B005EMAYWS EBOK Page 6

  A moment later, she heard him breathing rapidly and she felt his hand gently stroking her thigh. Summer didn’t dare make a sound, afraid that she would break the spell.

  His hand moved up from her thigh, caressing her the whole time. Suddenly his lips were against her flesh - his tongue leaving a hot trail all the way up her thigh. His sharp teeth bit into her flesh and she gasped, loving the sweet - exquisite pain of him tasting her.

  Anton threw back his head and a deep growl rumbled from his throat. The black hat he was wearing fell to the floor. She saw that his teeth were bigger - sharper, and his eyes were on fire with lust. Summer could see he was fighting the changing, and for a split second, she felt genuine fear.

  Summer was no stranger to the changing. She’d witnessed it before, but never had she been the object of the wolf’s attention when it took control of the body.

  He was trembling - fiercely fighting to keep the wolf at bay. Summer thought of the boy out in the lobby. Would Anton kill him if he lost control?

  His fingers slipped into her panties to find her throbbing bud. His touch was magic, as he manipulated her moist need until she was trembling with pent-up passions. Summer shuddered violently, as he brought her the release she so desperately needed.

  Anton stood up abruptly, his eyes glowing with hunger. With one large hand he pulled her close to him, while the fingers of his other hand unzipped his pants.

  A knock at the door shattered the moment. “Hey guys! We don’t do that kind of stuff here. That’s what they have rooms for.”

  Summer looked up at Anton with a smile. “What do you think? We’ve already crossed that line.” If there was one thing that she knew, it was that she would never rest until he had possessed her completely.

  He pulled her up and kissed her lips softly. “Let’s get a picture taken.”

  Summer was disappointed that Anton had so easily brought himself back under control.

  * * *

  Penny locked the door behind her and tossed her purse on the entertainment center. She headed straight for the shower. It had been a long day, and it was already late, almost midnight.

  She doubted that Summer would be coming home tonight. Penny knew she wouldn’t, if she’d been lucky enough to be spending the evening with a guy like Anton. Summer had her share of boyfriends, but Penny could tell this one was special. That girl was head over heels in love. You couldn’t miss it when Summer looked at him.

  Finished with her shower, Penny wrapped a towel around her and went into the front room to turn on the stereo. A popular tune was playing, and Penny began dancing around the room. Letting the towel slip from her body, she pretended to do a striptease.

  Her eyes caught sight of something that alerted her subconscious to danger. Something wasn’t right. When she looked over to the stereo, she saw him standing there. He was staring at her with hard - sadistic black eyes - soulless eyes. His dark curly hair framed an attractive face, but the mask of hate he wore twisted his handsome features into a reflection of pure evil.

  Penny screamed and started backing away.

  The stranger pressed a button on the stereo and a song began to play. It was a song that she’d never heard before - a haunting melody.

  “What did he say to you?” the man asked her.

  Confused, Penny shook her head. “Who?”

  “You know who! Your Lover!” he barked.

  In one swift movement, she lifted the towel from the floor and started running toward the hall, but she wasn’t fast enough. The pain was instantaneous, and then gone. In her last seconds she saw his bloody mouth pull away from her throat, before he again sank his teeth into her flesh and ended her life.

  Chapter Five

  It was well past midnight, but the park was lit up like it was the middle of the day. Spotlights cut through the darkness to illuminate the ghastly sight. CSI had arrived and was already processing the scene. Ethan was in the middle of all the commotion, snapping pictures of the victim and the surrounding area.

  Nicole waited for him on the other side of the yellow tape that designated the area as a crime scene. She’d just left the office for the evening when he’d called her to tell her about the latest victim.

  All of the victims had been drained of blood, and the press had already given the killer the nickname of vampire. Little did the public know that the name “vampire” was more accurate than anyone realized. The number of people that had become victims in this killing spree was staggering. And that was just in New Orleans, but there were more - many more.

