Chapter Three

A s the noon sun burned its rays through the threadbare curtains, Pearl's eyes fluttered open, her mind still hazy with the remnants of dreams she couldn't quite remember. She lay there for a moment, letting the events of the previous night wash over her like a tidal wave.

Maverick's kiss still lingered on her lips, a phantom sensation that sent shivers down her spine. The memory of his touch, the feeling of his body pressed against hers, was seared into her mind like a brand.

She shook her head, trying to clear the cobwebs from her thoughts. This was not the time for distractions, not when there was so much at stake.

With a groan, she pushed herself out of bed, her muscles protesting the movement. She dressed quickly, her fingers fumbling with the buttons of her shirt as she tried to focus on the task at hand.

Outside, the streets were already beginning to fill with people, the hustle and bustle of daily life in full swing. Pearl kept her head down as she walked, her eyes scanning the crowds for any sign of trouble. She had to find those vampire bounty hunters and convince them to move on. The best place to start looking was the Guild Hall.

Inside, the air was thick with the scent of tobacco and cheap whiskey, a haze of smoke curling lazily toward the rafters. She spotted the vampire hunters immediately, huddled around a table in the far corner of the room. They were a rough-looking bunch, all weathered skin and hard eyes. They were playing poker and looking like they wanted an excuse to start a fight. She was about to give them one.

As she approached, one of them looked up, his gaze narrowing as he took in her badge. "What do you want, Pinkerton?" he growled, his voice rough with suspicion.

Pearl met his gaze evenly, her hand resting lightly on the butt of her gun. "I'm here to ask you to move on," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "The Pinkertons have business with Maverick Richman's gang, and we can't have you interfering."

The hunter scoffed, his lip curling in a sneer. "And why should we listen to you? We've been tracking that bloodsucker for months, and we're not about to give up now."

"The Pinkertons would take this as a special favor."

"A favor, huh?" The hunters exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between them. Finally, the leader spoke up, his voice grudging. "Fine. We'll leave. But if we catch wind of that leech again, we'll be back. And not even the Pinkertons will be able to stop us."

Pearl nodded curtly, her message delivered. She turned on her heel and strode out of the Guild Hall.

***

T HE SUN HAD LONG SINCE set by the time Pearl arrived at the abandoned mine, the entrance looming like a gaping maw in the side of the hill. She dismounted, tying her horse to a nearby tree before making her way inside.

She walked several yards, led by the hanging lanterns. As she was about to climb down to the next level, a flurry of motion caught her eye. Harlan appeared before her, his form shifting and twisting as he transformed from a bat back into his human shape.

"You were followed!" he snarled.

Before she could respond, the sound of gunfire erupted from the opening of the mine, echoing off the stone walls like thunder. Pearl drew her revolvers, her heart pounding as she raced toward the source of the commotion.

In the main cave past the entrance, Maverick and his gang were engaged in a fierce battle with the vampire hunters. The hunters had brought friends. A lot of them. She counted at least two dozen men, armed to the teeth with crossbows, stakes, and firearms. They had taken up positions behind rocky outcroppings and wooden support beams, using the natural cover of the mine to their advantage.

Bullets ricocheted off the stone walls, sending up showers of sparks and dust. Crossbow bolts shot in, splintering against the hard rock.

Maverick moved with inhuman speed and grace, his black duster swirling around him like a living shadow as he dodged and weaved through the hail of missiles. His eyes blazed with an icy blue fury, his fangs bared in a snarl of rage.

Clyde and Esmerelda fought back to back, their movements a blur of deadly precision. Clyde wielded a pair of long knives, the blades flashing silver in the dim light as he slashed and stabbed at the hunters who dared to come too close as they dodged and bobbed the wooden projectiles. Esmerelda's hands glowed with an eerie red light, and Pearl watched in awe as the vampiress hurled bolts of crimson energy at their attackers.

Harlan had shifted back into his bat form, a sleek black shape that darted and swooped through the chaos with uncanny agility. He dove at the hunters' faces, raking his razor-sharp claws across their eyes and forcing them to drop their weapons as they screamed in pain.

