by Marie Harte
Though her potential for promotion had been stymied thanks to the sexist jerks running the business, she had received plenty of experience and made enough contacts to start her own consulting firm, one that until recently had kept her away from Seattle.
Digging into her Spanish omelette with gusto, she began to feel a renewed sense of energy when a commotion outside distracted her.
Swallowing a mouthful of coffee, she watched as a woman dressed in a thick wool coat, which likely cost five times what Samantha’s parka had, argued with a well-dressed man who stood with his back to the restaurant window.
His height and posture reminded her of Darius, but she couldn’t see Darius Storm owning a fancy suit, let alone wearing one. From what she’d heard of him through Gerry and seen of him last night, he was strictly a jeans and T-shirt kind of guy. This man, however, wore a dark designer suit, carried a trench coat over one arm and a briefcase in his hand.
Agitated, he donned his trench coat and ran a hand through his thick black hair while gesturing something at the woman. Damn, she wished he’d turn so she could see his face.
Samantha glanced around her, not surprised to see others—specifically the female patrons—staring at the scene outside. The woman’s voice had risen so that occasional shrieks of outrage could be heard even through the thick glass of the restaurant window.
Shaking her head, Samantha pushed at the remainder of omelette on her plate as she watched the crumbling woman. She forced herself to take another bite, trying hard to distance herself from the woman’s hurt. Men aren’t worth it, she mentally chided. Trust me, lady, I know.
When the woman started crying, the man finally pulled away from her and strode in the direction of the restaurant. Several gasps and ahs floated around her, but Samantha could only stare in astonishment.
She’d been wrong.
Darius did own a suit and looked like a million bucks wearing it. He appeared just as dangerous as the last time she’d seen him, but now he wore a subtle sheen of sophistication from his wing-tipped black shoes to his neatly brushed hair. A corporate shark who’d just ripped the heart from another female victim.
Imagine ending a relationship with him. Josh had been difficult to part from, but he was only a man. Darius seemed much more than that, a larger-than-life heartbreaker.
He continued towards the restaurant and for a moment she thought he might enter. But he continued purposefully past, his eyes shuttered, a dim frown on his hard face.
Before he left her view, however, he turned his head to peer at the restaurant full of earnest gawkers and muttered something under his breath. Returning his attention to the sidewalk, he took a few steps and left her sight, much to her simultaneous disappointment and relief.
But the remembrance of his polished face staring into the glass stunned her, and she had to force herself to swallow the eggs congealing in her mouth.
Since when did Darius Storm have blue eyes?
* * * *
Darius cursed at the sun peering through the window right into his face. He loved the outdoors, particularly the heat from the golden sun hovering in the sky, but not first thing in the morning.
Grunting, he threw off his covers and slid out of bed. Needing something to soothe his grumbling stomach, he threw on a pair of jeans and stomped downstairs into the kitchen. Never pleasant in the morning, he felt doubly foul today after suffering heated fantasies about Samantha Brooks all night.
As much as he felt attraction, he now felt annoyance, frustration and anger at the infuriating woman for invading his sleep—rest he prized dearly.
“Well, well, well,” Cadmus drawled from the kitchen table. He sat with a mug of steaming coffee as he perused the newspaper. “It’s nearly noon and you’re finally awake. If I didn’t know better I’d think you were turning into the nocturnal Djinn.”
Darius glared at Cadmus and subtly focused on his brother’s mug, in no mood for humour. With a curse, Cadmus let go of the now burning cup and glared back.
“What’s got you so irritable? You just woke up.”
Darius poured himself some coffee and smiled through his teeth. “I had a lousy night, okay? And what the hell are you doing here? I thought you had a job.”
Cadmus shrugged. “I’ve decided to try another occupation. I wasn’t meeting many women building houses.” He grimaced. “The primitive construction techniques here boggle the mind.”
“Not so primitive,” Aerolus denied as he joined them in the kitchen. “It’s a lot easier to build things when you rely on sorcery. It’s more difficult to create from bare wood, clay and water.”
Both Darius and Cadmus shared a glance.
