by D. C. Gambel
“A moment,” Cam demanded yanking me off to the side.
“We don’t have to do this,” I said cupping his jaw. I could still feel eyes watching us, but I didn’t care. This was a critical moment between the man I loved and myself.
“You were right. We need to know. Just…” he sighed. His fingers gripped my hips digging in harshly. “Remember I love you.”
I nodded rapidly. “And you remember that I’m going to be in your bed tonight.”
“Oh, I know. I hope you understand that I’m not going to be able to get the beast away tonight. He’s going to need to remind you that you’re mine.”
I smirked trying not to think about the fact that in a few moments I’d be kissing another man, and not just any man, but someone I lived with. “Like I’d ever forget.”
“Are we ready?” the demon asked a little too enthused. Cam nodded releasing me as Ty came to stand beside him.
“I got him,” he said squeezing my arm gently. I nodded gratefully.
With a deep breath, I approached to where Derek stood across the room. His stance was stiff. He hadn’t moved since before the decision was made.
“Derek,” I whispered. The icy glare he turned on me could give Cam a run for his money. I staggered when he turned it on me.
“No,” he stated firmly giving no room to argue.
“What?” Cam called out across the room, but didn’t move towards us. “Do you have a problem kissing my girlfriend? Is it beneath you?” I could hear the anger in his voice, but I think it had more to do with the situation than what he was actually saying. He was baiting Derek. With the way Derek was clenching his fists at his side, I wasn’t sure he realized it. “You kissed her before. Was she only good enough when you thought she was a virgin? Or was it the idea of her giving it up to a vampire?”
“Cam,” Derek hissed. “You need to stop.”
“No. I really want to know Derek. You warned me away only to kiss her yourself and right now you get a free pass but you don’t want to take it? What the fuck, Derek.”
“You really want to see me kiss your girl?” Derek spat harshly. Cam’s plan was working.
“Yes, actually I do. I’ve thought about it enough. I want to know if its as bad as I envisioned in my head.”
“Fine,” Derek spat yanking me to him. He tipped me back like an old movie scene. I gasped from the move and Derek sealed his lips to mine, his tongue plundered my mouth. It was rougher than I expected causing me to stiffen at first feeling the wrongness of the situation, but then I remembered Asmodeus wouldn’t be satisfied with just a one sided kiss. So I took his advice and pretended I was kissing Cam. Soon I was kissing Derek back. Our tongue moved together with less grace than when I kissed Cam, but I shoved that thought away. His movements slowed becoming less frenzied. My fingers threaded into his hair holding him close mirroring his lips every move while his hand traced up my back clinging me to him. When he nipped at my lip, I inhaled sharply, pulling back, feeling the sensation shot through my body. Derek eyed me curiously searching my face for some sign. I didn’t know what he was looking for.
“Well,” Asmodeus broke the tension as Derek righted me. “That wasn’t as chemistry filled as your kiss with Cam, but his reaction,” he pointed to Cam who was seething, “made this an acceptable trade.” I stepped away from Derek as the Demon of Lust took his seat behind his desk. “I do not have the blade.”
“Who does?” Ty asked.
Asmodeus shrugged.
“We had a deal, demon,” Cam hissed. Ty’s hand on his shoulder was the only thing stopping him from charging at Asmodeus.
“We did and I am not going back on my end. The blade was in my possession but it was stolen. I had suspected it was you,” he gestured to me. “My body guards were killed with your gift.”
“Shane,” I breathed.
The demon sighed, running his fingers through his hair. It was already in a perfect position so I knew it was a nervous gesture, which surprised me that this demon could get nervous. “I suppose. He took down six of my men in the process. We managed to catch a glimpse of him on camera before they went out.”
“Thor demon?” Ty wondered thinking out loud.
“We believe so. Even our back up generators went out.”
“Basically,” Cam spoke in a low growl that had me tensing, “you played us. You had no information to give.”
“Cam that’s not—” But the rage in his eyes silenced me.
