A Vampire To Watch Over Me [Vampire Coven Book II] (12 page)

“Dead, except for Tia,” Nora said. “I don’t know where Tia is. She’s been afraid of her own shadow since we got here. She screams if they try and take her outside. A vampire named Caine, a healer, has been watching her, but from what I’ve heard he hasn’t had much luck—she’s just too scared.”

Honor felt badly for Tia, but she wasn’t sorry Talek was gone. Honor returned Meg’s ominous glare. No doubt, she had been one of the people ready to kill her—Dylan was her nephew and his word was law to her. It made Honor furious—how dare Meg glare at her? Honor had done nothing wrong; she wasn’t the one who would have committed murder over a stupid man law. Very quietly and under her breath Honor whispered, “Piss off, bitch.”

Meg sat straight up and gasped. Honor chuckled. There was no Dylan to smack her and no children would have overheard her. After the things she had seen and experienced, some dumb ass bitch wasn’t going to scare her. Honor had no doubt the vampires had heard her. Laken’s hearing was impressive. If Tavish were angry he didn’t seem to look it. He and Laken and a beautiful woman with stunning white-blond hair were laughing in a far corner, Honor assumed she was Tavish’s vampire wife, Mercy. Her thought was confirmed when baby Galf flew into her arms. Honor just shook her head; it didn’t seem to bother the other humans around her, so Honor wouldn’t let it bother her either—besides, the baby was beautiful.

Meg made a point of looking elsewhere after Honor continued to glare at her for a moment before tearing her gaze away—Meg wasn’t worth the effort when there were so much more interesting things to see. Honor was enjoying herself when a number of the men fell over themselves to offer her more of the sweet wine the coven made. She chatted with everyone. Eating with both men and women was something Honor had never thought she would do in her life. She always ate last and alone in the ice dwelling. When she ate in Laken’s room he sometimes talked to her while she ate and sometimes she ate by herself.

Nora seemed to be a new person. The thirty-four year old was always so quiet in the dwelling. At the table, she smiled and talked and touched a few hands. The men didn’t stop her; they encouraged her behavior. When Nora finished her dinner, she smiled at two men and strolled out with them following. Meg glared at her back as she left.

When Honor had her fill of food, she sat looking at the children’s table, her gaze devouring the sight. The children didn’t look afraid. They were smiling and laughing. A few vampires interceded when a squabble over a toy broke out, but the children weren’t frightened at their approach—they had called to their vampires.

She gazed at the table of about ten pregnant women. Each was at various stages of pregnancy. They looked so healthy and content. Honor could see this because they wore only a type of breechclout. Their breasts were bare, beautiful, some fuller than the others. They didn’t look like they minded. There was no wine pitcher on their table, just glasses of milk, juice and water. They chatted happily with one another. There were vampires who hovered near this table, all looked possessive and pleased. Honor had been told a pregnant female was greatly coveted and guarded. They gave life to everyone at the coven. Honor wondered what it would feel like to be so honored, would Laken hover?

“Give it time and your belly will be as big as theirs.” Meg snapped at her. “They carry food for the monsters.”

“It’s time to return to my room,” Laken said.

Laken had appeared out of nowhere, startling her. Honor felt some disappointment; she could have gazed at everyone around her for hours. She couldn’t have cared less what Meg said. When Honor looked up at Laken, he wore an odd expression on his face. When he narrowed his eyes onto Meg, exposing fangs, hissing, his white eyes glowing, making her cry, Honor was even more surprised. Meg didn’t call to a vampire; she fled from the room in terror.

Laken took Honor’s hand and wrapped his arm around her waist, Honor was used to Laken clutching her and moving swiftly. He seemed in a hurry to get her away from the breeding table. When they entered the room, he slammed the door behind him making her jump. He looked pissed.

“Are you mad because I swore at Meg?” Honor asked.

“That fucking cow is too old to breed and shouldn’t have been brought back.” Laken’s reply was sharp.

“Why are you so pissed off?”

Laken grabbed her. “Because you’re mine,” he said with a growl and Honor gasped when his lips ground over hers.

