Marked
By Everly Drummond

Published by Everly Drummond 

Copyright 2011 Everly Drummond
Smashwords Edition
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For Paul,
Who brought out a side of me that I never knew existed.


Table of Contents:

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Hellfire Sneak Peek


Chapter 1

Sara startled and jumped off the couch as the book she’d been reading dropped to the floor with a loud resonating thud. Reaching over, she picked the book up and placed it back on the glass coffee table that sat in the center of the empty room.  Moonlight cascaded in through the open window, casting an iridescent glow over the sparse furnishings of her small midtown apartment, and the sound of the honking taxis on the street below could be overheard above the annoying voice of the infomercial commentator as it rang through the speakers of the dilapidated television that sat in the corner. Sitting on the edge of the couch, she rubbed her bloodshot eyes and did a double take at the clock that sat haphazardly on an unpacked box of dishes. No way could it be 3 o’clock in the morning! That meant that she’d been sleeping for over ten hours straight, but the move from Montana to New York had been exhausting, and with no one to help her, Sara had knowingly pushed herself far beyond her own physical capabilities. 
At the age of 25 she’d graduated from the University of Montana with a double master’s degree in Computer Science and Media Studies, but no amount of studying could’ve prepared her for the tragic events that had recently taken place. Two weeks after graduating Sara’s parents were on their way home from spending a weekend at the cottage when the car they were driving was struck head on by a drunk driver. It was then than Sara decided to move to New York, wanting to be closer to her aunt and uncle, the only family she had left.
After the death of her parents, Sara had no choice but to sell her parent’s house. With the exception of her personal items, some clothing, and a few pieces of furniture, an estate sale was held by the local auction house and the remainder of the items sold to the highest bidder. With the bills paid and the estate settled not much money was left over, but it was more than enough for her to buy a small used pick-up truck and move to New York in search of a fresh start. 
“Oh Phineus,” she cooed “what would I do without you?” Looking around the empty apartment she sighed and wiped away a stray tear that trickled down her cheek. The gray clump of fur pounced into her lap, and with a resounding meow, purred contently at her gentle touch. Aside from a few tattered photos and broken memories, Phineus was the only reminder left of home. He had been given to her as a gift for her 10th birthday. As a child Sara had never been fond of cats, or any animal for that matter, but the minute the old fat cat saw her, it was like love at first sight. Over time the two of them became inseparable, but just like Sara, Phineus had lost a piece of himself the day that her parents died. It was a grief they both shared and understood all too well.
The old fat cat protested as Sara shoed him to the floor and walked towards the kitchen, groaning as the muscles in her legs protested against the sudden movement. She’d moved into the apartment two days ago and still had not done any grocery shopping. Opening the door to the cupboard she found 3 boxes of Toaster Tarts, a can of tomato soup, and an empty bag of cat food. Needing both cat food and something more substantial than Toaster Tarts, Sara slipped on her jacket and boots, and grabbed her purse from the table in the hall.
“I’ll be back soon.” She leaned over and gave Phineus an affectionate rub between the ears, smiling as he purred contently, and headed out into the brisk night air.
Luckily, the diner around the corner was open 24 hours, but then again, this was New York, the city that never sleeps. Even finding cat food at 3:30 in the morning was a fairly easy task. The cold air whipping against her face was invigorating, and after spending five days cooped up in the cab of a pickup driving across the country it was a welcome reprieve from the stuffy air of the truck that reeked of cat and fast food. Sara crossed the street and opened the door of the diner. The aroma of freshly cooked bacon and eggs greeted her as a small gangly Asian man stepped out from the kitchen and welcomed her. After settling on pancakes and coffee Sara picked up a well read copy of yesterday’s paper and took a seat at the end counter as she waited for her order. Her stomach growled as the smell of “real” food lingered from the kitchen. A week of eating greasy food was more than her petit body could handle. For the most part, she tried to stay in good physical condition. Working out three times a week and eating healthy helped her to maintain her slim form and well toned body.
“Did you order pancakes and coffee?” A young girl asked as she emerged from the kitchen carrying a large Styrofoam container one hand and a paper cup in the other.
“Yes.”
“That’ll be five dollars.” 
Sara reached into her purse and pulled out a twenty dollar bill. She paid for her meal and headed back out into the fidget night air of midtown New York. The convenience store was only two blocks away, but with the wind stirring, and the temperature dropping, the walk seemed to take longer than it should have. After a quick stop at the convenience store for a quart of milk and a bag of cat food, she picked up her pace and started jogging in the direction of her apartment. Her breathing coming in short ragged breaths as the cold air invaded her lungs. As she turned the corner, Sara didn’t notice the leather clad man standing at the foot of the alley, nor did she hear the heated conversation that was taking place between him and the other man who stood in the shadow of the building further down the lane.  Before she had time to react to the presence of the sinister figure looming in the darkness a gloved hand reached out and grabbed her by her hair, pulling her into the depths of the alley.
A scream built up in the back of her throat, but the gloved hand covered her mouth, stopping the noise from escaping. The leather clad man dragged Sara past the overflowing dumpster and across the garbage strewn pavement, pulling her further and further into the darkened bowels of the alleyway, and out of sight of any passers-by. Sara thrashed violently against the tight grip of her attacker, but his burly arms and inhuman strength held her firmly in place.
“Let the girl go.” A husky voice demanded.
The gloved hand covering Sara’s mouth pressed tightly against her skin. “And if I don’t?” asked the leather clad man.
“Your quarrel is with me, not the human. Let he go and I’ll give you what you want.”
“Promises, promises. You tell me that now, but how do I know that you’ll stick to your word, Gedeon? You’ve lied to me before.”
“Let her go, Pryse. This is your last warning.” Gedeon stepped out from the inky shadows of the building.
“You’ve always had a soft spot for humans, haven’t you?” Pryse grabbed Sara’s hair and roughly yanked her head to the side, causing her to wince in pain.
Sara stood frozen in place by fear. What did he want with her? Who was this strange man trying to protect her? And why did he call her a human? Panic caused her thoughts to muddle together, and Sara couldn’t wrap her head around the conversation that was taking place between the two men.  She glanced around anxiously looking for a means of escape, but the attacker’s grip was too strong. 
“I can’t really blame you though.” said Pryse. “Her scent is intoxicating. I may have to claim this one for myself.”
Gedeon took another step forward. “It is against the law to mark an unwilling human. If you mark her I will kill you.”
“You mean if I do this?” Pryse raised his hand to his mouth. His fangs unsheathed and he bit down hard, piercing the tender flesh of his wrist. Blood flowed in a steady stream from the two self inflicted puncture marks.
The sight of his fangs made Sara thrashed wildly against the strong arms holding her in place. Fear mixed with the sight of blood caused the bile to rise up in the back of her throat. She looked pleadingly at the man with the black hair and husky voice, knowing that he was her only hope of escape, her only hope of survival. 
“Pryse let her go.” He demanded again. “I’ll give you what you want in exchange for the girl.”
“No thanks. I think I’ve changed my mind.” 
Momentarily, the gloved hand slipped away from Sara’s mouth, only to be replaced with a bloodied wrist. The metallic taste of rust rolled across her tongue and down the back of her throat, causing her to gag. 
“Don’t play games.” Gedeon’s thunderous voice echoed through the alley as he took another step forward. “I will never give you the remedy if you mark her.”
“With blood this sweet, who needs the remedy?” Pryse replied. 
A gurgled scream escaped Sara’s lips as Pryse tilted her head and lowered his mouth towards her. His fangs sliced easily through the rosy flesh at the base of her neck, and Sara trembled as the pain started to spread throughout her body. The skin around the puncture marks on her neck burned, and the fire quickly spread through her limbs. Trying to fight against the pain that was now consuming her, she staggered head first into the brick wall, and fell to the ground on her hands and knees, hoping that death would come quickly for her. The sounds of the two men scuffling echoed through the alley, but the fire that burned within was too intense for her to be able to concentrate on anything other than the pain. As a set of footsteps rapidly approached, she looked up to see Gedeon rushing towards her, and cowered as he knelt down on the pavement beside her. The last thing Sara remembered before succumbing to the pain was the pair of aqua blue eyes that shone in the moonlight and the heady scent of male that lingered in the air around him, permeating his clothing and the denim jacket he was wearing.
“Damn humans.” Gedeon mumbled under his breath. He bent over and effortlessly lifted the limp body of the girl into his arms. Her head rolled to the side and her cheek came to rest on his shoulder. Pryse was right, the smell of her blood was intoxicating, but it was still no reason for him to unwillingly mark her. Now this poor girl would have to spend the rest of her life hiding from the monsters that lurked in the darkness.

