“We’ll take care of it,” he said.
I reached around Jadeon’s waist for support, feeling bruised and shaken. “Who attacked me?”
“Later.”
Despite needing answers, he was right. I felt too weak to tackle that at the moment. “What if he comes back?”
“We’ve posted guards.”
Yet something in his demeanor hinted that might not be enough.
He led me into the bathroom. My reflection kept nothing from me. My hair was disheveled, matching my expression. My mascara was smudged beneath tired and frightened eyes. I shuddered at how close I’d come to going through that window. My dress was twisted, creased, and stained in blood.
Jadeon didn’t have a reflection.
He caught my look of surprise and waved it off, showing he was used to it.
I turned my back on the mirror. “Cold water gets blood stains out,” I blurted. “Hot water cooks it into the material.”
Jadeon gave a crooked smile. “I’ll bear that in mind.” He wet the face cloth under the faucet and dabbed it across my forehead.
“Not that you do your own washing.”
“No.”
I nudged away his hand. “You should have warned me.”
He lifted me up and sat me on the bathroom counter. “And have you looking over your shoulder every five minutes?” He held me firmly by my shoulders, his stare insistent he was right.
“At least I’d have been prepared,” I said. “How long has he been trying to kill me?”
He looked away.
“Jadeon.”
“Since you turned up at the Athenaeum.”
My throat tightened. “You’ve kept him away from me?”
“Until today, yes.”
“But aren’t you Dominion?” I said. “Aren’t you meant to have some kind of authority?”
“He’s from the old guard.” Jadeon looked solemn. “I’m dealing with this as diplomatically as I can with the elders. It’s a delicate process. We’re bringing a thousand year old tradition into the 21st century and there’s bound to be a jerk reaction.”
“I didn’t see anything at that place,” I said. “Just a library. That’s it.”
“I know.”
The memory of that vampire’s pale face flashed before me again and I cringed. “Who is he?”
“A guardian.”
“Of what?”
“It doesn’t concern you.”
“It does now. Well, are you going to tell me what I nearly died for?”
“You must believe me when I tell you you’re safer not knowing.”
“They think I know what’s hidden in that place. Isn’t that the same thing?”
“No, it’s not.”
My lips trembled when I envisioned that sheer drop. “Does Orpheus know I’m in danger?”
“Of course.”
I wondered if Orpheus might have better protected me. His ruthlessness was legendary, his ability to do whatever it took without compromising. No doubt he would never have let that monk leave the room alive.
Jadeon reached for my arm and slid up the bracelet. His fingertips caressed my circled brand. “I hate you having this.”
“I thought it was meant to protect me.”
“Your bracelet covered it.” His jaw flexed with tension. “Not that it would have made any difference. Your attempted murder is connected to me.”
I repositioned the bracelet over my brand. “I can’t keep this. Orpheus told me these are real diamonds.” My gaze shot to his. “Anaïs gave it to me.”
His expression hardened. “I’m taking you home.”
“You can’t order me around.”
“Say it.”
“Say what?”
“Ask me.”
I hesitated and then relented; anxiety rose in my voice. “I’m not your only lover, am I?”
He stared past me, his expression taut as though studying his lack of reflection. I resented the seconds that went by pretending to be hours.
“Am I just one of many?” I said.
“You know me better than that.”
I slid off the marbled counter. “I don’t know what to believe anymore.”
“Ingrid, I want a lifetime of sunsets and sunrises for you.”
“Don’t you see if I can’t have you than all of that is meaningless?” I let out a sob. “Am I anything to you?”
Jadeon eased me back against the wall and held me there. “While you are in this world there can be no one else for me.” He rested a fingertip to my lips. “There has been no one else.” His forehead rested against mine and his grip tightened around my waist. “I’ve tried not to love you, believe me. It’s more trouble than it’s worth.”
“No one else?”
“Just you, my darling. Only you.”
His hardness grew against my belly and I felt that low thrum below intensifying, wanting him inside me. “Make love to me.” I dug my fingernails into his forearms. “I can’t bare this emptiness any longer.”
His hand reached beneath my dress, sliding up and along my thigh, and he tore my thong free; the snap stung my flesh. That welcome flash of pain proved he really was here.
My breath caught as his blazing stare burned through me with a dark craving. This was where I wanted to be, here, with him and I cherished every moment, every second, of being close to him. Jadeon was the most beautiful man I’ve ever met, and beneath these soft lights he looked so unyielding and yet so fragile, reminding me why I’d fallen so heavily for him.
“Promise me something,” I said.
He lowered his gaze.
“Say it.” I grabbed his arms. “I need to hear you say the words.”
“I will find a way for us to be together.” His breathing was hard, his face full of lust, an unbridled need surging through him. He gripped my shoulders and spun me around to face the wall. My fingers splayed against the cold tile, but I lifted my hands only for him to raise my gown up and over my head before throwing it to the ground. He nestled into the nape of my neck, bestowing relentless kisses down my left shoulder then the right, kissing down my back as he reached for my bra strap to unclip it then ease it down my arms and off. Turning to face him again, my hands ruffled through his lush dark locks.
