The Cure (2 page)

Sandra looked around the lake, and a sense of calm settled over her. She’d never felt this way before. Most of the time she was worried about not fitting in or being different from her pack. Unlike a lot of the women, she wasn’t slender, nor was she outgoing. In fact, she wasn’t anything that fellow wolves particularly liked.

“Why did you come here?”

She turned toward his voice. “Lucas?”

There was no fear, and yet she was supposed to fear the man before her.

Not man, vampire.

Yet, she wasn’t afraid. Staring at the large man, she saw him as the moon cascaded enough light over him. He was wearing a plain white shirt that showed off his muscular arms. The shirt went down over his jeans, which she liked. Sandra hated it when a guy actually pushed his shirt into his pants. It didn’t look right to her.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

How did she know him?

He’s taken you from the pack.

Images flashed through her mind of her first meeting with Lucas.

“This is your dream.”

“Why am I not afraid of you?”

“I saved you. You know you don’t need to fear me.”

He had saved her. She remembered it now, and he’d not fed on her.

“We teleported, and I’m afraid your body isn’t used to it.”

“I passed out?”

“Yes.”

Sitting back down on the bank, she stared at the water. Lucas appeared at her side, yet she didn’t flinch away from him. He took a seat, and out of the corner of her eye, she watched him flex those muscles.

Stop drooling.

“This is your dream, Sandra. Anything can happen.”

“Anything?”

“Anything you want.”

She tilted her head back to look at the full moon. “Why are you here?”

“I was curious about your dream. You’re aroused for me, baby.”

“Baby?” She glanced over at him unable to deny the fact she was aroused. They’d known each other minutes, or hours, and she was already turned on by him. What was wrong with her?

“This is your dream.”

“You’re invading it.”

He chuckled. “Then shut me out.”

She didn’t want to.

“And that’s why I’m staying here.”

“You can read minds, too?”

“Only here. You’re more relaxed, and your thoughts are like an open book to me,” he said, reaching over and taking her hand.

Sandra stared down at their hands, and let out a sigh. Why wasn’t she pushing him away? The moment he touched her, it felt right. The last thing she wanted to do was pull away.

Staring up at the moon, she shuffled a little closer to him, enjoying his presence.

“So, vampires can read minds?”

“In dreams, yes. Your guard is let down. It’s a lot easier to read human minds all the time. They’re weak all the time. Paranormal beings are a lot stronger, and they can’t be broken so easily.”

“Am I broken?”

“No. You’re passed out through teleporting, and unfortunately it has made you a little weak. Don’t worry, I won’t take advantage of you.”

“If we were to have sex in this dream, would it be real sex?” she asked, slapping a hand over her mouth, she turned to look at him. “I didn’t—”

“It wouldn’t be real sex. The good thing about being in a dream world, you accept what you want, and you don’t hold back. You want me, Sandra.”

Letting out another sigh, she turned back to look at the moon again. “I shouldn’t want you. I don’t even know you.”

“It doesn’t matter what you know or not. This is what you want.”

“There’s a war going on, isn’t there?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“You’re my enemy.”

“No. I’m not your enemy. There’s a pack of vampires known as The Cure. They’re causing problems for everyone, and it’s up to us to stop them.”

Sandra nodded. “Not right now?”

“No, not now.”

Turning toward him, she reached out and traced a finger over his lips.

“Why did you save me?”

“I’ve been looking over you for a long time.”

“You have?”

“Yes, and I couldn’t let anything happen to you. I was a little late because I don’t have the power that The Cure have.”

“The power?”

“They’re capturing wolves, and using their blood allows them to walk out in the sunlight.”

Sandra gasped. “That’s not possible. That’s an urban legend to our kind.”

“Believe it or not, the truth is our kinds have mated before. We have mated successfully, and we were not always at war.”

She’d heard of the peace between wolves and vampires, but she never believed it. How could something so surreal be real?

“Are you sure?”

“I lived through it. I’ve witnessed it, and it has been a great loss to everyone.”

Gliding her finger down his check, she rested the tip against his neck where his pulse should be. There was nothing, no sign that there was ever a heartbeat. It was one of the creepiest, and yet most wonderful things she’d ever felt.

