The girl had a young man with her and the two hadn’t stopped kissing except to get some air since they’d taken off from the station. Lucinda envied this woman for another reason.
At least she’d tasted that kind of life. Just a taste though...when she wanted to gorge. She looked down at herself and for the first time in her whole life wished she wore a pair of those shorts and one of those little tight shirts.
Maybe even one like Chloe Bellum liked to wear with strange phrases on the front. Her favorite had been a white shirt with big black letters that said, “Goes to bitch in .01 seconds.” She hadn’t entirely understood the phrase until Chloe laughingly explained it to her.
What to do now? One thing Lucinda knew for sure was that she couldn’t stay with Draven, even if he made her feel good, different. Being with him, being able to relax around him, so unlike Tyrian en Kulev, made her want more. It might be a slippery slope but for once she wanted to slide down, fall. The thrill, the excitement, it was enough to make her put shopping on her to do list. And a pair of small shorts at the top.
A frown pulled at her lips. She had no money. But she did have old jewelry she’d collected over the years. Surely that would fetch a nice price. That’s what she’d do, she decided with a smile. Sell her jewelry and buy the shortest, tightest clothes she could find. Already the thought of the freedom, of doing things for herself, had her practically bouncing in her seat.
Not for the first time since she got on the train did she regret the letter she left for Draven. The warrior was a good man. He didn’t deserve how she left him. But her courage wasn’t as strong as she’d like...yet. She couldn’t make herself stay to face him. She’d taken the cowards way and left a note. She’d debated long and hard on how much she should say to him in that letter.
She’d desperately wanted to tell him thank you for everything. For showing her the pleasure of flesh, the taste of passion, for allowing her to be herself. To learn herself.
But now she wanted more and Draven’s hesitance would only slow her down. Lucinda blushed at her blatant selfishness, a small giggle escaping. She quickly covered it before the humans went back to casting her darted glances.
CRACK!
A hard thump sounded from the back of the train. A woman screamed. The couple kissing stopped to peer towards the sound; a sleeping man lifted his head to look as well. Lucinda looked towards the sound. It was loud as if a large tree had fallen on top of the train.
Suddenly there was an explosion of noise from the back of the train. Lucinda tensed in her seat with fear. She’d never ridden a train before but she was certain this wasn’t usual. The door to her compartment was closed with only a small window showing into the passenger car behind her.
More voices came, shouting, a male. The crash of a door being slammed open followed by complete silence save for the motion of the train.
A blur of a dark figure blocked the window. Lucinda plastered her back to the window, lifting her carrying satchel in front of her as if that’d protect her.
“It’s a terrorist!” someone yelled.
The passenger car door slid open with a crash. The dark figure came through, a towering mass radiating anger. Long silvery hair shining brightly in the fluorescent light.
“Draven,” she whispered in awe.
The warrior’s eyes locked on her without having to scan the rest of the passengers. He simply found her.
He was before her in a second, silent and so fast the passengers gasped at his speed. To them he disappeared and reappeared, to her, he was simply rushing.
He hauled her up by her arms, making her heart race in an entirely different way.
“You left me!” It was an accusation.
She blinked at his tone.
“Indeed.” She honestly had no idea what to say to that because a strange feeling like hope was about to burst in her chest.
“Everybody leave,” he said quietly, his gray eyes never leaving hers.
The passengers exchanged hesitant glances.
“Now!” he bellowed.
All of them snatched their bags and ran for the next passenger car. The door slammed shut with a loud finality leaving Lucinda only to hear the thundering of her heart and the heavy beat of his.
He grabbed her arms, pushing her back against the window she’d sat panicked against only minutes before. He leaned into her, surrounding her with heat that brought back a rush of memories, feelings.
“You left me.”
Lucinda’s breath caught in her throat as she looked up at him. She couldn’t slow her breathing and with each breath, her breasts pushed against his chest again and again. It was pure torture. Tightening things inside her that only he’d made her feel...or touched.
Their eyes locked, his intense with anger, hers shining with excitement.
“You came for me,” she said.
He cupped her jaw, cradling her gently. Right before his lips touched hers he whispered in a voice so raw with emotion, she shivered. “Couldn’t let you go.”
Then his lips found hers. His lips tasted like the sweetest ecstasy. He claimed her, pressed hard then thrust inside with a slick move that stole her breath away.
She had no idea how long they stood there kissing. Minutes, hours. All she felt was the rocking of the train and the possessive touch of his mouth moving over hers.
He pulled away, breathing hard. His hand cupped her cheek then slid to caress her neck in a languorous sweep. His lips followed that path.
His hot breath against her neck sent shivers across her body. He pressed his lips against the base of her throat then slowly she felt the wet press of his tongue, tasting her. The licks became stronger, firmer as he felt her rapid pulse.
The sharp press of his fang shouldn’t have come as a surprise, but it startled her nonetheless.
“You will feed from me. Right here?” she said breathlessly. Her hands threaded through his long white hair, holding him close.
He didn’t answer, only pulled her closer into his body. It was most indecent, nearly unheard of to feed in public. Around humans, nonetheless.
She wasn’t even sure if he’d do it. But then his fangs sank into her, her flesh giving way so easily.
She gasped, and he groaned. He drew long pulls from her and with each one her body coiled tighter, grew wetter until she was moaning, arching restlessly against him.
He pulled back for a moment. A dab of crimson coating his bottom lip.
“So beautiful.” The way he said it struck a chord with her. He didn’t say it as if it were a compliment, there was something else to his voice that she couldn’t quite pinpoint.
He struck again and her eyes rolled back. It was never like this with Master Tyrian. Only him. Only Draven.
Suddenly warm air brushed along her bare legs. Strong hands traced the contours of her bare thighs before cupping her bare bottom in a predatory grip.
“Draven!”
Frantically she looked around but no one was in the car with them. No one dared to peer into the windows at them.
He pulled away from her neck with one final lick to seal the wounds. Before she could say another word, his mouth was back on hers. One hand moved around to the front to cup her sex. He groaned against her lips, the sound producing one of her own.
“I need you now,” he said against her lips.
Lucinda darted glances up and down the passenger car. Still no one. But that didn’t mean someone might not come in or peer into the window.
“No, Draven. Not here.”