EMBRACE THE DARK (The Blood Rose Novella Series) (11 page)

She’d even begun thinking of creating a franchise set-up, not because of the baked goods, but because the idea of expansion really appealed to her.

Elena smiled. “For someone who has a bakery, I think it odd that you don’t love all the baking and decorating, which I find to be very enjoyable.”

Abigail shrugged. “I like it well enough. But the truth is I opened
Just Too Sweet!
for my sister. She was very sickly for a long time, though she’s doing much better now, but she did like to bake. We set up a workstation for her that had a variety of stools and every electrical appliance available on the market so she wouldn’t have to exert herself.”

“What was wrong with her?”

“Bad lungs, asthma. But she’s gotten better. She even has two children now and a good husband, of course.”

“Yet you worry about her still?”

She glanced at Elena. “I suppose I do. She’s been my responsibility ever since I can remember. Even before our parents died, my mother would say, ‘You’re older. You need to take care of your little sister’.”

Elena laughed. “My mother used to tell me the same thing.”

“It’s universal. Can’t escape it.”

She heard the front door jingle.

“I like that sound,” Elena said.

“You’ll learn to love it once we open. It means customers. That’s probably another delivery.” She turned toward the door slightly and called out, “Back here.”

She stayed put and continued to hold Elena’s hand.

The swinging steel doors parted, but instead of delivery personnel, two large vampires walked through.

Each wore the traditional Guard uniforms of soft draped woven shirts, Gerrod in burgundy, the other vampire, who looked really familiar, in a deep mossy green. Topping it all were the traditional sleeveless, long, sexy-as-hell, coats, which she knew from the forest embrace was made of the softest buttery leather. Shoulder straps drew attention to broad shoulders and expansive chests. The pants were the sexiest black leather. The unknown vampire had his leathers all studded down the sides with large silver medallions.

Her gaze fell to the boots. She had unbuckled Gerrod’s for him last night, which was the only thing she could think as her gaze drifted back up to his absurdly handsome face.

She blinked and her heart flipped over a couple of times.

She hadn’t seen Gerrod since they’d shared a bed most of the day.

The other vampire spoke. “Well, hello ladies. What’s goin’ on in here? Havin’ a little sit down? A little party, maybe? Need some company?”

Abigail shifted her gaze to the other vampire then she got it: Mastyr Ethan of Bergisson Realm. His smile broadened to reveal a set of big handsome teeth. What a flirt. But she liked his smile so she smiled back.

“Just gabbin’.” She jumped to her feet. Elena followed, but Abigail could sense that her business partner was very nervous. And why wouldn’t she be? She doubted Elena had ever been in the company of two mastyrs before.

Gerrod introduced his companion, “Mastyr Ethan of Bergisson Realm.”

“Nice to meet you,” Abigail said. She thrust out her hand and Ethan took it, but what followed opened her eyes wide. She could feel his vibration, just as she had Gerrod’s. “Oh, my God.”

Ethan, on the other hand, drew a little closer. “What the hell is that? Are you—”

But he got no further.

Gerrod moved with lightning speed, breaking the connection by putting his massive body in front of Abigail, facing away from her. He then muscled her backwards into the storeroom.

“Hey,” she called out. She even shoved at his back but it was like trying to push a concrete wall out of the way.

She glanced at Elena who had decided the farthest corner of the supply closet was a really good idea.

She tilted to get a look at Mastyr Ethan to see what he was doing. But he held up his hands like he was under arrest and Gerrod was holding a gun on him.

“I didn’t mean anything by it, Gerrod. She offered her hand and we both know it’s a polite
human
thing to take a hand and shake it. I just didn’t expect for her to access my personal frequency. See, I’m stepping away.” He started backing up. “In fact, I’m going in the other room, and then all the way outside. Yep, I’m going outside.”

She put her hand on Gerrod’s back and suddenly what had seemed so simple, like yelling at him for being rude, just wasn’t. He was trembling from head to foot, like the plague had gotten hold of him in the past few seconds. She could feel heat flowing from him.

She looked back at Elena whose elf eyes were about the size of saucers. Abigail jerked her head in the direction of the bakery proper and Elena shot out of the storeroom like she’d been fired from a cannon.

