Lust Immortal (Immortal Series Book 1) (3 page)

She didn’t
answer. Instead she stepped in front of him, blocking the light of the fire
with her body, and brought her hand to his. William flinched, trying to avoid
the touch that would put him over the edge, but he couldn’t. She took his hand
in hers, the warmth of her body seeping into the cold depths of his, and
brought it to her cheek. His fingers caressed the smooth skin tentatively, the
dampness of her tears wetting his fingers. Their eyes locked, and William
wondered what she would do next.

Slowly,
Isabel dropped his hand and turned to go. The ghost of her touch on his skin
opened a deep chasm in his chest, a chasm only she could fill. She’d broken the
unspoken rule and now there was no going back. William grabbed her wrist, his
fingers fitting around the narrow bone and flesh easily, and he stood. He
needed more of her, needed her body and blood to belong to him and only him.
Wrapping his arms around her slender waist, he pressed his body into hers, the
heat of her fueling his aching desire.

He quickly
untied her robe and moved it off her shoulders, revealing the pale swell of her
breasts and the rounded fullness of her hips and bottom as the linen fell to
the floor.

Underneath
his hands, she trembled. Out of fear or anticipation? He knew not.

William
lowered his mouth to her neck, her fragrance intoxicating him. “Are you scared
of me, Isabel?”

Her voice
was little more than a breath of air. “No.”

Her trust
almost gave him pause. He wasn’t sure if he could hold back once it all
started. William didn’t think he could even walk away now. “Perhaps you should
be.”

Instead of
fleeing, Isabel leaned into him, inviting him to caress her body. His hands
traveled into the top of her chemise, the pink of her nipples hardening as soon
as he rubbed his fingers over them. With each breath, her breasts heaved under
his hands, her heart pounding against his palms. “You respond to my touch so
well.”

“Yes.”

William’s
mind clouded with lust, and his hands traveled out of her chemise and rubbed
her waist and well-rounded hips. The thin cotton of the chemise stole some of
her heat from his hands. He needed to get it off. They both needed to be free
of the clothing that bound them!

He spun her
around and took in the perfection of her body, the pink nipples and the garden
of curls that held her pleasure. William knew how simple it would be to plow
into her without consideration, but he wasn’t Charles. He needed to take things
slow. She deserved it.

Isabel
leaned forward and fumbled with the knot and pin on his cravat before moving onto
his shirt buttons, while William took of his waistcoat and unlaced his
britches. Nearly free of his clothes in less time than he imagined, he stared
at the gentle curve of Isabel’s eyebrows and the way her lashes brushed her
cheeks when she blinked. Pulling her into him, he stole her lips, kissing them
with years of pent up frustration. Her fingers dug into the flesh of his back,
their fevered warmth adding to the growing pool of his need.

Her mouth
opened for him, willing him to come inside as his hardness pressed into her
body. In one swift movement, William moved her to the floor, his body pressed
on top of hers. Still too much between them, he pulled the chemise up to reveal
her naked form, bathed in firelight and waiting just for him. Moments before
he’d fantasied about his and now the dream was a reality. Lowering his mouth to
her skin, he kissed it, her heat burning into his lips as he traveled down her
body.

Opening his
mouth, he wet each nipple, enjoying the sensation of the flesh hardening under
his tongue and the shuddering moans that escaped Isabel’s mouth. He made his
way between her thighs, pushing them open to reveal in the pink warmth of her
center. Glancing at her, William saw the want in Isabel’s eyes, the same as his
own. Gently, he ran a finger over her wetness.

“Have you
ever been touched like this?”

“No,” she
breathed and writhed under his hands.

Had she
saved herself for him? William pushed down his under garments as he lowered his
face to her warmth. The first flick of his tongue made her gasp, her smell and
taste filling his body with a fervor he’d never known. He licked at the velvety
skin gently, almost teasing her with barely realized touches, each moan making
his already hard member throb with anticipation.

Her entrance
wept for him, and he obliged by slipping a long finger inside. Her hips
responded in kind, moving in rhythm with each lick, each thrust. The thought of
bringing her to her peak then and there arose to him, but he fought against it.
His own need ached, and the look of longing in her eyes told him the truth. She
wanted it as badly as he did.

Sitting up,
William moved over her body, positioning his length over her as he lowered his
mouth to her neck. “Look at you,” he said as he lifted her arms above her head
and held her wrists steady.

“William.”

The
desperation in her voice fed his desire. “Yes, Isabel.”

