The Alpha's Read online

  David’s grin deepened. “And who are we to argue?”

  Before his friend could disappear, Henri put a hand on his shoulder to get his attention. “We have more than the merman to discuss. Find me later.” Reassured by his nod, Henri too made to leave. He had some explaining to do and a spell to break.

  “I take it you found yourself a little treat too, leech.”

  Xander’s snide comment stopped him in his tracks and he snapped his reply, keeping a careful rein on his temper. Now was not the time to teach the fleabag another lesson. “And that is your business because, mutt?”

  The shifter just shrugged as they made it to the door leading to the restrooms.

  “No reason, just wanted to point out you only got her when she was affected by the siren though, didn’t ya? Seems you have lost your allure, leech.” And Xander disappeared through the door to the restrooms with a smile on his face.

  Fils de pute, that dog was going to pay for that smile, just as soon as he dealt with the enticing female waiting for him at home.

  Chapter Three

  God, she felt sick. Whatever had just happened, and she didn’t even want to think about exactly what had happened, her stomach had just about enough. She glanced into the full-length antique mirror on the opposite wall from the one she leaned on and grimaced. Her reflection showed a bedraggled version of herself. The color of her cheeks was too high in a face as pale as death itself. Her eyes were huge dark pools, her clothing in disarray. Bile rose in her throat and she heaved. Curling her bare toes into the plush carpet, she tried to concentrate on just breathing. She hated being sick and she didn’t want to throw up in this strange place. God only knew where she was. It seemed to be some sort of foyer, bigger than her living room. How the other half live and all that.

  Slowly the desperate cramping of her stomach muscles ceased, and she released the death grip she had on a small side table, yet another antique. She was no expert, but it looked like it wouldn’t have been out of place in Versailles.

  Willing her feet to move and ignoring the completely inappropriate low hum of arousal in her core, which only increased with every step she took, she tentatively inspected her surroundings. Sheesh, it was like she had stepped back in time or something. After several minutes of aimless wandering along corridors, she found the stainless steel kitchen, the only modern thing in the place and was abysmally small for the mini mansion she found herself in. Rattling the huge, double front door achieved absolutely nothing. It didn’t even quaver slightly. Oh, shit! Terror made her heart beat faster and her breathing increase until she almost hyperventilated.

  Stay calm. You’re safe.

  Calm? Safe? Ha! She heard voices in her head, she was the horniest she could ever remember being, she was trapped, she couldn’t find her phone, and she was supposed to stay calm? Damn it! Her phone. She must have lost it at the same time she lost her shoes in the whirlwind…what was it exactly…teleportation? Get a grip girl, this isn’t Star Trek!

  Mind you, right now, that explanation seemed as good as any. How else could she explain what happened to her? None of this made sense, and oh!—she screwed her eyes shut as a new wave of pleasure threatened to overwhelm her. What was wrong with her?

  There had to be a way out of here. She had to get home to Hope. The thought of her daughter spurred her on, past the throbbing between her legs and up the wide, curved staircase, lined with oil paintings. Noelle’s eyes grew wider, recognizing the artists represented—van Gogh, Rembrandt, Matisse.

  Craziness, that’s what this was. She gave up on counting the bedrooms and simply sank down to the floor in what she assumed must be the master bedroom. Decorated entirely in what looked like late eighteenth century style, it was dominated by the huge four-poster bed. Oh God, don’t look at that bed either. She was still far too close to the edge to go anywhere near a bed and somehow she doubted she would find a vibrator in those dainty bedside stands.

  The loud thud of the front door, followed by complete silence had her scrambling to her feet. Who had just come in? She willed her breathing to slow down, lest it gave her away. She needed a weapon, what could she—

  Her eyes fell on the expensive looking crystal vase artfully perched on a pedestal next to her. Without pausing to think further, she swung round at the same time as Henri glided into the room. The vase shattered against the side of his face, shards of it raining to the floor. Noelle stepped back in shock at what she had just done. Henri’s low grunt registered at the same time as the pain in her foot as she stepped on one of the razor sharp fragment of glass on the floor.

