Exquisite Breath of Darkness

by Candice Stauffer

  He jumped to his feet and caught her wrist. She tugged on her arm, but he kept it and forced her to turn around. He stood motionless as he stared down at her. It was a single moment that seemed to last for forever. “I didn’t do anything to cause it.” When she attempted to pull her wrist out of his grip, he pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her. “I did not do it.” He rested his chin on top of her head.

  “Yes, you did. I know it was you. It wasn’t me. That doesn’t happen to me. I don’t have urges like that. I don’t even want to have sex with you.”

  That brought a smile to his face. “You’re lying. You want me. You’re just not ready.” He lifted her chin to force her to look into his eyes. “I don’t mind waiting. What we have between us is much more than sexual chemistry.”

  “I am well aware of that. You want it all. You need it all, Joseph.” The sadness in her voice caused his heart to ache. All he wanted, all he needed at that moment, was to comfort her. “You deserve to have it all.” She closed her eyes. “But if you choose me you will never be able to have it all. It will end before it truly begins.”

  “Look at me.” He framed her face with his hand and traced her lips with his thumb. “It’s not a matter of if I choose you. I chose you the day we met. And with you, I have it all.” He moved his hand to cradle the nape of her neck, his fingers massaging gently as he pressed her head against his chest. “Without you I have nothing at all.”

  He felt her resolve to put some distance between them, but as she shoved at his shoulders and chest, he also felt her need to get closer to him, to feel the heat of his flesh against her. “You’re being irrational, Joseph.” He felt her confusion, her frustration, but above all else he felt her love for him, her aching, burning need for him.

  “Me? You’re the one freaking out over a kiss. Why are you upset now? It’s not like it was the first time I’ve ever kissed you.”

  “That wasn’t you kissing me, Joseph. That was me practically raping you.”

  “First, in this case, practically doesn’t count.” Winking, he pointed down at his still swollen, hard-as-a-rock, aching-like-hell cock. “And second, you can’t rape the eager and willing, angel.” Just as he knew she would do, she stared down at his crotch.

  Looking up at him, she blushed. “You’re going to get your ass kicked if you keep smiling at me like that.” There were tears in her voice. “Nothing about what just happened is even a tiny bit funny. And it’s never happening again.” She turned away from him to leave.

  “Where are you going?”

  “The boutique. I have a busy day”

  “You might want to button your shirt first.”

  “I really, truly hate you with all of my heart.” She pulled her shirt together and buttoned it up, and then she glanced over her shoulder. “And soul. Definitely my soul.”

  Using supernatural speed he got in front of the door before she reached it. Lifting her chin, she glared up at him. “Move out of my way.”

  “Do you still plan to paint the boutique tonight?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll be there around eight to help you.” He bent his head and nuzzled her ear as he reached behind her and pulled her skirt down over her hips. “You’ve a beautiful, sexy ass, but I’m betting you would rather not show it off from here to your boutique.” She opened her mouth as if to respond, but he silenced her with a gentle and yet passionate kiss. “It’s okay—there’s no need to thank me. I also would rather you not show it off.”

  “Very funny.” She smiled, but the pain in her eyes caused his heart to ache.

  He rested his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry I allowed it to get out of control.”

  “It’s not your fault.” She stepped beyond him, unlocked the door, opened it, and then stepped out into the hallway, but then she stopped and turned to face him again. “And, Joseph, I’m sorry I came in here accusing you. Do you know what caused me to get all freaky on you? Is it the morphine?”

  “I do. And, no, it had nothing to do with morphine.”

  “Tell me what caused it.”

  “I will explain it all to you when I come over to help you tonight.”

  “I want to know now. Why wait?”

  It wasn’t something he could explain quickly. Plus, he really didn’t know what to say or how to say it. He wanted a little time to think about it. And he had no idea how she was going to take it. “I have an urgent appointment I need to keep.” It was a lie. Since he’d chased Larissa out he didn’t have much to do at all, but he figured it was a necessary, harmless lie.

  “You will tell me everything later, right?”

  “I promise,” he lied again. He had no intention of telling her about Eli. Again, it was a necessary lie. Okay. So it wasn’t necessary, but he was demon; he could lie with impunity. There was no way in hell he was going to tell the only woman he would ever love that she belonged to another man.

  “I’m sorry for blaming you.” She took a deep breath and released it slowly. “And I really am sorry for rushing in here like a sex-crazed lunatic and attacking you.”

  To prevent her from seeing how close he was to laughing, he pulled her closer to cradle her head against his chest. He bent his head and kissed the top of her head. “That’s too bad. I’m not sorry at all.”

  Since his shirt was still open he felt her smile against his chest. “You’re such a man. And you’d better not post anything about this.”

  “I’m glad you noticed. And no worries, I would never want the world to know you rushed into my office and threw me to the floor and jumped on top of me and tried to have your way with me like some sex-crazed lunatic.” Yep. It was another lie.

  She leaned back and looked up at him. “I swear I’ll kick your ass if you do it.” She stood on the very tips of her toes and kissed his cheek. “And I’ll make sure you don’t enjoy it.” He figured she was just as talented at lying as he was. They were a great match.

