CHAPTER EIGHT
Eska raced to her chamber. Her heart beat mightily from where it lodged in her throat, obstructing her newly-awakened ability to breathe. Her pulse flew. This was so unlike her. She wasn’t a novice. She’d been wed young. Widowed early. But still, she’d been indoctrinated into what it meant to be a woman. Found it anticlimactic, at best.
She’d spent her afterlife attempting to alter that.
There had to be more to what happened between a man and woman. Something that satisfied the urges stirred into existence. Something...massive. That’s why she prowled the nights, searching for her King Salmon candidate. Hoping. Longing. The exercise proved futile, although it provided some diversion in an afterlife of sameness. So, she’d prowled. Practiced. Honed her verbal sparring skills. Dressed to entice. Men made easy prey. Tantalizing and beguiling brought a glimpse of what she craved. Interchange brought benefits...for both of them. The rush of testosterone made their blood tangy. Viscous. Thick. Extremely satisfying. She rarely left them wanting, either. Taking could be a sensual experience for a mortal.
And Eska really liked doing that.
Thoughts flashed through her mind. This was so crazed. She’d had so many opportunities. Over many years. So much experience. And what had she done when she’d actually found him?
Panicked.
This was worse than insane. She’d been warned Henry was dangerous! Why hadn’t she listened?
Precious seconds elapsed before her chamber loomed just ahead. Finally! Eska skidded to a halt just shy of hitting the door. Fingers trembled as she punched a three-digit code into the keypad. She faltered. Mixed the numbers incorrectly. Tried again. More moments ticked by before the keypad reacted. The locking mechanism was loud. As was the sound of the handle as she turned it. She shoved the door open. Slid past...
And stumbled.
A mass rushed past, yanking the door from her grasp. The boom as it rebounded back to the doorframe was loud enough to echo. As was the bolt as it fell, sealing the portal.
Oh no!
He’d caught her?
Disbelief warred within her, even with proof before her eyes. Henry had definitely caught her. He stood in the midst of her chamber, his legs silhouetted against the white velvet-covered bed. The glow of candlelight glanced off bronzed skin, created golden glints in his hair. Showcased his beauty.
Oh my. My.
The man was beyond sigh-worthy. His size was just another bonus. He was taller than she’d surmised. And impossibly fit. She’d noted his physique the moment she’d seen him, but when standing, the man was beyond impressive. Rarely had she witnessed such a specimen. And never with this effect! Shivers coursed her skin as he just stood there. Menacingly silent.
Oh! This was exciting!
Incredible.
And really scary.
His every breath was a match to hers. Hard. Deep. With each one, he somehow loomed larger. He scowled as he faced her. Chin lowered. Tiny lines carved across his forehead. Eyes narrowed. But something was very different. His eyes were not remotely blue at the moment. They were red.
Blood red.
He lifted an arm, clanking the length of chain that dangled from it, while a chunk of gray rock swung back and forth with the motion. Her heart stopped. And then it dropped to the pit of her belly. When it restarted, the pounding was forceful. Rapid. And frightening. He finally spoke, but it was more a growl.
“You forgot one.”
“H-how...did you get free?” Oh, dear. Her voice trembled.
“Being half-changed appears to grant all manner of things. Strength. Speed. Dexterity. Emotion adds a definite edge. If you weren’t already dead, you might know that.”
He took a step toward her, shrinking the room as well as elevating the temperature. Her reaction didn’t help. Eska immediately backed a corresponding amount of space from him. It was instinctual. Self-preserving. Totally discomfiting. His upper lip lifted in a smile. Her eyes widened. Not at the threat he presented, but he had small spikes where his canines should be!
He waved his shackled arm. The stone mace swung back and forth again, barely missing his leg. He didn’t even seem to notice. “Finish this, Eska. Break the cuff.”
“H-H-Henry?” Eska hurriedly swallowed, but it was too late. She’d stuttered. It was instantly audible. Easily interpreted.
“I said finish. And that is not a request.”
She shook her head quickly, a gesture she instantly regretted.
“Do not make me force it.”
He took another step toward her. Eska almost backed again, but caught the motion just in time.
“You will not find it enjoyable. I guarantee it.”
“I never—”
He cut her off. “It’s obvious you like a man in your power. Well. This time you have the wrong man. Trust me. Now. Free me. I’m ordering you.”
