Magic Grave

vampire blood instead of human blood. Problem was, I absorbed more than nourishment from the blood I drank. I also absorbed power. Found that out after I fed from a pyrokinetic vampire and then my hands sprouted flames. I didn't want to absorb more freaky abilities by feeding from vampires with unusual powers, so I stuck with drinking from Bones. So far, that had only made me stronger, not stranger.

Of course, Bones always looked good enough to eat. Whoever said Don't play with your food sure hadn't been a vampire.

Bones inhaled, his eyes changing to emerald green. I knew mine would have changed also, and I felt my fangs push at my lips. Give us flesh, they urged. His flesh. Now.

'Stay here. Keep an eye on Tammy,' Bones growled, surprising me by shouldering his way through the other dancers. Had he spotted a threat? I glanced around, looking for Tammy's familiar blond head amongst the mass of living and undead gyrators. There. Dancing with two men, no less.

I made my way through until I reached Tammy, getting between her and one of the dancers. His scowl turned into a smile as his gaze swept over me.

'Hello, redhead,' he drawled.

'I'm just getting my friend,' I said.

Tammy didn't budge. 'Hell no. I'm just starting to have fun!'

'Tammy,' I gritted out, 'don't make me carry you.' If there was danger, I wanted our backs to a wall with me in front of her. Not where trouble could come from any angle.

Tammy glared at me, but didn't object again. I led her to the closest corner, as if we were having an intimate conversation, but I was braced for action. No one looked as if they were stalking us. Still, appearances were deceiving.

I felt a stab of relief when I saw Bones striding toward us. A large ghoul with black bushy hair and a blindingly white smile followed him.

'Verses, this is my wife, Cat,' Bones introduced me.

'Nice to meet you,' I said, shaking his hand. I was surprised when Bones tugged me away a moment later.

'Follow me,' he said, leading me past the D.J.'s booth and to a door behind it. It opened to reveal a staircase, and it was a good thing I could see in the dark, because there were no lights once Bones shut the door.

I expected to see a weapons cache, but we were in a room cluttered with old speakers, musical equipment, boxes, and tables. I was about to ask what we were supposed to do with this stuff when Bones yanked me to him. He kissed me, pushing me back against the table and reaching under my dress.

Clearly we weren't here to armor up against danger. 'Bones,' I managed, pushing him back. 'Tammy -'

'Is fine with Verses,' he cut me off. 'Don't fret about her. Think about me.'

He propped me up on the table as he spoke, pulling my underwear down past my knees. I gasped when he kissed me again, because he unleashed his aura at the same time. The waves of power suddenly flooding over me, combined with the rub of his desire on my subconscious, felt just as tangible as his tongue raking inside my mouth.

My objection vanished. Music boomed all around us, its throbbing beat mimicking the pulse I no longer had. I kissed him back, pulling him closer. A last tug on my underwear had them off, and Bones spread my legs, positioning himself to stand between them. I opened his shirt, tonguing his flesh from his neck to his chest, awash in the heightened sensations of supernatural energy, lust, and power that came from Bones and the club above us.

He squeezed my breasts, his fingers teasing my nipples rigid even through my bra and dress. Hard, bare skin rubbed me below as he tugged down his pants. I arched against him, moaning into his mouth. Need throbbed within me. The table and walls vibrated from music pumping above us. To me, it seemed like everything was shuddering with passion.

'Now,' I gasped.

He pushed deeply into me, the merging of our flesh sending waves of pleasure through my nerve endings. The invisible currents of his power seemed to sink into me with each new stroke.

I sank my fangs into his neck, feeling him shudder with a different kind of enjoyment. Blood filled my mouth, bringing a rush of ecstasy that his strong, smooth thrusts only heightened. I sucked harder, feeling his pace increase as the tension inside me built. I bit him again, crying out when his grasp tightened and he ground himself against me.

A flood of emotions seared my subconscious. I could feel Bones's control crumbling under the jagged slices of pleasure assaulting it. Felt the rapture shooting up his body when he abandoned that control and let lust have reign. Felt passion blasting through me as he yanked me even closer, thrusting with a sensual frenzy that would have hurt me if I was human, but only felt incredible now. Then I felt his fangs pierce my neck and my blood being pulled out. The music swallowed up our cries as we rocked together, faster and harder, drinking each other's blood, until both of us trembled from orgasm.

'That was really inappropriate,' I said several minutes later while I straightened my clothes.

Bones laughed, low and sinful. 'After being denied a week, I haven't begun to get inappropriate with you, Kitten, but I will.'

'I'm serious.' I might have an excuse, since decreased control over urges, food or otherwise, was a side effect of being a new vampire, but Bones had been dead a long time. 'We're supposed to be guarding Tammy, not sneaking off for a quickie.'

'Who knows how many more days we'll be holed up with your mum and Tammy? I wasn't wasting this opportunity. Besides, Verses is the owner of this club and he's a friend. Tammy's safe. He's probably twirling her around the dance floor as we speak.'

That made me feel less guilty. We were supposed to be on vacation, after all, and the past week of sleeping together without anything else happening had been taking its toll on me, too.

I brought my attention back to business. 'Time to mingle with the local lowlifes and see if anyone's heard about a hitter after a human?'

Bones grinned. 'People do talk about all sorts of things when they're out having a bit of fun. Let's see if we can find out anything useful.'

Chapter Five

True to Bones's prediction, we found Tammy on the dance floor with Verses. The ghoul could dance like nobody's business, too. Tammy looked happier than I'd seen her all week.

'It can't be time to go yet,' she said once she saw us.

'Not yet,' Bones replied. 'Verses, mate, point out one of your most gossipy regulars, but someone who can still be taken seriously.'

With his height, it was easy for Verses to see over the other people. After a few seconds, he gestured at a bar manned by a beautiful vampire covered only in dark blue body glitter.

'See the gray-haired vampire sitting on the end? Name's Poppy. He tells too many stories to be trusted with a secret, but he doesn't make up what he hasn't heard.'

'Smashing. I'd appreciate it if you kept your staff from mentioning that I was here tonight – or my wife. Trixie recognized us. Maybe a few more of them, too.'

Verses gave Bones a look. 'Bite is a haven for our kind. You're not intending to break my rules, are you?'

Bones clapped him on the back. 'I won't do anything on your premises. After all, I intend to come back here with my wife. We still have some areas left to explore.'

If it were possible, I'd have blushed at the blatant innuendo. Verses just laughed. Tammy looked bored.

'Why don't you do whatever it is you're going to do while I stay with Verses and dance?' Tammy suggested.

I was glad to change the subject. 'Verses might have other things to do, Tammy.'

'Keeping a pretty lady happy always takes priority,' Verses said, winking at her.