Bad to the Bone (Night Fall Book 10) Read online

  Her hand reached out and smoothed over the top of his.

  Viper shivered. Her large brown eyes looked at him with a sadness that mirrored his own.

  “Maybe we just need each other tonight. That’s all it has to be.”

  She was reassuring him that there wouldn’t be any strings? “You should expect more,” he rasped.

  Her small, tight smile made the sadness in her eyes more poignant. “Maybe tomorrow I will. But tonight, I’d just be satisfied to know you don’t want anyone but me.”

  Viper forced a matching smile. “Would you like to fall in love with me tonight?”

  “Does that sound so silly?”

  His hand lifted and cupped the side of her face. “Your idea sounds just about perfect.”

  Mariah pressed her cheek into his palm. “I don’t live very far from here.”

  He couldn’t believe how quickly things had progressed. How naturally. “Sure you want to bring me back to your place?”

  She wrinkled her nose then nodded. “I’m inviting you, aren’t I?”

  “You’ll be safe with me. Tonight.”

  Her eyes widened. “I just shivered.”

  A genuine smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Call a friend. Knock on a neighbor’s door. Let them see my face; I’ll give them my ID. I don’t want you to worry about me.”

  For a long breathless moment, her gaze locked with his. Then the corners of her lips lifted in a whimsical smile. “I’m not worried you’ll murder me or anything. And since I’ve already offered you my body—that pretty much rules out any molesting, unless it’s me doing you.”

  Viper drew in a deep breath and began to relax, determined to enjoy her gentle aggression. “We haven’t even kissed. How do you know you’ll like being with me?”

  “Are you kidding me?” One brow slipped upward. “Have you looked in a mirror lately? Maybe you don’t find me all that attractive.”

  “Who hit on whom?”

  Her smile deepened. “Ooh! A man who knows his grammar. I’m completely turned on now. Not the most elegant sentence, but something can be said for brevity.”

  “Are you nervous?”

  “Why do you ask?”

  “You’re rambling,” he murmured. His fingers tugged at the lock of hair that kept slipping from behind her ear. “Come closer.”

  Her glance dropped to his lips. “You’re thinking about that kiss we haven’t shared?” she whispered.

  “I want a taste of that coffee you sighed over.”

  A smile quirked her lips as she leaned closer. “Did I sound too orgasmic?”

  “Is that even possible?” he said, his lips curving again. Lord, he’d missed their sexy bantering.

  “Why do I get the feeling you don’t smile very much?”

  “Because I don’t.”

  Her dark eyes melted with a sheen of moisture. “You don’t have to be lonely, so why are you?”

  He drew back a fraction of an inch. “You’re attractive enough a thousand men would want you. Why are you lonely?”

  “I guess I just haven’t felt a connection. Do you know what I mean?”

  Viper knew exactly what she meant. He sat beside the only woman he’d ever felt he belonged with…and lied. “I never gave it much thought.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “That is such a man thing to say.”

  Because he didn’t want to lie again, he raised his other hand slowly and slipped it behind her neck.

  Her eyelids fluttered closed, and her head fell back, supported by the palm cupping her now. He shifted toward the edge of his seat and leaned close, staring at her parted lips.

  The first tentative touch almost made him come unglued. His body tightened against the urge to take her to the ground that instant and cover her.

  Instead, he breathed softly through his nose, pressed his lips against hers, and canted his head to deepen the pressure.

  A low, breathy moan seeped into his mouth.

  Slowly, he circled his head, dragging his lips over hers, suctioning softly until she gasped, and he gently thrust his tongue inside.

  The taste of her—coffee, a lingering hint of mint from her toothpaste, her own sweet flavor—sent a fine tremor racing down his spine.

  Her head drew back, and her tongue traced her bottom lip. “Are you reassured now that we’ve got that out of the way?”

  The glibness of her words were betrayed by the breathless delivery. Viper settled his forehead against hers. “How far did you say your place is?”

