Thanks so much for the reviews, Elenemire, Akashia, NotSoSweet, Chrissienuil...It really does mean so much to me to recieve them. :)They always put a smile on my face. Thanks so much. Here is the next chapter... hope you enjoy... x x x
...He stifled a moan as he felt his body tighten and harden for her.
He ached for her.
Ache was too mild a word for what he was feeling.
He yearned for her...
Chapter Twelve
Nicholas' body froze as the sun reached its peak, whilst the leaves reached higher for the suns golden light, Nicholas's body seemed to crumble and shrink away from it.
His dark eyes were still open, looking beneath the door at Nya, even though his body and mind where now leaden. He lay sprawled upon the stone tiles of the research center, his body unable to move, his mind asleep.
He was where he wanted to be; with Nya.
He just wished she could be within his arms.
They where still apart, the metal door between them, impenetrable at the moment, all he could do was steal stolen vision of his world beneath the door.
He could see the extent of her injuries. But she was still so beautiful to him. Even with her skin raw and red, she still, was all he could see.
Nya was unconscious, the pain of her injuries and the hit to her head, causing her to slip into a deep sleep. Her hair cascading around her, she looked like an angel to him.
Nicholas last conscious thought was for Nya.
He hoped that asleep she was free of the pain…
Paul was waiting outside of the center. His clothes where drenched. Since he had dressed for the heat and humidity, he wore very little to keep himself warm.
His uncles had been pacing, concerned, outside of the broken down door, waiting for any signal from Nicholas. It had been almost ten minutes, although it seemed longer, when they heard the sounds of a struggle.
A deadly shriek from the undead echoed up through the shadows of the center, as three pairs of brown eyes focused in fear and expectance on the open doorway. Nothing came through.
Paul watched as his uncles rushed to the door, a torch and a shot gun pulled from their duffle bag, were their only protection from whatever lay within the center. Paul guessed there would be a trap, something to stop them rescuing Nicholas's life mate. Everyone was hoping Nicholas had not been taken down, if he had, then they where walking into a trap they would never return from.
They begun to descend the few stone steps, following the sounds of battle. Paul noticed how old the center was, the walls and floors where stained and crumbling under their pounding boots. Vines where creeping into the corridor, as well as fallen leaves, littering the stone tiles with an assortment of colours.
Blood could be smelt, and Paul daren't look down to the floor anymore.
He had been listening to his sisters voice, but she had been forced to ground now. He was now walking into possible danger with no guidance from outside, only him and his uncles. The shotgun loaded and poised behind him, offered him little reassurance against the undead. He knew that if they encountered one, the shot gun would not save them, merely slow their attacker slightly.
The sounds of battle where gone, Paul hadn't even realized he couldn't hear them anymore, until the deafening silence crept upon him.
They turned the corner, stepping into what seemed to be a row of cells, stretching down the entire left side of the corridor. A lamp, flickered above their heads, licking the walls with an orange glow momentarily. Paul squinted as he tried to look deeper into the darkness of the corridor. He had yet to see Nicholas. Was he ok?
Taking a step forward, Paul was going to look further into the corridor but was stopped by Juan's hand on his shoulder. His uncle stepped in front of him and moved down the corridor first.
More than a little thankful he wouldn't be the first one to walk through the darkness of the corridor, he followed silently behind his uncle. The stench of blood was hard to mistake as they stepped deeper into the darkness, away from the relative safety of the flickering lamp.
Paul stopped as his boot splashed into something on the floor. He stopped abruptly, the smell of blood filling his head. He didn't bother to look down to his feet, he had no doubt in his mind that he had found evidence of vampires and torture.
He took a deep breath and continued down the corridor.
A cell was open, blood was sprayed over the walls, Paul gulped nervously at the sight, as he kept close to the right hand wall. Still no sign of Nicholas or Nya...
He had been concentrating so much on the open cell, and the possible dangers that he hadn't realized his uncle had stopped. Walking straight into them, he stepped back, before peering around Juan.
Juan's torch lit the dark corridor, and landed on a figure slumped upon the floor.
Nicholas.…
Getting Nicholas onto the land rover was an experience no one wanted to go through again.
