Roxanne Desired (4 page)

After a moment, I gave her a curt nod. “I am willing to try anything.”

The Nymph smiled. “Okay then, let’s do this. Ready?”

I nodded. “Ready.”

She waved her hand with a flourish, smiling at me with a wink. It seemed as though it was time for me to test my gifts, and I was actually pretty curious to find out what I was capable of. With a quick pace, I made my way over to the cashier behind the counter. He was staring blankly with both his hands gripping the sides of his face.

“I’m losing my mind.” He said, backing up until he hit the wall. He looked as if he was about to bolt or cry at any second. I couldn’t tell which. “What’s happening to me? Where’d that guy go? You saw him too, right?” The questions came out in rapid succession, pelting me with his confusion.

I smiled at him, a reassuring smile. It was now or never. Funny, now that I was aware of the possibility of having additional power, I could feel a slight tingle of it well up inside of me. It was almost the same feeling I had right before a shift. I focused on it and the cashier at the same time. I could hear the confused mumblings of the restaurant’s customers behind me, but ignored them. When I felt that I had my target’s complete attention, I began my first attempt at persuasion. I visualized pushing the tiny tingle I sensed in my gut, out of me. I focused it on the cashier and ensnared him with my gaze.

“What is your full name?” was my first question. He dropped his hands to his sides and began to speak, answering immediately.

“Benjamin Parker Brown.”

I refrained from giggling with excitement; my first try at persuasion had been a success. I gave it another shot.

“Okay good. You’re doing great, Benjamin. Now listen to me very carefully.” I began to coax a little more. “The man you saw earlier, he wasn’t alone, He had a child with him, and that child fired off his toy pop gun. The noise scared your customers and it’s now your job to calm them all down.”

“I should calm the customers down.” He repeated while nodding at me.

“That sounds like a great idea.” I agreed.

Without saying another word, Benjamin walked around the counter and began to stop at each table, one by one, reassuring the customers that the entire fiasco had been nothing but a big misunderstanding. The magic had worked. Somehow, I was able to successfully use the power of persuasion. Using it had been a piece of cake, too easy actually. That fact made me wonder if I had been exercising it, without knowledge, this whole time. I turned, this time facing the room with more confidence in myself, and headed toward the back of the building where Ariel was tending to the human’s wounded shoulder.

The glowing lights that flashed from the jute box cast a red haze over the back of Ariel’s head. She was hunched over the fallen man, her hands covering his shoulder as I approached. Her face was pale and deep lines etched her face and creased her brow. She looked like hell. I noticed that even the powerful aura, which constantly surrounded her, was going dim; seemingly, only seconds from extinguishing out altogether. I had an aching suspicion that I was watching the nymph slowly fade out, perhaps even die. Ariel finally released the man’s arm, and as she did, her body toppled over onto its side. I dove for her. My arms wrapped around her just in time, stopping her head from knocking against the floor. I lifted her dead weight into my arms and quickly carried her out of the backdoor, which was conveniently located right behind us, before anyone could notice us.

Nathan
and David were arguing in front of what I assumed was his car. My jaw dropped at the sight of the 2013 Camaro ZL1 white convertible, which was parked next to my tiny rental car. I had always loved Camaros, but now was not the time to drool over the cars supercharged engine or its crazy amount of horsepower.  I had a very unconscious Nymph in my arms. That was my main concern at the moment. I gave the car one last lustful look before yelling at Nathan to open the door. Nathan sprang forward as soon as he saw us and immediately took Ariel from my arms.

“What happened?” He asked, laying her in the backseat.

I tossed the keys to my Prius over to David, “Follow us.”

He swiped the keys out of the air and jumped in the rental.

“She drained herself healing the guy David shot.” I explained. “We need to get her somewhere safe, and fast.”

Nathan put his hand on the small of my back, sending tingles up my spine. He guided me into the passenger seat of his car.

“I know the perfect place.” He assured me.

***

Nathan’s idea of the perfect spot was a small, moderately clean motel. As I fumbled to set Ariel down on one of the two twin beds in our room, Nathan was getting David settled in the room next to us. David was in a hurry to get away from us, stating that, “The blonde bitch made him nervous”. Ariel wasn’t the only blonde he should have been worried about. I couldn’t let what he did at the restaurant go without some sort of punishment. It sucked that I was the one placed in the unfortunate position to have to figure out just what that would be. Maybe I should let Nathan put him down, like the sick animal he had turned into; it was the smart thing to do after all. Man eaters couldn’t be rehabilitated. That’s what Nathan had told me anyway. The sire bond between us was a real pain in the ass.

“You look beat.” Nathan said, closing the door. His voice carried a hint of worry and his eyes did a quick inventory over my body.

