Part 1: Mate's Lore Page 5

  “My parents died when I was sixteen.”

  Brant made a growling noise. His eyes were angry. “I’m sorry you had such a thing happen to you.” His hand stroked her arm. His eyes urged her to continue.

  “I lived with my aunt until I was eighteen and have made it on my own ever since. At twenty one I received a small inheritance. I used the money to buy a book store. Every minute the store is closed I risk losing it. It hasn’t been doing so well lately.”

  “Leave it with me. Don’t let it worry you.” His voice had the ability to calm her, yet she pushed away at its comforting effect.

  “You don’t understand…the store is all I have—”

  “Listen to Brant. He will take care of it.” Stephany’s eyebrows were raised, her beautiful blue eyes earnest.

  “It’s not just that. I didn’t ask for this. I’m still not sure about this whole mating thing. I’m not ready to be a mother and I definitely don’t want to die.” It all came gushing out. This was so the wrong place, but she couldn’t help it. “Now you tell me I’m some sort of forbidden fruit to other vampires until we seal the deal. It’s damned if I do and damned if I don’t.”

  “Is the thought of mating me so bad to you?”

  Tanya hated that sad look that clouded his face.

  “It’s not that.”

  “Brant would rather die than hurt you. The coven would prefer that you start having heirs immediately, but it can wait…not too long, but it can wait.” Stephany clasped her wrist.

  “I don’t think I can do it. Please just let me go home.”

  “We will mate, Tanya.” His voice was soft but the words were delivered with determination. “I have given you a choice as to when it will happen, but there is no choice as to whether or not it will happen. Am I clear?” He probably didn’t realize that he had pulled her flush against his body. Her breasts flattened against his chest. Her hands were on his broad shoulders.

  She nodded, not trusting her voice.

  “I will have you.” His eyes burned. Hungry. Hooded with desire.

  “You don’t have a choice.” Stephany’s voice seemed to make him snap out of it and he released her, turning her so that her back was against him. “Your desire to mate will grow with each passing day. You need Brant just as he needs you. Trust that you are meant to be together. Don’t think on human terms. Humans need time to court before they find their mates. It is unnecessary with vampires. Brant would’ve known the moment he laid his senses on you.”

  “So I really don’t have a choice?” The silly thing was, if Brant had approached her in a club she would’ve been all over him like white on rice. Not like she was a slut or anything, but heck Brant was just so utterly male…so yummy he had her mouth watering for a taste.

  “No choice,” he whispered in her ear. His hot breath doing strange things to her insides. Part of her hated the fact that he had that effect on her, while the other part reveled in it.

  “I need you to take Tanya home safely. Xavier will accompany you,” Brant said to Stephany.

  Her eyes narrowed. “You have such little faith in yourself. You were just a boy dammit. When are you going to forgive yourself?”

  “Leave it alone. I know what I’m doing.”

  Tanya twisted her head to catch a look of Brant’s face. His eyes were narrowed at Stephany. Whatever had gotten the female vamp so upset could not be good.

  “I highly doubt that. I don’t blame the human for her lack of faith in you.” Stephany ran a hand through her hair.

  Brant released his hold on her. “I need to have a quick chat with Stephany.” He spoke through clenched teeth, his eyes never leaving the vampire.

  Before she could argue or even pull in a breath, they were on the other side of the bar in a heated argument. Stephany gestured wildly.

  Another much less welcome voice whispered into her ear. “He’s staying so that he can drink from me.”

  So not letting her get to me.

  “I orgasm every time he sinks those perfect fangs into me,” Alexandra purred. “I just can’t help it.”

  “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “Brant was mine before you came along. He’ll always be mine.” Her eyes blazed. “You’re nothing more than a pet to him. One he can fill with his young. A baby making pet. Once he’s had you enough times, filled you with his seed, he’ll come running back to this.” She cocked her hip and pushed out her perfect bite sized breasts.

