Ascend (The Vampire Destiny Series Book #4) (7 page)

I moaned at the feeling of his mouth and the emotion behind his words, weaving my hands in his hair.  He was like the sweetest addiction, impossible to resist and always left me craving more.

His tongue laved at my flesh, capturing my nipple with his lips, and my hips bucked against him. "Patience," he warned, wearing a wicked smile. "I missed the way you feel," he whispered against my breast, running his hands up my sides and down, lightly squeezing my ass roughly.  I couldn't stop the groan that slipped from my lips even if I tried.

He pulled back, gripping one of my ankles in his hand. I heard him inhale, skimming his nose from my knee to the innermost part of my thigh.  "Ah, I missed the way you smell," he muttered sexily, his warm breath fanning over my skin. "Especially when you are ready for me."

His long fingers slid between my folds, ghosting across my sensitive clit.  He smiled cunningly as I cried out wantonly for him, for more. "I think..." he murmured, dragging his tongue at an achingly slow pace through my wetness.  "I think that I missed the way you taste the most." He slid a finger into me, sensuously sucking my swollen clit,the tip of his tongue circling it gently.

The sensation of his hot mouth against me caused my back to arch sharply, my hips jerking upwards unforgivingly.  Unprepared for my newfound strength, he lost his leverage and his grip on me. Giving him a light shove, he slid to his back and I sat astride him.  Staring down at the beautiful man underneath me, I leaned over him, running my tongue over his chest.  My blunt teeth nipped at his nipples and over the soft flesh of his ribs.  My fingers and mouth moved lower on their exploration until I gripped his cock in one hand and his ass with the other, bringing him closer to me. I laved my tongue around the tip, smiling haughtily as I heard him groan in pleasure.  I took as much of him into my mouth as I could and pumped him with my hand.  He gasped my name when my tongue twirled around and my teeth lightly grazed against his hard cock.

His hand knotted loosely in my hair and his hips rocked gently as my mouth plunged over his length.  "Vackra…I want to taste you." Stefan growled.  "Turn around."

His hands were rough as he pulled me over his skin, flipping me around until his mouth once again met the slick wetness of my pussy.  His fingers spread open my folds and his tongue drove deep inside.

Without a second thought, I cupped him with one hand, my fingers circling his impressive length, the other bracing against his thigh.  My mind had splintered, making it difficult to focus as his mouth and lips seemed to devour me.  My tongue snaked out, slowly tracing over the velvet-covered steel of his cock.  He moaned, the speed of his tongue and fingers increasing.  I was dangerously close to climax.  Licking my lips, I sank my mouth down over him, my hands still gripping his thighs.  His hips involuntarily thrust against me as my lips moved over him, pulling him deeper and faster inside of my mouth.  I groaned around him as I felt him twitch against my lips.

When he came, I took it all and relished the flavor of him.  His fingers circled my clit, pushing me over the edge and I shattered into a million pieces, collapsing over his body.

Spent, neither of us moved.  I heard his soft laughter and his hoarse words. "I take everything back.  I missed that…you and me.”  

I giggled softly and smiled against the skin of his thigh, kissing it lightly.

He gathered me up into his arms, kissing me urgently. I wrapped my legs around him again, and he broke away from my mouth, covering my neck and collarbone with his eager mouth.

"For three days I thought I had lost you," he gasped into my skin. "I cannot be away from you.  I need you too much...and the only thing I fear is my love making you a target."

I smoothed the worry line between his eyes with my finger.  Pressing kisses over his face, I nuzzled my nose against his.  “Stefan, we can’t worry about the unknown.  We’ll handle what happens.  You didn’t survive for 1,000 years by worrying about ‘what-ifs’.”

Nodding, he snuggled under the covers.  Stefan wrapped me in his strong embrace, refusing to let me go. As the dark night sky lightened into the early dawn, we held each other, simply reconnecting.  It was healing a wound we both had from my unexpected change.

I’d almost drifted to sleep when I heard his voice.  “I also did not have to worry about losing you during those years.  There is much more at stake for me now.”

At some point, we’d fallen asleep.  As my eyes cracked open, I blinked slowly.  I reached for Stefan, only to find his side of the bed empty.  The sheets were cool to the touch, looking barely untouched.  Had he waited until I fell asleep to leave?

Stretching languidly in the bed, I snuggled deeper into the covers.  I’d expected to feel different when I awoke, expecting to feel like a vampire, to become insane with bloodlust and be uncontrollable.

Instead, I simply felt like Josephine.

I knew I was alone in the apartment.  Stefan’s presence was humming in the back of my mind, but I could tell he was a short distance away.  Listening closely, I could hear his voice.  It was slightly muffled, but I could hear him easily.  He was next door with Lukas, but they weren’t alone.  Concentrating, I could make out the sound of at least two others, all involved in a terse conversation.  This couldn’t be good.

 A burst of anger roared through the bond and it spurred me into action.  Jumping up from the bed, I struggled into a pair of jeans and an oversize sweatshirt.  I didn’t bother with shoes or even to take the time to brush my hair.  I hurried out if the bedroom to find Stefan before things spiraled totally out of control.

I’d reached the living room when his voice hit me.  He’d sensed me coming and his deep voice was sharp in my mind. 
“Stay where you are.  Trust me.”

