Vampire King of New York (10 page)

He sensed a wall go up between them, but he couldn’t stop now. “Memories. Intimacies.”

Evelyn stole a glance at him. His gaze was solid on her. She bit her lower lip. “What else?”

“Lifemates can help each other heal? Some lifemates can mindtalk even over long distances.”

“The Arnhem Knights can telepathically communicate.”

“They can because of a bite. With a bite, we can locate each other and mindtalk.”

She shivered. Her human body was getting cold. He kissed her, moving from her lips, down her jaw, and to her neck and shoulders. Her body warmed.

“Oh, Max,” she sighed into his mouth when he returned for another kiss. “We cannot mindtalk. We must not be lifemates.”

“I think we will after time. The important piece is the touch. You can tell an eternal bond of love by touch.”

Evelyn closed her eyes and lay her head against his chest. Slowly he eased them downward, landing in the shadows of a tree on 77
Street. When they approached the museum, two guards opened the door for them.

A man in a business suit walked toward them with an outstretched hand. Evelyn realized that Max had put on calfskin gloves. He took the man’s hand and shook it.

“Welcome, Mr. Vander Meer. We’re honored to be able to provide this little service for one of our most generous benefactors.”

Max introduced Evelyn, but she was too excited to remember the man’s name. He led the way past exhibits to a private room. A beautiful Georgian marble dining table was set with silver and china, reflecting in the candlelight of a pair of ornate candelabras. Six violinists stood in a row facing them.

“Max, this is beautiful, but I thought there would be more people.”

“No, my dear. This is a private reception and pre-exhibit just for us.”

The waiters entered bringing the courses, and the museum administrator left.

The meal started with fish soup, and the violinists played softly, their strings whispering a promise. Evelyn smiled. She was a fishaholic, loving the taste. When the smoked salmon was brought out, she was more than ready.

“Is this typical of Norway?”

“Partly, I added the more American preparation of vegetables to make the dinner more friendly. I am in love with salmon, and benefit from being a silent partner with several fishing boats.”

Evelyn took another bite of the salmon. The taste was delicately smoky with a silky texture that played on her tongue. While eating, her mind drifted back to standing on the deck of a long boat, the salt spray in her face, her heart pounding hard with fear. Only Max’s eyes calmed the wild race of her heart. She felt safe in his eyes.

“You look far away, my Evelyn.” He raised his hand. The violinists stopped, bowed, and then exited the room.

Turning to him, she fixed him with her gaze. “Max, why do you live most of the time in Iceland? Don’t you miss the Arnhem Knights?”

He put his fork down on his plate. “I love everything I’ve built here, especially the Arnhem Knights. When I look at the buildings and the bustle of humanity, I see past it all to the wilderness from which it sprung so long ago. I was here at the beginning of it all, when the land was purchased from the native people. When the first logs were split. I remember with a vividness as if it were yesterday.” He burst out laughing, “Oh, Gods, I sound like I’m old.”

Evelyn smiled, shaking her head. “I don’t think you’re old at all. Okay, maybe a little.” She put her napkin on the table and stood up. “I think it’s time for my private tour of the Viking exhibit.”

Max was immediately by her side. “This way. The exhibit is called “The Norse Long Boat.” They walked down a corridor and into a hall, a banner announcing the exhibit hanging overhead. “I made the arrangements with the government of Norway to provide for this special showing in New York. After this, the boat and all the artifacts will go back.” He walked directly up to the boat and placed his hand on its hull.

“Max, I don’t think you’re supposed to touch the exhibit.”

“Why not? I led the archeologists to where it was buried. Aof was buried in it. He was a chieftain of a neighboring clan.”

“Something tells me you didn’t get along with Aof.”

He brought her into his arms. “He wanted something of mine.”

“Gee, I wonder what that could have been.”

Max kissed her long and deep, and when he released her, her knees buckled. He caught her before she fell. It took a moment before Evelyn regained her ability to speak, he stunned her.

“Show me everything,” she said enthusiastically.

“Really?” It was the way he said it that made Evelyn realize he was thinking of something other than the exhibit.

“I mean the exhibit.” She led him away from the boat and peered into a display case of weapons. Then another of jewelry.

