"Don't forget unfair." He winked.
"You're bad."
"Am I?" His deep laugh echoed through my body. "Or do you just wish I was bad in order to make yourself feel better about the choice that was forced upon you?"
"It was the only way."
He threw his head back and laughed. "Oh, believe me, it wasn't."
"You?" I bit down on my lip until it hurt. "Forgive me for not wanting to be taken by a Dark One… I've heard stories."
"Books lie." He shrugged. "Perhaps you would have survived me."
"Perhaps?" I repeated. "You're kidding, right?"
His eyes flashed. "Better."
I looked down. I was in a white bikini. I quickly tried to cover myself up; his laughter made me want to drown him. "May I have more clothing… please?"
His eyes flashed again, leaving me in a sarong. "Better?"
"No."
"Too bad." He leaned back on his elbows. "Ethan can't give you what I can."
"I'm not with Ethan because of what he can give me."
Cassius went still. "So they told you?"
"About the prophecy?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
"Did they tell you all of it?"
"Yes," I lied.
"I can smell the lie on your tongue." His eyes blazed white. "Never lie to me or any of my kind. It's infuriating and insulting to think you could get away with it in the first place."
Great, that meant he knew I'd been lying at the Gathering.
"Yes," his voice was smug, his smile matching it.
"Please… don't," I whispered.
"Don't?"
"Read me like that… I don't like it."
He studied me for a minute then gave a firm nod. "Fine. I won't pull the strings of your mind in an effort to give you exactly what you want before you even know you want it."
I clenched my teeth together. "What's the rest of the prophecy?"
"Why don't you ask your mate?"
"Because my mate is sleeping."
"Believe me…" Cassius laughed, the sound of it washed over me like he'd just stripped me naked. "The minute I invaded your dreams, he's been trying to wake you up. Sleep? He won't sleep until he knows you haven't touched me."
"If I touch you?"
Cassius's grin turned deadly. "Then I own you. Even in your dreams… you'd be mine regardless of the mating. Though, because you're bonded with Ethan, the desire to touch me lessens considerably, and there is that whole ridiculous issue with stealing you away from him since I can no longer smell you."
"Yet you can invade my thoughts? My dreams when I'm sleeping?"
"Only because I marked you first…" His eyes went white. A soft wind picked up, causing his black-as-night hair to blow across his face. "You think you've already made your choice — but you haven't, not yet."
"You or him." I nodded. "In the end, does it really matter?"
"Of course it does." Cassius said quickly. "Because there was once a human just like you… a human we thought was the one to fix everything and she failed. Care to know why?"
I didn't know how to answer. I wasn't sure if I could trust anything he said.
"She pretended… you see, Genesis. The prophecy specifically says a human will be called — she'll be the beginning of the end, she'll have golden hair…"
I touched my hair self-consciously.
"…eyes so beautiful an immortal could get lost in them."
I hung my head; I wasn't beautiful.
"You are breathtaking, more so than she could have ever hoped to be."
I looked up. "What happened?"
"She wanted too much," Cassius said in a sad voice. "And my hand was forced."
"I don't understand."
A soft rain started to fall. I held out my hands; the raindrops were blazing hot and turned to blood the minute they touched my fingertips.
"His blood calls to you." Cassius nodded in understanding. "Better return to him before he takes a bite."
"But you didn't tell me—"
I jolted awake to see Ethan hovering over me, his eyes completely black. "Tell me you didn't touch him. Tell me!" he roared.
I shook my head, my heart slamming against my chest. "I didn't touch him."
Ethan closed his eyes and swore. "I can't protect you in your dreams."
I reached for his face, shocked that he let me touch him now that the transition was over. "Then you'll have to trust me."
"Trust is earned."
"So let me try to earn it." I fought back angry tears.
He turned his head in my hand and kissed my palm. "I feel like I've already failed you. And that's the truth."
His breath was hot against my skin. I was afraid to move my hand, afraid it would shatter the moment. "Then stop failing."
"Not that simple," he whispered.
"Make it."
Black soulless eyes met mine. "Give me time."
"Do we have that? Time?"
He shuddered then leaned over me; his muscular body coming into contact with mine had me trembling with need. "I honestly hope so."
His lips grazed my neck.
I stopped breathing altogether.
"You taste like rain."
"I was on a lake."
"Dark Ones love water."
"Why?" I loved the feel of his lips against my neck as he talked.
"Because they love their own reflections."
I burst out laughing. It felt good.
Soon Ethan joined me and pulled my body on top of his. "Sleep, Genesis."
"No more dreams?"
"He can only invade once in a night."
"Oh… good." I yawned and stretched my arms above my head.
"Do that again, and I won't be held responsible for my own actions," he said in a husky voice.
"S-sorry."
"Don't be." He tugged my body against his.
It should have been uncomfortable, lying against his chest, but it was better than the bed.
"Now sleep."
Ethan
"So…" Alex grinned over his cup of coffee. "How was your evening?"
"It's too early," I growled. My body was still on fire. Sleep had been hell — or maybe heaven? Vampires still needed sleep, regardless of what silly books and movies said, and I'd gotten absolutely none.
