He was in terrible shape. Haden had nearly killed him, forcing him to choose such an unsavory resting place. He knew Haden wouldn’t stop at nearly killing him. He was a particularly hostile demon. Common sense told Paul to flee the area and rejoin the safety of his clan, but anger and pride ate away his ability to entertain any rational thought for any period of time. He wanted Caylee, and he would have her.
The ground rumbled violently. Paul felt Haden reaching for him, searching for his hiding place. He smiled. Demons were unstoppable, hulking brutes, perfectly designed to be victorious in any battle, but they were fools. They allowed themselves to fall so deeply in love they acted like idiots. They devoted their lives to love, willing to sacrifice their immortal souls to protect the ones they loved. Haden tried to hide it, but Paul knew he was afraid for the woman. Choosing a fragile, mortal woman for a mate was a terrible mistake. Keeping her mortal was an even worse mistake. Paul would use her to destroy Haden.
* * *
Watching the torrential downpour head across the meadow toward them, Haden held Caylee close. “You’re safe. He’s nearby, but he’s beneath ground, injured and weak.”
“How do you know?”
“I plan to kill him before he’s ever able to get near you again,” he whispered over her head.
“No.” She tilted her head back to look up at him. “How do you know he’s here and he’s injured and weak? How do you know so much about the vampire?”
“It’s my duty to know. It’s what I do.”
Frowning, chewing on her bottom lip, she stared up at him. She looked so totally confused. Of course she didn’t understand. Two nights ago she’d never known vampires existed.
“You know I’m not human. You’ve accepted it, but you don’t know what I am. I possess powers and abilities that you find difficult to comprehend. My kind was created with these powers and abilities to enable us to destroy vampires and other creatures of darkness that prey on humans.”
“So,” she shivered, “there are more of your kind?”
“Yes,” Haden said. “There are many of us. You met Zack and Joseph last night. I was hiding my presence to draw the vampires closer. Zack didn’t know I was with you. He was rushing to your aid. He would’ve saved you if I hadn’t reached you in time.”
“How did he know I was there?”
“Paul’s clan has been killing people in Zack’s territory for months. Zack has been hunting them, destroying one vampire at a time. A few vampires, including Paul, fled here to elude him. Zack and Joseph were pursing him the night you stumbled across the dead woman.”
“I saw them with my own eyes, but it’s still hard to believe there’re other men like you.” Haden was so incredibly sexy. He looked like a god, but Caylee was certain it was an unpardonable sin to walk around looking so tantalizing. Grinning, she wondered if all of his kind shared his extraordinary sex appeal. She certainly would never want to know another as intimately as she knew him. How many other women suffered because of his kind? “One of you is too much for this woman to handle.”
“I’m pleased to know I’m appealing to you,” he whispered, grinning like a fool. “But it would be best if you didn’t envision another man the way you see me. It wouldn’t be good for him if another man was even remotely attractive to you.” He brought her hand to the warmth of his mouth. “And it would most definitely be better for Zack and Joseph if you didn’t handle them. To be completely honest, I am a very jealous man, capable of unpleasant outbursts.”
She smirked. “I’ve known for a long time that you’re prone to freaking out over ridiculous things.”
“Not until I met you.” The rain reached them and was pelting down all around, but Haden prevented it from touching them. The lightning and thunder were rapid, allowing no break between each blinding flash and earsplitting crackle. “It’s not safe here,” he lied—he had no problem ensuring her safety in the storm. “I will take you to town. Once you show Mia the dress we can go to my place to talk in a more comfortable environment.” Meaning, he planned to seduce her and get her into his bed as quickly as possible. Then, she was never leaving his sight.
“No,” she said, turning to face him, “I can’t go with you. I plan to … oh Haden, you just don’t understand. I’m engaged to another man.”
Perfectly on cue, a result of Haden’s shock, lightning hit the ground a few yards away. The sound of thunder was instant and terrifyingly loud. Her breath rushed in and out of her lungs in startled gasp. Covering her ears, she buried her head against his chest.
