Crimson Dichotomy (Dichotomy Saga) (4 page)

At least temporarily.

Val sat up and blinked into the darkness. Moments after Raze pulled out of her trembling body, she’d been overtaken by an oppressive weakness. The sensation had been so similar to death that she’d fought it with all her might, screaming in terror and thrashing wildly on the floor beside the bed.

Her hands flew to the metal collar encircling her throat. She was on the bed now, naked and alone. A faint rustling disturbed the silence and she started.

“Hello?” Fear jolted through her, speeding her pulse and reigniting the sting in her fangs. She was famished. Her entire body felt empty, painfully hollow. The branching candelabra in the far corner of the room erupted with dancing flames. “Taerok?”

Glistening mist swirled under the door and curled in an ever increasing spiral. “He’ll return in a bit,” Raze told her as he materialized within the vapor.

“Do you ever just open a door?”

“I don’t have the key.” He was naked and massively erect. “Taerok thought you might be hungry when you emerged from your solar trance.”

“Good call. I’m starving.”

“He said no blood until he returns, but you can have all the come you want.”

“What?” She glanced at his cock then glared into his mocking eyes. “How will sucking you off help me?”

“The taste of my blood changed each time you came. If we’re willing to fuck over and over, vampires can live on sexual energy.”

His arrogance intensified her resentment. His magnificent body might appeal to her lust, but she found little appealing in his personality. “I’ll wait until Taerok returns.” She drew her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her knees.

“If you’re shaking with hunger when Taerok arrives, he’ll punish us both.” He stood beside the bed, tall and commanding. If it hadn’t been for the cruelty in his eyes, she would have welcomed his advances. “Lie down on your back with your head here.” He motioned to the space in front of him. “Your body belongs to Taerok now. You better get used to it.”

Desire throbbed between her thighs, adding to the discomfort of her hunger. How long had she been unconscious? It was impossible to gauge the passage of time in this featureless room. “Will you at least get me off while I do you?” She despised the weakness her question revealed, but her need was too great for pride.

“Perhaps.” When she didn’t move fast enough, he yanked her toward him and pushed her into position. “Spread out your arms and bend your knees. You do not have permission to touch me.”

Left with no choice but surrender, she opened her thighs and clasped the bedding to keep from grabbing him or touching herself. His heated gaze swept the length of her body before he angled his cock toward her mouth.

“Lick it. Make me nice and wet so I can slide right into your throat.”

The harsh directive made her shiver, but her body responded anyway. She’d always liked it rough. Apparently her transformation had amplified that tendency. She swirled her tongue around and around, trailing spit until he was good and slick.

If only he’d touch her, this would be thrilling. Her gaze caressed his muscular legs and admired the heavy fall of his scrotum. He’d removed his pubic hair and she wanted to explore his sex at her leisure, touching while she tasted.

“Now suck me. Keep those lips nice and tight.” She drew on the very tip of his cock, poking her tongue into the tiny slit, while she sucked with firm pressure. He tasted faintly salty and sharp, obviously excited by her efforts. He twisted her nipples, making her moan without loosening her grip. “Good girl.” With his fingers still tightly grasping her nipple, he slapped the underside of her breast. The pain made her shudder, but she kept right on sucking.

Heat blossomed in her breast. Her nipples pulsed, protesting his harsh treatment, yet her lust was nearly as demanding as her hunger. She could smell her own arousal and feel her cream trickle into the crack between her ass cheeks.

Lick me. Please lick my pussy.
She wasn’t sure he could hear her mental cry, but she had to try something. Her passage clenched painfully and her clit throbbed.

You have much to learn, little fledgling. Find pleasure within the pain or concentrate entirely on pleasuring me.

He spanked her other breast as his hips fell into a steady rhythm. Her fingers clawed the bedding and new, surreal sensations rippled through the pain. His thick shaft slid against her tongue, bumping the back of her throat at the apex of each stroke. Her nipples burned and heat surrounded her breasts, sinking deep into her chest.

