Out of her element around him and his flirtatious ways, she sat in the armchair across from the couch. His request to sit next to him ignored since she couldn’t trust herself to not jump on his lap. Her lack of self-control surprised her. She allowed her eyes to roam his handsome face to his bare chest, each time she jerked them back up to meet his stare, they’d meander back down to those well-defined muscles.
An unfamiliar quiet filled the living room, where laughter and banter normally flooded the space. “Is anyone else home?”
“No.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. The heat in his gaze grew as he made his interest in her clearer. “We have the place to ourselves. What did you have in mind?”
Not sure what to do with the invitation, she blushed even more as the room became warmer.
What she had in mind was to tear her clothes off and let him have his way with her, but the Omegas could walk in at any moment. “Where did they go?” she croaked, her mouth and throat gone dry.
His smile widened as the burning heat in his eyes turned into amusement. “I’ve sent them on a mission.” He snickered to himself. “See…” He gestured around the room. “They don’t have a television, and I really need to watch football this weekend. I have a division of Pal Robi Security housed not far from here, so I’ve sent them to steal theirs.”
She raised her eyebrows, her anxiety and insecurity combusted in her fury. “You want them to steal for you?” The nerve this vampire displayed, to turn her kind-hearted friends into thieves.
It made her blood boil. A mission indeed. She knew hiring him would be a mistake.
He leaned against the couch, his arms along the back. “Is taking stuff from yourself stealing? Technically, I own the television.”
She stood up, hands on her hips. “Will your security see it that way?”
“No.”
She stepped closer to him. “They’ll hurt them, Daedalus. This isn’t a joke. Your contract stated they wouldn’t get injured.”
He stood up, and up, to overshadow her. She felt small and fragile next to him.
The sexy smile faded. “Don’t quote my contract to me. A little ass kicking is part of the training. They’re werewolves, Sugar, not human. My security can’t damage them too much. They can take more of a beating than you think, or for that matter, than they think. If the Omegas don’t stop fearing pain they may as well concede the challenge to the Ayumu pack.”
“Is that so bad?”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Instead of fighting? I don’t want any of them to get hurt. If they can’t win, they should concede or run away.”
“Who said they can’t win?”
His question slapped her across the face. “Win? Eric and Robert are computer programmers. Katrina’s a waitress in Chinatown, Tyler’s a real estate agent, and Sam delivers pizza. Not exactly warrior material.”
“The problem is you see them in only a human perspective. They went against pack instinct to follow their alphas, for whatever reason, and banded together. Do you have any idea how difficult that is or how unique they are? It takes strength of character. They’ll win with some guidance.”
“What kind of guarantee can you offer them?”
He shook his head. “None.”
“They agreed to this?”
“They didn’t have a choice, sweetness.” His voice became tender as he pushed her hair behind an ear. “I understand you care for them, but coddling them won’t help defend their freedom. Do you want them to become the scapegoats of the Ayumu? Where the pack could take their frustrations out on them?”
She shrugged his hand away and looked at her feet. “Of course not.” In her book, violence only begot violence. Nothing she did or said would keep the Omegas safe. She hated to admit it, but maybe Daedalus could save them.
His sigh caught her attention, and she brought her head up. He’d sat on the couch again, his arms crossed over his bare chest while he watched her.
She sat on the edge of the armchair, determined not to apologize for her beliefs. “Does it need to be a fight to the death? There has got to be some other way for packs to resolve things.”
His expression did not soften with her heartfelt words. “There used to be. The werewolf packs have diminished over the centuries due to infighting and territory wars. Many of the young were left untrained in the ways of honor. After corresponding with Eric, it became clear pack issues are getting worse, with slavery and crime being among them. The Omegas are damaged goods but young and good hearted. It’s a sad time when a vampire needs to teach werewolves how to be ‘pack.’ I’ll do my best to instruct them.”
“In the ‘ways of honor?’”
He chuckled. “No, they’re not ready.” He grinned and leaned toward her. “Did I pass my interview?”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes. I didn’t come here to grill you though. I wanted to invite them to dinner tomorrow.”
“Their schedule is pretty full. I’ll pass the message on.” He arched a brow. “What about me?”
“Huh?”
“Am I invited?”
“Oh, of course. I didn’t know you could eat.”
“I can’t, but I’d like the company.”
“Sure, you’re welcome to come over.” What was she doing? She did her best to keep herself isolated, to keep her life quiet and stress free. This struggle became harder when she’d adopted her werewolf neighbors as friends. Now she found herself lusting after a kickass vampire. Had she lost her mind?
She rose to her feet. “I should go.” On the way to the door she could sense his presence close behind her.
The visit went better than she’d expected. Not an Omega to be seen, but her conversation with Daedalus cleared a few of her concerns. She didn’t think Daedalus would lead them astray.
It wasn’t every day she got to spend time conversing with a half-naked, sexy vampire. Maybe she could be friends with him, hopefully more. Why did he have this effect on her? There were a lot of good looking men in the world, but she didn’t lust after them like a cat in heat.
He undid the locks and opened the door for her.
