She tilted her face up to look at him. “They died because of what I am.”
“No.” Absolutely certain. “They died because some sick freak believed he was going to change the future.”
She paled a bit at that. “You really think the future’s set? That the prophets out there aren’t bullshitting?”
Careful now, because he’d heard Catalina’s last words to her. Not that he’d let that come to pass. “I think Grim sealed his fate a long time ago.”
Her hand pressed against his chest. “And what about your parents? Did killing Grim bring you peace?”
“Not peace.” Never that. “But justice.”
She gave a slow nod. “Justice. It still feels empty.” Her lip began to tremble then. Tough Dee, who could face down a Born and send him to the devil with a grin. “I’d rather have just had…them.”
The woman was breaking his heart. He tucked her head against his chest and held her as the water poured. “I know.”
He let her cry. The tears she’d kept inside over the years. The tears she’d stopped shedding once she began fighting.
When the tears finally stopped, he lifted her and carried her to the shower. It was time to wash away the pain and the past.
Maybe, just maybe, it was time for them to begin again.
They didn’t talk in the shower. Simon stripped and joined her. The water beat on them and washed away the blood and the battle.
And they didn’t talk.
He carried her to the bedroom, put her in the middle of the bed.
The water glistened on her skin and her eyes, so very dark, met his.
Then she parted her legs.
He came down beside her, putting a stranglehold on his need. This time wouldn’t be about heat and desperation.
This time, he’d give her something more.
Because that’s what she’d given him.
His lips touched hers. A light, fleeting kiss. Simple. Soft.
His fingers trailed over her body. Caressed her breasts, the nipples that hardened beneath his fingers.
“I want to forget.” Her whisper.
The first thing she’d said.
His cock, fully swollen and thick with need, pressed against her leg. Forgetting—fleeting. The memories would come back. They always did. But he’d give her this.
Hell, he’d give her anything she wanted.
He wouldn’t rush. Because he needed, too. Her taste…
He kissed his way down her neck. Licked the scars from her past battle. Tasted her nipples and sucked her flesh into his mouth. She twisted beneath him, rising and pulling in a quick breath.
And, finally, finally, the scent of her arousal began to fill the air.
Because he’d never take her when she didn’t want him.
His fingers slipped between her parted thighs, found the hot flesh, and eased into her.
This was what he wanted.
Her eyes turned to black.
He licked a path down her stomach. Blew lightly over the blond curls that hid her pink flesh.
“Simon…”
He’d always liked the way she said his name, especially when she wanted him. That hitch, the way the end of his name sounded like a moan on her lips.
He put his mouth against her. Took her cream on his tongue and tasted her flesh.
Her hips arched against him, a helpless jerk of her body. His tongue slipped over her clit. Her gasp filled his ears.
When her fingers sank into his hair, he knew she wanted more. Wanted harder. Faster.
Wanted to come.
“Not yet.” He said the words against her sex and she shuddered. The pleasure wouldn’t be fleeting. Not for either of them. It was time she learned that.
His lips closed around the swollen button of her desire, and he sucked, using lips and tongue to give and to take.
Her moan broke.
He gave to her, slowly. Learning every curve. Exploring her flesh. His tongue drove into her and her legs shook. He licked her. Lapped at her and wanted more.
Everything.
“Simon, I’m going to come!”
No. Not yet.
He eased back and his fingers worked her flesh. Drawing out the release, making the desire build with soft strokes and deep plunges of his fingers.
His cock twitched. The need for her was so fierce he burned.
Bite.
The bloodlust was there, as it always was, because he didn’t just want her body. He wanted her blood. Her heart.
Everything.
And he would have it.
She twisted against the sheets. The water had dried from her skin and her breasts thrust up against him.
So pretty. So perfect.
He caught her nipple with his mouth. Sucked deep and hard.
She squirmed beneath him.
Not about forgetting any longer. About them.
She’d remember that.
One last lick, and he lifted his head. Her eyes had gone blind with need and black with desire.
He positioned his cock against her slick heat. Pushed the head inside, just a few inches.
Waited.
Her gaze met his.
Simon caught her hands. He threaded his fingers through hers and pinned her against the mattress.
He took her then. Thrust deep and sure and felt the sensual heat of her sex around him.
His teeth clenched and he reined in the beast—tried to, anyway.
Her legs wrapped around him, and her ankles dug into his ass.
More. There, in her eyes. What she wanted—
He withdrew. Thrust deep. Again and again. The bed rocked. Their bodies trembled, but he took his time and he took his pleasure.
And made damn sure she took hers.
Bite.
He didn’t look at her neck. Didn’t take his gaze from hers. This time would be different. It had to be.
Her sex squeezed him and the telltale ripple had his spine tingling.
He thrust harder. Faster. The control began to disappear, and the need, that blind, consuming need, had his breath heaving and his hips surging.
She came, the contractions of her sex making his own climax erupt as he pumped into her. The long, hot wave blasted through him, into her, and the pleasure stole his breath.
Still he thrust. Even as his cock jerked and he climaxed inside her, he thrust.
Harder, but slower. Deeper.
His fingers tightened around hers.
She whispered his name.
And came again.
Sweet fucking hell.
Yeah, he’d die for this woman. In a heartbeat.
They began to gather in the darkness. First, just a few. Two. Then three. They came together silently as they felt the psychic snap of the old connection.
The bond was gone. The Born dead.
One there knew his killer. A vampire who’d seen the woman kill Grim.
Vengeance?
A life for a life?
Slowly, the others came. Humans once. Killers, monsters now.
They waited.
More would come.
Chapter 17
“Why didn’t you ask me about the asshole in the alley?” Dee forced her head to lift at Simon’s question. Really, she just wanted to lay there, her head pillowed on his chest, and listen to the steady beat of his heart. But maybe they needed to go ahead and have this, um, little talk.
She met his stare and her shoulders tensed a bit as she asked, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I thought you’d run from me or try to stake me if you knew the truth.”
“The truth?” One eyebrow rose. “You mean the fact that you paid a killer to shoot me—”
“I paid him to miss.”
She knew that, but…“Can’t really trust guys like that, you know. Sometimes, they’ll take your money and shoot whoever they want.”
His fingers trailed down her back and rested at the base of her spine. “That’s why I made sure I was between you and the gun, every single moment.” His jaw hardened. “You know what happened to him.”