Lost Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans #6.5) (14 page)

Sydney gave him a small smile. She found it amusing that he was searching for words to articulate what he suspected.

“No…you never wanted any…Are you trying to tell me…?”

“I don’t know…just forget it,” she lied. Attempting to look away, her effort was thwarted as his hold grew tighter.

“Look at me, Sydney.”

She did as he said, her heart pounding in her chest.
Is he angry with me? I should never have brought it up.

“Do you want a child?” Kade asked softly. He released his tight grip, sliding his fingers upward to caress her cheek.

Sydney pressed her face into his palm, accepting his comfort. She nodded, closing her eyes. It broke her heart to come to this realization at a time in her life when it was no longer a possibility. Tears brimmed, and she lifted her lids, meeting his gaze.

“Don’t cry…it’s okay.”

“But I shouldn’t want this…it’s not fair to you.”

“Hey now, just because I never said I wanted a child with you didn’t mean that I didn’t want one. The only thing that’s mattered is being with you.” His lips grazed her forehead. “I’ve been alone for what seems like forever. And when you came along…Goddess, I just couldn’t have been more shocked. You breathed life back into me.”

“But…”

“Let me finish. When you said you didn’t want kids, it was a relief to me only because I knew I couldn’t give them to you, but never because I wouldn’t want you to carry my child. If you’d told me you wanted a baby when we’d first met, I wouldn’t have pursued you. I wouldn’t steal your right to have children from you.”

“I didn’t want kids. It’s just being around Ava and seeing Samantha all these months. I can’t explain it.” Flustered by her own feelings, she struggled to express why she’d changed her mind.

“Six months ago, you were a young woman who had options. People grow, Sydney. Not all people know they want children. Sometimes we change, our priorities change.”

“I feel like I should have known. But I’m a different person now.”

“It’s natural to want more. I want more. I regret we waited to get married and I want to do it…as in yesterday.”

She laughed and slid her palms up his chest.

“I’m not joking. Who knew this was going to happen this week? Some asshole comes back and tries to murder you. I could’ve died too. I’m not saying it’s going to happen again, I’m just saying we’ve got to live life as if we were human…as if this day could be our last. We’re not terribly immortal when staked. No matter how much we’d like to predict the future, that isn’t one of our abilities.”

“I wish.”

“Yeah, me, too. So that’s why I want to get married this week. No waiting.”

“Okay.” Kade never ceased to amaze her with his decisiveness. Even if she wanted to, she couldn’t deny him.

“And after that, we can figure out this baby thing.”

“But we can’t…”

“We couldn’t have kids when you were a human, but maybe there’s something we can do. Look at Samantha and Luca…they’re pregnant.”

“But she’s a witch.”

“True. But even vampires hold a little magic. Sam might be able to help us. We can ask Léopold too. Just because I haven’t heard of it ever happening, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. I’m old, but not nearly as old as him. He’ll help. And if they can’t help us, there’re people…you know, agencies who can help us.”

“Adoption?”

“Of sorts. Not human of course, but there are all kinds of beings around us, love. And not everyone is ready or wants to be a parent. It’s an option.”

“Are you serious?” Sydney asked. Her heart felt as if it’d burst from the hope he’d given her.

“Completely.”

“I love you so much,” she cried, squeezing him tight.

“I love you, too.” He raked his fingers up into the wet strands of her hair, bringing her lips to meet his. “No more tears. We got this.”

“Yes…”

Breathless, she welcomed his tongue as it swept against her own. Her nipples stabbed into his muscular chest as he commanded her body. Strong hands gripped her thigh, wrapping it around his waist. The cool tiles against her back contrasted with the explosive heat that grew between their slick bodies. Delirious from his kiss, she rocked her aching pussy against his leg. She bit at his lips, and reached for his rigid shaft, her fingers teasing its crown. Before she had a chance to stroke him, he’d dropped to his knees, nudging her open with his firm shoulder.

“Wider.” Kade’s fingers flittered over her hipbone.

Obeying, she stepped aside, giving him full access. Her heart raced as his eyes flickered to red before focusing on his task. The first lash of his tongue to her clit startled her and she reached for his head to steady herself.

“Don’t move,” he ordered, his warm breath teasing her pussy.

