Liberated

Vampire Union 2: Liberated Kit Tunstall All rights reserved. Copyright ©2008 Kit Tunstall Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. ISBN: 978-1-59596-759-6 Formats Available: HTML, Adobe PDF, MobiPocket, Microsoft Reader Publisher: Changeling Press LLC PO Box 1046 Martinsburg, WV 25402-1046 www.ChangelingPress.com Editor: Crystal Esau Cover Artist: Sahara Kelly

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Vampire Union 2: Liberated Kit Tunstall After WWIII, society was in shambles. For thousands of years, vampires had lived in hiding, fearing extinction from humans. They took advantage of the collapse of society to step into the light, seize power, and rule over the human race. The vampire overlords have herded humans into Quarantine Zones in their various provinces, where they are subjected to the vampires’ every whim… One moment, Nadya was happy with her lover, Jalen. Then his enemy “rescued” her, taking her to his stronghold. Rem is rough and hard, not at all like the smoothly sophisticated Jalen. Yet, Nadya is drawn to him, and they soon fall in love. If only she could forget Jalen and commit herself entirely to Rem, she knows she would lose the ache of dissatisfaction and the sense that something is missing when her new lover holds her. Even if she could manage to do that, Nadya knows she can’t just ignore the conflict between Rem and Jalen. Secrets buried in the past have come to light that change everything… Two vampire lords with vastly different ideals fight over territory, their ways of life, and much more. At the center is one human woman, torn between the two.

Chapter One Disorientation accompanied Nadya’s return to consciousness. Nausea assailed her, and it took her a long moment to realize she wasn’t imagining the rocking motion that was making her stomach churn and head spin. Cautiously, she opened her eyes and saw the ground beneath her passing in a blur. A hoof came into her line of sight, helping her orient herself -- atop the back of a horse, on her stomach, slung over the saddle with all the care of a sack of potatoes. Her other senses confirmed her deduction. A rough woolen blanket abraded her cheek. The distinct aroma of the horse blended with the pungent odor of the man on whose lap she lay. Instinctively, Nadya knew it was Rem. She remembered him coming into the room she shared with Jalen, waking her from a sound sleep. Before she could scream, his eyes had sucked her in like a vortex, and she ’d fallen limp again. After that, she had no recollection until now. She stiffened, struggling to sit upright from the precarious position. “Jalen,” she said with a gasp. What had happened to her vampire lover? Rem’s large hand settled on her back, and he rubbed in a circular motion. Even over the clomp of the horse’s hooves, she could hear his deep voice. “There now, honey. You’re safe.” Safe! How could she be safe in the hands of this man? “What happened to Jalen?” Her voice was raspy, and she doubted a human would have been able to hear the question. Of course, Rem’s vampiric senses aided him, and he clearly heard her. “I didn’t kill him, but you are safe. He won’t come after you.” Nadya struggled again to get upright, surprised when Rem assisted her. The way he settled her on the saddle, with her chest pressed to his, discomforted her, and she found it difficult to meet his gaze. “He will come for me.” Rem shook his head, making his long hair and shaggy beard fly. “Not a chance, honey. I know he’s intimidated you, but you don’t have to be afraid. Regardless of what he told you, vampire lords rarely track down runaways. Or rescued slaves, as the case may be.” He winked at her. “Even beautiful ones like you, with flyaway black hair, honey-brown skin, and the brownest eyes I’ve ever seen.” Nadya ignored the compliment and didn’t refute his assertion that Jalen wouldn’t come after her. How could she, knowing it was probably accurate? Why would Jalen follow them, risking a confrontation with Rem’s army before he had the numbers to do so? Even if he loved her, he probably wouldn’t attempt to rescue her from Rem. Since she had no idea how Jalen felt about her, she couldn’t bank on him coming for her. Instead, she would have to escape Rem on her own. Where she would go after that, Nadya didn’t know. Her heart urged her to return to Jalen, but her brain cautioned against doing so. He cared for her, but he was going to marry Kumiko. Nadya weakened Jalen in the eyes of his clan, so her disappearance would benefit him. She couldn’t think of a single logical motive to go back to the N ’work province and Jalen DuMond, though her heart provided several illogical reasons. Of course, it was a moot point at the moment, because she had to escape Rem first. “Where are we?” “Headed back to my stronghold.” He gestured with a hand. “This is the Catz-Kills province. We are in the heart of my territory and safely away from Jalen’s. No other vampire lord has dared venture here in years.” She imagined he meant the words to be reassuring, but they had a different effect. Knowing she was in the heart of his territory left her claustrophobic and hopeless. How would she ever escape, and if she did, how could she hope to make her way out of the Catz-Kills? She didn’t know anything about the territory and had no idea which direction to go to find Jalen. “What are you going to do to me?” He eyed her for a second without talking, though his blue eyes spoke volumes. The heat and hunger in his gaze renewed the tug of desire she’d experienced when he fed on her as Jalen’s prisoner. Nadya shifted in an attempt to ignore the warm pull low in her stomach, lowering her gaze to break the spell. “Well?” “You’re welcome to stay with us. We share what we have, but everyone is expected to pitch in.” Her stomach dipped, but not from desire this time. The existence he described was too much like living in the Quarantine Zone in N’work. Nadya had thought she’d left behind a lifetime of struggle when she succeeded in catching Jalen’s attention and been chosen as his tribute. “What if I don’t want to stay?” Rem shrugged. “You’re free to leave whenever you like.” His closed expression hid his reaction to her words, but he’d stiffened at the question. “I don’t know the way.” “You’ll figure it out.” A touch of ice tinged his words. “Should I stop the horse and let you off?” She considered having him do so. There would be no need to escape if he really meant what he’d said. Nadya could just walk away. But where would she walk? With a hint of reluctance, she shook her head. “Are you sure? We don’t take captives.”

Nadya shivered, interpreting the words perhaps differently than he’d intended them to sound. If they didn’t take captives, what did they do with their enemies? Would he consider her an enemy if she asked to be released? Just because he said he’d left Jalen alive didn’t mean he really had. Her lover could very well be dead, and she might join him if she was blatant about her intention to leave. “I’m sure.” They rode on in silence for a while, though their bodies seemed to communicate easily enough. Each time his thighs clenched around the horse, or his posture changed in response to the steeply sloping path, her body responded; first by tensing, and then by trying to follow. The spots where their legs and torsos touched burned hot to Nadya, constantly reminding her that her body was attracted to the unkempt vampire, even if her mind refused to contemplate the possibility. At first, she tried to be vigilant about keeping as much distance as possible between them, despite the instincts of her treacherous body. Eventually, exhaustion won out, and her muscles weakened. She slumped against him reluctantly, and his chest rumbled as he chuckled. Clearly, he’d been aware of her determination not to touch him and found her surrender amusing. If she hadn’t been so tired, with her body aching everywhere, she might have summoned some sharp words. Instead, her eyes closed, and the last trace of tension faded from her muscles. Her new position was surprisingly comfortable, and though the man against her stank with sweat, blood, and some indefinable odor that threatened to make her gag, his warm body was solid and comforting, lulling her to sleep against her will. After what seemed hours, though might have been minutes, Nadya wakened abruptly, at first not sure what had changed. When she realized the horse was no longer walking, she lifted her head from Rem ’s chest and twisted around in his arms to see what was going on. Despite herself, she gasped at the sight of his home. She ’d expected something similar to the N’work province, with dilapidated buildings, scurrying people, and the general air of misery she’d known all too well. Instead, she saw a neatly planned square. Quonset huts and crude log cabins shared space amicably, all forming a neat row of paths that led to the building in the center of the square that dominated the landscape. She assumed the three-story building, composed of concrete, wood, bricks, and a hodgepodge of other materials, must be Rem’s home. It was ugly as sin, but looked sturdy enough to hold fast against an attack. It also lacked the wall Jalen ’s home had around it, separating his palace from the Q. It was a new experience to see a vampire leader willing to mingle directly with his subjects. Then again, if Jalen had spoken the truth, Rem had been a human himself until a few years ago. Perhaps he still felt more comfortable in the realm of humanity instead of vampire kind. “Welcome home, honey,” he said in a rough voice against her ear. He didn’t wait for Nadya to reply. With a jerk of Rem’s knee, the horse started forward again, going down the slope toward the settlement with confidence born of practice. Nadya clung to Rem’s shirt, frightened by the descent almost as much as she was by whatever fate awaited her in the Catz-Kills province.

