painting the night with brush strokes of gray: (Closed thread)

[The_gladiator]

He leaned in, his tongue lapping that hint of blood away, savoring her rich flavor. It also healed her with the sweep of the tongue, but he tasted her and that lead to his plundering of her mouth, kissing her long and deep even as his hips surged those last few inches until he was buried to the hilt deep inside her. “So tight,” He murmured into her mouth.”

He held her down with his hands, but it was not just a power play, it kept them locked together and there was an incredible intimacy to it also, such a mix of passion and tenderness. His hips flexed and he began to stroke in and out of her, drawing such pleasant noises from her.

“So good little one,” He growled as he began to build a rhythm. Long, slow, steady, just as methodical as the rest of his seduction of her. The movements allowing both of them to feel every inch of his length in her, the way her body stretched to accommodate him.

 

[SandS13]

Her whole body shivered as he licked away the blood. Imogen had barely taken a breath in when Gabriel kissed her. It was a deep kiss. He entered her fully while his mouth kept hers occupied. It was likely for the best as the feeling of him that deep inside of her ripped a cry out of her centre.

Her body welcomed him, hugged him. He felt as if he belonged inside of her. Other lovers had felt good, had made her orgasm but Gabriel was reaching into her on a different level. It frightened her a little just that he could affect her so greatly. She didn’t focus on it. There was no room for that now. Those were thoughts for when he was not inside of her and moving in delicious, slow movements.

She moaned, over and over again. Her eyes opens to look up at him. Little one. She loved that more than she would admit. Imogen lifted her head and kissed his neck. She kissed along until she could not reach and then let her head fall back to the bed.

Her fingers gripped his. She thought all she wanted to do was touch him but now, she never wanted him to let her go. This was almost more intimate than if her hand stroked his chest or back. He had her pinned but not in any manner that drew fear of him.

Her climax took her by surprise. She gasped, eyes widening for a moment as her body tensed and the walls of her sex spasmed around him.

“Oh...Gabriel...”

 

[The_gladiator]

“Cum for me little one,” he ordered his tones caressing along her throat as he returned her kisses. Feeling her mouth on his neck, he longed to feed her, to bind her to him. In that moment he wished he could force her to go through conversion to become his mate. He strictly banished those thoughts; they had no place in this moment. They were thoughts for when he was not inside her.

Her orgasm gripped his cock and he growled his approval. Finally, he picked up his speed as he sought to join her in release. He filled her with his seed, knowing well that she could not become pregnant by him, not in her current human state. Both of their moans were lost in yet another kiss as he claimed her at the end like he did in the beginning. He had to kiss her. Otherwise he knew he would mark her as his, Morgan would not appreciate that, and he had no wish to go to war for this young woman, yet. However, he was strongly considering that it might be worth it to do just that.

His eyes were afire with the dancing stars of his power and he was drunk in that moment on her on their joining. He was not sure when he freed her hands, but at some point he became aware that his hands framed her face as he kissed her, and hers clutched his shoulders as if for dear life, as his strokes slowed and finally stopped, resting deep inside her, throbbing the last of his release deep inside her.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen inhaled as he growled. She was truly powerless when he did that. His climax hit deep inside of her and he pulled another orgasm from her. It was intense. He was kissing her and she never wanted him to stop. How had she ever thought kissing was so wonderful before? No kiss had ever been like when his lips were on hers.

Her hands moved from his shoulders to wrap around his neck as her breathing slowly returned to normal. She held him to her. Her legs loosely hooked onto his. Her fingers moved into his hair and she stroked his head. Deep in her chest she sighed in contentment.

"I hope that eased your hunger." Her voice was soft. She moved her head to place a soft kiss on his temple.

 

[The_gladiator]

He lay atop her, trying to recover, as he came down from his power high, from being drunk on her body. Her touches were gentle, welcoming, and like a great jungle cat he purred and nuzzled into her touch for a brief moment.

As she spoke, he lifted his head and could only nod, “Yes, yes it did,” and with that he rolled them so he lay on his back, and she was tucked in against his chest. “There is work to be done, but you will grant me this last pleasure?” he asked as his hand stroked her hair, holding her to him.

 

[SandS13]

"I will deny you nothing." Imogen laid against him. Her body draped over her his like a true lover. She hoped he did not mind but he was holding her close, touching her hair.

She closed her eyes and began putting back her mental barriers. She realized that all her barriers had been down. Imogen frowned a little. She made a note to be more careful. Morgan had tried to break down the barriers. She had withstood knowing the vampire wanted to use what she found to manipulate the woman. If she was bonded to her there would be no stopping it but for now, Imogen had kept her out. Now though she had been an open book to him.

