Riding the Storm (22 page)

“My balls next, Kendra. Lick’em good.” He gave a guttural
groan as she did, and when she finished, he took his shirt off and walked to
the bed.

“Strip, and take care of me from the toes up. When you
finish, I intend to pound you into the mattress, and you aren’t going to climb
on top, today.”

Their sex over the past weeks had been mostly vanilla with
just an edge of power exchange — the give and take of two people used to
being in control. It was incredible, soul joining, mind melting sex, but they’d
both known they needed more, though neither had brought it up. Eric wasn’t
prepared to go into all-out-power exchange over Kendra yet, but he needed to be
in control today, on top during sex, without her taking control for a while and
flipping him so she rode him.

She licked most of his body, caring for him, and making it
as sensual as possible. Eric directed her, told her what to do, when to stay
where she was, when to move on. He turned onto his stomach a few times, going
back and forth so he didn’t feel vulnerable for long.

They’d put needles through his eyelids, pulling them away
from his eyes to keep from damaging his vision, and Kendra massaged his
forehead with spit-damp fingers before lightly stroking his lids, making even
this part of the massage erotic. She didn’t lick his face, she kissed and
touched, and kept him hard as a rock throughout.

When she made it to the top of his head and every puncture
wound and abrasion on his body was healed, and the surface bruises a little
faded, he changed places with her, putting her on her back, kissing her
breasts, suckling her nipples, and then keeping eye contact as he sank his cock
into her silky, tight, wet, heat. A vampire’s body was cool, but somehow, her
pussy was always warm when he sank into it.

He made love to her, slow and sensual, their gazes
connected, and he no longer saw her as a monster. She’d never hurt him, never
rip his body to pieces. She’d done it to avenge what’d been done to him, and
while it was so far outside the realm of what he deemed acceptable, even for
revenge, the other supernaturals seemed to think it an appropriate response, so
either they were
all
psychotic, or she’d acted as expected in vampire/supernatural
society.

“I need to fuck you now, Kendra. Want you to come undone
under me, wanna feel you come around my cock.”

She nodded, and he leaned forward, put his right cheek to
hers, and ordered, “Put your arms around me.”

When she did, he pulled out, slammed home. Paused a brief
second, did it again.

And then he stopped pausing and did as he’d promised,
hammering her through the mattress, hard and fast, knowing she could take it
from him and he didn’t have to hold back.

He brought her to two orgasms before he let go, coming deep
inside her, and she came again when he did.

Eric didn’t know how he knew, but he was aware of Kendra’s
thirst for him, her desire to bite him, but he ignored it, and didn’t tell her
to.

And she didn’t ask.

Kendra stayed in bed with Eric until he fell asleep, and
then went next door to Abbott’s.

“Can I drink from one of your people, please?” She rarely
asked him to feed her, but in times of war and fighting, the rules were a
little different. Eric’s capture and rescue were a result of their political
problems with South Carolina, so she was in her right to make the request.

“Of course,” said Abbott. “Take a look at the schedule and
choose… Actually, no. I’m giving you Beverly and Dana. Beverly’s chronic pain
issues are causing her more problems this week, so take a few ounces from her
and give her lots of pain killer. You need to heal someone now, make them feel
better, and Beverly can give you that. Dana just returned from a trip to the
Caribbean, and she should taste of sunshine and the ocean. She hasn’t fed
anyone in two weeks and has a buildup, so you can get away with taking twenty
to twenty-five ounces from her.”

As always, Abbott knew what she needed, and she felt much
better after feeding from them. She heard Abbott laying into one of the other
girls with what sounded like his belt before he fucked and bit her, and smiled
to herself as she climbed the steps to his living room. Abbott might not allow
non-consensual slavery in his territory, but he had a whole stable of
consensual slaves, here because they wanted to be, not because they were held
captive.

Aaron, Nathan, Gavin, and Fawne were in the living room,
discussing Mitroff’s weaknesses and strengths.

“Do we have a plan, or are we still coming up with it?” she
asked.

“We have the beginnings of a couple of plans, but nothing
concrete,” Nathan told her.

“I know where Abbott is with the Concilio, holding them over
a barrel because they either didn’t realize Natalia was using her spot on the
Media Council as a political podium, or knew and didn’t care — either
way, someone’s head will have to roll, and no one is interested in pissing off
The Abbott and making themselves a target.”

“You’ll probably still face some sanctions,” Gavin pointed
out. “Two of the wolves and one of the tigers you took out are high ranking
enough we’ll have some political problems from it, at least.”

Kendra shrugged, unconcerned and unapologetic. “I don’t want
to share Eric’s memory of the event, but if I have to, no one will fault me for
my actions. I know there are some who’ll be pissed I put the life of a human
over the lives of supernaturals, but he was officially under my protection and
Abbott’s when he was taken, so I was in my right to make a point.”

