Quench (5 page)

Standing straight, she faced him. If all her abilities had
been present she would have had the choice of vanishing. Not tonight.

Viv decided she could handle this, no need to bother Alek.
“I’m good.”

“Bet you are.” Fangs lengthened and the man’s eyes swirled
red.

She’d have to fight because he wasn’t going anywhere. He’d
already transgressed and his sick mind wouldn’t allow him to walk away from
what he saw as his next meal. Had he been weaker there would have been a chance
Viv could mentally send him on his way.

“You sure you want to do this?”

“I’d love to dance with you before I suck you dry. Bet
you’re a tasty bitch.” Spittle wet his lips, glistened from his incisors.

“Let’s go.” Viv whipped out her knife and took a fighter’s
stance, her knees flexed. On the balls of her feet, she was ready to move in
any direction.

The creature lunged and she spun to the side, slashing him
across the cheek.

“Whore! You’ll die for that.”

He feinted left, slid right and grasped her knife arm.
Shit
.
Snatching her forward with inhuman strength, he twisted her body and yanked her
arm behind her.

Pulling her close, he whispered, “You’ll taste good.”

She almost fainted when she felt his fangs rip her jugular
and tear a piece of her shoulder away. When he let her slip to the ground,
irrationally, her only thought was of killing the Siberian tiger who had stolen
her powers and left her vulnerable. Before her body hit the pavement glass
broke somewhere and a vicious growl split the night air.

Alek.

Viviana refused to pass out. Rolling to her back, she
watched the fight ensue as blood streamed from her body.

She saw the diseased being lifted from its feet by the neck
and the cracking sound when his head slammed to the pavement made her cringe.

“Change or I’ll rip your heart out as you lie and you will
die in disgrace.”

“Screw you, warrior.” A spurt of blood from its torn throat
landed on Alek’s hand.

Honorable Reign never killed a transgressor in disgrace. The
unfortunate creatures had often fought bravely beside those who had to hunt
them. They had once been warriors who protected Kind and humans alike.

Those transgressors who succumbed to their bloodlust were
given the opportunity to die as the animal they were before being cursed. It
was no different than her own species, who were given the opportunity to walk
into the light rather than be killed by another vampyre.

“As you wish.”

The creature had a change of mind, wishing to fight and die
with honor as a cheetah. Spotted fur sprouted on its heaving chest, covering
the torso and running over the limbs. Red tears stained the beautiful thick fur
as they coursed down the beast’s face. The cheetah wheezed, unable to move.

Air hissed through Viv’s lips as Alek’s clothes disappeared
and faintly striped tan fur raced up his arms, down his legs and across his
torso. The largest cat she’d ever seen smashed down on all fours, causing the
ground to tremble.
Holy Christ!

What stood there wasn’t lion or tiger but a strange
variation of both. The tiger’s lines were faint on the fawn-colored lion’s fur.
Muscles rippled down his side and his flank quivered before he reared up and
roared.

The solemn sound echoed off the side of the building.

Large paws landed on either side of the tiny spotted cat.
Lowering his head, Alek opened his mouth and, baring huge fangs, bit into the
belly of the transgressor. Yanking back, he disemboweled the animal.

Alek had honored the cat by allowing him to die as the
creature he’d been born.

The foul odor that filled the night air made her retch.

Weak and in extreme pain, Viv attempted to sit up. Blood
continued to pour from the gaping wound in her shoulder and she had no strength
to start the healing process. The pure scent of lion drifted over her. No, it
was vampyre. Damn, the injury had destroyed her senses, trapped her even more.

Put her at Alek’s mercy.

“Oh God, honey, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you alone.”

The smell of vampyre grew stronger and she heard Case say,
“Go, I’ll clean this up. Feed her quickly and I’ll get there as fast as I can.”

“Alek, I’ve lost too much blood to heal.” Tears glistened in
his eyes. She murmured, “Blood, strong blood.”

“Mine is strong.”

