Keeping an eye on Lyric, he nudged his nose along the womans jaw, following the rapid pulse that did not call to him. It was just a heartbeat.
He bent closer to her skin, drawing in the acrid scent of whiskey, yet beneath that something deeper lingered. Life. It gushed and throbbed. So unique how mortal blood took on the scents and taint of the things they consumed and put on their bodies, which was why it did not attract him. Ichor remained pure, no matter what the sidhe had consumed.
Remembering his captive, Vail glanced aside, pushing curls of red hair away to better see. His ice princess hadnt bitten her mark yet; she was prolonging the tease, working the mortal to a sexual frenzy. Spiced with adrenaline, it must make the blood hotter, perhaps even tastier.
And yet, it was just a tease. Vail maintained the staunch insistence ichor was the only sustenance for him. And it was. But a weird part of him, something he didnt want to examine too closely, suddenly tilted his head down to inhale the scent of mortal blood. It didnt smell awful. Actually, it smelled appealing, whiskey and all.
What was that about?
The woman read his subtle exploration incorrectly, and palmed his cock through his leather pants. That both pissed him off and pushed him over the edge hed been toeing since kissing Lyric earlier. The vampiress had gotten under his skin, and he had wanted to get under, into and all over her skinuntil shed touched her blood to his mouth.
Hed never take vampire blood.
Moans slipped from Lyrics mouth now, her mark matching the sensual tones. Scent of jasmine and cherries distracted Vail from the mortal womans whiskey perfume. She kissed the edge of his mouth, but he didnt want her sloppy attempt at intimacy.
Swoon for me, he whispered, penetrating her mind with persuasion. You feel so good. Better than youve ever felt.
Kiss me back, she murmured. Dont you want me?
The persuasion was not working. Why couldnt he utilize the thrall in the mortal realm? Was it akin to the power Hawkes insisted he claim?
He considered dusting her, but mortals didnt drop like vamps, they usually went into a swoony kind of reel.
Pressing his fingers along her neck, he found the subclavian nerve below her clavicle and increased pressure. Just a second or two Sleep took her quickly. She relaxed in his arms.
He dropped the woman noiselessly at his feet. He glanced to the vanthe mortal man hugged the rear fender, delirious. Blood ran from his mouth.
The vampiress was gone.
Vail leaped over the sprawled female and tilted the mans head to the side. Did she bite you?
Bite me? Dude, she punched me. Think she knocked out a tooth. Whats up with that?
What was up was that the wily vampiress had been waiting for him to drop his guard so she could escape.
Stone-headed vampire! he cursed himself.
Trotting along the row of parked cars, he spied a large gap in the chain link. Ducking through, Vail emerged in the pristine parking lot of a car dealer. Hundreds of cars were parked row after militant row. Perfect place for a vampiress to hide.
Vail kicked a tire and swore again. His cell phone rang and he angrily tugged it out from a front pocket and answered. What?
It was Rhys Hawkes wanting an update. At one oclock in the morning. Their kind did keep odd hours.
I had her. Yes, the Santiago chick. But I lost her. His eyes scanned the cars, searching for movement. She couldnt have gotten far. Yes, I know. Ill get her back. But she says she fenced the dress.
We need that bloody gown, Rhys muttered. When you find her, you put the screws to her to get her to talk. Torture her if you have to.
With pleasure. Ill call you tomorrow, Hawkes, he said, and snapped the phone shut.
Torture, eh? This job was turning into a real riot.
A rail train rumbled by, the horn blaring as it passed a nearby crossing. Ducking and eyeing the cars at hood and trunk level, Vail didnt spy anything out of place. So, he lay on his back, looking heavenward. He turned his head left. No feet or crouched bodies tucked behind a wheel. And then right. A pair of red heels peeked out from behind a rear tire. Gotcha.
LYRIC WOKE AND WRINKLED her nose. Mildew. Smelled like that damned awful bed in the apartment where shed been squatting.
Her wrists stung and her jaw hurt. Then she remembered looking up at Vails kick-ass snakeskin boots. Hed found her crouched behind an SUV. Thanks to a passing train, she hadnt heard his approach. Asshole.
She worked her jaw back and forth, wincing. When she tried to reach for the painful spot, her hands tugged against something that wouldnt budge.
