Turned Innocence

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Turned Innocence Mara Lee Published 2004 ISBN 1-59578-061-0 Published by Liquid Silver Books, imprint of Atlantic Bridge Publishing,10509 Sedgegrass Dr, Indianapolis ,Indiana46235 . Copyright © 2004,Mara Lee . All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author. Manufactured in theUnited States of America Liquid Silver Books http://lsbooks.com Email: [email protected] Cover Art byColby Hausmann This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental. Dedication: To C, who is and always will bemy hero. Chapter One:

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She was staggeringly beautiful. He hadn’t expected her to be this beautiful. Alexethre Roistkauff could not remember the last time he had been so moved by the mere sight of a woman. Xethre moved closer to the stage, mindful of the glaring lights that burned his eyes. Though it was nearing midnight, you wouldn’t know it by the brightness inside the club. The stage was brilliantly cast by lights and at the center of it all was Sheridan Malaya Duskul—the Council’s target—his target. Xethre had been called away suddenly from Sophie’s home by the Vampire Council. Xethre found the Council to be tedious, a true waste of a good eternity, but they were still the Council. And they could make or break you if they so chose. Xethre complied with their directives—when it suited him. In return, the Council gave him his space, rarely summoning him for anything anymore. And so it surprised him greatly when he had received the urgent message that his services were required. Of course his surprise was magnified when he had received the Council’s orders. The Council had tasked him with Sheridan Duskul’s Turning. They wished him, Alexethre Roistkauff, to bringSheridan over. To turn her into a vampire. It was a shocking order. Not because he wasn’t powerful, or because he couldn’t do it, but because non-Council members rarely turned humans. To turn a human you had to draw the circle, bite, bleed, share blood and say ritual words. It was a complex feat that not all vampires could accomplish. The Turning was reserved only for the very elite. All others had to beg an audience from the Council and plead their case for a vampire companion. If the Council denied their request, the vampire in question would have to go without a vampire companion. There was nothing left to be done—unless of course they wished to annex themselves from the Council. This of course would be an instant death sentence. Oh yes, the Council kept tight reign on all new members of the dark. There would be no errant vampires—only those that were created and could be controlled. Of course, vampires could bind a human to their side … make a human bound companion. It was an alternative to the Turning. To mark a human was decidedly easier than to convert one into a vampire. Xethre knew that his sometimes comrade’s Michaela and Matthew had the power, and certainly had the lineage, to turn humans if they wished to. So far, they had chosen not to go down that path, as they had chosen not to keep association with the Council. They were lucky that their power gave them that choice. Xethre knew he was powerful. Indeed, he was no fledgling. But his power did not begin to compare to that of the Dark Twins. It was for these many reasons that the Council’s order’s bewildered him. If the Council wished Sheridan Duskul’s Turning, why had they not tasked it to Michaela or Matthew? Perhaps because they knew that the twins would never comply. file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (2 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


Xethre let his eyes move slowly over Sheridan Duskul’s magnificent form. She was tall. She reminded him of the Amazons he had lived with many years past. Her hair was ash blonde and fell in abundance to her slim waist. Her eyes were sapphire blue and her complexion flawless. She had high cheekbones, a full mouth and the most gorgeous cleavage he had ever had the pleasure of beholding. It annoyed him greatly to see that he was not the only one appreciating her incredible bosom. Xethre gritted his teeth asSheridan started on her second set. He didn’t know how much more he could take. Her beautiful voice and obviously unintentional sensual movements were making him hard as stone. Her voice was truly lovely. She was a perfect soprano. Her tone was balanced, light as air and yet managed a richness that he rarely heard. Of course it helped that she had the face of an angel and the body of a goddess. The Council had told Xethre little, it was their mantra. Keep it short. Tell only what was necessary to get the job done. Xethre had been told that Sheridan Duskul was very distantly related to a Council member. This made sense. IfSheridan was related to a Council member, said Council member could not Turn her. The sharing of family blood often led to a fledgling with either diminished power, or mental instability. It was a form of incest—the sharing of familial blood. And the bite necessary to create a fledgling often involved shared blood. The Council had told Xethre that he was to observe, learn, report, and eventually Turn Sheridan Duskul for them. They had not told him of her aura of innocence or of her captivating beauty. It was unsettling to say the least. And Alexethre Roistkauff was rarely unsettled. **** Sheridantried not to squirm under the man’s intense scrutiny. She was used to men watching her, lusting after her. She was not used to such intenselonging . It was this longing that she saw mirrored in the man’s eyes. It was unnerving. One moment he would slip into the lights and her eyes would be blinded. The next he would slip into shadow and she could see such a strange light flickering there in his astonishing orbs. She should not be able to see him so strongly in the shadows, and yet she could. She could see everything. Her mystery man was beautiful—too beautiful. Such beauty was unreal. His eyes were the strangest, most amazing, shade of blue— turquoise were they? His skin was pale, almost too pale, and his hair was shockingly black. But it was more than his external beauty. There was a quiet authority there, a pulse of energy and strength that she found intoxicating. It was as if he were calling to her. Sheridanshook her head to clear it. She was singing. She had to remember she was performing. She had never, absolutely never, reacted this way to a man before. Especially to a man who was ogling her at a club. She had brushed off hundreds of would be admirers and she had never yet given so much as her number to one of them. But this man was different. This man was more file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (3 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


than a little intriguing, and, if she would admit it to herself, unsettling. And Sheridan Malaya Duskul was rarely unsettled. **** Sheridanexited the stage amidst loud cheers and clapping. She gratefully accepted a cool drink from Benny, her accompanist, and made her way over to Roger, the manager of Club Sound. “You were as brilliant as ever,” Roger said. He leaned over and placed a kiss on her flushed cheek. Sheridansmiled. “Thanks, Roger. Oh, Roger, tell me you’re getting the AC fixed. It’s hot as Hades in here.” Roger nodded. “I know, love, I’m working on it. They couldn’t come out on the weekend. They’ll have it fixed by the time you take the stage Monday night.” “Great.”Sheridan turned and stopped when she felt Roger’s hand on her bare upper arm. “Roger?” “Sher, baby, have a drink with me.” Sheridanplastered a smile on her face and shook her arm free. “Roger, I work in a bar. I don’t really feel like having another drink.” “Then have dinner with me.” “I’m not hungry. Thanks anyway.” Roger scowled. “You’re being difficult.” Sheridansighed. “Roger, I’ve told you a million times. I’m flattered, but I’m just not interested.” “Without me, without my support, you’d be nothing.” Roger’s face had suffused with color. Sheridanmade sure to keep her expression perfectly bland. She had heard this before. Roger’s threats didn’t scare her anymore. “Don’t threaten me, Roger. It’s not very nice. And don’t think I can’t find work somewhere else, if it comes to that.” “I know people, Sher. I could make your life very difficult.” Sheridancounted to ten. She wasn’t about to lose her temper. She rarely lost her temper anymore. As a performer she needed a lot of patience and a lot of gumption. You learned how to deal with people—especially people like Roger. “I know people too, Roger. Listen, this conversation is file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (4 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


leaving a bad taste in my mouth. I’m exhausted. I’m going home.”Sheridan turned on her heel and left Roger sputtering behind her. Usually she could deal with Roger’s flirting and not-sosubtle come-ons, but tonight, well tonight, she was just too tired. And Roger was becoming a little too aggressive for her liking. Perhaps it was time she found another gig. **** Sheridanslipped on her tan trench coat and picked up her duffel bag. She called out goodnight to Benny and made her way out of the club. The moment she stepped outside she was engulfed in darkness. Darn it, she should have taken Benny up on his offer to drive her home. Her car was in the shop and the mechanic said she wouldn’t be able to have it back for at least another week. Until then, it was public transportation for her. Sheridansighed. Well, it was only two blocks to the bus stop. She could bear the dark for two blocks.Sheridan pulled the lapels of her coat closer together, but it did little to help stop the cold from invading her body. It was freezing. And her coat was certainly too thin. But who could afford a warm winter coat these days? Hell, she could barely afford paper towels. ButSheridan hadn’t toiled all these years and studied so hard to fail. She would sing in as many seedy nightclubs as it took to be discovered. Most of the good agents these days recruited from the nightclubs. She believed in her voice. And she believed that someday she would have success with the talent that God gave her. Of course … too bad belief didn’t provide a warm winter coat. Sheridan’s teeth began to chatter. She needed something to keep her mind off of the chill. She pulled out a piece of gum from her pocket and quickly popped it into her mouth. It was hard to chew, she was so darned cold, but at least it would keep her mouth moving. “Your coat is sorely lacking.” Sheridanbegan to shiver anew—but not from the cold. The voice that addressed her was thick as coated molasses and warm as winter’s fire.Sheridan turned slowly. She wasnot about to freak out. Come on, someone with a voicethat good couldn’t bethat bad—right? Sheridan’s breath caught and her heart stopped momentarily when she found herself face to face with the man who had caught her attention from the club. It was him—her mystery man. And boy, he was even more handsome up close—better than Tom Cruise, George Clooney,and Johnny Depp all rolled into one. “Who are you?”Sheridan asked. Sheridan’s mystery man smiled and it was breathtaking. “Alexethre Roistkauff, but you can call file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (5 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


me Xethre, little one.” Sheridanwas jerked out of her stupor by his pet name. She hated pet names. “My name isn’t little one, it’s Sheridan Duskul.”Sheridan gasped. Great, she had just told the complete stranger her name. She really had to work on minding her tongue. “Yes, I know.” Xethre grinned. “Can we take this somewhere else, Sheridan?” “Take what where?” Okay, so he looked yummy. She wasn’t about to follow him anywhere if that was what he was asking. “You are shivering, little one.” “Yeah, well it’s a little cold out here … if you haven’t noticed.”Sheridan frowned. By the looks of it, he hadn’t noticed. Of course, her mystery man was wearing a very expensive winter coat. She’d be warm too if she had a coat like that. “There is a small Italian restaurant two blocks south of here. I’d be honored if you’d accompany me.” Sheridansmiled despite the cold. “Regio’s, I know it.” Xethre nodded and held out his hand. “Wonderful. Shall we go?” Sheridanlaughed and snapped her gum. “Now hold on, handsome. I said I knew it. I didn’t say I was going with you. I don’t know you. You could be an ax murderer for all I know.” Xethre’s smile lit up his already too-handsome face. “Do I look like an ax murderer to you, little one?” Sheridanswallowed, thinking that his smile should be illegal. “You look like a movie star.”Sheridan couldn’t believe she had actually blurted that out. “That still doesn’t mean I’m going anywhere with you.”Sheridan knew she had to leave. She had to leave before she blurted out any more stupid remarks.Sheridan had always thought she knew how to handle men. She dealt with them on a daily basis. But this man was in a league of his own. It was like he had a sign on his forehead that said ‘Beware of my totally lethal charm’. And it was because of thoughts like this that she had to get out of his presence, and quick. “Okay. Well this was a novel experience. But I’m exhausted, so I’m headed home now.” “You’re going to walk in this cold, little one?” “Will you stop calling me ‘little one’?”Sheridan rolled her eyes. “I’m five eleven. I stopped file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (6 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


beinglittle a long, long time ago.” Xethre laughed. It was a rich, rolling laugh. “Perhaps you’re not short, but you are still a little one.” Sheridanrolled her eyes. Who was this man? He didn’t look much older than her own twenty-six years. “Okay, well, like I said, this was terrific, but I’ve got to go. I’m beat.” “Are you?” “What?” “Beat?” Xethre asked. “You’ve got to be joking.”Sheridan looked into his solemn face and groaned. He didn’t look like he was joking. “I don’t joke.” Sheridannodded slowly. “Yeah, I’m sort of realizing that.” “Sheridan, you’ll catch your death. Let us get out of this cold.” “I told you, I’m not going anywhere with you.” Xethre sighed. She was being unbelievably difficult. He took in her shaking hands and chattering teeth and decided—it was time to take matters into his own hands. Xethre wrapped his Glamour about him like a heavy blanket. He let it seep through him and burn a path to his magnetic eyes. He knew that his Glamour was reflected in his deep turquoise eyes; he could feel the heat of it shimmering and pulsating through him. He focused all his Glamour onSheridan and smiled devilishly when he saw her take a step back. Her eyes widened and her breath hitched. She swallowed. “I… I…”Sheridan could not seem to say more. She began to sway towards him. Xethre nodded. “Yes, I am sure you have changed your mind, little one. You do wish to come with me, do you not?” Sheridannodded jerkily. She licked her lips. This man was way too beautiful for words. “Yes, I’d love to come with you.” Xethre smiled, triumphant. Ah, yes, good ol’ Glamour. It never failed to work. “Terrific.” Xethre file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (7 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


held out his arm forSheridan and once she took it, began to walk in the direction of Regio’s. “I’m so glad you saw things my way.” Sheridanremained silent. For the life of her, she couldn’t think of one thing to say to that. Chapter Two: Sheridanblushed when her stomach growled loudly. Damn, she should have eaten before she had gone up on stage. She looked up and noticed that the gorgeous man sitting across from her was smiling broadly. Shoot, it seemed that he had heard her rather indelicate stomach rumblings. Sheridanalmost groaned with relief when a large pizza was placed before her. The aroma of cheese, sauce, crisp bread, pepperoni and mushrooms wafted up toward her and made her stomach clench painfully. She bit her lip and cast another shy look in her mystery man’s direction. Would he think her a pig if she just dug in? As if answering her mind’s question, Xethre nodded. “Please, just eat.” Sheridandidn’t need any further prompting. She dug in. “Oh my God, oh my God.” Xethre laughed. “I take it that it is good?” “So unbelievably good. Regio’s has the best pizza.” “Yes, so I’ve heard.” Xethre said quietly. Sheridantook a swig of her beer and found her brows drawing together. Not that the food wasn’t fabulous … and the view even better, but for the life of her she couldn’t remember accepting this man’s invitation to dinner. In fact, it was most unlike her. She NEVER accepted dates with men from the club. It was a strict rule of hers. Dating patrons was never a good thing. But here she was, at dinner, with the beautiful man who had watched her show tonight. She had to have accepted his invitation, but when? Hmm, it was a mystery, much like the man himself. “Aren’t you going to eat?”Sheridan asked around a mouthful of pizza. Xethre inclined his head. “Of course.” He took a slice of pizza, dripping with cheese, and placed it on his plate. His eyes devoured hers. He watched as she shook some hot pepper flakes, oregano, salt and pepper onto her pizza and scooped it up. He took in the play of light across her face and the motions her mouth made as she chewed. Her eyes closed briefly as she savored the first bite and he could almost imagine what the pizza tasted like. Her face was so expressive. Xethre was enthralled. His target was vastly intriguing. The more time he spent with her the more file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (8 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


he felt that the Council had left out a lot when they had briefed him. He felt her aura pulling at him. She was an innocent, totally pure. He knew that her blood would be beyond sweet—the blood of innocents always was. But it was this same innocence that gave him pause. When was the last time he had encountered purity in its rarest form? Therewas that novice in 1731, but even she had exhibited a wild streak that defied her innocent nature. She hadn’t been meant for a cloistered life, and so she had decided when she had begged Xethre to Turn her. Xethre, of course, had declined. He could not turn her without the Council’s permission. In the end, the Council had deigned her an audience and had agreed to Turn her. But it had not been Xethre who had bitten her, but a rival—Pathos. Pathos had bitten Xethre’s novice and she had become his companion for the next hundred years or so. Xethre was unaware of the scowl that graced his handsome face as the unwanted memories assailed him. He hadn’t thought of novice Catherine in over fifty years, why now? Perhaps it was because he saw inSheridan the same spark he had seen in Catherine? Could that be it? No. Catherine had been wild and defiant. She had also been impetuous and lacked the true purity he sensed inSheridan . Sheridan Duskul was pure. He could sense nothingbut purity lingering there. But she did have a spark, a beautiful spark. He sensed that too. “You finished already?” Sheridan’s sweet voice jerked him out of his reverie. “Pardon?” Sheridanwaved to his empty plate. “Wow, you ate fast.” Xethre nodded. “I guess I was hungry.” “Yeah, I guess so.”Sheridan went back to eating. Xethre held back a smile. It was good thing he had vampiric powers, otherwise this façade of normalcy would be wasted on her. Thank goodness he was able to dispose of the pizza faster than her human eyes could detect. He had simply placed his share on the tray of a passing server as he went by. It was that simple. “So, I haven’t seen you at Club Sound before.” “This was my first time.” “Uh-huh, so what brought you over?”Sheridan asked bluntly. “You.” Sheridan’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?” file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (9 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


Xethre smiled at her shocked expression. “You, Sheridan, I came to see you.” Sheridanfound it difficult to swallow. His smile was positively lethal—it was that sexy. “Okay. Um, well, I’m flattered. How did you know I performed there?” “Oh, I know quite a lot about you, Sheridan.” Okay, now that was more than a little creepy. “You’re not like some crazy stalker, are you?”Sheridan laughed, a forced laugh. “Because, I have to warn you, my uncle is a cop, and well, he wouldn’t take so kindly to your attention toward me.” “Your uncle?” This was news to Xethre. He wasn’t aware thatSheridan had an uncle. The blasted Council, they always left things out. Sheridansighed. “Well, a friend. He’s been like an uncle to me.” Xethre smiled. “A friend that is like an uncle?” Sheridanscowled. “Yeah, what of it?” “Nothing, sweetSheridan , nothing. It is good that you have someone looking out for you.” “I can take care of myself.”Sheridan said angrily. She pushed a strand of hair out of her face. “Of course you can,” Xethre said. “But it is still good to have an extra pair of eyes on look out. You’re a young lady in a big city…” He let his words trail off. Sheridanrolled her eyes. She had heard this before. No one thought she could survive on her own in the city. But she WAS surviving; in fact, she was thriving—well, sort of thriving.Sheridan repeated her earlier words. “I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.” She wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince more strongly of that fact. Xethre let the dark invade his eyes and he leaned forward. “Can you? Can you really?” Sheridanswallowed. “Yeah.” “Have you ever thought on the shadows,Sheridan ?” “What do you mean?” “Have you ever seen a shadow and wondered if it were watching you.”



“Do you know how you sound?”Sheridan polished off her beer and pushed her plate away. “You sound downright crazy, not to mention creepy as all hell.” “I don’t mean to sound creepy,Sheridan . I am simply stating the obvious. There are shadows out there, little one. And those shadows have eyes. You must be aware of the darkness and you must watch out for it. Not all shadows are friendly.” Sheridannodded. “Well, thanks for that tidbit, and for the pizza and beer. But you know what, like I said before, I’m exhausted. So if you don’t mind, I’m going to go home now.”Sheridan got up and picked up her bag. She smiled tightly. “Thanks again.” She turned on her heel and left. It took her a great deal of self-restraint not to turn back and cast one more look in his direction. No, some kinds of temptation had to be avoided at all cost. The price was always too high.Sheridan was not about to let herself get distracted—even if he was more beautiful than words. Xethre watchedSheridan ’s magnificent ass sway as she walked away. She was stunning. He could have detained her, or even called her back, but he decided against such action. He had startled her with his rather ominous words, and he knew he needed to give her time to take everything he had said in. There would be other nights. Oh yes, Sheridan Duskul should be mindful of the shadows, and of the watchful eyes—his watchful eyes. **** Sheridanfinished her set and walked over to the bar for a quick drink of water. She ignored the pleas from several regulars to come over and talk; instead she sat on a small stool at the end of the bar.Sheridan did not drink with patrons, another rule of hers. She brushed back a long strand of hair and wished for the umpteenth time that she had secured her hair. She often let it hang loose; she knew that her hair was one of her finer features and she enjoyed making use of it, especially in her stage persona. But on nights like this she couldn’t help but wish for a rubber band. It was ridiculously hot in the club. Roger still hadn’t repaired the AC and she was sweating like crazy under the hot stage lights. Thank goodness she didn’t bother with much makeup, or it would appear as if her face was literally melting off. “A finer voice I have never heard.” Sheridanshivered and attempted to get a rein on her raging emotions. Oh God, that voice. She knew who that voice belonged to—Xethre. He had been coming to the club every night this week and every night this week she had to keep herself from jumping him right where he stood. He looked delicious. Better than delicious. Since the night that they had dinner, Xethre had stopped by the club but kept quiet and distant. He hadn’t tried to approach her. Indeed, he had made no move toward her, and yet she could feel his presence like a molten heat spreading through her body. His eyes, those incredible eyes, file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (11 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


would follow her movements stealthily. Every time she felt his eyes on her she would melt. Her heart would beat triple time and her mouth felt dry as dust. How could he affect her so? “I believe tonight you brought several of the mass to tears.” Xethre said. “And you?”Sheridan said. “Did I bring you to tears?” Xethre’s smile was mysterious. “I do not cry easily, little one.” “No, you wouldn’t, would you?”Sheridan said quietly. “What are you doing?” She finally asked. “Whatever do you mean?” Sheridansighed. “This, all of this. What are you doing? You come here every night, you watch the show, you watch me, and you leave. What are you doing?” “Could I not merely enjoy the setting, or the music?” Sheridannarrowed her eyes. “Do you think I’m stupid?” Xethre laughed. “Hardly.” “Than give me a straight answer, Xethre. Tell me the truth.”Sheridan gave him a calm, collected look. She would not let him see how nervous he made her. “I do not think you could handle the truth, little one.” “Oh, you’d be surprise at how much I could handle.” Xethre seemed to mull over her words. “You truly wish to know what this is about,Sheridan ?” Sheridannodded. “Yes.” “Will you accompany me this eve?” “Excuse me?” “After the show, will you accompany me to a place of my choosing?” Xethre grinned. “For the answer, of course.” “Youswear you’re not some sort of ax murderer.” Xethre laughed. “I swear.” file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (12 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


“Then okay, I’ll come with you after the show.” Xethre’s eyes deepened. “I’ll hold you to that.” Sheridannodded curtly. As long as she got the explanation that she wanted she would follow him anywhere. Of course, she probably was going to regret this. It didn’t seem like a prudent course of action. But when had she ever been prudent? **** Sheridanignored Roger’s glare and made her way over to Xethre. “So, shall we go?”Sheridan grabbed Xethre’s arm and began to pull him toward the door. Xethre’s eyes narrowed as he saw Roger making his way toward them. “What is your hurry, Sheridan ?” Xethre asked, eyes still trained on Roger’s advancing form. Sheridaninwardly groaned. She did not feel in the confrontation mood right now. “Can we please go?” Xethre shook his head. “I believe I would like to meet your boss. He is your boss, isn’t he?” Sheridannodded reluctantly. “Yeah.”Sheridan braced herself when Roger reached them. This didn’t look like it was going to be pretty. “Sheridan.” Roger said. His voice was icy cold. “Roger.” “And who is yourfriend ?” Roger asked. BeforeSheridan could answer, Xethre stuck out his hand and smiled brilliantly. “Alexethre Roistkauff.” Roger inclined his head. “Nice name.” His voice dripped sarcasm. Xethre laughed. “I’ve always liked it.” Roger turned back toSheridan . “I see you aren’t too tired to go out tonight.” Sheridansighed. “Roger, this really isn’t the time or the place to discuss this.”



