Page 29 of The Huntress (The Blood of Legends #1)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

NEEDS

C allie awoke to pitch darkness, leaving her wondering what had disturbed her. She shut her eyes, drawing in a deep breath as she assessed her body and her surroundings. Exhaustion saturated her limbs, her mind, dragging her will to the depths of no return. She couldn’t muster the energy to raise her hand. Just thinking of doing it had her yawning.

From the bed beneath her, sun-drenched sheets and a spicy scent engulfed her. She could smell Gabe, and she wondered how Stavros had managed that detail. She rolled onto her back and groaned as every muscle protested. She remembered suffering like this once when Captain had enrolled her detectives for martial arts training. Her calves had taken the brunt of it despite the muscle relaxants prescribed.

“George?” she whispered with her throat grated. The pattering of tiny feet along her arm and onto her chest had her opening her eyes to focus on her friendly rodent. “There you are, sweetheart.”

His coat gleamed, and an aura of happiness strobed off him.

“What has you in such good spirits?” She smiled, wishing she could lift a finger to stroke his tiny head. He scampered closer to rub his cheek along her chin. “Love you too, buddy.” She chuckled.

Raising an aching hand to cup him, she struggled into a sitting position.

“Do you think Gabe’s still searching for us?” She asked the question aloud but her voice dwindled as the room’s features penetrated her mind.

It looked like Gabe’s room. Had Stavros been there before, and knew it well enough to replicate it to this extent? A shiver rippled through her, reminding her she was in pain. The thought of that man staring at them while they slept wasn’t a pleasant one. It would explain a lot, though, like how he had perfected Gabe’s scent. Even the door was in the correct spot. It opened on silent hinges, and her breath hitched. She clutched George to her chest as she bit down on her lip to smother any reaction on her part.

The bare-chested man who stepped through the door had disbelief, hope, and bright joy warring for supremacy in her heart.

“Gabe?” She silently begged the Lord to let this man be him and not a Stavros-illusion.

He flicked his fingers, and the room brightened, slow enough to allow her eyes to adjust. Gabe stood there in nothing but black silk yoga pants hanging low on his hips, revealing his Adonis belt to her hungry gaze. Golden light played across his torso and pebbled nipples. She admired the bared length of him, skimming over the dazzling smile curling his sensual lips. Arresting her attention was the expression in his gray eyes. Joy, gratitude, and affection were easy to discern, for they echoed within her.

“I wanted to be here when you awoke.” His voice thickened with emotion.

“I wasn’t alone.” She stroked George’s neck.

“I can see that.” He chuckled before clambering onto the bed to tug her into his arms. His embrace tightened as he buried his nose in the crook of her neck. She burrowed into him, relief draining her tension, pouring lethargy through her limbs. She was grateful he was careful not to crush George, but being in his arms meant she was safe, home.

“I can’t express how happy I am to have you home.” His muffled words echoed her thoughts. “How are you feeling? Hungry? Thirsty? Whatever you need, Callie.”

She lifted George to her shoulder, then rested her palms on Gabe’s chest, relishing the velvet heat of him. “I’m thirsty, and I could do with a rare steak.”

“Callie.” He leaned away to cup her cheek. “As a youngling, you need blood.”

“I know, it’s just that I’m craving steak. Besides, the only blood I’d drink is yours. Oh, and about that…” She sat up and glared at him. “When were you planning on revealing your deceit?”

“What deceit?” His expression was one of innocence.

The consummate actor, the freaking suckblood.

“That you’ve been converting me every time we fucked? It’s my decision, Gabriel. Mine!” She shoved him back so she could scramble away from him. Sitting still and berating him trembled her body with pent-up energy.

“I didn’t decide on a date or time. Sharing of blood is part of a vamp’s sexuality, and I hoped doing it this way would be the least painful for you.” He rested against the headboard, folding his arms behind his head, and crossed his ankles, as if her furious tirade wasn’t justifiable.

“Right, you deceived me to help me. How noble of you.” She paused her pacing to glower.

“Callie, what truly upsets you?”

“Every time you do something like this, it shakes my trust in you. What if I died during the conversion? You tell me Val is fine, but I haven’t seen her in a while. If I died, it would be without bidding her goodbye.”