“You received exactly what you asked,” Asmodeus stated. “It is not my fault that you’re upset with the price paid.” He glanced at me. “I’m curious, Genevieve. Is the lust flowing off of you for Famine, or did you heed my advice and think of War?”
Glaring at him was all I could do before Cam charged out of the room.
“You’re a dick,” I stated following after the man I loved. The Demon of Lust’s laughter chased after me.
I found Cam moments later standing outside the club. I could tell by his stiff muscles he wasn’t taking things well. I moved to approach him. My hand hovered just over his shoulder when Ty and Derek exited. I didn’t think it was possible, but Cam went even more rigid. Ty kept himself precariously between the two horsemen before even noticing Cam’s icy glare.
“Let’s go,” Cam stated without glancing my way.
The ride home was awkward. Ty tried to speak but no one added to the conversation that he remained silent after that.
The moment the Bronco stopped, Cam was twitching to exit. He practically ripped the seat off to climb out the back where he had been sitting beside me and charged towards the house with purpose. I was sitting behind Derek who hadn’t moved to even pull the key from the ignition. I opened my mouth to speak, but I never got a chance as he spoke first.
“You should go see to him.”
“Derek,” I whispered seeing him struggle too had me torn.
“I’m fine.” His eyes locked with me in the rearview. “Go.”
Hesitantly, I nodded sliding across the back seat to the passenger side where Cam hadn’t closed the door.
I was a bundle of anxiety as I headed to the house. Wrapping my arms around my chest did little to ease to worry. I gasped when Cam’s hand gripped my arm the moment I was over the threshold. Ty watched as he drug me across the house to the stairs.
“Aren’t we going to talk about what we learned tonight?” he called out as we charged up the stairs, but neither of us answered.
“Cam,” I tried, but went ignored as we approached our room.
Opening the door, he tugged me inside where he released me closing the door. The tension was thick. I braced against it, almost hoping it would swallow me and spit me out on the other side as I prepared for Cam’s reaction. He’d seen me respond to Derek. He had to know it was only because I was pretending it was him.
“Cam,” I whispered then gasped when I was suddenly pinned between his body and the door. I groaned as his tongue battled against mine. He was marking me, erasing Derek’s kiss.
“I hope you don’t like this dress.”
“Huh?” I asked, but the rip of fabric immediately answered my question. My breast spilled out, but Cam was quick to cover them with his hands, kneading them.
“Cam,” I moaned feeling his thumbs flick over my sensitive peaks. Just as quickly, he released them. Gripping the back of my thighs, he lifted me.
“Do you remember the first time I held you like this?” he asked nipping at my neck.
“Mm, hmm,” I nodded rapidly as flashes of the first time we were ever together flashed in my mind.
“The first time I tasted you here.” He leaned down swiping his tongue over my nipple before latching on beating the tender peak before switching to other. “The first time I touched you here.” His fingers found my center stroking me over my damp panties. “Is this for me, Evie? Did I make you this wet?”
Groaning, I nodded.
“That’s not an answer Evie? We’ve been through this before. I need to hear you
answer me.”
“Yes,” I cried out not wanting him to stop. I never wanted him to stop.
“And when you kissed Derek?” He asked shoving my panties to the side pressing a single digit into me. It wasn’t enough and he knew it. “God, not a virgin and yet you’re still so tight just like you were that night.” Then he withdrew his hand and I grunted my frustration. “You didn’t answer me,” he replied seeing my expression. I furrowed my brow as I tried to think what question. Then I remembered.
“I was thinking about you. You have to know that. Asmodeus wouldn’t have been satisfied otherwise.”
