Love Unfortunate (2 page)

Restraints? Asphyxiation? Gentle, normal lovemaking?

Liana didn’t have to wonder for long. First came the scrape of metal. Inanimate groans spiced the air before footsteps whispered across cold stone. Liana grimaced in a travesty of excitement as the cloying smell of scented water hit her overwrought senses.

"I’ve missed you." Cool hands lifted Liana from the bed. "Have you missed me too?"

She linked her arms around his neck, too anxious to do more than murmur, "Yes, Laurent."

"Good." A gentle kiss brushed across her damp temple. Laurent’s tongue snaked out in a delicate caress. "You’ve been crying," he accused while setting her on her feet.

"Yes." The air grew heavy, stretching Liana’s nerves unmercifully. She rubbed her cheek against his chest. Liana felt his hands rake across her back and trembled like prey.

Laurent’s whisper fell like decaying petals before the wind. "There’ll be time for tears later." Despite the softness, his tone brooked no room for disobedience. "Not now."

"I know." Nestled against his cold body, she felt her own come to life. Heat seared her naked breasts and stickiness dampened her plump thighs.

"Later. Yes?"

Laurent’s voice tickled her ear and the dulcet tones became a carnal torture in itself. "Later, Laurent."

* * * *

"Why are you crying?"

She hastily wiped her eyes. "I’m not crying." Belligerence gave way to embarrassing grief. "Don’t mind my childishness. It’ll pass."

Laurent reached above her head and plucked an apple. Crouching down in front of Liana, he took the hem of his tunic and polished the ruby skin. Once finished, he extended his arm and murmured, "Here."

"I don’t want it." Although not stated unkindly, her rebuff remained all too obvious.

Instead of being deterred, Laurent offered his gift again. "Please take it. You’ll never find another so sweet."

Liana bit her lip in a vain effort to keep her heartache from pouring out. Although she knew running away from her life would carry consequences, Liana never expected fear to be one of them.

How can I survive on my own? But how can I go back?

"Take it. I promise you’ll feel better."

Liana opened her mouth to refuse when she chanced looking into his eyes. Benevolence and empathy burned within.

"Here."

Her tears subsided and Liana once more found herself moved by the living enigma before her. She reached for the apple. "Why are you so kind to me?"

Laurent’s glance thought his knee fascinating. "Because I could never bear to cause sorrow or harm to another."

"Why?"

"Because I know what it’s like to cry." He stated his feelings without shame or hesitation.

Something lurched inside Liana.

"Thank you."

* * * *

Liana pressed her parched mouth against his. Thirsty beyond redemption, she moaned with abandonment as Laurent’s tongue filled her.

"Tears…"

Passion possessed Liana. She was dying, drowning, sinking into an abyss of shameless lust. Old wounds and burning aches meant nothing. Nothing mattered except the crimson beast panting in her veins.

"For you, for me…"

Liana sank her teeth deep into his bottom lip. Laurent hissed before responding in kind. Hot rivulets slid down her chin, painting her throat with obscene beauty. Liana laughed deliriously.

"I want more from you. Kiss me harder. Harder, Laurent."

He moaned her name in charming distress. Fresh pain became an exquisite prelude to enthralling pleasure. Laurent knew her depravity, even if he didn’t understand its origins. His tongue probed the jagged tears, deepening them and calling forth more blood.

Liana’s blunt nails dug into her lover’s pale flesh and for exceptional moments, she rejoiced in what she was. What she always came to be.

"They’ll be there…"

His words poured into Liana’s avaricious mouth. Her instincts disconnected her from everything except anticipation.

"Do you hear me, little bird?"

"Yes," she sighed between hungry kisses. "I hear only you."

Laurent’s arms squeezed her tightly before pulling away. He swallowed once and admitted, "Tears…they’ll be there for me as well, Liana."

Passion evaporated, leaving her adrift.

"I miss you so much, Liana."

His name traveled on her breath and craving blossomed in her mouth.

"I hate leaving you. I can’t stand it. I hate locking you up in this…this…prison!" Agony drenched each syllable, courting her sympathy and forgiveness. "I don’t like it. I don’t know why I sentenced you here."

Laurent seemed to fold in on himself. His words grew raspier.

"No, that’s not true. I DO know why. I know…but you DON’T. And I’m too afraid to tell you."

