by Lisa Kessler
And it was all because of his arm. No longer soaring, his wings—and his spirit—were clipped.
He got up and threw a pebble over the cliff, anger threatening to drown him. Muriel was dead. The only saving grace was that the water horse fed on his victims’ entire bodies. There’d be no remains. As far as Juliana and her family needed to know, Muriel ran off with a handsome man and didn’t want to be found.
Surely that was less painful than knowing she’d been drowned and consumed by and ancient aughisky.
If he remained here, he needed to get past the bitterness and restore his confidence in his ability to protect those in his care. Without it he wasn’t sure he could beat Benedict now that he was at his full strength.
He needed Juliana’s help.
Before it was too late for both of them.
The dark water embraced its son as Benedict plunged deep into the waves. He pumped his legs, agitating the water as he pushed up toward the surface until his mighty head broke through. He scanned the night sky, waiting for the Night Walker’s aerial attack.
He had no idea if a Night Walker could drown, but either way, he had the advantage in the ocean. He allowed the waves to pass him by, keeping himself a healthy distance from the shore. The Night Walker would try to attack in the form of an oversized red-tailed hawk, his talons digging deep, attempting to weaken Benedict through blood loss, but in the deep sea, his body was protected. Unless the Night Walker was willing to discover if his hawk could swim, Benedict would be impossible to target from the air.
But the attack never came. The hawk didn’t even fly past to survey the situation.
After an hour had passed, Benedict swam for the beach. The horse trotted up the sand, shaking the seawater from his coat. Energy electrified the air, tiny shots of lightning arcing through the night. The black stallion reared on his hind legs, raising his front hooves as he shifted back into a man.
Benedict stood tall, naked, and pissed. He’d taken his true form on the way down from the cliff, ruining his clothes as he went. A nuisance he barely cared about at the time, his mind occupied with questions.
Why hadn’t the Night Walker shifted? In all of their battles over the past thousand years, Colin had never hesitated to take flight. The aerial attack gave him an advantage.
But tonight he hadn’t taken it. Benedict baited him, hunted and fed in his territory, and yet he remained unscathed. A twisted smile exposed the true nature hidden behind the mask of his handsome features. Something had happened to his adversary while he’d been away. Perhaps he was injured or lost his ability to shift.
Not that it mattered.
This was the opportunity Benedict had dreamed of and waited lifetimes to be given. He would make the most of it. And by the time he tortured and killed everything the Night Walker cared about, Colin would be begging for death.
Juliana sat in her cottage reading, although she was pretty sure she’d never be able to remember what she’d just read. Her mind was elsewhere. The police had taken fingerprints and a sample of the Guinness. They’d also mentioned, more than once, that while it did seem odd that Muriel left her pub unattended, adults vanished on their own every day. Maybe she’d wanted a change of pace or met a man on the Internet. It happened all the time apparently.
She caught herself hoping that was what happened, but she still didn’t believe it. Muriel wasn’t flighty, and she couldn’t keep a secret if her life depended on it. If she’d fallen for a guy on the Internet, Juliana—and probably every female friend Muriel knew—would’ve known.
And with each hour that slipped by, she worried more and more about Colin, too. She should’ve told him about the dream. Warned him somehow. Even if he decided she was bonkers, at least he’d be safe.
Brian jumped off the back of the sofa and sauntered to the front door. He sat down and stared up at the knob. Juliana set her book aside and followed her cat. Peering through the side window, relief washed through her. Colin.
She released the dead bolt and opened the door. He didn’t smile or even meet her eyes.
“May I come in?”
She nodded and moved back. Colin walked past her and sat on the couch. Did he have bad news? Her chest constricted as she grabbed her pad and pen. She sank onto the sofa beside him.
Did you find—
He took the pen from her fingers. Her gaze lifted to his face, but his lips didn’t move. His expression didn’t soften.
You do not need that pad to talk to me.
