by I. T. Lucas
Chapter 50: Syssi
Oh, God…
Syssi wanted, needed to intensify the kiss, but she needed to please Kian even more. Something in her craved his dominance, wanted to please him, wanted him to be in charge of her pleasure.
It turned her on like nothing had ever done before.
She was so aroused, her hardened nipples felt like they were pushing against her lacy bra and threatening to poke holes through the sheer fabric.
Mortified, she suspected Kian could feel not only her hard little nubs pressing against his chest but the wetness soaking through her stretchy pants as well. There was no way the scrap of her lacy panties could absorb all of what her arousal was pouring forth. Panting, she dipped her head, burrowing her forehead in his chest to hide her flaming hot cheeks.
A moment later, she sucked in a fortifying breath and tried to push off to get up, but he held her down, returning her head to his chest and stroking her hair as he leaned and kissed the top of it.
“Shh... It’s okay, sweet girl. I’ve got you. I love how you respond to me. It’s perfect, and it turns me on so much I’m afraid my zipper is not going to hold.” Stroking her hair and running slow circles on her lower back, he waited for her to regain her composure.
On the one hand, she was even more embarrassed realizing Kian must’ve sensed how disturbed she was by her own reaction. But on the other, she appreciated his effort to ease her discomfort by admitting he was just as affected as she was.
Feeling the evidence of his arousal prod her butt, she chuckled and looked up hesitantly, not sure if Kian was joking or not.
His expression surprised her.
He regarded her as if she was special, precious, and not the disgrace to the feminist movement she’d felt like a moment ago.
Syssi didn’t know what to say or how to react. Luckily, she didn’t have to; his phone chimed, disrupting the sexually charged atmosphere.
Shifting his weight and wiggling to get the device out of his pants pocket, he kept his hold on her, delivering a quick peck to her forehead before answering the call. “Don’t go anywhere,” he whispered while covering the mic with his thumb.
As if she could.
With his hand drawing small circles on her back, and his hard muscular chest tempting her to rest her cheek on it, Kian’s warmth and alluring smell lulled her into a hazy, dreamy state.
She heard him and the other guy talk, but the words didn’t register.
The maelstrom of emotions and cravings were all new and uncharted territory for her. She had met the man just a few days ago for goodness’ sake, and already she was dreaming about him, wanting him, needing him with an intensity bordering on desperation.
But what puzzled her even more was that despite his previous efforts to appear uninterested, he seemed to feel the same way about her. Was this crazy attraction the work of wild pheromones on steroids? Or was there more to it?
Words like destiny and fate floated through her mind, but she waved them away. Only fools and hopeless romantics believed in those.
Syssi didn’t count herself as either.
Play it cool. Guard your heart.
Kian sighed as he returned the phone to his pocket. “As much as I hate to, I have to take care of a potentially combustible situation. Though believe me, I would’ve much preferred to stay here and stoke this one.” Smiling suggestively, he quickly kissed her lips and lifted her off his lap.
“Make yourself at home. Okidu will show you around and help you get settled. Ask him for anything you need. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He turned to leave.
“Wait. I don’t think it’s a good idea, Kian. I understand why I can’t stay with Andrew, but I can join my parents in Africa. I’m sure I’ll be safe there.”
Moving into Kian’s penthouse, even temporarily, would be a mistake. With the electrified currents sparking between them they might get carried away into doing something they would both later regret, albeit for different reasons. Hers would be a broken heart, his would be regret over breaking it.
Kian turned back and got in her face. With only scant inches between them, he took hold of her chin, tilting her head so she was forced to gaze into his hard eyes.
“You’re not going anywhere. You’re mine to protect, mine to take care of, and this place has the best security money and loyalty can buy. I will not trust anyone and anyplace else with your safety. So make yourself at home.”
That predatory look that had made her heart flutter before was back, but as he smiled a tight-lipped smile, it transformed into something that was between sinister and lascivious. “We both know where this is heading, so why go through the pretense, Syssi? You might as well put your stuff in my bedroom. Anything else will be an exercise in futility.”
Syssi tried to escape his hold and look away, but he wouldn’t let go of her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes.
What a fool she’d been. The illusion she’d created in her mind, was just that, an illusion. The real Kian was a caveman, a big gorilla who thumped his chest and proclaimed all kinds of male bullshit.
Fueled by her deep disappointment in him, she felt her discomfort turn into anger. The polite, considered guy she had gotten to know was gone, and in his place was this rude, presumptuous jerk who thought he could order her around. Worse, who was under the impression she would be grateful he invited her to share his bed just because he was a great kisser.
The guy sure had an inflated ego, probably fueled by numerous too-easy conquests. Not that she showed a lot of resistance, or any for that matter.
The thought made her absolutely furious, mostly with herself.
That’s it, Syssi. For the first time in your life, you earned the official title of slut.
As much as she craved him, she was not about to become another notch on his belt.
