It swayed from the force of impact, and pain burst over him as his head collided against the rough bark.
What in the world had happened?
He opened an eye, expecting to see Isaac glaring at him. Instead, his fiancée crouched in front of him, taking in every inch of his features.
He groaned and rubbed his forehead. His head hurt like hell.
“Lady Harding? What happened?” He hesitated. How much had she seen?
“We found you and your harlot naked, my lord,” she replied.
Bloody hell.
“Where’s Isaac? I have to talk to him….”
“What about me? Do you not have to speak to me, as well?”
“Lady Harding, I am immensely sorry. You have to know I never meant for this to happen. We did not plan it—”
“Oh, it had to be an error of judgment, never to happen again?” She smiled slightly.
He did not have time to waste soothing her. He needed to find Amelia and Isaac. He’d tell her as quickly as possible, and find the ones he really cared about.
Surprised to see the anger cross her face before he spoke, he faltered and said, “No, my lady. We love each other, and she will be my wife. Surely, things might be tough for a while, but I am certain we can work out something to help soothe over the legalities of such a match.”
He broke off when she snarled, and his heart stopped in his chest.
Bloody hell.
He stared at her in astonishment when she lifted him by the throat, his feet dangling in the air. He pulled at her hands using all his strength, frantically trying to breathe, but she didn’t budge.
He kicked her in the chest, and she didn’t flinch. He tried again—harder—in the stomach.
She bloody well laughed in his face.
“Wrong answer, Lord Stirling.”
She threw him through the air, and he crashed into the ground, the thud filling his ears hurting him almost as much at the compact had.
This had to be a dream. A hallucination.
Maybe when he hit the tree earlier, he’d lost consciousness and this would all turn out to be a nightmare. Yes, that had to be the case. For none of this could be real.
He sat up cautiously, looking for any sign of Louisa. Instead, he saw something that caused his heart to stop beating, and painfully accelerate in his chest—all at the same time. Next to him lay Isaac, with his neck twisted at an unnatural angle, and unseeing eyes.
Crying aloud, he bolted to Isaac’s side. “Isaac, blast it to all hell…Isaac. Answer me. You cannot be dead, oh God no. Please, no.” A frantic sob escaped him, and Elijah hurried to check for a pulse.
Thank God, he felt a slight pulse against his fingers. Weak, but there. He needed to get Dr. Hamilton right away.
But what happened? Why did he lie there with open eyes and a beating heart?
His neck…it had looked strangely twisted, hadn’t it?
He carefully probed the right side of Isaac’s neck, and finding no injuries, moved onto the left. He gasped when blood gushed onto his fingers and leaned in to get a better look.
Bloody hell…there were two perfect puncture wounds on the side of his neck, oozing blood and foaming white pus.
What the hell could it be?
Louisa. Could she be some form of a demon? One that fed off men?
No, it couldn’t be possible. Those things didn’t exist.
He needed to escape her immediately.
“Isaac, I’m going to get you out of here. I will get you help, I promise.” A thud sounded behind him, and he whirled. Louisa lounged against a tree a few feet away, looking as if she had not a care in the world.
Heartless traitor.
“I apologize for our late arrival. We had a wee bit of difficulty rousing ourselves.” She sent a pointed glance at his feet. Elijah followed her gaze, only to freeze in horror.
Amelia lay at his feet, struggling to breathe. A trickle of blood ran out of her mouth and down her cheek, and blood crept from her swollen nose.
“Help,” she whispered.
***
Sabrina walked Isaac to the door, her body tightening in anticipation for the kiss she knew would come. Expecting the usual sweet goodbye kiss, she got surprised when he gripped her and led her back against the wall in one smooth motion. He melded his body to hers and rubbed his erection against her. Hot desire pulsated through her, and she wrapped her legs around his hips, desperate for more contact. They groaned in unison at their heated embrace, and Sabrina tugged at his shoulders.
She wanted him inside her. Nothing felt more important to her at this moment than being filled by Isaac as he plunged into her.
