Darkest Ecstasy (25 page)

Heaven.

He kissed his way down her body, stopping at the waist of her pants. Within seconds, he had them off. Her panties, too. He knelt above her, gazing down at her as if she were something priceless, precious.

“Talen.” She lifted her arms to him.

He unzipped his pants, pulled his thick rod out, and settled between her thighs. “You're mine, Michelle. I won't ever take another woman again.” His rod plunged deep inside her, filling her completely.

Immediately lost in the ecstasy of his claiming, she wrapped her legs around his waist. Deep. Deeper. She wanted him to take her hard and fast, then slowly, sweetly. She rocked her hips, meeting each of his hard thrusts. With each stroke, her body burned hotter, her senses grew sharper. The sounds of their lovemaking filled her ears and heightened her pleasure. The husk of their hard breaths. The crackle of twigs snapping beneath her. The scent of earth and man filled her nose, blending into a perfect perfume. She closed her eyes and moistened her lips, tasting his kiss still lingering on them.

This was where she belonged. In this man's arms. In his bed. She relinquished her body to him, eagerly welcoming him to take his pleasure. But instead of taking, he eased back on his knees and pressed a moistened thumb to her clit. With his cock buried deep inside, he started stroking her sensitive pearl.

Ah, it was glorious.

“You crave domination,” he uttered as he stroked her to paradise. “You long to learn how to serve your master.”

Her body's temperature spiked. “Yes,” she said, writhing beneath him. “Oh yes.”

“I will teach you. I'll teach you the joy of submission.”

“Please.”

That thumb moved faster, drawing swift circles. She was so hot, so tight. Everywhere. On the verge. Oh, almost there.

Her chest constricted. A flare of heat blazed deep in her center.

“Come for me. Now,” he demanded.

It felt like a white-hot ball of fire exploded inside her. She was overpowered. Lost in pleasure so intense she thought she might die from it.

He angled over her and slammed his cock into her spasming center.

“Yes,” he said, pressing his lips to her neck. His cock rammed in and out, in and out, drawing out her pleasure, making it last and last. Oh, she hoped it would never end. The wave of a second climax rolled over her, and she cried out. His joined hers as he orgasmed deep inside her, filling her.

Then, with their bodies still joined, he rolled onto his side, taking her with him, cradling her in his arms.

She smiled into his dark eyes.

He smiled back, and she knew without any doubts that she had made the right choice. She would rather give up everything she had than let this man walk out of her life.

Tipping his head, he kissed her forehead. “As much as I'd love to stay here and do that again, we need to move quickly. The sooner we get your mother safe, the better.”

“Okay.” Reluctantly, she pulled out of his hold. It was hard. It was painful. With gentle hands, he helped her dress. Together they walked to a black vehicle she hadn't seen before, parked on the road. Within minutes, they were bouncing down the potholed street toward her mother's house, talking about what needed to happen as they drove. The second Talen had the vehicle parked in her mom's driveway, she scrambled out of the car and hurried up to the door. She let herself in, shouting, “Mom?” as she rushed toward the kitchen where she suspected her mother would be.

She found her there.

But she wasn't alone.

S
urprised there was a visitor standing in her mother's kitchen, Michelle clamped her lips shut.

What was
she
doing here? Had she followed Talen?

“Hi, Michelle. Talen,” Angela said, smiling. “Susan made us tuna salad sandwiches and homemade soup for lunch. Doesn't that sound delicious?”

Michelle's gaze jerked from Angela to her mother, who was busy at the stove. Her mom glanced over her shoulder. “Honey, I wish you'd told me you were bringing friends for lunch. I would have made more sandwiches.”

“I . . . didn't know they were coming,” she said, her gaze jumping back and forth between Angela and Talen. Angela looked extremely pleased. Talen, tense.

Cranking up her smile to full wattage, Angela said, “Talen, it's so good seeing you again. When I heard you had moved without saying good-bye, I was disappointed.”

“It wasn't an intentional slight,” he said, voice cold.

“Honey, why don't you set the table for lunch?” Susan asked as she stirred the soup.

“Um . . .” Michelle stole a glance at Talen. He nodded. “Okay.” Extremely nervous, she went to the cupboard and pulled out plates, bowls, and cups. If Angela was here, then she had to assume Angela's cousin was skulking around somewhere close by.

Talen wandered toward the front of the house. Angela hopped up from her seat at the kitchen table and followed him.

“Isn't it a total surprise, seeing you here?” she said, trailing behind him.

“I suppose it is.”

While keeping an eye on the quiet exchange between her coworker and Talen, Michelle set the plates, bowls, and cups on the table, then went to the drawer for silverware.

“Angela told me you work together,” Michelle's mother said, still stirring soup at the stove. “I'm so proud of you. You've done so well.”

“Mom,” she whispered. “We need to talk.”

“Okay. What is it, honey?” she asked, much too loudly.

Michelle pressed an index finger to her lips and flicked a glance at Talen and Angela. “In private.”

“Now?”