Chapter Two With a speed she hadn’t expected, Nadya found herself unseated from the horse. Rem set her in the middle of the crowd that had gathered and went riding off toward the house in the center of the square with a jaunty wave. Bereft and feeling exposed, she hugged herself and stared at those around her. They were a rough bunch, clad in homespun clothing, with many an unwashed body among them. The odor reminded her too much of the Q, and she hastily backed away, trying to make her way through the crowd without catching anyone’s attention. In her effort to escape, her feet led her in the direction Rem had taken, and she didn’t resist. As much as she feared the man, she also felt safer with him than surrounded by the citizens of his province. Nadya screamed when a hand fastened on her upper arm, and she whirled to confront her attacker. Words demanding her release died in her throat when she found herself looking into the eyes of a diminutive woman in her late fifties. Her blue eyes sparkled, and the white hair escaping her bun gave the woman an air of kindness that immediately soothed Nadya. “Sorry to startle you, dear, but I didn’t want you to get lost in the crowd.” She drew Nadya away from the crush of people to lead her toward Rem’s house. “I’m here to ensure you get settled.” “Who are you?” The older woman smiled. “Loretta, Rem’s mother. He asked me to see that you were given a room at the hall until you figure out if you are staying or going.” Nadya frowned. “When did he ask you? He just dumped me here and rode off. There wouldn’t have been time for him to ask you.” Loretta smiled. “He sent a messenger ahead, dear. And he dropped you here to spare you the walk back from the stables. I’m sure he knew you would want to rest after such a long journey.” The older woman had a way of invoking guilt that Nadya had only seen in one other woman -- her own grandmother. She walked along with Rem’s mother, unable to think of a reason not to. It seemed like the most natural thing in the world to link arms with the little woman and go where Loretta took her. They walked a straight path to the hall, and Nadya realized her first estimation of the building hadn ’t been accurate. It wasn’t ugly. It was absolutely hideous up close, though clearly secure. Armed guards stood at the entrance, but didn ’t challenge their passage. The courtyard of the hall was lush with greenery, but it wasn’t an organized effort. The only obvious signs of planned design were the uneven spots where someone had chopped down or pruned foliage in order to keep the path clear. The region was well into its recovery from The Great Burning. They entered the monstrosity, and the claustrophobic feeling returned. The few windows were high up and small, allowing very little of the darkening twilight inside. She imagined the hall was just as grim in daylight. The shadows prevented more than a cursory examination as Loretta led her through the great room to a hallway. They took a staircase of concrete upward, following the winding steps to the third floor. There, Loretta led her to a rough wooden door. The older woman unlocked the door and surprised Nadya by handing her the key. “Here is your room, dear. Please make yourself comfortable and know you are welcome here.” “Thank you.” She clasped the key in a white-knuckled grip and walked through the door, closing it behind her and leaning against the unfinished wood for support. After a few minutes, she managed to stand straight and walk across the room, eyeing her quarters with surprise. They were humble compared to the luxury she’d enjoyed at Jalen’s palace, but not nearly as rough as she’d feared. A hand-sewn quilt in varying shades of blue covered the mattress, and she sat gingerly, finding it comfortable and without springs to poke her. The wooden headboard caught her attention, and she leaned across the bed to examine the intricate carving of a warrior in various stages of battle. Someone had put a great deal of time into the piece. With an anxious feeling making the pit of her stomach churn, Nadya stood up and walked away from the bed to examine the other furnishings in the room. A sturdy chair with thick cushions invited sitting by the fireplace, though it wasn ’t lit right then. A luxuriant rug of animal pelts was as soft as it looked when she knelt to touch it, and she could imagine sprawling on the fur, wearing nothing but her lover. In her mind’s eye, it was Rem with whom she shared the rug, not Jalen. Nadya tried to shove aside the thought as she opened the drawers of the functional dresser, stained cherry to match the other wood in the room. Her stomach dipped when she found men’s clothing in the drawers. Her fingers trembled when she closed the drawers and made her way to the closet. She opened the door and confirmed her fears. Rem’s clothes hung in the closet. Well, they were men’s clothes, but to what other man could they belong? Rem had placed her in his room. Why? Nadya nibbled on her lower lip as she recalled his words about everyone pitching in. Did he expect her to provide him sexual services in exchange for a place to stay? Rem must be expecting her to fill the same role for him that she had for Jalen. “Disgusting,” she said aloud, softly, ignoring the tug of emotion that insisted she found the idea appealing. Just because she’d been Jalen’s mistress didn’t give Rem license to think she would sleep with him, and she would tell him so just as soon as she saw him.

A knock at the door interrupted her reverie, and she forgot all about boldly confronting Rem. Nadya eyed the room frantically for a means of escape as the knock sounded again. It took her a moment to realize Rem wouldn’t knock to enter his own room, and she finally calmed down enough to cross the wooden floor and open the door. Loretta stood on the other side with a garment draped over her arm. Behind her, several men and women stood holding buckets, save for one burly man with a copper tub. He nodded at Nadya as he pushed past her to put the tub in the room, near the fireplace. Nadya stood back, speechless, as the servants trooped in to deposit buckets of water into the tub, while the man who had carried it started a fire in the stone hearth. Loretta thanked each of them by name as they departed, until only she remained. She extended the clothes to Nadya, followed by a small basket of homemade toiletries. “I’ll leave you to clean yourself. When you are ready, come on downstairs. Supper is in the main hall.” Nadya mumbled a confused word of thanks as Loretta left. She stood in the center of the room for a long minute, debating what to do. Part of her wanted to toss the dress and bath in Rem’s face. The other part of her longed to be clean and fed. Taking a bath and dressing in clothes Rem provided didn’t give her unspoken consent to be his consort, did it? Of course not. Feeling slightly like she was making the wrong decision, Nadya bolted the door, determined not to dwell on the knowledge that Rem no doubt had a key to his own room and could enter at any time. She stripped off the dirty robe she’d worn since Rem “rescued” her, leaving it in a heap on the wooden floor. Nadya padded to the tub, surprised to find the floor smooth underfoot. The water was piping hot, and the fire in the fireplace kept her from chilling as she sank into the water. She sighed as the hot water washed over her. It took some contorting to fit herself into the confines of the small tub, and she couldn ’t help but compare it wistfully to the huge bathtub that had been at her disposal while she was with Jalen. That had come complete with jets and running water, available at any time. She closed her eyes, picturing Jalen in her mind. Her body ached for his, and her heart yearned to know he was truly alive. Rem seemed like the honest type, but she still had doubts that he ’d left his enemy alive. Why wouldn’t Rem have seized the moment to murder the strongest of the vampire lords who challenged him? If Jalen were alive, was he thinking of her at this very moment, wondering about her fate? Or had he already moved on to the next tribute while waiting for his vampire bride to come to him? Had Nadya ever meant anything to him? When she was with Jalen, she was almost positive she’d been getting through to him, had touched his heart, though he had never said so. Now that they were separated, she was re-examining every second of their time together, growing less certain by the minute. He had never said he loved her, so how could she know for sure? Unless she made it back to Jalen, she would never know. But could she return without knowing he would welcome her back? If she decided to try, would Rem really just let her walk away? After all, he’d put her in his room for a reason, and it took no imagination to figure out what it was. Her mind heavy with questions, Nadya washed her body and hair, finally leaving the tub when she realized the water had cooled to tepid, and that she was hiding in the copper container in an effort to avoid facing Rem. Tempting as it was to remain in his room until he came for her, Nadya knew she would be more successful at rebuffing his advances if she confronted him bravely, making it clear that she wasn’t going to fall into bed with him. As she slipped on the scrupulously clean white shift that buttoned from neck to mid-calf, she repeated that thought to herself, hoping it would sink in before she saw Rem.

