Damien started the car. “Did the seatbelt offend you in some way?”
Morgan ground teeth and glared out the window as she tried to banish all thoughts of Lucian and the word sexy.
“Okay then.” Damien backed out the parking space. He glanced at her as they eased into traffic.
They rode in silence while Morgan glared out the window. Why did Lucian have to invade her every thought? Damien slowed the car and turned into a restaurant.
After they were seated at a booth and their drinks served while they looked over the menu, Damien cleared his throat and asked, “What’s up with you?”
Morgan stared hard at the menu. “What do you mean?”
“That’s how you’re going to play this? I thought we were friends.”
“Maybe I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“What—”
A waitress appeared at the table. “Are you ready to order?”
The waitress’ peppy smile irritated Morgan for no other reason than she wasn’t in the mood for peppy. “Yeah, I’ll take the cheeseburger.”
The waitress nodded and scribbled on her notepad then turned to Damien. He folded his menu. “I’ll take the same.”
She gathered the menus, sent them both another cheery smile, and disappeared.
Damien studied her across the table. Without a menu to hide behind, Morgan tried to avoid his steady gaze by watching the fizz bubbles rise in her soft drink. A quick glance at him. He still looked at her. With a sigh, she said, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, okay.”
“Whatever it is, it has something to do with Lucian.”
Morgan kept her expression neutral even as the sound of Lucian’s name sent warmth curling around her heart. She shrugged.
“Morgan, please talk to me. I’m trying to help.”
“I know. It’s just…” She glared at him across the table. “If I talk to you, there can’t be some male bonding moment later between the two of you where what I’ve said is the topic.”
Amusement filled his rich blue eyes. “I promise.”
Morgan stared at the fizz bubbles again. “Lucian is…too much,” she said and wished her lame mind could come up with a better way to describe her problem with Lucian. “It isn’t like it was with Arabrim. I feel things for Lucian I shouldn’t for a dark angel.”
“I see.”
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of their food. After the waitress placed their plates on the table and walked away, Damien picked up a fry and dipped it in the ketchup. “It’s acceptable for a channel and dark angel to feel more for each other than friendship.”
“Not for this channel.” Morgan took a large bite of her cheeseburger.
“Why?”
So many reasons she wasn’t comfortable talking about. Yes, Damien a friend, even so, Damien only knew the surface her, the one she showed to the world. As much as she might like and care for Isobel and Damien, that wasn’t going to change now. “I’m just not comfortable with the idea.”
She waved a fry absently. “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure it’s just a passing thing.”
“Avoiding it won’t help.”
“Look, I’m not talking about this anymore. We can either change the subject now or I can go wait for you in the car.”
“Fine.” He held his hands up in surrender. “We’ll talk about something else.”
She jabbed a fry into the thick pool of ketchup on her plate. Irritation at herself for reacting at all to Lucian clouded her mind along with irritation because he existed. Everything was fine until he showed up. Not perfect by a long shot, but at least her emotions and bodily urges were her own.
Lucian paced the living room in agitation. “It’s all confused and messed up. Why the hell do I feel like I care about her?”
“Don’t you care about all channels?” Isobel raised an eyebrow from where she sat with her feet tucked under her on the couch.
“I care about her more than I’ve ever cared for a channel. More than I cared for La Pucelle.”
Isobel smiled slightly. “Maybe it’s because Morgan is the first channel you’ve been officially assigned to since La Pucellee and because you lost her, your emotions are stronger when it comes to Morgan.”
“It’s more than that. When I first saw her it was like something in me recognized her.”
Isobel sat up, excitement in her eyes. “Lucian, do you think she’s your sodales in aeternum?”
That had already occurred to him. He shoved the idea away. “I don’t need a forever soul mate. I’ve been fine on my own for more centuries than I can count. I like being a free agent. And I really doubt she can be anyway.”
“Why?”
“I don’t think she would want it any more than I do. And if we don’t connect in this life, we won’t find each other in the next.” He shrugged.
