Lord of Shadows is an ongoing serial story.
Content advisory: m/f sex, oral sex
~One~
Tierney pressed his hand against the window and stared out into the night as rain pelted the glass.
There were rules a vampire followed if he wished to survive. He had never believed much in following rules, tonight was no different. And while falling in love with a hunter’s daughter wasn’t the smartest thing he could do, that was were his heart had led him.
Down on the street, beneath the second floor of his French Quarter home, a young woman dashed through the rain, pink skirts trailing behind her as if unable to keep up. His breath quickened.
Sarah.
His love.
His potential death warrant.
A sleek team of horses, black as the night, thundered down the street, charging through mud and flinging it behind them as the carriage driver whipped them on. Tierney’s stomach lurched as the team bore down on Sarah.
She scurried from harm’s way, a mischievous grin on her lovely face as she raced for his residence.
He turned from the glass and hurried down the wide curving staircase to let her in as he had no servants to do it for him. A man in his position couldn’t afford to have people in his home while he slept away the daylight hours in a helpless and defenseless state.
He reached the door and held it wide as she raced up the steps in a flurry of silk skirts and an oversized cape that hid cascades of gold curls.
“Tierney,” she gasped, out of breath, and threw herself in his arms.
She was so alive and warm in his grasp. He wanted to hold her, breathe in her wonderful scent of rose and freshness and never let her go. His hand strayed to the small of her back and pressed her tight against him, letting her feel his cock through their clothing, but only for a moment. It wasn’t wise to stand on the wide porch with her crushed to him where anyone could see them. He backed up without releasing his hold on her and shoved the door closed behind her.
She wriggled from his grasp and struggled out of the cape. He took it from her, tossed it over a chair to dry then he drew her to him.
“God, Sarah, it’s so good to see you and hold you again.” Before she could reply, he bent his head, his lips seeking hers in a feverish kiss. He nudged at her lower lip with his tongue and she opened, allowing him to taste her minty flavored kiss.
Moaning, she thrust her hands into his hair and leaned tight against him, rubbing wantonly against his rock-hard erection.
She tightened her hold on him then pushed back just a little and looked into his eyes. “I had to dodge a man tonight. I think my father is having me watched. He suspects I’m sneaking out.”
Heart pounding, he said, “You’re sure you lost him?”
“I switched back several times to make sure. I’d never bring danger to you.”
“Don’t take your father lightly. He’s no fool and a skilled hunter.” He knew this for a fact. John Wilkes had killed Tierney’s best friend. “If he finds me during the day, I won’t be able to defend myself. He’ll kill me, Sarah.” The thought of waking with a hunter standing over him, a stake poised over his heart, and being unable to help himself sent chills rippling over his skin.
“He doesn’t know about you, my love. And he isn’t going to find out.” She reached around and caught the leather tie that held his hair back. She pulled it out, letting his hair fall free. “I like your hair loose. It’s so thick and gorgeous.”
He couldn’t help but smile. Honest and open, she was innocent and sweet, and he loved her desperately.
“Kiss me, Tierney.”
He pulled her up against him, his arms tightening around her waist, pressing her into his cock as his lips met hers and tongues tangled in a sensuous dance. She moaned and his hands slipped lower, grasping her firm ass. God, he needed her. Needed to lay with her and make her his and his alone.
Her small hand left his hair where it had burrowed and reappeared at his hip. With no hesitation, she reached between them and grasped his cock through his pants. He froze then groaned and thrust forward, craving contact with her hand.
“I want you. Tonight. I want you completely. I love you, Tierney.”
His breath hung in his throat. “Do you mean it? Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’m sure.”
“I can’t undo it once it’s done.” She was a virgin. Just the thought of being her first made his cock even harder. “There’s danger in lying with me. I might bite, even if you don’t want me to. I might not be able to help it.”
“I want it, all of it.” Her hand stroked through his pants.
She was twenty, old enough.
He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted a woman, before or after he’d been turned. And forever locked in the body of a twenty-five year old, he’d had more than his share of women in his short ten year life-span as a vampire.
Growling, he lifted her into his arms, swept through the house and up the wide, curving staircase. As he continued on to the master bedroom, her luscious fragrance of roses teased his senses.
He eased her down but kept her in his embrace. Then he bent and kissed her deeply, their tongues sliding together, twining in a hot but gentle kiss. Jesus, she was going to allow him to have her.
He tightened his arms, bringing her even closer. His angel in a world of darkness. She was everything sweet and good. And after years of hiding in the shadows, she brought back some light and hope for something more than he had known and accepted.
