Redeemed In Shadows

by Tigris Eden

  “Petal,’ he whispered against her forehead. “ What’s wrong, you look heart broken.”

  Her heart was breaking, for her family and all the hurt she was sure to put Draven and even Belinda through once she carried out her plan. There was no help for it now. Her family, although whole as only in a temporary state of bliss. She’d felt they were at a stage in their life where things were almost perfect, even as they were trying to track down the Sahidic. But they weren’t. Enri could come in and clearly rip the Band-Aid off whenever he wanted, unleashing complete and utter devastation to her world.

  Jes wrapped her arms around her mate burying her face in his neck. Everyone and everything that mattered to her was in the room with her. She loved her friends and other family members, but the two people in the room and the child she carried, that was life. Her whole life. When she looked up past his shoulder, she saw the cloaked figure she’d been seeing. It was a woman, she could tell by the hands that rested folded in front of her. When the robed figured finally lifted her head, Jes tried not to cry out at the sight of the face in front of her. Her breath hitched as a quiet gasp shook her body. To see eyes like hers and facial features so alike, there could be no mistaking who the figure was. Odessa.

  “What’s wrong Petal?” Draven squeezed her to him.

  Jes buried her face into her mate’s neck once more, trying hard not to cry. The face under the hooded robe was her, or it would be her. At least that’s what she thought she’d look like if her life didn’t take a turn for the better. What she saw was a complete lack of emotion and withdrawal from life. She’d hoped that Odessa revealing herself was for reassurance and not because she was due to face yet another threat. She knew life wasn’t easy, but for her it had been one nightmare after another. She deserved happiness and she would fight for it. The only people she wasn’t willing to sacrifice for it were her family.

  

  Xee woke to a sound coming from the hall. She was still in the H.I.V.E. It was getting late and because Gabe hadn’t returned, she did a perimeter sweep and checked in with the team before shutting down. It was almost midnight. She couldn’t remember what she’d done from the time Gray had threatened her and from the time she woke up in the communications room. She needed to figure out why she was blacking out or sleeping. Whatever she was doing it was messing with her sleep. Confusion clawed at her memory as she tried to recounting the past events. How did she fall asleep, why wasn’t she upstairs in bed, or had she gone to bed but come back down to the H.I.V.E, only to repeat the same tasks?

  Xee made it to her room without incident. Closing the door, she peeled off her clothes and made her way over to the bathroom. She made sure the water was scolding hot before she stepped in.

  “Micah, you think we’re going to find the Sahidic?”

  “Yeah, eventually. I have no doubt in my mind.”

  Well, at least he was being optimistic.

  After the shower, she threw on a tank top and another pair of boy shorts. It had been two days since the Gabe experience, as she was now calling it. She could still feel echoes of his kisses and the touch of his hands. Everything on her ached to experience that type of closeness again. With women, she was harsh and demanding, brutal in her exchange for sexual satisfaction. With Gabe, she gave over to his wants and catered to his needs. He made her feel sexy, beautiful even.

  “Poetic much?” Micah laughed in her head. He’d always made her feel bad for expressing her feelings even if it was just the two of them. Ignoring him, she climbed into bed pulling the sheets up to cover her body.

  It wasn’t until much later; she felt the heat of a warm hand sliding the sheet down her shoulder past her waist. Fresh rain drifted into her senses and she knew, knew she was dreaming. There was no way he was in her bed after he’d said they’d only have the one night.

  Warm lips glided across her hipbone down to her thigh, creating good bumps across her skin until she shook with need.

  “Blossom,” Gabe’s lips whispered against the inside of her thighs, making her squirm and moan his name as she turned fully on her back. His blond hair tickled her legs as his mouth latched onto her opposite thigh.

  “I thought we said only one night Angel Boy.” Xee said on a breathy moan.

  Gabe’s only response was a growl. His tongue was tracing one of her tattoos on the inside of her thigh, a vine of exotic orchids.

  “Let me in.” he said, pushing her legs further apart. When she spread her legs wide enough for him to fit the width of his shoulders between her legs, he pushed his hands underneath her ass grabbing hold and lifting her to his waiting mouth. His breath fanned her center, penetrating the cloth already soaked between her legs. She could feel his tongue dart out and push against the fabric causing her to jolt forward. She was trying unsuccessfully to get closer to her target, and every time she tried he would back away rubbing his chin along her thighs.

