RockMySenses (18 page)

Allana

With Nike off me, I tried to push away the fog in my mind.
Combined with the blood loss, it took all my strength just to sit. I pulled my
shirt back down and readjusted my skirt. Although I couldn’t deny I enjoyed the
way she touched me, I still felt violated. The other time I wanted it, but this
time I had struggled and she had overpowered me.

I glanced around but my vision was blurry. While I pushed
more cobwebs from my brain, I heard the fight before I saw them. Hissing,
growling, roaring. And then my eyes focused. Nike fighting a beast, a massive
gray creature. A gargoyle. Yet the face was familiar. It was Mike.

He’d heard me somehow when I called to him.

“Allana,” he said through a deep voice that sounded more
like a growl.

He picked up Nike and hurled her at least thirty feet into
the ocean. Then he stared at his arm with amazement before he ran to me.

“Mike. Is it really you?” I asked.

“Yes. I don’t know how it happened, but it’s me.”

His attention diverted beyond me. “Hold on.” He stood up and
took a defensive stance with his massive fists raised. I turned and saw a
mountain lion bounding down the beach, teeth bared and ready to attack.

Oh, my God, it was Lily. Probably coming to my aid and him
thinking it was an animal coming to attack me.

Although I was so woozy from the loss of blood, I pushed
myself to my feet to lunge between them, arms spread wide. “No, Lily. Stop!”

The mountain lion slowed at my command and halted.

“I know you’ve lost blood, Allana,” Mike said in a tone
appropriate to calm someone freaking out, “But that’s not Lily.” He faced her
with clawed fists. “It’s a damn mountain lion. I don’t know what the fuck it’s
doing here on the New England coast, but it’s here!”

“It’s Lily, she’s a shifter!” I protested before they tore
each other apart. I turned to face Lily. “Don’t attack him. It’s Mike. He’s
protecting me from her.” I pointed to the water at the woman swimming to shore
with fury in her eyes.

Mike stared at Lily through stone-gray eyes, but then turned
to face Nike again. She followed suit. Now that they had a shared enemy, they
diverted their attention from each other and to her.

“Leave her be,” a French-accented man’s voice said from
behind me. “She’s not well.”

I turned to see an attractive man with sandy-brown hair.

“Leave her be?” Mike repeated. “Are you crazy? She attacked
my girl.” He gestured to me.

A warm feeling fluttered inside me even though it wasn’t
technically true.

Creatures came from the sky and landed next to the
Frenchman. Three more gargoyles that resembled Mike, but with enormous black
wings. I must have been hallucinating and fallen into a land that fit better in
one of Mike’s fantasy worlds than the one I thought I lived in, because what I
witnessed was not the one I knew. Weakened and woozy, I fell to my knees. Mike
ran to my side and cradled me to his hard, gray chest. “Allana.”

“They have wings,” I whispered. “You don’t?”

Through narrowing vision, I saw one of the gargoyles
approach the man. “You must take her away from people, Michel. She’s becoming
too dangerous.”

“We’ve searched the world for answers,” the Frenchman
shouted. “There are none.”

“Keep searching,” the gargoyle commanded. “Or bring her
fully over.”

“Never!”

My eyes drooped closed while I listened. “She cannot
continue to exist this way, trapped between two worlds.”

“I’ve been taking care of her, Danton,” Michel said in a
defensive tone. “You know that to be true.”

“I do. And you’ve done more for her than anyone could. But
she no longer has control.”

I struggled to open my eyes and saw Nike had almost reached
the shore. Pure venom spewed from her eyes, fixed on Mike.

I whispered, “Be careful,” and then closed my eyes again.
This time I neither saw nor heard anything.

Allana

When I awoke, I recognized the distinctive features of Mike’s
bedroom. I tried to piece together the events to follow what happened. A
madwoman attacked me to drink my blood, Mike had changed into a gargoyle, and
Lily had transformed into a mountain lion. There were other gargoyles. Things
like this didn’t happen to normal people. It was enough to make me want to
close my eyes and sleep for a hundred years.

The urge to go to the bathroom forced me to deal with
reality. When I caught sight of my face in the mirror, I stopped. Holy shit, I
was pale. I examined the piercings on my neck, bracing myself for the gruesome
wounds, but they were barely visible. The raised bumps were there, but most of
the redness had faded.

