My skin crawled at the sight of Bale outside, watching me, waiting. Loren had told me Bale was beginning to lose interest and that he would soon leave.
I hoped she was right because I couldn't stand him looking at me like he did.
Even through the walls, I knew he was there.
It was like he could see me despite the bricks between us.
I shuddered as Jackal stared down at me, his expression hardening.
Jackal had a way of hiding his feelings, but I could tell something was wrong.
"What? What is it?" I whispered, wondering why I sensed what I did.
Jackal grimaced and pursed his lips.
"Nothing."
My stomach twisted at his words which I knew were lies. Jackal looked distracted, and I didn't like it one bit.
"What did he say to you?"
Jackal turned his attention to me, his eyes alight with passion and fear.
"Can you stop asking questions for one night?"
"No," I said, pushing my shoulders back. "There's a demon out there that wants to kill me, and I need to know everything he says in order to defend myself."
"You can't defend yourself, don't be ridiculous," Jackal snapped, gripping my wrist in his icy fingers. "This whole situation is insane."
"Hey, I didn't ask for any of this." My voice cracked, and Jackal stared at me, studying me almost in awe. "I'm scared, Jackal."
His nostrils flared, his jaw set.
"I know. If it helps, I'm not used to being powerless either."
It was a small admission, but it was something.
I backed away, moving until my back hit the wall of the kitchen.
"Please tell me what Bale said to you, and don't spare my feelings."
I didn't want to know what Bale said, but in order to survive, I had to. If I even had a chance of survival, I needed to know.
"You're relentless." Jackal groaned, moving by my side in the blink of an eye.
His scent comforted me, and I nuzzled his neck without thinking, my body arching back with need as his hands trailed down my sides until they rested on my hips.
"Please tell me," I begged, resting my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes.
"He said he'll allow me one night to be with you." Jackal's words were soft, but the agony they held weighed heavily in his voice.
My heart skipped a beat as a bead of sweat trickled down my forehead, my tongue sticking to the roof of my mouth as I tried to speak.
"Then what?" I choked out, my body trembling.
What was the point in being a witch if I couldn't do anything to defend myself?
If a vampire-like Jackal couldn't help me, then who could?
How do you fight a bloody demon?
My head ached.
Maybe this is all just a bad dream.
"Then he wants you."
My fingers bunched up into fists, and a sob took over my body as I lifted my head to Jackal.
His intense stare made me shiver despite the warmth in the room, and his eyes were pure black, all signs of colour gone.
"He's going to kill me, isn't he?"
Jackal didn't answer, and I lost it, my shoulders slumping with the realisation of my fate.
"I'm sorry." Jackal patted my back like I was a child who'd lost my favourite toy. "Come here."
I tried to resist him, but he held me tight, pulling me into his arms.
"You're going to leave me," I gasped, trying to wriggle out of his grasp. "So what, you have one night of fun with me, and then he kills me? Wow. The supernatural fucking suck."
But then, as clear as day, I heard Jackal in my head. I had to check his mouth wasn't moving, but he was looking away from me.
I'm not leaving you. Don't say anything aloud; I don't know who's listening.
I could barely breathe.
The spells on the doors and windows won't last forever—he would get in eventually. I have to think of a way to get you out of here.
I snorted then, and he gave me a strange look.
"Are you alright?" Jackal asked, arching an eyebrow at me.
"No, I'm not." I snapped back, moving away from him. "I need to digest everything."
Jackal released me, and I instantly missed him.
Kiss me. We'll talk then.
Is he serious?
Before I could argue, though, his strong arms wrapped around me, pinning me to him. His tongue slid across my lips, which I was powerless to stop moving against his.
I'm not leaving you.
His voice was as clear as a summer's day in my head, but I was confused.
So you're going to die too?
There was a brief silence as the kiss deepened, distracting both of us from our reality.
I'm not too fond of that idea either, but as I said, I'm not going.
You're scaring me, Jackal…
The kiss became more intense, and he moved his lips to my ear, his breath dancing on my throat. Goosebumps pricked on my skin as he pressed himself against me, his hand gripping my chin and twisting it, so he had full access to my throat.
My heart thumped in my chest when he flickered his tongue against the soft skin, moaning my name as he slid his hand to my thigh.
Squeezing the skin, he chuckled when I let out a yelp, sinking my teeth into my lower lip.
"Don't tease," I whispered, wondering why the hell we were doing this when my imminent death loomed over us both.
