Taken by The Hunger: A Blood Thirst Novel (Book 1) Paranormal Romance/ Erotica/ Urban Fantasy (9 page)

Chapter 12: He Who Trades his Heart is Gambling Away his Soul

I
realized I wanted so bad what he said he meant to do to me. His hips dug into my core raising me while he united both of my wrists in one of his hands placing them over our heads. I tried breathing, but it was becoming too much because he was large and hard, and a desire I couldn’t control began to take over me. I had limited experience with men. Darius had been the only one I’d wanted this bad before. My body moved reaching and responding to him. I could seek with this beast the relief I could never have with Darius.

My nipples became unbearably hard beads as he continued to rub himself against me. The friction he created was sweet torture, and I was lost openly moaning for him now. His sweat smelled of woods, spice, and pine or was that his soap? God, it was messing with my head. All I could do was smell and feel him all over me.

With my hands caged above my head, I was looking up at the rain and slowly shaking my head no; trying to find answers I knew I wouldn’t get…
he meant to have me,
I thought. And could I stop him, did I now want to stop him?

I realized now that was what Kimmy had been warning me against. I had seen such uncontrolled hunger in every contour of his face that I knew my death was never an option for him. I renewed my struggles as he wound and thrust his hips against me spreading me more- digging into my depth while his other arm had wrapped around my waist and now his open palm covered my rear pushing me closer against him. We were both wet with rain and sweat, his breathing was labored when his face sought mine, and I saw there were tiny beads of perspiration on his upper lip and forehead.

I realized then that he was trying not to lose control, but I had pushed him too far and his need was too great.

The feeling was becoming contagious because we were both seeking the rush and climax our need produced as his thrusting hips had me gasping, wanting. The rain that fell on us felt as if it were boiling my skin, and I felt all of him through the only material of clothing he was wearing, his wet drawstring pants. As I struggled and pushed against him trying to maintain a fight I was so quickly loosing, I saw his eyes had become dark pools- his pupil overriding the luminosity I had seen before. The need to struggle became more ardent, so I pushed my breasts and hips harder against him and my mouth came down to bite his shoulder as his hips moved more fiercely lifting me each time.

“Please,” I whispered hoarsely not recognizing my needy voice, “you have to…” I couldn’t finish the sentence because I didn’t trust myself to tell him to stop. Would I end up begging him like he said, I would? I didn’t know myself, I was becoming as much of a beast as him that in my frenzy I silently begged him for more as I shut my eyes and bit and licked at his shoulder.

I tasted his sweet decadent blood on my lips, and all that registered was that I wanted… no needed it more than the air I breathed. I existed in this moment only to devour him. He was breathing heavily as he clawed at the tree around my wrist and pulled his hips back to thrust only harder and lift me higher each time.

I knew I was losing my mind… I had to be… hadn’t I been saving myself for Darius? But there was too much sensation and he only increased to a frantic pace. I was quivering reaching something I didn’t understand with this beast, and I was utterly lost to it… lost… it was too late to be scared any longer. So I reveled in licking my lips, and lifting my head as I moaned. I told myself I would be greedy in my need and take what he offered. Once I had the satisfaction we both craved, I would leave without a backward glance, and then be done with the consequences and whatever it was I was feeling. Somehow I would find a way out of this spell. My reasoning told me my reactions were not my own this was just survival instincts kicking in. That’s when I saw him wet, rigid, and straining with his head thrown back in abandon, his fangs fully extended and his eyes tightly shut. He had a look of pain and ecstasy which drew me to him.

He was mercilessly taking control of everything I was through the intense and uninhibited pleasure we were feeling. The blood I had been sucking on his neck was tantalizing me, driving me insane as he pumped harder and faster against me. My moans had grown louder and I sought to muffle the sound by lowering my lips and sucking harder on him. I opened my lips wide around his skin, bit not caring if I caused him any pain, and licked up the remaining blood when I noticed he no longer had an open wound, and there was no more blood for me to consume.

