Hearts of Warriors Ch. 14

But there was also another startling revelation which had come from his time in Europe. Somewhere deep within him he'd found the capacity to care for someone out of his immediate family group. Though he had always liked Pietro, he'd never truly classed him as being part of his inner circle. His reaction to his friend's pain and suffering had been instant and volatile.

Was this new softer side something to be concerned about? Did it make him vulnerable to his enemies or was it a required check and balance within his psyche to try and counter his aggressiveness? He wasn't sure and he didn't like being uncertain about things. Maybe he would talk with Mara about it. She was much better at analysing emotions.

Demetri slid from the bed and prowled naked to the bathroom door which contained the delightful female flesh awaiting him. His body hardened instantly. No matter how many times he took his wife, he was always ready for another tussle with her. Thankfully for him, she shared his insatiable need to be together at every opportunity available.

*****

Mara sighed with pleasure as she leaned back against the bath and let the hot water soothe her long limbs. She'd clipped her long, brown hair on top of her head to avoid getting it wet but a few stray tendrils were stuck to the back of her neck and fanning out in the water.

Demetri had been rampant on his return, using his wicked body, hands and mouth with deadly precision to bring her to climax after climax. There had been a hint of wildness about him, the echo of his dance with his feral nature still fighting for dominance. It had been passionate and exciting and more than made up for them being parted for a few days.

Her husband walked a fine line with his darker side, something which hadn't been as prevalent in the last couple of decades. It had thrown her off balance when he'd called from Europe and she'd had to react quickly to find the right tone to use to keep him grounded.

She'd allowed herself to become content, to forget just how dangerous her man could be because things had been running so smoothly. It was not a mistake she would make again.

Demetri was her life. She was nothing without him. To lose Demetri would end her world so she would do everything in her power to ensure he was always safe, even if he didn't like her over-protectiveness. She didn't like his but she'd learned to live with it.

A slow smile curved her lips as the object of her musings entered the bathroom. Turning her head slightly she watched her husband pause for effect in the open doorway.

Her languid gaze slid down all six feet plus of delicious man flesh.

Demetri was nothing short of a God descended from the heavens. His black hair was rumpled from sleep, his face carved in sharp lines and angles, softened by the heated green depths of his eyes and curved, sensuous lips.

He stood boldly naked before her, his smile widening as she looked her fill. Her husband knew he looked good; delighted in her enjoying his body. He held still so she could slide her gaze further downwards, over his strong shoulders, down his toned, broad chest.

Mara's breath sucked in as she reached his stomach and saw the evidence of his desire standing proud. Demetri was impressive in all areas and very skilled with his body. She felt her breasts tighten and the familiar ache begin between her thighs. Her tongue darted out and licked her bottom lip.

The throaty chuckle that action produced sent a shiver down her spine and caused her own desire to escalate higher.

"Hungry, wife?" Demetri sauntered forward, all sleek grace and deadly predator in his every move.

"Always, husband."

His hand fisted around his cock teasing her with long, hard strokes as he neared but kept out of range. "See anything tasty?" His smile grew wider at her frustrated expression.

"Demetri Bozic, if you tease me, I may have to kick your ass for you."

"Bring it on, Mara," he laughed, devilment glinting in his eyes.

Mara flew from the bath at vampiric speed, spaying water everywhere, but she was no match for her husband, he was an Ancient and she was still a Youngling. He easily evaded her, staying out of reach and all the time stroking himself with obvious enjoyment.

"Come on, beautiful. You can do better than that. Or don't you want this?" He stroked himself faster, a low groan escaping his throat.

"You're an evil bastard sometimes, husband," Mara growled, trying to anticipate his next evasion technique as she pounced again. Water continued to spray around the room as they danced together, laughter mixing in with frustrated sounds as Demetri continued to evade his woman.

Mara quickly tired of his games, desperate for the taste and feel of him. She'd never be able to meet him on his terms but she could meet him on hers. The next time she pounced she pretended to slip on the wet floor, letting out a little shriek as she over-balanced.