Slowly, he
pushed his throbbing manhood inside as he lowered his fangs into her flesh. It
took all his control not to drink without abandon. Instead, he held still and
let her adjust to his size. Gently, he moved himself in and out until her
breathing steadied and the trembling of her body gave way to pleasure and not
the pain of newness. She moaned as he drank. The taste of her blood, like that
of chocolate and raspberries when he was alive, filled his mouth, as her warmth
gripped onto him.

He didn’t
take much, drinking her into senselessness would do no good for the situation.
Licking the wound, he pulled back and admired her face, twisted in the pleasure
he provided. William kissed her without abandon, the warmth of her blood
filling him so they burned against each other in a pool of fiery passion.
Releasing her wrists, she wrapped her arms around his back, digging nails into
the smooth flesh. Yes. She had the right idea. They needed to be closer!
William pulled her into him, lifting her up as he thrust into her deeper and
faster, her body scorching through his skin and into his very veins.

William
stared into her eyes as she reached the peak of her pleasure, her mouth opening
into an almost perfect “o” as she moaned and clenched onto him. His apex came a
moment later, the fervor of the moment bursting free inside of her, taking over
his body like it never had before. The perfume of their sweat mingled together
as he collapsed on top of her.

As the
pleasure dulled to contentment, William panted, trying to catch his breath, as
Isabel trembled and gasped under him. His black hair tumbled over his
shoulders, the ribbon no doubt coming loose in the intensity of the moment, and
she pushed it out of his face.

Yes, he
loved her just as she loved him- perhaps more. But what did that mean for them?
How could they be together and not be in danger of the council?

 “I
want to stay,” she said, “but if you think this was a mistake, I’ll go.”

William
buried his face in her hair and gripped onto her slender shoulders. “No
mistake. I do want you to stay with me.”

“I will,”
she said, her breath brushing his ear.

Her heart
pounded inside her fragile human body and against his chest. With each beat
William knew what he had to do. He’d protect her from them- from everyone- no
matter what.

Chapter Three

Isabel woke
with a strong arm wrapped around her. The last rays of sunlight peeked through
the heavy curtains, and she knew it was time to rise. She might not be an
indentured servant any longer, but she was still a servant nonetheless. Tabby
would be up and cleaning already, unless Charles drank too much of her blood
again. No- Charles still hadn’t been home last night when they’d gone to sleep
and that was nearly dawn. Wherever he was, he’d be staying until the sun set
and he could move about the world freely.

William’s
body had cooled during the night, although he’d taken a small sip right after
they’d made love to warm him up. Isabel smiled at his sleeping form, his mouth
slightly open and the flutter of his eyelashes as he dreamed. The past few
months had been better than any dream she could imagine. He was her lover and
her friend- how could their situation improve?

Ducking out
of his grasp, Isabel sat up in bed, but William’s hand caught her wrist, his
thumb rubbing across the smooth skin in circles. “Leaving so soon?”

“I have
chores. Tabby will be swamped if I don’t get up.”

“The house
is clean enough,” William said and sat up, taking Isabel in his arms.

Isabel
moaned as his hands cupped her breasts, one touch of his cool fingers bringing
her nipples to attention. The twinge of excitement rushed between her legs,
wetting her desire. His hands traveled lower, caressing the skin of her stomach
and the smooth curve of her hips and thighs. When he touched her like that,
there was nothing she could do to deny him- and she had no inclination to.
She’d longed for William for all those years and she finally had him. What more
could she want?

Turning to
face him, she pressed her mouth to his. The shock of his kisses never seemed to
wear off. His soft lips met hers with the perfect amount of pressure, mouth
opening to invite her tongue inside. She rubbed her hands against the firmness of
his chest, the slow beating of his heart pounded against her hand as he gripped
onto her bottom. She wondered, not for the first time, how he never seemed to
age yet his heart still beat. Vampires were strange, no doubt. Perhaps their
hearts just beat too slowly to age properly.

Climbing on
top of his lap, she smiled at the erect member and pulled down the sheets.

“Isabel,”
William breathed, his fingers trailing up her back and into the mass of brown
hair. His own dark hair hung straight and messy over his alabaster shoulders,
making him look even paler than normal.

In most
cases, Isabel preferred a decent amount of foreplay, but she didn’t want Tabby
to do all the morning chores without her. She climbed on top of him, mounting
his manhood and easing herself over it. Her warmth welcomed him in.

William’s
fingers dug into the skin of her hips, his thickness throbbing inside of her as
she slowly rode him. His eyes met hers, and she knew how much he cared for her-
how he would do everything in his power to protect her from the others of his
kind. Just a few months before she’d been willing to give him up and seek a
life of her own, but now that seemed utterly impossible. Her heart belonged to
him and his belonged to her. Even if they were never officially married, their
souls already spoke the vows of eternal love.

