A Tempest In The Night Part 39

She offered her neck. He lay over her, his mouth on her neck. His fangs extended pressed her skin down. Fire raced through her body. She fought for mental control, but it was no use. Her mind opened up to him as her blood ran down her neck and over her shoulder.

Every slurp made her womb contract. His pointy ears grew longer. Short hairs sprouted from his pores-tickled her skin. His body lengthened while on top of her. In this form, he'd tried to bite her-kill her after she hit him with her car.

Daedalus lifted his head after licking her wounds. His eyes were hard and icy as he wiped his mouth. He read her thoughts.

"Do you..." She stopped whatever it was he was going to say. As far as she was concerned, he didn't know how she really felt underneath her fears and misgivings about all this paranormal stuff. She only knew she wanted him and if he only wanted her for the duration of this mess, then fine. She could deal with that. She wasn't good at the relations.h.i.+p stuff anyway. So, he couldn't blame her when she reached for him. Long curly hairs crowned him.

"What are you doing?"

She didn't answer, instead, she opened her legs displaying herself to him-vulnerable to him.

"You don't want to do this."

Ilida positioned him at the entrance of her center. He was long and thicker. In human form, he was impressive, beautiful. In this form, he was intimidating, with an animal beauty. How could she get all of him inside her without splitting her in half? She giggled thinking about it.

"I almost killed you," he pleaded.

Ilida caressed his cheek admiring the strengthened cheekbones. She cupped his face and brought him down to her. She kissed his dark, dark lips.

"I'm no miracle," he said painfully. He still didn't trust her. He'd never done this with any of his previous women? Not even his deceased wife? No wonder he carried so much distrust for others inside him.

Well, Ilida tolerated him, took care of him, and there was no turning back. She ran her hands down his shoulders feeling the hard implacable muscles flexing, fighting for control.

Ilida cupped his hips feeling the hard muscles clench in her palms. He dwarfed her like this. His body sensitive, even in this form. Eagerly she pushed him forward. She felt him stretch her. She clenched her teeth, fought for control as he slid against her inner walls.

He wasn't the most awful thing to ever walk the earth. He was beautiful, different and all hers. She sensed him trying to be gentle, but there was no need. She could take it. She wanted it... rough. They moved in unison, writhed, stroked.

Why couldn't he see she wanted him and there was nothing to be afraid of. Hs blood was in her veins, in every pore of her body. He was in the air she breathed. She wanted his dark love. Her back arched giving him full access. Then he buried his head in the nook of her neck. His soft waves tickled her. Finally, he came filling her.

Afterwards, they lay silently, listening to the sounds of winter around them.

"Ilida? Our rescue party is here."

It happened quickly. Men dressed in North Face outerwear came in, handed them clothes. She got dressed under the blankets.

Silently they both dressed. Once outside she saw no less than twenty men. Were they like him, she wondered? He must be important to have had so many people looking for him.

She looked at all of them, then her eyes settled on one of them. He was tall like Daedalus. Alec.

Daedalus walked past her to him. His men circled around them blocking her view of them. His men-she a.s.sumed they were his men-stood around them. No words were spoken, but the men seemed to know what to do. They nodded their heads in unison and walked away. They were all telepathic, she guessed. It was a good thing she kept hers in check or Daedalus would accuse her of mental spying. They then parted and Daedalus headed towards her.

More importantly, they shared something in that tiny abandoned house. She was now privy to a world seldom seen by other humans and Daedalus trusted her with that knowledge. He'd given her a mental keepsake to have for the rest of her life.

One of his men escorted her to an SUV fitted with monster tires. Her car was hopelessly buried. Not that she was in a hurry to claim it. It was a wreck.

Finally, Daedalus approached her. He resembled a man caught between wanting to say more to her and wanting to forget she existed.

"I don't recommend going to the City now. The roads are hazardous."

"My father lives in Selden. I'll stay there until all the roads are clear."

He wasn't going to be honest with her. She could feel it. He looked uncomfortable, as if he wanted to be anywhere but there in front of her. He wanted to deny there was anything between them except the need to help each other survive. Was it possible for two strangers to have incredible intimacy and walk away?

Ilida knew there was more. She didn't enter into relations.h.i.+ps lightly. The war of emotions fought for control. The s.e.x had touched her deep inside and she didn't want to ignore it. She wished he felt the same way.

His blue-violet eyes shuttered by dark lashes as he said, "You're not going to your father's house. You're coming with me."

"Excuse you?"

"You're coming with me. No arguments. No discussions." Then he walked around to the pa.s.senger side of the jeep.

