Hadeon breathed in the shadows, drawing strength from them as he pulled them both out of her dream. He felt the mattress beneath them and knew they were back in her room at the hotel. They were alone. Safe. The horseman hadn’t followed them here. Who and what he was exactly was still a mystery. Hopefully, the Shadow Lord would have some answers for him. And soon.
Knowing he had no choice, he released the thick, encompassing shadows that he’d ridden from the dream realm back to this one. The dim light from the bathroom cut through the dark, illuminating the hotel room. Not that he needed the light to see, but Dovina did.
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She scooted to the edge of the mattress. He didn’t stop her. The click of the light was loud in the room. She grabbed her wire-rimmed glasses from the nightstand and fumbled until she got them on. She stared at him, blinking several times.
“How the hell did you get in here?”
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Chapter Five
Dovina’s heart was pounding. It had all been a dream—the horseman chasing her, riding the horse, the grassy field where Hadeon had held her in his arms. All of it. Her ankle gave a twinge, almost as though it remembered the pain of her injury. She frowned and jerked her leg out from beneath the covers. Her ankle looked a little red. She rotated it. It felt fine.
As if he’d heard her thoughts, Hadeon spoke. “Your ankle is fully healed.”
She jerked her foot back beneath the cover and drew her knees to her chest, absently noting that she was wearing her pajamas, not her jeans as she had been in her dreams. She should be screaming her head off, but for some crazy reason she didn’t feel threatened by him. Maybe it was because he’d rescued her in her dream. That thought gave her an unpleasant jolt. “You were in my dream.”
He inclined his head. “You drew me in. I sensed your fear and responded. The horseman was chasing you.”
That didn’t make sense. How could someone share her dream? It should be impossible. Yet, it had happened. At least she thought it had. At this point, she wasn’t quite sure what was reality and what wasn’t.
And that still didn’t explain how he’d gotten into bed with her without her knowing it.
Her breath caught in her throat. She could feel a thin coat of perspiration cover her skin. “He was there too? The horseman?”
Hadeon nodded. “Somehow, he’s made a connection to you on the mental or spiritual plane and was able to follow you into your dreams.”
“What kind of drugs did you slip me?” she demanded. This couldn’t be real. If it was, she was losing her mind. This stuff wasn’t possible. A headless horseman stalking her in her dreams.
What was she supposed to do, stay awake 24/7? Maybe it was time to call the medical professionals. Problem was, she felt totally sane. Hadeon rolled up until he was sitting on the edge of the bed. He rested his hand on the blankets just inches from her covered toes. She fought the urge to slide them close enough to him to touch through the blankets, wanting that physical connection with him. It was crazy how much his presence comforted her. He was an unknown factor. Just because he’d given her an orgasm didn’t mean he could be trusted. Her heart lurched, refusing to believe her brain’s reasoning. For some inexplicable reason, she trusted Hadeon. Further proof that she was currently a sandwich shy of a picnic.
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He raised his hand as though he might touch her and just as quickly dropped it back into his lap. It hadn’t escaped her notice that he was naked from the waist up. His shoulders were impossibly wide, his biceps enormous. The man radiated strength and determination. And the tattoo was still there. A massive black stallion reared back on his chest, defiant and challenging all comers.
“No drugs, Dovina.” He gave a half laugh. “But I’m not sure you’d believe me if I told you the truth.”
“Try me.” She was sick of not knowing what was going on. She needed answers. The intellectual side of her nature demanded them.
Hadeon nodded as though he’d expected no less from her. His long blond hair fell over one shoulder as he turned and curled one leg on the mattress so he was facing her.
“I was born more than twenty-five hundred years ago.”
She almost scoffed, but something in his demeanor stopped her. She’d hear him out first. Then she’d call for help if necessary.
“I was a Thracian mercenary, selling my sword to the highest bidder. I traveled the steppes of Europe and beyond, amassing a fortune with my bloody sword.”
