Omegas (Vanguards Book 1) Page 3

  “I guess they didn’t succeed in getting the television,” she mumbled behind her hand before letting it fall to her sides, lowering her shirt. “There’s a sports bar down the street, you can catch the game there.”

  “I don’t like sports bars.” He could imagine the trouble his presence would cause at such a place. Their business came from selling food and drink. What could he possibly purchase to watch the game? A waitress? Vampires were legal citizens, yet still not well liked.

  Sugar shifted back a few steps, stifling another nervous laugh.

  If he focused his hearing, he could hear her heart race. She smelled of lavender and cinnamon with a ting of fear. “Do I frighten you?” He preferred his lovers to be willing.

  “Frightened?” She stopped her retreat. “No, not really. Umm, more like intimidated.” She gave him a shy smile, but the way her eyes traveled over his body spoke of unashamed interest.

  His cock grew thick. “Intimidation I can accept. That’s my job.” He grinned and advanced on his tempting prey. “You have nothing to fear though. I don’t bite, not unless you want me to.” The delightful way her eyes widened at his comment undid him.

  * * * *

  Sugar didn’t realize she’d been retreating from Daedalus until she bumped against the cool metal of her fridge. His tight, black t-shirt outlined every hard, scrumptious detail of his chest and she wanted to splay her hands on his delicious body, kneading those hard muscles.

  With each sinuous step he closed in on her until she found herself cornered. His body inspired all kinds of naughty desires. She’d love to pour massage oil on his smooth head and let it drip down his naked body, so she could rub it all over him.

  Her heart clogged in her throat. What if she didn’t meet his expectations? Age meant experience and she imagined he knew a lot about things to do between the sheets. Or on top of the sheets. Or tied by them. Short of breath, she leaned against the fridge as her head spun.

  “I’ve been thinking about you.” His husky voice brushed along her skin as he caged her between his arms.

  She tried to squeeze out some moisture in her suddenly dry mouth.

  He leaned in until his face almost touched hers. Yearning replaced his mischievous grin. His eyes feasted on her as they traced along her face to focus on her mouth.

  “You have?” She could have drowned in his half-lidded gaze.

  “Haven’t you thought of me, Sugar? Even just a little?” The way he spoke her name, like it tasted good, sent a thrill down her spine.

  Every single night since she’d met him, Daedalus had invaded her thoughts, starring in all her fantasies but she wouldn’t admit that to him. Even though he’d openly admired her, the desire he displayed amazed her. She was a plain looking librarian, not some gorgeous starlet, though his actions made her feel like one. “You’ve been on my mind once or twice.”

  Almost touching her, he denied her a kiss. Their lips were close enough for her to sense their movement when he spoke. “What will we do to entertain ourselves while your friends are gone?”

  The wait for his embrace made her burn with feral passion. It grew too much. She laid a gentle kiss on his mouth in sweet surrender. A bare touch. “I could think of a few things.” Who was this bold woman using her voice? Her craving for him made her brave enough to lose all her discretion.

  His eyes widened, amusement crinkling their edges. His tongue traced his lips where she kissed him.

  Mesmerized, she watched, tingles rippling along her own mouth as if he licked her lips instead. Anticipation fluttered in her stomach.

  “So can I.” Avid desire still shone in his eyes. He crushed her to the fridge with his responding kiss and cupped her ass to lift her from the floor.

  Her arms entwined around his strong neck, and her legs circled his narrow hips. All the strength of his body wrapped in her limbs made her hotter. Such savage hunger for a man was a new experience. She wanted him to ride her hard and make her scream for mercy.

  Daedalus pressed against her. Even with their jeans between them, she could feel his length, hard and firm, bulging against his zipper. His kiss became an easy, practiced slide of his mouth against hers, gently demanding. She expected skill but not this sensual patient display. His tongue toyed with her bottom lip, then entered her mouth in a slow, sinuous stroke. He tasted of something faintly metallic, like blood.

