Caressed by a Crimson Moon (Rulers of Darkness) (26 page)

Hadrian blinked. “Last night, in my bed, I almost killed you. I wanted to taste your pleasure rich blood and feel your pulse fade beneath my lips.”

“You left”

“I could have—”

“You are no beast. You are gentle, kind, and selfless. There were numerous times when you could have taken my blood or claimed my life. But every time you pulled away, showing restraint.”

“I do not want to bring pain to anyone.”

She reached out, her fingers brushing the line of his jaw.

His heart was as still as his lungs. Hadrian closed his eyes unable to stomach her tender display. Why was she touching him? Why was she trying to console him?

“The demon does not have hold of you.” Her hands slipped to his shoulders. “Hadrian, look at me.”

He slowly lifted his eyelids.  Her gaze was so lovely, so pure. He was tempted to look away, those amber orbs could see straight into his soul.

“You need to remember who you are,” she said, her voice low, the words soft. “Remember the man you are. Put down the shame and release your guilt.” Her fingers lightly massaged the tension from his muscles. “You need to forgive yourself and allow yourself to heal. Only then will you be able to begin again and it is time you started living.”

Hadrian had not felt the tears slip from his eyes and roll down his face, but Eva swept them away with her thumbs. He had been told words like these before, but they had never hit him like this.

“Stop living in the past.” She leaned forward and kissed the corner of his eye. “Be here with me.”

Eva took his hands. Hadrian rose to his feet with her. She pressed him back and he fell onto the throne. A sensual smile graced her lips as she untied her robe. The silk slipped to the floor, revealing her short light blue nightgown.

His brain went into overdrive, desperately trying to process what was happening. She still wanted to be with him. She was not repulsed by his confessions or frightened.

Eva sank to her knees. He reached for her shoulders.

“No,” she said as she ran her hands up his thighs.

She was beginning to shiver. Hadrian commanded the balcony doors to close, blocking the rush of cold wind and locking out the storm.

Her fingers slipped the button of his slacks free. The zipper came next. She parted his torn shirt, pushing it aside, revealing his abdomen.

Hadrian’s hands fell and he gripped the arms of the chair. Air hissed between his clenched teeth as she pressed her lips to his ribs. Moving lower, her tongue swirled over his muscles and delved into his navel.

He kicked free of his shoes while she pushed his pants down and off. His erection free, it strained for her touch. She came closer. His groan cut through the silence as she slowly ran her tongue over her lips.

“I have been wanting to taste you,” she whispered, her breath caressing his aroused flesh.

Eva took him in her hand, unable to close her fingers around his girth. He was hot and hard, iron wrapped in silk. She stroked him. Her movements agonizingly slow as she learned the feel of him. Dipping her head down, she tasted him, her tongue gliding from the base of his shaft to the swollen tip as she cupped his sac and massaged the hard weights. She traced the head of his penis with her tongue and lapped at the bead of moisture that formed. She peeked up at him from beneath her long, dark lashes. Hadrian thought he would faint dead away from pleasure. Eva pressed a loving kiss to the broad tip before drawing his length into her mouth, taking him deep.

Hadrian’s back arched, his nails cut into the wooden arms of the chair. He nearly came. She suckled, up and down. Bringing her hands up, she used them both to pump him into her mouth. Her tongue teased and tortured. His muscles strained, his breathing uneven. She worked him until he teetered on the edge of oblivion.

He could take no more. Reaching down, he circled his arms about her waist. Eva pouted as he drew her to her feet. He could not wait. He needed her. He needed to bury himself inside her searing core. He needed to feel her ripple around him as she came. He needed to release deep within her. Gods, he had never wanted anything more in his life. All his energy focused on her, his world revolved around her.

Hadrian was not gentle as he tore at her nightgown, the delicate fabric drifted to the cool marble floor in pieces. Leaning forward, he pushed her thighs apart, his fangs biting through the thin material of her pants. The scent of her arousal hit him like a freight train.

He hooked a hand beneath her knee and raised her right leg to set her small foot on the lion’s head. He licked up her center, finding her hot and wet. She was ready for him. He shuddered. Gods, she was divine. Her taste and response was sweet perfection. He laved at her, his tongue thrust inside then circled her clitoris and he repeated the rhythm until she came, her beautiful body trembling from the force of her pleasure.