His fingers drifted across her tense abdomen and pushed her thighs wider. “Is this what you want?” He traced her slit with one fingertip, dragging a whimper from her throat. “Fuck, you’re wet. Maybe I’ll flip you over and finish in your ass.”

Would that ease her hunger? She sucked harder, arching her neck and taking him deeper. He laughed.

“Don’t like that idea?” He spread her swollen nether lips, exposing her heated core to the cool air. “Your clit looks like it’s ready to explode. Just a lick or two would set you off.”

She was all too aware of her desperate need. He was mocking her, forcing her to focus on the burning desire. She relaxed her throat and took him deeper, intentionally triggering her gag reflex. The sudden tightening made him gasp, so she did it again.

“Now do that little trick with your tongue,” he whispered urgently. “I’m almost there.” Her tongue swirled around his tip as he drew out, then relaxed for his inward drive. He groaned and squeezed her breasts, his head thrown back as he neared climax.

With a muffled curse, he pulled out of her throat and came in her mouth. She quickly swallowed again and again, milking his cock, desperate for every soothing drop. Lust receded gradually, allowing her to think. He hadn’t lied. His come eased her hunger as well as her desire.

She heard the door open and sharply turned her head. Raze’s cock popped free of her mouth and he stepped back from the bed.

“Master,” they said in unison.

Taerok dragged a young man into the room and pushed him to his knees. The man was blindfolded and gagged with his hands bound in front of him. “I brought you a present,” Taerok told Val with an icy smile. “Do you recognize him?”

Her gaze widened as she looked more closely at the newcomer. “His name is Robert Adler. His father is on the elder council.”

“Correct. Though both his parents are Dichotomies, Robert is unable to transform. I want you to feed on him exclusively for the next few nights. Keep him alive as long as you can. The stability inherent in his physiology should strengthen your control over Emily.”

Robert struck out blindly with his bound hands, turning his head this way and that. Val studied him silently for a moment, ignoring the pity threatening her composure. This is what she’d wanted, what she’d died to attain. She wasn’t a Dichotomy any longer. She was something entirely new. Never again would she be a victim or an outcast. Her life began today.

She ignored the pathetic noises Robert produced behind the gag. “How do I make him obey me, sir? Raze left me with an intolerable ache.”

Approval lit Taerok’s eyes as he heard her question.
Can you hear my thoughts more clearly now than you could before your transformation?

Much more so.

A mental compulsion is little more than a whisper. Ease into his mind and tell him what you want him to do or feel. If you desire a specific action, form the image within your mind then send it to his. Start with something simple. Say his name and see if he responds.

She turned toward Robert, lust scorching through her pity. He had toured the facility where she’d been held as a child, gawking at her and the other inhabitants as if they were animals. She still remembered the arrogant disdain in his cold eyes. There had been no compassion in him.

Robert.

He lifted his head, turning his face one way and then the other.

Robert, come to me. Crawl across the floor toward the sound of my voice.

Much to her delight, he awkwardly obeyed, crawling forward until his head bumped against the foot of the bed.

You’re a natural
, Taerok praised.
Now try an image rather than words. Show him what you want him to do and how badly you need for him to do it.

She arranged herself on the bed before she began, propping pillows behind her back and spreading her legs. She didn’t care that Taerok and Raze were watching the scene intently. The need thrumming through her body silenced the last echo of her conscience.

Pausing for a deep breath, she pictured Robert on his stomach between her thighs, his face pressed against her sodden pussy. She imagined his tongue stroking her swollen folds and circling her tender clit. She infused the image with desire and a selfless determination to please.

She pushed the compulsion into Robert’s mind and heard him gasp then groan. After a brief hesitation, he crawled onto the bed and she quickly untied his wrists. He gently lifted her legs to his shoulders and she shot Raze a triumphant glance as Robert nuzzled her sex.

Give me your wrist
.

He obediently raised his arm and she pressed her lips to the vulnerable pulse point. His tongue traced a path from her clit to her anus then reversed direction. He circled her little nub twice before gently sucking it between his lips. It felt wonderful. Everything felt so damn good!

