Awakened (Vampire Awakenings), page 27
She gasped softly as her hand fluttered to her throat. “Oh,” she said dully as realization sank in. “I see.”
“When I come back...” he grated.
Sera bit into her bottom lip. “I know.”
“Good.” He turned and walked from the room. He had to get away from her, now.
“Liam.” He froze in the doorway as her voice drifted over him. “Please be careful.”
“I will be.”
“I love you.”
He closed his eyes, clenched his jaw, and forced himself to leave before he couldn’t.
***
Sera gazed out the window as dusk descended. She had long ago retired to her room, unable to face Kathleen’s enthusiasm, Danielle’s bright laughter, and Mike, Doug, and Jack’s silent, pitying glances. Her own thoughts were in such turmoil that she could barely understand what they were saying to her, let alone try to function.
She turned away from the window and moved stiffly toward the bed. These were her last hours as a human, her last hours as a person. Despair filled her as she slumped to the mattress. She wondered if it would hurt. It was a little uncomfortable when Liam bit her, but not really painful. But he hadn’t taken it all before. He would now. When he changed her, when she died, would it hurt? It had too, dying couldn’t be easy.
She shuddered as she wrapped her arms around herself. She was sitting here, waiting for death to come, for her death. She should run, she should flee into the night, and never look back. But she couldn’t move. She had nowhere to run too, and even if she did, she knew that she would return to him.
It was the waiting that was killing her. The creeping by of minutes that was making her so edgy and frightened. She wondered where he was. She knew that he was safe, she could feel that, but she still wondered where he was, and when he would return for her. And would it hurt?
She bit into her bottom lip as she clasped her hands tightly. She could leave. If she left now, then she would be able to put some distance between herself and the cabin. There was another snowmobile, she could take that and go. No one would even know until it was too late.
A soft knock at the door caused her to jump. “Sera, are you okay?” Mike asked.
“Yes,” she called back.
“Let me know if you need anything.”
“I will.”
He had come down at least twenty times since she had locked herself in over two hours ago. She knew that he was just worried, but he was driving her insane. Her nerves were frayed enough without being startled every ten minutes by him. She should have gotten used to expecting him, but her thoughts were too discombobulated to even try to remember that Mike would be coming by.
She stood back up and began to pace the room. Suddenly she stopped, her head tilted to the side as she looked at the night beyond the window. Liam was back. She knew it, felt it. She walked slowly over and closed the blinds. Her hand trembled slightly as she stepped back. A steel cord of resolve strengthened her spine. She knew what she had to do.
***
Liam and David stomped the snow off their shoes as they entered the back porch. He quickly shed his wet winter clothes. It had taken hours, and miles of snow, but they had eventually found an open rest area. It had taken almost as long to wait for enough people to stop there but eventually they had. He’d fed until he couldn’t feed anymore, and then fed again.
He needed to make sure that he had enough for Sera; that she would get enough blood for everything to go smoothly. He had seen the things that got stuck in between human and vampire, and they were horrendous monstrosities. He would die before he allowed that to happen to her.
“You going to be okay?” David asked worriedly.
“Yeah.”
Now that he had fed, and the moment was nearly upon him, he was much calmer and more relaxed. He had nearly gone insane on the ride to the rest area, and had driven like a bat out of hell all the way back with the monster clawing at his insides. But now, here, he actually felt somewhat in control of himself again. For the first time since yesterday afternoon, he actually had a firm grip upon himself.
His heart contracted when he saw that Sera wasn’t in the living room. “You’re back!” Kathleen greeted brightly.
“Where’s Sera?” he demanded.
“In her room,” Kathleen replied. “Taking a nap.”
His gaze swung wildly to Mike. “You left her alone?” he snapped. The idea of it rattled his newly found composure.
“She’s perfectly capable of taking care of herself!” Kathleen retorted.
