Shiela Stewart - [Darkness 05] Read online

  Cooper didn’t much care for the attitude. “Have. I have a wife. I suppose it’s too much to ask that at least one person wouldn’t judge me.”

  “I don’t judge you,” Danny piped up, his hand in the air. “I don’t really know you so it’s kinda stupid for me to judge you, plus…I let my family believe I was dead for twenty years so…” He shrugged.

  The loud crash in the distance startled them all. When Dante and Danny headed in the direction it came from, Cooper decided he had nothing better to do and followed them. They came upon a gang of rebels who apparently had some dispute with the vehicles on the road because they were currently smashing them to pieces. Dante and Danny got right into the mayhem.

  Cooper watched them fight off the rebels, not sure what the point was. He was sure when they were finished the angry men would only go find something else to destroy.

  “Well, look at you, all dressed up like you got somewhere to be.”

  Cooper turned his attention to the gravelly voice to his left and saw the greasy-haired vamp eyeballing him from head to toe. Cooper said nothing but slowly made his way towards where Danny and Dante were fighting. He wasn’t ashamed to ask for help.

  He’d never raised a hand in battle in his life, he wasn’t about to start now.

  “I’m thinking you and me are about the same size.” The vamp inched closer. “And I might just look good in those tailored duds.”

  “Boys, I could use some assistance.”

  “Busy,” Dante hollered as he pummeled his fists into one of the beasts’ faces.

  The vamp inched closer, his yellow, decayed teeth bared as he smiled with obvious deviousness. “I’m thinking this is going to be one easy grab.”

  With a girlish yelp that he was not too proud of, Cooper cringed as the beast came at him. He felt the first sickening blow to his gut that sent him pitching over at the waist. The air rushed from his lungs and refused to reenter. The next blow came to his face.

  He literally saw stars.

  “Use your fists, Coop!”

  He wasn’t sure which Vega brother had just yelled out to him, it all sounded muffled in his throbbing head, but he knew what they asked of him was not something he’d even so much as contemplated before.

  When the vamp grabbed hold of his head and yanked it back, he actually felt the bile rising in his throat.

  “Maybe I ought to make you my bitch when I’m done taking your clothes. Ever had a man inside you, pretty boy?”

  A memory speared into him as brightly as if someone had flicked a light in his mind. They crawled over him, hands groping, mouths hungry, both men and women assaulting him. His hands were chained above him, attached to a hook in the ceiling, leaving him helpless to their abuse. When Avadur came up behind him, and grabbed a hold of his member, Cooper suspected he might break it off. Avadur’s pleasure for pain was that sick. What happened next he had not expected.

  He had been penetrated in a hard thrust that tore everything inside of him and nearly broke the man he had been.

  He would not allow that to happen again.

  Curling his hand into a fist, Cooper bared his fangs, opened his eyes wide, and slammed his fist right into the beast’s nose. He heard the crunch of bone, knew he’d broken it, but felt little remorse. When he was released, Cooper seized the opportunity to have a little revenge. Even if it wasn’t the true being he wished he was pummeling.

  Then he was yanked up by the back of his jacket and tossed onto the ground. His vision cleared just enough to see the animal coming at him with bared fangs, and the one coming at him with fists. The next thing he knew he was being bombarded by fists and teeth.

  The rage inside of him blew wide open.

  He vanished and set himself down directly behind the men who had fallen flat on their faces when he’d disappeared. “Looking for me, boys?”

  They spun to face him, eyes wide.

  “You picked on the wrong man.” Baring his fangs, he went at them, fists ready, teeth aimed to tear into flesh. In the distance he heard the Vega boys bantering while battling.

  “Way to go, bro!”

  “Same goes.”

  “I’m out of here,” one of the vamps shouted as he darted off.

  “Chickens!”

  “You handled yourself pretty decently, Danny.”

  “Told you I can take care of myself, Bro. Been doing it for twenty years. That was righteously fun.”

  “Now aren’t you glad I convinced you to go out?”

  “Hell yeah!”

  While the Vega boys conversed, Cooper fought for his life and endured a fair amount of blows. He felt sick to his stomach and gloriously high at the same time.

  “Oh shit, Coop!”

  When the beasts were ripped off of him and taken care of, the act left him with a great deal of frustration.

  He glared up at the Vega brothers, spitting his fury. “Why the devil did you do that? I was managing just fine on my own,” he belted out, getting to his feet. Then the air around him began to swirl. “Damn it,” he managed before it all went blank.

  ***

  Feeling sick to her stomach with worry, Gabriella watched helplessly as Cooper was laid on the bed. The instant he was settled, she ran to his side, taking his face in her hands. “Dear Lord, he’s been beaten to a pulp. Get me some water and cloths to tend his wounds. Cooper, can you hear me?” Worried to death, Gabriella stroked his bloody face.

  “What the hell happened?” Basil demanded, standing over the bed, scowling.

  “We met up with him on the street, not sure why he was there. We saw some vamps destroying some cars and so we went in to stop them. The next thing I know, Cooper’s screaming. I look over and a vamp was attacking him.”

