There's a Fine Line Ch. 10

"Blake, no!" Alicia rose and cradled his cheek with her hand. "I'm so sorry, my love."

He covered her hand with his and leaned into her comforting caress. "That was many centuries ago, Beautiful One, and I've come to terms with my actions. I must confess, though, that when I discovered that his death had been unnecessary, I went on quite the warpath. Many a vampire died by my hand before the Primus summoned me to atone for my crimes. What began as punishment became my sole purpose for existing, and I've served them as their Primary Investigator ever since."

"Do you regret becoming a vampire?"

"I regret how I became a vampire more than I regret becoming one." Blake rolled her beneath him with a lustful gleam in his crimson-tinted eyes. "Now, I can regret nothing since it brought me to you."

"Flatterer." Alicia giggled softly as his lips descended. Silence reigned for many moments afterwards, broken only by their cries and whispers and shared ecstasy.

xxxxxx

"I'm not going back to the Pierce's, Blake." After all they'd shared, the knowledge that she would have to return to the other vampires' estate came as a shock. She'd assumed that once they had fully mated she'd remain with her vampire permanently. She wasn't thrilled to learn otherwise.

"Alicia, we've already gone over this." Blake ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "I can't watch over you like I need to and still investigate both the vampire that set me up and the demon that's after you. You'll be far safer at Elizabeth's, even with only her little newling for protection. It's only until this situation has passed, beautiful."

"I'm not staying there without you. You are my mate and my place is here."

"And my duty is to protect you!"

"I'm not a weak little human any more, Blake! I can take care of myself. What's the point in figuring out what I am if you're still going to treat me like some fragile princess?"

"We don't know what you are, yet, beautiful."

"Would it matter?" Crossing her arms over her chest, Alicia glared at her stunning vampire. He was furious with her; his crimson eyes and deadly claws proof that his beast was close to the surface. She'd never seen him so glorious. She'd never wanted him more.

Sniffing, he hissed softly and stalked her from across the room. Her adrenaline-rich blood called to the monster within while her arousal tempted the man. As he approached, she held her ground until he was within arms' reach and then slowly backed away from the hard glint in his eyes. The unyielding surface of the wall stopped her retreat and he watched her throat as she swallowed. Her stubbornness in the face of her own nervousness tempted the beast to come out and play. She would submit to her mate.

A clawed hand landed on either side of her head, pinning her in place as he ran his nose up the side of her neck. Her faint whimper of need fed the beast and his fangs dropped in anticipation. He couldn't deny that he didn't want her to leave him but for once both man and monster agreed: she'd be safer with Elizabeth. Perhaps they could compromise...but only after he'd taken another taste.

"You shouldn't provoke a vampire, beautiful. We love a challenge." Blake nipped the tip of one earlobe, lapping at his mate's potent blood with a hiss of pleasure.

"Yeah?" Her attempt at bravado was little more than a breathy whisper. Damn him and his sexy, dominant ass! Clearing her throat, she tried again with only slightly better results. "Arrogant vampires shouldn't assume everyone is going to jump when they snap their fingers. I've finally got you. I'm not leaving."

His lips teased up her throat causing her to moan with renewed desire. Trying desperately to hold on to her anger, she pushed at his shoulders in an effort to put some space between them. It was like pushing against a mountain. Careful of the claws that still tipped his elegant fingers, Blake grabbed her hands and pressed them against the wall high over her head.

"I believe you're a bit confused, Beautiful One." He slowly sank his fangs into her neck and lapped languidly at the trickle of blood the small wound produced. "It appears that I'm the one who does, in fact, have you."

"True. But the way I see it," Alicia gasped as his lips and fangs moved from the healed wound on her neck to the rise of her breasts, "I'm the only one fighting to keep what I have."

Blake's entire body froze and she wondered if she'd pushed her vampire too far. Plaster fell from the wall where his hands clenched and unclenched around her wrists; he was destroying his home rather than hurt her. The low growls that vibrated through his body shot equal parts fear and lust through her blood. When he finally raised his head to capture her gaze with his, she gasped in shock. His eyes were as black as pitch and filled with furious heat.

"Say that again, Alicia Johnston." The feral hiss sent her heart racing. She was terrified; she wanted him. "Tell me again that I will not fight to keep you. I would slaughter any who stood between us. I would bathe the world in blood should anything happen to you! And you dare tell me that I'm not fighting to keep you?!"

Transferring her wrists to one preternaturally strong hand, he deftly shredded her clothing until she was bare before his hungry gaze. Before she could even struggle, he, too, was naked – the remnants of their clothing lying around them in tatters.

"Blake..." She moaned as he tugged her higher on the wall and entered her with a savage thrust.

"You. Are. MINE!" Each word was punctuated by a deep thrust into her quivering body. His brutality awakened her own inner darkness until she was meeting his domineering assault with equal ferocity.

"Then take me, my vampire. Keep me! Don't let me go."

Alicia struggled against the iron band of his fingers around her wrists, wanting to touch him. Needing to touch him. He only hissed and tightened his grip. She was his mate and she would not escape. Blake moved his hand from her thigh and pulled her head sharply to the side. Uncaring of the pain he caused, he sank his fangs deep into her throat and drank. She came hard around his pounding cock. Before he could pull away, she set her own newling fangs into his shoulder and shattered around him once more.

More plaster fell from the wall as she shifted her weight in order to turn them around. He still had her arms but now his back was to the wall and she was in control. With an inhuman shriek, Alicia pinned her mate's arms to the wall, sank her teeth into his throat, and rode him hard. When he managed to bite her shoulder, they toppled over the pinnacle together.

Blake slid down the wall until he cradled his mate in his lap. His claws receded; his eyes shifted first to crimson then to deep brown. They were exhausted, covered in plaster, sweat, and blood, and totally sated. Placing a kiss upon her head, he stroked her hair as she trembled in his arms.

"I will never let you go, my beautiful mate. But since you were so...eloquent," he was relieved to hear her chuckle, "I will offer you a compromise. You will stay with Elizabeth during the day when I must work or deal with the Council, and I will bring you back to me each evening."

"Thank you, my vampire, for doing this for me." Alicia placed a soft kiss to his chest above his heart before snuggling back into his warmth.

"For you, Beautiful One, I would change the world."