She looked up at him wondering if he had looked, if he had seen her thoughts. He had given no sign of it yet but that didn't mean he hadn't. Imogen licked her lips and tried not to worry about it.

"What is that language you were speaking? Earlier..when I was using my mouth." She smiled.

 

[The_gladiator]

“I will deny you nothing.” Those words sounded good to him, he enjoyed them and was grateful to hear it. Now that they had come down from their high, he somewhat wished he had gone looking for answers in her mind, but he had chosen to honor her privacy. He felt the urge to lecture her about losing control so easily, but bit his tongue.

A faint smile came to his lips, “The ancient language of my people.” He answered her. As he stroked her hair he continued, “You have not spent much time with born vampires, outside of Morgan, have you? “Their tongue was rarely spoken outside of the purest oldest circles but most spoke it to some degree, at least to know the creed, and to participate in rituals.

 

[SandS13]

"No, Morgan is the only one. I am generally brought in by her to read people, to be a contact with the human side of things. She hasn't let anyone but her feed on me in a while and she has not in some time." The words burst forth, telling him more than he needed to know.

"You follow the creed far more than Morgan does." Again, too much. Imogen shrunk away, almost attempting to hide from him.

"I am glad I pleased you." A meek and uncharacteristic attempt at deflecting. Imogen almost rolled her eyes at herself. Meek was not something she was. Imogen had always been a fighter, confident and with an edge over others. Reading auras, knowing what people wanted or how they thought had always served her well.

With him she was those things but she also felt fragile and vulnerable. Normally that might upset or even disgust her but Gabriel didn't evoke those emotions from her. No, he touched something long pushed away, long forgotten. Now that fear came back. She knew she shouldn't let him affect her so easily.

 

[The_gladiator]

Why would she give you so freely to me.” He stared at her trying to figure things out, “She knows I would feel the pull. She expected me to convert you, to claim you as mine and she would have an excuse to go to war with me for stealing what she saw as hers. But if she has not marked you as hers then her claim to you is merely business.” He fell silent for a moment.

He snorted at her comment about his following the creed far more than Morgan did. “A greater truth has never been spoken little one.” Vladimir had long suspected Morgan of numerous violations, but could never prove it enough to take her on. Gabriel somehow doubted his luck would be any better, unless this woman could be a help to him.

He blatantly ignored her seductive deflection, for now. “Tell me what you know,” he ordered, wondering, could it be Morgan conducting these killings. Had the runes been Celtic in origin? Afterall, that’s where Morgan’s legend originated, right? He would check the photos in a moment, for now, would this little songbird sing for him?

 

[SandS13]

Imogen's mouth set in a line. "I know I am here to help you because I have contacts with the police and other agencies. I am used in that way because I can read what they want, how best to get them on her side. I was given to you so you could feed without hunting and you could use my skills."

She frowned. "Convert me? War?" She pulled away a little. Her heart was racing. Now she wondered why Morgan had sent her here. She was valuable, her main human contact but Gabriel made it sound like there were other things at work. She started to roll out of his arms to sit up.

"I know many things. I do a lot of her business with the humans. You will have to be more specific." She was confused and unsure now. Was she simply being used? Was Morgan using her for other purposes? Had he manipulated her and used her?

 

[The_gladiator]

“It is one of the verses in the creed,” he explained, “A true psychic can be converted without having to die first. The act of not dying means the newly converted vampiress will be fertile.” He let his eyes meet hers, “Fertile females among born vampires are extremely rare, and wars have been fought over them. Such a conversion means that you could reproduce with my kind.”

He sat up idly stroking her back as he spoke, “It is clear that Morgan has done a dreadful job of educating you on your potential. As to specifics. I am a Sentinel; do you truly know what that means? If you have proof that Morgan has broken the code, has violated the creed, it is my duty to see justice is done.” Their topic had grown serious their tones slipping from seductive to almost hostile, and yet he still touched her gently, not wanting to lose that temporary connection they had formed together.

 

[SandS13]

"She would not convert me, she is female. What goal would she have there?" A shiver ran through her. "She- no, it couldn't be that." Imogen found herself leaning into his hand, wanting to feel him even as she struggled with her thoughts.

"I have no proof, nothing that is not things I have seen or heard. I have helped with deals but nothing can be linked to her. She is too careful." She turned her head to look into his eyes. He had moved, staying close to her and she found herself longing for that.

