He breathed hard as he stared down into her eyes, fighting for control over his body, slowly easing the tempest within him.
Caterina lowered her hazel gaze to his cock, the look in her eyes warning she didn’t intend to give him the moment he needed.
He swept her up into his arms before she could take him back into her mouth and kissed her as he kicked his sweats off.
She twisted in his arms, looped her legs around his waist and rubbed against him, the feel of her breasts brushing his chest and the heat of her against his aching length almost pushing him over the edge.
“Caterina,” he moaned, begging her to give him just a few seconds.
Enough time to get her out of her sweats.
He lifted her, placed her over his shoulder and weathered her frustrated grunt as she shoved her hands against his backside and pushed herself up. That grunt became a moan as he pulled her sweats down and off over her feet.
Her panties followed them.
Marek skimmed his hand over her bottom and gave it a light tap when she wriggled, just enough to leave a handprint on her right buttock.
She huffed and smacked his arse hard enough that it stung.
“It’s like that is it?” He hefted her, intending to toss her onto the bed.
Only she twisted in his arms, wrapped her leg around his neck and heaved backwards, sending him off balance. He tipped over her, his back hit the mattress and she landed on top of him.
Good gods.
He wasn’t sure he had ever been so turned on.
He growled, seized her backside and pulled her to him before she could make her next move, delving between her thighs. She moaned and shuddered above him as he stroked between her plush lips, tasting her sweetness.
Her hands came down on his head and she arched, another trembling sigh escaping her as she rocked on his tongue, riding each stroke of it over her sensitive flesh.
Marek was right there with her, moaning as he licked her, as he suckled and swirled his tongue around her bead, unable to get enough of her.
Her sweet cries rose in pitch, her rocking growing more frantic, and he grinned as he pushed her higher still, towards that edge of losing control.
She suddenly lifted her hips and slapped at his head when he pulled her back to him, refusing to release her. When she wriggled and loosed a frustrated noise, he reluctantly eased his grip on her, because he didn’t want her angry with him.
“What’s—” He didn’t get a chance to finish asking her what was wrong.
She took hold of his length and eased back, guiding him into her and destroying his ability to think.
Feeling took over, had him seizing hold of her hips as she sank onto him, as he filled her and her warmth gloved him.
She pressed her hands to his chest and rose off him, setting a pace that had his heart thundering and hips rising to meet hers. Her fingertips dug into his pectorals, short nails scoring his skin as she rode him, as she tipped her head back and moaned.
Marek palmed her nape and pulled her down to him, kissed her hard as he worked his hips, matching her frantic pace. Ripples of pleasure collided and built into waves that crashed over him with each thrust of his hips, each plunge of his cock into her. She moaned and rocked, her desperate strokes pushing him to take her faster, harder, until that need that gripped her was satisfied.
“Marek,” she murmured against his lips, painting them with his name spoken in a way that he would always remember.
She seared it on his heart as she clutched him to her, as she clung to him and he rolled her onto her back, wedging himself between her thighs.
She surrendered to him, her head tipping back as he braced himself above her, planting one hand onto the mattress and the other beneath her lower back. He lifted her from the bed and angled his hips, filled her and stole the sweet cry of bliss that left her lips in a kiss.
Her breaths came faster, mingling with his as he sank into her, as he curled his hand around her shoulder and shifted his knees, pressing them into the bed and using them as leverage. He groaned and lost himself in her, in the storm building between them, a wild tempest that would break at any moment.
But one that would leave them forever changed.
She clawed his shoulders, leaving her mark on him again, and kissed him deeper. Her hips rocked up to meet his as she ploughed the fingers of her right hand into his hair and clutched him, and he groaned and shuddered as a hot shiver cascaded down his spine and his shaft grew harder.
Caterina tightened around him as he filled her again.
She jerked up against him and cried into his mouth, her thighs quivering against his hips as her body pulsed around him, propelling him over the edge with her. He groaned and shuddered as release swept through him, so swift and powerful that he could only hold Caterina as it took him, as every inch of him shook in response as he spilled inside her.
She peppered his lips with kisses that had warmth following in the wake of his climax, feelings flowing through him that filled him with a need to hold her and never let her go. To keep her with him and not let her carry out their plan.
He couldn’t do that to her though. She needed to do this—for him and for her brother. All he could do was keep her safe, and he would do that. Whatever happened, he would be there for her. He would see her through it all.
Marek pulled back and looked down at her, stroked her cheek as he stared into her hazy, warm eyes that revealed more than she probably wanted him to see.
She didn’t have to fear.
He couldn’t get enough of her either.
There was no one in this world more perfect for him than she was.
He wrestled with the words again, even when he knew now wasn’t the time.
He would tell her later, when she was safely back in his arms.
When she would believe that the heart pounding in his chest belonged to her, and it would forever.
No matter what happened.
Because she was it for him.
Chapter 28
Marek checked Caterina over for what felt like the millionth time as she stood in the kitchen of the castle reciting the plan for Keras, because apparently his brother wouldn’t be satisfied until they had gone over it at least a hundred times.
