Eternal Breath of Darkness

by Candice Stauffer

  With a thought, he opened the back door. “We’re out now.”

  “I feel bad to ask you to do anything else for me, but would you please help me find my friend?”

  “No. I’m sorry. I would if I could,” he lied. He wasn’t taking her to anyone. He led her across the parking lot. He wasn’t letting her out of his sight. “Everyone is gone,” he lied again.

  “Are you sure?” She swallowed the lump in her throat. What was she going to do? How was she going to get home?

  “Yes. Everyone fled to seek cover from the storm.”

  “I heard it, but it’s over now.” She paused. “I really need to find my friend.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ve no intention of leaving you here.” He stopped next to his motorcycle and placed her hand on the back of his bike. “I’ll take you home.” It wasn’t a lie. Not really. His home was her home. And even if it was a lie, so what? He was a demon. He sent Zack a quick text message to warn him about Demetri, and then he unzipped his leather jacket and took it off. Zack replied almost instantly, assuring Nikolas that he could handle Demetri.

  “No.” Realizing that she was touching the back of a motorcycle, she shook her head. “This is a bad idea.”

  He wasn’t taking no for an answer. “It’s a bit chilly.” He put his phone back into the inner pocket of his jacket and then put the jacket on her. Before she could argue, he zipped it up. Taking a moment to admire the sight of her, he smiled down at her. She was such a sweet, lovely sight. She looked so tiny and delicate in his jacket. Once he was able to rip his gaze off of her, not an easy feat, he got onto the motorcycle and then turned to take her hand.

  “You don’t understand,” she said, her eyes wide, pleading with him to come to his senses and realize it was a bad idea. “I’ve never been on a motorcycle.”

  “Well then, it will be a memorable adventure.”

  Grinning shyly, she lifted her chin as if to meet his gaze. She opened her mouth to argue with him, but he was right. And deep down, she yearned for adventure.

  He felt her hunger for adventure and excitement. “You know you want to give it a try.” He knew that, besides dealing with its natural limitations, her blindness had forced her to be overly cautious in just about every situation. “Get on up.” Good thing for her inner wild child, he wouldn’t know how to be cautious if his life depended on it.

  She frowned. Was he guessing, or was it that obvious? Suddenly remembering that she was wearing a rather short dress and nearly nonexistent panties, she shook her head. There was no way she was going to lift her leg up and climb up behind a man she didn’t know when she was so under-dressed. “I don’t even know you.”

  A shudder running through his body, he closed his eyes. Thinking about her panties was a bad idea, but he couldn’t help it. Hot, wild desire shooting through his body, he opened his eyes, quickly realizing that envisioning them was a worse idea. Turning his head, narrowing his gaze, Nikolas stared toward the front of the building. He knew Julie was looking for Brianna and was about to walk around to the back of the building. He wasn’t about to allow her to interfere. “You have nothing to fear.” He took her hand and placed it onto his shoulder. “Get on.” It was a powerful command, utterly impossible to ignore.

  Nodding, she got up behind him and attempted to pull the dress down. It wasn’t working out so well since his jacket was several inches longer than her dress. Normally, she would never even consider wearing such a revealing dress, but Mia had insisted on making her the dress for the party tonight. For the past few weeks Julie had vowed that she would get Brianna to dance, but Brianna had no intention of doing it. Dancing in public was not the best activity for a blind woman to attempt. Secretly, she really wished she could dance, but it just wasn’t going to happen. Wait! What was she doing? Why did she get onto the motorcycle with him? He’d lied to her. Julie would never leave her. She was crazy, completely insane.

  He smiled. It just so happened that demons were very good at dancing. So, he quickly decided that he was taking her dancing. First, he needed to make stop at his home to see what he could find online concerning the fire that burned down her family’s home. He was hoping to figure out how Demetri was linked to it. He reached behind him, took her hands, and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Scoot closer.” When she didn’t move closer, he said, “Lean on me, little one.”

