An Unholy Embrace Read online

  Several times while she was sleeping, he disappeared bringing back with him something for her to eat. Her heart warmed at his thoughtfulness, but it couldn't forget she was a prisoner.

  Twice he'd taken her to shower with him and he taught her the ways of loving under the spray. There too, she fought until her body betrayed her. She hated herself for giving in. Each time they were done, she swore it would be the last. To protect herself, she refused to respond to anything he said or did. It was only when he made her body sing, she came to him freely.

  Sebastian hated the fact she'd withdrawn from him. He was furious the only way he could get her to respond to him was to force her flesh to react. His body took what it needed, but their first time together had been so wondrous, it had fed his soul as well. Seeing her cry after each mating infuriated him.

  He'd been sure after a few times together, she would see the light and forgive him for enthralling her. But instead she became more and more withdrawn. She wouldn't speak to him and she wept after each joining.

  He made sure she was satisfied, yet she continued her angry silence. He refused to apologize for taking her pain away the first time. She would have to come to terms with the fact he'd done what was necessary. He would brook no interference from an angry woman.

  He put off feeding, knowing she would hate him even more, but as the days passed, he knew he would have to have nourishment. He thought of going out and finding another human, but the idea of partaking of any blood other than hers turned his stomach. He wanted Teran only. That knowledge surprised him. Never before had a lover enthralled him, but she did. Her body, her blood, even her uncertain temper. She had become necessary to him.

  How necessary, was brought forth when he awoke from his slumbers late one afternoon with the sudden, absolute knowledge her blood was the only kind that would sustain him. He was starving. He had to feed.

  Knowing how she would react, he started out by bringing her pleasure. She fought him, but it wasn't long before her need for him took over. He kissed her, murmuring softly in her ear as his hands stroked her sensitive flesh. Every moan, every gasp was a triumph for him.

  Teran writhed beneath him, lost to everything but how he made her feel. She pulled him to her and cried out as he suddenly plunged inside her. He began to move, slow steady thrusts that made her skin tingle and her insides heat. She didn't even flinch when he swept the hair from her neck and trailed his tongue over the healing wound.

  "I will not enthrall you,” he whispered to her. “I will keep the promise I gave to you."

  She moaned. His cock inside her was stroking every nerve ending. It was hard listening to anything else. He moved quicker, one hand trailing down between their bodies. He found the swollen jewel of her desire and squeezed it gently. Teran's eyes flew open as sensation rocked her body. She stared at him for a long moment as he rubbed her clit. Then, in the next heartbeat he thrust deep within her, at the same time plucking at her again. She screamed and bucked against him, mindless with pleasure.

  Sebastian kept up the pace of his thrusts, but hunger of another type overwhelmed him. As she screamed her release, he bit down into the vein that held her life's blood. The taste of her fueled his climax and he shuddered as he exploded inside her.

  Chapter Six

  Teran screamed again, this time in pain. She fought him, but she wasn't strong enough. He held her easily. She could do nothing but lie in his arms and weep as he took the needed food.

  This time, Sebastian stopped before he drank too much from her. He wanted to show her he could be trusted. He licked at the wound, cleaning it and then kissed her throat. But when he tried to kiss her lips, she pulled away. His eyes narrowed angrily.

  "Still, you turn from me?” he demanded. “I am sorry for the pain, but if you would allow me to enthrall you—"

  "I don't want you to touch me!” she cried, pulling away from him. She curled up in a small ball. “I just want you to leave me alone!"

  He growled and rolled off the bed. His heart ached in pain. He had fed fully and wanted nothing more than to mate with his lover again, but her bitter words wounded him. Suddenly, he'd had enough.

  "Then I will ... for now. I will leave you to yourself while I shower.” He walked around to her side of the bed and tipped up her chin so she would have to look at him. “Then little one ... I will have you again.” He bared his fangs at her in a cold, furious smile and turning on his heel, left the room.

