Eternity

by Tmonique Stephens

  One hand on the banister. One foot on the top stair. The bathroom door opened. A rush of steam fogged the doorway. Then Roman appeared. Beads of water dangling at the tips of his hair dripped onto his face, shoulders and chest, and did a slow stroll down his sculpted body. Around his waist, a towel hung low.

  He stopped short when he saw her and his sharp intake of breath caught in his throat. His gaze swept from the crown of her head to her toes. Then shot back up to meet her eyes.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” he thundered.

  An apology hovered behind her lips, but she wasn’t sorry. “I realize how ridiculous I must look in this.” She waved a hand over herself.

  “You don’t look ridiculous.” Husky and thick, his voice bolstered her confidence.

  Feeling a bit braver, she moved closer to him. “I have something to say.” His body clenched as if bracing for a blow and Stella swore she could see his mental barriers lock into place.

  “Say it,” he ordered.

  “I remember, Roman.”

  He blinked and his eyes slowly widened.

  “Since our night together in the mansion, I remember it all.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  She heard the hope in his voice. “Bianca, then Daniel and everything else got in the way.”

  He looked away.

  “They don’t matter. We do.” She spoke, but he turned and stared out the window at the shimmering lake.

  “I love you,” she whispered. “I’m tired of being near you, but so far away from what I want.” She took another step toward him. “I want the us that you’ve waited for, fought for.”

  Roman spun around. “What did you say?”

  A brilliant smile spread across her face. She crossed the room and embraced him. He bowed to accommodate her kisses trailing up his neck, across his jaw to his lips.

  “I said I love you, Roman Nicolis.”

  He pulled her close and fitted her against him. “Say it again,” he pleaded.

  Stella shook her head. “No, let me show you.” With a slight tug, she exposed all she wanted and stepped back to savor him. Her gaze roamed over every angle and plane of his body, enjoying the expanse of his chest, his brick wall abs and the tanned skin covering all.

  His thick, erection demanded her attention. Stella took his hand and guided him to the bed. She climbed in and beckoned him to join her. When he did, she pressed him onto his back and threw a leg over his. Pale and smooth, her daintier limb stroked his muscular thigh. His hand closed over her knee and teased her thigh and the curvature of her ass. She eased on top of him. The lace of her nightie caused a delightful friction between them as she leaned in to taunt his lips with the tip of her tongue.

  “I’ve dreamed of this moment for so long,” he groaned deeply and moved her hair behind her ear.

  Instead of hiding, she basked in the attention he paid to her brow, the curve of her jaw, the line of her neck and collarbone. “This isn’t in a dream.” She guided his hand to her breast. “I’m real. I’m here. With you forever.”

  Ever so slightly, his hand trembled. Desire pulsed in his eyes and in the throbbing organ pressed against her wet, yet still covered core. Urgently, her lips latched onto his and she devoured him. Tongue delving deep, mimicking the actions of her hips, torturing his mouth as she twisted his hair around her fingers and turned his head where she wanted him to go.

  He rubbed the globes of her rear. The calloused pads of his hands created havoc with her senses. Then he hooked a finger around the strip of lace separating the two halves.

  Trailing down to her molten core, he moved the thong to the side and teased the wispy moist hairs. “Marry me.” The words rushed from him and continued in a litany.

  “Anywhere, anytime,” she groaned, then lost all sense of reality when Roman flipped her onto her back and paid the same attention to her nipples that he paid to her neck, suckling the hard peaks through the lace of her lingerie, gently chafing his five o’clock against her nipples. She didn’t want this to end.

  Stella gasped when he pulled the thong aside again and dipped inside her. One finger flirted with her entrance, teased her swollen clitoris and then penetrated deep, pumping until her hips joined and set the rhythm. Senses on overload, she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think as Roman stirred the well of lava firing her soul, turning her inside out with need.

  Another finger entered her. Her slick folds spasmed. Writhing, hands fisting the sheets, chest heaving, she came.

  Before she could recover, he yanked the thong from her body and his tongue delved between her nether lips and curled around her clit, gently sucking and licking until she cried out.

