Léopold's Wicked Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans) (16 page)

Léopold momentarily stopped moving his hands on hearing the ancient Aztec word, but resumed, squeezing the bubbles out of her hair from top to bottom. He didn’t want to alarm her.

“Tecpatl?” he suggested.

“Yeah, that sounds right. Tlalco Tecpatl. Do you know what it is?”

“A Tlalco is a knife. One that was used by the Aztecs.”
To perform human sacrifice.
“Tecpatl was one of the Gods they worshipped. I’ve never heard of such a relic but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. We’re going to have to do some research. I’m not exactly sure why the demon wants it, but whatever the reason, I know it can’t be good.”

“It threatened to take Ava if I didn’t get it. And it wants to kill me.”
Keep me.
The demon had said she belonged to it.
Mine.
She shuddered, deciding to tell him about the time constraint instead. “Seven days.”

“What?”

“It wants it in a week. Like I can find some ancient knife in seven days,” she chortled. “What am I supposed to do? Waltz into the natural history museum and say, ‘Hey, you don’t know me but could you acquisition an Aztec knife and let me borrow it to give to some demon?’ Why in the hell would it need me to get it anyway?”

“My best guess is that it has something to do with what you are,” he surmised. Léopold carefully turned her to face him, and brushed the back of his knuckles over her cheek. He waited patiently until she finally raised her eyelids, before tilting her head back into the hot spray. Carefully, he fingered her locks, the bubbles falling away to the floor. His cock jerked as she licked her lips, parting them as if she would drink from him.

“I want to tell you,” she responded, returning her gaze to his. Her eyes darted to his chest and abdomen before catching a glimpse of his glorious erection. He was the most magnificent male specimen she’d ever seen, beautiful, every inch of him ripped in muscle. She shouldn’t have been surprised by the way his groin had been perfectly trimmed, the enormous length of him straining outward. As she realized what she’d been doing, drinking in the sight of him like she’d been admiring a painting in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, she blinked back up to his eyes in embarrassment. When she caught his gaze, her heart pounded in her chest. Desire washed over her once again.

“It’s okay, Laryssa,” he said. His voice was low and smooth.

“What’s okay?”

“To look.” Léopold finally gave in to his own craving, allowing his eyes to wander over her glistening breasts. The water droplets ran down like a stream, a small waterfall spilling off her rosy peaks. “To touch.” He reached out to caress her neck, but became alarmed as he moved closer. Four deep grooves sliced across her chest, healed but still pink and tender. His fingertip glided over her wounds. “It did this to you, no?”

“I’m okay now,” she piped cheerfully, attempting to hide her fear about what had happened. Laryssa heard him growl in displeasure, and placed her hand over his, sensing his anger. “See? It’s almost gone.”

“You heal quickly. This is your magic?”

“The water, the lake, it healed me. I can’t live without it.”
I’ve tried and almost died.

“You weren’t drowning, were you?”

“No.”

“You were glowing.”

“Yeah, I was.”

“I thought you were dying. I’d told you that I’d protect you. And then when you saw Sophie and ran out…I didn’t go after you.”

“Did you want her?” Laryssa defensively pulled her hand off of his, expecting him to stop touching her.

Léopold gave a small smile and shook his head. The woman didn’t get how much of an effect she had on him, how, in the moment, he only wanted her.

“She’s your lover?” she asked, wishing she could take back the question. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. It’s just that…if you want to be with me…”

“She’s a donor. If you’re asking if I’ve had sex with her, I won’t lie. The answer is yes. But she’s not my lover or girlfriend or anything of the sort. I’ve told you that I don’t do relationships but…”

“It’s none of my business.” She tried to back away, but he inched toward her.

“I want you to know that what you saw today was a physical reaction to my bite. Nothing more. We were created that way. Vampires. If our bite brought only pain, we’d have been killed as a race a long time ago. And for those of us who take mates, wives, we must be able to drink from our partners to complete the bond. Perhaps it’s an evolutionary adaptation, but some of us are no different from humans in wanting to find a soul mate to spend our lives with. The bite must bring pleasure, great pleasure if it’s to be done during sex, many times a day.”

Laryssa swallowed.
Sex many times a day? With Léopold?

