Tricked: A Dark Protectors Novella (3 page)

“I thought it was obvious.”

Truth be told, he did seem a little surprised by her response. She took a deep breath. “Here’s the deal. I want to live.”

“Good.” His expression smoothed out.

“But I’m not willing to be a mistress.” God, she wanted to live. To see the future. To have children. “I understand we can only have sex with each other, and I do like sex.” At least she’d used to like it. “I’m not a sure thing. Meaning, you have no rights to me.”

He studied her, energy radiating from him and brushing along her flesh. “First of all, no woman is ever a sure thing. Even during my time as a pirate on the high seas, I never forced a woman. Any and every time is your choice, and I would never force you. Ever.”

Her chest settled. “Good. We’re on the same page. And second?”

He leaned in, his nose nearly touching hers. “Second of all, if we mate, I have every right to you. Don’t you ever forget it.”

Chapter 2

Jared made sure he had the brunette’s attention, giving her the full truth. Oh, he’d never force her, but mating came with obligations and responsibilities. Mainly, her life became his to protect.

Why did modern women think they were invincible?

Somehow, he wasn’t getting his point across. It seemed as if she thought they’d mate and he’d go on his merry way and out of her life. While he didn’t want a traditional mating or love, he also didn’t want to be cast out into the cold. Who would take care of her?

Her bourbon-colored eyes darkened. Challenge and defiance filled them. A light pink brushed across her bronze skin. For the first time, he could see the woman she’d been before becoming ill.

Something awoke inside him. Power pulsed through his veins in an unconscious beat, and his lungs heated. His cock perked. No. Definitely…no. This was a fragile human, and he needed to remember that fact.

Forever.

He blinked away the image of who she could become and concentrated on the blue tinge to her lips and the frightening breakable bones beneath her smooth skin. “Do you have anybody to protect you?” he asked, wondering where her family was.

“Yeah. Me.” She crossed her arms.

His breath sped up. “How about you lose the attitude and we talk?” Before he lost every one of his good intentions and kissed the chin she now jutted out. There was also a fullness to her mouth that made his ache to taste.

She swallowed. “I’m fine with talking, but you should check your own attitude.”

His lips twitched. God, she was cute—spitting at him like a kitten hissing at a panther. “I’ll ask again. Do you have family?”

“Just Olivia, whom I’ve known since preschool,” Ronni said, her eyes clouding. “I lost my parents when I was twenty in a small plane wreck. No siblings, no other family.” She hunched into herself and yet kept her head up.

Strong. The woman had a strength he hadn’t noticed. “I’m sorry.”

She nodded. “You?”

“Mother and two brothers,” he said. “You met my entire family earlier today.”

They’d had a little problem to deal with, and Ronni had been present to help. Then he’d offered to mate her after discovering her illness, and here they were.

She cleared her throat. “I’m not the right woman for you.”

No. The right woman had followed duty, out of obedience, and mated somebody else. “You could be,” he said softly.

“I’m not the type to belong to somebody, Jared.”

Yet she would belong to him if they mated. “I don’t think you’re a handbag or a pair of shoes.” Maybe the deflection would work.

“Right.”

Nope. Didn’t work. “Listen. I’m not human, and mating isn’t a human experience.” He searched for an explanation she’d understand. “It’s permanent on a baser level.”

She frowned. “You’re not a man.”

“No. I’m a male.” Maybe that distinction would help her.

“Does mating hurt?” she asked softly.

The woman’s thoughts bounced around quicker than a volleyball in a contested match. “The mating happens during sex, and I imagine the bite hurts a little.” He kept his voice reassuring. Was the woman strong enough for sex? Even if he kept as gentle as possible, he might harm her. But what was the alternative? Temporary pain seemed better than her ultimate death, which would happen soon. “I’ll try not to hurt you.”

“I’m not afraid of pain. Just wanted to be prepared.” She clutched the blanket closer around herself. “If I accept your offer.”

It was already a done deal. He could see it in her eyes. “All right.”

“You’ve been honest with me, and I want to be as transparent.” She took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. “I don’t want to die, and I would like immortality. Who wouldn’t?”

“Agreed.” Where was she going with this?