Liam’s jaw clenched, but he refused to look at her. “She’s fine,” Mike said. “I’ve been checking on her, and don’t forget I can sense Beth’s presence too.”
“Who’s Beth?” Danielle asked.
“Oh crap,” Jack moaned in disgust. “Good going Mike. I’m not doing it this time!”
“Doing what?” Kathleen demanded haughtily.
David chuckled under his breath as he stepped into the room. “Be gentle,” he mumbled to Liam. “I’ll do it,” he volunteered.
“Do what?” Kathleen and Danielle asked in unison.
Liam couldn’t help but laugh as he turned on his heel and headed down the hall. He paused at the door, suddenly hesitant. He didn’t know what would happen when he saw her. Didn’t know what he would do. He only hoped that he could keep himself under control for as long as this took. He didn’t want to hurt her anymore than was necessary, anymore than he already had.
He took a deep breath and pushed the door open. The room was dark, the blinds closed against the night. His eyes instantly adjusted to it. “Sera,” he said softly.
She was sitting on the bed, the blanket wrapped around her as she gazed at him with wide eyes. “I knew you were back,” she whispered. “I felt it.”
He frowned as he stepped into the room and closed the door. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. Did you succeed?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” The word caused his entire body to tighten. “Does it hurt?”
He wanted to tell her that it didn’t, but he couldn’t. “Yes.”
“A lot?” she asked tremulously.
“Sera,” he breathed.
“I’m not changing my mind. I’m just scared.”
“I understand that.”
“I wanted to leave. I wanted to run. I don’t want to die. But I couldn’t leave you. I couldn’t make my legs go. I just couldn’t.”
Her words brought the beast surging forth. He inhaled deeply, trying to calm it as his hand tightened upon the door handle. “I’ll try to make it as easy as possible on you.”
She stood slowly and moved toward him. The shadows shifted and moved around her as she stepped from their embrace. “I know you will.”
His hands shook as he seized hold of her shoulders. She smiled softly as she released the blanket. It slipped smoothly down her body to puddle on the floor at her feet. The shadows hugged every inch of naked flesh as her hair cascaded freely down her back in thick, golden waves. Her full breasts heaved with her quick inhalations. The white bandage covered her delicate skin from her collarbone to mid breast plate. The sight of it was enough to nearly drive him mad. His hands tightened upon her. She was trembling, but she didn’t move away from him.
“Make love to me,” she whispered. “Do it then.”
He groaned as her soft words shoved the creature aside and brought the man forth. He scooped her into his arms and carried her easily across the room. Depositing her on the bed, he fell on top of her in a heedless rush as his mouth seized upon hers. She whimpered as her hands dug into his hair. She pulled him tighter against her as her tongue intertwined wildly with his.
His hands stroked her breasts until her nipples hardened. Now that he was here, with her, he suddenly wanted to go slow, to savor every moment, and to relish in the feel of her. He wanted to memorize every inch of her glorious, silken body.
He kissed her lovingly as he tasted the sweetness of her mouth. Somewhere along the way she managed to slip his sweater over his head. She ran her hands lightly along the hard muscles of his back. They shifted and bunched beneath her gentle touch as she kissed, explored, and tasted him. The hair on his chest was wiry against her cheek; the bristles on his chin rubbed her delicate skin. She teased his nipples, bringing them to life as he had brought hers.
He kissed and explored her as he made love to her slowly with his fingers and his mouth. There was no urgency, no rush as he moved gently over her. Although she was trembling with anticipation, wet with need, he didn’t take her, and she didn’t rush him to do so.
His jeans were somehow removed. He rubbed his hard head against her temptingly wet sheath, but still didn’t bury himself within her. He wanted to spend the whole night feeling her, tasting her, teasing her, but her body became too tempting to refuse.
Sera trembled as he rubbed against her, and slid a little way in before pulling back out. She arched against him, moaning her dismay, and letting her urgency be known with her writhing movements. She needed him now. She wanted him to fill her, to stretch her, to be a part of her. He slid slowly in again, going a little further this time before pulling back out. She tightened her legs around his waist as she nipped at his shoulder to show her displeasure.