  “No.” Panicking, she struggled to get off of the bike. “I want to get off now.” She couldn’t take off with a stranger. “Let me get off.” He was probably a disgusting, nasty pervert or rapist. There was no telling what he was doing at the strip club. Everyone knew it doubled as a brothel. There was no telling what he was capable of doing to her.

  “It’s okay. Normally, I would never suggest you jump onto the back of a bike with a complete stranger, but I happen to know that you’re safe with me.” He internally laughed at his need to explain, to make her believe he wasn’t a nasty pervert or rapist. He wanted to tell her he hadn’t been with a woman in over six thousand years, but he knew that was a confession she’d never be able to comprehend. He wanted to make her believe she was the only woman he ever wanted. She was his heart, his soul, his life. Luckily, being ten thousand years old gave him the wisdom to know that professing his undying love for her so soon after meeting would most likely make her think he was a deranged stalker or serial killer. “You need to scoot closer and hold on tight.” He certainly needed her to hold on tight and never let go.

  Nodding, she reluctantly moved closer to him. When the engine roared to life, her heart jumped. Yep. She was in serious trouble. She was truly headed off on the back of a motorcycle with a complete stranger. She considered jumping off, but even after they were moving he kept one hand was over hers to ensure she stayed close and held on.

  The air was crisp and cool, but his body was so warm, and the jacket he’d put on her seemed to be holding heat, generating it. It didn’t take long for her to relax enough to enjoy the experience. She breathed deeply. He smelled so good, so addictive. His body was so strong and solid. One thing was certain: the man worked out. There was no missing his roped abdominal muscles against her palms. She had no idea how fast they were traveling, but she knew they were passing cars and swerving in and out of traffic. She had enough sense to know she should be scared to death—she wasn’t even wearing a helmet, and she knew he was leaving the city—but she’d never felt safer. In fact, as crazy as it was, she really wanted him to go faster.

  In seconds, they were traveling down the highway at an insane speed. If she wanted faster, she was getting faster. He would do anything to please her. When he heard her squeal of excitement and felt her arms squeeze his waist tighter, he went even faster, using his powers to push the bike far beyond its natural limits.

  Pressing her face against his back, struggling to catch her breath, she laughed so hard tears welled up and her sides ached. Something powerful shifted deep inside her soul, flooding her body with the most invigorating, delicious sensations. Her hormones were spiraling out of control because he wasn’t simply holding her hand, he was caressing her hand with his thumb. How could such a simple touch wreak such havoc in her body? She didn’t even know him. It was frightening and exhilarating all at the same time.

  Feeling her arms around him, feeling her body pressed so snugly against his, and hearing her laughter made him feel so alive. Even after seeing Haden with Caylee, the thought of one day finding his mate had never entered his mind. He’d given up all hope so very long ago. If fact, he’d actually accepted the fact he’d failed to find his mate during her lifetime. He’d never seen this moment coming.

  Ten thousand years was a hell of a long time to wait to experience the peace, joy, and excitement that were now thrumming through his soul. It was too long. More than enough time for him to lose his appetite for sex. And now, his body was on fire, burning up with lust. He was so full of need. For the first time in … damn. He couldn’t remember his last hard-on. How long had he existed without living? It di
dn’t matter. His cock was as hard as rock. The brutal agony of needing to bury himself deep inside her body and knowing he needed to court her for a little while before taking possession of her body was the sweetest pain. Oh yeah, it hurt so damn good. He was alive again, truly alive. Grinning like fool, he glanced down at his cock. And better yet, he was quite incapable of controlling his body’s reaction to a woman, his woman.

  She felt a strange sense of weightlessness when he created a thick fog to take them through time and space. One second they speeding down the highway, and the next they were traveling slowly down an uneven gravel road. She lifted her face off his back and took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the unmistakable scent of ocean air. There was no way they could be by the ocean. There was no way they’d been traveling for over an hour. Maybe she was wrong about the distance. What she really needed to worry about was the fact that she was alone with a stranger on a secluded road and they’d just stopped.

