Nightlord Lover (9 page)

She was in a bit of a fog of sheer sensations and possibly
still under their control. She didn’t care. One minute, she was barely aware of
a drawer opening in the bedside table, then cool, satiny fluid sliding between
her ass cheeks. “Go easy on her,” Garrick said. He held his cock in position so
she could impale herself, straddling his hips.

She complied then felt Ramon working her rear entrance with
his finger. Slick and wet from the lubricant he added, his finger gently opened
the tight ring of muscle with little pain. Could she take both cocks inside her
body?

“Ah, she’s ready.” Ramon slid out of her and positioned his
cock at her rear entrance.

Spreading her arms to the side, Garrick forced her chest
onto his, allowing even greater exposure to her ass. Ramon’s cock slid inside
her, little by little, with slow and easy thrusts. She gasped as both iron-hard
shafts sank deep into her. “Christ, yes,” she cried.

Her words drove the men into action and they moved in
perfect rhythm, thrusting hard or easy as she needed. The fullness of their
cocks rubbed all her nerves inside and out, drawing her closer to another climax.
“Is it good?” Ramon asked, barely able to speak.

“Yes, and don’t you dare stop me from having an orgasm this
time.”

Garrick smiled. “Wouldn’t think of it.” The strain of his
own desire tightened the muscles in his face as if he was struggling to slow
his own climax.

She laughed then moaned as the next orgasm hit her suddenly.
Digging her fingers into Garrick’s shoulder, she rode him hard as a fury of
nerves fired and quaked through her body. While Ramon plunged into her back
end, he let out a primal groan as he reached his release. Garrick arched his
back, lifting her and sinking his cock deeper as he climaxed.

She collapsed on top of Garrick, and Ramon dropped on the
bed beside them.

Through the daze of exhaustion, she felt Garrick stroking
her hair and heard water running in the bathroom. Then a warm, damp cloth moved
between her legs.

“Thank you,” Larissa said to Ramon.

“My pleasure, babe.” He returned to the bed.

She stretched like a languid cat. “I should think about
getting back to my place. I do need to open my store in the morning.”

Garrick pressed her head to his chest. “We’ll make sure you
get there.”

She sighed. “I’m not marked yet. Am I still in danger?”

Garrick let out a breath, hesitating. “Don’t worry, I won’t
let anything happen to you.”

Larissa awoke to the sound of birds chirping. Opening her
eyes, she gazed out the window in her apartment at the sparrow singing his
heart out. Then she bolted upright in bed. How did she get home? She wore her
nightgown too. Her clothes from last night sat folded neatly on her dresser. Had
Garrick and Ramon carried her all the way through the tunnels without her
waking up?

She glanced at the clock. Seven thirty. She opened at ten.
There was less than two weeks until Christmas, plenty of time to make up for
lost sales. Considering the amazing threesome and late night she had the prior
evening, she felt well rested. An idea for a Christmas celebration came to
mind. She knew just what those two men needed. New memories to ease the long-past
painful ones. And she knew exactly what to do. Jordan could help, she knew
people.

After a busy morning, Jordan returned from her lunch break
and marched into the shop beaming. “Wait until you see what I found.” She
placed the compact discs on the counter in front on Larissa. Rare Christmas
carols and traditional carols all sung in French.

“These are great. Where did you get them?”

“A friend owns a rare book and music store.”

“Another friend?” Larissa asked suspiciously. “He owes you a
favor too?”

“Sort of.”

“What do I owe you?”

“Nothing.” Jordan didn’t give her a chance to argue. “And I
have someone coming by later to deliver a tree.”

“Jordan.” Larissa crossed her arms and frowned at her
assistant. “I appreciate the help but you have to let me pay for these things.”

“Don’t worry. I told you I have a lot of connections. We
work on a bartering system here and a number of people owe me and I don’t need
anything.”

Larissa frowned. She didn’t know if she should be worried
about Jordan or not. “Please tell me you’re not involved in anything illegal.”

“No, of course not.” Jordan looked shocked.

“I’m not comfortable with this but they’re perfect. We’ll
work something out.”

“It’s a small gift,” Jordan assured her.

“And I have an idea for Ramon and another suggestion for Garrick.
Those two have brooded long enough over their past. Maybe we can help them
forget.”

“Good luck with that,” Jordan said. “Immortals remember
everything. Talk about baggage.” She rolled her eyes.

Several customers walked into the store followed by Garrick
and Ramon. Larissa slipped the CDs under the counter. Ramon kissed her cheek.
“Have to check on something,” he murmured then marched upstairs to her
apartment.

“What’s he doing?” she asked Garrick.

“Precaution.” Garrick took her arm and led her into the
storeroom and closed the door.

“Garrick, I have a ton of customers. I can’t leave Jordan—”

“Jordan can handle the customers for a moment.” Pressing her
up against the wall, he bent down and captured her mouth in a sensual, deep
kiss. When she gasped for air, he pulled away slightly, waited for her to take
a few breaths then kissed her again, heating her body from her scalp to toes. He
drew her hard against his length and she felt his arousal. “Humm. You taste
good and feel amazing.”

