Rune (31 page)

Jess shivered. The vampires circled, their attention fed over them with keen eyes. Heck, if they were a lobster in a tank, they couldn’t have generated any more attention. Kobe, she noticed, stayed back in the shadows, keeping a type of anonymity. She wondered when he would make the decision to kill, or was keeping them on tenterhooks part of the torture?

An ominous silence lay over the area. There were no muted mutterings, instead an eeriness infiltrated the air.

Jess followed how they stalked them, pacing back and forth. She knew it wouldn’t be long, that soon their lives would be forfeit. Kitty remained unconscious, and Jess was glad that Kitty wouldn’t see what was coming. She peered into the gloom, at Kobe, who walked slowly towards her. His face hard, his eyes glinting, and Jess knew she was staring at death.

Fuck, Dad, get your ass into gear and do something?

A scream broke out of her throat when two wolves suddenly burst through the trees. One she’d seen before and knew it was Rune, the other she guessed was LeBron.
Thank you God!

The vampires moved forward in unison, charging towards them. And Jess cringed and closed her eyes at the fight that was about to take place. She was too scared to peep, afraid that Rune would be hurt, and neither could she witness his relentless killing. A cacophony of screams echoed over the landscape, along with the tenacious roars from Rune and LeBron. It appeared to go on for hours, yet in fact was over in minutes.

Finally, when silence prevailed, she dared to open her eyes. The bodies lay scattered over the ground, a mass of blood and ripped torsos littered the area; she then glanced up.

Straight into the gray orbs of Kobe.

Jess gasped when he forced her to stand, he held her tight, one arm behind her back, his hand around her neck. Kitty remained crumpled on the floor. She gave a startled scream when a knife flashed and he severed the rope, thankful that it wasn’t her throat.

The wolves turned and changed, both Rune and LeBron stood before them.

“Witness this, Rune, I’m going to snap her neck, and when I do, not only will you lose your love, but also the child she carries.”

Fucking big mouth, did he have to blurt it out?
“Rune, take care, and whatever happens, I need to let you know, well, I…I, shit, Rune, I love you.” God, did she have to sound so melodramatic?

“You harm her and I swear you’ll dance in hell for the rest of your life,” swore Rune.

Jess noticed he hadn’t said he loved her back but ignored her. Just frigging great, she was about to be killed, and he couldn’t even be bothered to lie.
The twat!

Kobe gave a slow smirk. “I intend to do a damn sight more than harm her. I want to watch the agony on your face as she dies.” He gripped her head and slowly twisted it.

Jess whimpered at the sharp pain.

His gaze locked onto Rune. “Say goodbye.”

A terrified scream ripped out of her throat, this was it, she was about to die. For one final time, she let herself feed off Rune, committing his face to memory. Her one free hand covered her stomach. “Gabriel, I’m sorry, baby,” she whispered to her bump, the tears glinting in her eyes at what wouldn’t be.

Rune flew forward towards her, he appeared to move in slow motion, and the absolute devastation on his face said it all, that he’d be too late.

“Big mistake, asshole.” A familiar voice resonated around the glade, along with a shaft of silver lightening that seized Kobe; it blasted into him, rendering his arms loose.

Jess collapsed to the floor and Rune pulled her into his arms that shivered with relief. He hauled her to safety, away from Sinclair as his screams filled the air.

LeBron gripped Kitty, scooping her into his arms, cradling her, safe.

The silver lightening swirled in a ring around Kobe, each curl dragged and sucked the life out of him. It continued in a slow merciless roll, his screams gradually weakened, until he dissolved in a pile of dust.

Jess stared in shock at the empty spot, the grey ash pooled over the grass. Then turned to see Frazer materialize along with her mother. Doreen held a sheet around her body, and Jess knew they’d been at it again. No wonder he’d been so long coming and tried to rephrase her thoughts.

He’d come all right, into her darling mother.

Frazer loped towards her. “Nothing hurts my daughter, or my grandchild.” He rubbed his hands together as if he’d just finished a chore. “Well then, that takes care of that bastard, and I see that the rogues have been taken care of.”

Rune’s arms curved with a vicious tenacity and he held her tight. “Woman, you ever pull a stunt like that again, and I swear that I…fuck, you’ve put years on me.” His voice whispered broken, husky with emotion.

