Dark Choices: Paradigm Shift (The Children Of The Gods Paranormal Romance Series Book 42)

by I. T. Lucas

  “I didn’t use to, but even Kian, the biggest skeptic of them all, is a convert. How else would you explain your attraction to me? Out of all the clan females who paraded themselves in front of you and Hivak, you fixated on me, the most unattractive, emotionally unavailable of them all.”

  He frowned. “I don’t want to hear you talking this way about yourself or about me. I saw the precious gem hidden underneath the ugly clothes and the stern expression, and I’m quite proud of myself for snatching the best of the best. By crediting your damn Fates with that, you are insulting me as well as yourself.”

  40

  Edna

  Rufsur was not pretending to be angry, he really was, which was kind of sweet.

  Frankly, Edna also preferred to think that he’d chosen her because of her, and not some grand scheme orchestrated by the Fates.

  “Okay. Forget that I said it. Let’s focus on what’s important, shall we?”

  He didn’t look happy with her answer. “I need to know that you agree with me. I’m willing to concede that the Fates might have had something to do with you walking by the café when I was there, but that’s all. The rest was all me.”

  She smiled. “My okay was meant to convey all that.”

  “What about you? Did you choose me? Or did your Fates choose me for you?”

  Edna leaned and kissed his cheek. “Your dimples were the first thing I noticed about you, that and the cocky smile. You reminded me of Robbie.”

  “That’s all? I look like the one you lost?”

  Damn. Men could be so touchy. Rufsur’s disappointment was practically palpable.

  “The resemblance is superficial at best, but it was what caught my attention. The rest is all you. Besides, I apparently have a type, and you are it.” She smiled. “I like cocky guys who are sweet on the inside and don’t take themselves too seriously, and who know how to have fun. Although I have to admit that the dimples and the broad shoulders had something to do with it as well.”

  He let out a breath. “I can live with that.”

  “Good.” She patted his bicep. “Now let’s think about how we can make it work for everyone. Kalugal’s biggest objection is his need for independence. What exactly does it mean to him?”

  “He feels paralyzed in the village. He suspects that the devices Kian lent us are being monitored, so he can’t conduct his business from here because he doesn’t want Kian in it. Also, he acquires many startups, and most of them are in the Bay Area. Living here will make it difficult, but that could be solved with weekly or biweekly visits. Private communication is what will make or break the deal for him. He would also want complete autonomy in everything other than security. I think that he sees the advantages of living in a larger community and combining his force with the clan’s to safeguard it.”

  “I don’t know how we can solve that conundrum. The village's safety depends on all communication going in and out being encrypted, rerouted, and impossible to track back. That means using clan-issued devices. Perhaps William could segregate them and provide Kalugal with a private network within the clan’s larger one. I will need to talk to him about it.”

  “Kalugal will not trust anything engineered by William.”

  Edna nodded. “And Kian will not let Kalugal’s tech guy mess with our communication system either.”

  Rufsur waved a dismissive hand. “Ruvon wouldn’t know where to start, and he is the best we have. In any case, this is not something that you or I can figure out. We don’t have the technological knowhow.”

  “True. But let’s assume for a moment that William finds a workable solution to the communications problem. What else do you think Kalugal will want as far as autonomy?”

  “For starters, to come and go as he pleases. He might want our people to have their own neighborhood within the village. Perhaps that new plot that Kian is developing. One thing I’m sure of. He would want to design his own house and make it at least as fancy as the one he has now. He is not fond of the egalitarian style you have here in your village.”

  “That shouldn’t be a problem if he pays for it.”

  “If Kalugal accepts the idea, he will pay for everything.”

  “That could be a good selling point with Kian. The question is, how do we package the rest so he thinks it’s a good bargain? Since security is his main concern, he will probably want me to probe each one of the men. Is there a chance your boss is going to submit to that?”

  Rufsur shook his head. “No chance in hell. The same way he doesn’t want Kian in his business, he doesn’t want him or you in his head.”

  “Right. I can understand that. I wish there was a binding pledge that he could take not to make a move against the clan, but such a thing doesn’t exist.”

  “And I also doubt that he will agree to wearing the cuff all of the time. You will need to convince Kian that Annani’s power over Kalugal should be enough.”

  Edna shook her head. “I can’t do that. Kalugal can protect himself from Annani’s compulsion by wearing earplugs.”

  Once again, she had the niggling suspicion that Rufsur was maneuvering her exactly where he wanted her, and that she was endangering the clan by believing in his good intentions.

  Without the cuff, they were all vulnerable to Kalugal’s compulsion. He could compel the Guardians to move against Kian, or even against the goddess.

  Was she in danger of letting a Trojan horse into her community?

  41

  Rufsur

  Rufsur had felt the moment he’d lost Edna. Evidently, the cuff was a deal breaker, and he needed to find a solution around it.

  “If Kalugal lives in the newly developed area, it can be fenced off, and he will only need to put the cuff on when he crosses the border. As long as he stays on his side of the fence, he can go without. Would that put your mind at ease?”

  “What about everyone else who lives in that enclave? What if he compels them to attack us?”

