The Darkest Pleasure

by Gena Showalter

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

 

  MORNING ARRIVED, but the motel room showed no sign of it. Sunlight didn't seep past the taped-together curtains covering the only window and Reyes must have unplugged the clock, because there were no bright red numbers alerting her to the time.

  Danika's eyelids opened slowly. The scent of coffee wafted to her, a summoning finger she couldn't resist, and she eased up. The cotton sheet fell to her waist, baring her breasts to the cool air.

  Shivering, she gripped the material and snatched it up to her chin. All the while her gaze circled the small area. Reyes was no longer in bed. His clothes were gone from the floor.

  Where had he -

  The door opened before she could work up a good steam, finally allowing a flood of bright light inside.

  Danika blinked against it, even held up a hand to cover her now-watering eyes.

  "Good. You're awake," Reyes said, shutting the door.

  Since the light had been successfully chased away by shadows, she allowed her hand to fall to her side, her hungry gaze seeking the man who had given her so much pleasure last night - the man who had not let her give him the same.

  He stopped beside the table, and she noticed he held a small sack in his hand. "Breakfast is on the table. I am sorry the selection is poor, but I shopped here, at the motel, so that I could watch our door and ensure your safety. "

  She tore her gaze from him - hardest thing ever - and looked at the table. A cup of coffee, three candy bars and a bag of chips awaited her. "That's perfect," she said, and she meant it. Not because she liked those items but because he'd gone to so much trouble for her. Her stomach rumbled. "What's in the bag?"

  "A shirt," he said, offering no more.

  What was with him? He was acting distant again, as if last night hadn't happened. Lids narrowed, she swung her attention back to him. Over the past few days, she'd noticed he changed T-shirts at least three times a day. She thought she knew why. He didn't want her to see dried blood on the material.

  To have bought one this morning meant he must have cut himself. Again.

  "Take off your shirt," she told him.

  A muscle ticked in his jaw. He strode to the bathroom, throwing over his shoulder, "Eat, shower, dress. We see your family today. "

  Her heart leapt at the thought, betraying the nervousness she'd denied last night, as well as excitement. Were they happy? Did they miss her as intensely as she missed them? Why had they gotten together and not included her?

  Shoving those questions aside for the moment, Danika catapulted off the bed and raced for the bathroom. Naked, she twisted, spread her arms and clutched the frame, blocking Reyes just as he tried to enter.

  He stopped a whisper away from her. Her nipples instantly hardened, reaching for him. His mouth, his touch. That fragrance of sandalwood that seemed to follow him no matter the time of day or what he'd been doing, enveloped her.

  She licked her lips. "Take off your shirt. "

  His dark gaze locked on her, hot as it slid down. . . down. . . Her skin erupted in those delicious goose bumps, and her legs trembled.

  "You have the most delectable little body I've ever seen," he said hotly.

  "Th-thank you. Now the shirt. You won't be able to distract me. "

  His free hand latched on to the frame, just under hers, as if he needed to hold on to something. The wood cracked beneath his grip, though he tried to maintain a casual expression. "I know why you are so cold all the time. "

  "I said you can't distract me. Besides, I'm not cold all the time. I can recall two instances when I was nearly burned alive. "

  His lips twitched, even while the heat in his gaze intensified. "No, not all the time. "

  "Why, then? Because the air is cold?"

  At her dry tone, the twitching became a full grin. Every nerve ending in her body sparked, shooting her full of electricity and warmth. That smile, oh, that smile. As heady as his caresses.

  "You are a portal to both the heavens and the underworld. " He leaned down. . . down. . . his lips brushed her ear.

  She shivered.

  "At times, your spirit connects with the hereafter, pulling images into your mind. "

  She shook her head in disbelief. "If that were true, I would have been cold my entire life. But I didn't experience that bone-numbing sensation until after I met you. "

  "I must be a - " he closed his eyes for a moment, obviously searching for the correct word " - conduit for you, then. Every time I'm with you, I fly to the heavens. "

  Now she grinned. "That just means I'm a better lover than I ever realized. " First they thought she was some All-Seeing Eye. Now a portal? Hello, I'm just a normal - albeit somewhat insane - girl.

  At least, that was her prayer. She didn't want to be anything more. She didn't want people chasing her for the rest of her - short? - life. She deserved rest and relaxation, damn it. With Reyes. They could travel to a beach, laze on the white sand, and he could pretend to be her massage therapist.

