Shifting blood, p.18
Shifting Blood, page 18
part #1 of Shifting Blood Series
He grabbed the sides of my face and pulled it up to look at him. He looked truly frightened and my resolve weakened. He saw it I think and tried to take advantage of that. He kissed me. Gently and softly. It was almost a sad kiss. I sighed into his mouth and pushed our kiss deeper. And Jason had thought Brian would seduce me.
Before I knew it we were on the bed and both of us were out of our tops. I let him do what he wanted. Some part of me said I shouldn’t I had to get to the airport in a few hours and I had to have time to get through security, that part was getting smaller by the minute.
So I kissed him and let him take control of the situation instead of doing what I should and stopping it. His hand cupped my breast rubbing against my bra and I moaned. Even with my bra still on, it felt good. It had been awhile since I had had sex with someone for real. Kyle and I, well… there was nothing but physical release to it. Even with my fiancé, I had never felt the burning inside me I was feeling now.
He kissed my cheek and down my neck. When he got to where my neck and shoulder connected he bit me. It was exquisite. I couldn’t even describe the tremors of pleasure that went through me. I couldn’t comprehend it all. It was too much at once to even process. I had a brief second of rational thought where I wondered if me feeding off him had been this good and then I couldn’t think at all.
I was moaning and writhing beneath him while his thumb grazed my nipple and his mouth did wicked things to my neck. I pressed my hips upward towards his body and he ground against me. Even with our clothes on I could feel him hard pressed against me. We moved back and forth just as we would if we were naked and having sex. Soon I was panting and begging for more. He pressed me harder into the mattress as his tongue swirled around my neck.
His other hand moved from my hip, which had a mind of its own now and was grinding against him in time with his hips, and up to my other nipple. He brushed them with the pads of his thumbs and that small contact was enough to send me over the edge. My orgasm came hard and fast. I dug into his back with my nails and came while still mostly dressed. He rocked against me a few more seconds before collapsing on me entirely.
I was panting and trying to catch my breath still when he pulled himself up. He was still hard and the look in his eyes was all predator. He wasn’t thinking of me like food. He wanted me. I wanted to let him take me. I knew the real thing would feel even better, how would I ever survive, but I also knew I couldn’t let it happen.
My phone beeped as if in agreement. I had set an alarm to go off to make sure I left on time. He turned and glared at the offending phone and I briefly wondered if he’d just break it and get back to seducing me.
“That was… wow.”
He turned back to look at me and smiled. He leaned down and kissed me. My blood was in his mouth and it didn’t excite me as much as his blood, but it got my predator thinking as well. My predator had recently decided it liked feeding with a pinch of sex, please.
“Stay. We can do it right. Besides, after the blood I took, you’ll probably be weaker. It’s dangerous.”
I knew these were just small arguments he was throwing out hoping to distract me, and part of me wanted to let it. I sighed and sat up; he backed up off me as I did.
“I have to go.”
He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He looked upset. I hoped he didn’t cry and try to take me back to bed. I’d let him then. I’d forget Kyle and feel guilty later when I heard he was dead. That’s really what this was about. He never left me in a jam how could I leave him in one?
“Come back to me safe. Please.”
He was pleading. I wondered briefly how this relationship would ever work. He was already freaking out and we were only dating. If we got serious and he wanted me to give up my job… well, I didn’t want to. I couldn’t leave him here, a messed-up wreck every time I left, either.
I sighed. We’d have to work on this when I came back. I was already running a few minutes behind schedule. When on a job, I kept to the schedule. Well, usually. This time, it seemed, not so much. I got up and put my shirt back on, readjusting my bra and trying not to blush in the process. He was looking at me like he wanted to devour me in every way possible, and it was making me both embarrassed and ready to jump into bed with him at the same time.
He put on his shirt, which I didn’t clearly remember coming off, never taking his eyes off me. I could feel the energy hum between us. When I came back there was no way I’d be able to say I wanted to take it slow. Once he had sex with me for real, I’d probably say yes to marrying him, if he asked me before my head cleared that is.
I couldn’t help the small smile that spread across my lips. His eyes stayed locked on my face. Memorizing it, and likely planning the next time we were alone together. I was all right with that. I planned to let him have his way with me next time.
I grabbed my bag and went into the kitchen. I finished my coffee, my cold, icky coffee, and opened my apartment door. Outside was Jason. Well, I guess he hadn’t gone too far then.
He looked hopeful until he saw the duffle and my stubborn look. He looked past me and saw Brian coming out looking defeated, and hungry. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what had happened.
I bet he wondered if we had decided to break up, already. “You gonna give me a ride or should I call a cab?”
Jason sighed and nodded. He came into the apartment and grabbed his keys, striding past me without a word. I turned to look at Brian. “Are you coming to see me off?”
He nodded and walked out behind me closing the door to the apartment behind him. This would be a long ride.
Once in the car, Brian and I snuggled in the back seat while Jason drove. He didn’t scold this time, for which I was thoroughly glad.
Brian didn’t seem very talkative, another thing I was glad for. No talking meant no arguing. However, it also meant lack of communication. I had heard somewhere that communication was the most important piece of a relationship. Damn, guess I won’t win that girlfriend of the year award. Oh, well better luck next time.
