Craig's Heart

Chapter Six

Craig didn’t know whether he should hug Evie or yell at her. She was obviously trying to distance herself from him and was enlisting his family’s help, using their obvious concern over him to get her own way.

Both Chrissten and Quinn began to speak, but he talked over them. “That’s not going to happen.”

Chrissten tugged on his arm. “We should go home. I think that’s for the best.”

“Listen to me.” Craig sighed, not wanting to hurt anyone, but they were leaving him little choice. “I’m not a kid anymore who needs protecting. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time now.”

He heard his sister’s moan of pain and felt it in his heart. There was pure torment and torture in his brother’s eyes, but he couldn’t let that sway him. “None of us can change the past, but it’s over.

We all did what we had to in order to survive.”

Hank squeezed Chrissten’s shoulders and Bethany moved up to stand beside Quinn. He loved all his family, but he had to make his own decisions, live his own life. “I didn’t ask for this to happen, but neither did Evie. Yet it did, and we both have to deal with it. The best one to help us learn what we need to know in order to survive is Damek.”

The vampire finally stirred and came forward with Sonia locked tight beneath his arm. “My home is Craig’s for as long as he needs it. Or, if he prefers, there is a vacant apartment beneath this one. But they do need supervision. They both have remarkable control for newly made vampires. But we can’t trust it to hold, not yet.”

He motioned to Sonia and she went to the wood and leather bar in the corner of the room. Craig smelled the blood and his fangs immediately dropped. His family all gasped and automatically took a step back. As much as it hurt him when they did, Craig knew Damek had done this for a reason. They loved him, yes, but they didn’t understand his new reality, what he was.

How could they when he couldn’t either? He had so much to learn and so did Evie.

Sonia brought two crystal glasses on a tray. Each was filled with blood. She stopped by Evie first and waited until she took one. Then she brought the remaining one to Craig. He didn’t hesitate. He lifted the glass and drank deeply while keeping one eye on Evie.

She hesitated and then followed his lead.

“I can supply what Craig needs,” Damek continued. “He needs to learn the scope of his new powers. Every vampire is different, but there are some basics all need to know.”

“We can help him,” Quinn insisted.

“Not as well as I can.” There was no challenge in Damek’s statement, and no one could dispute the truth behind it.

Craig closed his eyes and felt the blood filling his cells. His senses expanded, and for a brief moment, he could hear every individual heartbeat, every breath, the brush of fabric as his sister shifted on the sofa. His skin tingled, every nerve ending alive.

He opened his eyes and had to close them again. Everything was too sharp, too colorful.

“Craig, are you all right?”

He wanted to answer his sister, but it was impossible for him to speak. He jumped to his feet and was by the far window in a heartbeat. He didn’t want his family to see him like this.

Another hunger began to beat at him and this was one that only Evie could slake. As the blood filled his body, another basic need rose to the fore. His cock was hard as steel against the zipper of his jeans. He wanted Evie and he wanted her now. One wrong move, one wrong word and he was afraid he’d pounce on her and take her in front of everyone, not caring who saw as long as he got what he wanted.

Sex and blood. The two primal needs seemed to be tied together in his head. That kind of craving scared the shit out of him.

He smelled her before he felt the light touch of her hand against his back.

“You should leave me alone right now, Evie.” He dug his fingers into the window casing, his extended nails gouging the wood deeply. He’d have to pay to have that fixed.

“I feel it too.” Her softly spoken words almost made him howl with need.

He eased his head around so he could see her, but not far enough for his family to see his eyes, which he knew had to be blazing red.

“Then you know why you shouldn’t be around me.”

“It’s why I should.” Craig closed his eyes and swallowed hard. Need beat at him. His skin felt hot, his clothing confining. All his senses were on overdrive.

“I think you should leave.” Damek’s voice seemed overly loud to Craig’s ears.

“What’s wrong with him?” Quinn demanded.

“It is too much for him to have all of you here right now. Your voices, your emotions, your blood all torment him. I told you he will have trouble controlling himself at first. You need to help him by leaving.”

