Chapter Seven

 

 

Like a child told not to touch a hot burner, she reached out again and tested the point with a fingertip. “Son of a—” She yanked her finger back and stuck it in her mouth to soothe the ache.

“As I said, they’re sharp.” He frowned and tugged on her hand until she allowed him to take a look. Then he swept his tongue across the tip and kissed each knuckle. “All better.”

Willa inspected the injury and sucked in a breath. “It’s gone.”

“Of course. I would never allow you to suffer. My saliva has healing properties. That is”—he took a breath—“that’s why a vampire licks the punctures left by their bite.”

“So, that part of the legend is true?”

“Yes. But very little else.”

“Etie, would you mind putting those chompers away for a few minutes?”

He gave her a sheepish nod. “Of course. I forget myself around you.” He grinned to show her they were safely tucked away.

Then she pushed her chair back, stepped around the table, took his face in her palms, and kissed him. Hard.

Taken by surprise, he froze for a heartbeat, then quickly got with the program and gripped her hips with his hands. He moaned softly into her mouth, his tongue sliding against hers.

She swept her hands to the back of his head and threaded her fingers in his hair. Power zinged from him to her and back again.

When she broke the kiss and eased back, he gave her a crooked smile. “What was that for?”

“No reason. You make me feel feminine and loved.” She shrugged and added, “I just had to kiss you.”

His eyes took on an inhuman glow. “Perhaps you should do that again.”

She bent closer again and whispered, “I think you’re right.”

A few minutes later a throat cleared. The waiter shuffled from foot to foot a few feet away. “Um. Would you like to have a few more minutes of privacy before I bring your dinners?”

Willa turned bright red, straightened, and went back to her chair.

Etienne shook his head. “Now is good.”

Once the waiter left them to enjoy their meal, Willa swallowed and said, “We need to talk about your people. There’s so much I don’t know.”

“I agree.” Etienne picked up his water glass and took a sip. “Where do you want to start?”

She stared at her plate. It was less distracting than his piercing eyes and less likely to derail her train of thought. “I had a long talk with Karen. She told me about the history of vampires and where your people came from. Because of that, I know that you’re the king of the vampires.” She shivered a full-body shudder before adding, “I also heard about the witch hunters.”

“Ah, the guild. They’re the bane of our existence. Carolyn warned us that they’re coming to New Orleans. I have men watching for them, but we have not… haven’t found a trace of them in town. Either they changed their minds or haven’t recovered from the damage we dealt them in Savannah.”

Willa nodded. “That’s what I heard.” Then she hesitated, gathering her thoughts and a wealth of courage. “I need information and honesty from you if we’re going to give this relationship a fighting chance. I need to know everything. Otherwise, we’re doomed to fail before we get started.”

He nodded and reached across the table to take one of her hands. “I agree wholeheartedly. I can give you that. I want to give you that.”

“Good.” She gave him a determined look. “If we’re ever going to move forward to the big stuff like living together, which everything you say about muierimeis and férjés indicates is the goal, then I need to know what I’m getting into. Tell me about vampires. How do you become one? Do you have to drink blood? How are you able to be in the sun? Do you… kill people?”

He opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again, but nothing came out.

Willa knew they were having what could be the most important conversation of their lives, but she couldn’t help but be amused. Etie’s stunned, open-mouthed response was priceless. She knew his brain was stuck on living together. So, she sipped her wine and waited, astonished that she could render a centuries-old vampire speechless.

Finally, he cleared his throat and smoothed his shirt as if he needed a distraction to collect his thoughts. “Where to begin?” Then he held up his hand in the universal stop sign. “Scratch that. I cannot continue until we address the declaration you just made. You have thought about living with me? Tell me you are serious about that.”

Willa giggled. “Yes and yes.”

He rose from his chair and leaned across the table to kiss her soundly, sparks and all. “I cannot tell you how happy that makes me.” He sat again, took a deep breath, and let it out. “Would you like to finish your dinner while I talk? If you wait, your food will get cold.” She had him so flustered he forgot about using contractions and fell back on his normal pattern of speech.

“What about your dinner?”

“I will grab a bite here and there.” To emphasize his point, he forked up a bit of fish and ate it. “Based on what you know, I think the first thing I will explain is how a human becomes a vampire.”

