Clove : Book 4 of Lord Emperor Vampire Series

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Added Chapter 181 (44) on November 11, 2007 at 10:06 a.m. (oopsies)

Why is this here? I have a dialup connection and I can’t get to the reviews. I might be able to get to them later today, my sister lives in town and has highspeed. There have been twenty-four reviews and they should be kudo’d…

But for now…ENJOY!
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KO’d Better late than never, my pretties. Bwah hahaha

Thanks and salutations to my Loyal lovelies: male, female and those yet to make up their minds…Deulriel; crimson vixen; berlin; lavcea; Laur; lone_child; spirit(x3) [angle brackets dahling will kill us every time]; Blaze; Rosemary; steph291; Marin Liliz; Twitch; Dark Avenger(x4); meadows_peak; rosei; ayachan; violetstorm; k; and Jace. J. Quin (ahem, one “n”)

Your best wishes, and support have assisted me greatly. It seems like one door slammed shut and another one is creaking open and I have the time needed to actually start editing. I hope I am eligible for unemployment for a couple of months, I paid enough into the program.

Any whooooo, two chappies and an epilogue left.

Lavcea
Q: Britta is working with OW?
A: No. She just happens to have feelers out who take advantage of OW mayhem. As with the puppies that got flambed in the park tunnel, Britta seems to have no problem throwing her pack into harms way to get what she wants…which is Haley. (wait for it) evilness I know.

Chapter 181: …and the question is?

I was carried, cradled like a precious child. I liked it. My thoughts were disjointed but I could feel them begin to re-align slowly. My senses were filled with the spicy cleanliness of cloves. I opened my eyes and saw nothing but a blizzard. My hair was everywhere but I was filled with the scent of Claudius. Father. It felt strange to have a Father, but I remembered how he came for me. Those great black wings were protection and safety. Tears blurred my vision even more. I don’t remember ever having that feeling. That was the only thing I envied about my brothers. They’ve known this feeling so long that they took it for granted. They’ve know this warm wondering security long before I ever did.

I could hear murmuring but I couldn’t make out the words, but the tone was soothing. I closed my eyes and snuggled tighter to the warmth of the chest carrying me. I roused myself when the scent switched. Blueberry. Blueberry taffy. I could feel my body moving from the warmth of cuddling safety to the heat of arousal and desire. “Lanseng.”

“I have you my Lord. Relax…I will see to your needs. I am yours to command.” I shivered as his words whispered over my skin. The back of my skull was numb but heavy. Odd. My arm felt like lead as I raised it and touched the back my head. It was still there.

I felt a brush of lips to my temple. “My brave pale love. I have you.”

I knew there were things I should be doing. Places I should be getting ready for but I leaned heavily into my tall tanned blueberry. I was going to be selfish for just a bit. I think I deserved it.

I didn’t pass out. I sort of zoned, or zenned. Individual words came back to me and I could ear Lanseng but now he was humming. I have no clue what it was but it was very melodic. I was on my back on a very comfortable mattress and I was surrounded by blueberry essence and blue tendrils of hair. Grapeseed oil was being rubbed into my naked flesh. Naked? Hair tickled me in the nether areas. I came back from where ever the hell I was floating to find my blueberry massaging my right calf.

“Rest and relax, Skell.”

“What are you doing?”

He lifted his head and I looked into his red eyes. “If you have to ask, I am doing it wrong.”

“It’s not wrong…” I relaxed down into the mattress. Hummmmmm, if this was wrong, I didn’t want to be right.

Lanny chuckled. “I do believe that is part of a song, my lord.”

There is was again, that possessive voice. It actually chilled me while setting off fireworks in my blood stream. Wait a minute. Can you read my mind?

“Only when I have my hands on you. Well any skin to skin contact.”

Kiss me. Lanny leaned over and pressed his lips to the inside of my knee. Holy… His tongue flicked out and tasted my flesh. His red iris smiled, more likely smoldered back at me. “Your every thought is my desire. Your every wish is my command. I was made for you, Lord Hashmalliam, Skell. May I love you?”

