He smiled. “Probably.”
“Shit, she’s going to kill me,” David said.
Marcus laughed. “Let’s get out of here. I need to talk all this over with Shana, and they’ll be interrogating some Gorgons we picked up.”
As they headed to the entrance, she didn’t look at David. She felt his gaze roving over her, and he had to help her walk when a wave of dizziness swept over her. When his arm wrapped around her waist, she leaned into him, savoring the warmth of his body, the spicy scent of his skin, knowing this would be the last time. The man she’d fallen in love with already thought her disgusting because of her uncle. He would surely be appalled if he found out about her parents.
* * * *
“Your father wanted you to stay.”
Genoa glanced at Drake and smiled. “My father has learned he doesn’t always get what he wants.”
He sighed. “When I talked to him, he was worried that you hadn’t had time to recuperate.”
She watched the crew captain board the ship. Another hour and she would be heading to her parents’ domain in exile.
“I should go with you.”
She glanced at him. “No. You have things to sort out here on Earth.”
“There’s nothing here for me. My work is back home.”
“Drake, lie to yourself, but not to me. You need to be here.”
He grunted but said nothing as they watched more people board. “So, this thing with Adams…”
“None of your business.”
Silence reigned and she looked at him. His jaw was clenched; his lips turned down in a frown. Scents of protectiveness wafted toward her.
“I mean it. Stay out of it, Drake. I’m a big girl and I can handle my own life.”
He didn’t do anything for a moment, then nodded. She looked around, hoping to see her lethal lion stalking through the crowd and sighed when she realized she had been secretly hoping he would show up. David. Just thinking his name hurt. Each time she’d thought of him in the last three days, the pain would surface, slicing through her, tearing her apart, and she would start to cry. She sniffed and felt Drake tense beside her. Drake was a marshmallow when it came to tears.
“Time for me to board. Do what you have to do. There are things here that you must complete before you move on.”
His steely blue eyes studied her for a moment, the stark pain of his loss shimmered in the air around them.
“Tell your father I couldn’t stop you.”
“I don’t have to tell him. He knows his little girl.”
As she walked up the steps to the ship, a wash of new pain spiraled through her. She swallowed and kept walking. There was nothing for her on Earth.
* * * *
Five days after the attack, David was ready to scream. Shana had gone maternal on him and was flying around Marcus and him like Florence Nightingale with an attitude. While Marcus was lapping it up, David wanted to wrap his fingers around her neck and throttle her.
They were sitting in the library of Shana and Marcus’ apartment while she worked on the computer. She’d not allowed either one of them out of the house in a few days.
To make things worse, his sister had to keep bringing up Genoa and her worries about Genoa’s health. And if they would ever see her again. Fat chance of that. She’d resigned from the department, saying she needed to be at home with her parents. Like a woman like Genoa would sit at home. No doubt it would be less than a week before she would be out causing problems. Lord knows how many sticky situations she would get herself into. And who the hell would she turn to for help?
“One of the things was that she was always very thorough. What are we going to do without her, Marcus?”
Determined to ignore Shana, David let his mind drift back to the day he’d learned of Genoa’s duplicity. There was something she’d been holding back. He’d known it all along, but he’d been convinced it had to do with the job. Not her personal life. Of all people to be related to. Ripley Johnson—who still had not been seen again. From what Genoa had told them, he was spiraling out of control. Both he and Marcus hoped Johnson had gone over the edge and would never be seen again. But David knew better than to expect that. One of the things Marcus had voiced was his concern that Ripley would target Genoa since he now knew who she was.
“You don’t understand, Shana. With her family, things are complicated.”
David settled into a chair and grunted. Complicated. Damn fine word for Genoa. The woman was a problem from the word go. She had a smart-assed mouth, an attitude that just drove him nuts, and the sweetest kiss in the world. If he weren’t in love with her, he would surely hate her.
He blinked. Love? No, not love. People didn’t fall in love in a matter of days. They hardly knew each other. She’d lied to him, made a fool of him, and the thought of living without her turned his heart to ice.
David thought about his reactions, the fact he’d rediscovered his abilities through her after years of suppressing them, that every time he made her smile, he felt like he was the ruler of the universe. That just thinking her name sent a rush of blood to his cock.
Hell, he was in love with her.
And she was convinced he hated her.
Fuck.
“Well, I do say there is something to be said about royalty. She holds herself so regally.”
“Shana. She walks like everyone else. No biggie. And her father is no longer the ruler. He’s in exile, although he’s working behind the scenes. You know he had to give up the throne for her mother.”
The conversation finally penetrated his thoughts. “What the hell are you two talking about?”
Shana looked at him as if he’d grown another head. “Where have you been? We’re talking about Genoa.”
“You mentioned royalty.”
Marcus chuckled. “Genoa’s father was next in line for the throne. But marrying a human, and having human children? The Gorgons wouldn’t allow that. He’s been the source of most of our information about their threat. He wants to kick Atalas out and get someone else in there. He’s worried their race will be destroyed.”
“Genoa’s Gorgon?”
