Kiss of Temptation: The Kavanaugh Foundation, Book 3 (16 page)

The chapel door creaked open and three pairs of feet stood in front of her. “Is she alive?” Espe asked before nudging her with her foot.

“Touch me again, little huntress, and I’ll make what just happened seem like a day at the spa.” Daniela lifted her head and scanned the room. Jen was bending over to pick up the Staff of Octavius, but she reached out and grabbed it first. “You have no business touching this.”

The younger witch narrowed her eyes. “Why not?”

“Because I’ve seen what you’re capable of doing.” When she turned the staff over to Morwen, she needed to make sure she mentioned how Jen called upon dark magic to battle the vampires. If left unchecked, the consequences could be dangerous. “Where’s Luc?”

“You mean the crispy bloodsucker?” Espe jerked her thumb over her shoulder. “He took off that way like all the demons of hell were after him.”

Daniela shoved them aside, using the staff to gain extra clearance from them. Her heart pounded.
Please let him still be here. Please don’t let him be hurt by the spell.
She took note of the piles of ashes that littered the chapel floor and how they curled in the draft made when she tugged the door open. Colette was nothing more than a memory, but she prayed that Luc would remain more than that.

She called out his name and paused, listening for a response. None came. She ventured into another room and repeated her cry. This time, the sob that had been choking her throat came out with it, and a weak response followed.

“Go home, Daniela.”

She traced it back to its source and found Luc standing in the center courtyard, bathed in the light of the full moon. He turned to her and winced. “Please, I don’t want you to see me this way. I’ll find you once I’m healed.”

“And how will you heal?” She took a step toward him, gauging his reaction. When he didn’t run away, she moved closer. “I can help you.”

He squeezed his blackened eyelids shut and hissed. His fangs elongated, pressing into his lips. He didn’t need to say what he needed. She already knew the answer. Blood.

“How will you get enough to heal you? Do you just randomly kill anyone you come across?”

His blue eyes flashed in anger when he opened them. He grabbed her arms and shook her, causing her to drop the staff in surprise. “What kind of monster do you think I am? I have been in this state of undeath for over six centuries and I have never taken a human life, not even when my thirst was the strongest.”

“Then how did you survive?”

Luc released her and turned away. “By enthralling my victims and taking only what I needed. When my thirst was the strongest, I even fled into the wilderness to feed on animals. Anything to keep me from committing the unthinkable. From becoming one of them. Now I keep expired pints of blood from a local hospital at my
maison
in Paris. It tastes stale, but it sustains me. I was content until I met you.”

“And then?”

“And I craved your blood to the point of madness.”

Daniela took a step back, letting his confession slowly sink into her mind. An icy chill crawled through her, robbing her of all emotion except heartache. “So I was nothing more than a snack to you?”

He had her back in his arms faster than she could blink. “No,
ma chérie
. I want all of you—your mind, your body, your heart and your blood. I want you so much that I’m thinking things that should never enter my mind. I want you with me for eternity, but I refuse to give in to the temptation. I cannot turn you.”

“Why not?” The words slipped out before she realized she’d said them.
This is madness. He must be enthralling me again.
And yet, the longer she thought about it, the more tempting it seemed. She’d no longer have to worry about tormenting him with the scent of her blood, of making him feel guilty when he indulged in his cravings. She’d be able to fight with him and sleep in his arms for more than just one fragile human lifetime. She’d be his, now and forever.

“I know what you’re thinking, and it’s not that simple.” He kissed her forehead with his blistered lips. “I suggest you have a frank discussion with Morwen about this before you decide anything.”

“I will, but in the meantime, I know what I can do now.” She tilted her head to the side, exposing her throat to him. “Take what you need from me so you can start healing.”

He sucked in a breath through his teeth. “You shouldn’t say such things, Daniela. What if I take it too far? I’ve already held you in my arms and listened to the dying beats of your heart once. If I take you to that point again, I’ll…”

“I trust you, Luc.” She lowered his mouth to where he’d bitten her before. She’d let him turn her if things got out of hand. In fact, she welcomed it. “Bite me or I’ll slit my throat open for you.”