“Why didn’t I know about it?” That was a stupid question. He didn’t know about it because he was a moron. He’d allowed her to build barrier to keep him out of parts of her mind to make her feel empowered. He sure as hell wasn’t allowing that to happen anymore. Pushing her back, he held her at arm’s length. There was no way in hell he was going to permit her to marry another man. “There’s no other man for you. You’re mine.” The menacing tone of his voice was chilling, heart stopping.
A powerful gust of wind pushed her body against his. Terrified and cold, she trembled. A bolt of lightning struck a tree limb directly overhead, and she screamed. With a thought, he raised his hand to toss the limb a safe distance away.
“You’re causing it. Make it stop,” she pleaded.
“It’s not me. It’s your doing.” Cradling her head against his chest in one hand, he caressed her back with the other. “The storm won’t hurt you. It’s part of me. I don’t know why you would consider marrying another man. You don’t want to be with another man. You love me as deeply as I love you.” He looked up at the dark, ominous pillars of clouds in the sky. The storm would run its course. Thanks to her unexpected marriage announcement, his emotions were spiraling out of control. There was nothing he could do about the storm for the time being. “Paul will rise soon. Once you and Mia finish the business with the dress, I’m taking you home with me.”
“No,” she whispered with tears in her voice. “After today, I can never see you again.”
Every muscle in his body tensed. No other man would ever touch her and live. No more mental blocks. He’d made a mistake by allowing her to have privacy. From now on, he planned maintain a merge with her mind at all times. He didn’t care if it bothered her.
She silently wept against his chest as the rain continued to fall from the sky. What else was she hiding? He needed more information. He needed it now. He found the barrier she placed in her mind and tried to push through it, but it was a solid block. He could use more force to get through it, but at the moment it would definitely cause her to suffer excruciating pain. He would wait until her guard was down, and then he would get rid of the damn thing for good.
Sobbing, she looked up at him. “You’re always snooping around in my mind. You know I’ve imagined being with you.” She leaned her head against his chest. “But you also know I’ve always understood we can never be together.” Her voice was a faint whimper. “Come on. Look at me, Haden.” Stepping back, she held out her arms and spun around so he could look at her and then, as if her point had been proved, she shrugged. “Anyone can see I’m not the right woman for a man like you.”
He let his breath out slowly, searching his mind for the right words, his gaze slowly moving over her. “I can’t imagine a woman more beautiful, more desirable than you. Just looking at you takes my breath away. You are more precious to me than anything else. Your existence is a miracle to me. I never thought I would want to share my life with a woman. I certainly never believed I would want to bind my soul to a woman.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her near, pressing her soft, feminine curves against his solid, muscular frame. “We belong together.”
“You’re wrong.”
“Your heart and soul belong to me, just as mine will forever belong to you.” He bent his head and gently kissed her earlobe. “Nothing else matters.”
“Love, not even the love you claim to have for me, is strong enough to see us through the secret
I’ve kept from you.” She took a deep breath and released it with a sigh. “I plan to marry Phillip in a few months. I must do it. And you need to accept it.” She pushed herself out of his embrace. “I need to go.”
Like hell she was going anywhere. “Phillip?” He searched his memory. There was only one man who came to mind. “Phillip Wicks?”
Slowly backing away, she nodded. “Please, just forget about it. There’s nothing more to discuss. I’ve made up my mind.”
Amused, he smiled. It was an easily fixed problem. If worst came to worst, he would simply kill Phillip. And her uncle too, if it proved necessary. He wasn’t going to allow anything or anyone to keep them apart. “I’ll take you to Mia’s shop.” She wasn’t ready to live with him, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t stay very close to her at all times.
“No.” She stared at him, studied him. He looked far too guilty, peculiar silver flames swirling in his eyes, to even consider trusting him. “I would rather be alone.”
