Run the Gantlet (7 page)

“Swerve wil be fine.” They both looked at the man who had made it to the far corner but was now staring at an assortment of plastic skul s. “Are you okay there, brother, while I sort out my lady?”

“Yeah, man.” Swerve nodded, never turning from the skul s. “I need to talk to these dudes for a while and I appreciate the privacy.”

Eloise shook his head. Only Swerve would need to converse with plastic skul s. “You know his girlfriend is completely normal.”

“They usual y are.” Arrow made short work of locking up and then took her hand and led her into the back of the store.

“Where are taking me?” Eloise knew she had the power to say no and Arrow would stop. The thing was, she just did not have the ability to.

“To heaven and beyond.”

She snorted. “Pretty sure of your skil s there, fang face.” Eloise had to admit she found that kind of arrogance sexy.

“As are you.”

“You know I stil hate you.” Eloise hated him so much there were times when she was so overcome by need that she forgot about what had brought them together.

“I love the way you hate.”

They looked at each other. Love. The word had been thrown out there. Eloise felt her heart race when she saw the tender expression on Arrow’s face. He looked as if he actual y cared. Could he? Could she? What if? Eloise shook herself. It was crazy to get al worked up and hopeful over a word that was so commonly used. It was not like she were some airy-fairy dreamer who believed in cotton candy happy endings. Life was never like that.

“So.” Back to being practical. Sex with the vampire was on offer. Maybe a more modest person would have said no. Maybe it was moral y wrong to take what was on offer and expect nothing more. But Eloise wanted Arrow. If anyone got hurt in the end it would be her. She was woman enough to accept the consequences of her actions.

consequences of her actions.

Arrow eyed her with interest. “What? I can see al sorts of thoughts in your eyes.”

With any other man it would not have occurred to her to act as she did with him. “You bring me out here with the promise of something more and yet you offer me nothing?”

He smiled at her words. “You could always make the first move—unless you’re scared to.”

And that was the thing. Eloise wasn’t scared with Arrow. Not anymore. He al owed her to do whatever she wanted and take whatever she needed without judgment. There was unbelievable freedom in that. “Am not.”

“Prove it then.”

Eloise was up to the chal enge. Where to start and what would bring this man to his knees? A sudden thought came to her.
Hmm, could I do that?
It was bold and wild and something she had never contemplated before. She looked into his eyes. It would be fun to see him squirm. She pushed him back against the wal .

“Stand stil .” Her hands went to the buckle of her belt. As always being so close to Arrow was overwhelming. Eloise could not believe that this man was at her beck and cal .

“Do as you wil .” He held his hands away from his body, his eyebrows arched as her hands started unbuckling his belt. “This is interesting.”

“I might just want to see what color underwear you have on.” Eloise pul ed the zip down.

“I’m not wearing any.” His cock sprang out eagerly.

“No you’re not.” Eloise pushed it aside and pul ed his trousers down.

“You’re playing with fire, shorty.”

She dropped to her knees and continued to work the fabric down to his ankles. Eloise did not remove his boots. She wanted him immobile and unable to resist anything she chose to do to him. “This is my game and I’l play however I want.” She looked up into his eyes. There was passion and tenderness.

The need to have this man total y out of control for her was overwhelming. Eloise ran her hands up his legs to his muscled thighs. They were so firm and hard. She pushed his eager, bouncing cock away and leaned forward and tasted the skin of his muscled thighs. “Yum.” She lapped at his flesh eagerly.

“Eloise.” Arrow jumped as her mouth moved over his upper legs.

She smiled against his skin. He’d used her name. “Yes?” Her hands moved around to cup his butt.

“If you do what I think you’re going to do I may scream.”

“Come on, you’re a big strong vampire.” The thought of Arrow screaming was funny and yet sweet. He wasn’t that tough and that he could admit it to her made Eloise feel he was not the only powerful one in this relationship. “Surely nothing gets to you.” Her hand gravitated to his cock. It felt hard and ful yet covered in soft, hot flesh. It was like one extreme to the other. Giving in to instinct and the need to please her man, Eloise licked the tip of his penis. Arrow jumped. She licked again. A long, low growl rumbled n his throat. “Hmm.”