Roger’s face twisted with fury and for the first time everSheridan saw true evil mirrored on his face. “Whore.” Roger spat out. Sheridan’s eyes widened and she drew her hand back to give him a much deserved slap across the face. But before she could manage it, Xethre’s hand shot out and closed around Roger’s neck. Sheridangasped. Roger’s eyes were bulging and his face was turning a mottled red. “That’s enough.”Sheridan said. “Please, Xethre, that’s enough.” Xethre ignoredSheridan ’s plea. “You will never, never, addressSheridan in such a manner again. If you do, I shall be forced to put you in your place—again. You do not wish to test me on this.” Xethre’s nostrils flared. “Do we understand one another?” Roger tried to swallow but found that his windpipe would allow little to no movement. He opted to shake his head a fraction of an inch in an affirmative motion. Xethre grinned. “Good. I am so glad that we understand one another.” Xethre released Roger, who instantly began to cough and sputter. “You attacked me!” Roger croaked out. “I’m going to sue your ass.” Xethre laughed. “You may try.” Sheridangave Roger a disgusted look. “By the way, Roger, I quit.” Roger’s eyes went wide. “You can’t.” “I just did.”Sheridan turned to Xethre. “Can we go now? I think we’re done here.” Xethre nodded. “Yes. I think we’re done.” Sheridansighed. “Great.” She strode briskly toward the exit. Xethre turned his turbulent blue eyes on Roger. He leaned into the other man and said quietly. “If you ever, ever come nearSheridan again, I will kill you. And I shall take great pleasure in it.” Roger swallowed slowly. By the look in his eyes he knew that Xethre’s words were no mere threat. Xethre would and could kill him—and easily. Xethre nodded. “Now, I believe we understand one another.” He turned on his heel and left. Roger sagged against the wall, sweat trickling down his face in great rivulets. It wasn’t every day file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (14 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


one saw one’s own death mirrored on the face of a total stranger. Chapter Three: Sheridanlooked around with unabashed awe. Xethre’s home was astonishing, astonishing and huge. She was currently sitting on a comfy black leather couch in what had to be the sitting room. The walls were covered with elaborate paintings and thick carpeting graced the floor. There were little knick-knacks everywhere and the entire room smelled like roses andginger ? “Your home is beautiful.”Sheridan said, still looking around. “Thank you. May I offer you something to drink, little one?” Sheridansighed. “You know … your formal speech doesn’t seem to fit with your endearments.” Xethre grinned. “Would you like me to alter what I say and how I say them?” “No, I’d like you to stop calling me little one.”Sheridan shot back. Xethre laughed. “I shall try. Although it will be difficult, as the endearment fits you so very well.” “Yeah, well, I don’t like it.” “I will attempt to find a more appropriate endearment.” “My name would work just fine.”Sheridan muttered under her breath. Xethre grinned. “Very well,Sheridan .” Sheridangasped. “You heard me?” “Quite clearly.” “But … but…”Sheridan sputtered. “Do not worry. I will explain all in a moment.” “How about explaining it now.”Sheridan couldn’t suppress a scowl. Xethre sighed. “You’re very impatient.” “Actually, I think I’ve been very patient,”Sheridan shot back. “Not to mention I’ve broken all of my rules,” she muttered. file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (15 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


“What rules,Sheridan ?” “Well, first off… I don’t date men from the club.” Xethre grinned. “Well you don’t work at the club anymore, so that rule is out.” “I don’t drink with strangers.” Xethre smiled mysteriously. “I don’t plan on drinking … so you’re safe on that one.” “I don’t go home with strange men.” “I’m hardly a strange man.” Sheridanraised an eyebrow. “Oh?” The word was laced with sarcasm.Sheridan sighed. “And, last but not least, I don’t date musicians.” Xethre laughed. “I’m not a musician, Sheridan.” “Listen, I know the type. Tall, dark, handsome, mysterious … oh, and brooding. You’re a musician.” Xethre couldn’t stop smiling. “I didn’t know that tall, dark, and handsome was a prerequisite for being a musician. And, I’m flattered that you find me handsome.” Sheridanrolled her eyes. “Now you’re just fishing for compliments. You know you’re gorgeous.” Xethre’s lips curved upward. “You’re not that bad yourself, Sheridan.” Sheridanblushed. “Listen, we’re getting off track. Like I said, I don’t date musicians.” Xethre was instantly atSheridan ’s side. She blinked, obviously shocked at how fast he moved. “How…” “—did I do that?” Xethre finished for her. “Uh, yeah.” Xethre’s blue eyes deepened, darkened and soon were solid black. He saw the fear that floodedSheridan ’s face but could not stop for it now. “There are some things that I must reveal to you, little one. You must keep an open mind.” file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (16 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


Sheridanswallowed and tried to scoot away. She found that there was nowhere left to go. She was trapped between the armrest of the couch and Xethre’s powerful and imposing body. “I think I’m being pretty open-minded now,”Sheridan said. “Considering that the man that I’m alone with just went all freaky on me.” Xethre chuckled. “You really are something,Sheridan . Even in the face of your fear you maintain a cheerful and humorous façade.” “What makes you think it’s a façade?” Xethre leaned into her. His breath fanned her face. “I can scent your fear in the air, little one. I can almost taste it on my tongue. You reek of it.” “You’re really starting to freak me out.”Sheridan said quietly. She was frightened, yes, but she couldn’t stop staring at his mesmerizing face. If only he weren’t so darned beautiful. Men weren’t supposed to be beautiful, were they? Xethre reached out and drew his cool hand down her flushed face. He watched as she began to shiver, and he knew that her shivers were not all from fear. Despite her weariness and yes, her fear, she was attracted to him—what’s more, she wanted him. Her desire filled his senses and intoxicated him. She wanted him. Despite everything, hisSheridan wanted him. “Why … why are you staring at me like that?”Sheridan whispered breathily. Xethre moved closer until his face was a mere inch away from hers. “Because you have a face worth staring at, Sheridan Malaya Duskul.” “How do you know my middle name?”Sheridan ’s eyes went wide. “No one, absolutely no one, knows my middle name.” “Sheridan.” Xethre continued to caress her cheek. “I know everything about you.” “How?” Her question hung heavy in the air.Sheridan remained completely still under Xethre’s silken touch. His hand felt cool and welcome on her heated flesh. She longed for more. She knew it was ludicrous. She had just met him. He was strange and mysterious and hesitant to reveal anything about himself. His eyes did some odd dilating crap and he seemed to know an unnerving amount about her life. These were all very good reasons that she shouldn’t be sitting here, purring under his touch. And yet … yet … she wanted him. She had NEVER wanted anyone the way she wanted this man in front of her.



“Don’t fight it, little one.” Xethre murmured. He placed a chaste kiss on her lips and was surprised when she grabbed his face with both of her hands, opened her mouth under his and deepened the kiss. Her tongue entwined with his and her hands wove their way through his thick hair. “Yes.” Xethre hissed just before his hands went to her hair and his mouth re-assaulted hers. There was fire raging through his body. This was no simmer, slow and lazy, but an attack on every one of his senses. He could feelSheridan pressed against the length of his body and each muscle, tendon and sinew was alive and straining for her touch, her warmth—the warmth of life. Xethre effortlessly slid the straps ofSheridan ’s dress off her shoulders. The top pooled to her waist and her magnificent breasts were bare to his touch and smoldering eyes. He took her in. Her skin was alabaster, unblemished, unmarred and softer than down. Her breasts were full and high and tipped with pale pink nipples that were hard under his hot look. Xethre reached down and cupped her breasts. He ran his finger over her pebbled nipples and felt himself go harder still whenSheridan groaned out her pleasure. With one arm he movedSheridan until she was lying over the arm of the couch and with the other he continued the slow and steady assault on her heated flesh. He pulled her dress down her hips and was enthralled by the milky white skin that continued being revealed to him. She was perfect. She was his. Xethre moved his mouth over her hard nipple and closed his lips around it.Sheridan shivered and arched. Xethre began to suck. The steady suction broughtSheridan deeper into his arms, as her body pressed and bowed. Xethre’s hands were busy kneading her soft skin as his mouth took in the texture and the taste of her beautiful body. Sheridanwas lost under a blanket of pure, unadulterated pleasure. She could feel each stroke of Xethre’s tongue against her flesh and she arched helplessly into his embrace. She wanted more. She wanted everything. When she felt him take her nipple between his teeth and bite gently she moaned, low and ragged. It was incredible. She dug her fingers into his shoulder blades and tried with her frantic movements to speed him on. He obviously wouldn’t have any of it. In fact, he slowed his suction, gently taking her breast in his mouth and laving her hot flesh. “Oh … oh…”Sheridan tossed her head from side to side. Xethre lifted his head from the cushion ofSheridan ’s breast and smiled. “Oh? Is that all you can say, little one?” Sheridangasped as Xethre’s hand began to knead her thigh muscles. She lifted her head slightly and noticed that save her pink lace panties she was completely naked. When had he rid her of her dress? All thoughts were lost fromSheridan ’s head when Xethre cupped her through her panties. file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (18 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


She could feel the heat of him there, pressing, and rubbing gently. It was exquisite torture. She began to squirm. “Please,” She whispered. “Please what?” Xethre murmured. “Please … please I need you.”Sheridan felt pressure building and she was climbing toward something … something glorious. “Tell me,Sheridan . Tell me.” Xethre slid his finger under the lace ofSheridan ’s panties and began to caress her softly. Sheridanpressed toward his finger. Her breath hitched when he inserted his finger just a fraction of an inch into her already dripping pussy. Xethre slid his finger in and out of her smooth passage. She was hot, and gloriously wet. He brought his mouth to the underside of her breast and began to lap at her hot skin, never stopping the motion of his finger. WhenSheridan arched and moaned louder, Xethre slowly inserted another finger into her. Sheridangroaned and widened her legs, letting one fall helplessly over the side of the couch. “I’m still waiting…” Xethre said, from the side of her breast. Sheridanswallowed thickly. How could he still speak? Her own words stuck in her throat. All she wanted was to drown in the sensations that he provoked within her. Xethre withdrew his fingers and gently teased the soft folds of her pussy. After three butterfly soft strokes he removed his hand completely, content to let it lie on her soft stomach. “No … please, more…”Sheridan gasped out. She grabbed Xethre’s hand and tried to force it back. “More…” “Tell me.” Xethre’s words were more forceful now. “Tell me!” Sheridandug her nails into the flesh of Xethre’s hand. “Fuck me, Xethre.” “I can’t hear you, Sheridan.” “FUCK ME!”Sheridan screamed. Xethre’s smile was luminous. “You needn’t yell, my love. I am more than willing to file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (19 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


accommodate you … accommodate us.” Xethre toreSheridan ’s panties off and thrust three fingers into her welcoming warmth. She arched and groaned. Her eyes screwed tight. “You are so beautiful. Do you know how beautiful you are,Sheridan ?” Sheridan’s response was a guttural moan. Xethre stood abruptly and began to undress. Sheridan’s bright eyes took in everything. When Xethre stood nude before her breathing became difficult. He was beyond perfect. “Oh my…”Sheridan bit her lip nervously. Xethre returned to the couch and with one sinuous movement coveredSheridan ’s form with his own. The moment their flesh touched, both moaned in unison. Sheridan’s body felt like it was on fire. Her blood was boiling and her heart was beating like a wild bird within her chest. There was no fear now. There was nothing but him—Xethre. “Now.” The one word was breathless as it left her lips. Xethre grasped her thighs and widened her legs. He was hard as stone and aching. “Yes, Sheridan , now.” Xethre probed her hot, wet, entrance with his cock and watched as her mouth parted and her eyes went instantly hot and glassy. Sheridanarched her hips wordlessly. It was all Xethre needed. He pressed homeward, to the hilt, and stopped instantly. Shit. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Xethre ground out. Sheridanbit back her pain and smiled slightly. “When … when … would you have had me tell you? It’s not something one brings up over dinner. ‘Hey, did you know I’ve never had sex before?’ I wasn’t, uh, expecting…”Sheridan broke off. Xethre ran a hand across her downy soft cheek and stared into her eyes. “I’m the first.” He whispered reverently. Sheridanswallowed. “Uh, yeah.” She bit her lip when Xethre moved slightly. There was a sharp twinge of pain, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as it had been a moment before. Actually, it was feeling rather … intriguing. “You, uh, you can move now. Well, uh, actually, I’d love it if you did.”Sheridan said shyly.



A huge grin split Xethre’s handsome face. “Unbelievable. You are unbelievable,Sheridan , my sweet.” Xethre molded his hands aroundSheridan ’s lush breasts and began to move steadily within her. She was like liquid heat around his cock and already her moisture was coating him, caressing him lovingly. He watched as the emotions flickered across her face, and her eyes opened and shut. Her hands clutched the sofa desperately and her legs had moved to wrap themselves instinctively around Xethre’s hips. Xethre quickened and lengthened his movements. He thrust deeper, desperate to feel her completely around him. He kept one hand on her breast … the other went to her hair. He wrapped his hand around the thick strands of her golden hair and pulled her head back gently. He kept her imprisoned as he began to pump strongly within her. He could feel his need rising quickly. He could feelboth needs rising. He yanked her head to the side to expose the shining column of her pale white neck. Her flesh called to him and the blood beneath beckoned strongly. Xethre was pumping furiously now.Sheridan ’s cries and mews only stirred and forced his hunger to rise to the surface in great torrential waves. “Oh, oh, oh my God.”Sheridan was panting now. Her eyes were tightly closed and her back arched helplessly off of the couch. Her hands gripped Xethre’s back and scored his flesh desperately. “Yes … it … it’s so … sooooo…” “—amazing.” Xethre finished with a great rush. He wrapped one arm aroundSheridan and forced her even closer to his pumping, thrusting body. He bent his head over her neck and when he felt her pussy clench and pulse he sank his teeth into the soft flesh of her throat. He reveled inSheridan ’s screams, shudders and shakes and continued to drink of her lifeblood. She tastedunbelievable . He had never, absolutely never, had anyone like her before. And he had had a lot of flesh, and tasted a lot of blood over his many years of life. Sheridan. There could only beSheridan . **** Sheridanlay limply against the couch. Her hair fell free, streaming over the arm of the sofa and her body gleamed bright from sweat and the afterglow of truly incredible sex. She turned her head to look at Xethre, who now sat several feet away from her at the other end of the sofa. He seemed unfazed by his nakedness. But then, with a body as glorious as his, there was no need for shyness.Sheridan drank him in, like a parched woman rescued from theSahara . His skin was pale, almost too pale, and it shone, like a star, under the artificial light of the room. His amazing blue eyes seemed even brighter and bluer and his impressive cock was still impressive file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (21 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


as is lay sated against his thigh. Could there be Gods on earth? Because Alexethre Roistkauff could certainly claim God-like status. “How do you feel?” Xethre’s voice came out as smooth as fresh dairy cream. Sheridansmiled widely. “I feel…”Sheridan laughed. “There aren’t words to describe how I feel.” Xethre sighed and pushed a strand of hair out of his face. “You should have told me.” Sheridanshrugged nonchalantly. “Why?” Xethre narrowed his eyes. “Why? You’re really asking me why? You’re what, twenty, twenty one, and you’ve never had sex.” Xethre looked away. “And I took you, your first time, on the couch in my living-room.” “Yeah, and I loved it,”Sheridan shot back. “And I’m twenty-six, by the way.” “Sheridan…” “—Shut up. Just shut up, Xethre. It was incredible, beyond incredible. Don’t cheapen it by feeling guilty, or trying to find excuses for why it shouldn’t have happened. I don’t want to hear it.”Sheridan sat up, scooted toward Xethre and placed her hand on his thigh, reassuringly. “I wanted it. I wanted you.” She looked into his turbulent eyes. “Do you hear me? I wanted you, only you, Xethre. It was perfect. Whatever you may be thinking, you made my first time perfect. I will cherish this memory forever, Xethre.” “Forever,” Xethre whispered quietly. EitherSheridan hadn’t heard him, or she was ignoring him. “So … you got some food around here? I am totally starved.” Xethre suddenly found himself caught in a fit of coughs. He cleared his throat and shook his head, trying to keep a straight face. “That would be a no,Sheridan . But would you like to order out?” Sheridannodded, happily. “Yeah, I’d love to. Do you have any menus?” Xethre scowled. “No.” “Hmm, well, okay. I guess we’ll have to go out to eat.” Xethre sighed. “It’s three thirty. I doubt anything will be open,Sheridan .” file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (22 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


“Huh?” “I said it is three thirty in the morning.” Sheridantilted her head and looked at him through confused eyes. “How do you know that? I mean, you’re not wearing a watch … and I don’t see a clock anywhere around.” “Lucky guess?” Xethre said dryly “I don’t think so.”Sheridan said. She hugged her knees to her chest and began to bite her lip again. “Sheridan…” Sheridancleared her throat. “How do you know what time it is, Xethre?” “I can scent it.” “Scent it?”Sheridan repeated stupidly. “Yes.” “Uh, like you could scent my fear, before?”Sheridan asked. “Exactly.” Xethre smiled. “You have a good memory, little one.” Sheridannodded slowly. “What is going on, Xethre? Is this like some weird ‘Sixth Sense’ thing?” “Excuse me?” “You know, the movie, ‘The Sixth Sense’ where the kid sees dead people. Are you like that, or like some psychic or something?” “Or something,” Xethre said dryly. Xethre couldn’t believe he was actually contemplating tellingSheridan everything. The Council would never have agreed to this course of action. They would have told him to bite her, turn her and to hell with the explanations; that explanations were wasted on humans. Xethre looked intoSheridan ’s guileless, beautiful face and knew that the Council could and would go to hell—he would tell her what he wished. “I can scent the upcoming dawn,Sheridan . I can scent it, because I need to know when to go under.” “Under?” “Yes, under. I must be properly buried before dawn, else the sun shall fry me alive.” file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (23 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


“Fry. Alive.”Sheridan didn’t seem to be getting any of this. Xethre sighed. “Sheridan, I am a vampire.” Sheridan’s eyes widened. “Sure you are.” “Sheridan.” Xethre said, exasperated. “Did you hear what I said? I am a vampire.” “Xethre, if you don’t want to see me again, you just have to tell me so.”Sheridan didn’t tell him that she would probably be crushed if he told her to get lost. He didn’t need to know that little tidbit. “You don’t have to make up all this phony shit.” “Sheridan, I am not…” “—I mean, come on, what’s next? Are you going to tell me that you sleep in a coffin and can’t stand garlic?”Sheridan continued as if she didn’t hear Xethre. Xethre pressed his hand againstSheridan ’s mouth to hush her. He hadn’t wanted to resort to this, but it seemed that he had no choice. He let his Glamour pour over him. It covered his body and began to radiate outward. His eyes deepened, his skin began to glimmer and shine and his hair— suddenly seemed to have a life of its own, it was so smooth and shiny. Xethre knew the effect he was having onSheridan . Her breath quickened and her eyes widened. She began to sway toward him and her heart sped up considerably—he could hear each beat of that living pulsing organ. “I am Alexethre.” His words came out as if they had been spoken through a long tunnel. “One of the dark horde, blood is my countenance and sunlight my enemy. I am a vampire, as vampires are known, and you … you, Sheridan, are my target.” “Holy…”Sheridan breathed out. “Never that,Sheridan , never that.” Chapter Four: “You’re a vampire.”Sheridan was pacing Xethre’s stark kitchen. After Xethre’s admission, she had needed to get away. Get out of his room, out of his house. She had made it all the way down the stairs before Xethre had stopped her with a firm hand to her arm. He insisted that they talk some more. She had decided that the kitchen would be the most neutral ground in the house. Of course … kitchens made one think of food. And food to a vampire would be—



“You’re startled, of course, but…” “—startled? Are you crazy? That’s an understatement. You just told me that you’re a vampire. A VAMPIRE!”Sheridan screamed. She continued to pace. “First, you want me to believe that vampires exist. Then you want me to believe thatyou just happen to be one. And then, of course, there’s all that creepiness about me being your target.Target —what the hell does that mean?” Xethre took a couple of steps toward her, but stopped when she began to move back. “It means that I was ordered to find you—ordered to study you.” “Study me?”Sheridan asked. “Like some weird science experiment?” “Not quite.” “This is crazy you know. Totally, utterly crazy.”Sheridan ran a hand through her hair and took a deep steadying breath. “If—now, I say if—I happened to believe you. Let me ask you a question.” “Of course.” “Why me?” “Pardon?” Sheridan’s eyes narrowed. “You heard me. Why me?” Xethre remained silent. Sheridanwas suddenly filled with fury. No longer afraid, she advanced on him. “NO! You owe me answers! You promised them to me, even before we … we…” “Had sex?” Xethre said dryly. Sheridanblushed and nodded. “Yeah. I wanted answers then. I want them now. Why me? Why would anyone ask you to stalk me? I’m nobody.” “You’re wrong.” Sheridandrew back. “Excuse me?” Xethre sighed. “If the Council asked me to seek you out, then you’re obviously somebody. So whether or not you wish to believe it—you yourself have the answers to your questions.”



Sheridanhated twisted logic. She absolutely hated it. Why couldn’t anyone give a straight answer nowadays? “This is all madness. I don’t know what is happening here. I’ve never met a vampire…” her voice trailed off, “…well until now. And I most certainly don’t know what a vampire would want from me?” Xethre smiled. Sheridanshook her head quickly. “Oh no … no. No, no, no. Absolutely not. You’re not sucking on my neck.” Xethre laughed. “Have you forgotten so quickly,Sheridan ? I have already bitten you and tasted your blood. You taste wonderful.” Sheridangagged. “That is disgusting. I can’t believe you … you … drank my blood.” “I’m a vampire, Sheridan. That’s what we do.” It was such a simple answer. One that Sheridan did not want to hear. “I can’t believe you’re dead.” Xethre sighed. “I’m of the living dead, or undead, if you prefer.” “I…”Sheridan shivered. “I had sex with a corpse.” Xethre ran a hand through his hair. “Do not think of it like that, little one. I am not a corpse. I walk, talk, make love, like a man … am I not therefore a man?” Sheridanmulled that over. “You don’t breathe?” She saw him nod and continued. “Your heart doesn’t beat?” Again he nodded. “And your blood doesn’t … uh, move through your body— you’re cold, right? Technically you’re a corpse.” “Sheridan…” “—no, please. I … I … this doesn’t make any sense. I’ve never, I mean I haven’t…”Sheridan broke off. She sighed. “I never had sex before. And the first time I find someone … well decide to sleep with someone, well, they tell me that they’re a vampire.”Sheridan felt suddenly so lost— her happiness crushed under the weight of disbelief and more than a little bit of fear. If she chose not to believe him it meant that he had to be blowing her off. Giving her a load of bull to make her turn tail and run—and if she chose to believe him—well that was way too complicated to even consider. file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (26 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


“Sheridan. There are more important things at hand here than your fear.” “Oh really, there is?”Sheridan ’s voice was laced with heavy sarcasm. Xethre chose to ignore the sarcasm. “We must know why the Council wants you. The Council does not just ask for anyone, Sheridan.” Sheridanshook her head. She felt hysterics rising. “Do you hear yourself? This is ridiculous.” Xethre’s face paled and fine blue veins showed under the surface of his skin. His turquoise eyes began to glow and his lips curled under to reveal sharp fangs. “Do you believe what you can see with your own two eyes,Sheridan ?” Sheridanswallowed. “I … I used to.” Xethre smiled. His smile revealed even more fang. “Then believe this: vampires exist. I am a vampire, Sheridan. And you … you have been deemed prey.” **** Sheridangnashed her teeth together. She was currently sitting on Xethre’s leather couch, shaking, and not from cold. She was trying to process what had happened to her. Oh, God. She had slept with him. She had known him a week, just a week, and she had slept with him. She was a slut. She was worse than a slut. She met this man at a club, he followed her—and then she went back to hishouse ? Was she crazy? And, whoa …this was what she was worried about? She was worried and thinking about the fact that she had just given her virginity to a man —no—wait—a corpse. Obviously there were bigger issues here—issues like, oh, vampires. Sheridancovered her eyes with her hands. “I don’t believe this.” She muttered. “Sheridan…” Xethre’s voice was cajoling. Sheridanlooked up. Her eyes were accusing. “No. I don’t want to talk to you anymore.” Xethre sighed. “As it is nearing five thirty … I don’t have much time to talk to you, either.” Sheridanblanched. Nearing five o’clock, in themorning ? Did that mean? “You have to shut yourself in your coffin, Mr. Lugosi?” Her sarcasm wasn’t lost on Xethre.



