Awakening (Promiscus Guardians Book 1)

by Brianna West

  Lucas appeared, his large body moving gracefully despite its girth. My heart was starting in my chest as I held fast to Gustave. I hadn't seen Lucas for what felt like weeks. And when my eyes gazed at him, I could feel the undercurrent of desire I held for him. His eyes held mine before they strayed to where my hands grasped Gustave.

  In seconds, I was ripped from Gustave and pulled to his side. “I agree that you should be training rather than,” he pointed his glare towards Gustave, “messing about.”

  “Bonjour, Lucas!” Gustave greeted with vigor. “You are as dour as ever.”

  I stifled my laughter. I was liking him more and more as the minutes ticked by.

  “Gustave,” Lucas returned before turning towards me. “Izzy, I would like to speak with you back at the house.”

  “About what?”

  “Our next course of action,” Lucas replied reluctantly.

  He looked as though he had barely slept over the past few days. I had to hold back the urge to cup his face and offer him a small bit of comfort. Instead, I decided that I would comply with his wishes without argument.

  “Guess training will have to wait,” I said to the others, giving Lucas my answer.

  I followed him back to the house, and surprisingly, he led me up to his bedroom without hesitation.

  I hesitated, however. I wasn't sure I could be in his room without spending an awful lot of effort keeping certain memories at bay.

  “Uh, Lucas,” I started as he led me to the door. “Maybe we should do this somewhere else.”

  His eyes caught my own, and without a word, he threw the door opened and pulled me inside. I was thrust up against the door, his body pressing against mine instantly.

  “Lucas,” I gasped before my mouth was consumed roughly by his.

  I pressed my hands against his powerful chest, hoping I might find the strength to push him away, but I couldn't. And then, I was returning his kiss just as passionately and just as roughly. Every slide of our lips was causing a warmth to build in my lower belly, threatening to cause me to discard every bit of willpower I owned.

  His mouth was hungry, prying my lips apart and driving his tongue inside. Moaning and pressing into him, I met his hunger with my own. I slid my hands along the hard muscle of his chest, touching wherever I could while my tongue danced with his, tasting the hot heat I never would have imagined Lucas could harbor. I wanted him so badly that I nearly wrapped myself around him and begged for it.

  But I was scared. More scared than I had been facing off that house full of demons. I was afraid he'd pull away again, discarding me from his life as easily as he had before. That thought grounded me and caused me to turn away from the heat of the moment. Even though it nearly killed me to do so.

  “Stop,” I demanded breathlessly. “We need to stop.”

  Lucas was panting as he asked, “Why?”

  Men! They only thought with their...well, their dicks! I was no Virgin Mary, but I certainly wasn't Floozy Lucy either.

  “You know why,” I retorted angrily. “It was your idea to push me away in the first place. I get it. You don't want to end up like your parents, so this will never go farther than a physical thing, and I can't do it. I want more.”

  “Izzy,” he started, but I quickly continued, fearing I'd lose my nerve.

  I now stared at him, hoping my eyes portrayed the level of resolve I wanted to feel. “I almost made you hurt someone you truly care about. I'm not about to risk that again, so let's just end this now before it gets awkward and complicated.”

  His jaw grew taut, clenching along with his fists. “Is this really what you mean to do?”

  “Yes,” I stated as firmly as I could, but my knees were weakened with his kiss, and I wanted nothing more to throw myself at him. “This is for the best.”

  “The best?” he asked with a mirthless chuckle. “Certainly not the best for either of us. I...” he trailed before running a hand roughly through his hair. “I have thought of little else. No, I could not think of anything or anyone else but you this last week.”

  Damn it all to hell.

  I moistened my dry lips, gazing at him as I continued to fight myself. I wanted him so badly it caused me physical pain. I was breathing so quickly, I would probably pass out from hyperventilation at any moment. Still, I watched him. His eyes, the color of a dark ocean, returned my gaze. I wanted to drown in their depths, never to resurface.