His hands skimmed her legs, tracing a molten path to her buttocks, and he pulled her even tighter against his body. She moaned in pleasure as his hands followed an invisible path from her hips to her breasts. He cupped them and rolled his thumbs over her swollen nipples. She moved wantonly against him and threaded her fingers through his hair, seeking something to hold onto so she wouldn’t dissolve from desperation.
A boom of thunder exploded overhead, and he tore his lips away from hers. He leaned his forehead against hers as they attempted to calm their raging bodies and catch their breath. She moaned huskily and moved again. Satisfaction coursed through her when he moaned and moved against her.
Maybe…just maybe…they didn’t have to stop.
He seemed to think otherwise, though, for he put a firm hand on her hip to stop her tempting movements. “I better get control of myself before I attempt this again. I’d hate to have a tornado come and rip us apart while we were…um…busy.”
She looked at him in surprise, and her mouth dropped open in shock.
“Has that happened before?” She immediately regretted her impulsive question. Did she really want to hear about his sexual exploits?
He flushed and refused to meet her eyes as he muttered, “I wouldn’t know.”
“What?” she whispered.
“There’s been no one else since Amelia. No one else could tempt me, or even interest me. Believe me, I tried.” Isaac gave a shrug of his shoulder and grimaced as he spoke. He studied the wall at some random spot over her shoulder. When she stared at him in silence, registering his words, he adjusted his tie, fixed his hair, and then hers. All in a ten-second span.
And he didn’t look at her eyes once. He obviously didn’t enjoy admitting his lack of sex life. Who could blame him?
Well, Sabrina, I haven’t had sex in over a hundred years. No pressure, or anything.
And she thought it had been a long time for her. Yikes. She put a finger on his chin, lifting his face to hers. He studied her jawbone as if it held some secret code he alone could crack.
“Look at me.” She commanded him when he did not remove his gaze from her jaw line. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about. Got it?” She kissed his nose, mimicking the gesture that never failed to melt her heart. “But until we figure this out, maybe you should put me down.” She grinned playfully and leaned her head on his shoulder in a warm embrace. He rubbed her head and pulled her closer as he kissed her curls, and she fought the urge to wrap her arms around him even tighter in direct contradiction to her words.
He sighed and gave her one last kiss before he unwound her legs from his waist. She didn’t realize she still clung to his neck until he removed her arms, and chuckled. “Need help standing?”
Her cheeks flushed, and she glowered at him even as she leaned against the wall. Her knees were so weak she worried that not even the wall would be enough to save her from an embarrassing fall. He laughed in delight at her lack of composure, and the glare she shot him should have made him collapse into a pile of ashes.
She must have overestimated the strength of said glare, because his smile widened even more.
“If you’re done mocking me, you may go now.”
“I’m sorry.” He rushed out the door and shut the door firmly behind him. She didn’t need his superhuman powers to hear him sn
ickering on the other side as he walked away. She smiled in amusement at his laughter. On anyone else, it would have come across as cocky. On him, however, it seemed picture-perfect.
Damn him.
***
A few hours and a lot of written pages later, Sabrina sipped her coffee. She’d been productive, sure, but her mind never seemed to stray from Isaac for long.
Well, that hardly counted as top news. He had been a constant in her life since the first dream. Her body quivered as she thought about the kiss they’d shared earlier, the pure intensity of the embrace. Things had never gotten so heated between them as they had today, and Sabrina knew the time had come to take the next step. Though he slept by her side every night, holding her close to his delicious body, they had yet to seal the deal.
But, God, she loved when he kissed her and held her. She loved when he smiled, she loved—him.
Sitting straight, she choked on her coffee. Her hand flew to her throat as she coughed and struggled to breathe, but even while not breathing, she knew it to be true. She’d fallen in love. It didn’t surprise her a lot, really. He was the impeccable man, in almost every way. Hell, in every way. Who was she trying to fool, anyway?
