Chapter 7
Zachary and Angelica looked at each other when they heard the beeper going off in the living room letting them know there was chatter in Warren’s office. Unlocking the apartment door, they hurried to the device. Luckily, Zachary had set the bugging system to start recording the moment speech was detected. If they missed anything, then they could always back it up and listen to all of it later.
“Please let this be a lead,” Angelica groaned then fell silent when Zachary hit the right button and disembodied voices came to life.
Warren must have called a late night meeting because it sounded like not only were the jaguars there, but the cougar clan as well. They listened as Warren repeated his phone call from Damon.
“Who’s Damon?” Angelica asked but held up her hand when a male voice gave her an answer.
Inside Warren’s office Michael touched the cell phone that was deep in his pocket. He knew why Damon had called Warren instead of him but that didn’t take the sting out of it. “I’ll go check out my brother’s lead.”
“I’ll go with Michael,” Nick offered.
“Not an option,” Warren shut Nick down. “Damon said Love Bites is being run by werewolves. If that’s true, then they’ll smell any of us coming a mile away and the last thing we need is a reenactment of last week’s gun fight.”
“He’s right,” Michael nodded. “Besides, I won't be alone. Kane’s coming.”
Kane didn’t bother confirming it. Michael had known he had backup, it wasn’t his fault the others didn’t. He almost wished Michael would just let him go check it out alone. With the soulless acting so bold, it didn’t take a genius to guess who was giving them balls.
“Kane? The vampire Kane?” Angelica made a face. “Isn’t he the one that got the whole vampire mess started in the first place?”
Zachary was still digesting the fact that Michael’s brother was in town and he hadn’t known it. ”He didn’t mean to,” Zachary shrugged, “and from what I’ve gathered, Kane only turned one person… not the army we have now.”
“He still started it,” Angelica pointed out.
“Kane’s not responsible for the world’s vampires if that’s what you’re accusing him of.” He remembered what Storm had told him about the vampires. “Michael, Kane, and Damon still have their souls… vampires don’t.”
“Then what does that make them?” She’d never been one to turn down a riddle.
“Something entirely different,” Zachary said since he wasn’t completely sure of the answer.
“Well that’s helpful,” Angelica sighed dramatically as she got up and disappeared into her room.
Zachary shook his head and dialed Warren’s cell phone. When the jaguar answered the phone he quickly informed him that the wolves at Love Bites had nothing to do with the smaller group of wolves that was harassing them.
“What makes you so sure?” Warren asked.
“Let’s just say your office isn’t the only one bugged,” Zachary hung up when Angelica came back out with a bag of makeup and a small mirror,
Angelica started rummaging through her makeup until she found her black lipstick. “Do you have any gothic clothes?”
“None that will fit you,” Zachary smirked.
“For you dummy. When I finish my makeup, it’s your turn.” Angelica smirked back, “Unless you want me to go alone?”
“Leather it is,” Zachary crossed his eyes making her laugh.
“Just remember it’s going to be crowded so we can’t make a scene if we find the demon.” Angelica reminded him hesitantly. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him it was just… the last place he’d blown up.
Zachary snapped his fingers, “Damn, there goes my plan to rip its spinal cord out its back and hang it from the disco ball.”
*****
Damon relaxed back against the cushions of the sofa once he got off the phone with Warren. He watched her reflection in the window from underneath his lashes as the silence stretched. He could do this all night… years actually. He’d give her minutes.
Alicia wrapped her arms around herself trying to strive off the cold chill that came with Damon's admissions on the phone. He’d been a lot more observant than she had because she’d only seen the one vampire when he’d told Warren he’d kill two. He wasn’t lying or trying to act tough. She knew Damon didn’t care what other people thought about him. It was the people trying to impress you that would lie to you.
“Why didn’t you tell them that I was with you?” she asked curiously.
“Didn’t feel the need to share,” Damon placed his arm behind his head like a pillow and let his gaze trail slowly down her body then back up. He’d had his fill of sharing her tonight and selfishness was a quality he happened to admire about himself. She was pale in the moon light, her blond hair looking like golden fire as the light shattered across it.