Craig wanted to reach out to his brother and sister and reassure them he was okay. But he couldn’t manage a word. Every cell in his body was demanding he claim Evie, take her now.

He knew the smoothness of her skin, the scent of her arousal, the sexy sighs she made when he touched her. He knew how she looked when she came, all flushed with her head thrown back and her lovely, slender neck exposed. He licked his lips, almost able to taste her arousal and blood on his tongue.

“Call us. Promise me you’ll call as soon as you can.” Chrissten’s plea pierced the sexual thrall surrounding him.

“I will.” His voice sounded hoarse even to him. He swallowed hard. “I’m sorry.” Sorry for his lack of control, for his inability to reassure them when they needed it.

“Nothing for you to be sorry about.”

Quinn’s gruff voice comforted him.

“We’re here for you. Whatever you need. Whenever you need it. Call day or night.”

Craig nodded.

He felt them leave the apartment and enter the elevator. Knew the moment they left the building. “What’s happening to me?”

Evie was beside him and Damek had come up to his other side. “Every emotion, every sensation will be magnified for a while until you become used to controlling them. You both show incredible control for such newly made vampires. I was not so restrained when I was made. I got drunk on wine and women and blood. Unlike you, I unintentionally killed some before I realized what I’d done.”

Damek never shared stories from his past. Ever. Craig slowly turned toward his friend. “Thank you. For everything.”

He nodded. “Sonia and I are going out to the club for a couple of hours.

There’s no more blood left in the place so you will not be tempted to overindulge. I will bring more home when I return.”

Damek turned his attention to Evie.

“I own Inhibitions, a club not too far from here. If anything goes wrong, call.”

He handed Evie a cell phone. “It’s the only number in the contacts. I can be home very quickly if I’m needed.”

Evie slipped the phone into her back pocket and nodded.

Damek sighed and put his hand on Craig’s shoulder. “What you feel for her is not a result of her having made you.

This is something different altogether.”

With that, Damek joined Sonia and the two of them departed, leaving Craig alone with the object of his lust.

He turned and faced Evie.

Evie wasn’t quite sure what she was feeling—anger at what had been done to her by Vladimir Drake, anger at what she’d accidentally done to Craig, guilt at the problems Craig and his family now had to deal with and a growing need for vengeance. But overriding all those other emotions was the combination of bloodlust and sexual lust.

The blood she’d just drunk had helped slake her thirst. But the sexual hunger kept expanding with each passing second. “Craig?” She wasn’t sure what to say or do. Her emotions were all jumbled inside her, each vying for supremacy.

“You should probably leave me alone for a while. Let me get some control.” Craig’s voice was deep and guttural. Sharp white fangs gleamed when he spoke.

“I don’t want to leave you alone.”

Uncertainty filled her. “Unless you want me to.” Maybe once had been enough.

She knew he was aroused, but maybe Craig didn’t want to want her. After all, she’d turned him into a freaking vampire.

Evie took a step back and turned away. She’d go to the bedroom and give Craig his space. She would not get upset over this. She wouldn’t.

She’d taken two steps when a heavy hand came down on her shoulder. She whirled around and hissed, anger and frustration at war within her.

Craig’s eyes were burning with desire. The red was gone from his eyes.

Instead, the blue had intensified, as though it were being lit internally.

She licked her lips and his gaze narrowed. His tension ratcheted up another notch. He wrapped one hand behind her neck and slowly pulled her toward him. “I know everything in both our lives is crazy right now.”

“It is.” That was an understatement if she’d ever heard one.

“The only thing I know for sure is that I want you.” He lowered his head and drew his tongue over her bottom lip.

Evie sucked in a breath and leaned closer.

“Let me have you,” he whispered. “I know I shouldn’t ask. Know I should have enough self-control to let you walk away.” He stroked her upper lip and she felt the hardness of one of his fangs. “But I can’t.”

This was seduction, pure and simple.

She already wanted him, but she’d been determined to walk away, to give him space. But he was weakening her resolve.

“Craig.” She didn’t know what she wanted to say, what she might have said, but he chose that moment to kiss her.

