Revolution
Chapter 8

Deacon

I underestimated the strength of her blood. My angel’s blood was like a siren to vampires. It sang to them, calling them closer. My mark on her barely made a dent. If I hadn’t made it physically obvious, there would have been more of an issue tonight.

Not that I was complaining. I would never dream of complaining about touching her. Holding her. Kissing her.

That last one had not been part of the plan, not yet at least. I hadn’t expected her to respond so easily to me. Or for it to feel so… I didn’t know what.

Would I sound like a human female if I said it felt right? Would I care?

I showered and then paced in my room. I let my mind replay the night as I waited for her to fall asleep.

Carter said they were collecting rubbish. I talked to a few of the others. They were doing shifts. Some worked in shadows during the day, collecting what they could. Some worked nights. They all piled everything into large trucks that were being taken to the state line.

Carter was building a wall out of things from the city. It seemed as though Curtis planned to keep California. Which meant he would start backing off on killing the humans. He had too. If he didn’t, he would be killing off their food supply.

We had more than doubled our usual clientele tonight. My donors pushed it. I forbade any of them to come in for the next week. They promised to start sending more help. Many people lost their jobs, lost the breadwinners in their homes. The people in the city, at least, would need to replace a way to make money.

If I knew Curtis as well as I thought I did, and I did, he would have left the more rural towns alone so they could keep growing the food that the humans would need. He effectively turned back the hands of time. He was taking us back to the time period he was created in.

A time when vampires ran their own kingdom.

I wasn’t born until it had all been destroyed because of one male betraying his mate. A witch.

Never betray a witch.

Especially when they were your mate.

I sighed with relief when I heard my angel’s breathing deepen and slow through the wall. It had been nearly two hours since I left her at her door. It wasn’t easy backing away like I did, I was ready to lift her up and carry her to bed. But she wasn’t ready for that.

This was why she was still so pure. She knew how to say no. I couldn’t push her. I needed her to be willing. I needed her body to not fight my seed. I needed her to be equal in what I wanted to do to her. Part of me screamed for her willingness for a different reason. One I did not understand.

I quietly slipped into her bedroom, and stood at the side of the bed, watching her sleep. Even in her sleep, she still looked like an angel. Even without the light.

I couldn’t wait any longer to be near her, so I stripped off all of my clothing this time, knowing I was going to have to do more. She needed to be completely covered in my scent. We needed to make it stronger. It couldn’t just be running through her veins. It needed to be more obvious, less subtle. I was glad she had already showered. It would last longer that way.

I lifted the blanket just enough, as I didn’t want the cool night air to wake her. I turned the generator off when I locked up. I wanted to save the battery for as long as possible. I had a separate generator just for the fridge and freezer in the bar kitchen and the apartment kitchen. With only those things on it, it should last a while.

As for heat, the fire running through my veins would help to keep her warm at night.

This also meant I had a deadline for bringing her around to my side. She was going to need my heat during the long winter nights. With the power lines destroyed - which I believed was one of Curtis’ ways of cutting the humans off from the rest of the world - we would have no heat.

I carefully raised her head again, sliding my arm under her neck. She purred like the good little kitty she was and curled into me. My reaction was immediate. With her as drawn to me as I was to her, I would be meeting that deadline very soon.

Carrie had a stubborn streak though, so I shouldn’t get my hopes up too soon.

I bit into my left wrist again and held it over her mouth. She flinched away when the first drop hit.

“Drink, my little angel. Drink it so I can protect you. Drink it so you can become one with me. Drink it so you can be mine.” I really needed to get control of the growling thing. I just couldn’t help it. The idea of anyone trying to take her away turned me into an animal, making me act more like the Nightwalkers, than my own people.

At the sound of my voice, her lips spread, and she locked onto me. With every swallow she became more and more greedy. I was trying too hard to keep my laughter quiet - loving that she craved my blood - so much so that I was shaking the bed.

Just like the night before, my blood pushed her into a coma-like sleep.

I hadn’t spoken to many who had marked a human before, so this was new to me. All I did know about the effect our blood had on them was that it increased whatever they were feeling at the moment. In moments of pleasure, it made them hungry for more.

Maybe, when she was tired, it helped her sleep better.

If she felt peace in my presence, a calming one like she did to me, maybe it would give her a more restful sleep. Or maybe I was just a prideful SOB.

All equally likely scenarios.

Even in her deep sleep, she still pouted when I removed my hand from those angelic pillows on her chest. I slowly slid my body over her soft skin. Her legs moved of their own accord, making room for me. It was a good thing she was wearing those tiny shorts again. They would serve as a reminder of where I could not go. Yet.

I let my natural instincts take over just enough, my nose lowering to her chin, bringing in her sweet aroma. It blended so perfectly with her body wash. I licked her neck softly, then pulled a small piece of skin in, sucking on it.

Her fingers found my hair, and she began to move under me.

Perfect. She was helping me prepare her blood just the way I liked it.