Paul had known the De La Cruz brothers where large, but when it came to physically shifting one, they were massive!
It took Paul and his two uncles, a good hour to get Nicholas out of the center. His body large, and unmovable. His weight and girth made it hard to carry Nicholas through the dense trees to the land rover, and once there, they had to lift him onto the back.
The storm didn't help, soaking Nicholas' clothes, adding extra weight to a man, who didn't need it.
They placed Nicholas beneath a thick cover, designed specifically for blocking out all sunlight, before returning for Nya.
They had been unable to get to her first, as Nicholas' entire body had been blocking the cell door. The Chevez brothers began to physically cut down the metal door, to reach her.
No one was prepared for what they would find within...
A woman lay upon the floor, her blonde waves draped around her head like a halo, her entire body was burned, the worst was to her legs. The clothing she wore had in no way prevented the sunlight from reaching her ultra sensitive skin. Paul winced at the sight of such pain and walked out of the cell to breath deeply, trying to clear his head.
That could have been his sister…
There was no doubt in his mind, that if Nya hadn't been caught another life mate would have been. Paul closed his eyes as he leant back against the wall beside the open cell. His head back against the stone. He took a deep breath, before wiping his trembling palms down his trousers, and reentering the cell to help move Nya. He cradled her head as his uncle carried her body out of the cell.
Paul tried to ignore the silken tendrils of blood soaked hair, slipping through his fingers, he didn't want to think of what this woman had been through… he couldn't.
They slipped Nya's delicate frame into the land rover, beside Nicholas and pulled the thick cover over the two lovers as they headed back to the safety of the ranch.
3 hours later
Nicholas became aware his cheek was no longer pressed to a dirty stone floor, as he roused from his sleep. Instead he was resting upon a bed of healing soil.
He could feel the healing quailites of the soil seeping into his tired body, feeling every cell in his body tingle as they soaked in the nutrients and healing agents contained within it.
He wished the soil could heal his broken soul as well. Heal the pieces missing since Nya had been taken from him.
He relaxed into the soil, reaching for her with his exhausted mind and his outstretched arm. He knew she was close, he had fallen asleep with her in his mind, her scent in his lungs.
Expecting to find her beside him, he smoothed his hand over the soil, he felt the soil beneath his seeking hand, but no Nya. Frowning he searched for her with his still groggy mind.
His eyes snapped open suddenly as he connected with his lifemate. Glowing red orbs lying above the rich dark soil.
He felt her pain, and worse… he felt male hands upon her body.
His muscles where tense instantly, coiling with aggression, as he felt male hands smoothing her clothes from her delicate frame.
Peeling away the fabric to reveal her skin to their gaze.
He hissed between his teeth in anger as he lifted himself from the soil, and headed for Nya.
He knew their intent, they wanted only to help her, but to feel another mans hands smoothing over his beloveds supple skin made his mind scream for blood.
No one would touch her.
No one would dare take her from him again!
He belonged to her, as she belonged to him. He would see to her needs. He would heal her and keep her safe.
As was his duty as her life mate. As was his pleasure as a man in love.
Paul's entire body was aching from the bumpy ride back to the ranch, his back felt like he had been hit by a truck. He was currently helping his uncles assist to Nya. They where taking her clothes off, to lay her into a bath they had run, filled with healing herbs and lotions.
The more clothing they removed the more of her injuries they could see, with more than one gasp, they looked upon this poor woman.
They could see evidently the pain she had been enduring.
His uncles heads were bent low as they prayed for the girl.
Paul looked on, unable to look away.
She was beautiful, he could tell that she would be exquisite when healed. He could tell by the structure of her face, the curve of her cheek, her beautiful hair currently covered in blood was a glossy gold color.
Paul hoped she would be ok, he feared what would happen to Nicholas if he lost his woman.
The small wooden door to the bedroom was slammed open, startling everyone within. He jumped as he spun around to the door, now hanging from its hinges, a dent in the cream painted wall behind the door marked how hard the door had been slammed back.
But that wasn't what held Paul's attention.
Nicholas did.
Nicholas stood in the doorway, eyes wild, hair disheveled. His dark locks were lose around his broad shoulders, as he stood tense within the door. He was the vision of a deadly predator, muscle tense, eyes wild as he growled at them. Paul thought he looked more like a beast than a man, as red eyes glared at where his uncles hands rested upon Nya's body. Glaring at where their hands touched her bare skin.