"She has an auction coming up. A great deal of things in her collection that she wishes to be free of. I am not in charge of organizing it. I am to focus on staying with you and helping with the investigation. I am told that she is supposed to be auctioning off something quite valuable." Imogen went pale. "We are expected to attend the auction but it isn't for a couple of days. It is just part of the itinerary I was given for you."

Imogen's mind flashback to the times Morgan had been tempted to feed on her but found another, claiming she didn't want Imogen tired. She thought of how she had moved her here, to her building so she could be available at all hours. Was she being kept for this auction? Putting her with a sentinel would ensure her safety while he investigated but if she also was something Gabriel would be attracted to, what was the purpose?

Her mind whirled with thoughts. "Morgan is careful and calculated."

 

[The_gladiator]

He snorted, “I care not what bobbles she wishes to sell. I deal in things like rogues, murders, feeding on the unwilling, true crimes…unless you are suggesting she is auctioning off people?” he asked lifting an eyebrow. “For that I would care about. An eye witness to a crime is enough to get one condemned.” He said ominously. “At least it did before the dawning. Blasted vampires wanting rights, as if a vampire needs Medicare and to vote.” Here he rolled his eyes exasperated with his kind.

As he spoke, he finger combed her hair, and suddenly he got it. “Are you suggesting that Morgan will be gathering large numbers of the born vampire kind, to offer you up to them?” he asked abruptly.

 

[SandS13]

"I don't know." She was shaking now. Imogen looked at him, turning so her face was buried against his neck. "What I know for sure is that she asked for you to be sent. That she wants the murders investigated and I am to help you. I know that you are expected at a dinner tomorrow night. I am unaware of who else is coming. You are to be at the auction in two days time. In the meantime, your focus is to be the murder. I am to ensure you stay focused on that. Nothing, including hunting is to distract you."

Imogen shook her head. "She couldn't possibly think to auction a person off. Auction me off? To what end? She doesn't need the money." She wanted to hide in his arms but she was not his lover, not his anything in reality. She pulled away. "I am sorry."

Imogen sat a little straighter. She was a tool, his liaison not a damsel in distress. "I will learn what I can before your dinner with her tomorrow."

 

[The_gladiator]

He was surprised a bit, He wondered if she had enough pull to be sure that he was the sentinel sent. “I am the youngest sentinel, perhaps she feels it would be easier to hoodwink me than say Vladimir.”

“I will solve the murders for sure,” he said with supreme confidence, “But I will be taking a look around. I will focus wherever I wish. Yes, you are quite attractive but her ploy to have you seduce me into forgetting my duty will fail.”

He caught the nape of her neck with his hand and pulled her in for a quick kiss when she voiced her willingness to learn more prior to the dinner. “I will welcome your assistance any way you can be of use to me,” Here he rose and moved towards the desk. He clothed himself with a thought, a casual display of power that he did not even seem to notice. Another thought and she wore clothes as well, though the shirt was left conspicuously open revealing the swells of her breasts. “Let us not borrow too much trouble in 5 minutes, we will take things as they come to us.” He wasn’t sure why he even included her, she wasn’t anything to him, was she? After what had just happened and with what was developing with what he was learning about who and what she was, she deserved his protection at the very least.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen stood in the centre of the sitting room, dressed but with her blouse opened. Her heart was beating hard, unsure exactly how things had altered so quickly. She frowned.

"I was not sent to seduce you." She stared at him. "Morgan asked me to work with you, to get you anything you needed and to allow you to feed on me so you did not hunt. She never told me to seduce you or let you-"

She brushed her hair back from her face. On somewhat shaking legs she crossed to him. "The files are here and this - " She held out a cell phone. Simple, old. "It can only call me. If you need me I will come to you."

Her mind was utter jumble of thoughts. She absentmindedly played with the hem of her skirt. "If you wish to be alone I can leave you."

 

[The_gladiator]

“The seduce me was somewhat of a joke little one.” He reached out to stroke her cheek briefly.

He grumbled something under his breath and pulled a battered looking iPhone from his pocket, “I appreciate the consideration, but Vladimir has ordered us all to move into this century,” here he made quote marks around that sentence. “This thing makes me feel like an old man.” He commented. “I will take your number, but I will not require you to leave, unless you have other duties you should attend to.” As he spoke, he sat down at the desk and reached for a file.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen closed her eyes as he stroked her cheek. She found herself leaning into the brief touch but stopped herself. She was a tool, someone useful to him.

