Ava stood there, her chest hammering. “He’s not hurt in any way?”
“Oh, I’d say he’s more than fine now.” Chloe looked toward the ceiling as she chewed on her hair. It was a nervous habit she’d always had.
“Chloe?”
Chloe put her arms in the air and morphed into an old woman with white hair. She smiled warmly.
“Do I even want to ask what’s up with the glamour and pretending to be an elderly woman?”
Chloe nodded. “When I read you after the attack, I saw that your mate was real, Ava. I also saw how wrong I’d been for not encouraging you to summon him. That being said, I couldn’t let you do it until I knew for sure that Donatus wasn’t evil, that he was a good man. I had to be sure before I gave you the summoning spell. I love you too much to lose you.”
Ava’s eyes widened. “Chloe, did you use the grandma getup to spy on Donatus?”
“No. I used it to encourage him to have a little faith. He needed to be told the truth before he claimed you. He needed to understand that it wasn’t what he was but what he did with his life.” She morphed back into her true self and smiled. “He’s a wonderful man, Ava. He’s also very good at carrying groceries.”
“Huh?”
Chloe winked, conjured her wings and disappeared. The second she was gone, a light flashed near the countertop, making Ava jump slightly.
“I hate it when you do that!” she shouted up into the thin air. Taking a closer look at the counter, Ava found a small baby-blue quilt lying there. The second a handbook on surviving the first year of marriage materialized, Ava shook her head. “You are getting on my last nerve, woman.”
Ava headed straight for the bathtub and turned the water on. She adjusted the temperature to just this side of hot and let it run. She lowered herself to the tile floor and touched the water pooling in the tub. “Valhalla, help me control this,” she muttered under her breath. “Arik, it’s me. I need a favor.”
The water before her slowly filled with an image of a tall man with chestnut brown hair that hung to his chin in wavy hanks. His blue eyes locked on her and he smiled. “Ava, how are you this morning?”
She wrinkled her nose at the sight of his goatee. “What’s up with the facial hair?”
Arik ran his hand over it. “Don’t you like it?”
“Let me guess, the ladies like it.”
“Yep. What favor do you need?”
“I need help finding a man.” The second she said it, she regretted it.
“Oh.” Arik’s eyes widened. “I’m good but I’m not that good. You’re a bit too demanding and, well, scary for the circle I hang with, and considering the crowd I hang out with on a daily basis that says a lot.”
“Walk away from all of it, Arik. You know you can. Others have done it.”
“Do you have a name, picture, anything I can use to help you find this man you want?” he asked, changing the subject.
Knowing better than to push him, Ava nodded. “Donatus Manlian.”
For a moment, Arik looked flabbergasted. He opened his mouth and then closed it again before giving her a questioning look. “I’m sorry but did you say Donatus?”
“Yes, why?”
“Does this Donatus have blond hair, green eyes and is built like an ox?”
“Well, I never really thought of him as an ox but the rest is right. Do you know where I can find him?”
He rubbed his chin. “Why?”
“Please, I have to know he’s okay. That’s all I want. I just need to know he’s safe.”
“Okay, well, I think you’ll see that he’s fine soon enough. Bye, Ava. I love ya.”
“Wait,” Ava said quickly. Arik tipped his head. “I just wanted to tell you that you’re going to be an uncle.”
He gasped. “You’re pregnant?”
Ava nodded and reached out to touch the water near Arik’s hand. “Walk away from being an angel of death, Arik. You’re the only family I have left and I’m tired to lying to everyone. Chloe thought we were…oh gods…I can’t even say it without throwing up again.”
Arik’s face twisted up. “Yeah, don’t say it, little sister. I’ll be sick too.”
“Will you think about walking away? They shouldn’t have sent you undercover, Arik. They knew you could never return without the taint of evil. Don’t continue to work for them. I don’t care if they are the good guys. They lied to you and they kept you away when they knew the village was being attacked.”
