Thanks so much to Riah Riddle and Elenemire for the reviews. :-) The Joseph spoken about in this chapter is the master vampire who survived from my Zacarias fanfic. Hope you like the next chapter...
xemmalisax
…If you believe nothing else I tell you,
believe I will kill anyone who keeps you from me…
Chapter two
Nicholas lay his precious gift onto the floor of the cave.
He had discovered this haven when he had been searching for Joseph and any other vampires. The cave was built high in the canopy, densely hidden by lush green vines and branches that covered the only entrance. He didn't want to take her to the ranch, not yet. He wanted her to be his and his alone for as long as he could manage it.
He looked down on her nearly lifeless body and couldn't pin point any one of the chaotic emotions confusing his mind.
He hadn't wanted to live anymore, hadn't wanted to spend any more time alone, unfeeling. A part of him wanted her to die, damning himself. Proving he was nothing but a monster. Someone who deserved to die. Without ever knowing the sweet perfection of a loving touch. Her touch.
The other part of his mind, was fighting to save her. She belonged to him, with him, he was no longer alone. No longer unfeeling.
Emotions where confusing to him. He couldn't control them. They rode his body until he didn't know what to do to stop them. He had always been practical now with all his feelings clouding his judgement he felt vulnerable, and vulnerable was something he had never felt before.
He laughed cruelly at his thoughts, he had waited this long for any emotions and feelings and now he had them he wanted them gone. He especially didn't like the one he was getting now.
Looking down on her limp body, he felt as if he had been struck hard in the chest, a kind of sickness was within his stomach, aching and crushing on his lungs.
Was this alarm? Fear? Guilt?
He guessed a combination of all three.
He didn't want to hurt her. Had never hurt a woman before in his life.
Had hardly even touched a woman before, only to feed and casually toss aside. But now, looking down on her sleeping form he wanted to touch her.
Just one touch...
He wanted to know what it would be like to feel soft, feminine skin slide close to his.
Her touch, he knew would be soft and feather light, he could tell by the smallness of her hands.
Her skin was a great mystery to him.
What did a woman's skin feel like against a mans?
What did it feel like to have her petal soft lips against his?
A kiss.
Sweet exploration of her warm mouth with his tongue.
He ached to delve deep into her mouth, discovering the silken interior until all he could taste was her.
Like his brothers he had lost his emotions earlier than most, he had been barely a century in age when he had lost all feeling and the ability to see colours completely. They had begun to deplete since his seventieth year.
Young for a Carpathian. Unbelievably young.
Colours faded faster than emotions did. Their sight began to fade, colours losing their intensity, their lustier until finally all that was left was black and white differentiating their vision.
He had remembered the mixture of emotions when he had begun to lose them. Foolish happiness and fear.
He knew that it meant he was becoming a full Carpathian male, growing, and so felt an odd sense of happiness that was hard to describe.
He felt fear because he saw how easier distastable things where becoming, fear of what he was becoming. He was fearful until he could no longer feel the emotion. And their emotions had gone slowly.
The killing became easier, no longer caring for what they did. No longer wracked with guilt. He guessed it was easier to kill when you couldn't see the red of the blood covering your hands.
Feeding became more mechanical, before it was a careful search, apprehensive, now it was no more than a necessity. They hungered, they fed.
No emotions involved.
But now… He sighed, could he place his lips against a woman's throat and actually feel the skin beneath without feeling he was betraying his lifemate? Before he had never noticed the feel of a woman's skin beneath his lips, taking only what he needed to live and leaving just as abruptly as he had found them.
He had never touched another woman during those younger years either, he had been training with his brothers, discussing strategy not out searching the night for a woman to lie beside. He had lost all emotions as a virgin and had remained untouched for the rest of his life.
He had waited forever for this woman, forsaking all others.
And now the curiosity to know what a woman's skin would feel like, combined with his lust for her, until he lifted his hand to touch her. Unable to bare the beast roaring in his ears to touch what belonged to him.
He ran his fingertip gently over the delicate bones in her hands.
He couldn't stop running his finger over her small hand.
Her skin was even softer than it looked. Desperate to feel more, he tilted her hand to caress her palm. Even softer. He groaned at the feel. Such a small touch was all he had ever wanted.
He circle her wrist like a loose human bracelet, before running it up her arm, ever so gently. Her skin teasing his fingers as he reached her upper arm. The side of her breast brushed the back of his hand, and he stilled as he arched his neck and gritted his teeth.
How could such a small contact rock his whole body so much. He breathed deeply through his clenched teeth as he closed his eyes and moved his fingers from around her arm to skim over the side of her breast.
He didn't want to touch her while she was unaware. But he couldn't stop.
