Beyond the Darkness
Page 32
“Ah. Then you’re confident you’ve managed to lead me far enough away?”
“Away?” Laylah stiffened, licking her suddenly dry lips. He couldn’t know. No one knew. “Away from what?”
“That is what I’m wondering,” the voice drawled. “It must be of great importance.”
Laylah forced herself to suck in a deep breath, refusing to panic. The stupid vamp was simply trying to press her buttons. Everyone knew that they loved to toy with their prey.
“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
“Hmmm. Have you ever watched a quail?”
She felt unseen fingers brush her nape, the cold touch ironically sending a bolt of heat straight to the pit of her stomach. She whirled around, not surprised that the predator had disappeared.
“The bird?” she rasped, belatedly wishing she was wearing more than a pair of cutoff jeans and a muscle shirt. Having so much skin exposed was making her feel oddly vulnerable.
Not that clothing would halt a determined vampire.
It wouldn’t matter if she were wearing a suit of armor.
“When a predator approaches the nest, the mother quail will feign a broken wing and dash away to lure the danger from her chicks,” her tormentor murmured, his voice seeming to speak directly into her ear.
She instinctively stumbled backward, her mouth dry with a sudden fear.
“The only quail I care about are baked and served on a bed of rice.”
“What are you trying to protect?” There was a deliberate pause. “Or is it who?”
“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
“Is it a lover? A sibling? A child?” His soft chuckle grazed her cheek as the sharp leap of her pulse gave her away. “Ah, that is it. Your child?”
Laylah bunched her hands into fists of frustration. He was getting too close. She had to distract the bastard.
“I thought vampires were known for their courage,” she deliberately taunted, willing to risk a battle she couldn’t win if it would keep her secrets. “Are you such a coward you have to hide in the shadows?”
The chill thickened, the danger a tangible force in the air. Then, the shadows directly before her stirred, and the vampire slowly became visible.
Laylah reeled, feeling as if she’d just been punched in the gut.
All vampires were beautiful. And sexy.
Wickedly, indecently sexy.
But this one…
Reminding herself to breathe, Laylah allowed her gaze to skim over the elegant features that revealed his Polynesian ancestors, lingering on the slanted eyes that were a brilliant shade of honey and the inky black hair that had been shaved on the side, leaving the top to form a Mohawk that fell past his broad shoulders.
Her gaze lowered, that vicious awareness only intensifying.
The aggravating creature was wearing nothing more than a pair of khaki shorts, leaving his body on full, wondrous display. Her fingers actually twitched with the desire to stroke over the smooth muscles of his chest. Or down the flat plane of his stomach.
No doubt aware of her helpless response to his sensual beauty, the demon stepped far too close, his fingers casually stroking along the curve of her neck.
“Have you never been told the dangers of provoking a vampire?” he murmured.
A chill inched down her spine, but she forced herself to meet his hypnotic gaze.
“Do you intend to drain me?”
His lips twitched. “Tell me about the child.”
“No.”
“Is it yours?” He paused, his fingers drifting to the pulse that hammered at the base of her throat, an intense concentration etched on his beautiful face. “No. Not yours. You are as pure as an angel.”
Genuine fear speared through her heart. Damn the interfering leech.
“Leave me alone,” she breathed.
The honey eyes darkened with a dangerous hunger. Laylah wasn’t sure if it was for blood or sex.
Maybe both.
“A beautiful angel,” he husked, his arms wrapping around her to yank her hard against the strength of his body. “And I have waited too long to have a taste.”
Unable to halt her panic any longer, Laylah’s unpredictable powers lashed out, the electrical charge that filled the air enough to make the vampire leap back in wary surprise.
“I said, leave me alone,” she hissed, wrappimg her arms around her waist.
The golden eyes narrowed. “Well, well. You like to play rough?”
“I don’t like to play at all,” she snapped. “What do you want from me?”
“My first intent was to capture you so you could be brought before the Commission.”
She jerked at the threat, her powers abruptly faltering. She’d been hiding from the official leaders of the demon world for two centuries. To be taken to the Oracles that made up the Commission was nothing less than a death sentence.
I have done nothing to earn such a punishment,” she attempted to bluff.
“Your very existence is worthy of punishment.” The vampire smoothly countered. “Half-breed jinns have been forbidden.”
Laylah squashed the familiar anger at the sheer injustice. Now was not the time to debate whether or not she should be exterminated for the sins of her parents.
“You said that was your first intent,” she said, her voice thick. “Have you changed your mind?”
A dangerous smile curved the vampire’s lips as he reached to trace the plunging neckline of her shirt, his touch searing a path of pure pleasure.
“Let us say I’m willing to postpone our journey with the proper incentive.”
“Incentive?”
“Do you need me to demonstrate?” he murmured, his lips softly brushing over her mouth.
“No…” she choked, attempting to deny the piercing need that clutched at her heart.
God. She had been alone for so long.
So very long.
“Tell me your name,” he whispered against her lips. “Tell me.”
“Laylah.”
“Laylah.” He said her name slowly, as if testing it on his tongue. Pulling back he studied her pale features, his hands skimming down her sides to grasp her hips and boldly press her against the hard evidence of his arousal. “Exquisite.”
Laylah clenched her teeth, ignoring the sizzle of excitement racing through her blood.
“I assume you have a name as well?”
There was a brief pause. Not surprising. A name in the hands of a magic-user could give them power over a person. Then he shrugged.
“Tane.”
It suited him. Ruthless. Powerful. Stunningly male.
“Great.” Placing her hands against the steely hardness of his chest, she arched her back to meet the honey heat of his gaze. “Let me make this perfectly clear, Tane. I don’t use sex as a bargaining chip. Not ever.”
Expecting him to be angered by her blunt rejection, Laylah was unnerved when his lips curled into a smile of pure anticipation. Hauling her tightly against him, he spoke directly into her ear.
“Now let me make this perfectly clear, Laylah,” he whispered. “When we have sex it will only be after you have begged me to take you.”
About the Author
Alexandra Ivy lives with her family in Ewing, Missouri. She is currently working on the next installment of her Guardians of Eternity series, Devoured by Darkness. Readers can visit her Web site at www.alexandraivy.com.
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Copyright © 2010 by Debbie Raleigh
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