Hearts in Darkness (Nikki & Michael 2)

"I'm safe when you're safe, and I can't...” hold off any more. The tide washed over her. She gasped, grabbing his shoulders as the shuddering took hold. Needing him inside, she shifted, capturing him, thrusting him deep. Then she rode him fast and hard, until his tremors finally eased and they both were spent.

She leaned her cheek against his chest and sighed deeply. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her in place. Holding himself inside her. It felt good. Safe.

Which she knew they weren't.

After a while, he brushed a kiss across the top of her head. “Whatever am I going to do with you?"

"Make love to me like that every day, and you're halfway to making me a very happy woman." His smile was something she felt deep inside. “And what would it take to make you wholly happy?"

"Coffee. Lots of it. Preferably fed intravenously."

His laughter rumbled through his chest, tickling her cheek. “For someone in such desperate need of coffee, you didn't seem to drink a lot of it this morning."

"I had other things on my mind.” She pushed upwards far enough to see his face. “So what's our next move?"

He brushed the hair from her eyes, his face concerned. “There's nothing I can say to make you go?" She wrapped her arms around his neck and stared into his beautiful eyes. The sheer depth of love and understanding she saw there chased a shiver through her soul.

"No,” she said softly. “And don't think you can force me—telepathically or physically. I'll fight you, with all my heart and all my energy. Neither of us can afford such a battle, with Cordell and Elizabeth so close."

"It wouldn't be wise,” he agreed.

His hands cupped her rear, pulling her a little closer. Amazingly, she felt him stir deep inside. “Good lord, are you kidding? Does becoming a vampire also give you an amazing rate of recovery after sex?" He kissed her, his mouth gently demanding. “No,” he said, after a while. “The touch of a good woman does that."

"Smooth, real smooth,” she said, laughing against his lips. “What about Cordell and Elizabeth?"

"We can't do anything until Cordell is asleep. He's not that old in vampire years, so he will have no choice but to slumber. If we wait until noon, we should at least be safe from him." But not safe from Elizabeth, she suspected. Still, confronting them one at a time seemed a hell of a lot more sensible that confronting both of them together. “We really should try to find Rodeman, as well."

"Yes. Most of the other men who disappeared were gone a good week before they were found. Rodeman only disappeared yesterday. Hopefully, Cordell hasn't had the time to fully begin work on him."

"Sounds like a plan to me.” She grinned slightly. “So what do you suggest we do in the meantime?

Partake in a wildflower tour? Go see some wildlife?"

His reply was little more than a growl. “The only wildlife I'm currently interested in is the one sitting so snugly on my lap."

He pressed his hands more firmly against her rear, then rose. She gasped slightly and wrapped her legs around his waist.

"Besides,” he added, his lustful look melting her insides. “We are supposed to be newlyweds. The staff will suspect something is wrong if we get up too early."

"Heaven forbid we do anything to destroy our cover,” she murmured. Even though little more than ten minutes had passed, she so desperately wanted him to touch her again—something she had never thought possible so soon after such fulfillment. “I guess you'd better do the husbandly thing, then."

"I guess I'd better.” He took her over to the bed and made her boneless again.

* * * *

Nikki checked her flashlight. Water fogged the glass, but the light itself worked. Which was good. Something told her this time she would need it.

She slipped it into her pocket then walked over to the table. Michael was unwrapping a small parcel.

“What's that?"

"Present from Seline.” He tore open the box and held up two braided rope bracelets. “Charms to stop Cordell doing to us what he did to Rachel and Ginger."

He slipped one over her hand and pushed it up her arm so that even if she pushed up the sleeves of her cotton sweater, it wouldn't be seen. It felt like silk against her skin, despite the harsh look of the interwoven red, brown and gold cord. “How is rope supposed to stop him?" He slid the second charm up his arm until it was hidden under the sleeve of his shirt, then shrugged. “I don't question her magic, I just let it protect me. And it always has."

"Cool.” She'd have to meet this Seline one day. She sounded like an incredible woman. “Which entrance are we using into the caverns?"

"I think they'd be watching the one we used last night. We'll have to risk the office entrance." She frowned. “But that's alarmed."