by Willa Blair
A slight rustling of the covers preceded, “Darach.”
He moved to the bed and sat on the edge. Abby’s face was pale against the emerald green sheets, but her tears were now dried tracks on her cheeks.
“I be here, Abby.”
Her hand reached out, but instead of taking the one he offered, she plucked at the bedding.
“Talk to me. I promise I will listen.”
Abby’s gaze lifted to touch his. “Can you promise not to hate me for what I did?”
What on earth was she talking about? Nothing Abby could do would make him hate her.
He caught and brought her hand to his lips. He kissed the soft skin before tucking it next to his heart. “Why dinnae ye tell me what ye did, then we will sort it out.”
“I was glad when you told me about the dagger. About how it affected you.” Abby’s breath hitched and then she sighed. “I thought you would stop the nonsense about Angus, but you didn’t.”
“Abby, ye already told me this, so it cannot be what ’tis bothering ye.”
“You’re right, that’s not all of it. Earlier tonight while Arianna was getting a shower, I slipped out and went to the club for a few minutes. I just wanted to tell Chaz I would be in to work tomorrow night, and I did leave a note.”
Darach tried to control his temper. Yes, she’d gone out when she shouldn’t have, and his heart clenched at what could have happened and what almost had, but that wasn’t all of it. He needed to find out what she was so upset about and then he’d admonish her for leaving the house.
“Abby, what ye did was not a sin. Foolish, yes, but this ’tisn’t what is upsetting ye. Now, what else is there?”
Her eyes filled with tears once more. “While I was at the club, I saw a demon and he saw me.”
The pulse inside his body pounded through his blood.
“What did ye do?”
“Darach, you’re squeezing my hand too tight.”
“I be sorry.” Darach caressed the abused limb. “Now, tell me what else happened.”
“I talked to him, hoping to get information about Angus.”
Darach was staggered. “Abby, do ye have rocks in your brain?” He didn’t grip her hand this time. Instead he released it and stood up.
“Please, don’t yell at me, Darach. I said I’m sorry. I know what I did was wrong, but I thought maybe if I got the information I could tell Arianna. Once Angus was caught, you’d be able to let go of the past.”
Darach wanted to curse, but what good would it do? What she’d done could not be undone, yet he had more questions.
“Do ye know how the demons breached the perimeters?”
“No! How could I? I didn’t even know there were any demons outside until Arianna woke me up. I swear the demon was still at the club when I left.”
Abby’s gaze shone with truth, but if she didn’t lead them here, then who had?
“Darach, you do believe me, don’t you?”
“Aye, but if ye ever try something that foolhardy again, I will spank ye to within an inch of your life, Abby. Do ye have any idea of the fear stalking me when I found out ye were under a demon attack?”
“Yes, as much as the fear that rides me whenever I think of you confronting Angus, or you lying in a hospital bed in a coma.”
For the first time, he finally realized the terror Abby had being going through. His job was his life, but lately he found that he wanted more. He wanted Abby. If she would have him.
“All right, I understand. I just cannae let it go at the moment.” Darach sat back down next to Abby. He knew it wasn’t what she wanted to hear but… “Now we need to figure out how they breached Arianna’s safety guards.”
“Ahem.”
Darach looked up and found Sean and Arianna standing at the threshold.
“Can we come in? I think we know the answer to your question.” Sean’s expression did not give even an inkling of his thoughts.
“Perhaps Abby would be more comfortable if we met downstairs.” For the first time since he’d met the immortal, Arianna seemed nervous.
“No, This is fine. Let’s just get it over with, okay?” Abby looked at Darach as she spoke and then turned toward Arianna.
“I weakened the safeguards. It was after I found Abby at the club. I could smell demon on her, and she told me what happened. I teleported her back here and she went to bed.” Arianna fidgeted with one of her fingernails. “It was a few hours after that, that I decided to walk outside. I saw Sean and you Darach, or at least I thought so. I threw up my hand, and Sean waved. I weakened the guards and before I knew it the front yard was full of demons.”