  Rufsur sighed. “I see that we are back to square one. Why would he?”

  “I don’t know. But I don’t want to risk it.”

  “What if a resistance starts in your village, and some idiot manages to convince people that Kian is the root of all evil and needs to be taken down? Even though it’s highly unlikely, it could happen. You can’t foresee and prevent every scenario.”

  Edna shook her head. “I need to give my brain a break.”

  “I agree.” He reached for her and lifted her off the barstool. “I have an idea for what we can do while your brain rests.”

  Smiling, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Take a bath?”

  He stifled a relieved breath. For a moment, it had looked as though he had lost her, but she seemed to have shaken it off, and he had her back. “Actually, it’s not a bad idea. I’ve never made love in a bathtub.”

  “You haven’t?”

  “Nope.” Holding her in his arms, he pushed to his feet and walked toward her bedroom. “It didn’t appeal to me until now.”

  Edna laughed. “Tell me the truth, Rufsur. No one has ever invited you into her bathtub.”

  “True. But I didn’t suggest it either.” He used his foot to push the bathroom door open, walked in, and seated her on the vanity counter. “Wait here. I want to undress you, but first, I need to start the water in the tub.”

  “Okay. But take your shirt off so I have a nice view while I wait.”

  “No problem.” He whipped the shirt over his head and flexed his pectorals. “Do you like what you see?”

  “Very much so.” She spread her legs and pulled him in between them. “Kiss me.”

  Edna’s mood had certainly improved.

  Cupping the back of her neck, he brushed his lips over hers, teasing her with feather-soft kisses.

  She let him get away with that for about thirty seconds, then threaded her fingers through his curls and kissed him back.

  That was one of the big advantages of sex with an immortal female. Finally, he could allow a woman to k
iss him without fear of her discovering his fangs before he was ready.

  But then she swirled her tongue around his left fang, and his erection punched up as if it was electrified.

  He pulled back. “Save it for the bathtub. Otherwise, we are never going to get there.”

  Edna laughed. “Okay, big boy.”

  Adjusting the club in his pants, he pivoted on his heel and leaned over the tub to turn the water on.

  “That’s a nice view. But it would be even nicer without the pants.”

  “Patience, tigress.” He wiggled his butt at her.

  “Ugh, you are so naughty. Take those pants off already.”

  Rufsur smiled. Edna was loosening up rapidly, and he was very happy to take credit for it. The woman was changing right in front of his eyes, blossoming, and knowing that it was thanks to him was incredibly satisfying.

  Perhaps changing wasn’t the right term, though. What he was seeing was glimpses of the way Edna used to be before grief had wiped out her smiles, turning her into the severe matron he’d encountered his first day in the village.

  When the water temperature was just right, he pushed up and sauntered back to her. “There is something to be said for your button-down genderless shirts. I love popping the buttons one by one and unveiling you. But first, I have to do this.” He reached behind her and pulled out the pins holding her bun. “I like your new hairstyle. It’s softer.” He fanned her hair out over her shoulders. “But you should try to just wear it loose like this.” He smoothed his hands over the strands, brushing against her breasts at the same time.

  “If I do that, people would not recognize me.”

  “Then you will reintroduce yourself.” He popped the first button. “You’ll say, hi, I’m the new Edna, nice to meet you.” He popped another one.

  “They will call Vanessa to come to take me away.”

  “Who is Vanessa?” He popped the last one and pushed the shirt off her shoulders.

  “The clan’s shrink.”

  “Why does the clan have a shrink?” He reached behind her and opened the bra clasp.

  “Immortals have emotional problems too.”

  “I’m having a problem now.” He pushed the bra straps down her arms. “I’m horny as hell, and I don’t know what to do first.”

  Smiling, Edna leaned back on her forearms. “I’ll walk you through it. First, pull my pants down.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  42

  Edna

  Once the last item of Edna’s clothing hit the floor, Rufsur lifted her up and carried her to the bathtub. “Let me check if the temperature is right.” He sat on the ledge and dipped his hand in the water. “Feels right to me, but you might want to make sure.”

  Lazily, she moved her leg over and put her toes in. “It’s perfect.”

  As he smiled, his cheeks dimpled adoringly. “I like making things perfect for you. I wish I could do that with more than just the bathwater, though.”

  “You are so sweet.” She cupped his cheek and kissed him softly.

  He kissed her back, and as her nipples pebbled, she rubbed them against his chest.

  “You’re cold.” He lifted her up and lowered her gently into the water.

  Cupping her breasts, Edna brushed her thumbs over her hard nipples. “I wasn’t cold. I was needy.”

  “Oh.” He popped his jeans button and pushed his pants down together with the undershorts. “Then I’d better hurry up and take care of this for you.”

  “Yes, please.” She eyed his erection with unabashed interest.

  The man was built beautifully all over, and she planned on kissing and licking every inch of his magnificent body. Except, Edna knew from experience that Rufsur wouldn’t let her do that until he’d given her at least a couple of orgasms.

  That was the flip side of having a dominant lover. She enjoyed having him in charge of her pleasure, especially since he was so good at it, but she wanted to return the favor, and he had a hard time lying back and letting her pleasure him.

