Lord of Shadows ~ Eight ~

Lord of Shadows is an ongoing serial story.  This installment concludes the story.

Content advisory: oral sex, m/f sex

Recap: In part seven, Tierney and Sarah are hiding out in her mother’s guest house.

Lord of Shadows

~ Eight ~

By Nickie Asher

“Tierney! Wake up.” Sarah shook him hard.

Startled awake, Tierney’s eyelids shot open and he lurched upright. It was barely dusk. Dim light showed though the tiny space where the heavy drapes didn’t quite meet. “What’s wrong?” And something was definitely wrong. Her voice was strained, frightened.

“They burned your house.” Tears ran down her cheeks.

His stomach dropped. “Everything’s gone?”

“Everything. Oh, God. I’m so sorry. My father. . .” She covered her face and sobbed.”

He drew her to him and folded her into his arms. “It isn’t your fault.” What was he going to do? He had nowhere to go. He had nothing except the clothes he had with him.” Then he gently pushed her back. “I have to go out. But I’ll be back as quick as I can.”

“What are you going to do?”

“We have to leave. Tonight. If you’re coming with me, be ready when I return. Pack everything you want to take. Do you have a servant you can trust to discretely bring your stuff here?” His heart pounded. If she backed out. . .”

“There’s one man I trust. He’s elderly but strong enough to carry my trunks. I’ll be ready.”

Relief coursed through him and he hugged her tight.

Tierney returned three hours later. First he’d gone to the ruins of his house and stared in sorrow. Afterward, he’d hurried to his solicitor’s home. The man hadn’t been pleased to be disturbed but he’d come through.

Tierney had a great deal of cash on him, a horse and buggy waiting as close as he dared leave them, and booked passage on a ship. They were almost home free. To his relief, five trunks sat in a neat row. She was ready though her eyes were red. Guilt stabbed his heart. He was taking her from her family and everything she knew. “You’re sure you want to go through with this?”

She threw herself into his arms. “Tierney, I’m sure. I couldn’t go on without you. No matter what it costs me.”

He hugged her tight then released her. “I love you, Sarah. I would do anything for you. Including letting you go if that was what you wanted.”

“I want to be with you. Forever.”

“Let’s go then. I have a buggy.” He grabbed one of the trunks and lifted it effortlessly. “I’ll get these and we’ll head for the docks. I have passage for us.” After tucking the first trunk into the buggy and assisting Sarah onto the seat, he glided back to get the other trunks.

When he left the house with the last of her belongings, hoof beats thundered behind him. Heart pounding, he dropped the trunk and spun around. Sarah’s father, astride a huge black horse, bore down on him with a wooden spear that he held like a jousting lance.

Tierney leaped, the spear sank into his shoulder. Shocking pain tore through him. As Wilkes pulled the horse to a halt and turned the animal, Tierney yanked the wood from his flesh. His right arm didn’t want to cooperate and pain radiated all the way down his side.

Regardless, he crouched and waited for the horse which apparently, Wilkes intended to run him down with. The animal appeared fearless. The beast thundered straight for him. Tierney held his ground, counting the strides. When the horse was two beats away, Tierney leapt and caught the animal’s head, throwing his weight onto the oncoming horse. He twisted to the side, pulling the horse off balance. The animal let out a shrill cry as its legs tangled and it went down hard, landing on Wilke’s leg. Wilkes screamed and tried to push the one thousand plus pound animal off him.

Tierney grabbed the trunk, and ignoring his screaming shoulder, ran for the buggy. He didn’t want to kill Sarah’s father. Not when they were so close to escaping him for good. He couldn’t do that to her even though every instinct called for him to rip the man’s throat out.

He reached the buggy and tossed the trunk in the back with the others.

“What happened?” Sarah demanded in a fearful voice. “Oh my God. You’re bleeding.”

“I’m okay. You’re father did that.”

A sob choked her. “Is he. . .”

“He’s fine. I didn’t kill him.” Even though he should have.

Shouts erupted on the property behind them.

“Shit. His men must have found him.”

“But you said—”

“I dropped his horse on him. His leg may be broken at the worst.”

“Thank you, Tierney.”