She looked Darach in the eyes before looking down at the floor. “I’m sorry, I never thought. I should have made certain it was you. I’ll tell Michael it’s my fault.”
“No need, Arianna, as much as I hate to say it, drawing the demons out was what we wanted to do anyway. At least there are eight fewer of them now. Add that to the ones Conner and I killed earlier and it’s been a decent night’s work. And I’m pretty sure Angus is their true leader.” Darach rubbed a smudge of dirt off his shirt. “Besides, there is no way ye could have known they would infiltrate this far, nor that they would use glamour to disguise themselves.”
Sean inserted, “I agree with Darach, and we were right on the mark about the dagger. It seems to be some type of treasured relic.”
Darach took Abby’s hand. “Aye, but at least it didn’t affect me ability to fight.”
“And I’m glad of that fact, Highlander,” Sean tossed out.
“I have a feeling ye could have taken them out on your own, halfling. Care to tell me where ye got the fire power from?”
The lieutenant’s face went blank for a moment, then his features drew together in a frown. “I have no idea. One moment, I’m wondering if I can kill one of them with my revolver, then I feel a tingling in my hands. My first hit was luck. I was shaking my hands to get rid of the crawling ants sensation, and the next thing I knew fire was shooting from my fingertips.”
Arianna flopped onto the bed as Abby’s mouth fell open. “Those were the bright flashes I could see when Arianna would let me look out the window.”
“Yes, and I thought it was lightning flashes sent by Michael.” Arianna looked stunned.
Darach remembered the wind. “Nay, but he did clear away the demon debris.
“So are we square?” Abby’s question drew three sets of eyes to her. Darach wanted to kiss the dried tears, but would wait until they were alone. Arianna smiled and then shrugged her shoulders.
“It seems that I was just as much at fault as you were, so yeah, we’re square.”
“Hey, Abby, you at least found the demons, something I couldn’t do.” Sean grinned at Abby and then at Darach.
“And now I suppose ye want me to agree with these two?” Darach allowed his gaze to rove Abby’s still features and form as he pointed toward the others.
“Consider it unanimous, but dinnae ever do that again.”
Abby threw herself into his arms. “I promise I won’t.”
“Good, now I suggest we allow Abby to get some rest. Ye do have school tomorrow, aye?” Darach dropped a kiss on Abby’s brow and then eased her back to the mattress.
“Darach, I can’t sleep.”
“Try. Ye will need all your wits about ye if Angus sends more demons.”
“What about you? He will send more after you also.”
“Dinnae worry about me. I will rest after ye do, and I will be here when ye wake up.”
****
The celebration had not happened. His minions were destroyed. Darach still lived and Abigail was beyond his grasp. When Alex had called to let him know they had found a loophole through the immortal security on the mortal’s property, he’d anticipated so much more. Now, he would have to find something else to draw Abigail to him, and in essence Darach. It seemed the only way to kill him would be by Angus’s own hand.
Michael applauded the success of hi
s immortal and the halfling. He too had been a bit flummoxed to see Sean exhibit signs of being a fire demon, truly one of the strongest and most feared branches of Lucifer’s ranks. It would be best to make sure the lieutenant stayed on the side of justice.
Chapter Twenty-One
Darach pushed his boots off his feet, yanked off his coat, and placed his sword in a corner near Abby’s bed. He then tugged his shirt out of his pants before lying down next to Abby.
Her wide-eyed stare as he folded his body around hers accordion style caused him to drop a kiss on her open mouth. After he drew away, he turned her pliant and way-too-sensual body away from his. No need to court temptation. Abby needed to rest, and come to think of it, so did he. With Arianna in the house, she would wake him if anything happened. Conner would be back also, and Sean could fill him in on the rest of the night’s events.
Darach stifled a yawn and closed his eyes. By the time he dropped off to sleep, Abby’s sweet snores filled the room.