Chapter Three The main hall was a picture of controlled chaos when Nadya stepped through the door. Long tables and benches provided seating for at least a hundred, yet her eyes immediately sought and found Rem. She gasped at her first sight of him clean and groomed. Gone was the shaggy beard and coarsely gnarled hair. He had washed his hair to reveal it was a gleaming shade of black that appeared almost blue under the light of the candelabra ablaze with candles. His facial hair was now neatly trimmed to a short goatee and thin mustache. The dark hair around his mouth emphasized the thickness of his lips, and she shivered, imagining those lips moving over her body. In an effort to escape those thoughts, she examined the rest of his face, finding his features smooth and pleasing. He was completely transformed. Her eyes narrowed with displeasure when she realized there were no free seats near Rem. In her mind, she’d imagined he would make her sit with him. In reality, the seat beside him already had an occupant. She was a buxom redhead with breasts threatening to spill from the bodice of her gray dress. The woman was leaning against Rem, whispering something into his ear. He must have enjoyed whatever she said, because he nodded and exchanged a heated glance with her. “Nadya?” She jumped at the sound of her name and tore her gaze from Rem to look at his mother. “Yes?” “I saved a seat for you at the table.” She turned back toward the tables, clearly assuming Nadya would follow. With no other option, she did so, taking a seat at one of the long benches between Loretta and a chubby older man who nodded briefly to her before resuming his conversation with the man beside him. “I took the liberty of making you a plate. Around here, if you wait too long, there will be nothing left.” Loretta smiled as she indicated the plate waiting for Nadya. “Thank you.” Nadya had been hungry until the sight of Rem and his whore turned her stomach. She picked at the stew cautiously, not certain what to expect. To her surprise, it was hearty and tasty, making her appetite return. She ate as Loretta chatted with her, occasionally answering, but mostly remaining silent. What did the other woman think of her son installing one woman in his room while pawing another at the dinner table? Constantly, her gaze returned to Rem and the redhead. Each time, she found them cozily arranged, speaking to each other in what might have been sensuous whispers. They could have been shouting for all she could make out over the ambient noise in the hall, but their posture suggested they were speaking much more intimately. Nadya was halfway through the stew, with Loretta’s words flowing dimly through her ears without really registering, when Rem suddenly moved closer to the woman. She dropped her fork, shocked when he began feeding from the redhead, clearly to the other woman’s delight. Abruptly, she stood. “Excuse me. I need some air.” She didn’t wait for Loretta’s response as she hurried from the hall and made her way through a maze of hallways, finally emerging through a door into an unkempt garden. Nadya leaned against the wall, drawing in deep drafts of air in an attempt to calm herself. She didn ’t need to question her reaction to what she’d witnessed. Much as she didn’t want to, she desired Rem. The idea of sharing him sickened her, and she recognized the hypocrisy. After all, Jalen remained in her thoughts even as she longed for Rem ’s touch. She’d wanted him since Jalen made his enemy feed from Nadya, and it was pointless to deny that. It didn ’t mean she was going to offer herself to Rem. After seeing the way he’d acted with that redhead, she wouldn’t let him put a hand on her. “You left in a hurry.” Once again caught unawares, Nadya jumped. This time, her startled eyes turned to Rem, and heat suffused her face. She didn’t answer, not sure what to say, or even if she could speak right then. Rem rested his shoulder against the wall, much too close for her comfort. “Any particular reason why?” Nadya shrugged. “I felt sick.” He lifted a brow, and for a second, she frowned. A flicker of something flashed across her mind, but winked out when his expression changed to one of indifference. “Sorry if the food isn’t up to your standards. This ain’t no palace.” His eyes narrowed. “Then again, there aren’t so many strings attached to your staying here either.” Nadya sniffed. Rem frowned. “You know, you could be a little grateful to me for saving you.” She turned fully to face him. “Was that what you planned to say if I refused to accept your strings?” His frown deepened. “I didn’t ask you to do anything the others don’t do. Most are glad to pitch in.” Anger had her stamping her foot, regardless of how childish the action was. “You make everyone share your room, and they don’t mind? I’m supposed to believe every woman in this compound has shared your bed? Or every person?” She raked her gaze over him dismissively. “You think they’re really happy to be there, do you?” Rem’s mouth dropped open and then closed with a click. A laugh bubbled from him, rumbling his chest. Amusement tinged

his words when he spoke. “I was referring to everyone having a job or helping out in some way. There are people who cook, others who watch children or educate, field hands for crops, soldiers -- everyone does their part.” “So my part is to sleep with you? I’m supposed to just happily pitch in?” She curled her lip, hoping she appeared disgusted rather than embarrassed by her assumption. “Honey, I don’t know where you got the idea that I expect you to sleep with me, but I’ll demand nothing from you.” He lowered his voice, leaning closer. “I have plenty of women who would be happy to fill that role. I’ve never had to force one yet.” His breath on her bare arm made her shiver, and she took a step back. “Why am I in your room if you don ’t expect anything?” Rem’s expression was serious when he said, “Because we had nowhere else to put you, and I thought you’d appreciate a space to yourself until we find your own home. I thought I was being nice by offering up my room, since I can sleep anywhere.” “I saw.” Her words oozed contempt. He inclined his head slightly. “Mary was happy to see me, Nadya. She’s always happy to see me, and I like her. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship, but certainly nothing to be jealous about.” She barely cut off a screech of outrage. “I am not jealous.” “Yeah?” He leaned closer yet, until their mouths were a whisper apart. This time, Nadya didn’t back away. “Because you want nothing to do with me, right?” She nodded, though she didn’t think she successfully hid the confusion welling in her. Just when she thought she had everything sorted out, her body contradicted her brain. Without thought, she licked her lower lip, grazing his mouth in the process. Rem groaned, but didn’t kiss her. Instead, he lifted his head. “That’s okay, honey. You’re safe from me. I’ve never had anything else my brother had, and I won’t start with his woman.” Nadya sat in the garden on the overgrown grass for hours, wavering between believing what Rem had said and rejecting his words. How could Jalen be his brother? It made no sense. Rem had only been a vampire for a few years. Vampires didn ’t have human children… unless they had a human partner. Had Loretta been Lorne’s lover? Had she been an innocent tribute, or had she been his mistress? Had Lorne known Rem was his son? Surely not. He either would have taken the boy and raised him in his proper place or destroyed him. Certainly, Lorne had never shown mercy to Rem when facing him across a battlefield. Rem couldn’t be Jalen’s brother. She shook her head, refusing to believe. He had been the one to strike Lorne down in battle. Rem wouldn’t have killed his own father. Would he? But if he was Jalen’s brother, surely that meant he was telling the truth about having left her lover alive. It made sense and explained why he wouldn’t have killed his enemy when he’d had the chance. Yet, he’d killed the man he claimed was his father, so why would he hesitate to strike down his brother? Mind awhirl with confusion, Nadya eventually left the garden. On autopilot, she made her way through Rem’s house, losing her way only once. She found herself in front of Rem ’s door a few minutes later and took a deep breath before entering. She expected to find him in his room, despite his assertion that he was loaning it to her, but the space was empty. She checked the primitive water closet after finding the bedroom vacant, but found it unoccupied. Finally, Nadya sat on the bed, trying to pick through her thoughts. Though she tried to deny his words, it was proving impossible. For one thing, she’d realized what her mind had touched upon briefly before. When Rem had arched his brow, his expression had been so similar to Jalen’s, despite the differences in their coloring. She’d unconsciously recognized it then. Now, she deliberately compared Rem’s face to Jalen’s, concluding they had the same mouth and eye shape, though different colors. Their hands were identical too, though Rem’s were rough from hard work, while Jalen’s were smooth as silk. It certainly explained her attraction to Rem, to her relief. Her body was simply confused, having recognized the similarities before her brain. When she desired Rem, it was really just a natural response to her missing and needing Jalen. “Liar,” she whispered in the lightening room as dawn approached. There was probably a hint of truth in that thought, but she couldn’t pretend that she wanted Rem only because Jalen was his brother. She wanted Rem in a way that was different than how she felt for Jalen. As the sun rose, Nadya lay back on the bed, trying to clear her thoughts. Sleep eluded her for a time, but slowly encroached, making her eyes heavy and thoughts sluggish. All that remained with her as she slipped into slumber was the conviction that Jalen needed to know Rem was his brother. Maybe there could be peace between them if he found out the truth.

