B005EMAYWS EBOK (8 page)

She and Sarah shared the same father, but had different mothers. Their father was the vampire Donavan, and Omar was his brother. At first Omar had been determined to kill the sisters, but his focus now seemed to be on creating a full-scale war. He was calling out the wolves, and when they finally responded, no vampire would be safe.

“I guess all we can do is wait to hear from Sarah.”

Nicole wasn’t satisfied. Ethan’s answer did nothing to alleviate her worry. Right now Alec was fine. In fact, he was waiting for her at home. But when the slayers descended on the city, he would have to go into hiding.

It was time that all three sisters were together. Only then would everything come to a head - only then would they have the strength to stop Omar and bring peace to their existence once again.

* * *

“I love you Anton,” she told him. “Even if you don’t love me. I want to lay with you … at least once.” Her last words were forced out with an emotional sob.

Anton leaned over and covered her mouth with his. This time his kiss was tender, but with an underlying yearning.

Pulling away, Anton handed her the car keys. “We have to talk first,” he whispered.

Suddenly she was overcome with fear of what his words would be and she didn’t want to hear them. Summer shook her head, and inserting the key in the ignition she started the car. “I don’t want any words Anton, I just want to make love to you.”

* * *

Inside the motel room, she threw her arms around Anton’s neck. “I have waited so long for this night,” she told him, before kissing his jaw and neck.

“Babe … we need to talk first,” he said, his tone pleading.

Summer kissed him, preventing him from saying anymore as her fingers worked to unbutton his shirt. She looked down at his broad - bare chest and admired the way his muscle rippled beneath his skin as he moved. Her hands were then at the button on his pants. She worked to free him of his clothes.

Summer wrapped her hand around his erection and squeezed his flesh. She was rewarded when she felt his body tremble. He groaned, and his hand gently slid her dress from her body. She stood before him in nothing but her G-string. He stepped back to look at her.

“Your so beautiful,” he whispered.

Anton lifted Summer in his arms and carried her to his bed, laying her down gently. His lips were on her - his tongue exploring her mouth. He sucked on her tongue as one large hand removed her panties.

Anton broke their kiss. “We will never be able to take this back once it happens,” he warned halfheartedly.

Her hands were on his broad back, pulling him closer. “I want you Anton.”

Her words seemed to enflame his desire even more. His teeth pierced her flesh - making his way to her soft mounds. As his teeth raked across her skin, she felt the heat between her legs sizzle.

Summer began to rub against his lean leg so that he could feel how badly she wanted him. His hands went to her hips, and he pulled her tighter against him.

“I will keep this night with me for the rest of my life. It will be enough,” Summer told him, knowing that she was not being entirely honest. She wanted him tonight and always, but at this moment she didn’t want him to feel guilt. She only wanted him to embrace his need for her.

He opened his mouth to say something else, but Summer put her finger to his lips to silence him.

“Anton, just love me.” Summer’s voice shook, her desire for him unbearable.

Groaning, he spread her legs and leaned over her. She felt his hard flesh resting against her wet heat and she arched her hips, wanting him to soothe her ache. He gently probed her moistness - slowly so that he wouldn’t hurt her with his unusual size.

Anton remained still. His lips were on hers - kissing her deeply - letting her feel his hunger. His fingers played with her jutting nipples, pulling and squeezing. The animal within her took over and she became mad with hunger. Summer started bucking up against him frantically, wanting him to bring her release from the painful yearning that had taken control of her body and soul.

“You’ll make it be over too soon, “ he whispered.

Her nails clawed into his back. “Anton … please!”

He began ramming into her waiting core, his savage need pushing him to thrust harder. Her flesh tightened around him, milking him as she shook with wave after wave of shattering delight. Throwing back his head, he snarled and howled as the wolf took hold of him. One moment he was a man, and then a wolf, and a man again. He shook uncontrollably as he spurt his hot release into her waiting body.

Collapsing, he rested his head on her breasts. He was now in control and pushing the wolf back. Exhausted, Summer closed her eyes, thinking that she’d just rest for a moment, but she quickly drifted off to sleep.

* * *

Blinking, Summer strained to see beyond the thick mist, she could barely make out the shadowy trees that lined both sides of the road. Sharp rocks were digging into the bottoms of her feet. Summer looked down to see that she was standing on the hard packed surface of a dirt road.