The dominating tone of his voice spiked her arousal and she whimpered as he sucked her sensitive nub into his mouth. His fingernails scraped her bottom, crushing her mound to his face. He feasted upon her, and she shuddered as his fingertip teased her entrance.

“Kade,” she breathed.

“Tonight,” he swiped at her clit with his flat tongue, “we begin anew.”

“Yes, that’s it.” Her hips tilted forward, her body trembling as he plunged two fingers inside her. She rose onto the balls of her feet, the rush of orgasm shaking her to her core.

“Hmm.” He hummed at her lips, flicking her swollen pearl and sucking it into his mouth.

“Ah yeah…like that. Oh, fuck, don’t stop. Yes, yes,” she screamed. Heaving for breath, her body fell limp as the waves of climax rolled through her.

Giving her no time to recoup, he spun her around and bent her at the waist so her ass was exposed to him. She trembled in anticipation. More than needing to be possessed, she sought to lose herself in the ecstasy of all that was her mate.

She groaned aloud as he buried himself inside her from behind, filling her to the hilt. With her palms flat on the misty wall, she braced herself for each forceful thrust, the sound of his flesh slamming against hers. The sweet prick of his fangs at her shoulder held her in place, reminding her to be ever mindful of the moment. His warm lips on her skin, the scent of him in the air while wrapped in his strength overwhelmed her.

“So hard…yes!” She gave a cry of pleasure as he fucked her with unrestrained fervor.

“Ah yeah. Jesus, you feel good.”

“Don’t. Ever. Stop.”

“This is only round one, baby,” he teased.

“You promise?” He pounded into her, and she cried out loud. “Ahh.”

“You have no idea. Plus, you owe me a spanking for coming to get me by yourself.”

“What?” Her pussy tightened around him at the thought of it. Sydney submitted to no one….except Kade.

“You heard me.” He scraped his sharp teeth across her pale skin. Drawing a bubbling line of blood, he lapped at it with his tongue.

“Yes…please,” she cried, the sweet pain of his fangs at her neck.

“I love the sound of you begging,” he grunted, slamming into her. Reaching to her breast, he pinched her ripe tip.

“Please, Kade…ahh.” The twinge on her nipple sent a jolt straight to her core. She gasped, attempting to stem her orgasm.

“Please what?” He laughed, knowing he couldn’t hold back much longer.

“Bite me…Just do it…Please.”

“Since you asked so nicely.” Without further warning, he struck, his teeth penetrating deep into her shoulder.

Sydney screamed, shuddering as the ripples of ecstasy tore through her. Limp against the wall, she panted; intense spasms consumed her.

Obsessed with her happiness, Kade plunged into his mate. Drinking in her delicious essence, he groaned as he came inside her. As his pulsating release subsided, he rejoiced in victory. His mate reclaimed, life was complete.

Sydney stirred in Kade’s arms. Asleep, he gently snored and she smiled. Renewed with hope, her chest constricted with love. The man who owned her heart had given her life again, never giving up on her, even when she’d wanted to give up on herself.

She moved to leave the bed, and a gentle arm pulled her back inside the warm confines of the sheets.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked.

“Nowhere,” she giggled.

“Liar.”

“I just wanted to see what Tony was doing.”

“Ah…leaving me for another man?” His eyes narrowed, but the lilt of his smile told her he was joking.

“Not on your life.”

“I couldn’t share you.” He twirled his forefinger into her hair.

“You don’t have to. Our time with Tony…you know how I feel about him, but he’s not you.” She kissed him lightly on his chest.

“We can still play with him every now and then, though,” He raised a playful eyebrow at her. “That is, if that’s something you desire.”

“You do surprise me, Mister Issacson.” Kade had always pushed her sexually, testing the limits of where she’d find her greatest pleasure.

“I enjoy the detective’s company. He’ll leave us soon, but he was there for you…for me. We owe him,” Kade added, his tone serious.

“He’s true blue. Always has been,” she told him. “But you’re right…he’s going home soon. We’ll need a donor.”

“I don’t want strangers in between us.”

“We can find someone we both like. Many someones, perhaps. But for food only, nothing more.”

“Agreed.”

“Thank you for understanding.” She smiled, relieved that he didn’t want to have a sexual relationship with donors. It wasn’t as if he’d ever asked. But after what they’d done with Anthony, she’d wondered about his expectations.

A knock sounded and Kade drew the sheet over his mate’s bared breasts.