Power sizzled through her veins, hot and intoxicating. Robert was hers to command. She could make him lick her pussy for hours, bring her to peak after peak, before she finally granted him release.

It didn’t take you long to adjust to your new life.

Even Raze’s mocking observation didn’t deter from the glory of her awakening. She savored the thorough ministrations of Robert’s tongue while his heartbeat thrummed against her lips. Then she opened her mouth and sank her fangs into his wrist. He yelped and tugged against her hold, his resistance interrupting the pleasant rhythm of his mouth.

Don’t stop! Fuck me with your tongue. No, fuck me with your fingers and suck on my clit. You crave it. You will die without the taste of my wet pussy.

“You might as well join me,” Mara tossed the suggestion over her shoulder without turning around. “I can feel you staring at me.”

Steffen indulged in a quick smile, knowing the little spitfire couldn’t see him. “It’s hard to ensure your safety if I don’t keep an eye on you,” he reminded her.

Mara wasn’t the type of woman who intentionally drew attention to herself, so why did he find her so captivating? Ever since she’d stalked into her father’s office all feisty challenge and defiance, he’d burned to taste her lips and touch her silken skin. And creating the vivid illusion had only whetted his appetite for reality.

He wasn’t the only one feeling this attraction either. Mara had driven her body to the brink of exhaustion and still she ached for him. Watching her trainer touch her had been nearly more than Steffen could take. The only thing that prevented him from materializing and beating the human to a bloody pulp had been the fact that she was imagining him while the other man’s fingers slid in and out of her pussy.

Shaking away the unwanted memory, he focused on the present. She’d pulled the front of her dark hair back and secured it with a large barrette. Her clothing was casual: jeans and a clingy sweater. She sat alone on the wide veranda, enjoying a late dinner. Cresting waves shimmered in the moonlight and the occasional call of seagulls added to the tranquil setting.

“Well?” She glanced over her shoulder. “Are you just going to stand there?”

“I’ve already eaten, but I’d enjoy a glass of wine.”

She swept her hand toward the chair facing her and turned her attention back to what remained of her meal.

Intrigued by the invitation, Steffen slipped into the chair. He swept her face with a quick, assessing glance before gazing off into the distance. Her features appeared delicate and refined, even with minimal makeup. Her bottom lip was fuller than the top, the contrast adorable. Surrounded by thick sable lashes, her bright green eyes were by far her best feature.

One of the household staff appeared with a wineglass. The Dichotomy were telepathic, but her dossier hadn’t indicated whether Mara inherited her father’s abilities or not. Had she summoned the servant or had his comment been overheard? The servant poured him a glass of wine and retreated without saying a word.

“Do you expect such deference from your servants or does he just not like you?” He hadn’t felt free to tease her with her father watching every move, but loneliness surrounded her like an oppressive cloud. If the past few days had been any indication, Mara spent far too much time alone.

“My father demands the utmost professionalism from his staff.” She set down her fork and met his gaze. “I have no opinion on the practice one way or the other.”

“Why not? Isn’t this house yours as much as his?”

“Hardly.” She pushed her plate aside and picked up her wineglass. “I might have my own suite of rooms, but this is undeniably my father’s domain.”

“Why do you stay?” It was necessary for him to understand her mindset if he was to do his job effectively, he tried to rationalize. Still, part of him admitted he just wanted to know more about her.

“I moved out for a couple of years after I graduated from college, but Father prefers to be actively involved in my life regardless of where I reside.” The resentment in her tone was unmistakable.

“What do
you
prefer?”

“My preferences are seldom taken into consideration, so I’ve learned to choose my battles carefully. If I don’t contradict him too often, he’s more likely to compromise when I do.”

“That seems sensible.” And yet it didn’t quite fit. Steffen sensed pride and courage in Mara. She didn’t seem the type to intentionally take the path of least resistance. “Why did you move back in?”