  Gabriella looked up abruptly, glaring at the older dark-haired man. “You did nothing to help him?”

  “Um…we kinda had our hands full,” a younger version of the dark-haired man spoke up.

  “He managed fine on his own. Man…I’ve never seen Cooper like that. It was like he got this blast of adrenaline and started beating on the vamp. I was trying to prevent my face from being used as a battering ram and when I turned back to Cooper, he was going at a crowd of vamps like he was superman or something. He was an animal.” The older of the two men chuckled.

  “I do not find this funny in the least.” Angry at the men, Gabriella decided to turn her attention to her husband. “He’s unconscious and Lord knows what kind of internal injuries he’s sustained. And you all think it’s funny. I’m appalled.”

  “Guess you had to be there,” one of the men said softly.

  “Here you go, Gabriella.”

  She took the bowl of water and a cloth from Trinity and immediately began wiping the blood from Cooper’s face. To see such beauty marred by bruises and blood was a shame. “We should have a doctor examine him.”

  “Cooper was our doctor.”

  She looked up at the older dark-haired man, confused. “You have no one else?”

  “The city’s abandoned, Gabriella,” Trinity supplied, laying her hand on Cooper’s belly. Her face grew very concentrated, then suddenly, her hand began to glow.

  “What in the world…”

  “She does that from time to time,” Basil explained. “Trinity?”

  “He’s healing. Nothing serious but, man, does it look weird inside…” She looked up at everyone’s gasp. “Oh no, I just meant seeing inside of a person is weird. His insides are fine. Nothing some rest won’t help.”

  “Then we’ll help him to his house. Dante, Danny…” Basil nudged his head to Cooper then the door.

  “Um…yeah, sure.”

  “You can’t move him.” Gabriella hovered over Cooper protectively. “I’m as hurt by his actions as you are, Basil, but I’m not a cruel person.
From what Cooper’s told me, the same applies to you. Will you kick him out now in his time of need?”

  Basil’s jaw tightened in his response. “Until he’s able to move on his own.” He stormed out of the room.

  “He’s really pissed at the guy,” Dante added quietly.

  “He thinks…thought…hell, I don’t know which one applies but he has always considered Cooper his father,” Trinity said. “He’s not pissed, he’s hurt.” She turned to the door and left.

  “Well…uh…I guess we should go too.”

  Gabriella barely spared the dark-haired men a look and was quite pleased when both left the room.

  “Oh, darling. What did you get yourself into?” She washed the blood from his face with gentle strokes, rinsing the cloth out each time. When she was finished, she undressed him, gasping at the colorful array of bruises marring his gentle pale chest.

  She hung his clothing over the chair, then drew the blankets up to his chin. She stood a moment just looking down at him. He was so handsome and she felt a flutter in her belly as she watched him sleep. The wrinkles at the sides of his eyes made him look even more distinguished and she remembered vividly how they wrinkled more when he smiled.

  With a quick caress to his face, she stepped away from the bed and left him to rest.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The chains cut into his wrists as Cooper tried to break free. The voices around him echoed against the cold cement walls to taunt him.

  “Av-a-dur. Av-a-dur.”

  Through the crowd of men Avadur stepped forth. His broad shoulders were held squarely below the gnarled face of the giant man. Cooper fought harder as the giant came towards him. Fought for his life.

  “It’s time I made you mine.”

  The chains were ripped from the wall and he was dragged to the floor. As the men around him chanted and cheered, the giant pinned him to the floor. Teeth clamped onto his neck and he tried to scream. The pressure of the brute pressing on top of him became easier to bear as his body became weightless. When the giant of a man lifted his head, blood coating his mouth, and spoke, everything went still.

  “Now, you are mine.”

  Cooper stirred and with the movement his face scrunched up as the pain from the action registered even in his sleep. He opened his eyes and even that was a task. Looking at his surroundings, he recognized one of the guest bedrooms in the castle. Why he was here was a mystery to him.

  He pushed himself to a sitting position and winced at the sharp jab to his belly. Glancing down, he saw that not only was he mostly nude, but his skin had taken on a rainbow pattern of bruises.

  The dream swirled in his mind and, for a moment, Cooper was back in Avadur’s clutches. He hadn’t dreamt of his creation since Avadur first returned. Cooper wasn’t too thrilled with reliving that part of his past again, but if it had only been a dream, why was he injured?

  Then he remembered the fight.

  Letting out a sigh of relief, he examined his wounds. Apparently he’d gotten as good as he’d given.

  Swiveling his waist, stretching his back, he tried to work the kinks out. Nothing felt broken, which was a good sign, but he was definitely bruised. Over to his left he saw his clothing lying over the back of a chair and wondered who it was who had undressed him. The last thing he remembered was seeing Dante come up to him.

  He desperately hoped it hadn’t been Dante who had undressed him.

  “Ah, you’re awake.”

  Angling his head to the door, every pain in his body gave way to the pleasure of seeing his beautiful Gabriella stroll into the room. She wore the sea foam blue skirt he had bought her just after they’d married, and a white lacy blouse. Her brown hair was drawn up in a twist at the top of her head, casually flowing over the back to touch the nape of her neck.