He'd already told her he was more than uncomfortable in this...she didn't know what to call it. She didn't understand it, but she wasn't his Stepford wife. She squared her shoulders and said, "I don't take orders from you or anyone."

"A new day is dawning. Get used to it!"

"Wait a minute!"

"Wait nothing! I'm keeping you safe, Illy."

"I left all those people at Tilly House."

"They're gone. If they aren't dead then they've been changed."

Dead? Her thoughts scampered behind denial. There had to be someone left. Someone who got away? "I can't...I don't believe you."

Uncertainty crept into his eyes. Then he said, "You never leave witnesses behind."

She understood that thinking. Murderers never left witnesses. Why would vampires be any different?

"Terra follows the creed: humans will never know about us."

"I know. Are you going to kill me? Your brother looks like he can't wait to." She grabbed the door handle, yanked it open, and sat down reaching for the seat belt.

Cold air made her s.h.i.+ver after he opened the driver's side door. The look in his eyes made her quake. A hint of annoyance hovered there. "Don't start a war between me and my brother. You and I are in the Hymeneal. It can't be broken by him or anyone else."

"I'm engaged to someone who doesn't want to have anything to do with me."

"You can hate me after we get something warm in your body."

She didn't hate him. She just wanted her life the way it was two months ago. "I need clothes."

"We'll get something in town."

"Someone will find my car once the snow melts."

"It will be gone before then."

"Why does Terra hate you so?"

"I foiled an attempt by her on my brother's life."

"She's a sore loser."

"Killing my daughter in response was out of proportion to that. She made it personal."

"What will you do when you find her?"

He said nothing except turn the key in the ignition. The car's engine roared.

Chapter Thirty-one

They broke away from the motorcade and drove into town for supplies. Ilida needed clothing, underwear and a new cell phone. Daedalus waited patiently, this time sporting sungla.s.ses. It was cloudy out, but the brightness of it must have bothered his eyes. The backs of her eyes stung, but she didn't call attention to it. She squinted blocking the light. They drove to the ferry landing.

"Is it a large ferry?"

"Medium sized."

"The only ferry I've ever taken is the Staten Island Ferry."

"Tena One is tiny compared to that," he smiled wryly.

"How many times a day. Sorry. Night does it run?"

"It only runs at night, and only comes when I need it."

"The Captain is telepathic?"

"Sort of. Here it comes now."

It slowly cut and pushed the ice in a steady straight path. "It's black."

"Yes, it is. Do you get sea sick?"

"Not me."

"Good."

She felt his hand pressing her back. She liked the color black. It was dark, elegant and it slimmed her ever-widening hips. When the black ferry pulled parallel to the dock she couldn't help but think about Charon and his ferry that took one to the Underworld.

The ferry sat quietly hardly moving except for when the icy waters of the Bay crunched and swayed it from side to side. What was more ominous was that no one on Tena One came out to greet them.

She scanned the window of the control tower. It seemed empty. She squinted her eyes to get a better look. No one was in there.

"After you."

"Where's the Captain?" she asked as she walked up the plank. She stepped onto the carpeted ferry floor. Daedalus followed behind her. He directed her to a seat and sat next to her.

"There is none."

She looked around, noting the dark wood paneling and the soft black cus.h.i.+oned seats.

"Second mate?"

"No."

"So..." The ferry moved slowly quietly away from the dock. She made a circular motion with her hand. "How are we moving?"

He pushed her back against the black cus.h.i.+ons of the seat. "Why not sit back and enjoy the ride."

Her b.u.t.t adhered to the seats. After enduring the sofa in the cabin, her body welcomed the simple comfort of reinforced cotton cradling her. "I would if there was someone piloting this thing."

"Some spirits don't cross over to the other side. They stay to a.s.sist or annoy the living."

"It's like a paranormal lalapalooza with you."

"Calm down, Ilida."

She shrunk down in her seat, hiked her knees up on the seat cus.h.i.+on, and wrapped her arms around her legs. She needed to insulate herself until she could get used to her new world.

"You have a lot to get used to."

"Spirits, huh?"

"You saw one when you tried to help the dying elderly man."

Ilida flinched. "That was five years ago. I made a point not to subject myself to that again."

Her heart flipped when he pressed his cool lips against her forehead. It was a kiss given to a friend. She didn't place any more importance on it.

"We're almost there," he said.

"Let's break out the Crystaal!" she said looking around her, then through the window.

"There's nothing to be afraid of, Illy. I'm here."