"p.u.s.s.y Cat Doll?" she asked, immediately doing a slow headshake at his look. "Judge, jury and executioner." He scowled. Her eyes lit up. "Transient! What? Really. No? Babe in Toyland?"
"d.a.m.n it, Myst, just answer the questions. Then you can come back up to my room." He lowered his voice and curled his finger under her chin. "We can sleep together again as we did today-"
"But you don"t understand that torture would be easier for me than to go back to the Lore as an informant." informant." She"d no longer be an A-lister, an "avoid at all costs" enemy. She"d lose her status as a She"d no longer be an A-lister, an "avoid at all costs" enemy. She"d lose her status as a creature with which one did not f.u.c.k. creature with which one did not f.u.c.k.
"My brother has tried to get information from the others-"
"But they didn"t talk either, huh?" Had she sounded smug?
He seemed to shake himself, hardening his resolve.
"You"re leaving me little choice."
Well. She was about to experience first-hand the Overlord"s ruthlessness she"d admired, because apparently he"d decided she was an enemy just when she"d thought they were getting kinda cozy.
Way to hurt my feelings, Wroth. She sniffled. She sniffled. Now I"ll really have to kill you. Now I"ll really have to kill you.
With his thoughts constantly on her throughout the night, Nikolai had stalled for hours, as much as he could, waiting till nearly dawn, ensuring it would at least be brief.
"You"re really going to do this?" she asked as she turned from him, moving into the back corner.
Her shoulders were shaking, and he suspected she was laughing. When he crossed to her, taking her arm and turning her, he was shocked to find genuine tears streaming down her heartbreakingly beautiful face. "Wroth, I thought we had an arrangement. arrangement. " She cast him a brows-drawn look of betrayal. " She cast him a brows-drawn look of betrayal.
She wasn"t feigning this. In her wild, mixed-up mind, she had thought they were ... friends?
The cell wobbled and he braced himself, frowning that she seemed not to notice. Just aftershocks from last night. Just aftershocks from last night.
He didn"t want her to hurt. But her eyes blazed with it, raw and true and bare. He was actually seeing her her-Myst with her false swagger and play peeled back. This was a facet of her, but it was was finally Myst, and suddenly he found it unbearable finally Myst, and suddenly he found it unbearable as each tear fell. He flinched when one dropped to her cheek, flinched as if he"d been hit. as each tear fell. He flinched when one dropped to her cheek, flinched as if he"d been hit.
Another shake all around him.
She turned from him and appeared to wipe her face. When she turned back, she was blatantly s.e.xual, as though she"d donned a mask once more.
"Myst, I don"t want to hurt you, but you must answer my questions. This isn"t a game."
She gave him a look of utter disbelief. "That"s exactly exactly what this is. You want to know about the Lore? Learn this lesson well- what this is. You want to know about the Lore? Learn this lesson well-we are all p.a.w.ns."
The castle shook around him, and while he glanced around wildly, she remained undaunted. No, it was not the outside shaking.
The sound booming in his ears like an earthquake was coming from ... within him. within him. "What are you?" he demanded again. "What are you?" he demanded again.
Her face never lost its expression of vague distaste even when her hand pressed gently against his chest-to feel his heart stutter then thunder to life. Because he"d finally seen seen her and recognized her for what she was... her and recognized her for what she was...
"Apparently, I"m your Bride."
"I was wondering if I could get you to turn for me," Myst purred to Wroth, as he struggled to hide his shock.
She"d found him to be a cool, disciplined man, but she"d heard a new heartbeat was deafening for these unblooded vampires, the sudden rush of s.e.xual desire overwhelming, their breaths unpracticed and rough at first. With soft touches, she eased him against the wall. His eyes were half-lidded as she rubbed up and down his chest. "How does the air in your lungs feel?" touches, she eased him against the wall. His eyes were half-lidded as she rubbed up and down his chest. "How does the air in your lungs feel?"
He inhaled deeply. "Cold. Pressure, but it feels good." He looked at her with such grat.i.tude for blooding him.
They always did.
"How does your blood feel, heating and moving?"
"Stronger. It"s ... searing."
She palmed his erection through his pants, and his entire body jerked as he threw back his head to yell out. My G.o.ds. My G.o.ds. She"d known Wroth was very well endowed, but when hard, he was She"d known Wroth was very well endowed, but when hard, he was overly overly so. so.
Like Demon or Lykae endowed.
He held her hand in place over his shaft, curving her fingers around it as he slowly thrust against her palm. Her body softened when she imagined the onslaught of need clawing at him. In a sensual whisper, she asked, "And how does this feel when it swells and distends?"
"Good," he grated with a shudder. "So d.a.m.n good." he grated with a shudder. "So d.a.m.n good."