  Without saying a word he turned and, shocking her, lifted her off the bike and gently set her down on her feet. She stood there for no more than a second before he took her hand and started to walk. “Where are we?”

  He stopped at the front porch. “It’s fifteen steps up.”

  She yanked her hand out of his. She wasn’t going anywhere else with him. “Where are we?” All of the color drained out of her face.

  Fuck. He knew a panic attack when he saw it. “My house.”

  She was an idiot. “Why would you bring me to your house?”

  “Forgive me for being so thoughtless.” Sending peace into her, he took her hand and slowly brought it to his mouth. “I’m Nikolas Drake.”

  Instantly recovering from a nearly full-blown panic attack, she smiled. “Do you know Haden?”

  “He’s my brother. How do you know him?”

  “I don’t really know him. He comes to where I work to see his girlfriend, Caylee.”

  Nikolas took his cell phone out and called Haden. “Put Caylee on.” He turned the speaker on.

  “Hello.”

  “Hello, little sister. I need a favor.”

  “Okay.”

  “I’ve put you on speaker. I’m with Brianna Larkin right now, and I’m attempting to convince her to allow me to take her to the party at the Grande tonight, but there’s a small problem.”

  “What?”

  “She’s rightfully a little apprehensive about taking off with a stranger.”

  “Oh, I understand. It’s okay, Brianna. You’re safe with Nikolas. He’s a good guy.” It was everything Caylee could do to keep from laughing when Haden stopped the car, swung his head around, and commanded her to give him the phone.

  Feeling more than a little embarrassed, Brianna giggled. “Thanks, Caylee.”

  “Anytime.” Caylee giggled, struggling to prevent Haden from taking the phone out of her hand. “I’ll see you later.”

  Knowing Haden was attempting to wrestle the phone away from Caylee, Nikolas ended the call and turned the phone off. “You have no reason to be embarrassed.” He took her hand. “It’s fifteen steps up. I just need to change my clothes, and then we will leave for the party.”

  * * *

  “Here you go.” Caylee handed the phone over.

  “He hung up.” Haden tried to call Nikolas back. “He turned the phone off.” He frowned. “What did he say?”

  “Sorry,” Caylee teased. “I wish I could tell you, but I can’t. It’s a secret.”

  He lowered his brow. “Tell me.”

  Nibbling on her lower lip, she grinned up at him. “Say pretty please.”

  “Do you know what happens when you play with fire, little love?”

  “Nope. I‘ve never really considered fire to be a toy.” Pressing her palm against his cock, she winked at him. “But I’m getting very knowledgeable in what happens when you get naked and play with a fire-breathing dragon.”

  “Did you just call me a toy?”

  “My favorite toy.”

  “You really are pure evil.” Frowning, he pulled the car back onto the road and started driving again. “You don’t fight fair.” He glanced over at her, and he’d be damned if she wasn’t smiling up at him, waiting for him to say it. He wasn’t going to say it. There was no way. Imagine how impossible she would be to deal with it he allowed her to win this one.

  “Pretty please,” he growled, between clenched teeth.

  “Nope. No way. No growling.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “And I really didn’t think we were fighting, but now that I know, I’m not telling you unless you say it very nicely.”

  Blood pressure skyrocketing, he pulled the car into the only available parking spot anywhere close to the boutique. Struggling to keep his composure, he got out of the car and walked over to the passenger side. He opened the door and reached for her hand to help her get out of the car. Without thought, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. He bent his head to hers. “Pretty please, little love, tell me.” he whispered in a deep, seductive voice that sent shivers of desire racing through her body.

  “Pretty please?” Joseph walked up from behind. “It must not be all that earth shattering if she makes you beg for it.”

  “Oh, damn it.” Haden brought Caylee to his side to face Joseph. “What are you doing here?”