“You need to know who I am.” She picked at a loose thread on the blanket. “Your vision of a woman waiting around for you and being supported by you isn’t me. I usually can take care of myself, and I’m not going to change that.”

“I imagine we’ll have a bit of a disagreement, then,” he said, enjoying the color sliding into her face. Finally. “How about we get you healthy and then take it from there?” His veins lit with heat. Anticipation?

“That’s fair.” Her jaw tightened visibly. “Once I am healthy, you need to know that I’m going to look into that virus that negates a mating bond.”

He stilled. Hell. It was a bit insulting how little she wanted to be mated to him. In some circles, he was a catch. Even so, the virus was untested in a situation like theirs and would no doubt be dangerous. “No,” he said very softly.

“Think you can stop me?” she said just as softly.

“Yes.” Yep. That was anticipation.

She barely lifted a small shoulder. “Maybe…maybe not. Our cards are on the proverbial table. You still want to do this?”

More than ever. “I do.”

“Okay.” She glanced down, and more color tinged her cheeks. “I’ve never had a one-night stand.”

“I have.” Hell. He’d had plenty. “Though this isn’t a one-night stand.”

“We’ll see.” She looked back up. Delicate blue lines ran through the dark circles under her eyes. She was fading fast.

His chest settled. This was going to happen. “All right.” He crossed to sit next to her, lifting her carefully onto his lap. Her butt hit his thighs, and he enfolded her almost too easily. Man, she was small. “Let’s get you ready.”

She sputtered and plastered one hand against his chest. “Don’t need foreplay.”

He stilled. A laugh rumbled up from his chest. He truly enjoyed how her mind worked. “Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.” His fangs flashed low. “But I was talking about something else.” Keeping her in place, he slashed into his wrist and then lifted it to her mouth. “Drink.”

She plastered herself against his chest, trying to avoid his blood. “What the hell?”

Shit. He should’ve explained. “Our blood has some healing properties. Take a little, and it’ll give you strength for the night.”

She turned and looked into his face. “Seriously?”

“Yeah.” He’d forgotten humans didn’t like blood. “You’ll feel better for a short time.”

Something leaped into her eyes. A light. “What if I just drink a lot of your blood? Will that fix my heart?”

The woman really didn’t want to mate him. “No.” He gentled his voice to soften the truth. “Without being my mate, if you take too much blood, it’ll kill you. You’d need a deadly dose to even temporarily fix your heart. It’s impossible.” He would’ve offered that in the first place, had there been a chance.

Her brow furrowed.

Whoa. She was thinking of taking the chance.

He shook his head. “Won’t work. I promise.” No way would he be responsible for killing her. For now, he could give her a small taste of immortality. “Now, drink,” he whispered, holding his wrist to her mouth.

She kept her gaze on his and leaned in, swiping her tongue across his wrist.

Everything inside him seized. Fire roared through his chest, burned him throughout, and landed hard in his balls. He breathed out, shocked when there wasn’t steam. “Again,” he said, his voice guttural.

She blinked and wiggled on his suddenly rock-hard dick. Her eyes widened.

His narrowed. Pain pounded into his groin in a need so fierce he could barely breathe. His fangs lowered and pricked the inside of his mouth. His lip peeled back.

Her eyes widened.

Control. Fucking control. He slid his fangs home and forcibly calmed his entire body. Except his cock. That didn’t calm. “Now,” he said.

She looked up, fear in her eyes.

“I won’t hurt you,” he said.

The fear dissipated, leaving something else. Need. Definite need. Her lids half-lowered. She grasped his hand and pressed his wrist to her mouth, taking a deep swallow of his blood. She hummed in pure pleasure. Her eyes closed, and she tried for more.

“No.” He pulled away, holding her still when she tried to follow his wrist. “Too much will hurt you.”

She leaned back and licked a drop off her lips.

His pants tightened to the point of causing agony.

Color blew into her cheeks, and her eyes brightened. “God. It’s amazing.” Her voice had gone husky and low, and she might as well have whispered right across his bare cock.

His muscles tightened as he held himself in check.

She stretched her neck, her body moving against him. “I feel so good.” Holding out her hand, she twisted her arm left and right. “Strong. Well, stronger than I just was.” She rubbed her palm along his whiskers. “That’s not all.”

Yeah. He felt it, too. Attraction. So he turned her to straddle him, feeling her body warm several degrees. “Let me know if I go too fast.”

