18. Fresh Blood

EIGHTEEN

fresh blood

Fran moves out of the house at vampire speed. Amelia's right, Patrice will recognize my energy, but I'm not a fan of not being in control.

"Anyone want to play a game while we wait?" Luna breaks the silence.

Alex moves beside me, squeezing my hand. "Fran found her already. She's talking to me."

"How is she doing that?"

He shrugs. "She's thinking really loudly."

"Can you talk to her?"

"I tried. I don't think she hears me."

I move toward the window overlooking the street, searching for anything that might provide answers. The young boy Patrice was stalking is still on Bourbon Street, a block further down. I turn toward the audience. "I'm going down there." I hold my hands up proactively. "No one panic. I'm not going to do anything dumb. I just want to try to talk to him."

"I'll come with you," Alex says, lacing his fingers through mine.

"Me, too." Thorne joins, making us look like a young family as we exit the loft.

"There they are." I nod toward the family a few blocks away. "How can we do this without looking like stalkers?"

Alex pulls a plastic dinosaur from his pocket. "I found this earlier. We can use it." We close the distance, practically bumping into the family.

"Hey!" Alex says to the boy. "Did you drop this? I found it back there?" He points behind us.

The boy stares at the tiny toy. "No, but it's super cool."

"Yeah, I thought so, too," Alex continues. "My name is Alex. What's yours?"

"Brayden," he answers. "Mom?" he looks up to his mother. "This is Alex."

"I see that." She smiles before turning back toward the poster she and her husband are studying.

"They're busy," Brayden answers. He stares at Alex, looking him in the eyes longer than usual. "You feel weird."

Alex laughs. "What?"

Brayden shrugs. "I don't know how to explain it. You just feel weird. "

"Do you think he's special?" Thorne asks the two of us.

Brayden looks at Thorne. "What did you say?"

"I think that's our answer," I smirk with my silent words.

"Come on, Bray," his mother urges, pulling him away from us. "We need to get back to the hotel before the riffraff appear out here."

I laugh. "I hear there are vampires that roam around the streets of New Orleans."

"Vampires?" the mother asks. "That would be cool to see. I love a good vampire story."

"That makes one of us," I answer.

"It was nice meeting you, Alex," Brayden adds. "I hope you find the owner of the dinosaur."

We watch the trio move further down Bourbon Street, not sure what to do. If Patrice has her eyes on him, he and his family don't stand a chance. "Are you sure Patrice was after him?" I ask Alex.

"Yes. I could feel and hear her. Usually, she keeps her thoughts hidden, like you. But she was open."

"She's hoping that boy could read her mind," Thorne answers. "What would be the point of that?"

Looking around, I don't feel any paranormal energies other than the ones in the loft. "Maybe she doesn't use her shield since she thinks Alex isn't nearby."

Alex pulls his hand away from me. "I don't intrude on people's thoughts." He scrunches his face as he speaks .

"What?" I ask, confused.

"You just thought that."

"Alex, I did think that, but I didn't mean anything by it." I place my hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

"It's fine." He scoffs. "Next time you want to think mean things, put up your shield."

I laugh. "I thought it was, and I wasn't thinking mean things."

He turns toward the family, disappearing down the street. "Oh! I think I know Brayden's ability." He runs, catching up with the family seconds later. Thorne and I are inches behind.

"Hey, Brayden." Alex hands the dinosaur to the boy. "Since I can't find the owner, I thought you might want it."

"Sure," the boy smiles, taking the small toy.

Alex turns toward me. "Mommy, where's that shield you were talking about?"

I'm not sure what he's doing, but I focus on adding strength to the shield that protects him from reading my every thought. I encase my thoughts, placing an invisible shell between him and me. "It's up, son." I laugh awkwardly with my words, trying not to look like a lunatic to the young family.

"Dad?" He looks at Thorne, who nods in response.

I don't know what Alex is doing, but I test the shield, thinking a particularly sexual thought about the man I love .

Alex turns toward me, with his eyes wide open. "Really?" he whispers. "I need to wash my eyeballs." He turns back to the boy. "Brayden overpowered your shield."

"Shit."

"What hotel are you staying in?" Alex asks the young boy. "Maybe we could meet up and go swimming or something."

Brayden looks at his mom. "Is that okay?"

"Sure, honey." She turns toward me. "We're staying in the Windsor Court. It's not far from here."

"I know where that is," Thorne adds. "How about tomorrow?"

"We had plans to go to the zoo tomorrow. Maybe you could meet us there?" Brayden's mother asks.

"That sounds great." I grab Alex's hand, pulling him away from his new friend. "We'll see you after lunch."

"Bye, Alex." Brayden waves. "See you tomorrow."

It's not until we're at the entrance of the loft apartment that I speak words out loud. "What was that, Alex?"

"Brayden made your shield not work. That's why I could hear Patrice."

Everyone meets us at the door as we enter. "What happened?" Luna asks with a smile.

"Alex thinks Brayden is able to break down shields," I answer, not really sure what I just said.

"Explain," Amelia demands, moving closer.

Alex spends the next few minutes telling the group his theory, ending with our meetup at the zoo tomorrow.

"What would be the advantage of that ability?" Topher asks.

