After Sundown: Redemption (22 page)

Alyssa grabbed the hem of her shirt and lifted it off over her head. Then she laid back, closed her eyes and arched her back in invitation.

“Touch me. Please Christian. I need you.”

Her beauty awed him. Looking down at her moist parted lips, her delicate neck and her breasts offered up to him was like a feast he couldn’t resist. Her berry-red nipples were swollen and glistening from his attention. His mouth watered. Her body called out to him. It was time.

He couldn’t get his clothes off fast enough. Her hungry eyes watching him seemed to make everything take longer. After removing the last scrap of material from his body, he grasped her waist and lifted her slightly, so that her back was arched higher. He lowered his mouth to her upthrust nipples and suckled each one in turn. Alyssa groaned and ran her fingers through his hair, grasping strands of it as he suckled her harder.

Christian moved his attention lower. He nuzzled her soft stomach. Breathed in the scent of green apples. He dipped his tongue into her belly button and felt her shudder beneath him. Kissing his way down, he came to the waistband of her panties. He nipped it, lifted it with his teeth and ran his tongue underneath the silky material. Alyssa’s fingers tightened in his hair. She tilted her hips up and released a needy moan.

His answering growl was his only warning. He slid her panties down her legs, following their path with his tongue. After slipping them off, he worked his way back up her legs. When he reached her sweet thighs, he lifted his head and thought he would burst from the sight of her. Her beautiful body seemed to glow with warmth, life and desire. Her eyes were closed and her wet lips parted. Her silky hair was spread around in a shiny mass of raven color. She looked like a woman ready to be loved.

He was more than ready. But he wanted to make sure she was. He slid his hand up her thigh to her center. He played with her soft curls. Alyssa sucked in a breath and opened her thighs for him. Softly he delved between her swollen lips. He stiffened. Her moist heat made him want to plunge deep inside of her, but he knew he needed to be patient. Alyssa opened her thighs further. He explored her hot slickness until she was dripping with need. She tossed her head back and forth, whispering his name over and over again. When he delved one finger inside, her whispers turned to soft mewling sounds. She lifted her hips to each thrust of his hand.

Unable to wait any longer, he removed his finger from her. She gasped in protest. Her eyes flew open. He met her lust-filled gaze with his own determined one.

“I’ll have you now, Alyssa. There’s no turning back. You’re mine,” Christian gritted between his clenched teeth.

Grasping her waist he tilted her hips up and plunged deeply inside. Her sweet, moist, warmth surrounded him. He froze because he knew he might lose it at any moment if he moved. After a few deep breaths, he slowly slid out of her, until the tip of him was at her entrance and then slipped back inside her, hard and fast. He repeated the motion over and over again. The soft sounds of pleasure she made were almost his undoing. His pace grew more frantic and her moans of pleasure louder. He covered her mouth with his, wanting to take her sounds of pleasure into his body.

He could tell when she stiffened that she was as close to the edge as was he. His need was about to explode. Yet another kind of hunger shimmered to life inside him. Lust overtook him. He tore his mouth from hers and worked his way down to her breasts. He laved and suckled one of her nipples, until it was stiff and engorged, full of blood, full of Alyssa’s sweet life.

Their minds connected.

I need you, Alyssa. I need your sweetness.

Yes.

That was all she said as she arched her back, pushing her breast deeper into his mouth.

It was enough.

His teeth sank deep and she cried out his name, as her body convulsed over and over again. He knew, as her sweet life flowed into him and he tumbled over the edge, that her cries were from the exquisite pleasure of their joining, not pain.

* * * * *

Alyssa woke to the feel of sunshine warming her. She peeked through her lashes then clamped her eyes shut again. Sunlight glared in through her open window. Why hadn’t she closed the curtains last night? Rolling over onto her stomach, she pulled the blanket up over her head and tried to go back to sleep. Her alarm hadn’t gone off yet, just a little bit longer.

It was no use. She couldn’t go back to sleep. Pushing herself up, she sat on the edge of her bed. Two things hit her at once. Her body hurt. And there was one place in particular that ached, which had nothing to do with her fall at the hotel last night. It had more to do with her tumble in her own bed. Memories of last night’s encounter with Christian came pouring back.

Alyssa stretched her arms towards the ceiling. A secret smile curved her lips upward. She lay back on the bed with a sigh. Her mind slid over the image of Christian loving her. So intense, so caring—so sexy! She admitted it. His lovemaking had been incredibly erotic and satisfying. Especially in the end, when his mouth was tugging strongly at her breasts in time with each thrust of his powerful body. That had left her panting. But what had really sent her over the edge had been when he bit her.

Bit her? Bit her!

She remembered now. He had asked for permission. She had agreed. The sharp pain of his teeth pricking her skin had been mild compared to the exquisite pleasure that soon followed. Her orgasm had come swift and strong. So powerful it went on and on, until she lay totally exhausted in Christian’s arms. Then fell fast asleep.

Alyssa jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom. She looked at her chest in the mirror. Nothing. Not a mark. Not a scar. How had he done that? Had he actually bit her? Yes, she remembered the feel of his teeth piercing her flesh, first a slight sting, then a liquid heat spreading throughout her body. He had done it twice since they’d met. It was a feeling she would never forget. One that created a pleasure-pain like she’d never experienced before.

