INTO THE FIRE (Forbidden Love) (16 page)

Leigh licked her lips as she watched Rebel take his shirt over his head. She watched the muscles play across his back as his arms went up and then back down again. She couldn’t swear to it, but she thought she saw an extra flex just for show. She blatantly stared as he unfastened the button on his leather pants and slid the zipper down. The way he moved was so fluid, so graceful, that Leigh found herself watching intently as he bent over to lower his pants and then kicked them aside.

“Now what would you like?” he asked in his best subdued voice. Leigh already knew that Rebel was anything but submissive. But she played along.

“Now I want you to remove my clothes,” she ordered.

Rebel reached her in two steps. He wasted no time unfastening the buttons of her shirt or sliding it off her shoulders. As his hands brushed the skin of her shoulders, Leigh barely restrained a sigh as her body leapt to life for him. Her heart began to pound in her chest, her palms went slick, and her breathing kicked up a notch.

Rebel brushed a raven lock over Leigh’s shoulder and tipped his head forward to bestow a kiss on her collar. His hands traveled down her arms and back up again in a soft, whisper of a touch that sent gooseflesh rippling over her skin. Then he moved his hands down her back and around her waist. He snapped open her jeans and tugged them down in a motion so fast that Leigh never saw it. As she stood there, stunned, Rebel dropped to his knees in front of her.

“I am yours to use as you see fit, my mate,” he told her.

“Um,” Leigh started, but Rebel was already a step ahead of her. He tipped his head forward and thrust his tongue into her already weeping pussy. He shoved his tongue forward, passing easily through her lips and into her core.

Leigh let out a sharp, staccato sound in surprise, but immediately covered his head with her hands, holding him close to her body. His tongue was hot and smooth, stabbing into her and making her already overheated body hotter.

Rebel lifted Leigh off her feet without losing connection with his mouth and lay her on the bed, pushing her onto her back. He lifted her legs around his shoulders and began lapping at her like a starved man.

TWENTY

The sun shone bright in the sky the morning of the hearing, and Leigh couldn’t help but to keep watching Rebel. She was still uncertain that his sensitive vampire skin wouldn’t begin to burn in the hot California sun. He had been outside a number of times lately, but only for a few minutes at a time. She had done her best to convince him that it was not necessary for him to accompany her to the courthouse, but he would have none of it. He walked beside her, confident as always. He held his head high, even under the brim of his Stetson. The dark sunglasses he wore concealed his eyes from public view, but Leigh knew that he was not afraid.

No, in fact, Cowboy was pissed. It was obvious to Leigh in the way he held his shoulders. In the way his leather duster flowed behind him like some evil character out of a book come to life. Menace poured off him in waves.

And wouldn’t you know the general public did not miss that little tid bit either.

The hordes of people outside the courthouse split like the red sea as Rebel and Leigh approached. There were tense whispers about the man with Leigh, but no one dared voice it aloud. Some even though they recognized him, but surely not since it was daylight.

If only they knew.

The introduction of Leigh’s saliva into Rebel’s system had done more than just allow him to eat food. She had bitten him any number of times in the preceding few days, and the end result was nothing short of amazing.

He did not get sick again, thank God, but just the opposite. Rebel had become more and more familiar with the sun. He could bear to be outside during the day for as long as he dared at a time before it became uncomfortable; and even then it didn’t burn any more than it would a human.

His appetite had only increased; eating three square meals a day and a couple of snacks too. Basically, Rebel ate anything that couldn’t get up and run away from him.

His strength was increasing as well. Every day he got stronger; an amazing increase to his already powerful vampire qualities. He told Leigh that he could see sound, a quality she had always had but never thought anything of before.

And most amazing... Rebel could levitate. He had practiced when he discovered that he could and now could raise himself a good ten feet off the ground.

And the more saliva introduced to his system, the more he changed. Leigh was afraid that he would turn into something altogether different from the vampire he was when they met, but Rebel assured her that he liked the changes and would roll with whatever Mother Nature had in store for him.