She could hear the implications in Damon’s sultry voice and wondered if she was any safer now than she’d been an hour ago. She glanced over her shoulder at him then walked to the other window pretending to look out it at a different angle. “Does Michael know you live here?”
So, Michael was what she was thinking about. Damon felt the sting of jealousy. “You’re not the only one who has secrets.”
He could feel the pain in him starting to surface and he didn’t like the emotion. It reminded him of the way he could stand in the middle of a crowded city full of so many emotions… and feel a quiet numbing pain clear down to his soul. He stood up and started toward her.
They hadn’t bothered turning the lights on. The moonlight streaming into the room was enough. From here, she could see most of the city… she could also see Damon’s reflection coming up behind her. The way he moved that lethal body could put any shifter to shame.
Alicia suddenly knew she would have rejected all of those guys tonight, and it was her own fault. She’d been comparing them to Damon and they all fell short.
“We could stay here tonight. It’s dark, no one ever has to know,” Damon wrapped his arms around her, letting her see the gentle reflection of it in the window. “Do you trust me?”
Alicia nodded. How could she not trust him?
“Do you want me?” Damon asked not doing anything but simply holding her. He wanted her to choose him on her own… no compulsion… no tricks.
“Yes,” Alicia murmured then felt a thrill of fear run down her spine because of the quickness she’d answered him.
She’d promised Micah she wouldn't be with a vampire. Anyone would have done. But Damon was here now, and her body wasn’t the only thing that wanted him… so did her heart. Mrs. Tully had said it needed to be someone strong, someone she was attracted to, and someone who would let her walk away.
She swallowed nervously, “No one can ever know. And tomorrow… it never happened. Do you promise?”
Damon didn’t care about tomorrow… and if you looked at it correctly, tomorrow never comes. He let his lips touch the shell of her ear, “I promise.” He slid his hands over her arms where she still had them wrapped around herself. Stopping at her wrist, he let his fingers encircle them then turned her around to face him so fast her blonde hair swung out around her. “I promise that tonight you’re mine.”
She could see the raw hunger in the darkening of his amethyst eyes. Alicia’s back bowed as his lips slashed across hers with a need that only ignited her own. She may have been a virgin, but she didn’t intend on being a shy one. Raising her arm, she ran her fingers behind his neck and gripped a handful of that sinfully dark hair.
Damon’s chest vibrated as he half moaned, half growled into the kiss, licking and biting at her full red lips.
Lowering his hands, he cupped her thigh and lifted one leg up around his waist, pulling her up off the floor. He could feel the heat of her skin as she wrapped her naked legs around him. He pushed his hips forward, grinding his swollen erection against her. She wasn’t asking for mercy so he wasn’t going to give it to her.
Alicia tightened her thighs on his hips and lifted herself up just enough to get her small hand between them. She caressed the length of his hardness through his pants, curling her fingers around the shape of him.
Damon jerked his lips from hers, ending the kiss with a pained sound before locking their gazes together. How could he have forgotten… she was a danger junky.
Alicia was trying to undo his pants so she could touch him when she suddenly felt the air swirl around. She blinked up at him from the mattress where he’d just tossed her. Damon was standing at the foot of the bed, staring down at her with a hooded expression and she felt the fear he caused collide with the heat that had been building for weeks.
When he started unbuttoning his shirt with quick nimble fingers, Alicia scooted off the bed on the other side and lifted her shirt over her head. Her heartbeat sped up when one corner of his lips hinted at a smirk. She never had been one to play follow the leader. She smirked back at him as she pushed her skirt down her legs and kicked it to the side.
Black lace stretched across her breast and hips, barely hiding and at the same time hiding too much.
Alicia took a startled step back when Damon was suddenly between her and the bed instead of the other way around. The shock of the cold wall against her skin as she backed into it was nothing compared to the feel of Damon's lips closing around her lace covered nipple. Using his shoulders and the wall for leverage, she once again wrapped her legs around his waist. She felt like she was climbing the wall as Damon lifted her higher.
