Chapter Five

I step away from the door, jaw clenched tight. The Grand Coven doesn’t approve of witch-vampire relationships, but hearing how the VC wants to deal with witches…it’s unnerving. They’ve been so focused on assimilation, ordering anyone other than vampires to death is extreme. Many witches lead fairly normal lives outside the coven and look like ordinary humans. The VC must really hate us to be willing to risk a vampire murdering a human in cold blood.

Lucas has made it clear that he only follows the laws put in place for vampires because he saw it as beneficial to himself to be able to put his businesses and properties in his name instead of having a human proxy. He’s a rules-don’t-apply-to-me kind of guy and wouldn’t stop seeing me just because the VC told him to, even if he didn’t care about me as much as he does.

Which happens to be a lot. A take-a-demon-blade-through-the-heart lot. And I love him.

More than anyone I’ve ever loved before.

More than I thought possible.

Because for a while there, I wasn’t sure my broken heart was capable of loving like this, of feeling such affection and passion for just one man. I will do anything for him, even if that means killing every single vampire that stands in our way.

I drop my hand, having lost my concentration, and sit on the bench at the foot of the bed. This doesn’t change anything, right? Lucas knew the VC’s stance on witch-vampire relationships and didn’t hesitate to move our relationship forward. Hell, he didn’t even bring it up.

So why am I freaking out so much?

Letting out a breath, I get into bed and move under the covers. I can’t hear the vampires anymore, but I can still feel their energy coming from the first floor. Needing to do something, I grab my phone and open my Kindle app, reading two chapters of a small-town romance before Lucas comes back into the room.

“They’re gone,” he says and leaves the door open behind him.

“Good. Do you have to carry out orders and kill me now?”

“You heard?”

“I had a little magical assistance to listen in on your conversation. I was worried they were going to accuse you of killing Jacob and all try to stake you or something.”

His full lips start to turn up into a grin. “And what would you have done?”

“Blown them up too.”

“You think you could have gotten there fast enough?”

I set my phone down and shrug. “I’d try. Though I think you’d be able to fight them off, wouldn’t you? Or are they older? What if two vampires who were each exactly half your age attacked you? Would it be a level playing field?”

Lucas chuckles and gets into bed with me. It’s like he’s a magnet or something, because as soon as he’s in close proximity, I can’t help but touch him.

“Age isn’t everything with vampires. Yes, you get stronger over the years, but like people, not all vampires are skilled in hand-to-hand combat. A vampire who is two-thousand years old but has only fought off humans would be difficult due to the increased strength, but if they don’t have the skills, I’m confident I’d win.”

“You are very skilled.”

“In more ways than one.” He advances, pinning me down against the mattress. “And because I know you’re wondering, I am older than both of the vampires who came to the house tonight. I could easily kill them, though this is a rare time when I’m going to say not killing will make things easier.”

I laugh, though I’m not sure if he’s actually joking or not. He moves between my legs, and the soft material of his sweatpants pushes up the silk of my pajama shorts. I arch my back, pressing my core against him.

“You have nothing to worry about,” he promises. “I love you, Callie. You know when I say something, I mean it, but you don’t know how few people I’ve loved—actually loved. And no one has ever come close to how I feel for you. You are everything I’ve been looking for, everything I’ve longed for and wished for over the last sixteen centuries.”

My heart lurches in my chest, and I bring my hands up, raking my fingers through his messy brown hair.

“Saying I’ve felt the same in the seven years I’ve legally been an adult doesn’t pack the same punch,” I start.

“No,” he says softly with a smile. “It doesn’t.”

“But you’ve showed me what it’s like to be loved, and how amazing it is to open myself up and give everything to you, because I know without a doubt there will never be another who I love more than you.”

“There won’t be,” he growls and puts his lips to mine. I buck my hips, rubbing myself against him. I tangle my fingers in his hair and run my other hand down his back, tracing his spine down to the waistband of his pants. I push my hand inside, giving his muscular butt a squeeze, and then tug down his pants.

Holding himself up with one hand, he moves away from me just enough to strip himself bare before diving back down, pressing himself against the warmth between my legs. Gathering my hair in one hand, he moves it to the side and puts his mouth on my neck, showering me with kisses that he alternates with sucking and gently nipping at my skin.

I turn my head, offering more of my neck to him, softly moaning from how good this feels. He presses his hardness against me again, and I swear I could come right here and right now just by feeling him rub me through my pajama shorts.

And I think I need to. Because the thought of not being with him, of having to walk away and never see each other again, terrifies me more than any demon ever will. I arch my back again and start rocking my hips, feeling the orgasm quickly wind up inside me, brought on by desperation to have his fingers on me, strumming my most sensitive parts.

