In terms of Second Earth, the team had taken huge strides. Each of the three Militia Warriors had made the leap to Warrior of the Blood. The average Militia Warrior had to work as part of a team of four in order to bring down a single Second Earth death vampire. A Warrior of the Blood, on the other hand, could destroy several at a time on his own.
Even Rachel now had What-Bee battle abilities. She’d been the biggest surprise of all. The woman who had proclaimed peace for decades, had finally accepted her fighting mantle. She had remarkable power levels and possessed a fighting spirit much like her brother, Gideon.
She didn’t use a sword, not possessing the physical strength to wield the heavy blades. But she’d rapidly perfected her dagger skills and had taken out her fair share of pretty-boys. One month in, she’d developed a tough warrior skin, seeing the enemy for the addicted monsters they’d become.
Luken had been worried sick about her at first and her initial reactions to the usual gore of battle had been completely predictable. She’d come through, however, with tremendous strength and a kind of centered poise not often seen in novice warriors. He was damn impressed with her.
Merl rose to his feet and finally met Luken’s gaze. “Thought you’d be tucked in bed by now.” The cigarette in his hand disappeared. Merl had a trick of folding them away as well as his martini glasses. Presumably his smoking and drinking detritus ended up back at his house.
Luken didn’t flinch. “I’ve been getting my kicks watching you pout instead.”
Merl scowled and each nostril flared. “And how did you like doing your fold tonight? Bet that felt like floating on clouds.”
Luken repressed a shudder; his mangled wings had hurt like a bitch. He stood up, offering a casual shrug. “Thought I had it. Guess I was wrong.”
“Guess you were.” Merl moved slowly, like a man used to meeting up with thugs in an alley. He was as muscled as Duncan and clearly put in long hours pumping iron like the rest of them, but he was always looking over his shoulder.
He was a handsome bastard, with light blue eyes and strong features made more pronounced by the way he combed his hair straight back. He refused to grow it out warrior long, the only member of the team who wasn’t following protocol. But then Merl had been exiled while serving as a What-Bee on Third. Maybe he’d gotten burned and no longer valued the traditions. The truth was, no one knew much about Merl; he wasn’t talking to any of them.
Luken tried a different tack. “I need you to tell me something.”
“Not gonna spill my guts.”
Luken took his measure. “Not asking you to. I just want a straight up answer to a single question. Can you give me that?”
“Ask me and we’ll see.”
The man was dug in.
“Why did you quit the palace? You and Endelle were like a matched pair of socks. Then suddenly you dumped her.”
For some reason, Merl didn’t seem bothered by the subject, which told Luken he’d missed what was really distressing Merl by about a mile.
He pushed his fingers through his hair. “I get Endelle and she gets me. She had no expectations and neither did I. I also hadn’t planned on being assigned to a black ops team, but I’m here now and I’m taking my job seriously. Call it pouting if you want, but your team isn’t anywhere near ready to battle Third Earth death vampires or even Militia Warriors in any dimension above Second. Yet I can sense we’ll be moving out soon, which basically is a death sentence. Is that enough of an answer?”
Luken could only frown in response.
Merl grimaced. “That’s what I thought.” He headed toward the door and Luken didn’t try to stop him.
Merl was a complicated man. The most Luken really knew was both sides of the conflict on Third had wanted Merl dead. He’d been exiled to Second Earth where he’d lived for fifty years.
What Luken really couldn’t figure out, however, was how to get the team up to a basic Third battling level. And like Merl, every instinct told Luken their time was almost up.
~
Duncan lay on the floor of his workout room, staring up at the vaulted ceiling. The memory of his mother leaving had come back like a train that jumped the rails and kept throwing cars off the tracks.
When he sat up, he rocked, trying to dispel the pain engulfing him.
His father, Carlyon, had never shown him photos of his mother so he’d never had any kind of image of her in his head. And even though he could recall her voice as she clung to him, and watch her back as she left, he still didn’t know what she looked like.
His father hadn’t helped, of course. Carlyon had expressed his hatred of her hundreds of times. He’d made it clear repeatedly that Duncan had been abandoned because his mother had never loved him, never wanted him.
But he wasn’t a child any longer as he considered the memory. He was a grown man, one who had come to despise Carlyon for the brute he was.
As he lay on the floor, he reviewed her words again: You have to understand, Duncan. You’ll be safe, but only if I leave.
Was it possible she hadn’t wanted to leave? Until this moment, he’d never considered anything other than what Carlyon had told him.
He couldn’t pretend to understand what it was like for a woman who’d been abused and beaten by her husband, the man who’d sworn to love and protect her. But Rachel had shared many details about her experience as Grieg’s wife, and how abusive men often applied a process of terror and guilt, threatening not just the woman’s life but the lives of those she loved as well.
Carlyon wouldn’t have hesitated to use Duncan in his battle to control Duncan’s mother.
He finally rose to his feet, his mind caught in the past and focused on the night his mother had left him in the hands of a monster. Would Carlyon have killed them both if his mother had stayed?
He headed back to the shower, and once more let the heat of the water work some kind of ease into his body. Afterward, he donned pajama bottoms and sat outside on the back patio in the early morning light. Paradise Lake was beautiful with sunlight glittering on the water.
