Pride of the Lion: Hades' Carnival, Book 3

by N. J. Walters

  Her back hit the wall and his forehead rested against hers. “I know. One. More. Minute. I need to taste you.” His breathing was harsh, his chest expanding with each lungful of air he took in.

  When he put it like that, how could she refuse? She knew their time was limited to the rest of today. Once the clock struck midnight, they’d either be dead or he’d be free from the curse. That’s the way it worked in her books, and now that she knew that what she’d written wasn’t fiction she didn’t want to waste a moment she could have with him.

  Leander was an immortal warrior. If he survived, he’d leave her and find his fellow warriors. He’d also try to find a way to free the one still cursed. She might have just met Leander, but she knew him. Knew everything he was rested on a solid bedrock of honor and loyalty. How could she not be attracted to a man like that?

  This wasn’t a romance novel like the ones she’d written. This was reality, as strange and unbelievable as it was. There would be no happy ending for them. He was immortal and extraordinary in every way. She was an ordinary woman leading a rather ordinary life.

  Sure the women in her books survived the ordeal and gained love in their lives, but she didn’t know how much of that was truth and how much was simply her writing a happy ending. She’d like to think she had a chance to survive, but she really didn’t see how her future could include Leander, not permanently.

  But she’d have memories of him, hot, sexy memories. Enough to last a lifetime. Because she knew that she’d never be attracted to another man the way she was to Leander. He was quickly spoiling her for other men.

  He leaned inward, rubbing his chest against hers. Even through the layers of their clothing the caress was pure magic. Her nipples tingled and tightened into hard nubs.

  “Take off your shirt,” she commanded. It was gone in the blink of an eye, leaving hard, sculpted muscles for her to touch. Oh, yeah. She loved the way he could remove his clothes with just a thought.

  She licked her lips and placed her hands on the broad expanse of male flesh. A low purr rose from deep in his chest. The rough, sensual sound no longer startled or surprised her. She was coming to love the way he responded to her touch. It made her feel feminine and powerful.

  “I love your chest,” she told him. She twined her fingers through the light tuft of golden hair that sat in the center. His flat brown nipples drew her attention next and she lightly rubbed them. His purr turned to a guttural groan.

  He cupped her face and tilted it upward until she was staring into his hypnotic golden eyes. He licked his lips and she caught a glimpse of sharp white teeth. His hair cascaded around his shoulders, a mass of reddish brown, orange and blond. Unable to resist, she sifted her fingers through the thick locks. His eyes narrowed, giving him an even more catlike appearance.

  Where her pelvis was pressed against his, she felt the flex and pulse of his cock and her core answered with a melting sensation. She was empty, longing to be filled.

  “Araminta,” he began, but said nothing more. He shook his head and kissed her again, slanting his lips over hers. One large hand slipped beneath her top and moved upward until he found her breast. He covered the mound and squeezed.

  She moaned and tilted her hips, rubbing her core against him.

  He tugged aside the cup of her bra, shoving it beneath her breast to expose her bare nipple. He rubbed the distended bud, the resulting sensation sending a bolt of heat straight to her pussy. She gripped his head and kissed him harder, sucking on his tongue.

  He growled in pleasure and took control of the kiss until Araminta could barely catch her breath. He teased her nipple, lightly pinching the nub before soothing it.

  It wasn’t nearly enough. Araminta felt as though a volcano was welling up within her, getting ready to erupt at any moment.

  The knock on the front door echoed through the house with all the subtlety of a cannon blast. Leander released her and her feet hit the floor with a thump. He whirled around and faced the door, sword extended, ready to take on whatever threat might exist. Her legs felt like jelly, and Araminta barely caught herself from landing on her ass in a heap on the floor.

  Gasping like she’d run a marathon, she could only gape at the front door when another knock sounded. Galvanized to action, she righted her bra, yanked down her shirt and pulled her sweater tighter around her. Thank heavens they hadn’t gone any further, although part of her cursed whoever was at the door in spite of the fact that she had a good idea of who it was.

