by Mina Carter
“You’re too young to remember why we made the laws, Haden.”
“Demetri isn’t following the laws,” Haden pointed out. “The vampires aren’t following the laws. And I can promise you that when push comes to shove, Eli and his pack won’t follow the laws. We would never condone a man taking a woman into his keeping without her consent, and Eli’s kind has always considered it their right. Did you hear one word come out of his mouth that suggested he cared about what Mia wants?”
“It doesn’t matter what Mia wants or what Joseph wants for that matter. She doesn’t belong with our kind. What matters is that we ban together to kill Demetri and rid the world of any vampire with Zack’s blood in his or her body.” Nikolas knew the demons had to stop at nothing to protect their own, and nothing Haden could say would change his mind. “If we fail we all die.”
“I won’t have anything to do with chasing down and killing an innocent woman because you don’t like what’s in her blood. She hasn’t done any wrong to you or to anyone else. I trust Joseph’s judgment, and he trusts Jake. As far as Demetri and the vampires working with him are concerned, I agree. We must destroy them all.”
“Demetri has invaded our space too many times.” Nikolas knew Haden wouldn’t budge on the issue of Jake’s female or the issue with Mia and Joseph. It didn’t matter. He would take care of both matters on his own. “It’s time for us to invade his.”
“What are you thinking?” Haden asked.
“We all, including the women, need to attend the so-called charity event that Demetri and Mary Tate are planning to attend.”
“It’s not a real charity event. It’s a cover-up for something else. It could very well be a trap.”
“Yes,” Nikolas said. “I know. But what we don’t know is what it’s intended to cover up. When we show up, it will bother Demetri. He won’t expect it.”
“He very likely expects us to show up. Demetri is not stupid. If you can think of it, he can think of it. And you want our women to go?” Haden shook his head.
“No harm will come to them.” Nikolas had been concerned about Haden’s hermit-like behavior since Caylee had been attacked by a vampire at a public event. Haden was a powerful immortal and needed to get back to behaving like one. “It will show Demetri that we are all united against him. It will show him that we do not fear him.”
“It’s too dangerous,” Haden stated. “We still don’t know what they’re up to.”
“Mia, Brianna, and Julie are already planning to go,” Nikolas said.
“Caylee will not go to it.” Nikolas knew it was a fact Haden refused to even consider debating.
“Stop acting like a club-wielding caveman, Haden. You don’t own me. It’s my decision. I’ve already made the decision to go to it.” Caylee took a small step to the side away from Haden. “You can’t stop me.”
“I can and I will,” Haden vowed as he reached out to pull her near.
She smacked his hand away from her. “I’m going.” Lifting her chin defiantly, she crossed her arms over her chest.
“I knew allowing you to leave the house and come out here tonight would be a mistake.”
“Allow?” Staring up at him, she took a step toward him. “You did not allow me to do anything. You tried to stop me and in the process learned that you can’t stop me when I’m determined to do something. And, whether you like it or not, I am determined to see my best friend tonight.”
Obviously frustrated, Haden pushed his hand through his hair as he stared down at her. After several moments of awkward silence, he shifted his gaze toward Nikolas. “If you and Joseph allow Mia and Brianna to go you’re placing their lives in jeopardy. With all that’s happening, you shouldn’t have them at any event with so many people and so much going on.” Taking Caylee with him, Haden turned around and walked away before she could continue to argue with him.
Nikolas watched them walk away. Haden was carrying too much guilt and was living in fear, and that was a very bad thing for a demon to do. Haden had all but withdrawn from society and was forcing Caylee into a world of seclusion.
* * *
“How long will Mia sleep?” Caylee had thought seeing Mia would ease her concern, but it didn’t. Mia was in terrible shape.
“As long as Joseph can keep her asleep,” Haden teased.
Caylee pinched his arm. “You’re not funny. I’m serious.”
“So am I. Every time Joseph turns around Mia is getting into trouble.”