She tilted her head back. Her wrists were bound to an old iron headboard with a leather belt. She lay on the bed. Bound.
CHAPTER FIVE
GET ME OFF HERE!
Now, now. Vails teasing grin appeared above Lyrics face. He must have been sitting right beside the bed the whole time. He stroked her cheek. Weve fun stuff to do before I release you. Im going to make you sing the name of your fence.
Letting out a frustrated growl, Lyric blurted, Never happen.
Well see.
He produced a knife from inside one of his boots and flicked out the blade. Like that was supposed to scare her? Pressing the tip to the neckline of her dress, he performed a deft move that opened the jersey to reveal her breasts.
Pretty. And no lacy things to hide them. Bet you like to have them licked, eh?
If you touch me
What? Youll succumb to my command? Youll cream in the pretty little panties I know youre not wearing? How easily do you come, Lyric? Just a few licks?
The arrogance of him!
He leaned down and lashed his tongue across one of her nipples. Despite her anger, Lyric gasped. His slick, wet tongue sent shivers through her breasts and arms. Mercy, that felt good.
She twisted her head away from his keen observation of her every flinch. Dont do this.
You want me to stop? Blue eyes sought hers, his mouth but a breath from her wet nipple. Tell me your fences name.
Never.
His tongue lashed slowly about her nipple, taking exquisite time in circling it, and then he sucked it in.
Lyric squeezed her eyelids shut and held back another breathy gasp. Nothing felt better than this. If this was his method of torture, she could get behind it one hundred percent. But the only talking shed be doing was a bold cry when she came.
His teeth grazed her other nipple. Her chest hummed and the tingle of want shot down to her belly and lower. She tugged against the restraints. This was not fair!
A languorous suckle drew up a moan to her tongue. She arched her back to receive further torture, but when she didnt feel the next lash of heat, she opened her eyes to find him waiting for her.
You want it? he teased.
Hell, no. She sank into the bed. Two could play this game. But the air cooling her wet nipples only worked to tighten them more and increase her desire. Thought you didnt like vampires?
I dont drink their blood. But I can appreciate a gorgeous woman, vampire or not. And your breasts arestone me, they are perfection. I guess that makes me a breast man, eh?
Hallelujah! Oh, Lyric, dont succumb.
The next lash devastated her stalwart resistance and Lyric lifted her chest to accept his exquisite punishment. Her fingers curled about the leather strap binding her hands, but being bound no longer frightened herit turned her on.
His tongue was hot and masterful, and he made it soft and then firm to draw it expertly across her flesh. So close to some kind of giddy release, she pressed her legs together but couldnt quite achieve the squeeze that would make her come.
Not a tough torturer, if you ask me, she said on short breaths.
Torturers, by nature, get off on their jobs. Im no different. This is really getting you off, isnt it?
Bloody Mary, she swore.
Uh-uh. One shouldnt invoke the name of the dark princes girlfriend unless they wish Himself to pay a visit.
Id prefer him over you right now.
Oh, I doubt it.
True. Himself was the devil. No vampire ever invoked his name three times unless they wanted to deal with Hell.
Vail sat back and hooked a finger at the vee in her dress where the cut ended just above her belly button. With a tug, the jersey parted down to the hem. Doesnt take much to get you wet, eh?
Lyric struggled against the belt. She was strong, but so was leather.
She held her thighs tightly together as his fingers trailed the crease formed between each leg and her mons. The soft tickle of his fingers feltdamn, it felt great. And the skim of his cold metal rings stirred her flesh to goose bumps.
Her hard, ruched nipples pleaded for more attention, and he noticed. Vail flicked his thumb over one of them. Much to her horror, Lyric gasped. She couldnt stop from showing her arousal. Damn her. And damn him.
I like the taste of your skin, he said, and lowered his mouth to her breast again.
He suckled her as if he was enjoying a dessert, rolling her nipple between his lips and tonguing it rapidly, then more slowly, then tending her entire breast. He kissed every curve of each of her breasts until she wondered if a woman could come simply from breast stimulation alone. It was beginning to feel possible.
And she didnt notice shed relaxed her legs until she felt the soft trace of Vails finger mount the apex of her thighs. Testing, teasing, taunting her with his presence, the promise of something more.
