Page 17 of You Only Die Twice

I can’t be with her twenty-four-seven. It’s doubtful Luka even cares enough to dedicate a guard for Katrina, either. But how do you kill a monster? If I knew that, I would have done the job days ago and saved everyone the trouble…but then Katrina would be left without a guardian.

“I hear your pained thoughts as they swirl around that brain of yours,” Luka murmurs, stepping over Gloria’s body to get to me. “You agonize far too much over things that are beyond your control. I promise you, I will not listen to this incessant whining for centuries. Either you find a way out of this miserable quagmire you find yourself in, or I’ll do it for you.”

His lips slide over mine. Just a brief touch of skin to skin, but it’s enough to bring a flare of arousal through me, so strong that it nearly buckles my knees. I have to stay strong for Katrina. I have no other choice. In life, I was a soldier, always looking to the greater good. In eternal death, my mission should still be the same, even if it’s skewed a bit.

Sliding my hand to the back of Luka’s neck, I pull him closer to me and slam my lips into his. As a vampire, the world is now opened to me in a way I couldn't even imagine, and I have my maker to thank for that. Now, I’ll never tire; I’ll never grow weak. He gave me an opportunity, and for once, I need to seize it and make it mine.

Luka’s hand drifts lower, grasping my hardening erection through the fabric. With an expert touch that only comes with experience, he slides his fingers up and down, squeezing here, tugging there. He’s not gentle. His hands are demanding, rough. They’re not like anything I’ve experienced before and probably never will again. If these are the small pleasures afforded me as a vampire, I might as well indulge.

Groaning, I let my body relax, allowing myself to enjoy Luka’s touch instead of forcing my brain away. Just because the old Jackson didn’t find men appealing doesn’t mean this new Jackson can’t. Truth be told, I probably still won’t find other men attractive, but for some reason, I can’t get Luka out of my system.

It could be he’s brainwashing me to accept his touch. More than likely, that’s what happened with Gloria. He cast some spell over her, dragging her away from my side and over to his. Little by little, he wears away at my own walls, coaxing me into the darkness with him, and day by day, I slip just a little more.

There’s something so decadent about the passion Luka bestows on me. As if I’m the only person in the room with him. I know it’s all in my head, but it’s nice to have someone besides Katrina actually give a damn about me. Gloria sure as fuck didn’t. Comparing her to both Luka and Katrina, I see now how cold she actually was. How distant.

I deserve to be the object of someone else’s obsession, and by God, I’ll soak it up like a desert waiting for the rain. Luka’s lips curl up against mine as his hand tugs once more at my cock. “You think too much, my underling. One of these days, the wheels will stop, and you’ll just feel.”

Pulling away, he trails a finger up my shaft and circles the head of my cock, drawing out an illicit moan from my lips. If I were still human, I wouldn’t be able to feel this beneath my layers of clothing. As it is, it’s that scrape of fabric against my sensitive skin that makes it ao much more pleasurable.

“But,” he continues, walking over to Gloria. “We have other matters to attend to.”

Once more, he grabs Gloria by the back of her neck and forces her to the ground in front of me. “Open.” Again, her lips quiver as she fights the compulsion, but there’s no shying away from his command. Luka’s tone brooks no argument. Fight as she might, she has no choice but to obey.

My cock twitches as I watch the play of emotion on her face. For once, she’s not able to hide behind that icy exterior. Everything is now laid bare before me. Every flinch, every twitch. I revel in it. Closing my eyes, I drag her scent deep into me. I’ve smelled her before when I’ve held her in my arms.

How many nights did I breathe her scent into me while I spooned with her, falling asleep to the soothing sounds of her breathing? But now, with my heightened senses, it’s so much more complex. It’s as if I’ve not been able to breathe my entire life, and suddenly, I’m overwhelmed.

It’s a cacophony of scents, but the more I hone in, the more I’m able to pick out notes and nuances. There are parts to Gloria that will always be the same. The musky scent of her arousal is still there, though now, it’s buried under layers of terror. It’s that overriding scent of fear that brings a drop of precum welling to the top of my shaft.