  Sliding in behind her, Rufsur brushed her hair aside and kissed her neck. “Just relax and let me wash you.”

  She had no problem with that.

  With a sigh, Edna leaned her head on his chest and closed her eyes. “You’re spoiling me.”

  “I delight in it.”

  He sounded so sincere that even her inner skeptic remained silent.

  Edna’s defensive walls were crumbling, and she felt like a flower bulb that had been stubbornly refusing to unfurl its petals for over three centuries until Rufsur came along and coaxed her to blossom.

  She was enjoying him too much, but lying on his hard chest while his big hands smoothed over her breasts felt too good to let doubts and worry ruin the pleasure.

  For the next couple of hours, she was going to turn off her overactive mind and just feel.

  The gentle glide of his soapy hands over her breasts had her nipples tighten even more, and as his thumbs and forefingers wrapped around the achy tips, a throaty moan escaped her lips.

  Rolling them gently, he kissed her shoulder, then licked it, and finally nipped at the soft skin. “You’re good enough to eat.”

  The images his words evoked had her core tighten in anticipation.

  Reading her body as if he was attuned to every nuance, Rufsur slid his palm down her belly and cupped her hot center. “Are you wet for me, my delight?” His breath tickled her ear.

  “Yes.”

  As the heel of his palm pressed against the top of her slit, massaging gently, he kissed up her neck until he reached her ear, nipped it lightly, then kissed his way down to her shoulder.

  Rocking her hips on his palm, she was grinding her ass against his hard erection at the same time, and given the harsh breaths fanning over her neck and shoulder, he was getting just as worked up as she was.

  “I think that I’m clean enough.” She reached behind her, took hold of his straining shaft, lifted up, and then pushed down, impaling herself on his hard length.

  Rufsur groaned. “You feel so good, my delight.”

  She repeated the move, lifting off him and then pushing down again. “How about now?”

  “Even better.” His fingers closed on both sides of her hips and he lifted her, then slammed her down.

  As the water sloshed over the side of the tub, flooding the floor, Edna shifted to her knees and leaned forward.

  He followed, easing onto her back and wrapping one arm around her middle. Bracing his weight on his other arm, he pushed back in.

  The penetration was deeper at this angle, wresting a gasp from her throat.

  Bracing her hands on the tub’s back lip, Edna dropped her head and watched as he surged back in.

  It was so arousing to watch his shaft pistoning in and out of her.

  His mouth latched onto her shoulder, but he didn’t bite down. Instead, he licked and sucked on the skin until his thrusts became too powerful and too fast to maintain the seal.

  She loved how he felt wrapped around her, his massive body straining, his chest muscles bunching against her back, but she loved how he felt inside her even more. The fullness of him, the smooth glide that was a perfect fit.

  As his arm tightened around her belly and his fingers found her engorged clit, the pressure built up in seconds and then snapped. The orgasm blazing over her body melted her bones and muscles, and if not for Rufsur’s arm holding her up, she would have collapsed.

  And then he hissed, and a moment later, she felt the twin incisions of his fangs. The sharp, burning pain ignited another blaze, and as the cool venom entered her vein, a third and a fourth.

  Soaring on a euphoric cloud, Edna floated, weightless, boneless. But it didn’t last long, or at least it didn’t feel as if a long time had passed, and yet when she came back down, she was lying on Rufsur’s chest.

  “I need to stop passing out like that,” she murmured.

  He kissed her shoulder. “Why? Don’t you like how it feels?”

  “I l
ove it. But I don’t like losing control.”

  “I know, baby.” He cupped her cheek and turned her head so he could kiss her. “But you can let go with me. I’ll keep you safe.”

  43

  Kian

  Kian headed to the gym with mixed feelings. So far, Richard had been induced by Bowen, Leon, and Arwel, and none of it had worked. He also hadn’t bonded with any of the females he’d been with, but he was well liked.

  Out of the females, Ingrid and Marla seemed to like him the most, but more as a friend with benefits than a potential mate. Leon and Bowen considered him a good friend, and Arwel had spoken on his behalf, but that was probably because Jin had asked him to do it.

  The truth was that Kian liked the guy as well. Even though he was pushy and far from smooth, he was light-hearted, and his company was pleasant, which was the reason Kian was giving him another chance.

  The affinity wasn’t strong, but it was there, so maybe Richard had very diluted genes, and that was why he hadn’t transitioned yet.

  There was also another possibility.

  All the other Dormants who’d transitioned successfully had a prior emotional connection to an immortal. In some cases, the bond had been just at the beginning stages of forming, and in other cases, it had already been pretty solid, but Richard had none. Perhaps a bond was another factor in the transition?

  Then again, Eva and Kalugal had no connection at all when they hooked up all those years ago, and she transitioned after only one bite.

  Perhaps only male Dormants needed a bond to transition?

  Or maybe Kalugal being three-quarters god had something to do with Eva’s quick transition. Given that Jacki was a weak immortal, which meant that her genes were also diluted, her transition should have been more problematic, but thanks to Kalugal’s venom, it had been quite effortless.

  So much was still unknown that the process seemed to be more alchemy than science.