by D. C. Stone
“You asshole!” She sobbed and pushed at his chest, clawed at his hand wrapped around her neck. Tears fell in abundance, tracking without pause down her face. Her fists flew into his chest, pushing him back as she wailed out. “You stupid, stupid fool. Don’t you know I love you? That I know you won’t hurt me? You stupid coward. Stop this!”
This situation wasn’t going to end well … that much he understood. Pain racked his head, his mind screaming out a warning. He released Mackenzie immediately, and then fell with another push from her hands. The blow took him off guard; his ass hit the wooden floor before he rebounded. He pushed off the ground, his height rising above her petite frame, and stalked her across the room. Fire crackled from the aura around him, the entire foundation of the house shook violently. The ground outside cracked and split under the onslaught. He realized this was Mackenzie, the only female outside of his mother who had ever meant anything to him, and while he was pissed, his rage ruling him, he realized he had yet to actually take any of his anger out on her. That was his fear. The fear of hurting her, something he’d seen his father do.
Mackenzie stepped back to his advancing approach, and he didn’t like it. Bari launched himself at her, pushing off the balls of his feet. His body flew across the room and caught her around the waist. He wrapped around her, twisted their frames until he took the brunt of the blow. Bari rolled them over until he was on top of her, his body pinning her to the ground beneath. His head lifted, and he felt the shift in him, his mind struggling to take control, but the beast knew what it wanted. And right now, it wanted Mackenzie. He couldn’t fight it.
“She was my mother.” He snarled an answer to her question. “My father killed her, and he is what I am, Mackenzie. Is that what you wanted to hear? Do you still want to be with someone capable of such destruction? Are you willing to chance your life with someone who could take it?” His mouth slammed down on hers without waiting for an answer and invaded, wound itself around her tongue as if he were a starving man. The beast inside rose to the forefront, ruled him. The kiss was savage, full of all the pent up need he had been holding. Mackenzie squirmed beneath him. Bari thrust himself away, scrambled, ripping his mouth from hers, and pushed back on his knees. He was an animal, someone so incapable of being able to give her what she deserved. He opened his mouth to tell her one last time to leave but held in his words as he stared down at her wide eyes. She watched him, a mixture of fear and surprise marring her features. Her expression shifted, her eyes growing soft; love, affection, and comfort reflecting. Everything came crashing to him; the way he had been treating her, how he basically tossed himself at her, had almost lost control. An emotion rose in his system, shocking him to the core. Fear for Mackenzie’s safety pounded through his panic-filled veins.
She lifted a hand slowly. He saw it coming, but couldn’t seem to move quick enough. Warmth encompassed the side of his face and sank through his skin, down deep inside, until it practically invaded his soul. Her eyes bounced back and forth between his, as if searching for something, weighing her words on her tongue. He finally found the strength to move and realized he had cornered himself against the wall. Mackenzie stepped forward, never breaking contact.
“I understand, Bari.”
He frowned, her words confusing him.
She stepped closer and reached down with her other hand, sliding her fingers in his, resting her palm against his. “There’s nothing wrong with being scared, Bari. You’re not your father. How could you think that when you have touched me only with the most tender caress? When you take the time to help Byron cope with things unsettling him, how you make a point to be sure he’s comfortable when his world has abruptly changed?”
Mackenzie stepped forward again and didn’t stop until her body pressed into his. He sucked in a sharp breath, but was unable to form coherent words.
“When I touch you, Bari…” She brushed a thumb across his lips, and he felt the sensations surge through his nerves, pleasure winding its way in his body. “There’s nothing evil about it. You may not see it, but we all do. You’re a good man. Honest. Loyal. Compassionate.” Mackenzie lifted her body and brushed along his as she rose on her tippy toes. He believed her, for that moment in time, and he let himself take in her words as if they were the law. Amazed at this woman, so strong-minded, so faithful with her love, he brought his arms around her slight body and urged her even closer. His eyes seized hers as he caressed the length of her back, lifting his hand until it held her at the nape.
