The sky was streaked crimson and orange, accented with pink. As the minutes passed, the colors shifted, becoming more brilliant as the blues and violets made themselves known. It was a glorious display.
He captured her elbow and, with a modicum of effort, he tugged her into his arms. She leaned into him, her back to his chest, her feet bracketing his. His arms wound about her waist as warm lips brushed her ear and a trill of desire ran down her spine.
"Watch," he breathed. "Here they come."
Two golden cougars stepped out of the woods and onto a large flat rock less than fifty yards away from where they stood. Stretching on the sun-warmed surface, one began nuzzling and cuddling the other. Using its massive paws, the dominant one held the other in place and washed its face.
The setting sun turned their coats to golden fire.
Erihn held her breath. "Are we safe?"
His lips brushed her neck and shivers raced over her skin. "Quite."
His teeth brushed the curve of her neck and her body leapt to attention. Delicate hairs stood on end as her nipples hardened. A sigh escaped her as he brushed her hair out of the way and caressed the back of her neck.
She needed to taste him.
She twisted in his arms. Thrown off by the curved position of his body, she sprawled against him, unable to support herself, his breath warm on her skin. Those violet eyes were hot with need as he looked at her, as if awaiting her next command.
She tilted her head back, her hand creeping to twine in his thick hair. A jolt of unease moved down her spine. Was she about to take that final, irrevocable step? She hesitated, looking away from him.
"Don't be afraid," he whispered.
"I can't help it," she wavered.
He nodded. "Just tell me what you want, what you desire."
She swallowed and met his gaze. "Kiss me."
A lazy smile touched his sensual lips, igniting a low throb at the center of her thighs. Erihn stifled a groan.
"Your wish is my command." He dipped his head and took her.
It wasn't a slow kiss. It was deep, hot and carnal. She softened against him, leaning into his strength as she gave as good as she got. Their tongues tangled in a sensual game of cat and mouse as they licked and sucked at each other's mouths. A soft moan escaped her when his hand slipped beneath her open jacket and cupped her breast, tweaking her nipple through her sweater.
Fayne broke the kiss, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. Erihn looked deep into his eyes. The setting sun cast shards of gold in his eyes, a striking combination of cool violet and molten fire.
Tightening his arms around her waist, he plucked her off her feet. Swinging his leg over the bike, he spread her thighs and settled her on top of him so she straddled him. Erihn gave a squeak as her skirt slid up, all but baring herself to him. Beneath her, his arousal was unmistakable.
He guided her feet to the pegs and Erihn tensed, pushing against them as if to stand up, sliding against him, the delicate flesh between her thighs grazing his engorged fly. A low groan escaped him and she paused. His helpless sound triggered a river of desire that flowed hot and heavy through her veins.
Startled, she grasped his shoulders and sank again, stroking him with her nether lips. He tossed his head back, his eyes closed as an animal hiss escaped him. Filled with a power the likes of which she'd never known, she shifted upward again, grinding their lower bodies together. She felt him growing, lengthening beneath her.
Fayne's arms tightened and he hugged her to him. He arched his hips and leaned back until she was completely open against him. His eyes opened as his hands dropped to her knees. Erihn sighed when his hands skimmed her thighs, pushing her skirt up, baring her to his view.
Pressed tight against his 501s, she couldn't decide whether to be terrified or turned on by what was happening. He gave her a tight smile, then bucked beneath her. A rush of desire tingled through her limbs, forcing her to catch her breath as instinct took over. Pressing into him, she tensed her thighs and rose a few inches, her heightened nerve endings screaming with ecstasy at the delicious sensations caused by their friction.
With his help, she set an even rhythm.
"That's my girl," he hissed. "Slow and easy."
Erihn released her death grip on his jacket and settled her hands on his shoulders. Rocking against him, she delighted in the waves of lust rolling through her body to pool at the apex of her thighs. Fayne's eyes were half-closed and he watched her ride him. Adding a little shimmy on the down stroke, she wrenched a groan from him.