He dragged her forward. She fell, her thighs parting to straddle his lap. His mouth claimed hers, matching the vicious intensity of the storm that battled outside. The kiss was ferocious, devouring, branding. He arched her back over his forearm, her breasts thrust upward to meet his ravenous mouth.

Eva cradled his head as he worshipped her. He suckled, wild, frenzied, his lips pulled at her nipples. His other hand massaged her hip and pressed her down. Her sex glided over his raging erection, silk over steel.

He reached between their bodies. He caressed, tempted and sank two long fingers into her. Eva cried out. The combination of his mouth on her breast and skilled fingers stroking her was exquisite. She rocked against him, desperate for release.

Hadrian lifted his head and watched with burning eyes as she writhed in pleasure. Her breath caught as lightning split the sky and thunder shook the windows. She surrendered. Eva’s head fell back, her body arching and as ecstasy crashed into her, Hadrian thrust upward, impaling her, filling her.

He gripped her nape, pulling her forward, forcing her to meet his gaze. Her eyes glowed, the amber light shown brightly in the dark room.

“Ride me,” he commanded.

Panting and weak from her orgasm, Eva hesitantly rocked her hips. Her eyes grew wide, the sensation curling her toes.

“That’s it, little one,” he groaned, leaning back.

He dropped his hands and once again gripped the chair. He gave her complete control. His vampire roared. It wanted her blood. It demanded he sink his fangs into her throat. With a shoved, he forced it back and focused on Eva.

Her rhythm became wild, her body moving frantically. Her hips twisted up and slammed back down. Hadrian gritted his teeth as she took him, claimed him. Their eyes remained fixed on each other. There were no barriers between them, no restraints. Pure, honest passion sizzled around them, connecting them, binding them.

Hadrian felt the warmth of life spread through him. His heart slammed in his chest, his breaths were quick, and both matched Eva’s. He could feel his soul strengthening. She had accepted him. She was his redemption.

Hadrian’s hand entangled in her silken hair and he captured her lips. His tongue swept inside, tasting her. He swallowed her bliss filled sighs, savoring the heat of her breath in his lungs.

Her nails bit into his shoulders, drawing blood. He kicked his head back, howling his pleasure. Gods, she robbed him of his sanity. His hands gripped her hips, pinning her. He seized control. Eva thrashed atop him, her thighs gripping him, her nails scratching down his chest as he buried himself deeper and deeper within her. His thrusts were hard and fast, unrelenting and demanding.

“More,” she growled.

Hadrian complied. Her breasts quivered from each powerful thrust. Her body grew taut, her inner muscles tightened around his shaft as he embedded himself to the hilt. The tension in her body built and built, becoming unbearable.

Mark him
, her instincts whispered.
Claim him.

Eva shoved Hadrian back, pinning his shoulders against the throne. Her teeth sharpened and her tiny claws dug into his flesh, holding him in place. Their bodies slapped together as he plunged his thick, hard length into her, his thrust rough.

Her body began to tingle as the pressure mounting within her coiled, tightening and tightening. Eva licked her lips and surrendered to her Drive.

Hadrian roared as her teeth sank into his neck.  Her tongue lapped at his blood. Eva’s orgasm was violent, her entire body convulsed, her inner muscles clamped around him, milking him, demanding his essence. He joined her. Stars exploded before his eyes, blurring his vision. The force of his climax ripped him apart.

Eva released his throat. Her claws retracted, and sagged against him. Her strength gone, her body hummed with pleasure. His chest rose and fell beneath her cheek. His heart hammered, the sound drowning out the bellowing storm.

Closing her eyes, she savored the moment. Hadrian wrapped his arms about her, squeezing her tightly. Tilting her head, she peeked up at him. His eyes sparkled like black diamonds and burned with hunger as he watched her slowly lick the last of his spicy, cinnamon blood from her lips.

He bared his fangs and she moaned as his cock hardened within her.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Hadrian turned the worn envelope over in his hands before removing the letter it contained. He knew what he would find, having read the missive a thousand times over in the last three months. It wasn’t until tonight that he realized what Dimitri had meant.

My dear friend,

I have asked Falcon to come speak with you. He knows the facts of my return for I gave him a letter containing the details. The truth is, I was never dead, and Fate has aligned in such a way that it is now time for me to reclaim my throne.

