Hey everyone! Thanks for the awesome awesome reviews!
We love you all so much so we are both working hard on our individual stories, both Artimisluna and Vinesonwroughtironbars. Check out our stories.
So you guys really liked the little something special at the end of the last chapter. This chapter isn't quite as erotic but it is definitely important. Both of us are also busy working on our own novels so forgive us if we are slow with our own individual writings in this one. A lot of work and planning goes into each chapter when you co-write. I would like to take a moment to thank my co-writer, Justine, you absolutely blow my bind. You are the best co-writer anyone could ask for. When I am pounding my head against the wall you put a pillow there and put me back in my chair and tell me to write. Not only have we created an amazing story together but you have been my rock and source of removal of writers block when my other stories go askew. It has been a pleasure and an honor working with you and I look forward to continuing this story with you.
So here's the deal folks. Give us 15 reviews and we'll send chapter eleven your way. Give us twenty reviews and we'll send chapter twelve out the day after we post chapter eleven. Sound like a deal?
Enjoy!
Chapter Ten
Hot Blooded
Kalona woke the next morning with a smile on his face. The images from last night ran through his mind, filling his heart with love and utter joy. He and Zoey had shared their first kiss and two others. Anxious to see her again, he rolled out of bed and ran his fingers through his mess of raven colored hair. He felt that today would be a very good day filled with kisses from his beloved Zoey.
As he dressed he thought of her. How could he not think of her? She was the queen of his world.
My queen. He thought as the idea donned as him. Queens deserve jewelry.
He had not seen Zoey wear any jewelry on the island. She needed to be decorated in the finest jewels that the world could provide. His thoughts were ended by the unpleasant pain caused by a collision with a doorframe. He had not been watching where he was going. One could say that he had his head in the clouds.
He was in the kitchen putting together his morning meal, but Zoey was nowhere to be found.
"Has anyone seen Zoey?" Kalona asked, sounding a bit sad that she wasn't with him.
"Yes, Sleepyhead." Darla giggled as she plopped down beside him in a chair. "She's in the room with the piano with Tabatha."
"She's quite a good singer." Pearl chimed as she sat down on his other side. "Of course, you know that all ready. We have heard you sing with her."
Both of the girls laughed.
"Don't mock my tenderness." Kalona said feeling a bit vulnerable.
"Aw, Kalona, it's cute." Emmeline swooned, coming up behind him and hugging his shoulders.
"So, you two kissed, and I'm not just talking about on the beach. We heard you two in the hallway before she went to her room." Darla said with a smirk.
"Isn't that what people in love do?" Kalona defended himself and Zoey after swallowing.
"Has she told you that she loves you?" Emmeline asked.
"No, but I can be patient. She's pacing herself and I applaud her for that. She shouldn't force herself in if she doesn't feel ready."
"You're so sweet, Kalona. Zoey is very lucky." Darla swooned.
"I'm the lucky one." Kalona said after finishing off his plate.
"Oh let me take that. You go find your lovely lady." Pearl offered and then pushed Kalona on his way.
"Thank you." Kalona said with a smile and then rose from his seat.
` Kalona walked quickly down the halls in search of his soul mate. He could hear her voice when he got closer. He followed the voice as if she were a siren. When he came upon the door he saw that it was partially open. Through the crack he could see Zoey standing with her hand on the piano. She wore a halter full-length sundress that used the fading technique in its colors. It looked as if it were from some chic boutique that Pearl or Darla probably shops at on the nearby island over the borderline. She looked like angel as she sang. He was vexed by her beauty and voice. Though he knew that eves dropping was rude, he couldn't help but listen.
"Don't know much about your life.
Don't know much about your world, but
Don't want to be alone tonight,
On this planet they call earth.
You don't know about my past, and
I don't have a future figured out.
And maybe this is going too fast.
And maybe it's not meant to last,
But what do you say to taking chances,
What do you say to jumping off the edge?
Never knowing if there's solid ground below
Or hand to hold, or hell to pay,
What do you say,
What do you say?
I just want to start again,
And maybe you could show me how to try,
And maybe you could take me in,
Somewhere underneath your skin?
What do you say to taking chances,
What do you say to jumping off the edge?
Never knowing if there's solid ground below
Or hand to hold, or hell to pay,
What do you say,
What do you say?
And I had my heart beaten down,
But I always come back for more, yeah.
There's nothing like love to pull you up,
When you're laying down on the floor there.
So talk to me, talk to me,
Like lovers do.
Yeah walk with me, walk with me,
Like lovers do,
Like lovers do.
