Chapter 18 Sam #2
Kyle shifted and cleared his throat. “There’s going to be a meeting soon.”
I drained my cup and focused all of my attention on him, and it was like I could see every fine detail of everything in the room, hear even the smallest sounds of fabric settling.
It wasn’t as good as taking Kyle’s blood directly from his vein, but it obviously worked, and they obviously had an alternative to bloodwhores.
“What will the meeting be about?” I had plenty of time to ask Kyle about the intricacies of feeding.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, steepling his fingers below his chin, watching me intently. “Nic’s here now, and we’re planning to stop the Blackbloods once and for all.”
“We?” Did the word include me?
If it did, what possible use could I be? But at the same time, how could the word not include me? There was no way around that, and I’d just decided I didn’t want there to be. I was one of them now and happy to be here.
“And it’s dangerous.” I didn’t mean to protest, and it wasn’t what Kyle seemed to have expected to hear because he sat back in the chair again and just watched me, his expression curious. “Now, I know you know how to fight…” I paused, my mouth suddenly dry.
He narrowed his eyes, although his mouth quirked into an amused grin.
I sucked in a quick breath before I continued.
“Brock is a monster.” I spat the word in a new vampire hiss I seemed to have developed.
“He’s a monster and he’s horrible and he’s strong.
He won’t give up. What if someone gets hurt?
What if that someone is you?” My vision reddened as I looked at him, and he chuckled.
I’d probably never felt as strongly about anything. I couldn’t lose Kyle, and I especially couldn’t lose him to that bastard Brock. He and Esmé had already taken so much of my life. I couldn’t let them take my future, the future I was only just grasping, as well.
“But I’ve been alive so long. And I’ve fought in war after war after war.” He sounded weary. “I know how to fight, and I know how to take down arrogant fuckers like Brock Saxton.”
My emotions were all over the place, out of control like I’d never known them. As a thrall, they’d been dulled. As a human, I’d been quietly controlled, but now it was like I couldn’t even see straight.
“I know what you say about your wars and the way you’ve leveled up and learned.
” I remembered every word he’d said in Manny’s like he’d etched them directly on my brain.
“But Brock doesn’t care about any of your military skill, and he certainly doesn’t care about the rest of his clan.
He would throw each and every one of them under the bus, sacrifice them all, to come out as top dog in New Orleans.
” I was on a roll now, passion carrying my speech.
“And I’m afraid... I’m afraid that I can’t help you because I can’t fight.
You saw me with those goons in the apartment before.
I couldn’t fight.” Shit. I shook my head.
I hadn’t been able to fight. I’d been useless. So useless.
I couldn’t even save myself. How the hell would I be able to help Kyle and his family?
But he was already shaking his head. “No, Sam. Whatever you’re thinking, stop right there. You’re new. You’re a fledgling, and you’re staying right here. You’re right. The fighting isn’t safe for you.”
I just watched him – I couldn’t exactly disagree. But I didn’t want to be apart from him either.
“Two guards will wait with you,” he said, but my mind was already skipping forward.
“What about Leia and Kayla?” Would I wait with them? I liked them, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to be all alone.
He shook his head. “Leia has been training with Nic for a while now. She’s been a vampire the longest out of the three of you, so she’s ahead on learning to use her vampire strength and abilities.
And Nic must have confidence in what she can do, or he’d never allow her to join the battle. ” He looked thoughtful for a moment.
“And Kayla?” I prompted.
“She’s a witch. She has some unique abilities that she’s been honing to be useful in a fight. Being a vampire seems to have gifted her extra talent, which she’s been refining.”
“Oh.” Well, shit. I was the only useless mate here.
A burden, really.
But Kyle stood. “I can feel that.”
“Feel what?” I smiled to show I was okay, but it was fake.
He wrapped his arm around me and drew me into a hug.
“You don’t need to worry or be unsure or doubt yourself.
We were all fledglings once. We know how this part goes.
We know how to protect you and what you need and a lot of what you can and can’t do.
” He pulled away a little and smiled down at me. “Really don’t worry.”