  Her stomach knotted at the slight taint, but it dissolved when his hand cupped her breast, found her hard, throbbing nipple and rolled it between his fingers. She wriggled beneath his touch, grinding herself against his hard length. The way her body responded to his blew away any other encounters she’d experienced. She sizzled with need yet still had her clothes on. Would she burst into flames if she allowed this to go further?

  He moaned and pulled away. “Damn, you’ve been driving me crazy.” A sinful smile tugged his mouth. He undid the buttons of her blouse one at a time until he exposed her thin, white lace bra.

  She bit at her bottom lip to keep from pleading him for more. Her fantasies about him didn’t compare to the real thing. Finally, she’d experience him for real.

  He slipped the bra strap from her shoulder to allow one of her nipples to escape its confines, and boosted her to give his mouth access to it.

  Aching pleasure ran straight to her core. She wriggled and couldn’t control the small noises of pleasure. The heat of his mouth and the touch of his tongue… “Ah... Yes.” She raged with fever, and he was the cure.

  Daedalus rained kisses along her exposed neck while lowering her to rest against his hips again. She couldn’t stop her gasp when he nipped and tasted her skin. Those sharp fangs teased but never broke skin. She felt his lips smile at her reaction. He pinched the hard nipple under his hand and ground the growing bulge in his jeans against her groin.

  Short of breath, she clung to him. “Stop teasing me.”

  His laughter rumbled deep within his chest. Demanding her mouth, he pressed his tongue inside, probing and greedy, leaving nothing unexplored. He released her breast to undo her jeans and yank them low enough to give him access. His other hand supported her weight against the fridge while he slid his fingers in her panties. They brushed between her thighs. An enticing stroke along sensitive flesh.

  She gripped his t-shirt when he plunged inside her. Pinned between his hard body and the fridge, with his fingers deep inside, she didn’t have much room to move.

  He pressed his thumb to her sensitive nub, making circular motions, steadily pumping his fingers inside of her. His tongue traced along her ear. “You’re very wet.”

  Grasping his shoulders, she groaned and tried to rock her hips to his rhythm. She’d forgotten how good a man’s touch could be. Pleasure throbbed and built. “Please, Daedalus...please.” The pressure was almost too much to take.

  Then with a sharp twist of his fingers he sent her over the edge in an explosion of sinful delight, sending cascades of ecstasy through to her core with each thrust.

  She writhed under his hand and bucked against the fridge, trapped while this passion rode her, sending thrills of bliss down her limbs. Her legs clenched him closer, her sex grinding on his fingers.

  Just as sudden as it began, her orgasm ended. She rested her head back against the cool fridge, sucking in air to ease the burn in her lungs. Sweat trickled down her neck and between her breasts. Her blouse stuck to her skin and her curls to her face. Satiated, she closed her eyes to rest.

  Still thunder-struck and a little rubbery, she blinked in bewilderment when Daedalus whirled her to stand in front of the kitchen island, until he yanked her jeans and panties to her ankles.

  He didn’t pull off his own jeans but tugged them down enough to expose his long, thick cock. “It’s my turn.” His voice, rough with heat, brushed her ear as he spun her to face the island.

  His cock slid against her ass. The angle was all wrong, so he lifted her to lay face down across the counter, then grasped her hips.

  He ran his hard length al
ong her ripe opening. It nudged her, proceeding achingly slow as he stroked himself into her. The agonizing stretch of her sex caused some discomfort, almost to the point of pain but it felt so freaking good. He continued his gentle entry until he was sheathed deep inside of her.

  He stayed there, running his hands over her ass while spasms of excitement surged through her, squeezing around him.

  “Sugar... You’re so tight.” Hands trembling, he pumped slow deliberate strokes, each one accompanied by a small groan.

  She struggled for breath, panting as his rhythm grew rougher.

  He plunged deeper inside. Hot and hard, faster and faster, stoking the fire growing in her core.

  She arched her back, tightening her muscles around him, feeling every thick inch. His noises grew louder and wilder as he thrust himself in. And in. And in.

