Chapter 6
Aurora felt him coming up the stairs like a silently raging storm and didn’t know whether to hide or flee. To be honest, she didn’t even know what to say to him and started backing up toward the roof’s edge. If worse came to worse, she would kick him back down the stairs like she’d done the other man.
She flinched the second the door opened and watched as his gaze quickly found her. She frowned when he suddenly looked up at a device on the wall that she hadn't noticed before and crushed it in his hand.
When his amethyst eyes slowly lowered back to her, she became even more nervous and took another step back… not realizing she had already made it to the edge of the roof. She didn’t have time to gasp in surprise when her foot met open air and she started to fall.
In a sudden rush of confusing motion, Aurora found herself dangling from the roof and looking up at the hand that had captured hers. Looking past their hands, she gazed at him in all his wonder. His hair lifted around his face from the updraft, framing those amazing amethyst eyes and handsome face.
Michael had traced across the roof when she started to fall over the edge and grabbed her by the hand. He wasn’t about to let her get away that easily. With ease, he lifted her up into the air, holding her imprisoned hand above him so that her feet were dangling above the roof. She was suddenly looking down at him from her height and his breath nearly caught in his throat at the hauntingly beautiful image.
Instead of setting her back on her feet, Michael couldn’t help but bring her body flush against his. In the process, she would have to slide down the front of him to regain her balance. What he wasn’t ready for was her legs to accept the invitation and wrap themselves around his waist.
Aurora remembered the moment when Samuel told her he’d killed her lover. The pain that lie had caused was almost physical but feeling him against her only empowered her resolve to be rid of Samuel. Pulling her hand from his grasp, she locked both of them in his silky dark hair and descended on those temptingly parted lips.
Michael could feel the wind coming up the edge of the building and his possessive nature kicked in. He didn’t want her to be that close to fleeing him again so he traced back across the roof to the closed door. Stopping at the soft blankets that still held her scent he kneeled down without breaking the kiss and trapped her beneath him.
Aurora was so lost in the kiss that she didn’t even realize he’d moved her away from the edge until she felt the softness of the blanket touch her back. The contradicting sensation of softness beneath her and the hardness she was still wrapped around was intoxicating. She just couldn’t bring herself to care if what she was doing was wrong.
Samuel had called this man her lover and at this moment she wanted it to be true… wanted this man to free her mind and body like he’d done in the subway.
Michael moaned into the kiss, rocking his body to a rhythm he was sure she remembered. Imitating the sexual height they had reached only reminded him of the fact that as soon as it was over, she’d rejected him and fled. With that in mind he reached up, gently extracting her hands from his hair. Weaving their fingers together, he took them in a sure grip and trapped them against the blanket.
She had dominated him last time and then vanished without a trace… the thought of her vanishing again made him growl low in his throat. The growl became harsher and louder when she easily freed one of her hands, but that growling vibration caught in his throat when that hand traveled down between them.
Michael slipped his hand down to assist her with the fastenings on his jeans and pushed them down just enough to free his impressive length. When her hot hand wrapped around him, he jerked forward and shuddered as he strained against her erotic grip on him. When she sucked at his tongue, Michael felt his swollen flesh pulse in her hand and knew she would be his undoing.
Using his free hand, he quickly pushed her shirt up, revealing the bare skin beneath. As much as it angered him, he could understand the demon’s desire to possess her. Giving in with the strangled groan, Michael pulled away from the kiss and took one bright pink nipple between his lips, drawing it into his mouth. His eyes widened when he saw his bloodstone necklace nestled between her breasts.
For some reason, seeing his lost necklace around her neck gave him a surge of pride. It was almost as though he’d made a claim on her and he wondered if there was not a way to make sure she nor anyone else could take it off.
Aurora gasped loudly and bucked up against him, wanting him inside her so bad it hurt. She mentally screamed when his hand was suddenly between her legs, cupping her in a flexing grip. She could feel the wet heat gathering and pushed herself against his hand needing more.
Several miles away Samuel froze in his visual appraisal of the city. His eyes began to glow with anger when he felt Aurora’s passion filled call. Her sensual cry caressed his mind like a hot wind on a cold winter day. He quickly latched on to the mental link and closed his eyes.