He pushed his tongue past her lips and into her mouth, exploring the moist inner recesses. She groaned and locked her arms around his neck. Craig straightened, lifting her right off the floor. She locked her legs around his hips and held on.

Her hands were everywhere she could reach him. She speared her fingers through his hair, lightly dragging her nails along his scalp. Craig moaned and deepened the kiss, stealing her breath.

The blood she’d recently consumed made her heart pump faster. Evie dragged her hands over Craig’s shoulders, feeling the play of his hard muscles underneath the fine shirt Damek had loaned him.

She hated having anything between them and tore at the fabric, sighing with relief when her palms stroked warm male skin.

Craig pulled away and laughed. “I’m going to owe Damek quite a bit before this is done. I’ve already destroyed his windowsill and now you’re destroying his clothing.”

Evie peeked over Craig’s shoulder at the windowsill and saw the deep gouges in the wood. “Somehow I don’t think he’ll mind.” There was no doubt in her mind that the vampire considered Craig his friend. Evie had the feeling that Damek didn’t have too many of those.

Craig laughed and tossed her into the air. He’d forgotten his own strength and she barely got her hands out in time to keep from smashing her head into the ceiling. As it was, there were now two hand-sized holes in the plaster.

Craig caught her, his face pale.

“Holy shit. I’m sorry. Are you hurt?”

Evie shook her head and smiled.

“I’m fine, but you might want to dial back the momentum a bit the next time.”

One corner of Craig’s mouth slowly rose in a half smile. “Next time?”

“Hmm.” Evie played with the ends of his hair, enjoying the way he easily held her in his arms. She wasn’t sure he even realized he hadn’t set her down but continued to hold her.

“Evie.” The depth of emotion in that one word made her lose her breath.

There was so much there—confusion, frustration and more, but most of all there was need.

His eyes were slightly tinged with red and his fangs were visible. Sexual desire was riding him hard. She knew because she felt exactly the same way.

Her breasts were full and heavy. The light weight of her bra abraded the tips, making them hurt. Her core felt empty, pulsing with a growing need.

She cupped his face in her hands and stared into his eyes. They glowed. And she knew without seeing them that hers did as well. His fangs gleamed. They knew what the other one was, understood the depth of emotions beating within each other.

Craig gave a low growl, locked his arm around her waist and pulled her tight against him. His pelvis rubbed against her jean-clad pussy in a delightful way. She arched her hips into him and moaned.

He kissed her, pressing his lips against her forehead, her cheeks, her nose and finally her mouth. He ate at her lips, voraciously tasting and licking, sucking and worshiping every inch of her mouth.

If she wasn’t a vampire, she probably would have passed out due to lack of oxygen, but thankfully that was no longer a problem. She didn’t know how long she could last without air, but definitely long enough.

She tore at the shirt that was still half on Craig. She wanted him naked. He wasn’t overly tall, but his body was lean and muscular. He was strong without being muscle-bound. His sandy-brown hair just touched his broad shoulders.

She loved being able to sift her fingers through the silky mass.

He walked across the room and suddenly stopped and set her on her feet.

She half expected him to tear her clothing off. Once again, he surprised her. Carefully, and oh so slowly, he undid the buttons on the blouse Sonia had loaned her. He slid the silky fabric off her shoulders and let it fall to the floor behind her.

He covered her breasts with his hands and her nipples pushed against the thin covering of her bra. Craig undid the clasp and eased the straps down her shoulders. “You are so beautiful.”

Evie had always been confident in her looks. She wasn’t the most stunning woman on the planet, but her hair was great and she had a decent figure. But the way Craig was looking at her made her feel like a goddess.

He went down on one knee in front of her and unzipped her jeans. Then he peeled the fabric down her thighs and shoved it around her ankles. Evie stepped out and kicked them away.

Craig gave a low sound of need and buried his face against the crotch of her panties. “I can’t hold out much longer.”

She caught his head in her hands.

Need thrummed through her like a living beast, demanding to be fed. “Then don’t.”

Craig inhaled deeply and the spicy scent of Evie’s arousal filled him. He felt as though he’d knocked back a bottle of whiskey all by himself. Intoxicated was too tame a word for the sensations coursing through him.

