Guardian Of Fate (Fate Series)

by Kentowski, L. J.

  He started to suckle my neck again, as his hand caressed my bare shoulder, playing with the strap of my tank top. As I felt him start to peel the strap down, reality hit me. He was really going to make love to me here and now. I fought with myself to regain my composure.

  "Hunter," I gasped. "We can't... not here... there's too many peop—"

  He gently placed his finger over my lips, cutting off my protests. "There's no one. There will be no one; no one but you and me."

  I looked into his determined eyes. They held no doubt.

  He kept his gaze on mine, his finger lightly stroking my lips, as he quietly asked, "You want it to be me, don't you, Cassandra?"

  I was so scared. Being so caught up in the feelings of his touch, I hadn't been able to think about any consequences of what we were doing, of what we might do. I wanted time to make sense of it all, but his eyes were promising me so much more than just sensual pleasure. It was as if that magnetic connection were about to be bonded. But then what? Would it be a good bond, or a bond with dire consequences?

  "Say yes, Cassandra," he whispered as his finger lightly traced a path down my neck.

  Quite certain I would hyperventilate if I didn't give in and let him ravish me I slowly nodded.

  "No! I want to hear you say the words. Tell me it's me you want." He moved over me and held my head still, his face inches from mine, his hardness against my belly as he straddled me.

  "Yes, Hunter. It's you I want. It's always been you."

  His lips came down with urgency and pure desire. I met his force with my own need for him, and we became one as our tongues fought desperately with each other. His hand slid down my body, and then back up, teasing the places that begged to be touched, causing me to grab at his hair. Instinctively, I pulled harder when he tickled past my nipple with his fingers. Lightly caressing the skin just below my tank top, he pulled up from our kiss and looked me in the eyes once more. The lids of his eyes appeared lower, barely covering the sleepy passion that twinkled from the blues behind them.

  He sat up, still straddling me, and his hand slowly lifted up my top. I pushed forward and raised my arms, allowing him to take it off completely. He watched as I lay back down, his eyes darting back and forth from my eyes to my breasts. The wind against my skin caused my nipples to tighten even more than they had been and he placed his hands around the fullness of my breasts, lifting them up as he lowered his mouth onto them. I raised my chest, wanting to somehow get even closer than we were. I heard his groans mixing with my own sighs of pleasure as I felt him devouring me. A twinge of pain came as I felt his teeth pulling at my nipple, only to lavish it away with his tongue. He took his time on both of my breasts, making sure that they were both equally consumed.

  I sat up slowly, my eyes in line with the sculpted chest that I knew lay underneath the shirt he wore. Frantically, I scrambled to release the shirt from his pants, desperate to feel his skin against mine. Once his shirt was off, I watched my hands as I slid them over his chest and down his stomach, following the smooth valleys of toned muscle. I did it once again, tracing the path with my mouth. His head went back as he let out a breathless moan. I brushed the top of his jeans with my hand and let it linger there, my boldness surprising both him and me. His hand went behind my head, grabbing my hair, and forcing me to look up at his face.

  "Cassandra, if you continue, I won't be able to stop myself from being inside of you." He kissed me, his lips bruising mine with the pressure of it. Pulling my head back again, he said in a deep voice, "And I want to taste all of you before that happens."

  Before I could say anything his body pressed against mine, pushing it back into the grass as he laid over me. His kisses left my lips and quickly moved to my breasts again, sending me back into a whirlwind of indulgent satisfaction. Slowly, he moved his mouth lower down my stomach. His hands skimmed up my thighs, resting his thumbs on the inside of them, teasing my most sensitive area with their mere presence.

  With one swift movement, Hunter made quick work of my shorts, ripping them down the length of my legs. He spread my legs with his hands, slowly making his way between my thighs. He looked up at me, blue eyes glowing back at me with the promise of sheer sexual pleasure. The smile he gave, before lowering his head to the center of my desire, told me he was planning to enjoy every minute.