Something he’d said about the werewolf packs nagged at her. She looked back at him and tried not to get caught up into his dark blue eyes. “When you spoke of the werewolf packs’ changes over the centuries, it sounded like you experienced it yourself. You’re very old, aren’t you?”
He barked a surprised laugh. “What a horrid thing to say.”
“I didn’t mean... I meant... I’m sorry.” She touched his shoulder, then jerked her hand away.
A thrill electrified her fingers where they’d touched his skin.
He continued to smile and took her hand. “I would have said ‘experienced.’” He pressed his full, lush lips to the back of it, his stare never leaving hers. The kiss felt warm and moist. The gesture sent tingles straight to her pussy, making her wet.
She bit her bottom lip to prevent a moan from escaping. The sensation of his mouth against her skin lingered on her all the way back to her apartment.
What should she do? He represented all the things she feared—adventure, violence and passion. After his kiss, she expected it to be hot, dirty, really great passion. He could easily seduce her, and although excited at the prospect, she worried that he’d steal her heart. She needed to lock it away to avoid attachment. Falling in love with an immortal being would only lead to sorrow.
She needed to keep this as a fun little fling.
• • • •
Daedalus closed the door, her taste still on his lips. He’d been pleased when he’d first smelled her scent as she stood in the hallway and debated with herself about knocking on his door. Fear and anxiety intertwined in her luscious smell, but so did desire.
Her loyalty to her friends drew him to her even more. He admired such qualities. He also admired the curves of her breasts and the way her worn jeans fit snug to her nice ass.
He needed to stop thinking with hi
s cock when he was around her. At first, he’d thought a late night tryst would be possible, but clearly her relationship with the Omegas involved more than being just a neighbor. When she jumped up in anger at his description of tonight’s mission, and the vehemence flashed from her eyes, it took all his restraint to not kiss her. Their simmering attraction could be fanned into an inferno.
He needed to cool off. She represented all the things tender and gentle he lacked in his existence. Since she’d left a hollowness filled his chest. Not a good sign, it meant he’d probably fall hard for her. None of the boys had claimed Sugar when he’d made a pass at her a week ago, and werewolves were pretty territorial when it came to mates. But these boys didn’t act like traditional Weres. He’d better clear things up when they got back from their mission.
He needed to determine if he should have her before the challenge or after.
Chapter 3
Daedalus knocked once on Sugar’s apartment door, and the angel of his fantasies swung it open. The messy chaos of her curls made a halo around her face and would have taken his breath away if he had any. Her gaze slid past him as if checking for someone else, and her wide smile wavered when she saw he was alone. Clearly, she expected the Omegas, and a sharp pang of jealousy surprised him. He wanted to change her disappointed look, make it something more wanton.
“I know I promised they’d be over for dinner tonight, but they’re still out running, Sugar. They’ll have to come over tomorrow night.”
She turned to look out the French doors that led to her patio garden. Rain beat down on the flowers and the wind tore at their leaves. “It’s storming.”
He raised an eyebrow at her comment, unable to see the problem. The storm front didn’t carry any lightning. A bit of cold rain and wind would break the monotony of the Omegas’ routine.
Yesterday’s raid to steal a television had become a farce. He had found the small pack hogtied on the apartment building’s doorstep very late last night. Good thing the other tenants in the building had been asleep. His security team had gone easy on the werewolves in his view.
If running in a storm got Sugar upset, he’d best keep this hilarious story to himself. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed so hard.
Tyler and Robert had yet to speak to him since the incident. Katrina never did talk to him much. Eric and Sam showed promise though. They were “manning-up” to the situation and laughed with him.
Sauntering in, he pushed past Sugar to examine the small apartment. The smells of dinner warmed the tidy little kitchen to the right. Books lay scattered and stacked on every available surface in the living room on his left. Layers of thick rugs covered the floors under a collection of comfortable, mismatched love seats. They faced the French doors overlooking her green garden retreat, setting the mood for tranquility. She didn’t decorate by style but by texture.
He loved it.
Except something was missing. He sighed and shook his head. “You don’t have a television either. Guess I won’t be watching the football game tonight.” His frustration tied a knot in his gut.
First, his lack of assessing the Omegas’ situation better, then Sugar’s tempting presence, and now he couldn’t take pleasure in his one hobby.
She giggled.
The quiet, melodious sound made him smirk and shake his head. He twisted to glare at her.
Not for laughing but for being so damn adorable. They had the apartment to themselves, the cubs were out chasing raindrops, and he’d run out of things to distract him from his lustful thoughts. It looked like he would surrender to her charms sooner than later.
She’d clapped her hands over her rosebud mouth. The gesture made her tight pink blouse rise enough to reveal a peek of creamy, soft flesh. The buttons strained between her firm, full breasts.
He wanted to rip the top open and let those buttons fly.
“I guess they didn’t succeed in getting the television,” she mumbled behind her hands before letting them fall to her sides, lowering her shirt. “There’s a sports bar down the street, you can catch the game there.”
“I don’t like sport bars.” He could imagine the trouble his presence would cause at such a place. Their business came from selling food and drink. What could he possibly purchase to watch the game? A waitress? Vampires were legal citizens, yet still not well liked.