  Everything about Lucas enamored me: his strong, powerful physique, the subtle curves and dips of his muscle hidden beneath the material of his clothes, his hard and soft personality that would cause me equal happiness and frustration. I admired even his strict, infuriating moral code.

  He had made an impression on my life that no other had come close to. And yet, I worried that it could all disappear just as quickly as it had appeared. He could decide that the risk was too great and push me away again.

  Ah, hell.

  “I've been thinking about you as well,” I finally admitted.

  I was an idiot.

  The smile that Lucas bestowed me with in return was heart stopping and made me want to fall in love with him. I wasn't sure if I was—in love that is. The pull of him was greater than any man I had ever known. And god knows, I hadn't met anyone half as incredible as Lucas.

  I wanted to ignore my feelings, but it was as if the task impossible. I could no longer subdue the desire I had for him, and I knew it was going to be the end of me. So, I gave in with very little fight, succumbing to my desires.

  Forget the consequences. Forget playing the part of a responsible adult. I wanted to be young and stupid, just this once. Just this once, I wanted to give into my desires without heeding the consequences.

  Lucas leaned forward once more, his lips brushing over mine. “You are mine, Izzy,” he claimed softly. “And I will do whatever is in my power to protect you.”

  If I hadn't known better, I would think he was proposing, but this was Lucas we were talking about.

  “I can handle myself, thank you,” I replied with a smirk. He returned it, pulling me into another rough kiss that stole the air from my lungs.

  –

  That evening, I was in my room, daydreaming about a certain blue-eyed, dark-haired Guardian that kissed like the devil—which was oddly ironic considering he was part angel.

  I had been released on the promise that I would come to his room after dinner, and I had no idea what the hell I was going to wear.

  When a man invited you to his bedroom late at night, it was an invitation for sex, right?

  I wasn't sure. I had been a long time since I had any bedroom invitations of the relationship sort, and Lucas was an entirely different kind of man from my previous bedroom conquests. He had a strict moral code. I doubt that he was expecting to get down and jiggy with it on the first night.

  Maybe a little heavy petting, perhaps?

  Besides, I wasn't really sure what “you are mine” meant. Does that make me his like...bitch or something? Girlfriend? Friend turned bed-friend?

  Dear lord, I had no idea!

  Cecile peeked her head into the room, offering me a smile as she did. “Hello lovely,” she greeted as she slid inside. “You have been in here a long time, and Gustave has become worried.”

  Her beautiful, slim limbs crossed as she sat beside me on the bed. I wished I could hate the woman. She was absolutely gorgeous and emphasized it with her every movement, but she was also sweet and kind, and goddammit if I didn't fall in love with her as well.

  “Hey, Cecile,” I replied glumly. “I'm sure Prince Charming will be just fine without me for an evening.”

  She giggled, her face lighting up and becoming, if possible, more beautiful with it. “You are such a silly girl,” she said, her French accent morphing the words. “Gustave is very fond of you. He was quite taken with you from the moment we arrived.” Her eyes glistened with the insinuation.

  “Was he?” I asked.

  “Oh, yes,” she replied with a soft
smile, “but I know that there is someone else in your heart.”

  I glanced at her with wide eyes, and she merely smiled back at me. “How do you know?”

  “A woman's intuition,” she stated proudly. “It is mutual to be sure. Lucas is quite taken with you. As you may have already gathered, he is not the sort of man that gives his affections to another easily. He is very aware of you, and if I might say so, he seems to be rather smitten with you as well.”

  Where was she yesterday when I was miserably thinking he wanted nothing to do with me?!

  I sighed. “I guess.”

  “Is he the reason you lock yourself away in here?” she asked innocently.

  “Maybe...” Or yes.

  She laughed gleefully before pulling me by my arms and stealing me away towards her room. It was lucky that Lucas had a house with plenty of rooms because all of the Guardians had decided to stay while we continued our search of the arch-demon.

