Penelope shook her head. “Not even a little. I think you’re the one who said age is just a number.”
She reached for his shirt and he rose, allowing her to tug it off and toss it to the floor.
Before he relieved her of her clothing, Obsidian figured he ought to fill her in on a few more details. This time, he rolled so that she was straddling his hips, looking down at him.
“One of the heurosp is going to stop by in a minute,” he explained. “To see if we need anything.”
Penelope reached for the button on his jeans, his breath slamming out of his lungs in a rush. When she continued by lowering the zipper, Obsidian fought to fill his lungs again.
“Perhaps you should let them know we’re busy,” she whispered, dismounting before stripping off her shirt and tossing it aside.
Not intending to miss out, he shoved his jeans down, managed to kick his boots off, then freed himself from the denim before she returned. And when his naked female climbed back on top of him, covering his body with hers and sealing her lips to his, Obsidian knew he was finally right where he belonged.
Hands roamed as tension thickened in the air between them. But that was nothing compared to the elation that consumed him when she sank down on his cock, taking him deep inside her. Obsidian hissed, his fangs shooting out of the roof of his mouth as an immeasurable hunger ignited within. She was so fucking hot riding him, it took more willpower than he possessed to remain there, watching her take her pleasure from him, but somehow he managed.
Not for long, though.
His need for her was too great, proven when he reached for her, yanking her down atop him as he gripped her hips, held her in place, and thrust into her from beneath. He loved how she felt laid out over him, surrounding him, all her soft, smooth skin touching him.
“Obsidian!”
When she came suddenly, it stripped him of all control. His hips shot upward as he came in a rush.
“You’re breathing hard this time,” Penelope whispered, her body relaxed as she remained laid out over him, her soft lips caressing his neck.
“Caught me off guard,” he admitted, kissing the top of her head, brushing all that silky hair to one side.
He heard the code being keyed into the panel, knew a heurosp was coming to check in, ensure they had what they needed.
“They’re here, aren’t they?”
“Will be in a second, yes.”
She lifted up, smiled. “Mind if I clean up?”
“If you promise to come back naked.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Fine. But I have every intention of keeping you naked for longer next time.”
As she strutted toward the bathroom a minute later, Obsidian admired her, then dropped his head back to the bed. Already, he was hard and aching for her again. It was intensifying, slowly but surely. Then again, the coming days, weeks, months were going to get brutal for both of them. Pain in the form of intense sexual longing was going to descend until Obsidian sank his fangs in her vein, fed from her. Only then would it ease up.
But even that reprieve would be temporary.
Only once the lintamair—the formal mating ritual—was completed would they be able to settle, to relax and breathe, spending the rest of eternity together.
Obsidian sighed, closed his eyes.
The biggest problem of all…
She had to agree to it first.
Chapter Fourteen
AFTER PENELOPE FRESHENED UP AND PULLED HER clothes back on, Obsidian led her down to the second floor via a secret exit. Hidden behind the entertainment center in the living room was an elevator that carried them down one floor, delivering them into what could only be described as a library to rival all. Not that she’d been to many libraries, but if she’d known this was what she was missing out on, she would’ve made it a weekly trip.
Dark walls lined with books, masculine furnishings, a cozy fireplace … they fit well within the decor of the house, yet they felt distinctly intimate. A private area to relax and read, should the need arise.
On one wall, floor-to-ceiling windows were opened wide to allow the night in. With only an hour to go before dawn, Penelope figured they would soon be sealed tight to ensure the safety of everyone within the mansion. Tucked neatly behind the curtains were tracks on either side of the window. Probably the shutters Obsidian had mentioned.
The rest of the walls were lined with shelves and filled with books. A wooden ladder secured to a railing offered access to those on the highest shelves. Most of the books appeared ancient, and she would’ve bet big money they had come from centuries before.
Obsidian was two thousand years old. She still couldn’t believe that. Two millennia. That was a long time. She couldn’t help but wonder what he did to pass the time. How much time did he spend here, inside the mansion? For her, cabin fever never seemed to be an issue, and in a place this enormous, she couldn’t imagine ever getting bored enough to want to leave. From the outside, it was evident this was more of a palace than a house, so she figured there was significantly more to explore.
“What’s on your mind, ayreme?” Obsidian asked, his thick arms wrapping tightly around her.
She gripped his forearms, held on. “Just taking it all in. This is a lovely house.”
“It does the job.”
He sounded so practical, but she knew a lot had gone into building this place. Not only money but time, effort, and quite a bit of planning. From what she’d seen, it was all electronic. No manual door locks or switch plates on these walls, no sir. When she’d snuck into his bathroom earlier, she’d been in the dark until he informed her she had to request the lights to come on. Verbally.
Like she’d ever get used to that.
Obsidian continued to hug her, and she suspected he was waiting for her next question. God knew she’d already bombarded him, but she couldn’t help it. She was both confused and fascinated with all of it. Like she’d told him at the motel, this entire situation felt strange. More so now that she was here, in this new place. It might’ve been home to Obsidian, but it felt like a foreign country to her. All new and unexplored.
“I know you’re probably growing tired of my questions.”