  "With training, you could probably learn to control your visions. Decide where to visit, heaven or hell. Decide how long to stay, who to watch. "

  By the middle of his speech, she was shaking her head. Sweat had broken out over her body, yet the chill had returned to her blood. "I don't want to talk about this anymore. I want you to take off your goddamn shirt!"

  His head tilted to the side, but he didn't obey her.

  Fine. He wanted to avoid the subject of his self-inflicted torture, then she'd give him something worse to ponder. Maybe then he'd beg to talk about his newest wounds. "Listen up. You come when you're with me, but from what I can tell you only hurt yourself a little. Nothing close to what the other women had to do to you. That has to mean your demon is tamer when you're with me. True?"

  He hesitated, his eyes suspicious, nodding stiffly.

  Surprise filled her, because she'd merely been guessing. If the demon calmed for her and no other, that had to mean something was going on. Was she a portal? "If I am the Eye and I am a portal, it stands to reason I would send your demon somewhere when you're inside me. "

  His mouth fell open.

  "I wonder where the demon goes. Who knows, maybe it travels to hell to visit its buddies. Want to test the theory?"

  As if he were in a daze, he staggered backward. "I - I - "

  "This is good news. " She stepped toward him. "Right? You can be with me without fear of destroying me. "

  "I do not dare hope," he whispered brokenly. "You know what happens when people hope. "

  Shit. She didn't have a ready reply to that.

  "You wanted to see my wounds. " There was a heavy pause in which he remained absolutely still. Then he dropped the bag he'd been holding and gripped the end of his shirt. He jerked the material over his head, baring his chest to her view. "Look. "

  Her plan had worked. And yet, she realized she would have liked to continue the discussion. She'd made some excellent points. But then her gaze moved over him and she saw the scabs that covered the entire muscled expanse of his chest, some even marring the butterfly tattoo. They were long slashes and short slices, and all intertwined in a mess of pain.

  "You did this to yourself?" she asked tightly.

  "Yes. "

  Would he ever trust her to help him? Probably not, she thought next, disappointment flooding her. Unless. . .

  One day soon, she would have to surprise him. If she was able to send his demon away, he would not need the pain. What he needed was peace of mind. Only stabbing him would prove that she could hurt him, could meet his needs and not mutate into a pain-hungry little hooker.

  With that in mind, she flattened her palm on his chest and pushed. Though she was strong, he was stronger, and the movement wouldn't have budged him unless he allowed it.

  He allowed it.

  "We're done here," she said, and slammed the bathroom door in his face.

  WOMEN. Would Reyes ever understand them?

  He was do
ing Danika a favor, keeping her from the dark side of his life, yet she'd looked at him with absolute betrayal in her eyes. Even now, two hours later, that expression haunted him.

  What if she's right? What if Pain leaves you when you're with her?

  Did he dare try and confirm such a fantastical thought? Could irreparable damage be done if she was wrong? He just didn't know.

  "Are you all right?" he asked her.

  She nodded. She was unusually quiet as they navigated the Oklahoma sidewalks, doing their best to remain in the shadows of the tall, redbrick buildings and out of the sights of other pedestrians. Cars and trucks buzzed along the road. He hadn't spotted any Hunters, or even anyone watching them too intently.

  "Just a little farther," he said, reaching for her hand. Earlier, Torin had e-mailed him the women's location. They hadn't moved, and they were still together.

  Danika nodded again, her ponytail bouncing. Her features were pale and drawn and she pretended not to notice his hand.

  Reyes hated seeing her like this.

  He dreaded what would happen if - when? - she found that her grandmother had been killed and buried, and that was why the woman hadn't moved. Would Danika rediscover her hatred for him? Would she rail at him or seek comfort from him?

  Would she wish she had aligned herself with the Hunters?

  Dread coursed through him. He should warn her, prepare her. But he opened and closed his mouth, and the words never left him. And then they were standing in front of the targeted building, a dilapidated structure with boarded windows and spray paint marring the brick.

  "I'll go in first," he said.