Feeling the tangled lace against his tongue and knowing what softness lay beneath had Damon surging forward to press her against the wall. He raised one knee letting her straddle it so he could free his hands long enough to pull the stretchy material over her head.
Alicia moaned as his leg came up hard between hers. She rocked against it, letting him do what he wanted with the lace. She pressed her breast against his upper chest once they were free but froze when she heard the tinkling of crystal hit the floor. Her necklace. Alicia reached up and touched her chest where it usually rested. She knew she was lost when Damon gripped her hips and slid her up his thigh so she could feel the hardness straining at the material of his pants.
Damon nipped at her neck making her flinch and push back from him so she could stare down into his face again. He’d wanted to see those eyes and felt rejection when she averted her gaze. Turning them around, he gently laid her on the bed and started kissing his way down her body until he reached the black lace panties.
Hooking a finger under the narrow sides, he slowly pulled them down her hips until they were mid-thigh. Nuzzling where there should have been a patch of golden hair, Damon was surprised to find none and no evidence she’d ever shaved.
Alicia’s mind was reeling as he went from dominating, to slow and sensual in the blink of an eye. She could feel the heated passion of both sides and tried to spread her legs.
Damon smiled as he held the panties like a binding, keeping her legs closed tight. Rubbing his cheek over her mound, he turned his head and started with butterfly kisses.
He grabbed her by the wrist when her hand darted toward him. Keeping it held away at a safe distance, Damon ran his tongue down the line of her nether lips, working it within the fold and making her whither under him.
Alicia knew what bondage was because she’d read about it in her more erotic books. It didn’t take her long to decide she liked the way Damon was taking possession of and mastering her body. She strained against him, trying to pull her legs apart and wanting him to kiss her even deeper. The way he was making her wait while driving his tongue up and down her slit shattered the silence that she’d striven to keep so far.
Damon tensed his body when she cried out and clutched at his hair with her free hand. In an instant, he had her panties off and her legs over his shoulders as he gave her the deep kiss she had just cried out for.
Alicia’s hips bowed completely off the bed as she came. Her legs trembled when Damon’s tongue darted inside her in a fast rhythm before withdrawing to lick, suck, and nip at her nether lips.
He didn’t even let her catch her breath when he began to torture the little bundle of nerves every girl found out she had during their teenage years of masturbation. She pulled at his hair and pushed at his shoulder in her need to escape and press against him at the same time.
“Oh god. Damon please,” she crawled backwards several inches, surprised when he let her. She looked down her body at him. She caught a fleeting glimpse of his passion-glazed eyes as she pulsed several times, hard and right between her legs.
Damon’s legs were still off the bed so he pushed himself up and undid the button she’d been after a few minutes ago. Pushing the pants off, he tossed them on their pile of clothing then slowly climbed up and over her, much like a predator would once it had found its favorite meal.
Hovering above her face, he was again disappointed when her eyes slammed shut as if she feared looking at him. Damon narrowed his gaze.
No matter how high he made her, Alicia still had a sense of self-preservation… or at least she thought she did. She felt the hard smoothness of his hot arousal pressed against her opening and her eyes flew open to watch strange light dance within Damon's irises.
The moment their eyes locked, Damon thrust forward, breaking through her blood bond and burying himself deep inside her tightness. He shuddered as he felt her muscles squeezing him from the inside, daring him to fight his way even deeper. He rocked against her knowing he was her first… and if he had anything to say about it he would be her last.
Alicia’s fingernails raked across Damon’s back with the first impact. With the staggering amount of pain and pleasure, Alicia forgot to breathe. He held still for a moment, then rocked and strained deeper causing her to suck in much-needed air. Not taking her eyes from his, she flexed her hips trying to follow him as he pulled out only to slam back into her even deeper.
“Come for me,” Damon whispered, the soft sound alien to both of them as he caught a dangerous rhythm that threatened to pull them under.
