Nightfall (31 page)

She couldn’t eat all that chocolate herself. He knew
vampires couldn’t digest that much food, but she used a towel they’d brought
from the bathroom to clean him off, squeezing and rubbing him, the contrast in
friction making his hips jerk, her eyes gleaming with pleasure at his
involuntary response. When she was done, she bent and licked off the residual
stickiness until he was clean, every trace of the chocolate gone.

Looking up at her, he saw that they now shared a different
kind of hunger. She straddled him, opening her pussy with one hand while guiding
him to her opening with the other. With an erotically painful slowness she
eased herself down until he filled her completely, his passage eased by the
moisture lubricating her walls.

“Give me your hands,” she demanded.

He held them out to her and she threaded her fingers with
his, balancing herself. Her gaze never left his as she began a sensual dance,
slide and retreat, up and down, a steady, even rhythm that drove him even
wilder.

Hurry. Please hurry.

She just smiled at him and licked her lips.

They might have gone on for a long time this way, but he
sensed her own orgasm rushing up from inside her. Her pace accelerated and he
thrust his hips up to drive himself deeper, the leash breaking. Icy heat spread
over his lower back, his balls tightened and strained, the walls of her cunt
gripped him hard and they exploded together. Her liquid bathed him as he
spurted into her again and again, their juices mingling as much as their blood
had.

Despite the intensity of the orgasm, when the spasms
subsided and the aftershocks faded, he felt strangely at peace. She had driven
the devils of the previous night from his mind, just as she’d promised. Leaning
forward, she placed a gentle kiss on his lips. Then she brought his wrist, the
one with the mark, to her mouth and kissed it also.

We are together, cowboy.

I am yours, Mistress.

Damn straight.

Sometimes the mind blocking is necessary.
Those words
became Selene’s mantra, because for the next three days she had to keep a lot
of things locked up inside her mind to maintain a calm countenance. Yet inside
that limited space, her nerves screamed with impatience.

But she’d done what she could do. She had pleaded her case
with Butch. Suffered through the subjugation of Quinn because that was what was
required, once Butch agreed to grant her request. She had been so proud of him,
this incredible alpha male who’d put himself in her hands completely in order
to belong to her. Serve her.

She now knew why, once having a fully marked servant, a
vampire never did without one. Finding that unique combination of submission
and service, all of it packaged in an aggressive cowboy who knew his own mind
and had a formidable will of his own, was an incomparable gift. It terrified
her, another reason to keep a great deal of her thoughts locked away from
Quinn. So much could go wrong…

The little interlude with the chocolate cake when they
returned to Last Chance Ranch had certainly taken the edge off for both of
them. It pleased her that no matter the mood of the situation, the intensity,
his entire focus had been to please her.

You’ve chosen well, Selene.

Recalling Butch’s words, she certainly hoped so. Since she’d
given Quinn the third mark, the atmosphere of their relationship had changed.
Without it Quinn never would have submitted to the activities at Butch Dorn’s.
Nor would their nights together be as erotically intense. As a full servant, he
was able to renew his energy more quickly, replenish himself in shorter time
periods. He no longer needed more than a couple hours of sleep. While she
slumbered through the day, he attended to business at the ranch, fully rested
and working alongside his hands. Sometimes she would morph into the butterfly
and soar to wherever he was, beating her wings for attention and lighting on
his hand to let him know she was still with him, still in control. She loved
watching him as he worked, seeing him sit tall and relaxed in the saddle,
almost one with Midnight. When she was with him out there on the range, his
heart and mind seemed as content as she’d ever felt him.

At night he would come to the bar, usually a couple hours
after opening, and stay until she closed. Sometimes he sat in the office,
watching the little television in there. Other times he wandered out to the
front, sitting at a table chatting with people he knew, or just hanging out by
himself. He was more relaxed now, renewing friendships with regulars he’d
pushed to arms’ length because of his schedule and the stresses of the bar. But
always, whenever she was within sight of him, he watched her with eyes that
devoured her. Every day only strengthened the bonds of their relationship.

She looked forward to the next three hundred years with her
servant. If they could get past Laurent.

Hopefully that situation would be resolved before much more
time passed. Quinn had discussed a number of options for moving her into the
ranch house. It wasn’t just a matter of a dark room where she could sleep
undisturbed. They needed to have a logical explanation for Annette as well as
Johnny, Kevin and the other hands. Butch had created a positive situation with
Dix, so perhaps they could learn from his structure.