  Of course the victims’ throats were torn out - a trademark of a real vampire killing. It wasn’t just one vampire, but many that were hunting in New Orleans, as well as cities all over the world. Most of the time when a vampire killed their prey, the police never made a connection, but that wasn’t the case now. With so many murders in a short period of time, the police believed they had a serial killer on their hands. The problem was that these murders were happening everywhere.

  The bloodlust of Omar’s vamps was insatiable, but that wasn’t even their biggest problem. Essentially, Omar was telling the Light Seekers and the wolves to come out and play. He wanted a war - he wanted to show them that he was unstoppable.

  Ethan stepped around the police officers guarding the crime scene. With a nod of his head, he motioned for Nicole to follow him away from the crowd of people that had gathered at the park. She was only too glad to get out of there. Murder scenes had always bothered her. Though the victim had not been identified yet, they knew she was young - maybe nineteen. The body had been discovered by a group of teens that were walking in the park. Nicole was surprised that they’d even called it in. They were all underage and out after curfew.

  “Is it another vampire murder?” Nicole asked.

  “I’m afraid so. This is ten now in two months, and that’s just in New Orleans.”

  Ethan stopped and took off his glasses so that he could wipe them clean. He then put them back on and started walking again.

  “Ethan, why do you even wear those glasses? You know that you don’t need them.”

  It was true. Ethan was her boss, but he was also a vampire. He hadn’t needed glasses since the night he’d been turned. She suspected he still wore them because they were a link to his past.

  “I just don’t feel like me unless I have them on,” he told her.

  “So what are we going to do?” Nicole got back to what they’d been talking about.

  “I don’t know. I was hoping that Dash would have returned by now … and maybe he’d have some answers for us.”

  Nicole frowned. Dash had stolen Luciano’s amulet and used it to cross into Outerlands. It was forbidden for vampires to enter that realm. There was no way of knowing what had happened to him.

  “He’s been gone for over two months. Don’t you think we should have heard something by now … if he were still alive.” Nicole added reluctantly.

  Ethan’s eyes reflected the gloom that had descended on them all. He was thinking the same thing she was. The wolves had destroyed their friend. Dash had known the risk, but had hoped he could find the secrets of the vampires. He’d been sure that these secrets lay in that forbidden realm of the wolves.

  “Did Sarah call that friend of hers in Nevada?” Ethan asked.

  Nicole nodded. “She told Sarah that she would see what she could find out and get back with her. We can’t find Lex anywhere, or maybe he could do something.”

  Ethan shook his head. “Lex is a Vilka, but he can’t enter Outerlands anymore than we can.”

  “We have to do something. Soon this place is going to be crawling with vampire slayers, if they are not here already.” Nicole worried not only for Ethan, but also for the man she loved. Alec was a vampire, and would be a target of the slayers as sure as Omar’s vamps.

  Then there was her half sister, Sarah. Her husband was a vampire. At the moment, they were both at Sarah’s aunts in Oregon. Sarah’s husband, Darrien had been badly injured by t
he sun and the two witches were doing what they could to heal him. So far there had been no murders near her sister, but it wouldn’t be long.

  She and Sarah shared the same father, but had different mothers. Their father was the vampire Donavan, and Omar was his brother. At first Omar had been determined to kill the sisters, but his focus now seemed to be on creating a full-scale war. He was calling out the wolves, and when they finally responded, no vampire would be safe.

  “I guess all we can do is wait to hear from Sarah.”

  Nicole wasn’t satisfied. Ethan’s answer did nothing to alleviate her worry. Right now Alec was fine. In fact, he was waiting for her at home. But when the slayers descended on the city, he would have to go into hiding.

  It was time that all three sisters were together. Only then would everything come to a head - only then would they have the strength to stop Omar and bring peace to their existence once again.

  * * *

  Summer slid into the driver’s seat, and then held out her hand for the keys.

  “What are you doing?” Anton asked.

  “I’m going to drive,” she told him sweetly.