"Laurent…I…" Audible words deteriorated into silent prose, leaving her heart to shout.

Why won’t you forget?!

"I’m breaking apart out there, Liana. I hate when I should love…I love when I should hate." Desolation carved lines of despair into his smooth skin. "I’m going insane, aren’t I?"

Liana’s small hands worked to banish the unhappiness from his brow. "Don’t think that way. You can’t. You’re stronger than this."

Laurent leaned into her touch. "Tell me what’s wrong with me, Liana. You know. I know you do."

"I can’t—" Liana’s throat closed and her hands stilled. The truth threatened to tumble out from her tightly pressed lips. "I can’t answer—"

Laurent pushed her away in a fit of temper. Standing above her sprawled figure, he insisted, "You’re lying! Tell me!" The menacing shout dissolved into a pitiful whine. "Please."

Fatalism held Liana down by the throat. She felt like an insignificant insect beneath its booted foot. Liana tipped her head back and met Laurent’s stare. "Yes."

"Why?"

Liana couldn’t bear seeing the horror twisting his ethereal face. "The power running through your veins is too much for one not of pure blood. If it continues to control you rather than you control it, you’ll go completely mad."

"How can I—how can I stop this?"

"I can’t help you."

Laurent dropped to his knees besides her, ignoring her bitter answer. "Don’t say that, Liana. I need your help, little bird. Please help me."

"Laurent, I wish I could…but…I’ll just end up making it worse."

"No, you won’t!" Controlled sincerity replaced raw frustration. "Liana, if you won’t help then let me stay here with you. Always."

Liana stared at her love, her husband, her life—her sin.

His immortal eyes, no longer rapacious, betrayed old humanity. Their exquisite depths mirrored her love for him, wrenching forth anemic joy out of Liana’s battered conscience.

Yes
.

The word hovered on the tip of her tongue like a tempting drop of poison.

Yes, Laurent. Stay with me. It’s what I’ve wanted for so long.

Laurent sensed her softening. Death flickered with silver brilliance and pale lips flashed a mouthful of wickedness. "Just say yes, Liana. Say it."

Although ensnared by the eerie brilliance of her husband’s gaze, sanity clawed its way past helplessness.

It’s what I’ve wanted for so long, but not like this. I don’t want you to stay with me out of habit. I don’t want this tower to be the end. I want to walk out of here with you.

Laurent lifted Liana to her feet. His gentle, unfailing courtesy lay in marked contrast to his demands. "Don’t fight me anymore. Don’t resent me for becoming like this, Liana. After all, it wasn’t my will."

I know. I also know that until that day comes, there’s nothing I can do for you. Nothing except this.

Swallowing down her impotence, Liana whispered, "I’m dirty. Please bathe me…my lord."

He blinked once and then grinned. "Anything for you, little bird." Laurent’s mocking, light words banished any hint of frailty. The vulnerable human fled, ephemeral as a pretty dream. And with no small regret, Liana welcomed his change.

I’m sorry that I just hurt you. But I don’t know what else to do.

Completely aware of his wife’s ennui, Laurent scraped warning claws against her skin. "Later, little bird. Yes?" His obvious anger shattered the pleasant illusion of servile adoration.

Liana gasped her assent and arched against his cruel hold. Laurent’s actions were no punishment. The pain only courted her perverted hungers. "Yes, my lord."

Soft laughter peppered the air. "I’m so happy when you strive to please me. At least in this, little bird. The way you cry out for me—the way you taste—it’s all I crave. Now, hold onto me."

Liana waited until he lifted her before admitting, "I’m sorry I can’t make you happy, Laurent."

"What are you talking about?" Sadness fluttered across his smooth brow with a dying bird’s regret. "Happiness today, misery tomorrow. Moods change. You aren’t responsible—"

Liana kissed his mouth hard, cutting off his ignorance. Her lithe tongue moistened the flakes crusted in the corners. Mouths agape, teeth scraping, their tongues coiled together in primitive adulation. Laurent broke their communion. Smug triumph dirtied his face as she gasped in abandonment.

"Do I make you happy, little bird?"

"Always."

"It pleases me to know it." Laurent smiled, teeth glinting in the dismal darkness, unaware of her sorrow. "Are you ready?"

She let out a tired sigh. "Yes."