Chapter 2

Sara awoke to a throbbing headache and unfamiliar surroundings. Sweat poured in rivulets from her forehead as the fever raged through her, burning every single nerve ending in its path. Her body felt as if it were smouldering and ready to ignite at any second. Sara tightly closed her eyes and forced herself to think through the pain, trying to make sense of where she was. Panic took hold as memories started to flood her mind. A gloved hand, the alleyway, a leather clad man, and the fangs, the long razor sharp incisors that glistened in the moonlight as they moved swiftly towards her neck. 
A key in the lock alerted her to his presence. Ignoring the fiery pain that shot consumed her body, Sara propped herself up on her elbows. She had to get away from here, to run as fast as she could, but her body loudly protested. She lacked the strength necessary to stand, let alone run. The door creaked and swung open. Sara closed her eyes as the man dropped the bag of groceries on the floor and ran towards her. She waited for the agonizing pain to start again, for his fangs to penetrate her skin, but it never came. Instead, a strong pair of calloused hands pushed her shoulders gently back onto the sofa. 
“Don’t move.” the brutish voice ordered. 
The thud of his heavy footsteps on the floor echoed throughout the room followed by the sound of the door closing. One by one the man picked the items up off the floor and placed them back into the bag as he muttered something under his breath. Sara closed her eyes even tighter and lay perfectly still as she listened to his footsteps retreat. She could tell that he was still in the apartment, but no longer in the same room. The sound of flowing water accompanied the clanging of pots and pans. Five minutes later the pungent smell of herbs filled the room.
The side of the sofa sank under his weight as the man sat down beside her. Sara could feel his hand cup the back of her head and raise it up off the pillow. The smell of the bitter herbs became stronger as he brought the cup to her mouth.
“Drink this.” He tipped the cup forward and slowly poured the hot tea into her mouth.
Sara coughed as she spit out the bitter tea. He tried to force it on her again, but she tightly closed her lips. He lowered her head gently back onto the pillow. Just as she was about to open her eyes and face her captor head on, his fingers pinched her nose, cutting off her air supply. Sara opened her mouth, gasping for air. As her lips parted, the man brought the cup to her mouth and poured the hot liquid down her throat, not stopping until she’d drank every last drop of the tea. When he was satisfied that she was not going to spit it out again, he released his grip on her nose.
Certain that this stranger had just tried to poison her, Sara lay perfectly still and wondered how quickly it would be over. Would she suffer a slow horrible death or would it be swift and painless? As the minutes passed by, the pain started to subside, and the fire that was ravaging her body, lessened. Sara slowly opened her eyes and stared into the face of her captor. The same dazzling blue eyes that she remembered from the alley stared back at her. Jet black hair, the color of midnight, framed the harsh lines of his face.
“Gedeon.” she whispered.
“Don’t try to move yet.” he commanded. “You’re still too weak and you’ve lost too much blood.”
“Where am I? What happened?” Sara nervously looked around the unfamiliar apartment.
“I will explain everything, but first you must rest.”
“You can’t keep me here against my will.” Sara tried to yell but the words came out jumbled together. Whatever Gedeon had put in the tea was causing her to become drowsy.
“You are free to leave whenever you wish, but know this, if you leave here I will not be able to heal you, nor will I be able to protect you from Pryse.” Gedeon stood up and walked to a burrow in the corner of the room. When he returned, he placed her neatly folded clothes on the table beside the sofa.
Sara fought hard against the drowsiness that was pulling her under. She needed to escape this place, but her eyelids grew heavy and she succumbed to the darkness.
Whether it was two hours or ten hours later she couldn’t tell. The windows of the small apartment had been draped with heavy black curtains that blocked out any traces of light. The bitter smell of the herbal tea still hung heavy in the air, as did the strong odour of sweat. Sara sat up on the couch and felt her clammy skin peel painfully away from the leather. Of course, the smell of sweat was coming from her. Fever had been ravaging her body for who knows how long and strands of golden brown hair now clung to her face and neck. The stack of clothing still sat untouched on the table beside her. If she dressed in a hurry, she’d be able to escape undetected. A wave of dizziness overcame her. Griping the edge of the table, she steadied herself as she tried to stand up. As she grasped the table with both hands, the white cotton sheet that had been covering her naked body fell to a heap on the floor by her feet. 
“Going somewhere?”
Sara turned quickly and came face to face with Gedeon, and for a brief moment his blue eyes flashed black. She followed his gaze to where they came to rest on her bare breasts. Reaching behind her and frantically grabbing at the pile of clothes, she tried to find something to cover herself with. She cast him a warning glare and took a step backwards. “Get away from me.” she growled.
“Get dressed. We have to talk.” Gedeon placed another cup of the bitter herbal tea on the table and strode off in the direction of the kitchen.
Sara fumbled with her clothes as she rushed to get dressed. Who in the hell did this guy think he was? He had no right to undress her in the first place, and he sure as hell had no right looking at her the way he did. She frantically searched the apartment for her purse, positive that she’d had it with her in the alley.
“Looking for this?” Gedeon’s muscular frame stood in the doorway, blocking her only means of escape. In one hand was a dish towel and in the other was her purse.
Bravely, Sara stormed towards him and snatched the purse out of his hand. “Get out of my way.”
“We need to talk.” Gedeon said pointedly.
“Get out of my way or I’m calling the police.” she threatened.
“Suit yourself,” he said, and stepped away from the door “but if you leave now I won’t be able to protect you when he comes for you.”
Sara raised her hand and cupped the bite mark on her neck. “What are you talking about? Who’s coming for me?” She could vaguely remember the details of what happened in the alley when she was attacked. There had been two men fighting, Gedeon and another named Pryse. She remembered Gedeon trying to convince Pryse to let her go, to let the human go. “What are you?” Sara gasped and stumbled backwards into the table.
“I am a healer,” Gedeon took a step towards her “and I am a vampire.”
“Don’t come any closer.” Her brain was screaming at her to run, to get as far away from this place as possible, but her instincts told her that he was telling the truth. The bite mark on her neck proved that there was validity to his words. 
“Sit down and I will explain everything.”Gedeon walked past her and sat in the armchair facing the sofa. As Sara sat down, he pushed the cup of tea towards her. “Drink.” he ordered.
“There’s no way I’m drinking that.”
“It will help you to heal. You’ve lost too much blood and you need to regain your strength.”
“I don’t care.” Sara said. “There’s no way I’m letting you knock me out again.”
“The tea didn’t cause you to sleep. Your body’s need to heal itself caused you to sleep. I simply provided it with the ingredients to help you recover quicker.” Gedeon pick up the cup and handed it to her. “Drink the tea.” he said more forcefully.
Even if she ran, Sara knew that in her present condition she wouldn’t get far. If she were in peek condition the burly man sitting across from her would easily be able to outrun her and stop her from leaving. Hesitantly, Sara raised the cup to her lips and drank. The warm tea was bitter on her tongue, but its effects could be felt almost instantly. Her body relaxed and the dull ache in her muscles diminished. Ignoring the bitterness of the tea, Sara drank until the cup was empty. “There! Are you happy now?”
“Do you feel better?” he asked.
“Yes.” she reluctantly admitted, and placed the cup on the table. 
Gedeon stared at her with a quizzical look on his face. “You have many questions that you wish to ask me.”
Of course she had questions. A thousand of them ran through her mind but she didn’t know which ones to ask first. Yesterday her life was normal, and now she was being held against her will by someone who thought he was a vampire. “What are you and what do you want from me?”
“I already told you, I am a vampire and a healer. I don’t want anything from you, but it is my duty to protect you.”
“Yeah, I got all that before.” Sara said sarcastically. “Protect me from what?”
“You have been marked against your will, and it is my duty to protect you until Pryse can be found and justice is served.”
Sara sat back on the couch and ran a hand through her hair. She couldn’t wrap her mind around the conversation that was taking place and let out an exasperated sigh. “I don’t understand.”
“Of course you don’t, how could you? You know nothing of our world.” Gedeon stared at the terrified girl sitting on his couch. How could he explain this without frightening her any more than she already was? “What is your name?”
“Pardon me?” 
“You never told me your name.” Gedeon had no desire to engage in small talk, but he needed to gain this girl’s trust if he had any hopes of saving her life.
“Sara, my name’s Sara Bishop.”
“Sara, our society does not follow the same laws as yours. When a vampire unwillingly marks a human there are consequences her or she must face.”
“What are you, the vampire secret police” she laughed.
“Do not criticize that which you know nothing about.” Gedeon barked. “We live by rules just as you do. When a vampire marks a human against their will it is punishable by death.”
Sara’s head snapped up. “You mean you’re going to kill the man that bit me?”
“He is not a man, he is a vampire, and yes, it is the only way to break the bond.”
“Whoa, wait a minute here. You’re talking about murdering someone.”
“No,” Gedeon replied “I am only going to see that justice is served. By forcing his blood on you and then taking yours, Pryse ensured that a bond was created. No matter where you go, he will be able to find you. He will come to you whenever he wants and he will take from you whatever he wants.”
“You mean that he’ll force me to give him my blood?”
“Blood is only a part of it, but he will not have to force you, you will give it to him willingly.” Gedeon was sickened by the idea of forcefully marking someone, but to mark someone who was as young and naïve as Sara made it that much worse.
“What do you mean that blood is only a part of it? What is he going to make me do?” Sara’s hands started to tremble as a million different scenarios ran through her mind. 
“Vampires are very sexual creatures by nature. For us, only two emotions exist; hunger and lust.”
Sara let out a sob and tears spilled down her face. “He’s going to force himself on me?”
“No.” Gedeon’s tone softened. “As I said before, he will not have to force you to do anything. You will freely give him whatever he wants.”
“Even sex?”
“Yes, even sex,” Gedeon replied “but it’s not what you think. A vampire will only feed from willing donors, and in exchange for their blood we will give them pleasure beyond anything they’ve ever experienced before. Vampire bites are meant to be pleasurable, not painful. A bite is only painful the first time you exchange blood. A vampire will give the donor his blood, and while it flows through their veins he must feed from them. The pain that you experience from being bitten is caused by the mark burning itself into the very essence of your being, thus creating a bond that is breakable only by death. Most humans will choose to be marked if they have forged a connection with a vampire because it enhances the sensation of the bite. A vampire may chose to mark someone if the human’s blood is particularly appealing, and by marking them it makes their blood taste better. When you are marked, and the bond is created, he will be able to sense where you are and what you’re feeling. You will always be drawn to each other.”
“Please, you have to help me.” Sara pleaded.
“I will, but you must do exactly as I say. First you must rest and regain your strength.”
Hesitantly, Sara lay back on the sofa.  Vampires couldn’t be real, couldn’t they? This had to be some sort of sick twisted nightmare. Sara was positive that she’d wake up any second now, but deep down she knew this wasn’t a nightmare. Her perception of reality had just been permanently altered. Part of her just wanted to run away and forget that any of this ever happened, but if she left now she’d spend the rest of her living in fear, waiting for the moment that Pryse would show up to claim what was his. No, she couldn’t let that happen, even if it meant putting her life in the hands of someone she didn’t know. Gedeon was bound to protect her, and as long as she stayed with him she’d be safe, she hoped.