His voice was deep and rich, and it reached beyond her ears, filling the void of sound inside her mind. She probably yelped out loud as she sprang up from the couch, tears swamping her eyes. She heard him. Was she dreaming?
Her hands trembled as she mouthed, How?
He sighed, tossing her pen onto the coffee table. A muscle in his cheek tightened, but his lips never moved. I am not like everyone else. I will hear you if you think about speaking to me. It will be faster than passing notes.
You hear me? A single tear spilled down her cheek.
Colin nodded and slowly met her gaze for the first time since he’d returned. They were cold, distant. I hear you.
You’re telepathic.
He hesitated but finally replied. Something like that.
She went back to the sofa, her mind a jumble of questions, but Colin’s shadowed stare kept her from asking them. She wasn’t sure she even cared about the answers. She could hear.
He took her hand. Tell me about the accident. How did you get over the loss fate handed you?
She frowned. The accident? What does that have to do with Muriel?
I didn’t find Muriel. He stood, pacing her tiny living room. I don’t have time to explain everything, but there is a dangerous man out there. A man I should be able to handle… He looked her way, a muscle in his cheek clenched. How did you overcome your injury?
She straightened, rubbing her brow. There’s nothing to tell. I lived. I struggled, and I’m still here.
Bollocks. He raked his fingers through his hair. That is bullshit. I would not ask you if there was another way. I need to know. Make me understand.
It’s not bullshit. She crossed her arms, her temper smoldering at his accusation. His attitude was snuffing the magic and wonder of the miracle of hearing his voice in her mind. I don’t know what you’re asking.
Suddenly Colin’s emerald eyes were filled with an intensity that made her pulse race. He stopped in his tracks and yanked off his coat, throwing it to the floor, his gaze demanding hers. What was he doing? He tugged his shirt free from the waist of his jeans and pulled it over his head. He dropped the shirt on top of his jacket and stood half naked before her.
Somewhere deep in her mind a voice warned she hardly knew this half-naked man, but he didn’t come any closer. His expression made it clear he’d disrobed for a reason, but God only knew what that might be.
As the initial shock wore off, she couldn’t help but stare. His chest was broad, chiseled but not bulky like she’d expect from a man who worked a farm. His abs were toned, tempting her to run her hands up his skin. Her gaze moved further up to his wide, well-muscled shoulders, strong, and his arms…
His arm.
His fists were tight at his sides, tensing the muscles in his right arm, but from the elbow to his shoulder on his left side it was a mass of scars. Narrow. Bicep muscle missing. She lifted her gaze to his face. His eyes were distant, his face tight.
I used to protect this county. How am I supposed to do that now? Emotion deepened the tone of his voice. Bitterness darkens my soul and clouds my judgment. What I need is to learn how you moved past them. There must be a way to think beyond what I have lost. His voice softened. Please.
She went to him and took his left hand. His scars were deep; he must’ve come close to losing his limb. And what did he mean by protecting the county? He’d mentioned looking for a man buying roses. Perhaps when he wasn’t on the farm he worked as a private investigator. None of that mattered at the moment
.
She looked up from his arm to his face, but he glanced away. Juliana released his hand and caught his chin.
Look at me. He took a deep breath and met her eyes. I see your scars, but I don’t see a weak man. I see a survivor. Every obstacle we face makes us stronger.
He shook his head, rolling his eyes. I am far from stronger. This, he gestured to his left arm, is not going to be able to protect you.
I think there is much more to you than your left arm.
Chapter Six
Her words echoed through his mind. The simplicity of her statement slammed into him. Could it really be so simple? She didn’t understand the pain brewing inside of him, couldn’t understand. Half of his spirit used to soar through the clouds. How could he reconcile losing that part of himself?
He brought his right hand up, caressing her cheek. Her lashes lowered as she turned her head, her lips brushing his palm. When she met his eyes again, unworthiness swelled in his chest. He’d bared his scars, his wounds, and somehow this angel in front of him didn’t see him as weak. But she didn’t know that her cousin was dead—because of his inability to protect them.