Chapter Four That evening, Nadya set out with the mission of finding Rem. Once she did so, she didn’t know what she was going to say, but she had to talk to him. She tried the main hall, but found only people bustling around in preparation for the evening meal. Quickly, she ducked out again, before someone tried to recruit her to the kitchen staff. She didn’t mind helping, but right then, she had something more important to take care of. She walked across the grounds, pausing to observe the soldiers practicing. Vampires and humans fought alongside each other in practice. Their camaraderie didn’t seem forced, and they moved as a cohesive unit. In her mind, she contrasted what she knew of Jalen’s smaller fighting force and became all the more determined to enlighten her lover about his brother before the two men ended up destroying each other. He wasn’t in the stables, nor in the huge metal warehouse stocked full of supplies one could requisition just by asking. Nadya grew frustrated at not finding him, but was also impressed by how thoroughly Rem took care of his people. No one had a free ride, but no one went without either. If life had been half as good in the Q, she wondered if she would have been so motivated to leave. She nodded, answering her own question. Of course she would have, because she’d wanted Jalen. Still wanted him -- just as she wanted Rem so much that her body ached for him. After what felt like hours of walking, Nadya had left the perimeter of the settlement and entered the woods beyond, carrying an unlit torch, though she didn’t expect to need to light it with the illumination provided by the ripe moon hanging in the sky. She saw an occasional hut or house as she walked, but her main companions were the trees and the creatures of the forest. Though she never saw them, she heard an owl hoot once, and a scuffle in the bushes near her another time. Exhausted, Nadya stopped as she topped a hill to survey the land below her. She was near the bank of a small river, and the water was safe, according to a green sign with an orange plus symbol. Small letters below certified the water had been recently tested for radiation and found clear. She wondered how many of Rem’s people could read the sign. Somehow, she imagined the majority were literate, unlike those in the Q. If her grandmother hadn’t taught her to read with the magazine collection, she wouldn’t have known either. Education wasn’t compulsory in the Q. She walked down the incline and paused near the bank, prepared to sit and dip her feet into the gently running water. A flicker of movement made her freeze, and she withdrew into a clump of bushes. Nadya focused on where she’d seen the motion, and it soon came again. Her eyes widened, and she stifled a gasp when she recognized the man in the water. Rem stood waist deep in the river, washing vigorously with a bar of homemade soap. The moonlight lent his body a silver glow, and her thighs quivered as she stared at him. When he bent forward to rinse his hair, his buttocks emerged slightly above the waterline; just enough to provide a tantalizing peek that caused a rush of liquid heat between her legs. Her nipples hardened, and she shifted restlessly to ease the brush of fabric against the swollen buds. Nadya couldn ’t tear her gaze from Rem as he finished his bath and walked from the river. The water sluiced down his body in asymmetrical lines that invited her eyes to follow. When he was thigh-deep in the water, she saw his engorged cock. The wide shaft culminated in a thick head. The closer he got to shore, the more visible his cock became, and she saw his balls through a thick shield of black hair. Imagining having his cock plunge into her wet pussy made her whimper, and she pressed her hand tighter against her mouth. He lifted his head, looking right at the bushes where she hid. “You might as well come out, Nadya.” Heat suffused her face, making her cheeks hot. She huddled closer to the ground out of instinct. “Come on. I won’t hurt you.” His voice turned from coaxing to smoky. “Let me see you.” Reluctantly, Nadya stood up, pushing aside the foliage to step into his line of sight. It was impossible to meet his gaze, and she lowered her head as he walked toward her, making no effort to cover himself. “Why were you spying on me?” He stood just inches from her, so close that droplets of water splashed her arm when he ran a hand through his hair. She forced her chin up to look at him, though she didn’t directly meet his gaze. “I wasn’t spying. I was looking for you.” Rem grinned at her. “You found me.” “Yes.” She cleared her throat. “I wanted to --” “I know what you wanted, Nadya.” He inhaled deeply. “I can smell your desire for me.” He moved closer, pressing his damp chest to hers. The white dress absorbed the moisture from his skin like a sponge. She knew when he stepped away he would clearly see her lack of undergarments and hard nipples. She tried to pretend like he hadn’t said anything. “I wanted to talk to you about what you said last night, about Jalen. Is he really your brother?” Rem took another step forward, swallowing the rest of the space between them. “Yes.” He breathed the word against the top of her head, and the sensation made shivers run up her spine.

Nadya stared straight ahead at the curve of his shoulder. “Does he know?” “Doubtful.” He wrapped his arms around her. “Our father had no idea, so how would Jalen know?” “How do you know he didn’t know about you?” It was increasingly difficult to focus on her questions and not the feelings his touch provoked. “My mother told me.” “Jalen should --” He pressed a finger to her lips. “I don’t want to talk about Jalen. You don’t either, do you? Isn’t there something you’d rather be doing?” She moaned when he arched against her, pushing his hard cock into her stomach. A wave of desire washed over her, making it impossible to think of anything else. “Yes,” she whispered, surrendering to her need for Rem. She drew his finger into her mouth to suck on the digit. “What I said last night… I didn’t mean it.” He drew back his lips when he gasped, revealing white fangs. “What?” she asked around his finger. He cupped her buttocks in his hand, pulling her tight against him. “I want you. I’ve wanted you since the moment I saw you. When I tasted you, I knew I had to have you.” He drew in a deeper breath between his clenched teeth when she nipped his finger. “I don’t care if you were Jalen’s mistress.” She wanted to contradict the term, but how could she? At the time, it had seemed that she was more than just his plaything, but now, she couldn’t be sure. Thoughts of Jalen were inappropriate while she was in Rem’s arms, and she pushed them aside. He lowered his head while withdrawing his finger from her mouth. Nadya tipped back her head in order to meet his mouth. Sparks flared between them when their lips met. She parted her mouth to allow his tongue inside while trembling under the onslaught of sensations assaulting her. Her head spun, and she was too hot. The light dress was too constricting, and it was all she could do not to tear it off. Rem cupped her shoulders in his hands as his mouth explored hers. Nadya met each thrust of his tongue with her own, as her body gyrated against him of its own accord. She wanted to feel him inside her, to test the length of his cock with her folds, to ride him and feel him come inside her. She grasped a handful of his hair to pull his head away. Nadya drew in a long breath before nuzzling his neck. She enjoyed the way he twitched as she nibbled the column of his throat, pausing to suck a spot here and there. He groaned when she stroked her tongue across the sensitive area, before grazing the bend of his neck with her teeth. In her mind ’s eye, she was showing Rem what she wanted him to do to her. She couldn’t yet verbalize it, but she longed for him to feed from her again, to see if they still shared that bond -- to find out if it was as strong as the one she had with Jalen when he fed from her while they made love. “Honey, that feels so good.” He stroked a hand down her back and across her butt, pausing to squeeze one of her cheeks. Meanwhile, his other hand delved into the bodice of the dress in search of a breast. Nadya gasped against his neck when he thumbed her nipple, in turn making him shiver. “I want to taste you,” he said in almost a growl. The moonlight highlighted the flash of red in his eyes, but she wasn’t frightened. Instead, evidence of his vampire physiology emerging excited her. She wanted all of him, not just the human persona he hid behind most of the time. “I want that too.” She tipped back her neck farther in invitation. He either missed the gesture or ignored it. Instead, Rem busied himself with stripping the dress from her, leaving her clad only in a pair of sandals Loretta had given her. As soon as he disposed of the garment, Rem lowered his head to suck her breast. Nadya closed her eyes, grasping his shoulders to keep her feet as he licked the nipple before sucking on her breast. His rhythmic tugging and licking transmitted straight to her pussy, and she tightened her thighs in an attempt to control the sensations. Her head spun as Rem lifted and carried her closer to the river bank. He lowered her onto a thick towel. She lay back, parting her arms and legs to allow him full access. He hovered over her for a long moment. The moonlight caught his eyes, making them shine and showing his naked hunger. Her need matched his, and she reached for him. “Come to me, Rem.” He took the hand she extended and knelt between her thighs, once again capturing her lips in a long kiss. His mouth seared hers, fusing them together for what seemed like an eternity. Her mind whirled, and her thoughts split into colored fractals as she lost herself in his embrace, reveling in the sensations flowing through her. His mouth drifted lower, leaving her lips despite her efforts to keep him with her. When he licked her neck, she tensed before relaxing. A mix of anticipation and anxiety consumed her as she waited for his fangs to penetrate her skin. Instead, he merely licked and sucked the sensitive area before sweeping his tongue across her throat and down her breastbone. She exclaimed with surprise when he buried his head between her breasts to inhale deeply. “Rem.” Nadya ran her hands through his hair, not sure what she was asking for. No, that wasn’t right. She wanted him to do everything with her and to her. She just didn’t know what to ask for first. Rem rolled to bring himself into position with the breast he hadn’t yet tasted. Nadya sighed when he sucked the globe into his mouth, lapping greedily at her nipple. His tongue was raspy against the rigid bud, and she shifted restlessly, tightening her grip on his hair, inadvertently drawing him away.

