Dark of Night

by T. F. Walsh

  He grazed the area where her neck joined shoulder and bit down gently, marking her. She gasped and he quickly soothed the hurt, tasting the slight metallic tang of her blood before he withdrew. He cupped her cheeks, forced her to meet his gaze. His hips rocked against her. “No more running, Mira. You are mine.”

  She bent and kissed his chest before nipping him in return. The brief sting of her bite ignited his arousal. He groaned, thrusting against her. Mira swabbed the tiny wound with her tongue before continuing her downward journey. She suckled his sensitive nipples then lavished attention on the mark below his navel, her fingers tracing the thin trail of hair leading to his manhood. Mira placed a final kiss on his hipbone before encircling his engorged shaft with her fist. All coherent thought fled Kagan’s brain, leaving only one searing need: Claim his mate.

  • • •

  “Mio amore.” His words were husky, thick, inciting a swell of pride and power inside Mira. He cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing her lips before pressing inside. She sucked greedily, her eyes locked with his. His head tilted back, and she released his digit to rain hot kisses over his powerful thighs. She urged him against the tile wall and moved between his spread legs to lift his swollen manhood. She pumped slowly, fondling his balls. His fingers trailed absently through her wet hair, and his hips thrust forward in invitation. She’d never done this before. Never wanted to. Now, she’d never wanted anything so bad in her life.

  Her thumb slid across the soft, blunt head and he moaned. She leaned in, giving a lick to the sensitive crown before taking him between her lips. The tip pulsed against her tongue and she groaned, allowing more of his shaft inside. His hand drifted to the back of her head and she eased away to caress the throbbing vein on the underside, the tender area behind the crown. His deep groan increased the moisture pooling in her core. Her tongue dipped into the slit on the tip of his cock before she took him in her mouth again. This time, when his length brushed the rear of her throat, she relaxed, drawing him in deeper. He guided her, praised her, made her feel like the sexiest woman alive. His thrusts grew urgent and she caressed his balls, feeling his sac tighten, signaling his impending orgasm.

  Mira grasped his buttocks, locking herself in place. He moaned her name, attempted to ease her away. She refused to be moved and met and held his midnight-blue gaze while taking him deep inside once more. His husky voice snagged on a groan. “Ah, Dio mio amore, sono verrò.”

  His seed hit the roof of her mouth, and she eased up and swallowed, not wanting to lose a drop. His cries of pleasure echoed around her, his thighs quivering with the force of his climax. Her lips continued to caress his sensitive shaft until the waves subsided. Mira eased away and pressed a kiss to his mark. Spent, Kagan fell to his knees and gathered her close. “Grazia, carissima. I love your mouth.”

  Mira smiled, her face buried in his chest. “Only my mouth?”

  Kagan grinned. “Let me take a look.”

  He picked her up and set her on the tile bench near the shower door. Kagan drew her knees apart and lowered his head between her legs. His tongue dipped inside her folds and her hands gripped his hair, holding him in place. He stroked her molten core before exploring her tight walls and lapping at her wetness.

  She moaned. Watching him was the most erotic sight she’d ever encountered. His fingers joined his tongue in the delicious torture as he thrust first one then two digits inside her, rotating against her slick passage while his thumb caressed her swollen nub. Mira arched, her desire raging. His eyes caught hers and held. His lips circled her clit and he suckled, driving her to the brink and beyond. She climaxed hard. He continued to stroke her, his tongue and his fingers prolonging her ecstasy. After her body finally quieted, Kagan slipped free, pressing a final, soft kiss to her tender folds before pulling her to him beneath the cooling shower spray.

  “Found another part to love.” He grinned.

  “Hmmm.” Her love-sated brain registered his words, and she moved to get up. “Sorry, I’m a package deal.”

  His arm locked tight around her middle. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “The prune look doesn’t suit me.”

  “It’s time we talked.” He shut off the water. Kagan grasped her chin and tilted her face up to his. “What are we going to do about us?”

  Mira shrugged. “There isn’t any us, is there?”

  “After this, you must ask, carissima?” He pulled her closer. “You are my Anim Fidelis.”