What do you day to taking chances,
What do you say to jumping off the edge?
Never knowing if there's solid ground below
Or hand to hold, or hell to pay,
What do you say,
What do you say?
Don't know much about your life
And I don't know much about your world."
When the song was over Kalona knocked on the door.
"Who's there?" Zoey asked sounding breathless.
He heard Tabatha rise from the piano and cross the room.
"It looks like we have a spy." Tabatha giggled.
She grabbed Kalona's hand and pulled him into the room. When he saw Zoey his knees went weak. No woman had ever made his knees weak. The worst part was that she knew what she was doing to him. She knew how to play her innocence card, along with her responsible and fragile sides, but right now she was working her vixen all access pass. She walked towards him ever so slowly, drawing out the moment to tease him. The glint in her eyes made him shiver.
"A spy." Her sweet breath hit his face when she whispered those words. "What shall I do with a spy who is trying to ruin his own surprise?"
At that time Tabatha left the room, closing the door behind him.
"Punish him." Kalona pleaded.
As Zoey stood on her tiptoes and placed her hand on the side of his neck he felt as if his knees would give out entirely. Her lips hovered and parted mere centimeters away from his. His own lips parted as he took in her sweet scent.
"How shall I punish you?" Zoey whispered.
Just to tease him she ran her tongue along his bottom lip, causing him to groan her name.
"Zoey, please."
"Please what?" She murmured as she placed a kiss on his jaw.
She began to leave a trail of hot, open-mouthed kisses along his neck. Now he could not resist holding her. His arms surrounded her and held her close to him. She focused on his aorta. He heard her growl and that's when he remembered that she was a vampyre, well she was a fledgling but a very special and mature one. He knew that she liked blood unlike most fledglings, but he was, in fact, scared of having his neck cut and sucked on.
"Zoey." He whimpered.
At the sound of his voice she immediately snapped out of her trance. She needed to put distance between them. Afraid of herself and hurting him, she threw herself backwards across the room and fell into a case of books.
"I'm sorry." She gasped as she held her hand over her heart.
Her breathing was heavy and she felt as if her world was falling apart.
He rushed towards her and took her hand in his two.
"Hush, Love. There's nothing to be sorry for. I'm just afraid of being bitten."
Zoey had to stifle her laugh.
"We don't bite, we drink from wounds. Anyway." Blush flooded her cheeks.
"Come with me, my love. It's a beautiful day."
She let him lead her outside. Sea salt filled her nostrils via the wind. Her hair flowed in the breeze, and making her look like a goddess. The sun poured down on her skin, bathing her in light.
Taking advantage of the moment, Kalona moved to stand behind her. Lovingly he wrapped his arms around her waist and placed a tender kiss on her shoulder. She then placed her hands on his arms, hugging them closer to her body.
"Where were you born?" Zoey asked as she looked up at Kalona.
"Tulsa, but it was Cherokee land then."
"How old were you when you became an angel?"
"That's a nice way for asking me when I died." He chuckled at Zoey's kindness. "Very young. I was in my late twenties. The years have all blended together."
"How did you… you know?"
"Die. It's all right to say it. I was hunting and I got trampled. It was quite a shameful way to die as a hunter."
Zoey shivered thinking about Kalona being trampled. She then turned in his arms and looked up into his heart melting eyes.
"I'm so sorry." She murmured.
"I'm not. If I hadn't died, despite the mistakes that I've made, I never would have met you."
"I have a question."
"Yes." He murmured as he nuzzled his forehead against hers.
"You were supposed to be trapped in the ground because of A-ya, but you said you've been bringing vampyres to the island."
"It's a metaphor, I was trapped here until certain gaps in time opened and allowed me to bring certain vampyres back here. It was to prevent me from finding A-ya. Though she is part of you, I found you. I see you. I look into your eyes and I see you and your soul. Zoey's soul and Zoey. Zoey, my all, my love, my soul, my everything, my air, and reason for living."
"Oh, Kalona." She swooned as she lifted her lips to his. "I want… I want you to… I need you to… Oh, please..." Zoey could not find the right way to ask for his kisses. It amused Kalona.
To her surprise he put his finger to his lips.
"Sh. Sh. Sh. I know what it is that you want and need. We are not alone so let us find somewhere where we can show affections."
"Hurry for my lips ache for you."
"I did not know that you wanted me as such."
"I want you in so many ways that I am not ready for."
"Then I shall carry you so that we can show our love in ways that comfort you."