He took another step toward her. Now he was so near, his every breath touched her. Proximity sent all manner of incendiary signals. Her mouth went dry.
“This is your final warning, Eska. Break the cuff. Now. Right now.”
She took a hesitant step. Felt him hovering above her. Heard his intake of breath followed by a long silence as he held it. Her eyes filmed over with a sudden wash of tears, making it difficult to see. Everything was so strange. So powerfully new. Intensely nerve-wracking. Her hands were icy as she reached for him. Touched the iron about his wrist. Tremulously, she slid two fingers beneath the metal...contacted skin. And an electrically charged surge raced up her arm. It filled her chest. Grabbed her heart. It was difficult to move. Impossible to think.
The shackle fell off, dropping with a metallic thud to the floor. She watched it happen. She hadn’t even felt the iron snap apart. His breath came out with a whoosh of air that lifted hairs on her forehead.
“Thank you,” he said softly.
Eska nodded. She didn’t move her gaze from his newly-freed arm. She didn’t answer. There weren’t words for what she felt.
“I probably could have broken it myself,” he informed her.
“Why...didn’t you?”
His voice carried a strange tone. “Because you are a vampire. A creature I should never consider bargaining with. And definitely not for anything...as personal as what you required.”
She caught a reactionary cry. It was a small victory.
“You are not as you seem, Miss Eska. You’re dead. The equivalent of a flesh-covered corpse. Dry. Aged. Unlovely.”
“Just go,” she whispered.
“Ah. That is the rub, sweet. I cannot. Not now.”
He’d just called her sweet! Her ears heard it. Her heart gave a mighty thump. Her mind reeled. Her belly might as well have taken a blow.
“Do you see yet?”
“See...what?” She shouldn’t have tried to answer. The words were almost unintelligible.
“Why I forced you.”
She shook her head.
“I just spoke on it. You are a vampire. You reek of death. And—.” He bit off his words. Sucked in a breath. “Damn everything! This isn’t working! Ah!”
His yell rattled candles in their holders. Eska flashed a glance upward. He had his chin tilted back, his eyes closed. His teeth gritted.
“Henry?” she asked.
He lowered his head. Speared her gaze with his. “I spout words that are meaningless. Repeat things that are useless. Order things to change. And yet, nothing works! I cannot deny the proof before me.” His voice lowered. Hoarsened. “You are none of those things, Eska. You are so beautiful, words fail me. You exude warmth. Light. Energy. I am bedeviled. Vexed more with every moment that passes. Confounded at every turn. Why is everything so damned backwards?”
“I...don’t understand.”
He sighed heavily. “I cannot explain. Not yet. Maybe, not ever. Are you ready, then?”
“For what?”
“Our bargain.”
She gasped.
“I gave you my word. I’m now honor-bound to keep it. That is why I forced you to free me. Because otherwise, I would not be here. And I definitely would not. Be doing. This.”
He separated the words with actions. First reaching an arm about her waist, then tightening his grip to pull her to him. His other hand went beneath her chin, lifting her to face him. Eska’s hands came up automatically. Smacked against his pecs. His heart hammered into her palms as he pulled her close. Closer. His eyes had changed again. They weren’t blue. Or red. They were a warm violet shade. Unique. Vibrant.
“Keep the fangs under control. Deal?”
“Yes, but what of—?”
She didn’t finish. He’d lowered his head. Blond locks of hair fell forward, brushing her cheeks. And then his lips met hers. Eska’s gasp was lost in the caverns of his mouth. Her eyelids dropped shut. Her hands slid up, reached around his shoulders, and used the grip to move even closer. Heat swelled in her core, shot outward, and then it became sound. The room filled with an operatic aria that pulsed with energy. It resounded with the depth of his groans, the lilting accompaniment of her moans. Her heart beat crazily. Erratic. Harsh. And it carried a distinct echo since it matched his.
A blizzard of sensations assailed her. White. Frost-filled. Shockingly vivid. A virtual white-out ensued, containing slivers that intensified, before they warmed. Became liquid. Electrically charged waves of it raked her, alternately cresting. Then ebbing. Cresting again. All of it hammering at her efforts to restrain. Control. Confine. She had to keep her fangs at bay.
She just had to!
Somehow.