He chuckled softly as he slipped back into her. “I intend to drive you wild with want,” he whispered in her ear.
“You already are!” she gasped.
He slid back into her and buried himself to the hilt with a low groan of possession. Her legs tightened around him as she arched into him. He moved slowly within her, his mouth on hers as he made love to her with deliberate tenderness. His lips slid over her neck, her shoulders, her delicate collarbone and trembling breasts.
He moved his hand between their bodies and gently rubbed the hardened nub between her thighs. He watched as her eyes clouded with passion, her lip began to tremble, and her body bucked beneath him. She cried out as her hands tightened upon his back, and her muscles contracted deliciously around him.
His smile was pure satisfaction as her legs loosened, and she fell limp, and trembling, to the bed. She gazed dazedly at him as a content smile curved her full lips. “We’re not done love,” he murmured. Her eyes widened in surprise as she gazed at him. “Not by a long shot.”
He took possession of her mouth again as he began to move slowly within her again, leisurely sparking the fire of passion back to life. Sera was amazed to find her body responding to his again. She hadn’t known it was possible to feel so completely sated, and still want more. Yet as his hands stroked her, and his body moved within hers, she found herself swept up with him again.
He waited until he knew that she was close and he knew he could push her over the edge any time he wanted. He wished that he could go on like this all night, but his restraint was slipping further away with every soft moan and gasp of pleasure. She felt so good that it took all he had not to end his own torment and spill into her. But he intended to wait for her. This time, he would go with her.
He smoothed the hair back from her neck and his eyes latched onto the marks. The animal did not burst free, but came leisurely, and at his command. “It’s time Sera,” he whispered.
Her eyes were glazed as she nodded slowly. “Yes.”
He bent his head to her neck as she turned her head to allow him better access. He bit into her. Sera cried out softly as her hands dug into his back. He drove hard into her as her blood filled his mouth and flowed down his throat. She moaned as her body ground against his. As her blood flowed, he brought her to the brink of the abyss and with a final, deep thrust, he drove them both over.
She cried out as she fell back against the bed, her body trembling, weak, and very sedated. Liam held her shaking body as he felt the weakening within her. He also felt her utter trust, blissful contentment, and the unconditional, shocking amount of love that she possessed for him. Her hands on his back began to slacken, her grip on his waist eased. He was strengthened and calmed as he was filled with her.
Finally, he pulled away. She lay upon the bed, pale, and unmoving. Her lashes curled against her slender, delicate cheek. A sense of urgency enveloped him as he reached for the dagger he had left by the bed. He quickly made a cut against the base of his throat and scooped her up. He seized hold of her head and pulled her forward. Her head lolled back, a whimper escaped her as he lifted her to the blood on his neck.
“Drink Sera,” he ordered briskly.
For a moment she didn’t respond. Panic flared through him as his hand clenched tighter on her head. Had he taken too much? He had never done this before, but the demon inside had instinctively withdrawn from her when he had reached a certain point. He knew that he had taken enough to kill her, more than enough. He could hear the soft flutter of her heart as it beat weakly within her delicate ribcage. It was getting weaker with each passing second and slowed with every beat.
“Sera drink!”
The butterfly brush of her lips against his neck tightened his body. And then her mouth enclosed on him. He sighed with relief as his hands dug into her thick hair and cradled her skull. At first she simply lay and allowed the blood to drain into her. He could feel it slipping inside, drifting into her veins, and burning through her body.
Then, her hands clenched tightly upon his back, and she clamped down. Liam groaned with ecstasy as her mouth sucked at him. He was filling her in every way, making her his in every way. He grew hard inside of her, but didn’t move. Suddenly her mind filled his. Pleasure swamped him, followed by an urgent longing for more. There was no fear anymore as she bit harder. Liam’s hands clenched on her head as he ground his teeth against the urge to begin moving within her, to take her in every way again.