Quinn was impatient as well, wanting this to be settled so
they didn’t have disaster hanging over their heads. If only she’d get some word
from Butch. She could just imagine Laurent’s reaction when he got the telephone
call. The man was given to incredible rages. She’d seen the punishment he had
doled out to those who displeased him or violated his rules. Nausea gripped her
at the thought. But she’d known a day of reckoning would come when she’d had
enough of her virtual indentured servitude and run away.

Had Butch made the damn call already? One didn’t nag an
overlord. He’d said he’d notify her when he called Laurent, but in the meantime
it left her on edge, listening every night for the phone in the bar to ring.

Thankfully, After Hours was busier than ever. Tonight was a
prime example. Even though it was a weeknight, the bar was jammed, the activity
occupying her physically as well as mentally. For some reason, everyone in town
had decided they couldn’t wait for Friday or Saturday to kick up their heels.
Every seat was full as well as every bar stool. The jukebox was blaring, the
tiny dance floor jammed with couples doing a fancy two-step.

She wasn’t expecting Quinn. He was interested in a
particular breeding bull at a ranch in West Texas, so he’d flown there late
afternoon. Dinner was on the agenda tonight with some old friends and tomorrow
he’d look at the bull. He’d told her he’d be back about noon or a little after
and see her that night. Good. Much as she longed to be with him every minute
like a ridiculous teenager, she needed some space to cobble her thoughts
together.

As she kept an eye on things while pouring drinks and
pulling taps, Manuel hustled in the kitchen. Tonight Maria was scheduled to
work, but when the size of the crowd ballooned Selene had called Carol, who was
only too happy for the extra money. Selene was pleased at how the two had
blossomed under her management, taking pride in their work. Maria was even
showing interest in acquiring more bar management skills, talking about taking
some business courses at the closest community college.

Selene was in the process of mixing two drinks when the call
finally came in. Seeing the Blood Rock Ranch number on the caller ID of the bar
phone, she motioned for Carol to take her place and plucked the phone off the
wall, hurrying around the corner to the privacy of the hallway.

“Ma’am?” Dix’s voice greeted her. Of course. Though Butch
treated her as a guest at his home, she was still not officially in his
territory and had insinuated herself here without permission. She had no status
that would require Butch to be the one who called. It still pricked a bit, but
Dix softened that with his next words. “Butch apologizes for not calling
himself. He’s been in conference with the Region Masters on and off through the
day, but he just learned something he knew you’d rather know sooner than
later.”

Selene gripped the receiver hard, pushing back the bile that
suddenly surged into her throat. “That’s fine. Do they have a decision?”

“Not yet. Still working on it.” Dix paused as if he might say
more, then his tone became more neutral. “Butch was going to call New York
after he got a little ways into talking to the Region Masters, buy you some
more time before Laurent got the heads-up. But the northeast Region Master just
mentioned he’d brought Laurent into the loop two nights ago.”

She swallowed the disappointment, even as she appreciated
Butch’s attempt. Apparently the Region Master of Laurent’s territory was either
his friend—God help her then—or a stickler for protocol.

Dix paused and she heard an exchange of conversation. “Hold
on. Actually, Butch has just stepped out of his office and wants to speak to
you.” Dix’s grimmer tone told Selene to brace herself.

“The Region Masters patched Laurent into our conference
call,” Butch said without preamble. He gave a humorless chuckle. “That wasn’t
the most pleasant conversation I’ve ever had, youngling.”

“What did he say?”

“As you can imagine, he was less than pleased about moving
you into my territory. But it’s in the hands of the Region Masters now. However
he feels, whatever he wants, he knows he can’t remove you until the Council
makes its ruling, and then only if it’s in his favor.”

She rubbed her palm on her thigh. “Did he give you any
indication if he plans to head this way?”

“If he does, he’s supposed to give me a heads-up first
before entering my territory.” Butch paused, a silence that made it clear he
had dubious expectations at best on that score. “He was extremely angry when I
spoke to him, although he did his best to control it on the phone with the
three of us. While he knows the Council might frown on him coming here until a
decision has been made, it’s not prohibited.”

“Yes.” Every one of her muscles clenched. He’d come.
Retribution was part of his personal creed. She tried not to imagine the
questions he’d had to answer about her disappearance or the excuses he’d been
forced to make. Image was so critical to Laurent, especially in the
sophisticated New York environment in which he operated. He’d want to make an
example of her.

“Selene?” Butch’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “Did I
lose you?”

“No.” She gave herself a mental shake. “No, I’m here.
Sorry.”

