The sight of Jaden, wet and dripping with perfumed water, being attacked by seductresses, was almost more than his undead body could handle. His blood stirred, his loins pulled heavily between his thighs and he wanted nothing more than to jump in the tub and rip the tattered clothing from Jaden"s body. If the seductresses wanted to stay and watch, he didn"t care, so long as he could possess the aggravating vampiress who fought them.
"Make them stop," Jaden hissed, growing desperate. The women had crawled over the edge and were sinking down into the water. Their wet gossamer gowns floated up around their thighs. As they lowered deeper the material clung indecently to their skin.
"Take her wrist firmly," Tyr ordered Jaden as one of the women pa.s.sed it by her face.Jaden roughly grabbed one of them, ready to fling her out on her backside. Her arm tensed with a throw. Heat filled her chilled hand at the touch.
"Now bite," Tyr instructed, his eyes focusing on Jaden"s mouth. A sense of primal, l.u.s.tful antic.i.p.ation came over him.
Jaden opened her mouth, seeing the pulse beat beneath the skin. The woman didn"t struggle. In fact, she moaned loudly and urged Jaden to take her. The woman"s fingers lifted to Jaden"s neck, caressing her. Jaden opened her mouth and adjusted the wrist before her. She tried to clamp down onto the warm flesh, but couldn"t. She could hear the woman"s heart with her own, could sense the mortal"s emotions stirring in her blood. The salty tang of perfume wafted her senses making her body tense with a desire to bite. With a tortured growl, she hissed, "I can"t!"
Tyr sighed. Leaning over, he quickly drew his nail over the woman"s flesh. It split open. Blood pooled above the skin. The mortal didn"t even flinch.
"Now hurry, before she ruins the water," Tyr commanded with contrived annoyance.
Jaden smelled the blood. She couldn"t resist it. She was a vampire, reborn to drink and to live. Hungrily, she pulled the wound to her mouth. The warm nectar of the woman"s life flowed into her, sweeter than anything she had ever tasted. Her meals of rats and fish paled in comparison to the life-giving taste of human blood. A slight moan escaped her hungry lips, echoed loudly by her prey.
Tyr swallowed, his gaze darting to the tantalizing pull of Jaden"s sucking, crimson lips. Her flesh began to fill with a pale rose.
Veins pulsed and cursed over her face, down her neck, spreading life into her undead limbs. Her muscles once again became firm muscle and her hair regained an unearthly s.h.i.+ne. His eyes glowed with celestial threads of dark blue and silver. His lips parted, eager to join to hers.
The woman Jaden was latched to gasped and moaned. Tyr saw the mortal"s face paling with a dangerous quickness. Gently, he pulled Jaden away from her. Jaden looked at him in surprise, her eyes full of red.
"Enough," he whispered huskily. "You don"t want to harm her."
Jaden nodded numbly, not realizing she had even been close to such a thing. It was like she couldn"t stop herself. As Jaden watched, Tyr bit his finger and healed the woman"s wrist with his blood. The woman bobbed her head like a departing servant and moved to leave the chamber. She wobbled slightly on her feet and closed the door behind her. The remaining mortal held out her hand to touch the vampiress" face. Jaden glanced guiltily at Tyr.
Tyr hid his smile, instead he nodded at her to drink again. Crossing his arms over his chest, he stood above them, watching. Jaden nodded before dipping her head to drink. Without hesitation, she bit into the woman, sinking her teeth for the first time into human flesh. She was struck by how soft it was compared to fish and rat. It was like moving her fingers through warm b.u.t.ter, taking little effort to pierce. Swallowing thoughtfully, she pulled back. In awe, she whispered, "It tastes different."
"Yes," he whispered, nodding for her to get on with it. Jaden again drank.
Tyr watched Jaden"s features continue to fill with dazzling beauty. Her lips turned a dark red, her skin a warm pink. Her eyes were closed, but the black lashes that fanned over her cheeks swept dreamily with little quivers. Even her hair looked as if it grew with added fire. Feeling full, Jaden pulled her mouth away and looked at Tyr. The stunning jade of her eyes glittered with the power of sparkling emeralds. His heart skipped in his chest.
