by Willa Blair
Chapter Eight
Darach slammed his hands on either side of Abby’s head—sandwiching her between him and her bedroom wall. She should be scared but she wasn’t. The man had some serious issues but hurting someone weaker than him wasn’t one of them.
And she certainly was weak since he’d kissed her senseless back at the club. Still, she didn’t like being pinned into a corner.
“Darach—”
“Unless you want more than you bargained for, stay quiet.”
His words sounded tortured. Gruff, pained, and pleading. What on earth was wrong with him?
“What’s wrong with you?” Her question ended in a squeak as he captured her lips again. Time stopped as his tongue sought and then gained access to the inner circle of her mouth. Darach teased and taunted her until she could do nothing but kiss him back.
When she did, it seemed to open a floodgate within the immortal. The kiss continued and her knees went weak, her bones went fluid, and she wanted to be closer to the man driving her to a lust she’d never experienced before.
She tugged on the T-shirt he wore, and welcomed the warmth of his body against hers. The press of his hard exterior against her breasts, stomach, and the distinct hardness pressing against her lower extremities.
“Abby…” Her name was a groan on his lips as he nipped the sensitive line of her neck. She grasped his arms to keep her legs from buckling.
His hands moved to the neck of her dress, one sliding inside the lace of her bra. She moaned as he tweaked one nipple. The rush of heat pooled between her thighs. Her desire for him grew.
Abby knew they shouldn’t be playing with fire. Michael had warned Darach about this, yet she wasn’t sure what the archangel would do to him. She prayed it wasn’t death—for she wasn’t sure if even that would stop Darach from touching her. Not that she wanted him to. His touch felt too good, awakening a deep need inside she didn’t know she had. It eased the loneliness of the past years.
Darach’s other hand moved below her waist, and she held her breath. Would he touch her there? Would his touch quench the blaze beginning to burn out of control?
He slowly pushed her dress up until it was at her thighs, and then higher. Her breath released in a moan of anticipation. No one had ever touched her like this before; she’d never allowed them to, not that the few dates she’d had tried often. Her visions seem to derail that part of her life. Darach more than made up for her celibacy. He made her body hum with tendrils of desire.
When his fingers found and pushed under the lace edge of her panties, her knees buckled.
“Steady Abby, it will only get better.”
“I’m not sure I can take much more.”
“Aye ye can, and ye will embrace our lovemaking.”
She didn’t know how she got the faint chuckle out of her mouth with his hand climbing closer to the heart of her desire, but she did. “And how can you be so sure?”
“Because I will embrace it with ye. And I’m not without some experience.”
Her giggle turned into a guttural moan when he touched her hard feminine nub. The only thing holding her up was the wall. First one and then a second finger caressed her until her eyes almost crossed. She could feel her body spiral higher and higher.
Right on the peak of what, she didn’t know, she waited as the spirals grew tighter, her legs stiffened, and then—
God’s angels! Darach jumped when his cell phone went off. He tried to ignore the musical tones of “Spirit in the Sky” but it continued to ring. Finally it stopped. He took a deep breath and focused his attention back on Abby.
Abby who was just as sweet and succulent as he knew she would be. Her warmth, wetness, and escalating desire made him ache with a need fast becoming a torment.
Her skin waxed a pale rose with her desire, and he touched her face; first her cheek, then the slightly swollen contours of her lips. Lips he wanted to drown in.
He caught her whimper inside his mouth, and began caressing her soft feminine center again. Her desire coated his fingers, his kiss deepened, and he felt Abby’s body tense. Her release was near. A moment more and he felt the vibrations of her body as it rippled and then contracted just beyond what he couldn’t breach.
How he wanted to slide his fingers deep inside her essence. To push through her virginal barrier, to claim her as his own.
Darach shook with the emotion. When had he allowed the feeling he’d sworn never to have again creep up on him? To love someone only brought heartache. They would die, he would live, and his life would once again be a lonely and work-driven force. Did he want to go through that again? Could he live through another loss?
