Dawn's Second Chance

"Keep on it. If her man can't pleasure her appropriately and she has to resort to devices." He shuddered in disgust. "I certainly can. By the time I'm done with her, she won't even remember his name."

"Yes sir." Keene slunk out of the room. By the time Roark was done with the woman, she'd be lucky if she still had a pulse.

******

Janine hopped up and passed out the rest of Alex's gifts. Once Alex finished opening them and another round of drinks was poured, she announced the grand finale. "Here they are ladies! Back by popular demand! The Vampendale Dancers!"

The three strutted back onto the stage. Marcus looked smugly at his friends, his tips equaled up to forty-five dollars; he'd won the bet and although disdainfully, given where the money had been, got the entire take of the tips.

Anna snorted and spewed her drink down the front of her blouse. Lined up like they were, the men reminded her of an act she'd seen once. "Oh my GOD! They look like the Village People!"

She jumped up off the couch and started dancing. Sandwiched between Lance and Bryce, she felt a masculine hand wrap around her hip and guide her against a hard, thrusting groin. Bryce. He moved against her, bumping and grinding, his hand looped through the belt loops of her jeans, holding her in place. If she didn't know better, didn't know it wasn't all in good fun. She'd be pissed at the liberties he took. Toby trusted Bryce to guard her life. And Bryce knew where her heart lay. She arched her back, sipping at the refilled flute of champagne Janine thrust in her hand, and wiggled against Bryce, playfully undulating against him in time to the music.

Bryce buried his face in the platinum waterfall of Anna's hair and tightened his fingers around the curve of her hip. Pressing her body to him. The woman had no idea the kind of havoc she could invoke on a male's libido. Gently, easing her hair away from her neck, he ran his tongue over his elongated fangs. He was hard, everywhere. Using her body as a shield to hide his erection, all to painfully apparent in the skimpy g-string. Toby would kill him. Anna would hate him for his thoughts. He worked hard to regain control, laughing and chuckling as if he knew the whole thing was in fun.

*******

Marcus cut through the gyrating women, bobbing and weaving his way to Sam. "Did you like my act?" he asked.

Sam stepped closer to Marcus. Indeed she had. He had a nice well-defined set of pecks, a slim and fuzzy belly with a slight pooch just below the midline. Firm thighs and a round hard butt completed the package. She'd taken her time evaluating his equipment. It wasn't hard to miss in the skimpy g-string, and found it quite adequate. "I like your hose," she teased, smiling. Maybe it was the clothes, the pushup bra, or the makeup that made her brave enough to admit the truth. Or maybe for once, noticing the glimmer of masculine appreciation in Marcus's eyes, it was that she just enjoyed being admired. By him.

"Maybe sometime, I'll give you a private showing." Marcus wrapped an arm around Sam's waist and pulled her close. Her hand traveled up over his chest and draped over his shoulders, her fingers playing with the ends of his shaggy hair. He danced with her, moving in time to the music, steering her away from the others into a private corner of the room. Landing a carefully calculated peck on her lips.

"I'd like that," Sam answered. He called that a kiss? The gentle questioning peck, nothing but a mere brush of lips was not a kiss. She'd have to show him a real, honest to God kiss. It might be good to be a girl. But, it was better to be a vampire. Pinning him into the corner, her strength trapping his shoulders, and her hand, roughly guiding his face down to hers, she demonstrated exactly the kind of kiss she had in mind.

*******

Lance swayed beneath the sudden weight on his back. He was under attack. Besieged by giggling females. He pretended helplessness as Janine wrestled him to the floor, sat on his chest, and pinned his arms to his side with her thighs. "Get 'em Leigh!" she shouted in triumph. He kept his eyes high, locked on her face instead of looking down to ogle the scrap of barely there panties showing under the hem of her too short skirt. She wiggled on his chest and tightened her thighs to keep her hold on him. So not what he needed, considering Leigh was struggling to rid him of his g-string.

Call him a guy. It was hard not to respond to Janine's weight on his chest. Not to get aroused by her scent, washing over him like a wave of fresh air. Not to feel his cock stiffen and his groin tighten at the sight of her skimpy panties under the dark shadow of her skirt. Better he be buck-naked than to be caught with a hard on evoked by Patrick's woman. He respected his brother more than that. He lifted his hips, jumping and squeaking, gently rolling Janine off his chest as Leigh, attractive in her own right, worked the g-string over his hips triumphantly.

