosebumps to rise on her skin. He kicked his boots off and stripped off his socks. She felt like she was drowning in his eyes as he pulled his pants off.
She stood perfectly still, trying not to look down at his cock. She kept her eyes on his. He smiled at her and gathered her into his arms as if she weighed nothing. He climbed the steps and descended into the tub. The water was warm against her skin and felt divine.
He set her down on a bench that was carved into the side of the tub. He reached behind him and grabbed a bottle from the ledge of the tub. He squirted a beige mixture onto his hands. He then washed her hair. Sarah sighed as he massaged it into her scalp. No one had ever bathed her before. The shampoo smelled of roses and vanilla. He finished with her hair and started rubbing the mixture on her body. He massaged and kneaded at her muscles. She felt like she would melt into a puddle.
He will pull the plug and I will flush right down with the water. But damn, it will be worth it.
Once he was done washing her skin, he pulled her off the bench into his arms. He turned and sat down on the bench himself. He situated her on his thighs and leaned her back into the water, rinsing her hair. She could feel the warmth of his skin against hers. His hard length pressed against her wet core. It gave her a thrill to think that she had done this to him.
Leaning her back up to his chest, Micheal skimmed his lips down her neck. His hands roamed over her flesh, trailing fire in their path. She gripped his shoulders and leaned into him. She wanted more of him, need and pressure building higher inside her. His teeth nibbled gently on her collarbone. He released her and leaned back against the tub, spreading his arms wide along the back ledge.
“Take the lead, Sarah. Touch me.”
Sarah looked down into his crimson eyes, feeling the flush creep up her throat. She bit her lower lip and shyly traced the muscles across his chest. She watched as he sighed and laid his head back against the tub. She curled her hands and lightly scratched his abdomen with her nails. He moaned, and she felt a thrill go through her.
She grabbed the bottle of soap and lathered his flesh. Fascinated, she watched as his muscles bunched and moved as she touched him. He felt like steel wrapped in velvet. She mimicked his actions from earlier, massaging and kneading the muscles. When she got to his back, she hesitated, unsure how to get around his broad shoulders. With a chuckle, he lifted her off his lap. He got off the bench and knelt in the center of the tub. Even with him kneeling, he still came to her shoulder. She rubbed the soap into his muscular back.
On his back was a large black dragon tattoo. Its wings were spread over his shoulder blades. Its tail curled down his spine and stopped right above his buttocks. Under the tattoo, she could see scars that crisscrossed his back. She traced them with a fingertip.
Had he been whipped? Who would do this to him?
“The scars are from a whip. My brother spent many years convincing me to his side. I was still human when he started. The whip left permanent marks.”
At his words, sadness flooded her heart. She gently washed and massaged down his back. Hoping all that she felt conveyed through her touch. He moaned and arched his back toward her.
She reached his buttocks and gently squeezed them. He jerked in her touch instinctively. She giggled at his reaction. She nudged him into a standing position. She walked around to the front of him. Reaching between them, she nervously gripped him in her hands. His shaft was thick and long, throbbing with a heartbeat of its own. She felt her center clutch in response.
She slowly stroked his length. Her mouth went dry as his breathing quickened. He started lifting his hips against her hand. She squeezed him tighter and pumped a little fast. A wicked grin spread across her face as she reached down and gently gripped his sack in her hand. He grabbed her hands and stopped her.
“Enough! Any more and this will be over sooner than later.”
He wrapped his arms around her and climbed out of the tub. He grabbed some towels that lay near the tub and handed her one. They dried each other down. She slapped his buttocks as she finished drying them. He growled and smacked hers in response. She squeaked at the sudden motion. He picked her up off the floor, wrapping her legs around his waist.
He strode to the bed and laid her gently on top of the covers. He kissed her lips deeply. He trailed kisses down and across her stomach. Her muscles clenched in response to his touch. He placed his hands on her thighs and spread her open. She blushed and tried to close them as he stood staring down at her core. His eyes met hers and he slapped the inside of her thigh gently. She squeaked, and he gripped her l
egs tighter, not allowing her to close them.
“I said to never cover yourself.”
He leaned down and licked her slit from front to back. She cried out as heat flooded her veins. He flicked his tongue against her nub, sending a spark of electricity through her. He started licking and sucking at her core. She tried to wiggle her hips, but he kept her in place with his hands. She gasped and struggled for breath. She felt the pressure building deep inside her. Her hands reached for him, burrowing deep in his hair.
He let go of her thighs and slid a finger into her. She shuddered and closed her eyes. Her body started rocking against his hand, seeking completion. She was chasing a star in the sky and had no clue what would happen when she touched it. He flicked his tongue once against her nub and then sucked it hard. The world shattered as her hand grabbed the star from the sky. She let out a scream and clutched his shoulders. Her nails dug deep into his flesh. She needed something to ground her. Her body twitched against him and she fell back to earth.
Her breath evened out, and she opened her eyes. Micheal looked up into her eyes, a smug smile on his face. He slid up her body and kissed her. She could taste herself on his lips and it only reignited the fire in her blood. She felt him position himself at her opening. He slid slowly inch by inch into her heat. She felt a pinch as he slid in little by little and squirmed against him.
When he finally slid all the way inside her, he stopped moving, giving her time to get used to the feeling of him. The fullness of him making her gasp and she felt him tense. Looking up into his face, she found his eyes closed. Dots of perspiration spotted his forehead, his expression almost one of pain. She realized he was trying hard to control himself. She wrapped her legs around his and pulled his mouth down to hers. She kissed him deeply and rocked her hips against him.
It was like she had let a dog off a leash. He rocked hard against her. Pulling out almost completely, then slamming back into her. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. She was once again flying through the heavens, but this time Micheal was with her. She gripped him tightly to her and matched his rhythm. This time she collided with the star and burst into a million pieces. Her body tensing and her scream echoed off the walls of the room. Micheal quickened his pace and went rigid. With a loud cry, he spilled his seed into her.