His chest ached liked someone was trying to rip out his heart at the thought of not finding Morgan in the next life which made no sense. Even if the Higher Powers were trying to play cupid, she kept fortified walls up and didn’t seem anxious to lower them. If anything, she seemed anxious to be away from him.
“You are both young in this life, you have plenty of time to figure it out.” Isobel leaned back again. “If you are meant to be forever soul mates, it will happen.”
“I think Morgan and I will both be happy if it doesn’t happen.”
“Just be careful with her, okay?”
Lucian frowned and sat down in the chair across from her. “Careful? What do you mean by that?”
“Everyone has their breaking point.” Isobel hesitated before continuing, “Morgan’s lost a lot in this life, I can’t even tell you how much because she never talks about it, but I’ve seen it in her eyes a few times. She blames herself for Arabrim’s death and it’s eating her up along with everything else from her past that she won’t talk about.”
“Why would she blame herself for his death?” It made no sense. A dark angel’s job was to protect his assigned channel with everything he had, even if that meant giving up his life to ensure her safety.
Isobel shrugged. “She wasn’t fast enough banishing the upper-level demon to help Arabrim. I tried telling her it wasn’t her fault, but I don’t think she heard me.”
The memory of Morgan’s haunted eyes when she tried to tell him about her past filled his mind. She carried so much hurt bottled up inside, was it even possible to reach past her walls and connect with the person she kept hidden? And more importantly, did he want to be the one to try? The ache in his chest at the thought of her pain answered him.
ALMOST A WEEK after her shopping trip Morgan pulled on the new, freshly washed jeans. Though it was nice to have new clothes again, it would take a while before these broke in good and were as comfortable as her old ratty pair even if these were fairly soft to begin with. There really wasn’t anything better than well-worn denim. However, the tears in her old ones were getting to the point of being indecent. At least with these she wouldn’t have to wear leggings underneath for the sake of modesty. Or warmth, now that she lived in an actual house.
After sliding a deep blue V-neck t-shirt on over the lacy bra she’d found in the drawer, compliments of Isobel’s shopping prior to her arrival, Morgan dragged the brush through her dark brown hair. It had grown during her time on the streets and hung to just below her shoulder blades now.
She stared at her reflection for a moment before going to the closet and digging through the inside pocket of her old coat. Her searching fingers closed around the large, round locket. Lifting the damaged golden circle, she stared at it. The one thing she had left of her mother. She’d only tried to wear it once, it hadn’t worked out well.
Morgan deftly worked the tangles out of the gold chain before fastening it around her neck. The locket lay in the V of her shirt. She stared at it in the mirror as goosebumps covered her skin. Dread settled over her and a faint ache touched her chest. Morgan shook her head trying to dispel the dread as the
ache faded. Lucy whined from where she lay on the floor.
Frustrated, Morgan yanked a pair of socks from the top drawer of the dresser. Once her feet were clad in the new boots, she shoved her phone in the back pocket of the jeans and her cigarettes and lighter in the front pocket then made her way downstairs with Lucy on her heels. The dog rarely left her side in the house.
A shirtless Lucian stood in the kitchen talking on the phone. Black wings covered his back like life-like tattoos. They weren’t really tattoos, when needed they would unfurl into actual, black-feathered wings that would span over twenty feet. She stopped, feet rooted to the spot as her body reacted to the sight. Why did he have to be everything, the whole damn package?
He turned as he hung up the phone. “I ordered some Chinese, I hope that’s all right.”
“It’s fine with me,” Morgan said as she averted her eyes and tried to pretend he affected her in no way. She crossed the room, opened the door, and let Lucy out into the backyard. The dog hesitated, looking at her with worried brown eyes as she whined again. Morgan motioned toward the yard and the dog slowly obeyed. She could follow the dog out; put some space between herself and Lucian. Coward.