He sent an answering growl and was rewarded when he felt fear trickle through the bond. Using that as a lead, he followed it and made a direct connection… invading her mind.
“Feel me Aurora,” Samuel whispered into the wind. “It is my hands that touch you right now… my lips that taste your flesh.” His voice took on a seductive purr knowing what it did to her and used it to gain leverage as it had in the past.
Aurora’s fear mixed with the overwhelming need raging through her and blinked up at the man above her. She knew she’d have to run soon, if she didn’t she would lead Samuel straight to her sanctuary and lover. She arched her hips and used her legs still wrapped around his waist to pull him hard against her, impaling herself on his thick length.
‘Not you,’ she mentally screamed knowing Samuel would hear her. She now knew exactly how he’d found her the last time. ‘It’s not you deep inside me.’
Michael grunted when she pushed him into her and tightened his body with surprise. He pulled away from her breast so he could stare down at her face, seeing the desperation in her expression. Her eyes were closed and her lips barely moved as if she was talking but he couldn’t hear or understand what she was saying.
She grabbed his shoulders and started grinding her hips against his and he tensed when he saw she had every intention of riding him to oblivion.
“Am I not,” Samuel’s lips hinted at a patient smile even though that patience was a lie. “I am in your mind and between your thighs. I can feel you tightening around my flesh and pressing your bare breasts against my chest. You’re so wet right now… and it’s all for me Aurora. You are making me feel this because you crave me.”
“You lie Samuel,” Aurora said franticly… realizing too late that she’d said it out loud. Her eyes snapped open and locked with the amethyst gaze above her. Those very eyes narrowed just as Samuel whispered a threat in her ear.
“A master vampire… do you really think he is better than me? Can he make you feel the way I do? I have saved your life many times since I found you Aurora… I have also killed many men and demons for you, demons that wanted only your demise. I will do so again until you realize that you belong only to me.”
Feeling a sharp spike in her fear, Samuel smiled knowing that he had finally found a weakness in his Aurora… her new lover.
Michael had stopped all movement and now stared hard into her eyes. She had called out another man’s name and that didn’t settle well with him at all.
“You will not say the name of another man when you are with me,” he growled. “It’s my arms you are in Aurora… not his,” Michael’s voice had taken on an almost snarling quality as he did not like the thought of a threesome… especially with a demon.
“I’m sorry,” Aurora whispered meaning it. “Samuel… he’s in my head… he will never let me have you.”
“Let me? I don’t think I asked his permission… nor do I need it.” Michael’s voice was hard and he gripped her wrists, this time pulling her off the blanket and restraining her against the wall with real force. With one powerful thrust, he was once again deep inside her.
“You want me, crave me… here, now… and we all three know it,” Michael said dangerously.
Aurora tossed her head back, feeling the hard brick against her back as she was left holding on instead of being the one to dominate him. She felt the brick slide, snagging the back of her shirt but she paid it no attention. The breeze blew around them, whipping their hair and Aurora found herself transfixed by the mixture… pale blonde with dark strands wrapped around it. The sight was so simple yet so intimate it took her breath away.
Michael continued to pound into Aurora’s soft body… the rest of the world fading away with each thrust. If he had taken a moment to look away, he would have noticed that he was now levitating about six or seven feet in the air. She felt so good around him and he wished it could last for longer this time but urgency seemed to be on the menu tonight.
Aurora gasped when she finally realized that the brick wall wasn’t against her back anymore and smiled at the weightless feeling. For the first time in centuries, she was reminded of what it felt like to truly fly. It was a gift no one had ever thought to give her and she was happy for it… even though it would be the first and last time she would ever experience it.
Looking up at the man that had bestowed this remembrance, she let him make love to her this time. There was no Samuel, no demons, and no nightmares… there was only him. He was satisfying her urgency and she wanted to enjoy it for as long as she could.
Michael growled when he felt his release coming and lowered his head to her shoulder, pressing his sharp teeth against the flesh. He could still remember the power of her blood in his veins and wanted to feel that rush again.
Aurora felt the coil in her belly tightening more… she was so close to completion she could taste it. She waited until the right moment and when he pushed upwards, she pushed down at the same time.
Michael felt her release, the warmth rushing over his erection and finally gave in to his craving… sinking his teeth into her shoulder. The rush was immediate.
