Darkest Hours

by S. K. Yule

  Looking longingly at the deep whirlpool tub, Ebony turned the polished gold knobs on in the separate shower that was big enough for four people. She would make sure to take a soak in the marvelous tub later. For now, she needed to hurry so she could pay Ashe a little visit. It was time for some explanations, and she was determined to get them. She admired the smoothness of the huge vanity with double sinks and marble floor as she undressed then stepped into the steamy shower, sighing as the hot water massaged some of the tension out of her shoulders. Her headache slowly melted away as the hot water and aspirin worked their magic, and another sigh of pleasure escaped.

  * * * *

  Ashe grimaced at the constant pounding on his door, rolled over on his back and rubbed his eyes. “What!” Estril poked her red head around the door as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and stretched leaving the sheet draped around his waist. Her sly grin spelled trouble with a capital T. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with whatever it was she was up to this morning. Great, just what I need. He leveled his I-know-you’re-up-to-something-and-I-don’t-want-to-hear-it stare on her. “What do you want, Estril?”

  Estril sighed. “I just had a nice little chat with Ebony. She’s very pretty, Ashe. Smart, too. I like her. Where did you say you met her?”

  Damn, when did his stare stop serving as a sufficient means to shut Estril up? He was going to have to work on a new one. He ran his hand through his ruffled hair. “I didn’t say where I met her. You know I didn’t, and you’re here to stir something up so why not just get it over with.” Ashe just wanted a long, hot shower, and his patience wore thinner by the minute. Estril was one of the kindest souls he knew, yet she had a way of poking her nose where it didn’t belong as did most women.

  “Ashe, Ebony said she ran into you yesterday.”

  “Yeah, I think I already told you I met her yesterday, didn’t I?” So that’s where she was heading with this conversation. The expectant look that was mixed with hope on Estril’s face clenched his stomach into a thousand tiny knots. He yawned and tried to look bored.

  “It was during the day. I know you always hunt shielded. You know what this means. You have to at least acknowledge it, Ashe.” She hugged her arms around her middle and tapped her fingers impatiently on her arm.

  All right, enough was enough. This discussion was over. He wasn’t going there now. “Estril, this conversation is over. I’m getting up now, and I suggest you vacate my room as I’m not wearing a stitch of clothing.” Ashe gripped the sheet to make good on his promise and watched as his sister put her back to him as he stood up. His smile of triumph was short lived as she continued her conversation instead of leaving his room.

  “Please. It’s not like I’ve never seen a naked man. How naïve do you think I am? Don’t get me wrong, I have no desire to see you nude, brother, but neither will I run shrieking for the door because you threaten me with it.

  His jaw dropped. “My God. I do not even want to know about any man you might have seen nude. I’d have to kill him.”

  “Oh please. I’m six hundred and eighty-five years old, Ashe. I’m not a nun you know.”

  Ashe wanted to scrub that particular image of his sister from his mind. Yeah, she was no saint he was sure, but she was still his sister, and he was very protective of her as were Aiston and Aldin. “Look, Estril, some conversations are better left unsaid. And, you seeing naked men and me and Ebony are two of them.”

  “Ashe, I’m going, but you have to confront this at some point in time. You know this means Ebony is your viata amant.” She slowly moved to the door. “I love you, and I only want to see you happy. Ebony’s nothing like Shara. She’s good, Ashe. I can sense it, and I know you can, too.”

  “Doesn’t matter what I do or don’t sense, Estril. Ebony’s not for me, and I’m certainly nothing she’d want.”

  Estril moved toward the door but paused before leaving. “Don’t be so sure.” She slipped out the door.

  Ashe loved his sister, and knew she meant well, but hearing those words clenched his gut in dread once again. He couldn’t handle another betrayal. The last one nearly destroyed him. Of course, he knew Ebony was a genuinely decent person. Kindness practically rolled off her in waves. However, Shara started out as a good person too, and look where that got him. He didn’t want to know anything further about Ebony and had blocked himself from her emotions after their initial encounter. The thought of opening himself completely to her sent a foreboding shiver through his body laced with a small hint of anticipation. The latter he tried hard to ignore.

  He flipped the jets in the shower on full blast and stepped under them, steam engulfing his body. An image of green eyes swam through his mind and dented his resolve. He slammed his fist against the shower wall. An ominous crack sounded loudly. No, he would not go there again. His head jerked, and his nostrils flared as honeysuckle invaded his senses. He snapped the water off, stepped out and knotted a towel around his hips. The object of his thoughts had just entered his room. The question was why?

  * * * *

  When her soft knock went unanswered, Ebony turned the handle and found the door unlocked. She poked her head in Ashe’s dark room and squinted to see. She could see the big bed in the middle of the room but couldn’t tell if he was still in it. She slipped into the room and suddenly a big, hard body crowded against her back pushing her into the door she had just clicked shut. Sandalwood and soap teased her nose, and she was in no doubt whose body trapped her. Her nipples peaked in want. Embarrassed that she was finding his closeness a little too appealing, she began to protest when Ashe spoke. Mouth close to her ear, his warm breath fanned her neck sparking her nerves, waking them with promises of unknown pleasure.

