Hunter's Surrender (2010) (4 page)

Rand stared at the breaking dawn. He pressed his palms against the glass and fought down the swirling mass of emotion inside him.

She wasn't for him. He glanced at the spot where he'd just taken Dominique.
God.
He'd just made love to her--her first time--outside on a railing. His hands curled into fists. She deserved silk sheets, candlelight and pretty words.

He forced his hands to uncurl and studied his rough palms. She deserved better.

More than a burned-out vampire hunter.

Rand glanced over at the photo on the shelf.
Don't let this job take you over, son. The best way for a hunter to stay sane is the right woman. Love balances everything.

He remembered the day his father had said those words. Only days before his death. A forgotten memory Rand had buried.

Why had he let himself forget? His father had trained him to kill rogue vampires, but he'd also stressed the importance of balance.

Rand had been so busy avenging his father, he'd let some of the most important lessons fade to the back of his mind.

What would Brody Wilder have thought of Dominique Valois?

Rand smiled. He'd bet his dad would've thought she was gorgeous and too damned good for Rand.

He reached out with his senses. Even being in a different room was too far away from her. He sensed her unique energy.

When a shaft of pure fear speared through him it took him a moment to realize it wasn't his fear he was feeling, but hers.

He exploded into action, running down the hall, into the bathroom. Steam billowed.

Dominique wasn't there.

He followed her energy signature to the back door. It was open.
Damn
. He grabbed a titanium stake off the wall in his den and raced outside.

A trail of footsteps led into the desert. Dominique's small, bare feet had made one set of marks. Beside them were a larger set with the slick tread of expensive men's shoes.

Rage fired through Rand, but he fought to stay controlled. Dominique needed him.

He stalked over a rise and saw them.

Vilein had a handful of Dominique's dark hair and was savagely yanking her along with him. The little idiot was fighting back, twisting and trying to kick at her captor.

The vampire must've sensed Rand. He spun and thrust Dominique to the ground. She fell on her knees, her face stark white.

"She stinks of you, hunter." Vilein's voice was ice cold.

"Let her go."

"She's mine." The ajna ran a hand down her cheek. She thrust her head away from him, but he caught her chin. "I was to be the first to have her."

"You don't deserve her."

"And you do, Darkness?" Vilein shook his head. "She is royalty and yet you sullied her with your hunter hands. Hands that have killed so many of her kind."

Rand swallowed. His gaze caught her pleading violet eyes.

"Get out of here, Rand."

God, she was worried for him? He didn't deserve her, but she certainly deserved more than this torturing bastard.

He focused on Vilein. "I said let her go."

The vampire shrugged. "She's tainted goods now. But she'll be entertainment for my friends. And her back will still welcome my whip."

Molten heat exploded through Rand. He wouldn't let this perverted creature lay a hand on her again. He lunged forward, leading with his stake.

Vilein's blow sent Rand flying through the air ten feet. He hit the sand with enough force to drive the air from his lungs.

Spitting the blood from his mouth, he rose. He couldn't beat this vampire with strength alone.

He looked again at the woman--the vampire--on her knees. In that one clear moment, he knew he'd give his life to protect her. Using all his speed, he attacked Vilein. The powerful kick knocked the vampire back a step. As long as Rand didn't let Vilein land a direct blow, he had a chance.

He ducked a fist, jammed his own into Vilein's side. The vampire grunted. Twirling, Rand attacked with kicks and strikes, avoiding the ajna's own swings.

The vampire was powerful, but he hadn't spent years honing his combat skills like Rand had. The trick with vampires was to use their own energy against them. Brute force wasn't what would win the fight.

Suddenly Dominique moved forward, preparing to attack.

"No, Dominique," Rand called out.

Vilein moved so fast he blurred. He backhanded her across the face and she went down hard in the sand.

Rand gritted his teeth, his muscles bunching. Without thought, he launched himself, desperate to make the ajna pay for every wound he'd inflicted on her.

Vilein took advantage of Rand's wild charge and thrust a fist against his chest. He felt ribs crack. The force of the blow sent him to his knees, fire tearing through him.

He fought to block the pain. Dominique's life depended on him. He got one foot under himself and pressed a palm to the sand. He forced himself upright.

"You want more, vishuddha?" Vilein shook his head and held up a palm.

Rand's body froze. The vampire's mental command held him in place. Stronger than any chains.

Blood pounded through him. He watched Vilein stalk over to Dominique.
God, no
. He fought against the mental hold, frantic to break free.

Vilein yanked her against him, one hand tangled in her hair. "I might sample her right here." His other hand slid down to cup her breast. She struggled, but he controlled her. "And there isn't a single thing you can do to stop me, hunter."

This was worse than watching his father die. Helplessness twined around Rand like ropes. His stomach revolted. He poured all his energy into breaking Vilein's thrall.

But it wasn't enough.

Vilein slashed a hand down and tore Dominique's shirt open, baring her breasts. She turned her head, tried to bite him, but he shook her like a doll.

His dark gaze collided with Rand's. "You can't save her."

Just like he hadn't been able to save his father. Rand broke enough of Vilein's control to rub his fingers together. He wouldn't fail again. He wouldn't watch another person he cared about die because he was helpless.

He looked at Dominique. Her lips were bloody but as they stared at each other, the energy between them tightened. Pulling tight like a connection that would never let go.

Knowing moving through him. "Dominique, I don't know how, but I'm falling in love with you."

Her violet eyes widened. Vilein's laughter filled the air, but Rand stayed focused on her.

A smile edged her lips and he watched the fear in her eyes give way to fire. The need to survive.

At Vilein's feet, Rand saw the early morning light glint off something metallic. His stake.

