Twice Bitten Read online

  How'd he do that? His hands were just in his pockets? Vampires, they must have serious skills. Gabby took the gorgeous blooms and moved back a step to let him through the doorway.

  "Chocolate?” he offered her a bag of peanut M&M's.

  You would think that a vampire, one that has been living for at least a hundred years would have brought something better than M&M's. Hello? Hadn't he ever heard of Godiva? Gabby took the candy and turned on her heel leaving him standing in the foyer while she went to put the flowers in water. It wasn't their fault he was a moron.

  Demonte followed her. “So, how are you?"

  He spoke in that soft and velvety voice she remembered all too well. How did he think she was? Body humming at his close proximity, she wasn't sure how long she could hold out. The screaming and yelling at him might have to come later. “Start talking. You have approximately one minute and thirty seconds.” Because that would be precisely how long she would last before ripping his clothes off with her bare hands.

  * * * *

  By the stars in the heavens, it was all he could do to keep his hands at his sides and not pull her to him and lose himself in the soft curves of her body. Fresh blood pumped through his veins. He'd known better than to come to her hungry. Not in a million lifetimes had he expected to feel this way. Not about a mere mortal woman. She'd done something to him. Something totally irreversible and the scary part was that he liked it. Just the smell of her hair seemed to drive him crazy.

  Unable to help himself, he moved in close behind her while she cut the ends off the roses he'd brought. He watched her set them in a cut crystal vase, one by one. Lowering his head, he couldn't resist smelling the bouquet of her skin. Ah, but he wanted to taste her, to run his tongue along the lovely heartbeat that ran down her neck. Her blood called to him. Carefully, not sure of her reaction, he slipped his hands around her waist and pulled her back against him. He took a deep breath.

  She pushed away, loosening his hold. “Back off, D. You really don't want to screw with me right now."

  That's what she thought. Screwing with her was precisely what he intended to do. But he wanted to talk to her first. He only hoped he could hold off his base instincts long enough to get the words out of his mouth. When she pushed her ass hard against him again, he gave her some space, but not too much. He still wanted her within arms reach. “This will probably be hard for you to believe.” He began. He would have a hard time believing it if it hadn't actually happened to him.

  Gabby raised one beautifully arched sable colored eyebrow at him. “Try me."

  He loved her sarcastic attitude. Her spunk. “I was captured."

  "Uh-huh. As in thrown in jail?"

  "A cell certainly, but not a jail in the way you are thinking of."

  "What did you do?” She finished putting the flowers in the vase and turned around. She leaned against the cabinet to stare at him.

  By the gods she was lovely. Her richly colored dark brown hair hung in soft waves past her creamy shoulders. He loved the little dips in her skin where her neck connected to her collarbone. He'd like to put his tongue in that spot and taste her with her heartbeat thrumming beneath his mouth. “Why do you assume it is something I did?"

  "Because you're a man.” She crossed her arms over her chest, which only accentuated her breasts and made him smile.

  His mouth watered and he took a deep breath, trying to remain patient while he explained. “I am a vampire. There are those that would capture us for study or to simply kill those of my kind because they do not understand us. This gentleman, though, I think, acted for other reasons. He loved his daughter."

  "His daughter?” Her chin came up and her shoulders went back. “What did you have to do with his daughter?"

  Maybe he should have worded that differently. He raised his hands in surrender. “Before you get upset, he was misinformed."

  "Misinformed how?"

  "He thought his daughter was in love with me, so he captured me and I have been in prison since our last night together."

  Gabrielle gazed deep into his eyes as if trying to decide whether or not he told the truth. “That's some kind of story."

  "All of it true.” He came forward to stand directly in front of her. “I promise."

  * * * *

  He must think that she fell off the turnip truck yesterday. Yeah right. Somebody threw him into a cell because their daughter liked him. Hell, she liked him, but she hadn't thrown in him in a cell and kept him for her own pleasure even though if she'd thought about it and had the knowledge she might've considered it. “That's it?” she asked, hands on her hips. “That's why I haven't seen you?"

