Enslaved in Shadows

by Tigris Eden

  She looked over the juke box and noticed there wasn’t much in the way of music she’d normally listen to. She continued to push the button to get to the next set of songs when she found a track that made her smile. She and Faith would dance around the house singing this at the top of their lungs. Faith would laugh, dancing and twirling. Pretend she was playing the guitar and would always say, “Mama you have more than enough reason to stay, plus I don’t have to call you we live together.” Jesminda laughed and hit the play button. Tracy’s voice was slow and low as she opened up into her first bars of the song lyrics. She needed the comfort, needed to be reminded of happier times at home with Faith.

  Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn right back around Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn right back around Because I don't want leave you lonely But you got to make me change my mind

  Jesminda stood at the juke box and began swaying back and forth, eyes closed, she pictured her little girl twirling around on the carpet of their living room floor singing the song and playing her air guitar. The beat of the music soothed her, calmed the emotional storm she faced back at the booth. It completely took control of her and brought a smile to her face. She hummed the song tapping her foot to the music, letting the stress of the day drain away. When she opened her eyes and turned her head, a tall man sat at the bar watching her. He looks familiar. Like she’d seen him in a movie, or passed him along the street. He wasn’t hard to look at either. He winked when she focused on him. Jes smiled back and the man took it as an invitation. Relax it’s just a man. She didn’t feel threatened and she wasn’t sure if it was because Draven and Royce were only a few feet away, or if it was the way he approached. Unsure, he walked towards her while asking her permission at the same time.

  With an easy gait, he held his hand out and she took it. He gave her a warm smile that was friendly and calm. Warm gloved hands wrapped around her smaller ones. And before she knew it the two of them had begun a two-step. Not that she could two-step to save her life, but he was a very good lead. He wasn’t too close either, just a guy who enjoyed her company. He danced her in the little space they had in front of the juke box until the song ended. It was nice to escape even if it was only temporary.

  She’d completely forgotten about Draven and Royce until the gentlemen air kissed her politely and thanked her for the dance. Draven stood directly behind him, eyed the stranger with a murderous glare. The stranger with animated electric blue eyes smiled another smile before he went back to his stool at the bar, completely ignoring her barbaric escort. Draven grunted something low she wasn’t able to hear and took her back to the table where their drinks where waiting for them. She scooted into the booth next to Royce, and again he made a sound in the back of his throat. The sound rolled over her skin and settled in the pit of her pelvis and vibrated between her legs. She was annoying him on purpose, and loved every minute of it. Including her body’s reaction. Careful.

  Royce sat at the table sipping his drink. He ignored them both. He seemed very into his drink. At least she thought he was.

  “You know, you’re driving him crazy right?” Royce whispered into her ear. Draven folded his arms across his chest, unflinching in his gaze. You’d think he had x-ray vision or could read minds.

  “I didn’t do anything to him.” Jes protested.

  “You’re aroused, you know by the sound, “Royce pointed at finger at his head and arched an eyebrow as if to say, “remember I can read minds.”

  “Royce, I’m right here.” Draven grunted.

  “Your point is?”

  “My point is I can hear you, both of you,” he looked pointedly at Jesminda and took a deep breath, then took a sip of his drink. “I also can smell you, he’s right. You should try and control yourself, just a bit. I know I’m sexy. But as you have already stated, I’m taken.” Draven smiled with a beckoning stare. He was trying to get a rise out of her! She wanted to dump her drink on him. Anything to prove she didn’t want him, her mind was her own. However, indecisive it was.

  “Is that your attempt at comedy?” She asked.

  “No. It’s a fact.”

  “Hardly.” Jesminda took a sip of her drink and Royce took that moment to excuse himself. She simply continued to sip her drink. The air between them thickened. Coalesced into their compacted space and hung heavy between them. She could feel its weight settle on her shoulders. He made her anxious and uneasy.

  “Apologies about the way I handled the phone call.” He whispered.

  “You should be. Who did you think it was anyway?” It wasn’t like she really cared but making friendly conversation was better than just staring at her glass.

  “To be honest, I didn’t care. My only concern was someone has your number. Which you need to take care of. Marcus could have your cell tapped, or even your friends.”

  “Impossible. This cell was given to me by my friends father, she happens to be an immortal as well, Marcus doesn’t have this number.” She couldn’t fault him, he had a point. It wasn’t like she told him the phone wasn’t traceable. Information should be more forthcoming, and that was her fault. That still didn’t give him reason to snatch the phone from her.

  “Well, regardless I didn’t know. I didn’t mean to upset the child in doing so either.”

  “My daughter is a lot tougher than you think.” She should tell him about Faith. He had a right to know. So what if he had a girlfriend? Faith deserved to know her real father. That was the right thing to do, but how would she tell him?

  “My daughter is special.” Jesminda said.

  “All parents think their kids are special.” He answered dryly.

  “I know but she was different when she was born. The doctors could tell right away. She’s unique.” Sorry attempt at a hint Zealand.

  Draven didn’t look her way.

  “I’m sure she’s a gem. It’s a great responsibility to care for children.”