"Take your hands off my life mate if you want to live!"
Paul shuddered at the malice resonating deeply in his tone. Gulping nervously, all three men stepped back from Nicholas' life mate. They could tell that Nicholas was serious, his arms where bulging beneath the white material of his shirt, whilst his fists where clenched white.
But it was his eyes that they feared the most.
Blood red, flaming pools of malice.
Paul could almost feel Nicholas' gaze, especially when it focused on their throats as an inhuman growl came from the back of Nicholas' throat, when the men made no effort to move, too stunned with shock.
Juan stepped in front of Paul as all three men edged out of the room. His hands up in a gesture of submission, his uncle spoke to Nicholas. "We where only trying to heal her, she needed- "
"Do not tell me what she needs!" Nicholas strode towards the Chevez brothers. His fists where clenching and unclenching as if he was trying to gain back control, but from the anger he was resonating into the small room, Paul could tell he was losing the battle against his inner beast.
He could feel the dark, malicious energy bleeding out from Nicholas, it seemed to be so thick around him, it seemed to choke everyone in the room with fear.
All three men continued to back from the room, they eyes focused on the man before them.
Where was the calm practical Nicholas they had known all their lives?
Paul now had a good idea what Nicholas would be like if he ever lost his Nya.
Death. Pure and simple, he would bring such death and destruction.
They slid the door closed behind them, the door clicking in place, before they finally breathed deeply through their fear. There was no doubt in any of their minds that they had only just missed death.
Nicholas closed his eyes tightly as he tried to regain control of his body. His blood was burning with such anger he could hardly contain it.
He wanted to fight, to kill.
He breathed out, before taking a deep breath in an attempt to steady himself. He could smell her.
He opened his eyes and inhaled deeply once more. Her sweet scent filled the room. He felt instantly light headed as her scent permenated his senses. He wanted to get drunk on her scent. But mostly he just wanted to hold her...
Nicholas turned back to look upon Nya. Her half naked frame lay upon the silk of the bed. His eyes instantly pooled with red tears.
My love, what did they do to you…
Her skin was red and raw, angry looking. He stared on her in horror at her evident pain.
He needed to hold her, and yet feared holding her in case he harmed her more.
Nicholas stepped over her disregarded clothes littering the floor, as he went to his knees beside the bed and ran his fingers over her hair. The silken threads where matted with her blood, and he had to stifle a cry at the feel of it
I'm so sorry… He whispered into the silence of the room.
His tears were for her pain, and his ultimate shame.
He had been unable to protect her. His life mate, his life.
He had been unable to keep her safe, and she had paid for it.
He ran the pad of his index finger over her open palm, lying docilely by her hip and remembered the first time he had touched her here. He had felt the softness of her palm the first night he had seen her.
His gut clenched as he remembered the first time he had seen her, the array of emotions he had been bombarded with. She had been so exotic upon the stage, her hands caressing her own body as she moved instinctively to the beat. He smiled as he remembered how beautiful she had been.
How beautiful she still was.
He had been able to see the beauty of her soul shining from her emerald eyes.
He leaned forward, placing a chaste kiss to the centre of her soft palm, resting his lips against her skin as his sorrow shook him.
He eventually allowed his lips to leave her skin, feeling instant grief, as he lifted her broken body into the safety of his arms. He carried her limp frame to the bathroom, where there was a bath already run for her. Healing candles where lit around the rim of her bathtub, flickering along the walls, whilst creating a soothing scent.
He was momentarily soothed by the comforting weight of Nya back in his arms once more, where she belonged. He had feared he would never again feel her safe in his arms, and now he had her back, he wasn't sure he would ever let her go. Never again, he vowed as he tightened his grip upon her as he kissed her hair.
He removed his clothes instantly, before he lowered them both into the healing water.
He felt his body sting momentarily where his injuries were, and held her closer knowing that the water would sting her at first. He cradled her in his lap as he allowed the water to sooth her. A broken whimper came from her lips at the contact of the water to her skin, and he felt it like a sledge hammer to his gut. He could do nothing but pull her closer to the muscle of his chest and rock her gently within the water.