  He nodded gazing directly into her eyes. “That's the truth."

  Could vampires lie? Weren't there some kind of rules about that? Or maybe it was the whole you must do what I say mind tricks that she was thinking about. “Does it really matter if I believe you or not? Do you really care?"

  His head snapped up and a flare of anger burned in his eyes. He stepped back, away from her as if she'd slapped him. “What a juvenile thing to say. Do you think for one moment that if I didn't care I would be standing here? I came straight to you.” His jaw did that clench thing again. “I thought perhaps you might want to see me.” His strong chin came up in a challenge and his entire body tensed. “But if I've been mistaken, I'll certainly take my leave. I would never force my presence on you."

  Gabby shook her head, took a half step toward him and then thought better of it. “Look. Even you have to admit that is a far-fetched story, right? If I'd told you that story would you believe me?"

  His eyes lost some of their hostility and his shoulders relaxed. “Yes. I would."

  "Why?” She thought a moment and then rolled her eyes. “You can probably tell when people are lying to you can't you?"

  He tore his gaze from her and looked at the roses on the counter, reached out to touch a petal with his finger. “On occasion."

  "I knew it. It's easy to believe someone when it's impossible for them to lie."

  "I've never lied to you, Gabrielle."

  God, she hated when he said her name like that, in a reverent way that made her body tingle in response.

  He moved toward her, one confident predatory step at a time. He studied her, his gaze missing nothing as it traveled from the top of her head down to her pink painted toenails.

  That sexual green gaze heated her skin. Her breath came is short soft bursts. She backed up, not ready to have him that close. Her will, whatever remained of it would be gone, if he so much as touched her.

  "There is nothing to be afraid of."

  "I'm not afraid of you.” Just afraid of herself. She didn't want to care about him. Sure, she loved the whole thought of vampires, but a real one? Well, that was a bit much to handle when you had a real live bloodsucker, albeit a gorgeous one, standing in your kitchen.

  When Demonte reached her, he stood for a moment staring at her, trying to read her emotions. He lifted his hand, took a strand of her hair and brought it to his nose. His eyes drifted close while he rubbed the lock between his fingers. “You smell divine."

  The strength of him made her knees go weak. She had this absurd urge to crawl inside his skin and stay there forever. Then she remembered the curse. Anger flooded her system, her vision went red and, before she even thought about it, she balled up her fist and hit him as hard as she could in the stomach.

  Demonte gasped for air and bent over clutching his middle. When he got his wind back he looked at her, his eyes wide in shock. “What the hell did you do that for?"

  Gabby twisted up her face. “That's for putting a spell on me and not telling me about it."

  He gave her a confused look. “What on earth are you talking about? What spell? I don't dabble in magic. It's dangerous for vampires. Any fledgling knows that."

  "Then why can't I have sex with anyone but you?"

  Demonte straightened. “I beg your pardon? What did you just say?"

  Han
ds still balled into fists, Gabby glared at him. “You heard me. I threw up on the last guy I tried to have sex with."

  Demonte gave her a hard look then rocked back on his heels and gave her a sappy grin. “I cannot believe it. I'd heard stories before, but never really thought it could happen."

  "That what could happen? That I'd embarrass myself by losing a very expensive lunch all over my favorite Chaus suite?"

  "It's a blood bond. One that means you really must like me an awful lot.” His smile got bigger revealing beautiful white teeth. His entire body posture changed to one of languid sexual aggression. He lifted a finger and waved it back and forth. “Don't give me that look. I didn't put a curse on you. It is the female, mortal or immortal, who casts the bond, not the male."

  Gabby's heart dropped into her stomach. “You're saying I did this?"

  "If the legends are true."

  "How do we make it go away?” Her mouth felt like a cotton swab.

  "We can't. The only way the bond can be broken is if you tire of me."

  The strength left her legs and she slowly sank to the floor. “I did this?"

  Demonte knelt in front of her. “I'm sorry. If I'd known or believed that it could happen I would've warned you."

  "So I'm stuck with you. That's it."

  "I'm afraid so."

