Fighting Evil

by Mary Abshire

  "How much training do you have left?"

  I glanced up at the calendar hanging on my cubicle wall. My eyes enlarged when I realized the travel date was drawing near. Between work and training, the time had flown by fast. "I have two days left. We leave Friday night."

  He sat on the edge of my desk. "Will you be ready?"

  "As ready as I can be." I glanced over my shoulder to see how close my co-workers were. My neighbor was away from his desk and everyone else was either talking or busy typing. "I'm learning how to fire a gun and fight with a knife."

  "Do you feel comfortable doing those things?" he asked in a near whisper.

  "It doesn't bother me too much. I wish I had more time to practice. Right now, I only get a few hours of shooting time since we have to travel to a secluded park and daylight ends before nine-thirty. But I'm making some progress."

  "Where did he get a gun?"

  I let out a sigh. "He brought it from his home in Chicago." I disliked that Jeremy carried a gun into my apartment, but at the same time, I needed to learn how to handle one.

  "Be careful, Jessie," Mark said.

  "I am. Believe me, I am." I picked up my mug and sipped on my coffee.

  Mark's gaze drifted behind me. "Dani's coming."

  "Hey, guys." She stopped in front of Mark. A cheerful smile brightened her face. "What's going on?"

  "Not much." I set my coffee down and the glass clinked on the desk.

  Dani's gaze fell on me. "Feeling any better yet?"

  I shrugged. "The same." The four aspirin I'd taken before work just weren't helping. I guessed it was because of my metabolism.

  "You know what you should do? For starters, kick Jeremy out of your bed and make him sleep on the sofa," she said.

  Mark's brows rose and his eyes became big. "Why is he sleeping in your bed?"

  I shook my head. Dani's carefree attitude about blabbing details of my personal life to others really agitated me. Some things never change.

  "I made a small deal with him for a few hours away from training. The jerk wanted to sleep in my bed, so I agreed to the deal. He never specified I had to sleep with him."

  "Ah," Mark said with a smile. "Clever bargaining."

  "Yeah, well,"—Dani crossed her arms—"I think it's wrong for a man to take over your bed and force you to sleep on the sofa."

  "He's a demon. We made a deal. What do you expect?"

  "Courtesy, compassion—"

  I chuckled and Mark grinned. "Dani, don't hold your breath. Did I mention what he was?"

  She shook her head and frowned. "If all demons are like him, it's no wonder we live in a fucked up world."

  "I can't argue with that one," Mark said.

  "Have you heard from Drake?" Dani asked.

  The amusement on my face quickly vanished. I looked down. "No." Hearing his name stirred up my emotions and nearly brought tears to my eyes.

  Mark put his hand on my shoulder. A zing of electricity crawled down my arm and back from the warlock's touch. "If he truly loves you, give him time. He will come back."

  I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded. I hoped he was right.

  The test Jeremy conducted by sharing his power had strained my relationship with Drake. Clear to me, he struggled with our situation—the time apart from each other, me having to spend every minute with Jeremy, and pretending we weren't lovers. Perhaps our separation was his way of coping.

  Mark slid his hand away. "I better get back to work."

  My cell started vibrating on my desk. I picked it up, and my eyes grew wide with excitement when I saw the name of the caller.

  Heart thumping fast, I rose and pressed the phone to my ear. "Hello?"

  "Meet me on the sixth floor of the parking garage across the street," Drake said, his voice strict and demanding. "I'll be waiting in the back."

  "Okay," I said, but the connection had already ended. My hand shook as I lowered the phone.

  "Who was it?" Dani asked.

  "Drake. He wants to meet me across the street on the sixth floor of the garage."

  Dani and Mark exchanged questionable glances.

  Mark shifted his gaze to me. "Are you going?"

  I shoved the phone into the front pocket of my skirt. "Yes."

  "Do you think you will be safe?" Dani asked, apprehension lacing her tone. "Maybe one of us should go with you."

  "No." I pushed my chair under my desk. "I'll be fine."

  I glanced at both of them. Their non-humorous expressions made it clear they lacked the same confidence I did.

  "Really, I'll be fine."