Leigh whooped like she'd won first prize in the pie-baking competition at the county fair and waved her prize high in the air. "I got it!"

Lance leapt to his feet, covering his goods with his hands, and darted for the dressing room. Women. And they accused men of being perverts. "I've been violated."

Janine turned to Leigh, laughing hysterically. "He'll never forgive me. Although the view wasn't too bad." She craned her neck to watch Lance's butt as he ran for the makeshift dressing room and slammed the door.

Leigh nodded in agreement. She'd gotten an up close and personal look at Lance. Probably more than she'd ever wanted to see. She was happily married, very happy and very married. An old married woman. But, she wasn't ready for the grave yet. She saw no harm in sneaking an eyeful or two. Besides, Lance was older than she by decades. "Yeah, no stuffing there." She tipped the glass, downing the rest of her drink. "I'm going to bed." She clutched the g-string in one hand and stumbled through the kitchen toward Alex's old room.

Anna laughed watching Janine and Leigh performed their assault. Bryce had loosened his grip and put a safe and respectable distance between them. They danced, his hand resting on her hip and the other gently cupping her wrist. She rested her forehead on his shoulder and swayed in time to the music with him. "Poor Lance."

Bryce nodded in mock sympathy. His brother was never going to live this down. He wouldn't let him. "It could have been me."

Anna agreed. She was a little tipsy from the champagne and the world tilted haphazardly as Bryce spun her, snugging his grip on her hip to inch them closer. "Might still be yet."

Bryce paled. Confused by her statement. There was too much innuendo in the words. Things Anna didn't mean and he was way too eager to read too much into. "I'd better change."

Anna stumbled, suddenly left to hold her balance without him to lean on for support. Gently, she rested her hand on his well-formed bicep and rose to her tiptoes to press a soft peck on his cheek. "Bryce, that was nice of you guys to do that for Alex."

Bryce grinned and nodded. "Anytime." He meant that. He'd be there for Anna if she ever needed anything. He smiled watching as Anna stumbled over to Janine and leaned heavily on her. A strong wind would have knocked the two of them over. "I'll help you two to your rooms once I've changed."

Anna clanked glasses with Janine and gulped down her drink. "Nah I've got it." She kicked her head to the side, listening. "Toby and the others are back. Looks like I wont need those batteries after all."

Janine slurred a drunken, "You go girl."

Bryce shuffled to the changing room and closed the door. "Lucky son of a bitch." He'd tried love a few times and found it lacking, temporary and generally, not worth the effort. But seeing the couples so happy and sharing their innermost whispering thoughts, he had to wonder if maybe it wasn't worth giving it one more shot, with the right person.

It was too bad Anna and Janine were taken, especially Anna. He liked her cynicism and quiet, reserved, nature. Janine was lively and animated. She treated life like the gift it was. That too was a quality to be admired. She was a lot of fun to be around. Both Toby and Patrick had better watch their steps and treat their women right. Otherwise, he'd be happy to take either one of their places. He slid a pair of loose jeans up his narrow hips and fastened them, shrugging dejectedly. There was no point to think about either one of women. He wouldn't want to see them hurt. And it wasn't going to happen anyway. The wedding tomorrow would be one of many more to come.

"Look Anna, it's our men," Janine whispered as she stumbled into Patrick's arms. "What are you doing back?"

Patrick caught Janine in an embrace and held her tightly against his body. "I was lonesome. You're much more fun than hanging out with a bunch of guys."

"You missed me?" Janine batted her eyes at Patrick, unabashedly smiling.

"Sure did." Patrick nuzzled her neck.

"Take me to bed then," she said, stifling a yawn. She didn't know if he really missed her or if he was just hungry and she was too tired and too buzzed to care. She hoped that he really did miss her. She giggled as he swooped her up in his arms. "If I'm drunk, will you get a buzz if you take a sip or two from me?"

Patrick snickered as he carried Janine down the hall. Still annoyed and slightly jealous at watching her fondle another man's ass. He had plans for her tonight. He'd give her the loving of a lifetime. Wear her out. Make sure she was too well sated to think about any man but him. "I don't know. I guess there's only one way to find out."

