Fear the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity)

by Alexandra Ivy

  “Hmm,” she husked.

  “No.” His hand skimmed up her back to cup her nape. “Wait.”

  She nuzzled at the pulse hammering at the base of his throat, wondering what she was doing wrong. It was never this hard in the romance books to get a man to make love to a woman. They were always ready to get down to business.

  “Now what?” she muttered.

  He moaned as her teeth lightly bit his neck. “This isn’t the time to be making life-altering decisions.”

  “Life-altering?” she tilted back her head to meet his smoldering gaze. “Isn’t that a little melodramatic?”

  His gaze skimmed over her flushed face to the small breasts that were begging for his attention.

  “Pet, when I make you mine it’s going to rock your world,” he said, his need making his voice rough.

  “I want it to be rocked now,” she murmured, not above pleading. “Please, Caine.”

  His jaw tightened as his gaze skimmed downward, lingering on the small tattoo that marred the skin just beneath her belly button. “You’ve already been used enough.”

  Cassie barely resisted the urge to cover the crimson hieroglyphic that flickered with an unsettling shimmer. It wasn’t as if Caine hadn’t already seen the mark of the demon lord. Or felt the chill that clung to the strange tattoo.

  “This isn’t about being used,” she corrected softly. “It’s about sharing something wonderful. I need you, Caine.”

  There was a charged silence as Caine’s savage need visibly battled with his conscience. Cassie held her breath, knowing that she’d already said too much.

  The last thing she wanted was for him to do something he might later regret.

  Then, with a low growl he moved to the back of the shower, lowering her onto the wet marble bench. Gently, he tugged her legs from around his waist, although he kept them parted so he could kneel between them, his face on level with hers.

  Oddly, their new position felt even more intimate, a sensation only emphasized as his gaze ran a searing path over her breasts and down to her feminine core, already damp with her arousal.

  “Caine,” she breathed, tracing the curve of his noble brow and down the narrow line of his nose.

  His eyes were more wolf than human as they lifted to meet her steady gaze. “Christ, you’re so beautiful.”

  She offered a dimpled smile. “No, you’re the beautiful one.”

  He captured her fingers, which had been exploring his face, pressing them to his lips. “I’m an immoral bastard who has no right to paradise,” he corrected in harsh tones. “But if you want to offer me heaven, then I’m going to snatch it with both hands.”

  Cassie’s lips parted, but her words went unsaid as he leaned forward to place an openmouthed kiss at the base of her neck. Oh. Her arms instinctively wrapped around his shoulders, her head falling back to offer him greater access.

  Stroking his lips up the curve of her throat, he took a minute to trace the line of her jaw before at last finding her mouth to claim it in a kiss of sheer possession. Her wolf growled in satisfaction as her lips were crushed beneath his hungry onslaught, her nails scoring down the smooth skin of his back.

  Still surrounded by the thinning steam and the quiet hush of the outrageously expensive suite, they might have been alone in their own world. There was nothing beyond the feel of Caine’s kiss and the light touch of his fingers as they tucked her hair behind her ears.

  Cassie moaned. The water was turned off, but she felt as if she were drowning beneath the tidal wave of sensations crashing through her.

  As if sensing her rising passion, Caine eased his kiss, allowing his lips to sweep over her upturned face. Tenderly, he caressed every line and curve before turning his attention to the sensitive flesh of her neck.

  “Yes,” she breathed in encouragement, shivering as his hands moved slowly downward, at long last cupping the swollen fullness of her breasts.

  “So perfect,” he muttered.

  She barely heard his soft words as she arched in pleasure, her eyes sliding shut as his fingers lightly teased the puckered tips of her nipples. Who knew her breasts could be so sensitive? Or that his touch could offer such pleasure?

  A pleasure that went from sensational to shattering as he dipped his head even lower and sucked one nipple between his lips.

  A soft cry tumbled from her lips as she shoved her fingers into the thick strands of his hair, shifting restlessly on the marble bench.

