VAMP RISING (By Moonlight Book 1) (10 page)

              “How did you gain control?”              

              “I had to be patient with myself. I had to trust my trainers.”

              “But what did you do when you got hungry?”

              “I
told
them,” he admitted. “And they provided an appropriate meal.”

              “Well that’s what I need,” Gwen said, her voice shaking with the intensity of that very need.

              “Ok,” he said. “Let’s get you back.”

              Brandon helped her to her feet, but when he let go of her waist Gwen didn’t release her arms from around his neck.

              “Can you stand on your own?” He whispered, as he returned his hands to her waist reciprocating her embrace.

              “Yeah,” she said, though she didn’t let go. She tipped her head back so that her mouth grazed his neck. He smelled so good, masculine and delicious. She didn’t see the need to go anywhere. She could have what she wanted right here.

              “Gwen, let’s head back. I have to get the cub set up at the Sanctuary with its mother,” he said, encouraging her to let go, though it wasn’t exactly what he wanted.

              He urged her back then looked into her blue eyes, which seemed hazy with exhaustion. The way her body felt pressing into his, sent smooth, burning excitement through Brandon. Their faces were so close, hers tilting up and his angling down. She looked beautiful and delicate. Then her lips parted and her eyes floated closed, as if she was asking him to kiss her.

              Gwen was melting into him. She could feel his cool breath grazing her lips. She wanted to disappear into his kiss, but he hadn’t pressed his mouth to hers yet. When she opened her eyes she noticed Brandon was looking past her, as though he heard something.

              “What?” She asked unsure of what had stolen his attention.

              “We have to get back,” he said urgently, as he left her so that he could pick up the unconscious bear. It took a great deal of maneuvering, but Brandon managed to scoop the bear into his arms. The dogs seemed to understand what that meant, because they padded over and aligned the sled next to him so that all Brandon had to do was muscle the bear down beside its cub. Once the massive heap of fur was securely resting on the sled, he strapped it down then whistled. The dogs heaved the sled into motion and as it gained speed they trotted easily. “Come on,” he told her, as he followed behind the sled.

              Gwen hopped to it, found her place beside Brandon, and they started briskly after the sled making their way back to the Sanctuary.

              Brandon seemed to be in a hurry. He quickened his pace, while Gwen kept up, until he was walking flush against the back of the sled. He gave a sharp whistle, causing the dogs to pick up their pace. The sled sped up and soon Gwen was nearly out of breath in effort to keep up at Brandon’s side.

              “What’s the rush?” She asked. “Did you hear something?”

              “It’s just not a good idea to be out here so late,” he said, dismissing her curiosity.

              “Then why did you invite me out for a night walk in the first place?” She challenged.

              “I wouldn’t have walked us into this part of the Cascades,” he said curtly.

              Gwen remembered her ability to glide, which was an infinitely faster mode of movement, so she began gliding in order to catch her breath. Once she had, she took hold of Brandon’s arm, allowing him to guide her. Despite the warmth of her touch, he was still clammed up and it caused Gwen to wonder what the precise danger was that he’d sensed. It was certainly causing him to race them back even though by now they’d put a mile of wilderness between themselves and the site she’d encountered the bears.

              “Where would we have gone for our walk then?” She pressed, but Brandon seemed suddenly on edge and didn’t answer. Not wanting to aggravate him, she let her question drop, but not her curiosity. Something had triggered his sudden urgency. The man who had an arsenal of tranquilizers strapped to his back and the strength to lift a two-ton bear had gotten spooked, and Gwen was highly interested in what on Earth could’ve possibly caused that.

              They came to a clearing where the Sanctuary sat across the way and finally Brandon seemed to relax in her grip, as though the very sight of the building caused him to release all tension.

              “Do you want to see where we keep the animals during their rehabilitation?” He asked, suddenly lightening up.

              “Sure,” she said.

              They followed the dogs to a gate, which Brandon unhinged before they all passed through. Beyond the gate sat several hundred acres of sparsely wooded land that was sectioned off by domed metal fences that essentially formed a grid of cells for the animals. As they traversed the aisle that cut through the center, Gwen noted that each cell had to be a good seven-square-acres, which seemed to be a sizable amount of space for an animal to roam while healing. A few of the animals cautiously approached the fence as they passed. First a wolf, then in the next cell a bobcat, and on the other side, a black bear.

              “We’ll have to put the bear and her cub in the last cell up there on the left to give them as much privacy from the others as possible. Since she’s rearing her cub she’s more aggressive by nature and the smells and sounds of the other animals might make her anxious.”

              When they arrived at the last cell, Brandon asked Gwen to wait outside while he proceeded with his dogs. Once he entered with them, he shut the fence then unstrapped the bear and her cub. Gwen was in awe at Brandon’s super strength. He lifted the mother bear off the sled with ease, though he certainly strained to do it carefully. Then he set the cub beside its mother and exited the cell, shutting and locking the fence behind him.

              “Were we in a rush to leave the forest because you sensed whoever shot the cub was still out there?” She asked, making the connection all of a sudden.

              “You could say that,” he said.

              “Well who was it?” She wondered.

              “I don’t know,” he said, though something in his tone told her he had his suspicions.

              The moon overhead was shining down and casting an iridescent glow over Brandon, who was looking at Gwen with an unwavering gaze. His steel blue eyes looked black in the low light, which also gave his expression a dark allure. There was a glint in his eye that stirred up a reminder in Gwen that this was the man she’d envisioned to exude glamour in her training.

              “Will the cub be Ok?” She asked, staring up at him.

