Protected in Darkness (Misplaced Halos, 1)

by Nicole Edwards

  “YOU KNOW WE’RE NOT GONNA FIND ANY action out here,” Reidar griped as they strolled down the strip.

  Obsidian felt the ladeare’s disappointment.

  They passed a group of human males stumbling along, laughing when one all but face-planted on the concrete.

  “I didn’t realize we were looking for any,” Obsidian replied, ignoring the human idiots.

  “I guess I’m just twitchy,” Reidar grumbled.

  Obsidian could understand what he was getting at. They’d spent so much time looking for Penelope, always moving, chasing one lead after another, now that they’d found her, it was a matter of going on the defensive. Not something any of them were good at.

  “Whoa, dude,” a human male crooned, stopping directly in front of Obsidian. “How freaking tall are you?”

  Rather than answer the intrusive and completely asinine question, he met the male’s dark stare, held it. Apologize for your rudeness, then pretend you don’t see me. Oh, and don’t ask any more fucking questions for the rest of the night.

  “I apologize for my rudeness,” the male said, his gaze darting to the left as he eased around him, going about his business.

  “Please tell me you fucked with him,” Reidar said with a wide grin.

  “Nothing that’ll cause him discomfort,” he admitted. Of course, the human’s friends would probably want to thank him later. The mind control would last for several hours at least.

  “That’s too bad.”

  Grinning, Obsidian tucked his hands in his jeans pockets and paused as the Bellagio fountains rose high over the water in front of them. “Don’t you ever just want a night off?”

  The water danced along with the music, the lights offering a show as well. Humans tucked themselves against the concrete railing, trying to get a better look as cell phones captured the scene so they could boast about it on social media.

  “You forget who you’re talking to,” Reidar stated, smiling for the first time since Obsidian had insisted he accompany him on this patrol. “Admit it,” the male continued. “You hate it as much as I do.”

  “Yeah, I do.” There was no denying it. Over the centuries, he’d come to enjoy the hunt. Prowling for the predators who preyed on the innocent was a responsibility none of them took lightly.

  Granted, there weren’t nearly enough of them. Keeping an eye out for so many humans required an army. They were more of a brigade, made up of a battalion in the double digits, not triple.

  Then again, their powers made up for numbers.

  As they passed a row of trees shooting up from the concrete, Obsidian felt the presence of a demon, his senses flaring out, categorizing all present until he located the young female standing alone in the shadows of a tree.

  Reidar sensed her a second later, his hand going for the blade on his belt.

  With an arm across the male’s chest, Obsidian paused him from doing anything rash.

  “Possessed or neilloh?” Reidar inquired.

  “Possessed,” he confirmed, referring to the fact the female’s body had been taken over by a demon, rather than having been sent back from Hell to carry out an order.

  With minimal effort, Obsidian entered the female’s mind, searched for her intentions. She wasn’t working under Perfidious’s orders, which meant she was on her own, likely attempting to settle into the area. Her outing tonight was about boredom, not instructions.

  “Think we can spring a trap? Get her out of the eyes of the humans?” Reidar asked.

  “Good plan.”

  Being that dawn was only a few hours away, the strip was not as crowded as usual, most of the occupants intoxicated. It only took a minute to locate a human male straggling behind his buddy who was putting the moves on a frustrated female. The male was sober and bored, a bit irritated after spending the night putting up with his annoying travel companion, who’d imbibed far more than he should have.

  The mental push Obsidian sent his way had the human glancing over at the female, pausing. Her eyes darted around as though looking for the trap.

  Cloaking himself and Reidar, Obsidian remained where he was, waited for her to take the bait. As expected, the demon locked onto him, her lip curling as she scented her prey.

  Obsidian shot a mental command for the male to take a detour. Rather than follow his friend into the casino, he continued past the doors, leading the demon down the sidewalk around the side of the building.

  With Reidar at his side, Obsidian followed close behind.

  Evidently proud she’d trapped her prey, the demon didn’t bother looking around, even as Obsidian dropped the cloak and approached her from behind.

