by Kiersten Fay
After a quick exchange with Lex, the driver handed over his keys without further protest. Had he just used compulsion? Then Lex took the wheel, and Ever Nights was shrinking in the rearview mirror.
She watched him cautiously, not taking her eyes from him as he cruised down the darkened street. The atmosphere between them was thick with something she couldn’t decipher. Tension rolled off him. There was a crease between his eyes and his jaw was clenched tight. Was he angry? With Brian? Or with her? Here she was, forced back into his life. Yet he’d been so gentle with her, sweeping her out of there with no rational explanation on her part.
And though he was stoic, he was still so beautiful to her. The desire to reach out and touch him was all but overwhelming. Finally she looked away, lest she betray her desires. She couldn’t read too much into his actions.
He was just being kind, escorting her home. To be rid of her again? Still, she was grateful for these last moments with him. For this last chance to say goodbye. Perhaps now she could get the closure she’d been desperate for.
“What did he do?” Lex suddenly demanded, his tone a dangerous hiss.
She faced him. His hardened gaze was on the road ahead.
“Engagements are generally happy events,” He prompted. “The crowd seemed to think so. And then his speech—”
Flashing her bare ring finger, she grated through clenched teeth, “We aren’t engaged.”
“I saw him put the ring on you. You accepted him.”
“Don’t believe everything you see through a camera.” When he didn’t reply, she knew she’d guessed right. “How long had you been watching me?”
“Red carpet,” he admitted in a gruff tone, and she released a breath. “I knew you’d be here tonight. Was watching for you. Nearly fell off my chair when I saw you in that dress.” He momentarily took his gaze from the road to rake his eyes down her body.
She swallowed hard. Was that…was that desire in his eyes?
“Then I saw who you were with. I saw you clinging to his arm and smiling. I thought…”
“Thought what?” Hope hung like a weight over her head, ready to crush her, but Lex didn’t continue. “You thought we were back together?”
Curt nod.
“He asked me to come with him as a favor,” she explained. “I thought he wanted to show me we could still be friends. We got along fine on assignment at the mill. If I would’ve known what he planned tonight…”
“Mill?”
“The old abandoned sugar mill. I took some photos for the paper while he interviewed someone.”
“He took you there? That place is dangerous. Seedy people do business there at all hours.”
She shivered, remembering that night with a newfound fear.
Lex went quiet for a moment, his white-knuckled grip on the wheel. “You don’t...you don’t love him, then?”
She scoffed. “After tonight, I loathe him.”
She realized they were already pulling into her driveway. Her gut twisted. Her time was up, and it hadn’t nearly been long enough. She hadn’t said all the things she wanted to say.
“Will he come here tonight? Looking for you?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe. I guess it depends on how serious his proposal was or if he was just trying to humiliate me. If it was the latter, then he succeeded.”
Lex shut off the engine. “He’s the one who should be humiliated. What kind of idiot screws up so badly with a woman like you?”
She blinked up at him, too surprised to respond. And what should she say: You did? Now she wasn’t so sure if that was the case.
At her door, she expected him to say goodnight, and then she would watch him drive away from her again. Instead, he asked, “May I come in?”
“Yes, of course.”
They stood in the entryway for a couple heartbeats. Neither seemed sure of what to do next. Should she offer him something to drink? Was that a weird thing to offer an ex-vampire-lover? Although, maybe not-ex-vampire-lover?
“Can I get you something?” There. That was neutral.
Gazing down at her, he hooked a finger under her chin. Her pulse jumped. When she made no objection, his head dipped, and he took her lips in a tender yet demanding kiss. Fire sizzled in her veins, and heat swirled around her in a heady rush. She knew he would always cause this reaction in her, as if her very atoms had been trained to burn for him.
His hands traveled to the small of her back. The hard planes of his body pressed against the soft curves of hers. Lips pressed together, he muttered, “I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you,” she sighed, deepening the kiss, losing herself to it.
“I want you,” he growled.
“Yes.”
His hard palms gripping her backside, he made a sound of utter pleasure. Her body responded in a gush of warmth, and suddenly all she wanted was to feel his hot skin grappling against hers.
Gripping the silky hem of her dress, she tugged it over her head. His rough palms immediately returned to her backside, now bared but for her black thong. He lovingly caressed her plump flesh with a delicious pressure, and she could feel him growing stiff against her lower belly.
“Are you already primed for me, sweet Little Dove?” His fingers slipping past the lining of her panties. His groan reverberated when he found her slick.
She gasped at his touch. “Take me, Lex.”
Large hands back on her ass, he lifted her so that she could wrap her legs around his waist. Then he kissed her hard and deep, his tongue invading her mouth.
She got the sense they were traveling. Moments later, he sat down on the couch with her straddling his legs. Their kiss grew fervid, almost desperate. She moaned into his mouth. He groaned, lust taking them both to a place of free expression, their bodies doing the talking.
With shaking hands, she reached down and fumbled with his belt buckle, undoing it and ripping the leather from the loops of his jeans. He lifted his body enough to push his jeans and boxers to the floor. While she slipped out of her panties, he shrugged off his shirt.
