Longest Days (The Firsts) (9 page)

But when she turned back to him to refill his plate, her eyes landed on his neck, heavily corded, the blood flowing through it just beneath the dark skin, beckoning her.  She wanted him.  Very badly.  She wanted to sink her teeth in that neck and make him bury himself in her.  He was too close.  She was too hungry.  And too horny.  Why did he smell so perfect?  Why had he, from the very beginning, smelled so familiar?

She filled his plate, and then dropped the pot too loudly in the sink.

“I need to step outside.  Please, enjoy the rest of your food.”  Eillia hurried to the closet, donned her outside clothes, and almost vampire raced out the door.  She needed some distance or she was going to attack him.  Even after she hit the wall of snow that lined the trail to her outhouse, she almost turned back.  No, no, no!  Not him!  There was just something about him that told her she could not remain disconnected.  He would not be just a meal or a fuck.  She knew attraction was impossible to design…it was either there or not.  And she was really attracted to this snowmobiler she’d rescued.

When she reached the outhouse, she jumped to the top of the roof and let her feet dangle off the back side.  It was a stunning night.  She often came out here with a cup of hot tea or cocoa to watch the northern lights.  Having adapted to the cold, she loved to step outside to feel the sharp burn of the ice cold air on her skin.  This was by far the most incredible sky she’d ever seen in her many years on this earth.  Clouds were common here, but sometimes they went away to reveal black velvet scattered with endless stars, brighter than it seemed possible considering how distant they actually were from this tiny planet.   Eillia knew most of the brightest by name, knew the constellations and asterisms, the path of the planets as they journeyed across the sky.  It amazed her that she’d been alive over a thousand years, and never came here to see the aurora borealis, one of the grandest celestial miracles. 

It calmed her tonight and gave her perspective.   Her attraction to Daniel, her desire for sex and blood…it meant she was healing.   It meant she was reconnecting to her blood, to her spirit amulet that had accompanied her through her entire life.  She pulled her jacket apart and touched the amulet that never left her neck.  It usually remained invisible, but now it was summoned, it appeared and glowed in response to Eillia’s touch.  An amulet belonged to each first blood vampire, and was the center of their power.  It guided and protected its wearer.  It would bring her home.

She thought of the people she’d left behind, who would think she had been gone all this time.  Koen, oldest friend, like a brother.  His lovely daughter, Park, who she had just met and fallen madly in love with just before this tragedy.  Bas, long time old friend, who had counted on her to help protect his home and loved ones. 

Well, she’d protected nothing.   She knew they hurt, thinking she was gone like Hamid.  But she had done what she could…disappeared to crawl into a hole, to lick her  wounds, and try to find a way to go on.  And the creature who caused this…he would die a horrible lengthy death if she ever had the chance to avenge Hamid.  That would come.

“How the hell did you get up
there?!”

Daniel’s voice broke her out of her reverie. 
Fuck!
  He caught her somewhere she shouldn’t have been able to go.  She jumped down on the opposite side and vampire moved around the side he couldn’t see.

“Um, there’s a step out back.  And I’d already cleared it.  What are you doing out here?”

He was barely dressed, his coat hanging open, his gloves in his hand as he struggled to pull them on.

“I was worried something happened to you.  It’s so cold out here and you’ve been gone a long time.”

“I’m sorry.  I’m fine.  Just needed the fresh air.”

“Are you ready to come back in now?”

Eillia nodded.  She followed him, stepping in the big depressions from his boots.  He had big feet and cleared a nice path with them.  She watched his back.  Straight. Strong.  Male.  Sexy.  She liked the way he moved.  He hadn’t pulled up the hood of his parka.  She liked his wild dark hair.  Even out here, his scent reached her.

As they came back through the door, he stepped aside to let her enter first.  His scent assaulted her as the heat of the cabin curled around him.  She threw her parka on the floor and pitched her scarf and gloves away.  She was breathing hard and her skin was hot.  She could feel it, but she couldn’t stop it.  She needed him.  Now.  And she would have him.

He closed the door and secured it, then turned to her.

“I didn’t mean to disturb you, but I was worried about you.  Couldn’t let anything happen to my heroine.”  He smiled and it sealed his fate.