“Yes.” Reaching past her mother, Michelle clicked off the stove's burner. Her heart was racing so fast, Michelle felt a little light-headed. She grabbed her mother's hand and dragged her out onto the back porch. “Mom, we have to leave here. Now.”

“Leave? Why? Where are we going?”

“I want you to go grab anything important, pictures, keepsakes, anything you can't live without.”

“I don't understand—”

“I'll explain later. Just please, go now.” Adrenaline pounding through her system as her fear escalated, Michelle gave her confused mother a gentle shove toward the door. “Hurry. Or you'll have to leave everything behind.”

Her mom stared at her for several seconds, as if she were frozen. Desperate to wake her up, Michelle shook her softly by the shoulders until she seemed a little more with it. “Mom?”

“We're leaving?” She wandered back into the kitchen, just as a loud
bang
blasted through the living room.

Michelle whirled around and sprinted toward the front of the house.

Angela was standing in the middle of the room, a gun gripped in her hands. That gun, the weapon that could end all of their lives at any moment, was shaking. A lot.

Talen was sitting on the floor, his head hanging low.

Was he hurt? Shot?

Ohmygod! Panic blasted through her like an electric current. She dashed toward him.

“Stop!” Angela yelled.

She didn't stop. She couldn't. She ran to him, colliding with a rocking chair on the way. She staggered, stumbled. He caught her as she was falling. They landed together on the floor, his body cushioning her.

“Don't move!” Angela shouted.

“Are you hurt?” Michelle wheezed. She couldn't breathe. She was dizzy. Where had all the freaking air gone? Her gaze jerked from one part of his body to another. Head. Looked okay. No blood. Neck, okay. Chest, okay. Thank God it was okay. Stomach, no blood.

“I'm fine.” He reached for her face.

Red.

She saw red.

Blood. Blood!

She started clawing at his sleeve, trying to see the wound. “You've been shot.” She blinked as little patches of black started obscuring her vision.

“Michelle.”

She had to see the wound. She had to help him.

“Michelle.” He caught her chin in his hand and lifted. Her gaze snapped to his eyes. “I'm fine. It's nothing. A scratch. It doesn't even hurt.”

“You're shot,” she yelled.

“I'm fine.”

She felt a nudge and looked. Her mother was sitting next to her now, her eyes wide with terror. “Mom, are you okay?”

“What's happening?” she asked.

“What's happening is you're going for a little ride, Susan,” Angela said, still holding the gun, which was now pointed at Talen's head. She held a cell phone with the other hand.

“Me?”

“Harboring a fugitive is a crime.” Angela poked at the phone buttons with her thumb.

Susan looked at Michelle and then Talen. “Who is the fugitive?”

“She doesn't know anything,” Talen said calmly. “Let her go.”

“I'm not letting anyone go until backup is here. And that should be any minute now.”

“Why are you doing this?” Michelle glared at her ex-coworker. She was so enraged, she could barely put two words together.

“Why? I have my reasons. But there's really no point in explaining them to you. You've been brainwashed by that man.” Angela flicked the gun.

“I haven't been brainwashed by anyone.”

Looking at her with pity, Angela merely shook her head and poked at her phone with her thumb some more. “It's sad. I do feel a little bad for you. A little.” She lifted her phone to her ear and said, “I have them.” Then she focused on her phone as she ended the call.

Talen didn't give a single warning. The second Angela looked away, he lunged toward her, slamming her off her feet. She sailed backward. The gun flew from her hand. He scrambled to grab it as it landed with a thud. Everything seemed to move in slow motion.

Michelle sat there in shock and tried to comprehend what was happening. Her mind couldn't quite keep up with events as they were unfolding. Talen was on top of Angela now. He had her pinned to the floor, but she was kicking, screaming.

“Go get in the car,” he shouted. “Move! Now!”

Suddenly, as if jarred from a dream, Michelle could react. She grabbed her mom's hand and jumped to her feet. “Come on!” She pulled. Slowly her mother stood. She raced toward the door, remembering she needed her purse, her keys. They were in her room. Leaving Mom at the door, she veered off, down the hallway. She ran as hard as she could, bouncing off walls and door frames and furniture. Purse. On the dresser. She snatched it, turned around, and slammed into Talen.

“They're out front,” he said. “Is there a back exit?”

“Yes. This way.” She ran past him, sprinted toward the front of the house where she'd left Mom, and then, catching her hand again, led all three to the patio door. They slid it open just as the first few armed agents came around the corner of the house.

She hesitated.

Talen pushed on her back and yelled, “Run!”

Refusing to release her mother's hand, Michelle ran as fast and as hard as she could. Mom kept up with her as their feet pounded over grass. They made it to the small creek at the back of the property. Without slowing, she leapt over it. Mom's hand slipped from hers as she sailed through the air. On the other side, she turned back to see where her mom was.

She had stopped, was looking back toward the house.

Talen. Where was Talen?

Michelle's gaze hopped from her mom to the horde of men in black gathered at the rear of the house.

Something was happening.

Did they capture him?

Her mother turned toward her, her expression a mixture of fear and worry. “What's happening? Who is that man?”

