The Vampire Destiny 3: Awakening Read online

  His blood was like liquid euphoria rushing through my veins, causing a reaction as potent as any orgasm I’d ever had. Our commingled blood increased the intensity, causing my hips to grind against his at a feverish pace for relief. I wanted to rip his clothes from him, fuck him, punish him for making me feel so much. Instead, he answered my tumultuous emotions with uncharacteristic submission. His lips became soft, his kiss becoming a willing surrender.

  I broke away, panting. We were both unsated and wanted more than a simple blood exchange on an airplane 39,000 feet in the sky.

  "This," he gestured between us. "Is not finished. When we get back to New York, I will show you what it is to let our bond to take over completely."

  Overcome with another wave of desire at his words, I crushed my lips to his forcefully. His lips parted and my tongue swept in and tangled with his. He groaned and his hands went into my hair, knotting in the long curls. His soft sounds of approval spurred me on as I kissed him, wet and deep.

  Inches away from losing total control, I felt an annoyed tap on my shoulder.

  "Sorry to interrupt, lovebirds. We're getting ready to land." Lukas stood over us, his nose wrinkled in distaste. "It's time to get it together. You two are like fucking animals. Don't you ever stop?"

  Blushing, I grudgingly attempted to free myself from Stefan’s iron-like grip. He was inhaling heavily, his eyes still black with lust. His hands still possessively gripped my ass as he buried his face in my neck. He was scenting me, further marking me as his. My loving, possessive, high-handed vampire.

  "Don't you ever get tired of interrupting?" I shot back irritably. "Mark my words, Lukas. You're going to meet someone and I'm going to make it my mission in life to harass you. I'm going to make you regret all of your little barbs and shit-stirring ways."

  Lukas rolled his eyes and pursed his lips. "Color me warned, Josie. I think I’m safe since I don't do relationships. I can't do the monogamy thing. There are too many strings attached for my taste. I prefer to keep my options open. Anna told me once..."

  His voice broke and I watched as Lukas looked away, glancing at Anna's unmoving body. She looked peaceful, as if she was sleeping soundly.

  My desire diminished and simmered to a low roar, my concern for Anna rushing to the surface and garnering my attention.

  "Is there any change?" I asked, crossing the plane to sit down on the edge of the couch next to her. Smoothing her hair from her face, I looked for any noticeable difference. There was none that I could see.

  "No," Stefan answered before Lukas could speak. Our eyes met across the plane. "If she wakes, I will feel her presence. I will be forever tied to Anna as her sire."

  His thoughts were suddenly heavy again. The simplicity of his words stabbed at my conscience sharply. He'd only saved Anna for me. He would have never willingly stepped in and offered Anna immortality without my impassioned pleas.

  "There will be a SUV waiting for us at JFK. We'll transport Anna back to the apartment and then we'll..." Lukas' voice dwindled off. His worried gaze wandered to Anna again.

  "And we'll what?" I snapped bitterly. Lukas’eyes widened at my outburst. I swallowed and struggled to make my tone gentler. "We’ll hope Stefan saved her, right?"

  "We'll wait," Lukas said delicately. He glanced at his hands nervously and shifted uncomfortably.

  Gritting my teeth, I closed my eyes. I shouldn’t have snapped at Lukas or made him feel worse than I knew he already did. I was tired, anxious and running on pure adrenaline. “Lukas, I shouldn’t have snapped like that. How much longer until Anna will wake up, Stefan?"

  "Another 24 hours, give or take." Stefan murmured. He pulled me to my feet and wrapped his long arms around me. "Come. We will be landing soon."

  Nodding, I looked at Anna one final time before heading back to my seat.

  Stefan sat quietly in the seat beside of me. He offered me his outstretched hand, our fingers intertwining. The enormous size of his hand dwarfed mine and he tenderly stroked the top of my hand with his thumb.

  Exhaling softly, I turned my head to the side, watching him intently. "It’s funny. I keep waiting to have a normal day. A day where we can sleep in, do normal things that has nothing to do with scheming and worrying."