He didn’t deserve her. He didn’t deserve anything good, but here she was, in his arms, practically in his bed. “I love you,” he whispered against her lips. And he did. His love for her was as strong as his hate for her father.
Cupping her chin, he tilted her head and deliberately kissed the pale, silky smooth column of her throat. He licked slowly over her pulse, tasting a hint of vanilla on her skin. His fangs lengthened and the instinct to bite hit him hard. He scraped his teeth over her skin but reined in the urge to take her blood. He willed his fangs to recede.
She trembled slightly but tilted her head, giving her permission.
He groaned and kissed the fluttering pulse point then backed off.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, confusion in her lovely green eyes.
“Nothing. I had to be sure you understood what could happen. What probably will happen.”
“I’m fully aware of what I’m doing and what you are.” Her warm, gentle hands ran over the muscles of his back then rested on his shoulders. “You are everything to me. I want to be with you, in every way possible.”
Once again, he tilted her head up, but this time to look into her eyes. “You know this is going to hurt? At least at first.”
The tiniest bit of fear touched her eyes but she nodded. “I don’t care. I want to be with you. And it will only hurt once.”
Groaning, his hands went to work on the tiny pearl buttons that ran down the back of her dress. As he deftly worked on the buttons, her fingers loosed his shirt and pushed the garment aside. She leaned forward and licked over his nipple. Heat lashed through him as her tongue flicked over his sensitive flesh, then she planted a kiss on his chest.
Oh, Jesus, her warm little mouth on his skin sent his heart galloping like a runaway horse. No woman had ever made him feel the way she did. When he was with her, he became clay in her hands. He would do anything she asked of him. He would kill to protect her, and he would die for her if necessary.
He undid the last button and then gently pushed the dress off her shoulders and on down until it slipped from his grasp and billowed to the floor. It lay around her like a sea of pink silk. She bit her lip but remained still as he undid her petticoats and let them join the dress on the hardwood. When he finally removed the last stitch of her clothing, she stepped from the pile of material and stood before him, breasts jutting proudly, her chin up, her eyes sparkling with fear-tinged lust.
“Come,” he said and took her hand, leading her to his bed where she lowered herself then moved over to make room for him. She laid back, her hair spilling over the pillows in a golden cloud.
His cock strained at his britches, but he couldn’t rush. He couldn’t mount her like a rutting animal, as he wished to. Her first time had to be special. His own pleasure could wait. “I want this to be good for you,” he murmured and moved up alongside her. “You need to be completely ready to make it as easy as possible.”
Still mostly dressed, he eased down beside her and took her into his arms. She trembled slightly but her gaze met and held his in total trust. He swallowed hard, unbelieving that she was really his.
He dipped his head and kissed her gently, waiting for her to relax before he deepened the kiss. Moaning, she opened for him, encouraging his invasion of her mouth yet again.
His hand slipped over her skin in a light caress until he reached her breast and the pebbled peak that beckoned his fingers. He rolled the nipple then caressed it with his thumb until she arched her back, thrusting the plump mound fully into his hand.
He broke the kiss and bent to the creamy orb, drawing the taut bud into his sucking mouth where his teeth gently nipped and his tongue soothed with hot strokes.
Sarah cried out and thrust her hands into his hair, pressing him closer. His other hand joined in, caressing the other peak until she tossed her head back and arched even farther off the bed.
His tight britches pinned his throbbing cock up against his belly. She touched his length, and then leisurely traced her fingers up and down until he humped against her hand, unable to stop himself. The friction of her hand against the soft material was beyond delightful.
His cock kicked and Sarah rewarded him with a quicker motion that nearly had him whimpering like an uninitiated lad at his first encounter. She instinctively knew how to pleasure him. Her hands went to the buttons on his pants and quickly worked them open. Then almost shyly, she reached in the opening and touched him.
He hissed and her eyes shot to his face. He could have bitten his tongue off for his mistake. “Please don’t stop,” he groaned.
Encouraged, she touched him again. Her fingers curled around his shaft and gently drew him through the opening in his britches allowing his cock to spring free. She gave a tentative stroke. He moaned and strained upward, seeking more. She ran her hand up his shaft, then back, exploring his sex. A single, crystal drop of fluid welled at the tip of the engorged head.
She stared at it then bent over him. Her pink tongue darted out and cleaned it off. He moaned and arched his back. Eyes locked on his, she bent over him once more. Her tongue touched him again but this time she didn’t draw away. Her tongue swirled over the head, flicking at the little slit.
Her hand closed on his balls and massaged gently.
