Tourmaline Truth (3 page)

Barret felt Sharon's spine stiffen.

"I was being chased by a Vampire! What was I meant to do? I knew he'd catch me and I couldn't risk Darcy!"

"Seriously? You had a real live Vampire chasing you and you
ran
! You must be truly mad. Everyone knows they protect their Eternal Bride with their life. Damn, what I wouldn't give to have one chasing me! I would have turned the tables and gone after him! But no, I have boring hazel eyes, nothing gemstone-like about them." Cindy paused to release a frustrated sigh. "Sorry, that was inappropriate of me. I have personal history with people who abandon their kids, but that's got nothing to do with you. Please hold the line while I put you through to the Director of Nursing."

Barret rubbed his hands up and down Sharon's arms trying to ease some of the tension in her muscles as the phone clicked and horrid classical music played for a minute or two. The moment it stopped, Sharon stiffened beneath his touch.

"Martha Robinson, Director of Nursing."

"Um, hi. Cindy told me I needed to speak to you about getting my daughter back."

"Sorry, ma'am, but I need some more details than that. Let's start with your name and your daughter's, and we'll go from there."

"Ah, yes. Of course. My name is Sharon Marie Denibe and my daughter is Darcy..." Sharon's voice broke on a sob. She shoved her fist into her mouth to curb the sound but it tore through Barret. He shouldn't have stalked her all night like he had, damn Nobles. Aside from not wanting her to publicly freak out on him, he'd wanted to learn a little about her before he claimed her. He guessed she didn't live in the city, or if she did, he was certain she didn't grow up there. What was her family like? Did she still live with her folks? He mentally shook his head. She would have called them to come for her and Darcy had she had help close by.

He continued his gentle massage of her shoulders and neck as he pondered all the details he wanted to know about his Bride. Her skin was like fine porcelain beneath his bronzed fingers. So smooth and soft to touch. He lowered his mouth and began to lay feather light kisses to her flesh. He ran his fingers through her hair to move it from her neck. Ever so slightly she tilted, giving him better access. A grin stole across his face as butterflies took flight in his belly. His fangs throbbed as he watched her pulse flutter at the base of her throat. He was leaning in toward that spot when her words caught his attention.

"You can see me first thing? Nine o'clock? I just need to bring proof that Darcy is mine?"

He'd missed a massive chunk of the conversation by the sounds of it. But there was no way in hell his Bride was going out in daylight unprotected. He knew she would argue the point. There was nothing, really, he could do to stop her. He'd known her for a few hours, hardly long enough for her to trust him completely. Especially when it came to her child. He breathed deeply trying to curb the desire to chain her to the bed so she couldn't leave no matter what.

Sharon said her thanks then ended the call. Dropping the phone to the covers, she buried her face in her hands and her body began to shake.

"Hey, love. Don't cry. I missed most of the conversation, but I gather she told you a way to get Darcy returned to you?"

"Oh yeah, she did. I need to prove that I am Darcy's mother, then I need to prove I'm fit to care for her. That shouldn't be hard. I have her birth certificate at home and I have a clear record with Social Services. Once I explain that I was in fear for her life when I left her, and they see my home and how well Darcy is looked after, they have to give her back, surely."

As she spoke, she twisted around to kneel between his knees. Her tears were still flowing but the smile indicated they were happy ones. Damn, women were odd creatures. He decided he'd leave the argument about going out in daylight for a little later. He wanted her to enjoy this moment of relief. Taking her face in his palms, he lowered his lips to hers until she froze and he saw fear flash across her features.

"You have no need to be scared of me, Sharon. I will always protect you. I'd never harm you. What do I need to do for you to believe me?"

"I don't know. You have to admit, this whole thing is more than a little overwhelming."

"It shouldn't be. It's not your fault you've not been educated about Vampires and Eternal Brides. I'm sorry for scaring you so much. I stupidly assumed you would know you were destined for a Vampire because of your eyes."

"Pale blue eyes aren't that uncommon."

"Maybe that's why you've gone unnoticed but, love, with the tinge of green and the luminescent glow that make them Paraiba Tourmaline, they are more than unique."