  She rubbed her face and smoothed her ragged braid as best she could. “It’s probably Mary Jo.”

  Leander frowned and started toward the front door. Even though her knees were still rubbery, Araminta sprinted after him and grabbed the back of his pants, tugging him to a stop.

  “You can’t answer the door.”

  They glared at one another, ignoring a third knock.

  “I will protect you.”

  “I’m sure you will,” she readily agreed. “But if Mary Jo sees you she’ll never leave. She’s a wonderful friend but nosy and a bit of a gossip. She’ll tell everyone about you, and that’s not what we want.” She motioned to the hallway. “Wait in the bedroom.”

  Leander growled, low and menacing. “Check first.”

  Araminta went to the long, thin window on one side of the front door and peered through the lacy curtain. Sure enough, Mary Jo stood on the front stoop holding a coffee cake on a plate. “It’s her,” she whispered.

  Leander gave her a long, hard look and raked his fingers through his disheveled hair. “Be careful,” he warned. “Trust no one. Hades manipulates humans when it is to his advantage.”

  She could see the worry in his gaze and crossed her fingers over her heart. “I promise.”

  He nodded and slid into the bedroom, leaving the door wide open. She knew he’d be at her side in a heartbeat if she needed him.

  The banging came again. “Araminta, are you in there?”

  She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and opened the door. “Hi. What are you doing here?” She was about to ask Mary Jo why she wasn’t getting ready to go to work when she remembered it was actually Sunday, and Mary Jo didn’t work on Sundays.

  Her friend shifted her weight from one foot to another. “Can I come in?”

  Araminta shook her head. “It’s not a good time. The place is a wreck.”

  Mary Jo frowned. “Let me help you clean it up. You shouldn’t be alone right now. You are alone, aren’t you?” She peered closer. “Your face is flushed. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” She swallowed her growing impatience and reached for calm. “It’s just there’s a lot of work to do, and the police said I should do it myself. That way I’ll know if anything is missing. If you help me, I won’t know.” Araminta thought that lie was positively inspired.

  “I just want to do something to help.” Mary Jo glanced away and chewed on her bottom lip. Araminta felt like an ungrateful wretch, but knew she had to be cruel right now in order to protect her friend. If she survived the day she’d make it up to Mary Jo. The last thing she wanted was for her friend to get caught up in the war she was involved in.

  “And I really appreciate it, but now is not a good time. Tomorrow. I promise I’ll call you tomorrow and we’ll get together.”

  “I’m working tomorrow,” Mary Jo pointed out.

  “Tomorrow night. We’ll order a pizza or something.”

  Mary Jo’s expression lightened. “Okay. If you’re sure?”

  “I am.”

  Mary Jo shoved the coffee cake at her. “Take this in case you get hungry later and don’t feel like cooking.”

  Araminta took the plate and felt tears well in her eyes. She very well might never see her friend again. “Thanks.”

  “Hey, it will be all right.” Mary Jo put her hand on Araminta’s arm and gave it a squeeze. “If you change your mind and need some help or just want some company please call. I’m going to my quilting club this afternoon, but I’ll be home
later.”

  “I will.” Something crashed inside and Mary Jo peered around her. Araminta shifted slightly, not knowing what had happened. “I gotta go and see what Percy is into.”

  Mary Jo reluctantly stepped back. “Remember.” She mimicked holding a phone to her ear. “Call me if you change your mind.”

  “Thanks.” Araminta shut the door and leaned against it, releasing a pent-up breath. The cake plate was clutched to her chest. She’d had no idea she could lie quite so effectively. It was a little disconcerting.

  “You did the right thing.” Leander appeared beside her, making her jump, his sleeveless tunic once again covering his incredible chest. He moved with a quiet and stealth that was really quite impressive. He pulled back the lace curtain and glanced through the window. “You don’t want to be responsible for any harm coming to your friend.”