Pearl charged into the fray, seeking out a defensible position. Ducking behind a stack of wooden crates, she winced as a bullet splintered the wood just inches from her head. Taking a deep breath, she popped up from behind the cover and squeezed off three rapid shots, aiming for the hunters who had Maverick pinned down behind an overturned mine cart. One of them went down with a cry, clutching at his shattered kneecap. The other two whirled to face Pearl, their eyes widening in surprise as they realized they had a new threat to contend with.

Yes, you're not helping the Pinkertons. You're acting against them . Pearl felt a surge of grim satisfaction as she watched them hesitate, their attention divided between Maverick and her. It was all the opening he needed. In a blur of motion, he vaulted over the mine cart and closed the distance between himself and the hunters, his hands morphing into wicked claws that tore through their flesh like paper.

She should've been horrified or disgusted, but she wasn't. The vampire hunters should have left town like they had promised.

The sharp retort of gunfire and pained shouts echoed through the cavern, the sounds amplified and distorted by the stone walls. The air grew thick with the coppery scent of blood and the acrid tang of fear.

Pearl kept moving, darting from cover to cover as she tried to keep the hunters off balance. But even with her skills and the vampires' unearthly abilities, she could feel the tide of battle slowly turning against them. The hunters were too many, too well-armed. Maverick's gang was being overwhelmed, forced back into a corner with no escape.

A flicker of movement caught Pearl's eye, and she turned just in time to see one of the hunters taking aim at Maverick's unprotected back. The man's face was twisted with hatred, his finger tightening on the trigger of the crossbow.

Pearl didn't think. She just reacted, lunging forward to put herself between Maverick and certain death. Pain exploded through her shoulder as the bolt found its mark, a white-hot agony that nearly sent her to her knees.

Maverick let out a roar of fury, the sound sending chills down her spine despite the burning pain in her shoulder. His eyes blazed with an unholy light, his features contorting into a mask of primal rage. He tore into the remaining hunters like a whirlwind of destruction, his claws and fangs rending flesh and bone with terrifying ease. He was a force of nature unleashed.

In that moment, Pearl saw the true power that lurked beneath his cool exterior—the ancient, feral predator that lived within every vampire. It was beautiful and terrible all at once, and she couldn't look away.

As the last of the hunters fell, his lifeless body hitting the ground with a dull thud, an eerie silence descended over the cavern. Pearl slumped back against the cold stone wall, her breath coming in ragged gasps as the adrenaline began to fade. The pain in her shoulder was a searing agony that made black spots dance before her eyes.

Maverick was there in an instant, his hands gentle as he lowered her to the ground. "Easy there, darlin'," he murmured, his voice rough with concern. "Let me take a look at that wound."

Pearl nodded weakly, too exhausted to protest as he carefully peeled back the blood-soaked fabric of her shirt. His cool fingers probed the torn flesh, sending fresh waves of pain radiating down her arm. She gritted her teeth, determined not to cry out.

"Pearl," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "Why did you do that?"

"Couldn't let them hurt you. The Pinkertons need you." But that wasn't all. "I didn't betray you. I didn't know they were following me."

Maverick flagged down Esmerelda. "Clean up in here and guard the entrance in case there's more of them. Take their goods and their horses. I don't wish to be disturbed." Maverick then picked up Pearl in his arms.

She winced when it jostled her wound.

He brought her down several levels in the mine. Pearl had lost count by the time they came to an abandoned tunnel that had been set up to be a living area. Maverick laid her down gently on a solid pine bed topped with a pile of soft furs.

With deft, careful hands, he removed her jacket and her ruined shirt. She gave a token protest, but it hurt too damned much. She covered up her breasts with her unwounded arm and tried not to die of embarrassment.

But Maverick didn't take advantage of the situation. He tended to her wound, his touch sending shivers down her spine despite the pain. As he worked, Pearl felt a strange warmth spreading through her. It was as if something was clicking into place, a puzzle piece she hadn't even known was missing. She found the courage to look up at Maverick, her eyes searching his face for any sign that he felt it too.

