Black bird a nevermore d.., p.61
Black Bird: A Nevermore Duet, page 61
“I’m sure you can get us there in ten minutes. Just drive.” His breathing quickened when she pulled him out, the mere touch of her hand enough to have him toe the line of his sanity. The top half of her body was in his lap, and her long hair brushed the skin of his cock as she lowered her head toward it. The car jerked slightly when she slowly took him into her mouth. Sarah’s chuckle hummed over his skin, and she raised her head. “Hands on the wheel. This isn’t a bike.”
His back pressed into the leather seat when she continued, and the tang of his own blood overpowered the aftertaste of bourbon. He hadn’t realized how hard he’d bitten his lip. “You’re gonna be my fucking ruin, Sarah St. James. I—fuck …” The car jerked again as her head bobbed and he nearly hit someone’s bumper at the stop light. She didn’t laugh that time, instead sucking harder. A deep groan rumbled low in his throat, and he kept one eye on the light while he watched her. Those tattooed hands wound around the base, gripping and working with perfect execution. She took him to the back of her throat and gagged. Athan swore under his breath. He couldn’t help himself after that. “Take it,” he growled through his teeth, grabbing a fistful of her hair. “Take all of it.”
Sarah’s eyes raised up to meet his, and she smiled deviously. “Make me.” Oh, she knew exactly what she was doing. She playfully ran her tongue around his head and barely touched her lips around him. Athan gripped her hair tighter and shoved her head down over him, pressing the gas when the traffic started moving and causing her head to forcefully sink further down. He felt himself hit the back of her throat and he gripped the steering wheel with his other hand, moving his hips and fucking her mouth. She reveled in it, reaching back to come out of her ripped jeans. God, she was an incredible thing. How could anyone not have absolutely devoured her blessed insanity?
In all the years he’d lived, he never imagined he could feel like this about someone. It didn’t escape him that everything about finding each other had been such a fucked up chain of events … after everything he’d done, she still was so determined to give him everything he’d never had. She had just told him the most impossible truth about herself. It couldn’t have been a coincidence that she was already part what he was, and he wasn’t sure what that would mean for their future. There had to be more humans like her. As many times over the centuries that vampires had slept with humans, he knew … there had to be more. But this one—this one was his, and even if it had taken him over two hundred years, he’d found the one his soul belonged to. Or maybe she’d found him.
Sarah slid over, straddling his lap, and leaning herself on his shoulder so that he could still see the road. A horn honked behind him, and he dismissed it, trying not to plow them into a light pole as she sank down his cock and took him by the chin. Athan hissed, his eyes darkening, making it ten times more difficult to watch the road. She forced him to do so anyway, handling his face and smiling while she rocked her hips. Five minutes. They’d be there in five minutes … if he didn’t completely lose his mind before then. “You’re not leaving this fucking car until I’ve made you bawl.” Athan gripped the wheel, and hung his arm around her back, meeting her pace as she rode him senseless. Those hazel eyes were wet with tears from her gagging, and she chuckled breathlessly. “You know that’s not what I mean, you damaged little fucker.”
“How long?” She grinned, forcing his face back to the road when he tried to look at her.
“Five minutes.”
“I’m sure you’ll come up with something.” She gave him no warning as she bit his neck, sending him into a frenzy that blindly wove him through traffic, and left him hardly able to remember the rest of the way to the hospital. The gas pedal was a victim to his fevered heel. His cock twitched, and he smelled blood—his blood.
“Sarah,” his voice strained, fucking her harder while he turned right. That five minutes was knocked down to three as he pulled beneath the parking deck and scrambled to find a spot. Sarah sucked on his neck to the point of delicious pain and her moans sent chills down his spine. He wasn’t sure what it would do to her, and his mind was at war with the erotic sensation of being fed on by his mate. He threw the car in park, rolling the seat backward and leaning her back against the steering wheel before taking in the dark smear of blood on her mouth. “Christ,” he groaned, unable to stop himself from finding it incredibly sexy. She couldn’t have taken much, he knew, but the darkness in those eyes showed enough. It did something. “You could turn …”
“What difference does it make now?” she asked, never ceasing to work those perfect thighs against his. “Don’t fucking stop.” She gripped the breast of his t-shirt in both hands, and they tore into each other like animals, the horn accidentally going off several times before he felt her tighten and the long moan of his name rang in his ears. He pulled her against him, driving into her ruthlessly as he followed right behind her and panted against her mouth, giving her every drop of himself. They used that last two minutes to will themselves calm and he pressed his head against hers.