He lowered his head, his mouth drawing upon a nipple, sucking, dragging his teeth along it. His tongue lavished affection on one while his fingers tweaked the other.
“I love you,” he whispered in-between teasing. “You’re in my every waking thought.”
“I can’t live without you.” My fingernails dug into his firm chest. “I refuse to live without you. Whatever the danger.”
His fangs were at my throat, grazing my flesh. “No more recklessness.” His mouth found mine, our battling tongues fighting each other for domination. “That isn’t a request.”
“There you go again ordering me around.”
He held my chin up with a fingertip. “You’re bound to me. If you’re truly ready to become my mate you will do as I say.”
With his left hand, he gripped both of my wrists and pinned my hands high above my head and imprisoned them there. With his right hand he reached low between my thighs, nudging past that cleft and massaging my clit with a firm finger, preventing my words and leaving them unspoken. His full attention was upon delivering mind-blowing circling strokes to the center of my universe, making that secret place need him, yearn for his touch never to cease.
Weakly, I whispered, “Trying to find another way to control me?”
He was unrelenting in strumming my clit, flicking ever faster. “I do control you.” Keeping this steady rhythm, he pressed his chest against mine and kissed me, stealing my breath away with an unmatched fierceness, his tongue lashing mine, punishing.
I was close to coming.
The thought flashed through my mind that this was all he would give me, this pleasuring and nothing more. I moaned my fear.
“Oh, Ingrid,” he said sternly, close to my ear, “you c
an be assured I’m going to be fucking you tonight. Hard.”
The frisson in my chest shot to my groin and my pussy clenched in expectation.
“But not in here,” he said, guiding me into the bedroom with my hand in his.
Dazed and struggling to keep up with his determined pace, I trotted behind him, my thighs trembling with the sensations that still tingled from his touch.
Hardly noticing the luxury bedroom, I vaguely took in the king size bed with its burgundy bedspread fluffed and welcoming. Thick drapes pulled across floor to ceiling windows. A dark wooden dresser stood against one wall. A chaise longue sat in the corner and several armchairs. Elegant and simple and understated.
Naked and vulnerable, I sat on the edge of the bed watching Jadeon make quick work of undressing, until he stood before me glorious in his nakedness. His erection hard and ready and primal in its length. This perfect creature of the night promised the darkest of pleasures. My heart felt so fragile, threatening to shatter if I ever lost him.
“Stop thinking,” he demanded.
And he neared me, pushing me back up onto the bed until he lay upon me, his hands holding mine above my head again, pressing them into the mattress. How I had coped with us being apart I didn’t know. Couldn’t understand how I had managed to go on without knowing this man was in my life. His firm sculptured chest pressed against mine, his virile scent alighting my every desire.
I wrapped my legs around his waist, swooning as his hardness caressed along my cleft, stroking against that wetness as though gauging my readiness.
“God, you are beautiful,” he said.
With one thrust he entered me, filling me, stretching me wide, sending shockwaves of pleasure through me. Crying out with desire, my hands wrapped around his shoulders to hold him tighter. I gasped in time with his thrusts.
He stilled and raised himself onto his elbows. “I need to know you’re safe. Give me this one thing.”
Rocking my hips, I demanded he resume. “Only when you give me what I want.”
Jadeon grabbed a fist full of my locks and eased my head back, exposing my throat. He coveted my blood. I knew it.
“Ask,” he said.
“I want you.”
He thrust with a relentless pace, punishing me with pleasure. “You will always belong to me.” His mouth pressed against my throat, licking, threatening a bite. His tongue teased my flesh.
“I belong to you.”
“And you will do as I say.” His fangs grazed my skin.
“Yes.” Shuddering in ecstasy, I buried my face in the crook of his neck, no longer able to fight it, fight him, succumbing to his demand of me as his mouth found mine again and he bruised my lips, opening them wider to master me.
“Look at me when you come,” he said huskily.
Our limbs entwined, my hair whipping to either side of my head as he cupped my rear for better control, driving into me deeply, his body pounding against mine. The sound of our sex slapping each others mingled with our moans of desire.
“Your eyes on mine,” he demanded. “When you come.”
Shockwaves of pleasure burst from me. My internal muscles drew more of him into me and snatched my breath away. His cock molded perfectly inside of me, withdrawing and slamming back into me with frenzied passion.
He stilled above, the warmth of all he had to give sending more spasms of pleasure, making my orgasm go on and on and on. A thousand little earthquakes fractured within and without, causing me to shake violently and come hard.
Coming together, I kept my eyes upon his and disappeared into his immortal gaze.
Undone...
Unbidden, I was completely his.
CHAPTER 20
Stirring from the deepest sleep, I reached out across the bed for Jadeon.
I’d not slept this well in what felt like months. We had drifted off in each other’s arms and dreamt our way to separate sides. I craved to be close again, feel his warmth and snuggle into his chest. His masculine scent lingered on my pillow, stirring memories and sending a thrill of contentment up my spine.
My hand slid over an empty sheet.
The bedside clock flashed a fluorescent 3.00 A.M.