He watched her toss her head from side to side as if saying no but her body was saying yes at the same time. She was beautiful as she turned her head up at an angle and screamed without making a sound. He wanted to hear her the next time she screamed.
He could feel her pulling at him as he withdrew. This time he pushed his way back inside so slowly, it dragged his name from her lips and made his arms shake where he was holding his weight above her. He wasn’t a stranger to sex… but this was different… like night and day. He wasn’t even giving her a chance to do anything and she was still snapping his control.
Reaching for her shoulders, he rose on the mattress and pulled her up with him until she was nestled in his lap and he was deep inside of her. Alicia lowered her head until her forehead was pressed against his. Damon wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her up. Then, using his hips to thrust upwards, he brought her back down.
Alicia arched away from him feeling him go even deeper than he had before. “Oh Damon do that again,” she moaned losing her modesty somewhere in the darkness. She rolled her hips back and forward to her own beat as he lifted her again then impaled her onto him.
Damon watched her swollen lips part and captured them in a fiery kiss as he lifted her then let her impale herself. He moaned into the kiss as her breast caressed his chest and collarbone. He let go of her waist, giving her the freedom to ride him as he let his hands caress their way up into her hair and around her back. The room filled with their sounds of passion as the full moon moved further across the sky.
Her rocking became more intense as she rode him, grinding herself against him at the same time. He thrust himself upwards as he felt her start to spasm around him, sending hot wet juices across his staff. Feeling her nuzzle at his neck, Damon leaned his head to one side giving her better access as he tried to keep a tight rein on the control she was short-circuiting. His eyes widened when he felt her latch down on his skin and suck it into her hot, wet mouth.
Damon knew she’d drawn first blood and the sucking sensations as she rode him were his undoing. Grabbing both of her wrists, he pushed her back down on the mattress and sped up his motions, taking her breath away. He thrust in and out faster, harder, only to slow down then slam back into her.
With her fingers interlocked with his, Alicia lifted her hips to meet him and arched her head back into the mattress. Damon’s gaze focused on her neck and he couldn’t have stopped himself if he tried. Darting forward, he latched onto the two tiny scars that were already there and waiting.
The second he broke the skin and pulled some of her blood into his mouth he strained forward, feeling himself pulsate deep inside her as he took and gave at the same time.
*****
Thousands of miles away, Syn felt the link he had with Damon snap and it disturbed him. There was a reason he kept Damon’s soul tethered to him, instead of giving him the freedom he gave Kane and Michael. Damon showed little self-control when his emotions surfaced… much like he’d been so long ago on his home planet.
One thing about his race was that when they let themselves feel anything, it became overwhelming. They could block out physical pain without much effort, but when they hurt deep inside it could be excruciating. The same could be said when they let themselves love. That’s why once they found the person they love… they never let go.
The last time Damon had shown any real emotion, he’d killed his own brother several times before containing that rage. Syn didn’t hold it against him though… he’d even lent him the strength to bind such emotion. Now that Damon had severed the link… he would have to learn to control it on his own or reach out to him. With Damon being such a loner… it would take a lot for Damon to ask for help.
He’d never fault his children for doing the same things he’d done in the past. That’s why he understood Kane’s reaction when he’d dug himself out of his own grave and helped to turn a whole city into a breeding ground. There were soulless vampires even now roaming every continent of this world because of his own headstrong ways.
It was dangerous to have the power of a sun god and not have the love of your soul mate to even it out. He only hoped that was the reason Damon’s link to him had severed. If that were true, then he needed to pay Damon a visit and soon. The unleashing of that kind of emotion would awaken Damon’s powers, not counting the fact that the girl’s soul would start to change. She would never be as powerful as a sun god, for even the females of his own world were protected by their soul mates.
Syn’s thoughts turned to his own soul mate and he cursed the fact that there were limitations to his power. He sighed knowing if the limitations weren’t there, he would have already destroyed this world to find her. The corner of his lips hinted at a smile as he relished the fact that he would have to make her fall in love with him again.