  “We’re taking you home,” he stated, leaving no room for argument.

  “No … we are going to your room. Didn’t you hear the guy?”

  Anton shook his head. “Summer, what happened shouldn’t have … and I’m sorry. I do know that it can’t keep happening.”

  Summer stuck out her bottom lip slightly, feigning a pout. “Why not? Didn’t you like it?”

  Anton smiled. “That’s a silly question from a silly girl,” he told her, as he got into the passenger seat.

  Summer looked into his eyes. “Anton … I want you to make love to me more than I have ever wanted anything. Please!” she added.

  A turbulent storm of emotion was brewing in his gray eyes.

  “I love you Anton,” she told him. “Even if you don’t love me. I want to lay with you … at least once.” Her last words were forced out with an emotional sob.

  Anton leaned over and covered her mouth with his. This time his kiss was tender, but with an underlying yearning.

  Pulling away, Anton handed her the car keys. “We have to talk first,” he whispered.

  Suddenly she was overcome with fear of what his words would be and she didn’t want to hear them. Summer shook her head, and inserting the key in the ignition she started the car. “I don’t want any words Anton, I just want to make love to you.”

  * * *

  Inside the motel room, she threw her arms around Anton’s neck. “I have waited so long for this night,” she told him, before kissing his jaw and neck.

  “Babe … we need to talk first,” he said, his tone pleading.

  Summer kissed him, preventing him from saying anymore as her fingers worked to unbutton his shirt. She looked down at his broad - bare chest and admired the way his muscle rippled beneath his skin as he moved. Her hands were then at the button on his pants. She worked to free him of his clothes.

  “Summer please,” he said in a hoarse voice. His breathing was deep and erratic.

  She was delighted to see that he was already ready for her.

  “Will what you have to say make it to where you won’t want to make love to me?”

  He shook his head. “No, I am beyond that now. You have made me crazy with your teasing … but it might change your mind.”

  “I don’t think so,” she told him. She was already shaking with her need for him.

  Summer wrapped her hand around his erection and squeezed his flesh. She was rewarded when she felt his body tremble. He groaned, and his hand gently slid her dress from her body. She stood before him in nothing but her G-string. He stepped back to look at her.

  “Your so beautiful,” he whispered.

  Anton lifted Summer in his arms and carried her to his bed, laying her down gently. His lips were on her - his tongue exploring her mouth. He sucked on her tongue as one large hand removed her panties.

  Anton broke their kiss. “We will never be able to take this back once it happens,” he warned halfheartedly.

  Her hands were on his broad back, pulling him closer. “I want you Anton.”

  Her words seemed to enflame his desire even more. His teeth pierced her flesh - making his way to her soft mounds. As his teeth raked across her skin, she felt the heat between her legs sizzle.

  Summer began to rub against his lean leg so that he could feel how badly she wanted him. His hands went to her hips, and he pulled her tighter against him.

  “Your so small … I’ll rip you in half,” he told her softly.

  “Hmm … please do.”

  Anton was kissing her neck - his hot breath close to her ear. Summer trembled, her desire overwhelming all thought.

  “I can’t give you forever,” Anton whispered, his gray eyes peering deeply into hers.

  “I will keep this night with me for the rest of my life. It will be enough,” Summer told him, knowing that she was not being entirely honest. She wanted him tonight and always, but at this moment she didn’t want him to feel guilt. She only wanted him to embrace his need for her.

  He opened his mouth to say something else, but Summer put her finger to his lips to silence him.

  “Anton, just love me.” Summer’s voice shook, her desire for him unbearable.

  Groaning, he spread her legs and leaned over her. She felt his hard flesh resting against her wet heat and she arched her hips, wanting him to soothe her ache. He gently probed her moistness - slowly so that he wouldn’t hurt her with his unusual size.

  Summer squealed with delight when she felt him enter her.

  Anton stiffened. “Take it slow babe. I don’t want it over too fast.”

