VAMPIRE’S SIN: PROLOGUE.

I died... then I died again.

A circle cursed and a lifetime cast into hell even before it had begun. That is the only way to describe how I came to be here. It’s almost enough to make me wish for death, the eternal suffering that my life was now reduced to.

It was not the first time my soul had been torn apart and reassembled like this, although I do believe it was the last. I could feel the bones grinding and breaking under me as they were reshaped, my flesh searing and blistering around the wound that had caused this excruciating pain.

The pain of losing my Chosen was so sharp I could have wept at it, but I didn’t... No, I couldn't. Years of torment have stolen from me the ability to show my weakness through tears.

My mate's life had been stolen by me. The least I could give him was my strength. So that he would be able to endure and survive whatever happened next.

*******

"You quiver even from a little touch, my Vale," I muttered with battered breath, hanging onto restraint as I fought the urge to sink into him, deeper, with everything that is mine. Love, Lust, Bitterness, all that I held within me.

His breathing shaky, eyes ablaze with needs so raw, so powerful that their intensity sent an icy shiver down my spine, Vale looked up at me in surprise. "Virgil?" he asked slowly. His voice sounded strange in my ears, distant and far away as though I were hearing it through thick cotton wool.

"My love," I whispered, leaning into the embrace as his arms came around me.

"Love me, Virgil," My lover spoke softly against my ear, his hand gently stroking the back of my neck where his nails lightly dug in when he pulled me closer to him. It was enough to send another shudder through me, one more potent than the rest. The power of it made me gasp. He took the sound as submission and leaned back slightly, studying my face intently.

Those gorgeous white and blue eyes stared back into mine. He knew what I felt without words, he always did. Even if I said nothing he could sense it, feel it. He smiled at that thought and pressed close once more, his mouth opening to brush gently across my lips, and then my neck. "My heart, my love." He muttered, seductively.

"Vale," I pleaded, feeling the heat of his body, the hard lines of his torso beneath the loose clothes he wore. I could feel him through them and knew he must be just as aroused as I was. It felt good, knowing that I had no control over my physical desire. It was as though someone else had taken charge, but I welcomed whoever took charge. Because that ONE was him.

Vale. The one who owned every part of me, the one whose touch made me weak. Who filled my body, mind, and spirit with longing for him. I loved him. I always had. No matter what, I never ceased to love him.

"Please, darling," I begged as he trailed his kisses across my throat, nuzzling between the tendons of my clavicle and collarbone. It was so hot. Like an oven had been turned on full blast and it scorched my skin. Vale's tongue flicked out as he found his mark, lapping hungrily at my neck like the hungry wolf he was.

He growled low in his throat, and I could hear his fangs scraping against me as they lengthened. His teeth sank into the tender flesh there, drawing blood. It wasn't deep, nor did I feel any pain at the sting. If anything, it was a relief, because I needed that release right now... My vision blurred and I gripped tighter onto his shirt for balance. There was nothing else for me to focus on, only him, his scent, his touch. Nothing else mattered other than getting lost in him.

My eyes closed briefly when his thumbs swiped across my cheekbones and my eyelashes fluttered against his skin before opening again to study the expression on his face. His gaze never wavered once, his attention focused solely on the beauty that was in front of him. As his thumb caressed my lips ever so lightly they parted, wanting to be kissed. And oh... I wanted that too, I so badly wanted...

"Vale," I said, my words coming out as barely more than a whisper. My mouth was dry. The need for water and a cold shower was so strong I was afraid I might go into shock right here, right now. I bit down upon them to keep from moaning aloud. "Oh..." The word escaped my lips before I could stop it, and Vale chuckled lowly, moving his head so that his nose brushed against mine, making me gasp softly in response. He kissed me, and I felt him smiling against my lips.

I didn't know whether or not he heard me anymore, the blood pounding through my veins drowning out any sound. But his kisses were gentle and slow, his tongue swirling teasingly between our lips, while his hands roamed freely over my skin, sending pleasurable ripples of sensation throughout my body. I groaned, clutching tighter onto him even as my knees started to weaken.

"Take me home," I murmured urgently against his lips. "Please, please, take me home..." I felt dizzy with pleasure and wanted to scream in frustration, but I held myself in check. My eyes drifted shut and pressed myself even closer to him. To lose him would be torture, something akin to being torn limb from limb.