“How long?”
Haden sighed. “She’ll sleep for a few days.”
“I will open the boutique for her tomorrow.”
“No. You’re not going anywhere near the boutique with all that’s happened there.” Caylee heard the rising frustration in Haden’s voice. Convincing him to go along with it wasn’t going to be easy, but she was going to open the boutique.
“It’s too dangerous.” He placed his hand on her belly, no doubt attempting to end the discussion by reminding her about their daughter. Since she was carrying the baby, it was laughable to think he might believe she’d forgotten.
Caylee placed her hand over his. “Not with you there watching over us.” After she’d nearly been killed by a vampire, Haden had started to doubt his ability to properly care for them, but Caylee knew better. She just needed to find a way to convince him of it.
“Will that girl be there?”
“Her name is Julie. And I’m sure she’ll be there at some point. She works there.”
“In that case,”—Haden leaned his back against the headboard, arms folded behind his head—“I’m not going, so you’re not going.”
Caylee sat up on her knees and turned to face him. “Why are you always rude to her? She’s a nice girl.”
“Nice?” Haden smiled his wickedly sexy smile that always flooded Caylee with warmth and desire. “She has shockingly impure thoughts about things she wants to do to my body.” He reached for Caylee and lifted her over his body.
“Grow up, Haden.” As she maneuvered into a comfortable position straddling him, he gripped her hips to support her weight. “She’s young. And you’re not all that bad to look at.”
When his gaze moved over her face, she saw his absolute love and devotion. He tucked her hair behind her ears. “Not that bad?”
“We need to help Mia. Her business has been struggling. She’s close to losing it.”
“No, she isn’t.” Haden laughed out loud. “Joseph has millions.”
“It’s not the same, and you know it. She worked hard to get the money to open her boutique. Besides, Brianna will be there all day tomorrow, so Nikolas will be close.” Caylee knew it was a mistake the moment she’d said it. She felt Haden’s mood darken.
“You feel Nikolas could do a better job protecting you?” She couldn’t detect anger in his voice. What she heard was worse: pain. She’d hurt him with her careless words.
“Not at all. I figured his presence would ease your fear of Julie attacking you. When Nikolas is around, her attention is divided between the two of you. I wasn’t the one doubting your ability to protect yourself from Julie’s wild fantasies about all the wonderful things your body can do to a woman’s body.”
Haden lifted his head. “It’s not funny. If you took the time to listen to the thoughts she has you’d be horrified. Why doesn’t it bother you? Shouldn’t her thoughts make you mad?”
“I don’t blame her. I’ve done a lot of looking around, and I’m convinced you are the most incredibly sexy man alive. And why would I get mad when I know I’m the only woman you’ll ever allow to touch your body?” She took a breath. “Please, Haden, I need to help Mia.”
He stared into her eyes for several long seconds. “I’ll take you.”
“I also think we should go to the charity event.”
“No.” He growled the word. She knew it was a subject he wouldn’t debate, but she had to try.
“Haden, we haven’t gone out since … I want to get out around people.”
“I will finish your thought.” His blue eyes turned entirely black. “We haven’t gone out around people since I allowed a vampire to almost kill you and our daughter. I was careless. It won’t happen again. I shouldn’t have taken you to a place crowded with so many people.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“I didn’t protect you. That is my fault.”
“Don’t you see what’s happening to you? For far too long I lived in fear of just about everything. I couldn’t even bear your touch. I won’t do it again.” It was true; she’d lived in a prison of fear for too many years. If anyone knew fear, she did, and she knew Haden was living in fear. It was as odd as it was heartbreaking, considering how strong, how powerful he was. “I won’t allow you to do it. We’re going.”
“Who could blame you for living with fear for a while? Who could’ve blamed you if you’d never recovered? You survived the most horrific forms of violence as best as you could. Then you conquered the fear it had placed in your heart. And we aren’t going.”