His fingers continued to massage my muscles. I didn’t even realize how tense I had been or was. “I know that your sexual experiences have not been the best. I have not shown you much patience on my behalf either. You need only think it and I will do it.”

Cherish me.

I was touched with such reverence. Xavier cried at the drop of a hat. Sex was just as emotional but he flitted from highs to highers to highest in the span of a hearbeat. Azrael was a cool kind of laid back sort of guy. He had emotions but he only showed what he wanted to and who he wanted to.. Apparently, I was more like X. Tears streamed out of my eyes as Lanny caressed my flesh and showed me just how valued I was in his world.

“Hush, my Lord.” His tongue lapped my tears away. He was big. A big man shouldn’t know how to touch so gently. They only cause pain. “I will never harm you, Skell. I will lay down my life for you when the time comes…” The taste of blueberry was on my lips as his tongue flickered out and wet them. He teased my mouth open into a tender kiss. “Know only pleasure with my touch.”

“I am for you, Skell.”

Shut up…shut up…I now got kisses. Warm wet wonderful kisses that were preceded by massaging fingers. I tensed for a moment then twisted and lay on my stomach the way Lanny was urging me. Treasured. I was his treasure. I shivered under his administrations. His hands stroked my neck. He leaned up and pressed his lips to the still numb part of my skull where the tracking device was implanted. Lick. Suck. Stroke. Kiss.

I was going out of my fucking mind. The small of my back was a sensitive spot. Lanny’s tongue there made my chest arch up as I ground my hips and my pulsing erection into the mattress. His hands snaked around and caught my chest, His index fingers rubbed at the stiff nipples. One spiked peak through Marcus’ nipple shield. Another stiff spike holding onto Armor’s ring. I shivered and a low moan creaked out of my throat.

I stiffened, rigid like a board when he laid his hot sweaty torso on my back. “I wish I could have been with you to slay all your demons. I wish I could have been at your side from the moment you took your first breath. My failure as a Seer is the reason that you were hurt so horribly.”

“You’re not a failure.”

“You stand up to your enemies with an inner strength that many cannot possess. I can only marvel at what you are, my lord.” I shivered as his fingers continued to flick at my nipples. I dropped my head, leaning forward on my elbows.

I couldn’t say it out loud. Do you love me, blueberry?

“Yes, my lord.”

“How do you know what love is?” My voice sounded odd to my ears. It was husky and deep yet…it seemed sad or confused. The sensations were…sensational but I didn’t know what I was doing…if I wanted to do this. But I needed to…didn’t I?

“I place your well being and concerns before everyone else’s…including my own.”

I needed to do this. I took on the submissive position that Orel Wessel taught me so brutally.

I closed my eyes. Show me what love is.

I opened my legs and tried to continue my steady breathing. This was Lanseng. I had nothing to dread from him. Right? I stilled. Right?

Lanny stilled. “You will never have to fear me, Skell. I will never give you cause to even question that. Never…” He pressed a kiss to the nape of my exposed neck. “Lay on your back, my love…I will taste you.”

Darius have enthusiastic head. He enjoyed it. I think in our time together he preferred it. His hands would stroke my flesh getting me off quicker and faster. Kevin did it because I forced him to. He did it because it hurt less than fucking. He just let me thrust into his mouth until I exploded. He always turned and spat it out then would glare at me all night or until I would throw him down on his face and rape the daylights out of him. I did Kevin so wrong. A finger pressed at my portal bringing my thoughts to the matter at hand.

I reached down and tangled my hand into soft, cottony soft, blue hair. I shifted my neck so I could look down and caught myself locked in a red iris embrace. I didn’t need him to say it out loud. His tongue and eyes drew me back to him. Be with me.

