Phantom Desires Read online

  How was she to know there was a vampire living under her house? Shouldn't the real estate agent have disclosed something as serious as that?! She laughed inwardly at the thought, knowing that the old man who had owned the house before her had taken the secret to his grave as had his ancestors before him.

  They had lived with the vampire and all the people she had spoken to about old Jacob loved him. He had been a happy old man, always ready with a kind word or a helping hand, or so everyone claimed. No way could he have been some kind of evil servant of the undead. Right?

  But Dmitri wanted more from her than just peaceful coexistence. He wanted her body and her blood. He wanted her to be his mistress, she realized with some shock. Here she'd been hoping since she was a little girl to find some good man and become his wife. Apparently fate had something different in mind for her. She was to be the mistress of a vampire. Either that ... or what? She realized with a shiver that Dmitri hadn't given her any alternative.

  When she could delay no longer, she called his name softly. In moments he was there, his dark eyes boring into her, watching her every move as if he could see into her mind. And perhaps he could, she thought with a gasp.

  "Can you read my mind?"

  He chuckled. “Actually, not well. Most mortals have very surface thoughts that are easy to pick up but your mind is more complex, Carly. Beautifully complex."

  "Well, thank heaven for that.” She muttered but still, she could tell from his amused expression, he heard every word.

  "Come,” he picked up her coat from the chair and held it open for her.

  She allowed him to help her as he had the night before and, as before, he held her and did not release her right away. He held her close, wrapped in the coat and his strong arms while his mouth teased the skin behind her ear and down to where the pulse beat strong in her neck.

  She felt his sharp teeth scrape over her flesh. It brought shivers to her spine but whether of fear or arousal was anyone's call. She knew what he was now and it gave every one of his motions a whole new meaning.

  He released her and stepped back, holding the door for her. When they got to her car, he simply held out his hand for the keys before taking the wheel and guiding them safely, if a bit speedily home. Apparently the undead liked to drive fast.

  When he pulled into her barn as if he lived there, she realized with a start that he did! If he was to be believed, there was structure under her house where he slept during the hours of sunlight. She wondered if it would be some kind of creepy crypt.

  He held her door and tugged her small hand into his as he started for the opposite end of the large barn, passing her collection of odd automobiles as they went.

  "I meant to tell you I really liked the Astin Martin,” he said as they passed the car in question. “I've always loved those cars and the ‘66 Mustang is gorgeous. Will you let me drive them sometime?"

  She chuckled at his obvious enthusiasm. “Vampires like vintage cars?"

  "Everything about me is vintage."

  She laughed along with him as he led her to one of the few remaining horse stalls. Inside, he tugged on a nondescript piece of wood and revealed an ingenious trapdoor that she never would have noticed in a million years.

  "This is one of the entrances to my home. There are a few tunnels running deep under the property so you'll understand my caution about any plans you might have been making to dig anywhere near the house."

  "Yeah, hidden tunnels would be kind of hard to explain to a construction crew, but not to worry. I have no plans to dig anything, except maybe a few pansies and tulip bulbs."

  "That should be safe enough,” he agreed with a smile as he led her down a dark, winding spiral stair.

  He took a flashlight from his pocket and gave it to her. Apparently he could see in the dark but had brought the light for her. It was a thoughtful gesture that seemed oddly kind considering the dire situation.

  When they had walked a distance down a relatively straight and surprisingly well-appointed tunnel, he unlocked a massive steel door, inputting several combinations of numbers and at least two keys before it swung open with hardly a sound. He motioned her to precede him and with a wave of his hand, lit several candles to illuminate the spacious room.

  "Take a look around.” He swept his hand out in a welcoming gesture.

  They were in her living room. Well, not her living room, but a replica of the room in her house above ground that was the same size, shape and position to the front door. She moved forward, noting the lovely, antique furniture that was in pristine condition and the elaborate décor from a bygone era. It was beautiful.

  The doors from the living room led off in the same configuration as her home above, though the rooms were used for different purposes. Her kitchen, for example, was here a very masculine study complete with wingchairs and a beautiful writing desk. As she explored further, she found a spacious bath, with waterworks probably shared from the house above.

  She avoided the door that would lead to the master bedroom but Dmitri was behind her every step of the way. He cornered her in the room next door, a room he used as a library, though it had comfortable chairs and a sofa near the door.

  "So what is your answer to my proposal, Carly?"

  She faced him squarely, her heart in her throat. “Do I really have any choice?"

  He shook his head slowly. “No. Neither of us has any choice in this at all, I fear.” He moved closer, taking her in his arms, gently but securely. “Fate has decided for us, my sweet. You are mine."

  "I'm not a promiscuous woman, Dmitri."

  "I know that,” he said with a gentle smile. “I value your discretion and the fact that I will be the only man to know your beautiful body from this moment forward. You will be mine completely, Carly. Don't expect me to be able to share you or let you go."

  He brought his lips down to hers, probing inside with his hot tongue, unable to wait, but she was with him every step of the way. A little hesitant at first, she was soon grabbing at his clothes, pushing the jacket from his shoulders with eager little hands. She wanted more of him. For real this time.

