Unless she believed it, she would fear him and die. And also, quite possibly, hate him on the other side of existence.
All of the sudden, she was silenced by the thought of her secret. Fear slammed into her. Not of him, but of the past. For the first time, realizing they were no longer in the dressing room, she glanced around and immediately recognized the area. Why had he brought her here? She couldn’t allow him to learn the truth. Panicking, every muscle in her body stiffened, and she struggled to free herself from his embrace.
The fear, the absolute horror in her eyes, instantly brought him to his senses. He’d come far too close to destroying everything. He brought her here to help her face the past and accept that he knew the entire truth all along. He’d allowed her to pretend that, despite finding her here, he didn’t know what had happened to her. He would’ve allowed her to continue believing he didn’t know anything, but he couldn’t. It was driving a wedge between them. “Talk to me, little love—tell me why you’re afraid.”
Her thoughts were jumbled. Why had he brought her here? She was suffocating. Did he know the truth? Her heart beat frantically, painfully slamming against her chest. No. He didn’t. He couldn’t. It would be too much. She could never endure the shame and rejection. Her chest hurt; clutching it, she stared up at him, her entire body trembling uncontrollably.
“Relax, little love. You don’t have any reason to be afraid of anything.” Knowing she was about to collapse, he reached out for her.
Taking a step backward, the color draining from her face, she stared up at him. “Please,” she said, her voice weak, “leave me alone, Haden.” She needed to get away from him. She needed to hide. Her eyes darted around frantically. “Please, just let … I can’t be here.”
“It’s okay. You’re okay.” Taking a step forward, he reached out to her. “You’re having a panic attack.”
Shaking her head, she stepped back. She needed to leave. She needed to get as far away from him as possible.
“Breathe,” he commanded, keeping his hand extended, prepared to catch her. “You’ve no reason to ever be afraid. You’re safe with me.” Not giving her a chance to back away any further, he took her hand.
Her world was falling apart. She looked down at his hand wrapped around hers. It felt so good, so right to be touched by him. Shaking her head, she yanked her hand free. “You had no right to bring me here. I need to leave. I can’t be here.”
“Please, just let me go.” She desperately searched her mind for a way to escape the moment without revealing the truth. “We’re friends, Haden, nothing more.” She looked away from him.
“Stop lying to yourself.” His voice was a low and cruel growl, completely void of the tenderness she was accustomed to hearing. She looked up him, tears streaming down her face. A black mass of strange, translucent flames swirled around him. The ground rumbled deep below the earth. A strong, icy wind picked up. His black eyes reflected unbridled rage. Both eyes, even the whites, were as black as coal with flecks of silver.
Paralyzed by fear, unable to even take another breath, she stood absolutely still and studied him for a moment, wishing she could close her eyes to escape his dark, fearsome gaze.
“Damn it, Caylee, they’re just eyes. They change color with my emotions. They can’t hurt you.” Well, they could, but they wouldn’t. Not her. Never her. “I could never do anything to harm you.”
He grabbed her hand, pressing her palm against his chest. “My heart beats only for you. You are my life. The reason I breathe. We belong together. You need to trust me. Tell me what you are afraid of.”
“You,” she lied, her voice was pitiful whimper, but she held his gaze. “I saw you turn into a dragon. You’re not human. I’ve seen you do impossible things. Being alone out here with you terrifies me.” Forced by guilt, she looked away from him. “There’s something terrible and dark inside you.”
A sudden, terrible burst anger surged through him so that the ground shook enough to cause her to stumble. “The darkness isn’t in me.” Taking a step closer, he stopped directly in front of her, reaching out to lift her face toward his. “I am the darkness,” he whispered between clenched teeth.
Lightning erupted, zigzagging in dark, billowing clouds. She gasped, quickly looking away from him. Thunder boomed so very loudly. Bone-chilling terror raced through her veins. Eyes wide, she looked up at him. Black flames swirled around him, engulfing him and engulfing her. He looked wholly evil, his harsh features set in stone, intimidating and cruel. The image of huge, black leathery wings shimmered on his back for a few seconds, and then they became tangible. Very slowly, she stepped backward, looking from the left and to the right, searching for a way to escape.