  “Anim Fidelis?” She ran her fingers over the sensitive spot where he’d bitten her.

  “It means you and I are fated.” He placed his hand over hers.

  The Seal’s mark flared, and hope sprang anew. Shit. Mira pushed off his chest. “Hang on a minute, Big Hoss.”

  He stood up and helped her to her feet. She wrapped a towel around her body and stepped out of the shower. He followed suit. “This is not how I normally behave on missions, piccola.”

  “Great. Now we’re back to the whole mission thing again?” She stalked to the living room and sat on the sofa, ignoring her still damp state. “Look. We were both lonely and horny and available. End of story.”

  “Mira, this is a lot for you to handle, si?” He sat beside her and frowned. “But our relationship, it’s real. It means something … to me.”

  She glanced at him. “Yeah? What exactly does our relationship mean to you, Kagan?”

  He reached out a hand, traced his thumb across her lips. “You belong to me now, tesoro, and I to you.”

  Her pulse skipped. She blinked several times and fought the urge to burrow into his arms. Too fast. This was all too fast and too much for her abused heart. She rose from the sofa and his hand fell away. “I need some time.”

  She moved to the bedroom and dug a clean set of clothes from her bag. “I think it would be best if I stay somewhere else tonight.”

  “You can’t run from this, carissima.” He grabbed her hands, pulled her in front of him. “It’s fate.”

  “I’m not running, Kagan. Not again.” She looked away, tossed her stuff on the bed. “I just want time to think. Alone.”

  Kagan grabbed clean clothes of his own, and they dressed in silence. When Mira finished, she turned to find him watching her, his expression unreadable as he spoke. “Fine. I’ll take you to Wyck’s.”

  Chapter 15

  Xander listened to Wyck’s voicemail again. Dammit, what the hell did Wyck think he was doing, going off on his own? And where was blasted Zoe? A migraine had persisted since he’d returned from the minion realm. Christos. The last thing he needed right now was for his “special talents” to manifest again. His throbbing headache raged, accompanied by a flash of terrified dark eyes and a room full of equipment. Shit!

  He glanced at Chago lounging on the sofa, engrossed in the latest video game. Despite the situation, Xander’s stomach rumbled. He’d not eaten all day. Maybe food was the solution. Of course, Wyck’s fridge was barren except for the requisite abundance of beer, soda, and energy drinks and the ever-present hunk of moldy cheese. Xander slammed the insulated door. “Hey, Chay, you hungry?”

  Chago nodded, his attention riveted on the TV while the buttons on the game console clicked beneath his speedy thumbs.

  Xander shook his head and smiled. “I’ll order a pizza.”

  After placing the call, he walked to the living room and cracked open a window, inhaling the crisp air. His phone vibrated and he pulled it out, expecting a response from Wyck. What he got was a message confirming his pizza order. Fuck.

  He checked his watch — nine-thirty. Where the hell was Zoe? He hadn’t failed to notice the conspiratorial looks she’d exchanged with Wyck. If those two had run off and done something stupid, he’d … what?

  He thumped a fist hard on the brick wall beside the window. He had no claim on Zoe. Hell, she didn’t even like him. Yet he f
elt oddly protective of her. He’d told himself keeping his charges safe was simply his duty as commander. Now, in light of his recent discovery of her abilities and the developments with Wyck, his own radar was triggered. Foreboding slung low in the pit of his stomach, a feeling he was too familiar with to deny — the feeling of approaching death. Once more, Zoe’s pale face and haunted eyes called to him. Christ Almighty!

  “Hey, Xan!” Chago thumped him on the shoulder, breaking his concentration. “It’s your turn. You okay?”

  Xander took a minute to gather his wits and shake off his fatigue. The shadows of his psychic abilities disappeared, leaving him to stare into Chago’s quizzical face. What the hell was wrong with him? Zoe wasn’t connected to this mission. His responsibility was the Seal. He glanced down at the game controller and smiled. Maybe blowing off some steam was what he needed to help him focus.

  With a sigh, Xander grabbed the black remote from Chago’s hand and flopped down on the sofa. “I’m fine. Prepare to have your ass drawn and quartered, my friend. Watch and learn, loser.”