“Selene, if you wish to come here until the decision is
made…”

The offer surprised her, but she steeled her resolve. She
knew how this game was played. She couldn’t afford to take advantage of this
male who she hoped would be her salvation. Hers and Quinn’s “That’s very kind,
my lord. But I knew there would be consequences. I should face Laurent, get it
over with.”

“I’d have your servant keep his distance if that happens.
Even do your best to send him away if he happens to be around. He won’t be able
to stop it and he might also become a victim.”

“I know.” The words came out on a sigh. “He’s come along
very nicely, but—”

“But he still feels the need to defend you,” Butch finished.
“That was evident when you were here at my place. He controlled himself better
than I expected, but I’m not sure he’d get past another bout of
vampire-on-vampire discipline.”

She bit back a grim snort. Characterizing Laurent’s sadism
as discipline was like calling a hurricane a spring shower. But she wasn’t
going to whine. She had to prove to Butch she’d be an asset, not a liability or
a “youngling” he had to nursemaid.

“Yes. That’s true.”

“Vampire discipline can be harsh, but Laurent will likely
get in the licks he thinks are fair. If you fight back or object in any way, he
might convince the Council not to permit the transfer.”

No. Please, no.

She swallowed. “I understand. I’ll handle it.”

“Yeah, I bet you will.” Another pause, as if Butch was
trying to give her the opportunity to say something else.

She gripped the phone tighter, holding onto her courage. “I
hope the Region Masters will allow me to stay, with your permission. You’ve
been more than fair.”

Laurent would definitely come here. Selene was positive of
it. He would see her leaving as such an act of betrayal, he’d need to punish
her so others wouldn’t follow in her footsteps. His pride and ego were both his
two strongest characteristics and his greatest failings. He could already be on
his way. He probably was.

“Thank you for speaking to me yourself, my lord. You do me
great honor. I appreciate it.” She paused. “Again, if anything should go
wrong—”

“You don’t have to get all flowery. It’s not my thing. I can
tell you’re a decent female, Selene. Your servant is safe with me. I gave my
word as much based on my assessment of your character as his.” He gave a rough
laugh. “Dix has asked about him. Wants to know if the two of you are coming
back this way any time soon.”

She wasn’t sure how to answer that. “I guess it depends on
what the Region Masters decide.”

“Of course. But if the decision is in your favor, you might
owe me a visit. I’m sure you can convince your servant of the importance of
gratitude.”

Oh yeah. But I might have to use the whip to do it.
A
smile managed to struggle up from among her tension. “I’m sure we’ll arrange
something.”

“I’ll call you as soon as I have word on a decision.”

Selene let out a breath as she replaced the receiver. So.
Things were in motion. She was glad Quinn was far away tonight. Every instinct
told her something bad was imminent and she didn’t want her servant involved.

All too vividly, she remembered one night at the bar when a
vampire had disrespected Laurent in front of others. The overlord had ordered
the man stripped naked and tied to a pole, where he whipped him mercilessly
before carving his initials on the man’s back. At the end he had ordered two of
his minions to use a hammer to break every one of the man’s toes and fingers.
The satisfaction on his face when he reduced the object of his anger to a
bleeding, broken lump was frightening. Laurent didn’t just mete out
retribution, he thrived on it. The sound of his victims crying out in pain or
begging for relief always brought a stark wash of pleasure to his features. The
poor bastard had then been dumped in his apartment where he hid during the time
it took him to heal. Every time Selene saw him after that, his manner toward
Laurent was beyond deferential. Groveling, even.

She couldn’t live that way. She couldn’t. But if she
died…Quinn died. What an impetuous idiot she’d been, marking him before this
was resolved.

Stop it.
She reminded herself of what Butch had said.
Fuck it and move on. That was the only way this could work, for her or Quinn.
Crying over a decision she’d embraced because of the honest joy it brought to
her wasn’t going to change anything except steal whatever time she had left to
savor it.

Icy fingers skittered over her spine, a foreboding touch
signaling that evil was about to invade her life. Maybe she’d be lucky. Maybe
the Region Masters would rule for her
and
maybe Laurent would give up
without a major confrontation.

And maybe I’ll turn into a human.

If he’s coming, let it be tonight while Quinn is gone.
I’ve already put him at risk enough.

Besides, she wanted it over and done with, not hanging over
her head. With a sigh she hurried back to the front to take up her chores
behind the bar again. The crowd had thinned out a little but it was still busy
enough she could tuck her unease in a corner of her mind to pull out later.
Still, it was a relief when she finally announced last call and no one gave her
a hard time. The last customers made their way to the door, calling good night
to everyone. Carol and Maria got busy bussing the tables and sweeping up.