The Devil's Dream: A Dark Romance (Dark Romance Novel Book 1) (11 page)

Chapter Twenty-One—Kiana

“Kiana, what are you doing here?”

“Kate, I-I—”

“It’s alright; I know you didn’t drug me of your own free will. He somehow hypnotized you, didn’t he?”

Kiana’s looked at her guilty, “Er, well—”

“Get over here, Kiana. Get away from him. You won’t get into any trouble I promise. I now know how he manipulates women. You’re innocent in all of this. I’ll protect you.”

Kiana eyed the man who moved toward Stavros. She looked up at him and swallowed. He nodded, prompting her to move. She took slow steps toward Kate.

“Good girl,” Kate said, satisfied. “Now, Kane, time for you to confess everything. Then we’re taking you in.”

“Confess what, Kate?”

“Are you the head of the drug cartel here in Miami?”

Stavros smirked. “I’m flattered that you think I am. I hear he’s smart and very hard to pin down. He’s been running circles around the police for years.”

“Don’t fuck with me, Kane.”

“Fine, fine. You got me, Kate.”

“Alright, you bastard, I—”

Kiana landed a blow to Kate's head with a metal chair while her partner’s gaze was trained on Stavros. She fell to the ground with a loud thud. Her partner swung his gun in Kiana’s direction, ready to pull the trigger, but Stavros tackled him to the ground. The bullet whizzed past Kiana and lodged into the wall. She let out a scream.

The cop's fist met Stavros’s jaw, sending him backward. He used the opportunity to free himself, jumping to his feet; he pointed his gun at Stavros. “There’s no need to take you in alive, Kane.”

Kiana picked up Kate’s gun and pointed it. “Hey!”

The cop whipped around. His eyes widened at the sight of the gun in her hands. Kiana closed her eyes and pulled the trigger before he could raise his weapon. He instantly dropped. Kiana pried one eye open to see blood coming from his forehead. “Oh my god.
Oh my god
, I killed him.” Her hands shook uncontrollably. She had never shot a gun before. She would never have guessed she would actually hit him, much less between the eyes.

Stavros sprang to his feet. “Give me the gun, Kiana.” Prying the weapon from her fingers, he cupped her jaw. “Talk to me.”

She blinked rapidly, “I did the right thing. He was going to kill you.” She looked into his eyes, “I’m going to prison. I killed a cop.”

“No such thing will happen on my watch.”

She gulped and nodded. “O-okay.” She watched him kneel beside Kate. “Is she dead?”

“No, she isn’t.” He whipped out a syringe and plunged it into her neck.

“Stavros what are you doing?”

“Setting up the scene, baby,” he said with a leer. Glancing up, he saw her confusion. “You see, Kate here is a dirty cop. The massive amount of drugs found in her system will prove that, as will the massive amount of money that will be wired into her account.” He pulled a few packets of Neuro from his pocket and shoved then into hers. “She's nothing but a fucking drug addict working for the elusive drug lord. Who knows, maybe
she
is the drug lord who's been so elusive for all these years? Anything is possible. The police will no doubt be itching to have someone to place the blame on to put the public at ease.”

Kiana watched wide-eyed as he cleaned Kate’s gun with a handkerchief and placed it into her hand. He continued, “Kate’s partner over there discovered what she was up to and followed her here to confront her. But there was no way that Kate was going down, so she shot him.” He lifted Kate’s feet and pulled her closer to the table. “After she shot her own partner, the bitch took a few minutes to get high, but she got greedy and took too much, which knocked her out.” He opened a packet and sprinkled powder onto the table. “The police will come rushing in after they get a call reporting gunfire.” He stopped to grin at her, “What do you think of my little screenplay?”

She gaped at him in amazement, “My god. You’re a fucking evil genius. I want you so badly right now.”

His grin broadened. “Seriously?”

“Fuck me right here, right now, Stavros.” She rushed toward him, throwing herself into his arms. He caught her and stumbled backward, finding her lips. He kissed her voraciously, lifting her to him. Her legs wrapped around his waist. He turned them around to press her against the wall. Slipping a hand between them, he pushed her panty aside then fumbled with his zipper. “Hurry,” she pleaded, bending her head to feather kisses along his jaw.

She cried out when he pushed into her, filling her and stretching her. “I love you so fucking much, Stavros.”

He lifted his head to pin her with his eyes. There was a mixture of surprise and happiness in their depth. “I love you too, Kiana.”

Kiana smiled then let out a soft cry as he plunged into her again, “You do?”

“I’ll never love another woman, Kiana. You are mine. I will never let you go.” His pace increased, taking her to the heights of pleasure. His fingers dug into her bottom as he moved his hips forward with increasing force.

“And I’ll never let you go,” she whispered. Letting out a cry, she exploded, convulsing in his arms. He kept moving until an intense orgasm moved though him. With a roar, he spilled into her.

Their rapid and harsh breathing filled the room. Kiana’s eyes dropped to the dead agent on the floor and then to Kate’s unconscious form. “Holy shit, we just fucked with a dead man right beside us.” She laughed, “Why is that so stimulating?”