She suspected, as well, that he loved her. And once she got over the shock of the realization, and the ensuing choking, really, it felt quite, well, perfect.
Now, she had only to tell him. Excitement coursed through her as she planned the evening in her head…strapless black dress, candles, red wine, and steak. Add in some red lingerie underneath and satiny-smooth skin would, hopefully, be too much for him to bear. And the coup de grace: telling him of her love.
It would be flawless.
A knock at the door pulled her from her fantasy, and she walked to the foyer in a daydream-filled daze. Isaac wouldn’t knock, so it must be Connor. She yanked the door open, gasping in surprise.
Nope. Definitely not Connor.
Chapter Nine
The shock must have been clearly written on her face, because her sister asked, “Surprised?”
“Uh…yeah. Marie, why didn’t you tell me you were coming? Not that I’m not thrilled or anything, but…wow. Are you alone?” She craned her head to look behind her sister, seeking signs of anyone else.
“Yup, it’s my last getaway before this little guy comes.” She rubbed her rounded stomach fondly as she grinned. Fascinated, Sabrina followed the movement and focused on her sister’s familiar face once more.
“Aww. You look great. Come in,” she invited, and made a sweeping gesture of her hand. Her mind spun in circles, amazed to see her sister in her house.
“I figured you’d be surprised. I just really wanted to see you, and this house of yours. I must admit, it is as gorgeous as you said. Stunning, even.”
“Thanks. Yeah, I love it.”
“It looks so isolated, but I saw a neighbor outside. Where are the other houses?”
Oh, don’t worry, that’s just Connor. He protects me from the evil vampire trying to kill me.
“What did he look like?”
“Black and gorgeous. And unbelievably tall.”
“Sounds like Connor. He is…yeah…he’s a neighbor.” Marie shot her a curious look at the stutter, and Sabrina flinched mentally.
Step up the game, Sabrina. This is Marie, not some stranger who is fooled by a smile.
Deciding to try anyway—what the heck, right?—she smiled. It got her a skeptical look in return.
Crap.
She almost groaned out loud at the mess she’d found herself in. The other Enforcers, besides Connor, would need to stay hidden, and Isaac would have to stop spending the night. The loss of his arms around her would hurt. Heck, it already did.
“So, I assume you are staying here?”
“If you wouldn’t mind….”
“I’d have it no other way. I have the most comfortable bed. You’ll see. I, of course, will take the couch.” She held up a hand at her sister’s protest. “I insist. My pregnant sister won’t be sleeping on the couch. End of discussion.”
“We could share—”
“Heck no. Last time you pushed me out of bed!” she exclaimed.
“I was ten,” Marie protested.
“Yeah, and you’re a lot bigger,” Sabrina gestured at Marie’s protruding stomach, “and have an extra person inside you. You’ll take the bed, I’ll take the couch.”
“Did you just call me fat?” Marie asked incredulously.
“No, I called you pregnant.”
“I show up on your doorstep unannounced, and you give me your bed. I’ve missed you.” She promptly burst into tears.
Ah, the joys of hormones and jet lag.
“Shh…don’t cry. You’ll ruin your makeup,” Sabrina half-joked. If anything would upset Marie more than being called fat, it was smudging her makeup. She pulled Marie into her arms and reached around her sister’s stomach to pat her on the back. “There, there now. Everything’s fine.”
“I’m sorry. I’m such a mess.”
“It’s okay. I’m sure you’re exhausted. Why don’t I show you the big, comfortable bed I told you about?” she asked soothingly.
“But I just got here. I haven’t seen anything yet.”
“Yeah, but if you go nap for an hour or two, you’ll be more alert. You’ll see so much more, I promise. Your baby needs a rest. Let’s go.”
“Well, maybe a little nap.” Marie spoke through a yawn. She followed Sabrina silently to the bed. Sabrina bit back a gasp when she pulled back the sheets and saw Isaac’s black shirt lying on the mattress. She tried to nonchalantly ball it up before Marie noticed the shirt, but failed. Her sister snickered and ripped the shirt from her hands.