“My mother’s illness motivated my return and now the foundation keeps me too busy to worry about anything else.”

“Like a social life?”

Her chin shot up and spirit sparkled in her eyes. “You’re being paid to protect me, not cast judgment on my life.” Clearly she had no trouble standing up to him.

“I wasn’t judging you.” He’d been more interested in her reaction than her answer. Despite her insinuations, she was no spiritless waif. “I was working my way around to a question. Do you have an escort for this party you’re throwing?”

“It’s not a social occasion for me; it’s business. I’m the hostess and emcee.”

“I understand that, but would anyone think it odd if you attended with an escort?”

“There’s no reason for role playing. I’m frequently accompanied by security personnel.”

Role playing with Mara would be interesting to say the least. How hard would it be to unleash the passion smoldering beneath her calm façade. He saw sparks, hints of her true nature, and he definitely wanted to experience the full scope of her… What was wrong with him? He wasn’t here to seduce her. He’d been charged with her safekeeping!

He cleared his throat and dismissed the inappropriate tangent. “I don’t want anyone to realize I’m guarding you. If Taerok thinks I’m your date, he’ll underestimate the obstacle.”

“Won’t he recognize you? I was under the impression you two knew each other.”

“I know of him, but to my knowledge we’ve never met.”

“To your knowledge?” Her brows arched dramatically. “That’s not very comforting.”

“I’ve seen images of him. It’s possible he’s seen images of me, but we’ve never interacted face-to-face.”

“Does he have a reason to have seen images of you?”

Steffen sighed. He hadn’t wanted to get into all this. She already knew all she really needed to know. “My supervisor has been after Taerok for years. Every time Max gets close, Taerok disappears for months, sometimes years at a time.”

“Why is Max after Taerok?”

“That’s a long, involved story and I only know bits and pieces of it.” He took a long sip of wine before adding, “Suffice it to say Taerok is a very bad man.”

“Could you be any more condescending?” She scooted back her chair, preparing to stand.

“I didn’t mean to patronize you.” He reached across the table and touched her forearm. Awareness arced between them, suffusing his body with unwanted heat. He had to get control of his reactions. She was his assignment, not his reward. “Taerok has a rap sheet that goes back centuries. He’s been trying to gain control over his solar trance longer than we’ve been alive. We’re pretty sure he intends to use Dichotomy blood to move closer to that goal, but we have no idea why he thinks it will work.”

“Was that so hard?” The tension melted from her forearm and she offered him a tentative smile. “That was as close to a complete explanation as you’ve given me so far.”

“I’m used to interacting with people who are completely unaware of my abilities. I look human, so they presume that’s all I am. Evasiveness becomes second nature after a while.”

“What about the other Sentinels? Don’t they have paranormal abilities?”

“We train together and often work the same case from different angles, but most of my time is spent with ordinary humans.”

“Ordinary is hard to define even in humans.” Her smile became playful and the heat churning within him sank straight to his groin. “Your father is human, isn’t he?”

“My father died before I was born. I was raised by my mother.”

“And you said she’s a sylph. Isn’t that some sort of faerie?”

He returned her smile, trying to distract himself from the desire building within him. “Sylphs are more closely related to elemental elves than faeries. Our branch of the Otherworldly tree is older and more secretive than the common fae. Little is known about sylphs because they want it that way.”

“
They
not we?” Mara murmured, mesmerized by Steffen’s smile. “You don’t consider yourself a sylph?” She’d realized he could be charming when he put his mind to it, but something far more dangerous fueled this smile. He wanted her. This was the first time she’d seen overt desire burning in his eyes.

“I’m technically a sylphite, a semi-profane term for mixed-race offspring.”

“Are all interspecies unions discouraged or just those with humans?” She wasn’t sure why she cared. His background was irrelevant to their situation. He’d been faultlessly polite, discrete, and professional. Which was what she wanted, wasn’t it?

“That depends on the sylph.”

His fingertips absently played across her skin, sending tingles up her arm. She wasn’t even sure he realized he was touching her. Still, it was all she could do not to close her eyes and sigh.

