OnsetofDanger (6 page)

“But you promised Desmond—”

“We promised Desmond you would not be harmed and we intend
to keep that promise. You will know only pleasure at our hands, but it is
important that you understand your will is no longer your own.”

Orris approached, his gaze narrowed yet gleaming. Roman was
a step behind.

“You understand your orders? You don’t come until she comes,
regardless of how long that takes.”

“Yes, sir,” the guards chorused.

“I don’t want this!” She tried one last time, desperately
clinging to the last sliver of her pride. But already her body was warming,
softening in anticipation of the pleasure to come. “You promised to protect me.
I have a mate.”

“There are no mates within the Brethren. We share everything
equally,” Farren told her as Orris pulled off his shirt. “Your body is one of
many and there are many willing and able to satisfy you. We are many and yet we
are one. It is the Levari way.”

“It is not
this
Levari’s way.” She renewed her
struggles and Farren’s arms tightened around her.

“We will not harm you.” Orris cupped her breast, golden
light shimmering in his dark eyes. “The Levari Brethren understand the
importance of healthy female hosts.”

“You have a hell of a way of showing it.” She tried to twist
away from his exploring hands but Farren wouldn’t allow her retreat.

“We felt your surrender,” Farren whispered in her ear. “Not
only is this familiar to you, it is natural. Your body longs to be mastered,
controlled. You ache for the days when you had no control, when you were free
to revel in whatever pleasure you were given without thought or regret.” When
she remained tense and silent, he said, “We prefer to share this with you, but
either way your body will accommodate our needs.”

Roman sank to his knees and lightly petted her pubic curls.
“May I be the first to fuck her pussy?”

“That’s up to her,” Farren told the guard. “Pleasure her
well and see if she will allow it.”

Roman parted her folds with his fingers and framed her clit
with his lips. Tingling tension gathered beneath his swirling tongue and
Caresse knew she was doomed. She rested her head against Farren’s shoulder and
closed her eyes.

Someone was teasing her nipples, likely Orris. His fingers
were firm, but patient, each sensation stopping just short of pain.

“You are part of the Levari Brethren now. There is no
escape. Accept us and you will know only pleasure. Displease us and your life
will become a living hell.”

Farren’s words reverberated through her mind as Roman lifted
one of her legs to his shoulder, giving him better access to her sex. Unless
Desmond returned with his powers intact, she was out of options. She had to
stay alive and retain what little remained of her individuality. Life in the
feeding dens had taught her how to adapt, how to process sensations without
surrendering her soul. Knowing there was no other choice, at least for now, she
relaxed within Farren’s embrace and let the pleasure come.

Heat spread across Eloise’s chest as Bronik’s gaze lowered
to her breasts. Each time she sucked air into her lungs her flesh swelled above
the neckline of her beaded evening gown. She needed to calm down, regulate her
breathing and clear her mind. She felt restless and desperate. And desperate
people made stupid mistakes.

Bronik didn’t know her symbionts were paralyzed. It was the
only thing keeping her from mindless panic. She stood in one corner of the
kitchen, caged by his arms, half a step away from his muscular body. Without
the benefit of her high-heeled shoes, she barely reached his chin and she had
to tilt her head back to look into his eyes. She’d never met a man who could
make her tremble with just a heated look. And it wasn’t just his size that made
her feel weak and liquid. She was drawn to him, attracted in a way she’d never
experienced before. She’d felt the magnetic pull even while he was in chains.
Of course the awareness hadn’t been nearly as disconcerting while she’d
controlled the situation.

“Who kidnapped you and what were they after?” His voice
rumbled through her body and made her senses hum.

Did Strigo strain know the Levari were still alive? How long
had Bronik been skulking around the other house before he appeared to her?

She cleared her throat and did her best to sound bored. “I
have no idea. You
rescued
me before they realized I was awake.”

He caught her chin and tilted her head back, his gaze
drilling into hers. “Don’t lie to me again. I will not tolerate deception.” His
fingers relaxed, becoming more caress than restraint.

Her chin trembled as she wet her lower lip. Each time he
turned aggressive she felt a faint stirring, as if her symbionts were trying to
awaken. Without her powers she had no chance of defending herself, much less
finding a way to escape. Still, provoking him would be foolish if backup was on
its way.

“Does my mother know where I am?”

“You might not be restrained but don’t misunderstand the
situation. I’m asking the questions here.” She turned her head, dislodging his
hand in the process. He countered the motion by sliding his hand down her neck
and resting it on her bare shoulder. “Your captor had just left the bedroom
when I arrived. I know you spoke with him at least once.”

She made a derisive sound and raised her chin. “He said,
‘Oh, you’re awake. I’ll get you some water,’ then left the room.” With all the
arrogance she could muster, she added, “Does that tell you what you wanted to
know?”