  So this was what all the fuss was about, she conceded, trembling as his tongue and teeth sent her up in flames. She never, ever wanted him to stop. And yet . . .

  There was an empty ache between her legs that demanded attention.

  “Caine,” she murmured, trusting he would know what she needed.

  “Patience, pet,” he countered.

  She wanted to protest, but then he turned his attention to her other breast and she decided that patience wasn’t such a bad thing. Especially when she felt his clever fingers drift along the curve of her hip and down the length of her leg.

  Her head pressed back against the tiles as he suckled her with a growing insistence, his searching fingers drifting up her inner thigh. He was close. So close.

  Then suddenly he was there.

  “Oh.”

  Her heart slammed against her chest as his finger swept through her moist heat. Had she been struck by lightning? It seemed impossible that the electric jolt could come from a mere touch.

  Then Caine proved that his touch truly could create electricity as his finger returned to find a tiny pearl of pleasure.

  “Do you like this, pet?” Caine rasped.

  Like? She groaned. She was quite certain that she could become addicted to his skillful caresses.

  But as the shimmering excitement began to clench her muscles, she grasped his face in her hands. “I want you, Caine,” she husked. “I want you inside me.”

  The sapphire eyes darkened with feral hunger, but surprisingly he made no move to pull her from the bench and have his wicked way with her. Instead, he returned to brush his lips over her breasts before skimming his mouth slowly down her quivering stomach.

  What the devil was he doing?

  The answer came when he gently tugged her legs even farther apart and, leaning forward, replaced his seeking finger with his tongue.

  Sweet, sweet heaven.

  Forgetting her aching need to feel him take her innocence, Cassie moaned, her fingers knotting in his hair as he stroked and nibbled and teased her with unmistakable skill. Not that she minded his obvious experience, she acknowledged as his tongue penetrated her tight channel before returning to lavish attention on that small knot of nerves. Not when she was the recipient of his exquisite talent.

  Her breath came in short pants as the pleasure spiraled even higher, her toes curling in anticipation. Oh Lord, it was glorious. So glorious.

  Easily sensing she was nearing the peak, Caine clamped his arms around her thighs and sucked her between his lips.

  It was all that it took to make Cassie shatter in pure ecstasy.

  Crying out, she was barely aware that she was trembling from head to foot. Not until Caine gave her one last sweep of his tongue, then gently tugged her to her feet and wrapped her tightly in his arms.

  “Shh,” he whispered into her hair, his lips stroking her temple.

  She clutched at his shoulders, the tiny quakes of pleasure still shooting through her. “That was . . .”

  He chuckled as she struggled to find the words. “Yes?”

  “Almost perfect,” she breathed.

  She felt him tense beneath her hands, his head lifting to regard her with a searching gaze.

  “Almost?”

  She allowed a smile to curve her lips at his male pique. Clearly, he wasn’t pleased by her refusal to admit that what had just happened had been the most spectacular event of her life.

  Then, deliberately holding his gaze, she allowed one hand to drift down his chest. His breath caught as
she traced the tense muscles of his stomach.

  “Cassie?”

  “I wanted to share our pleasure.”

  He groaned, his hand reaching to grasp her wrist. “We will.”

  “When?”

  His jaw clenched, his breath rasping through his gritted teeth. “Once the danger is past and you can think clearly.”

  Although considerably smaller than Caine, Cassie was a pureblood Were with a strength that always caught others off guard.

  With a twist of her arm, her wrist was free of his grasp and her hand was continuing its downward path until it at last reached her goal.

  “You might be my protector, but you’re not allowed to tell me that I can’t decide what I want.” She wrapped her fingers around his thick erection. “Or when I want it.”

  He cursed, but he was wise enough not to try and get into a tug of war with her hand. Not when she was holding such a tender object.

  “I’m not taking your innocence,” he growled.

  “Fine.” Already prepared for his stubborn refusal, Cassie pressed her lips to Caine’s chest, just above his pounding heart. “Then I’ll find another way for us to share this moment.”