A black mist surrounded him, as wings took tangible form on his back. “Too bad.” He reached for her hand. Surely he didn’t intend to fly. Grinning, he nodded. “Come here.”
His black, velvety wings, like everything else about him, were incredibly massive and intimidating. “No thanks.” Shaking her head, she stepped back, her heart pounding in her ears. “I would much rather walk.” There was no way she would do it. It wasn’t right. She had feet for a reason, and she planned to use them. Nope, she wasn’t going to fly. Not with him. Not with anyone. Not for any reason. It was just plain wrong.
“Mia will be returning soon to check on you. Flying will be much quicker than walking.” He stepped closer, closing the gap between them.
She started to argue. She was right after all—it wasn’t a good idea. He swept his arms around her and bent his head to kiss her. It was a crushing, passionate kiss, stealing her sanity. She moved closer to him, pressing her body against his. His cast-iron, masculine body made her wonderfully aware of her supple, feminine curves. She forgot about his intention to fly with her. She forgot about everything else, as an intoxicating fire of desire spread throughout her body and blazed over her sensitive flesh.
“Wrap your arms around my neck,” he whispered against her mouth as he lifted her and then extended and stretched his wings. Without thought, she did as he said, kissing him deeply. Knowing she would panic the moment they were off the ground, he secured her in his arms. He would make it a pleasant experience for her. Well, as pleasant as possible. No sudden moves. “Are you ready?”
Dizzy, breathless from their kissing, she looked up at him from beneath thick veils of lashes. Ready for what? She blinked. She was forgetting something very important. Her mind was a blank slate. She could barely remember her name. She wished he would just kiss her again. She was definitely ready to be kissed again. He bent his head and kissed her slowly, gently, too gently. She wanted more. She wanted him to lose control. She wanted him wild, on fire, burning up for her. With her.
His powerful wings launched them into the sky, high above the treetops.
Startled, she cried out, burying her face against his chest, not too happy to remember what he was planning before he seduced her into a state of ignorant bliss. “I will never forgive you for this.” She heard his irritating laughter above her head. “I’m serious, Haden. I will never forgive you.”
“Never is a very long time to hold a grudge, little love. Stop being a baby and take a look around.”
“A baby?” Her head snapped up, and she glared into his eyes, struggling against the urge to slap him across the face. He certainly deserved a good smack or two. She couldn’t believe he was grinning at her as if he were doing nothing wrong at all. Shaking her head, she bit back a few choice names she wanted to call him. Why did he have to look so good? So sexy. Being so attracted to him was a terrible disadvantage when she wanted to hate him.
“Look around and see what you’ve been missing.” He easily took them higher, her weight nothing to him. “The view of the forest is beautiful from up here.”
She heard the joy bubbling in his voice. She saw it in his eyes. He was so very happy to be able to share something so special with her. She knew he didn’t need to fly to get back to Mia’s quickly. He could’ve taken them instantly through time and space. He wanted to share this with her. “I prefer to enjoy it from the ground.” However, curiosity getting the best of her, she looked to the side and down.
Her stomach knotted and rolled. They were so high, the wind rushing past them. Way too high. Everything started spinning. She could feel them tumbling out of the sky, their bodies crashing against the hard ground. She struggled to catch her breath, her mouth watering, her stomach twisting. Perfect—she was going to throw up all over him. She looked up at him and smirked. It would serve him right.
He laughed aloud. Nuzzling his chin in her hair, he took a deep breath, filling his lungs with her sweet scent. “You’re not going to fall. You’re safe with me.” Anchoring her to him with one arm, he lifted her chin with his other hand, forcing her to meet his gaze. “I can hold us up with a thought.”
Eyes wide, she stared up at him, slowly shaking her head. She didn’t know what he was talking about, but she wasn’t going to ask for an explanation. She was certain she wasn’t going to like it.