Back in his lap, her palms worshiped his hard, tanned shoulders, his perfect pecs, his thick arms. She luxuriated in the feel of sculpted muscle under soft skin. In turn, he worshiped her, kneading her breasts and tweaking her nipples till she couldn’t stand the pressure inside her.
“So beautiful,” he said, gazing up at her.
Her skin felt flushed and fevered. She was practically vibrating with need, shamelessly rubbing herself against his engorged shaft.
As if he too could wait no longer, he gripped her by the hips and slammed into her.
“Uhn!” They both cried out in pleasure. Perfection. Bliss and heat and friction, all of it drugging her mind, body, soul.
She fisted his hair, forcing him to look up at her, and suddenly she was not herself. She was a possessive, wonton, furious thing. “How dare you make me wait so long for this.”
“Never again,” he grunted, staring up at her with heat and lust and reverie in his eyes.
Those two words were like a promise and a declaration all at once. They both succumbed to the wild movements of their bodies and sensations that pulled snarls and moans from them both. She moaned to the ceiling while she rode him. His hot lips latched onto one of her tight nipples, heightening her pleasure with each ruthless flick of his tongue. His attention shifted to her other breast, teasing her relentlessly. Then he made a hot, sinful path of kisses up to the delicate column of her neck.
Still the needy wanton creature that she had become, she dug her nails into his scalp and held him to her, a silent command and a desperate plea rolled together. As a part of him was inside her, she wanted a part of her in him as well.
The sharp piercing of her flesh was followed by a wave of ecstasy so strong, she threw her head back on a wild scream. As he sucked her flesh, drawing her blood into him, she flew above the stars knowing only one thing: she was his.
25
Drowsy and sated, Kasima l
ay comfortably on Lex’s muscled chest. They were still on the couch, horizontal and basking in the afterglow. Eyes closed, he ran his fingers through her hair, his other hand tucked behind his head.
She reached up to touch her neck where his fangs had been. She couldn’t feel any evidence of a mark. She’d heard vampires rarely left one if they could manage.
At her movement, he asked, “Did I hurt you?”
“Not at all.”
He smiled then. “You get a little aggressive when you’re needy.”
She felt a tinge of embarrassment over that. She had been quite aggressive, mindlessly so.
“I liked it.”
They spent another few minutes in comfortable silence while nagging questions swirled in her head. She wished she didn’t have to broach the subject of their relationship—tonight had been great. Best night since…well, her last night with Lex—but she needed clarity. Did tonight herald a shift in their relationship? Or was this his version of closure? A final goodbye?
Her chest twisted at the thought.
Never again, he’d grated. At the time, she thought she knew what that meant. It had been so clear in the heat of lust. Now she wasn’t so sure. Never again would he make her wait so long? Never again would they be together?
One thing she was sure of: they couldn’t continue as FWBs. Her heart was in too deep, and this uncertainty was eating her up inside. But she wasn’t ready to broach the subject. If the conversation went south, this could very well be her last moments with him.
“Something on your mind?”
“No. Why?” Apparently she’d been nervously drumming her fingers on his chest.
“You seem anxious.”
“No, I’m fine.” If she told him what she wanted, what she needed from him, would he leave? It felt like a clock was counting down, ready to cut their time short.
He stopped stroking her spine, and pushed to sit up. She scooted back to give him room. “When a woman says she’s fine in that tone, generally the opposite is true. What’s wrong?”
She bit her lip.
Catching the action, he raised a brow.
“I’m just thirsty,” she hedged. “Which I blame on you. All that screaming, you made me do.”
His lips twitched, but he didn’t give her a full smile.
She stood and escaped to the kitchen, filling a glass from the tap. “You want anything?”
She heard the clank of his belt as though he’d slipped on his jeans. Her heart dropped into her stomach. Oh God, is he’s leaving?
Had the clock struck zero?
Setting the glass down, she hurried back into the living room and stopped in her tracks when she saw he’d crossed to her hutch, still shirtless. Some of Spike’s fur must have been sticking out of the drawer because he was now holding the bear up curiously. All the photos she’d developed of him remained scattered at the bottom of that drawer, her obsession on display.
“You stuffed him in a drawer.” There was no inflection in his voice. He glanced down at all the photos, but made no comment.
“I, uh, did. Yes.
“Why?”
She supposed she couldn’t delay the conversation forever. She leaned against the doorjamb and folded her arms under her naked breasts. “It hurt too much to look at him every day.”
“Hurt?”
His confusion inspired her own. “Well, yes, after the way things ended.”
“Ended?”
She cocked her head at him. “What else was I to assume? We were hot and heavy for weeks, and then suddenly you just ghosted. Not even a phone call. And we both know why. Hell, I even understood why. I know we weren’t actually dating, but if you thought I’d—”
He put both his hands up, still clutching Spike in one. “Hold up. I never wanted things to end, and yes we were dating.”
They stared at each other for a long moment.
“You told me you didn’t do relationships. That you weren’t looking for anything serious.”