  “Christ,” he breathed as she planted a trail of kisses to his beaded nipple.

  She didn’t have any idea if it would feel as good for him as it had for her, but she was hoping he would give her a clue. With perfect timing, he gave a low groan, his hand threading through her hair to hold her against him.

  It was all the encouragement she needed.

  Allowing her wolf out to play, she tasted the nipple with her tongue even as her fingers explored the hard length of his erection. It was astonishingly smooth, and warm. Deliciously warm.

  Curious, she skimmed down his shaft, finding the heavy sack at the base. He jerked beneath her touch, and tilting back her head, she met his wild gaze. “I’m sorry, did I hurt you?” she husked.

  “I . . .” He clearly struggled to swallow. “No, it didn’t hurt.”

  “Ah.”

  He’d enjoyed her stroking his arousal. A lot.

  With a wicked chuckle, she skimmed her fingers back to the tip of his cock, finding a tiny drop of moisture. She rubbed it lightly, circling the broad head before returning downward.

  She repeated the caress twice more before he released an explosive sigh. “For the love of God, Cassie, don’t torture me.”

  Although the thought of making Caine plead for release was tempting, she sympathized with his desperation. They’d been hurtling toward this moment for weeks. Later, she would enjoy the heady power of making him wait for hours before she gave in to his pleas.

  She lifted herself on tiptoes to press her lips softly to his mouth.

  “Show me.”

  With a choked groan, Caine reached to wrap his hand over her fingers, pressing them tight against his cock. Then, slowly he urged her to stroke up and down the shaft, his breath hissing through his teeth as his hips surged forward.

  Cassie could feel the blood pulsing beneath the velvet skin and smell the rising musk. Instinctively, she quickened her pace, pleased when Caine gave a low growl of approval.

  “Yes . . . that’s it,” he ground out, his hand cupping the back of her head and urging her face toward his neck.

  Her wolf knew exactly what he wanted and without hesitation she sank her teeth into the side of his neck, the raw male taste of him on her tongue sending another climax pulsing through her.

  At the same time, Caine gave a shout of joy as he pumped his erection in her hand, the warm spray of his seed covering her stomach.

  “Hmm. That was nice.” Cassie licked the trickle of blood her teeth had drawn. “Can we do it again?”

  Several hours later Caine lay with Cassie wrapped in his arms on one of the wide beds. Predictably, she had fallen fast asleep the moment her head hit the pillow, while he’d remained wide awake, watching her in stunned amazement.

  He was a fool.

  No surprise there, of course. He’d worked so hard to keep his hands off this beautiful, all-too-vulnerable Were. Cold baths, long runs across the desert, hours of patrolling the sixty-story hotel for the least hint of danger.

  But one soft touch of Cassie’s hand and all his good intentions went flying out the window. Or rather, flying out the shower. He swallowed a harsh groan as he recalled the afternoon in vivid detail. Every kiss, every tentative stroke of her hand, every soft groan.

  His only consolation was that while he might have stolen her innocence, he hadn’t committed the ultimate sin of taking her virginity.

  Why was that so important?

  Caine grimaced, not wanting to consider the dangerous question. It was easier to tell himself that he was simply being noble. That he wanted to wait until Cassie was out of danger and capable of considering the consequences with a clear mind.

  He didn’t want to acknowledge the tiny voice that warned taking her virginity would somehow tie him irrevocably to the beautiful Were. And that once he’d truly made her his lover he would never, ever be willing to let her go.

  No matter what she wanted.

  Mate . . .

  With a low growl, he fiercely squashed the terrifying word.

  Nope. Not going to go there. Things were bad enough.

  As if to emphasize the point, Cassie turned in her sleep, her slender body snuggling into him with a trust that made his heart shift in his chest.

  Hell. He should never have allowed her to climb into bed with him. Not just because he was a full-blooded male not a damned saint, and the feel of her warm curves covered by nothing more than the tiny teddy he’d been stupid enough to buy was destined to keep him hard and aching throughout the long night. But because the sheer intimacy was touching him places he didn’t want to be touched.