“We were all mates?”

“Some of us were mated to each other. Wolves and vampires have been in love before.”

“It seems too good to be true.”

“I know. It’s not anymore, though.” He turned over, and his fingers landed at her neck, over her pulse. “I would fight to keep your heart beating. I will fight for you, Sandra.”

“Why? I’m a stranger to you.”

“I care about you, and when I care about someone, I protect them.”

Holy crap, she was falling for a vampire she’d only just met. What the hell was wrong with her? There was no way she could have feelings for a vampire, and yet, that was exactly what she was having.

****

The conflict inside her crossed her eyes, but Lucas didn’t mind. They were in her dream world, and he didn’t imagine she’d be ready to go to the next level with him in real life. Sandra wasn’t ready for the knowledge that she was his mate. It was the only explanation he had for the connection he had with her. No other wolf compelled him the way that Sandra did.

Her pulse beat against the pads of his fingers, and he knew he’d do whatever it took to make sure she would always be breathing. Lucas needed her to stay alive. She had to.

He leaned in closer toward her, and when she didn’t back away, he pressed his lips against hers. At first she didn’t respond, but he didn’t stop. Opening his eyes, he saw hers were closed. She started out tense, and slowly she started to relax, giving into his kiss. Her tongue peeked out, tracing over his lips, and he opened up, welcoming her kiss.

Sliding his tongue against hers, they both moaned and jerked back. The fire between them was undeniable. He was so turned on and hot.

“This is in a dream?”

“You’ll remember it when you wake.”

“I don’t want to make it an excuse. Can you wake me up?” she asked.

Part of him was upset that she wanted this to end, but another part loved the fact she didn’t want to use her dream as an excuse.

“Are you sure that’s what you want?”

“Yes.”

“Then hold onto me.”

Slowly, he brought her out of the dream world, so that she was no longer staring up at the full moon, but the ceiling within his room.

Lucas moved away from her, giving her time to come around. He didn’t want to startle her.

Standing by the window, he overlooked the grounds that had seen one too many sunrises of the world. So many battles, so many wars, and yet they were never over. Where one man fell, another came to take his place. It was never ending.

This time, though, he was fighting for someone. He was fighting for Sandra.

“You didn’t have to run away,” she said, drawing his attention back to the bed.

She’d sat up while he’d been looking at the grounds. Her hair was disheveled, and she looked ruffled. To him, she looked breathtaking. He would love to have taken the time to draw her in that moment. He’d want a reminder of her first time in his bed, unfortunately that was never going to be the case.

“We’re mates?” she asked.

He turned toward her. “I believe we are. It has been some time since I have found mates like ours, so I don’t know how it starts.”

“I’m not afraid of you.”

“I will not hurt you, so you have no need to be afraid.” He wanted to reach out and touch her. Now that they were in his bedroom, he would wait for her to make all the decisions.

She climbed out of the bed and walked toward him. Her curvy hips swayed from side to side, hypnotizing him with the way she moved. She tempted him, drove him crazy with need, and his cock thickened at the sight.

His heart didn’t beat, and his blood didn’t rush around his body, yet he could gain an erection like a normal man. It was one of those strange, irrelevant things that he’d always taken for granted. Science had grown in leaps and bounds during his five hundred years, yet he never understood how he could eat like a man, and fuck like a man, but he wasn’t a man. He’d not been a real, human man in some time.

Sandra stopped in front of him, placed a hand against his cheek, and stroked his flesh.

“This feels right to me. I don’t get it. I don’t understand it.”

He cupped her face, pressing her back against the wall. The scent of her arousal filled the room, and Lucas couldn’t wait another second. He was going to wait for her, and yet he couldn’t. For a year he’d been waiting for her, and now he had her. He didn’t know how long he would get to keep her, and so he took advantage. Pressing her against the wall, he slid his tongue into her mouth, and took the kiss he’d needed for over a year. She didn’t stop him or push him away.

