The voices of a group of men filled the air.
"Wait up, beautiful!" A male voice said behind me.
Over my shoulder, I saw a group of five men approaching me. They all looked to be in their late twenties. Each of them wore a mix of thrift shop clothes and neon pants. As they got closer, their tee-shirts were visible. Each shirt had two snakes pointed at each other in black.
The new gang that had bothered Whisper.
Maybe they gave out t-shirts for every friend you brought at sign up. Wondering if one of them had been the piece of crap at the Dhalaights, I felt the red creeping up on me.
However, to find out I needed to talk to this group of intrepid males. They could be the neon dancers. So, I waited while they came up to me, flexing my fists.
One of them whistled, circling me. "So, are looking for a good time, sweet thing?" He was wearing a shiny grill on his upper teeth and had two tattooed stars by his eye. Like the attacker in the parking garage, this man looked to be someone who’d served time in prison and on the streets.
"So you guys are Serpents?"
The men all laughed. The man stopped circling me. "We can help you find a good time."
Streaks of scarlet started to paint the outside of my vision. I looked at him and said, "You peddle labyrinth?"
He moved towards me and said, "How about you come with us, and we will get you everything you need."
"You guys work over by the Dhalaights?" My hands clenched and unclenched.
"No. We stay in this area. Over by Westler's is the younger snake's turf. But we have all sorts of fun, baby. Even some magic.” He leaned in. I smelled the whiskey and rot on his breath. "Magic that will make you want it so bad."
That sounded like labyrinth.
"Come party with us, baby," he said and pulled me towards him, grabbing a breast.
I head-butted him hard enough he fell to the street with a cracking sound. The other four moved to get out weapons.
Crimson consumed me. Moving faster than they could expect I lowered myself, using my shoulder, strength, and momentum to shove one of them into another. Bones made crunching noises on impact. The two fell to the ground, and a muffled shot went off.
Turning to face the other two, I saw the shadow unfolding behind them.
It writhed, every inch of its blackness twisted in movement. It held out a large taloned hand and picked up one of the attackers, while tendrils wrapped around the other. The flaking tentacles circled around his torso, trapping his arms, and some on his face over his nose and mouth. He turned dark in the face as his eyes bulged. The man in the nightmare's hand screamed as he was lifted towards the yellowed maw.
"Always a feast around you, unchild!"
The red bled from my vision. "Run!" I yelled at the men getting up.
The men stood up, each pulling out a gun. They shot at the Shadowed Man.
The bullets had no effect and disappeared inside the beast. Metallic laughter echoed on the street.
I turned to my car, running.
The Shadowed Man. I almost stopped. I couldn't leave the humans. Looking back I watched as the creature pulled arms off of one man while he bit one of the men in his grasp in half. Two of the men still shot at it. Inky trails wrapped around them pulling them closer to death.
I opened the car door, starting it before my ass touched the seat. As I drove, I put on my seatbelt. My body shook so hard the steering wheel creaked.
It had found me. Again.
It had killed again.
And I'd been as useless as the bullets. Voices and images threatened to overwhelm me.
I screamed as I drove. Breathing too fast, I started to feel lightheaded.
Julie shouted, You failed us!
"It is over. This is now."
My eyes searched for Brad. He wasn't here.
Focusing on the present, I fought the time slip. The steering wheel under my bare hands was cold. The holiday music on the radio seemed so quiet.
Red sneakers in a maw of jagged yellow teeth.
Shaking my head, I focused on the streets sounds, the traffic signs, and the feel of the car's seat.
Trying to steady my breath, I said, "This is now."
Whenever anything truly bad happened to me, I compartmentalized. I'd take out as much as I could handle, and put the rest away to deal with later. Boxing it away.
For the most part, everything that had happened with Max had been boxed up. Normally memories and scenes from the night on the lake flickered in my mind like a broken film on repeat.
Now, the images of that night and the more recent victims of the Shadowed Man were in a constant play and rewind.
