Dark Choices: The Quandary (The Children Of The Gods Paranormal Romance Series Book 41)

by I. T. Lucas

  “She was, but it took a really long time and a lot of effort on her part.”

  “What did she tell you?”

  “She said that I’m a complicated lady, and that my immunity might stem from the thick protective walls I erected around my heart and mind. That could be true, but I think that the walls are in addition to my natural immunity. Edna said that she didn’t sense any malicious intent, but because I was so guarded, she couldn’t vouch for me a hundred percent.”

  “Interesting.” Kalugal ran a hand over his jaw. “It appears that the Alien Probe has limitations and that it’s possible to hide things from her.”

  Jacki nodded. “If Wendy did it, and she is only a nineteen-year-old kid, then it’s not that hard to do.”

  Rufsur chuckled. “Spoken by the ancient twenty-two-year-old.”

  “A three-year difference is a lot at this age. I’m a woman, while she is still a kid.”

  Rufsur rubbed the back of his neck. “I wonder how old Edna is.”

  “She is not a young immortal,” Kalugal said. “Given her position in the clan, she’s been around for several centuries.”

  “A well-seasoned woman.” Rufsur grinned. “That makes her even more interesting.” He headed toward the door. “I’m going to ask Jay for her phone number.”

  “Seriously?” Jacki asked.

  “Why not?”

  She shook her head. “You have guts, I’ll give you that.”

  Rufsur shrugged and opened the door. He wasn’t an old immortal, but he wasn’t young either, and he was way past the days of hesitating before approaching a woman.

  The worst that could happen was that Edna would say no, but he had a feeling that she wouldn’t. He’d caught the few covert glances she’d snuck his way, and not all of them had been hostile.

  “Going for a walk?” Jay asked.

  “No, I came out to talk to you. Any chance you can give me Edna’s phone number?”

  “Why do you need it?”

  Rufsur smiled. “I would like to pay the lady a visit. Maybe invite her for a walk, or a cup of coffee at the café.”

  “I don’t know if I should.” Jay glanced at Theo, who shook his head. “I’ll tell you what I can do. I can text Edna and ask if you can come over. If she agrees, which I doubt, I will have to get another Guardian to accompany you.”

  “No problem. As long as he keeps his distance, though. I don’t need a third wheel on my date with the lovely judge.”

  Theo shook his head again. “You must love challenges, buddy. Edna? Seriously?”

  “What's wrong with her? She’s a fine lady.”

  “I didn’t say she wasn’t. But even I’m scared of her, and I’m a member of her clan. She is the Alien Probe.”

  “She can probe me to her heart’s content.” Rufsur put a hand over his heart. “With me, what you see is what you get.”

  “I doubt that. I think you are a glutton for punishment. I’ve seen the looks you’ve gotten from the clan’s single ladies. You could’ve chosen any of them and would have gotten an invitation, no questions asked. But you chose the one who showed absolutely no interest in you.”

  “I’ll be damned.” Jay looked up from his phone. “Edna says that you can come over in an hour.”

  “Awesome. I’m going to grab a shower. Can I get flowers anywhere in this village?”

  Theo laughed. “Not unless you want to raid someone’s garden. And given who you intend them for, that’s not a good idea.”

  22

  Edna

  Edna put her phone down and leaned back in the bathtub.

  What had she just agreed to?

  An adventure, whispered the annoyingly cheerful voice in the back of her head.

  She hadn’t heard that voice in hundreds of years. It had belonged to a young girl who had died along with the love of her life and was sharing his grave in the highlands of Scotland.

  Except, it seemed like Rufsur had resurrected her, along with teenage excitement and tingling anticipation and all the other nonsense that Edna had left behind.

  It was the bubble bath’s fault. She’d been relaxed, and her guard was down. That’s why she’d agreed for him to come.

  Well, that and Jay mentioning that Rufsur was willing to undergo her probe. His boss had refused, but as Kalugal’s second-in-command, Rufsur should be privy to his boss’s secrets.