“And to what do we owe this honour?” Darius asked dryly as he watched Aerolus settle next to Cadmus with a small smile on his mouth.
“Arim contacted me this morning.”
Darius immediately pounced, excitement replacing his frustration. Only Arim could return them home. “What did he say? Did he give you the spell to take us back?” The damned sorcerer kept in contact as often as he could with promises of return to Tanselm. He and the queen continued to lead the fight against the Netharat, who had apparently retreated to regroup.
“No.” Aerolus paused, his eyes thoughtful as he stared at Darius. “Apparently the spell is within each of us, or ’within our grasp,’ as Arim put it. He intends to visit as soon as the situation settles. Our spellcasters have just recently reinforced the borders.”
Cadmus snorted. “They should have done that months ago. What the hell have they been doing in our absence? I knew we never should have left.”
Aerolus sighed. “Cadmus, it’s as I’ve said before. Time here moves much more quickly than at home. A year has passed here, whereas only a few weeks have passed in Tanselm. To our benefit, that gives us more time to find our affai.”
“Come on, Aerolus,” Darius chided. “You don’t really believe the females here capable of sating a Storm Lord, do you? Even in Tanselm, only a select few could handle our powers.”
“Yet that didn’t stop you from bedding as many as you could find.” Aerolus’ stare made Darius flush, an uncomfortable feeling of guilt swamping him. But what should he feel guilty about? The women he’d bedded had enjoyed every minute of bedsport and had known exactly what they were after when they invited him.
Aerolus didn’t so much as blink when he added, “So tell us of your adventure last night.”
“Adventure?” Cadmus looked from Aerolus to Darius. “What’s he talking about now?”
Not knowing why but unwilling to discuss Samantha with his brothers, Darius tried to shrug off the question. “He’s talking nonsense, as usual. Just like a certain sorcerer we know.” He turned to Aerolus. “It’s obvious to me now how alike you and Arim are. Annoying and riddled with questions.”
Cadmus chuckled. “He’s got a point, Aerolus. You’re as closemouthed as a flatfish and full of sorcerer innuendo.”
Darius relaxed. The attention had shifted.
“Maybe so,” Aerolus conceded with a smile that immediately set Darius on the defensive. “But that still doesn’t explain Darius’ encounter with a certain woman last night, does it?”
Cadmus immediately switched focus. “So it’s a woman that has you breathing fire.” He shot Darius a sly look, overly curious. “Tell us about this female, Darius. What does she look like? How does she feel?”
Scowling, Darius swallowed the rest of his coffee and poured another cup. “I had a run-in with an attractive woman last night, that’s all. And I have no idea how she feels.” She’d felt like fire, a combustible combination of honey and warmth that went much deeper than her sensual beauty. Seeing the curiosity on his brothers’ faces, however, he had no qualms about keeping Samantha to himself for a while.
Glaring at Aerolus, he snarled. “She’s a woman like any other. And keep your damned nose out of my business.”
“Just curious.”
“How the hell did you know about her anyway?”
/>
Aerolus flushed. “Arim mentioned her.”
Darius clearly saw Aerolus’ discomfort, and that made him more interested. He normally never sensed anything from his brother that Aerolus didn’t want him to see.
“Really?” He shot Aerolus a hard look. “Funny how much he shares with you and not the rest of us.” Darius paused. “Are you sure you aren’t experiencing more of Mother’s gifts than you’ve mentioned?”
“No, just the teleportation.” Aerolus looked decidedly uneasy, and much as his brother annoyed him, Darius could sympathise. The more time he himself spent in this world, the more strange power seemed to course through him. The ability to funnel heat through his body had always existed. Now however, he found himself possessed by an astonishing and not altogether welcome gift, one no doubt inherited from his mother’s and Arim’s side of the family.
“We’ve all experienced some odd bursts of power since coming here.” Cadmus ran a hand through his hair. “It was my ability to foretell those numbers that allows us to live here comfortably. Who knew six numbers could grant such prosperity?” He grimaced. “Imagine Tanselm having a lottery. A waste of wealth on the ‘lucky’.”