“Well, this silence is awkward. Shouldn’t you be threatening to kick someone’s ass, Beth?”
I rolled my eyes at Jason. Smart ass.
“No. It’s usually a fairly quiet affair. Dad doesn’t like to talk when he drives me off. Doesn’t even tell me to be careful. It’s just silent and awkward. Goodbyes usually are, especially when I’m off to a job. They’re dangerous. People don’t like the goodbye part. I myself prefer the welcome back party. I’m expecting one, make no mistake.”
Jason laughed. “Should have known. You only took the job so I’d have to be a catering service while here. That’s just spiteful Beth.”
I laughed and shook my head. I couldn’t fault Jason for trying to joke about it. This kind of thing was tough. Brian hadn’t laughed though. He was having a harder time with it.
I looked over at him. He was staring at me like he was trying to memorize every line of my face. I smiled but he didn’t return it. I sighed and looked away. I couldn’t do anything about how he felt.
“Are you all right?”
He snapped out of it and shook his head. I hadn’t expected an answer other than no but I was still hopeful.
“You sure you want to date me? I’m likely not worth this. It’ll be the same thing every time. It gets a bit easier with time, but not much. I won’t lie to you-you'll be doing this a lot, and sometimes I’ll be gone for months at a time. I won’t hold it against you if you back out now.”
“I will.”
I scowled at Jason but Brian seemed to think it was funny because he smiled and shrugged. I for one didn’t think it funny at all. Brian would be giving up a lot to be with me and the job was very dangerous, not everyone could handle it and he hadn’t known me that long. He shouldn’t be going through this right now.
“I’m not going anywhere. Besides, your brother won’t always be here to take care of you when you get back, and someone needs to. I hear you can’t cook at all.”
I smiled and turned in the seat leaning my back against his chest. He wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on my head. Usually, I’d nod it off, but I let him keep it there. Besides, he wasn’t putting enough pressure on me to be annoying or for it to hurt.
“How long will you be gone really?”
“Hopefully not long. I’ll get there, be briefed, and find a way in. Then I’ll get him out, hand him over to the medical unit of fey waiting for him, and be on my way back.”
“So the longest part is the plane rides.”
I chuckled. “Not quite. I have to find where he’s being held. Whoever it is knows I am his contact because the ransom tape named me specifically. They’ll be in contact with me when I arrive. At least, that’s what they said on the tape.”
“They asked for you specifically? Why didn’t you tell us that before?”
I could hear the accusing tone Jason was using. Hmm, let me think oh yeah, cuz I knew you’d act like this! I didn’t say it out loud though because it wouldn’t help. I knew what his response to that would be. Turning the car around.
“Because it wasn’t any of your business. I’m only mentioning it now because it’ll make it easier to find them and thus my job will be over quicker. It’s no big deal. This sort of thing has happened before. I have a good reputation, so when the kidnappers ask who to send the ransom tape to, they give my name hoping the council will put me on the job to rescue their asses. I’m known for making the impossible possible.”
I shrugged but neither Brian nor Jason seemed to agree with me about it being no big deal. “Look, it makes sense to send it to me. He’s my partner. I more than anyone would know the secrets he could spill and so on. Thus making me more likely to go to great lengths to save him.
“Plus, the whole partner thing. Depending on each other to stay alive creates a bond. Well, it’s supposed to. That’s what most people think anyway. I don’t personally think I really have a bond with anyone I work with. We do the job and don’t speak to each other again unless we work together again. We don’t want the kidnappers to know that’ll make them more likely to kill their target.”
“They didn’t send the tape to you though.”
I shook my head. “No, it was sent to the fey council. Whoever we are dealing with is supernatural. They know about the fey. They also know enough about me to know that I am often Kyle’s partner when he needs one and that I partially answer to the vampire council. So they know I’m a half-breed.”
“This sounds more like a trap than a job.”
I rolled my eyes and laughed. “Of course it’s a trap. That’s kind of the point. Knowing that we can turn things around on them and trap them first.”
Brian sighed and Jason was scowling. I looked out the window. Almost to the airport. Good. My flight left in just over an hour and security was hell to get through. They would have to check to make sure I was authorized to bring all the weapons I had packed with me. That meant long phone calls to them and a white room for me.
The rest of the ride passed in silence. I didn’t think either of them thought all that much of my plan. Yeah, well, I was nervous too. I was always nervous. I had more to hide than the average bounty hunter.
We got out of the car and walked into the airport in silence. When we found the terminal I was leaving from I turned and smiled.
They handed over my duffle and weapons bag. They had stubbornly insisted they carry them inside. Like I was some weak female that couldn’t even lift a bag with clothes. Geez, men and their egos.
“Well, I have to go alone from here. They’ll put me in a white room while they check my credentials. No visitors or anything. Then I’ll be rushed to the plane while people warn me of the dangers in California and tell me they are so glad I’m willing to help and so on. Between the fear and sucking up I’m likely to go crazy, so remember you’ll both be contributing to my return to sanity when I come back.”
