Darkness In The Flames (53 page)

Adrian nodded as Sidney turned his finger to Nick. “And you, Nick. When a droplet of Verity’s blood splashed over her, she vanished, correct?”

“Yes.” Nick recalled the moment and the expression of confusion on Thérèse’s face.

“Putting these facts together with our other assumptions leads me to suspect that you both receive something from your partners, some sort of strength that comes from finding the right mate, the right woman. And this gives you a small defense against the evil that is Thérèse.” Sidney sighed.

“I agree with you.” Katherine nodded.

“As do I.” Verity nodded too.

Adrian glanced at Nick and the two men shared an unspoken thought—concern for their women mingled with the shudder of apprehension at the notion of actually summoning their worst nightmare.

Nick sighed. “If you think it will help…”

“I’ll go along with this but I’m not very happy about the idea of
deliberately
drawing her here, Father…” Adrian looked worried.

“I don’t know what will happen, my son. But I do know that we
need
to find out if we can do this. If it succeeds, we will have a tool at our disposal. If it doesn’t…then perhaps that fact alone will provide other information we can use to deduce our next steps.”

“‘Tis logical, Sir Sidney. I’ll grant you that.”

“Thank you.” Sidney dipped his head in appreciation. “I rather thought so.”

“And if all else fails—well, we’ll have a night to remember.” Katherine giggled, a lighthearted sound that made them all smile.

“I hope you’re not suggesting we do this
en famille
—” Adrian snorted. “I like Nick and Verity a lot and I’m glad they’re here, but when it comes to my time with you, dear wife, that’s
private
. I will not countenance any type of public orgy.”

“Just a private one, darling.” Katherine snickered at her husband.

“Well that’s all right then.” He snickered back.

“Ahem.” Sidney recalled them all to the moment. “It’s nearly dawn. May I suggest you all retire for your rest and that we set tomorrow night for our experiments?”

Nick joined the others in agreeing.

A night of wild sex with Verity was no hardship whatsoever. Feeding from her would be a delight he would not deny himself.

Seeing Thérèse again?

That was a nightmare he didn’t want to think about, no matter
how
important it might be. So he banished it from his mind and focused on the one thing that he could anticipate with glee.

A night of bliss with Verity.

Chapter Eighteen

The rooms they’d been given suited Verity and Nick perfectly. Not too large or overwhelming, with small windows easily screened and covered, they both loved the cozy intimacy of their surroundings.

It wasn’t a chore to let go with each other when alone—they’d been hesitant at first, but then the comfort of a real bed and the security offered by St. Chesswell’s had seduced them both into relaxing.

This night would be different, however. Verity’s hands shook a little as she slipped from her gown.

They’d all been a little self-conscious, each knowing what the other would be up to within the hours of darkness. It was awkward and everyone had been happy to quit the drawing room once final plans had been made.

Nick and Adrian had lingered a little, discussing lord-knew-what, so Verity and Katherine had parted with smiles and hugs, Verity hoping she’d still be able to do those same things come the morrow. This was a step onto an uncertain road, but one that everybody felt should be taken.

Now, in the solitude of their bedroom, Verity wasn’t quite so sure. Doubts and fears plagued her thoughts, fears for Nick and doubts of her own ability to share whatever strength she had against the wickedness they intended to confront.

They would certainly stay here—for a while at least. Katherine had made her decision abundantly plain to Verity, announcing firmly that having a vampire husband was all well and good, but she was still a woman as well as a vampire and needed some female companionship. Besides, she’d pointed out that little would be gained by Nick and Verity wandering around England, seeking the darkness and shelter, when so much more could be gained by them staying and pooling their resources together with the St. Chesswell’s store of knowledge.

Verity sensed a soul mate in Katherine, a friend she could grow to love as dearly as a sister. They shared more than a strange existence and a lover with fangs. They shared the bond that only women can understand—the indefinable bond that unites the female of the species.

