Falling forYou

FALLING FOR YOU

Barbara Elsborg

www.loose-id.com

Warning This e-book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. Loose Id® e-books are for sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Falling for You Barbara Elsborg This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Published by Loose Id LLC 870 Market St, Suite 1301 San Francisco CA 94103-2907 www.loose-id.com

Copyright ©November 2008 by Barbara Elsborg All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared in any form, including, but not limited to printing, photocopying, faxing, or emailing without prior written permission from Loose Id LLC.

ISBN 978-1-59632-830-3 Available in Adobe PDF, HTML, MobiPocket, and MS Reader

Printed in the United States of America

Editor: Maryam Salim Cover Artist: Croco Designs

www.loose-id.com

Chapter One Sex. Sex. Sex. Sex. Sex. Oh God, couldn’t she think of anything else? “You want coffee, Jo?” Mike asked.

Sex first. Clearly not. “Yes, please,” Jo called. “Slice of toast?”

I’d prefer sex over your desk. Jo sighed. “No, thanks.”

I don’t need food. I need your cock inside me, filling me, pumping into me… Jo clenched her fists and bit back a groan as she watched her handsome, middle-aged boss pouring boiling water into two mugs.

Lovely long fingers. Jo told herself off. Mike Evans was happily married with four kids and strictly off limits.

Such a cute butt. Her inner thigh muscles clenched and a blast of heat shot through her body leaving tingling pins and needles in its wake. She needed to walk out of the office right now. Instead, she got to her feet, stepped towards him, and sniffed.

He smells so good. Jo wanted to rip off her clothes, rip off his clothes, and roll on the floor rubbing herself all over him.

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His sexy lips would feel so good around my nipples. Jo’s breasts perked up under her shirt and she took another step in his direction. She couldn’t stand much more of this. A snuffled whimper escaped before Jo could clamp her mouth shut. Mike turned to find her at his back and stuffed the mug in her hand. He gave her a quizzical look. “You okay?” “Yeah.” Jo sniffed and coughed. “Allergies.” “I didn’t think you suffered from hay fever.” “Something in the office affecting me,” Jo choked out and put the mug down before she dropped it. Mike walked to his desk, still staring at her. “Really?”

Yank down your pants and fuck me and I’ll be fine. She pressed her thighs together. Tight. Then her lips. Tighter. Mike frowned. “Are you sure you’re okay?” No, she wasn’t sure. Jo grabbed her backpack. “Just remembered I’ve an appointment in Malham.” “While you’re over that way, could you check the fencing on the east side of Fordham Wood? I had a call to say there’s some damage. Kids or deer. Both flipping hooligans.” “I’ll have a look.” Jo didn’t take another breath until she reached the parking lot. She’d been very close to losing control and ruining her relationship with Mike. She couldn’t carry on like this. She climbed into the Forest Enterprises Land Rover and gripped the wheel with shaking hands. Now that Mike was out of sight, it became easier to cope and Jo’s heartbeat began to settle down. I’ll be fine. Breathe deep. In -- out. The mailman pulled up next to her in his red van and gave her a cheery wave. Young, muscular, virile. Her mouth went dry, her pulse spiked, and Jo groaned. He got out of his van, leaned one arm on the roof of the Land Rover, and bent at her open window. Jo looked down. Tight shorts. Generous bulge. His cock waiting for my lips to lick it into life and get it ready for a different sort of in -- out. She shuddered. “Morning, Jo. Lovely day. Mike upstairs?” “Yeah. Gotta go.” Before she threw herself at him. Jo fastened her seatbelt and accelerated out of the parking lot, just missing a large dog that chose the wrong moment to emerge from a bush. She forced herself to slow down and maintained a steady speed, fighting the temptation to race as far away as possible from civilization. She wasn’t fit to be a member of society. Her mind was a running sewer. The raunchiest teenager didn’t think about sex as much as she did.

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This happened every month. For five days, her life became increasingly dominated by the desire to fuck every decent looking guy she saw. In truth, they didn’t even have to be good looking. Being male and in her vicinity seemed to be enough. Jo had come to the conclusion the cause had to be erratic, rampaging hormones because unless she was a parttime nymphomaniac, what other explanation could there be? For those lustful five days her nipples were rarely anything other than bullet hard, her panties stayed sodden, and her libido ran off the Richter scale. She woke up thinking about sex and went to sleep thinking about sex. Oh, and it occupied every moment in between. Her love life was screwed. For three weeks in every month she behaved like a normal human being, but for those few exhausting days she turned into a sex fiend, and it made her afraid of getting involved with anyone. The second to last guy who’d asked her out had entered her life at the wrong time of the month. He was cute and Jo really liked him so she risked it. She’d tried hard to control herself, but the moment he’d walked into her apartment, she’d yanked down his zipper. Actually, it had been in the corridor outside her apartment. She hadn’t been able to wait. It was a bit much for the first date and no surprise that he’d freaked. She made sure the timing was better for the next guy. Jo decided to warn him what was to come. He’d acted as though he couldn’t believe his luck, and she’d begun to hope he’d be the one to last a whole month. But that first night of the five Jo had flirted with every man in the bowling alley and then the restaurant, which put her date in a foul mood. And though his mood had improved when she dragged him into bed, waking him seven times over two hours to fuck her had ended with accusations of her using him as a sex toy. He wasn’t wrong. When the lust for sex came over her, Jo tried everything to distract herself. Nothing worked for long; reading, watching TV, listening to music -- they all warped into thoughts about sex within a short time. Exercise worked the best because it wore her out to the point that she was too tired to think about sex, let alone do anything about it. Too many men to ogle in the gym, so instead for five nights a month she went on extremely long runs, loping all over the countryside until she was ready to drop from exhaustion, rather than drop her pants. Jo knew she was running from the truth and couldn’t keep going forever. Something was wrong with her -- physically and psychologically. The knowledge that she’d nearly jumped gentle, happily married Mike pushed Jo to accept that the time to seek advice was way overdue. She needed help now. Today. No more prevaricating. Jo parked outside the doctor’s surgery and prayed for a woman to be on duty in the drop-in clinic. Ten minutes’ wait before she could see Dr. Max Remus. Ten minutes to hope this would be a Maxine and not Maximilian. Ten minutes to sit with her thighs clamped together and drool over a teenager sitting next to her and a sexy-looking bald guy with tattooed arms sitting opposite. Neither the acne nor the hacking cough put her off.

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When the doctor opened the door and called her name, Jo’s heart clenched in a combination of lust and despair. Max Remus was tall and good-looking with beefy, broad shoulders. He was also a shaggy blond. Jo preferred dark hair, but it didn’t matter. She wanted him.

Now. Once he’d closed the door and they were alone, Jo’s mouth watered and her pussy began to throb. She clenched her fists and sat down, balanced on the edge of the seat ready for fight or flight. Or fucking. Jo almost let the whimper escape. “What can I do for you?” he asked in a deep voice that rolled over her like warm water.

Take off your clothes and ram your thick cock inside me. Jo took a deep breath and opened her mouth. “Take off --” For fuck’s sake. He stared at her expectantly. “Take off my jacket,” she mumbled and cringed when she remembered she’d left it in the Land Rover.

Beautiful eyes. Full lips. His tongue inside me, pushing, twisting… “Ms. Carter? Jo?” She snapped upright. She needed to blurt it out before she invented some outlandish condition. Though thinking about it, this was worse than anything she could imagine. “Tell me what’s wrong. There’s no need to be embarrassed. You can’t shock me. I’ve heard it all before.”

Want to bet on that? “I can’t stop thinking about sex.” To his credit, he didn’t laugh or run out of the room screaming, only looked slightly surprised. His nostrils flared and his eyes darkened. Is that sexual attraction? Does he want me? Yes. They could be quick. Over his desk. Under his desk. No one would know. Jo pinched her thigh hard enough to make her squeak. He leaned forward and she smelled trees, fresh air. Oh God, he’s such a sexy man. “Tell me more,” he said. Jo shivered as though he’d trailed his fingers up and down her spine. The imaginary vibrations rippled to her toes and she trembled with arousal. “It’s driving me crazy.” No point stopping now. “For a few days every month, I think I’m going mad. I want to have sex with every guy I see. And it’s getting worse.” She watched his Adam’s apple bob up and down. Easier to look at that than his lovely face. What a pity his best bits were hidden behind the desk. He checked her file. “You’re on the contraceptive pill?” “Yes.” A necessity as far as Jo was concerned. She wasn’t promiscuous, but her level of control had slipped to such an extent she was afraid of how far she’d go.

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“In fact” -- he shuffled through her thin medical folder -- “that appears to be the only thing you’ve ever seen a doctor about.” “I’m never ill. Well, until this. It’s not an illness -- well, yes it is. It’s not normal. Something’s the matter and I need help.” “How long has it been going on?” The relief in finally blurting this out was now overwhelmed by acute embarrassment. She kept her eyes away from his. “Seven years.” Jo didn’t need to see the horror in his eyes. She heard the swift intake of breath. “Since you were…eighteen.” “Yes.” She glanced up. He gave her a little smile and Jo’s nipples throbbed. Even, white teeth.

A lot of them. Too many for his mouth, but what a sexy grin. Why the fuck is he grinning? “Does it happen at the same time every month?” She nodded. “Every twenty-eight days or so. The…feelings last for five days. The first two days build up to the third, the worst, the next two wind down. I’m on day one right now. Tomorrow it will be worse. The day after worse still.” He leaned back on his chair, tipping it onto the rear wheels.

And don’t you dare say take a couple of aspirin and come back and see me in two days. “PMS,” he said. A shiver of disappointment passed through her. “Doesn’t that lower sex drive, not increase it? And if I’m on the pill, shouldn’t that balance out any hormonal issues?” “Been reading up?” He had no idea. Jo had scoured the Internet. “It’s true that severe PMS does usually mean a lower sex drive, though not everyone is the same. You’re one of the lucky ones.” He winked.

The bastard. Jo gritted her teeth. She didn’t feel lucky and the way he was looking at her made Jo think he might be the one feeling lucky. He smiled. A wolfish grin that had her creaming her panties. Shit. He wants me. Oh God, she had no idea whether she was imagining that or not. “When do these five days occur in terms of your menstrual cycle?” Jo had to lie. If she didn’t, he’d insist it was PMS. “Immediately after I’ve had my period.” His chair slammed down and made her jump. “You sure?” Jo sucked her teeth. “Positive.” In fact, it was smack bang in the middle of her cycle, right when she was ovulating, her body clearly trying to tell her something. She did not

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want a flipping baby, particularly not with some random guy who just happened to walk past her at the wrong time. A muscle twitched in his neck. “That’s…surprising.” He sat thinking for a moment, chewing his pencil. There were deep bite marks all down its length. Jo chewed her pencils too. And her nails. And the TV remote. She waited for him to come up with a miracle. Sex with him would do. No, it would not, she told herself. “Right. I want you to keep a daily record of exactly what happens and when, how you feel and what you do to…alleviate it. Dates of your period, what you eat, what you drink, when you have sex…or anything else. Three months and then come back and see me.” Jo sighed. She could fill in every detail in advance. This had been a waste of time. There was no tablet to save her. She got to her feet. “Do you have a boyfriend?” “No.” “Might be a good idea to find one. I wonder --” “Could it have anything to do with the moon?” Jo asked. “The five days always wrap around a full moon. I mean, the cycle’s the same, isn’t it? Twenty-eight days or so. The day of the month when I feel most desperate is when the moon is full. I know that makes me sound like a…lunatic.” She tried to laugh at her joke and her voice trailed away. It had taken her a few years to realize it, but Jo was convinced her horniness was linked to the lunar cycle. She could almost hear the doctor offering her a nice, tight white coat and a padded room to lie down in. “Keep a diary for three months and then come back and see me. Write down everything. If you…er…have to shave your legs more than usual. Strange cravings, odd feelings, each time you get a sexual urge and what you do to relieve it.” Or not, Jo thought. Shave her legs? Christ, he was weirder than her. She got up and backed away. “You might find that vigorous exercise helps,” he said. “It does. I like running.” He stood as she edged towards the door. “Me too. Maybe we could go for a run together? Tomorrow? The day after?” Jo didn’t miss the predatory gleam in his eyes and trembled. The desire on his face wasn’t her imagination. This guy looked as though he wanted to eat her. He was taking a huge risk. This could get him struck off. When he took another step towards her, by some miracle, instinct for self-preservation overwhelmed her desire for sex. She’d have to remember that. Being scared to death killed her sex drive. “See you in three months,” Jo gasped, and fled.

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Max slumped behind his desk, his legs shaking. He’d barely been able to stop himself from leaping on her and dragging off her clothes. Before he’d even seen her, he’d known she was there. He’d scented her arousal the moment she’d walked into the building. All the time she’d sat in the waiting room, his dick hummed. He couldn’t concentrate on his other patients. When she stood as he called her name, Max’s erection took on a life of its own. Thank Christ she hadn’t needed to take her clothes off for an examination. It would have finished him in more ways than one. What the hell was going on? Where had she come from? Why didn’t they know about her? Maybe she was on the run. He checked her notes again. It didn’t look as though she’d registered with them until her visit to get birth control pills several years ago. No indication she’d transferred from another practice. Maybe she was a renegade. Whatever she was, she was fucking hot. Max adjusted his cock, currently trying to break his zipper. He ought to ask Tomas about her, though he wouldn’t, not yet. Not until he was sure. Max swallowed hard. Not until I’ve made her mine and there’s nothing Lyall can do. Max’s heart raced. Where the fuck had that thought come from? Lyall was the one he should tell, but Lyall would want her. No doubt about it. And if Lyall wanted her, he’d take her. Max’s balls ached, his dick still tenting his pants. No time for a wank, no matter how quick. He made sure the bottom half of his body was hidden behind the door when he called in his next patient and then raced back to his desk.

***** By the time she’d driven to Malham, Jo had reverted to full-blown lust. Fortunately, her appointment was with a female tourist information officer, otherwise Jo suspected she’d have been reduced to a puddle before lunch. She’d told Mike she wouldn’t be coming into the office tomorrow. Jo intended to spend the day in a North Derbyshire forest. With a bit of luck, she could find an isolated hole deep enough to hide in and reduce the risk of meeting a man. If not, a repair to a dry stone wall should guarantee exhaustion and would at least give her a sense of fulfillment. Jo loved her job because of everything it wasn’t. Not nine to five. Not stuck behind a desk in dirty city air. She was a technical officer for the Derbyshire-Yorkshire branch of Forest Enterprises, a national environmental group sponsored by the government. Jo was responsible for planning and controlling woodland operations and protecting the forest environment across two counties. After studying land economy at university, Jo had known she’d only be satisfied with working in the countryside. Though the job didn’t pay well, it enabled her to make a positive contribution to the well-being of the planet, and if that sounded pompous, she didn’t care. She parked on the street, walked to the tourist information centre, and told the middleaged woman -- thank God -- she had an appointment with Lily. Jo got on well with people,

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apart from men for five days of the month when she got on with them too well. That made her wonder if Mike had noticed that she avoided the office at certain times. Jo wouldn’t have gone in that morning had she known he’d be in early for a change. In a way, he’d done her a favor because at least she’d taken the first step towards getting help. Maybe she’d keep the diary then go back and see a woman doctor. In the meantime, perhaps there was some other solution. A new vibrator or a blow-up doll that fit in her purse for emergencies. Jo giggled. Lily poked her head out of her office. “Hi, Jo. Coffee?” Jo smiled. “Great.” She breathed a sigh of relief that she didn’t fancy Lily at all. Jo winced remembering those disturbing moments when her urges had kicked in then winked out after she’d realized she was salivating over women who looked like men. Gay men had the same effect -- yummy but don’t bother. She switched to business mode. Much of Jo’s time was spent giving advice and support to landowners about forestry grants and ways to manage their trees, whether for business, sport, or recreation. Helping maintain good relationships between them and their neighbors was also part of her remit, as was ensuring the tourist board stayed up to date with restrictions on local access. Jo spent an hour with Lily, handed over posters about taking care of woodland, and agreed to speak to a group of preschool children the following month. She’d had to have her arm twisted about that. If there was one thing that scared Jo apart from mice, it was a room of four-year-olds asking questions like, “Where do squirrels go when they die?” After she’d traumatized the last group with her in-depth description of the carbon cycle and decaying carcasses, Jo had invented squirrel heaven. And owl heaven…mouse heaven…beetle heaven. An endless list all the way down the food chain. Meeting over, Jo walked down the high street until she found a shop with a female behind the counter and bought a drink, a baguette, and several ounces of sliced roast beef before setting off for Fordham Wood. The weather was fine and a picnic beckoned. That was another thing about these five days -- she ate a huge amount of meat.

***** Mike had been right. The fence was down in several places, nothing Jo couldn’t fix. She carried her tools in a bag on her back and worked her way along the edge of the woods. A number of trees in this particular area had been recently planted, mostly by Jo. A significant proportion of the natural woodland had been cut down over the years for fuel and to allow animals to graze, though there were a few patches of “real” forest left, and Fordham Wood was a little treasure. It backed onto the limestone pavement for which the area was famous and where Jo intended to go for a long exhausting run before she returned home. She took a deep breath as she walked through the trees. Jo loved the forest, the different smells, the sunlight dappling the ground, the way natural cycles worked in harmony. Trees grew, trees fell, and trees sprang up again. Even fire played an important role

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in clearing. Suddenly, Jo froze with one foot off the ground. Right in front of her was a deer. No more than twenty feet away. So beautiful, long, delicate neck, head down, grazing, chewing at one of Jo’s new saplings. Jo glared and then her mouth watered. Shit, what was that about? She didn’t like venison. There was no logical reason for what Jo did next. On a normal day, she’d have backed away and found another path. Not this day. Jo dropped her bag and bolted towards the deer, racing across the small clearing at full speed. The animal’s head shot up and it took off, bounding away with Jo in hot pursuit. Jo was fast, swerving around trees, leaping fallen branches as the deer’s white tail bobbed tantalizingly in the distance, drawing farther and farther away…and in the end vanishing. Jo stopped and bent over, panting and clutching her side. What the hell had she done that for? What would she have done if she’d caught it? The impossibility made her laugh. Killed it and eaten it. She let out a little sob. No way. She turned and hiked back to her bag with her heart pounding and adrenaline surging through her bloodstream. Shit. She’d wanted to catch the deer. She should definitely keep that diary and go back to the doctor.

***** Jo worked a longer day than she should have, longer than she needed to, more to avoid going home than from an overzealous work ethic. By the time she’d packed up the Land Rover it was early evening, though the sun was still up. The moon was out there hiding. Jo felt the familiar ache between her legs and groaned. She’d go for a run and not stop until she ceased thinking about sex. Going to be a long run then. She changed out of her khaki uniform pants, green polo shirt, and rugged working boots, into shorts, a pink T-shirt, and her running shoes. She left her mobile phone in the vehicle, locked it, and hid the keys at the back of a front tire so she didn’t lose them. She didn’t really need to lock it. The chances of anyone being out here were miniscule. Ten yards from the vehicle and her mind slid to Dr. Max Remus. Had he really been coming on to her or had her overactive sex drive skewed her imagination? He wasn’t her type, yet Jo knew one unmistakable gesture from him, and she’d have had his zipper down and his cock in her mouth before he could utter another word. That wasn’t normal. Jo was frightened of how far she’d go. Year on year, month on month, her lust grew worse. Would she become so desperate that she’d go looking for sex on the street? Would anyone satisfy her? Could anyone? She ran faster.

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Chapter Two Alek had only wanted one thing for his ninth birthday -- a knife. Not any old knife, but one in particular, with a sharp, silver blade and a handle covered in stars and moons. He’d seen one like it in the hand of a stranger who’d come to visit his father. The man had played with the blade as he waited in the drawing room and had let a mesmerized Alek hold it for a moment. One touch and Alek had fallen in love with the way the knife glittered, the weight of it, the clever design on the handle, and the power he sensed within. A dagger rather than a knife, the man had said, because it was sharp on both sides. Alek didn’t care what it was called, he just wanted one. Not a surprise that his mother said no. Repeatedly. Probably the reason he still had all his fingers. An accident before he’d matured would have been permanent. His father had lectured him about how knives, like that one in particular, cut through hopes and dreams. He’d made it quite clear it was the last thing Alek should crave. Alek didn’t care. The model of a boat he’d been given the morning of his birthday remained untouched for weeks while he’d sulked. Now, three hundred and five years, two months, and three weeks after his ninth birthday, Alek finally had the knife he’d wanted. Unfortunately, it was sticking out of his chest. Still, it was hard not to admire the workmanship of the hilt, the way the inlaid gold appeared part of the darker metal. Not a joint in sight. Alek could see why it had had such strong appeal when he was a boy. It was a warrior’s weapon. The detail on the celestial bodies was little short of amazing, the etching so fine it could only be appreciated with an eye as keen as his. There had been plenty of time for Alek to study the damned thing. He’d been sitting there staring at it for hours, trying to figure out what to do. Of course, now that he’d decided

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to take a chance and pull out the blade, he didn’t have the strength to lift his hand. Alek persisted. It took considerable effort to wrap his fingers around the handle. He counted to three…and changed his mind. Ha, what a surprise. Then again, not really because he suspected pulling the thing out would kill him. The silver blade was lodged in his aorta and although his body had started to knit around it, which couldn’t be good, pulling it out might be disastrous. Still, how much worse could matters be? If he did nothing, he’d die. If he pulled out the knife, he’d still die. Probably faster. Blood had soaked through his clothing, most of which was now uncomfortably dry, apart from his shirt because his chest wound leaked each time he took a breath. Alek hardly needed to breathe, but he was so used to maintaining the subterfuge, it had become second nature and he kept forgetting he ought to stop. Air had to move over his vocal cords in order for him to speak, though there was no one to speak to down here. He hurt everywhere because he’d been stabbed almost everywhere. Alek ground his teeth remembering the way his assailants had jabbed him with sharp spikes. Nothing too deep, nothing dangerous, just effective distractions until the owner of the silver knife had a clear path to his heart. One strike and he’d been incapacitated. His memory of what happened next was hazy. He’d thought they’d finish him off. They hadn’t. By some miracle, he’d found himself outside in the alley next to his BMW motorbike, and somehow he’d managed to drive away with the knife still in place. The fact that the blade had lodged in his aorta rather than severing it had saved him. But it appeared he’d achieved a shaky escape on his bike simply to die somewhere else. Awkward to the end. His mother would be proud. Alek slid his hand from his chest to his mouth and sucked the fresh blood from his fingers. Not that such a pathetic amount would make a jot of difference. Pity his tongue wasn’t long enough to lick himself all over. He could suck up what was leaking out around the knife. His perverse brain slid into an image of him sucking his dick and Alek groaned. How appropriate was it to be thinking about getting off while he lay in this state? Not at all, only that wouldn’t stop him. He hadn’t been stabbed in his groin, though his assailants had pretty much managed to put holes in him everywhere else. Despite trying to keep as still as he could and trying to remember not to breathe, blood continued to seep out. It seemed after all these years, he was actually dying. This was not the location Alek would have chosen for his final hours. He sat at the bottom of a vaguely circular shaft, surrounded by weeping rock. If he hadn’t known the moisture came from surface water trickling through and leaching out minerals, he might have thought the rocks shed tears of sympathy. This had been his cave for over a hundred years. His secure lair was only a short distance away, partway to the surface and down a tunnel, but it might as well have been a thousand miles. He hadn’t the strength to climb up and it would make no difference if he did. All the healing soil in the world wasn’t going to save him this time. The only thing Alek could do was to sit with his back against the wet rock and die.

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There had been times over the years when he’d wanted to die; now that he had no choice, of course, he was desperate to live. That made him think of his mother again, and Alek sucked in his cheeks. He’d not seen her or his father for a long time. Nor his brother Luka or sister Erin. Clan contact was too dangerous until control of the Vampire High Council changed in their favor. If Alek tried to call any Trueblood to help him, he’d put them in grave danger. In truth, he wasn’t sure if he could call them. His father warned them before they’d gone their separate ways: they were to wait until they heard from him that it was safe. Alek gave a grim smile. He’d always thought he’d die rather than endanger another Trueblood and now it looked as though that would happen. Maybe the time to be decisive had come. He’d spent long enough thinking. Alek had woken from his day-sleep to find himself still alive, which had been a huge surprise. Somehow, last night he’d managed to get far enough away from the cave entrance to avoid being frazzled by the sun. Perversely, Alek had a hankering to see daylight. Truebloods had an advantage over other vampires in that they could cope with a small amount of sun, but he hadn’t seen it properly since he was a boy. If Alek couldn’t manage to go out in a blaze of glory, then he fancied going out in a blaze of light. With a smile at the irony, he shuffled the few yards so he’d be sitting in the sun once it came up. The movement brought a fresh gush of blood from his chest. Alek leaned back against the rock and looked up through the opening sixteen feet above his head. The moon should be out, although he couldn’t see it. He would soon, assuming he was still alive. If he didn’t make it until morning, the moon wasn’t such a bad sight to die with. If he made it through the night, then the sun would ensure his end came fast. Painfully fast. So nothing to do but sit, wait, and think. What would he miss the most? Sex. Playing his saxophone. Sex. Aggravating his friend, Will, only Alek wasn’t so sure Will was his friend. Though his assailants had covered their faces, he’d scented Will. Alek wanted to be wrong, though it hardly mattered now. More comforting to think about…sex. At full strength, Alek possessed lightning-fast reflexes, yet he could do little more than watch in disbelief as something fell through the hole above him, slamming onto the ground with a loud thump. He thought at first it was one of those who’d stabbed him, but the long bare legs looked distinctly feminine. Still, that didn’t mean she hadn’t come to finish him off, though her approach was a little unorthodox. Alek didn’t move. Whether friend or foe, he could do little until she came closer. Jo came back to awareness at the speed of a tortoise. Why was she lying face down in dirt? What the hell was that pain in her leg? Correction, in her ankle. Further correction, all over. She groaned. The last thing she remembered was running over the grass, then leaping up onto the flat limestone rocks, and with the next two steps, not feeling the ground beneath

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her feet. She felt like one of those cartoon critters running in midair after they’ve sprinted off the end of a cliff. Jo had carried on moving her legs to tumble into nothing. Only she’d not fallen off a cliff, but down a big hole to land in a cave and sprained, strained, broken, probably smashed her ankle. With her luck, it would be in a million pieces. Still, the pain would stop her from thinking about sex. Ohhh, sex. She groaned again. Louder because -- one, she hurt and expressing her extreme discomfort made her feel a little better, and two, sex was back on her mind. And no man in sight. At least it proved she was still alive. “Are you all right?” The louder groan forming in her throat morphed into a strangled scream. Jo glanced in the direction of the voice and then screamed properly, as much from the pain in her foot as from the fact that she wasn’t alone at the bottom of some random hole, in the middle of nowhere in the North Derbyshire countryside. “W-what?” she gasped. “You’ve fallen into my cave,” a guy said in a deep, husky voice.

Trouble. Trouble. Trouble. A guy. A sexy voice. Forget the falling in the cave and nearly breaking her neck, sex was back on her mind with a vengeance. “Are you all right?” “What?” Was that the best she could manage? The sparkling conversation should win him over, no problem. “Let’s try again. You’ve fallen into my cave.” “Your cave?” Slightly better, but not riveting. She had to be hallucinating. Or dead. Oh Jesus, she was dead. “Shit, I’m dead. Oh hell, I’ve just killed myself.” “You’re not dead.” “Really?” Maybe she wasn’t. She shouldn’t be in pain if she was dead. Surely heaven wasn’t that cruel. Maybe not heaven. A dark, damp hole. The scent of blood heavy and invasive and not hers. The rusty tang filled her lungs. What had she done that was so goddamned awful she got sent to hell? That thing with the hamster? It had been an accident. “Definitely not dead,” said Mr. Sexy Voice. With great reluctance, hoping she wasn’t moving a broken neck, Jo turned her head to take a proper look at the voice’s owner and bit back the impulse to let out another scream. A proper one. A long, bloodcurdling shriek. Not a guy with horns, pitchfork, and a huge cock, but a man with a knife sticking out of his chest. Oh Christ and I still want him. Flames licked up her thighs to ignite her pussy. I am sick, sick, sick. “Call your friends and let them know where you are,” he said. “I’m on my own,” she whispered. “I was out running.”

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“In the dark?” “It’s not properly dark yet. I like running at night.” Jo heard the outlet of breath, a quiet hiss in the gloom. “Mobile phone?” he asked. “No.” “What idiot doesn’t carry a mobile phone?” “You apparently,” she snapped back, then remembered the knife in his chest and the fact that she wanted to have sex with him and bit her lip. “Did you fall too?” “In a manner of speaking. Come closer so I can…see you.” Why was he talking to her in that weird, silky tone of voice? Jo eased herself into a sitting position and yelped with pain. God, her foot hurt. She wanted to do something about that, but not while he sat watching. “What’s your name?” he asked. “Jo Carter.” She waited for him to ask if she was the capital of Indonesia. He didn’t. “Come to me, Jo Carter.” What? It almost sounded as though he was trying to hypnotize her. A real odd guy. Maybe he was foreign. Jo had no intention of moving. Then again, he was male and she was horny. Jo shifted her backside, twitched her foot, and bolts of agony shot up her leg. The pain flipped off the sex switch. If only she’d known. All she had to do when she was overcome with the need to fuck was break her foot or scare herself to death. “And you are?” she asked once she could speak again. He gave an odd snort. “Alek Kavan. Didn’t you hear what I said?” “What?” “Come here.” Same strange tone. As if that would make her go anywhere near him. Come and give me a blowjob might have worked. Damn. She shouldn’t have let her mind do that. Another twist of her foot stopped Jo in her tracks, physically and mentally. “Please?” he asked. That voice could melt an ice cube. No need for her to be unfriendly. Sitting next to him wouldn’t hurt so long as she could control herself. Her foot was already broken, so she couldn’t make it worse. Jo edged backward and swallowed the wail of anguish surging up her throat. She put a hand to her throbbing head and her fingers skimmed a sticky, wet lump. “Oh God, I’m bleeding.” He gave a deep groan. “Come closer.” Jo did a slow shuffle on her bottom until she sat at his feet.

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“What happened to you?” she asked, her breathing ragged from the pain biting chunks out of her body. “The knife?” “No, your bad haircut.” Oops. She wished that hadn’t slipped out. “What’s wrong with my hair?” “Nothing. It’s lovely hair.” Really lovely. It would feel so soft between my thighs while you tongue my clit. Arrgghh. “Sorry. Not had a good day, though obviously not as bad as yours.” Jo winced. “Who stabbed you?” “I don’t know.” “Why did they do it?” “If I knew that, I might know who did it.” “So you don’t have your mobile down here either?” “I left my BlackBerry at home.” He sighed. Her eyes swept over his chest. His shirt glistened. She could smell the blood more strongly now. It was everywhere. It had poured out of him and soaked into the sandy ground at his side. Her ankle was bad, but she could fix it. This guy was in serious trouble and she couldn’t fix that. Jo took a shaky breath before she looked straight into his face because she guessed what would happen. The surge of lust was instant and overwhelming. Electricity spiraled down her veins, turning on every erogenous zone in her body like a bright bulb. She wanted him over her, under her, in her pussy, her ass, her mouth, any which way as long as he was inside her. Jo clenched her fists. The poor guy sat there with a knife in his chest and all she could think about was jumping his bones. This was crazy. She’d gone running to avoid temptation and now she was trapped next to Mr. Gorgeous with his fine, black hair that needed a cut, his sexy dark eyes, those sharp cheekbones, and that god-awful knife. Jo let her gaze slip back to his face. For some reason he seemed to find her neck fascinating. Weirdo. She still wanted to fuck him. Ha. Now who’s weird? Jo gave her brain a mental slap. Did no good at all. Twisted her bad foot. Ooh, that worked. She pressed her fingers into the ground and struggled to control her anguished gasping. “Come closer,” he said. Jo shifted her butt and yelped. Why the hell had she moved? Far safer for him if she stayed where she was, well away from his cock. She had to concentrate on helping him, not having sex with him. The only person who would help was her. I could just unzip… Jo kicked her bad foot with the good. The pain was so intense she almost blacked out. Her mind flittered all over the place. Maybe she was concussed. Or dead. Dead made more sense. “I need you to help me,” he said, his voice quiet and honey smooth.

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“Maybe if I pulled out the knife and pressed hard on the wound, it would stop bleeding.” “It could be the knife that’s keeping me alive.” He had a point. Jo chewed her lip. “So I should leave it where it is and let a doctor pull it out.” “I’m expecting one to drop in any moment.” Jo smothered a laugh. “I’ll have you know, I’ve watched every episode of ER and House. I’m an expert amateur, though brain surgery with a spoon is my specialty.” His mouth twitched. “You could try pulling out the knife, but you need something to press on the wound afterwards.” Jo looked at what she was wearing. Running shoes -- eek, that foot was at a seriously odd angle, no wonder it hurt -- pink socks, short black shorts, and her favorite pink T-shirt with the little alligator on the front. Oh shit, her arms were bleeding and so were her legs. Long, dirty scratches. She looked up and took in how far she’d fallen. Yeah, she was dead. But the pain in her foot was like nothing she’d ever felt before. The slightest movement sent a wave of agony rolling through her. She really needed to do something about it. A quiet corner would do. Only there wasn’t one and she couldn’t let him see what happened when she healed. “Excuse me. Have you stepped out of the cave for a moment?” he asked. “Sorry. I just noticed the state of my arms and legs. There’s blood everywhere.” He moaned and Jo turned back to the job in hand. She’d have to use her T-shirt. Good job she wore a bra. Which one had she put on that morning? The grey one that started life white or the nice pink one with the bow? Geez, did it matter? Before thinking could stop her, Jo whisked off her top. His gaze dropped from her neck to her chest. Jo glanced down. Pink lace. What a waste. He wasn’t in a position to whip it off and she really had to leave him alone. He was badly injured and she wanted to have sex with him. He’d think she was a pervert. Well, for five days a month, she was. “What do you think?” Jo asked. “Very nice.” His attention hovered between her breasts and her neck. Jo tsked. Men were all the same, even those with a knife sticking out of their chest. Alek had been distracted by the idea of sex, then by the prospect of feeding, but he was so weak, his fangs hadn’t dropped. The first time that had ever happened to him and he was more distressed about that than -“Well?” she asked.

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Oh, the knife? Right, well with the knife in, he’d die. With the knife out, he’d die. Possibly quicker. Though there was always a chance the blood would stop flowing and he’d begin to heal, a process that would be helped considerably if he could get to her neck. She had no idea how tempting she was, sitting there long legged and wide-eyed, clutching her T-shirt to her chest. Too late, he’d already seen enough to make him smile. Soft, swelling breasts inside pink lace. If he hadn’t been lying here dying, it would have made him do more than smile. Sexy and susceptible to his call. Alek sighed. He’d issued the command to come to him and even with her injured foot she’d struggled until she reached his side. If only his fucking fangs would drop, he could give himself a fighting chance. “Are you still there? The knife?” she asked. “Okay. Do it.” He was surprised she’d offered. Most women would have been gibbering if they’d fallen down a hole and found themselves with a guy bleeding all over the place. A couple of screams and that had been it. She’d hurt herself quite badly in the fall. He was surprised it hadn’t killed her. Every time she moved, she made these little whimpering sounds. Well, even when she didn’t move. Her foot faced the wrong way and her arms and legs were a mess. Her blood, whether inside or outside her body, enticed, frustrated, and ultimately distressed him. Alek fixed his eyes on hers as she edged closer. Ah God, she was…lovely. A pretty, heart-shaped face. Short, fair hair and huge blue eyes. He liked her mouth, those sweet, luscious lips with a pronounced cupid’s bow. It had been a while since -- “Shit,” he gasped. She’d wrenched out the knife. He’d been so busy looking at her mouth that he hadn’t spotted what her hands were up to. He took in the T-shirt she pressed against his chest. The color changed fast: pink to red, light to dark, the blood spilling into the material and spreading like blotting paper drawing up ink. Fuck! The pressure on his chest increased as she pushed harder into his ribs. Her face was close to his now. Her neck almost within reach. Alek could feel little panting breaths hit his chin. He could smell her. An unusual scent of honeysuckle that for a moment overpowered the odor of blood. No sign of his fucking fangs. Couldn’t he have just one break? “Oh God. Stop bleeding,” she cried. Alek was trying. God was welcome to try too; only Alek suspected the big guy wasn’t listening. Since he’d already defied the natural order in living until he was three hundred and fourteen, he could hardly expect God to have any interest in his continued survival. Alek concentrated his energy on his chest, attempting to use his mind to heal the damaged tissue, a mental push urging capillaries to seal and veins to fuse. A futile exercise in wishful thinking. She lifted his arms and placed his hands over the T-shirt. “Press down,” she said and picked up the knife. What the fuck? Was she one of them?

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“The blood isn’t stopping.” Jo cut the sleeve from his shirt. “Where the hell’s it all coming from?” She cut off the other sleeve, then chopped away the rest and gasped as she exposed his chest. Alek would have gasped too, but he was trying to save his strength. He was covered in cuts, some deeper than others. It looked like he’d been thrown through glass. It had felt like it at the time. “Why would anyone do this to you?” Alek closed his eyes. “Hey, don’t you dare die and leave me on my own at the bottom of this hole. You should have put out a sign telling people it was there: ‘Danger! Warning to idiots who run without looking where they’re going. Gaping hole ahead. Man in trouble at the bottom.’ If you die, I can’t sue you. Or maybe I can. Those injury lawyers on the TV would love to handle this.” He smiled to himself. Her voice was soothing and her humor reassuring. “I didn’t mean that. It was my fault for not looking where I was going. Please don’t die.” She pulled away the sodden T-shirt and put her head against his chest. Alek had dropped his heartbeat to the minimum. The slower the organ pumped, the less blood escaped. She sat up and tears splashed onto his face as she struggled to maneuver him into a prone position. What was she doing? When Alek felt air rush into his lungs, he almost panicked, then realized what was happening and held back a chuckle. It wouldn’t make any difference to whether he lived or died, but it was pleasant having her mouth against his. He guessed slipping his tongue between her lips would freak her out, so he relaxed, let her do what she wanted, and sank deeper inside himself, thinking of the place he’d most like to be. A white sandy beach on some tropical island, watching waves sweep in from an azure sea. Right above his head, for the first time in his adult life, he’d like to see that big, blazing ball of yellow light. He’d have a cocktail in his hand -- one of those in a fancy container with a curly straw and a piece of pineapple wedged on the side. And maybe a cherry. Lying next to him on a hammock strung between two palm trees, he wouldn’t mind having the woman currently emptying her lungs into his. He might even give her the cherry. She was close enough to bite if he could muster the energy. He felt the prick of his fangs struggling to descend. Alek needed her blood, though he felt less inclined to help himself than he’d expect. He usually had little compunction, but even in his weakened state he retained an awareness that once he started to feed, he might not be able to stop. Fabulous for him, possibly fatal for her. His plan, now that the knife had gone, was to close down his systems and hope his body would begin to heal sufficiently for his fangs to drop. Then he’d bite her. He allowed his heart rate to slow even further. He knew she’d think he was dead.

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Chapter Three Exhaustion stopped Jo’s efforts to bring the gorgeous caveman back to life. She had no more air to breathe into him. She’d deliberately pressed her foot down, making it hurt as she’d given him CPR. That put paid to thinking about sex. Instead, her confused mind had let her suck air out of him when she was supposed to blow, and she’d caught her tongue giving him a little tickle. It made no difference. She lifted her mouth away from his. He lay there as still and cold as the rock that surrounded them. Jo gave a hiccupping sob. Oh God, should she have left the knife where it was? Had she killed him? Beneath his blood-smudged face lay a handsome man. He looked midthirties, she guessed, about ten years older than her. His hair was straight, fine, and very dark and had flopped over his closed eyes. Jo brushed it away in a gentle sweep. So soft. His pale lips were almost invisible. She ran a finger down his cool cheek and sighed. He was the best looking guy she’d seen in ages. More than ages. Maybe he wouldn’t have considered the five horny days a month as a curse. He might have been the one to -- Jo broke the thought. What was the point? He was dead. She was a little worried that she still wanted to have sex with him. Jo guessed he’d been running from his attackers and fallen through the gap in the limestone pavement. It wasn’t actually his cave, he’d only got here first. Talk about coincidence. If she did get out, she’d request a warning sign be put up. She’d been trying to take his mind off things -- like dying -- but she hadn’t been joking about that. The hole was bloody dangerous. Jo had a sudden image of a busload of people tumbling down. Enough of them and they could climb on top of each other to get out. With her luck, she’d be the one squashed at the bottom. She stroked Alek’s arm. Apart from the blood on his chest, the rest had dried. Jo wondered how long he’d been down here before she’d joined him. Hours? She stiffened. Whoever had done this might still be out there. Would they kill her too? They wouldn’t need to. There was no way she could get out without help. Jo thought about yelling and

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decided not to bother. There would be no one around except perhaps his assailants. If she were still alive when the sun came up, then she’d yell. A tear rolled down her face as she stared at him. It stung her scratched cheek. Maybe she shouldn’t have moved the knife, but it had looked so awful sitting there in the middle of his chest. She gulped back a sob and pulled him into her arms. She couldn’t hurt him now. Jo wasn’t really so far gone that she wanted to have sex with a dead body. You’re not, she told herself sternly. Would rigor mortis make him stiff enough? Jo took a mental hammer to her head for that one. She wished she’d given Alek a hug while he was still alive. Well, so long as she’d been able to resist sliding her hands to his cock. Maybe he’d have liked that as a good-bye to the world. Jo shuddered. I am so twisted. How horrible to die like this, in a dark, damp hole in the ground. Dark, damp holes in the ground were for after you were dead. Jo cried harder. She was going to die too because there was no way she could get out, even if she fixed her ankle. She was trapped with a dead body and even though it was a good-looking dead body, it was still dead. Good thing she wasn’t tempted to eat him. Though she had a sharp knife. Ha ha. He was very lean. Maybe his butt is juicy. After another hard kick at her busted ankle, Jo wrenched her mind back on track. “Sorry,” she whispered. “Sorry I couldn’t help you.” Jo laid him down and winced as pain shot through her foot, ricocheting around her body. Every time she looked at her leg, she felt ill. A foot turning the wrong way was not good. No point sitting there with it hurting when she could do something about it. She gritted her teeth and removed her shorts and pants, easing them carefully over her damaged foot. The bra had to come off too, but the socks and running shoes could stay. They’d fall off. Footwear always did. She had no idea why. Jo didn’t want to think too closely about it because it was as freaky as the craving to sleep with every guy in town. It was impossible to describe what she did to make aches, pains, and cuts go away. Jo just did it. Though she was very rarely ill, she’d had more than her fair share of accidents; she was always leaping and jumping over something, so it was just as well she had this ability. Jo thought hard about the problem in her foot, imagined herself out of her body and her bones knitting together. She braced herself for the more familiar pain that would follow and as usual passed out. When she came round her foot didn’t hurt and the cuts and scratches on her arms were healing. Her headache was gone, the lump on her head now a suitable home for an ant rather than a mole. Jo had tried healing others without telling them. It never worked. She was part sorry and part relieved about that, imagining the joy and also the pressure to make people better. Jo didn’t know exactly what happened to her body when she passed out, but she’d ripped so many clothes, she’d learned it was better to strip before she attempted a healing.