Her gaze darted to his sword, which was propped up against the nightstand and still in its sheath. She’d seen him wield it. It was about four feet long and totally without decoration. This was no ceremonial blade, but a real weapon.
“Destroyer, people called the blade and me. I cut a swath across the land, taking what I wanted. But there is always a price to be paid for such a life. I had no family, no friends. Only those who wanted my sword arm. They paid me, but none trusted me. I was betrayed by one such man and killed, not in combat, but by poison slipped into the drink he gave me. As I weakened, he attacked. When I finally fell, he thrust his sword in my black heart.”
Dovina put her hand over her mouth to keep from gasping aloud. Hadeon’s eyes were on her, but he wasn’t seeing her. He was lost in memories of the past.
“I lay on the ground, dying. Death was coming for me and, truthfully, I welcomed him. I was tired of my life, but knew no other way.”
Unable to bear his pain any longer, Dovina reached out and laid her hand on his knee. His entire body twitched and he jerked his gaze upward, totally focused on her, his black eyes burning with some inner fire. For a moment, she thought she saw actual flames in his eyes, but they quickly disappeared and she dismissed it as a trick of the light.
“But a man appeared to me before Death claimed me. He offered me a chance at justice and redemption. All I had to do was give myself over to him, body and soul. I didn’t care so much about justice at that point. But redemption,” he paused and rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “Redemption had appeal.”
“What happened then?” It was like something out of a fantasy movie, but Dovina was no longer convinced this was a pack of lies or a drug-induced state. 42
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“I was no longer living, but not dead. I became a member of the Shadow Lord’s army of warriors. Immortal, but bound to the shadows. Sunlight will kill me. I must stay within reach of the shadows at all times. The night is my domain. Beheading will kill me. Other than that, nothing can destroy me. I’ve spent the past several thousand years wielding my sword in the name of justice. I am a Shadow Ryder.”
Dovina’s thoughts were spinning. Shadow Lord. The horseman had used that term when he’d confronted Hadeon. He’s also used the term Shadow Ryder. Her mouth was dry when she tried to swallow. She licked her lips, noting the way Hadeon’s eyes followed the slow movement.
“What does all of that have to do with me?” That was her biggest question. The one thing that didn’t make sense in this whole thing. She was an ordinary woman. Bookish. A loner. Not an adventurer or one of the beautiful people who had extraordinary experiences. She was plain Dovina Horne.
One corner of Hadeon’s mouth turned up in a roguish grin. “The Shadow Lord sent me to you. You are to be protected at all costs.”
“I don’t understand.” She wondered how many more times she’d say those words before she got answers that made any kind of real sense. “Why me?” A horrible thought occurred to her. “Is that why you…” She broke off, not able to finish the thought aloud.
“Why I what?” Hadeon frowned. In the dim light the scar on his face seemed almost sinister.
“Why you touched me and made me come,” she blurted out in one breath. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment and a touch of shame, but she had to know. His hands shot out and captured her face, cradling it gently. He leaned so close their noses were touching. Her lungs sucked in air at a
furious rate and she felt lightheaded.
“Breathe slower,” he commanded. He took a deep breath and she found herself following him. In and out. In and out. Until they were breathing in sync. Dovina no longer felt faint, although her head was beginning to throb. Hadeon caressed her cheeks with his thumbs. “Why did I touch you?” He nuzzled her nose with his. “Because I couldn’t help myself. Because you are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever beheld.”
Her head started spinning again. There was no doubting the sincerity of his words.
“I don’t understand.” There were those words again. But she needed to know, needed to be able to comprehend Hadeon’s actions, why he’d touched her so intimately.
“Neither do I.” He brushed a kiss on her forehead and then her temple. “I only know that you call to my soul in a way I’ve never experienced. I want you more than I want my next breath.”
His lips touched her jaw, working their way down to her chin. “I don’t know why this horseman, this creature, wants you, but he will not have you. I will protect you with the last breath in my body. You belong to me.”