  "No. " A tremor of. . . dread? excitement? rocked her. "They'll freak when they see you. "

  Reyes cupped her cheeks. Clouds shifted, turning the bright sky to murky gloom. When they shifted again, sunlight tossed a beam directly at her, paying her smooth, flawless skin the homage it deserved. Just then, she practically glowed. She didn't look part of the earth, but something more powerful, something beyond.

  I've had this woman, tasted her.

  His body tightened, preparing to have her and taste her again. Not yet. . . Perhaps not ever again. The demon purred happily, and Reyes didn't know if it was because he wasn't going to allow himself to have her or because there was a chance he would ultimately cave.

  Where had that purr been the last time he'd made love to her? Where do you go when I'm with her? he couldn't help but ask the creature.

  Fires.

  Fires. Hell?

  Sometime soon, I have to let her go. It's for the best, safer. For all the reasons he'd named before and a thousand more. Being with her opened that portal into heaven - which meant he might very well cause her to open the one into hell, as well. Also stood to reason that, if he traveled to heaven, she would be the one to travel to hell. Already her nights were plagued with terrors. She did not need more evil in her life.

  Letting her go, though. . . His hands tightened into fists. One day, would she fall in love with a human who would not hurt her, destroy her or ruin her? A man who would give her children and -

  Roaring sounded in his head. His. The demon's. No man but him would touch her. Not without dying.

  "Reyes, you're hurting me. "

  Instantly his arms fell away from her. He jerked a hand through his hair, no longer having to wonder how the demon felt about her. "I am sorry, so very sorry. "

  She gave him a weak smile, reaching up and tracing a finger down his nose. "Hey, don't worry about it. I'm fine. "

  She seeks to comfort me. I am not worthy of this woman. Though he wanted to push her against the wall, claim her lips with his own, drown in her scent and her flavor, he motioned to the door. "Are you ready to go inside?"

  Indecision played over her lovely features. She lowered her lids, spiky shadows tumbling down her cheeks.

  "What is the matter?"

  "Why didn't they want me here?"

  "They - "

  Reyes caught a glint of movement in the window just above them. Two boards covered two windows yet they didn't quite meet in the middle, allowing a crack of visibility.

  The form he'd glimpsed had been too big to be a woman.

  He'd thought that if the women were still alive, they were merely in hiding. He had not considered the fact that they might have been captured by Hunters. He'd assumed the Hunters would have contacted him and the other Lords if that had been the case, suggesting a trade. So foolish.

  "Danika," he said, gaze searching the surrounding area with new intent. He had to hide her, had to keep her safe.

  Too late.

  The door swung open, revealing three men. Each had a weapon, and all three were pointed at Danika, as if they knew training a gun on Reyes would not have mattered.

  Fury surged inside him, intensifying when Danika gasped in horror. "Oh, my God. "

  "Hands at your sides, demon," one of the men told him, "and step inside. Try anything, and I'll hurt the girl. "

  Hurt Danika? He chewed on the inside of his cheek, purposefully shredding his flesh. The demon stalked and prowled, growling. Ready, Pain?

  Oh, yes. Evil laugh.

  "Danika," Reyes said. "Close your eyes. "

  He didn't look to see if she had obeyed. He simply unleashed his demon.

  THE BLOOD, the carnage, the screams.

  At one point, Danika had to cover her ears with her hands. She couldn't stop trembling. Stupid girl that she was, she hadn't closed her eyes as Reyes had demanded; she'd wanted to help. War was something she'd prepared for - or thought she had.

  Then Reyes had seemed to change from warrior to crazed skeleton in a blink. She'd no longer seen the skin she so loved to touch. She'd seen gnarled bones and teeth so long, sharp and thick they could have belonged to a shark.

  The Hunters had fired their guns at Reyes, but he hadn't seemed to notice. He certainly hadn't slowed. He'd simply devoured them. Even now, he propelled from one Hunter to the other, claws ripping into flesh. Snarls and snaps sounded, eerie, like something out of a horror movie.

  Wide-eyed, she continued to watch, afraid to get in his way. Afraid he wouldn't care who she was and would attack her, too. So badly she wanted to run and hide. Blood already splattered Reyes from head to boot, slicking his hair to his scalp and his clothes to his body. So badly - but she didn't. Her family was inside this building. Were they okay?

  I should have come for them sooner.

  Amid the terrible chaos, she grabbed a fallen gun and rushed past Reyes and through the building. Where were they? She checked the nearest room - empty. The next room - four Hunters were inside, cursing, loading bullets into weapons.

