Sleeping with Monsters

by Hutchins, Amelia

  I started to undo my joggers and then stood upright, grasping on to the wall as my head swam with dizziness. I felt Lucian’s hands touching me as he gently pulled on my shirt, allowing me to lean back against him for support as he removed it. His fingers slid over my hips, pushing the panties down until they were around my ankles. I didn’t face him, knowing I’d be entirely too close to him if I did. Once he’d helped remove my clothing, I continued to face away from him as his heat comforted my battered skin.

  After a few moments, I stepped away from him, touching the cool wall with my forehead as I felt him putting distance between us. The sound of the water being turned on soothed the ache I felt at needing him to touch me. This man, this dark ethereal creature undid me. He unraveled me until I was laid bare to his midnight gaze. He hadn’t just broken down my walls; he’d taken a wrecking ball to them and obliterated them without me even realizing he’d done it.

  I swung my head in his direction, hesitating to move as he did his best to ignore me. I waited until the water had reached halfway before I walked around it and slipped into the watery depths. I sighed deeply as it soothed the aches of the outside wounds. I didn’t bother with modesty; he’d already seen me naked more times than I could count. I slid my legs flat and rested my head against the smooth edge of the tub.

  I stared at Lucian’s back as he lit candles and placed them around the room until it looked as if it was being set for seduction. Once he’d finished lighting them, he dropped what looked like bath bombs into the water and silently went back to the counter. They fuzzed, sending a multitude of tiny bubbles exploding into the heated tub. The moment it spread across my skin, it numbed it.

  “What is in them?” I asked, letting my fingers move through the bubbles.

  “Salts from Switzerland, rosemary, peppermint, and my blood,” he announced as he spun around and tossed some flower petals in.

  “Your blood?” I asked, coming out of the water a little as I stared at the fizzing balls. The petals changed the color of the water as I watched. He pulled off his shirt, which drew my attention to him as he slowly tossed it aside and knelt beside the tub facing me. His smoldering stare ate up the sight of my naked form and then held mine in open challenge, as if I’d try to expel myself from the tub.

  “You’ve had other parts of me inside of you, and yet you recoil from the idea of my blood upon your skin? Need I remind you that when I claimed you, you drank it?” he whispered thickly as he whispered something in another language that caused the candles to leap higher, sending more light into the room.

  “Lucian,” I murmured as my body responded, not caring that it was covered in angry bruises or that my insides were bruised as well.

  “Don’t worry, Lena. Not even I am asshole enough to force this when you’re injured and covered in bruises I didn’t put there. These should help you heal rather quickly, though.”

  “What do they do?” I whispered, ignoring his hooded gaze as his fingers trailed through the pink-hued water that I sat in.

  “The water will heal the outside,” he replied carefully, his stare moved from my body to gaze at me. “I’m sorry, Lena,” he murmured.

  “For what?” I asked, unsure I wanted his apology when I was exposed as I was.

  “For this,” he said, moving faster than I could respond. I was pushed beneath the water without warning. My response was to scream, opening my mouth as I inhaled water into my lungs. My hands grabbed for his arms, scratching him as I struggled to get out from the watery grave he intended to put me in. When that failed, I grasped for the side of the tub, coming up to gasp as water secreted from my mouth as I coughed and sputtered, only for him to climb in atop me and push me back under.

  My lungs were on fire, filling with water. He straddled me, holding me under as I stared at him in horror. I’d trusted him and he was going to murder me with my entire coven just out of reach to help me. My arms grew heavy, and my mind started to shut down when he pulled me out. I grasped for him, wrapping my arms around him as I sputtered and expelled water from my stomach, heaving it out as my body trembled from shock.

  “You’re okay,” he mumbled as he pushed the hair away from my face. I glared at him, pushing him away from me and then shoving him into the water as I held him down. He smiled back up at me through the murky depths as if it wasn’t even bothering him. He stayed there, gazing up at me as no bubbles escaped from between his lips.