“The ultimate goal of every sylph is to transcend physical reality. That’s why they’re often linked with the element of air. Some believe any tie to the corporeal realm slows down their ascension, so they focus entirely on achieving their goal.”

“Is transcendence your ultimate goal?”

“No. I’m not capable of the transition.” He slowly withdrew his hand and reached for his wineglass. She fought the urge to guide his fingers back to her skin so he could continue the soft exploration. “That’s why they don’t consider me truly sylph.”

“It’s not all that different for a Dichotomy. The offspring of a mixed mating is called a halfling. Some consider halflings tainted, but most judge us according to our abilities.” Which still left her on the outside looking in. She had no abilities, so most of the Dichotomy elite considered her irrelevant.

Had he noticed the wistfulness in her tone? They had more in common than she’d guessed. They were both outcasts, straddling two societies without being fully accepted by either one.

If she’d retained even some of her father’s abilities, her life would have been less complicated. Because she was a non-transforming halfling, the elder council felt obligated to help her find a “suitable” mate. Dichotomies were allowed to join with whomever they pleased and as long as their offspring retained the ability to transform the council kept their distance. But as soon as the fundamental ability to manifest both halves of their nature was compromised, the council felt it necessary to intervene. They conducted compatibility studies and proposed potential mates powerful enough to rejuvenate the bloodline. She understood the concept of protecting the greater good, but she also resented their interference in something so intensely personal.

He brushed his knuckles against the side of her face and smiled into her eyes. “Where’d you go just then? You were a million miles away?”

“It’s been a long day.” She knew it was a lame excuse, but she wasn’t sure why she’d instigated the conversation. “I’ve been doing my best to rearrange the agenda so all the important events are completed by sundown.”

“A wise precaution. When is the benefit scheduled to start?”

“It opens with a champagne brunch at eleven thirty. The silent auction will accept bids until two. Only the big-ticket items will be included in the live auction.”

“And how many items is that?”

“Nine, so it shouldn’t take too long. The actual program starts at three. I’d planned to announce the winners of each item in the silent auction, but the names could be posted instead of announced. That would shave at least an hour off the program length.” She sighed, mentally balancing her safety with the integrity of the event. “I’ve scheduled a live band, but I could claim to have a migraine or something. As long as the structured program is finished, I can conceivably delegate the rest.”

“Max has already assigned two additional teams to the party.”

“Teams? I wondered about that. Why don’t you have a partner? Military types seldom work alone.”

“I don’t play well with others.” He tried to soften the growl in his tone with a quick smile, but she didn’t buy the explanation.

“Have you
always
worked alone?”

“Is the gala at a hotel or some sort of event center?” His cold expression warned her away from the previous subject.

“Hotel.” She reluctantly let it go. His past wasn’t any more her concern than her social life was his. Regardless of the attraction sizzling between them, she was his responsibility, nothing more. “I’ve worked with this hotel before. Their in-house security isn’t bad, but I always augment it with my own people.”

“And we’ll back up your people.” He set aside his empty wineglass and pushed to his feet. “I’d still rather you stay home, but we’re getting closer to an acceptable level of control.”

“Control is important to you, isn’t it?” She hadn’t meant the question to sound quite so flirtatious, but her raging libido was making it hard to think about anything other than touching him and being touched by him.

He grabbed the edge of the table and leaned in close. “Let’s get through this gala without incident and I’ll demonstrate the answer to that question in
intimate
detail.”

“It’s a date,” she whispered.

His gaze focused on her mouth and her lips tingled as if he’d brushed her with his fingertips. Was it her imagination or had he created the sensation? She thought he’d say more. Instead, he shook his head with a distant smile and walked back into the house.

It’s a date
? Had she lost her mind?

Feeling like an absolute fool, Mara hurried down the veranda and knocked on the French doors leading into her father’s office. He glanced up from his videoconference and motioned her inside. She loitered near the doorway until he ended the call, then took her usual place in front of his desk.