by Linda Wisdom
“Does he do this to you?” he asked roughly, thrusting upward and keeping her firmly in place. He needed this connection more than he had any other time. Needed the feel of her body surrounding his. “Can he make you scream his name?”
“No!” she sobbed. “I’ve never—“ She pulled in a deep breath as she tried to gather her scattered thoughts. “I never would do such a thing with him! He doesn’t believe in creating pleasure, only pain! He doesn’t want his mate to enjoy but to suffer extreme agony.”
He felt fierce satisfaction to know she’d never had sex with that creature, but it didn’t stop him from pushing her as far as he could. He rolled forward until she lay on the ground with him over her. His hips couldn’t stop pumping as he sought the high only Raven could give him. He felt the blood flowing from his dick up to his brain and back again. Raven wrapped her arms and legs around him while her tears stained his shoulder. Her fingertips pressed against his spine, sending a flash of fire upward.
“I won’t go back. I won’t go back,” she repeated over and over again.
Brady froze. That sick feeling was coming back. “Is that what this is about? You saw me as a way to stay here?” Sure, at first he’d lied to her about his motives. Could she have lied to him too? Was she that much of a manipulator? Anger simmered low in his belly.
Raven correctly read his thoughts. “No. I might do everything in my power to stay here, but I would never lie to you or use you.” She framed his face with her hands and pressed her lips to his but he lifted his head from hers. Hurt flashed across her face, but she never veered her eyes from his face.
He felt his balls tightening and the sheer force of his orgasm ripped through him like a freight train. As soon as he could, he rolled off her and sat up, panting.
“I never lied to you,” she whispered, reaching with shaking hands into the backpack for tissues. She froze when she saw his Glock tucked into one corner and a money clip securing an impressive amount of cash. She looked up and shot him a look meant to set him on fire. He was surprised that didn’t happen. She pulled her shorts up over her hips and tank top down over her breasts. She moved away a few paces and sat with her legs curved under her. For a moment, her eyes flashed that unearthly blue color, a hint of her heritage. “I’m not the one walking around with my stepbrother’s mark burned on my ass.”
Brady relaxed at her show of temper. Here was the ball of fire he’d known from that first day. Then he saw the hint of vulnerability in the set of her shoulders as she retrieved her discarded packet of Trail Mix and picked through the rest of the contents and still leaving the raisins alone.
Damn, he thought of her as someone who could handle anything thrown at her. So far, she’d given as good as she got. He never pushed a woman the way he’d just pushed her. Any further he would have called her a demon whore. Something told him he would have deserved everything she did to him if he’d tried that kind of shit.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured, reaching out for her. “And believe me, I’ve never said that to another woman.”
She delivered a punch to his stomach that drove all the air out. He choked. “Okay, you’re not ready to accept my apology just yet,” he wheezed.
“I hate you.” She pressed her forehead against his chest. “You are a brute. You lied to me. You fucked me as if you meant it. You wanted me to eat raisins and I hate raisins.” She sniffed. “And you smell really bad.”
Brady wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on the top of her head. He smiled as he listened to her whispered rants and curses she rained on his head. More than a few had him worrying about his masculinity. Once she ran out of steam, he planned to do just what she wanted-fuck her like he meant it.
She suddenly became silent. “And you are so not getting make-up sex.”
Brady settled for raining kisses on her face. “Okay, we’ll call it ‘Raven’s punishing Brady’ sex.”
She thought about it for a minute. “Okay.”
Chapter Six
Rough appendages that were razor-sharp claws dragged Brady away his protective curl around Raven’s sleeping form. He lashed out at the evil-smelling bodies surrounding him and was struck in the face for his trouble. Raven woke up immediately and screamed as she was likewise brutally pulled to her feet. Brady was only grateful they’d put their clothes back on after the last time they fucked. He didn’t consider it a good idea for the lizards to see them naked. He was furious enough with himself for not taking proper precautions to make sure they weren’t found this easily. Although he knew there weren’t all that many places to hide on an island.