  On the east end of the house, Cecile and her brother shared a room. It would seem he was out because she dragged me inside without hesitation and immediately tasked herself with dolling me up.

  Oh, dear god.

  “No, Cecile,” I pleaded as she took out a few of her smaller dresses and makeup case.

  “Oh l'amour du silence,” she said, causing me to look on in question. “You must allow me this. I was never gifted with a sister, and Gustave never keeps a woman long enough that I might befriend her.”

  Well, when she put it like that, I felt like an ass for saying no.

  “Fine,” I growled as I sat on her bed like a good little puppy. “If you make me look like a prostitute, I will never let you touch me again.”

  She squealed with delight and immediately began her torture. I did not leave that room for the next two hours.

  –

  It was quite a sight having so many large and imposing men at the dinner table. Honestly, I wanted to break down laughing because the dining room wasn't really large enough, not to mention the table especially since everyone insisted on being there. So to have so many men of their size in it, it was outright ridiculous.

  Victor sat at the head of the table while we all took seats alongside it. Lucas had decided to keep to the living room due to overcrowding, and he didn't really eat human food. I did my best not to show my disappointment since he wouldn't see all the effort Cecile had made.

  I was surprised she had actually made me look amazing. She had a real knack for it. Though as disinclined as I was initially, I might let her do it again in the future. You know, pending how Lucas responded when he saw it.

  I had learned that Cecile and Gustave were part faerie and warlock like Pavel—that would certainly explain their luminescent beauty—and Adan was a warlock and werewolf mix.

  This had surprised me the most. He could shift into his wolf form at will but also harbored the ability to cast magic. I hadn't seen his wolf form, but I battled his magic daily.

  Using magic, which apparently I had, took a great deal of practice and concentration. I was still barely able to use it as a weapon, but as for my pranks, those remained intact.

  “Mon amour,” Gustave said delightfully. “You are radiant this evening!”

  Cecile looked every bit as proud as she should. I did look better and immediately blushed with the compliment.

  “Thanks, Prince Charming,” I replied sheepishly.

  “Shall I take you somewhere that you might bewitch others with your beauty?” His eyebrows waggled with the invitation, and I almost spat out my Alfredo noodles.

  “Or shall I?” Victor interjected with a secretively smile. I choked a little on the noodle I was eating after effectively inhaling it, causing his smile to widen. “Or perhaps you would like someone else, perhaps not even in this room, to invite you?”

  Bastard was enjoying this.

  “Nope,” I declined a bit too eagerly, “Cecile forced me into this. I was a victim, I tell you! I'm probably just going to call it an early night and take this damn thing off.”

  I looked down at my half empty plate, suddenly no longer hungry, and began to stand.

  “Moya solnishka,” Pavel called out just before I could leave. “I could join you in your room,” he offer suggestively.

  I turned to glare at him but decided to use honey rather than vinegar.

  “No thank you, Blondie,” I responded sweetly. “I'd like to go to sleep, and I doubt I would be able to should you come along."

  I could see Cecile from just behind Pavel, her smile hiding nothing of her amusement. She knew just where I was planning to go early for the night, but that was between girls.

  Girls never broke the silent code; her eyes told me so as she gave me a quick nod.

  I would pay her in chocolate later.

  Making my way upstairs as quickly as I could manage in these damn heels, I almost missed the fact that Lucas was still inside the living room, probably having listened to the banter at the dinner table. I stood before his door without thinking until a hand on my shoulder and the presence of his essence nearly startled me out of the skin-tight velvet dress Cecile had forced my larger-than-life behind into.

  “Izzy,” he breathed into the sensitive shell of my ear. “You look absolutely breathtaking.”

  Guess that the British knew how to slather it on just as thick as the French did.

  “Cecile made me,” I found myself saying. “It's not like I was trying or anything. I'm going to kill her.”

