Just a Vampire [tribal Bonds 1] (2 page)

whambam, thank you, sir
in mind when he had headed out of his apartment. He hadn’t meant to find a stalker.
Maybe it was time to go.
“Stay, anamchara,” Lucas said as if reading Rowan’s mind, which was unnerving in itself. “Let me kiss you.”
Rowan swallowed hard as his eyes dropped to Luca’s full lips. Maybe not. It wasn’t like he had any other offers, and what could one little kiss hurt? Because kissing Luca would be like kissing the hottest man he had ever seen in his life.
And then he could go.
Really.
Swear.
“Okay,” Rowan whispered.
He couldn’t tear his eyes away from Luca’s lips as the man leaned closer. He watched them until they faded from sight then looked up into Luca’s dark eyes, inhaling sharply when he noticed that they had darkened even more. Different shades of deep red seemed to swirl around their murky golden depths, hypnotizing Rowan until he felt Luca’s lips press against his—and then he moaned.
Kissing Luca sucked every last bit of air right out of Rowan’s lungs. His lips tingled as delight filled every cell in his body. Rowan groaned against Luca’s lips and moved closer, pressing his body against the bigger man’s.
He needed more.
When Luca’s tongue stroked over his lips, Rowan eagerly opened his mouth and allowed the man inside. A sweet musky flavor blasted across his senses when their tongues met and tangled together. Rowan couldn’t have prevented the soft mewling sound that left his mouth if his life depended on it.
His hard erection throbbed in his pants, threatening to break through his zipper in a need to get to Luca’s cock. Rowan couldn’t ever remember being so aroused in his life. It was almost more imperative than breathing to get closer to the man.
Rowan swung his leg over Luca’s thighs and pushed himself up to straddle the man’s lap. When he settled down and felt Luca’s hard cock press up against him through their layers of clothing, Rowan’s mind fragmented. He shuddered in delight when he felt fingernails trail down over his skin.
He started moving, pressing himself down on Luca’s hard length. He thought he might have offended Luca when the man suddenly growled, until he felt Luca’s hands grip his ass and push him down until they were grinding against each other.
“Please,” Rowan whispered against Luca’s lips. The noises around him faded. The strobe lights dulled as the golden colors swirling in Luca’s eyes deepened. Nothing mattered but feeling Luca’s body pressed against his as the man’s lips devoured him.
“That’s it, mo anamchara.”
Rowan heard the words whispered in his mind but was too far gone to think about why he was hearing them.
Rowan cried out in ecstasy when he felt one of Luca’s hands move around his body to press against his aching cock through his leather pants. They were so tight he could feel every single touch of Luca’s fingers. His head fell back on his shoulders as he humped his hips, trying to create even more friction. He was so close to blowing he could almost taste it.
Rowan was so caught up in the pleasure racing through his body that he didn’t even notice his pants being unbuttoned until the hot skin of Luca’s bare hand wrapped around his cock. At the same moment, Luca’s other hand slid down the back of his pants, the man’s thick finger moving down between the crease of his ass to lightly flutter over Rowan’s sensitive opening.
Rowan started keening low in his throat, the pleasure threatening to drown him. No one had ever touched him in such a manner. No one had ever made him feel such ecstasy before. Rowan felt like he was going up in flames—and Luca was adding fuel to the fire with every soft touch.
“Luca!”
“Yes, anamchara, that’s it,”
Rowan heard in his mind again.
“Come for me. Show your master how much you like my hands on you, how much you like me touching you.”
Luca’s words inflamed Rowan. He’d revisit the
master
comment later, much later. He was too busy at the moment going out of his mind. Every exquisite sensation flowing through his body came together in one large sudden explosion. The feeling of Luca biting into the soft skin between his shoulder and his neck was all Rowan needed to fall over the edge into the abyss.
Rowan’s soft cry of delight filled the VIP lounge just as his spunk filled Luca’s hand. Spots danced in front of his eyes as his vision floated in and out of focus before finally fading to black. The last thing Rowan saw was the satisfied look on Luca’s handsome face— and fangs?

Luca stared down in utter disbelief at the man cuddled against his chest. After hundreds of years of looking for his
anamchara
, his soul mate, the man lay in his arms. Luca never thought to see this day. He had all but given up.

And Rowan was gorgeous, the most beautiful creature Luca had ever laid eyes on. With him being over seven hundred years old, that said a lot. He’d seen a lot of beautiful creatures but none like the man in his arms. Rowan had an inner light that shined through from his very soul. Anyone looking at him would know of the man’s sweet nature.

Rowan would look perfect curled up at his feet or in Luca’s bed. Luca couldn’t wait to get Rowan back to his penthouse apartment where he could fully explore the delights Rowan’s beautiful body promised.

