Chapter 16 #2
She reached up and entwined her arms around Dru’s neck. The move placed her heavy mounds directly against Dru’s. The warmth of her body, the softness of her skin underneath Dru’s touch, sent a ripple of savagery through her again.
What was it about this human?
“That you’ll always be able to do,” Dru snarled, and she meant it.
Tomesha should trust her. Somehow they’d have a future together. Dru leaned down and tipped Tomesha’s chin upward and claimed her lips. It was a kiss with a promise. Tomesha’s body molded to hers. It was astounding how well their bodies fit together.
Dru tilted her head to the side as the kiss deepened. Tomesha wasn’t shy at all. Her tongue boldly met Dru’s and entwined with hers in a tantalizing dance. Dru skated her hand down Tomesha’s back to her ass. She gripped the ample meat in a firm hold.
As much as the lust and desire burned in her, she again couldn’t shake the fact that she’d almost harmed this woman. She tore her lips from Tomesha’s and stared down into her bedroom eyes.
“Will you allow me to do something?” Dru murmured.
“Of course.” Tomesha smirked.
Dru stepped away from her and gathered her clothing and held it out.
Confusion lined Tomesha’s face as she took it. “Um, you want me to put my clothing back on?”
“Yes. There’s someone I want you to speak with.” Dru spun away and moved behind her desk to reach for her holographic box.
Tomesha quickly redressed, questions hidden in her eyes. Dru placed the box on her desk and stepped back over to Tomesha. She took her hand in hers and smiled.
She programmed the hologram to call the only person she trusted to truly tell her that Tomesha was okay and safe to feed from again.
“Hell must have frozen over,” a familiar voice and figure came into view.
“Hello to you, too, sister,” Dru said dryly.
Her sister rolled her eyes and pushed a few wayward strands of hair out of her face.
“And I wouldn’t know if Hell has frozen over. I haven’t been sent there yet.”
“It’s been a while, sister, and it must be serious if you’re calling me.
I am busy, you know. I may not be an important woman like yourself, but I am needed here.
” There wasn’t an ounce of animosity in Zada’s expression.
This was the one who loved to laugh and tease while Dru was more stoic and focused.
Zada’s attention fell to Tomesha. Her expression brightened immediately. “And who is this we have?”
Tomesha’s head turned slowly as she took in Dru and Zada.
“You’re twins?” Tomesha gasped.
Dru bit back a sigh. She knew what was coming from Zada.
“So my elder sister hasn’t mentioned me? The one who shared a womb with her? The only sister she has? The only person who could put up with her dry personality for our two hundred and twenty-five years on this earth?” Zada’s eyebrows arched.
Dru pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed again. Zada never let her forget their beginnings.
“Well, if it means anything, Dru didn’t do much talking at all the last time we were together,” Tomesha said quietly. Her gaze fell to floor. She reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear.
Dru cleared her throat and stepped forward. She didn’t miss the small cough that hid Zada’s laugh.
“Tomesha, may I present to you my sibling, master healer Zada Moldark. Zada, may I present to you Miss Tomesha Clay, my—” Dru paused.
She didn’t know how to introduce Tomesha.
Her donor didn’t sound right. Her lover?
Her contracted prostitute? Dru bristled at the notion.
They may have only been together once, but there was more between them than that.
“I’m her sanguina while she’s here,” Tomesha continued for Dru. She smiled and nodded at Zada.
“Well, either way, it’s nice to meet you, Tomesha. You must be a special person if Dru is calling me to introduce you to me.” Zada smiled warmly, and her blue-eyed gaze landed on Dru. “Is that all this call is for?”
“No. There was a reason for it.” Dru cleared her throat again.
Of course Zada would sense there was something else besides introductions.
Dru hadn’t introduced anyone to her family members because she’d been too busy with this war to think of finding a special someone or a mate.
“It would appear that the last time I fed from Tomesha, I took too much and I was told that I almost bled her dry.”
“And you thought to call me on hologram to assess her?” Zada folded her arms and cocked her head.
