Heart of Darkness

by Lauren Dane

  “Just so you know this, whatever else is happening between us, I need you.” He pressed his mouth to the place where her neck met her shoulder and took a long, deep breath.

  Swoon.

  “I plan to need you more than once.”

  His voice made her nipples harden to the point of pain. Yep, not just a bonding of like powers. This was a deep, DNA tingling, supercharged fuckfest of a bonding. Two lives united to heighten power was a given of the magick bond. But Dominic Bright was her heart’s mate as well as her magick’s mate, even if he wasn’t ready to know or accept that part yet.

  But she was certain. If he was simply a magickal mate, their connection wouldn’t have been sensual or sexual at all. But it sure as heck was sexual. All her parts paid attention in an oh-let’s-make-babies sort of way when their energies mixed.

  That knowing appealed to the organizer, the control freak within, satisfied her in a way she’d been totally surprised by.

  She shivered when his lips brushed over the outer shell of her ear as he whispered, “Six blocks. I live six blocks from here. I’d take you right here if I didn’t know the door would be pounded on sixteen times in the next hour. I’m in no mood to be interrupted.”

  “I’m across the lake in Bellevue.” She tried to move back but he held her in place. “We need to take this slowly. We can talk at your place. Unless it’s all stunk up with other women.”

  He laughed, taking two handfuls of her ass and snugging her against him even tighter. “I don’t play with women at my apartment. But I’m going to play with you there.”

  “Play?” She swallowed. What had she gotten herself into and could she get there faster? No! No, she needed to keep her mind above her waistline and be smart, damn it.

  He let go, only stepping a few feet away to pick up the phone, giving directions as his gaze greedily roved over her body like a roughened caress. “I can get us a taxi or we can walk. It’s up to you. Tell me and I’ll make it happen.”

  Goddess, she wanted him to kiss her again.

  She cleared her throat, lecturing herself to hold it together. She was a powerful witch, a smart woman and if she rushed into this without thinking, she might miss something good. This man was the rest of her life; it would be a crime to not pay attention.

  Yes, what they had together was intoxicating, but there were real-life considerations to be made. He didn’t trust or apparently understand much about clans and it would be a wedge between them if they didn’t address it.

  Clans were everything Meriel was. She was proud of what her foremothers had done before her to protect their people. As next in line, she’d run Owen one day. If he accepted her, he’d have to accept that too.

  But none of that was necessary right at that moment. Just then she wanted to be alone with him, to touch and be touched. She needed him all to herself.

  She smirked up at him. “My car is in valet. Some sad little wannabe named Spider, who’d piss his pants if a real vampire ever showed him fang, parked it. Better not have scratched it either. Really, Dominic, Spider?”

  His lips quivered as he tried not to smile. “I don’t name them. They come with names you know. I walked so I’ll let you drive, although I sense that may be a mistake. Give me the tag, I’ll have it brought around.”

  She handed it to him, both of them shivering a bit as their fingertips brushed, and he called quickly. A tap on the door sounded. Meriel opened the wards and Simon walked in. He took in the sight of her and cut his gaze to Dominic, looking mighty annoyed.

  “Damn it, Dom. You’re poaching.” He looked very handsome and territorial standing there. Until his nostrils flared and his spine lost its rigidity. “She’s got your damned scent all over her. Outclan witches like you have mates? You’re like one of those full-council guys and you didn’t tell me?”

  Dominic snorted. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t know and I’m still not convinced.” Meriel locked her jaw, holding her words back. Instead she rolled her eyes.

  Which Dominic didn’t notice as there was some sort of dick-measuring moment taking place between the two men. She sighed loudly and grabbed her bag. This startled them both and Dominic put his hand on her elbow.

  “Simon, you’ve met Meriel. I hope you enjoyed touching her because that was the last time it’ll ever happen. We’re going now. I’ll see you tomorrow. Keep an eye on the vampires near the back bar.”

  Dominic put his body between them, his arm tight around her and walked her out the back door where her car waited. Interesting. She’d never experienced that level of possessiveness before and goddess help her, she liked it.

  He stared at the powerful Camaro rumbling there. Waiting. “You said car. This isn’t a car. This is a dream. I’m impressed.” He moved the valet out of the way to hold her door open himself.

  She walked around and got in. “It’s not mine. It’s my best friend Nell’s. She’s on her honeymoon so I’m driving it in her absence.”

  He slid inside, his large form looking hot, even as he also appeared completely capable of violence if necessary.

  “Oh, I’m so going to fuck you in this car, maybe on it as we’re both tall. I’m at 2nd and Broad. The garage entrance is on Broad.”

  She didn’t tell him Nell would kill her for having sex in or on this car. It sounded really hot anyway. She followed his directions and they arrived in under two minutes. Neither spoke in that short time but for a few directional words from Dominic. The tension felt unbearably good.

  The building had good security but she still worked a protection spell around the car. Nell would also kill her if that car got scratched. They’d been friends since both could walk so it would be bad to kill each other over a car scratch.