I hadn’t wanted to remember everything with Max. I’d wanted to preserve some part of that time as pure. I just wanted somewhere to belong. Somewhere to say, this is home.
Return to me, Max's voice whispered.
I shivered harder. Cracks appeared on the wheel.
Turquoise eyes filled with lust beckoned me.
Kian's eyes. Max's.
The echoing screams in my mind faded as I focused on driving. My hands shook as I took a corner too fast. I narrowly dodged hitting a parked car.
I remembered Max completely now.
Kian and Max were not identical, but close enough. Their faces and bodies were so similar, they could be brothers. Fraternal twins even. It seemed like a huge coincidence.
Meeting two gorgeous men, with the same odd eyes. Both around my current age at the time. And both really interested in me. Hugely coincidental.
I don't believe in coincidence.
I started to feel ashamed. I'd thrown myself at Kian, and then I'd backed off due to my egotism. What kind of desperate fool was I?
But how were his eyes Max's?
Max, the man who a part of me had hoped escaped death. Although, on darker days, I hoped he was burning in hell.
I glanced in the rearview mirror. Nothing chased the car.
I slowed down and pulled over. I used my compact and examined the marks from Kian on my neck. It was slightly red with teeth impressions; a deep hickey.
My fingertips touched it, and the scent of lilies and rain filled me. I burned remembering Kian’s touch. My eyes closed and I felt his hands on me. Dream and reality blended as I remembered his kisses. The sounds of his laughter as I ran away had me returning to the present. The marks would heal.
They had to.
Chapter Fourteen
The day job had been alright. Roth had been out of the office for the day. I had been alone in a roomful of old paperwork. It was tedious work, deciphering old handwriting and typing it into a database. I'd gotten a lot done, even with my mind constantly returning to thoughts of Kian and Max.
I'd returned to the apartment mentally exhausted. Brad was nowhere to be found. I turned off the television and got ready for battle. If Brad returned while I was away, he'd have to make do without his shows. I'd wanted Brad with me when I went to face Kian. However, it looked like I was on my own. I'd been running from too many things lately. If I didn't face Kian and get answers now, I wasn't sure I ever would.
I put my hair in a tight chignon, with no loose strands. Lingerie that was scarlet red and barely there. A matching snugly fit dress, which looked like a vamp dress from the fifties, was my best weapon. A pair of bright matching six-inch heels lifted me up enough to no longer be cranking my neck up at Kian. He probably still had me beat by a few inches, but it would help me feel less small and weak.
I put on dark eyeliner, mascara, and ruby lipstick. Large gold cuff bracelets and gold and ruby earrings made perfect accessories. No coat or crossover bag, but a red clutch with thick gold links completed the look.
The bouncer at The Baltic was different than the night before. He let me in as I approached. No cat calls this time, just who-is-that whispers. It is amazing what the right makeup, attitude, and clothes can do.
As I entered the warehouse, a male employee came over. He wore a navy suit over his bulk and s
miled slightly as he held out his arm.
I put a hand on his thickly muscled arm.
"This way, Miss Grant." He escorted me up the VIP stairs and to Kian's office. Interesting. Was Kian watching for me? Waiting for me to come back?
The large man pressed a button on the security panel, "She's here."
The door made a clicking noise, and the man pulled it open.
I entered and drew a deep breath.
The metal door shut with a small click. A second later a loud click sounded. My palms grew wet. Was that a lock? I bit my lip and took in the room.
The office looked the same. Kian's back was to me as he observed the river out of the window in his office while smoking a cigarette. He had on a dark green shirt tucked into black dress pants, which showed off his trim waist. His feet were bare. I chose to stand and walked up beside him.
"Hasn't anyone told you that smoking is deadly?" I asked.
"Many things fun are." He turned his head. After looking at me up and down, he said, "That suits you much better." His gaze continued to explore my body.
My expression remained one of disinterest, but I could feel the heat on my cheeks betray my embarrassment.
"So, red. Isn't that I'm-ready-to-fuck in girl code?”