“But my impression is that you don’t date. Don’t ‘do relationships’ as you say.”

“No, but I must eat. It can be an aphrodisiac.”

“Are you going to bite me?” she asked softly, her eyes lost in his.

“No.”

“No?”

“You, mon lapin, I could never use for just a meal.” Léopold closed the distance between them, his hand sliding over her skin.

“Why not?”

“Because, if I tasted of you, I’d need more. Much, much more,” he growled. Léopold felt his cock brush her belly, smiling as his rabbit shivered despite the heat. “If I bite you when we make love, I fear a bond could take place. I can’t allow that to happen. It’s not fair to you.”

“Don’t you mean ‘if’ we make love?” she quipped.

“No. I mean ‘when’ we make love,” he breathed, leaning forward so his lips touched her ear. His hand slid up from her chest so that he could wrap it around the back of her neck, spearing his fingers into her wet hair.

Laryssa’s heart pounded against her ribs. He tempted her, seducing her into his entrancing web. She wanted him to finish what he’d started earlier, taking it to new heights. But the man was frustrating as hell. He wanted to fuck her but he didn’t want a relationship? He’d made it clear that not only did he not date, he didn’t engage ‘friends with benefits’ either.

She found it puzzling how a man like Léopold could be so threatened by intimacy. Built like steel, a mind like a razor, he seemed invincible, both physically and mentally. Despite his immortality, the man had survived the centuries well. The vampire, who’d seen wars and plagues, had achieved unfathomable wealth, deliberately shunned others, appeared to relish his self-imposed solitude. While his words spoke clearly of his wishes to remain isolated, he had revealed his ability to connect with the infant. His eyes had lit up when he’d held Ava, sweetly singing to her and putting her to sleep. Even with the other supernatural she’d met at the Alpha’s home, she’d observed his interactions, which appeared natural and uninhibited. Whether he’d admit it or not, he cared about them. But perhaps it was because in at least his mind, those were business relationships. There was no pressure or expectations required so he accepted their company more easily.

Kisses to her neck jarred her back to reality
. Shower. Léopold.
She let her hands roam to his chest, trailing her fingers down his firm pecs. Her nipples hardened in arousal, and the ache between her legs grew painful. The temptation was too great for her to resist. She prayed she could do this, have sex with Léopold and walk away unscathed.

“Don’t fight this…us,” he said, unsure whether he was talking to her or himself. Léopold gave in to his desires, pressing his lips to the softest hollow behind her ear. He was breaking a million of his own rules, he knew. But this woman, whatever she was, he had to have her…to be in her, to possess her. He heard her sigh in response and grazed his cheek against hers.

“Léopold,” was all she managed to say before his lips captured hers.

Laryssa gave in to his intoxicating kiss, wrapping her hands around his neck. She could feel her control slip away as his tongue pressed into her mouth. With a demanding fervor, he kissed her, sucking at her lips, tasting her essence. She couldn’t get enough of him, needed him closer. Writhing her belly against his cock, she hoped he’d also lose restraint. In response, Léopold dropped his hands to her ass, lifting her upward until she wrapped her legs around his waist.

“More,” Laryssa demanded into his mouth. As her pussy opened against his slippery skin, she pumped her hips against his pelvis, seeking relief.

Léopold merely laughed, but never released her lips from his own. He pressed her back against the tiles, holding her still, ceasing her movement. Tightening his grip on her hips, he slid her upward, then down again, her wet folds brushing his abs.

“Oh God,” Laryssa moaned, unable to control his actions. All she could do was accept the pleasure he was giving. Every time he pulled her up and then pushed her down, her clit grazed his skin. The sensation was deliciously arousing yet not enough to bring her to orgasm. “Léopold, please.”

“You must trust me.”

“I’m afraid to,” she confessed. He yanked her up hard against him, putting more pressure against her aching nub.

“I’m going to take you every way I want, my sweet. I don’t care what you are. I just need to be so far in you that you never forget this night.”

“I’m…I’m a…” She sucked a breath as he let her slide away, losing the contact she needed. Laryssa never thought she could come from just a kiss but when his lips teased at hers, her body lit on fire. The energy rose within her and she let it go. She wanted this man, wanted him to know everything about her. No one had ever commanded her sexuality the way he’d done in just a few short hours. God help her, she had to have him in her life.

