Scion's Freedom (Siren Publishing Classic) (17 page)

Reaching across him, she picked up a washcloth and wet it. Rubbing it along his brow, she wiped away the dried blood. The deep gashes left no scars when he healed. He looked over her to the full-length mirror by the door. A free hand touched his face just below his eyes. The new color and paling skin fascinated him. He stopped staring at himself a few moments later.

“I think I’m going to like this new me, once I figure everything out.” He chuckled. “Maybe someday I’ll get to run with you through the treetops.” She dropped the cloth once his face was cleaned.

“That would be night, and shut up and kiss me,” Cassy insisted.

He obliged, crushing down on her lips. She flicked her tongue across his new fangs and curled her fingers into his dark hair. He opened his mouth to deepen the kiss. His wet hand made its way down between her legs. Deft fingers worked her plump pearl. Her breathing became panting in anticipation. She opened her legs for more. He moved his way down until his fingers found her open and waiting slit.

Against her hip she could feel his dick stiffening. He slid one finger then another into her pussy, caressing her. Pulling her head back he lifted her up to suckle the closest nipple. Giving her breast a hard suck he left two pin pricks in her skin on either side. Blood welled up into two tiny beads. He licked them off. Her body tingled with need. His chest heaved as his excitement built. She gasped in delight as he fingered her to climax. Her fangs clicked into place with the same quiet snick.

David gave her breast one last lick before positioning her on her knees. He wrapped her long chocolate braid twice around his hand and grasped it tightly from behind. Cassy pressed her buttocks to his hips and waited as his stiffening dick was held between them.

He took hold of his cock and nudged it against her pussy. A tightening heat burned between her thighs. She wanted, no, needed him to fill her. In a single thrust, he buried himself in her. He held her still with one hand on her waist and the other holding her hair like a rope. She quivered around the length of his cock. He pulled back and thrust home again. He repeated the motion over and over until the thrusts became a continuous stroking.

She watched him over her shoulder as he found his rhythm. It was as though she could feel his pleasure and hers simultaneously. Their wetness drizzled down her thigh into the cooling water. A few harder strokes and he came as deeply into her core as he could. There was more force behind the eruption this time. The usual pumping had become forceful spurts. There was an extra creaminess Cassy instantly fell in love with and knew she wanted to taste later. Lost in the moment, instinct and hunger took over. Fangs flashed in the mirror as he sank them into her shoulder. Only a clenched growl escaped him. The wave of his pleasure crashed into her, bringing her to climax once again. The ripples of orgasm passed between them along the bond until they dissipated like ripples on a lake.

He fell forward, placing his forehead between her shoulders.

“If this was my last night on Earth, you have made it all worth it,” he cooed. “I can’t imagine life without you. You were right. The two lusts do blend into one. Maybe it’s the magic and maybe they’re one in the same, but I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she added.

He released her braid, and she sank back into the water. He sat down beside her. She picked up the soap and cloth, lathered it, and began washing them both. Afterward, they held each other until the water had gone cold. The hall clock struck four.

Cassy let out a long satisfied hum. “It’s been a long night. Hold me in bed till sunrise?”

“Longer,” David agreed. He lifted her back out of the tub and dried her off. They went to bed and slept in each other’s arms.

* * * *

David scooped into his arms and carried her to the bath. It was effortless. He stepped into the high-sided, round, porcelain tub without losing his balance. Sinking down in the hot water, he sat back placing her in his lap. She nuzzled into his chest. The thrumming of their hearts still sounded like one beat.

She took a wash cloth and cleaned the blood from his face and neck. The skin was smooth, perfect. He would have no scars from the deep gashes. He looked into the full-length mirror by the door at his eyes. He could not get used to the new color. It matched hers. His paling skin fascinated him. It changed color in tiny increments as he watched. He stopped staring at himself a few moments later.

