Chapter Eight

 

 

Etienne cocked one brow and gave her a wicked grin. “My inner thigh, kisba. If you put your mouth on me, I will come, and then I will not be able to make love to you until I recover. That is unacceptable.”

Willa gave him her best pout. At least, she tried to. She hoped she didn’t look ridiculous. She wiggled out from under his arm and crawled to the end of the bed. Eyeing his cock, she licked her lips.

“Willamina,” he warned.

“Fine. Ruin all my fun,” she huffed teasingly. “So how do I do this?”

He lengthened his index fingernail to a razor-sharp edge and made a small cut for her. The blood welled instantly and trickled down his leg to the sheet. “Take four strong pulls. Then I will close the wound.”

She took a deep, calming breath and leaned in to do as she was instructed. She expected Etie’s blood to taste like iron, but the flavor shocked her. He was sweet and robust, like a rich red wine. She could get into this. Power she had come to recognize as Etie, surged through her body. Sparks crackled and fizzled over her skin. Small explosions, like fireworks lit up the room. Something clicked into place and she felt whole, connected to another living being like never before.

“That is enough, my love. If you take too much, you will be sick.”

She swept her tongue across the wound even though she didn’t have the healing properties in her saliva and sat back on her heels.

Etienne licked his finger, pulling a bit of saliva from his mouth and ran the finger over the cut. In a blink of the eye, the wound was gone. She leaned in again and licked him clean of any remaining blood, then crawled back up to his chest.

Etienne lifted her chin to claim her lips. His hands slid down her back in a sweeping caress. “I had every intention of giving you a few minutes to come to terms with what you just did, but I am not that strong. I need you, Willa,” he whispered against her parted lips.

“Thank God.” Willa rolled to her back more than ready to make love to the man she had come to love in such a shockingly short period of time. Karen had told her the insta-love was a vampire soulmate thing. If she didn’t know that she would have worried about her sanity.

He kissed his way down her body for the second time. Willa parted her thighs and wiggled her hips enticingly. Satisfaction filled her when Etie hissed out a breath and licked his lips with a low, sexy moan.

Etienne braced himself over her, teasing her with slow glides over her most sensitive area, nudging against the entrance of her hot, wet center. He gazed into her eyes, watching her like a predator, while he rubbed against her heat, taunting her, teasing her, drawing out the moment.

She strained against him, lifting her hips in an effort to take him inside. “Etienne, don’t make me hurt you,” she warned.

“Wrap your legs around my waist,” he demanded as he pulled one of her thighs into place. His playtime had pushed them both to their limits. If he didn’t bury himself in her lush body soon, he would lose his mind.

“Yes, sir.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, making a show of rubbing her hard nipples against his chest, then locked her ankles behind his back.

“Vixen,” he growled with a grin. He fisted his cock and guided himself to her slick, wet entrance. Then with an animalistic snarl, he thrust forward all the way to the hilt. “Mine!”

Pleasure exploded through him, as scorching wet silk gripped him. Willa gasped and held very still. That worried him. She was not a passive woman. “Did I hurt you?”

“Just a little. I haven’t had sex in a while. Okay, three years, but who’s counting. Give me a second, okay?”

He leaned down and trailed soft kisses up her neck to her lips. Apologizing with his actions.

“Okay. I’m good,” she breathed out when he let her come up for air.

Etienne pushed himself up and locked his elbows. The sight of their bodies joined, made his heart sing with joy. He was making love to his true soulmate.

“You feel like heaven, Willa.”

“If you don’t start moving, you will feel a lot more than that,” she hissed between her teeth.

He chuckled at her false threats as he pulled back and slid home again. “Open your eyes, muierimei,” he commanded through clenched teeth. “Know who is making love to you.”

Willa’s lids fluttered open. Her passion-filled sapphire eyes telling him what he needed to know. He was a demanding lover. He knew that. Thank the goddess above, she liked what he was doing. She enjoyed the way he gave her pleasure.