He braced his chin on the side of her breast. “Is something wrong?” She shook her head, and then said, “Yes.” With a smile, he sat up a bit, supporting his chin with one hand, while the other flirted with her pussy. His pinkie traced her slit, running ever so lightly against her clit. She bit her lip to keep from screaming with frustration when he continued to stroke her nonchalantly, seemingly without any intent to actually dip inside her pussy to explore deeper. “What’s the problem, honey?” What was the problem? Nadya shook her head, not sure what she wanted to tell him. “Never mind.” He lifted his shoulder in a half-shrug and lowered his head again, this time below her breast, to trace his tongue across her stomach in a circuitous route that brought him ever closer to her pussy. When he accidentally raked his fangs against her side, she gasped, and a bolt of ecstasy lit up her body. The words she’d fumbled for came readily. “Bite me, Rem.” He froze, his tongue just below her belly button. When he exhaled, a wash of hot air bathed her pussy, increasing her arousal. After a moment, Rem started licking and kissing her skin again, but gave no indication that he was about to feed. With a frown, Nadya tugged on his hair, making him look up at her. “I want you to taste me.” “I’m about to,” he said in a sexy purr, and the rumble of his voice emerging from his throat pulsated through her sensitive flesh, making her thighs contract. She shook her head. “That’s not what I mean.” He arched his brow. “You don’t want me to lick your sweet little pussy?” Nadya sighed impatiently. “I do. Of course I do. But I also want you to feed from me.” “I’m not hungry.” His closed expression revealed he was through discussing the topic. She hesitated, tempted to keep pushing in search of the reason why he seemed not to want to feed from her. Desire kept her silent. She feared angering him, and Nadya didn’t want their passionate interlude to end. Feeling somewhat like she’d surrendered on an important point, Nadya lay back again, releasing her hold on Rem’s hair. Instead, she let her arms fall out to her sides. Her legs mimicked the motion, opening wider to receive her lover as Rem settled into position. His breath warned of his approaching tongue, but she had no desire to rebuff him. Rem took her pussy as thoroughly as he seemed to take everything. With no hesitation, and with a sense of certainty emanating from him in waves, he consumed her. His mouth was a buffer that shielded her vulnerable flesh, covering her pussy from the outside world. His tongue was an invader, probing her slit from clit to opening in strokes that varied from short to long, from deep to the lightest touch. Nadya arched against him, riding his face instinctively. His mouth was hot and wet, just like her pussy, and she welcomed his tongue the same way she would soon welcome his cock. As he flicked his tongue across her clit in feather -light strokes, she sobbed, his name flying from her mouth in a jumbled wave of sound. Moisture filled her pussy, and her womb contracted as she came hard under his mouth. Rem lapped up every drop of her arousal, prolonging the waves of pleasure that spread from the epicenter of her pussy. It was only when she lay in a boneless heap, temporarily incapable of moving, that Rem finally lifted his head. She managed a weak smile. “Thank you.” Tears blurred her vision, and she blinked them away. The orgasm had been more than physical. It had touched her on a primitive level, and she had to regain control of her emotions before she burst into song or hurled herself into his arms, a sobbing mess. “It was all my pleasure.” He licked the side of his mouth to remove the last traces of her juices. “Completely mine.” Nadya shook her head. “Not completely. You’re still hard.” “How do you know?” She fumbled, unable to see from her vantage point, but soon finding the proof. His cock was hard and heavy in her hand, and she pumped the length, rubbing her palm against the head. “This tells me a lot.” Rem’s breathing was ragged. “Like what?” “Like it wants to be inside me.” She shifted to bring her pussy closer to his cock. “I want your cock inside me, Rem. Take me. Now.” He grinned, clearly amused, but also unable to hide a trace of male pride. “Who am I to deny you what you want?” “Take me,” she said again. He lifted her thighs atop his, and she locked them around his back. Nadya held her breath as he aligned their pelvises, bringing the head of his cock against her opening. She arched against his shaft, longing to have him deep inside her. “Take me.” Rem eased inside an inch, and then two. Nadya sucked her breath through her teeth, unaccustomed to his generous size. It was almost uncomfortable for a second, but she pushed past it, lifting herself to impale more of his erection, and only pleasure remained. “Take me all the way, Rem.” “You sure are demanding.” He sounded amused. A second later, Rem surged deeply inside her. Nadya closed her eyes, gritting her teeth to keep from screaming from the intense sensation of having him stretch and fill her so completely. He sank to the hilt, and she held him against her, locking her legs tighter still, in an effort to keep him from moving. It was pure bliss to be joined with him.