When he didn"t speak, Jaden bit her finger and rubbed it on the woman. Her previous anger at him subsided with her hunger. The wound on the woman"s wrist tried to heal, but continued to ooze. Jaden looked helplessly at Tyr. She began to bite her finger again, when his voice stopped her.
"It will take time for your body to gain strength," he said. Healing the mortal with his own blood, he waited for her to leave. When they were alone, Tyr"s eyes dipped over Jaden"s wet clothes. His gaze lit with fire. His movements were slow but she could detect every subtle change in him. The meal had revived her senses.The blood renewed her body with a mysterious force. Suddenly, her skin tingled and her limbs burned. The water became a naughty caress, her clothes felt constrictive and binding. She was sensitive. Every nerve ending inside of her was alive and searching. Wiggling in growing physical distress, she looked at Tyr in astonishment.
"Here," he whispered, knowing what was happening to her. It had happened to him once, though he couldn"t remember it. His hand reached out to touch her neck. It slid with the help of beading moisture to caress over her skin and to delve into her hair.
Jaden let loose a soft moan. Her lashes fluttered over her eyes as she arched towards his searching hand. His fingers glided down the base of her neck, pulling over the soft indent that guarded the entryway to her chest. In a low, husky murmur, he said, "You still need to bathe."
Jaden nodded in agreement, before uttering, "But I thought vampires didn"t need to bathe."
"They don"t unless they fall into dirt and blood as you have. Besides, you are newly turned. You must wash off the smell of your human self. The council has ordered you cleaned," he continued drawing forward over the edge. Again she nodded, the motion becoming hurried. Tyr lips barely moved, as he said, "And I am your master. I am responsible for making sure you obey the council"s wishes."
"I--I," she tried to protest. She didn"t want to clean up. She wanted to end the torment raging within her flesh. She wanted his fingers to rip through her clothing.
"Sh," he said, aroused to the point of explosion. "I am your master. You must obey--"
"I never listened well," she broke in breathlessly.
"Then I"ll have to make sure you comply," Tyr murmured, liking his idea very much. Looking over her flushed, warm skin, he p.r.o.nounced, "First, we must rid you of these offending clothes."
Jaden"s eyes turned wide. She saw that Tyr had no intention of leaving. His mouth parted, his eyes fell to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. He could see the line of her bra beneath the wet, stained material.
"Take it off," he ordered. He released her, settling back in preparation of a show. When she hesitated, he said, "You cannot deny me--especially in this place."
Jaden shyly grabbed her s.h.i.+rt but didn"t take it off. Tyr smiled a dark grin full of wicked intent.
"Do it," he ordered, low and dark.
Jaden sunk down into the water. Pulling the material over her head she flung it at his arrogant head. He caught it easily, dropping it to the floor without breaking contact with his piercing eyes.
"Now the rest," he ordered hoa.r.s.ely.
Jaden slowly worked on her jeans. She had never given total control over to someone. The closest she had come was when Tyr made tender love to her in his cave, before everything went to h.e.l.l. The memory only served her body to course with a yearning need. Her arms trembled. She wanted him, but she was frightened of him.
Tyr enjoyed his role of the master, liking that she had to obey him, for Jaden had never obeyed anyone. It made him heady with power. But with that delicate power he knew he couldn"t abuse it. He wasn"t going to give her anything she didn"t already want.
The jeans flew at his head in the same fas.h.i.+on, followed by a bra. He dodged them with a slight tilt to the side. A smirk lined his features. As underwear soared by, he caught them in his grasp, one arm still resting over his chest. Without looking, he ran his thumb over the wet lacy material in a sensual caress.
Jaden glared rebelliously at him. She could just feel the strokes of his fingers as if he touched her most intimate places. Mustering indignation, she ordered, "Now, go away. I can do the rest myself with no help from you.""Ah," he began, with a mock sense of sorrow. "It"s my duty to see that you comply. I"ll have to watch just to make sure."