“What?” he choked out as his hands reached onto either side of the wal to hold himself stil .

“You’re not so scary, after al .” She began tonguing his cock with determination. It was fun and exciting feeling Arrow jump impatiently beneath her mouth.

“I am weak for you.”

As I am for you
. Eloise slipped the head of his cock between her lips. It was like a salty, musk-flavored lol ipop. Her enjoyment came from making the man above her squirm as she sucked with the intent of making him even wilder. And he was not the only one feeling this way. Eloise felt a corresponding rush of wetness between her legs. Power was indeed sexy and she was only just beginning to realize how much.

“Shorty?” Arrow’s voice was hoarse and low as she licked from the base to the tip of his shaft. “Eloise?”

She looked up at him, her mouth stil engaged in its task. When he gently pushed her lips away, his cock stood out al wet and shiny. Arrow’s hands went to under her armpits and lifted her up.

“That it?” Eloise wanted to taste so much more with this plan. Ideas of licking his body from head to toe caught in her mind. “Can’t handle any more, fang face?”

“Oh hel no.” Before she could speak, Arrow turned her around to face the wal and lifted up her skirt. “You have to stop wearing these.” He ripped her panties from her body and flung them aside.

Eloise closed her eyes and sighed as his hand found her clit. Whatever Arrow wanted to do to her she would al ow.

“You’re so wet. Did sucking me turn you on?” His fingers slid into her vagina.

“Yes.” There was no point lying. Completely oblivious to the fact she was at work, Eloise pushed back onto his hand. “I need more.” His fingers were good but his cock was better. She needed to feel the ful ness of the wet, hard cock that prodded her ass inside her body. No sensation could complete with Arrow’s hot body plastered tight against hers as he took her deep and fast.

“What do you need, shorty?” His fingers continued their slow, sensual motion.

“I need you inside me now.”

“Or?”

She turned her head to the side. “What do you mean or? Is their another option? Your cock is pushing at my ass, begging for entry, so I know I am not the only one out of control here.” She spread her legs wider, urging him inside.

Arrow laughed. “You’re right. I need you more than anything I have ever needed before.” He kissed her cheek and positioned her hips for entry. “And I love hearing you say you want me.”

“Always,” she murmured before she realized what “always” actual y meant.

“That’s a promise.”

The first thrust almost lifted Eloise off her feet it was so deep and insistent. It was exactly what she craved, ful possession and nothing less. “Oh yes,” she moaned as her hands clawed at the wal . She was completely helpless to whatever he wanted to do and she liked it. Arrow’s strokes were firm and unyielding as he pounded away inside her. There was no need for tenderness. This was al about fulfil ing a need they both had. That each recognized this was the most important thing.

Eloise heard a soft moan of pleasure.

Arrow stopped for a moment. “That wasn’t you, was it?”

No, she was more a screamer than a moaner. “Do you think someone is watching?” Her thoughts went back to Swerve over with the skul s. It would be embarrassing yet strangely arousing to have someone watch them make love. Whoa! Back up.
Make love?

“It was a female.” Arrow started pumping back inside her.

The sigh of pleasure once more sounded. “Caitriona?” Who else could it be? If it was Mesopia she would have stayed and watched and probably made suggestions. “Do you think this could be another test?” Arrow’s bal s were pounding into her ass and she knew it would not take long for her to come.

“Yeah I do. Do you know why?” His hands went to her breasts and molded them.

At that moment Eloise was incapable of speaking. Wild, fierce pleasure shot through her veins and she wanted to scream. Instead she bit her tongue and shook her head.

“Because you gave freely to me and took what you desired without fear.” Arrow’s mouth fastened on her neck.

Eloise welcomed the piercing pain that was over in a second. She now knew the sucking of his mouth on her flesh, as he fed on her blood, would intensify her orgasm. Eloise pushed back eagerly against Arrow, wanting to feel every inch of his skin on hers. She sighed as her whole body began to tingle. As the climax hit, the scream she had been holding on to came out and Eloise flopped limply against the wal and let Arrow do whatever he wanted to her sated body. She was his. Outwardly she could fight it but inside Eloise knew the truth. Arrow’s body jerked against her, his hot seed shooting up inside her.