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Shoes and socks always survived, though they were never on her feet when she opened her eyes. She guessed she must change in some way, come out of her body, although she wasn’t sure how that could work. She pulled on her panties and refastened her bra. Even though there was no one to see her, she didn’t feel comfortable sitting naked with a dead body. If by some miracle she was found, people might get the wrong idea. Jo reached for her shorts and saw a bubble of blood ooze from a cut on Alek’s chest, though not from the place where the knife had been. She frowned. She didn’t think you could bleed after you’d died, no blood pressure or something, but this blood was coming up, moving against gravity, so his heart had to be pumping it. Which could only mean one thing. Jo’s sex drive rocketed back like a ten-gun salute. Maybe she should take her bra off again. Alek heard Jo telling him not to die, not to give in. He couldn’t respond because he was too busy trying to do what she told him -- not die. He urged the small amount of blood currently limping through his veins to take the fastest route to the places that needed it most. He’d shut down everything but the very core of his being. Alek retained some awareness on the periphery of his semiconscious mind. A shiver ran through his body. His temperature was always lower than a mortal’s, yet for the first time in years, he felt cold. Not good. He must be dreaming -- something else he didn’t do, but Alek could feel thick fur under his palm. He pressed his fingers deeper, stroked it, and thought of his mother. Not that she was furry. He remembered her laying him on a soft, warm rug that felt like this. She’d dangled a toy over his face and as he grabbed for it, she pulled it out of reach. A game. The chill trickled out of his body. Alek felt warm, safe in a gentle embrace. Not his mother’s arms around him, but Jo’s. She soothed him like a baby, whispered in his ear, held him to her chest, and rocked him back to awareness. Alek took great comfort from her kindness, which was more genuine than had been shown to him for a long time. The tear in his aorta had grown a fragile seal, the hole in his chest now healing. Alek sensed his body regenerating, though at a slow pace. Too little blood stretched too far was hardly the way to survival. Jo was. The heat of her body warmed him. He scented her sweet breath, heard her life force running in her veins, so close he could almost touch it. The smell of blood on her arms tantalized his senses. If he could raise his head a little, his lips would be on her skin. One taste and his fangs would surely drop. Alek tried to bite his tongue to entice them out and when he couldn’t even manage that, he groaned. “Oh God, I thought you were dead,” Jo cried. Alek opened his eyes and stared into her face. She looked so happy he almost didn’t tell her, but he needed her help, not God’s. “I’m dying.”

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“Don’t say that. You’ve almost stopped bleeding. You’re going to be fine.” “No. I’m not.” He saw her trying to muster words of encouragement and watched them wither on her lips. “I don’t want you to die.” She gulped. Her tears fell onto his mouth and his tongue instinctively lapped, savoring the salt, cherishing the emotion. His fangs vibrated in his jaw. She cares. Alek was swamped with lust. Blood rushed straight to his cock and he sighed as it tented his pants. He needed that blood elsewhere. He needed blood. Jo’s arm was enticingly close. He gasped. “Is that a bat?” “Where?” When her head shot round, he ran his tongue along her skin, his fangs gave a responsive tingle and he trembled with delight. “I can’t see it.” Jo turned back, a frown on her face. “Did you just lick me?” “No,” he said with as much indignation as he could muster. “My tongue slipped.” Alek tried to think of another way to distract her. The trouble was her sweet face distracted him, that and her blood. “You’ve stopped bleeding,” she said. Alek was reluctant to take his eyes away from hers, fearing she might be the last thing on Earth he’d see, but it was true. No more trickling blood. Probably because he had none left. It had all soaked into his clothes and the floor of the cave. His gaze locked onto her bare legs. “Why have you taken off your shorts -- oh, and your shoes and socks?” “I was going to use them to stop the blood.” “Riiiight.” Alek drew out the word, not sure he wanted to know how her running shoes would help her do that. “What if you’re still bleeding elsewhere?” Jo asked. “Your legs?” “I’m not.” “There’s blood all over your chinos. I’d better check.” Why the hell had she stripped? Alek was intrigued. She wanted his pants off. Oh Jesus, was she into necrophilia? Since he was already technically dead, that was almost funny. So she’d stripped because she wanted -- no, that wouldn’t work. His brain had finally got the message and released the blood from his cock to a place it was needed more. He had nothing stiff enough to poke into her. Though those little panties barely covering her crotch were encouraging his dick to argue the point. She used the knife to slice up the leg of his chinos and then peeled it back. Part dried, part sticky blood streaked his leg. He looked like he’d been hosed with it.

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The soft touch of her fingers as she felt her way from his ankle to his knee, brought warmth into his heart and a fresh rush of blood to his groin. His dick tented the remains of his pants -- again, cocking a snoot at his brain. God, he had energy to joke? Still, comforting to know one part of his body could always be relied on to do the right thing at the wrong time. He wondered if all men were the same. “Right leg looks okay, except for lots of nasty scratches,” she said. She opened the pants on the left side and gave a deep groan. Something told Alek it wasn’t because her foot was hurting. “What is it?” Alek’s cock deflated again. Her fingers slid around his ankle, along his shin, over his knee, and then up his thigh. If Alek hadn’t known better, he’d have thought she took pleasure in this. There was something distinctly sexual about the way she caressed him. A shiver of arousal leapt to his groin. His cock perked up like some alien life-form. The only bloody lively thing about him. It was up and down like one of those tubular wind socks outside a carwash. Alek heard her give a soft sigh. He knew what that meant. She liked touching him. Before her fingers got any higher and she realized how much that was reciprocated, he clamped his hand around her wrist. “How do my legs look?” Alek asked. “Fine.” Jo coughed. “Really…fine.” He held back his chuckle at her choked response. “So all that was for nothing?” “No, look there.” She touched an almost imperceptible scratch that wept one tiny, jewel-like tear. Alek gave a snort. “What about your back?” Jo asked. “I didn’t turn my back on them.” He closed his eyes. They’d pinned him down on a bed. He hadn’t even been able to fight back. Alek felt her breath on his face. “Don’t die,” she pleaded. “I don’t like it when you shut your eyes.” When he looked at her, Alek felt he was staring into deep blue pools or an endless sky that he’d held in his imagination since he was a child. He thought he could look at her for hours. Thank God for vampire night vision. “I can’t help it,” he said. “I’ve lost too much blood.” Her shoulders fell. “We can’t get out anyway. There’s no way of climbing up. No tunnels. No hand or footholds. The sides are so slick we’d slip back.” “If I was stronger, I could get us out.” Jo smiled and brushed the hair from his eyes. “If I could make you stronger, I would.” “Would you?”

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“’Course I would, but since I don’t have medical skills, lifting equipment, or superpowers, I can’t think of anything I can do.” Alek hesitated, then figured he might as well go for it because if he didn’t they were going to die anyway. Or at least he would. She might get lucky and be found. She’d have to be very lucky though, because he’d chosen this place for its isolation. It was his haven, the lair no one would ever find. He usually kept it warded; however, in his weakened state, he’d been unable to sustain the glamour, which was why this particular angel had fallen from heaven to his feet. He sighed. “There is a way for you to make me stronger,” he said. The tips of his fangs already pricked his mouth. Alek felt sure they’d emerge at the crucial time. He could grab her and bite her, assuming he had the energy. Only, he was reluctant to use force. “You need blood,” she said. “Yes.” He had to swallow his laugh. She had no idea. “I’d give you some of mine if I could,” Jo said. No idea at all. “Would you?” “Yes. Well, assuming I was compatible.” Alek smiled. “I’m sure you are.” “What blood group are you?” “Which are you?” “O positive.” “Me too,” he lied. She rolled her eyes and he laughed. What was the worst that could happen? She’d shuffle as far away from him as she could and scream? She had a loud scream, though not one that could be heard fifteen miles away. Plus she hadn’t gotten hysterical when she’d fallen and seen him. She’d been quick to accept the situation. He admired that. “There is a way you could give me your blood,” he said. Jo frowned and then smiled. She became visibly excited and Alek wasn’t sure he wanted to know what she was thinking. “We could get a pen and take out the inside and put one end of the plastic tube in my vein and the other end in your vein -- et voilà.” He gave her an incredulous stare. He’d been right. He’d rather not have known what she was thinking. “What do you think?” she asked. “That we’d both bleed to death.”

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She looked so disappointed, Alek felt terrible. “Aside from the fact that we don’t have a pen, it won’t work. What would stop the rest of your blood flowing into me?” Which was nonsense in itself, but for some reason, he didn’t want her upset. “Oh.” Jo deflated like a punctured ball. “So what’s your way then?” “I could…suck it out.” “Suck it?” Jo snorted. “How the hell would that work? You’d swallow it. It would be in your stomach. Well, I suppose in the long run that might be useful because there must be a bodybuilding substance in blood -- protein or something --” “It doesn’t go into my stomach. It goes into my bloodstream.” Alek smiled. She might not scream, but she could certainly talk “It can’t.” “It does, believe me.” Jo gave a little smile. “You drink blood as food. Right. So I gueth you want to thtick your fangth into my neck.” Alek sighed at the fake lisp. “In my present state, just above your breast would be better. Easier to stay latched on.” She laughed and then stopped. Alek could almost see the pennies drop into place, a lot of them, clanking into a big, wobbly pile that grew taller by the second. Then the pile crashed. “You’re telling me you think you’re a vampire?” she whispered. “No, I’m telling you that I am a vampire,” he whispered back, wondering who she thought was listening. She looked skeptical. “Of all the holes I could have fallen into, I’ve picked one with a crazy guy at the bottom. Did you bang your head when you fell? ’Course you did. Maybe you’re concussed.” “I am a vampire,” he repeated. Jo opened her mouth and shut it again. “If you let me take some of your blood, I’ll be strong enough to get us both out of here.” Silence. “At least you aren’t screaming,” Alek said. She gave a short laugh. “You’re joking, right?” “No.” “So, you really think you’re a vampire?” “Not think, Jo. I am a vampire.”

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Her hand rose to her hair. “Maybe that knock on my head was harder than I thought.” She sat up straighter. “That’s it, isn’t it? This whole thing is a hallucination. Or was I right all along? I’m already dead. I died when I fell in here.” “Then why is your ankle hurting?” “It --” She paused, like she didn’t want to lie. Didn’t want to worry him? How sweet, especially when he’d just freaked her out in an exceptionally big way. “Are you truly, honestly, seriously a vampire?” Alek sighed. “Yes. Yes.” He paused. “And yes.” “But --” “Jo, my angel, I’d love to sit and explain things to you, but we have very little time. I’m going to die if I don’t feed and if you don’t let me feed, you’ll probably die too, slowly, of thirst or starvation.” “Or maybe some flesh-eating monster will tunnel through the rocks and eat me.” “Well, there is that.” “Or a vampire might fall into the hole and suck out all my blood.” He met her gaze, kept it, and didn’t try to go into her mind. Alek needed her to want to do this. Well, he’d give her a chance to agree, and if she didn’t, then he’d use his mental charms. He wasn’t that stupid. “What do I have to do?” she asked in a hoarse voice. He could’ve sworn the moon shone brighter. “Hold me to your chest until I have the strength to keep myself in place.” “Will it hurt?” Jo whispered. “Oh God, I sound like such a wimp.” “Most people think it’s a really…” Alek struggled for the word, found it, and didn’t use it. Erotic wouldn’t work. He played safe. “A really nice feeling.” “Is that just before they drop dead?” “I’m not going to kill you. I only need to take a few mouthfuls.” Slightly more than that, but he didn’t want to send her skittering across the cave floor. The thought of feeding made his head swim. Lights flashed behind his eyes. Or maybe that was because so little blood still ran in his veins he’d zoned out. Alek’s fangs ached -- a sign they were about to drop. “Okay.” Jo caught hold of his head with her hands and looked him straight in the eyes. “I formally agree to you slurping a glass of Château Jo Carter, 1982 vintage. Only promise it won’t hurt.” “Just a little prick.”

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She sniggered and Alek watched the tension fade from her face. He had to lie. It would hurt for a moment because he was so desperate and there was no sex involved. His cock perked up. Alek would have laughed if he could. Jo smoothed down his hair and positioned his mouth against her chest. He could hear her heart thumping and looked up at her. “Thank you, angel,” he whispered. Alek nuzzled the plump flesh at the top of her breast. His fangs shot out so fast he scratched his lower lip. He kept his face down, afraid of scaring her. “Listen to me, Jo. Only let me do this for thirty seconds. Count out loud. You must stop me after that, no matter how much I plead or try to continue. You understand? Thump me if you need to. Hard.” “In the balls?” Alek laughed. “No, please not in the balls. Somewhere else.” “In the chest?” “Jo!” “Okay. Sorry.” He took a last glance into her eyes, thought how unusual they were, sort of -- and then the tips of his teeth pierced her skin, warm liquid flooded his mouth and he was lost. Her blood was delicious, sweet, and lifesaving. His cock grew more excited and his balls began to wind themselves up. It’s not going to happen, guys. Not that it made any difference. They were intent on doing their thing. If he’d been stronger, he’d have fucked her as he fed. To hell with the rules, he wanted her and she wanted him. He was sure of it. Alek could vaguely hear her counting as he drank. Her blood sizzled along his veins -repairing, healing, bringing him back to life. It was the most glorious thing he’d ever tasted, as though he’d given his mouth the greatest treat in the world. He could keep going forever, lying here in her arms, his head against her soft breast, draining her -- No. He had to stop. She should have stopped him by now. Why hadn’t she? Just a drop more. Another mouthful. No. He wrenched his head away and Jo slumped back with a gasp, her pupils dilated. Shit. Alek pulled her into his arms and groaned. “You were supposed to stop me.”

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Chapter Four Jo shivered. She’d been warm and now she felt cold. She opened her eyes to find herself in Alek’s arms. Wasn’t that the wrong way round? Hadn’t she been holding him? Two puncture wounds lay at the top of her left breast, little trails of blood running into her bra. She needed to fix that, she thought, and then he bent his head, licked once, and the holes sealed. Jo closed her eyes. “Don’t go to sleep, angel,” Alek said. Jo blinked and her eyes closed again. Her eyelids refused to cooperate. “Look what you’ve done for me.” Jo made a greater effort to wake up. Alek moved so she could see his chest. No more bleeding. Even while she watched, some of the smaller wounds faded and dissipated to nothing. Wow, he heals like me. This had to be a dream, Jo decided. The whole thing was crazy. But then her life had its own bit of craziness so why couldn’t this be real? Was it so hard to suspend disbelief? He’d bitten her, drank her blood, and now he was strong and she was weak. Jo didn’t know what she was, but she knew she wasn’t a vampire. Alek was. A very good-looking one. Her mouth went dry as lust went on a rampage through her body. Damn. “Are you all right?” he asked.

Sex. Sex. Sex. “Yep. What about you?” “Better,” Alek said. “Much better.” He rested her against the rock and got to his feet.

Sex. Sex…“Wow, you’re tall. Sorry about your pants.” They hung in shreds around his lean, muscular legs. “Are you strong enough to get us out of here?” Jo hoped he was because she felt a bit weird. Maybe a combination of exhaustion and desire. She was desperate for him to fuck her, only too tired to do anything about it. He

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stretched his arms into the air. For a moment, Jo wondered if he’d grow wings, flutter out of the hole, and leave her. He turned and smiled. “You’ve saved me.” Then the smile fell off his face. “Oh fuck, you don’t look good.” Alek dropped to her side. “I’ve taken too much from you. You should have stopped me.” “Doesn’t matter if you’re strong enough to get us out of here.” Jo tried to rise and fell back with a yelp. “What is it?” “My foot. It was better and now it hurts again. That shouldn’t happen.” He crouched by her ankle and when he touched it, Jo gasped in pain. “I need to try and fix it. Close your eyes. Please,” she said. “What are you going to do? How can closing my eyes help?” “Hey, I accepted your insanity. Will you just do it?” she snapped. He frowned but cooperated. Once his eyes were shut, Jo closed her own. She’d rip her clothes, though she hadn’t the energy to worry. Maybe he’d rip off his own and fuck her. She smiled. Alek’s heart clenched as he looked at her. If she opened her eyes to check on him, his reactions were so fast she’d never know he’d peeked. She smiled and then tightened her mouth. Alek sighed. What the hell was she trying to do? She couldn’t fix her foot by thinking it better. A spasm of pain flashed across her face and he winced at the sudden ache in his ankle. He froze. What the hell? Why did he feel her pain? Her blood running in his vamp veins? One drink couldn’t have caused that kind of bond. Alek stared at her. After a few moments she opened her eyes and gave a choked sigh. “Shit. I couldn’t do it. Nothing happened.” He reached out to cradle her in his arms. Alek had a preference for long hair, but Jo’s short locks smelled of spring flowers and the woods. The strands felt as soft as slow-flowing water running through his fingers and so pretty: the shade of a young primrose. Maybe that was what he’d felt before. Not fur but Jo’s hair. Alek liked holding her, liked looking at her long body, those sweet breasts teasing beneath the lace. The temptation to fuck her grew alongside the compulsion to feed again. The fact that she was injured was enough to rein him in for now, though not enough to stop him thinking about it. As he held her and rubbed his face against her hair, he saw marks re-emerging on her arms and legs. Bruises blossomed, her skin darkened, and scratches that had stopped bleeding began to bead with drops of blood. Shit. Had she started to heal and because he’d taken her blood, the process had gone into reverse? Why had she healed so fast in the first place? Alek

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began to ache, his arms and legs becoming leaden. Not good. Something was wrong here. He tried to lift her and couldn’t. Shit. She weighed more than a baby elephant. “Am I heavy?” Jo asked. Even in his confusion, Alek recognized that particular minefield. It sat right up there with, “Does my bum look big in this?” And, “Would you rather watch football or go clothes shopping with me?” “No, of course not. Lie still, angel. You’re safe now.” Only she wasn’t because it became increasingly clear Alek had not gained the strength he needed to get them out of here. His wounds had been severe and he hadn’t drunk enough to shift the balance in his favor. Now he faced a dilemma. He could retreat to his deeper lair, bury himself in the soil, and sleep his way to recovery, except by the time he emerged Jo would most likely be dead. Alternatively, he could take more blood from her and hope it would make him strong enough to get them out if he didn’t kill her in the process. Mixed in with all that was a worry about what was happening between them, this strange link. Weakness crawled through him, creeping along his veins like a malevolent cancer. His blood thickened and the power in his muscles began to fade. The decision over what to do had to be made quickly or there would be no decision to be made. He looked at Jo, lying half-naked in his arms, her pale breasts pushed up in her bra -- tempting globes in the moonlight. They needed to be sucked and licked and bitten. He was the guy. This time his fangs had no problem coming out. He ran his tongue over the sharp tips and the taste of his blood tipped him further over the edge. One little sip. Just a tiny taste. About half a pint. It was all Alek could do not to throw her away from him before he attacked her like a wild beast. Jo blinked. “You need more, don’t you?” He sucked in his cheeks and tried to look innocent. “What?” “You need more blood. You’re still weak, still dying.” Alek gave her a quizzical look. “How do you know?” She panted. “I don’t know how…I just know.” She was right, only he didn’t have to die. “Drink some more,” Jo said. “Have another glass. Oh hell, finish the bottle.” “I can’t.” “Why not?” “It’s dangerous for you.” Jo released a choked cry. “For fuck’s sake, do it. Otherwise we’ll both die down here.” Maybe it was time to take another risk. Alek knew on this occasion he’d have more control because he was slightly less desperate. A small drink. Nowhere near half a pint, he told himself sternly, only enough to push him onto dry land and give them both a chance of

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survival. He turned towards her and looked into her eyes as she stared into his. He saw trust and innocence and for a brief moment, Alek wished the knife had killed him. Then a surge of raw lust flooded his mind. To his alarm, he realized he wasn’t slightly less desperate, he was more desperate. Alek wanted to fuck her as he fed. He wanted to bury his cock deep inside her time after time until she screamed his name. He wanted to show her what sex with a vampire was like, what sex with him was like. A thin rope of common sense dragged his mind back. It was hardly the right moment with both of them lying injured on a cold, damp slab of rock at the bottom of a deep hole. “Do it,” Jo repeated. “Only don’t make me a vampire. I like sunbathing.” Alek bent his head to her neck, nuzzled behind her ear, and slid his tongue over the pulsing vein. His wicked, wayward hand slipped to her breast, dipped inside the lace, and cupped the soft, warm mound. Distracted for a moment by the fact that her nipple was pebble hard even before he’d touched it, Alek’s teeth pierced her skin and the thought was lost. Jo gave a little cry, clutched his arm, and fell silent. She tasted so good. Too good. Alek wasn’t supposed to drink from mortals unless he had a license from the Council. He didn’t. Not that it stopped him having the occasional mouthwatering snack. Okay, more than occasional. All right, every mortal he went out with if he could manage it. But Jo tasted…different. Alek’s cock was harder than the rocks on which he lay. Every mouthful he drank sent a surge of pleasure to his groin. His balls ached with the need for release. His hand itched to reach inside her flimsy panties, stroke the little bud nestling there, and make it burst into flower. Jo was cute and funny. He liked talking to her, liked touching her. She was nothing like Sophie.

Sophie. The name shattered his concentration. Alek looked down in horror at Jo. He’d kept drinking when he should have stopped. Christ, what was the matter with him? In the pale light, Jo’s face faded like a ghost. “Jo!” No response. Alek was furious. He had more control than this. What the hell was going on? There was no choice over what he did now. He couldn’t let her die, not after what she’d done for him. Alek raised his wrist to his mouth, bit into the vein, and let his blood run between her lips. It took only a little to revive her. He sealed the cut in his wrist before her eyes opened and she realized what he’d done. Jo’s eyelids fluttered. She struggled to sit up. “Oh God, did I go all weird? What did I look like? Was it horrible? Were you frightened? Well, no, I don’t suppose you were frightened, but are you disgusted?” She winced and then gasped. “Oh, I’m still wearing my underwear. It’s not ripped. Wow.”

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Alek wasn’t sure what to make of that load of sentences, particularly the comment about her underwear. He’d only slipped his hand inside her bra not yanked the thing off. “Everything’s fine,” he said. “So I didn’t --” She ground to a halt. “Didn’t what?” “Throw myself at you?” She averted her eyes. Lying, Alex thought. What had she been going to say? “Well, yes, but I was the perfect gentleman.” Jo nodded. “So we fucked like bunnies.” He laughed. Relief that it had worked and she was all right danced through him. Alek had been forced to feed a mortal only once before after he’d taken too much. The day his fangs dropped and he’d come to maturity, his father had explained all about feeding and what to do if it went wrong. Thank fuck he had and thank fuck Alek had listened. The number of times he’d tuned his father out, but the one piece of advice he’d needed from that lecture, Alek had managed to remember. The girl had been a teenager too, the daughter of a local farmer. Alek had taken too much, and he had to feed her and then wipe her memory. He’d sworn it would never happen again. Three hundred years later -- it had. “Are you stronger now?” Jo asked. Alek nodded. He felt energized. “How about your foot?” She wriggled her toes. “Yeah, it’s okay, a bit sore.” Only sore? The thing had looked broken. Her toes had faced the wrong way. Maybe she was double jointed. His perverted mind slid to an image of a naked Jo with her legs wrapped behind her head, the pink lips of her pussy exposed -“You can get us out of here now.” She didn’t sound excited at the prospect. “I suppose so.” “Right.” Jo sighed. Disappointment? Was that possible? “What are you going to do?” she asked. “Snap your fingers and whisk us out? Make a rope from our shoelaces? Change into a bat?” He gawped at her. “Ah, well, I suppose you don’t want to be spotted. If people saw huge bats flying around, they’d --” “Jo? Shut up. I can’t change into anything. I’m going to climb up the rock with you hanging onto my back. One thing I am is very fast.” Alek stood and pulled her to her feet. Jo took a tentative step, winced, and then smiled. One more step and she fell. Alek caught her before she hit the ground and steadied her back on her feet.

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“Wow, you really are fast,” Jo said.

Thank God. She’d taken a bit of a risk there and could have ended up with a broken nose. Jo’s heart pounded. Her plan had worked. He’d caught her and hadn’t let go. She’d grabbed hold of him and hadn’t let go. Where his hands touched, her skin sizzled. It was a bit strange because he felt cooler than he should. She dismissed the thought. Moonlight at her back, Jo felt its light burning inside her. Oh God, I want him so much. He stood looking at her, his arms wrapped around her, and Jo’s mouth went dry. Despite the blood-streaked chest and the fact that his pants hung in tatters, he was the most desirable man she’d ever seen. It wasn’t just her five-day lust. Desire, a raging hunger to have him inside her, filled her mind. Forget climbing out of the slippery-sided hole. Forget the hard rock beneath their feet. Forget the fact that he was a vampire. Jo gulped. Yep, I’ll definitely have to forget that one. He was all male with an unmistakable hot bulge in his pants. Day one out of five, almost day two, and she was ravenous. Her sexual need had ebbed and flowed erratically since she’d tumbled into the cave, now it was back and more insistent than ever. “Do I want to know what you’re thinking?” His voice was hoarse and ragged. Oh God, she hoped so. “How are you at taking orders?” His mouth twitched. “I don’t take orders; I give them.” A curling flame twisted in Jo’s stomach and she stared straight at him. “I want you to fuck me.” “How many times?” She laughed. Alek slid his hand behind her neck and pulled her to his chest. His cock pressed against her belly. Thick, hard, long. Perfect. His lips stopped inches from hers. “I want it fast,” she whispered and wrapped her hands around his back, trying to tug him closer. A look of amusement flashed across his face before he bent his head and flicked his tongue across the corner of her mouth. “I don’t think so.” “But I need it fast.” Jo groaned in frustration. One whispering brush of his lips along the seam of hers and the bones in her legs dissolved. His black eyes gleamed. “Trust me. I know what I’m doing. I’ve lots of experience.” Alek kissed her forehead. “I’m going to rock your world.” “I’m going to wear you out.” He laughed. “Is that so?” “You have no idea.”

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For the first time in seven years, Jo was about to completely surrender to her cravings. Maybe that was where she’d been going wrong. This could be the way to cope with those five days a month. Find a horny vampire and let him fuck her into oblivion. Sounded stupid, but Jo felt it was Alek she’d been waiting for, that somehow all this had been meant to happen. She reached for his cock and his hand clamped around her wrist. Alek pushed both arms to the back of her body and before she could pull free, restrained her with one hand. His other returned to the back of her neck. She had an ache there and his stroking fingers felt so good. “I’m in charge,” he said. Jo bit back her laugh. Whether he took this fast or slow probably didn’t matter. Jo was about to come any second. Her inner thigh muscles had been tightening in a slow, rhythmic rumba from the moment he’d stopped her from falling and caught her in his embrace. With one slow, uninterrupted sweep of his tongue, Alek licked down her neck to her collarbone. Fire shot to the tips of her fingers and toes. When he sucked at the junction of her neck and head, drawing her flesh between his lips, it felt as though he had the power to drag her orgasm out through her throat. “I want you inside me,” she gasped. “Not yet.” She gave a loud growl. The sound almost scared her. “Now,” Jo snapped. He laughed. “You are so fucking sexy.” And with those words, she lost it. Streamers of sensation unraveled inside her, leaving Jo awash with fiery, quivering trails. Her head fell back and she stopped breathing, the orgasm so intense for a moment it hurt. Then pleasure took over and her heart pounded the beat of delight all over her body. “Oh my God,” Jo whispered as her knees shook. Alek kept her upright and pressed his forehead against hers as she gulped air. “Are you okay?” he asked. “I want more.” He chuckled. “I thought I was the one giving the orders.” “I want more, please.” “When you ask so nicely.” Alek fluttered the tip of his tongue from her cheek to rim her ear, and when he breathed into the sensitive shell, Jo shuddered with joy. She pulled against the firm hold on her hands. “Let me go. I want to touch you.” “No.”

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His lips slid across her chin to the edge of her mouth. The feather-soft caress dragged a cry from her throat. She wanted to touch him and wouldn’t wait any longer. With one swift wrench she freed her hands from his grasp, noting his surprise, then wrapped her arms around him. Even as Jo thought she’d won, he caught hold of her head and kept her where he wanted, their lips close but not touching. It was a battle she couldn’t win, though Jo struggled, drumming at his back with her fists. When his tongue slipped out to trace the shape of her lips, the blows against his ribs turned to gentle rubs. The slow, wet exploration inside and outside her mouth calmed her shaking limbs but not her heart. It still jumped like a beginner lurching on a trampoline. Alek nibbled her upper lip and she gave a husky groan. Jo’s tongue shot out to lick his and won a throaty moan. The sexy sounds echoed around the cave and ratcheted Jo back up the side of the mountain. She melted into him as their tongues played together. Their bodies and mouths fused in games of tag and Twister that grew more intense with every kiss they exchanged. Jo’s hands roamed his back, top to bottom, thrilling as his firm muscles flexed and danced under her touch. Their kisses grew harder, faster, wetter, and their touches more frantic as though they were trying to climb inside one another. As if she needed more evidence of his desire, his cock was impossible to ignore. A long, steel-hard shaft wedged between them, still inside the remains of his pants, and she wanted it inside her. Jo moved away from his lips to catch her breath. She lifted her leg, tucked it around his waist, and rocked, grinding herself against him, rubbing her clit along his zipper. “Please,” she groaned. “I need you inside me.” Alek gripped her tighter; his fingers slid over her backside and tugged her to him. The kissing frenzy resumed. Hands grabbed, clutched, squeezed. Jo stopped breathing. They were wild for each other, caught in a limbo of need, unwilling to move on, bewitched by this simple pleasure of linking mouths. Jo had never been kissed like this, never lost herself like this. The relief that his ferocity matched hers, that her desperation matched his made it perfect. Jo loved his tongue, loved the way it played, the feel of it sliding alongside hers, the way it explored her mouth and surged in a rhythm echoed by his hips, the same rhythm she wanted from his cock. Alek wrenched his head back. “Oh fuck. I forgot. You need to breathe.” Jo gulped air, filled her lungs, and was at him again. Every one of her senses hovered on high alert. She listened to his body, heard every groan, the sound of his skin rubbing against hers, the material of his pants scraping against her legs, the rasp of his cheek on her face. Every sexy word that burst out of him sent a bolt of lust to her spasming clit. “Hot, sexy, and so fucking beautiful,” he whispered. He felt divine, the slight coolness of his skin barely disturbing, the hard muscle more than adequate compensation. Particularly one hard muscle that he repeatedly thrust against her. The one hard muscle he prevented her from touching. Jo whined in frustration. Then her bra disappeared and his hands were on her breasts, his thumbs brushing backwards and

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forwards over her nipples until Jo couldn’t stand it. His mouth soothed one hard bud with wet licks as his fingers pinched its mate. He swapped from one to the other as she arched her back urging him to take more while she wanted him to stop because he was driving her crazy. The smell of him filled her head. Man, sex, vampire, even blood -- all swirling in a maelstrom of scents that made her so drunk, she lost focus. Breathy cries escaped her mouth. She could smell herself too, her panties saturated with the scent of sex, the air thick with rising hormones. Her heart thumped as if she’d run a super-fast mile. Jo trailed her fingers around the waist of his pants and felt him shudder against her breast. He didn’t stop her when she squeezed his cock. Didn’t stop her when she pressed her fingers down the long length of it, then returned to tease the head where the material was soaked with precum. Hands shaking with anticipation, Jo pulled down his zipper. His cock sprang out as the remains of his chinos dropped to the cave floor. She almost drooled. No underwear. Less than a second, neither had she. Boy, he really is quick. He caught hold of her hands and their fingers entwined. Their mouths and hips kissed, and Jo moaned into his throat at the feel of his naked body at last pressed against hers. Liquid fire spread through her, a river of molten gold arousal zinging to enlighten every cell and warn them of the pleasure to come. As Jo wrapped her fingers around his shaft, Alek’s eyes darkened. She couldn’t tell where pupils ended and irises began. Dark eyes, sexy eyes, vampire eyes. She slid her hand up to the head of his cock, gathered precum on her fingers, and made one slow, wet caress down his length. A long hiss burst from his lips. Power and desire poured off him in waves. The air became harder to breathe. “I can’t --” he gasped. “I can’t --” Seemed like she wasn’t the only one having trouble. “Can’t what?” Jo panted. “Remember my name?” He half-groaned, half-laughed. “I’m trying to keep…some control here.” “Why?” Jo squeezed and pumped his cock while her other hand caressed his lovely, taut backside, fingers teasing his cleft, making him clench and twitch. “I need you inside me,” she whispered. She straddled his cock, let it slide between her damp thighs, brush against her pussy as she rocked against him. Alek’s hands dropped to her hips, his head thrown back, his face tight with concentration. “You won’t get pregnant,” he whispered. “I can’t make a mortal pregnant.” When Jo felt the wet head of his dick touch her swollen folds, she couldn’t wait any longer. No more teasing. “Fuckmefuckmefuckme,” she gasped.

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And he did. In one hard, fast push he sank balls deep inside her, rammed right up as far as he could get, punching Jo to the tips of her toes. She released a long sigh of relief. Alek pulled her legs up to wrap them around him and held her by her waist. “That feels good.” She smiled. He flexed his hips and dragged her down onto his cock as he thrust up. Jo cried out, a long, keening wail that echoed round the cave. She’d been wrong. Now he was as deep as he could get. She’d never fucked anyone standing up before. No one had ever been strong enough to attempt it. Alek wasn’t even leaning against a wall. She was tall, heavy, and Alek held her as though she was nothing. Only now, that’s all he was doing. Holding her. “Move,” she said. He laughed. “I was giving you time to adjust to my huge cock.” “I’ve adjusted.” “I could be insulted by that.” “Don’t be. You’re a magnificent beast, only I’m desperate. Please.” “Magnificent beast? What have you been reading?” He bent his knees, thrust once at a different angle, hit some ultrasensitive spot, and Jo yipped. “Oh, do that again.” She sighed with happiness as Alek began to pump into her, arching his pelvis to drive up as he held her hips and pulled her down. Each thrust filled her completely. Jo wrapped her hands around his neck and hung on for the ride. “Jo, Jo,” he groaned. He moved faster, his hair flopping over his face, and they climbed the rest of the mountain together, the savage friction between their bodies driving them in a relentless push towards the peak. Flashes of electric sensation seized her spine and shot to her pussy. “Alek, oh God.” One hard shunt tipped her over the edge and she tensed against his chest, adoring that split second before she came, as if she hung on the brink of a glorious slide into the perfect pool. As contractions rippled through her and she clamped around his cock, a ragged cry burst from his lips. Jo felt him swell and then spurt inside her, jet after jet of hot cum bathing her pussy, mixing with her cream until she overflowed. They shook in each other’s arms, clinging with a desperation that thrilled her. This was what she’d been missing. A guy who could stand up to fuck her, one who could make her see stars, moons, whole constellations in Technicolor. A guy who gave her everything he had. Jo just hadn’t realized she should have been looking for a vampire. As their brain cells realigned, Alek helped Jo disentangle herself and lower her legs to the cave floor. Then he pulled her back to his chest, letting her nuzzle against his neck. “I’ve never done that before,” Jo said.

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“What? Had sex with an expert? She stomped on his toes and shot him one of her killer glares, guaranteed to make vampires quail. Alek laughed. “How many women have you had sex with?” “I’m three hundred and fourteen. How many do you think?” A bolt of disappointment hit Jo’s heart. “Oh.” Alek trailed a finger over her lips. “But never like that, Jo. Never like that.”

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Chapter Five Alek intended the kiss to be a gentle brush of his mouth against hers. Even as he bent his head, he knew there was no way that would be enough. The moment their lips touched, his pulse spiked and his hormones began another race around the Daytona track of his bloodstream. In an instant, his cock swelled from sapling to tree trunk. When his tongue surged into her mouth, Jo’s arms tightened around him and Alek groaned. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d kissed like this, been kissed like this, felt like this.

Happy. Oh shit. I feel happy. She tasted sweet and nestled perfectly in his arms as if they were made for each other. Yet that was impossible. Jo wasn’t his love. There was no sign of a bondmark on his arm or hers, the twisted vine that indicated they were lifemates. So had this feeling of unity arisen because she’d saved him and then he’d had to save her? Had it linked them, made them crazy for each other? Or was it simply them both reacting to their near-death experiences? Proving to each other they were still alive, or in his case, still undead. Alek thought this strange link between them, this sensation of rightness, was most likely nothing more than her life force feeding his passion. The same for Jo -- his blood had merged with hers and made her wild. The exchange of blood so close to death had triggered some mutual response. Or maybe it was just a chance in a million. Alek knew he was fumbling for the truth, but whatever the cause there was no denying the result. Blinding, white-hot passion. No wonder they weren’t supposed to feed mortals if this could happen. The logic of his explanations comforted Alek. Forget the reason, this was lust, pure and simple, and lust could be sated. Jo rubbed herself against him and nipped his neck. His cock swelled. Lust not yet sated. Alek felt a moment’s disquiet that his sexual stamina hadn’t overwhelmed hers and then smiled. Idiot. He had a naked woman in his arms who wanted more and he was complaining?

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They broke apart, although Alek kept hold of her hands. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Alek broke the silence. “Can you keep a secret?” Actually, it was irrelevant whether she could because once Jo left the cave, she’d remember nothing. Her body would ache and that might make her wonder if she’d had sex, but she’d recall neither him nor this place. There would be no risk of Jo revealing his lair to others either deliberately or by accident, and she wouldn’t get locked away in an asylum for claiming she’d had sex with a vampire. Alek winced when he thought of Marissa, another of his near-disasters. He’d done a sloppy job of wiping her memory -- inexperience, his only excuse. As a consequence, a cleanup had been required, and under the supervision of his father, Alek had been obliged to selectively wipe three days’ worth of memories from Marissa’s entire family, the local asylum doctors and nurses, the priest, and his dog. His father said the dog was to teach him a lesson. “Can you keep a secret?” Alek repeated. He wondered why she’d taken so long to answer. What did she think he was going to tell her? Wasn’t the fact that he was a vampire enough to keep quiet about? “Yes,” Jo said. “There’s something I want to show you, but to get there we have to crawl single file down narrow passageways with no light.” “Any mice, spiders, snakes, or sharks?” He chuckled. “No.” “How can you tell if there’s no light? Well, I mean I can see there wouldn’t be any sharks, only I’m not good with mice, spiders, and snakes. Particularly mice.” “No need to be scared if I’m with you.” Jo raised her eyebrows. “Isn’t there anything that frightens you?” “Alligators and there are none of those either.” “You promise not to leave me stranded?” “I promise.” “And you’ll fuck me when we get there?” His eyes darkened. “As many times as you want.” Jo decided the whole thing was a dream. Or she was dead and this was heaven. She felt too happy for it to be hell. Though she had to admit, she’d always pictured something a little more traditional -- fluffy clouds and golden-haired angels brandishing harps, not an underground cavern and a vampire covered in blood. Jo smiled. She felt safe with Alek, and how ironic was that? Luckily he was nothing like the scary vampires in the movies, but rather lived up to every vampire book she’d ever read. Tall, dark, and sexy. A hard, tight

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body. An insatiable, incredible lover. If the price was some of her blood, then Jo was happy to pay it. With Alek, her desperation for sex had changed from something base to something beautiful, from feeding an obsession to bringing someone else pleasure. He didn’t think she was depraved or deranged. Alek wanted her as much as she wanted him. “Hold on to my back and close your eyes,” he said. Jo did as she was told, her feet lost contact with the floor and she clutched his shoulders as they moved up. When her toes touched rock again, Alek pulled her into a crouch. “You can open your eyes now, though you won’t see anything.” When she did, the blackness was complete. Jo let out a gasp of alarm and gripped him tighter. She had excellent night vision, but wasn’t sure she’d been anywhere this dark before. “Shit, you weren’t kidding,” she whispered, hoping for comfort from the sound of her voice. “It’s okay, angel. We need to crawl now. The floor’s been worn smooth by water so it’s not too rough. Follow close behind me.” Jo reached out in the blackness and felt stone on either side, the ceiling only a foot above her head. Alek shuffled off. “Keep talking so I know you’re there,” she called. “Tell me about yourself,” he said. “Then that’s me talking and not you.” Jo scrambled to follow his voice. Good thing she didn’t get freaked out by dark, closed-in spaces. Particularly when she was in one with a vampire. A naked vampire. A naked vampire whose lovely butt was a couple of feet in front of her. She groaned. “Are you okay?” Alek asked. Jo’s face hit his backside and she caught his hips in her hands. Her fingers curled around the angular bones and she stroked them with her thumbs. A wave of heat washed over her. “Jo?” She couldn’t help it: she kissed his butt. Alek laughed. Jo ran her tongue down the crease of his bottom and he stopped laughing. Oh God, what am I doing? He’d frozen on his knees in front of her. The fact that he hadn’t shot off at high speed let Jo hope she hadn’t totally freaked him out. She dropped her head even lower, kissed his balls, and he gave a loud groan. “Jo?” he asked, in a that’s-nice-but-what-the-hell-are-you-doing tone. She wrapped her lips around the velvety sac and gave it a massage with her tongue. Wrinkled skin stretched taut as she separated the balls and sucked gently.

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“Jo.” Oh, now it was a don’t-you-dare-stop tone. There was something highly erotic about doing this in complete darkness. Rolling onto her back, Jo shifted until she had her head and shoulders wedged between his legs. She trailed her fingers down his backside and around to his groin. “Can’t you wait?” Alek asked. “No.” Jo pulled his cock down. She sucked the crest into her mouth and rolled a drop of precum around the soft, satiny head using the flat of her tongue. The tangy taste made her mouth water. “Oh fuck.” Alek gave a deep groan. “That feels good.” One leisurely sweep of her wet tongue down the hard underside of his thick erection and he trembled against her. The veins in his cock pulsed against Jo’s mouth and her pussy gave an echoing throb. She trailed her tongue back to the crown and dipped into the sensitive slit, teasing with the tip of her tongue, pressing in and out until Alek let out a ragged cry. Jo wrapped her hand around him, loving the feel of him, satin over steel, soft skin over rigid core. She opened her mouth wide, swallowed, and Alek’s thighs shook against her. As she squeezed the base of his erection, Jo slid the fingers of her other hand to the underside of his sac and stroked the delicate strip of skin at the back of his balls. She worked her mouth over his cock, letting her saliva mix with his juice as she made slow, leisurely caresses from base to crown. Jo took him as deep as she could and he reached back to stroke her head. Varying the pressure of her mouth and tongue, Jo kept up the rhythmic dance until Alek was gasping. She let him out with a little pop and felt for his balls. Jo wrapped her lips around the taut sac and gently sucked one hard nut, rolling it in her mouth. Alek’s fingers dug into her hair and pulled at strands as he groaned. A little scratch on his sac with her nails and he yelped. “What the hell are you doing?” Jo let him out of her mouth. “Me? Nothing? I’m here on my hands and knees about ten feet behind you. You mean there’s someone else in here with us? Spooky.” He let out a hoarse groan. “Would that someone suck my cock, please?” Jo blew on his balls and wrapped her fingers around the base of his dick. She pressed her lips into the dip below the taut crown and shifted her head from side to side. Alek moaned. He reached back, started to stroke her head, then gripped her hair again, urging her to go faster. Jo tightened her mouth and sucked him deep into her throat. Alek rocked his hips back to push into her. He was careful not to be too rough, but Jo knew he wanted it harder. She slid her hands to his thighs and pulled him in more firmly, letting the head of his cock hit the back of her throat, then pulling back before she gagged. He hadn’t touched her pussy but she was so turned on, her orgasm was on countdown. Trickles of pleasure built to a steady stream and merged to form a raging river carrying her

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towards a waterfall. Alek gave a loud groan above her as his cock slipped deeper. Jo didn’t try to breathe, just opened her throat to him. His thrusting became more frantic, scraping her shoulders on the floor of the tunnel. She ignored the pain. Her thighs dripped with cream, the tightening sensation spreading over her stomach, that hanging limbo winding her ever faster towards explosion. “Oh, Christ. Jo. Angel. Fuck.” Alek stiffened and, as he flooded her mouth with his cum, Jo’s orgasm overwhelmed her, sweeping her away on a flash flood of delight straight over the edge of the falls. The rush of pleasure was so strong that for a moment she could see in the darkness. A spark of rainbow colors that flashed to white before everything turned black again. Jo swallowed every salty jet, relished each delectable shudder of Alek’s thighs as he spurted into her. Then she licked him clean before lowering her head to the floor and giving a deep sigh. There was a rush of air as Alek slipped backwards and then he was over her, his mouth against hers, stealing his taste, cradling her shoulders from the hard rock beneath her body. “Can we stop every few yards and do that again?” he asked. Jo laughed. “I wanted to make sure you didn’t leave me behind.” Alek kissed her, a teasing nibble at her lips. “Well, it worked.” He crawled over her, his cock trailing up her body and he tugged her hair as he passed. “Keep up.” By the time Jo rolled over and began to crawl, Alek had moved on. Too far away and she felt a flutter of panic. “Keep talking,” she called. “What do you want to know?” He sounded quite a long way ahead and Jo moved faster. “Tell me about your family. Do you have any brothers and sisters?” “A younger brother and an even younger sister. Luka and Erin.” “Do you see much of them?” Jo asked. “No. I haven’t seen them or my parents for two hundred years.” His voice was louder. Jo could sense the tension even in the darkness. “Why not?” she asked, and her face hit his butt again. “Hey, you’re not going to distract me like that. Why haven’t you seen your family?” “It’s not safe for us to be in contact.” “Why not?” “It’s just not.” “You’re in danger?” “Yes.” “All of you?”

