Ravaged: An Eternal Guardians Novella (1001 Dark Nights)

by Elisabeth Naughton

  “Those people don’t know you. I’d say you’re way more sane than I am.”

  He huffed. “You haven’t seen me at my finest.”

  “Yes, actually, I have.” She leaned close and kissed his cheek.

  Her lips were soft and sweet and gone way too fast. And though he knew he shouldn’t, he turned to look at her. “Why did you do that?”

  “To say thank you for stopping me from going after Zeus and his Sirens. I wouldn’t have gotten very far in the snow without a coat. You saved my life, Argonaut. Again.”

  Their eyes held. Heat and electricity crackled in the air, warming his skin all over, sending a rush of heat straight to his belly. He didn’t know if she felt the charge the way he did, but as the firelight danced over her smooth features and she continued to hold his gaze, her eyes slowly darkened and a warm flush grew in her cheeks, telling him she was feeling something. Something dangerous. Something wicked. Something he might not be ready for.

  “Don’t worry,” she said softly. “I’m not going to seduce you to extend my thanks.”

  A wave of disappointment washed over him even though he knew he had no right. But then she leaned close once more, and he sucked in a breath, afraid to move, afraid to hope, afraid to do anything but go stone-still.

  Her luscious mouth stopped millimeters from his own, more sweet and hot and tempting than any mouth had ever been. And in a husky whisper, she said, “I can’t, because you’ve already seduced me.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  Daphne knew she was playing with fire, but she no longer cared. Before Ari could push her away, she pressed her lips to his.

  He tensed against her mouth. Every muscle in his body went rigid. And though she tried to keep it back, doubt rushed in. Doubt that she’d misread the look in his eyes. That he wasn’t attracted to her like she thought. That his being nice to her here was simply that: politeness and not motivated in any way by the same desire she’d been fighting ever since she awoke in this hold and realized the sexy, rugged, wounded Argonaut had saved her life.

  Slowly, she eased back, breaking the kiss. He didn’t speak. Didn’t move. Just stared at her with those mismatched eyes that seemed to flicker just like the firelight. And in the silence her mind tumbled for excuses, for something she could say to ease the sudden awkwardness. She was a nymph, trained in the art of seduction by Sirens. Awkwardness wasn’t supposed to happen to her. But then he wasn’t supposed to happen to her either, and here she was, hoping for something that had absolutely nothing to do with her mission. Wanting—

  “Where do you think you’re going?” His arm snaked around her back and pulled her in close to the heat of his body. “That wasn’t nearly enough.”

  Daphne drew in one quick breath before Ari’s mouth closed over hers, but relief filled her lungs, seeped into her body, and made her more lightheaded than any wine. She opened instinctively, drawing his tongue into her mouth, groaning at the sweet, masculine taste of him filling her senses. His lips were soft, his mouth wet and alluring, and when he leaned closer and kissed her harder, she knew she was lost.

  She let go of the blanket, pressed her hands against his chest, then shifted her weight and straddled his hips. The blanket fell to her waist. He didn’t break the kiss, continued to nip and suck and lick like he couldn’t get enough. Inching forward, she slid her fingers up his pecs then across his soft, scruffy jaw. His hands found her waist, tugging her even closer. His mouth turned greedy beneath hers. Hot. Wild.

  Settling herself on his lap so she could rub against his rock hard erection, she let him take the lead, wanting only to taste him deeper, to feel him everywhere.

  “Daphne.” He pulled his mouth from hers and pressed kisses along her jaw as he swept his rough fingers up her back. “Daphne,” he whispered again before nipping gently at her earlobe.

  Desire enflamed every inch of her skin. She groaned, tipped her head back so he could trail his wicked teeth and tongue down the length of her neck, rocked her hips against the thick line of his cock straining to be set free.

  He flattened his hands against her shoulder blades, trailed his lips down her neck and across her upper chest, then pressed forward with his forehead, forcing her to lean even farther back. “I know I shouldn’t, but, gods, I want you.”