“I thought I taught you patience by now,” he growls, drawing his fangs. They scrape over my skin but don’t make me bleed, and the anticipation to feel him penetrate me both with his cock and his fangs almost pushes me over the edge.

“Make me come,” I moan. “Now, Lucas. I need to come for you.”

“You will.” He sits up and hooks his fingers inside my shorts. “But not until I say you can.”

I slit my eyes open, glaring at him, and rub my thighs together. No one else has ever gotten me so wound up so fast. And no one else ever will. Lucas is good with his hands. With his tongue. He knows how to use his body, and holy hell, he uses it well.

But being in love with him makes sex so much better, and I never fully understood how adding intimacy to the physical element made a difference. But, fuck, it does. And right now, not having him touch me, not feeling his body pressing down against mine, not having the gleaming tip of his cock rubbing against me, is painful.

He starts to inch my shorts down, taking his damn time because he knows how bad I need this. He’s much more experienced than I am, and appearing like a desperate virgin in front of him worried me once. I didn’t want to disappoint, didn’t want to come off as too easy. But now I want him to know how much I need his touch. How I crave his body just as much as he craves mine—and my blood.

Finally, he gets my shorts down to my knees, and I kick them off the rest of the way. He lays down next to me, kissing me hard as he slips his hand under the tank top and cupping my breast. He runs his thumb over my nipple, tongue exploring my mouth as he deepens the kiss. I put one hand on his waist and try to pull him on top of me. Even without resisting or using his vampire strength, Lucas is too heavy for me to move. He’s over six feet of pure muscle.

This time he humors me and lets me pull him back between my legs. His dick rubs against me, and my mouth falls open. I reach down and wrap my fingers around his thickness, positioning him not to enter me, but to rub against my clit.

He turns his head down, watching me rub his cock over me like he’s my own personal sex toy.

“Please, just…” I start but trail off as a pulse of pleasure shoots through me. I bend my legs up, muscles in my thighs tightening. “Let me…” I never get to finish what I’m saying, but I don’t have to.

I come hard, pussy contracting and my body shuddering. Lucas brings his mouth to my neck again, fangs grazing my skin. This time he does scratch the surface, and he licks up the little blood that pools on my skin.

Then he moves off of me, rolling over and pulling me onto him. He holds me tight against his chest, feeling my heart race and my chest rapidly rise and fall as I suck in air. Giving me a minute to recover, he smooths my damp hair out and kisses the top of my head.

“Sit up,” he orders, deep voice rattling all the way through me. “And take off your shirt.”

I obey, ears ringing as I push myself up, needing to grip the headboard for support. Straddling him, I pull my shirt over my head and toss it on the ground.

“Good girl.” He reaches down, clapping his hands over my ass and pushing me up onto my knees. Spreading my legs a bit more, he grips the back of my thighs and pushes me forward until my core is hovering over his face. I grab the headboard again, knowing I’m going to need it to keep myself up.

Lucas’s fingers dig into the flesh on the back of my thighs, and he slowly brings his head up. My eyes flutter shut, and I try to move down against him, but he holds me steady. Damn him and his teasing. Doesn’t he know how greedy he’s made me?

He thinks he’s been teaching me patience, but really, the more we’re together, the more impatient I become. Because I know how fucking fantastic he can make me feel. Just when I think he’s going to lick me, flicking his tongue over my swollen clit, he turns his head to the side and sinks his teeth into my thigh.

I cry out, but not from pain. My thigh, just inches away from my pussy, is Lucas’s favorite place to drink from me. Drinking blood and sex go hand in hand for vampires, and what better way to do it than to pleasure me while satisfying himself at the same time.

Though tonight, he’s going in for more. He sucks hard, pulling my blood from my body, and then turns his head, tongue lashing out against me. He gives me just enough to get going again, to feel another orgasm start to wind deep inside me, coiling tighter and tighter until it springs free.

Then he turns his head and bites my other thigh. A guttural growl escapes his lips as he drinks my blood from the new wound. Retracting his fangs, he brings his mouth to me again, flicking my clit with his tongue before putting his mouth over my core and sucking at the same time as he works his tongue.

I pitch forward, knees threatening to buckle. He moves his mouth back to the first bite, licking the blood that’s dripping down my thigh. And then he’s back to working that magic tongue, bringing me one step closer to the edge of coming before drinking more of my blood. His grip on my thighs tightens, and he brings me close to his face, sucking hard on one of the bite wounds, drinking a mouthful of blood.