He shook his head slowly, strange silver flames flickering in his black eyes. “You can’t escape a demon, little love—you would have better luck charming him.”
Infuriated, she looked up at him and shook her head. Wings or not, she wasn’t going to let him frighten her. “Fine—do your worst to me! I’ve no intention of wasting my time attempting to charm an ass!”
She stepped closer to him, lifting her chin, looking as fierce as possible. “Even if the ass is a demon or a dragon.” She paused. “I won’t run from you. I won’t give you the satisfaction.”
Placing her hands on her hips, she shook her head. “You’re not a demon.” Tilting her head to the side, she chewed on her bottom lip. “I don’t know what you are, but I don’t believe you’re a demon.”
Amused by her tantrum, he chuckled. With a thought, his wings shimmered and quickly disappeared. He immediately relaxed, allowing his anger slip away. The atmosphere stilled. She was afraid, but not of him. Even when he tried to frighten her with the truth of what he was, she refused to believe the worst of him. She was lashing out at him because she was safe with him. He was so entirely overcome with joy all he could do was smile at her. He was so very much closer to gaining her trust than he ever truly thought possible.
“I refuse to believe it.” Exasperated, she cursed beneath her breath. “And stop smiling at me.”
He shrugged, purposely appearing emotionless. “Why do you believe I will not harm you?”
Hesitating for several breathless seconds, she looked to the side to avoid his gaze. “You just wouldn’t.”
He gently swept his hand over her shoulders, walking in a tight circle around her. “There are many things I would enjoy doing to you.”
Grinning, he paused. “With you.”
He stopped directly in front of her, firmly grabbed her shoulders, and then slowly leaned down until his lips made the slightest contact with her earlobe.
“Are you absolutely positive I wouldn’t enjoy hurting you?” Softly, he kissed her earlobe. “Are you willing to bet your life on it?”
Closing her eyes, she whimpered. “Yes.” She was absolutely certain of it. His deep, raspy voice combined with the hot, seductive sensation of his lips caused her body to shudder. A sensational fire burned deep in the core of her being. Breathing heavily, she saw images of their naked bodies tangled together, moving together.
Startled, her eyes flashed open. She needed to get away from him. “Let go!” She struggled to pull away from him, but it was no use; his grip was unbreakable.
Despite her resistance, he pulled her nearer with very little effort. “Not yet.” He bent his head to feather kisses along her jaw. “First,” he murmured, gently nipping the tender flesh of her neck, “tell me what happened the night I found you here.”
He was trying to force her to accept the fact that he’d always known she’d been raped. She needed to admit it aloud to herself. She needed to know he didn’t blame her. She needed to know that it didn’t make him want her less. She needed to know it wasn’t her fault. She needed to believe she was everything to him. She was his life. Nothing could ever stop him from loving her. Nothing was more important than her. He loved her so much that he would gladly give anything, including his life, to protect her,
He was maki
ng her crazy. She couldn’t possibly take anymore. She needed to get as far away from him as possible. “Let go of me!” She jerked her right arm free and slapped him across the face. Rather than take evasive measures, he absorbed the blow and kept a firm hold of her. “Let go!” Frantic, she struggled to get away.
He lessened his grip but held her firmly. “Answer me.” His voice was calm but demanding.
No longer fighting, she took a deep breath and held it, meeting his gaze the entire time. She released her breath and then took slow and steady breaths in an attempt to regain her composure. The only danger she was in at that precise moment was being seduced by him. She needed to get away from him. She needed to end their friendship. She would never be physically strong enough to force him to let her go. She needed to find a different tactic. But what?
“You’re making me crazy. I can’t think straight. What do you plan to do next?” She glanced from side to side at his hands on her shoulders. “Do you intend to force yourself on me?”
