Sigma (7 page)

“I’m one hundred and seven years old.”

He swallowed with a dry throat. This shouldn’t be a surprise. He’d been expecting the age difference.

“That’s an average for most vampires. The stupid ones die younger.”

“But Daedalus takes care of you.”

“He saved me. My maker liked to cr-create whores for himself. Once he grew bored of me, I was placed up for sale. My existence would have been much different, much worse, if my–if Daedalus hadn’t purchased me. He let me remain sheltered as I wished. Never asking me to do th—things my maker wanted. Never asking me to do anything dangerous.”

Cupping her chin, he drew her face closer to his. “Until now.”

“He needed me. How could I have said no?”

“You’re the bravest female I’ve ever met.” She’d left the safety of her cozy job to risk her eternal life doing something she wasn’t trained for. The bastard of a Nosferatu shouldn’t have given her this task.

She licked her bottom lip as she glanced at his neck.

It sent his heart rate skyrocketing. He released her and turned on the shower before she changed her mind like she’d done in bed.

Steam filled the room. He spun around and groaned.

Clementine stood naked, her small, firm breasts waiting to be caressed. She set her dress on top of his pile of clean clothes, and then hooked a finger in his belt loop. “Aren’t you worried that I might corrupt you, young shifter?”

His cock hardened. “I’m game.”

“Kiss me.”

Without hesitation, he leaned over, brushing his mouth across the soft skin of her lips, and waited. Giving her every opportunity to change her mind and push him away. After what happened when she woke, he wanted her to be sure about being with him. She slid her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, her erect nipples gliding against his chest.

He ran his tongue along her lips until she opened her mouth. His touched hers for a moment before retreating. Another flickering touch and again, he coaxed her, persuaded her, finally to trace his tongue back into his mouth. Unable to resist, he moaned at her sensual rub, of the graze of her delicate fangs as she sucked on his tongue.

With a tug, she undid his shredded jeans and helped undress him. They staggered under the blast of hot water from the shower where she pinned him against the cold tiled wall with her supernatural strength.

He could have easily broken her hold, but she had this I’m-going-to-suck-your-cock-dry look in her eyes that kept him very, very still.

She knelt before him, never breaking eye contact. The water poured over her head, running in streams along her perfect pale skin, and plastering her short hair to her head. She appeared even younger, more innocent than before. Guiding one of his legs to the edge of the tub, she settled between his thighs and licked the drops of water off his balls.

He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall. Oh God, those little licks were driving him crazy. He ran his hands over her head. Like silk, her hair slipped through his fingers. All the while she kept licking, sipping, and kissing all the important bits around his groin except the hardest, aching part. “Clementine.”

“Yes, Sam?” She pressed her fangs over the pulse point in his thigh.

A tremor of anticipation ran through his legs and he clutched the shower curtain rod to keep from sliding onto his ass. He didn’t know which he wanted more, her sucking on his dick or on his artery. Both would be ecstasy.

She moved forward and drew his cock into her mouth, manipulating the hard shaft with her tongue and lips. The edge of her fang caught on his tender foreskin. He growled at the burn but she soothed the nick by laving the blood away.

Leaning into the slippery wet walls, he rested his head against the corner of the shower. “Oh God. Yes.” The words came out strangled as he tried his best not to shout. The twins wouldn’t appreciate the noise, but the feel of Clementine sucking on his cock awoke the beast. It struggled against his control, trying to break free to claim her. He gasped and arched his back. “Shiiiiit.” The shift was almost upon him.

Waves of heat pounded from his insides and she slid him deeper with each stroke until her lips met the root of his shaft. Then she swallowed. All those fine, strong vampiric muscles in her throat constricted around him and she eased his cock out, caressing every inch of him, until he popped from between her lips.

He took a shuddering breath. He hadn’t even realized he’d been holding it. “Holy Toledo.” If she did that again, he wouldn’t be able to hold back. With a mind of their own, his hands helped Clementine back to her feet.

“Didn’t you like it?” She wiped the water from her eyes.