“You know I’m safe. I’m like you—I can’t die.”
“It’s highly unlikely, but it’s possible.” He looked terribly frustrated. “I need to get up.” He gently lifted her off his lap and got out of the bed. A firestorm of emotions burning in his black eyes, he looked down at her for a moment. “It’s not fear. It’s common sense.” For a second she thought he might change his mind, and then he turned around and walked away. “We’re not going, and that’s final.”
“Are you leaving me again?”
“I need some air.”
“No. Don’t lie to me. You need to get away from me because you know I’m right and it frustrates you.”
“No. I don’t want to fight with you when there’s no sense in it. I’m not going to allow you to put your life in danger because you lack wisdom. I have enough for both of us.”
She knew he was lashing out at her because of fear. It sucked, but she wasn’t going to take it personally. “You know you’re wrong, and you want me to do what you say without questioning you.” She shrugged. “Insult me all you want if it makes you feel better. You’re wrong, and eventually you’re going to admit it to yourself.”
“I wouldn’t count on anything changing. I am not wrong.” Keeping his back to her, he opened the door to leave. “And you will do whatever I say whether you like it or not.”
“If you leave again I don’t want you to come back.”
He turned to face her. “You aren’t serious.”
She knew there would never be another man for her. She knew she would never desire another man; they would be together for all of eternity. How could she survive an eternity of isolation? She couldn’t. She wouldn’t. One way or another she had to help him find the courage to believe in himself again. In the meantime she was going to make damn sure he understood that he couldn’t dictate her behavior and expect her to accept it.
“Really? You actually believe you know my mind better than I do?” Gesturing toward the door, she smiled up at him. “Well then, if that’s true, I guess it’s perfectly logical for you to leave without fear of enduring any consequence.”
In absolute silence, he stared at her. He was shielding his thoughts from her. She figured he was trying to decide whether or not she was serious.
“You’re wrong.” He moved toward her. “I know you’re serious.” He sat down on the edge of the bed and hunched over to bury his face in his hands. “I’m sorry, Caylee. I know I’ve been difficult to live with these past few months. I can’t forget the moment Paul had you and I couldn’t get to you though I was only a few feet away. I shouldn’t have allowed a vampire to get that close to you. He never should’ve been able to force you to take his blood.”
Unable to resist the urge to attempt to comfort him, she placed her hand on his back. “Haden, it wasn’t your …”
“Do not,” he interrupted. When she moved her hand away, he lifted his head and turned to face her. “Nothing you say will ever convince me that it wasn’t my fault, but that doesn’t mean I have any right to force you to live in a prison of my fear to make me feel better.”
“I love you, Haden.” She should’ve thought of something better to ease his obvious pain, but she couldn’t think of anything else to say to him.
He took her hand and pressed it against his chest over his heart. “There are no better words. I love you, Caylee.” He pulled her into his arms and, pouring every ounce of his love and devotion for her into it, he kissed her. She would never doubt his love for her though she knew very well the road ahead of them would be a difficult one.
~ Ten ~
MIA BECAME AWARE of Joseph’s strong arms surrounding her, holding her protectively against his solid body. It felt wonderful to wake up in his arms, to know that just as he’d promised he hadn’t left her side. She tried to open her eyes, but they were too heavy. Listening to the strong, steady beat of his heart, so much joy welled up in her that she found herself smiling. And getting warmer. Way warmer. In a good way.
She snuggled up closer to him and started to drift off to sleep again but suddenly felt a sensation of falling. Her body jerked.
“It’s only a dream. I have you.” Joseph’s arms tightened around her. “You’re safe.” She felt him kiss the top of her head. All of a sudden it dawned on her she was entirely naked. He slowly turned around, moving her onto her back. Propping himself up on his elbow, he looked down at her. “How do you feel?”
She pulled the sheet up under her chin. “Naked.”
Laughing softly, he lifted the sheet away from her body. “Oh, yeah. You’re most definitely naked. And I like it. A lot.”
