Kathi S Barton - [Aaron's Kiss 04] (23 page)

“Mistress?” The queen was just on the edges of her mind and Sam had to hold harder on Marta or lose her. “Now isn’t really a good time for me, my lady. Do you think maybe we could do this a—”

“Sam, is that you against her? Are you holding her with your mind?” Mel asked her.

“Not really.” Sam felt the tiny bit of magic touch her and wondered about it. “She just thinks I am. That’s the thought that I’ve pushed at her, that she can’t harm him, it’s impossible to harm him. Her mind isn’t weak, but I can win this.”

“I offer you my assistance,” the queen said. “Because you are not using magic so by my law, you are breaking none.”

“I…I love Tucker, my lady, and would not have my actions reflect upon him. I thought that when this day came, when I could kill those who hurt us, who took my mom away from me, that I’d willingly sacrifice myself as well, but I can’t. I can’t leave Tucker.”

“Well of course you do, love,” Mel told her with a chuckle. “You are his true mate.

Now I want you to do something for me. Do you think you could trust me, and do one thing for me?”

“I…trust? I don’t have a lot of faith in people. To trust is very hard for me, no offense. But I will hope that you will do right by me. I’m sorry…very sorry, but that’s the best I can do.” Sam was getting weaker. Her mind was tired.

“Good enough. For now anyway. You and I will work on the rest. And I do appreciate your honesty. I will need you to do me a favor, later. For now, let’s you and I fry this fucking bitch.”

Sam smiled. For the first time in many, many days, she smiled. “Ah, now that’s an easy one, my lady. How do you like your bitch? Extra crispy or original?”

~~~

Marta was running the sharp talons along Tucker’s neck. She couldn’t seem to make herself tear though the tender flesh. She just kept staring at it and straining to just cut. Her mind cleared for a moment. She felt so…so…happy. Happy? No, exuberant, intoxicated, content almost, yes, that’s the way she felt. She had everything, her life was perfect. Now was the time, she thought. It cannot get any better than this, I can just go.

The blades on her fingers stopped caressing Tucker. She leaned back away from him and looked at him. If asked, Tucker would swear that she had the most beautiful look on her face. She was tranquil.

Her fingers, blades really, moved up along her hip and across her abdomen, cutting and tearing at her clothes, nicking her flesh in places as she walked several feet from Tucker. Moving up along her front across her chest, she sliced open her dress, exposing the corset beneath. The sharpness of her blades cut though the fabric and lacings to the skin and muscle underneath. She was bleeding now, from dozens of cuts and slices. She didn’t seem to notice any of this, and her eyes closed, the smile serene, her head tilted back. And still she moved upward, closer to her neck and face. When she reached her throat, her body was all but exposed to those gathered in the room, but none saw the woman there, only the destruction of madness.

“I deserve this. I’m going to be rewarded for my good deeds toward mankind. They will thank me and erect a statue in my honor for showing them the way.” She opened her eyes and looked straight into Sam’s dark, dark purple ones, and sliced her own throat open, nearly severing her head from her shoulders.

As she fell to the ground, Sam released her hold on the woman. It was only then that she realized that Sam had killed her. Sam stepped toward the fallen woman, stepping in her blood as if it meant so little to her, and said to her in a loud voice so that there would no misunderstanding.

“He’s mine, you fucking bitch.” And then, Marta incinerated.

~CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE~

Sam threw herself at Tucker, kissing and touching any exposed skin she could reach. The tears running down her face were mixing with his. His joy at having her, of her being there, was overwhelming to her.

“Sam, baby, I love you. I love you so very much. Be mine, let me be yours. Please, baby, say yes.”

“Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. I love you too.”

Aaron cleared his throat again, and then again before the couple looked up at him with a sort of dazed, hungry look about them.

“You know, fang face, I’m getting sick of you doing that. You should really see a doctor or take a couple of cough drops to clear that up,” Sam said with a glare. It was the second time since they’d come into this room he had tried to break them apart.

“Be that as it may, the mistress would like to see you; these proceedings are not quite finished.”

The couple pulled apart, but not away from each other. Mel had a sly grin on her face that said, “I know you are pissed, but tough, I’m in charge.”

“Sam Hunter, you are hereby charged in the murder and destruction of six beings.

You will now be judged by the masters of those beings. Stand before us.” Sam knew that there was a very good possibility that she would be brought to justice someday for her crimes. She moved to stand before the council, but was momentarily shocked by those who stood behind her; her Tucker was there as well. She looked to the queen for guidance and she winked at her. Actually winked! Then the judging began.

“I Skilika, Watcher of White Magic, in the name of the Queen, Mistress of the Light, Keeper of Magic, do hereby drop all charges against Sam Hunter in the death of Shirley Max, witch of my realm. I would further like to thank Sam Hunter for her help and good, sound judgment in destroying someone so evil for all kind.” Sam staggered slightly, and if not for Tucker standing just behind her, may have fallen on her butt. He caressed his thumb across her skin, sending her his love through a tight hold around her waist.

“I, Roman Stall, Master Vampire of the Holland Realm, and in the name of the Queen, Mistress of the Light…is this really necessary, mistress? We all know that she isn’t guilty, and even without magic, I can feel the sexual tension between these two like a thick ass fog. Let them go. I mean, haven’t they both suffered about enough?” There was a very long pause, and then as if he just realized what he’d done, Roman looked up at the queen and with a little smile meant to soften his words, said, “That is, if it pleases the queen?”

“Very nice of you to remember your place, Roman Stall, but I see and feel your point. Does anyone object to waiving the sentencing of Sam Hunter? No? Then I hereby order you two to the Royal Suite to rest, eat, feed and recuperate. Court dismissed.

Thanks, gang.”