He swooped her up into his arms and carried her into the castle. Zoey had to cross her legs to control her wanting. She felt like a slut again. Somehow the deep desire for lovemaking had been encrypted in her brain as a sign of being a whore and a bad person.
When they got to the library he set her down and began to kiss her lips. Zoey didn't kiss back. Instead she put a hand on his chest and pushed herself away. She crossed the room to sit on the day bed below the large window. A sullen sigh escaped her lips as she put her arms on the top of the back of the day bed. Her head rested face down in the cradle of her arms.
"Zoey." Kalona murmured, his voice full of worry.
He hesitated as he crossed the room to her. Fear filled in as he thought that he did something wrong. Then he sat down beside her and put a hand on her back.
"My love, what troubles you? Have I offended in some way?"
"No, you have not offended. I just feel dirty. Lust can do that to you."
"But you have committed to lust but once."
"Fulfilled it's wishes once yes, but lust is like greed, it starts and blooms like a weed. Even when it is with the one person who you would love to commit the act with, you can't help but feel dirty. I did not last night, now it hits me like a hurricane."
"My dear love, you are right about lust, but what you fail to see is that you are wrong. You are not dirty, but clean. I am rotten for I have slept with many women and do not deserve your feelings of want. It's selfish of me to want you in return."
"But I want you to want me!" She protested as she threw her arms up in the air.
"I want you so badly, Zoey. I am waiting for you to lead me."
"I want to know that I wont hurt you before you give me that gift."
"You wont hurt me."
"I don't trust myself. I can't. I just can't."
"The lady doth protest too much, methinks."
She couldn't help but laugh at his use of Shakespeare. She grabbed the book on the table and opened it to a random page. She realized instantly that it was Wuthering Heights. She had read this in English class at her old school. She then began to read the oh too familiar lines that had once meant nothing to her but now meant everything.
"If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger."
He peaked over her shoulder and reached to turn the pages a few over and felt the true words of Heathcliff. He saw himself as a monster just as Heathcliff did. He was in love with a kind girl that liked to play games. They were utterly the same.
"'I seek no revenge on you,' replied Heathcliff, less vehemently. 'That's not the plan. The tyrant grinds down his slaves and they don't turn against him; they crush those beneath them. You are welcome to torture me to death for your amusement, only allow me to amuse myself a little in the same style, and refrain from insult as much as you are able. Having levelled my palace, don't erect a hovel and complacently admire your own charity in giving me that for a home."'
Zoey He took the book from her to see the bottom lines better, in the process the paper sliced his finger.
"Shit." He cursed as the blood ran.
He then looked at Zoey, who looked like she was trying to be good. Her restraint looked painful. He could see the will to resist in her eyes, which had gone black in wild lust for his blood. She was in pain that was for sure.
"Zoey." His voice was husky with want.
He then did something that surprised Zoey. He offered her his bleeding finger.
"Take it." He whispered.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, my love."
She took his finger in her mouth and began to suck and lick at the blood. It tasted better than anything she had ever consumed before. It wasn't as coppery and salty as Heath's or anything like other blood. His was thick and rich and oh so wonderful. It had such power that it was a bit overwhelming. She had never tasted the blood of an immortal before, but now she knew that it was the most wondrous thing in the entire universe. She felt as if she were flying or floating on a cloud. She wanted him but for the first time when drinking blood directly from a wound and not being wounded and in need of blood to survive, that she could control herself. She was not crazy with lust. Though she wanted him beyond belief, she could control it.
Kalona threw his head back in pleasure. He had not imagined that having Zoey drink his blood would feel so fucking fantastic. He knew it was pleasurable for vampyres, but he never imagined that he would feel so good.
"Zoey, love, seal that cut and make a new one, you need more. I need more." He groaned.
"Are you sure, you're afraid of wounds?"
"I'll happily be wounded by you."
Zoey sealed the cut on his finger and then searched for the right place to cut him. She could cut in below the elbow on the inside of his arm as if he were having blood drawn. If they were sexually involved it would be playful to drink from the vein below his knee and it would be hot as hell to drink from his thigh, but that would require the removing or ripping of his pants. She could cut him at the wrist that seemed favorable. The jugular was to be avoided. The aorta would be nice but obvious.
"I'll drink from your wrist or neck. The mark will be more noticeable if I drink from your neck."
"Then drink from my neck, mark me as yours."