  One of them saw her and aimed his gun at her, shouting, "Filthy demon whore! I don't care what they say you are. " She raised hers, too. They fired at the same time. But the next thing she knew, she was being shoved to the ground, eating dirt, and Reyes was racing past her, a mere blur. A second later, the men were screaming.

  Oh, God. Danika lumbered to her feet, legs nearly giving out. She stumbled forward, determined to continue her search. Reyes hadn't hurt her, had still managed to protect her. She rounded a corner, saw a flight of stairs. Weapon trained ahead, arm shaking, she climbed them two at a time. Another corner.

  Three Hunters, all of them trembling and pale, waited at the end of the hall. They saw her and fired. Just like before, Reyes was there, shoving her down and taking the blows himself. Was he hurt? Oh, God, oh, God.

  He likes pain, remember? He's fine. Her ears rang and her heart raced.

  When she looked up, the men were already on the floor, unmoving. Reyes was nowhere to be seen. Danika scrambled up yet again, racing forward, tripping and falling twice. She knew she scraped her knees, but her adrenaline was so high she didn't feel a thing.

  Down the hall, a woman screamed.

  "Mom!" she shouted, recognizing the voice. "I'm here. "

  "Danika?"

  Another scream.

>   "Danika, baby, run. Get out of here!"

  She ran, not away but forward. A moment later she was standing inside a bedroom, panting, sweating. Her mother and sister were chained to the heating unit. Her grandmother was chained to a bed, both of her legs in a cast.

  Reyes was in the process of breaking those chains, his face still skeletal. He was shaking, bleeding. She should not have doubted him and would not again. Even in this form, he wanted her happy. The women were trembling and kicking at him, but still he persisted. Finally, all three were free.

  Danika rushed to them and fell to her knees, gathering her mother and sister in her arms. Hot tears were flowing down her cheeks, blending with theirs.

  "Danika, he's - he's - " her sister stuttered.

  "I know, I know. Don't worry. He's not going to hurt you. He's a good guy. " Her family was alive. She was with them again, holding them. Shock and pleasure and relief all tumbled through her.

  "I thought you were dead," her mother said through her sobs. "They told me you were dead. "

  "I'm here now. I'm here. " Wiping her face, she let go of them and pushed to her feet. "We will not be parted again. I swear it. I'm just sorry it took me so long to get here. "

  They stood weakly, and together they walked to the bed where her grandmother lay. Tears were falling down her weathered cheeks, as well. Danika clutched the woman's trembling hand in her own.

  "What happened to you?" she whispered, using her free hand to run her fingers over one of the casts.

  "The monster with wings. " Grandma Mallory sniffled. "He found me, threw me down and. . . and. . . " Her chin quaked.

  Danika almost made her granny stop, but she had to know. She covered her mouth, cutting off any words that might try and escape. She nodded to prove she was listening.

  "He could have killed me after I fell, but he didn't. He picked me up and carried me to this building. I think I used to dream of him. I've tried to block those dreams so long they're only mist in a storm now, but I think maybe he saw me during those dark terrors, because he looked at me as if he knew me. I don't know why, but I told him not to relive his past mistakes. He backed away and then he left me. "

  Tears splashed down her face. Dear God. They'd always dreamed for a reason. What could she have avoided if she'd studied her dreams rather than feared them? Didn't matter, she supposed. In the end, Grandma Mallory's dreams had saved her. And there was still time for Danika's to save Reyes, once and for all.

  "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," her grandmother said. "Now isn't the time for that. You want to know how I got here. I couldn't move, was stuck in this building. The bastards with guns had been following me, I guess, because they found me later that day. They already had your mother and sister. "

  Her hand fell, her gaze circling the still crying group. They were pale, with bruises under their eyes. "Were any of you - "

  "No," Ginger, her sister, said. "No, we're fine. For the most part, they left us alone. They fed us, kept us healthy. Apparently they planned to use us to draw out our former kidnappers. "

  Like they tried to use me, she thought angrily. Thank God Reyes had - her gaze circled the room again, not seeing him. Give him a moment to calm down. Enjoy your family. Because in that moment Danika knew, all the way to her bones, that she was going to help Reyes bring down the Hunters once and for all.

  No one threatened her family and lived. And Reyes was her family.