  “Merde, you little fool, you’ll do yourself an injury.” Henri grumbled in her ear as he picked her up and unceremoniously dumped her on the huge bed. His eyes sparkled like black jewels in his barely suppressed fury, and Noelle watched in horror as his white shirt turned crimson. There was a slash on his cheek where the vase had cut in and another on his throat, precariously close to his artery.

  Oh, my God, what have I done? “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. Oh, my God, you’re hurt. We need to call an ambulance.” Terror drove her on, and she scrambled to her knees. She ran her fingers over his chest, fumbling with the buttons in her haste to see what more damage there may be, not daring to look up at his face. She couldn’t bear to see that wound again. God, what was wrong with her? She never resorted to violence like this, never, and he was Hope’s father, damn it. How could she do this? He may be a jerk, but she knew he wouldn’t hurt her, at least not physically.

  “Belle, as much as I would love for you to undress me, there is no need. I’m fine.” His large hands on hers stilled her feverish attempts, and the mocking words finally registered over the frantic beating of her heart.

  “How can you say that? You’re not fine, there is too much blood. We—” His grip under her chin forced her to look up at him, freezing her protests. As she watched, the lacerations on his throat and cheek closed in front of her eyes. But that was impossible, unless…”What in the world are you?”

  The man—thing, whatever he was—froze at her whispered words, and the brief glimpse of pain she caught in the indigo depths of his eyes before he looked away, spoke to her more than any words could have. The coolness of his skin seeped into her hands still resting on his shirt and she bit her lip to stop from reacting further as all the puzzle pieces clicked into place. It all made sense now. From the minute she had spotted him all these years ago, she had been unable to resist him, and even now all her body wanted was for him to bury his cock deep inside her, damn the consequences. Her hands moved over the muscles in his chest of their own accord, traveling up to his throat over the just-closed tear. They skimmed along the strong jaw, stopping just short of his full mouth. She watched his fangs descend with a soft click.

  “What do you think I am, ma belle?” His deep voice washed over her, increasing the tingles in her core. Moisture pooled between her legs and she couldn’t quite stop her low moan of arousal. He tightened his hold on her arms for a moment before he pushed her away. “Noelle, listen to me, there is something you need to know. You’re not yourself.” He paused, shaking his head at her as she strained to get closer to him. “If you were, you’d be running away screaming by now, not looking at me with come-fuck-me eyes.”

  Instead of appalling her, the crude words sent a renewed burst of her juices into her already drenched knickers. She locked her fingers behind his neck, but he wouldn’t budge, even as she tried to close the distance between them.

  His voice was a low rumble in her ear. “Noelle, listen, you’re under a spell. What you feel right now, it’s not real.”

  Damn him, he talked too much. She so needed to come. Of course she was under a goddamn spell, one of his doing. She hardly recognized the needy voice coming out of her mouth, pleading with him. “I don’t care, just—please, I want you.”

  “Sacre bleu!” The curse hung between them for agonizing minutes before he pulled her into his long frame. Noelle held her breath at the feel of
his fangs scraping along the sensitized skin of her neck. “You have no idea what you’re asking of me, ma petite.”

  He chuckled at her groan of frustration before tilting her head up and searching her face. She stopped breathing when he let his fangs run out fully. He pushed her back on the huge bed with deliberate slowness, his eyes glittering with intent. His hands left a slow trail of goose bumps along her exposed skin as he trailed them down her legs until he reached her foot.

  “What have you done to yourself, belle?”

  He pulled the small piece of crystal out of her foot and Noelle cried out at the sudden, sharp pain before it was replaced by sensation. His mouth closed over the wound, his fangs sank in, and Noelle stopped thinking all together. Peaks of intense pleasure traveled up from her toe with every suck. Her heated blood traveled faster through her body and she bowed off the bed when the sparks skimming along her body reached her core. The heat between her legs built to unbearable levels and she moaned at the loss of his mouth on her foot.

  “Easy, ma belle. I’ve got you.” The words whispered along her skin. He smiled and proceeded to lick up the inside of her leg. When he finally reached her inner thigh, she was so aroused that his cool exhale on her clit sent her tumbling over the edge screaming his name.