"You're killing me," he hissed.
She licked her lips and a line from one of her books popped into her mind. "You'll die with a smile..."
Erihn arched into him, her breath rasping in her lungs as he bucked beneath her, urging her to go faster. His eyes widened, a wicked smile on those sexy lips sending a jolt to the crest of her thighs.
"Only if you go first." He slipped his hand between their thighs, one blunt- tipped finger centering on a certain spot, rubbing in a tight figure eight. Her movements became jerky as she strained for the peak he offered.
"I wanted to go slow," she protested breathlessly.
"Darlin', there's more where this came from," he purred.
Desire coiled low in her belly as he sat upright, bringing her into more direct contact with his hand. He picked up the rhythm of her body as she rocked against him, ever more frantic to reach the pinnacle.
Then, with a single stroke, he sent her over.
Her body contracted against his palm. Head thrown back, she screamed her satisfaction to the wilderness as tremors shook her. Stars swirled behind her eyelids, leaving her dizzy and breathless. She sagged against his chest, clutching his shoulders.
As she calmed, her heartbeat slowed, and, once again, she became aware of him, rock-hard beneath her. She straightened and looked him, both awed and frightened by the tenderness in his gaze. No man had ever looked at her like that.
She pressed her lower body against him. "I think you're next," she breathed.
"I think..."
She stopped his flow of words with her mouth by brushing a quick kiss across his lips. "You think too much."
She put his hands on her waist and, without words, asked him to show her what to do. Under his tutelage, she moved against him, increasing her speed until he strained beneath her. A hoarse cry was torn from him and he tensed, his body hot and trembling underneath her hands as he clutched her to him.
Aftershocks from his violent orgasm sang through her, setting off an answering release in her body. For a second time, she cried out her satisfaction. As she calmed once again, she settled against his chest, listening to his heart thunder beneath her ear.
Minutes later, when she finally could rouse herself to move she noticed the sun had set, the cougars long gone. The air chilled her bare backside.
"We should go," she whispered.
Fayne gave her a hug. "Probably a good idea."
Erihn awkwardly scrambled off, trying to retain some modesty even though she'd just ridden him like a woman possessed. Flushing with embarrassment, she snatched up her chaps. With fumbling fingers, she put them on, torn between wanting to hurry and having him assist her. She stifled a groan at the thought of his fingers on her flesh once more.
He stepped forward and helped her strap the pack on her back as she struggled to think of something to say to break the awkward silence. She couldn't think of anything.
"Ready?" he asked.
She nodded mutely.
"I forgot something."
Erihn looked around and didn't see anything amiss. "What?"
He captured her chin and forced her to look at him directly in the eyes. "This." He lowered his head, his lips touching hers in a gentle kiss that brought tears to her eyes.
Releasing her, he stroked a finger down her throat as if he were reluctant to quit touching her. He turned and climbed on the bike, then held out his hand for her to join him. Her heart gave a quiver
as he smiled encouragingly. Slipping her hand into his, she straddled the bike with more confidence than before.
Settling on the seat, she cuddled against his back, aligning her thighs tightly with his, savoring the warmth that emanated from his body.
He started the bike, then set off into the night, their pace slow. The darkening sky and the glowing brilliance of the stars mesmerized Erihn as she tipped her head back for a better view. The sky in Colorado always seems so limitless, making her feel tiny and insignificant. Not tonight. The Milky Way hung low overhead like a celestial smear of diamonds, and she felt light enough to float up to the heavens and become one of glittering points of light.
She wrapped her arms around his waist, placing her hands on the warmth of his stomach. His muscles contracted beneath her palms and a rush of delight hit her. Sliding her hand down, she moved her hand over his hip to his thigh. Muscles rippled beneath her touch as he shifted.