When I returned to the bedroom, Mike stood by the bed.

“I heard you moving around. How are you feeling?”

“Like I’m having a hangover after binge drinking at a frat
party,” I forced a smile. “Why am I here?”

Mike’s expression appeared sheepish. “I hope you’re not
angry, but I insisted I bring you back here so I could watch over you.”

“Of course not. Thanks for taking care of me.” I shook my
head, remembering last night, if it even was only last night and not months
ago. “Things are kind of blurry, but let me get this straight—that Nike woman
bit me and drank my blood?”

Mike’s face turned grim. “Yes,” he said through gritted
teeth. “She’s been taken care of.”

“Taken care of, how? Killed?”

“No. The gargoyles subdued her and locked her away after
talking some sense into her boyfriend. He fought them at first, but eventually
relented, and is with her. The gargoyles are making sure she doesn’t escape.”

I snorted. “How does her boyfriend feel about a deranged
girlfriend who goes around biting people?”

Mike gave me a deadpan stare. “He’s a vampire, Allana. She
is not, but was bitten by one and has had some complications.”

“A vampire?” Having been bitten myself, I thought of the
danger that posed to everyone there and it overshadowed concern for my own
well-being. “Wait.” I grabbed his arm. “Is Lily okay?” Anxiety welled as
quickly as an inflating balloon. Clearly Mike and I were all right, but Lily
had shifted and she appeared to be the only one of her kind among other
paranormal creatures—who could be a threat to her.

“She’s fine. Back home with Nico. She’d figured out
something was wrong with you last night. Who knows—animal intuition or
something?” He scratched his chin. “I can’t believe she’s a shifter. Did you
know?”

“Not ‘til recently.” I took a step forward and faltered.

Mike caught me around the waist. “You might feel better with
some food in you.” He draped my arm across his back to hold me up. “Can I
convince you to get back into bed so you can rest? I’ll bring you something.”

Once I was under the blankets and propped up by pillows, I
pictured the form he had changed into. “Did you really turn into a gargoyle?”

He rubbed his chin. “Ah, yeah. Surprised me too.”

“How did that happen?” I adjusted on the bed, my muscles
feeling as cramped as if I’d started a new routine.

“Danton thinks we are connected in some way, some sort of
gargoyle thing about the need to protect humans.”

I blinked rapidly. “What?”

“Apparently, that’s what gargoyles do. They watch and
protect humans. They have for centuries.”

I put my head in my temples. “Bear with me. I’m just human,”
I grinned. “It might take me longer to follow.”

Mike sat down on the bed and moved a strand of hair off my
cheek. “I’m still learning myself. This is a whole new world for me too.”

“They had wings. You didn’t. I wonder why.”

“You don’t have to rub it in.” He cocked a smile.

“Sorry, just an observation.”

“They can fly too,” he added with a wistful tone. “My skin
last night, I don’t even know how to describe it. Danton explained it as a
protective layer, far tougher than human skin. This whole thing blows my mind
if I think about it too hard.”

“Okay, try to explain it to me. And I’ll try not to
interrupt.”

Mike’s gaze drifted off as he seemed to search for words.
“The more time we’ve spent together and my feelings for you have grown, the
more my need to protect you has grown as well. So powerful we forged some sort
of bond.” His eyes moved to my own. “Each time I’ve felt compelled to protect
you, the gargoyle side, which had always been a part of me, grew stronger. That
night when I leaped off the stage to stop that guy from touching you flipped a
switch. I’d never felt like that before. And last night when I thought Nike was
trying to kill you, it pushed me over the edge into a full gargoyle form to
better protect you.”

My mind swam with what he told me. “This is because of me?”
I asked in a small voice.

He ran his fingers over my shoulder. “Us.”

“Are you okay with it, this change?”

“I am.” He sat up straighter. “A part of me is freaked out,
the other part far more curious. It explains things about me that always made
me different from others. It feels good to know I’m not alone. Not such a
weirdo. My grandfather and Danton will help me understand what this means.”

My eyes searched his, those deep, hazel eyes with the dark
lashes. While my brain fizzled with questions, my heart bloomed knowing our
bond. I squeezed his hand. “We’re connected in some way?”

He nodded. “I feel it. Do you?”

“Yes. But I thought it was because I love—” I cut myself
off. What the hell was I saying? All these emotions were overwhelming me,
threatening to spill my deep confessions.