“That’s it, my love. Keep your eyes on mine. Tell me what you like.”

Her eyes went dark, the pupils fully dilated. Never taking his gaze from hers, his hips rocked forward while hers thrust up to meet him.

Her sheath was velvet and heat. She pulsed and tightened around him, gripping him tightly with every slide in and out. Almost too tight. Concerningly so. “You’re tighter than I expected. Are you all right, Willa? Am I hurting you?”

“No, you feel incredible. Although you’re moving way too slow.” Then she gave him a wicked grin. “You haven’t seen tight.”

Her muscles tightened further, nearly causing him to prematurely come. “Stop that or I will spank your beautiful bottom.”

“Promises, promises,” she teased and squeezed him again.

“Is that right?” He gripped her hips and thrust hard and deep. Pumping hard and fast. All the while, watching her face for signs of pain or distress. Not his woman. She met him thrust for thrust. Giving as good as he gave.

Her moans and mewls of pleasure were tantamount to an accelerant thrown on the flames of his passion. Her nails dug into his forearms, the tiny bites of pain shooting straight to his groin. The slap of their bodies coming together added to the symphony of their lovemaking. His breath sawed in and out of his lungs and his balls pulled up tight in readiness.

Willa’s soft sounds drove him to the edge of madness. He pistoned into her like a machine, pushing her higher. With each thrust, he drove her closer to the edge of the precipice.

“Etie. Oh, God, Etie,” she cried.

The room fell away. There was nothing but Willa with her perfect body and beautiful soul.

Etienne was an erotic, wet dream come to life. Every line and angle of his face cut deep with passion. His silver eyes glowed almost white with his intensity. She was a willing captive, held by his gaze and desires.

No man had ever given her so much pleasure. He pushed her to the limit and rose to the challenge when she demanded more. He was driving her insane while at the same time supplying everything she needed. She had never experienced anything like that before. And she liked it. No, loved it. Etie was a freaking sex god, and he was all hers.

She felt every inch of him as he pushed deeper and harder. They were skin to skin. He was buried to the hilt, deeper than any man had ever penetrated. It was perfect.

She gasped for air. Her lungs burned. Her body writhed for release. Their lovemaking was animalistic. Glorious. A little terrifying. Everything she’d ever dreamed of.

“Give yourself to me, muierimei. I want all of you.”

His voice was guttural. Husky. Dripping with desire. His gaze drifted possessively over her face. His expression sent shivers through her body. He was… ravenous. Insatiable.

Challenge accepted.

Etie leaned forward and drew one of her legs to his shoulder, and to her shock, pushed deeper. She was surprised he wasn’t tickling her tonsils. Still, he didn’t slow or ease off.

“Etie!” She lifted her hips to meet each fierce, magnificent thrust. He filled her fantastically. They fit perfectly.

His breath puffed across her heated skin in labored gasps. His forehead was pressed into the pillow beside her head. Then she felt his hand slide between their bodies and he thumbed her clit. Her world exploded. White spots flashed behind her eyelids. The orgasm hit her like a hurricane. Her fangs shot from her gums. Before she knew what she was doing, she bit the side of his neck. Hard.

Willa’s bite caught him off guard. “Fuck!”

Hot jets of seed exploded from him like a volcano erupting. His fangs punched from his gums. His hips jerked and slammed into her. Thunder crashed in his mind, and his eyesight faded to black. His entire body felt like it exploded into tiny pieces and then flew back together again.

She held him like a tight fist, squeezing him like a vise, milking every drop from his body until he felt like a dried-up husk. He had never come so hard. Not ever.

It took all of his control to not bite her back. No. He wouldn’t do the second exchange yet. She needed to think it over and be sure before they took their mating to the next level. Sucking in a stuttering breath, he forced his fangs to recede.

