Waiting Read online

  Great. They sound wonderful. Just what my life needs at this point and time.

  "Excellent. Where are they? Would you be able to feel him if you were closer to him? And what does the feel entail?"

  The more I knew, the more I'd feel like I was helping.

  "I might be able to feel him but I haven't had any luck where I've looked already. It's like a magnetic pull. I know where he is when he's not cloaking himself, and even then I can sense him to a certain extent. But now, nothing." He began pacing back and forth. "To answer your earlier questions, we are really brothers. Born from the same mum, turned by the same woman. There are very few cases of being born a vampire since it must be from a human's womb, and living longer than the first few years, let alone days, is practically unheard of."

  “Well, let's just start at the beginning. Once he left my apartment he might've gone home. Have you been there?" The look he gave me made me feel even stupider than I already felt. "Right. Probably the first place you looked. What about your place, would he have left you some sort of message there?"

  He stopped pacing, seeming to be thinking my words over. Then he smiled before doubling over in laughter. I waited patiently to be let in on the joke, finally taking the time to look out at the view. We weren't on a very tall building but it was still pretty.

  Francis stepped beside me then up onto the ledge with his hand extended towards me. He moved with such a grace only God's could imitate. After a seconds hesitation I took it. He helped me balance on the ledge, looking down at the passing cars and people with a smile.

  "Do you want to come with me? Or would you rather me drop you off at home?"

  It didn't take me long to answer.

  "Come with you. I want to find Parker, too. And in the meantime I still have a million or two more questions."

  He continued smiling when he pulled me close, telling me to hold on tight. My hands instantly went around his waist and locked on the opposite side as I hung on for dear life. The next thing I knew we were flying at a speed I figured some planes couldn't master. The wind stung my eyes, making me close them and hang on tighter while burying my head against his chest, afraid I'd die if I lost even a centimeter of my hold.

  The night air was cold, but the adrenaline running through my body counteracted it, making my body tingle all over. My hair blew around my face, stinging my neck since I'd worn it down tonight. Francis' long black jacket flapped around our feet, but flowed nicely along our path.

  Minutes later we landed in the middle of a forest, trees sprouting everywhere, rocks and small bushes spread across the wide expanse with no walking path to indicate he actually lived and walked in this area often. The smell of fresh air and blooming flowers was strong, and the perfect combination for my senses. Beautiful was the correct word to describe his front yard. Or back yard. Or did he just live here in the open?

  He took a few steps toward a giant rock wall covered in Ivy, lifted a chunk to the side with ease, then gestured for me to go in ahead of him. Call me superstitious but I just didn't think that was a good idea. I hesitated long enough for him to go in ahead of me, lighting up the cave walls as he passed. Light bulbs were strung every few feet, illuminating the dark hallway.

  Electricity in a cave? Very cool.

  The rock walls were about five feet wide and at least eight feet tall, since he could walk easily into the space. There were no decorations, pictures, anything that I could see as we walked down the long, uneven hallway, eventually leading to the center which then had six more hallways, all connecting to this massive circle of a room.

  "This is nice."

  He had a bear skin rug in front of a brown leather couch. A desk with papers strewn everywhere, in no order whatsoever, covered almost half of the wall. A bed big enough for six with red silk sheets was to the right, and were those handcuffs attached to his bedframe?

  "Does anything look out of place? Anything Parker would've left behind?"

  I wanted to find something and get out of here fast. Claustrophobia was rapidly sinking in.

  "Not really. Sorry, didn't think the handcuffs would freak you out,” he passively commented after seeing where my gaze lingered. “We'll be out of here in no time. Just let me look through every piece of paper here."

  Thinking we'd be here for hours since the pile was monumental, I started to take a seat on the couch. Before I could fully sit he was moving in a blur of motion, paper thrown across the room until finally the desk was clean except for the one piece of paper he held, sitting in a chair, leaning over the cherry wood desktop.

  I rushed over to see what it said but was too late when he stood and looked down at me with concern.