He leaned down, brushed his lips against her cheek. “I’ll never tire of them, ayreme. Your curiosity intrigues me.”
“What does that mean? Ayreme?”
His lips grazed her once more. “It’s a term of endearment, meaning my greatest love.”
It was the simple things like that that had her heart filling. Hard to believe she’d only known him a few days considering how overwhelmed by emotions she was.
Penelope tilted her head back, peered up at him. “Why did you bring me in here?”
“To introduce you to a few people,” he said simply as he released her, then took her hand and led her to the sofa.
No sooner had she eased down into the buttery-soft leather than the doors opened.
In walked several men and two women, all eyes locked on her as they stepped around one another until they were fanned out in a semicircle with her being the item on display.
“Thank you all for coming,” Obsidian told them as he placed his arm over her shoulder, pulling her into him. “I figured I’d make the official introductions.”
Ah, so an introduction, not a firing squad. Good to know.
“Everyone, this is Penelope Calazans. My amsouelot.”
For whatever reason, the pride in his voice warmed her.
“You met Acadia,” Obsidian said, motioning to the stunning woman Penelope had encountered downstairs.
“Hello, again,” she said to the Fae, earning a smile in return.
“And this is Asmia, the one who determines the pool colors.”
She was as beautiful as Acadia, though they couldn’t have been more different. While Acadia was small in stature, Asmia was tall, lithe. Acadia’s dark hair was board straight, while Asmia’s long blond tresses hung in soft curls down her back, so silky Penelope wasn’t sure it
was real. The only thing they had in common were their otherworldly eyes. A brilliant shade of purple she’d never seen before.
“It’s an honor to meet you,” Asmia said softly.
Not sure what to say to that, Penelope offered a smile.
“This is Taayin. He’s my lieterra,” Obsidian explained.
“Right-hand,” Taayin explained. “Personal assistant. Not to mention, ass kicker extraordinaire.”
He made her laugh with the last part. “Nice to meet you.”
“This is Gryffyth.” Obsidian motioned to the enormous man standing off to the side. “He’s our resident tech guru. Responsible for most of the equipment in the house.”
Blond hair, blue eyes, Gryffyth was what some would call classically handsome. And while he was tall, it was his thick musculature that made him so intimidating, as though he could punch his way through stone with ease.
“And this is Alden.”
“The butler,” Penelope said, the words coming out more as an accusation.
“Guilty.” His blue eyes twinkled with amusement.
“I should’ve grilled you when I had the chance.”
“There’s plenty of time for that,” he said kindly.
A noise outside the room had all heads turning. A second later, one of the doors swung wide, and in walked the two hulking men who’d accompanied them at the motel. Once inside the room, they stepped aside.
“Oliver!” Penelope shot to her feet and raced to her brother, throwing her arms around him.
Before he could hug her back, she jerked back, hissing as an electrical current hit her from all angles. The equivalent of grabbing a live wire, she imagined. Definitely not a comfortable feeling.
Obsidian’s gentle hand came down on her shoulder. “I should’ve warned you, ayreme. The touch of a male will be painful for you.”
She turned to face him, frowned. “Why?”
“Because you’ve mated,” Asmia said softly. “It’s the same for Obsidian and any female who’s not you.”
Well, wasn’t that convenient? And sneaky.
“Someone care to tell me why I’m here?” Oliver spat, drawing all eyes to him.
“It’s for your own safety,” Taayin informed him, his voice soft and steady, though his posture had changed to the defensive.
“Yeah, well, I think I’ll pass,” Oliver shot back. “I don’t know what the hell’s going on, but I’ve got a life to get back to.”
Before Oliver could spin around and march out of the room, Gryffyth blocked his path.
“You might want to rethink that,” the big blond man told Oliver. “And maybe ease up on the attitude while you’re at it. We’re not your enemies.”
Oliver’s eyes blazed with fury. “No? So, what? I should be grateful that you crazy fucks kidnapped me?”
Obsidian stepped closer, pulling Penelope into him, her back to his front. His arms came around to cross over her chest in a protective gesture that somehow settled her though she wasn’t intimidated by Oliver or his frustration.
In a strange show of solidarity, the men moved so they were between her and her brother, the women holding their ground as well.
“I’m only going to say this once,” Obsidian began, his voice deep, authoritative. “I understand you’re angry, but in this house, you’ll show respect to everyone, but most importantly, your sister.”
Oliver glared back at him, but thankfully, he kept his mouth shut.
“We’ll be more than happy to fill you in as soon as we’ve all settled in,” Obsidian continued. “It’s been a rough couple of days, and we all need sleep. I want everyone to meet for dinner at nightfall.”
“Then I think I’ll retire,” Acadia said softly, her gaze pinned on Obsidian. “Unless you need me?”
Penelope felt Obsidian tense behind her, and suddenly her stomach churned violently. Penelope knew it was the Fae’s reference to him feeding, but it felt ridiculously intimate to her.
“I think I’ll retire, too,” she said quickly, pulling away from Obsidian and heading for the elevator.
“Penelope, wait,” Acadia called out.