“Mom, that's the father of my child.”

 

Everything was fucked up. Everything.

Talen was on the ground, facedown, hands and legs bound. His arm felt as if it was on fire, thanks to the fucking gunshot.

He needed to get to his phone and turn off the GPS. If he was going down, he didn't want his brothers going with him. They would track them down if he didn't. Right now, they were safe. The Secret was safe. Rin and Lei were safe. It was better for everyone if things stayed that way.

A couple of guys caught him by the arms. Another one grabbed his legs, and he was lifted. They would take him in and torture him, try to get the location of The Secret. He'd prepared for this day his whole life. It was here now. He prayed he was ready.

He was surrounded by black uniforms. FBI agents. Undercover Chimera. He couldn't see Michelle. She had to have gotten away. She had to be safe. She was his weakness, the one person he might risk The Secret for. If they knew that . . . if they used that...

They dumped him into the back of an armored truck. He landed hard. The air left his lungs, and for a few seconds he struggled to draw in a breath. It hurt, but he knew it was nothing compared to the pain that would be coming.

 

“Child, Michelle?
Your
child?” Her mom's face was the color of bleached flour.

“Yes. I'm pregnant, Mom.” Michelle held her breath, waiting for her mother's reaction. Would she be angry? Worse, would she cry?

“Oh honey.” Her hands trembled as she smoothed Michelle's hair back from her face.

“It's okay. I'm set. I have everything I need. I've decided—”

“Except a husband. You don't have a husband. Your child won't have a father.”

“You're right.” Turning, Michelle looked up at the back of the house. Her mother's words stung, but not nearly as bad as the horrific sight Michelle was watching now. They were carrying Talen away, hog-tied. “He wanted to marry me.”

“What did he do? Where are those men taking him?”

“I don't know exactly. They say he's a terrorist, but I don't believe them.” Her nose and eyes were burning. Dammit, she was going to cry. She hated crying. Crying was weak.

“A terrorist?” her mother shot back. “Like . . . like the kind who blows up buildings?”

“He's not a terrorist.” Michelle dragged her index fingers under her eyes. They came away damp.

“Oh honey. Oh.”

“He's not. I know it. He's a good man. A kind man. A strong man. Brave. Sweet.” Tears were flowing freely now. She couldn't hold them back.

“Honey.” Her mom gathered her into her arms and held her as the sobs ripped through her chest. She couldn't stop crying. She tried. The sobbing hurt so badly. Her insides felt as if they were being crushed under the weight of a hundred cars. Just as she had when Michelle had been little, her mom held her and smoothed her hand down her hair. “I don't know how you got tangled up in this mess, but it's over now. It's over.”

“It won't ever be over for me. Or the baby.”

“Yes, the child. I'll help you. Come home. We can raise the baby together.”

“That's not what I mean.” Michelle sniffled and hiccupped between words. “I can take care of the baby. But I don't know if I can live without him. I love him, Mom. I love him so much I hurt everywhere when we're apart. I can't breathe when he's away. I can't sleep. I can't eat. I have been trying all week to convince myself I didn't need him. But I failed. I still hurt as much today as I did the first day.”

“It's going to take time. Time will heal your heart.”

Michelle didn't believe that. Nothing would heal her heart. Because it had been ripped out of her chest. She didn't have a heart anymore. It was gone.

Surrendered to Talen.

Her mom slid her hand down Michelle's arm. When it reached her hand, she gripped it. “Come on. Let's go back to the house. It's safe now.”

“I don't know.”

“They took him away. It looks like they're all leaving. Come on now. We can't hide out here forever. I'll make you some tea, and later, when you feel more up to it, we'll talk about what we'll do next.”

This wasn't the end she had hoped for. No. Not after talking to Talen earlier today. But it had been the one she'd planned for. So why did she feel so awful? So . . . hopeless?

Unable to speak, she merely nodded. Together, she and her mom walked up to the house. With each step, her racing heartbeat slowed a little, the adrenaline easing. By the time they reached the house, she was feeling wrung out and exhausted.

Her mom opened the door and stepped inside. Michelle followed. But before she'd made it one step, two men grabbed her, jerking her arms behind her back.

Her mom wailed, “Nooooo! They promised! Leave my daughter alone!”

Promised?

What?

“Mom?”

Her mother's eyes were dilated with terror. Her face was the shade of milk. “I called them when you arrived. They were supposed to leave you alone. I trusted them.” She sobbed. “Let my daughter go!” she screeched.

“Sorry, ma'am. We can't do that yet,” one of the officers said as he yanked Michelle toward the door.

She was going to be arrested? Then what?

“Mom, I'll be okay. I don't know anything,” she said to her distraught mother as she was tugged toward the exit. In truth, she didn't know whether she would be okay or not. It was against the law to torture people, but she had to wonder whether that mattered behind closed doors. And if these men were really members of some secret society, then who knew what they might do to her to motivate Talen to talk.

Her blood turned to ice.

As they shoved her into the back of a black van, she turned pleading eyes to one of her captors and said, “Please. I'm pregnant.”