“You may be right. I’m not going to deny this thing between us, but you offend me by presuming I’m the kind of woman who jumps into bed with someone she just met. I’m grateful for your concern for my safety, but if I’m not leaving for Africa, I would at least appreciate having a room of my own.” Unflinching under the intensity of his gaze, she continued. “Face it, Kian, this whole situation is temporary, and in a day or two I’ll be back at my own place—it’s not like I’m moving in permanently. So please, don’t make it harder for me than it already is.”
It was so unlike her to react so strongly. She hated heated confrontations and tried to avoid them at all costs. Walking away was more her style. Surprisingly, though, Syssi didn’t feel as shaky or disturbed by this as she normally would.
For some reason, she trusted Kian to respect her wishes. And even though she was still angry, venting some of it helped her realize that although crude, Kian hadn’t meant offense by his words. Like many guys, his communication skills were not that great.
But she needed to make a stand, else he would walk all over her.
His expression softened, and he let go of her chin to rake his fingers through his disheveled hair. “Forgive me, you’re right. Whatever makes you comfortable is fine with me.” He looked at her apologetically. “I wish I could be more charming and debonair for you, or even just patient, but that’s not who I am. A rough around the edges, insensitive jerk, that’s more my style.” He smiled a little, still looking contrite.
Syssi felt relieved beyond words that her original assessment of him had been right. Kian was a good guy. A little intense, a little crude, but his intentions were not dishonorable. Well, maybe a little. But that wasn’t a big deal. He was, after all, only a man.
With composure that surprised her, she smiled. “Now you’re just fishing for compliments,” she said to let him know that they were still okay. “I like you, Kian, just the way you are. I’ll take blunt and honest over charming and deceitful any day, but that doesn’t mean I’ll tolerate it when you behave like a jerk.” She rose on tiptoes and kissed his lips lightly. “Go, do whatever you need to do, I’ll be fine.” She grabbed his elbow to t
urn him around, and when he did, slapped his butt to send him on his way.
“Getting frisky, are we?” He laughed as he walked out.
“Just payback, smooth talker,” she called after him.
So that was it.
There was no going back. She’d admitted to Kian that she liked him, basically giving him a green light. Perhaps not for a quick seduction, she would make him work for it because he wouldn’t appreciate her otherwise, but she was finally ready to step outside her comfort zone.
To live, really live and not just go through the motions, she needed to start taking risks. Kian was a big one, but he was certainly worth it. Because if she gambled and won, it would be like winning first prize in the lottery of life.
Problem was, she had no idea what her odds were like. The stakes were high, that was for sure. Because if she lost, it would destroy her.
Chapter 51: Kian
On his way out, Kian chuckled and shook his head.
Syssi defied characterization. How refreshing—a real person and not a facsimile of some preconceived set of attributes. She was different, and he liked that she didn’t fit into any standard mold: shy and reserved in some situations, hot and wild in others. Taking her pleasure in yielding sexually, asserting her will otherwise.
She certainly stood up to him, as not many would, and even fewer could.
Reflecting on her spike of arousal at his little show of dominance, and how it had unsettled her, he suspected it had been the first time she’d experienced anything of that nature.
Syssi had no idea what to make of it, or how perfect he’d found her response to be. And although it had been only a tiny taste, Kian hoped to be the first and the only she would ever explore this further with. Regardless of how far she would let it go, he would love anything she would allow. He would go slow, introducing her to the pleasures of submission one little step at a time, careful not to overwhelm her, or frighten her.
A little fear was part of the game, but just a little. She needed to learn to trust him; to feel safe letting go with him.
Wait! Whoa... what was he thinking? There was no future for them.
And what a pity that was.
The more time he spent with Syssi, the more he realized how perfect she was for him. She was exactly what he wanted, just as Amanda had predicted he would, her courage to be honest and true to herself impressing him above all.
In contrast, Kian felt like a scumbag. A deceitful jerk. And the biggest joke was that she believed him to be an honest guy,
Trouble was, there was no way for him to come clean and tell her the truth, about anything really.
And that didn’t sit well with him at all.
It had been a mistake—a momentary lapse of reason, a weakness—to start with Syssi something that could never be. He must’ve been possessed when he’d blurted that nonsense about her moving into his bedroom.
What the hell had gotten into him?
She didn’t deserve to be talked to like that. Syssi was an amazing woman: smart, sweet, beautiful. In a few days, though, she’d go back to her old life, and he would have no choice but to scrub her memories once again.
This time for good.
For his own sanity, he needed to keep his distance.
Fuck, he was deluding himself if he thought he could let her go. He’d become obsessed with her, needing her to be near him to function.
He was so screwed. What the hell was he going to do?
I’m an idiot for starting this in the first place.
And it wasn’t as if he hadn’t known better.
What had he been thinking? That he would use her and then get rid of her like all the others?
Even if he were willing to sink that low, let his honor and self-respect go to hell, fate or perhaps his bloody hormones had taken the choice out of his hands. For some inexplicable reason, he needed her worse than a drug addict his next fix.
