Reign of the Vampires by Rebekah R. Ganiere Page B

he had to shake his head to stop from letting out a cry of longing. Stretching, he tried to calm down. He didn’t want to see her, didn’t want to want her. He slapped himself in the face, trying to clear his head. The door opened to the outer viewing chamber.
    Neeman pounded down the ramp and Mason was hit by a wave of the most magnificent aroma. He went on high alert as he inhaled the scent, and he realized that it was hers. Crap! Neeman was covered in Danika’s intoxicating aroma. It made Mason’s blood jump ten degrees. He had to stretch again to keep from staring Neeman down. Studying his shoes, he tried to get ahold of himself, but it wasn’t working. His mind raced. She’d been there; she’d seen Neeman. But why? When he straightened, a dark look sat on Neeman’s face, and he remembered Kelvin telling him that she and Neeman were lovers.
    “How about a bit of sparring, just you and me?” Neeman said.
    More like Neeman working off his frustrations with his female on Mason. He nodded.
    It was hard for Mason to concentrate with her scent lingering in the air. Every time Neeman got closer, it worsened. Repeatedly, Neeman landed a hit, kick, or both. And Mason took every one, blocking very few. After five minutes of getting kicked around, Neeman stopped.
    “Where’s your mind, Mason? These are moves that you learned to block over a week ago. Are you trying to let me hurt you?” Neeman asked.
    “I just... My head’s not in it tonight,” said Mason.
    “Not in it?” Neeman demanded. “Who cares about that? It’s your job to protect your master with everything you have. You don’t have anything else in your mind. You don’t think about anything else.” Neeman punctuated the last four words with a series of kicks at Mason. “You. Do. Your. Job.” Mason blocked the last three. Neeman nodded as he did so. “ You have no wants. You have no needs. You have your master, and that is all. You protect your master or someone ends up dead. Now let’s go!” He rushed Mason.
    Mason forced his mind to concentrate on what was at hand. If he wanted to live through this night, he had to keep his head in the arena.
    They sparred for two hours, and Mason had been right. Whatever frustrations were stuffed inside of Neeman, he worked them out. In the end, Mason had lost by a bit, but not much. Neeman managed to plant three hard hits to Mason’s face, causing Mason a cut eye and a bloodied lip. Neeman’s fangs gleamed, and he stopped after the sight and smell of Mason’s blood dictated he remove himself from the arena. Neeman excused himself, glanced up toward the viewing area, then headed up the ramp. Mason backed away, wiping the sweat and blood from his body with a towel.
    * * * *
    Mason performed poorly in the beginning for some reason, but after they started again, he was as good as Neeman. Danika was forced to unbutton her blouse and fan herself, watching the two males spar.
    Neeman stepped up the ramp toward her, while Mason was left in the arena, hard-bodied and sweaty. Oh how she wished to go down to him right there, body dripping, and sink her teeth into his neck. She imagined the feeling, the taste of a blood that strong.
    Her thoughts were interrupted by the smell of Mason’s blood on Neeman’s hand the moment the door opened. It was all Danika could do to stop herself from dropping him to the ground and licking the blood from his knuckles. Or better yet, pushing him to the side and rushing down the ramp.
    Neeman’s eyes blazed with need. She had to admit, he was gorgeous. At that moment, she wondered why in all their years together, she’d never loved him. No longing to be with him again when he was gone. No willingness to put his needs before hers. She’d never felt complete being with him. He was strong, and sexy, but they did nothing to complement each other the way her parents had. As much as she’d tried to make it work with him, he wasn’t the one.
    “He did satisfactorily.” She turned to