  When her breathing returned to normal, and the room came back into focus, Henri was watching her through hooded eyes, his expression wary.

  “How are you feeling now?”

  How was she feeling now? She had just acted like a complete hussy and he asked her how she was feeling? “Never mind how I’m feeling. Tell me where the hell we are and what has happened to my friends.”

  Damn it, she was still too close to him, and she felt too exposed after what they had just shared. Her body hummed with small aftershocks and he’d barely touched her. Judging by the huge bulge in his trousers, it was at considerable cost to him. She hastily brought her eyes back up to his face and tucked her skirt a bit lower over herself, causing him to smile.

  “What’s so damned funny, Henri?”

  “Nothing, belle, I was just remembering the night we met.” The smirk on his face deepened and she almost smiled back. He really was gorgeous when his face lit up like that. Remember, girl, he’s a vampire—Oh…my…God!

  “Did you use your magic on me then too? Was that why I ended up in your bed, same as today, so you could have your fun, and then bugger off?” God, she hated the way her voice wobbled, and what did it matter anyway? If he’d cared, he would have stayed and told her what he was.

  “That’s not the way it was, belle. Whatever you felt for me that night was genuine and I left because there could never be a future for us. You deserve better than getting involved with a monster.”

  Damn the man. There was that barely concealed flash of pain again and her heart constricted painfully. And as for a future, there was Hope. How on earth was she going to tell him about Hope and what did all this mean for her daughter? Dread filled her at the thought and she whispered, “Are you a monster?”

  His answering laugh lacked any mirth and he shook his head. Those compelling eyes connected with hers and she lost herself in the intensity of his gaze before his vicious curse startled her. “Most humans would say so, ma petit. But for what it’s worth, I gave up killing mortals long ago. I need very little blood to survive these days and there are usually willing donors.”

  The thought of what that involved sent an icy shiver through her being. “Like me, you mean?”

  “Non, mon coeur, I merely healed your wound tonight.” He gestured to her foot, and sure enough, there was now no sign of any injury. “And I helped break the spell. Well, I hope anyway. Judging by the fact that you don’t want to jump my bones anymore, I would hazard a guess my plan worked.”

  “What spell?” Now what is he going on about?

  “It’s what I tried to tell you earlier. There was a merman at the bar tonight. He used his siren call to enslave you and your friends to want to have sex with him or any other willing man. It’s why I had to get you out of there so fast.”

  “A what? You’re kidding, right? Mermen don’t exist.” She blushed at his raised eyebrow. Yeah, that was a stupid thing to say. She was looking at a vampire for pity’s sake, and—shit! Her friends. “What about the rest of the girls? You said he aimed his song at all of us. God, we have to go back and make sure they’re okay. They could be going off with anybody if that’s the case.”

  His amused laugh sparked her temper. What was so damned funny? He caught the fist aimed at his gut in one of his hands and her anger evaporated like a wisp of smoke in the wind when he gently pried her fingers open and dropped a kiss on her palm.

  “They’re safe, belle. Trust me. There were a lot of supes at the club tonight and your friends are all taken care of.”

  “You mean they are all now being shagged senseless by God only knows who?” She couldn’t help but glance toward that ever-growing bulge in his trousers as she ground out the words, blushing anew at his soft reply.

  “Seems to be the only way to break the spell, ma petite. Why the pout? Anyone would think you’re envious.”

  He’d moved closer while he spoke, close enough for his dry scent to invade her senses and Noelle swallowed nervously at the sudden heat she saw in his eyes. The air almost crackled with the tension surrounding them, and when he leaned further still, his mouth hovering over hers, she made no move to stop him. His cool lips met hers, his breath fanned her face, and Noelle lost the ability to think when his tongue caressed her lips between whispered French endearments, coaxing her to open for him. God, she wanted him so badly and this time she couldn’t blame any spell.