He drank a sports drink to replenish his fluids. He needed his bed, but he damn well knew sleep wouldn’t come, not this morning.
His thoughts slipped back to just before dawn when he’d caught Rachel lusting after her teammates. Her scent had reached him well down the hallway, when he’d finally decided to make an appearance at the Ops Cave. Her mating scent, thick with pheromones only he could perceive, had sent desire trailing down his abdomen into his groin.
He’d taken in the picture immediately. Rachel was staring at Owen’s flexed arm. The rest of the men, built like all hell, had no doubt worked for her like a club full of male strippers.
He knew women had needs and the breh-hedden had sent hers into overdrive, just like his. He’d reacted like a caveman, all but dragging her into the hall and calling her out because her garden scent had told its own tale. But what right did he have to condemn her when he refused to take care of her himself?
None.
Rachel.
Oh, God, Rachel.
He’d wanted her badly. She’d looked beautiful with her skin flushed and her blue eyes sparkling with need.
He was badly tempted to go to her now, but how could he without making some kind of commitment?
Even thinking about moving in her direction, caused the snake to hiss, You’re not good enough, Duncan. You never will be. And she’ll leave you. Women always leave.
But even as the snake threatened to hurt him again, Rachel’s scent suddenly rolled from the open door of the great room onto the patio. He rose to his feet, turning to face the living area, all his senses coming alive. The breh-hedden was taking a toll on them both, but he could tell Rachel had reached a new level of suffering.
And he had to accept the reality if he didn’t take care of her, she’d find someone else who could.
Duncan.
Her voice was a pained whimper inside his head.
I’m here, he s
ent.
I need you. The desperate quality of her plea made up his mind.
He had to take care of his woman.
Though the snake kept hissing and his gut writhed, he lowered his chin and forced the sensations to subside. Rachel needed him and right now, nothing else mattered.
By the time he reached his master bedroom, Rachel’s rich mating scent, so full of life, struck him like a blow to his chest. If he hadn’t already made up his mind, he would have done so now.
She lay completely naked on the bed, face down, her hips grinding into the sheets, one hand extended between her legs and massaging. Her eyes were closed.
He crossed to her, losing his bottoms at the same time, his cock already firm.
“Rachel?”
She opened her eyes and gave a cry, turning onto her back and holding out her arms for him. She spread her legs and he saw how wet she was. “Duncan, thank God, I’m in agony. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
He understood. “You’re a warrior now. It comes with the territory and the breh-hedden isn’t helping.”
She nodded with three jerks of her chin. “I’ve just never felt like this before.” Tears rolled from her eyes.
His arms shook as he positioned himself over her, settling his knees between her legs. Holding his cock in his hand, he pressed the crown against all her wetness and couldn’t repress a heavy groan. He’d wanted to be with her a hundred times over the past month.
As he pushed his cock along her streaming well, she clutched at his shoulders. He lowered himself onto her and curled his hips. As Rachel tightened around him, the sweet fire that poured over his cock sent another groan from his lips.
Rachel was already panting, eyes closed, neck arched. Her fingers kneaded the muscles of his arms, digging her nails in. He moved his hips, driving his cock deep.
“Yes.” Her breaths came light and quick. “So close. I’ve needed this.”
He lifted up enough so he could see her face. He thrust in a quick, steady rhythm. She gasped repeatedly, her hands clutching him hard.
He’d just entered her and she was ready to come.
He knew her body, so he quickened his pace vampire fast.
“Duncan, my God!”
“Come for me, Rachel. Come now.”
She gave out a long, low cry and he watched as ecstasy passed over her face. He sustained the pace, knowing it would give her pleasure. Leaning down, he kissed her neck, craving release, but holding his own orgasm at bay. As long as he focused on Rachel, he felt as though he could do anything.
Maybe he couldn’t explain how much poison he had inside him, but right now, she had him.
When her orgasm crested and she began to relax, he slowed the movement of his hips until he finally stopped. He was surprised to find she was trembling, tears glistening in her eyes.
She lifted a hand and stroked his cheek. “Thank you. I honestly don’t know what’s wrong with me. And would it be too horrible if I asked you to keep going?”
He smiled down at her. “I’m here. Whatever you need, I’m here.”
She ran a thumb over his lips. “Yes, you are.”
He leaned close and kissed her. She opened for him and he took possession of her mouth the same way his cock had charge of her well.
While he kissed her, he moved his hips in a circle, letting every deep part of her feel how hard he was.
She gasped against his mouth, her breath sweet, the feel of her soft as he plunged his tongue in and out of her mouth, matching the movement with his cock.
I’ve needed you Duncan. Her voice within his head caused a euphoric sensation to roll through his mind.
I should have come to you sooner. I’m sorry Rachel. But I’m here now. Tell me what you want. I’ll do anything, everything.
I love that you’re kissing me. I feel more at ease yet revved up. Go faster.
He sped up the movement of his hips. You’re so wet for me. Can you feel me moving in and out of you?
God, yes.
