Thunder Read online

  Melanie rolled over, trying to get comfortable enough to let exhaustion take her away. Honestly, she needed to just stop thinking about him altogether. After all, she had no reason to keep thinking about Zane and his handsome face and those bounteous muscles that flexed and bulged when he moved. Or about that tent in the blankets.

  There was a soft knock on the door. Melanie rolled out of bed, grumbling under her breath. What did Roxy want with her now? She yanked open the door—and stopped dead. It wasn’t Roxy standing on the other side of the door. It was Zane. He gave her a grin that had something tightening inside of her and she made a strangled noise of protest.

  “Hey.” His gaze swept over her, clad in the loose-fitting nightdress that did nothing for her. And yet his gaze heated, causing a pressure to build between her legs. She pressed her thighs together, trying to stop her panties from getting wet at a simple glance. Zane’s smile returned to her face. “I just wanted to thank you for looking out for me.”

  He was shirtless but wore a pair of sweats. The bulge in them was more tamed than it had been in the bed, but Melanie still couldn’t stop herself from glancing down, out of pure curiosity.

  Heat flared through her, especially her face. “Well… you’re welcome, I guess.”

  Zane leaned on the door frame. “I’m curious. Why would you do that for someone you don’t even like? I was holding you prisoner and you still sat at my bedside, nursing me back to health.”

  “Well, I wasn’t going to leave you alone while you were dying.”

  “I wasn’t dying… and maybe I like being alone.”

  Melanie shivered. Why did his tone hint at something far bigger than the moment here and now?

  Zane shrugged, stepping back slightly. Her cat mewled in distress, though she tried to keep it from her face. Seriously, now wasn’t the time for her to start going crazy over a guy. He had said it himself. She didn’t even like him… so then why was she so concerned for him, why did she want him to wrap her in his big, strong arms and never let her go?

  “If I go home,” she blurted as he started to turn, “will the vampires come after me and my dad?”

  Zane hesitated a moment, then shrugged. “Maybe. They shouldn’t, but vampires are unpredictable. Tornado can put men on a protective detail on you if you’re worried.”

  She scowled at him. Protected by a bunch of gangsters. Right. Like that was going to happen. “You mean like those two who brought me to you in the first place?”

  Zane chuckled at that. He stepped forward again, his mouth opening. But whatever he was going to say died in his throat. His gaze moved to her lips and he suddenly leaned to her. He caught her mouth in a kiss, immediately teasing open her lips to thrust his tongue into her. Normally that sort of behavior would be a turnoff, but Melanie felt herself responding deeply. Her fingers clenched into her nightdress, wanting to rip it over her head. Heat sparked under her skin and her core tightened.

  What did ‘someone special’ even mean? She had been saving herself, and here was a man whose kisses alone were orgasmic. He promised a lot in bed, and she wanted to feel it all.

  Just as she made a move to wrap her arms around him, he pulled back. Melanie's chest heaved as she licked her lips, heat simmering through her body now. Her cat mewled, demanding more. She wasn’t in any mood to fight it, either. Her lips tingled with the desire to be pressed into Zane’s and her fingers twitched.

  “Sorry.” He gave her an apologetic grin. “I shouldn’t have— “

  She didn’t want his apologies. She wanted him. With a snarl, she seized his arms and pulled him to her. The kiss was deeper than before, fire burning through her, her cat purring with desire. Zane wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up and out of the way as he entered the room and closed the door. He turned her, pressing her into the wall, while he ground his hard length against her.

  A shiver ran down her spine as he moved to her neck. She held him tightly as she lifted one leg over his hip, opening herself to him. The friction between their clothes made her shiver more. Her neck tightened under his ministrations, and when one of his big hands cupped her breast, she let out a small cry of pained pleasure. It felt so good, she didn’t want it to stop.

  “I’m a virgin,” she blurted as his free hand started to pull her nightdress out of the way.

  He froze. Melanie held her breath, afraid suddenly that he was going to tell her that he didn’t do virgins, that he only wanted experienced women who could give him pleasure.