He pulled out of her, and she bit harder as her displeasure radiated through him. He didn’t have to tell her that this was the easy part, he was certain that she already knew; that she could feel it in him. She was growing sated on him as she neared the end. Her heart fluttered and skipped a beat. A fierce stab of pain ripped through her and tore into his mind. He groaned as she whimpered and trembled.
She was gasping as she fell back. “Sera it’s going to hurt, but it doesn’t last long.”
Her eyes were clouded and hazy as they met his. Her lips were swollen from his kisses, and covered with his blood. His finger lingered upon her luscious mouth as he wiped the blood away. Her body arched off the bed as a cry of agony tore from her. He buried his face in her hair as she bucked and kicked beneath him. He wished that he could take all of her pain away, absorb it into himself, but he couldn’t.
They all had to go through the agony of dying, and being reborn.
A scream tore from her throat as she twisted away from him and drew her legs up against her chest. He allowed her to twist to the side, but kept his arms wrapped tightly around her. She buried her head in his chest as shivers wracked her body. Sweat began to pour from her as she moaned and whimpered in agony.
He tried to soothe her, but there was nothing that he could do. She screamed again as her body jackknifed off the bed. He seized hold of her shoulders and pinned her back down. A wail erupted from her, her fingernails ripped into his forearms as she attempted to jerk free. Her head whipped wildly back and forth as she arched and bucked and withered.
A soft cry escaped from her as she curled back into a ball. Tears streaked her face as she lay sweating and shivering. Liam grabbed the blanket and wrapped her securely within it before drawing her tight against his chest. He knew from experience that the worst of it was over, but it would be a long time before the spasms and shooting pains subsided.
He soothed her damp hair from her face and lay beside her as he encircled her protectively. “It will be all right,” he promised. “The worst is over.”
She whimpered in response as another shudder wracked through her and she trembled within his grasp. “Hold on Sera. It will be all right.”
He continued to soothe her with his words and gentle touch. It was after two in the morning before she finally drifted to sleep. He lay awake long after, fighting against waves of self hatred and exultation. He had hurt her deeply. Even now, in her sleep, she whimpered and moaned every once in awhile. But no matter how much he hated himself for it, she was his, she was finally all his. No one would ever take her from him. Ever.
CHAPTER 19
Sera’s lids fluttered open and then closed again. She felt so weak, so drained and exhausted. She inhaled deeply as she tried to gather the energy to move. A million different scents assailed her at once. Apple, vanilla, cinnamon, wood, sex, and blood permeated the room. Beyond the door she could smell eggs, bacon, waffles, syrup, and butter. The smell of snow, and something feral and wild drifted in from outside.
She could hear the pots and pans in the kitchen, catch bits and pieces of the conversation being held there. Outside, a squirrel yelled angrily as it fled from its tree and crashed into another branch. Her eyes opened slowly. She could make out every grain of wood on the door, and see the scratches upon the brass handle.
She blinked in surprise and closed her eyes again. She was too tired to assimilate everything now. Liam lay beside her; his strong arms wrapped tightly around her as his hard body spooned against hers. She could smell herself on him, in him. She could hear the soft thumping of his heart, and the blood that pulsed through his veins.
“The world is different.”
She didn’t have to look at him to know that he was awake. “Yes, it is. It will take a little while to get used to, but eventually you’ll adapt.”
She nodded slowly. “It’s so loud.”
“That’s the worst part. I’ll teach you how to tune it out.”
“Soon?” she asked hopefully.
“Yes. How do you feel?”
He gently pushed back strands of her hair. She turned slightly to look at him. His face was as magnificent as she recalled, but suddenly she could see every bristly hair on his cheek, and jaw. She had thought his eyes a pure green, but there were soft flecks of gold within their depths. She frowned and closed her eyes again.