  “It is.” She agreed. The waitress returned with their food along with Royce.

  “So what were you two discussing?” Royce asked.

  “She was talking about her kid.”

  “Oh,” Royce sat up straighter and looked at her and then at Draven.

  “Yeah, I was just telling him how special Faith is.” Jesminda took her fork and began cutting into her pancakes. She loved breakfast food for dinner.

  “Draven, how do you feel about kids?” Royce asked.

  “You know how I feel. They’re okay as long as I can give them back. I keep my sisters kids. Even help my mom out at the center. But I can’t have children you know that.”

  He was still going with the whole sterile thing. Impossible. Faith’s proof.

  He obviously didn’t like children enough to have his own. She wondered what he would think when he found out he had a five year old daughter.

  “He’s going to have a set of pups on his own.” Royce answered. She dropped her fork and laughed. Draven finding out he had a daughter would definitely have him going into labor with multiple births. Royce patted her back to stop her from choking on her food. When he’d slapped her so hard she caught her breath, he quickly backed off. He thought she was about to go into a meltdown. She could tell by the rapid eye movement. Was she really that skittish? Jes knew he wasn’t going to hit her. She was safe with them. Damn, they both must’ve been on pins and needles this entire time.

  “I’m sorry guys.”

  She took a deep breath and continued. “I’ll be okay around you two, promise. I’ll try my best not to go fragile. Okay?”

  Both men look to one another and the tension eased from their shoulders. She could do this and not fall apart.

  When they were ready to get back on the road she excused herself from the table to go to the restroom. She passed by the bar again and noticed the handsome stranger she’d dance with was still there. Still staring. She didn’t get an uneasy feeling around him but then she wasn’t immortal and her senses weren’t as acute as Draven’s and Royce’s wer
e. Maybe he just looked because she’d walked by.

  After her restroom break she was ready to get back on the road and closer to her daughter. Draven was waiting for her by the door. He really was gorgeous. And that word didn’t really suit him. There was something about his raw energy that appealed to her on a static level. He never held back. Stood firm on his every action, his every move. It was an attractive combination sure to set any woman on fire. Just not her. Draven walked with her out to the car when she noticed Royce took the back seat. Fine, two could play that game.

  “Don’t do it.” he growled. “Don’t you dare get in the back seat?”

  “And if I did, what’s it to you? Huh?” She put both hands on her hips and cocked her head to the side. Be aggressive. Was he really trying to control her? Royce stuck his head out the back seat window.

  “Guys, time is of the essence. Get in the fucking car, and hey beautiful. Do me a solid and get in the front seat. I like my balls where they are, and Draven there has already mentally decided that should you get in the back seat, it would be the end of our friendship and the end of my life.” He stuck his head back in and sat back in the seat.

  Guess she was sitting in the front after all. Besides there was a huge ass arm rest in the middle she could deal. She got in the car and fastened her seat belt. She made sure she sat closer to the passenger window. Royce took out another of his red cigarettes and lit up.

  “Understand Jes, you may think he’s taken, but he’s not. If you know what I mean, and in a fair fight I could take his ass anytime wolf or human. What Draven here doesn’t understand is, if we have to fight, I’d make him my bitch. Isn’t that right juice box boy.”

  The fist that flew and hit Royce in the face was fast and almost un-seeable. She felt the air shift before she saw it. Royce’s head snapped back and then righted seconds later. Amber’s eyes darkened to black.

  “Stupid fuck, now I need to light a new smoke.” Royce reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out another red cigarette and lit up. “This is by far the first time I can really say, I enjoy reading your mind.” The smoke drifted up and around the back of the car in lazy waves. “By the way Jesminda. Draven’s already decided he’s going to fuck you. And to be exact he says he’s gonna fuck you good.” Red tendrils danced in the air with its spicy aroma, Royce closed his eyes and laid his head on the back head rest of the car and sighed.

  The car was eerily silent as they got back on the highway. Draven didn’t acknowledge or deny, just continued to drive.

  * * * *

  Royce and his fucking mouth were digging a hole six feet deep. A hole, Draven would gladly bury him in. Sure, he’d thought about fucking her, but thinking and actually doing were two different things.

  “Dude, your intentions were spot on. You want it and you’ve already made up your mind that you’re going to have it. Why fight the inevitable? She’ll respect you more in the morning if you just come clean with your shit and stop hiding behind this façade of stupidity. For fuck sake’s you’re a werewolf,” Royce made a sound of disgust in the back of his throat and continued to throw up all over the car with his words.

  “You’re leader of the pack, maker of your own destiny. Grow a pair. I know you hate me right now, but I promise you’ll both be thanking me by the end of this.”

  Royce sat back in the seat folded his arms and closed his eyes. More smoke rose from his nose. The silence from Jesminda was telling and for the life of him, Draven didn’t know what to say. He always knew what to say, no matter what.