~~~

Tucker lay on the bed, and it was a very large bed doubled the width and length of two king-sized mattresses. But it fit the room. It was massive, as were the furnishings.

The room looked like an entire floor of a house it was so big, and was furnished accordingly.

There were antiques and modern things that included, aside from the bed and dresser, a couch and two chairs that sat before a fireplace one could roast an ox in.

There was a writing desk with a computer on it and the biggest closet he’d ever seen.

He was waiting for Sam; she had gone into the bathroom as soon as they had arrived and before the guard who had carried him in had left. He was beginning to worry and was just starting to rise and check on her when he heard the door open.

“Sam, honey, are you…fuck! Baby.” Every drop of his blood rushed out of his body to settle in his cock in the time it took him to take a breath.

“Do you like it?” She turned around for him and the view was even more delicious from that angle. “I’ve never owned anything like this before, but Pete said that I had a mate now and should stop buying my undergarments from Wal-Mart. I told her I didn’t, but she said it was an inside joke that she’d tell me about someday. Anyway, she said that I should make sure you and I strike a bargain.”

“Yes. I agree to your terms, now come here, Sam. Now, come here and let me get a closer look.”

She giggled as she moved to him, walking slowly across the room. She looked so good, and he could feel her hunger for him. He wanted her, all of her. When she was a foot from him and stopped, he growled low and deep in his chest.

“You know neither the terms nor the bargain, Tucker. How do you know that you agree?”

“If you come to me wearing anything remotely like this and ask me for something, it’s yours. I don’t care what I’ll have to do to get it for you. Anything.” He would, too, just for another look at her like this.

She looked tasty, like any man’s deepest fantasy. The teddy was dark blue, almost the purple of her eyes. The bodice was tight across her ample breasts, pushing them up and spilling them over the top, barely covering her nipples. The laces down the front were tied tight, accentuating her tiny waist and flared hips, the top of it ending just below her ribs, showing off her hip bones. The panties were a tiny scrap of lace the same color as the top, which was a triangle just over her pussy and tied together with small strings at her hips. He reached out, put his hands on her hips, and tugged her forward.

“This is going to look so lovely in a scrap on the floor, Sam. I cannot wait to rip it from your body and eat you.” His voice was deep with sexual need and hunger. Her body responded to both, flooding her already wet panties. The scent of her spiked his hunger more.

“Oh God, Tucker, please.” She moved closer at his urging, and straddled his hips when he pulled her over him and onto the bed. “Please, I can’t think...I...there’s something I need to...oh God, yes, do that again.” He touched her pussy with his finger, pushing deep against the folds of her femininity, and felt her heat through the panties. She began to ride his hand, soaking it with her juices. He pulled her over to his hips and held her there as he let go of her hip to unsnap his pants. His need to be inside of her nearly consuming him, he could think of only that. When he got them open, he cock sprang free into his fist.

