Three Days of Night (11 page)

Apparently, I already was. And he knew it.

“When did the vision start? Did I even dance?”

“It started the moment you let me inside your mind. That would be about the time I asked how you planned to spend the night. A question you still haven’t answered, I might add.”

I pulled my hand away from him slowly. The instant the contact was broken my mind began to clear. I wasn’t sure what to think. I had enjoyed what just happened, but it was also frightening. Everything had been real to me. How powerful was he to make reality whatever he wanted it to be?

“So, you promised to tell me something,” Morgan said. “What was the job you did for Nix?”

His question gave me a chance to think about something else and I welcomed it, even if it was about Nix.

“The leader of the Velkans?” Hud asked.

“That’s the one. He’s obsessed with me. You probably already know this, but they worship vampires. Ever since I did a job for him he’s started referring to me as his deity.”

The djinn’s laughter vibrated along my spine, but I tried to ignore it for the moment.

“I rescued is niece, Sereva. There was a group of Velkans who wanted Nix out of power. They’d taken his niece hostage to try to get his attention. But he’s a sick bastard. He would have let them kill her if he wasn’t afraid of losing the support of his followers. He told me to do what I had to do to get her back and that it didn’t matter what condition she was in, as long as she was recovered.”

“Motherfucker,” Morgan spat.

“My thoughts exactly. But one look at me and he was done for. I have no idea what it is he finds so appealing. I’ve regretted taking that job for the last twenty years. But if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have met D.”

“So, that’s when you found him?” Hud asked.

“Yes. He’d killed most of the rebel Velkans before I arrived. I finished off what was left, recovered Sereva and put D in my ship.”

D took a sip of wine from a jeweled goblet, nodding his agreement as he lowered the glass.

“I don’t know what would have happened to me if she hadn’t come along. I still have no idea what I was doing on planet Velka, or how I killed all those men.”

“Or why you were naked,” Morgan teased.

Chapter Ten

After dinner, I left them to continue talking and went to find a balcony. Any balcony would work. I just wanted a good view and a cool desert breeze. Following the smell of incense, I finally found what I was looking for. Just as before, the scent disappeared the instant I arrived. I guessed myself to be on the opposite end of the palace from my room. Not that it mattered. I had no idea if Morgan would be sharing my bed tonight, or if I even had the nerve to return.

The visions Hud had shown me were unsettling. Not because of their content, but because of how true they were. I wanted them all. Dr. Death had been with me for twenty years, the first time I met him he was naked, and he was gorgeous. Of course I’d had sexual thoughts about him over the years. I’d pushed those thoughts aside so much that I’d forgotten how good he looked naked and how much the sight of him turned me on.

Yesterday, I was trying to decide whether or not to date Morgan. Now I’d somehow progressed to wondering if having a four-way with two of my colleagues and a strange all-powerful being was appropriate. I was laughing at the absurdity of the situation when I felt a presence behind me.

“Care to let me in on the joke?”

Hud moved into the moonlight and I let my eyes roam hungrily over his sparkling flesh.

“It’s not really a joke. I was just laughing at myself, at my life. I can’t explain it really.”

He propped against the door with a casual grace that I admired. His muscles flexed with even this slight movement and I sighed as I watched him. I couldn’t help myself. Besides, he was probably reading my mind anyway. Why bother hiding my reaction?

“You think too much.”

I turned my back, propped against the railing and looked out at the abnormally white sand dunes.

“I’ve always tried to think things through. I felt that was better than acting without ever asking questions.”

I could feel the heat rising from his body. He was so close to me now and even though we didn’t touch, it was like I could feel him inside of me. Not like sex, but deep within my soul.

“Haven’t you ever wanted to
react
? To simply act on selfish impulse and to hell with what anyone else thinks.”

“Of course I have.”

“Let me make your fantasy a reality.”

I’m not sure why, but I suddenly felt angry.

“Why are you so insistent on turning my life into a fantasy? The real world doesn’t work that way, Hud. You aren’t supposed to date more than one man.”

“Ahha!” He pointed his finger at me. “That’s what your hang up is. You think it’s wrong to be with all of us. And who said anything about dating?” He laughed at this, but held up his hand to stop my response. “You use that word because you think it’s wrong to just fuck us all and move on with your life. Or is that your
after
life?”

I turned my back on him again and crossed to the other side of the balcony.

“You’re an asshole.”

“I’m telling you the truth. I find it odd that you still think so much like a human. How old are you now?”