She looked at Nathan and asked, “Are the two of us okay?
Besides the tiger in question, I took out a number of other cats.”

“You did,” he answered, his voice dry and unemotional,
giving nothing away. “And I’ve heard eyewitness accounts from some of the cats
you let live, who were witness to the torture and slaughter. I don’t take issue
with the Tiger in question, but there is one Bobcat I need more information
about. You and I can speak about it later.”

She’d only killed one bobcat, and she wanted to clear the
air now. “The bobcat fucked Eric’s throat. He wasn’t terribly cruel, but he did
ejaculate into his stomach, knowing the human was bound and couldn’t stop what
was happening to him. I gave the bobcat the option of a painless death if he
answered my questions. He did, and I snapped his neck.”

Nathan was sitting in an armed, upholstered chair, totally
looking his part as King of the Lions, and he leaned back and tilted his head.
“The man had been married a year and a half, and they have a three month old
baby.”

“There are consequences for one’s actions. If he didn’t want
to be taken from his family, he shouldn’t have face-fucked someone under the
protection of The Abbott and his third.”

Aaron looked back and forth between the two and said,
“Nathan, Kendra’s speaking with her emotions at the moment. I would advise
either waiting a day or two to discuss an amenable response, or having this
discussion with the Master Vampire who gave her permission to handle the
situation in the way she felt appropriate.”

Abbott stepped into the room and said, “An excellent
suggestion.” He looked to Nathan and said, “No public apology, but I will
arrange for my insurance company to notify the widow with information about a
twenty thousand dollar life insurance policy.”

“Fifty,” Nathan countered.

“Done.” Abbott looked to Kendra and said, “This doesn’t
negate the point you made with his death, but it will help a widow and a
fatherless child, and will keep things smooth between us and an important
friend and ally.”

She didn’t like it, but wasn’t prepared to argue the point,
either. Three months from now she’d probably see it as the sensible solution,
even if it pissed her off now.

Aaron gave them all the information his tech people and
hackers had been able to get him on Mitroff’s people, and added, “I have a
lone-wolf hacker friend digging for what he can find, as well. I believe the
largest concentration of their people is in Charleston, Columbia, and
Greenville. However, the Eagles seem to have congregated just over the state
line from Augusta, GA, and then there’s a lot of shapeshifters in the suburbs
of Charlotte, also just over the state line. If possible, I’d like to put
together five teams and hit every city simultaneously.” He looked at Abbott.
“If your people can handle two teams, Nathan will run the Drake Security team,
and Sophia and I will run a team populated by lone wolves, swans, owls, and a
couple of dragons. I’ve convinced the Master Vampire in Atlanta to take care of
the enclave just over the line from Augusta, since the fact they’re working in
Georgia while living in South Carolina is a personal affront to him.”

The group debated timing, struck a countdown for fifty-two
hours from the current time, and split up to contact their people and plan
their individual raids.

Aaron’s lone-wolf hacker, Brain, came through with a lot
more information over the next day, and by the time they were all suiting up
for battle, Kendra was certain they were ready. She and Abbott were hitting
Charleston, as she wanted a piece of Natalia, who’d been communicating to
people from a hidden underground bunker. Mitroff had no idea they’d found it,
but Brain had not only managed coordinates, but also high resolution aerial
shots showing them exactly how to get into the bunker.

Eric paced back and forth in the basement of TBC. He’d
learned the Master Vampire had put what he termed an impenetrable bunker below
the club, and had amassed a number of people important to him who weren’t
fighting, so they’d be safe while a whole lot of Abbott’s people and allies
attacked a shit ton of their South Carolina enemies.

Kendra had told him a huge black man named Isaac was in
charge, and as long as he followed Isaac’s instructions, Eric would be safe.

“You’re going to wear the carpet out,” a cute redhead told
him. “Come sit with us and talk. I’m Bethany, this is Gen.”

He smiled and sat at their table. “I’m Eric. Can I ask how
you’re connected to all of this?”

“I’m married to someone who’s fighting, and Bethany here’s
my best friend, so she’s also under his protection. Usually, that keeps us
safe, but apparently tonight and the next couple of days, it could put us in
danger. Who’re you connected to?”

“I’ve been seeing Kendra, and I’ve done some contract work
for Abbott, which puts me under his protection.” He shrugged. “Like you said,
it usually keeps me safe, not so much tonight.”

He talked to the girls a while, and Isaac sat with them and
cut up a little, too. Eventually, they all moseyed off to a room with cots, and
Eric worried about Kendra instead of sleeping. He knew the vampires would be
going somewhere else to bed down for the day, but Kendra had promised she’d
contact him telepathically when she got back.