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“Yes.”

Easier to pry blood from a stone. “But why? What are vampires frightened of?” Alek sighed. “Other vampires. There are not many like me. I’m one of the Trueblood clan. We’re descendants of the original vampire family, have special…qualities, and are not popular with the current Vampire High Council.” “Oh. That last bit doesn’t sound good.” “Now that I’ve told you, I’ll have to kill you. I choose the method. I’m going to fuck you to death.” “Alek?” “Mm?” Jo bit his backside. “Don’t say things like that when I can’t look at your face to see if you’re joking.” He laughed. “So what’s special about you?” she asked. “Don’t say things like that when I can’t see your face. Surely you’ve seen how wonderful I am. Fantastic fuck, gorgeous body, magic fingers.” Jo smiled and stayed silent. “Unfeeling witch,” Alek muttered. “What about you, then? Mother, father, brothers, sisters, no doubt kinder and prettier than you?” “You’re going to feel bad now.” “Why?” “My parents died three years ago. We were on holiday in Spain, driving south through the mountains. The weather was awful and torrential rain triggered a landslide. It swept across the road and carried our car into a ravine. Only my sister, Rachel, and I survived.” She didn’t add that her sister had hardly spoken to her since. “Oh Christ, I’m sorry. Still, at least you have your sister in your life. Would I like her better than you?” “Rachel goes out with a bloodsucking fiend.”

Arrggh. Jo had a faceful of bum again. She nipped him. “Oh no, a tax inspector, that was it,” she said. “The passageway opens up now. Come here.” She crawled forward. Alek wrapped her in his arms and landed a series of kisses around her face. “I can’t believe you haven’t freaked out. It’s pitch black, we’re deep underground, and I’m a vampire.” He licked her ear and she shuddered into him. “I need you to hold onto my back again. Don’t let go until I tell you or you’ll fall into a bottomless pit.”

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Jo loved the feel of his body against hers. She never wanted to let him go. Only this wasn’t going to last. He was going to wipe her memory. She saw now that when he’d called her to come closer after she’d fallen in the hole, he’d been trying to use some sort of mind control. Maybe he’d been too weak to make it work. He was no longer weak. Jo pressed her lips together. She gasped as air rushed over her body. Falling. Clutched him tighter. Then her feet touched rock. Warm rock. “Keep your eyes closed and put your hands over your eyes. I’m going to leave you for a moment to put on the lights. Don’t move.” The temperature had definitely risen. The place they were in was larger because Alek’s voice sounded different, more echoing. Jo felt him come up behind her. His breath hit the back of her neck as he slid his arms around her waist. His erect cock pressed against her backside. “Okay. You can open your eyes.” Jo gasped. “Oh my God.” They stood at the base of a vast cavern. Ahead of them stretched a motionless lake illuminated by underwater lights. Tendrils of steam rose from the surface like flimsy ghosts, only to disappear into the darkness. All around them individual rock formations glistened under spotlights. Stalactites hung everywhere, from single monster columns to clusters of tiny ones, rock icicles. In the distance, rough-hewn steps led down to a barricaded wooden viewing platform that looked out to where they stood. Jo envisaged crowds staring openmouthed as the two of them posed naked in front of them. “What do you think?” Alek asked, his hands rising to cup her breasts. “It’s amazing,” Jo said. To their left, curved layers of rocks lay so close together they looked like rippling waves. To the right, lights shone on a group of stalagmites that reminded Jo of a forest of truncated trees. More lights surrounded a suspended, yawning cave with spikes of rocks hanging down and growing up. Teeth. “They all have names,” Alek said. “What -- like David and Bonita?” The sound of his laugh echoed around them. “No. More like the Stork, the Sitting Elephant, the Devil’s Hairbrush.” “That could be the Vampire’s Dick.” Jo pointed to a tiny stalagmite. Alek growled in her ear. “I almost feel like we’re in the belly of a whale. This is the Angel Cross cave system, isn’t it?” Alek stroked under her breasts with his thumbs sending tingles to her pussy. “Yep. The public pays to tour it. I have my own entrance. We’ve got it to ourselves this time of night,

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though they sometimes run late tours. A whole load of kids once slept in here for a charity event.” “Why’s it so warm?” “Geothermal activity. It’s a hot spring.” “You mean we have our own bath?” She turned and caught Alek staring at her so intently her breath caught in her throat. He put his hand to her face and brushed her cheekbone with the pad of his thumb. “Is it safe to go in the water?” she asked. He nodded. “Nothing dangerous lurking there? Undiscovered toe-nibbling crabs? A monstrous leviathan? A bloodsucking fiend?” Jo grinned. “Ah, well there might be one of those.” Alek tugged her over to the lake. Jo trailed her toes along the surface and groaned in pleasure. “It is like a bath.” She stepped down to an underwater ledge and then let the rest of her body slide beneath the water. Bliss, bliss, bliss. When she surfaced, Alek had gone. “Alek!” “I’m here.” He stood behind her, his wet hair sticking to a face washed clean of blood. She touched the angry red mark on his chest where the knife had gone in. “Will it disappear completely?” she asked. “Yes. After I sleep.” “Are you back to full strength?” “Not yet.” Jo pouted. “Too tired for sex, then?” Alek caught her in his arms and spun her so she sat on the ledge where she’d stepped in. The warm water came up to her waist. He ran a finger from her chin, down her throat to her nipple. It hardened in an instant. “Almost as fast as you,” Jo said. “Does your dick go hard when you even think about a naked woman? How many times a day does it happen? How do you make it go down if you don’t --” He flashed her a look with his dark eyes and dropped his head. When his mouth settled on her breast, Jo stopped talking. Stopped thinking. She leaned back against the rock and ran her hands over his shoulders. Every pull on her breast wound her tighter. His lips caressed, his teeth nipped, his tongue soothed. He moved from one breast to the other and Jo never

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knew what he was going to do next. Bite or suck. Kiss or lick. She threaded her fingers through his wet hair and closed her eyes. If this was hell, it was fine by her. She’d put up with the terrible torture. Alek’s head dropped and his tongue teased her navel. Jo would have reared out of the water if he hadn’t pressed down on her thighs. It was like being licked by flames, only ones that didn’t burn. Her skin flickered and twitched under his mouth and she felt him laughing. Then his hands slid under her bottom and lifted her. His head dropped farther and his mouth settled over her pussy. Within moments, Jo was writhing, struggling not to explode, but the sensation of his tongue thrusting inside her threatened to drive her insane. A little bite at her clit had her wrapping her legs around him to drum her heels against his back. He continued to tease her. It took a lot more mind-altering pleasure before Jo regained enough awareness to realize he hadn’t come up for air for ages. She wrenched his head out of the water. “What’s wrong?” Alek spluttered. “I thought you were going to drown.” She smoothed the drops of water from his face. He laughed. “Why?” “You’ve been…er…down there ages.” “I was busy.” Jo swallowed hard. Alek leaned on her knees and let his legs float out behind him. His lovely backside bobbed at the surface. “I can hold my breath for a long time,” he said. Jo narrowed her eyes. “How long?” “Want me to show you?” Jo nodded. She knew she shouldn’t have done, but it was like expecting her to say no to a box of chocolates. Alek’s head disappeared below the surface and his tongue slid inside her. She had one last coherent thought. Could she take him home with her? And then she didn’t think, only felt. His fingers joined his mouth. The combination of the water and his touch heated up the fight in her body. Come. Don’t come. Come. Don’t come. Jo wanted this to last forever, but it was a battle of attrition she couldn’t win, her capacity to hold back under attack from Alek’s persistent tongue, the twisting pressure on her clit sending lightning bolts of pleasure skittering through her body. One finger inside her, then two, then his tongue. No, no, no. Yes! A cascade of pleasure tumbled through Jo, and she came apart with a loud reverberating howl that echoed around the cave until it sounded as if they were surrounded by a pack of wolves. The noise both thrilled and scared her. Alek surfaced and pulled her into his arms. The last delectable shudder died away at the same time as the final howl and Jo gave a deep sigh.

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“You don’t need to breathe at all, do you?” she asked. “No.” “What a pity for you that I do.”

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Chapter Six Alek was in so much trouble. He felt desperate for Jo in a way he didn’t remember ever experiencing before. He’d always had to restrain himself with mortals, fearing he’d go too far with feeding or sex or both. Alek was afraid of how strongly he felt about this particular mortal after such a short period of time. For almost three centuries, he’d drifted in and out of relationships, unable or unwilling to let them develop into something serious. A hint of love and Alek walked away. Over the years, there had been a few mortal women with whom he’d lingered. He’d hurt them in the end when he’d left, because he wouldn’t turn them. It should have been safer and easier to have sex with other vamps. Unless they were mated, sex was just sex with no emotional ties, but Alek had a particular reason to be careful when fucking a vampire. Most vamps were made and not born, sterile creations of their vampire masters, former humans who’d been bitten and turned with or without their consent -- though technically not without the consent of the Vampire High Council, otherwise you were in deep shit. But Truebloods, among a few elite clans, had the ability to sire offspring. They were born mortal and came into maturity and full vampirism in their teens. Furthermore, they were so potent they could make a sterile vamp pregnant. So in order to not to give himself away and leave a trail of pregnant vamps in his wake, Alek needed to wear a rubber. The rules had been drummed into Alek and his brother Luka from the moment of their first wet dream. Sex with a mortal, then condoms didn’t matter. Sex with a vampire, they had to wear one. Only if Alek pulled a condom from his pocket, a vamp with a brain wanted to know why. They couldn’t carry disease so there was no requirement for protection. Alek had been through a number of lies: rubbers coated with a pleasure-enhancing agent, rubbers that kept him erect longer -- that idea had hurt -- and rubbers that sat up and whistled. A whisper of suspicion from a vamp partner and he could never see her again.

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Simpler to have sex with mortals who, in general, insisted he use protection. Alek could count on the fingers of one hand the number of times he’d had unprotected sex in the last fifty years. He’d forgotten how good it felt, forgotten the delicious feel of a hot, silky pussy tightening around his bare dick. He’d felt every flex of Jo’s muscles, every spasm of her orgasm, every rush of her cream. They stood on the bottom of the lake, up to their necks in water, entwined in each other’s arms, and nothing had ever felt more right to Alek. Jo swung her legs around his body and pressed herself against his throbbing cock. “Fuck me,” she whispered. He laughed. “What -- again? You’re insatiable.” “Your point?” A jab of unease prodded Alek’s mind. Some small doubt -- and then it vanished, overwhelmed by the joyous prospect of burying himself inside her once more. “It’ll be more comfortable out of the water,” he said. Alek climbed out and sat on the edge, pulling Jo onto his lap so she sat facing him. His eyes locked onto the sight of her breasts as they rose and fell, droplets of water dribbling down, hanging on her nipples. His cock salivated and his mouth watered. “My angel,” he whispered and pressed his lips to hers. She tasted like the sun. When they kissed, her fire poured into him and made his super-slow heart beat faster. Jo tilted her hips and rocked her pelvis against him as he swept his palms over her sexy butt. Alek’s throat was tight with desire and his chest ached with longing. Their mouths folded into each other, tongues tangling, teeth clashing. He tilted his head and changed the angle of the kiss, slanted his mouth against hers so he could go deeper. He’d never enjoyed kissing so much. He could have come just doing this. Jo nudged his cock with her belly, using his precum to slide against him. Alek groaned into her throat and the kiss slipped over the edge of control. It wasn’t just him. Jo was equally as frantic. They consumed each other, hands gripping the other’s head, hips surging until Alek knew he was about to burst and he yanked his mouth away from hers. Jo gasped for air, soft, breathy pants hitting his face. She looked dazed. Her wet lips were kiss swollen and Alek wanted them again. He’d have liked her in a bed, somewhere comfortable, but Jo positioned her feet behind him, rested her palms on his knees, and lifted her backside so she could slide onto him. She pressed down and Alek released a long hiss. She felt so good. A tight, wet glove holding him in a perfect clasp. He needed a moment -- Jo began to move. Alek caught her hips, slammed her down, and kept her there. She laughed. “Wait,” he gasped. “One minute. I need one minute.” “Ten seconds.” “Thirty.” “I need you now,” she whispered. “Hard, fast, and deep.”

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How could he resist that? Within moments Jo was arched back and yipping. Alek leaned forward and wrapped his wet lips around her engorged nipple. The orgasm built in his brain, the near-pain flashing to pleasure as it traveled along his spine and captured every vertebra on its way to his balls. He shifted his backside, thrust harder, and wrenched a scream from her lips. “Oh God, Alek.” Her voice echoed around the cavern. She was so hot, so tight, so slick. Alek slid into a rapid-fire pulse, crushing himself against her, driving them both beyond the point of return. “Come now, Jo.” She tightened around him as the first biting spasm gripped his cock. Jo sank down as he jerked up and his balls exploded, firing cum into his cock and out of his body into Jo, streams of his hot cream mingling with hers. His hips jerked violently, and for a moment Alek wished they were making a child. Then common sense took over and he saw this for what it was -- sizzling hot, electric fucking. Only when the last exhausted shudder had died away did the tension fall from their bodies. Jo slumped in his arms and Alek slid back into the water, still holding her. “If I wasn’t already dead, I’d think you were trying to kill me,” he said with a groan. “Are you dead or undead?” “What books have you been reading?” Jo nibbled along his collarbone. “Er…The Vampire Slayers’ Handbook by Chris Cross. How to find a Vampire Lover by Dick Hunter. A Hundred Ways to Use Garlic by Ivor Smell --” Alek chuckled. “I think that’s enough.” “Talking of hunting vampires, was it vampires who tried to kill you?” “One was.” He wasn’t sure they all were. “They covered my face, although I sensed a vampire presence.” “Could mortals have hired a vampire to attack you?” “It’s possible.” And something he hadn’t considered. Even more enemies to think about. Shit. She sighed. “So when you get out of here, you’re still going to be in danger.” “I’ll let you stand in front of me.” Jo nipped him hard on the neck. A surge of raw lust shot through him. She had no idea how tempted he’d been to feed from her again. The desire to bite her smoldered beneath the surface of his control. Another nip like that could render him mindless. “How are you going to find out who was responsible?” she asked. “Why are you so interested?”

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Her hands clutched his cheeks. “Why do you think? I don’t want them to hurt you.” Jo’s voice changed, grew fierce. “I want to kill them for trying to kill you.” And the breath Alek didn’t need to take, stuck in his throat. “We better go back,” he mumbled.

That didn’t sound good, Jo thought, but followed his instructions -- closed her eyes, went where he led, crouched down, clung to his back. The final time he told her to open her eyes, they were somewhere new. “Where are we? Still in the cave?” She looked around in bewilderment. “It’s my secret place.” She spun to face him. “Ah, your deep, dark lair that no one knows about.” “Only you.” Jo was more certain than ever she wasn’t going to see him again. She pushed back the pang of disappointment and looked around. A large bed, a wardrobe, a wall full of books behind glass, and a saxophone in a glass case. Lights hung all over the rock walls, draped up and down in a haphazard fashion, a mixture of little orange Halloween pumpkins with a variety of grotesque faces and white ghosts in several different poses. Jo laughed. “Are you stealing the Angel Cross cavern’s electricity?” “I hardly use any. I thought the lights were cute.” Jo looked at the naked, well-built alpha male reclining on the bed, then back at the girly lights and smiled. “How did you get everything down here?” “In bits.” “I take it you play the sax,” she said. “A couple of evenings a week in a club. Do you play anything?” “Drums.” Alek sat up. “Really?” Then a shadow crossed his face. Maybe he’d just had the same thought as her: they could play together followed by the realization that it wasn’t going to happen. “What other hobbies do you have?” she asked. “I like to invent things.” “What sort of things?” “I came up with the idea of a vampire emergency pack in case we’re caught outside far from shelter. Bit bulky though. Too big to fit in a purse or pocket so it didn’t catch on. What about you? What do you like to do in your spare time?” “Run.”

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Alek yanked her onto the bed. “Not make mad, passionate love with your boyfriend?” “No boyfriend.” Jo considered telling him about her crazy five days and decided not to. There was more to what they were doing now than scratching her itch. Jo wanted Alek, though not quite in the desperate fuck-every-man-within-sight way she’d felt earlier that day. “Why isn’t everything damp?” she asked, hoping he’d let her change the subject. “This part of the system stays dry and maintains a steady temperature. Speaking of which, I’ve been wondering how come I’ve not seen you shiver.” “I never feel the cold.” Alek tipped her onto her back and leaned over. “All your scrapes and scratches have gone again. Your skin is unmarked. You haven’t even mentioned your foot. Why?” “Must be your blood.” Her heart began to pound. He shook his head. “The water,” Jo said. “It’s a miracle. Don’t tell anyone, otherwise this place will turn into another Lourdes and you’ll never get any peace.” Alek sighed. “You made me shut my eyes when you tried to sort your foot out. When you fell, you broke your ankle and now there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s not even swollen.” “I think you must be confused. It wasn’t that bad.” Alek dropped his weight on her and pinned her arms. “Not that confused. You’re not a vampire, so what are you?” Jo wished she knew. “I don’t know. I’m just different. The older I’ve gotten, the more quickly I’ve healed. I don’t know why. I’m a freak of nature.” He grinned. “Guess we make a good pair, only I’m an unnatural freak.” He narrowed his eyes. “How do you heal yourself?” Jo could see he wasn’t going to let it go. She needed to distract him. She pushed and Alek tumbled off the bed. His head popped up and he looked at her in astonishment. “How the hell are you strong enough to do that?” “Caught you unawares.”

Oh God, now I’ve made matters worse. Sometimes her strength surprised her. Alek lay back at her side. “Tell me, how do you heal yourself? And if you throw me off the bed, I’ll just ask you again.” “I sort of zone out, think myself outside my body looking in, concentrate on what part I want to get better, keep my eyes shut tight, and when I come round I’m generally okay. I really have no idea how it works and it only works for me; otherwise I’d have helped you.” She touched his chest. “They’re going to try again, aren’t they?” “Yes. Whoever did it wanted me to die and I didn’t, so yes, they’ll try again.”

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“Any idea who could be responsible?” He hesitated. “No.” “Is that a no, I have a huge list of people who hate me and it could be anyone, or no, everyone loves me?” Alek chewed his lip. “I thought everyone loved me, but seems someone doesn’t.” “So you need to figure out why.” Jo chewed her nail. “It has to involve power, love, money, revenge, or pleasure -- the main motives for murder. If more than one person attacked you, then pleasure is out. Same with love, I’d think unless her family decided to finish you off.” She cast him a quick glance. His face gave nothing away. “So if you die, who inherits? Are you a megapowerful megalomaniac who won’t listen? Or did you piss someone off when you nicked their parking space?” Alek smiled and kissed the end of her nose. “Fan of murder-mystery novels?” “Addicted. I’m trying to help.” “I know and I’m grateful.” “I’m worried, Alek. I think you ought to hire a bodyguard.” “Need a job? I’d love you to guard my body.” He ran his fingers around her nipples. “You’re not taking this seriously and I already have a job.” “Doing what?” “I work for Forest Enterprises. I look after trees, give them encouraging hugs and pats, and take an axe to them if they misbehave.” Alek slid his body over hers. “I like the sound of hugs and pats, but I have a morbid fear of axes.” Jo trailed her fingers over his backside and he squirmed against her. “What about you? What do you do?” “I’m in entertainment, bringing pleasure to many.” “A gigolo?” Alek reared up. “No, I’m not.” “Settle down, fang man. I’m teasing. What do you do then?” “I run a company called Night Adventures.” He nibbled her collarbone and Jo squirmed. “We arrange corporate events, birthday parties, weddings, and vacations, mainly for vampires though not exclusively.” Jo ran a finger up the crease of his butt. “Doing what sort of thing?” “Ten-pin bowling, car rallying, paint balling, tennis, sailing -- all in the dark, of course. I was the person who came up with the idea of night skiing -- purely to satisfy the vampire market. We arrange midnight golf on the best courses in the world, elaborate parties in stately homes, tennis at Wimbledon. People are generally happy for us to hire their facilities at hours when no one else wants them, though thwacking a ball around can be noisy.”

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“Don’t suppose vampires play cricket.” Alek raised his eyebrows. Jo grinned. “You’d all want to be the bat.” He growled and began to tickle her. “There are a million vampire jokes and I’ve heard them all. Every time you tell one, I’m going to punish you.” Jo tried to wriggle free but he spun her face down and gripped her thighs between his knees. Alek fluttered his fingers down her spine and circled the dip just above the crease of her backside until she writhed beneath him. Jo whipped the pillow around to knock him off. They fought and tussled, twisted in each other’s arms until finally they lay side by side, face to face, legs and arms entwined, his cock landing wet kisses on her belly as his lips landed wet kisses on her face. Jo was panting, Alek grinning. “You’re going to make me forget about you,” she said. His smile faded and his mouth tightened. “I knew you were smart. Beautiful and smart. Terrible combination for a woman.” “Good job I know you’re joking.” She sighed. “I wouldn’t tell.” Alek stroked her cheek. “I know you wouldn’t mean to, angel, but if whoever wants me dead had an inkling we were linked, they’d only need to look into your mind to find out everything. I need a place where I feel safe. You’d tell my enemies where I was whether you wanted to or not.” “Can you look into my mind?” “I won’t try. It’s not fair. Your thoughts should be private.”

The gorgeous, stupid bastard was lying. “I don’t reckon you can do it. I think it’s one of those apocryphal myths.” She was going to teach him a lesson.

You’re the best-looking guy I’ve ever seen. Your eyes are like black pools, your lips so soft and sensuous and I could never have enough of your cock. It’s pity about your bald spot. “I do not have a bald spot,” he yelled. Jo tried not to smile. It’s almost imperceptible. His hand rose to his head and he glared.

Oh dear, I shouldn’t have let him know about it. She tried to look contrite and counted. “Jo?” Ten seconds. “Yes?” “Do I really have a bald spot?” “No.” But she thought yes at the same time to worry him.

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“Witch.” He leaned forward and gently bit the end of her nose. “I’ve never met anyone like you.” “I’ve never met anyone like you. You’re my very first vampire. I’ve decided on a new hobby. I’m going to start a collection of weirdos. Know where I can find a zombie?” “You’re funny, cute, and sexy.” Jo smiled. “You’re funny, cute, and sexy.” “Are you going to repeat everything I say?” She raised her eyebrows. Alek stared straight at her. “I want to fuck your ass.”

Ooh, there’s a dare if ever I heard one. Jo took a deep breath. “I want to fuck your ass.” “I never want to buy another pair of shoes as long as I live,” he said. “Now that might have worked with a girly girl. You haven’t seen my closet.” “You are a girly girl. You’re soft and sweet; you’ve got bumps in the right places and a hot, wet pussy that’s a perfect fit for my cock.” “Perfect fit? Oh, I just thought of an erotic version of Cinderella. What if the prince had to go round and try his dick in every pussy in the neighborhood?” “Not sure that would be suitable for children, but I could try. I’m a prince.” Jo gawked. “Seriously?” “Truly, honestly, seriously.” She grinned at the echo of her words. “I knew if I waited long enough my prince would come,” she paused, “and come and come and come.” Alek laughed. “Anything for you.” “I need you again now. If we only have a few hours before you fall asleep, I want to make the most of them.” Maybe she’d make herself so sick of sex, tomorrow would be no problem. “Anyone would think you only wanted my body,” Alek grumbled and dropped down to lick a glistening trail across her belly. Jo arched into him. “I do,” she lied. “Don’t waste time talking.” That was the last thing Alek wanted to do. He pushed her onto her belly, planted his hands and knees on either side of her thighs and snatched a moment to look at her. His cock admired the view too -- the sweet dip between her shoulder blades, the bony lumps of her spine curving down to her beautiful ass, the line of her backside -- such a tempting cleft. Alek stroked her back with the tip of his cock and she squirmed beneath him. He wiped precum from his cock and drew patterns on her skin with wet fingers, then with his tongue, teasing the little dents at the base of her spine. She clenched her fists and pressed her face

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into the pillow. Alek smiled. So many ways to drive her crazy and he’d never run out of ideas. He kissed his way down her body, ran the palms of his hands over the curves of her bottom, and spread her butt cheeks. He hadn’t lied when he’d said he wanted to fuck her ass. Alek wondered if she really wanted to fuck his. They could…it wasn’t going to happen. This was the last time he could fuck her. He swallowed hard. He wouldn’t stick his cock in her ass without lube. No reason to have lube in his lair. He didn’t want to hurt her, but there was something he could do. “Jesus, Alek,” Jo gasped. “What are you doing?”

Teasing your cute little puckered asshole with my tongue. He circled it, pushed against it, dipped inside it, and then thrust into it. Jo started to make weird, high-pitched whimpering sounds and he lifted his head. “You okay?” “Did I tell you to stop?” she mumbled into the pillow. Alek laughed. He slid his hands under her chest to cup her breasts and rested his chin in the middle of her back. “You’ve stopped,” she said, the accusing tone unmistakable. “I’m easily distracted. It’s your fault.” “I need you inside me,” Jo whispered. “Not yet.” He slipped down her body, knelt on the floor, and pushed her onto her knees. The perfect view: her pussy drenched in cream, the pink, puffy lips wet and waiting for him, the puckered rosebud above. Alek took a long, slow lick and sighed in satisfaction. Sweet and tangy. He could have eaten her for hours. With his restricted diet, her taste intoxicated him. He licked along her creases, licked around her clit and she bucked, spilling more cream into his mouth. Another lick and she came on his tongue, quivering against him, yelling into the pillow. Alek loved how he could make her come, how powerful it made him feel. She was putty in his hands. He twisted her body every which way, rubbed his cock all over her, squashed it between her breasts, teased between her toes and smeared her lips with his juice, letting her steal the silky beads clinging to his crown. He ran his hand down the curve of her hip and around to her pussy. One finger between her folds, pressing deep, then two, a third and he felt her tighten around him. When he sank a finger into her ass, she came again, unraveling like a falling ribbon. Alek moved his head next to hers. Her mouth opened and then closed. She could barely speak, barely move. “What, angel?” he asked. “More. God, don’t ever stop. Fuck me, please.”

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Alek grasped his cock so he didn’t come. He slid down the bed, lifted her hips, and nestled between her buttocks. Alek eased his way into her, small pulses, trying to prove to himself he could take this slow. Jo thrust back and impaled herself so he was buried inside before he knew it. She was fucking him and that wouldn’t do. Alek grabbed her hips and retook control. “Jo, let me,” he whispered. His hips pumped in a steady rhythm and he risked reaching to pin her wrists to the bed. So much he wanted to do and this was all he could have. Alek increased the power and speed of his movements until he was pounding into her. He wanted to fuck her until she forgot any man she’d had before. Did she have a boyfriend? He’d wanted to press the point, but knew it would make him angry if she said yes. What right did he have to object to her seeing someone? His jaw ticked. Alek prayed he wasn’t hurting her, though he wasn’t sure he could stop. He wanted to bite her. He wished he could. Her head was turned to one side, the slim column of her neck taunting him. Jo’s pussy clenched around him as she came, her muscles squeezing his cock, and the sensation triggered his release. For a moment Alek wondered if his head was going to explode and then his balls did instead. He slammed into her one last time before he collapsed. Alek buried his face in the back of her neck, nuzzled against her damp hair, and tasted the salty tang of her skin. He felt as though every sexual fantasy had come true. Neither of them could get enough of the other. He couldn’t stand not to touch her. The moment he’d come, she reached for him and he was hard again. His balls had to be empty, yet somehow, he’d kept pumping into her. Alek was exhausted. He needed the day-sleep to get back to full strength. Not in the bed, but in the pit underneath the bookcase. There was a false chamber below where he lay in case anyone got this far, though his real lair was more securely hidden. He didn’t want to leave her. Jo was so sweet, the pain of having to give her up hurt more than he’d expected. Alek checked his forearms, but there was no change in his skin, no sign of a bondmark. He lifted Jo’s arm. Nothing. She wasn’t his love. The disappointment sat like a nagging ache in his heart. Alek buried his face in Jo’s hair and had a sudden thought that gave him hope. Maybe it was different if he fell in love with a mortal.

Love? Do I love her? Alek didn’t know whether he loved her. He did know he didn’t want to lose her. His hold on her tightened. He landed a series of lazy kisses along her neck, nuzzled the dark patch under her hair at her nape. A birthmark hidden away as though it was a crime to mark her body in a place that could be seen. Alek breathed in her essence. Jo and the musky aroma of sex. She was his sunshine. He didn’t want her just for her lifetime; he wanted her forever. His fangs brushed her skin. She’d saved him and for that reason alone, he had to let her go.

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He nuzzled harder at her neck, delighting in the nectar pouring into his mouth. Jo was perfect. When she went limp, Alek came back to his senses. He licked the wounds closed. What the fuck have I done? The one thing he’d been determined not to do was feed on her again and he had. Shit. She lay with her hands tucked against her chest like a child, but so pale and still, she could have been carved from the rocks around them. “Jo, wake up.” She didn’t stir. Alek wanted to rail at his stupidity. He bit into his wrist and pressed it to her mouth. He only let her take enough to bring the color back into her face. He knew the danger in letting her feed from him. Once was too much, twice reckless, and there couldn’t be a third time. Alek sealed his wrist with a sweep of his tongue and stood. He needed to get her away from him before he killed her. Forget waiting until morning, she had to go now.

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Chapter Seven Jo stirred when she felt a rush of cold air against her skin. Goose bumps erupted on her arms then faded. Her body always made a swift adjustment to temperature change. Heat bothered her more than cold, but where was the draft coming from? “Keep your eyes closed, angel.” Jo nestled her face into Alek’s chest and breathed in his unique scent. Whispers of arousal began a teasing climb through her limbs. Oh God, how could she want more sex?

You were running last night, slipped and knocked your head on the rocks. You remember nothing from the moment you fell. Jo tensed. She’d been placed on a hard surface. Her hands lay on cool rock. As she tried to remember what had happened, a heavy weight pressed inside her head and her ears hummed.

You slipped and knocked yourself out. You remember nothing more. Yes she did. Jo forced the memories out as if she were dragging her feet from thick mud.

Fall. Cave. Alek. Vampire. Her eyes snapped open. She lay on her back on the limestone pavement. It was night, the moon large and low in the sky, the light turning the landscape into a strange silver world. Jo pushed herself to a sitting position. She was dressed, her running shoes and socks on her feet. She wriggled against the feel of her T-shirt. Why was it so stiff?

Blood.

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Jo remembered falling, but her thoughts flew around in her mind as though her head was a centrifuge flinging everything out of reach. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and exhaled as she concentrated.

Fall. Cave. She looked around in the half-light. There was no sign of the hole she’d fallen into. Jo screwed up her face in concentration. Had she fallen? Yes, she’d broken bones in her foot and mended it.

Alek. He’d had a knife in his chest. Jo’s thought processes slowed to a lazy spin.

Water. She’d been in water with Alek. An underground lake. She licked her arm. Tasted minerals. Something was making her forget. Someone. Alek. Jo scowled and stood. She tested her foot and it was fine. So was her head. She brushed a hand over her chest. Her crinkled Tshirt irritated her chest.

Blood. His blood. Jo’s nipples sparked into fiery life as though she’d struck a match. Her thighs ached and so did her pussy. Forget? How was she supposed to forget all that sex? How was she supposed to understand a bloodstained T-shirt? But he’d made the decision. Alek didn’t want her to remember him. Aware that the memory loss might overwhelm her before she’d gone a hundred yards, Jo picked up a piece of rock and began to scratch at the flat limestone. Message or sign for her? She wasn’t sure.

***** Jo picked her way over the limestone pavement and down the grassy slope to the moon-drenched valley below. She didn’t want to fall down any more holes. She’d probably find a bear at the bottom of the next one. With her luck it would be female and hungry. Ha. When she reached the edge of the forest, Jo began to jog along the footpath that led back to the Land Rover. Her eyesight was good enough to maintain a steady pace. Her foot felt fine. What if she couldn’t die? What if nothing could kill her? Not such an attractive prospect as it might sound. The grey outline of the vehicle came slowly into focus. Awareness that she wasn’t alone came in an instant. Jo stumbled to a halt. Senses on high alert, she froze while she watched and listened. Maybe it was wildlife, another deer she’d feel compelled to chase. Two figures emerged from the shadows behind the Land Rover. Men. Jo’s pussy throbbed. Shit. What the hell is the matter with me? She’d just spent hours having fabulous sex and wanted

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more? With strangers? These guys were more likely to rape her. That didn’t feature in her idea of fun. Fear sent her desire plummeting. A mixed blessing. Run or stand her ground? Jo gritted her teeth and carried on towards her vehicle. She’d find out what they wanted, and if they were trouble she’d run. “Can I help you?” Jo kept her distance. “We rather hoped you could help us.” A smooth, deep voice. “Are you lost?” she asked. The pair took a step nearer. Both taller than her and one very tall. The tallest in his thirties, the other younger than her. Both had dark hair, dark eyes, dark clothes. The shorter one had skin as pale as a moth’s wing. Jo’s nose twitched. Danger, anger, and malevolence swirled in the air around them. “We’re not lost. Are you?” The same one spoke, the tallest guy. “I’ve been out for a run. That’s my vehicle.” “At this hour?” “I don’t sleep well.” “How long were you running?” Weird question. They’d moved closer. Trouble. Her senses screamed get out of there, but she’d rather be running in the vehicle than on foot and they stood in the way. “A few hours. I’m practicing for a marathon.” “It’s not safe out here on your own.” “Safer than running along the road and getting knocked down. I work in this area. I know it well.” The one who hadn’t spoken lifted his head and sniffed. Had he scented blood? Jo crossed her arms over her chest. Like that would make a difference. “See anyone while you were running?” the other asked. “No.” “Blood,” said the pale one.

Oh shit. They were either side of her now. Jo put two and two together with no problem, and considering she was terrible at math and not naturally suspicious that was quite an achievement. She knew what they were and who they wanted and she still had a slight hankering to fuck them. Damn. Jo decided if she got out of this unscathed, she’d give serious consideration to going back to the doctor and demanding he run some tests. “Where did the blood come from?” asked Mr. Talkative. “I had a nosebleed.” Jo edged towards the Land Rover. “Where is he?”

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“Who?” Think of something else. She needed to make a doctor’s appointment as soon as the clinic opened. “Tell us where he is.” “Who?” She wanted breakfast. Running twenty miles had given her an appetite for bacon and eggs. “Where’s he hiding?” “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Had she eaten all the bacon? She’d stop at the grocery store. Jo couldn’t feel a push in her mind, but kept her thoughts fixed on trivialities. Washing to be done, shopping, cleaning. As she bent to retrieve her keys, they were behind her again. “Oh, is that the sun coming up?” Jo said and watched the smaller guy’s head turn so fast, she thought he’d break his neck. “Not yet.” Lights headed their way. A car. Jo had never been more pleased to see the police in her life. She had to stop herself from running over to give them a kiss. The state she was in, it was doubtful she’d have stopped at that. The patrol car door opened on the driver’s side and a guy stepped out. “Shit,” said Mr. Tall. “What are you lot doing out here at this time in the morning?” the policeman demanded. “Whose vehicle is this?” Jo stepped forward. “Mine. I’ve been for a run.” “Does the black Lexus in the picnic area belong to one of you?” “Yes, officer.” Mr. Chatterbox stepped forward. “There’s no overnight parking allowed.” The policeman moved towards Jo. “Is that blood on your T-shirt? Are you all right?” “I had a terrible nosebleed,” Jo said. “I had to use my T-shirt.” The other policeman had got out of the car and stood by his door, watching. The one nearest Jo looked between her and the two men. “What are your names?” He took out a notebook. “You?” He looked at Jo. “Jo Carter.” “We’ll be going now that we know she’s in capable hands.” “Wait a moment. I need to take some details.” “Come and sit in the car.” The other policeman called Jo back to the vehicle. When she reached his side, he bent his head and spoke in a quiet voice. “Did they hurt you? You’re safe now. You can tell us.” “No, they didn’t touch me. But they appeared out of nowhere and scared me.”

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Jo could see the men talking to the policeman. Were they vampires? There was still a chance she’d imagined the whole thing. Alek included. At that moment, the younger pale guy turned and stared straight at her. Shit. She’d been careless with her thoughts. He knew. “You’re sure they haven’t hurt you?” Jo gave a ragged gasp and tuned back in to the policeman. “No. I’d been for a run, was almost back to the car and they were waiting.” He walked over to his colleague. The four stood talking. Jo rubbed her eyes, concentrated hard on the fact that she’d fallen, banged her head, and was confused. Very confused. When she looked up, she blinked. There were only two figures. The policemen walked back to the car. “What the fuck? What are you doing in the car?” one of the policemen asked. “You told me to sit here.” “Where have you come from?” the other asked. Jo shivered. She was right. That pale guy was a vampire and he’d wiped the minds of the policemen. Jo thought it a minor miracle she managed to talk herself out of a trip to the police station or a hospital. Once she’d proved who she was -- all her documents were in the Land Rover -- they’d given her a lecture about the risks in running alone, especially at that time in the morning, and then followed her vehicle back to the road. No sign of a black Lexus in the parking lot. The sun would be up soon; a rosy band already tinged the eastern horizon. Jo was safe from vampires, though not from her desires. The adrenaline storm had dissipated and the sexual tornado had rolled back with a vengeance. Day two was about to start. And since her level of control had grown progressively worse, month on month, day on day, Jo decided after she’d been home to shower, she was going out again and staying out. Another trip scheduled to the middle of nowhere in the heart of the Derbyshire Peak District. This time she’d be careful not to fall into a cave belonging to a vampire.

***** Max had been on call all night, in and out of bed to deal with a child with croup, a heart attack that turned out to be indigestion, and an elderly woman who couldn’t get the top off her hot water bottle. Now he sat outside Jo Carter’s apartment building, early in the morning, wondering why her Land Rover wasn’t parked outside. He’d found out everything he could about her. She’d lived in the Buxton area all her life, had an older sister, also registered with their practice, who had a normal record of attendance. Childhood diseases, chest infections, hay fever -- the sorts of things he’d expected to see against Jo’s name, all appeared by her sister’s. Their parents were deceased.

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Jo was bright. She had done well at Cambridge University and chosen to come back to settle in her hometown. Max was thrilled she was a forestry officer. It made perfect sense. Yet everything else about her puzzled him. Particularly where she was now. Had she been out all night? With some guy? Max bristled. That wasn’t acceptable. He was still grumbling in his throat when he saw her get out of her Land Rover wearing shorts. She’d been running already? Max thought about going to speak to her, but it was still early. His plan to go for a run and accidentally take the same route as her fell to shreds. He didn’t want to freak her out. Better to think this through. Max had left a message on her mobile phone. He’d wait for her to contact him.

***** Jo didn’t check her mobile until she’d showered, dressed, made coffee, and eaten a bacon sandwich. She held a slice of thinly spread marmalade on toast in her hand while she retrieved her three voice mails. The first was from Mike. “Jo, sorry. You’re going to have to spend the day in the office on Friday. I had a call to say a couple of investors want to come in and talk about woodland opportunities. I was going to show them the proposals for Eden Forest, but I have to stay home. One of the kids has come down with chicken pox, and Liz can’t find a supply teacher to cover for her. I’ll make it up to you. Hey, I know, why don’t you have Monday off?” Very funny. Monday was a bank holiday and Jo wasn’t working. So much for her plans to keep away from anything in pants today. She didn’t even bother with a mental plea for Mike’s visitors to be women. They wouldn’t be. She sent a text to let him know she’d got his message and told him to give his spotty kid a big hug. Jo grinned. The next voice mail was from her sister. Jo was so shocked, she almost dropped the phone. Her finger hovered over the Play button, but she didn’t press it. Rachel hadn’t spoken to her more than a handful of times since their parents died. Jo had done the best she could to make things right between them and had eventually given up because she knew no matter what she said, Rachel would always blame her for what happened. Jo had been driving in Spain when they’d been caught by the landslide. Her father hadn’t intended to put Jo on the insurance, but she’d passed her test a few weeks earlier and wanted to share the driving load. So had what happened been pure chance or in part due to Jo’s inexperience? Everyone said it was an accident; that was the official verdict. It made no difference to the way Rachel felt, nor did it stop Jo blaming herself. The rush of rocks and soil had been impossible to avoid. Jo had done what she could, but as the car had been swept over the edge of the road into the ravine, she’d thought they’d all die. Jo came round in the twisted wreckage and saw a flash of light. An image had shot into her brain and out again too quickly for her to grab. Something beautiful, shimmering?

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An iridescence? Then the moment had gone and reality clawed her heart. Her parents were dead and her sister unconscious. Jo had closed her eyes, healed the broken bones in both her legs and one arm, and then tried to help Rachel. She scooped away earth from inside the car with her hands until the emergency services arrived and wrapped a blanket around her naked body. Rachel spent several weeks in hospital after being flown home to England. Jo had been discharged from the Spanish hospital after a single night, the doctors amazed she appeared to have escaped relatively unscathed, and for some reason Rachel had ended up hating her for that too. Maybe if Jo had been badly injured, her sister would still love her. As it was, they exchanged birthday and Christmas cards containing carefully worded neutral greetings and that was about it. Jo saw her around sometimes -- her sister worked nearby -- and they’d manage a few banal sentences before Rachel sidled off. Before thinking could stop her, Jo pressed the button on the mobile and listened. “Hi, it’s me. I found…something important you need to see. Give me a ring.” Jo wondered what Rachel had discovered. Dinosaur bones in the backyard or maybe that her boyfriend, Simon, the tax inspector, was the lying, cheating bastard Jo knew him to be. Ah, it would be that her archeologist sister had dug up the skull of a Tyrannosaurus rex. Rachel thought the sun shone out of Simon’s backside. Jo thought Rachel must have been blinded by his white ass because Simon had a reputation for coming on to anything in a short skirt. On two occasions Jo had seen him in the pub with his tongue down the throat of another woman. She’d wavered over whether to tell Rachel and then had. She might as well not have bothered. When Jo called Rachel’s mobile, it was Simon who answered. “It’s Jo. Can I speak to Rachel, please?” Jo asked. “Rachel! It’s your screwball sister.” Jo gritted her teeth. “Why didn’t you call me last night?” Rachel said, her tone sharp. “I’ve been waiting for you to get in touch. It’s important.” Jo’s hackles came up like a pissed-off hyena. “I didn’t get the message until this morning. What’s the matter?” “It’s not something I can talk about over the phone.” Not that important then. “I need to see you. Can we meet for lunch?”