Shana placed her hand on his forehead and frowned. “Are you sure you’re all right? We’ve been talking about this for the last ten minutes.”
David waited for the pain of betrayal to hit again…and it never came. He should be incensed the woman lied by omission, again. Dammit. Nothing but acceptance for who and what she was filled him.
Without saying anything, he popped up from the couch and strode to his room.
“David? David, what the hell are you doing?”
Marcus laughed out loud. “I have a feeling I know just what he’s going to do. Don’t take any prisoners, David.”
“Oh, no, I have one in mind.” And he wasn’t accepting no for an answer.
Chapter 13
David followed the servant down a quartz-lined hallway. For some reason, he felt as if he were going to meet his Maker on judgment day. His palms were sweating, his heart beating hard, and his mouth was dry. He followed the servant into a room fashioned into an office.
The white hairs on the servant’s head were tinged with green. A sure sign he was a Gorgon, but hell, this was the home of one.
“Sir, a Mr. David Adams is here to see you.”
David didn’t see him at first. The room was filled with shadows, and it wasn’t until one of them moved that he realized who the servant was talking to.
“That will be all, Bercani,” said a gravelly male voice.
The servant bowed then left them alone.
“I understand you are here about Genoa.”
“Yes, sir. I’ve come to get her.”
Silence. Okay. Maybe he shouldn’t have spoken of her as if he owned her. But, Lord help him, he wanted to. He wanted to own her body, her heart, her soul.
Her father stepped out of the shadows, his arms crossed over his chest. He was a large man, having at least thirty pounds on David but sta
nding about the same height. His hair resembled Genoa’s—long and filled with dreadlocks, but black peppered with gray, and the ends tinged with green. His eyes were dark, forbidding, accusing.
“You made her cry.”
Another slice of guilt coiled in his gut. David had driven himself crazy with thoughts of what he had said to her, done to her, how he had made her feel.
“I know. Can’t help it. I screwed up. But all men do, or so my sister says.”
His lip curved slightly. “Yes, so my wife says. But you caused her pain, and I must now cause you pain.”
He stepped toward David, who readied himself for a fight.
“Dagadas, stop that this instant,” a forbidding female voice said.
David turned in the direction of the voice and was stunned. A tall, lean woman, somewhere in her early to mid-fifties, glided in the room. She wore her long red hair piled on top of her head, and she studied him with pale green eyes.
“I will not allow this. My baby is in enough pain as it is. I don’t want her to know either of you even thought of fighting.”
“But—” Dagadas said, but she wasn’t ready for arguing.
“But nothing. She’s been crying all day, and I am not in the mood to tell her that the two men who mean the most to her in the world are beating the hell out of each other.”
David chuckled. She shot him a look that would have wilted a lesser man.
“You think her pain is funny, young man?”
“No, ma’am. I was just thinking how much she resembles you.”
Her father let loose a chuckle. “He has you there.”
“Shut up. Now, she’s up in her room, third floor, second door on the right. She doesn’t know you’re here, or she would be mad. Go make it better.”
“Beatrice—”
“Oh, please, Dagadas, let it go. If she doesn’t want him, I’ll let you kick the shit out of him.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” David strode to the door. He went up two flights of stairs, his heart beating double-time. When he reached her door, he hesitated. Should he knock? Should he just go in?
As he stood there trying to decide, a wave of sadness slapped him and sank into his heart. The pain of it almost made his knees buckle. He swallowed, trying to control the wealth of emotions battering his body. Pain, anger, and sadness so deep it cut him to the core, flowed through him. Without another thought, David opened the door and walked through. She was sitting on her bed, her face covered with tears, her pain surrounding her, surrounding him.
He cleared his throat and she looked up. Her face was blotchy, her green eyes rimmed with red. She was a mess and she looked wonderful.
She narrowed her eyes.
“Hey, princess, how’s it going?”
* * * *
Genoa couldn’t believe the asshole had the nerve to show up. And looking like that. Dressed in his flight uniform, the material molded to every inch of him. Dammit, why did her heartbeat quicken at the sight of him, her blood heat to boiling? Oh, yeah, she was an idiot.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“I think we have a few things to discuss, Genoa.”
His deep voice sent a rush of tingles along her nerve endings. “No, I think we’re done discussing things.”
David stepped forward, his tawny gaze raking over her as if taking stock of her condition.
“No, I don’t think we are. Why didn’t you tell me you were half-Gorgon?”
She swallowed. How like a man to want to pour salt in the wound. “Why do you care?”
He drew closer and she felt her body ignite just from his presence. “I want to know.”
“You have to ask?” Sitting on the bed was not an option. Not with that hungry look darkening his eyes. She jumped off the bed, but before she could escape, he grabbed her wrist. A flash of heat shot up her arm and spread through her body from that one contact.
“Not so fast.”
“I’ll tell my father.”
“I just had a talk with him.”
She snorted. But her nerves were jumping. He was pulling her back to the bed. God help her, arousal pulsed through her. He sat down, then drew her between his legs.