  Meriel wished she could call Nell right then, to ask for some advice about this whole situation. Meriel could probably track her friend down. Nell would take the call and not ever complain. She was sure no one would give her better advice, but Meriel wanted her friend to have a honeymoon free from work or drama. She’d tell Nell about it when she returned. It was just a few days. Until then she was on her own. She handled lawyers and psychos all day long; it wasn’t like she was ill equipped to deal with this guy.

  He held a hand out.

  She took it, swallowing back a gasp as their contact reawakened the spark between them and their power surged again.

  Chapter 6

  IT wasn’t until she stood in his living room that she made a decision and one she knew was right, even as she hated to say it out loud. “We can’t have sex tonight.”

  He froze, blinking at her, disbelief on his features.

  “What? Why? Did you hit your head on the way up from the garage?”

  She allowed herself a long look at him. Holy crap was she in over her head here. He was so freaking hot. Long and tall, stylish. All the expensive clothes in the world couldn’t hide the very real fact that he was a predator though. He’d look delicious in a tux, but the brawler within would always be there, hinting at the edges.

  So much more than he appeared on the surface. Which made her hungrier for him. She wanted to know his story. That longing to know was as powerful as her desire to be naked and sweaty with him.

  That visual was so not helpful in her resolve. She twisted her fingers and ordered her hormones to knock it off. For all the good that did. They were doing a conga line and had two kegs tapped.

  “I don’t know if I can explain this right.”

  “Give it a try. Because I know you want me. I can feel it. I can taste your desire in the air.” He waved around agitatedly.

  “Once we give in and have sex, this need between us will only get stronger.”

  He interrupted with a sharp movement of his hand. “And this is bad why?”

  It helped that he was being a cock. “Interrupt much? Seriously, do boys just say anything they have to to have sex? It’s like you’re all frozen at age fifteen.” She began to pace and he tossed himself on a nearby couch, arms crossed, glowering i
n her direction like she’d told him he couldn’t have a cookie until after dinner.

  He made a sort of snorting sound that still managed to be smooth. “Please do enlighten me on why it’s bad to want each other more. And I’m going to have sex with you so I don’t need to say things designed to compel you.”

  Smug bastard. He couldn’t know it, but she found boys to be utterly charming. Not because they tried to be. But because they were just totally from another universe. All that focus on sex, when they weren’t dickheaded manwhores like some men could be, was cute. She wisely withheld that commentary though. Stern. Yes, she needed to be stern.

  “It’s become quite clear to me that you don’t know much about my world. You may or may not believe the whole bond-mate thing. I want you to want me for me. I want you to want what’s between us tomorrow and the day after. I don’t want to go forward and have sex and then next month or next year have you wonder, even just in the back of your mind if you would have made a different choice had we not rushed into sex.”

  “Meriel, come here.” He held a hand out and she looked at him carefully. He was the human equivalent of sour cream and onion Pringles and egg rolls. So very good, but man, oh, man, could she be in trouble if she allowed herself to gorge on him.

  Dominic started to laugh at how she looked at him. A few memories of what it was like to be a fifteen-year-old boy came back. “I promise we won’t do anything you don’t want to. I’ll stop when you say to.”

  She snorted a laugh and moved to him, keeping some distance. “Next you’ll tell me you’ll only put the tip in. I’m onto you.”

  Not liking the space between them, he grabbed her, pulling her boots off and freezing at the sight of her socks.

  “You’re all business and then you reveal some small thing, like these socks.” He looked back to the Hello Kitty socks. He’d noted that she had socks on back at the club, but he was too busy looking at the legs and being bowled over by her presence to see the detail. The cat had on a ninja outfit and was wielding a sword looking silly and fierce. Just like she was.

  “I like socks.” She blinked at him, he could tell, not sure whether to take him seriously or not. And he couldn’t really blame her. He wasn’t used to this whatever it was between them. He wasn’t an overly serious man any more than he was a silly one. He’d dated and he’d fucked a lot of women. He had women friends. But this was different and totally new territory for him. She made him feel things, want things he’d never imagined before.

  “I like socks when they’re on you.” He slid his hand higher, over the curve of her calf, up her thigh, all while she watched him, clearly torn between interest and suspicion. “You’re taking me right back to high school, Meriel. What’s your middle name?”

  Her brows knitted as she tried to figure out his game. She was out of her league, he was a con man, a master player and she didn’t have a chance against him.

  Thank the heavens for it.

  “Patrice. Why does this take you back to high school? Did you trick girls into sitting next to you and while complimenting their socks all innocent-like, you slid your hand up their thigh until your fingertips were just a whisper away from their panties? We’re all trained to foil your gender’s tricks, you know. I was a whiz at deflecting wandering hands.”

  He sent her what was supposed to be a reassuring smile but she snorted so he knew she was on to him.

  “I’m sure I said something like, I know you’re nervous, but I promise you’ll like it. Let me make you feel good, Meriel. I’m not teasing you now. I want that. How can it be wrong for me to want to give you pleasure?”

  Her breath hitched when he pressed ever so lightly, the heat and wet of her a siren song. The simplicity of that moment felt so very right. Goddess he wanted her, wanted to possess her in every way imaginable.

  Just a bit more and the heated crotch of her panties rested against his outstretched fingertips. Her lips parted on a soft sound of pleasure, a murmur, a groan, a wordless gust of expression that needed no interpretation.