Jaden"s cheeks colored, something very rare in a vampire. She met Tyr"s look. Her stomach tensed. Her loins grew hotter beneath the water.
Tyr greedily licked his lips. His eyes glowed fiercely, as he growled, "Now stand up."
Jaden, in all her stubborn pride, ignored the command. Reaching to grab a bar of soap on the edge, she lathered it up and began scrubbing her feet. Tyr feigned a scowl, though it was hard with the heated blood running a fervent course in his body.
When she finished with her calves and moved the soap underwater to work her way up her legs, Tyr narrowed his eyes and said, "I ordered you to stand up."
Jaden smiled to herself, ignoring him again. She pressed her lips together and hummed a solemnly sweet tune. The soap made its way over her arms and neck.
Tyr leaned forward, crawling to the edge of the tub on all fours. Both of them forgot their troubles as they became immersed in their game. Jaden couldn"t resist and peeked at him from beneath her lashes. Ducking under the water, she rinsed the suds and rewetted her hair. When she emerged, she continued to hum.
Blinking away water, she broke long enough to say, "Hand me the shampoo."
"Are you trying to command me now?" he asked in bewildered amus.e.m.e.nt, his eyes dripping with confidence. He shouldn"t have been surprised or disappointed, though the feelings were there. He knew Jaden wouldn"t take to being ordered about.
Jaden grimaced. She reached over and grabbed it for herself and began lathering her locks. Again she dunked beneath the surface and rinsed the tresses clean. When she resurfaced, Tyr was leaning close. His hands cupped conditioner in his palms. Leaning over, he pushed his fingers into her hair, rubbing the conditioner through her heavy wet length. Jaden kept her gaze focused on his face. Mischievously, he lowered his gaze past her neck to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s bobbing on top of the water.
"I"ve had enough of your disobedience," he growled. "Stand and let me inspect you."
Jaden swallowed, a bit nervous, but too excited by his brashness to deny the command another time. She rinsed her hair quickly.
Her legs trembled as she stood before him. His eyes hungrily devoured the look of her. His nostrils flared in animalistic potency.
She watched his hands flex with tempered control.
Tyr took in her brilliance. Not even the Norse G.o.ddess Freya could"ve been as beautiful as she was to him. His head tilted to the side. His fingers lifted slowly to her cheek. He searched her eyes, trying to find the truth within her, trying to end the questions of his soul. But what his heart asked, his lips couldn"t form.
His finger grazed beneath the soft skin under her eye with the molding precision of a sculpture enamored of his stone. He learned her face, taking each curve to memory. His body ached for her, it always ached for her. But there was more. His heart ached for her too. He could no longer deny it.
"I"ll lie for you," he whispered hoa.r.s.ely, the torment of the admission warring within him. "I"ll lie to save you."
His words broke her heart. What was his lie, if he believed it truly to be a lie? He still thought her guilty of crimes she didn"t commit. He didn"t believe in her. Gulping, she shook her head in denial. Biting her lips together, she bid softly, "No, let only truths as you know them pa.s.s by your lips. Don"t sacrifice your integrity for me. I have enough that I must live with. Don"t add that to my regrets."
"Jaden--" he began. She shook her head, cutting off his words. Pride refused to let her explain or defend herself. Her hand lifted to his parted mouth, blocking off any attempt to convince her otherwise. Tyr didn"t want her to face the judgment of the council. He knew it would be easier for them to just kill her and let that be the end of it. If he pleaded on her behalf or claimed the right of ending her as her maker, then he could a.s.sure that the death was painless and swift. But, he didn"t want to end her. He wanted her to live.
Her jade eyes glistened as they looked at him. For a moment, as she blinked, he felt the whole realm of her pain. c.o.c.king her head to the side, she managed a smile. Shrugging delicately, she said, "Only the truth. Promise me."
"Yes," he whispered against her fingers. Closing his eyes, he whispered, "I promise."
