Craig's Heart (7 page)

Craig rolled out of bed and held out his hand. “How about we get a shower and see how things go from there.”

It would be smarter if they showered separately and then found their hosts. They needed to talk with them, to find out what came next. That would be the intelligent, the right thing to do.

Evie took Craig’s hand and let him help her from the bed. Screw the smart thing, being with Craig was more important, something she had to do.

Nothing in her life made sense. In all the plans she’d made over the years, she’d definitely never included becoming a vampire in them. She had no idea if she could ever go back to her apartment again or if she’d lose all her belongings when her rent wasn’t paid next week. She had no idea what would happen with her art, her paintings. Having children and a family was no longer a possibility. Her heart ached for that, but there was no use bemoaning what could not be.

So much was lost to her.

But Craig was standing beside her, waiting and watching. He wanted her. He knew what she was and he still wanted her.

“Let’s get a shower.”

Craig wished he knew what was going on inside Evie’s head but wasn’t sure reading minds was one of his new powers. He didn’t want to test it on Evie. At least not yet. He didn’t think she’d like him peeking at her thoughts, and he was also afraid he might hurt her if he tried. Plus, he respected her right to privacy. He sure as hell didn’t want anyone reading his thoughts without his permission.

It was enough that he could sense her emotions and knew she was confused. He could relate.

He’d have to have a long talk with Damek later to find out how the whole vampire thing worked. Did he have whatever powers he would have, or would more develop over time? He’d spent most of his life researching werewolves not vampires. Actually, he’d spent most of his time researching paranormal bounty hunters of all kinds. He knew the basics about vampires, but not much else. They were secretive creatures, and none so much as Damek.

But that was for later. Right now, Evie was beside him, her hand trustingly in his. He led her into the attached bathroom, not bothering to turn on the light. His new vision was incredible, and the fact that he could see without his glasses was still something that would take some getting used to.

What surprised him most was the lack of sound. Other than their breathing and their slow heartbeats, there was no other sound. “Do you hear it?” he asked.

Evie tilted her head to one side and her hair fell over her shoulder in a tangled curtain. “Hear what?”

“Exactly. It’s so quiet.”

She turned her head slowly to one side then to the other. “There must be soundproofing in the walls.”

“Or maybe we’re both just getting better at blocking extraneous noise.” Craig concentrated on dropping his protective walls and listening. He could hear traffic in the distance and the murmur of Damek and Sonia down the hallway. He put his barriers back up immediately, not wanting to intrude on them.

Pleased with his new discovery, he looked down at Evie and immediately forgot what he’d meant to say. She was smiling at him. It wasn’t a big smile, more a tilting of the corners of her lips. But there was a light in her eyes as well that made them shimmer. She looked happy.

Lust exploded inside him, tempered with a softer emotion he wasn’t ready to name. He reached for her, needing to touch her, to know she was real. He put his hands on her sides, lifted her and set her down on top of the marble vanity. Evie grabbed his biceps, steadying herself. He nudged her legs apart and made a place for himself.

The kiss was explosive. As though they’d both passed some point of no return, there was no being gentle for either of them.

He ate at her lips, loving their taste, their texture, the way she parted them for him. He felt like a conquering king, a marauder as he claimed her. And she was right there with him, digging her nails into his flesh, opening her mouth wider, tangling her tongue with his.

“God, Evie.” He kissed a trail down her jawline and then up to her ear. He caught the lobe and nipped it. She gasped and wrapped her legs around his waist.

Craig wouldn’t have been surprised if steam came out his ears. His cock was ready to explode. But he couldn’t let that happen. He had to get inside her first.

He pulled back, grabbed the hem of her shirt and dragged it over her head. She grabbed his T-shirt and he heard a loud rip. The fabric parted from hem to neck. He laughed at her impatience, pulled away the remnants and tossed the torn garment aside.

She was wearing a bra, but he had that off in a blink, amazed he could move so fast and efficiently when he was trembling inside. He covered her breasts with his hands, weighing the small, firm mounds. The tips puckered, stabbing his palms. He growled, shocked by how possessive he felt.

Evie placed her hands on his chest and kneaded the hard muscles. Her hands were small and warm and quickly found his flat nipples, teasing them.

Lust swamped him, greater than the bloodlust he’d felt earlier. He caught his reflection in the bathroom mirror and saw the red-tinged eyes staring back at him.

He shook himself, desperate to regain control. It wasn’t easy with Evie’s head tilted back, exposing her long, slender neck. Her hair tumbled down her back and her skin was as pale as cream. Her lips were moist from his kisses, her eyes half-closed.

Craig’s hands shook as he undid the zipper of her black jeans. And if he had any doubts about if Evie wanted this as badly as he did, they disappeared when she helped him strip her jeans and panties off. It only took seconds and he had her sitting totally naked on the marble countertop in front of him.

He moaned as the sweet scent of her arousal tickled his nostrils. He licked his lips and his tongue touched a sharp fang. Craig went to his knees and pulled her butt to the edge of the counter. He pushed her thighs wider and pulled her legs over his shoulders.

Perfect.

He could see her pink pussy, swollen with need, liquid with arousal. He leaned inward and stroked his tongue over her slick folds. Evie gasped, tightening her thighs around his head.

He growled with pleasure and dipped his tongue inside her hot, molten core, pushing it as far as it would go.

“Craig.” His name was a plea, a promise as it fell from her lips. His cock was as hard as steel, but not nearly as cold. He was burning up inside, like he had a fever, but one only she could cure.

One of his fangs accidentally pierced her delicate flesh. She cried out and he jerked back, horrified by what he’d done. A single drop of blood welled up. He looked up, but she guided his head back to her.