  The human male stopped, stared at the elevator before him, the only way to go unless he turned around.

  I’ve got this one, Reidar informed him.

  Keeping the human peering straight ahead, Obsidian stepped back as Reidar daggered the demon from behind. A flash of light followed by sludge the only evidence it had ever existed.

  Obsidian released the hold he had on the male’s mind, sending him back in the direction he’d come. The male turned, gave the sludge a wide berth, then walked between him and Reidar, his eyes glazed, confusion contorting his face.

  “Such a waste,” Reidar grumbled, his voice low. “That girl was what? Twenty-one? Twenty-two?”

  Probably. And Reidar was right, it was a waste. The female had once been human, but at some point, she’d hit a crossroads. It was the only way a demon could occupy a vessel. They waited on the fringes, seeking a ride with an occupant worthy of their deception. Once they found one, they bided their time, slipping in only when the human opted for the wrong direction at the crossroads. And while Obsidian detested the idea of eliminating a human, the fact that they were doomed for evil eased the guilt somewhat.

  Obsidian cast a sideways glance at Reidar. “Get anything more on Seraphina?”

  The male sighed. “We now know what she looks like. At least until she takes another form.”

  “As long as she’s with the brother, she’ll stick to the same one.”

  “True. And from what I can tell, he’s moved her in with him.”

  “Fucking hell.”

  “That’s what I said. Poor fuck has no idea he’s shacking up with a demon. If only he could see her true face.” Reidar shivered dramatically as he stopped in front of the fountains. “Word came in a little while ago that a human female was found in the bushes at Caesar’s.”

  Obsidian cocked an eyebrow, silently urging him for details.

  “Her name was Vivian Matthews. Thirty-two-year-old female.” Reidar’s gaze slid past him toward the fountains. “Soul drained from her body. Second in a matter of days.”

  The rough growl escaped before Obsidian could tamp it down. “Perfidious?”

  “Has to be. I figure he’s sending you a message?”

  That he knew where Penelope was, yes. Message received. Loud and clear.

  “I know it’s a delicate situation,” Reidar said, “but I think we need to get her out of town. Take her to the mansion.”

  If he thought it was possible, Obsidian would. Except he was not going to make Penelope feel as though she was a prisoner. And if she learned that he had whisked her off for her own protection and left her brother behind, he doubted she would ever forgive him. Not how he wanted to build a relationship with the female he intended to spend eternity with.

  Turning his attention to Caesar’s, Obsidian paused. “I’ll be with her for a few hours at least. I want you to check on the brother, but make sure Seraphina doesn’t catch a whiff of you.”

  Reidar’s grin turned wicked. “She’ll never sense me.”

  “Then I want you to find a way to track Perfidious. We need to know his movements so we can eliminate him once and for all.”

  “Will do. See you back at the house?”

  Obsidian nodded.

  The male strolled around the corner, concealed himself before vanishing.

  Rather than do the same, Obs
idian opted to walk to his destination. Penelope would be getting off work in a few minutes, and he had every intention of picking up where they’d left off the other night.

  An hour later, he was walking Penelope into the hotel room. She’d been oddly quiet since he encountered her near the elevators where he’d asked her to meet him.

  The moment they stepped into the room, she seemed to relax somewhat.

  “Hungry?” Obsidian offered.

  “Not really. Well, not yet, anyway.”

  He nodded. He was starved, but it had absolutely nothing to do with food. From the instant he laid eyes on her again, he’d thought of that make-out session they’d had in her apartment. The ache he had for her had renewed, intensifying, and it took tremendous effort to ignore it.

  “Why don’t we sit outside. Relax for a bit.” He motioned toward the patio doors, allowed her to precede him.

  “So, how was your day?” she asked as they stepped outside.

  “Uneventful.” He was hoping that would change in the near future. “And yours? Any irritating customers tonight?”

  “Not really, no. But it’s only Thursday. Most of those wait for the weekend.”