My hands coasted over her again, building her up higher. I gave a little too much to my instincts, as my hand went lower than I planned. The dopamine in her blood spiked to all new levels, giving me a high just from sniffing it.

I left two perfect marks on her neck before I finally let my fangs sink in. She even tasted like heaven.

My angel made all the right sounds, she moved in all the right ways, pushing against my fingers just right. I barely caught myself from tearing her shorts away and finishing this the way we both desperately needed.

I released her neck and licked it, healing the wounds. This was one of the few blessings we gave to humans. It also helped hide who we were. I was shocked when she said her family always had the marks left behind. That was usually only done as a warning. A sign. Or the vampire had just been careless, possibly in a crazed state.

Her family had always been hunted for some reason. If they shared her blood, I could understand why.

I lifted her butt and pulled her shorts down enough for me to see the last of her. Just as perfect as the rest. A little red, but I hadn’t exactly taken it easy on her. I teased us both, causing her to whimper in her sleep. Then picked up where I had left off until I was able to physically cover her in my scent. I rubbed it all over her waist and below, nearly setting myself off again.

With my mission completed, I laid next to her again, pulling her against me. I slept lightly, making sure I would awake before her. When I felt her breathing begin to change, I kissed her neck one more time, and then left.

I was already back in her kitchen, making sure she heard me like the day before, when she came out. She was still in her night clothes, which were a bit off center, thanks to me. And her hair was messy.

“Good morning.” She yawned, her arms stretching above her, lifting her shirt to show me the stomach that would one day carry my son. “So, is this going to become a regular thing? You sneaking in and cooking breakfast?”

I laughed. “Yes. Why? Is that a problem?”

I leaned against the entryway to the kitchen and folded my arms. I was challenging her to say something. It was my job to take care of her, I could feel it deep in my soul. Well, the part I was born with anyway.

She shook her head with a small laugh. “Fine, but you have to eat with me. I don’t like eating in front of people, especially when I am the only one.” She blushed.

My angel had some self-confidence issues, as well as trust. I wondered if it was only because of the idiot she had recently been dating or if it had been accrued over time.

I played along, like it was such a hardship. “Fine. Twist my arm.”

She laughed again and walked closer. My arms just opened of their own accord, and she snuggled into me, like we did this every day. Like she had been with me for decades, not days. I brushed my thumb on her cheek and she purred again.

“Did you sleep well last night?” I asked her.

I knew she had, at least from my point of view. I could feel her cheeks heating against my skin.

“Yes. That bed must be magic or something. I’ve slept better here than I have in years.”

My vote was for the or something. She always slept more peacefully after I marked her. I kissed the top of her head, inhaling as much as I could of her. My scent was stronger today.

“Good. I would hate for you to be scared in here all alone.” I looked down and grinned at her. “Although, if you ever do get scared or lonely, I’d be happy to join you.”

She gave me a playful scowl and poked me in the ribs. That wasn’t a no. I laughed at her and kissed her lips softly. Just once. I was replaceing it easier to behave myself this morning. I wasn’t sure why I felt calmer.

“Are you hungry? I just finished making French toast. Mike went shopping yesterday for the bar, so I had him pick up a few things, for up here.”

It wasn’t so much shopping as scavenging he said. He told me all about the drones monitoring humans. As long as they behaved, they were safe. Anyone not behaving, was shot automatically.

Curtis didn’t want them killing each other off.

My angel smiled wide, very happy. “French toast is my absolute favorite food in the whole world!” She even started bouncing in my arms from excitement.

I couldn’t resist and kissed her again.

“Then I will have to make sure I make it for you often.” I pulled away and swatted her butt. “Sit. I’ll bring it to you.” She yelped when I hit her and walked quickly to the table.

“You said the other night that you were a Kindergarten teacher?” I carried two plates to the table, having made extra just in case she asked again. Never eating in front of her was bound to set off alarms in her head. While my body didn’t dispose of things the way humans did, my fire would burn it away within a few hours.

Her grin at my question was obvious, she must have enjoyed that job.

“Yes. It was all I ever wanted to be. I always liked helping with the little kids and babysitting as I got older. Since my parents wouldn’t let me work part time jobs after school, people usually brought their kids to me. Most of the time they were family friends anyway.”

“How long have you been teaching?”

We hadn’t broached the age subject yet, something I was loath to do. I would have to lie flat out if she asked. No human reached the age I had, especially looking as young.

Her smile slipped. “This was my first year. I just finished my credential in the Spring. The school I did my student teaching at hired me to take over for a teacher who was retiring.”

Still very young then. I had assumed as much. At least she wasn’t a teenager anymore, she was a full-grown adult. I waited until she finished with the bite before asking my next question.

“Have you always lived in Phoenix?”

She nodded as she answered, sipping the milk I gave her today. One way or another, I would make sure her body stayed healthy. Especially if I was going to have to feed from her every now and then.

