He tried to regain entrance to mind, but she continued to block him. He could’ve easily used more force, but it would’ve caused her pain. He wasn’t willing to hurt her to prove he was powerful. He took a deep breath. Why was she afraid of Emmett? He’d never liked the man, but he believed she was safe with him. Why didn’t she tell him otherwise? His heart sank. She didn’t trust him to protect her because her self-esteem was shattered. She truly believed she didn’t matter to him.
Realizing she could smell his cologne, Caylee turned her head and glared at the door. You had better not be out there, Haden.
Why? Are you worried I will come in and see you naked?
I’m dressed. Looking away from the door, she bent over to put her thigh-highs on.
He materialized behind her. She was bent over, and her short black dress was hiked up over her hips. Oh yeah, the view of the black lace thong definitely topped the tight jeans. “You have such a nice ass, little love.”
Gasping, she looked up in mirror and saw his reflection behind her. “What are you doing in here?” She started to fall forward.
Laughing, he caught her hips and held her. “It appears I’m helping you keep your balance.”
Standing upright, she closed her eyes. Splaying his hands over her belly, he pulled her close, pressing her backside against his body. She tried to convince herself he wasn’t there with her. It was her imagination. “Do you really think if you pretend I’m not here I’ll just disappear?”
She opened her eyes to meet his gaze in the mirror. “Sure, you appear and disappear all the time—why not now? Now would be a good time for you to disappear.” Glancing down at her feet, she thought of falling to the floor and burying herself beneath it.
“I would wait. Sooner or later—I’m betting sooner—you would resurface for air.”
“Oh no”—she turned suddenly—“you didn’t!” He was so close she stumbled backward. “Enough is enough.”
He wrapped his arms around her to prevent her from falling. “What?”
“Don’t you dare play dumb.” He was grinning like an idiot, looking all innocent, but he wasn’t. She was so furious she could feel her checks turning red. She seriously considered slapping him. It would serve him right. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.” She pointed at her head. “This is off limits to you!”
“Of course.”
She couldn’t believe he had the nerve to continue grinning. And was he looking at her butt in the mirror? Yep, he was staring at it. “Stop looking at my butt.” She shoved him. “I’m serious, Haden.” Reaching behind her, she pulled her dress down over her hips.
“I only heard what you hurled at me.” Pulling her nearer, he reached out and gently lifted her chin. Leaning down, he kissed her. Just once. A quick peck. “I missed you.”
Tilting her head to the side, she smiled sweetly, way too sweetly. “Really?”
Fighting back the urge to laugh, he nodded. “Absolutely.”
“You were only gone for one night.” She placed her hand over her heart. “And to think only a moment ago you were so close to getting on my bad side. I couldn’t possibly be angry now.”
Stepping nearer, she reached up and framed his face between her hands. “I missed you, too.” She placed her right hand on the center of his chest. “In fact, I nearly didn’t survive the night.” It took every ounce of her strength to hold back the laughter bubbling up in her, but she managed quite well.
“I appreciate your honesty.” Arching his brow at her, he nodded. “Exposing such weakness for a man must be frightening. If I wasn’t a man of superior integrity I might take advantage of it by using it to seduce you.” He reached behind her and slipped his hand beneath the dress to caress her hips. “You’re not only the most beautiful, sexy woman I’ve ever seen; you’re also the most courageous.” Taking her hand he brought it to his mouth and kissed it. “I can’t stand the thought of you suffering.”
Hot flames of retribution danced in her eyes, as she held his gaze. Whatever he could do, she could do better. She brought his hand to her chest and held it over her heart. “I swear my heart just skipped a beat, maybe even two. Can you feel it, Haden?” Her voice was very low and husky, extremely seductive, purposely sounding breathless.
He held her gaze for an entire second, maybe even two, and then looked down at his hand over her breast that was covered by nothing more than thin black lace and silk. His body instantly responded. His breath caught in his throat. Every muscle in his body tensed as hot blood rushed to his groin. Startled, he met her gaze.