I wasn’t happy about being ordered to do anything.  But I had to trust that Stefan knew what he was doing.  Inching closer to the wall that separated us, it was easier for me to listen in on their conversation.  It was almost as if I was in the room with them, separated by the safety of wood and drywall.

Almost.

"I requested time, Amir.  It is too early for her to be evaluated.”  Stefan’s voice was steady and precise.  He kept his tone low and calm, doing his best to diffuse an already difficult conversation.

Amir’s bemused chuckle rang out.  "And I have given you time, my brother.  It has been nearly a week."

"She is not ready.  She is only days old.” Stefan paused and I felt a smugness settle over his thoughts as he switched gears.  “I am your elder, Amir.  She is my mate and my responsibility.  She is nothing to you.”

“Perhaps another time would be better.”  Nigel’s heavy Australian accented voice entered the conversation.  It was apparent he was the peacemaker of the group.

Shifting closer, I pressed my hand against the wall.  The wood floor creaked softly under my silent feet.  I froze in place, catching my lower lip between my teeth as I waited for their conversation to continue.

“No, Nigel.  We have been delayed long enough.  Let us ask her ourselves.  My brother, what do you have to hide?  You must understand the longer you refuse to let us see her how it appears to the Council?”

How it appears to the Council?!
  Stefan had been right when he said that Amir was determined to be the new face of the governing board of all vampires.  I’d been hoping Stefan might be mistaken.

He never was wrong.  Not about how the political angles of the vampire world worked at least.

Standing up straight, I swallowed with a sense of resolve.  I couldn’t let Stefan continue to be badgered when I was fully capable of dealing with Amir and Nigel.
“I’m coming over, Stefan.  This has to stop.”

“Josephine…”

“Enough.” 
I cut him off. 
“This has to end and it won’t stop until they see me.”

“Do not say anything that can be used against you.  Rely on mental communication if you have a question.”

I crossed the room with determination, pulling open the door and closing it softly behind me.  My bare feet made no sound on the plush carpeting in the hallway between the apartments.  I’m sure they heard my approach, but when I pushed the door open, four sets of eyes all met mine at the same time.

I’d been prepared for Stefan’s fury.  He was seething; infuriated that I hadn’t listened to him.  He crossed his arms over this broad chest, the buttons of his blue button down shirt straining.  His sea blue eyes were cold and glittered angrily as they seemed to hold me in place.  Offering him a smile of apology, I tore my gaze away from him.

As I faced Amir and Nigel, they both appraised me.  While Nigel’s eyes were filled with kindness and curiosity, Amir’s amber eyes were calculating and heavily guarded as he took in my changes.

 I knew what he was looking for had nothing to do with my physical appearance.  He was curious of my possible abilities and how it would benefit his plans for his new world order.

“Nigel.  Amir.”  I nodded to them both.  Padding to stand at Stefan’s side, I managed a small smile.  “You wanted to see me?”

Amir’s broad grin seemed forced, his white teeth shining against the ebony of his skin.  A heavy eyebrow cocked and his eyes flickered between Stefan and myself.  “You have made the immortal change.  It was imperative you were assessed.”

“Assessed?  Like a parcel of land?” I queried.  I buried my hands in the back pockets of my jeans and rocked slowly on my heels.  “Are you afraid I’ll expose the vampire world to the oblivious humans?  I was already immortal before this and I managed to keep my mouth shut.  Stefan is my maker, Amir.  You don’t have to worry about me running out into the streets and draining all of New York dry.  I saw my brother with no issue. And if I am tempted, Stefan can command me to stop.”

I was amazed at how easily the lie slipped from my lips.  Stefan was my mate, but he wasn’t my maker.  I wasn’t about to let Amir or Nigel in on that information.  It was better for few to know of my makerless status.

Stefan’s shock registered in the bond, yet outwardly he nodded in agreement.  “She is no danger.  I give you my word.”

Amir sat down on the arm of an overstuffed chair.  His crisp, black Italian suit gave him an air of authority over the rest of us in the room.  His golden eyes never wavered from mine as his head turned to the side.  He simply studied me, waiting for me to make the wrong move.  He was ready to take over as self-appointed leader with an air of arrogance one would have after a well-executed coup.

Authority he didn’t have since he has no idea if Kian is even dead,
I reminded myself.  What if he knew?

“What can you do?” Amir asked, interrupting my inner musings.  His strange, accentless voice broke through my thoughts.

Blinking in confusion, I looked at him through narrowed eyes.  “Excuse me?”

He chuckled again and straightened his tie.  “Your abilities?”

Ah, now we were getting somewhere.  It was time for me to put on Stefan’s poker face.  “I lost my psychic ability as I started to become more vampiric.  My empathic talent is gone as well.  I suppose it was only there while I was human.”

I shrugged and cleared my throat.  Amir pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers and was silent.  My eyes shot between Stefan and Nigel standing behind them.  They were both poised and tense, ready to spring if Amir made the wrong move.

Amir dropped his hand and I shifted my attention back to him.  He heaved a sigh and stood, smoothing a hand over the front of his suit.  “It is a pity.  I would still like to offer you and Stefan a position on the Council.  Stefan has been by proxy for many years.  I would like to make it an official position.  You are the daughter of Kian Ahearne, a rightful heir to a position.  It is only fitting.”

I simply stared at Amir for a few moments.
“Do we have a choice in this?”
I sent to Stefan mentally.