“Vampyre blood,” she whispered. “Don’t let me die.”

“Never.” He swept her up and moved into the fading black
sky.

Her mind grew weaker as they headed toward the horizon,
where dark was turning pink with light. Twirling with her in his arms, he
vanished into a tornadolike vortex to protect her from the early sun’s rays.

He settled her in the dark room beneath the mansion’s main
floor and Case soon joined them, carrying a bottle. “This will replace the
champagne you dropped.”

Why did Alec want champagne? Confused and too weak to enter
his mind, she listened to him talk quietly with Case, who suggested Alek feed
her before he dematerialized.

“Viv, can you hear me?”

“No…cat…blood. Vampyre.”

“You’ll die if we wait. You’re already weak from the sun’s
rising.”

Dried tears stained his cheeks red. He’d give his life for
her simply because they were mates. Alek was stronger than many of the Kind
she’d met. He had the same vampyre abilities the royal brothers had. But he
wasn’t royalty.

“Alek, don’t change me, I can’t be what you are,” she
whispered. “Vampyre, or at least royal blood. Law or Dace, they can sustain me
until I heal.”

Anger reddened his face. “
Mine
is as royal as you’re
gonna get.” He slid into the bed and lifted her effortlessly onto his lap.

She struggled to hold her eyes open. His blood would take
too long to heal her, she’d die anyway, or he’d have to change her. Not an
option. Viv was undead, not a cat, and she needed stronger sustenance than his
blood.

Did Alek plan to make her his mate against her will? Why
would he lie to her?

“I’ve fed from the prince for many years.” Pain, anger,
infused his words. “I will not make you what you don’t want to be.”

Don’t…trust you.

His eyes became hooded and she winced at the anguish her
words had caused as they raged through his mind.

He lowered his head, opened his wrist and pushed it against
her lips.

Unable to move her head, Viviana had no choice as Alek’s
blood poured freely from the punctures. His life force filled her mouth and she
swallowed.

Something else happened—the dark place in his mind opened.

Memories, pained and raw, assaulted her thoughts. A
kaleidoscope of pictures with him and Nikolaus flashed before her like a movie.
His love, his guilt at loving a man, dripped into her heart. His need, his
desire and lust for the prince boiled through her veins.

Her eyes closed as she let it wash over her. All his years
of fighting feelings for his best friend streamed alongside his new and
wondrous need for her. His vampyre side understood and could accept loving a
man, the cat never would. Tigers were solitary creatures, searching out females
only when the need arose. Male lions had a pride of lionesses, another male
would not be accepted.

Alek pulled his arm away, her head lolled back against his
shoulder. Still too weak to think or utter a single word, she opened her eyes
and gazed at him.

“Now do you believe me? Do you understand why I can never
have a mate?”

He lifted her gently into the bed and, using her ancestors’
magic, he removed her blood-soaked clothes and cleansed her body.

“Rest. I’ll return at dusk to feed you again.”

She watched weakly as he walked to the door. Turning, he
leveled cold red eyes on her. “Do you trust me now?”

Love she had felt all along lanced through Viv. The words
lodged in her throat, producing only a whimper. Alek didn’t vanish but before
she could force the words out he had opened the door and walked out. When it
clicked shut, the syllables slipped from her mouth.

“
Draga moja
.” she whispered.

Alek was gone and he’d locked her from his mind.

Alek had pulled his wrist from her before she took too much.
He’d given her just enough to start her healing. Nowhere near the amount she’d
need to become what he was.

“I’ve never seen you accept defeat so easily. Where’s that
Big-Man-On-Compound attitude?”

Sitting just inside the doorway leading to the balcony,
distracted by sunrise and the variety of sounds that accompanied daylight, he
hadn’t heard or felt Case’s approach. Alek whipped around. “Not right now,
man.”

“I remembered uttering those same words not long ago. Didn’t
stop you.”

“Go to hell, Case. Where’s Tres?” He stood and walked out on
the balcony.

