Wicked After Dark: 20 Steamy Paranormal Tales of Dragons, Vampires, Werewolves, Shifters, Witches, Angels, Demons, Fey, and More

by Mina Carter

  Somnus demanded he answer him. "What do you feel guilty about?! Tell me!"

  "I think you're forgetting yourself boy! I don't have to explain anything to you."

  Hercules spoke from across the room. "Don't you think you owe him an explanation?"

  Jupiter looked at his son. "And you. You are in enough trouble as it is. All you do is meddle in everyone else's business when it doesn't concern you."

  Somnus pleaded with the God of Lightning. "Jupiter, please just tell me."

  "I don't think now is the right time to talk about this, but if you insist. It all started a century ago when a certain God fell in love with a human woman."

  Somnus' stomach twisted and turned. He knew instantly that Jupiter was talking about him. He spoke almost on a whisper. "You found out about me and Victoria?"

  Jupiter's voice rose. "Did you think I was a fool? I am King. I know everything that goes on. Did you think you would just be able to get away with mating with a human when it was against the rules? Did you think there would be no consequences to suffer? Well, you better think again. I waited until just the right moment when she was alone and used my powers to make you both pay for making me look like a fool. That strike of lightning that spooked the horse was no freak of nature. It was me who got rid of that woman. She needed to disappear because she knew too much. You caused her death by allowing yourself to become weak. You..."

  Somnus was about to lunge at Jupiter for ruining his immortal life. Instead he was pushed out of the way by Hercules, who tackled his father to the ground. He got a few punches in before Jupiter struck him with a bolt of lightning. Jupiter waved his hand in the air and Hercules was gone.

  Somnus screamed. "No!"

  Jupiter rose to his feet pointing his scepter out at Somnus. "Now you listen, and you listen good. I have lived with this guilt for a century and there isn't a day that goes by when I wish I hadn't killed that girl. After her soul had passed I gave it to Pluto. She needed to spend some time in damnation because she lured you into her clutches. Using you so you'd make her immortal."

  Somnus cursed. "Fuck you Jupiter. She wasn't that kind of person! She was an innocent woman and she loved me. And I loved her!"

  Jupiter hung his head and sighed heavily. "Yes, I know that now. I allowed my anger to quell my better judgment. Twenty-eight years ago I went to Pluto and demanded Victoria's soul back. He refused unless I promised to accommodate a request at his convenience. I have no idea what he will ask of me or when. But, now I am obligated to do or give him whatever he wants whenever he calls upon me. See, when I received Victoria's soul twenty-eight years ago, I placed it in the womb of a woman who thought she would never have another child after a traumatic childbirth with her first daughter. That baby was Lailani. Or Laila as you like to call her."

  Jupiter continued as Somnus stood with his mouth gaping open. His head spinning, trying to comprehend the situation that was unfolding before him. "So, you see Laila and Victoria are one in the same. I did realize you loved Victoria and thought you needed another chance at the happiness I ripped away from you."

  "You're saying the only reason why I love Laila is because she has Victoria's soul?"

  "Of course not. Laila is her own person. You only share a special kind of bond now. A bond that helped you find each other. A bond that will never be broken again. You fell in love with Laila, I only helped you find her. Laila is your true mate."

  Somnus glanced over at Cupid who wore the same stupefied expression as he did. He then turned to Jupiter. "What did you do to Hercules?"

  "That boy needs to spend a little time with his uncle to be able to appreciate the rules we have here on Olympus. They are put in place for a reason."

  "How long will he be there?" Somnus felt horrible. Not to mention guilty that Hercules had to spend time in the Underworld because of him. He wanted to thank him for everything he had done to help him.

  "He will be there as long as I see fit. Until I see he has learned his lesson about interfering in other's affairs. Now, go find Laila. I'm sure she is suffering just as you are."

  Somnus was surprised that Jupiter was so casual about he and Laila being together. Maybe he did regret everything he had done in the past. "I can be with her?"

  "Isn't that what I'm telling you?"

  "You mean you can fix my chaotic behavior when I'm around her?"