"If that boy has the ability to break down barriers as a human, imagine what he could do as a vampire." Micah wraps his arm around Luna's shoulders, making me smile. "I can't even begin to imagine the possibilities."

"Is anyone opposed to disbanding our group for the evening?" Amelia wraps her arms around Topher as she speaks. "I feel like we're treading water at the moment, and I could use some family time." She turns toward Thorne and me. "Why don't you two stay here in the loft? No one is living here at the moment."

"What about me?" Alex asks.

"I would love for you to come with me for the evening and introduce you to our son, Edon." She smiles as she speaks. "Celeste left a bunch of games that have been begging to be played with since she left. I'm sure she wouldn't mind sharing them with you."

Alex smiles. "I'd like that." He turns toward me. "Is it okay if I go with Amelia and the Alpha?"

"Of course." I wrap my arm around his shoulder, pulling him in for a hug. "I'll see you tomorrow." Amelia winks as they leave the loft.

I wait until the door latches behind them, and their energy disappears before turning toward my captain. His curly hair is a mess of frizz, making him even sexier than usual. "Looks like we're alone."

"Aye," he whispers. "It's been a while since we've been alone."

I stalk closer. "Aye, I can't even remember the last time we weren't surrounded by immortal children, lycan, or other vampires."

"What are you suggesting, acushla?"

Moving in front of him, I run the back of my hand against his cheek. "I'm not suggesting anything." I move my hands down to the hem of the T-shirt he's wearing, slowly and methodically pulling it closer to his head and revealing the rippled chest I've longed to run my fingers over.

Thorne's breathing picks up as I slide the hem over his head, leaving the pair of jeans hanging tightly on his hips. "God, you're gorgeous." He raises his hands, reaching for my waist. "No, I'm in control." I place his hands back at his sides and move my hands to his belt. Slowly, I unlatch the heavy buckle, leaving the leather hanging on each side. Unbuttoning the metal clasp, I take my time pulling the zipper down, making sure each metal click echoes off through the loft.

"Are you trying to kill me, woman?" He smiles, licking his lips.

"Maybe," I tease. With his jeans loose, I pull them open, allowing them to slide down his legs and leaving the part of him I want the most, standing at attention. Thorne raises his hands, trying to touch me, and again, I force them back to his sides, reminding him who's in charge. I lower to my knees, kissing his torso as I descend.

I slowly work my thumb over the tip of his cock, teasing him until he begins to move with me. Sliding my hand to his balls, I place my mouth where my hand was moments earlier. Slowly, I push my tongue against the head of his cock while massaging him with my hands.

Seconds later, his hands grasp the sides of my head as he gently moves me to take him in further. I follow his lead, relinquishing some of my control, and fill my mouth with nearly every inch of him. Thorne sighs in response as he begins to move in and out, matching the pace of my hands and tongue. "Elsie," he breathes.

He tries to pull back, keeping himself from release, and I refuse to let go. I begin to rub faster, placing one hand at the base of him and the other on his balls, massaging at the same tempo as my tongue moves on him. Thorne gives in and begins moving in rhythm, pushing further into my mouth.

Seconds later, his breath catches as he releases into my mouth. "Oh, God. That was…perfect." He sighs, lifting his pants back to his hips.

"You're welcome." I smile. Seconds later, Thorne has me in his arms, carrying me toward a door on the other side of the room. "What are you doing?"

"Returning the favor." He kicks open the door, nearly taking it off the hinges. He gently lays me down on white bedding. I sit up, reaching for my shirt. "No. This time, I'm in charge."

Letting his pants fall to the floor, he grabs my legs, pulling me toward the end of the bed. Moving on top of me, he straddles my hips with his own and slowly lifts the hem of my shirt, pulling it off with one quick move. Slowly and seductively, he pulls one strap of my bra loose, then the other, freeing my breasts from their bondage. "You're the one who's gorgeous."

The intensity of his stare alone is nearly more than I can handle. Reaching for my leggings, he pulls the waistband, releasing them and my underwear in one quick tug. I'm lying on the bed completely naked and more turned on than I can remember.

I reach for him, only to have my hands pushed into the bedding. "No. I'm in charge, remember?" He smiles as he speaks, flashing the smile I haven't seen in a few weeks.

Sliding his hips back, he lifts my legs, placing them on his shoulders. He lowers his head, finding the exact spot on the first try. The moment his tongue touches me, a shock passes through my body, and I gasp on contact. He slowly kisses the softest part of me, finding my favorite part with his tongue. Alternating between sucking and licking, he brings me to near orgasm in seconds.

"Not so fast," he scolds as he brings me to the rim.

"I'm okay with fast," I pant.

Thorne laughs as he enters me with his fingers, lifting them into the perfect position. "Look at me, acushla."

Lifting onto my elbows, I watch as his fingers touch the perfect spot, joined by his tongue on my clit. The combination of the two is more than I can handle, bringing me to the brink of orgasm in seconds. My legs shake uncontrollably as he continues his assault.

"Come for me, my love. Come on my hand," he whispers, and I do just that. The sensation is almost more than I can handle as my body lifts from the bed, and I cry out.

I collapse on the bed in a puddle of ecstasy as Thorne sits back on his heels "You are so beautiful, acushla."

"You make me beautiful."

We spend the rest of the day and into the next, making up for lost time.