Eillia launched at him.  It took him off guard and he fell back against the door as she began to pull off his parka.  He looked surprised for a second, but then he began to help her by pulling his arms out and shoving it to the floor to land on top of hers.  She unsnapped his jeans and they both pushed them down, stopping at his boots.  He groaned and was surprised when they were gone suddenly.  He had no idea how, but his pants were yanked off and joined the wet boots in a puddle on the floor.

Daniel looked up at her as she pulled the rest of her clothes off and stood there naked with her hair flying around her head.  God.  He’d wanted this dream of her for a year now.  She was so much more stunning than his imagination had created.  Her breath was coming hard and for some reason she just stood there looking at him now that they were undressed.  He didn’t want to overstep his bounds, but he hoped like hell she hadn’t changed her mind.  Standing there, fully erect and ready for her, he wasn’t sure he would survive if he couldn’t have her now.

Then he saw tears in her eyes, and his heart broke.  What had caused her pain?  How were they here, nearly on top of each other, and she was crying?

“We don’t have to…” he started to say, when she walked forward and took his hand.  She led him to the bedroom and shoved him down on the bed.  He lay still as she climbed on top of him and fit her body against his erection.  She did not slide down over him, but slid back to cushion him against her perfect butt.  Leaning back, she caressed him, and he almost came right then.  Her eyes were closed now as she ran her fingers up and down him.  He thought she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen in his life, perched on his body, holding him in her hand, moving her own sex against his belly as she began to match the motion of her fingers.  He wanted to be inside her, but this was perhaps the most intimate moment he’d ever experienced.  He could wait until she was ready.

Eillia opened her eyes and looked down at him.  There was guilt.  He wasn’t Hamid.  But she wanted him desperately.  She couldn’t see her lover anymore.  Somehow, this man she did not know filled her mind and she needed him to fill her body.  She needed blood.   While he was inside her.  And she did not want him compelled. She wanted him to truly feel her.

“Can you trust me?” she whispered.

He didn’t know her.   And yet he did.  “Yes, I can.  I’m here…whatever you need.”

He felt her take a deep breath and sigh.  “You couldn’t have said anything more right.”

Eillia lifted her body and slid him inside her.   He was big, almost vampire big, and he filled her.   She almost cried out at how right he felt.  He shouldn’t, but he did.  He was just as affected, she could feel it.  How this was so much more than sex, she did not know.  It was true they were strangers to each other.  And yet they fit as if they were meant to be.  She would know him.   Now.

She rode him for a moment and then leaned down against his chest and moved his long hair off his neck.

“Trust,” she whispered again, and struck.  Her fangs tore small holes in his skin and she began to draw.   He struggled a little, and then she knew he began to feel the blood euphoria.  Sex and blood were inextricably linked for vampires.   And when properly introduced, humans could find a similar ecstasy.   And she was first blood, so everything was more heightened.  She could feel Daniel respond.  His arms wrapped around her and he surged into her, their movement now fast and aggressive.  She sucked at his neck as her womanhood clenched against his manhood.  Breathing raggedly after minutes that felt like hours, they both came together.  And she pulled her fangs out as she buried her face against him to let herself spasm and squeeze him until they both dropped together, wet, their bodies wrapped tightly.  Neither moved.  The cool air around them curled in and replaced the intense heat they had created.  Eventually, Daniel reached out and pulled the sheet over them, then brought his hands back around her to keep her warm.  Eillia didn’t move.  She just kept her head buried against him and drew in his scent.  It was different now, merged with hers.  It was beautiful…and awful.

How could she feel this way?  So soon?  She’d wanted him.  She still did.  But it was too soon to take another lover.  Sex, yes.  That would have come.  But with this man, she knew he was more.  She couldn’t face the idea that she could potentially fall in love with him.

Eillia pushed away from him and got out of the bed.  “Thank you.  Now please get out of my bed.”

He sat up as she pulled her robe around her and folded her arms.

“What was that?”

“Sex.  Thank you.  It was good.  But we’re done now.”

Daniel swung his legs onto the floor and put his hand to his neck.  It was still damp, and his fingers came away smeared with blood.

“You bit me.”

“It’s okay. You enjoyed yourself, right?  Please, just go.”

Something was really fucked up here.  He came over and tried to touch her, but she pulled back.