  "No. Unfortunately, that is something you will have to control yourself. Those genes are a part of you. You'll have look deep inside yourself and figure out what kind of God you want to be."

  Before Somnus had a chance to respond, a flash if light filled the room and Jupiter was gone. Cupid slapped his friend on the shoulder. "C'mon, it could be worse."

  "How much worse could it get Cue? Jupiter killed my parents, no one ever told me I had a brother, and now I can't be with the woman I love."

  "But, Jupiter just said..."

  "It doesn't matter what he said. What matters is I won't be able to be around her without wanting to strip her and forcefully ravage her."

  "Why don't you just talk to her and explain what's going on?"

  "Have you forgotten when you tried to explain to Val who you really were?"

  "No, but if it weren't for you showing her, I wouldn't have the beautiful family I do now. Somnus, you have the power to show her everything. If she really is your soul mate she will understand."

  "Cue, I can't. Showing her would require me to touch her, and I don't think I can do that now."

  Cupid placed his hand on Somnus' shoulder. "You have to. Do you want me to go with you?"

  Somnus sighed heavily. "No. This is something I need to do myself. God Cue, what if I hurt her again?"

  "You'll be fine. Just remember what Jupiter said. Look deep inside yourself and figure out what kind of God you want to be."

  Chapter Eleven

  Laila awoke with a splitting headache. Her head pounding as though it had been smashed against the hardwood floor over and over. Struggling to her feet, she walked to the bathroom and reached into the medicine cabinet. She pulled out a bottle of aspirin and popped two in her mouth. She filled the cup next to the faucet with cold water and swallowed the pills, throwing the plastic cup in the sink.

  Her chest ached from crying. Her stomach wrenched at the remembrance of Somnus' jet black eyes boring into hers. He'd frightened her beyond words, yet her heart was telling her to feel something different. At first she'd been afraid of his uncontrollable behavior, but now that she'd slept a while it was all clear in her mind now.

  The visit to the flower shop gave her the insight of what she'd felt inside her soul the whole time. Somnus was different. More than different. He wasn't even human. He was God. An actual God, like in the mythology books she'd read as a kid. That little boy showed her everything she needed to know. There could be so much love to surround her if Somnus would just let her in.

  There was that moment in the flower shop when he'd first stepped from behind the curtain and she wanted to tell him everything was going to be okay. Her heart leapt at the sight of him and she'd love him no matter what he was.

  At that moment she realized there would never be anyone to take Somnus' place in her heart. They belonged together. It was ridiculous to think how two people could love each other without knowing one another at all. Laila sighed heavily, thinking their love was only one sided. He had never said he'd loved her. Of course she knew he liked her. She could tell that when they'd had sex. But, maybe that's all there was to their relationship, sex. Come to think of it, they weren't in a relationship at all.

  Laila took off her clothes and put on an oversized t-shirt. She might as well be comfortable if she was going to watch television and drown her sorrows in a gallon of butter pecan ice cream. She always had ice cream handy for such an occasion. A tablespoon was pulled out of the utensil draw and shoved into the open carton. As she carried the ice cream over to the couch the doorbell rang.

  She walked over to the door and peered through the pee
phole. She saw no one. It rang again. "Who is it?" There was no answer. "If you're not going to answer me, I'm not going to open the door."

  "It's me Lalia. Please open the door. We need to talk."

  Laila ran to the kitchen throwing the ice cream into the sink, then back to the door. She swung it open stepping aside so Somnus could enter. He walked passed her and stood in the middle of the room, his head down facing the floor. It felt like hours had passed before he said anything. "Laila, I'm not going to stay long. I just wanted to apologize for everything."

  Laila ran over to him putting her finger on his lips to quiet him. "Shh, you don't have to apologize for anything. I know."

  Somnus furrowed his eyebrows. He looked up from the floor and into her loving and beautiful brown eyes. "What do you mean you know? What do you know Laila?"

  "I know everything Somnus. I know you're not human. I know you're not from here on Earth." She paused for a moment before she spoke the next words. "And I know about Victoria."

