The Wicked Kiss (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #2)

The effect the power was having on him was evident by his huge pupils. Having a third party was something our power seemed to like. As we all fed off each other, the rush of white noise grew loud around us.

I hit that crucial peak without warning, and the orgasm rocked me to the core. As Shaz’ climax accompanied mine, he let out a series of growls and snarls. Even Arys gave a low moan as he tongued the punctures in the side of my neck.

I was soaked with sweat, and I clung to Shaz as the aftershocks and waves racked me. With one arm, I reached back to Arys, my hand brushing against the side of his face.

He promptly placed a kiss in my palm. A faint bloody smear remained.

Power hummed around us, cloaking us in a blanket of it. Of all the things I expected to feel right then, the urge to cry wasn’t one of them. Hot tears threatened to fill my eyes as I was overcome by the energy and my own personal emotions. I blinked quickly, but it was too late.

The tears fell to my cheeks, and I saw shock spread across Shaz’ features. He caught a drop on his finger, examining the crimson tear. He knew just as well as anyone that only vampires cry blood tears.

Arys took a step back, bending to gather my things. Shaz lowered me so that I could get steady on my feet again. I tugged my dress into place, smoothing it anxiously. My legs felt like jelly.

“Alexa, are you ok?”

I smiled at my white wolf as Arys draped the cape over my shoulders. That silly wolf worried about me too much. He was high as a kite on my blood and power, and all it took was a few tears to snap him back to reality.

“Yes, Shaz. I promise I am.” I wanted to ask how he felt but didn’t want to put him on the spot in front of Arys.

The vampire stood quietly to one side, observing Shaz but acting as if he weren’t. No sooner had I tied my cape securely than the back door of the Lounge burst open.

Chapter Fifteen

Tawnie stood illuminated in the glow from inside, casting a frantic glance around. It didn’t take long for her to spot our small group huddled in the dark. If there hadn’t been three of us, she may not have noticed us at all.

“Shaz,” she called frantically. “We have a pretty bad fight going on in here. We could use your help.”

“I’ll be right there Tawnie. No worries.”

Shaz’ eyes never left my face as he replied to her. The power that belonged to Arys and I was clearly manipulating him. He’d tasted me both physically and metaphysically, and it had affected him. The dazed expression on his face seemed to overrule his struggle for control. I smiled when he actually gave his head a shake as if to clear it.

Tawnie disappeared back inside. Arys maintained a safe distance as if unsure what to expect from Shaz.

“I love you,” Shaz whispered, nuzzling the side of my face as he would in wolf form.

“I’ve got to run, but I’ll find you after.”

I didn’t want to let him go, not before the afterglow had begun to fade. He didn’t look at Arys as he made his way to the door though he had to have felt those vampire eyes following him. Knowing the taste and feel of my blood lingered on him drove me crazy with curiosity. I wanted to know what he was feeling.

When we were alone, Arys turned to me with a satisfaction in his eyes that reminded me of the cat with his paws in the fishbowl. I trembled in the breeze as the sweat cooled on my skin. He swept me into his arms in a swift, smooth motion.

“The wolf pup certainly surprised me.” He spoke soothingly, my head tucked beneath his chin. “He is bolder than I ever would have believed.”

“You don’t give him enough credit.”

“He loves you madly.”

Arys’ observation hung heavily as if suspended in the atmosphere around us. It struck me as a strange thing to say just then.

“I know,” I murmured. My hand went to the place on my collarbone where Shaz had licked the blood from me. “I don’t deserve him.”

“Nonsense. You’re both so young with so much yet to experience. Enjoy what you have while you have it. Don't learn the hard way that there is no time for regrets.”

I pulled back to study his face. He raised an eyebrow and gave me a playful smile, but I wasn’t fooled. He clearly spoke like someone who knew firsthand.

“What’s up with you, Arys?”

“What are you talking about?” He fidgeted then, something extremely uncharacteristic. I tuned into our energy and focused on him, the vibes of his emotions.

He was trying to shield what he was feeling from me. I could sense it.

“What’s with the cryptic remark? And, all of a sudden, you’re encouraging my relationship with Shaz. You tend to be very back and forth on that.”

“Yeah well, I’m an ass**le. But, I’m also realistic.” He shrugged and held out a hand, playing with the psi ball that rapidly formed. Like always, it was a gaseous vapor swirl of blue and yellow, the color of our energies.

“How realistic?” I laughed when he gave me a dirty look. He dropped the ball, and I felt the energy reach out to us as well as the natural elements before it ceased to be.