And Verity also sensed that there were matters Katherine would not discuss with Adrian. Matters that perhaps touched on the question of children. Verity had asked Nick about it and his answer had been unsatisfactory, if honest.

Now she glimpsed Katherine privately yearning to give Adrian proof of her love—a child. Would
she
yearn too? Did she already wish to give Nick everything she could possibly give him? Of
course
.

But her vampiric existence was too new as yet for her to even
begin
pondering the question of continuing the line. That was for another time—when this night and its adventure was past.

Firm hands slid around her waist. She’d been so lost in thought she’d not heard Nick enter—unusual for her and her sensitive hearing.

“Mmm. Hello.” He dropped a kiss on her shoulder.

She would have turned but he held her tightly. “No, let me help you finish what you were doing.”

“What was I doing? I forget. I was thinking.”

“You were undressing.” Nick laughed softly as he quickly finished the last of her laces and let her garments drop to the floor. “That’s better.” Once again he pulled her back against his body.

Verity closed her eyes, enjoying the delightfully erotic feel of his clothes against her nakedness. It was very sensual, this touch of linen and wool on her bare bottom and back. A sinfully pleasurable sensation she relished. “So good.” She leaned against his chest.

“It gets better.”

To her surprise, she found herself blinded by a swath of black fabric—one of Nick’s cravats, perhaps—which he fastened over her eyes.

“Nick?”

“Ssshh. Tonight you will have to rely on your other senses. I have stolen your sight for the next couple of hours.”

His touch aroused her, fingers caressing her nipples, tugging and pinching them a little, heightening her arousal. “Do you mind?”

She explored her sensations, finding she liked the uncertainty of this situation. Not knowing where he would touch her next—or how. “No, I don’t mind. It’s…sort of
exciting
.”

Her body agreed. She could feel the early stirrings of desire deep in her belly, a tiny furnace that Nick could stoke to a full blaze with the slightest stroke of his hand. Like
that
—

He was slipping one hand over her softness and down between her thighs, just smoothing her skin, petting her, gentling her as one would gentle a kitten. Her personal pussy responded to the caresses appropriately, producing tears of arousal instead of purrs.

She sighed with pleasure.

He whisked her off her feet and dumped her onto the bed.

“Ooof.” Taken by surprise, she shifted, only to feel him immediately follow her and straddle her waist while he tied her wrists to the bedposts. Her ankles received the same treatment and before she had chance to catch her breath she was captured—restrained—spread-eagled on the soft feather mattress.

Awaiting Nick’s touch.

It didn’t seem to be forthcoming.

“Nick?” She asked again, trying to sense his whereabouts.

There—a slight sound, the rustle of his clothing. “I’m here.”

Air lightly grazed her skin as she lay there, helpless, wondering what he was doing, wishing she could see him and yet enjoying this game he played. Her thighs were already damp as her body accelerated its response to what it knew lay ahead.

Passion
. Wonderful, sensual, savage passion. A tiny whimper broke from her throat as the desire rose through her body. This was…
exciting
.

Thoughts of their primary purpose on this night had vanished, along with thoughts of Adrian and Katherine, who were probably enjoying their own private pleasures at this moment.

For Verity, it was all about Nick and what he would do to her, how he would fire the lust within her and send her flying free into that wonderful place only they could share.

A hand grasped one breast and tugged gently, fingers finding her nipple and teasing it. She sucked in a breath, loving his touch. Which suddenly got firmer. He pulled, extending the sensitive bud—then she felt something, something
hard
—sliding down over it.

“What-wh…” She stuttered as he kept up the pressure, teasing the nipple away from her breast and securing it with—whatever it was.

“Too much?” His voice was calm, his touch sure.

“No…no, I don’t
think
so…what
is
that?” She was stretched now, sharp sensations streaking from the tortured bud to her belly and beyond. Nick treated the other breast to the same treatment, taking his time, gently pushing her further into sensations for which she had no name.

“I borrowed a few things.” He chuckled softly, flicking one nipple with a fingernail.