  Somnus ran his hand over his short brown hair. "What...How do you know?"

  "Well, before you went on your little rampage at the flower shop, Kane showed me everything."

  "And you're okay with that? You're not even going to question it? Not even a little?"

  "Do you want me to question it Somnus? Or would you rather I accept you for who you really are? Are you afraid I would tell people? Because I would never do that. I love you. I knew I loved you from the moment we met two years ago, and..." Laila's voice trailed off. Those words were not something she intended on saying out loud so soon. She turned her back to him embarrassed at what an idiot she was. He didn't love her. He must think she was a total basket case. A desperate fool looking for any man's attention.

  He took her by the shoulders and turned her around to face him whispering softly. "And what Laila?"

  She gazed into his sparkling amber eyes. "And I wanted to tell you then, but you would have thought I was crazy."

  Somnus placed his finger under her chin tipping her head up and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "No, I wouldn't have, because I felt the exact same way."

  Laila threw her arms around Somnus' neck pulling him closer to her. She melded her body against his and devoured his mouth with a hunger she had never experienced before.

  Somnus pulled out of her grasp. "Wait Laila. We need to talk about something."

  "Oh. Okay." Disappointed, Laila sat on the sofa with Somnus. She fiddled her fingers nervously wondering what else he was going to tell her. She didn't care either way. She already accepted him for what he was. The only thing she wouldn't be able to handle was if he said they could never be together.

  "Laila, many years ago I fell in love with a woman, Victoria..."

  "Yes, I told you I know about her."

  "Please, let me finish."

  "Okay, I'm sorry. Please go on."

  Somnus stood pacing the floor and explained everything that Jupiter had told him. He told her about his parents and how Jupiter killed Victoria. With every word he uttered her mouth gaped open wider and wider. "Laila, as much as I want to, I don't think being with you is a good idea. I couldn't protect Victoria and now with my mood changes, I'm afraid I might hurt you again."

  Laila rose off the couch angrily. "You're a coward!"

  "What?"

  "You heard what I said. You're a coward. So what you've had some troubles in your past, everyone does. Are you going to let those problems dictate the rest of your life? Are you really going to just let me go after I just poured my heart out to you?"

  Somnus closed the distance between them and grabbed her shoulders. He shook her lightly. "Laila, I raped you! I took advantage of you when you were begging me to stop."

  "No, you didn't!"

  Somnus let go of her. "What do you mean I didn't?"

  Laila placed her hands on his face. "Somnus, you didn't rape me. Or take advantage of me for that matter. The only thing I was begging for was for you not to stop. I wanted it. Somnus, I tried calling you back that day. Why did you run out on me like that?"

  He picked her up in his arms hugging her tight. He hadn't attacked her as he thought. He felt so relieved at that moment and made a vow to himself to never do anything to hurt her again. "I'm so sorry Laila. I never meant to hurt you."

  "I know you didn't. I knew you were different. I just had no idea you were that different. Somnus, I want to be with you. I don't care what I have to do to prove to you how much you mean to me."

  "Laila, you don't have to prove anything to me. Your understanding is more than enough for me."

  She leaned in closer to his face claiming his warm soft lips. "Somnus?"

  He closed his eyes, inhaling her sweet scent. "Yes?"

  "Make love to me."

  *******

  Somnus jerked away from her. There was nothing more he wanted to do was drive his hard cock into her, giving her the pleasure she was asking for. "Laila...we can't."

  "Somnus, I know Hercules had me healed. You don't have to worry about hurting me anymore."

  "You do?"

  "I told you I know everything. I'll have to thank Hercules for giving me a chance to live life pain free. I woke up this morning feeling like a brand new woman."

  He wanted to tell her Hercules wouldn't be around for a very long time, if ever again. But, he didn't have the heart to do that now. "No, Laila, we just can't."

  "Somnus, we..."

  "Laila we can't! Every time I'm around you I can't control myself. It's like I become this wild animal who takes over my senses and I'm not here anymore. Laila, I barely remember having sex with you the last time. I don't want to go through that again. I want to be here with you. Not only with my body, but with my mind as well."