Ruby droplets followed in their wake as Laurent carried Liana to the small tub. Her wounds tempted his primal hunger, but Laurent refused a seat at his wife’s bloody banquet. Instead, he set her within the shallow depths and murmured, "Soak. I’ll be done soon."

Pendants of fire flickered to life behind her closed lids. Without opening them, Liana saw Laurent light several tapers throughout the small room. A humorless smile tugged Liana’s lips when the door opened, closed, locked, and then opened again.

Even as devoted as she was, Laurent didn’t trust that his wife wouldn’t bolt for freedom.

* * * *

Nightmares stalked her tattered mind, highlighting Liana’s fears with a crimson brush. Suddenly, something ominous interrupted her uneasy slumber.

"Laurent!" The hushed scream betrayed Liana’s panic and desperation. Her tired eyes scanned the small hut, hoping and praying to see his beloved form. Instead, cold emptiness mocked her prayers. Liana brought her knees up. She wrapped bare arms around her legs and rested a troubled brow.

Where are you? You’ve never left me alone for the night. Ever!

Worry knotted her stomach, keeping nausea close to the surface. Laurent had left shortly before sunset, laughingly telling her to await a marvelous surprise for their nuptial night.

Now Liana could smell dawn coming.

"Something’s wrong. I know it." Speaking the words out loud magnified Liana’s fear ten-fold.

"Little bird."

Laurent!

Liana scrambled up from the pallet. She ran to the hut’s door before her instincts snarled a warning. Liana’s feet froze, hand stretched halfway to the wooden latch.

Something malevolent awaited her.

Heart pounding with sickening force, she walked into the night air. Eerie silence asphyxiated the forest with a wicked claw.

"Little bird."

Liana stepped forward and peered into the black shadows. "Laurent? Where are you?"

"I’m right here, little bird."

The small clearing lay empty of life as did the trees beyond.

"I was worried when you didn’t come home. Where were you, Laurent?" Liana’s ears twitched, anxiously seeking sign of her husband’s presence.

"I got lost."

Laurent’s familiar voice echoed with unfamiliar resonance. "Lost? How?" She whipped her head to the left. A shimmer of movement snared her attention. "You know these woods better than any alive. How could you get lost?"

Flat laughter made Liana’s skin crawl.

"Alive. What a telling choice of word, little bird." Laurent’s cold hand clamped around her wrist. "I thought many things too. But now…now I know better."

Liana swallowed her cry of fear. Turning to him with a relieved smile, she stupidly dismissed his cryptic statements as the ramblings of a nervous bridegroom.

"It doesn’t matter. I’m just happy you’re back and unharmed. Although, you better not…" Liana’s chiding tone died only to be replaced by horror. "Laurent, what happened?"

"Something terrible. Something wonderful."

"But the blood…how did…is it yours?" Liana knew the answer as soon as she fumbled through her pitiful question. The stench clinging to his body was of terror, suffering, and death. Blinded by worry, Liana had missed the obvious.

"It didn’t come from my body, but it is mine." Laurent brought her wrist up. He kissed the soft skin tenderly before releasing it. "Just as you are."

Liana’s mind grew clouded, fear and denial fighting for dominance. "Whose blood is it, Laurent?"

He leveled his gaze on her and smiled.

Liana immediately whirled away and retched. Doubled over in the dirt, she felt the contents of her stomach rush up her throat. "NOOOO!!"

"I met a man. A man who said he knew you."

Tears flooded her eyes and nose. Gasping in vain, she fought to stop her vomiting.

"He told me you liked pretty things."

Low, guttural moans replaced her shrill denials.

"He said that he’d give me the clothes you left behind when you ran away."

Insanity gripped the corners of Liana’s mind.

"All I had to do was wait until sundown."

Her arms began to shake. Long trails of spit hung from her gaping mouth.

"He gave them to me but not before he took something first."

Liana gasped Laurent’s name over and over again, each time louder than before.

"When it was over he told me to claim everything that was mine."

She dropped back on her haunches. She shook her head with dizzying fervor.

"He told me I could be a lord. A lord, little bird. He said that my strength surpassed that of my mortal sire and his legitimate heirs. He promised that no decree would fall against me."

Liana murmured useless pleas of supplication. "This can’t be happening. This can’t be real. It just can’t!"

"So I went there. Me, the insignificant bastard! I went there and you know what I did?"