“Oh baby.” He swept her against the wall, guiding her legs around his waist, and pressed his tip at the entrance to her wet pussy. “I’m going to show you how much I liked it.” Swooping his mouth onto hers, he ravaged the inside with such a hunger that she sagged against him. He tore away from the kiss long enough to hear her speak one word.

“More.”

It barely left her lips before he kissed her again, rubbing the tip of his cock over that sensitive, delicious bud. The friction made his balls clench tight. He’d never wanted a female more, but he only swept the outside of her pussy before pulling away and doing it again. Matching his tongue to his body, he stroked the inside of her mouth until she writhed against him.

She dug her nails into his ass and drove his cock partway inside.

The unexpected pleasure tore a groan from deep inside his chest. He reached down and flattened his palm against her back, moving lower until his hands cupped her hips, drawing her even closer so he rubbed on her with his movements. Easing inside of her with a small thrust, he clenched his teeth at the piercing, primal desire pulsating within his groin.

Incomprehensible words escaped her lips. Their heartening tones and her clenching hands encouraged him to pick up the pace. Her pussy clenched around his hard shaft, winding tighter with each firm stroke, until his body burned with a single belief.

“Mine…”

It was a declaration of pure possession that his rational mind couldn’t believe he’d made.

She grasped his hair and yanked his head back. “Fuck yes, I’m yours.” Then she pierced his carotid with her fangs, drawing his blood in greedy gulps.

The weakness in his knees didn’t come from blood loss, but the shards of pure ecstasy that kicked into his lower back and spread into his groin. It erupted through the tip of his cock as he spilled his seed inside of her.

Her muffled cries joined his as she rocked her hips and clutched him close.

The previous urgent fire was replaced with a cozy euphoric high. His knees buckled and they slid down the wall together as he continued to pound into Clementine. That far-off roaring turned out to be his. The ache in his loins was satisfied and, from Clementine’s limp body pressed over his, he’d say her hungers were too.

The shower water grew cooler and she finally raised her head from his shoulder.

He brushed the curls from her face. “You’re so beautiful.”

She gave him that shy smile he was beginning to cherish. “So are you.”

Chapter 8

Clementine left the bathroom almost stumbling over her own feet as Sam’s powerful shifter blood coursed through her body. Her fingers and toes tingled and it wasn’t from the energy her feeding provided, but from a certain male with a gifted cock.

Hot damn, Sam could ask her to fulfill whichever of his fantasies anytime.

The cellphone her master had given her beeped with the sound of a text message . She hurried over to where she’d left it on the kitchen counter. Scrolling through the small list, she recognized her master’s number.

Sam strolled into the room towel-drying his hair. She loved the way his sweatpants clung to his ass and legs.

She could ignore the text. Maybe erase it and pretend she’d never received it. Torn between her desire to remain with Sam as long as she could and her duty to her master, she clutched the phone to her chest.

Sam smiled at her and played with her wet curls. “What do you want to do tonight? I’m sure I can find a deck of cards around here somewhere.”

A century of duty toward her master won her internal battle. Her master deserved her obedience more than she deserved happiness. He’d given her freedom no other would have offered. Not during the time period she’d been made. Females had just been objects then. “I have a message. Daedalus wants to meet at–” She glanced at the text again. “Northerly Island Park.”

“Where?” Sam cocked an eyebrow at her and took her phone to read it. “That’s an odd place to meet. It’s on the lake and probably closed at this time of the night.” He shook his head and dialed a number on her phone and waited a moment before hanging up. “The bastard’s not answering.”

Clementine snagged her phone back from him. “He may have shut the ringer off. He was doing surveillance, remember?”

“Quick work, if you ask me.” Sam pursed his lips as he stared at her almost as if he was going to ask something, then he shook his head again, walking away to the door. “Well, let’s go. The park’s clear across town.”

She scanned the small apartment, sorry to leave it. She didn’t have anything to bring; not even the clothes on her back belonged to her. Twisting around, she offered Sam a small smile, then took his hand. His touch gave her strength, made her feel braver. “I wish we’d have met under different circumstances.” She rose on tiptoe, placing a small kiss on his lips. She’d have forever to wonder
what if.

He blinked. “Me too.” Then he squeezed her hand. “Doesn’t mean I can’t visit, right?”