Chapter 3

Gedeon’s eyes flared black as he fought against the beast within. The sight of the slender girl lying on his sofa was enough to shatter his self control. Her long shapely legs and firm round breasts fuelled the hunger that was growing deep within. Yes, when this was over, and she was no longer bound to Pryse, he would offer her the pleasure of his bite. Gedeon leaned back in the chair and inhaled deeply. The scent of her blood was intoxicating, but if he were to feed from her while she was marked by another, it would poison him. Marking a human ensured that no other vampire could ever drink from them. When this was over, and Pryse was dead, he would offer himself to her, and hope that she’d accept. Until then, he had to bide his time and force himself to control the beast.
The smell of food caused Sara to stir. It had been at least two days since the last time she ate anything solid, and her body craved sustenance. Opening her eyes, she saw the muscular form of Gedeon sitting in the chair beside her. She sat up on the side of the sofa and gazed at the items on the table. A clean set of clothes, her clothes, sat neatly folded in front of her. “Where did these come from?”
“You needed clean clothes and food.”
“But these are my clothes from my apartment.” Sara looked down at the table and then back to Gedeon. “How did you get into my apartment?”
“I used your keys.” Gedeon said in a matter of fact tone. “I found your address on the lease agreement in your bag. You should consider moving. You’re paying too much money for rent.”
“You went through my purse?” Sara wanted to be mad. She knew she should be mad that Gedeon had invaded her privacy, but the idea of clean clothes was too appealing. Suddenly remember about Phineus she asked, “What about my cat, is he okay?”
“Yes, I fed him, he’s fine.” Gedeon passed her a clean towel. “You need to shower. Wash yourself twice. We have to try and mask your scent.”
“Are you trying to tell me that I stink?” Sara laughed.
“You’ve had a fever for two days, and fevers cause you to perspire. Pryse will have no difficulties picking up on your scent.”
“Thanks a lot.” Sara snatched the towel out of his hand. It had been days since the last time she’d showered, but that was no reason for Gedeon to be so insulting.
Gedeon eyed her questioningly. The tone of her voice and her playful attitude all but disappeared within a matter seconds. Had he said something to offend this beautiful creature? No matter how hard he tried, Gedeon could not understand the range of emotions that humans experienced. “Dinner will be ready by the time you finish with your shower.”
Sara was taken aback. Despite being so beastly, underneath his rough exterior was a softness that she never expected to find. Every so often she would catch Gedeon looking at her and the harsh lines around his mouth and eyes would soften, if only for a second. If it wasn’t for the fact that he was a vampire, Sara might have actually felt something for him. A knot twisted in her stomach as she thought about what it might be like to be bitten. Would the pleasure exceed the pain she’d experienced in the alley?
“Sara, did you hear me?” Gedeon asked. “You need to go and shower so we can get moving. It’s only a matter of time before Pryse shows up here. I figured that it would take at least three days for him to heal from his injuries, and our time is quickly running out.”
“What injuries?” Sara snapped out of her reverie and focused her attention on Gedeon.
“The injuries he sustained from out fight in the alley. I almost had him then, but he managed to slip away.” Gedeon stood up from the chair. “Go and take your shower. We can figure out a plan while we eat.”
Sara gathered her clothes from the table and walked down the hall towards the bathroom. A small rust stained bathtub sat against one wall, and a toilet and pedestal sink sat opposite the toilet. Other than the medicine cabinet that hung above the sink, the room was bare. “Son of a bitch!” Sara cursed as she stubbed her toe on a piece of cracked linoleum tile. Droplets of blood fell to the floor as she raised her foot to inspect the damage, forming a small crimson pool on the battered tile below. She looked around the bathroom in search of something she could use to wipe it up, but without a piece of toilet paper or a cloth, Sara had to use her hand and clean it as best as she could.
The water ran red as she stuck her hand under the faucet and washed away the blood. Sara undressed and stepped into the warmth of the shower. Rivulets of hot water flowed down the length of her body, and a little ribbon of pink swirled on the surface of the tub from the cut in her toe. Sara let her thoughts drift as the heat caressed her skin. If she allowed Gedeon to bite her, what would it feel like? Would the pleasure be as great as the pain that she’d already experienced from Pryse’s bite? She could almost imagine the feel of his calloused hands on her skin, and she could almost picture the curves of his lean muscular body that was all too often hidden beneath his loose fitting clothes. Warmth started to pool in her belly as the naked image of Gedeon filled her mind. Sara couldn’t understand her feelings towards him. She’d only known Gedeon for a short period of time. Is his what he meant when he told her about humans forging a connection with a vampire? Was there some sort of a connection between her and Gedeon? Impossible she thought. They hadn’t known each other long enough, had they? Was it even possible for a connection to form between them when she’d been marked by another? 
An odd squeaking noise caused her daydream to shatter and her eyes to flutter open. She looked around for the source of the noise. Her eyes came to rest on a small gray mouse that had perched on the side of the bathtub, and was now curiously watching her as she showered. Sara opened her mouth as a blood curdling scream escaped her lips.
The sound of loud thunderous footsteps echoed through the hall as Gedeon ran towards the bathroom. With a thud, the bathroom door flew open. Gedeon stopped suddenly as the smell of her blood overwhelmed his senses and caused his fangs to unsheathe. The hot steam from the shower only intensified the spicy aroma of her essence. “Sara?” he asked in a hoarse voice.
Sara peaked at him from around the tattered shower curtain. His stunning eyes that were once blue now burned black, and for the first time Sara understood what it meant. Gedeon stared at her with such powerful desire that it rendered her speechless. With thoughts of the mouse all but forgotten, and without second guessing herself, Sara pushed the shower curtain aside as longing spread through her, longing for his touch.
“Sara.” Gedeon whispered as he took a step towards her. His hands lifted and he pulled her into his embrace. The need to be with her, to touch her, shattered what little of his self control remained. Her lips parted in welcome as he crushed his mouth to hers. The smell of her blood that wafted through the humid air, the feel of her silken skin beneath his hands, the taste of her as his greedy tongue parted her lips and dove deeper into her, drove him mad with desire. “Sara, we can’t. Not yet.” he whispered softly against her mouth.
“Yes Gedeon, we can.” Sara tugged lightly at the hem of his sweater. Gedeon raised his arms as she pulled the sweatshirt up and over his head, tossing it to the floor in the corner of the room. Her hands greedily explored the curvature of his hard chest and abs, softly trailing along each contour as if trying to memorize each and every inch of him. She paused briefly as her fingers reached the button of his jeans and felt his body tense. Ignoring the butterflies in her stomach, Sara reached down and stroked the length of his massive, throbbing erection.
His body shuddered and a low guttural moan worked its way up his throat and past his lips as his cock pressed hard against its denim restraints. Gedeon reached down to stop her, but the back of his hand brushed lightly against the curly thatch of hair between her legs, and his resolve crumbled. MINE. NOW. In one hurried movement, Gedeon bent over and snapped off the flow water before sweeping Sara up into his arms. He cradled her tightly against his chest as he moved swiftly and surely down the hall towards his bedroom. He was going to take her, but not in the bathroom, and not like some lust ravaged maniac. He brought his lips down to meet hers and kissed her hard on the mouth. His moist tongue forced apart her lips and their kiss grew deeper as he laid her gently in the center of his bed.
The cold touch of his skin against hers sent a shiver up her spine, but provided little relief from the fire that was consuming her from within. Just like fire and ice she thought to herself. Sara needed Gedeon like she needed air to breath. She needed to feel his touch, to feel him in her. Only then could the raging fire be extinguished. Sara gasped as Gedeon spread her legs.
“Take me.” she ordered, her voice rasping with need. The denim felt rough against the softness of her thighs as he positioned himself between her legs and pressed hard against her. She arched into him, her fingers ripping at the flesh on his shoulders as she moved her hips back and forth in a rhythmic motion. She could feel the throbbing of his cock through the fabric of his jeans as he pressed harder into her sex. She needed him to be inside her, she needed to feel every inch of him as he filled the very core of her. “Gedeon” Sara moaned as she buried her face in his chest.
“Not yet.” he growled. His warm breath caressed her as he whispered the words against her silken skin. Gedeon grabbed her by the wrists and pinned her arms to the bed above her head. He was going to have her, and he was going to give her what she begged for, but first he had to break mark that bound her to another. He had to kill Pryse.
“Yes, now.” she whimpered. Sara quiver as he took her firm ripe breast into his mouth and began to suckle her. Her nipple hardened as his fangs gently grazed her milky skin. “Bite me.”
“I can’t.” Gedeon moaned in frustration. He had to force himself to say the words.  His body ached for her, his mouth yearned to taste the life essence that lay just beneath her skin. The thought of the bliss he would soon feel as he sank into the warmth of her sex while drinking the sweet crimson nectar of her essence caused his erection to strain painfully against the rough denim. Sara wanted the bite of the vampire. Yes, he would give it to her, but not now, not until she was free to be his. Gedeon released his grip on her wrists and sat up on the side of the bed. For now, he would have to control the beast within, but soon, very soon, he would have her. “Sara, I can’t.” His voice was thick with longing and regret. “Not while you’re marked by another.”
“Gedeon?” she whispered, her body aching with need. Without the feel of his body pressed against hers, Sara felt empty, as if this was all just a dream about to come to an abrupt and untimely end.
“You should get dressed. Dinner’s almost ready.” Without another word or a backwards glance, Gedeon walked out of the room, leaving Sara lying naked and alone on the bed.

