Into the Darkness (20 page)

Once again, Rene had surrendered to his desire—acquiesced

to Natalie’s hunger.

Chessa watched him settle over, limp from exhaustion and

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an orgasm that had racked his whole body. His shout at the

end still rang in her ears.

After she’d showered Nicolas’s scent from her skin and

changed into dry clothes, she’d come back into the security

control room. When Rene’d clipped the cuff around Natalie’s

wrist, she’d ordered the grinning guard from the room, unwilling to let anyone else witness their lovemaking.

She’d watched it all, her own body clenching, her pussy

dampening as she stood transfixed by the look of unadulterated need that passed between the couple writhing together on the pale sheets. She hadn’t been able to look away

until Rene’s flanks shuddered as he poured himself into

Natalie—

—ripping apart the last of Chessa’s dreams.

She resigned herself to leaving the next morning—returning

to work without her partner. Once upon a time, she’d entertained the thought of taking him as her lover, a
complete

partner. She’d waited a long time to make sure he was strong

enough, right for her. They shared so much in common—

more than Rene could ever know.

They’d both suffered painful losses. They’d both foresworn

ever loving so completely again. Yet here he was sinking deep

into Natalie’s web, thrusting into the depths of her body.

“If you love him, you will stay.”

Inanna’s voice jolted Chessa back to the present. She hadn’t

heard the ancient bitch enter the room.

“While the rest cosset our baby vampire, he will need a

friend to guide him or he may not survive.”

“Who said anything about love? He’s just my partner.”

“And that’s why you can’t take your eyes off him?”

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167

“I’m just making sure she doesn’t drain him.”

“He is beautiful,
non
?” she said, her melodic voice a deepening caress. “Like a lion—all rippling muscle and roar.”

“She’s not woman enough for him.”

“She will not be the same woman once she becomes what

she is destined to be.”

“And I could have gotten that bit of wisdom out of a fortune cookie. At least then, I’d get the egg roll first!”

“So much anger.” Inanna’s hand caressed her stiff shoulder.

“Stay. One more day. If only to make sure in your mind you

have lost.”

Chessa threw a glare over her shoulder. “Cut to the chase,

will you? You don’t give a damn about me. You just want me

back, so you can play with me—spider to the fly.”

“I’m not sure what that means, but I see you don’t trust

me. You know, I only ever wanted what was best for you.”

“You think throwing Nic in my path is best?”

“You think I have anything to do with that? By the way,

he’s spectacular,
non
?”

“He was convenient.” Guilt hit her at her lie.

“If that was true, you wouldn’t be so angry.”

“Leave it, will you? I’m not staying.”

“One more day. If only to make sure Rene stays safe. Besides, the storm outside only strengthens. You might be

stranded on the road.”

Chessa turned back to the monitor. Rene’s hands cradled

Natalie’s body as he slept atop her, his sex still crammed

tightly inside her.

“She will need blood. They will both need release. Perhaps

you can tempt one while you feed the other.”

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For a moment, a ray of hope shone through the darkening clouds. Chessa bit her tongue at the woman’s suggestion,

rejecting it, not wanting to hold onto an impossible dream.

They were bound. She’d lost.

A crack of thunder nearby rattled the windows, reminding

her of the ferocity of the storm she’d already weathered.

“I’ll stay. But only one more day.”

Inanna’s soft footsteps retreated.

No doubt she’d cackle to herself outside now she’d gotten

her way. Chessa had once loved her, or at least the memory of

what she had been to her a long time ago.

However, Chessa’d grown up, suffered disappointments,

and sought a life outside the enclave. Inanna never stopped

trying to draw her back. Her bribes were sometimes ridiculous, her vengeance vicious when she lost.

Chessa’d stopped trying to figure out what drove her when

she realized it really didn’t matter. Inanna never changed, but

she had.

Not that there wasn’t a greater purpose to be served if she

stayed. But saving the human world from the demons that

populated the shadows wasn’t her thing anymore. That was

Nic’s mission. Hers was more prosaic. Serial killers, cop killers—that was her fight now. If every once in a while a case

smelled like a creature-feature, she was in the right place to

stop it before it reached the light of day and the front page of

the
Times-Picayune
.

Rene’s breaths had slowed and evened as he rested with

Natalie. Soon his cock would wake him, drenched in a fresh

wash of carnal cream, and he’d be driven again to fulfill his

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169

destiny. Could she bear to watch them make love one more

time?

Perhaps Inanna’s suggestion wasn’t so improbable. The

couple might need a little help to dull the edge of desperation. She’d stay one more day.

chapter

12

amn!”

“D Natalie awoke with a jolt. The room

was dark except for a sliver of light from the bathroom door, and she wondered whether someone

had entered while they slept, still joined, or had

somehow remotely turned off the overhead light.

Not that she needed much light to see into the

dark anymore.

Rene knelt beside her and thrust his hands beneath her head, struggling to untie the knotted gag.

It eased and he dragged the cloth away. As she pushed

the bunched fabric from her mouth, he stayed beside

her. “Sorry ’bout that, baby. I fell asleep.”

So had she. But despite the cottony mouth and

the tightness around her jaws, she wasn’t about to

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complain. Rene had forgotten himself inside her. He’d fallen

asleep with his head pillowed against her breasts. Her arms

screamed with agony for having slept in the same position for

a couple of hours, but Rene’s arms had cuddled her close.

He brushed back her hair with his fingers. “I’m going to

get you a drink of water, then I’m gonna find someone with a

key to take those cuffs off.”

She nodded, watching as he retreated to the bathroom,

her eyes clinging to his tall, sturdy frame. Then she ran her

tongue over her teeth and determined she was in desperate

need of a toothbrush.

