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unconsciousness was tapping at my shoulder. Not long before I'd have to
withdraw to sleep. And, if I was lucky, I wouldn't dream. I glanced at the
clock. An hour left, at most. "Nerissa, come with me?"
We headed into the parlor from the back way so as not to disturb Camille and
Morio. As I closed the door behind me, I said, "Do you want Delilah to drive
you home?"
"Now?" she asked, sounding surprised.
Thoughts of Camille's fears echoed through my mind. "Nerissa, our enemies are
far more dangerous than you know. You could get hurt if you stick around here.
If you get involved with& us& me."
She slowly closed the gap between us and gently raised her hands to cup my
face. "I know that. I knew that before I made up my mind that I wanted to be
with you. I'm not asking for a lifetime. I'm not asking for any commitments. I
just want to be here, right now, tonight."
I searched her eyes, looking up at her. Roz's kiss had burned like fire,
almost frightening me, but Nerissa's lips looked warm and inviting, lush and
filled with unspoken promises. I thought of what we had to lose if I said no,
and slowly reached up on tiptoe to press my lips against hers.
She slid her arms around me, pulling me close, her tongue parting my lips as
she explored, searching. I let out a shudder as her hand slid under my shirt,
and then jumped away.
"What is it? Did I do something wrong?" A look of disappointment washed over
her face.
"I have to tell you something first." Every scar on my body tingled. "My body
is covered with scars. And I mean covered!" I looked away. "No one has touched
me in& that way& since Dredge finished with me and turned me into a vampire.
My sisters think I slept with Wade but the truth is we never reached that
point. I've never slept with a human or an Earthside Supe. I don't know what
to expect."
"Do you want to be with me?" she asked. "Be honest; it's all right if you say
no. I'll be disappointed, but I'm a big girl. I can take rejection."
I shook my head. "It's not that. Just& see, I don't know if I can control
myself once you take your clothes off. I had a bad experience at a strip club
last summer when Camille got the bright idea we should soak up some of the
culture here. There's so much I don't know about that part of myself& " I
stopped as she brushed one finger against my mouth.
"Shush," she said. "You don't have to worry about me. I'll be okay. I
partnered with Venus the Moon Child. He trained me well."
I blinked, staring at her. "What does that have to do with it?"
Her lip quivered into a smile that lurked between a grin and a leer. "Venus
taught me how to master my fear and give in to passion. He taught me how to
heal old wounds of the heart and psyche with sex."
Nerissa gave me a gamine smile, but behind that winsome face and proper
reserve, I sensed a wild and free spirit. I swallowed my worry and slowly
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removed my shirt, waiting to see myself reflected in her eyes.
"This is who I am. If you want me, take me. It's all up to you," I said,
feeling stripped bare before her.
Her gaze landed on my stomach and trailed up my chest, lingering on my
breasts, then up my throat, finally locking with my eyes. She didn't flinch,
didn't turn away from the hundreds of white lacerations that signified
Dredge's psychotic attentions.
"He did this to you? This Dredge?" she asked after a moment, her voice almost
a growl.
I slipped out of my boots and jeans in answer, to show her that the scars
continued down my body. My hands, feet, and face were the only places he'd
left pristine, untouched by those dagger sharp nails of his. I had no pubic
hair; he'd shaved that, and written his name in a coiling scar on the curve of
my mound. "I own you," he'd said as he slashed into my flesh. "Body and soul,
I claim you and sire you."
Nerissa undressed and tossed her jeans and shirt to the side. She was
glorious, with swelling breasts and a golden thatch of hair that nestled
around her sacred sex. A Viking warrior, when she shook her hair loose of the
chignon and it fell to her shoulders she radiated an energy that I couldn't
define.
I wanted to reach out but I was still afraid. Would I hurt her? Would I snap,
go into an uncontrollable frenzy when I smelled her perfume, felt her heart
beating under my fingers? I was about to turn away when she suddenly covered
the distance between us and pulled me into her arms, pressing her mouth
against mine. Her lips tasted like sweet honey wine, and I stopped resisting,
wanting the kiss to go on and on and on.
"You're beautiful," she whispered, coming up for air, staring into my eyes.
And the look in her eyes told me she meant it. She dipped her head again and I
let her lead me to the sofa and pull me down on the thick plush rug in front
of it. Her lips worked their way down my neck and a small cry ripped from my
throat as their sweet touch trailed over my shoulder and to my breasts.
Kissing my scars, she murmured something that sounded like, "We'll kill him,
honey. Don't worry, we'll kill him," and then she caught one of my nipples
between her teeth and tugged ever so slightly.
Waves of thirst grew in my belly and my fangs began to extend but I forced
them to retreat as I reveled in Nerissa's attention. She sucked gently, then
harder, and I closed my eyes, letting myself float on the sensations that
worked their way up my body. A cloud rising in the brilliant sky, golden
sunbeams glistening down on my hair, my face, that was my Nerissa.
Her kisses warmed me for the first time in years and as the lazy pull of first
light began to drag me down into lethargic slumber, she parted my legs, gazing
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