Angels and Hunters (Stoker Sisters 2) (10 page)

Sadie brought her hand to his cheek and traced a line over his jaw and down his neck. “I’ve often been confused about the sudden transformation Alexis and I underwent. We had no guidance, no way of knowing what we were meant to do, to be. And, yes, there have been moments I wished I’d never met you, but…” She nodded as she thought of the years since she’d last seen him. “I’ve more often found myself thankful. I don’t bemoan the fate I met. I’m grateful.”

He looked at her, his love evident and clear.

“You turned Alexis, too,” Sadie went on. “Did you love her as well? Do you love her?”

Ashwin cocked his brow and smirked. “I’ll admit I may have been confused for a while. Your sister could be very convincing when she chooses. But, no, I’ve never loved her, and I think she’s always known it. I think it’s what pushed her to get my attention all the more. You know your sister. Never one to be outdone, least of all by you.”

He knew her all too well, Sadie thought as she smiled back at Ashwin.

“Besides, I thought it would be best if you had someone with you through your existence as a vampire. Someone you knew and loved. For all her flaws, your sister does love you and I knew she’d do all she could to protect you. I would say she has succeeded on that point. You're just as pure and innocent as the day I left you.”

“Well, I appreciate the thought, though living a hundred years with Alexis hasn’t always been easy. Yes, she has been at my side for many battles, but she has continually entered and left my life over the years, disappearing for months on end only to reappear without warning, and sometimes bringing along a new danger of her own. She protected me all right, but often from the very trouble she brought on herself.”

The waitress arrived with a bottle of wine and a plate of bite size morsels to sample. Her gaze was intently set on Ashwin’s face, her attraction to him undeniable. She offered a seductive smile that bordered on offensive, as far as Sadie was concerned. After all, Ashwin was with someone. Didn’t the young woman have an ounce of respect for another woman’s man?

“Thank you,” Ashwin said with a smile.

The young woman lingered a moment longer than necessary, her eyes riveted to Ashwin’s smile.

But Sadie saw in Ashwin’s grin what the young woman was unable to detect. Sadie knew that smile. She’d seen it thousands of times over the years. That same smile came to the vast majority of vampires who’d unexpectedly stumbled upon an easy meal. The young woman was in for a surprising turn of events as the evening progressed, Sadie thought.

“I believe I may have heard of a few of Alexis’ adventures,” Ashwin said when the young woman finally stepped away. “It’s amazing she has survived for so long.”

“Tranquility simply does not suit my sister. Where I cursed my fate, she embraced it. And where I attempted to make the most of the power I had, she sought only to abuse it. She managed to walk the line for a long time, but of late her penchant towards…”  Sadie’s gaze followed the retreating waitress.

“I know.” Ashwin squeezed Sadie’s hand, redirecting her gaze back to him. “Don’t mind her,” he said with a reassuring smile. “The owners here are quite aware of vampires’ need for a meal from time to time.”

“I understand completely.” She felt a blush rise to her cheeks, just as she felt an ounce of insecurity in light of the attractive young woman’s persistence. She didn’t want to be one of those jealous and possessive women, but…

“You’ve grown unbelievably beautiful since I’ve last seen you. That young wench has nothing on you.”

“I didn’t mean to…”

“Besides, I’d say you have your own share of admirers.”

Frowning quizzically, she looked at Ashwin then followed his gaze to the band of young college men hanging around the bar, looking her way. While two were quick to turn away, one smiled brazenly at her and another even raised his mug of beer.

Apparently, Ashwin’s presence was no deterrent to these men.

“I’m a very lucky man, Sadie.” Ashwin brought her hand to his lips then pressed it to his cheek. “And they all know it. What man wouldn’t want to be in my shoes?”

“Young college men,” Sadie said with disenchanted shrug. “They’ll jump on any skirt that moves.”

The slow, delicious smile that came to Ashwin’s lips made Sadie thankful she was seated. Her knees would surely have abandoned her. And as his gaze touched her eyes, nose, lips then dipped to the opening of her blouse before returning to her eyes, she felt certain she would succumb to him right then and there.

“Look around you, my love. How many other women here are attracting as much attention as you are?”

He leaned in closer, and closer. She felt his breath, saw the sparkling specs of green in his eyes and heard the yearning groan that rumbled in his chest before rising to his throat. “I will devour you before the evening ends,” he whispered.

His lips brushed across hers and for a moment Sadie felt overly conscious of her surroundings. Not one to favor public displays of affection, she felt the disapproving eyes of patrons on her. 

“No doubt those young men wish they could…” He brushed his lips over hers teasing her with a touch that was delicate yet possessive.

As Ashwin’s lips pressed over hers, devoured her and pull her in, body and soul, the people around her, as well as their opinion of her, became insignificant.

Though seated beside one another, their small table was suddenly an annoyance. She wanted to climb over him, straddle him, get closer, obscenely close. She wanted to feel his warmth, feel the touch of his hands over her skin. She felt him deepening his kiss until she could feel his fangs against her tongue. How wonderful it would be to just let go and let him ravish her.

When he pulled back, she sighed her disappointment, eager to taste so much more of him.

“Let’s get out of here,” Ashwin said, getting up and holding out a hand to her.

