“Do you keep in touch with him?”
“Not really, no. His company’s more important than his family. Our relationship … it’s a bit strained.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It’s part of the reason I followed Oliver here. Not because we’re closer or anything. Guess I figured if I was going to have a relationship with one of them, I had a better chance with my brother.”
Not that that had worked out for her or anything.
Obsidian dangled a strawberry in front of her. Penelope started to reach for it, but his lips brushed her ear.
“Let me feed you.”
She could hardly breathe for the heat that consumed her. The sensation of his breath caressing her neck had her skin feeling two sizes too small.
Opening her mouth, Penelope waited for him to bring the strawberry closer. He teased her lower lip with chocolate, dragging the berry across it. When he paused, she closed her lips around it, bit down. The tangy flavor was softened by the sweetness of the chocolate.
“Good?”
She nodded. “You said you’re here on business? How long will that be?”
“As long as it takes.”
“But you said you found who you were looking for.”
“I did. I’ve got a few more things to deal with.”
“And when you’re not here? Do you spend most of your time in Colorado?”
“It’s the first place we’ve purchased with the intention of sticking around.”
“We?”
“Me and my brothers.”
“How many do you have?”
“Six.”
“Wow. That’s a lot of siblings. Are you the oldest?”
“Yes.”
Based on her guesstimate, Penelope doubted he was much older than she was. Before she could voice her question regarding his age, he held another strawberry up. She took it easily this time, licking at the chocolate that dripped down her lip.
“And you?” he asked. “Are you planning to stay in Vegas?”
She stared out at the lights of the strip. “I haven’t decided yet.”
“Regrets?”
“No, actually. It’s been a nice change of pace.”
“What do you like best about it?”
“The night. It took some time to get used to, the whole sleeping during the day, but it works for me.” She exhaled, relaxing against him. “I came here for a change. Wanted a new start. Some excitement.”
“And how’s that working for you?”
Tilting her head back so she could peer up at him, Penelope smiled. “Things are looking up.”
He was still wearing those dark glasses and she wondered how he could even see with them on. Despite the lights from the strip, the patio was shrouded in darkness, their own private alcove.
She hadn’t realized she was still staring up at him until she felt the champagne glass being removed from her fingers. She heard the light clink of the glass on the patio before Obsidian’s warm hand cupped her cheek, his head lowering.
When his lips brushed her mouth, it sparked every nerve ending in her body.
Reaching back, Penelope ran her fingers over his smooth jaw, urging him closer. Their lips melded together and she moaned softly, lost to the sensual swipe of his tongue against hers.
Unable to help herself, she turned in his arms, tongues exploring, breaths becoming more labored. Obsidian’s big hands curled over her hips, pulling her closer. She straddled his thighs, their tongues intimately entwined. Desire unlike anything she’d ever felt consumed her, dragging her under. She was lost to it as she trailed her fingers over the hard muscles in his shoulders, then brushed against the short hair at the back of his head.
His erection pressed against the juncture of her thighs, and Penelope wantonly shifted closer, wanting the friction of his body to soothe the ache within her. She moaned, this time encouraging him to touch, to taste, to explore. This desperate hunger was not something she was familiar with, nor did she know what to do about it. Her mind warred with her body. This was a man she barely knew, but that didn’t seem to matter. She simply wanted him to assuage this painful need, to sate the intense ache.
It took a moment to register the sound of a phone ringing.
When she did, Penelope pulled back, completely appalled at her behavior.
Jerking out of his arms, she backed away, embarrassed that she’d allowed herself to get so out of control. She wasn’t sure she even recognized herself when she was around him.
Obsidian’s attention remained on her as he reached for the cell phone behind him.
“Yeah?”
God, what in the hell was she doing here? What made her think this was a good idea? The man … he was the kind who seduced to get what he wanted. And though she was intrigued by thoughts of what he would feel like covering her body, buried deep inside her, she was not that girl. If she gave in to this now, there was no doubt in her mind Obsidian would be gone by nightfall, never to be heard from again.
With him distracted, Penelope rushed out of the pool, grabbed one of the plush towels sitting on a nearby table. She hurriedly dried herself as best she could. Her undergarments were soaked and would no doubt show through her clothes if she attempted to keep them on. She could imagine the looks she would get downstairs if she traipsed out of here like that.
With no other options, she wrapped the towel around herself, then stripped off her panties before pulling her jeans on. It took effort with her skin still damp and her intentions to keep covered but she managed. She did the same with her bra, discarding it before pulling on her shirt. She wrung out the wet undergarments, tucked them into her purse. Her hair was a tangled wet mess, but there was nothing she could do about it now. As she headed for the room, she squeezed out as much excess water as possible.
Penelope was only a few steps from the door when Obsidian called out to her.
“I have to go.”
“Wait, Penelope.”
She turned to see him strolling toward her, his thickly muscled body clad only in a pair of black boxer briefs and dripping with water. The man was enormous, and even though she was embarrassed by the way she’d reacted, she couldn’t stop herself from ogling him once again. He had a weird hold on her.