The soft skin was encased in lace. The fabric felt too harsh against her skin, he wanted to tear it away from the perfection it contained but wouldn't be able to control himself if he revealed more creamy flesh.
His hand closed over her breast hidden beneath lace and he shuddered. The lace was so thin he could feel her nipple budding under his palm.
He bite down hard on his lip, drawing blood at the agony of that touch.
He flicked his thumb back and forth across her breast, delighting in the tremble he produced.
Take her
Punish her for showing what belongs to you, to others
Pin her down
Touch her more…
He shuddered at the command resonating in his mind loudly. He wanted to touch her more. Wanted to do all those things. But he couldn't.
He reluctantly took his hand from her breast and skimmed his fingers down her stomach, shocked once more by the difference in texture from his own. He had known a woman's skin would be softer than a mans, by its appearance, but he was shocked a new by how soft it was. It felt so gentle beneath his rough hands.
He feared scrapping it with his fingertips.
Abrading something so delicate.
He pulled his hand away as if her skin had burned him, he could feel the blood tears pooling in his eyes from the pleasure of touching her, and felt a mixture of embarrassment and guilt. He was like a child! And yet he couldn't help it. He had been denied so long...
He pulled her into his arms, removing his shirt to feel her skin fully against his. He shuddered and whispered to her in the ancient tongue just what her touch meant to him.
His grip increased involuntarily at the pleasure of the contact.
He created a wound in his chest, cupping her chin and raised her petal soft lips to his chest. He feed her the compulsion to drink the flowing liquid and couldn't help pressing her lap down against his throbbing erection as she drank his blood.
Taking him into her body.
Nya came awake lying on her back, she didn't move as she felt soil beneath her head, not a pillow. Where was she? Had she been mugged?
Her mind began to think back over last night as she rubbed her hand over her brow, before pushing her blonde hair back from her face. Her throat felt dry, she seemed desperate for a drink. An unusual copper taste coated her mouth.
She rubbed her tongue around to try to discover what the unusual taste was. She tasted more and still wasn't sure what it could be. Was it blood?
The dance. The growl. That man with those burning eyes. The door… his touch. And then the pain.
She frowned and groaned at the pounding in her head, what was that noise? She listened to the rhythm. When her heart began to beat in time with it, she realised it was another heart beat. She opened her eyes, fear making her more reckless as she climbed up from the floor. On shaking legs she began to rush for the entrance. She could see the moon light through the vines and ran for it.
She heard a male taunting laugh come from right behind her as she was scooped up into those strong arms once more. She fought, scratching at the arms that held her, she wiggled and yelled for him to drop her. He only held her tighter and seemed to not care about the blood she was drawing with her nails, as he strode deeper into the darkness.
"Let me go!" She tried to kick at his legs but began to believe it was impossible.
She was suddenly dropped to the ground deeper within the cave. She nearly stumbled but was steadied by a large, hot palm against her hip. She shrugged the palm off her and turned to greet her attacker. Once again he had moved to the shadows of the cave, dwelling there like some deadly beast, eyeing her like she was prey. She took a deep breath and decided to use her brain instead of just reacting like she usually did. She was here for a reason…
"What do you want?" She was annoyed her voice had trembled with fear, but she could see his eyes burning in the dark, and once more they where flaming red, there where no lights here. Those where his eyes.
He didn't respond to her question, but began to circle her, sticking to the shadows. She noticed for the first time the pool within the cave. It looked warm and inviting and had candles lit around it. For.. her? She eyed the man and the water suspiciously. How was she going to get out of here?
Your not…
She wasn't sure where that thought came from. She needed to get away, he looked dangerous, feral. She had to get away. He was still circling her within the shadows. His eyes all she could see.
"Come out of the shadows" Once again fear was making her reckless. She chastised her foolishness. The saner part of her mind was yelling the opposite.
If I cant see him, I can pretend he is not there!
She looked away from the flames of his eyes and looked to the water, she had a layer of mud down her back and wanted to wash, but there was no way she was taking her clothes off for a stranger.
That male taunting laugh, sounded cruel as it drifted to her from the shadows.
You show your body to strangers but not to me?
There was no mistaking the malice resonating deeply on his tone. She shivered at the pure violence it contained. Until she realised the words weren't spoken allowed…
"You just… you just spoke into my mind didn't you?" Nya knew the absurdity of that question, but she had heard a male voice clear in her mind. Just like in the bar…
Yes
"How?" Curiosity was going to be the cause of her death, Nya decided. Ever since she had been a little girl, curiosity had been her greatest enemy.
I wont answer you question until you answer mine, Nya
The way he said her name with his deep accent heated her blood unexpectedly. Who had ever paid so much attention to the way her name was pronounced? He said it, as if it was a precious talisman. Nigh- ya.