  “We can be there in five.”

  “Make it four,” he muttered, and then stood, holding out his hand to pull her up.

  Chapter Two

  ‡

  Minutes later, they arrived hand in hand and winded at her front door.

  Viper cut a quick glance around them, straining to hear the crunch of footsteps or the beat of a telltale heart. No one lingered in the shadows around them.

  Specters from his other life hadn’t followed him here.

  Earlier, before he’d stalked her, he’d been careful not to lead anyone else to her door. He’d scrubbed the scent of blood, booze, and cigarettes from his skin and hair then dressed in freshly laundered clothing. He’d laid down a trail in the opposite direction from her house and carefully backtracked.

  No one would ever connect her to him. No one could ever know how precious she was. The seamy underbelly of the dark world he moved within would never touch her.

  He’d sacrificed everything to make sure of that.

  Her keys jangled as she clumsily fit one into the lock. “Don’t be expecting too much. I didn’t know I’d bring back company tonight.”

  The door swung open, and she stepped inside.

  Viper followed on her heels, not letting her put space between them. His hands gripped the sides of her hips, and he pushed her deeper inside before kicking the door closed behind them.

  Then he pulled her backward, wrapping both arms around her waist and gliding his lips along the top of her shoulder and up her neck, finding the pulse thrumming just beneath the skin.

  Her head fell against his shoulder, and his teeth began the slow slide downward. He jerked back his head, trying to get control of himself.

  She drew deep, rasping breaths into her lungs. “What’s wrong? Why did you stop?”

  Knowing he’d lisp around his elongated teeth, he shook his head against hers and smoothed his hands over her firm belly, then moved upward to cup her breasts through her clothing.

  She kicked off her sandals. Her clothing rustled. When her skirt dragged against his jeans on its downward journey, he rucked up her T-shirt and pulled it over her head. With a soft snick, she opened the front clasp of her bra, but before she could lean away to remove it, his palms enclosed her breasts, squeezing gently.

  The feel of her warm, plump flesh filling his hands tightened his entire body with excitement. He scraped thumbs over her hardening nipples, eliciting a gasp. Smiling, he plucked then twisted while her chest jerked with excited little breaths.

  He glided a hand down her belly then stroked up again until she quivered and tensed. When he stroked downward again, her hand halted him just before he touched the soft hair atop her mound.

  “It’s not fair,” she moaned, rubbing her back and shoulders against his chest. “You have on too many clothes.”

  He twirled her in his arms, reached down to cup her bare bottom and lifted.

  Her legs wrapped around his waist, and her mouth landed on his cheek, his chin—

  He turned his face to avoid her mouth. “Your bedroom?” he bit out, although he already knew.

  Mariah lifted an arm to point and snuggled her cheek alongside his as he moved through her darkened living room and down the short corridor to her bedroom.

  A single bedside lamp lit the room. He stepped toward the bed and climbed onto the mattress, taking her to the center before lowering his body to blanket hers.

  “This isn’t going to work,” she murmured.

>   He ignored her complaint and trailed his mouth down her neck, shielding his teeth behind his lips until he reached her breasts.

  A soft cry filled the air above his head as he stroked her with his tongue, chancing gentle nibbles with his front teeth.

  Her fingers thrust through his long hair, combing it, pulling it as he deepened the suctioning that drew her nipples into taut beads.

  “Danny…”

  Not Daniel, as he’d insisted. Did some small corner of her mind remember him after all? He pulled away and sat up to strip off his jacket and his T-shirt, which he tossed to the floor behind him.

  Her hands reached for his belt and unbuckled it. She thumbed open the waist of his pants then began to slide a hand inside.

  Instead, he backed off the bed to remove his boots and jeans.

  She came up on her elbows, her greedy gaze raking his frame.

  When he was nude, he stood still for a moment, letting her look at his body. “Do I pass?” he teased.

  Her thighs closed then slowly parted again. A slick of moisture glazed her pale skin.

