14. CHAPTER 14
Bang. Bang.
I blink my eyes open to a darkened room and an unfamiliar bed. Where the hell am I?
My gaze lands on a digital clock atop a dresser, and after wiping the sleep from my eyes, they focus on the time. 8:45. Is that am or pm? Did I work a shift last night?
Bang. Bang.
I flinch, looking around wildly for the source of the noise but freeze at the sight of the girl to my left. Her auburn hair cascades in waves over the pillow, and it all comes flooding back. The accident, or I guess accidents, the glass cage, her, and…
Bang. Bang.
And Tilly. I sit up with a sigh, looking at the door separating our joined rooms. The knocking is getting louder and louder, the wood vibrating in the frame. Teagan whimpers in her sleep and pulls the comforter over her head.
I make my way to the door in just my boxer briefs and flip the latch to unlock it. It swings open a moment later, revealing Tilly’s intimidatingly large build. Instinctively, I take a few big steps back, giving him space to enter, and he follows me into the darkened room. His eyes glow as neon-red as the digits on the clock. I bump into the nightstand and fumble, trying to click on the bedside lamp.
The room fills with light, and Teagan turns over, blinking the sleep from her eyes. “What’s going on?” Her voice is groggy as she looks between Tilly and me. “Is everything okay?”
Tilly’s smile widens, an odd mix between friendly and menacing. “Why wouldn’t it be? I brought breakfast for the two of you.” He drops a paper sack on an empty chair. “And I need the items we got from the store yesterday… Ahh, here they are.” He snatches the plastic bag from the table and heads towards our bathroom sink. He pulls out the clippers and within a moment, has his toenails and fingernails cut. Did his fingernails look claw-like? He moved at such an inhuman speed, I can’t be certain.
No. There’s no way.
I shake my head, clearing the thoughts, and sit at the small table. I can’t take my gaze off Tilly, like he’s some weird experiment that I’m dying to evaluate. If Teagan is intriguing then Tilly is damn near fascinating. He grabs the razor and buzzes his long hair into the trash bin. I chance a quick glance at Teagan and her scrunched-up face as she watches him with keen interest, too. He shaves the hair off his face, which has grown considerably since the day before. Not even a full day. We saw him a handful of hours ago. And yet, the scruff on his face is now the beginnings of a beard.
“Why does your hair grow so fast?” Teagan asks while sliding to the edge of the mattress.
He flips the switch off and sets the razor on the counter then grabs a fresh shirt from the bag. He shrugs off his dirty one, revealing a dark, toned torso. “Why do some people fear homosexuality when it’s no threat to their daily lives?” He strains, the muscles in his back flexing, and forces the shirt on, stretching it to its capacity.
Teagan’s face turns almost as red as his eyes and her hands clench into tight fists. “What?”
He turns towards her with a cocked head and a single arched brow. “Are we not just asking questions we don’t know the answers to?”
She sneers and snaps back, “I was serious.”
He chuckles halfheartedly and throws his items back into the sack. “As was I.”
She doesn’t handle him well. He’s annoyed me too, but he’s also started to grow on me. Perhaps my people skills are a bit more refined than hers from working in the ER for so long. Regardless, this bickering has to stop.
I jump in before she can retort. “What are you shaving for?”
His neon stare snaps from her to me.
“I tend to draw less attention in public when I don’t look like a sasquatch.” He brushes the spilled stray hairs into the trash bin and turns to face us both.
Teagan pulls out the bottle of blood and a bag of warm donuts. Her nose twists at the sight of the donuts, and she hands them over to me.
She uncaps the bottle but doesn’t drink it yet. “Where are you going?”
“Around. Places you both frequent. Need to see if there’re tails on either of you.
“Hmm.” She edges closer to me. “What will you do if you find one?”
He playfully rolls his eyes, like we’re children he’s trying to appease. “What would you have me do?”
“Uh. I don’t know. You seem good at the glamour thing, but if they aren’t human—”
He cuts Teagan off with a gleam in his eyes. “I’ll handle it.”
She wraps her arms around her chest. “Are you an Ambassador?”
“Ha, hardly.” He moves with a fluid grace toward his room, pulling out his shades and covering his inhuman eyes.