He had asked her a question? He knew her name. How? Why was she here? Those where the questions she wanted to be answered.
"I'm not answering any questions until you tell me why I am here!" Nya felt for the hundredth time in her life like her mouth and her brain where two separate entities. Insanity. This is a man who has kidnapped you, hurt you and now your ordering him around!
Nya clenched her fists, once again her mouth was going to get her into trouble.
You belong with me. Now tell me what I want to know. Why do you show your body to other men and wont show it to me?
What did "You belong with me" mean? And where did he get off telling her what to do! She wasn't answering any questions. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared into the darkness. Probably not the best way to talk to a kidnapper but she had obviously missed the security seminar on 'How to Play Nice with Psychos'.
He laughed, loud and rumbling into the cave. It seemed oddly out of character for him to laugh. She didn't know why, but she found herself smiling at the sound, before she realised what she was doing and immediately stopped.
Stop thinking so much, picolla. And answer my question…
Fine. Ok. She was well known for two things, honesty, and for talking without thinking. She'll answer.
"I dance at the club two nights a week, that's all. Just to get quick cash. I love to dance, plus its so dark in there I can pretend I'm alone. I dance at the club not strip. My lingerie stays on. Always. It my term. And as for not taking my clothes off in front of you, I don't know you. You're a stranger to me. Only my lovers have –"
She didn't know how he managed it but somehow he had her pinned to the floor, his weight pressing down on her, his hand tight on her throat. His hips wedged between her legs as she tried to gain control of her pounding heart. Her mind was screaming for her to shut up, shut up, shut up, don't make this worse by saying more. But as usual her mouth won.
"How did you …? Doesn't matter. Get off me!"
He growled, and she could feel it vibrate against her.
Lovers?
She struggled against his hand clasped tightly. Unable to loosen his grip or his intensity.
How many lovers, Nya?
She shook her head in an attempt to dislodge his voice, but still it remained loud and frightening.
Tell me who touched you
Nya who stood up to anyone, who always spoke her mind, was speechless by this mans intensity. His feral, flaming glare was terrifying her. And yet the feel of his large frame cradled between her thighs was not… unpleasant.
He was handsome, incredibly so, she could see that now.
Dark silken hair, golden complexion that seemed to glow with such lustier and life.
She had the insane need to run her fingertip down his forehead and wipe away the frown.
And yet he had so much anger within him. She didn't understand the anger.
Just because she tried to always speak her mind and be honest, didn't mean she was uncaring of others feelings. Quite the opposite, she cared greatly to respect others feelings and beliefs. She just had no idea why he was so mad. What was he? Why was he mad?
Who am I? Why am I mad? Those are simple questions to answer, picolla. I am your lifemate. Your are mine. I am mad as I had to witness you dance naked for a roomful of human men! For their pleasure!
"Lifemate? I don't understand what your telling me! Explain. Please explain"
Desperation and fear was easily heard in her words.
He dropped his dark head to her chest and seemed to be collecting his thoughts. His hair skimming her breasts. She bit on her lip at the heat that touch caused to spiral within her. She was almost oddly disappointed when he moved.
She watched as he lifted himself from the floor, holding out his hand to help her up.
She was shocked by the gentlemen-like gesture and placed her much smaller hand into his.
She saw in his eyes he was surprised by her acceptance, so much so, she caught glimpse of dark eyes not red, flash down upon her as he helped her up from the floor.
She stared at the dark depths and wondered why they had changed colour? She was so intent on his mesmerizing eyes, she forgot her hand was still nestled within his, until his rough skin abraded her palm slightly, causing her to gasp in surprise.
He removed his hand fast from hers and stepped back from her, as if she had burnt him. She stared in shock up at him.
He reached for her hand, turning it to inspect the damage. There was none. Just a tiny mark. This thumb rubbed back and forth across it.
She watched dumbstruck as his dark head descended to lick across her abraded palm. She shivered at the feel of his rough yet tender touch caressing her. The tingle disappeared and she missed his touch when he finally, reluctantly, removed it.
He instantly strode out of the cave, and she watched as he disappeared?! She stared in speechless shock at his little magic trick and once more heard his deep voice caress through her mind.
Stay within the cave, Nya.
If you believe nothing else I tell you, believe I will kill anyone who keeps you from me.
Stay here until I return…
Thanks so much for reading. I hope you liked it. :-)
I'm sorry if this chapter was a little uneventful, going to show more of Nya's character later, as this one focused most on Nicholas and his past.
I have a feeling these two are going to be in for a bumpy ride, but as a De La Cruz brother I have a feeling it will be a steamy one lol ;-)
Going to start on the next chapter... I wonder if Nya stays in the cave?
xemmalisax