A Hunter's Challenge [The Hunters 3] (Siren Publishing Allure) Page 14

  “Thank you.”

  The rest of the meal was much happier. Amy wanted to know how they came to be working together. Martin told them about the trick Viorel had played to get Anthan to accept a partner. Anthan looked over at Martin and told him that he owed Viorel a great debt of thanks in more ways than one. In sending Martin, he had both saved his life and given him Erica. Martin reached out and touched his hand.

  When they cleared away the remains of the meal and Erica brought out the tiramisu, she and Amy were shocked at the men’s reaction. They both tried to take it from her.

  “Wow! Who made this?”

  “I did.”

  “Hands off, Martin. My girl made it, so it’s mine.”

  “Hey not fair!”

  Erica couldn’t stop laughing as she held it away from both men.

  “Enough! If you can’t behave then Amy and I will eat it all.”

  The men looked at each other like little schoolboys caught by the headmaster.

  “Right.”

  Erica dished out a serving for everyone and noticed both men eyed off how much was left.

  “If, and I say if, you both behave, you can share the remainder.”

  “Yes, Erica.” Martin tried to look serious. Anthan just grinned and blew her a kiss.

  “I gather you guys like sweet things. I noticed the chocolates and biscuits in your pantry, Anthan.”

  Martin laughed. “It is a common failing among Hunters I’m afraid. We’d all eat sweet stuff and junk food nonstop if you let us.”

  “Martin here has a huge fondness for McDonalds. He just gets them to take the meat off everything.”

  “Can’t help it. I love the McCafé stuff. Did you know you Aussies created it?”

  Amy looked worried as she asked Martin, “Aren’t you worried you’ll get fat?”

  “Impossible. Our bodies are designed to stay at peak condition regardless of what we eat.”

  “Wow! I’d love that!”

  “Mates of Hunters who convert also get that benefit.”

  “Oh.” She looked a little embarrassed at the idea so neither Hunter said anything. They all finished their dessert, the men polishing off the remainder between them and moved out into the family room for an hour to relax. Finally, Anthan looked over at Martin.

  “You ready to go?”

  “Not really but I know we must.”

  Anthan didn’t want to leave Erica either but they needed to find the strigoi before it killed many more mortals.

  “Will you both come back here in the morning?”

  Martin nodded and Anthan looked over at Erica.

  “Neither of you girls is to leave the house while the sun is down. At least until we find the strigoi. We should be back around seven. Then we can work out where we’ll sleep, if that’s okay with you.”

  “Yes, we understand.”

  “Erica, you’ll now have better resistance against their whisperings, too.”

  Amy looked at her sister puzzled then looked at Martin. “I really want to go back to my house now. Seems silly to stay here now.”

  “Well when we get back in the morning we can drive over there if you like.”

  She smiled at him and nodded.

  “Okay. We’ll sort out it in the morning.”

  “Let’s go. Martin we’ll continue on the same grid searches that we’ve been doing.”

  “Okay.”

  The men hugged and kissed their mates then reluctantly disappeared.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Once more the two Hunters flew together for about an hour and half then they split off to begin their grid searches. Anthan checked around the area where the body of the victim had been found. There were a few light traces around but they soon petered out.

  Anthan was frustrated. This strigoi seemed smarter than most. He wondered if it was the one who was using the other two lairs. He reported his findings to Martin who said he had no luck either. They continued the search until sunrise.

  “Let’s head back, Martin. We won’t be back till about eight and if you want to drive to Amy’s it makes sense to go back now.”

  “Okay. I’ll meet you at Erica’s.”

  As he flew, Anthan contacted Viorel. He gave him all the information they had discovered the evening before. Viorel promised he would get onto it as soon as possible and let him know what he found out.

  Hesitantly, Viorel asked him, “Are you truly okay, Anthan?”

  Anthan realised that Martin must have told him about dragging Anthan back to the house when he had be about to enter the sun.