When Abigail was alone with Gerrod and without removing her hand from him, she moved beside him then in front of him. He was sweating badly and his fangs were heavy on his lips.

“Oh, God,” she murmured.

Suddenly her heart pounded. She felt her blood swirling through her veins and now her blood was all lumpish again. Why was she so responsive to this absurd vampire? It almost felt as though she was making all this extra blood just for him. But that was ridiculous.

She wasn’t sure exactly what she needed to do right now, but at the very least she was pretty sure that what was going to happen next ought to be private. She closed the door behind her and stretched out her neck at just the right angle. “Are those just for show, or are you prepared to do something with those two sharp points?”

The sound he made was beyond description, like a gargled roar and shout combined. He grabbed her shoulders and with one hand caught the back of her head, holding her immobile.

He licked her neck in long slow swipes, gargling his growl a little more. He wasn’t real right now, he was a beast, and his frequency had begun to pound on her, punching at her body so that soon she was limp and that’s when he struck, when he felt her whole body surrender.

She felt the hard length of him against her. He drank and drank and with each sucking down of her blood, her heart grew easier and happier, lighter, more fluid.

At the same time, her need for him rose, to have all that beautiful mass that had pleasured her just a few hours ago, inside her once more. She shifted her hand slightly and as soon as he felt what she was doing he created just enough space that she could glide her hand down the front of his leathers.

She found him and rubbed, then groaned. An ache grew, deep inside. Her body responded with deep pulls as though trying to draw within what was held away from her.

He released her neck, but his growls remained.

Off
, his mind cried.
Now.

She wasn’t going to pretend she didn’t understand. The vampire had a plan and her body was so on board. She lost her jeans and her thong.

With a speed that became a blur of movement, he got his boots and pants off. She gave a little cry as he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her up into the air, then planted her against the door. Good thing the storeroom door was made of solid wood.

She wrapped her legs around him as he slid one large hand to cup her buttocks and tilt her hips. He was chuffing against her neck as he pressed against her entrance, then pushed inside.

She groaned long and loud and hoped to hell Elena had had the good sense to leave the building along with Ethan.

“Can’t….help…this,” he whispered against her ear. Then he was pumping hard.

“Can’t…help…loving…this,” she responded. She giggled then cooed then groaned as the vampire settled into a brisk rhythm, his frequency showering her body head to foot as though touching her with a thousand fingertips all at the same time. Without meaning to, she was suddenly shouting at the ceiling, her head arched, as Gerrod slammed into her, all that movement making a drum out of the door. But the orgasm rolled, tugging at her and pulling and swirling, so she kept on shouting.

As he came, his roar filled the small space and for a moment she went deaf. She felt the jerks of his cock, as his rhythm changed then slowed.

He was panting hard.

Her breathing had the sound of bellows.

She looked up at him. His eyes were closed. He seemed dazed.

She was dazed. Stunned, her lips parted. Her mind seemed a little mushy. She felt certain what she had just done with him wasn’t a good idea, but her rational mind refused to give her even one reason as to why that might be. Or maybe it was because all the pleasure flowing through her veins wasn’t allowing her brain to function at all.

Yeah, that was more like it.

When he opened his eyes, he stared into hers. She stared back. Maybe she blinked. She wasn’t sure.

“Oh, Gerrod,” she murmured. Then she leaned up and kissed him. He seemed hesitant, almost reluctant, then his arms slipped fully around her and he returned the kiss, sinking his tongue deep.

Heaven
, she pathed.
Just heaven.

Yesssss,
returned to her, almost a soft breeze through her mind, a pleasant sensation, so new, yet familiar as though she’d waited for telepathy her entire life.

Oh, good God in heaven. Was she tumbling in love with a vampire?

After a few minutes of more kissing, he pulled out of her and lowered her so that her feet touched the floor.

“Abigail, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened. Dear Goddess, I was completely out of control.” He put a hand over his face.

She caught his hand and pulled it down, holding it pressed to her heart. “It’s okay. I was with you all the way. One hundred percent. A willing participant.”