"What's happening?"

"Something that should be impossible." As Maverick finished bandaging her shoulder, his fingers lingered on her skin, tracing the curve of her collarbone with a tenderness that made her heart ache. She reached up, cupping his cheek with her uninjured hand, not caring if it exposed her breasts to him.

"I feel strange," she said.

He leaned into her touch, his eyes fluttering closed for a brief moment. When he opened them again, they were filled with a fierce, protective intensity that took her breath away.

Pearl felt a sudden wave of dizziness wash over her. She pulled back, blinking rapidly as the world seemed to tilt and spin around her. Sweat beaded on her brow, and she shivered despite the warm air of the cavern.

"Pearl?" Maverick's voice sounded distant, muffled by the rushing of blood in her ears. "What's wrong?"

She tried to answer, but her tongue felt thick and clumsy in her mouth. A burning sensation spread from her shoulder, radiating out through her veins like liquid fire. Pearl gasped, her hand clutching at the wound as realization dawned on her.

"The bolt," she managed to rasp out, her voice barely above a whisper. "It was poisoned."

Maverick cursed under his breath. "Stay with me, darlin'," he urged, his voice rough with desperation. "Don't you dare leave me now."

Pearl wanted to reassure him, to tell him that she wasn't going anywhere. But the words wouldn't come. The poison was coursing through her system, sapping her strength and clouding her mind. She could feel herself slipping away, the darkness creeping in at the edges of her vision.

"You need blood," Maverick said suddenly, his voice cutting through the haze of pain and fear. "My blood. It can heal you, purge the poison from your body."

Pearl shook her head weakly, even as a part of her longed to accept his offer. "No," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I can't. I won't become like you."

Maverick's eyes flashed with a mixture of hurt and determination. "You won't," he promised. "A little blood won't turn you. Please, Pearl. Let me save you."

She hesitated, torn between her fear of dying and not knowing if she could trust Maverick. But as another wave of agony ripped through her, Pearl knew she had no choice. She nodded, her breath coming in shallow gasps.

Maverick used his sharp nail to slice a small cut on his neck, just above his collarbone. The scent of his blood filled the air, rich and coppery and strangely enticing.

Pearl stared at the thin line of crimson, her heart pounding in her chest. Every instinct screamed at her to resist, to push him away. But a deeper, more primal part of her yearned to taste him, to feel his essence flowing through her.

As if in a trance, she leaned forward, her tongue darting out to lap at the cut. Maverick groaned, his hand fisting in her hair as he held her close. The first taste of his blood exploded on her tongue, hot and sweet and somehow familiar.

Pearl couldn't stop herself. She sealed her lips over the wound, drinking deeply as Maverick's heartbeat pulsed against her mouth. With each pull of her lips, she could feel the poison receding, the pain and weakness fading away to be replaced by a growing sense of strength and vitality.

Maverick's free hand slid down her back, pulling her flush against him as she drank. His touch ignited a fire in her veins, a hunger that had nothing to do with the healing properties of his blood. Pearl moaned against his skin, her fingers tangling in his dark hair.

Suddenly, Maverick pulled back, his breath coming in ragged gasps. For a moment, Pearl feared she had taken too much, crossed some unspoken line. But then his mouth crashed down on hers, his kiss fierce and demanding.

Pearl didn't resist. She met his impending kiss with her own hunger, her heart racing as she felt the familiar warmth of his lips on hers. Their tongues danced together, a wild tango that left her needing more.

It was a taste of something forbidden, something she never thought possible. And yet, as their bodies pressed close, she couldn't deny the fiery desire that coursed through her veins. Maverick's hands explored her body, his touch both gentling and imbuing her with the strength that had been draining from her. She felt the poison leaving her system, the dizziness and weakness fading into a soft, warm glow. Her wound was healed.

Pearl gasped in astonishment and then with an aching need when Maverick kissed down her neck to her chest, and then captured her nipple with a fierce tug. He swirled his tongue around the tip, and Pearl felt her insides liquify with desire. Pearl arched into him, her fingers threading through his hair. As he licked and pulled on them, his hands tore at her trousers, pulling them and her boots off in swift motions. Naked, she trembled, spread out before him as an offering. Pleasure thrummed through her as he quickly shed his clothes. He stared down at her and said, "I'm going to fuck you hard. This is your last chance to say no."