  • • •

  Kagan flashed Mira into Wyck’s apartment shortly after ten. They found Chago and Xander in a heated battle involving virtual poultry and pigs.

  “You’re going down, porker!” Chago launched his assault on the pig’s makeshift castle with a bloated, bright red, petulant chicken.

  Xander glanced at the new arrivals and grinned. “Want to play?”

  “Grazie, no.” Kagan deposited Mira’s duffle bag next to the bed and took a deep breath, anticipating the questions he knew were coming. “Mira’s going to stay here tonight.”

  Xander turned to study him, his expression shuttered. “Everything all right?”

  “Si. She needs some time.”

  Xander’s focus narrowed on the bruise visible above the collar of Mira’s shirt. Kagan caught his commander’s questioning look and fought to contain the sweep of anger coursing through his blood. How dare Xander judge him and his relationship with Mira? Merda!

  “Wyck’s out right now, so we’ve got room,” Xander said, handing the game remote to Chago.

  “Where’s Wyck?” Mira took off her coat and walked to the kitchen to grab some sodas.

  “He left a note. Found it this afternoon.” Xander glanced at Kagan. “He’s in Colorado. Picked up a lead on a lab connected with Tolbert International.”

  “Lab?” Kagan accepted the soda Mira tossed his way. Since when did the half-breeds care about science?

  “Yeah. Genetics.” Xander held Kagan’s surprised stare for a pointed moment before pulling out his phone and frowning at the blank screen. “Mira, do you have any idea where Zoe is?”

  Mira shook her head. “No. Isn’t she here?”

  “Nope. She and Wyck were both gone when we got back this afternoon. Wyck left a note. Zoe didn’t.”

  “Let me call her.” Mira walked into the bedroom.

  “Maldito cerdo!” Chago shouted.

  Kagan led Xander into the kitchen. “Do you think Tolbert’s behind these attacks on Mira and the vaults?”

  “I checked on Wyck’s research after finding his note.” Xander motioned Kagan over to a computer console. “According to the Tolbert International website, they’re involved in everything from farming to aerospace. Diversified out the wazoo.”

  He printed out a synopsis of their company assets. Kagan scanned the list, his warrior senses prickling.

  “Cristo! A true world conglomerate. I thought we obliterated them two centuries ago.” The half-breeds had done well for themselves in the modern age. Kagan shook his head at the who’s who of their controlling interests, mostly Fortune 500 companies.

  “We were wrong.” Xander crossed his arms and deftly changed subjects. “You marked her, Kagan. I saw the bruise. You understand what this means?”

  Kagan glanced up to meet Xander’s hard stare. The paper crumpled within his clenched fist. He would not discuss his relationship with Mira. Not again. “Si.”

  Xander studied him, his expression guarded. “She’s human, Kagan. Mortal.”

  “She’s mine! And I protect what’s mine.”

  “What about the Seal?”

  Kagan crossed his arms, stance rigid while he struggled against the rising tightness in his throat. Mission vs. Mira. “As long as the Seal’s unbroken, she’s safe.”

  “They’ll continue to pursue her.”

  “They won’t get her.” Kagan’s gritty tone brooked no hesitation. Mira was his Anim Fidelis. He’d lay down his life for her.

  “So Mira’s your fated one?”

  Both men turned to view the topic of their discussion across the expanse of the loft as she paced in the bedroom, her thumbs flying over the keyboard on her phone. Kagan’s answer was simple and final. “Si.”

  “And she accepts this?” Xander leaned back and appraised his second in command.

  “Not yet.” Kagan sat his soda down and raked his damp hand through his hair. A niggle of dread twisted drum-tight in his chest. “But she will.”

  “Then I offer you my congratulations.” Xander gave him a sad smile and held out a hand. “May you have better fortune with yours than I’ve had with mine.”

  Mira stalked past them on her way to the living room.

  “Any luck?” Xander asked, joining her and Chago.

  “No.” Mira pinned Kagan with an anxious stare. “It’s not like her to disappear without a word. I’m worried.”