  She lifted her head. Watched as arousal danced across his flushed features. Wanted only that and more. Wanted to see him on the edge of control, like she was now. “Then take me.”

  His mismatched gaze slid back to hers. Held. Didn’t once waver. And the way he watched her, as if she were the only thing he ever wanted, only made her heart beat faster in anticipation. He looked back down at her breasts. “You don’t know what you’re offering.”

  Oh, yes she did. Suddenly, she knew exactly what she was offering. And it had nothing to do with Zeus or the Sirens. It had only to do with him.

  Capturing his face in her hands, she tipped his eyes back up to hers. “I know exactly what I’m offering. You’re not the monster people say you are, and I’m not afraid of you. If I was, I wouldn’t be here now. I wouldn’t be wet just from the thought of you.”

  A growl rumbled from his chest, one filled with lust and hunger and need. Sliding his hand up her back to cradle her head, he pulled her mouth toward his and devoured her. She moaned and kissed him back. His fingers found the blanket at her waist and yanked. Then he rolled her onto the plush sheepskin rug and climbed over her.

  Yes, yes, yes... Her legs fell open as he licked into her mouth. Her hands trailed to his shoulders and thick arms. He pressed kisses down her neck again. Kisses that made her hotter and wetter, and she arched her back, offering more, wanting everything. Gripping the fabric of his shirt, she pulled, needing heat, wanting skin. He eased away long enough so she could tug the shirt over his head, but when she reached for the snap on his jeans, he captured her hands.

  “Not yet.” His bare chest grazed her oversensitized nipples as he pinned her wrists to the floor above her head with one hand. “I’m not done exploring.” He let go of her wrists, his lusty gaze scraping every inch of her skin, making her strain for his touch. “Don’t move these. Or you’ll regret it.”

  It was a warning, not a threat. And she hadn’t lied. She wasn’t the least bit afraid of him, not after the way he’d saved her life, healed her, and tonight shown her more compassion than she ever deserved.

  A smile pulled at her mouth, and she wriggled against the carpet as his fingertips grazed her ribs and skimmed across her hip. “How will you make me regret it?”

  He laved his tongue over her right nipple. “I won’t let you come.”

  Her eyes slid closed. She arched against his wicked mouth as he did it again. Was already so close she was pretty sure he couldn’t stop her.

  His hand drifted across her thigh. The softest touch between her legs made her groan and lift her hips. “Oh, do that again.”

  He moved to her other breast, licked and laved, applied more pressure between her legs and swept his thumb over her clit. “Like that?”

  “Yes.” She rocked against his hand as he teased her breasts, desperate to feel him inside. “More.”

  He released her breast, slid down her body. “More here?”

  The first swipe of his tongue along her steamy center sent tingles all through her body. The second raced along every nerve ending until she trembled. He licked and suckled, devouring her like a feast, and when electricity raced down her spine, she grasped his head and arched up to meet his tantalizing tongue.

  He pulled away just before the orgasm hit. Gasping, Daphne reached for him, but before she could touch him he flipped her over, wrapped his arm around her waist, and lifted her hips off the rug.

  “Stay there.”

  Daphne’s hands landed against the carpet, and she pushed up, but his palm landed against her shoulder blades, holding her down. “I said stay there. You have trouble listening to directions, little nymph.”

  There was humor in his voice, and a hunger that super
charged her arousal. Fabric rustled behind her, telling her he was finally losing his clothes, and just knowing he was nearly naked sent white-hot excitement pulsing through her veins all over again. Curling her fingers in the rug, she pressed her cheek against the carpet and held her breath.

  One bare knee nudged her legs apart. His fingers slid through her wetness again, making her groan. “Do you want more, little nymph?”

  “Yes,” she panted. “More.”

  He pressed his thumb against her clit. “How much more?”

  She bit her lip to keep from crying out. Her fingers tangled tighter in the carpet. “You. I want you.”

  The thick head of his cock pressed against her opening. They both groaned as he filled her, at the tight slide as he drew back, at the friction when he plunged deep once more. His fingers dug into her hips. She braced her forearms against the carpet as she pressed back against him. They picked up a rhythm, one that made her see stars, one that pushed her closer to her release.