“The slower the conversion, the higher the success. I’d never jeopardize your life. You must know that, otherwise, why claim you? Besides, Leo’s bringing Val over tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” she squeaked, gulping past the lump in her throat.

Gabe sighed, uncrossed his ankles to slide off the bed. He circled his arms around her as if she wasn’t furious with him.

“Promise?” She dipped her head to assess him, determining whether he deceived her again. Regardless, her anger dissipated. She wanted to stomp her foot, to rage, but he dangled Val like a carrot. “Don’t lie to me again, Gabe. I’m a big girl, I can handle harsh truths.”

He lifted her gaze to meet his with a finger under her chin. His lips curled in that familiar smile, the one that broke the rhythm of her heart. “Let’s get you fed, then we’ll see to your other needs.”

He led her back to bed as a tray appeared before her. Steam rose from the steak, and a seared-beef aroma greeted her. She gathered her utensils, ignoring her shaking hands. George scampered down her arm and onto the tray, so she set a piece aside before taking her first bite. She groaned as garlic and rosemary coated her tongue.

“Good?” Gabe teased her.

She nodded. “It tastes chargrilled. I thought you said I’d lose my taste buds,” she said between mouthfuls.

“You have.”

“No. Rosemary, garlic, pepper.” She grabbed her water bottle and downed it after serving George a capful. “Right, buddy? You taste it too?”

His nose twitched, and she laughed, stroking the curve of his back while he drank.

“Your conversion was unusual. I don’t know if keeping your taste buds should be alarming. Mind if I borrow her for a while, George?” Gabe scooped up the rodent and placed him on Callie’s pillow.

He vanished the tray and the dirty dishes before lifting her into his arms. She was content to let him carry her. In the bathroom, a steaming tub awaited her with petals floating on its surface. Exotic fragrances rose to welcome her as he lowered her into the water. Her protesting muscles relaxed, drawing a moan from her.

He pampered her, washing her hair a few times, massaging the knots in her shoulders from police work before running a soapy hand all over her body. His tented pants, his shallow breathing and trembling hands made his arousal evident.

She had never been so treasured. Vibrating through her was the feathering of his fingers, his breath skittering along her skin, his thundering heartbeat, and the blood rushing through his veins.

She watched him under heavy-lidded lashes, poking at her reactions to him. Her core throbbed with an aching need, and her nipples stiffened in anticipation. Her own blood rushed through her, sending shivers and excitement to the tips of her toes.

Gabriel admired Callie soaking in the tub he’d prepared for her. That the effort it cost him was a flick of a finger wasn’t the point. He’d thought to do it for her and had done it. What drew his repeated focus wasn’t her blissful and beautiful smile. The water’s soapy and petalled surface played peekaboo with her nipples.

He’d knelt beside the tub to soap every delicious inch of her, had ignored her grumbled protests, and listened to her sighs, instead. Yes, his arousal throbbed, demanding attention, but nothing mattered more than his Callie.

“I’m clean, Gabe.” She sat up to cup his cheek.

He paused at the sight of her breasts rising from the water. Glancing at her face, he clasped her hand with his.

“How about you show me how much you missed me?” Her lips curled into a breathtaking smile. Her green eyes glowed with heat and raw need. Black circled her irises, telling him she would need to feed soon.

He pictured her hair pinned at her crown and watched as it did so. The soap and petals cleared from the water to reveal her delectable nudity for him. She was so beautiful, so vibrant. With a slow inhalation expanding his lungs to the fullest degree, he vanished his pants and stepped into the water, standing before her with his erection proud and eager. She gripped him on each thigh to run her tongue along the length of him. His knees trembled, and he released a deep groan.

“Callie, please, I’m not strong enough.”

She tilted back, blessed him with a sultry smile, and opened her arms. He grunted, lowering himself into the water to press his body against hers. She looped her legs around his hips, and the head of his erection nestled at her entrance. He squeezed his eyes shut to gain control. He wanted to thrust into her, to have her surround him. She was his home, his sanctuary.