“Stay,” he whispered softly as he cupped her face with one hand.
“I can’t.” Didn’t mean she didn’t want to.
Penelope could tell he was staring at her even though she couldn’t see his eyes behind those lenses. Suddenly it bothered her that she’d been seconds from getting down and dirty with a man whose eye color she didn’t even know.
“I’ve got to go.”
“I’ll walk you down.”
She shook her head. “No. Please. I just…”
It took every bit of strength she had to move away from him, but she did. Fueled by concern that she’d do something she would wake up to regret, Penelope walked away from Obsidian.
And didn’t look back.
The good news was, her heart was still intact.
The bad news…
She felt an overwhelming sense of loss.
HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE SHEER panic he’d seen on Penelope’s face, Obsidian would’ve left well enough alone, gone back to the house before the sun rose, settled in for the day.
Okay, that was a fucking lie. Nothing could’ve kept him away from Penelope. Not her need to run or this bullshit white-knight thing he was dealing with. And certainly not when she was freaked out.
Because he opted to take the fastest route from point A to point B, Obsidian managed to catch up to her as she sped toward the exit leading to the parking garage. For such short legs, his female could huff it. Had he been a couple of seconds earlier, she would’ve likely seen him materialize in the adjoining hallway.
“Penelope, wait.”
She came to an abrupt halt, slowly pivoting to face him, her face pinched with confusion.
That she would give him a chance to talk was a good
sign.
Maybe.
Of course, now he could see the question in her eyes. He was fully dressed, and yet, he’d managed to make it downstairs before she could get out the door.
“Wha— I need to go home.”
“Stay with me.”
She shook her head. “I can’t do this, Obsidian. This…” Her hands moved back and forth to encompass the two of them. “It was a mistake. I shouldn’t…”
As Obsidian moved closer, she drew inward on herself, her arms wrapping around her middle as though she was afraid of what would happen if she didn’t.
“Did I do something?”
She shook her head. “Not you. Me. This… I can’t do this.”
He couldn’t deny he’d anticipated her having an issue dealing with what he was, but since he’d yet to reveal any details to her, that wasn’t the issue.
“What’s wrong?”
“This … it’s moving too fast.”
Ah. Speed could be a tricky thing. Then again, he was in no rush, so why should she be?
“We can keep it casual,” he told her, willing to do whatever it took to keep her with him, to spend just a few more hours together.
Her cautious gaze lifted to his face. “See, that’s the problem, Obsidian.”
The frustration in her tone had him stepping back, giving her space.
“I’m not sure I can keep it casual. Whatever’s happening here … I can’t … I can’t seem to find the brakes.”
Personally, he didn’t see a problem with that, but clearly she did. Then again, he was aware of the amnigh, the overwhelming desire amsouelots felt for one another. It wasn’t something that could be ignored, and with time, it would only intensify.
“I’m not into one-night stands, Obsidian.”
He smiled. Couldn’t help it. “Trust me, that’s not what this is.”
“No?” She obviously wasn’t convinced.
“I want to spend time with you,” he admitted.
“For now,” she countered. “Once I sleep with you, all bets are off. You’ll be out the door before—”
Obsidian cut her off, his voice dropping an octave or ten. “Don’t assume you know who I am or what I want, Penelope. I assure you, you’ll be wrong.”
She had no scathing retort, but the insecurity was still glittering in her eyes.
Funny how he had a wealth of powers at his disposal, yet he couldn’t use a single one on this female. Perhaps the more accurate term was wouldn’t, because technically, he was capable. Obsidian wanted Penelope with a passion that rivaled all, but he wouldn’t force this. He wanted to take this at her pace, because in the end, she was all that mattered.
Holding out his hand, Obsidian waited.
“You terrify me,” she whispered, her eyes pleading as though she needed him to confirm that what was happening here was something to embrace, not run from.
When her hand settled on his, he felt the tremble in her body. Whether it was fear or cold, he couldn’t tell, but he pulled her against him anyway, holding her for a minute. Her hair was dripping down her back, her shirt wet and the air conditioner was going full blast. He was going with cold.
“You have no reason to believe me,” Obsidian whispered, cupping the back of her head as she pressed her cheek to his chest. “But this isn’t temporary. What’s happening here…”
He couldn’t continue without giving away his deepest secrets, and he knew she was in no place to believe him, much less understand this was only the beginning for them.
“Stay with me today, Penelope. We’ll go as fast or as slow as you want. I have no agenda, I promise.”
Penelope’s head tilted back, her eyes searching his face. “I don’t even know what color your eyes are.”
Well, hell. “I’ll show you, but I need you to come back to the room with me.”
Her forehead creased, her confusion evident.
“Trust me, Penelope.”
Whether she did or not, at least she nodded.
Getting her back to the hotel room didn’t require much effort. She walked with him, her hand in his as she clutched her purse to her body.
Before they stepped inside, Obsidian willed the curtains closed with his mind, ensuring there was no light peeking in now that the sun was rising above the mountains.
“Are you hungry?”
Penelope shrugged.
“Why don’t you sit down. I’ll have room service bring breakfast.”