  She was doing it for the clan.

  Liar.

  Since when had she started lying to herself?

  Admit the truth, Edna. For the first time in over three hundred years, a man has stirred something inside you, and it scares the shit out of you.

  Perhaps she should just have sex with the guy and get him out of her system. He was an attractive male, and she’d never experienced an immortal’s venom bite and everything that followed.

  She was curious.

  That summed it all up.

  There was no mystical connection between them, and Rufsur wasn’t Robbie’s reincarnation. He just happened to look a little like him.

  It was all physical.

  She had a type, and Rufsur was it, but they had nothing in common.

  Damn, just thinking about that cocky smile of his and those dimples made her tingle all over. He would be an amazing lover, she just knew it.

  But maybe that wasn’t what he was interested in? Perhaps he wanted to pump her for information, or just get in her good graces for his boss’s sake?

  It made much more sense than a sexy guy like him showing interest in her. Especially given the attention he’d been getting from so many of the clan’s single ladies.

  Damn. The mere thought of one of them snatching Rufsur from her had Edna’s pulse quicken.

  She should get out and check her closet for something decent to wear.

  Except, she knew what she would find there.

  Twelve identical work suits in different shades of gray, dark green, and brown, and about the same number of button-down shirts in white, cream, and gray. As for her lounging attire, she owned several sweat and yoga pants, hoodies in soft pastel colors, and some T-shirts. That was about it. She had one evening gown that she’d worn to Syssi and Kian’s wedding as well as all the other weddings that had followed, but even if the gown was an option, it wasn’t a flattering dress.

  Nothing she owned was attractive, and for some absurd reason, Edna wanted to put on something that didn’t make her look like a grandmother or a judge.

  The best she came up with was a pair of yoga pants paired with a T-shirt. The pants were stretchy and showed off her shapely legs. The shirt, although two sizes too large, draped nicely over her breasts, not accentuating them, but not hiding them either.

  Shoes were an even bigger problem. Her only choices were the matronly ones she wore to work or the fuzzy slippers she wore at home. She didn’t even own a pair of sports shoes because her exercise routine was doing a little yoga in front of the television at home.

  Ugh, she would have to entertain Rufsur barefoot.

  Out of habit, Edna gathered her shoulder-length hair, twisted it into a tight bun, and pinned it in place. Perhaps she could release it from the bun and wear it in a ponytail?

  Instead, she pulled out a few strands to soften the look.

  The woman in the mirror didn’t look ready for romance. She looked ready for a quiet evening at home, curled up on the couch with a good book and a glass of wine.

  Which was basically what Edna did every night.

  When the knock sounded at her door, she took a deep breath, tucked away one of the strands of hair she’d just pulled out, and went to open it.

  “Good evening, Edna,” Rufsur grinned.

  “Good evening.” She smiled up at him.

  Edna wasn’t a petite woman, but she wasn’t tall either, and with no shoes on, the top of her head barely reached his shoulder.

  “I wanted to bring you flowers, but no one sells them in your village, and Theo advised against raiding people’s gardens.”

  S
tifling a chuckle, she opened the door wider and motioned for him to come in. “This is not a date, Rufsur.”

  Given that he was freshly showered, dressed in an elegant button-down and a pair of black jeans, and had cologne on, he definitely thought that it was. Perhaps it would turn out to be, but even though he looked good enough to lick all over, she still wasn’t sure that she was up to it.

  It had been so long since she’d been with a man that Edna wasn’t sure she remembered what to do.

  Rufsur sat on her couch and leaned back as if he owned the place. “It could be if you let it.”

  23

  Rufsur

  As Rufsur had suspected, Edna had been hiding a shapely body under her misshapen clothes.

  The stretchy pants she was wearing showed off her long legs and pert ass, and the T-shirt, although big and loose, revealed a pair of perky breasts that were just the right size.