It was nice to be fawned over, to have someone care as much as he did. I almost melted when he paused by the foot of the bed and reached over to take my hand.

“Come over here and relax. You’re about to fall down.” He said gently.

I let him lead me over to a round table and two high backed chairs that the motel staff had set up to resemble a tiny dining area.

“She doesn’t seem to be getting any better.” I said, pouring my tired body into the vinyl chair. “There has to be something we can do.” I glanced over my shoulder at Ariel. A murky brown colored hue surrounded her. It took the place of the once colorful and brilliant one.

On the other side of the small room I could hear the occasional drip from a leaky faucet. The liquid serenade gave me an idea.

“Are all female Nymphs water Nymphs?” I asked.

He gave me a confused look and answered. “Not all of them. But she is.” He glanced over at Ariel. “You can tell by their white hair and blue lips. Why?”

I flinched when a sickly cough escaped from between Ariel’s lips. The sound worried me so I jumped up and swiftly made my way into the bathroom.
Thank God
, I thought when I saw that there was a bathtub. I knelt in front of it and twisted both knobs. The flow of water struggled to start at first, but then a thick stream began to fill up the tub. After I was satisfied with that, I headed out into the main room, grabbed up Ariel, and carried her back into the bathroom. Nathan followed behind me quietly watching my every move, but not interfering. I gently lowered the nymph into the water. As soon as her pale skin touched the water, she took a deep breath and released it as her body sank into the tub. Her eyes flew open, startling me, and a tiny smile crept across her face as she fully submerged. The entire scene was kind of creepy to watch. My arms tingled with goosebumps and I rubbed them as I stood. The water nymph seemed pretty content under the water; she was safe. When Ariel winked at me I jumped like a fraidy-cat, turned around, and quickly left. There isn’t anything more for me to do anyway, I thought, for the sole purpose of reassuring myself. That was definitely the reason why I was getting out of there, not because I was freaked out or a big wimp or anything.

***

“What you did for Ariel was pretty amazing...real quick thinking on your part,” Nathan said from across the room. He had just gotten back from making a run to the convenience store. We had both spotted it a few miles back, on our way to the motel. He volunteered to go pick us up some provisions while I stayed back and kept an eye on Ariel; he was currently stocking the mini fridge. It made me think about Ember’s fridge back at the pack house. It was stocked full of nothing but Pepsi. It hadn’t taken me very long to become addicted to it. Nathan’s haul consisted of the tasty drink, plus a few strips of beef jerky to wash it down with. I shoved a full strip of jerky in my mouth. I couldn’t seem to ingest my fill of meat products lately. If it weren’t for the fact that it had been almost two years since I had a lover, I would think I might be pregnant.

“Is she still in the tub?” Nathan asked.

“I checked on her a few minutes ago. She’s asleep in there. Her lips are blue again. I am pretty sure that’s a good sign.” I assured him.

“It is. She should be back to her crazy self in no time.” He chuckled.

“So you know her then?” I asked, tearing open another jerky wrapper. “You two seemed pretty familiar with each other earlier at the restaurant, before all hell broke loose.”

He smiled at me and continued to pile a ton of junk food in the fridge. “Yeah, I know her. She is Orea and Ashes daughter. She is a princess.”

I had met the Queen and King of the Nymphs briefly when Ember and Collin brought me home to the pack house for the first time. They scared the crap out of me to be honest. It was odd to think that it was their daughter in the bathroom floating around, or rather, sunk to the bottom of the tub. My mind wandered over to the plastic bag that Nathan had yet to unpack. Something smelled good in there. I rifled through it until I found the treat that beckoned me. I shoved the hotdog I found at the bottom in my mouth.

“Are you going to bother chewing that?” He chuckled. “I grabbed a few of those and a couple sandwiches, so you can slow down and enjoy. There’s plenty.”

I looked down and noticed that I had already picked up another hot dog. For some reason I couldn’t quench the hunger that gnawed at my gut. My eyes closed as thick waves of dizziness shot through my head. My stomach clenched, followed by a sharp pain that sliced my abdomen. I fell over, barely able to catch myself on the table. Suddenly, Nathan was by my side. He had me in his arms and over to the bed before the next wave of pain racked my body.

“Something’s wrong.” I gasped.

Liquid fire pooled inside of me. The feeling flowed upwards, scorching my throat like it was about to spew out of my mouth like a volcano. But nothing happened, my mouth and throat were empty, it was just a burning inferno. My mind raced.
What is wrong with me?
I stumbled to the bed, reached out for the mattress and when my hand touched down, I fell forward. Now draped over the side of the bed, I was scared to move, petrified to even breathe air into my raw lungs. My wolf growled savagely at my body’s violent assault on itself. I felt the brush of cool hands on my shoulders and a slight tug as my hair was pulled out of my face. I cried out, pleading to some unknown force to help put an end to this torture. Strong arms closed around me. I bucked against them, scratched and clawed against pliant flesh, but the iron bands held fast, constricting me in place.