Then he puts his mouth back on me, tongue dancing around my entrance. He lets out another growl, and his animalistic passion turns me on even more. Lashing his tongue faster and faster, it won’t take me long to come and he knows it.

My legs are shaking, and Lucas grips my hips, helping me stay up as I hold onto the headboard for dear life. The orgasm is right there on the surface, and my breath hitches, heart racing.

Lucas sucks my clit one last time, and it sends me over the edge. I come hard, wetness spilling from me as my body shudders. Lucas licks up everything I give him and then goes back for more blood. Stars dot my vision, and I can’t hold myself up any longer.

Lucas lays me down, bringing his hand between my legs. I’m too sensitive, still riding high from that orgasm to have another right now.

“Breathe,” he whispers and nuzzles his head against me. His hard cock presses against my thigh, and it’s only then I remember we’re nowhere near done yet. Though by the way he’s caressing me and rubbing against me, I don’t think he’s going to last much longer either.

“Are you ready for me to fuck you now?” he asks, and I blink my eyes open. He’s next to me, blood on his face and eyes full of lust. If I need a few more minutes, he’ll wait. He’s not pushy and does whatever he can to bring me pleasure, even if that means delaying his own.

“Yes,” I pant and feebly reach for him. “I want you.”

He moves with vamp speed on top of me, pushing his cock inside me without a moment of hesitation. He thrusts in deep, and his body rubbing against the bite marks on my thighs hurts in the best way possible.

I grip his ass, squeezing hard and digging my nails into his skin. I bring my other hand up, magic buzzing around my fingers, and accidentally zap his shoulder. It’s not the first time it’s happened during sex, and it certainly won’t be the last. Luckily for me, Lucas finds it hot when I use magic.

“Do it again,” he groans, and I swirl bright blue magic around my fingers, burning his skin. He moans, driving his cock in deep. He feels so good inside of me, filling every single inch. I feel everything, and I’m so close to coming again right now.

His fangs come down, and I know he’s about to come. I tilt my hips, and he hits me at a new angle, making us both cry out in pleasure. He pushes in balls deep as he comes, and the pulsing of his cock inside of me is all I need to come once more.

“I love you, Callie,” Lucas whispers, voice a little breathy even though he doesn’t have to breathe at all. “I won’t let anything come between us. And that’s a promise.”

*

“I told you this would be a success.” I grab my coffee from under the register. It’s cold now, but I take a sip anyway. I can easily reheat this with magic. I duck down, popping off the lid and holding my hand over it. It heats back up in seconds.

“I can’t believe how busy it is.” Kristy looks out at the store, which is still full of customers. We sold out of all three of the children’s books read out loud to the kids today, and the lines were long and steady to get a signed book by our attending authors. “And your sister seems to be having a great time.”

“That’s your sister?” Betty asks, coming up to the counter to look something up on the computer for a customer. “You two don’t look anything alike.”

“We don’t,” I agree. And according to Lucas, we don’t smell alike either. Apparently, siblings who share the same bloodline have a similar smell, and I smell nothing like the rest of my family.

“She’s a doctor, right?” Betty types the name of a book into a search, seeing if we have any in stock.

“Yeah, in Chicago.”

“Your niece is adorable.”

“Thanks,” I say with a smile. “She is pretty damn cute.” I take another drink of coffee and then head back into the crowd. Abby stays until the event winds down, and finds me in the back grabbing books to restock the shelves before she leaves.

“Thanks for inviting us,” she says, wrestling to keep Penny in her arms. The kid is not having it. “We’re going to take off. She desperately needs a nap and for some reason hates napping in the car. She’ll keep herself awake crying until we get home and I can rock her to sleep.”

“You could go to my house,” I offer. “It’s not far, and it’ll be quiet.”

Abby doesn’t say anything, but her face lets me know she’s struggling. Because she doesn’t want to offend me, yet the thought of my house freaks her out.

“It’s safe,” I tell her. “Probably one of the safest places around here, actually. I have all sorts of protection laid on it. But if you need to go, then go.” I set the box of books down and walk over to my sister.

“You’re sure you don’t mind?”

“Not at all. I’ll be here for another hour or so. You’ll have the house to yourself.”

Penny fusses even more, desperately trying to get out of Abby’s arms. She sets her down and the kid immediately bursts out in tears. Abby picks her back up, but it does nothing to soothe the child. “Thank you. I’d rather not make Penny cry for the hour it’ll take to drive home. Do I need a key, or do you have one hidden under a doormat or something?”

“My cats will let you in.” I laugh. “I know how weird that sounds, but they will.”

“Your familiars, you mean, right?”

“Right. They won’t bother you. I’ll tell them to keep their distance.”