  "He could be distraught," Mark said. "You should be extra careful."

  "If you're not back in twenty minutes, I'm coming to find you," Dani said.

  My heart raced, wanting to get to Drake fast. I stepped around Dani. "Give me an hour."

  "An hour?" Her voice rose.

  "Not a minute longer," Mark said.

  I grinned at the warlock and waved as I headed for the exit at the front of the office. In truth, if Drake wanted to harm me, it would only take him a few short minutes. But I doubted he would hurt me.

  I hit the button for the elevator and turned to the window. Rain poured down in big drops from the dark sky. Although the trip across the street was short, I was still going to get drenched. As I stared outside at the murky setting, I realized the cloud coverage gave Drake the chance to come out in the daytime hours without fear of the sun. He could tolerate some exposure, but he avoided the sun's rays as much as possible.

  The elevator arrived quickly. After a short ride to the first floor, I exited and strode to the lobby. Without stopping, I shoved the main doors open and ran outside. Large raindrops pounded me. I glanced in each direction as I crossed the street post haste. A large puddle separated me from the curb. I had no way to avoid it unless I walked twenty feet down the road and I wasn't about to waste time. I splashed into the pool and soaked my feet.

  By the time I'd reached the wide sidewalk, I felt as if I'd taken a shower. I dashed inside the stairwell for the garage and shook my arms. The small waiting area was dry, but reeked of damp, cold metal. Holding my breath, I punched the elevator button. Every part of my body was sopping wet. It would take at least an hour to dry—an hour I didn't have. I was going to look a mess in front of Drake.

  The ride up arrived and I hurried inside. Anxiety set me on edge as I waited to reach the sixth floor. I suspected Drake was still mad. His tone on the phone was harsh and he'd left Saturday night in a big hurry. He had also ignored my voicemail and text messages over the last several days. I wondered if he would be able to forgive me for what had happened. I hoped he would. After the doors parted, I strode from the elevator.

  I passed through the stairwell, then entered the garage. It was quiet except for the patter of rain and not a soul was in sight. Parked cars lined both sides of the parking level. I rounded the first vehicle and the light above automatically lit. Turning my head in all directions, I searched for Drake. A cool chill slithered down my spine and brushed over my skin like a soft breeze. I couldn't see the vampire, but the small and gentle signals alerted me to his presence. I'd missed them over the last few days. I missed many things about him.

  I walked along the right side, staying near the vehicles, as I surveyed the area for Drake or his vehicle. His dark SUV with the tinted windows was easy to spot. When I drew closer to the back of the garage, I slowed. He had to be around somewhere. The hairs on my neck tickling me said so.

  Each passing second, my heart walloped, fueled by a touch of fear. What if Drake had enough of me, of Jeremy, of…everything? Had I pushed him to his limit?

  Passing a long truck, I thought I saw a slight movement from the corner of my eyes, but I kept walking. Catching me by surprise, a cool hand covered my mouth. Someone grabbed me from behind, lifted me off the ground, then carried me with ease to a darkened area along the side of the truck. I would have screamed, but I knew who my captor was.

  Kee
ping his hand tight over my mouth, he set me on the ground. He tilted my head back, stretching my neck. Two razor sharp teeth sank deep into me. Needlelike pain shot straight down my chest. Unable to move, I let out a garbled scream.

  He sucked with vigor, drawing blood from the delicate artery in my throat. After a quick swallow, he drove his canines deeper. Fear rushed through me and accelerated my beating heart. I didn't understand why he was feeding from me, but maybe he had to. Maybe he'd been so distraught he'd starved himself. Dear lord, what had I done to him? Had I pushed him over his limit? The blood in my veins burned as it rushed to meet his demand. I started to wonder if this was the end of my days. Would he drain me and leave me for dead?

  I closed my eyes as tears flooded them. I'd broken his trust, abused his love, and hurt him—all because of some stupid kiss from Jeremy. Drake's silent yet deadly message was clear.