He fought their restraining hands until a blow to the head had him seeing stars. Through the haze he saw Raven creating her share of damage with a few well-placed kicks and punches until one of the creatures grabbed her from behind and hauled her over its shoulder.
“Don’t resist, Rae,” he called out. “Don’t give them a reason to hurt you.” Fear built up like acid in his belly at the idea of what they might do to her.
“They don’t dare harm me,” she sneered, biting the creature’s shoulder and spitting out the chunk she took out. He screamed a curse and dug his claws down her bare legs. “I am sister to Shar, second-in-command and next to ascend to the Dark Throne. By the time my brother finishes with you there will be nothing even for the maggots to feast on.” Her shriek could have shattered glass as she continued raining curses on them.
One of the creatures roughly shoved its claws against Brady’s shoulder blades forcing him forward. Brady hissed at the acid dripping from the nails. “Something tells me she was serious with that last threat,” he muttered. “And I’m included with that do no harm bit.” A ringing slam to the back of his head forced him to his knees. “Damn!” He ignored the cackling chuckles as he slowly got up then found himself the creamy filling in a creature sandwich as one walked on either side of him as he and Raven were herded down the trail.
As they grew closer to the resort, they saw Pahso ordering his demon gang around and feasting on the koi that had been swimming in the small pond by the reception desk.
Brady looked over at Raven who had been dumped onto the ground. Her hair was tangled around her shoulders, a faint bruise marred her cheek-he’d get the asshole that did that to her-and she looked as if she’d been pulled backwards through a rabbit hole not to mention pissed as hell. She never looked more beautiful.
He cursed and fought the creatures that dragged him onto the patio dining area and received more than his share of punches to the abdomen and face for his trouble.
“Leave him alone!” Raven ordered, delivering a few kicks to her captors with little success. One delivered a stinging slap to her face that left her looking dazed. She quickly recovered and swore at them.
“If you hurt her, I will tear you apart with my teeth!” Brady yelled at the two creatures pulling Raven beside him.
Their dark chortles sounded like cackles as they pushed him down to the ground. Raven was pushed to one side. As she stumbled, a circle suddenly appeared on the ground and she was effectively trapped within its invisible confines.
“The females are used to pain. It is their lot. You took what was mine. I claim it back.”
Brady lifted his head and faced the creature that tried to look human., He could tell there was nothing human about the thing even if it was dressed like a clichéd thug in jeans, black t-shirt and shit kickers. Its shoulder-length hair hung down its back in a mass of oily black curls. A stench of sulpher permeated from its skin and stung Brady’s nostrils.
“I smell your cum on the female,” the creature hissed, swinging what Brady could only call a bad-ass sword guaranteed to slice him in half as easily as if he was soft butter. “The female is mine and you have desecrated her. She will be punished for that and so will you.”
“I am not yours, Pahso!” Raven shouted from the sidelines. “I told Shar. He will be angry if you dare harm me.”
“Raven, shut the fuck up,” Brady ordered, not ta
king his eyes off what might look human but sure as hell didn’t sound or smell human. Man, this thing stunk worse than a landfill under a hot sun. “Like the lady said, she doesn’t belong to you.”
A hint of a black forked tongue appeared past the creature’s lips as it circled Brady who turned in a tight circle so he wouldn’t end up with a surprise attack.
“What did you do to all the guests and staff?” he asked. He didn’t want to think of the number of causalities involved if the creature had his way.
It smiled, if the stretching of what must be its lips could be called anything remotely like that.
It flicked its fingers as if they held no importance. “They are all asleep.”
“He must have used a slumber spell. It would be an easy matter to use one that would affect everyone but us,” Raven called out. “Since this is considered purely a family matter he would be barred from harming everyone here. They won’t awaken until this is finished.”
Brady did not want to think what finished meant. He had an idea it involved blood and pain. Namely, his.
Pahso’s slitted eyes momentarily slid over her in a caress that was like black pitch. He turned his head and smirked at Brady.