He went faster still. She gripped his shoulders, her abdomen tensing, her hips arching into his. She moved with him, then cried out.
Are you coming again? He asked. She’d always been easy to reach the peak, but even this second quick ascent surprised him.
Yes. Oh, Duncan.
Sustaining the drive of his hips, he drew back and watched as ecstasy once more took hold of her. More tears slipped from her eyes.
He dipped quickly to lick the dampness at the corner of her eye. Even your tears taste like your garden.
As her breathing settled, he slowed his hips until he finally stopped.
She caught his face with her hands. “Taste me between my legs, the way you used to.”
He kissed her again. “Is that what you want?”
“Yes, please. Yes.” She rolled her hips and he groaned. He wanted to let go, to drive into her hard and fill her full of his seed. But he needed to take care of her more than he needed a quick release. And when the moment arrived, he knew exactly how he wanted to come.
He kissed his way down her body, and would have suckled her nipples, but she stopped him. “The weapons harness has made me really sore. I’ll toughen up eventually, just not right now.”
He kept moving, taking time at her navel, using his tongue generously. He kept gliding lower, a thrill streaking through his balls at the thought of spending time with his tongue between her legs. He loved Rachel’s sex, loved working her up.
He kissed her landing patch, his hands massaging her lower abdomen, her hips, and down the outsides of her thighs. He slid his tongue between her folds and began to stroke her in quick flicks, one of the ways she liked it.
Her hips jerked, telling him he’d found the right spot. His jaw trembled as he took turns sucking and dabbing at her, teasing her sex. She smelled rich and earthy, very Rachel, the woman he loved and wanted to love better.
He drifted his tongue lower to her opening, swirling and tasting. He loved how wet she was and how her flavors reminded him of her cottage garden. Maybe he couldn’t tell her in words all he felt for her, but he let his tongue give full meaning to how much she meant to him.
He dipped inside, going as deep as he could, loving the intimate connection. He began to thrust.
She buried her hands in his hair, guiding him with a gentle but insistent pressure. Her hips rocked now, but he wanted a better position.
He left her well and moved backward to drop to the side of the bed. He pulled her hips close to the edge and angled her legs over his shoulders. Sliding his arms beneath her, he got going again, thrusting into her heavily. A series of cries left her throat. Her body writhed, then arched.
He moved faster and thrust harder until she was once more crying out. “Duncan, oh God!”
He worked her steadily, teasing the orgasm out as far as it would go until once more she’d reached the peak and relaxed into the mattress. He kissed the insides of her thighs.
She was breathing hard as she came back to earth.
He rose up so he could see her face. “You look so beautiful when you’ve come. In fact, you look more beautiful than ever, almost as though you’re glowing.”
She planted her hand on his chest and rubbed. More tears slid from her eyes. “Thank you, Duncan. I know this is hard for you.”
He glanced down at his missile-like cock. “Definitely hard.”
She chuckled. “And you could always make me laugh.”
He frowned. “I’m sorry I’ve been a pain, but I still can’t—”
“Hey. For what I need and for where the team is at, what you’re doing right now is enough.”
His gaze fell to her neck and he realized he was hungry for something more.
“Yes,” she responded instantly, her lids falling to half-mast. “You need to feed. So, how do you want me, Duncan? On my stomach, maybe?” A slow smile curved her lips. She knew him so well.
“This is about you,” he responded firmly. “Tell me what you want and I’l
l do it?”
She drifted her hand to his shoulder and squeezed. “I want you pounding into me and giving me everything you’ve got.” When she followed this up by flipping over onto her stomach, his cock twitched and he sucked in some air.
Rising onto her knees, she crawled slowly toward the headboard. The sight of her sex, so beautifully swollen, had him gripping his cock as he followed after her.
He stroked her buttocks and would have reached around to fondle her breasts, but he remembered her earlier warning of being too tender to touch.
Instead, he leaned down and kissed his way up her back, sucking at the edge of each of her weeping wing-locks, then pushing her long blond hair to the side. He’d be biting her soon, but first, he positioned his hips behind her then eased his cock deep inside her well.
He licked her neck and she angled for him, giving him access to her waiting vein.
“So good,” she whispered. “And Duncan?”
He kissed her throat, her cheek, the side of her mouth. “Yes.”
“Take me hard. I need as much as you can give me. And when I said ‘pounding’, I meant it. Can’t explain.”
The invitation had his cock twitching again. He rose up for a moment and took her hips in hand. He pushed deep, thrusting the length of her over and over. “You feel amazing Rachel. I love doing this with you.”
“Uh-huh.” She moaned softly, her hips pushing back with each thrust.
~
Rachel couldn’t really see anything, even though her eyes were open. She could only feel how hard Duncan was inside her and the force he used, which would increase in the next few minutes as he took her to the pinnacle again.
He’d already brought her over the edge several times, yet her hunger for him felt barely slaked. The breh-hedden had definitely arrived to rule her body.
When she felt Duncan bending over her, she stretched out her neck a little more, allowing him room for a clean breach.
She loved this part of the ascended world, that her body could be pierced in yet another way. Being a vampire had always felt right to her, the strike of the fangs, the sharing and taking of blood.