Kathi S Barton - [Aaron's Kiss 04] (24 page)

“Do you think that...I mean, did the master say that?” Mel reached out and gentled the large vampire. It never occurred to her that Tucker would think that Aaron didn’t want him. She wished that she had thought to ask Aaron about his intentions toward the man. “I wouldn’t worry about that happening if I was you, Tucker. He sent messages six times yesterday asking about you two, and then today he demanded that I break down the door to make sure you hadn’t killed each other. I told him that if the screams were any indication, then you were both…hummm…enjoying yourselves quite nicely.”

Mel could feel their embarrassment and pride from Tucker. The man practically glowed with good health and wellbeing. For that matter, so did Sam. They had gotten loud and they had enjoyed each other, several times a day for two glorious days and nights, Mel knew. Hell, the entire court did as well.

Mel dismissed them soon after. She could see that they needed each other and would for a very long time to come. She hoped that they would visit her often, having felt a bond with them she hadn’t felt in centuries.

~~~

Sam and Tucker lay on the bed, both sated for the moment. During their time together, they had talked a great deal. She had told him everything about herself, her abilities and the abused people she helped. He also knew that she baked and decorated because it was a way for her to decompress and relax. He told her about Marta and what she had done to him, how she had used and abused him and others. Some of the things that they had each done and had done to them were shared and they both felt better for sharing them for the first time.

Tucker also told Sam what she was now, an immortal as was he. He also explained that she would need to keep up her strength, as he would only feed from her for all eternity.

“Eating rare meats and drinking plenty of fluids will keep the two of us healthy.” Tucker was stroking her skin as she lay naked before him.

“Will I feed from you? Grow fangs, I mean?”

His eyes turned at the thought of her drinking from him, her teeth sinking into his flesh. His cock hardened. His fangs elongated more. “Would you like that, Sam, to feed from me? Would you like to bite me? Feel me fill you?” His voice, along with his eyes, had turned; it was deeper with his need. He found that he wanted that, her to bite him soon, now as a matter of fact.

For an answer, she leaned into his body and buried her face into his throat, drawing deep the scent of him. She licked his pounding pulse and then pulled it into her mouth and bit him gently, then nipped harder.

“Christ, Sam. That’s it, baby, bite me. Hard, bite me hard, baby.” He surged toward her, moving over her and pushing her onto her back as she nuzzled his neck. When she opened her mouth wider and then bit him, opening the vein with a tiny wound, he was already pushing his cock deep into her wetness. He came with a roar, bringing her with him, his blood filling her mouth, his cock filling her body. When he was able to move again, he showed her how to seal the small wound and lay back with her spread across his body. Both slept only to wake and start again.

~~~

They were seated in the kitchen when Tucker and Sam arrived later that evening at the MacManus mansion. Bradley had even come over to welcome them home.

“I do hope that you will accept my gratitude and heartfelt thanks for what you did for us. Disposing of such garbage was something that I will never be able to repay you for. And as such, I offer you my pledge as an alpha wolf; you now and forever will be an honorary pack member. Pack takes care of pack. Thank you again, Sam. Tucker.” With a nod to Sara and Aaron, Bradley left them. Tucker decided to get this over with

“Sam and I have bonded truly, sire.” Tucker started. “I wish to speak to you. We have offers of becoming a part of two other realms. They have told us that we could come there and live, with a job. I feel I must provide for my mate. I want to thank you for your support. We couldn’t have…we would have died without you. If there is nothing else, we will be going.”

The couple had talked about this as well as they made their way to the estate.

Tucker wanted to start over, to start fresh, and Sam agreed with him. She wanted to go where he did, and her baking could be done from anywhere.

“No. I think not,” Aaron said. He didn’t move, not even when Sam turned on him.

“Hey, fang face, you don’t tell us what to do. He doesn’t…we don’t belong to your little…whatever, and I’m not so sure I’d want to. You are the pushiest person I’ve ever met. And you! You are the bossiest woman I’ve ever known.” Her last statement was directed right at Sara.

Aaron merely smiled at her. Then he turned his attention to his mate. When Sara gave him a slight nod, Aaron stood and advanced toward Sam, backing her against the furthest wall. Sara held Tucker still with magic so he couldn’t come to her aid. When Aaron had Sam pressed against the wall, he grabbed her around the throat and lifted her from the floor. Tucker roared with anger.

“Use it, Sam. Use your power,” Aaron demanded of her. “Throw me away and save Tucker.” Tucker watched helplessly as Aaron squeezed the life out of Sam.

“No matter how long it takes, no matter how hard you fight, I’ll kill you for this,” Tucker growled at Aaron.