He slid his hand back up her neck, the simple touch far more
evocative than it should have been. “What I want has nothing to do with this.
I’m trying to save your life. If Prince Alexi gets his hands on you, there
won’t be much left when he’s finished.”

Rather than shying away from his touch, she rubbed her cheek
against his hand and looked up at him through her lashes. “My hero,” she
murmured.

He narrowed his eyes and cupped the back of her head, his
fingers teasing the wispy curls at the nape of her neck. “If you need a good
hard fuck, I’m good to go. But as soon as we’re finished you’re still going to
answer my questions.”

She didn’t want a good hard fuck. She wanted to spend all
night exploring his amazing body, learning what pleased him and what drove him
wild. Was he a generous lover or was he the kind of man who bent a woman over
the nearest piece of furniture and selfishly slaked his lust?

What difference did it make? She pushed his hand away from
her head and guided it back to the counter. This wasn’t a romantic getaway. She
was his prisoner and he’d sensed her lies and sidestepped her evasions. She
needed to tell him something close enough to the truth that he’d believe she
was cooperating. “I was sedated right after they snatched me from the party.”

“They?” He latched on to the detail, his perceptiveness damn
annoying. “How many of them were there?”

“I only saw one but it would have taken a team of three or
four… Unless the one I saw could teleport, of course.” She arched her brow,
accenting the implied challenge. Strigo was the only strain able to teleport.
Most other hosts could disperse their physical bodies and travel as mist, but
that wasn’t the same as instantaneously moving from one place to another. And
only the strongest Strigo hosts could teleport with a passenger.

“I wouldn’t have needed to rescue you if Strigo strain were
behind your abduction.”

“Where did you find me?” She tried to distract him, direct
his mind away from his questions. “Why does Prince Alexi want to question me?
What does he think I know?”

He ignored her questions but took a tiny step forward,
bringing his body closer to hers. “The kidnapper had to have given you some
idea why you’d been abducted.”

Awareness arced between them, hot and electric. Her
symbionts vibrated, sending impulses zinging through her without specific
direction. She felt energized, almost giddy, yet she had no control over the
sudden rush of energy. If she came on to him now he’d think it was another
evasion. Yet anything that stimulated her symbionts was worth pursuing.

“There will be consequences for lies,” he reminded her.

She could claim there hadn’t been time, that he’d flashed
her out before the other man explained his motivation. But a half-truth was
more believable. “He claimed my mother had stolen something that belonged to
him. He offered to trade me for whatever it is she took.”

“He didn’t tell you what it was?”

She shook her head then tried to duck under his arm, needing
him to touch her. As she’d hoped, he caught her upper arms and pressed her back
against the counter. “All he said was that I should know. When I insisted I
didn’t, he stormed out of the room. He said I might be more reasonable after a
couple of hours of solitude.”

“But you’d just had two days of solitude.”

“The majority of which I’d been unconscious.” Flecks of
green shimmered in his dark eyes, warning of a surge in Strigo energy. It was
now or never. She couldn’t let him push past her shields. He’d realize she was
helpless. “I’m exhausted and hungry.” She lowered her tone to a throaty purr.
“I’ve never been fond of bagged blood and you can’t feed me. But can you think
of anything else we can do that will make me feel less depleted?”

With a low growl he bent his head and inhaled her breath.
“If you let me off my leash, baby doll, you’re going to get more than a few
scratches.”

Her pulse leapt and her core tensed. Gods, she needed this.
It was dangerous and foolish and oh so tempting. “I’m not afraid of you.” It
was a challenge and he instantly took the bait.

He bent low enough to wrap his arm around her thighs then
straightened as he slid her up his body. Her feet left the floor and she
wrapped her arms around his neck as her body contoured itself to his. “Kiss
me,” he whispered, his breath teasing her lips.

She understood the deeper meaning. If she wanted this he’d
play along, but there would be no mistaking who had started it. She shifted one
of her hands to his face and the bristles along his jawline rasped against her
fingertips. Everything about him was rugged and masculine, sturdy and strong.
It would have been wiser to be intimidated by such power, but she found it
captivating.

After brushing his lips with her thumb, she pressed her
mouth over his. It wasn’t really a kiss, at least not yet. She absorbed his
heat and inhaled his scent, allowing the tension to build. His tongue touched
her lips, inviting a deeper connection without venturing beyond the portal
she’d created. If she wanted more he was willing and ready, but she had to take
it.

She shifted her head to a better angle and parted her lips,
heart pounding as she waited for his response. He followed smoothly, his lips
warm and firm against hers. With an incoherent murmur, she slid her tongue into
his waiting mouth. He tasted like coffee and desire, two of her favorite
flavors. His tongue stroked hers and she felt his fangs lengthen, ready to
devour.

Unnerved by the potential danger, she pulled back into her
own mouth. He followed, pushing past her lips to continue the sensual swirl.
Each ragged breath blended their scents and their dueling tongues mingled their
tastes. Eloise waited for the familiar burn of her descending fangs, willing
her body to transform. The next step would be to combine a few drops of her
blood with a few drops of his. A kiss never felt complete without the intimate
mixture.