  Lucas chuckled deeply before pressing his hand against the small of my back and opening the door to lead me inside. My stomach was heavy with nerves as I allowed him to lead me. Instead of heading towards the bed, he led me to a small sofa where I sat and watched him nervously, my hands twisting in my lap.

  “We must speak,” he finally said as he stood before me.

  I tried not to let the disappointment surface on my face, but I was completely blindsided by the statement. “Talk?”

  “Yes,” he spoke softly, his head nodding to emphasize it. “We have found evidence to suggest that there may be more than just one portal opened in the area,” he continued. “There is also evidence to suggest that we may be dealing with more than one arch-demon. It is Victor's belief that we are facing an army. He has called others to come,” Lucas said while taking a seat beside me, “and it may become a bit more complicated to proceed.”

  Well, that was a downer. Here I was, prepared for a little illicit liaison, and Lucas had to go and get all serious on me.

  I settled back into the couch, prepared to put aside my hopes for the evening. “So you think that there may be more of these arch-demons?”

  “It is a very real possibility,” Lucas responded seriously.

  “And what does that change?” I countered.

  “Everything,” Lucas replied firmly. “I realize that you are much more powerful than I first credited you, but I do not believe you are ready to help face an army. I have spoken with Victor about the possibility of relocating you to a safe place.”

  “Hold up,” I nearly shouted. “I thought that we agreed that I could handle myself?” I questioned angrily. “I've been training with the others and have made tremendous strides—“

  “That will not be enough,” he interrupted firmly. “Even with years of training, there will be those of us that will be lost against an army as large as this. It is simply too dangerous.”

  “Then what about you?” I asked breathlessly. “Are you planning to stay here and leave me alone?” I couldn't help the fear that flowed through me at the thought of Lucas facing down an army of demons and possibly dying as a result, especially not after we finally decided to start a relationship; if that's what one could describe it as.

  “I will remain here,” he stated bluntly, causing my stomach to drop with the proclamation.

  My luck couldn't be any worse.

  I bit my lip in frustration and closed my eyes. I couldn't argue that I was ready to face down an army of demons. I could try, but w
e all knew that I had only survived on pure instinct and due to Pavel and Lucas. The frustration was boiling inside me, and despite my battle to hold them back, tears escaped my eyes and trailed hotly down my cheeks.

  The couch beside me dipped and fingers brushed aside the hot tears now shamelessly trailing down my face. “I will come for you. An army this size is no task at all for me. I have seen many much larger in my time.”

  “When do I leave?” I asked firmly.

  “Tomorrow,” Lucas replied softly as his fingers continued to soothe me as best they could.

  It wouldn't help. I was once more reminded of just how powerless I was in all of this.

  Some Guardian I turned out to be.

  Resolving myself, because I knew that Lucas would not concede on this, I nodded and pulled away sharply. I stood up and wiped the residual tears from my face.

  “Then I should probably pack,” I stated evenly, despite the turmoil in my head.

  “Izzy,” Lucas called out, but I ignored him as I left the room with what was left of my pride.

  I knew I shouldn't blame him, but I did. It hurt to think that I would have to be whisked away while he stayed to fight my battle, a battle I had started.

  Instead, I busied myself with packing until the morning of the next day. I even called Nattie, who admonished me for having not called, and quickly explained to her that my relationship had grown with Lucas, and I would be staying away a little longer. She was surprised, to say the least.

  “Longer? In London?” she asked hesitantly. “Are you sure that's what you want to do?”

  “I really feel like I need to, Nattie,” I argued as I stuffed a few more shirts into my luggage and took out my pent up frustration on them with a few sound punches. “I can't just let this chance pass me by. I'm really into him.”

  “But...” she started. My fist made contact with the now overly stuffed bag. “I'm worried that you won't come back if you stay there longer.”

  My heart lurched in my chest. She sounded so lonely and desperate to have me home. I wanted nothing more than to go to her.

  “I will come back,” I promised her sincerely. “I will not leave you there, and I will come back, Nattie.”