Whenever Caterina got to the part about being taken by the wraith, his gut churned and his pulse picked up, adrenaline flooding his veins in preparation for a fight he knew he couldn’t let happen.
As much as he hated it, he had to let the wraith take her. He had to trust that she would be able to get away from him if necessary, using her newfound powers.
Although, he could have lived without her admitting this morning that her ability to teleport was flaky and she had only managed it once, when she had run from him.
Valen fussed over Eva in the corner, as if she was the one about to get snatched by their enemy, risking her life to get them intel.
“I still say you should just let me step to the house where they held me.” Marek scowled at Keras, unable to keep a lid on his temper as a thousand ways this could go wrong crowded his mind, tormenting him.
“They will not be there anymore.” Keras offered him a look that Marek supposed was meant to be consoling, as if he would believe Keras felt bad about what he was asking Caterina to do.
Or that she might end up dead.
“I could take a look.” Marek paused and looked down at Caterina as her hand came to lightly rest on his arm.
Confidence shone in her eyes, mingled with determination that ignited the spark he had always found so alluring.
“I can do this.” She stroked her palm down his arm, sending a warm shiver skating over his skin. “I’ll be fine.”
She wouldn’t be.
He knew that in his gut.
He didn’t believe in omens, but gods, he was starting to.
As much as he tried not to do it, he couldn’t stop himself from thinking that skull he had watched sliding down his shower screen in Seville had been a
portent, a sign that he was going to lose someone close to him.
Someone he loved with all of his heart.
He stared down into her eyes, wishing that strength that blazed in them would ease his mind, but it wouldn’t. He wouldn’t be satisfied until she was back in his arms again, safe from his enemy.
She smiled, one that hit him hard in his heart, and trailed her fingers off his hand as her gaze flicked to Keras.
Whatever she saw there had her toying with the hem of her dirty cream camisole, smoothing it down over her jeans.
Marek looked at his brother and his mood took a sharp downwards turn, something he hadn’t thought possible since he was already on the verge of unleashing an earthquake across the Northern Hemisphere.
Keras’s green eyes remained cold and hard as they slid from Caterina to Marek.
Damn, his brother really resembled their father when he wore that look, the one that revealed how disgusted he was that Marek was allowing Caterina to touch him, that they were close to each other despite what she was becoming.
Marek didn’t care.
He turned to Caterina, fighting for the words again, aware of Keras’s gaze on him, and Valen’s too now as the room fell quiet.
He wanted to tell her now, before she threw herself into danger for him, that he had feelings for her that wouldn’t change, no matter what.
In the end, he settled for pressing a soft kiss to her dirty forehead, and whispering in Catalan, “Be careful. I will be there to keep an eye on you.”
She nodded against his lips, touched his hand and then broke away from him.
Watching her go to Keras twisted him in knots, filling him with an urge to steal his brother’s part in this so he could remain in contact with her and so his brother couldn’t lay a hand on her.
Keras took hold of her before he could make a move and disappeared.
Marek stepped, following him and trying to tamp down the black urge to rip his brother to pieces.
That urge only intensified as he landed in the elegant front garden of the Tokyo mansion and found Keras shoving Caterina towards the wooden porch.
Making far too big a show of it.
Caterina struggled against his hold and every instinct Marek possessed roared at him to fight his brother and stop him from harming her.
He fought it as he stormed after them with Valen hot on his heels as Eva lingered in the garden, waiting to play her part.
Keras disappeared into the mansion with Caterina, and someone snarled. Esher. Marek had wanted him away from the mansion when this went down, but Keras had insisted he remain to make it look more realistic. Marek was beginning to think Keras just wanted to frighten Caterina, showing her what sort of reception some members of his family would always give her until they managed to reverse what had been done to her.
Marek didn’t bother to take his boots off at the door. He strode into the old building, quickly scanned it and banked left when he spotted Keras shoving Caterina towards the bathhouse.
And the small building beyond it that housed Esher’s cage.
“What the fuck is happening?” Esher bit out, his voice a black snarl as he shirked Aiko’s soft touch and took swift strides across the tatami mats, closing the gap between him and Keras.
And Caterina.
Keras looked back at his brother, his grip on Caterina’s arm tightening to the point where her skin blanched and she flinched.
Marek bit back a growl, somehow managing to hold it at bay as he glared at Keras.
The growl did leave his lips when Keras spoke.
“We have captured a spy and need to question her. Are you up for it?” His cold green eyes remained fixed on Esher, even as Marek shook his head and stormed towards him.
He changed course when Esher’s blue eyes brightened dangerously and his brother smiled slowly.
No. No way. They needed to make it look convincing in case the wraith was watching just as expected, but he was damned if he was going to let Esher lay a finger on Caterina.
Esher doubled his pace, practically running to keep up with Keras as he reached the space between the shower stalls and the hot spring bath that looked out onto the zen garden.
Marek raced to intervene.
He hit the corridor that ran alongside the kitchen area just as Caterina turned and shoved Keras in the chest, catching him off guard and sending him falling into the bath.