  He was right. As much as she hated to lie to Mary Jo, she really had no choice. Her friend’s life was at stake.

  She pushed away from the door and went into the kitchen to set the cake on the counter. She gripped the edge of the countertop and stared blindly out the window. Her back yard looked normal, with the mature trees and hedge surrounding it, the fence peeking out between the foliage. Leaves had started to appear, but there were only a few flowers in bloom save the crocuses and daffodils. Would she live to see the garden in all its summer glory again?

  She sensed Leander behind her and turned. “So what do we do now?”

  His expression was grim. “Now we wait.”

  Leander’s senses were all on alert. His ears were constantly twitching, searching for any sound that didn’t belong. He kept one eye on Araminta and the other on the entrances. It was too quiet.

  What was Hades up to? What was he waiting for?

  It was frustrating not knowing. Leander was a man of action and it galled him to stand around here waiting for Hades to attack. He’d had far too many years of inactivity. He wanted to take the battle to Hades, but he had Araminta to protect. His personal wants took a backseat to her safety.

  She’d been unusually quiet since her friend left, going around her house with a garbage bag and a broom. Several lamps were shattered and the glass was scattered across the floor. She swept up the pieces and dumped them into the trash bag.

  He helped as much as he could, placing books back on the shelves. He’d never had a home, had always traveled the world with the Lady and his fellow warriors. They’d stopped when they wanted, eaten what they wanted and he’d never imagined life any other way.

  But he knew it was different with humans. Even back five thousand years ago, humans had created permanent homes for safety and shelter, gathering tools and food for survival. Humans were much more fragile, their lives incredibly short.

  During the years he’d been trapped, he’d learned so much more about the human race. Their homes had become more elaborate over the years, their belongings more important. Personally, he thought they put too much stock in such things, but he understood it was their custom.

  This was Araminta’s home. Her sanctuary. And it had been defiled. This was no random break-in. He could smell the underlying stench of sulfur and rot. Hades had sent several of his demons here. But what was his purpose? Had Hades been searching for something or was the purpose simply intimidation to make Araminta more frightened so she would be more likely to bargain with him?

  He growled and his claws extended out of his fingertips. His lion didn’t like that idea at all. Anyone who dared to frighten his woman deserved to die.

  “Everything all right?” She stood in the doorway of her bedroom with a partially filled garbage bag at her feet. Behind her, he could see her bed was made up with fresh linens. It was all too easy to imagine her spread out on top of the flowery quilt that topped the sheets, her tawny hair spread over the pillows and her pale thighs parted.

  He swallowed and ignored the ache in his cock. “I’m fine.” His voice was rough and harsh, but he couldn’t help it. He wanted her with a fever that showed no signs of abating.

  Was this a trick of Hades? Was the Lord of the Underworld doing something to make Leander want her so much? Leander didn’t think so, but it was a sobering thought.

  She swiped her hand over her forehead. “The bedroom is done. I’ve got at least eight loads of laundry to do and a bag of clothing to go to the drycleaners. I didn’t know what they touched, so I’m washing pretty much everything from my dresser as well as the sheets that were on the bed.”

  Araminta left the garbage bag in the doorway and came toward him. Her eyes widened as she took in the state of the living room. “You put everything away.” She blinked hard several times. “Thank you.”

  Uncomfortable with her thanks, he shrugged. “It was nothing.”

  She put her hand on his arm and her fingers scorched his skin where they gently rested. The muscles in his arms and shoulders clenched and his cock hardened. “Not to me.”

  He so badly wanted to scoop her into his arms, take her to her bedroom, kick the door shut and stay there for the next several weeks. He figured it would take that long for him to quench his initial thirst for her. He wasn’t sure he’d ever quite have his fill.

  He stiffened his resolve and took a step back. Now was not the time to indulge in physical pleasure. Her eyes darkened with hurt and she let her hand fall back by her side. Anger surged through him. He needed to be strong for her and for him. There could be no relaxing his guard until the time ran out on the curse and Hade was no longer a threat.