She stared up at him, her voice filling his mind. I was with my mother and my brother that day. We were walking through Belfast, down Shankill Road.
Colin’s chest tightened. He remembered the Shankill Road bombing. She was lucky to be alive.
While we walked in front of Frizzell’s fish shop, the bomb exploded. All I remember was a sound so big it threw me across the street. Paramedics performed CPR on me for five minutes. They brought me back. I woke up terrified, in pain, and lost. They didn’t know where my mother was or my brother, and if they did… Her eyes welled with tears. I couldn’t hear them. I couldn’t hear anything, not even myself. I screamed until they sedated me.
Colin embraced her, kissing her hair. I wish it could have been different.
She nodded against his chest. My mom survived, but I lost my older brother that day, and my hearing never returned. I spent two years angry at God, at the whole world.
What changed?
She leaned back just far enough to meet his eyes, her lips so close that her breath warmed his skin. I finally realized that nothing would change what happened. I couldn’t travel through time and pull my mother down a different street. She paused, the corners of her mouth curving into a bittersweet smile. One day, I went back to the piano, and I played. Since I was a little girl, I dreamed of playing in large concert halls, with symphonies. The bombing stole that dream from me, but I could still play. The vibrations come through my feet, through my fingers. That day, sitting on the piano bench, I decided deafness didn’t define me. I am so much more than my ears.
His pulse quickened as he bridged the distance between them. Yes, you are.
His lips caressed hers, taking his time, relishing the softness of her mouth. She moaned aloud, and blood rushed to his groin. There was more he should tell her, about himself, about Benedict and Muriel, but everything paled the moment her hands moved up his back, exploring his bare skin. Her touch sent fire through his veins.
He’d been so entrenched in his own self-pity, lost since the demon attack, he’d forgotten the miracle of a woman’s touch, and Juliana was unlike any woman he’d ever known. Hiding his injury had caused him to retreat, but she’d lured him back into the world. She made him feel alive, mortal.
Her lips parted, allowing his tongue to tangle slowly with hers. His fingers slid into her hair, cradling her head while his other hand moved down her back and over her jeans, pressing her tight against him. She rocked her hips, eliciting a growl deep in his throat as she teased him through his trousers.
No woman had ever inspired a hunger like this.
He walked her toward the sofa, claiming her lips over and over. His hands slipped under the back of her top, exploring her soft skin. It would be so easy to use his speed to remove all their clothes, leaving no barriers between their flesh, but he wanted to savor every touch. She stopped when her legs bumped the couch.
Colin broke the kiss, his gaze locked on hers. I want you.
Her dark eyes studied his, her lips reddened from his kisses. He should stop. He should tell her about Muriel, focus on stopping Benedict. But the look in her eyes… Her desire mirrored his own. They could live a little longer in this moment. It was better for her not to know, to think her cousin had left town. It would save her from the pain. Wasn’t that what he’d decided? He couldn’t think—he was too swept up in her.
Finally, her beautiful voice filled his mind. I want you, too.
He didn’t hesitate, raising her shirt and pulling it over her head. Her nimble fingers traced every muscle on his chest until she reached his waist and unbuttoned his trousers. Unfastening her bra, he slid the satin down her arms, letting it fall to the floor. He cupped her breast, kissing his way down her neck as his other hand possessively roamed over the curve of her behind.
For the first time since the Night Demon had devoured his limb, he felt whole. He silenced the voice inside that warned him about the future, about caring for a mortal. This was about surrender. He’d walked through her door as damaged goods, and somehow she made him believe he could be more.
His tongue licked slowly over her pulse, and it raced in answer until his fangs lengthened inside his mouth, aching to deepen their connection. He wasn’t sure how long his self-control would last. Already he ached to taste her.