“You feel amazing too. But I really do have to get back,”
she said, panting.

He groaned and stepped back. “We can’t stay this evening.
Ramon needed to reinforce his spell before we leave.”

“Where are you going?” Her heart sank, wondering if they
would miss her Christmas dinner.

“Several days. The Guild is meeting in Corydale and it’s not
going well.”

“Why not?”

“Slayers have appeared and are threatening the Guild and
city council members for dealing with us. Long story. I’m more concerned about
you. I know Lazaro and Kashia haven’t given up on this place. They’ve been too
quiet and too scarce lately. I don’t trust them.”

“I thought you owned this building. How can they take it
from you?”

“It’s more complicated than that. The Guild owns a trust in
everything and can pull this property away if it’s for the good of all. If
Kashia or Lazaro controls you, they can manipulate my business. Or what happens
here.”

“What do you want me to do?” How could she fight against two
vampires? All of Jordan’s dad’s money wouldn’t stop these two if they wanted
something bad enough.

“Ramon is using his spells on your doors and windows. They
shouldn’t get in unless you invite them. If you see them send me a text. I’ll
get Anja to stop by to keep an eye on this place.”

“Okay.” Why didn’t that make Larissa feel safe? She and Anja
hadn’t hit it off very well when they first met.

Ramon entered the storeroom. “It’s finished. They won’t get
through these spells.”

“We won’t be gone long. Several days at the most,” Garrick
said. “I’ll call and text you. If you have any problems let me know.”

“Do you have plans for Christmas Eve? I want to invite you
both for dinner,” she said.

“I wouldn’t miss it.” Garrick smiled.

“I’m there too,” Ramon said.

After the two men left, the evening went by in a blur of
customers. In the next few days, Larissa got the rest of her items for her
Christmas Eve celebration. Jordan found the hard-to-find things.

She was feeling so good about how her life and her business
were going she called her mom one night.

“Hi, Mom, how’s everything at the resort?” Her mom preferred
Larissa called the retirement village a resort and not retirement community.
She said it made her feel old.

“Everything is fine. I’m taking a yoga class on Tuesday, a
dance class on Thursday and next Friday I’m taking a class to learn how to play
bridge.”

“That’s great mom. I’m glad you’re enjoying it down there.
I’m sorry I can’t make it down for Christmas. Starting this new business and
all.”

“I understand.” Her tone was a little stiff. “Kevin is here
for a few days. I sent him a plane ticket since he’s between jobs.” That didn’t
surprise Larissa. Her brother would probably rustle some money out of their mom
too. When would her brother grow up and learn to be self-sufficient?

“Sounds nice, Mom. Tell him I said hi.”

“I will. Have a nice Christmas, dear. Love you.” Her mother
hung up. And she was relieved that call was over.

Two days before Christmas Eve and she had everything ready
for her dinner with Garrick and Ramon. During a short lull in customers around
the dinner hour, Larissa sent Jordan out to pick up takeout for dinner. Garrick
would be thrilled with how successful the week had been. She couldn’t wait to
see him or Ramon. While they were away, Garrick had texted her several times a
day. Both Garrick and Ramon stopped in briefly to see her, check on her
business, the security of her locks and stability of Ramon’s spells. But they
never stayed longer than a sensual kiss, not even a blood offering.

Negotiations in Corydale consumed their time and strength.
“All will be settled by Christmas,” Garrick said.

“What about marking me?” Larissa asked one evening when
there was a lull in customers.

Garrick locked her front door and pulled her into the back
room out of sight of someone who might see them from the store windows. The
storeroom was filled with dozens of unopened boxes from her last delivery. Used
partly as a break room, it also had a sofa, chair, coffeepot and microwave.

Larissa cleared off the boxes stacked on the sofa. “Have a
seat.”

He remained standing. “These negotiations are killing me. I
can’t bear to be away from you.”

She stepped into his embrace. “Do you need to take a blood
offering from me?” How easily she fell into the position as his crimson swan.
She had no resistance to comply with his needs.

He groaned. “I want you, more than a crimson swan, more than
a marked companion.” He pulled off her sweater dress in one motion.

“Garrick, I can’t. What if I have customers?”

“I locked the door.”

“I sent Jordan for take-out dinner. She should be back
soon.”

“She has a key?”

Larissa nodded.

“Good.” He closed and locked the storeroom door. “Then she
can handle the customers when she returns. I’m sorry I can’t spend more time
with you tonight.”

Grinning, Larissa removed the rest of her clothes and leaned
into him. “Then get naked and let’s not waste time.”

In an instant he was naked, his hands touching, exploring,
heating and arousing her body. When his hand slipped between her legs, she
spread for him and moaned. “Nice and wet,” he said.