“And yet without that wealth we’d still be living in the woods.” Aerolus took a long swallow of coffee. “Not the best place to find a mate.”
Aerolus paused a moment in thought. “Remember what Arim said before we left. And there you will also find that the blood of your mother runs strong in you. Now that we know Mother and Arim are related, it becomes clear where her abilities come from. She is a sorceress, just as powerful as Father was a Storm Lord, I’d imagine,” he said more to himself than the others.
“Tell us something we don’t know,” Darius said sarcastically. He should have waited another hour before rising. Cadmus could be a pain in the ass, but when Aerolus grew introspective, it gave him a headache.
“Think about it,” Aerolus continued, making Darius groan. “Cadmus foretold the winning lottery numbers. I can teleport in growing distances. And Marcus has been moving objects with his mind.”
“He has?” Darius blinked in astonishment.
“I’ve seen him practicing when he didn’t know I was watching.” Aerolus and Cadmus turned as one to Darius. “Which brings us to you. What more can you do than control fire?” Despite being born a full minute after Darius and Marcus, and scant seconds before Cadmus, Aerolus tended to take charge in a subtle way that reminded Darius of his father.
Shaking his head, Darius answered, “I’m not sure, exactly.” He hedged, not comfortable with the amount of change he’d experienced since his father’s death last year. Most of the changes had occurred externally. His kin’s murders, learning of his relation to Arim, the Netharat attack, but this new ability resided within him.
“We’re waiting,” Aerolus reminded.
Throwing him a scowl, Darius muttered, “I think I can sense another’s thoughts.”
Cadmus stared. “You’re kidding.” He blanked his face. “What am I thinking now?”
Darius heaved a sigh. “I really can’t take much more of this.” He rubbed his eyes tiredly. “I can’t read you, Cadmus. Or Aerolus, or Marcus. Not that I’ve tried very hard.” When he saw neither brother losing interest, he uttered a low curse of defeat. “Sometimes at the bar I hear things.”
“Perhaps because inhibitions are lowered due to the alcohol?” Aerolus offered.
“I don’t know, maybe.” It made sense. But it didn’t explain the connection he’d shared with Samantha, how he’d been able to sense her instant attraction to him, as well as her surprising disinterest in the opposite sex or a relationship of any kind.
“Must be really interesting reading the thoughts of drunken women.” Cadmus grinned. “Maybe I should show up tonight. You could point out a few of the more ‘interesting’ thoughts from those women that like to overindulge.”
But Samantha would be there tonight. Thoughts of Cadmus making Samantha laugh, of drawing her to him with his irresistible charm, turned Darius’ mood even darker. He clamped his hands to the table’s edge so as not to put them around Cadmus’ throat. “What’s the matter, Cadmus? Can’t work your wiles without getting them drunk first?”
Instead of acting insulted, Cadmus grinned. Not much could dampen his humour, unfortunately. “What you fail to realise, firebreather, is that in insulting me, you insult yourself. Um, hello, but haven’t you seen how much we look alike?” He smirked, then swore as his mug overheated again.
“I was referring to your obnoxious personality, jackass,” Darius snarled.
“Jackass? I like that,” Aerolus said calmly, a twinkle in his bright grey eyes. “It sounds much better than ofcondus eater.”
“Forget this.” Darius stood, determined to find some peace even if it killed him. “I’m going back to bed.” Between his brothers and Samantha Brooks, he was one more frustration away from unleashing his powers and setting the house on fire.
His vision beginning to turn red, he tossed his mug into the sink and strode from the kitchen. Thoughts of Samantha only enhanced his need to see her again. Something didn’t fit with the woman, something off that his inner senses had detected. Otherwise he wouldn’t find her so enthralling.
He had to stop picturing her dark green eyes cloudy with passion, had to stop imagining her breasts flushed and full and begging for his mouth. His cock felt impossibly hard as he returned to his bedroom. But unlike last night, he felt fully rested and able to conquer his desires. After a cold shower and some determined planning he would feel ready to tackle anything, especially Samantha Brooks.
* * * *
“More angry than usual.” Aerolus sat across from Cadmus with a curious glint in his eyes.