“You … are so perfectly insane, Sarah St. James.” Athan huffed, kissing her mouth. She smiled against his lips, breathing heavily.
“I became insane … with long intervals of horrible sanity …”
Poe … she’s quoting Poe.
How was he deserving of this creature? What did he do that was so great that God saw fit to turn his face back to him? A deliverer of death, that dwelled within the deepest darkness? Athan swept his thumb across the corner of her mouth, the small stain of his blood disappearing with his touch. “I love you … God, I fucking love you to death.”
“It was an amazing first date, Athan Kane.” She smiled, kissing him deeply. “And I love you too.” She carefully slid off his lap, reclaiming her seat and pulling on her jeans. She’d successfully dumbfounded him. For once, he didn’t know what to do with himself. Sarah eyed him as she slipped the visor down and situated her long hair in the mirror. “Put that away … what’s wrong with you?” She grinned, turning her attention from his lap back to the mirror.
“It is by no means an irrational fancy that, in a future existence, we shall look upon what we think our present existence, as a dream.”
She stilled, staring at him knowingly. She knew more than that poem that had hung above her bed. “Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night …”
Athan swallowed, meeting those wild eyes that burned with that fire he loved so much about her. “I dreamed about you for a really long time, I think.”
Her smile was subtle, but deep … warming every part of his undead soul. “So did I.” She zipped up her jacket and opened her car door. “Let’s go save somebody’s life.”
Annie’s eyes faded in and out with sleep while Brent impatiently waited with her parents, pacing and checking his phone for the time … for a phone call. Frantically checking the little girl’s monitor for the weak squiggle of a heartbeat when she seemed too still. Twice now, her nurse had come in to check on her, and twice Brent had jerked his head towards the door in the hopes that he’d see Sarah walking through it. He silently prayed that she hadn’t changed her mind, and that he wouldn’t have to watch this child die tonight—especially when her hand was on the lifeline that could change everything.
“Should we call her?” Vanessa asked, dabbing her eye when Annie’s breathing rattled in sleep. Brent paused his pacing, feigning confidence as he smiled at her.
“She’ll be here.” He nodded assuredly.
“She didn’t sound like your biggest fan.” The husband’s words weren’t meant to sound pointed and shameful, but Brent felt it all the same. There was so much doubt in his voice. So much hopelessness.
“She’s not … but she wouldn’t break her word. Especially with something this delicate. I dunno what she was doing when I called.”
“I hope you’re right,” Vanessa croaked, taking Annie’s cold hand into hers.
The little girl’s breathing started to slow, and the three of them stilled, silent as death, watching her chest rise in sputtered movements, and then fall shallow as she twitched beneath her blanket. His heart ached. If Sarah didn’t get here soon, he had a good mind to try to do this himself. It was clear she wouldn’t make it through the night. She might not make it through the next few hours. As if in reply to his scrambled thoughts, a soft knock sounded on the door. It quietly opened, and Sarah peeked inside.
Thank God.
“Am I too late?” Sarah whispered, sliding through the door, Detective Kane behind her as she gripped his hand. All the tension Brent thought had eased when he saw them together this morning came back. He tried not to let it show as Kane softly closed the door behind him and met eyes with him.
“No,” Vanessa breathed, standing and reaching out her hand in greeting. “Thank you so much for coming. I’m Vanessa. This is my husband, Greg.” Sarah gently shook both their hands and glanced at Brent before turning her attention to the withered young girl in the bed.
“My name is Sarah. This is Detective Athan Kane. I hope you don’t mind. He was my ride.”
Her ride … yeah, I bet.