Lunch? Irritation morphed to hope. Jo’s heart beat a little faster. “I can’t leave the office. I have to wait in for a couple of visitors.” Bang went the nap she’d planned. “I’ll bring a sandwich. What do you fancy?” Had an alien taken over her sister’s body? “Beef, please.” “Twelve-thirty.” Rachel cut the connection.

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Now that the word beef had been mentioned, Jo wanted more meat. She tossed her half-eaten slice of toast in the bin and opened the fridge. Ham. Her mouth watered. She ate the whole packet in a blink. Oh my God, fifteen slices and the bacon? Still, she hadn’t eaten much yesterday and she’d had an active night. In an instant, memories of Alek flooded her mind, images so vivid her pussy clenched as tightly as if she had his satiny cock inside her. His beautiful eyes, his long, pale fingers, the way his hair flopped over his face, the curve of his hips. If only he hadn’t been a vampire. Jo groaned. A vampire? Now that she was no longer with him, it didn’t seem possible. Whether it was or not, it made no difference because Jo knew she’d never see him again. Alek wanted her to forget him and she’d as good as betrayed him to those two guys who’d waited by her vehicle. Jo couldn’t even warn him because if she went back to his cave it would put him in greater danger. Maybe if she went in daylight and dropped a note into it. What could she say that he didn’t already know? That they knew his lair was in the vicinity? She didn’t recognize the number of the next message, but she recognized the voice. “Hi, Jo. It’s Max Remus. Er…Dr. Remus. Max. Would you give me a call? It’s rather urgent.” No. Jo wouldn’t be giving him a call. In fact, she was going to change to another practice. The guy was far too tempting and she didn’t even go for blonds.

***** Jo stepped outside her apartment building into bright sunshine. She lifted her face to the sky and smiled. She needed to book a vacation. Somewhere she could relax in the sun and have fabulous --

“Woof.” “Grrruuff.” “Grrr.” Jo looked down to see three dogs sitting between her and the parking lot. She didn’t recognize any of them except maybe one was the black dog she’d swerved to avoid yesterday. Only one neighbor had a dog and it was a tiny thing she never put down. Jo suspected it had forgotten how to walk. These dogs were rather large. “Hi guys, what you up to?” Jo liked canines; however, she was always cautious of dogs off leads and these three were the size of trucks with neither collars nor owners in sight. As she walked towards them, they got up and sniffed at her heels. “Nice doggies,” Jo mumbled. They followed her to the Land Rover and milled around her feet, whining and rubbing up against her legs. They showed no aggression, more curiosity, their tails wagging hard enough to raise bruises. Then the black dog tried to hump her leg and a golden-haired one

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shouldered him out of the way. Jo reached down and stroked his head. She didn’t recognize the breed, but he had ears that pointed up and a long muzzle. Maybe a German shepherd crossed with something. “Hey, boy, who do you belong to?”

“Woof.” Jo chuckled. “Don’t speak dog, sorry.” It took a bit of effort to get into the Land Rover without one of the dogs joining her. The golden one seemed particularly keen. In her rearview mirror, she saw all three standing in a line watching as she drove off. Jo had the uncomfortable feeling that she’d just been through some sort of inspection. She hoped she’d passed.

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Chapter Eight Jo had timed her arrival at work to reduce the risk of meeting any male occupants of the building. The more she avoided temptation, the better chance she had of getting through the day without embarrassing herself. There were a few good-looking men in the surrounding offices worth accosting, but now every time Jo thought about sex, Alek came to mind. So he filled her head pretty much constantly. The fact that even thinking his name sent her internal organs into a spiraling frenzy worried her more than a little. Still, if it deflected her dirty mind from contemplating the molestation of the entire XY side of the gene pool lurking in her vicinity, then maybe it was a good thing. Rubbing her eyes, Jo yawned. She didn’t remember sleeping at all. Too busy having sex. She missed Alek, missed his smile, missed his touch. Jo hoped he’d change his mind about wanting her to forget him and come looking for her. She wouldn’t go looking for him. For the time being she had to stop thinking about him and get on with her job. Mike had made a note in his diary about the two investors though he’d given no indication of the time they intended to arrive, probably because he hadn’t asked them. Mike’s organizational skills resembled that of a whirlwind. Jo was a neat freak so they made a good team. She hoped these investors had a serious interest in the Eden Forest project -- a scheme to revive and convert derelict, broad-leafed woodland to a thriving multipurpose amenity. Her skeptical mind thought they were more likely to want to build an out-of-town shopping development with a few specimen trees thrown in. Jo chewed her pencil. There was so much that could be done with trees. If woodland was managed properly, it could provide local jobs and a place for people to spend their leisure time as well as preserving flora and fauna. Supporting existing forest and planting new trees was the whole point of Forest Enterprises. Jo was in the middle of composing a list of persuasive facts to convince the investors there was nowhere better to put their money when the mailman walked in. Her gaze dropped to those too-tight shorts. Jo took the pencil

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from her mouth and jabbed it into the middle of her palm. The pain drove out the urge to slam him up against the filing cabinet and have her evil way with him. “Morning, Jo. Those aren’t your dogs outside, are they? Should be tied up. Bane of a postman’s life. After that guy had his tackle ripped --” “Thank you.” Jo grabbed the mail and then her phone. “Forest Enterprises. Jo Carter speaking. How may I help you?” The postman waved good-bye and once he was out of sight, Jo put the phone down and hoped she’d fooled him. She picked up her list, then dropped it and edged over to the window. Her eyes opened wide. Ten dogs milled around on the patch of grass at the side of the parking lot. One was the cute light-colored one that had been outside her apartment block. Another was the black one that had humped her leg. Oh Christ. It had to be hormones or pheromones or something. Jo wanted every guy in town and every dog wanted her. Bloody hell. That little tan terrier squatting by the bush wasn’t even male.

***** Rachel turned up at twelve-thirty on the dot. She worked as an assistant to the managing director of a limestone quarry. Their parents had jokingly blamed Harrison Ford for Rachel’s obsession with archeology, but Jo knew a teenaged Rachel had dreamed of being a female Indiana Jones. While Jo had beefy hunks on her walls, Rachel pinned detailed plans of archaeological digs on hers. She had a pile of stones in the closet and spent every summer digging holes somewhere or other. As Rachel pointed out to anyone who’d listen, and not many would, if a three-thousand-five-hundred-year-old Bronze Age longboat had been discovered in a Derbyshire quarry, why shouldn’t she find something similar? Of course, Jo had no idea whether Rachel even did any digging now. If her sister made a discovery, Jo would be reading about it in the paper before Rachel told her. Jo stared out the window and watched her sister do a fifteen-point maneuver to park her car. Some things never changed. Jo’s fan club milled around Rachel’s legs as she made her way to the front of the building. The pair of them looked nothing alike. Rachel was five-four with curly dark hair that floated in silky waves down her back. She had luscious curves and huge breasts. Jo was fiveten with short, fair hair and a lean body. Jo would have loved long hair. Hers never grew beyond the edge of her neck and had never curled no matter how many crusts she ate. Jo’s eyes were a weird shade of blue while Rachel’s were muddy brown. Her sister was four years older and Jo couldn’t remember when Rachel had ever been kind to her. Oh, maybe when Rachel gave Jo her doll’s head back after she’d pulled it off. “Lunch,” Rachel said and dropped the paper bag on the desk on top of Jo’s keyboard.

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“Thanks.” Wary of the look on Rachel’s face, Jo clamped her lips together and decided to wait until Rachel told her what she wanted. Her sister seemed altogether too pleased with herself. A shiver of unease skittered down Jo’s spine. “How are things?” Rachel asked. The lack of interest couldn’t be plainer. “Fine.” “Still working in this dump, then.” Jo wouldn’t rise to the challenge. Years of being baited by her sister had left her hard to provoke, though once she was, Jo turned volcanic. “Seeing anyone?’ Rachel asked. “Not at the moment.” Jo ripped the bag open and grabbed the sandwich. “You spend too much time hugging trees.” “At least trees are reliable and faithful, unlike some men.” Rachel glared. “We’re engaged.” She lifted her hand and waved a diamond ring in front of Jo’s face. “Congratulations.” “I don’t want you as a bridesmaid.” The “Hallelujah Chorus” broke out in Jo’s head. “But you can come to the wedding.” Jo heard the funeral march and bit the inside of her cheeks so she didn’t laugh. Rachel took a bite of her sandwich and chewed slowly. That was another difference between them. Rachel ate at the speed of a sloth and Jo devoured her food as if she was afraid it would get taken away from her. As she remembered, that sometimes happened. Saving the parts of the meal she liked until the end was never a good idea if Rachel or Mum sat next to her, their forks always poised. Jo looked down to see she’d devoured her sandwich. Damn, she was still hungry. Rachel waved an envelope. “Enough of the small talk. I’ve got something to show you. I have to tell you, it makes no difference to how I feel about you.” In other words, she’d still hate her. What the hell did Rachel have in that brown envelope? “I was in the attic, clearing out the rest of Mum and Dad’s stuff and found this.” Rachel had gone back to live in the family home after their parents died. Jo had been about to go to university and she’d thought it would be good to have a familiar place to spend her vacations. Rachel made her feel so unwelcome, she’d stopped feeling it was home and then stopped going home at all. In theory, the house should have been sold and the proceeds divided, but Jo hadn’t pushed the issue. Her sister’s hand shook as she nudged the envelope towards Jo. “Go on, open it.”

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Do I have to? “It’s your birth certificate,” Rachel said. “I already have a copy.” “I don’t think you do.” Rachel looked straight at her. Jo slid a finger under the seal, wondering why Rachel had felt the need to close it like that. The answer came unbidden -- because she didn’t want what was inside to escape until the right moment. This was something big. Jo hesitated. She didn’t have to do this. Everything could stay the same. “Hurry up,” Rachel said. Jo pulled out the paper, unfolded, and scanned it.

Joceline Randolph Mother: Mei Star Father: Tomas Randolph Jo gulped. She was Jo Carter, not Joceline Randolph. “That’s not my name and it’s not my birthday until next week. This isn’t mine.” “Why was it with Mum and Dad’s stuff if it isn’t yours?” Jo’s heart hammered at her ribs. “It was in a trunk in the attic with this.” Rachel held out a scrap of gauzy material.

Hard to tell the color, Jo thought. It shimmered a sort of blue, then green, then faded back to nothing. Why was it familiar? When Jo didn’t take it, Rachel let it flutter to the desk. “Strange names,” Rachel said. “Bit different to Jack and Sally Carter. You might be able to find them. You could have parents again.” Jo caught the bitter edge to Rachel’s voice and kept quiet. Her sister gave an exasperated sigh. “Aren’t you going to say anything?” “What do you want me to say?” “This proves you aren’t a Carter.” “I was adopted?” Jo’s stomach churned. She wished she’d not eaten the sandwich so fast. Rachel shook her head. “I don’t think they adopted you. I know your other birth certificate gives Mum and Dad’s names as your parents. Simon says they must have pretended you were theirs.” Jo bristled at the idea of Rachel discussing this with Sleazeball before she’d told her.

Bloody Simon says… “Simon says they must have got hold of you when you were a few days old and then pretended Mum gave birth.” Jo’s head was spinning like a fishing reel. “Don’t you remember --”

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“Hardly. I was four years old. Mum appeared with you and I accepted it. I was more interested in the new bike that arrived on the same day. I can’t believe all this time I thought you were my sister and it seems you’re not.” So twenty-five years of thinking they were sisters meant nothing? Jo thought she’d never needed a hug or kind word from Rachel more than now, and she had never been more certain it wasn’t going to happen. “Simon says if you’re not a relative, you have no legal claim on the house. I’ve kept a copy of that certificate. If you want to fight, I’ll see you in court.” Rachel got to her feet. Jo jumped up. “Fuck what Simon says. I don’t care about the house; I care about us. You’re the only family I have. I don’t know what I’ve done to --” Rachel turned to face her. “Yeah, you do. You nagged and nagged until Dad let you drive. You were so…slow. If Dad had been behind the wheel, we’d have passed that spot where the hill slipped and wouldn’t have been caught.” Jo gasped. Rachel might as well have stabbed her. “Rachel, I’ve said I’m sorry. I don’t know what else I can do. Don’t you think I miss them too?” “Sorry doesn’t bring them back. Sorry doesn’t give me a father to walk with me down the aisle, a mother to cry at my wedding, grandparents for my baby.” Rachel waltzed out and left the door open. Jo slumped onto her seat. She put the birth certificate back in the envelope and pressed the seal. It sprang open. Jo lowered her head to the desk and began to cry, a soundless surge of tears. When she felt a wet snout nuzzle its way onto her lap, Jo sank her fingers into the dog’s fur and took the comfort it offered. She patted his head and the dog licked her arm. Unconditional love. Shame it wasn’t catching. Jo hadn’t the heart to push the animal out. The golden-haired whatever-it-was looked up at her with those big brown eyes, put his paw on her lap, cocked his head, and Jo melted. When she got up to make herself a cup of coffee, he followed. When she rose to open the window, he padded behind her. Jo drew the line at the bathroom. “You must belong to someone. You’re obviously well cared for. No collar though. Obedient?” Jo stared at him. “Sit.” He sat and she smiled. “Down.” The dog dropped to his belly. Jo laughed in delight. “Add two and two.” He raised his paw and tapped four times on the floor and the smile dropped from her face. Shit. “If x plus seven equals ten, what’s the value of x?” Jo thought if he’d tapped three times, she would have really freaked. Instead he tipped his head on one side again and stared at her. “You’re a real cutie. I don’t know who you are or who you belong to but while you’re with me I’ll give you a name.” He wagged his tail. “Binky.”

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The tail stopped wagging and Jo gave a little smile, the first one since Rachel had walked out. “Don’t you like Binky?” He stared at her. “Fluffy?” A low growl. “Binky it is.” The distraction Binky offered only lasted until Jo looked back at her desk. She picked up the envelope and tossed it on top of the piece of material. Good job she’d already prepared for the investors because all she could think about was the birth certificate, trying to figure out what it meant, whether it explained all those odd things about her she’d pushed to the back of her mind. Not just that she was nothing like Rachel, but also nothing like her mother and father. Had her parents stolen her? Found her? Jo gulped. She’d never know, not unless there was a way of tracing the names on the certificate. With a silent apology to Mike, Jo used the office computer to surf the Internet. An hour later, she’d read and printed off a pile of information about adoption and how to trace missing people, though she doubted any of it could help. Googling the names on the certificate brought up nothing. Mei Star seemed to be Chinese and Jo found it difficult to believe she had an Asian mother. She found no one called Tomas Randolph. The two investors arrived at three. The moment they walked through the door, Jo’s heart jumped into her throat; the only slight reassurance, the tall guy looked as surprised as her. The other wasn’t the pale dude but a red-haired, chubby man in his early twenties. “Jo Carter?” said the taller one and held out his hand. “Yes.” Jo offered her own. “I must apologize for this morning. Sorry if we alarmed you.” He smiled. “I’m Christian Blount. This is Georg Reynolds.” Jo shook the other man’s hand and started to drool. Oh God, red hair and I’m salivating? Temporarily subdued by the Internet search, her libido kicked back into play like a kangaroo. No matter how hard Jo tried to tell herself that at least one of these men was dangerous and neither were her type, it made no difference. One thing she did know. They weren’t vampires. They were out in daylight, so they couldn’t be, couldn’t have read her mind, couldn’t know about Alek. Though the other one had been pale and he wasn’t here.

Shit. “Would you like coffee or tea?” she asked. “Tea would be…nice.” Jo made them a drink and scuttled behind Mike’s desk before she jumped on the taller guy’s lap. Christian has lovely eyes. Jo pressed her thighs together. Binky sat out of sight

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under the desk, his head facing her crotch, his nose wetting her knee. Jo had the uncomfortable feeling he could smell her arousal. “Do you often go running in the early hours?” Christian asked. “Yes,” Jo lied. “Not that it’s any of your business, though I don’t usually run quite so early. I couldn’t sleep so I decided I might as well go jogging.” “You didn’t see anyone out there?” “No, I told you I didn’t. Who were you looking for?” “A guy that owes us some money. He took off with our investment.” “Oh,” Jo mumbled. “Well, Forest Enterprises isn’t going anywhere. We’re government sponsored and no one can abscond with land.” She gabbled through the presentation and answered questions, trying to sound enthusiastic. The only question Georg asked was about local wildlife. He seemed unusually interested in the number of deer and whether there were any wild pigs. Jo fought a battle with her libido and won a temporary victory. The urge to jump on them faded. Unfortunately, as her interest slackened, theirs grew. They seemed keen, only not so much on the woodland development as on her. Surely that had to be her imagination? Whether it was or not, the sooner they left the better. Jo did a rapid summing up of why they should spend their money on Eden Forest and not on some new football stadium and then shut her mouth before she said something inappropriate. “Well, we’re definitely interested, Jo,” Christian said and ran his tongue over his upper lip. “We’ll let you have our formal decision after the Bank Holiday, though I think it’s safe to say we’re going to enjoy working with you. We’ve already been out to the site, but we were going to go again this afternoon. Would you be free to come with us?” “I…” Binky stepped on her foot and growled. A low rumbling that went on and on. The pair glanced at each other and then stared at her. They didn’t think that was her stomach, surely? “Stop it,” Jo said and swiveled backwards on her chair. The dog came out from under the desk and slipped round to snarl at the two men. “Bink --” Jo found herself on the receiving end of a bared-teeth growl. How could a dog be embarrassed about its name? “Ah, well, we’d better be going. Don’t want to outstay our welcome. We’ll be in touch.” The dog followed them to the door and to Jo’s complete amazement, slammed it shut with its shoulder. “What the hell was that all about?” she said, her hands on her hips.

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Binky twitched his ears and kept his eyes on her. Jo sighed. Did she really expect him to answer? “Guess you’re being protective,” Jo said. Binky wagged his tail. “You didn’t want me to go anywhere with them.” He nodded. Oh, weird. “Binky, you big softie.” The dog padded to her side and Jo ruffled the thick fur behind his ears. It was four-thirty and that was enough weirdness for one day. She tidied the office and rang Mike. “How are the spots?” Jo asked. “I have both kids lying next to me on the couch. Bella caught it too. I’ve been dabbing calamine lotion all over them and they look like disintegrating ghosts. So, do you have good news? I need cheering up.” “I think they’ll say yes. They said they’ll let us know after the Bank Holiday. They went out there again afterwards.” “You didn’t go with them?” Jo winced. She knew she should have. “They didn’t need me to hold their hands.” Just

their cocks. “Okay. You may as well go home. I’ll see you on Tuesday.” Jo put down the phone and picked up the birth certificate. When her fingers touched the scrap of gauzy material, a tingling sensation shot up her arm and she dropped it. What the hell was that? Another touch and the same shimmering feeling slid beneath her skin. She remembered now. When she’d come round in the car after the accident, she’d caught sight of something like this. Jo stuffed the fabric in her purse next to the birth certificate and ushered Binky outside. The dog padded straight to her car and sat by the driver’s door. No way. She did not want a dog in her life. He had to belong to someone. As Jo walked towards the Land Rover, she picked up a stick. “Fetch,” she shouted and threw it as hard as she could. Jo winced when it just missed a window. She was crap at throwing, but as Binky turned to race after it, Jo jumped in the vehicle and drove off. She felt terrible.

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Chapter Nine Ding dong. Jo’s ears perked up when she heard the doorbell, but she ignored it. She wasn’t expecting anyone. She sat at the computer, continuing the research of the names on her birth certificate and getting nowhere.

Ding dong. Ding dong. Her stomach rumbled. She’d taken out chicken to defrost for dinner and was beginning to wonder if a single breast was going to be enough. Two would be better, maybe three. He mind slipped to Alek, the way he’d cupped her breast and his mouth had wrapped around her nipple. Jo trembled.

Ding dong. Ding dong. Couldn’t be Alek outside. The sun was still up.

Dingdongdingdongdingdong. Jo padded to the intercom in a temper. “What?” she snapped. “Jo, it’s Max.” Since when had she been on first-name terms with her doctor? Anyway, he was no longer her doctor. She’d made two calls when she got home. One to take her name off a list and the other to put it on someone else’s. A woman’s. “Can I come in?” “No. I’m busy.” “You’ve changed doctors.” “Yes.” “So, it’s not unethical for me to see you.”

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Oh double shit and fuck. Jo hadn’t thought of that. She’d removed the most effective barrier between them. “I’m not interested,” she blurted. “I think you are.” Damp panties, a pounding heart, and tingling nipples proved him right. The only consolation -- Jo had the feeling she’d have felt the same if King Kong stood on the doorstep. “I’m busy,” she repeated, took her finger off the button and disconnected the doorbell. Jo’s sexual frustration came back with a roar.

Sex. Sex. Sex. Shit. Why couldn’t Alek be a normal guy she could have asked over? Jo fled to the bathroom, stripped off, turned the shower to cold, and stood underneath. The idea of having hot and sweaty sex refused to take the off ramp. How come a cold shower worked for guys? Maybe it didn’t. They probably just said they were having a cold shower and instead jacked off in a hot one. Jo tipped her face to the arctic deluge. She should have bought that inflatable hunk she’d seen online -- life-size, realistic skin, and with five interchangeable cocks to play with, satisfaction guaranteed. Jo had a drawer full of vibrators. All shapes and sizes, every type of material. They all worked fine. In fact she’d worn a few of them out, though for those five mad days nothing left her completely satisfied.

Alek had. As she stepped from the shower, her shoulders slumped. No point thinking about him. He wasn’t part of her life. If only her body agreed.

Sex. Sex. Sex. She needed him now. Right now. Jo stepped back under the shower. The water was freezing so why wasn’t she shivering? She hadn’t felt cold in Alek’s cave. Normal people would have, but the temperature needed to be very low for Jo to be uncomfortable. Over the last few years her eyesight had improved to the point where she could see more than she wanted. Her hearing picked up sounds no one else heard. She could smell every meal her neighbors cooked. Her taste in food had changed: less salad, more meat. She’d been a vegetarian until she was eighteen, just before their ill-fated trip to Spain and since then meat had never been off the menu. All those things might not have seemed so bad, but this compulsion to fuck herself to oblivion whenever the moon was full, or nearly full, was going to kill her. She wasn’t the type to sleep around and something told Jo that no matter how many guys she had sex with, the sexual desperation wasn’t going to go away.

Alek made it go away.

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Had he? Maybe for a while. She’d felt safe with a vampire.

Vampire. The impossibility of it made the breath catch in her throat. But it had happened. She wasn’t making it up. Jo’s hands caressed her breasts, teasing her tender nipples until they ached. She kept her eyes closed, pictured Alek’s gorgeous face, and slid her hands down her body. Her finger slipped along her wet folds, the merest touch sending shivers of arousal fluttering through her stomach. Jo pressed her forehead against the tiles. One long finger delved inside her slick heat and her knees shook. A circular motion against her clit, once, twice and she came, her body tensing as the contractions gripped, squeezing nothing where she wanted Alek’s long, thick cock. Not anyone else’s. Only his. Oh God. Once Jo had calmed down, she stepped from the shower and began to dry herself. The moment she ran the towel between her legs, she was caught up in another orgasm. A tear slipped from her eye. She couldn’t stand this. Jo loved the sensation, yet it was too much, too overwhelming because it made her want more. She needed to run, wear herself out before she tipped over the edge and lost the last vestiges of control. Ha, that was a joke. I don’t have any. Jo slipped on her shorts and crop top, put on her running shoes, grabbed a bottle of water and her apartment key, and bolted down the stairs.

***** Within half a mile, Jo knew she was being followed. She ran faster. So did her pursuer. A shortcut through the supermarket parking lot took her to the rear of a bank of recycling dumpsters: three conical containers for glass and a large skip for paper. Jo peered out from behind the brown glass container and saw Max Remus, in black shorts and black T-shirt, jogging towards her. She stuck out her foot at exactly the right moment. He tripped and sprawled flat on his face. “Jesus,” he groaned, then rolled over and looked up at her. His smile threw her for a moment. Jo scowled. “Why are you following me?” “I needed to speak to you.” He pushed himself to his feet. Blood trickled from grazes on his hands and knees. Jo pulled a wedge of tissues from her pocket and tipped water on them. “Here,” she said and pushed the soggy mess towards him. She tried not to look at him, but her gaze swung back. He was a well-built guy, muscular with thick, hairy legs and a large bulge -- oh God, not again. A shiver of arousal whispered through her body. Max cleaned up and tossed the tissues into the dumpster. “Can I run with you?” Jo hesitated, but if they were running, they couldn’t fuck. She had to make sure to stay in busy areas. Jo set off at a fast pace. See if he could keep up. Ha. He could. Max ran alongside with little puffing or panting.

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“I’ve been thinking about you,” he said. “Why?” “I’ve been worried.” She shot him a glance. “Why?” “I think you ought to have some tests done.” “What for? What’s wrong?” Why did he want to do tests now when he hadn’t before? Jo didn’t trust him. “Well, we don’t know. That’s why we need to do the tests.”

We? Jo’s heart rate speeded up -- not because of the exercise. “What sort of tests?” “Hearing, sight, sense of smell. Any changes recently? Has your diet altered?” Jo made sure she showed no reaction, but her stomach churned. “You’re not my doctor anymore.” Max put out his arm and stopped her. They stood looking at each other. Jo glanced around. Her place was nearby. They’d run in a long loop. “Not being your doctor doesn’t stop me being concerned about you. I want to help.” “You want to fuck me,” Jo said and watched the muscles twitch in his face, the Adam’s apple bob up and down in his throat. Even accounting for the time of the month and ignoring the fact that his hair was the wrong color, there was something about Max that appealed to her. She’d thought he wasn’t her type, but she’d changed her mind. He’d be good in bed. Very athletic. Jo stifled a groan. Maybe it was just because he was male. Maybe she should -- no. Jo pinched the skin on the underside of her arm. Hard. He tipped his head to one side. “I’m not going to deny I want you. I find you…sexy and intriguing. Your smell, your shape, your face -- everything about you is appealing. Come out for dinner with me. I know a good place for steak. Couldn’t you eat a nice, rare steak?” Max lifted his hand and stroked her cheek with his fingers. The scratches on his palm had almost gone. Her breath caught and he smiled. Damn, he thought that catch in my breath was for him. Jo jerked out of reach into a loud meow. She glanced down at a black cat with white front paws backing away. “Sorry, puss. Did I scare you?” Jo bent and the cat came forward to her outstretched hand. She scratched its head and the animal arched its back and rubbed against her bare legs. Jo didn’t really want to straighten up again and face Max, but she had no choice. She couldn’t stay bent over stroking a cat forever. She stood and the cat sidled over to Max. Suddenly it yowled and headed straight for a bush at high speed. Jo watched the cat shake itself and then run off. She turned to Max. “Did you bloody kick it?” she asked, hardly able to accept what she thought she’d seen. “No, I didn’t. Cats don’t like me and in any case, I’m allergic.”

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“Then run away, you fuckwit, but don’t kick animals. Christ Almighty.” She turned and he caught hold of her arm. “I didn’t kick it.” Jo stared in a pointed way at his fingers. His grip tightened. She tried to pull away, and he didn’t let her go. A curl of anger spiraled inside her. A red rage built behind her eyes. Jo didn’t like bullies. She didn’t like being pushed into anything. “Jo. Don’t get cross. I didn’t touch the fucking cat. You need my help. There’s something -- well, not wrong with you exactly. Something’s changing in your body. I know what it is, though I can’t quite figure out why it’s happening like this. You’re showing so many symptoms, I’m sure I’m right.” “Let…me…go.” Jo clung to the remains of her temper. He put his hands on her shoulders. Big mistake. “Jo, listen to me. You’re a --” She swung round and kneed him in the nuts.

***** Alek’s waking thoughts were of Jo. He conjured up a picture of his blonde angel with her beautiful blue eyes, warm, comforting arms, and that hot, insatiable body. He smiled at the memory of her teasing him, thought about how cute she looked when she came apart beneath him, the way her fingers curled and those little puffs of air as her gasps hit his cheeks. Then Alek recalled his command for her to forget him and the joy in his heart vanished like snow falling on the sea. What little warmth there had been inside him faded away. His world was a colder, darker place without her, but he’d done the right thing and let her go. He sat up and shook the soil from his hair. He needed to feed -- other than that, he felt good. Alek lifted aside the stone cover of his hiding place and climbed out. One more barrier to cross in the cave system and he was back at the bed where he and Jo had -- Alek wiped the image from his mind. He had more important things to think about, like who was trying to kill him, for a start. Now that Alek knew he was being hunted, those who wanted him dead would find their task more difficult.

Jo saved me. How could he forget her? Alek picked up the knife that had almost finished him and balanced the finely crafted weapon in his palm. He knew something about it now that he hadn’t known when he’d craved the knife as a boy. No ordinary blade, this belonged to an Enforcer, one of an elite squad of killers used by the Vampire High Council for problems that wouldn’t go away. Since the guy who’d first shown him the dagger hadn’t killed his father, Alek presumed none of his family had been targets, but that wasn’t the case now. He had no idea what he’d done to attract the attention of the Council, let alone to warrant being officially assassinated. He’d have been more worried if he hadn’t scented Will

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among his attackers. Will and the Enforcers didn’t go together. Will was more outspoken about the current Council than Alek. Maybe that was subterfuge? As far as Alek knew, and he didn’t know much, Enforcers were solitary assassins, yet when Alek had been attacked, he’d felt the smothering presence of several others before the knife entered his chest. Something didn’t add up. Alek reran the night of his attack, wondering if he’d missed something, a clue to help him make sense of this. He’d been playing the saxophone at Blue’s, a jazz club in the center of Sheffield. It was a venue for mortals, though there were often a few vamps around. Alek performed there every Tuesday and Wednesday, more for the fun of it than the money. He’d taught himself a variety of musical instruments over the years; the alto sax was his favorite. While he’d played “Take Five” on Wednesday night, he’d noticed a young woman watching him. Pretty, dark brown eyes, and big breasts. Mortal. She never took her eyes off him. Alek hadn’t fed before he’d left the house, thinking he might treat himself at the end of his session, and it looked as though dinner was going to be served without him having to look for it. Already in the mood for sucking and fucking, it had been easy for her to lure him to her place. They’d driven there on his bike and when she’d wrapped her arms around him and slid a hand to his crotch, his cock had spent the ride trying to find a way through his zipper. He’d almost taken her in the alley next to her apartment building, but the bed she offered sounded more comfortable, and he’d let her pull him up a couple of flights of stairs to the second floor. They’d been waiting in the room. Masked figures. Five. Perhaps six. A bag had been yanked over his head and tied around his neck before he’d had a chance to see more than shadows. The cover over his face had been laced with some weird mix of drugs designed to temporarily confuse his senses, though Alek hadn’t missed the faint trace of Will. He wished he had. Blindness didn’t stop him moving. He was fast, but they were faster. He was propelled onto the bed, jabbed with sharp blades that pinned his limbs down before he’d felt the knife sink into his chest. After that it was a blur. How had he gotten back to his bike? Alek had no idea. He searched his memory, but the gap remained. Had he just gotten up and staggered back downstairs? If an Enforcer was responsible, then why the hell hadn’t he finished the job? Or was the assumption that the knife would kill him anyway? There were two that might have the answer -- Will and the bait from the club -- tricky to find her when Alek didn’t know her name and had never seen her before. He’d cursed the fact that he didn’t have his BlackBerry with him, only now he was glad he hadn’t; otherwise, he’d never have met Jo. Even his short time with her was something he’d remember forever. He brushed off the rest of the soil and changed into one of the spare sets of clothes he kept in his lair. Pity he couldn’t keep a supply of bagged blood there too, but it would mean helping himself to more of the Angel Cross electricity supply in order to run a fridge, and even then the bags only lasted ten days before they decayed. Alek advanced into the outer

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cave. The odor of blood remained, teasing his fangs, yet he could detect the presence of no other -- vampire or mortal. He removed the ward from the opening and scampered easily up the sheer sides of the hole and out into the air. Crouching low on the flat limestone, Alek surveyed the surrounding area. Nothing drew his attention. He almost missed it. The glimmer of disturbed rock a few yards away. Alek bent to look and smiled. This was the noise that had disturbed him as he slipped into early sleep. He ran his finger around the little heart she’d etched. Inside, Jo had scratched A x J. Alek’s smile grew broader and then he stood up and cursed. “Shit.” He’d told her to forget and she hadn’t. Why the fuck not? He’d slammed the instruction into Jo’s head. Alek hurried back to where he’d left his motorbike. There was a faint scent trail where he’d dripped his way to the cave. Alek had been careful, but in his dire state, his mind had been more focused on reaching safety than on hiding his scent. Now he took the time to disguise it. There had been enough trace to follow if they’d known he was in the area. Judging by the fact that Jo had been the only visitor, his would-be assassins hadn’t discovered his lair. The bike was exactly as he’d left it, leaning against a dry stone wall, helmet and leather coat on the seat, the glamour distorting its presence still intact. He’d used all his energy on that and not saved enough for the hole, which was why Jo had tumbled to his feet.

Jo. Jo. His sweet angel. Alek sighed. He had to leave her alone. For her sake as well as his own. His Achilles’ heel.

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Chapter Ten Alek switched off the engine and wheeled his bike down the drive to the house. He grimaced when he saw lights blazing from every window. Sophie never switched a light off once she’d switched it on. She liked everywhere to be bright and Alek guessed she was trying to recreate the daylight she could no longer enjoy. He wasn’t sure how Sophie had been turned. She always changed the subject if anyone raised it and Alek suspected she regretted what she’d asked for. Unless she came to terms with her vampirism, she had a long winter of discontent ahead of her. Alek’s life wasn’t perfect, but it was all he had and he wanted to keep it as long as he could. He tucked his bike out of sight and kept to the shadows as he edged towards the house. There was still a chance Will or Sophie would detect him, though Alek hoped to surprise them. Home consisted of a row of five lead miners’ stone cottages knocked into one unit and converted to a luxurious dwelling. The property overlooked the town nestled in the valley below and Alek had owned it for over a hundred years. He’d left on three occasions for short periods and played the role of an inheriting relative in order to divert local attention from the fact that he never aged. He’d bought the land around as it had become available and set up a series of companies to disguise the fact that he owned so much of the local area. Despite the fact that he loved the house and the location, Alek wasn’t sure he’d ever feel safe here again. For the time being, he’d use his cave to sleep during the day. He’d have to consider finding another lair now that he knew Jo remembered him. Oh God, Jo. Alek’s heart ached at the thought of her. His bloody dick reared up, ever optimistic. Alek stopped off at the kitchen to help himself to a couple of bags of blood, slurped them down, and then moved in silence through the house, past his suite of rooms and those of Will and Sophie and on towards the annex at the rear. From there, Night Adventures

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operated with a staff of ten, a few of whom were well-paid mortals, including the pilot, but not the navigator of the twelve-seat jet sitting in a hangar at Sheffield Airport. Alek and Will had started the company from scratch and run it together for over thirty years. Others had copied, though Night Adventures was still the best. Sophie had been a recent addition, taken on to satisfy the needs of those vamps who wanted the more girly night excitement of places like health spas. Alek shuddered. He wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like that. Sophie had been their fuck buddy from the word go, and if Alek was being honest -and there was no point lying to himself -- it was how she’d got the job. She was a long-haired blonde with dark brown eyes and the body of a gymnast -- short, trim, and lithe. Sophie had fucked both him and Will the night they’d met her at an ice rink -- separately and then together. While they were a threesome, Alek had to make sure he only came inside Will. When he and Sophie were alone, he told her the condoms were pleasure enhanced and she’d believed him. At least he thought she had. They’d organized the skating party for a wealthy Nottingham vampire and Sophie had been one of his guests. That same night, eighteen months ago, she’d gone home with Will and Alek and had been part of their lives ever since. Alek’s sexual interest in her faded when he realized she changed her partners as often as she changed her shoes, though he didn’t deny her understanding of what women wanted had enabled them to grow the business. They’d taken on extra employees and Sophie had made them money. Personality-wise, she was a flake, but Alek couldn’t fault her ambition and work ethic. However, over the last couple of weeks Sophie’s behavior had changed. After not sleeping with either of them for months, she’d decided she wanted Alek in her bed and acted as though Will didn’t exist. Perversely, the more she pushed, the less attractive Alek found her. Not that she let his obvious lack of interest put her off. On the contrary, she became more persistent.

Where was he going? What was he doing? Could she come too? Alek wondered if her continuous flirting had pissed off their bisexual housemate. Or was Sophie using sex as a cover and trying to cause problems between him and Will? Could she have lied to the Council to get him on an Enforcer’s list? Had she guessed the real reason he used condoms and found out he was a Trueblood? And was any logic in that rambling mess a reason to kill him? Hell no. Alek passed the larger office where he spotted three staff members talking on the telephone, all with their backs towards him. In the next room he found Will and Sophie sitting at their desks. In terms of loyalty and trustworthiness, Alek wanted to suspect her and not Will, yet he couldn’t ignore the fact that it had been Will he’d scented when he’d been attacked. “Hi,” Alek said from the doorway. Sophie was on him in an instant. She jumped out of her seat and flew across the room. “Where the hell have you been?”

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Alek lifted her arms away from his neck. “Nowhere.” Will swiveled on his wheeled chair and stretched out his long legs. “You were gone for two nights. They don’t normally last that long. She must have been great in bed.” He glanced at Sophie, then gave Alek a cheeky grin. “Want to share?”

Share Jo? Rage rose in Alek, a red tide surging up his throat ready to spew invective at Will until he remembered she wasn’t even his. “I was attacked.” Grin wiped away, Will’s eyes opened wide and his jaw dropped as he jumped to his feet. A look of shock, but then he’d had years to practice. “Christ, Alek. What the fuck happened? Who was it?” Will asked. “Were you badly injured?” Sophie looked surprised too, and that was an interesting question. She ran her hand over his chest and pressed up against him. Alek moved away from her. “Just a scratch, obviously nothing fatal.” Will’s mouth was a tight line and Alek knew he’d seen through his bravado. “Who did it?” Alek tried a gentle push into their minds. He couldn’t get into the mind of every vamp but these two were sometimes open to him. He had to be careful. They’d be quick to put up barriers and he didn’t want to ruin their relationship if they were innocent. They? That hadn’t occurred to Alek. What if they were working together, wanted the business for themselves? “I have no idea,” Alek said and left only that thought in his head. He felt the gentle pulse of a probe from one, though he wasn’t sure which and a wave of sadness washed over him. Still, a push into his mind didn’t mean guilt, though it did mean a lack of trust. “What happened?” Will asked, perching on the edge of his desk. “I was lured from Blue’s and stabbed.” “How did they manage to do that?” Sophie asked. Alek gave her a cold smile. They? “I let my guard down.” “You’ll have to learn to pick your women more carefully.” Sophie stroked his cheek. “I don’t know why you bother looking for a bedmate when you have a willing one right here.” The pouting lips didn’t work. She reminded Alek of a fish. He shrugged her off and caught her glare. “A woman stabbed you?” Will asked. “I don’t know. My head was covered. Some substance on the material confused my senses.” “You were lucky they let you get away.” Sophie rubbed his arm. “How do you know it was more than one person?” Alek asked and caught the flicker of her eyes.

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“I just assumed it would need more than one to trap you.”

Damn, a reasonable assumption. “So how did you get away?” she asked. “I beat them off with a dazzling display of martial arts.” “Well, thank goodness you did,” she said and gave him a teasing grin. “Will’s got a load of checks for you to countersign.” She walked back to her desk and picked up her purse. “I’m off. See you later.” “Where are you going?” Alek asked. “I’m meeting Constantine Nevchek. He’s interested in charting a Canadian icebreaker for a week in February. Twenty-four hours of darkness. Nonstop casino action and plenty of women to fuck and suck. Healthy profit for us.” She gave Alek a kiss on the cheek as she passed. “Glad you’re all right, sweetie.” Neither Alek nor Will moved until they heard the sound of Sophie’s car, a distinct throaty growl from a BMW Z4. Will’s normally pale face had grown even paler. “Do you know who it was?” Alek slumped on his chair. “No. I’m trying to find out. I nearly didn’t make it. No chance for theatrics. I was stabbed in the heart.” “Shit, Alek. Who the hell have you pissed off?” “Ah, there’s the question.” Alek stared at the door. “Do we want Nevchek’s business?” “Wherever Sophie’s going, it’s not to meet Nevchek. Unless she hasn’t heard the news. I suppose that’s possible. A reliable source told me he went sunbathing yesterday.” “Good riddance,” Alek said. “The guy was a power-hungry asshole.” Why hadn’t Will told Sophie she was wasting her time? Why had Sophie said Alek was lucky they let him get away? Shit. Tackle one thing at a time. Alek took a deep breath. “I scented you.” Will stiffened and met his gaze. “I wasn’t there.” Alek swiveled on his chair and waited. “I wasn’t.” “So how did I scent you?” “Since it wasn’t me, someone must have had my scent on them, either by accident or design.” Will stared right at him. Alek wanted to believe him. “Lost any items of clothing recently?” Alek asked. Will’s mouth tightened. “Night before last, after you went into town, Sophie came to my room stark naked, holding a bag of AB negative. ‘A treat,’ she said. First time in four months she’s wanted me to fuck her. I thought she’d finally given up on you and decided I’d

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do instead. She knew I wouldn’t say no. Do I ever?” He gave Alek a rueful smile. “Afterwards, when I came in here to work, she went off to her room wearing my shirt. She hasn’t given it back yet.” “You think that explains it?” Alek kept his voice neutral. It seemed entirely too convenient. “It wasn’t me, Alek, and it’s a fucking explanation,” Will snapped. “How do you know I was attacked the night before last?” Will’s gaze darkened. “I don’t. I’m telling you what happened since I last saw you.” “We’ve been friends for fifty years. I don’t want you to be involved.” Will’s mouth twitched. “More than friends.” His voice dropped and his Adam’s apple wobbled. “You know I love you.” “Yeah.” Alek did know. Affection and concern rolled off Will, along with lust and hurt.

Oh shit. “What are you going to do?” Will asked. Alek took the knife from his pocket and threw it at him. Will snatched it from the air by the handle and froze. “Recognize it?” Alek asked. Will’s voice was a whisper. “Yes.” He threw the knife back. Alek caught it. “That’s what was thrust into my chest. It belongs to an Enforcer.” He turned and tapped at his keyboard, bringing up the vampire search engine, Gurgle. A moment later, the rotating image of a dagger appeared on the screen, the handle decorated with moons and stars. Alek frowned. “Ah, maybe not. The design on the hilt’s a little different. Shit, it’s an imitation. I thought --” “No, it’s not an imitation. The design varies from Enforcer to Enforcer.” Will’s voice seemed dull and Alek’s unease grew. “You know much about them?” Will asked. Alek turned to look at him and shook his head. His heart gave a loud thump. Why did he think Will was about to tell him something he didn’t want to hear? “When an Enforcer’s appointed, he’s given a black lacquered box. Inside, set in red velvet, are twelve blades. All have identical hilts particular to that Enforcer. Until twelve missions are complete, they’re bound to the Council’s will.” “Twelve assassinations.” Will nodded. “Whoever the Council chooses and over however many years they wish to drag the fucking thing out.” “So the Council wants me dead. You’d better move house, Will.”