He looked back at Dominique. She nodded.

A wild rush of energy poured into him. Through the growing link between them, she fed him her energy.

It roared through him like the charge of a powerful animal. It shattered Vilein's thrall and left Rand bursting with power.

He rolled, coming to a stop at Vilein's feet. Rand grabbed the stake and lunged upward.

The vampire was quick. He let go of Dominique and sprang away. Rand tackled him to the ground.

They struggled against one another. With Dominique's energy combined with his, Rand was an equal match for the ajna. He rolled on top, lifted the stake.

Vilein's hands gripped Rand's forearms. They strained together, Rand trying to force the stake down.

Then slim hands covered his. He lifted his gaze and saw Dominique beside him.

"Together," she said.

Both of them lunged down with the stake, their combined strength behind the strike.

The stake speared between Vilein's eyes. He died without making a sound. His dark eyes, drained of all energy, stayed open.

"It's over." Dominique swayed, staring at her tormentor.

"You're safe now." Rand's mouth dried up. She was free. To do whatever she wanted. To leave.

"Safe." She said the word like it was foreign to her. Then her legs went out from under her. Rand reached out to catch her.

Thank God she was okay. He scooped her into his arms and headed back to the house.

"The body--"

He lengthened his stride. "I don't give a crap about the body."

His arms trembled. All he felt was the desperate need to be with this woman. To show her he belonged to her as much as she belonged to him.

Her fingers toyed with his hair. "Rand, are you all right?"

"Just be quiet." He moved inside and headed straight for his bedroom.

The morning light was reaching out over his bed. He laid Dominique down in his sheets and pushed her back. Her black hair spilled across his pillows. Her alabaster skin was pale against the blue linen.

Finally. Where he wanted her.

She watched him as he stripped the torn shirt off her. Bruises stained her skin. "Jesus, sweetheart." He ran a gentle finger over one on her shoulder.

"I'm fine."

"He hurt you." Rand pressed a kiss to one bruise, then another.

"You, too." Her fingers brushed an ugly knot on his ribs.

He didn't care. Already felt his body healing. "I'll run you a bath, or a shower." He needed to make it better, to wipe away the ugly memories. "I'll make tea. You can drink fluids, right?"

"Rand, stop." She cupped his cheeks. "What I need is you."

He stilled.

"Are you really falling in love with me?" Her voice was quiet, her gaze never leaving him.

"Yes." He slid his hands across her belly and watched her shiver. "You're everything I thought I'd never have." He cupped her face with shaking hands and leaned down to press small kisses across her cheeks.

Pulling back, he looked at her exquisite features and saw everything he needed right there. His balance. His light. His love.

With his heart pounding, he summoned his courage. "Think you might want to hang around for me to fall the rest of the way?"

Something sparked in her eyes.

Afraid of her answer, Rand continued. "I can't give you a chateau, or things you're probably used to--"

"I've developed a fondness for the desert and I don't need a chateau." She pulled him to her and when he covered her body with his, she wrapped her legs around him. "I bet they even need lawyers here in Las Vegas. And since I'm falling in love with you, too, it sounds like a wonderful idea."

Feeling burst through him. Desperate for her, he rose and shucked his jeans. He tugged her to the edge of the bed.

She wrapped around him, fit against him like she'd been designed for him. He eased inside her, joining them.

The tight clasp of her body had the blood in his veins boiling. He tried to be gentle, but her nails scratching along his back and her undulating hips urged him to move faster, harder.

Mindless to anything but her and the heat between them, he plunged into her. He gripped her thighs, tilted her hips so he could go deeper.

She moaned, hands gripping the covers. Rand felt his energy moving out to seek hers. He felt the shimmer of her power against his skin. But it was weak.

He kept moving into her with slow, easy thrusts and studied her. Her face was paler than usual. Maybe the aftereffects of the fight with Vilein?

But as Rand opened his senses more, he heard the erratic beat of her heart. She needed to feed.

He pulled back, sat on the bed and pulled her to him. She let out a protest, but as he settled her on top of him, both of them facing each other, she smiled at the new position.

When she sank down, taking him inside her, deeper than she had before, they both groaned.

"You feel so good, Rand."

"So do you, sweetheart." He cupped the back of her head and pressed her lips to his throat, his stomach tensing. "Now, feed."

"What?" She froze, then her lips moved against his throat. She trembled, her tongue fluttering over his pulse. She pulled back. "Are you sure?"

He brushed the hair off her face. "Yes."

She leaned down and Rand kept his fingers against her chakra. Her fangs scraped his jugular and his body jerked. With a moan, she bit down, fangs sinking deep.

His hips lunged up, thrusting into her. They were joined by body, blood and energy.

She sucked at him and an inferno of sensation and energy ripped through him. It burst from his chakra, through his body, down his limbs.

He thrust into her again and she met him with a hard downward plunge of her body. They both erupted at the same moment. She screamed and he followed her over, emptying himself inside her.

Afterward, Rand laid back, pulled her tight against him and yanked a sheet over them. It didn't matter that the sunlight was invading the room, or that the world would be waking up to start the day. All that mattered was their little world, right here.

The world they'd make together.

Dominique snuggled against him with a sigh. Her breath blew against his neck. "I'm hoping you have plenty more to show me, Wilder."

He smiled. He was no longer alone. "I'll do my best to make you happy, sweetheart."

In the dark of the night, a vampire had snuck through the defenses of the biggest, baddest vampire hunter in the business. Without a single regret, he'd taken a vampire to his bed, let her feed from him and taken her into his heart.

A vampire--his Dominique--had brought light to The Darkness.

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