Etienne wedged a finger between his neck and Willa’s mouth, forcing her to break the suction. “Lick the bite closed, my love.”

He felt her tongue swirl over his skin in seductive circles. “Did I do such a poor job of loving you that you are still ready for more?”

“Honey, if you did your job any better I would need a walker to get to the bathroom.”

He lifted his head to look her in the eye. “I will take that as a compliment.”

“You should. Etie, you’re the best lover I have ever had,” she panted.

He scowled at her “I am the best lover you will ever have. From tonight forward, you only have one man.”

Willa chuckled. “You’ve got that right. You ruined me for all mankind.”

Etienne nipped her earlobe playfully. “Right answer.” He rolled onto his side and took Willa with him, keeping their bodies joined.

She laid her head on his chest and snuggled close. “Nice move, sugar buns.”

As he kissed the top of her head, he noted with satisfaction that she was still out of breath.

He swatted her butt, then rubbed soothing circles over the spot. “What did I tell you about calling me ridiculous names?”

“I have no idea of what you speak,” she denied. After a pause, she whispered, “You yelled a swear word, vampman.”

He squeezed her until she squealed. “What do you expect when my balls are so tight, they are in my throat, and you bite me? You blew off the top of my head!” His hand flew to his hair and patted around. “Do I have a bald spot?”

Willa busted out laughing. “Bald spot? Really?”

He made one last pass over his head, then wrapped his arms around her again. “I swear it happened.”

“You yelled so loud all my neighbors heard you.”

He cocked a brow. “Only if they are zombies. Do you have zombies in the building?” he teased.

“Pff. Zombies don’t exist.”

“Sure, they do. Who do you think advised the producers of the Walking Dead? But if there were any in the vicinity, I would know about it. I doubt any would be stumbling around New Orleans. They only exist in South America.”

“Now you’re teasing me,” she grumbled.

He rubbed his chin back and forth over the top of her head. “Not even a little.”

She lifted her face and looked him in the eyes. “Seriously?”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “Seriously.”

“So how do you know that no one is in the building with us?”

“No heartbeats. Well, except for a cat on the second floor.”

“You can hear a heartbeat that far away?”

“Hello, vampire here,” he teased.

Willa rolled her eyes. After a thoughtful pause, she asked. “Will you stay the night?”

“I have no intention of leaving. I like it right where I am. You make the perfect blanket.”

“You’re making jokes again,” she said sleepily, the last two words mumbled as she faded off into dreamland.

 

 

Willa felt the mattress dip when Etie sat up and paused to stretch. She cracked her eyes open only far enough to see sunlight peeking between her blinds. Ugh. She hated mornings. She checked the clock beside the bed and groaned. Six a.m. She didn’t even know what six a.m. smelled like. Who in their right mind got up that early? Etie apparently. He left the bed and collected his scattered clothing, dressing quietly.

Willa snuggled deeper under the covers. No way was she getting up until at least nine. She sighed when she felt Etie’s lips press a kiss to her forehead.

“I have to go home for a bit. There are things that require my attention. I will only be a few hours if you want to have lunch with me.”

“Mm. Lunch sounds great.”

“Perfect. I will call you when I am free.” He kissed her forehead again before whispering, “I love you, Willamina Josephina Donnella Witt.”

“Call me that again and I’m erasing your number from my phone,” she groused.

She heard Etie laughing as he locked her front door behind him. She rolled over, punched her pillow into just the right shape, and mumbled, “Laugh it up, vampman.”

 

 

Wearing a satisfied grin, Etienne showered and dressed before heading downstairs for a strong cup of coffee. He’d left his mate sleepy and content. As well she should be. If she had been less than exhausted, he would have questioned his sexual prowess.

Darius and Carolyn were already in the kitchen. His second eyed Carolyn’s backside like she was a delectable treat while he sipped coffee. Poor Carolyn had no idea she was about to be molested while loading the dishwasher.