“Mmm.” She swallowed and dabbed her mouth with her napkin. “Before you do that, may I ask you to answer the last question I asked?”

“Forgive me. What was your last question?”

Willa looked around to make sure no one was in earshot. “When you drink people’s blood, do you kill them, or turn them into vampires?”

Etienne’s eyes darkened. “No. Unequivocally no, to all of the above. Any vampire who did such a thing would meet the sun.”

“Whew. That’s a relief because that would have put the kibosh on the entire thing.”

“Once I go over the steps to becoming a vampire you will understand.”

“Okay. I’m listening.” She took a bite of shrimp and focused on him intently.

“The process requires three small blood exchanges. Like witches, vampires are magical creatures. Sure, the blood exchanges are required, but it’s the magic that changes the human to vampire. Unlike fictional books or Hollywood movies, the human doesn’t die and rise as a vampire three days later. You will not die, becoming one of my kind. As such, we can have a family if you so desire. Our children would be born vampire, not made.”

Willa frowned in concentration. “So, if you bite me, I start to become a vampire?”

“No, for that to happen, you would have to take a small amount of my blood as well. And we have to do that three times. If we stop before the third exchange, you will remain human, although you would have a few of the vampire gifts.”

“That’s why there aren’t a gazillion vampires running around, right?”

Etienne chuckled. “Right.”

Suddenly Willa straightened in her chair. “Wait. What? I would have vampire gifts without being one?”

“I will break it down for you. After the first exchange, you will have fangs, be slightly sensitive to sunlight, and find you are a little stronger and faster. If we do the second exchange, you will have even more strength and speed. At that point, you will not be able to withstand direct sunlight without a daylight ring. Bare in mind, until the third exchange is completed, though you will have paranormal abilities, you will still be human.”

“What’s a daylight ring?”

“One of these.” He held out his hand for her to see the intricately designed ring set with an amber stone infused with golden flecks that caught the tiniest bit of light. Sparks of color glittered from the beautiful stone with each movement of his hand. “I only wear this one because it was my father’s. After two hundred years, the sun no longer affects a vampire. Though unnecessary, the ring has sentimental value for me.”

“That’s pretty. I could rock one of those. How does it work?”

Etienne busted out laughing. A full-belly laugh. “Yes, my love. You could. As long as you wear the stone somewhere on your person, the sun will not harm you.”

She was still admiring the ring when she asked, “So, what about the last exchange?”

“The first and second exchanges can be done one after the other. But for the third, it will be easier on your body if we wait at least a day. If we complete the series all at once, it will cause you pain. Your body needs time to adjust to the changes that take place.”

“Waiting is good. I don’t do pain if I can help it.”

“Perfect. I would never rush the process where you are concerned. After the last exchange, you will be fully converted and nearly immortal. As I said before, there are only two ways to kill one of my kind. You will also be able to heal wounds like I did when I healed your finger. I also believe you will receive total control of your empathy and find new ways to use that gift. Vampiric magic has a way of not only amplifying a natural gift but expanding your control and use of it.”

“You think so? Because I have worked hard to be able to live a normal life and amplifying my already out of control empathy scares the bejeebers out of me.”

“I have never known a converted vampire who was unhappy with their improved gift.”

Willa poked at the last shrimp on her plate. “With my luck, I’ll be the first.”

“I promise you, you will be fine. Do you remember when I told you there is nothing I cannot do?”

She paused her abuse of the lone shrimp. “Yeah?”

“If you are the first human in history to be unhappy with your improved gift, I will dampen it for you.”

“You’re not joking. You can really do that?” she said in an awed tone.

“Of course. If you believe nothing else, trust that I will do anything to make you happy.”

“I believe you, Etie.” She pointed at the top of her head and continued, “Empath over here. I would know if you were lying.”

“In the spirit of full disclosure, I must confess to one downfall or blessing, depending on how you look at it, of being a vampire. The magic chooses your hairstyle. No matter what you do, coloring, cutting, anything like that, twenty-four hours later your hair will return to the way it had been before you changed it.

“What! No. I don’t like that. Not at all. Do you have any idea what I go through to achieve this amazing hair?”

“I am sorry, kisba. I did not make the rules. Your hair is the one thing I cannot fix for you.”