Tierney vaulted onto the seat beside her, grabbed the reins and the whip, and set the horse into a gallop. The buggy careened down the street and more than one pedestrian sprang out of the way.

Sarah clung to his arm and looked back over her shoulder.

“See any of them?” he asked.

“No. Not yet.”

Like him, she obviously expected them to give chase.

He took a corner too hard and the buggy went up on two wheels. Sarah screamed and buried her face in his uninjured shoulder. The buggy dropped back down and Tierney laid the whip to the horse. The ship was close. Five minutes away at the most. The horse thundered down the street, putting Tierney’s enemies further and further behind them.

And then they were at the dock. He hauled on the reins and brought the horse to a skidding stop. After he jumped down, he reached for Sarah and lifted her out. They ran for the ship. He would get her on board and then go back for her trunks. He’d bought clothes and had them sent to the ship. After her things were taken care of they would be ready to sail.

Once he had her in their cabin, he made short work of retrieving the trunks. He needed to get rid of the horse and buggy in case any of Wilke’s men had seen it. He raced back to where he’d left the horse tied and climbed in the buggy. Now going at an easy trot, he drove the exhausted horse to a livery where he paid the proprietor to take the animal for the night. The man could do whatever he wanted with the horse and buggy. Tierney sure wouldn’t be around to collect the animal in the morning.

Safely inside their cabin, he finally took off his shirt to inspect the damage John Wilkes had done. Though an ugly, gaping wound that still hurt like hell, it was already beginning to heal. In a few days there would be no sign of damage or scaring.

But for now, he needed to clean away the blood and slap a bandage over the torn flesh. . .except he didn’t have anything to use to bind it up with.

Sarah poured water from the large pitcher into the matching bowl and swirled a wash cloth in the basin. “Let me take care of you,” she said.

He nodded gratefully and sat on the bed. She gently dabbed at the hole in his flesh. A little hiss of pain escaped him.

“I’m so sorry. I know this hurts,” she said and continued working on him.

“It isn’t your fault.” He managed to sit quietly until she finished. “I’m glad you came with me.”

“So am I. But we haven’t gone anywhere yet. When do we set sail?”

“Early in the morning.”

“Is it going to be dark enough in here?” she asked.

“Should be.”

“If it isn’t?”

“I’ll get a sunburn.”

She paled. “That isn’t funny.”

“Everything’s going to be fine. I promise.” And it would be. Worse case he would have to empty one of her trunks and sleep in it.

She finished cleaning him and Tierney put on one of his new shirts though he only fastened the last couple of buttons. He only needed enough cover to keep Sara from seeing the wound. “Come here.” He caught her hand and pulled her onto his lap.

“We’ll have to find a house. Once we have a real home I’ll bring you over with me.”

“You mean you’ll. . .”

“Turn you. Yes. We might as well get your change behind us.”

“Okay,” she whispered and leaned against him.

“You still want it, don’t you?” His heart pounded. If she didn’t, their future was limited by the ravages of time.

“You know I do. I would do anything to be with you.” She tilted her head up. “Kiss me, Tierney. I need to be close to you.”

He bent and pressed his lips to hers in a gentle press. Her honeyed taste begged further sampling. He licked at her lower lip until she opened for him. He deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue along hers in slow sensuous strokes. Her hands sank into his hair and pulled at the leather tie until his locks hung free.

She slipped under his shirt and traveled upward over his chest. She stroked his nipples. Sensations of pleasure rippled through him at her touch. Her nails raked over him with gentle motions. He moaned into her mouth. God, she was fantastic. And she was all his. “I want you. But I need you on top. My shoulder. . .”

Her hands eased downward, over his stomach to his pants where her fingers worked them loose. Then she was delving inside, touching him. His groan of pleasure spurred her seeking fingers on and she wrapped them around his length. She freed him from his trousers. Her warm palm stroked along his shaft in a firm, even stroke.

She released him and tugged at his pants. “Take these off.”

He kicked off his boots and shoved his britches down and off then he settled back on the edge of the bed. He grinned in anticipation as she stepped between his spread legs and dropped to her knees. The silk of her hair tickled his thighs as she bent over him. Her mouth closed over his engorged head and he gasped at the contact. Her hot tongue swirled around him and teased at the little slit, probing and flicking.