Darius sucked in a breath and spun around to stare at him, the sudden move sloshing hot coffee across the back of his hand. He took a second deep breath and his eyes widened. “You were up close and personal with Miss Willa last night.”

When Darius opened his mouth to say more, Etienne gave him a warning glare. “Choose your next words wisely. Willa is my muierimei.”

Darius shrugged. “I’m in shock. You smell pretty, and you’re glowing. It’s kind of scary.”

That brought Etienne up short. “I am not glowing.”

Carolyn glanced over her shoulder. “Yes, you are. Being happy and in love isn’t a crime, you know.”

Etienne poured himself a cup and kissed Carolyn’s cheek. “I agree wholeheartedly. Willa is an amazing woman. I was prepared to spend weeks, months wooing her. But she didn’t think twice about doing the first exchange with me.”

The cup stopped halfway to Darius’s lips, and Carolyn spun on her heel to gape at him.

“We talked for hours when I was at her apartment. I did my best to explain things to her. But I didn’t realize I had done such a good job,” she chuckled.

“For that, I’m eternally grateful. Darius if you’re not done with your morning caffeine fix, refill your cup and follow me. I have a lunch date with Willa, and I don’t want to be late.”

“Hold on. What the hell is wrong with you? You’re talking like a normal person,” Darius demanded.

Etienne shrugged. “Willa pointed out that perhaps if I used contractions, I would blend in better. I’m practicing, though I often forget.”

“Holy hell. I like this woman already.”

“Shut up and meet me in the library.”

 

 

Willa rolled over and patted around for Etie, and then remembered he had gone home hours ago. She blinked her eyes open and came nose to whiskers with Shadow lounging on Etie’s pillow.

He stared back at her. She swore she saw condemnation in his yellow eyes.

“Oh, shut up. I haven’t had sex in years, and you’re not going to ruin this for me.”

Shadow flexed his claws and yawned in her face.

Willa reared back and plugged her nose. “What have you been eating?”

He closed his eyes, ignoring her.

“Fine, go back to sleep, Mr. Stinky.” She kissed him on the head, yawned, and stumbled to the bathroom for her morning routine. Willa stood under the spray and moaned. The hot water felt great on her sore muscles.

As she dried off, she noticed Etie’s Polo shirt on the vanity, neatly folded with a note on top of it. She ran a finger along the collar and smiled. The crazy man must have gone home half naked.

 

Good morning, Willa.

 

I think this will look great on you.

Have a great morning, my love.

 

I miss you already,

Etie

XOXO

 

Willa grinned to herself. It was obvious he wanted her to wear his shirt, and the Xs and Os were adorable. She put it on and sniffed the collar. Mm, Eau de Etie. Smiling, she went in search of a pair of jeans.

Back in the bedroom, she glanced at Shadow. “You had better behave yourself today. Your mother has fallen hard for a vampire, and you’re about to get a new daddy with fangs bigger than yours. If you rip anything to shreds when I go out I might let him bite you.”

Shadow snored.

Her cell phone rang. Speak of the devil, it was Etie.

“Hello?”

“Hello, my love. I have disappointing news. My meeting has turned into an all-day affair. I’m sorry, but I will not be able to join you for lunch. Are you free for dinner?”

“Sure. I’m free. And don’t worry about it, I’ll just grab something here and have lunch with Shadow.”

“Thank you for understanding. I’ll call you when I finish for the day.”

“All right. Take your time.”

Willa was pouring her second cup of coffee when a knock sounded on her door. She stiffened and then recalled the extra security on her windows and doors. Besides, a stalker wouldn’t knock. Would he?

Quietly she tiptoed to look through the peephole. Etie? I just talked to him. What is he doing here? He isn’t supposed to be back until the end of the day and didn’t he say he would call first?

She flipped the deadbolt and opened the door. “Hey there. Aren’t you a few hours early?”