“The Looking Glass, catching up with Holly. What’s up with
the lady below?” Case came out and stood beside him.

“She’ll live. If Phoenix hadn’t been pissed at her and
zapped her ability to vanish I wouldn’t be stuck with the fallout.”

“A man doesn’t buy the vintage champagne you did to share
with someone he considers fallout.”

“What can I say, weak moment.”

“Let me see. A few things come to mind. Hanging out the
out-of-business sign is one. The great, the mighty BMOC has gone down. Shit
like that.”

“Screw you.”

“Yeah I think I used those words too.” Shrugging, Case said,
“It’s not bad, you know. I like having a mate.”

They stood in silence looking over the arena.

Alek turned and rested his hip against the railing. “Don’t
think she’s keen on having me as a mate. Her exact words to me were—’I’m not
cut out to run on all fours’.”

“Convince her otherwise. Show her the joy and freedom of
being both. Took us a while to get there ourselves so give her some time.”

“Why do the Fates fuck with us? We didn’t ask for this.”

“No one asks for trouble, man, but it comes sometimes. Meet
it head-on.”

Walking back inside, Alek fell heavily into the overstuffed
chair by the desk.

“Case, she knows about Nikol. I can’t be with her because
Viv deserves a whole man, not the half-assed man I’ve become.”

“What are you talking about?”

“She needed strong blood to start the healing process. Royal
blood. I gave it to her and it sort of aired my dirty laundry. She knows how I
feel about him.” Leaning back in the chair, he rubbed his hands over his face.

“Alek, she’s a goddamn vampyre. Hell, she’s not going to
give a crap about who you screwed, male or female.” Case chuckled. “If she’s your
draga
, and she is because her smell is seeping from your pores, I’d only
worry about the
next
female or male you touch.”

“Her name’s Viviana.” Alek glared up at his longtime friend.
“Talk about her like that again, I’ll rip your guts out.”

“Good. I made my point. Look, I have to go. Why don’t you
bring her to the club tonight, have dinner with me and Tres?”

“No way, you’re not getting me to perform for you so you can
get your jollies with your old lady.”

“Don’t call her old, I can still kick your ass. Though you
do smell more and more like a… Wait, hold on.” Case leaned down and sniffed
until Alek swatted him away. “Shit, man, you’re both cats now. I’ll be damned.”

“Something weird pulled it out of me yesterday morning. My
life is a mess right now.”

“Smell better if you ask me.”

“Case, get out.” Alek sent a wave of energy that helped
blast the other man into the atmosphere.

Son of a bitch. Now you think you’re the king of beasts.

Go to hell.

The warrior’s laughter lingered long after he disappeared.

Alek settled back in the chair. Could his friend be right?
Vamps were different, a carnal group if ever there was one. Cats would do any
female, hairy or not, but bloodsuckers would do anything, man or woman, when
they were horny.

“Lord, maybe she’s been with other women.”

Blood heated and burned a path through his body. What
would
happen if he met one of her ex-lovers? If any bastard looked at her sideways
he’d rip the heart right from his chest and shove it up his…

Oh hell, she was his
draga
. For sure.

He stood and paced, wearing a path across the floor.

Okay, how to convince her hairy was good? Think, Alek. How
do you show her the beauty of being a cat?

The sun sat high in the sky and that meant she’d be dead to
the world. Plus the injury weakened her. Being close, knowing Viv was okay,
would help him think clearly.

He should check on her.

Alek dematerialized to where she rested. Slipping into bed
beside her, he wondered if she’d feel his presence. He kept his t-shirt and
slacks on just in case.

Lying on his side, he gently pushed the wild platinum hair
from her face and enjoyed the silky feel of her cool brown skin. She’d been too
weak to redo the plait she loved. He decided against using magic. He could do
it. Shifting her slightly, he began to braid Viv’s hair. Done, it looked loose
and crooked but at least she wouldn’t wake up with hair in her face.