“Do you like their jewelry?”

“I do. I’ve always been fascinated with the Vikings ever since I was small. I don’t know why. It was a harsh time. Women were not equal to men.”

“I don’t think they are now either,” he said.

This surprised her. “You think I’m inferior to you.”

“No, Telkhine. I think you are superior to me, and I dare the wrath of the gods to touch you, to even dream of you.”

“Max, I don’t have my sister’s powers.”

“I don’t have to touch you to feel the energy coursing through you. Your power may be sleeping. Or your power may be different from your sister’s. But not for a moment do I believe you to be powerless. You have it within you to crush my heart.”

Evelyn moved hastily away from him. He made her giddy. Everything about Max was a temptation to lose control. Moving swiftly around a pillar, she came to a collection of battle-axes.

“I prefer the axe to the sword, the weight of it makes killing more graceful,” Max said.

“You enjoyed killing?”

He rushed her and the next thing she knew he had his arms around her waist and pulled her into him. “No, I have never enjoyed killing, but when I have to do it, I’d rather it be a swift act of mercy.”

“There’s no reason to kill anyone.” She tried to pull away but his grasp was definite.

“This is not a peaceful world, my Evelyn. Would you rather be killed?”

“No.”

“Then sometimes we have no choice but to kill in defense of those we love.” He caressed her hair, his fingers pulling gently on each gold curl.

“I can’t hear your thoughts,” she said. Evelyn didn’t have to hear. She already knew them.

“You know them nonetheless.” He pressed her hand to his heart. “I love you. I can no longer restrain these feelings I have for you.” He lifted her into his arms. With a single leap, he was across the room and on the deck of the ship. With the utmost tenderness, he placed her on some furs in the stern, then leaned over her. “I want to make love to you.”

“Max.” She placed her hand on his chest.

“If you do not wish this, tell me no. I will always abide by your wishes. You are my heart, and I obey my heart. Command me.”

Evelyn reached up and drew him down to her. Desire fueled a rush of lava in her veins. She hungered for him and nothing else. Every fear had fled. The instant his lips touched her, she melted.

Max kissed her, and her fire spilled into him with a fury. He wanted every part of her, demanded her. The truth was he would nev
er survive without her. He tasted her lips, sweet like cherries in spring. One long hot kiss led to another. Then he paused, while all her uncertainties welled up into him, stopping him from going further.

“Tell me you want me.” Her eyes were as blue as the first day when the snow had finally melted into the dark, deep earth. “Tell me.”

Her pale soft hand touched his face, and he pressed against her fingers wanting her warm caress to never end.

“I want you.” She teased his lips with her fingers then pressed her forefinger into his mouth. He sucked, refusing to release her. Max stared into those blue eyes of hers. She whimpered her response, her eyelashes fluttering. Everything about her was soft and inviting, moist and seductive. He nibbled at her mouth and she whimpered.

“Perhaps we shouldn’t.” Her words were saying no, but her thigh rubbing against his erection was a clear invitation.

“Why would that be, dearest?” He kissed along her jawline to her ear and sucked her lobe.

“Oh.” She reached up and grasped his hair entangling her fingers. “I mean,” she gasped, “it’s a museum.”

“You want to wait.” He leaned up arching his back, gazing down at the soft full breasts he had just freed from her strapless gown.

“You’re stopping?”

“You don’t want me to stop?”

“Not on your life.”

Immediately he pressed hard against her mouth, parting her lips with his hungry tongue. He wanted her and nothing was going to stop him now. She moaned beneath his fingers. He caressed her creamy orbs. Growling with delicious delight—
oh, to finally have a lifemate
—to finally have her desire him as much as he craved her. He left her mouth and lathed a nipple with his tongue, fingers fondling her breast. Evelyn writhed and whimpered beneath him. He dropped his hands to her hips and hiked up her gown.

“Max,” she moaned.

He felt like exploding and breathed heavily, slowly, wanting to slow the action down to enjoy it more. Pantyhose would do it. In frustration, he ripped them off her.

“Please, don’t tear the dress.”