* * * *

Laken was furious. How dare that bitch be so cruel to Honor. She was like Rhett’s Tanya had been to Mercy—a menace. It had been brutal watching the human males devour
his
female with their eyes. They all looked far too interested. Then that stupid bitch had glared at
his
Honor. For two weeks, Laken had been patient to the point he wanted to scream. Night and day, day in day out, sleeping beside Honor had been hell—and heaven. Laken couldn’t wait any longer.

Honor’s mouth was soft and warm. She didn’t struggle and Laken could hear her heart hammering in her chest. He hated the idea she was terrified. Gaining a modicum of control Laken dragged his lips from hers. She was wide-eyed and breathing in ragged gasping breaths. Squeezing his eyes closed, Laken rested his forehead against hers, willing his emotions under control.

“Don’t be afraid,” he whispered, now gazing into her eyes.

“I’m not.”

“Honor, touching and kissing isn’t evil. I know it’s what you were taught, but the world won’t end.”

She smiled wryly up at him. “Everything I have ever known is gone—would you like to rephrase your comment?”

She was teasing him! Laken took a step back releasing her. She was breathing fast, her heart still pounded, but she didn’t look scared stiff. Her cheeks were flush, rosy and beautiful. When Laken trailed his finger down her cheek to her throat she shivered but didn’t pull away. His hand rose to cup her face and he moved closer. This time his kiss was tender and lingered. He explored her mouth with his tongue. He waited for her to pull away, waited for her to struggle—she did neither.

When the kiss broke Laken scooped her up into his arms and laid her down on the bed. His hands were shaking, and he contemplated ripping her teddy off but refrained. Now wasn’t the time for prowess, now was the time for a gentle hand. He stood gazing down at her until she held out her hand. Laken’s fingers touched the tips of hers and he sat at her hip. The bed indented and she rolled against him.

“Is this what the sex thing is?” Honor asked.

The comment made him grin with her innocence. “This is called foreplay.”

“I know you won’t hurt me, but the only time I’ve played with a man was with Peter and he’s not a man yet. Man and play didn’t really go together in my world.”

“You’re in my world now. Do you love Peter?”

Honor started laughing; she slammed a hand over her mouth, but Laken pulled it away. He was still trying to teach her laughter was allowed. Honor was laughing so hard tears rolled down her face and she snorted a few times while sucking in air. She looked even more beautiful.

“I guess I’ll take that as a no,” Laken said, and it annoyed him at the relief he felt.

“Peter is just a boy. An annoying boy.”

“You kissed him.”

“Not like you kissed me. I wanted to make him angry and show him what his father was making him miss out on. I was so angry all the time. Never loved or touched or comforted. Not until I met you.”

Laken stretched out beside her after he kicked his shoes off and rolled his socks into balls which he fired across the room. With a single finger, Laken slipped each strap of her lingerie off her shoulders. She was learning each day to trust him. So many things were frightening and foreign to Honor, but she straightened her shoulders and faced each task or challenge—with encouragement and the occasional push.

Laken had showered with her fully-clothed until she got used to the water streaming over her. The bath had been a bit tricky and still clothed, he had settled in behind her. Laken had to convince her she wouldn’t slip down the drain; she was convinced inanimate objects were real. As it was, she only ever pulled the plug once she was safely standing on the bath mat. She would watch in sheer wonder as the water magically drained away. The concept of plumbing was completely lost on Honor.

Teaching her the difference between a good bug and bad bug was difficult. Honor didn’t understand how something so teeny could cause her pain—until she was stung by a fuzzy
adorable
, bumble bee—lesson learned. Simple things Laken took for granted were learning experiences for them both. Honor didn’t realize there was a big difference between the tub and the pond—which was over her head, and she couldn’t swim. If it were at all possible Laken would have gotten gray hairs from
that
particular incident. Seeing Honor disappear under the water and not resurface, Laken had dove in fully-clothed and saved her—he seemed to be wet a lot around her.

“What are you thinking about?” Honor said. “You seem to brood a lot.”

A lot more since you wormed your way into my thoughts—heart
. “You are so beautiful; I don’t want to scare you.”

“Nothing you’ve done has scared me.”