****
Darach gazed out Abby’s bedroom window, and watched as the sun eased over the horizon. The mingled pinks, oranges, and reds made a beautiful picture. One he didn’t always get to see at the crack of dawn. As he waited for the sun to climb higher, he imagined what it would feel like to wake up every day with Abby. Would she be soft and kittenish as he made love to her in the morning, or would she be a tigress giving as good as she got? She’d turn down his offer of marriage and unless he could get her to change her mind, he’d never know. As he thought about never being able to have her for his own, a soft almost non-existent caress slid down his spine. Bringing with it a shiver of goose bumps, and a hard doze of lust.
He held his breath to see what Abby would do next. Darach prayed she’d do more, even if he knew he’d probably catch the wrath of the archangel.
Her hand moved southward and cupped first one butt cheek and then the other, giving them a light squeeze before stopping. When she didn’t touch him again, he turned to face her.
“Abby?” His voice was husky with lust.
“Yes?” Her voice was tremulous. Her eyes were wide with, dare he hope, desire for him.
“You ken I be bound not to take ye as I want to. If we start this, I cannae guarantee I willna finish it this time.”
Abby looked away and then back. “I know. And I know that if you do you’ll hate yourself.”
“So, what do ye want me to do?” He hoped she didn’t hear the desperation in his voice. Lord, he wanted her. No he shouldn’t have her. Yet, he prayed she’d want him to make love to her.
“Make me yours, please.” Abby whispered the words. “If we can’t be together forever, then please give me tonight.”
Before the last syllable of her last word dropped into the air, he pulled her to him. His lips stamped his approval of her answer, and his tongue carried his desire to Abby. His hands found and covered her breast, tweaking her nipples until they were hardened tips.
“Darach…” His name came out on a moan.
He pulled back from her lips. “Aye, I know. This time I plan to love ye all the way, Abby.”
“Don’t tell me, do it.” Abby’s tone rose as he replaced his hands with his lips, lightly tonguing her ripe flesh.
Darach loved how she sounded when he touched her. Loved how he could make her moan with pleasure. And yes, he would love sheathing himself deep inside her even more.
His hands slid down the arc of Abby’s curves, and to the hidden treasure between her legs. He wanted her ready, and yes, when he thumbed the indenture hiding her female nub, rich cream coated his digit.
Abby’s moan this time reached all the way to the tip of his manhood. Blood pooled and then moved through his erection making him harder than a mortar brick.
“Abby, me love, what ye do to me…” He dipped his fingers further into her warmth, slid first one and then another finger deep inside her core. As his blood rose higher, Abby pushed against his hand, her hips undulating in a dance as old as Adam and Eve.
“No more than what you do to me, my love.” She whispered the words against his lips.
He welcomed the rhythm, he moved his body in sync, and when she cried out her release, he caught her closer and still closer. One hand went under her knee as he pulled her wet flesh against his aching shaft.
Take her now, his body roared, but he couldn’t not like this, Abby deserved at least a bed under her back when he made her his. Darach lifted her into his arms, laid her on the bed, and then discarded his clothes. He followed her down and then spread her legs to his eager gaze. He loved how she wept for him, how her flesh was ripe with her climax.
Now he would find his.
Darach bent Abby’s knees and then positioned himself between them. Slowly he inched his way into her core. Her eyes were open but she didn’t say a word as he pushed deeper until he breached her barrier.
“Darach!” His name was a bit of shocked exclamation and thrill.
“Did I hurt ye, lass?” He prayed not.
“Only a bit. And it doesn’t matter; I need you now, Darach. Please…”
“Soon, Abby, we will both find what we seek.”
He continued to push and her hips cradled him as she locked her legs around his waist. Faster they moved and faster still, until a fiery blast of orgasm took Darach over the edge, and he took Abby with him.
****
Darach awoke to find Abby’s side of the bed empty. He reached out to caress her pillow and his hand brushed against paper. He pulled the note closer.