“You’re too good for me, Mackenzie.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but he cut her off.
“You’re too good, but I’ve always been a selfish man. And with you, I have a hard time letting go. I’ve never been able to do it, and you better believe, Miss Mackenzie Walters, I have no intention of starting now.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Shit got pretty rough out in the field, so much that as soon as the last drop of blood fell, the last bullet rang through the air, and the last slice of a sword hit its mark, they all agreed to unwind.
Bari had no idea where the other Eurydice went off to, but found himself back at the same bar, where everything began, sitting on a stool, letting the bartender, Curtis, feed him shot after shot, beer after beer. His mind was still sharp, the alcohol not taking effect on him like it used to, and so he felt, rather than saw, Mackenzie enter the bar. He didn’t move a muscle, not even his head to see her, but he knew she was there. He sensed her presence like a caress across his skin, scented her as if she was the only air he breathed, and gathered strength he didn't realize he needed from her. A low craving, an irrefutable heat started to build in his stomach.
Music in the background shifted, voices in the bar rose to drown out the sounds from the jukebox. He could give a shit less what happened to him, but Mackenzie was another story. She was his to protect, to have. Bari set his bottle down and shifted in the seat. He wrapped an arm around the side of Mackenzie’s hip and drew her body off the stool and slid her in front of him. He drew her between the vee of his legs, cocooning her in his protection. In this position he could look up to her gorgeous green eyes or bury his head in the soft pillows of her breasts. He chose to do neither.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“You know why I am.” There was no censure in her tone, no question, only the absolute statement of why things were so convoluted between them. Mackenzie lifted a hand and trailed her fingertips, as gentle as a butterfly’s wings, down the side of his face, tracing his high cheekbones, her eyes studying him.
Her fingertips caught him off guard, and his entire body stilled as he soaked in her touch. The beast inside him purred. Bari would let her stroke him all day if she wanted, but inside the bar, his senses stood erect for any threat to Mackenzie. Her touching him distracted his attention, turned his mind to mush, and bent the focus of his body to the bedroom. So instead of letting her continue, he tightened his grip on her hip in a silent urge for her to sit still before he ran his free palm up the side of her arm. His stared into her eyes, captivated, spellbound by this one. Single. Female.
His palm reached her shoulder, and he pulled back at the shirt until it parted, sliding off her shoulder, revealing her sinful, perfect skin beneath. His eyes latched on to that exposure as an explosion of lust hit him. Christ, all he revealed was the tempting, smooth skin of her collarbone, nothing else, and it felt as if she were bared to him.
His grip on her hip tightened, most likely leaving his fingerprints there. He wanted to do more, wanted to mark her as his. He couldn’t think past the need gripping him and didn’t even know if he wanted to. Instead, he dipped his head forward and laid his lips across the exposed bone, his teeth reaching out to nibble.
“Angel,” he murmured against her skin.
The single word a warning, a question, and a statement all wrapped in one. He should pull back to prevent himself from taking her here, but he didn’t want to—couldn’t.
Mackenzie’s eyes flu
ttered close.
“How could you be so harsh at times and so loving at others? You confuse me,” she gasped as his tongue did wicked swirls against her skin. “You give me whiplash. I n-n-need to protect my heart from you, Bari,” she sputtered as he sucked her skin in his mouth.
Her words tore at his soul and he more than comprehended he should pull away. She spoke the truth. But damn, he would rather slice his neck open then deny himself of her touch, of the right to touch her.
“Bari, I need you as much as you need me. Give me at least that one concession. Tell me, only once. Please,” she pleaded, and the sound had him squeezing his eyes shut. He was such a bastard.
Bari released her and set his hands on the bar, boxing her in, extorting the hell out of the wood to stay in place. His body coiled with need and want, his senses all fixated on one woman. He clenched his teeth under the onslaught. He inhaled deep, let it out slow, kept his eyes shut and felt the pain of denial work its way through him. It must have been evident on his face for the next thing he knew, Mackenzie shifted, and her palms cupped his face as she sat down on his lap. There was no denying it, as his arms wrapped around her, his body curving over hers in a protective gesture. It was one of possession—screamed protection—bellowed, ‘Mine!’