“Come here, Sam. I’m hungry for you. I want to sip from you and drink of your essences.”

She scooted closer, her hands joining his on his cock, wrapping her fist around him as he surged into her. Reaching down to the strings of her panties, he yanked, rending the material into pieces. She rose on her knees the same moment he shifted her up and with her help guiding him, he sank her down on his cock.

Heat. Hot molten heat wrapped around him. He cried out at the sensation. Sitting up slightly, he pulled her down and flipped them over onto the mattress. He kissed her then, devoured her mouth, her taste, and more heat. He moved inside of her, stroking her deep and hard at the same time he moved along her jaw toward her throat. He wasn’t going to last, he realized, and tried to slow down, to buy them more time. Just when he thought he was going to be able to last a minute or two longer, she nuzzled his neck and bit, hard. His control snapped, he licked her vein, and sank his teeth into her just as he came. With every draw from her body by his mouth, he slammed into her, his seed spewing and filling her. When he felt her tighten around him again, her climax clutching him and pulling him deeper into her body, he came again, roaring out his release and slamming into her.

~CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO~

It was two full days before the couple came up for air, enjoying each other and their love. Someone had been leaving food outside the door for them, platters of fruit and cheeses. Twice there was a large steak, rare with all the trimmings. They savored the food as much as they did each other. He fed from her, his body strengthened and sated.

When they met Mel in the late evening on the second day, she had gifts for them.

Actually, they were mostly for Sam, but two for Tucker to share.

“This is for you, Sam. It was your mother’s essence and her power base. It came back to me after you killed Marta. As a mage’s daughter, you have some, although wholly untouched magic from her, but this will give you so much more. As I had the room devoid of magic, it came to me when Marta died. I wish for you to have it. It’s white and pure, as was your mother.”

“I…what do I want with it? Magic killed her, and hasn’t done anyone I’ve seen any good. I don’t want it.” Sam backed away from the large, glowing orb that rested in Mel’s hand.

Mel knew that Sam would feel this way and wasn’t surprised when she wouldn’t take it. But sometimes things had a way of doing what they wanted. “Be that as it may, it is yours.” Suddenly, the orb jumped from her hand and straight into Sam, causing her to stiffen and shudder. But as quickly as it had entered her, the rush of it was over. Sam looked at Mel with a curious face.

“I guess it didn’t work.” Sam looked relieved.

Mel simply smiled. “Hmmmm, we’ll see. But the magic knew to go to you, Sam. I didn’t have anything to do with that part. When you backed away from it, the magic went to its home, to you.”

Sam only shrugged her shoulder and looked at Tucker and what he was holding.

Mel thought, Time will tell for this one.

“That is from Shawn. I was telling him about your story while the two of you…rested.” Mel pointed to the package in Tucker’s hand. “You didn’t actually meet him. He’s a centaur from another realm. This is his way of saying thanks. It’s a travel charm. You just rub it gently and think about where it is you want to go, and you are there. It works for other realms besides Earth too. He would like you to visit him sometime.”

Shawn had fallen for the girl, her bravery and single-minded determination impressing him more than he had been in centuries by any other being. He’d told Mel when she’d finished telling him all that they’d endured. And he had been impressed by Tucker, as well. With Tucker being a vampire, Shawn had expected him to leap to take Sam out of the fray, but instead, he let her save him. A rarity for a male to do, more so for a vampire.

It was a beautiful stone of the most brilliant yellow Mel had ever seen. The chain was gold with interlocking circles in a long coil. It looked to be heavy, but was actually quite light, and as soon as Sam put the chain around her neck, it glowed against her skin. Mel could actually see the magic it gave off.

“I believe these two are for you both. They are pledge guarantees.” Mel handed them both scrolls. “It seems that if you do not wish to stay with Aaron as you’re master, or he does not wish to accept you as his, then Roman and Peter, both masters of their own realms as well, have offered you a home and a job. You need only to come before them and pledge your alliances to one of them.”