What was wrong with her? She met her own gaze in the mirror. The horrified expression on her face said it all. This wasn’t—it wasn’t normal. She should not find this erotic or pleasurable. A vampire was sucking her blood, for crying out loud! And she had asked, no, demanded his touch and wanted his bite. Images from last night came back to her and filled her with embarrassment, her bold hands, greedily running over his body, begging for his touch. Making sounds like she had never made before. Crying out in ecstasy as his teeth sank deep and loving every minute of it.

He was taking control of her mind. That was the only explanation. He was using mind control. Like she had read about in the books and seen on the videos. Vampires had this power. Yes. That had to be it. Why else would she find such pleasure in his actions?

Alyssa made up her mind. She had enough parental manipulation while growing up. She didn’t need or want someone who had the ability to make her lose control of her body and mind like this. She succeeded in pushing aside the incredible feelings his lovemaking had aroused in her as she showered and dressed.

Alyssa walked out of her bedroom and stopped short at the sight that greeted her. Her emotions came crashing back to her. A large bouquet of deep red roses sat in a beautiful vase on the counter. An envelope with her name scrawled in skillfully scrolled writing lay at the base of it. It amazed her that a man as hard and tough as Christian could write so beautifully. And she had no doubt they were from him. Who else would have left her flowers in the middle of the night? Picking up the note, she hesitated before opening it. What would it say? Did she want to know? The thought of Christian sending her roses warmed her, but made her wary at the same time.

She carefully opened the envelope. She read his words once, then again. They caused her heart to do a little flip-flop.

Alyssa,

You have lifted me out of the darkness, into the light of your soul and brought daylight to my life once again.

Cristobal

His words, so heartfelt, so romantic, surprised her. She just didn’t expect it of him. When she had told him that he was the strong silent type, she meant it. What he expressed in the note and how he wrote it, left her in a quandary. Her angry, resentful feelings were still there. But so was the caring that was getting stronger with each passing day. She didn’t want someone taking control of her life. At the same time she did want this man to be part of her life.

The doorbell ringing broke her reverie.

She walked to the door and peeked out the peephole. Her Aunt Joyce. Alyssa glanced back at the roses indecisively. She’d like to put the flowers away because she knew her aunt would drill her about them. She didn’t know if she was ready to talk about her feelings for Christian to anyone.

Aunt Joyce knocked again.

“Alyssa. Are you there, dear? It’s Aunt Joyce.”

Sighing in resignation, Alyssa unlocked the door and let her aunt in.

“Hi.” Alyssa gave her a peck on the cheek.

Her aunt gave her a concerned once over.

“How are you feeling, sweetie?”

“I’m fine. Come in and sit down,” she assured her aunt as they sat side by side on the couch. Her aunt took Alyssa’s hands in hers.

“Are you really okay?”

“Yes. A good night’s sleep has a way of making me feel better.” Knowing that sleep was not all she did last night, Alyssa practically choked on her words.

“When I saw that man lunge towards you at the reception, my heart stopped. And then when you fell and hit your head, well, I was so worried. I thought—”

Her aunt stopped speaking. She was looking over Alyssa’s shoulder with interest. A satisfied smile curved her lips up.

Uh, oh. Here it comes. Alyssa knew just what Aunt Joyce was looking at and what she was going to ask next.

“Who are those lovely flowers from, dear?”

Alyssa thought about lying, thought about just telling her aunt they were from one of her colleagues at work.

“Coffee?”

“What?” Her aunt looked confused for a moment.

Good. Now if only Alyssa could keep her that way, or distract her.

“Coffee,” she repeated. “I haven’t had any coffee or breakfast yet. Would you like me to make you a cup?”

Her aunt stood up immediately.

“No. You sit down. I’ll make you coffee and breakfast. You need to rest today.” Then her aunt looked at the way she was dressed.

“You aren’t going to see patients today, are you?”

“Yes. I have to. It’s been almost two months since I saw most of them. Luckily it’s summer and a lot of them go away on vacation, but I still need to get back to them. I only have one more speaking engagement. The stalker has been arrested. What better time for me to go back?”

Her aunt moved into the kitchen. She started the coffee as she spoke. Hoping she would forget about the flowers, Alyssa let Aunt Joyce take over.

“I don’t know, Aly. You had a terrible experience last night. Don’t you just want to take it easy today and recuperate?”

“No. I feel fine, honestly. I think going back to my practice will be the best thing for me.”

Her aunt put bread in the toaster and took eggs out of the refrigerator. She set a pan on the burner, sprayed it with nonstick spray and turned on the stove. Once it was hot enough she cracked two eggs into it.

“Well if you’re sure. I just don’t want you to do too much. Come sit down. Everything’s ready. “

Her aunt buttered the toast, put a piece on each of their plates, then placed a fried egg on top. While Aunt Joyce put the plates, utensils and napkins on the table, Alyssa poured each of them some coffee and added milk and sugar to both cups. Her aunt and she both enjoyed their coffee the same way, sweet and light.

They sat down and began to eat. Her aunt said nothing. Just ate her food and stared at Alyssa with anticipation written all over her face. The silence stretched out until she couldn’t bear it anymore.

“They’re from Christian,” Alyssa blurted out.

“Mr. Galiano? How nice.”

Aunt Joyce’s nonchalance didn’t fool Alyssa. She knew her aunt was very interested.

“I take it he watched over you last night? He seems like a man of his word. I knew that if he said he would stay with you, he would.”

“Yes, he stayed with me.” Alyssa didn’t say anything else. She hoped her aunt would change the subject.

Wishful thinking on her part, of course.