He seemed too far gone to notice, so I forced one of my hands free and greedily searched for his wound, but all I found was his thick neck, corded tight with muscle while he was rigid and oblivious to my hunger for his blood. He was uninhibited as he spoke and grunted in a language I didn’t recognize. His voice was rough with desperation and need.

Chapter 13: Drink Me Out of My Misery

In
my frustration, all I could do was scream for him to look at me while I struggled to open his skin with my blunt, Wicked- Essie manicured nails. Wicked… exactly how the night turned out, what he looked like, what I felt.

I had meant to ask him what was happening to me, but what came out was entirely different because instead I heard myself say, “We’ll both get what we hunger for and then I want you to disappear… you’re not real, this can’t be real.”

His actions cut me off from any further talk as he ceased all movement, straightened his body, and looked at me with what had now turned into resolute black eyes. He drew up his fangs, took a step back still holding me tightly before he slowly let my legs down.

Dragging his palm over his mouth then lowering it, he watched me very closely. I realized he was trying to regain control. I reached for him not wanting any separation between us, but quickly realizing my mistake I fisted my hand not willing to show my desperation.

 He heatedly looked and pointed at me when he said, “You have no idea the extent of OUR hunger, Emmaley… it’s not something you can easily discard, in fact, it will drive you mad with need if you don’t give into it. But of course you don’t recognize it because you have been weakened. I bet you’re just as ready to beg as I am Emma, is that what you need sweetheart a little demonstration? Should I bring you to your knees woman?” He lowered his gaze to my lips holding me with the intensity of his very visible hunger for me as I straightened and stiffened my back. I was in control… he was wrong if he was now expecting me to beg, I was most definitely not anywhere near it.

He smiled a cruel knowing smile… then took a razor sharp claw, drew it to his chest over his pectoral muscle while showing me a path of crimson blood down his body. I tried so hard to resist. I even tried a couple of times to look away. My palms were sweating… fisting and opening not sure of what I’d do next. I wanted to pull him to me so bad, but instead I made my body take a timid step to the side away from him.

I was now very aware of every inch of his breathtakingly beautiful body.

His nostrils were flaring at my refusal and his manhood throbbed as I saw the blood drip to his torso, over his ribs, and finally fall soaking the rim of his drawstring pants. I saw his hands travel to the edge of those pants, realizing his intentions, I almost fell to my knees in front of him- in fact, I saw myself doing just that when he said, “What are you waiting for hmm… there’s no one stopping you but yourself.” Was my loss of control that easy to read I thought, no... hadn’t he warned me he could do this? Taking in a deep breath, I said
, “You’ll hurt me if I give in to you. You think I don’t know this is a trap?”

“I’ll release you from the traps they've set... the woman within you is begging to be let out. A trap, is that what they made you believe our attraction is? You were trapped before I found you, remember? This is what you’ve wanted… Emmaley. All this time you’ve been searching for me as I was searching for you. You and I were meant to collide.”

A collision, that’s exactly what it had been. A red, passion filled haze collision which completely had taken me off course.

He continued by taking his palm and with an irritated look proceeded to wipe his blood clean.

“You’ll be surprised to find who’s the prey Emma, but if what just happened between us is good enough for you now, then…”

“No… no… you won’t leave me like this,” I heard myself beg not allowing him to finish his thought. I don’t know what came over me, maybe it was the fear of him leaving me there in the woods alone, cold, unsatisfied, or maybe the fact that I knew he was shutting himself from me, leaving. But whatever it was, had me rushing him as I threw my shoulder against his abdomen. My hand coming up with the motion to push at his chest- the surprise and satisfaction showed all over his face as he let himself fall perhaps the only reasonable explanation of how I managed to land that monster of a man on his back.

I quickly straddled him wasting no time, my dress rising as I captured his hands and brought the one with all the precious blood to my mouth licking at his palm. His eyes slowly closed savoring the moment. When I finished with his palm, I lowered myself on his body finding the trail of blood and licking his warm skin while I moaned.