  “Why did you want to see me?” She sat on an armchair across from him.

  He leaned forward. “You intrigue me.”

  “In what way?”

  Rufsur hesitated.

  Usually he was a smooth operator, saying all the right things that he knew women liked hearing, but he had a feeling that tactic wasn’t going to work on Edna. Complete frankness was the only way to go with her even if it meant a longer and bumpier seduction.

  “Your smart, sad eyes. I want to know what makes you so sad and what can I do to make you happy.”

  Edna seemed taken aback. Crossing her legs, she threaded the fingers of one hand through the other and braced them on her knee. “You must be the only male on the planet who is attracted to melancholy. Either that or you have a savior syndrome.” She smiled. “I might not be the cheerful sort, but I assure you that I’m not a damsel in distress either.”

  “I know that. You are a smart and powerful woman, and surprisingly, I find that very attractive.”

  She arched a brow. “Surprisingly?”

  It hadn’t been the smoothest thing to say, but now that Rufsur had decided to take a gamble on frankness, it felt really good to just say exactly what was on his mind and not filter it through what he believed Edna wanted to hear.

  “Yes, surprisingly. For years, Kalugal tried to convince me that the smarter the woman, the more sexually adventurous she was, and that I was missing out on the best because I was going for looks rather than brains.”

  Edna smiled. “I see. So, you decided to take his advice and sample a brainy woman who wasn’t all that physically attractive?”

  Damn. That was the problem with speaking his mind. He wasn’t as eloquent as Kalugal, and he was definitely outclassed by Edna.

  He smoothed his hand over his short beard. “That didn’t come out right. I find you very attractive. Perhaps the reason I never went for smart women is that I’m a simple man. I don’t have Kalugal’s smooth tongue.” He waved a hand in her direction. “I would like to say that you have killer legs and an ass that I’m salivating to put my hands on, but that would sound crude to a sophisticated woman like you.”

  Edna burst out laughing, which was precisely what Rufsur had claimed he’d wanted, but really didn’t. She must think he was a dumb jock who was unworthy of kissing the soles of her grandmotherly shoes.

  “I’m sorry, Rufsur.” She put a hand over her chest. “I’m not laughing at you. It’s just that it has been so long since anyone talked to me like that. It was refreshing.”

  “So you’re not offended?”

  “Not at all. I really appreciate your candor, which is very refreshing as well. As a lawyer and a judge, I deal with too many lies.”

  He smirked. “In that case, I should also tell you that your breasts are pure perfection, and if not for your mesmerizing eyes, I would have had a real hard time not staring at them.”

  A slight blush painted Edna’s pale cheeks pink, making her look years younger. “Most people are unnerved by my eyes.”

  “I’m not. I’m fascinated by them. There is so much wisdom and pain in them, and I’m eager to discover the life stories that created that intense gaze.”

  A smile lifted the corners of her lips, softening her expression. “And you claim to lack eloquence. That was a very nice thing to say. But if you want to learn my secrets, you have to tell me yours first.”

  He waved a hand. “By all means. What would you like to know?”

  “First, I would like to probe you. I’m a careful woman, and before I allow you to get any closer, I need to ascertain your intentions for me, and for my clan.”

  Rufsur spread his arms wide. “I’m an open book. You’re welcome to probe and touch and feel and do whatever else you wish with me.”

  She tilted her head. “You must be a very trusting man.”

  “I’m the opposite of that. I was opposed to Kalugal coming here with only me and Hivak for protection. I would have preferred for Jacki to come here alone, get the medical help she needed, and then return home. Naturally, Kalugal couldn’t do that, so I had no choice but to agree. I trust Kian’s good intentions, but I don’t trust the good intentions of his clansmen. In fact, I’m sure many of them would like to see us gone as soon as possible and never come back.”

  “So why did you agree to my probe?”

  “Because I’m a good judge of character, and I trust you. You are a good woman, Edna. You’ve been through some shit that left scars on your soul and made you super cautious and uncompromising. But you would never harm anyone for no reason.”