  “What the ever-loving fuck,” I uttered as I dipped my head to the water and, before I knew my intentions, I’d placed my lips flush against his and kissed him. He came up, wrapping his arms around me as he deepened the kiss and encircled me with his arms, holding me close against his naked chest.

  My hands slowly slid up his back and buried into his hair, threading through it as I held him to me. We were unnatural to want this…this crazy thing that was happening between us. He was the storm out on the ocean, dangerous and deadly, and I was the idiot in the boat who danced upon those deadly waves, sailing the treacherous sea in chase of the adrenaline rush only he could give me.

  He lifted us up and my senses came rushing back as our lips parted. He allowed me to slide from his body until my feet touched the smooth surface of the tub. He pushed me down and I didn’t argue, didn’t complain as he followed me back into the tub still wearing his pants. He reached for a bottle of shampoo and turned me until my back was against his chest.

  “How’s the pain?” he asked gutturally.

  “It’s…gone,” I murmured as I struggled to ignore the appendage I felt in his jeans. “You got in the bath in jeans?”

  “You want me to remove them?” he asked, and I shook my head. “Didn’t think so,” he laughed softly.

  “You healed me,” I pointed out.

  “Yes,” he responded carefully. “Don’t ask it,” he started when my lips parted to do just that. “You’re not ready for that, and I am barely holding back the urge to tear you from this tub and bend you over that counter. Now, shut up and let me wash your hair, little witch.”

  He washed it with strong fingers, massaging my scalp as I rested against him as he’d instructed. It was too intimate. The setting was everything a girl could dream up. Candlelight flickered in the dark bathroom and I gazed up, wondering when the lights had gone out or how I’d missed it when they did. Roses mixed with other types of flower petals as they danced on the water’s surface around my knees. His hands were magic as he washed my hair with something that smelled divine. I actually let loose a moan as he continued to massage it, sending pleasure racing from my head to my toes.

  “Did you have to push me beneath the water?” I muttered as I rested my head against him as I peered up into his onyx depths.

  “Would you have allowed it otherwise?” he asked deeply, his deep baritone voice rumbling against my skin. I shook my head, giving him my answer as I watched him lower his lips and place a gentle kiss against them. I swallowed as tears swam in my vision. I could handle anger. I could handle the hate that burned through me. I couldn’t handle this. Not this nice shit, this gentleness from him, not when I wanted to remain angry at him. I lifted my head, moving my mouth away from him as he pulled down another bottle. “Magic is touchy when you use blood. My blood heals; you’re no longer bruised or bleeding inside. Unlike Benjamin’s clumsy attempt to heal you with white magic, I used the magic of my blood. You’ll be fully recovered in the morning, but until then, you’ll sleep with me.”

  “That’s not happening,” I argued as he finished washing my hair and I faced him.

  “It wasn’t a question,” he growled. “Blood magic has a price, Lena, one that I won’t allow you to pay, so you will sleep in my bed,” he purred silkily. “You will be the first woman to ever sleep in it without getting fucked, so shut up, get dressed or don’t. That one is up to you but I warn you, sweet girl, I’m hanging by a fucking thread and it’s abou
t to snap without being able to take what I want. Lucifer is still out there, and he’s made it known he wants you. Every fucking demon is itching to get to you to fall into favor with him. So no, you’re not sleeping alone tonight or any other fucking night, not even claimed.

  “He’s lost his fucking mind in his need for revenge, and I promised you that I would protect you. I don’t break my fucking promises. I won’t force you to be with me, but I didn’t go through months of hell keeping my distance to lose you now. I’ve had Luna and your things brought to my room, so get changed. Seeing you naked is driving me bugfuck crazy and I’m a sinner, and you’re no fucking saint. Us naked, beautiful girl? We’re explosive, and I crave you like a drug addict on a fucking bender in need of a fix. Go get dressed, now.”