  It was at that moment Joseph was reminded some demons, most likely due the ‘damned souls for all of eternity’ thing, had the worst luck. He just happened to be one of those with the worst of the worst.

  ~ Three ~

  TERESA, JOSEPH’S MURDERING ex-wife straight from the lowest pits of hell, walked up from behind Mia and shoved her way into his office. “Hurry up and get rid of your filthy little plaything. I need to talk to you right now.”

  Mia’s reaction was instant and quite noticeable since he was holding her close. He heard her growl and felt every muscle in her body bunch. He held her a little tighter, knowing she was about two seconds away from kicking Teresa’s ass.

  He knew that Mia’s temper had nothing to do with being called his filthy plaything. Oh, no. Mia wasn’t type to lose it over being called names. She was a tad bit overly protective of the people she loved, and she hated Teresa and her lover because they had left him for dead, buried in the basement.

  Until that moment he’d managed to prevent them from having a face-to-face encounter because he knew it was going to be bad. Really bad. “It’s okay, Mia. I’ll see you in a few hours. I can handle her.”

  Palms pushing against his chest, Mia laughed. But there was no good humor in it at all. It sounded cold and condescending. “I bet you can.”

  For nearly two years before meeting Mia, he’d played along and tormented Teresa and her lover by making them believe he was haunting them from the grave they’d placed him in. It was great fun. Or so he’d thought. Mia didn’t see it that way, though. She had somehow gotten the notion he was an innocent victim. She’d come to the conclusion his heart had been broken and he’d fallen into despair and played dead. Despite all she knew about his power, she failed to accept that he could’ve prevented it all from happening.

  Admittedly, it had been a bit disheartening to have his wife plot his demise and actually carry it out, but he was far from depressed over it. He didn’t love Teresa. At one point, in the beginning of their relationship, he’d believed he loved her enough to spe
nd a mortal lifetime with her. But after meeting and falling in love with Mia, he’d learned he had never truly been in love with Teresa at all.

  Basically, he’d married Teresa because he was desperate to fill the void in his heart created by hundreds of years of searching for his one true love and never finding her. He’d given up hope, believing he’d failed to find his true love during her lifetime. At first he’d thought what he felt for Teresa would be enough, but their marriage went downhill within months when he lost interest in her. He tried to fake it for a while, but in the end, he ended up with a hole in his heart thanks to Teresa’s lover being such a great shot.

  * * *

  Mia wiggled and, hands pressed against Joseph’s chest, tried to shove herself out of his arms. He didn’t budge an inch. That pissed her off nearly as much his trying to rush her out of his office before Teresa arrived. Keeping her jaw clenched in a mock smile, she looked up at him. “Let go of me, Joseph.”

  Without looking down at her, he shook his head. “Nope.” Pressing her closer, he tightened his hold on her. “I don’t think so. Not right now. I want you to calm down first.”

  Face pressed against his chest, she mumbled, “You’re crushing me, Joseph.” He loosened his arms enough for her to catch her breath and look up at him again. This time he looked down at her. “Why do look worried, Joseph? I’m perfectly fine with continuing our not-so-important conversation later. I’ve no intention of disrupting your urgent appointment.”

  “Aww, fuck.” He blinked down at her. “Is that what you think?” He shook his head. “You’re wrong, Mia. That is not why I—”

  “Cut the crap, Joseph,” Mia blurted. “I shouldn’t have come here today. I’ll figure it out myself.” She wasn’t mad at him. Not really. Being shoved aside didn’t feel good, but he didn’t owe her anything. Teresa had been his wife. If he wanted to spend more time with the homicidal bitch who killed him and left him for dead, it was none of her business. Of course, that didn’t mean she didn’t want to make Teresa suffer for it. And one day she would. Oh, yeah. She would make sure Teresa regretted hurting Joseph.

  “You’re wrong, Mia.”

  “What?”

  Mia was shocked when, rather than tell her how he felt about her, Joseph showed her right there in front of Teresa. He bent his head and kissed her long and hard. She couldn’t deny she liked it. A lot. Her desire for him exploded into flames of lust, and she returned his kiss with just as much love, passion, and longing as he was kissing her with.

  Mia almost forgot Teresa was there until she felt Joseph’s growl vibrate against her lips when Teresa smacked the back of his head and caused Joseph’s face to bump against hers. “You dirty, rotten, cheating bastard! Get the hell away from the bitch!” Teresa’s high-pitched voice caused Mia’s ears to ring.

  When Joseph broke off the kiss, he rested his forehead against Mia’s and stared into her eyes. “I am crazy about you. You are all the matters to me. I cannot live without you.” He kissed her once more. It was an amazingly slow, gentle, tender kiss containing enough love in it to take her breath away. “I love you, Mia, only you, forever you.” He didn’t have to tell her. His kiss had already whispered the words to her heart. The proof of it was right there in his eyes as he stared down at her.

  “Get away from her!” It would’ve been the most perfect romantic moment if Teresa hadn’t been there to smack the back of Joseph’s head again and cause his forehead to bump against hers. “Don’t you dare keep ignoring me, Joseph!”