“You do your thing,” she said, her back to the others. “I’ll do mine.”
Before someone could convince her to stay, Penelope darted for the elevator, keeping her eyes down as the door closed. On the third floor, she stepped out into the living room with its black leather sofas and monstrous television. She hurried down the hall to Obsidian’s bedroom, closed herself in, then sauntered into the bathroom.
This was, by far, her favorite room of all she’d seen so far. She’d only spent a few minutes in here, but as far as she was concerned, she could live in this enormous space. From the drop-in tub in the center of the room that looked more like a pool than a bathtub, to the spacious shower that stood behind it, the glass tiles on the wall sparkling in the blue lights in the ceiling, it was about as perfect as she could’ve even imagined it to be. A soothing space, meant for luxury and relaxation.
Yet it didn’t have any magical powers, because the longer she lingered, the more her anxiety grew.
Thinking about Obsidian feeding from the Fae gave her heartburn. Which was odd considering she knew so little about his kind.
“His kind,” she muttered. “An angel. A warrior angel, at that.”
It made absolutely no sense, and at the same time, it all seemed to fit together.
Though she considered taking a shower, she figured sleep was the best way to deal with the overload of emotions right now. Not sure where her suitcase was, Penelope ventured into the closet, called out for the lights to come on. They lit up the space, highlighting an entire wall dedicated to Obsidian’s clothing, the other side completely empty except for the few items she’d packed. Evidently one of the heurosp had unpacked for her.
Figuring it was too cold to wear the tank top and shorts she’d brought to sleep in, Penelope stole one of Obsidian’s button-down shirts. It took some doing to get it situated, but she finally managed to get the sleeves rolled up enough so that she could use her hands. When she returned to the bedroom, Penelope came up short. Obsidian stood, hands in his pockets, looking tormented, his sunglasses tossed aside, silver eyes churning.
“We need to talk,” he said gruffly.
“After we sleep.”
She started for the bed, but he reached for her. “Now, Penelope.”
While she was taken aback by his high-handed behavior, she conceded. “Fine.”
“In the other room. Neutral ground.”
Penelope did not like the sound of that, but she allowed him to lead her out of his room, down the hall, and into the open living room. Flames flickered in the fireplace, warming the space as he directed her to the sofa.
Obsidian took a seat, pulling her down with him so that she was not quite on top of him but close. She leaned into his warmth, held on to his arm when he draped it over her shoulder and across her chest. Despite her anxiety, she still relished the feel of him.
“I know it bothers you that I have to feed from Acadia,” he said softly, his torment reflected in the tone.
She stared into the orange flames, fighting the strange twinge in her gut. “Tell me this … how often do you have to feed?”
“To maintain my strength, daily, but I can wait as long as three days. It’s not ideal, but it’s sometimes necessary.”
“But you can’t feed from humans? Or other angels?”
“Angels, no. Humans … I could, but it’s the equivalent of having a bowl of rice when you need protein. We must feed from a Fae or our amsouelot.”
“Asmia and Acadia?”
“They’re the only ones here right now. There are fourteen in total, but we had to split up. Once my brothers are back, the Fae will return as well. There are a couple of males among them, so I could use one of them if necessary.”
Oh, great. That didn’t help.
“Are they all beautiful?”
Obsidian exhaled roughly.
Realizing h
e wasn’t going to answer, she huffed. “Okay, fine. Who do the Fae feed from?”
“Like I said, they feed on emotions.”
“So, a psychic vampire?”
“In a sense, perhaps.”
“Can they remove the negative emotions?”
“Yes. They have the abilities to relieve whatever emotions they want, but that’s not their goal. They’ve learned they can thrive on emotions tied to sexual encounters.”
“That’s why they’re used for sex.”
“Not used,” Obsidian told her. “It’s a mutual agreement. It satisfies both parties.”
“No harm, no foul, then,” she mused.
“Yes. Or better yet, give-and-take,” he noted.
“What about mating? Do they all do it? Like you do?”
“If you’re asking whether they have an amsouelot, yes, they do.”
“So the Fae are here only to act as your blood source and to have sex with you until you mate.” Eww. The words left a bitter taste in her mouth.
“We’re not allowed to interact with humans, except for our amsouelots,” he clarified. “Therefore, we develop relationships with other species.”
“Fae?”
“Yes. And vampires, fairies. But to answer your question, yes, the Fae are here for a reason. They also have the capabilities to serve on the front lines should we need them. We see them as our partners, not our possessions. We feed because we need to.”
Realizing they were approaching a much more important subject, Penelope pulled away and turned to face him, crisscrossing her legs. “So angels can’t have relationships with humans?”
He laid his hand on her thigh. “In some instances, yes.”
“No, I mean, indefinitely. Since you’re two thousand years old, I assume you’re immortal. And I’m clearly not. How exactly does that work? I’m not sure how I explain having a young, hot stud on my arm when I’m eighty.”
Obsidian looked away, staring at the fireplace. When he looked back, there was a sadness in his eyes.
“You have to turn me, don’t you? Like a vampire?”
“Not exactly, but yes. A change is required.”
“What do I turn into?”
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