Giggling and feeling sinfully alive for the first time in a long while, Sadie stood, her hand securely in his as she followed him outside. “I thought you were hungry.”

He stopped, turned to her and cupped her cheeks. “I am,” he said in a deep rich tone that melted any remaining reserve she had. “More than you can imagine. The innocence that once enveloped you has now turned into burning passion. I must admit, the slight reserve I still sense in you has me eager to seduce you, while the passion that burns at your fingertips leaves me dizzy.” Ashwin’s genteel way with words left her reeling. He was of a time of romance and dreams…a time when men were gentlemen and women were ladies in speech and behavior. He made her feel like a princess, like she was the only woman in the world, precious and desired.

With fierce determination Ashwin led her to his car and, once inside, she found herself wrapped securely in his arms, strong, possessive and unrelenting. She wanted to lose herself in that embrace, to fill her senses with every ounce of him.

“How I’ve waited to have you, Sadie. How I’ve anticipated the woman you’d become; passionate, fiery and wanton.”  His lips burned over her ears and down her neck.

“Well, the years have brought about a degree of maturity and…” Her voice trailed off as she realized what had unleashed the passion she now felt. That night with Keegan. She’d been so intent on showing herself to be just as sexy and arousing as Alexis, she’d thrown herself at Keegan.

Though Ashwin’s lips played over her skin and returned to taste her mouth, her mind’s eye was filled with images of Keegan. With an increasingly heavy sense of guilt weighing in on her, Sadie was about to pull away from Ashwin when he suddenly stopped kissing her and pulled back.

She stared at him. Had he read her mind? Could he sense how her sentiments had suddenly shifted? 

His eyes were distant, hard and defiant as they stared over Sadie’s head and out the passenger door window. She turned to find the source of Ashwin’s sudden anger and the blood drained from her face as she turned to face Keegan.

Chapter 9

 “
K
eegan,” she whispered in disbelief. “He really did escape.”

“It pains me to know you didn’t take me on my word.”

Shocked and barely able to breathe, she turned to Ashwin. “You're one of Skars’ men. I just…”

“I’ve lied to Skars more times than I care to count. But you… You're the pure-hearted one. The Angel. I would never lie to the one destined to give vampires hope in their battle against Strigois.”

While relieved to see Keegan alive and well, knowing he’d seen her in Ashwin’s arms, with Ashwin’s lips all over her left her feeling unsure. She glanced sidelong at Keegan as he stood a few feet away from Ashwin’s car. He seemed calm and sure of himself as he waved them out to see him.

He didn’t appear angry, Sadie noticed with disappointment. She knew their relationship had never truly been solid, but still. Didn’t it bother him that she was in another man’s arms? Didn’t he care at all?

Then again, he was a hunter; a hunter whose duty it was to kill vampires, including herself.

“What do I do?” she asked Ashwin, her gaze still on Keegan as she tried to analyze his emotions. His eyes hardened, but was it with anger for the scene he’d just witnessed or his hunting instincts kicking in?

“Well, we could ignore him.” Ashwin’s tone was heavy with his intent and his hand was already at the ignition. “I certainly would like to continue where we were.  However, if confrontations are more to your liking, we can get out and go to him, though he doesn’t exactly appear to be in a talkative mood. He’s just as likely to stake me the moment I get within arms’ reach.”

Ashwin took a tight hold of Sadie’s hand, making her all the more aware of the dangerous situation they could potentially be facing.

“And seeing how he doesn’t look too happy with you, I’d say you run the risk of meeting with a stake quickly enough, too. We should just get out of here and continue having a pleasant evening. Fighting wasn’t really in my plans for tonight.”

“I can’t just leave. I have to talk to him. At least let him know how happy I am to see he’s okay. Maybe let him know that I’m okay as well.”

“He’s a well-trained hunter who’s just as likely to stake you as he is to hear a word you have to…” 

Sadie was out and heading toward Keegan before Ashwin could finish cautioning her. She knew Keegan. He wouldn’t hurt her. However as she focused on Keegan, her heart suddenly began pounding with unexpected violence. It was not with the strong emotions he’d so easily brought about many times before, but with fear. His gaze was harder than she’d ever seen, even on the night of the battle.

Before she could reach Keegan, Ashwin was out of the car and at her side.

“Ashwin,” Sadie hissed. “You don’t have to chaperone me. Keegan won’t touch me.” Silently, however, she thanked Ashwin for staying close.

Keegan’s eyes steeled and his hand went to the stake at his belt as Ashwin approached.

“Keegan, I wanted to talk to you,” Sadie said, hoping to soften his stance. “Ashwin has no desire to harm you. And you know how I feel about you. I’d never do anything to put you in harm’s way.”

A long silent moment followed as the men eyed each other. Tension became palpable and Sadie felt one of them may explode at any moment. Would Keegan really stake Ashwin? Would Ashwin have time to fight back, perhaps kill Keegan?

Keegan took a step closer to Sadie and she had to fight to remain immobile. Her breathing became weighted with fear of his next move. Though he was still a few feet away, she could feel him, feel the heat of his skin, even through his duster. She sensed the tension, the anger, and through it all, she thought she sensed his pain.

“Don’t let him get too close, Sadie. He’s a hunter and you're his prey. Don’t fall into his trap.”