The Wicked Kiss (10 page)

I was more than ready to slide down on his amazing, rock hard length of flesh, but he stopped me with a look. I knew that look. It made my stomach clench.

“You are my wolf.” It wasn’t a question. Arys simply made the statement, but he waited for a response.

“Yes.” I nodded, my voice thick with sex. I rubbed against the head of him, teasing with my slick wetness.

In one swift fluid motion, my dark vampire pulled me down on him so that he slid deep inside me as he sunk fangs into my soft flesh simultaneously. A pained noise escaped me as those needle sharp teeth freed the blood trapped within my vein. It hurt intensely, but every moment of pain was matched with just as much pleasure.

As I lifted up and plunged down on to him again, he gripped my hip possessively as he sucked at my bleeding arm. A trickle of blood escaped him, streaking crimson lines down to my wrist. The sight of it added to the exhilaration of the moment.

I increased my speed on top of him as he thrust up into me, driving himself even deeper still, wrenching a cry from me. His mouth on my flesh sent a shiver down my spine, increasing the pleasure coursing through me. We rode the wave of power that crashed over us with the natural balance that we’d established over the past few months.

I clung to Arys with my free hand, and my nails left angry red scratches on his chest and stomach. I panted his name, and he made an animalistic sound low in his throat. He lapped at the bloody wound. His touch became more than I could handle as another climax began to build.

When it rolled over me, I embraced it in full and felt him tense as he reached his own peak. I felt him spasm inside me, which caused wave after wave of additional pleasure as my body instinctively gripped him tighter. I collapsed on top of him, my face pressed against his chest. He licked my wounded arm again before releasing it and wrapping me tight in his embrace.

Arys breathed my name and pressed a kiss to my sweaty temple. Soreness began to set in from the bite on my inner arm, but it was a welcomed pain, much like the one that would set in between my legs.

The best sexual afterglow was the one that needed no words to perfect it. My head rested over his still heart, the very place he once claimed I had breathed new life into, and I wondered what he was feeling. I gripped him tighter, wishing we could stay like that all day. It wouldn’t be long before the coming dawn would drive him from me, taking with him the safety and comfort I was reveling in.

After Arys left, I’d promptly fallen asleep on the futon with the TV still on mute and my nightie haphazardly arranged. I’d awoken around three in the afternoon to Ky attempting to work quietly on her laptop at the kitchen table.

After a shower and more than one coffee, I was feeling more alert and almost ready to go hunt down a rogue werewolf.

Honestly, I wasn’t in the mood to go out and mess around with an idiot Were that seemed to think he or she was a product of a Hollywood film, butchering hookers in dirty back alleys. Jez was coming along, so I could probably get away with leaving most of the bullshit to her. I’d rather take out a vampire than a Were any day. Killing a mortal could get incredibly messy.

I stood on the back deck watching Shaz as he hammered and banged at the broken railing. He grinned up at me and winked, setting a swarm of butterflies free in my stomach before flashing a disgusted look at the splintered wood.

“I need to get some new two by fours for this railing,” he announced. “It can’t be fixed like this. I’ll do it next weekend if that’s ok.”

“No problem. Arys can pay for half the cost of the wood. Or, maybe the entire cost since he couldn’t be bothered to fix it.” As soon as I spoke the words, Shaz’ eyes went to the healing bite on my inner elbow. He’d likely noticed it the moment he walked in the door. I felt ashamed and wished I’d worn a sweater.

I tried casually to turn my arm slightly, so that the two puncture marks could not be seen. He made a sudden noise of exasperation and dropped the tools he held to the ground. He took the deck stairs two at a time, coming to where I stood at the top.

“Don’t hide it.” He pulled my arm away from my side, turning it so that he could see the wound. His warm fingers grazed it, and a flood of pleasure and adrenaline swept me momentarily. “I hate that you feel you need to.”

“I don’t want to hurt you or make it a bigger deal than it is.” I felt foolish and weak and once again wondered why he loved me the way he did.

“If this was something I wasn’t capable of dealing with, I wouldn’t still be here. You really need to relax.” Shaz stared down at the vampire bite with a strange expression on his perfect face. “But, tell me, why do you let him do this? Do you really enjoy it?”

“I guess so,” I searched his green eyes, finding a sincere desire for answers. “It’s all a part of the energy and the power we call. Of course, there are other aspects.” I felt awkward. I didn’t want to talk about Arys feeding from me. Not with Shaz.

He looked more comfortable with it than I felt and that struck a chord that resonated deep within me. I expected Shaz to persecute me constantly for the ways that I’d wronged him. And, when he didn’t do it, I did it to myself.

Sensing my unease, he released my arm and changed the subject. “So it’s really over for Ky and Kale?”

“It is,” I nodded and pulled him close for a tender kiss. “She and Julian seem to be an item now. I can’t say I’m thrilled about that.”

He gave a low growl at my mention of Julian. He didn’t seem to have any intention of letting this go.

“I can’t imagine what she’s thinking,” he shook his head incredulously. “She’s a knockout and the nicest person in the world. Being with Julian is punishment for women like her. She deserves better.”

“She had better.” I kept my voice low so that it wouldn’t carry. “But, it isn’t any of our business. She’s our friend, we have to support her.”

“I know. I’m just not sure how easy that’s going to be after I kick the shit out of her boyfriend.” Shaz chuckled, and the wicked sound made my eyes widen.

I couldn’t share in his enthusiasm. Unlike him, I was worried sick about that fight.

Judging by his gleeful expression, he couldn’t wait to sink his teeth into Kylarai’s new love.

“Cut that out.” I grinned and poked him playfully in the ribs. I wanted to lighten the mood. “Or, I might have to give you a smack or two myself.”