I shook my head and my hair fell over my shoulders in waves. I knew what he was getting at and I’d wondered the same thing many times.

“I’m one hundred and fifty years old. I was bitten when I was twenty-six. Even though I’ve only known a few other vampires, I’ve read enough about my kind to know what is expected. By my age most have lost touch with humanity to a certain extent. Technically, I’m a different species and by now I should feel and think differently.” I paused for several heartbeats. I could hear him breathing close behind me. Not because he breathed loudly, my senses were simply that acute. “I feel different physically. I’m stronger, faster,
better
. But when it comes to emotions, it’s like nothing has changed. I like to think I’m more mature in some ways. But everything still feels the same inside. Does that make any sense to you?”

“Yes. What does D mean to you? When you rescued him at the auction, you said that he was yours. What did you mean by that?”

His voice was soft and the compassion I heard there made me want to cry. It wasn’t the question that moved me, it was the way it was asked.

“He’s immortal, just like me. I’ve ran enough tests on him to figure that out, even if I hadn’t noticed the fact that he doesn’t age. After everyone else has died, only we will remain. I guess I always figured we’d end up together one of these days.”

“That’s very logical of you. However, your desire has nothing to do with logic. You want him because he is beautiful and you’ve never seen anything else like him.”

“If you’re going to just stand here and read my mind, why ask questions?”

I could feel him moving closer and I shivered.

“I meant no offense. It’s a habit. Let me ask you something else, and I promise not to read your mind.”

His hands were warm against my shoulders. He leaned in close and pressed a soft kiss against my face as he whispered, “If we were strangers, could you do it? If Morgan and D’s feelings didn’t matter to you, what would you do?”

I pulled away from him slowly. “I always thought the devil was a myth. That Heaven and Hell were things invented to frighten people.” I shook my head as I turned toward the door. “But you must be the devil. I don’t know what I would do, because they
do
matter. I have no answer for your question.”

“Then let me show you Heaven.”

At his words my insides fluttered and by the warmth between my legs, I knew I was already gushing wet. He asked the one thing I didn’t have the strength to refuse. So, I didn’t respond at all, I just kept walking. Everyone seemed to be all right with what was happening except me. And I couldn’t figure out why I had a problem. Gorgeous men at my disposal? What was wrong with me? I think Hud was right. I didn’t want to hurt anyone, including myself, if this went badly. But did I want to fuck them? You’re damn right.

This time the smell of incense led me to a different room. I suppose the one I’d been in earlier was Morgan’s. The style of décor was much the same, except in this room everything was red and black and gold. It was so much more decadent than Morgan’s room. I could tell just by looking at the blood red comforter that it was silk. I couldn’t tell what sort of metal the four-poster bed was made of, but it was painted black. Sheer red curtains hung from the canopy above and as I admired it I realized that candles were already lit around the room. Perfect accommodations for a vampire. It reminded me of an old gothic novel.

I took a look around. No one was there. The scented candles were a nice touch. So, I left them lit. With all the other things Hud could do with his mind, I just assumed he lit them for me before I got there.

I walked over and pushed open the bathroom door. There was a massive tub near the back that caught my attention first. The other thing that struck me was that the entire bathroom was made of black tile. Even the walls were tiled halfway up, from there on the wall was red until it reached the ceiling, which was black. It was strange to say the least, but I liked it. I hadn’t seen a real honest-to-goodness bathtub since I’d left Earth.

Since I wasn’t wearing much anyway, stripping out of it was easy. While I did this I let the water run in the tub and looked around for some bath wash. I had just opened the cabinet when I heard something in the bedroom. I stopped the water and went to investigate.

Morgan was standing there, dressed in gold just like he’d been in the vision Hud had shown me. He was wearing dark eye makeup that was smeared around the edges and he smiled when I entered the room.

“Well, I feel overdressed.”

“Then take off your clothes.”

Hud already had me worked up into such a lather, putting a man in my room was not safe, for that man at least.

Morgan did as I said and didn’t ask questions. I was surprised by the lack of smartass remarks. But I didn’t feel like questions either. I walked over to the bed and crawled slowly across the red comforter. I knew that my ass was in the air, and I knew that he was watching it.

“Come here,” I said as I rolled to my back.

Something unusual flickered behind his eyes as he approached me. It wasn’t out of place, it was just a sort of magic I’d never felt before. It was a reflection of something, but I couldn’t tell what and I wasn’t in the mood to analyze.