Turning, Morgan walked into the dining room that was only divided from the kitchen by an island. Trying to look anywhere but at the bare skin of his naked torso, she focused on the wood details of the island. Silence hung heavy between them. Morgan cleared her throat. “Any luck finding a dark angel with a Cherokee channel?”
“Not yet. I’ve also started to investigate the Kalona. With so much demon activity in this area for an extended period of time, it’s likely the regular people have noticed.”
Morgan’s line of sight was interrupted by a pair of jean-encased legs. She looked up. He stopped right in front of her. She swallowed, trying to bring moisture to her suddenly dry throat. Every nerve ending electrified, her body responded to his nearness. “So we do what, listen to the news?”
“That’s one way. The better way would be to start researching urban legends. It’s the way they try to explain the unexplainable.”
Morgan stared at his perfect lips as spoke. Lucian’s voice was smooth, totally unruffled. Her body went crazy and he stood there cool as a cucumber. It wasn’t fair. In desperation, she looked away. Dread crawled over her again and the locket seemed to weigh a hundred pounds for no reason she could fathom. What was with the thing?
Lucian took a step closer. His hand cupped the side of her face, bringing her gaze to his. “Is everything all right? You look upset.”
The soft way he said it, the look in his eyes that walked a line between concern and fire had her praying to the Higher Powers for self-control. “I’m not upset.”
Not with him anyway, though she planned on a very stern lecture to her body later.
Lucian’s thumb brushed across her lower lip. She froze, her mind in chaos, her body in anticipation. A battle seemed to rage behind his eyes before he slowly bent and touched his lips to hers. Fire consumed her blood under the gentle kiss and she opened her mouth for more. In an instant, the inferno raging inside took over. Her hands gripped the golden hair at his neck, pulling him closer.
His tongue swept into her mouth, stroking, teasing. One strong arm encircled her waist, dragging her against the heat of his body. In response to the rush of warmth coiling low inside her, she raised one knee. Lucian’s other hand immediately clasped her leg and then she was sitting on the table with him between her thighs and his body pressed against hers.
A groan escaped her lips as his mouth traced a path of exquisite torture down her neck and his hand ran up and over her hip to slip under the hem of her shirt. The warmth of his palm gliding over her ribcage brought a shiver.
Somewhere, sanity screamed at her to stop before this went too far. Her heart and body refused to listen. Her clothes were too confining, too much of a barrier between her and Lucian. Morgan’s eyes closed and she arched into him as his mouth moved lower past her collar bone.
His cell phone rang. Insistent, it vibrated across the top of the island as it continued to ring. Lucian growled and pulled her closer, but the spell was broken. The sanity that had been trying to resume control came roaring back to the front.
Morgan pushed against his shoulders. He responded immediately. One second they were so close fabric barely separated them and then he stood next to the island. Breath ragged, he stared at her with passion and lust filling his tawny eyes.
What had they done? Almost done? A confusing kaleidoscope of emotions and feelings tumbled through her. Unsure how to react to any of it, Morgan jumped off the table and ran for the front door, snatching the keys to Lucian’s car off the end table in the living room on her way by.
She yanked open the door and fled down the driveway. Inside the car, she didn’t even bother with a seatbelt before throwing it in reverse and tearing out of the drive. With no idea where to go, she took off for Denver proper, needing to clear her head.
Goosebumps pebbled her skin again and the locket felt like ice. What the hell was wrong with the damn thing? Or, more appropriately, what was wrong with her? Practically having sex with a guy she’d only known for few weeks? Her dark angel no less. Never mind that it had felt great, that wasn’t the point.
Her mind insisted on dwelling on the sensations. Morgan wasn’t a stranger to sex, she’d tried it out a few times and it had been okay. Not the mind blowing stuff she’d read about in novels, just okay. What she’d just shared with Lucian though…her previous encounters with physical relationships were nothing like that. It was so intense, so…her mind couldn’t come up with an appropriate adjective and instead took off imagining what it would have been like if the phone hadn’t interrupted.