Chapter 4

Sara should’ve been furious at Gedeon for walking away from her. She should’ve felt angry and rejected, but she couldn’t. The logistics of being a vampire were completely unknown to her, but by the look on Gedeon’s face, Sara could tell that his desire for her ran as deep as the desire she felt for him. She startled as Gedeon knocked softly on the door. Hastily reaching for the satin sheet on the bed, she used it to cover herself as the door slowly opened.
“Here are your clothes.” Gedeon placed the neatly folded pile of clothes on the foot of the bed. “Dinner’s on the table.”
“Gedeon, wait.” she stammered.
“Sara, please. Don’t make this harder than it already is.” Gedeon turned his head and averted his gaze from the slim naked form that lay just beneath the sheet, and well within his reach. Soon he thought to himself, but soon couldn’t come fast enough.
A sweet and spicy aroma filled the air, soft jazz music drifted from the speakers of the stereo, and the iridescent glow of candlelight flickered gently on the walls and floor of the apartment. Sara approached the table where Gedeon sat waiting for her. If she didn’t know any better, she might have actually thought that this was a date. Gedeon raised his head and the look of something that was neither love, nor lust, nor hunger flashed in depths of his aqua blue eyes. It was longing; longing for something that he couldn’t have, longing for something that was not his to take. 
“It smells delicious.” Sara sat down quietly in the seat across from him and placed the napkin in her lap.
“I hope you like Thai food.”
“I don’t know. I’ve never had it before. Stuff like this is hard to come by in backwoods Montana.” A small laugh escaped her lips. Sara knew not to push him too far. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to be able to figure out that Gedeon was very close to his breaking point.
“Listen Sara, about what just happened. I should’ve never let it get that far.”
“You don’t have to explain yourself, Gedeon.” A faint blush colored her cheeks.
“Yes, I do. I don’t want you to think for one minute that I don’t want you, because I’ve never wanted anything more in my life. But if I were to drink from you now, while you’re marked by another, it would poison me. Your blood would eat away at me from the inside out, and if I were to make love to you, I don’t know if I couldn’t control myself enough to not drink from you.” Gedeon bowed his head in shame. Never in his life did the blood of a woman have this kind of effect on him. It drove him mad with hunger and crazy with lust.
 “What will happen when you kill Pryse?” Sara asked as calmly as she possibly could. The idea of killing someone, even if it was a vampire, scared the hell out of her. “If I’m no longer marked, will my blood still have the same effect on you?”
“No.” The hint of a smile crept up the corner of his mouth. “The bond will break and your blood will be clean.”
“Then we only have to wait a while longer, don’t we.” Sara picked up the glass of wine that Gedeon had poured for her, and smiled as the bitter sweet taste danced across her tongue.
Gedeon let out a husky laugh. “I hope so.”
“So do I, Gedeon. So do I.” The taste of the Thai food was unlike anything she’d ever had before. It was good, but it was also something that would take getting used to. Sara tried to keep the conversation light, but a question had been burning on the tip of her tongue all night. Building up the courage, she finally asked, “What is it that Pryse wants from you? In the alley you told him that you’d give it to him if he let me go.”
“Pryse thinks that because I am a healer, I have the ability to make him into a day walker.”
“Do you?” Sara poured herself another glass of wine and leaned back casually in the chair, as if this conversation was nothing more than first date banter.
“Yes and no. I have an ancient recipe, that if brewed right, will allow my kind to walk in the sun, but it is flawed. The effects are not permanent and could wear off at any time. If a vampire is in direct sunlight when the effects wear off, the light from the sun will turn him to ash.”
“So why not just….” Sara froze as a burst of fear shot through her body. With trembling hands, she placed the glass of wine on the table.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Gedeon sprung from his seat.
“It’s Pryse. He’s here.” Sara’s body began to shake uncontrollably and she startled as Gedeon grabbed her by the shoulders.
“Sara, listen to me. We have to go NOW.” Gedeon shook her, desperately trying to get her attention as the sound of running footsteps echoed in the hall outside. “Go out the window to the fire escape. It’s the only way out.”
Sara sprang from her seat and ran in the direction of the open window. She glanced behind her just in time to see Gedeon pick up a small burlap bag and fling it over his shoulder.
“Go.” he yelled. “I’ll be right behind you.”
Sara squeezed through the open window and shivered as the cold night air assaulted her skin, but there was no time to go back into the apartment and get her jacket. She looked over the edge of the fire escape and took a deep calming breath. The third storey wasn’t really that high up, unless of course you had a fear of heights. The metal ladder that led to the ground looked impossibly unsecure, and Sara wondered briefly if it would support her weight.
“Hurry up. What are you waiting for?”  Gedeon shouted as he came through the window.
“Gedeon, I don’t think I can climb down.” Sara looked down at the ground and shook her head.
“Please,” he begged, the tone of his voice urgent and desperate “you have to. Pryse is going to break through that door any second now.”
Sara nodded, and in a monumental act of bravery, she reached over and clung tightly to the metal rungs of the ladder. One by one, she lowered herself down towards the pavement below, each rung painfully cutting into the palms her hands. She breathed a sigh of relief as her feet touched solid ground. Gedeon was only two feet above her when one of Pryse’s cronies emerged at the end of the laneway.
“Shit.” he cursed, and landed with a thud on the pavement. “Follow me.” Gedeon grabbed Sara by the arm and dragged her towards the back of the apartment building.
“Where are we going?”
“I’m not sure yet.” Gedeon expertly manoeuvred through the parking lot and to a path that led out to the street behind the building. The air around them vibrated, and the sound of dance music could be heard in the distance. “Hurry up, this way.”
“What is this place?” Sara asked as they stopped in front of the entrance to an abandoned warehouse. The loud pounding of the music reverberated through the heavy metal door.
“It’s a rave. It’ll be hard for Pryse to track your scent in here.” Gedeon opened the door and the sound was almost deafening. They skirted the outer perimeter of the dance floor where boys with blue and green hair, and girls with rainbow colored tutus, danced in a trance like state. Gedeon spotted an empty table in a darkened corner of the room and led Sara towards it.
“What wrong with them?” Sara asked as she intently watched the dancers move to the beat of music. It was unlike anything she’d ever seen before.
“Most of these kids are on ecstasy. Such a damn shame too, it makes them easy targets for us.” Gedeon looked repulsed by the idea. “If these kids weren’t strung out on drugs, most of them wouldn’t be so willing to offer up a vein.”
“You don’t actually…” Sara couldn’t finisher the question. The idea of vampires preying on these kids nauseated her. Half of the kids in here didn’t look a day over twenty.
“God no,” Gedeon replied sharply “I’ve never fed from an unwilling donor or from someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but there are plenty of vampires out there who do.” He shook his head in disgust.
“And they can get away with it? I thought your laws protected people?”