No greeting, no acknowledgment of her question, just, “Would you like to have breakfast with me?”

Shadow hissed and dove under the couch. Willa glanced over her shoulder and frowned at the incensed feline. What the heck was his problem?

Confused by Shadows reaction, she turned her attention back to Etie. “I haven’t eaten yet, so sure. Come on in while I get ready.” She opened the silver gate and held it wide. She glanced at his hands as he swept past. Odd, he wasn’t wearing his ring.

He jumped when she goosed him playfully. Very slowly, he turned his head, his features hard and cold.

“Don’t ever do that again.”

Willa narrowed her eyes at him. “Who stuck a stick up your ass?”

“Do your thoughts always spill out of your mouth without censoring?” he snarled, his voice every bit as icy as his look.

She gave him a huge sarcastic smile. “Of course. I believe that if everyone said what they were feeling or thinking there would be a lot less confusion in the world. And right now, I think you’re an ass.”

“I see,” he said with a bored look on his face.

Willa studied him, unease and suspicion crawling up her spine. She opened her gift a crack to get a handle on what his issue was. “Something is wrong here. I can feel it.”

“That might be your lack of filter. You might want to start using it.”

She flicked his nasty comment away with the back of her hand. “Your energy feels all wrong. It isn’t just your dark mood. It’s the core of you.” She gave him a peeved glare. “What happened to you since you left this morning?”

He glanced away, refusing to look her in the eyes. Something was not right, but she couldn’t suss it out.

“Nothing. Are you going to get ready to go or not?”

“Not. I have no intention of spending time with you until you get over this mood.” She stomped to the door and threw it open. “You need to leave and don’t come back until you can be civil.”

He grabbed her arm roughly and snarled, “You’re coming with me.”

Willa tore her arm from his grasp. “The hell I am.”

He glared at her, or at least she assumed he did based on his pinched expression. Though with his dark glasses covering his eyes, she wasn’t sure. Then without another word, he spun on his heel and stalked out.

“Don’t come back until you figure out what your problem is.” She slammed the door in his face. Huffing out a breath, she cracked her neck to ease the tension and grabbed her coffee off the counter. As she settled onto the couch, Shadow squeezed out from under it, and rubbed against her legs.

“That man may be sexy as hell, but he’s also an ass and arrogant enough for ten men. Well, he won’t get away with that with me.”

Meow.

“Exactly. If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll bring flowers the next time he darkens my door.”

Meow, meow.

“Excellent point. He better have a box of chocolates, too.”

Shadow put his front paws on the cushion and flicked his tail impatiently.

Willa scooped him up into her arms. “Uff. That’s it. Tomorrow I’m getting diet cat food for you.”

He rubbed his head against the side of her face, purring. “What should we watch?” she asked as she grabbed the remote. “A home improvement show or animal planet?”

“Meeeooowww.”

“Animal planet it is.”

 

 

Ivan stomped down Willa’s front step and marched to the car waiting on the street. He yanked the door open, plopped into the back seat, and slammed the door shut.

Dmitri turned to look at him. “Where is the woman?”

“Not with me. Obviously,” he barked sarcastically. “There are a number of protection spells on her apartment. Before I could drag her out, I was forced to leave. We’ll have to catch her outside of that protective space.”

“Did you pull off the impersonation? Did she believe you were Etienne?”

“Yes and no. She thought I was my brother being an ass.” Ivan glanced at his second and smiled an evil smile. “At least that is a plus. She is angry with him now. Perhaps I managed to throw a wrench into the relationship.”

“Do you want the men to continue to follow her, or is she no longer useful as a pawn?”

“Keep a team on her. She may prove useful yet. My twin has a way of getting what he wants. That woman may prove to be the chink in his armor.”

Dmitri turned to face forward and started the engine. “I’ll make sure the team reports in the moment she leaves the apartment.”

“Good. Now find a place where we can have a quiet breakfast and discuss our next move.”