  What did you say to a woman you fucked in the jungle? No names, no number, not even a fuck you very much, just disappeared. He’d even promised they’d never meet again. She’d showed up at Odessa’s well sexed from the previous night, still glowed and his scent was all over her. Instead of going for round two, he was hooking up with a vampire for information. When their eyes collided in the dark carven of the club he’d seen the hurt and humiliation in her eyes. He hadn’t even gone after her. She’d barely made it out of the club. Her body was shaking from the pain. He was sure if Bells wasn’t with her the entire ordeal would have been adversely negative on all fronts.

  Life had a way of throwing shit in your face, and rubbing said shit face in the dirt. He should have tried to stay in contact. She’s human. Your dad would have disowned you. Not that any of that mattered now.

  He cleared his throat and she sighed. He was a fucking maker, a doer. If he wanted something he would make it happen. He only had this one life, this one woman. It didn’t matter about the rest. His wolf was on board. It meant something that his animal half and human half weren’t at odds. All this time they’d both talked shit, it was time to make shit happen. He couldn’t take the silence. He needed to know what she was thinking. Was she upset? What the hell was going through that beautiful head of hers?

  “Fucking ask her,” from Royce. How the hell was he supposed to speak with the mind reader butting in at ever y turn?

  “Speak again Royce, and I will drop your ass off at the nearest rest stop.”

  “Agreed.”

  Jesminda rested her head on the head rest and closed her eyes. He should pull over at the next exit to find a hotel and get her in a nice bed to sleep. The only way that would happen is if she slept in the next room, because if she lay on a bed, within seeing range he was sure to fuck her.

  Draven shook the thoughts from his head. He was suppose to protect her not bed her. He hadn’t properly dealt with Melissa either, she still deserved a better explanation. His wolf hadn’t marked her. There was no imprint of his claws anywhere on her body. Melissa wasn’t his because his wolf didn’t want to mark her. In the back of his head he should have realized things were never going to work between them. They wanted different things were headed in separate directions. He would still apologize for his behavior but that was as far as it went.

  Draven reached for the radio at the exact same time she did. Their fingers tangled in the middle and then quickly separated. This wasn’t some romantic comedy where these types of coincidences happened. This was real life. Her fingers were soft and warm. His lust was taking over, and if he didn’t do something about it soon things were going to get physical. Really quick.

  “Sorry.”

  “No, go ahead I’m sorry. Put it on whatever station you want.”

  She gave him an easy smile and hit the button and searched for a channel. She found an easy listening station and the sounds of some sultry voice sang words of love and forgiveness through the speakers. She didn’t change the channel just closed her eyes and rested her head on the head rest and sighed. The curls in her hair still bounced as the car drove over the bumps and digs in the road. He watched her out of the corner of his eye as he continued to their destination.

  She was content and she never looked more amazing than she did at that moment. The soft lids of her eyes shut. Long thick lashes kissed the plumpness of her cheek. He had to admit he could stare at her for hours and never tire of the view.

  The blare of a horn had him dodging a car. He’d drifted over into the other lane. She fucking twisted his balls and made him stupid for her. Head in the game. He saw the exit up ahead. He really needed a cold shower and she needed a place to sleep without getting a crook in her neck. He needed her comfortable and in return he’d be comforted.

  “Now there’s a thought.” Royce droned from the backseat.

  * * * *

  The hotel wasn’t too seedy. It was dimly lit and away from the road, which if he thought about it was perfect. He pulled into the driveway and got out to pay for their rooms. He got one for him and Royce and one for Jesminda, the rooms were joined and he told himself that as long as the door to both rooms were open he could keep a sharp eye on her. His wolf knew her scent, and he could tell if she was distressed in a moment’s notice.

  Draven drove the car to their parking space in front of the two rooms and shut the lights off. The dark swallowed them in its comfort and the moon was a welcoming nigh
t light. Praise be to Luna, Draven thought. She was a beautiful yellow tonight and her light caressed his skin in a way that soothed his wolf. The gravel under his feet was loud as he walked around to the passenger door to get a sleeping Jesminda. Royce sat up from the back seat and nodded as he took the keys from Draven.

  “Finally I can sleep in a place,” he checked his surroundings. “Damn, the car is better than this crack house.” He strode toward the door and pushed his way inside and groaned loud enough to wake the dead.

  A very sleepy Jesminda nuzzled into his neck as he pulled her into his arms. Her body already recognized him on a personal level. She was sleep soft as he shouldered his way into the room and walked her to the bed. Royce closed the door walking over to their adjoining room. The air was stuffy, but all he smelled was her. Her tropical scent over powered the other smells.

  She stirred, then tightened her arms around his neck.

  “Stay,” she murmured sleepily. Her voice tickling his neck as she burrowed closer. Draven looked up and saw Royce smirk from the door way of the adjoining room. He nodded his goodnight and closed the door.

  This was trouble in all kinds of ways he didn’t even have time to delve into. She stirred again when he tried to pry her again and place her on the bed.

  “No, please, I’m safe with you and so is our daughter.”

  So is our daughter? What the fuck was that suppose to mean? She must have been thinking of the child’s real father. It pissed him off she thought he was someone else. But he couldn’t deny the stirrings deep in his chest, he needed to comfort her, make her feel safe. Even if she didn’t realize it was him.