So, when he heard Abbott’s voice in his head instead of
Kendra’s, his heart went into his stomach.

Eric?

Yes, are you okay? Is Kendra?

I’m fine, though I won’t be coming back to Chattanooga
this night. Kendra had made emergency preparations for a daytime resting place
outside of Charleston, and she’s going to have to make use of them. I
understand you and Ranger have plans for tomorrow. Aaron will brief Ranger on
safety and security protocols, and they’ll be sure you stay safe.

Is Kendra okay?
Eric demanded.

She will be. I’m sorry to cut you off short, but I have
others to contact, and much to do before dawn takes me. Please stay with Ranger
tomorrow. We’ll speak again tomorrow night.

Eric slept a few hours, and when he awakened, discovered
Isaac had arranged for a large buffet breakfast to be served upstairs off the
main bar of The Billiard Club. He was happy to see Gen in the arms of a big,
burly, barrel-chested guy in a motorcycle club vest, and he walked to them when
Bethany waved him over.

“Eric, this is Duke. Duke, Eric.” She looked at Duke and
said, “Eric didn’t seem to know anyone last night so we invited him to sit with
us. He’s dating Kendra. One of Abbott’s people.” She gave Eric a questioning
look and asked, “Did she make it back okay?”

Eric shook his head. “No. Abbott let me know she’d made
emergency arrangements for a place to stay, and had to make use of them. I
couldn’t get anything else out of him.”

Another guy in a motorcycle vest walked over, this one tall
and thin. “Kendra is Abbott’s third in command,” he told Duke, before looking
at Eric. “The Charleston battle went off the original plan, but if Kendra made
it to a safe place to bed down for the night, she should be fine.” He took a
breath, looked as if he were considering his next words carefully, and said,
“Rumor has it, someone who’s intent on sending a message wanted to draw the
message out over
days
, not over a single night.”

Eric looked down, realizing this man was trying to tell him
Kendra had Natalia and planned to torture her for days before she killed her.

“You stuck here for the day?” Duke asked. “If so, we’re
planning a bike ride up to Fall Creek Falls today, got a couple dozen people
going. You can follow us in your car, or we have some bikes in the shop we can
rent you for the day, if you know how to ride.”

Eric smiled in thanks, but shook his head. “Thanks for the
offer, but my uncle works for Drake Security, and he’ll be here to get me in
about an hour. I actually have a BMW S1000RR, though I’m not sure if you’d
allow it on the road with ya’ll. You just do U.S. made bikes, right?”

“Yeah, for members, but we occasionally give the okay for
someone to ride with us on a crotch rocket. Good to know you’ll be taken care
of today. Will you be back tonight?”

Eric shook his head. “I don’t know. Abbott’s cryptic message
was to tell me my uncle had been briefed and would have instructions.”

A few minutes into the conversation, Brain used a phrase
that caught Eric’s attention, and he asked, “You’re in IT?”

Brain hesitated, and Gen said, “Yeah, he is. Why?”

Eric shrugged. “I write computer games.”

Ten minutes later Eric and Brain exchanged contact
information with each other when the rest of the table complained they had no
idea what the two were talking about.

Eric waved goodbye as they left, told them to be safe on
their ride, and found an empty corner where he could open his laptop and work
until Ranger arrived to pick him up.

He’d lost track of the people around him, and looked up with
pleased surprise when his uncle sat at his table. Ranger shook his head told
him, “Sometimes it’s hard to believe you’re related to your father and me.
You’re in a room full of supernaturals and the people connected to them, and
you had no idea of your surroundings.”

“This is supposed to be a safe place, right? That’s why I’m
here?”

Ranger sighed. “Yeah. What do you want to do today? If you
have work to do I can set you up somewhere quiet, but I was kind of hoping you
could show me some climbing spots. My fingers are itching for a good cliff
face, and the weather is beautiful.”

Eric saved his work, watched it upload to his cloud server,
and closed his laptop. “I don’t have any equipment with me, is it safe to run
by the yacht and pick it up?”

“I have equipment. The only thing you’ll need is shoes, and
I have enough cash to stop and buy some on the way.”

Getting out in the sunshine, pushing his body to the limit,
and the adrenaline rush of being so high, and going even higher, was exactly
what Eric needed. His muscles were sore from being forced into the same
position for so long during his torture, and his ass, thighs, calves, and upper
back were bruised from being beaten… but getting his blood flowing through the
muscles, pushing them, taking them to the edge of their endurance, reminded him
he was alive and his tormentors were dead, and life was good.

He was debating whether he should feel joy the assholes were
dead, when Ranger asked, “What’s bothering you?”

