Unending Desire: Outlawed Realm, Book 1 (16 page)

Her fingertips circled his nipple, then tugged at the small tip.

Nikoli smiled so quickly and so hard, his cheeks hurt, unused to the action.

Regina whispered, “Sleep.” She kissed his shoulder. “It’s still night. It’ll be dark for hours more, Nikoli.”

He glanced at the windows, the continuing rain that protected them. Past the trees, the sky showed no signs of the coming dawn.

“It’ll be dark for hours.”

He had to leave.

As if she knew, Regina huddled closer, her hand moving to his arm, her fingers buried in the dark hair in his pit, her foot sliding past his calf, anchoring it with her heel.

“Sleep.”

He couldn’t. He shouldn’t. He had to protect her and his people. His life meant nothing when compared to theirs and hers.

Regina adjusted her head. The scent of her shampoo drifted up, a floral fragrance unknown on E2, the same as color, intense light, reckless joy. Her hair flowed over his arm. Nikoli stared at her tresses, so fiery, like silken flames.

He lifted his hand to touch them. Exhaustion pulled his arm back down.

Regina didn’t stir. Her breath poured over his skin, heating it more than the fire he’d stoked a short time ago.

“Sleep. It’ll be dark for hours.”

He needed only a moment’s rest, enough time for Regina to fall asleep so she wouldn’t notice him slipping away from the confinement of her arm and leg. So she wouldn’t beg him to stay.

Nikoli’s belly twisted at the thought of looking back on her one last time, then moving forward into the day and his death.

His vision blurred with fatigue. At last, he closed his eyes, counting the seconds as they passed on his plane, not hers. He’d wait for ten minutes to slip by and then he’d free his body from Regina’s. He’d—

The thought died in his mind, refusing to return as exhaustion overcame him.

Colors dominated Nikoli’s dream. Bright reds, yellows, purples and blues flashed boldly from the other side of the portal, capturing his attention, along with Sazaar’s.

She put out her hand, her long, slender fingers stroking the sterile air on their side. Excited, she murmured, “This time, I must touch them.”

“No.” Nikoli’s hand shot out to stop her. She slipped from his grasp, crossing over, disappearing into the outlawed realm.

“Sazaar!” he shouted.

She didn’t answer. The gateway began to close.

Without stopping to think or to reason, Nikoli followed her to the other side—a large room crammed with hundreds of young men and women.

A film of bluish smoke hovered inches above them, its acrid stench stinging Nikoli’s nose. White lights swept the space, the illumination gliding over the crowd, reflecting off the females’ glittery garments. With their arms lifted, the women locked their attention on the men as they swayed their lush bodies in time to the throbbing music.

Nikoli felt its beat in his belly. He sensed Sazaar’s presence.

Peering through the crowd, he saw a series of dark sofas against one of the plum-colored walls. On each, males and females indulged their carnal hunger, their mouths and fingers travelling over each other’s bodies.

One young man with curly brown hair slipped his hand beneath a woman’s sparkling red top, releasing her ample breast. Her nipple was dusky and large. He took it into his mouth. Her lips, painted black, widened in a grin.

Next to them, another young woman had pushed to her feet, tottering slightly on her gold high heels. Facing the sofa, her back to the man with her, she lifted her short gold gown to her waist, exposing her naked ass. One of the white lights swept over her plump cheeks, revealing them to the crowd. The young woman glanced over her shoulder, her smile feral. Leaning down to the arm of the sofa, she spread her legs, displaying her vulnerable cunt, inviting the man to fill her.

Throwing back his head, he drove his hard cock into her channel. The white light bathed him in its glow, revealing his depraved expression and the act. For all to see, he plunged into the young woman, bringing her to climax, forestalling his own. With his cock slick from her juicy cunt, he penetrated her anus.

Her mouth opened on what seemed to be an ecstatic moan, drowned out by the music, conversation, laughter.

Blood pounded in Nikoli’s ears. Dizzy, he blinked rapidly, trying to maintain control.

Someone from behind bumped into him.

Looking over, he saw a young woman with blue eyes and black hair cut short like the men’s.

Brows arched, she shouted, “Sorry.” Smiling, she asked, “Wanna dance?”