Just seeing his action had Brady wishing for a long hot shower with plenty of soap. He hated to think what Raven felt like. Judging by the look on her face, she wanted to tear the creature’s head off.
“Shar spoiled you shamefully. He allowed you to run free when you should have been properly trained to stand by my side as my mate and perform your duties in a proper manner,” it hissed. “It appears I will have to train you myself.” The lust glittering in its eyes sent a wave of disgust through Brady’s body. He didn’t want to contemplate this thing touching Raven with even the tip of its finger.
“Shar doesn’t control me! I told you before, Pahso, that there will be no mating ceremony.” Raven started to lunge at it, but the edge of the invisible circle bounced her back hard enough that she almost fell on her ass. She settled for pounding her fists against the invisible barrier and screaming threats at Pahso that curled Brady’s hair and had him grateful she was on his side.
Shit! Brady had no idea what insanity he was caught up in, but it was definitely not good. If he wasn’t careful he had a bad feeling he could end up being dragged off to some dank hole populated by things that were pals of the psychopath facing him. Not to mention it was waving around a sword with the intent of cutting off his head and possibly his dick and not necessarily in that order. Brady was determined to not be dragged off to any hellish dungeon minus any body parts he considered important.
What kind of brother was Shar that he allowed this thing to come up here and just take Raven as if she was nothing more than chattel Were politics that important to him that he would honestly want her to be with something this revolting?
He jumped backwards when the sword came too close for comfort. What he wouldn’t give for his Glock right now, but one of his captors had crumpled it up like it was a toy made of tin. Maybe it wouldn’t have killed the thing, but he figured he could do a lot of damage to it. All he knew right now was that he had to do whatever was necessary to keep it away from Raven.
The creature laughed as it lunged at Brady again forcing him to jump backwards. He windmilled his arms as he narrowly missed falling into the pool. He jumped to one side and moved until he didn’t risk a dunking he knew he wouldn’t survive.
Damn, he really hated being on the defensive! He was good at hand-to-hand combat, but this kind of fighting was new to him. Give him a crazed terrorist any day. Them he could handle. He yelped when a line of blood appeared across his chest.
“You son of a bitch, this is my favorite shirt!” he shouted.
Pahso smirked. “After I have cut you into tiny pieces and feed you to my pet, your shirt will not matter.” A flick of the blade caught Brady’s cheek leaving behind another stinging line of blood.
“Sword!” Raven shouted, throwing out both hands in Brady’s direction.
He almost fell over when a flash of fiery light revealed a sword in his right hand. He shot her a quick mental thank you before grinning at Pahso.
“The female cannot do that!” the creature screamed, stamping its foot in fury. “This is our battle.”
“If he is to fight for me, he will fight by our rules!” Raven argued. “I can provide him with comparable weapons. This will be a fair fight, Pahso!”
“I don’t think shit for brains knows what a fair fight is.” Brady threw a smirk at the creature.
Brady swung the heavy sword in a wide arc, hearing a faint singing in the blade. There was no doubt there was a dark magic embedded in the metal and the last time he hefted anything close to a sword was when he was eight and pretended to be a Jedi Knight with his light saber. But he’d been in trickier situations and gotten out of them in one piece. Of course, then it didn’t have to do with his soul or a demon lizard. He felt Raven’s eyes on him, sensed her fear and something warmer that he was afraid to put a name to. “Hey, shit for brains, you don’t look so brave now that we’re on even footing,” he taunted.
Big mistake. This time when the creature lunged, he didn’t stop. It was pure reflex that had Brady lift his heavy sword to use as a shield. The force of the blade striking his sent a vibration through his body. It was sheer force of will that kept his hands wrapped around the hilt and not dropping it. He pushed back, wielding the sword, managing to slice the creature’s arm. Black blood streamed downward in a thick mass.
Rage shot through its gold eyes and it lunged again, swinging wildly but with the purpose of hacking Brady to bits. Brady ignored the aches and pains and fought to keep the deadly blade away from any part of his body.
