The Vampire Destiny 3: Awakening Read online

  I wanted to go home and forget about him, my conversation with Nikolaus...hell, I wanted to forget this entire night.

  "Whatever, Aidan." I walked closer and put my hand on Stefan's arm. "Can we go home?"

  Stefan's wild eyes met mine. His anger had turned them into a bright, aqua blue. He released Aidan and he slumped to the sidewalk.

  He squatted down, lowering his voice so it was barely louder than a whisper. "If she tells me you attempt this without her permission again, I will not be as pleasant the next time we speak."

  He stood and stared down at Aidan before turning to drill me with his unblinking stare, opening his mind fully to allow me to have access to his thoughts. He’d wanted to drain him dry of every drop of blood in his body. His jealousy urged him to destroy what had threatened to take his mate away from him. The final layer to his emotions were the most difficult for me to handle. Even though he wanted to mark me as his again, he was attempting to reign himself under control. He was worried he’d upset me. He was concerned that I’d run again. Would he ever lose that fear? Would this still worry him a hundred years from now?

  “Stefan, c’mon.” This time it was me that extended my outstretched hand to him.

  He shook himself, engulfing my fingers in his large hands. He brought it to his lips, pressing his mouth against my palms. “Take me home.”

  Leading us to the street, it was my turn to hail us a cab. As we pulled away, I glanced back at Aidan. He was staring at us, his torn shirt and crooked glasses a testimony to what would could happen if you touched the mate of a vampire. He didn’t understand what a huge faux paux he’d committed, but I’m sure it wasn’t something he’d try again anytime soon.

  ***

  We made the short taxi ride home in relative silence. Stefan was lost in his thoughts, his mind whirring at a remarkable speed. I’d given up even trying to follow it. Instead, I focused only on our bond. He was remarkably calm considering he came close to draining a man dry in Chelsea. He was flooding our tie with his love until it’s all I could feel.

  Once home, I headed straight to the bathroom. I stripped and headed to the shower, wanting to wash away the lingering smell of the bar and Aidan from my skin. The sensation of his unwanted mouth on mine still remained, almost sickening me as the scenario replayed in my mind.

  Washing myself quickly, I dried off and grabbed a hairbrush. I was running it through my long hair as I entered the bedroom, surprised to see Stefan stretched across the bed. He was watching my every move as I stood naked at the foot of the bed.

  "You’re still dressed?" I asked. I could tell he’d been monitoring my thoughts and was worried my reaction to the earlier verbal and physical altercation, so I assumed he’d be naked and hell bent on trying to get me into bed the moment I stepped out of the shower. Once again, he’d surprised me.

  “I am,” he replied smoothly, the deep tenor of his voice lingering over those two words.

  Heat rushed over me, starting from my cheeks and flushing down my body at an alarmingly fast rate. My pulse increased and I instinctively licked my lips in response.

  “Are you going to take off your clothes?” I questioned, my voice coming out in an excited rush.

  “Perhaps I should.” And then he smiled. And not just one of his typical smiles either. This one was mischievous, wicked and extremely sexy.

  Stefan rose languidly from the bed, making a production of removing each article of clothing as slowly and deliberately as he could. He yanked at the bottom of his sweater, slowly dragging it over the ragged muscles of his stomach. He finally pulled it over his head and it fell back against the bed, his chiseled chest on display for me to fully admire.

  I watched him with eager, lustful eyes. He raised an eyebrow as he unbuckled and removed his belt, one loop at a time, tossing it on the bed, adding it to the to the growing pile of his discarded clothing. Making sure he still had my full attention, his handsome face became devilish, a smirk curling his lips. His hands were unhurried as they flicked the button open and he unzipped his jeans, his leer deepening at my sudden loud intake of breath.

  He’d gone commando again.

  My hands tightened into fists as I swallowed back the moan that threatened to fall from my lips. If he was trying to kill me with his impromptu striptease, he was well on his way.

  Stefan was taking his time pushing the denim over his narrow hips and long, muscular legs until he stepped out of them and stood before me, magnificently naked.

  “Tell me what you see.”