  “I’m better than okay, my friend,” he told him with a laugh. “And it’s all because of you, thank you.”

  Just under two hours later, Anthan landed in the family room. He heard voices coming from the spare room and walked in. Martin and the two girls were in there. Erica was sitting on the bed but she jumped up when Anthan walked in and came over to him. This amazing feeling in his heart stunned him. He gathered her in his arms and kissed her.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Amy’s packing up her stuff so they can get going back to her house before it gets much later.”

  Martin picked up the bag that Amy had closed and everyone walked into the family room. The two women hugged.

  “I’ll ring you tonight after Martin leaves to search okay?”

  “Okay. Look after my little sister, Martin.”

  Solemnly Martin promised. “With everything I have.”

  Martin kissed Erica’s cheeks, and patted Anthan on the shoulder. Amy and Martin went out the front door. He and Erica stood watching them drive away, his arm around Erica’s waist. She was just the right height he noticed, maybe five eight, fitting perfectly under his arm. She’d plaited her long hair into a single long braid that hung over her shoulder. They went back inside and Erica led him to the kitchen.

  “You need to eat something.”

  “No, I...I’d rather make love to you.”

  She blushed but grinned at him and shook her head. He groaned.

  “Any bread? I’ll eat some toast.”

  Erica laughed but grabbed some bread and the toaster. Erica toasted a few slices then slathered them with honey. She put the plate in front of Anthan and stood over him, making sure he did eat. When he’d finished, he pulled her to him.

  “Now can I make love to you?”

  “Now you can.”

  Anthan stood and lifted her into his arms.

  “Which way to your bedroom?”

  She pointed the way and he carried her like a precious piece of sculpture to lay her in the middle of the bed. He stood looking down at her.

  “I still think I’m dreaming.”

  “Come down here,” she whispered huskily, “and I’ll prove you aren’t.”

  He needed so second invitation. He lay alongside her, drinking her in. Playing with the buttons on her blouse, he undid each one slowly. Erica’s dark hazel eyes watched every move. When they were all undone, he spread the sides apart and drank in the view. The bruises covering her had faded. All that was left was a faint scar here and there. He could see how hard her nipples were, pressing against the fabric of her brassiere.

  He bent his head and kissed each one. He licked across the swell of each soft breast while with his hand he reached down to unzip her jeans. He felt Erica’s hand in his hair, threading her fingers in it as he continued licking. Pushing a finger between the flesh and the lacy of her bra, he pulled one breast free. He rolled the nipple between his teeth before sucking on it.

  He was rewarded when he heard her little moan. He pushed his hand down into her panties, feeling how wet she already was. Making little circles with his fingers, he finally rubbed her clit, grinning to himself when she whimpered in desire.

  Somehow he managed to remove her jeans without taking his mouth from her nipple. She scrambled at his clothes, trying to pull them off so he removed them in the way of an immortal.

  He heard Erica in his head.


  “How? Oh hell who cares!”

  He grinned against her nipple, then it was his turn to moan as he felt her hand wrap around his turgid member.

  “Iubită, are you sore still?”

  “No, not really. More uncomfortable but I don’t care.”

  Anthan quickly pushed her onto her back and before she could react, he was settled between her legs. Leisurely he ran his tongue along the length of her. He paid careful attention to her clit and her inner lips, before pushing his tongue as far in as possible. Erica was panting and she was holding his head tightly. He gently sucked her clit into his mouth and pushed a finger into her wet channel at the same time.

  With his finger, he began to circle inside her, then hooked it around only to discover a rough area. He rubbed it and Erica screamed with pleasure, grabbed his finger with her muscle and came. He drank her glorious juices as he continued to rub.

  “Ah! Oh shit!”

  He’d managed to coax another orgasm from her. Looking up, he saw her head thrown back, her hand across her eyes as she gasped.

  He wriggled up her body and kissed her soundly. She wrapped her arms around him.

  “Iubită,” he panted. “I’ve been told we should merge our minds when we make love. Want to try it?”