She stroked his thigh, luxuriating in the feel of worn denim over corded muscles. She started as his hand covered hers, leading her to the fold of his thigh. Massaging his upper thigh, she felt him stir to life against the side of her fingers. He shuddered against her chest. Warm fingers curled around her questing hand, drawing her over his erection to cup him.
His jeans, still damp, molded tightly to his expanding form. She slid her other hand to cover his heart as she gently raked her nails over the heated denim. A low growl leapt from his chest as his heartbeat increased and he lurched beneath her palm. With each stroke, he lengthened under her curious touch, and a sense of feminine power sang in her veins.
As they wove their way down the mountain, Erihn alternated between reveling in the grace of his big body and stroking him to near delirium. She knew she was playing with fire, and she indulged in the heady thrill of teasing strokes and his acute reactions.
Fayne slowed the bike as they reached the point where they'd left the safety of the gravel road for the trail into the wilderness.
"If we're going to make it through the woods without ending up in the mud or worse, in pieces, you need to keep your hands in one place," he rasped.
She laughed with delight as he captured her errant hand and pressed it against his stomach. Tapping it lightly, he said, "Now, don't move it."
She hugged him as they set off into the darkness. She was amazed at his ability to see in the black night. Aided by a single headlight, he unerringly maneuvered through dense undergrowth between the towering firs and aspens, never once making a mistake.
They forded the small runoff, and she clung to him as they slid through the mud on the other side. For a second, she thought they just might end up on the ground, but he righted the bike easily and continued their journey.
She was startled at the difference twenty-four hours made. Yesterday, she'd been ready to run as fast as she could from him and, today; she wanted to get as close as humanly possible. Laying her cheek against his back, she shivered in the chill night air as the lights of Avon twinkled in the valley below.
Gradually the wilderness fell away as they reached some relatively tame acreage. The light from the kitchen window appeared through the trees and grew brighter as they neared the house. Erihn became aware of how cold she was. Fayne skirted around the small patch of tended lawn and the crunch of the driveway gravel was a welcome sound. He reached the overhang of the garage and pulled to a stop. Putting his feet on the ground, he turned off the bike. With ears still ringing from the constant rumble of the bike, she climbed off, her thighs protesting the unaccustomed exertions of earlier.
Strong fingers curled around her elbow, supporting her. He put the kickstand in place and climbed off the bike after her.
Shadowed, she couldn't see his face as he pulled her into his arms. His kiss was deep and toe curling, and she swayed against him. Passion re-ignited as he caressed her, his hands cupping her backside as he gently thrust against her feminine mound.
Erihn grasped his jacket and clung to him as he kissed her, his tongue tasting, touching, and slowly driving her out of her mind. She ate at his mouth as if she were a starving woman and he the only thing to cure her hunger. He eased her backward toward the front door, pausing for a nip here, a suckle there. Twisted around each other's bodies, her elbow banged into the door with a hollow thud.
She giggled wildly as he released her mouth and fumbled for the doorknob. He growled, "What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing," she laughed. Never had she felt this wild, this free and this desired before. He acted as if he wanted to eat her alive. She stifled another giggle; just maybe she'd let him.
He opened the door, and she freed herself long enough to walk into the warmth of the house. She dropped the backpack and scampered to the foot of the steps. Turning, she watched Fayne.
He stood in the doorway, his face in shadow, concentrating on something hanging on the door. Erihn frowned as she saw his big hands clench into fists, his knuckles turned white. She looked at the small square of white on the door. It wasn't hanging there. A narrow dagger suspended it, the slim blade embedded in the wooden door, square in the middle of what appeared to be a photograph. The ornate handle, studded with deep blue stones, gave her chills just looking at it.
"What is that?" she whispered.
Fayne's gaze shifted from the photograph to her. Apprehension crept under her skin as she watched his expression. Cold and deadly, a muscle ticked in his jaw, he looked angry enough to kill with his bare hands.