  Teran shuddered and wrapped her arms around herself. She was losing herself to him, she could feel it. His touch, his scent, everything about him still pulled at her. If only she could trust him, things could be different, but he'd shown his true colors. He was a man ... no ... a vampire with no feelings.

  She heard the shower running. Suddenly, she realized that for the first time, he'd left her alone. Did he think her so beaten that she wouldn't escape? She leapt from the bed and raced to the window. Throwing back the heavy curtains, she blinked as the harsh sunlight filled the room. Her heart pounded. It was late, but the night was still a little ways off. If she could just get outside, she would be free.

  Vampires couldn't walk in the daylight.

  Grabbing her dress, she quickly pulled it on and snatched up her shoes. She would need nothing else. She ran out of the bedroom, but her heart stopped when she couldn't hear the water any more. She didn't have much time. Swiftly, she turned and ran down the stairs and through the comfortable sitting room where they had shared their first kiss.

  "Teran?"

  She looked back over her shoulder, her eyes wide with fear. He was still upstairs, but he was looking for her. She ran to the front door. Her hands, made clumsy by lack of blood and fear, fumbled with the locks.

  "TERAN!!!"

  She gave a sob. She was discovered. She got the first lock open and started on the next. She heard the pounding of his feet on the stairs behind her. The second lock opened and with a frightened cry, she pulled open the door.

  "NO!"

  A hand crashed down on her shoulder, but with a strength borne of desperation, she jerked away and fled outside. Sunlight bathed her face. She ran far away from the house and then turned.

  Sebastian stood on the porch, gloriously naked; his long wet hair sending trails of water streaking down his body. For the first time she really saw him ... saw how beautiful he was. He looked like a master's painting of a fallen angel. His body was lean and hard, with corded muscles that flexed as his hands curled into fists. His shaft, still semi-hard, made her eyes widen in wonder.

  His chest heaved as he glared down at her. His eyes were the color of angry rubies. Holding her gaze, he stepped off of the porch ... and into the sunlight.

  Teran held her breath. Were the old stories more lies then? Her eyes filled with tears. Was she still his prisoner?

  Several steps into the clearing, he stopped and flinched. His eyes still glowed angrily, but now they were filled with pain as well. She cried out when she saw his flesh begin to smolder and peel. Her heart almost stopped beating.

  "Oh God, Sebastian ... go back ... you're burning up!” She wept then, knowing in that instant she loved him as much as she hated him.

  He took another step toward her, and then another, but finally the agony was too great. With a shout of rage, he turned and ran back to the shelter of the shaded porch.

  Teran collapsed where she stood, still weeping in reaction. She buried her face in her hands. He was safe. Oh God ... he was safe and he couldn't leave the house. That meant ... that meant ... she was free!

  "Teran...” his voice entreated. “Do not do this. Come back to me."

  She lifted her wet face and stared at him. In his eyes she saw a desperation she didn't understand. Was she more than just food? Did he want more than her body? Might he actually need her? Could he learn to love her?

  Then he held out his hand. “Come to me, Teran."

  Her brain suddenly struggled to think. When she felt the pull of his voice, she shook her head groggily
. She was so tired. Maybe she should just go in and lay down. He wouldn't hurt—

  Her heart crashed to her feet. It was him. After everything she'd said, he was still trying to steal her mind.

  "Stay out of my head!” she screamed at him.

  Sebastian dropped his hand, knowing that she was too far away for him to enthrall properly. The only reason she felt anything was because of the intimacies they had shared. He clenched his fists, furious at her and at himself. “I will come after you,” he growled. “You will not escape me."

  She stared at him. “Let me go,” she whispered. “Don't you understand? It will never be right again."

  Despair washed through him. Would she always fight him? He'd been so sure that he could use her need for him against her. Didn't she know what they shared was special? The pain he saw on her face almost destroyed him. Even if he stole her away from the village, would she ever be truly his? His chest hurt, as he wondered how he could bring her back to him. He wouldn't let her go ... he couldn't. He watched in silence as she put her shoes on and then stood.