“What are you laughing at?” She ripped the sheet out of his hand and pulled it close to her. “It’s not funny.” She started to sit up. “I can’t believe you took my clothes off.”
He lifted his brow. “That’s a lie.” Placing his leg over her thigh, he leaned over her to kiss her. It was a quick kiss. A peck. It was nothing even close to what she was expecting and perhaps wanting. And then slowly, his gaze never leaving hers, he used his thigh to push her legs apart to make room for his body. Using his arms to prevent his weight from crushing her, he feathered kisses from the hollow of her shoulder up her neck to her ear. “I know you’re not feeling anymore pain, but don’t try to move around too fast.”
A slow smile tugged at her mouth. More than anything else she needed to touch him. She ached to touch him. She was helpless to stop herself. She didn’t want to stop. She reached up to caress, to massage the muscular contours of his shoulders. “You’d better not be entirely naked, Joseph.” She slowly allowed her hands to wander down his back. She felt his need, his enormous desire. Okay. Maybe it wasn’t all his. A good portion of it was hers.
He nuzzled her ear. “Do you want to take a peek?” He whispered in a deep, seductive tone that sent electrical currents zipping through her body. He lifted his head to look down at her.
Yes! Yes she did! She loved the way his body felt cradled between her thighs. He looked damn sexy staring down at her. She lifted her head and teased his chest with her lips and tongue. Her fingernails gently scraping, she moved her hands lower down his back. She felt him shudder when her finger slipped beneath the waistband of his boxers. “You’re nothing but a tease, Joseph Payne.”
And then out of the blue she remembered that he’d taken the poison that was killing her. She jerked her head up to look at him a little too fast and conked his chin. “Ouch!” She rubbed the top of her head.
“Ouch? That was my chin you hit with your head.” But he’d already pushed her hand out of the way and was massaging the top of her head.
Beyond mad, she glared at him. “Why did you do it, Joseph?”
He frowned. “Your clothes were wet and dirty. I wanted you to be comfortable. I didn’t do any—”
“No,” she interjected. “Not that. I don’t care about my clothes. I know you would never take advantage of me. Why did you take the poison?”
&nbs
p; He looked confused, as if she were asking him a ridiculous question. “It’s the quickest way and most likely the only way I’ll be able to find a cure for you.”
She reached up to touch his face. “What if it kills you?” She closed her eyes because she couldn’t look at him and hold back the tears welling up in her eyes.
She felt the warmth of his breath on her forehead. “It’s already killing you.” He pressed his lips against her forehead. “So it’s already killing me.” He kissed his way to her chin and then to her throat.
“Oh, damn it, Joseph, that doesn’t mean you needed to take it and kill yourself.”
Joseph lifted his head so that his gaze collided with hers. “That is exactly what that means. But it’s not going to kill either of us.”
“I can’t take it. Stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“You know what I mean.”
“Stay very still,” he whispered as he kissed his way from her breasts down to her belly.
She lifted her head. “What are you doing?”
He lifted his eyes to meet hers as he kissed her belly. “Making sure all of your injuries are healed.” His kiss was gentle. His breath, his lips were hot on her flesh. She knew he was in control. He wouldn’t allow the moment to get out of hand. He was so tender. So loving.
“With your mouth?” He held her gaze captive as he slowly kissed his way back up to her breast. “You’re making a mistake, Joseph.” A good mistake. But a mistake. She tangled her fingers in his hair, intending to pull him away, but she was arching her body. “You need to stop.”
“Funny thing.” He drew her nipple into his mouth and suckled it.
“Joseph.” She gasped, her fingers tugging on his hair.
“Stopping is not the need I’m feeling.” He moved up her body and kissed her ear. “I’ve never needed, never loved anyone more. And I can feel your desire for me. If you truly wanted me to stop, I wouldn’t have started.”
“You better not be smiling.”