Her shoulders slumped. “Well, crap. That really sucks balls.”

Etienne reached out to rub a length of her rainbow hair between his thumb and forefinger. “Can you live with that?”

She brushed a hand down the back of her head and sighed. “I don’t like it, but I guess I don’t have a choice.”

Relief flooded him. “I truly am sorry.”

She smiled sadly. “I know you are, and I appreciate that.”

The waiter appeared at the table again to clear their plates. “Could I interest you in dessert?”

Willa shook her head. “No, thank you. I couldn’t eat another bite.”

Etienne slipped the waiter his credit card as he said, “I am good as well.”

“Perfect. I will be but a minute.”

A few minutes later, they were back in Etienne’s car. They drove in silence. He had given her a lot to digest, so he left her to her thoughts. When he eased to a stop in front of her place, she put a hand on his arm, a trickle of energy sizzling where they touched.

“Would you like to come in?” she asked with hope shining in her eyes.

He cupped her cheek, brushing his thumb across her warm, soft skin. “I am not sure that is a good idea.”

Willa dropped her gaze and reached for the handle on her door. “I see.”

“No. I don’t think you do. I care for you deeply, Willa. You have a lot to process before you decide if you want to move forward with the conversion.” More quietly he added, “With me.”

Her eyes shot back to his. “But I have thought about it. Why are you putting me off? Have you changed your mind?”

His expression changed to one of horror. “I will never change my mind about you. You are my soulmate. My one true love.”

“Then why are you putting on the brakes?”

“Because I love you and want you to be absolutely sure. There are no take-backs or do-overs once the exchanges are completed.”

“Your one true love?” she asked in a small voice.

“Yes.” He took her hand in his and gazed into her eyes. “Does that frighten you?”

She shook her head emphatically. “No.”

Her answer vibrated through him like a tuning fork. “Are you sure?”

She nibbled her lips, and after a long moment, straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin like a defiant child. “Why would I be unsure when I feel the same way? Don’t try to argue with me, sugar buns. We’re going into my apartment and doing the first exchange. Then you are going to screw my brains out and spend the night.”

His eyes widened and he blinked for a moment. “Um… yes, ma’am?”

She opened her car door and stepped out. “Right answer. Let’s go. Times a-wastin’.” Then she closed the door and headed up the stairs to her apartment.

Etienne jumped out, laughing as he rushed to catch up. “I like your exuberance.”

She grinned at him over her shoulder as she unlocked the silver gate and then the door. She held the gate open and swept her arm dramatically for him to precede her.

He bowed and lifted her hand to his mouth. “Thank you, milady.” His lips lingered for a moment, paying attention to each knuckle before he pulled her inside.

Without preamble, Willa went straight to the meat of the matter. “So, how does this biting thing work?”

He stepped into her personal space, crowding her, and ran a finger down her neck. “I could bite you here.”

She tipped her head expectantly.

His finger brushed across her collarbone and over the swell of her right breast. “Or here.”

She sucked in a breath. Her chest rose, pushing her hardened nipple toward his seeking finger.

He cupped her in his palm, massaged the soft flesh for a moment, then ran his hand down her ribs, her belly, until he cupped her gently. “Perhaps here?”

Willa’s hips rocked forward, and she moaned. With each touch of skin on skin, their strange electrifying connection grew stronger.

His eyes glowed. The molten silver swirled. “My bite will bring you unimaginable pleasure. Choose wisely. Where I bite you, you will, in turn, bite me.”

“How… how will I do that? I don’t have chompers yet,” she stuttered.

Etienne massaged her through her slacks and kissed her neck, then whispered in her ear, “I will open a vein for you.”

“Oh, Lord. That feels good.” After a minute or two, she swallowed hard and found her voice again. “Will it hurt when you bite me?”

“Initially, you will feel a pinch much like getting an injection. After that, pleasure like you have never experienced will rush through your body.”

“Pleasure is good. Do you… do you take a lot of my blood?” she asked with worry coloring her tone.

“No, my love. Only a few sips are required for an exchange.”

Willa swept her hair off her neck and tilted her head. “Okay,” she breathed out. “I’m ready to do this.”