  Zane pulled back, his brow wrinkled. “You’re a virgin?”

  Melanie nodded.

  “Oh… I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be—”

  He tried to pull away, but she held him fast. “You shouldn’t be what?”

  A flush crept up Zane’s tanned cheeks. “Your first time should be special. With someone that you care about. Not a fling with someone you don’t even like.”

  He was right, of course, but when Melanie's hands started to loosen, her cat let out a shriek and started to claw at her chest so hard that she winced. She shook her head, not letting go of him. It was her body, it was her choice.

  “Maybe this is special, because I know that you won’t leave me hanging. There’s a lot of guys out there that would jump at the chance for a virgin simply because she’s a virgin. I know that I don’t know enough to make it good for you, but I… I want…”

  He swallowed hard. “I would do my best, yes. Not because you’re a virgin, but I like to give pleasure to my partners. But you have to understand that being bitten by a vampire leaves me very desirous. This isn’t because I feel any special connection to you. There are other women, I don’t need you.”

  She wasn’t certain if that was meant to reassure her or dissuade her. In any case, her cat snarled at the thought of him with anybody else and she clutched him tighter.

  “You came to me, Zane. You refused Roxy and you came to me. That means you want me. I want you, too.” She pushed at his chest, her gaze locked on his. He allowed her to walk him back to the bed, and when his legs hit the edge and he fell back, she climbed over him, straddling him. Her nightdress bunched up at her hips. “I am going to claim you now.”

  He thrust his hips up, grinding against her again. She shuddered, her head falling back as sparks filled her core. God! How did he know exactly how to touch her—without even really touching her?

  “Claim me,” Zane panted, his hands on her hips as he looped his thumbs into her panties. “I don’t do forever, Melanie. This is a day, a week, whatever. But it ends, and it ends soon.”

  Melanie knew that should have been her warning. She knew she should have gone running at that. Her first time with a man that didn’t want a relationship, just wanted the sex, was a man that she should kick to the curb. He said himself that he could have had any other woman in a heartbeat. But her cat yowled with demands, her chest ached and the heat in her body demanded sating.

  “I don’t do gangsters. Of course it ends soon,” she bit back, then threw herself over him and kissed him.

  Their tongues tangled. Their bodies pressed together, so tightly Melanie wasn’t certain if the heat that filled her came from her or him. His mouth was hungry and demanding on hers, his hands wandering all over her. He grasped her ass as a growl rumbled in his chest. Melanie found herself with her hands on the bed, bracing herself up, and a sudden flash of panic shot through her. What was she supposed to do now?

  Zane seemed to sense her panic, because he broke the kiss and rolled, so they were laying side-by-side. He stroked her cheek and smiled. “You can change your mind. You know that, right?”

  Melanie fidgeted and nodded, more heat rushing to her face. “I know that.”

  “And if you don’t like something, you tell me. And if you like something, you can tell me to keep going.” He winked at her. “The key to good sex is communication… and I don’t suppose you have condoms on you?”

  She hadn’t even thought about protection. She shook her head and glanced away.
What must he be thinking of her right now?

  Zane pressed a light kiss to her lips before he got out of the bed. “I’ll go get some, then. And a few other things, maybe… I want this to be good for you, after all.”

  He left her alone and Melanie rolled onto her back. Her body still ached with need, thrumming with desire. She imagined him between her legs, deep inside of her, and she waited. In the past, whenever she had been with a guy and it got to this point, she would be filled with a sinking, sick feeling that left her with a bitter taste in her mouth. But here, now, all she had was desire.

  A smile crossed her lips as she slipped her panties off and tossed them to the floor. She tucked her nightdress between her legs and rolled over, watching the door eagerly. Zane came through moments later, carrying a small bag. He headed back to the bed and turned it over. Out tumbled a roll of condoms, a bottle of lube, and several toys. Melanie reached for a package of beads the boasted a sterile environment and warned to only use them once.

  “I’m not sure I want to use these,” she said.

  Zane shrugged. “Then we won’t use them.”