Her teeth were straight and white, the incisors normal, not yet fangs. Nikoli glanced past her at the flash of blonde hair in his peripheral vision. Focused on it, he couldn’t move or think.

In what seemed like slow motion, Sazaar turned away from the man she’d been speaking with, her attention slipping past dozens of writhing bodies, at last reaching him.

After a shock of recognition, she smiled.

She wore the expression of a predator.

Nikoli locked his knees, forcing himself not to retreat. He met her stare, knowing he couldn’t show fear. Advancing through the crowd at startling speed, she reached his side within seconds, touching his hand.

His pulse jumped at her clammy flesh, his body wanting to recoil from it. Standing his ground, knowing what he had to do, he remained.

Her smile faltered even as her brows drew together in caution. Although she shouted above the noise, her pitch was barely loud enough for him to hear. “Why have you come, Nikoli?”

He kept his hand at his side, his fingertips touching the stake hidden in his clothing. “I wanted to see you again.”

Sazaar’s expression didn’t change. She stared as though trying to read his thoughts. “Why?”

“To see if you were all right.”

She searched his face. White lights swept past. The music grew frenzied. Around them, men and women had stopped dancing. Mouths touched. Hands explored. Geometric designs in vivid colors pulsed from the screens on the walls.

Sazaar continued to regard him. At last, her features relaxed, revealing a bit of the woman she’d once been, gentle and kind. “You were worried about me, Nikoli?” Longing rang in her words. “You cared?”

“You’re my mate, Sazaar.”

She studied him, disappointment, then anger crossing her face. “Honor brought you here?”

Realizing his mistake, he lied, “You did.” He jerked away at another woman bumping into him. Turning back to Sazaar, he asked, “Is there a place where we can speak?”

Her gaze slid from the woman to him. “In the alley.”

Damp air whisked through the narrow space cluttered with debris, a mound of trash shoved against one wall. Above it, stained papers clung to the brick façade. A lone cat, the color of midnight, clawed at the garbage, scratching in time with the muted music pumping from inside.

Despite the chill and her gauzy crimson dress, Sazaar didn’t seem to notice the cold. “Have you come to join us, Nikoli?” She spoke without guile, the predator contained for the moment. “Or have you arrived to destroy me?”

Hand in his pocket, his fingers gripped the stake. He told himself to lie to her, to buy time until he could bring himself to drive the weapon through her heart.

Sudden sorrow swept across her face. “Tell me you care,” she pleaded. “Say you love me. That’s all I ask, Nikoli. That’s all I want…someone to love me. It’s why I crossed over.”

His shoulders and chest ached. He held the stake so tightly, his knuckles hurt. “Does Andris love you, Sazaar?” He sounded as haunted as she did. “Has he given you what you sought?”

Her mouth trembled. Tears brimmed in her eyes.

Never had Nikoli seen his mate appear so lost and vulnerable. It was the moment he’d sought to take her down.

He couldn’t move.

“Do it,” she snapped, her expression turning hard. “Destroy me. I have nothing left.”

He couldn’t pull the stake from his pocket.

Sazaar’s lips curled up in disdain. “How honorable you are, Nikoli. How cautious. How careful. But not careful enough.” Mouth opened, incisors elongating, she lunged at him.

Nikoli’s arm shot up, blocking her.

Giving him a deadly smile, Sazaar sank her fangs into his wrist. Instantaneous pain ripped through his body, burning his flesh, then freezing it. On an agonized bellow, he slammed her against the brick wall, freeing himself.

Staggering back, Nikoli stared at his blood on her lower lip, a drop falling on the swell of her breast.

She caught it with her finger, bringing the tip to her mouth, licking it clean. Facing him, Sazaar spoke to Nikoli with her mind.

“Join us,”
she said, her words whispery like the breeze, tempting, intoxicating.
“Be with me forever.”

No. Pulse racing, Nikoli forced himself to step back.

Effortlessly, Sazaar followed, her feet not touching the ground.
“You want Regina,”
her mind accused.

Yes.

“Would you leave her, then? She’s one of us, you know.”
Sazaar gestured to the side.

Nikoli stared at what he’d thought was a mound of trash. His mouth opened on a scream as it moved, showing him a flash of red—Regina’s hair. Puncture wounds scarred her pale throat. A fathomless horror filled her face.