Then, I was made to look up because he possessively grasped my hair. I let him pull choosing to ignore the pain while relishing in the pleasure. He yanked hard forcing my neck back when he said, “Emmaley this is going to happen now, beautiful girl... I’ve waited too long. I can’t wait for you to come to terms with a reality you didn’t think was possible.”

I could see his body was strung so tight. He was still holding himself together, but as I felt his blood deep within me I knew I was much stronger than before. Somehow, I knew I needed more if I was going to survive our coming together- knew it was possible. I knew this was no longer something I wanted to fight. I looked down not finding what I sought so, I demanded by telling him, “I want you to give me more… a lot more of your blood beast.” I called him this because as silly as it sounds it’s exactly what he looked like.

He smiled showing fangs he no longer tried to hide making me want to offer my neck to him as I anxiously waited and noticed how warm he was beneath me- burning me. I imagined myself riding him giving us both so much pleasure while he drank from my neck. Is he putting those images there, I wondered.

“No need to say please… Emma,” he groaned, “I’ll gladly give you whatever you wish, I’ll let you drink and ride for hours, love… just as you imagined. It’s just you and me now.”

Of course, I couldn’t care what he said now it all just managed to turn me on more. He brought his captured hand to his soft lips while kissing my fingers, which were fiercely gripping him, making me throb with so much need for him. I attempted to ease and lower my grip down his forearm. I needed to be good, I thought, maybe then he would give me relief. His eyes flashed as he probably guessed his effect on me. He brought himself up on his elbow and opened his mouth around his wrist.

The blood, my new found treasure… dripped down his arm.

“Say it!” He growled. “Say you will always be mine.”

I wanted to tear his arm away as he bit and stared at me. I was so impatient when his mouth drew away, and I saw the blood on his lips. I thought about kissing him then.

“You and I,” I whispered. Instead of kissing him, I harshly grabbed the front of his neck to keep him away from me and brought his wrist to my lips. Upon tasting him again, my eyes rolled back in my head as I lost control and forgot about everything but having him complacent underneath me while I ravaged him. It was such a rush hearing his grunts and feeling him underneath me.

I became lost to my surroundings, I only knew that I wanted him more than all else. So much desire for him, it was overtaking me. Nothing existed but our needs for one another. I didn’t know for how long I had been drinking him when I felt what he was about to do. “We’re going to try this again Emma and this time you’re going to be a good girl, you won’t scare so easily, right?” I tried to ignore him, but when I felt him pulling free of me I quickly answered, “Yes, yes I’ll do whatever you ask... whatever you want… just don’t stop… giving me your blood please.”

“For everything that’s sacred Emma you can’t say things like that to me.” Desperately now, his hands traveled up my inner thighs spreading me wider, readying me to take him. I threw my head back as I moaned. I could feel him throbbing against my black lace panties and the friction was delicious torture. My moans were growing in volume. I barely understood when he said, “Show me you recognize what I am to you, I want to hear you come for me Emma… over and over again.”

I silently cursed as I moaned yes because nothing he said made sense while making all the sense I needed. It didn’t matter anymore… I didn’t care I was not running him off. I was so far gone and he seemed so familiar, so necessary that every fiber of my body responded to him- to his breaths, his voice… his hard, hot body. It was driving me over the edge… as I felt myself building. I opened my mouth to scream my release when he suddenly stiffened, turning me over he covered me with his body while bringing his hand over my mouth.

He was breathing hard, and shaking himself trying to clear his head… almost unable to speak he looked me up and down when he said, “SHH… baby, calm down Emmaley,” and his words almost sounded like a prayer; almost as if I wouldn’t obey I would soon be witnessing the end.

“They are all coming, rushing towards their deaths thinking they can take you from me. I’ll obliterate them for taking this from us, all these centuries… tortured… wasted.”

He was livid and unsteady. His body barely held in all the fury that was visible as it once again took on an appearance of beast rather than man. I don’t think I ever really saw the man tonight, so I turned my head feeling ashamed, scared, and vulnerable all at once. I realized he was grasping for control when he ran his blood covered wrist on his pants and then his shaky hand through his hair.