  The orgasm coursed through her, suddenly loosed by his enthusiastic thrusting. She bucked once more to the ecstasy while he held on and rode her. Mindless in its power, she cried out, unable to stop.

  He joined her in a duet and cried out when he spilled himself inside her.

  * * * *

  They tumbled to the floor in a tangle of limbs. Daedalus rolled onto his back, off Sugar, still panting. He scooped her up to cuddle her against his chest. She fit perfectly in his arms, as if she’d always belonged there.

  The smell of lavender drifted from her silken, wavy blond hair as she murmured quiet, satisfied noises.

  He grinned at the ceiling. That had been fan-fucking-tastic. He’d expected something meeker from her. The passion! He kissed the top of her head. After such a long existence, not many things astonished him anymore. More than a sweet temptation, this small, gentle neighbor symbolized a tornado of spun sugar. Now that he’d tasted it, he hungered for more. He was addicted. He heaved up onto an elbow. “Let’s go to the bedroom.”

  Her eyes widened. “More?”

  He kissed the tip of her nose. “Of course.” He pulled up his pants, then helped her stand. Her knees buckled when she got to her feet. His smug grin returned as he carried her to the bedroom.

  The thumps of feet entering the building caught his attention. He sighed in disappointment. The Omegas were back. He’d hoped to get through one more round before they returned. No football and now no more sex.

  Their progress should have pleased him. They’d cut their running time significantly. The rain helped, as he’d guessed.

  He laid Sugar down on the blankets, taking in her honest, open face. She wanted him, he could smell it, see it, taste it. He pushed a lock of hair from her face. “Your friends are back. They’ll be hungry. Do you still want them to come over?”

  Eyes wide she looked down at her half-naked body, panic clearly on her face.

  He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “They’ll be soaked from the storm and will have to dry off first. When they’re done, I’ll send them over.” He chuckled. “You have time to clean up, and they can have the rest of the night off.”

  “What about you? I want you to stay.”

  Those five words made him happier than they should have. He would have loved to jump in her warm bed and make love all night, but he’d put something off for far too long. She cared for the Omegas. If they were to survive, he needed to get this done.

  “Another night. I have to go meet someone.” He kissed her, savoring her warmth, then left before the Omegas made their way up the three flights of stairs.

  While they ate, he planned on checking out the alpha of the Ayumu pack. Damn, he hated rain.

  Chapter 5

  Daedalus eased his chair back, balancing on the back legs, and rested his feet on an old card table. The stench of sweat collected over the years ebbed from the ancient sparring gym’s walls. The Omegas had been lucky the owner would rent them the place at night.

  A single bulb swung from the ceiling barely lighting the fighting ring where Sam and Eric circled each other. Bent low like he taught them, they began testing each other. Of the pack, these two showed the most promise.

  Tyler openly admitted he held no interest in pack life. His feet were firmly rooted in the human world. Robert held a quiet strength that hinted of lone wolf. Something Daedalus would have to watch. Katrina was…broken.

  But Sam and Eric held something he admired in a warrior. They loved their pack over themselves. This he could work with. Sam owned the strength and conviction of a possible alpha but his over-protective nature could cause problems in the future. Whereas Eric lacked self-confidence, which no alpha could afford.

  He glared at the three other shifters lying on the mats panting after their rounds in the ring. If they were to survive the challenge, he’d have to change tactics. With a loud clack, he dropped the chair back onto four legs on the cement flooring.

  All the shifters jumped at the loud noise and faced him.

  Rising to his feet, he met their stares. “We’re going to change things up. You three are done with training.” He pointed to Tyler, Robert, and Katrina. “I can’t change who and what you are in the two weeks remaining.” He held up his hand before they could protest. Their hearts were in the right place but not the muscles or coordination. “I’ve observed the Ayumu alpha and his pack. They’re a bunch of dogs.” He pointed to the two boys in the ring. “You two. Fight.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “The winner will be the one I concentrate on.”

  Eric spun around. The sound of clothes tearing reached Daedalus’s ears before he witnessed the shifter change to beast form. Even as fur still grew on his body, Eric leaped toward Sam.