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Alek was only half joking. He wouldn’t have blamed Will if he’d jumped up and bolted. If the Council wanted Alek dead, then Alek was as good as dead and anyone associating with him would be in trouble. Shit. He slipped off the seat and began to pace. “What the hell could I have done? Something bad, obviously. Have I slept with the wrong woman, offended the wrong guy?” Fathered a child? Has someone found out I’m a Trueblood? Alek hoped like fuck it wasn’t that, but knew it was the most likely explanation. He stalked around the room. Will sat motionless in his chair. His hands gripped the padded arms tight enough to break them. “Have we had any Council members on any trips recently?” Alek asked. “Anything catastrophic happen? Apart from the double booking at Waterworld.” Sophie’s error and several irritated vamps had been dragged from the floor of the swimming pool and carted off to the hospital by mortals who thought they’d drowned. Hardly a reason to kill him. Alek stopped pacing and slammed the heel of his palm to his head. “Gideon North. He’s a Council member. You remember, he wanted that private jet, private island, private everything. He argued about the bill. Was he upset enough to bring an Enforcer down on my head? Could he get that sanctioned? Would he need to?” Alek knew he was babbling. “No,” Will said. “Not North. I sorted that out. Arranged a free trip to Metamorphosis. Tex owed us a favor. North was salivating by the end of my call.” Alek shuddered. Morpho, owned by Tex Snow, was a brothel where the patrons could do anything they liked to their dish of the night. Strangle, stab, whip, break bones, cut off appendages -- anything was acceptable apart from decapitation or staking because in those instances there was no way back. “I guess all I have to do is find the Enforcer who’s missing a blade.” Will looked up at him. “They’ll all have blades missing. The knife has to be left in the heart and the body turns to ash. The Council eventually gets the blade back. That’s how they know the deed’s been done.” That answered one question. The person who’d stabbed him assumed he’d die. “Then I have to find the Enforcer who’s missing a knife with this particular design,” Alek said. “That will be easy. I’ll just arrange an inspection, ask them to produce arms.” He laughed. “Shit, I don’t stand a cat in hell’s chance of finding him -- or her.” Will gave a nervous cough. “You already have. The blade you’re holding belongs to me.” Alek grasped the knife tighter, staggered back until he hit his chair, and then dropped into it. “Jesus Christ. You tried to kill me?” Will sighed. “If it had been me, you’d be dead. If it had been an Enforcer, you’d be dead. The whole point of those blades is that one strike in the right place kills the target -instant ash. Would I have tossed the damn thing back if I wanted to kill you?”

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“You’re an Enforcer?” Alek asked. Will nodded. “I…you…but…” Alek couldn’t believe it. “It’s not something you volunteer for. I had no choice. It’s like bloody jury duty. A hundred years ago I was chosen and that’s my final blade. Eighty-seven years, I’ve been waiting for them to give me the last name.” “Fuck.” “Fuck indeed.” “But you said --” “I didn’t use the blade on you, Alek. I’ve had no message to tell me you’re my target.” Alek jumped to his feet. “Did Sophie take it? What am I talking about? Of course she fucking took it.” “Alek, calm down. I didn’t even know it was gone. I can’t remember the last time I looked at the damned thing. I keep the box on top of the closet. Out of sight, out of mind. Well, not really.” He sighed. “It might not be Sophie. It could be anyone who has access to the house. It doesn’t have to be someone who knows about Enforcers, only someone who knows silver blades and vampires don’t mix. The weapon is mine, ergo I did it. Though I don’t think they expected you to come back and accuse me.” Will’s mouth twitched. “Then again, maybe they did.” “So it was one of our employees.” Will nodded. “Probably. If a vamp took it, it’s a reasonable guess they wanted it to look as though the Council sanctioned it, wanted you to think that in your final moments, maybe wanted to fuck me over too because using the knife on an unauthorized target is an automatic death sentence, no excuses. If you’d died, I’d have been executed. You report this and I’m ashes. If it wasn’t a vamp, they probably didn’t know the significance of the blade and thought it simply a weapon that would get me blamed for your death.” They stared at each other. “Whatever the case, it has to be someone who knew about the blade and has access to your rooms,” Alek said. “Sophie?” Will sighed. “She knew where you’d be that night. She had the way to a weapon no one would link back to her -- only to me. Forget my shirt, it’s irrelevant. The blade has my scent. It’s part of every blade. That’s why you sensed me.” “Is that common knowledge?” “No, though Sophie might know. The guy we took her from, the one from Nottingham, he was an Enforcer.” “Christ, was he? I thought she was just a friend of his.”

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Will raised his eyebrows. “Sophie fucks all her friends. She’s the most avaricious bitch I’ve ever met in my very long life. She uses and discards and I think we’re on her throwaway list. The moment you turned up alive, she rushed off to meet a guy who’s no longer undead, but dead-dead. I don’t think you need to be Sherlock Holmes to figure this out. The only thing I don’t understand is why.” Alek sagged. “Why did you let her go?” “Because I wanted you to believe I didn’t do it, though if I’d known about the blade I’d have kept her here.” “Christ, what a mess.” “On the other hand, looking at it from your perspective -- I’m an Enforcer and the weapon is mine. Motive is irrelevant. I could be lying about my instructions from the Council. Maybe I fucked up and missed the spot. What the Council wants, the Council gets.” Alek stared at him. “Believe me, if I’d used the blade on you, then you’d be dead.” Alek looked at Will and wondered how he’d not known, not suspected another side to him. “I can’t believe this. The Will I know wouldn’t squash a fly. You’re the one who follows the rules and sticks to bagged blood. I’ve never seen you lose your temper. You love kids and small animals. Your greatest wish is for world peace.” “That’s far enough and it’s not a joking matter. You have to decide who to trust.” Alek didn’t hesitate. “You.” The light returned to Will’s eyes and he gave a little smile. “If it’s Sophie, it looks like she wants us both dead. Why? To run the business?” Alek moved his hand to his neck and scratched. Shit, it itches. Had he got fleas? Not as if he’d been consorting with canines, only would-be murderers. “She’d do it for money and she might not be the mastermind,” Will said. Alek looked at him and they laughed. Sophie wasn’t the brightest spark in the fire, but she never had enough clothes, shoes, purses, or jewelry. “I need to find out who’s working with her,” Alek said. “I suspect she just did a runner. She had enough brains for that. Who to, is the question.” Alek held up the knife. “Mind if I keep this for the time being?” “Okay. Be careful, Alek. Someone wants you -- maybe wants us both dead. They’ll probably try again.” “We need to do another check on the background of our employees, particularly those who joined after Sophie. Maybe even look at the guy from Nottingham. What if all this has been set up for months? We could have been manipulated into taking her on in the business.”

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“I’ll get right on it, but for Christ’s sake keep your wits about you. I don’t want to lose you.” Alek shot him a little smile, scooped up his BlackBerry, and walked away. “I’m going out. Not sure when I’ll be back. Don’t wait up, Mum.” “Hey,” Will called. Alek popped his head back around the door. “Fuck you.”

***** Sophie waited until she was well away from the house before she called Lyall. The sound of the phone ringing filled the car. The fucker had better answer. “Hi baby, what’s up?” he asked in that irritating gravelly voice. “He’s not fucking dead.” “Yeah, I’ve been meaning to ring you about that.” Sophie heard the steering wheel crack and loosened her grip. “I put the tracker in his coat; I gave you the knife; I told you how to kill him. What went wrong?” “The boys were distracted and he escaped. They followed but lost him.” Sophie ground her teeth together. “You must have missed his heart.” “No, I didn’t. I hit him hard then left the guys to watch him die. They were going to take the knife out so I could give it back to you. When they went back upstairs, he’d left.” “He’s just turned up and he’s going to figure out I’m involved.” She sighed. “He was wearing the coat that I put the tracker in. You can still find him. I need somewhere to stay until you finish the job as we agreed.” “Sure, baby. I have just the place.”

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Chapter Eleven Alek sat on the floor with his back against the door of Jo’s apartment. He’d talked himself out of coming to see Jo more times than he could count so it was a mystery why his bike had carried him here. Not hard to find her. One J. Carter in the phone book. He’d hyped himself into a frenzy of excitement as he’d driven over. His cock moved straight to DEFCON 1, armed and dangerous, only to find she wasn’t in. His dick refused to stand down and remained hard as a meteorite. He couldn’t remember when he’d been more uncomfortable. Oh yeah, when he’d had the knife in his chest, only this was a different kind of discomfort. Alek rubbed his crotch. He didn’t want to jack off, though he wouldn’t object if Jo wanted to handle that for him. Maybe he could watch while she brought herself off. Could he resist suckling those rosetipped breasts while she fingered herself? Probably not. Alek sighed and dragged his hand from his groin. That line of thought didn’t help. Maybe he should leave. Alek knew he should be looking for Sophie, watching her reaction when he showed her the knife. He’d put the word out among his friends that he wanted to find her and he didn’t want her to know he was looking. It occurred to him the chances of her walking away from all her possessions were small. She’d either come back to get them when he wasn’t there, or wait until he was dead. Will was as much at risk. While Alek sat waiting, he phoned Will to repeat his warning. Rather than spend the night trying to figure out who pulled Sophie’s strings, Alek had been drawn to Jo. He felt compelled to see her in a way he’d never experienced before. He needed to be with her. Alek tried not to keep checking his arm for a bondmark. Every bloody itch made him excited until he saw no curling vine. But Jo was a permanent itch on his heart. No way could he leave her alone.

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Alek scrambled to his feet when he saw her walking down the corridor. She wore running gear. Short shorts. Short top. Bare midriff. A line of tempting skin. Alek’s cock lunged at his zipper like a rabid dog. It belatedly occurred to his sex-befuddled brain, which conveniently ignored the heart she’d carved on the rock, that he’d told Jo to forget him. Therefore she had no memory of falling into his cave, of saving his life, of fucking him to distraction. He’d bombarded her mind with the instruction not to remember him and now she’d wonder who the hell was standing outside her door, staring at her with his tongue hanging out, and his dick desperate to do the same. Jo gave a deep sigh. “Hello, Alek.” His shoulders dropped and then his jaw. “Oh fuck.” Jo unlocked her door and held it open. Alek barely had time to get into her apartment before she was landing frantic kisses on his face in between yelling at him. “How could you do that?” Kiss. “Try and make me forget you?” Kiss, kiss. “I’d never betray you.” Kiss, kiss, kiss. “ I lo --” She pressed her lips together and pulled back. Shit. Had

she been going to say love? Jo frowned. “Who are you again?” Alek opened his mouth and closed it. Jo smiled and took his face in her hands, pushed him against the wall, and kissed him so hard Alek lost the ability to think. It took him a moment to regain his senses and respond, his tongue surging into her mouth, his hands sliding down her back, over her lovely butt. His fingers edged under her shorts into the crease at the top of her thighs and rubbed. He crushed her breasts against his chest, torn between wanting them in his hands and not wanting her mouth away from his. His poor, equally crushed cock and balls whimpered protests he ignored. Then her hands forced their way between them and in moments she had every button on his shirt undone. Alek closed his eyes and sighed as her mouth slid down his neck to drop little kisses all over his chest. Thank God he’d left his leather coat with the bike. The less she needed to remove, the better. The black cotton shirt slipped off his shoulders as she licked one nipple and twisted the other in her fingers. Every cell in his body urged him to get his cock inside her as soon as possible. How could he feel this desperate? Then she pulled back and placed her hand over his heart. Alek opened his eyes and looked down to meet her gaze. “All better?” Jo asked. “All better.” Alek groaned as she licked her way down his body, tracing the narrow line of hair that disappeared into his low-slung pants. His fingers were entangled in her hair. He didn’t know whether to yank her up or push her down. “Jo, angel,” he gasped. “Let me --” “No.”

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She dropped to her knees, unfastened the button on his pants, and lowered his zipper. He toed off his shoes so she could get the pants over his feet. His black silk boxers were soaked around the head of his cock, his balls hard as rocks. When Jo mouthed him through his shorts, exhaling hot breath along his length, Alek hissed. Breathing might be an unnecessary habit, but he liked expressing his pleasure with that sound. The boxers didn’t last long. One tug from Jo and they fell to his feet. Alek kicked them aside. He stood buck naked leaning on the wall just inside the door of her apartment -- oh God, the door was still open. Alek reached out and slammed it. Jo jumped and then grinned. His arrogant cock sported a pearly jewel of precum and Alek wanted Jo to suck it off. He looked down at her sweet face and wondered how he could have ever considered forgetting her. How the fuck had she managed to remember him? “Oh God, Jo. One look at you and I fall apart.” Jo’s brow wrinkled as she frowned. “Who are you again?” Alek’s shoulders shook as he laughed. “Stop it.” “Ah, I remember,” Jo said in a husky voice. “You’re the one who makes those funny gurgles when I do this.”

What? Shit, do I? Her tongue shot out as fast as a lizard and flicked away the bead of precum. She showed it to him on the tip of her tongue and then rolled it over her lips like a translucent lip gloss. Oh yeah, I gurgle all right. The vein on his cock pulsed a frantic tattoo, and the muscles in his legs stood out in stark relief as he held himself rigid. Must not come. His balls tightened and rose. Don’t you dare fucking come. Alek had no hope any of his important bits listened. She took the crest of his cock in her mouth, settled her lips around the ridge below, and squeezed. Her mouth was wet, liquid heat and Alek clenched his fists, digging his fingers into his palms to stop himself from whimpering. Jo pulled away and looked up at him. “What do you want me to do?” she asked in a whisper as she ran her hands up and down his calves. “Suck me.” Alek tried hard not to squeak. “You don’t want me to shave your legs or anything while I’m down here?” “Suck me.” That was better. A deeper voice. “I like you saying that.” “Stop teasing me to make me say it.” “Sure you wouldn’t rather watch football?” “I want to fuck your mouth.” Jo brushed her cheek against his cock. “I really like it when you say that.” “Not as much as I like you doing it.” She grinned.

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Alek stroked her hair. “Please, angel, suck my cock,” he whispered. “I love it when you take me in your mouth.” The crude words turned him on too. He wanted his cock inside her cunt. He wanted to fuck her everywhere. Every place in her body, every room in her apartment, every position he could think of and some that he couldn’t -- yet. He wanted -- he groaned in satisfaction as Jo ran the flat of her tongue across the glistening head of his cock. She gathered his moisture and spread it over his tip, swirled it around, then sucked it off. Alek parted his lips, drew in a breath, and banged his head against the wall. When she licked around the rim on the underside of his crown and tugged with her teeth, his knees jerked forward. “Joooo.” Alek stretched her name to eternity. She wrapped her hand around the base of his dick and squeezed as she dropped her lips over the head, then brought hand and mouth together. Her other hand caressed his balls, a light fingertip tease. Jo pumped and sucked his cock, working him in short, tight strokes, dragging a series of moans from his chest. Alek’s hips slid into a restless rhythm, wanting to fuck her mouth and shove himself deep into her throat. He held back, stroking her hair until his fingers became entangled. Small and fast pulls morphed to long and deep swallows and he curled his toes on the carpet. “That’s so good. Ah, shit, sweetheart. You so feel hot fucking.” No, that wasn’t right. Alek doubted he’d managed coherency. He just wanted not to come so this sweet torment continued for hours until he lost his mind along with his load. Then Jo did something weird with her tongue, twisted and swirled it around him as she swallowed and Alek changed his mind. He’d come now. Now was fine. More than fine. Please, now. Only she tightened her grip at the base of his cock, pulled down on his balls, and he couldn’t come. Jesus wept. Everything about her delighted and entranced him. The way she looked, smelled, tasted, felt, especially the way she was so intent on his pleasure. She kept her mouth working his cock, and moved her hands to his butt. Her palms tugged him away from the wall and she stroked his backside, urging him into a rhythmic rocking against her face. When her finger slid along the crease of his ass, Alek stopped moving for a moment. “Jo,” he gasped. Hands spread him open, a finger pressed against his anus, and Alek stopped breathing as well. Not that it mattered, but he was so tense he wasn’t sure he remembered how to do anything, including stand up. His knees shook as Jo’s mouth moved over his cock and her finger teased its way into his asshole. Alek had over three hundred years of sexual experience. He’d tried BDSM -- after all, where was the harm if you couldn’t die? He’d fucked guys, not only Will, and been fucked by guys, not only Will. He’d tried threesomes, foursomes, orgies -- not just with Will -- where he hadn’t been sure how many somes there

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were. He drew a sharp line under anything to do with children or animals but this -- Jo -how could she be so fucking wonderful? Because she belongs to me. She wasn’t his soul mate but Alek didn’t care. He didn’t want to look for another. He wanted Jo forever. Her finger slipped deeper, curled, and began to pulse against his prostate. Alek shuddered with delight. At the same time, she used her other hand to help her take more of him into her mouth. Jesus, that much? He was at her mercy. She could do with him what she liked because the orgasm thundering towards liftoff was going to be huge. The head of his cock brushed the back of her throat and his balls began to dance. “JoJoJoJoJo,” he mumbled. Alek slid his hands to her neck, his thumbs brushing under her chin, and he felt himself inside her. Oh Christ, my cock in her throat. Jo moved faster, tightening her lips, increasing the suction and twisting her finger. The orgasm began somewhere outside in the hallway. No, it began the moment he’d woken in the soil and wanted her beside him. Now it flashed from his brain, down his spine, to his balls, and finally out of his cock. An orgasm so violent it made him cry out and shake from head to foot. He pulsed cum into her throat for so long he was afraid he’d choke her. Long, wrenching jets from his soul to hers. His knees trembled from the strain of keeping upright. Then the draining sensation faded and the spasms died away leaving him with a warmth in his heart and a sense of deep satisfaction. Jo licked him clean, nuzzling his cock against her cheek, and Alek stroked her hair until she finally rose to her feet. “You left a bit,” he said. Jo laughed. Alek lowered his mouth to hers, tasted his essence mixed with hers, and groaned into her throat. He pulled back and kissed her nose. “Miss me?” he asked. “And don’t play the ‘who are you?’ card again.” Jo nestled against him. “I didn’t think I’d see you again. I’m glad you’re here.” “Glad? That the best you can do?” She sighed. “Quite pleased, then.” Alek sniggered and held her tighter. “Don’t you wear anything other than running gear?” “I’ve got lots of nice clothes.” He stripped the crop top straight over her head and smiled when he saw bare breasts. “Maybe I like this outfit best.” Jo sighed as Alek cupped her breasts with his hands, rubbing his thumbs over her pert nipples.

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“Mine,” he said in a low growl, then dropped his head and sucked. “Oh Christ, I love your breasts. I want to keep kissing them, sucking them. They’re so beautiful. I only have to look at those rosy nipples for my eyes to glaze over and my mouth to water.” “I think your mum weaned you too soon.” He mumbled and sucked harder. Jo panted. “Ah God, do you mind if I come straight away?” Alek looked up at her and trailed his smiling mouth to her neck and on to her ear. “Okay if I fuck you where we’re standing?” “Please.” “Do you mind if I don’t use my cock this time?” “You will later?” Alek smiled and dropped to his knees, pulling her shorts and ooh, black lace panties down together. He unfastened her running shoes, tugged them off, peeled away her socks, and tossed them over his shoulder. Sighing, Alek pressed his face to her softly rounded belly as his fingers traced circles around her hip bones. He kissed her fair curls and slid to the treasure beyond. She was wet through, her cream glistening on her thighs. Alek spread open the swollen lips of her pussy with his thumbs and exposed her clit. It peeped from its hood, waiting for him. “So pretty.” He pressed his face between her thighs, licked at her, ate her honey, and then flicked her clit with his tongue, twirling around the swollen nub. Three seconds before her fists clenched and she came undone. “Oh Christ, Alek,” she cried. He let her orgasm run out against his face, supporting her by the top of her legs as she pressed her fingers into his hair. When he felt the tension seeping from her, Alek began again, pulling the tender bud between his lips, then blowing on it, licking, humming, nipping. Jo yanked at his hair. “Alek!” He fluttered his tongue over the hard pearl of flesh, circling and swirling as her hips jerked in his grasp. Every sigh she made, every groan, every time she said his name, his cock grew as if she pumped him up. She tasted perfect. A rush of liquid heat hit his mouth. Her beautiful cream. He plunged his tongue deep inside her, and wished it was as big as his cock so he could taste all of her. She came again and this time Alek pulled back to look. Below those sweet curls, she was pink, slick, and shiny with her juice and his saliva. He swallowed the lump in his throat.

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The urge to sink his teeth into her thigh rolled over him like a thundercloud. He took a deep, useless breath, dragged himself back under control, and blew gently on her pussy. “You’re on fire, angel.” “More,” she gasped and he smiled. He ran his tongue up and down her wet folds, teasing her clit by pushing her swollen lips against it. She squeezed her thighs against his cheeks and speared her fingers in his hair. In one swift movement, Alek pressed her harder against the wall and lifted her legs so they draped over his shoulders, leaving her wider and more vulnerable. He pulled back to look at her. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered. His head was full of the taste and the smell and the sight of Jo. Alek buried his face between her legs and consumed her. He lapped and lapped and only when his cock couldn’t stand any more without splitting apart did he ease himself up and press himself against her. “Put your hands on my shoulders, angel.” One lift and the broad head of his cock edged into her. Alek gasped at the same time as Jo. They stared at one another for a moment, drinking in the mutual pleasure in each other’s eyes and then Alek slid the rest of the way until every inch of his cock was buried inside her. He smiled as her pussy clenched around him. He had her pinned against the wall like a beautiful butterfly, and in one bend of his knees and a hard upward thrust he dragged her to the tips of her toes. Jo’s legs moved around his waist and gripped tight as Alek began to move. He pounded his cock into her -- long, deep drives that he matched with his tongue and echoed with the words repeating in his head.

Bite her. Bite her. Bite her. Alek pushed back the urge and kissed her harder, fucked her harder. Moved so fast he could feel heat from the friction. Everything wound him tighter -- the slap of their wet bodies, the musky scent of sex, their groans, and her sweet face. Alek couldn’t help himself, his cock exploded inside her and he bit her neck. Blood flooded into his mouth and his cock laughed. The orgasm was so overwhelming, Alek blacked out for moment, then became aware of Jo clenching around him, screaming his name. He licked over the wounds in her neck and pressed his forehead to hers. The only thing that would have made it a perfect moment would have been if Jo could have bitten him too. “Oh my God,” Jo gasped, once she could speak. “What the hell was that?” “Mind-blowing sex.” Alek scooped her into his arms. “For extra-special, mind-blowing sex, we need a bed.” “On the left.”

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He carried her into her bedroom and laid her down. “Better draw the curtains so you don’t freak out the guy with the telescope across the road.” His head swiveled towards her. “Joke,” Jo said, worried he might be tempted to have a word with her neighbor, an amateur stargazer. Alek pulled the curtains closed and slid onto the bed at her side. He pulled her into his arms and Jo melted against him. Then she jerked away. “Oh God, I nearly forgot to tell you. This morning -- shit, was it only this morning? -after you tried the ‘you must forget me’ mumbo-jumbo, when I got back to my Land Rover, there were two guys lurking next to it.” Alek stiffened against her as Jo told him what had happened. “Do you think they’re the guys who attacked you?” “Maybe.” “I --” The moment Jo opened her mouth, he kissed her, which effectively prevented her telling Alek his name had popped into her head while she’d been with the strangers, that she thought one of them had noticed and one… Oh, I’ll tell him later. Jo adored his kisses. Alek knew just when to be gentle, when to be firm. He made her want to crawl into his mouth and hide there. Only he tended to forget she needed to breathe. Jo lurched away and gasped, drawing huge gulps of air. Alek winced. “Sorry.” Banging on the door of the apartment made them both jump. “Expecting visitors?” he asked. She shook her head. “They’re supposed to use the intercom. Someone must have let them in downstairs.” “The outer door was propped open when I arrived.” “Jo!” a voice shouted. Max’s voice. Shit. Jo felt Alek bristle at her side. “You know this man?” “He was my doctor. Not anymore. He’s being a pest.” Alek grinned and jumped to his feet. “You can’t answer the door like that,” Jo gasped. Apart from the fact that he was naked, his cock was fully erect again, every gorgeous, vampire inch of it. “Watch me.”

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She leaped after him as he walked out of the room. Jo grabbed her robe from the chair and flung it on. Alek pulled open the door and Max stood there holding a bunch of red roses. He looked beyond Alek to Jo, then back to Alek and his mouth tightened. “Jo --” “Is not available,” Alek said. The two guys were about the same height, though Alek was slimmer but for an instant, Jo could have sworn Alek grew taller, bigger. Max took a step into the apartment. Oh that’s a mistake, Jo thought. In a series of lightning-fast moves, Alek snatched the roses, pushed Max back into the corridor, kneed him in the balls, and slammed the door. Jo heard loud groans coming from outside as Alek offered her the roses. “Here, I got you flowers.” “Alek!” “What? He’s not going to be needing them. He won’t be using his balls tonight.” Jo tried not to laugh. “It’s just that I did the same to him earlier.” Alek’s eyes darkened. “Why? Did he hurt you? I’ll rip his fucking balls off.” He reached for the door handle and Jo caught his arm. “No, he kicked a cat. Well, I’m pretty sure he did. Leave him. If you need something to do, I haven’t eaten. Can you cook?”

***** Max was not happy. He wasn’t sure what hurt more -- his balls or his pride. No, that was a lie. His balls. He leaned against the wall clutching his crotch, unable to hold back the grunts of pain blasting through his lips. When he could stand up straight without screaming, his brain began to click into gear. What the hell had just happened? Who was the guy with Jo? This was all going wrong. He’d thought he had a chance with her. She said she didn’t have a boyfriend so what had happened since he’d last seen her? Fuck it. Max began to stomp down the corridor and moderated his steps to something less painful. He was running out of time. He’d wanted to take her to the meeting tomorrow, her hand on his arm. Somehow Max knew it wasn’t going to happen.

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Chapter Twelve Jo made a valiant effort to force down two charred chicken breasts and an enormous heap of undercooked vegetables. It stood to sense a vampire wouldn’t be able to cook, but at least it had distracted him -- though only temporarily. Alek sat opposite her at the table, tapping his fingers and watching her with his intense eyes. “What’s the matter now?” Jo asked. “Hurry up. I want to fuck you.” The forkful of peas went down Jo’s throat one by one. She felt like she was swallowing cannonballs. “Can I stay here until tomorrow night? Is there some place I can be safe from the light?” Jo had to fight hard to stop the peas coming back up. “You want to stay here with me?” Alek gave her a puzzled look. “Is that so odd?” “No one ever wanted to stay,” she said in a quiet voice. “Then they’re idiots.” His hand crept across the table and he stroked her arm. “I feel safe with you. I’ve never done this, never asked a mortal if I can use their home. It means leaving myself vulnerable. I’ve not felt able to risk that before.” “Oh.” Jo was touched only now she’d have to confess. “I’d love you to stay, though I’m not sure you’d be safe. I didn’t finish telling you about the two guys by my car. I’m pretty sure one of them was a vampire.” His gaze darkened. “I tried really hard not to think of your name, only you’re like one of those annoying computer pop-ups and keep slipping into my head. I thought Alek and then one of them looked at me a bit weird.”

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He laughed. “He looked at you a bit weird so he’s a vampire?” Jo scowled. “The policemen talked to them, but when they came back to the car they acted as though I was the only one out there. I think they got mind-wiped.” Alek raised his eyebrows. Jo smiled. “They’re obviously better at it than you.” His mouth tightened. “Maybe policemen are more cooperative.” “Anyway, only one of them was a vampire because the other turned up today at the office.” Alek jumped out of his seat. “He came to your office? Looking for me? What’s his name?” “Christian Blount.” Alek shook his head. “I don’t know him.” “He wasn’t looking for you. He looked as surprised to see me as I was to see him. He mentioned running into me the other night, and told me they’d been looking for a guy who’d disappeared with their money.” “Not me. I don’t owe money to anyone.” Alek sat again. “The name of the other?” “Georg Reynolds.” Jo didn’t need to ask if Alek knew him. He gave a deep sigh. “Georg Reynolds works for me.” “Oh, but that doesn’t mean he was involved in what happened to you. It could be coincidence.” “I doubt it.” Alek looked tense enough to snap. “Why had the other two come to your office?” “They said they were interested in investing in a project my company’s working on. The appointment was made before I even met you. They were supposed to be seeing my boss not me. I think it was a legitimate enquiry. Oh God, I hope it was. We need their money.” “So one of my employees is sunlighting.” It took Jo a moment. “Oh, like moonlighting.” “What was the investment company called?” “Fenris Land Developments.” “Ah. Lyall fucking Berg.” Alek snarled the words. “Who’s he?” “A guy who wants to buy some of my land. I said no -- several times -- and eventually he went away. Maybe he didn’t take no for an answer. I need to speak to Georg.” “Now?” Alek smiled. “Not now.”

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Giggles spilled from Jo as he scooped her into his arms. She could get used to being swept off her feet. Alek carried her down the hallway and into the bedroom. Mr. Romantic. He dropped her face down, threw himself on top, and knocked the wind right out of her. Maybe not. As soon as Jo could breathe again, she wriggled free and threw herself at him. Alek laughed as they rolled and twisted, swapping nips and kisses, trading who was on top. Jo suddenly stopped moving. “What if they find out where I live?” Alek put his finger over her lips. “They stand no chance against me. I’ll protect you.” “Only until the sun comes up.” Alek frowned. “Then I’ll have to protect you. I’ll stuff you in a cupboard.” Alek’s frown deepened. “It’s okay. There are no windows in the bathroom. I’ll make you a bed in the tub.” She started to get up and Alek pulled her down. “Not now. I have something else planned.” A moment later, Jo lay on her back hanging off the bed, her hair brushing the carpet while Alek straddled her hips, crouched down facing her feet, her foot in his mouth. He licked every toe, found every ticklish spot while Jo’s nails raked the sheets or smacked his backside. The moment his weight shifted and his foot came in reach, she grabbed it and bit his toe. Alek reared up and they both fell off the bed in a tangle of arms and legs. “Bite me and I lose control,” he said. Jo stared at him a moment and then burst out laughing. “It’s not funny, Jo.” “It was only your toe and since when have you been in control?” She sank her teeth into his backside almost hard enough to draw blood and Alek howled. “That’s not fair. Do you know how desperate I am to bite you?” She laughed even harder.

***** I’m happy, Jo thought. It had been so long since she’d felt this free. She could never have enough of Alek, of his body, his voice, his beautiful cock. At every point they touched, electricity sparked into her body. Jo had come so many times, she’d lost count. Alek’s cock was rarely anything other than rampant. When they’d fucked one way, moments later, they found a different way to do it. Jo had been upside down, backwards, sideways, on top, and underneath. He’d rubbed his cock all over her body, wanted her pussy rubbed all over his. They made love on the couch, behind the couch, and in front of the couch. Alek wanted to do everything over and over. Jo was happy to oblige. One orgasm blended into another and it seemed her body would never stop clenching around his fingers, his tongue, and his cock.

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Eyes closed, Alek knew Jo lay next to him because their bodies touched at shoulder, hip, and ankle, but he had no idea whereabouts in her apartment they’d ended up. They’d played hide and seek and fucked when they’d found each other. Since there was hardly any place to hide, there’d been a lot of fucking. Alek chuckled as he remembered cramming himself into Jo’s closet and dragging her in. She’d thought it impossible to fuck in there. He proved it wasn’t. Nothing was impossible with Jo. Alek was thrilled she’d asked him to cook for her. He knew it was crap, but he wanted to learn. He loved watching her eat, the look in her eyes, the way her lips moved. He should be trying to find Sophie, talking to Georg, finding out if Lyall Berg was behind his attempted murder, yet he couldn’t bring himself to leave. If he could have ensured there’d be no danger to Jo, Alek would have welcomed a visit from his enemies so he could find out what the fuck was happening, only his head was full of Jo and he wanted Jo full of him. Eyes snapping open, Alek looked around to see where they lay. Jo’s spare bedroom, which appeared to be the depository for everything she couldn’t stand to part with. Tottering heaps of jigsaws, stacks of geography magazines, and towers of paperback books -- thousands of the things. “Are you alive?” she whispered. “No, undead.” “Tired?” “This is the first time in over a hundred years I’ve had to have a nap at night.” “Too tired?” She rolled over and leaned on his chest. His cock gave a little sigh and began to grow. “What the hell do you do when you don’t have a horny vampire on hand?” He smiled at the rosy blush sweeping across her cheeks. Alek ran his fingers through her hair. “I call Dial-a-Stud,” Jo said. “Rent-a-Dick got too expensive.” “Hmm. I had the same problem with Hail-a-Ho.” Jo giggled. “You have such beautiful eyes,” Alek said. “I can see everything you’re thinking.” “So what am I thinking now?” “You’re thinking -- is there anything we haven’t tried?” “Wow. I’m impressed.” “Thank you.” Jo gave his nipple a gentle tug between her teeth. “Try again.” She twisted her face into something weird and Alek snorted. “Ah yeah, that would be - is there a splinter in my butt?”

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He whipped Jo over and hoisted her onto all fours. His fingers trailed down the crease of her backside. “Bring yourself off,” he whispered. “I want to watch. I want to see your face when you come.” “You first.” That was probably a good idea. It would give him longer to recover before he fucked her. Alek lay on his back, head on a bunched-up sleeping bag, his knees bent, legs open. Jo leaned on her elbow at his side. He dragged his hand up his dick, squeezed the tip, and gathered the blob of precum, using it to lubricate his fist. Alek heard the pace of Jo’s breathing increase and tried to ignore the blood racing in her veins. He wanted to bite her every time he thrust his dick inside her. His restraint amazed him. As she stared at his cock, Alek tightened his grasp and began the long, slow pulls that would drive him towards release. He fixed his eyes on Jo. No need to look at his cock. The thing could probably do this all on its own with no hand in sight when she lay next to him. His other hand moved to his balls and massaged them gently. Alek could usually prolong this, but not with Jo glued to his every move. He twisted his fingers as he pulled and his balls responded with an increased tingling -- five-minute warning. Ha, if I’m lucky. When Jo moved round to sit with her legs tucked under his, so his toes tickled her hips, Alek wondered what she was planning. No worry whether he’d like it; she only had to look at him to make him smile. He kept up the pressure on his cock, but only slow drags, nothing fast. “I’ve never watched anyone do this,” she whispered. “It’s so sexy.” That dragged a spurt of precum from his dick and a groan from his throat. She trailed her fingers over the back of his: one hand over the fist that gripped his dick and the other over the hand that held his balls. The lightest of touches, yet electric pulses zipped along Alek’s nerves, winding him tight as a crossbow. “Can I tell you what to do?” Jo asked. “You can try.” She grinned. “Hands on your knees.” Alek groaned but did as she said. He gulped when she dipped her finger in her pussy and then smeared her cream on his cock. The third time she did it, the finger slipped down to nudge against his asshole. Alek shuddered with pleasure as she teased the opening, pressing and withdrawing, urging him to open to her. His hand crept to his cock and Jo pulled her finger away. “No touching. Not yet.” Alek dragged his nails through the carpet. When Jo resumed playing with his ass, he tried to relax into her touch. She circled, stroked, squeezed, and finally -- thank the fuck -pressed the pad of her finger inside. He’d taken much bigger -- Will’s cock for a start -- but

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the feel of Jo easing her way so carefully inside him made Alek shake. He pushed against her and her finger slipped past the muscle barrier. “God, that feels good,” he said. Jo curled the tip of her finger, felt for his prostate, and stroked it gently. Oh God, that

feels even better. “Rub it. Press harder,” Alek gasped. He lifted his hand to his cock and then dropped it again. He didn’t want Jo to stop now. Every molecule in his body wanted to come. It was like he was being drawn in tighter, herded to some central point where something wonderful was going to happen. Jo had her hand, palm up, against his butt, her middle finger working his gland. Then she slipped another finger in below and the increased pressure blew the lid off the bottle. Alek cried out as the orgasm seized him in its teeth and shook him hard. His cock swelled, jerked, and spurted a stream of cum as far as his shoulder. Then another. His back arched as the spasms dragged his juice from his balls. He was covered with streaks of jism and it still came in long, sticky spurts. “Fuck, fuck.” Jo pulled her fingers free and started to lick his chest. “Fuck, fuck.” “Is that all you can say?” she asked. “Shit.” As she chuckled, he pulled her up onto his body, his cum smearing between them. Her neck was so close. “A little sip, no more,” she whispered.

Oh God, she’s perfect. Jo tensed for a moment when he bit her, but the pleasurable feeling that followed made her relax in his arms. Alek was hard again. She didn’t understand how. He’d just shot his load all over her, yet his rigid cock was nudging its way between her thighs. Then he was inside her, fucking her as he fed and fire crept through her veins, sensation heightening until all she could feel was his cock thrusting into her. It seemed bigger. She seemed more sensitive. Vampire magic. And that was the last vaguely coherent thought she managed. She came and it wasn’t enough. She wanted more. In tune with her thoughts, Alek drove himself into her, not allowing her to come down, wringing every last ounce of pleasure from her body until her head exploded. Jo came round to find herself on the bed and Alek wiping her body with a wet cloth. When she opened her eyes, he smiled. “More please,” she said and Alek laughed.

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Jo loved his laugh. Loved…him. He tossed the cloth aside and dropped next to her. The mattress dipped and threw her against him. Alek wrapped his arms around her. “I can never fill you up,” he whispered. “You’re insatiable.” “I’m feeling pretty full. I’m going to leak your cum for hours. While I still have energy to move, I’m going to make you that nest in the tub.” Jo dragged her aching body off the bed and took an old comforter from the closet. She folded it over and laid it in the bath, adding a pillow at the tap-free end. Alek came up behind her. “Try it out,” she said. He curled his body into the limited space. A six-four body in a five-six tub was never going to be a comfortable fit. “It’s not long enough,” she said, gazing at him over the rim. He pulled his cock through his fist. “No one’s ever said that to me before.” Jo huffed. He reached out to touch her face. “How the fuck have you managed to tire me out?” he asked. “Maybe you’re not an angel. More like a little devil. A succubus.” “You think I’m not tired? Maybe you’re an incubus.” Alek smiled. “Whatever we are -- we match.” Jo leaned over and kissed him. “I won’t let anything happen to you while you’re asleep. Though is it okay if I stand on you to have a shower?” Alek laughed. “Have you any idea how much I love you, my little mortal?” The breath caught in Jo’s throat. She wanted to tell him she loved him too. The words had been tumbling in her head for long enough, but when she opened her mouth, that wasn’t what came out. “I think I’m a werewolf.”

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Chapter Thirteen He loves me? Oh God, why had she blurted out she thought she was a werewolf? He’d think she was crazy. Alek stepped out of the tub. Jo stood back and leaned against the towel rail. He stared at her without saying anything. She curled her fingers around the metal bar at her back. “Did you hear what I said?” she whispered. He nodded. “I’ve been trying to come up with something that sounds similar so I could pretend that was what I heard. Only I’ve drawn a blank. Gear wolf. Fear gulf. Weird elf. I can’t find anything that works.” He sighed. “Why do you think you’re a werewolf?” Jo took a deep breath. “I don’t feel the cold. I can run very fast. I have acute senses. I heal quickly and for five days around a full moon, I’m desperate for sex and can never get enough.” She looked straight at him. “What do you think?” “Well, I have heard your horrible howl.” He shuddered. Jo hit him. “Ouch. Okay, turn round,” he said. “Why?” “I want to see if you’ve got a tail.” “Very funny.” Alek smirked. “Yeah, it is. Do you like to stick your head out of the car window when you’re going fast?” “Alek, be serious.” He pulled her into his arms. “You’re not a werewolf, angel. You’ve missed out one important detail. The most important. You can’t turn yourself into a wolf. Even if you couldn’t shift at will, you’d feel compelled to shift every time there was a full or almost-full

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moon. You didn’t last night and I can’t see anything happening tonight, though your legs could do with a shave.” He was too quick for her to hit that time. Jo chased him to the bedroom and leapt on his back, knocking him onto the bed. Alek squirmed free and pulled her into his arms. Jo stopped him kissing her by putting her hand over his mouth. Once he started, they’d never finish this conversation. “If I am a werewolf, does it make any difference?” she asked and moved her hand. Alek twisted his mouth. “I’m not into bestiality.” A long second passed before Jo caught the glint in his eye together with another smirk. “We need to talk about this,” she said. “Okay.” Alek settled her at his side. “What about your parents and your sister? Did you find yourself with a fridge full of fresh meat when the moon was full?” “Ah, well it turns out I’m not who I thought.” Jo reached under the bed and pulled out her purse. “My sister came by the office today and said she’d found a birth certificate inside this.” When Jo took hold of the fabric, the same strange sensation traveled up her arm. Why did the stuff feel familiar? Alek took the cloth from her before she could drop it. He rubbed it in his fingers. “This is weird material. I don’t recognize it.” “Weird names too for my parents. Tomas Randolph and Mei Star.” When Alek didn’t reach for the certificate, she tossed it aside. He seemed far more interested in the scrap of fabric. Jo took it off him and her fingers shimmered for a moment. “Unusual names should make them easier to trace.” “Except that Mum and Dad pretended I belonged to them, so there aren’t any official records. I’ve scoured the Internet, and I can’t see a way to find my birth parents.” “Have you looked in the phone book?” The fabric fell from her hand as Jo closed her eyes and sighed. “I never thought of that.” “Well, you don’t have my stunning intellectual capacity.” She began to get up and Alek pulled her back. “Leave it until tomorrow. You can’t call this late even if they are listed. You need to think about what you’re going to say. I’m not sure ‘Hi, I’m your daughter. Is either of you a werewolf?’ is the best route.” He was right. Jo snuggled against him. “Do you think I am?” “Do you have the urge to howl at the moon?” “Let’s see.” Jo heaved herself to her feet and padded to the window. She opened the curtain a fraction. The moon hung low in the sky, a pale yellow ball. “I can’t hear you howling,” Alek said and tucked up behind her, his erection nestling in the crease of her bottom.

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“My heart’s beating faster, but that might be because you’re poking your cock into my backside.” Jo thought she saw Binky slink around the side of a car. Was that why all the dogs had followed her? She was a werewolf bitch in heat? Shit. Alek pulled her to the bed. “Jo, this is crazy. You aren’t a werewolf.” “I notice you’re not telling me that there’s no such thing.” His silence sent her heart plummeting to her toes. Jo took a deep breath. “What else really exists? Werecats, fairies, zombies?” “I’ve never seen a zombie. I’ve heard they --” “Alek!” He landed a series of little kisses all over her face to shut her up. “Jo, the bottom line is that you can’t shape-shift. How can you be a werewolf?” “What if I can?” He stared at her, his dark eyes black pools in the dim light. “When I heal myself something happens. I sort of pass out and I have a feeling I change then.” Jo paused. “If I slice open my hand and then heal myself, you could watch and see what I do.” “I’m not so sure about the cutting. You know what I’m like about blood.” “Try to restrain yourself. I’m going to get a knife.” Alek held her back. “I’ve got one.” He left the room and came back with the blade she’d pulled out of his chest. Once Jo had it in her hand, she wasn’t so sure. “What if I turn into a poodle or one of those dogs with dreadlocks?” Alek smirked. “That would be a weredog. If you think you’re a werewolf, then you’ll turn into a wolf.” Jo knew he didn’t believe her. Had she been this dismissive when he’d told her he was a vampire? “Yes, you were. An enormous bat -- remember?” “Were you reading my mind?” “I don’t need to.” Before Alek could stop her, Jo sliced her arm with the blade. Blood spurted and he grabbed the shimmering material to press on it. “Not that,” Jo yelped. Alek yanked up a corner of the sheet. “Shit, Jo. You could have waited.” She watched as he hovered between planting his mouth on her arm and wrapping the sheet around her. His mouth won. Jo wrenched her arm away.