He chuckled but pressed his lips to her neck. The flat of his tongue bathed the area around the almost healed wounds as if he was prepping her skin. When he bit her, she felt only a slight sting, so much more pleasant than when Colette bit her. She melted into his embrace and allowed herself to float away in the bliss that followed.

Her mind wandered back over the last few days. She forgot about the pain and betrayal, about the heartbreak she’d known. Instead, all she could see was the joy she felt when she was with Luc. She remembered how he’d comforted her when she was about to give up hope, how he’d given her strength when she faltered, how he made her body seize in pleasure when he made love to her.

“You need to be careful with such thoughts,
stregnini
,” Luc whispered in her ear. “I’m getting so aroused, I could fuck you right here.”

Her sex grew damp just thinking about it, but how would that be possible with him still burnt? She opened her eyes to ask him that, but the words froze on her tongue. Instead of the blackened flesh that had marred his face moments before, pale white skin now replaced it. She traced the lines of his face, marveling at how quickly he’d healed. The wicked gleam in his eye reminded her of his threat. “Are you sure you’re up to it?” she teased.

“Are you challenging me?” He pressed his erection against her mound, and the ferocity of her desire almost made her knees buckle. Surely, he had to be enthralling her to make her want to rip her clothes off and let him have his way with her right there in the courtyard. “I’m already practically naked, but you seem to have too many barriers in place.”

She looked down and saw his clothes hung in singed tatters off his body, ready to scatter in a strong breeze. She was still wearing the rappelling harness from earlier. “Quick! Help me get this off.”

“Gladly.” The reinforced nylon straps ripped like a spider’s web under his grasp. Her flimsy underwear under the borrowed dress soon followed. “I want to be inside you so badly, I don’t know if I’ll be able to think clearly until I come.”

“What are you waiting for?” She jumped up into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. He pushed her against the courtyard wall and entered her in one swift thrust. For a few seconds, neither one of them moved. They stared at each other, enjoying the simple pleasure of being joined in such an intimate matter. But the novelty quickly faded for Daniela as the tension deep inside her womb coiled tighter, demanding release. She dug her heels into his ass. “Luc, we don’t have much time. The others will come looking for us.”

He laughed and pulled back. “And what if I want to draw things out a bit longer?” He slid into her slowly this time, inch by agonizing inch. His breath came out in a shudder. “You feel so wonderful, I’d come too quickly if I fucked you like I want to. Then where’s the pleasure for you?”

“Every second with you is so much pleasure, I never want to let you go.” The words shocked her as soon as she said them, and she almost felt embarrassed at revealing how much she’d truly fallen for him. It went against the cautious reserve she’d practiced for so many years, never letting anyone get close enough to hurt her once again.

Yet, when she said those words to him, his grin made his eyes crinkle. “I feel the same way,
ma chérie
.”

He began moving inside her in earnest, as if he took her at her word and ignored any shreds of restraint that he might have had left. Every powerful stroke sent tingles of pleasure racing to her limbs, building on each other until her breath hitched. The orgasm welled up inside like steam in a kettle. When it erupted, Luc had to muffle her scream of ecstasy with a lip-lock that only a vampire could perform. His fangs grazed her bruised lips, the slight sting only heightening the sensations rolling through her. His body stiffened and then melted with a guttural moan that rose from his throat.

And then there was silence. She leaned her forehead against his so the tips of their noses touched. Sweat trickled down Luc’s face, coating his lips with the taste of salt when she kissed him. Feeling his strong arms around her and listening to how his heart thumped in time with hers filled her with a content hum.

“Daniela, we’re getting ready to— Well, hello, Mister Nice Ass.” Espe stood on the edge of the courtyard and gave them a saucy wink.

Daniela tumbled from Luc’s embrace, and she could have sworn she saw a hint of color rise into his pale cheeks. He hid behind her to cover his nudity. A smile touched her lips. She’d have to tease him about his sudden modesty later. “This is Luc.”

Espe took a step toward them and frowned. Recognition flashed across her face when she realized what he was. Her hand grazed the stake-shaped bulge in the pocket of her cargo pants, but she didn’t retrieve it. “He can’t come with us.”