“Sheridan. You truly are upset about this?” Sheridanjumped up. Suddenly she was furious. She wasn’t afraid. She wasn’t incredulous. She was furious. “It seems that men—dead or alive—are all idiots!”Sheridan screamed. She began to pace. “Stupid man. Thinks he can just tell me, ‘Hey, I’m a vampire. I drink blood,’ and I’m just going to smile and tilt my head to the side so he can take a bite out of me? Idiots … you’re all idiots. Is this the Almighty’s way of punishing me for not attending church in six years? I wait twenty-six years to have sex … and then, when I finally give it up, the man I sleep with isn’t even a man— he’s dead. Dead—you should be resting six feet under, not walking around like some damned GQ ad. What is wrong with you? You can’t even stay dead?”Sheridan was vaguely aware that she was ranting, but she couldn’t seem to stop. She was nearly hysterical. It was all too ridiculousnot to be true. Of course it would happen to her. Of course. She could never catch a break. “Sheridan,” Xethre tried to interject. Sheridanwasn’t nearly through. “I mean … I said no to Greg Wilson—the captain of the football team. I told him no.”Sheridan began to laugh, helplessly. “I told him I was waiting for the ‘right one’, someone perfect … someone special.” She rolled her eyes. “Well I found him all right … someonespecial . And why now? Why you?”Sheridan squeaked when she found herself locked in Xethre’s fierce embrace. He had moved so fast. One moment she was yelling—the next—she was trying not to pant as his breath caressed her sensitive ear. Xethre’s voice was low. “I am the one, Sheridan. I am the only one. You gave yourself to me because you could do no less. Can you not feel it? Our souls call to one another.” Sheridanswallowed. “I can’t breathe.” Xethre loosened his grip but did not let go. She narrowed her eyes. “Your ego knows no bounds.” His smile was brilliant. “It is not ego, love, just truth. I know when you lie. I know when your body lies. You cannot hide anything from me. You want me. You want me, Sheridan.” She lowered her eyes. “I may want you,” when she looked up her eyes were turbulent, “but I don’t trust you.” Xethre released her so suddenly that she stumbled. file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (28 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


Sheridantook several breaths. She walked to the door. When she was standing in the open doorway she turned her head back—spearing him with her deep blue eyes. “I don’t trust you.” **** It shouldn’t hurt. Damn it, it shouldn’t hurt. “It should not matter. She is only human.” Xethre murmured. “Only human.” But it did matter. She mattered. It had been a week since he had seen her. And she was everywhere. He could do nothing, not even feed—without thinking of her. When had she slipped in? When had she broken down his defenses? Xethre sighed and shook his head. If he weren’t so prideful, he would admit to himself that he had been lost from the moment he had seen her. His broken, un-beating heart had pulsed or wanted to pulse for the first time in over two centuries when he had laid eyes onSheridan . He had seen her so bright, beautiful and angelic on the stage and he had known. Somehow his soul had recognized her. “So pensive tonight.” The new voice cut through the weight of his thoughts. It was lilting, deep, dark and enchanting. It was a voice smoother than thick cream and heavy with promise. It was a voice like no other—it could belong to only one person. Xethre turned slowly. “Michaela,” he whispered. Michaela levitated slowly over. Her jet-black hair moved restlessly around her, as if tossed by an invisible wind. She was perhaps the most beautiful woman Xethre had ever seen—dead or alive—and yet, she held no appeal to him. There was only one woman in this thoughts. Only one woman who dominated his dreams and his nightmares. “A woman? Xethre? Is that not merely predictable?” Michaela asked acerbically. Xethre narrowed his eyes. He didn’t even ask how she had known. He had learned not to question the Dark Twins’ uncanny knack of deduction. They were the Dark Twins. “What are you doing here, Michaela?” Xethre looked past her—now confused. “And where is Matthew?” Her bright glow dimmed and her eyes deepened. She moved over to the window. “Matthew is not with me.” Her eyes were fixed on the darkness that lay outside. file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (29 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


Xethre nodded. “I can see that, Michaela. Where is he?” When she didn’t answer he stiffened. “Nothing has happened, has it? Is he all right? Damn it, Michaela. Is Matthew all right?” She turned to face him. “I wouldn’t know.” He reared back. “Michaela, that makes no sense. You and Matthew share everything. You would know if he…” “—you would think so,” Michaela finished, “you would think I would know. But I do not.” She laughed. But it was a bitter laugh. “Oh, I know that he is still with us. Physically he is all right. But I know little else.” Xethre walked over to her. He placed his hand on her shoulder. “Tell me,” he urged. “Tell me, Michaela.” And Michaela—who shared nothing, unless it was with her brother—unleashed her pain to Xethre. **** “So he seeks a cure?” Xethre asked. Michaela made a disgusted sound from deep within her throat. “He seeks something. I do not believe that even he knows what it is. But he claims that a cure is what he … needs.” “There is no cure,” Xethre said quietly. Michaela exploded. “You think I don’t know that! You think I don’t know that it is pointless. But he does not listen to me. He will not listen to me. We have never been apart.” The anger had fled from Michaela in moments. Her voice was now quiet and distinctively pained. “We have always been as one, Matthew and I. Each as shadows—we always blended together. That is why I do not understand this … this…” her voice broke off. She turned quickly away from Xethre. Xethre sighed. “He seeks his own path, Michaela. Do you not want that for your brother? You entered this world first,” Xethre’s smile was sad, “and you died first. Matthew went where you went. Do you not see? For the first time ever … you are the one following Matthew. You are the one that worries for Matthew.” Michaela remained silent. “You were carved from the same flesh, Michaela. But your souls are separate.” file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (30 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


When Michaela spoke her words were bitter. “Do we have souls, Xethre?” Xethre snorted. “We are to debate tonight, Michaela?” Michaela smiled slightly. “No. No debate.” For the first time since entering Xethre’s home, she looked at him, really looked at him. “You look terrible, Xethre.” “Why thank you. Your sweet words humble me.” Michaela’s laugh was warm and silky. It filled the room like a tangible thing. “It is because of this … girl? This human girl?” “Sheridan. Her name isSheridan .” Xethre said quietly. “Pretty name.” “She is beautiful, Michaela.” “Your conquests always are.” “She is not a conquest.” A raised eyebrow was the only sign of her surprise. “Oh?” “She is prey.” “What?” “My assignment, Michaela.” “Tell me.” Michaela’s tone was sharp. He did. **** Michaela’s expression was unreadable. He had finished telling her about the Council’s request and both sat silent and pensive before the fire. “You must find out why the Council wants her, Xethre.” Michaela said. “If you wish to keep her.” “I know.”



“The Council hasn’t demanded a Turn since…” “Yes, yes I know.” “It is highly strange.” Xethre sighed. “I am aware of this.” Both shared surprised looks when the doorbell rang. “Were you expecting a visitor?” Michaela asked. His expression was bland. “I never have visitors. And no, you do not count. You are never expected, you just show up.” She laughed and got up gracefully. “Do let me. I have so few domestic pleasures these days.” **** Sheridanshifted nervously on Xethre’s doorstep. What was she doing here? It had been a week since she had seen Xethre. A week in which she had fretted, ranted, cried, laughed hysterically and basically missed him all to hell. She told herself the only reason she missed him was because he was the handsomest man she had ever known and because the sex had been incredible. But she knew that it was a lie—oh, not the part about him being unbelievably handsome or about the sex being incredible—but about why she missed him. It had scared her when he had told her that their souls called to one another. Hell, it had freaked her out totally. She had run from him then. She couldn’t face the truth that—alive or dead—she wanted him. She wanted him so much she felt as if she was burning from the inside out. He was everywhere. She could do nothing without thinking of him. So here she was—on his doorstep. Hoping to gain— “My, my … what have we here?” Sheridan’s eyes widened and she stepped back. The woman in the doorframe was stunningly beautiful. In fact,Sheridan had never seen anyone more beautiful in her entire life. The woman had shockingly black hair that fell to her waist. Her eyes were a strange mix of gray and silver and were so clear they seemed to pierce right through you. Her bosom was generous, her waist tiny and her posture so straight and noble one thought instantly of royalty—or possibly of MissAmerica . She was wearing a long velvet gown, burgundy in color, and around her slender file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (32 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


white neck she wore an ivory cameo. She was breathtakingly gorgeous—and she was answering Xethre’s door. Sheridanbacked away. “Uh, I guess this is a bad time.” She swallowed when Xethre appeared behind the beautiful woman. “Sheridan,” he said reverently. “Hi.” Her voice was a little unsteady. She looked quickly between Xethre and the beautiful woman. “Come in, please,” Xethre said. Sheridanshook her head. “You have company. I can come back later.” “Don’t be ridiculous. Come in. Please. You’re cold.” Xethre pushed Michaela to get past her and scowled when she remained where she was. “You haven’t introduced us, Xethre.” Michaela said sweetly. His expression darkened. “That’s because I didn’t really want to conduct introductions on the doorstep of my house. She’s freezing,” Xethre said forcefully and shoved past Michaela. He tookSheridan ’s cold hands. “Xethre,”Sheridan ’s voice was unsure, “I really can come back some other time…” “Nonsense. Come in. Please come in,Sheridan .” Xethre said urgently. Sheridanlooked into his deep blue eyes and could think of nothing else to say but, “Yes.” Chapter Five: Sheridantwisted her hands together nervously. Xethre and the beautiful woman were staring at her intently. “Do I have something on my face?” She asked, then, to Michaela, “You know, it’s rude to stare.” The woman smiled. Her smile was positively lethal. “She’s so cute, Xethre.” Xethre sawSheridan ’s scowl and sighed. “Sheridan, meet Michaela.” “Are you dead, too?”Sheridan asked sharply. file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (33 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


Xethre gasped. Michaela burst into laughter. “Precious. My goodness, she’s precious.” “Sheridan,” Xethre said warningly. He knew all to well what Michaela was capable of when she was angered. Michaela smiled. “Do let her be, Xethre. It is refreshing. A human who doesn’t cower from us. Very interesting.” Sheridannarrowed her eyes. “You know, talking about me like I’m not here, that’s rude too.” “Sheridan,” Xethre said again. Michaela eyes twinkled. “Sheridan, such a pretty name.” “Thanks,”Sheridan said dryly. “So, you’re a singer.” Michaela said. “Yes.” “Are you any good?” Michaela asked. Sheridan’s face was bland of expression. “I like to think so. Of course, I’m a little out of practice since I quit my job and…” her voice dropped off. Xethre came to sit bySheridan ’s side. He took her cold hands within his and smiled into her tense face. “I am glad that you came tonight,Sheridan .” Sheridanfrowned. “Yeah, well, it was this or a game of solitaire.”Sheridan looked between Xethre and Michaela. “Now, I’m thinking the game of solitaire would have been preferable.” Both Xethre’s and Michaela’s eyes went wide with amusement. Michaela leaned forward. Her gray eyes were filled with mischievous light. “My dearfriend , Xethre, has been missing your presence.” Sheridannarrowed her eyes. She didn’t like the way Michaela said ‘friend’. It was like a caress, something decidedly intimate. “Well, I had a couple of things to straighten out before I … I … well … came to visit,”Sheridan finished lamely.



Xethre began to circle the palm ofSheridan ’s hand with his fingers. It was a soothing, comforting motion. “Michaela was just leaving.” He shot the other woman a cool look. Michaela laughed. “Was I?” “Yes, you were.” Michaela let out a long beleaguered sigh. “Fine.” She got to her feet gracefully. “Although you do not deserve it, I shall help you anyway.” Xethre wanted to tell her to keep her help, but knew that when Michaela offered aid, one should accept. She did not give aid lightly or often. “I shall see what I can find out about this Turning, Xethre.” “Thank you.” Michaela’s laughter was like so many tinkling bells. “My, now that wasn’t so difficult was it, thanking me?” “Don’t push it.” Michaela smiled. It felt good to smile. She had little to smile at, of late. “I’ll be in touch, Xethre.” She turned her enigmatic gray eyes ontoSheridan . “And I do hope that you and I shall have an opportunity to get to know one another better, prettySheridan .” She tossed both Xethre andSheridan one last sly look before dematerializing out of the room. Sheridancleared her throat and blinked several times. She ran a hand down her skirt and nodded jerkily. “Well, that was certainly something.” Xethre sighed. “I do apologize…” “—What for?”Sheridan asked, interrupting him. Xethre appeared surprised. “Well, for Michaela’s unexpected presence. I did not know that she would come to my home tonight, or that you and she would have a, ‘run in’.” Sheridanshrugged her dainty shoulders. “Didn’t you just say her presence was unexpected?” “Well, yes.”



“Then you have nothing to apologize for. You didn’t know she was coming. You didn’t know I was coming. Actually, if anyone should be apologizing, it should be me. I wasn’t invited at all, and here I am. I even seemed to scare your guest off.” Xethre’s mouth opened in shock, right before he burst out laughing. When he sawSheridan ’s annoyed expression is held his hand up. “I … I … do not mean to laugh, little one, but the idea of you ‘scaring’ Michaela off, was too much for me to take in.” He cleared his throat. “You did nothing that you need to apologize for. Michaela was just being dramatic. Believe me, if she hadn’t wanted to go, she wouldn’t have. She has enough power to do whatever it is that she wishes.” “That much, huh?”Sheridan said matter-of-factly. She was still looking down at her lap. For some reason she was hesitant to look up at him. Maybe it was becauselooking at him was all she truly wished to do. He nodded, his voice was suddenly cool. “That much and more.” Xethre trailed his fingers down the side of her cool face and brought them to rest upon her lush lips. Sheridantwisted a lock of her hair around her finger and finally drew her eyes up to stare Xethre straight in the face. The impact of his gaze was staggering. She felt her breath escape her body and her heart began to beat frantically. Those eyes, those turquoise eyes, they held her enraptured. Suddenly she could think of nothing else but being near him, beingone with him. He was power, life, love, … past, present and future. He was everything. And she had to have him. Sheridandidn’t think. She launched herself on him. Landing on his lap she wrapped her legs around him and grabbed his startled face within her hands. She captured his lips in a searing kiss, a kiss that was meant to consume him, drink him in. Sheridantraced his lips with her tongue and when he opened them to her she dove in. Her tongue teased the walls of his cheek, his teeth, and laved his tongue with merciless strokes. She kept her hands firmly planted on the side of his head to control the movements of her mouth and ultimately to control him. She would have him. And she would have him the way that she wanted. Xethre gasped, pulling suddenly away. “Sheridan, Sheridan … you don’t have…” Sheridansucked the smooth, cool, flesh of his neck into her mouth and then nipped the sensitive skin with her sharp teeth. She smiled when she heard him growl deeply. “I don’t have to what?” Had he been speaking? Xethre couldn’t remember what it was that he was going to say. All he could feel now, all he wanted to feel now, wasSheridan . Her scent was intoxicating and it was filling him, taking him over.



He reached forSheridan and was surprised when she shook her head and grabbed his hands, pushing them back. His eyes widened slightly at her aggressive move. There was something in her eyes … something wild … something deliciously wicked. Xethre would play it her way. He allowed her to hold his hands firmly away from his body and firmly away from her. He would know what she was up to. WhenSheridan spoke her voice was husky with need and pent up passion. “My way, my way or the highway,” she said, eyes alight. Xethre’s smile was brilliant. “As the lady wishes.” “I’m going to let you go, but no touching. If you touch me, if I feel the barest hint of your hands on me, I’ll stop. Do you understand?” His eyes went dark. “Oh, I understand.” Sheridansmiled an anticipatory smile. “Good. Now that we’re on the same page…” she let her words trail off. Sheridanunbuttoned Xethre’s shirt, slowly. When she was through, she peeled the two sides away to reveal perfectly smooth and muscled flesh. His skin seemed to glow, as if an invisible light was shining from within. She ran her hand across his chest, taking in the texture and learning the planes of him. She was more than a little shocked at her behavior, but it was too late now to have a change of heart. And if she would admit it to herself … she didn’t want to stop. Ever since the last time they had fucked, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him. Nothing, not even his revealing his nature to her, had made her not want him. If anything, since feeling his body against her, in her, she wanted him more.Sheridan had never wanted anyone the way that she wanted Alexethre Roistkauff. Xethre, her strange and mysterious, Xethre. She couldn’t stop thinking about him. She couldn’t stop thinking about how it had felt to have him so deep within her that she had felt as if they had melded into one being. She wanted to feel that again. And she wanted to learn. She wanted to take her time and to learn more about him, more about pleasing him, more about pleasing herself. Sheridanmoved down his body and unbuckled his belt. She unsnapped and unzipped his jeans and just as slowly as she had done with his shirt, peeled his pants down his legs. Of course he wasn’t wearing any underwear.Sheridan sucked in a breath. She should have expected that. Xethre was totally the commando type. God, he was so beautiful. And big, bigger than she remembered. file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (37 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


Sheridanlicked her lips. She looked up and saw that Xethre was watching her every move, his eyes burning with blue fire. Somehow knowing he was watching, waiting … longing, gave her strength—made her confident and powerful. She reached down and encompassed his hard cock with her hand. She started with the head, rubbing and caressing the soft skin. She moved then to the shaft, loving how different the texture was here. He was tightly veined, andSheridan could see the fine blue and red lines beneath the pale and delicate skin of his shaft. She began to stroke him, using the entirety of her hand. She kept her grip tight, knowing instinctively that he preferred the hot, tight, vise. When he began to pant she quickened the motion of her hand, adding now her thumb to play over the bulging head. He was growing harder in her hand, his flesh pressing out from her grasp. And suddenly the urge was unbearable.Sheridan sank down and took him deep within her mouth. She opened wide and relaxed her throat. Saliva was already pooling and growing within the wet cavern of her mouth and he slid easily through. He was big, hard and very long. And soon, soon she could feel him bumping the back of her throat. Sheridancurled her lips over her teeth—she didn’t want to bite him—not yet. And widened further still. When she had taken all she could take she began a slow, rhythmic sucking motion designed to drive him mad. She may have been a virgin until the age of twenty six, but she hadn’t been a nun.Sheridan knew how to use her mouth—she knew how to use it well. She brought him all the way out, only to swoop down and take him to the root once again. She swirled her tongue around his pulsing flesh and sucked her cheeks in, tightening the vise her mouth made over his cock. She could feel him jumping and leaping in her mouth. His cock was quivering with each stroke, each suck, and he was barely holding on. She knew it. And she loved it. “Sheridan, ahhhhh …ahhhh … Sheridan…” Xethre groaned. His voice did not seem his own. It was low and wrenched from his throat. Sheridansmiled. She would have it all. She gently cupped his balls with her hand, rolling the heavy sacks within her palm. His cock leapt andSheridan increased the pressure on his balls. She slowly traced the ridge of vein that cut across the soft flesh of his balls and applied just a bit of pressure to the base. Xethre let out a strangled moan. He thrust out his hips, begging her without words to finish it, finish him. Sheridancouldn’t refuse him. Because more than anything she wanted to taste him, bathe in him. She quickened the motions of her mouth, and when she felt the desperate shivering of his cock she knew it was time. She squeezed his balls, scraped his cock lightly with her teeth, and file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (38 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


tightened her mouth over the head of his hard flesh. Suddenly it was there. Xethre screamed, hips arching and then stiffening. Sheridanfelt the desperate, frantic, quivers of his cock and then the stillness right before his seed exploded into her mouth. She swallowed, once, twice, three times and still could not capture it all. Sheridanmoved up his body. She waited until his eyes rested solely upon her, before licking his juice off of her lips and sucking on her fingers, one-by-one. If he hadn’t already been dead, that would surely have killed him. Xethre watchedSheridan lick his seed off of her fingers, like a cat with so much cream, and grew hard once again. That had been incredible, more than incredible, but now he wanted tofeel her, plow into her depths and touch the very center of her. He didn’t dare move his hands, even though every nerve in his body was awake and screamed at him to grab her, take her, to wrap her around him so tightly that she could never escape. Xethre swallowed when he saw thatSheridan was slowly undressing. She was peeling away her clothing and revealing herself to him. In moments she stood, still straddling his legs, in nothing but a light green bra and matching thong panties. Her generous breasts were swelling over the cups of her bra and he could see the fine shadow of her pussy hair behind the delicate fabric of her panties. He dug his hands into the sofa. He knew he was leaving marks. Sheridanshook out her hair. It fell in long soft waves to her waist. She licked her lips. “Don’t think we’re though. And don’t think of moving, or touching me…” Xethre growled. “If I can’t touch, how…” Sheridanlaughed. “—I’ll think of something.”Sheridan palmed her breasts. She pulled the cups of her bra down to reveal the soft, full, white globes of her breasts with their strawberry-colored nipples—they were hardening under the weight of his stare.Sheridan tweaked the hard nubs and gasped when she felt pleasure shoot through her body. She pulled harder, this time scraping the nipple ever so slightly with her nails. The sensation was exquisite. Sheridan’s smile was luminous as she took in Xethre’s tortured expression. She widened her legs and cupped herself through the lace of her panties. She was already dripping and moisture was seeping through the lace to cool on her hot hand. “Do you want to see me?”Sheridan asked. Her file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (39 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


voice was low and smooth like whipped cream. “Do you want to see all of me?” Xethre could find no words. He settled on jerking his head up and down. It was amazing how the suave and utterly in control could become hapless and lack-witted in the presence of such amazing beauty. Sheridanslid the panties down her legs and tossed them aside. She unsnapped her bra and let it fall to her feet. She stood, bathed in lamplight, naked under his hot gaze. She smiled. “Would you like me to touch myself?” “Yes,” Xethre hissed. Sheridanlaughed throatily. She rubbed two fingers over her soft pussy lips and gently messaged the delicate skin. She threw her head back as small shivers wracked her body. It felt good. It felt better than good. She widened her legs and slowly inserted just two inches of her finger within her warm, wet passage. When her flesh immediately gripped her, she couldn’t resist; she added a second finger and plunged both within her tight pussy. She screwed her fingers deeply within her passage, tickling the soft and sensitive flesh. She found her clit, hard and ripe as a pomegranate seed and tweaked it. Her body flushed. Her breath escaped on a sigh. “Sheridan, please…” Xethre moaned. Sheridanwithdrew her fingers. They were coated with her thick juices. She gave him a heavylidded look. It was powerful, this. She was just realizing how much. She smeared her creamcoated fingers over his hard cock and positioned herself over him. She gave him the barest of smiles. “You won’t touch me, will you?” “No … no … I…” Xethre’s voice broke off. “Good.”Sheridan sat down upon his cock, burying him to the root within her. She grabbed his hips to steady herself and gingerly moved side to side. She could feel him hard and already pulsing within her. God, he felt amazing, like a piece of hard, large stone lodged within her Sheridansaw Xethre’s hands move up from the sofa and she stilled herself completely. “Don’t…” she whispered and prayed that he would listen to her command. She didn’t know what she would do if he didn’t listen to her. She wasn’t prepared to carry out her threat. She wasn’t prepared to stop. How could she? Xethre clenched his hands but then stilled them completely. file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (40 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