Chapter Two

Toki Davidson stood with his hands clasped behind his back as he watched the sun rise over the golf course. As the last shadows of night were chased away, the phone on the desk behind him rang. He moved over toward it, his robes brushing the hard wood floor as he walked.

"Toki."

"Sire. The Tourmaline Vampire which you placed me in charge of watching brought a woman home with him this morning."

"Splendid. I was hoping he'd find his bride. I will send others to help you capture them both. Let's give them the daylight hours to cement the claiming."

"Yes, Sire."

Toki hung the phone up and sat in the leather wingback chair near the desk. A wide grin spread over his face. This Eternal Bride would be his. After the twenty-ninth of February passed this year, he'd been told he had earned the right to breed with a Bride. The next one captured would be his. At thirty-eight years of age, Toki was more than ready to start having sons. He hoped this woman was pretty. Blonde hair and smooth skin would be perfect.

The book he'd been reading before he stopped to watch the dawning of a new day sat on the desk. He picked up the leather-bound volume and flicked through its pages again. The writing was on parchment. Of course something penned so long ago was not in English but Norse, the language of the mighty Vikings. He'd only been a lad in his late teens when he first found the book with his name imprinted in the leather. He'd been told he was named after the original Noble. Naturally he'd assumed this document would detail the life of his namesake. It had taken him years to translate the whole thing. Now, he'd read it enough times he didn't need his English version. He knew each word by rote.

As all Nobles were, he'd been raised with the notion their role was to protect women from the Vampires. Keeping the destined brides locked up until their Vampires either died on their hundredth birthday or were caught and killed. How wrong he'd been. As he'd worked his way up the ranks, he learned about how Nobles were conceived. Honestly, he'd struggled with the concept, until he'd been promoted to be the guardian who prepared a bride for an Elder. The thrill of changing a woman who swore she wanted nothing to do with you, to one writhing with the pleasure you gave her, was an astonishing thing to behold. That had proved to him that his Viking ancestors' blood was strong in his veins. However, the bride he'd helped prepare for years now, didn't interest him. She had ink black hair and Amethyst purple irises. Toki shuddered. No, the subtly of Tourmaline's blue-green eyes was much more to his tastes.

Aside from learning on the job, so to speak, this book he held had explained so much to Toki. It appeared the original Toki had detailed everything he could about how Vampires treat their brides, as he'd been raised by a bride after his Viking father stole his mother. Of course the Vampire had rescued his bride. Even a Viking was no match for a Vampire on the rampage searching for his missing Eternal Bride. The Vampire's compassion only ran so far however. He allowed his Bride to keep the child only until he was of age. At twelve he was sent on his way, alone in the world. His mother had told him about his biological father before he left, explaining where to find the Viking. So that was where Toki had gone. His true father took him in and trained him to be a strong Viking warrior.

Once the original Toki reached adulthood, it became obvious he was no longer aging. He confessed to his father all he knew about Vampires. His father, still besotted with the Eternal Bride he'd had so briefly, was not happy to learn she had been treated poorly because of him impregnating her. Father and son decided women should be protected from Vampires, and as Vikings, it was their duty to offer it. They began to set up a castle to hold these women. They also custom built dungeons to hold the Vampires, for once a woman was claimed, she was linked to her Vampire's life force.

They started raiding in search of Vampires and their brides, keeping a close watch for women with gemstone colored eyes. It wasn't long before Toki's sire had been killed in battle leaving him alone. In his isolation, he began to take more notice of the captured brides and their beauty. Unable to understand why he couldn't have his own Eternal Bride, he began to bed one woman who had caught his eye.

After a number of leap year cycles, Toki discovered all babies he sired were boys and like him, were not fully human. He raised his sons to follow in his footsteps and the Nobles were created.

With a sigh, Toki placed the well-read book back on the shelf and headed from the room. He needed to meet with the Noble guarding the Tourmaline Vampire. Hopefully he would have his own Bride very soon to give him sons that would grow to take their place as Noble Elders. He smiled as his body shuddered in anticipation. He couldn't wait for the next twenty-ninth of February.

~ * ~

Sharon forced her lungs to work. Barret's touch all but scalded her skin as he held her face in his palms. She stared into his eyes, irises that matched her own and everything else began to fade away. Before she completely lost her ability to think, she needed to sort some things out.