“I think I’m going to like this new me, once I figure everything out.” He chuckled. For the first time, he noticed his own voice in the small bathroom. It, too, had a musical edge. “Maybe someday I’ll get to run with you through the treetops.” She dropped the cloth

“That would be night, and shut up and kiss me,” Cassy insisted.

He crushed down on her lips harder than he intended, but she took it. She flicked her tongue across his new fangs and curled her fingers into his dark hair. He wanted to deepen the kiss, to consume her passion. His slipped his wet hand down between her legs and worked her plump clit. She opened her legs for more. His fingers found her open and waiting to be explored.

His cock stiffened. He slid one finger then another into her pussy, caressing her. She was softer than before. He could feel the velvety folds and tiny nooks of her flesh. He had to have something in his mouth, to suck the closest nipple. Not used to having fangs, the sucking left two bloody pin pricks in her skin. Two beads welled up. He licked them off. It was like drinking in life itself. His chest heaved as his excitement built. He fingered her faster, harder, bringing a flood of her slippery nectar as she got off. Her fangs snicked into place.

He lapped at the blood once more and then positioned her on her knees. He used her hair like a rope to hold her in place. He wanted to ride her from behind and watch himself slipping in and out of her body. She pressed against his hips and waited for his stiffening dick.

He nudged his cock against her pussy. Wet sticky juices ran down over his dick. She was ready to be ridden. He thrust into her cunt in a single motion. He steadied himself with his free hand on her waist. Her pussy quivered. His cock transferred the ripple effect over his entire body. He sped up in increments until the thrusts became a continuous stroking.

He saw her watching him over her shoulder. Somehow he knew they were sharing each other’s pleasure. The scent of sex filled the room. It overloaded his sensitive senses, and he pressed as deeply into her core as he could. It was unlike any orgasm he had had. There was force and more substance to the action. The usual fluids seemed thicker, more potent, and harder to pump into her. In an instant, instinct took over. The need for blood mingled with the sex, and he sank his fangs into her shoulder. The blood was sweet. It brought a growl from deep in his chest. She came again. Her sweet snatch gripped and released his cock over and over. The bond passed the sensations of one to the other and back again until the ripples used up all the energy and dissipated.

He fell forward, placing his forehead between her shoulders.

* * * *

When the next evening arrived, they found clothes had been lain out on a table. Someone had cleaned the room and bath while they slept. A tray with two goblets of blood sat on a stand by the clothes. A note stood like a tent beside them.

When you are ready, please come down

to the library. Fret not. All will be well.

Lady Helena and Lady Ursula

“Close your eyes and don’t think about it,” Cassy advised as David picked up his goblet. He eyed it with uncertainty. She picked up the other cup and sniffed. Her mouth watered, and her fangs dropped. “Just be careful not to chip the side with a fang. Blood is hard to get out of fabric.”

She took heavy gulps and sat it down empty on the tray. He winced and followed her lead. He sat it down with a surprised look. “That was better than I thought. I mean, it was good. Who knew?” He gave her an approving grin. She smiled back.

“Now,” she said with as much enthusiasm as she could muster. “Let’s go face the music. As long as we’re together, right?”

“Right,” he assented.

Together they went down to the library. There was no one in the halls or corridors. The whole house seemed to be void of life. The only sounds were those from the library. Cassy could hear her Father’s voice. It held the same calm rage she had seen used on countless victims. A trickle of fear welled up inside her. Some of it was hers. The rest was David’s.

“Don’t do anything. Let him have his say. Remain calm and contrite. Trust that I will not let him have you. Pray he and Ladies Helena and Ursula have come to an arrangement on our behalf,” she whispered as softly as she could.

“What can he do? I mean, what do you think he will do?”

“When he is this angry, there is no telling. Last night, he had a problem to solve. Now he’s had time to stew about it.”

“Cassandra! Stop lurking in the hall and do not keep me vaiting!” The more upset her father was, the thicker his accent became.

She squeezed David’s hand and hurried forward. Stopping just inside the door, she dropped into a small curtsy. David followed her with a small bow.