  Obsidian came to an abrupt stop, surveying the patio at the same time Penelope did. There were at least two dozen candles flickering around the whirlpool, steam billowing up from it in the gentle morning breeze.

  “Did you do this?” Penelope asked, glancing from the water to him, a rosy tint to her cheeks.

  “I wish I could take the credit, but no.” If he had to guess, Alden had been attempting to set the mood. “Why? Care to take a dip?”

  He’d actually intended to sit out here near the fire pit, enjoy some of the unseasonably cool night with the beautiful female. They had roughly an hour and a half before the sun rose, so he figured it was the safe thing to do. The mere thought of getting into the water with Penelope—

  He cut off the mental image the thought invoked.

  “I didn’t bring a swimsuit,” Penelope stated. “Otherwise, I’d be game.”

  He fumbled for something to say, then mumbled, “Clothing optional.”

  She huffed a laugh. “I am not getting in naked, Obsidian.”

  “I will if you will,” he teased. Mostly.

  “Not naked,” she insisted.

  Okay, so they were doing this.

  Figuring she would follow his lead, Obsidian made the first move, tugging his T-shirt off. “Suit yourself.”

  It was bold, perhaps, but he could think of no better way to spend the morning.

  Her golden eyes caressed his chest and he felt the warmth as though her hands were taking the trek. The way she scanned every inch hardened his body instantly.

  “Not naked,” she repeated.

  Oh, he’d heard her the first time, but he offered a nod of agreement as he sat down and removed his boots, his socks. She was still watching him when he stood and unbuttoned his jeans.

  “Wait!” She placed her hand over her eyes.

  “Not naked,” he assured her. For now.

  She giggled, but it sounded a bit strained.

  Offering her a bit of privacy, Obsidian took off his jeans, then made his way into the water, his boxer briefs doing little to conceal his erection. Since he couldn’t do anything to eliminate it, he did his best to hide it by sinking into the warm water.

  “You’re still fully dressed,” he reminded her.

  Penelope lowered her hand, scanned the area. A second later, she had clearly come to a decision.

  “Turn around,” she insisted.

  In an effort to appease her, Obsidian did as she asked.

  Evidently she didn’t realize he could see her perfectly in the reflection of the glass.

  Chapter Eight

  PENELOPE COULD NOT BELIEVE SHE WAS DOING this. Stripping down to her underwear outside, where pretty much anyone could see her…

  Yes, she was aware her underwear wasn’t much different than a bikini. But still. It felt strangely taboo.

  Yet she’d been firmly on board from the instant Obsidian made the suggestion. After all, this was a rare opportunity, right? To overlook the Vegas strip while submerged in water with a sexy man by her side.

  Plus she was being bold. Taking chances. It was the promise she’d made herself before she left for work last night. She’d done little more than think about Obsidian since they’d had dinner at her apartment, and she’d been eager to see him again. She’d come to the decision that she wasn’t going to shy away from what she wanted. Not ever again.

  So, the last thing she intended to do was tuck her tail between her legs and run when she could enjoy a sexy encounter with an equally sexy man.

  Then again, it was likely her hormones dictating her actions, making her reckless. From the moment Penelope saw him downstairs, she’d been set on simmer, warming the longer she was in his presence.

  Deep breath.

  Clad only in her bra and panties—thankfully it was one of her nicer sets—Penelope stepped down into the warm water, sinking as deep as she could, most of her hair getting drenched in the process. Good thing it was in a ponytail.

  The body of water surrounded by two dozen candles wasn’t so much a hot tub as it was a small heated pool. There was a smooth concrete ledge that ran the length of the rectangular tub on both sides, providing seating for at least ten. And being that it was in the heart of Vegas, she could only imagine what sort of action this thing had seen.

  As she eased onto the ledge across from Obsidian, her gaze caught on the enormous tattoo that covered his back. An absolutely stunning design, expanding across the entire breadth of his shoulders down to his narrow waist. Two feathered wings, one white, one black, looked almost lifelike thanks to the skill of the artist. There was a shield in the center. The words Angels of Darkness were inked inside while a ribbon curved beneath it, with his name in big block letters.