Stavros lowered her until her feet touched the floor, “Because you’re the perfect match for me.” He cupped her face. “I mean that, Kiana, I love you beyond comprehension. I will never be able to live without you. I
need
you. I’ve always created hunger in others. Cultivated it for money, for greed…but this is a greed I have never known. I
crave
you. I am greedy for everything you can give. Tell me that I have consumed you, that I have taken over you. Tell me that you will surrender to me. Because, you see, I’ve surrendered everything that I am to you. I will not take no for an answer. So don’t deny me.” There was a contradicting compound of menace and tenderness in his tone with a touch of vulnerability. She held the power in that moment, the power to hurt him, destroy him with her answer.

Kiana lifted a hand to trail her finger along his cheek. “You have all of me, Stavros. You always have. You consumed me long before I even realized. I need you too. You have become
everything
to me. When I’m with you, I don’t have to worry about falling asleep. I’m alive and I’m lost and I’m found, but I’m never far from undone in the best way. I can fall asleep, I can wake up—I can breathe like air is new to me. You have given me new life. I love you with all that I have, all that I am.”

He let out a breath. “Good, then let’s get the fuck out of here, baby.” He flashed her a boyish grin and took her hand into his.

Epilogue

The wind whipped Kiana’s hair around her face, as she admired the setting sun. She gripped the rail of Stavros’s yacht and leaned forward, closing her eyes to inhale deeply. She smiled when arms engulfed her and a hard body pressed against her back.

“What are you thinking about?” Stavros asked, planting a kiss on her neck.

“Just thinking how much my life has changed, how much
I’ve
changed.”

“And?”

“And I am loving it, Stavros. I’m not the timid, anxious insomniac anymore. I’m confident and not afraid to take risks. I’m so much happier.  It’s all thanks to you.”

“It was in you all along my love.”

She smiled, “Perhaps. When are we going back to Miami?”

“Don’t you like St. Bart’s?”

“Of course I do. But you do have patients to get back to, and your, ah, other business.”

He shrugged. “I want to wait until the heat has died down. Plus, everyone is well aware that I’m on vacation. They have survived one month without me, I’m sure they can go another.”

She giggled, “You have no sympathy for your own psychologically damaged patients? Shame on you, Dr. Kane.”

He chuckled, resting his chin on her shoulder. “As for our other business, Jeremy has everything covered for the time being.” He paused and reached for his phone. “As a matter of fact, he sent me pictures of a few potential workers. I thought you’d want to have the final say as to who gets chosen.”

She took his phone and flipped through the pictures of several women. She stopped at a picture of a woman who looked to be in her early twenties. Brown, shadowed eyes stared back at Kiana. She felt like she was staring at herself before she met Stavros. “This one. She's cute. She looks like she'll do well for what we have planned.”

“Jeremy hired her to work in the club. We’ll begin our work on her when we get back.” He took the phone and slipped it back into his pocket. “You know, you aren't the only one who has changed.”

“Is that so?”

“Mhmm. I am no longer addicted to making money. I have a new addiction.”

“What’s that?”

“I have her right here in my arms,” he expressed. “I'm still wondering when you're going to make an honest man out of me.”

She giggled, “
You
, honest? Yeah right.” She craned her neck to look at him. “You really want to get married?”

“I already consider you my wife, my love.”

She twisted in his arms to kiss him with fervor. Pulling back, she breathed, “Let’s do it then. Let’s get married.”

He grinned broadly. “Have I told you today that I love you?”

Kiana nodded. “Several times, but I want you to show me, over and over.”

His eyes gleaned with lust. “I will start right here. Turn around, baby. I’m going to fuck you like my life depends on it.”

With a shudder of anticipation, she spun around and braced her hands on the rail. His hands slid beneath her short skirt, caressing their way up her thighs, toward her mound. She closed her eyes, reveling in his touch. “I love you, Stavros,” she whispered.

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Her Godfather
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Her Godfather

Chapter 1

Joel Longwood sat in silence as he listened to the police officer recount the details of the accident that had taken the lives of two of his best friends. Gerald and Rowena had been on their way home from a corporate party when a drunk driver had crossed the line and hit them head on. Both had been wearing their seatbelts, but the impact was so severe that it nearly cut Gerald in two. Rowena suffered a broken neck and both victims were trapped in the car. It took the local rescue squad more than two hours to cut their crushed, lifeless bodies out of the wreckage.

Joel had known Gerald and Rowena Fallon for many years, and their death was upsetting for more than one reason. Rhonda had come along later in life, and the couple had no other family to speak of. When Rhonda was born they begged Joel to agree to be her godfather. The request had taken Joel by surprise, because Rowena knew about his dark side and his desire for dominant sexual experiences. The two of them had spent many hours of pleasure together before Gerald came along and swept Rowena off her feet. Under different circumstances, Joel would have resented Gerald, but Joel hadn’t been ready to settle down just then, and despite how beautiful Rowena was, he knew that she deserved a man who would love her and give her a happy life.