“You, boy, are not my equal. Subjects fall to one knee. But that is neither here nor there for the time being. Sit down, both of you!” Vlad pointed to two silk cushions in the floor at the elder witches’ feet.

“I vish to thank you, good Ladies, for the caring of my daughter. I vill, of course, pay for the damages to the nursery complex and to make restitution of your lost Mother,” he addressed the witches.

“We accept your offer and would like to thank your speedy removal of the threat to our children. We were happy to take your suggestions in upgrading our security,” Ursula said with gratitude.

“The pleasure vas all mine. I assure you. I enjoyed dispatching him personally,” Vlad said with a sincere head bow. He shifted his attention from the two women and trained his gaze on Cassy.

“As for you, I hope you have learned vhat becomes of princesses who do not heed their fathers. Your insistence to live outside the rules has cost much. I should have never indulged your rebellious nature once you vere found. I now see how unstable he vas. It vould not have been a good match.

“Gregory took your rejection very personally. His reason for existing no longer applied. When his clan vould not find him a replacement match, he helped incite the Russian revolution. The Bolsheviks were going to revolt anyway. Gregory just made sure certain people met vith the executioner. The entire Romanov line vas viped out, the humans, vampires, and vitches.

“He began bribing handlers of the other three houses to add quicksilver to the food supply. They have been unsuccessful in bearing children because of it, your brother included. He needed to eliminate us and our vay of life in order to eliminate himself.

“In an effort to ruin our family, Gregory compelled members of congress and the banking industry to purposefully crash the economy with over-taxation and regulation. Then he compelled them to print money uncontrollably to guarantee inflation and a devaluation of currency. He is responsible for The Fall and vas trying to blame us.” The last syllable hissed at her. He paused for a few heartbeats.

“With the contents of the thumb drive, the last unfortunate incident could have been avoided. Did you not receive instruction from Erica to call me?”

“Yes, Father,” Cassy answered. She looked down at her hand still folded in David’s. David sat very still like a rabbit hoping to be overlooked by the predator.

“And did you not ignore her warning about going to the police?”

“Not entirely, Father. They came to me first,” she defended.

“Indeed they did. Innocent as he may be in his own right, the man sitting beside you and his whole team vas sent out to find you. All those stake-outs were faked. You were the only target. It vas dumb luck that an honest man found you first. Erica used her contacts vith every one of the murder victims to help hide your identity. They vere tortured to peel away the layers of security Erica used to allow you to live in anonymity and still access your trust fund. If you had called me or sent me Erica’s research from before The Fall, I could have taken Gregory out before any of this happened! Gregory splashed your name and photograph all over the news searching for you vhen you vent into hiding. I could have prevented them from reporting the story. You will never able to live in the outside vorld again!” He shouted, flashing his fangs.

“I understand, Father,” Cassy whispered. David pressed his hand tighter against her and bore down on her leg. The effect was steadying. She sat up a little straighter.

“It is not your fault he was crazy or that he hated himself. It is your fault that you did not trust me enough to talk to me about this. If you had married him, you vould have been miserable, but I could have given him immortality and sent him away. You could still have had your freedom,” he said with a tired resolve.

Prince Vlad turned his attentions to David next. His expression hardened. The rabbit was caught. His glare could make anyone cringe in fear. He had had centuries and many wars to perfect it. His upper lip twitched as though he smelled something awful. Cassy waited for him to snap. Instead, he became more calm and calculating, like a snake preparing to strike.

“Gregory vas right about one thing. You vere sent to vatch her, not to have sex vith her. I understand the attraction, but I cannot excuse your lack of discipline. She is the last female of a failing royal bloodline. You have befouled a great house! If not for your bonding, I vould do to you vhat my father vould have done in such a matter, flay the flesh from your body and impale you by the castle gate. You could join the men rotting in the voods on pikes that attacked your home and her apartment. Do I make myself clear, boy?” His teeth clicked together as he bit off the last word. The gnashing snarl he made held its shape for nearly a minute. His nostrils flared as he took a moment to control his anger.