He ran his hand over his goatee. “I know what they did, Ava. I’m almost four hundred years old. Don’t think for one second that I have ever forgotten what they took from me—from us.”
Ava bit back tears. “Arik, you have spent thirty of my years and over three hundred of your own more than making up for it. Without your help I wouldn’t have known how to protect myself, let alone teach the girls. I hate keeping who you are to me a secret. I never really told you that I love you.”
He smiled. “I know you do. That’s why you can’t tell anyone. I have enemies on both sides of the fence, sweetie, and they would love nothing more than to hurt someone I love. And Ava, I love you. I’m so happy for you. Will I be permitted to visit once the baby comes?”
Shocked, Ava drew back a bit. “Of course you will. You’re my brother, not a heartless murdering bastard—not a monster.”
“I know it’s fine with you, Ava. I was asking your husband.” Arik chuckled as he ended the contact.
His image disappeared instantly. She dropped her head down on the side of the tub with a thud and groaned. “I need ordinary people in my life. I currently hang with none but freaks.”
Sighing, she pulled off the tattered shirt she still wore and cast it aside. Ava rose slowly and worked the remains of her clothing off, carefully taking her white thong with it. The idea of finding Donatus—and a hot bath—drove her on. Dipping her foot in, she found it acceptable and climbed into the large tub.
Moving to take a step out, she growled and shook her head. “I can’t even take a damn bath and clean off Keres blood. Damn you, Manlian. What did you do to me?”
“Hmm, I’ve been waiting to ask you the very same question, Fenaly.”
“Donatus?” She was scared to turn around and not find him there.
“Yes?”
“Are you okay?”
He chuckled. “I expected you to yell at me for being here. I didn’t expect you to be concerned for me. But to answer your question, yes. I’m fine.” He took a step toward her. “I heard Chloe. The baby is okay, but are you all right?”
Joy surged through her. Unable to control herself, Ava spun around fast. The second she saw him standing there in his dark gray dress slacks, no shirt and no shoes or socks, she took a step toward him. Her wet foot touched the bare tile and went out from under her.
Strong arms took hold of her, pulling her up. Donatus’ hold on her sent fire through her lower region. The minute her wet breasts crushed against his hard chest her nipples hardened. Desperate to feel more of his skin pressed to hers, Ava ran her hands over his back and immediately thought about the Host warrior taking a chunk out of him. She tried to turn him but he wouldn’t move. “Donatus, please.”
Chuckling, he took hold of her wrists and brought them to his face. He planted a kiss on one, sending shivers down her inner arms. “I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me, Ava.”
“How could I not, Donatus?”
“Honey, it’s okay. I’m okay and thank the gods you’re okay. I don’t ever want to see you do something like that again, Ava. I couldn’t get to you in time. None of us could. You hit the ground and…and…I couldn’t breathe. I thought you were gone. I didn’t want to let go of you. If Chloe hadn’t have taken matters into her own hands I’m sure I’d still be sitting there holding you.”
Ava stared up into Donatus’ eyes and wiggled against him slightly, feeling his thick erection and wanting desperately to unclothe it, touch it, feel it in her. Fighting the urge to push him onto the flo
or and have her way with him, Ava smiled. “I was so worried about you.”
“I was worried about you too, baby.” He held her tight. “I thought you’d wake up and hate me. If I could change what I am, I would, Ava. I’d take the demon out and just be a man who loves you.”
Loves me.
Ava stared up at him a moment, soaking in what she’d just heard. Her brow creased as she tried to make sense of it all. For so many years the mere idea of being mated to a ex-evil being had turned her stomach but now, as she stood before Donatus the very thought of not having him with her was terrifying.
“Ava, say something.” The pain on his face broke her heart.
Touching his cheek lightly, Ava let a slow smile move over her face. “There is one thing I can’t forgive you for.”
“What?” he asked fast.
“I had to find a spell to fix my bed the morning after you paid me a late-night visit.” She put a hand on her hip and smiled. “Do you know how hard it was to find my spell books when they were still packed away?”