Sheridanlet out an inward sigh of relief. She began to move in a rocking motion, back and forth, back and forth. When that wasn’t enough she bounced up and down, all the while digging her hands into the flesh of his thighs for support. He was growing harder, thicker,larger , within her and she was growing wetter and hotter with each pulse of his cock. Sheridanclenched her pussy muscles and felt him leap in response. She clenched and released and then ground down completely upon him. This made him moan raggedly and she could feel her liquid begin to pool out of her. She quickened the motion of her hips, and when her rhythm gotjust so , she let go of his hips with her hands and grabbed her breasts. She squeezed the globes like dough, reaching around to pinch her hard nipples. Xethre was panting. Or was that her? She didn’t know. She could onlyfeel . Her heart was pounding furiously and her pussy was clenching almost painfully around Xethre’s demanding cock. Little white lights began to dance in front of her eyes and her breath was torn from her body on ragged sighs and moans. She felt Xethre arch his hips and she felt his cock leap desperately within her body and she knew … she welcomed it. She let herself go. Her pussy clenched once, twice and on the third clench she met him at the crest. Sheridanscreamed, tossing her head back, and digging her body against him. She felt her release like a wild thing and her cream gushed from her body at the same time she felt Xethre’s seed explode within her. She collapsed against him, sweaty and exhausted. She kissed his chest once before she gave herself up to the welcome hand of sleep. **** Xethre desperately tried to get a hold on his emotions. His cock, still housed within his beautifulSheridan ’s body was now slack, but was in no hurry to leave her warmth. He could hearSheridan ’s heart beat, ka-thump, ka-thump, ka-thump, within her chest. It was strange, comforting and oddly melodic. He wanted to wrap himself within that beat, nestle close to the ticking of her body, and let it wash over him like a blanket of shared time. His own heart was still. And although it remained in his body, it no longer knew the machinations of time. It no longer counted down the measured beats of a life. It was a useless organ that only file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (41 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


caused to remind him of how dead he truly was. But now … now he could hear hers … he could feel hers. WithSheridan close he could share the sensation of a mortal heartbeat; it was truly wondrous. Xethre lifted her up gently. She did not stir. He made his way downstairs to his bedroom and placed her upon his giant bed. He sighed. Why was it that they were always having sex on couches? He smiled. Well, that just meant he would get to break her in on the bed, next time. He laughed. Or perhaps, she would break him in. Mmm, yes, that did sound good. He pulled the blankets toSheridan ’s chin and settled down next to her. He twined his hands within her hair and let the stark death of sleep claim him. Chapter Six: Sheridanwoke up in total darkness. She felt the suffocating weight of it like a tangible thing on her skin. Where the hell was she? “Oh God, okay … okay … I’m just fine,” she muttered. She started to get up and found she couldn’t. She was somehow tied down. She reached around with her hands in the dark and stopped when she encountered the hard, smooth, expanse of a body. She screamed. She was trapped in the dark with a body. Sheridanstruggled but her hair was caught onfingers ? When she reached around to untangle her long locks she stopped fighting. She knew those hands—those smooth, tapered fingers. In fact, she knew this body. Sheridansighed and almost wept with relief—Xethre. She looked around but it was hopeless. She couldn’t see a thing. Sheridantook a deep breath and began to disengage herself from Xethre. She frowned. He had wound himself like a vine around her. She wouldn’t care except in the dark she could barely see to free herself. Finally her hair was untangled from his fingers.Sheridan felt with her hands and when she came to the edge of what she assumed was the bed she slid off. Shit. She hit the cold stone of the ground, knees first. Damn, the bed was further up than she thought, that or the ground had risen up to meet her. “Damn you, Xethre, haven’t you ever heard of a night-light before?” She assumed a night-light file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (42 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


wouldn’t fry his ass. Only sunlight had the death effect, right? Sheridantook a couple of tentative steps forward; when she didn’t bump into anything she gained a little courage and took a couple more. She was grateful when her toes met what was obviously the bottom of a mass of stairs. She reached over and felt for a railing. Yes, success. Sheridanquickly made her way up the stairs. She cursed when her head bumped the ceiling. The ceiling, what the hell?Sheridan pressed up with her hands and sighed happily when the ceiling opened up. Oh, a trap door, how sonot cute,Sheridan thought sourly. She was in a bad mood. It was obviously morning. Sheridanclimbed out of thehole in the ground and quickly closed the trap door, effectively sealing out the light. She looked around, and blinked, letting her eyes adjust to the light. “You are so weird, Xethre,”Sheridan muttered. She looked down. She was naked. Great, well, she couldn’t exactly go out like this. She’d get arrested, or worse, she’d get hit on by construction workers. She went in search of her clothes. **** An hour later foundSheridan sitting comfortably in Xethre’s kitchen. She had found her clothes, but hadn’t put them on. Instead she had opted first for a delightfully hot shower, after which she had explored Xethre’s truly amazing house. She had thought to make her way through the entire house. She had given up after half an hour. The place was huge—and it had nooks and crannieseverywhere . Considering she had woken up in a roombelow ground, she assumed he had to have secret rooms stashed all over thishome of his. “Ugh, you have no food…”Sheridan stopped and laughed nervously, “Oh yeah, right,you don’t need food. Well, notnormal food.” She rested her elbows on the pristine kitchen table and her head on her hands. “I really should get out of this place.” She looked around. It only made sense. It wasn’t as ifshe lived here. Fucking didn’t mean cohabitation. She was sure Xethre would not appreciate waking up and finding her making herself at home in his place. Decision made.Sheridan left the kitchen. When she reached Xethre’s front door she frowned. She had no way of locking the door.Sheridan opened the door and checked the lock; she sighed—the door would lock automatically after her. Great, one less thing to worry about, she could leave him with an easy conscience. No scary file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (43 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


vampire-killer would be able to get in after she left. Of course, if someone wanted in, they could easily get in. They could break one of the windows or kick down the door or— She rolled her eyes. He was avampire , A VAMPIRE, he could take care of himself. With one last longing look at Xethre’s home,Sheridan bounded down the front steps and walked across the street, away from the house, and away from Xethre. **** “You want me to do what?” “Woo her, Xethre.” Sophie’s voice was lilting and sweet coming from the other end of the receiver. Xethre glared at the phone. It was awkward and strange under his hand. He would have much preferred to communicate with Sophie telepathically, as was their usual way, but something stopped him—Sheridan. Since meetingSheridan , Xethre longed to try the morehuman approach to … life—he almost choked over that last thought. ForSheridan , he was using this ridiculously outdated piece of machinery, feeling overwhelmingly inept and stupid. “Woo her?” he repeated stupidly. Sophie’s laughter was rich sounding even through the connection of the phone line. “Oh, don’t scowl, Xethre. Yes, I know you’re scowling. Stop it. I just find it amusing that you, Mr. alwaysin-control-you, don’t know how to woo a woman.” Xethre frowned. “I know how to woo a woman,” he muttered. “Just not your woman,” Sophie shot back. Xethre growled. Damn Sophie and her incredible sense of perception. He had been more than a little perturbed when he had woken, only to findSheridan gone from his bed. It was only when he had left his bedroom and made himself comfortable in his sitting room that he had realized what an idiot he had been. Had he expectedSheridan to sleep all day? He was vampire, she was not. Of course she would have woken before him. And he wouldn’t have been surprised if she had been scared as hell to find herself stuck in a tomb with a dead man. He hadn’t thought of the dark, or of how she would feel to wake in the dark, when he had placed her in his bed. He had only wanted to see her laid out on his sheets. He had only wanted to feel her body close to his. He had only wanted to breathe file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (44 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


in the scent of her hair and let her sweet breaths lull him to sleep. He was an insensitive cad. “Yoo hoo, darling, are you still with me?” Sophie asked. “Yes,” he muttered. “Remember how upset Ethenia was when she found out she was Lothos’amouratesh ? I believe it would have gone easier on Lothos if he had wooed herbefore revealing to her the nature of their relationship. Of course, he didn’t have the luxury of time … you do. You know whatSheridan is to you. You have the time to court her properly.” “Sometimes I wonder if you were not meant to be born in an earlier time, Sophie,” Xethre said. Sophie laughed. “All women want to be courted, Xethre, it doesn’t matter what time, or what woman. All women want to feel special. All women want to feel honored.” Sophie’s voice lowered and grew deeper. “If you show her what she means to you … you will capture her completely.” CaptureSheridan ? Xethre stilled. Did he wish to capture her? No, no, that wasn’t right, he didn’t wish to capture her—he wished to love her. Oh God. He loved her. “Oh, Xethre,” Sophie cried. He could hear the tears in the voice. “Oh … I am so happy for you. You love her. You love this girl.” Xethre felt a continent size lump in his throat. When had it happened? When had he fallenin love ? “Does it matter when?” Sophie’s question rang in his head. Xethre dropped the phone. He answered Sophie’s question telepathically. “I fear, Sophie…” “What do you fear?” “I fear … love.” Sophie’s presence in his mind was soothing, comforting. She was ever the best of friend. “Loveis fear, Xethre. But it is also acceptance.” Xethre swallowed. “I have no practice with it.” file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (45 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


“I know, I know. But who does?” “The living.” Xethre said. Sophie sighed. Her presence in his mind grew sharper. She was chastising him—mentally. “Don’t be an ass, Roistkauff.” Xethre smiled. His Sophie was annoyed. She NEVER called him by his last name. “Life is not a prerequisite to love. We have been created to love, Xethre. All things are, in their bounty, love.” “You aremagii , you are intrinsically bound to the earth. Sophie, you would think that.” Sophie sighed. “Xethre, to love is to err; we are all vulnerable, even more so when we are in love. But vulnerability is wonderful. We are never morealive than when we allow ourselves to be open to the possibility of pain. If you let yourselffeel , you will not be led astray. That heart you dismissed so long ago … it may not beat … but it canfeel .” “How is it that I havelived so much longer and yet you are so much wiser?” As always, he was in awe of Sophie’s ability to gauge, perceive and solve almost anything that came her way. She was truly a wonder. Sophie’s laughter was a fine musical instrument. It played in his head like chiming bells. “Themagii have been gifted with the knowledge of Mother Earth. We are born to perceive, it is only natural, Xethre.” “But I am not. Natural, that is.” “Oh, do get over your hang-ups, we don’t have time for such nonsense.” He laughed. “Thank you, Sophie.” “No, thank you.” “What for?” “If you can find your soul-mate, there is hope for me.” Sophie disconnected her mental path and was gone from his head. Xethre sighed. Soul mate. Love. Such things were foreign to him. But so death had been, long ago, and he had learned—learned death. He could learn about love. file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (46 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


**** Sheridanwrinkled her nose and slapped the offending hand away. God, this was a disaster. She had accepted a gig at Sharkey’s, a small restaurant-slash-bar in a less than upstanding part of town, in a fit of desperation. Oh, she knew she could have found something better, but could she have found it this fast? She was nearly broke. So she had taken the first job she could find. Bad move Duskul. She chided herself. “It gets better.” Angela said, handingSheridan a cool drink. Angela was a pretty cocktail waitress, the first to befriendSheridan when she started on the job. Sheridangave Angela a grateful smile and accepted the drink. “Does it?” “Yeah. You get used to it.” Sheridaneyed the rowdy crowd. “I don’t know.” Angela laughed. “They’re harmless. Annoying, but harmless. I think of them as octopi,” she waved her hands, “You know, eight arms and all.” She grinned. “When one tries to latch onto me, I spear him.” She demonstrated her point by bringing up her knee. Sheridanlaughed. “Go for the crotch, right?” Angela winked. “Exactly.” “Ugh, I don’t want to go back up.” “Only a couple more hours left.” Angela smiled. “You’re the brightest thing in this dingy place, Sheridan . I’m so glad that moron finally took our advice and hired a singer.” The moron that Angela referred to was Jerry Young, their idiot boss. Okay, maybe she was being ungenerous. Jerry wasn’t an idiot … just a little dense. She was amazed he was able to run a bar. She would have thought a hot dog stand was more his speed. “Thanks, Angela. You’re sweet.”Sheridan sighed. “Okay, back to hell I go.” **** Sheridanexited the stage and wiped her brow. Yuck. She was hot and sweaty and probably smelly to boot. “Hey, baby.” This came from a drunken patron who grabbed her ass as she passed by. Since he file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (47 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


was sitting,Sheridan couldn’t get to his crotch. She opted instead to smack him across his face with the palm of her hand. Perhaps it was less painful, but it had the desired affect. The man let her go and reeled back. “Touch me again and I’ll cut off your fingers, asshole.”Sheridan said with a smile on her face. “I know where the kitchen is and I’m handy with a knife.” She strode briskly away. “Saw that.” Angela came to sit bySheridan . Sheridanrubbed her weary eyes. “Maybe this’ll help.” Angela thrust a huge bouquet of fragrant flowers out atSheridan . Sheridangroaned. “Please, if they’re from Mr. Smells like a dumpster…” Angela laughed. “Who’s Xethre?” Sheridansnatched the bouquet from Angela. She read the card.Not nearly as sweet as you. Always your admirer, Xethre . She frowned.Always your admirer? That wasn’t exactly a declaration of undying love. Of course, did she really want a declaration of undying love?Sheridan smelled the sweet blooms and couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. Theywere beautiful. “Okay, so spill. Who is Xethre?” Angela’s face sparkled with interest. “A guy,” Sheridan answered slyly. Angela rolled her eyes. “Obviously. Details, I want details.” Sheridanlaughed. She hadn’t known Angela more than a couple of days and yet it felt like forever. She hadn’t made many friends in the city. Work and stress kept her social life pretty limited. She was glad she had opened herself up enough to make friends with Angela. “I met him at my last gig.” “Musician?” Angela grimaced. It was obvious that she sharedSheridan ’s opinion of musicians. Sheridanlaughed. “No, definitely not a musician.” “What does he do?” Sheridanopened her mouth to answer and stopped abruptly. Whatdid Xethre do? She really had file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (48 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


no idea. Okay, so he was a vampire. That didn’t tell her what he did. Was he a professional vampire? Was there even such a thing as a professional vampire? Yipes. “Actually, I don’t know what he does.” Angela clucked her tongue. “Naughty, naughty, you didn’t bother to ask, before you hopped in the sack with him?” Angela grinned slyly. “Youdid sleep with him, didn’t you?” Sheridan’s face turned bright red. Angela laughed. “Question answered. So, where does he live?” Sheridangave Angela Xethre’s address. Angela whistled. “Nice neighborhood.” “I know.” “Well, he’s obviously not broke.” “I wouldn’t care if he was,”Sheridan said. The moment the words were out she knew they were true. She wouldn’t care if Xethre were broke. He was Xethre. Xethre with the amazing eyes, and cool and classic face. Xethre with his voice so soft, lulling and caressing. Xethre who made her laugh, and shiver and moan in ecstasy. Xethre that she— Whoa. She had to stop the direction of those thoughts.Sheridan smiled down at the bouquet. It was nice of him. “Hello, little one.” Xethre’s voice caressed the back ofSheridan ’s ear. Sheridangasped. She turned her head and found Xethre was standing directly behind her. Angela’s eyes were wide and her mouth was gaping open. Sheridanswallowed. She hadn’t even heard him come up behind her. Then again, the bar was so loud a herd of stampeding elephant could run through and she probably wouldn’t hear them. “Hi, Xethre.” Xethre’s brilliant blue eyes swept the recesses of the bar. The scowl on his face told her more than anything how little he approved of her choice of jobs. “This place is not suitable.” Sheridan’s eyebrows rose. “Excuse me?”



“This place is not suitable. It is worse than that last place you worked at.” “It’s not bad.”Sheridan said stiffly. “No, it’s worse.” Sheridannarrowed her eyes. She opened her mouth to give Xethre a piece of her mind when Angela hopped between them, holding out her hand. “Hi, I’m Angela.” The scowl melted off of Xethre’s face to be replaced by a gracious, beatific smile. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Angela. I am Xethre. Your name is lovely, almost as lovely as you are.” Xethre brought Angela’s hand to his lips and kissed it. Angela, cool, composed Angela, blushed like a schoolgirl. “Oh, well, I … it’s lovely, I mean…” she broke off in nervous giggles. Sheridanrolled her eyes. Oh pu-leeze. “You’ve never kissed my hand,”Sheridan muttered under her breath. Xethre leaned over to whisper inSheridan ’s ear. “But I’ve kissed other such delectable places, little one.” Sheridanswallowed. Oh boy. “Now, I believe we should leave this place,” Xethre said sternly. Sheridannodded. “Well, yeah, my set is done, so I’m through for the night. But I have to come back tomorrow evening.” Xethre’s mouth tightened. “We’ll see,” he said softly. Sheridanscowled at Xethre. “There’s nothing to ‘see’ about. But if you want to duke it out, we can do that. I could use a good argument. Helps me let off steam.” She turned to Angela. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Angela nodded. Her eyes were still bright and filled with pleasure. Her face was still flushed from meeting and being in Xethre’s oh-so-charming presence. “Uh, yeah, see you tomorrow.” Sheridantried not to gag. Could anyone keep their cool around Alexethre Roistkauff? She saw the goofy grins gracing every female face in the bar and sighed heavily—obviously not.



**** “This is not comfortable,”Sheridan muttered—face staring squarely at Xethre’s wall. She pulled at the manacles that held her hands so fiercely. Her hands were manacled to the wall in front of her. Her legs were free but she had to hunch over to accommodate her hands. “It is not meant to be comfortable, little one.” Xethre came to stand behind her. “It is meant to be disquieting…” “Yeah, well it is that.”Sheridan scowled. She had accepted this position—actually she had been rather eager to try it. But now, now she wasn’t so certain if it had been a good idea. She was feeling rather discombobulated. Sheridan and Xethre had made their way back to his home. He had opened the trap door in his floor and beckonedSheridan in. After a moment of hesitation she had followed him. She was pleased to see that the room was now illuminated in mellow candlelight. It was a large room—a large, stone room. It looked like a tomb. Okay, a nicely furnished tomb. In the center of the room Xethre’s massive bed dominated. It was round, the bed was round, and it was elevated high off of the ground by a platform. There was a large full-length mirror near the bed and a beautiful oak dresser. But what caughtSheridan ’s attention was the far wall of the tomb. There were manacles on the wall. And hooks that held some very interesting … objects. Objects that madeSheridan ’s stomach quiver. Xethre had looked at her questioningly, obviously surprised by her interest in his ‘toys’. But to Sheridan, who had never seen such things, his ‘toys’ were supremely intriguing. So, here she was, chained to the wall, feeling, as Xethre said—disquieted. “Now, you need only tell me, if there is something that you do not like … little one.” Xethre smoothed his hand down her hair. He rubbed the silken threads and wrapped them around his hands. She had the most incredible hair, so long, so lush … so unbelievably soft to the touch. Xethre moved her hair and kissed the side of her neck. He ran his hand lovingly down the plane of her ass and squeezed. “What … what are you going to do?”Sheridan ’s voice quivered only so slightly. Xethre smiled against her skin. “I’m going to prime you, my dear.” “Prime me?” file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (51 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


Xethre nodded. He moved his fingers between her thighs and urged her without words to open. She did. “Yes, you must be prepared for what I’m going to do, little one. When your body is so tight you feel pleasure will seep from every pore … then I will bring you to a plane you never knew existed.” Sheridanswallowed. Well, that sounded … intense. Xethre began to rub the lips of her pussy. She grew moist almost immediately. He slipped one thick finger into her tight, wet, passage and began to rotate it. She moaned. Xethre grinned. “So ready, so soon. Well, we are not nearly there yet.” He dropped to his knees, partedSheridan ’s legs, and blew gently against her. He smiled when she shivered. She was beautiful, her pussy was beautiful. It was plump and pink and shiny with her dew. He parted her pussy lips with his fingers and licked her slit from top to bottom. Juice dripped on his tongue and he rolled it around his mouth, savoring it. She was so receptive, so incredibly hot. Xethre stiffened his tongue and speared it within her hot, wet, tunnel. He learned her, lapping at her soft, silky, flesh and sucking her in. When she began to squirm and pant he quickened the thrusts of his tongue, pushing it as far as he could. He consumed her. Her pussy began to tighten around his tongue and she cried out. He removed his tongue from her needy flesh, ignoring her pleas. “Yessss…” he hissed. Xethre picked up the candle he had placed earlier by his side and blew out the flame. He rolled the wax around once before tilting the candle and dripping the hot liquid down her back. Sheridanscreamed in pleasure. Her skin was alive with sensation, all of it intense. Each spark went straight to her pussy, making her burn inside. She was on fire. She gasped as another bit of hot wax hit her back. Her body began to shake and she let out a ragged moan. “Oh my God!”Sheridan ground her teeth together. Suddenly she felt pressure against the puckered ring of her ass. She stiffened. Xethre’s voice was soothing against her ear. He dripped more wax down her back and when she arched in pleasure he inserted an inch of his thick finger into her anus. They moaned in unison. “Ohhhhh … ohhhhhhh…”Sheridan dropped her head back. file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (52 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


Xethre pushed deeper, and when she relaxed he added the tip of a second finger. She was tight. She was so damned tight. He nipped the flesh below her ear and ran his tongue across the sweaty skin. She was writhing against his fingers now. Begging him, begging him with her body to take more. Xethre was delighted to comply with the needs of her body, the needs of both their bodies. Xethre took a small item down from a low hanging hook and rolled it lovingly around in his hand. It was a small ball. Attached to the ball was a string of tiny pearls. He smiled. “Are you ready, my love?” He didn’t wait for a response. He dipped the ball between her legs—her pussy took it in immediately. He rolled the ball around delicately within her eager flesh. She was gasping and arching her hips desperately. “It feels…”Sheridan couldn’t finish. Xethre smiled. “I know how it feels, my love … but there is more…” He pulled at the string of pearls and the ball slid out of her pussy. Within seconds the ball was at her anus—pushing, begging entrance. Sheridansucked in a breath. Her heart was pounding, and every nerve in her body was alive and screaming. The ball was well oiled with the juices of her body and felt deliciously wicked pressed against her skin Xethre pushed the ball slowly into her ass. He was electrified as the smooth shiny surface of the ball disappeared completely within her puckered flesh. When it was housed completely within he moved back in awe. “You are so beautiful … so beautiful.” Sheridanwas taking small labored breaths. Xethre ran his hands over her breasts. Her nipples were pebble hard and her skin was flushed and sweaty. “Ass in the air, my love.” Sheridanbit her lip. Xethre peeled away several clumps of cooled wax from her back. “Do it, love…” his voice was a caress. Sheridanplanted her legs a little further back and stuck her ass in the air. She waited. She didn’t have to wait long. Xethre impaled himself from behind within her pussy. Her dripping, aching flesh closed around his hard cock immediately and held him tight.