  He took her to the sofa, tucking her under his large frame as he tore at her clothing. The coat had been dropped in the living room, thankfully, but the button down shirt and jeans she wore were definitely in his way. Buttons popped and scattered as he tore the shirt open, literally ripping it from her body. Her jeans were harder to deal with but he dispatched them just as easily with his great strength. The lace of her bra was gone with the snap of his fingers as was the little scrap of lace between her succulent thighs.

  When she was naked, he sat back and looked his fill. She was gorgeous, as he knew she would be. Lifting her in his arms, he took her into his bedroom, where he had dreamed of having her for many long nights.

  "This is the room from the dream.” She apparently recognized the opulent four-poster bed and the tapestry wall hangings as he deposited her on the plush goosedown mattress.

  "This is my bedroom, Carly, where I have brought you and taken you countless times already in our dreams. This time, it's for real.” He smiled, allowing her to see his fangs as he spread her legs, securing them to the post of the bed with silk cords already waiting. He did the same with her arms as fear entered her eyes.

  "Why are you tying me? Are you going to hurt me?"

  "No, love,” he dipped his hand down between her thighs, testing the amazing wetness that waited for him there. She was already so excited, ready for him—it was truly amazing. “This is for my pleasure. And yours as well. I've dreamed of you tied to my bed. Now that you're here, I can't wait to make the fantasy into reality. Humor me.” He licked the inside of her knee as he spread her legs as wide as they would go, settling between them as he let her get a full view of his fangs.

  "Are you going to bite me ... there?” True fear shadowed her words.

  "Not tonight, sweet, but in time, you might come to beg me for it. Still, for our first time, we will try things the t
raditional way."

  "Tied up and spread-eageled is traditional?” Humor sparked in her eyes and he marveled at this special, brave, beautiful woman who was tied to his bed. Where she belonged.

  "It's about as traditional as I get, I'm afraid.” He silenced anything she might have said by the simple expedient of diving down to plunder her pussy with his tongue. Just like in their dream, he fucked her with his impossibly long tongue, his sharp teeth combing through the folds of her pussy delicately, never once breaking her tender skin though the slick feel of her was amazing.

  He brought her to a quick climax, sucking on her clit just enough to send her up to the stars and come back down to find herself spread and tied to his bed, ready for more. He was so hard, he couldn't wait. He needed her. Now.

  Climbing over her, he rocked his hard, thick cock in her slot as she creamed again and again for him. Dmitri kissed her lips, bringing her back up to the precious peak they would tumble off together this time. When he knew she was almost there, he adjusted his position, joining their bodies for the first time.

  It was a tight fit and he had to move more slowly than he expected, but it was heaven brought down to earth. She moaned in his ear, lost in the passion flaming between them as he seated himself all the way within her. He held her gaze, noting the dazed dilation of her pupils with pride. She was so perfect for him. She had been made for him!

  Starting his slow slide in and out of her hot core, he bent to her neck, waiting for the precise moment to join them completely. He didn't often fuck while feeding anymore, though he had indulged countless times since becoming a vampire several centuries before. In the early years, he had enjoyed the wicked sex as much as the feeding and he always got more energy from the blood of a climaxing woman. His kind fed on two levels—the physical and the sexual. Both were needed to sustain his life.

  Often these days, he brought his prey to a sexual peak with the power of his mind and the stimulus of his bite without actually fucking them all. The fun had gone out of it after several centuries, and thousands of different cunts. Only one pussy would do for him now and he suspected as he drove home within Carly's tight hole, he had finally found it.

  The bite would tell him what he needed to know. If they connected body and soul when he took her blood, she was the one. Impossibly, after all this time, he might have actually found the one woman in all the world that could sustain him through eternity. With her at his side, he would need no other. They would feed each other fully for the rest of their immortal lives.

  But Carly wasn't immortal. Still, he could turn her, if she was the one, and if she agreed. He cared for her too much already to take such a decision from her.

  He roared closer to the peak and knew it was time to find out one way or the other. He needed so badly to taste her essence. With a groan of animal lust, he reached down with his sharp teeth and bit delicately into her pulse.

  Sweet, hot warmth blossomed into his mouth, feeding him with the richest, most fulfilling taste he had ever known. A moment later, he realized her mind was open to him as it never had been before, as was his to her. He was feeling their lovemaking from her perspective and knew what she wanted before she could even think it.

  Sucking deeply of her life essence, he moved one hand down to pinch her clit hard, forcing the orgasm that she wanted so desperately. He came with her, pulsing long, hot and hard into her depths, greedily drinking deep while filling her womb with his hot cum, over and over and over again.

  The question was answered. She was the one.

  They made love many times that night, only parting when the sun rose. He showed her the secret entrance from her pantry to his den and saw her off at the landing with a quick, hard fuck against the wall before she left for the house above to do her daily work.