Bari had been spooked for too damn long with the unknown stranger inside, not knowing if he’d hurt those he was close to. He always forced himself to push others away, including this beautiful, smart, courageous female in his arms. His eyes clasped to a green gaze, and he realized, in that moment, she was his, no matter whether she knew it or not. No matter whether he was ready or not. He clamped his hands under her rear and stood, setting her on the bar. His larger frame loomed over her as he got within inches of her tempting lips.
“Curtis…”
It was all he needed to say. He heard the man set down a glass.
“Sure thing, Bari.”
He didn’t look behind him to know the bar cleared out. An unspoken agreement, something given without question, especially after everything he did here. He didn’t own the bar, didn’t have any say in what happened with the business, but after his past, what occurred, it wasn’t questioned. And what he wanted sat in front of him.
“No turning back, Angel. You don’t want this, now would the time to tell me. Because once this starts, I’m not going to stop.”
“Don’t you see, you idiot?” The words were soft, teasing as she reached up to tangle her fingers at the back of his neck. She tugged on his head, drew his mouth down to hers oh so slowly. Her eyes considered his mouth before looking back up as if his were a lifeline. “I’ve never asked you to stop. I fantasized about this for so long. The way your lips feel.” She traced a finger around his mouth, and the tingles elicited shot down to his balls.
She felt like a fiery tornado of womanly need under his hands, and he fought not to give in to the temptation to completely and utterly possess her. He wanted her much like a man stranded in the desert for weeks—no, screw weeks—like a man stranded for months would want a single drop of water. The need wasn’t just his own; he realized that, accepted it, and let it show by the grip he held on her body. Bari let the demon rise inside, shine through his skin, his eyes. He heard Mackenzie’s startled gasp as the demon flayed along his skin, both of them wanting to devour this woman. He couldn’t hold the beast back, didn’t even try, and instead let her see who she accepted into her arms, her life. She’d already set up shop in his heart, and as he heard her gasp, he captured it with in a feral possessive kiss, holding nothing back. His tongue clashed with hers, tangled around it, caressed, sucked, and stroked for more. He wanted to crawl inside and devour her taste; take her inside of him and feed the need for as long as they wanted.
Bari drew down her shirt, trapped her arms with the material and pulled back to feast his gaze on her skin, on her twin, perfect breasts. Her breathing accelerated and with each intake of breath, it raised the wonderful globes closer. Well, he wasn’t a man to turn down an offering and with that thought, he lowered his head and caught a nipple between his lips, sucked it deep inside of his mouth, his cheeks hollowing with the force. He had every intention of being inside of her, but first she needed to see his dominant side, who he was, and what to expect. He changed dramatically in the nine years. He wouldn’t allow her to shy from his demands, no matter how innocent she may have been, for he planned on possessing her, in every way.
His cock jumped as her gaze roamed over his body. His hands slid up her legs and he watched as she squirmed under his touch.
“Sit still.”
Her eyes snapped up to his, widened. Bari arched a brow in challenge, pausing, and waited. Cheeky little minx had enough common sense to not argue. She’d learn who was in charge of her pleasure, and he was going to have so much fun teaching, showing her. His hands went up to the clasp of her pants and with a quick movement of his fingers, they were undone.
“Lift up.”
Mackenzie lifted her body, her arms supporting her weight. He reached around and tugged the pants over her hips until they were on the floor at his feet. Her body was bared to him, and he took it in, as if implanting the memory in his mind for the rest of his time.
Bari set a palm on the insides of both of her thighs, urging her legs apart. She leaned back, her legs still draped over the side of the bar, and he sat back on the stool, sitting between her legs. Her sex was bare, glistening with arousal.
“Do you realize what you do to me, Angel?”