The starkness of last night came flooding back, the memory of being attacked and what followed. A night of passionate lovemaking with Jadeon. Why could nothing in my life ever be simple? Despite Jadeon healing the cuts, there were bruises around my body and I ached from where I’d hit that window. I ran a fingertip over the sorest spot on my forehead and flinched, hoping it didn’t look as bad as it felt. I pulled the sheet off with me and wrapped it around by body, assuming my dress was still in the bathroom.
Peering at my reflection in the wall mirror, I saw a faint contusion on my upper right forehead. Makeup and a lock of hair would conceal it. My clothes would hide the other bruises on my arms and legs. After falling into Jadeon’s arms, I’d soon forgotten about these telltale reminders of my fight for life. There was no doubt that if Jadeon hadn’t returned to the room I’d be dead.
Hearing voices, I cautiously made my way out of the bedroom.
Orpheus leaned back against the wall and Jadeon huddled close to him. Their exchange sounded brisk. They were arguing.
Jadeon spun round to look at me. “I didn’t want to wake you.”
“What’s going on?” I said.
“He’s leaving,” Jadeon said.
I pulled the sheet tight around me.
Jadeon came closer and kissed my forehead. “Go back to bed, my darling. This won’t take long.”
My body tensed, my mistrust rising. “What won’t?”
Orpheus neared me. “I’m sorry for this interruption. I am really.”
“Why is he here?” I recognized my bag on the couch.
“A change of clothes from your flat,” Orpheus said.
“Which she won’t need,” Jadeon said tersely.
“You went to my place?” I said.
Recalling all we’d shared last night, all those words of affection and those same feelings of surrendering, of vulnerability, now turned on me in all its karmic glory.
Jadeon reached for my shoulders. “Nothing has changed between us.”
“One of my Gothicas was found dead a few hours ago in Holland Park,” Orpheus said.
“I thought all of your Gothicas left the country?” I said.
“So did I.” Orpheus frowned.
Of course I’d gotten that piece of information from Henry, Jadeon’s driver, and from their silence I imagined both of them were gleaning that piece of info from my thoughts right now.
“It’s an unfortunate incident,” Jadeon said.
“Fuck that,” Orpheus said. “This is Hauville’s doing.”
“Is her body in Scotland Yard’s morgue?” Then I realized. “That’s why Brooks left early last night.”
“Her name is Eden.” Orpheus looked devastated. “I thought she was safe.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” I asked Jadeon.
“He didn’t know,” Orpheus said.
“I have to get to work,” I said.
“No.” Jadeon looked vexed. “It’s too dangerous.”
“Are you saying I can’t go in?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“You can’t ask that of me.”
“Last night,” Jadeon said, “we agreed you’d do everything I asked of you.”
I went for my bag and rummaged through the selection of clothes that Orpheus had picked out for me. Considering he’d probably been in a hurry he’d not done too badly. I could turn up in any of these and not look out of place.
Jadeon nudged up against me. “Ingrid, listen to me—”
“We need her on this,” Orpheus said.
Jadeon grabbed my arm. “I’m taking you to St. Michael’s where you will stay until this is over.”
Looking at Jadeon’s distraught face, I understood, really I did. What we’d shared last night had brought us closer than we’d
ever been and I feared doing anything that might threaten all we’d become. Still, Orpheus was right. This case had dragged on too long and I’d been held at arm’s length from the facts.
Jadeon shook his head, as though denying to himself I’d already made up my mind.
“You know this makes sense,” I told him.
He glared at Orpheus. “If anything happens to her.”
“Get dressed,” Orpheus said. “I’ll drive you in.”
“You keep us informed, understand?” Jadeon snapped.
“It goes both ways,” I said.
I hurried to the bathroom and changed into the black slacks, white shirt, and pumps that Orpheus had bought over. I’d have time to touch up my makeup in the car. The idea that Orpheus had explored my flat to extract these few personal items left me uneasy. Yet again he’d proven his sense of entitlement. It caught me off guard that I’d also never seen him this shaken. Eden’s death had rattled him.
On the way out of the room, I gestured to the smashed window. “How are we going to explain this to the hotel staff?”
“You needn’t worry.” Jadeon ushered me out. “Orpheus owns this hotel.”
“You own the Waldorf?” It came out high-pitched, embarrassingly so.
“Along with half of London,” Jadeon said flatly.
“Let’s not bore her with all that,” Orpheus said. “Anyway, you own most of Cornwall, Artimas.”
In a daze from that revelation, they escorted me down to the hotel exit.
During the journey through London, Orpheus drove the Viper hard, and with little traffic we made our way across the city without hindrance.
When Hauville went missing, so did their only lead. Scotland Yard’s case and theirs matched up, equaling pretty much nothing to go on. Hauville had managed to evade these two, which really did point to the fact he’d either left the country or was indeed dead. Right up until Eden’s death.
The closeness of last night’s precious hours that Jadeon and I had shared had to be forgotten now. We had to focus all our energy on this murder.
After another berating from Jadeon, I was finally allowed to exit the car.
At 4:00 A.M. Scotland Yard was still a bustling place, with phones ringing off the hook, civilian staff scurrying around, and uniformed men and woman going about their usual routine as they worked through their night shift.
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