In an instant Demetri was at her side, strong arms wrapping protectively around her to prevent a fall. Mara's leg shot out, hooking around his calf and bringing him down to the floor to land on top of him.

"Gotcha!"

Demetri threw back his head and laughed, delight on his face at his woman's deviousness. After all these years he should have known better. His Mara was not one to be so inelegant as to slip and fall over.

"You've won your prize, wife," he conceded, pressing into her soft curves. "Now what are you going to do with it?"

Mara laughed sitting astride him and running her hands over his chest. She tweaked both nipples hard, drawing a sucked in breath and narrowing of eyes from her husband.

"Delicious, naughty things, my husband." She tweaked his nipples again and then lowered her head to soothe the tiny ache with her tongue.

"God, I love you, Mara." The words came out on a strangled groan as her fangs elongated and she pierced his flesh, sucking slowly and moaning with pleasure.

Instantly his blood was on fire and his own fangs elongated, aching to slide into her tender flesh. He held himself still, allowing her to take her fill. Mara's needs always came before his.

Demetri closed his eyes and luxuriated in the bliss of his wife's intimate kiss. There was little more satisfying than to taste the life force of ones mate, to feel the strengthening of a bond that was already so strong nothing could ever break it. Nothing short of death.

The darkness of the time in Europe invaded his mind and he twisted sharply, flipping Mara onto her back so he could stare down into her exquisite features. He was home now, where he belonged. Nothing could touch him when he was in the arms of his woman, bathing in her scent and her beauty.

The memory receded as he lowered his head and nuzzled at her neck. His hand fisted into her hair and he pulled to expose the tender skin for his possession. Gentle nips brought soft sighs and the scent of Mara's arousal to fever pitch. It was the sweetest smell in his world, the thick warm honey aroma mixed in with the earthy scent of a woman in heat.

With a growl, Demetri sank his fangs into Mara's soft flesh, pulling hard to drink down her life's essence. Her blood was so thick and rich, pulsing with the vibrancy of life. He wanted to sink his body into hers, to pound away until she screamed with pleasure.

But his wife had another craving first and he always ensured she received everything she wanted. With one last pull at her neck, Demetri withdrew his fangs and licked at the small puncture marks. Then he sprang to his feet gracefully, pulling Mara half-way up with him until she was kneeling before him.

"I'm all yours, beautiful."

Mara's smile lit up the room and made his heart crash hard in his chest. He'd move heaven and earth to give his woman what she wanted. All she had to do was name it and it was hers. And all she ever asked for was him, mind, body and soul.

The love shining from her eyes told him more eloquently than words that that would be all she ever wanted. She humbled him and yet she made him strong too. How he'd ever managed to survive without his Mara he had no idea.

And then thought was the last thing on his mind as his woman leaned forward and ran her tongue slowly up his pulsing erection. His body jerked and his breath hissed out and all he could think about was the sheer pleasure of having Mara love him so intimately.

Her hot mouth closed over his tip and he groaned his pleasure as he was engulfed in wetness and Mara began to suck eagerly at his straining flesh. It was impossible not to buck his hips and drive into her delicious mouth. It was impossible not to grip her hair and begin the slow steady rhythm of taking her mouth over and over again.

Mara moaned and increased her suckling, tilting her head so he could slide in deeper and brush the back of her throat the way she loved it. Her tongue laved along his shaft when he pulled out, driving him wild with little flicks against his rigid body.

Demetri could feel a climax quickly building as his wife laved his cock so lovingly with her attentions. He didn't want to finish in her mouth despite how good it felt to be there. He could scent Mara's arousal, knew she was ready for him but he wanted a taste too before their fun was over.

Sliding from her mouth, he pulled Mara to her feet. He took her mouth in a hard kiss, their tongues duelling as he tweaked at a nipple and massaged her breast.

Breaking the kiss, he spun Mara around and leaned her over the bath kicking her legs apart. His hand ran down the graceful arch of her back as she was forced to grip the far edge to maintain her balance.

"My turn, lover," he whispered, before sinking to his knees and inhaling deeply at her sex. His mouth watered and his tongue flicked out to dance through her soft folds.