"How far from Melbourne are we?"

Her voice was low and husky with her arousal, but she focused on keeping her mind on track. Getting Darcy back was the most important thing.

"We're at our home on the banks of the Yarra River, love. Only around fifteen miles upstream from the city."

Sharon swallowed past the lump in her throat, the one that increased with each word Barret spoke in his smooth voice. She chose to ignore the 'our home' part.

"What time is it?"

"Dawn has just broken, so around seven."

"Will you take me to the city?"

"I don't fare well in sunlight, love. But we can discuss going out later. I need you, Sharon."

Before she could respond, Barret lowered his lips to hers and took her mouth in a passion-filled kiss, the likes of which she'd never experienced before. Her mind lost all hope of control. Allowing her instincts to take over, she moaned as his velvety tongue danced with hers. She threaded her fingers into his thick dark hair and lightly scraped her nails over his scalp. Sharon loved how his whole body shuddered in response.

"That feels so good."

His hands left her face, dropping to her shoulders, where he pushed her jacket down. Moving her arms back, she removed it completely. Wasting no time, Barret had her shirt over her head and her bra undone by the time her jacket hit the floor beside the bed. With his cool fingers sliding up her spine, she arched into him. His mouth took a nipple deep inside and she felt the scrape of his fangs on her sensitive flesh. She let her head fall back as her body trembled in his grip.

A low growl penetrated the room half a second before she found herself with her back against the smooth satin sheets. Using his vampiric speed, he had her pants stripped from her in moments. Panting and naked on the lush red bedding, she looked up at Barret, feeling more than a little vulnerable. His opinion mattered, she didn't know why, but she was sure his rejection would cause something inside of her to shrivel up and die.

"You are so beautiful, love."

His words soothed her worries a little. He liked what he saw. Butterflies were going crazy in her stomach and her arms and legs quivered with anticipation. He was eyeing her like she was the last steak at a buffet. What the hell was he going to do to her? In complete contrast to his earlier speed, he gripped her ankles and moved her legs wide. Then he slowly lowered himself to lie between her thighs.

"I have to take a taste, Sharon. You smell so good."

She felt his warm breath a moment before he took her into his mouth. A gasp tore from her throat as sparks flew through her system and set off an orgasm. Never had she climaxed so fast or hard. Barret moaned low as he lapped at her core. Each swipe of his tongue had her arching off the bed. As she felt her lower belly tighten, she pushed in against his mouth before pulling away. She was so sensitive but she wanted more. Her body and mind were torn between escaping the exquisite torment and begging for more.

Barret kept at her until she climaxed twice more. As she limply lay there, he moved from the bed and through hooded eyes she watched him peel off his jeans to reveal his full glory to her. He was magnificent. If her brain wasn't so foggy from her multiple orgasms, she'd probably be scared of his size. He was a lot bigger than any man she'd had before. She watched as he prowled up the mattress until he was over the top of her. He lowered his pelvis toward hers, and as the blunt head of his erection pressed against her core, she whimpered. He stopped moving and lowered his mouth to her ear. He nipped the lobe before he whispered.

"Mate me, Sharon. Say you'll be mine. Let me claim you."

Sharon's mind was a blur of arousal as she tried to arch into him, to force him to take her without her giving him an answer, but he wouldn't budge. She moaned as she again tried to press up against him.

"Just answer my question, love. One word and I'll give you everything you desire."

In the back of her mind she had a vague thought she shouldn't be making important decisions while between sheets, but her instincts were screaming at her to agree and her body was well and truly on board with the plan too.

"Yes, Barret. Take me, make me yours."

She finished speaking on a gasp as he slid deep within her body. Once he was fully sheathed inside her, a shudder ran through him and into her. The vibration went through her like a flash flood. She whimpered and he lifted himself up and took her mouth as he began moving within her. Her body lit up from within. She wrapped her legs around Barret's hips pulling him in deeper. Her arms wound around his neck, her fingers digging into his hair. As her nails scraped against his skin, he shuddered once more as his eyes closed. His head dropped forward, and she moved her head to the side to give him room to nuzzle into her neck.