“Yeah.” Cadmus stared at his retreating brother’s back. “It’s that woman Arim mentioned. Wonder what’s so special about her that’s gotten Darius so fired up?” He grinned at the pun and looked up to see what Aerolus made of his joke.
As usual, Aerolus remained expressionless. Rolling his eyes only encouraged Cadmus. “I’m not sure.” He stared thoughtfully at the kitchen doorway, wondering if what he suspected might be true.
He hadn’t exactly told his brothers the truth about his newfound powers. But how did you tell your brothers you could share their dreams? Dreamsharing was as intrusive as Darius’ unwanted ability to read minds. Aerolus frowned at the thought of such talent. He’d have to work harder to build his inner defences against mental intrusion. Not that he distrusted Darius by any means, but he valued the privacy of his thoughts. And if his brothers knew even half of what he thought, they’d never leave him alone.
“You know more than you’re telling.” Cadmus’ eyes narrowed. “Did Arim tell you something you haven’t shared?”
“No.” Aerolus cleared his throat. “Arim merely mentioned to keep an eye on Darius, something about a woman intruding into Darius’ thoughts. She’ll play an important role in his future, but more than that I can’t say.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
Darius’ dreams. They were more than sexual. Aerolus’ blood raced as he recalled the woman’s features as seen through Darius’ eyes. The woman was incredibly beautiful, exotic and sensual. But Darius’ sheer possessiveness, his needy uncertainty—these emotions were so foreign to the Royal Four as to be utterly alien.
Aerolus blinked when Cadmus called his name. “I can’t answer you, Cadmus. According to Arim, the woman is important to Darius, to all of us really. But whether or not she’s his affai, or one who can lead him to his affai, Arim couldn’t say. You never know. Maybe she’ll introduce you to your future bride,” he threw in to shake his brother’s confidence. Cadmus wanted marriage like he wanted a knife in his throat.
“As if any one woman will ever suit me,” Cadmus said with disdain. “Personally, I hope the woman is his affai. I want to return to Tanselm as soon as possible. And once Darius bonds with her, it’s only a matter of time before she becomes pregnant to cement the Storm Lords
’ power.”
“But who’s to say she will bear the Royal Four?”
Cadmus stopped the cup he’d been lifting to his mouth. “Well, I…I suppose we never were told who would become the next ruler of the Tetrarch. I always assumed it would be Darius. He is the oldest, if only by a minute.” A look of horror passed his face. “Are you saying any of the four of us could become Tanselm’s new overking?”
“According to Arim, nothing of the future is certain.” Aerolus took enjoyment in shaking up his easygoing brother. Cadmus assumed too much and took great delight in constantly teasing the rest of them. Well, now he’d have something to ponder besides returning to Tanselm.
Apparently some of his amusement must have shown, for Cadmus recovered enough to send Aerolus a small smile. “Nicely done, brother. You know, it’s scary. You’re more like Arim than I’d thought.”
“There are worse people you could liken me to.”
“True.” Cadmus laughed, his morose thoughts of marriage apparently behind him. “Take Darius. He’s more like a dark Djinn about to face the light of day—utterly unbearable. Too bad I have a date tonight or I’d visit Outpour just to piss him off.”
Aerolus grinned, stunning his brother with a show of honest emotion. “I wouldn’t mind seeing that. I have a feeling he’s not into sharing this particular woman. And if he’s as frustrated as he seemed earlier, it’s going to take all of his effort not to scare her away.”
Chapter Four
Three hours into the night and Samantha felt wonderful, not at all like she had on her previous visit to Outpour. Gerry Huntington was as pleasant in person as he’d been from her dealings with him on the phone. He’d personally hired all of his employees and had introduced her to each one present. Surprisingly, meeting Darius again had been anticlimactic. Save for the sparkle in his dark eyes, he acted friendly and courteously, not at all like the playboy from the night prior.
Not wanting to delve into her earlier dealings with him, she’d flashed him a warning look and continued with Gerry’s introductions. A gorgeous blonde named Ellie was apparently his favourite, and from what she had thus far observed of the woman, Samantha could clearly see why.