His fangs lengthened again and this time he didn’t force them away. She knew what he was, and for him, blood was as much a part of sex as what she was doing to his cock.
Their gazes locked. Then she opened her mouth and took him in, slowly sinking farther down his length. His hands dug into the mattress and his hips wanted to thrust upward and bury himself in her warm mouth but he forced himself to remain still. She stopped. Then after a moment, took the rest of him.
He moaned.
Still making eye contact, she slid back up, letting her teeth barely touch him.
“Please. . .” he groaned.
She understood and took him in again. Now that she knew the motion, she bobbed on his shaft, taking his length then releasing him with that gentle scrape of teeth until he kicked hard and he knew he was going to lose control of the situation. Something he absolutely didn’t want to happen.
He touched her shoulder and gently pushed her back, freeing his cock from her wonderful mouth.
She looked confused.”Did I do something wrong?”
“No, but I can’t take any more,” Tierney said. “And I don’t think you want that.” He gave her a little smile. “Let me please you now.” He moved down the bed and eased between her legs. Blond curls nested around her sex but couldn’t disguise the shine of moisture at her opening. He was tempted to slip his finger inside her to get her ready, but he just couldn’t. He wanted his cock to be the first thing inside her pussy. He’d had virgins before and knew nothing felt quite as good or as tight as an untouched woman.
He stroked her folds, running his index finger along the length of her. He dipped in just at the entrance, getting her slick fluid and rubbing upward. His finger touched her bud and she jumped, a little moan came out of her. He fluttered over her nub, rubbing rhythmically until her hips pumped, pleasuring herself on his hand.
He stopped and grinned at the look of loss on her face. He could give her something better than a finger. He bent forward and touched the little nub with his tongue. She jumped, then giggled.
He inhaled her rose fragrance and vanilla flavor. Swirling his tongue over her tasty little bud, he savored her again and again until she cried out and grabbed his head, her hands curling in his hair and pulling hard. “Tierney,” she cried. “Oh, God, please!”
Gratification swept through him as well as joy and exhilaration.
Her slit was soaked with moisture. He repositioned and licked at her opening, taking her essence onto his tongue and swallowing greedily.
“Oh, my God,” she moaned and thrust her hips up.
She was ready, and his cock was achingly hard. It was time.
He crawled up beside her and claimed her lips in a demanding kiss, letting her taste herself on his tongue before he moved over her. “Ready?”
She slipped her arms around him, urging him down on her, and spread her legs wide. “I’m ready, Tierney.”
He pressed kisses down her jaw to her throat and kissed the skin over her pounding pulse as he settled between her legs. He scraped his fangs over her skin as his cock probed her entrance. Her hands tightened on his back.
He pushed and met resistance.
Sarah bit her lip.
“Shit,” he hissed and reared his hips back then rammed forward, tearing his way inside her.
She wailed and dug her sharp nails into his back.
Once inside, he stilled, letting her stretch and get used to the feel of him. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”
She wriggled under him, urging him to move. “It’s okay. I expected it. Now show me what love is.”
He kissed her gently and set a slow pace, now sliding easily in her tight channel. Her walls squeezed his cock, holding him in a delicious grip. She met his pace, rising up to meet him, taking every inch of him.
And when he could stand it no longer, he picked up the pace, increasing the friction of his dick between her clenching walls. She moaned and moved faster, keeping up with him.
Driving hard into her, he grunted with exertion. A little sob tore out of her, and her hips went harder as she worked for her release. On the verge of losing control, he moved back to her throat and without hesitating, he nuzzled, seeking permission. She turned her head, arching her throat, offering herself up.
He growled then sank his fangs into her. She cried out and stiffened. Her blood poured into his mouth in a salty-sweet rush, and he moaned in pleasure. He drank in greedy abandon until he knew he had to stop. He eased off then licked over the wounds to seal them.
He pumped hard, wanting to climax, wanting her to climax first.
Writhing under him, she cried out and arched her back. With a roar of pleasure, he exploded, filling her with long hot spurts.
With his cock still inside her, he collapsed and lay on her. But only for a moment. He rolled off and lay beside her. “Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m very okay,” Sarah said. “It was everything I’d hoped. She reached over and brushed his damp hair aside. “I love you, Tierney. I want to be yours forever.”
“Forever is a long time.”
“I know.” She smiled.
He stroked her cheek. “Be careful of what you wish for, my love. Especially with someone who can give it to you.”
~***~
Come back in December for another installment of
Lord of Shadows.Like what you read? Please visit our page on Amazon and leave a review for us. Copyright © 2010 Nickie Asher
All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No portion of this work may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the author.