He nibbled her earlobe, kissed his way down her neck, then pulled the neckline of her shirt aside to feather kisses across her tanned flesh. He relished the sound of her quick intake of breath.

A soft moan parted her lips.

He wrapped one arm behind her waist, cradling her while the other, along with his lips, explored the tempting curves of her body.

She gasped with pleasure. “Aren’t you going to bite me?”

“Shh. All in good time.” With each caress, he backed her toward her bedroom.

“Yes, a good time. That’s a great idea,” she giggled and wriggled from his grasp. “Come on. You’re taking too long.” She took his hand and led him to what she knew was his destination.

He smiled at her impatience. “I have never been accused of taking too much time before.”

Stopping beside the bed, she pulled his shirt from the waistband of his jeans. She grinned and went up on tiptoes to kiss him. “Get naked, and I’ll reevaluate the situation.”

He pulled the shirt over his head, toed his shoes off, and went for the buttons of her blouse. “I have never required a reevaluation either. You are enough to give a man a complex,” he teased.

As he popped one button after the other, she slipped out of her shoes and began to explore his body.

Her hands molded to his chest, tracing and caressing every muscle and rib. She continued lower still, branding him with her touch. Finally, she reached the edge of his waistband riding low on his hips. With deft fingers, she popped the button and lowered the zipper.

Etienne groaned when she slid her hand inside. She cupped him, felt the length and shape of him before releasing him to glide her hands around to his buttocks and squeezed. She glanced up, a wicked glint in her eyes. Then she hooked her thumbs over the waistband and inched his jeans and briefs off his hips. With a slight nudge of her hands, his remaining clothing fell around his ankles.

Lifting one leg at a time, he stepped from the bundle of fabric wearing only his socks. He looked ridiculous. Balancing on one foot at a time he pulled them from his feet.

Willa had taken advantage of the situation, gripping and stroking him to near completion. He pulled her hands to his chest and flattened them over his heart, pressing them in place. “No more touching for now or the night will prematurely end. Your high voltage touch is about to take me over the edge.”

“We can’t have that.” She gave him a mischievous grin, leaned in, and licked his nipple.

Etienne’s head fell back with a moan. “Lord that feels amazing.” A minute or an hour later, he wasn’t sure, he pulled his head up and gathered his resolve. If he left Willa to her own devices, she would derail his plans. And he had a lot of plans.

He bent his head, nuzzled her neck, grazing her tender flesh with his fangs. Not hard enough to break the skin, just enough to tantalize. He drew in a quick breath to scent the air. She quivered not in fear but excitement. That was good.

Willa wanted him. And she wanted his bite. Not yet.

Etienne took another deep breath. “You have a scent to your skin that drives me wild.”

Greedy to feel every naked inch of her, he brushed her blouse from her shoulders. Thankfully, Willa lowered her arms to allow it to drop to the floor without missing a beat.

Her bra was a lovely delicate lace of pale blue. He traced the edge of one cup, then trailed his finger between the valley of her breasts. Watching her expression, he softly raked his nails over one hardened nipple, straining for release from the prison of her bra cup.

Willa’s breath hitched, and she shuddered with need.

Her breast filled his palm to overflowing, her tight bud pressing into his palm. “This is very pretty, but unnecessary for what I have in mind.” He lowered his mouth to the tempting tip and took the nipple into his mouth right through the lace of her bra.

Willa jerked and grabbed onto his shoulders. His muscles flexed under her fingers. When he lifted his head and licked his lips, she was inches from his magnificent face with fearsome fangs on full display. “Holy cow. Those chompers are even longer up close.”

“Some say a vampire’s fangs are proportionate to his feet.” He grinned and leaned in for a kiss, fangs and all.

When they came up for breath, she laughed. “Wrong portion of the anatomy, I’m afraid.”

A deep rumble of laughter vibrated through his chest, his exhale warm and moist on her skin. “Not when it comes to vampires. Though the anatomy rule holds true as well.”

His eyes glowed brighter than she had ever seen before, and a smile of anticipation pulled at his lips. He kissed the swell of her breast, then raised his head, and ran his fingers up her bra straps. “This has to go.”

Willa bit her lip. The promise of raw, sweaty sex and his barely leashed hunger for her were evident in the guttural edge to his words. She was on board with that. She reached a hand behind her back and popped the eyehooks free. When she dropped her arms adding the bra to the pile of clothing on the floor, he growled.