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His words started a low throbbing deep in her core. Her breasts felt uncomfortably full, her nipples tight. Did she dare to believe Hadeon? Madness. There was no such thing as Shadow Ryders and a Shadow Lord. It had to be a lie. All of it. As if he sensed her unease and disbelief, he placed a gentle kiss on her lips and rose from the bed. “Watch, Dovina, and know my words are true.” He stepped back into the shadows in the corner of the room. She blinked and he was gone. She jumped out of bed and hurried to the corner. There was nothing there but solid wall. Scared out of her wits, she whirled around and looked in every other nook and cranny. There was no one there.
“Hadeon,” she whispered his name.
Strong, familiar arms wrapped around her from behind. She shrieked and he covered her mouth with his hand, smothering most of the sound. His other hand rested low on her stomach, letting it glide upward until it rested just below her breasts. He slowly lowered his hand from her mouth. Gripping her chin between his fingers, he tilted her face toward him. Then his face moved closer to hers. That first touch of their lips sent a blast of heat ricocheting from her breasts to her sex. Hadeon deepened the caress. She could feel his erection pressing against the small of her back. Dovina made a small sound of pleasure. Hadeon swallowed it. His hand rubbed against the lower curve of her breasts. Back and forth. Teasing, but never quite touching them to give her any satisfaction.
She moaned and raised her hand to his face, cupping his rough cheek. A sound of masculine approval came from Hadeon as he kissed her like he never wanted to stop. Slowly, he devoured her, taking his time to taste every dark crevice of her mouth. She did the same. He tasted better than chocolate fudge, rich and satisfying. When he finally lifted his head, she was breathless. The heat from his touch pulsed through her body. She wanted his hands on her breasts and on the slick folds of her pussy. The memory of last night’s orgasm slammed through her. She wanted that same feeling again and again and again.
“The shadows are my domain,” he whispered against her ear. “I can disappear into them, riding them to anywhere on Earth. They also take me into the Shadow Realm, which is my home.”
As much as she might wish otherwise, there was no disputing what she’d seen, what she’d experienced. Hadeon was real. The horseman was real. Somehow she’d stumbled into the middle of a supernatural nightmare, much like the characters in the books she’d studied.
“Why has the horseman chosen me? And who, or what, is he?” She turned in his arms until she was facing him, snuggling up close to his impressive and very naked chest.
Hadeon tightened his hold on her, as if his embrace alone could protect her from the horseman. “The Shadow Lord is having some of the men look into this. I’ve never 44
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encountered an enemy like this before. Up until now, they’ve all been flesh and blood. But this horseman is other, like me, yet not like me.”
Dovina shivered. “He was really in my dream?” Now that was a nightmare, like something out of a horror movie.
“Yes.” Hadeon didn’t try to sugarcoat the truth. For that she was grateful. Knowing he’d tell her the truth grounded her. “Where did the other horse come from?” Had she conjured up the beast in her dream or was he real too?
He captured her hand in his and laid it over his heart. Her fingers lightly feathered the tattoo on his chest. “All the Shadow Ryders have an affinity with a particular animal, taking on their strengths and abilities as our own. We wear that creature on our chests and can shapeshift into it if needed.”
She blinked, trying to digest what he’d just told her. It was hard to think with her body pulsing with need and pure lust pounding through her veins. “You’re the horse?”
She felt silly saying it out loud.
Hadeon nodded and sighed. “I take it you’ll need a demonstration.”
He didn’t give her time to answer, but released her and stepped away. As she watched, the air around him shimmered, darkness closing in around him. The light of the room seemed to be sucked away, leaving it in shadows. His shape changed between one heartbeat and the next. One moment Hadeon stood there strong and tall, the next a giant black stallion stood in his place.
“I’m not crazy. I’m not crazy,” she repeated. Reaching out a trembling hand, she touched the horse’s flanks, letting her palm slide over the soft hide, stroking the silky hair beneath her fingertips. She could feel the muscles flex and relax as she petted him.
“Amazing.”