“Hey, it wasn’t my fault I was—”

“Shut the hell up, Jess, I’m telling you we’re going to have that talk.”

He pulled her close to him, his arms bound in a protective circle and she could feel him trembling. Jess knew he was hurting, had been scared, could that mean he was relieved she was unharmed? Or was it disappointment that Frazer had arrived in time, just. Either way, she decided to put it to the test, to tell the randy ox again.

“Dad, meet Rune, the father of my baby and the man I love.” Her screech rang out when he spun her around, his lips searched for hers, his tongue licked across her lips.

The hushed words sent shivers over her. “Jess, do you really mean that?” His voice hoarse it crept and snuck into every passionate corner. “You didn’t admit to me you were pregnant, and I thought you didn’t care.” His knuckles grazed her cheek. “That I’d have to fucking kidnap you until you came around to my way of thinking.”

She blinked up, her eyes filled with love. She drew her hand over his face, teasing across his chin. “I didn’t tell you because I wouldn’t want to force you into staying with me for the sake of our baby.”

Rune hitched a breath. “Jess, are you for fucking real? Sweet bitch, I love you more than life. Being pregnant merely gave me an excuse to keep you forever at my side.”

Her eyes glazed with happy tears, and she palmed his cheek, hesitating and uncertain. “You do? It’s not all about—”

“For fuck’s sake woman, what does it take to prove it?” He licked across her lips, followed the contours, and teased her without mercy.

“Hmmm, I can think of something, how about—” she stopped and sucked at his tongue that invaded her mouth.

Rune raised his head. “Jess, we are getting married. I won’t take no for an answer, and I don’t give a toss how you feel about relationships.”

LeBron shouted across. “Hey, let’s make it a double.” He held Kitty in his arms; awake, she curled into him, whilst his own slunk around her in an aura of possession. Relief washed over his face that she wasn’t seriously hurt. Later, he’d vent his anger at the danger she’d put herself in.

A smile broke over Jess.

“You okay, Kit?”

“I’m fine, just need to up my task for kicking ass.” She broke into laughter.

“You’re mad. But I’m so glad you’re safe, that you’re not badly injured.” A grin fled over her lips. “I do like that thought, as best friends a dual wedding.”

She turned to Rune. “And later, I’ll explain all about George.”

§§§

He frowned but didn’t question her. She was his now and forever. Then glanced up at her father who stood before him, Doreen alongside.

“You’ll make a good mate for my daughter, I’m pleased.”

Rune cricked one tawny brow, his stance shifted. “I’m glad you approve, but Frazer, I wouldn’t give a damn if you didn’t because this woman is mine.”

“Oh shit!” muttered Jess.

Frazer studied him, his eyes glowed red. “I like you, Rune, you’re strong, but realize that my grandson’s name, Gabriel Frazer, stays.”

Rune’s eyes widened in delight. His hand swept over Jess’s stomach. “My son?”

Frazer nodded and repeated. “The name stays.”

“We’ll discuss it when he’s born,” said Rune. He liked the name, but he wasn’t having any randy incubus telling him what to do.

Even if he was the grandfather.

Jess intervened, she could sense the temper rising in Frazer. “Dad, how come Mother is with you?”

“I was humping her at the time, couldn’t transport with my cock stuck in her, now could I?”

She tried not to heave and swallowed down the bile.
Gross.
“Too much information, Dad.”

“Frazer, did you have to give so much detail?” swiped Doreen, a flush stained her cheeks.

His voice warned gently. “Don’t tell me what to do, Doris.”

“It’s bloody Doreen,” she screamed, stamping her foot.

Frazer shook his head and ignored her. “Well, daughter, you know where I live, feel free to visit. In the meantime, I leave you in the care of your vampire lover.” He turned to Doreen. “And now, Doris, you owe me a blow job.”

Doreen’s girly giggle filtered through the air, along with Frazer’s words. “And it’s Gabriel Frazer.”

Jess stared around the empty churchyard, only the four of them remained. Rune led her to the car. She stopped by Kitty and gave her a hug.

“Are you all right?”

Her injuries confined to her head, no other marks appeared on her body.

“Fine, apart from a row that’s going to come from LeBron; he’s pretty pissed I came here alone.”