She felt his hand wrap tighter around her own as they ascended the steps to the court house, breaking her out of her inner thoughts. Right. Being sued.

Rebel led the way through the heavy doors and metal detector, never releasing Leigh’s hand. He pulled her into the court room with a confident swagger and took their seats down in front. There were many people gathered to watch this day. It was unique to say the least. Totally unprecedented and the crowd was split violently down the middle on whose side they were on.

Merrick stood next to his attorney wearing a sleek black suit, his red locks tied behind his neck with a simple rubber band. He had a real confident look on his face when he turned to face Leigh. That is, until he saw Rebel beside her. That over confident look was quickly replaced by surprise and then apprehension. Obviously he had not counted on Rebel being present to argue the vampires’ case.

Rebel removed his sunglasses and his hat while shooting a smirk at Merrick. Then he pulled his lips back to reveal his razor sharp fangs to his rival.

The testosterone show was cut short when the bailiff asked all to rise for the entrance of the judge.

“The Honorable Judge Jesse Morgan presiding today,” he said. Leigh felt her heart jump as the judge took Her seat.
Her.
The judge was female. That was at least one thing going in the right direction.

“You may be seated,” the judge said as she began reading the case file in front of her. “This is the case of Merrick Keller and the Environmental Protection Agency versus Leigh Harmond and the Angel Knight Estate. Who is counsel for each?”

The attorney Merrick had hired stepped forward as did Rebel. “We are,” they said.

“Mr. James, nice to see you,” she said to Merrick’s attorney, “And you are?” to Rebel.

“My name is Rebel Your Honor,” he replied. “I will be representing the interests of Leigh Harmond and the Knight Estate.”

“Are you licensed to practice law, Mr. Rebel?” she asked raising a dubious brow.

“Yes Ma’am,” he answered, throwing her a devastating grin, “Passed the Bar yesterday.”

“Alright, well let’s get started. I want you both to know that I will have order in my courtroom. I will not tolerate any outbursts of any kind. Is that clear?”

“Yes Ma’am,” they both answered and went back to their seats.

“You may begin Mr. James,” the judge said.

“As you have no doubt read, this case is about prevention of extinction. Merrick Keller and Leigh Harmond are the last two living dragons on Earth; a species we were not even aware existed before now. We plan to show that it is of the utmost importance to take samples and tests on both parties and make an attempt at procreation for the survival of the species.”

Rebel stood, “And I am going to argue that Leigh Harmond is not an animal, but a person with rights just as anyone else. Leigh is no different than the hundreds of vampires and weres that live out in the open in our society. She goes to work, she pays her taxes. She does not deserve to be forced to submit to any kind of tests or into bearing children that she does not want or need with someone she does not even like. I would also like to bring to the attention of the court that Mr. Keller held Miss Harmond captive for several years against her will.”

“Is that a fact,” the judge stated narrowing her stare at Merrick.

“It is true that Leigh stayed with me at my home for some time,” he replied with a confident smile.

“And what is your side of this story, Miss Harmond?” she asked Leigh.

Leigh sighed. She could hardly believe that dumbass brought up the past like that, but this was in fact war. “Merrick held me prisoner. I was chained to a wall and treated like an animal because I refused to mate with him. It took years for me to escape, and when I did, I never looked back.”

“I see,” the judge said, scribbling some notes on her tablet. “And just how is it that you were able to escape?”

“No disrespect, your Honor, but I’d rather not say. I already feel like a zoo animal on display. I would be happy to tell you privately, but not here. Not now, with all the media and cameras. I don’t want the whole world knowing anymore about me than is already out there. I have tried to live anonymously until recently.”

The judge pursed her lips and nodded her head silently before answering that. “I can understand that. I will not require the details of your escape for these proceedings.” Then she turned back to the men. “You may proceed.”

They both proceeded to present each argument and rebuff, until the late hours of the afternoon. The closing arguments were fast, until Rebel added, “And lastly, Leigh Harmond does not want to mate with Merrick Keller because she is already mated to someone else.” He turned to Merrick and flashed a feral grin and exposed the tattoo claiming himself as Leigh’s mate.