  As he climbed back onto the bed, Viper noted her heightened arousal in her flared nostrils and quickening breaths.

  Her legs widened at his first gentle nudge.

  He reached down to lift her knees and arrange them on either side of his hips. Then he lowered himself, closing his eyes as his skin met hers. Pure heaven. He was gonna roast in Hell. “This too fast?” he gritted out.

  Her hands slipped around his back and kneaded the muscles on either side of his spine. Her face was tightening, her eyes glittering with unashamed excitement. “I need you moving inside me. Now, please.”

  Her tight, urgent words were exactly what he wanted to hear. He lifted his hips and slid a hand between their bodies. His fingers closed around himself, and he fitted the blunt tip to her entrance and slowly thrust inside. The feel of her moist channel closing around him made him clench with sensual delight.

  Her eyes closed tightly, and her thighs clasped him, her hips tilting to receive him.

  He settled his cheek beside hers and stroked deep into her liquid heat. Surrounded by her creamy walls, he began to move, his body shuddering, already in the grip of his overwhelming arousal.

  Planting his knees in the mattress, he slipped his arms beneath her thighs and lifted her hips off the bed, churning, thrusting, and circling his hips to tunnel deeper inside her sweet body.

  She gasped, and her arms wrapped around his back. Her fingertips scraped up and down, digging into his skin to urge him deeper, faster.

  Elation shot through him that he could still excite her. His motions increased in strength and intensity. He jerked against her, beginning a sweet pummeling that moved her up the slippery silk comforter. He followed, not letting her escape, not giving her a moment to deepen the quivering breaths that gusted against his cheek. Wrapped inside her arms, sliding into her deliciously wet channel, he fought the tension growing inside him, not wanting to surrender, not willing to allow the beast inside to crawl out and take his pleasure and her blood.

  The internal battle he fought made him sweat and tremble, his body tensed like an archer’s bow.

  When her first shivers rippled along his shaft and her internal muscles clamped hard around him, he groaned and opened his mouth to suckle the salt and perfume from her neck, testing with his tongue until he felt the surge of blood beneath her skin, and he gave in to the urge to taste.

  His razor-sharp teeth slid into flesh, nicking the pulsing artery.

  A sharp hiss sounded in his ear, and her hands came between them, shoving at his chest. Her body bucked, writhing underneath his.

  But he didn’t let go, even knowing he’d hurt her. Wait, let it happen.

  The next frightened roll of her hips brought him deeper, and she groaned, her fingers now sinking in the hair on his chest to clutch him closer.

  Her body spasmed and her back arched hard, a low agonized moan squeezing from her tight throat.

  Still, he held back his own release, letting hers sweep through her senses, knowing the exact moment it happened because a keening cry rose around them. When the quivering beneath him lessened, he withdrew his teeth, lapped at the tiny wounds to close them, and drew back his head to stare down into her pale, shocked face.

  “I know who you are,” she said, her voice rasping painfully. Tears welled in her eyes but didn’t spill over. Her lips trembled.

  “Who do you think I am?” he asked, afraid she might have gleaned the truth. Had he subconsciously released the psychic bonds he’d placed the last time? “Who am I?” he said more softly.

  “Husband,” she whispered, moisture finally leaking from her eyes to track down the sides of her cheeks and slip into her sweat-dampened hair.

  A wave of possessive satisfaction swelled inside his chest. He dove down to cover her mouth, stroking his tongue inside, greeting hers, claiming the taste of her as he continued to plow deep inside her body.

  “Let me see,” she said, tears thickening her voice.

  Viper closed his eyes and let the beast surface, welcoming the primal force that scratched its way through his consciousness to reveal itself.

  His body stiffened, and his muscles hardened. Every part of him strained outward. Even his cock, lengthening, thickening, pressing relentlessly against her inner walls until her hips undulated helplessly beneath him.

  Another wash of quivering release shook her body, shuddering through him, as she cried out, her nails scraping harder, drawing blood from his back.

