Christian (Vampires in America: The Vampire Wars Book 10) (37 page)

He did the same to her, his tongue a hot rasp over her flesh, until his mouth closed over her vein, and she felt the hard brush of his fangs.

She moaned in anticipation, sucking the strong tendon between his neck and shoulder, giving in to the temptation to bite, her teeth sinking in until she tasted blood. She froze in shock at what she’d done until she heard Christian’s groan.

“That’s it,” he ground out. “Taste me.”

Natalie’s whole body shook with desire. She bit down harder until her mouth was filled with his blood. She swallowed automatically. The orgasm came from nowhere, storming through her body, and shaking her bones, until she thought she’d break apart. Her nerves were on fire, her body clamping down on Christian’s cock, as she cried out again and again, ecstasy rippling over her in growing swells until she could only cling to Christian and ride it out. His arms were banded around her like steel as he slammed his cock into the tight glove of her pussy, until, with a shout, he plunged deep and stayed there, the hot wash of his release filling her, as his fangs sliced into her vein and sent her screaming into climax all over again.

Natalie bucked helplessly, her emotions spilling out in sobs while she clung to his massive shoulders, her face buried against his neck. Christian hummed his pleasure as he drank her blood, and in the midst of her orgasm, she found a sensual satisfaction in knowing that she was keeping him strong and alive.

Eventually, the tremors slowed, and stopped. She felt the warm scrape of Christian’s tongue on her neck, and then he lifted her away from the wall, and reached out with one hand to turn off the water. Stepping out of the shower, he grabbed a huge, fluffy towel and wrapped it around her, then carried her into the bedroom. He pulled the covers back and laid her down on the bed, then joined her.

Natalie stirred enough to say, “We’re all wet.”

“And soon we’ll be dry,” he replied, unconcerned. “Come on, you’ll catch a chill.” He wrapped her in the towel, tugged the covers over them both, and pulled her into his arms.

Natalie snuggled against him, too exhausted to do anything else. She’d worry about wet sheets later. Right now, she just wanted to curl up against Christian and sleep.

“Natalie,” Christian said softly, forcing her tired eyes to open again. “Where’d you get the gun?”

“Cynthia Leighton sent it to me,” she mumbled. “I think she wanted me to kill you, though,” she added without thinking, then froze, realizing what she’d said.

But Christian only snorted, and said, “That woman really knows how to hold a grudge.”

“A grudge?” Natalie asked, feeling her consciousness slipping away.

“Later,” he murmured, rubbing a soothing hand up and down her back. “Go to sleep.”

CHRISTIAN KNEW the moment Natalie drifted off. What little tension had been left in her body disappeared, and she slept curled up against his chest as if she couldn’t get close enough. Which was fine with him. His need to protect her was stronger than anything he’d ever felt before, stronger even than his feelings for Marc. He had to fight against the urge to hold her closer, for fear he’d break something.

Rolling over to his back, he pulled her against his side, and laid his head on the pillow. The sun was already tipping over the horizon. It was a testament to his power that he’d been able to remain awake this long. But he’d wanted to see Natalie asleep before he fell himself.

Once the full power of sunrise hit him, he’d be literally dead to the world. He only hoped she would sleep until he woke. If she didn’t, if she woke before he did, she’d learn the hard truth of sleeping with a vampire lover.

NATALIE OPENED HER eyes in the unfamiliar room, her memory slowly coming back to fill in the blanks. This was Christian’s bedroom, and they’d gone to sleep together. She rolled over, expecting to find him sound asleep, and admittedly curious to see what he looked like when he did his vampire sleep thing.

Except . . . he wasn’t there. She blinked in surprise. If he was already awake, that meant it was after sunset, and she’d slept through the entire day—something she’d never done before. Of course, she’d also never been kidnapped, shot her way out of a locked room, and then helped kill a powerful vampire before either. Add sex in the shower with Christian, and suddenly, she wasn’t all that surprised she’d slept so long.