He whispered absently into her damp hair. Words of love and devotion. He had never uttered such words to anyone before. And he knew without a doubt that she was the only woman who would ever hear them.
With anyone else, he was a practical and dark warrior, but with her he was just a man.
3 days later
Nicholas lay beside Nya on the bed. Her burns had almost completely healed. He had almost bleed himself out, on more than one occasion, giving her much needed blood to heal.
Zacarias had scolded him continuously for neglecting himself to such a point he had passed out when giving her blood.
Stroking back the golden tendrils of her hair from her forehead he didn't care about the cost to himself.
He would give anything to take away her pain.
He would willingly surrender his very last drop of blood.
Her skin had returned to her natural golden tan and he lay on his side watching her every breath. He could feel the pain she still had from the vampire blood flowing through her veins, but his blood was slowly diluting the poisonous blood. Soon he hoped, she would be free of all pain.
He wished he could say the same for himself.
The agony of her torment where still fresh within him, his soul cracked beyond repair with every scream of pain she had given in that cell.
His brothers where searching for Joseph. He had given them one order; let me kill him.
He had no intention of leaving Nya's side until she was healed fully, but he also had no intention of allowing anyone else to kill Joseph.
He wanted that honor. That pleasure.
He stared down on Nya's face, and felt another wave of failure engulf him. Forgive me please…
Nya had never experienced pain like it.
It had engulfed her entire body, taking her over, until she had been unable to function, unable to think beyond her pain.
Slowly as the pain had begun to decrease in intensity she had become aware of her surroundings.
Drifting in and out of consciousness she had listened to her surroundings.
The first lucid memory she had was of being crushed. Her entire body was being pinned to something hot and solid. Her tired and disoriented mind had been unsure of where she was, until she heard a heart beating beside her cheek. It was a chest... she was being held. Crushed, in fact, to a chest. She listened to the rhythm of the heart beat, and noticed it for what it was… Nicholas.
Her mind had slipped away then, taking her back to darkness.
Episodes like this happened more and more frequently as she drifted in and out of awareness.
She remembered a man shouting, his voice so loud it had made the bed beneath her tremble. She had recognized the pain deep within the voice and had nearly cried out when she had realized it was Nicholas's voice. Was he hurt?
She listened trying to understand the words as another male voice intruded into her dream.
"Neglecting your needs Nicholas is foolish, you will be no good to her dead!"
Nicholas was dying?
Nya's pain filled mind tried to pull itself up through the darkness, her eyes twitched, trying to open but in the end the pain won against her will. She winced as she stayed unable to move or wake fully. All she could do was listen.
"I don't care what becomes of me, as long as she is well!"
Nya felt such emotion dwell in her stomach, tiny butterflies fluttering there as she felt a tear drift down her cheek at Nicholas' words.
"That is insanity" Was hissed angrily at him.
And Nya wanted desperately to wake and shout at whoever was reprimanding Nicholas. She agreed with them, that he shouldn't be risking his own health, but the hurt she could hear in Nicholas' voice, made her realize how much pain he was feeling already. Especially as she heard him whisper near her…
"No, brother. That is love"
Nya woke once more and for once didn't feel the reassuring beating of Nicholas' heart close to hers. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Nya's eyes didn't feel quite so heavy, the usual weight keeping them closed, seemed to be gone.
Nya's eyes fluttered open slowly. All she could see at first where her eye lashes fluttering. Her vision hazy and unused, she waited for a few moments to focus upon the room.
It was so beautiful. Cream painted walls, with old oak furniture, the curtains where thick blocking out all light, but they seemed to be made of a white velvet material. The whole room seemed so soothing and heavenly. The pale cream and the luscious white decorating the room made her feel like she must be dreaming.
Her throat felt so dry and aching, but her skin felt better.
The usual burning ache that seemed to engulf her seemed to be nothing more than a tingle now, she looked down at her body, and smiled weakly. She wore one of Nicholas's shirts. Rolled up at her elbows and down to her knees, she was engulfed in his masculine scent. Her skin looked fully healed. Was that possible? Was this a dream?