Fear caught in her throat as he took a step toward her, and she couldn't prevent herself from retreating. Something curled and froze inside her. She put her hand on the banister to steady herself as he stepped into the light, his face intent, his eyes dark and hooded. The energy he radiated was unnerving and not a little bit frightening.
"Go to bed, Erihn." His voice was low, guttural.
"Fayne..."
"Go now!" he thundered.
Fear trickled down her spine as she ran up the steps, her heart pounding wildly against her ribs. As she reached for the doorknob, his voice stopped her.
"Lock your door."
She bolted into the room and shut the door as her mind swirled with unanswered questions. Why did he want her to lock the door? Who was in the photograph and why was it hanging on the door? Was he locking her in or locking himself out?
Not wanting to press her luck, Erihn locked the door as frightened tears began to fall.
Fayne stood in the open French doors, the wind cold against his bare skin as rage flowed through his veins. Quietly, he shut the doors as he stepped out onto the deck. All was still, but it wouldn't be for long. Evil was coming for him. He could feel it in the air.
Nude, he stood in the waxing moonlight, and the brilliant orb called his animal nature forth. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the ever-present glimmer of violet fire that existed in his mind's eye. Taking a deep breath, he shed his human thoughts and stepped into the light to embrace his beast.
* * *
Chapter 6
The phone woke him.
Fayne fumbled for the noisy appliance as the shrill ring fractured the early morning air. He glanced at the clock and scowled. Who in the devil would be calling at 7 A.M.?
He snatched the receiver up and snarled, "This had better be good."
Silence.
"It's your dime."
His preternatural hearing detected a rasping sound, the drag of silk over steel. A chill ran down his spine. In the back of his mind he heard a whispery laugh, dry, like the air of a crypt sealed for centuries. The sound of evil.
A click and the dial tone jolted him out of his reverie.
He set the receiver down, his heart thundering in his ears. Only one person could've been on the phone. One person whose evil persona would translate over miles of twisted wire. The only one who would have left last night's calling card.
Edward.
Fayne glanced at the mangled photograph he'd retrieved from the door. It lay on the bedside table, the dagge
r next to it. Taken here on the mountain about a month ago, the photo was of him and Max, frolicking with a football in the same meadow where he and Erihn had watched the sunset. Max was running for all he was worth, a shriek of childish glee captured on his face as he clutched the football to his chest. Behind him ran Fayne, reaching for the boy's tiny body, his love for the child obvious for all the world to see. The knife blade had neatly severed the two frozen images.
Edward was coming for Max.
He shuddered. He'd never allow the monster to take this child from him. In all the ways that counted, Max was his son. He would die to protect his child, and that was that. It was time to formulate a plan.
He sat up and grimaced as he noted the mud on his feet and the sheets. He hated it when he went to bed with muddy feet. He'd been so exhausted after the events of last night; he'd collapsed into bed early this morning, muddy feet and all.
Right now, though, he had bigger problems than mud on the sheets.
He reached for the phone and dialed an international number he knew by heart. After a few seconds of buzzes and clicks that sounded like the phone was submerged under water, he heard the distinct ring common to a European phone.
"St. James' residence." The clipped proper tones of Sinjin's British butler, Hilton, made Fayne want to sit up straighter. He resisted the urge.
"Is Sinjin or Conor in, please?"
"And whom may I say is calling?"
"Fayne."
The butler paused. "Fang, sir?" Displeasure laced each syllable.
Fayne resisted the impulse to snarl. "No, that would be Fayne, Helton," he stressed the EL sound.
A sniff. "Yes, sir."
He heard Hilton set the phone down, and the faint click of the butler's shoes on the marble flooring as he walked away. Hilton knew damn good and well who was on the phone. The butler had been mad at him ever since a few years ago when he'd caught Fayne upstairs with his twin nieces, Ariell and Mariel, playing with an instrument not normally found in an English music room. He grinned. Those two had learned a lot more than chopsticks that day.
Wilder, J. C. - Shadow Dweller 3 Page 9