“But, it’s not okay.”

“Well, one thing is for sure, you can’t keep doing that. I mean, all Ethan did was take my hand.”

“It wasn’t that. You tapped his frequency. I could feel it.”

“That’s right, I did. It was so weird.”

But his body stiffened all over again and he had to work to calm down. “Apparently, there’s more going on here, more than I comprehend. Just…don’t ever touch another mastyr vampire again.”

“You think this would be true of all mastyr vampires?”

“Even the thought of it torments me.”

She shook her head. “I’m just trying to understand.”

He nodded. “Very well, my instincts tell me that you could reach the personal energy of any master vampire.”

“Well, then I don’t think it’ll be a problem since there are so few of you. And because it bothers you, of course I won’t touch Ethan again. I promise. Or any others.”

He appeared stunned, his eyes wide. “Just like that, without argument?”

She smiled. “I may be pricklish about many things, but I’ve been in Merhaine for over a year now and I’ve come to understand that there are differences between my specie and yours. I notice that most men don’t draw close to women who don’t belong to them, usually at a pace of five feet. I think this was my fault, but I just liked his smile.”

“Because I don’t smile,” he said, scowling.

She couldn’t help it. She laughed then launched herself against his chest and slung her arms around his waist, which turned out to be a lot of leather coat to hold even though so soft. But the whole thing was absurd. She still wore her tank top and bra, but had nothing on below. And she had her face pressed against the silver-studded Guard belt.

She liked the feel of his bare legs against hers, though. But man, had her life really gotten bizarre.

He was tentative, but after a moment he surrounded her with his arms as well. Which made her sad because this was his truth, that he hadn’t had someone in his life for a long time.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. “I’ve grown very fond of your scowl. I may tease you about it but I’ve come to understand that it reflects how serious you take your job as the Mastyr of Merhaine. I really do understand, or at least I try to. I think that was what I saw when I observed you and the community leaders last night through the entrance hall landscape.”

“Indeed? You saw my concern for my realm-folk?”

“The weight you carry on your shoulders.”

“Is that why you…washed my hair?”

She looked up then kissed him again. “I washed your hair because I admire and respect the hell out of you.”

At that, his scowl softened at least a little and he kissed her back. “You warm my heart.”

“Oh. That is the sweetest thing you could have said.”

He looked away from her, and his scowl deepened once more. “We need to visit Vojalie.”

At that, she backed away from him, feeling her own brows high on her forehead. “I’ve never met her before. I’ve heard of her of course. She’s said to be the most powerful fae in Merhaine.”

“She is. Perhaps in all the Nine Realms. She’s also very wise. But I think we need to understand better what is going on here. With you.”

“And with us?”

“Yes. I want to understand why I could have killed Ethan right now for touching you.”

Abigail nodded. “Well, give me a few minutes, to, uh, make myself presentable.”

He smiled. Well, perhaps just a half smile. But it was all she needed.

*** *** ***

Gerrod worked himself back into his leathers and boots, then left the absurd storage room to give Abigail some privacy. He rolled his eyes, all accusatory thoughts leveled at himself.

He had been badly lacking in control. But he had spoken truly when he said he could have killed Ethan and was glad that his good friend and fellow mastyr had understood his dilemma so quickly. If he hadn’t backed off, Gerrod would have fought him.

Not a good thing.

How had his life gotten so complicated? He did not understand what was going on. He needed advice, good, worthy, fae advice, the kind he always received from Vojalie.

She was pure fae and wed to a very unattractive troll, whom she adored with every fiber of her being. The union had been one of the most stunning of Gerrod’s long life, so unexpected, even absurd, that the elegant, beautiful Vojalie of Shepherd County would have been wooed and won by the homely troll, Davido of Bergisson Realm.

He was very old, perhaps one of the oldest realm-folk Gerrod had ever known. The best historians thought he was perhaps two-thousand-years-old, but Gerrod had a strange feeling that Davido was well beyond that. Davido seemed to take peculiar enjoyment in refusing to reveal his age. He was funny, charming, and devoted to Vojalie, to her comfort, to her security and protection especially when with child as she was now.