I was back to staring at him feeling a mixture of dread, panic, and most of all unfulfilled lust.

I was watching the blood on his pants as he tried but barely managed to reign in his emotions and regain control. He was still hard when he abruptly said, “…Promise me you’ll stay here. You’ll wait for me… here.”

I shook my head no… he couldn’t leave now because I wanted his blood... him… I didn’t care about anything else. He forcibly grabbed my arms as he pushed himself back on his heels and kneeled between my parted thighs bringing me forth. He brought me up to a sitting position while I quickly tried to shut my legs closed.

He looked me over hungrily, but otherwise did nothing else but say, “You’ve had enough blood; maybe even too much, but you need to stay here. No matter what you hear Emma, or I swear I’ll kill every… one… of them. Do you understand?”

Terrified from his words, I just nodded my head and said, “Please, don’t hurt them, I’ll stay.”

He looked unbelieving at first. Then looking deep into my eyes, he spoke in a language I didn’t understand. While he spoke, it echoed around me. He lifted his hand and reached for my neck. I drew back, but felt solid metal connect over my skin and wrap itself around me like a collar.

He continued to stare at the plate and said, “They are tracking you somehow. I was caught up in finding you myself… you’re fast and you traveled farther than I thought possible, so when I found you I wasn’t thinking of checking how they could track you. All I thought about was you beneath me, and I inside you.”

He kissed the corner of my lips so gently before he continued to warn me.

“There was a moment when I panicked because I thought you escaped me. Don’t try to escape me again because if you do I promise you… you won’t like the consequences. I won’t be as understanding with you Emmaley, remember… I won’t let you forsake your promise to me. Hell with the gods, and their selfish reasons.”

You were understanding before?
My mind questioned.

“Don’t lie to me and don’t pretend to make promises you won’t keep.” He turned his head, cocked it to one side, and listened. I listened too and heard the team’s movements, as well, when I realized I could hear them from what seemed to be quite a distance away.

“I have to go, but stay here, or you won’t leave me any choice,” he raised his hand to my choker and said, “Emma, I will not hesitate to kill anyone who tries to take you away from me!”

“I understand,” I assured him. What was I supposed to say he looked terrifyingly murderous at the moment?

“They landed a helicopter a few miles down,” he explained, “and are making their way towards us. I’ll create a barrier that will keep them from us, and I want you here when I return, or you already know what I’m capable of.”

He removed his hand from my collar, lowered his head, and appeared to be inspecting it when he bit down at the juncture of my collar bone and neck while my scream pierced the night. My scream sounded foreign to me somehow inhuman as it penetrated my ears. The birds above us scattered going wild while he greedily drank from me, and I realized he purposely allowed for me to be heard. I felt his greed, his possession of me and the knowledge, like a vision, of his desire to have every one of them know I was his.

No longer feeling pain, I moaned and grabbed his nape bringing him closer to me when I felt his own collar cold against my hand. I held on to it liking the feel of having my beast collared.

I smiled at the thought, maybe if I held him like this he wouldn’t leave me. He sucked and licked me until I fell back on the wet dirt and saw him reluctantly draw away from me, lick the blood from his lips, and look warily down at me.

A moment passed before he grabbed my dress, lowered it from my waist, and raised it above my bustier taking a step back- inspecting me with desire still burning in his eyes before he turned and was gone. I stayed staring at the swaying tree branches hanging above me, cocooning me as the gloomy night surrounded me, and a gentle breeze kissed my skin. My nipples hardened already missing his touch as my eyes closed.
I need to know who he is.

I heard the frantic steps of the search team and opened my eyes thinking they must of heard my scream… they’re rushing, being loud, and clumsy. God they’re no match for him. As my eyes grew heavy, I tried to fight the need to close them, my hand twitched as I tried to move, but nothing else in me responded as I lost the struggle.