Soon, Rem shifted against her. She uttered a sound of protest as he withdrew, but it turned to an exhalation of pleasure when he plunged into her again, once more filling her. She surrendered to the pace he set, letting his rhythm determine hers as they engaged in a primal dance as old as time. Their simpatico thrusts had them both grunting and moaning, and she saw the veins bulging in his forehead as he increased his force. “Harder, deeper,” she demanded, wanting to sink completely into Rem, until they were one being. He complied, and she cried out with pleasure. Convulsions built inside, spreading outward, and when her sheath contracted around his cock, Rem groaned, releasing spurts of satisfaction inside her. His hot fluid filled her, and she tightened her legs into a vise to hold him for a long second. They stayed without moving as he emptied his passion into her, while she convulsed around him. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, and all she could hear was their harsh breathing as she loosened her legs, letting Rem withdraw. He rolled onto his side, bringing her with him. His arm held her against him, and his uneven breath blew over her neck. Nadya literally couldn’t move, she was so sated. “I love you, Nadya.” She blinked. The confession should startle her, considering the time they’d spent together was limited, but it didn’t. Hearing it verbalized was a little surprising, but she’d known how he felt. She felt it too. Just like with Jalen, there had been a connection between her and Rem right from the start. “I love you too.” Her fingers stroked his silky hair as their breathing returned to normal. Nadya had worried that she would be comparing Jalen and Rem when she and Rem made love. Her fear had been that Jalen would be at the forefront of her mind, somehow causing Rem to be lacking. Instead, she hadn ’t thought about Jalen while joined with Rem. His lovemaking was different from his brother ’s. It made sense, considering neither man had much in common otherwise. If only she didn’t have a slight ache in the pit of her stomach, she would be completely blissful. She should have been. She’d spent every moment of her time with Jalen trying to make him acknowledge his feelings for her, and he’d never done so. His behavior had indicated he cared deeply for her, but had he loved her? If so, did he still love her? She wouldn’t have to ever doubt how Rem felt. He had freely verbalized his emotions, probably knowing there was a good chance she would rebuff him or think he was crazy, because he barely knew her. She had everything she should ever want with the man in her arms. So why was her heart still yearning for Jalen? In retrospect, she recognized the same hollow ache had been there after lovemaking with Jalen too. Both men satisfied her, but not completely. It was as if they were both halves of the whole. Where Rem was so gentle, Jalen could be, at turns, soft or harsh and demanding. Was there something wrong with her that she wanted both the light and dark? As much as she enjoyed Rem’s sweet lovemaking, she longed for Jalen’s firm mastery equally. Only together could they -- and she -- be complete. As Rem lifted her to carry her to the water, Nadya admitted that was an unlikely scenario. She could see no feasible way to unite the brothers, or to have both of them in her life. What she should do was count herself thankful that she’d found Rem, be content with what they had, and stop thinking about Jalen. To do so felt like a betrayal to her own heart, so how could she do that? Was she doomed to have that ache remain with her for the rest of her life?

Chapter Five Days blended together, passing in a blur of passion until more than a month had gone by. No matter how many times Nadya made love with Rem, she couldn’t get enough of him. She also couldn’t shed the feeling something was missing, but was no closer to finding a solution. Just as she was no closer to finding out why Rem wouldn’t bite her. Aside from the time Jalen had practically force-fed her lifeblood to Rem, he had never tasted her. He was discreet about from whom he fed, but it still hurt that he didn’t come to her, his lover, for sustenance. Was there something wrong with her? Nadya had no idea, and each time she tried to ask, he changed the subject or withdrew completely. Unexpectedly, Loretta provided the answer one evening as Nadya helped her sort and prepare vegetables for canning. They sat on benches in the main hall, with the table between them heaping full of vegetables fresh from harvest. “Are you happy here, dear?” asked Loretta. She didn’t glance up from the ear of corn she was husking. Her demeanor suggested it was just an idle question, but her posture revealed the answer was very important to the other woman. Nadya took a moment to compose her thoughts while ostensibly finishing breaking the ends off the green bean in her hand. When she’d tossed it into the bin already half -filled with green beans, she reached automatically for another bean. “I’m not unhappy.” Loretta looked up from the corn. “Do you love my son?” That she could answer without hesitation. “Yes.” “So, why aren’t you happy?” Nadya didn’t meet Loretta’s gaze, and she didn’t answer. As she tended to the green bean, she silently hoped the other woman would let the subject die. “You love the other one, too.” It might have been a question, but she said it with such certainty that it sounded like a foregone conclusion. Her throat was suddenly dry, and she coughed to clear it. “What other one?” “The brother. Jalen.” Sadness passed across Loretta’s face. “Rem’s enemy by a cruel trick of fate.” Her gaze focused on Nadya, and her expression cleared. “Rem doesn’t want to think that you might have loved Jalen. He prefers to see you as the victim of his brother. When my son loves, it is with his entire heart.” She saw no reason to hide the truth in light of Loretta’s candor. “I love Rem, but I loved… still love… Jalen too. I wasn’t his prisoner. Rem didn’t rescue me. He took me away from the only man I had ever wanted. Until I came here. ” She sighed. “I didn’t know I would want two men. I love them both. They are so different …” Nadya trailed off, chagrined to realize she’d mangled the tender vegetable in her hands. With a flick, she tossed it into the rubbish pile and selected another. Cautiously, she peered at Rem’s mother, not certain what kind of reaction to expect to her honesty. Loretta nodded. “I won’t pretend to understand loving two men, Nadya, but I know how it is to love with your whole heart. I know the pain of losing that love, of settling for something that isn’t what you want.” Something in the older woman’s expression hinted at a desire to say more, but also reluctance. Nadya hoped to encourage her to open up by reaching over to squeeze her hand before returning to breaking beans. “I loved Lorne.” “What?” Nadya ruined another bean by snapping it in half. “But he was a monster!” Loretta held her shoulders in a straight, proud line. “Not always. Once upon a time, my Lorne was as tender as the green beans you’re destroying.” A small smile accompanied that comment. “He saw me in the Q and whisked me away to his palatial estate.” A wistful sigh escaped Nadya as she recalled Jalen selecting her. “What happened?” “The DuMond family is pure. Nothing but official vampire marriages with verified pedigrees appear in their family records. Lorne’s father wasn’t going to see that change. When he discovered I was more than a plaything to Lorne, he nearly killed me. I’m sure if he’d known I carried his grandson, he would have killed me. As it was, he beat me so severely in front of Lorne that I still bear the scars, thirty years later.” Recalling Rem’s assertion that his father hadn’t known about him, she asked, “Why didn’t Lorne know about Rem?” “I had barely found out myself. We had been talking about running away and making a life together, but when Charles found out, that was out of the question. He told Lorne I was dead, and I knew if I tried to see him, so he would know the truth, the old bastard would kill us both. To this day, I don’t know why Charles spared my life. Maybe he had a hint of compassion for his son? I don’t know. I found myself banished from the N’work region, alone and pregnant.” “What happened?” Nadya hung on her every word, spellbound by the tale of forbidden love, knowing it had no happy

ending. “This clan took me in. Rem’s stepfather ran the tribe of ragtag humans who had broken away from vampiric rule. He was kind to me.” Her lips puckered, and she blinked several times before continuing. “It wasn’t long before Michael fell in love with me.” She closed her eyes, clearly losing her reserves. “I let him. Heaven help me, I encouraged those feelings, knowing my child and I would have security if I was the leader’s mate.” Having abandoned all pretenses of preparing vegetables, Nadya leaned across the table to pat Loretta ’s hand. “Did he know Rem wasn’t his son?” She nodded. “Michael assumed I had been a victim of the DuMond family, and he raised Rem as his own son. It wasn ’t until Rem was turned into a vampire, several years after Michael had died, that I told him who his biological father was. I had hoped it would end the feud, but it seemed to strengthen his resolve to defeat the DuMonds and other vampire clans, to free humans.” “Did you tell him the whole truth?” Nadya asked gently. “If he assumed what Michael assumed --” “You’re too perceptive, my dear. I couldn’t bring myself to confess to Rem that I had never loved Michael, the man he’d adored and regarded as his father. Michael was a good friend to me, but my heart had only ever belonged to Lorne. It is terrible to know this war forced Rem to kill his father, the man I had loved so completely. How could I tell him the truth about my relationship with Lorne after that? It might have destroyed Rem.” Her gaze seemed to drill into Nadya, straight to her soul. “I believe Rem loves the way I do. There will be only one for him, and I fear you are the one.” Nadya recoiled. “Why do you fear that?” “Because he deserves someone who loves him completely, not someone who is conflicted by emotions for another.” A tear trickled down her lined cheek. “I destroyed a man’s gentle heart. I won’t have you do the same to my son.” Stomach churning with nausea, Nadya searched for a way to reassure them both that she wasn’t the woman Rem would love so deeply. “I can’t be her. I can’t be his other half, because he holds part of himself distant from me. I mean, he won’t even bite me.” Loretta scowled. “Of course not. He won’t risk hurting you. Rem still fears the animalistic hunger of his vampiric side, of losing control. If he has only a shallow connection with his donor, he can maintain control. The more deeply he loves someone, the more difficult it would be to hold all that power in check.” The nausea took an upswing, and she barely kept it in check at the back of her throat. “I see.” “Do you really?” Loretta leaned forward earnestly. “Do you understand what I’m telling you? If you love Rem and can be happy with just him, then I will be pleased to welcome you into our family. However, if you aren ’t sure, Rem deserves better than that. If you don’t love him with all of your heart, you should leave now.” Nadya nodded, and Loretta leaned back. She resumed shucking corn and acted like the conversation hadn’t taken place. Nadya wished she could do the same. Her body went through the motions of snapping the beans, but her mind was occupied with far more important matters. Matters of the heart that weren’t so easy to sort out.