  "You already tire of the vampire bullshit?" Stefan asked humorlessly. He stared blankly ahead. "It will not always be this way. Trust me."

  "I was tired of it weeks ago." I smiled and rested my head against his shoulder. "Do you still think I'm worth it or are you ready to trade me in on a lower maintenance model?"

  He chuckled and I felt his faint amusement fill the bond between us. I was relieved to hear his light laughter after the overwhelming tension of the last 24 hours.

  "Josephine, I have lived almost 1,000 years. I have never felt more alive since I found you. I relish the reprieve in the monotony," Stefan leaned his head against the back of the seat. "You and Lukas are young. In 300 years or so you will look forward to complications. We will look back on this and wonder why we were ever concerned about these things.”

  Was Stefan right? Would I look back on this in a few centuries and think this was nothing but at best an annoyance? Would immortality be an endless stretch of never-ending boredom? Would Stefan ever tire of an eternity of my quirks and stubbornness?

  “I doubt time spent with you will ever be boring. You constantly surprise me and I find your determination refreshing, Josephine. If I had my way, we would spend the next 20 years never leaving our bedroom,” Stefan murmured as he read my thoughts. “We have an entire world to explore together. The possibilities will be infinite.”

  “Unless I meet some tragic human death? A car accident, an airplane crash.” I waved my free hand dramatically around the expanse of the plane. “Or possibly the temper tantrum of megalomaniac father?”

  “Vackra, that will not happen. And if it does, I will change you,” Stefan reassured me. His anger spiked as he thought of me being taken away from him. Knowing Stefan, he’d chase down Death himself and demand he return me to him.

  He laughed again at my mental picture, pressing us closer to the window of the plane. “Possibly something along those lines would happen. We will be landing soon. Look.”

  Following his gaze, I peered out the small window. I could see the lights of the city approaching us, twinkling in the distance. Smiling, I snuggled closer to him.

  “It’s good to be back home. I just want everything to be ok,” I whispered against his shoulder, nudging him with my nose.

  His lips brushed against my temple. “As do I.”

  ***

  As promised, there was a waiting SUV at the hangar. We made the transport easily from the airport back to the apartment in record time, more than likely due to the large envelope of money that was exchanged discreetly between Stefan and the driver.

  Anna was now at rest on our living room couch. I watched her with a critical eye, hoping for some sign that she was changing or an indication that she would awaken. I’d taken up vigil at her side, nursing a cup of coffee and staring out the windows of the New York night.

  Strong hands came to rest on my shoulders. Smiling, I tilted my head back to see Stefan standing over me. He was bare chested, his blond hair wet from his shower. He leaned to kiss me and his gaze lifted to Anna before shifting back to mine.

  “Come to bed. It will be late tomorrow if she rises,” Stefan murmured. His fingers kneaded the muscles of my shoulders softly, his nimble fingers massaging at the tightness that had taken up residence. My head lolled back, enjoying his attention. The only drawback was hearing the big ‘if’ word again. I refused to believe Anna wouldn’t wake. She was one of the strongest people I knew.

  “I should stay,” I protested weakly. Stefan edged around the chair and sat down on the ottoman facing me. He rubbed his fingers across his chin and leaned forward slightly, his forearms resting on his knees.

  “No, you should come to bed. I understand your concern for Anna because she is your friend. However,
what you are doing is pointless. She does not know if you are here or not. Vackra, she is dead. Either she will rise or she will not. Either way, the outcome is the same.”

  Tears filled my eyes and I hastily blinked them away before they had the chance to spill over. He reached for my coffee cup and took it from my hands, setting it on the table. He stood up, offering me his hand with a tender smile. “Please. Come with me.”

  My eyes traveled the length of his long, powerful body. His red silk sleep pants hung low on his waist, the rippled muscles of his stomach pale in the dim light of the living room. His broad chest and shoulders glistened and in spite of myself, I wanted to run my hands over the velvety expanse of his skin. My body craved to feel the hard muscles of his body with my hands, wrap myself completely around him until we were one in every way.

  “I need to feel you, vackra,” Stefan crooned softly. “Please.”

