Blood Flame (The Flame Series Book 1) (21 page)
Iris’s cruiser sat in the corner, covered and completely undisturbed.
Duke gestured for his crew to head out through the open garage door and he followed. Connor tracked beside them onto the drive. He looked up into the night sky and up and down the street, but damn if Iris hadn’t taken every precaution. He could see her spell all the way to the streetlight about sixty yards away. She’d made sure the vampires were protected from any local, mistrusting witches.
The men hopped on their own bikes and within seconds were making their way slowly down the suburban street. They knew the drill. They were three Crescent vampires in Elegance and needed to keep a low profile. They could have flown the distance, but each had the same philosophy: Why fly when you can ride?
When Iris came up beside him, he slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Did you give them directions?” she asked.
“Yep, through Revel and Shadow Territories since they’re the closest. The last thing these men need to do is cross Sentinel Bridge. The Elegance Border Patrol would probably haul them in for questioning.”
“And they might never be seen again.”
He turned to her. “You overwhelm me, Iris.” He slipped his arms around her and held her close.
She caressed his face. “The Ducati was the least I could do for the man who has so completely changed my life. It seemed like such a small thing when compared to having you in my home and sharing my bed. I don’t think I knew how alone I was until you showed up.”
He kissed her, a slow tender brush against her lips. When he drew back, he slid his arm around her and led her back to the garage, closing the door.
She gestured to the bike. “You don’t want to take her out? She’s ready and you’ve got a few minutes yet.”
“I need something else right now.”
Since he lowered his hand to fondle her bottom she looked up at him and smiled. “I like your thinking.”
When she took his hand, then turned toward the door to the house, he followed after.
“I’m still mad about the spell.”
But she only laughed, maybe because he didn’t sound convincing.
As she led him past the dining table, she turned to look up at him. “I’m really dirty, Connor. Think you could take me to the shower and get me clean?”
He growled softly. “Definitely.”
~ ~ ~
Connor’s reaction to the Ducati was exactly what Iris had hoped for. He’d had the strong wind-in-the-face expression she’d wanted, then he’d kissed her.
She knew exactly what the bike meant to him, a symbol of what he’d lost and hopefully what he’d now gained because they’d become a couple, even a team to help build something better in Five Bridges.
The shower was small for his big body, but the cramped space made it fun and close and wonderful. She kept her hands on him the whole time and he returned the favor.
Making love with Connor was better than the sweetest dream. He was an attentive lover, always gauging her reaction to the slightest pressure of his tongue, his fingers, and especially his cock. She worked hard to match him, learning the ways he liked to be sexed up, then brought home.
Then of course, there were times she attacked his body, like now in the shower, for the sheer pleasure of exploring every bulked up muscle he possessed.
After a few minutes of soaping each other, he lifted her up against the tile wall and entered her. She moaned heavily, savoring the connection as he began to drive into her. The water hit them both, another erotic layer of feel-good.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and for just a moment she was reminded of flying with him for the first time.
She held his gaze. “I love you.” Then she kissed him.
His whole body responded as he pierced her mouth with his tongue and groaned. He drew back just enough, all the while thrusting into her. “I love you, too, Iris. So much.”
He kissed her again, then moved his hips vampire fast, until her mouth opened wide and she screamed the ecstasy that poured through her.
He roared his pleasure at the same time, and their energies merged once more.
When the last pulse settled down, Iris kissed Connor over and over. He stayed connected to her for a long time, doing the same thing.
“I never even imagined you,” she said.
“What do you mean?”
“All this time, I’d come to accept the harshness of this life in Five Bridges. Now it’s as though an oasis appeared in the middle of a barren desert and I get to live in it. I could never have imagined such a bounty here in our desolate world.”
~ ~ ~
Connor finally drew out of Iris, but only because he wanted to take her to bed. He felt a powerful need to spend at least an hour worshipping her body and making her scream repeatedly. He would only be happy when he’d worn her out.
He dried her off and led her to her bedroom, drew the covers back then settled her on the sheets. He made love to her as though this was their last day on earth. He promised himself he’d do the same for the rest of their lives, no matter how many days, months or years would belong to them.
When he’d professed his love repeatedly and she was at last asleep in his arms, the French doors suddenly blew open.
Iris remained asleep, but the smell of thyme filled the air and he could sense Violet’s presence once more. He owed the woman everything. She’d stayed behind year after year, until she could resolve a decade of suffering for both him and Iris.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
He felt soft fingers down his face.
You’re welcome,
swept through his mind. Then,
Tell Iris I love her, but I’m going home now. For good.
She’ll understand. It’s what she wants for you.
And let her know I’ll be with Anna.
Connor’s throat grew tight as he felt the wind sigh and Violet’s fingers once more touch his face.
He felt her move over to Iris and watched the slight indentation on her cheeks as Violet touched her for the last time.
The wind blew quickly out of the room, but Violet left the French doors open and for that he was grateful. He could smell the myriad of scents from Iris’s garden and each one eased his heart a little more.
He was home now.
After three decades of being on his own, he was home.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thank you for reading
BLOOD FLAME
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Coming Soon: Book 2 of the Flame Series: AMETHYST FLAME
http://www.carisroane.com/amethyst-flame-2/
Now Available: EMBRACE THE HUNT, Book 8 of the Blood Rose Series
A powerful vampire warrior. A beautiful fae of great ability. A war that threatens to destroy their love for the second time…
http://www.carisroane.com/8-embrace-the-hunt/
Coming Soon: EMBRACE THE POWER, the final installment of the Blood Rose Series!
Also, be sure to check out the Blood Rose Tales – TRAPPED, HUNGER, and SEDUCED -- shorter works set in the world of the Blood Rose, for a quick, satisfying read.
BLOOD ROSE TALES BOX SET
http://www.carisroane.com/blood-rose-tales-box-set/
LIST OF BOOKS
To read more about each one, check out my books page:
http://www.carisroane.com/books/
The Blood Rose Series:
LOVE IN THE FORTRESS #8.1 (A companion book to EMBRACE THE HUNT)
TO PURCHASE THE BLOOD ROSE TALES
Guardians of Ascension
ASCENSION
BURNING SKIES
WINGS OF FIRE
BORN OF ASHES
OBSIDIAN FLAME
GATES OF RAPTURE
Dawn of Ascension
VAMPIRE COLLECTION (Includes BRINK OF ETERNITY)
BRINK OF ETERNITY
Rapture’s Edge – Continuing the Guardians of Ascension
RAPTURE’S EDGE – 1 – AWAKENING
Amulet Series
WICKED NIGHT/DARK NIGHT (Boxed Set)
DARK NIGHT
WICKED NIGHT
Men in Chains Series (Complete)
BORN IN CHAINS
SAVAGE CHAINS
CHAINS OF DARKNESS
UNCHAINED
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Caris Roane is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-one paranormal romance books. Writing as Valerie King, she has published fifty novels and novellas in Regency Romance. Caris lives in Phoenix, Arizona, loves gardening, enjoys the birds and lizards in her yard, but really doesn’t like scorpions!
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Author of:
Guardians of Ascension Series
– Warriors of the Blood crave the breh-hedden
Dawn of Ascension Series
– Militia Warriors battle to save Second Earth
Rapture’s Edge Series
(Part of Guardians of Ascension) – Second earth warriors travel to Third to save three dimensions from a tyrant’s heinous ambitions
Blood Rose Series
– Only a blood rose can fulfill a mastyr vampire’s deepest needs
Blood Rose Tales
– Short tales of mastyr vampires who hunger to be satisfied
Men in Chains Series
– Vampires struggling to get free of their chains and save the world