  He smiled as he stripped off his pants. He sprang to attention right away and Melanie stifled a gasp. She had the insane urge to avert her gaze, as though seeing each other wasn’t the point of this. Her cat purred.

  Zane chuckled as he ripped open a condom and rolled it on. “I tried taking care of myself earlier, but I’m afraid it didn’t do much good… I’ll hold out, though, until you’re ready for me.”

  Melanie flushed, nodded, and picked up a vibrator. Was he planning on using that on her first? Wouldn’t it be painful for him to deny himself while he was pleasuring her like that? Her face fell into a frown as she flicked the vibrator on and looked up at him. His eyes were dark with lust, a tremor in his arms as he stared down at her.

  Even though her cat yowled and mewled and demanded him, there was something in her that shied back from it. Melanie took a deep breath and moved to a sitting position. She wanted this. That was for damn certain. But maybe she just wanted to play…

  Zane sat next to her, brow furrowed. “Are you okay?”

  Melanie scowled and shrugged. “I want this. I do. But my mind… it won’t shut up. I’m not sure how I want this to happen.”

  Zane considered her for a moment, then nodded. “Okay.” He brushed her hair from her face and brushed his lips over her cheekbone. “Then let me have you the way I want.”

  That sounded like a good idea. Melanie let out a shuddering breath and nodded. Zane’s hands roamed over her, lightly, gently, before he tugged her nightdress up. His fingers brushed over her stomach as he pulled it out of the way. When her breasts were exposed, he kissed first one and then the other. Her nipples pearled under his attention, and he pulled her nightdress completely off. He tossed it to the floor and continued to suck on her nipples. Something pulled and snapped inside of her and she leaned her head back, her eyes starting to drift shut.

  “Spread your legs a little,” he ordered her, and she obeyed. His fingers slipped between her thighs. They brushed lightly over her clit, making a shiver shoot down her legs, then settled into a soft, circular motion.

  Melanie's whole body seemed to tighten under his attention. She let out a soft moan as Zane continued his work, stroking her with one hand, pushing the fingers of his other inside of her while his mouth moved from her breasts to her neck to her mouth then back to her neck. Melanie clenched her hands at her sides, struggling to keep her body motionless while her hips moved of their own accord, rolling over his hands, trying to increase the pressure at times while decreasing it at others.

  “God.” Zane suddenly cursed, in a soft, pained whisper. “It hurts to be this close to you. To smell you, to taste you and not be inside of you.”

  Melanie started to move to lie back. “I’m ready for— “

  “No, you’re not.”

  “But— “

  “You’re wet, but you haven’t relaxed at all. If I entered you now, I’d just hurt you.” Zane nipped at her throat and with a groan, he gripped himself with one hand. “I can deal, I just have to...”

  He trailed off and Melanie licked her lips. Her whole body felt like it was on edge, trembling with need. She wanted him inside of her. Right now. But she also didn’t want to be hurt. With a frustrated growl, she reached so her hand joined his. She stroked him, twisting her hand like the women in the pornos she sometimes indulged in. She wanted him to feel good!

  “Maybe you just need to… you know… use my mouth,” she said, feeling a little awkward.

  Zane made a face. “I don’t like blowjobs. They get the job done, but it’s just… I don’t know. I just don’t like them.”

  Melanie gaped at him. She didn’t realize that was even an option. But then, it made sense. Different people liked different things. If he didn’t like that, then he had to have other things that he did like… right? She frowned as she continued to stroke him and realized that he had let himself go. His head leaned back, and he thrust his hips in a gentle rhythm, moaning.

  “I like that,” he murmured. “A little faster.”

  With a grin, Melanie did as he said. She watched his face as she tugged on him, watching as his chest heaved and his throat worked. Seeing his pleasure made her want more of her own. She grabbed the vibrator again and flicked it on, rubbing it between her thighs.

  Zane’s eyes flew open. He snatched her wrists, stopping her. Melanie arched a brow at him and he deftly took the vibrator from her.