I was going to die.
You're not going to fucking die. I've got an idea.
"Let me fuck you," Jackal said, his fingers tugging my soaked panties to the side.
My eyes widened as he nodded at me, pushing a finger into my tunnel.
"Oh, Jackal…"
Do you trust me?
I'm scared.
I know. Please trust me. I can save you, but it means giving me forever.
A second finger joined the first, and I threw my head back, hazy with lust. My lips swelled beneath my teeth as I rode his fingers, knowing I'd agree to anything if he let me get off like this.
"Okay," I hissed as his thumb brushed my sensitive spot. "Do whatever you want to me."
I knew that was a pretty stupid thing to say to a vampire, but I trusted Jackal.
Something changed in his eyes as he threw me over the arm of the sofa, tugging my underwear to my ankles as he sank to his knees.
Splitting my ass cheeks apart, he buried his face in my core, inhaling my scent as his tongue slid along my folds.
I shuddered, my mouth twisting into a gasp that seemed to last forever as he teased me with his fingers and his tongue.
I gripped fistfuls of the fabric beneath me, moaning out his name as he tore me apart, sucking and even nibbling in places as he ruined me.
"You're destroying me," I moaned, crying out when his tongue circled my hole, joining his fingers as they coaxed my pleasure out of me.
If I weren't bent over the sofa, I'd have collapsed, so skilled was this man.
"Your pussy is divine."
The rumble of Jackal's voice against my core sent shivers through my body, my nipples hardening at his words.
"When I fuck you, it's going to hurt."
I didn't care.
He could split me in two for all I cared.
"Please," I moaned, losing control around his mouth and fingers as he curled his fingers within me. "Please, Jackal."
Are you sure? This will be forever, and it will be painful. I'm not talking about the fucking either.
I nodded my head, screaming his name as my muscles contracted, clamping around his fingers as my orgasm reached its peak.
My body shuddered involuntarily as he rose to his feet, his arm caging me to his body as he positioned himself at my entrance.
My eyes widened at the sheer size, but also the ridged head that pressed against me.
I'm about to fuck a vampire. I'm going to die.
Give me your word, or I'm not doing anything.
Yes, Jackal.
Out loud.
"Please fuck me!" I was almost in tears when his voice sounded in my head once more.
Do you want me to save you too?
Yes!
I didn't know what it meant, but it had to be better than being Bale's next victim.
It will be forever, Anita.
"Now!" I half screamed, pushing myself against his dick as he groaned.
It wouldn't fit.
I bucked against him, turning to stare at him through half-lidded eyes.
His hair fell in his eyes, setting off the amber glow that made him look ethereal. His canines had lengthened, and his face transformed into that of a monster.
I wasn't scared.
I wanted him.
Jackal sensed my impatience and pushed himself into me, stretching my walls as I screamed.
The tearing sensation sent me dizzy, but his warm breath on my neck kept me steady.
Almost there.
But he wasn't—I knew he wasn't.
"Jackal, I can't—" I gasped, my voice cracking with pain as he tore at my insides, his dick shattering my walls to reach its destination.
When he thrust, my vision went blurry, and white-hot pain spread through my body.
"Breathe," Jackal ordered, resting on my back as he trailed kisses across my shoulders. "Let your body adjust to me."
I whispered beneath him, but slowly the pain subsided, and as he moved, waves of pleasure spread through my core. The ridges of his wide dick sent ripples of ecstasy through my flesh, my eyes rolling in my head as he fucked me.
His grunts and groans turned me on even more, but then his fingers dug into my hips with such need and urgency I knew he was crushing my bones.
"Jackal!" I begged for him to release me, but he was too far gone.
His hand moved to my throat, pulling me, so I was upright, impaled on his dick.
My breathing was ragged, my core destroyed.
This is the painful part. Forever, Anita?
I didn't even hesitate. My heart throbbed with love for this monster, this man, whatever he was.
I wanted him.
I didn't want to die without him.
Forever, Jackal.
With one swift movement, his fingers twisted my neck, snapping it instantly.
I choked, trying to inhale air but failing, as my life drained away from me.
"No!" Loren screamed from behind the mirror as Jackal grinned at her from over my shoulder.
Then, without a word, he sank his teeth into my neck, sucking on my life force greedily as he held me to him.
They can't have you now.
I'm dying!
Yes. But you'll live forever.
With you?
With me.