He smirked wickedly. “I know, but I had to hear you say it. Now,” he said settling my feet back onto the floor. I watched his every move worried that he was going to leave me a bundle of lust. He shoved the remains of my dress over my shoulders until it pooled at my feet. I stood there clad in my panties and thigh high boots. “That’s a vision I will store in my mind forever.” His gaze caressed my entire body making me feel completely naked, but I didn’t shy away. With Cam’s eyes on me I never felt bashfully over my form. Instead I was brazen. Fingering my panties at my hips, I watched as his eyes tracked the movement. Smiling, I began sliding them down. I barely had them past my hips when Cam was pinning me to the door.
“No,” he growled. “That is my job.” Gripping the material he ripped it apart at each of my hips so it didn’t hurt me before the material fell away. “Now,” he stated sliding his jacket over his shoulders before moving to his slack. The sound of material shifting and the metal of his zipper releasing was like music to my ears. “Wrap those sexy legs around me.” I mewled. He said the exact same words the first time we were together. I barely had a moment to brace myself before I was lifted and impaled on his length.
The fact that I was naked, with the exception of my boots, and he was practically fully clothed, wasn’t lost on me. I fumbled with the buttons on his shirt wanting to feel his skin against mine, but then he was pistoning in me and all other thoughts faded. He wasn’t gentle in his claiming. He was rough and dominating making my back arch to know that I was the only one who got to have him this way; that I was made to handle him.
All too soon, he withdrew. I glanced down at his glistening manhood. Feeling brazen, I dropped to me knees before him.
“Evie,” he warned, but I ignored it. Gripping my hand around him, I let my mouth take him in. Hearing him groan almost had me undone. He tasted like him and me. It was a heady mix. “Enough,” he growled, but I didn’t stop until he yanked me to my feet. Spinning me to face the door, my hips were tugged back and Cam slammed into me. My hands fell to the door for balance. With a roar, I felt the instant Cam let go of his semblance of control. His fingers dug into my flesh were I knew I’d have bruises, but thanks to being a horseman, they’d fade by the morning.
He pounded into me with skill and vigor that I was sure the whole house could hear me scream. I think that might have been his point. I may have been thinking about Cam when I kissed Derek, but one thing became clear. Derek still felt something for me, even if he denied it. Cam had seen him kiss me and I had felt it. Now War was making it abundantly clear that I was his as my body gripped his and I cried out his name.
Sagging against the door, I was barely able to remain standing. Cam withdrew before lifting me into his arms and carrying me to the bed. He disappeared a moment later returning dressed in only his boxer briefs carrying a wet rag. I went to reach for it, but his pushed my hands away, instead went about cleaning me himself. Afterwards he removed my boots, carefully rubbing each foot, before crawling in beside me, covering us both with the bedding.
“You’ve kissed two other men besides me,” he stated. When I didn’t deny it, he continued. “I’ve seen you kiss them both.”
I nodded unsure where he was going but decided to add my own two cents. “You’ve had sex with other women, Cam, and I’ve heard you with several.”
“That was all before you.”
“So that makes it okay?” I wondered.
“No, that’s not what I mean. Before we were together, I was a different person. It feels like it was all another life. None of it meant anything.”
“Cam,” I rolled over to face him. “Yes, I’ve kissed two other men since you and I first slept together, but you also have to remember, at the time, you said you didn’t want me. And I seriously doubt that those skanks you brought home, that you claim you didn’t sleep with—”
“I didn’t.”
“Were brought here and left without a single touch from you.”
He growled his frustration, which told me I was right. “I just fucking hate it. I feel like I squandered a gift. You were a gift; this pure, innocent girl that was made for me. Who’d never been touched. Then because of my own bullshit, other guys have done things that only I should have been allowed to do.”
I smirked at his possessiveness, but only to stop from hitting him. “They were just kisses. You were still my first kiss and my only everything else.”
He nodded curtly. “And it’s going to stay that way. You are mine.”
I smiled as Cam rolled on top of me blanketing me with his body as he kissed me. It wasn’t long before our kisses turned heated and we were off into round two.
Chapter 12
“So,” Ty said handing me a cup of coffee. The tension wasn’t quite as pliable, but it was at least not as suffocating as it had been the previous night. Ty was busy ignoring it, trying to push forward. “Shane has the Blade of Sin.”