His gaze latched onto her breasts and stayed there. Apparently, he liked what he saw. Amusement quirked her lips. “Etie? I’m up here.”

His gaze jerked up as if he hadn’t realized he was staring. “Willa, you are breathtaking.”

His hand went to her neck, and he angled her head back with his thumb. “You have driven me to the edge of my control, shadíma. If you like the jeans and panties you are wearing, you should remove them quickly or I will rip them from your body.”

She licked her lips and allowed her empathetic gift open just a crack to see if he meant what he threatened. He did.

“I cannot believe I am saying this, but you will have to release my cock if we are to get you naked.”

“I don’t think so,” she teased, purposely pushing his boundaries.

He leaned into her, forcing her to drop her head further back to look up. The movement thrust her breast toward him, a temptation too strong to ignore. Willa had perfect breasts, full and round, with hard rosy tips. He would never pass up an offer like that. But the anticipation was as thrilling as the reward. With great purpose, he brushed his thumb over one areola, just under the nipple. Back and forth, but never quite hitting the mark. Willa wiggled and groaned in frustration.

When he had pushed her as far as he dared, he pinched the swollen bud, then lightly rolled it until it hardened even more.

Willa moaned. “More, Etie. I need more.”

“Perhaps I will torment you for defying me instead,” he teased as he arched her further and took the nipple he had been torturing into his mouth. Etienne had to get a taste. He flicked the ripe berry with his tongue, drawing gasps from Willa’s lips. Then he nipped her nipple, before suckling and rolling it to ease the sting. Finally, he blew on the wet tip and flicked it lightly with his tongue before suckling deeply again.

He felt Willa’s ragged breaths puff across his skin.

“Please, Etie. You’re killing me,” she begged.

Etienne smiled as he hovered over the neglected breast. He blew across the sensitized nipple. Smiling when it puckered further.

Willa growled.

Still, he made her wait, licking the soft skin around the tip, nipping and kissing everywhere except where she wanted his mouth. With each pass stopping short of the aching bud.

“Etienne,” she warned in an angry tone.

“You want my obedience, and yet you continue to defy me? You cannot have it both ways, my love.”

She gave him a firm squeeze in retaliation. He laughed and nipped her hard. When she squeaked in pain, he suckled the offended nipple until she squirmed again.

He both loved and hated that she challenged him. Her thumb continued to run lazy circles around his broad crown while her fist gripped him deliciously. But that meant she remained half-clothed. Unacceptable. With one swift move, he dropped his hands to her jeans and ripped the denim and panties from her body.

Willa squeaked. Then her blue eyes darkened with excitement. “That was totally hot.”

He nipped her full bottom lip playfully and removed her hand from his erection. Then he drew back her bedding, sending Shadow running for cover, and scooped Willa into his arms.

“Etie! Put me down.”

He sucked on her lower lip to quiet her protests. Setting a knee on the bed, he lowered her to the sheets and followed her down.

Willa retained her hold on him with her hands around the back of his neck and pulled his mouth to hers.

He tangled his fingers in her silky hair, angled her head for better access, and took command of the kiss. He coupled his tongue seductively with hers in a primal dance of love. Plunging then retreating, curling, and caressing.

Her hands roamed down his back to his ass and kneaded him like a cat. His hands were just as busy. He kissed his way across her jaw, down her neck, then farther.

He latched onto her right nipple with his lips, drawing it into his mouth for another taste. Willa stabbed her fingers into his hair and arched into his seeking mouth.

She loved the way his long soft hair whispered over her skin. All of his amazing hair was like a second pair of hands on her body. She watched as his mouth moved over her breasts, suckling, scraping with his teeth, soothing with his tongue. Small strawberries appeared in the wake of his marauding mouth.

His mouth was hot and wet and felt oh so good. He blew a warm breath across her nipples. The sensation was surprisingly arousing. Her breasts tingled in anticipation of more.

Then he rubbed his face against her tender flesh, a half days growth of beard raising a blush under her tan. When he took her nipple into his mouth and hummed deep in his throat, the vibration shot straight to her core, and she almost came.