“Fuck, Ranger… that’s how you’ve been able to read me so
well all my life? Your sense of smell?”

“Partly. You’ve been into the climb, your mind focused only
on where your hands and feet were going next, but your scent just changed.
Something you wanna talk about?”

Ranger adjusted his ropes so he could turn sideways, a
single toe in a crevice balancing him, and it made Eric remember Jonathan’s
description of how Kendra had cut fingers and toes off, and where she’d put
them.

Eric adjusted his ropes and harnesses as well, but he had a
few inches of a ledge he could put the ball of his foot on. “You know what she
did to the people who hurt me. You probably know more than me, because I know
you’re friends with some of the people in the rescue party.”

“You know the highlights. I don’t think you want or need to
know the gory details.”

He both wanted and didn’t want to know the details, but for
now, he needed to stay on topic. “I’m happy they’re dead, and I’m not sure I
should feel so smug about the fact I’m alive and they aren’t. I mean… of
course
I’m happy I’m alive, I’m just not sure I should be so full of joy at the loss
of life. Especially since they died such horrific deaths.”

“I can understand the sadness at the loss of life, but I
have to admit I’m happy they’re dead, and I’m pleased Kendra killed them in
such a grisly, painful, horrific, fashion. No one’s gonna hurt you again, and
if they do so accidently, they’ll go down on their knees and beg forgiveness,
and do everything they can to make it right.”

“Abbott said you were briefed about safety protocols.” He
looked around. “How is this safe?”

“It isn’t part of your regular routine. No one will know to
look for us here. We haven’t mentioned it on any electronic means, and we
bought the shoes with cash. No one followed us, and I’m in a Drake Security
vehicle with no GPS. You have a choice of going back to TBC tonight, or I have
camping equipment with me, and I was thinking maybe we’d head to Lost Creek
tonight, if you want to stay away from others. Just the two of us in the
wilderness.”

Eric brushed a hand over his bald head. “I think some of the
people at TBC were nice to me because they thought I had cancer or something.”

Ranger closed his eyes a second, looked away, and looked
back, his eyes dark. “Part of me wishes Kendra had left someone alive, so I
could
personally
kill them. I know it’s just hair, and it’ll grow back,
but it’s a reminder you had to go through…
shit
, Eric. I’ve been in
enemy hands — I know what it’s like and I never wanted you to have to
experience anything like it. I’d gone through training for it, before I was
held captive… you were totally unprepared.”

Eric turned back towards the rock face, adjusted the ropes,
and started climbing again. “That helps a little, actually. Knowing you’ve been
in a similar situation and you’re okay now. I feel like part of my core being
has been altered, like life can never be the same, and yet here we are,
conquering this cliff as if nothing’s changed, when it feels as if
everything
has. I don’t know, I guess I didn’t realize I had innocence still to lose, and
I’ve found out I did. They could’ve done worse to me, had Kendra not scheduled
the hearing and made it so they weren’t supposed to permanently alter me. I’m
grateful I only have to deal with bruises and no hair, and yet… it feels as if
part of me died, a part of me I can never get back.”

“If you need someone to talk to, I have someone to
recommend, but so far I think you’re dealing with it okay. And, you know you
can always talk to me. Life
will
go on. All of our experiences change
us, some more than others. This was a big one.”

“Do you know why Kendra didn’t come back last night?”

He sighed. “Some. Things went sideways, and all of the
people with Abbott got out, but it was touch and go for a while. Kendra’s
trademark is apparently her joy in ripping people apart. She tore Natalia’s
arms and legs off, and stuffed one of her arms — hand first — up
Natalia’s ass, and then stuffed her leg — foot first — up her cunt.
She left with her, and no one knows for sure where she took her, or what she’s
doing to her, but the consensus is she’s likely going to spend a few days
torturing the bitch before she finally kills her.”

“I haven’t heard from her at all, since she left.”

“I’m not surprised, Eric. She’s likely still in enemy
territory, and Mitroff is still at large and in control of the state. Sending out
telepathic threads can give away your position, if the right vampire happens to
be looking for them. It’s a rare skill, but I doubt Kendra will chance it.”

“I thought the goal was to take the state from him?”

“It is, and our side won three of the five battles, with the
other two probably being close to a draw, but we’re far from winning the war.”

“We? You make it sound like you’re part of the war.”

“I didn’t fight last night, but only because I was on a
plane coming home — officially, so my passport was stamped when I
returned. It looks like I’ll be your assigned bodyguard for the next couple of
days, which is fine with me because I’ve been wanting to spend time with you,
anyway. If there’s another battle, though, you’ll likely be back in a safe
place while I’m off fighting.”