Chapter Six Late that night, as Rem slipped into the room they shared, clearly exhausted from a long day, she was no closer to reaching an answer. She knew it was unfair to give only half her heart to Rem if he loved her with the passionate intensity his mother thought he did. Yet, how could she force herself to not love Jalen? Though it had been more than a month since their parting, she still yearned for him. “You seem pensive,” said Rem as he stripped off his clothes and stepped into the bath servants had brought up moments before he returned home for the night. She blinked, attempted to push away her thoughts, and rose to her feet from the sturdy chair she’d occupied. Rem’s breath escaped through his clenched teeth when he saw her in the white gown. The gossamer material did little to hide her curves. “I’m not pensive. I was, however, growing impatient waiting for you.” As she spoke, Nadya walked toward him, swaying her hips in an exaggerated motion. He knelt in the tub. “Give me five minutes to clean up.” Nadya gave him a crooked grin. “I don’t think so.” In a smooth motion, she stripped off the gown and tossed it aside. “That’s too long,” she added, stopping beside the tub. “Two minutes,” he said in a breathless rush. She shook her head and lifted a foot to step into the tub. “Honey, there is no room…” His groan swallowed the rest of his objection when Nadya cupped her foot over his cock. She stroked up and down the length of him, wiggling her toes experimentally. She giggled when he grunted, thrusting against her foot. “Okay, we’ll make it work,” he said, offering her a hand. Nadya put her foot on the floor of the tub before bringing in the other one. She perched on the lip of the tub, keeping her thighs parted. She ran her nails through his long hair before rubbing his cheek. “Scruffy.” “I didn’t have time to shave this morning.” He lifted his hand to cup her breast. “You kept me in bed later than usual.” “I kept you?” She batted her eyelashes. “I’m not the one who woke up with a raging hard-on that needed attention.” Her last words were more exhalations than anything as he thumbed her nipple. “You’re the one who caused my condition.” “And I took care of it.” She licked her lips, remembering the taste and feel of his cock inside her mouth, longing for it again. “My turn.” He cupped her thighs to push them farther apart. Nadya dug her fingers into his shoulders to balance herself when he lowered his head. His lips were soft and coaxing on her pussy, though she needed no encouragement to open to him. At the first touch of his tongue, moisture flooded her sheath. She shook as he flicked his tongue across her clit. Nadya voiced no protest when he lifted her from the tub and laid her on the rug in front of the fireplace. The fur wicked away the beads of moisture from their bodies as the burning fire warmed their skin. She did push his head away when he would have resumed licking her pussy. “No.” He quirked a brow. “You don’t want me to taste you?” “Not right now.” She leaned forward, forcing him backward so she could straddle his thighs. Nadya lowered her head to kiss his stomach, starting with light, teasing nibbles. As he groaned and shifted underneath her, she deepened her touch, lengthening the kisses, biting harder, and stroking his skin with her tongue. As she worked her way lower, he grew more rigid in anticipation. She smiled at the evidence of his arousal just before taking his shaft into her mouth. “Ah, love, you’re killing me.” The cords in his neck stood out, showing the extent of the control he exerted not to come in her mouth. She closed her eyes and lowered her mouth, adding a slight twist as she reached the base. Rem cried out her name several times as she worked the length of him, sucking and licking his cock until he was spasming in her mouth, clearly on the brink of orgasm. “Not without me,” she said as she lifted her mouth, discreetly wiping it on the back of her hand as she scooted up his body. Rem grasped her hands as she lifted her hips, cuddling the head of his cock in her cleft. Nadya lowered herself on his erection, moaning as he filled her. It was still as exciting as it had been the first time they made love. He still stretched her to a point that was almost uncomfortable, but somehow enhanced her pleasure. “And not until I say so.” His eyes widened, and he looked puzzled. “What?” Nadya grinned. “Indulge me. I am in control tonight.” After a moment, his tension faded. “If it makes you happy, honey, you are in control.” She rode him slowly, setting a leisurely pace. Rem deferred to her rhythm, but it was clear from the way he squeezed her hands and breathed raggedly that he was having a difficult time maintaining his control. Nadya squeezed her folds around his shaft, massaging him as she thrust down onto him. He grunted, and a shiver coursed through his body, but he didn’t come. She repeated

the movement several times, and then rotated her hips. “Nadya, I can’t hold out much longer.” “Yes, you can.” Her words were harsh from her uneven breathing. Convulsions started deep in her womb, and she squeezed her thighs. “I’m about to come.” “Thank God,” he whispered. “Feel my pussy squeezing around you, Rem?” He nodded, and she tightened her inner muscles to milk him. “You feel so good to me.” “Me too,” he said breathlessly. Nadya cried out as her orgasm approached. “I’m coming, but you aren’t.” He tensed in mid-thrust. “What?” Rem either made no attempt to, or couldn’t, hide his incredulity. “Not yet,” she hissed as she climaxed. Nadya thrust urgently against him, cresting the waves of pleasure and wringing every last drop of satisfaction from the orgasm. All the while, Rem’s cock remained hard inside her, though he was clearly struggling. Nadya lifted herself off him as the orgasm faded, ignoring his sound of protest. She wasn ’t done testing the limits of his endurance. “Do you like my ass, Rem?” Sweat beaded his forehead. “Nadya.” There was a hint of warning in his tone. “I’ve had just about enough of this.” She pretended to pout. “I guess you don’t want my tight little ass then, since you’re almost through?” Rem’s eyes widened. “You know I do.” Nadya smiled, enjoying playing the temptress. “Yes, I know.” He’d been nudging her in that direction since they became lovers. She’d known he was preparing for the day when he would enter her backside when he started anal play -- his fingers, toys, and his mouth. “So, take it.” “Honey, I can’t hold out tonight.” “Yes, you can,” she said in a firm tone. “Put your cock inside my ass and fuck me until I tell you to come.” He responded to her command with bemused obedience, aligning his cock with her anus. Nadya reached for the bottle of oil she had placed near the fireplace earlier in the evening, in anticipation of this turn of events. She sprinkled a dollop into her palm before sliding her hand up and down his cock. Rem groaned, and his shaft twitched against the confines of her hand. She knew it wouldn’t take much stimulation to make him come, and as much as she wanted to please him, making her point was more important. Withdrawing her hand, she inched backward to align her cleft with his erection. “I want to feel you inside me.” Carefully, he eased inside her, taking possession of her ass an inch at a time. Nadya winced occasionally during his entry, but remained relaxed as he filled her up. She struggled to breathe, finding it much more pleasurable than she’d expected. They remained without moving for a long moment. Rem grasped her hips, looking up at her inquiringly. “May I move now?” “You’re not taking this seriously.” He was too amused, but she couldn’t be that annoyed with him. After all, a man like Rem didn’t easily surrender control to others. The fact that he was willing to indulge her enough to let her top him, even for the night, was enough to make her happy. His lips twitched before his expression turned intent. “I have never been more serious in my life. If I don’t fuck you, I’m going to die from the agony.” Nadya nodded. “You may move.” The prim command was so at odds with what they were doing that even she couldn’t hold back a small giggle. All traces of amusement fled when he thrust into her again. Scarlet stained Rem ’s face, and he gasped each time he surged inside her. She was in the same shape, but not constrained to wait for permission to come. “Finger me, Rem.” He brought a hand between her thighs, spending a leisurely minute stroking her clit. Nadya rubbed against his hand, which rotated her hips. She heard Rem groan and smiled with satisfaction that he was holding off. She forgot about controlling the moment when he buried two fingers deep inside her pussy and thrust them in and out of her in time with the pace his cock set. She clenched her anus around his shaft as her thighs quaked. Her slit convulsed, and she cried out as another orgasm consumed her. She looked at Rem through heavy-lidded eyes as her body trembled with release. He was certainly hovering on the edge. His fangs seemed to be furrowing into his lower lip, and he swallowed audibly. His hips bucked upward, but his cock remained hard inside her. “You can come now, love,” she said as she sagged forward, letting him support her. The words hadn’t fully left her mouth when his cock jerked inside her, spurting out hot jets of his semen. Nadya clenched her buttocks to milk Rem as he pumped inside her back passage, crying out his satisfaction loud enough that others in nearby rooms no doubt heard him. He didn’t seem to care about who might overhear, and she soon forgot the concern. Instead, she lost herself in the beauty of his release, overcome with emotion to see him so sated. Slowly, he stopped rocking, and she collapsed atop him. Rem withdrew his semi -hard penis and rolled onto his side, tucking her against him. She breathed in his scent and was content to lie in his arms forever. In moments like this, there was no confusion or question that she could be with him forever and not yearn for Jalen. “Impressive,” she whispered against his neck. She felt more than heard his chuckle as it rumbled through his chest. “You never have to worry about losing control, do you?” He lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug, and his tone was both self-mocking and amused when he said, “I dominate all I survey, except for one slip of a girl.”

