Her face flushed with the exertion of her pleasure, and when she opened her eyes he was looking at her intensely. Never in her life had anyone looked at her the way Gideon was looking at her. She could feel the aftershocks of her orgasm against his cock where it was buried deep inside her body. Gideon never stopped giving attention to her clit. Tessa was delightfully surprised when she felt herself begin another orgasm.

Gideon began to slam into her body again. His hips moved so that his cock did something amazing in her body. No other man had ever been so skilled at wringing pleasure out of her. Tessa felt like she'd died just a little bit. In making her feel like she did, she wanted him to never stop! His deep masculine growl told her that he too felt the pure perfection of the sex. Coming for him again, she barely noticed when he joined her in orgasm. They lay panting after the last of the moment had slipped away.

Tessa wondered if it was just the magic of the vampire bite or something more; something purely Gideon that had caused her to experience the sex so deeply. It had been the best Christmas present ever. Stretching and feeling pliable and languid she stood up, shaking from her muscles being so weak with relaxation. It was the most perfect sex of her life. Determined to protect her heart she reminded herself it was only sex.

"We must go back. I have to take you home as soon as possible." His statement surprised her. She felt used. Did he think great sex would change her mind about staying away from Victor's world?

"I'm not going back." Ignoring his dark look she got up quickly. She wanted to get away from him and the bathroom was as far as her spell would allow. Tessa slipped into the bathroom to take a shower.

Stepping under the warm water, she reveled in the sensation until the moment of Zen suddenly shattered with his rude interruption.

Gideon stood naked, still looking angry. Without words, he hauled her soapy body out of the shower and she felt his growing power. Angry, she realized he was using her relaxed state to break her protective spell. Clamping down on her power she strengthened the barrier, but after losing blood and not eating all day her body gave out, and she found herself in his arms, blinking up at his wrathful face. Softly, she whispered, "Why is it so important to you to destroy my life?"

"The fate of my people depends on your safe return. Your father will kill every female of my kind if I don't bring you home." His words made her heart drop.

Tessa immediately wanted to cry. What kind of a monster would make such a threat? As much as she detested Other World, she didn't want to see its creatures suffer for her freedom. She didn't want to live trapped in Other World; but if Gideon was speaking the truth, she must return. Looking deeply into his eyes she felt the honesty in his expression. With a shallow cry, she pushed away from him.

"Let me take my shower and get dressed. Alone. I'll return with you, but only for the sake of your people – not for you or my father!" He looked conflicted, as if he might not trust her. She knew her eyes flashed red at him. She could see the moment he decided to trust her because his expression changed. He backed out of the door, and she slammed it in his face, deciding to make the most of her shower. Granted, great sex did not exactly award her his loyalty, but the fate of his kind was at stake. It was frustrating; knowing he had as little choice as she did. Sighing, she finished her shower and dressed.

Taking her time just to irritate him, she finally packed her things and left the bathroom. He was dressed and ready. Setting down her suitcase she stretched her arms out wide, releasing her magical hold over the resort. Within seconds she knew that her protection was gone, and she found herself at Gideon's mercy.

For a moment, she thought she might have seen regret on his face before he took her hand and she teleported them to the other side of the barrier. She could see the human world, and desperately she tried to step through the barrier, but as she suspected it had been a one-way trip. Her father had removed her magical visa. There was no going home. Unable to help herself she crumpled in front of the barrier but Gideon caught her before she hit the ground.

Exhausted and sad she wept softly. Tessa couldn't look him in the eyes; she felt too embarrassed by her reaction. Somehow, losing her ability to cross freely felt a little bit like losing her mother all over again. She felt depleted, and Tessa closed her eyes.

Chapter 5

December 25th


It was just after midnight and now Christmas morning. She'd only had enough strength to get them to the boundary between the worlds. Gideon carried Tessa and her single suitcase with ease. She was very small, and her fragile state frightened him. This confused him because although enjoyed drinking from virtual strangers -a vampire's bite often ended with sex, although he was more selective than most- usually he didn't think much of their care after he'd bitten them.