Aurora screamed in completion and gasped loudly when wave after wave of ecstasy rolled through her. She felt the sting of his fangs in her flesh and his gentle sucking as he took in her blood once more.
Samuel had mentally stayed connected to Aurora, trying to track her and her lover, but somehow her location remained shrouded. He felt her release and smirked wickedly.
“Yes… my Aurora. Enjoy it… come for me,” He said seductively then frowned when she mentally turned her back on him.
He released an angry growl and closed his eyes so he could see her. The image of her back turned nearly made him go into a rage. However, his vision of her was suddenly blocked by the vampire she’d taken as her lover.
The two of them stared at each other for the span of maybe two seconds before the vampire’s power pushed aggressively against his. The vast wave slammed into him through the mental link and out of the mindscape. Samuel felt a sense of weightlessness before his back impacted with the hard ground.
When Samuel finally regained his bearings, he was laying a good hundred yards from where he’d been standing. Another growl burst from his chest as he tried to reestablish the link. Much to his surprise, he could no longer touch Aurora’s mind… she was blocked from his manipulations.
Unable to control his rage, Samuel slammed his fist into the ground, splitting open the old concrete slab beneath him and roared at the sky. As the sound faded, his head lowered and he fisted his hands as he forced a cold calmness to replace his fury. Snapping his head up, he unleashed a wave of power that set off all of the car alarms within a two block radius.
“You may have her now vampire,” Samuel’s lips curled in conceit. “Question is… how long can you keep her?”
Michael’s blood was pounding through his veins, sounding loud in his ears. He leaned forward breathing heavily, trapping Aurora’s body between him and the stone wall behind her. He found himself disoriented by the power surge created when he drank her blood and recognized it from the last time this had happened.
It felt good… so good. She had become a drug to him… very addicting and very dangerous.
Aurora had her entire body wrapped around her lover, legs around his waist and arms around his shoulders. When he shifted his body, she nearly moaned at the feeling of him slipping out and sighed contentedly. Finally releasing him, she slid down his body as he’d first intended and leaned back to gaze up at him through the shield of her lashes.
Taking the initiative, she stepped out of his embrace and let her clothing fall back into place. Aurora smiled softly when she realized she couldn’t feel Samuel’s presence in her head anymore. Sadly, she didn’t trust that the link would stay away… it always came back.
She stared up at the beautiful man in front of her and suddenly felt ashamed for putting him on Samuel’s hit list… she hadn't even thought about the consequences. This wasn’t his fight and she’d carelessly drug him into it just because she couldn’t seem to keep her hands off of him. Unable to face him, she turned away to hide her disgrace.
“You will be safe if you stay here inside your barrier,” she whispered and started walking away. “If you do, Samuel won’t be able to find and kill you for real.”
Michael’s hand snapped out and grabbed hold of her arm, swinging her back around to face him. “Samuel, is that the name of the jealous boyfriend I met in the subway? Is he the reason why you ran from me… why you’re running now?”
“Yes,” Aurora admitted and reached up to touch his cheek trying to make him understand. “I want you safe and the only way to ensure that is to keep away from you.”
Michael felt his anger spike again when he saw the look of desperation, longing, and sadness in her eyes. She truly believed that he would die if he went up against Samuel. He needed to tell her what he was and that Samuel might hurt him… but kill him? Not likely.
“Aurora,” Michael whispered softly and moved closer to speak further when she did something unexpected.
“I’m sorry,” she cried and pushed her hands against Michael’s chest.
Michael felt wood splintering around him as his body smashed through the closed door behind him. With such momentum, he couldn’t stop himself from tumbling all the way down the stairs and landed hard on the unforgiving floor.
Kane had heard the crash and came running out of the security room to find out what was happening. When he reached the stairwell, he almost wanted to laugh but stopped himself when he saw the dark look on Michael’s face.
“Damn… and here I thought she wouldn’t do that to you,” Kane whispered.
Warren and Tabatha came up behind him and stared wide eyed.
“What happened?’ Tabatha asked.
Warren shook his head, “Looks like the lady threw him down the stairs.”
Michael regained his feet and shot the three of them a look that would have turned sand to glass before tracing back up the stairs.