“Geez, Morgan. Stop it,” she groaned.
It wasn’t long before she was in familiar territory. She pulled the car into a space at the park and made sure to lock the doors before shoving the keys in her pocket and setting out at a brisk walk. A shiver ran over her. The day was cool despite the sunshine, especially without a jacket of some kind. Stupid. Should have at least grabbed her coat. Not that she was going back to get it. In fact, she may never go back at all.
How could she be in the same room with him after that? Obviously, there were forces at play stronger than sanity. It would help if her heart would quit agreeing with her body in this matter. Lucian was a complication she didn’t need in this life. A complication she didn’t want. If she allowed herself to get close to him and then lost him, it would be more than she could take and Morgan sensed Lucian wasn’t someone she could have just a physical relationship with. Her heart, her very soul, seemed to recognize him. It would break down all of the walls between them.
Morgan walked the whole park and then started off down the tracks before cutting into a neighborhood that was a strange mix of homes and industrial. She walked several blocks past houses, some that appeared well taken care of and others with peeling paint and raggedy lawns.
The distinctive reek of cat piss wafting from one house was like a banner announcing meth lab, as was the too skinny, sunken-faced woman who watched her from the front porch.
Then she left the houses behind and walked past the industrial-type buildings. She didn’t even realize what she was looking for until she stopped in front of him in one of the alleys between buildings.
Jake sat leaning against a wall with his duffle bag on one side and a large metal dumpster on the other. He looked up at her with concern in his gray eyes. “You okay, Morgs?”
Morgan let out a sigh and flopped down on the other side of his duffle. “I don’t know.”
“Looks like you’ve come up in the world.” He gestured to the new boots and clothes.
She snorted and dug her cigarettes out of her pocket. After pulling one out and lighting it, she blew a cloud of smoke into the air. “Yeah, kind of. Don’t know if I’m going to stay.”
“Why not? Was I wrong and this Lucian isn’t good for you like Arabrim was?”
&nb
sp; Morgan took a long drag and gazed at the brick wall opposite them. “I think he’s too good for me, Jake.”
“No one is too good for you. I’m sure you deserve better.” He frowned. “Did he say he was too good for you?”
Morgan laughed darkly. He had completely misunderstood what she meant. “I don’t mean he’s too good for me in station or whatever. I mean, he’s too good for me. Lucian is…more than Arabrim.” She shoved a hand through her hair. “I don’t know how to explain it.”
“I’m not quite following you here, Morgs.” Jake lit a cigarette and took a drag. “You’re not making a whole lot of sense.”
“I know I’m not. Arabrim was always like a friend or a brother. Nothing more, ever. Lucian… It’s not like it was with Arabrim.”
Jake’s scowl smoothed out as understanding bloomed in his expression. “You feel more than friendship or brotherly love for this Lucian.”
Morgan took another deep drag and nodded. “I don’t know if I can let that happen.”
“Why not? Why would you ever pass up love?”
“Love hasn’t been particularly kind to me. Every time I love someone, they die. I even let down my guard enough to love Arabrim like he was family and look what happened. In fact,” she glanced at Jake, “you’re probably the only one I’ve ever loved that didn’t die and that scares the hell out of me because I keep waiting for something to happen to you.”
Jake’s expression turned stunned. “You love me?”
“You’re the only thing I have that’s even close to family, Jake.” She took another drag and shoved his shoulder. “Quit looking at me like I’ve sprouted another head.”
“I just never thought you cared about me that much. I know we’re friends, but you always kept a good distance.”
“Well, now you know why. If I didn’t keep a distance then you would have died.”
Jake snorted, blowing smoke through his nose. “I never took you for stupid, Morgs. If I die it won’t be because you care for me. You shouldn’t hide from whatever you’re feeling for Lucian. Especially if you think he might feel the same way.”
Bound by Legend: A Bound Novel Page 11