“Ohhhhh my … my … ohhhhh…”Sheridan shrieked. Xethre grabbed her hips and fucked her hard. He knew her body had to feel completely full, his cock in her pussy, a ball in her ass, and he could hear her heart thumping wildly within her chest. His strokes were merciless and hard. He knew it was what she wanted, what her body needed. She was on the edge, on fire and she called to him to take her completely. With each thrust of his cock, her ass hit his muscled thighs and her whimpers turned to moans, which turned to ragged cries. Xethre could hear her screaming his name, but her voice sounded distant through the roaring in his head. He quickened his thrusts, driving himself to the hilt within her scalding flesh. She was rising up to meet him then. Her body began to shake and her pussy clenched tightly around his cock. He slapped her ass lightly and she gasped. Her body began to shake uncontrollably and she began to twist her head from side to side. “I … I … oh my God … I’m going to…” she screamed. “Oh, my love…” Xethre felt his mouth stretch, his fangs were coming out. He leaned down, planted his mouth over the large vein in her neck and bit. Hot, rich, blood bathed his mouth and dripped down his chin. Her body was convulsing and Xethre felt his cock tense and quiver. With mouth still latched to her neck, he brought both hands to either side of her thighs, thrust once more and released his seed into her waiting body. Xethre pulled at the pearls. The ball remained lodged firmly within hisSheridan ’s gorgeous ass. He smiled. He pressed his mouth to her ear and whispered, “Relax, let it go, love. Let it go.” Sheridanrelaxed her muscles and Xethre pulled the ball free. It left her flesh with a small pop. “That was…”Sheridan was shaking her head. She was sagging against the wall. Xethre smoothed damp tendrils of hair away from her face. “Let’s get you more comfortable.” He unlocked the manacles and caught her as she sagged. He picked her up and cradled her within his arms. “Oh my love, my sweet love…” he whispered. Sheridanmurmured something unintelligible against his chest. Xethre brought her to the bed. He placed her down. Right before he fell in beside her, he lit an oil lamp. “There will be no dark when you wake … sleep now, love, sleep and dream.” file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (54 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


Chapter Seven: Sheridanwoke to mellow light bathing her body. She smiled. He had kept a light burning for her. She put her arms over her head and stretched. Biting her lip she rolled towards Xethre’s unconscious form. God, he was beautiful. Sheridantook a moment to study him. His black hair in the lamplight seemed streaked with blue, it was that dark. His equally dark lashes lay sweeping against the delicate plane of his eyes. And his mouth in sleep was relaxed and slightly parted.Sheridan traced his lips with her fingers and suddenly went cold. He wasn’t breathing. Holy crap, he wasn’t breathing. Sheridanground her teeth together. Okay, she had known this. He was dead. Her new boyfriend was dead. The dead didn’t breathe. That much was obvious. Then why was she freaked out to encounter evidence of his very un-animated state? Sheridanleaned over and planted her ear to his chest—no heartbeat—nothing. It was still, so very still. “I can handle this,”Sheridan muttered. “I can totally handle this.”Sheridan leaped out of the bed. “No, I can’t handle this.” She began to pace. He was a corpse. She was sleeping with a corpse. Fine, no, not a corpse, not really. She understood and knew that when dark fell, he camealive . So, she just had to understand that when day came hedied . Sheridanmade her way back to the bed. She studied the planes of his face and the smooth, muscular expanse of his body and shivered. He was magnificent. He certainly didn’t look dead. He looked like a statue, a perfect statue. His body was utterly still and if there was ever a moment thatSheridan wished she could paint, it was now. She wanted to capture him like this. Capture how he looked surrounded by a sea of sapphire sheets. And at that moment she knew. “I love you,”Sheridan breathed. The moment the words were out she gasped and staggered back. Sheloved him ? Oh God, she loved him, she truly did. It was impossible, it was ridiculous … it was true. Her heart was so full she felt as if it would burst. He was everywhere, he was everything to her. “Oh hell,” she muttered, collapsing to the ground in a boneless heap. “What am I going to do now?” **** Sheridanstared at what lay in her hands and blushed furiously. When she had arrived at Sharkey’s, Angela had handed her the bright red package. She had opened the package to reveal an expensive jeweler’s box. Nestled within the box was a strand of perfect shining pearls. file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (55 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


Angela cooed and fawned over the gift. Sheridanturned beet red. She flipped the card over and read:To be worn and remembered . He hadn’t signed it. He didn’t need to.Sheridan felt warmth spread through her body. She allowed Angela to clasp the necklace around her neck. She felt the pearls warm and smooth against her skin and sheremembered . **** Xethre stared so hard at the letter in front of him he felt as if he could melt a hole right through it. The Council wanted an update. They wanted to know his progress. Xethre clenched his hands into fists and shut his eyes. He gathered up his resolve and opened his eyes. He tore the letter into tiny pieces and let the pieces fall to the floor. Why did they want her? He had to learn the answer. It was the only way to free her, to free them both. And hewould free them. He would not let the Council have her. He would not let them take his heart from him—for surely, to takeSheridan was to take his heart. It was more than a simple Turning. It had to be. The Council wantedSheridan for a reason and the answer lay with that reason. But discovering why the Council wanted hisSheridan meant that he would have to dig into the workings of their ‘society’. It was a thought he did not relish. Xethre had never liked politics. He liked vampire politics even less. And the Council was nothing but twisted politics and twisted ancient ideals. The vampires who sat on the board were old, very old, and powerful, very, very powerful. They ruled much like feudal lords. They sat at the head of their ‘house’ and stretched their arms as wide as they could, encompassing as much land, wealth and power as they could in their greedy grasp. It had been this way for thousands of years. And Xethre knew it would remain thus for thousands of years to come. He was not powerful enough to topple the Council. But knowledgewas power. And if he could discover what was at the heart of the Council’s interest inSheridan … then perhaps he could find a way to use that knowledge to his advantage. He swore. Damn them. Damn them for bringing him to heaven’s gate merely to force him back to hell. Sheridan. In his mind’s eye he saw her face, smiling at him, heard her voice, laughing at him, and felt her body pressed tightly against him. His love, his heart. No, he would not let them have her.



**** Michaela studied the ancient text in front of her. She was forced to read the words back twice before she could quite believe what she saw—what she had discovered. She traced the words on the brittle parchment with pale fingers. Lineage … it was all about lineage, and an ancient one at that. It was little wonder that the Council was desperate to have her. How remarkable. How positively remarkable. Michaela closed the book and hugged it to her chest. How she would love to take it with her. But she knew that the librarian would miss its presence and then, as duty bade, alert the Council as to its disappearance. She was already fortunate to have been allowed access to the archives. Not many were. But she was Michaela, the Dark Twin, and no one would dare to bar her way. Sometimes it proved helpful that she was a walking nightmare. Even vampires, in all their evil glory, feared something. How strange it was to be that something. To be the dark that dark itself feared. **** Sheridansaid goodnight to Angela and walked out of Sharkey’s. She was in an exceptionally fine mood. She had made over a hundred dollars in jar tips alone and she was headed over to her very sexy and very virile vampire boyfriend’s home for a night of wild, crazy, monkey love. Yeah. She was in a great mood. She made her way across the parking lot toward her car. It was very dark andSheridan was suddenly very glad she had parked under a parking light. She suddenly stiffened. Her eyes narrowed into tiny slits and her hand reached into her pocket for her mace when she encountered a figure leaning against the hood of her car. The person was wearing a long black cloak that effectively hid them from view. “Good evening,Sheridan .” Sheridaneyed the stranger warily. She didn’t like strange men addressing her by name. And this person was definitely a strange man. His voice had given him away. “Get away from my car.”Sheridan withdrew her mace. The man laughed. “I assure you that your human weapon will not harm me.” The man drew back the hood of his cloak, revealing his face. Sheridansucked in a breath. Vampire. She knew immediately. file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (57 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


The man had a face so beautiful it was nearly feminine in its glory. Large green eyes dominated a face of such still perfection,Sheridan wasn’t certain if she was staring at a dream. His eyelashes were pale and golden and matched the sun-kissed color of his shining hair. His cheekbones were delicate, his mouth pink and full and his skin, his skin was snow cast ivory. “Who are you?” She breathed out. She instinctively took a step back. Somehow she knew she did not want to be close to this vampire. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Pathos.” His green eyes suddenly seemed to burn brighter. Sheridanswallowed and shook her head. Her brain seemed cloudy, and her thoughts sluggish. She had to remember. She had to remember. She was going to Xethre’s home. Xethre. “Well, okay, nice to meet you. Could you, uh, step away from my car now?”Sheridan was pleased to find that her voice was level and calm. She took several deep breaths. Vampire Pathos seemed momentarily taken back. He stepped away from her car. Unfortunately, now he was closer toSheridan . Sheridanclucked her tongue. Okay, the scary vampire was still staring at her. What? What was he waiting for?Sheridan decided she didn’t want to wait and find out. She forced her steps to be casual as she made her way over to the driver’s side of her car. She unlocked the door and was about to open it when an iron grasp stilled her. Sheridanlooked up and swallowed. Scary vampire was now at her side holding her wrist. His fingers dug painfully into her delicate flesh and she willed herself not to flinch. “Let go.” “You should be enthralled.” Sheridancalmed her racing heart. “Enthralled by what?” “By me. Your human mind cannot withstand the power of my Glamour.” Sheridancouldn’t help it, she laughed. “I’m sorry, don’t mean to laugh.” She gasped when the hold on her wrist tightened. Okay, that hadn’t been the smartest thing to do. Don’t laugh at an obviously egotistical vampire. Not smart. “How are you doing this?” “Doing what?”Sheridan was completely baffled. Vampire Pathos jerked her flush against his body.



Sheridanstruggled, but it was no use. It was like struggling against reinforced steel. “You are beautiful. And humans so rarely are.” Vampire Pathos leaned down to kiss her mouth, butSheridan twisted away. His kiss fell to her cheek. He released her so suddenly then, she stumbled against her car. “This will be a pleasure.” Vampire Pathos smiled, and it was like looking at an angel, an angel with really large fangs. He stepped back and allowedSheridan to jump into her car. Sheridandidn’t hesitate. She locked the doors, hit the gas, and sped away. **** Sheridantook a deep breath and calmed her frayed nerves. She was fine now. She rang the doorbell and when the door opened, all but fell into Xethre’s waiting arms. “What’s wrong?” Xethre asked immediately. Sheridanshook her head. “Let’s fuck.” She tugged at his shirt. Xethre eluded her hands and his eyes went hot with fury. “Who touched you? WHO!” He shouted. Sheridantook a step back. “No one.” She had never seen Xethre like this before. His face was white with anger and his turquoise eyes swirled furiously. She could almost see flames dancing within those blue orbs. His hair seemed to suddenly crackle and when he snarled she could see large fangs elongating, lengthening. Oh shit. “Don’t lie to me. Don’t ever lie to me.” Xethre advanced. Sheridangulped. “Stop it. Stop it, Xethre.” She turned for the open door but Xethre’s hand was suddenly there, shutting it. “I can smell him …vampire …” Xethre hissed. “Who … who touched you?” Sheridanknew Xethre wouldn’t hurt her. She knew. But that didn’t stop her body from shaking. Through his anger, Xethre saw her reaction to his power and forced his energy down. He hadn’t meant to frighten her. His reaction was instinctive, his anger immediate. But he didn’t want her to fear him. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry,Sheridan .” Xethre stepped back. “It … it is like the tide, I cannot help it from flowing.”



Sheridannodded jerkily. “All right, fine.” She swallowed. “But you can control your emotions, and your emotions control the scary-ass vampire power thing, right? So get your shit together.” Sheridan’s words were like a slap across his face. Xethre laughed raggedly. “Sometimes, often, I find I cannot seem to control my emotions around you.” Sheridansighed. “You’ve got to try. You really freaked me out.” Xethre nodded. “Yes, I know. Again, I am sorry.” “Okay.” He moved back even further. “Would you come to the sitting room with me?” The sitting room, yeah, she could do that. She nodded and followed his lead. **** “Show me, please.” Xethre asked calmly now. Sheridanbit her lip but held up her hand for inspection. Xethre took her hand gently within his and inspected her bruised wrist. He had seen it the moment she had sat down. Her delicate flesh was marred by thick clusters of purple and black. “Tell me, my love, please.” She hesitated. Xethre looked deep into her eyes. “I will not do the ‘scary-ass’ vampire thing, I promise.” Sheridannodded. “I was coming to you. I made it to my car, and he was waiting for me. Vampire. I knew it the moment he pulled down his hood.” “Hood?” “Yeah, he was wearing a long cloak with a hood, you know, like something out of a fantasy movie. The moment I saw his face I knew. Is that ridiculous? I just knew.” “It is not so ridiculous, my love.” Sheridantook a deep breath and continued. “I think he tried something on me first, uh, Glamour. He said it was Glamour.” file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (60 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


Xethre stiffened, but otherwise did nothing. “And then he got really upset … because it wasn’t working like it was supposed to. I think that is why he was upset. He grabbed my arm. He … he…” She broke off. When she saw the stillness of his face she rushed on, “tried to kiss me.” “A name, give me a name,Sheridan .” Oh, her full name. He was really pissed.Sheridan swallowed. “Pathos. He said his name was Pathos. And he knew mine, Xethre. He knew my name.” Xethre went completely white, so white, that his turquoise eyes drowned out his face. Sheridanplaced her hand to his cheek. “Xethre, Xethre?” “Pathos,” the other vampire’s name was a mere whisper on his lips. “Xethre, speak to me, tell me what is wrong.”Sheridan was worried. Xethre was so white, so still. His face was utterly, completely bloodless and his skin so very, very, cold. She could see the flames dancing within his eyes once again and knew that it was not a good sign. Sheridankissed him then. She coaxed his unresponsive lips into responding. She teased his lips with her tongue and swept inside the cavern of his mouth. She wrapped her hands within his thick hair and deepened the kiss. And suddenly he was with her. His hands were spearing through her hair and his mouth was ravaging hers. They tumbled to the floor. Xethre rippedSheridan ’s blouse open, tore her bra off, and shoved her skirt to her waist. Sheridanfrantically unzipped Xethre’s slacks to free his hard cock. “Mine, my own,” Xethre ground out. His mouth latched over one ofSheridan ’s taut nipples. He rolled the pebbled flesh within his mouth and when it hardened even more, he bit the tender bud. “Xethre, ohhhhh…”Sheridan writhed under him. She arched her back, desperate to get nearer still. She felt his hands cool and demanding on her hot skin and bit back a cry when she felt his finger slide deep within her dripping pussy. “More,” she cried. “Yes, yes, more,” Xethre ripped her panties away and shoved two more fingers into her tight file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (61 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


passage. Her flesh sucked him in instantly. He ground his three fingers hard within her body, rotating his wrist to search her out even further. He caught her clit. It was full and tight and soft as satin. He ran his finger tenderly over the hard nub but she arched her hips and demanded more. He squeezed it then, rubbing it between his two fingers, increasing the pressure until it fattened and seemed to burn his flesh. Sheridanreached between their straining bodies to grab his cock. She rubbed the head, and smiled when Xethre groaned. Xethre removed his fingers fromSheridan ’s wet pussy but before she could protest he was there, shoving his cock forcefully into her needy body. “Hard, fast …fast … I’m … sorry…” Xethre grippedSheridan ’s hips and began to ride her body—hard. Sheridanknew what he needed. She needed it just as desperately as he did. She met him stroke for stroke. Her hands grabbed his back and her nails bit deeply into his flesh. She wrapped her legs around his waist and ground her pelvis against him. His hard flesh was pulsing, growing within her, and she could feel her own body responding. Her pussy was on fire and her heart was thudding frantically against the restraints of her chest. She felt her inner muscles spasm and she dug her feet into the flesh of his ass, anchoring herself even more firmly against him. Sheridancould feel every vein, every ridge of Xethre’s powerful cock as he plowed further and further into her body. He was hard, hot, steel, and she was the velvet glove that welcomed him. Sheridanbit her lip so hard she drew blood. And suddenly Xethre was there, lapping up the blood, running his tongue over the smooth fullness of her lips. His thrusts became harder, more demanding still, andSheridan knew he was close. She placed the flesh of his shoulder within her teeth and bit—hard. Xethre growled, and ground himself harder against her. Sheridanfelt her pussy clench and little tremors began to seize her. She opened her mouth to scream, to shout, to shriek her pleasure but Xethre’s hand against her mouth stopped her. He pressed his hand tightly against her lips; his eyes—turquoise fire—captured her. He bent his head over the white column of her neck and placed his mouth over the pulse he found there. When her back arched and her hips flew off the ground, he pierced her skin and drank, allowing himself to take her blood as he emptied himself within her. **** file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (62 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:13 PM]


Sheridantraced a line with her finger from Xethre’s eyebrow to his jaw. She smiled into his solemn face. “Tell me.” Xethre’s jaw clenched and when he spoke his words were edged in steel. “What would you know?” Sheridansighed. “All of it. But you can start with why the mention of this vampire’s name made you go all ballistic.” “Pathos,” Xethre hissed. “Yeah, Pathos. Tell me.” Xethre sat, bracing his back against the couch. “Pathos is … a member of the vampire Council.” “Okay.” “A new member, his status is not as secure as those of the old lines. Nevertheless he is strong.” Xethre’s eyes darkened. “I do not care for him.” Sheridannodded slowly. “Uh-huh, I can see that.” “Pathos and I have some … history.” By the look in his eyes, it wasn’t good history.Sheridan rubbed her hands up and down his arms, willing him to continuing. “Have I told you about companions, little one?” Sheridanshook her head. Xethre slowly related the facts about vampires and their companions to her.Sheridan took the information in. Rolling it around in her brain and filtering it out. “So, not every vampire can have a companion.” “Only the able, only the strong, can bind one to them. And even then, a vampire must ask the Council, often beg to be able to take a companion.” “Power trip,”Sheridan murmured.



He nodded. “Indeed. The Council, they are all about power.” “So … this Pathos is one of the Council.” “Yes. His seat however new, demands attention.” “You knew him before he was part of the Council, didn’t you?” He nodded. “I liked him little when he was merely one of the flock, but I detested him when he took his seat on the Council.” Sheridanhad to ask again. “Why?” “Because, as a one of the flock he was arrogant, cruel and sadistic … but as one of the Council he is an arrogant, cruel, sadistic vampire with limitless power.” “Sadistic?” “Oh yes, Pathos’s pretty face hides a nature blacker than even the dark wish to know.” Sheridanshuddered. “There was this novice, Catherine.” “Novice? Like nun?”Sheridan asked. Xethre’s lip twitched. “Not quite yet a nun, little one. A novice has yet to take their final vows.” “Uh, okay.” “Catherine had been forced into the convent by her family. Her stepmother was a very jealous woman and Catherine was a very beautiful young girl. Catherine’s stepmother convinced her husband, Catherine’s father, to send her to the convent. It was not the life Catherine wanted. Catherine was a free spirit, a mischievous soul. She could never be satisfied with the spirit. She wished for the flesh.” Sheridanfrowned. She didn’t like how Xethre spoke of this Catherine. He had known her, known her well. And she didn’t like it one bit. “I met Catherine, quite by accident. She was gathering medicinal herbs in the forest…” Xethre’s voice drifted off. His eyes were unfocused as if seeing it all, in front of him. “She was lovely, sweet and … innocent. I knew … I knew she was not meant for the cloistered life. I knew from the first moment I saw her. We met as often as we could. And when I finally revealed myself to file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (64 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


her, she was not disgusted as I thought she would be, but intrigued and seduced.” Xethre’s voice grew cold. “She begged me to Turn her. She wished to be vampire, like I. She wanted to taste eternity and reign by my side. I denied her. I told her that I could not make her vampire. That I could not take her without the permission of the Council. She begged and she pleaded, but I would not relent.” Xethre ran his hand through his hair and sighed. “I offered her an alternative. I told her that I would bind her to me. She could be my human bound companion. Her life span would echo mine, but she would still be human.” Sheridansearched Xethre’s face. “Somehow I’m guessing she didn’t like that alternative.” “You guess correctly. Catherine sought out the Council. I had told her too much of their existence and she found them and pleaded her case. The Council accepted her request.” Sheridangasped. “What? Couldn’t they see she was a spoiled, selfish, self-indulgent…” He smiled. “You see all that, merely from what I have told you?” Sheridannodded. “Yeah, I mean, come on. You offered her eternityand humanity and she refused you.I don’t think so .” Xethre felt unaccustomed warmth spread through his cold body. Perhaps … perhaps there was hope after all. But first he had to tell her the rest. “But Catherine could not have known about … Pathos.” Sheridangulped. Ick. Why did she just know she wasn’t going to like this? “Pathos, a new member of the Council, wanted Catherine. And what a Council member wants, a Council member gets. Pathos did indeed take Catherine, but he did not Turn her. He bound her to him, just as I had offered to do for her, and kept her with him as his human bound companion. Thus she was no vampire, and had no powers to call her own. Her status as Pathos’s human bound companion was no greater than that of a servant.” Xethre clenched his hands into tight fists. “And Pathos was never known to treat his servants well. Catherine survived a little over one hundred years … before she … before she diminished.” “Diminished?”Sheridan asked hesitantly. “Pathos killed her. The abuse, the torture … the misery … it destroyed her in the end.” Xethre turned his face away fromSheridan then; he did not want her to see the guilt, the anger written in his eyes. “I … I … did not love her. She was just a pretty thing. And I believe I became enamored of the spark of life I saw in her. But I did not love her. I would have, however, taken her with me, given her companionship if she had accepted. After she refused me, I thought little of her. She passed from my mind like a fleeting shadow a forgotten memory. I should have tried harder. I file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (65 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


should have…” Sheridanbrought her hand to his cheek and moved his head back to look at her. “It was not your fault, Xethre. You gave her a choice. She made hers.” She smiled into his face. “We all make choices … to love is to err.” Xethre’s eyes sparked and he took her face within his palms. “So said a friend of mine once.” She grinned. “You have friends? Ones that aren’t dead?” He laughed. “Sophie, her name is Sophie, and I will introduce you to her one day soon, mySheridan .” Her eyes widened. “Oh, my name, now I know it’s serious.” Xethre just knew. There was no time but now. She was here. She accepted him. And his love could not be contained. He looked deeply into her eyes and said, simply, “I love you.” Sheridan’s mouth dropped open and her heart stopped. “Huh?” “I love you, Sheridan Malaya Duskul. I love you. I love the way you laugh, the way your eyes light up and flash fire. I love the way you pout and scream and talk me down. I love how you hold my body close and the light I see shining from your eyes. But most of all, I love how you nurture my soul.” Xethre leaned in until his face was but a breath away from hers. “My soul, little one. You have restored my soul.” **** Sheridanfelt as if time had slipped away from her. Xethre was sitting on the floor, naked, declaring his love for her. And she was sitting like a dummy, staring at him with vacant eyes. Declaring his love? OH MY GOD! Xethre was declaring his love for her. “I do, I do love you.”Sheridan felt the words slip out of her mouth in a rush. But suddenly they were out. And they were right. She loved this man, this vampire, with all of her human heart. He was everything she had ever wanted and more. Hewas her soul mate. He was the missing piece of her. And then she was smiling, smiling and laughing, smiling, laughing and crying. “Mine, my own,” Xethre said. Right before he crushed her to him in a rib-cracking hug. “Yes, yours.”Sheridan pulled back slightly. Her lips curved in a generous smile. “Well, are you file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (66 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


going to take me to bed, or what?” He let out a loud whoop, swooped her up and carried her laughing out of the room. Chapter Eight: Michaela studied the pair. They were perfect. They werein love . The words struck her frozen heart and made it bleed. They were sitting, heads bent close. She was eating and he was watching the food course down her throat. Their love was painful to see and Michaela felt it—pain. He had found her. He had found his one. And their love mocked her, taunted her, forced her to see what she could never have. Michaela felt a tear escape from her eye and fall, unchecked, down her cheek. A tear—the dead did not weep. And yet here it was—the evidence of her agony. Michaela swept the moisture away and suddenly anger was there … pure, absolute, rage. And outside, the winds raged and the skies opened to release torrents of rain. Lightning flashed across the sky, streaking silver over black, and thunder screamed, low and wordless. Xethre and Sheridan turned at the same time. Their startled eyes met the terrifying figure that was Michaela. Michaela’s hair, tossed by an invisible wind, whipped around her body. Her skin glowed like a fluorescent light and her eyes … her eyes were painful to look at. They were so silver they burned white and, like broken glass, they cut right through you. Xethre stood suddenly and threw the full force of his gaze onto Michaela. His turquoise orbs flashed and glowed steadily brighter. The strange dancing flame within them leapt and swirled as he advanced slowly toward her. The heat from his gaze grew hotter still and slowly burned a path through Michaela’s frozen body. Her eyes dulled. Her skin faded back to normal and the winds and rain outside subsided and then died completely. Michaela stood down. “You’ve grown more skilled, old friend. Your technique has improved.” His smile was not entirely friendly. “Is it not lucky for us that it has? You could have leveled the city.” Michaela smoothed down her hair. “With such control and skill, you could challenge for the file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (67 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