She heard voices outside the room and rolled out of bed. She made a quick trip to the bathroom to take care of necessities, then moved over to the sink to wash her hands and face. Once there, however, she got a good look at her hair and had to stifle her shriek of horror. Her hair had been wet when they’d gone to bed, which meant it now looked like someone had shocked her with a few hundred volts sometime while she slept. And all she had with her was her toothbrush and her purse.

Her purse, at least, had a brush in it, so she managed to tame her hair into a tight braid against the back of her head, tying it off with a scrunchie, also from her purse. She brushed her teeth, washed her face, and put her clothes back on from last night, minus the underwear. She didn’t mind pulling on the same clothes, but she drew the line at day-old underwear. Besides, it was only until she could get upstairs to change.

Checking her reflection one last time, she opened the bedroom door, and walked out into the hallway, which was now completely empty. The voices were still there, but they’d already moved upstairs. In the kitchen, probably, where Christian’s beloved espresso machine lived.

She considered stopping at her room to change first, but then she caught Alon’s voice among the others, and rushed into the kitchen instead.

“Alon!” She ran right into his outstretched arms, hugging him tightly as he rocked her from side to side. When she finally pulled back, she had tears in her eyes. “Are you okay? Really okay?”

“Never better, Nat. I feel great.”

Natalie was hugging him again, overcome with happiness at seeing him alive, when she heard a dry cough from behind her. She glanced back and found Christian staring at the two of them with eyes that were deadly serious.

Oh, right. Vampire possessiveness. She turned, and gave Alon a smacking kiss on the lips, then spun around with a grin and walked over to Christian.

“Good evening, my lord,” she said teasingly.

His arm snaked out to snag her around the waist and yank her against his body. One hand dropped to her butt with sharp smack, before stroking it possessively. He gave her a knowing look, obviously feeling the absence of underwear, and a hot blush crept up her face.

To cover her embarrassment, she went up on her toes and kissed his unresponsive mouth. “I missed you when I woke up,” she murmured against his lips. His expression softened, and he kissed her back, this time with feeling, uncaring about who was watching. When he finally released her mouth, Natalie was a little wobbly, and had to cling to his shirt. His smile said he knew the effect he had on her, but she didn’t care as long as he held her the way he was now. She turned in his arms, and took in the other two people in the room.

“Hi, Marc,” she said.

“What? No kiss for me?”

Christian growled a warning, but she just laughed. The other vampire standing with him was vaguely familiar, but she didn’t know his name.

“Natalie, meet Scoville,” Christian said. “Formerly in Anthony’s service, now sworn to mine.”

Natalie nodded her head politely at Scoville, not really understanding what the vamp was doing here, when he’d been the one whose lie got Christian down to Laredo. But if Christian was okay with the guy standing in his kitchen, she had no complaints.

“What happened to Jaclyn and Cibor? Are they still sleeping?”

“No,” Christian said. “They left already. Jaclyn needed to be with her own people.”

“But she’s okay?”

“Fully healed, but it may take a few days before she’s feeling that way. She was hit pretty hard.”

“I should call her later, and ask if—”

They all stopped at the sound of the doorbell, turning almost as one to stare in that direction.

“Are we expecting company?” Marc asked, glancing at Christian.

“Not that I know of.”

Christian’s hold on her tightened when Marc went to answer the door, almost as if he was preparing for the need to defend her. Natalie glanced around the kitchen, and saw that the house was still at DEFCON 1, with shutters over all the windows and doors. She also noticed that Alon and Scoville had both gone hyper alert, their attention riveted on the doorway that Marc had taken. It made her long for her gun.

Marc opened the front door, which Natalie took to mean that the person ringing the bell posed no threat. The vampires all seemed to read it entirely differently, though, if the shift in their body language was anything to go by. Christian pretty much shoved her behind him, not relaxing until the door closed again, and Marc came into view down the hallway.