Satisfied, she tried to pull her hand away. His fingers lifted from her face to grab her departing hand close. His mouth opened, placing a delicately tender kiss on her palm, dragging his pointed fangs over her skin. Jaden s.h.i.+vered.
"Cold?" he asked.
"I"m always cold," she returned impishly. "It is part of the charm of being dead."
"No," he murmured, his hand dipping behind her back to pull her to his chest. He extended her arm to the side in the beginning steps of a dance. Drying beads of moisture on her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and stomach soaked into his s.h.i.+rt, heating instantly between their bodies. Leaning to her mouth, he murmured against it, "Not always cold."
His kiss was light, exploring as if he had an eternity to execute it. His hands roamed her, stroking her back in unhurried caresses.
His grasp found her b.u.t.tocks and lifted her with ease. Jaden wrapped her legs around his waist. She felt his bold arousal growing to press into her. She moaned in weak encouragement.
Breaking away, she whispered, "Make love to me, Tyr. I want to feel anything besides fear and uncertainty."
Tyr groaned to hear her say the words of her own free will. He let her slip to the floor. Within seconds he was stripped of his clothing and had her back into his embrace. There flesh became a frenzied playground for the senses. Hands rediscovered hidden crevices. Mouths pressed and teased throats and arms.
Jaden"s fingers twined into his long, dry hair. It felt like silk against her skin. His hard flesh molded her body to him, demanding she yield to his hard muscles. Eagerly, she rubbed against him, unable to feel enough of his potent form. His kiss strayed over her shoulder, glancing down the front hollow of her throat. Jaden felt the power in him, felt the primal beast beneath his surface wanting to come out and play.
Jaden"s body couldn"t process all of the new sensations of her altered form. Tyr lifted her about his waist and began backing towards the bed, carrying her with him. Jaden wanted him too badly. She angled herself above him as he walked, impaling her body deeply onto his hardened member with a scream of delight.
Tyr gasped in mystification as she took instant control. Her long legs wrapped around him, calculating the movements of her hips.
Her vampiric strength kept her balanced as she pressed into his shoulders for support. Her fingernails anch.o.r.ed into his flesh to draw blood. He quivered in ecstasy.
Tyr grabbed her hips, encouraging the desperation of her motions. They crashed together, pumping and writhing in elation and enchantment. Both of them had a need to be filled, a desire that needed to be tamed, and a rawness that needed to be explored and conquered. Too much was unsaid, too much had been done. Now was the time for the echoing silence of rumbles and moans. The world and all its woes fell away, blocked out by the thin veil of pleasure that surrounded them. Nothing else mattered, nothing beyond the touch of a hand, a kiss of a mouth, a thrust of two bodies as they became one.
Jaden"s hands ran down over Tyr"s working b.u.t.tocks, delighting in the strain of his strong muscles. Tyr growled the sound of a ravis.h.i.+ng beast that took what he wanted. Spinning with undead force, he dropped her on the bed, keeping their bodies together.
Jaden landed in the soft white fur. It tickled her responsive flesh as she sprawled out beneath him. Her legs draped over the side, wrapping around Tyr as he stood.
Tyr kept his feet on the floor. Lifting her legs over his shoulders, he pumped his hips with abandonment. Through the narrowed slits of his eyes, he saw Jaden"s hands grasping the fur above her head. He saw her peaked nipples, erotically hard, bouncing in wicked invitation. He leaned forward and grabbed her shoulders, anchoring his feet to the stone as he drove into her.
Jaden"s feet flexed and folded into the air by the side of his head. As he bent over her, he could press deeper into her core.
Screaming out in pleasure, her need matched his. The fire built within them, echoing between their bodies as they felt the other"s emotions coursing throughout them. They tried to hold onto the moment. They tried to forget the future. They drove it away with their yearning. All they had was now, this one moment when they were together, exploding in unison as a keg of black powder to a match.