“Lanny…” My voice was a sigh. I lifted my legs up, resting them at an easy restful angle and let my hips open. My portal was breeched. I prepared myself for the agony that usually accompanied this but there was just a feeling of…weirdness and fullness. Lanny keep licking and sucking me.

Lanny brought he to climax. He licked and sucked and swallowed everything he wrung from me. He never once turned away in disgust or disappointment. I shivered and twitched as he climbed my pale white body. He asked for entry. He showed patience.

It lasted forever. It was done in a second. I was wrapped in the tangy sweetness of blueberry essence. He offered his blood as he let me silently direct him. He stopped when I winced. He stroked my skin when pleasure hit me. Pleasure hit me. I’d never felt pleasure from someone inside me.

“Skell…”

It was strange being the center of someone’s universe. His weight was on me but it wasn’t stifling. He wasn’t crushing me. He wasn’t doing this as a lesson in control. I don’t know when I started crying. Maybe I never stopped from the first time but my orgasm was sweeter than any other I ever had before. This is what love was supposed to be.

“With enough time and effort, you can accomplish anything.” Armor’s words echoed in my head. Sure enough.

Lanny spun and I was sprawled across his chest. His arms enfolded me just like his wave after wave of blue hair. We looked like milk and peanut butter cookies. My tears poured and pooled on his chest. I lay my cheek on his hot flesh and just stared across the large bed.

“Are you hurt, Skell. I tired to follow your directions. I…”

“Sssshhhh. I’m just….overwhelmed. I didn’t know it could be like this.”

His chest moved as he chuckled. His own hand came up and stroked the back of my head. “I thought I hurt you.”

I sniffed and blinked at the tears still hanging on my lashes. “When are you going to die, Lanny?”

He stilled. “What makes you…”

“I’m inexperienced in some areas, Blueberry. Death is not one of them. You said I will lay down my life for you when the time comes…when does that time come?”

“I do not know.”

“Really? Or is it just your Blood Collective code.”

“A bit of both. I truly do no know. You know how badly my timing is off.”

“Don’t make light of it. I can’t bear it. I don’t want you to leave me lonely now that I’ve found you.”

“I can only tell you that I too hope that it’s not anytime soon.”

I felt his hand pull my chin up. His lips gently touched mine. I could taste remnants of cinnamon clinging to his lips. Cinnamon and blueberry. “Thank you, my lord. I am honored that you chose me to give your virginity to.”

“I’ve been the whore longer than I can’t remember.”

He tightened his hold in my hair and pulled my head back. “As with your body’s other mates, I will not tolerate anyone belittling you, even if it is yourself.”

He gave one last jerk then pressed my check back down on his chest. I liad heavily on him. For the lack of a better word I was basking in afterglow. I just listened to his heartbeat drop back to normal. He chuckled again. “I think we didn’t do too bad for a couple of virgins.”

I wrapped my hands into his long blue hair. It felt so silky. I’d have to find out what kind of shampoo and conditioner he used. “I find you amusing, Skell…I didn’t know you had a sense of humor. Azrael is sort of lacking in that regard.”

“He has one. It’s just a little odd. Speaking of odd, where the hell are we?”

“We are still in Hades club. We are on the third floor. Aside from the common playground, he has private rooms. Each one is themed differently. I let my eye scan the place. It just looked like a pricely hotel room.

“That’s what this is. A place for random encounter. This was the tamest. There were others more interesting but, I think this one would have set your mind at ease quicker than the others. Don’t worry. We can try the others out later.”

“Randy little devil, aren’t you?”

“Do you like that?” There was unease in his voice.

“Bluey…you would know if you did something I didn’t like. You’ve shown me a paradise I’ve heard about but never visited. You don’t know it yet, but I intend to be a snow bird.”

“Snowbird?”

“On your tropical beach, every chance I get.” He ruffled my hair. Hmmm, I kind of liked that.

“I’ll remember that. Rest for a bit. We have some time before you have to get to the High Council.”