  “Would you like some coffee cake?” Araminta headed to the small kitchen with him right behind her. He loved to watch her ass while she walked. She had a first-class behind, plump and firm, and he longed to take a bite out of it.

  He cursed and reached down to adjust his unruly dick in his pants, grateful she didn’t glance over her shoulder and notice his predicament.

  She stood in front of the window, staring out into the yard. It was large by most modern standards with mature trees and plants. A wooden swing sat in one corner, the wind rocking it slightly. Leander felt hemmed in by civilization and wished he could drag Araminta to the desert or the mountains where he could better protect her away from the prying eyes of her neighbors.

  He put his hands on her shoulders and moved her away from the window. “It’s not safe for you to be so exposed.” He could feel the tension thrumming through her. Although it was against his better judgment, he pulled her back against his chest and wrapped his arms around her.

  His lion began to purr and everything inside him relaxed. This was where she belonged. His cock flexed in ready agreement. He ignored his more carnal instincts and focused on taking care of her emotional needs. She needed comfort, and it was his job to provide it for her.

  “What’s going to happen?” She tilted her head back and stared up at him.

  He shook his head and placed a light kiss in the middle of her forehead. “I don’t know. I expected to hear from Hades by now.” The morning had come and gone and it was now afternoon. All this waiting was beginning to wear on him, and he knew it had to be doing the same to Araminta. Maybe that was Hades’ plan, to lull them into a false sense of security. Wasn’t going to happen. Leander knew Hades wouldn’t give up, would attack when they least expected it. He gently touched her cheek. “Hades sent his minions to search your home.”

  Araminta stiffened and sucked in a breath, but she nodded. “I expected as much.”

  Her bravery continued to impress him. “What could he have been searching for?”

  She shook her head. “I honestly don’t know.”

  Leander made himself release Araminta. As much as he wanted her in his arms, he could not allow himself to become distracted by her. A thought occurred to him. “What were you writing?”

  She leaned against the counter and nibbled on her bottom lip. Leander wanted to nibble on it for her, wanted to lick and sooth her abused mouth. There was much he wanted to do to her.

  “I’d started to out
line my third book. The one about the lion.”

  All his senses kicked into overdrive. “You were writing about me?”

  “I’m not sure if it was you, per se, but it was about a lion shifter and a writer.” Her gaze grew thoughtful. “Do you think that was it?” She shook her head before he could answer. “But I didn’t write much past the beginning. We’ve already gotten farther than the characters in the book.”

  Disappointment swamped him. He’d been hoping there was something in her writing that would help them. Something, or someone, was moving around outside. He cocked his head and heard the lightest shuffling on the dry grass.

  He tried to tap into more of his power so he could determine who or what might be out there. Nothing. He was still weak with only the bare bones of his power available to him. He could manifest clothing and his weapons and nothing more. He had to depend on his enhanced senses, natural power, speed and cunning to protect Araminta.

  He prayed to the Lady that it would be enough to save them both.

  “I need to go and check the perimeter. You stay inside, and whatever you do, don’t answer the door.”

  “Are you sure you should go out there?” She reached for him but stopped herself. Leander wanted to roar. His hatred for Hades grew with each passing second. Because of the threat to them, Leander had been forced to keep Araminta at arm’s length. It was the hardest thing he’d ever done, and now she was leery about reaching out to him. It wasn’t to be borne.

  He grabbed her by the shoulders and yanked her into his arms, burying his face in the curve of her neck. He inhaled, taking in the various scents that surrounded her. She smelled of clean, honest sweat and her perfumed soap. He nuzzled her and inhaled again. There, ever so faint, was the sweet scent of her arousal. In spite of the danger, in spite of the way he’d put up a wall between them, she still wanted him.

  He felt the barriers he’d erected start to crumble. Groaning, he dropped a quick, hard kiss on her mouth. “Stay inside.” He set her away from him and stalked to the back door. He closed it none too gently behind him.