Every breath she took I took with her, soaking her in, feeling her body move against mine. It was pure torture.
The human moaned.
She moaned! In her sleep! And clung to me like I was her lifeline. I hadn't felt that complete in a long time and didn't realize how hungry I was for that sort of affection until she freely gave it. Then again, she had been sleeping while I watched her.
"You're eyes are glowing," Alex mused.
"Why are you up? Didn't you take a woman home last night?" I desperately needed a subject change if I was going to make it through the rest of the morning with Genesis, teaching her, rubbing against her, smelling her. I nearly broke the mug in my hand just thinking about it.
"Kicked her out of bed after I was finished." Alex shrugged and examined his fingernails. "I bore easily."
"She wasn't entertaining enough?"
Alex let out a long snort. "It was only too easy. I asked her to strip — she stripped. I asked her to lie down on the bed — she lay down on the bed. Hell, I even asked the woman to purr—"
"Enough." I held up my hand.
"What?" Alex reached for his coffee and took another sip. "Boring. All of them. I need a challenge. Now Genesis—"
I hissed.
"Easy." He grinned. "I was only joking."
"Joke elsewhere."
Stephanie and Mason walked into the room, both of them wearing knowing smiles. Did everyone know of my hellish night?
"Ask him how he slept." Alex winked.
I threw a fork at his face. He moved his head out of the way, and the fork impaled itself into the wall.
"He's gotten quicker in his old age," Mason mused.
"Oh please." Alex rolled his eyes. "They throw their bodies at me, would probably sell their souls if they could, and—" He coughed. "Hey, Genesis, you look well-rested. Happy. Content. Beautiful—"
"Alex." I stood, almost slicing my fingers through the table at his amused expression.
Genesis did look good.
Too good.
Gorgeous.
Flushed cheeks, red lips, gold hair.
I let out a groan, gaining everyone's attention, hers included. "Er, sorry… coffee got caught in my throat."
"You weren't drinking coffee," Alex pointed out.
"So…" Stephanie held out her hands to Genesis. "The jeans fit? I'm so glad. We'll go shopping later this week for more clothes, so you don't have to keep borrowing my stuff."
She looked perfect.
In jeans and a T-shirt.
My mouth watered the longer I stared.
Mason coughed.
I continued staring.
"Hungry?" Mason moved around the kitchen; pots started banging together. Genesis’s eyes locked onto mine.
I smiled.
She blushed harder.
One. Small. Lick.
I moved closer, only to be intercepted by Mason. "Let her at least eat before you… do anything."
I shook myself out of my stupor and gave a firm nod. "Food, right. Eggs?"
Genesis flashed me a smile then turned her attention to Mason. "Eggs would be great, but I can cook."
"Nope." Mason shook his head fiercely. "A woman's place is not the kitchen."
"Really?" Genesis looked dumbfounded.
"Course not," Alex joined in cheerfully. "It's the bedroom."
I groaned.
Genesis let out a small laugh and shook her head. At least she could pick up on when they were joking and didn't stomp back up the stairs in frustration at our backward ways.
Mason cooked while Alex stole every single ounce of Genesis's attention. Stephanie shared a pitiful look with me. Right, something's wrong in the world when a female siren feels sorry for a vampire.
I cleared my throat.
Genesis looked up.
"Would you like to take a tour of the house while Mason finishes up?"
"Sure."
I held out my hand.
"Careful." Alex stood and placed his hands on her shoulders. "If he gets you alone, you may not get breakfast…"
"Hilarious." I rolled my eyes.
"If he's hungry, I don't mind feeding him." Genesis's smoldering gaze met mine.
I swayed a bit on my feet as my fangs dug into my lower lip. I could actually feel my blood soar from my chest out to my fingertips as I anticipated her taste. Hell, I was in deep. My hands started to shake.
"Careful with your promises, human." Alex's lips curved into a smile. "He may just take you up on it."
Genesis took my hand, ignoring Alex, thank God, and squeezed.
We made it as far as the hallway.
I'd like to think I had enough self-control to make it further than that. I was old, controlled — but I'd never had her before.
And she made all the difference.
My fingers dug into the skin on her wrist as I tried to think of a sentence — any sentence — that would make sense, that I could say.
All I had was "Look, a hallway."
It was Genesis, the meek, brave little human, who stopped, lifted her head and said, "I don't mind."
Three words.
I don't mind.
Three words. They weren't romantic. They held no lust, no desire, nothing — but to me it was trust. It was her trying.
So I gently pushed her against the wall and took her mouth with all the slowness she deserved.
Blood soared through her veins.
I'd only taken small amounts, enough to satisfy, enough to taste, enough to complete the bond.
I'd only planned on taking another few drops.
But she turned her head, causing my fangs to graze down her neck.
Blood dripped.
So I licked, savoring the feel of her warmth on my tongue.
And when I accidentally grazed her again…
I bit.
Genesis
The minute he bit down — I knew-I'd just done something I couldn't undo… experienced something I would never, in all my days, be able to forget.
He said I'd know when he bit.