There was no fight, and her fingers sank into his hair, tugging him closer. His fangs grew ready to mark her flesh, and he reluctantly pulled away. They were both panting, even though he didn’t need breath. His reaction was still the same.

Her nipples pressed against the front of her shirt, while his dick grew even harder. She’d be dripping wet.

“What’s the matter? Why did you stop?” she asked.

Covering his mouth with his hand, Lucas tried to calm down so that his fangs would retract back into his mouth.

“Your fangs?”

“I’m not going to bite you. You’ve not invited me to.”

“Drop your hand.” She was frowning at him, and Lucas glared right back at her.

“No.”

“Let me see your fangs. I’ve not seen them, and so far you’ve shocked me with everything else that has happened between us. I want to see your fangs.”

The determination in her tone had him lowering his hand and staring at her. He wasn’t afraid, but Sandra had experienced a lot of shocks tonight. The last thing he wanted to do was add to it.

She cupped his cheek, drawing her fingers down to touch his fangs. They didn’t withdraw immediately, which was another sign to him that they were a mated pair.

“You don’t have to hide who you are.”

“You hate vampires.”

“I don’t hate you. I feel different when it comes to you. I can’t hate you.”

Sandra couldn’t believe she’d found her mate. It had to be him otherwise she’d be too terrified to be in his company. Her wolf pressed against the walls of her mind, wanting to get a little closer to him.

She pressed the tip of her finger against his fang and withdrew her hand. A dome of blood appeared on her finger.

“Take it.”

“Don’t.”

His eyes turned to black, and unlike in the forest while under attack, she wasn’t afraid.

“Take my blood, Lucas.”

He grabbed her wrist, holding her tightly as he tugged her close. She fell against him and cried out when his lips wrapped around her finger. Lucas sucked the blood from her finger. The action sent a bolt of arousal rushing straight to her pussy.

“Why are you testing me?” he asked.

“I wanted to know what it was like.”

“Now?”

With her free hand, she sank her fingers into his hair and pulled him down for a kiss. Before their lips touched, she flicked her tongue out, and licked his fang. “Now, I want you to kiss me.”

Something carnal and primitive took over. She couldn’t fight him even if she wanted to. He held the control, and yet it was she that was taking things to the next level.

“My fangs?”

“I don’t care. Kiss me.”

The war that raged around them could stay outside for a few hours. She’d found her mate.

Her wolf liked Lucas and wanted to get closer to him. Sandra had never been one to deny her wolf, and so she slammed her lips onto Lucas’s, moaning as he plundered her mouth.

He used the wrist he held to pull her even closer. Their clothing stopped any kind of other touching.

The need for them to be together skin to skin was too strong. Tearing her wrist out of his grip, she gripped his shirt, and tore it off his body.

“Fuck, you’re so wet. Are you in heat?”

“I need you, Lucas, please.”

Sandra tugged her own shirt off her body, and next tore off her bra. Wrapping her arms around him, she tugged him down for a kiss.

Her moments of being in control disappeared as Lucas lifted her up and pressed her against the wall. His cock nestled between her thighs, and the heat of her pussy was too damn hard to resist.

Lucas took over, holding her in place, and kissed her lips. He turned them away from the wall and dropped her to the bed.

She didn’t fight his fingers as they unbuttoned her jeans and slid them down her thighs.

“Open those pretty thighs for me.”

Sandra opened her legs and watched him drop to the floor between her thighs. In the next instant, his lips were on her, separating the lips of her pussy, and sliding his tongue over her slit. Crying out, she watched his tongue work her clit, circling around before flicking over the nub. The pleasure was instant, shooting throughout her body with undeniable pleasure.

“So juicy and ripe. I could lick you all day long.”

The way his tongue moved over her, and the subsequent pleasure, she’d be more than happy to have his tongue working her pussy. She loved it. Thrusting up to meet his tongue, Sandra moaned, unable to keep the sounds to herself.

Mate.

Belong to him.

Ours.

Her wolf whispered the words of mating and belonging. Sandra listened, knowing she’d found the one mate destined for her. Riding his tongue, she released a squeal as he flipped her over, so that she was on her knees. Her ass up in the air, and his fingers replaced his tongue.