She gasped. Cried out. “Oh! I like that.” She squirmed and whimpered, wanting more.

He flattened her hard peak against the roof of his mouth. “Hmmm.”

“Oh, that. Do more of that.” Etienne played her body like a maestro. Willa couldn’t take her eyes from the sight of him feasting on her breasts. She thought she might die if he didn’t allow her to orgasm soon. His mouth kept moving, following the path she wanted him to take, but much too slowly.

He was driving her out of her mind with pleasure.

Etienne shifted his body, widened her thighs with his knee and settled between her legs. She wiggled her wet core against his hard length and exhaled a throaty moan.

“Mmm, I love your passionate nature,” he murmured around her hard nub that he held between his teeth. “Moan for me again, baby.”

He suckled her hard and growled when she complied. She arched off the bed and writhed underneath him, rubbing her body against his.

He worshiped her breasts with his teeth, tongue, and lips before kissing his way down her belly.

Etienne adjusted his position and laid flat out on the mattress, his head between her legs, spreading them wide. His eyes locked on hers as he trailed his fingertips up her calves to her inner thighs, her legs quivering beneath his touch.

She reached for him, tunneled her fingers into his hair, and tried to push him where she wanted him.

“Easy, kisba,” he chuckled, his voice guttural with need. “We do not want to rush our first time. You will have at least one wild release before I initiate the exchange.”

“That isn’t going to happen if you don’t do something,” she protested as she lifted her weeping core higher.

He closed his eyes and inhaled. His cock jerked hard when her womanly scent filled his nose. He opened his eyes and smiled, knowing she would see his desire glowing in their depths. “I am going to devour you, push your need so high, you will beg for me to make love to you. Show me where you want my mouth,” he growled.

Willa gripped his hair again and urged him to lower his head. Pushing him to exactly where he wanted to be.

His tongue swept over her folds, tasting her, lapping up her honey. Her taste burst through his senses, heightening his need to a roar in his ears. She writhed, cried out, her legs wrapping him up as her fingers dug into his scalp.

He licked her entrance, then stabbed his tongue deep before retreating to suckle the tiny bundle of nerves that begged for his attention.

He repeated the action until she was whimpering for more. “Tell me what you want, my love. Do you want my fingers inside you?”

“Yes.”

“Yes, what?”

“Damn it, Etie!”

“Has anyone ever told you that you do not play well with others?”

She growled at him.

“I can see I will have to teach you how to play. We will work on that.” He flickered his tongue over her clit, and then suckled it hard as he pushed one finger deep.

Willa nearly bucked off the bed. She grabbed the sheets with tight fists, opening her legs wider, and thrust in time with his fingers. Etienne wrapped one arm over her hips to hold her down. His woman was a wildcat in bed. He liked that.

He added a second finger and curled them to rub the patch of nerves inside her channel.

“Oh, God. That’s it. Right there,” Willa cried out.

Her muscles tightened on his fingers and began to contract. She bucked and strained, but he held her fast, fingers of one hand gripping her hip while she convulsed around the others thrusting deep inside her.

He felt her body tense as her climax rushed through her. He latched onto her clit and closed his teeth around it. Willa screamed his name as she ripped the sheet from top to bottom.

As her orgasm began to ebb, he sank his fangs into her inner thigh. Willa screamed again. Her body shook and bucked as a second orgasm crashed through her.

Her flavor hit him like a runaway freight train. His head swam, and he felt slightly dizzy. He had never tasted anything so sweet and spicy. Her power and gifts surrounded him in a warm cocoon. He mentally shook himself and gathered his wits about him. He took four strong pulls, then licked the tiny punctures closed with long, slow, swirling sweeps.

Etienne prowled up Willa’s quivering body and rolled them so he could pull her into his arms. He pressed her head to his shoulder and stroked her hair. “Take all the time you need before you take the first exchange.”

“Holy crap. You could have warned me.”

He chuckled. “What is the fun in that?”

She swatted his chest weakly and then laughed along with him. “Who knew a bad boy was lurking under your stuffy designer suit?”

“There is a reason they say never judge a book by its cover.”

“You certainly proved that to be true.” She took a deep, slightly shaky breath and propped herself up on her forearm. She waggled her brows and glanced at his erection. “I get to bite you now.”