Dark Promises (Dark #29) (33 page)

She licked over his pulse and felt it jump beneath her tongue. Her arms went around his neck and she settled close to him, pushing her breasts into his side while she brought his head closer to her. Deliberately she used her teeth to scrape gently back and forth, building the tension. He was a master at that with his touch. With his mouth. She was a quick study. She always had been.

She felt his body tighten. His muscles lock in place. Beneath her buttocks,
his cock jerked. Hard. She kissed his pulse, just a brush, a barely there kiss. He groaned and his hand tightened in her hair.

“You are playing with fire,
kislány
. If you do not want to spend the entire rising flat on your back with me playing for a long, long time before I allow you release, keep this up. I do not have endless control.”

She smiled against his pulse, liking that she could make him lose control. His “punishments” weren't very scary and in fact, they mostly made her not want to be so “good.” Still, she did want to get out a little bit. She couldn't help herself, even while she obeyed him, she slipped into his mind as she bit down with her teeth, just to feel what that sensual bite did to him.

The taste of him burst through her—through him. She felt the intensity of his pleasure as she fed at his neck, taking what he so freely offered—more—what he'd all but ordered her to take. His essence. Rich. An ancient's blood was different, she realized. Aleksei's tasted and felt like him. Dangerous. Hot. Rich. Masculine. Very, very powerful. Aleksei, who could drive away nightmares, standing between her and her past. If he could do that . . . She closed her eyes and savored his taste, her fingers moving in the silk of his hair.

Aleksei held her tightly, nearly crushing her to him, his hand moving over her body, shaping her breasts, sliding his palm down her side to her hip. Over her back. He touched and held her as if she meant everything to him. Tears burned close at the beauty of it. At the beauty of being his entire focus. His only. The one.

Gabrielle swept her tongue over the pinpricks in his neck and rested her head against his shoulder. “You're really beautiful, Aleksei,” she whispered. “So much so, sometimes you take my breath away.”

He was silent a moment. Tense. She felt the way his body had gone hard and tight. His hand went to her chin. She didn't want him to see her ridiculous tears so she stubbornly tried to keep her face buried against his shoulder. She should have known better. Aleksei didn't take no for an answer. Not about anything. His hand moved to her jaw and he turned her face to him, tipping it up so his eyes could drift over her.

“Kessake.”

Her heart beat faster. There was possession there. But there was so much more. His eyes burned over her. Marked her. His brand sinking deep. The sound of his voice, calling her
little cat
in his own language.

“I almost destroyed you, Aleksei. I could have lost you. The world could have lost you, all because I was so foolish and didn't understand the gift I was given.”

His thumb moved through the trail of tears. “I want you to stop this. Right now, Gabrielle.”

His tone was velvet soft, but still commanding. Firm. Gentle. She had no idea how anyone could manage that, but he did.

The pad of his thumb followed the track of her tears right down her face, erasing them. His mouth moved close and he sipped the tears from her lashes and then used his tongue to wipe every evidence of them away. His hands went to her hips, fingers digging deep, and he turned her, right there in the pool.

“Straddle my lap,
kessake
, we are not nearly finished before we go hunting.”

He really gave her no choice, not that she wanted one, but the moment she turned, her legs over his hips, her breasts tight against his chest, his cock buried deep, his mouth was on hers, and everything fell away but him—everything but Aleksei and the feel of his hard body and the pleasure he brought to
her.

M
en are stronger and you can take a little more from them, especially if they are big. If you can avoid it, do not go into a house, even if invited. And you must be invited in if you plan on taking blood. That is a protection measurement for all as well as showing respect. It will not be difficult for you to get an invitation, you will simply use your voice to enthrall, but still, the risks are greater. Children. Family members. Not a good thing,
kessake
.”

Gabrielle stood in the shadows with Aleksei just outside a bar. The sky drizzled silver drops but he kept the rain off her, his arms locked around her waist, keeping her body tucked close to him, sheltering her. She leaned back into him, liking the way he surrounded her with his protection. He made her feel safe. Her body was trembling, but she didn't know if it was from nerves or excitement.

No one had ever bothered to teach her these skills. Aleksei wanted her to learn to be self-sufficient. She loved that. She wasn't certain she could actually lure someone to her and take their blood, but she wanted to try.

“Do you understand, Gabrielle? It is important. You can get into a house if you cannot find adequate prey elsewhere and only in an emergency.”

“I understand,” she said softly, reaching back to touch his face with her hand. “I'm listening. And I'm grateful you're taking the time to teach me.”

He nuzzled her hand with the slightly rough scruff on his jaw and then turned his face to press a kiss right into the center of her palm.

“I am enjoying our time.” He moved the long slide of hair off the nape of her neck, pushing it around her left shoulder as she dropped her hand. That gave his mouth access to bare skin and her right ear, unhindered by her thick hair. “It is always better to find a place such as this one where there are numerous patrons to choose from. Always choose one entering if possible. They have not had anything to drink and so they are untainted. Those coming out can be used in an emergency, but their blood is not that good.”