Laken slipped her lingerie down, exposing her breasts. Honor gasped when he touched one. She watched as the pad of his thumb rubbed against her nipple, hardening it. Her breath caught when he leaned down and sucked the bud. Every day, Laken had touched her in different areas; for the most part, his fingers or hands trailed over her innocently, only trying to soothe. He didn’t want to just pounce—or decide he had waited long enough, then jump right in. For two weeks, his hands caressed her shoulders, touched her hips, trailed their way down her back.

Honor was used to him seeking contact. She didn’t pull away now and from her expression, she was enjoying what she had always been taught was forbidden. His rebel law breaker looked eager for more; Laken would oblige, especially when she wiggled closer, trying to press against him.

Laken trailed moist kisses down her belly, rolling more of her garment off. Laken moved off the bed and stood when the teddy pooled at her feet—he dropped it to the floor. He lifted her foot and sucked on each toe, his tongue trailed over her instep, his gaze never leaving her face. She giggled and squirmed, making him smile. Laken knew she was a virgin, when he had asked her in the cave when they had first met if someone was hurting her in the ice dwelling, he thought Dylan may have raped her—he hadn’t, but Dylan had hurt her a number of times with his fists and open hands; his spitfire was a tough little thing.

Honor was very ticklish and she laughed when he kissed the side of her knee, she looked so cute. Laken released her leg and yanked his t-shirt over his head. He dropped his pants and then briefs onto the floor. It was bliss not having a wallet or change to make his pockets lumpy. Honor was staring at his cock. She hadn’t seen him completely naked before and Laken stood still, wondering at her reaction.

Honor frowned. “Oh my God, I saw Peter’s tiny little prick when his mom changed him, but wow. I mean wow. S
hit
, Laken, that’s
never
going to fit. I had no idea it got so big.”

He had expected close to that reaction, and he didn’t even have an erection—that should prove interesting. Honor didn’t move when Laken once more lay beside her. The backs of his fingers swept down her bare arm to her hip. Her expression wasn’t exactly fear—more of concern. Laken grinned at her, she wanted to do this sex thing as she called it, but she looked confused as to how it could possibly occur.

“Foreplay helps a woman relax so that a man can fit inside her,” he explained.

“But that’s a big ass cock.”

Laken sighed. “Back to swearing are we, spitfire?”

“There are no children in this room.”

“Who named you Honor?” Laken asked changing the subject; he continued to harmlessly stoke her arm.

“My father. He said there was nothing more important than honor. So he thought the name suited me.”

“I think I might have liked your father.”

“If my father hadn’t fallen down the gorge, my life would be different. I have no doubt there would have been no more sex or touching, but my father wouldn’t have killed an innocent baby. My father would have permitted a simple kiss or a hug—and the words to go with the gesture of loving someone.”

“Instead you got stuck with a dictator.”

“Talek was cruel when he killed his own daughter. He called vampires monsters when he was the monster. He was mean to me, but for the most part he ignored me. It was a sad way to grow up. I wanted to be held and loved, touched. I wanted to hear sweet kind words. They were few and far between—for any of us. Love was a nothing word, an out-of-reach treason word—a dirty, four-letter word.”

Laken looked down into her brooding face, and he understood why she swore so much. Love was a bad four-letter word, but she didn’t want to turn it into something appalling, and so she used profanity to cover the hurt of rejection.

Laken pressed his forehead to hers. “There is honor in loving, spitfire.”

Honor pulled him closer.

Chapter 8

Honor had struggled with each touch Laken had tortured her body with when she had first arrived. In her heart, she knew the ice-dwelling laws were wrong, but she could still hear the foul words in her mind condemning her. Touching was treason—then why did it feel so right? Her skin didn’t go up in flames where his lips nibbled; her nipples hadn’t fallen off when he sucked on one. Talek wasn’t just cruel, he was a monster—and here the ice dwellers had thought vampires were the evil ones.

Laken’s hand was inching closer to her forbidden area, the place Talek called a sinister hovel for filth. Honor wasn’t filth, and at one time she had come from inside a woman, so had Talek, did that make him filth? Yes, perhaps he was, but Honor wasn’t. At one time, Laken had come from inside a woman and he was wonderful and patient. Honor’s father had been kind and gentle.