Brent tried to remind himself not to think about anything but Annie as Kane let go of Sarah’s hand to introduce himself.
“I recognize you from the news,” Greg nodded. “Nice to meet you, sir.”
“Likewise.” Kane tightened his mouth in a polite smile.
“If you guys are done, I’m kinda on a tight schedule,” Annie weakly said, seemingly struggling to open her eyes. Kane shifted into the corner behind the door, and Sarah smiled sweetly as she rounded Annie’s bedside. The little girl lifted her chin and peeled her eyes open. “You’re a lot prettier when you’re not pissed.”
Sarah chuckled through her nose. “I’m really sorry I ruined your night, kid.” Her face slackened into a deep remorse, and Annie eyed her carefully. “I hope you’ll let me make it right.”
“Are you sure you can?” Annie asked, scooting the blood bag from beneath her sheet. Sarah looked down at it, and then back to the child.
“I don’t think I’m gonna do you any favors by lying to you. I dunno what will happen.” Sarah’s eyes softened, and Annie swallowed once—twice—those tired eyes full of hope and fear. “I will tell you that I’m confident you’ll feel better. I can’t promise anything else.”
Annie’s eyes raked over Sarah, and then she slowly slid her focus to Kane in the corner. He stood quietly, crossing his arms in front of his chest and softly smiling at her, though Annie gave him no such smile. She took in every inch of him and pressed her mouth in a thin line. “You’re not supposed to be here,” she rasped, her brows scrunched in confusion.
“I apologize, Princess. Do you want me to leave? I don’t wanna impose—”
“No, I don’t mean here … in this room.” Annie shifted in the bed, trying to get a better look at him. Everyone either sat or stood in anticipation. Kane’s eyes fixed on the little girl. “You’re stuck here … where I am.”
Sarah stared at Kane, but he never took his eyes off Annie. “Where you are?” Vanessa asked, glancing between them both.
“In the ‘in between’ … there’s darkness all around you. I can see it. It’s waiting to drag you away. Just like me.”
“You’re right,” Kane smirked, nodding at her. “And it’ll continue to wait. Until I give it permission.” He gently lowered his arms and stuck his hands in his pockets. “Sometimes … even if we get stuck against our will, and Death thinks she has the last laugh …” Kane met Sarah’s stare, his entire body sagging under it. “Fate has other plans, and hands us a torch.”
Brent bristled, watching Annie as she peered into Sarah. “It’s scared of you. Why is it scared of you?”
Sarah audibly swallowed. “I’m not sure, baby girl. I guess I’m a freak of nature.” She shrugged and offered her a slight grin. Annie turned her eyes to Brent.
“I get it. Why you felt that way about her. But she’s supposed to be with him, Stratford.” She smiled softly at Sarah, who glanced at Kane. “They’re different.”
Vanessa and Greg stood in silence, taking in every word. Brent turned his face to Kane. She wasn’t wrong. He had noticed something different about them both earlier this morning before his world had flipped on itself. He couldn’t place it, but somehow Annie was walking such a fine line between life and death that she knew … and maybe he was meant to be here to be able to ever accept it. The detective finally looked at him, and Brent noticed a spot of blood on the collar of his white shirt. He followed it up to a smear of dried blood on his neck in a very irritated spot that was half-covered by tattoos. The look that Sarah gave him when he glanced at her was unapologetic and firm. Something in his stomach churned.
“I’ll do it,” Annie muttered, interrupting his thoughts. “I’m not ready to die. I just needed to know that it’s what you really wanted. I wanted to hear it from you.”
“It is what I want.” Sarah took the bag and stared at it. “And … I wish I could give it to more people as deserving of it as you, Annie … but you have to keep this a secret. No matter what happens after.”
“I promise.”
“Are you ready?”
“Will it hurt?” Annie asked, taking in the deepest breath she could manage.
“I don’t think so. I can’t say for sure, though. Okay?”
The little girl offered her IV to Sarah, and reached for her parents as they started quietly weeping beside her. “Do it.”
