They spent the next couple of days traveling through different states and circling back around. They took highways and back roads and stayed as far off the radar as possible. Callie woke the morning after Carter’s attack to discover the fingerprints still on her neck, but the bruises were almost gone.
Lucien gave her more blood, and she happily gave him more of hers before leaving the motel. Since then, Carter’s marks had almost completely disappeared from her.
They were on a back road heading from New Hampshire into Massachusetts, and the plan was to return home tomorrow. Callie was ready to be back at the compound and out of the SUV.
She was ready to enter the next phase of her life, which meant ending her mortal existence and embracing an entirely new one. She’d assumed the loss of everything she’d always known would frighten her more, but she was excited to begin her new life with Lucien.
She slid her fingers into his as the sun touched the horizon. The vast array of vibrant colors spreading across the sky stole her breath.
“This world is so beautiful,” she whispered.
Lucien looked over as she leaned forward to peer up at the sky. Her eyes closed, and she tilted her head to take in more of the sun’s rays.
“Not as beautiful as you,” he said.
A radiant smile lit her face as she turned toward him. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”
She rested her hand on his thigh and slid it up toward his groin. Lucien shifted when his body instantly reacted to her touch.
Callie smiled at the hardness evident against the front of his jeans. “What do they call it… road head?”
“I think I’ve heard of that.”
“Have you ever tried it?” she asked as she clasped his cock through his jeans.
“That is one thing I’ve never tried.”
“It’s on my bucket list.”
“Don’t let me be the one to stop you from crossing it off.”
Callie grinned as she undid his button and slid the zipper down. Lucien shifted to help her as she pulled his jeans low enough to free his dick. She stroked him as she moved around the console and lowered her head to his lap.
Lucien groaned when her warm breath caressed the head of his shaft a second before her tongue flicked out to taste him. Then her mouth was settling over him and taking him deep. His hands gripped the steering wheel, and he resisted pushing his foot down on the accelerator as pleasure speared through him.
He settled a hand on her head while she moved up and down his shaft. She used her hands and mouth to fuck him until he couldn’t take it anymore.
“I’m going to come,” he warned through his teeth.
She only moved faster over him, and he gave in to the exquisite sensation as he found his release.
Callie gave his cock a few more licks as she swallowed him down before pulling away. She smiled at him as she leaned back and settled against the window. “Cross that one off the list.”
He glanced at her as he pulled his jeans back up and buttoned them again. “I’m glad I could be of assistance.”
She laughed as she lifted her water bottle and took a long gulp. She leaned her head against the window as night descended and the stars blinked to life. It was almost midnight when they pulled into a small, dirt strip on the side of the road. He parked behind Killean, and Simone and Declan pulled in behind him. Saber took up the rear position.
When they left the motel this morning, they agreed they wouldn’t get another room tonight. Instead, they would sleep in a rest area, away from cameras and people, before returning home tomorrow.
Lucien climbed out of the vehicle to reorganize Callie’s things in the back. He pushed the totes to the side before pulling down the back seats and spreading out a sleeping bag they bought earlier in the day.
While he worked, so did the others. They were soon set up in the small rest area. Killean and Simone took the first watch along with Asher.
Lucien claimed Callie’s hand and helped her into the back of the SUV before pulling the door closed behind them.
• • •
Callie bit back a cry as her head fell to the side, and she lifted herself higher until only her shoulders and head remained on the ground. Her legs dangled over Lucien’s shoulders as he knelt before her. He held her ass in the air while he tasted her.
If she’d known a little road head would result in this exquisite ecstasy, she would have done it every day of their travels, multiple times a day. When the last of her orgasm ebbed, Lucien lifted his head and kissed her thigh before piercing her flesh with his fangs.
His joy over feeding from her helped fuel hers. He lowered her to the floor of the vehicle and leveled himself over top of her. Callie smiled dazedly at him as his thumbs stroked her cheeks.
Lucien took in her flushed face, shining eyes, and smiled while he gazed at her. “I love you, Callista.”
Her eyes widened, and the smile she gave him revealed all of her straight, white teeth. Her joy was palpable in the small vehicle, and though it had taken him a long time to get the words out, he would say them every day for the rest of their lives if it meant seeing this look on her face again.
He should never have waited so long to say them, but he’d never uttered them before. His parents weren’t what he’d call loving. His father was downright vicious. That brutality had resided in Yannis and probably helped push him in the direction he’d chosen. His parents joining was not a love match; they came together, had children, and raised those children because….
Well, he did know why they decided to have children. They were both older vampires when he was born; perhaps, they were bored and looking to try something new, or maybe they feared their time would end soon and intended to leave their legacy behind in their children. If that was the case, they only hastened their deaths by having children.
His mother was kinder than his father, but only because she didn’t beat them like his father did. That man believed the only way to raise strong sons was to beat the strength into them. His mother thought it was better to ignore the abuse and her children.
There were times he could still feel his father’s blows, times when he could still feel the lash slicing through his flesh. Sometimes, during his ugliest moments, he understood why Yannis did what he did to them.
There were many times over the years when they still lived, that he’d contemplated doing the same thing to them. However, though his parents hadn’t instilled love in him, they had made it clear what would happen if he gave in to his malevolent urges.
Part of him had wanted to rebel against them and become the monster his father was determined to beat out of him, but the larger part already considered his father a monster and refused to become like him.
He also couldn’t do that to Coralie. His parents weren’t much better to her; his father didn’t beat her like he did his sons, but they both ignored her. Yannis was cruel to her only once before Lucien put an end to it, and then his brother had chosen to ignore her too.
He was all Coralie had, and he couldn’t abandon her by becoming the monster who killed their parents. No matter how horrible their situation was, she wouldn’t forgive him for it, and he couldn’t bear to see the condemnation and disappointment in her violet eyes.
Now, all that was behind him. Yes, Yannis was still out there, but in here, it was only him and Callie and his unbelievable love for her.
“I love you too,” she whispered.
He claimed her mouth as he entered her, and she encircled her legs around his waist. She clung to him while he whispered, “I love you,” in her ear and thrust deep within her.
Callie bit into his shoulder as she came with a loud cry. She clung to him as his muscles bunched around her. The pressure of his weight on her was deliciously erotic as his skin slid against hers and their bodies remained joined after he found his release.
Lowering his head to her shoulder, he inhaled her sweet aroma as he smoothed the hair back from her forehead. “When we get home, I’m going to claim you completely.”
Callie shivered at the delicious promise. “I can’t wait.”
Lucien reluctantly pulled out of her and rolled away. He tugged his clothes back on while he watched her dress. When they finished, they curled up together on the sleeping bag. He pulled her flush against him as they drifted off to sleep.