Chapter 9

 

 

 

“The sun has risen, and I need to rest.” Parnell stood and crossed the short distance between us. “I should not ask this of you, but would you like to lay with me? I would prefer you stay here for the day, where I know you are safe, and I would like nothing more than to feel your warm body next to mine.”

“Nothing more?” I arched my brows.

His smile was sad. “At the moment, yes. Apparently, telling truths I’ve kept mostly to myself for a century is quite exhausting. Especially when it is done at sunrise.”

He held out his hand and, of course, I was powerless to resist. If he thought his confession would make me like him less, he was a fool. Oh no, I was certain I’d fallen even more for the man. Problem was, I understood why he told me that story, and now I didn’t know what to do. I still wanted to be with him, but there was no way in hell I could ask him to turn me so we could be together forever.

And did I even want to? While I’d never given much thought to falling in love and getting married and having babies—other than to acknowledge it wasn’t high on my to-do list—I supposed it was something that was expected. And now that Anya was a vampire, it left me to carry on our genes. Like Parnell, I was the last in my family, too.

Well, that wasn’t entirely true. I had cousins, a couple on my dad’s side and a bunch on my mom’s. The Sinclair name, my parents’ genes, wouldn’t disappear from this world if I chose to become a vampire.

But would I, at some point, develop the urge to want my own children? Parnell now had to live for all of eternity with those regrets. I could only imagine what that felt like, day in and day out. Did I want to take the chance I’d feel the same way?

I didn’t know the answer. But I couldn’t resist what he offered now: a chance to snuggle with him, to fall asleep by his side, like we’d done for six glorious months. The only six months of my life I’d been truly happy.

He led me back to the bedroom, where he stripped to his boxers before sliding under the thick, downy comforter. I hesitated and then pulled the dress over my head, climbing in next to him in my bra and panties. His eyes flared with hunger, but he only tucked the blanket under me and wrapped his body around me from behind, spooning me. I lay my head on the pillow and sighed as his arm snaked around my midsection and his hand curled up next to my breast.

I wanted, I wanted, I wanted…hell, I didn’t know what I wanted. I wanted to be happy, I supposed, but how did I accomplish that? Before telling me his story, Parnell had offered to send me to Hollywood. It was a dream I’d wanted since I was a kid watching the Disney Channel.

But if I chose that route, Parnell would no longer be in my life, at least not in the way I wanted. But the way I wanted him—sharing my bed as well as my life—wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair to him or myself. All because he’d been turned without his prior knowledge, so he could have made the decision himself.

Life—and death—really weren’t fair sometimes.

***

I surfaced from sleep when I realized that sensation of someone kneading my breast wasn’t actually a dream. Opening my eyes, I glanced down at Parnell’s hand, shoved into my bra, cupping my breast, tweaking my nipple. Shifting slightly, I felt the telltale hardness of his erection, pressing against my ass. The sun must be setting. Parnell had always awakened as a horny vampire. When we were together, it had been a rare day that I’d been able to climb out of bed before being ravished first. Not that I’d ever complained.

Nor was I now. I should, of course. I should roll away before this progressed, to halt the guilt he’d undoubtedly feel afterward. Hell, I probably would feel it too, now that I knew his history.

But oh, did it ever feel good when he rolled my nipple between his thumb and forefinger like that…

I felt the sweep of his hair against my shoulder a moment before the gentle scrape of his fang along my neck. I canted my head, silently offering him the vein, but all he did was nibble the skin without piercing it. His hand slid down, over my belly, until his fingers slipped under the elastic of my panties. He cupped my core, leisurely stroking my outer lips, and my hips moved restlessly.

When his finger finally slid through my arousal and penetrated me, I reached back and cupped his ass, digging my fingers into his skin while he stroked the fire inside me. He shifted, his cock sliding against my backside. With his lips and tongue on my neck, his fingers delving in and out, and his erection teasing me from behind, I was climbing higher and higher, my body tensing, my breathing becoming erratic as I scrabbled against the sheet, against his leg, straining to take his fingers deeper so that I could finally find release.