Her fingers tap against her arms, and she shakes her head in frustrated disbelief. “Why not just hide your fangs and eyes?”
“A wolf in sheep’s clothing is still a wolf.” And with that, he turns and heads for his adjoining room. “I advise you both to stay here.” He closes the door with a soft click behind him.
I move and flip the lock back into place. It wouldn’t stop him, but it still gives me a false sense of relief.
“You don’t trust him?” I ask her.
It’s either that or he just frustrates the hell out of her. But I need to know. We’re relying on him too much if we can’t actually trust him. And I sure as hell don’t know enough about their species to have a valid opinion on the topic. I’m in over my head here.
“I’m not sure.” She chugs the blood, drinking it all in one gulp then sighs heavily. “Why can’t he ever just answer a question?”
“I’m not sure. But he has helped us.”
She recaps the bottle and tosses it into the trash before picking up the cell phone from the nightstand. She plops onto the unmade bed, and with another sigh, starts a call. I’m assuming to try her friend Elena again.
It rings and rings, but no one answers. She tosses the phone onto the nightstand with a frustrated huff.
I sit, with the bag of donuts, on the bed across from her. “Is there someone else you could call?”
“No, I don’t know any other numbers, and I’m not on social media or anything. She should’ve called me back by now.”
I tear a glazed donut in half. “You think something’s happened?”
“She was worried about our kind going missing in that area. And apparently, Patrick’s in a facility there. What if they got her, too? What if they took her and are testing her?”
After finishing the donut, I wipe my hands on a napkin. “What do you plan to do?”
“The only thing I can think of is to go visit her place and see if she’s there and just not answering. But I’m assuming she’s not there, or she would’ve called me. I don’t know how I’m going to find the other facility.”
“I’m sure Tilly has some kind of plan. Or maybe he has some Ambassador connections that might know where the facility is.”
“Yeah. I guess it’s best to wait for him and make sure I’m not being followed anymore.” Grumbling to herself, she pushes herself up and paces the small space in front of the beds.
“Do you want to watch TV or something?”
She glances at the tiny old box of a TV sitting next to the digital clock on the dresser but shakes her head and continues pacing. “A distraction sounds nice, but there’s no way I could sit still and focus on it.”
She needs to get out of her own head. And we’re alone right now. Finally. I scoot to the edge of the mattress. “What about a different distraction?”
Her arms tighten around herself, and her nails dig into the skin of her arms. She doesn’t even realize I’ve stood. No, she’s barely acknowledging anything outside her own spiraling thoughts. Her eyes don’t even lift from the trail she’s creating in the shaggy carpet. “What do you have in mind?”
I step into her path, blocking her. She pauses her pacing a foot from me and stares into my eyes. I reach out and cup her chin, my eyes glued to her lips. “We’ve toyed with the line a few times now, but between the situation and interruptions, we haven’t fully crossed it.” I stroke my thumb down her cheek and over her thick bottom lip. It parts on a breath of air as I step into her. “But I want to, and I think you do too.”
She sucks in a soft breath, and her eyes shift to orange. I take that as my green light and lean in, brushing my lips over hers. Her arms curl around my bare back, pulling me closer. I slip my tongue between her lips as her nails dig into my skin. The kiss deepens. God, all I want is to lose myself in her.
I skim my hands down her sides, and she arches into me. Damn, I need more of her now. I hook my thumbs into the waistband of her shorts, caressing her satin smooth skin, then slide them down over her curves, stretching the elastic band over her ass. They drop to the carpet, and she steps out of them, backing up towards the bed and pulling me with her. My fingers tighten on her hips and her kiss turns more demanding.
Was she holding back on me?
She stops when her calves meet the edge of the mattress, and I slide my hands up her torso, collecting her shirt as I go. Once it lifts past her chest, we break the kiss, and I pull it off with one swoosh, baring her completely. Her eyes are fully crimson now, and hints of her fangs peek out.
Her hands roam over my chest. My abs constrict as her fingertips brush across them. She hits the waistband of my shorts and frantically tugs them down; they drop to my ankles, revealing my full length. She looks downward and carefully sucks her bottom lip between her teeth, displaying more fang. How can she be this sexy and alluring and also so adorable?