He nibbled on her other nipple. Then ripped off her panties. He was out of his pants and with one hand found the hot, wet sacred spot between her legs. Inserting one finger into her dark, moist, velvet sheath, he pushed slowly in and out of her with more than a burning passion. All that went through his mind was how he could convince her to be his for a more than a moment in time. Her muscles clenching around his finger snapped him back. She was ready for sex, but was she ready for the love he needed to give her? He had to win her heart. He had to.

Evelyn was lost in the continuous waves of luscious ecstasy that she hadn’t really looked at Max much. But when his finger entered her, she peered up at him in his kneeling position. He was huge, beautifully made, but huge. She shivered all over.

“Max? Go slow, please.” She was worried that she couldn’t accommodate such a large man.

He lay on top of her like a blanket. His face against hers. “You are my beloved. I will take great care as to your pleasure. Do not be afraid.” When his mouth possessed hers, she nearly lost consciousness. Poised at a point of heat between them, he then pushed ever so slowly, inch by inch inside her. Every fiber of her body hit white light in that split second. Her muscles clenched and released in response. She thought it might hurt not having sex for such a long time, but Max made it heavenly. Ripples of pleasure washed over her in relentless waves. He plunged into her again with a little more force, creating new waves. A flicker of realization made Evelyn gasp. She was feeling Max’s pleasure too.

“Poke her again,” a scratchy voice rasped.

Evelyn froze. Her eyes popped open. Max stopped and leaned back on his knees.

Two pairs of red eyes were leering at them from over the hull.

Max grabbed the wolf fur loincloth and a sword from a mannequin Norse warrior and pushed her behind him. He hastily wrapped it around himself.

“What are we going to do?” She tugged up the top of her gown, stumbling out of the pile of furs.

“I’m calling for back up right now. Just stay behind me.”

Three savages leapt at him. One twisted out of his reach. He stabbed and dispatched the other two.

“Max!” Evelyn screamed, reaching for anything that might help. Her hand fell on the wood handle of an axe.

With fangs dripping, the creature leapt at her.

Max spun around, his sword running through the savage. Her axe swung slicing off its head.

She dropped the axe to the ground. “I don’t feel very well.” Evelyn collapsed.

Unbearable pain blurred her world, spinning it around until everything went black.

When Evelyn came to, Max was licking her neck, where the creature managed to claw her. She sat up abruptly. Max was back in his suit. They were still on the long boat in the museum exhibit. Mixed with the mannequins dressed like Norse were the Arnhem Knights staring down on her.

“She’s going to be all right. Now work to clean the blood.”

Laura rushed to her sister’s side. Evelyn looked around. She expected more blood and was confused by the mounds of dirt or ash or whatever that was. “Come on, Evie. Let me take you home.” Evelyn’s stance was shaky at best. Max held her up on one side. Laura on the other.

“Max, I’m taking her home.”

“I understand. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Laura countered. Evelyn could feel her sister seething.

“Yes, Max, it is,” Evelyn whispered.

He leaned in and kissed her.

Then Laura hugged her on one side, David, on the other, and they were gone. Once they got her outside, they helped her into Max’s waiting limo. The world was a painting caught in a rainstorm all smeared and fuzzy. Holding her head, she fell forward into her sister’s lap.

“Don’t worry, Evie. We’re almost home.”

The limo stopped and they hurriedly ushered her inside covered by the beautiful cape Max had given her. Then through to her bedroom and bathroom. Laura helped her out of the gown and into the shower. She was covered in blood.

“Where’s your stockings and panties?”

“I don’t want to answer that.”

Laura helped her into the shower. The hot water was such a blessed relief, Evelyn started to cry.

“What’s wrong, Evie? Are you hurt?” Laura asked from behind the shower glass.

“I ache everywhere.” Evelyn leaned against the wall letting the water flow over her. “I’m going to be okay. Please, find me a nightgown. I want to go to bed.”

“Okay.” The door opened and closed.

“Laura, wait.” She heard the door open again and her sister stepped in.

“Do you need something else?”

“I think I’m in a lot of trouble. I’m falling in love with Max, and I’m not his lifemate. He thinks I am because he’s warm to touch. But Laura, I can’t hear his thoughts. He can’t hear mine. We’re not lifemates, and I think I love him. I know we’re not, and then I let him make love to me in the museum. Oh, God, everything is terrible.”