We all possess dark, painful secrets and, if we are not careful, they will devour us whole. Please, Hadrian, I beg of you, do not allow your demons to take you from us. You must remember who you are, remember the man you are. Come back to us and shake free of your shame, your guilt, and your self-loathing. The voices you hear are only your thoughts. Free yourself from the past. What is done cannot be undone.

I too struggle and suffer like you and, unlike anyone else, I know the truth. I know what happened that night all those years ago. I know how your brother died. Fate can be cruel, but they have plans for you. I have only been shown a glimpse of your future and believe me, your life is not over yet. The second act is just beginning.

— Dimitri Arsov

Hadrian had always believed that people made their own destiny. Now, he was not so certain. Dimitri had seen Hadrian’s future and knew of his past. His oldest friend knew his secrets and accepted him as did Eva. He had even suggested that Hadrian request a ward from the Silveria pack, knowing that Eva would be the female sent to him.

“The second act,” Hadrian whispered to the darkness. His words bouncing off the cold stone walls of the mausoleum.

This was the second act. Here and now, but he had to relinquish his guilt, free himself of his shame, and silence the demon. But he did not know where to begin. How could someone free themselves of hate and despair? He had confessed his sins and shared the worst of secrets with Eva. His heart felt lighter, but shadows still clung to his soul.

Hadrian folded the letter and tucked it back in the envelope. His gaze lifted to Titus’s tomb.

“My brother,” he said coming toward. He laid his hands atop the stone. “I have spent the last three and a half centuries mourning you and blaming myself for your death. The guilt and madness have stolen my life.”

He exhaled, clearing his lungs of air and stilling his heart.

“Gods, I wish you were here, I wish we could have a real conversation. I cannot remember the last time we actually spoke like brothers. I miss the way we were.” Hadrian turned and leaned back against the sarcophagus. “I do not know when or why we began to drift apart. I was aware of your jealously of Falcon, maybe that is what pushed you away. And I never liked how much time you spent with Moreau and his men.” He shook his head. “The reasons do not matter. Though, I suspect you knew I went to South American not purely to study the shifter packs, but to escape you. In those last days before my departure, I could barely bring myself to look at you. Gods, Titus, I know everything you did. I knew you rode with Moreau under the cover of darkness. You swept through villages, killing and capturing more slaves for Moreau’s twisted plans.”

Hadrian’s hands began to shake. Sorrow spread like a web through his chest, constricting about his heart. “I did not want to believe…I did not want to see the changes in you because…fuck.” He dropped to the floor, his legs spread out before him, his head rested against the stone. “I was beginning to hate you. I hated you for surrendering to the evil that coursed in our veins, the evil planted in us by Imbrasus. I had to leave, but I stayed away too long.

“I do not know what kind of understanding you had with Moreau and his Second or the true reason you refused to fight beside me during the rebellion.

“When the war ended and I emerged victorious, I did not banish you as I had the other Black Knights that supported Moreau. I welcomed you with love and peace, embracing you as my brother. Foolishly I believed we could regain what we once shared. I had hoped with Moreau gone we could…but you withdrew even more, completely shutting me out.” Unshed tears blurred his vision. “I cannot say I was oblivious of failed assassination attempts, but I had never suspected you...No.” He blinked, the tears slipping from the corners of his eyes. “No, that isn’t true.  I did not want to suspect you. I did not want to think my own brother would want me dead.”

He wiped at his face with the back of his hand. He had not cried since
that
night. Now, the tears ran freely in hot rivulets down his cheeks.

“I want you to know…I forgive you and I pray to our Roman pantheon that you can forgive me…it was an accident.” Hadrian choked on the last word. Never had he allowed himself to view Titus’s death as an accident, but that is what happened. “I have relived that moment countless times always wishing it had ended differently.”

Hadrian pushed to his feet. His chest felt heavy as if it were filled with lead and his eyes burned.

“I have mourned you every second of every day and…I have to stop. I have let you go. I need to release the guilt that grips my soul and the hate that fills my heart. I need to start living.” He wiped at his face again, clearing away the dampness. “I need to allow myself to heal for our Clan and, more importantly, for my mate.

“So, this is goodbye, my brother. I will allow you to lay in peace and silence, as is your due. After tonight, I will never think about our last moments together and I will bury the demon. Never again will the vampire rule me.”

Hadrian brushed aside the dust that covered his brother’s name. “I will not return to this crypt.” He leaned down, tears falling from his chin to speckle the gray stone. “Rest well, Titus.”