Raising my eyebrow, I said, "I came to ask you questions."
He turned away from me and went to his desk's chair. He put out his cigarette and sat down. "This again?"
I walked over to the front of his desk, and stood in front of him, which forced him to look up to meet my gaze. Crossing my arms, I said, "I want answers."
He leaned back and got up from his chair. He came around the desk so that I had to turn around to face him. My back was now to his desk. Stupid power plays.
I kept my face neutral.
"What is it, Dianna?" He leaned in. He put his hands on his desk, trapping me between them. His body wasn't touching mine, but I could feel the warmth his body exuded.
I uncrossed my arms. Licking my lips, I pulled my eyes from the opening in Kian’s shirt to meet his gaze.
Even leaning, he was taller than me in my heels. We hadn't touched yet, so I was fine. "I want to how you were in my dreams. How did you mark me? Why do you look like Max?"
He leaned in, "Your lover?"
"My first love."
He smiled and touched his forehead to mine, "Mmm. It sounds like we are destined, Dianna."
I moved back and bumped into the desk.
Kian leaned in closer and kissed the mark on my neck. His lips made my skin tingle, and my thoughts became foggy.
Stopping myself from leaning into him, I pushed him away.
"So, you dream about me?" The muscles under his shirt rippled as he moved back without budging his hands.
"I need to know."
His hands stayed on the desk. He leaned in, forcing my hips to press into his.
"Choose me.” His tongue licked my neck, leaving a scorching trail. He bit down lightly, and I shook at the thought of the same heat caressing more intimate places.
Pressing into his body, my hips moved of their own accord.
Moaning, I grabbed his shirt to push him away. My voice came out shaky and soft, "Please, Kian."
He licked my neck before kissing the tops of my breasts, pushed upwards from the bra and dress. A trail of heat followed his gifted tongue, and my breasts began to feel heavy. My head fell back, and my hair came loose as his hands threaded through my hair, pulling out the pins holding it in place.
My chest thrust at him. Kian ground our hips together as he grabbed my hair so he could take my mouth. He guided my hips, while his mouth and tongue bruised my lips.
I needed something important, but my thoughts shattered as he backed away to rip the dress open at the front. Gasping in surprise at his strength, I pushed at his chest to move away.
My strength did nothing; it was like pushing at the base of a mountain. Kian grabbed the sides of my thighs and pushed them apart. Quickly, he pressed his body against mine. His arousal pushed at his dress pants. Everywhere we touched sent waves of ardent pleasure through me.
He kissed my breasts through the lacy red bra sucking at them. Friction from the fabric had me moaning and twisting in his arms. His heat was perilous. It made my skin tingle in response, and my body went limp.
His strong arms roughly pushed our bodies firmly together. His mouth crushed down on mine, while his tongue once again demanded a response from mine.
His hands held my hips as he continued to grind against me. Pressing into him, I cried out into his demanding mouth.
He tasted like fruit and smoke. The smell of lilies and rain filled the room.
I wanted to touch him too. My hands caressed his chest, touching a nipple. His body shuddered. The hands on my hips tightened before he removed them.
My breasts were freed as he pushed down my bra. I desperately tried to match his kisses and the pace he created.
He tore off his shirt while kissing me. His hands moved over my breasts, holding them, and moisture started to form between my thighs.
I reveled in the feeling of his calloused, long fingers playing with them. He slightly twisted my nipple on one side while squeezing the other breast. The breast was slightly too big for even his hands. His head lifted. His turquoise colored eyes burned into me.
Scarlet slashes from my lipstick covered his mouth. "Dianna," he said.
Bending down he took a nipple into his mouth. Nipping at it, he caressed my sides as his hand moved lower. His long fingers rubbed against my panties. My insides clenched in response and soft cries escaped my lips. Arching into him to keep the sensation going, it allowed his mouth to take my nipple deeper. Kian moaned in response. His eye's irises were shining at me, lighting his face in a greenish glow.