  I stood up, ignoring him as his hungry gaze trailed down my body, following the rivulets of water. I stepped from the tub, eyeing the mirror as I took in the lack of bruises, leaving behind only the crude stitches.

  “I’ll remove them when you’re dressed and my cock stops aching,” he hissed from the tub, where he remained seated. “Clothes, Lena.” I grabbed a towel as I darted to the bedroom.

  Inside the room, I dressed in a gown and crawled beneath the covers, waiting for Lucian. Luna jumped onto the bed, scaring me as she fried my already frayed nerves. I petted her thick, midnight coat and tried to ignore Lucian as he sauntered into the room with only a thick white towel wrapped around his narrow hips. He moved to the cupboard and withdrew a pair of sweats. I observed quietly as he tossed the towel aside and then faced me.

  He clucked his tongue and Luna jumped up, mewling as she slunk her traitorous ass over to the edge of the bed before jumping into his waiting arms. He cradled her as he moved to the closet once more, withdrawing a huge velvet bed and setting it in the chair that sat at the end of the bed. She jumped into it, lying down as she started grooming her paws. He deftly moved around the room, putting out water and the expensive as shit cat food.

  “Goodnight, Luna,” he purred as she watched him move to the bed.

  “Thank you,” I whispered hoarsely.

  “For what?”

  “For taking care of her,” I replied. “When I found her she’d been abandoned. She was scared of her own shadow and covered in fleas. I nursed her back to life, and she’s been with me since. You’ve spoiled her rotten, though, and I’m not sure she’ll want to go with me now.” I laughed as Luna mewled in agreement.

  “Do you have any idea how hard it was keeping her from her mother? Anytime you walked in she went crazy. No amount of expensive cat food will replace you in her life. You’re her mother, and I don’t think you realize that you were never alone. The coven watched you; they protected you even when you didn’t know they were. No witch is ever alone in this world. You’re all bonded until death, and sometimes not even death can break that bond.”

  I watched as he pulled the blankets apart before sliding beneath them. His body rippled with masculine power, muscles moved with sinewy perfection as he reached for me. I didn’t fight him, instead letting him pull me close as he whispered words that turned off the lights. In the darkness, I prayed to Hecate.

  I prayed for the strength to do what was needed when the time came. I prayed that he wasn’t what Benjamin said he was, because if he was, I’d fallen in love with a monster from the depths of Hell.

  Chapter 26

  The next few days were a blur of activity as more covens showed up, everything moving faster than I could keep up with. Some had come from as far as New Mexico to find protection with our coven. Each was known to us, which at least made it easier to accept them into the fold.

  I’d steered clear of most of them, ignoring Lucian as well until bedtime. The latter wasn’t as easy since anytime he entered a room, my stomach did a summersault, and my heart sped up a little faster even without seeing him.

  Tonight I was hunting my mother and grandmother down for a conversation I could no longer wait to have with them. Our family had secrets, the kind of secrets that left everything upside down and inside out.

  Moving through the club’s main room, I slowed my pace as I watched Kendra approach Lucian. Her hand touched his shoulder and she giggled as she pulled it back, tucking her hair behind her ear as she spoke to him. I stood there, dumbfounded as she laughed at something he said and then pointed to a booth close to them. Lucian nodded and together they walked to it then slid into the seat on the same side.

  Kendra smiled, leaning her shoulder entirely too close to Lucian as she lifted her lips to his ear, whispering into it. I felt my anger rising as if I had a right to be angry over her getting that close to him, but I didn’t. Hadn’t I pushed him away? My question was: If she’d been battered by Lucifer using Lucian’s image, wouldn’t she be hesitant or uncomfortable speaking to him? Instead, she looked like she was flirting, and he didn’t look immune to it, either. She was flirting with him with my face! Of course he wouldn’t be immune to it, she was me. He could easily go with her and just toss me aside because we were literally the same make and model.

  I was so absorbed in observing them that I hadn’t heard Spyder come up beside me. He pushed me into the corner and laughed throatily as I gasped in shock.