Groaning, I watch as Luka once more slips the ring between her lips and behind her teeth. Gloria’s tongue lashes out against the metal, as if by sheer will she can push it out. The only way it’s leaving her mouth is if Luka or I remove it, or if by some odd ability, she’s able to shove her teeth out with it.

With her front incisors missing, it’s not hard to imagine the rest of her teeth giving way. Shaking my head, I force that thought from my brain, and instead, I focus on the thin line of drool sliding down her lips. Mesmerized, I stare as the drop lands on the floor with a barely audible plop.

As a human, I would have never even come close to hearing that, but now, I hear everything. Gloria’s breath comes in ragged gasps, the tempo close to matching my own. The main difference is mine is from excitement. Something shifts inside as the monster in me gets closer to the surface.

Luka slides his fingers around the thick leather at the back of her head, holding Gloria immobile. I can do anything I want to her, and no one will stop me. All the pain, all the anger will finally have a vessel. Gloria will be the cold body I extract my vengeance from, and this time, she can’t say no.

Power goes to my head, and I sway for a moment as the heady sensation washes over me. She can’t say no. Anything and everything I ever wanted to do to her, I can. My fingers flex and release as I start to pace back and forth, calling every hurt every injustice to my mind.

It’s bad enough that she lied to me. It’s bad enough that she slept with the enemy. Christ. We were hunting Luka down together. He was priority number one even before she “died.” She fucking fucked the goddamn enemy.

“In your bed, I might add,” Luka interjected, lips once more sliding into that damnable knowing smirk. He knows he’s stirring me up. He’s adding fuel to a fire that needs no more kindling. I’m already hot enough as it is.

“Is it true?” Luka loosens his grip enough for Gloria to nod her head, her eyes widening as if to convey something with a look.

It’s far too late for that now. Without even giving it another thought, I open my fist and let my hand fly, my palm connecting with her taut cheek. The sound is like gunfire, and instantly, I recoil. I’ve never struck a woman before. Not like this. Not in anger. Staring down at Gloria, an apology rests on my lips. But then she turns to face me, her eyes blazing with an inner hatred that I never knew could exist in her.

She hid that side of herself well. “Take out that damned ring, Luka. She obviously wants to talk.”

The smirk disappears from his lips as he reaches out to grab my shirt. The force as he yanks me forward nearly rips the fabric apart. This time, it’s his turn to glare at me. “Do not presume to order me about, minion. You are not the one in charge. You take control at my whim, and for now, this exchange amuses me. But don’t you ever think to order me about again. Do you understand?”

He presses the button again, bringing the screens to life. Katrina paces about, her hands wringing about with every step. What little of my heart is left goes out to her. She’s so scared, so alone. Once more, I forgot the mission. Katrina’s my mission now, not revisiting old hurts.

“You have the start of a perfect life here,” Luka continues. “Don’t fuck it up. Soon, Katrina will be eating out of the palm of your hand, the perfect submissive. Someone you can rip to shreds and let heal only to do it all over again. Think, boy. No more waiting days or weeks to play with her as hard as you can. The perfect fuck toy. Don’t throw it all away because you let your head get the best of you. I’m still the one in charge. She still breathes because I will it so.”

He’s right. As much as I hate to admit it, Luka is right. Why am I throwing away the semblance of happiness because of a twat that couldn’t keep her legs closed? Even now, she glares at me, as if all of this is my fault. How the fuck did I cause any of this. A deadly calm washes over me as I bow my head, submitting to Luka for the moment.

He’s the only thing keeping Katrina and me alive. As much as I hate him, he’s still the one in control. Granted, his leash around me seems to be tied to respect. If I respect him and his decisions, I’m free to do what I want. As long as I don’t get in my own way, I can have it all - a submissive that craves me, a Master that knows how to twist my mind until I crumble under his dominance.