Swiftly she made a small incision in his neck and sealed her mouth over the cut. Her eyes closed when she tasted his marvelous blood. She had to straddle him to get the perfect angle. They didn't grind like she had with Heath. He stroked her back and coaxed her as she moaned at his taste. He was groaning at the feel of providing her with his immortal blood. His hands roamed through her hair and then down her sides. She was so small yet so wonderful. He could hear their heartbeats uniting as one.
"Zoey, oh, Zoey, this feels so amazing. Drink, oh drink me."
He reveled in the feeling. He was about to pull her away and kiss her passionately and pleasure her with his hands, but the door swung open.
Zoey sealed the wound and turned to see Gretchen standing in the doorway.
"Oh, my." Gretchen gasped when she saw the two together like that and Zoey's bloody lips.
As if she could read Gretchen's mind Zoey licked her lips to cause Gretchen further horror.
"You took advantage of Kalona!" Gretchen shrieked.
"No, it's not like that!" Zoey yelled in protest as she climbed off Kalona.
"She's right, Gretchen. I begged her to drink." Kalona was using his authoritative voice.
Gretchen took off with tears in her eyes.
Kalona looked pained. Zoey wondered if he regretted letting her drink. She told herself that it was her fault.
"I should go deal with this." Kalona sighed as he took Zoey's hands in his. "She needs to understand."
"Go. I understand. I'm use to screwing up. I finally think I am doing something right and I screw it up."
"No, Love. Just wait, please, we'll talk this out. You didn't screw up. That was one of the best experiences in my entire life and I've lived a very long time. I want to do it again and again and again. I love it. Don't shut me out now that you've let me in."
Kalona then rested his forehead against Zoey's.
"Don't shut me out." He murmured again.
He could feel the tears welling in his eyes. Before he had always fought the tears because they made him weak, but standing here with Zoey, he knew that true weakness was hiding what you feel. He could not be a coward with her. If he were asking her to let him in, then he had to hold his own side and let her into his heart and mind as well.
"Don't cry, my love."
Kalona was shocked to hear the words escape Zoey's lips. Her voice was so tender and sweet. He had expected pain and self-hatred to be in her voice as it had been moments ago.
Gently, she pulled one of her hands away from his hold and lifted it to his cheek. With the pad of her thumb she wiped away a falling tear. Her sweetness only continued when she stood on her toes and kissed his tears away.
"Go deal with her. I'll be here waiting for you."
She sent him on his way, and with a heavy heart, due to their parting, he went after Gretchen.
On his way to Gretchen's room he ran into Pearl. She looked half worried and half excited.
"She's in her room. She's a mess but I'd be careful."
"Thanks for the heads up."
"You're welcome. Oh, and a group of us girls are going to go play beach volleyball. I'm going to go see if Zoey is interested. Some of the guys are coming to watch."
"I'm sure that she'd love to play." Kalona said with a smile and then put his hand on Gretchen's door.
After Pearl skipped away Kalona knocked on Gretchen's door.
"Gretchen." He called through the door. "Please, can we at least talk about this?"
He waited a moment for her to respond.
"Go away." Gretchen wailed.
"Aw, Gretchen, please don't be like that."
"Like what? Emotional. I have a right to feel you know."
"I know. Please Gretchen open this door so that I can see you. I need to explain what you saw."
"I will not open this door!" He heard her footsteps storm towards the door and felt the door shift with her weight against it.
"Will you listen through the door?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Touché. Look, Gretchen, I know that you feel differently than the other girls about Zoey. I don't know why you feel as you do, but I need you to know that I love her. She doesn't want me to tell her that yet. She's not ready, and if anything she's afraid of love. What you saw, it was an act of love. We were reading from Wuthering Heights and I reached to turn the page and I cut my finger. I offered her the blood and it brought me such pleasure to give it to her. I begged her to drink more. I love her so much that I can't express it in words. I want to tell her so badly that I dream about her. I want to tell her that I live to make her smile. I need her like I need air. What you saw was her letting me in. I have never felt love until her, and I don't know if you have, but I wish you could feel what I feel right now. How I felt for A-ya is nothing compared to Zoey. I look at Zoey and my world is in her eyes. Her laugh, oh I live to make her laugh. It sounds like bells and sometimes I think they're wedding bells. Her smile it breathtaking, when she smiles at me I nearly melt. She makes my knees weak."
"Kalona, I'm happy for you. I just need sometime alone. If you see Luther can you tell him I'm in my room?"
"Yes, of course. I'll go now."
"Bye."
"Bye."
So you heard the deal. 15 reviews and we post chapter 11. 20 and we post chapter 12 the day after we post chapter 11. So please leave a review.