It took all her self-respect not to jump up and down in glee. She grinned, glad he’d offered without her asking. “I’d like that.”

They left the twins a note on the fridge, not wanting to wake them, and exited building. Once in the car, she swiveled in her seat to face him as he drove. “Why is Sugar still human?”

“That’s a million dollar question. If you could figure out a way to convince her to cross over, Daedalus would probably give that much and more.” Sam chuckled. “I haven’t the foggiest idea. And if she wanted me to know, she would have told me by now.”

“You never asked?” She couldn’t keep the incredulity out of her voice.

“Why should I, when everyone else we live with has?” He shrugged. “It’s her choice.”

She leaned forward and regarded the unwrinkled skin of his face. His youth made her ache. “That’s very wise for someone so young. I would have liked a choice.” The residual anger at her maker stirred deep in her gut. It would never go away.

“You were made against your will?” He touched her face in the close quarters of the vehicle. “So was I. That’s probably why I don’t pester Sugar like her sister and Daedalus. They both chose this type of life.”

“What would you have done if you had remained human?” She leaned toward him, her gaze intent on his face as the hard edges softened. What would it have been like if they’d both been human? Sam could take her to dinner, maybe they could have watched the sunset without her bursting in flames.

“Nothing spectacular, probably would have married a nice girl and had some kids by now. I never wanted to go to college. Maybe I would have picked up a trade.” He shrugged. “You?”

The ancient anger grew cold and spread over her body, chasing away the warmth Sam had given her. “I was married when they took me.” She rubbed her numb arms. “We lived on a small farm in Texas. I guess I would have had the same dream as you.”

“What happened to your husband?”

Cold became empty. “They killed him.” She’d stopped mourning him decades ago, but wished she could remember what his face looked like. Even vampire memories fade with time. “My maker was looking for pretty humans and my husband didn’t qualify.” She tried to give Sam a smile but failed. She’d killed their amicable mood.

He pulled her against his side, wrapping his arms around her tight.

She leaned into his strength and absorbed his living heat. He didn’t make small talk or try to cheer her up and she appreciated the silence. For a shifter, he sure understood a vampire’s pain.

“Where do you think Daedalus will send you?” Sam twirled her curls around his finger as he drove with the other hand.

“I don’t know. I’m just an accountant. But I’ll ask him to stay close enough for you to visit.” The words were out of her mouth before she could filter them. Oh, what an idiot she could be. He’d said he wanted to see her again, but she shouldn’t push. The more desperate she appeared, the faster he’d leave her.

He kissed the top of her head. “Good. I’d hate to have to take a plane. I’m not crazy about flying.”

Bubbles of relief rose in her chest as she smiled the kind of grin that went ear to ear. Now she understood why her master had left Pal Robi. She’d do the same for Sam.

The lake came into view and Sam parked the car in an empty lot.

* * * *

A blanket of unease settled on Sam’s shoulders as he shut the engine off. Daedalus, or at least someone from the pack, should have been here to meet them. “I don’t like this. Try calling him again.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “He texted me.”

“Indulge my paranoia. I know my alpha. Someone should be here already.”

“How could anyone fake a text?” She dialed. “There’s no answer.”

Frowning, he scanned the dark parking lot. If he wanted to trap someone, this would be a good location. The water surrounded the park on three sides, leaving only one way in and out. Easy to guard, or block, if need be. “My alpha knows more about computers and tech than I do, but I’m sure there’s a way to make a text look like it came from Daedalus’s phone.” He chewed on the inside of his mouth. “Fuck this. I’m getting you out of here until we hear from someone again.”

He geared the car into reverse and twisted to look behind them. His heart seized in his chest. “What the fuck?” He slammed on his brakes and geared it back into park. Someone blocked his way, but he could only make out a dark silhouette. Exiting the car, he faced the person, half expecting Daedalus.

Being partially right sucked. The person was a vampire, but not the one he wanted. Shit. “Mind getting out of the way, buddy?” Sam knew the ass wouldn’t budge, but he stalled as he scanned the area and assessed their fucked up situation. He’d get Clementine out of here alive if it was the last thing he ever did. Calling to his beast to awaken it, he gestured to Clementine to join him.