“Express delivery,” he said, indicating the FedEx-type envelope in his hand. Except the colors were wrong, and it couldn’t be FedEx because they didn’t deliver this late in the day. Not usually anyway. Maybe vampires had their own version of a guaranteed delivery company. VampEx. Natalie stifled a laugh. Somehow, she didn’t think Christian would see the humor right now.

Marc stared down at the envelope, as if wishing he had x-ray vision, then looked up at Christian with a shrug. “Seems innocuous enough.”

Christian lifted his chin at Alon, and passed Natalie into his care, despite her protests. Sure, she was the most vulnerable person in the room if that envelope decided to blow up or something, but Christian could at least talk to her before passing her off like a football.

“Relax, Nat,” Alon murmured in her ear. “He’s just protecting you.”

She elbowed him in the side, hard enough that he grunted. “I know that.”

Christian’s concern was infectious, and her fingers pinched Alon’s arm as she watched him pull the zip strip on the envelope, and tip it upside down until the contents fell into his other hand.

It was a white envelope, about the size of a nice greeting card, and made of quality paper. It looked like an announcement of some sort to Natalie, and she wondered briefly if this was how vampire lords were welcomed to the fold. But Christian’s puzzled expression told her that wasn’t it.

He ran a finger under the sealed flap, pulled out the heavy stock card inside, and started laughing.

Natalie frowned, then shoved away from Alon, walked over to Christian, and pulled the card out of his hand. She’d read only the first few words, “Ms. Lana Arnold and Lord Vincent Kuxim request . . .” before Christian hugged her close and told everyone, “We’re going to a wedding.”

Chapter Thirteen

Mexico City, Mexico

CHRISTIAN WAS THE last to arrive, and he suspected his fellow Vampire Council members had planned it that way. He scanned the gathered vampire lords. Sophia was missing again. And there was no Rajmund, but Lucas was here this time, his long frame slumped over one of the big conference room chairs, looking like a bored teenager. Aden stood against the far wall. Christian wasn’t a small man, but Aden was huge, and he was eyeing Christian with thinly veiled hostility. Christian had never met the Midwestern lord, so this had to be more carryover from someone else’s crimes.

“Christian,” Vincent said, speaking first as the host of this gathering. He came over and offered his hand. “You’re looking better than the last time I saw you,” he added with a grin.

“A hot shower does wonders,” Christian joked, shaking hands.

“You know everyone, of course.”

Christian nodded, then walked over to greet Raphael. The North American Vampire Council was, strictly speaking, a council of equals. But everyone in this room knew who was really in charge.

“Raphael,” Christian said, with a bare tip of his head. He would have loved to know how much Vincent had told Raphael about Hubert’s death, and Christian’s talent. But he wasn’t about to ask.

“Christian,” Raphael responded, smiling. “Congratulations on your victory. A double victory from what I’ve heard. Hubert and Anthony both in one night.”

“I had a good team.”

“And hidden talents,” Raphael said, telling Christian all he needed to know.

Christian eyed him carefully. “It’s always best to hide one’s skills from one’s enemies.”

“But not from one’s allies.”

Christian nodded, conceding the point for the present. But then, they hadn’t been true allies before tonight, had they?

“No Sophia?” Christian asked, changing the subject. He waited to see if Raphael would follow his lead, or push for more.

“We’re all worried about her,” Lucas called from across the room, sounding completely alert despite his less than attentive posture.

Christian turned, concealing his surprise. It was still difficult for him to reconcile this gathering of powerful lords with the fact that they really were allies. And yet, there was no doubting the sincerity of Lucas’s concern.

“No one’s heard from her yet?” he asked, remembering Duncan talking about her absence during the challenge gala.

“Not a word,” Aden chimed in, sitting at the table and no longer radiating hostility. As if now that Raphael had given his blessing, they were all old friends.

Christian took a seat at the table, more than willing to go along with the lowered level of tension in the room. “Is that unusual?” he asked.