Council seat.” Xethre stiffened. “I have no desire to be on the Council, Michaela. And you know it.” She laughed. “I do. Such an odd ability, that, being able to temper away another’s power.” Michaela crossed the distance between them and reached out to caress his cheek. “Your eyes … they were always dangerous.” He remained still under her touch. “No more so than yours.” Michaela smiled. “Your flattery is not necessary.” “It’s not flattery,” he answered, blandly. Michaela stepped back then. Her stoic mask once again in place. She turned to Sheridan who sat, watchful, at the kitchen table. “You should always mind his eyes … they will burn you.” Sheridanlifted her chin. “I don’t mind a little heat.” Michaela’s eyes widened and then she laughed. “Oh yes, she is perfect for you, Xethre.” Xethre rejoinedSheridan at the table. “Was there a reason for your unexpected visit, Michaela?” He had stopped questioning long ago how she managed to step into his home without him ever hearing her. She was Michaela … the elements obeyed her. Such was his answer. “Your mate is aligned with Hedonai.” Michaela’s expression was unreadable. “Her lineage … it is all about her lineage, Xethre.” “The Council said she was distantly related…” Michaela’s laugh was harsh. “—distantly related … don’t you love how they twist and corrupt the facts to suit their needs. It is why they want her, Xethre. She is the only true descendent of the now dying line. You have fallen in love with a Hedonite. Her lineage is purer than yours.” “Excuse me,”Sheridan ’s face was drawn in a frown, “could you tell me what the hell you’re talking about.” Xethre swallowed. He turned his gaze back to Michaela. “You are certain?” Michaela nodded. “There is no doubt.” He closed his eyes.



“Xethre, Xethre, what’s going on, tell me … someone tell me what the hell is going on.” When Xethre opened his eyes they were filled with something deep, something sorrowful. “You are a direct descendent to an ancient line of vampire, my love. Thousands of years ago there lived a race of people. They were the Hedonites. Now, nothing remains of their line but one diminishing Council member and…” his eyes pierced hers, “you.” Sheridanlaughed. “Oh come on.” She looked incredulously between the two of them. “You don’t believe this shit, do you? Xethre, I’m human. Human. Michaela, I know you’re like ‘goddess of all vampires’ but you’ve totally flipped your lid. I’m not a vampire.” “No,” Michaela said, “you’re not. But your blood is the blood of a Hedonite. The blood of a dying race—a race that was taken over by vampires, and eventually corrupted.” “I can trace my roots back…” “—how far?” Michaela asked, interrupting her. Sheridanthrew up her hands. “I don’t know, what, five, six, generations.” Michaela laughed. “You would have to go much further to come across the existence of your Hedonai ancestors.” “You are seriously whacked out.”Sheridan turned a smiling face towards Xethre. What she saw froze her smile in place. “Xethre, you can’t believe her. This is ridiculous.” He shook his head. “The Council, their command, Pathos … it all makes sense.” Michaela narrowed her eyes. “Pathos? What of Pathos?” “He has come. He approachedSheridan .” “God, he has ever been predictable,” Michaela ground out. “Always the little boy, always wanting what you have. I can dispose of him if you’d like.” Xethre shook his head. “No, I would not have you come under the radar of the Council. Pathos is my concern. I will deal with him.” “The Council cannot hurt me,” Michaela said, matter-of-factly. “It doesn’t matter. If you kill Pathos, they will make your death difficult. They need not kill you, only complicate things.”



Michaela said nothing. She knew that Xethre was right. Sheridanjumped to her feet. “Well, okay, this has been enlightening. But you know what? I’m all out of witty comebacks or small talk. So … I’m going to say good night.” Xethre grabbed her forearm. “You cannot go, my love.” “No? Watch me.”Sheridan glared at his hand gripping her arm. “Let go, Xethre.” “No, it is too dangerous.” “Let go. You can’t keep me here.” His eyes gleamed predatorily. “Can’t I?” **** “Ugh, you suck!”Sheridan screamed. “Do you hear me, you suck. I hate you, Alexethre Roistkauff! I hate you.” She paced. Her pacing didn’t take her far, as her legs were cuffed and the cuffs were secured to the wall by a length of chain. She was chained to the wall—again. But this time it was her legs that were manacled. It didn’t matter, though. She was stuck in this tomb, waiting Xethre’s return. How dare he! How dare he chain her up and leave her? Okay, how dare he leave her? Sheridangrowled. If she would admit it to herself she was just as pissed by the fact that he had left her after he had chained her up, as with the fact that he had chained her in the first place. She had expected … well … she hadn’t expected this. The trap door opened andSheridan stiffened. She was surprised to see that it was Michaela, wrapped in a long velvet dressing robe that glided down the stairs. She glared at the beautiful vampire. “What? Come to play a game of strip poker? Sorry, no cards.” She looked down at her bare body and then back to Michaela, “and no clothes. You can leave now.” Michaela smiled and levitated slowly over toSheridan . Sheridanswallowed. “I have not come to play poker, Sheridan Malaya. But I have come to entertain you.” “Where’s Xethre?”Sheridan asked tightly. file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (70 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


“He’s seeking out Pathos.” Sheridanfelt fear crawl through her body. It must have shown in her eyes because Michaela smiled and pet her hair. “Do not trouble yourself, Sheridan. Xethre is very strong. He will be safe.” “That other vampire was pretty scary.” Michaela snorted. “Pathos, full of self-importance. I still wonder at how he took his place on the Council. He is not a concern,Sheridan .” “Then why wouldn’t Xethre let me leave?” Michaela ran her hand gently downSheridan ’s face, and her neck, she finally let it rest on the other woman’s delicate collarbone. She watched the flickering emotions pass overSheridan ’s face. She gauged every one of them. And she smiled. “Pathos is no threat to Xethre, not really. But he is a threat toyou ,Sheridan . He is vampire, you are not. He is Council, and you are prey. He could take you … he would take you if he had the chance.” “He didn’t at the bar.” “No, that meeting was bait for Xethre. I am sure Pathos relished the idea of you running back to Xethre, suffocating under the weight of his smell, with his marks on your skin. He would know it would drive Xethre mad. Pathos was always the spoiled child. He likes to play games.” “I want to go,”Sheridan said through clenched teeth. Michaela brought her face so close thatSheridan felt as if she could almostfeel breath touching her face. “Do you, do you really?” “I … I … do…”Sheridan cursed the tremor in her voice. Michaela cuppedSheridan ’s breast and ran her fingers across the already hard nipple. “You do, what?” Michaela asked. She pinched the nipple and smiled when the bud grew darker, harder under her touch. “I … I … I…”Sheridan felt pleasure work its way through her body. Michaela’s hands were so different from Xethre's. Michaela’s hands were softer, slimmer, and her nails were longer and sharper. Currently those long sharp nails were delicately scraping the taut flesh of her nipples. “I’m supposed to be mad at you,” she groaned. file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (71 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


Michaela laughed. “Save your anger, Sheridan Malaya, there are better emotions to harvest…” Michaela lightly bit the side ofSheridan ’s neck, “like desire … lust…” “Ohhhh…”Sheridan ’s breath hitched. Michaela came to stand behindSheridan . She wrapped her arms around her and began to knead her breasts. She rolled the soft, full mounds between her hands and played with the firm pebbles of her nipples. WhenSheridan began to moan and twitch, Michaela let one delicate hand slip betweenSheridan ’s thighs. She parted the soft lips ofSheridan ’s pussy and slid one slim finger into her waiting passage. “That is…”Sheridan gasped and pushed down on Michaela’s hand. Michaela licked the delicate shell ofSheridan ’s ear. “Yes … you were saying?” Sheridandidn’t know what the hell she had been saying. Why had she been talking at all? Michaela slipped a second finger intoSheridan ’s pussy and began to swish them delicately around within the soft, wet, flesh. She skimmed them lightly overSheridan ’s taut clit and teased the hard bud with gentle strokes. “Ohhhh please…”Sheridan moaned. Michaela laughed. She increased the speed of her strokes and circled the hard nub. “Please…?” “Squeeze me, please, ohhhhhh please…”Sheridan desperately ground herself against Michaela’s talented hand, needing more. Michaela sucked on the soft skin ofSheridan ’s neck. “Poor baby, yes, you need more…” Michaela claspedSheridan ’s ripe clit between her fingers and squeezed the full bud. She smiled whenSheridan let out a ragged moan. “Yes … that’s the way…” She increased the pressure of her fingers and alternated between squeezing and circling the soft flesh. Sheridandropped her head back and groaned from deep in her throat. Her eyes were tightly shut and her legs were beginning to quiver. Michaela feltSheridan ’s juices dripping down her hand. “Soooo pretty … you’re so pretty…” Michaela smiled. “I want a taste.” She withdrew her hand and laughed whenSheridan immediately protested. “Shhhhhh pretty … I am not leaving you.” Michaela slipped off her file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (72 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


dressing robe and stood gloriously naked in front ofSheridan . Sheridanturned glassy eyes onto the beautiful vampire. Michaela was stunning. Her skin was perfectly porcelain and absolutely unblemished. Even in the dim light it seemed to radiate a soft, perfect, glow. Her breasts were full and high, her waist impossibly tiny and her legs … her legs were spectacular. Her jet-black hair hung like a heavy blanket against her body and her silver eyes tookSheridan in with latent desire. Sheridanswallowed heavily. “Oh boy,” she whispered. Michaela smiled brilliantly. “You mean, oh girl.” Sheridan’s answering smile came quickly. Michaela drewSheridan into the circle of her arms. “You are lovely, Sheridan Malaya,” she whispered. Sheridanlaughed jerkily. “You’retelling me thatI’m lovely?”Sheridan asked. Michaela nodded. She pressed a kiss toSheridan ’s shoulder and blew gently in her ear. “Lovely as only the living can be.” Michaela looked deeply into her eyes. “Lie down, Sheridan Malaya … and open yourself to me.” Sheridansucked in a breath. She couldn’t turn away from Michaela’s face. She felt as if she were drowning in those strange silver orbs. Without breaking eye contact she lay on her back on the cold stone ground and parted her legs. She had never really entertained the notion of being with a woman … but now, in the presence of Michaela’s glory, she couldn’t think why not. Michaela’s lips curved into a smile. She dropped to her hands and knees and crawled slowly towardsSheridan ’s waiting form. She was ever so glad that Xethre had provided some slack for the chains. It made her pleasure … their pleasure … so much more enjoyable. Michaela lickedSheridan ’s instep and drew a wet line with her tongue up the lovely human’s leg. When she reachedSheridan ’s thighs, she used both hands to part her legs even further. Michaela’s eyes avidly took in the soft, slick, pink flesh ofSheridan ’s beautiful pussy. “So lovely,” Michaela said. She parted the folds ofSheridan ’s pussy and blew gently against the eager flesh. Sheridanjerked. Michaela laughed throatily. Using the pad of her thumb, she gently began to messageSheridan ’s pussy lips. WhenSheridan arched against her hand, she slid her thumb an inch of the way file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (73 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


intoSheridan ’s dripping flesh. The human was intoxicating, Michaela thought.Sheridan ’s pussy was so hot, so wet and so unbelievably soft. Because Michaela could no longer resist, she pushed two of her fingers intoSheridan ’s flesh and began to rotate them. “Oh my…”Sheridan gritted her teeth. Michaela withdrew her fingers fromSheridan ’s pussy and licked them clean. “You taste delicious, Sheridan … sooo sweet … soooovery sweet …” She smiled, “I want more.” Michaela dug her hands into the flesh ofSheridan ’s gorgeous ass and brought her open, moist passage up toward her mouth. She gracedSheridan with a large smile before she buried her head between her thighs, taking her completely within her mouth. Sheridanmoaned helplessly and ground herself against Michaela’s mouth. Michaela licked, probed, tickled and caressedSheridan ’s moist, hot, pussy. She locked her lips around her open flesh and used her tongue to circle her aching clit. The sweet nub was full, plump. Michaela pushed her tongue further still, and laved attention on the hard bud. Sheridan’s heart was thumping wildly and her breath was coming out in staccato pants. She felt her thighs clench and her pussy spasm and there was a great roaring in her ears. She locked her legs around Michaela’s head and arched against the beautiful vampire. “I’m … I’m…” words failed her. Then it was upon her—the rush, the wave, the storm. Michaela pressedSheridan ’s legs apart as far as they would go. She locked her mouth against the large vein that rode high uponSheridan ’s inner thigh … and bit. The pleasure was overwhelming. It rode them both away. Sheridanfelt the heat, the cold, the toss of incredible sensation as her body lifted and exploded. Michaela felt the fulfillment of blood, as her body shook and drank in the coppery sweet liquid of life. And when it was through, both lay a tangle of limbs … completed, consumed … conquered. Sheridancracked open one eye, looked down at Michaela, who rested against her breast, and said sleepily. “Just to let you know … I’m still pissed at you.”



The sound of Michaela’s tinkling laughter followedSheridan into sleep. Chapter Nine: Xethre found them thus. One curled about the other. Golden strands twined with midnight black. They were beautiful. They were perfect. “She is a wonder. You are blessed,” Michaela said, from the cushion ofSheridan ’s breast. He nodded. “I know.” Michaela stood, reluctantly, and stared down atSheridan ’s sleeping form. “You have always spoken of soul-mates, Xethre. I never believed your claims, not really. We are of the dead. What do the dead know of love, or of souls?” She speared him with the cool silver of her eyes, “But now, in the presence of your mate, I can’t deny that the bond you have can be no other than that of true shared mates. I envy you.” Michaela hung her head. “I truly do.” “You will find…” “Don’t placate me.” There was heat now in Michaela’s words. “I know what I am, who I am. Matthew, my other half, even he turns from me. I am alone, Xethre. And eternity stretches before me … desolate.” “There is a place for you here, Michaela, if you so desire it.” She looked up at him, incredulous. “You would welcome me?” He smiled. “Have we not already done so?” Michaela levitated over to Xethre. She cupped his cheek. “Alexethre Roistkauff, you are a prince among vampires. Your acceptance humbles me.” “No, Michaela,” Xethre looked over atSheridan , “Her acceptance humbles us.” “Yes … so rare in a human … humility.” Michaela shook her head. “I thank you, Xethre, thank you for bringing me closer to the light. But you and she are a bound pair, a pair. I do not belong here.” She turned away. “I do not belong anywhere.” “Michaela…” “Shhhh, it is all right.” Michaela wrapped her arms tightly around her body. “Never take for granted the light you have found.” She tossed him a sad parting smile and disappeared.



Xethre walked over toSheridan and sat beside her sleeping form. He arranged her head so it lay comfortably in his lap and caressed her golden hair. And for the first time since he had given himself over to the darkness that was his death, he thanked God for giving him a chance at salvation. **** Sheridanchecked her voice messages, all the while shooting Xethre evil looks. It annoyed her to no end that the moment she had woken up in Xethre’s arms she had rolled him onto his back and taken him within her moist and waiting body. She was desperate for him. She always was. And the infuriating vampire knew it. “Stop scowling, love, come and eat.” Xethre’s voice was cajoling. “Go to hell,”Sheridan shot back. “Been there … it is not so nice a place,” he said with a small smile. Sheridanplaced the phone back in the receiver and planted her hands on her hips. She glared at him. “I’ll have you know that I’m being docked a week’s wages.” He shrugged. “And?” Sheridanadvanced. “And, I can’t afford that, you ass. I need to get to work.” Xethre graced her with a look hot enough to burn rubber. “You need to stay and eat, my love. Then … then we can think of ways to occupy our time.” His look was smoldering. “I’ve thought of a dozen already.” Sheridanflipped back her hair and let out a beleaguered sigh. “Xethre, I’ve got bills to pay and…” “—And nothing, my love. I’ve more than enough money for the both of us. Do not worry yourself over such trivial matters.” “Do you hear yourself?”Sheridan rubbed her eyes wearily. “Listen, I know this notion of love and being together is relatively new for the both of us, but we’re going to have to get a couple of things straight.” “Like?” He stood from the table. Sheridanswallowed. Okay, so he was intimidating when he rose to his full height. She knew that already. She tried not to break out into a cold sweat. “Like I’m not a child, Xethre, I’m a grown file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (76 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


woman. I had a life, a career—well, sort of a career—an apartment, friends, A LIFE, before you came along and brought me into your mad world. If we’re going to have a relationship…” She broke off and scowled fiercely when Xethre began to laugh, and laugh, and laugh. “What the hell is your problem?” Xethre couldn’t seem to help himself. He grabbed onto the table for support and tried not to double over. “Are you crying!?”Sheridan asked, disbelieving. Her vampire boyfriend was crying from laughing so much. Tears streamed down his face and gathered at his rather magnificent chin. “Oh… Oh…” Xethre wiped the tears away with the back of his hand. “Amazing, I haven’t cried in, oh … actually I can’t remember the last time I cried.” He closed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms. “Little one, you continue to amaze me. You’ve brought tears to my eyes.” She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know if that’s something to be proud of, Xethre.” Xethre leaned over and nuzzled the side of her neck. “You are incredible, my love. And I love you.” Sheridansighed. Damn it. Shewas trying to be mad at him. “You’ve gotta listen to me…”Sheridan groaned when she felt his mouth nipping at the lobe of her sensitive ear. “Hey, hey … stop that.” Xethre speared his hands through her lush hair and pulled her closer to him. “Stop what?” He asked innocently. “That.” He smiled into her rapidly flushing face. “Oh, ‘that’, much clearer, my love.” His hand skimmed down her back and reached around to cup the soft flesh of her delectable ass. “I think we must make ‘that’ much clearer. Do you mean,” he bit the skin beneath her ear, “this?” He moved his hand to the apex of her thighs and began to massage her through her moistening panties. “Or perhaps you mean this.” His movements became more insistent and he smiled when she dropped her head back and let out a ragged moan. Xethre walked her back until her legs hit the table. He smiled knowingly. “Or … perhaps you meant,” he slipped one finger underneath the fabric of her panties into her already dripping pussy, “this.” Sheridangritted her teeth and began to let out short pants. “Oh, shut up.”



