Blood and Bondage Read online

  With a simple nod of the head, Eva pivoted on her heels and left him in peace. While he’d missed his best friend like crazy, he preferred to be alone. He needed to think. There were a host of details he had to work out in his head.

  First and foremost, he had to come to grips with the fact that not all vampires were ruthless pricks. Over the last few months, he’d seen countless examples of selfless sacrifice on their part. Andreas had been the instigator of the bunch. But following in his illustrious footsteps, Bobby and Anaïs had made him stand up and take notice. There were bloodsuckers roaming the streets of New York City that weren’t half bad. In fact, they’d fought against their own kind when push came to shove.

  Then there was Anaïs. She’d turned out to be something rare and special. He enjoyed her witty sense of humor and that sassy swagger she possessed. Yet deep down, Oliver knew it was all a cover. A way for her to keep people from getting too close. In that regard, they were a lot alike. The only difference, the method with which they’d employed.

  While Oliver delved into his work as a strategic planner, ordering his troops to carry out missions that helped to abolish vampires and similar creatures from the streets, Anaïs had embraced the dark, seedier side of life. However, both had done so in an effort to escape from a far worse fate. She’d relished the idea of joining the ranks of the undead so she could run away from her father’s earth-shattering betrayal. Later, she sought revenge by murdering similar men who no doubt deserved their death sentence.

  Oliver, on the other hand, substituted fear and insecurity, with vengeance and hate. His misguided view of the supernatural had been born from his family’s horrific experience at the hands of Adolf Hitler, a madman not much different from the one the vampire coven had recently locked up. If nothing else, the last few weeks had taught him to understand that the world was filled with both bad and good. Not all things were necessarily black and white. There were creatures like Anaïs who blurred the lines of right and wrong and appeared in miraculous shades of grey.

  Oliver had no way to tell which side of good and evil the bloodsuckers he’d already sent to the afterlife had stood. The only solace he regarded was the fact that from that day forward, he’d think twice before staking a vampire in the chest. By killing them without just cause, he’d be as guilty as any ruthless murderer.

  The truth of his existence weighed heavy on Oliver’s heart. The one path he knew to begin the long, arduous process of repenting for his sins would be to fly to Paris and make amends with Anaïs. If need be, he’d get down on his knees and beg for her forgiveness.

  Chapter Sixteen

  From Paris, With Love

  Anaïs sat beside to the second story window of her Parisian flat, overlooking the picturesque River Seine. The sun was still descending and it cast a sublime shadow over the water’s edge. She watched as a boat or two drifted by, then closed her eyes and inhaled the aromatic floral scent that washed over her senses. Once her lashes fluttered back up, tears swam in the depths of her clouded stare. She rubbed the indentation at the side of her buttocks, which suddenly itched. It was the spot where her purple and gold tattoo wound down the crevice toward the entrance to her womb. That same fragrant wildflower grew in the six-by-two inch box perched on the rail of her balcony.

  Memories of Oliver and the short time they’d spent together came to her in flashbacks like an impossible fantasy that had somehow been fulfilled. Her heartbeat quickened at the thought of the bitter sweet recollection. Oh how her fingers itched with the need to reach out and touch him. But the man was thousands of miles away. Unfortunately, Anaïs left, deserting him as she had all the rest.

  Two weeks had passed and now it was pointless to take a step back. Even if she did, there’d be no guarantee he’d welcome her with open arms. After all, Anaïs lived as a vampire and he, her sworn enemy. A relationship between the two of them would never withstand the test of time.

  Too bad. It seemed love came too little, too late.

  Yes, Anaïs spoke the truth. Somewhere along the way, she’d let her emotions get the best of her and fallen for Oliver. His gruff, protective exterior had broken down her barriers, inexplicably lodging the human in her heart. But she knew it would never last. She didn’t want to make the effort. While Anaïs admired Andreas and Eva and their unborn child for fighting against the odds, there wasn’t a chance in hell she’d survive the same kind of struggle. It’d be like banging her head on a wall over and over again.