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Alek looked at her with glazed eyes. “Sorry, I can’t help it. Just let me have a little slurp.” “Alek, it’s bleeding a lot. I didn’t think it would bleed this much. I don’t feel…” Jo’s world began spinning and she dropped back on the mattress, her head pounding. “Fuck, I’m an idiot. It’s a silver knife. Bad enough for vamps and really bad for wolves. Jo, I’m going to get a towel. Don’t bleed to death while I’ve gone.” Her eyes closed. Heal. Jo drove the command into her bloodstream. Heal. Alek rushed back into the bedroom and slammed to a halt. Lying on the bed, licking its right front leg, was a large, white wolf with a dark streak at the back of its neck. “Shitshitshitshitshitshit,” he mumbled. The wolf turned and looked at him. Jo’s blue eyes. Shiiit. “Nod if you can understand me,” he said. Jo nodded and bared her teeth. “Was that a smile?” Another nod. “Well, don’t do it again. It scared me.” Jo slumped down and dropped her head onto her paws. “Nice doggy,” Alek said and sat next to her. He dug his fingers into her thick fur. “Guess I was wrong. You are a werewolf.” When he rubbed the streak of dark fur on her head, he felt a curious tingling at the back of his neck. “A very pretty werewolf,” he added. “And now you’ve got more hair on your chest than me.” She shuddered. “On the plus side, you’ve got a gorgeous tail.” Wolf-Jo gave him an unmistakable look of derision and Alek laughed. “Maybe we could play catch?” he said. Jo sat up and opened her jaw over his cock. Sharp teeth inches away from severe pain, Alek lost his erection fully for the first time since he’d entered the apartment. “Or not playing catch is good. Have you seen yourself in the mirror?” Jo leapt off the bed and after a moment’s hesitation she stepped in front of her wardrobe. Alek watched her as she stared and lifted a paw to the glass. She wasn’t the only one who was having trouble believing this. He’d been fucking a werewolf? Bloody hell. Alek thought about the day he’d matured, the day he stopped eating food and started drinking blood, the day his fangs erupted for the first time. He’d known what was coming because his parents had warned him, yet it had still been a shock, scared him witless. That’s

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what Jo felt now. Shit scared. He dropped to the carpet and put his arms around her. Alek tried not to look for his nonexistent reflection in the mirror. “It’s okay, Jo. It’s still you. You’re in there and I still love you, but I’m not picking up your poop.” Jo snapped in front of his nose. A little too close for comfort and Alek backed off to sit on the bed. “Change back, Jo.” He could see her trying to figure out what to do. She turned in a circle. Wagged her tail. Looked up at him. “Just think yourself back,” he said. Her body seemed to stretch, elongate as the fur dissolved. She reformed in front of his eyes and Alek thought it was the most fascinating thing he’d ever seen. The wolf’s face morphed into Jo’s, claws became fingers, bones broke and reshaped, and finally she was back. It had taken only a moment. Then she screamed and Alek shot off the bed to her side. “What is it? What’s the matter, angel?” Jo writhed on the carpet, her back arching as she thrashed around, gasping for air, having some sort of fit. “Shit, shit. Oh God.” Alek didn’t know what to do, couldn’t think of anything he could do. Then just as suddenly as the seizure started, it stopped and Jo smirked. “You little shit.” Alek leaped on her. “You scared me to death.” “I was a bit freaked myself. I mean -- a wolf? Are there others like me? Have you ever met one?” “I’ve never met a female werewolf.” “Wasn’t I gorgeous?” Jo said and laughed. He stroked her face. “Very.” “It has to be why I’m obsessed with sex for five days a month, don’t you think?” Alek frowned. “Only five days?” “Yeah, bad luck, buddy.” She grinned and then her face fell. “Are you okay? You don’t mind?” He sighed. “A vamp must do whatever he can to meet the cravings of an insatiable woman. Particularly one with such sharp teeth.” He paused. “But that little act you just pulled on the carpet…” He hauled her over his legs and smacked her on the backside. “I can’t believe you did that. Have you any idea how fucking scared --” Jo rubbed herself against him and Alek forgot what he was going to say. “I’ve been bad. I need punishing,” Jo said.

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He didn’t need to be told twice. Alek’s hand landed on her backside. His cock emerged from its sulk. The sight of Jo’s rose-tinted bottom had him leaking from his mouth and his dick. He smacked her again. Jo groaned. Alek tried not to. “Was I really bad?” she asked. “The wickedest bad wolf I’ve ever met.” He brought his hand down and she squirmed against his cock. “Oh God, Jo, I want to fuck your sweet ass. Have you --” “Never.” Alek sighed. “That wasn’t what I was going to say. Now you’ve made me even more desperate. Do you have any lube?” “Bottom drawer of the chest of drawers.” Alek lifted her on to the bed and walked across the room. “Nooooo,” Jo screamed and jumped over to slam the drawer shut as he pulled it open. “Too late,” Alek said. “Back to bed, puppy.” The drawer was full of vibrators and dildos and a whole lot of other stuff. His eyes widened. He really wasn’t going to let her go. Ever. Maybe they could take some of the toys to a hotel because Alek had decided it wasn’t safe for either of them to stay in her apartment. They’d be safe from vampires but Georg and this Christian guy weren’t vamps. If Alek slept in Jo’s tub, Jo might get hurt trying to save him. Something else had occurred to Alek. Christian and the other guy were searching near the wood. Maybe it had been Jo they’d been looking for and not him. There was a good reason Alek had never met a female werewolf. They were very rare. So rare that one in the neighborhood would draw wolves like bears to honey. He found the lube and turned. Jo was on her hands and knees, bum in the air, looking back at him over her shoulder. Oh shit. Alek had to grab the base of his cock and squeeze hard so he didn’t shoot all over her. “I don’t want you that way round. I want to watch your face,” he whispered and Jo rolled over. It wasn’t the only reason. Whilst Alek had been fascinated by her transformation, he didn’t want the first time after to be doggie-style. She was all woman to him, not wolf. Alek positioned himself between her legs and bent down to kiss her. Jo’s hands snaked around his neck and pulled him lower. He teased her mouth, nibbling along her lower lip, dropping kisses over her chin and down her throat. The urge to bite was strong, but if he fed every time they fucked, he’d leave her a hollow shell. A thought flittered through his head about the possible side effects of drinking from a werewolf and of her biting him. Alek didn’t think there would be any repercussions; then

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her breasts hijacked his thought process. So perfect and the way the nipples tightened under his touch sent a trail of precum slipping from his cock. Jo moaned and stroked his neck, his shoulders, his back as he moved down her body. A rasp of his chin over her navel and he felt the skin skitter beneath. He licked her gently rounded stomach, then curled on his side and ran his finger over the line of her cunt, sliding along the soft, wet folds, lightly pressing inside. She was always wet, always ready for him. One deep thrust of two fingers up to his knuckles and Jo gasped. “You are perfect,” Alek whispered. He gathered Jo’s cream and swept it back towards the puckered rosebud, teasing with his fingertip. Alek tucked her thigh over his shoulder so he could get closer. As he pressed with his finger, the tight hole opened and closed. She looked too small to take his cock, but he could be patient. He dropped his head and licked the strip of flesh behind her pussy, pulling it gently between his teeth until Jo was groaning for him to stop in a voice that said don’t you dare. He rimmed her with his tongue, fluttering against her with tiny licks as one finger slid back inside her cunt. A finger thrusting, matched by his tongue pressing into her asshole, and Jo unraveled. Alek felt her muscles clenching, rode out the contractions and then began again. “What are you doing to me?” Jo gasped. “If you have to ask, I’m doing it wrong.” A laugh turned back to a groan as he squirted lube on his finger and pressed it around her anus, circling, softening the muscle barrier until he slipped just inside. “Push down, angel, as though you’re trying to get rid of me. It will be easier.” Then he was in and Jo was clutching his hair hard enough to pull it out. Alek was careful as he stretched her sensitive tissue, each movement spreading her farther until he could insert two fingers and begin to twist. He laid his head on her belly to keep her down and finger-fucked her in both holes, sliding in one and out the other, over and over until she came again. Alek’s cock was soaked in precum, his balls rock eggs in his sac. He was desperate to be inside her. Jo squealed when more lube hit her backside. She lifted her head and glared. Alek gave her a sheepish look. “Sorry.” “Like hell you are.” He chuckled and squirted more on his cock, mixed it with his juice until the thing slipped in his hand like a bar of soap. A massage of the lube into Jo, a careful easing with his finger and Alek draped her thighs over his, lifting so her backside was off the bed. “Look at me, Jo. See how much you turn me on.”

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He saw her struggle to open her eyes and then she focused on his face and smiled. Alek almost lost it. He gulped down the lump in his throat. Gulped again when it didn’t move and then gave up. She was the lump in his throat, the extra beat of his heart, the love of his life. Alek pressed the head of his cock against the tight pucker, nudged, and kept nudging until he slid a little way inside. He was taut with concentration, determined not to hurt her. His hands slid to her waist and he pushed a little deeper. Ah God, she was so tight. Slow and steady, he reminded himself and rocked into her with tiny thrusts. They both gave a loud groan as his cock slipped past the protective ring of muscle and was almost vacuum sucked inside her. Alek slid balls deep into her ass and froze. Hot, slick, and tight. He had to drag himself back from the brink. He ran his hands over Jo’s ribs to her breasts, wrapped his hands around them, and groaned deep in his throat. “Are you okay?” he forced out. “You can slide it inside me any time you’re ready.” He growled. “Have you any idea how near the edge I am? I want to slam myself into you until you come a hundred times, screaming for me to stop.” “Do it. Fuck me hard.” Alek’s head went back. “Oh Jesus.” The moment he pulled back, his hips slipped out of control. He thrust forward and the different feel around his cock ignited a fire in his balls. Jo’s legs wrapped around his lower back urged him on and Alek was lost. He wanted his fingers in her pussy, but he couldn’t let go of her breasts. How either of them managed to keep their eyes open, he had no idea. Their gazes were locked together as he drove into her, hard, heavy strokes that had his lubedrenched balls slapping against her backside. Wet flesh to wet flesh, over and over. A high, keening wail erupted from Jo’s throat and Alek managed to slide one hand back to her pussy. The moment his fingers touched her clit and moved inside her, she came and so did he. Alek felt his cock through the thin tissue that separated the two channels, felt each jerk, each spurt. For a moment, their bodies contracted at the same time, their muscles in sync before his rhythm began to slow while hers went on at the same speed for a little longer. Alek withdrew, afraid he’d hurt her. Jo pulled him into her arms and kissed him. “More,” she whispered. Alek barely had the energy to laugh, but he forced himself to get up and go to the bathroom to wash. He tossed the towel aside and turned to see Jo behind him. “Alek?” “Umm?” “Do you still want to bite me?” His fangs shot out. “Do you think it matters that I’m a werewolf?”

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His fangs retreated. Cowards. He took the cloth and began to wipe her down. “I suppose it’s too late,” Jo whispered. “If you end up part werewolf, it might be fun.” Alek hadn’t given enough consideration to this, but Jo was right. It was too late. He tugged her back to bed and wrapped his body around hers. “Why do you like me?” she said in a quiet voice. Alek didn’t want to be flippant. He thought about it before he spoke. “You’re funny, cute, and incredibly sexy. I like that you’re not afraid of blood. You didn’t pass out when you found out I was a vampire. A couple of screams and you accepted it. Just like you’ve accepted you’re a were. You’re not afraid to tease me. You make me smile. You can do very interesting things with your tongue. You love fucking as much as I do. And I loved that little heart on the rock.” A rosy blush swept over her cheeks. “Plus you can bite your tail, play catch, and lick your own --” Her kiss shut him up.

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Chapter Fourteen “That was your bleeping mobile bleep-bleep-bleeping,” Jo said with a sleepy groan. “You sure?” “Who’d send text messages to me at this time of the night? It’s not like I’m the one who needs sunblock.” Alek slipped from the bed to the hall. He picked up his pants and took out his BlackBerry. Not a text message -- an e-mail. A moment later, the black rectangle slipped from his fingers and fell to the carpet. Alek stared at it as though it was a snake. Jo came to his side, the piece of bluish green fabric wrapped around her wrist. Distracted for a moment, he wondered why she kept touching it. Then she bent to pick up the BlackBerry and Alek almost reached to stop her. “What’s wrong?” “It’s a message from my father,” he said. “A little surprising since it’s been two hundred years since I’ve seen or heard from him or any of my family.” “What does he say?” “I don’t know.” Alek wasn’t sure whether to feel hope or despair. “Want me to read it?” Alek nodded. He watched her scan the message before she read it out loud. “Your brother needs help. His mate is dying, poisoned by Constantine Nevchek. Go at once to Windrush House, Timble, North Yorkshire.” Hundreds of questions stormed through Alek’s head. The back of his neck suddenly ached and he dragged his fingers over it, rubbing at his skin. To his shame he was more bothered by the notion of being summoned to help his brother, when no one had been summoned to help him, than he was about helping Luka. Except he hadn’t needed Trueblood

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help because his angel had fallen from heaven. Jo leaned against the wall at his side, watching his face as she fingered the strip of material at her wrist.

Two hundred years and I don’t even get a, Hello, how are you? Jo put her arms around him. “Are you wondering why no one came to help you?”

How can she know me so well after such a short time? Alek tightened his mouth. “Maybe your father had no one to send to you. Maybe your brother was stuck down a hole too. You need to go and help him, Alek.” He nodded. “I have to leave now to stand a chance of getting there before sunrise.” “Then go.” Jo kissed his chin. “Be careful.” “No, you be careful.” “No, you.” Alek laughed. “We sound like old --” He took a deep breath and pulled her closer. “I was going to take you to a hotel, but I don’t have time. Until daybreak, allow no one into your apartment. If you don’t invite a vampire over the threshold, he can’t enter. Anyone else bothers you, ring the police. In the morning, don’t go looking for trouble. Wait until I get back tomorrow night and we’ll find it together.” Jo brushed the hair from his eyes. “How much trouble is your brother in?” “If his mate has been poisoned by the blood of an old vampire, she might not survive.” “What can you do?” “Not much. Luka has to use his bondmark to help her; maybe our father hasn’t told him how.” “What’s a bondmark?” Alek hesitated, annoyed the word had slipped out, but he couldn’t hide the fact that neither of them had the mark. “A vine that grows on the forearm of those who are mated. Oh God, I don’t want to leave you, only I have to go.” He yanked on his clothes and shoes. Jo fastened the last button on his shirt and kissed him gently. “I love you,” she whispered. “Take this.” She pushed the piece of iridescent fabric into the pocket of his shirt. “But it’s the only --” “That’s why I want you to have it. Make sure you bring it back.” Oh God, how had he got so deep, so fast? Was the fact that she was a werewolf the reason no bondmark had appeared? Because they could never be a match? He still loved her but…Alek opened his mouth and then left without saying the words he’d dragged back from his throat.

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Jo stared at the closing door of her apartment, her heart thudding in her ears. She glanced at her arm hoping to see a pretty vine. Nothing more than a few fingerprint bruises already beginning to fade. She wondered about getting a tattoo like the one Alek had at the back of his neck. She couldn’t quite figure out what it was. The damn thing seemed to look different each time she caught a glimpse of it. Jo sighed. Getting a tattoo wouldn’t fool him. She wasn’t Alek’s love or bondmate or match or whatever the fuck they were called and he’d just realized that. Maybe he’d known all along. He hadn’t even given her his phone number or asked for hers. Whatever he’d said, Jo didn’t think she’d see him again. It was because she was a werewolf. Her heart clenched as though it had been seized in an iron fist. She ran to the bedroom window hoping for a last glimpse. Jo heard the roar of his motorbike, but didn’t see it. What she did see were two men stepping out of the shadows. One got in a car and drove after Alek. The other looked up at the window where she stood. Jo slipped out of sight, her heart in her throat. She recognized him. The pale one who’d been near her Land Rover, the one she thought was a vampire. Oh bugger. Jo stood in the doorway of her room, looking down the hall, her heart thudding faster and faster as she waited. The knock still made her jump. “Jo. Let me in.” His voice was quiet and seductive. “I want to talk to you. Just for a minute. Open the door, Jo. I want a few words; that’s all.” Mr. Silent turned into Mr. Talkative. He breathed her name in a long, whispered caress that echoed in her head, seeped into her bones, infused her muscles. Move. Jo put her hands over her ears, but she could still hear him. She’d taken two steps down the hallway towards the door before she realized. Fleeing to the bathroom, Jo yanked the comforter and pillow out of the tub and stood under the shower. “Just a chat, Jo. I won’t hurt you. Open the door. Jo. Let me in.” Oh God, she could still hear him. Jo rubbed soap over her breasts and heard a loud groan in her ear. Her eyes sprang open. She was alone. “Joooooooooo.” Alphabet trees. Ash, Beech, Cedar, Dogwood, Elm, Fir… Oh God, I always get stuck on G. She cheated. Grey Willow. Hawthorn… She made it all the way through trees. Followed with fruit. Then flowers and the voice constantly pleaded with her, threatened, wheedled, and promised while Jo sat in the tub with cold water pouring over her waiting for dawn.

***** Within a mile, Alek became aware someone sat on his tail. There was little traffic, easy to see persistent headlights keeping at a steady distance. No time to waste setting up an

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ambush, he had to shake off his pursuer while still traveling north as fast as possible. His mind sideslipped to Jo, knowing he’d been picked up outside her apartment. She was in no danger from vampires as long as she kept her door closed and didn’t issue any invitations to enter. He’d made her understand that, hadn’t he? Mortals were another matter, and if werewolves were involved, then all bets were off. Christ, what if they were after her and not him? Oh fuck. He wanted to go back yet the need to obey his father pulled him north. Alek had never been so torn. He tried to link with her, call her in his mind so he could satisfy himself she was all right, but it was as though she stood behind a waterfall. Alek couldn’t see or hear her clearly. He just knew she was there. He had a sudden image of her breasts and groaned. He really didn’t need to distract himself like this. He’d have an accident. Bad enough that the back of his neck was driving him crazy. Maybe a warning someone followed? How the hell had they known where he was? He could just about excuse being followed the night he’d been stabbed. He was hardly at his best, but tonight he should have sensed someone trailing him. He’d led them to Jo. He’d put her in more danger. The car pulling out from the side road almost hit him. If he hadn’t accelerated at that precise moment, it would have. Jesus Christ. Alek looked in his mirror. Two cars after him? He’d stayed off the motorway, now he wished for an open road. He had the uncomfortable feeling they were herding him. Alek tucked himself closer to the frame and accelerated, using heightened instincts to take turns faster than humanly safe. He was quicker on the bike, yet he didn’t lose them. Each time Alek thought he might have thrown them off, he spotted them in his mirror. Tracker. They’d fixed something on his bike. Shit. Alek thought fast and came up with a plan. He roared onto the M1 motorway at junction twenty-nine, Chesterfield, praying there were no police around as he shot up the outside lane at over a hundred and twenty miles an hour. He needed to get as far ahead as he could before he reached Woodall Services. Adrenaline poured through his veins. Much as Alek loved his bike, he never raced it like this because he didn’t want to cause an accident. Not many had his lightning-fast reactions. Fortunately, the motorway was almost empty. He’d been going so fast, he almost missed the exit. Alek careened up the slip road and skidded down the left fork into the parking lot. He slammed to a halt on the far side of an SUV and toed down the kickstand. He had moments to find what they’d put on his bike. Not his bike. His fucking leather coat. Fastened in the lining. How long had it been there? When Alek pulled out the sticky metal ring, he breathed a very human sigh of relief. He reached into the wheel arch of the SUV and pressed the tracker in place. He didn’t like involving someone else, but he didn’t have much choice. A quick look around before Alek rode to the other side of the parking area, steered his bike between two heavy goods vehicles, and switched off his engine. As he bent to peek between the wheels of the truck, he saw the two cars pull into the parking area.

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Two men got out of one vehicle and one stepped from the other. One of the three was Georg, his red hair unmistakable. Alek clenched his teeth. The three conferred together. Even with his acute hearing, Alek was too far away to eavesdrop. The tallest guy held something in his hand, looked at it then walked over to the SUV. He bent and stood to show something to the others. Alek chewed his lip. So far so good. He needed them to assume he’d found the tracker and put it on a vehicle while he drove off up the motorway. If the vehicle had left the parking lot that would have worked too -- just so long as the owner didn’t come out while these guys lingered by his or her vehicle. The plan half worked. One car continued north with Georg, the other with the two men sat there and did nothing. Now Alek couldn’t move or they’d see him. He worried about the time. Dawn was forty minutes away. Truebloods had an advantage over other vampires in that they could withstand the early morning and late evening sun for a short time. But exactly how long was a short time? How could he test it out without getting fried? He wasn’t certain the guys remaining were vamps, though his senses told him yes. They probably had a safe house to go to at the last moment. Alek had one of his emergency packs in a compartment at the bottom of the pannier. It would enable him to hide from daylight -unless they’d taken it. He slid back to the bike with his heart sinking faster than a lead ingot. If they’d taken it, he was dead. Alek unclipped the lid and clenched his teeth. The pannier was empty. The light-proof bag was gone. So much for plans to find a secluded spot and hide himself away for the day. He heard the sound of a car starting up and peered around the front of the HGV to see his pursuers pulling back onto the motorway. Fuckers. Thirty-nine minutes. Alek started his bike. The satellite navigation system indicated Luka’s home was an hour away. Even if Alek managed to get there before sunrise, he’d have no time to help Luka before he and his brother fell asleep. If Alek didn’t make it, he was no use to anyone. He had to find a place to hide. Thirty-eight minutes. Alek put his BMW back in the parking lot and went into the service station. There were cameras everywhere though they wouldn’t capture his image. But the alarms on the rooms marked private would be triggered by his passing. Thirty minutes. Alek considered the washrooms. No windows. He could find an out of order sign and commandeer a cubicle, except a chart on the wall initialed with hourly inspections implied no chance of remaining undetected until sunset. Plenty of offices and it was Saturday. A reasonable assumption that not all would be occupied today, though little chance of finding a windowless one. Twenty minutes.

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If he was found in some cubbyhole, he’d be carted off to the morgue. Alek thought about that. They’d use a body bag to move him. Would it give enough protection from the sun? No windows in a morgue, surely. Maybe skylights. How fast would they do an autopsy? Alek didn’t want to be cut open unless he was dead-dead. Would they do that without telling his next of kin? Not that they’d be able to trace any. Stop with the useless questions. Ten minutes. Shit. Well, he couldn’t get anywhere on the bike now. He had to find somewhere inside the service station. Alek stared at the sign on the wall for several wasteful moments, hoping for inspiration before it sank in. A Days Inn motel was indicated on the other side of the motorway. He ran over the footbridge and sprinted towards the building. In the car park, he passed one of the vehicles that had followed him. The one with the two guys -- possibly vamps. Shit. Alek skidded to a halt, but there was no one inside. The woman on reception smiled when she saw him. “I’d like a room. Windowless?” She gave a short laugh. “All our rooms have windows, sir.” “Has someone just asked for the same thing?” She nodded. “Is this some sort of competition?” “Exactly that.” Alek put two hundred pounds on the counter. “Two nights and I don’t want to be disturbed. At all. For anything.” She handed him a key. “Room Fourteen. Down the hall. Enjoy your stay.” Once Alek was out of sight of the desk, he waited. “Room Fourteen,” she said and he heard a receiver being replaced. Five minutes. Long enough for them to kill him? If one of the men wasn’t a vampire, he’d have all day, plenty of time. Alek had none. He went through the doors and ran up the stairs, guessing she’d been persuaded to put him on the same floor as them. He needed a roof void. And there was the hatch. One thing left to do. Moments later, Alek sat safe in the roof space, the earsplitting sound of the fire alarm wailing in his head. If he was really lucky, they’d check and make sure all guests were out. He grinned. If he was really, really lucky, the pair would be vamps and get dragged outside away from the nonexistent fire only to catch fire as the sun rose. Alek pulled up the collar of his leather coat and wedged himself between wooden support struts, knowing whilst he wouldn’t feel uncomfortable as he slept, he’d ache when he woke. He couldn’t see any chinks of daylight shining through the roof so, provided nothing catastrophic happened like a plane crashing on top of him or a high wind blowing with enough force to rip off the tiles, he should be able to avoid his brain frying inside his skull. Alek closed his eyes.

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A few days ago he’d wished for more excitement in his life. He hadn’t quite expected this. He sent a mental message he had no hope Luka would hear, to hang on, that he was coming. Another message to Jo, telling her that he loved her, with or without a bushy tail. He tucked his hand into the pocket of his shirt and wrapped his fingers around the beautiful piece of material she’d given him. If there was such a thing as God, Alek begged him to keep Jo safe. He brought her image into his mind, smiled at her cute face. Then darkness claimed him.

***** When Jo woke, she did a double take on the time. One o’clock in the afternoon. Good grief, she’d never slept that late in her life. She’d stayed in the shower until the voice had stopped nagging and then gone to bed and slept like the dead, thanks to all that sex with the undead. She grinned. Jo wished Alek was there and not just because she was horny. She missed his sense of humor, his smile, his lovely dark eyes. Jo kicked off the covers and stood, stretching her arms in the air. She hoped Alek was safe, and his brother and mate. How great to have a family bond that was so strong, even after all those years apart. Jo felt a sudden thrill at the thought that she might have a family too, even if they were werewolves. She grabbed the telephone directory and looked up M. Star. No entries. One Randolph, initial T. Jo’s heart pumped like a piston because she knew this was him -- her father. Oh God. She didn’t want to speak to him on the phone; she wanted to see him. Jo ran her finger along his address. Stone Cottage, Fieldhead, Upper Middleton. So close. She tried on every outfit in her wardrobe. Jo wanted to look -- she didn’t know how she wanted to look, that was the problem. Her normal, geeky self or a prettied-up version? She settled on a floaty, knee-length sundress covered in yellow daisies with wide shoulder straps that crossed at the back. She didn’t have any footwear with heels so she slipped on brown leather shoes with open sides. Lipstick on, lipstick off, lipstick on. She wiped it away. Jo carefully painted each of her toe nails deep crimson. She knew she was just delaying the moment she had to set off. Somehow it wasn’t a surprise to find Binky sitting by the Land Rover. He wagged his tail so Jo presumed she’d been forgiven for throwing the stick. She found a half-melted chocolate biscuit in her purse and held it out. He gave it a disdainful sniff and then chomped it down. Almost in reluctance, Jo thought, as if he worried she’d be offended if he hadn’t. “Sorry, Binky. I’ve got to go somewhere. If you haven’t run off to your owner by the time I get back, I’ll buy you a can of dog food. Promise.” He sat on the edge of the grass and watched her as she reversed out. When Jo checked her mirror, he was gone. Upper Middleton was about seven miles away. Jo wondered if she’d ever seen her father in Buxton or one of the other market towns. Had he seen her? Did he even know about her? She should have kept that piece of material in case he recognized it. She’d

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brought the birth certificate, but maybe the strip of fabric was more significant. Only something had told her to give it to Alek, to put it in that particular pocket. Weird. Jo rubbed the back of her neck. Her anxiety increased the nearer she drew to her destination. Jo realized she hadn’t thought about sex all the time she’d been driving. Of course, that thought sent her off on a tangent named Alek. She hoped he was somewhere safe, relieved her libido appeared to be held in check by her excitement. She’d driven through Upper Middleton before she saw a sign for Fieldhead. Jo remembered the place now. There was a large privately owned wood nearby. It looked as though Stone Cottage was going to be right on the edge of it. Jo missed the next sign and had to reverse to take a wide sweep to pull in. Her teeth rattled as she went over a cattle grid. Another hundred yards and the house came into view. A long, two-story extended stone building with a complex roofline of interweaving ridges and valleys loomed at the end of the gravel drive. There was a country garden to the side, filled with flowers of every type and color. A black Mercedes sat parked out front so someone was home. Jo pulled up behind it and took a deep breath. Didn’t help. Her hands still shook. She grabbed her purse from the passenger seat and climbed out. “Get off my property.” Jo turned to find herself facing a shotgun.

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Chapter Fifteen Jo’s eyes opened wider. “Do --” “Yes, I have a license,” he snapped. “I --” “Yes, you’re trespassing.” “But --” “No, I don’t want double glazing, a conservatory, or my carpets cleaned with your miraculous machine. Get in your car and go back to where you came from.” This was not the meeting Jo had planned. She stared at the tall, dark man in front of her whose handsome face had been made ugly by anger. Maybe this wasn’t Tomas Randolph.

Fucking hell, please don’t let him be my dad. “Tomas Randolph?” Jo asked. “That’s my name.”

Shit. Jo took a big gulp. “I’m your daughter.” The shotgun didn’t waver. “Well, that’s a new one,” he said. “I have a birth certificate naming you as my father,” Jo blurted. The gun came down and she released a little sigh. “Sweetheart, I think you have the wrong man.” “My mother is Mei Star.” He dropped the gun and Jo jumped backwards. “Don’t worry. It’s not loaded.” He looked her up and down and sighed. “You better come into the house.”

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He picked up the gun and turned. As Jo followed, she noticed he limped quite badly, dragging his left leg. The gun went on a rack next to the front door and he beckoned her further inside. Jo stepped into the kitchen and fell in love. A large room, half kitchen and half living area, opened up in front of her. It was dominated by a rustic wooden table that could seat a couple of families. A huge range cooker stood against the far wall with gleaming copper bottom pans hanging from a rail overhead. Pots of herbs lined the window above the sink. Something smelled wonderful. It felt like home. “Where’d you come from?” he asked. “Near Buxton.” Without the shotgun to claim her attention, Jo looked at him properly and her heart sank. She’d made a terrible mistake. Disappointment twisted her gut. This guy didn’t look much older than Alek. He couldn’t be her father, well not unless he’d been in his early teens when he’d had sex with her mother. Maybe he had a father with the same name. Maybe this guy was her elder brother. “What are you thinking?” he asked. “That you’re not my father.” “The first sensible words you’ve uttered.” “Are you my brother?” He rolled his eyes, then slumped at the table and stared at her. Oh dear God, blue eyes like mine. He was very tall, maybe six-five. Dark hair, flecked with grey. Strong and muscular except for that leg. He had big hands. She risked another glance at his face. Dark rings under his eyes -- oh, he looked so tired. Maybe the injury to his leg was recent. Jo took the birth certificate from her purse and handed it to him. She watched his eyes as he read it. “Joceline?” “I’m called Jo. I thought I was Jo Carter but --” “It’s your birthday today, the thirty-first July?” His voice was hoarse. “Well, yes and no. I always thought it was the fifth August, but --” “Your mother? Mei? How is she?” “I don’t know. I’ve never seen her. I’d hoped she’d be here. I don’t know how to find her. I could only find you.” He gave a short laugh. “So it’s not your name, not your birthday, presumably you were brought up by people you call Mum and Dad; why the hell do you think you’re my daughter?” “Because I’m a werewolf.” To her intense disappointment, he laughed. “Oh, I’ve got a crazy girl in my house.” Jo’s courage faltered. She’d been so sure he’d listen and accept what she said. “I am a werewolf,” she said.

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“No such thing.” He fired that back so fast, Jo’s heart hammered at her ribs. “You know there is because you’re one too. I-I think I’ve somehow grown into it. The last seven years I’ve changed, my -” “Shift now,” he snapped. “I --” Tomas laughed. “You can’t because this is a scam. Someone been telling silly stories at the pub about these woods? I don’t know what your game is, but you should go back to your real parents because you’re not getting a penny out of me.” Jo was torn between fury and regret. “I don’t want money and I can change.” He crossed his arms. “Do it.” “I need some privacy.” Jo looked around and her gaze settled on a large overstuffed red couch in front of the window at the far end of the room. She took a metal nail file from her purse, walked to the couch and dropped behind it. A heavy sigh later, she took off everything, including her sandals. “Hey, is this one of those strippergrams? Are you going to leap out in a wolf mask? I’ll pretend to be scared; don’t worry. Whose idea was this?” Part of her didn’t want the asshole to be her father, but she’d come this far, she wasn’t going to back down now. Jo sank the file into her palm and howled with pain. “Nothing like a wolf,” Tomas said with a laugh. “Nice try though. Want to come out and show me what you’ve got? Did the guys set this up? They think I’m that gullible? You could at least let me watch you strip if they’ve paid for it.”

You’re my bloody father! Why couldn’t he believe her without her having to prove it? As rage boiled inside Jo, the change rippled through her body. No loss of consciousness, only acute pain for a moment that snatched her breath away. Maybe that’s what she’d missed by zoning out, the momentary agony as her spine curled and her bones cracked and reformed. Jo knew she shouldn’t think too much about this otherwise it would freak her out. Then she was no longer Jo, but wolf. She licked her paw and the wound stopped bleeding. Now she’d show the bastard. Jo leaped over the couch, not expecting him to be so close, and hit him in the middle of his chest. Tomas dropped onto the flagstone floor like a felled tree. Jo jumped off him.

Fuck, shit, and bollocks. She’d killed him. Jo sniffed around his head, scented the coppery tang of blood, and panicked. Oh fuck, I really have killed him. She put out her tongue and gave a tentative lick to his cheek. Oh, he tasted quite nice. Bit bristly. She licked again. A long slurp. He groaned. “Stop licking my face. You’re getting me excited and it’s inappropriate.” Jo jumped back as Tomas pushed himself to a sitting position. He moaned and rubbed his head.

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“Now I’m going to have to change.” He began to unfasten his shirt. “Are you going to stare at me?” Jo wondered if wolves could blush. She turned her back and looked at a door that gave a glimpse of a living room. This was a gorgeous house. My father’s house.

“You’re beautiful.” Jo spun round to face a huge silver wolf. Same blue eyes. A front leg hanging at an awkward angle.

“You’re beautiful, Jo. Wolf or young woman. You can talk to me. Just think what you want to say.” “Fuck. Shit. Boll --” Jo clamped her jaws together so hard she thought she might have cracked a tooth. She heard him laugh inside her head.

“You really are mine, aren’t you?” Jo nodded. “It seems so.” He whined and nuzzled against her, rubbing his head against hers. “I can’t believe it.”

“What, that I’m a wolf?” “Yeah, you’re a wolf. Though you might want to avoid the nail polish.” Jo looked down. Eight red claws on her front paws. “Oh, pretty.” Tomas snorted. “Where do I pee? How do I pee?” Maybe wolves could laugh. Tomas was doing a good imitation, shaking his whole body.

“Outside, please. I’m going to change back. Want to turn round?” “Not really.” Damn, Jo hadn’t meant to send him that thought, but as she watched, Tomas morphed back into a man. A naked man. Eek, naked father. Jo disappeared behind the couch and concentrated very hard on her human body. “You’ll have to get used to seeing naked men. We don’t have any hang-ups about nudity in the pack.” By the time she stood up fully dressed, pulling her fingers through her hair, Tomas sat at the table waiting for her. Jo walked to the other side of the couch, though she didn’t move towards him. She lifted her hand to her mouth and began to chew her nail. “Bad habit,” he said and showed her his well-bitten fingernails. “Must be genetic.” Tomas pushed himself to his feet, held out his hand, and said one word. “Jo.” She flew into his arms. He hugged her so hard she thought he’d break her ribs. “I can’t believe it,” Tomas whispered, rubbing his face against her hair. “A daughter.” Neither could Jo. He held her by the shoulders and stared at her. “You’re a miracle; you know that?” “Am I?”

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“Come and sit in the main room.” He limped across the kitchen and then came back. “Do you want a drink?” He picked up the kettle and put it down again. “No, this calls for champagne.” He changed direction and made for the fridge. “Only a little because I’m driving.” “You have to stay.” He stood straighter and his face changed. “No, you’re right. You mustn’t stay. Christ, I have to talk to you. There’s so much to explain.” Jo took the bottle of champagne from his hand and put it back in the fridge. “Another time. Talk to me.” He grabbed her fingers and she looked at their two hands entwined, his large, brown one, her small, paler one. “My daughter.” Jo’s head spun, her heart jumped, and her stomach churned. It felt like every organ in her body had decided to do a freestyle dance and none had a sense of rhythm. She felt a pang of regret for the father who’d died, the one who’d taught her to swim, who’d come to prize giving and always given her the marzipan off his slice of Christmas cake, but she had another chance for a family now. She wouldn’t let it slip away. Tomas pulled her into a large room with several couches. A lot of furniture for a guy living on his own. An open fireplace filled the far wall, logs ready to light though there was no need for a blaze in the middle of summer. Shelves groaned with a massive collection of books, DVDs, and CDs. A large, flat-screen TV sat in the corner, a state of the art music center next to it. Dad was rich. Jo gave herself a firm mental slap. He sat on one of the couches and Jo dropped beside him. His fingers curled in the hair at the back of her neck. Jo snuggled closer. “So my daughter, do you have a husband, fiancé, boyfriend, girlfriend?” “A boyfriend. I met this really great…guy called Alek.” “Is he the One? Do I need to give him a lecture about not hurting my little girl?” Jo’s heart swelled with joy that he cared. “Alek would never hurt me. He told me not to come looking for you myself and to wait for him to come back. He had to go and help his brother with something.” Jo paused. “How come you have a bad leg? Why doesn’t it heal when you shift?” “I was prevented from shifting in time.” “So you have to heal yourself straight away?” “More or less.” “How come you look so young?” He laughed. “One of the perks of our genetics. Didn’t you know --?” “I know nothing,” Jo said. “Until a couple of days ago, I didn’t even know I could turn into a wolf. I knew I could heal injuries or sickness by making myself black out. I figured out

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pretty quickly I had to take my clothes off first otherwise I didn’t have anything to put on when I came round. I never had to do it very often. I don’t get sick.” “No, we don’t, though you’re only part were so I don’t know what you’re capable of.” “My mother…” “Ah, your mother.” Tomas smiled, his face lit up like a summer’s day and Jo was rapt. “Mei Star. Is she Chinese?” Tomas laughed. “That’s not her name.” “But --” “I called her ‘my star’ and she said it was closer than I could imagine. I worked it out eventually. It’s an anagram.” Jo thought hard. “Smartie? Is mater? Ohh, I’ve got it. Meat sir.” Tomas raised his eyebrows.

Maybe not. “Artemis. Goddess of forest and hills and later, the moon. Not that she was a goddess, though I thought she was when I met her. I was running as a wolf in the forest and found her under attack by a pack of feral dogs. I killed three, the others ran off.” “Wow.” “She stroked my head, caught hold of my muzzle, and told me she was fae and I’d done her a great service. I could have whatever I wanted as a reward for saving her. I thought she was crazy, yet she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen and I was a guy. Well, a guy in wolf’s clothing. I changed back into a man and said I’d like one night with her. A night to remember -- those were my exact words.”

This sounded like a fairy story. It was as if a few days ago, she’d slipped into a parallel universe where there really was a Red Riding Hood. No way was she accepting shiny apples from strangers or going near any spinning wheels. Tomas ran a finger through her hair. “Looks like you were the result.” “My mother is fae -- a fairy?” Jo couldn’t believe that sentence had come out of her mouth. How come she got the werewolf gene and not the flying one? He nodded. “She didn’t want me.” “You don’t know that. Maybe she wasn’t allowed to keep you.” Jo sighed. “She slipped me into another family, a cuckoo in their nest.” Maybe Jo had pushed her sister out. She’d always felt a little spoiled, especially by her father. “I wonder why my mother didn’t just give me to you?” Tomas’s mouth twitched. “I think she probably made a careful choice of where to leave you. She’d guess the family would keep you. I didn’t get you because you weren’t part of the deal. I made a mistake when I asked for one night with her. She looked disappointed and I

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was too naïve to see why at the time. I could have said her safety was reward enough, or asked for her love, but I didn’t. I said a night to remember and I’ve never forgotten it. Never been able to forget it. The best and worst thing that ever happened to me.” “You didn’t see her again?” “No.” A pang of disappointment hit Jo’s heart. “Every time I run, I look for her. She’s never reappeared.” “So…did you meet someone else?” “I’ve had partners, yes, but not a wife.” He sighed. “Asking for one night to remember messed up everything. No one else could compare, no one could take her place. I made a big mistake.” Jo’s stomach churned. He didn’t want her. Almost as though he knew what trundled through her head, Tomas grabbed her hand. “Until today that’s what I believed. Not now. How could I regret you? Oh God, I’ve missed so much. You’ve missed so much. Maybe she didn’t intend to keep you from me. Maybe she thought you’d be brought to me. She registered your birth with our names, left the certificate with you. If not then, she must have thought one day you’d trace me.” “I think it was my parents who messed things up. I don’t know where they found me, but they pretended I was theirs and hid that birth certificate. They registered my birth all over again, made up a new birthday, and let me think I was their daughter.” “Do they treat you well?” His fingers squeezed hers. Jo nodded. “Yeah, they did.” “They’re dead?” “Car accident in Spain.” “Is that when you found out you weren’t theirs?” “No. My sister found the other birth certificate and gave it to me yesterday. Until then, I had no idea. I’m really glad she found it.” “Not as glad as me.” Jo grinned. “So I’m half fairy and half werewolf. I’m special.” Tomas laughed. “Conceived on a blue moon and seems you were born on a blue moon. You’re extra special.” “That’s when there are two full moons in a month?” He nodded. “Now it’s your birthday and it’s a blue moon again. I have a feeling that’s the first time it’s happened since you were born.” “Great,” Jo said. Tomas shook his head. “No, it’s terrible.”

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Jo blinked hard. “Why?” “You have to leave, right now. No one knows about you, do they? You haven’t told anyone you’re a werewolf? You have to keep quiet, lay low, leave the country. Well, no, not that, but you have to go.” He jumped up and pulled her towards the door. “I’ll contact you, I promise. Only don’t do anything to draw attention to yourself.” “But --” Tomas pushed her purse into her hand, yanked open the door, and shoved her out. “Run.” Large, muscular arms wrapped around Jo. She looked up and up into a hard face. Dark green eyes, short brown hair, square jaw, and a tight, thin mouth. “Lyall, I was going --” Tomas began. Jo already knew what the guy holding her was going to say before it came out of his mouth. “Too late.”

Damn, I was right.