He ran a hand through his sex-messed hair. “I wasn’t, but…”
“Then we went to the wedding and I...said what I said, and you said you were going to be busy with work, and then you couldn’t even return my calls.”
“I’m sorry about that, but I was busy with work. Cortez and Naia are still on their honeymoon. Cole is a fledgling who needs constant watching. Dane is busy with helping Evie. I was needed to pick up the slack. And I didn’t call you because I was giving you space.”
“I…” She opened her mouth, but that had thrown her. “You were? But why would you think I needed space?”
“You said you loved me, but you didn’t mean it. I could tell you were freaking out because of it.”
“You think I didn’t mean it?” Her voice rose. “Whatever gave you that impression?”
“Because you looked horrified afterward. You ran off to the bathroom like you were going to puke.”
“Yeah, because you looked horrified. Why in God’s name would I say something like that when I didn’t mean it?”
“Because when Naia sings...” He trailed off, choosing his words carefully. “Something happens to humans when Naia sings. Emotions...get carried away.”
There was an undertone to his words that she didn’t understand. Did he think a pretty song made her falsely confess love?
“Trust me,” he added at her disbelieving look, “there’s something, um, magic in her songs. People can’t always be held responsible for the things they do or say when she’s singing.”
That sounded so far-fetched, but Lex sounded so believable. And when she thought back, she had felt a little strange when Naia had been on stage. “So you think because I said it when she was singing that I was just getting carried away? That it wasn’t truly how I felt?”
He shrugged.
Translation: yes.
“I didn’t want to make a big thing of it, if that was the case. I sort of thought I was leaving the ball in your court. That you’d call when you were ready.”
“Lex, I…”
“And to be honest, maybe I too needed some space…I don’t know. Maybe I was a bit freaked out when you said you loved me, but not because you said it, because of how it made me feel.”
Voice but a whisper, she said, “How did it make you feel?”
“Like nothing I can explain. This thing between us, you and me, this is not something I ever expected.” He cursed. “And I nearly screwed things up with you, didn’t I?”
The utter shock from his words kept her from being able to respond.
“When you showed up with him tonight, I worried you’d decided to go back to him. I was going to confront you both. Kenzi, along with several of my bouncers, convinced me not to make a scene. When Brian noticed me, he smirked and kept you turned away. It’s a miracle I didn’t break the line.”
She couldn’t have anticipated such a strong reaction, but now imagined the scene: several security guards holding him back while Kenzi desperately tried to calm him.
“That smug expression made me sure he’d convinced you to take him back. And, as you put it, it hurt too much.”
“I didn’t mean to—”
“But I knew I couldn’t trust my jealousy, so I retreated to the security room, watching to see if you’d show him any affection. If you truly wanted the prick, I wouldn’t get in your way. Then came that proposal, and I could see the crowd was cheering.” He met her gaze. “I’ve never known such pain.”
“It wasn’t a proposal. He didn’t even ask. He just declared we’d get married and then went to make his speech.”
At that Lex cracked a smile. “What a moron. And by that I mean me. If I had any doubt about my feelings before, tonight has blasted them away. I love you, Little Dove.”
Her heart swelled with so much emotion she thought it might burst in her chest. Skirting the dining table, she threw her arms around him. “I am so in love with you.”
Lex held her tight, the moment pure perfection. When he pulled back,
his smile was so brilliant it was like gazing at a setting sun. A little blinding, but unbelievably beautiful, and sizzling hot.
As if she were the weight of a feather, he lifted her in his arms and carried her up the stairs to her bedroom. “Now I’m going to make love to you properly, till neither of us can move.”
What she’d thought of as the worst night of her life was turning out to be her best.
26
They’d made love all night, and well into the morning, till both of them were sated, passing out in each other’s arms. But too soon, hateful sunrays nudged their way past the blinds. The evil sunrise meant she and Lex would be forced to extract themselves from their blissful nest in paradise. As much as she wanted to dig in and hibernate with him for the next month, they still had jobs and obligations. They couldn’t hide from the world forever, tempting as it was. Especially when Lex resumed his tender kisses. At a leisurely pace, his lips made their way around her body, expertly driving her insane with desire.
She was about say to hell with work when her bedside phone rang.
A phone call this early was rare, and she answered it without thinking. “Hello?”
“Kasima?” Brian’s monotone voice came from the receiver.
Lex gave her a wicked smirk and then slipped below the covers. What he did next had her blood rushing and her cheeks flushing.
“Brian! Uh, hi.” She covered the receiver with her hand and tried not to make an orgasmic sound. When she caught her breath, she muttered, “Listen, this isn’t a good time.”
“You left without a word last night. I was worried. Is there something you’d like to tell me?”
“Uh, we’ll talk later, Brian.” She shoved a knuckle between her teeth as Lex’s tongue swirled around a very sensitive part of her anatomy. Pleasure snapped through her, agonizingly sinful.
“Shall I come pick you up for a post-engagement breakfast, then?” His voice sounded hollow. She couldn’t tell if he was pissed or just waking up for the day. Could he really think they were actually engaged after she’d ditched him?