Abby looks at me for a few seconds, blinking. “Okay. Thanks.” She hugs me the best she can while holding a crying and thrashing baby and hurries out of the store. Kristy and I are crazy busy for the remaining time, saying our thanks and goodbyes to the authors, cleaning up the craft stations set out, and taking down signs.

“Finally,” I sigh, going back to the register and picking up my coffee, which is cold again.

“Good thing we have an order coming in Monday.” Betty looks away from the computer, smiling. “We sold so many books today.”

“Today was awesome.”

“It was. Whoever planned it must be a real genius,” Kristy says, coming up to the counter. She’s doing her best to look smug, but it only makes Betty and me laugh. Kristy is the least smug person on the planet.

“We need to do another one in the fall,” Betty suggests. “A Halloween-themed event would be fun, and it’s something I think you’d like, Callie.”

“Yeah, Halloween is cool, and I bet our customers would like it.” I smile, trying to keep my voice level. Betty’s hinted a few times now that she knows something is up with Kristy and me. I don’t think she’ll ever flat-out ask, and after I used magic to get some creep who assaulted her to confess to the police, she wouldn’t risk exposing our secrets.

“Oh shit,” Kristy mumbles, looking up when the bell over the door chimes. “Go to the back, I’ll handle this.”

“What?” I look up, following her gaze. “The fuck?” My blood instantly boils, and it takes everything I have to keep my powers in check and not cause the lights to dim in the store.

My brother steps inside the bookstore and looks around. Now he’s the definition of smug. Of an asshole. Of a waste of life.

He slowly turns around, and startles slightly when he seems me staring daggers at him.

“What are you doing here?” I snap.

“I’m just here to buy some books. Am I not welcome at this fine establishment?” he retorts.

“You’re not,” Kristy shoots back. “Get out.”

“Easy.” Scott holds up his hands. I’m not sure if he recognizes Kristy, but given how she readily recognized him, Scott has to know she’s a friend of mine. A good friend. “I’m looking for Abby.”

“Abby?” I make a face and shake my head, going around the counter.

“Our sister. She was here, and now I can’t get ahold of her. Her location hasn’t updated in over an hour.”

“You’re tracking her location?” I raise my eyebrows.

“It’s Find My Friends, and the whole family has it for safety reasons. You can never be too careful considering what’s out there. Good thing too, because when I saw Abby was in this little Podunk town, I knew something was up.”

“What’s up was her coming to our children’s book event.”

“You better not be trying to get her involved in your…your life.”

I roll my eyes. “God forbid my sister gets involved with my life.”

“You know what I mean,” he hisses. “And like I’ve told you, if you really cared about her, you’d stay far, far away.”

“She came here of her own free will.”

“Did she?” Scott’s eyes narrow.

“I don’t have time for this. So unless you want to drop to your knees, kiss my feet, and tell me that you’re an undeserving peasant again, get the hell out of my store.”

“Your vampire boyfriend isn’t here to protect you this time.”

“I don’t need him to protect me,” I say slowly, fingers curling into fists. “Now get out.”

“Before what? You curse me? Turn me into a frog?”

“All of the above.” I cross my arms, close to seething with anger. The lights flash, and I squeeze my eyes closed. I let go of the anger, forcing out a deep breath. “Why are you really here, Scott? We both know it wasn’t because you thought I abducted Abby into a secret cult or something.”

“I was worried.”

“Worried I’d hurt Abby or worried she’d side with me?”

“She would never side with you.”

I cock an eyebrow. “She came here, didn’t she?” Letting out a sigh, I shake my head. “Look, I know you think you’re important and a big shot or whatever, but you’re not to me. I have more important things to care about, so just leave. Oh, and Abby is at my house giving Penny a nap. Feel free to stop by and say hi to Binx.”

Scott’s mouth falls open, shocked just as Abby was to learn that my black cat is still alive. But unlike Abby, Scott’s seen Binx shift into shadow form. He denied it then like he still will today, but that look in his eyes at the mention of my familiar’s name is all the proof I need.

“You better watch yourself,” he sneers, needing to get the last word in before he turns and storms out the door. I let my hands drop to my sides and take a deep breath, trying to calm down.

“Are you okay?” Kristy asks. She’s still at the register, staying close enough to jump in if I needed her but giving me enough space to deal with Scott. Betty left, not wanting to eavesdrop, but I’m sure she’s close, hiding behind an aisle of books. I don’t blame her for being curious. My long-lost sister showed up and then only an hour later my asshole brother did too.