“Unusual enough,” Duncan said. He was different than the other lords, his persona one of quiet, calm confidence, rather than bristling power. Not that he lacked power—he just didn’t broadcast it the way the others did, including Christian himself. “Raj has tried to reach her several times, with no success, and his spies have reported a lot of movement among her people in Toronto.”

“My Cyn is quite concerned, as well,” Raphael commented. “She is . . . friends with Sophia’s mate,” he added, and Christian noted a distinct flavor of distaste in Raphael’s tone. “Could it be another European plot?” Raphael asked Christian directly.

Christian thought about his answer. He wasn’t aware of any plans to challenge Sophia, but that didn’t rule out the possibility. He was familiar with the schemes of Mathilde and her friends, but they weren’t the only Europeans eyeing North America, and he said as much to his new allies. “Mathilde made no secret of her plans for this continent, and there were those who, while not allies of hers, would certainly try to take advantage of the disruption she caused to further their own goals.”

“Berkhard is also in the wind,” Raphael commented. “He was there with Mathilde and Hubert at the beginning in Hawaii, but, like Hubert, he left soon after I was . . . temporarily subdued.”

“I don’t know any of his specific plans, but I do know Berkhard. He would view Sophia as an easy target because she’s a woman.”

“That would be a mistake,” Aden rumbled, and Christian noted the amused glances that some of the others gave him. There was a history there. Christian would have to find out what it was.

“Will she call if she needs help?” Duncan asked quietly.

“Eventually,” Raphael replied darkly. “I just hope it’s not too late.”

“Well, gentlemen,” Vincent said, standing from his place near the doors. “This has been fun, but I’ve got a wedding to attend, and a bride who’s waiting for me. So, welcome to the club, Christian. Now, let’s go party.”

“SHE LOOKS SO beautiful,” Natalie said, sniffing quietly. She dabbed her eyes with a tissue, and rested her head against Christian’s shoulder.

Christian lowered his chin to look down at her. “You don’t even know her,” he murmured.

As if that mattered. Lana Arnold was a
bride
. But even in a world where all brides were beautiful, she stood out. Her dress was in the romantic style, gorgeous ivory lace with wide, off-the-shoulder lace straps. It was fitted through the bodice and down to her knees, where it ended in a mermaid swirl that trailed into a short train. Her veil was mantilla style, sheer silk that flowed down to her knees, with a matching lace trim. The ivory color was beautiful against her mocha skin, and her hair beneath the veil was a flow of black silk that rivaled the veil for beauty.

But it wasn’t her beauty that brought tears to Natalie’s eyes. It was the glow of happiness she radiated as she started down the aisle on her father’s arm. She had eyes for no one but Vincent, and he had the same for her. If Natalie hadn’t known better, if she hadn’t known that Vincent was a tough-as-nails vampire lord, she might have thought she was seeing a sheen of tears in Vincent’s eyes, too.

A low chuckle rumbled from Christian’s chest as he shifted to put his arm around her. He kissed the top of her head, and whispered, “You’re far more beautiful,
mon amour
.”

That did nothing for the state of her emotions. A new rush of tears welled, and Natalie opened a fresh pack of tissues. At this rate, she’d have no mascara left by the end of the evening. On her other side, Marc gave a suspicious cough that sounded a lot like laughter. She gave him a narrow glance, and his return look was one of wide-eyed innocence. She rolled her eyes. As if.

Up at the front of the room, the couple were exchanging their vows. It was short and sweet, just the way she liked it, and soon, the officiant was pronouncing them husband and wife. They exchanged a passionate kiss that brought everyone to their feet with cheers, then bells were ringing, and Natalie was crying all over again.

Christian hugged her against his chest. She could feel his body shaking with laughter, but she didn’t care. She was where she wanted to be, in his arms. And very soon, she’d be the one walking down the aisle on her father’s arm, with her Uncle Clovis presiding. Christian would have to meet her family before then, of course. But everything would be fine. As long as they were together, they’d always be fine.

“
Je t’aime, Natalie,”
Christian whispered. And that was all that mattered.