  Instead, Anaïs locked herself in her one room flat, sequestered away from the rest of the world. The only time she left the comfort of the black velvet couch in which she sat was to find sustenance or provide instruction for the three future prima ballerinas she’d brought under her master tutelage.

  However, Anaïs did have one pastime. She was a people watcher. While she rarely ventured outdoors, she enjoyed observing the unique eccentricities of those who walked below her window. On a bridge by the river’s edge, a mime stood on a platform posing for photographs and soliciting tips by virtue of his wide brimmed hat. A few feet away, a homeless woman with a tattered black trench coat pushed a shopping cart that stored her entire life’s worth.

  Behind them both, a handsome fellow with partly-shaved salt and pepper hair strolled by, scanning the sides of the buildings as if in search of a specific address. He reminded her of George Clooney, the good looking American actor she’d coveted for years from afar. The man turned suddenly, then ascended the stairwell that led to a nearby apartment. An awning below prohibited her from following the exact route the man had taken.

  Then a knock sounded at her door. Anaïs’s eyes shot open and her pulse began to race. Could it possibly be? Had Oliver traveled halfway across the globe to capture her heart? She stood abruptly, her knees almost buckling underneath her. She held onto the furniture on the way to the door, propping her body up to keep from toppling over. Anaïs held her breath as she pulled on the knob, afraid to jinx herself. When she saw Oliver on the other side of the threshold, her voice momentarily caught in her throat and she was unable to speak.

  “Aren’t you going to invite me in?” Oliver asked with a heart stopping grin.

  “Of course,” Anaïs managed to say as she took a step back to allow him to enter her flat. “But what are you doing in Paris?”

  Without warning, Oliver grabbed her around the waist and yanked her into the ridge of his hip. His partial erection wedged right below her navel. The proximity to her pussy made her body shutter and quake. “I’m here to claim what’s rightfully mine. It’d be easier if you surrendered willingly, but if not, it’ll have to be by force.”

  Before Anaïs could respond, his lips descended upon hers, demanding total submission. The salty, sweet flavor of his tongue swirled around in her mouth as he arched her backward, then led her down to lie on the settee. Oliver snatched up both her wrists, and held them suspended above her head. The rough grip he had on her would no doubt cause bruises to form.

  For a brief moment, Anaïs managed to pull away. “Do you mind if we try this the more traditional way for once? No whips or chains. I’ve had enough excitement these last few weeks to last a lifetime.”

  “On the contrary, my love. Things are just starting to heat up. But I promise, I’ll go easy on you.” Oliver untied the red silk robe she wore and let it fall to the floor. Underneath, she was completely bare. He ran the palms of his hands over the tender flesh of her breasts. Taking Anaïs’s nipple in one hand, he rolled the plumpness between his thumb and index finger until it sprang to life. At the same time, he worshiped the other nipple by biting the tip with his teeth.

  Anaïs groaned at the suction from his mouth. It made her clitoris throb and her insides clench. Then, Oliver let his hands wander, skimming the sensitive skin of her belly until he reached the neatly-trimmed bundle of curls at the apex of her sex. His thumb caressed her engorged nub continuing further down in order to part her moist folds.

  Anaïs took hold of her lover, fisting her han
ds in his shirt. She fumbled with its buttons for several minutes, then wretched the material from his broad shoulders. Finally, she felt the smoothness of his naked flesh against her fingertips, tracing the angular ridges of his muscular frame.

  “Remove your pants, Oliver. Please.” Anaïs said, pure lust reflected in her beautiful amber gaze. “I’m dying to taste you again.”

  Slow and deliberate, Oliver started to undo his belt. But Anaïs proved impatient. She jerked on the cinch, then pulled the trousers to his ankles. The vampire sank to her knees, taking the head of his cock into her mouth. She lowered her lips over the length of his shaft, and waited for it to graze the base of her throat. Anaïs cupped his ass as she moved up and down over his thick ridges.