Perhaps he should book that trip to Scotland he’d been putting off forever. He hadn’t seen Sari and the rest of the gang in ages. But more to the point, it would take his mind off a certain sweet blond that was threatening to ruin what had taken him nearly two thousand years to achieve: Letting go of an impossible dream and accepting a fate of an endless, lonely life.
With a sigh, Kian stepped into the elevator and glanced at himself in the mirror. He looked miserable, tortured. If only he could talk to someone about this messed up situation, get some good advice, find a way to be with Syssi without ruining her life or his.
The trip to Scotland sounded like a good idea in theory, but the truth was that he didn’t have time for that. He was drowning in work, and taking even a few hours off required careful planning. Taking a trip to see family was out of the question, while getting any work done without Syssi around seemed impossible too.
Man, he needed help.
Pulling out his phone, he called the last person who he thought could do that.
“Hello, Kian,” Amanda answered cheerfully.
“Where are you?”
“Having my nails done.”
That would explain the Vietnamese he heard in the background. “When are you coming back?”
“Why? What do you need?”
Kian raked his fingers through his hair. “Could you invite Syssi to stay at your place?”
“Why? What have you done to her?” Amanda’s tone had turned accusatory.
“Nothing. Yet. That’s why I need you to take her away from me. She is driving me crazy. I can’t be with her and I can’t be without her. Maybe staying across the vestibule in your place will be a good compromise.”
“Kian, Kian, Kian. Stop being such a sanctimonious prick and just have sex with the girl already. Be gentle, though. It has been a very long time for her.”
“You have absolutely no morals, Amanda. And you claim to care for Syssi.”
“I do, you idiot, and I care for you too. That’s why I want you two to be together. You need each other.”
“She is a human, Amanda. And the chances of her being a Dormant are nonexistent.”
“You don’t know that. You’re just terrified of taking a chance. Stop being such a coward and take a risk. Live!”
“You’re not helping.”
“The hell, I’m not. I swear, if you don’t do it, I’m going to involve Mother.”
“You’re bluffing.”
“Try me!” She hung up.
Fucking hell.
Kian hurled the phone at the mirror, watching the device bounce off and land on the floor. Goddamned Shai had gotten him an indestructible cover after he’d pulverized the last one.
Now he had nothing to break. Unless he used his head. Banging it until it bled sounded like a plan. Maybe something would shift inside and he could go back to the way he’d been before.
With a sigh, Kian leaned his forehead against the cool glass. As much as he hated to admit it, Amanda wasn’t completely wrong.
He wasn’t living. He was functioning.
It dawned on him then that the only times he’d felt alive lately had been with Syssi.
Perhaps he needed to reevaluate his position. Take a chance. Maybe Syssi would turn out to be a Dormant after all, making him the happiest male on the planet.
He would never know unless he tried.
As the saying went; nothing ventured, nothing gained. He had to take a risk.
Problem was, unbeknownst to Syssi, she would be risking more than he, and unlike his sister, Kian believed that to do so was not only dishonorable but despicable.
Chapter 52: Amanda
With a smirk, Amanda slipped the phone into her purse and leaned back.
“What you happy for?” the nail salon owner asked. Holding Amanda’s hand and painting one of her long nails with bright red nail polish, she looked at her expectantly. There was nothing these hardworking women loved more than a juicy piece of gossip.
“I found my brother his future wife. He fought me hard on this, didn’t want to even meet her
.”
The woman frowned. “Why? She ugly?”
“She is beautiful, and smart, and sweet. He doesn’t know how lucky he is.”
The woman harrumphed. “Men are stupid. You good sister, find him good wife.”
“I know.”
“But if he not want see her, why you smile?”
“I had a little help from Lady Luck, and now my stubborn brother has no choice but to spend time with her.”
She should send a gift basket to the Doomer headquarters, thanking them for helping her matchmaking plans along. Inadvertently, by bringing Syssi and Kian together, they might have saved their enemy clan’s future. Except, not all of it had been good. The clan had lost Mark in the process.
Amanda sighed. They hadn’t been tight, but she loved her nephew and was going to miss him dearly.
The fates worked in mysterious ways, but they always demanded a sacrifice for bestowing their gifts. Had they taken his life in exchange for securing the clan’s future?
It was a horrible thought to mull over, and therefore Amanda got rid of it as soon as it flitted through her mind.
The old woman smiled, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “You think he fall in love?”
“I’m sure of it.”
The question wasn’t whether they would fall in love with each other, but whether Syssi was a Dormant who Kian could turn into a near-immortal like them.
Amanda had a strong feeling that she was, but there was always a possibility that she might be wrong. It was a frightening prospect. Kian and Syssi’s hearts were on the line. But there was no other way. The future of the clan depended on the success of this experiment.
DON’T STOP HERE
THE STORY IS ONLY GETTING STARTED
Turn the page to read
a deleted scene
And an Excerpt from
DARK STRANGER REVEALED
Book 2 In Syssi & Kian’s Story