Before he could decide the answer, his cell phone rang again. He pulled away from a satisfied Abby, supported her limp weight with his arm, and eased her down on the bed. It was a good thing he’d teleported to her bedroom.
His phone continued to bleat loudly. He yanked it from his pants pocket, flipped it open, and slapped it to his ear. “MacRath here.”
“Sean Black here. I need you to come to 743 Clint’s landing. I have a DB. It could be your missing teacher.”
“I’ll be there in five.”
“Five? Where are you?”
“At Abby’s house.”
“That’s a twenty minute drive by car. No way.” The lieutenant’s skepticism almost made Darach laugh.
“I have a really fast mode of transportation.”
“Like what, a rocket? See you when you get here.” The lieutenant clicked off and so did Darach.
“What is it?” Abby’s question flowed out on a series of quick breaths. He wanted to hold her, to keep her close until her body relaxed, and she slept but he couldn’t.
“Nothing. I need to go out for a bit.” The moment he finished his sentence, he knew he’d made a mistake. Abby pulled her body up straight and gave him the look he was coming to know as her no way, not without me. He knew if he left her at home, she might take it in her head to try and find him anyway, and with demons enjoying the nighttime, he couldn’t take a chance. But to take her to a crime scene didn’t seem right.
“Oh no. I know what you’re doing, and it’s not going to work. Who was on the phone, Darach?”
“Abby, ’tis not something ye need to be exposed to.”
“Look, I’m totally over passing out. It won’t happen again. I’m not a child, though not nearly as old as you are, but I can handle whatever I need to.” Her tone went from firm to almost pleading.
“I dinnae think it’s a good idea.”
Abby stood up, straightened her dress and then moved to the bureau. She yanked the drawer opened, pulled out a pair of jeans and a shirt. “I’ll be ready in a minute.”
She hoped Darach would not say anything else. The evening wasn’t ending quite how she’d like, but as her grandmere would say, “Life is life, you live it, accept it, or get over it.”
The explosion of release he’d given her with just his hands had been totally off the charts. The only thing comparable would be if he’d actually taken her for his. Instead, he went from strong, sensual, almost lover, to dominant, all male, immortal—protecting-the-little-woman.
“Abby, I—”
“Have you forgotten that Michael said you’re to protect me?”
“Nay, I didnae forget. And if ye stay here with me safeguards in place ye will be protected.”
“Yeah, right. Well I’ve got news for you, I will do anything I can to get out of this house safeguards or not if you leave me behind.” Abby pulled the jeans on under her dress and then turned her back to pull the dress off and the pullover on. Strange after how he’d pushed every sensory button she had, she felt shy in dressing in front of Darach.
“Okay, I’m ready. How far do we need to go?”
“Woman, ye are too stubborn for your own good.” Darach growled the words.
Abby merely smiled. “See that you remember that, it might save us both some trouble in the future. So again, how far is it we need to g
o?”
“Distance willna be a problem. We will travel my way.”
Abby wanted to groan. “Why can’t we grab a cab?”
“I told Lt. Black I would be there in five minutes, and more than half of that time is gone. Now come here.”
She forced her feet to move, allowed him to lock his arms around her waist, and then closed her eyes. “All right, do it.”
****
Abby welcomed Darach’s tight grip as her body rematerialized in one piece. She shook off the dizzy spell and then carefully stepped out of his embrace when his arms dropped to his side. The scene in front of them was bizarre. Several cops stood around a cloth-covered body. Against her will, Abby’s feet carried her closer. It was like she couldn’t stop the macabre curiosity. This time when she shook her head, she reinforced why they were there. Someone had died. That someone could be Cecil.
“Great, you’re here. That was quick.” Lt. Black closed his phone and moved to stand in front of Abby. “You must be Ms. Dupree.”
“Yes, I am.” Abby eyed the tall, slender built man with blond hair and green eyes. “Is it Cecil?” She prayed it wasn’t, but the sympathetic look in the lieutenant’s eyes told her the body could indeed be her friend.