He sat against the headboard and considered his predicament.

If she was what he was, she could be with him now, running
in the sun, frolicking in the lake—

That’s it!

At some point in her life she’d been alive. Viv
must
miss the sun. He’d show her all the wonderful things she could do in daylight
and still be a vampyre. Seeing the sky light up in the morning, watching the
sunset—it made up for the fear of transgressing.

Shit, as a vamp she could turn rogue. They both had their
demons to fight, one no worse than the other, right? Wrong. For every rogue,
ten transgressors roamed. The beasts hadn’t learned yet to fight the bloodlust
as well as vamps had.

She wouldn’t have to fear the hunters like the cats did
until they mastered behaving like men and could blend in. Vampyres already had
that part down to a science.

Sure she wouldn’t wake up, he lifted her onto his lap.
Drawing her tight in his arms, he sniffed at the sweet scent that was pure
Viviana.

Closing his eyes, he dozed off holding her next to his
heart.

Alek woke with his arm cramped around her. When she moved
slightly he realized hours had passed. The sun would be sliding toward the
western horizon.

He glanced down, waiting for her eyes to open, and for the
first time he noticed the pink streaks dried on her cheeks. He’d cleansed every
trace of blood after he fed her. She had cried before she fell asleep. Why? Did
she dislike his species that much?

She moved again and murmured something. He lowered his ear
to her mouth.

“Don’t go.”

She had not wanted his blood, didn’t want to be a cat—who
the fuck was she thinking about? Alek’s thoughts crashed around his mind. He
locked his shields tight, careful to keep her out. He’d find out sooner or
later who she thought about. Better later.

“Wake up, Viv.” He eased from under her. “You need to feed.”

She stretched, flinching in pain when she raised the wounded
shoulder. “Damn that hurt.”

“You’ll be fine.” He opened his wrist and placed it in front
of her.

“I could have done it myself.” She moved her lips to cover
the tiny holes and started to drink. This time he didn’t have to stop her, she
had more strength and, taking only what she needed to heal, Viv stopped herself.

“I thought you’d trust me now.” He stood from the bed. “I
have no designs on changing you to something you find objectionable.” Not
wanting to remember where her mouth had been, Alek fabricated a long-sleeved
shirt. His cock jerked against his pants at the idea of places he’d like to
feel her lips.
Get a grip.

Viv made it very plain she didn’t want him or anyone like
him.

He grated the words out, “Dress, I need to feed too. We’re
going to have dinner with Case and his mate tonight.”

“Not sure I want to try another piece of steak.”

“Whatever you want, the Looking Glass serves it. I’ll leave
you to get ready. I have to check on a few things.” Grabbing the doorknob, he
stopped. “Do you want to do this? We can stay here.”

“I’m fine, give me time to think.” She glared at him, angry
color dotting her cheeks. “I’ll let you know.”

Great, she’s mad.

“Don’t take too long. I’m hungry.”
Good job, asshole.
Piss her off more.
She definitely wasn’t the type to take any shit from
him. Not quietly anyway.

“The sooner you get out, the faster I’m ready.”

Yanking the door behind him, Alek jumped when it slammed in
the frame.

“Should have just vanished, dickhead,” he said aloud,
cursing himself and his stupid temper as he stomped down the hall.

Bastard
. What bug crawled up his ass and died?
Wish
it had bit the hell out of him.
“No you don’t,” she said. Stretching the
kinks out, Viv touched her wound and it ached a little. “Strong blood,” she
murmured.
Great, now I’m talking to myself
.

Walking to the table, she spied the bottle of Dom 1998.
Couldn’t get any better. That’s what Alek had gone back to get. Champagne.
She’d been distracted, missed the transgressor because she’d thought he went
back to talk to the manager.

Damn.

She shoved her hand into her hair and it stuck where a plait
started. Too weak this morning to do anything but drink his blood, she hadn’t
done this. Pulling it over her shoulder, she looked at the crooked braid.