Dear Darach,
Thanks so much for keeping me company last night. I know it wasn’t easy for me to sleep next to you without us making love, and I thank you. I just needed to be held, and you did a great job.
Love, Abby.
“What the hell?” Darach looked down and found he was still dressed. He raked a hand through his hair. Could it have been a dream? Never had he dream about making love to a woman and the dream be so real. Just thinking about him and Abby like that made him hard all over again. As he thought of the tenderness, the unleashed desire he’d experienced as he’d made love to his dream Abby, he wanted to rail at the fates. Dammit, he wanted her under him for real.
****
Abby rushed up to the front door of her house, and then unlocked it. Arianna stood at her side, and motioned her back until she checked the foyer and the rest of the rooms for unwanted occupants. Once she gave the all-clear, Abby was allowed to move out of the tight corner Arianna put her in. Something about better to see what was coming and give warning instead of being attacked from behind.
Abby headed for the kitchen after she tossed her coat, purse, and briefcase on the couch. She grabbed a pitcher of iced tea from the refrigerator and pulled some cookies out of the cupboard, and placed them on a plate. Chocolate chip was one of Arianna’s favorites. She hoped it would pry her mouth open.
All day long, she’d had these crazy thoughts, erotic thoughts, about Darach. She knew nothing had happened during the night. He was still clothed, and her gown was down around her ankles as a granny gown should be. So was it just wishful thinking? Could she have conjured up such a sensual and breathtaking scenario from her subconscious? And if so what was she going to do about it? She needed to see Darach, and that is why she was going to pump Arianna for information.
“Okay, out with it. I know you talked to Darach during the day. What did he say and what are his plans concerning Angus? And did he say anything about me?” Her last question came out in a whisper.
At the immortal’s blank look, she changed tactics. “Of course, if you don’t tell me, I’ll just go to Sean and tell him you have the hots for him.”
“Abby, that’s a lie.” The immortal’s words were almost a screech.
“Oh please, you do too,” she argued back.
Arianna settled on a bar stool at the counter and swiped a cookie before Abby could stop her.
“No, I don’t. And I really don’t want to talk about it. I want talk about you.”
Arianna took a bite of cookie, giving Abby just enough time to wish she had not said anything.
“Oooh, that was good.” The immortal looked blissful, but then her features hardened, and her green eyes flashed. “I didn’t say anything in front of the guys, but you are one screwed-up woman. It was crazy what you did. And if you hadn’t looked so despondent and gone straight to bed, I would have told you so.”
Abby took a sip of her tea before responding in kind. “And did you forget who released the safety guards.”
“Arrgh! You mortals are insane. And no I haven’t forgotten my part in last night’s debacle.”
“Good, just so you know, you immortals are not much better.”
Arianna gave a long woeful sigh and then bit into her cookie. Abby waited impatiently for her to swallow the last bite. She still needed to know about Darach.
“Okay, I said I was at fault, I was, but it wasn’t that I have the hots for Sean, I told you I’m not looking for love at all, especially with a…”
“Good, glad you didn’t say it. Sean’s really sweet.”
“Sweet? I doubt it, but he does deserve better than—”
“Don’t go there. You would be great for him.”
“No, I wouldn’t. Too much baggage, and again we are not going to talk about it. Besides, I thought you wanted to know what Darach said.”
Abby plucked the red herring offered and decided she’d pounce on Arianna another time about the dark secrets of her past.
“Okay, tell me.” She took another sip of tea to wet her suddenly dry throat.
“He plans to continue to hunt Angus.”
“Great, I knew he wouldn’t change his mind.” Her cup landed on the table with a hard clink.
Arianna leaned forward. “Actually, he acted a bit distracted. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that type of look on his face when it comes to demons. I know he’s worried Angus will continue to come after you. It was just by the grace of God the men got here in time last night. I could never have held all those creatures off.”
“Gee, that makes me feel really good having you as my protector.”
“Cut me some slack, Abby. I’m good at my job, but eight-to-one odds is not very good even without me worrying about them getting their hands on you.”