  “Jealous, kitty?” he inquired softly as his thumb captured my chin, lifting my gaze from Lucian and Kendra to meet his instead. I pursed my lips together and began to feed him the riot act when he shook his head. “She isn’t you,” he purred huskily. “He wants your fire, you burn red hot. She’s ice-fucking-cold and boring. Don’t do that jealousy bullshit. You’re better than that. Now run along before more people see you glaring daggers at your twin image.”

  “I’m not jealous,” I lied. I totally was. The pain in my heart ached, and my stomach twirled with a new emotion I hadn’t felt in a very long time. Not since my ex had fucked Cassidy on my own bed.

  “Liar, it’s written in your eyes and the stiffness of your spine. You’re pissed,” he argued.

  “She was taken by Lucifer, and he was projecting Lucian’s image, yet she’s okay with whispering into his ear as her hand strokes his?”

  Spyder paused as his stare turned to look at Lucian and Kendra. Exactly! She seemed cozy with him, and she shouldn’t. Not after what she’d endured. Hell, she barely spoke to me more than to order me about. Lately she’d asked me to take her places, places that we had no business being at. Shit, I’d barely managed to call Benjamin and warn him that she’d suggested we go investigate a cottage close to our house where an enemy may have hidden before the demons had been released.

  She’d changed, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t connect with her. I’d tried to use the mental link—shit, I’d screamed at her through it for hours last night as I lay awake next to Lucian. Nothing, radio silence on her end. Not even the sight of Lucian’s bare chest distracted me as my mind replayed everything she’d been up to since she’d returned.

  “Has she been different since she returned?” he asked, forcing my mind to focus on him. I wouldn’t betray her, not when whatever was going on with her was my fault.

  “No, just forget it. I have to find my grandmother,” I replied as I moved away from him.

  “Does she have a devil’s trap on her, Magdalena?” he asked as he grabbed my arm, preventing my escape.

  “We all do, even Luna has one,” I admitted.

  “You tattooed our Luna?” he asked, and I zeroed my gaze on him. Our Luna?

  “According to what Alden told my mother, not even animals are immune to being possessed,” I retorted. “Furthermore, she’s mine and it’s my responsibility to protect her.”

  “Calm your tits, kitty. Your grandmother is holding her court in the dungeon, with the other elders. I did supply whips and chains so if anyone steps out of line, I’m sure Sarah can handle them easily.”

  I smirked as the mental image played through my
mind. “That’s just wrong on so many levels that I’m not even sure where to start, Spyder,” I laughed.

  “There it is,” he said as he reached up and pushed a stray piece of hair behind my ear. “They should be done soon, and if he doesn’t see through her shit, it will be his own fault, and then you and I? We’ll play cat and mouse a bit,” he laughed as he teased but the heat in his eyes said a totally different story.

  I looked away from him to where Lucian had been watching us together. The look in his angry glare told me he wasn’t happy about it, so I did the only thing I could to let him know I didn’t care. I stood on my tiptoes, kissing Spyder on the lips before I moved away, leaving him with a dumbfounded look and Lucian with a clear message.

  I’d made it to the end of the bar area before Lucian appeared in front of me, and I tilted my head a bit, knowing he hadn’t gotten here by walking.

  “What the fuck was that?” he demanded.

  “You tell me,” I demanded back, crossing my arms as I glared up at him.

  “You fucking kissed him,” he growled.

  “I gave him a peck on the lips,” I replied easily, as if Spyder’s lips hadn’t affected me any.

  “You want to explain why the fuck you did it?” he asked icily, his jaw ticking wildly.

  “You want to tell me what my sister whispered into your ear?” I countered angrily.

  He smiled and grabbed my arm, pulling me into the hallway that led out of sight. Lucian pushed me against the wall and kissed me, hard. When he pulled away, he growled long and hard as he stared down at me.

  “You can keep acting like you don’t want me, but you need me,” he whispered hoarsely.