  She dropped her head in her hands. “Gawd, I can't have sex with anyone but you and you just take off and get captured by crazy people and leave me here by myself for months at a time and I can't even get off with an industrial strength dildo. How awful is my life?"

  * * * *

  Demonte scooped her up in his arms. He'd never been in her house before, but following her scent, he found her bedroom easily enough. Gabby was wrapped tighter than firecracker. Tonight he had some serious making up to do. She had curled up into his arms without a fight. He doubted very seriously if she even knew that he brought her to the bedroom.

  He nodded in approval at the massive king-sized oak bed that dominated the center of the room. A very masculine bed, it looked to be an antique, he would guess early eighteenth century. She'd decorated the room in dark emerald greens and rich sapphire blues. This was a room a man could be comfortable in, but yet still held touches of femininity with the jewel toned glass tiffany lamp that sat on her nightstand. There were other soft touches throughout the room. Lace curtains hung over pull down blinds that would keep the sunlight from entering the room and valances that matched the bedspread draped over the lace.

  Yes, her taste pleased him. Classy. He looked down at the beautiful woman in his arms. She'd had a rough time of it. There were ways though to show her she needed no one but him. He didn't share well. Never had. Probably came from being an only child.

  One knee braced on the mattress, he leaned over and placed her pliant body in the center of the bed. Demonte knew exactly what she needed. And he had every intention of making sure she got it. “Gabrielle?” He traced the line of her jaw with the backs of his fingers. “Do you trust me?"

  She slowly opened her eyes and looked at him. One sable brown eyebrow raised in question.

  "All right.” He said. “Perhaps that was an unfair question to ask under the circumstances. Let me rephrase. You know I would never harm you. In any way."

  Gabby thought for a minute. “Yes. I know that."

  "Good.” Her sexual frustration would work to his benefit. While they'd had sex in October there was so much more that he wanted to share with her. The world of the night could be beautiful indeed, and while he may not be able to walk in sunlight, he had other talents. Very special other talents that he knew his Gabrielle would find unexpected. He smiled down at her.

  Gabrielle was an exceptionally beautiful woman. There was a natural beauty that seemed to come from within her and bubbled up and out of her. It was that which had drawn him to her in the first place. Not the light amber color of her eyes or her very voluptuous body. But of course, those attributes hadn't hurt.

  And he loved her hair. The fact she wore her hair long reminded him of a time when a woman's hair was part of her beauty and Gabrielle's rich sable mane fell like heavy silk through his rough fingers. He loved the weight of it.

  Climbing on the bed next to her, he watched her pulse flutter in rapid beats against her skin. Two spots of color rose on her cheeks. Her lips parted. She wanted him to kiss her and he would.

  Eventually.

  * * * *

  Gabby's skin ached for his touch. She'd never felt anything so pleasurably tortuous. The air seemed thin and she couldn't seem to catch her breath. His intent gaze made her fidget with the zipper of her top. Her body on fire she sat up to take it off.

  Demonte watched her with slumberous green cat-like eyes that didn't miss a thing. His expression had gone darkly serious and his long lean hands lay on the bedspread, unmoving, waiting. Tension hung in the air between them. A thick haze of intense unspoken emotion.

  Gabrielle needed him. Wanted him. Couldn't keep her hands off of him. Sitting up, she scooted closer, grabbed the bottom of his shirt and pulled it up and over his shoulders. Hands on his skin, she caressed his well-muscled chest, letting her fingers memorize every corded muscle, every dip and plane. Her body went liquid with heat while her fingers tangled in the dark mat of hair in the center of his chest. She bit her bottom lip to keep from crawling on top of him and forcing him to take her and give her relief.

  A deep-throated growl came from Demonte. He moved like quick silver.

  Before she knew what had happened, he positioned her on top of him, one leg on either side of his waist. She felt him hard and ready beneath her. “I'm not going to last long,” she confessed.

  He pulled her pink fleece top up and over her head, then threw it off over into a corner. “You'll last.” It'd been a command, not a request, and her body tightened at the rough order. Her toes curled when his fingers slipped inside her pants. The cool caress soothed her skin. He cupped her ass and squeezed.