  I couldn’t refuse his final please. He was difficult enough to resist, but when he was so charming he was impossible to refuse. Reaching for his hand, I was surprised when he swept me into his arms in one swift move, tucking my head under his chin.

  “Afraid I’ll have second thoughts?” I teased. He tightened his arms around me, carrying me down the hallway into our bedroom.

  “Possibly. You have a way of keeping me on my toes, vackra.” Stefan gently placed me on the bed. His fingers made short work of untying his sleep pants and letting them pool around his feet. He stood beautifully naked at the end of the bed for my inspection.

  Cocking my head to the side, I let my eyes run over him again, lingering longingly over his chest, his narrow waist and finally stopping to focus on his hard cock.. “I think you’re trying to distract me.”

  His lips curved into a sexy half-smile. “Tell me. Is it working?”

  My beautiful lover. He was pure perfection from his golden blond hair to the tips of his toes. There could never be another man, human or otherwise that I would want as much as him. Yanking off my t-shirt, my hair tumbled around my shoulders in a wild tumble of waves. I looked at him expectantly, watching as his blue eyes faded to black.

  “Does this answer your question?”

  He didn’t reply. He moved stealthily across the bed, moving at an alarming speed. Suddenly pinned under his sleek and sinewy body, my hips were trapped snugly under his. Stefan’s face loomed over mine, his expression inscrutable but his emotions perfectly clear. He was torn between wanting to fuck me into submission or make love to me. He pushed me back against the bed until he completely covered me, every inch of our bodies touching.

  “I think you sufficiently answered my question. I do not want to talk anymore,” Stefan growled. His nose ran over the curve of my jaw, his tongue snaking out to lick down the side of my neck sensuously. A chill ran down my spine at the feel of his warm tongue against my skin, letting out a moan as his blunt teeth lightly bit the crook of my neck.

  “No talking?” I mumbled. He’d jumbled my brain, causing rational thought to escape me. My body was now attuned to him, completely in sync with his.

  “No. Just feel.” His deep voice penetrated my mind. He raised to his knees above me, his fingers snapping the sides of my panties. He gripped his cock and ran it teasingly over my wet folds, hissing loudly as I instinctively tilted my hips towards him. He shook his head as he continued to play with me, purposely sliding the head of his cock over my clit, making me writhe underneath him. “You are so wet for me.”

  “You’re no better off than me. Stefan…” My mental voice challenged as he continued to toy with me. My fingers stretched to travel down his pale chest and trailed circles over his hip bone. “You want me just as badly.”

  My words ceased his playful torture and he stared down at me. He entered me in one gentle thrust, gathering me into his arms. We both shuddered at the sensation of being joined, our connection complete.

  “One,” he mused mentally.

  Sobbing against him, I wrapped my legs around his waist. My arms snaked around his back, enveloping him in my embrace. His arousal was feeding mine, making it almost too much for me to bear. “What’s happening? It’s never been like this…”

  Instead of answering, he pulled me closer and increased his speed, burying himself to the hilt. His growl of approval rumbled deep inside of his chest.

  “This is the bond we are feeling. This is how it will be to be complete. I am…” Stefan’s mind voice sounded just as shattered. His voice broke off as he continued his steady pace inside of me. Every nerve in my body was alive, singing for him. His body was made for me. No other man would ever be capable of pleasing me the way he did.

  “Whole,” I managed to finish his thought.

  “Yes,” he agreed. “Say my name. I want to hear you say it.”

  Throwing my head back, my body shook and his name fell from my lips like a broken prayer. “Stefan!”

  He trembled at the sound of my voice calling out his name. His hold on me tightened, his hips pistoning faster and deeper. My inner walls clenched around him, gripping him tighter with each stroke. My fingers fanned into his thick, golden hair. Our eyes met and his adoring gaze caused my heart to break.

  His voice floated into my thoughts again. “Now it is I that yearns for everything you have to offer. I want every part of you. Your pussy, your love, your blood.”

  My body could hold back no longer. His passionate words made anticipation surge throughout my body like an electrical current, setting fire to every nerve ending. “Drink from me. Take everything I have.”