Leaning
forward, William took her breast in his mouth, suckling on the nipple with just
the tip of this teeth and tongue. The prick of fang into the flesh of her
breast sent a brush of delight across her body as he sipped. She moaned and
moved her hips faster as he thrust into her, each plunge sending shockwaves of
heat over her flesh and through her veins. Her breath was little more than
ragged gasps, and he brought his mouth to hers and kissed it as the throes of
passion embraced them both. Digging her fingers into the flesh on his back,
Isabel moaned into his mouth.

Then, as
William often did, he bit her neck. The pinch of the fangs sunk into her skin,
but the momentary pain faded away and enhanced the pleasure of her diminishing
orgasm. He never took much, and he still drank from other humans, although
Isabel didn’t know whom, but the idea that he would finally bite her- if only
to take a drink- filled her heart with gratification.

His body warmed
as he withdrew his fangs and licked her neck and breast, and she rested her
head on his strong shoulder for a moment, enjoying the feeling of his pleasure
contracting inside her.

“Can
vampire’s have children,” she asked and ran a finger through the hair on his
shoulders.

To her
surprise, William laughed. “Yes, only I’ve heard it’s difficult for vampire
women to conceive, though not impossible.” He said nothing about human women.

 Isabel
nodded and climbed off his warm lap. “I do need to get to work. Tabby won’t be
happy with me,” she said and hurried to slip on her chemise and robe. Her
clothes were still in her little room in the servant’s quarters, but no one but
Tabby and John would be up and about. While most humans still rose at dawn and
went about their business during the day, humans who lived in the care of
vampires had to adhere to a nocturnal schedule. Over the last ten years Isabel
had grown used to it, but at times she longed to spend a day in the warm
sunshine, or avoid needing a candle or lantern for every chore she performed.
Not to mention that the price the household spent on tallow and wax was
obscene!

Hurrying
toward the other end of the house, she smelled breakfast cooking in the
kitchen- the familiar scent of fresh baked bread filled the air and made
Isabel’s stomach grumble. She’d been hungrier of late, and the growing knot in
her belly told her why. Plus, she’d skipped her last two cycles and now she
knew for certain what the cause was. A child. She was going to have a child
with William- but would he be delighted or not? She’d have to tell him soon and
find out.

After
dressing, she rushed to the kitchen and found a slice of bread, butter and jam
waiting for her as Tabby cleaned up.

“Good
evening,” the blond woman said with a sly smile. “You were late getting up.
Again.”

Isabel
spread the butter on her bread and watched it melt. “I overslept.”

Tabby
laughed, her pretty face mirthful as she shook her head. “I’m sure you did.
Although, I don’t remember seeing you go to your room last night.” Her blonde
hair was tied into a bun at the base of her neck, and the lack of sunlight made
her look as pale as a vampire.

Isabel took
a bite of her bread and a sip of milk. It did no good to keep the truth from
Tabby- she was too nosy for her own good- but she didn’t want to confirm it for
fear of someone spreading the news. While Isabel didn’t know exactly what the
Vampire Council might do, William was frightened of them. Best not to push it.

“I can’t
really say,” she said and frowned at her food. She really wanted, more than
anything, to get some advice from the other woman. Tabby was only a few years
older than Isabel, but at least she might know what to do in her situation.

“Of course
you can’t. Well, I hope he’s going to marry you- whoever the lucky fellow is.”

Isabel
nodded and finished her breakfast, knowing that would never come to pass.

William
appeared from his room as she started her first chore of the night, mopping the
great flagstone floor at the entrance of the house. Even with rugs in place the
floor still got far dirtier than any other besides that of the kitchen. He
smiled at her as he passed, his hair neatly combed and tied back. He wore the
brown linen britches and jacket she’d made for him several years ago. If he was
dressed such she knew he had no errands to run that night- at least not errands
that involved other vampires.

“Is Charles
back yet?”

“Not that I
know of, but the sun only set an hour ago. He could still be on the road or
otherwise engaged,” she said. Charles rarely seemed to spend the night at home,
although he was usually back by sunrise. Whoever he’d met obviously made it
worth his while to spend the whole day with them. Unless- no. Nothing bad could
have happened to him. That was unthinkable! She’d known Charles just as long as
she’d known William, and he’d been far friendlier to her than the elusive older
brother. Although she’d never asked, she often wondered how the two were
related. William’s strong features and dark hair looked nothing like Charles
plain brown hair and even features- made more attractive by his power no doubt.

