His Darkest Salvation (13 page)

Twin pools of liquid velvet glistened as her eyes stared up at him. The color was high on her cheeks, and he felt her heart rate increase.

He could take her. Right now. He knew this.

An image of his body thrusting deep into hers flashed before his eyes, vivid Technicolor grade A porn. It burned through him with an intensity that left him struggling to breathe, and he closed his eyes, visualizing once more her breasts, generous and swollen with need, long, tangled hair flying everywhere, and her body writhing atop his as she’d ridden him hard.

Would he ever forget that night? He’d thought about it often enough. Deep within the bowels of hell, when the darkest of shit was falling on his head, she’d gotten him through.

Fucking Christ, but the woman drove him nuts. A DaCosta jaguar.

Her lips were parted, and the white of her teeth could be seen as she panted, the small breaths falling rapidly from between her lips.

His hand slowly slid along her thigh until the silk of her dress parted, and he felt the warmth of her flesh beneath his fingers.

“Don’t.” She shook her head, but he didn’t hear her, his eyes focused on her mouth and the way she bit, then sucked on her bottom lip as his hand continued along her flesh.

He cupped her ass, reveling in the feel of her toned flesh, and his large hand splayed across the curves, fingers caressing as he pulled her into him even more. He hissed when he realized there was no barrier there, no thin scrap of fabric protecting the treasure that lay between her legs.

Shit, the woman was commando. As hot as that image was, and his mind was certainly focused on her silky ass, it was pretty much overshadowed by an intense jolt of fury. The thought that she would go out in public, to dinner with another man in such a way made his body shudder in anger.

But, then, why wouldn’t she? She was on a mission tonight. The woman was sex on legs, this he knew from experience. She was more than willing to put out in order to get what she wanted. He’d obviously been a target three years ago no matter what she claimed. In the world they inhabited, there was no such thing as coincidence.

He snarled savagely, and his right hand held her secure as his other reached around to cup the hot juncture between her legs. Her eyes deepened and a groan fell from between her lips as she pushed against his chest.

“Please,” she whispered softly.

Julian felt the dampness there, the welcoming warmth as her legs parted for him, and he lowered his head, teeth bared as his passion exploded.

“Please?” he whispered hoarsely. “Babe, you don’t need to beg.”

And then he took what he wanted, his mouth claiming hers even as she started to protest once more.

Her softness opened for him, his mouth eating her words as he plunged his tongue into the warm, wetness within. She tasted like sin, just as he remembered, and she shuddered against him, whimpering as his fingers sought the hot button buried within her slick folds.

The darkness that crept along the edges of his mind continued to grow, and he felt a punishing thirst awaken inside him. He felt the need to mark her once more, to inflict his will upon her in such a way that she’d never forget to whom she belonged.

As the crazy thoughts continued to circle his brain, he deepened the kiss, taking, tasting, what was his. She moaned into his mouth, and his right hand crept up along her back, up to her neck, until he buried his fingers within the softness of her hair.

He held her head in place as his mouth continued to drink from the softness of her lips, and when she opened fully beneath him, when her tongue welcomed his with equal fervor, and she ground her hotness beneath his fingers, he saw red.

He felt as if he were coming apart. His insides quaked, running hot and cold all at once, and the pain that ripped across his chest only added to the exquisite torture.

“Oh God,” she whispered into his mouth. “I can’t . . . not with you.”

Her spoken words startled him, as did the intensity, the
need,
and he pulled back, welcoming the coolness that ran across his lips as the heat of her left him.

Ragged breaths fell from between his lips as his eyes focused on the swollen red of hers. They stared at each other, long and hard, and she squirmed against him as his confused emotions pounded him. What the hell did all of this mean?

What did he want it to mean?

She exhaled slowly, and the passion melted from her eyes, her face going blank as she stilled beneath his touch. She pushed against him, and he let her go, not really understanding what had just happened.

The pain inside him tripled, fire lashing against his chest as he watched her walk away from him, her hands smoothing the lines of her dress and pushing the mass of hair behind her shoulders.

She pressed the elevator button, and the doors slid open silently.

“Thanks,” she said softly.

Julian arched an eyebrow and answered. “For what?” he said harshly, barely able to get the words out.

She stepped inside and turned to face him with a smile though her eyes flashed a furious glint. “I can skip dinner and head directly for dessert.” Her hands slowly ran over her still-erect nipples, and Julian hissed, feeling a pull deep in his cock as she did so.

“Hopefully, Kragen will be enough to satisfy, but I have a feeling he’s a little too vanilla for my tastes.” Her meaning brought such darkness to his mind that Julian growled, welcoming the burn as it rippled along his flesh.

The doors started to close.

“I might have to search out some dark chocolate.”

He lunged forward, a snarl falling from his lips, but the doors closed before he could get to her.

Julian growled loudly as he stood there, legs spread, hands clenched to his sides, sporting the most painful hard-on he’d ever had.

He began to pace, a furious need inside him banishing all else from his mind, and as the cool night breeze drifted in from the balcony, he paused. The night air calmed him somewhat, the sounds and smells of the land and surrounding sea deeply embedded in his psyche.

The sudden urge to shed his skin and run wild called to him, and he grabbed at his clothes.

Seconds later, he stood crouched upon the railing of Jaden’s balcony as he stared down into the darkness below. The path that ran along the back of the building was empty, the cobblestones lit by a soft lamp several feet away.