  “I’m about to become his mate which is more than you’ll ever be.” Tanya knew she shouldn’t sink to this female’s level, but she couldn’t help herself.

  Alexandra put manicured nails onto her waist. Her eyes narrowed to hard slits. “Listen up human.” She spat the word like it tasted bad. “Have you looked in the mirror lately?” She pulled a face and wriggled her pert nose in disgust. “You were chosen because of your…build. Perfect for incubating heirs. Just look at those wide hips and overly large mammary glands.”

  Tanya felt like sucking in her tummy even more than she already was, and unfortunately she couldn’t help but to wrap her arms across her chest. Alexandra’s eyes gleamed and a wide self-satisfied smile slowly took residence on her face.

  “He will drink from me and there is nothing you can do to stop it.”

  Tanya willed herself to drop her arms, to square her shoulders and to take a step towards the vampire. “I will be his mate and bare his heirs, which is better than being a blinged up sippy cup. All you are to Brant is a quick fast food meal.”

  Alexandra made an incredulous sound and quick as a flash had closed the space between them, hand raised.

  “Touch her and die.” Brant’s voice had ice filling her veins even though she knew the animosity wasn’t directed at her. “You no longer work for me and have until the end of the week to move out.”

  “Brant, I wouldn’t have struck her. She—”

  “Was simply stating the facts. You seem to have forgotten your place.”

  “It won’t happen again.” Her eyes were wide…pleading.

  “You’re right it won’t.” His warm hand clasped Tanya’s and they made for the exit. Xavier and York flanked them. It wasn’t easy keeping up with his long strides. She wobbled a few times on her stilettos. Brant wrapped his arm around her waist and tucked her into the crook of his arm, practically carrying her.

  The moment they were in the back of his vehicle he turned his full attention on her.

  Chapter 5

  The SUV pulled away. Though Brant, who at first had seemed to have had a lot to say to her, now looked out the opposite window. His body was a tense silhouette against the back drop. Even with minimal light, she could see that his jaw was locked. Ten minutes later, nothing had changed. She was beginning to get seriously irritated at his continued silence. Especially since the whole Alexandra thing had been his fault. Just as she was about to give mister tall, dark and irritating a piece of her mind, he turned to face her.

  “What were you thinking provoking her like that?”

  “She provoked me first.”

  “She’s a vampire. Could’ve snapped you like a twig.” His jaw worked. “If I had lost you.” He turned blazing eyes on her for a few seconds before looking out the side window again. His back was set, every muscle tense.

  “You were going to drink from her again. That’s why you and Stephany were arguing.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “You would’ve hurt me if you’d taken from her again. Don’t you see that?” She bit on her lip for a few beats. “You won’t injure me.” Her voice came out sounding timid. How would he ever believe her if she didn’t believe herself? “Did something happen in your past to make you think that you would?”

  “I almost killed someone once.”

  “A human?”

  “I was young, stupid. I wanted to taste of —as you humans would call it—the forbidden fruit. Surely the prince would be capable of maintaining control. I was so arrogant,

  damn ed stupid.” He laughed without any humor. “Well…I almost killed her. It took three of my friends to pull me off.” He ran a hand through his hair.

  “Look…you…me…this…” She gestured between them. “It’s happening. Whether I like it or not. I didn’t ask to be here. It would be best if you remembered that.” It was so difficult to talk about this stuff. “If this is to work.” She shook her head not believing what she was saying. “You really need to know that I don’t like sharing. It’s really as simple as that. I refuse to share you.” She found that she didn’t feel in the least bit guilty about that now that she had started to accept the situation. Going forward though, it would be on her terms.

  Brant’s mouth pulled into a half smile before becoming serious. “Are you saying you want me?” His voice had dropped a gazillion octaves. The vibration washed over her like mulled wine.

  Tanya folded her arms. Brant dropped his gaze to her cleavage. His body tightened, those long dark lashes practically fused as his lids hooded.