  “You are much smarter than you pretend to be.”

  He shrugged. “I don’t pretend anything. With me, what you see is what you get.”

  24

  Edna

  As a person, Rufsur was very different than Robbie, which was a good thing. Edna would have felt weird if the similarities extended beyond the superficial physical resemblance.

  Robbie had been nineteen when they’d met, a boy by today's standards, but back then, he’d been considered a man and was already a seasoned warrior.

  Rufsur was much older, and although he retained his boyish charm, he was a mature man with extensive life experience.

  The best thing about him, though, was his candor.

  She had a feeling that usually he wasn’t as forthcoming, and that he’d chosen to be frank with her because he’d realized that it was the best approach.

  Very astute of a man who barely knew her.

  Which made him doubly dangerous.

  Edna couldn’t remember the last time anyone spoke to her without passing their words through a filter. Even Kian, who had a tendency to pepper his speech with expletives, was careful not to use them around her.

  She was the judge, but the respect due to her position extended beyond the bench. She was the judge whether she was presiding over a trial or taking an afternoon walk in the village.

  Rufsur was the first man in a very long time to see her as a woman.

  A desirable female.

  If not for the slight scent of his arousal, she would have thought that he was just pretending, and the real reason for his visit was information gathering.

  The same was true for her. She could pretend to be unaffected by this charming and sexy male sitting in her living room, but he would know it was a lie.

  Besides, why pretend?

  If Rufsur’s intentions were pure, and by that she meant no scheming against the clan, then she had no problem inviting him into her bed. But Edna wasn’t naive enough to think that anything other than sex would come out of it.

  Hopefully, very good sex.

  Supposedly, an immortal lover was incomparable, and this was her chance to experience it firsthand.

  Except, Edna had never been comfortable with one-night stands, or hookups as they were called nowadays, and they usually left a bad taste in her mouth. So much so that she preferred to abstain.

  Her first lover had also been the love of her life, and after experiencing a connection so deep and magical, Edna preferred to go without rather than force he
rself to pursue the occasional meaningless sexual encounter.

  Nothing could ever compare to what she’d lost so long ago.

  Perhaps probing Rufsur would bring her closer to him and make the experience more meaningful. At least he wouldn’t be a total stranger. But the risk of that was getting too close, and then suffering the consequences.

  What if she developed feelings for him?

  He was Kalugal’s second-in-command, and she was the clan’s judge and lawmaker. Neither of them could or would leave their camp and cross over to the other. A relationship was not in the cards.

  “Are you still thinking it over?” Rufsur asked.

  “What? No. I’m sorry that I spaced out on you like that. Let’s do it.” She moved to sit next to him on the couch.

  “Penny for your thoughts?”

  Edna smiled. “Yours first.” She looked down at his hands.

  He had long, elegant fingers, and she couldn’t help the erotic images they evoked.

  “A quarter?”

  She looked up. “What?”

  “For your thoughts.”

  Smiling, she shook her head. “Give me your hands.”

  “With pleasure.”

  Taking a deep breath, she readied for her first touch of him and clasped them.

  As they both let out a sigh, she wondered whether it was for the same reason.

  “What do you feel?” she asked.

  “I feel like I’ve been craving your touch my entire life. It’s such a relief to finally connect. Do you feel the same thing?”

  She wasn’t going to admit what his touch was doing to her. She’d expected the arousal, but not the strange need to hold on and never let go.

  Was it because he was an immortal?

  She’d probed many other immortal males, but most were clan members. The only ones who were not related to her had been Lokan, Dalhu, and Robert, and she hadn’t felt anything sexual or emotional toward them. Maybe because they’d been taken?

  That was probably it. Rufsur was the first immortal male she’d ever touched who was a possible sex partner. No wonder she was flooded by all those strange feelings. Her body recognized a compatible male of her species and was urging her to pursue him.