  "This was a mistake. I jumped the gun and shouldn't have brought you here," he explained while roughly taking hold of my arm and leading me down one of the other hallways.

  "Wait, Francis, what did it say?" He didn't answer me, instead picked up his pace so I was practically running, trying desperately not to fall flat on my face. "Francis!"

  I was now completely freaked out. He stopped and pressed a finger over his mouth. I grit my teeth and pressed my lips together, still trying to catch my breath.

  "They're coming," he whispered lightly in my ear after leaning in. I was only a little positive about what he said.

  "Who?" I only mouthed the word, too afraid to speak louder than I meant to.

  "Pulpas. The only way I can get us both out of here alive is if I put you out. You won't remember anything until you wake up. I promise not to..." His head cocked to the side, his lips twitched as if hearing something amusing. "Trust me. Trust Parker. Play along. I'm so sorry for dragging you into this."

  Those were his last words before he once again, and hopefully for the last time, wrapped his arm around my neck and easily carried me back into his all-purpose room, threw me on the bed then chained me up with handcuffs.

  "Very good. Be scared," he whispered, his breath fanning over my skin making me shiver and a renewed sense of fear swept over me.

  The fear I felt was very real as he started crawling up the bed toward me, covering my legs with his body. If he thought I was playing along to whatever this was, he was mistaken. I closed my eyes and kept chanting the same words over in my head. He won't hurt me. He won't hurt me.

  My heart was pounding and sweat started beading down my neck when his hand lightly grazed my leg, making me jump. Something big was coming. Or rather, someone.

  "So...this is where you've been hiding," came a deep, booming voice.

  SIX

  A man entered the large circular room looking deadlier than anything I'd ever seen before. He must’ve been seven feet tall and made Francis look like a dwarf. Both tanned arms covered in tattoos. His long dark hair pulled into a pony tail that landed neatly on his lower back. What stood out the most were his eyes. Blood red eyes with black pupils stared down at me. The red a fierce, intimidating force he didn’t need since his stance alone let me know no one would chance messing with him.

  The overwhelming feeling to pee my pants was too much. The predatory way they both looked me up and down made me scoot back against the bed frame, crossing my legs under my feet to ensure they couldn't see up my dress. Francis’ eyes went straight black, bleeding away any color making me think this was his bad side while he moved in one fluid motion, now standing just to the side of the bed.

  "Where did you think I went?" Francis' tone changed dramatically, effectively making me think this was part of the plan where I play along. "I've been playing with some fresh meat. This is my newest friend. Lovely, isn't she?"

  The tears that rolled down my cheeks were real, but played nicely with his instructions to be afraid.

  "Very."

  Two very sharp, very hungry looking fangs shot out of the man's mouth as he started moving toward me.

  A scream ripped from my mouth and I tried to kick him away but it was useless. He could hold me down with just a pinky finger and I knew it. He grabbed one of my ankles and held my
leg still. Francis moved in front of him and had his grip around my ankle released almost immediately.

  "I let you have the last one first. This one's mine. I earned her." His tone wasn't to be questioned, but the man merely laughed and tried to push him aside. "I mean it. She's mine by right. You know the law."

  The law? Those sick pricks!

  "Fine," he conceded, his jaw ticked with irritation.

  When he took a few steps back, Francis eased his tension then looked down at me with a cold heartless stare.

  With another blink Parker was standing at the edge of the bed with the same black, dead eyes as Francis. My first thought was of how happy I was to see him. The second was more of a memory flashing forward, my eyes closed tightly as it worked its way through my jumbled thoughts until Parker’s voice filtered through my mind.

  "I want this to be the first thing you remember when you see me… I know you cried yourself to sleep that night we first kissed. I'll never forgive myself for hurting you like that, but I had to. I had to kiss you before I left. Kissing Ashley was a job, an assignment, and I haven't kissed another since that night. I haven't touched another woman in fifty three years and I can't wait to taste every inch of you. The only good thing that came out of that night was me learning that you felt the same way about me as I do about you, and when this is all over, I hope you'll still want me. You belong with me, Piper. You belong by my side. In my bed. In my heart. Please forgive me."