  Laila reached for the hem of her shirt, lifting it over her head. "Then be here. I won't let you slip away from me." She sauntered over to him and pulled his shirt over his head, throwing it on the floor. She bit his lip playfully, then ran her tongue in the seam of his lips. "But, I have to tell you..." She nibbled his ear and whispered. "I liked that animal."

  Somnus scooped her up, kissing her with abandon. Her words shot through his body all the way to his cock. His hard shaft strained against the metal zipper of his jeans. He carried her to the bedroom and threw her on the bed. "Laila, I'm going to fuck you until you can't scream my name anymore. You want the animal? Well, that's exactly what I'm going to give you."

  Somnus stepped out his pants and pulled her down to the edge of the bed. He placed his head between her legs and bit her thigh. He slid his tongue over her clit with one long stroke. He smiled at her wickedly as she looked down at him, then she threw her head back when he licked her again.

  She opened her legs wider for him as he delved his finger in her tight passage. "You're so wet for me."

  "Somnus, don't tease me."

  He slipped two fingers inside her, pushing them deeper and deeper, stretching her tight walls. When she was near release he slid three fingers inside her, while he rubbed her swollen clit with his thumb faster and faster. His large hands giving her the pleasure she begged for. Pleasure only he could fulfill.

  Laila's body tensed as the walls of her pussy closed around his fingers. Her orgasm came hard and fast as she bucked her hips back and forth to give her even more pleasure. "Yes, Somnus!"

  He lowered his head onto her again. His tongue tasting her sweet juices. "Mmm...you taste so good. And I love hearing you scream my name when you come."

  Laila crawled to the bottom of the bed, kneeling in front of him. She licked his nipple sending a chill through his body. He entangled his hands in her long blonde hair as she lowered her head onto his already throbbing cock licking the tip. "God Laila."

  She looked up at him coyly. "You like that?" She gave him another slow stroke with her tongue.

  Somnus sucked in a breath through gritted teeth. "Yes."

  "How about this?" Laila took the whole length of him in her warm wet mouth, sucking and teasing him with her ton
gue.

  "Yeah baby, just like that. Fuck yeah." He fisted her hair with both hands pumping his hard cock in and out of her mouth as she continued to unleash her sweet torture on him. He felt his release near and pulled her away from him. "I want to come inside you Laila."

  As she laid on the bed he wondered how lucky he was to have another chance at love. Laila was perfect. Loving, understanding, and any man would be grateful to have a woman like that in his life. He would do anything to make her happy.

  He climbed on top of her placing his hard cock against her soaking wet pussy. He entered her and stroked her slowly.

  Laila whispered against the crook of his neck. "Where's the animal I asked for?"

  Those words sent him into a frenzy. He pumped into her harder and harder, faster and faster. He began to feel warmth radiate throughout his body. He squeezed his eyes shut, not wanting to miss her every motion. He wanted to hear her every moan. There was no way he was going to allow his inner demon to take over. His hearing began to get muffled.

  "Somnus? Somnus? Look at me." When he opened his eyes Laila looked at him worryingly. "Somnus, your eyes. Somnus can you hear me?"

  A guttural moan escaped his throat before he spoke. "I'm right here baby. I'm not going anywhere. I don't plan on missing making love to you anymore. You wanted the animal and that's exactly what I'm going to give you. Now, turn over for me."

  Laila turned around and got on her hands and knees. She looked back at him nervously.

  He knew she had never had sex in any other position and reassured her it would be okay. "I promise I won't hurt you Laila."

  Those words must have gave her enough comfort because her expression changed to one of playfulness and she smiled at him coyly. "I want you to hurt me."

  "You are a bad girl. I may have to teach you a lesson." Somnus raised his hand and brought it down hard slapping her firm ass.

  Laila cried out in pleasure. "Yes, Somnus more!"

  "You are a bad girl aren't you?" He raised his hand a second time and slapped her ass even harder, leaving a red hand print on her sensitive skin.