Taking a deep breath, he inhaled the sweet scent of her blood mingling with that of her musky arousal. He touched the tip of his tongue to the single droplet. Ambrosia.

Lust rolled through him like a runaway freight train. Unstoppable. He captured her clit between his lips and sucked, careful not to cut her again. She arched her back and cried out his name. He loved the sound of it falling from her lips.

She caught his head between her hands and pulled him closer. He felt her convulsing against him. Knew he had to get inside, to feel the warm walls of her pussy closing around his cock.

He stood, ripped open the front of his jeans and pushed them down until his dick popped free. Grabbing her into his arms, he pressed her back against the bathroom door and fitted the head of his cock against her opening. Praying for control, he pushed his way inside.

Evie was surprised she was still breathing. Surely her orgasm must have killed her. She’d never felt anything like it in her life. It made all her other sexual experiences pale in comparison.

When Craig’s fang had accidentally cut her in such a sensitive spot, instead of being appalled or afraid, she’d been filled with a need for him to taste her blood, to take it and her. Rather than fighting it, she’d given in to the urge, pulling him to her. When his tongue had lapped up her blood, she’d almost come. When he’d sucked her clit, she’d orgasmed so strongly she’d splintered into a million pieces.

Now her back was against the door and he was pushing his way inside her. She couldn’t remember moving at all. Craig was fast and strong, even stronger than she was. She didn’t have to worry about hurting him like she would with a human male. She could be herself and not be afraid.

His cock was thick and he stretched the walls of her pussy, demanding she accept him. She locked her arms around his neck and her legs around his hips and arched against him.

“Fuck, Evie.” His vocabulary had shrunk dramatically in the past few minutes, giving her a sense of feminine power. He forged inward and she bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out. He was long and thick and she’d never felt so full before. It was almost overwhelming, but she wanted all of him.

They were both panting hard by the time he was seated to the hilt. He rested his forehead against the door next to her, his lungs expanding and contracting. She gasped for breath and just hung on. Both of them simply clung to one another. She had no idea how much time passed.

Then Craig began to move.

Slowly at first, he circled his hips, withdrawing the slightest bit before pushing his way back inside her. She moaned when his pelvic bone brushed her clit and angled her hips so it would happen again.

Craig laughed and the lighthearted sound pleased her. Before long, his thrusts were harder and faster. He powered his way in and out of her, his cock stimulating and stretching her inner channel with every penetration.

She skimmed her hands over his broad shoulders, across his strong back, down his muscular arms. She licked and nipped at his neck, careful not to break the skin.

Craig swore under his breath, his movements growing faster and more frantic. Heat built in her core and she knew she was close once again.

“Bite me,” he ordered.

Her fangs ached and she licked her lips in anticipation of tasting his blood. Yet fear stopped her. What if she took too much? What if she hurt him?

“Do it,” he commanded as his hips pounded against her.

He tilted his head to one side, exposing the thick column of his neck, and she was lost. Her fangs dropped down and she sank them into his skin. Blood spurted into her mouth, sweet and savory. The taste of him flooded her senses, rocking her to her very soul. He groaned and fucked her even harder.

Then he angled his head and sank his fangs into her neck. She screamed his name and came fast and furious, lost in the maelstrom that engulfed them both.

The first thing she became aware of was the smell of blood. Her eyes flew open and horror filled her as blood dripped slowly from the bite she’d made in Craig’s neck. She leaned forward and licked the wound, stopping the bleeding. Thankfully, her saliva contained some kind of antibodies that did that. Might not be sanitary but it worked.

“I’m so sorry.” Shame filled her and she tried to get away.

Craig tightened his hold on her and nuzzled her neck. “I’m not. That was amazing.” He lifted his head and kissed her lips, hard and fast. “Are you okay? Was I too rough?”

Evie realized he was as unsure as she was, still trying to understand his own strength and this new world they both occupied.

A heavy thud pounded on the bathroom door. “Everything okay in there?” Damek’s concerned voice was like a bucket of cold water. She tried to get out of Craig’s arms, but he wasn’t having any of it and the more she squirmed the harder his cock grew.

She looked at him, eyes wide. Craig shrugged and whispered. “What can I say? You have that effect on me.” In a louder voice, he called, “We’re fine. Be out after we get a shower.”

Damek muttered something under his breath in a language Evie didn’t recognize, but she expected he was swearing. They both waited, breath held until they were sure Damek had left. Then Craig looked at her and he started to laugh.

It left her spellbound. He looked so young, so carefree. He slowly slid out of her and they both groaned. Still holding her in his arms, he carried her to the shower and set her on her feet next to it.

“Sorry about that.” Craig stripped off his jeans and underwear. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. Even though he’d just come he was still aroused. He reached around her and adjusted the water before turning back to her. “Now, how about we get that shower?”

Chapter Five

Craig sat on the sofa next to Evie and waited for his friend to speak. Both he and Evie were clean and fresh from their shower. Sonia had loaned Evie a clean blouse and underwear that she wore with her own pants. Her hair was braided and she looked rested. Craig was wearing a silk shirt that belonged to Damek along with his own jeans. Like her, his feet were bare.

Damek hadn’t said anything about them obviously having sex in the bathroom, but Craig could see the unasked questions in Damek’s gaze. Unfortunately, Craig had no answers. Right now, he was operating on his gut and all his instincts were telling him to keep Evie close.

Fortunately, Damek was willing to let it go for now, but Craig knew he’d have to answer his friend’s questions sooner or later, probably sooner than he wanted.

“So you’re an artist?” Sonia asked Evie.

“Yes.” Evie picked at a thread on the knee of her jeans where the material was ripped. “I have some paintings in a few small galleries around the city.”