“Damn it, Caylee, you know better.” Narrowing his eyes, he clenched his jaw. “I’ve been your friend, patiently pretending to be some sort of pathetic saint, never expecting too much, always waiting for you to be ready.”
Staring up at him, she shook her head. “You’ve been deceiving me all along?” And for what, sex? How could every minute of their friendship be a lie? Choking on the lump in her throat, she placed her hand over her it.
“Yes, I have. But you’re wrong—I would never take advantage of you. It’s not a matter of sex. Well, not entirely.” He released her shoulders. At the same time, she forcefully pulled away. She started to fall backward, but he moved forward with blurring speed and held her steady.
Pushing him away, she glared up at him, her arms crossed in front of her chest. “Why would you waste your time pretending to be my friend?”
“It wasn’t a waste of time.” He studied the confusion and rage in her eyes. “You needed time.” He couldn’t tell her he intended to take her last mortal breath and replace it with the breath of immortality. “You can’t fear me. You must have complete faith in my love for you.”
She stumbled backward a bit but quickly steadied herself. None of what he was saying made any sense at all. Why had he brought her to this place? If he knew what had happened, he couldn’t possibly want her as a lover. And for so long. No. He was lying. He had to be. But why? What was he gaining?
She smiled. He was angry. He was striking back at her for denying him. That was it. He was being cruel. And she deserved it. She’d led him on and then turned him down. He had to know she wouldn’t be so gullible. “I just want to go back to Mia’s shop. You mean absolutely nothing to me.”
“You’re lying.” Grinning, he looked down at her. “You love me as deeply as I love you.”
She turned and walked away from him. “Why are you ruining everything, Haden?” She stopped and looked down at her feet. He took a few strides and stopped directly behind her. She turned and looked up at him with so much pain in her eyes that he struggled against the urge to scoop her up in his arms.
“I hate you.” She was trembling so fiercely her voice was nearly inaudible. “I can’t be here.” Biting her lower lip, she looked up at him. “I never want to see you again.”
Lowering her head, she stepped nearer, until their bodies were only a mere centimeter apart. For a moment, she stared at his chest, watching it rise and fall with each breath he took and released. Why would he choose to bring her to where he’d found her? “Haden,” she said, teary-eyed as she looked up at him, “why are you doing this?”
He wrapped his arms around her. God help her, it felt so good, so right to be in his arms. She felt so safe, so thoroughly loved and needed. He bent his head and kissed her softly. “You know in your heart we are so much more than friends. You know our souls are bound together for all of eternity. We’ve both known we belong to each other ever since I found you lying here, so close to death.”
She wiggled out of his arms and stepped back. “Don’t say anymore.” Why was he bringing up the past again? How could he be so cruel? “We can’t be together like that.” She frowned, her lips quivering. “And you know it.”
Everything was ruined; they could never be friends again. “Why, Haden, why are you doing this?” Her voice was a sad, barely audible whimper.
“I love you, Caylee.” Closing the gap between them, he took a step forward, wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her deep into his embrace. “It’s that simple. I love you. I happily lived alone for a very long time. I never thought I would want to share my life with anyone, but I need to share it with you. You’re everything to me. You’re the most wonderful treasure I could’ve ever hoped to find. There’s nothing I value more than you.”
He bent his head to give her a slow, sensual kiss, and then, brow-to-brow, he held her gaze captive. “You can’t image how desperately I need you.” He took a deep breath, kissed her lips, and then leaned down near her ear. “I love you,” he said as he kissed her earlobe, “so much.”
Kissing her lips, he slowly leaned against her until her back was pressed against the trunk of a tree. For a moment, he hesitated, carefully studying every feature of her face, monitoring her thoughts. “We belong together. You’re my heart and soul. I’ll never let you go.”
She started to argue, but he silenced her with a kiss that went on and on. The wind picked up as they fueled the flames of their desire, but he ignored it until he heard the sound of thunder in the distance. Normally he could command nature at will, but his emotions, if strong, had a tendency to create unpredictable, uncontrollable storms. He reluctantly broke off the kiss. “I will take you back.”