  “We’ll find her, piccola.” Kagan propped himself on the sofa arm beside her and stroked his fingers through her hair. An idea occurred to him and he shared his suspicions. “Could she have gone with Wyck? They seemed to be growing closer.”

  “I haven’t heard from him yet. Maybe he knows something.” Xander’s voice turned clipped and terse. Kagan hiked a brow. What bee had buzzed up his commander’s ass?

  Xander returned to his seat and nudged Chago with his elbow, sidestepping Kagan’s unspoken inquiry. “My turn yet?”

  Kagan compressed his lips in frustration. Xander wasn’t telling him everything. He could sense it. This was his mission, dammit! He had a right to know. He leaned in to give Mira a goodbye kiss then reconsidered. Kagan retrieved his coat and flashed. If time was what Mira wanted, time was exactly what he’d give her.

  And if Xander wouldn’t share his information, he’d damn well figure it out on his own.

  • • •

  Wyck pulled out his phone to check for service. Again.

  Bars lit up, and he suppressed an elated whoop as he settled back in the chair behind a small café table. Holiday lights twinkled outside the nearby window, a fine complement to the heat from the roaring fire at his back. Curls of steam rose from his mug, and he drew a deep breath of rich, brewed coffee. A cute barista placed a large cinnamon scone in front of him, and he winked at the girl before she turned away. Saucy little baggage.

  His phone vibrated. Wyck discovered twenty-five missed calls, voicemails, and text messages, all from Xander. Figured. He typed in a quick response to Xander’s latest blurb — Sorry. No cell service but instant messaging works. Weird — then wondered how long his un-tech-savvy commander would take to figure out the lie.

  Laptop up and open, he retrieved the bio for Dr. Strickland. Instinct told him she was the key. His fingers raced across the keyboard as he hacked into the lab’s database then proceeded to set up his own employee file. His phone beeped repeatedly, interrupting his flow. Bollocks! He checked the caller ID and rolled his eyes. Maybe Xander wasn’t so Stone Age after all. Wyck hit Save on his keyboard and answered. “Wow, I figured at least a couple of hours for you to figure it out.”

  “Figure what out?” Xander said, impatience flooding his tone. “Why are you in Colorado? Giving your own orders now?”

  Wyck winced. Yeah, he’d
violated protocol. “Sorry about that, but I needed to follow up on the lead I got this morning.” He e-mailed the article to Xander’s phone. “I just forwarded you the information. This project the lab’s working on is called Tabas. Tolbert’s the only backer. Tabas. It’s an Enochian word. Know what it means, Xan? To rule.”

  He waited for a response from his commander. The unbroken silence on the other end wasn’t comforting. “I don’t think the name’s coincidence. Do you?”

  “Tabas — to rule.” Xander sighed into the phone. “A tad obvious, even for them, don’t you think?”

  “They never were the sharpest knives in the drawer.” Wyck smiled. “Besides, only someone versed in the language of the angels would understand. I guess when you have the financial numbers they do, you don’t have to be subtle, right? Besides, how many humans do you know who speak Enochian?”

  “Fine. See what you can find out.” Xander hesitated. “Is Zoe with you?”

  “No.” Wyck frowned. She should have been back at his apartment by now. He’d waited as long as he could before leaving, but finally had to skedaddle without saying goodbye. “She left for a walk shortly after you guys went to the crime scene this morning. Said she needed some air. Why?”

  Xander cursed. “She never came back. Mira can’t get a hold of her, either.”

  “Christ! I didn’t know. Do you think Tolbert has her?” Kidnapping an innocent woman would be right on par for those stinking, half-breed knobs. Wyck squeezed his mug so hard it cracked and coffee leaked out.

  “It’s possible. I’ve had some … inklings. Don’t worry, we’ll find her,” Xander said. “When are you coming back?”

  “Should be home tomorrow. I’m finishing up tonight.” Wyck snapped his laptop shut. Xander’s premonitions usually signaled big troubles ahead, and fuck-all if the man was ever wrong. “If you need me before then, let me know. You’ve got my number.”

  “Something big’s going down. Keep the others alerted. Right now we’re running surveillance only. But when we go in for the final assault, I’ll require the full contingent.”