  A moan slipped from her throat. Completely his to do with as he wanted the sexual tension climbed quick and tightly coiled pleasure fluttered to life deep within her. It was then that she moved over using her body to torture them both. Wanting more. Needing more. Her hand slipped down between them. She heard Demonte's quick intake of breath when she unzipped his trousers and took his thick cock in her hand. “Oh, gawd. I've needed this so bad.” She wanted to spread her legs and ride him until her body milked him dry.

  In another super fast move, Demonte flipped their position. “You want this?” He leaned over her, grabbed the waistband of her pants and tugged downward.

  "Yes.” She twisted beneath him unable to keep still. “It's been three months. One hundred and six days. I wanted you to come back. And you never did."

  After removing her pants, he lay beside her. “Knowing that I had no choice doesn't make it better? That I couldn't get to you?” His fingers found her chin and turned her face toward him. His eyes half closed with that sexy sleepy look, he took her mouth. The sweet slide of his tongue on her sensitive lips had her pushing her body closer. Opening her mouth wider to give him anything, everything she had. Their tongues met, tangled. Breath entwined until she no longer knew where he ended and she began. His hands were everywhere, his heated touch grazing the skin of her back, pulling her closer into him.

  "I want you so badly.” He whispered against her ear. His tongue left a wet trail along her jaw, he nipped at her ear then followed the pulse down her neck. “God, to take you here, a sip would be all I'd need."

  Gabrielle had a hard time trying to focus in on his words. His hand slipped down between them. He lifted her left leg high and draped her ankle over his waist. Deft fingers found her clit and applied the right amount of pressure to fog her brain.

  "Tell me yes or no. I want to taste you. All of you."

  The movement of his hand against the most sensitive part of her body would slowly drive her mad and he knew it. How on earth could he expect her to speak? Overwhelmed by sens
ation, she denied him nothing. “Yes."

  A thick finger created an agonizing friction on her clit. “Come on, baby, open for me."

  Unable to disobey, she spread her legs further apart and instantly felt the fullness of his finger deep inside of her. Searching. Stroking. Using her traitorous body against her. Opening her eyes, the room spun around, his lips against her neck created a dull suction before she felt the tell tale prick of his teeth.

  Sweet pain licked through her veins to be replaced by a pleasure so great she thought she might pass out in his arms. Every feeling. Every touch. Every sensation tripled tenfold. “Oh, fuck me.” She moaned. His gentle sucking made the nerves tangling in her lower abdomen contract. “I'm going to come.” The soft tug at her neck ceased and the wet sweep of his tongue caressed the bite, soothing her abused skin.

  "I forbid it. You cannot come. Do understand me?"

  His fingers moved deep within her. Body writhing, she needed release. “Please, Demonte. I can't take this. I need it. Please.” She begged, not caring. His velvety rough voice sounded next to her ear.

  "I want to be deep in your pussy when you come. I want to feel your muscles grip my dick. You'll not rob me of that."

  Gabby reached up, put one hand on the side of his face and turned so that he looked deep in her eyes. “Then you better fuck me. And quick."

  With a muttered curse, Demonte pulled away from her. “You will stay as I put you. Do you understand?"

  Gabby gave him a lazy shrug. “Where am I going to go?"

  "Say that you understand,” he commanded while getting up from the bed.

  "I understand."

  "Give me permission to read your thoughts."

  "Why?"

  "Just do it. I need to be that close to you. You are my blood mate."

  Blood mate. When he said it like that, it made sense. “Okay. All right. You have permission.” Demonte's shoulders relaxed and the smile that came over his features was swift and reassuring.

  "You will not regret this."

  A dark fire burned deep in his emerald eyes. What on earth had she just agreed to? Watching while he finished disrobing, she couldn't actually believe he was standing in her bedroom. Naked. She'd waited so long that to have him here it felt more like a fantasy than a reality. She'd thought that he'd never come back. Somehow, in that short space of time they'd been together on Halloween, he'd wheedled his way into her heart.