  His heart swam with love.

  “I thought you would sleep longer. How do you feel?”

  “Better, now that you’ve arrived. Did you take care of me?”

  She placed a tray on the foot of the bed that she’d been carrying but didn’t sit. “I did. You’re looking better now than you did two hours earlier.”

  “You always had that way with me.”

  She turned away and his heart sank.

  “I brought you some liquids including blood. Basil has a cellar filled with different types of blood. It was rather a shock to see, but I suppose it will become easier for me in time. Do you need to feed?”

  “Only from you.”

  Her eyes shifted to meet his and he saw only a flicker of emotion in them. “I’m told his blood is of the highest quality.”

  Disappointed, he shifted in the bed to move closer to her. “I can still taste you on my tongue.”

  “That is not something I care to discuss at this time. Here.” She thrust a cup at him and when he glanced inside, saw it was filled with blood.

  “I would much rather have yours. I’m told that drinking from each other can be a very erotic sensation. I’m interested to give it a try.”

  “Basil wishes you out of his home when you’re able.”

  “Gabriella.” He reached out to take her hand only to have her pull it away. A stab to the heart couldn’t have hurt worse.

  “Don’t…”

  The hell he wouldn’t. Pushing himself from the bed and ignoring the pull in his muscles, he walked to her clad only in his black briefs. “I’ve been without you for much too long.”

  “Cooper, please…”

  Taking her into his arms, she didn’t fight him and it pleased him to no end. “Don’t push me away, Gabriella, not when I need you so much.”

  ***

  She melted against him and when he tilted his head to kiss her, she reciprocated. His mouth was as giving as always, taking only what she gave. His lips were soft, pressing to hers so gently while his tongue slowly slid over her teeth. The instant it touched her incisors she felt her body ignite.

  Flames of scorching heat penetrated her body, an ache so intense it nearly had her knees buckling. His body pressing to hers caused an avalanche of need inside of her.

  She had to have him.

  He walked her backwards until her legs bumped into the bed. She went down willingly with him. His mouth devoured hers with a passion she had never felt from him before, and she wanted more. Using her nails, she scraped the flesh on his back while her body clung to his.

  He slid his hand under her skirt, and the touch of his fingers on her bare skin was like an electrical charge that went straight to her center. She parted for him, wanting nothing more than to be given the pleasure that seemed to invade her body.

  When his mouth left hers to nibble on her chin, she turned her head to expose her neck. His fingers grazed the moisture building between her legs and she moaned her approval.

  Then his teeth scraped her neck and the realization of what she was doing shot into her like a blow to the belly.

  “No!” She threw him off of her, panting, and stood up, smoothing her skirt out. She could not believe what she had been about to allow him to do to her.

  “Darling—”

  “Don’t.” She held her hand up, trying to catch her breath. “That was not fair.”

  “You want me, there is no denying that.”

  She backed away when he stood up, trying desperately not to notice the huge bulge in his briefs or the fine line of muscles on his abdomen. “I’m strong enough not to give in to my wants. I need to go.”

  He grabbed her arm as she spun to leave. Turning to him, she bore her fangs.

  “You are so beautiful like this. It takes my breath away.” Lifting his index finger, he grazed her fangs and she gasped. “I want you to drink from me.”

  “Stop it!” She ran from the room. She jumped at the sight of Basil in the hallway near Cooper’s
room.

  “Are you all right?”

  She took a deep, steadying breath and nodded. “I need to go.”

  He took her arm, much like Cooper had but not with the heated desire she had felt from her husband.

  “Did he hurt you?”

  It shocked her that he would ask her that. Shocked that he would think such a thing. “No, heavens no. He would never hurt me. I just need…” Oh, did she ever need. “Fresh air. He’s awake.” Leaving Basil in the hall, she dashed away.

  ***

  Basil didn’t bother to knock, it was his home after all, and thrust his way into Cooper’s room. He was surprised to see him standing by the window, looking out and wearing only a pair of black briefs.

  The bruises on his back were very prominent.

  “What did you just do to her?”

  Cooper turned, a shocked expression on his face, then he scurried to the chair where his clothing lay. “I didn’t hear you enter.”

  “Answer my question,” Basil demanded.

  “I assume you speak of Gabriella, and I did nothing to her.”

  “Well, she left this room like a woman who had either been attacked or had the life scared out of her.” Though he truly couldn’t see Cooper doing either, he still doubted. After all, did he really know the man in front of him as he thought he did?

  Cooper drew the zipper up on his trousers as he spoke. “Or running from desire.”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  Cooper looked up. He no longer wore the yellow contacts and Basil wondered if he would ever get used to seeing him with blue eyes.

  “What happens between a husband and wife is of no one’s concern but their own.” He sat on the bed, cradling his ribs.

  “It is when the woman is terrified.”

  “She wasn’t terrified, Basil, and to think you would even venture a thought that I might have harmed her hurts me deeply.”

  “Well,” Basil said slowly, “it’s hard to believe a man who has spent the better part of my life lying to me.”