Jaden"s yell echoed the chamber. Tyr"s viciously hollered victory reverberated to join her. They didn"t care who heard them, couldn"t think to. Tyr released himself into her, pouring out all the emotion he couldn"t tell her with words. And Jaden took it, never understanding how he truly felt.
He stood transfixed, thrust wholly inside of her, enjoying the feel of her subsiding quivers, knowing he had done it to her. Jaden gasped, her back arching lightly. Pulling out of her sensitive warmth, he withdrew his member with purposeful slowness. Jaden trembled, feeling every inch of him as he left her.
"Mmm," Jaden hummed for a lack of words, after the s.h.i.+vering subsided enough for her to move. Her mouth parted in a gasp of feminine rapture.
Tyr chuckled, the laugh of a sated being. Jaden weakly clawed her way back on the bed, pulling her weakened legs up to join her.
Tyr crawled forward landing at her side.
Looking over at him, she admitted with a catlike purr of contentment, "I feel as if I should be breathless. My heart is beating so fast."
"It takes awhile to get use to it," he said with a predatory grin.
Jaden"s face fell. She turned her expression to the ceiling. She might not have awhile.
"No," he whispered. "Don"t think about it. Think about me. Think about now."
I always think about you, she admitted silently, though she would never let him hear it. Since the night I saw you in the alley, you are all I ever think about.
Tyr"s hand roamed to her body. His heart still hammered from their lovemaking, but his body craved her with an urgency that couldn"t be filled. Seeing a look in her eyes as they roamed over the ceiling, he asked, "What is it?"
"I was just wondering how it is we can sleep down here and not be in a coffin," she responded as the thought filtered through her head.
"This whole island use to be a burial ground," he answered absently. Kissing her with a devastating thoroughness, he probed in naughty mischief, "You didn"t want to sleep, did you?"
Jaden smiled, hiding her fear well within her breast. She never wanted to sleep again. Instead of answering, she kissed him. Her arms wrapped around his body and they made love all through the vampire night. Only near dusk out of sheer exhaustion did they finally drift into sleep, cradled in each other"s arms, clinging to the last moments of their time together.
The next evening, Jaden was awakened by a servitor. The mortal woman"s eyes stared past Jaden"s shoulder as she tugged the vampiress" naked body insistently from the bed. Jaden stood, stretching her arms above her head. Turning, she glanced down at Tyr. His face was still, his chest unmoving. She smiled sadly. His hair was disheveled from their lovemaking, scattered majestically over their pillows, and yet he still managed to look perfect.
Jaden stood. Her body stung with sweetened contentment. The servitor handed her clothes. It was a white robe to match those of the servants. Jaden slipped into the fine linen, glad that it was at least thick enough to hide her nakedness.
She began to reach over to wake Tyr, but the hand on her arm stopped her. The servitor shook her head, motioning silently that Jaden was to follow her alone. Jaden gulped, not understanding and not wanting to leave Tyr behind. They hadn"t talked of what should happen this day. They hadn"t talked of their short future.
The servitor led her from the chamber, moving with the silent presence of a ghost. Jaden trailed behind her, bare feet sweeping in light brushes over the clean floor. The stones were cold against her skin, the flimsy garment offering little in the way of warmth.
Jaden smiled ruefully. It was her body that offered little warmth to the garment. Suddenly, the servitor stopped. Turning, she pushed open a solid door affixed with only the Drauger symbol.
"Ragnhild," Jaden whispered, automatically remembering the old Viking leader.
She followed the lifeless gestures to enter. Hugging the linen over her chest, she suddenly felt naked without undergarments.
Resignedly, she looked around the dim chamber. It was laid out much in the same way as Tyr"s only with more lavishness to the decor and there were no books. Jaden"s eyes instantly found the vampire lounging back amidst brown fur. His bare shoulders peeked out from beneath the coverlet.
"You--you sent for me?" Jaden cleared her throat. Ragnhild threw back his covers revealing a woman hidden beneath, clinging to his waist. The woman yawned, blinking as she looked around in the firelight. Then, with the pa.s.sionless grace of one of the zombie servants, she slipped on her clothing and left.