Knowingly, she smirked. He moved his hand quickly, completely shocked by her behavior. She was playing dirty. He loved it. He should admit defeat and beg for mercy, but he wasn’t ready to give up just yet. She was about to seriously mess him up. He couldn’t wait. He wanted more—he was a true glutton for punishment. Perhaps he was even a bit demented. “I never meant to distress you, little love.”
She stepped nearer and placed her hands on his shoulders, allowing them to slowly slide down his arms. “Oh Haden, you’re such a strong, powerful, sexy man.” Seductively gazing up at him, she bit her lower lip. “What woman could ever resist such absolute masculine perfection?”
Oh, damn, she’d called him sexy out loud. She was practically naked. He was so swollen, so hard he was about to burst out of his pants. He was in serious danger, but he still wasn’t ready to admit defeat. He wanted so much more. Trying to appear as casual as possible, he shrugged. “I’ve yet to meet one.”
“Think again.” She shoved him as hard as she could. “No matter how nice you are to look at, I’ll always find it easy to resist you. I can’t believe how arrogant you turned out to be. I almost believed you were a gentleman. You have the manners of a dog. A nasty, filthy dog. And a terrible sense of humor too. You’re so rude.”
“A dog?” He laughed.
“A nasty, filthy dog,” she corrected, “that’s always getting into my head, uninvited. And not to talk me. Oh no, you’re not talking. You’re sneaking, snooping around. You’re probably doing it right now.”
“Definitely not. You’re talking too fast and making my head spin. Besides getting a terrible headache, I’m finding it difficult to keep up with what you’re saying.”
“Not surprising.”
“Admit it—you’re in love with me.”
“Not even a little.”
“You’re lying.” He reached out and gently caressed her face with the very tips of his fingers. “I love you, Caylee.”
She needed to get as far away from him as possible, before it was too late and she said too much.
He instantly felt fear and saw the change in her countenance. He pushed his mind forward to merge her mind. “Too late for what?”
“Haden, why are you doing this?” Caylee’s heart rate sped up as she moved nearer.
He stood absolutely still. Speechless, he looked down at her. His body was a raging inferno of need. The floorboards vibrated as he fought his body’s demands. He was in a terrible state. He needed to stay in control. He needed to focus. It was far more convenient to keep a level head when she wasn’t touching him. And damn it, she wasn’t simply touching him. He might survive a touch. Her body was so snugly pressed against his he could feel every beat of her heart.
He looked furious; his icy blue gaze filled with such terrible darkness. She took a deep breath and swallowed hard. Releasing her breath, she forced herself to smile. “What’s wrong?”
She tried to back away, but he held her arms firmly. She struggled for a moment, and then she stopped and stared up at him.
“Stop it. I’m not angry. And I thought my eyes bothered you when they turn black.” Looking very naughty, he smiled at her. “I’m just so frustrated. Extremely, painfully frustrated.”
He was so big. So close. His body crowded hers. “Why?” Holding his gaze, she paused, secretly battling her desire to embrace the hope his love for her was strong enough to survive the truth. And that she could find
the strength to overcome the sudden flashbacks that tormented her. “Oh, Haden, why are you doing this?” Within seconds, her common sense was left gasping for life at her feet as her irrational desire savored the victory.
Enchanted by the love in his gaze, she allowed her safeguards to drop. With him was the only place she wanted to be. Closing her eyes, she remembered their bodies entwined in a passionate embrace. She thought of the warmth and strength of his hands caressing her body. She thought of the enticing masculine scent of his body. The sensation of his kiss on her lips. Suddenly shocked by her wandering mind, she looked up at him. He was grinning from ear to ear. Her face turned red. She couldn’t get angry. She’d definitely hurled the thoughts at him.
* * *
“I can’t believe he went in there with her,” Julie whispered.
“Are you sure he didn’t just leave?” Brianna asked.
“There’s no way. He would’ve walked across the store to get to the door. I definitely would’ve noticed.” She tugged on Brianna’s arm. “Come on. I want to go listen by the door.”