Tucker was being slammed against the opposite wall over and over as his mate died. Aaron pulled her away from the wall slightly and slammed her hard twice.

Suddenly, he was across the room in a heap; his nose bloodied his arm at an odd angle.

“Oh, my God, what have I done?” Sam ran to him and helped Tucker up, as Sara had dropped him as soon as Aaron flew across the room. Tucker knew Sam was in trouble the way Sara glared at her. Standing in front of Tucker to protect him, Sam raised her chin.

“You touch him and I’ll kill you, you piece of—”

“You inherited the power base that was Marta’s, Sam. Your mother was Magi, and by killing her, Marta took her powers. You, in turn, took her powers and they became yours. Mel told us that the base went to you. Everyone that she ever killed, their power base now is a part of you.” Aaron’s arm was already healing; his nose was wiped clean as he spoke to Sam.

“This was a test? Are you fucking nuts? I could have hurt you. Then what? Your mate would have tried to kill us. Well, I don’t want it. Take it back. I…what am I supposed to do with it? Take it, you can have it.” Sara snorted. “Aaron, like me, is a true immortal. And yes, it was a test. More than you could know. Aaron and I have a deal for you. We’d like—”

“Fuck you and your deal. What the hell? You expect us to what…drop down and kiss your feet? I don’t think so, toots. I thought I hated you before all this shit, now I—”

“Enough, Sam.” Tucker could see now what they had been doing. They wanted to see Sam realize her powers, her gift.

“I...I don’t want...I don’t know how to make this work. Please, I just want to be with Tucker. That’s all I want and to run my shop, bake cakes, and pretty things.” Her head was suddenly spinning around, the room tilted oddly. “I’ll not bother you again, not that I did in the first place.”

“I’ll show you how to use it, Sam. It would be my pleasure to show you. I know we haven’t really gotten off to a good start, and I think that might be my fault—” Sara started only to be cut off by Sam.

“Think it might be your fault! You stuck your fucking finger in my bullet hole to prove a point. Yeah, I’d say we got off to a bad start. And it never got any better with your nosey, bossy ways.”

Sara stiffened. “I was not being bossy. I was trying to help you. If I hadn’t made you seek medical attention, you’d of never have met Tucker. And that—”

“Ladies, ladies. I would like to point out that you both are destroying the room as we speak.” Aaron stood beside Tucker dodging items as they flew about the kitchen.

Duncan, for once, was not in the vicinity.

Sam’s hair was standing on end and objects were flying around the room. Just as Aaron pointed it out and she realized it, everything dropped to the floor.

“Oh, God, I’m so sorry. I’ll pay for everything, I swear. I’m...I’m so...shit, I’m dizzy.” And Sam hit the floor.

When she woke later, Tucker was leaning over her smiling. They were in the bedroom again, the one he knew she disliked.

“You know, I really, really hate this room. But if you promise not to leave me in here alone, I think I could stand it a little longer.” He kissed her before he spoke. “I’ve accepted Aaron’s offer. And Sara is beside herself with worry about you. How do you feel?” Tucker couldn’t stop from grinning at her.

“Let’s see, stupid, overwhelmed, tired, hungry, pissy...let’s just say I’m running the whole emotional spectrum right now. Why did you accept his offer? Not that I care, because it’s you who has to deal with him, but why?” He touched her again, ran his hand down her arm, and made her shiver. He knew he’d just added yet another emotion.

“Tucker, if you keep that up, we won’t leave this bedroom before sunrise.” He grinned at her.

“I love you, Sam. Did you know that Sara has a friend named Shade? You’ve met her, I believe. She came here when you fainted.”

“I didn’t faint. Why was she called in? She’s their healer or something, right?”

“Or something.” He touched her again. “Have I told you in the last two minutes that I love you. I do, very much. You’re pregnant, love. That’s why you…hummm…when you tripped over that air molecule while standing perfectly still and hit your head on something on the way to the floor—”

“Okay, I fainted. I’m pregnant? That’s not possible. Is it? Well, I mean, we do go at it a lot. A baby? Tucker, I can’t even care for…We’re…a baby? I...is it okay with you?

I…a baby? Wow.”

He answered her with a kiss. A kiss that said he loved her and that it was more than okay with him that she was having his child, their child.

“I love you with all of my being; I will love you for all of my lives. I love you, Sam Hunter James.”

Now available in the Aaron’s Kiss Series

I woke up one morning and decided to give play time to the people in my head who were keeping me awake. Little did I know that they would be so relentless and want their time right now! I wrote for the pure joy of it and to entertain my family and friends. But mostly it was to get more than an hour of sleep without a story playing out.