  He switched their positions again. Suddenly on top, he slid deep inside, filling her hollow space with his pulsing erection, sending her orgasm into overtime.

  Stretched wide, insides burning for him to take her, Stella’s eyes locked into his blue orbs. Ecstasy and anguish, the two emotions played across his handsome face.

  “Ride me.”

  An order or a plea, she didn’t care. Her slick muscles clenched in eager response and her hips rose and inched their way down. Slack jawed, gasping for air, Roman’s eyes rolled back in his head. Heart full of love, his steel sliding into her heat, invading her body, her mind, her soul, and she welcomed him, accepted him. Loved him even more.

  “Do that again.” He begged.

  She did. Head thrown back, hands braced against his pecs, Stella set a scorching rhythm that left her man clutching the headboard while his hips surged up to meet her thrusts.

  “Stella.” Body rigid, he swelled within her and she shattered, waves of pleasure rippled in every direction. Bands of steel encircled her and pulled her into the shelter of his chest. The world fell away and all she had was the man she loved, pouring his love into her body and heart.

  Cradled in his arms, Roman eased her onto her back. Still firm inside her wet heat, he kissed her sated senses into full awareness and he moved inside her again.

  Her eyes snapped opened and she moaned at the passion etched on Roman’s face. He dropped his head into the crook of her neck and spread her thighs wider. Her fingernails scrapped his back, his sides and trailed down to his ass. He growled and she whispered, “What are you waiting for? Take me.”

  Thundering into her, sensations whipped through her, sending her into rapture as Roman shouted her name and came.

  Almost asleep, Roman lifted her from the bed. He carried her to the bathroom and into a warm shower. Reverently, he bathed every inch of skin. With a soft towel, he patted her dry and carried her back to bed. Settled against him, his chest pillowing her head, Stella listened to the words rumble from his heart to his lips.

  “With everything I have, I love you. Where you go, I go.”

  CHAPTER 32

  Stella stretched against Roman’s back. Then trailed kisses down his spine. He stirred, but didn’t wake.

  A giggle erupted. For the first time in weeks, the boulder on her shoulders was gone. She slipped the nightie back on and struggled into his robe. The heavy flannel wrapped around her twice before she belted it tight. Burying her face in the collar, she inhaled deeply and took the clean woodsy scent of him into her lungs.

  So this is what love feels like. This giddy sickness that made you want to sing and throw up at the same time.

  Desire spread languidly through her body as she watched him from the foot of the bed. She went to him, pulled to his side by bonds forged twenty centuries ago and during the last two months, and kissed his stubbled cheek. Another day and he’d have a real beard.

  She danced down the stairs and fixed a plate of leftovers. With a bottle of water, she took her meal out onto the porch.

  A huge moon hung low over the water and bathed the woods in an iridescent glow. In the heavens, millions of stars captivated her. The lake mirrored the night sky, beckoning her. She peeled the robe from her body and strolled to the lake. Wading in, the water lapped at her toes and cli
mbed up her body. When it swirled around her waist, plastering the lacy lingerie to her, she dived in.

  Beneath the surface she swam deeper to the center before surfacing to float. The deliciously cold water caressed her. She missed Roman. He should be here with her, floating in the water, doing things to each other. The lurid thoughts caused her to shiver.

  She started back to shore to wake him, but stopped. He was already awake and standing on the bank, his profile to her.

  “Roman. I was just coming to get you. Why did you get dressed? Take those clothes off and come in.” He didn’t look at her.

  Stella swam closer until her toes brushed the pebbled lakebed. She swept her hair out of her face. He hadn’t moved.

  “Roman?”

  Slowly, he pivoted.

  It wasn’t Roman.

  The soft press of Stella’s lips on Roman’s back pulled him from slumber. He wanted to pull her beneath him, but he was too groggy to budge. She’d drained him of all energy. Completely sated, he gathered his strength and reached for her. Instead, he found an empty spot.

  “Stella?” He shot out of bed, dragged on a pair of jeans and jogged downstairs. “Stella,” he called again, receiving no answer because she wasn’t there.