"Here." She gently took the phone from him and entered her number into his phone. She added her name as Liaison. Imogen handed it back to him.

"I do not have other duties at the moment. As the sun comes up I can remain here, on the sofa if you prefer or I will return to my apartment. The choice is yours. If you would like me to remain I would ask for some time to retrieve things from my home." She was doing her best to be professional. Please ask me to stay. Please. Imogen kept reminding herself that she had taken care of his needs, his hunger in more ways than one and that was all it was. Her job was to help him with the investigation.

 

[The_gladiator]

“And if I wanted you to share my bed?” he asked his eyes sweeping over her, corner of his mouth quirking in a slight smile. Even as he opened a folder. It was the third one, the female vampire. “Isabela?” he abruptly asked. It took him all his effort to school his face. The playful smile gone. The Latin vampiress had been known to Gabriel. Her brothers were powerful, influential, did they know of her death. Born vampires all, they were one of the few born vampire groups that actually still held a clan name.

His eyes lifted to her, “What of the Angeles brothers, have they been informed of Isabela’s death?” That was all he needed, that family to come crap all over his investigation. Headstrong, they played by nobody’s rules. Suddenly Gabriel realized who was likely to be at the dinner the next day. “I like nothing about this,” he muttered, waiting to see if she held information about the five firebrands, literally the hell’s angels, or rather Angeles of vampire culture.

 

[SandS13]

Her lips parted to answer his question. She wanted to tell him that she would happily share his bed if he so wished it. Her words were silenced as Gabriel's eyes fell on the photos. When he looked at her again Imogen took in the change in his aura. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.

Imogen shook her head a little. "I do not know who they were but I did contact many people as these murders happened. For the humans it was reaching out to police, family members. Gathering information to see if there was connection. For the vampires..." She pulled out her phone. She worked on it and then stepped beside him to show him the screen. "For this file - " She had notes, meticulous notes made for each case file. In her document for this one it showed that she had in fact contacted three of five clan members. She made note of their anger, the fact that they had not known their sister was here and that they wanted to speak to Morgan directly.

Imogen looked at him. "I do not know if she did or not. I only spoke to them on the phone so I could not read them. That is all I know."

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel let his gaze flick over the organized notes. He silently mouthed the names, “Juan Pablo Angeles, Diego Angeles, Fernando Angeles” He flicked his eyes up to her, “We had better hope she called Antonio Angeles herself, for that fucker would have started a war to hear of his baby sister’s death from a human.” He lay a hand on her arm, softening the sting of those words, “Please do not read into that something I did not intend little one. The Angeles brothers are… Prickly at best, and Antonio is frankly an ass.” He also thought it was strange that Esteban Angeles was left off the list. Though as Antonio’s right-hand Morgan may have additionally called him as well.

There appeared to be only one chair, so he angled his body and dragged her into his lap, her bottom resting on one muscled leg. “How long was Isabela with Morgan?” he asked as he thumbed through the photographs.

 

[SandS13]

He pulled her into his lap. Imogen did her best not to completely curl up against him. She needed to focus. He had questions, this was part of her job. Impart knowledge that she had to him to help him solve the murders.

"I gathered from the phone calls I made that they are quite easily angered. I do not blame them when one loses family it is never easy." A brief flash of memory. Her father on the ground, dead. Blood flowing from what used to be his neck.

Imogen blinked it away and forced it back down. She never let those memories surface. Never. Her earlier slip of letting her barriers down must have allowed it to slip. She felt a chill run through her and focused for a moment on strengthening those barriers.

Gabriel was busy with the photographs. "She was here for five years I am told. Then she left for a time. That was when I came to live here. I never met her. I have my notes on my laptop. Would you like them? Easier to read than on my phone."

 

[The_gladiator]

He nodded absently as his left hand stroked her hair the right sequencing the photos, almost as if he were using her to distract from his grim duty, or as if he still felt compelled to touch her.

“These runes, they appear to be the ancient language of vampires, though I have never seen it written. And with that he had his phone out texting someone.

“Yes, go get your notes, and items of clothing you wish to stay with me, with everything happening I will want you close.” And she could interpret that in many different ways, he would leave that up to her.

Not long after he sent the text an imperious voice burst into his mind, “What is it you want young in.”

“Vladimir is occupied with his mission, and I need answers, I figured you might have them.”

The tone of Lefty’s voice in his mind softened a bit, and became more business like, “What’s up, kid?”