“Abby, why dinnae ye wait and I’ll do what needs to be done.” Darach’s voice should have irritated her, a command within a request, but it didn’t. Too many things had happened in the last twenty-four hours. Visions were one thing but up close with death and violence was different, still…
“I’ll be okay.” She took the arm he offered and as a trio they moved to the body. The lieutenant did the honors or the horrors by pulling back the sheet. Cecil’s face was battered almost beyond recognition, except for his sightless eyes rimmed with bruises, and the cuts on his naked chest. Whoever had done this horrific act had left him with no dignity when they stripped him of his clothing.
“It’s him.” Abby’s voice caught.
“You’re positive?” The lieutenant spit out the words so quickly she was startled.
“Yes, it’s Cecil.” Abby rubbed her arms in an up-and-down motion. She wanted to be back home, to be safe, to be normal. Something she’d never been her entire life.
“Abby, I ken this be hard. Give me a few moments, and then I will take ye home.”
Lieutenant Black looked back down at Cecil’s remains as Abby watched. A second later, he glanced up, and she almost swallowed her tongue. His eyes glowed red. The officer who was supposed to protect, serve, etc., was a demon.
“Darach, get back, he’s a demon!” Before she could decide to run or jump in front of Darach, he pushed her behind him. Although the immortal didn’t bring out his sword, maybe because of the crowd of mortals around, he did grab Lt. Black by the arm.
“What are ye?” Darach’s tone was low but deadly sounding.
“I’m a person fast losing patience, trying to do my job.” The lieutenant/demon sounded equally upset.
“No…you’re not human.” Abby’s whispered statement brought both men’s gazes back to her.
The look Sean Black flashed Abby wasn’t evil, just harsh. “I will explain something I should not have to after I’m finished here.”
The lieutenant looked at Darach, shook his grip off, and spoke again. “We can meet at Ms. Dupree’s house or anywhere else you want.”
“Abby’s house in one hour. If ye dinnae show up, I will come for ye.”
“Deal, but I have some questions of my own I want answered.”
****
Abby walked the carpet like a soldier on duty, while Darach practiced twirling and doing intricate moves with his sword.
“I don’t know why you’re pitching that thing about, you can’t kill a police lieutenant—no matter what he is.”
“Dinnae tell me how to do me business, Abby. I dinnae plan to stab him through the heart or lop off his head.” His black eyes smoldered, making her think of the exact shade of silver he’d exhibited during their interrupted lovemaking.
Abby stayed out of range of the four-foot-long blade. “Fine, so what do you plan to do?”
“Talk to the mon. I’ve known him for several years. There must be a reason I didnae pick up on him being a demon.”
Vacating the living room and the topic for the moment, Abby went to the kitchen, pulled out the fixings for a margarita, and then swirled her way to a bit of nerve settling.
“What are ye doing?” Darach’s silent approach almost caused her to drop her just filled glass. It made her even more testy.
“What does it look like? Why do you always sneak up on people?”
His chuckle warmed her insides, but didn’t do much to tame the almost feral look in his eyes. The immortal seriously needed to chill. He looked like he was going to do some severe damage to someone, and Abby wasn’t at all sure she wanted to be around when it happened. Oops, she couldn’t go anywhere without the big man guarding her. Yeah right.
“I will try to give a warning next time.”
The cheeky grin he fed her turned her insides to melted Jell-O. Did he have any idea what he did to a woman? Not to mention what he’d already done to her.
“See that you do. Now…” Abby checked the clock on the wall. “We have ten minutes until the lieutenant gets here. Do you have a game plan?”
Darach’s breath of air ruffled the lock of hair falling over his brow. “I told ye already, I plan to talk to him.”
“I get that, Mr. Immortal Man, but what happens if he goes all demon on us?”
“I will kill him.”
Abby slapped a hand to her forehead. It was that or slap Darach senseless—if that was even possible.
“You can’t. Don’t you think the NOLA police department would have something to say about that?”
“Well, then Michael would need to fix it.” Darach pulled open the fridge, took out a pitcher of water, and poured a glass.
