Caressed by the Edge of Darkness (Rulers of Darkness Book 5)

by Amanda J. Greene

  Touch me, she wanted to shout, but her voice had abandoned her. She was already on the edge of bliss. If she kissed him now, she’d come. She was desperate for release. Each undulation of her hips against him increased her agony.

  Tunneling her fingers into his hair, she tugged his head down to hers. She could already feel the delicious tingling sensations of her mounting orgasm. Their lips a gasp apart—

  The room spun and she staggered. Her legs too weak to support her, she stumbled and reached out, gripping the bedside table to steady herself.

  No, no, no! Her body trembled from her denied release and shivered from the loss of his heat. Wrapping her arms around her middle, Jordan desperately held herself together. God, she felt like she was falling apart and Gabriel was the only one who could put her back together.

  He stood on the opposite side of the bed, his back to her. So close, yet it seemed as if the mattress were a continent between them.

  Why had he pulled away? Jordan was about to ask when Gabriel’s curse stung her ears.

  He was angry.

  She flinched when he growled another verse of profanities.

  No. Angry wasn’t a strong enough word. He was infuriated.

  Jordan took a few unsteady steps back. Wow. Hit a girl where it hurts. Vampire-2. Selfesteem-0. She cast a glance toward the adjoining doors. God, she was an idiot. What had made her think coming in here was a good idea? She knew better than to search for comfort from others. She’d allowed her long buried insecurities and her new set of imprisonment baggage get the better of her. And don’t forget about the hormones, she thought with a huff.

  Sneaking up on a sleeping vampire was dangerous and straight up foolish without a weapon in hand. He’d attacked her on impulse and the excitement of bloodlust was likely the reason for his erection, not her.

  Her gut twisted as she replayed the encounter in her mind. Gabriel hadn’t kissed her. He hadn’t caressed her. Hell, he hadn’t thrust against her. He’d stood still as she rubbed all over him, fighting to rein in his vampire.

  Oh, god. She’d molested him while he battled his base instincts. Was she so desperate for a connection? She’d been reckless, frantic, driven by pure need and the obsession to feel…something real.

  Jordan covered her face with her hands. She’d used him. Her voice trembling, she whispered, “I’m so sorry.”

  Gabriel continued to grumble in some unrecognizable language as he swiftly moved through the darkness. Drawers slid open and slammed closed. She assumed he was getting dressed.

  She knew he’d send her back to her room, where she belonged. Jordan braced herself for the silent, shadowed, loneliness that awaited her.

  Shaking her head, she dropped her hands and went for the doors. She wasn’t surprised when Gabriel appeared, blocking her exit with his wide frame.

  “Jordan?”

  His smoky voice made her shiver. Would she always respond to him?

  “I’m leaving,” she blurted. Though she couldn’t see his expression, she felt his scowl.

  He roughly cleared his throat. “Your robe,” he grated. “Please.”

  Her brows pinched into a frown as she glanced down at herself. Heat instantly burned her cheeks. Tugging the front closed, she synched the silk belt tight around her waist. She muttered “thank you” then shifted to slip past him.

  “Jordan—”

  “You’ve no idea how sorry I am. I took advantage—”

  “No, I promise you, you didn’t.”

  Shaking her head, Jordan continued, “I shouldn’t have approached you while you were sleeping.”

  “You’re right.” The words were sharp, clipped. “Are you in pain?”

  Only my pride. “No. I’m fine.”

  “Good.”

  Had she heard relief in his voice? Was he worried he’d hurt her?

  “You shouldn’t sneak up on a vampire.”

  “Especially unarmed,” she added with a nod.

  He advanced, stepping from the gloom into the dim light. “Do you think a weapon would’ve helped you against me?”

  She didn’t retreat. Tilting her head back, she met his gaze. Gabriel was nothing like the vampires she’d fought in the past. He was faster, stronger, and dangerously controlled. He’d had her, he could’ve broken her neck with a slight flip of his wrist. She’d never known a vampire to resist their baser instincts like he had. Sure, they could live off bagged blood or hunt only animals, but when threatened, they never failed to do what was in their nature to do. Armed, she could put up a fight—she was scrappy—but he’d easily dominate her.