“I know, which is why I ask that you go on without me.” When Espe moved toward the Staff of Octavius, Daniela added, “And without the staff. Tell Morwen I’ll give her part of it once Luc and I break it again.”

A snarl formed on the young hunter’s face. “You know what he is and you choose to be with him?”

Daniela looked over her shoulder at her lover. “He’s not what you think. Come feel his heart if you don’t believe me.”

Espe skirted along the edge of the courtyard, her hand never straying more than a few inches from her stake as she approached them. She held out her hand.

Daniela moved aside so Luc could close the gap between him and his potential hunter.

Epse’s eyes widened a few seconds after she touched his chest. “This shouldn’t be happening,” she gasped. “He’s undead.”

“He’s as alive as any man.”

“No kidding.” Espe took a step back and cast a quick glance below Luc’s waist. “It looks like he’s ready for the next round.”

A possessive hunger ate away at Daniela’s gut, and she shielded Luc from Espe’s prying eyes.
Funny, I’ve never been the jealous type
, she thought.
But then, I’ve never had a relationship like this before.

“Very nice,” Espe added with a grin. “It almost has me wanting to forget my training if I could find someone like him.”

Luc pulled her against him, pressing his growing erection into her ass. He placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. “Unfortunately, I’m already taken.”

Santa Maria, whatever did I do to deserve him?
Her heart fluttered and she sank further into his embrace, savoring the heat of his skin through the thin material of her dress.

“Suit yourselves. I’m out of here.” Espe turned on her heel and disappeared back into the castle.

Once they were alone, Luc nuzzled her ear. “Do you have any idea what a pain it was to break the staff in the first place?”

“No, but it needs to be done, Luc. If any witch gets her hands on it…” Her words trailed off as a shiver coursed down her spine. Even now, she dreaded touching it again. What if the voices began to whisper their sweet song of conquest in her mind again? Would she be able to resist it?

“I understand. But first, we need to find a place to hide before the sun comes up. I’d hate to be burned again.”

“What about finding you some new clothes?”

He chuckled. “For the next few days, I don’t think either of us will need clothes.”

The growl of desire in his voice made her sex quiver in anticipation. For the next few days, she’d gladly stay in bed with him, enjoying his touch as they made love until they both collapsed from exhaustion.

Chapter Eleven

Luc caught Morwen’s scent a split second before he heard her steps echoing through the catacomb tunnels. At least she wasn’t trying to sneak up on them. Stealth had been her friend for so long, he found it hard to imagine her without it.

Daniela lifted her head a few minutes later and looked in the direction of the sound. “She’s coming.”

“I know,” he replied and dropped a kiss on the top of her curly head. His lover’s hands trembled ever so slightly, betraying her anxiety over meeting with her former teacher for the first time since she went searching for the Staff of Octavius. “Do you wish for me to handle this?”

“No, I can do it.” She stiffened her spine and erased all emotion from her face.

When Morwen came into the light, it seemed like time had stopped centuries ago. She still appeared as she had the last time he’d seen her, in a Baroque Venetian salon. The same flowing red hair, the same porcelain skin, the same bright blue eyes that seemed to rip straight to his soul. The only things that had changed were her clothes. He almost laughed when he took them in. Only Morwen would climb down into the Roman catacombs wearing a tight skirt and high heels.

She stood a safe distance away from them and placed her hand on her hip. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d ever give me the staff.”

“It’s only been a month since we found it, Morwen.” Daniela mirrored the Head Witch’s posture. “It took us that long to break it again and dispose of the rod.”

Morwen’s mouth fell open. “You broke it? But—but—”

“But nothing.” Luc stepped between the two witches. He’d seen Morwen lose her temper before, and he wanted to make sure he shielded Daniela from her wrath if she chose to display it. “The Staff of Octavius is too powerful to belong to anyone. Why do you think I broke it and hid the pieces all those years ago?”

Morwen took a few seconds to regain her composure. “But I understand you have at least part of it to give to me, correct?”