  I was writhing on the bed when I came to, realizing they were all staring at me un-amused. The feel of Parker's hands on me lingered while the memory finished resurfacing, as if he was telling it to me now, pressed against me with his hands roaming every inch of me. Those words. Again he'd told me wonderful, amazing things before disappearing. A pattern was starting to surface with him.

  I glanced back at Parker who stood motionless at the foot of the bed, glaring down at me with his coal black eyes making me shudder. Hatred. That was the only emotion emanating from him. Was this all a setup? No. It couldn't be. But then what was this?

  "I'll be right back."

  Francis took off before I could blink, leaving me staring at the evil glare on the tall man's face, his fangs still protruding.

  "That was easy." He moved forward once more, this time catching my gaze and holding me in a trance. Shit. "Do not scream. Do not fight me." He grabbed my leg and looked over at Parker with an evil smirk. "It's no fun when they don't fight back, but this will be faster and Francis will never know."

  They shared a sickening chuckle before his fangs sank into my leg.

  I couldn't move or scream though all I wanted was to kick and yell out till I lost my voice. It only hurt for a second before Parker had him by the throat, pressed against the wall by my head. Francis was back with a deadly glare, this time not focused on me. They stood shoulder to shoulder glaring at the man with nothing but hatred.

  "Now, now Quinn. You know the rules about first rights. I even reminded you right before. Now I can kill you and not be punished. You were all too eager to fall into my trap and I must say...I'm going to enjoy this."

  Parker looked down at me for a split second when Francis wrapped a silver chain around Quinn's neck, releasing him to fall on the floor.

  "Move and do of your own freewill," Francis commanded, releasing me from the previous commands.

  Almost at once I started screaming. I wriggled and wriggled but couldn't get free from the handcuffs. My wrists started to bleed while I continued to fight against them. Parker noticed, took hold of my wrist and yanked once, effectively breaking the cuffs in half by the chain and I was now free to move.

  Since I was no longer shackled to the bed I jumped up and ran down the main hallway we'd originally entered from without looking back. Tripping over my heels was the only thing to slow me down until reaching the cave entrance, now blocked by the huge boulder. Damnit!

  Tears were streaming over my cheeks, my legs were shaking and the confusion I felt mixed with my anger making me light headed from the adrenaline rushing through my veins. I pressed my back up against the side of the cave and fell to my butt, then lifted my leg to inspect where I'd been bitten. The puncture wounds throbbed and tiny drops of blood were dripping down my ankle. They asked me to trust them, then they let that monster bite me? It was painful too. Nothing sexual the way romance novels portrayed them.

  The sound of footsteps approaching had me immediately standing upright to set my dress in place. Whoever it was wanted me to know they were coming, hopefully since they knew how scared I was.

  I wiped at my eyes and stood up straight, not wanting to look like the coward I was when I ran. The cuffs around my wrists slapped at my face.

  "Piper." Parker stopped a few feet from me, giving me space and time to assess his arrival. He looked so sad I almost went to him. Almost. "I'm so sorry. If Francis had half a brain then he would've gotten my note without including you. You weren't supposed to be a part of any of this." His eyes were still black but they were apologetic now. He took another step forward and stopped, reaching out to gauge my reaction. "Letting him touch you, taste you...I had to in order to get the upper hand," he growled through clenched teeth.

  I stood still, listening, unable to respond.

  Parker took action and gripped the cuffs, easily ripping them in half as they clanged on the ground. He extended his own fangs then bent down slowly, still holding my gaze. I watched his movement, his finger moving up to his fang, the nik, the blood that bubbled before placing it over my bite mark, closing the holes in seconds. It tingled on contact, making me gasp.