  Suddenly, Oliver reared back, retreating from the shelter of her warm heat. “Stop. I don’t want to come. Not yet.” He picked Anaïs up and draped her over the luxurious settee. He pushed open her wobbly thighs, then settled between her legs. His cock hovered at the entrance to her womb, sending minute twinges of desire shooting through her from head to foot.

  “Go ahead, Oliver. Fuck me.

  Oliver chuckled, but pivoted his hips as he did. The tip of his shaft dipped inside, coating the pulsing organ with her free-flowing nectar. At the moment of penetration, Anaïs screamed in pleasure. It felt so damn good, she nearly melted in his arms. The vampire grabbed hold of his shoulders, dug her razor sharp nails into his malleable flesh, and then held on for the ride.

  Right when she thought she would come, Oliver bucked up off the couch and flipped over onto his back. With Anaïs straddling his waist, he took hold of hips and forced her to move at the pace that he set. Yet the vampire wouldn’t be one upped. She shifted her weight, grinding her clit against his throbbing erection. The fast tempo they kept made Oliver’s balls slap hard against skin. No doubt the feminine juices that drizzled down the slope of his rear helped lessen the inevitable sting.

  “Oh God! Here it comes.” Her human lover growled like a beast between his clenched teeth.

  Hot and potently powerful, Oliver’s semen spewed inside her spasming flesh. A split second later, Anaïs shattered into a million little pieces. Her pussy tightened around the base of his cock. She screamed something fierce, then crumpled over onto his chest. Breath escaped from her lungs in short, distorted gasps.

  Before she could protest, Oliver once more cut a small slit above his pectoral muscle. Then, he placed a drop of blood on his lover’s lip, enticing her to drink. She found his flavor impossible to resist and guzzled until she was full.

  After Anaïs had finished, she propped herself up on her elbows and stared at Oliver. He had a cheerful, well-sated expression on his face. “Why’d you do that?”

  “Why wouldn’t I?” He said, cocking his head to the side as if perturbed. “It’s my job to see to my woman’s needs. In fact, I’d prefer if you didn’t feed from other men.”

  “So now I’m your woman?”

  “You sure as hell are! And if you don’t hop in the shower and get dressed, I’ll have to drag you out of here like a caveman. Now hurry, we’ve got a plane to catch.”

  Anaïs sat back on her knees and crossed her arms over her breasts. Her eyebrows furrowed and her body stiffened. But her rigid stature had nothing to do with anger or fear; it was doubt. The nagging feeling of insecurity a person might get watching dreams teeter on the edge of reality.

  “Are you serious? How can you be so sure it will work? There are so many obstacles to overcome.” It was true. There were countless details that had to be figured out. What would she do with her apartment and the dance studio below? And those were just the insignificant factors to consider.

  Relationships were tough enough for two people of the same species. How would her friends, notably those of the vampire persuasion, react once they hear the news that she’d shacked up with a human? The counsel general of the BPA, no less.

  “Anaïs,” Oliver said, reaching up to caress her cheek. “I love you. With whatever time I have left on earth, I’ll do my best to show you just how much. I don’t care what other people think.”

  Lord help me! I’ve fallen in love with a madman. Anaïs mumbled the words using her silent, inner voice. Immediately, Oliver’s eyes darted from left to right. He scratched his chin suspiciously, a habit she’d grown accustom to seeing. No doubt, he’d monitored the banter inside her head.

  “Did you hear that voice? I must be going crazy.” His sarcasm obvious as he gingerly rolled Anaïs over onto her back, then crushed his body over hers. Pinned against the cushions of the settee, he showered his soul mate with sweet, passionate kisses. “As soon as we get back to New York, you’ll have to tie me up and confine me to the nearest bed.”

  The End

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  Other Books by Annalynne Russo:

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  Evernight Publishing

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