“She’s mine now,”
Sazaar’s thoughts whispered.
“She’s lost to you forever.”

No!

Jerking awake, Nikoli pushed to a sitting position, his body bathed in sweat, his chest pumping with his ragged gasps. He fought to breathe, his heart catching at what he just noticed. Regina’s arm and leg no longer touched him.

Nikoli stared at the space to his side, occupied only by his topcoat, the afghan and rug.

Where is she
?

He turned to the windows. On the horizon, a sliver of light bled through the heavy clouds, announcing dawn. In here, the fire had died. His clothes and the device were missing.

What had Regina done? How could he have allowed himself to sleep so long?

Cursing himself, Nikoli pushed to his feet, ready to scream her name when he noticed the scent of food cooking. He padded in its direction and glanced down the hall, seeing a pool of yellow light spilling past a doorway.

Nikoli stopped short of entering the room that Regina’s people called a kitchen.

Furnished with dark wood cabinets and skylights over the food preparation area, the expansive space smelled of whatever sizzled in a pan and baked in the oven.

She stood at the counter made of a dark, highly polished stone. Wearing only his sweater, her legs and feet bare, she watched what he knew to be a TV on the counter. A map of the Seattle area filled the screen, along with numbers. The sound was so low, Nikoli couldn’t hear what the weather announcer said, but he read the words.

Today the rain would end. Tonight, the sky would be clear. Ideal conditions for Sazaar and the others.

Misery tightened Regina’s features. Her hand went to her throat.

Snatches of Nikoli’s dream returned. The damp wind. A dark alley. Papers clinging to a wall. A mound of trash. Puncture wounds on her neck. Her face sick with terror.

A sound of animal pain welled in him. Only a rough sigh escaped.

Hearing it, Regina turned. They moved as one, meeting halfway across the room, their caress fierce and desperate. She lavished him with kisses on his temple, chin, the side of his neck, his shoulder, reminding him of the wonder of last night and their inevitable farewell this morning.

Nikoli tightened his arms around Regina, not yet willing to let her go. With his hand on the back of her head, he drove his fingers through her tangled hair, tilted her face and directed her lips to his. Regina moaned, her body sagging against his. The sound, her softness and heat brought back Sazaar’s words in his dream.

“Say you love me. That’s all I ask.”

His mate had given her soul—she’d damned herself to a brutal eternity so that she might know feelings denied them on E2.

What Nikoli experienced now—indescribable warmth, excitement, contentment. Emotions that didn’t matter, not with Regina’s life at risk. Cursing himself for his continuing weakness, Nikoli tore his mouth free of hers, gulped air and eased back.

She followed, wrapping her arms around him, her cheek pressed to his biceps. “I won’t let you go.”

“You have to. We have no—”

“There’s always a choice,” she argued. “I’m not going to let you die for me or anyone else.”

Nikoli ran his hand down her back, touching the soft fabric of his sweater, missing the feel of her skin. Pushing his longing aside, he repeated, “We have no choice. Tell me where you put my clothes.”

“No.”

“There are more upstairs, Regina. All I have to do is take them.”

With a moan of frustration, she tightened her hold on him and spoke quickly. “You have to listen to me. We can trick them, Nikoli. There’s no need for you to go to their lair alone. I’ve been thinking about this for hours. It will work. We can lure them to my house, and once they arrive, we can —”

“No! I won’t allow it.”

“You can’t keep me from doing this,” she countered, shouting as he had. “Sazaar’s not only looking for you; she’s looking for me.”

“She won’t be looking for anyone once I destroy her.”

“And what if you can’t? What if you fail? What happens if their protectors kill you first and you leave me here alone to face what the night will surely bring? Can you guarantee you’ll succeed? Can you promise that?”

Each question, every word, shattered his conviction, delivering doubt, then fear. If he failed, Sazaar would hunt Regina. If not her, then Andris so he could feed on her, draining her to the point where he’d enslave her forever.

Nikoli tightened his fingers into fists, a wave of exasperation and anguish grinding through him. Even so, he tried to pull away from Regina, to continue with his plan, the only one he had.

She held tight. Her manner, so unnerved a moment ago, was stronger now, resolute. “We can go to my house.”

“No.”

“Once we’re there, we’ll wait for Sazaar and the others. Without the rain, she’ll smell us, she’ll find us.”