  My skin knit itself together until there were no signs of an attack. Nothing but smooth skin since he wiped the trails of blood with his thumb, then stuck it in his mouth, closing his eyes to savor the taste.

  He stood inches from me. His words telling me he'd never hurt and never let anybody hurt me while he was around flashed through my mind.

  I slapped him, and he let me, having plenty of time to stop me. I glared up at him and he stared down at me as if he was going to let me hit him all night and he'd gladly take it.

  "You erased my memory!" I continued to glare at him, my hand itching at my side to slap him again. "You promised to never let anyone hurt me! Then… oh, then you chained me up like dinner for that beast!" I stepped closer, pointing my finger in his chest. "You and Francis continue to ask me to trust you then keep going back on your word."

  I stepped closer again until my chest rubbed against the middle of his stomach. Parker's eyes swirled with purple as if just as excited by our close proximity as I am.

  "You kiss me in the most intense, pleasurable way, then keep taking yourself away from me."

  "Piper, I..."

  This time I cut him off, leaning up on my tip toes and wrapping my arms around his neck, melding our bodies together as our lips met. This is a hungry kiss, one we've both wanted and for some reason had been holding ourselves back. The reason didn't seem important anymore.

  He lifted me while pressing me up against the wall, my legs automatically wrapping around his waist, my dress inching up to my hips. If he weren't blocking me I'd be giving a peep of my crotch to anyone in the vicinity. Thankfully we were in a cave and no one was standing behind him.

  "I'm so sorry," he said when I broke off the kiss to breathe while he continued to kiss a searing path down my neck, then nibbled on my earlobe while grunting. "After I realized Francis brought you here I came up with the fastest solution where you end up alive if no one else did."

  My hands grasped his shoulders, my head falling back against the wall as I closed my eyes and enjoyed the wicked flick of his tongue over my sweat slicked skin.

  "...can't ignore me all night and we need to get this settled."

  Francis' voice floated up to my ears, effectively ruining my mood.

  Parker eased me back down, not stopping his trail of kisses until my feet were flat on the ground and my dress was set back in place. My breaths came in short pants, s
till too excited from being near Parker.

  "Wasn't ignoring you, I was enjoying myself for once instead of worrying about you or trying to save your ass. That alright?"

  Parker's eyes turned back to black as soon as Francis came into view, the trickle of purple immediately fading.

  "Enjoy yourself in the morning. You brought me Quinn, what was your original plan?"

  Francis winked at me before turning his gaze back to Parker in all seriousness.

  "Quit flirting with her!" Parker's arm tightened around my side, pulling me closer to him. "My plan was to have him drink from your prisoner you told me you had, then use the law against him. But you had to ruin it by bringing Piper here. You continue to risk her life as if it means nothing, but I assure you it means everything." His tone was deadly, actually making me feel bad for Francis before I remembered the fear of being chained to his bed.

  "I'm sorry about that, Piper. You know I had no intention of doing so but you played along nicely. One little nip from you and we've got him. I might be in the clear sooner than I thought, then you two can be on your merry way, me just an afterthought."

  His tone was light but I could see the hurt in his eyes.

  "Never an afterthought," Parker spoke immediately before seeming to regret it. "You're my brother. Once we're done with this I'll make you take a blood oath to never kill another human again unless it's life or death for you, then we can put the past behind us." Francis' eyes showed he thought Parker was lying. "I'm serious. We can be together again, as long as you're done with your old life."

  I felt like I was intruding on a very serious family moment and tried to take a step back, as if to disappear altogether, but Parker's arm held me firmly in place.

  "I'm done being a Pulpa. I never really was good at being one since I seem to still have feelings deep down inside me, but I know I did horrible, unforgiveable things and I'm going to spend the rest of my years trying to make it right with you." His face brightened again, as if he'd never been having that serious conversation. "Karma is a powerful being and I for one am seriously unbalanced as of today. What do you say we clear things up with Quinn then I'll do something nice for you two, you know, to up my Karma?"