Raven fought the circle holding her, but Pahso knew what he was doing. As long as the circle was invoked, she couldn’t move outside of it and was effectively in his power. She had hated him Below and up here her feelings toward him tipped into revulsion. All Pahso wanted was her family connections, so he could move up the ladder and eventually destroy Shar. That was the piece of knowledge she’d used to gain her vacation along with his promise he’d hold off any betrothal announcement between her and Pahso. Shar hadn’t wanted to believe her, but he agreed to investigate the matter. She thought once she made it up here, she would have the chance to fully escape. Instead, it appeared all she did was endanger the lives of the people here. No matter that Pahso claimed they weren’t harmed, but Brady was definitely in danger of losing his life. Because of the circle she couldn’t fight by his side, but she was able to provide him with a proper weapon. She felt dampness on her cheeks and lifted her fingers to touch the tears trickling from her eyes. It had happened before when she explained everything to him. Tears were unknown to her and now she had cried twice. If only Brady knew what a gift he’d given her.
She remained quiet because she feared words would distract Brady. She knew Pahso was lethal with a sword. She just hoped that Brady would survive, but if he didn’t, she did know that she would do everything in her power to ensure Pahso paid for her lover’s death.
Brady felt his strength slipping. A severe beating tended to do that. So far he’d managed to protect himself from major damage although that last cut burned like a son of a bitch. He hated to think what coated that blade.
As he backed up, looking for any kind of advantage, he caught a glance of Raven, trapped in her hellish circle. She looked scared to death and not at all like someone who might see this kind of combat on a regular basis. But what did it to him were the tears tracking her cheeks.
No way he would allow that thing to touch her. He dug down deep for strength and somehow managed to find it. Cuts and bruises didn’t seem to hurt as much as he lifted the sword higher and roared a battle cry as he surged forward. There was no hesitation as he swung the sword in an arc that connected with Pahso’s neck, the sound like a knife slicing through a juicy melon. The creature’s eyes momentarily widened then turned a flat black color before his head ti
pped to one side and his body to the other. Black blood bubbled out of his body in a steaming mass just before it burst into flames.
Brady looked at the other creatures. He hefted the blade, broadening his legs in a battle-ready stance as he waited for them to rush him and finish the job their boss had started. Instead they disappeared in a puff of red smoke.
“Brady!” Freed from her circle, Raven toward him but before she could reach him, another creature appeared and kept its arms around her waist. “No!” She hit it with her fist.
“Get your paws off her!” Brady roared, advancing on it.
“Brady, don’t.”
He spun around, his sword ready. Shar, attired in another immaculate suit, faced him.
“He’s one of mine,” the dark lord assured him.
“Then tell it to let her go,” Brady snarled, refusing to back down.
“Don’t hurt him!” Raven yelled, struggling to get free but having no success.
Shar faced his stepsister. “You cannot stay here, Raven.”
“Yes, I can!”
He shook his head. If Brady didn’t know better, he’d even think regret was written on the creature’s face, but what dark lord knows the meaning of regret? The kind of regret Brady sensed he was going to feel for a very long time if he couldn’t find a way out of this for the both of them.
“I killed your choice of mate for her,” he stated, hoping he was thinking like they would. “That makes her mine.”
“In your world, perhaps, but not in ours. Raven comes from a very strong lineage,” Shar explained. “One that doesn’t include a human in any form except as a pet. And I am afraid you would not make an acceptable playtoy.”
Raven pushed against her captor’s arms. “I mean it, Shar, do not hurt him!”
“Silly female, I don’t intend to harm Brady. He kept watch over you while you were here and he has been suitably compensated for that task.”
“Take the fucking money. I don’t want it.” Brady had a very sick feeling about this. That he just might lose this particular battle. He’d fought for his life many times, but he’d never fought for someone who mattered to him as much as Raven did. And now he would lose her because of a damn political battle. He cleared the emotion clogging his throat as he prepared to do something he’d never done before. Beg. “Please, leave her here with me. I will do anything. Give up anything. Everything.”