Then his breathing changed, and his eyes reddened slightly, sending a thrill of excitement through me.
“Don’t worry?” I questioned.
“Well, maybe worry a little bit. Turns out I might be dangerous.” His lips were on mine before I could process that thought.
“What were we talking about?” It was a half-teasing question. I wasn’t sure I cared any longer.
He shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. I’m distracted.”
I laughed against his mouth. I could get used to distracting this man. Then his lips roved hungrily over mine again, as he cupped the back of my head with his hand, urging me closer while his tongue slipped inside my mouth.
I kissed him back. Damn, I wanted this man. My hands were already at his waistband, playing with his belt, searching for his button and zipper.
He cupped my left breast and I gasped at the unexpected tingle of awareness as he brushed his thumb across my nipple. I wanted to drag my shirt off, I wanted to push his pants down, and I didn’t know which I wanted to do first.
But Kyle solved my problem when he drew my shirt up and over my head. I unfastened his belt in reply, and the jingle of the buckle only heightened my arousal. I wanted him inside me right now. I’d probably never wanted anything more.
If he went into this battle and I lost him… I pushed the thought from my mind as I focused on the two of us, right here, right now.
I finally pushed his pants down his thighs, and they dropped to the floor as he was working on mine, struggling with the tiny zipper. I laughed before pushing his hands away.
“I’ve got it.” As I undid my pants, Kyle unhooked my bra with a quick flick of his fingers, and it fell away, revealing my breasts to him.
He cupped them and I backed away from his hold. “Uh-uh,” I taunted as I tapped the hem of his tee. “You are overdressed for this moment.”
He grinned then whipped the tee over his head. “Not anymore,” he said as he stepped out of his pants and strode forward, his feet already bare.
I gasped as he pushed me gently and I bounced onto his mattress before he crawled up over my body, dragging my jeans down the rest of the way as he did and allowing them to tumble to the floor.
Then my panties were gone as well, and the cool air rushed over my clit. It throbbed in time with my need.
“I want you,” I whispered, trying to keep my desire quiet, but he heard, and he grinned before slipping his hands between my legs.
“Yeah, you do,” he agreed and grinned wider.
My cheeks heated with both embarrassment and amusement. Apparently, this man got me wet in minutes.
“Nope,” I whispered and pushed his hand away, playing with him. “No, it’s like the Sahara down there.”
He grinned wider and shook his head. “You’re so wet for me,” he murmured before leaning his head forward and kissing me again as he rolled my clit under his finger, the pressure light but firm as I angled my hips toward him, silently asking for more.
“Inside me.” I offered myself to him again, lifting my hips.
He quirked an eyebrow. “You sure?”
Hell, yes, I was sure. I nodded, and he positioned himself above me, probing with his cock before he slid inside just a little and I sucked in a breath as he stretched my body with his.
This was what it was all about. Not the hokey pokey after all. This moment right now with my mate inside me, the two of us joined.
He shifted away then pushed farther in, and again, each time making me catch my breath in sounds of pleasure. I moaned a little at his steady rhythm, and moved against him, trying to capture more of him inside my body, always wanting more, always greedy.
I slipped my hand between us to touch myself, picking up where Kyle had left off, and I moaned as pleasure sparked through me as Kyle moved at the same time.
Kyle groaned above me as my fingers nudged against the base of his cock. “Yes, Sam,” he whispered, and his approval accelerated my pleasure.
I gasped as I started to hyperventilate, my breathing coming faster and faster as I maintained my rhythm and Kyle’s increased.
He stroked me on the inside, and I stroked the outside and the combination of sensations started the tightening of my muscles.
I surrendered myself to the sudden feeling of floating, hanging there before everything in me pulsed.
Kyle inhaled suddenly as my body clenched around him, and he drove forward harder until he drew in another harsh breath and stilled.
Then he moved a couple of extra times and dropped a kiss to my forehead.
“Thank you.” The words pressed out of me.
He chuckled. “Why are you thanking me?”
I stretched my arms above my head. “Because I liked it.” I smiled, but the movement was lazy, and Kyle chuckled again.
“So did I.”