And then he abruptly moved, turning me slightly so that my face was pressed into the pillows. He tugged my panties to the side and thrust into me from behind. I cried out, my voice muffled by the pillow. Then he rolled onto his back, taking me with him so that I lay a top him, facing the ceiling, with his cock filling me and his fingers stroking me. When I felt the slight sting of his fangs sinking into my skin, I climaxed so spectacularly, I swear I was floating in space for a few seconds before I gently drifted back to earth with a gusty sigh.

After his hips slowed to a stop, he turned to the side, once again spooning me, while he licked the wounds created by his fangs, healing them with his saliva. “I’m sorry,” he murmured when he was done. “It seems I cannot resist you, Abigail, no matter how hard I try.”

I rolled over to face him, cupping his face to force him to make eye contact. “I understand. I have the same problem.”

His lips twisted into a wry smile.

“I don’t know what to do,” I whispered. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but I love you. And I know that only complicates this thing further.”

He stroked a finger along my cheek. “Not really. I’ve known how you felt for a long time. Selfishly, I might have held onto you longer, but I know your heart has gotten tangled. I sent you away when I did to stop this thing before we both fell too deep.”

“You need to work on your timing.”

He chuckled and rolled over onto his back. “What do we do now, my sweet Abigail? I don’t want to let you go again, but you know this cannot last.”

“I know.” This was so unfair. I’ve never felt closer to him, yet this bliss was temporary. I was no longer certain I was willing to give up my humanity to be with him. If I waited, stayed with him to see if perhaps this sensation was short-lived, I might miss my opportunity to become an actress. Hollywood was a fickle town, and I would only be young and beautiful once.

“I don’t even know if I still want to be an actress,” I confessed.

Parnell’s eyes widened. “You told me you’ve dreamed of doing that since you were a child.”

“I know. But that was before…” I flapped my hand listlessly.

“Okay, enough of this melancholy. As bittersweet as it is, for the first time since I was turned, I feel…happy. Well, that’s not true. I was happy when we were together before. But it’s different this time. More intense. Perhaps it’s because I was finally honest with you about my past. At any rate, you must be hungry. Why don’t we delay the inevitable for one more night? Let’s shower, then I will take you to this restaurant I’m told is marvelous, so I can stare at you while you eat. And while I do that, I shall concoct a variety of positions for us to try once you’ve had your fill of food. Then we’ll retire to my home where we’ll strip out of our clothes at the door. I’m thinking it should be a bedless night.”

“Bedless?”

He nodded solemnly. “We can make love anywhere except the bed, from this point forward.”

I laughed, even as my insides warmed at his words. Make love. Not sex, not fucking, but making love.

Why couldn’t this last forever?

“Come, my darling.” He climbed out of bed, lithe as a cat, and held out his arm. When I placed my hand in his, he gave it a tug, pulling me to him. He caught me and lifted my legs, wrapping them around his hips, and then he carried me to the bathroom.

Holding me with one arm, he reached into the glass-encased shower stall and twisted the knob to turn on the water. Then he placed me on my feet and reached behind my back, deftly flicking the clasp on my bra and freeing my breasts. Hooking his thumbs into my panties, he lowered himself, dragging the silk and lace with him, trailing kisses along my skin as he did so. Once I was free of all clothing, he straightened and kissed each corner of my mouth.

I smiled and said, “I suspect I’m going to come again.”

Laughing, he ushered me into the steam-filled shower and closed the door. “Most certainly, my sweet. Without question. No, there is a question.” He paused while he touched my lips then trailed his fingers down, toying with my nipples, before going lower and stroking the fire once again growing within me. “How do you prefer to come?”

“Um…” Water streamed over my heated body while his fingers toyed with me and one leg lifted involuntarily to wrap around his calf. And then he pulled his hand away and pressed his fingers to my lips.