Her body felt quite leaden still, she focused on her feet and when her toes wiggled as she willed them too, she smiled. Finally she was getting control of her body back!
She jumped with surprise when the bedroom door was flung open as Nicholas stormed in, followed by a petite red haired woman.
"Nicholas your not listening to me!" The petite woman with flaming hair yelled after him.
Nya smiled at the sound of Nicholas sighing in annoyance. God, she had missed him so much...
"Colby, I am listening to you. And your wrong"
Nya winced at his words, knowing full well he would be on the receiving end of a slap very soon.
"I'm not wrong! I have been single handedly running a ranch since I was old enough to ride. I'm right!"
"Colby do whatever you think is right" Nicholas voice sounded exhausted to Nya "I have more important things to worry about"
"I- I'm so sorry Nicholas. How is she?"
She? Nya frowned, where they talking about her?
Nicholas' back was to her as he braced himself against the cabinet and shrugged. Nya wanted to cry at the hopeless air in his gesture, she wasn't sure she could speak, but at that moment she wanted to comfort him so badly, her heart ached, her chest felt too tight. The petite red head, Nya didn't recognized touched Nicholas's shoulder in compassion, but was shook off. She left soon after, without looking over to Nya.
Nya watched Nicholas.
He didn't move, he just stood with his back to her. His shoulders slumped forward as he rested his palms on the wood of the cabinet. He wore a shirt similar to the one Nya was currently drowning in, but unlike her own, his body shaped the fabric to perfection.
He looked well, as far as Nya could see, and she was happy he was ok. She had feared for him whenever she had heard his voice filled with such sadness, or when she had perceived his tears rolling down his cheeks onto her own, as he held her to him.
She lifted her legs over the side of the bed, bracing her hands on her knees, as she sat up, breathing deeply. The sudden movement made her a little light headed. She stood then on slightly shaking legs and waited for her body to become adjusted. When her legs stopped trembling and threatening to give out, she looked over to Nicholas.
She licked her dry lips and swallowed painfully. Her voice was bound to sound unused but she wanted to call out to him, to rouse him from his sadness.
"Nicholas?" Her voice sounded foreign to her own ears, and at first she was unsure if she had even spoken the words. Nicholas tensed momentarily but didn't move to see her or look around. She walked closer and tried again. This time only a few feet away from him. "Nicholas?"
She could see the muscle in his sculpted back ripple and tense beneath the fabric of his shirt as he stood straighter, but still facing away from her.
"Nya?"
She closed her eyes at the hopeless ache in his voice as he whispered her name with his heavily accented voice. She would do anything to take away that sadness she heard.
Running her hand gently down his back, she felt the sharp indentation of his spine beneath her fingertips, and smiled when he shuddered before grasping the wood of the cabinet harder. She saw his fingers biting into the wood and wondered if he was hurting. From the way he acted it was as if her touch seared him. Was he injured?
Nicholas breath left him in a rush as he heard his name uttered by his love. Was this even real?
He tensed and mentally chastised himself.
It was nothing but his imagination.
Many times over the last few nights he had dreamed she had awoken, he had almost felt her lips upon his, her skin nestled naked beside his, but it wasn't real.
He had woke alone.
Cramped in the chair beside her bed, aching and miserable for her.
He heard his name again. And stood straighter. His muscles tense as he dared himself to hope.
Hope that she was back. And this wasn't just his mind making up fantasies to keep himself sane.
He felt her small hand caress down his back and shivered at the touch he had waited so long for.
She was back!
His fingers bit deep into the wood, as long frustrated desires coiled within him. He felt almost ashamed at his body for needing her so badly after she had only just healed, but his body wasn't paying attention.
His blood heated as he inhaled her scent.
She was so close to him.
He could perceive her body heat.
He closed his eyes against his desire, but he knew it was futile.
Nya effected him so powerfully, setting in motion impulses beyond his control.
It took all his control to not turn upon her like some beast, taking her in his arms as he pinned her to the cream walls and slipped himself deep inside her.
He ached to have her body wrapped around his.
He stifled a moan as he felt his body tighten and harden for her. He ached for her.
Ache was too mild a word for what he was feeling.
He yearned for her...
Thanks so much for reading. :)
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xemmalisax