“Now, explain to me why you didn’t tell me.” The tone of his voice suggested he didn’t want an argument.
What the hell? She’d tell him the truth and watch him run. “I was afraid to tell you.”
“Why? Afraid I’d turn you in.”
“No.”
“Genoa.”
All the pain of the last few days rushed to the surface. Tears gathered in her eyes, but she tried her best to blink them away. How could he be so cruel to her? Making her suffer the pain of losing him all over again.
“I was afraid you’d hate me. I just couldn’t stand it. Dammit, what the hell was I supposed to do? I’m in love with a jackass who thinks less of me because I have a loon for an uncle and my father is a Gorgon. Fine, feel better now?” She twisted free of him and started to back away. “Just get out. I can’t take any more!”
She shouted the last bit and he quirked an eyebrow. “You want to repeat that?”
“I can’t take any more.”
“That’s not what I was talking about. The part about loving me.”
“I didn’t say that.” But then she thought about her tirade and realized she had said it. Holy hell.
Without another word, she dashed past the bed to the door, but David caught up to her before she made it out. He picked her up by the waist and carried her to the bed. He dropped her and then covered her body with his.
This was so not fair. Every loving inch of his body was pressed against hers. His warmth seeped into her, melting her resistance. Possessiveness, arousal, and something she couldn’t define scented the air.
“You can’t take it back. Because I love you.”
She shook her head and he nodded. She fought the hope burning in her chest. He rested his weight on his forearms and looked down at her.
“You can’t love me. I’m Ripley’s niece and a Gorgon.”
“And the woman who makes my knees weak and my dick hard. Just making you smile makes my day. I love your delicious body and that smart mouth of yours.”
“You hurt me.”
His eyes lost some of their twinkle and his mouth pulled down in a frown. “I know, baby.” He bent his head and nipped at her lips. “But, honey, I was an ass. Do me a favor and marry me. Make me pay for the rest of our lives.”
Her heart leapt with joy. But she tried to push it aside. She couldn’t handle the hurt if he should turn away from her again. “How do I know you aren’t disgusted with me?”
He pressed his hardened cock against her sex. Instantly, the heat that had been thrumming through her slid down to her pussy.
“I’ll even live here. If you want to be close to your family, I can live here.”
“You want to live on Earth.”
He shrugged. “Well, yeah, but if you want to stay here…”
“You’d do that for me?”
He gazed into her eyes and, without breaking eye contact, he said, “I’d move to the outer reaches of hell just to have you by my side, in my bed, and in my heart and soul.”
Happiness filled her and she smiled. He answered in kind, his lips curling into a devilish smile. “Say yes.”
He nipped at her lips, then kissed a path along her jaw. His hand cupped her breast, caressing the sensitive flesh beneath the fabric of her dress. Her nipples tightened, her blood heated, and her whole body hummed with arousal.
“Say yes, you’ll marry me.”
His voice was dark with passion and he rubbed his cock against her again. Her nerves tightened, and liquid flooded her sex.
“On one condition.” She could barely get the words out.
“Anything.”
“We move to Earth.”
He looked at her, disbelief leaving his mouth opened. “Why?”
“You can’t stay away from Shana and your folks. I know
better. And your work is there.”
He paused then smiled. “You got it, princess.”
That said, David slid down onto the floor and pulled her legs over his shoulders. He pushed up her skirt and leaned forward. His hand pushed her legs further apart.
His breath heated her core. A moment later, his mouth was on her, licking her, lapping at her juices. The tension building in her body spiraled out of control. As he took her clit in his mouth, he added a couple of fingers. The whole while he talked, muffled sounds she couldn’t make out, but the guttural tone pushed her further.
Just as the tension increased, he was pulling away. Before she could focus on what was happening, he was on top her again, and entered her in one quick thrust. Oh, lordy. The whole long, thick length of him filled her. As he pulled out and sank back in, he groaned and captured her lips in a kiss so violent with need, she shivered. She tasted herself on his lips as he continued his strokes. She was crazy with desire, wanted nothing more than to have him scream her name and pour his seed into her. He reached down between their bodies and pressed against the tiny bundle of nerves. She shattered into a million pieces.
“Oh, yeah, Genoa. Baby, you’re so sweet.” David thrust once, twice more and then groaned as he came, his seed spurting, filling her pussy. He collapsed on top of her, and she wrapped her arms around him.
Nothing had ever felt this good, this complete.
They both drowsed for a second. Or minutes…neither of them knew for sure.
“Sorry. I must weigh a ton.”
He rolled away and pulled her on top of him.
“I have one stipulation of my own, princess.”
She looked up and smiled when she saw the mischievous look in his eyes. “And what’s that?”
“No more spying. No more negotiating with terrorists or messing with the bad guys. If I’m sitting behind a desk, then you are, too.”
She opened her mouth to argue and he stopped her by kissing her long and deep. A few moments later, he was bending her over the bed, and she forgot her argument altogether.
HARD HABIT TO BREAK
by
Melissa Schroeder
Prologue
Telepathic Cravings Page 17