“Come in,” he called.

Anthony sheepishly entered the room, his gaze averted. Sydney laughed, realizing he was still unsure of how to proceed with their relationship. She was relieved when Kade broke the ice.

“Come sit, my friend.” Anthony went to the chair across the room and Kade waved him over to the bed and patted the comforter. “Here.”

Anthony shook his head and smiled, but acquiesced.

“I, uh, just came to tell you that I’m gonna go by the hospital and see Mya.” He sat next to Sydney and put a palm on her covered thigh.

“I have to tell ya, I’m not sure about her,” Sydney said. Seeking more of a connection, she placed her hand on top of his. She hadn’t seen Anthony since last night. She’d briefly fed from him, without much interaction. It was only later that Kade had told her what he’d done to save him.

“From my perspective, she was in cahoots with Pat and Dominique,” Kade speculated. “Granted, I never once saw her downstairs. But I never saw Dominique either.”

“Yeah, I dunno. She was loaded up with H,” Anthony added. Preliminary blood tests had shown she’d been injected with heroin. “But the docs say she’s not an addict. Whatever she had in her, she’d been given in the past forty-eight hours.”

“When I met her, she seemed so…I don’t know…innocent. I guess my instincts were way off. She did hesitate when she shot me, and the way Pat talked about her, it was as if he knew her.”

“Well, we got her covered down at the hospital. The docs called me and said she’s coming round. She’s starting to talk. I’ll go see what she has to say. Given the crime scene in her apartment and indications of possible sexual assault, the DA’s probably gonna let her go,” Anthony guessed.

“But what if it was staged?” Kade protested.

“What if it wasn’t?” he countered. “She was on drugs. With the amount she had in her, coupled with the apparent torture, I don’t know. I, of all people, would like to see her go down after what she did to Sydney, but I saw those burns on her neck. I can’t imagine her letting someone do that to her willingly. She was barely alive.”

“I’ll give you all a call when I find out more. So, uh, I was thinking…” Anthony paused, his eyes locked on Sydney’s. “You gonna be okay? I mean, I can take some time off if you need me. I kind of wanted to stick around and wrap things up with this case anyway.”

“Yeah, I’m fine…thanks to you. You saved me. Saved us.” Sydney sat up and kissed his cheek once, her lips inches from his. She turned and smiled at Kade who sensed her arousal. She knew she’d never make love to Anthony, nor would she love him, but if he was willing, she knew for certain, they’d feed with him again. “We’d love to have you stay with us. You’re always welcome in our home.”

“Did he tell you what he did to me?” Anthony blushed and leaned back onto the heels of his hands.

“He told me you saved him. And for that I’m very, very grateful.” She smiled.

“So am I. There’s no way we can repay you for what you did,” Kade added.

“You don’t have to. We’re friends. But I meant what I said last night. I’m not going with Luca again. He’s kind of a dick.”

“Yeah, he can be.” Kade laughed.

“He’s, um, difficult to get to know,” Sydney offered. “Especially when you’re a human. You have to give him time to warm up to you.”

“Yeah, I can see him warmin’ up all right. And then bitin’ me like a police dog. No thanks.” Anthony stood and brushed his palms down his slacks. “Your girl there seems to have tamed him. You should have seen her barkin’ out orders before we went in. She told him right then she was going in alone.”

“Yeah, about that,” Kade growled. A dangerous smile crossed his face.

Sydney’s heart stopped, aware that he was about to do something she might not like.

“Listen, sounds like you two have somethin’ to work out. I’ll see you guys later. Have fun, Syd.” Anthony winked and walked out the bedroom.

“What?” Sydney laughed. “What did I do?”

Kade stripped back the sheets. Gooseflesh rippled across Sydney’s exposed skin. The cool air was tempered by the heat that grew between her legs. Like wild prey, she froze. Unsure what he’d do, she tensed in anticipation. A gasp escaped her lips as he reached for her waist, dragging her torso across his legs. Her cheek brushed the soft cotton and she gave a nervous laugh.

“What are you doing? Ahh…” She squirmed as the light touch of his fingers grazed over her hair, trailing between her shoulder blades and onto the small of her back.

“You are a naughty vampire.” His hand continued further over her buttocks to the back of her thigh.

“Maybe I like being wicked.” She kicked her feet, feigning escape.