When he returned, she lifted her head from the pillow as

she drank. The water was less than satisfying—unlike the

concern in his eyes.

He drew the covers from the floor over her body, and then

went to the door and knocked. It opened a crack and he murmured to the guard outside.

Now that he’d done everything he could, it appeared he

didn’t quite know where to look, which struck her as funny

given where he’d rubbed his face just a little while ago.

Natalie cleared her throat and swallowed to bring moisture

to her mouth. “That worked nicely,” she said, giving him a

smile.

Rene’s startled glance landed on her.

“The gag.”

A slow sexy smile curled the corner of his mouth. “Yeah,

it did.”

She tried valiantly to keep her gaze glued to his, but however long they remained in each other’s company she didn’t

think she’d ever get blasé about being naked with him.

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Her glance swept down his body.

Everything about him was oversized. From his shoulders

to his massive thighs and the heavy cock that even now rose

from his groin as he stared back. “You have to stop lookin’ at

me like that,
chère,
” he growled. “You’ll have me worn down

to a nub.”

She blinked, not so much in shock for his coarse comment

as for the wicked humor glinting in his eyes.

The door swung open and Chessa strode inside, a stack

of clothing in her arms. Natalie didn’t know her well, but

the crimped corners of her lips and her unnatural pallor said

something was wrong. She gave Rene a quick once-over and

laid down the clothing at the end of the bed.

“Tired of lookin’ at my dick?” Rene asked, his tone

belligerent.

Natalie wondered about his edginess.

Chessa ignored him and circled the bed to unlock Natalie’s

cuffs. “You’re both going to have company today. Natalie, you

need to get up and get dressed. Someone’ll be coming in a

little while to escort you.”

“What about me?” Rene asked, his arms crossing over his

chest.

“You and I are gonna take a walk.”

“Am I free to go?”

“Not quite yet. We’ll talk.”

Natalie watched the byplay between the two, more curious than jealous. Excited about the possibility of getting out,

she rolled up to a sitting position, ignoring the pain shooting

through her arms and shoulders and went to the bathroom to

shower.

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When she returned Rene was alone, sitting on the bed,

his elbows resting on his thighs. “I’m just about goddamn

starving.”

“Me, too. You should have eaten the cheese,” she said, waggling her eyebrows.

His gaze narrowed. “Well, don’t you be lookin’ at my

neck.”

She flashed her fangs. “Who said I want to bite your

neck?”

“Fuck!” he said and retreated in a hurry to the bathroom.

Natalie giggled at the horrified look on his face. She liked

his sense of humor and liked even better how easily she could

get a rise out of him. She must be getting to know him.

She dressed in a silky, robins-egg blue robe. No underwear.

No shoes.

She wondered if they intentionally wanted her “commandoready” at all times should she have the urge to jump someone.

Feeling famished but lighter of spirit than she had in a

long while, she finger-combed her hair in the mirror above the

dresser. She’d have given her new eyeteeth for a little makeup,

but still thought she hadn’t looked so well in a long time.

She’d lost more weight, which hollowed her cheeks and gave

her hips a sexier flare.

Was it the sexy workouts or the liquid diet?

A soft knock preceded the opening of the door. Simon

Jameson stood in the entrance.

“Simon!” she exclaimed, a rush of relief washing over her

at seeing someone dear and familiar. “What are you doing

here? Did they take you, too?” She rushed to give him a hug,

flinging her arms around his neck.

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175

He squeezed her hard and set her back on her toes. “I came

on my own. Wanted to make sure you were doing okay.”

Natalie let his comment and steady gaze sink in for a long

moment. “You know?”

“That you’re a vampire?” His grin was strained, not a bit

of humor in it.

“How long?”

He shrugged.

Natalie felt a chill prickle her arms and hugged them to her

belly. Was she the last person on the planet to find out?

Simon cast a glance at the closed bathroom door and the

sound of running water. “Your policeman in there?”

She nodded, a blush heating her cheeks. He probably knew

exactly what he was washing off. “Yes.”

“Is he treating you well?”

Still feeling a glow from Rene’s tender care, she nodded.

“Good. Or I’d have to kill him.”

The thought of Simon killing anyone surprised a laugh

from Natalie.

“Don’t think I could?” he asked, quirking one eyebrow.

She shook her head. “Nothing would surprise me

anymore.”

“Hold that thought.” Simon crooked his elbow. “Let’s take

a turn around the house.”

“They’re letting me out?”

“In my care. There’s someone I want to introduce you

to.”

She slowly slipped her hand inside his arm, unsure now

about their friendship and his loyalties. Everyone, it seemed

had secrets. “You know the people who live here?”

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“Not well. And only the oldest inhabitants. It’s been a

while since I was welcomed.” He patted her hand on his arm.

“Stop thinking so much. It’ll all work out.”

She gave him a quizzical glance, but he shrugged. Glad

to see the rest of her prison, if only for a quick “turn,” she

didn’t press. Maybe she could learn something useful—like

how to spring Rene and herself.

“Her policeman” might think he was going to leave her

behind, but she’d be damned if he did. At that moment, she

realized she already thought of them as a couple. Bound together. She knew he was far from feeling the same, so why

would she entertain such a fanciful thought?

Maybe because she knew it was true, the same way she

knew how to find the right places to bite.

She gave a glance over her shoulder at the bathroom door,

unsure about leaving him alone.

“He’ll be okay. Chessa will look after him.”

That was hardly reassuring. She still had the niggling feeling Chessa wanted Rene, but she didn’t really have any rights