She smiled, lifting her head to look at him. Nadya schooled her expression into one of utter seriousness. “I want you to feed from me, Rem.” Seeing his expression slam closed, she rushed to add, “I trust you not to lose control.” He shook his head. “I have others for that need.” Nadya shivered at his arctic tone, but pressed on. “Rem, love, I want to be everything you need.” She shifted position to frame his face in her hands, ignoring his resistance. “I want that intimate connection between us. Please let me give you what you need.” “Why is it so damned important?” He curled his lips. “You should be grateful that I don’t want that from you.” She stroked one of his cheeks. “Do you remember how it was when you first fed from me? How intimate? That was before we were lovers. Don’t you want that deeper connection now?” “Yes,” he snarled, jackknifing into a sitting position. “Yes.” Rem’s shoulders slumped. “Of course I do, but I won’t risk hurting you.” She put her arms around his shoulders. “You won’t hurt me. I trust you completely.” “What if I can’t trust myself?” Tentatively, Nadya scooted closer. “Let my trust be enough for you, until you prove to yourself that you can maintain control.” “Nadya.” Her name was a tortured plea on his lips, tempting her to give in. She couldn’t afford to, though. It was too important to know if he would feed from her. Not just because she wanted to be so intimately joined to him, but also to see if his mother was right. If she was the one to whom he’d completely given his heart, she had to know now. “Please.” She bent her neck to offer her vein. It was vital to know if he would feed from her. “Damn you.” He crumpled against her, pressing his mouth to her neck. Nadya tensed with anticipation as he breathed on her neck, but didn ’t seem inclined to continue. She was about to acknowledge defeat when his lips finally parted, and his teeth penetrated her skin. She gasped at the brief flash of pain, but it soon faded into a haze of passion that consumed her entire body. Her mind floated, and she could see colors in her mind, swirling behind her closed eyes. Nadya’s body hummed with sensation. Desire was part of it, but it went so much deeper than that. This was more than physical pleasure. It was spiritual. He broke away abruptly, gasping for a moment. Nadya saw him wipe his mouth as she opened her eyes. She was woozy, but more from the onslaught of emotions than from blood loss. He could have drunk more deeply and longer had he chosen, but the experience had been enough. For now. “I love you.” She rested her cheek against his arm. Disappointment surged through her. In her secret heart, she’d hoped that sharing a blood bond with Rem would crystallize her feelings for the two men warring for her heart. She’d prayed that one or the other would clearly inspire a deeper connection, thus making it possible for her to choose. Instead, her connection with Rem was as deep and special as the one she shared with Jalen. Dissimilar in the emotions it evoked, and the sensations accompanying his bite, but identical in intensity. How could that be? How could she love two men equally? More importantly, how could she stop loving one and commit fully to the other? It wasn ’t fair to Rem to secretly long for Jalen. She had to decide soon. Somehow.

Chapter Seven The answer came to her in a dream. She found herself back in the sumptuous suite she’d shared with Jalen toward the end of her time as his mistress, recognizing the location on an instinctive level, though she couldn ’t visually identify anything. Nadya lay on the bed, eyes closed, as hands roamed over her body. Lips elicited sensations she gladly surrendered to, while cool skin pressed to hers increased her passion. She moaned and shifted restlessly as a mouth slanted over hers in a deep kiss. She struggled to open her eyes, but discovered she was blindfolded. When she attempted to remove the blindfold, her hands couldn’t escape the restraints keeping them in place. Her unseen lover kissed her again, and then his mouth was suddenly at her breasts, alternating between her nipples. Before she could acclimate to that stimulation, his mouth was between her legs, drinking the nectar of her arousal with delicate swipes of his tongue. “My love,” she cried, arching against the mouth bringing her such pleasure, as hands cupped her breasts to caress her nipples. “Please…” She couldn’t identify him from his masculine laugh. It held a note of dark delight at her predicament. Nadya strained against her bonds as her lover lifted her hips, sliding his body under hers. His cock probed at her anus, and she squirmed, not sure if she was trying to escape or assist him. His cock penetrated her slowly, her dream making the passage easy even without lube. As he thrust into her, she pushed back against him, overcome with desire, but not getting any attention to her pussy. She wouldn’t climax without that. “Please, love, touch me.” His fingers were there, stretching and easing their way, and then pounding into her. With sure strokes and caresses, he brought her to the edge of orgasm. Nadya hovered on the verge, grunting in protest when his fingers withdrew at the penultimate moment. But before she could speak, his cock was replacing his fingers, nudging into her slick sheath and nestling there. Her eyes widened under the mask. How could it be? His cock was in her ass and her pussy? That wasn’t possible. As she tried to puzzle it out, fingers brushed her face. A second later, the mask was gone. Nadya blinked at the bright light, squinting to make out the face of her lover, knowing his identity was the answer to her heart ’s question. Jalen slowly came into focus, and she smiled. “This is what you want. This is what we all need.” The words were whispered into her ear, from below her, and she turned her head to see Rem lying beneath her. As the two brothers took her in unison, triggering an intense orgasm like she’d never experienced, she found herself nodding. Yes, the answer was so obvious. She needed both of these men to complete her. Nadya jerked awake, sweat wetting her brow. Her heart raced in her ears, and for a second, she could still feel each man’s cock inside her. She turned her head to see if she’d disturbed Rem, but he slept on. A flush of guilt tinged her cheeks, and she was thankful he hadn’t awakened during her dream-induced orgasm. How would she have explained that? The solution still resonated in her heart and mind, telling her it was the right one. The problem was making it happen. Nadya swallowed thickly, overwhelmed by the task facing her. How could she ever convince her lovers to accept sharing her, to persuade them to give the unorthodox relationship a try? How was she going to reconcile the two brothers who hated each other so much, and whose ideals and philosophies divided them so drastically? She had no idea, but knew she had to find a way as quickly as possible. Her future, their futures, and the futures of all the humans and vampires hinged on her uniting Jalen and Rem.

Kit Tunstall Kit Tunstall lives in Idaho with her husband and dog-son. She started reading at the age of three and hasn’t stopped since. Love of the written word, and a smart marriage to a supportive man, led her to a full-time career in writing. Romances have always intrigued her, and erotic romance is a natural extension, because it more completely explores the emotions between the hero and heroine. The freedom to cross genres and blend them into unique storylines also appeals to her. Plus, these kinds of stories are so much fun to tell. Her website is http://www.kittunstall.com/index.htm