“I am. I really am.” I go around the counter and sit on the edge of one of the stools. “He’ll never be at peace. His hatred for me will never go away, and he’s going to have to live with that forever.”

“Listen to you, sounding all mature and grown up.”

“Let’s not push it,” I say, and we laugh.

“Do you think he’s going to show up at your house?”

I shake my head. “He’s too much of a pussy. Though it would be funny to see him try. He’d never make it past my warding, and all three of my familiars would have too much fun scaring him across the state line.”

“Want to go in case he does try?” Kristy asks.

“No, I don’t need to. I’ll stay and help you guys put the store back together.”

“It pretty much is, and Clark and Vanessa are coming in like half an hour to switch us out. You’re really just leaving a few minutes early.”

“You just want to get rid of me, don’t you?”

Kristy wrinkles her nose. “Busted.”

I laugh. “I knew it.”

“Go,” she urges. “Make sure things are okay at home, and let me know if you need me to whip up a potion that’ll make Scott only speak in rhymes for the next twelve hours.”

I loop my arm through hers and rest my head on her shoulder. “I love you, you know.”

*

“Hey,” I whisper, stepping into my house. Abby is sitting on the couch, watching TV with the volume on low. Penny is sleeping in her arms. “Glad she fell asleep.”

“Me too.” Abby slowly shakes her head. “She cried for a good twenty minutes when we got here. She’s a fussy little thing when she’s afraid of missing out.”

“Did she finally cry herself to sleep?” I take off my shoes and hang my purse on the decorative post at the bottom of the stairs.

“No, actually. Binx brought her this, and it calmed her down.” Abby holds up a stuffed black cat. The sight of it startles me. “I didn’t know you still had it.”

“And I didn’t know you’d still remember it.”

“I gave this to you for your tenth birthday when you were…you were…”

“I know,” I finish and walk through the small foyer and into the living room. My house is a century old Italianate farmhouse. I’ve invested a lot in restoring it over the years, and while it’s on the small side, it suits me well, and I’m quite proud of it.

“I haven’t laid eyes on it in years. It’s been in my closet, and I’ve never been able to bring myself to get rid of it.” I sit on the couch next to Abby and look at the stuffed cat, not sure if I want to touch it or not. The feel of the soft fake fur, worn off in some parts, might take me back, and after the dream I had last night, there’s only so much I can take before I break.

“It kind of looks like him.” Abby moves her gaze from the stuffed cat to Binx, who’s lounging in the love seat across from us.

“I think it’s part of why he picked that form.”

“Form?” Abby questions.

“You know Binx isn’t really a cat, right?”

“Yeah, you said that, but I don’t really understand.” She sets the stuffed cat on the coffee table.

“He’s a spirit.”

“Like a ghost?”

I shake my head. “Not at all. He was never a person.”

“And your other cats?”

“Familiars too.” Binx slinks off the love seat and comes over to me, lazily jumping into my lap. “They’ve been with me for a few years now. We’re all one big family.” I run my hand over Binx’s head, and he starts to loudly purr.

“Are you going back to Chicago tonight?” Abby asks.

“No, Lucas is coming here. He’ll be here around sunset.”

“So you go back and forth between here and Chicago?”

“Yeah,” I say and wrinkle my nose. “It kinda sucks, but it’s what we have to do. I have the store here, and Lucas has vampire business in the city.”

“You’re really not scared of them at all?”

“I’m aware vampires are faster and stronger than humans. I can be caught off guard just like anyone, and even another human can pose a threat to me. I mean, I’m not bulletproof. But I’m far from defenseless. Lucas will never hurt me, and if another vampire even tried to touch me, Lucas would rip him to shreds.”

“You really love him, don’t you?”

“I do.” I can’t help but smile. “He knows who I am and not only accepts it but likes it. He was human at one point, you know, and all those qualities you like in a man are still there.”

“It’s weird to think about them as human,” Abby admits. “I feel bad saying that because you’re right. They were human, and maybe not all of them wanted to become a vampire.”

“I don’t think Lucas did. He hasn’t spoken much about his human life, but I get the feeling he was turned against his will.”

Abby readjusts Penny in her arms. “You said he was sixteen-hundred?”

“And then some.”

She slowly shakes her head. “So, he was born in the 300s. Man, that’s crazy.”

“It is. I never thought I’d fall for someone like him, but I did. And he makes me really happy.”

“I’m glad.” She reaches over and pats my hand, smiling. I don’t need the power of telepathy to know what she’s thinking.

Yeah, I’m happy now, but how is this going to end?

He’s a vampire.

I’m human.

He won’t age.

I’ll get old.

He’ll live forever.

I’ll die.

We love each other, but is love enough?