  “It was dangerous, but I…” Thought it was worth the risk. Honestly, she hadn’t thought past wanting to be with him. Needing to be near him. But she had a feeling he wouldn’t respond well to that.

  Jordan stepped back then. Suddenly, Gabriel was too close. His scent was too strong, too alluring, and the warmth of his body too tempting. “I should le—”

  “Why did you come?”

  Nerves rising, she began to wring her fingers.

  “Did you need something?”

  Unable to meet his intense stare, she turned away. Her gaze immediately hit the bed. Irritated, she turned her focus to the floor and began nibbling on her bottom lip as she tried to find the words. She didn’t want to lie, but she didn’t want to sound needy or clingy either. She’d had a momentary lapse of judgment, gave into her temporary weakness.

  “Are you hungry? Is the room not to your liking?”

  “No.” Strange, the thought of food made her feel nauseated. “I’m fine and the room is lovely. Spacious. Quiet.” The last word spoken on a whisper.

  “Too quiet,” he said in understanding.

  She nodded then sighed, “I know, it’s ridiculous.” Spinning, she faced him again. “I should find it comforting not…unnerving.”

  “You’re safe. No one can get to you here.”

  She nodded again. “Yeah, it’s just that…I didn’t want to be alone.”

  Gabriel rubbed a hand over his jaw numerous times. His eyes shifted around the room. His chest expanded and he exhaled a curse. “You can stay here.”

  Stunned, Jordan didn’t know what to say. He was going to let her stay. In his room. With him.

  “I’ll take the sofa.”

  There was a sofa? She couldn’t see anything beyond the glow cast by the decanter. “I don’t want to put you out.”

  He disappeared back into the darkness. “No worries.” The sound of creaking leather whispered through the air as he settled.

  Jordan remained still. He was being so nice and understanding and she was invading his privacy, his space. She wasn’t about to take his bed.

  She grabbed a pillow and the blanket that was draped over the foot of the mattress and settled on the floor. The rug was soft. Closing her eyes, she turned her face against the pillow. Breathing deeply, she took in his scent and relaxed.

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  She shot up and came face to face with the vampire. He kneeled beside her, the shadows sharpened his scowl.

  “Trying to sleep,” she responded.

  “On the ground? You can have the bed.”

  “I didn’t think it’d be fair. If you aren’t going to sleep in it than neither will I.”

  She thought she heard him grumble “crazy human” before he scooped her up and she responded, “Compared to where I’ve been sleeping lately, it was quite comfortable.”

  “I won’t have you sleeping on the floor.”

  Jordan landed on the mattress with a hard bounce. “This was a bad idea. I should go back to my room.” Popping up on her knees, she shifted to climb off the bed.

  Gabriel pushed her back and she tumbled against the pillows.

  “Hey!” She scrambled back on to her knees, placing her hands on her hips.

  He collected the bedding from the floor and tossed them back on the bed. “You’ll stay.” Grabbing the decanter, he removed the stopper and took a healthy swig. />
  “What is that stuff?”

  Wiping his mouth, he met her confused, questioning stare. “Silver Moon.”

  She arched a brow. That was hardly an answer.

  “It’s liquor.”

  Oh, good. She could use a drink. As if anticipating her next words, Gabriel shook his head. “I’m not the sharing type, but if I were I wouldn’t give you this. Silver Moon is the only liquor that can intoxicate a vampire and it’s deadly to humans.”

  “Noted.”

  He took another drink. A few drops escaped his lips, rolled down his chin, and fell to speckle the white t-shirt he wore. Jordan’s eyes locked on his board chest. Gabriel used the hem of his shirt to wipe at his face. The momentary flash of tanned, corded abs punched the air from her lungs.

  Swallowing hard, she crawled forward. Extending trembling fingers, she whispered, “Gabriel?”

  He tensed, warily eyeing her hand, but he didn’t move away. When her fingers met his chest, he leaned into her touch. Emboldened, Jordan trailed her fingers down his stomach to the hem of his shirt.

  Their eyes met and held. Challenge mixed with desire and invitation, both silently daring the other.