  “Roman.” Her voice came from outside. “Take off your clothes and come in!”

  A devilish smile split his face as an image of her naked, water touching all the areas he recently loved made him throb.

  Her scream shattered the fantasy.

  From the porch he spotted her in the lake. He took a step, when from his peripheral he saw movement.

  Everything, his hearing, breath, and heart stopped. Daniel stood knee deep in the water . . . between him and Stella.

  “Daniel?” Roman took a step forward.

  “Surprised to see to me?” Daniel eased further into the water.

  No, but damn I thought I had more time. “Yes. How is this possible?” Roman tracked him. Turning his head a fraction, he saw Stella still shoulder deep in the water.

  Daniel laughed a harsh grating sound that echoed in between the trees. “Did you think you’re the only one with power?” Another step, the water now lapped mid-thigh.

  Stella moved. Slowly, she shifted to the left, closer to the cabin.

  “Tell me how you’re still alive.” Roman inched toward him.

  “Divine providence. Just like you, I’m immortal.” Daniel dove in the water.

  “Swim, Stella!”

  Roman ran into the lake after him. Legs kicking, arms slicing, his body cut through the water. Deep in the lake, he dove beneath the murky waters, searching for Daniel. A few feet down the weak moonlight faded leaving nothing but inky gloom. Still, he swam deeper, unwilling to give up. His mind raced to Stella.

  Did she reach the shore? Had he circled around him and killed her?

  Lungs burning, he kicked to the surface and gulped a breath of pine-scented air, when something grabbed his leg and pulled.

  Stella’s arms ached and trembled by the time she reached the shallows. Frantic, she turned back to the lake, searching for Roman and Daniel, but not even a ripple disturbed the surface.

  Get a weapon!

  She scrambled up the bank, the water dragging at her. Sharp rocks nicked her hands and feet, but she ignored them and ran toward her goal. The cabin.

  Something splashed behind her. She spun around and for a second Roman appeared. His head peeked above the surface of the water. Before she could scream his name, he was gone. Sucked beneath the water, leaving only a few ripples to prove he was once there.

  She streaked to the cabin. Yesterday, before he returned to the Jeep, he handed her a gun, then she put away the food, but what did she do before that. Her gaze darted around the room.

  Think!

  Frozen between the kitchen and living room she forced her brain to slow down and heard a roar. Stella bolted to the living room window in time to glimpse Roman airborne. He landed bloody in the shallows—and didn’t move.

  Oh God! Did Daniel do that? Frantic, she flung things everywhere. She had to find the gun. Suddenly, she remembered and snatched up the accent pillow she tossed onto the table during that first night.

  And there it laid, the H&K.

  Roman didn’t know what grabbed and dragged him under the water, but it wasn’t Daniel. Daniel didn’t have claws that climbed up the side of his body from ankle to lungs.

  Roman brought his feet up and kicked. He connected and the claws pulled free. Then he swam hard. With each stroke, pain blossomed while the moon shimmered overhead. Something slammed into him and launched him into the air. He hit the shore with a disturbing crunch and couldn’t move.

  When was the last time I had my ass seriously kicked? Oh yeah, age fifteen, Reign beat the shit out of me. Can’t remember why.

  He heard a splash and raised his head. From one hundred feet away a reptilian monster walked out of the lake. The same beast from Central Park—but perhaps a bit bigger—or maybe his blurred vision made the animal seem larger.

  A crocodile face with razor sharp teeth in a snout that snapped open and let out a bellow no human could make. Its misshaped head balanced on a neck that fanned out like the hooded neck of cobra. Mottled gray and white pearlescent scaly skin twinkled wetly in the moonlight while a barbed tail flicked back and forth against the massive body.

  He didn’t care what Quin said; this couldn’t be Daniel. But Daniel went into the water. And this thing came out.

  “You came up here to hide. There is no hiding from me. I have tasted your blood and the blood of the other. There’s no place either of you can hide that I will not find.”

  “Daniel?” He had to ask.