  “I wonder if you’ve been thinking about the other night as much as I have.”

  Yes! Yes, she had!

  “Wonder if I’m consuming your thoughts day and night like you are mine.”

  She nodded her head frantically, unable to speak. She knew then she was dreaming because the real Gabe didn’t sound needy. Didn’t sound chest heavy as if something was constricting his speech. It wasn’t like him at all. His voice was pine tar thick, dense. It settled into the deepest recesses of her gut where it clung to her insides aggressively seducing her body into submission.

  “I want to hear you say it. Tell me you’re just as fucked up as I am and that you want me, you want this.” His hands squeezed her ass and her body melted.

  “I’m fucked. I want this, I want you.” Xee said between breaths.

  “Good girl. Now hold still so I can feast on your pussy. Don’t move.”

  She held still, held her breath as their eyes connected and she watched as he shredded her boy shorts with his teeth. Holy hell that was hot. He didn’t make her wait this time around, his mouth latched on, licking, sucking, nibbling her sensitive flesh until she was drenched in her own lust.. She grabbed the top of her headboard as his tongue and teeth did things to her pussy that she was sure every woman in the world fantasized about, and if they didn’t, well, she’d teach a class so they would all know what they were missing.

  Gabe was voracious in his lust. One of his hands left her ass to join his mouth and tongue as he slid first one finger and then another, twisting, and hooking them at that perfect spot. It had her eyes crossing and seeing double. Mewls of longing slid past her lips and soon those sounds turned to full throaty moans when he touched a spot deep inside triggering her orgasm from her. Her fingers dug into the headboard as she tried to hold tight. Gabe pulled back and to Xee’s astonishment he slapped her clit, not hard but enough to prolong the sensation. A fresh and just as strong release followed closely on the first one’s tail. His gaze cut to her face, his bright eyes alight with mischief.

  “I want your lips around my cock.”

  He pushed his cock into her once, coating his skin before pulling all the way out. Thick and wet with her juices it beckoned her to take a closer look, to taste. Gabe stood from the bed, ready to come to her but she stopped him with a shake of her head.

  “No need to come to me. I’ll come to you.”

  His smile was predatory as he watched her maneuver to the side of the bed where he stood. Heart pounding, she didn’t know the first thing about sucking dick. How were her lips supposed to move, were they supposed to move, or did she just hold still?

  “Don’t worry, I’ll show you how I like it.” Gabe said, vocalizing her concerns.

  Sitting up on the edge of the bed, his cock was in perfect alignment with her mouth. She could smell his musk and her scent. Gone was the smell of fresh rain and in its place was pure unfiltered lust. In its most rare form, it would set a trap for anyone he dared to share in the experience. Lure its captive in until there was nothing to do but drown i
n the potent mixture of his aroma.

  His hand grabbed the back of her neck, slowly bringing her forward. This was it. She was about to suck cock for the first time. He rubbed the head of his penis across her lips and Xee used her tongue to swipe across the salty tip. Her eyes focused on his face as she experimented, first with tentative swipes of her tongue, and again with kisses along the thick stalk of his shaft.

  “Open,” he prodded. The tip of his dick slowly pressed sliding against her lips.

  When she opened, she kept her eyes on his face and watched as Gabe’s eyes closed. His head dropped forward, as his breathing strained. Slow at first as she gently sucked the tip of his cock between her lips. He didn’t move, but allowed her to feel him warm and heavy inside her mouth.

  “Relax your throat. Calm your mind and just feel me,” the sound of his voice helped her relax as he pushed deeper into her mouth. The girth of him was almost too much. He eased in a few more times gliding slowly in and out of her mouth until he was able to go deeper.

  Xee sucked deep for the first time as he pushed forward into her mouth and Gabe hissed, the hand at her neck clenching and unclenching as air was pulled through his teeth.

  “That’s it, suck it slow, take me deep.”