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Chapter Sixteen Jo guessed this was Lyall Berg of Fenris Land Developments, the guy who’d pestered Alek for his land, the guy who might have been trying to kill him. If the big lug had been on his own, Jo might have kicked him on the shin and tried to run to the Land Rover, relying on Tomas to delay him, but there were other large bodies standing behind. She kept her eyes on the main threat. “Back inside,” Lyall said. Jo wriggled out of his grasp and smoothed down her dress. She turned to her father. “Sure I can’t interest you in letting us manage your wood?” “Sorry. Not interested,” Tomas said. “Well, I can tell my boss I tried.” Jo tried to pass the hulk in front of her. “Excuse me.” Lyall gave her a quizzical look. Jo mustered every ounce of courage she had and held out her hand. “Jo Carter, I work for Forest Enterprises. Don’t suppose you have a tract of woodland to sell?” He laughed. “More interested in buying.” Lyall moved to one side and Jo recognized the two men behind him. Georg Reynolds and Christian Blount -- the investors from yesterday. She didn’t know how she knew, but she was positive all three men were wolves. Jo wondered if Alek knew he was employing a werewolf. It made her more certain that Lyall was behind Alek’s stabbing. She tried to keep her voice upbeat. “Oh, hello, Mr. Blount, Mr. Reynolds. This is a coincidence. Hope you haven’t changed your mind about Eden Forest. I told my boss you were really keen.” Jo’s heart seemed intent on bursting out of her chest to find a safe place to hide -- like back in the Land Rover, fifteen miles away. She sensed she had Lyall puzzled and while part of her brain urged her to get in her vehicle and floor it, the other part advised caution.

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Lyall turned to Georg and Christian. “This is who you met yesterday? I thought you had an appointment to see Mike Evans.” “Y-yes, but he wasn’t there,” Christian said. Jo didn’t think he looked very comfortable. Lyall narrowed his eyes. “Let’s go inside and find out what the fuck is going on.” Jo sidestepped. “I have another appointment.” It didn’t work. She found herself propelled towards Tomas. Jo recognized the warning look he flashed her and moved away, doubtful it would make any difference. She glanced back to see Georg standing against the door. Lyall gestured her over to the couch. Jo clutched her purse and wondered if she’d have time to dial 999 before they jumped on her. She stepped towards the door. “I’m going to be late.” “Let her go, Lyall,” said her father. As Jo reached for the door handle, Georg caught her arm. He tugged her over to the couch. Lyall pulled her down to his side and sniffed her neck. To Jo’s horror, she found herself reciprocating and a rush of cream wet her panties. Oh fuck, not now. Ooh, he smells good. Jo shivered. Lyall looked at Tomas, then at Jo and released a loud belly laugh. “Who is she?” “Excuse me. I can speak for myself. My name’s Jo Carter. I’m a technical officer for Forest Enterprises and I really need to leave or I’ll be very late for my next appointment.” Or

alternatively I might have to rip your pants off and impale myself on your cock so I definitely need to go now. Jo stood. Lyall grabbed her arm and pulled her down. He sniffed again. Tomas’s hands made tight fists at his sides. Lyall stroked her thigh and Jo froze. “You’re wolf.” Lyall stared at her, his eyes opening wide. “You’re fucking wolf.” He glanced back at Christian and Georg. “Are you two idiots? Why didn’t you tell me?” He glared at Tomas. “You too.” Jo’s pulse raced. Lyall stared at her. “How can this be? Where the hell have you come from?” “What are you going on about?” Jo had little hope of talking herself out of this, but that didn’t mean she shouldn’t try. “Is she yours?” he asked Tomas. Lyall’s hand continued to stroke. Jo wanted to move, thought about moving, told herself to move -- didn’t move. This guy attracted and repulsed her in equal measures. “Yes,” Tomas said. “Mine.” Lyall’s fingers clamped on Jo’s thigh. “You fucking well ignored the rules you’ve punished others for breaking?” He turned to stare at her. “How long ago did he bite you?”

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Jo’s brain clicked into gear. Lyall thought Tomas had turned her into a werewolf. You could do that by biting? Shit. Did that work with vampires? Maybe werewolves were like vamps and not usually born. So she really was special. Somehow Jo knew that was no longer a good thing, and something Lyall didn’t need to know. “The truth,” Lyall snapped. Jo decided to have one last try before she made up some unbelievable lie in which she’d had her bum bitten at a party one moonlit night by a crazy guy she’d never seen again. “No one’s bitten me. What are you talking about? If you don’t let me leave this second, I’m going to call the police.” She made a move to open her purse. Lyall snatched it from her hand, threw it towards Christian, and the birth certificate fluttered to the ground. “I think the police will be very interested to hear how you’re harassing me, Mr. Blount. First Fordham Wood, then the office, now here.” That was crap, but Jo wanted a distraction. Lyall turned to stare at Christian. “Explain.” “Sam Franklin and I saw her out running by Fordham Wood while we were searching for -- you know who.” Christian picked up the piece of paper and handed it to Lyall. “The police turned up and we had to leave.” “Let me see if I’ve got this straight,” Lyall snapped. “First you fuck up something simple, then you manage to get spotted by the cops, you see her again and still don’t recognize what she is, and above all that -- you don’t fucking tell me any of it?” Steam would come from his ears any second. His grip on her leg was so tight, Jo had a hard time not whimpering. “Do you know Alek Kavan?” he growled. “No.” “Had any dealings with Night Adventures?” Jo shook her head. “Never heard of them.” “Not used your forests for anything? Paintball or target practice?” “I don’t think so,” Jo gasped. “You’re hurting me.” Lyall relaxed his grip. “What’s going on?” asked a new voice. Jo sat up. “Max?” What the hell was he doing here? Even as she asked herself the question, Jo knew. Shit. When she saw the angry look Lyall gave Max, she realized she’d made a mistake acknowledging she knew him. This was all going pear shaped. “What’s going on? Well, that’s what I’m trying to find out. Seems my pack have been holding out on me.” Lyall unfolded the certificate. He read it and smiled. “Well, well, well.” “She’s my daughter,” Tomas said. “Neither of us knew the other existed until Jo was given that alternative birth certificate yesterday.”

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There was silence for a moment and then Lyall moved his head close to Jo’s neck and inhaled. “Bitch in heat.” Desire and fear swirled around Jo’s bloodstream. Fear won and the dampness between her legs wasn’t desire. She needed the bathroom. “She’s not pack,” Tomas said. Lyall continued to stare at her. “She can’t shift?” “No,” her father said. “Well, all we have to do is wait for tonight. If she’s a were, she’ll have to shift.” “Maybe she can shift at will,” Christian said. “Maybe that’s what she’d been doing when we saw her out running.” “Or perhaps she’s never tried,” Georg added. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” Jo hoped sheer, unadulterated terror came over as cute, girly bewilderment. “Who’s her mother?” Lyall asked. “Long gone. Let Jo leave. She has nothing to do with this.” Lyall studied the birth certificate. “I’m not so sure. You’re forty-two. How old were you when you were bitten, Tomas? What did you tell us? Twelve -- thirteen? She was born five years later. Kind of a surprise you made a human pregnant. Is that why you’ve never taken a mate? You could have had cubs and didn’t want them?” He turned to Jo. “Once we’ve gone through the change, we’re not the most virile of critters and if we do get our females pregnant, it’s not normally with cubs. And if it is, the chances of carrying to term aren’t good. But something tells me you’re very special, and your father has been holding out on his pack.” Jo shook her head so hard, her brain rattled. “No, I’m not special at all.” Lyall smiled. “You are to me. Happy birthday, darling. Looks like you’re a blue moon miracle.” He slung his arm across Jo’s shoulders and she lurched away. Lyall dragged her down and clamped his hand around the back of her neck. “Stay where you are.” “Let her go,” Max said and gave a deep growl. Christian and Georg moved closer to the couch. Jo struggled to make sense of what was happening. Were they on different sides? Should she be siding with any of them? She glanced at her father. His gaze was locked on Lyall. “Maybe I could understand these two cretins getting it wrong, but not you, Max. How the fuck do you know her?” Lyall demanded. “I’m…I was her doctor.” “You knew what she was and didn’t tell me?” The fury in Lyall’s voice made Jo tremble.

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“I wasn’t sure. You’re jumping the gun here. Jo doesn’t know. She came to me because…”

No, Jo screamed. Max’s mouth open and shut like a Koi carp. “Well, keep going now that you’ve started. No secrets in the pack and don’t try any of that doctor-patient confidentiality shit.” “Excuse me,” Jo snapped. “I --” “Shut up.” “When the moon is full, she has this urge to go running,” Max said. “Not just an urge, a compulsion.” There was silence for a moment. Maybe Max was a good guy. Please don’t say anything

about the guy in my apartment. “And?” Lyall asked. “She’s noticed her hearing and eyesight have improved and her sense of smell. She came to see me because she didn’t understand what was happening to her.” Lyall frowned. He didn’t look as though he believed Max. “Max was in her office yesterday,” Georg said. “While we were talking he sat under her desk with his nose in her crotch.”

Uh? Lyall’s lip curled. “Is that right -- dog?”

What? Jo’s brain struggled to sort this out. The way Lyall uttered the word dog with such disgust, suggested Max was a weredog. Well, there were vampires and werewolves so why not weredogs? The next thought came far too slow. Under her desk? Oh shit. “Binky?” Jo gasped. Max stiffened, a muscle in his cheek twitched, and every face turned towards her. Jo rubbed her little finger. “Pinky…hurts,” she mumbled. “What were you doing in her office?” Lyall asked. “I was trying to find out how much she understood,” Max said. “Let me see if I’ve got this straight. Max knew and said nothing. Christian and Georg knew and said nothing. Tomas just found out, but was going to say nothing. And if Sam was here, he’d fucking make five.” Everyone started talking at once and Lyall held up his hand. “Shut up.” He turned to Tomas. “Who’s her mother, this Mei Star?” Tomas pressed his lips together, which was enough to tell Jo to keep quiet. Lyall moved his hand from her neck, hooked his meaty arm around instead, and pressed hard against her windpipe. Jo grabbed his shirtsleeve and tried to pull him away from her throat. He squeezed tighter and she struggled for air. “It was some woman,” Tomas blurted.

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“Well thank fuck for that. Bit weird if it had been some guy.” “Just some woman,” he repeated. “Says a guy who’s been as good as celibate as long as I’ve known him. Maybe this explains why you never took a mate. Pining, were you? Yeah, you were. Shows I was right to challenge you. How could we have an alpha who wasn’t interested in taking a mate?” So her father had been alpha and defeated by Lyall. The limp. Lyall had done that. Jo wanted to kill the man holding her. “She was no one. A one-night stand. I never saw her again.” Lyall pressed his face against Jo’s hair. “Is that right, Jo? Are you some random cunt’s daughter? Just a fucked-up human who’s inherited a few wolf genes and not pack at all.” He laughed and released the pressure on her neck. Jo gulped and rubbed her throat. “I came here to see my father; that’s all. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I want to go home.” “She’s not wolf, she --” Tomas began. Lyall was so fast, Jo hardly saw him move. Right in her father’s face. Nose to nose. “You tell me again she’s not wolf and I’ll kill her.” The room swirled around Jo, the air so heavy she couldn’t breathe. “Well?” Lyall asked. Tomas opened his mouth and then closed it. “Better.” Lyall nodded and then came back to the couch. Jo saw the knife in her thigh before she felt it. He’d pressed it straight through her dress into the top of her leg. Oh fuck, that hurts. The gasp came after the thought. Followed by tears dripping down her face. At least the thing wasn’t silver. “Lyall, what --” Tomas stepped towards her and Christian moved in front of him. Blood spread over Jo’s dress, a dark red flower blooming among the yellow daisies. She heard droplets hitting the wooden floor. “You’ve hit her femoral artery,” Max snapped. “She’ll bleed to death.” “Not if she shifts.” Lyall yanked out the knife and leaned back on the couch.

Oh that hurt even more. Jo began to shiver. “Jo, you have to change.” Max’s voice was frantic. Her vision blurred for a moment and Jo knew she had no choice. If she didn’t shift, she’d die. She tried, only merely thinking she wanted to be a wolf didn’t help. Blood pooled at her feet. It smelled like a pile of new copper pennies. “Jo, shift,” her father said. No panic in his tone, only firm command. In the midst of intense pain and a brain flailing like a drowning man, Jo searched for a solution. Anger. Lyall had ruined her best summer dress. She’d wanted to impress her father

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and Lyall had wrecked her dress, the couch, and probably the lovely floor. Blood was a devil to get out. The fucker! Jo became wolf. She sat on the remains of her dress, lifted her hind leg, and put her muzzle over the wound. Blood stopped flowing. “Fuck me,” Lyall said. How glad Jo was to find that fucking Lyall was the furthest thing from her thoughts. She was in a room with four strapping men, plus her father who was strapping but not available. Rather than wondering who to seduce and in what order, she gave serious consideration to ripping out Lyall’s throat. A hand touched her back. Jo snarled and snapped, nipping Lyall’s thumb before he could pull back. He put it between his lips and sucked. “Oh, she’s perfect. Feisty and beautiful. Fuck it, Tomas; you must have had it off with a wolf. How could you have produced her otherwise?” Jo licked the blood off her fur without thinking. Once she realized what she was doing, she expected to be grossed out, but she wasn’t. Every man in the room stared at her. They’d stare even more if she changed back. Her dress lay in shreds. Jo stayed as she was. Lyall almost bounced with glee. “Do you realize how special she is? Hey, sweetheart --” Another attempt to stroke her and Jo snapped at his balls. Missed, damn. “Jo, stop it,” he said. “You do as I tell you. I’m your alpha. You obey me at all times.”

Fuck you. Jo padded over to her father, sat at his side, and rubbed her head on his leg. Lyall laughed. “Let me explain again, so there’s no confusion. You’re a phenomenon, a miracle. I told you werewolves aren’t very virile. The flesh is more than willing” -- he paused to cup his groin -- “but the seed is weak. Those mates who do get pregnant have a hard time carrying to term. They can’t shift once they’re carrying cubs and trying to ignore the pull of the moon is more than most can cope with. We haven’t had any females in this pack who’ve produced a viable litter. A few runt humans, never wolves. So our women are more fuck buddies than true mates. But you, you’re different. You can control your shifting. Born to wolf parents, you’ll carry cubs, no problem. Carry my cubs, that is.” Jo didn’t like the way this was going. Where was a bloodsucking fiend when she needed one? Her father stood there looking angry, his fists clenched, yet Jo understood on some level, there was nothing he could do. Tomas might have once been alpha; he wasn’t now. Max stood the other side of her father -- an ally? But also ineffectual. Jo was going to have to get out of this herself. In her wolf form she could do nothing. She looked up at her father, mentally asked for his shirt and froze with shock when he took it off and dropped it behind him. Oh nice pecs. Jo shook the thought from her head. She padded behind him and changed back. Somehow it wasn’t a surprise to see Lyall leering at her as she pulled on the shirt. Jo stood. “Hey, beautiful,” Lyall said, “come here.” “Get lost.”

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He smiled. “Once I change, you’re mine.” “No,” said her father. “You can’t have her.” He took hold of Jo’s hand and squeezed it. Lyall rose to his feet. “You can’t challenge me, Tomas. I defeated you. The only reason I still let you live here is because you can cook. You’re little more than the pack bitch, though looks like after tonight we’ll have ourselves a new one.” Tomas lurched forward and Max stepped in front of him. “Then I challenge you.” Lyall laughed so hard, he started to cough. “You think you can beat me -- dog?” “She’s mine,” Max said. “Now wait just a minute,” Jo snapped. “What the hell’s going on?” “She’s going to marry me and have my pups,” Max said, still staring at Lyall. Jo spun round to face Max and put her hands on her hips. “Marry you? I haven’t even been out on a date with you.” Lyall laughed. “Oh, she’s going to be fun. I’m looking forward to having her first. When I’ve had enough, the others can have a turn. But not you -- dog.” Lyall took a step towards her. “You’ll be marrying me. You’re wolf, so you’re mine. Pack law.” Jo didn’t miss the look that passed between Max and her father. It didn’t fill her with confidence. “I belong to no one,” she said. “You’re confused. I can see that,” Lyall said. “Make more effort to understand because you’re starting to annoy me.” His voice rose in pitch and then dropped again. “We’re going to worship you. You couldn’t have arrived at a better time. Fate. My fate and yours. We’ll fuck. You’ll have cubs and the pack will grow stronger. How many other packs have a fertile wolf? Christ, I can smell her. We’ve all got fucking hard-ons.” He grabbed his groin. “It’s hormonal. We can’t --” Max began. “She wants it as much as we do. She’s gagging for it.” Lyall laughed. “She’s in heat.” Jo knew it was true. That’s what it was every month. Five days when she was most receptive. Today was the peak of her fertility. Shit. “You haven’t won the right to touch her,” Max said. “Pack law. You have to catch her first.” Lyall snorted. “I have caught her.” “No, you have to be in wolf form,” Tomas said in a quiet voice. “You have to run tonight. All the pack.” “Including me,” said Max. “You think you can catch her -- dog?” “I run with the pack. I earned that right.”

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“Not been the most effective medic, though. Not delivered us a live wolf, for all your qualifications.” “I’ve looked after the pregnant females. I saved your woman from bleeding to death. I run with the pack,” Max said. Lyall gave a slow smile. “You might be the best tracker, but you’re not going to find her -- dog. You understand? When I catch her, she’s mine. Pack law.”

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Chapter Seventeen Alek woke in the roof void, stretched, groaned, and then yanked his BlackBerry from his coat pocket. Directory enquiries gave him Jo’s number, though only her landline. Alek let it ring until the message service kicked in and in frustration, hung up. Shit, where is she? He called Will, hissed with annoyance when he didn’t answer either, but kept trying until he heard Will’s voice. “What’s wrong?” Will grunted. “Are you okay?” “Yes and no. No time to explain. Georg. You learn anything?” “Christ, Alek, my mobile’s just about vibrated itself off the bedside table. Seven calls? What the hell were you doing awake so much earlier than me?”

Oops. “Nervous energy. Georg?” Will muttered something Alek didn’t quite catch. Probably just as well. “He checks out okay. Hard worker. He organized that paintball tournament a few weeks back that everyone loved. Only mark against him -- he’s one of Sophie’s recruits. Why? Is he a problem?” “Yes. Is he due in tonight?” There was a sound of shuffling. “No, night off.” “Sophie there?” Alek heard Will walking and opening doors. “No. Doesn’t look as though she came back. Shower’s dry. All her stuff’s here.” “Who else is off tonight?” “Devon and Sam. You suspect them too?” “Christ, Will, I suspect everyone. Except you. Do you know if any of them are werewolves?”

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There was a long pause before Will spoke. “You know Sam isn’t. He’s a vamp. Georg and Devon are wolves. Didn’t you know?” Alek sighed. “It never crossed my mind. They did their jobs. They could have had beaks and flippers for all I cared.” “Is it a problem they’re weres? We can’t sack them for that. The Preternatural Race Relations Board would be on us like a squad of sharks.” “I don’t have a problem with werewolves, unless they’re trying to kill me.” “Ah, so it wasn’t Sophie?” “I’m positive she’s up to her skinny neck in this. I’m just not sure how.” “What have you done to piss off the weres?” “There’s only one recent thing that comes to mind. Remember Fenris Land Developments?” “Yeah, the guy wanted to buy a chunk of land from you. Lyall something or other.” “Lyall Berg. I need to know if there’s any connection between him and Sophie.” “Okay.” Alek hesitated. “I need another favor, Will. There’s someone I’m trying to contact and she’s not answering her phone. Would you go to her apartment and see if anything’s happened?” Will stayed quiet for a moment. “Might something have happened?” “I fucking hope not.” Alek’s aching heart wasn’t optimistic. “Who is she?” “Jo Carter. Apartment 14b Brunswick Court, Houghton Wells. She’s a werewolf.” Will gave a gasp of surprise. “You’re fucking a wolf? Christ, Alek, look no further. You’ve probably got the whole pack on your heels.” “Except I was attacked before I even met her. She saved my life. If she returns to her apartment, don’t let her leave until I get there. Keep her safe for me.” “Right.” “You too, Will. Be careful.” “Yes, Mum.” Alek laughed and cut the connection.

***** When Alek emerged from the motel, the car that had followed him still sat in the parking lot. He had no idea whether the two occupants survived the false fire alarm, but he didn’t intend to hang around looking for piles of ash. He ran back over the footbridge to his bike.

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Even though logic told him there’d be no tracking device, he still checked. Alek found a disc under the back wheel arch and swore. Had Georg doubled back? Maybe one of the two in the motel was a mortal or wolf and they’d planted it? This time, Alek ran the tracker over as he pulled onto the motorway. Only when Alek was certain no one followed did he risk continuing to Luka’s house. He paused to put the address into his sat nav, relieved he’d not done so before. He could have inadvertently led someone straight to his brother. Luka had an elaborate security setup, but nothing Alek couldn’t bypass, though he suspected his brother currently had his mind on other things. When Alek walked into the bedroom and saw the pair, the twisting bondmarks clear on their arms, the lump in his throat grew large enough to choke him. Luka’s anguished face brought it home to Alek that he couldn’t fail in this. He had so much he wanted to say to his brother but this wasn’t the time. Once Luka understood what he had to do, he did it. No fear for himself, only for his mate. Alek watched his brother throw himself into the abyss. He stayed long enough to be sure Luka had pulled his love back and then left, the pair too busy to notice his departure. Alek powered back down the motorway, his mind swirling like a tornado. Had it been only days since he’d wished his quiet life was more exciting? First someone tries to kill him. He meets the woman of his dreams who turns out to be a werewolf. His best friend, business partner, and erstwhile lover is an Enforcer. His younger and annoying brother comes back into his life after two hundred years and beats Alek to finding a mate. The bastard. And through all that, there was only one person he couldn’t stop thinking about, worrying about, and loving. He’d left Jo vulnerable. Huge mistake. He should have taken her with him to Yorkshire. Why the fuck hadn’t he thought of that? He’d been distracted by the command from his father and failed to think this through. At least he had Will looking out for her, though the fact that he hadn’t heard from Will suggested Jo hadn’t returned home. Worse still, Alek had the uncomfortable feeling Jo was in some sort of trouble. He gritted his teeth. Of course she was in trouble. This was Jo he was thinking about and she’d had the entire day to dig herself into a very deep hole. When he did get a call from Will, Alek’s undead heart drummed with fear. “No sign of her or of any disturbance, at least as far as I can tell. I looked through all the windows.” “Wait there, Will. If she comes back, don’t let her leave.” No one followed Alek to Jo’s apartment. He found Will waiting outside. “No sign of her,” Will said. “I need to check inside.” “How are you going to get in?”

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Alek shouldered the door open and tsked. Jo wasn’t safe here. He scanned the room and saw the phone book lying on the floor. Open at R. The name on the birth certificate -Alek concentrated. Yep, Tomas Randolph. He ran his finger along the address and sighed. “She’s looking for her father. I told her to wait, but I should have guessed she wouldn’t. I’ll tan her hide when I get hold of her.” Will sniggered. Alek huffed. “She’s probably still there. Full moon. The pack will be running.” “Not a good idea to bother the weres when they’re in moon lust,” Will said. “No telling what they’ll do.” “So are you coming with me?” “Hell, yes.”

***** Jo looked at the fifteen or so guys lounging around the room and took a deep gulp of air. They’d arrived in ones and twos over the last hour or so. The first thing they did was pay their respects to Lyall and then to Jo, once he’d introduced her as his fiancée. She protested once, but the vicious pinch he gave her arm acted as an effective gag. Some men openly sniffed her, all contrived to touch her. Handshakes went on too long, fingers brushed under her shirt, along her arm, across her butt, and on a couple of occasions even over her belly. Friendly curiosity infused with sexual interest, and to Jo’s intense shame, it turned her on. Her father went to get himself another shirt and brought Jo a pair of his shorts. Jo twisted them around the waist to make them fit and now they were soaked at the crotch. It wasn’t just her they needed to touch; they were all over each other as well. Pats on backs, arms slung over shoulders, even hands inside pants intent on caressing cocks to erection. A few guys linked mouths and fingers and disappeared upstairs. “On a blue moon, no one’s safe,” Lyall said at her ear. “Most of these guys are straight, but on a night like this, they’ll fuck just about anything. The only reason they haven’t fucked you is me.” Lyall’s fingers grazed her thigh and Jo shuddered.

***** Now the object of the run would be to catch her rather than the game in Tomas’s wellstocked wood. Jo and her father had been charged with cooking. Jo peeled potatoes while her father chopped meat. When he offered a morsel of raw steak, Jo ate it without thinking. Yuck…Oh nice. She hoped he’d come up with a plan to get her out of this, but he said nothing.

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“Give me a hand setting the table?” Max asked. Jo carried over a pile of plates. He bent his head to her ear. “Are you okay?” Jo gawped at him. “No, I’m fucking not okay. Until I came to see you, I was horny but otherwise normal. Now I’m in a house full of hungry wolves who are looking at me as if I’m the special on the menu.” “You’re pack. Pack law rules.” “You mean Lyall rules.” Max’s mouth twitched. “Even alphas have to obey the rules.” “Who picked Mr. Testosterone to be in charge, for goodness’ sake?” “He turned up a few years ago with some sob story and your father let him stay. We had all sorts of problems afterwards. A pack member was killed, though Lyall denied responsibility. Then nine months ago, he issued his challenge. Tomas had to fight. Lyall won and had the right to kill him; instead he prevented him from shifting so his leg couldn’t heal.” Max lowered his voice. “It suits Lyall to have Tomas around as an example of what he can do, plus Tomas was a popular alpha so sparing him made Lyall look half-decent when he isn’t.” “How long had my father been in charge of the pack?” “Twenty years.” Jo gasped. “And everyone switched their loyalty to Lyall even though he’s an egotistical pain in the butt?” “That’s the way it works. Like politics. You follow your leader or you’re out. Wolves are social animals. We need each other. Lyall hasn’t appointed a beta yet, so everyone sucks up to him hoping they’ll be chosen.” “Except not you, because you’re a dog.” Max’s mouth tightened. “Yeah, I’m a dog.” “And you chase sticks.” He blushed and Jo’s heart melted. “Cute though,” she whispered and he gave her a little smile. Jo glanced at her father’s back, wondering if he was listening. “Why did they fight?” “Tomas believes pack security comes from maintaining a low profile. In other words, stay the same size, don’t expand territory. Lyall’s power hungry, wants more pack members, more land, and he doesn’t care how he gets them. He might say he follows pack law, but don’t trust him.” Jo had no intention of trusting him, nor in following any rules. She’d cheat, lie, and connive to get out of this. Even kill? Oh God, she hoped it didn’t come to that.

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Tomas shouted that the meal was ready and the men laughed and joked as they took seats around the table. Jo felt their gaze settle on her again. The air almost crackled with electricity. It reminded Jo of Christmas Eve when she’d still believed in Santa. Anticipation, excitement about what was to come spread from man to man. Everyone seemed good humored, except for her father who looked pale and quiet, and Max who knocked over his chair, then his glass of water. Lyall, on the other hand, acted with supreme confidence and a little part of Jo recognized and admired the power of a dominant male. She still had no intention of letting him fuck her. “Do you all live here?” Jo asked as she helped her father carry food to the table. Tomas opened his mouth and Lyall answered, “Only when the moon’s full. Then we eat together, talk together, and fuck together. The women usually wait here in the house for us to come back. They’re pissed off they’ve had to stay home tonight.” If only she could have stayed home. Lyall caught her wrist. “You’re sitting next to me.” Since it was the last empty place, Jo hadn’t much choice. Her father sat on her other side and Max opposite. “Eat,” Lyall ordered and forked a slice of rare beef onto her plate. “I’m not hungry.” “You need energy for the run.” “I’m not running.” “Yes you are,” Lyall said. “You’ll run; we’ll chase you and I’ll catch you. Then you’re going to marry me, and your father can walk you down the aisle and give you away with a big, fucking smile on his face.” “I won’t say yes.” “You don’t need to. Jim over there is a parson. He’ll hear you say whatever I want.”

Fuck. Lyall lifted his hand and grazed her cheek with the back of his fingers. Jo’s chin wobbled. Lyall chuckled. “Why so frightened, little wolf? Don’t worry; it’s been days since I killed anyone.” Laughter rippled round the room. Lyall clicked his fingers at Georg. “Go and see if you can find something more to the princess’s liking.” Jo stared at her plate. If it had been a cream-filled hazelnut meringue, drizzled with dark chocolate -- she couldn’t have eaten it. Her stomach had tied itself in an elaborate knot. She’d wasted time hoping her father would come up with a plan. It wasn’t fair to expect him to. This lot would tear him apart if he intervened. Did she stand any chance of running quicker than them? Jo didn’t think so. She’d never even run as a wolf before. These guys were bigger, stronger, and faster.

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She’d have to cheat. Jo knew of a few things that confused a dog’s ability to scent, though not if they affected all canines. Top of the list was wolf urine. Ha ha. Plenty around though not easy to collect and hardly likely to be effective. Citronella was another deterrent. Well, I’ll just magic some up. Would oranges and lemons work? There was a fruit bowl on the counter. She could smother herself in citrus juice and hope they didn’t chase her with bottles of vodka. Jo groaned and Lyall gave her an odd look. Her heart pounded so fast it hurt. Hyperventilating seemed a distinct possibility. Was Alek looking for her or still helping his brother? No point expecting him to appear out of nowhere, though Jo wished he would. When the door opened, Jo’s pulse jumped, hoping for a miracle. Georg walked in naked -- ooh huge cock -- and Jo looked down at her plate. A moment later a bloody rabbit fell on it, throat torn out, a glassy eye staring up at her. “A dead rabbit, great,” said Lyall. “You have your father to thank for keeping the wood so well stocked. Bugs Bunny more to your liking?” Jo rushed from the table with her hand pressed to her mouth. The bastards were still laughing when she came back. She’d thought about crawling out of the bathroom window, but she couldn’t get it open and when she emerged, Georg stood by the door to prevent her slipping away through the exit at the rear. Back in his clothes, thank God. When she and her father returned to the counter to pick up apple pie and custard, Jo pushed open the kitchen window and dropped two oranges, a lemon, and a knife outside. Tomas gave her a little nod. She looked up at the moon -- thin blue clouds trailed across its surface like claw marks -- and shuddered. Her father pulled the window closed and kept his voice low. “Run east in the wood. There’s an old lead mine set into the cliff. Look for a narrow opening on the left about fifteen yards in, wedge yourself in the gap and stay there until morning. They’ll probably find you, though they won’t be able to get at you. I’ll have thought of a way out of this by then.” He limped back to the table. Jo sensed the mood change again and stayed by the sink. Lyall slid onto her seat so he was next to her father. “What did you just tell her?” Lyall asked and everyone stopped speaking, stopped clattering cutlery and stared at the pair. Tomas stayed silent. Jo’s eyes opened wide as the hand Lyall draped over her father’s shoulder morphed to a paw with long, razor-sharp claws. No other part of Lyall shifted. Jo was torn between amazement and distress. Four red lines appeared on Tomas’s shirt, running from the tips of the claws. “He told me to double back, get the car, and drive out of here,” Jo blurted. The claws dug deeper and Tomas’s mouth tightened.

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“I doubt that’s the best he could come up with,” Lyall said. “He said phone the police.” Lyall sighed. “Now I know you’re lying, princess. Even old Tomas here isn’t that stupid.” Her father’s face was tense with pain. He sat motionless, his shirt soaked with blood. The smell agitated everyone, including Jo. She bundled up her courage and pushed it ahead of her as she marched up to Lyall. “Let him go.” “What did he say to you?” Jo ignored the warning on her father’s face. “To hide in the lead mine, wedge myself in somewhere tight. You lot must be pussycats in tight, dark places.” Lyall let him go and Tomas slumped at the table. “Oh, that was an expensive suggestion, Tomas. If I actually thought you’d called us pussies, I’d gut you where you sit. However, your daughter is the one with the mouth, and I’m so looking forward to fucking it.” “Try it and I’ll bite it off,” Jo snapped. “Well, maybe that first time, I’ll do it in front of Daddy here while Georg holds a knife on his cock. Think you might cooperate then?”

Ah, shit. Lyall rose from the table and hauled Tomas to his feet. “You know, you’ve become something of a liability. You’re not going to be happy when you see me and your daughter fucking. It occurs to me I might as well kill you now.” “No,” Jo gasped. Lyall used one sharp claw to lift Tomas’s chin. Her father reacted so fast, Jo didn’t take in for a moment what was happening. When she realized they were fighting, she moved towards them. Max yanked her back. “Touch my daughter and I’ll kill you,” her father gasped. “Get between me and your daughter and I’ll kill you.” Jo struggled but Max held her tight. “Jo, don’t. This has been coming for a long time. You mustn’t interfere.” “Why doesn’t anyone do anything?” she yelled. Lyall ripped a gash in her father’s chest and she cried out. “Because that’s not our way. Survival of the fittest.” “You’re a bloody doctor! Fuck survival of the fittest. Lyall’s cheating. He’s changed his arm.” “Tomas can do that too.”

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Jo gasped as she heard a bone crack. Then Lyall wrapped his arm around Tomas’s neck and she knew he was on the verge of killing him. She jammed her elbow into Max’s stomach and as he fell away, Jo flew at Lyall, pulling at his arm. “That’s enough. Let him go. I’ll do whatever you want if you stop hurting him.” “Say you’re mine.” “I’m yours,” Jo said. “Tell me how much you want me to fuck you.” Jo looked at the blood pouring from her father, then back at Lyall. I’m going to kill you. “I want you to chase me, catch me, and fuck me. I want your cock in my mouth, in my cunt, then my ass. I don’t care if you give me to the others because it’s you that I want.” To kill. Lyall let her father drop. Jo winced as his head slammed onto the floor. Max rushed to his side. A moment later, Tomas shifted into wolf and Jo sighed. Lyall beckoned her over. “Time to run, boys. Strip off. You too, princess.” They were fast. Jo was slow. By the time she let the shirt fall from her shoulders she was surrounded by naked men, all of them aroused, their cocks glistening with precum. Jo’s pussy clenched. Shit. Lyall pulled her against his chest and cupped her breasts. His erection pressed into her back, and he rocked his hips into her as his thumb rubbed her nipple. The other hand slid between her legs. “Wet pussy and nice tits. I think I’ll bite you, mark you as mine.” “Leave her alone.” Lyall’s head paused on its way to Jo’s breast and swiveled to look at Max. “What did you say -- dog?” “She’s not yours until you catch her. Let her run.” One nod and Christian slammed his fist into Max’s stomach. Jo wrenched away from Lyall who made a grab for her and in a flurry of arms and legs, they fell to the floor. Jo lashed out with every part of her body. She would not make this easy for the bastard. “Having an orgy? Can anyone join in?” Jo looked up to see a petite brunette in a short red dress standing in front of her, hands on hips, pretty face apart from the angry snarl. Lyall had his fingers entwined in Jo’s pubic hair, his open mouth hovering above her nipple. “Sleep well, Sophie?” he asked. “Who the fuck is she?” Jo bristled under the woman’s poisonous glare. “My fiancée.” “Fiancée? Since when?”

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“This afternoon. Don’t worry, it’s not going to affect our arrangement.” Lyall pulled Jo to her feet, but kept her next to him. Sophie seemed to grow in stature, impressive considering she was the shortest person in the room. “There won’t be any arrangement if you don’t keep to your part of the deal. Why aren’t you out there finishing this?” Sophie demanded. Lyall twisted Jo’s nipple in his fingers. “Not tonight. This is pack time. Blue moon’s too rare to waste. Tonight we run, hunt, and fuck.” Sophie hissed and exposed fangs. Jo flinched. Vampire? “Lyall, you don’t seem to understand the urgency in this. He suspects me now and not Will. I can’t go back until he’s dealt with. You cocked it up the first time. You have to finish him off.” It didn’t take much of a leap to figure she was talking about Alek. Sophie’s head turned until she stared directly at Jo.

Oh fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck. What did I do? “She knows Alek,” Sophie said. Lyall squeezed Jo’s breast until she yelped. “Is that right? Lying to me?” “Yes, and he’s coming,” Jo said and shoved both elbows back into his chest. She lurched away from Lyall, but not far enough. He grabbed her shoulder and backhanded her across the face, knocking her to the floor. “You’ve been fucking a vampire?” Jo decided on wide-eyed innocence. “A vampire? I didn’t even believe in werewolves until yesterday.” Lyall narrowed his eyes. It didn’t really matter whether he believed her or not. The outcome seemed inevitable. She’d run and they’d catch her. “Five minutes’ head start,” Lyall snapped. Jo got to her feet. “Fifteen. I don’t know the woods and you do.” He narrowed his eyes. “Ten. Starting now.” Jo raced out of the door, slammed it, and darted to the kitchen window. As her brain screamed -- run, run, run, she picked up the knife and sliced the fruit. She crushed it, smashed it, rubbed it all over her hands and feet, and shifted. So much adrenaline shot round her bloodstream, it came as no surprise the transformation was lightning fast. Jo almost didn’t notice the pain. Wolf ears pricked, nose ultrasensitive to her surroundings, Jo’s heart pounded as she bounded over the garden wall and across the field towards the trees. She had no thoughts about direction, only of escape. In different circumstances running as a wolf would have thrilled her -- the amazing amount of ground she could cover with one leap, the feel of the wind whistling past her ears, and the different view of the forest. Sadly, she was too panicked

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to feel anything other than sheer terror. No point heading for the lead mine. Lyall would probably send someone to stop her entering and Jo didn’t want to jam herself into a corner. She thought about doubling back, but guessed Lyall would think of that too. Her only plan was to run and keep running. Problem was, she had nowhere to go.

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Chapter Eighteen When Alek saw the dozens of vehicles lined up along the lane, he switched off his engine, and coasted the bike down to the house with Will tucked in behind him. Alek braked before he reached the gravel. They dismounted and Alek wheeled the vehicle to the rear of a large rhododendron bush. “What’s with all the cars?” Will whispered after he’d taken off his helmet. “Blue moon party. We’ll take a look through the window --” The door flew open and a stream of naked men rushed out, whooping and hollering. As they milled around at the front of the house, they began to shift to wolf form. Alek felt Will tense behind him. “Christ. That’s something you don’t see every day,” Will muttered. Alek watched, but there was no sign of Jo. As the last odd-looking, golden-colored animal yipped at the end of its transformation and raced off into the trees, Alek and Will slipped towards the open door of the house. “Change back,” snapped a voice inside. Alek exchanged a look with Will. “Change back. I need blood and I’m not sucking a wolf. I’ll get a hairball.” Alek and Will stepped inside to see Sophie holding a large silver wolf by the scruff of its neck as it stood trembling in a widening pool of blood. “Hello, Sophie,” Alek said. Her head twisted around so fast Alek was surprised she managed to stop it twirling off her body like a spinning top. She released the wolf, which slumped to the ground. “I can explain,” she said. Alek crossed his arms over his chest. “Go ahead.”

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“It was Lyall’s plan. He threatened to stake me if I didn’t cooperate. I had no idea he’d try and kill you. He took the knife and I tried to get it back and -- ouch.” She jerked forward when the wolf bit her backside. He shifted slowly back into a man and when Alek saw his face and his blue eyes he knew this was Jo’s father. “Tomas Randolph?” “Wasting time…Jo’s out there…running. This bitch…in league with Lyall. She wants your business…he wants your land.” “Come here, Sophie,” Will said. “I’ll take care of you.” She sighed and moved into his arms. “I knew you’d understand. You were always the sensitive one.” Will pressed her face into his chest, took her neck in his hands, and twisted hard. Alek winced when he heard the snap. He winced again when she slumped to the floor. “Knife, Alek.” Will held out his hand. “Will, I don’t think…” Will gave Alek a little smile. “Don’t think. Give me the knife.” Alek handed it over and turned to Tomas. “Where’s Jo?” “Don’t know.” Tomas’s breathing was ragged. He bent over clutching his side. “Lyall’s alpha and he wants her… There’s no way he won’t catch her. I can’t run…need to shift. Please save her…her blood on that dress. Lay a false trail.”

Jo’s blood? Fury rose like a tidal wave inside Alek. Lyall had hurt Jo? Sophie gurgled and fell silent. Alek didn’t look at her. “Will, take Jo’s dress and run with it. Drive the fuckers crazy. I’ll find Jo.” He started towards the door. “Alek,” Tomas called. Alek turned. “She’s squirted citrus juice…all over her feet. Puts us off…but easier for you to scent her.” Alek nodded and ran. Will shot off in another direction. The scent of oranges was quite clear. It was also clear Jo bolted in a flat-out panic. She’d wandered all over the place, doubled back on herself, even run towards the wolves at one point. Alek could smell the pack, scent Jo. As he moved around a tree, she ran straight into him and knocked him over. He heard the growl and the fast change to a faint whine.

“Where have you been?” Jo licked his face. “Following the fruit salad.” “Oh, shit, that was supposed to put them off the scent.”

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“It did, but my scent will work better.” Alek scooped Wolf-Jo into his arms and ran.

“Alek, how come I know what you’re thinking?” He’d wondered about that, though it could only be good news, a sign that they were meant to be together even if the bondmark wasn’t present.

“I could do this with my dad too, so maybe it’s a wolf thing. Oh God, have I made you part wolf?” Alek huffed and ran faster. His scent would mask hers for a while. He was faster than a wolf, even with the additional weight, though he’d never carried an animal before. With her front legs hooked over his shoulders, Jo panted and licked his cheek with her long tongue. Then her trailing hind legs hit his balls and Alek yelped.

“Shit, be careful.” Jo shifted form in his arms and he almost dropped her. “Jesus, Jo. You could have warned me you were about to change.” “Sorry. I can sense them. They’re near. Leave me and get out of here. They don’t want to kill me, just fuck me.” Alek tightened his grip. “They’re not having you. Get on my back.” He didn’t stop moving as Jo slid round. Alek chose the biggest tree, one with no lower branches, shot up until he caught a sturdy branch and began to climb. “Wow, you’re like a monkey,” Jo whispered. “Don’t drop me.” “Never.” Alek moved as far into the tree’s canopy as he could before swinging Jo into his arms. He sat down, leaned against the trunk, and braced his feet on lower limbs. Jo straddled his lap and Alek wrapped his leather coat around her trembling body. She burrowed into him like a scared animal, clinging to his shirt. Alek pressed his lips against her head. Every frantic beat of her heart echoed in his body.

“Calm down, angel. It’s okay. We’re safe here.” So long as they didn’t find them. Alek kept that thought hidden. If the wolves sat at the bottom of the tree and waited for dawn, Alek would be forced to make a run for it. Hopefully, he’d picked a tree they’d find impossible to scale as men.

“Did you help your brother?” “Yes, but I should have known you’d get into trouble and need rescuing.” Jo flinched as a squirrel shot along a branch towards them and screeched to a halt. Alek glared and it turned tail and fled. If only that worked with werewolves. “So what’s the plan, squirrel-scarer?” Her lips were a breath away from his. She was naked in his arms, her lovely breasts crushed against his chest, her nipples almost as hard as his cock. The fact that they were

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thirty feet off the ground with a pack of wolves in the vicinity suddenly seemed irrelevant. Moonlight reflected in her eyes and Alek wanted to dive inside her and never come up. He leaned forward and brushed his mouth against hers. You’re up a tree, his brain shouted. No problem, yelled his cock. Alek tugged her bottom lip between his teeth and she melted against him. He kept teasing until her mouth opened and then he slipped his tongue inside. Heaven. Alek thumbed the silky skin at the base of her jaw as he sucked on her tongue. She’d moved a hand to the spot on the back of his neck that itched and caressed him there as he licked, tasted, and tickled with his mouth, lips, and tongue. Alek traced the bones of her back, exploring the ridges of her spine on the way to her backside. He swept his mouth down her cheek, following the line of her chin, the slender column of her neck -don’t bite -- and along her collarbone. Jo gave a soft groan. “We can’t do this up a tree.”

“Who says? Unzip me.” “No.” Alek laughed as she ground herself against him. A moment later, her fingers were on his zipper, easing it down, reaching for his cock. He released a quiet hiss as she brushed her thumb over the swollen head.