  She hesitated for a long moment, as if she wanted to say something. Her eyes searched his. Then she sighed and brushed away her tears. “Goodbye, Sebastian."

  He watched as she walked out of the clearing and into the forest. How long he stood there, he didn't know, but dusk was licking at the porch steps when he finally sank to his knees. His voice was a cry in the night.

  "TERAN!!!"

  Chapter Seven

  (one month later)

  He was driven from his house by hunger. Ever since she had left him, he'd been existing on the blood of animals, but tonight was All Hallows Eve. The one day a vampire had to take human blood or die.

  He slipped through the forest like a shadowy, dark wraith. His soul ... alive for such a short time, was cold and dead again. Nothing mattered to him now. Sebastian had learned too late, Teran was the only one who could sustain him. The perfection of their mating was because they were soulmates, destined for each other. He had destroyed it by abusing her trust.

  He'd gone after her as he said he would. As soon as night came fully, he followed her trail to a small shack on the edge of town. He waited in the shadows of a nearby oak until he saw her walking back from town. When she was close enough for him to touch, he stepped out into the moonlight.

  She froze like a rabbit when confronted by a predator. They stared at each other for what seemed to be an eternity, before he reached out and gently touched her cheek. She trembled, just as she did before coming apart in his arms during a climax. He wanted her so badly he moved to lift her into his arms. It was then he saw the tear.

  It hovered on an eyelash, turning it into a watery piece of art. Then, even though she was held motionless by his gaze, it fell, landing on her face to slide in a silvery trail down her soft cheek.

  It told him a story. It said even if he took her back to his home, he would never truly have her. Her body might be his, but that wasn't enough. Now he wanted more. He knew he couldn't steal her away. He, one of the strongest vampires of his time was defeated by a woman's tears.

  So he'd left her, turning on his heel and melting back into the shadows from whence he came.

  That had been a full moon cycle ago. He glanced up. The moon was at its fullest, just in time for All Hallows Eve. He wondered if he would have to actually go into town to take his prey, or if he would be lucky and some human might stray across his path. What would he do if he came across her ... Teran? Would he be damned by taking what was rightfully his? Or damned by walking away from her? His heart twisted in a pain he had felt all too often in the last month.

  His head shot up and his gut twisted when he heard the scream. Every instinct in his body shrieked to life. Without thinking he turned and ran towards it. It was her. Teran was in trouble.

  With supernatural speed he raced through the trees. He heard her scream again, but this time it was cut off in mid cry. His gut clenched. For the first time in centuries, he sent a prayer up to heaven. Let him be in time.

  He burst into a clearing and snarled at the sight that met his eyes. Teran ... his Teran was tied to a tree. Four men surrounded her, one with his pants around his ankles. As Sebastian started toward them, one of the men slapped Teran across the face and laughed.

  Fury swept through him. It would be the last time the mortal drew a breath.

  * * * *

  Teran cringed away from Silas. He'd already had his hands on her and when she screamed, he'd back-handed her and then gagged her with her own blouse. Now she was trussed up and helpless and very soon each of these men would rape her. She gave a muffled sob, knowing no one would save her this time.

  Her frightened mind flashed to Sebastian. He alone wanted to protect her. He'd made mistakes, but she'd been a fool to leave him. Even if he didn't love her, he wanted her. It was her stupid pride that had kept them apart. Now it was too late. She wouldn't survive what they had planned for her.

  She looked away when Silas dropped his pants, but when he tried to rip her panties off, she kicked him right in the groin. There was no time to celebrate, because he slapped her so hard, everything went black for a moment. She felt his hand at her crotch and she tried to scream again. It was then that all hell broke loose.

  It was Sebastian!

