Annie Nicholas - Catch

I sensed Tane tense in my arms. He stared at Rurik, confusion apparent on his face.

My lover twisted to look at my blood bound vampire. “Traitors can’t be shown any mercy and deserve an execution.” I couldn’t have been prouder. Rurik did the one thing Tane couldn’t do, show mercy.

Tane relaxed and placed his arm around my shoulder to pull me close. After he placed a gentle kiss on my forehead, he whispered, “Thank you.” Technically, he should have been able to move fast enough to stop Rurik, but he didn’t and I loved him for it.

I felt my eyes widen with the thought.

The sounds of running footsteps echoed through the house before Colby and Gwen stormed the room, both armed like commandos, stakes in hand. They stopped a couple steps into the room.

Colby glared at me. “I thought I told you to stay out of the house.” He aimed his gun at Luckard’s body as he approached it slowly.

“He caught me and dragged me in.” A little white lie didn’t hurt anybody. “I staked him.”

My ex-boss glanced at me. “Nosferatu aren’t dead until decapitated and their hearts burned to ash. They’re tough bastards to kill.” With this comment, he glanced at Tane.

“Connie, you’re bleeding.” Gwen holstered her weapon and crossed the room to kneel in front of me. Blood dripped from my fingers.

Rurik lifted my hand and twisted my arm to examine the wound with Gwen.

“Just bandage it. I will heal it when we return.” Tane stroked my hair. “I need to attend to Luckard first.”

I nodded as he passed me to Rurik’s loving arms. “Let’s go home.”

The last rays of golden sunlight disappeared behind the horizon. Bright orange faded to coral, then to pink, until the night swallowed them all. It reminded me of Tane, my personal demon turned…into what, a friend? I wasn’t sure anymore, yet he engulfed my life just like the night.

Kam, Gwen’s brother, walked ahead of me, searching the manicured garden for any would-be attackers. The ass refused to tell me where she went, but I was sure she was hot on Colby’s trail. He disappeared shortly after destroying Luckard’s remains with Tane.

From the look on Gwen’s face the last time I saw her, I think he may have broken her heart. God help him.

I wandered, unable to sleep, searching for a cure to my torn heart. Bel’s grotto came into view and I approached. White, translucent curtains hung in the doorways as if someone had closed the small building in mourning. Stepping inside, I found it empty so I flicked on the dim light and settled onto a plush beige pillow. They filled the depression in the center of the room so I stuffed a few under my knees and back.

Kam peeked in. “I’ll stay out here. Shout if you need something.”

I nodded as he left. The cool night air played with the curtains, something by the doorway drew my attention. I crawled onto my stomach to get a better look in the poor lighting.

Sitting in the corner of the mural away from all the predators, I found a treasure. A grey rabbit painted by the exit, balanced on its hind legs, ears forward, nose sniffing the air. It watched whoever came into the grotto. Next to the rabbit, huddled at its side, was a small field mouse.

Belatia must have painted it after the party. Everyone judged her as simple yet she saw through the bullshit. Her mural showed insight.

She was a killer and I should hate her. Instead I sympathized with her. The hunger took control and she became its puppet. I exhaled a trembling breath. Like it or not, Bel and I were similar. I hoped not to experience the same fate, and would fight with my dying breath before allowing the hunger to get the better of me. That meant I needed to stay close to Tane.

What if Luckard had never abducted me? I wouldn't have found out my true blood bond was with Tane. The hunger would have driven me insane. What if Tane went missing again? It’s what happened to Bel with Archios.

A cold claw of dread clutched at my stomach. The Master of all vampires had a target painted on his back.

I reached and touched the mouse at the rabbit’s side. Tane entrapped my soul, and Rurik my heart. Caught between two vampires, I sure could use a friend right about now, even a crazy one.

A brush to my mental shield, like a soft caress, told me Tane was awake. He usually didn’t sleep, but after his injuries, the fight and having to heal my wound, he decided to take a nap.

I touched the underside of my arm where Luckard sliced me open. Not even a scar.

My bald vampire took care of it.

The curtain moved, this time not from the wind. Tane stepped inside. He called over his shoulder, “Kam, your off duty. I’ll be with Rabbit.” It appeared he didn’t bother to dress before finding me since he only wore his pajama bottoms. He padded across the tile floor barefoot and stepped into the pile of cushions. “What are you up to?” He eyed me, suspicion clear in his expression.

“Nothing. Why?”

“You’re concentrating very hard and that bodes for bad times.” He crawled onto his stomach next to me. For the first time, I had a clear view of the dark tattoo on his back.

A large circular design covered his pale, translucent skin. It was made of sharp angular lines that reminded me of Inca or Aztec drawings. A black sun sat in the middle of it. “It seems odd you would choose a sun on your tattoo.”

He glanced over his shoulder at it. “I didn’t decide what was placed on my back.

None of us do.”

Skeletal wings were drawn to sprout from his shoulder blades, and extended to curl over his arms. “Who does?” I traced a finger along a curving line down his flank.

A shiver coursed through his muscles.

I withdrew my hand as if burned and glanced at him. His dark eyes dilated with hunger, but I didn’t think my blood was on the menu.

With a slow gesture, he brushed some hair from my face as if afraid to startle me.

“Connie.” He whispered my name and drew closer until his lips met mine.

I should have pulled away. I should have slapped him across the face, or better yet, kneed him in the balls. I should have hated the way his lips felt on mine nevertheless I didn’t. Oh, I didn’t.

With ease, he melted me into the cushions. His firm lips caressed and teased mine until I finally opened my mouth to invite him in. I drowned in the wake of his desire as the weight of his body pinned me. He felt so right. I explored his back with my hands and finally slipped them under the waistband of his pajama pants. His hard ass clenched as I cupped it and pulled him closer to me.

He groaned then dragged himself away. With a struggle, he lifted the hem of my summer dress over my head and tossed the light material aside.

I lay under him, naked except for a pair of lace panties, as he straddled my waist. If I let this go any further, there would be no turning back.

His cock tented his pants as he slid the waistband to his hips.

“Wait. This is wrong. I can’t.” I rose to my elbows as shame tore its way through my heart and soul.

“You belong to me. I lend you to Rurik.”

“It doesn’t stop the fact I still love him. I can’t.” No matter how Tane worded it, if I fucked him it would tear my relationship with Rurik apart.

Tane pulled his pants back up and threw himself onto the cushions next to me.

I reached for my sundress, except a cool hand around my waist prevented me from getting it.

“This isn’t over.” He twisted me around to face him. “You want Rurik and you want me.” A brush of his fingertips over my nipple made me gasp. “I want both of you.” He rolled it between his fingers and gently pulled.

An arrow of pure pleasure shot straight to my groin. I grasped his shoulders and dug my nails into them. If he kept touching me, I’d lose all sentience and tear his clothes off like a wild animal in heat.