"It"s been three centuries? Well, you are due I suppose." She unzipped his pants just enough to wiggle her thumb inside and rub the broad tip of his p.e.n.i.s, making it grow slick. His eyes rolled back in his head. "I can only imagine how heavy and tight this feels, throbbing with pressure, close to exploding."
"Why are you doing this to me?"
Because I can.
Soon he would have no more thought than an animal. His eyes were growing black. She stroked his length through his pants, relieved she would never have to take his uncomfortable size within her. Five, four, three, two ... through his pants, relieved she would never have to take his uncomfortable size within her. Five, four, three, two ...
Wroth attacked, with surprising strength, s.n.a.t.c.hing her wrists in a viselike grip, securing them behind her back as he slanted his mouth over hers. Seeming to brand her with his lips and tongue, he kissed her deeply, possessively, possessively, groaning against her. He left her panting when he bent down to lick her nipples, sucking at them through her blouse. His other hand cupped her s.e.x. groaning against her. He left her panting when he bent down to lick her nipples, sucking at them through her blouse. His other hand cupped her s.e.x.
With a growl, he abruptly drew back from her, taking her elbow. "Come with me."
d.a.m.n it, dawn neared. Where were they? She had to keep him here. "No, Wroth," she said.
"Won"t claim my Bride in a dungeon."
"But I can"t wait," she cried. "Order the guard to leave."
"No-"
"Wroth," she gripped his shaft hard while whispering in his ear, she gripped his shaft hard while whispering in his ear, "my body weeps for this thrusting inside me." "my body weeps for this thrusting inside me."
He bellowed out that order, then tore open her blouse and bra, suckling and tonguing her nipples roughly. Involuntarily her back arched, pressing her b.r.e.a.s.t.s into his gorgeous lips. When had she begun undulating her hips for him?
"I"ve waited for you," he bit out. "So long I"ve waited."
One hand pinned her wrists above her, the other shot up her skirt and ripped her panties completely from her. His fingers roved, hot and slow over her, teasing. He knew exactly how to set her on fire, using her own moisture to slide his thumb around her c.l.i.toris in slick, mind-numbing circles.
"So wet," he rasped against her breast. "As soon as I saw he rasped against her breast. "As soon as I saw you, I wanted it to be you." His lips took her hardened nipple, sucking on it till it throbbed. He turned to the other one for the same attention. you, I wanted it to be you." His lips took her hardened nipple, sucking on it till it throbbed. He turned to the other one for the same attention.
Myst made a decision then. There was simply no way she was going to miss this.
She moaned in truth, unable to control herself as lightning fired outside in conjunction with the emotion inside her. When he plunged one finger into her, withdrew, then thrust two deep within her, she wanted to come around them. He slid them into her unhurriedly but with enough force that she was rocked to her toes each time.
She arched her back more, wanting to offer up her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She spread her legs, taking his fierce touch. "Don"t stop," she panted, so close, aching to reach for his shaft. But he"d trapped her hands above her.
"Never." He thrust harder, until she didn"t know if her toes even touched the ground, then he spread his fingers inside her as if preparing her for his size. Her head fell back and she moaned at the overwhelming feeling of fullness.
She raised her leg to lay it over the knee he"d placed against the wall as if just for that purpose. Bared to him, she ground her hips wildly.
At her ear, he rumbled the words, "Come for me, milaya." milaya."
"Ah, yes ... Wroth," Wroth," she moaned again, about to succ.u.mb to his stroking. She gave a strangled cry and climaxed with a fiery, wet pulsing that staggered her and made him groan as if he had as well. she moaned again, about to succ.u.mb to his stroking. She gave a strangled cry and climaxed with a fiery, wet pulsing that staggered her and made him groan as if he had as well.
"I can feel you come," he grated while she clutched him, rolling her hips against his masterful touch until she was too he grated while she clutched him, rolling her hips against his masterful touch until she was too sensitive to continue. But he didn"t stop until she was mindlessly moaning his name in his capturing arms. sensitive to continue. But he didn"t stop until she was mindlessly moaning his name in his capturing arms.
When she was spent, she sagged against him, still weakly undulating for him. Her nipples were damp and achy from his tongue.
He cupped the back of her neck and yanked her up to face him, gazing down at her with l.u.s.t, but his words were more. "I will be good to you, Myst. I will protect you. You are mine." You are mine."
He was saying these things because he was about to shove into her with that huge shaft, to claim claim her. A true vampire"s Bride. He took her leg and clutched it to his hip, about to free himself. her. A true vampire"s Bride. He took her leg and clutched it to his hip, about to free himself.
Her half-lidded eyes had just widened with true alarm when she heard the merest whisper at the gateway to the dungeon.
Before Nikolai could react, Myst flung herself away. Why would she do that? His hand shot out to pull her back, but she shrank from him. Why wasn"t he inside her right now? He"d made sure she was wet, ready to receive him- He heard movement and jerked his head around, fangs sharpening in fury.