Donatus didn’t move. He just stood there, looking down at her. For a moment she thought he’d trip over nothing again. When he cupped her chin and bent his head down, she exhaled. “I love you so much, Ava.”
“I love you too.” She held his wrist and tipped her head just a bit. “But you have to promise not to eat our young.”
Donatus laughed and the warm sound moved around her, leaving her feeling safe and loved. “I can promise not to eat our young but I can’t promise not to eat you.” He gave her a sexy grin.
Taking hold of Donatus’ pants, Ava worked them down a bit. The turgid shaft of his erection was thick and ruddy. The bulblike head was large, round and leaking the tiniest bit of pre-come.
Letting out a shaky laugh, he reached for her breast and caressed it gently with the back of his hand. “I’m fighting with all I have not to pick you up and take you against the wall, Ava. The demon in me is dying to come out and play with you again. He’s fighting me with all he has too.”
Ava wrapped her hand around his shaft as best she could and planted a kiss on his bare chest. Remembering the painting from the sitting room, she glanced down at his lower abdomen. There was no sign of a scar there. It hit her then what the wound in the painting meant. “Donatus, you talk about the demon like he’s separate from you. He’s not, is he?”
Shaking his head, his jaw dropped slightly as she pumped his shaft repeatedly. “No, honey, he’s not.”
“So you were born the way you are. Am I right?” Ava asked, running her thumb over the head of his cock.
“Yes.”
“Then don’t separate yourself from him or you will always fight it.”
He gasped. “Ava, I’ve spent over three hundred years keeping that evil down. Letting him out now would be—”
“The best way to learn to recognize that the demon isn’t evil. Because you aren’t evil, Donatus. You are a wonderful man that made me fall in love with you instantly.” She stroked his cock faster. “Give me all of you. I want to know my husband fully.”
Donatus didn’t wait. Reaching around Ava, he lifted her high in the air and she wrapped her legs around his waist. The feel of having his wife in his arms, knowing that she was safe was overwhelming to the point that he had to pay attention to just how tightly he was holding her.
He wanted to take his time with her. He wanted to give her so much pleasure that she would beg him to stop but he couldn’t wait. The demon within him was pushing toward the surface, hell-bent on coming out if his cock wasn’t sated soon.
Pressing the tip of his cock against her heated core, Donatus kicked his pants aside and held her to him. He stepped into the large bathtub as he stared into her beautiful blue eyes. She tried to push down on him, take him into herself, but he wouldn’t let her. He needed to make sure she was ready to receive him, ready to face what might happen.
“Please, Donatus.”
“I don’t want to hurt you, Ava.” He stared down at her. “Honey, I’m terrified of losing you.”
“Did you lose me when you laid your claim to me and helped create the life I carry now?” she asked, softly.
“No.”
“Then what makes you think you’ll lose me now?”
Donatus couldn’t take his eyes off his wife. She was so incredibly beautiful. Dropping his head back down, he pressed his mouth to her and moaned as her tongue greeted his. She tasted so sweet, so pure that he couldn’t help but delve deeper, exploring every bit of her he could.
She laced her fingers in his hair and kept him close to her—as if he’d ever even entertain the idea of leaving her. Donatus’ senses heightened as the demon rose closer to the surface. Ava’s arousal clung to the air, making his cock throb painfully with the need to be in her.
“Fuck me, Donatus.”
The demon thrust forward, causing his arms to shift. His muscles bulged as his skin changed to a deep dark red. Panic welled in him. “Ava.”
She cupped his face and kissed his lips. As her tongue swept over his lower lip, his lower half shifted into demon form as well. His cock lengthened and he couldn’t hold back. Surging forward, Donatus buried himself in Ava’s tight, wet pussy.
Gasping, she clung to him, biting down on his lower lip. The second he felt blood welling, he tried to stop thrusting into her, fearing he would hurt her, but she clung tightly to him and gently sucked the blood from his lip. Moaning, he gave in to the need to fully consume her.