“I’ve never seen the ancient language written, but when I look at these runes, I get the impression of our language.” There was a snort through their mental bond

“Of course, it can be written, just because you’re too young to remember it does not mean it does not exist, the runes can evoke some of the darkest magics, from healing to divination, to compulsion.” And suddenly the words of Lefty triggered something in Gabriel,

“That’s what they are, they’re runes of control.”

“What are you…what are you blathering about boy?” Gabriel respected Lefty for what he was, one of his former mentors, but he also did not want him poking around in this situation.

“Thanks for your help but got to go, I’ll fill you in later.” He would have to be satisfied with that.

Gabriel was now able to see what he had missed. Isabela’s corpse had more of the runic symbols than anyone else. Someone was evoking dark arts to try to compel the victims to give them information. As he stared at the pictures, he saw something else. Silently he traced the line of Isabela’s jaw. Something about her face ate at him. He looked around to see if Imogen had returned yet he had spent quite a bit of time staring at the pictures, trying to decipher the runes, but also to answer what was it about her face that drew him in. Yes, she was attractive, but what else.

 

[SandS13]

Imogen stood. Her heart racing. He wanted her close. For her notes and knowledge but still. Her fingers worked the buttons of her blouse closed but she did not bother to tuck it in.

"I will be about twenty minutes."

Her apartment was not on the top floor, that was for entertaining but the floor below it. Some of the pack had apartments there as well. In fact they line the corridor with hers at the end. There was no need to lock the door. No one came in or out without the pack knowing.

She entered her apartment, kicking off her heels. There was work to do. Imogen was in her bedroom pulling out clothing and pondering what was appropriate when she jumped at the sound of his voice.

"You smell of him. Is that what you are letting her do now? Whore you out?" The muscular, long haired man leaned against her door frame.

Anger flashed in her eyes. "I was not whored out."

He lifted his chin and took a deep breath. "Well I can smell him and you from here." He moved into the room to sit on the bed. "Gen...you know you don't have to do what she wants right?"

"She protects me. Has for a long time. And you owe me an apology." Imogen was clearly hurt.

Daniel moved, standing behind her now. Like Gabriel and the rest of the pack, he stood over her. His hands were on her shoulders. "I am sorry, its the wolf. It doesn't like to smell others on you and not one of them."

"I don't belong to you Daniel." She kept packing.

"Not for lack of trying." He rubbed her shoulders.

"I need to pack some things."

"Are you leaving? With him?"

"He has a name and no, I am staying in his quarters to help him with the investigation."

"I don't like it."

"You don't have to."

Daniel grabbed her arm. "You don't have to."

Imogen tried to pull her arm away. "I don't need protecting."

"You sure about that?"

"Yes."

It was almost forty minutes later and Imogen had still not returned. She and Daniel were arguing, he kept unpacking her things as she packed.

 

[The_gladiator]

Gabriel eventually became aware of the passage of time and still Imogen was not back. He had questions for her. She was supposed to be at his disposal. He reached for his phone as if to call her, but decided some fresh air would doo him good.
It was time to have a look around. He reached out. Her blood called to him. It was not quite as easy as if he had drunk from him, he could always find his own blood in her, but he had her scent in his mind, he could find her.

Daniel had Imogen pinned against the wall so she could not physically get to her bag. “I forbid you to go to him.” His voice was growing more and more agitated. His eyes hadn’t gone to animal yellow yet, they were still brown, but he was clearly getting close, his animal too close to the surface. Suddenly Daniel froze, he could feel the prick of something sharp at the back of his neck, and the way it burned his skin he knew it had a high silver content.

“I would step away from her, were I you,” Gabriel’s voice was empty, cold, free of emotion, but there was anger in his blue orbs, in the fire that Daniel couldn’t see with his back turned, but if Imogen looked up, she could.

“What’s going on here,” a voice drawled from the doorway. Gabriel didn’t turn at the new voice, not even when he heard the distinctive click of someone pulling back the hammer on a gun. Bullets even silver wouldn’t kill him, not from a mere hand gun. The person in the doorway, presumably one of the pack alphas was being overly dramatic, most modern double action pistols did not need to be cocked, it was a way to advertise to the sentinel that he had a gun pointed at him. They all stood there, in a standoff.

“Marcus, I presume?” Gabriel said conversationally to the man behind him, never taking his gaze from Daniel, and Imogen. “Call your puppy off my woman and no one needs to die,” Gabriel said, still trying to sound conversational, but with steal beneath the surface, even as he jabbed the dagger harder into the neck of Daniel.