My breath came out unsteady as I touched his dark hair. Velvet black stands wrapped around my wrists. The scent of Kian's arousal hit me. Rain and lilies were still present but so was something else. Something musky and mysterious.
I grabbed at his shoulders as he moved up to kiss my neck.
Kian kept licking and nipping while his hands massaged my passage. His hands tightened on the outside of my thighs. The movements of his lean form were graceful. Strong arms flexed as he lifted me up, his hands holding my rear.
My arms grabbed his neck. Our bare chests pressed against one another. It was like a vise of desire tightening inside me.
"Kian."
His eyes were fiery as he whispered, "Say my name again."
"Kian." I got it out before cries overtook me. I arched against him as he moved us to a couch; desperate for his heat.
"Give yourself to me," he said as he put me down on the sofa. His husky voice held that strange accent.
My body begged for release. Touching and being touched by Kian made me feel like I would combust and not care.
His long fingers lingered on the top of my lacey underwear. He caressed the skin next to it.
A loud buzzing noise sounded from a computer on his desk. Kian scowled. He moved and grabbed his shirt from the floor. He handed it to me.
Every part of me wanted him. I reached for him, moaning. "Kian." Whatever the buzz was could wait.
His voice was low and husky, "Put it on. We have company."
Trying to catch up with my emotions and what was going on. I was desperate to continue what we started. My phone started vibrating and ringing. Pushing up to a sitting position, I drew a shaky breath.
Kian helped to put my arms in the sleeves of his shirt. The shirt almost went to my knees. His hands on my arms had my knees giving out. Groaning he started to kiss me. The flavor was intoxicating. My hands went to his shoulders as he put his around my waist.
He picked me up and opened the door off of his office, which I'd mistakenly assumed was a bathroom on my first visit.
The room was actually a decent sized bedroom, dominated by a large floor bed with pillows. Tropical plants took up the sides of the room, encasing the area in a jungl
e setting.
Kian put me on the cushions on the floor, resting my head on a pillow. Pressing his body onto me, he rubbed against me. I lifted my hips, and he moaned. He swore and ravaged my mouth before pulling away.
"I have business for just a moment, Dianna. The bathroom is over there."
He stood up. His muscular chest and abdomen were bare. His naturally tanned skintone had some hair on it. His nipples were the same rosy color as his lips. He opened the bathroom door, and I heard water running and then stop. Kian was wiping his face off with a washcloth.
He tossed it at me, and I caught it. He went to his office and gathered the rest of our scattered things.
He stood towering over me as he straightened his pants, "I'll be right back."
I tried to stop from squirming at the thought. Watching Kian’s long body leave was hard. His trim waist, bare torso, and bare feet made me want to jump on him. He had some odd tattoo on his right shoulder blade, but my gaze drifted admiring his back's muscles. He closed the door and went to deal with whatever the buzzing had been.
Lying on the floor, my breath still shook. I closed my eyes still lost in the lust Kian instilled. The scent of him on the shirt had me writhing and waiting for him seemed hard. How long would his business take?
I held my arms across my body and tried to calm down. It was taking too long. The effects of our making out started to fade, and the small-town girl in me started to blush and wonder what the hell I was doing.
Kian wasn't my date, let alone my boyfriend. I wasn't even sure I liked him. I mean, I liked his body and his magical tongue. And his fingers.
I shook my head. I sat up. The scents of tropical flowers filled the room. Looking around, I started to question myself. I came here to confront Kian. To find out how come he looked like Max, to ask about the dream and bite marks. Instead, we almost had sex. In his office.
Part of me was mortified. The other part of me wanted to give in. I was an adult. Why not have sex? Why shame myself?
I headed for the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, I couldn't believe it. My lips were puffy, and the lipstick was all over them and part of my chin. My nipples were visibly erect under the baggy shirt, and a huge hickey was on my neck. Re-wetting the washcloth, I wiped off the lipstick and then used hand soap and water to get it off. Richly hued lipstick was notorious for being the devil to get off your skin.
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