  ****

  Sugar wobbled as she climbed the stairs to her apartment, arms full of grocery bags. Tired of spending her nights alone, she’d agreed to work late then ran a few errands to postpone returning to an empty apartment. She struggled with the key, juggling the bags around for better access to the lock. Maybe a cat would help. A dog would be better but the landlord wouldn’t permit them. She laughed quietly. A pack of shifters was somehow better than a Chihuahua.

  The door was unlocked. With a well-placed twist of her wrist and a hip bump, the door swung inward as the noise and light spilled outward from her apartment. She peaked inside and spotted her neighbors. “Hey!” She grinned, her steps lighter already.

  The Omegas sat in her living room, flipping through her books.

  She took a deep breath and closed the door. The tension in her neck eased. Once in the apartment, she noted only Tyler, Katrina and Robert. A small spike of disappointment stabbed her heart when she didn’t spot her vampire stud among them. They hadn’t hired him to entertain her, after all. He had a job to do with only the night to accomplish it in. Once this conflict with the Ayumu was taken care of maybe they could try a real date. If he didn’t take off right away. She might have read too much in that single intimate moment.

  Her heart ached once again. She could accept Daedalus wanting a quick affair. To a vampire, she must be a meal ticket with tits, but he never gave her this impression. He hadn’t even asked for a drop of blood from her. So maybe…

  She shook her head. It was stupid to hope.

  Boxes of take-out sat on the kitchen’s small counter top. Every time her gaze landed on the island a thrill ran through her. No one had ever taken her with such raw desire. The time she’d spent with Daedalus made her feel so alive. It was sad that a dead man had taught her what it meant to live.

  A week had passed—who was she kidding, ten days and thirteen hours—since their fun in the kitchen. His careful restraint had made her feel secure. He could have easily broken her. Instead he’d ignited her but her poor, abused fridge sat tilted to the left. It would never be the same. Since their glorious evening, time sped, leaving her and Daedalus only passing kisses to tease her awakening libido.

  “No training tonight?” Her voice sounded too high.

  Tyler grinned ear to ear and spun his chopsticks to point at their group. “No training for us anymore.”

  Katrina sat close to him, looking more at
ease than Sugar could remember. What a mismatched couple. Katrina’s somber, beautiful Asian features countered his crazy red curls and goofy antics.

  “What happened?” Sugar held up her hand. “Wait. Where is Eric and Sam?”

  Robert towered over her as he took the grocery bags and started putting things away. “Eric is the answer to your first question.”

  She blinked. “What?”

  Robert continued from behind the fridge door, “The night of the big storm, your boyfriend went and checked out the alpha of the Ayumu clan. I don’t think he was happy with what he saw. Since then he’s mainly been training Eric.”

  The reference to Daedalus as her boyfriend caused heat to rise in her face. She turned to Tyler. “You’ve been out training all week with them, though.”

  He twirled his chopsticks around his ear. “Something about keeping us as back-up in case Eric wimps out, but I’m not worried, he’s doing great. Turning into a werewolf ninja. We’re off the hook now.”

  “And Sam?”

  Robert finished with the groceries and ran his hand through his short, scruffy, brown hair. “Back at our place moping. He wants to be the one to fight. Did you know your fridge is listing to the left?” He bent down to adjust a wheel under the fridge.

  Katrina fluidly rose from the floor and fixed Sugar a plate of take-out.

  “Why does Sam want to fight? Could he win?” Sugar accepted the plate Katrina offered. “Thank you.”

  Robert stood. “Mr. Pal Robi doesn’t think so, and he’s the expert.”

  Katrina touched Sugar’s arm. “Sam wants to protect Eric.” Her exotic, heavy accent played with her words. She lifted a box from behind the take-out. “Let us play Scrabble.”

  Eric would fight for the Omegas. Sugar smiled to herself, imagining a ninja shifter taking on all the wrongs of the world. He’d always wanted to be a superhero, but she prayed it didn’t get him killed.