Mara cried out with pleasure and pressed towards his mouth, eager for more of the delicious torture her husband was so good at inflicting. Her body shook with the strain of maintaining her stretched position as Demetri indulged himself between her legs.

Long, slow sweeps of his wicked tongue brought more cries of pleasure as he teased her with light touches before he slid deep inside her, licking her so intimately she felt her climax approaching quickly. Demetri was so attuned to her body, knowing exactly how to play with it for the best effects.

He thrust his tongue in and out, setting up a steady rhythm that had her rocking back in time with his ministrations. It was delicious but it wasn't enough. She needed him inside her, filling her as only he could.

Her cries turned to wordless pleas, urging him for more and hearing his throaty laughter as he kept up his teasing, denying her what she wanted. He really was an evil bastard at times but she knew he'd give her what she wanted eventually.

Demetri flicked his tongue hard over her clit and her body convulsed instantly and she screamed as her climax crashed over her in a pulsing wave. Again he flicked, and again, keeping her on her high as her breath rushed out in laboured pants.

And then he was behind her, leaning over her body and bracing his hands beside hers. "This is what you want, darlin', isn't it?" Demetri drove his cock home, burying himself hard within her body, growling as she welcomed him into her tight sheath.

Mara tried not to laugh at the arrogance in his tone but it cut through the intensity of him claiming her so abruptly. Her gasp of ecstasy turned into breathy laughter as her husband filled her, his body curved protectively over hers.

She tilted her head to the side capturing his bottom lip and biting down hard. "You talk too much, husband mine."

Her bite brought a low growl from Demetri's lips and a flare of wildness to his eyes. His slow smile was one of pure sensuality mixed with a hint of retribution. "Let's see who can still talk by the time I'm finished," he countered.

Mara braced for his next move, her own feral side rising to meet the challenge in his eyes. Fire licked along her nerve-endings as Demetri slowly withdrew and then slammed back in hard and fast.

Her breath exploded on a loud cry and ecstasy rippled through her. Then her husband showed her just how arrogant he was, just what he was willing to do to always win their little games.

Demetri took Mara hard. He'd wanted some gentle lovemaking with his wife after their earlier tumultuous joining, but it appeared she had other ideas and he was all about giving her what she wanted.

He thrust into her over and over, sinking completely inside the lush warmth of her body, growling as she gripped him so tightly. His talons grew as he straightened up, holding her fast at the hips and pounding deep within her. She took all he gave her, urging him on breathlessly for more.

Home was being buried inside Mara. It was breathing in her scent, feeling her wrapped around his aching body, watching the pleasure dance across her exquisite features. He belonged to his beautiful woman just as much as she belonged to him.

The need to come was a fever-pitch inside him. He wanted to spill his seed inside her eager body, to feel her come apart on his cock as she surrendered to him at the same moment he did. He increased the speed of his thrusts, moving a hand down and tapping a talon between her legs.

Mara shuddered and cried out, her movements becoming frantic as Demetri scraped his talon along her sex, hard enough to sting lightly but still on the right side of pleasure. He tapped her clit hard and she screamed, rearing up and wrapping her arms around his neck to hold on as he ravished her body.

"Time to come for me, wife," Demetri growled, continuing to abuse her clit with one long talon. He wrapped his other arm beneath her breasts, curling a large hand around one so he could tug at her nipple and tease it with his talons. All the while his hard thrusts rocked deep within her, her cries sending his blood soaring.

He was close, so close to coming apart but he needed Mara to be with him. His assault between her legs intensified, alternating between sensual strokes and harder love taps to the aching bundles of nerves which would send her flying any moment now.

His breathing was harsh, his chest heaving with the ferocity he was taking his woman. Her cries filled the room and he felt the sting of her bite as Mara sank her fangs into his bicep.

Demetri roared loudly, throwing his head back as his body erupted in ecstasy. His head fell forward and his fangs sliced into Mara's neck as he pumped his seed into her and gave her clit one last hard stroke to push her over the edge.