What? I furrowed my brow. I seemed to have all my thought processes firing. I didn’t recall anyone talking about the High Council.

“They called the Head of the House of Assassins report to the Council Chambers. The summons came to Claudius. That is one thing to say about the House, they do know how to keep a secret.”

“That’s why it’s called a secret society.”

My body was beginning to feel all the stress and aches and pains of the night….was it still night? “It’s about seven in the morning.” Lanny offered, “You have to be there by ten.

As if on cue, my stomach started to growl. I leaned up and kissed my Blueberry sweetness on the lips. I lingered there for a bit longer than I expected and started my motor running. “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.” Lanny whispered through my hair. “Actually the gander likes a little goose.”

Eer, what? “I do not need such consideration. I like it rough it allows this body to feel. Just use some of the grape seed oil.” He ran the back of his fingers down the side of my cheek, “I love you, Skell.”

I understood why he couldn’t drop his shield. Didn’t mean I didn’t like it. Every wish I had the night before was fulfilled. I couldn’t do that with my tall blueberry. I could only look upon his face, listen to his heartbeat as I searched for special zones on his body. Lanny rolled over and presented himself. His knees were planted firmly on the mattress, his shoulders rested on the pillows. His took his hands and spread his firm globes of flesh for me.

“Make me yours, my lord. Claim me as is your right. Ease yourself deep in my body. I am for you.”

What the hell can you say to that? Nothing really but huh, huh, huh. I gave Lanseng my loving. All my loving. All I understood about loving and I will be the first to admit I didn’t understand a hell of a lot. This was not a fuck and tumble. I didn’t want this to be anything like rape. I refused to do to Lanny what I did to Kevin. Maybe I didn’t have the knack for the inner cogs but I did have the mechanics down. Lanny’s passage gripped me tightly. Math tables were the only thing that saved from tripping over the first hurdle.

Lanny squeezed his inner walls tightly and I exploded. I still didn’t mean to but the blueberry pound cake was topping me from below. I reached out and lay my hand over his as he stroked his length. I left human bite marks on his shoulders. I would have loved to get at his neck but I was still docked and too damn short to reach that life giving vein. Lanny collapsed forward flat on the bed as his cock jumped and twitched. Every spasm tightened his rectum and jerked on my own softening cock hard. I think I was out of my ever loving mind at this point of the event. I may have even passed out.

I was entitled. All is fair in love and war.

“Skell?” I blinked my eyes open to see those red eyes smile down at me. I was in a cocoon of blue hair surrounded my the strong pungent scent of smushed blueberries and freshly grated cinnamon stick. Heheheheh. “Are you all right?”

“Muffin.”

“You want a muffin?”

I lifted my arms and wrapped them around his neck. “No, You are my muffin. My sexy blueberry muffin of sexual desire and lazy love.”

He smiled and kissed my swollen lips. “I have been called worse over the years. While, I like this…a lot. You need to get back to Von Drachenfeld. You in a suit is quite irresistible.”

“This won’t cut it?” I was naked as a jay bird.

“Oh, I like it. I prefer it. I don’t think the High Council would appreciate your birthday suit. Come, my Lord.” Lanny rolled off of me and knelt beside the bed. “Call for me, and I will come to you always.”

Heheheh. Another funny. “There are shower facilities here, but I know that if you partake of them, you will start another round and you will end up getting to the Council chambers very disheveled. Not a good impression.”

“You’ve seen this?”

Lanny caught my wrist and brought it between his legs. Damn. Shouldn’t he have passed out getting this hard this fast just after…

“You inspire me, Skell.” Holy moly, I knew I had myself a big boy. “Get up and get out before I start something we would both enjoy.”

I just lay on the mattress and watched as Lanseng moved around the room. His hair was providing me a peep show. The flash of a lean flank as he walked over to a pile of discarded clothes. He paused and turned back to me. “Skell?”

“Is this love? What I’m feeling.”