  This wasn’t so bad, Xee thought as he continued sliding in and out of her mouth. His eyes were open, champagne irises glowing in the dimly lit room. His neck muscles flexing, causing glistening rivulets of sweat to slide down his throat. His chest, dotted with perspiration as he continued guiding her. Feeling bolder, she turned pulling back to dislodge his cock from her mouth, before guiding him back in, this time, using her hands at his hips to pull him forward. Gabe moved the hand from her neck and cupped her jaw, stroking her softly as if he approved of the change. Squeezing her thighs together helped relieve some of the pressure that was building in her clit.

  “Faster Blossom. Suck it harder.”

  She did.

  Xee could feel his body tighten beneath her fingers as she hollowed her cheeks and took more of him. His thighs were shaking and she knew it would only take a few more sucks before he was giving her every last drop of what he had to offer. Both his hands were now in her hair guiding her almost roughly. She could feel him swelling, stretching her lips further. When she would have kept going, Gabe quickly pulled back, her lips making a popping sound as he pulled away from her and bent forward, thrusting his dick into his hand furiously as he roared.

  Hot liquid hit her chest and stomach as he emptied himself on her. She didn’t move for fear she’d miss the look on his face. Savage. Beautiful. His mouth open, his eyes screwed tight as he coated her skin. She looked down to where he held himself and tried not to gasp. He was still hard, impossibly hard.

  “I’m going to possess you. Mark you in every way a man marks a woman he intends to claim.”

  Speechless, she could only stare. Where was Micah when she needed him for a witty comeback? Oh yeah, he was in hiding because she was about to get even dirtier with Angel Boy.

  “That’s gonna be kind of hard with you going back to where ever it is you come from.”

  The lust that was clouding Gabe’s eyes suddenly cleared and he began shoving his still large shaft back into his pants.

  “I’m sorry, Ms. Hale. This shouldn’t have happened.”

  Ms. Hale?

  Then he was gone. One moment he was there, then the next he disappeared.

  Ms. fucking Hale? Since when did they become so formal and why the hell was he being polite after he unloaded on her chest?

  “Motherfucker!” Xee screamed.

  She was not some throw away. Who the hell did he think he was? Xee stood and stomped into her restroom jumping in the shower to clean off. Fuck no! She was not going to cry, she was going to fuck him up. Big time!

  Chapter 14

  At least his Angelic powers were coming into play. Acting on instinct had been a huge mistake. One night. They were only supposed to indulge in one night. Instead, he’d left her sullied with his seed, left her on the bed, expectant. She’d wanted more, eager and turned on from sucking his cock. The smell of her still lingered in his nostrils and he could still see her desire glistening on her thighs.

  Damn.

  He needed to get out. Go off base, have a drink, something. Gabe passed Cyrian in the hall.

  Where you off to?”

  “Lotus.”

  Cyrian stopped. Turned toward Gabe’s retreating back and placed a hand on his shoulder.

  “I’ll go with you man. I could really use the distraction.”

  He shrugged, not caring either way as he made his way over to the elevators.

  “Thought you were like Jes’ shadow.”

  “No man. Think of me like her ward. I only have her best interest at heart.”

  Some of what the demon said was true. Most of it was not. He wasn’t supposed to interfere, but needed Cyrian to understand, just how serious he was.

  “I’ll come for you before I come and collect her. She has a purpose; you only serve as a means to an end.”

  The demon broker crossed his arms over his chest, his topaz eyes narrowing in irritation.

  “My death, when it happens won’t be in your hands. Azrael has my card.”

  That was true, but only because his little brother was the collector of dark souls.

  “No matter. There’s are ways to get around that.”

  “We going, or are we pissing in our respective corners?” Cyrian asked.

  Gabe stepped inside the elevator, face front, jaw aching from the smart remark he had on the tip of his tongue. He held it because he really needed a drink and he’d rather not drink alone.

  The Lotus was filled with its usual patrons. Vampiris at the blood bar, Lycans, Shifters, Sun demons and even a few Fallen were in various stages of their vice. It wasn’t unheard of for immortals to hang out with others that were not of the same faction. The Lotus was neutral ground. It served the best elder wine and the hottest dancers.

  “Welcome to Lotus gentlemen. Tea, wine, or cakes?” The woman asked. She was dressed in a floor length silk jade gown, her silver tipped claws glinting in the light. She asked a good question, all three were equally potent, enough for him to forget his current problem. Xee.