  “Ebony, why are you in my room?” His words flowed low and sexy next to her ear.

  The heat from his body seeped through her back deep into her bones. Her bottom snuggled intimately in the cradle of his hips, and she could feel the hardness of his erection pressed against her. She slowly turned to face him, and he braced his hands against the wall on either side of her head. Her eyes followed the corded muscles in his forearms to his wide shoulders. A small, almost discernible squeak escaped her when she realized he was completely nude except for the white towel that hung loosely around his narrow hips. She licked her lips, and her fingers itched to yank the towel off. God, he was gorgeous.

  Water drops glistened and slowly trailed down his chest, and she had an overwhelming urge to dry him off, drop by drop with her tongue. Small brown nipples were nestled in a dusting of black hair that ran down to his navel where it made a trail to . . . Oh, my. Embarrassment flooded her cheeks as she quickly snapped her eyes back to his face. She had never seen a man completely nude, other than the few peeks she had caught at the naughty movies on late at night, but she was sure he would be a perfect specimen. His body was ripped in all the right places with hard muscle. Her mouth went dry, and her body grew warmer.

  “I’m sorry. I just wanted to talk to you, and I thought maybe you were still a-asleep when you didn’t answer the door.”

  Ebony’s small pink tongue darted out and back in again while she perused his body. She couldn’t help but take another quick glance at his towel clad arousal. She sucked in a breath and felt overheated. She knew the pale skin on her neck and face was turning beat red from embarrassment. Her heart thudded in her ears.

  He gave her a wicked predatory grin and watched her with hooded eyes. “I can lose the towel if you want.”

  “Ashe!” Oh my god. If he drops that towel I’m going to die. You are such a little liar. She wasn’t exactly sure what she’d do if he dropped that towel, but it sure as hell wouldn’t be dying.

  He shrugged. “What? That is what you were thinking wasn’t it? I’ve never been shy. If you want to take a look, I have no objections.”

  “Please. Just stop it. I just came to talk to you.” She wondered what he’d do if she grabbed the towel herself and yanked it off.

  “So you thought you�
��d come wake me for a little chat?” Ashe sighed at her naivety. “Ebony, it is not a good idea for a woman like you to come into a man’s room you do not know.” Her blush was immediately replaced with a scowl.

  “What do you mean a woman like me?” What exactly was that supposed to mean? Was he suggesting she was unattractive? She knew she had a couple extra pounds and wasn’t exactly modelesque, but she wasn’t ugly.

  Ashe moved his face closer to hers, and she pressed back harder against the door trying to put some distance between them.

  He breathed in deep. “Let me rephrase that. It is not wise for a woman as desirable as you to come into my room, especially if I had still been in bed since I sleep in the nude. It might lead me to think you were interested in more than just idle chat.” He watched her jaw drop in understanding.

  She could drown in the vast pools of his turquoise eyes and never miss air. “Oh.” He thought she was desirable? Surely a man as beautiful as he could not be the least bit interested in her. He was the type of man that usually had a model on his arm, not someone as plain as she was. She gasped as his eyes turned to near black and remembered they had done the same thing the night before when she thought he was going to kiss her. She couldn’t help herself and leaned toward him as his lips found her soft skin.

  A low, predatory growl escaped Ashe as he nipped and kissed his way along her jaw, stoking the heat flowing through her veins. Her heart pounded, and need coiled low in her belly while her breathing grew ragged. His touch hinted at a primal pleasure. Her body writhed in anticipation. His whispered name slipped from her lips, “Ashe,” right before his mouth covered hers, and all rational thought ceased as overwhelming need engulfed her, swallowing her whole.

  His tongue tasted the softness of her lips as the tip ran along the seam, gently biting then sucking on her lower lip to ease the sting.

  “Open for me, Ebony.” His eyes flared blacker as without hesitation, her lips parted, and he fastened his mouth back on hers. Thrusting his tongue inside he cupped the back of her head to hold her to him and deepened the kiss.

  The man’s mouth should be declared a lethal weapon. She couldn’t have told him no when he asked her to open for him if she wanted to. God, the man could kiss. Her toes were actually starting to curl. She hadn’t kissed many men, but she knew Ashe would take home the gold in that competition, and had obviously had plenty of experience himself. Jealousy licked along her veins at the thought. Ashe’s tongue tangled with hers, and she sagged against the door, her legs turning to jelly. He tasted wild and spicy and . . . male.

  “Mmmm.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he groaned before kissing her possessively as if branding her as his own. She wanted to be branded by him. Wanted him to possess her. Wanted to possess him.

  He devoured her. She wanted nothing more than to feel him slide deep into the welcoming heat of her body. She wanted to feel him stretch her, fill her, wanted him where no other man had ever been welcomed. She had never wanted another man like this, never thought she’d find a man she wanted like this. And, yet, she did want him. She wanted him more than anything. Her body cried out for him, weeped for him, burned for him.

  Her hands trailed a path of fire from his neck, down his back, and gently kneaded the tense muscles. He shifted his big body and began lifting the hem of her shirt. His breath fanned across her skin in long, excited gasps. His hands smoothed down her arms and then cupped her breasts. She fit in them perfectly. Before he could explore further, a knock sounded on the door.