I step into her, lifting her from the hips and placing her on the mattress. Her body’s magnificent. I want to worship every inch. She scoots back, passion dripping from her gaze. Not breaking eye contact, I climb onto the bed. With my chin, I nudge between her bent knees. “Spread ’em.”
She sucks in a breath but obeys. She wants this as much as I do. I can’t contain my smile as I lower myself to her heated center. I’ve wanted to taste this since we were trapped in the cell. I lick between her folds, and her back arches off the mattress, her knees closing instinctively.
With a soft chuckle, I hook my arms around her thighs so I can keep them open. Securing her legs in a vise grip, I lower myself to lick her edges. Exploring, tasting, cherishing every part of her. There is something truly electrifying about the warmth of her skin as it touches mine, leaving me exhilarated. I dive deep into her, coating my tongue in her sweetness. She bows off the mattress, and I place my right palm against her lower abdomen, holding her down. I’ve waited too damn long for this, and I’m not nearly done.
My pace quickens, in and out and around in circles. She tastes like dark, tart cherries, and I can’t get enough. She’s panting by the time I pull back and leisurely lick along her lower lips. Her hips are rocking, trying to get attention to a specific area I’m purposefully avoiding. I chuckle against her warm center and stroke a finger near her dripping wet entrance. She stills, and I slightly tease and press into her opening. I nibble on her thigh and push in a second finger. She moans, and I thrust them deep inside her, stroking her, coaxing her higher.
When she’s close, panting and squirming against me, I suck her clit into my mouth in a pulsing motion, sending her over her edge. She cries out and clenches, gripping my fingers tightly, and unravels in front of me. I slow my sucking and stroking, allowing her to settle. Damn, I’ve missed this. The feeling of a woman’s climax against my fingers and mouth, the rolling waves of pleasure.
I sit back, my face and hands soaked with her juices, and I still want more of her. Her eyes are crimson and heavy with passion, and her fangs show between her swollen, parted lips. Those two things should scare me away. But they’re just more arousing, making me instantly harder.
She pushes herself up on unstable arms. “I need…” She trails off, shakes her head a little.
I wipe most of the wetness off my chin with the back of my arm. “What do you need?”
She moves to sit on her knees, different emotions flowing across her face. Until she pauses, looking up into my eyes with pure hunger, her control vanishing. “All of you.”
I’ll give her everything I can.
Before I can respond, she pushes me onto my back at the foot of the bed and climbs onto me. Her lips smash into mine a moment later, and she moans at the taste of herself on me. My tongue brushes against one of her fangs and my member twitches against her thigh. She shifts, lining me up with her warm, wet center. She’s so intoxicating, it’s driving me mad with desire. I’ve never been this out of control.
She breaks our kiss and licks down the column of my neck. A growl rumbles from deep in my chest. My tip slips into her opening, sliding with the slickness. She slams her hips lower, taking all of me into the deepest parts of her. I grunt, my grip tightening and squeezing her slowly rolling hips. Damn, she’s so tight. She pauses and pants against my neck then scrapes her fangs down to my shoulder without breaking the skin. Goosebumps break out over my body. This feels so good already, but I’m dying to know what it feels like while she’s feeding from me.
I slide my hands up her back, collecting her hair and holding in lightly in one hand as she lifts and lowers her hips. She moans, finding her rhythm. Damn, I’m already close to bursting, and we just freaking started. This is what I get for my unintentional celibacy. She does this circling motion with her hips and my head drops back. I can’t come yet.
Come on, focus, just a little longer.
This feels way too good to end now.
This feels so fucking good. And yet, it’s not all that I want. Ahh.
Every fiber of my being just wants to drink his blood. To feel it filling me. Sliding down my throat. Energizing and igniting me.
But I’ve drunk so much from him already. I need to be careful.
Just focus on the other sensations.
Like the feel of him holding my hair. Or how hard his cock gets every time I roll my hips around and around.
But I know how rich and decadent his blood tastes. My mouth waters just thinking about it.
When I scrape my teeth against his skin, he shivers and his cock twitches inside me. There’s no way I’m going to hold out much longer. I’ve never had a craving like this. Even after the bus accident, I was hurt but sated when it came to my appetite. With him, though, it’s different. Every time I drink from him, it doesn’t quench anything; it spikes it more. I thought giving in and having sex might ease the desire some, but this is like gasoline to a fire.