“Nope.” Brianna shook her head. “No way. I do not want to hear whatever it is they’re doing in there.”
“What if he’s hurting her?”
“She would scream.”
“You don’t know that.” Walking toward the dressing room area, Julie tugged on Brianna’s arm again. “How are you going to feel if you find out he was hurting her? We need to make sure she’s okay.”
“Julie, you’re seriously overreacting. He wouldn’t have been able to get in there with her unless she unlocked the door for him.”
“Maybe she didn’t lock the door.”
~ Seven ~
“ALL NIGHT LONG I dreamed of your kiss.” He bent his head to kiss the corner of her mouth. “I dreamed of your legs wrapped around my body.” Lifting her and then holding her up with one hand, he used the other to wrap her leg around his body. “I dreamed of your satiny flesh against mine.” He breathed deeply, allowing her tantalizing scent of warm, spiced vanilla to envelope and fill him.
So many thoughts were racing through Caylee’s mind. Her body was on fire for him. Her heart was racing so frantically it felt as if it would burst right out of her chest. How long had she hoped for a second chance at life? How long ago had she given up on it? She was so tired of pretending there was any possible way to escape her life. He was promising to pull her out of her silent suffering and take her far away from the endlessness of her dark reality. But why? She wasn’t the right type of a woman for a man like him. Was she a diversion? If so, from what? She needed to know as much as possible if she were going to survive the game of seduction he was playing. She couldn’t afford to allow him to rip her heart to shreds.
“Your beauty brings me to my knees, little love.” It was the truth. Her beauty had always captivated him. “I’ve never imagined a woman more exquisite than you.” She was tiny in stature, with a slender build but with a curvy, womanly figure. Her long, loose curls of dark brown hair fell to the center of her back. Her eyes were dark green, with shimmers of gold when the light hit them just right. “Your heart is safe with me.”
He focused on her lips. While they parted in a sweet, innocent smile, he knew the truth. Her innocent smile doubled as a powerful, intoxicating weapon of seduction. The right corner of his mouth curled upward as he recalled the way she tortured him with her kiss. “I love you, Caylee. I love you with every cell in my body.”
“Stop teasing me.” Smiling shyly, she bit her lower lip. “You don’t have to worry. I’m not stupid. I know we both got carried away last night.”
“Damn it, Caylee.” His deep, seductive voice, simply saying her name, heated her blood and caressed her soul. “Shut up and lock your ankles together.”
Her eyes filled up with tears. “Why are you doing this?” He wouldn’t want her if he knew she’d made a terrible decision that led to her being raped by a group of men.
Haden hated that she blamed herself for being raped. He hated that it made her feel unworthy of him. He also hated that he’d allowed her to continue pretending he didn’t know about it until it became her reality. He should’ve forced her to face the truth the night he found her “You’re mine. You’re my miracle, my angel.” He was demon, a soul damned for eternity. “You’re everything pure and lovely.” He was everything dark and dangerous. “You surpass every fantasy I’ve ever entertained. My heart and soul belong to you. I’m deeply, insanely in love with you.”
She opened her mouth to argue with him, but nothing came out. She had so many reasons to feel not good enough for him, for the love he proclaimed to have for her. But she couldn’t deny the truth in his eyes. He loved her more than anything. At least, for that moment she was the center of his universe. His love for her might not last. It probably wouldn’t. But she wanted to experience it.
Julie knocked on the dressing room door. “Are you okay in there?”
“Haden,” Caylee whispered. “What are they going to think?”
“I don’t care. Tell them you’re fine,” he growled, “and kiss me.”
“I’m fine.” For a moment, she had allowed herself to believe his love could prevail over the secret she kept from him, but when the moment had passed she knew it was an unobtainable fantasy. She wasn’t right for him. He was so amazing. Handsome. Strong.
“Are you sure?” Giggling, Julie covered her mouth.
“Yes.” Caylee’s heart was racing.