“Go back to the bar,” Kane ordered not liking the rage he could feel coming off Michael. “I’ve got a feeling this isn’t gonna be pretty.”
With that, Kane raced up the stairs after Michael, leaving Tabatha and Warren behind.
“I think we should do as he asks,” Warren coaxed seeing Tabatha's uncertainty. “No one knows Michael better than Kane… not even me. Besides, I have a feeling I’m going to need another shot of Heat.”
Tabatha nodded deciding to trust Kane to handle it alone this time.
Michael kicked his way through the broken remnants of the door and stalked out onto the roof ready to find the girl and tie her down somewhere. A growl rose up from deep in his throat when he looked around the rooftop finding her gone. While he was collecting himself at the bottom of the stairs, she’d taken her chance and vanished.
Kane reached the top of the stairs and spared a glance at the demolished door before narrowing his eyes on Michael. His brother was standing in the center of the roof with his hands fisted at his sides and shivering with rage. He forced himself not to take a step back when he noticed the tiny lose pebbles on the roof levitate. Kane had truthfully never seen Michael like this and wasn’t sure what he could do. That was when he felt it.
A gentle tremor made the club shift a tiny bit and Kane saw what appeared to be a wave spread out around them like a pebble thrown into a calm lake. Even the debris floating on the roof rolled as if it too had felt the wave. As the wave moved out across the parking lot and toward the city, it grew bigger and bigger. Kane gritted his teeth knowing more reports of an earthquake would be on the news in a matter of minutes.
The sound of metal scraping concrete made him turn his head toward the parking lot. His eyes grew wide when he saw the few vehicles they had actually levitating several feet above the pavement.
“Damn,” Kane whispered in awe just as he saw Michael move.
High on Fallen blood, Michael was unaware of what was happening around him and strode toward the edge of the roof… intent on finding Aurora and bringing her back. Nothing would stop him until he found her and killed the one that saw fit to torment her. Samuel was a walking dead man.
“Michael!” Kane shouted and raced across the roof toward the dark haired demi-god.
When Michael didn’t so much as pause, Kane tackled him to the ground and used brute strength in an attempt to restrain him. His eyes widened then narrowed when he lost his footing due to Michael trying to levitate him. Kane growled and wrapped himself around his brother.
Michael rolled over, jabbing his elbow into the face of the one who had stupidly decided to get in his way. Kane barely blocked the elbow and pushed it down at an awkward angle that would surely break it if Michael moved the wrong way.
“Damn it Michael,” Kane growled. “Get a fucking hold of yourself before Syn decides killing you again is a good idea. Keep this up and I’ll save him the damned trouble.”
Michael barely recognized the voice and heard only the threat which spurred him into action. Using his newfound strength to his advantage, he forced himself to his feet and landed a closed fist punch to the ribcage of his attacker. There was the satisfying sound of a grunt and his arm was released.
Kane stumbled back a few steps and winced when his ribs protested his breathing. Michael for sure had just fractured a couple of his ribs but there was no way in hell he was letting his brother take off in this state.
His breath nearly caught in his throat when he saw the look in Michael’s eyes. His pupils were wide, looking like a drug addict on a heavy fix and the amethyst had darkened to a shade of purple so deep it almost looked black.
‘So this is Michael’s dark side,’ Kane thought to himself and readied for the next attack. “It’s always the quiet ones you have to watch out for,” he grumbled.
Damon and Alicia paused in their love making to stare up at the ceiling. He felt Alicia wince when something was slammed down on the roof so hard that it made a tiny bit of ceiling dust fall into their room.
“What’s going on up there?” Alicia asked with a frown as she arched her hips and slowly came back down on Damon.
“Michael and Kane are having a disagreement,” Damon answered as he gripped her hips and lifted her, only to close the distance he’d created with one hard thrust. “They’re big boys… they’ll work it out in a few minutes.”
‘Damon… stop Michael.’
This time it was Damon who flinched when Syn’s voice suddenly sounded loud and clear in his mind. He wanted to point out the fact that he was a little busy but didn’t trust what Syn’s reply would be so he kept his thoughts to himself.
Damon closed his eyes and sighed heavily before pulling Alicia down for a quick kiss then lifted her off of him. “Hold that thought,” he whispered enticingly as he moved from the comfort of their bed.