“Excuse me?” She grabbed his head within her hands and jerked him forward. “Shut the hell up and fuck me already.” Xethre laughed. “As my lady wishes.” He grabbed her by her ass and pushed her up on the table. He smiled at her. “Open for me.” Sheridanobeyed. She spread her legs wide and wet her lips. He pushed her down onto the table, snapped her shirt open, and peeled the pieces away to expose her pale and glimmering flesh. He ran his hand lovingly over the soft, full, globes of her breast. “You are so beautiful.” He leaned over and captured one of her nipples in his mouth. He rolled the taut flesh around in his mouth and circled the nub with his hot, wet, tongue. When she began to squirm, he bit down gently on the hard bud. Sheridanmoaned and arched her back. Her legs quivered and she desperately inched her hips towards him. He slid her panties down her legs and spread her legs wide. His eyes burned brightly. He slipped one thick finger into her welcoming flesh and joined her in a moan as the hot flesh of her pussy encompassed the rigid form of his finger. He began to thrust his finger back and forth, rubbing it against the soft walls of her flesh and teasing the hard nub of her clit. Xethre rubbed his chest againstSheridan ’s and ground his hips into her. “Mine, my own,” he whispered as he added a second finger, plunging it deep within her aching flesh. “Xethre… Xethre…”Sheridan tossed her head from side to side, sending her hair tumbling around her head like a golden halo. “Oh my sweet, I know… I know…” he soothed. He slid his robe off and rejoined her, pressing the hard length of his body against her. He nibbled at the soft flesh below her ear and was rewarded when she moaned her pleasure. “Like that, my sweet…” Sheridanbit her lip. He laughed, took a little bit more of her flesh between his teeth and bit. He rolled the soft skin between his teeth and let her feel the sharp bite of his fangs. He didn’t draw blood—thatwould come later. Sheridanlocked her arms around his back and raked her nails across the taut skin. She arched her hips and ground herself against his hand. file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (78 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


Xethre growled. Her writhing and squirming had pushed him past the point of temptation. His cock was hard as stone and was begging for entrance into her moist body. He widened her legs and hooked them over his arms. Bringing his cock to her already dripping pussy he teased her soft lips, rubbing himself lightly over her. Sheridanscreamed in frustration. Her eyes went wild and she bucked beneath him. “Fuck me, damn you Xethre, fuck me!” His eyes went dark and with one sure stroke he imbedded himself completely within her. “Oh yes, oh yes, oh God yes…”Sheridan moaned. He wrapped her legs around him and locked his hands into the flesh of her thighs. He began to pump into her with long and steady strokes. She was so hot, so unbelievably wet already. Her juices were dripping down her thigh and gleamed under the dim light of the room. Xethre increased his strokes.Sheridan ’s back began to bump and bob on the table. “Yes, yes, yes…” she chanted over and over again. Her eyes were squeezed tightly closed and her face was flushed. He could feel her pussy clenching deliciously around his cock. Each clench, each spasm shook him to his very core. Flashes of heat and intense pleasure coursed through his body and his cock swelled and hardened further. He grabbed the back of her thighs and plastered her as close to him as possible, never breaking rhythm. “I’m … yes … Xethre … I’m…”Sheridan arched her back high off of the table, bit her lip so hard she drew blood, and screamed. Her pussy pulsed, shook, spasmed, and then quivered brightly … beautifully. Xethre heardSheridan ’s heart speaking to him. It was pounding, thump, thump, thump, in her chest and his own dead heart longed to answer. She was so beautiful, so incredibly responsive … so alive. He locked his mouth around the prominent vein right above her collarbone and the moment his cock swelled, pulsed and exploded his seed within her, he bit, piercing her flesh and taking her life-blood. He clamped his mouth completely around her and drank and drank and drank.Sheridan was shaking and moaning beneath him. Her body flopped like a fish on a hook and her eyes were shut in ecstasy. When he was finished he gently disengaged his mouth from her supple flesh and drew her to his chest, running a hand down the smooth plane of her hair. file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (79 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


“You are my love … mine, my own.” She smiled against his broad chest. “Yes, you big lug, I am. Your love, yourSheridan ,” she peeked up at him through thick lashes, “who has a life … and needs to get back to it.” She bit her lip and waited. Xethre growled. “Come on, stop it.” She rolled her eyes. “Get a grip, will you. I’m not going anywhere … just to work.” “I wish you to move in with me.” he said carefully. Sheridanpushed back from him and smiled coyly. “Are youasking me, Alexethre Roistkauff?” He stiffened. His eyes flashed andSheridan thought he looked adorable all put out, tied into knots. It was endearing. The big, bad, vampire was totally lost. “Would you, will you,” he stumbled over the words, “move in with me?” She tossed back her hair and pretended to be deep in thought. “Mmmmm, well, I have a lot of stuff … and moving is such a bitch, and,” she launched herself at Xethre, catching him off balance, knocked them both down, “YES!” He smiled. “Yes?” Sheridannodded enthusiastically. “Yes, yes, yes. I mean … have you seen my place,” she didn’t wait for him to answer, “It is such a sty … well, compared to this place, it is. And, you’re closer to the Club, not to mention…” “You may love me?” he asked dryly. Sheridanstopped completely. She gasped and slapped a hand over her mouth. When she spoke, it was abashedly, her face bright red. “Oh, oh my God … did I like totally neglect to tell you that I love you? And that is the reason that I’m moving in with you?” She grinned and looked properly chastised. “I am such an idiot sometimes, Xethre.” She reached out and cupped his cold cheeks in her warm hands. “I love you. I love you so much that at times I don’t know what to do with all of my love. It makes me stupid … giddy,” she rolled her eyes, “ready to run off my mouth. But I do, I love you. And I would be honored to live with you.” Xethre wrapped his arms around her and breathed in the sweet sent of her hair. “No,Sheridan , I am the honored one.” He tilted her head back so he could see into her beautiful eyes. “I have been file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (80 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


looked upon favorably … I am not damned … not if I have been given the chance to bask in your love. Not if I can wake each night with the knowledge that you are sharing my death … making it bearable … making it beautiful. I love you Sheridan Malaya Duskul, you and only you, until the sun swallows up the sky and true death claims me. I love you.” Sheridanswallowed heavily and graced him with a shy smile. “Boy, you sure do talk pretty.” He grinned, eyes twinkling. “I had to have learned something in two thousand years.” Her nose scrunched up and her brow furrowed. “You mean … it’s going to take me two thousand years to get the hang of not putting my foot in my mouth?” He didn’t hesitate. “No, with you it will take longer.” Sheridangasped and then sputtered and then swatted him on the side of his head with her hand. She fit him with a stern look, which lasted just a moment before she burst out laughing. Xethre took them to the ground in one sinuous move, his eyes never leaving her face. He smiled and placed a chaste kiss on her laughing lips. Sheridanfelt her heart beat faster and her breath quicken from that small touch. “I … I have to leave…” she whispered. He grinned. “So … leave … what is stopping you?” She grabbed the back of his head with her hands and jerked him down to her. She sighed heavily. “Who the hell needs to make money, right? Food isn’t a necessity.” Xethre burst out laughing right before he claimed her lips in a searing kiss. **** “If he thinks I’m wearing this, then he’s deranged.” Angela sighed. “I know … I’m sorry, Sher. I told him it was ridiculous, but he’s pretty insistent about it.” Jerry, insistent? Now that was funny.Sheridan laughed and rolled her eyes. “He’s out of the mind I thought he didn’t have.” Angela bit her lip to keep from cracking up. But her eyes twinkled brightly. “Well?” Sheridanthought of her mounting bills and that cute little handbag she had seen last week and file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (81 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


groaned. “Well, help me into this disaster.” After the zillionth hoot,Sheridan knew that she had made another one of the mistakes she was so famous for. She should have told Jerry to shove it and dumped this atrocity in the trash, where it belonged. God, what sort of idiot thought a dancing, singing shark wassexy ? Sheridandipped a little on the stage as she belted out the last strains of ‘Someone Else’s Story’ and hit the wall with her giant tail—again. Damn it, damn it, damn it. Jerry was out of his frigging mind. Who the hell could sing, let alone dance, in this costume? Jerry’s choice for this evening’s debacle was a two-piece shark costume, consisting of a blue mini skirt, and a blue bikini top that was shaped, stupidly enough, like dorsal fins. To add to the ridiculous assemble was a headband with blue and gray ears and a huge tail that was affixed around the waist with Velcro straps. It was hot, cumbersome, and really really embarrassing. Sheridanfinished her set and gave a little curtsy, a curtsy that was impeded by the fact that she tripped over her tail. She stumbled off the stage, tore the ears off of her head and threw them at Angela. “Forget it, I was having heat stroke … I didn’t mean it … I’m not finishing out the night like this. I look…” She waved her hands helplessly, “I look fucking ridiculous. Like I should be passing out brochures at an amusement park ride inOrlando .” Angela giggled and then, seeingSheridan ’s look, stopped. “I know … Jerry has lost his rocker. He thinks … well … he thinks what with the name of the club, that he’s being cute.” Sheridan’s face went beet red. “CUTE? CUTE?” She twirled, hitting several patrons with her gigantic tail, “You go and tell Jerry that kittens are cute, babies are cute, puppies are cute,” she grabbed the end of the tail and shook it, hard, “polyester spandex shark costumes with four fucking-foot-long tails, are NOT CUTE!” Angela couldn’t help it then, she began to laugh, to bawl; she grabbed a bar stool for support and waved her hand apologetically. “I … I … I’m so…” she couldn’t speak past the chuckles and tears. Sheridanwas disgusted. She grabbed the ear headband and stalked back towards the stage. ****



Two hours laterSheridan was done. She all but ran from the stage, swearing at the top of her lungs. She struggled with the headband, which was caught in her hair, and kicked off her high heels. “I hate you, I hate you, I hate you … I hate you…” “I hope that hate isn’t directed toward me,” Angela said, handingSheridan a cool drink. Sheridanaccepted the drink eagerly and shot Angela a scowl. “I’m still mad at you, traitor.” “Me?” “You are not supposed to laugh at my discomfort.” Angela grinned. “I’m sorry … I just couldn’t…” “Help myself? Yes, yes, I know,”Sheridan grumbled. “I would have laughed at you, if you were wearing this … this … thing.” “Well, thanks, that’s good to know.” Angela said with a smile. Sheridantried to sit but the tail was in her way. She grabbed and began to pull at the Velcro strap, it wouldn’t budge. “Oh for pity’s sake.” Angela ran a hand reassuringly downSheridan ’s arm. “Hey, don’t worry, we’ll get it off. Let me.” Angela tugged and pulled but the Velcro seemed almost super-glued to the spot. “Uhm…” Sheridanbanged her head against the bar. “Get me a pair of scissors, long, sharp, scissors.” Angela swallowed. “Jerry will kill you if you cut up that costume, Sher. It’s a loaner, you know.” “What the hell am I supposed to do, then?”Sheridan began to laugh hysterically. “Oh God, oh my God, this is too rich for words. I’m stuck in a shark costume … a shark costume. It figures, my life is always like this, always.” “You always get stuck in shark costumes.” Sheridansnorted. “No, smartie, but onlyI would.”Sheridan groaned. “I’ll go home and get Xethre to deal with it.” She was not relishing the idea of his seeing her in this thing. She knew his reaction wouldn’t be much better than Angela’s. At the mention ofSheridan ’s hot boyfriend, Angela went all glassy eyed. “How is your hunk of a boyfriend?” file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (83 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


“Still a hunk.”Sheridan smiled. Xethre had said something about perhaps visiting his friend Sophie. He had assured her, though, that he would be home to greet her when she got off work. She hadn’t pressed for information about Sophie. She knew the only neck Xethre was sucking was hers. “We’re living together now, you know.” Angela gasped. “Oh, oh, oh, that is so cool.” Sheridanwaved nonchalantly. “I guess, I mean it is pretty cool,” her eyes twinkled, “Fuck that, it’s absolutely un-fucking believable.” “I’ll bet.” Sheridangrabbed her bag and gave Angela a hug. “I should be getting home. Hot lovin’ waiting for me, ya know.” Angela hit her on the arm. “Bitch. You are so damn lucky.” Sheridan thought of Xethre’s corpse like state, the recent revelations that she had weird vampire blood running through her veins, Xethre’s odd assortment of strange friends, and her hideous getup and grinned. She was, wasn’t she? Hallelujah, shewas lucky. **** Pathos was waiting forSheridan by her car. He had ditched the black cape for a more casual look tonight. He was wearing a long black silk shirt, shiny black pants, and spiffy black shoes. The entirely black ensemble made his pale complexion appear even paler and his blue eyes even bluer. “Sheridan,” Pathos said her name like a caress. She narrowed her eyes. “I don’t have time for your shit tonight, Pathos.” His eyes gleamed. “I see Xethre told you of me.” Sheridannodded. She had to play it cool. She couldn’t let him see how freaked out he made her. And he did freak her out. There was nothing about his outward appearance that would shake a person, save his more than gorgeous face. But something lingered just beneath the surface … somethingSheridan had learned to detect—evil. His eyes were hard and his features, if you looked closely enough, too sharp. When he looked at her he gave her the willies. “I’m going home now, ‘night.”Sheridan reached for the door to her car but was stopped by Pathos’s large hand to her shoulder. Damn it.



“But we have barely begun to get to know one another.” Pathos said, a sneer running across his handsome face. “I’ll send you an invitation to the Tupperware party, ‘kay? ‘Til then, I’m tired, it’s late, and I’m going home.” Pathos growled and the sound was inhuman. She swallowed and inched back. “Did Xethre not tell what I am about, human,” Pathos asked, leaning close to her. Sheridanbit her lip. “Did he not tell you who I am?” Pathos trailed a sharp fingernail downSheridan ’s cheek. “What I am capable of?” Pathos narrowed his eyes and smiled. Sheridanlooked into his bluer than blue eyes and shivered. She felt as if she were drowning. Her heart was beating furiously within her chest and her head was pounding, smothering her under the weight of heavy pain. What was happening to her? Oh God, it hurt, it hurt. “Do you know the power I command, little one?” Sheridangroaned. “Don’t call me, little one, asshole,” she spat out. She screamed when heat seared her stomach and little white lights began to dance in her vision. His pull was magnetic, magnetic and terribly painful. Every look, every touch made her twist and ache. He was hurting her just by looking at her. She didn’t know how, but it was happening. “Do not anger me, little one. I may not be able to kill you, yet, but I can bleed you … I can make you scream. Indeed, it would be my pleasure.” Pathos pressed a kiss toSheridan ’s forehead and smiled when she screamed louder. “Poor Xethre, always underestimating me. Did he really think that I would leave you alone? The Council’s orders mean nothing.” He laughed, “I am the Council.” “Please…”Sheridan hated how weak her voice sounded. But she hurt. She hurt so badly. “Yes, little one, this is neither the time nor the place for such … pleasure. You will come with me.” Sheridanshook her head but it was hopeless. Pathos had swept her up in his arms and she had neither the strength nor the will to stop him. Chapter Ten: file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (85 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


Sheridanlooked side-to-side. She didn’t like what she was seeing. She was surrounded, yep, that was the only word for it, surrounded. There were vampires everywhere she looked, and they were all looking at her. “What is she wearing?” Asked a very pale and very sour-faced vampire. Sheridanrolled her eyes. “It’s a shark costume. Did I say that loud enough for all of you guys to hear? A SHARK COSTUME. I don’t want any misunderstandings. It’s not a minnow costume, or a manatee costume. It’s a shark costume.”Sheridan planted her hands on her hips and glared at them. After Pathos had abducted her he had brought her to this intimidating place, a castle, an honest-to-God castle. She wasn’t sure how long they had been flying, or if they were even still in the good U.S. of A, but she had been grateful when they had landed. Suddenly her head didn’t hurt so badly and the pain that had been spearing her stomach had stopped. Pathos had dragged her into this large room and dumped her—literally. Then he had disappeared, leaving her to face this room full of vamps alone. “She is pretty, Jarrod, actually, she is quite beautiful,” this came from the same sour-faced vampire that had spoken before. First Xethre and Michaela had done it, and now these strange vampires. Enough was enough. “You guys are all the same.”Sheridan said, exasperated. “All talking about me like I’m not even in the room. Ican hear you, you know.” Sour-faced vampire spearedSheridan with a cold look. “Have you no manners, child?” Sheridanthought for a moment. “If manners means, behaving like you guys, uhm no, then I have no manners.” “Oh leave her be, Willemina, she is, after all, only human.” This new voice came from the deepest shadows of the room. Sheridanturned toward the dark that housed the speaker. There was something oddly familiar about his voice. The shadows seemed to part then, to reveal the striking visage of a weathered old man. His face, heavily lined, was still strangely handsome. His eyes were a deep green, clear, bright, and intelligent, and they seemed at odds with his otherwise wizened face. His hair, completely white, lay against his pale and gaunt face like silken thread, and his mouth, was curved up in a disturbing parody of a smile. “Welcome,Sheridan , welcome.”



Sheridantook a step back. “Your welcome could use some work.” “Ah yes, Pathos, he is a little impetuous at times. I apologize for the manner in which he brought you to us. We were all expecting something a little bit more civilized.” Sheridanswallowed. “Civilized?” “Of course…” The vampire smiled. “We are, after all, civilized creatures, aren’t we?” He looked around the room. “We are not monsters.” He glided over to whereSheridan stood, and raked his eyes over her form. “I am Zinnock, and I am pleased to see you again,Sheridan .” “Again?”Sheridan worked on slowing down her heart rate. Being so close to this vampire was making it work triple-time. There was something very, very, unnerving about him. “Yes … don’t you remember me, Sheridan,” he smiled, “then again, you were very young when I came visiting.” Zinnock’s eyes glowed brightly as he remembered. “But you were special even then, special and very precocious,” he laughed. “You offered me tea and fake cookies. I believe you and your bear were having a party to celebrate Barbie’s birthday.” Zinnock reached out to touch a loose strand of her hair. “Such a beautiful child…” Sheridantook another large step back. She gulped. “Okay, mister, I don’t care if you’re Santa Claus himself, touch me again, and I’ll bite off those fingers.” Zinnock laughed. “I’m counting on it, Sheridan Malaya, I’m counting on it.” Sheridanshivered. That didn’t sound promising. “I don’t know you.” She said firmly. Zinnock sighed. “No, perhaps it was too long ago. And human minds forget so easily.” He pressed forward and before she could stop him grabbed her head within his hands. “Allow me to remind you, little one.” Sheridan’s eyes went wide, and then she was sinking into foggy black memory. **** She was four. And she couldn’t remember ever being so happy. Her mommy was home, baking, her uncle, having caught some big fish, was skinning them out back for supper, and it was Barbie’s birthday. Sheridanhad to get everything ready. Her mommy wanted to have Barbie’s birthday celebration during dinner.Sheridan placed cups, saucers, and paper napkins on the little wooden table that Uncle Sam had made especially for her, and seated Barbie comfortably in one of the plastic file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (87 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


chairs. She was just getting ready to pour the tea when she heard it. The sound of rushing wind andthunder ? There shouldn’t be any thunder. It wasn’t raining. Why was there thunder? Sheridan, clutching her favorite teddy bear, left her small room for the kitchen. There she found her mommy pressed against the stove by a large man. “Mommy?” Althea Duskul’s face went three shades of pale when she heard her daughter’s little voice from the doorway. “Sheri, darling, go back to your room.” “Oh Althea … perhaps you did do something right?” The large man said. He turned then towardSheridan . Sheridansaw nothing but large green eyes. They were so bright, so shiny, so pretty. She stepped forward, barely registering her mother’s cry, and held out one of her tiny hands. “I’mSheridan .” The man with the bright green eyes smiled then to reveal sparkling white teeth. He took her small hand in his. “Zinnock.” “You have a funny name,”Sheridan said. Zinnock laughed. “Perhaps. And you, your name is lovely. You are certainly a Sheridan…” he frowned at Althea, “never Sheri. Sheri is so common, and this child is anything but common.” Zinnock ignored Althea’s protests and liftedSheridan up. He cradled her against him. “What are you doing, prettySheridan ?” Sheridanplayed with Zinnock’s white hair. She liked how it felt. It was really soft. “It’s Barbie’s birthday. I’m having a tea party for her. Do you want to come? I don’t have real cookies yet, mommy’s baking them. But I made some pretend cookies out of cardboard, they look real. You can have one.” Zinnock grinned. “I would love to have a pretend cookie.” Zinnock moved to leave withSheridan . Just before he exited the kitchen he pierced Althea with a withering glare. “You would have kept her from me. Oh Althea, there is no saving you now.” **** Sheridanawoke screaming. She took several deep breaths and tried to regain her composure. She was on the cold floor, and Zinnock was still holding her head within his large hands. “Get your hands off of me,” she said. There was steel in her voice. file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (88 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


Zinnock, surprisingly, complied. He released her and moved back. “Do you remember me now, Sheridan Malaya?” Sheridanswallowed hard. “I do.”Sheridan could remember everything. The feel of his hair under her hands, the light in his eyes as he smiled at her, the sound of his voice as it lulled her to sleep. He had played tea party with her. Had sat in her plastic chair in his three-piece suit and consumed fake cookies. He had laughed with her and she had thought how funny and nice he was. When he had tucked her into bed he had spoken to her in another language and gotten a strange look in his eyes. It was as if his eyes were burning green fire. It was the first time that evening that little Sheridan Duskul had been frightened of the handsome man. She had called for her mommy, who had come and soothed her immediately. The last thingSheridan remembered before falling off into a dreamless sleep, was her mommy and the handsome man’s voice arguing at the door. “Who are you?” He smiled. “I told you, I am Zinnock.” “No,who are you?” Zinnock rose and held out his hand toSheridan . She ignored it and pushed herself off of the ground. “I am a Hedonite, Sheridan, like you.” Sheridanshook her head. “No way, I am not like you, buster.” “No, you are not vampire…but you are Hedonite. It is in your blood,Sheridan . You cannot deny blood.” “I can deny any damn thing I want.” Zinnock sighed. “So, thought your mother. Your very presence here tonight demonstrates how wrong the both of you were in your thinking.” “My presence here demonstrates,”Sheridan sneered, “how good you guys are at kidnapping people.” “Oh, Zinnock.” Willemina cried out, annoyed. “She has a shocking lack of manners. Do just get on with it. Why explain anything?” He frowned. “If she is to adapt to our ways … she must understand them.” “We have never gone so far for one before,” Willemina shot back. “No, we haven’t. But we have never hadSheridan before,” he replied. file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (89 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


Willemina went silent. “What is going on? If you’re going to explain something to me, oh, and by the way I really should be getting an explanation right about now,” she sighed, “then explain, because I want to go home. I miss my boyfriend,”Sheridan whispered that last under her breath. Zinnock’s eyes grew hard and cold. “Alexethre,” he tossed Willemina a frigid look, “never my first choice to Turn her.” “Yes, Xethre, I want to get home to him.”Sheridan cried out. She gasped when Zinnock grabbed her by her throat. The grip was not strong, but it was steady. “He has taken your blood, but he hasn’t Turned you. I would know if he had Turned you.” “I … I … I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Zinnock’s eyes glowed and became bright with fervor. “You love him?” It was more awed statement then question. Sheridantried to take a breath. It was difficult to do with Zinnock holding her by her throat. “I do.” She said quietly. Zinnock laughed then. “Well, well, well, what an odd turn of events.” Zinnock snapped his fingers and instantly a pale young boy was by his side. “Take our guest to her room,” he shuddered, “and do get her something appropriate to wear.” The boy grabbed her arm and began to drag her away. “Hey, hey, let go, ouch…”Sheridan tugged, but wow, the kid had a really good grip. “What is going on here?” She scowled when Zinnock merely smiled at her before blowing her a kiss. **** “He took her. He took her right from under my nose.” Xethre paced the length of his floor. “Goddamn it! I should have taken her with me. I should have insisted that she come with me.” “She didn’t want to go,” Michaela answered simply. “It shouldn’t have mattered what she wanted. I should have…” “Oh … Oh … do you hear yourself, Xethre?” Michaela said between her laughter. “It shouldn’t have mattered … of course it matters. YourSheridan is a strong-willed creature, a strong-willed file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (90 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


human. She has a mind of her own. What’s more, she has free will. She will do what she wants. It is one of the reasons that you love her, Xethre.” Her eyes softened, “One of the reasons that she loves you. You are a creature of incredible strength, power, and dominant will, and yet you give her the space to be free. You are matched perfectly.” Xethre’s composure crumbled. “Oh God, Michaela, she is my world.” “I know, Xethre, I know. We will get her back.” “She is with them. Pathos has taken her to the lions’ den … the vampires’ den.” Michaela clenched her hands into tight fists. “Yes.” “We will have to stand against the entire Council.” “I know.” “They will not relinquish her, Michaela, not without a fight. They will not lose their prize.” “We will find a way, Xethre.” Michaela drew him into her oddly comforting embrace. “We will find a way.” **** Sheridanlooked out of the small window and swore again. She was holed up in some ancient castle, surrounded by bloodsuckers,and she supposed to wear this reject from the movie, ‘Elizabeth’. She pushed the gown away. There was no way she was wearing this dress. It was bright, it was garish, and it was impossibly heavy. Not to mention there were layers and layers of garments that went on under the monstrosity. She had thought she would be happy as a kid in a candy store to get out of her shark costume … now, now, she wasn’t too sure. Trading one disaster for another. “I want out of this hell hole.” “Calm yourself, my love, we are coming for you.” She gasped. “Xethre, Xethre, is that you?” “Yes, my love, open your mind to me…” “Whoa…”Sheridan let out a deep breath, “you are talking to my mind.”