Still keeping her snugly anchored against his body with one arm, he reached over his shoulder and, despite her best effort to keep them clamped around his neck, moved her arms. “Trust me.”
“Trust me to do something very awful and painful to you in the very near future.”
“Why do I try?” he teased. “That wasn’t a very nice thing to say to me.” He took her hand in his; it wasn’t necessary, but maintaining some physical contact would lessen the shock. He didn’t want to frighten her. He wanted to show her his power, his ability to protect and care for her.
She knew he was planning to let go of her. “Don’t you dare do it.” He’d better not do it. Gripping his hand hard, she buried her nails into his flesh and glared up him. “I swear you’ll be sorry.” And she meant it.
“Too late.” Instantly, she realized his arm was no longer holding her, but his hand held hers. That was it. And it wasn’t enough. The air was forced in and out of her lungs in short, violent gasps. She closed her eyes tight, too afraid to look at the ground rushing toward her, but she could feel herself falling. “Don’t be silly. You’re not falling. I would never allow it to happen. Look at me, Caylee.” He purposely, using his supernatural abilities, deepened his voice, making it a hypnotic command.
Struggling to fight it, she vigorously shook her head back and forth. “No way.” But she did it. She couldn’t help it. Tears burning behind her eyes, she looked up at him. His eyes were solid black, even the whites, except for occasional silver flame like flickers. He filled her with the peace and the strength to accept what was strange to her. He literally flooded her heart and soul with his love.
Everything inside her instantly stilled; even her heart stopped racing. It didn’t matter she was so far from the ground. She was perfectly safe. He would never allow her to be harmed. For the first time in her life she felt completely at peace. She would always love him. She’d always believed he valued their friendship, but that was it. She’d never believed he would fall in love with her. Looking up at him, seeing the hunger in his eyes, she saw everything clearly. He was fiercely in love with her. He cherished her. Some tiny, very rational part of her brain tried to stop her from accepting it. It couldn’t be true.
She opened her mouth to argue with him, to set him straight, but she couldn’t speak. She looked past him; his powerful wings moved slowly, lazily pushing against the air. She looked down and realized they were stationary, hovering in one place. Since she was past being scared to death, she couldn’t deny he was right. The view was truly beautiful. Looking up at him she gave him her most fierce glare. There was no way she was going to admit it to him.
“Come closer.” He wrapped his pow
erful arms around her, solid and unwavering. He bent his head down and slowly planted a fiery hot blaze of kisses from her ear, down her neck, back up to her ear, and then across her jaw to her lips.
Suddenly, she froze. Something was wrong. “Haden.” She looked up at him, her heart stuttering. “What’s happening?” A terrible screeching sound filled her ears. Ice-cold hands wrapped around her throat and squeezed, as something vile entered her mind and moved in it. She knew it was the vampire. He whispered to her, threatening to kill her, vowing to do horrific things to her. Gasping, she struggled to breathe.
“No, Caylee.” Haden splayed his hand over her throat. “It’s not real.” She felt dark waves of power flowing from Haden and enveloping her, filling her. “It’s a trick. A manipulation. An illusion. He can’t touch you.”
Instantly, she was able to breathe, and the whispering ceased. “It felt so real, Haden. I’m so afraid. He won’t stop. He’ll never stop. He’s going to kill me. ”
“I will stop him.” Haden moved suddenly, taking them higher.
Caylee pressed her face against his chest.
He needed get her to Mia and go after Paul. He moved quickly, and as he disrupted the atmosphere, lightning erupted and thunder exploded all around. She felt a brutal gust of wind smash against them, and then it turned and moved with them.
* * *
Hand over her mouth, Julie giggled as she pressed her ear against the dressing room door.
Brianna sat on the couch. “You shouldn’t be listening.”
“It’s so quiet.”
“You should give them privacy.”
“Shh...” Julie whispered. “They’ll hear you.”
“You’re crazy. They’re going to catch you.”
Eternal Breath of Darkness Page 11