She moistened her lips, more aware of him, of his strength, of his hunger, of his power. When he moved he was fluid, a flowing of muscle and bone; when he stopped, he was utterly still. It was impossible to conceal the power in him, and he didn't try. When he didn't want to be seen, he veiled his presence, rather than trying to blend in.

She sensed a sudden change in him, in his focus, and a shiver of trepidation and excitement went down her spine. She'd never felt more alive.

Aleksei's mouth moved over her ear, causing a slow roll in the pit of her stomach. “This one,
kislány
, take this one. Use your voice. Draw him to you. Bring him into the shadows. I am here, watching over you. I will ensure nothing goes wrong.”

She licked her lips again, hearing her heart pound. Could she really do it? Walk up to a man and enthrall him with her voice alone? Draw him back into the shadows with her and leave him with the vague impression he'd had a conversation and nothing else had happened?

She studied the man approaching the pub. He was young, in his early twenties, and he looked strong. She felt Aleksei's arms drop away from her and she took a step out of the shadows, on a path to intercept the young male. His eyes came to her immediately and he instantly smiled, slowing his purposeful stride.

Gabrielle smiled in return, and his head jerked up. She stopped where she was and allowed him to come to her, one hand going to her hair, sliding her fingers through the silky mass as she waited. His gaze dropped to her
breasts as they lifted beneath her blouse with the action, and then moved back up to her face.

“Come with me,” she said softly, using a mesmerizing tone. “Come with me now.” She held out her hand to him. “I have need of you.”

She couldn't believe the way her voice was so sensual. She knew Aleksei had given her that—the confidence she'd never had in herself as a seductress. He made her feel beautiful and sexy.

You are beautiful and sexy. Reach for his mind, kislány. You need to know you have complete control, not just that he's seduced.

Aleksei's voice not only was gentle, but she could feel his pride in her. That made her want to glow and it surprised her at the same time. He was a man who would be jealous and not want another man touching her. This was truly the last thing she expected him to help her with. She admired him all the more for it.

The man took her hand, moving in close to her. She didn't like it. He didn't feel like Aleksei felt. The burn of his sexual desire felt wrong. She could barely stand the touch of his skin against hers. She almost pulled away, but Aleksei was there, in her mind, supportive and strong.

I like that you do not like his touch, Gabrielle. You are doing very well. Reach for his mind. Take control of it so he cannot weave fantasies of you.

She hadn't considered that he might do that and again was grateful for Aleksei's guidance. She took a breath and forced past the barriers in the male's mind. For a moment she felt sick, her stomach protesting the invasive act.

You are not hurting him in any way. You are protecting him.
Do not worry so much. We will remain to ensure he is well after. If possible, always do that. You never want to inadvertently take too much blood and leave them unprotected.
Aleksei's voice stroked her mind. Gentle. Supportive. Persuasive.

She knew if she backed off, told him she couldn't do it, he wouldn't be upset with her, but she
wanted
his approval. She wanted him to have reason to be proud of her. More, if he was ever in trouble and needed her to get blood to feed or help heal him, she was determined to know how.

The man's mind was filled with all kinds of images of the two of them writhing on the ground together. She ignored that, and took control, soothing
him, planting a brief conversation about directions. She walked him right up to Aleksei.

Aleksei reached for her, his hand curling around the nape of her neck, pulling her to his other side and away from the man who docilely stood in front of them, keeping her close to him as he reached for the man. Gabrielle watched as, without preamble, Aleksei took over, pushing into the man's mind, calming and soothing him, as he sank his teeth deep and drank. All the while he reaffirmed the idea that the young man had had a conversation with a pretty tourist asking for directions.

Gabrielle stayed in the man's mind, to assure herself that he wasn't afraid, or that he even knew what was happening. She couldn't help but see that he was a good man, hoping to find the “right” woman to settle down with, but he knew all the available women in the village and they weren't for him. He was a hard worker, loved his parents and was well educated. He was wrestling with the idea of staying and helping his father in his business, or getting out so he had a chance of finding a woman to love. She liked him all the more for that and found herself feeling protective of him.

Aleksei's hold tightened on her. He clamped her firmly to his side as he finally raised his head. With one hand he lowered the man to the ground and allowed him to rest against the crude wooden bench there.

“You cannot get attached,
kislány
. It is not healthy. Nor would I like it. I prefer that you allow me to hunt for you and feed you. I will take you on the hunt with me to help hone your skills, but you do not need to collect other men.”

She winced. Honestly, it felt like he'd delivered a hard body blow. She almost wished it were physical, because, really, it hurt like hell when he reminded her of her indiscretion. She tried to pull away, but his arm locked her in place. He caught her chin and forced her to meet his eyes.

“I was teasing you, Gabrielle, not chastising you. I did not have Gary in my mind at all. I understand what happened between you and I do not blame you for it. I misread the situation and handled it wrong. I have told this to you and I expect you to hear me this time and let it go.”