  Of course, it wasn’t as if he’d had a choice. One pleading glance from those big emerald eyes and he’d been a lost cause. Pathetic. With a rueful smile, he buried his face in the silken softness of her hair. What was a poor man to do?

  Absently running a soothing hand down her back, Caine was near the point of drifting off when he abruptly felt Cassie’s muscles tense. He frowned, lifting his head. Was she dreaming or had his slight touch wakened her?

  He had his answer the moment her eyes opened to reveal the beautiful green was already veiled by a disturbing white film.

  “Cassie.” He grasped her shoulders, ridiculously attempting to shake her awake. “Cassie.”

  Oblivious to his presence, Cassie shrugged off his hands and scooted off the bed. Then, with mechanical movements, she headed out of the bedroom.

  “Shit.” Leaping to his feet, Caine rapidly pulled on his jeans and a sweatshirt that had been tossed on a nearby chair. A loaded Glock was tucked at his lower back, then, yanking a robe hanging on the back of the bathroom door, he hurried in her wake.

  There was no use trying to stop her. Lost in the power of her visions, she wouldn’t halt until she’d reached her goal. Whether that goal was standing in the sitting room to weave one of the strange, shimmering glyphs that revealed a foretelling. Or dragging him halfway across the country.

  All he could do was keep her from hurting herself. He entered the sitting room only to find it empty with the door standing open. With a curse he jogged into the hallway, at last catching up with her as she stepped into an empty elevator.

  “Hold on, baby, I’m with you,” he muttered, entering the small cubicle at the same moment she hit the button for the lobby.

  She stared straight ahead, her face blank even when he tucked her into the robe and tied the belt. He grimaced. At least the hotel was nearly silent. Well, if one didn’t count the hideous music being pumped into the elevator.

  It was that strange hour just before dawn.

  The window of time when even the most hardened of gamblers had returned to their beds and the early morning workers were still gulping down their first cup of coffee. He and Cassie wouldn’t be bothered by unwelcomed gawkers, and more importantly, th
ere would be no crowds an enemy could use to disguise their approach.

  The elevator at last gave a subtle shudder as it slowed, the metal doors sliding open. Without hesitation Cassie stepped into the lobby, her feet moving at a measured pace across the tiled floor and out the glass doors to the street.

  Staying at her side, Caine shook his head at the uniformed driver who was leaning against his limo in the off chance of a fare, and captured Cassie’s arm as she started to step off the curb, directly in the path of an oncoming taxi.

  “Wait,” he commanded, refusing to release her until he was certain the coast was clear.

  She stood passively beneath his touch, waiting in silence for him to at last release his grip so she could continue across the road and toward the edge of town at a swift jog.

  Caine sighed as he followed behind. If the whole knight protector gig crapped out he might just have a career as a crossing guard. Something to consider.

  Focusing on the absurd thoughts to keep from panicking as Cassie remained locked deep in her vision, Caine nevertheless was on full guard as they circled the edge of the airport and headed into the desert.

  Not that there was much to guard against. A few coyotes, lizards, snakes . . . Nothing that could harm a pureblooded Were. Thank the gods.

  Eventually, the perpetual glow of the city was left behind and all signs of civilization were lost to the barren desert. Still, Cassie continued forward, indifferent to the cool breeze and the thick silence.

  Where the hell were they going?

  It took another half hour before the question was answered, and even then it didn’t make any sense.

  Halting in the middle of a flat basin, Cassie stood at rigid attention, her pale hair floating on the breeze. Then, as if she were possessed by a sudden madness, she dropped to her knees. Caine cursed, leaping to the side as she grabbed a sharp stone and began to feverishly draw symbols in the arid ground.

  Gritting his teeth, Caine tried to leash his primal instincts that demanded he scoop Cassie off the filthy ground and return her to the safety of the hotel room. He even succeeded for several torturous minutes. But when the scent of Cassie’s blood hit his nose, his good intentions were blasted into a million pieces.