“Just like that? The archangel is going to make it as if it never happened? I mean that is what he would have to do, right?”
“Aye.”
“You know, this entire thing is nuts! Cecil is dead, we don’t know who killed him, you’ve got a demon as a lieutenant, and I’m running around with a man that’s lived almost a thousand—”
“Over.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m over a thousand years old if ye count my mortal years.”
Abby slung her body down into a chair and gulped half her drink. “Great, can we say the age difference is not helping me either, since we almost made love.”
Darach hid his grin and a bit of apprehension. They’d never got to discuss what happened before Lieutenant Black called. He knew he’d satisfied her, but he wasn’t sure how she really felt about him taking advantage. Sure, she’d participated, but he’d not given her much of a choice. He’d used his experience to entice her. And if the phone had not rung, he would probably have taken her maidenhead—even if it meant Michael would punish him severely.
He pulled out a chair next to Abby. Her posture went from despondent to stiff. Not good for him, but maybe he could make her understand why he’d touched her. Did he really understand it himself? As much as he hated to admit it, the woman got under his skin in ways he wasn’t sure he wanted or needed. Again, he reminded himself, once Angus was stopped, he would need to leave Abby alone. She would no longer be his assignment.
“Age has nothing to do with two people loving…” His voice trailed off when she gave him a look.
“In that way. Physical attraction is not something ye can turn on or off at will.”
“Really? Well I beg to differ. You seem to be able to go from red-hot lover to immortal man in less than five seconds.”
“Do ye really think it was that easy for me? I wanted to sink deep inside ye, make ye a part of me, but…”
“Duty called. I get that.” Abby’s tone went a bit shrill. “What I don’t get is how you can turn your emotions on and off. Is this something you’ve learned over the centurie
s as a killing machine?”
Her words hurt Darach deeply. Did she truly see him as a machine? Only Michael had spoken about his habit of keeping things close to his chest. He locked his feelings deep inside in order to do the job he was chosen to do. So many times, he’d arrived too late to save a victim, and then his goal was simply to take out the demon responsible for the senseless death.
Did that make him a machine? And when did he begin to care what other people thought? Only now with Abby did he wish to be open. By telling her the truth, it seemed he pushed her away.
“Nay. That’s not it at all. I dinnae ken if ye can understand or not, lass. I was given a new body, but my emotions were locked deep within me. Although, mortal time moves at a snail’s pace, in Heaven ’tis a blink of an eye.”
Darach stood up and walked to the counter where he’d left the glass of water. He took a deep gulp before turning back to Abby. Her beautiful eyes were staring back at him; with what he didn’t know.
“When I woke up from death almost at Michael’s feet, for me Briene’s and my son Jamie’s deaths had just happened. I was filled with grief, rage, and finally a stony acceptance that I couldna change anything. All I could do was fight to stop others from being killed.”
Tears leaked from Abby’s closed lids. He wanted to go to her, but he needed to tell her more. “Abby, ye have been the only one that has made me think of more than killing.”
Her lids flew open. “Darach—”
The doorbell droned through the house.
“Dammit!” Darach’s curse shocked him as much as it seemed to astonish Abby. Since becoming an immortal, he’d cleaned up his language a good bit. Cursing in any form was not something Michael tolerated.
“I’ll get it.” Abby stood and moved toward the living room.
“Nay. I would prefer to be in front of ye until we find out what type of demon Lt. Black is, and his reason for working with the police.”
For the second time in a minute, he received a shock when Abby did not argue. Was that a good sign or a bad one? Who could tell with women, whether they be from the eleventh century or present day.
****
Angus left the mortal woman who’d satisfied his need. She was someone his minions brought to him for enjoyment. When she awakened, he’d have them take her somewhere, use her if they desired, and then dispose of the body. She’d help to calm his impatience as he waited for news Darach had discovered the body. It shouldn’t be long now, but it might take a while for him to realize Angus had been behind the murder. In that case, he would take delight in delivering more hints to point his cousin in the right direction.