  His mouth blurred to my throat. His fangs scraped against my neck before sinking into my flesh. The feeling of being entirely consumed by him caused me to splinter into a million pieces around him. I clutched his head to my neck as he drank from me.

  “Yes, Stefan! Yes! ” I yelled out in a violent sob. My nails traveled down his neck to sink into the skin of his back, feeling the satin of his skin loosen underneath my fingers.

  “Josephine, jag vill äta dig levande och knulla dig tills du inte kan stå,” Stefan thundered. He exploded inside of me, his release triggering yet another tremor from me. We clung to each other, riding out the last of our shared climax together. I’d gone completely limp in his arms, barely able to hold on to him. He rolled us to the bed, still wrapped in each others embrace.

  His lips searched out mine, gently kissing me. His hands surrounded my face gently, our tongues in constant contact, our heads turning to deepen the kiss. Just one time, I wanted to break him the way he always managed to destroy me.

  “Ah, vackra. You are wrong. You annihilate me every time we are together. I can no longer exist without you,” Stefan whispered softly. He peppered kisses over my face. “Nor would I want to. You are everything.”

  Perfectly content in the moment, we were silent. Stefan gently stroked my hair, effectively lulling me into an idyllic sense of calm.

  Little did I know the tranquilty would be short lived.

  ***

  When I awoke hours later, it was late morning and Stefan was still sleeping beside me. Filtered light from the curtains barely penetrated the darkness of the room. Surprisingly alert, I replayed the night through my head.

  His plan to keep my mind occupied had worked. As he took me time and time again, I equally adored and hated how much I needed him. We destroyed the sheets, ripping them to shreds with scratching fingernails and clenching fists. Hours had passed and my poor body was exhausted, yet still wordlessly begged him for more. We'd become insatiable, out of control. His overwhelming lust amplified my own, leaving me wanting more when I thought it was impossible.

  His hands reached for me again, gathering me in his arms and standing us up. He held my thighs across both of his forearms. My hips were splayed wide open above his pulsing cock, causing an unbearable need to rush over my body like it was the first time we’d made love. My hands clasped his shoulders and I moaned in delicious expectation as I waited for him to plunge himself inside me again.

  Stefan did
n't make me wait. He never did.

  "More," he demanded, lowering me gently over him. Tears of exhaustion pricked at my eyes, leaving me to rest my heavy head in the crook of his neck. Once again my poor body instinctively responded, eager for more of him. My weary muscles welcomed him weakly. It was shocking how wet I was for him, and he met no resistance as he filled me up until we were joined once again.

  How did he do this to me? How could I possibly want him more than I did before?

  "Stefan..." I moaned out his name in reverence against his throat. My lips brushed against the softness of his skin, reveling in the sensation.

  Sensing my fatigue, he chose a gentle pace this time, slowly lifting and lowering me, teasing himself with me. He pulled out completely, only to thrust back in until I cried out. I had no control or strength, yet I managed to contract and clench my inner muscles around him. Rubbing my aching nipples against his chest, I nibbled gently on his earlobe. "My beautiful man," I whispered distractedly.

  "You are exquisitely perfect, Josephine," he whispered raggedly. "There will never be anyone for me except you. You know this."

  His soft words filled me with my own smug pride. Nibbling my teeth against his cheek, I headed down his face to kiss his fangless mouth.

  "I still never get tired of hearing it," I murmured. Swirling my hips, I bent him in a tight circle, shamelessly coaxing his sharp fangs to come out and play with me.

  He felt my intention, my desire for his bite crystal clear. "No," he rebuked playfully. "You won't break me, vackra. Your blood destroys my self-control."

  "You won't hurt me," I countered teasingly, swirling him again and again deep inside me. "Let’s see if I can bring you to your knees."

  He laughed at my bravado and gripped my ass, stopping my circles and slowing the pace. "Ah, someone is feeling confident. Prove it," he rasped deeply as he stroked harder inside of me, crushing my bold assumptions.

  Moaning, I gave up and clutched his arms, letting him take me harder than before. He was never one to back away from a challenge and he was determined to prove me wrong.