  Angels of Darkness, huh? A motorcycle club, maybe? Seemed fitting.

  “Can I turn around?” Obsidian asked.

  “Yes.” The breathless quality to her voice surprised her as she jerked her attention away from the tattoo.

  It was Obsidian’s fault. She’d gotten an eyeful of his ridiculous physique and her cardiovascular system had taken a hit. Never in her life had she seen a man that well-built. Every inch of him was muscular, from his neck down to his defined calf muscles. But his upper body was what she was caught up in now. Those thick arms looked strong enough to move mountains, his wide shoulders powerful enough to carry the weight of the world, the hard planes and angles of his chest were cut to perfection, the delicious ridges of his abdomen made her mouth water.

  Penelope had an overwhelming urge to use her tongue to outline every single angle of his body. Twice.

  The sound of the patio door opening put an end to her ogling, brought her out of that ridiculous fantasy and back on solid ground.

  Footsteps echoed on the concrete, drawing her attention to the butler moving toward them. He had one hand tucked neatly behind his back, the other carrying a tray. Without looking at her directly, he set everything down near the edge of the pool. Two champagne flutes, a dish of strawberries, a small bowl of what appeared to be chocolate sauce, all arranged artfully.

  Not exactly the breakfast of champions, but she had no complaints. Her nerves were rioting, so Penelope doubted she could eat much anyway.

  “Is there anything more I can get you right now, sir?”

  “That’ll be all,” Obsidian told him, though his attention never shifted away from her. “Something troubling you?”

  She smiled, allowing her arms to float to the top of the water. “You mean besides the fact I’m nearly naked in a pool with a complete stranger?”

  Another laugh, so dark, so rich Penelope suddenly wanted to kiss him again. Her thoughts drifted back to that kiss in her apartment, to the way his mouth had covered hers, owning her for several breathless seconds. She’d actually dreamed about it, waking to disappointment becaus
e Obsidian hadn’t been there to reignite that passion she was craving.

  “I wouldn’t say I’m a complete stranger.”

  Her eyes inadvertently dropped to his mouth. “No. I guess not.”

  Obsidian held out his hand. Penelope stared at it briefly, then put hers in his. He pulled her toward him with ease. Not that she resisted. Touching him was about the only thing she cared about right then.

  “Turn around.”

  Swallowing hard, she turned away from him, the Vegas strip laid out before her. He pulled her backward, settling her on his lap. The second his arm came across her midsection, just below her breasts, a warm tingle skimmed over her flesh. He kept her there, reclining against his muscled torso.

  “Relax, Penelope.” The dark rumble of his voice had her nerves dancing. Every inch of skin that met his warmed. It felt good to be in his embrace, made her feel safe.

  “Believe it or not, this is the first time I’ve done something like this,” she admitted.

  “Like what?”

  “Being intimate like this. With someone I barely know.”

  “Really? No wild romps in your younger days?” he questioned, handing her one of the champagne flutes.

  “How old do you think I am?” she teased.

  “Age is merely a number.”

  Penelope took a sip, felt the bubbles fizz over her tongue. “True. Even so, there’ve been no romps for me.”

  “No?”

  “I’ve dated some, sure, but … I guess I’ve never found anyone who tripped me up.”

  Not the way you do, anyway.

  Obsidian chuckled, as though he’d heard her inner thoughts.

  “I’ve always been the good girl,” she explained. “Usually spent my time trying to corral my brother, keep him in line.”

  “He a troublemaker?”

  “You could say that.”

  “You only have the one brother?”

  “Yeah. I think two at once was more than my parents bargained for.”

  “And your parents? Where are they?”

  “My mother ran off with a man-child, ditching all of us when I was thirteen. I haven’t seen her in years. My father … he’s still in LA. He owns a tech company. Spends the majority of his time in the office.”