“Our laws only state that the donor has to be willing. I don’t think they took illegal substances into consideration a thousand years ago when the laws were originally created.” Gedeon looked anxiously at the crowds of people that surrounded them. A steady stream of people now filed through the front door, making it difficult to see who was coming and going. “Wait here and do not move until I come back for you.”
“Where are you going?” Sara hated the idea of being left alone in a place like this.
“I’m going to get a drink.”
“You’re leaving me alone so you can go and toss back a cold one?” Sara yelled, but with the noise of the crowed growing louder, it didn’t have the desired effect she was hoping for.
“No, but I need something to fill the vile with. Pryse wants a remedy, so I’m going to give him one.” Gedeon reached into his burlap bag and pulled out an empty glass tube. “I need to have something to bargain with. If I’m not back in five minutes I want you to run as fast as you can to the police station, there’s a small sub-station two blocks south of here. Even Pryse wouldn’t have the balls to track you down in there. A bullet may not kill him but it would certain put him out of commission for a while.”
“What am I supposed to tell the police, that an insane vampire is chasing me?” she said sarcastically. 
“No, just tell them that you think you’re being followed. And whatever you do, stay there until I come for you.”
Sara nodded and watched as Gedeon disappeared into the throngs of party goers. Sitting at the table alone made her feel vulnerable. She waited on pins and needles as she searched the crowds for any sign of Gedeon’s return. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed the brown burlap bag sitting on the stool next to her. Cautiously, she picked up the bag and untied the string. One peek would hurt. Would it? Inside the bag was an assortment of glass viles filled with a various powders and dried herbs. In the bottom of the burlap bag were two shining silver stakes. Sara considered her options. Slowly, she reached into the bag and pulled out one of the silver stakes then retied the bag and placed it back on the stool exactly like she’d found it. When she was sure that no one was watching, Sara untucked her shirt and slipped the stake into the back of her jeans.  Gedeon was going to be pissed that she went through his stuff, but she’d deal with his anger management issues later, once they’d taken care of Pryse. Where was Gedeon, and why was he taking so long? Sara scanned the club again, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. 
Before she could let out a scream, the gloved hand grabbed her from behind. She could taste the metallic tang of blood as his hand pressed hard against her mouth, cutting her lip.
“Nice boots.” Pryse said. With one hand covering her mouth, and the other wrapped tightly around her waist, he violently yanked Sara off the stool. “I’m going to uncover your mouth, but if you scream I’ll snap your pretty little neck. Do you understand me?”
Sara nodded. Even if she wanted to say no, being marked by Pryse ensure that she’d be willing to do whatever he wanted. The gloved hand slipped away from her mouth and she gasped for air. “What do you want from me?”
“I don’t want anything from you.” Pryse scoffed. “You’re nothing but a filthy little human, but you’re going to help me get something that I do want. I’m sure your boyfriend will be willing to negotiate with me when he hears you scream.”
“You didn’t have to mark me to get what you wanted. Gedeon would’ve given you the remedy if you had just let me go like he asked.”
“Don’t fool yourself. Vampires are selfish territorial creatures. Gedeon would’ve just taken you for himself, and I’d still be without the remedy. With blood as sweet as yours, it was only a matter of time before one of us claimed you.” Pryse tilted his head back and a dark sinister laugh escaped his lips. “You don’t actually think that he loves you, do you? Creatures like us aren’t capable of love.”
“Maybe a sick psychopathic bastard like you isn’t, but Gedeon is nothing like you.” Sara spat.
“Enough with the small talk,” he barked “follow me.”
Sara felt the bone in her finger snap as Pryse grabbed her by the hand and dragged her towards the steel fire door at the back of the warehouse. No matter how hard she tried to scream, she couldn’t force the sound from her mouth. Pain coursed through her hand as he led her through the door and up the stairs towards the second floor. “Where are you taking me?”
“Shut up.” Pryse stop in front of another heavy metal door that led to the second floor of the warehouse. “In here.” he ordered. Moonlight streamed in from the skylights above, casting imposing shadows on the floor below. The room was empty except for an old wooden office chair and stack of boxes that sat against one wall. “Now we wait.”
“You won’t have to wait long.” Gedeon’s voice echoed throughout the cavernous room.
In one swift move, Pryse grabbed Sara by the waist and turned to face Gedeon. “Stay where you are.”
“Let her go Pryse. It’s not Sara that you want, it’s this.” Moonlight glinted off the glass from the small vile that Gedeon held in his hand. “This is what you’ve wanted all along.”
“Drop it on the floor and leave. When I have it in my hands I’ll let the girl go.”
“You know I can’t do that. I’m not leaving here without her.” Gedeon continued to walk towards them at a steady pace. 
His fangs unsheathed and his grip on her tightened. “Take another step closer and I’ll drain her dry.”
Sara knew she should be afraid, she knew that she should be screaming at the top of her lungs, but being marked to Pryse made her lose all sense of reason. A shiver of anticipation ran through her at the idea that Pryse was going to drink from her. She needed his bite. She wanted his bite and the pleasure it would bring. Slowly, Sara tilted her head to the side and offered him her neck.
“Sara don’t.” Gedeon yelled. “Look at me, and concentrate on my voice. You can fight him off.”
“Gedeon.” she whispered. The sound of his voice sparked something deep within. Her muddled thoughts began to clear as her eyes focused on the man walking towards her. In the darkness of the room Gedeon looked like a warrior ready for battle; her warrior, her vampire.
“I told you to stay where you are.” Pryse yelled, but it had little effect. Gedeon’s pace remained steady as he walked towards them. 
“This is your last chance.” Gedeon warned. “Give me the girl and I’ll give you the remedy.”
“No deal. Put it on the floor and leave. If you don’t, you’ll never see her alive again.”
“Okay, have it your way.” With the flick of his wrist, Gedeon sent the vile flying into the air. Pryse released his grip on Sara and lunged for vile as it crashed to the ground. Out of the corner of his eye, Gedeon saw the reflection of moonlight on the sliver stake that Sara gripped tightly in her hand. “Sara no,” he yelled, and in once quick movement he leapt forward and pushed her out of the way. 
Sara felt the searing pain rip through her when the stake she was holding plunged deep into her shoulder as her body hit the concrete floor. She tried to scream but the words came out as a muffled cry. Her sounds couldn’t be heard over the pounding beat of the music coming from the club below or from the battle that was taking place before her eyes. She watched in horror as Gedeon drove the silver stake into Pryse’s heart. His body smouldered and turned to ash. The faint smell of burnt hair filled the air. 
A feeling of relief washed over her as the bond shattered, but it was soon over shadowed by the pain that now consumed her. Warm crimson blood poured from the wound and pooled on the frigid concrete beneath her. A familiar voice called to her, and she knew she should respond, but the darkness was closing in too fast. Her eyes grew heavy with sleep, and then fluttered shut. Sara stopped fighting and succumbed to the darkness.