  “That’s my part,” he growled at her. “Watching your eyes roll into the back of your head and hearing those little noises you make as your orgasm creeps up on you. That’s my job, not yours.”

  Melanie licked her lips, at a loss for words. Zane growled again, the sound playful and predatory, and with a single motion, he pushed her back onto the bed. He started on her again, using the vibrator against her clit while he kissed up one thigh and down the other. Everything tightened to a point of pain inside of her and she clung to the bed, crying out.

  “Do you like that?” he asked her, using his tongue on her clit now while the vibrator sunk deep inside her.

  “Yes. Don’t stop,” she begged, kicking out one of her legs and then bringing it back. It was too much. Too powerful. And yet she wanted more. She gripped the vibrator as it hit the nerves inside of her, and she wanted it to be Zane there instead. She cried out again, her back arching and her core clenching. A feeling like a hot explosion went off in her core and she clawed at the blankets, mewling.

  Zane laughed, kissed her hip, and began thrusting in and out of her with the vibrator.

  Melanie hadn’t known what multiple orgasms really were until she lay in that bed, helpless to Zane’s skill and her own pleasure. Each explosion was more powerful than the last. The vibrator felt smaller and smaller, until it simply wasn’t enough anymore. By that time, she was begging Zane. He kissed her, long and deep, before he entered.

  If the movement with the toys was gentle, he was not. He thrust into her like a man possessed, rocking hard and fast. Melanie clung to him, biting her tongue to keep from screaming as he brought her to a new orgasm within seconds. He stared down at her, his eyes dark with lust, his teeth bared, and she knew why he said he needed to get her ready before he took her.

  Her clit throbbed. Melanie came again twice before Zane stopped—unfinished—and used the lube on her, to make sure she stayed wet, and started up again. For what felt like hours, he thrust in again and again, stopping occasionally for her to catch her breath only to start again. It was too much. Melanie clung to him, her fingers clawing at his back as he went as deep as he could with every thrust.

  Suddenly, his body went tense. His movement became jerky. She could feel him finish, and relief mingled with disappointment—she knew she wouldn’t have been able to last much longer.

  When he collapsed over her, growling and panting, she tangled her fingers in his hair and closed her eyes. Her whole body ached from t
he repeated orgasms and as she finally relaxed, a wave of drowsiness came over her.

  “Thank you,” Zane whispered, kissing her neck gently again.

  “No problem,” she murmured back, then opened her eyes and looked up at him. “Was it good for you?”

  Chapter Eight

  Thunder

  He hadn’t meant to batter her body for so long. But as soon as he was inside of her, the feeling of how right it was took hold, and he couldn’t let himself stop. Not when he knew that this was the only time he was going to have her. He wished he knew how she felt, although by the satisfied, glowing expression on her face, he had some idea.

  He relaxed and chuckled lightly at her question. “It was good. And you?”

  “Better than I expected,” she admitted, stretching. “Is it always like that?”

  “No. I was more…” He struggled to find the right word. “Exuberant than normal. Usually I’d have finished you off a couple times then taken you softer. And not as long. Vampire venom. It’s like Viagra on steroids after I’ve left the rabid stage.”

  Melanie yawned. “Oh. Well… it was good. I liked it. But I’m so sleepy now...”

  “Sex does that.” Zane reluctantly left her and swung out of bed. “I have to go now. I’ll be back.”

  Melanie frowned at him. A hurt look crossed her face, but she shrugged and rolled over. “I’ll be sleeping.”

  There was a carefully unconcerned tone to her voice that made Zane flinch. He opened his mouth to explain, but what was there to explain? They had already established that this wasn’t anything permanent. He had his business that he had to take care of and she knew that. By now, Hurricane would have Eldric’s money. And Zane knew he needed to get this taken care of right away. He might not be back to full strength, but every minute that passed was a minute that Eldric could be tormenting his mother.

  And he’d go alone. Hurricane would want to go with him, but to bring even one other person would put Eldric on edge. Yeah, it could be a trap to lure Zane to vampire territory, so he could kill him without repercussion as stated by the treaty, but since when had Eldric cared about the treaty?