Donatus moved down fast, holding her to him while he laid her on her back in the oversized tub. The now-lukewarm water surrounded them. He made sure her head was above water before he continued his slamming thrusts. Her pussy fisted him tightly, pulling him back into her body as they panted in unison.
“Yes, Donatus.”
Straining to keep from crushing her, Donatus held his upper body in a semi-push-up position as he fucked his wife in partial demon form. Each thrust into Ava left the pull of the demon weaker and weaker. As Ava planted tiny kisses on his shifted arms he wanted to howl out and soak her entire body with his come, staking his claim on every inch of her.
Water sloshed out of the tub but neither of them cared. Donatus rhythmically pounded his cock into her, loving the feeling of her core holding him to her while he rubbed his lower abdomen against her clit. Tiny gasps came from her as she wrapped her legs around his waist.
“Let go, Donatus. Let me have all of you.”
Against his better judgment, Donatus gave in, allowing the weakened demon to take hold and rise fully. The buzzing and tingling in his low back indicated the start of a full shift. Dark hair spread over his lower half, his chin lengthened and horns sprouted on his head.
Ava didn’t scream. She pulled on the back of his neck and captured his mouth with hers, kissing him with so much passion that it made his chest tight. When she drew back, she looked up at him through lowered lashes. “I love you, Donatus.”
Something inside him snapped. The wall he’d spent so many centuries building to keep the man and the demon divided crumbled. The demon seemed to circle around him, pulling, yanking, demanding. As Donatus dropped his head down to recapture his wife’s lips he felt the human portion of him rise fast and wrap itself around the demon, merging with it, controlling it, becoming one with it.
His body shifted back into human form instantly, though he still thrust into Ava with the power of the demon. It was then he knew she was right. He was one with what he’d carried and he controlled it easily. Smiling, he thought about what else he could control.
“Come for me, baby. I want to feel your hot pussy holding me tight as I fill you full of my seed.”
Releasing his power, he let it wash over Ava. She jerked beneath him and cried out as her pussy clenched. As the orgasm ripped through her, Donatus gave in to the need to release. Drilling into her, he stayed rooted in place as his cock pulsed out waves of semen, filling her completely.
He held tight to her. “Ava, baby, are you okay?�
�
A blissful look came over her beautiful face. “Mmm, I’m better than okay.”
Epilogue
Ava smiled when she caught sight of Donatus waiting rather impatiently outside her doorway as her students filed out one by one. He pushed past the last two students and made his way straight toward her. Reaching out, he lifted her white blouse and placed his large palm against the tiny swell of her lower stomach.
“Mmm,” he said, dropping his head down and kissing her, “I’ve missed you.”
Ava laughed. “Honey, you just saw me an hour ago and an hour before that and an hour—”
“Are you trying to tell me that I’m crazy for missing my wife and wanting to spend every second with her?” He gave her a lopsided sexy grin. “I don’t want to miss a second more than I have to with you, Ava. I spent over three hundred years waiting for you. I’ll be damned if I spend any more time away from you or our son.”
Glancing down at her stomach, Ava laughed. “Sweetie, you have another five months to go before he’ll be here. Enjoy it. They tell me we’ll forget what sleep is and worry nonstop.”
“Hmm, I do that now so I’ll be nice and conditioned.”
Ava sighed, seeing the concern on her husband’s face. He lived in fear of her being attacked by Lucifer and it was taking its toll on him. “Donatus, we’ll stand up against him when the time comes—and win. I can see that now.”
He closed his eyes and nodded. “I know, baby. I’m allowed to worry about the two of you. You’re my family, my love, my soul. You are all that I am, Ava.”
She pushed on his chest lightly. “Hey, I already agreed to try for another child once our son gets here, stop laying it on so thick. You aren’t getting three.”
Donatus nipped playfully at her lips. “Why not? I’m a big guy. Three should fill me up nice and good.”
Laughing, Ava stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I said I was sorry for accusing you of trying to eat your young.”
Sizzling Hot Alpha Male Paranormal Romance Box Set Page 22