Sugar shifted back a few steps, stifling another nervous laugh.
If he focused his hearing, he could hear her heart race. She smelled of lavender and cinnamon.
A tinge of fear tainted her scent. He didn’t want her to be afraid. “Do I frighten you?”
“Frighten?” She stopped her backward motion. “No, not really, more like intimidate.” She gave him a shy smile, but the way her eyes traveled over his body spoke of unashamed interest.
His cock grew thick at her heated gaze. “Intimidate I can accept. That’s my job.” He grinned and advanced on his tempting prey. “You have nothing to fear though. I don’t bite, not unless you want me to.” The delightful way her eyes widened at his comment undid him.
• • • •
Sugar retreated further until she bumped against the cool metal of her fridge. She’d been disappointed to find only Daedalus at her door but didn’t regret his presence one bit now. His tight, black t-shirt outlined every hard, scrumptious detail of his chest. Lust awakened. An urge to splay her hands on his delicious body, kneading those hard muscles, gripped her.
With each sinuous step he closed in on her until she found herself cornered. His body inspired all kinds of naughty ideas. She’d love to pour massage oil on his smooth head and let it drip down his naked body, so she could rub it all over him.
“I’ve been thinking about you.” His husky voice brushed along her skin. Caged between his arms against the fridge, she felt trapped. Her heart raced with expectation, and she tried to moisten her suddenly dry lips by pressing them together.
He leaned in until his face almost touched hers. Yearning replaced his mischievous grin. His eyes feasted on her as they traced along her face to focus on her mouth.
“You have?” She wanted to drown in his half-lidded gaze.
“Haven’t you thought of me, Sugar?”
The way he spoke her name, like it tasted good, sent a thrill down her spine. Every single night he invaded her thoughts, starring in all her fantasies, but she couldn’t admit that to him. Even though he’d openly admired her, the desire he now displayed amazed her. She was a librarian, not some porn star, though his actions made her feel like one. “You’ve been on my mind once or twice.”
Almost touching her, he denied her a kiss. Their lips were close enough for her to sense their movement when he spoke. “What will I do to entertain myself while your friends are gone?”
The wait for his embrace made her burn with feral passion. It grew too much. She laid a gentle kiss on his mouth in sweet surrender. A bare touch.
“I could think of a few things.” Who was this bold woman using her voice? Her curiosity for him made her brave enough to lose all her discretion.
His eyes widened, amusement crinkling their edges. His tongue traced his lips where she kissed him, like he could taste her.
Mesmerized, she watched, tingles rippling along her own mouth as if he licked her lips instead. Anticipation fluttered in her stomach.
“So can I.” Avid desire still shone in his eyes when he glanced down at her. His responding kiss crushed her to the fridge as he cupped her ass to lift her from the floor.
Her arms entwined around his strong neck, and her legs circled his narrow hips. All the strength of his body wrapped in her limbs made her wetter. Such savage hunger for a man was a new experience. She wanted him to ride her hard and make her scream for mercy.
Daedalus pressed against her. Even with their jeans between them, she could feel his length, hard and firm, bulging against his zipper.
His kiss became an easy, practiced slide of his mouth against hers, gently demanding. She expected
skill but not the ravenous appetite he displayed. His tongue toyed with her bottom lip, then entered her mouth in a slow, sinuous stroke. He tasted of something faintly metallic, like blood.
Her stomach knotted at the slight taint, but it dissolved when his hand cupped her breast, found her hard, throbbing nipple and rolled it between his fingers. She wriggled beneath his touch, grinding herself against his hard cock.
He moaned and pulled away. “Damn, you’re driving me crazy.”
She reached up for another taste, craving him.
A sinful smile tugged his mouth. He undid the buttons of her blouse one at a time until he exposed her thin, white lace bra.
She bit at her bottom lip as she watched. Her head spun with need. She wanted Daedalus badly. There had been enough fantasizing about him, now it would come true. Finally.
He slipped the bra strap from her shoulder to allow one of her nipples to escape its confines, and boosted her to give his mouth access to it. The pleasure he produced, as he sucked, shot straight to her clit.
She wriggled and couldn’t control the small noises of pleasure she made. The heat of his mouth and the touch of his tongue drove her wild. “Ah... Yes.” She raged with fever, and he was the cure.
Daedalus rained kisses along her exposed neck while lowering her to rest against his hips again. She couldn’t stop her gasp when he nipped and tasted her flesh. Those sharp fangs teased but never broke skin. She felt his lips smile at her reaction. He pinched the hard nipple under his hand and ground the growing bulge in his jeans against her groin.
Short of breath, she clung to him. “Stop teasing me.” Her pussy steadily grew creamier with each grinding thrust.
His laughter rumbled deep within his chest. Demanding her mouth, he pressed his tongue inside, probing and greedy, leaving nothing unexplored. He released her breast to undo her jeans and yank them low enough to give him access. His other hand supported her weight against the fridge while he slid his fingers in her panties. They brushed between her outer labia. An enticing stroke along sensitive flesh.
The Omegas Page 2