But there was fear as well. He’d almost hurt Evie earlier without meaning too. He had no idea how strong he was and that was scary. The last thing he wanted to do was harm her in any way.

He wanted to cherish her. Worship her.

His cock was being strangled by his jeans. He’d surely never felt this horny before, not even when he was a teenager. But the pain helped center him.

With his hands on Evie’s hips and his face against her mound, he struggled for control.

And then she took it all away from him with two simple words. “Then don’t.”

It was as though something inside him burst free from its chains and there was no going back. Craig gave a roar as he ripped her panties away, shoved her legs apart and buried his face against her hot, moist pussy.

Nirvana. Evie fell back but came up against one of the couches. Craig moved closer and indulged in what he’d been wanting to do since Damek and Sonia had left. He licked at her slick folds, nibbling here and there, paying special attention to places that made her gasp or moan.

Evie lightly scraped her fingernails over his scalp before digging them into his shoulders. The sensual sting shoved his lust up another notch. He sucked her clit into his mouth, lapping at the sensitive bud with his tongue. Evie screamed his name, but he didn’t stop.

He shoved two fingers into her tight channel, loving the way the walls of her pussy closed around him. His world narrowed to Evie—the sweet perfume of her orgasm, the frantic strokes of her hands over his arms and back, the little sounds of completion, the taste of her thick cream on his lips.

His balls were so tight he was vaguely surprised they hadn’t exploded.

Craig stood, stripped off his jeans and shoved them aside. He wasn’t wearing any underwear so his cock sprang forward, eager and ready.

Evie was staring at him, a slightly dazed look in her eyes. Her gaze dropped to his cock and she licked her lips. His erection jerked, bobbing toward her and liquid seeped from the tip. He longed to feel her sweet mouth around him, but he couldn’t wait. One touch and he’d come.

He spun her around. “Put your hands on the sofa and spread your legs.”

Evie leaned forward and planted both hands on the back of the leather couch. Craig moved in behind her, his entire body covering hers. Once again, he was reminded how delicate she was compared to him. She might be a vampire, but she was still a woman, a much smaller one.

Craig took a deep breath and bent his knees until the head of his cock was probing her opening. “Don’t let me hurt you.”

“You won’t.” Her confidence steadied him like nothing else could have.

He pushed forward, slow and steady. Her body fought his penetration at first but suddenly gave way, accepting him. Craig closed his eyes and swallowed, fighting hard not to totally lose it. Home, he thought. It was like coming home.

Evie was panting hard, every nerve ending poised for another explosion.

She’d just come but was building toward another orgasm. Desperation and need powered both of them. She knew he felt it just the way she did. Borrowed time.

Reality would rear its ugly head soon enough, but for now it was just the two of them and what was between them.

The leather sofa was cool beneath her hands, but her skin felt hot. She knew she should be able to regulate her body temperature but, at this moment, it was beyond her capabilities. All she could do was stand there, bent over the back of the sofa, and hang on as Craig filled her.

His cock pulsed inside her core, setting off miniature fireworks. He was so deep. It was delicious. Perfect.

But Evie wanted more. She shoved her butt against him and he groaned. He said her name once and she knew he was trying to give her time to get used to him.

Even now he was looking out for her.

Her chest ached even as her libido went into overdrive. She squeezed her inner muscles tight and Craig swore. He rested his hands on the sofa next to hers.

His were so much larger, his skin more tanned. The veins in his hands and arms pulsed with life-giving blood. Her fangs ached to bite him, to sink into his wrist and feed.

Finally, he began to move. He slid his cock almost all the way out before plunging back in. Evie moved with him, pushing her ass back to meet his thrust and arching forward when he pulled out.

His strokes quickly went from slow and long to fast and short. His hips pounded against her butt, his balls bumping her clit, arousing her even higher.

Craig shifted his hands from the sofa to her breasts, cupping them, using them to hold her against him, to help him control the tempo of their lovemaking.

The slap of skin against skin, the spicy perfume of sex and their breathy gasps filled the room.