“If Asmodeus is to be believed,” Cam muttered leaning against the wall beside the couch. He and Derek were keeping their distance from one another. Derek stood across the room in front of the large window distancing himself from everyone. If it weren’t for his occasional tense, I’d think he was ignoring the conversation entirely. I hadn’t had a moment to speak to him since he sent me after Cam, who wasn’t exactly glued to me, but seemed to know the moment Derek and I were on the verge of being alone and would appear. Jealousy wasn’t exactly a new look on Cam, but this was the first time I recognized it for what it was.
“Can you hack into their cameras?” Derek asked adding to the discussion for the first time. If it wasn’t related to what had been said, I might have thought he was speaking to himself with his lack of acknowledgment to the room and the low timbre of his voice.
“Tried,” Ty admitted, “last night. It seems their cameras are old school and not attached to a network. If we wanted to see them we’d have to get our hands on the physical copy and there’s no telling if they even exist. Some places record over old footage.”
“How important is it to know if Shane stole the blade?” I asked.
“Not life threatening,” Ty replied. “It would be good to know so we could try to determine why.”
“Why not ask Asmodeus? Maybe he’d show us the camera footage?” I wondered.
“No,” both Derek and Cam stated at the same time. They shot each other a quick glance, surprised to be on the same side.
“He’d want something just to tell us if he had the video then would probably want something more to share it,” Ty explained. “The benefit is simply not worth it.”
“So we go forward under the assumption Shane has it,” Cam stated. “Do we know why? I get it’s important but in what way?”
Ty sighed running his hand through his hair. “That’s the thing. There’s very little information on the Blade of Sin or Atropos’ blade. I even tried researching the Fates themselves and Cain, but besides the basic lore, there isn’t much there.”
“So it looks like we’re all on research duty?” I asked with a wrinkle of distain. Our library was the largest accumulation of supernatural information in the world. We had and index, but that didn’t make it any less of a hassle to discovers data on something that was almost as old as the Earth Herself.
Ty looked at me with a hint of sympathy before nodding. The collective groans throughout the room were unanimous that this was going to su
ck.
Huffing, I returned the book I had been staring at for the past two hours. The copious number I had looked through was unfathomable.
“Lunch?” Ty offered seeing my frustration. Cam was off to check with his informants. After we’d discovered Tom trading information with the vampires, and Shane’s attempt at working with them, he was positive the two were related. It was too much of a coincidence that the vampires discovered the location of the blade for it to be stolen by Shane. Derek was avoiding both Cam and me. I think he was waiting for Cam to punch him in the face. The fact that he hadn’t was worse than the punch itself. So instead of joining Ty and I, Derek was elsewhere having taken half a dozen books with him.
With a heavy sigh, I nodded.
I trailed behind Ty then came up short to the sight of Derek at the dining room table leaning over books with his head propped up against his hand as his elbow rested on the table. The back of his head was to us showing no awareness that we were there. With all the training I’d received, I’d become lighter on feet without a conscious effort.
Ty glanced back at me. He knew I wanted to speak to Derek, but with how flighty Derek was and Cam’s interference, I still hadn’t found the opportunity. With a slight nod, he headed to the kitchen leaving me to it while he made lunch.
I padded across the floor into the dining room. It wasn’t until I stood behind the chair beside him that he noticed me.
“Evie?” He quickly glanced around seeing we were alone. “Uh…” He began gathering up his researching halting when I placed my hand on his arm. Tensing he pulled away. I winced at his rejection. It had taken us so long to get back to being friendly after he tried dissuading Cam from me. We still hadn’t completely returned back to BC, before Cam, and after one night, one kiss paid for information, we were back to square one.
“You don’t have to go,” I stated shifting my weight back and forth unsure what to do or say. I’d been struggling to just find a moment to speak with him that I hadn’t really given much thought about what I would actually say.