What he'd meant was I'd know when he finally gave into his instincts. It wasn't fast, like I'd expected, where he greedily sucked, pulled from my life source until I was drained.
Instead, the minute his teeth slid into my neck…
The world stopped.
Time stopped.
I closed my eyes, only to open them again and watch the world go by me in slow motion. Dust flicked in front of my face. The clock on the far side of the hallway moved… slower. Everything was slowed, even my heartbeat, and for those brief seconds or maybe even minutes…
I felt every single part of him.
Every stretch of muscle.
Every breath.
His pleasure was mine. It was almost hard to breathe because my senses were so overwhelmed with not only him, but with the world around me. The world I'd always known to be normal… was anything but normal.
The color of the wall had been blue.
Now it was electric blue.
Even Ethan's skin looked different, almost transparent as he clung to my body, his fingers digging into my flesh.
It was indescribable, and I was failing at trying to soak everything in.
His tongue swirled across my neck, and then I felt him draw a little bit more; this time the feeling changed, and suddenly all I could smell was burnt sugar — like Christmas, only better.
My body felt heavy; it pulsed in perfect cadence with him.
Ethan sighed against my neck, and the world returned to normal bland colors. The clock finally made it to the next minute.
And I had to fight to keep myself from crying out for him to keep going.
"I'm sorry." His voice was so low, so hoarse it was almost hard to understand his words. "I — you—" He cursed and pulled back.
His eyes were so green that I looked away. I had to because I was afraid if I kept staring, they would somehow burn my irises, blinding me.
"Don't be," I whispered. "I offered. Besides, you pulled me from my dream last night. It was the least I could do, right?"
"You have no idea," his lips lingered in front of mine, grazing my mouth with each word he spoke, "how good you feel — how wonderful you taste."
I leaned forward; the temptation to kiss him was too much.
A throat cleared. "Uh, do you still want eggs?"
I pushed against Ethan's chest, taking a step back, and glanced at Mason. His eyes betrayed nothing, so I wasn't sure if he'd seen us, or if he'd just assumed I'd been offering up myself as Ethan's breakfast.
"Yes," Ethan answered for me. "She's lacking protein."
"Huh?" I asked, dumbfounded. "How would you know…?"
He smirked.
"How's my iron?"
"Perfectly balanced."
We shared a smile. It felt good to talk to him like he didn't hate me, yet I still felt like I had no choice but to keep my guard up. It was a tie between wanting to open up to him, yet knowing that if I did and he rejected me again, I'd have no one to blame but myself.
I needed to remember he was still an immortal.
School really hadn't prepared me for what I was up against.
"Eat," Ethan urged. "I'll wait for you in the study. We can go over your horrible education after Mason's convinced you've eaten enough."
Mason held up the pan of eggs again in his hand.
Ethan kissed my head and left, leaving me and Mason alone in the hallway.
"So…" Mason moved out of the way so I could step by him. "Good morning so far?"
I fought to hide
my grin. "The best."
"Wait until you eat my eggs."
"You mean it gets better?" I joked, elbowing him in the side.
"Yes, but be warned, I made the whole carton on account I'm used to cooking for more than one person. You'll insult me if you don't eat. Besides, according to your mate, you're lacking in protein."
I rolled my eyes and sat at the table while Mason served me an ungodly amount of eggs.
Both Stephanie and Alex were nowhere to be found.
I shoveled some eggs into my mouth and fought back a moan. The man could cook. They might tease him about eating berries and pinecones, but his eggs were fluffy. "So what do you guys do during the day?"
"As opposed to during the night?" Mason laughed. "Tell me, are you under the impression I go outside and howl at the moon when night falls?"
I felt my cheeks heat.
He barked out a laugh. "I may sit in on your studies this afternoon just so I can watch you blush the entire time."
I poked a few more eggs. "So?"
"The four of us are Immortal Elders, not only do we each have business holdings all over the world — ones we're still very much involved in — but we keep the peace."
I frowned. "Like the police?"
"Sort of." Mason shrugged. "I guess, in a way, I'm pack leader. I check in on the different families of werewolves in the Greater Seattle area and keep in constant communication with them. Some of the families like to live outside of the city and, naturally, outside of the country, so I get reports on them on a daily basis."
"Alex and Stephanie? What about them?"
"Sirens," Mason leaned back in his chair and lifted a mug of coffee to his lips, "tend to focus on play more than work."
"Meaning?"
"Curious little thing, aren't you?"
"Well…" I put down my fork. "I'm curious because, to be honest, when I was in school, I was taught you guys kept to yourselves. Nothing ever mentioned jobs or hobbies. I guess I assumed you just sat around and thought about your own immortality."
"How boring…" Mason's eyebrows lifted. "To sit around and only think about yourself. Sounds more like a Dark One than a werewolf."
"Is that what they do?"
"I'll let Ethan explain exactly what Dark Ones do, other than rule with an iron fist and petition archangels."
My ears perked up. "Real archangels?"
"No, fake ones… we just like the name because it sounds cool." He smirked. "Yes, real ones."
A Kiss For You Page 10