Forcing himself back from her throat, he kissed her lips and quickly unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans. He slid his hand down her flat abdomen, under the lace of her panties. She gasped into the kiss the moment his fingers slipped lower.
Do you want me to stop? he whispered into her mind.
Her teeth caught his bottom lip, her heavy lashes lifting to meet his eyes. Don’t you dare.
He groaned, kissing her hard as he shoved her jeans down her hips. She carefully unzipped his trousers, freeing his erection. Passion mingled with a surge of bloodlust as she ran her fingers along his length until his tenuous grasp on his control threatened to give way.
Laying her down on the sofa, he trailed kisses from her lips, to her chin, to her chest while he cupped her breast. Watching her face, he licked her nipple. Her entire body shuddered, her back arching toward him. He accepted her offering, greedily taking her breast into his mouth, teasing the tip with his tongue, while his other hand rubbed her, his finger sliding inside her.
Seeing the desire on her face, feeling her respond, he needed to be closer. He moved over her and stared down into her eyes as he pressed his hips forward. Her body fit his perfectly, tempting him to move too fast, to give in to the passion, but he wanted this moment to last. Forever.
Her nails scratched down his back as a soft moan escaped her lips. Yes… Colin… Yes.
He propped himself over her, watching the way their hips came together. Seeing his body slide into hers made his pulse race even faster. Her hands moved up his back and down his shoulders. The second her warm fingers touched the scars on his left arm, he froze. She opened her eyes, looking directly into his soul.
Your scars don’t scare me. Don’t let them scare you.
Emotions he couldn’t name swelled in his chest. Strange feelings he didn’t recognize. He kissed her, holding her close, her breasts pressed against him, heart to heart, as his lips shared words he couldn’t speak.
He thrust into her faster, his kisses trailing to her earlobe. Say my name.
Colin…
With your voice.
She tensed in his arms. He’d bared himself to her, sharing scars that went far deeper than his skin. But she barely knew him. Since the bombing, her voice had become a dormant part of her. Shortly after the accident, she’d tried to speak, unable to hear the volume or the tones, but the expressions on the faces of her mother, other teens she’d thought were her friends, and teachers, made it clear her voice was shocking and unintelligible.
She didn’t even speak to her cat. There was no way she
could say something aloud to this man while she was naked in his arms. Not a chance.
Colin held her tight, rolling over so she rested on top. Juliana sat above him, grinding her hips into his. Colin’s strong hands gripped her thighs. Staring down at him, she drank in the pleasure on his face.
His voice filled her mind, deep and throaty. You are so beautiful.
My voice is not.
His gaze held hers as he thrust up into her, reaching even deeper. He slid his hand between them, teasing her until she couldn’t catch her breath, until the rest of the world ceased to exist. In that moment, he became everything that mattered. She let her head fall back.
Let go. Don’t hold back, not with me.
Her heart pounded, her muscles tightening around him and pleasure swamping her until she allowed the air into her inactive vocal chords. She moaned, working her hips into him faster as she finally freed herself completely.
“Yes!”
His grip on her leg tightened, and he erupted inside her. She collapsed onto his chest, their bodies still connected as she struggled to catch her breath. Sweat beaded on her forehead, but she was too spent to wipe it away. She’d been with a few men in her life, but sex had never been this intense, or intimate. Not even remotely.
And she’d known all those men much better than she knew Colin.
I don’t even know your last name.
To be fair, angel… He leaned up to kiss her forehead. You have not told me yours, either.
She smiled without lifting her head. No one had ever referred to her by a pet name. Bartley called her Juli, but that was different.
She kissed his chest. Duffy. Juliana Duffy.
Colin Flynn. Great to meet you.
She laughed without censuring herself, allowing it to bubble past her lips. Colin ran his hand up her back. It was a miraculous gift to be able to communicate again. No need for her pad and pen. Over the years, she’d had a couple of friends who knew sign language, but they’d been few and far between so her signing skills were rusty. Being with Colin, hearing him, it changed everything.