“He’s beautiful, Luca.”
“Yes, he is.” Luca looked up, giving his second-in-command something he hadn’t felt in years—a truly genuine smile. He wasn’t surprised in the least when Manu inhaled sharply. Happiness was not something generally associated with Luca. He had a bit of a reputation of being a ruthless, bloodthirsty vampire. It was a reputation he had carefully cultivated. Those who crossed him had his wrath brought down on their heads. Not many tried.
“We’re heading up to the den, Manu,” Luca said as he stood to his feet, lifting Rowan up in his arms. He was delighted when Rowan smiled and snuggled against him. “I want everyone to meet my anamchara.”
“Not straight to the penthouse, Luca?”
“No, I want everyone to know my anamchara has been found.” “Is that wise, Luca?”
Fierce anger gripped Luca. He balanced his anamchara with one arm and grabbed Manu around the throat with the other, lifting the large man off the floor by several inches. “You dare to question me?” he growled, baring his fangs at the man.
“N–No, m–my E–E–Electus,” Manu choked out as he grabbed at the hand wrapped around his throat. “N–Never.”
Luca loosened his hold and allowed Manu to draw in much needed air. “Speak.”
“He’s human,” Manu said as he rubbed his bruised throat. “If you bring him into a den of vampires unclaimed, they will go crazy. I’m your brother, your second-in-command, and even I am having trouble controlling myself around him. He smells too good. You must claim him first.”
Luca glanced down at Rowan, lifting the man back into both of his arms. Maybe Manu had a point. Rowan really did smell wonderful. “Very well. We’ll go right to the penthouse tonight and come down to the den in the morning.”
“Thank you, my Electus.”
Luca cocked an eyebrow at the man. Manu had been his secondin-command for more years than Luca cared to remember. Only when they were in the company of others did he refer to Luca as
electus
. It just wasn’t in the man to bow to anyone.
Manu just grinned.
Luca shook his head and started for the elevator that would take him to his top-floor penthouse. He paused at the double metal doors then turned back to Manu. “Rowan came with someone. See to it that he knows Rowan is otherwise occupied and will be for the rest of his life.”
Manu nodded and hit the button to call for the elevator.
“Unless it’s an emergency, I do not wish to be disturbed until I call for you in the morning.”
“He will need to eat, Luca.”
Luca growled. He didn’t need anyone telling him how to care for his anamchara, especially someone that didn’t have one.
Manu held up his hands and took a step back. “Just remember that he is human, Luca. He has human needs.”
Luca didn’t like being questioned, not when it came to his anamchara. He kept his hands carefully wrapped around Rowan. It was the only thing keeping him from reaching out and attacking Manu. He knew the man didn’t mean to threaten his territory, but that was what it felt like he was doing.
“Rowan is mine!” Luca snapped. “Whatever he needs, I will provide.”
Manu stepped back out of harm’s way. The moment the elevator dinged and the doors slid open, Luca stepped inside. He kept a close watch on Manu as the doors slid closed. The moment the perceived threat was gone, the anger raging inside of Luca faded. He drew in a deep breath only to have his senses filled with Rowan’s sweet scent.
Luca groaned and shivered at the desire that shot through his body at the simple scent of his anamchara. If just one scent made him as hard as nails, he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to truly claim Rowan.
He had been attracted to Rowan since the moment he spotted him in a picture in Seth Connelly’s office. Luca had done everything in his power to entice Rowan to his club, even offering Seth a lifetime membership to his club if he agreed to bring Rowan along with him.
And now here he was.
Luca didn’t even want to start to define the emotions he was feeling as he carried Rowan out of the elevator and into his penthouse apartment. He just knew that holding Rowan in his arms made him happier than he could ever remember feeling.
Luca carried Rowan through the penthouse and straight to his bedroom. When he reached his bed, he gently laid Rowan down with his head on the pillow and his body stretched out along the comfortercovered mattress. This was where Rowan belonged—in his bed and at his side.
Luca sat down on the side of the bed next to Rowan and reached down to stroke his finger along one cheek. “Rowan,” he whispered softly, “open your eyes, my little love.”
Rowan’s eyelids fluttered and slowly lifted, revealing beautiful pale moss-green eyes. Luca smiled as a small frown drew Rowan’s blond eyebrows together down over his forehead. It was an adorable look on the man.
“Hello, anamchara.”
Rowan glanced around, clearly confused. “Where am I?”
“You’re safe, anamchara.” Rowan was the safest person in the world. Luca would kill anyone that tried to harm his mate. “We are in the penthouse suite of the Electus Hotel.”
“The Electus Hotel?”
“The Crystal Cavern club is on the first floor of the Electus Hotel.” Luca was very proud of his club and hotel. It had been in business for over a hundred years. It had gone from a watering hole and bordello before the turn of the century to a speakeasy and boarding house during Prohibition to a dance hall and hotel after World War II then to the five-star resort hotel it was today. And during all of that time, it was a vacation spot for vampires everywhere.