“Oooh…” The feeling was immediate, a flood of arousal coursing through her, heat firing down her nerve endings from her breasts to her loins.

She wriggled. “Wood. Hard—something—oh Nick, you devil.
Clothes pegs
.”

“One uses what’s available.”

She heard the laughter in his voice and relaxed into the tiny pain. It heightened her awareness of her body, sent frissons of pleasure across her skin—her awareness seemed magnified by the restraints on her breasts.

Verity swallowed. He was extremely inventive, that was for sure.

She waited, legs spread wide, wrists immobile above her. What would he do next? The bed dipped as it took his weight, then something both solid and smooth brushed her thigh.

She chuckled. “That’s you. I know that sensation.”

“As well you should.” He rubbed his cock over the delicate skin, brushing first one thigh then the other. The mattress sagged between her parted thighs as he settled himself to enjoy the bounty she was presenting to him.

Just knowing he was there, naked, hard and ready to claim her, was exciting. Not being able to see him, not knowing what her nipples looked like as they poked from their pegs—it was so much more than exciting.

She felt him lean over her and gasped as a tongue found one exquisitely sensitive peak. “Mmm.” He laved it carefully. “Nice.”

Just the light brush of his tongue was enough and she fought against an onrush of passion that threatened to break into an orgasm.

“God, Nick. When you do that—”

“How about when I do this?”

Without warning a sharp fang pierced the delicate bud then withdrew, followed by the soft healing touches of his tongue.

A scream built but was gone by the time she’d found the strength to release it. There were no words. When he repeated the action on her other nipple, there were no more thoughts, either.

Nick tasted her, quickly nipping her then healing the little wound immediately. He hoped she’d find it as thrilling as he did, since he was struggling to hold his orgasm in check, but was rather afraid he was hanging on to a set of runaway horses and the reins had broken.

He glanced at the clock once more. Less than twenty minutes to go.

In a hurried and abrupt conversation, Adrian and Nick had agreed—
midnight
. They would attempt to reach their peaks—all of them—around midnight. It had been an unusual chat, even for vampires.

But, embarrassment aside, Nick knew it was a sound idea. The massive explosion of four beings with extraordinary sensual skills—well, it should bring Thérèse running. Or at least wafting with speed.

Where she would go or what she would do, neither man wanted to consider. This was Sidney’s idea, so they would simply relate their experiences—edited heavily—and let him figure out the useful details if there were any.

Twenty minutes was enough time. More than enough. Nick grimaced and left Verity’s body alone for a minute or two, grinning to himself at her whimper following his move.

This was a lot of fun. Pity there was another underlying cause for the night. If there hadn’t been—well, Nick made a mental note to make sure he had plenty of supplies for their next journey down this road.

He reached beside him to a small bundle on the floor and straightened back up holding a tiny wheel that sparkled in the light of the one candle he’d left burning. Silently he leaned back down to Verity.

And ran the spur up her leg from knee to hipbone.

Her response was loud and gratifying. He’d hoped to catch her unawares and the shriek of surprise bore a testament to how well he’d succeeded. He smiled.

His next foray took the spiked wheel across the lower part of her belly, just above her mound, to her other hipbone and back down to the other knee.

This time, he did not stop there. With increasing pressure he moved it up the inside of her thigh, roaming around her pussy but stopping short of the swollen lips that gleamed with juices.

He knew that her clit would be throbbing and he could almost taste her, sense her blood moving quietly through her veins as her nerves lit up with a thousand tiny flames of need.

Red and hard, her nipples lured him, so he let his hand roam around her waist and chest until the spiked rowel of his spur reached the soft curves of her breasts. The tiny pricks would add to the sensations caused by the pegs on her breasts and he heard her whimpers of pleasure as he ran the wheel back and forth, scraping her skin, leaving a tiny trail of red droplets he licked with an eager hunger.

It was just a taste of what he really wanted, but his timing—at this particular point—mattered.