Tears sprang from her eyes and slid down her cheeks.

Alek. She drew the hair under her nose, breathed in his
scent. He’d come back and fixed her hair.

“God help me, I’m in love with him.” Saving her life,
sharing his blood and his innermost thoughts had already chipped at the wall
she thought she’d built around her heart. Imagining his strong fingers doing
something so simple as braiding her hair sent the weak façade of bricks
crashing away. “Now what?”

It wasn’t just a mating call anymore. Her heart wanted him
as much as her mind and body. This man, beast, whatever he was—Alek—
was
the rest of her life.

Viviana didn’t want to be without him.

Wiping away the tears and cleansing her body, she magically
redid her hair. Viv left it loose because he liked it that way. Tonight, no
leather. She donned a short, fitted peach-colored dress in silk. It
complemented her brown skin and showed off her legs. She flashed on a pair of
spiked heels in the same color.

Feeling like a girly-girl, she said aloud, “I do
not
want to be a hairy-assed cat, damn it.”

The mantel over the fireplace held a bunch of candles and,
finding some matches there, she lit the candles and spaced them out around the
room.

Minus the ability to dematerialize, Viv still had some magic
at her disposal. She snatched two champagne glasses from thin air and placed
them on the table beside the bottle then sat in a big leather chair facing the
door with her slender legs crossed.

She waited.

Hearing his steps in the hall, she was glad he hadn’t used
powers. Viv wanted to watch his face when he walked in, see his eyes light with
the desire she’d smelled on him before he left. Her heart beat so hard, pumping
the new blood around, she felt like it would jump out of her chest.

The doorknob turned slowly and he walked in. Stopping dead
in his tracks, he stared at her. “Jesus.”

The pleading note in his voice shook her to the core.
Maybe
he doesn’t want me.
Pushing the thought from her mind, she rose from the
chair and slowly pivoted on her heels toward the table where the champagne sat
with the glasses. Filling both, she spun around and, as sexily as a lithe
warrior could walk, she carried one to him.

“You take my breath away.”

His hand brushed hers as he took the glass, sending a spark
of lust right between her legs. She’d decided to go braless and the thin, cool
silk rubbed her nipples each time she breathed.

Viv needed to do something so she tipped the glass up and
swallowed it all.

She swished back to the table and sat the flute down.
Twisting around, she rested her butt against the edge and gripped the wood for
balance.

“Thank you for saving my life.”

“Viv, I—”

She cut him off. “Come here.” She noticed his outfit for the
first time. He’d chosen to forego the normal leather too. He wore a white
vee-neck shirt highlighting the dark hair on his chest. His charcoal slacks
hung perfectly from narrow hips.

He reached her and she leaned into him, planting a light
kiss on his mouth. Her tongue caressed the sparkling flavor left there. The
wood her hands had latched on to kept her knees from buckling. Alek had a
powerful effect on her senses. Having him, tasting all of him was what she
needed.

His mouth held no more secrets. She knew every sweet corner
and explored them all. Letting go of the table with one hand, Viv reached for
the front of his slacks.

Alek groaned and his cock sprang to life under her hand as
she peppered his face with kisses then moved her lips down his corded neck.

“You don’t owe me anything.”

“I want this,” she said. Raising her head, she stared at
him. “I’ve never done anything
I
didn’t want to.” It was her turn to
laugh. “Right now I want to do you.
You
owe
me
.”

Viv intended to take payment in full as she lifted the shirt
over his head and tossed it into the chair. No magic, no rushing. Slow. She
tweaked his nipples, teased them into hard nubs. His moans reverberated around the
room as her lips captured one then the other.

“Give me a break.”

“I’m not done yet.” Another throaty chuckle slipped through
her lips. “Not by a long shot.”

Unbuckling the only strap of leather on him, she undid his
belt, slid the button through its hole and unzipped his pants. Reaching in, she
grasped his heavy cock and nudged the tight skin up and down, letting her
fingernails scrape over his sac.