Joel had been gone for the past ten years, only recently returning to settle down in the mansion he had inherited from his parents. He had spent his time away traveling the world, getting to know as many different cultures as he could. One country in particular had held his attention; the women there had taught him the art of sexual bondage. They knew how to inflict pain, but also pleasure at the same time. He had learned a lot from these women, unfortunately the women who usually tried to attract his attention had no idea how to please a man like him.

Joel knew that Rhonda was nineteen, but he also knew that she had led a very sheltered life. She had grown into a pretty woman, looking very much like her mother, but he seriously doubted that she had any experience at pleasing men. That was something he could take care of, and soon. If she was half the woman her mother had been she would quickly learn how to satisfy his dark lusts, and she would grow to enjoy them as much as he did.

Joel saw the officer to the door and promised that he would help Rhonda with the final arrangements, which wouldn’t be a problem really as the Fallons had plenty of money. Joel himself was filthy rich and did not care about the money, so he would see to it that his friends were laid to rest nicely. That was the least he could do for the only two people in the world that had ever shown him acceptance and compassion.

____
 

The following morning Joel dressed and drove to the Fallon estate. Rhonda was going to need his help and he might as well get it over with. He did not particularly relish the future with Rhonda living with him, but he would honor his promise.

The maid opened the door to allow Joel to step inside. She led him to the front room where Rhonda was sitting, staring out the window.

“Rhonda, please allow me to say how sorry I am for your loss. Your parents were very good friends to me, and I’m going to miss them greatly,” Joel said.

Rhonda turned and met his gaze, her eyes red from countless hours of crying.

“Thank you for your kind comments. I know my parents were fond of you, too. Now, if you will please leave me alone, I have arrangements to make,” Rhonda said.

Joel was taken aback at Rhonda’s resistance to his presence. He had not been around a lot while she was growing up, but he knew that her parents had always sheltered her from the real world. All he had ever seen in her was how timid and lonely she seemed. Her parents had homeschooled her and had not allowed her to get out a lot. She had no real friends, only the servants who had taken care of the family for over twenty years.

“I am here to help you make those arrangements. I promised your parents I would help you, and I always keep my promises,” Joel said.

“I do not want nor need your help. I am perfectly capable of doing this by myself. I don’t need your money and I don’t need your advice,” Rhonda retorted back.

Joel felt the hair on the back of his neck bristle. Rhonda was going to make this difficult, but she was now his ward and he was the one who would be issuing commands. He had not planned on coming on strong so soon, but he could see that she was not going to make things easy for him.

“Rhonda, I promised your parents I would help you, and I intend to do just that. I also promised them I would take you into my home and give you a place to live. They made me promise when you were born that I would take care of you, and as I have said, I always keep my promises. Now, we will go to the funeral home together and make the arrangements. When we are finished, we will return back here for you to get your things and take them to my place. I will instruct the servants to pack for you while we are gone,” he explained.

Rhonda had always known about Joel’s promise to take her in, but she did not have any desire to go. She was nineteen and in her mind she was perfectly capable of living here alone with the servants who she considered her friends. She gave Joel a scathing look before grabbing her coat. Right now she was too devastated to argue with him, but they were going to have a talk about where she was going to live. Right now she had to get through the next few days. She had a funeral to plan, visitation to be scheduled, and the family attorney had already told her that the will would be read on Friday.

Rhonda had chosen Greenfield Funeral Home to handle the arrangements. It was the largest funeral home in the area and should be big enough to accommodate all of the corporate guests that were sure to attend. Joel had stood quietly by her side as she made her selections, not offering any suggestions. She had to admit that it was somewhat of a comfort to have him there with her, even if she did not entirely trust him. She had been numb ever since finding out the details of her parents’ deaths. She could not possibly picture her life without them. They had always been there for her, providing her with a quiet life of luxury.

Joel watched as Rhonda made her choices, and strangely enough, he agreed with them. She was so much like her mother. She carried herself with poise, but there was the hint of something seductive lurking just beneath her calm demeanor. He knew that a fight was coming, but for now he allowed her the space to make her choices. Once she finalized the arrangements, he walked her to his car and headed back in the direction of her parents’ estate.

“Joel, I know that you promised my parents you would take me into your home, but that really is not necessary. I am not a kid anymore. I am over eighteen, a capable adult on my own, and the servants are quite familiar with my lifestyle. There is no reason for me not to stay at home instead of moving to your place,” Rhonda pleaded.

“I know this is very difficult for you Rhonda. It is hard for me too. But I promised your parents you would live with me and I’m afraid there is little you can do about it.”

Rhonda sat in silence, too tired and heartbroken to argue with him. Maybe when the will was read she would have a way to get out of the arrangement her parents had chosen for her. Until then she was just too tired to care. All she wanted to do was close her eyes and sleep. Hopefully when she woke up she would find this had all been some sort of nightmare.