  She floated around the house in a daze, touching his mind with hers from time to time, trying to concentrate on answering her email and keeping her business running. About mid-afternoon, a desperate call came from the campus and she had to drive down to check on a faulty connection. She got into her car and headed for the distant campus, noting with interest the gently falling snow, but she had a sturdy SUV. She could get through a little snow.

  "Carly!” He awoke in a sweat, knowing something terrible had happened to his mate. As soon as the sun sank low enough, he transformed himself and took to the sky.

  He flew to the hospital at breakneck speed, entering unseen and finding his way to her room. She was alone and in bad shape. There were all kinds of tubes leading out of her small body and the sight of them hurt his heart.

  "Carly.” His whisper was gentle as he took her small hand in his own.

  "Dmitri. You're here."

  "Anywhere you are, I must go. How do you feel?"

  "Like I got run over by a truck. Oh yeah, I did.” Even in such pain, she tried to make a joke and it touched him. She was so brave. So strong. Yet so fragile and so ... mortal.

  "My love, I can't stand seeing you so hurt. I would take all this pain from you if I could.” He cursed under his breath. “But you should know that I can do so. I could easily make you like me. The process of the change would heal your hurts and bring you immortal life, but you would never see the sun again and I would want you to spend every one of your immortal years with me.” He grasped her hand. “I won't force this on you. You have to make the decision."

  He held his breath while she thought for only a short moment, but he could see the consideration in her pain-filled eyes.

  "I would rather have eternity to share with you, Dmitri, than the sun. I can live without the sun, but I can't live without you."

  He held her close, tears of blood leaking from his eyes. “I feel the same."

  He would not tell her that without his life-altering bite, she would most certainly die. He had wanted her to choose him over the light and she had. It set his frozen heart free.

  Tucking her close to his chest, he jostled her as little as possible in the pure white snow of the hospital bed as he bent to her neck. Feeling his fangs grow long and hungry, he sunk them into her neck, draining her nearly dry before moving back. She was so glorious!

  Ripping a wound in his wrist, he held it to her parched lips, massaging her neck to help her swallow. Her pale, pale skin began to take on more color as he fed her his blood, his life's essence. She would require time to heal but now, he knew, she would survive. They would have eternity to share together while he taught her the ways of the darkness. She would be with him always.

  When she had fed enough, he pulled his wrist gently back and sealed the wounds. He would need to feed well this night so that he could provide for her when she woke again. For now, sleep would claim her while her body underwent the enormous change that would make her immortal.

  Dmitri left her in the hospital bed, not going far. He had much work to do and little time in which to do it. First, he changed the hospital records to show a remarkable recovery on her part and a late evening release. He found the few members of staff who would need to have their memories altered and took care of that within a few moments. He also took the time to feed just a little from each of the humans he cornered. Taking a little from each, he quickly built back his strength, leaving them none the wiser.

  Within an hour he was back in her room, disconnecting her from the monitors and taking her up in his strong arms as he left with her, through the fifth story window. Shapeshifting quickly, he allowed large, leathery wings to spread out behind him. He moved like the phantom he was through the dark night sky. There were few humans about at this hour but he was darkness itself. None would see him. Or her, as he cradled her close in his arms.

  He took her to the bedroom, two stories under her own bedroom in the house above ground. There he lay her gently on the rich fabric of his bed, tucking her under the soft covers.

  He sat at her bedside as he had for so many nights while watching her sleep in the bedroom above ground. He dare not share the bed with her yet. She was still healing and chan
ging. He would keep careful watch over her for the slightest sign of discomfort. Only when she was well would he take his place at her side, claiming her for all time. It was a moment he looked forward to with every fiber of his being.

  Carly was bleary-eyed when she woke. The room was darker than she remembered and the furnishings seemed somehow different, but her mind was in chaos, her body aching in so many new and different ways.

  She became aware of eyes watching her from the chair beside the bed. A supreme sense of déjà vu came to her, as she recalled having this dream before.

  "Dmitri? Is that you?"

  The flare of a candle suddenly lit the darkness, causing her to squint.

  "I'm here, my love."

  He leaned closer, his dark eyes warming in the flare of the candle flame, taking their heat and pulling it within his irises. He was so beautiful. He was a miracle.

  "Am I dreaming?"

  He came down beside her and gathered her into his strong arms, wrapping her gently within his strength. His lips found the side of her neck, sliding up over her jaw to seek out the corner of her lips, then moved to kiss her, his tongue thrusting deep inside. Her pulses pounded and there was a roaring in her ears. Her body felt so strange!

  Dmitri kissed her long and deep and she felt an ache in her teeth as they seemed to grow in her mouth. He pulled back, mesmerizing her senses as he moved down to lick at her pulse, his own teeth scraping back and forth in a rhythm that had her pussy clenching in time.

  "Are you hungry, my love?” His voice growled low near her ear.

  "Ravenous."

  "Do you recall what you said to me in the hospital? That you would rather have eternity as my bride than stand again in the sun?” She nodded as he pulled back to look into her eyes. “That was the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me in my many centuries."

  He let her see the tears that formed in his eyes. She raised up slightly to kiss them away. He was such a tender soul, such a strong man with a beautiful heart.