“Which do you want, love? Fingers, cock, or—” He tugged at my bottom lip until I opened, and then he thrust his fingers into my mouth.

I sucked the water and cum from him; my gaze never left his. “Definitely your mouth.”

He tapped my lips. “My delightfully naughty Abigail.” And then he dropped to his knees.

He took his time, running his hands up and down my legs, occasionally going high enough to squeeze a breast before returning to the task at hand. Er, mouth. With my back pressed against the wet tiles and the water steaming down on us, he leaned forward and delivered the tiniest kiss to the inside of each thigh. Then he lifted one of my legs and draped it over his shoulder, and I was forced to grasp the towel rack to keep my balance.

He spread my lips with his fingers, revealing my ever-eager pussy. The skin was so sensitive the splash of hot water made me wince, at least until he leaned forward and pursed his lips before covering my nub, flicking it with his tongue and making me cry out as I arched and desperately wished this would never, ever end.

Ever.

“Don’t stop,” I demanded when his focus shifted slightly lower and he thrust his tongue into me, mimicking sex. “Don’t you dare.”

He tongue fucked me, then moved to suckling my nub, then abruptly switched back to stabbing his tongue into me. My eyes crossed, my heart damn near exploded, and my hand fisted his hair while I ground his face into my groin and climaxed, my body balanced on one toe with my other leg wrapped around his neck and my other hand clinging to the towel bar.

Dear God, the man had a magic tongue.

“Why, thank you,” he said as he straightened to a standing position. Apparently, I said those words out loud.

“Now, I think I’d like some of the same.”

I glanced down at his erection, so stiff and swollen it was purple. Lifting my gaze, I licked my lips and then shimmied down his body until I was eye-level with his oh-so-tasty lollipop.

“Oh yes,” I said, stroking his balls and taking him into my mouth without even bothering to be coy about it. His groan was deep and guttural as he cupped my head and encouraged me to take him deeper.

Oh yes. I couldn’t say the words this time because my mouth was full.

Wrapping my lips around him, I sucked while pulling away until only the bulbous tip was in my mouth, the tensing of his body telling me he was close. Real close. I suckled the head while teasing the underside with my tongue, until his nails dug into my scalp almost painfully, and then I took him deep again, sucking him all the way in while gently scraping my fingernails over his balls. He shouted a bunch of words that sounded like another language while his warm cum spurted into my mouth and I swallowed him down, greedy for more and more, until he stopped pulsing and his fingers relaxed in my hair.

Gently, I released him and sat back on my haunches, but he bent and pulled me to my feet, hugging me to him while his fangs stabbed my skin and he drank greedily until I made a noise of protest. I hadn’t eaten in probably twenty-four hours at this point, and I was getting lightheaded.

Extracting his fangs, he hurriedly licked at the wounds, murmuring “sorry” between scrapes of his tongue.

“I just need food,” I said when he snagged a washcloth and lathered it with soap. “And coffee.”

“This part will be quick,” he promised, and then he soaped me up, then himself, and washed my hair while I hummed with pleasure. When we were done, he turned off the water, but before opening the shower door, he pulled me into another hug, this time simply holding me. No words, no fangs, no sexual innuendos. Just…us. Exactly as I wished it could always be.

No, not thinking about that right now. Tonight was for making memories, ones we would both cherish long after we’ve gone our separate ways. There would be no melancholy, no sadness. I’d save all of that for when he’s gone, when I was trying to make it in Hollywood.

When I was trying to pretend my heart wasn’t broken into a thousand irreparable pieces.

***

I had one outfit that was remotely appropriate for a cool evening in September in Chicago: leggings and a long sweater. That was what I’d worn the day I left for Jamaica. Not even a week ago, yet it felt like a lifetime.