  He kept his arm clutched around my torso, holding me to him. I relaxed my body against his. I didn't bother attempting to fight. In truth, I loved him too much to battle him. As I rested my head on his shoulder, tears streamed down my face. He bit deeper and the pain intensified. Heat rushed to my head while a sharp sting jabbed at my heart. I felt lightheaded and weightless. Then he withdrew his sharp teeth and glided his tongue over the open wounds. The agony within my body quickly lessened, but I felt weak.

  Drake pushed my back against the truck. The sudden movement left me a bit dizzy. He pressed his body to mine. Cupping my face, he gazed deep into my eyes.

  "Do you love me, Jessie?" he asked in a voice full of anguish. "After the other night when you kissed Jeremy, I have to wonder." Black eyes filled with misery and frustration stared back at me.

  More tears trickled down my cheeks. I hated myself for having hurt him and cursed Jeremy for trying to break us up.

  "I love you completely. I want you. I've always wanted you," I said, voice shaky. "My heart aches for you and only you."

  He pressed his forehead to mine, bringing our lips close enough to touch. "I cannot handle seeing you with him. I cannot continue to hide my feelings for you."

  He didn't give me a chance to respond. He drew me into a kiss full of need and desperation. The coppery taste of blood touched my tongue as he explored, teased, and caressed it with his. Enamored with the passion of his kiss, I refused to let go of him, though I struggled to breathe. My heart wept for him while my body craved him at the same time. We frantically needed each other—needed to feel, touch, taste, and devour. We needed to love and hold each other tight.

  When he recognized my toil for air, he broke off the kiss.

  "I need you," he said in a throaty growl of demand that made me wet with desire.

  He pressed the hardness of his shaft into me and rubbed it along my belly. God, he was so hard. I couldn't deny him. I wouldn't.

  "I want you in me, now, right here." I tightened my arms around him.

  His response was instant, kissing me with an uncontrollable passion while his hands glided down my chest. He fondled my breasts with the same intense desire, squeezing each one and pinching my hard nipples. Tingles of pleasure spread to the hot core between my legs. Consumed with a deep yearning to have his cool, hard erection fill me, I wedged my hands between our bodies and carefully unzipped his pants. Taking his swollen cock in my hand, I stroked him. He moaned while his tongue played with mine.

  The need for more quickly escalated. He trailed kisses along my neck, gently licking and nibbling at my flesh. More erotic tingles spread through me, intensifying the need between my legs. I caressed his hard cock tenderly and passionately, enjoying his response and imagining him thrusting inside me. Only when he slid further down did I release my hold on him.

  He dropped to his knees in front of me and skimmed his cool fingers up my thighs. "You're so warm." He lifted my skirt, then rubbed his nose against my mound. "And your arousal smells delicious."

  My body was on fire, burning and yearning for him. The delicate and teasing touch of his hands drawing near my sex magnified the feelings tenfold.

  "I need you, Drake." My plea came soft yet demanding.

  He glided his fingers farther up. He gripped the sides of my underwear, then tugged them down to my ankles. I lifted a foot and he yanked the panties free from my leg. Desire within me intensified. My skirt had slid down and he lifted it again. He kissed my pussy and my breath hitched. When he delved his tongue into my wet folds, I gasped loudly. He groped my ass while he licked me. My growing need for release escalated. His cool tongue stroked my hot core, and I thought I might have to jump his bone to get the deeper satisfaction I longed for.

  "Fill me," I said in a demanding voice. "Take me now before I lose control."

  He rose and slid several fingers inside me. He pushed them deep, stretching and preparing me. His touch increased my longing for him. I craved him so much I was ready to push him to the ground and climb on top of him. When he teased me by dragging his fingers and over my core, I almost followed through with my craving.

  "Hurry." I kissed him and tasted the salt on his lips.

  Our tongues frolicked as he withdrew his fingers completely. His cock was in my loving grasp and I steered him toward my entrance. Following my lead, he slipped his enlarged shaft between my folds. With one quick thrust, he buried himself deep inside me. I whimpered with joy and dug my nails into his back. He was so hard, so big, and oh-so-cool. I loved it. I loved him and wanted more.