She felt him changing again and took a step back. Before she could draw a breath, Hadeon was back, legs spread wide, arms crossed over his naked chest. His hair flowed over his broad shoulders and down his back, the two thin braids framing his rugged face. He looked wild. Untamed. And totally irresistible.
There was no mistaking the bulge in the front of his pants. He wanted her. She nibbled on her lower lip. She wanted him too. Why shouldn’t she have him? He wouldn’t be here for long. He freely admitted he was here on a mission. When it was done, he would go back to the Shadow Realm and she would be left here. Alone. All the more reason not to start anything. His leaving was going to hurt. Somehow, without her having any choice in the matter, he’d snuck his way into her heart. It was going to hurt anyway, she rationalized. So why shouldn’t she make some memories? This was a once in a lifetime experience. This amazing man stood before her, ready to give his life for hers. He also thought she was beautiful. That in itself was precious. The rest was almost unbelievable. Almost. Dovina was beginning to believe all of it was very real. But all that mattered now was that Hadeon was standing in front of her and he was extremely aroused.
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Blood rushed to her breasts, plumping them and making her nipples tighten, outlining them against the thin cotton of her top. It also surged between her legs, softening the folds of her pussy, making her ready to receive him. His nostrils flared and he dropped his hands back by his sides. Taking a step closer, he paused. Waiting. His chest rose and dropped with every breath he took. His skin glistened with a thin layer of sweat. The muscles in his jaw flexed. “Dovina?”
There was so much longing in that one word. It was enough. He wanted her and she wanted him. Everything else could wait.
“Yes.”
She barely had the word out of her mouth when he leapt into action. One second he was a few feet away, the next she found her back pinned against the wall, Hadeon surrounding her with his large body. He captured her hands in one of his and raised them over her head, anchoring them. The motion thrust her breasts forward. He leaned in, rubbing his chest against hers. Her nipples were incredibly sensitive and the light caress sent a bolt of lust surging through her. Cream slipped from her channel, dampening her pajama pants.
As though he couldn’t bear to have anything between them, Hadeon grabbed the hem
of her T-shirt and pushed it up. He released his grip on her wrists and dragged the shirt away, tossing it to the floor. He groaned and cupped her breasts. They filled his hands and then some.
“So soft. So perfect,” he muttered as he thumbed her nipples. They were incredibly sensitive and each caress was more potent than the one before. She moaned and pressed her thighs together to try to ease the ache growing inside her. His silky blond hair brushed the turgid tip of her breast as he lowered his head and lapped at the bud. Dovina sucked in a breath and buried her fingers in his hair, pulling him closer. He gave a low, very satisfied laugh as he took her nipple into his mouth and sucked. His clever fingers teased the other nipple, tugging gently. Sweat popped out on her skin. She felt flushed, her skin overly sensitive. She hated the confining pajama pants and shoved at them, eager to have them gone. Hadeon’s hands joined hers and he pushed them down her hips and thighs. They puddled at her feet.
“Step out.” She did as he requested and he jerked the fabric away. Naked, she was at his mercy. He was so much stronger than she. So incredibly powerful. Yet, she had no fear of him. His strength made him want her even more. She wanted him to take her, to want her so much he would stop at nothing to claim her. Her inner muscles clenched hard, dragging a soft moan from her lips. Hadeon kissed a hot, wet trail down her torso, over her rib cage until he reached her bellybutton. His tongue dipped into the indentation, swirling around. He dropped to his knees in front of her, his palms shaping and caressing her hips. For the first time in her life, she didn’t feel overweight. She felt lush and sexy and womanly. 46
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He leaned in and nipped at her hipbones, slowly working his way lower. “Spread your legs,” he ordered.
She didn’t hesitate. There was no place for shyness, for modesty. Not between them. Not now. Maybe she’d feel differently in the light of day. But right this moment, in the middle of the night, she wanted him with a need that went beyond the physical. She had to feel his hands and mouth on her. Had to have his cock buried in her tight channel.
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