“No.” Blinking rapidly, she stared up at him. What was she doing? Had she completely lost her mind? “You’re right. I’m sorry. We need to go.”
He shrugged casually, but there was nothing causal in his eyes. “You’re not returning to your uncle’s house.” It was a fact. He refused to argue over it.
“You have no right to stop me.” She glared at him, daring him to try. “You don’t own me.”
“Damn it, Caylee.” His arms enveloped her, holding her tight. “I don’t want to own you. I want your love and companionship.”
“Make love with me before we say goodbye.” The words came out unexpectedly, but she didn’t regret them.
Leaning back, he held her at arm’s length. “Goodbye?”
Ignoring him, she started to unbutton his shirt. At first he kept his arms locked, forcing her to remain a distance away. Opening his shirt, she leaned forward to kiss the base of his throat, tracing his well-defined muscles with the tips of her finger. The woman was killing him. His arms buckled, allowing her to press nearer.
“Make love with me this one time,” she whispered the words against his chest.
The words, this one time, tormented him, replaying in his mind over and over again as her soft, satiny lips brushed across his chest. He knew she believed in her heart there would never be another time for them to be together. He didn’t want to stop her, but he held her back at arm’s length again.
“One time?” Drawn to her, needing to taste her kiss and feel the warmth of her breath, he bent his head to get closer. “One time would never be enough.”
Standing on the tips of her toes, pressing her body against the length of his hard cock, she trailed kisses from his neck to jaw. She was shattering his control. More than anything he wanted to take possession her of body, but he knew better. He wished he didn’t, but he did.
“Wait.” He stepped back. “Stay right there.”
“Haden.” She took a step closer. “What’s wrong with you? Don’t you want to make love to me?”
He held out his hands to stop her, a little alarmed by the way they were trembling. “I can’t believe I’m about to ask you to keep your distance, but you’ve given me no choice.”
“Honestly, Haden.” She stepped toward him.
“I’m losing control. I could use
a little help. I know you’re not ready.”
She moved even closer.
He stepped back. “I’m serious, I need your help. Stay right there.”
“Well, I will admit you have serious issues and for that reason you might need my help. I can’t think of a more terrible time for you to be so stubborn.”
Lifting her chin, she smiled up at him, arching her brow. “Has it occurred to you I want you to lose control?” Grinning mischievously, she shrugged. “I’m ready, but perhaps you’re not ready.”
A faint odor wafted past them. He moved closer to her. Crowding her. His body went perfectly still, shielding hers, as he carefully scanned the area and constructed a powerful, magical barrier to prevent the ghouls from getting any closer. What was happening to him? He should’ve noticed they weren’t alone. After all, it was ghouls that were out and about. They were extremely ignorant, literally brainless corpses, completely incapable of doing anything covertly.
A gust of wind came from behind, causing her hair to cover her face. Pulling it behind her back, she look up at him as he looked past her. Lightning raced across the sky, followed by the sound of thunder. Carried by the wind, a terrible, musty stench filled her lungs. Death and decayed flesh. Terror brutally crashed into her heart so it skipped a beat. Her mouth watering and stomach twisting into painful knots, the memory of Paul’s insane hatred filled her soul with dread.
“It’s the vampire.” She moved closer to Haden, seeking his protection, so very thankful that his arms instantly pulled her deep into the shelter of his embrace.
~ Eight ~
SEVERAL FEET BENEATH the earth, Paul woke up confused and disoriented by the thick, heavy mud that covered his body. He seldom went to ground. And he’d never once, during his three hundred years of life, rested in the mud. He was anxious to get out of it but instinctively knew the sun hadn’t fully set. Normally he could easily withstand the sun, but his strength was significantly diminished. From the top of his head to the tips of his toes, worms and maggots crawled all over his body. His stomached burned with hunger. His nutrient-deprived muscles ached. He shifted to the left, attempting to find a more comfortable position, but rather than give him relief the movement caused every muscle in his body to spasm.
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