  He pulled back, then he plunged into me again. The longing for release grew. He thrust, again and again—each one more urgent, more forceful, and more demanding. My body tingled as his chilling energy flowed into me. His passion grew stronger. He drove deeper, harder, faster. We moaned in rapture, my nails scraping his back as if he were my personal clawing post. Thankfully, for him, a layer of clothing separated my hands from his flesh. Otherwise, I would've drawn blood.

  Each fervent motion aimed to fulfill sent erotic thrills through me. My breathing labored, and my groans of joy grew louder. I was so close, so damned close to bursting. His rock hard cock electrified every part of me as he thrust, pounded, and strived to satisfy. When the moment of ecstasy arrived with a strong, gripping spasm, I gasped with joy.

  Drake rolled his tongue along my neck as my orgasm milked him. He nibbled at a spot and then twin points gently penetrated my skin. Within seconds, he exploded, his erection hammering the walls of my sex. The powerful throb was so erotic my own sweet pulse thrived with new vigor. Heaven couldn't have been more pleasurable.

  For several minutes, we stood there, glued together, savoring the blissful vibration as it rippled through us. His tongue glided over the tender spot on my neck before his lips brushed over mine.

  "You are mine, Jessie Garrett."

  I threaded my fingers through his soft hair and stared into his dark eyes. "I am yours and only yours."

  Our lips crashed, and we exchanged a tender kiss filled with love and devotion. Through the most difficult times, our love prevailed. But had we survived the toughest, or was it yet to come? We would soon find out.

  Chapter Ten

  I waited on the sofa while Jeremy loaded our luggage into his car. Dani sat next to me, quiet as a mouse. The flame from the candle on the coffee table flickered while a soft lilac scent filled the room. Though the setting was serene, the mood was far from it. I was drowning in anxiety. Bobbing my knee and chewing on my nails offered little relief. The time to leave for Europe had arrived and I was so nervous that I was on the edge of puking. At least I hadn't eaten much in the last twenty-four hours.

  "Will you call me after you get there?" Dani asked softly. She sat next to me, half off the sofa.

  I gazed into her fretful eyes. "I will."

  She reached out and captured me in a tight hug, as if it were the last time we would see each other. Truth was, none of us knew for certain what would happen. We hoped for the best, but knew nothing in life was ever easy.

  "I'm going to miss you," she said.

  "I'll
be back as soon as I can." I hugged her with equal strength.

  Jeremy pushed the door open and strolled in. Our eyes met and a slight grin of amusement brushed his lips.

  I released Dani. "I have to go."

  She kissed my cheek. "Be careful."

  I rose with a heavy heart and watery eyes. "I'll try my best."

  She stood and looked at Jeremy. "Watch her back."

  The grin on his face widened. "I'll watch more than her back."

  Jeremy's response was typical. I shook my head as I snatched my purse from the table. This trip was going to be challenging in many ways and the first one was between Jeremy and Drake. I hoped they didn't kill each other before the meeting.

  I headed for the door, but stopped near it. Dani had followed me. I turned to face her. "Stay out of trouble, girlfriend."

  She ran her fingers under her eyes. "Trouble is my middle name." She tried to smile.

  Jeremy tugged on my arm. "We better get going before the vampires get angry with us."

  I stepped away from Dani. The urge to cry gripped me, but I restrained myself. "Take care of yourself."

  She nodded and I left. Two lone tears traveled down each of my cheeks. We’d had our share of arguments over the last few months, but our unwavering friendship outlasted the rough times.

  Jeremy drove to the airport at a slower than normal speed, which was unusual for him. Anxiety consumed me again while I sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window like a zombie. I twitched my foot uncontrollably and gnawed on my tongue. The last two weeks had flown by so fast I found it difficult to believe I was actually about to board a plane for Europe to defend my life. The more I thought about meeting the VETOV, the more nauseous I felt.

  "Hey, are you okay?" Jeremy asked, his voice calm and soothing.

  "I guess," I lied. I shouldn't have felt so worried since Drake and Jeremy would defend me to the very end. Still, the unknown bothered me. I didn't want to die. Most certainly, I didn't want to endanger their lives.

  Jeremy reached over and rested his hand over mine. Warmth seeped into my skin. A wave spread up my arm, soothing my nerves. "It'll be fine." His calm and firm voice offered assurance.