“Kiss me.” Several breathless moments passed by as they gazed into each other’s eyes. “Damn it, Caylee.” His deep, throaty voice richly revealed the depths of his desire for her. “I love you.” His words, his voice, caressed her. “I know you’re afraid, but I really need you to kiss me again right now.”
She was mesmerized, holding his gaze. He brought her body to life. He made her mind wander to places she’d never dared go before. She needed him. A tiny whimper escaped her throat as the warmth of his breath wisped across her face. His lips were as close as they could get to hers without actually touching. Closing his eyes, he tilted his head to the left. She felt the heat of his mouth barely brushing up against hers, but then she felt a peculiar chill as he pulled back.
Opening her eyes, she gasped, shocked by intensity of the hunger in his black gaze. “Haden?” It was so much greater than ever before. More intense. More fierce. His enormous strength, his mysterious powers, everything about him was so dangerous, so frightening. He wanted her. She knew, without any doubt, he was demanding everything, her complete surrender, body and soul.
“Not demanding. Wanting you. Needing you. But never demanding, little love. You control where this moment will carry us. I will never take anything away from you, but I will gladly receive whatever you’re willing to share with me,” he whispered, kissing the corner of her mouth. “Kiss me.”
She kissed him, timidly at first and then deeply, hungrily. She was on fire, allowing herself to truly experience the exquisite pleasure of his kiss. Her body a raging inferno, she met his tongue with hers, determined to give herself to him.
Experiencing a high like no other ever known to him, his heart thundered in his ears. Something violent, uncontrollable welled up in him, commanding him to take her last breath. It was the only way to ensure her safety. He realized the danger of the situation, but there was nothing he could about it. It wasn’t the right time. It was too soon. She would likely die if he tried to give her immortality right now.
He’d just promised he would never take anything from her she wasn’t willing to give, but it was lie. He would take her last breath. He was helpless to save her or to save himself. He was no longer in control of his nature. He’d waited for too long. The combination of his lust and love for her devoured his strength, letting loose his true character, demanding he bind them together for all eternity.
For so long, to protect her, he’d been fighting against what he was, but he was done fighting, done denying. She belonged to him. He belonged to her. He neede
d to dominate, to possess her body and soul. His body ached. Painfully aroused, his cock, impossibly hard, throbbed. He needed to get nearer; he needed to feel the heat of her satiny flesh against his own. He needed to end his agony. He needed to be where he belonged. He needed to plunge deep inside her body.
He slowly, gently lowered her onto her feet. Reaching behind her, he gently but firmly pulled her hair, arching her neck, exposing her throat. “I love you, Caylee. With every cell of my being, I love you. No matter what happens, nothing will ever keep us apart.” It was a warning, the only one he could give her. It was promise. If she died, he would do the impossible. He would give up his existence to be with her.
Leaning down, he breathed in the delicious scent of her body, preparing to take her life. She savored the sensation of the moist heat of his breath on her throat. His seductive voice caused her body to tremble. For an endless moment, he’d not yet touched her with his lips, but she imagined them exploring her flesh. She clung to him, her body pleading for the first touch of his lips. Then, all of the sudden, he was kissing her neck and throat. Her body welcomed his touch. Feverish and damp, every inch of her flesh tingled as her desire for him burned in the core of her being.
In that instant, Haden made a hasty decision. Believing the only hope she had to survive the ritual was to face the truth, he decided to take her through time and space to the place where he’d found her so close to death.
Lost in the pure ecstasy of physical sensations, she wanted the moment to go on and on. She was slightly aware of the black and silver mist surrounding them and the fact that they were moving, floating through time and space.
“Tell me.” He so very tenderly kissed her earlobe. “Tell me you know it too, Caylee.” Tears burned behind his eye. This was it. It was the moment that would change everything. “We can no longer pretend.”
Releasing her hair, he cupped his hands around her face and gazed into her eyes for a moment, and then he slowly leaned down and kissed her lips. “Tell me you know I love you. No matter what happens, you’re safe with me.”
Eternal Breath of Darkness Page 9