  My mouth was dry, my voice a husky whisper. “I see you, Stefan. The only man I’ll ever love.”

  He rolled his sea blue eyes in mock frustration. “Tell me what you really see, vackra. I can read your thoughts, yet I long to hear you describe to me what you see when you look at me.”

  Nervously tucking my damp hair behind my ear, my eyes swept over him. I approached him carefully and knelt before him, placing my hands on his ankles and moving them upward slowly, delicately. “Your legs. They’re long and muscular.” My fingers gripped his thighs, palming them tightly. “I love to see the way your jeans cling to your thighs.”

  “Go on,” his voice was clipped as I glanced up at him. His eyes were impassive and he had on his familiar poker face.

  Feeling bolder, my hands moved to his ass, fondling the tight cheeks lovingly. “Your ass. I love to see you coming, but I love to watch you walk away. This,” I pinched his ass. “Is one of my favorite things to look at.”

  Standing up, I let my hands glide up his the smooth planes of his back, my hands drifting across each one of his broad shoulders to circle around his hard, solid chest.

  “Your shoulders. I love to watch them move when you fuck me, every muscle flexing…” I exhaled softly, blowing my breath against his skin. “And your chest… I want to lick every inch of it.” My fingertips barely were touching him as I pressed my mouth against one of his pale pink nipples, deliberately arching away so only my hands and lips were touching him.

  He swallowed roughly and flinched, but his face remained inscrutable. Only his eyes betrayed him. They were growing heavy-lidded and dark, the pupils eclipsing the pale blue.

  I didn’t stop. I couldn’t if I tried. Bending slightly, my tongue flickered out to lick small trails down his torso until I reached his stomach. My tongue caressed each rippled muscle, my teeth nibbling and scraping across them. They involuntarily contacted under my touch, leaving me to smile against his satiny skin. I let the pads of my fingers run over the sharp V muscles that dipped to his hips, noticing out of the corner of my eye how his hands repeatedly clenched and unclenched, yet he didn’t say or a word or make any other effort to move.

  Reaching out and stroking his hard cock, I let my fingernails lightly graze over his impressive length. “Oh, and this. This is one of my favorite things. I love to feel this buried inside of me. Do you like to feel your cock buried inside of me, Stefan?”

  He drew in a harsh breath, his heavy cock twitching in my hand. The rest of his body remained immobile.

  Standing to my full height, I took a chance meeting his scorching gaze. Smiling smugly, I feigned a look of surprise. Making my voice a purr, I leaned closer. “Cat got your tongue?”

  Releasing my grip on his shaft, my hands ran over his and up each one of his long arms, over his large, sinewy forearms and bulging biceps. “I forgot about your arms. They keep me safe, they comfort me. But most of all, I love to watch watch every muscle ripple. Especially when..”

  “Enough!” Stefan’s voice was a strangled grunt. He closed his eyes and swallowed twice before opening his eyes and fixing his burning, black gaze on me again.

  His hands reached for me and I was able to escape, using the speed I’d gained to my advantage. I was across the room, my back plastered against the wall. I’d put my want and need on the back burner as I teased and pleased him with my words and my hands. Now the full force of my arousal hit me and I was suddenly aware of the wetness that had made my inner t
highs slick. It was the craving that was making me tremble with that very want and need I’d selflessly denied myself to please him.

  His mouth quirked, either in amusement or in his thoughts of revenge. Either way, I didn’t mind. Curious to see his plans, I mentally tried to read his thoughts, but he had them intentionally safeguarded. That could only mean I’d have hell to pay. A blissful, delectable punishment I’d accept since I’d only followed through with what he asked me to do. He’d wanted me to tell him, to describe what I saw when I looked at him.

  Mission accomplished.

  He pointed at me and then gestured down to the floor. Cautiously walking closer until we were inches apart, I craned my neck to look into his face, my breath hitching when I saw the desire that had hardened the lines on his face. He was all predator now, primed to claim what was his. I could see his eyes making calculations, watching my movements and planning his attack.