  His tongue gently lapped at the sensitive bud before his mouth suckled it. Back and forth he tormented it, sending waves of pure pleasure up and down my entire body. The tightening sensation growing inside felt like it could only explode if the pressure didn't release soon. I cried out in an almost painful ecstasy as I rose and tried to pull him up by his shoulders. He looked at me expectantly.

  "Now, Hunter!" I panted. He sat between my legs and I quickly reached for the button on his pants, but he stilled my hand with his.

  "Cassandra..." he said with a warning tone to his voice.

  "I want you inside of me now! Please," I begged.

  "No," he said with finality. "Not until I hear you scream from the pleasure I'm giving you."

  He began the sweet torture all over again, taking me to a level of bliss that I never imagined possible in my best fantasies. I pulled at the grass in an effort to get a grip on something in order to control my writhing body. Finally, release came as explosions erupted within me, sending wave after wave of sexual delirium through my entire body. Unconsciously, I screamed his name over and over again until the waves subsided and left a dull throb in their wake.

  When I opened my eyes, he was leaning over me, his eyes clouded over with desire.

  "God, Cassandra," he whispered. "Do you know how good you taste?"

  He kissed me again as he pushed his hardness between my thighs, causing the throbbing to burn again in anticipation of him.

  "This is what you do to me. I want you to feel me."

  Grabbing my hand, he placed it over the large swell in his pants. I gripped him and heard his breath release with a moan. In a sudden motion, I felt his hand quickly moving over the button and zipper of his jeans.

  "I need you now, Cassandra. I can't wait any longer."

  It seemed as if his pants disappeared in one fluid motion from his legs. With a thrust of his hips, he was inside of me, filling me up, as we both cried out from the pleasure of it. I felt his lips press up against my ear as he said in a labored breath, "You're mine now, Cassandra."

  Kissing my neck tenderly, he slowly started to pull out of me, only to slide right back in, creating shocks of pleasure deep within me. His thrusting hips became a steady rhythm as our bodies melded together as one. Cries of ecstasy became our verbal communication, while our bodies moved perfectly together speaking their own language, as if they'd done so a million times before.

  Hunter's drives came faster and harder as his breathing grew heavier against my neck.

  "Tell me your mine!" he demanded, looking me in the eyes as he kept gaining speed.

  The build-up of intensity started to grow again as I felt him become even harder inside of me with each wonderful push. "I'm yours, Hunter, I'm all yours," I told him breathlessly. I felt him tense with one last powerful thrust as he arched his back and let out a growl. The sensation so deep and strong inside of me put me over the edge. I climaxed with him, my inner walls clenching against his hardness, with a pleasure that encompassed not only my body, but my mind as well. I no longer cared that I didn't know who Hunter was, or what his ultimate goal was with me. There was only this; him and me, right here. I wasn't sure of what my future held, or how much of one I even had. All I knew was that I wanted him to be there with me for it.

  He stayed inside of me as he came up on his elbows, his face flushed from the efforts of our love-making. His eyes roamed over my face as he gently pushed aside strands of my hair from it. Lowering his lips to mine, he kissed me softly, sweet flutters from one corner of my mouth to the other. When he was done, he raised his head to look lovingly into my eyes.

  "You're beautiful, Cassandra," he said in
the barest of whispers. I felt the back of his fingers lightly brushing my cheek, causing my skin to tingle from his touch. "I'm afraid you've created an addiction in me. I could never get enough of you. I already want more. I will always want more."

  Every inhibition I had seemed to have escaped its prison with every explosive wave of pleasure he brought out of me. "Then take more." I moved beneath him. There was a renewed passion in his eyes before they closed. They remained that way for quite some time before he finally opened them. The passion was gone; replaced with... regret?

  "I'm afraid there's no more time, Cassandra. I must go."

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  "What?" I cried in disbelief. Hunter was leaving me? Why? Up until now, I couldn't do anything without him under my heels. Now, after we'd been as close as two people could get, he was going to leave me? Anger quickly built up and lashed out through the palms of my hands as I shoved at his chest.

  He rolled off me and I stood, intending to let out a litany of questions and accusations when he held his T-shirt out to me.