“Evie.” He pulled her back against his chest as he drove his cock home one final time. Warmth filled her pussy and the spasms of his cock sent her spiraling over the edge once again. She cried out, letting her orgasm burn through her. Her channel squeezed him harder, milking every last inch of him.

The tip of his fangs dragged over the back of her neck to the curve of her shoulder. She tilted her head to one side, giving silent permission. Craig sank his fangs into her skin and she felt the hard pull as he drank from her. Her pussy exploded and another orgasm rocked her to her core.

It was instinct, not intention, that made her grab his hand and lift his wrist to her mouth. He groaned, his cock jerking inside her, when she bit him. His blood was sweet and warm. She orgasmed yet again as his blood slid down her throat. Sublime.

Craig licked at her neck and she knew she had to stop drinking from him.

But it was so hard to make herself stop.

With a cry, she retracted her fangs from his skin. Blood dripped from his wrist and she quickly bent to lick at the wound, ashamed of her lack of control.

Evie lowered her head. Craig pulled out of her in one smooth stroke. Then he lifted her into his arms. Her braid got caught between them and she pulled it out of the way so it lay across her chest.

“Look at me.”

There was compulsion as well as command in Craig’s voice. She didn’t think he even knew he was using it. She could easily resist the compulsion, but didn’t. His eyes were once again vivid blue. Not the blue she’d seen when they first met, but the one that seemed to be illuminated by an inner light. They were mesmerizing.

“Thank you.”

Evie swallowed hard and nodded.

“We’ve got a lot to figure out, but we can do it together.” Craig carried her down the hallway to their room. Their room. When had she started thinking of it as that?

He set her down beside the bed and put his hands on her shoulders so she was facing him.

“I should have had more control.”

There, she’d said it. It shamed her that he’d been able to release her first, hadn’t been so caught up in the bloodlust. But was it really bloodlust? It felt different somehow.

“You have more than enough control, Evie. Give yourself a break. You’re only human.”

Evie laughed. She couldn’t help herself. Craig paused as though just realizing what he’d said and then he began to grin. “Okay, maybe not quite human anymore, but you know what I mean.”

She did. And somehow that made it easier to accept her shortcomings.

“You heard Damek. Most vampires don’t have as much control as either of us. I think we’re doing just fine. And sticking together will only help us strengthen that. You help me and I help you. Together.”

Evie knew their togetherness couldn’t last. She had a vampire to kill and he had a family that would never forget what she’d done. Still, she couldn’t resist imagining what it could be like, what it must be like to feel a part of a couple or a family.

“Evie?”

She nodded. “Together.” At least for now. She strengthened the walls in her mind, the ones she’d built to help keep the vampire out of her thoughts. She had no idea if Craig could read her thoughts.

She couldn’t read his, not yet. His emotions, yes, but not his thoughts.

Evie was under no misconception that she could keep Damek out of her thoughts. He was simply too powerful.

But that wouldn’t matter. The older vampire wanted what was best for Craig and that included keeping him safe. She didn’t think he’d stop her from leaving when the time came for her to hunt her maker.

Craig pulled down the covers on the bed. “Climb in.”

As Evie crawled between the covers, it hit her that she didn’t feel the least bit awkward about being naked around Craig. It felt normal. Natural.

“I’ll be right back. I don’t know how long Damek and Sonia will be gone, but the last thing they need to see when they come home is our clothing strewn around their living room.”

Evie felt a blushing heat rise up her cheeks. She yanked the covers over her head and imagined what Damek and his wife would think about that. Even though their clothes would be gone, there was no way Damek wouldn’t know they’d had sex out there. If nothing else, he’d be able to smell it with his vampire super senses.

Locked in her cocoon of covers, Evie realized her skin smelled like Craig, like sex. Her pussy began to throb.

She tossed back the covers and flapped them in the air and quickly realized her mistake. Now the entire room reeked of sex.

Craig strode back in and tossed their clothing onto the chair. He kicked the door shut and started toward the bed, coming to a halt, like he’d hit a wall. He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes.

When he opened them, they were tinged red. His cock went from semi-erect to totally erect.

He prowled toward the bed and slid in next to her. His gaze never left hers as he reached for her once again.