  Mia knew Joseph was too much of a man to hit Teresa no matter how many times she hit him. That was a good thing. He didn’t need to stoop to being a woman beater—Mia was there to do the woman beating for him. She smiled up at him. “Let go of me, Joseph.”

  “No.” Mia wanted to laugh. He looked genuinely confused and worried. He clearly didn’t know what the hell to do.

  “Now.” Nodding, he released her, but Mia could tell by the way he was watching her that he was ready to throw himself between her and Teresa. Mia smiled. “I wouldn’t recommend it, Joseph.”

  “You’re leaving. I’ll come by later, Mia.” He turned away from her to face Teresa.

  “Huh?” Mia had to wonder if Joseph truly believed that, after he’d kissed her like a man truly, completely in love with a woman, she would leave him there alone with the woman who had tried to kill him. “It’s not happening.” Though there was really no risk of Teresa physically hurting him, Mia wasn’t about to leave him. She loved him. And she had his back. “You’re not getting rid of me right now.”

  Teresa slapped Joseph across the face hard. “Stop talking to her!”

  “Don’t hit him again,” Mia said.

  “Mia, please leave.” Sweat beading on his forehead, he glanced over his shoulder at her. “I’ll come by later.”

  Mia rolled her eyes back. “You’re wasting your breath. It’s not happening. I’m not leaving you right now.”

  “What do you think you’re doing, Joseph?” When Joseph turned to face Teresa, she slapped him right across the face again. “I told you not to talk to her.”

  Mia didn’t think about the consequences; she rushed past Joseph and shoved Teresa against the wall. “Stop hitting him.”

  When Mia released her, Teresa pulled herself away from the wall and then shot Mia a dirty look. “What the hell do you think you’re doing screwing around with my husband?” Rather than say the words, she spat them out. “And don’t think for a minute you can tell me what I can or can’t do with him.”

  Mia lifted her lip in a silent snarl. “Joseph is your ex-husband. And just so you know, I know about you trying to kill him. You should be in prison. You’re lucky he never turned you in. Oh, and for your fucking information, I will never stop screwing around with him. Unlike you, when I find a good thing I keep it around. I don’t throw it away. And if you hit him again I swear I’ll kick your ass.”

  Placing her hand over her chest, Teresa gasped. “You admit it? You’re screwing him?”

  “Yep. I sure am.” Mia nodded. “And I’m doing it as often as possible.”

  Joseph took Mia’s arm and gently pulled her away from Teresa. “Thank you, Mia. But I can take care of this.”

  Mia reached up and pulled the collar of his shirt to coax him to come closer to her. And that’s exactly what he did. He bent his head to receive her kiss. “I don’t know why you would do anything to lose him. He’s the most fabulous screw,” she whispered against his lips just loud enough for Teresa to hear.

  “You’re very naughty, Mia,” he teased.

  The warmth of his breath on her mouth caused her heart to beat a little quicker. “Isn’t that why you like me?”

  “It’s only one of the many reasons.” Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her deeply as he lifted her and spun around to use his body to shield her from Teresa. Apparently ignoring Teresa’s protests, he took time kissing Mia, pouring his love into it. Then, once again ruining an otherwise perfect moment, Teresa hit the back of the head and started screaming belligerently.

  Seeming to remain perfectly calm, Joseph framed Mia’s face between his hands. “I look forward to seeing you later.” Then, as if he expected Mia to leave, Joseph turned to face Teresa.

  “Nice try.” Grinning, Mia smacked his ass. “Have I ever told you that you have a fabulous ass, Joseph?”

  Joseph looked over his shoulder at her. “Not recently.”

  “Well, you … oh hell, Joseph. Stop acting like an idiot. You know me well enough to know I’m not going to leave you here so the bitch can keep hitting you.”

  “Who do you think you’re calling a bitch?” Teresa yelped.

  “You.” In Mia’s opinion it was good Joseph wasn’t hitting Teresa back. But he should at least attempt block the blows. “I called you a bitch. And don’t hit him again. If you want to hit someone hit me.”

  “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay out of this.” Teresa glared at Mia for a few seconds, apparently expecting
her to back down. When Mia didn’t, she returned her focus to hitting Joseph. “Get rid of her now, or I will—”

  Mia interrupted. “You aren’t doing a damn thing to hurt him ever again.”

  “Really?” Teresa asked.

  “Yes.” Mia nodded. Then she took a step closer to Teresa. “And if you have half a brain you’ll get the hell out of here before I kick your ass.”

  Teresa moved closer to Joseph and grabbed his arm as if he would protect her. “Tell the bitch to get lost.”

  Shrugging Teresa’s hand off him while a muscle ticked in his jaw, Joseph stared into Mia’s eyes. You will not like how this ends if you provoke her to hit you.

  Unlike you, I don’t plan on standing here like a jackass and allowing her to hit me. Plus, you’re not going to hit a woman.

  I don’t need to touch her to kill her. “I’ll deal with this, Mia.” Joseph said. “And I will see you later.”