  “Ashe?” Estril’s voice sounded faint through the pounding of Ebony’s heart. “Breakfast is ready, and both Aldin and Aiston are here. I told them you would probably want to talk to them. I already told Ebony about breakfast. She should be down soon.” Her footsteps retreated down the hall.

  Every muscle in Ebony’s body tensed. “Ebony?” Ashe whispered her name.

  She was mortified at almost being caught by Estril. Oh my, I’ve known him for less than twenty-four hours, and I’m acting like a teenager in heat. Even the deep sound of his voice made her body clench in want. What was wrong with her? She lost all control around this man. Embarrassed by her wantonness, she spun around, opened the door and practically ran down the hall.

  * * * *

  Estril’s senses were as fine tuned as his, and he silently thanked his sister for not letting on she knew Ebony was with him. Ebony’s face had turned beet red when his sister knocked on the door. He’d never seen a woman blush so much in his life. He watched as she ran down the hallway. She reminded him of a gazelle being stalked by a predator, which when he thought about it was not too far from the truth. Dammit, Estril had to have the worst timing. If she hadn’t knocked on the door, he’d probably have Ebony up against it by now, his body buried deep in hers where it ached to be. He took a deep breath, held it for a moment before letting it out in a long rush. After thinking on it, maybe Estril had good timing.

  He hadn’t been able to stop himself from touching her. The need to taste her, to feel her delicate, pink tongue mate with his own had been too strong. A low growl escaped him as thoughts of other carnal acts flooded his mind. The sweetness of her blood and rhythmic thumping of her pulse called to him, enticed him when his lips had touched the delicate skin of her neck. The scent of her life force mingled with the scent of desire had hardened his cock to the point of pain.

  He had been nearly blinded with the need to bury himself in her until he came over and over, filling her with his seed. His brain screamed at him in fury. Mine! Take her! Everything she did drove him crazy. The little sighs of pleasure that escaped her when he thrust his tongue in her mouth, mimicking what his body craved. The feel of the tight peaks of her nipples pushed against his bare chest through the fabric of her shirt. The way her lips looked swollen and red after his kisses. He wanted to claim her. Make her his in every way. Put his mark on her to leave no doubt within any male that might come near her that she was his.

  Since Shara’s betrayal he had never met a woman who was this appealing to him. Appealing? Yeah, if you called soul consuming, want to hump you over and over until you scream appealing. Obsessed might be a better description. I am so fucked.

  He didn’t need this complication right now. He was supposed to be protecting Ebony, not mauling her. She didn’t deserve the rough handling he had just subjected her to, but once he had touched her, he was damned if he could think of one reason why he shouldn’t. He would make sure to maintain distance between them from now on. There was no other choice because when he got close to her his mind caved to his body’s demands. She didn’t deserve what he had to offer, which was sex with no strings attached. She deserved love, and he was not the man to give it to her.

  He got dressed then headed downstairs. He needed to talk to his brothers about forming a plan to catch Ebony’s attacker. They had to find the information they needed, get this matter cleared up as soon as possible, and get Ebony back home where she belonged, away from him.

  Chapter Five

  Ebony breathed in deeply then out slowly and repeated the process several times, an exercise she used often to calm her nerves. The staircase was quite impressive with its deep mahogany color shined to perfection. She had heard the term ‘grand staircase’ and was convinced this would be considered such. She let out a small gasp when she walked through the swinging doors to the kitchen. It was no less impressive than the rest of the house.

  Thick rich marble covered the floors, and stainless steel appliances were neatly tucked in various places beside the hand carved cherry cabinets. It was a chef’s dream. Ebony was realizing how wealthy the Aleksandrov family must be. The small trust fund she had inherited from her mother and father’s tragic deaths cushioned her meager income at the library well enough to live comfortably, but in no way allowed her to afford such luxuries as the ones she had seen thus far in this house.

  The familiar twinge of pain in her chest made its presence known as it always did when she thought about her mothe
r and father. Her parents truly loved one another, and she remembered how her father used to watch her mother do something as simple as wash the dishes with pride and joy shining in his eyes as if he were the richest man on earth; or how her mother would find any excuse to hold her father’s hand. She dreamed of one day finding a love like her parents shared. Maybe she had set her standards too high as Avril always accused her of doing. She seemed to have no problem finding something wrong with the few men she had dated.

  She had only been ten when her parents were killed by a drunk driver. Her Aunt Jackie had been babysitting her that night. She would never forget the haunting sound of her Aunt’s sobs after opening the door to the police officer’s knocks. She hadn’t heard what the officer said, but even as a child, a deep foreboding had settled into her stomach. She knew something horrible had happened.

  Aunt Jackie confirmed her suspicions within moments. She had never cried so hard in her life before or since then. Her aunt had been her only living relative, and from that night on, she lived with her in the Victorian house she had grown to love. After awhile, she had become content living with her aunt, and they shared a close relationship. What were the chances the same thing would happen to her Aunt Jackie nine years later? If people would only stop to think of the pain their careless actions could cause others, maybe the world would be a better place.