Everything was so unfamiliar. She didn’t know where she was. From behind, she could hear the sound of footsteps coming toward her. Instinctively, she knew that whoever it was, meant to do her harm, and she started running. Over the pounding of her heart she could hear her pursuer getting closer. The footsteps sounded near enough that she imagined that she could feel the air stir as her assailant reached out to grab her.

Suddenly she felt herself falling to the ground and she held out her hands to break her fall. She hit the dirt so hard that it tore the flesh on the palms of her hands, but there was no time to react. Something had a hold of her hair and was yanking her head back.

Summer’s eyes flew open. In a full-blown panic, she found herself gasping for air. It took a moment for her to realize that she’d been having a nightmare, but even then she had to will herself to be calm. Nearly every night she was having nightmares, and in all of them, someone was after her, or she was in the dark.

Yellow light crept in from an outside streetlamp, casting the room in contrasts of light and shadow. Beside her she could hear Anton’s steady breathing as he slept, oblivious of her fear. While she stared up at the ceiling, Summer caught the sound of shuffling feet next to the bed. She dared not look over to see who or what was making the noise.

Summer felt cold - clammy fingers touch her arm. She was afraid to see what it was, but even more frightened not to. Turning her head ever so slightly to the side of the bed, she saw Penny staring at her with lifeless eyes.

* * *

When they pulled into the parking lot of the apartment complex, Summer noticed that Penny’s car sat in its usual spot. As soon as Anton stopped the car, Summer threw open the door and leaped out.

“Wait for me!” he yelled after her.

Summer slowed her pace so that he could catch up.

After reaching the apartment, Summer tried the door and found it locked. From inside, she could hear music. Reaching into her handbag she pulled out her keys, but her hands were shaking so bad that she couldn’t slip the key into the lock.

Anton gently grabbed them from her hand and unlocked the door. The two of them cautiously stepped inside. Several lights were on, and from the living room she could hear the chirpy voice of a late night DJ talking about a concert that would soon be coming to Reno.

Summer ran into the living room while at the same time dialing the police on her mobile phone. “This is Summer Gray Eagle, could you send the police to 2463 University Way, apartment 12? I found my roommate dead.”

From somewhere in the distance, she could already hear the sound of sirens, but they could do nothing now. Penny’s corpse lay in the hallway, near a blood-spattered towel. On the body was a black rose.

“The radio is on,” she commented, unable to find any other words.

Unlike the other victims, Penny appeared to have been killed in the apartment, and he didn’t bother to remove the body. For some reason the killer was getting lazy, or the murder was committed this way for a reason.

The detective hesitated. “Well you know that’s against procedure … but since it might be a day or two before we’re done, I guess I can make an exception

“Thanks,” she told him with a forced smile.

“I’ll go with you while you get them.” Pierce took hold of her arm to guide her into the apartment.

A few moments later, Summer came out holding a small bag. She and Anton walked to the car in silence. Even after they had pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road, Anton remained quiet, as if preoccupied.

Summer noticed that they were not heading in the direction of the motel. “Where are we going?” she asked.

“To get some coffee. We need to talk in a place where I won’t be so easily distracted by my hunger for you,” he told her bluntly.

Despite the night’s traumatic events, Summer found herself blushing with pleasure at his words.

Soon he pulled up next to a small, all-night diner. There was a blue neon sign above the building that read
, Little Sue’s Vittles.

Once inside, the two of them found a small booth at the back of the room, though it probably wouldn’t have mattered where they sat - the café was empty.

After the waitress brought them their coffee, Summer sipped the hot liquid and waited for Anton to talk. Though he was looking in Summer’s direction, he seemed to be staring right past her - seeing something that she couldn’t.

Finally his eyes focused on her. “Summer … we have to go now. There can be no more waiting,” he told her softly.

Summer’s mouth fell open. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “My best friend was just murdered, and you want me to leave? I’m not going anywhere while her killer is still out there.”

“You are chasing a phantom. The killer is not what you think he is,” Anton told her with a tired sigh.

Summer narrowed her eyes and glared at him. “What do you know about this?” she demanded.

Anton’s gaze was turbulent, and laced with pain. “I must confess … I have seen this before.” He stopped, waiting for her to interrupt, but Summer remained quite.

“At first I wasn’t sure … not until I found out about the black roses. It was then that I realized that this killer … was no ordinary killer.”