  A deep, rasping growl built at the back of his throat, and he bared his teeth and lunged forward, powering into her now, sliding through her tight channel, churning in the cream that slid around him, until at last, he threw back his head and roared.

  Viper didn’t know how long he lay atop her, his body racked by fine tremors as the beast eased away, sliding back into its cavern. But he came to awareness with her hands gliding over his skin, cupping his shoulders, petting his hair, smoothing over his slick shoulders as she hiccupped beneath him.

  She was crying.

  Slipping his hands beneath her, he rolled to his back, bringing her over his body. He cupped the back of her head and urged her face into the crook of his neck. His lips brushed her temple once, and then he settled beneath her, waiting for her tears to dry while he held her close.

  “I remember everything,” she said, her voice hoarse.

  “I wish you didn’t,” he said tonelessly, although his gut knotted hard.

  “How cruel is that?” she bit out, lifting her head to glare into his face. “You took everything from me.”

  His throat tightened, and he had to swallow hard before he spoke. “I wanted you safe.”

  The corners of her lips turned downward. “I understand why you did it, but how do you bear it? Knowing what we had.”

  Viper swallowed again and slipped his hands around her back to hug her closer. “I get through every single day,” he said, his voice roughening, “because I know you’re nearby. I know you live. And that’s enough.”

  “I should never have looked for the truth about those dead boys.”

  “Not so dead,” he muttered.

  She frowned. “I was so self-righteous. The world had to know…”

  “They can’t handle the truth,” he quipped.

  She gave a sharp laugh. “You do a terrible Nicholson.”

  His gaze swept her dear, sweet face. “I have no regrets.”

  “You’re stronger than I am. If you feel an ounce of the pain I do now…” Her head shook slowly. “Will you leave me again without even a glimpse of our past?”

  The rasp in her voice scraped him raw. “I…have to.”

  She snorted, her mouth stretching into a sad jeer. “This is why I can’t move on, you know. Something inside me remembers you. No other man can compare.”

  Move on? His chest clamped hard, and he closed his eyes, praying for the strength. “If you want to find someone else, I can m
ake it easier.” He opened his eyes to meet her steady gaze. “I can free you.”

  “You’d let me take another lover? Another husband?”

  While inside his psyche wailed and thrashed, he schooled his face into a mask. “I want you happy. Safe.”

  She laid her head on his shoulder and rubbed her cheek against him. “Today’s our anniversary, isn’t it?”

  Hoping she’d given up and decided not to rant as she had the last time he’d sought her out, he exhaled slowly. “I’m sorry I didn’t get you anything.”

  Her fingers plucked his chest hair. “There are other choices, you know,” she said, her voice hardening. “Ones I should have the free will to make.”

  “You can’t come with me.”

  “Because it’s too dangerous? I remember that, too. You shoved me out the door of that warehouse, out into the street, while you stayed inside.”

  “I saved your life.” His fingers clenched the sheet then relaxed.

  Her features tightened. “You sacrificed our life together. You didn’t have the right to make that decision alone.”

  Unable to see the hurt in her expression any longer, he looked away. “Well, it’s done now. No going back.”

  Mariah laid her palm against his cheek and turned his face. “Except you do…keep coming back, that is.”

  The knife twisted deeper in his chest. Was she really so eager to end it, once and for all? “So, I’m weak.”

  Her fingers relaxed, and she lifted her head. “You could let me come with you.”

  The plea in her brown eyes nearly had him relenting. “You can’t come with me,” he repeated dully. “Remember? Not safe? And I don’t want you to see what I’ve become or how I live.”

  “You’re a vampire.” She pressed her face into his chest. “God, they really do exist. I kept thinking something more was involved…”

  “That club isn’t just a place for the wannabes. Vamps feed there. Not all of them are nice. You shouldn’t have gone there.”

  “Why can’t you just make me one, too? Let me stay with you.”

  “Turning is too dangerous. As many die as make the change. I won’t risk you.”