  She opened her eyes and grinned at him. She draped one leg across his body. Dropping one hand between them, she grasped his cock and aimed it between her legs. She held it at the entrance to her slit. He felt her mind merge with his.

  “Oh!”

  “Oh god, Iubită, this is...”

  “I know.”

  She slowly let him slid his hardened dick into her.

  “Ah, oh god. I can feel what you’re feeling.”

  “Me, too! Oh fuck!”

  Anthan couldn’t quite believe what he was feeling. It threatened to overwhelm him. He could feel his cock inside Erica, feel how the walls hugged it tight, giving him a tight sensation as it rubbed up and down. At the same time, he could feel Erica’s sensations. He could feel how it felt full to her, how she could tighten her muscles to grip his dick even harder. He knew when she wanted him to push deeper, harder just as she knew when he wanted to feel her grip tighter and tighter.

  “Anthan, I want... I want to taste your blood again.”

  “Dragostea mea!”

  He reached out and slashed across his arm. He could only whimper as she began to drink. He felt his fangs extend and sank them into her neck. Erica screamed her pleasure.

  Anthan shouted. “I can’t hang on much more, Iubită, this is... fuck!”

  “Come, come with me now!”

  She shouted in his head as they both spiralled up into climaxing. He spurted his full load deep within her, relishing the way she milked his cock. He felt her body tense at the same time then she spasmed and held him fast within her.

  Anthan thought he would pass out from their joint orgasm. Erica had almost fainted when she had felt how it made him feel when he came. He dropped his head to the bed, trying to hold his weight off her with his arms. She pulled him around and his cock fell limp from her body as he wrapped her in his arms.

  Together they lay, their hearts slowly returning to a normal rhythm. Anthan couldn’t believe how wonderful it was when they merged. He had thought it amazing when they had made love before, but now. Now it took him to another world.

  He felt her turn her head to look at him.

  “I...that, it was amazing!”

  “I know. My heart’s still racing.”

  “Mine, too.”

  They lay wrapped in each other’s arms as their racing hearts slowly settled back to a normal rhythm. Anthan gave a contented sigh. Life couldn’t possibly be any better. He gave a yawn.

  Erica grinned up at him. “You need to rest.”

  She kissed his lips then settled her head on his chest, her hand in his. He closed his eyes. Within a few minutes, he was asleep.

  * * * *

  Erica didn’t realise how tired she was until she woke and discovered it was almost midday. She and Amy had stayed up until late talking last night, or rather early this morning. Then she had gotten up about seven, waiting for the men to return.

  When she had gone to sleep since her captured, Martin had made her sleep dreamlessly. With all that had happened she was still frightened to sleep, worried she may relive being taken by the vampire in her dreams. Through the night she had only dozed. Each time she felt herself slipping into proper sleep, she had forced herself awake. Even when she had dozed the horrid face of the vampire filled her mind.

  But now Erica realised that when she had fallen asleep, wrapped in Anthan’s arms, she had fallen deeply into sleep and her dreams had been of him. She lay thinking about those dreams and wondered. As she lay she occasionally thought she could hear people talking about her. It must have just been her imagination or she was still reliving her dreams.

  She got carefully out of bed so as not to disturb Anthan then showered and dressed. She made herself a coffee and stood thinking.

  Erica had to let her estate agent know if she was going to sign the lease or not. Already over a week had gone and she still hadn’t decided, she only had a few days left. Now she had met Anthan she wondered what would happen. When he woke, she would bring it up. She couldn’t imagine being apart from him now.

  Most of the furniture in the house wasn’t hers, the house had come fully furnished. All that she owned was the double bed in her bedroom and two spare single beds, the fridge, television, and her china and kitchen stuff. The garage was filled with boxes that she hadn’t bothered to unpack.

  She was between assignments but that was normal for her. She was at a stage in her career where she could pick and choose. Her photographs commanded top dollar. She had been considering shooting a series on gliding possums in New South Wales. There were five species of them and two were classified as vulnerable. She had been approached to photograph them but the only thing that had been stopping her was the fact it would have to be done at night.