“No.  We’re finished.  I’ve asked you to go.”

“But, you’re not alright.  What can I do?  I didn’t hurt you did I?   Has…has someone else…?”

“No.  I’m fine, Daniel.  We had a good time.   I drew a little blood.  It happens during sex.  I didn’t hurt you.  So.  We’re good.”

Daniel could feel her pain.   It radiated in waves toward him and he felt it in his gut.  Much taller than her, he moved forward, got down on the floor in front of her, wrapped his arms around her body, and his face against her belly.  He could feel her tighten, and then suddenly she wrapped her arms around him, too.

“How can I help you?” he asked.

He heard her choke back a sob, and looked up at her.   She wasn’t crying but her eyes were wet.

“It was a beautiful thing being with you.  But I can’t feel that way.  Not now.  Not this soon.”  She lifted his head and caught his eyes with hers.

“Daniel, you will go into the bathroom and take a quick shower.  Wash the blood off your neck.  Get dressed and get some sleep on the couch.  You will not remember anything we’ve done tonight except that I fed you dinner, you enjoyed it very much, and you were tired and went to bed.  Go.”

He got up and went through the door of the little bathroom.  Eillia closed it and crawled back into bed, more alone than she’d ever felt.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Daniel wasn’t in the cabin.  Eillia came out of her room and he was gone.  Where could he have gone?  She panicked for a second before she realized he must be taking a bathroom run.  She smiled as she thought what a dope she was being.  A thousand year old vampire acting like a sixteen year girl.  He was fine.

He was fine.  After she’d sent him out of her room with a moment of guilt, she’d lain in her bed and remembered every second they were together.  Definitely deeper than just sex.  She’d felt herself merge with him, more than just their bodies, but their spirits as well.  It wasn’t common.  Someday, when she was ready to love again, she hoped she would find someone like Daniel.  He had the potential to be a vampire’s mate.

Eillia was in the kitchen heating some water for tea when the door came open and Daniel came though quickly.  She had to remind herself there was no reason to feel awkward…he did not remember their bedroom visit or her blood meal.

He smiled disarmingly at her.

“Hey, you’re up.  I just brought some more firewood around from your shed.  You were getting low. And it has to be really heavy for a small thing like you to lug in.  It’s the least I can do to help out.”

“Thank you.”  He couldn’t know it was never any trouble for her.  “Then you must be hungry.  Here, wash your hands and I’ll give you some toast while I make us some omelets.”

He grinned. “Deal.”

After they ate, Daniel stoked the fire and brought it back to high dancing flames as the air cooled down again.  “I was thinking about trying to make it back to town today.  How far out are you?”

“I’m about ten miles outside town.  It’s a rough road, too.  But I’ll be glad to take you.”

“I’d rather not put you through the risk.  It’s still pretty hazardous out there.  You wouldn’t by any chance happen to have a second vehicle I could borrow?”

“Just the one truck.  But I’m not worried.  I can safely take you to town. I’ll be going in to work tonight anyway.”

“In this?  You won’t have many diners.”

“I know.  It’s just a little dull here at times.”

“I understand.  I have my moments, too.

He stared at her then, and Eillia could feel the heat beginning to build again.  Yeah, she needed to get him out of here.  Her respiration soared again, raw and uneven, as her mind went to him naked beneath her last night, his blood in her mouth, and an orgasm that rivaled any she had ever had. 

“No.  I’m going to take you,” she said abruptly.

He got it then.  She wanted him out of there.  He nodded.

“Okay.  Well, thanks for your hospitality.  And the rescue.  I think I would have died if you hadn’t brought me here.”

Eillia
knew
he would have.  She nodded too.  “You’re welcome.  I’m glad you made it through okay.  Um, I can take you to town in about an hour.  Will that do?”

“Sure.  Well, I’ll just go, uh, pack.”  Daniel wandered out of the kitchen on that joke.  He was an unwelcome visitor.  She didn’t want him.  Not the way he wanted her.  He literally could not control his body’s reaction to her.  When he was near her, his heart rate shot up, his cock hardened, and his breathing quickened.  She was his dream.  He couldn’t touch her.  He felt like this was karma kicking him in the teeth.   Testing him.  He had thought maybe he could visit her some time later, but now he knew he never would.