  “Yes,” she squirmed in her seat. “I do, but not while you’re drinking from Alexandra or any other female for that matter. You drink from me and you will be having sex with nobody but me. I refuse to continue on this crazy path otherwise.”

  Tanya hoped that he would agree. Aside from her store, there was nothing to go back to. Becky could come and visit. She could think of worse things than becoming the sexy vampire’s mate. She may have been a little off balance for a bit there, who could blame her? But things were going to change. She was going to have a big say in her own future. Brant would need to deal or she was gone. It was as simple as that.

  ****

  Brant swallowed hard, lifting his dark eyes to meet hers. He was secretly thrilled that she had staked her claim on him. At the same time, doing this her way could end in her death. “We need to do this in stages. Alternating sex and drinking frequently until I feel strong enough to handle both.” He had to work to keep his voice even. Especially when his cock sprang to life at the thought of tasting her, of sinking deep inside her, with both cock and fang. “Too much too fast and—”

  “Yeah, yeah…I die. You had your friends help out before with the human, so why not have them around again?”

  A low growl resonated from inside his chest. “I don’t share well either.”

  “No, silly. Your guards can be prepared to intervene. They don’t have to be in the room with us.”

  Xavier coughed into his hand. His way of letting Brant know that he wasn’t game. “Xavier is my brother. He would be honored to stand guard and assist if necessary. It’s a great idea.” His brother eyeballed him in the rear view mirror.

  “Which are we going to do first?” She pulled her lush bottom lip between her teeth.

  “I need to drink first. Being inside you would drive me crazy without the need for blood to complicate things.”

  “Oh.” She took back her full bottom lip. Brant was sure she had no idea she was doing it. It drove him wild. He pulled her onto his lap. Tanya gasped as she slid into place.

  “I told you what would happen if you kept biting that lip.” Brant slanted his lips over hers. Bursts of berries with a splash of vanilla accosted him. She tasted better than she smelled and her scent was utter heaven. He knew that her blood would be rapture. They both moaned as his tongue clashed with hers. He slid his hands up the sides of her body dipping down until he clasped the globes of her spectacular ass. He squeezed. Tanya whimpered. He ate up the sound as he deepened the kiss. Brant would definitely need to drink before he took her. Otherwise, all her lush feminine curves would make him lose his mind completely. Particularly when coupled with her delicious scent.

  The vehicle came to a stop. Brant secured his arm around her and stepped out. Gravel crunched under his boots as he stood. “Put your legs around me.”

  Without hesitating, she obliged locking her ankles behind his back.

  “Hold on.” Her fingers bit into him as he sped up. It didn’t take long to reach his suite. Every second felt like an eternity though. Once there, he put her onto wobbly legs and shut the door. Her hair was tousled, her lips plump from his kisses. The dress she was wearing accentuated each and every lush curve.

  Brant ran his hand through his hair. Damn, now that he had her in his space, the scent of her arousal thick and heady, he wasn’t sure he could keep a rein on his bloodlust. The thought of Xavier just outside the door eased his fear somewhat.

  “Are you having second thoughts?”

  Brant nodded. “It’s not because I don’t want you. You need to know that the opposite is true.”

  Tanya narrowed her eyes at him. Her small human hands going to the swell of her hips. “This happens or I’m leaving. When I say leaving I mean gone. Not just out the door, but out of your life.”

  He believed her. The thought of her leaving disturbed him.

  Even with this knowledge, the thought of hurting her, even worse, of killing her, kept him from moving. Tanya pulled her dress over her head.

  Heaven help him.

  Her skin was milk with the barest hint of honey. Her breasts were much larger than any vampire he had ever been with. So sexy, he licked his lips. Plump globes strained against soft black, filmy material. The fabric wasn’t translucent enough for him to be able to make out the contrast of her areola, but thin enough to be able to see the outline of her nipples. Her thighs were made for wrapping around a male’s hips. Her waist narrow in comparison. A tiny slip of the same tantalizing fabric covered her sex.