  “No longer. I am Alamut.” The Thing barked and bobbed its head.

  Shit! It talks.

  “Daniel isss dead,’ the creature hissed. “My turn now.”

  Roman’s head snapped around at the sound of a gunshot. Stella ran toward them, firing his gun.

  The beast flinched and blood sprayed. Bullets entered his flesh, but didn’t slow him down. The creature walked toward him, unfazed.

  Roman lumbered to his feet. He needed a sword. He grabbed a thick tree limb lying near him. “Stop, get me a—”

  Arm outstretched, razor sharp claws fanned out and lunged for Roman’s throat. Quickly leaning out of the way, the claws narrowly missed his neck, and took a chunk out of a nearby tree. Roman brought the branch up and clubbed him. Once, twice, three times, beating the thick skull.

  Stunned, Alamut stumbled and slid down the steep embankment. A roar erupted from his throat and the seven-foot nightmare charged. Roman blocked one clawed limb and delivered a punch to the beast’s shoulder joint. A loud crunch and the arm dangled. Alamut roared again and grabbed what was left of the branch in his teeth, ripping it from Roman’s hands. Then slashed his bare chest.

  Roman staggered back, putting distance between him and his enemy as Stella continued to fire until the clip emptied.

  “Leave!” he yelled.

  The tail whipped around and slammed into him. Tossed into the air, the ground didn’t provide a soft landing. Bones in the process of healing snapped on impact. The beast turned its attention to Stella. With a sickening, grinding crunch, the arm popped back into place.

  Adrenaline surged through Roman. Broken bones aligned and healed. Torn muscles knit together. He gathered his strength. Sprung to his feet. He ran to a nearby tree stump and launched himself onto the beast’s back.

  Stella’s brain couldn’t process the animal emerging from the lake near Roman, but that didn’t stop her from firing. She emptied her gun into its back and gasped as the bullets ejected from the bloody holes, and the scaly flesh sealed closed. Its head swung around and its eyes nailed her. Blue eyes. Fear made her legs wobble, but she wouldn’t run away. Live or die, she wouldn’t leave Roman.

  But it didn’t want her. The animal ignored her and continued stalking Roman. She tossed the useless gun to the ground and streaked back to th
e house. A sword is what they needed and on the living room wall hung an arsenal of steel. She dragged a chair beneath the biggest one she could reach and yanked it from the wall. The blade landed with a thunk, imbedding the tip into the hardwood floor.

  Frenzied, she cut her hand on the sharp metal as she freed the sword and carried it out of the house. At the last minute, she grabbed the sword she trained with from beside the door. Unbalanced by the blades, she tripped down the stairs and landed on her knees. Sharp pebbles dug deep and tore her skin.

  Roman stood between her and the beast. Blood covered him, but his wounds closed while he continued to fight. She dropped her sword and lunged to her feet.

  “Roman!”

  His head whipped around.

  Arms straining, she heaved his sword in the air. Roman beat the monster back and raced for the weapon.

  Stella watched its arc and knew the blade wouldn’t reach him. His only hope would fall short between them.

  The beast pushed Roman away, dropped to all fours and scuttled for the weapon. She couldn’t let him have it. Grabbing her small sword, she made a dash for Roman’s weapon and almost grasped the tip when the beast leaped and snatched it from the ground. Claws wrapped around the hilt and swung the blade in a small arc aimed at her head. Bent backwards, twisting, the blade passed centimeters from her jugular.

  Slammed to the ground, air exploded out of her lungs and rushed painfully back in. Her breath seized again when the deadly metal came back around.

  She blocked his blow with her sword. The blade reverberated and pain radiated up her arm, into her shoulder, turning her muscles to jelly. The beast raised Roman’s sword again. She couldn’t handle another blow.

  Roman leaped on the animal’s back, grabbed its snout and twisted. The blade dropped from its hand and landed inches from her head. But its claws were just as deadly as they reached behind and dragged across Roman’s back and arms. But he didn’t stop twisting the thing’s neck. Vertebra grated together, crunched and finally snapped.