“Um, yes. You’re the only one I would trust to ensure Tomesha was healthy enough to feed from again,” Dru said.
“I told you, I’m fine. The healer gave me her approval to allow you to feed again,” Tomesha said.
She turned to Dru, but Dru held Zada’s gaze. They were at least a thousand miles away from each other, but Dru could still sense her. They could sense things through an unseen bond. Thoughts, feelings, emotions…pain. Which wasn’t fair to Zada every time Dru had been injured in battle.
Zada gave Dru a nod. No words were needed. Zada sensed this unknown emotion swirling around inside Dru.
“How did they treat you?” Zada immediately fell into the role of healer.
Dru relaxed; Zada was the best at what she did. She may not be here in physical form, but as a hologram was the next best thing.
“I was given ifalla tea to drink, they increased my kenaf weed dosage, and I’ve rested. I did sleep a lot and I just had my checkup this morning,” Tomesha said.
Zada nodded. She asked a few more questions that Tomesha willingly answered.
“And how do you feel now?” Zada asked.
“I feel strong and back to my normal self.” Tomesha glanced over at Dru.
Their eyes connected, and Dru’s heart stuttered. It helped to know that the madam employed healers who looked after the humans, but she personally didn’t trust a person she didn’t know.
“Well, from the sound of it, the local healer was correct in her treatment. It would be the same I would offer the humans here if it happened to them. Her coloring looks good. I can’t scent her—”
“Her scent is fine.” Dru hadn’t forgotten the basics of her training. She’d have noted if Tomesha’s scent was off.
“My scent?” Tomesha turned to Zada with the question.
“Yes, we vampires can scent when a human is ill. Even if they aren’t showing signs. As least ones who are trained to, and my sister had in-depth training as a healer. She just continued on a different life journey than me.” Zada’s words ended softly.
She’d been one of the first to support Dru when she’d announced she was going to pursue the life of a warrior.
“You were once a healer?” Tomesha asked.
“I was, but as Zada said, I had a different purpose in life awaiting me.” Dru reached up and brushed Tomesha’s hair from her face. “And I don’t regret it. But yes, if I’d scented something different with you, I’d have said something immediately.”
Tomesha nodded.
“Well, that’s all I can do from here, sister. Is there anything else you need?” Zada asked.
Dru turned back to her and shook her head. She was sure Zada had plenty to do.
“I think we’re all set here. I’m sure we’ll be speaking again soon.” Dru brought Tomesha to her side and smiled at Zada.
Zada’s gaze flicked between Dru and Tomesha. “We most certainly will.” That damn twinkle returned to her eyes.
Dru sighed but wouldn’t expect anything less from her twin.
“Take care of yourself, Dru.”
“I always do. Give my love to our parents,” Dru said.
Zada nodded then spun on her heels. She walked away, and within seconds, her hologram disappeared.
“That was interesting,” Tomesha murmured.
“I just wanted to ensure you’re okay. I don’t want to harm you again.” Dru turned Tomesha to her. The sharp feeling lancing through her heart was unfamiliar to her. She stared down into Tomesha’s eyes.
“It wasn’t your fault. I’ll take better care of myself—”
“It is not on the human to know when a vampire is sated in their feedings. Vampires should be able to control themselves,” Dru snapped.
“And as a donor, I guess I should know my own body. I may be new at this but I’m learning. There are signals that I must have ignored, but now I know for the next vampire who feeds from me.”
A deep snarl tore from Dru. A fiery ball of possessiveness claimed her. This was her human, and no other vampire’s fangs would sink into Tomesha’s soft flesh. She’d do bodily harm to anyone who came close. Dru didn’t care that Tomesha worked for the madam.
She belonged to her.
Her fangs pushed through swiftly. Her hand shot out, and she gripped her human by the throat. Tomesha froze in place, her eyes wide, but she didn’t try to bolt away. Dru inhaled sharply, greeted by a thick, tangy musk radiating from Tomesha. Her body softened, and she rested a hand on Dru’s arm.
“No one else will feed from you,” Dru growled. She pulled Tomesha to her and slammed her mouth on hers.