  "I must go away for a bit, but I promise, I'll come back to you, and there will be much more. Here, put this on. Quickly, Cassandra!"

  I was about to protest when three huge men appeared out of nowhere and stood before us in the park. Two of the men's torsos were covered in what appeared to be some kind of steel armor and they both wielded sheathed swords at their sides. The other was dressed as Hunter normally did with a T-shirt and jeans. The two armored men also wore lecherous smiles as their eyes roamed over my naked body. Hunter stood up faster than I'd ever seen anyone move to stand in front of me, blocking their view, in all his naked glory. With shaking hands, I scrambled to put the T-shirt on.

  "Awww, c'mon, Hunter. Move aside and let us get a peek of the little beauty. After all, she'll be famous for this," one of the armored men said, laughing. His armored twin laughed along with him. The third man didn't share in the others' humor, it seemed, as he stood with a grim expression.

  Hunter continued to glare at them as they laughed. "If you even think of looking at her," he said in a deadly voice, "I promise, I will gut you both. You'll be praying to let me end your immortality. She's mine."

  Both men's smiles faded quickly. The one that had spoken became red-faced with anger as he caught the third man unsuccessfully hiding a chuckle. Tersely he said, "Yeah, about that... You've been summoned back. We are to escort you at once."

  Hunter looked over his shoulder at me. Seeing I was covered up enough, he moved towards his jeans and put them on. The escorts must have taken his words to heart because their eyes never once wandered towards me. They continued to watch Hunter and his every move. After getting dressed, he walked back up to them and I gasped as they brought out a pair of chains, metal shackles hanging at their ends. Hunter quickly said something to them that I couldn't hear, they nodded their heads, and he walked back over to me.

  I didn't give him the chance to speak. Clapping his chest with my hands, I barraged him with questions. "Hunter, what's this about? Who are these men and why do you have to go with them? Where—"

  He grabbed both of my hands in his and squeezed. "Cassandra, shhh... Listen to me. I have to go with them for now, but I will be back."

  I started to protest, but he cut me off once again.

  "There is no negotiation in this. It's something that must be done. See that man in black? He's one of mine. He'll be watching over you for me while I'm gone."

  "What? I don't need a babysitter, Hunter!"

  "Yes, you do. Caleb can show up at any time, anywhere. When are you going to accept that?" Gripping my arms, he pulled me hard into his chest. "I've tasted you now, Cassandra, and I'm going to crave more for a long, long time. So there is no way I will allow anything to happen to you. Eric will be watching over you while I'm gone. I trust him with everything that I am. He will do whatever he can to protect you, and if he feels he can't do it, he'll find a way to get to me. You're in good hands. I promise you."

  I looked down, both scared and sad at the same time. "But I want to be in your hands," I whispered, still looking down at my bare feet in the grass, maybe a bit embarrassed over my candor.

  His fingers lifted my chin so I would look into his beautiful eyes. "I've wanted to hear you say that since I first met you." He ran his thumbs lightly over my jaw. "I've got to take care of something, but I'll be back, and you'll be in my hands over and over again, Cassandra."

  I panicked, knowing that no matter what I said, he'd be leaving now, but I tried anyway. "But where are you going? What do you need to do?"

  Hunter shook his head and looked at me with what almost seemed like pain in his eyes. "I can't explain right now."

  Before he could say anymore the men came over, flanking him, and pulled his arms back to shackle him.

  "All right, that's enough. Time to go, Hunter. Let's make this nice and easy for her, eh?" Hunter showed no resistance towards them as they finished with their mechanical prisons. Eric walked over and stood next to me. I looked up at him with anxiety, but his friendly face somehow managed to put me at ease.

  I looked back at Hunter as they pulled him away. His last words hit me in the heart, "Trust me, Cassandra. I'll be back for you." And then all three of them disappeared.