“Alert me as
soon as he gets in, please,” he said, his voice neutral, but Isabel saw a spark
of concern in his eyes and in the twitch of his mouth.

“Is
something wrong, Master?”

“Oh, for
heaven’s sake, Isabel! Call me William. And no, I just need to talk to Charles
about something.”

She nodded,
and brought her mop across the gray stones just as he walked down the hall. As
she thought about it, she realized the younger brother hadn’t bitten her once
since her first night with William- and no other vampire had either. That was
due to the lack of guests they’d had, which wasn’t uncommon. William wasn’t
much of an entertainer, especially when he only had three servants to do all
the labor for him. Most of the other vampires in Philadelphia had dozens of
servants, one for nearly every job in their household, but William and Charles
weren’t like the other vampires at all even though they lived in a home far too
big for two single men.

Voices from
the courtyard shook Isabel from her thoughts, and she moved her bucket just as
the door opened.

“Floor’s
wet, sir,” she said as Charles stepped inside, followed by Mr. and Mrs. Moorish
and Mistress Abigail Perch.

“Of course,”
Charles said, his suit from the night before slightly rumpled as though he’d
slept in it. “I was on my way home and look who I ran into. We’ll be in the
sitting room. Fetch William at once!”

Isabel
nodded, keeping her eyes downcast as the vampires moved past. Both ladies were
lovely, the sort of unearthly beauty all vampires possessed. Although Mrs.
Moorish’s hair was stark white, her face was as youthful as a schoolgirl’s. Her
fine silk gown rustled as she moved down the hall. Mistress Perch was even more
beautiful. Her pale blonde curls were piled onto her head like a crown, and the
paleness of her skin made her look like she was made of porcelain. Her cotton
gown, dyed indigo, brought out the vibrancy of her blue eyes. They were much
brighter and lovelier than Isabel’s own pale blue eyes.

Mr. Moorish,
however, did not hold the same appeal as the others. Like his wife, his hair
was also white, although he looked to be in his late thirties. Hooded eyes and
a thin mouth made him look unpleasant, even though Isabel knew she should find
him attractive. His lips twisted into a smile as she glanced at him, and she
quickly looked away. How would William keep them from biting her? He’d
explained it was seen as an insult to keep servants from other vampires, and
she accepted that. However, he’d also said he’d not allow anyone else to lay a
fang in her again. It seemed unlikely he’d be able to keep that promise.

She hurried
toward William’s study, but he emerged as soon as she neared the door, a frown
on his face. “Charles has arrived. He and his guests are in the sitting room.”

William
nodded, the look in his eyes one of barely concealed anger. “Send in Tabitha
and John.”

He was going
to try and stretch two servants among five vampires? That wouldn’t do! “Master,
is that wise?”

He ran his
finger down her cheek, but didn’t say another word as he walked away.

Isabel
frowned as she hurried to the kitchen to inform Tabby. The blonde was on her
hands and knees scrubbing the kitchen floor when Isabel stepped in. “Guests.
Master William wants you and John in the sitting room.”

Tabby looked
down at the water soaking through her skirt and wiped her hands on her apron.
“Did he say anything about appearances?”

“It’s Mr.
and Mrs. Moorish.”

“Oh hell!”
Tabby said as she stood and leaned out of the kitchen door to the yard. “John.
We’re needed!”

The
shirtless and sweaty form of a man in his mid-twenties emerged from the
stables. His finely muscled chest was covered in a thin layer of hair and his
skin was skill golden although he rarely saw the sun. Looking at him, Isabel
saw why women found John attractive. His eyes were bright and large, and his
mouth looked like it held a smile, even when it didn’t. He’d tied his brown
hair back with a piece of twine to keep it out of the way. “Where?”

“Sitting
room,” Tabby said, and John nodded and sighed.

“I’ll get
cleaned up.”

Vampire
masters insisted their servants were clean at all times, which meant they had
to bathe more than once a week. Isabel guessed it was the enhanced sense of
smell that called for such care.

She went
back to mopping the entryway and watched as a freshly scrubbed John and Tabby,
in a dry dress, entered the room. While Isabel didn’t like being in the
presence of other vampires something about the situation struck her as odd.
Charles looked almost nervous about the whole thing. And Charles was never
nervous. That just didn’t happen. Unless the council knew about them! Had
Charles accidently told? Isabel moved her mop and bucket closer to the door and
tried to hear what they talked about inside. Even when she mopped as slowly as
possible, she only heard the mumble of voices. What was she supposed to do?