He grabbed my finger and pretended to bite it. “I’m sorry, babe. I know you’re not happy about this. I can’t imagine that Ky is either.”

I shook my head but said nothing. I couldn’t wait for it all to be over. It was just another thing for me to stress over. As if Harley lurking around wasn’t enough.

“I just want time to fly so I can hit up the Halloween party at Lucy’s Lounge and unwind. For once.” I kissed the end of his cute nose. “And, you better not have to work that night, either.”

He laughed and caught my hand in his, pulling me closer so our bodies were pressed together. “Oh, don’t you worry. There is no way in this world that I would leave you alone for every guy in the place to drool over. Especially if you’re dressed as a Playboy bunny.” He gave my ass a light pinch, and I squealed in surprise.

“You know, I think just for that, I’m not going to tell you what I’m dressing up as.

You will have to wait and see.” I smirked because I had no idea what I was going as. I still had plenty of time to shop.

“Well, if you’re not telling, then neither am I.” He flashed me that mischievous grin that I so loved, and my knees weakened.

“I guess we’ll both have something to look forward to then. I’m actually excited at the thought of getting out. I haven’t had much of a social life lately.”

“All kill and no thrill, huh?” Shaz pulled back to nibble my bottom lip before giving me a light nip on the neck.

“Well, a little thrill.” I threw my head back and embraced him tightly. “Not nearly as much as I’d like.” I gave in to the urge to slip my tongue teasingly along the curve of his ear. It caused him to shudder as the nerves tensed and spasmed down his back.

“Stop that! You know I’ve got to get going right away.”

“Yeah well, I’ve got to leave you with a lasting impression. I need to know how bad your wolf craves me.” I wiggled against him briefly before pulling back. I wanted to tease him but not cause him any extreme discomfort.

He groaned and resisted when I went to move out of his reach. “There isn’t a time when I don’t crave you, Lex. Hot damn, you are such a tease. God, how it drives me wild.

I love it.”

He immediately closed the space between us so that my hands came to rest against his hard, alluring body. When he kissed me again, the taste of pine and wolf overwhelmed my senses. It stirred the animal inside, and I had the sudden desire to be furry. Everything felt right with Shaz, natural and serene.

When he broke off the kiss, it was with extreme reluctance. “Be safe tonight. Call me when you make it home so I know you’re safe.”

The genuine affection that he had for me never ceased to blow my mind. There was no question that I loved him, and really, how could I not? He was a dream come true, everything I thought I’d never find. He accepted me in every way, flaws and all.

“You know I will.”

Shaz’ embrace was the best, most perfect embrace that I’d ever been in. He had this way of holding me just tight enough so that I felt nothing but love and security. The emotion I sensed from him when he held me was one of the most powerful energies that I’d ever felt.

After I’d kissed him goodbye another half dozen times, I sent Jez a text to say I’d be ten minutes late but was on my way. Chances were good that she would still be later than I would anyway.

I went to my bedroom and dug through the closet until I found a red, form-fitting, long-sleeved shirt. The stretchy material it was made from was both body hugging and comfortable. My favorite pair of blue jeans made it a great outfit for fighting and running in. Hopefully, that wouldn’t get excessive.

After brushing my long, poker straight hair and staring at it undecided in the mirror, I opted to leave it down but bring a hair tie just in case. Aside from my usual smoky eyeliner and blush, I wore little makeup. I didn’t generally go out all dressed to kill someone unless it was part of the plan.

I took a moment to just sit on my bed and feel the pure energy of the earth. It hummed all around at all times but required concentration and willpower to truly experience it. I used my connection to the earth for many things. Right then, I used to it to ground my own energy and attempt to center the combination of wolf and vampire in my core.

It was somewhat of a metaphysical reset button. I was able to cleanse any negative or excess energy or acquire more should I need it. It wasn’t always the optimum power source, but it was pure and steady. Of course, my energy bond with Arys gave me my very own power source, though, that too had its limits.

Kylarai was softly humming a song I didn’t recognize when I re-entered the kitchen.

She looked up at me with a bright smile as she stacked clean glasses in the cupboard.

“Are you taking off now?”

I grabbed my shoulder bag from the counter beside the fridge and rifled through it to make sure I had everything. “Yeah, Jez and I have a new Were to put down. There’s no second chance for this one. It’s been slaughtering prostitutes downtown.”

Kylarai pursed her lips and shook her head solemnly. “That’s terrible. And yet, sadly typical.”

It certainly was. The chances of being turned by a werewolf were incredibly slim because, in most cases, victims don’t survive the attack. Of those that do, less than ten percent made it through without succumbing to the urge to kill and to have fun doing so.

At times, I’m still not sure how I keep from going past the point of no return. This is a thought I have heard echoed by Shaz. I suppose the genetic and mental disposition isn’t something that just anyone can adjust to.

“Well, have fun,” she said, sounding like she meant it. “I will be here doing paperwork for a case I’m working on.”

Kylarai had a tendency to be a workaholic, using work to lose herself. A night of paperwork would likely do wonders to help her sort out her recent thoughts and feelings.

Trapping herself in the office for days at a time was common self-therapy that usually had her emerging like a butterfly from a cocoon.

“Don’t run yourself ragged. I’ll see you later.”

The chilly October air was like a slap in the face. I didn’t like it, but I didn’t shiver.

My resistance to the natural elements was stronger than that of humans. It was much colder than it had been the previous night. That was a typical Canadian fall though. I smiled to myself and paused to enjoy the quiet autumn energy.

The moon glowed overhead, round and vibrant against the night sky, not quite full.

Its energy radiated down to me, strong when I concentrated on it. The sudden temptation to throw my head back and howl was hard to resist. Instead, I savored the sensations, anticipating that, in just days, the moon would be full and I would be wolf.

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