“Eggs and bacon,” she said, releasing the grip she had on her purse when he reached to take it from her. “Would you mind if I … uh … use your restroom?”
He nodded toward the bedroom, then turned back to the phone, giving her some privacy.
It took a hearty breakfast and a dreadful two hours of some vampire chick flick before she was relaxed completely. And while Obsidian hadn’t a clue what the fuck that whole glittering bullshit was, he would’ve endured it a million times over just to spend time with her.
When Penelope yawned, he grinned, pushing to his feet.
“Let’s go to bed.” He held out his hand.
Penelope’s eyes widened, a hint of her panic from earlier replacing the serenity he’d witnessed a moment before.
He held his hands up in a sign of surrender. “I promise, completely innocent.”
“I have a few questions first.”
He could handle questions.
Maybe.
“Hit me.”
“What’s your last name?”
“I don’t have one.”
That didn’t seem to be the answer she expected, but it also didn’t sway her from asking another. “What are your brothers’ names?”
“Stygian, Eclipse, Shadow, Piceous, Aphotic, and Cimmerian. Not in order, and no, they don’t have last names, either.”
“How tall are you?”
He couldn’t help it, he smiled. “Six ten.”
“Wow. Okay.” Her golden gaze bounced over his face as she stared up at him from her position on the sofa. “What color are your eyes?”
Obsidian swallowed hard. “Silver.”
That evidently wasn’t the answer she was looking for because she continued to stare. When she reached for his hand, tugging him toward her, he sat on the sofa once more. Penelope shifted to her knees, moving closer, while he remained where he was. He didn’t move a muscle when she reached for the sunglasses shielding his eyes.
Inhaling deeply, he closed them briefly, realizing for the first time in his life, he felt true fear. The absolute last thing he wanted was for Penelope to be scared of him.
Penelope’s cool hand cupped his cheek. “Please let me see.”
After a deep, cleansing breath, Obsidian opened his eyes.
“Holy…” Rather than move back, Penelope remained where she was, her gaze bouncing back and forth over his eyes, studying them. “They’re … beautiful.”
Realizing he’d been holding his breath, Obsidian exhaled slowly. “Intimidating’s usually the word humans use.”
“Humans?” Her head canted to the side slightly. “You say that as though you’re not one.”
Since she hadn’t asked a question, he didn’t answer.
Truth was, Obsidian was at a loss, terrified that one wrong move would send her running. While he’d always prided himself on his strength, he couldn’t deny there was an underlying insecurity. Especially when it came to her. He’d spent centuries waiting for the female he could love him with everything he was. Now that Penelope was within reach, that vulnerability was wreaking havoc. Obsidian couldn’t chance losing her before he ever had her.
“They’re so bright and … they’re swirling. Why?”
“It’s a long story, one that can wait until we sleep for a bit.”
Obsidian was surprised when Penelope nodded, accepting his evasive response. Not willing to chance her changing her mind, he got to his feet, reached for her hand, then helped her up. She continued to stare, making him feel a bit uneasy. Like a specimen that requi
red dissection.
Once in the bedroom, he barely caught himself before he used his mind to turn on the lights.
“Are your eyes really sensitive to light?” she asked as he flipped on the small lamp by the bed. “Or do you wear them to hide the fact they glow?”
“Both. Here.” Obsidian reached behind his head and tugged his T-shirt off. “You can wear this. It’ll be more comfortable because … yours is still damp.”
As she’d done the last time he removed his shirt, Penelope’s eyes instantly zoned in. Her obvious approval did something for him in a major way.
“I’ll … I’ll just go change in the bathroom.”
While she went off to do her thing, Obsidian reclined on the bed, keeping his boots on to show her he had nothing planned except for sleep.
Good thing, too, because when Penelope returned, she was once again on edge. Right up until she noticed he was still dressed. She, on the other hand, was clad only in his T-shirt. The black cotton covered her from neck to knee—though it did hang off one shoulder and offered a delicious glimpse of her puckered nipples—but it was the sight of her wearing it that did it for him.
“Come on,” he urged, patting the pillow beside him.
Cautiously, she crawled into the bed. Just as she was about to lay her head on the pillow, Obsidian reached for her, pulling her against him.
“I promise, I’ll keep my hands to myself. I just want you close.”
She sighed as she relaxed her head into the crook of his shoulder. Her hand rested on his stomach, making the muscles tense.
“Your feet are hanging off the end of the bed,” she said softly.
He smiled, staring up at the ceiling. That was a small price to pay. “Sleep. I’ll be right here when you wake up.”
He’d expected some sort of argument, but Penelope didn’t put up a fight. In fact, her breaths evened out shortly after she snuggled up to him.
With his hand covering hers where it rested on his chest, Obsidian allowed himself to drift when Penelope slipped off into slumber, but it didn’t last long. Probably because he didn’t want to miss a minute of being with her. Rather than sleep through it, he remained in the darkened room, content to have her nestled close, to listen to her soft breaths and the steady beat of her heart.
Protected in Darkness (Misplaced Halos, 1) Page 12