Time seemed to halt as Mara came apart in his arms, her body clutching his tightly as she climaxed and her body shivered with the pleasure coursing through her. They strained, locked together in perfect harmony, hearts beating as one as they achieved that one perfect moment of being a single soul living within two bodies.

It was with reluctance that Demetri pulled out of Mara. He kept his arms wrapped securely around her as he listened to her heart race. Her breath was coming out in short pants and he smiled as he nuzzled her neck. No, she wouldn't be talking for a while.

She did let out a little shriek though when he tipped her back into the bath and climbed into the huge tub with her. Water splashed everywhere and he laughed at the glare she shot his way, reaching out to gather her into his arms to snuggle her against his chest as he rested back.

Demetri turned on the hot water to fill the bath up as they slowly relaxed after their workout. His thoughts turned to Pietro and he frowned at what was to come. No matter how much he wanted to spend his time luxuriating in the love of his wife, he knew he had things to do and there was the threat out there which had to be dealt with.

"He'll recover, Demetri." Mara's soothing tone whispered over his skin and he relaxed a bit more tightening his arms around her.

"You didn't see him, Mara, what he went through. This poison...it's a threat to all of us, a threat to you. We have to find a way to stop it and fast. My feral side can't countenance any kind of threat to you. Until this is neutralised, I'm going to be walking the killing edge no matter how hard I try to rein it in." There was a hint of concern in Demetri voice.

Mara stroked his chest, turning to look up at him. She smiled, confidence shining from her eyes. "Whoever created this poison is about to get a very nasty surprise, honey. They have no idea about the triumvirate. They have no idea of just how powerful we are as a group. As a Council member, I share your concerns for our people, but as your wife, I am fully confident that this is something we can deal with and fast."

The look he gave her dampened a little of that confidence but she kept her expression serene to hide the trickle of unease with coursed through her. Anything which rattled Demetri was something to be very wary of.

His expression smoothed out and he leaned down for a deep kiss, caressing her lips gently with his own before dipping in to drink at her sweetness. "Let's get cleaned up, beautiful. I need to check in with Caleb."

Demetri let out a deep sigh as he grabbed a sponge and some soap and began to rub down his wife's body in quick efficient movements. Playtime was over, now they had to figure out how to deal with the coming threat.

*****

Reasa sank further into the shadows of the large oak tree, keeping a careful watch on the wolf which was patrolling down below. He was large and blond, attractive for an animal though not something she would consider lying with. It was vampires lying with Weres which had started this whole mess.

She shuddered internally, being careful not to make any movement within the leaves and attract any attention to herself. The two vampires protecting the house had been easy to evade because she could sense their mental signatures but the wolves had been an unexpected encounter.

Where she came from, Weres stayed away from vampires. They didn't congregate in dens either, always being on the move as a form of protection for their packs. If a coven came across a pack of wolves, they exterminated them on the spot. This new found love affair between species did not extend to Europe. Therefore, the wolves were nomadic by nature, keeping their packs reasonably small to make travelling faster and less conspicuous.

It appeared the wolves stateside acted as additional guardians to higher level vampires. This was going to prove problematic because she couldn't manipulate Were minds, only vampires. If the abominations were hidden within a pack, she'd have to find some way to draw them out to get to them.

Her cold, grey, gaze returned to the brick house in the distance and she tried to get a glimpse inside the upper storey windows. The scent of her mark had brought her here. She now knew that she hadn't followed this Mac person after all but instead the dark-haired male had been none other than the Ancient Demetri Bozic.

That had sent a shiver down her spine as she'd overheard the two blond wolves talking earlier and she'd realised she was watching the home of not only an Ancient, but also one of the vampire Council member's. Even in the remotest areas of Europe, the name Demetri Bozic was known, though a lot of the Younglings thought the tales of him were vastly inflated.

Reasa had never been known to be stupid. If only half of the things said about the Ancient were true, then it was prudent to be wary so close to his lair and his mate. Only a fool would act without proper surveillance and intelligence.

She was again struck with the conflict of her situation. The Council supported the abominations and therefore, she was up against them as well as the Ancients. She had no real quarrel with those higher level vampires but she may need to go through them to reach her targets.