She leaned in and settled her lips on his. “The first time I saw you, I thought wow. A real wow.”

Her breath brushed his mouth, and he stiffened to remain in control. “Is that a fact?” he asked, waiting for her to make a move. The last thing he wanted to do was frighten her, and he couldn’t tell how much stronger his blood had made her. If at all.

“Yes.” She nibbled at his bottom lip.

Magma boiled through his blood. “When I first saw you, I thought your eyes were the prettiest color I’d ever seen,” he said against her mouth. “Like a fine whiskey that has just caught the light.”

She kissed him, and he could feel her smile. “That’s sweet,” she whispered.

Yeah. That was him. Sweet. Nobody in his entire life had called him that. “I don’t want to rush you,” he said.

She tunneled her hands through his hair and hummed. “But we’re on a bit of a deadline?”

“Yeah.” The slight tug of her fingers hazed red over his vision. “Don’t know how long your extra strength will last.” Probably not very long. And there could be repercussions to her damaged heart from his blood, so they had to mate and now. He stood, easily holding her to him. “Bedroom.”

She wrapped her legs around his waist. “Um. Okay.”

He swallowed and carried her through the small apartment and to the only doorway from the living room. Her bedroom was decorated in rich purples and blues…with scarlet accents. A room for passion.

Who was this woman? He’d have centuries to figure that out.

Careful not to jostle her, he set her on the bed.

Her gaze dropped, and her face flushed. Shyness all but rolled off her along with a hint of panic.

Hell. He crouched down until she faced him. “It’s okay, baby.”

She blinked. “This is weird. I mean, you’re sexy as hell and anybody would want you, and I do. But I don’t know you.” She looked over his shoulder at the doorway. “Maybe we should get drunk.”

The woman was adorable. He chuckled. “There’s not enough booze in the city to really get me drunk, and I’m not sure your heart could take a sedative. How about I show you what I’ve learned in four centuries?”

Interest filtered through the embarrassment in those spectacular eyes. “You’ve got skills, huh?” A small smile played with her pink lips.

“Yeah.” He wrapped a hand around her arm and drew her toward him, gently taking her mouth.

She sighed against him and returned his kiss—tentatively at first and then with more strength. Her hands flattened against his chest, and she moved into him even more. She suddenly coughed.

He leaned back. “Veronica?”

She shuddered and clasped a hand against her chest. The color deserted her face. “Um.”

Shit. He jumped up and ripped his clothes off, grateful he was still hard from their play on the couch. “Hurry.”

Her eyes widened, and she stood, her fingers fumbling with her shirt.

He could hear her heart slowing. “Sorry.” Grabbing her shirt, he ripped it down the front.

Her chuckle was more of a wheeze.

He yanked off her jeans, gently finding her core. Wet. She was a little wet from earlier. Thank God. “Okay. This first time is going to be quick.”

She nodded, her lips turning blue.

Damn it. She wasn’t getting any oxygen to her face. Her heart was only stuttering its last minutes. He paused, grasping her hips. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” she whispered, her eyes clear. “I want to live, Jared.”

Good enough. He laid her back and covered her. “I’m sorry.”

She widened her thighs. “Hurry up,” she wheezed.

He pressed his forehead to hers, willing her heart to keep beating. Slowly, as carefully as he could, he started to enter her. She was too fucking tight—and warm. He had to halt.

She dug her nails into his ass. “Hurry,” she whispered.

Closing his eyes, he shoved inside her completely. She arched against him, pain on her hiss.

“I’m so sorry,” he murmured.

Her eyelids fluttered open. “Whoa. You’re huge,” she said, a smile playing on her pale lips.

He coughed out a laugh. How could she joke right now? His heart warmed. So did his dick. She pulsed around him, tight and hot. Wet. Perfect. He slowly slid out to shove back in.

She blinked. “That feels…good.” Her smile was weak but there. “Again.”

He did as she said, setting up a good rhythm that was as gentle as he could be. She rocked against him, her ankles clasping at his back. Color slid into her face. “It’s been a while,” she said, wonder in her voice.

He could still feel her heart stuttering, so he reached between them and rubbed her clit. Her skin was unbelievably soft against his calloused fingers.