Rowan’s eyebrows furrowed again. “I went dancing with my brother Seth and…” His voice slowly trailed off as awareness filled his eyes, and they widened as they shot up to meet Luca’s. “You— you bit me.”
The corner of Luca’s mouth lifted in a half grin, revealing one pearly white fang. “I did. I hope to do it again many times. Your blood tastes divine.”
Rowan stared for a moment then reached out with his hand to stroke his finger across Luca’s fang. Luca groaned at the erotic touch. He had no idea that his fangs would be an erogenous zone. It felt like Rowan was stroking his cock.
“You really have fangs.”
“Of course, anamchara.” Luca chuckled at the astonishment on Rowan’s face. “How else would I drink your blood?”
“You’re a vampire.”
Luca burst out laughing, another sound he hadn’t heard from his own mouth in eons. “Yes, anamchara, I am. But not to worry. You cannot be turned into a vampire. You have to be born one. You will remain human.”
Rowan’s head tilted slightly. He seemed more curious than afraid. Luca hoped so. He never wanted Rowan to be afraid of him. Luca knew most humans froze in fear at the very idea of vampires, even if most of the world knew they existed.
“What makes you think I’m human?”
There were moments in Luca’s existence when he knew his life was about to change in ways he never expected. He always knew those moments when they happened. A chill ran up his spine ending in the hairs standing up on the nape of his neck telling him that this was just such a moment.
“What do you mean you’re not human?” Luca asked carefully. His muscles tensed when Rowan rolled his eyes.
“Duh, I’m a wolf.”
“You can’t be.” Luca’s heart started pounding faster in his chest. There was no way that the love of his life was a wolf shifter. It just wasn’t possible. He would know. He would smell it on Rowan. “You smell human.”
Rowan’s face turned almost comical as he chuckled. “You’re a vampire. I’d be willing to bet what you actually know about wolves wouldn’t fill a thimble.”
Luca had the distinct feeling that Rowan was laughing at him. He slowly pushed himself off the bed and stood. No matter what Rowan said, he smelled human. Luca would have known if Rowan was a shifter, wouldn’t he?
“Why don’t you smell like a shifter?”
Rowan shrugged. “No one in my family does. It has something to do with our genetic line. We’ve always smelled human. It’s one of the ways my family has been able to blend in with the humans for so many centuries.”
Luca pushed his hand through his hair as he started pacing around the room. The agitation running rampant through his body was like a living breathing entity. His anamchara could not be a shifter. It was unheard of. Vampires and wolf shifters did not mix. They hadn’t in centuries.
“Does this mean you’re not going to bite me again?”
Luca swung around to stare at Rowan. Did Rowan’s being a shifter mean he wouldn’t bite the man again? Or claim him? Just the thought of giving Rowan up made his chest ache.
But a shifter?
When Luca didn’t say anything, Rowan sighed and climbed off the bed. He looked a little uncertain for a brief moment then squared his shoulders and drew in a deep breath. “Okay, well, it was uh… interesting meeting you, Luca.”
Luca clenched his jaw as he watched Rowan walk across the room. He followed after him, pausing in the living room as Rowan went to the elevator and pushed the button to call it up. When the elevator doors opened, Rowan stepped inside and turned to face Luca.
“You know, it’s really too bad that you’re such an asshole.” Rowan shook his head slightly as he glared across the room at Luca. “We could have been good together.”
Luca’s jaw dropped as the doors on the elevator slid closed and his anamchara was whisked away. He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had spoken to him in such a manner. He certainly hadn’t expected it from the man destined to be his soul mate. He didn’t know whether to be insulted or intrigued.
He decided he was going to go with intrigued. Luca chuckled to himself as he walked over and picked up the phone, dialing his brother. He didn’t yet know how he was going to go about claiming his anamchara, but he wasn’t giving him up.
“Manu, my anamchara is coming down. Please see to it that he gets home safely then watch him. Guard him with your life.”
“He’s leaving?” Manu sounded shocked.
“It seems that there is more to my love than meets the eye.”
“Oh?”
Luca couldn’t wait to hear Manu’s reaction to Rowan’s news. “He’s a shifter.”
Silence came across the line for several seconds then Manu chuckled. “Try again, Luca. If he had been anything but human, we would have discovered it when we investigated him. Hell, we would have smelled it on him when he walked into the club. Everyone would have. The smell of a shifter can’t be faked.”
“You’d think not, but according to Rowan, it’s something in his genetic makeup. No one in his family smells of wolf.” Luca held his breath as he waited.
“Wolf!” Manu shouted.
Bingo
.
“Yes.” Luca sighed. “It seems that the gods have seen fit to mate me to one of our fiercest and most hated enemies.”