  “Picking Mia up for the party.”

  “Does she know?” Caylee asked.

  “Not yet.” Joseph smiled.

  “She won’t go with you. She doesn’t even like you,” Haden stated.

  Joseph shrugged casually. “Maybe I’ll try saying pretty please.”

  Before Haden could hit Joseph, Caylee blurted, “Nikolas is taking Brianna to the party tonight. She’s with him right now.”

  “Huh?” Haden glanced at Joseph and then looked down at Caylee. “That’s what he said to you?”

  “Yep.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen your brother with a woman,” Joseph said. “What about you?”

  “Never.” Haden replied.

  ~ Twenty-One ~

  NIKOLAS TOOK HIS jacket off Brianna, and then he pulled out the chair and guided her into it. He leaned down next to her and turned the computer on. She lifted her chin and turned her face toward him. Feeling the heat of her breath on his neck made every muscle in his body go rigid. He looked down at her and stared into her unseeing blue gaze. She was almost too beautiful, too perfect in every way he could ever imagine. Her lips were so close. He was tempted to lean down a little further and kiss her. It took every ounce of his strength, but he managed to force himself to look away from her and focus on the computer screen.

  It didn’t take Nikolas long to find the story of the fire that claimed her family. Following one clue after another, he eventually found a picture of Demetri with a young woman. She could’ve been Brianna’s twin. He studied the picture and realized that Mary Tate was standing in the background, watching Demetri. “Brianna, do you have a twin sister?”

  Visibly shaken by the question, Brianna attempted to rest her hand on the desk, but ended up placing her hand on his. “Sorry.” As if she’d just touched a flame she jerked her hand back and held her breath.

  He got down on his knees and slowly turned the chair so that she was facing him. He took her hands in his to send waves of healing energy into her. “There’s no reason for you to be sorry, little one. You didn’t do anything wrong,” he whispered. He took a deep breath and released it with a sigh. “I upset you by asking if you have a twin sister, didn’t I?”

  Hot tears burning behind her eyes, she nodded.

  “Why?” He continued to send healing energy into her as he waited for her to recover and respond.

  “My sister, Sara, disappeared after our home burned down.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “The authorities believe she started it.”

  “Tell me why they blamed her,” he whispered.

  “She didn’t do it,” she blurted, her unseeing gaze pinning his, her voice and expression fierce wit
h her love and loyalty for her sister.

  “I know.” He reached up and gently wiped the tears from her face. “But why do the police suspect her?”

  “She hears voices,” Brianna whispered. Why was she telling him anything? She didn’t know why, but she felt as if she could tell him anything. “Sometimes, she hurts herself. She has violent outbursts. They believe she’s insane.”

  “I’m sorry. Thank you for trusting me.” Nikolas brought her hand to the warmth of his mouth. “How did you get out of the fire?”

  It was just as Nikolas had suspected. He watched a dark spell of fear, intended to silence her, grip onto her and squeeze hard. He immediately recognized Demetri’s power in it. He placed his hands on her shoulders. “The only way to break the fear is to defeat it. The only way to defeat it is to challenge it. I’m here. I will protect you. Nothing bad can happen to you. Tell me how you managed to get out of the fire.” He didn’t need her to tell him. She needed to tell him. It was the only way to break the spell. Well, he could easily get rid of it, but it was better for her to do it. It would empower her and make her less vulnerable to Demetri’s power.

  Somehow, she knew it was true. She didn’t how, but it didn’t matter. She believed him. “It was the same as when you rescued me today. A man I’d never met took me out of the house. Then the moment we stepped off the front porch, he told me that if I ever told anyone he’d helped me he would … oh, God.”

  “Would what?” Nikolas asked, careful to hide his anger.

  “Kill me and whoever I told.”

  “I know him,” Nikolas said. “He can’t touch you.”

  Brianna nodded, but she wasn’t truly convinced. She believed Nikolas was attempting to make her feel better.