  “Gods,” he groaned. “This is how I imagined you.”

  His large hand slid up her spine and into her hair. Knowing he’d fantasized about her made her that much hotter. Her climax screamed toward her. White light flooded her vision. She opened her mouth to cry out. But just before she reached the peak, his hand closed around her hair and pulled. Not hard enough to hurt, but enough for a sharp sting to echo in her scalp and shoot down her spine, keeping the orgasm hovering just out of her reach.

  “Not yet, sweet thing.”

  She gasped. Groaned. Rocked back into him, wanting more, needing everything. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her upper body away from the carpet until her back was plastered to his chest. Letting go of her hair, he trailed his wicked hand down her chest and over her breasts.

  “Wait for me, Daphne.”

  Sweat drenched Daphne’s skin. She couldn’t find the words to answer as he plunged inside her. All she could do was grip his forearm and brace her knees against the carpet.

  “Just a little longer,” he breathed against her, “and it’ll be so good.”

  His fingers slid down her belly and into her wetness. She dropped her head back against his shoulder and groaned with every thrust, with every flick of her clit. He grew harder, pressed deeper, reached places she hadn’t known existed. And when he drew her earlobe into his mouth and suckled, when he hit that most perfect spot, the orgasm she’d been chasing crashed into her and exploded.

  He buried his face in her neck and kept thrusting while she rode the pleasure, driving deep again and again and again. Electricity raced down her spine, through her sex, and then it was there, another blinding orgasm, consuming her, dragging her down, making her melt. He whispered frenzied words she couldn’t make out. His thrusts grew faster, harder, longer. And then he plunged deep and held, spilling himself inside her and quivering with his own release.

  Daphne fell forward, the soft carpet almost painful against her sensitized skin. She turned her face toward the fire, dragged air into her burning lungs and tried to catch her breath. Ari’s sweat-slicked skin slid along her back, then he collapsed next to her, struggling for his own breath as he wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her back against him.

  She didn’t fight the tug, didn’t have the strength, didn’t want to. His chest pressed against her spine, his hips to her ass, and though his flesh was hot, kicking up her body temperature, she didn’t care. She liked the way he fit against her. Liked the way he held her. Liked the things he could do with his wicked hands and tongue and that super sexy hero body.

  “You...are...a surprise...little nymph,” he said in ragged breaths. “A very pleasurable...surprise.”

  He was too. A delicious surprise she never expected. She had no idea what she was going to do next, but she knew for certain that she wasn’t finishing her mission or going back to the Sirens. And no matter what, she wasn’t letting anyone else finish it either.

  Smiling, Daphne reached for his hand at her waist and drew it to her mouth so she could press soft, wet kisses against his fingers. Sliding her tongue along his index finger, she drew the digit away from the others, closed her lips around the tip, and sucked.

  He groaned behind her and pressed his awakening erection against her ass. “A very wicked surprise.”

  Daphne’s lips curved around his finger before she let go. She shifted around and looked up at him. “You like wicked? I can be wicked.”

  Sitting up, she pushed her hand against his shoulder and rolled him to his back. A lusty, heated grin curled his mouth as she climbed over him. His hands landed on her hips. “I’m almost afraid to ask what you have in mind.”

  She settled on his lap, then braced her hands on the ground near his head and leaned forward. “Everything. I have everything in mind for you, warrior.”

  His smiled faded. He slid his hands into her hair as his gaze skipped over her face and he looked at her, really looked at her, as if seeing her for the first time. And though she couldn’t read his expression, she knew he was as moved by all of this as she was. And that something important had happened here tonight. Not just sex, but a connection. One that had the power to change everything.

  “Show me,” he whispered.

  She leaned down and kissed him. And planned to do exactly that.

  * * *

  Wind howled past the windows of Stonehill Hold, but the chill didn’t reach inside. Wrapped around a sleeping Daphne on the carpet in front of the hearth, Ari stared into the dying fire and watched wood crumble to ashes.