  “I can’t,” she panted.

  He growled, plunging into her all the way. Summer wrapped her legs around his hips.

  Anton remained still. His lips were on hers - kissing her deeply - letting her feel his hunger. His fingers played with her jutting nipples, pulling and squeezing. The animal within her took over and she became mad with hunger. Summer started bucking up against him frantically, wanting him to bring her release from the painful yearning that had taken control of her body and soul.

  “You’ll make it be over too soon, “ he whispered.

  Her nails clawed into his back. “Anton … please!”

  He began ramming into her waiting core, his savage need pushing him to thrust harder. Her flesh tightened around him, milking him as she shook with wave after wave of shattering delight. Throwing back his head, he snarled and howled as the wolf took hold of him. One moment he was a man, and then a wolf, and a man again. He shook uncontrollably as he spurt his hot release into her waiting body.

  Collapsing, he rested his head on her breasts. He was now in control and pushing the wolf back. Exhausted, Summer closed her eyes, thinking that she’d just rest for a moment, but she quickly drifted off to sleep.

  * * *

  Blinking, Summer strained to see beyond the thick mist, she could barely make out the shadowy trees that lined both sides of the road. Sharp rocks were digging into the bottoms of her feet. Summer looked down to see that she was standing on the hard packed surface of a dirt road.

  Everything was so unfamiliar. She didn’t know where she was. From behind, she could hear the sound of footsteps coming toward her. Instinctively, she knew that whoever it was, meant to do her harm, and she started running. Over the pounding of her heart she could hear her pursuer getting closer. The footsteps sounded near enough that she imagined that she could feel the air stir as her assailant reached out to grab her.

  Suddenly she felt herself falling to the ground and she held out her hands to break her fall. She hit the dirt so hard that it tore the flesh on the palms of her hands, but there was no time to react. Something had a hold of her hair and was yanking her head back.

  Summer’s eyes flew open. In a full-blown panic, she found herself gasping for air. It took a moment for her to realize that she’d been
having a nightmare, but even then she had to will herself to be calm. Nearly every night she was having nightmares, and in all of them, someone was after her, or she was in the dark.

  Yellow light crept in from an outside streetlamp, casting the room in contrasts of light and shadow. Beside her she could hear Anton’s steady breathing as he slept, oblivious of her fear. While she stared up at the ceiling, Summer caught the sound of shuffling feet next to the bed. She dared not look over to see who or what was making the noise.

  Summer felt cold - clammy fingers touch her arm. She was afraid to see what it was, but even more frightened not to. Turning her head ever so slightly to the side of the bed, she saw Penny staring at her with lifeless eyes.

  Shrieking, Summer jumped from the bed.

  Anton sat up - instantly alert. “What’s wrong?” he asked, switching on the bedside lamp.

  Summer stood next to the bed, shaking uncontrollably. “It’s Penny! Something’s happened to her.”

  “How do you know that?” Anton asked.

  “She was here.” Summer was already getting into her clothes.

  “Where are you going?” He had slipped out of the bed and was dressing.

  “Home … I have to find out what happened.”

  “I’m going with you.”

  * * *

  When they pulled into the parking lot of the apartment complex, Summer noticed that Penny’s car sat in its usual spot. As soon as Anton stopped the car, Summer threw open the door and leaped out.

  “Wait for me!” he yelled after her.

  Summer slowed her pace so that he could catch up.

  After reaching the apartment, Summer tried the door and found it locked. From inside, she could hear music. Reaching into her handbag she pulled out her keys, but her hands were shaking so bad that she couldn’t slip the key into the lock.

  Anton gently grabbed them from her hand and unlocked the door. The two of them cautiously stepped inside. Several lights were on, and from the living room she could hear the chirpy voice of a late night DJ talking about a concert that would soon be coming to Reno.

  Even before reaching the living room, Summer knew something was wrong. Anton’s nostrils flared. “I smell blood,” he told her.