  Keeping his eyes on hers, he slowly pulled the silky material back until she was bared to his touch. He had to swallow and count to ten and then twenty-five when all that glorious sweet slickness met his fingers. He’d made her that way.

  Her eyes found focus again and she started to speak.

  “Ssshhh. Let me. I want to give this to you. We can talk more about your no-sex thing when I’ve made you come.” To underline his point, he stroked from side to side until her gaze went glossy again and she relaxed.

  “This is a very bad idea. With your hands on me, it’s hard to think. All I want is more.”

  “Then let me give it to you,” he nearly purred it as he touched her. Covetous. She brought out an intense greed in him. It filled him from head to toe.

  “Are you listening to me? Sex is a deeply intimate act. Once we bare ourselves to each other like that it’s going to bind us on a basic level. Once it happens, our connection will only get stronger.”

  He backed off slightly, not removing his hand entirely, but ceasing to stroke her.

  “This is big. I know it and you feel it, but you don’t know enough about it to truly accept it. The way we feel together is intoxicating. Truly. Our chemicals and our magicks are meant to mix and work best as a unit. You don’t have to believe me, but I need to tell you.” She moved his hand back, out of her panties and he acquiesced, but stayed close.

  “In a very real way, we’re drunk on each other. I’m certain about this bonding between you and me. I was raised in a world surrounded by people with bond-mates. I know it exists because I see it every day.

  “But you didn’t grow up in a clan and you don’t seem to know a lot about us. So while I’m sure of the bond, I want you to be too. If we do this tonight, you’ll wonder one day and that would break my heart.”

  At those last words her bottom lip trembled just a bit and he ached to make it better.

  That and he had to admit he understood her point.

  “You’re going to kill me.” He moved her so that she fit against his side, not willing to not be touching her. “It’s going to be midnight shortly. Does that count as not rushing?”

  She frowned at him, but then shook her head with a slow smile. “You’re going to be trouble.”

  He laughed, surprised by her.

  “I want to fuck you.” He sighed and then that intensity of his focus was back and she shivered. “And just so we’re clear, I will fuck you. But I understand your perspective and it can wait. Not a long time or I’ll explode.”

  She snickered and he didn’t resist the urge to play his fingers through her hair. He liked being around her. She was the kind of woman who had her shit together. The calm and hyperefficient type he rarely ended up with and now he wondered why. He dug the self-sufficiency and the desire to ruffle her feathers and see just how wild she could be once he got down a few layers was nearly overwhelming.

  “Why don’t you tell me about the bonding?”

  “All right, I will.” She sniffed, slightly snotty and he dug it. “I’m going to give you the basics. You may know some of this so cut me some slack.”

  He didn’t know much, he admitted inwardly.

  “In every clan you’ve got two types of witches. Commonwealth witches, essentially ninety percent of the clan. And council witches.”

  “Why the disparity? Why so many of them and so few of you?”

  “Us. We’re freaks of nature.”

  He narrowed his gaze. “What?”

  “Most science points to a genetic anomaly. And a percentage of that percentage is compatible with each other. And when they connect their magick with the ascension—a spell that’ll unite our magick—they rise to an even greater level of power by several orders of magnitude. It’s our function, and our honor to use that extra power to run and protect the clan for the benefit of its members.”

  He tended to see that point and yet it bugged him that the few ran the clan for the many. And he
said so.

  “The wards at Heart of Darkness? I’ve seen only a handful of witches who can work spells like that. You’re already powerful and unique. Now, me? I could have done it and not tapped into the font. Because I’ve been trained. If you choose to ascend, you’d be able to do it ten times over without much of an effort. So it’s not much of a surprise is it? That witches with that sort of power end up running things?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know. I mean, I get it. But it seems undemocratic.”

  She shrugged. “It is undemocratic. We’re not a country, we’re a voluntary membership organization whose sole mission is to protect and enrich member witches.”

  “Did you get training to rule then?”

  “It’s easy to be flip when you don’t know anything. Yes, as a matter of fact. I’ve been in training since before I took my first step. I work, on average, nearly eighty hours a week.”

  “So do I.”

  She raised one brow, very slowly. “And yet, I’m not attacking your life. It’s the other way around.”

  “I’m not attacking anything.” Well, he supposed, it might appear that way. “Did you know your whole life you were meant to be full-council? I mean, because your mom is, you are too?”

  She let him get away with his statement, but they both knew she did. “Your mother must have been as well as your father. Children born of unions between two full-council witches will be full-council. Mixed couples it’s about a quarter of the time.”

  “It’s a wonder you’re not all inbred freaks.” As soon as it came from his mouth he wished he hadn’t said it.

  “Such a way with words.”

  “I don’t like my life and future dictated by a bunch of shit I had nothing to do with deciding.”

  “So don’t.” She shrugged and tugged free and he felt her absence acutely. “I’m not interested in forcing you to do anything, much less be with me. I want you to make that choice of your own free will. You still have it.” She pushed to stand.

  “I do? How’s that? You walk into my club, we have this, this thing between us and now I can’t get enough of you.”