  “My delectable little vixen,” he mused darkly. "You have become so bold. And you are truly beautiful, Josephine. I cannot get enough of you.”

  With hands so fast I didn’t see them move, he reached out for me and drew me against him. His body felt warm and solid and I rubbed my face against the soft hair on his chest, my hands gripping his ass eagerly.

  We fell back against the bed with me on top of him, straddling him. Stefan’s head raised to kiss and suckle on my breasts hungrily, his dull human teeth nibbling and biting at my sensitive nipples. I couldn't help the wanton moan that escaped, just as he couldn't stop himself from growling in response.

  He reached for my waist to flip me under him and I shook my head, pushing my hands and mental shield out to wrap around him tightly. “No.”

  He froze instantly under my command, utterly at my mercy. I felt empowered to have this dominant creature completely under my control.

  Glancing down, my eyes met his. His face looked wild. His fangs had dropped, his teeth bared, sawing back and forth as he instinctively tried to bite. His muscles twitched with futile effort as he struggled to free himself from my shield.

  “Josephine. Release me,” Stefan commanded. His voice came out in a deep snarl. If someone had growled at me like that months ago I would have ran for my life. Now, I relished his vampiric, possessive sounds.

  Shaking my head regretfully, I ran my hands over his chest, concentrating on keeping the shield in place. “Oh baby, I can’t do that. I forgot something. Wanna know what I forgot to tell you?”

  Pushing my pussy back against his hard cock, I rubbed my wet folds all over him, completely coating him with my wetness, savoring every one of his frustrated hisses, moans and mumbled curses. I finally tilted my hips and felt him attempting to push against my pussy.

  “Are you going to make me beg for you, vackra?” he panted. His head thrashed back and forth on the pillow, the tendons in his neck standing out from his struggle against my shield.

  “Stefan, I never want you to beg. I described every part of your body that I love, but I missed the most important part. Let me tell you what I love the most,” I whispered against his mouth. My tongue lightly and deliberately traced the outline of his soft lips. Hovering over him, I paused until his dark eyes met mine. “It’s your eyes. When I stare into them, I willingly lose myself there. Your love for me, the passion, your goodness… it’s hidden in the depths of your eyes. It’s like I’ve come home when our eyes meet.”

  My words caused those beautiful eyes I cherished to turn liquid in the hazy light of the bedroom. Without another word, I impaled myself on him, pushing off of his chest, stretching to rest my hands behind me on his powerful thighs. My head fell back against my shoulders as I plunged myself over and over again on his length, crying out each time he fully filled me.

  His voice was hoarse as he yelled out, my shield holding firm and keeping him immobile until his lilting Swedish mind voice floated through my thoughts, his voice filled with lust and anger. “Hur vågar du knulla håller mig tillbaka, Josephine? Men du knulla mig med den trånga fitta, och jag är din villig fånge. Fan!”

  His tortured voice was my undoing. My shield dissolved and he moved in a blur, grabbing my hips and moving me harder and faster against him. I could only moan shamelessly in response to every one of his thrusts as he drove me closer and closer to orgasm.

  He released one hand from my hips to circle my breast with the other, roughly palming it and pinching my nipple. Past the point of no return, I shuddered and trembled above him. I was still climaxing when he flipped us. He was now on top of me, my knees resting on his biceps as he drove over and over inside of me with absolutely no mercy. He didn’t stop until he met his own orgasm, his body jerking as he pulsed inside of me.

  Stefan freed my legs and braced his large body over mine. For the first time since we began, our lips met in a kiss. It was as gentle and deep, long and filled with emotion. It was if he was pouring every bit of love into his kiss and I responded eagerly in return.

  He finally rolled to my side. He kept me in his embrace, our legs twined together. He twirled a lock of my hair around his finger lazily. “What you did just now with your shield was dangerous. I could have injured you.”

  I huffed and let my hand travel down the length of his spine. “You deserved to be put in your place. You both acted ridiculous tonight. If you haven’t figured it out by now, I love you. I’m not going anywhere.”

  He let out a resigned sigh. His naked body shifted closer to me, his pale skin almost glowing. Exceptionally muscled, he almost appeared to be sculpted from marble.