“Sarah, you’re so good.”

She went down on him, hesitated, then took more of him into her.

Tierney groaned and buried his hands into her hair, urging her on. She stopped before taking more of him and then he was engulfed in her. He didn’t move. Once she was ready, she eased back up, swirled her tongue around the head then slipped back down on him. She continued until Tierney’s cock jerked hard. She slid off him but captured his balls in her warm palm.

She stroked her thumb over the delicate skin. Her hand was gentle but heat blazed where she touched him. He groaned and a single drop of fluid gathered in the little slit in his swollen head. She bent and licked it off while her fingers massaged his nuts.

“Sarah, you’re going to make me come if you keep playing with my balls.”

With a grin, she released him and stood. In moments, she had undone a row of tiny buttons and slipped from her dress. Her under clothes quickly followed.

He reached for her and drew her up against him. Her breasts were at the perfect level and he tongued one firm globe, laving over the pebbled peak. He held her still with one arm while his free hand delved between her thighs. His fingers encountered moist silk. She spread her legs wider, encouraging him. He found her swollen nub. He rubbed and circled until she caught her breath and pushed against his hand. He lavished attention on the little bit of flesh until a spasm ran through her. Then he stroked along her wet folds, seeking her core.

He breathed in her wonderful rose fragrance. There was no need to hurry. They would never be apart again. Maybe he had lost all of his material possessions, but he’d gained something far better. “I love you with all my heart,” he whispered as he found her opening and eased inside.

She moaned and rocked on his hand, pleasuring herself. Pumping vigorously, he worked her core until a cry tore from her and she gyrated on his hand. Once she finished quaking and sagged against him, he pulled from her clenching walls. He licked her from his fingers, relishing the taste of her pleasure.

She straightened and stepped back. “On the bed,” she said.

Tierney positioned himself in the center.

She crawled in with him and straddled his hips. His cock lay against her delicious backside. Reaching behind her, she caught and squeezed gently. “I love you, Tierney. I love everything about you.” She released him, bent down and kissed him. But before he could deepen the kiss, she sat up again.

She eased up, grasped him, and settled on his cock, taking him deep within her. With a moan, she threw her head back and rode him.

Tierney had a spectacular view of his woman giving them both pleasure. She had an expression of ecstasy on her lovely face as she slid up and down on him. Her breasts bounced with her motions. The visual was as good as the physical stimulation of his cock. Then she picked up speed, riding him faster, harder. She moaned her pleasure, then she stiffened. A second later, her movements became more frantic as she released.

Her walls squeezed him rhythmically, milking him until he could stand no more and with a shout of joy, his seed spurted deep within her.

Finally she collapsed on him, then rolled to his side where he gathered her close. “This is just the beginning,” he whispered. “We have forever.”

Epilogue

Three Months Later

Tierney gazed at his sleeping mate with tenderness and love. She would wake soon and they would venture out into the night. Charleston had received them with open arms and they were very careful in where they hunted. She had taken to vampirism with an ease that was almost frightening. But then, he’d always known females, in their own way, where much more vicious than males. Though neither of them ever killed. There was no need and leaving a trail of victims was nothing but a disaster waiting to happen.

They had escaped her father completely and no one in Charleston had any idea of their true nature. And they wanted to keep it that way. He’d never been as happy, not even when he was human, as he was with her in this new city. They had a new start. The only blight was that they could never have children together. Otherwise, life was perfect.

Tierney eased off the bed and stretched. He stroked his hard cock a few times and wished she would wake. He sauntered to the huge window and pulled the drapes back. Moonlight bathed the streets and light shown from windows along the beautiful street. He glanced down from the second story window.

A lone figure dressed in a hooded cloak stood below. A woman? Yes. He watched her with idle curiosity. Who did she await? A tardy lover? Her husband?

As if feeling his gaze, she turned toward him and lifted her head.

Tierney’s heart lurched and he staggered back a step. But he still saw her clearly.

Her eyes bore into his with a bind that held him tight, and a wide, evil grin stretched over Isabo’s face.

Copyright © 2011 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.