“Your brothers are the best ones to ask. They know what it is in many different forms. Now, up. I will not be accountable for Lord Claudius hunting us down.”

I ached everywhere. In a good way. My chest burned. In a good way. I think I was in love. In a good way. I shifted and climbed out of bed. Lanny handed me my clothes and kissed the top of my head. “Today will be a good day. Get moving, my lord. Your cab is outside.”

I watched him walk toward the bathroom. Yeowzah. I was a damn good morning anyways. I stank of blueberry cinnamon sex but Lanny was right. I had to get away from him or I wasn’t going to make that meeting. Well Xavier wasn’t going to make that meeting. He was a better negotiator. Both Azrael and I liked killing things. Sex could be compelling but his impatience would rip your head off. Yeah, it would have to be Xavier.

Hades club was dark and quiet. The mayhem from the night before was cleared. I stepped out into the light and sure enough a yellow and black cab was waiting a the doors. The streets were clean. All the shards of glass that had fallen out of the windows Claudius and I exploded were gone.

I winced as I dropped back on the seat. Okay…pain in not so good a way. I grit my teeth and rested on the ride back home. It didn’t take long to get back to Von Drachenfeld. The Lycan ripped me a new one about disappearing and then using public transport. Actually it was more Haley than the others because they wrinkled their noses. I reeked of satisfaction.

I got myself all scrubbied up. It felt good to be clean. I attempted a little healing light. I felt about a thousand times better. The back of my right thigh had been black and blue from the force of the Orel Wessel dart. My stomach was really rolling and growling now.

Chesterton had set up a cart and tray of assorted breakfast food. I found it touching that the staff, no, the pod were trying to find out my preferences. I’d eat anything they put in front of me. They got so damn sad when I did though. To me, food was fuel. Just make sure it was high octane and I’m good to go. Chesterton almost put me in a coma as I tried to eat. Who the hell knew that hair brushing could be so damn soothing. I think I actually drifted off a bit.

“Papa?” I blinked and opened my eyes to see Raissa standing beside the now half empty serving cart.

“Lord…Xavier.” Chesterton made a brief hesitation. He held up the vest to my dark charcoal and black pinstripe suit. I saw questions pass by my middle daughter’s ever intelligent blue eyes.

“Yes, Raissa?” I buttoned up the vest and tucked my tie inside it. Chesterton helped me into my jacket then fussed with me unnecessarily. He tugged at the knot of my tie, re-fluffed my handkerchief.

“Papa?” She help out her hand. I walked over to her and put my hand in hers. “I want to show you something.”

“I will have your limousine brought to the front, Lord Xavier.” Chesterton handed me my coffee mug full of warm blood then wandered off. Raissa was done with waiting and tugged on my hand to follow her…now. I knew Sex had to be in there somewhere.

Raissa lead me toward the Great Hall and then stopped in front of the Pod painting. I looked up at it. It struck me with awe every time.

“Papa, how come you’re not in the picture?”

Uh, what? I snapped my eyes down to Raissa. Her black hair hung in a single braid over her shoulder and her dark eyebrows were pinched together. She pointed to the my mirror image that was seated in the leather wingback chair. “That is Papa Xavier. He’s married to Mommy but he lives with Uncle Armor. Uncle Armor was sad all the time until he went away. Now, he’s okay but he still looks sad. I gave him my teddy to hug when he gets really sad. Uncle Armor said he would keep Bently safe for me” My stomach clenched.

“That is Papa Azrael. He lives with Uncle Marcus. I like Uncle Marcus, he’s fun and he likes to draw and plays with that violin.”

My knuckles turned white as I tensed around my coffee cup. Uh….

She pointed up to Claudius and Sex. “That is Ded and Papa Eddie. I really like Eddie. He dances and plays with us. He makes everybody smile. Ded laughs when he is with him.”

Raissa turned and put her hands on her hips. “Where are you? Papa, what’s your name?”

Oh…uh…er….oh crap.


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