  A pillow was tucked under his head, and a blanket covered their legs, but the warmth Ari felt came directly from Daphne, snuggled against him, her head resting on his bicep as she faced the fire, her hand clutching his at her waist. He knew he should wake her, carry her to the bed where she’d be more comfortable, but he didn’t want to move. Moving meant he had to think, and thinking was something he was trying to avoid. Because thinking meant facing reality. And reality was hard and cruel and deadly.

  The charred log slipped and fell into the smoldering coals, sending burning ash into the air. Ari watched a flake float and cool, turning from red to gray and finally white powder as it hit the stones of the hearth.

  “Duty crumbles to ashes in the fires of love.”

  Daphne’s voice echoed in his head. She was wrong. It wasn’t love that destroyed duty, it was lust. Lust was the true deceiver, messing with the mind, fooling the heart. Lust for a female who’d never truly wanted him had destroyed everything Ari had held dear. And now, if he wasn’t careful, lust had the power to destroy another life. Not his this time, but Daphne’s.

  He looked down at her sleeping against his arm, watched her eyelids flicker, and wondered what she was dreaming about. Wondered if she was dreaming of him. Her skin was like alabaster, her hair a warm mahogany that curled around his fingers like silk. His gaze slid over her cheek, down the long, lean line of her neck, to her succulent breasts he’d licked and laved and worshipped. And though all he wanted to do was worship her all again, a place deep inside his chest—a place she’d set free—knew he couldn’t.

  Bit by bit, Ari’s good mood slipped away. Gently, so as not to wake her, he untangled his hand from Daphne’s and carefully slid his arm out from under her head. A soft, sweet grunt slipped from her lips as she adjusted on the carpet and rolled to her other side. When her breathing lengthened and slowed, he pulled the blanket up to her shoulders then rose to his feet.

  He tugged on his pants and headed for his office. After flicking on the lamp, he lowered into the chair and stared at the map on the wall across the room.

  The sum of fifty years’ worth of work. An obsession he’d prefer to forget but couldn’t. He looked from flag to flag, marking the Sirens movements, and knew that even though he didn’t want to, he’d go on tracking them. It was the only way he could stay semi-sane. He’d told Daphne about Penelopei, but he hadn’t told her about the aftermath of Penelopei’s death and what losing his soul mate continued
to do to him even fifty years later. And as much as he liked Daphne’s companionship, as much as he enjoyed being with her, he didn’t want her to ever see him in the throes of one of his episodes. He’d barely survived seeing the horror in his son’s eyes when Cerek had witnessed it.

  There was only one way to keep that from happening. Rising, he walked to the window and looked out into the darkness. The wind had died down. By morning the storm would be gone. There’d be fresh snow, but he knew how to traverse the snowy landscape. And no matter how much he wanted to stay hidden in this hold, this time he couldn’t.

  Because by this time tomorrow, Daphne needed to be nothing but a memory. Not just for her sake, but for his as well.

  * * *

  Daphne awoke with a start. Blinking several times, she looked up only to realize she’d been shaken out of sleep by a firm hand.

  “Sorry to wake you.” Ari set something next to her on the floor and pushed to his feet. “The storm’s broken. I took these from Silas’s room. You should be able to make them work.”

  Groggy, Daphne watched him disappear into his closet. He was dressed, wearing jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt, and boots, and he’d showered, the tips of his hair still damp where they brushed his nape. But he should still be lying next to her, not up and moving around.

  She glanced at the items he’d left beside her and realized they were clothes. Clean clothes. Confused as to what he was doing and why, more importantly, he seemed to be avoiding eye contact, she pushed up on her arm and scanned the dimly lit room.

  The fire beside her was nothing but smoldering embers. A backpack sat near the door, one that looked as if it had already been packed.

  Apprehension slid down Daphne’s spine. Tugging the blanket up to her chest, she ran her fingers through her hair, then pushed to her feet and wrapped the blanket around her. She moved toward the closet and leaned against the doorjamb as she watched him pull a box from the shelf above the rack and flip off the lid.