“Thank you,” he murmured as he rested his body against hers.

It was at that moment Eloise knew she had fal en in love.

* * * * *

“I was going to stay and watch but I thought decorum was the better part of valor. Besides I think you had other company. I heard a woman.”

“Yeah, we think that was Caitriona.” Eloise explained what Arrow thought.

“Not only is he hotter than hel but smart to boot.” Mesopia looked impressed. “There’s not many men like that around.”

“You can have him.” Now that Arrow had gone, Eloise was back to being al defensive again.
Why can’t I do that when he is here?
And hot. She stil burned from him. The fire he had lit within her was like a never-ending hunger.

“The vampire’s not mine, more’s the pity.” Mesopia reached over to a nearby shelf of stock and handed Eloise a jar. “It’s a lotion that wil help with the marks on your neck. Mind you I would keep ’em. There’s something sexy and possessive about a lover’s mark.”

Eloise read the contents of the jar. No mucous.
Okay then
.

“So what are you going to do?”

The woman in question blew out a breath. “Get through another three more tests.”

Mesopia nodded. “Then what?”

“Then Caitriona is appeased and we go our separate ways.” And that was what Eloise had to remember. Enjoy the sex but stick to the plan.

“Can you do that?” Mesopia looked doubtful on that score.

“I have to.” Doubt abounded.

“I have to.” Doubt abounded.

“Before you lose yourself completely?”

That was the question. “Yes.” The answer—Eloise was already lost.

“You love the vampire, don’t you?”

Eloise looked down at the lotion in her hands. “So this is good stuff, huh?” The idea that she loved Arrow was too raw and fresh to say out loud.

They were both silent for a while. “Do you know Swerve’s sleeping in the skul pile over there?”

“Oh yeah.”

“Okay then.”

Eloise stiffened as she felt someone behind her. She turned but there was no one. “That’s weird. Oh what am I saying?” Eloise slapped her forehead, wishing she had taken the laundry peg out of her hand before she did. “I’m having sex with a vampire. Can’t get any weirder than that.” She rubbed her skin as she turned back to the washing machine. Doing something mundane like laundry was good at the moment. It gave her time to think of something other than Arrow. The man was constantly in her thoughts. “What the hel am I going to do with him?” she muttered to herself. “Why him?” Eloise stil ed suddenly. There was that feeling again. It was a definite presence.

“Anyone there?” There was no answer. Eloise stood quietly and listened. Everything sounded normal yet there was a slight breeze that was not there before when she had come downstairs to do the washing. “Caitriona?” It sounded crazy to her own ears, but Eloise knew someone was there and the first person she could think of was her ancestress. A breath whispered against her ear.

“Yes?”

“Holy crap.” That could only be Caitriona unless she had another dead relative hel -bent on making her life difficult. And despite how weird it was to feel her close by, it was also a good thing. They could sort this out woman to woman and move on. “Caitriona, I think the man—um, vampire—who dumped you was an idiot and, while I understand the whole wrath and fit-of-pique thing, taking it out on another kinswoman seems kind of pissy to me.”

“I have to,” a soft voice with the hint of the Scottish Highlands replied.

“Whoa.” Eloise swung around a couple of times to see where she was but there was no one. “Why?”

“I need to make sure.”

The words were breathed out and matched the pace of the lazy wind that blew around Eloise. “Of what?”

“That love can exist no matter what happens.”

Eloise could hear the pain the women’s voice. “What did that pig do to you?”

“There was another woman.”

“I hate it when men do that.” Eloise knew from her Uncle McManus that Caitriona had been so distraught she had kil ed herself. She had been thirty years old. It had been a complete waste of a life.

“He was weak.”

Eloise snorted. “They al lead with their cocks.”

A strange, tril ing laugh sounded. “I like you, kinswoman.”

Hopeful y that meant she could talk Caitriona out of any more chal enges. Arrow was a big enough one by himself. “Don’t test me, then.”