“I’ve ached for you, Garrick. Dreamed about you fucking me,
about you and Ramon.”

He lifted her off the ground and pinned her onto the sofa.
“You want me now?”

“God yes.”

He plunged his cock deep, his thrusts furious and desperate.
She wrapped her legs tightly around his hips. Biting her lower lip kept her
from crying out as her climax rose quickly. The pulse pounded in her pussy, pounded
in her head until the orgasm ripped through her. Her gasp signaled her release.
She managed not to cry out. Usually she was loud when she came.

Garrick pumped harder and leaned back as he pulsed his seed
into her. Without warning he clamped onto her neck, his fangs breaking through
her vein. A new wave of pleasure surged through her, then a swirling calm.

She opened her eyes and he was stroking her with a wet cloth
from the bathroom. “I’m so sorry, Larissa. I got carried away. I didn’t warn
you.”

“That’s okay. I’m fine.”

He closed his eyes and shook his head. “No, I don’t like to
feed from my crimson swans without asking first.”

“Maybe it was the heat of the moment. You took what you
needed.” She stroked the frown lines across his brow, hating to see that
worried look.

He got up and dressed. “I need to go back to Corydale. I’ll
text you.”

“Garrick, don’t worry.”

He kissed her but she felt a distance there. “It’s all
right, honest.”

“I know. See you soon.” He left through the back door.

What an odd arrangement they had. She tried to convince
herself they were going through an adjustment period. This relationship was new
and took time to get used to. Unlocking the storeroom door, she went out into
the store and Jordan hadn’t returned yet.

She checked her watch and wondered what was taking her so
long. She’d been gone for over an hour. A war between vampire slayers and
vampires happened in New Hope over a century ago. Could the same thing be about
to happen in Corydale? Maybe that’s why Garrick was so moody. The underground
tunnel below her building and leading across the river didn’t give her a
reassuring feeling. If a war did start, she’d be on the front line. Stepping
outside her shop, she glanced down the street searching the crowd of people for
Jordan. Taking out her phone, she started typing out a text when she felt a
hand on her shoulder.

“Thank God, Jordan. I was getting wor—” She spun around and
was face-to-face with Kashia. “Oh. Hi, Kashia.” Larissa refused to be
intimidated by this vamp. Larissa was a resident of this town and followed the
rules of the Guild as far as she knew them. She belonged here. Inviting Kashia
into her store was not an option though. At least she remembered Garrick’s
warning not to invite her inside.

“Hello, Larissa. How’s business?” To an outsider, the woman
sounded sincere and friendly. The full-length white mink coat screamed wealth
and she gathered attention from people passing by.

“Business is going very well. Thanks for asking,” Larissa
said. “Aren’t you with the rest of the Guild in Corydale?”

“They don’t need me at the moment.”

“How is that going?” Larissa didn’t know if the woman would
confide in the details of her kind. She was trying to make polite conversation
and hoped she would be on her way.

“As well as expected.” Kashia’s smile widened, but Larissa
thought Kashia took care not to reveal her fangs. “I see you’re enjoying your
new position as a crimson swan.”

Larissa didn’t know how to answer that. She was still
learning the ways of their world. The pleasures, the benefits and emotional
connections made her heart soar and ache at the same time. She could fall in
love with Garrick if she wasn’t already. There was a kind of love for Ramon too,
but it was more of an intimate friendship. This all confused her.

“Ah, I see the doubt in your eyes.” Kashia touched her
cheek. “You’ve fallen for Garrick, maybe for Ramon too. In love with two men. A
glorious dilemma.”

“I’m sure I can handle my own love life, Kashia.”

“But do you understand their true connection to you? Do you
think they care about you? Love you?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“In a way it is,” Kashia argued. “We care and protect our
residents of New Hope. For Lazaro and me, our crimson swans aren’t just sexual
playthings or a source of monetary revenue and blood offerings. If we want to
have a deeper connection with our mortal swans, we mark them.”

“Garrick already explained that to me.” Larissa mustn’t expose
the doubt she was feeling in her heart. Garrick was the wealthiest of vamps in
New Hope, who owned the most properties. Was that all she was to him? A sexual
plaything, revenue and blood source? She didn’t want to believe it.

“When we mark our swans they gain powers that other mortals
don’t have. But I guess Garrick doesn’t want to share those powers. He’d rather
control you with sex.”

“No one controls me.” Larissa felt the muscles in her back
knotting. She’d sworn not to let this woman get under her skin and now she had.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. Garrick isn’t what
he may seem. Lazaro and I are concerned. If you need anything call me.” She
handed her a card. All it had was her name and a number.

Larissa took the card but had no intention of using it. The
bell from her shop door sounded as a middle-aged woman walked out. She wore a
long, flowy dress, something suited more for the hippie 60s era. Larissa hadn’t
noticed the woman enter her shop. Had Larissa been that caught up in her
conversation with Kashia? She hoped the woman hadn’t shoplifted anything while
the store was unattended.