“Yes. When my parents got married, they bought a piece of land just outside of Phoenix. No trees, not even a cactus came near our house. “

I smirked. “No shade for anyone to hide in. The sun was your protection.”

Carrie pointed her fork at me. “Exactly. They left it to me when they died. Up until a few days ago, I still lived there. Just because I stopped listening to their stories didn’t mean I pushed all their teachings away.”

They had protected her well, I wanted to ask what happened to them, but I sensed it was still a sensitive subject.

“Have you always wanted to own a bar?”

I kept my grimace internal. I knew she would turn some of these back on me.

“Yes and no. I roamed for a while with a friend of mine. When we came to Los Angeles, I worked here with the old owner for a year. When he decided to retire, I made him an offer and he took it. He flew off soon after to Florida, where his grandkids were. I haven’t regretted it since. Colton, my friend, still comes around from time to time, helping out.”

She gave me a playful grin. “Is he the one I have to thank for my lovely uniform?”

I barked out a laugh. “Yes. I will admit, I told him what to buy, he just had fun while on the errand.” Before she could ask anymore, I cleared our empty plates. “Why don’t you go get ready, while I clean up.” It was more of a command, then a suggestion. But I did it nicely enough.

“Alright.” She stood and kissed my cheek. “Thank you for breakfast. It was wonderful.”

“Anything for you, angel.”

She blushed and disappeared into the room.

I listened carefully, crossing my fingers she didn’t shower again. My scent was still on her skin, which not only heightened the warning to the others but seemed to calm me at the same time.

We had very few laws that everybody held. The one to keep our secret obviously meant nothing to some. But the other two were non-negotiables. They held heavy consequences. The first was the protection of a human we marked and claimed as our own. This extended to my employees, just not at the same level. If another vampire were to lay harm to someone I claimed, it was in my right to kill them. Only once did I have to act on this.

In the mid 80’s, a female nightwalker attacked one of my donors after hours. She bled my donor dry. She never got to taste another drop of blood again. Colton and I tied her up and left her in the middle of the desert.

If anyone were to so much as touch my angel, I would kill them with my bare hands.

The second, and held at the highest, was in regard to mates. Be they witches, shifters, humans, or another vampire. The punishment would be a long drawn-out death. I would also have the choice of body part to remove and display as a warning.

If they only touched, it would be their hands. If they forced themselves on her, I would cut something else off and shove it in their mouths. With the vampires in the open, I could now leave their corpse in the middle of the road to burn into a large chunk of charcoal, as well. I would place it right in front of my bar, where everyone would see and know, you did not touch what belonged to me.

These laws dated back to a time when Vampire Borns were higher in number. Before the curse, before we lost our power. Tradition kept them going. Vampire Borns were innately possessive and territorial. We shared, but only with those that we choose, and only on our terms.

The Nightwalkers held no honor, they lost most of their humanity when they were turned.

I had a few I would call friends, but I still did not trust them. Carter was one of those. We became friends because we had both been around a while, even though I had a few centuries on him. He may be maturing, gaining better control over his instincts, but it would always be work for him. Last night was an example. An example of many things.

I turned and faced the bedroom door when I heard my angel emerging from the room.

Today, she had chosen the red and black checkered mini skirt with pleats. I could tell she was feeling more comfortable today, as she had chosen to pair it with the black top that wrapped around her back and twisted over her neck. The only part it covered on her front were two of the best things I had ever seen in this world. The tall black boots were the icing to the cake.

I didn’t bother holding back my response today. Her eyes widened as I stalked closer to her, she started to step back but stopped herself. I crashed my lips into hers, bringing her against me. I lost control for a moment and slid my hand inside the covering. Her fingers gripped my hair harder. It took everything I had to pull back.

I kissed down her jaw but forced myself to stop at her neck. I laid one last soft kiss on the marks I left, which were showing proudly. I wondered if she even noticed them yet. Or how she explained them away.

“Sorry. You look so good. I couldn’t help myself.” I could have cleared my throat to sound more normal. I didn’t want too though. The roughness was affecting her. Or it could be the fact that I hadn’t removed my hand yet.

“Don’t apologize. You never need to apologize for kissing me.” Her eyes kept rolling back and her breath stuttered.

Well, that was an invitation if I ever heard one. I had her back up against the wall a moment later, her leg around me again. I lifted her up, and she wrapped both legs around me. I pushed the cloth off altogether and lowered my head.

Her sounds were much better when she was awake. Her skirt was up, I could see the tiny pink thing underneath. The underwear, not the part I wanted to see.

I lowered her down a few minutes later, helping her fix her clothes. “Should I be apologizing for that?”

“No.” She whispered. “But I’m…I’m not…”

“You’re not ready for more. I know. It’s okay. We’re going to go at your pace, even if it doesn’t feel like it.” I held her to me again. “Never be afraid to tell me to stop. You have no idea the effect you have on me.”

“I think I might have the same problem. I’m having a hard time saying no myself.”

I loved the sound of that. I led her out the door before I had her in that bed and ended the debate for both of us.