What the hell was she doing?
She threw a panicked look at Esher.
The fear Marek could sense in her spiked.
Genuine.
He knew what she could see as Esher rushed her. Claws and fangs. Black eyes flooded with a terrible hunger for violence.
Edged with crimson.
Because she had just dared to hurt Keras.
Marek launched himself at Esher, no longer giving a damn whether the wraith saw his desire to protect her, because this was no longer a game. It had become real the moment Caterina had attacked Keras. Esher would kill her for it.
Before he could tackle his brother, Esher hit an invisible wall and fell on his backside.
Blue hexagonal glyphs shimmered across the air between Caterina and Esher.
She had developed more than one succubus talent.
Caterina’s hazel gaze landed on him, a myriad of feelings swimming in it, and then she disappeared.
Outside, Eva yelled an obscenity and gravel crunched in a rapid beat, telling him that the assassin was giving chase and their plan was somewhat back on track.
He pivoted on his heel and shoved past Valen as his brother did the same, rushing for the door. Behind him, Keras bit out a curse and Esher growled.
Marek hit the porch.
Spotted Caterina near the broad wooden gate in the white wall that surrounded the mansion.
Eva lunged at Caterina.
Caterina dodged the blow, grabbed Eva’s arm and teleported with her.
Marek cursed this time.
“That wasn’t the fucking plan,” Valen snarled beside him.
“I know that.” Marek turned on him, his temper spiking right back up as he faced off against his brother, because Valen wasn’t the only one frantic to find his woman.
He stepped to beyond the wall, into the street between the box-shaped houses that filled the quiet suburb of the city. He scanned the roads around him, fought to breathe slowly to bring his racing heart back under control as he struggled to hear over the thundering beat of it.
“Damn it, Caterina.” He twisted this way and that, searching for her.
To his left, Valen appeared at another crossroads, one that had a small group of trees near it. A square?
His brother yelled, “Eva.”
Pivoted and kicked off.
Marek sprinted as hard as he could, and when that wasn’t fast enough, he stepped again, draining more of his strength. He landed in a dead run beside Valen, his pulse pounding again as they streaked across the square.
Valen must have seen something.
It was all Marek could think as a desperate need to find Caterina flooded him.
They hit another road and then Valen broke right down a smaller one, and Marek heard it.
A muffled grunt and a ripe curse.
In Catalan.
He doubled his effort, pushing himself towards his limit, outpacing Valen. But not for long. Valen caught up with him and together they broke into another square, this one little more than a few trees in each corner of a dusty patch of land.
In the middle of it, Caterina and Eva were fighting, their moves looking almost as if they had been perfectly choreographed and practiced a thousand times. Caterina dodged and ducked, sweeping under Eva’s arm as she attempted to land a blow, and swung her leg out towards Eva’s ankles. Eva leaped over Caterina’s foot, landed on one leg and brought her other one around in a swift arc.
Caterina raised both hands and managed to block it, grabbed Eva’s ankle and twisted hard, sending the black-haired assassin into the dirt.
Eva leaned back, pressed her hands into the dirt, and pushed off, springing onto hers and straight into an attack that Caterina must have seen coming.
But she took the blow to her left cheek like a champion.
Staggered to her right and whipped back to face Eva.
Caterina wiped the back of her hand across her mouth and looked down at it.
At the near-black blood on it.
On a vicious yell, she launched herself at the assassin.
Marek wasn’t sure he could watch as she failed to land half of her blows and left herself open to most of Eva’s. It took all his will to keep his boots planted to the road and not intervene.
As she fought Eva, a feeling built inside him, that sense of doom returning.
“I can’t let her do this,” Marek murmured as she took a blow to her gut and doubled over.
Not the fight, but what came after.
She would be in too much danger. One false move on her part and he would lose her forever.
When Eva delivered a hard-right hook that landed Caterina on her backside, Marek lunged forwards.
Violet smoke spilled from the air behind her, swirling in the gentle breeze and turning black in places as it spread. Sparks of green and violet chased across it as it formed an oval at least four feet wide and seven feet tall.
A bare leg appeared out of it, long and shapely, and Marek readied himself as the illusionist stepped from the portal. The high slit in her slinky black strapless dress caused the material to fall away from her left leg as she moved towards Caterina and Eva, her silver eyes swirling as she assessed both women.
She casually flicked her long fall of dark violet hair over her right shoulder.
Her black lips curled into a wretched smile.
Eva grunted, dug her fingers into her black jaw-length hair, clawing it back to flash the electric blue streaks in it, and went down.
Hard.
“Eva!” Valen threw his right hand forwards, unleashing a white-blue bolt of lightning that shot towards the daemon as he raced towards Eva.
The illusionist stepped back into the portal. It rapidly dissipated and Valen’s attack went straight through it and out the other side. It struck a tree in the corner of the square and wooden splinters exploded from it, flames swift to engulf it as the lightning ravaged it.
Marek: Guardians of Hades Series Book 4 Page 29