Chapter 5

Sara lay very still in the center of the bed. It must be a dream. She knew that Pryse had broken her finger and that she should be crying out in agony from the wound in her shoulder, but she felt nothing; no pain, no discomfort, not even the slightest ache. Gedeon must’ve healed her while she was unconscious. Cautiously, she let her eyes flicker open. Blackness surrounded her, but by the feel of the satin sheets against her skin, Sara knew that she was in Gedeon’s bed.  Slowly, she stretched her limbs one by one. The sound of clashing pots and pans echoed from the kitchen followed by soft patter of footsteps in the hall. She squinted against the bright light the emanated from the hallway as the bedroom door slowly inched open. Pulling the sheet around her, she sat up in the bed.
“Sara, thank God you’re awake.” Gedeon placed the tray he was carrying on top of the dresser and rushed to her side. “I’ve been so worried about you.”
“Why wouldn’t I be fine? You healed me, didn’t you?” Sara flexed her fingers as if to make a point.
“Yes, of course I did, but I didn’t know what effect the silver would have on you.”
“I don’t understand.” The pained look on Gedeon’s face tore at her heart. 
“You’ve seen what a silver stake can do to a vampire. I had no idea what would it would do to a marked human, and when you still didn’t wake up after two days…” Gedeon shook his head as he thought about what could’ve happened. “I wasn’t sure you were going to wake up at all.”
“Exactly how long have I been out of it?”
“Three days.” Gedeon reached out and took Sara’s hand in his. “I’m so sorry. This is entirely my fault. I should’ve never pushed you.”
“Gedeon!” Sara snapped. “How is any of this your fault? You’ve spent the past week going out of your way to protect me.” Her temper flared. How could he possibly blame himself for any of this? “And while we’re at it, why did you push me out of the way? I’m a tough girl, I could’ve handled myself.”
Gedeon forced out a laugh. “I don’t think that there’s a human alive that’s strong enough to puncture vampire skin. It would be like you trying to use a pencil to poke a hole in a rock.” He raised Sara’s hand to his lips and gently kissed the back of her hand. 
Sara lifted her other hand to his cheek. Her fingers trailed over the rough unshaved skin of his face, and watched as Gedeon’s stunning aqua blue eyes flared black. She knew that look, and she knew that only one thing could cause his eyes to change. Slowly, she tilted her head and brought her lips to meet his. Wrapping her arms around his neck, the sheet that had been covering her slim naked form fell down and gathered around her waist.
Gedeon’s hesitantly pulled away. How could this stunning creature still want him after everything she’d been through? Sara should be running in fear, but instead she sat on his bed, offering herself to the beast. His black gazed drifted down her long slender form, and his body trembled as he drank in the sight of her. Never in his life had he seen such a beautiful woman.
Sara moved over to make room for him on the bed. She could see his body shudder as she pulled down the sheet, exposing herself to him, and waited patiently as Gedeon removed his shirt and boots. Gedeon lowered himself onto the bed beside her. “What about your jeans?” she whispered as a lopsided smile played at the corner of her mouth.
“All in good time,” He brought his lips to hers and kissed her hard, his moist tongue exploring every inch of her hungry mouth. He wanted to take her right then and there. The need to have her was overwhelming, but first he had to make sure she was ready for him. He had to know that this delicate little body that lay open and waiting before him could accommodate his massive girth. He reached up and gently stroked the tip of her nipple with his finger, but a touch wasn’t enough. He had to taste the sweetness of her skin. Kissing his way down her long slender body, his mouth found her perfect shapely breast. A moan escaped his lips as he took her into his mouth and suckled.
Sara gasped at the feel of his mouth against her skin, his kisses leaving a trail of fire in their wake. Her body ached for him. She reached over and tried to unbutton his pants, but Gedeon swiftly pushed her hand away.
“Not yet.” he murmured. Gedeon was amazed at how responsive her body was to him, and his erection grew even harder. He lifted his hand and cupped her other breast, the one he had been neglecting, and could feel her body stiffen at his touch. The tips of his fingers played with her rock hard nipple, flicking and squeezing her rigid bud until she groaned with desire. His cock twitched at the sound of her groan, and strained painfully against the confines of his jeans. He would have her soon, but not yet. She wasn’t quite ready for him yet. He continued suckling her breast, laving her with the tip of his tongue, tantalizing her nerves and fuelling the raging fire as his hand trailed lightly across the skin of her belly and to the small triangle of hair at the juncture of her thighs. “Let me in.” he demanded, his voice hoarse with need and desire. Gedeon gripped her thigh and spread her legs.
“Please, Gedeon.” she begged. Sara moaned as his fingers gently stroked the soft folds her pussy. She could feel the tension mounting, but she wanted to come with him inside her, filling her. She wanted him to feel the pleasure of her release. 
Gedeon lifted his head, and once more his mouth found hers. His kiss was rough and fervent, and he couldn’t hold back any longer. His thumb pressed hard against her clit as he parted the folds of sex and slid his finger deep into her core. God she was tight, so tight, and he would enjoy having her. His finger moved in rhythm to her thrusts, and he plunged deeper into her again and again as she screamed his name. 
Sara moaned into his mouth. Her hips, now moving at a frantic pace, drove harder against his hand. “Take me now.”
“Soon.” he promised. Gedeon brought his hand up to his lips and licked the sweet cream from the tips of his fingers. The beast inside him broke free. He could wait no longer to take this beautiful creature that lay open in front him, waiting for him, ready for him. He would take his time with her, savour every stroke, and savour the tightness of her as he entered her. Yes, she would take him. She would take every inch of him, but first he needed to taste her. 
His unshaven faced brushed roughly against the soft tender skin of her thighs, and her body froze as his tongue took her in one long luscious lick. Sara arched into him, pressing herself harder against his mouth as his fingers gently parted her and his tongue drove deep into her sex. Her body shivered in anticipation as his hungry tongue found her swollen clit, licking it and stroking it as he brought her to the brink of release. Just when she thought she couldn’t take anymore, he plunged his finger deep into her core. “Gedeon” Sara cried out as the climax tore through her body.
He could feel the ripples of her release against his tongue, and drank deeply as her sweet cream filled his mouth. Gedeon reached down and unzipped his jeans. His erection sprung forward, breaking free from its denim restraints. Pulling off his jeans and tossing them on the floor, Gedeon positioned himself between Sara’s silky thighs. The scent of her sex was driving the beast into an uncontrollable frenzy. A snarl escaped his mouth as the tip of his shaft brushed against the warm, wet folds of her pussy. He watched fervently as the plump head of his cock penetrated her, his shaft slowly inching further and further into her, but his body stiffened as he met resistance. “Sara.” he groaned. 
“Don’t stop.” Sara begged. 
“I can’t.” Gedeon said in a pained voice. “I can’t be gentle like you need me to be.” The beast roared in disapproval.
“Please, Gedeon. Fuck me!” Overcome with need and desire, Sara pivoted her hips upward, inviting him in. She cried out in pain as Gedeon entered her in one swift thrust. His girth proving to be more than her delicate body could handle.
Gedeon froze at the sound of her cry. Afraid to hurt her if he moved, he waited until her muscles relax around him. But the tightness of her sex drove him to the brink of madness, and he didn’t know if he could hold out much longer. He needed to feel the softness of her flesh against him as he drove balls deep into her. If he pulled out now, stopped before the beast took control, he wouldn’t hurt her. Slowly and reluctantly, Gedeon eased himself out, taking extra care not to cause her any undue pain, but Sara resisted. 
“No, don’t stop. “She raised her legs and wrapped them tightly around his waist, driving him further into her warmth. She winced as Gedeon slid into her, but with each stroke of his cock the burning pain faded. 
“Sara.” he groaned, the sound of his words muffled against her skin. Gedeon’s control shattered. His movements became faster, his thrust harder as he plunged into her again and again. 
Pleasure replaced the pain as he drove deeper into her, his cock filling her, stretching her, with every move of his hips. The tension in her body grew as he brought her closer and closer to climax. “More.” she screamed as she arched her back and pressed her body into him, her hips moving in sync with his. Sara tightened her thighs, feeling him pulse within her, and it was glorious. Each luscious stroke brought her closer to the edge. Hesitantly, she brushed aside tendrils of hair and tilted her head, exposing her neck. She offered herself to him and watched in wonderment as Gedeon’s fangs unsheathed.