  “He insulted what we have together and disrespected you. I leave you alone and he attempts to seduce you,” Stefan retorted crossly. He was still infuriated that another man had kissed what he considered his property.

  “Only one person can do that. I happen to be in bed with him right now.” I smiled and pecked at his lips playfully. “I told you what I see when I look at you. What do you see when you look at me?”

  His eyes lit up, his anger at Aidan quickly forgotten. He moved to the foot of the bed and pushed my knees apart. He grabbed one of my legs and brought it up to his lips.

  “I love your legs. To feel them wrapped around me is bliss.” His mouth moved up my legs to stop at my thighs. He placed wet, sloppy kisses along my skin, his tongue licking across my pussy. “And this. You offer yourself willingly to me. It means you desire me.”

  Raising myself up on my elbows, I watched as his mouth moved to scatter kisses across my stomach until he reached my breasts. He moved so he was only putting part of his weight on me, supporting himself on one arm. His lips met the skin of my breast, his scorching mouth closing over the nipple. His teeth pulled and his tongue circled the pebbled peak. “Your breasts. They fit perfectly in my hands and taste like pure sugar on my tongue. To see your nipples harden means you want me. Shall I continue?”

  I nodded weakly. “Yes, please.”

  His lips curved back in an arrogant grin. He reluctantly released my breast from his mouth with a pop and they moved to my neck. His teeth scraped along my flesh until they stopped over my pulse point. I could feel my heart slowly pounding under his lips. “You nourish me from this spot. It means you trust me.”

  Groaning softly, my hands moved over his back, urging him to continue. My voice came out as a whisper. “Tell me more.”

  Dragging his lips across my jaw, they finally reached my mouth. He captured my lips in a kiss, his tongue gently probing the contours of my mouth. He pulled away too quickly for my taste. “Your lips. They caress me, they seduce me and they even infuriate me. When you kiss me with your mouth, it means you love me.”

  I was ready to devour him with my lips. I wanted nothing more that to wrap my shield around him and hold him to me while I took control, plunging my tongue in his mouth until they tangled together exquisitely.

  He finally was face to face with me. His lips pressed a kiss first on one eyelid, then moving to the other. “Your eyes. They see through me for who I truly am with acceptance and
no judgment. When you are happy, they gleam like emeralds. When you are sad, they weep like evergreens after a storm. When you look at me, your eyes hide nothing. I can see how much you truly accept all of me. The dark and the light.”

  He rested his forehead against mine. The link between us seemed to almost vibrate with happiness. I couldn’t imagine a moment without feeling this sort of connection, this kind of love. It made thinking back to those difficult years of being alone seem even bleaker.

  Stefan placed another kiss on my waiting lips. He sank into the pillows, his hand still stroking my body affectionately. He placed his head on one hand and stared down into my eyes.

  “Why were you so upset tonight? After Aidan grabbed you, you were also troubled about something else. Tell me.”

  Grimacing, I pressed my lips together. “I’ve lost it.”

  Stefan was confused for a moment. “You have lost what?”

  “Earlier when I couldn’t figure out who was on the phone we both thought it was a fluke. Tonight in that bar confirmed my fears. The thing that I’ve hated my entire life, the ability I’ve blamed for my failure to have normal relationships is gone. I couldn’t see Aidan’s plans to follow behind me and kiss me. He totally caught me off guard. It was like I was blind,” I blurted out. Inhaling a deep breath, I continued. “And I’m not sure how I feel about it. You’d think I’d be happy to be free of the visions but instead I feel vulnerable and completely exposed.

  Stefan didn’t hesitate. He didn’t even seem surprised. “Your abilities are evolving. You are growing stronger.”

  “What does that mean, Stefan?”

  His eyes went blank for a moment, then quickly refocused. He held up a finger. “Nigel is about to call. If anyone has an answer, it will be him.”

  Sure enough, the loud ring of Stefan’s phone sounded. Stefan smiled proudly and picked up the phone from the bedside table.

  “Nigel. Are you on a secure line?”