*******

Anna cocked her head to the side, giggling as she watched Toby examining the vibrator she'd taken from Alex. "The batteries go in the end," she said, flopping down on the couch beside him. She wasn't really going to use the thing. She'd taken it as a joke. Pink wasn't her favorite color. And if she wanted something that looked like the real thing, with the same shape and length, she'd simply call Toby and invite him over.

Toby slid the batteries into place and replaced the cover, jumping in surprise as the length of pink silicone came to life in his hand. The force of the vibration set his teeth on edge, and had him wondering. "Do women really use these things?"

Anna flashed Toby a sly grin. Sure do. Not that she'd ever admit it. "Wanna find out?" She was tested him to see if he'd really go through with it or not. Her experience with sex toys was really none of his business. And he was so into technology. If he wanted to play, she could definitely handle it.

"I don't know if I can handle the competition," Toby said, scowling at the device. The vibrating thing gave him the creeps. Eerie how real it looked. He didn't want to know how the manufacturer had come up with the detail, right down to the dorsal vein of the penis, used to construct the sex toy. Annnnnnddddd, wasn't that a pleasant thought? He clicked off the vibrator and dropped it in Anna's lap. If she liked that kind of thing, he could go there. Watching might be fun.

Anna climbed over the couch cushions to Toby and straddled his hips with her thighs. "There is no competition. You're all I ever wanted." She tossed the vibrator onto the floor and lowered her mouth to his lips.

Toby wrapped his hands around her butt and pulled her in tightly against his straining need. She was close. So close. The bobber dipped under the water's edge as she nibbled at the bait. He chose his words carefully, seeing how she would react. "Let's go to our room." He didn't know for sure if she didn't catch it because she was drunk or if the concept of yours and mine was fading in her mind. But, he hadn't seen a hint of repulsion or disgust at the thought of ours.

"I thought you'd never ask," Anna replied huskily, wrapping her legs around his waist as he stood and carried her down the hall.





Chapter 54

Sam and Marcus snuck out of the compound and raced each other to the bluffs. They sat side-by-side, hands locked together and fingers intertwined on the hard edge of a bolder, staring into the night around them. "I love it out here. It's so beautiful," Sam sighed.

Marcus took his free hand and ran it along her jaw, guiding her chin up to meet his eyes. "Not nearly as beautiful as you." Sam lowered her eyes. Marcus traced the gentle curve of her smile with a fingertip. She didn't need makeup or clothing to be beautiful. She just simply was. Moonlight bathed the curves of her cheeks and glimmered in her hair.

Sam smiled up at Marcus. God, wasn't he a charmer? From the expression on his face, she knew he wasn't trying to deceive or flatter her. He meant every word he said. The moment was intense, and although her heart leapt in her throat, awkward. No man had ever told her she was beautiful and meant it. "I don't know you looked pretty good out there tonight."

Marcus's mouth curved into a grin. Sam was so used to being treated like one of the warriors, she didn't know how to react when someone treated her like a lady. She blushed shyly under his gaze and nervously licked her lips, causing them to glisten with moisture beneath the moon's pale glow. "You're just interested in my hose, aren't you?" he teased.

Sam blushed beneath Marcus's teasing grin. There was a lot of truth to his question. She had spent most of the evening thinking about him. All of him, not just his hose, but a few thoughts about that had popped into her head too. "No," she answered, snorting defensively. Before she could say anything more, he bent low and claimed her mouth in a soft, sweet, slow kiss. He was experienced, more than fifteen years her senior. Worldly in a way she was not. Yet, his lips were questioning, softly coaxing an answer from her. Generous and undemanding, he dipped the tip of his tongue between her lips. Eagerly she opened for him. Quivering beneath the heat of his kiss like a schoolgirl.

Sam had never been one to beat around the bush. If she wanted something, she went for it. His arms were solid steel around her waist. His fingers, working down the curve of her neck to travel over her shoulders and slide across the small of her back to settle on her hips, gently inching her closer. The man knew how to kiss. This kiss was different than the kiss they'd exchanged in the quiet corner of the rec room where anyone could see them. He'd held back then. Out here, in private, with only the moonlight and the nocturnal woodland creatures as witnesses, he kissed her like he meant it.