Sarah glanced up at Athan and nodded toward the door. He locked it, and she got to work. She was quick and efficient, changing the bag of fluids out for her pint of blood, and waiting for Annie’s ‘okay’ before flushing the IV. There was the eeriest quiet in the room while the blood traveled down the tube and disappeared into Annie’s small hand. Brent waited for some reaction, but Annie sat still. A few minutes passed, and nobody said a word. Sarah made her way to stand with Kane in his corner while Vanessa and Greg took up either side of her bed. Brent stood at the foot, both hands braced on the barred edge.
As silent seconds ticked by, Brent could see color starting to return to Annie’s skin. Her lips no longer seemed as thin and cracked as they had moments ago. The yellow in the whites of her eyes was gone, and her breathing had improved. Brent looked up to the monitor next. Her vitals were almost normal. It was astounding how quickly everything was changing.
“How do you feel, Annie?” he asked, gaining her attention. The blood bag was nearly half gone. Sarah leaned against Kane, who draped an arm around her and fidgeted with a stud on her leather jacket. They both watched her silently. Annie didn’t answer him, instead looking over at Sarah.
“I can’t see them anymore,” she started, her voice breaking. Sarah gripped Kane’s shirt in her fingers, and he seemed to hold her a little tighter. “I can’t see the shadows. You saved my life.” Her small frame trembled with its urge to cry, and her parents didn’t hesitate. “Thank you so much. You’re like an angel …”
“I’m no angel, kid.” Sarah snorted tearfully. “But I’m glad. I’m glad you’ll be with us a little longer.”
“You are …” Annie said as a tear slipped down her cheek. “And that bastard deserved what you gave him.”
Brent didn’t have any words. They all waited patiently until Annie’s bag was empty and the machine beeped in warning. Sarah disposed of it, changing it out with the bag of fluids from before. Harmless, he knew, and there wasn’t a trace left or a drop spilled to give away what had been done. By the time the nurse had come in to see if Annie felt up to eating dinner, the little girl looked better than she had when they were at the benefit. They called in her doctor, amazed by the “miracle,” and started ushering everyone out. Everyone, but her parents. Sarah hugged Annie goodbye, and whatever was whispered between them, Brent couldn’t hear. She had even reached to Kane, who awkwardly embraced her … another inaudible exchange. Finally, she held her hand out for him, and Brent knelt by the side of her bed.
“He’s not the bad guy,” she whispered, half-smiling. “And now … you gotta marry me.” Brent leaned down kissing the top of her hand, already twice as warm as it had felt when he got here.
“Not if you don’t eat your peas.” Brent winked, earning a nudge and an eye-roll from his small friend. “I’ll check in on you tomorrow, okay? Call me if anything happens and I need to come back.”
“Brent.” She tugged on his hand when he stood and began to turn. “Stop being so hard on yourself. Life’s too short.”
He swallowed, really letting the words sink in. For her young years, she had already been through twice as much as he had. She was right, and wise beyond her age. He didn’t know if she could ever truly understand how meeting her had changed his whole life. Brent nodded and offered her a tight smile before following Sarah and Kane out the door. He kept a short distance behind, eyeing the careful intertwining of their fingers as they walked. When they stopped to wait for one of the three elevators, the three of them faced one another.
“You’re one of them, aren’t you?” Brent asked quietly, looking at Sarah’s strangely different eyes. He tried to will his tone into something that wasn’t insulting, and Sarah seemed like she understood it.
“It’s hard to say what I am, Brent. But for whatever suspicion you have … I’ll say, yes. I am. And apparently, I always have been in some way or another.”
He was about to ask what she meant by that, but Kane’s phone started ringing. He answered it, turning away.
“Did you get the answers you were looking for about your mother?” Brent found himself settling for ignorance. Sarah opened her mouth, but Kane laid a hand on her shoulder with an expression that looked grave.
“Sarah … it’s Wren.”
Her eyes went wide, and Brent’s face tingled. She reached for the phone, and he handed it to her. Sarah glanced at the name on the phone before pressing it to her ear. “Rhaena? What’s wrong?” Tears started to slowly fill her eyes and she looked at Brent, her face growing two shades paler. “We’ll be right there.”