“Where are you going?” Alicia asked gazing at the proud stiffness of her lover.
“Dad wants me to get involved,” Damon said as he pulled on a pair of discarded jeans from the floor. “I’ll be right back.”
Warren and Tabatha were down at the bar waiting for Michael and Kane to come back down the stairs. They’d heard the scuffle going on up there but weren’t going to interfere. Tabatha had started to go check on them, but Warren stopped her with a shake of his head. If the noise up there was any indication, he knew there was nothing Tabatha could do except sit down here with him and drink until it was over.
One of the chairs suddenly toppled over making both of them jump in surprise. Warren frowned and made his way over to the piece of furniture, the frown deepening when he saw why it had fallen over.
“This chair has only three legs,” Warren informed her with a raised eyebrow.
“Three?” Tabatha asked and came around the bar to take a look. “When did that happen?”
Warren shrugged, “You got me.”
Kane had finally gotten a good hold on Michael and was struggling to get him back on the ground. Michael thrashed in his hold, growling viciously and actually attempting to bite him.
“Don’t even think about it,” Kane growled back. “I know you want the girl but you’re going to calm down before I let you go.”
Michael’s head whipped back, bashing Kane in the nose and causing the blonde vampire to blink as his vision went white for a moment. He shook his head to clear it just as Michael grunted painfully and went limp in his hold.
When Kane’s sight returned, he scowled at the chair leg sticking out of Michael’s back just a few centimeters shy of impaling him as well. He looked up and saw Damon standing there with his arms crossed over his chest… glaring at Michael in frustration.
The expression melted away and Damon backed up a couple steps when he saw the dangerous look Kane was giving him.
“A stake through the heart,” Kane inquired as he gently laid Michael down, “Really?” Kane took a step toward him in retaliation.
“Dad told me to stop Michael… so I did,” Damon answered while flexing his fingers.
Kane looked away and his lips thinned in frustration before glaring back at Damon. “Don’t let this become a habit,” he warned.
“Too late,” Damon stated and headed back toward the door.
Kane grumbled something along the lines of crazy assed fathers and how they got their rocks off killing their children. Lightning flashed above the club making Kane glare up at the sky.
“Yeah, yeah, I know!” he shouted and lifted Michael up in his arms.
Damon was smirking as Kane approached him but turned and headed down the stairs without looking back.
Kane inhaled sharply through his nose then looked down at Michael’s body with a sad smile, “Did it to you again… did she?”
Damon was actually kind enough to hold the door open for Kane at the bottom of the stairs. As Kane passed, Damon let a devious smirk slide across his lips as he waited in the darkness. Kane deserved this for threatening him.
Kane wasn’t prepared for the dark look that passed over Tabatha’s face when he emerged from the stairwell.
“So that’s where the chair leg went,” Warren said with a slight slur in his voice.
“What the hell did you do to him Kane?” Tabatha demanded.
Kane placed Michael down on one of the long cushion benches next to the dance floor before looking up at Tabatha. His eyes widened in disbelief when he saw the accusation in Tabatha’s glare before sighing heavily.
“Tabatha love-“
“Don’t ‘Tabatha love’ me,” she exclaimed giving him a stubborn look. “You killed Michael… didn’t you?”
“Damn it,” Kane yelled. “I didn’t do it!”
“Then who did?” Tabatha wanted to know.
The door leading to Damon’s bedroom opened and Alicia stepped out clad in one of Damon’s large shirts. She took one look at Michael and glared at Damon.
“I thought you said Syn told you to interfere,” She growled.
Damon shrugged and strode toward her, “He did… he didn’t say how.”
“So you ran a stake through your brother’s heart?” she asked with wide eyes.
“That was the interference,” Damon shrugged.
“It didn’t really kill him… did it?” Warren asked, the tainted alcohol now running high in his system.
“Of course not,” Kane informed the dummy. “He’s already dead.”
“He’ll wake up sometime tomorrow,” Damon elaborated before gently pushing Alicia back into their bedroom and slamming the door behind him.
Warren lifted his eyebrows and nodded, “Okay,” then promptly fell off his stool.
“No more Heat for him,” Tabatha stated with a sage nod.
“Agreed,” Kane said and set about the unsavory task of removing the stake with as little damage as possible.