“Open for me,” he told her as his mouth descended on hers.

Thirst rose and Léopold struggled to keep his fangs from descending. Whatever this woman was, he could not resist her. The thought of his cock and teeth buried deep inside of her flashed into his mind, and his stomach clenched in concern. So many years he’d been alone, and for the first time since he’d been turned, the idea of feeding and making love all at once was alluring to him. As she sucked on his bottom lip, the only thing that became important to him was bringing her to climax.

“Ah yes,” she cried again into his mouth as he jerked her body against his.

“Tell me you want this.”

“I need you…now…in me now.” She wasn’t usually so wanton, but damn, he’d refused her once and she wasn’t about to let him back away again.

Losing all control, Léopold bent his knees, sheathing himself inside of her. A primal instinct took over as he waited but a second for her to accommodate his size before pumping out and back into her. Dropping his head to her chest, his lips found her breast. He took her ripe tip into his mouth, then sucked it hard, making her cry with pleasure.

Laryssa’s breath caught at the welcome erotic intrusion. With unbridled frenzy, she thrust her hips into his, urging him to make love to her harder. His teeth tugged at her perky nipple, causing a sensation of blissful pain, something she’d never experienced in all her life. As he pounded up into her, he began to grind into her pelvis, caressing her clitoris in rhythm with her own movements. So close to going over the edge of orgasm, she dragged her fingernails down his back.

As Léopold’s fangs elongated, he was forced to tear his lips away from her shimmering peaks. He could hear her pulse beating and it drove him into an animalistic fervor. Struggling to maintain discipline, he groaned. Just one sweet taste of her blood, and he’d begin a bond with this woman. Focusing on the feel of her tight pussy around his swollen flesh, he thrust up into her with long smooth strokes.

“Please, harder,” she begged, panting for breath. Each slamming surge inside of her stroked the thin line of nerves within her channel. “I’m coming…I need to tell you.”

What is she saying? Need to tell me what?
Léopold couldn’t concentrate, lost inside her. He increased the tempo, frantically pounding his cock into her pussy. He pressed his forehead to the cool tile, refusing the temptation to sink his teeth into her inviting skin.
No blood. No damn blood. Just fuck her and be done.
His fangs pierced his own lip in the process.

“Leo,” Laryssa cried into his chest as her climax claimed her. She could feel herself spasming around him, unable to stop the crushing waves of power and ecstasy that rolled over her again and again.

“Fuck, yes, I’m coming. Ah, Goddess,” Léopold grunted as he jerked fiercely. Stiffening, he came hard, grateful he’d restrained himself.

A few minutes passed before Léopold released her from his grip, gently sliding himself from her warmth. He glanced up to her flushed face, her wide eyes pinned on his. Despite not tasting of her blood, he could feel a connection to this woman.
Jesus Christ Almighty, this is what I’ve worked so hard to avoid.
He was a fucking asshole for taking her this way, brutally taking her in the shower after she’d been attacked. The shame in his eyes was evident but he doubted she’d know how he felt. Determined not to share his feelings, he wouldn’t tell her. But he owed it to her to make sure she was all right.

“Merde, I’m sorry.” He shook his head and stepped backward out of her reach. “Are you okay?”

“Why are you sorry? I feel great,” she said truthfully. It had been so long since she’d had sex and for the love of all that was holy, she’d reveled in her orgasm.

By the way he was looking at her, she could tell he regretted being with her already. She sighed and turned herself into the spray, washing away the evidence of their love making.
Screw him. I’m not about to let some temperamental vampire make me feel guilty or ashamed for what I did.
If he was looking for a one-off, then that’s all it would be. But she’d be damned if she’d let him ruin the afterglow for her. At least for her, life was too damn short not to enjoy mind-blowing sex.

“It’s just that I told you,” he began.

“Yeah, I know, I know. You don’t do relationships. Got it, big guy.”

“You were just attacked. You need time to heal…we shouldn’t have done this.”

“Hey.” She turned to face him and poked him in the chest. “Don’t you fucking tell me that bullshit, Leo. You hear me? This…whatever this was…was consensual and felt amazing. God, you have issues.”