              “Joseph will check him out in the morning and administer antibiotics if the wound shows any signs of infection. Otherwise, it’s just a matter of time before the cub is healed, and then we’ll release him. He was shot in the gut so it wasn’t life threatening.”

              “That’s good,” said Gwen with a twinge of guilt at her prior selfishness. She’d been blinded by hunger, and even though she still felt dull blood thirst, she’d come to her senses enough to see her impulse for what it really was, detrimental to a suffering animal’s wellbeing. Brandon, as well as the werewolves and the shifters seemed to appreciate the balance of life, and Gwen was beginning to understand that what drove vampires was well outside of that balance. It disturbed her.

              “I’m more concerned with you,” he said, scanning her face for signs she wasn’t well.

              “I feel fine,” she said, glancing down at her shoulder.

              “That’s not what I meant exactly.”

              “What did you mean?”

              He paused on a breath, unsure of what to say or unwilling to say it then offered, “Let me walk you back to Little Bear.”

              The suggestion was disappointing. All afternoon she’d been looking forward to having time alone with Brandon. She’d fantasized about them strolling through the woods and getting to know one another, and now the whole evening had been spoiled by her vampire impulse to feed. Brandon wanted to deposit her in her room and be done with her, and it made her heart sink. Suddenly the dog she’d woken up with didn’t seem so offensive. She’d give anything to go to bed with it, if for no other reason than to have a small sense of comfort in a world of uncertainties.

              She nodded, accepting his offer to take her home, and they walked back in silence through the Sanctuary. When they reached the fence Brandon hinged it shut then they started across the campus. By the time they’d reached the Training Center, Gwen was acutely aware of the tension rising between them. No one had spoken a word, and yet she felt like there was so much she wanted to say. She was starting to feel the weight of this moment and didn’t want it to slip through her fingers. She didn’t want the night to end, and she needed to say that, say something, but something was holding her back. Fear, perhaps. She didn’t want to be rejected. It felt like he had already turned her down. In fact it felt like whatever interest he’d had in her had been lost in the face of her selfish attempt to feed off the suffering cub. She honestly felt like Brandon might not be all that drawn to her anymore, that was if he ever had been. Now she wasn’t so sure.

              As they approached Little Bear, Gwen was in a heightened state of self-consciousness, as though every breath and every blink were drawing attention to her attraction to him. Brandon’s arm brushed hers and it sent her heart racing. He glanced her way and it caused her breath to hitch in her throat. She had wanted to thank him for walking her home, for coming for her when she’d blown the whistle, for being the only person besides Christoph at the Sanctuary who believed in her (though she was pretty sure Christoph was being paid to do so), and for finding her at the bottom of the ravine and ultimately saving her life; She wanted to thank him for all of that when they came to a standstill just shy of the entrance to Little Bear, but felt like if she said any of that it would only come across as trite.

              She turned to Brandon and gave him a shy, nervous smile without meeting his gaze. “Have a good night,” she said to his mouth, which seemed like a safe enough place to be looking.

              Brandon took a small step towards her. There wasn’t that much room between them and he was closing the gap entirely. Gwen’s exhale stuttered out of her, but again there were no words. She told herself not to close her eyes, not to expect anything like she had on the sled, which had been the source of her awkwardness.

              She could feel his eyes on her, searching hers so she met his gaze finally. In that moment, Brandon leaned in, pursed his lips to hers, and finally kissed her. Gwen floated through the kiss. Her hands found his shoulders, as their lips pressed, and he wrapped her waist until they were fully embraced. His lips parted, deepening the kiss, and Gwen reciprocated, allowing him to explore the velvety curves of her mouth. Soon his hand cradled the back of her head, gently turning her face to better serve his growing passion. Gwen melted into him, pressing the length of her body against his and holding him tight, as they kissed deeper and deeper.

              She caught herself smiling on the cusp of each kiss, as the depth ebbed back into sensual and long held pecks.

              “Why are you smiling?” He asked between kisses.

              “This is nice,” she offered then returned her lips to his.

              His hands scooped her bottom and cupped firmly, which sent a wave of arousal rolling through her. Though it was a forward move, it turned her on in an instant and other possibilities came to mind. Would he want to come inside? She had to laugh at herself for that one. Of course he’d come inside. He’d want to. This was the same man who’d tricked his way into her bed last night.

              The way his hands squeezed and massaged her butt had Gwen quite hot and it occurred to her that she was considerably more aroused than she had been when she’d glamorized Christoph successfully. She could have Brandon in her bedroom whether he wanted to come or not, she only had to use glamour.

              But she didn’t want to have him that way. It wouldn’t be fair. Not to him, and also not to her. She deserved to know he was into her, and if she influenced him she’d never know for sure.

              Their kisses slowed until they were only holding each other, nose to nose, lips brushing, breathing in the sweet smell of one another’s skin.

              “I meant it before when I said you shouldn’t be left alone,” said Brandon, suggestively before sweeping his firm lips across hers so that she could feel the smooth tickling friction between them.

              “Well I can’t have a roommate apparently or I’ll eat them,” she said with a smile, as if to encourage him to be even more forward with her. It was fun to watch him wanting her.

              “I could come in for a little while,” he proposed then quickly added, “I could turn wolf and watch over you again.”

              “What if you didn’t turn wolf, but came in for a little while?” She suggested, feeling bold.

              “That would be ideal,” he agreed, flashing a crooked smile, then returned his mouth to hers, giving her a deep kiss and sliding his hands up her back until they landed in her hair.