Deep throngs of mist crawled along his body, the heavy magick caressing hard lines as he stood and spread out his arms. Inside his soul, where the ravaged half still lived, his jaguar growled in delight, eager to run.

Eager to hunt.

Moonlight fell in soft beams from above and was the only witness as Julian jumped. His body flew through the air, twisting gracefully as bones popped and elongated, the magick caressing every inch of him as he hurtled toward the ground.

He’d flown from the balcony a man, but it was a powerful jaguar that landed easily on all fours to the left of the path, deep in the soft foliage that was there.

The great cat stood still for several seconds, scenting the wind until he found the one he was looking for.

And then the golden jaguar slid into the night, its dark rosettes bleeding into the dusk before it disappeared entirely.

Chapter 10

“J
aden DaCosta.”

She didn’t like the way her name fell from Kragen Black’s lips. Like liquid honey, as if he had the right to be so intimate. “You’re looking a little tense,” he continued with a smile. The silver-gray eyes that stared at her were unsettling.

Jaden nodded to Kragen and stood back as he pulled out a chair for her. His hand fell to her shoulder, and she kept her smile firmly in place as his breath warmed the side of her neck.

He was much too forward, which pissed her off, but she’d play the game. Her father didn’t have to worry; she’d do whatever it took to achieve
her
agenda.

“I’ll do my best to help you forget about your worries.” His tone was silky smooth, confident.

She slipped from his touch and held her hands steady as the urge to rip into his flesh tore at her fingers. She felt the burn beneath her nails but settled into the chair calmly.

They were alone, seated at her private table several feet away from the main dining area, nestled into an alcove on the terrace. It afforded a certain amount of privacy, without making her feel detached from the activity in the main room.

As she smiled at Kragen she couldn’t help but think she’d love to be detached right now, separated from the mess that had become her life.

“It’s been a hell of a day,” she replied, accepting a glass of red wine from Paulo, her manager.

“I can see that.”

He nodded, and her hand grazed the sore area of her cheek as she turned from him, willing the shame that would surely stain her flesh away.

She took a sip, felt the liquid slowly pass over her taste buds, and fought the urge to guzzle it down like water.

She needed to keep a cool head, but that was going to be hard considering that every single nerve ending in her body was on fire. Kragen’s eyes slowly drifted over her and rested for several long seconds on her breasts.

Why the hell did I wear
this dress?

Because you wanted Julian to see you in it.

Even now she felt her sensitive nipples ache as they strained against the thin fabric that barely covered them. Her breasts felt engorged, and an image of Julian, suckling at them, tugging on the turgid peaks flashed through her mind. She stifled a groan as the erotic pictures continued to play, struggling to block them out.

She loosened her tight shoulders, rolled her neck, and crossed her legs, an effort to alleviate the throbbing that was constant between them, but the action only inflamed the sensation, and she gritted her teeth.

Good timing, she thought. Yep, perfect week to be on the cusp and nearly in heat. The yearning deep within was compounded by the fact that Julian was nearby. Even now, his scent clung to her. It was inside her and was enough to drive a girl insane.

She raised her glass, nodded to Kragen, and tossed the rest of the wine down her throat.

Christ, I need
an hour alone with
my
vibrator.
She was on the verge of losing control and totally pissed at herself.

“Care to share the details?” Kragen asked softly, like they were friends . . . or something.

“Not particularly,” she replied, glad that her voice had at least returned to normal even as her thoughts continued to focus on Julian.

She should have kneed the bastard in the balls, cut, and run.

Kragen’s eyes narrowed as a predatory smile swept over his handsome face. She supposed some women found the weird color of his eyes attractive, but to her it screamed otherworld.

Skye had warned her about Kragen. Finn’s sister had had dealings with him before. The sorcerer was a bastard of the highest order but handsome as all hell. He was used to getting what he wanted.

“A toast then.” He lifted his glass, which was nearly full, and as Paulo swiftly refilled hers, he smiled. “To an unforgettable evening.”

She held her glass high and finished it in two gulps. Daddy should see his little whore now, she thought, dressed to kill and guzzling wine like it was grape juice.

Real fucking ladylike.

She exhaled slowly and forced herself to relax. She needed to keep the big picture in mind and forget about Julian, her father . . . all of it. Her eyes fell on Kragen. Tonight, he was the target, and she’d be damned if she’d let him slip away.

“What do you feel like? Have you had a chance to read the menu?” she asked softly.

Kragen leaned back in his chair, totally relaxed. Confident. “What do you suggest? I’m feeling the need for something exotic and can’t decide.” He took a sip of his wine, his focus entirely on her, “I’d love to taste . . . everything.”

Small bursts of energy flew from his fingers. They began to shimmer, wafting into the air like petals of mist. Her eyes followed them in surprise as they fell over her skin with the delicate touch of soft feathers.

Her surprise soon turned to anger, and she gasped as an odd sensation crawled along with them. It felt as if tiny fingers were running along her flesh, between her breasts and across her nipples.

Bastard! She felt her cheeks darken. If she was to be manhandled, it wouldn’t be by these means.

She was not playing this game.

She leaned forward, smiled wickedly, her leg stretching out underneath the table, and placed her stiletto-encased foot between his legs. She applied just enough pressure to make her point, and his eyes widened as the air around him stilled.

“Don’t pull that freaky mojo crap with me because I won’t hesitate to impale my heel all the way up your dick. Are we clear?”

The sensations stopped immediately as Kragen’s eyes narrowed. He studied her for a few seconds, then whispered softly, “Understood.”