“You mated with him??” Merrick shouted, jumping up from his chair and shooting Leigh daggers from his eyes. “Why would you do that?”

“What I do is not and has never been any of your concern,” Leigh replied. Her outer appearance was calm and cool, but Rebel could feel the heat rising off of her. The distinct scent of sulfur filled the air, although he doubted the humans present could detect it. It was there, just the same, flagging a warning that should not be dismissed.

“You belong to me!” Merrick bellowed.

“Better watch yourself,” Leigh warned him. “That judge doesn’t look real happy about your little outburst.”

“You are mine!” he cried out again.

“Enough!” the judge shouted. “Take him into custody. Lock him in the cells for all magical creatures.” Then she turned to Leigh, “And you are to submit to testing by the EPA. I want to know if procreation is possible, but I don’t want it done. I will not force you to breed with a man you do not love, but I am curious how you plan to keep your species going without him. I want your mate tested as well.”

Leigh opened her mouth to argue but the judge silenced her with a wave of her hand. “I will not hear any more arguments. This is my ruling. Good day.” She slammed the gavel down on the bench and left without another word, leaving Leigh and the rest of the court room with their mouths open.

TWENTY ONE

Merrick was pissed by the time he was released from his cell. How dare these humans lock him away? How dare they try to keep him from his mate? It was every dragon’s right to fight for what was his. And he would. Rebel would never know what hit him. A lone vampire would never survive the wrath of a dragon! Merrick chuckled to himself as he pictured Rebel’s bloody broken body in a heap at his claws. And make no mistake, it would be a fight to the death.

As he exited the courthouse, Merrick saw Elizabeth waiting for him. Pretty, that one. She had perfectly delectable skin and man that long hair would feel great brushing his thighs… Merrick felt his groin getting tighter as he approached her.

“Need a ride?” she asked with a timid smile.

“More than you know,” he replied. He knew he needed to work off some of his anger and aggression, and he knew just how he was going to do it.

“I can’t believe this!” Leigh shouted to anyone who would listen while pacing the foyer back at the Knight estate. “Who the fuck does that woman think she is? I will NEVER procreate with that bastard! Not the old fashioned way and not by scientific means either. I would rather my species die out than allow another one of HIM on this earth!”

“Look Leigh,” Jacque said carefully while trying to get ahold of her arm to stop the pacing. “I got pull with the system. I can take the samples and run the tests. They won’t know anything you don’t want them to.”

“And what if they refuse to let you?” she asked.

“They won’t,” he replied with a sly grin. The rings in his brows sparkled right along with his eyes and Leigh wondered just what he was up to.

“Jacque has many… skills…” Rebel told her.

“What? Like mind control? What’s he gonna do? Brainwash the entire legal system?” she snapped in true Leigh form.

“Something like that,” Jacque snickered. “You just leave it up to me.”

“I don’t like this,” she said to no one in particular, not that anyone was listening anyway. Jacque and Rebel had already sat down at the computer and had their heads together, whispering to each other. They were already scheming and planning.

Leigh couldn’t help but let a reluctant smile escape. She decided she liked Rebel’s family more and more every day. There wasn’t anything they wouldn’t do for each other. And she was grateful for that. Because she was Rebel’s mate, they would protect her. A novel feeling, that was. No one had ever protected her before.

But still, what if there was a way to procreate with Merrick? What if the judge insisted? How exactly would Jacque make sure no one found out? And Leigh couldn’t help but feel like they were running out of time.

They had only thirty days to complete the tests and get the results back to the judge. And then what? Leigh hated it that her fate rested in the hands of one human. Thankfully, Merrick didn’t possess the power of persuasion. At least the judge would make her decision based on the information she was given. Given by Jacque…

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all…

“Hey Leigh?” Brea got her attention. Her very red hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail and she was wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Her young daughter was holding her hand.