“This is crazy,” Jo said. “I love crazy.” Alek wanted to fuck her until his balls were empty and his dick too weak to stand up. He wanted to sink his cock into her sweet pussy and stay there. He wanted to make her come until she screamed -- only no screaming tonight. They had to be silent. He moved one foot to another branch and lifted Jo by the hips. She moved her hands to his shoulders and in one smooth, fluid motion, he pulled her down onto his cock. Alek could almost have come at that moment. She was so wet, tight, and perfect. He was home. Tipping his head back against the trunk, Alek looked up through the leaves to the moon, full and bright in the night sky. He and Jo were meant to be together. He lived for the night. She lived for the moon. Werewolves didn’t live forever, though they had longer lives than mortals. Alek wanted to spend every moment of Jo’s life by her side.

“I love you.” Jo landed feather-soft kisses over his face. He tried to catch her lips with his but she was too fast. Alek lifted her and she opened her eyes and stared at him. Raw lust, heat…oh God…love. Alek dragged her down and she bit her lip as he sank deep inside her. Two slow pulses and he stopped. Jo glared. “You’re teasing me. I can’t move. I’ll fall out of the tree.”

“I won’t let you fall.” He began to slide his cock in and out, short teasing pulses and then long, deep thrusts. She arched back in his arms and Alek’s mouth settled over her nipple. His mouth watered as he sucked. He loved her breasts, loved tasting her. The musky scent of her desire whipped

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his senses into a frenzy. They were crazy doing this. If he could smell her, so could every wolf in the neighborhood, but Alek couldn’t resist her. The moment her body began the slide towards climax, he sped up his movements. Jo’s fingers returned to his shoulders, digging deep as the contractions rippled through her and grasped his cock. Alek changed the angle of her hips, driving hard to extend her pleasure and bring his release. Her pulse beat a frantic rhythm against the frail skin of her throat. Tempting. Teasing. Enticing. As much as Alek wanted to bite, he wouldn’t. She needed every ounce of her strength. They were not out of the woods yet. How apt was that? Another set of contractions wound Jo higher and she gripped his cock so tight Alek came with her. He caught her cry with his mouth as his cum boiled out of him, spurting from his dick in long, wrenching jets. Jo swallowed his groan as they ground themselves together. She was his, only his. Fuck the fact that she was a werewolf and they wouldn’t let her go. Alek wouldn’t let anyone else have her. He held her tight to his chest as she panted in his arms. He’d die rather than let anyone hurt her. A rustling noise at the base of the tree made them both freeze. Alek looked down. “Oh shit, there’s a wolf under the tree.”

“It’s Max.” Alek peered through the branches and leaves and caught sight of a golden-haired -- ah dog -- sniffing around the trunk. Max looked up and Alek knew they’d been seen. He tensed and Jo stiffened against him.

“He’s alone. I could --” “No. Wait,” Jo said. Max circled the tree, cocked his leg, and a stream of urine hit the trunk. When he was done, he sniffed the damp patch before kicking leaves and soil at it. One more look at Jo, and Max ran off, barking loudly. “Shit, he’s giving us away,” Alek whispered. “No, I think he just gave us a window of opportunity. He marked the tree to show he’d looked here, and now he’s drawing them off.” Alek zipped himself up and gathered Jo into his arms. “We need to move while they’re occupied elsewhere. My friend Will is racing around with your bloodstained dress. Between him and Max, the pack must be confused as hell. I’ve got my bike hidden near the house. I need to get you out of here.”

***** When they reached the bike, Alek took off his leather coat and draped it over Jo’s shoulders. “I want you to take the bike and go to a hotel.”

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“Why?” “There’s something I need to do.” “What?” “To sort this out.” “How?” Alek sighed. “Twenty questions?” “Tell me what you’re going to do.” “I need to have a word with Lyall.” Jo shuddered. “No, he’ll kill you.” Alek knew stepping into a room full of werewolves would be like playing peek-a-boo with the sun -- fucking dangerous -- but he had no choice. While Lyall lived, Jo remained at risk. Alek stepped forward and pulled her against his chest. “Sweetheart, have more faith in me. You’ll never feel safe while he’s the alpha. If we run away, what do you think he’ll do to your father?” “Rip out his fucking throat,” said Lyall. Alek moved fast, caught Jo in his arms, and swung them both to the other side of his bike as the bar came down. It missed him, though it made a nasty dent in his BMW. Now Alek was really pissed. “Christian, Georg -- get him,” Lyall snapped. Alek caught Georg midshift, his top half wolf, the bottom sporting a dwindling erection. One blow to his throat and Alek crushed his windpipe. Why’s he wearing gloves? As Alek turned for the other shifter, a net flew over his head. Shit, silver mesh. Alek struggled, but the effect of the silver was instant and overwhelming, and allowed the man to tighten his hold. Lyall pressed a knife to Jo’s throat, a trickle of blood slid down her neck, and Alek stopped moving. Not just any knife.

“Oh fuck. Will? You okay?” No response to his mental call. Wolves slunk out of the trees and surrounded them, tails low to the ground in submission to their alpha. “I guess you haven’t learned who’s in control here,” Lyall said. “Back to the house.” Alek was half-carried, half-dragged over the gravel. Wolf-Tomas lifted his head when they came in, tried to stand, and trembled on three legs, still healing. “Not quite how I’d planned this,” Lyall said and kicked away a pile of ash as he dragged Jo across the room. He stopped, looked back, and smiled. “Ah…Sophie?” Lyall peeled off Jo’s leather coat and tossed it aside without moving the knife from her neck. “That’s better, but you still stink of vampire.” Jo tried to wriggle free and he twisted the knife, nipping the top of her ear. “You and I are going to fuck in front of everyone.”

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“I’d rather eat my own eyeballs.” “Maybe I’ll make you eat your vampire’s nuts.” “She’s mine, you flea-ridden mongrel,” Alek said. “I ran; I caught her; I challenge you.” He had to fight and he had to win. His heart hurt. The damn undead bastard thing hurt. Lyall laughed. “Is that right? You think you can fight me for leadership of a wolf pack?” “I’m going to tear you limb from limb,” Alek said in a cool, clear voice. Underneath his blank exterior seethed a boiling river of hatred. Lyall had hurt Jo. The guy was as good as dead. Lyall flung Jo aside and strode over to Alek. “I can’t be bothered to fight you. It’s too much trouble.” Alek jolted as Lyall thrust the silver blade into his chest through the net. Where the hell had that come from? The guy was naked. Alek looked down at the knife and sighed. “Not again.” Jo screamed as he slid to the floor. No pain this time, which was a surprise though he couldn’t move. Lyall turned to Jo and smiled. “Right -- now you’re mine.” Alek tried to get up but couldn’t.

“Jo. I love you.” Jo shifted straight to wolf and launched herself at Lyall’s back. He morphed before she hit him and rolled to the side. Jo twisted as she landed, snarling and snapping. “Pack challenge,” someone shouted and in her peripheral vision Jo was aware of furniture being moved, as she and Lyall circled, staring each other down. He was bigger, stronger, and more aggressive, twice her size and ten times as mean. Jo had to fight hard not to roll onto her back and present him her belly. Lyall bared his teeth in a salivating grimace that made her want to run for the door. Instead, Jo snarled back and he attacked. She ducked under his airborne body to spin in a semicircle and face him again. I’m faster. Oh God, I’m faster than him. She saw the knowledge of that in his eyes, wasted a moment enjoying it, and paid big time. With his next leap, his sharp claws ripped a line down her flank.

Shit, shit, shit. That hurts. “His throat, Jo.” Her father had shifted back and stood against the wall, face pale, dark shadows under his eyes. Another moment’s inattention cost her a chunk out of her ear. Oow, that really hurt. Bastard. When Lyall leapt, Jo sprang the other way. She seemed to be able to anticipate the direction he was going to move, and for several moments they played a game of pounce and miss while Jo wracked her brain for a plan.

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She guessed no one would have expected what she did next. Jo sat up and begged. Lyall’s moment of wide-eyed surprise gave her the chance to spring onto his back. Wrapping her tail around his eyes, Jo planted her teeth firmly in his butt. Yuck. Lyall yelped and shook his body, twisting his head to try and bite her and Jo squirmed out of reach every time. Finally, he gave a violent shake and flung her off. Jo slammed into a wolf standing by the couch. In an instant, she was back on all fours and watching Lyall. He morphed into man and Jo wasn’t sure what to do. “You have to change,” someone called. “Pack rules. You fight in the same form. Challenger conforms.” Jo presumed that meant there was no point her shifting and then shifting back again. She had to shape-shift when Lyall did. The wolves were yipping and howling. Several had changed back to men. They had erections. Wonderful. “Shift, shift, shift,” they chorused.

Oh, God. He’s going to kill me. “You’re mine.” Lyall smiled. Jo jumped onto the kitchen counter, shifted, and flung herself on his back. She wrapped her legs around him, ground her heels into his balls, and her thumbs into his eyes. She felt an eyeball pop under the pressure and he roared, slamming her back into the wall. Jo’s bones turned to mush. She slithered to the floor like a squashed bug. Everything hurt. Not one part of her body was pleased with her. She risked a glance at Alek. He lay motionless under the net. Oh God. Lyall was back as wolf, advancing on Jo, one eye closed. He couldn’t touch her until she’d shifted. Maybe she shouldn’t rely on that. His wolf dick practically dragged on the floor. Jo gulped. She knew in that instant, he wasn’t going to shift. He was going to fuck her in that form. He might want to kill her, but she was more important to him as a cub factory. Jo didn’t want that life. She’d wanted one with Alek, and the reason that future was wrecked was the ugly brute in front of her. Wolf-Lyall grabbed her foot in his mouth and she slid onto her back, the submissive position. One chance. Jo shifted, lunged, and twisted. Her teeth sank into his neck. His claws raked her skin, but Jo didn’t let go, kept biting and biting while blood streamed over her face, into her mouth, down her throat, and she wouldn’t let go. He’d killed Alek. He’d crushed her father. He deserved to die. Jo wrenched her head to one side and ripped out his throat. As his hold on her slackened, she buried her face in his chest, tearing at him, wanting him more than dead, wanting him destroyed. “Jo, enough.” Her father’s voice. Jo growled. A rumble in her chest that grew louder until she scared herself and stopped. She lifted her muzzle from Lyall’s body and looked up. No men. Only wolves. And

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one dog. They approached timidly, respectfully. Max licked a cut on her paw. Every tail hung lower than hers. All accepted her as the new leader.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

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Chapter Nineteen “Jo?” She didn’t want to open her eyes. She’d healed, shifted back to human but she ached, particularly at the back of her neck. Oh God, what had she done to Lyall? “Jo.” Not her father speaking. Not Alek because he’s dead. Jo yanked back the wail rising from her throat. “Angel.” Only come to think of it, it did sound a lot like Alek. She opened her eyes and turned her head. “I have a little problem. I believe it’s your area of expertise.” Alek sat next to her, the silver net gone, a familiar looking knife in his chest. Jo’s wail escaped. Then she frowned. Where was the rusty tang of blood? She sat up. “Why aren’t you bleeding?” “I don’t know. It doesn’t hurt. It’s a mystery, a miracle.” He smiled and Jo melted. Oh God, he isn’t dead-dead. “Pull it out, Jo,” he said. She wrapped her hand around the handle and pulled. As it slid free, a piece of iridescent material emerged with it. An image flashed into her head. The car accident. That’s where she’d seen it before. “Where did you get that?” her father gasped. “It was with my birth certificate.” “Can I look at it?”

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Tomas’s eyes widened as he took the fabric from her hand. Jo wondered if he felt the same sensation as her when he touched it. She unbuttoned Alek’s shirt, tugged it off his shoulders, and slipped it on to her own. Alek slid a finger through the hole made by the knife and stroked her breast. Jo touched his chest. “No mark.” She ran her fingers around his nipple and put her palm over his heart. “Ah, still undead.” Alek grinned and fastened the shirt buttons. When Jo stood, she saw the pack watching her, none now in wolf form, but all naked. Christian stood between two burly guys and looked nervous. Max was with a guy she didn’t recognize. Jo sniffed. Not wolf. “That’s Will. My best friend,” Alek said. “Will dragged your dress through the forest to put us off your scent.” Max patted his back. “Georg pulled him down and while they were fighting, he flicked the knife out of Will’s hand. I got there just before…well, I persuaded Georg to take the knife to Lyall and leave Will to me.” “He saved my life,” Will said and smiled. “What do you want to do about Christian?” Tomas asked. Jo glanced at her father. “Me?” The guys shuffled around, all eyes on her. What were they waiting for? “They’re waiting for you, Jo. You’re pack leader. Their alpha,” Tomas said.

No. I don’t want this. She looked at Alek and he shrugged. “I don’t want to be. I don’t know anything about this. I’m not pure wolf. I’m part…something else. Can’t you do it?” She looked at her father in despair. Tomas shook his head. “You just won the job. Pay’s crap, though there are perks.” Alek bristled at her side. “I have a mate,” Jo said. “I’m not taking another.” “You can’t have a vampire,” Christian said. Jo bristled. “I’m the boss. I’m going to be telling everyone what to do.” She turned to her father. “What do I do?” she whispered. “Let them run again. The moon’s still out. They need to work off some of that energy before they go home to their mates.” Jo faced her pack. “I’ll call a meeting, discuss what we’re going to do, but tonight you should run.” “What about Christian and him?” someone asked, nodding towards Lyall’s body. “Devon too,” Alek said, pointing to a guy at the back of the room. “He was one of the group that tried to kill me.”

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Devon walked forward and dropped to his knees in front of Jo. “I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I swear I’ll be loyal to you.” Jo’s gaze slid to Christian. His cheek muscles twitched and then he dropped down next to Devon. “You’re my alpha. I follow you.” Jo wasn’t sure she trusted him, but she couldn’t deal with this now. “Looks like you’re all my pack. I won’t lead you through fear. We have enough to deal with without fighting among ourselves. Any problems you come to me. Any disagreements you come to me. Only don’t bring me any more dead bunnies, okay?” A chuckle went round the room. “Run,” Jo said and kept her spine straight until everyone except Max, Will, Alek, and her father had gone. Alek caught her as she crumpled. “I want a shower,” she whispered. Alek looked at Tomas for directions, then lifted Jo into his arms and carried her towards the stairs. “Jo,” her father called and held up the scrap of material. “I need to give this back to your mother. The dogs tore her wing. I found this piece and kept it. Stupid to think she wouldn’t know what I’d done. By the time I got home, it had gone.”

A fairy’s wing? Her mother had saved her in the accident. That’s what she’d seen. Her mother’s wing. Now she’d saved Alek too. “I thought you couldn’t find her.” Tomas smiled. “I think this will make a difference. She’s watched over you and I want to thank her.” He stripped off and Jo turned her head. There was no way she was going to get used to seeing her dad’s dangly bits. She’d be making a few new rules. Oh God, could she run a wolf pack? Would they really accept her as leader? Did she want to do it? “Stop it,” Alek said. “You’ll make your head hurt.” Jo trembled as Alek carried her from the room. “Think about me instead,” he whispered. “I need reminding I’m still undead and not waiting to become a pile of ashes.” Jo clutched him tighter. “I keep wondering how you knew to put that piece of wing in my pocket. Your mother’s a fairy? Did she mean you to save me? Maybe she likes the idea of a vampire son-inlaw.” Jo went stiff as a board and Alek almost dropped her. “Jesus, Jo, you really have to stop doing that.” Maybe he didn’t say what she thought he’d said.

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“Yeah, I did.” Jo glared. “Get out of my head.”

“Now why would I want to do that?” Jo pictured a lake full of alligators. “You little devil. You’re asking for a smack,” he hissed. She changed the image to one of him. Pictured him in her head with his beautiful eyes, his jet black hair, strong chin, and high cheekbones. “Who the hell is that?” Alek snapped. Jo rolled her eyes. “Oh,” he muttered and gave her a sheepish grin. “Remember I can’t see myself in a mirror. Hey, I’m a hunk.” Jo pictured him bald. Then he pretended to drop her and she squealed.

***** Alek tried three bathrooms before he found the one with the biggest shower. Looked like it was her father’s. He kicked the door shut behind them and put Jo down, making sure she’d stand before he let her go. Alek reached to twist the shower handle and when he turned back, Jo had moved in front of the mirror. She chewed her lip and lifted her fingers to her face. Then her shoulders dropped. “It’s only blood, Jo,” Alek whispered. “I…killed…him.” She gulped the words out. “I should go to prison. I could --” “No one’s going to say anything. This is pack business and it stays inside the pack. I’m not going to tell you to forget it, because I know you can’t, but the bad guy is dead and the good guy is standing looking at herself in the mirror not seeing what she should be seeing. And that’s a hero.” He paused. “My hero.” Jo gave a little laugh as he knew she would. Then her face fell. “I’m not sure if I can do this, Alek. I mean, run a werewolf pack? Those guys scare me.” Alek trailed his finger down her nose. “I’m a bloodsucking fiend and you’re a drooling monster who likes chasing sticks. We’re a perfect match. What could be scarier than us?” “Bigger ones of us?” He laughed. “I’ll look after you.” Alek kicked off his shoes, unzipped his pants, and let them fall to the tiled floor. Jo’s gaze slipped to his engorged dick and smiled.

“Yes, here I am and I’m yours.” “Was that your cock talking or you?” Jo asked and pulled the shirt over her head.

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Alek laughed, took her hand, and tugged her around the curved glass wall and into the shower. When Jo tipped her face to the flow, he reached for the shower gel hanging on the rail and squirted a dollop of blue gel onto his hand. With slow and careful sweeps, Alek removed every trace of blood and Lyall from her skin, wishing he could do the same for her mind. Jo stood with her eyes closed, fists clenched tight at her sides while he tried to bring her back to life. Alek squeezed shampoo on her hair and massaged it into her scalp, smiling as her fingers began to unwind and she leaned against him. She had a dark scar on at the back of her head, under her hair. Was that where Lyall had bitten her? It had healed but…her breasts distracted him. They could never be too clean. A perfect fit for his hands and her nipples were a perfect tease for his thumbs. His balls ached with pent-up frustration, his cock had stopped speaking to him, and Alek hadn’t even started loving her yet. When Jo reached for his hips, he pushed her hands away. “I want to wash you,” he said. Jo blinked water from her eyes. “You already did.” “No, I cleaned you. Now I want to wash you.” Each finger and toe, every crease and dip in her body came in for the same special attention. A soapy caress from his fingertips, a kiss from his lips, a sweep of his tongue. Alek cherished every inch of her and stored the memory of any place he made her squirm. He turned her to face the tiles, and nibbled and sucked his way down her back while Jo writhed against the shower wall. When he reached the top of her butt, Jo shrieked. Her skin rippled and flexed under his touch and she shook while she cursed him. “Don’t…ohh God…stop…no…ohh…bastard…ohh…fuck.” “Don’t you like that?” “Yes…no…yes…oh.” While he teased the top of her butt, his hands slithered up the sides of her body and slipped around to her breasts. Alek groaned into her backside as he cupped her soft mounds in his hands and allowed the nipples to slide through his fingers. He loved the way her body curved, the curious combination of soft breasts and hard nipples, he loved how there were places he could touch to drive her out of her mind and he especially loved finding new ones. His cock wept tears of fury as the need to come roared deep and long inside him. Alek wanted to spill himself over her breasts, her backside, rub his cream into her skin until she fell to pieces in his hands. It wasn’t just sex. He wanted her to be part of him. He wanted to be part of her. Nudging Jo’s legs wide apart with his shoulders, Alek knelt and licked a path down the crease of her bottom to her sweet pussy. “Alek, Alek, I need you inside -- ohh.” The tiny pearl of her clit burst with joy and a gush of cream hit his tongue. Heat and pleasure streamed through him. Alek kept licking, pulsing into her as she arched her back

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and came on his face. He adored her shuddering body, loved the sweet rush of juices that flowed into his mouth. Alek forced a finger past the tightening muscles of her pussy and pumped her back to the edge. “Oh God,” Jo moaned. “More.”

She’s mine. Mine! Alek slid another finger into her hot, wet heat and began playing a rhythmic tune of erotic torture, pulling her back then driving her forward, always spiraling her higher. When she tightened around his fingers and he felt the powerful surge of her muscles, Alek pressed his head against her lower spine and willed his orgasm to recede. His cock was in a deep sulk and now his balls weren’t speaking to him either. He stroked her inner flesh with infinite care, retreating to give a teasing flick on the hard nub of her clit before pressing back inside her. His tongue delved deeper into the crease of her butt and found the dark secret within. She jolted as he pressed the tip of his tongue against her tight asshole, but Alek kept hold of her hips, pushed deeper with his tongue as he pulsed his fingers inside her pussy. Jo came apart again, clenching around his fingers, her knees striking the shower wall as she gasped his name over and over, and Alek never wanted her to stop saying it. Even before her tremors had faded, Jo pulled Alek to his feet, pressed her lips against his, and kissed her fire into him. She raged with sexual fever. She wanted more, had to have more. He brought a hand to her head, encircled her neck, and pulled her closer. His cock had slid between her legs and he rocked into her, sliding along her swollen folds. Jo whimpered into his mouth and he moaned against hers, pulsing between her lips as he canted into her hips. The tip of his cock caught against her clit and Jo angled her hips to trap him there. Alek brought his hand down and rubbed the head of his cock over just the right spot. A bolt of lightning flashed to her core and she dragged her mouth away from his. “I need you.” “You have me.” Two fingers inside her, stretching her, twisting, and Jo pumped her hips, trying to capture his dick. Finally, he gave her what she needed and was inside her. Jo needed more. She needed him deeper. The bastard pulled out and Jo wanted to strangle him. Then the wet head of his cock came back, teasing, pressing, and pressure coiled tighter, higher pleasure beckoned. Jo’s pulse pounded. “Please.” She’d beg, she didn’t care, but she had to have him inside her. It was his bite he gave her, his teeth sinking into her neck that sent a jolt of rapture shooting from her brain, grinding down her spine, and roaring into her clit like a burning fuse wire, blazing towards detonation. Jo exploded and starbursts of pure pleasure flew to all points of her body. Too much.

Not enough. Alek continued to suck at her neck and it fed her orgasm, driving her to an ecstasy she’d never dreamed existed. Even as she pleaded in her head for his cock, he was in her, his

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lovely fingers gone, but his even lovelier thick, hard cock in their place, thrusting, pounding, pumping, and she shot over a higher crest in a blast of energy that drove all the air from her lungs. Jo forced her eyes open, looked at Alek, and fed from the rapture on his face as he drove into her. She came again when he jetted inside.

“Not possible,” Jo thought. “I thought I’d ease you into vampire sex gently.” She bit his ear and Alek yelped. “We’ve only just started,” he growled. “There are a lot of things I want to do, except I can’t do them in your father’s house while he’s sitting downstairs watching TV.” Jo laughed.

***** When they came downstairs, having purloined more of her father’s clothes, there was no indication of anything having happened. The house was back to its homely state. A vase of flowers sat on the table and Jo could even smell something sweet cooking. There was no sign of her father. Will and Max sat close together on the couch. Max’s face was flushed, the button on his pants undone, and Will looked smug. “Want a cookie?” Max asked. “Chocolate chip and walnuts.” Jo saw the plate on the counter and helped herself. “How did you find time to bake?” “What, as well as fuck?” Will asked. Jo wasn’t sure going such a bright shade of red was good for Max. “I love making him blush,” Will said and ducked Max’s hand. “You’ve been up there ages,” Max said. Now Jo was the one whose face burned. Will sighed. “That so turns me on seeing heat in your face. I think it must be because we don’t blush.” “You’re not allowed to be turned on by Jo,” Alek said. Will and Max stared at her and at exactly the same time let their tongues hang out. Jo giggled and Alek growled. “Your dad said to come round tomorrow for a talk and he’ll explain how things work,” Max said. “He said he needed to give something back tonight.” Her mother’s wing. Maybe finding her would be another blue moon miracle. Jo wanted to meet her and believed now that she could. Oh God, another family. She was related to fairies? “Good cookie,” she mumbled and stuffed the last piece in her mouth.

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“Yeah, the mix tasted great.” Will smirked. “I’d forgotten that was one of the things I liked.” Max smacked Will on to his back and they fell together to the floor. Jo turned to Alek. “Can you eat?” “Not everything, but yes, in moderation. Since we don’t need to, there seems no point. It just creates…other issues.” Jo frowned. “What, like burping?” Will laughed from underneath Max. “Something like that. Hey, Alek, is it okay if Max comes to stay?” “Sure. He can have Sophie’s room…oh, right. He won’t need it.” Will ran his fingers through Max’s hair. “I always wanted a pet. I’m so jealous. He can lick his own balls.” Max growled. A long, deep rumble that went on and on.

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Chapter Twenty Once Alek confirmed the damage to his bike was cosmetic and not mechanical, he took Jo home while Max gave a lift to Will. The pack was still running and Jo left a note for her father telling him she loved him. Alek pulled the bike to a halt at the end of the track and looked up at the full moon.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Jo tightened her hold on his chest. “Really beautiful.” It was, but he wasn’t thinking of the moon. “Do you think we could stop on the way back so I could run?” “Of course.” Alek intended to take her to Moreton Woods, which he happened to own, but the little minx had her hand down his pants before they were a mile from Upper Middleton. Rock hard already; no way he’d make it to Moreton.

“Jo, stop it.” “I can’t.” Alek laughed and turned onto a farm track. He pulled up by the entrance to a field and switched off the engine. Helmets off, they climbed over the iron gate and looked at the moonlit meadow stretching out ahead. “Don’t freak out the sheep, birthday girl,” Alek said. Jo took off his leather coat and laid it over the wall. “Are you going to come?” “Any minute.” Jo sniggered and stripped off the pants and T-shirt she’d borrowed. “Restrain yourself. I’m worth waiting for.” He watched in fascination as she morphed to wolf. Alek was a little surprised he didn’t find it more disturbing only Jo’s blue eyes looked up at him. He couldn’t help smiling. She

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rubbed against his legs, twining her body around them, and then licked his groin. Alek shuddered. “I’m pretty sure I don’t want to be turned on by that. Go on, puppy. Run. Hurry back.” He watched as she bounded across the grass. A puppy. Fuck, that’s exactly what she was, full of joy, full of the newness of everything, full of vitality. She’d brought that exuberant freshness into his life, made him see the world in a different way. Bondmate or not, he loved her, wanted to be with her and that was all that mattered. Alek knew there would be issues with her pack. Werewolves were social beasts, but only with each other. He already knew what the pack would think about her having a vampire as a lover. No way would Alek share Jo. He’d seen the way Max and Will had looked at her too. Not going to happen, guys. Werewolves lived for a long time. Not as long as vampires, but it meant the issue of a long life together was not something they had to deal with yet. Could he turn her? Alek had no idea. A fairy-werewolf-vampire. He laughed. He might not need to turn her. Jo was one of a kind. She probably had fairy talents she hadn’t yet discovered. He snapped his head up. Jo’s white form streaked towards him like a fiery comet as though the hounds of hell were on her tail. She skidded to a halt at his feet and morphed back into a quivering heap of naked woman. Before he could drop to her side, she’d leaped into his arms. “What is it?” he asked, wondering how his cock could still be excited when Jo was so frightened. “Oh God…bloody hell,” she panted. Alek patted her back. “Do I need to go and deal with what scared you?” “It was horrible. It looked right at me. Those red eyes.” Alek tensed. “What?” “A mouse,” Jo whispered. “I’m really scared of mice.” Alek bit his lip so hard he made it bleed. He might have trapped the laughter, but he couldn’t stop his shoulders shaking. “It’s not funny,” Jo said. “The leader of a werewolf pack frightened by a mouse? Yeah, it is funny.” Jo pulled out of his arms and pushed him back against the wall. “You wouldn’t be thinking of telling anyone, would you?” She placed her hand over his cock and pressed her palm against his length. Alek moved his hand over hers and held it there. He’d wet his pants with precum and as she squeezed, the circle grew wetter. “Not sure,” he mumbled. Jo dropped to her knees.

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“Probably not,” Alek said. She planted kisses along the waistband of his pants. “Very unlikely,” he forced out. Her fingers flipped open the button on his pants and pulled down his zipper. “Extremely unlikely.” Alek groaned. Jo tugged down his pants and his cock burst out laughing. “Any chance of me making that definitely not?” She smeared a thick drop of precum over the head of his dick with her thumb. “An excellent chance I’d say.” Jo held him in her hand and painted her lips with his juice as though she was applying lipstick. It was a miracle he didn’t spurt all over her face. She ran her silky, wet tongue around the dip below the crest of his cock and Alek grasped the stones in the wall at his back with such force he dislodged them. He let go. They didn’t need a dry, stone wall collapsing on top of them. His muscles were coiled and tight as he held himself back. Watching her lips move up and down his cock while she looked up at him with those huge blue eyes, together with the hot slickness of her mouth wrapped around him sent tremors skittering down his spine to weaken his legs. It felt like the earth shook beneath him. Someone was making pathetic noises and Alek was rather afraid it was him. He tried to think of something to distract him from coming too fast, only how could he think of anything other than her sweet lips, the hot, slick slide of her teasing tongue, the soft, velvety skin of her throat…oh God. His cum boiled in his sac, desperate to spew out. Jo took more of him into her mouth and Alek felt his cock bump the back of her throat. His hips jerked forward, urging her to take more and more. Her cheeks hollowed as she sucked and Alek held back a sob. She moved from long, slow, seductive sucks to tiny, rapid, pulsing pulls. Her lips massaged him, squeezing, swallowing until there was an explosion in his balls. His back arched and his hips spasmed violently as he jetted into her mouth. The white-hot pleasure catapulted him out of awareness of where or who he was. At that moment, he was raw ecstasy, the only thought in his head the pure pleasure of the moment. Every wrenching blast of his cum sent bursts of bliss through his veins. When he thought he was done, she gave one deep suck and he convulsed in her mouth a final time, crying her name into the night sky. “Jo,” he groaned. “My angel.”

***** “Wow,” Jo said. “Is all this yours?” She got off the bike and stared at the long building in front of her.

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“It belongs to me, though I share with Will. We run the business from an annex at the rear.” Alek took her hand and tugged her towards the door. “Is there anything to eat?” “Whatever you like.” Jo glanced at him and smiled. Alek tightened his grip. “I’ll send for whatever you want.” He pushed open the door and pulled Jo inside. “Now what’s going through your head?” “I was wondering what else to ask for. Er…swimming pool?” “I’ll have one built.” Jo laughed and looked round. “This is lovely. Modern, though you’ve retained some of the original features. Is there a tin bath somewhere? Big enough for two?” Alek lifted his coat from her shoulder and turned to hang it on a hook. Jo felt the knife at her throat and froze. “So food first or sex?” Alek asked. “Alek,” Jo whispered. He turned and his eyes flashed straight to black. His fangs came out and the air thickened. Whoever held her tightened their grip. “Sam, it’s over. Lyall, Georg, and Sophie are dead. If you don’t let her go now, you’ll be dead too.” Alek edged towards them and the guy holding her pressed the knife harder against her throat. “If I let her go, you’ll kill me.” “You’re fucked either way,” Alek said. “Why did you do it?” He moved a little closer. “Sophie was my sire.” Alek looked surprised. “She was my girlfriend and she bloody bit me. I don’t want to be like this.”

“Don’t hurt him.” Jo wasn’t sure Alek was listening. “Put the knife down.” Jo took a risk and shifted. Sam was so surprised to find a wolf in his arms that he dropped her. When Jo changed back, clutching the remains of her clothes, Alek had his arm locked around Sam’s neck. “Please,” Jo said. “He tried to kill me,” Alek spat. “He tried to kill you. Why should I spare him?” “Because he’s new, he’s afraid, and because I’m asking you to.” “Who were the others that attacked me?” Alek asked. “I only knew the names of two. Devon and Georg.”

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“I should snap your neck.” Sam sighed. “Go ahead. I don’t want this life. I never asked for it. I don’t know who I’m supposed to listen to, how I’m supposed to behave. No one likes me.” “Oh shut up,” Jo snapped. “You were doing fine till then, now you sound pathetic. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. So you think your life’s shit, well deal with it. Alek, let him go. He’s not going to hurt me. He’s not going to hurt you. In fact he’s going to be a model employee and he might even end up as a friend when he grows a spine.” The two men stared at her. “What?” Jo snarled. “Your alpha’s showing.” Alek raised his eyebrows. He sighed and released Sam. “Don’t make me regret this.” “No…shit…thank you.” “Georg organized a paintball tournament a while ago. You sort out another one. Weres against vamps.” Sam bolted from the room. Alek beckoned Jo with his finger. “You let him go very easily,” Jo said. “He has no power, but I’ll watch him. I spared him because you asked me to.” “So are you going to do everything I ask?” Alek tsked. “I knew you were trouble when you fell in my cave.” Jo let the tattered clothes drop and Alek groaned. “That’s not fair.” “Where’s your bedroom?” “I should spank you.” “Want to tie me up?” Alek groaned again. Louder. “Up the stairs, third door on the right. Two seconds start.” “How the hell did you get here before me?” Jo asked as she slammed into the room. Alek stood grinning by the bed with a handful of silk ties. “I’m not telling you all my secrets. On the bed.” “Make me.” As the words came from her mouth, she knew it was a mistake. Alek had her pinned on her back, her wrists tied to the corner posts before she had time to blink. “What a pity dawn’s breaking,” Jo said. His face fell and then he glared. “No, it’s not. I’ve plenty of time to torture you.” He ripped his clothes off. “Not going for the slow, seductive striptease, then?”

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“Evidently not.” “So how is this torturing me? My body erupts with lust as soon as I see you naked. Well, actually even before you’re naked. Your cock seems to have made a miraculous recovery. It’s a bit of luck that you’re as rabid for sex as me, otherwise --” “Jo, shut up.” “Five crazy days a month are nowhere near enough. You haven’t tied my legs.” “Didn’t I tell you to shut up? I don’t want your legs tied. I want them wrapped around me.” Jo sank into the bed, the velvet soft tone of his voice making her ache. He was so beautiful with his thick lashes, dark eyes. She’d do anything for him. “As I would for you.”

“Stop reading my mind.” Alek laughed. “Do you realize how much power you have? You hold my heart in the palm of your hand.” He bracketed her legs with his knees and trailed his wet cock over her stomach, stroked her body with the glistening tip while she wriggled beneath him. Alek smeared precum over her rounded belly in the shape of a heart, then pushed her breasts together and buried his cock between them. Jo watched his face. His eyes swirled and eddied like a fastflowing river. “Your body drives me so wild I can’t think straight. I hear the rhythm of your heart change and my cock threatens to burst. Your smile twists me inside and I’d do anything to make you happy. When you say my name, I want to swallow you whole. There isn’t a part of you I don’t love. I haven’t even seen you wearing proper clothes yet. I think looking at you in a dress is going to tip me over the brink into madness.” “You want to cover up my sleek, toned body? Not look at my perfect, firm ass?” Alek licked along her collarbone, the rasp of his teeth making her squirm. “You know what I mean.” Jo ground herself against his cock, wanting it inside her, and a tight knot twisted in her belly. When his teeth closed on the skin at the base of her throat, Jo stiffened. She thought he’d feed, but he didn’t. His wet tongue ran down to her breast, circled her nipple, licked over her ribs and stomach to her hip. He gave her a gentle bite and Jo bucked. Alek laughed. “Stop teasing me,” Jo growled. She expected warm wet licks as his tongue slid between the swollen lips of her pussy and instead got a long squirt of cold lube down the crease of her butt. She would have bucked again, but his hand on her hip kept her down. “Oh God, Jo. You feel so good. Right this minute, I wish I was a Cean.” “What’s a Cean?”

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“A creature with two dicks.” Jo gaped at him. “Wow.” Alek glared. “And you’re never going to meet one.” Cool, lubricated fingers eased their way into the cleft of her buttocks and massaged her asshole. Jo trembled at the tender touch, her muscles twitching in anticipation. “I want you so much,” Alek whispered. “Your sweet ass and your even sweeter pussy.” A slick finger breeched her muscle defenses and the tip slid into her anus. Alek kept pressing, easing until his whole finger was inside. Jo gasped at the burn. Naughty but nice. A wash of cream flooded out of her pussy. He stretched her, pumping in a slow and careful movement while his thumb reached for her clit. He circled, pressed, and rubbed until Jo’s whimpers grew louder. Need spiked in her belly and shot between her legs. One finger eased along her swollen lips, playing with her folds, teasing forays and Jo couldn’t keep still. Her hips rocked, trying to get his fingers to go deeper inside her. “Steady, angel.” That had to be two fingers in her ass. Jo groaned and grabbed the sheets, twisting them in her fists, trying to pull free of her bindings as Alek twisted his fingers inside her. “Oh God…please…please.” “Please what?” Alek asked and slid two fingers inside her pussy as he withdrew from her butt. Pain and pleasure sent Jo flying so she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, only feel. The orgasm flew out of darkness, a bolt of light that swept her up and dragged her away in a maelstrom of sensation. She screamed his name as Alek finger-fucked her to nirvana. No chance to recover before the wet crown of his cock pressed against her ass. “Take me now, Jo,” he pleaded. Her nerve-rich tissue parted to allow him in a fraction of his hard length at a time as his fingers still stroked her clit, thrust into her slick folds. “Push down, sweetheart.” One hand curled around her hip to hold her firm, while he maintained the pressure on her ass. Her body sucked his cock in and it popped through the muscle to slide deep inside her. Jo panted as Alek’s fingers surged into her pussy at the same moment. “Alek, Alek.” He dragged his cock partway out and pushed deeper with his fingers, then reversed and Jo thought she might split apart in pleasure. “So sweet and tight, ah God, Jo, you feel so good.” The muscles of her anus tried to drag back his cock as he withdrew. “Fuck me,” Jo cried. “Harder, please.”

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Covered with sweat, her cream, and the lube, Jo needed more. Alek began to thrust more powerfully into her butt and filled her pussy at the same time. Jo thought she’d explode. Alek switched to an alternative penetration and Jo wanted the fullness back until that became too much as well. She was on fire, overwhelmed, contracting, ever tightening. Not just her womb but every muscle in her body tensing, winding, ready for release. Jo wanted this to never end yet couldn’t stand it anymore. She ripped her arms free and wrapped them around him. “Alek.” She screamed his name over and over as he powered into her, his cock sinking deep into her butt while his fingers teased her clit. The orgasm hit her like a train, swept her away on a rush so fast, the breath froze in her lungs. Alek shuddered above her. His cock twitched and jerked inside her and they came together in a rapture so intense Jo thought her life had ended. In a way it had, because nothing could be the same after this. Alek slumped facedown on the bed and Jo lay on top of him, snuggled against his back, making him warm, her fingers twisting his hair. He’d have to sleep soon. With a bit of luck, he’d have worn Jo out, so she’d sleep too and wouldn’t get into any more trouble. “When did you get this tattoo?” Jo asked. “What tattoo?” “The one at the back of your neck.” “I don’t have any tattoos.” “Yeah, you do.” Alek stiffened. “Describe it.” “Can’t you look in the mirror -- oh. Well, it’s this really cute dolphin in a hat, waving his flipper.” He spun over, pinned Jo beneath him and growled. “Geez, sometimes you’re more of a wolf than me.” “What’s it like?” “A bit like barbed wire. Sort of twisted spikes. Ouch.” Alek propelled Jo onto her belly and pushed up her hair. It was there. The bondmark. He gasped. Alek was sure his father said it appeared on arms. Maybe he hadn’t listened as closely as he’d thought. The stripe on Jo’s white wolf pelt might have given him a clue. He pulled her into his arms and landed a million kisses over her face. “Bondmarks,” he said. “I thought…oh God…we have them only you can’t see yours and I can’t see mine. We can only see each others.” “I have a dolphin at the back of my neck?”

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Alek laughed. “You were mine anyway, and this confirms it. This was meant to be. You belong to me and I belong to you. I’ll never have another mate. I only want you until time ceases to run. You hold my soul, Jo. I love you more than you could ever know.” “I do know because I love you too.” They stared into each other’s eyes. A perfect moment…

Creak, creak, creak. Slap, slap, slap. “Ohhhhhh.” They looked at each other and then at the far wall of the bedroom.

Bang, bang, bang. “Maybe I should invest in soundproofing before the swimming pool?” Alek said.

“Oh yes, fuck, yes, yes, yes.” “Do you have a cellar?” Jo said. There was a long, drawn out howl. Alek sighed. “They need to move out.” The combined wailing of Will and Max reached a crescendo followed by blessed silence. Jo looked at Alek and smiled. “They probably heard us too.” “I don’t scream and wail,” Alek said. Jo laughed. She ran her fingers over his lips and he nipped one between his teeth before drawing it into his mouth. He fell asleep sucking her thumb.

***** Alek sat in the kitchen watching Jo eat. He found her endlessly fascinating. She was so cute the way she chewed, that little dimple in her cheek -“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” Will staggered into the kitchen. “You’re not walking straight,” Alek said. “Blame him.” Max bounced into the room, his hair a tangled mess, a broad smile on his face. Jo snorted into her bacon and eggs. Will slumped at the table, his head in his hands. “Which bags are yours?” Max asked, his head stuck in the refrigerator. “Any. Two bags. No, three. No, make it four.” Alek laughed. Will glared, grabbed the first bag, sank his fangs in, and inhaled. “Steady, you’ll give yourself indigestion,” Max said. “Drinking too much, too fast on an irregular basis when you have such a stressful lifestyle…well, you’re asking for trouble.”

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Barbara Elsborg

Will rolled his eyes. “Hey, I saw that. I’m a doctor remember. What I say goes.” Will’s mouth curled into a smile. “Is that right?” Max dropped his bacon. Then the eggs slid off his plate when he bent to pick the rashers up. He scooped everything back into place and sat next to Will. “What?” he asked, as everyone stared at him. “A few germs never hurt anyone.” He forked food into his mouth. “Oh, except you need to be careful, Jo, now that you’re pregnant.” Jo began to choke. Alek was too dumbfounded to pat her on the back for a moment. When the coughing fit ended, they both stared at Max. “What now?” Max asked. “Pregnant?” Alek and Jo squeaked in unison. Max paled. “Oh shit. You didn’t know? I assumed vamps were like weres and you could tell the moment it happened.” “Vampires can’t…make…ah shit,” Will mumbled and stared at Alek. “But I’m on the Pill,” Jo whispered. “The Pill isn’t effective for weres.” “Oh.” Jo glanced at Alek. His fists were clenched so tight, his hands were white. She reached out and slid her fingers over his. Alek gasped and clutched her. “It’s okay, isn’t it?” Jo asked. He nodded. “More than okay. Don’t worry, it’s just --” “You’re a Trueblood?” Will blurted. Alek sighed. “I can’t believe I…oh shit, I thought you weren’t allowed to have kids.” “One in a hundred years.” Alek glanced at Jo. “Ah, slight problem there,” Max said, a broad smile on his face. “You’re having triplets.” For the first time in his long life, Alek fainted.

Barbara Elsborg Barbara Elsborg lives in West Yorkshire in the north of England. She always wanted to be a spy, but having confessed to everyone without them even resorting to torture, she decided it was not for her. Vulcanology scorched her feet. A morbid fear of sharks put paid to marine biology. So instead, she spent several years successfully selling cyanide. After dragging up two rotten, ungrateful children and frustrating her sexy, devoted, wonderful husband (who can now stop twisting her arm) she finally has time to conduct an affair with an electrifying plugged-in male, her laptop. Her books feature quirky heroines and bad boys, and she hopes they are as much fun to read as they are to write.