“Sara.” he murmured between short ragged breaths. “Are you sure?”
Sara nodded in agreement. She’d never been more certain of anything else as she was of this. She wanted Gedeon in every which way possible. Her body stiffened as his fangs grazed the sensitive skin at the nape of her neck. Pleasure exploded through her, and every sensation in her body intensified as the tips of his fangs slowly and deliberately penetrated her skin. She wrapped her legs tighter around him and met his thrust with her own, their bodies moving in perfect sync, fighting for release.
Gedeon tensed as he drank deeply from her. The sweetness of her blood, sweeter than any he’d ever tasted, rolled across his tongue and warmed his throat. He had to get deeper. He had to fill every inch of her as they shared the blissful passion of the bite. Gedeon wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her closer, thrusting deeper into her than he ever thought possible, but Sara’s body melded to him as if it were made for him and only him. He could feel his own release coming hard and fast as he mercilessly slammed into her again, and again, and again. Her muscles clenched him and he knew that she was almost ready. He drove his cock balls deep into pussy, savouring the feeling as her muscles tightened around his shaft. He reached down to the thatch of hair between her legs and gently pressed her swollen clit with the tip of his finger. One touch was all it took to send her over the edge. He could feel the ripples of pleasure rolling through her quivering body as her sex milked him. He drove into her, again and again, each time impossibly deeper than the last, until he couldn’t take it anymore. His balls tightened and his cock exploded as he thrust into her one last time, spilling his seed deep within her. 
“Sara.” Gedeon moaned, and collapsed into a heap on top of her, both of them gasping for breath. He pulled her into his embrace and waited for his breathing to slow before asking, “Why me?”
Her body trembled as tiny shockwaves of pleasure still ripped through her. Sara gasped for air as she cupped his face with her hands, and watched the blackness faded from his eyes, “Because I need you, Gedeon.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were a virgin? I should’ve been gentler with you. I could’ve made things easier for you instead of taking you like an animal. Your first time should’ve been better than this. Your first time should’ve been with someone normal, someone human. I’ll never be able to give you the things you deserve.” Gedeon let out an exasperated sigh. He rolled off her and lay beside her on the bed, stroking the long golden brown that cascaded down her shoulders and gazing intently into the depths of her deep brown eyes.
“You lied to me, Gedeon.” A hint of anger tainted her voice.
“I’ve only ever told you the truth. I’ve been straight forward with you since the day we met.”
“No, you haven’t. You told me that vampires can only feel two emotions; hunger and lust. I could see the hunger and the lust in your eyes when made love to me. I could see hatred on your face every time you spoke Pryse’s name, but more importantly, I can see love in your eyes when you look at me like you are right now. You may think that love is just another silly human emotion, but no matter how much you deny it, I see it in your eyes and I feel it in your touch.”
“Sara.” he whispered softly against her skin. “Why me? Why would you choose to spend your life with a monster?”
“Because I’ve seen what’s inside, and I know that you’re not the monster you think you are.” Sara cupped Gedeon’s chin in her hand and lifted his face to hers. “If you truly want me to leave I’ll walk out of that door and never look back, but first you have to look me in the eyes and tell me that you don’t love me.”
“Sara, if you choose me, you choose a life of solitude. I can’t offer you the same things a human can. I can’t give you children, or marriage, or even do the things that humans do for fun. I can’t even go to the store in the middle of the day if I run out of milk.”
“I choose you.” she whispered. 
“I love you, Sara Bishop.” Gedeon pressed his mouth to hers. The roughness and the urgency was gone, but the need to be with her, to touch her, lingered just below the surface. Gedeon could feel the pressure building in his groin and sighed. Sara needed time to rest and recuperate, but as soon as she was ready for him, he would have her again, and again, and again. “You need to rest.”
“I will, but I want you to answer a question first.”
“Okay.” Gedeon responded hesitantly.
“What did you mean when you said I could fight him off? Did you mean I could fight off the effects of Pryse controlling me?”
“That’s the beauty of being human.” Gedeon smiled. “Even if you’re marked, you still have freewill. You just have to learn to use it.”
“Hmm.” Sara mused. “So if you were to mark me I would still be free to make my own decisions?”
“Sara, I would never ask you to do that.”
“I know you wouldn’t,” Sara replied “but Pryse told me that I have sweet blood, and that it was only a matter of time before a vampire marked me.”
“He’s right, your blood is intoxicating” Gedeon buried his face in her hair and inhaled deeply “but that’s not a good enough reason to mark someone. Besides, I’ll protect you. You’ll never have to worry about being bitten by anyone but me.” A sly smile crept across his face.
“Gedeon, I want you to mark me.” Sara said with determination. “I can live without having children and getting married, but if I’m going to give those things up, I want to know that there was a reason for my choice. Besides, you told me yourself that the pleasure is better for both of us if you mark me, so it’s a win-win situation right?”
 “I suppose you could look at it that way.” Gedeon laughed, but his mood quickly turned sombre. “I don’t know what would happen if you were marked a second time. I’ve never seen it done before. Usually when a human willing lets a vampire mark them, the bond doesn’t break until the human or the vampire dies. You know how painful it was the first time. I can’t promise that the pain won’t be worse if you’re marked a second time. It may last for days or even weeks, and I couldn’t bear to see you go through that again.”
“But you’ll be with me right?” Sara asked. “You’d make sure I was as comfortable as possible.”
“Of course I would.” Gedeon squeezed her hand tightly in his. Sara was right, it was possible for him to feel more than just hunger and lust. What he felt now was something he thought he’d lost when his humanity was stolen from him 450 years ago. He loved Sara, and he would do whatever he had to do to make her happy. “Are you absolutely sure this is something you want, because once we start there’s no turning back. If you take my blood and I bite you, I can’t reverse the effects. My bite will seal the mark, and no matter how much pain you experience, I will be unable to stop it. I’ll do everything in my power to ease the pain and make you comfortable, but the minute my fangs puncture your skin, you have to see it through till the very end.” 
“Gedeon, I want this. I want you in every way possible.”
“Alright,” Gedeon sighed. The idea of Sara enduring that kind of pain made him cringe. His instinct was to protect her, not cause her immeasurable pain and suffering. “I’ll do it, but only after you’ve rested. I’ve already taken too much blood from you today and you need to recuperate.”
Sara rolled over and cuddled into him. His body always seemed to feel cool to the touch, but it was a feeling that she could get accustomed use to. A smile crept up the corner of her mouth as his erection pressed firmly into her lower back. No rest for the wicked she though and turned to face him. A scratching noise drew here attention to the bedroom door. “Oh God, I hope that’s not another mouse.”
“I think Phineus took care of all the mice in this apartment.” Gedeon laughed.
“Phineus is here?”
“I couldn’t leave him all alone in your apartment, could I?” Gedeon pulled Sara closer into his embrace. “Oh, and that reminds me, you have to call your aunt.”
“You were talking to my aunt?” Sara asked anxiously. “When were you talking to my aunt?”
“I went to your place to pick up a few of your things and she stopped by while I was there. She was worried that you hadn’t called her in a couple of days. I told her that you were feeling under the weather and that I was taking care of you.”
“Oh my God,” Sara blushed “what did she say?”
“She said to call her back in a few days when you’re feeling better. She also laughed and said to not rush your recovery on her account. I gave her my phone number, but I doubt she’ll be calling anytime soon.”
Sara laughed and wrapped her arms around Gedeon. The soft contours of his body and the heady scent of him, made her shiver in anticipation. “What are we going to tell her when you mark me? How am I going to explain not being able to call her for a week?”
“We’ll just tell her that we’re spending a week at my condo in Florida.” Gedeon mumbled as he ran his hand across the silky skin of Sara’s thigh and felt her legs part in invitation, ready and waiting for his touch. He could already feel her climax building as he slid his fingers deep into her taut core and felt her muscles grip him tightly. His thumb pressed firmly against her still swollen bud and she gasped. This time he would go slowly. He would pleasure her in ways she never imagined possible. “I think we’d better make that two weeks.”