While I primped, Parnell dressed in a pair of slacks and a button-down shirt, rolling the cuffs over his forearms, which for some reason stirred my insides and made me consider luring him back to the bedroom again.

Except I was really, really hungry.

My phone rang with a number I didn’t recognize, just as we were exiting the plane. “Hello?”

“Abby? It’s Tilde. I’m in Chicago.” She sounded scared. I stopped walking and pushed Parnell’s hand away when he tried to herd me into a waiting car.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Can you meet me? Somewhere. I don’t even know where. I don’t know this city. I’m at the airport.”

“So are we.” I glanced at Parnell. “Where’s the nearest coffee shop?”

“I’m not taking you to dinner at a coffee shop.” He sounded so insulted I laughed. “No, to meet Tilde.”

“Tilde?” Parnell said at the same time Tilde said, “Who are you talking to?”

“I’m with Parnell,” I explained, then to Parnell I said, “I’ll explain in a minute.”

“No,” Tilde said. “No one else. Just you and me. Please, Abby.” Fear permeated her voice.

I hated the idea of interrupting our date night, especially if it might be our last one, but I couldn’t turn my back on a friend, not when she sounded so frightened.

“Look, I’ve called an Uber. You said you’re at the airport too? Where are you? I’ll have him pick you up. Tell your boyfriend you’ll meet him later. This won’t take long. I just really need to talk to you. It’s…it’s about Jorge.” Her voice dropped to a whisper when she said his name.

“Okay, okay.” I glanced over my shoulder. “I’m at one of the hangars. The name on the building is Devlan Enterprises.”

I heard a muffled conversation for a moment, and then Tilde said into the phone, “The driver says that’s a secure area, so you need to meet us somewhere else. He says he can pull up to the gate, if you want to have your boyfriend drop you off there.”

My boyfriend. That sounded so odd and yet perfect. If only it were true.

“Um, okay. Let me fill Parnell in on what’s going on and I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Thanks, Abby. I really appreciate this. More than you know.”

The call disconnected and I turned to Parnell, prepared to do battle. Given his fear over Hollis, I doubted he would be overly willing to let me go off on my own with a human friend, especially after dark.

“Tilde is coming to pick me up. She wants to talk, just the two of us. Which I know you won’t let me do. So here’s my compromise: I’ll get in the car with her, and you follow us in your own car. That way, she feels safe telling me whatever she needs to say, and you can watch me and ensure I’m safe. And when I’m done with her, we’ll get a pizza and take it back to your place, so we can make up for lost time.” I smoothed my hand over the front of his shirt, enjoying the feel of his muscles under my skin, and stood on tiptoe so I could kiss him.

He allowed the kiss but didn’t participate. “I don’t like this.”

“I know. And I understand. But when we left her in Jamaica, she said the life she left behind was worse than what was happening at that resort. My guess is she needs help getting back on her feet.”

“I can help.”

God, I loved this vampire. “I know, and I appreciate your offer. And I’ll probably take you up on it. But let me find out what’s going on first, okay? Just make sure you follow us,” I added, not because I was worried, but because I knew he was. I’ve never met Hollis, and none of us knew if he was even aware of my existence, so I wasn’t concerned he’d spot me sitting in a coffee shop with Tilde. But I had to ease Parnell’s mind.

He looped his arm around my back and pulled me flush against his body, then delivered a hard kiss before staring down at me and saying, “Do not do anything stupid. Hollis is not to be taken lightly. Not even remotely.”

“I won’t,” I said instead of the half dozen snarky responses that popped into my head. But Parnell was clearly not in the mood for sarcasm or witty comments.

He opened the passenger side door of a sleek, black Jaguar XJS, waited for me to be seated, and then strode around to slide into the driver’s seat. A few moments later, we pulled up to a gate and Parnell waved a key card in front of a mechanical arm sticking out next to the road, which caused the automatic gate to jerk and then slowly drag across the pavement until he was able to drive the car out of the secure area.

That’s when all hell broke loose.