Strangely, he felt an overwhelming need to protect the woman. Her father was known to be a hard man, and he feared what her father might do to her in his effort to force her compliance to his wishes. When he'd seen her true grief over losing her privilege to cross the border between worlds he felt like someone had kicked him in the ribs. He knew his people depended on her return but seeing the result of his deed made him ill. The Grand Master must really be a monster if his own child had such a strong aversion to returning home.

Upon arriving at the castle Gideon was ushered directly to the Grand Master's office. The demon looked like he'd not had a moment of sleep since he'd sent Gideon on his mission. A guard of troll descent tried to take Tessa from his arms. Gideon growled at the man and he backed off. The Grand Master rushed around his desk and looked down at his daughter. He glared at Gideon and spoke.

"What have you done to her? She's so pale! How dare you harm my child?"

Watching the horns grow on the man's head and seeing the red haze cover his normally black eyes, Gideon felt a moment of fear. "She's just exhausted. She was using her magic continually, and it's my guess she doesn't practice it much. She just needs rest."

The Grand Master beckoned for the guard to take Tessa; but Gideon refused to back away. He saw anger in the ruler's eyes.

"I'm not leaving until she's awake. I'll not leave her helpless and at the mercy of your troll." He wanted to say "you" but he knew better. Holding her tightly, he waited for a reply.

Levelly, the Grand Master glowered at him. Gideon stared back without flinching. With a nod, the demon sat back down at his desk; returning to paperwork. He could feel the older man's concern, but he could also see that Victor was trying to hide it. When he spoke, Gideon was surprised.

"Take her to the family room. I will send my physician to look at her. You can stay, but under guard, until she opens her eyes." He motioned to the troll. "Krux, go with them. Make sure the vampire doesn't hurt any of the royal family."

The troll grunted, and Gideon followed him to a small sitting room off the great room. There was a television and a pool table, and it felt very informal. He wondered why they didn't just take her to a bedroom. When he questioned the troll about it the answer surprised him.

Snorting the troll replied, "She doesn't have a bedroom here, she hates it here. She refuses to sleep here; she's never spent a night since she turned eighteen. She always stays at a motel this side of the boundary and just comes back and forth when she visits. Girl is whacked; says the place gives her nightmares." He ended with another derisive snort, as if he couldn't believe the castle could scare anyone.

Gideon felt worse about his part in her imprisonment. Why would a child born and raised in Other World feel so alienated? "Why does she feel like that?"

The troll grunted again, a curiously pitying look in his eyes as he looked at the girl. "Girl's mom was human. She didn't know the old man was a demon until after all the girls had been born. He'd 'magicked' her to see him as human. She was a fox." He watched the vampire's reaction for a moment before continuing. "The Grand Master thought she loved him and showed his 'true self.' The lady took off; just left the kids with her friend and ran. She didn't want anything to do with demons, not even the kids.

Tessa's father really cared about his lady. He kept her unaware for years. The glamour he used made her just kind of ignore how weird everything got. I was one of her bodyguards for a few years. The Grand Master kept her comfortable, but I don't think he really understood how human families work. Demons tend to reproduce and that's the end of it for them. Humans raise their kids. This one was seven or eight when they came to live here and she never knew her mom left.

I heard that those kids never met him until the night he brought them here. Had to be strange, finding out about this place after living in the human world with their mother. The Grand Master told them their mother died; didn't want to break their little hearts I guess. He's a fierce motherfucker; but when it comes to those girls, he's a big old softy. That's why he let this one live like a human. He hates it; but he just can't put his foot down.

I've been a house guard for years I've seen all the drama myself. She really hates her old man. Only reason I'm telling you this stuff is I like Tessa, she's a good kid. I see how you're looking at her, -damn, don't let the Grand Master see that look- and if you care about her you need to understand how fucked up it's all gotten"