Coming Soon

Hellfire: City of the Damned Book 2

Continue reading for a sneak peak of chapter 1

Chapter 1

The comfortable coolness from the air conditioning immediately gave way to the hot and humid breeze as Sara exited the plane, walked down the stairs, and stepped onto the tarmac. She could feel the heat radiating from the pavement beneath her feet and suddenly wished that she’d wore something lighter than the jeans and t-shirt she donned. When Gedeon had told her that he had a condo in South Beach she thought it was a joke. Why would a vampire who can’t go out during the day own a condo in one of the sunniest places in North America? Not that she was complaining or anything. Spending two weeks in Florida with a gorgeous man that absolutely adored her was like having a dream come true. The only thing that she wasn’t looking forward to was the pain she would have to endure when Gedeon marked her, but he’d promised to make her as comfortable as possible during the process.
In the past month, since being attacked and unwilling marked by Pryse, Sara had spent every moment with Gedeon. If they weren’t in bed making love then she was getting spoiled with gourmet dinners and lavished with exotic flowers. Sara had even gone so far as to introduce Gedeon to her aunt and uncle. After she’d all but moved into his midtown apartment Gedeon invited them over to dinner and wooed them with his above average culinary skills, not that it would’ve taken much to win them over. Beneath his rough and brutish exterior, he was the most loving and sensitive man Sara had ever met. 
A smile played at the corners of her mouth as Gedeon led her across the tarmac to the sleek black limo that awaited them. Sara made decent money working as an Application Developer for a major communications firm, but had never been inclined to ask Gedeon about his finances, even though it was obvious he was wealthy. As far as she could tell, Gedeon made his money from selling herbal remedies and healing injured vampires. The limos, gourmet food, exotic flowers, and a condo in South Beach meant nothing if she wasn’t happy. But she was happy, happier than she’d ever been in her life, and money had nothing to do with it. Sara loved Gedeon and would love him just as much if he were penniless.
“You look like you’re in deep thought. What are you thinking about?” Gedeon asked as he opened the door and extended his hand to help her into the limo. The exquisite sight of her made his smile widen and his heart skip a beat. Never in his life had he seen such a beautiful woman, and never had he expected to earn the love of someone as amazing as Sara Bishop. A part of him feared what might happen when she was marked a second time, he’d never known a human to be marked twice by a vampire, but another part of him anticipated the ecstasy they would share when she was his and his alone, when their souls were truly bound to each other. 
“I’m just thinking about how lucky I am. How many girls get to spend two weeks in Florida with someone as gorgeous as you?” Ignoring his outstretched hand, Sara stood on her tips toes and kissed Gedeon hard on the mouth. Her body quivered as his moist tongue demanded entrance to her mouth and forced apart her lips.
Gedeon released his hold on the car door and pulled Sara into him, his hand tangling in her long golden brown hair and their bodies melding together in a perfect fit. His other hand trailed softly down the curves of her slim form and came to rest at the small of her back. Pulling her closer, Gedeon released the grip he had on her hair and cupped the fleshy round cheeks of her ass. His erection grew and strained painfully against the inside of his pants. Their lips parted and he gasped for air. “Maybe we should wait until we get home.”
Something in her chest hitched. Home Sara thought, home is wherever you are, my love. She knew that falling in love with Gedeon came with consequences. He was a vampire and she was a human. He would remain eternally young while she grew old and feeble. Sara hastily pushed the thought aside. Being marked by Gedeon and sharing her body and soul with him was enough, for now anyways. Looking at Gedeon through half lidded eyes she whispered, “Only if you make it worth my while, Mr, Bainard.”
Gedeon tilted his head back and a husky laugh escaped his lips. In the month they’d been together Sara had gone from being a shy country girl to an irresistible erotic goddess, his goddess. And somewhere along the way she’d brought out a side of him that he thought had died years ago, a carefree and loving side that made him feel more human than vampire. There were so many things he wanted to teach her, so many thing he wanted her to experience, but it would all come in good time. He would pleasure her in ways she never imagined, and once she was marked she would feel pleasure unlike anything she’d ever felt before.
Sitting beside her in the back seat of the limo, Gedeon slid his hand between her legs and pressed his finger firmly against her already swollen clit. He could feel the dampness of her jeans where her pussy lay just beneath the rough denim fabric, ready and waiting for him. “I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”
“I don’t think I can wait that long.” she teased, and fumbled with the controls on the door. With the press of a button the moon roof slid open, revealing the inky sky above. She continued pressing the buttons until the tinted glass barrier that separated the driver from the passengers in the back seat ascended, giving them complete and utter privacy. Turning to face Gedeon she reached down and undid his pants. Sara got to her knees on the floor of the car, positioning herself between his legs, and began stroking his cock through the thin cotton fabric of his underwear.
“You’re gonna be the death of me.” Gedeon murmured and lifted himself off the seat just enough to pull his pants down and free his massive erection. His eyes flared black with desire, as they did every time she touched him, when Sara took him into her mouth.
Cupping his balls in one hand and the base of his cock in the other, Sara licked up the length of his shaft and lapped up the pearl of pre come that had formed on the tip. Very slowly and very deliberately she lowered her mouth over his cock and took him into her throat. With steady even strokes she worked her mouth up and down the length of his shaft, taking him even deeper with each downward caress.
Gedeon fisted the leather seat on either side of him as a low guttural moan worked its way up his throat and through his lips. His hips thrust in sync with the movements of Sara’s skillful tongue, forcing even more of his cock into the deep recesses of her throat. At this rate it would only take him minutes to come, if he could even hold out that long.
Sara released her grip and looked up at him through heavily lidded eyes, her mischievous grin illuminated by the moon light that flooded in through the open window in the roof. 
“Oh God! Why did you stop?” Gedeon panted. Teetering on the brink of orgasm, his hand clenched tightly around his erection as he stroked it up and down, anxious for release.
Sara pried his fingers away and replaced his hand with her own. With a voice as soft as silk and as playful as a puppy she asked, “Do you trust me?”
“What? Of course I trust you Sara, but good God woman, you can’t just leave me hanging like this.” His hips started to move in time with her hand as it leisurely caressed him.
“Good,” Sara murmured as she grabbed his hips and pulled him forward on the seat “because I want to try something, but I want you to promise me that you won’t move or say a word until I’m done.”
“Sara,” Gedeon protested.
“Not one word. Do you promise?”
Gedeon looked down at her and nodded. Resisting the urge to ask her what in the hell she was doing, he leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes.
With Gedeon’s ass slightly hanging over the edge of the seat, Sara repositioned herself on the floor and placed her hands on the inside of his thighs, spreading his legs further apart. Cupping his balls in her hand and slight lifting them, she felt his body tremble as her mouth found the tight bud of his anus. With every delicious flick of her tongue his body spasmed its approval at this intimate and unfamiliar contact. When she felt his balls tighten, and knew he was on the verge of coming, Sara licked her finger and slid it effortlessly into the taut little opening of his ass, past the tight ring of muscles, and stopping only when she reached the sensitive bundle of nerves that was his prostate. Gedeon’s body stiffened at the unexpected intrusion, but relaxed when Sara started sliding her finger in and out with unhurried and purposeful movements. She bent the tip of her finger upwards so that it pressed slightly against his prostate with every stroke, moving it back and forth in a come hither motion.
Gedeon’s body heaved and trembled at the sensations sweeping through him, but did not resist the invasion of the most intimate part of his body. In fact, he welcomed the feeling, and just when he thought that nothing in the world could feel better than what he was experiencing at this very moment, Sara’s mouth once again found his cock and she began sucking, taking him down her throat further than she ever had before. The feel of her tongue sliding down the length of his shaft was all it took to push him over the edge. Gedeon thrust hard and could feel the tip of his cock hit the back of her throat as he spilled himself into her mouth.
Greedily, Sara kept sucking as warm jets of semen filled her mouth, closing her lips firmly around him and not letting a single drop escape. As the trembling in Gedeon’s body subsided and he sank back into the seat, Sara eased her finger out of his anus and sat on the seat beside him. 
The silence stretched on and anxiety began to build within her. Gedeon sat beside her, his head resting on the back of the seat and his eye firmly closed. What have I done? She thought. “Gedeon, listen...”
“Shh.” Gedeon opened his eyes and lifted his head. Grabbing Sara by the shoulders, her pulled her into his lap and silenced her with his mouth. His lips crushed against hers and their tongues mated in a frenzied dance.
Sara pulled away and repositioned herself so that she was straddling Gedeon’s legs. Still panting and gasping for air from the kiss that had left her breathless, her fingers trailed lightly over the rough stubble on his unshaven face. Never before had she seen his eyes as black as they were right now. Mistaking the look in his eyes as anger, Sara leaned forward and buried her face in the crook of his neck. “I’m sorry. I should never have done something like that without telling you first.”
“Sorry? What do you have to be sorry for? That was the best fucking blowjob I’ve ever had in my life.”
Shocked, Sara raised her head and faced him. “You’re just saying that to make me happy.”
“I’d never lie to you, Sara.” he said in a more serious tone. Gedeon lifted his hand and trailed his fingers along the exposed skin of her slender arms, causing goose bumps to rise on her flesh. “Where did you learn something like that?”
“I found it in an article on this website. It said that if you...”
The sound of Gedeon’s cacophonous laughter filled the air around them. 
“What’s so funny? I thought you said you liked?” A blush reddened her cheeks and Sara bashfully looked away.
The laughing subsided and was replaced by the soothing sound of Gedeon’s voice. “You could do anything to me and I’d love it. As a matter of fact, I’d like you to do something for me tonight.”
“What?” Sara asked without turning to look at him.
“We’ll talk about it when we get upstairs, but right now I’d better get dressed.”
Sara looked up and saw that they were parked in front of the condo. Its elegant curves and sharp angles accentuated the art deco facade of the building. After fastening his pants Gedeon helped Sara out of the limo and led her towards the entrance to the building.
“What about our luggage?” Sara asked.
“The driver will see that it’s brought up to the suite.” Gedeon smiled and squeezed her hand as they walked through the doors and into the lobby.
Chrome accents glistened under the fluorescent lighting that hung from the ceiling above, and Sara blatantly stared at the pictures of half naked women that adorned the walls. 
Gedeon noticed the amused look on Sara’s face and chuckled. “They’re original works by Tamara de Lempicka. Do you like them?”
“They’re different.” Sara replied sheepishly. She wasn’t familiar with the Art Deco Movement, but it was obvious even to her that this building housed many original and restored pieces of the era. Even the tile floor of the lobby was unlike anything she’d ever seen. Hand laid mosaic tiles interlaced to form graceful curves and intricate circular patterns.
‘Come on,” Gedeon tugged at her hand and dragged her towards a set of ornate brass elevator doors “I have something else I want to show you.”
They rode the elevator to the fifth floor in silence. Sara’s stomach felt queasy as they walked down the hall towards the suite, dragging her feet on the carpet as they went. The whole reason for this trip to Florida was so that Gedeon could mark her without the risk of her aunt discovering them, but they’d never discussed any of the details or when it was going to take place. Sara could vividly remember the pain of being marked by Pryse and had decided that the less she knew about what was going to happen to her, the better off she’d be.  But it did nothing to calm the nervousness that had suddenly overcome her. Would tonight be the night or would Gedeon give her a couple days to enjoy the nice weather before she was subjected to days, or perhaps weeks, of excruciating pain?
As if sensing her fear, Gedeon wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her securely into his embrace. He leaned down and tenderly placed a kiss on her forehead. “Not tonight. I promise. Tonight is all about you and me.”
Sara looked up at him and smiled. “I was hoping you’d say that.”


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