His voice was marked with hunger, rough and deep. He swallowed hard, his gaze focused between her legs.
“I’m going to taste you. I bet you taste just as perfect as you look. Just as good as you did in my dreams.” He dipped down, his hands curving around her thighs, and ran his tongue along the length of her, moaning as her taste assailed his senses with a booming force.
Mackenzie tossed her head back and cried out. Noises rose from his chest, indescribable sounds. Her hand came down on the top of his head, tugging his strands, holding him to her. Bari glanced up and caught the hooded gaze. He held her eyes as he feasted. Her thighs tightened around his head, and she panted, whimpers of delight rising with each pass of his tongue.
She was so close.
He pulled back, blew a breath of cool air across her sex, and watched as her muscles clamped and pulsed in response.
“No.”
He stood, released her, and unsnapped his jeans, tugging the material down over his hips before they fell in a pool at his feet. His back muscles rippled as he hooked his arms under her thighs and pulled. His eyes trained on her sex, he watched as she tried to shift under his hold, pressing her hips toward him. Mackenzie continued to squirm, and he fought his urge to turn her over and set a sharp smack to her ass. He wanted to be inside of her. Between the demon’s urge inside, his own erotic dreams splayed before him, and denying her for far too long, he had to have her. Now.
Bari shifted his body and nudged her entrance, his cock pulsing with hunger. He released one of her thighs, wrapped it around his waist and ran a hand up her body, pushing her back. She lay before him like a feast. His hands roamed, searching, before resting on her shoulder, and in a sharp move, he pulled her to him, setting her astride him, and then she took all of him in at once. He stilled at her gasp and willed his body not to take her with the strong urge he wanted. Instead, he dropped his head and plundered her mouth with the aggression, trying to release it in some fashion. Bari pulled his hips back, and his kisses grew rabid as he wanted to pound. He took his time though and fed himself into her body slowly, her sex pulling his thick, hard length in. Hot walls clamped around him, a friction that sent his eyes rolling back.
“You’re going to make me burn up, Bari.”
Bari dropped his head to her neck and panted, trying to rein in control. He had none, gave it over to Mackenzie for fear if he continued, he’d lose it.
He pulled Mackenzie into his arms and sat back on the stool, guiding her legs to the wooden beam
s beneath the chair. His hands settled on her hips, and he looked up, took in her face, smiled at the mindless sounds of pleasure that rushed out of her mouth. Little sounds, incoherent mumbles tumbled out as her hands tightened on his shoulders. Bari doubted she knew what she was saying, or even that she was speaking. He lifted her hips, brought her back down and watched her head toss back, her cries unrestrained.
“Come on, Angel. Ride me.”
Mackenzie’s walls constricted around his rigid length. Her legs moved, the muscles bunching as she took over. Bari’s control threatened to shatter as she sped the thrusts, sinking down so fucking deep on his cock that he thought he’d swallow his tongue. He leaned back in the chair, kneading her hips, and looked down to where they were joined. He watched as she released his length inches at a time before sucking him back in again. The visual, combined with her sounds, had a low churning rocking through his stomach, spreading heat through his body. His demon danced along with him, brushed inside Mackenzie.
Bari’s thoughts scattered out of control, surrounded by Mackenzie, and he knew of nothing but the heat the two of them generated.
“Ah … Christ, Angel…” He choked out the words as his body exploded.
He felt her walls clamp around him as she bounced on him, taking pleasure as she gave. Bari’s head fell back on his shoulders. A shout came from his throat as his release pummeled into him. His seed spent inside her in pulsing beats as she milked him relentlessly. A growl erupted as the sound of his beast cut through the surface. Nothing had seemed so in sync, so perfect, so meant to be, ever in his life.
They stayed like that for some time, holding one another in the dark bar. Turning his head, he drew in a deep breath from her skin before getting up, taking her with him, and set her on the bar. He bent down and picked up her clothes, dressing her with much more care than he had taken them off with, before righting his own clothing.