  She also had a commission to photograph the volcanoes in Hawaii. The client wanted them photographed both in the day and at night and Erica had been putting it off also.

  Her Gram had put the fear of darkness into both girls from a young age. But maybe now, maybe Anthan could help her overcome her fear. She thought back over all Anthan had told her about her grandmother. It was hard to accept but she instinctively knew it was true. How wonderful it would be to meet her relations. She wondered what they were like. How many she had?

  More importantly, Anthan had said his friend would be able to find out about her father. Find out if or when he had died, what had happened to him. She still missed them. She hoped her father was still alive, that she would finally be able to see him.

  But why? Why had her grandmother lied?

  She made a cheese and tomato sandwich and sat on the front porch steps to eat it. It was relaxing watching the waves. She leant her back against the side wall and Erica could feel herself dozing.

  Suddenly she thought she heard someone say her name. Surprised, she opened her eyes and looked around. Shaking her head, she thought she must have been daydreaming. Looking at the water again, she thought she could hear whispers every now and again. It was liked the voices she had heard in her dreams. Cocking her head and turning it this way and that, Erica tried to locate where the sounds were coming from.

  There were definitely voices near. Erica concentrated on them. She closed her eyes and cleared her mind. Listening. Clearly she heard her name again.

  A man’s voice. He was talking to someone about her. This was weird. Maybe she was asleep and didn’t know it. There was only one thing to do.

  “Hello?” Hesitantly she called out with her mind.

  The very masculine voice answered abruptly. “Who’s that?”

  “Erica.”

  “Erica? Anthan’s Erica?”

  “Oh.” Surprised she could only say, “Yes.”

  “Erica!” She could hear the joy i
n the man’s voice. “Oh, Erica. Thank you, thank you for saving my friend.”

  “I don’t understand. Am I asleep? Who are you?”

  “My name is Silvius Nicolescu. I am Anthan’s oldest friend.”

  “I’m not sure I understand. How can I be talking to you? Where are you?”

  “I’m in Madrid, Spain. I’m not sure how, I’ve never heard of a mortal being able to talk to other Hunters except their mate. Have you already converted? No that wouldn’t be possible you’ve only just found each other.” She could hear his very real puzzlement.

  “No, we’ve only made two exchanges. This is so weird.” Erica giggled. “Maybe I’m dreaming?”

  She heard the warmth and love in Silvius’s voice. “Then I must be as well. I don’t care how but I’m so glad. I knew what my friend intended. I could feel his pain. I wanted to be with him, to tell him how much I love him. To ask him to stay.” He seemed to choke back a sob as he continued. “I just don’t know how I can ever thank you. You saved the most important Hunter. If we had lost him...well, we’d be desolate. Not only that, you saved my best friend.”

  “I think I would be desolate, too. I...I love him.”

  “As do we all. Rest assured young lady, you are honoured amongst Hunters, doubly so when word gets out that you can already speak with us over the distance.”

  Erica could hear his amazement as he continued.

  “Please tell my friend how happy I am, how much I love him. I hope we can meet soon, so I can thank you in person.”

  “I’ll tell him and thank you.”

  Erica gasped as she felt two hands either side of her head and a soft kiss on her brow, then she felt him withdraw.

  For ten minutes, Erica sat in wonder. She had understood that the telepathic link was only possible between Hunter and mate until the mate had converted. Yet she had just “spoken” with someone on the other side of the world. And there were the voices she had ‘overheard’ in her sleep.

  Erica thought that she hadn’t been dreaming then, she had actually been hearing conversations about herself by Hunters.

  When Anthan woke maybe he would be able to explain it. She pushed it aside and then spent the day catching up with housework and checking her website. She had a few photographs to add to it. There were a few e-mails from prospective clients about some pictures for sale on the website as well as asking her about subjects and if she would undertake commissions.