  Her hands pushed against his chest, encountering hard muscle, and she groaned, allowing his tongue access to the recesses of her mouth. The kiss that followed stunned her with the gentleness involved, even as his fangs grazed her lips, and he took the kiss deeper. His hands skimmed her curves and he broke away only long enough to pull her top over her head. The cool air made her already erect nipples strain further against the confines of her lacy bra. She gasped into his mouth when he pinched one nipple. He kissed his way down her neck, over her collarbone toward her bra, and bit the other nipple through the lacy confines. Fire traveled through her veins when he freed her breasts from their restraints and lifted them up to his mouth, alternating bites with soothing kisses.

  Noelle was lost in sensation, every pull of his tongue, every sting of his teeth, sent messages down to her clit, which pulsed in need, and lifted her hips toward him in silent invitation. When he finally abandoned her breasts and worked his way south with little nibbles along her quivering tummy, she could barely speak, her voice a needy whimper of drawn out pleasure.

  “Henri, I…stop…oh God, that feels so good…”

  A sharp nip on her inner thigh had her grabbing his hair and yanking him upward to where she needed him most, her need to come overriding any conscious thought. She had to tell him about Hope, but the words just didn’t form over the moans and sighs as he latched onto that swollen bundle of nerves and, once again, sent her into a cataclysmic orgasm. His fingers were inside her, stroking and kneading her G-spot as his tongue worked her clit mercilessly.

  Lost in the onslaught on her senses, she feverishly pulled at his clothes until her hands found bare skin, and she whispered her approval when his cock sprang free into her hand. His urgent growl in her ear made her stroke him harder until he flipped her back on the bed with a muttered curse.

  She wrapped her legs around his hips, and in one swift move, his cock slid home. Pain mixed with pleasure as he lifted her ass and pulled all the way out, only to drive himself deeper with every ball-slapping thrust that followed, his harsh breath in her ear matching her own ragged breathing. Her internal muscles closed around him, drawing him in further still, the coolness of his cock a direct contrast to the heat building between them. He pounded her into the bed, muttering words she didn’t understand in his frantic pace. She clung onto his s
houlders, a slave to her body’s demands as it matched his, thrust for thrust, until the pressure built to unbearable levels. Release, when it came, was so overwhelmingly intense that Noelle could do nothing else but scream. He joined her with a low growl of completion before he collapsed on top of her.

  When their breathing finally slowed down enough, Henri rolled off her with a tender kiss on the nose and tucked her into his side. Sleep claimed Noelle before he even pulled the covers over them both with a murmured, “Dormez bien, mon amour.”

  Chapter Four

  Henri watched the sleeping woman in his arms for a long time, his chest suspiciously tight, his thoughts troubled. Curled trustingly into his side, she sighed in her sleep, her warm hand branding his chest right where his ancient heart beat an unsteady rhythm. Her glorious hair spread over his chest and covered the dried blood left over from his previous injuries. His heart missed a thump, recalling the terrified look in her expressive eyes when she’d thought he was hurt. His silly little human was too compassionate, one of the many reasons why he’d been drawn to her from the start. The connection between them was instant and explosive from the moment their eyes had met. Too instant, and that bothered him. It was one of the reasons he’d left her then. It was almost as though they’d recognized each other instinctively, had some sort of kinship, but that was impossible. He’d only felt the tiniest bits of that connection a few times before when he’d met some of the other vampires sired by his maker. He pulled Noelle a bit closer to him at that thought. She wasn’t one of them, and she never would be.

  Why fate decided to throw them together again now, who knew, but something was up. The knowledge settled in his old bones with spine-tingling clarity and his arms tightened round the sleeping form of…of… His heart stuttered on the word, bouncing round his brain, as the first rays of the sun peeped over the horizon and triggered the automatic release of the shutters. He had to let her go. This was no life for a vibrant woman like Noelle. His feelings didn’t count. There was no happy-ever-after for him. He’d come to terms with that a long time ago. But first, he had to make sure she was safe. Powerful forces had been at work the night before, drawing the supernatural community to the bar in droves, and his skin prickled in remembered awareness of the threat that he’d sensed. A threat not linked to demons, fish, mutts, and however many other species present there last night.