His grip on my hips tightens, and then he pulls me up and flips me over onto my back. He settles himself on top of me, and I eagerly wrap my legs around him.
He thrusts into me and, “Ohh. Fuck.” This is deeper. He’s stretching me more. My inner muscles clench, and my breath catches in my lungs.
He pauses the same instant.
He lifts himself up on one arm to look into my face. “Are you okay?”
“Oh, yes.” I pant and pull him back down, my body adjusting to him and this angle. He chuckles and thrusts slowly in and out, deeper and deeper. Stroking me to even higher levels. I need more. I’ve never been like this. I don’t understand this. But I need more. Now.
I lick the side of his neck, and he moans, tilting his head to the side to give me better access. Could he want this as much as I do? My mouth fills with saliva at the thought. Instinct takes over, and I strike. He pauses and tenses as my fangs break his flesh. I take a long slow pull, his blood filling and coating the inside of my mouth. The thick, warm liquid slides down my throat and ignites a fire in my veins as it flows into me. His growl vibrates my chest, and his muscles relax. He grows even harder and moves within me again, bringing me to the peak of my crest.
I’m right on the edge and take gulps of his blood. It’s energizing, fueling, and consuming me. He thrusts harder and faster, and I’m falling. Crashing. I release my bite, and my head falls back onto the mattress. I cry out, wave after wave of pleasure racing through me. My muscles clench, and then he’s groaning and pulsating inside me.
A moment later, he drops onto his side next to me, wrapping an arm around my midsection. He breathes deeply with closed eyes, trying to catch his breath. He’s magnificent, and I don’t want to let him go. I turn to face him and lean in to lick his wound closed. His eyes open halfway, and he smiles up at me.
I lick the remaining blood from my lips, and I still want more. This isn’t normal. Why am I not sated? What’s wrong with me?
He frowns slightly. “Are you okay?”
“I should ask you that. I’ve taken too much blood from you the past few days. Are you feeling okay?” There are faint shadows under his eyes, and I hate myself for it.
“Ha. Seriously?” He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear. “I feel amazing right now. Though I might need a nap and food before round two.”
A giggle slips free. “Round two, huh?”
“Ah, you’re right. I should get caffeine and a massive platter of food so we can just marathon it all night.” Playfully, he taps his nose against mine before giving me a gentle kiss. He rolls to his back, pulling me along with him. “Just rest with me for a moment then we can go again.” He kisses the top of my head while stroking slow circles along the arm I have draped over his stomach.
I cuddle up and lie partly on his chest, but my body isn’t relaxing. I keep looking at the vein in his neck. There’s something wrong with me for sure. Is this because of all my injuries? Am I still healing? Or is it because of their tests? Did they do something to me? What’s happening to me?
His light snoring pulls me out of my spiraling thoughts. He’s out already? I glance back at the hollowed look of his eyes; I fucking took too much. Is he going to be okay?
I can’t keep drinking from him, and yet I’m already itching for more. I will my fangs to retract, and they refuse. The woodsy, minty scent of him snags my attention. My mouth salivates and my gaze latches onto the vein on his wrist. My fangs ache, and I’m overwhelmed with the urge to bite him, even in his sleep.
What the actual fuck? What’s the matter with me?
I roll out from his embrace and slide off the bed, needing to put distance between us before I do something I’ll regret. After snagging my shorts and t-shirt, I dress then pull a chair to the opposite side of the room, as far from him as possible.
I should just leave. I can’t trust myself around him right now. But someone might still be following me. And I can’t leave him all alone without an explanation.
Why can’t I? I barely know him. It would be safer for him if I just disappeared.
I drop into the chair with despair. It creaks loudly, and I hold my breath, staring at his sleeping form. It doesn’t wake him. Thank goodness. I pull my feet into the seat, wrapping my arms around my legs and resting my chin on my knees, just watching him and trying to sort through my thoughts. And restraining myself from going any nearer to him.
This is the first time I’ve ever felt so completely out of control. I have no desire to hurt him, but I feel like a monster because these urges won’t go away.
I’m a danger to him.