His tongue slid over her teeth then he slowly separated
their mouths. “Relax. I’ll filter my blood if you’re too weak to deal with my
symbionts.”

Mixing symbionts was dangerous, potentially lethal. That’s
why hosts from different strains didn’t feed from each other. It was also the
reason blood kisses were so popular. Hosts were attracted to danger. They
craved the rush of beating the odds. Not to mention a drop or two of a
potential partner’s blood revealed more about him or her than weeks of
conversation. Few hosts would move on to sex if a blood kiss was refused.

Before she could make up a believable excuse he took control
of the kiss. He set her down on the countertop and pushed her skirt up, freeing
her legs to wrap around his hips. Then he cradled her head against the bend of
his elbow and covered her mouth with his.

Their lips pressed and their tongues curled. He tried to
nick her tongue but she carefully avoided the points of his fangs. She wasn’t
sure he would realize her symbionts were inactive but she wasn’t taking any
chances.

The kiss went on and on, intoxicating and consuming. She
relaxed in his embrace and waited for another swell of energy. Maybe it wasn’t
just passion. The tingling seemed to follow an unexpected surge of aggression.
Though troubling, the pattern didn’t surprise her. She’d always been attracted
to strong, dangerous men.

She tore her mouth away from his and gripped the edge of the
counter. “We shouldn’t.” She panted, knowing her breasts heaved with each
ragged breath. “I know nothing about you.”

He scraped his fangs along the side of her throat, his hands
supporting her back. “We’ve both wanted this since we met. And if you want to
know more, allow a blood kiss.”

She couldn’t argue with that but his actions only stirred
her body. Her symbionts were silent and still. “My mother will kill me.” She’d
meant the statement as a reminder to him that she was his enemy, but dread
passed its icy fingers over her soul. If Tara sensed any weakness or betrayal,
even in her adopted daughter, she would react without mercy or regret.

“Your mother will never know.”

His casual dismissal of a very real danger stung. She
splayed her hands against his chest and pushed, but he didn’t seem to notice.
The room swelled and swayed with her slightest movement. Why did she feel
so…odd?

With practiced ease he unfastened the back of her gown,
creating enough room for his hands inside the stiff fabric. He stroked her back
and shoulders then slipped one hand inside the bodice and cupped her breast.
“Oh yeah.” His mouth found hers again as his hands boldly explored. He squeezed
one mound and then the other, pausing long enough to tease her nipple before
switching sides.

Her head spun and her fingers tingled. She felt drugged,
sluggish and overly warm. Was she weakening from whatever the Levari had done
to her or had there been something wrong with the blood Bronik had given her?

Turning her head to the side, she drew in a deep breath, but
it only made the dizziness worse. “Bronik,” she whispered.

“I’m right here, sweetheart.” He pushed her bodice down,
exposing her breasts to his hungry eyes. “So beautiful.”

His mouth latched on to her breast and her head rolled back,
the room spinning around her. “I feel… Something’s…”

He released her nipple and pulled her toward him as
everything went black.

Bronik forced his hunger under control as Eloise went limp
in his arms. For a millisecond he’d thought she was pretending, surrendering to
her uncertainty. But this was no act. She was unconscious. Her warm breath
against his neck assured him she was breathing, so he quickly refastened the
back of her gown then lifted her into his arms. She felt shockingly
insubstantial despite her height and alluring curves. Were humans all this
fragile?

Dismissing the tangent, he deactivated the shields
surrounding the house with an urgent mental pulse. Then he flashed outside and
reactivated the shields before locating the psychic beacon that would guide him
back to Strigo headquarters.

Sire, something’s wrong with the female. Is Simone
available?
The Vladya healer had asked for sanctuary in exchange for her
assistance in rescuing Prince Alexi’s crew from the Vancouver compound. No one
was ready to trust her completely, but she was being treated as a guest, not a
prisoner.

Is she ill or injured?
Edrick Yeager, Alexi’s uncle,
responded to Bronik’s page
.
Edrick had been head of Strigo strain before
Prince Alexi arrived on Earth.

She’s unconscious and I’m not sure why.

Take her to the gatehouse. I’ll send Simone there.

Yes, sir.
It was a wise precaution. Unconscious or
not, this was Tara Kovac’s daughter.

Slowly expanding his seeker pulse beyond the psychic beacon,
Bronik located the gatehouse. He clasped Eloise tightly to his chest then
dispersed their corporeal bodies. His symbionts took over from there,
projecting him and his passenger toward their destination in upstate New York.

Bronik had teleported for the first time at thirteen, so the
disembodied rush and utter dependency on the skill of his symbionts was nothing
new. He had even teleported with other people before, so why did he feel so
antsy? He had the irrational urge to scream cautions to his symbionts and
insist they pay special attention.