  His cock swelled. His mouth watered. His fangs extended.

  “Your eyes are glowing.”

  “Don’t be afraid, it happens sometimes, like when we’re turned on or extra aggressive.” He had to work to keep the growl from his voice.

  “When you say aggressive are you referring to a frenzied bloodlust?”

  He choked out a laugh, “In this case more like just plain lust.”

  “Oh.”

  “We shouldn’t do this.” It was his last ditch effort to talk some sense into her. Into both of them.

  “We are doing this, so suck it up.” She laughed at her own joke and his need for her grew.

  “Lie on the bed.” He had to work to keep his cool. To keep from going at her and taking her in every way possible. He fisted his hands at his sides. He would retain control, even if it killed him.

  “Okay.” Timid. Unsure.

  “You don’t have to do this.”

  Her eyes turned defiant. “If I don’t, you’ll drink from…” She left the sentence hanging.

  “Another female.”

  “Yes.” Her mouth thinned and her little hands clasped into fists.

  Brant had to suppress a smile. It felt good to know that she felt so strongly about this. She already regarded him as hers. Once the mating took hold, she would be much stronger and he would be able to take from her freely. Until then, they would have to be very careful.

  Tanya spread herself out on his bed. She was the first female he had ever allowed in his space. Her long dark hair cascaded over his pillow. Her skin even more translucent on his black, silk sheets. Brant removed his shirt. It had nothing to do with getting blood on his clothes, he wanted to feel her skin. He moved to the first button on his jeans. No, best he left those on. More of a barrier. He didn’t want to accidentally claim her in the heat of the moment.

  It had been months since he’d last had sex, and the need to bury himself inside this female, his female, hit him hard.

  Brant slid in next to her, the front of his body against the side of hers.

  Tanya was tense, her eyes wide. “Will it hurt?”

  “No.”

  “Are you sure?” a breathy whisper. She was afraid but he could also scent her excitement. Tanya had been a good choice. Not all humans could tolerate blood drinking. His father had only been permitted to take blood from female vampires. His mother did not allow him to drink from her vein.

  Blood drinking could be a sexual act enjoyed greatly by both parties. All vampires drank during sex, it heightened the experience. His father had to have suffered greatly to have been denied drinking from his mate.

  “It won’t hurt Cenwein. I promise.” He positioned his hand above her head and slid the other across her stomach. Her breathing hitched.

  Brant leaned in, partially covering her body with his. Her nipples hardened against his chest and her breathing turned choppy. He hovered over her neck savouring her delicious scent. Strawberries with cream and a hint of vanilla. Brant didn’t normally have much of a sweet tooth.

  Yet sweet had never smelled so damned good.

  His fangs extended further, almost beyond their normal reach and his gums burned. Careful. Easy. Oh so gently, he kissed her soft skin. Felt her pulse against his lips. She moaned. An exhilarating sound. She would make many more of such noises if he had anything to do with it.

  Brant opened his mouth and almost on autopilot, his fangs extended piercing her delicate skin.

  Her rich, sweet blood slowly trickled into his mouth. Drop by delicious drop. Brant closed his eyes in pure ecstasy. It was his turn to moan.

  Tasting her was thrilling, it was also pure torture but only because he wanted so much more. How in the hell was he supposed to stay in control when both his fangs and his dick were inside her? As it was, he had a strenuous hold on his restraint. Sweat beaded on his brow as he took a tentative pull. The tiny trickle became a steady flow and her delicious blood filled his mouth. He moaned as he swallowed.

  ****

  At first she’d meant to ask him what Cenwein meant. He had called her twice by the name. Probably the vampire word for human.

  All reason left her as his mouth made contact with her neck though. His touch scorched her. The heat moved through her body causing her nipples to tighten to the point of pain. Moisture pooled at the juncture of her thighs.

  -->