"Make me come first," she breathed.

"With pleasure." Maverick spread her legs wide and pressed his lips at that junction.

Then his tongue delved in. He licked her fast and deep.

Pearl gasped, her hips bucking involuntarily as his talented mouth worked his magic. The sensations were fierce and overwhelming, a tidal wave of pleasure that washed over her. Maverick was ruthless, his tongue expertly teasing and tantalizing her most sensitive spots. He suckled, licked, and nibbled until her cries filled the room, egging him on.

She was frantic, desperate for release. Her hands clawed at his shoulders, her hips rocking forward, trying to thrust against his mouth. But Maverick was a master of control, holding her at arm's length, tormenting her.

Pearl moaned as Maverick's tongue explored every inch of her folds. Her hips undulated in a wild dance. Maverick nipped at her clit, sucking it into his mouth as his fingers slid inside her, curving up to rub against the sensitive spot.

Pearl trembled at the sensation, her eyes fluttering shut as she felt his fingers teasing her clit. Maverick's thumb rubbed back and forth, applying just the right amount of pressure to send her over the edge.

Beyond the edge of her fractured consciousness, she could hear his low growls, the timbre filled with possessiveness and hunger.

"Maverick, I'm going to come," she gasped, her body arching off the bed as she felt the pleasure wash over her.

Maverick chuckled, his fingers slowing just long enough for Pearl to catch her breath. Then he slammed into her, his cock thick and long. Pearl cried out, her body arching as he moved slowly back. The sensation was intense, raw, and undeniably pleasurable. It was all-consuming, a fierce connection.

Their bodies writhed together, their movements synchronized and passionate. Pearl's nails scraped down his back. Maverick grunted, his hips pumping faster.

Pearl met his gaze, her eyes locked on to his. She was lost in his stare, the raw hunger and passion that blazed within. It was a fierce connection, one that left her breathless and weak-kneed.

She wrapped her legs around him, pulling him deeper into her, their bodies melding together in perfect harmony.

Things like this didn't happen to her. She didn't fall into bed with a man she'd just met. She certainly didn't fuck monsters. But Maverick was different. This was different.

As he continued to slam into her, Pearl felt a strange sensation, a tingling that began in her core and spread throughout her body. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced before, an overwhelming wave of pleasure and power.

Their bodies, slick with sweat, met each other with sweet friction. He drove deep and held there while he took the time to kiss her. She couldn't breathe, didn't want to.

She cried out, her body convulsing beneath him, her orgasm crashing over her like a tidal wave. Maverick grunted, his hips pistoning into her. His sinewy muscles flexed as he pushed deeper. A powerful surge coursed through him, tensing his body and emitting a low growl from his throat. His release was powerful, spilling into her in hot waves that made her gasp and arch her back. They came together, pulsating in a tangled, sweaty heap. Pearl felt huge aftershocks ripple through her. She was shocked by the intensity of the sensation. It was almost more than she could handle. But Maverick treated her to a few more smaller ones, each one making her shiver and gasp with renewed pleasure when he slowly rocked into her.

Then he pulled out and collapsed beside her. Pearl lay there, her breath ragged and her skin still tingling with the aftershocks of their intense lovemaking. She was still trying to process the fact that she had just engaged in such a passionate act with a man she barely knew, let alone a monster.

But as she lay there, pressed against him, she couldn't deny how incredibly right it felt. She had never felt this kind of connection before, this kind of passion and intensity. It was both exhilarating and terrifying, and she wasn't sure how to handle it.

Maverick lay there, a satisfied grin on his face, his eyes still locked on to hers. He ran his hand through her hair, gently stroking it. "Rest now," he murmured, brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead. "I'll keep watch."

As Pearl drifted off to sleep, safe in the circle of Maverick's arms, she couldn't shake the feeling that something important had just happened.