  ***

  The walk back to the apartment was awkward to say the least. Eric was not very talkative. I attempted to get him to tell me where Hunter was going and who had summoned him, but all he would tell me was it was up to Hunter to fill me in when he returned. I even tried to ask him how he knew Hunter, but apparently, that information remained classified too. Much to my dismay, the old adage that guys stuck together was true no matter what worlds they came from. The only information he gave was that he was there to protect me from Caleb, and that he'd be staying in Hunter's apartment.

  When I got back, Nora's door was still closed. I peeked in at her and saw that she was fast asleep, sprawled out amongst all of her books on her bed. I quietly closed the door and went into the bathroom to take that shower I'd originally planned on.

  I turned the shower on and pulled Hunter's T-shirt over my head. The smell of lavender and musk caught me off guard as the shirt rubbed against my face. I held it to my nose, breathing in his heady scent. Closing my eyes, I re-lived the glorious events in the park. I pictured him over me, his steel eyes penetrating mine as his body made me feel things that I never imagined. As I washed, I remembered his hands in all the places that made me burn for him. Everything had been so perfect, as if fate had finally brought us together.

  But as wonderful as it felt right now, remembering the way he felt, the way he looked, the way he touched me, the beautiful things he said, I worried if this was fate's final act. Would we ever have those wonderful moments again? The reality of him being gone, hit me hard. Would I ever see him again? He told me that he'd come back for me, but it sure didn't look like he had a whole lot of control in those shackles. Was he just saying he'd be back so I wouldn't argue?

  I walked out of the bathroom, considering going over to talk to Eric before I went back up to see my mom. I would try to get him to tell me more. Maybe there was a way I could persuade him.

  "Hello, Cassie."

  I jumped at the greeting that had come from the sofa, where Caleb sprawled casually in the cushions. My body tensed as his eyes moved slowly over it, stopping at the lacy bra and panties I tried to hide with my hands, his lecherous smile proving I was unsuccessful.

  "I've got great timing lately," he said, sitting up straighter.

  I looked towards my bedroom, gauging the distance it would take me to get in and close the door before Caleb got to me. He must have recognized my intentions because as soon as the thoughts were out of my head, he flashed over to the room and leaned his arm casually against the doorway. Shaking with fear, I pushed back against the wall in the hallway, as if it would somehow allow me to melt into it and disappear.

  "Now, c'mon, Cassie. Let's be adults about this. I want you, and I
know you want me. I'll help you get over this phobia you have about going to Hell. No one has to get hurt, and we'll live happily ever after. We can start right now." He waved his hand back towards my room and candles appeared everywhere, creating a chillingly romantic setting. "I can make it the best night of your life, Cassie, but if you fight me, I can make it the worst." His easy smile turned into a grim, cruel leer.

  I couldn't speak. I just stood against the wall, panting in fear, trying to think of how I was going to get out of this. Would Eric sense Caleb as Hunter did? Would he come to my rescue? I turned my head quickly towards the door, hoping to see him coming through it.

  "Don't even consider Eric," he dismissed my hopes with a lazy wave of his hands. "He's got his own problems to deal with over there, thanks to my... associates. Oh, and if you're waiting for your knight in shining armor to save you again, he won't be coming this time either." He shook his head, tsking at me as if I were a child. "See, he's got quite a bit of explaining to do to our boss as to why he hasn't completed his mission yet. He's going to be there a while."

  I jerked my head at Caleb's assertion. Their boss? His mission? "You're lying!" I yelled.

  "Oh, c'mon, Cassie. I thought you were smarter than that. Did you think he was any different from me?" He laughed, but when he looked at my shocked expression, his eyes grew wide. "Oh my, you really did. Wow, I guess he hasn't lost his touch after all. He's a Seeker, just like me."

  I refused to believe him. "I know what you are, but Hunter is not like you. Why would he be protecting me from you if that were true?"

  He sauntered over and leaned his hands against the wall on either side of me, making me cower even more. "Because you are the ultimate prize in Hell, Cassie." he hissed. "A Seeker with angel blood. Can you imagine the damage you could do for Hell? And, well, the one that turns you is sure to be richly rewarded for it. Hunter and I have a little competition going on. You know, may the best man win, and all that good stuff."