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—”

“Leave it there, Jess, we go way back too much to listen to our men.” A chuckle broke free.

Jess hugged her. “Love you, Kit.”

Then stretched and planted a soft kiss on LeBron’s cheek. “Thank you, both of you for looking out for me.” Jess paused and winked. “And, LeBron, don’t be too hard on her, she did it out of love.”

He gave a brief nod, his dimple sucked in his chin.

§§§

Jess lay on her back in the rock pool beneath the underground cavern, the soft water lapped over her body. Her attention fixed on Rune as he finished stripping. The light played over his muscles, across the planes it glowed and dipped. And she stared at his erection, as usual he was ready. His thighs bulged as he trod down the steps and joined her. His arms circled her, and he pulled her tight against him, his lips laved hers with a savage tenderness. It was one she welcomed, he was hers.

He pulled back. “For life, Jess?”

“Yes,” she breathed, “forever.”

“And that talk we’re going to have?”

Oh fuck!

“Stop swearing, but from here on in, realize I’m your Dom, and I will never ever tolerate you putting your life and our child at risk for me.”

“I would do it all again, Rune, master, sir, or whatever the frigging else you want to be called.” She cradled his face. “Without you, I’m nothing. I’d just as well be dead.”

“Never ever put yourself in that position for me again.” He licked at her lips, his golden gaze seared over her. “I’m always here for you, and I do the protecting, fuck, Jess, don’t you know you’re my life?”

“Can’t promise that, Rune, how would you feel if it were the other way around?” She sucked on his tongue drawing him in.

No words were necessary.

“I’d die for you, Jess, and our baby.” His eyes darkened. “You know I intend to make you vampire and that you’ll never leave my side again.”

She nodded and swallowed. “Will it hurt?” Jess had to know, then thought of the coming labour, now that would. Already, she’d decided no way was she having a natural birth, sucking on an ice cube and all that crap. She would have every pain killer on Earth until she was so drugged up she wouldn’t feel a twinge. Much less a baby coming down her birth channel.

“Not a lot, but I wanted to turn you in the same place we first made love.” His words dusted over her. The intensity splayed sharp across his face.

“You old romantic, Rune,” teased Jess.

“Well?”

Already, he steered her towards the same spot, except this time he turned her around. Placing her hands on the stone, he nudged her legs apart. “Tell me, sweet sub, tell me what you want.” His hot breath burned her skin.

“You master, your cock deep inside me, making me come, and your mouth on my throat, making me vampire.”

“Ah love, I will.” His hands held her hips, slowly he thrust up, impaling her. Rune hitched against her ass.

Jess shivered, his arm rolled around her waist, and she took every inch of his erection that surged deep, her sex clung to him, to his hand that dropped and teased her clit. “Shit, Rune, I’ll be coming now.”

“Not yet, you’ll come once I bite you.”

She heard his groan, and could sense him holding back. Jess arched into him, throwing her head back.

“I love you, sweet bitch,” he whispered, his fangs dropped and he bit into her throbbing throat.

“Arggh!” she yelped at the sudden pain, a rush of heat stormed over her body. It tingled as if she were in a summer storm, a flurry of rain drops pounding over her body. Each sensation exploded into life, everything appeared with a sharper clarity, and the scent of Rune filled her.

He sucked on her jugular, tasting her blood, swallowing her lust. “You are mine, my woman, my love, my life” At each word he powered up hard. “Come for me, Jess.”

And she did, screaming into a mind numbing orgasm that shook her to the very soul. It continued to gush over her, until she fell back exhausted shaking at its intensity.

§§§

Jess smiled in lazy contentment; they lay in bed sated for the moment. Her body draped over Rune, his hand cupped her ass.

“Are you going to tell me now?”

“About what?”

“George, and how he’s cured your aversion to commitment and a relationship,” said Rune. “But, little one, I’m so glad you did have one, that I’m the only man to take your body.”

“Yeah, well, all right for you, how many women have you slept with over the last couple of hundred years?”

“Lots,” he admitted, “but you’re the only woman to take my heart.”

“I’ll leave that one go then.”

“Come on, what changed your mind?”

“Well, the fact that George could be called Georgina?”

“He’s gay?” Rune grinned. “I thought he was giving me the eye; a few times I caught him looking with a bit of, er, shall we say interest?”