Page 27 of Quintus

Quintus backed out of the shower, reaching for a towel. The intimacy had smothered him, the space bringing air to his lungs. Jesus fucking Christ, what have I done? I’m a selfish bastard. The chaos of his thoughts would not settle. As he left the bathroom, he caught the sight of her chest rise in a subtle sob. He shook his head in disgust, aware he’d rejected her blood. It was for her own good, he told himself, yet the lie bored a hole in his gut.

Chapter Six

Gabriella shook with anger. Opening herself, being vulnerable to the vampire, emotionally, physically, had been a mistake. Jesus, what kind of a fucking idiot am I?

She breathed slowly, recalling how he’d made love to her. He hadn’t even looked at her as he fucked her, let alone bit her. Yet he’d played her body like an instrument in a symphony with the magic of his lips and his hard-as-fuck cock stroking every inch of her pussy. She’d sensed the raw attraction threading through his psyche but he’d abruptly shut down, never tasting what she’d offered.

Gabriella shook her head and leaned back into the shower, her body still sizzling from the mind-numbing orgasm. The droplets teased her taut nipples, ripe with desire. Her traitorous body yearned for the vampire, who’d denied her.

Impure. Inbred. The taunts ran through her mind and she shoved them aside, reminding herself that Quintus wasn’t the coven. He was vampire, which perhaps, made it worse. Her blood had been good enough to save him yet now that he knew she was wolf, he wouldn’t drink from her.

Gabriella’s chest ached, recalling how she’d begged him to bite her. The refusal had been a slap in the face. Her wolf had nearly submitted, crawling to the forefront of her psyche. Convinced the dominant vampire had somehow played with her mind, she attempted to cut off her emotions and ignore the hunger, but the beast stirred, howling, demanding it be let loose.

For so long, she’d restrained her wolf, keeping it at bay. Ashamed of her lupine blood, she’d only shifted on the full moon, aware her magick would falter if she didn’t. But tonight, the wolf had grown increasingly restless. She’d always maintained control, but making love to Quintus had awakened her feral instincts. She craved his touch, ravenous for the man who’d resisted her blood.

Humiliation and frustration boiled in her gut. Exhausted, she balled her hands into fists and spread her fingers wide, allowing her claws to extend. As she stepped out of the shower, beads of water spilled down her body, and she caught sight of her wild eyes in the mirror. Let her free, an inner voice whispered. Yes, she responded.

A tornado of emotion swirled in her chest as Gabriella released her wolf and she surrendered to the transformation. As the pads of her feet hit the cool marble floor, the strength of her feral beast replaced the weakness of the witch. The vampire would not lie with her ever again once he saw the power of her wolf. She’d sleep alone, soundly, awaiting the magick of the moon.

The scent of her vampire permeated the air, but as Gabriella loped into the bedroom, she immediately sensed his absence. Although the witch inside her mind immediately flared with both pain and desire, the wolf ignored the emotions, and stalked toward the bed. Its power would protect her by healing her from within, strengthening her magick and readying her for a fight.

She jumped onto the bed and settled onto the plush white comforter. With the house quiet and her wolf on the watch, Gabriella closed her lids, succumbing to the nurturing sleep. In the morning, she told herself. In the morning, I’ll get answers. Her whole life had been nothing but pain. Tonight was a lesson in trust and acceptance. No one ever wanted her, not even Quintus. But she’d choose herself and know that she was enough.

Her dream was interrupted, and she went on alert, hearing the footsteps in the hallway. As her lids slowly opened, she caught sight of her magnificent vampire. A towel slung low around his hips, shadows of the candlelight danced on his sculpted abs. As he stepped into the bedroom, a low growl rattled in her throat.

“You’re a…you’ve shifted.” Quintus held a bottle of wine and two glasses in one hand and a tray in the other.

Gabriella grew louder, protesting as he took a deliberate step toward her.

“We have to talk, Gabby,” he said, his voice soft. “Let me just…I want to see you.”

She let out a loud bark as he drew closer, her hackles raised.

“Your color, it’s unusual. Your fur. It’s black with tones of red and grays…you’re beautiful.”

Her heart softened at his words. She’d been called all sorts of hideous names but never beautiful. No. Don’t listen to him. Let him go. You’ll get hurt. Protecting her heart was paramount if she ever were going to be free.

“I thought the full moon was tomorrow,” he said, not as much as a question but a statement. He glanced at the New York City skyline through the floor-to-ceiling window then drifted his focus back to Gabriella. “What just happened in the shower…ah, bella. I know you wanted me to drink from you, but I couldn’t.”

She bared her fangs in response, daring him to come closer. It was her who would draw blood if he touched her.

He passed her on the bed, keeping his focus on her ebony eyes as he crossed the room to a sleek rosewood desk. As he turned his back to her, Gabriella noted her surroundings. With twenty-foot ceilings, the enormous master bedroom’s stark white walls contrasted with the deep cherry hardwood floors. Its contemporary furniture was a vast departure from the old world décor of his home in New Orleans.

The sound of the glasses settling onto the wood refocused her attention, and she cautiously watched him pour the red wine. As he turned to her and lifted the rim to his lips, he gave a knowing smile. Her stomach flipped, his sexy gaze washing over her. In an attempt to ignore him, she shoved her humanity to the recesses of her mind, shifting all power to her beast.

“The thing is my lovely little wolf, you’ve never been bitten.” Quintus slowly took a sip, his seductive eyes locked on hers. “I could lie and say I don’t want your blood.”

Quintus made his way toward Gabriella. She snarled in response, her claws extending into the fabric.

“Easy there, no need to tear up the bed. I mean, I’d be happy to do it the old-fashioned way but…ah well, perhaps that shouldn’t happen.”

Gabriella glared at him in contempt.

“Did you not feel my fangs on your skin?” he asked, his lips forming a sexy smile.

She cocked her head, still baring her teeth at him. Of course she’d felt the scrape along her shoulder, teasing her into submission.

“I wanted it every bit as much as you, but I have my reasons. I’m not ever going to lie to you. Even if I could, I wouldn’t use compulsion to make you think I bit you when I didn’t. My guess is that you wouldn’t be susceptible to my ability to do it anyway. Do you know how special that is? There have been very few people in my life who are immune. Viktor. But of course, he’s my brother. He has the gift, as well, as did our sire. And then there was Mao,” he stated, turning to gaze out the window.