  “I’ll have some wine, and for my friend?” He looked over to the other man so that the woman could get his order.

  “I’ll take a girl, and your best cake.”

  The woman bowed, her green dress see through highlighting thick thighs.

  “This way gentlemen.”

  Gabe walked through the entrance and felt his muscles tightened from the perfume that clung to the air. He tried relaxing but the further he walked the more his body resisted the urged to forget. The Lotus was a temporary relief. Here anyone could check their memories at the door, but only the freshly made and the deeply rooted, everything in between held no true meaning. Gabe only came here to forget his past sins. Tonight, he wanted to forget a woman. He couldn’t have her, and he didn’t really know if she was what he truly wanted. It could be just as Ann said, the challenge, the chase. Something that he had to work for.

  Taking a deep breath, Gabe tried immersing his mind into a forgetful haze, but still his mind lingered on the feel of her lips and the look of wanton inhibition in her hazel eyes. Dammit, he was in trouble. There were five stages in the middle of the room in the shape of a palm. Each finger an extension of a palm where female lotus-eaters enticed their patrons in a seductive dance meant to ease a person’s mind.

  There were tables and private booths and Gabe motioned to the hostess that he and Cyrian be seated far away from the stage and in in a private booth.

  “I’ll return with your drink, and for you sir,” she looked at Cyrian. “Your food and entertainment.”

  Lotus had three top floors and three sub-levels with the entrance being middle ground or as it was aptly named, middle realm. The main floor was child’s play, a mingling
ground of sorts, but for those who truly wished to forget, they had six levels to choose from. It was anyone’s guess how bad it would turn out. Gabe himself had never had use for any of the other floors. Once he’d try going to one of the levels of forgetfulness and Aja, the den mother, made it clear that he was never able to forget the thread he’d unraveled. It seemed everyone had been in on his exile at the time, but he knew the den mother had done it for his own good.

  “What are we forgetting tonight?” Cyrian asked, bringing Gabe out of his thoughts.

  “I need a break. What about you?”

  The broker demon sat back on the couch, arms stretched over the back, legs spread and said plainly. “Odessa.”

  “Your club?”

  “No, the woman. Jesminda’s ancestral grandmother who now sits on the Elder Council.

  “Wow, she’s kind of old looking then huh?” Gabe tried to lighten the mood. Cyrian’s love for Odessa was a story most every immortal knew about. Not because it was an epic kind of love, although one could argue that, but because their love almost started a war.

  Elder Angles were forbidden to bare children with other immortals. Humans were the exception and okay to procreate with. Not immortals. Humans diluted the bloodlines, immortals strengthen it. Cyrian had loved Odessa from afar when he was still in service on the Warrior Guard, bodyguards to the Elder Angels. They were bound to protect them as they did their time on Earth. It wasn’t because they were vulnerable per se but because they were sought after to be captured and held by those who would deny them their true purpose. There was discord between the Elders and the Elite Council, both council’s feeling they had a say in what went on in the human realm. Both equally as powerful but none smart enough to understand how fickle humans could be. Some followed their destinies, other’s altered their courses, and because the two councils didn’t see eye to eye, they were constantly bickering amongst each other. Elder Angels were powerful beings. They were just shy of limitless strength, which was the only reason they were able to mate with humans. So when Cyrian had professed his love to Odessa, both sides were in an uproar at their developing relationship. At every core there had to be a balance of good and evil. Immortals argued that this was true of even the Elders and the Elite. The real reason was because of a long ago prophecy that told of a coming of a child with limitless powers that would tip the scales an ultimately destroy any and everything in its path. A child like that was not meant to be born and everyone agreed was equally dangerous. A child that could be used for either side, good or evil. None were willing to take that chance and rules were put in place to ensure it never happened. Faith wasn’t that child, Gabe knew it, and so did the Elder council. She’d been conceived when Jes was still human. It was Jes’ unborn son that was the real problem and Gabe knew that if the Elder Council didn’t step in, the Elite would. But because Odessa was her ancestor and part of the Elder council, he knew she’d been chosen to come up with a solution to their problem.