  Silas was lifted from her and tossed like a rag doll across the glade. The other men screamed and tried to run, but she watched in a kind of horrified glee as Sebastian picked up one of them and literally ripped his head off. He gave a roar of rage and threw the bloody head into the trees. The mangled body fell at her feet.

  The second man was slammed to the ground. Sebastian straddled him and with one slash of his hand, tore his heart out. But he didn't stop there. His anger was so great he ripped the man's body apart as easily as a child might pull the legs off a fly.

  When he was finished, he searched for the last man, but he was gone. One look at Sebastian and he'd taken to his heels. The vampire bared his teeth and glanced around. Spying the hapless Silas, who was crawling away with his pants around his ankles, his eyes glowed.

  He was on him before the rapist could take his next breath. Sebastian lifted the man and slammed him against a tree. He took him by the throat and squeezed.

  Silas clawed at his hands, his eyes bulging in his face but Sebastian ignored him. He leaned in and licked the side of the man's throat. The sweet-sour smell of urine filled his nostrils as his captive's bladder let go. He gave the rapist a shake that rattled his teeth.

  "You dare to touch what is mine. For that you will die, human."

  Silas's mouth gaped as he tried to draw in a breath. He read his death in the vampire's eyes. He struggled again, but to no avail. Without another word, Sebastian bared his fangs and tore the man's throat out.

  He let the body fall to the ground, spitting out the taste of the man's blood. He wiped his arm across his mouth, already tracking the man who'd run, in his mind. If he hurried, he could still catch the bastard.

  A small noise made him pause. Suddenly, he stiffened, remembering the bound woman behind him. He whipped around and met Teran's wide frightened eyes. The fleeing man disappeared from his thoughts.

  His heart sank. She had seen him kill. Not just kill, but utterly destroy. Now she knew of the beast that lived in him. His shoulders slumped. No matter he'd done it for her, now that she'd seen his true nature, he would have no chance of winning her back.

  He walked to her, kicking the one body out of the way. Her flinch made him grit his teeth, but he stepped in front of her and removed the gag.

  "Are you alright?” he asked hoarsely.

  She nodded as he untied her hands from above her head. Then he froze in shock when she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. She burst into tears and his arms came up to cradle her gently.

  "Shhh, little one. It is over. You are safe now."

  Chapter Eight

  For the first time in a month Teran felt whole again. Being in his
arms was all she dreamed of at night. She replayed the times they'd been together, over and over again. It was all she had in her lonely bed at night. She had left a part of herself behind when she left him. She'd learned very quickly she wasn't whole without him. As his hands moved over her gently, soothingly, she couldn't believe she'd run from him in the first place.

  She rubbed her face against his strong chest, uncaring of the blood that covered him. All she knew was that she was home. Finally, home.

  Sebastian's throat tightened as he held her close to him. He wasn't sure exactly what was happening, but he'd missed her so much. Having her in his arms again made his whole body throb in need. But he wouldn't touch her. Not in that way. She'd made her choice and he would have to honor it. Even if living without her was killing him ... literally. He would make sure that she was safe, no matter what happened to him.

  When she raised her face to his, he drew in his breath at the expression on it. He'd never thought to have a woman look at him in such a way. Wonderingly, he touched her cheek, his chest tightening with hope.

  "Teran?"

  She smiled and her tears overflowed again. “I love you, Sebastian."

  His own eyes burned as he crushed her against him. He wanted to shout his joy to the moon, but a part of him hesitated. “But ... you ran from me. And now you see that I ... I am an animal."

  She shook her head as she met his eyes. “You were wrong to have numbed my mind, but you only did it to protect me. I shouldn't have been so angry. And what you did here?” She shook her head. “Again, you were protecting me. How can I fault you for that?"

  Sebastian couldn't believe what he was hearing. He cradled her face in his hands. “I am what I am, Teran. A vampire. I can never change that. This...” he gestured around him, “is just one of the things I am capable of. You take a risk being with me."