“Eat my pussy.”

Morgan spread my thighs wide and ran his tongue up and over my aching flesh as if in slow motion. I groaned and thrust my pelvis upward, urging him to do more. He put his hand on my chest and trailed his fingertips down my abdomen in a long, slow caress.

“You have such a beautiful body.”

I smiled. “You say that like you’ve never seen it before.”

“Maybe I didn’t pay close enough attention.”

His voice was deepened with desire, and yet it seemed deeper than when we were together before. It was soft and throaty with an underlying rumble that accentuated his words.

“There’s something different about you.”

He laughed and that too sounded a little bit off.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” He leaned over me, looked deeply in my eyes and asked, “What was it you wanted me to do again?”

“I want you to eat my pussy.”

His head was already between my thighs when he replied, “As you wish.”

“Ahihud!”

The instant I screamed his name he stopped. He also shifted form before my eyes. It was as if he had been wearing Morgan’s likeness as a cloak. He just shrugged it off. As he did this he ran a hand through his hair, turning it from black to blue in an instant. His hair fell forward over his shoulders, shimmering softly in the dim light.

“How did you know it was me?”

“I knew there was something different about your … oh my.”

He was completely naked. The sight was much better than I’d imagined it would be. His long legs were just as well sculpted as his arms and I loved the way his thighs flexed when he moved toward me. And his cock!
Oh my
.

“I know what you’re thinking,” he said softly. “You don’t really want to send me away.”

“That wasn’t
all
of what I was thinking.” My protest was weak, and so was my resolve.

He smiled and my heart fluttered painfully.

“I’m glad you like it.” He gestured toward his cock and I returned his smile.

“What about Morgan? You knew I wouldn’t do this, that’s why you tried to trick me.”

He moved to his knees and crawled toward me like a large, lithe animal. He growled and for the first time I realized that Hud had fangs too. They accentuated his full mouth and managed to frighten and arouse me at the same time.

“Why do you resist?”

He crawled over me and I put my hand against his chest.

“I’m not saying no. I’m saying, not without his consent.”

I felt his chest rise and fall with his labored breathing and he leaned even closer toward my face. His hair brushed over my cheek and for a moment he closed his eyes. Since he could feel what his hair touched, perhaps he was savoring the sensation.

“Think, Vivian. You already have his consent.” Before I could respond he continued. “Only touch me and everything will be made clear. I can sort out your inner turmoil.” He pressed his body very gently down the length of mine. “Loving me will bring you one step closer to your destiny. Stop thinking, and just react.”

From the intensity of what I saw in his eyes, I expected his touch to be something close to savage. I could not have been more wrong. Hud took me in his arms gently and while he caressed my back he rolled so that I was on top of him. I felt so small against him, but not defenseless. I knew that if I said the word he would stop this. But I didn’t want him to. I was tired of resisting. This was what I wanted.

His body felt hard beneath me and his skin was almost burning he was so hot. My pussy was pressed against his stomach and the contact made me wriggle just a bit. He smiled and the world stood still. Whatever he planned to do to me, whatever magic he possessed, the spell was cast in that instant. Countless lifetimes of pleasure and pain, and here he was in bed with me. If anyone can appreciate what it takes to survive eternity it’s a vampire. Another look at his face and I wondered, “
Maybe he really can show me Heaven.”

I kissed him tentatively. The instant he opened his mouth to deepen the kiss, a sort of magic broke over us. I could feel it surrounding me, soothing and caressing me. I pushed up over his chest, straddling his waist. As I arched forward, Hud took one nipple into his mouth and I almost came. That soft pressure seemed to be connected directly to my pussy and it made every muscle between my legs jump.

Hud placed one hand against my back and reached between us with the other. He ran one long finger up and down my slit and when I arched against his mouth again, he plunged that finger inside of me.

“Oh, I’m going to come,
already
.”

He thrust his finger deeper inside me and my muscles clamped down so tight I think it must have hurt him. Wow. The sensations coursing through me were indescribable. It was everything it was supposed to be and then some. The delicious tension that normally begins to build somewhere near the base of my spine felt as if it was in my whole body instead. Every nerve ending I had was connected to my pelvis and my mind was trying hard to comprehend it all. It was release and yet it was torture, because the tension still remained, even though the pleasure continued as well. In that moment I no longer doubted that djinns were all-powerful, or that they could rule galaxies if they chose.