“Sabrina Hodges, has a man been sleeping in this bed?”
She lunged for the shirt, but Marie moved it out of reach by holding it above her head. Marie stood five-foot-eight, easily towering over Sabrina. Anger washed over her at the childhood trick. She had hated it then, and hated it now.
“Marie, I am not above beating a pregnant woman, I swear,” she threatened. Her sister lowered the shirt, smiling apologetically, but raised it before Sabrina could snatch it back. To her dismay, Marie repeated this action three times before she got it back. She glared at her sister as she clutched the shirt to her chest and fought the urge to bring it to her nose to inhale Isaac’s scent.
“So, he sleeps here, or what? Don’t tell me you’re living together already. I know you’re smarter than that,” Marie stated.
Sabrina knew only one course to her sister’s interrogation. Pure denial. “Of course not. He spent the night once, only once. It just so happened to be last night. You barely missed running into him.”
Marie arched an eyebrow. “Part of the reason I came out here is because I’ve gotten a bad vibe from you lately. You’re always so distracted. You never seem to be listening to me, like you are in your own little universe, or something. I’m worried about you.”
Sabrina flushed. Perhaps she had been a bit preoccupied. But certainly it was normal to be distracted when you found out the man you loved was immortal, and loved you over a hundred years ago? Right?
She thought so, anyway.
“I’m sorry, Marie. My being unfocused isn’t Isaac’s fault, though. I’ve been busy writing, is all. Honestly. You know how distracted I can be when I’m sucked into my writing.” Liar. “Now get some rest, we’ll talk later, okay?”
“Okay, but I want to meet this paragon of a man, and soon,” Marie grumbled while climbing into bed.
“Yeah, sure,” she replied before closing the door and walking downstairs.
She couldn’t help but feel she had just escaped torture as she sat on the couch cradling her head in her hands. She’d missed Marie. God, she had. But now didn’t seem like a good time for a visit. Louisa lurked nearby. Close enough for the Enforcers to sense, but smart enough to evade capture.
And to top it off, Isaac would not be able to stay inside to protect them, so it left them even
more vulnerable. She’d never hear the end of the tirade Marie would throw her way if she knew he had all but moved in. So, she needed to hide it.
And hide it good, darn it.
She ran to her phone to call Isaac.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Isaac, we have a bit of an issue.”
“I’ll be there in two minutes,” he said in a rush and hung up. She sighed at his quick response and walked outside. She hadn’t meant to pull him away from work, but if he’d come on foot—and he probably had—he was already halfway here.
She might as well tell him in person, and maybe get a kiss or two to hold her over. She paced across the walkway for a few steps before deciding to head into the woods for more privacy. She didn’t want Marie to overhear them. And besides, Isaac could follow her scent.
She found a cozy clearing and sat on a stone to await Isaac. Not long after, she heard a twig snap behind her, and she jumped to her feet, eager to feel his arms close around her and hold her close. His lips were compressed, and his face shuttered. She stopped in mid-flight to his arms.
“It’s okay, nothing’s wrong. I just had some bad news.”
He didn’t seem to hear her, asking instead, “Why are you here, Sabrina?”
“Here? You mean in the woods? I wanted privacy. What’s the problem?” she asked in confusion, before an idea dawned on her. “Oh, God, is there another mongrel loose?”
“No, I’m sorry. I guess I’m a bit paranoid after your phone call. Why do you need privacy?” He quickly changed the subject as he ran his hand through his hair.
Well, he’d obviously been upset by something if he did that.
“My sister decided to surprise me with a visit. I have no doubt it’s because she wants to meet you, and see what’s going on between us. She already found your shirt in my room.” Sabrina sighed.
He cringed. “Oh, well this does complicate things. I’m guessing she wouldn’t like to see her sister spending every night with a man she just met?”
“No, she wouldn’t. She’s already given me the third degree about how much time we spend together, and why your shirt is here, etcetera.”
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