"Say my name, Vale," I ordered hoarsely, wanting more than anything the feeling of having me inside him. It hurt, oh gods it hurt.

His eyes met mine yet again and I choked on air, his scent filling my senses and drowning me completely. It was how I recognized him from the beginning, that scent, weakened me. But, him... does he even know?

"Talon," he muttered so dangerously slowly, that I thought I would die.

He knew... He recognized me as well. But, for how long? "How long have you known?" I managed to ask, trying desperately not to move as he went from kissing along the side of my neck, toward my ear, the tip of his tongue flickering against the sensitive flesh behind my earlobe. "How long have you known that it is me?" Fighting the urge to moan when he kissed along my jaw, his fingers brushing down my neck and chest until he reached my nipples, tweaking them as he teased them further.

A groan tore from my lips, my body tightening at the sensation. Vale sucked one nipple in, pinching it firmly, making me arch my back as I arched into his touch. Gods how I wanted him. When he released my chest, I whimpered at the loss of contact. He let me breathe for a moment, watching as I panted and struggled for control of my emotions as they rampaged through me. He kissed his way down my neck, biting, licking, and nibbling until I was moaning with desire and needing him to continue. With an impatient movement, he lifted me into his arms as though I weighed nothing, carrying me swiftly back to the apartment he shared with his friends. I buried my face against his shoulder, inhaling deeply, savoring the scent, feeling the steady beat of his heart. How I missed it. How much I craved his comfort, his touch.

How could he possibly understand?

I opened my mouth to speak, but Vale silenced me with the barest of touches, holding me in his arms, the pressure leaving me gasping. What could I say after years and years of silence? Words would come later when we could talk and when I could express my feelings more clearly. Until then, I will bask freely in his embrace and fly soothingly in the love that he showers me.

Vale carefully laid me on the bed, easing me down before kneeling by my side, reaching out a trembling hand to stroke my hair, the strands falling between his fingers as he gazed down at me with such affection that it almost drove me mad. The gentleness with which he touched me made me melt, made it impossible for me to think straight, and made me want him so badly that I could hardly stand it. "So beautiful," he whispered, cupping my face in both hands before kissing each tear-stained cheek with softness. "My Virgil… My Talon.”

I could do nothing but smile in response. A thousand ways to describe me could not even begin to sum up the depth of love I had for this man. And when I thought about it, my entire body shook violently.

Still, I needed to know, I wanted him to tell me, and so I asked again. "Tell me, Vale," I breathed as his finger traced a lazy line down my cheek, tracing the hollow of my throat, making me shiver and sigh softly.

Then he rested his forehead against mine, the tips of our noses touching. He was so close, I could feel his warm, damp breath fanning out across my lips. He lowered his mouth towards mine, hesitating before slowly closing the distance between us. At first, there was no kiss, instead, he just rested there, waiting for my permission before finally pressing his mouth against mine in a light yet firm kiss.

I trembled under the featherlight touch, my body thrumming with excitement. The heat radiating from him seeped into me, filling me with warmth. I pushed forward, pulling his face closer to mine to deepen the kiss. Vale seemed to understand me perfectly when I wrapped my arms around him tightly, needing more. My lips parted open, allowing his tongue to slip inside, our tongues dancing against one another. His lips were soft, so soft, but still so demanding that I didn't resist him.

I kissed back eagerly, my hand coming up to caress his stubble jawline, loving the slight roughness of his skin. The taste of him flooded my senses, his musk hitting my senses in waves. But it was the touch that left me speechless. His hands were everywhere, touching me, stroking me, caressing me until my entire body hummed with bliss, unable to find words of thanks. Every single thing was wonderful, but above all, I treasured the feeling of him in my arms.

This was all I needed.

When Vale pulled away, his eyes were glowing with hunger. He smiled at me, his eyes held wetness within them, and when he spoke, I knew I had found life again.

My reason to live...

To appreciate this world...

Vale's voice was thick with emotion as he answered me. "From the day you walked into my sight, I had known it was you... Your blood told me." He leaned forward again and pressed his lips gently to mine. "It called to me, sweetheart... Like music to the ears."

"Yes," I moaned as he pulled back again to rest his head against mine, his hands sliding up and down my arms.

His words were like a balm to my battered soul, and the tight knot in my chest unwound. Relief washed over me, and for a brief moment, everything became clear and bright to me.

He had known too from the beginning just as I had known it was him.

He took my breath away, and yet I was terrified.