“You love me?” His face lit up. “Even after seeing what I
turned into?”

Struggling for words to take back what I’d just revealed, I
realized I didn’t want to hide from my feelings anymore. “Yes. Of course I do.
You took on that form to save me. I owe you my life.” My lips twitched into a
grin. “Actually, you looked kind of cute in that form. Reminded me of a dog.
And I love dogs.”

He swooped down and covered my face and arms in kisses. “You
look nothing like a dog.” He took my hand and kissed the fingertips. “I love
you, Allana. With all my being.”

I took a deep breath. “I know I’ve been aloof about my
feelings, but that was because I was scared. A coward.”

“No. You told me your reasons and I understand.”

“I’m still scared. Of diving into a relationship with you at
the same time as jumping in with the studio.” He watched me, still as stone.
“It’s terrifying to think one of us could end up with a broken heart. But being
with you is the most exhilarating experience of my life. It’s a risk, but
you’re worth it.” I leaned up to kiss his cheek, the beard growth tickling my
lips. “You’re the best man I’ve ever known. And I’ll regret it for every second
of my life if I don’t give it a shot. If it’s not too late, I’d like to give us
a try.” I pulled back and searched his eyes, waiting for his answer.

“It’s not too late.” His voice lowered to a sultry tone that
melted through me. “I’ve been waiting for you. Even when I thought you wanted
nothing to do with me, I waited for you still.” He ran his fingers over my
cheek.

I swallowed, overwhelmed with emotions and not knowing how
to respond.

“How about I make you breakfast in bed?”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

Mike returned with pancakes dripping with maple syrup and
hot hazelnut coffee. He doted over me like a parent, making sure I ate enough
to restore my energy. Fortified with food and caffeine, I felt well enough to
get out of bed. “I have to get to the studio,” I said, dropping my feet to the
floor.

“Wait,” he said. “I have to tell you something else Danton
told me.”

“What?” I glanced up at him. He has such a serious
expression on his face, I stayed where I was on the bed.

“He said to keep an eye on you. For anything strange.”

I cocked my head. “Like what?”

“Because Nike bit you.”

“I’ll get tested,” I said. “Don’t worry. I’m up to date on
my shots,” I added wryly.

“That’s not what I mean,” he explained, running his hand
over his chin. “She isn’t a vampire, not in the true sense.”

A real-life discussion about vampires was not one I ever
thought I’d have, but that’s exactly the turn this one was taking. He paused,
as if waiting to see how I’d handle this. “I’m listening,” I said.

“She was bitten by a vampire and has been acting more like
one since it happened.” He paused again and I wondered where he was going with
this. “Most humans recover fine from vampire bites—if they aren’t drained and
killed—but she has had a strange reaction.”

I raised my eyebrows. “And now you think I might start
acting like some crazed vampire?”

“No. I don’t,” he said.

“But—how do you feel?”

I gauged my body for any odd sensations. “Like the undead,”
I said with a deadpan expression. His eyes widened in horror and I laughed.
“I’m just teasing. I just feel like I had a rough night and could use a shower.
That’s it.” I waved my hands around and laughed. “No urge to drink blood and
become a creature of the night.”

Mike raised a finger to scold me. “Not funny.” But then he
laughed along with me.

“Mind if I use your shower?”

“I’m coming in with you,” he said. When I gave him an
inquisitive look, he added, “No, it’s not to make sure you don’t turn all
vampy. You may still be weak and I want to be there to catch you if you fall.”

In the shower, weakness was the last thing on my mind. Mike
washed my hair and conditioned it. His fingers running through it were a
sensual experience on its own. The water almost scalded our skin, but it
soothed my sore muscles.

Mike washed me with a loofah sponge covered with a clean-smelling
body wash. Every nerve awoke under his silky ministrations as he trailed it over
my curves. From my neck and shoulders, over my breasts, lingering on my
nipples. He dropped the sponge to kiss each one, spiraling the hard bud with
his warm tongue. I almost lost my footing then, but his hands clamped on my
hips kept me steady. He resumed sponging me, traveling farther down my body. My
breath hitched as I waited for him to reach between my thighs, but he flashed a
wicked smile as he moved to wash my back instead. He sponged down my lower back
and the suds rushed between my cheeks. Then he paid particular attention to my
ass.