Marcus explored the depths of Sam's mouth, her taste, sweet and erotic on his lips. She responded, matching every stroke of his tongue with one of equal enthusiasm and pleasure. She wanted him just as badly as he wanted her. There was no slowness or waiting in his kiss or in hers. The both of them had gone without for far too long. Wanted things they thought they could never have. And at last, the waiting was over. Winding his fingers through Sam's dark tresses, he crushed her mouth to his.

Sam wrapped her arms around Marcus's neck, jockeying for more contact. He was a good kisser and her body groaned with heady pleasure, wanting more. She'd had kisses before. But, no man had ever kissed her the way Marcus did. The subtle distance separating their bodies was too great. Not breaking the pressure between their joined mouths, Sam climbed into his lap and straddled his hips between her knees.

Marcus responded to Sam's invitation. Damn, did he like a woman who knew what she wanted. Trailing his fingers down the gentle curve of her waist, wrapping them around her hips, he pressed their bodies together. He felt as if his body was going to implode from the friction she created with the subtle shift of her pelvis. She was decisive. Taking the lead. He released her from his embrace, lifting his arms to comply with her eager fingers, tugging at the hem of his t-shirt to lift the wadded fabric over his head. A fresh gust of cool spring air nipped at his exposed flesh. But, he was way too overheated to feel it. He followed her down, off the boulder and onto the ground, landing on top of her, always keeping their lips connected, and the fire of their kiss, fully blazing.

Sam didn't feel the cool, dampness of the ground beneath her or the hard nip of shale on her skin as Marcus shifted his weight, pressing down on her. The only thing she felt was the heat burning between them, demanding and growing, wanting more and more. Her body prickled with delight. Responding to the soft, slow assault of his fingers traveling up across her ribs up to her breasts. Snaking under the lacy, demi-cup bra to tease her nipples to ripeness. His hands felt so good. His kiss was so good. Everything about him was good. She arched her back to his palms, cupping her fullness, a moan escaping her lips.

Marcus pressed his erection, grinding it deep between Sam's hips when she arched her back in response to his persuasive strokes. Her body was warm and welcoming. So soft. The scent of her want hung in a heavy, musky cloud over him. He wanted her clothes off so that he could bathe in her arousal. She wanted him. She had seen him at his worst, when they were held captive. She'd seen him almost naked, flirting with other women. And she still wanted him.

Sam deserved better than him. He was ordinary. Just a guy who went out for a smoke break one night and came back a vampire. He wasn't anything or anyone special. He wasn't a great warrior, or one of the guards, or even that good of a tracker. She deserved to be with one of them. She deserved someone who could protect her, someone who could give her everything she wanted, and then some. He couldn't give her anything. He didn't even have a dime to his name. He had nothing to offer her. He took a deep, steadying breath and sat up, pulling her along with him. "I can't do this."

Sam's brows pushed together in frustration. "What are you talking about?" He was so in to it. So into her. Grinding against her. Panting in labored breaths along her skin. What the hell? Great freaking time to have a sudden attack of morality. He wanted her as much as she wanted him. She wasn't an idiot. But now, here, he put on the breaks? "What's the matter? Marcus?"

Marcus sighed and tugged his t-shirt over his head. "I don't think this is a good idea. The one night stand thing isn't for me." He raked his fingers through his hair and gritted his teeth against the pressure in his groin. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have started it."

Sam huffed, thinking of something to say. He thought she wanted a one-night stand? Her emotions bounced between offended and downright furious. She so wasn't into the one-night stand gig either and how dare he think differently. She liked him and was genuinely interested in him. Didn't he get it? What kind of person did he think she was? "I didn't think this was a one-night stand," she grumbled crossing her arms over her chest. "I thought we had a connection."

"Great." Marcus growled and pulled at his hair in frustration. Not only had he put on the breaks. But, he'd managed to offend her in the process. This evening was going to hell in a hand basket quickly. "I'm not the right guy for you," he said, looking up into the night sky, avoiding the hurt and disappointment in her expression. "You're too good for me."

"I'm too good for you?" Sam shook her head in disbelief. "I think I know what is good for me and what isn't. Who is too good for me and who isn't," she countered defensively. She ran her eyes down his frame and scowled at him. "You obviously don't have a very high opinion of yourself. And you don't trust me at all."

Marcus shrugged, "Maybe not." He felt bad for upsetting her and worse for himself. She was everything he could hope for in a woman. Smart and pretty, funny and strong. "I'm sorry." He stood and offered his hand.