That was both sweet and infuriating. He could be so arrogant, ordering her to just let it go when she'd caused so much damage, like she could just forget everything because he told her to.

A faint smile lit his face for a brief moment and then, just that fast, was gone. “When you are angry with me, little cat, your eyes blaze fire. I like that.” He took her hand and brought it to the front of his trousers, so that her palm covered the thick bulge there right through the material. “You make me as hard as a rock when you get that fire in your eyes. Mostly because it reminds me of how you catch flame when I touch you.”

She didn't know what to do with that so she ignored it. “You cannot just order me to forget something and expect it to happen.”

She should have moved her hand, they were right out in the open, but his hand had clamped hard over hers and she knew if she tried there would be a struggle. The man he'd used for food stirred and groaned softly. She wiggled her palm to try to warn Aleksei his prey was coming out of the enthrallment. More, she could hear two other men approaching with heavy footsteps.

Aleksei refused to relinquish her hand but moved them both back farther into the shadows. His free hand tipped her chin up to his.
I would not ever embarrass you or allow another man to see what is mine and only for me. Still, when I want your touch, or to touch you, I will have it. You will have to trust me to protect us.

It feels . . .
She wanted to say like exhibitionism, because it did, even though now she believed him when he said others could not see them. And he'd implied he would do far more than press her palm over his material-covered cock.

It feels like heaven, Gabrielle. When you touch me, it always feels like that. No one can see us. It is always just the two of us.

Deliberately he slipped his hand inside her blouse and caressed her breast through the lace of her bra. And then her bra was gone and her breast was being cupped in both hands, his thumb sliding across her nipple. The breath left her lungs as whips of lightning streaked straight to her sex. Aleksei's mouth came down on hers, and the world fell away. Her brain malfunctioned. Melted. Sanity was gone and there was only him and his mouth and his hands.

Abruptly he was gone. His head had turned toward the two men now parallel with them. His breath hissed out, a long dangerous signal, as he thrust her behind him. She realized her bra was back in place and her clothes
were in complete order. She blinked rapidly, trying to regain her ability to think. To understand what was happening.

Aleksei?
The air around them had gone from fresh and clean to a murky, disturbing, very heavy feel. She pressed a hand to her stomach and tried to peer around his large frame.

Aleksei swept Gabrielle back again with one hand, this time using force.
Stay.
He bit the word out, snapping the command in her mind, her only warning.
If you do not obey, I will force your obedience.
He let her see he meant that as well. She caught at the back of his shirt for support, her hand fisting in the material. She didn't pull. She didn't fight him. She didn't protest or even act, in her mind, angry with him in spite of his very real threat to her.

He studied the two men approaching the man he had used for feeding. Both were tainted. Both stank of vampire. Both stank of conspiracy. They had clearly been headed to the pub, and when he lightly touched their minds, he knew there was someone inside waiting for them. He feared he knew what that someone was. Not human.

He shared his knowledge with Gabrielle. Her fingers twisted tighter in his shirt, but she remained very still, and he felt her there in his mind.

Can you control them?

He realized she was afraid for the young man they were helping off the ground and onto the bench.

If necessary, but they are connected to what is inside and the pub is full tonight. If he knows there is a hunter out here, he will not leave peacefully. There will be a bloodbath.

“Izaak? What is wrong? Have you had too much to drink?”

The language was Polish, not English, but Aleksei interpreted in his mind so Gabrielle could better understand.

The one holding Izaak's collar stiffened. “He has been tainted.”

Gabrielle's fingers dug into Aleksei's back.
I thought you said no one could tell. Did you leave a mark?

Aleksei's breath hissed out again in a long rush of annoyance. His woman thought he would make such a mistake?
I will not chastise you for that insult as you are very distraught, but I do not leave evidence or marks. There is something else here. Something I have yet to understand. I rarely run across a puzzle I have
not seen before.
He very carefully slid into Izaak's mind, staying very quiet and unmoving, so as not to draw the attention of either of the puppets.

Are they vampire?

Human, but a vampire controls them. They do not realize that, of course. They believe they are hunting the vampire. The vampire is using them to hunt the Carpathian people.

If they see me in Izaak's mind, will they know what happened? Is that how they knew? Can they get into his mind?

Aleksei was careful in looking around. Ordinarily, a puppet was simply that—a body for a vampire to use any way he saw fit. He could use the eyes to see what the puppet saw. He could use his mind to move in another's. He was fairly certain the puppet had discovered Izaak had been used for blood all on his own and would report to his master. And that just might draw the master out to them. He would want to examine Izaak himself to see what he was dealing with.

“Kill him, Denny,” one said. “Kill him before he turns into one of them.”

“Not yet, Vaugn. We need to take him to the cabin and force him to tell us everything. You got the drug on you?”

It was telling that Denny had switched to English. Vaugn had to be one of the hunters who had come from out of the country.