She moved her legs together, but a slap of his palm to her thigh stopped her.
Keep them open, he said around her nipple. You want this, Lyric.
She shook her head. Oh, yes, you do.
A lift of his eyebrow provided the sexiest expression she had ever seen on a man. And the curl at the right side of his mouth was this bad boys signature move. Devastating. Then stop me, he said.
Stopping him meant giving him the information he wanted. Not as easy as he imagined it could be. Especially if no name existed. But she wasnt about to reveal that little white one.
Because that would make him stop.
Letting out a moan, Lyric didnt care if the ice princess mutinied. Desire undermined her resolve and weakened her concern for secrecy. Besides, without a secret name to reveal, she neednt worry about shouting it out at the brink of climax.
And, oh there. She sucked in her lower lip as Vails finger slowly entered her wet depths, and then moved back out to slick across her clitoris. Softly exploring. A rub back and forth, and a slow but firm slide in the other direction. All sensation hummed at her core, bringing her closer
He needed to press deeper, to focus on her ultrasensitive apex, yet he merely teased. Around in circles, and along her folds, and returning to her swollen clit to demonstrate what she could have if only
If only.
You like this, Lyric?
Yes, she gasped, then closed her eyes and shook her head. She didnt want to talk. Satisfaction. Thats what she needed. Why wouldnt he give it to her? You do, too, Vail.
Of course I do. Your body is amazing, your breasts so full. He kissed each one, following with a lick. Your nipples are so hard I could suck them for hours, devour them like the cherries of which you smell.
Please do, she thought. Dont ever stop. She was still so hungry, having forgone the mortals blood. Climax would be a fine replacement for what she craved.
And youre so wet. You like it when I put my finger inside you?
She nodded, breaths coming as rapid whimpers.
Right here, he whispered, his lips against her neck now, right over the vein. Still his finger merely circled the spot she wanted him to master. A little harder?
Please, she chirped.
Pretty please?
Mmm, she managed. Vail, please.
And then his finger was gone. The tingle at her nipple ceased. The heat of his mouth left her skin.
Lyric breathed, waiting. Her body hummed, wanting, desiring, needing.
Name, he said sternly.
Fuck. No. She couldnt. She didnt have
She wanted. She needed to get off. Squirming on the bed, she couldnt manage to bring her hips up to meet his hovering hand. The bastard wouldnt bring her to the brink like this and then walk away, would he?
So the torturer did know his craft.
If her hands were free, shed finish herself off and not be the least ashamed. Pressing her thighs together, she mined the sweet hum of orgasm. It remained elusive, demanding Vails direct and firm touch.
Uh-uh. He nudged her thighs apart. Not that way, sweetie. You want to come? Name.
Vincent Lambert, she blurted out. Hell, shed seen the last name on a movie poster recently, and the first name was common enough.
The mattress jiggled as Vail stood and strode to the counter. Grabbing the cell phone, he punched in some numbers.
Lyric crashed, heaving and gasping as if tears would spill free. The high of arousal withered away and her flesh prickled again, not from desire, but from the lack of touch, of expected satisfaction. Her wet nipples cooled and the aching loss of heat softened them. She pressed her legs together.
No. Not worth it now without him directing the fireworks. And she wouldnt let him witness her weakness. God, how had she managed to get herself into a situation like this? So vulnerable!
She twisted her wrists within the leather strap, to no avail.
Vail asked the operator to give him the address of Vincent Lambert.
Good luck with that.
Thanks, he said, and hung up. Youre in luck. Theres a Vincent Lambert in the fourteenth quarter. Got the address.
Seriously? Whew.
Vail walked to the bed and loomed over her, hands propped at his hips. Now, what to do with you?
SHED GIVEN HIM what hed requested. He should head out for the fourteenth and nab the gown from the fence. Return the damned thing to Hawkes, hand over the girl to Mommy, and then he could finally get the information he wanted from his uncle. One problem.
The naked woman lying on the bed before him writhed and gasped with the need to get off. And he wanted to help her with that. Because those soft, round breasts surely required more licking. And her molten hot body demanded he fill her with the hard-on hed suffered for the past twenty minutes.
What had become of his hatred for vampires?
You dont have to bite her.