"Look at the lovebirds." A creature similar to Myst was standing at the entry to the cell, a bow at the ready.
A second one with bright, glowing skin joined the first, happily chewing gum and flipping a dagger in the air. "Don"t make me look-I think I"ll be sick. Myst, cavorting with a vampire is a new low even for you."
"What is this?" Nikolai demanded, stalking toward them.
The archer nocked an arrow with supernatural speed and let it sing without hesitation. He lunged to dodge it, but she"d antic.i.p.ated his move and the arrow pinned him to the wall. A second took his other shoulder, drilling its tip half a foot into the stone. He cast her a killing look, then lurched forward to simply let the arrows tear through him, but the shafts were ringed like shank nails.
When he realized he wouldn"t be moving, he bellowed with rage.
He saw Myst pulling her clothing together, turning for the door. "Don"t you walk away from me!" "Don"t you walk away from me!"
"So sorry to interrupt your plans for tonight." She cast him that hurt look. "You almost made me forget that you"d come down here to torture torture me. You want to learn? Know that we me. You want to learn? Know that we hate hate torture. It starts to add up over the years-" torture. It starts to add up over the years-"
"That was before I knew you were my Bride."
Her face went cold in an instant. "Before you knew you could finally screw me? Now that your body"s in working order, I don"t feel the skin flayed from mine?"
"You"re my Bride. Mine. Mine. You belong You belong to me." to me."
She flew back at him, enraged. The bright one tossed her a dagger and Myst caught it behind her without looking. Again his mind demanded to know what she was.
She pressed the blade to his jugular. Her pupils were silver and lightning bombarded the castle. "If I belonged belonged to every man who wanted it so or to every vampire I"ve blooded there"d be to every man who wanted it so or to every vampire I"ve blooded there"d be nothing left of me. nothing left of me. But no one cares about that." But no one cares about that."
"You"ve not blooded others. They would be here protecting you, fighting for you."
"Not"-she leaned in closer, tilting her head like an animal-"if I killed them all."
Then she grabbed the back of his head and pulled him to her, pressing her lips against his. She kissed him hard. Yet he soon tasted ... her blood? her blood? Just as he groaned, she drew back with an inscrutable expression on her face. Just as he groaned, she drew back with an inscrutable expression on her face.
Unimaginably warm and rich, her blood was as exquisite as everything else about her, and he shuddered in ecstasy at the luscious taste. "You know I"ll want nothing else now," he rasped.
In response, she snapped her teeth at him. To the others she commanded, "Leave him," then exited the cell.
The archer and the bright one exchanged a confused glance. "And by "leave him" you clearly mean leave him beheaded, disemboweled, and chock full of quills like a pincushion."
"You heard him-I"m his Bride."
"Ohhh," the bright one said, blowing a bubble. "You mean he hasn"t, uh, you know, released, released, the first time since his blooding?" Then with a quick glance at his crotch, she said, "And he stays like the first time since his blooding?" Then with a quick glance at his crotch, she said, "And he stays like that that without you, right?" She chuckled. "I"m cool with the plan." without you, right?" She chuckled. "I"m cool with the plan."
The archer wasn"t convinced. "Don"t get me wrong, I enjoy condemning vampires to unending s.e.xual torture as much as the next fabulously talented huntress ..."
When Nikolai heard a guard charging in, she leisurely shot an arrow in that direction, tilted her head at the result, then sighed to Myst, "But Myst, "But Vampire Bride Vampire Bride just sounds so B-movie. He just dragged you down to B-moviedom." just sounds so B-movie. He just dragged you down to B-moviedom."
The bright one made her voice overly dramatic, saying, "For that alone ... he must die. he must die. Seriously, Myst. Your "husband" has irrevocably damaged your street cred unless you kill him like the others." Seriously, Myst. Your "husband" has irrevocably damaged your street cred unless you kill him like the others."
They were all all mad. mad.
And still he was hard, aching for her body, for the blood she"d given him just to torture him. "You evil, teasing b.i.t.c.h. Kill me then."
For just the merest second he imagined he saw compa.s.sion in her eyes, but when she shrugged, his hazy mind finally grasped that she was going to leave him here with nothing but a body knotted with l.u.s.t for her and a taste of blood that he would go to his knees for. "You"re the most malicious b.i.t.c.h I"ve ever known."
"Flatterer," she chirped.
Across the corridor, she easily leapt to the window forty feet above, opening the shutters to draw the unfortified bars from the s.p.a.ce as though she might pluck back a curtain. She held a hand down for the others.
"I will find you," he bit out. "I will find you and make you pay for this a thousand times."
The bright one leapt up and caught Myst"s forefinger with her own. "Sounds like he"s setting up a date," she said as she dangled.
"Oooom," Myst purred, her gaze flickering over him. "Dress casual."
CHAPTER FOUR
Present Day
Never-ending s.e.xual desire that could never be slaked.