“She is converting,” I heard someone say, I think Ariel. But wasn’t she floating in the tub?

I could barely make out her words between the buzzing in my head. Mercifully, the assaulting hell-fire began to pull back, my body eased into a pain free lull. I was able to take in a much needed breath.  

“What do you fucking mean she is converting?” Nathan cursed. “She was sired weeks ago.”

“Be that as it may, apparently she never fully transitioned.” Ariel explained to Nathan calmly.

When I came fully out of the daze caused by the crippling pain, I found myself pressed up against Nathan, wrapped in his arms. He looked down and cupped a gentle hand to my face. He shook his head.

“You scared the shit out of me, Rox.”

“I’m hungry.” The words stammered out. My thoughts muddled.

Then I heard a melodious beat. All my attention gravitated toward the sound. It was close, so close, echoing in my ears. I curled my arm around Nathan’s neck and pressed my nose against his warm skin. My lips brushed over his throat, hesitating over his carotid artery. Nathan wrapped both of his arms completely around me, pressing me even harder against him.

“How can I help her?” Nathan questioned Ariel.

“It looks like she is about to help herself…to your blood that is.” She answered him matter-of-factly.

“She can have her fill of it, every last drop, if it will keep her from feeling pain.” Nathan announced with conviction.

The hunger that held me prisoner took Nathan’s statement as invitation. Before I knew what my body was doing, my fangs slid out, puncturing his skin. A spear of heat shot through me. This time, instead of crippling pain, the fire that burned in me was penetrating and sensual.

“Can you give us a moment?” He asked. The question sounded like a plea.

There was a grunted sound of agreement and I heard a door creak open. After only a few seconds, it closed again. Somehow I knew that Ariel had left. Nathan and I were alone together. Regardless, I didn’t care who was where as long as I was able to continue drinking from the devastatingly handsome man in my arms. I needed this intense pleasure to carry on. I never wanted this feeling to end.

Nathan’s heart danced against my chest, carrying blood through his veins, propelling it down my throat. Nathan moaned in pleasure. A deep sound that had my beast pacing back and forth, pushing against the metaphysical bonds that kept the she-wolf chained inside of me. She wanted to come out and play with her mate. My wolf’s presence went a long way in clearing my mind; she gave me back some of the control I had lost over myself. Being Hybrid was turning into quite the balancing act. My vampire side craved his blood and my she-wolf wanted to tear her mate’s clothes off so she could ride him into oblivion. I expected Nathan to try and pull away from me; I had practically attacked him after all, had dined on his life’s blood without consent. Instead, he tipped his head more to the side, giving me unrestricted access to his throat. I slid my hand across his jaw, turning his full lips toward my blood soaked ones. My thirst for blood had been thoroughly quenched. It was time for my wolf to come out and play. I wanted him inside of me; needed him to fill me up with himself. I wanted it all. With my hunger appeased, my fangs slid back into place. I eased myself up off the bed so I could rid myself of clothes. Plus, I wanted to watch him watch me as I stripped them off. I had never been this brazen in my life. But for some reason I wanted Nathan to want me as much as I wanted him. I needed to witness his dark eyes fill with lust as he took in the sight of me standing before him naked. Nathan smiled at me. From the curious look he gave me, I had a feeling that he didn’t know how to proceed with me next. I had spent so much time pushing him away that I was certain that my advances toward him now were confusing him.

“As much as I want to lick and caress every inch of you,” Nathan began, his voice shaking with need as his eyes continued to roam over me, “I wouldn’t feel right taking you after what you just went through.”

Standing in front of the bed, I slid the fingers of my right hand upwards across my shirt; slowing them down a bit as they traveled between my breasts. My body trembled and my nipples puckered in anticipation of being freed from the lace bra that so cruelly constrained them. Nathan had nothing to worry about. I felt fine. In fact, the erotic touch of his lips across my body was a remedy.

“Believe me handsome, there is nothing fragile about me right now. You would be inflicting more damage if you left me wanting like this.”

The bulge in his pants jerked at the proclamation. My mouth watered when I imagined everything I could do with his swiftly growing member. I flicked the top button of my blouse and with a carnal look aimed directly at him, slowly opened it. My yearning lips still held the traces of his blood as my tongue snaked across them, slowly. Nathan shot to his knees, his hands landing in front of him, itching to pounce. But he didn’t jump off the bed. It was like he was scared to make the final approach. Afraid that, if he said or did something wrong, his chances of making love to me would vanish.