“Telepathy, my love, I did not dare to try it before, else you would think I was invading your privacy. I had hoped to break it to you gently,”Xethre laughed mirthlessly,“however, certain events have made the ‘breaking it to you gently’, rather impossible.” “Oh my God, so you … always know what I’m thinking?” “Not always. Sometimes you shield, you may not know you are shielding, but you are. Your mind is closed. But when you are open, as you are tonight, it is easy to speak to you thus.” Sheridanshivered. “Xethre, I’m … I’m a little frightened. This place is really creepy, and the vampires, even creepier…” “I know, my love … but I will be with you soon…I am with you now.” SuddenlySheridan felt it; the languid pull of desire … lust. Her nipples went taut and her pussy began to ache … grow moist with want. “Xethre,” she whispered, “what are you doing?” “Seducing you, my love.” She gasped as phantom hands began to pull at her nipples and shivers began to wrack her body. She slid to the floor as her legs had turned to water. “This isn’t real.” She moaned when she felt a hot, moist, mouth cover her nipple, and begin to suck. “It is as real as you wish it to be, my love…” “You’re in my head … you’re in my body,”Sheridan groaned. She trailed her fingers down her stomach and stopped when she reached the soft thatch of curls that shaded her moist pussy. “I am… I can feel you, my love, I can …taste you.” She spread her legs and dipped one of her slim fingers into her hot, wet, channel. She moaned and immediately added a second finger to the play. She pushed her two fingers in and out, and when the heat began to build she found the hard kernel of her clit and circled it enticingly. “Let me taste you … let me know you…” She withdrew her glistening fingers from her pussy and brought them to her mouth. She trailed each one lightly over her lips, kissing the air with each soft stroke. She couldfeel him … she could feel her Xethre. His tongue was licking the sweet juice from her lips, caressing and plumping her. His mouth was dominating her. He all but ate at her lips, biting, surging, begging for more. He was everywhere … he was upon her. Her breath came out in hiccups now. She arched her hips and thrust her breasts forward … file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (92 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


needing more of his touch … needing more of his mind on hers. “You feel like satin, my love. And you’re so beautiful. You look like a plump ripe peach…all split open and dripping juice. You’re just begging for it, aren’t you? Just begging to be eaten…” “Yes,”Sheridan hissed. “Yes … please…” She spread her legs as wide as they would go and plunged three fingers deep inside her pussy. She let her long, tapered, fingers stroke, tease and discover. Each finger caressed the warm, slick, walls of her passage and brought her to a new peak. She located her clit, hard and plump and began to squeeze it tightly between her two fingers. “Oh God … ohhhhh…” “Blood is rushing to that hard tight stone of yours … blood is filling the hood, plumping it, ripening it for me. I can feel it, my love, feel it quivering … feel it readying itself. The tremors are coming now. And they’re burning, shocking … unbearable. I can taste your cream under my tongue and I can hear your heartbeat as blood rushes through that beautiful body of yours. I know you…I know how close…” She squeezed, plunged, twisted, and then exploded. Her whole body was taken away … flown to a place where pleasure dominated. Her body felt like a million nerve endings, all of which were on fire. And she felt shakes and shivers wrack her from head to toe. Her breath was raspy. Her heart beat like a drum, and her flesh felt alive with the most intense sensations. “My love … my beautifulSheridan … so good … so very good.” She blew out a long breath and swiped a strand of damp hair away from her flushed face. “Are you telling me we could have been doing this before?” “Mental sex? Well, yes.”Xethre’s voice was tinged with amusement. Sheridan’s smile was cat-like. “What the hell is your problem, Roistkauff? Privacy-Shmivacy, anytime you want to fuck my mind … go right ahead.” His laughter was clear and resonant within her orgasm-ridden mind. Chapter Eleven: Xethre and Michaela arrived at Castle Dunlock at the witching hour. The sky was black and the moon was out in full. “They are waiting for us within, Michaela.” Xethre said, heading for the gates. She nodded. “I know, I too, feel them.” Michaela swept her eyes around the parameter. “I hate file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (93 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


this place. I have always hated this place. It reminds me of … things I do not wish to be reminded of.” “I understand.” Xethre’s face was set in a hard, tight, mask. “All I see is Catherine … and…” “Do not,” Michaela said, placing a finger to his white lips, “do not speak of it. We will not think of those dark times.” He nodded curtly. Neither was surprised that when they reached the front of the castle, the gates swung open. They shared a long hard look, before they entered the gates of hell. **** The dining hall was massive and set out in splendor. The long wooden tables were laden with crystal goblets and golden plates. There were trenchers and serving bowls, filled to brimming with blood. And each Council member had dressed as in the days of old. At the end of the far table, Pathos sat. Beside him was a small, frail-looking, human woman. His eyes narrowed when Xethre entered the room, and widened when he saw Michaela. He opened his mouth to speak, but it was Zinnock whose voice shook the room first. “Welcome, Xethre, welcome to our home.” Zinnock’s eyes grew brighter and more appreciative when they came to rest upon Michaela’s form. “And, Michaela, how long has it been since we have been graced with your presence?” “Oh, only about one thousand years … give or take a decade,” Michaela answered dryly. Zinnock laughed. “You have only grown more beautiful.” “And you have only grown … older,” she said maliciously. Zinnock tensed and fire flashed in his eyes, a moment before his face took that smooth, perfect, mask once again. “What brings you to our home…?” Xethre growled. “I have come for my mate. Zinnock smiled and joined the rest of the Council in their chuckles. “Yourmate?” “Yes,” Xethre snarled, “my mate. Sheridan Malaya Duskul … is mine. The fates have decreed it so.”



Zinnock surged to his feet. “THE FATES! The fates have decreed it so? You are mistaken, Xethre. We decree. The fates have nothing to do with it.” He sat back down. “You were never my first choice,” he skewered Willemina with a cool look, “but some were certain that a more … enlightened perspective would prove wise in this situation. Some believed that to Turn Sheridan among us would … diminish her powers. The lines have grown too mixed … too … close. And we all know that lineage is all important,” He smiled at Michaela, “All important,” and leaned back in his golden chair. “Do you even know what she is, fool, do you even know what she could be?” Xethre made a move toward Zinnock but Michaela stopped him with a hand to his forearm. She shook her head. Zinnock laughed, then. “Some blood diminishes … some lines grow … weak … diluted after the many centuries they must endure.” Zinnock made a motion to his side. “Vlad’s line is strong due to enormous numbers. His capacity for,” he grinned, “spreading his seed, before his Turning, guaranteed him a legacy. But the purity of his blood?” He growled. “The blood is no longer pure. His offspring have mated and tainted the blood. They have twisted the line until little remains of the original strain but him.” Zinnock’s eyes burned brightly, and Xethre and Michaela stiffened. “Iwould have a legacy. But sadly, unlike Vlad, I did not have the numbers to assure one.” Zinnock’s smile was twisted, “until now. Sheridan Malaya is mine, fool, mine. Her stupid human mother could not even conceive of the power her daughter could have if she was Turned. Her mother’s blood is pure; her daughter’s even purer. But Althea ran. She ran, she ran from me, she ran from all of us. Taking with her something that belonged to us. When I first saw the child I knew … I knew that she was a Hedonite and that she was one of my line. I could not risk taking the child from her mother, and I would never have Turned her at such a young age. But now … now … she has been cultivated into the perfect vessel and she will make the perfect vampire companion. Her strength will add to our numbers and she will take a seat here … beside me. One of my own … one of me.” He grinned and beckoned his servant forward. “Bring the girl…” “She is not like you … not like us, Zinnock,” Xethre began, “Her humanity, it is part of her … it is part of what makes her special.” “Don’t be a fool,” Zinnock spat, “As a vampire she will have legions to command. Her power will be beyond reckoning. Her blood demands it.” “Her blood demands nothing. Only you demand it of her, Zinnock.” Xethre’s face was hard. “You commanded me to study, to learn of Sheridan Malaya. I did. I did learn, Zinnock. I learned that she is a good person, a kind, gentle, sweet, pure, soul, and that her human nature … it is stronger than her vampire one could ever be.” “Do you love her then, Alexethre?” This came from Pathos. “Do you love your target?” file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (95 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


There was no hesitation on Xethre’s part. “Yes. Yes, Pathos. I love her.” The Council broke out in heated murmurs, gasps, laughter, and furious whispers. The hall was crowded with voices, some spoken, most mental, and within the fury stood Xethre, full of love, and unafraid of their dark glory. Pathos stood, pushed his companion away from him and made his way down the dais. He came to face Xethre, hatred and anger radiating off of his cool, beautiful face. “Love will not have her, Alexethre. Your love alone … will not have her. She has been promised to me. When she is Turned. I will claim her. And we will be the most powerful of vampire kind. Zinnock has given his consent.” Xethre narrowed his eyes. He looked first at Zinnock and then at Pathos. “Perhaps Zinnock promised youSheridan . But he never meant for that promise to stand. He would never give the only one of his line to a low Council member such as you.” Pathos growled. “No matter, she will be mine.” Xethre smiled. It was a slow crawl of evil that spread across his face. The smile of promised death, the smile of cruel and painful intent. “Sheis mine, Pathos. And you will never take that away from me again.” Xethre laughed when Pathos struck at him with his now clawed hand. He had prepared himself for this. He knew Pathos. He knew Pathos would try to kill him. It was after all, his nature. He jumped back, levitated up and around, and came to stand at Pathos’s back. He quickly shifted his hand into talons and whipped them down Pathos’s back. Pathos roared and quick as lightning returned the strike. Xethre barely spared the bleeding wound on his chest any notice before low sweeping Pathos and taking him down. Once on the ground the two vampires clawed and hacked away at one another. Pathos was larger, but Xethre calmer, more intelligent. His attack was born of strategy and extreme will. Xethre locked the talons from one of his clawed hands into Pathos’ leg. He then ripped at the vampire’s chest with his fangs. He grunted when Pathos’ own talons caught him high on the thigh. The wound began to bleed immediately and Xethre reared back. It was a large enough window for Pathos. He dug his talons in deeper and twisted at the thigh wound. Pathos leapt free of Xethre’s grasp and changed his position, sinking his fangs into Xethre’s thigh. He growled and tore flesh from bone. Pathos laughed and spat a mouthful of Xethre’s flesh and blood out. He was so sure of his victory it was not until Xethre stood, smiled and pointed that he realized he was bleeding profusely from a wound on his neck. Xethre had slit his throat, and file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (96 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


the gaping wound was slow to regenerate. Xethre smiled. He turned to Michaela who was now holding in her hand a rather impressive looking silver sword. “Pathos … you see, it will always be thus. You will always try to take … and in the end … you shall always lose. For you are an evil soul.” He caught the sword that Michaela tossed at him and with one sweeping motion separated Pathos’s head from his body. He stood looking over the twitching vampire body. “And now you will be nothing but dust.” “XETHRE!”Sheridan screamed from the archway. Xethre dropped the sword. HisSheridan was here. Her eyes were large, wide with fear and terror, and her hand was held at her mouth, which was gaping open. He started toward her and then stopped. She looked … she looked terrified. And then he knew. He was covered in blood, standing over the body of his foe, and she was scared … of him. He dropped his head, defeated. If his love would not have him, was frightened of him … then he had truly lost. He had lost everything. Xethre was unprepared to hearSheridan ’s reprimanding voice shaking the silence. “Let me go, you ugly, foul smelling thing. Let go, ouch … that wasn’t very nice of you. God, andyou’re talking about manners… LET ME GO!” “Let her go, Henrick.” This came from Zinnock. The ugly, foul smelling thing that was holdingSheridan immediately let her go.Sheridan , as fast as her feet would take her, ran towards Xethre. When she reached him she launched herself at him full force. Xethre grabbed her and hooked his arms around her legs to keep them both steady. “Oh my God, I was so frightened. I saw you … and him … and then I saw both you on the floor … tearing and…” Her words died down in a rush of breath. She buried her head in Xethre’s shoulder. “Oh Xethre, oh God, I’m so glad you’re okay.” She pulled her head back and punched him squarely on the shoulder. “And if you ever scare me like that again, I’ll fucking kill you.” Xethre chuckled and pulled her closer to him. “What are you wearing?” He murmured. Sheridanrolled her eyes. “Their idea, not mine. It’s horrible, I know. And it’s heavy and scratchy.” “The Council always did like period clothes.” “Yeah, well, the Council’s tastes suck,” she chirped. Xethre gracedSheridan with a small smile right before he moved them both back from Zinnock’s advancing figure. file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (97 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


Zinnock stepped over the pile of ash that used to be Pathos and came to stand in front of them. “Well, that was very amusing, and, may I say, helpful.” Zinnock smiled slightly at Xethre. “You’ve just disposed of a very tedious member of our throng.” Xethre’s lips flattened into a hard, tight line. He said nothing. “Pathos always was impatient, impatient and stupid. He never was a true member of the Council … too weak … too … gullible.” Zinnock turned the weight of his deep green eyes ontoSheridan . “To think I would gift him with you … as I said, he was stupid. You would never be at his side.” He sighed. “And you … Alexethre, you show more promise than I had believed possible … still … you are not one of us.” “There is a seat now open…” Willemina’s voice rang out. Zinnock clenched his jaw. “No…” Xethre echoed Zinnock. “But … your strength, your power tonight has demonstrated that Willemina was correct in choosing you. You are not one of us, thus you will not taintSheridan when you Turn her. And yet, you are still powerful enough to complete the ceremony. You will Turn Sheridan. You have the gift and the strength. It will be as it was first deemed fit.” Xethre shook his head. He setSheridan down and pulled her close to the sanctuary of his body. “No.” Zinnock narrowed his eyes. “What did you say?” “I said, no.” Xethre looked down atSheridan with love filled eyes. “I will not Turn her, I will not bring her over. She is human, Zinnock, and she is beautiful as she is.” Sheridanwrapped her arms around Xethre. “Oh Xethre … I love you.” He kissed the top of her head. “I love you, my Sheridan.” Zinnock growled. “As touching as this all is … I’m afraid to say, you have no choice in the matter, Alexethre Roistkauff. You will do as we bid, or you will be destroyed.” Xethre turned his deep blue eyes onto Zinnock. Small dancing flames shot up and out of his blue orbs and the older vampire took a small step back. Xethre knew that he was glowing. He could feel the power coursing through his body, radiating from his eyes. “You will not have her, Zinnock, none of you will.” file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (98 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


Zinnock’s pale face glowed bright in the dim light and his hands began to shift. “You think you can take me, Roistkauff? You may have succeeded in bringing Pathos low, but you will not succeed with me. I lord over you, boy. My power will crush you like the ant that you are.” Xethre smiled and his fangs came out in full. “We shall see who the ant is, Zinnock.” “Enough,”Sheridan screeched, coming to stand between the two raging vampires. “Enough. Oh my God, you guys are worse dead than alive. The testosterone filling this room could shoot a fucking rocket to the moon.”Sheridan turned beseeching toward Zinnock. “Please … please … don’t you see that Xethre is right? I am not a vampire, Zinnock. I could never be a vampire.” She smiled tentatively. “I would drive you guys crazy. Believe me when I say, you don’t want me sitting on any seat in this house.” Zinnock frowned. “There is no other way, child. You were to be our ambassador, our … right hand. We need new blood on the Council, child, your blood. Once Turned, you will be more powerful than any imagining. There is no other to match you. There is no other solution.” “There is one.” Michaela’s cool, rich voice rolled over Zinnock like a blanket. She never took her eyes off of him as she walked purposefully across the room to where he stood. “You said there is no one to matchSheridan , once Turned. But there is one…” she let her crystalline gray eyes pierce him, “me.” Sheridangasped. Xethre bellowed, “NO!” Michaela tossed them both a small, grateful smile—a smile full of longing and haunting meaning. “Shhhhhh, be at ease, my friends. It will be all right. This is the way it was meant to be. The fates that you speak of, Xethre, they in their infinite wisdom saw the necessity for this. The fates have given you a chance. And you know better than to spit in the face of the fates.” Michaela turned to Zinnock, eyes now cold. “I propose a trade, Zinnock.” She let her eyes sweep the entirety of the room. “My death forSheridan ’s.” Zinnock smiled. “You would bind yourself to one of us.” Michaela laughed. But it was a harsh laugh. “Now, you know better than to ask me that. I will never, never bind to a vampire. I will never be a vampire companion.” She speared Zinnock with a frigid glare. “No vampire will hold dominance over me. But you spoke of a right hand … you wishedSheridan to fulfill this role for you. I will take her place, Zinnock. Allow Xethre to bindSheridan to him as his human blood companion, and leave them alone, and I will take her place as yourright hand …” file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (99 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


Zinnock narrowed his eyes. “For the love of the Dark Lord,” Willemina stepped down from the dais. “We accept, Michaela Angelash, we accept.” She tossed Zinnock a look that brooked no argument. “Your striking hand, forSheridan ’s.” Michaela nodded. “So said…” “So it will be done,” Willemina finished. “Michaela, what have you done?” Xethre voice was filled with sorrow. Michaela turned toward him. “What I had to do. Do not grieve for me. It is wisely decided upon. There is more to this than merely you.” She turned from Xethre to smile atSheridan . “Or you, sweet Sheridan.” She then gave Zinnock and Willemina a frosty, mocking smile. “We will never know who, truly, the puppeteer is, will we?” When she saw their suddenly worried looks she laughed. “Do not worry … hell will be much more enjoyable with me in it.” **** “Will it hurt?”Sheridan asked nervously from the center of Xethre’s massive bed. They were discussing her now-imminent blood binding, Xethre chuckled. “No, my love, it will not hurt.” “But…” Xethre pressed a finger to her mouth. “Shhhh, my love, trust me. And your powers will not manifest themselves.” She sighed and drew back. “It’s just … what with everything that Zinnock said about my … well, the power of my bloodline…” “I know. But it is for that reason that the Council wished to Turn you, my love. You would need a complete Turning for the powers in you to manifest themselves. As myhuman blood companion no such manifestation will take place. You will just be bound to me as long as my blood flows and night brings me life.” “Oh,just that long,”Sheridan said, a twinkle in her eyes. Xethre laughed and pounced upon her naked body. He grabbed her arms and locked her legs down with his. “Yes, that long.” His eyes were searching. “Do you mind?” file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (100 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


Sheridansqueezed the taut globes of his ass and grinned. “Mmmmm … no.” Her face suddenly turned somber. “But … Michaela…” He sighed and toyed with a strand of her silky hair. “I do believe that Michaela has plans of her own, my love. She would never have struck such a bargain if she did not know a way to extricate herself from it. She will never be bound to the Council, not truly. Her powers, her nature, will always demand … domination. The Council will not have her, my love.” Sheridansmiled and leaned up to place a kiss on Xethre’s cold cheek. “I love you, Xethre.” His eyes were drowning deep. “And you are my entire existence, Sheridan Malaya … my entire existence.” She licked her lips and inched her hips closer to his. His cock went hard as stone and his eyes burned bright. “What do you do?” “I do … seduction, Alexethre Roistkauff?” She reached between their bodies to gently cup his balls. “What do you do?” He inched down her soft, pliant body and captured one of her hard nipples in his wet and ready mouth. “I doyou … my love.” Sheridanlaughed and then groaned when she felt the slow, smooth invasion of his fingers within her pussy. She moaned and widened her legs. “Oh Xethre…” He smiled against the pillow of her breast. He searched out her clit with his fingers and when he found it, he squeezed. Her hips jerked against his hand in response and he tightened his grip on the hard taut nub.Sheridan ’s breath eased out of her body a slow caress of air. He soaked it in. The beat of her heart, so wild in her chest, the sound of her breath as it hit the air, the feel of her human body as it strained, arched, ached andlived . She was so beautiful, so beautiful and so alive, hisSheridan , his love. “More…” She moaned. He brought his teeth lightly down on her taut nipple and scraped her sensitive skin. “Yes … more … always more, my love.” He shoved her legs apart and imbedded his hard aching cock within her body, completely. He hooked her legs around his waist and stuffed a pillow under her ass to arch her up. He took her then, with long, merciless strokes that caressed, seized, and demanded. Sheridangroaned. Her hands wildly grasped for him. She gasped when his mouth trailed hot file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (101 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


kisses along her collarbone. She could feel him. He was so deep. He was in her so deeply. She felt each hard ridge, pulsing vein, and surge of blood as it swept through her. Her heart was thrumming wildly within her chest and her pussy was clenching and weeping with need. She arched up off the pillow and tried to get closer still. “Sheridan… my own, my love…” Xethre nipped the soft skin below her ear and blew gently in the delicate shell. “Ohhhhh my … my … God … please…”Sheridan locked her legs around Xethre’s back and pressed her chest forward. She wanted to feel him. She wanted to feel everything. Her pussy was spasming now, little shocks were riding her and she felt a delicious pulse surge through her. Her eyes rolled back and she began to pant. “Xethre, Xethre…” “I know love … come for me … come.” He slammed his hips forward and dug his hands deeply into the soft globes of her ass. His cock was nigh to bursting, but he would not have his release without her. He would not go anywhere without her … his love. He increased his strokes, like a battering ram his cock surged through her soft pliant flesh and swept her away. Her pussy was a hot vise around him and with each thrust he could feel her flesh closing, sucking him in. “I’m … oh God, oh God, ohhhhh…”Sheridan twisted and her toes curled. She raked her nails across Xethre’s back and screamed. He thrust one more time, and exploded within her. He didn’t hesitate then—he pushed her back onto the bed, latched his mouth onto the flesh above her heart and sank his fangs in deep. As he took her blood into his mouth, so too, did he take her life, her soul, her very being. He drank of her spirit, her essence, and he gave himself unto her. He felt her buckling under his body. She went slack but her heart rate sped up. Her heart—it was a fast beating metronome and it was counting out the pulses, the beats, as his ties drew her under. Sheridancould feel nothing and everything. Her body felt weightless, free, and her mind, her mind was full of Xethre. She could hear him … every thought, every feeling, every moment of his life … and death … she was with him, shewas him. Her body, her soul, her heart rose up to meet him. She felt pleasure unlike anything she had ever felt before and it was carrying her away. She allowed it. She welcomed it. She embraced it. “My love.” Xethre smoothed a strand of hair away from her face. Sheridansmiled and gave him a dreamy look. There was blood on his mouth, her blood. “Forgot some?” file:///D|/STORAGE/Brighteyes%20FTP/UPLOADS/EBooks/Mara%20Lee/Turned%20Innocence.htm (102 of 104) [11/11/2007 6:32:14 PM]


He curled his tongue around his lips and caught each drop of her blood. He wiped his lips clean. “Mine forever.” She touched her chest. The flesh above her heart was puffy, uneven and raw. She didn’t have to see it to know that she was marked, claimed. “Yes, Xethre … I am yours, forever.” And thus, Alexethre Roistkauff drew himself down by his beloved and wrapped himself within the smooth, silkiness of her hair, and thanked the Gods and the true hands of fate for his redemption. The End About the Author: Ever since I could pick up a pen, I have been writing. I became fascinated with fantasy at the age of eight, when my mother bought me a copy of ‘The Hobbit’. Not too long after that I became addicted to anything and everything about vampires. The duality of nature fascinated me. But it was an event four years later that would shape my future career as an author of erotic romance. At the age of twelve I discovered my grandmother’s stash of romance novels, hidden of course, in her closet. I devoured them. My grandmother kicked me out of the closet. But alas, the damage had been done… I was a hopeless junkie—a romance junkie. To this day I keep my love of fantasy, vampires and romance. What’s more, I have learned (through much practice) to meld the genres to create, for myself, the perfect environment to pen my erotic romance novels. I live, quite simply, for love, lust and the complex nature of the human heart. And I write to share my love, lusts and complex nature with others. Meet LSB authors at http://lsbooks.net We invite you to visit Liquid Silver Books http://lsbooks.com for other exciting literary erotica romances. Weekend Games—Chris Tanglen Destiny's Magick—Rae Morgan



Love Lessons—Vanessa Hart Portal—Sydney Morgann Bittersweet—Louisa Trent Business or Pleasure…or Both?—Rae Morgan and Jasmine Haynes And many, many more!!

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