Jason rolled his eyes at my obvious exaggeration. Brian smirked but still looked uncomfortable. I put my bags down, and Jason and I hugged.
“Be careful, sis. I wouldn’t want to have to adopt a new sister.”
I laughed. “I promise I’ll come back in one piece.”
He pulled back and smiled. “Except for your sanity right?”
I nodded and he chuckled backing into the crowd to give Brian and me some privacy.
I wasn’t really sure, even now, what it was about this man, vampire, but I didn’t want to leave him. I had only known him for a few days and yet I couldn’t help but want to be with him forever. I must be losing my edge. You can’t fall in love in just a few days. Can you?
“Be careful.”
I nodded and walked into his waiting arms. It felt so right to be there, almost like we were made to fit perfectly together. Well, I could deal with that. Besides, so far what I had seen of the sex was great. I chuckled to myself and he pulled back looking at me questioningly. I shook my head. If I dished, he’d bring up how staying would allow us to do a lot more than what we had done in my bedroom before leaving. Then I’d definitely agree to stay.
“I’ll miss you.”
He smiled and hugged me again. “I’ll miss you too. You better come back. I need to teach you to cook. Also, I think next time it’s your turn to make me putty in your hands.”
I laughed. “It’s a deal.”
He nodded and pulled back. I waited for him to kiss me. I wanted him to kiss me goodbye, but he didn’t. He just ran his fingers down my cheek once and turned to leave. I sighed that was the most heartbreaking goodbye ever.
Normally I couldn’t wait to go on a job; now I was having second thoughts. I didn’t want to leave. Jason was here to visit and I never got to see him. Also, I had a new boyfriend, one that was entirely hot and could make me melt with a kiss. What in God’s name was I doing?
Chapter Fourteen
“Are you Bethany Smith?”
I turned to see a lady standing there in a power suit. Maybe they had sent someone to help me get through this easier and brief me on the details of the situation. Or maybe she’d be my secretary. Yeah, right, I didn’t have enough contacts to need a secretary. I nodded in response to her question.
“I’m your guide, so to speak, your assistant while you are in California. I was to meet you here and help you get through security faster and brief you on the situation on the way. If you’ll follow me, I have everything taken care of. Make sure you have ID and your boarding pass ready to flash around.”
I nodded and dug them out of my pocket.
“Do you need help with your bags?”
I shook my head. No way were my guns going anywhere, and I didn’t want Miss Thing here ruffling through my underwear. “I’m fine, thanks.”
She nodded and led the way through the airport flashing her badge and having me show my ID. We got through security in ten minutes, a new record for me, and went straight to a plane. A private plane. No one had told me I’d be going for a solo flight. Cool, I was important.
I settled down and put my bags next to my chair. I looked around, the plane was beautiful. Everything was all blue and silver and looked brand new. Either that or they polished everything before letting anyone on.
The secretary sat across from me and looked at me with sharp, intelligent eyes. She was fey, and she had heard of me and what I was. The fey that did know were supposed to be keeping it a secret. My father had hired them for babysitters, but as I had told Brian earlier; it had been more like bodyguards.
Years ago my father had asked the historians, man were they old if there was any record of one like me before. They had come up empty, but it had been thanks to them that I learned as much control as I had now.
“You don’t look all that scary or intimidating.”
I smiled, I got that a lot. “Appearances can be deceiving, can’t they, Lady Fey?”
She didn’t seem shocked or impressed that I knew she was fey. She just smiled and nodded.
“So what kind are you?”
It was generally rude to ask that, but hey she knew all about me and I had to trust the people I worked with. I wasn’t fey and so they couldn’t punish me for being rude. Although knowing so many, you’d think I would know to keep my manners by now, but I never seemed to learn.
“I should think you’d be able to smell the difference by now. After all, you know so many of us.”
“I haven’t met as many as you think. I’m not stupid or naïve enough to believe the false number the fey council gives the other councils when asked how many are still living.”
She laughed, and it was much like her suit, a no-nonsense sound that left you knowing she was just as competent as she looked. How could someone’s laugh sound competent?
“Take a guess. I’ll tell you if you are right.”
I shrugged. I wasn’t stupid enough to believe the rumors that a fey can’t lie either. Everyone believed it, including the other councils but I was not them. I knew better. I kept their secrets because they had helped me so much in the past. I wouldn’t hold them at their word just because they asked me to.
“Solid, reliable, competent. Something to do with the earth, then. An air element based fey would reach for higher goals, but you are happy where you are on the corporate ladder. They need you and they know it, and you know they know it. Fire would be more unstable, wouldn’t be able to keep their temper in check when someone told them what to do, they too tend to climb the ladder. Natural-born leaders. Water is too emotional to be so competent and reliable. Not that they don’t have their uses, but they tend to work more in jobs that allow them their creativity.”
Most people mistakenly thought that the fey were just mythical creatures. I had snooped around their library some. They were deeply in tune with the elements. In fact, at one point in history, they had been called elementals. There were air, fire, water, earth, iron, and spirit. They each had their specialties, and these allowed them to blend in with the human world, hiding in plain sight.