“I’ve missed you.” She kissed his chin before she plucked at his lips with hers.

He opened his mouth for a deep kiss, his tongue mimicking what he wanted to do to her.

Clinging to him, she arched her hips, begging him to take her. “Gabe.” She gasped, breaking away from their kiss. “Please don’t go slow. I need you. This… you are tormenting me.”

After launching them into the air, he floated her down, feet landing on the tiled floor, then pinned her against the wall. “Remember, you asked for it.”

“Begged for it.” She tightened her legs around him.

He dipped the tip of his erection in, finding her more than ready. With a thrust, he growled. The soft, tight heat of her engulfed him. Moon above, she felt incredible. As did the kisses she feathered along his shoulder. He withdrew to thrust into her again. She arched, crushing her breasts against his chest, a keening sound tearing from her.

“So good,” she said between pants. “Again, do it again.” She kissed him with a passion he’d missed.

As he pistoned into her, increasing his pace, fiery tingles burned from his balls to the tip of his erection. She feathered kisses and nips along his throat to his shoulder. Then she bit him, her teeth sinking into his flesh. Heat—bright, sweet, and intoxicating—hit him, hiking his arousal. As she drank from him, the euphoria bolstered him. With a roar, he orgasmed, unable to fight the flood of pleasure, nor control his thrusting hips. Her pulsating channel didn’t help, causing mini orgasms as she climaxed around him. She licked the bite wound, the rasp of her tongue searing his very soul.

“Have I told you I missed you too?” He brushed her damp hair from her face, using his hips and the wall to hold her up.

“No, not that I can remember. But even if you did, you’re more than welcome to tell me again.” Her sassy mouth curled into that joyful smile he adored.

“Moon above, Callie, don’t ever leave me again.”

“You say that as if I had a choice, Gabe?” With a quick kiss to his mouth, she lowered her legs.

He stepped back but kept his hands on her hips, not quite ready to release her.

“Tomorrow, you train me. If any asshole wants a piece of me, I’m going to give him a fight he’ll remember.” She paused to trace her bare toe over the shiny marble tile. “What happened to Darius? I have a vague recollection of him headless?”

“I killed him,” Gabriel said, his voice devoid of emotion. He searched her face. She was law enforcement, after all, but he couldn’t keep it a secret, not with an eternal bond. None knew of its origin, but the strength of such a telepathic bond meant no memories or thoughts remained hidden. He would share his centuries of existence, as she would share her life’s adventures with him.

“How? Suckbloods are immortal.” She rested her hands on his forearms, her thumbs stroking his hair there.

He loved her doing that, as if she needed to touch him.

“It’s called bolting. I sliced off his head and summoned lightning to disintegrate his body.”

“Summoned lightning?” Her mouth gaped, and the tempting dark pink called to him.

He dipped his head for a kiss, inhaling her breath as if he could merge their souls.

“A vampire can summon any form of nature. If not lightning, then fire will do. It was nighttime and in the middle of a street, so creating a storm was more appropriate.” He feathered kisses to her earlobe before nipping at it.

“There was a man named Dimitri? He found me first?” Her voice was throaty and arousing.

Gabriel adored her flushed face, trailing caresses along her jaw. Confusion flitted across her eyes, and he nodded, understanding that her recollection of last night might not be clear. He could take the time to assuage her doubts or concerns. Not for long, though. He couldn’t resist the temptation of her parted thighs and soft skin pressed against him.

“Yes, it’s forbidden to hunt in another Hold’s territory, even for a de Winter. Leo asked his permission, and he decided to help with his pal’tsy. They are excellent at hunting. He’ll visit tonight, along with your sister, Mike, and Leo.”

“Do you know Stavros?”

She scraped her nails over his nipples, and he growled, yanking up her leg to nestle his arousal, wanting…no, needing to bury himself in her again.

“Stavros is a thorn in mine and Dimitri’s side. I should’ve killed him when I had the chance.” Regret, a bitter pill to swallow and one that could linger for centuries.

“Why didn’t you?”

A question he had asked himself too many times in the last day. “He’s Abigail’s brother. She was a woman I loved. It’s my fault she died, and my fault Stavros plagues me.”