  Jordan slipped her hand under his shirt, her fingers splayed over the angled ridges of muscle. His skin burned with delicious heat and she realized she was freezing. Shivering, she shifted closer, the tips of her breasts brushed his chest as she moved her hand up between them.

  Would he let her trace his scar with her fingers, with her tongue?

  She brushed his left nipple with the pad of her index finger, the point of her nail lightly scratching his brand.

  He caught her wrist in a too tight grip. “Enough.” The word was spoken like a curse, his sudden guttural tone and the cold, black eyes of his demon sliced fear through her.

  Wetting her lips, Jordan slowly drew away. Cautious of her movements, she marveled at his instant change.

  Gabriel turned his back on her and took another long drink before returning the decanter to the bedside table. “Move over,” he ordered.

  Jordan shuffled back and ducked under the covers. He was going to join her?

  He didn’t look at her, didn’t acknowledge her at all as he settled on the bed. Keeping his back to her, he growled, “Stay on your side.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Gabriel ground his teeth. There was no way in hell he was getting back to sleep.

  After a couple bouts of fitful mumbles and the occasional violent thrashing, Jordan fell into the peace of deep sleep and instinctively turned toward him, seeking his heat. He’d inch away and she inevitably followed. Now, she tucked her forehead against his shoulder blade and her silk clad curves molded perfectly against all his hard edges. Her subtle jasmine fragrance taunted him and the lingering scent of her arousal attacked his sanity like a battering-ram.

  There was so much of her against him, too much contact. For hours he lay staring into the darkness, his arms wrapped tightly around his middle, his back straight with his legs lining the edge of the mattress. He was caught between wanting to shove her away and needing to hold her, to part her robe and wake her by trailing kisses from the valley between her breasts, to her navel, and lower.

  Muttering an oath, he reached down to adjust his erection again. The damn thing tented his pants making it look like he had a third arm hidden below his waistband. But no amount of repositioning was going to ease the pain or the wrenching ache in his balls. He wanted to mount her. He wanted to take her blood. He wanted to possess her.

  The drive was so strong, Gabriel saw himself rolling her to her back, spreading her thighs wide with his hips, shackling her wrists with his hands, and pinning her arms above her head. He’d take her lips as he—

  “Fuck my life,” he hissed.

  There was something seriously wrong with him. Jordan was in no condition to receive him, though he knew she would. Her body had burned for him, the perfume of her arousal drugging and, damn, she’d been so wet. The silk that barred her sex had grown damp as she moved on his cock, sinfully rocking her hips, taking her pleasure. Her hardened nipples had brushed his chest with every fevered sigh and breathless moan. He’d stood still unable to stop her and unable to decide what he wanted more: drop to his knees, let her legs drape over his shoulders as he claimed her with his mouth and savored the taste of her pleasure as she came against his tongue or tear the robe from her and plunge his cock into her searing heat.

  His shaft twitched, straining against his pants. The discomfort morphed into agony as he recalled how Jordan’s violet eyes had glowed with the intense light of her mounting pleasure. He’d told her to go slow and cautioned himself to be careful, gentle as he fought to control his rising need and his demon. The beast’s fierce desire to claim her body and take her blood was overwhelming.

  The sound of her heart had pounded in his ears, the tantalizing scent of her arousal intensified as she neared her orgasm, and he knew if she came against him, if she cried out in ecstasy he’d be lost. Mindless, he’d take her. Hard and wild, he’d claim her with all the strength he possessed. He’d sink his fangs deep into the elegant column of her throat—she’d taste of heaven—and he’d thrust deep into her again and again.

  Gabriel had survived every imaginable torture and countless ruthless battles, he was no stranger to suffering, but nothing could compare to the agony that ripped and slashed at his very soul when he tore himself away from Jordan. Denying the vampire, rejecting the most base level of his instincts, nearly killed him.

  The loss of her touch and the distance he’d placed between them ignited a firestorm of emotion that whipped through his chest: consuming, destroying, and…creating. Breathless, he’d clawed at his flesh, slicing through muscle, desperate to make it stop.

  Never so much pain.

  In that moment, Gabriel would’ve ripped his own heart out and gladly welcomed the end. Burning for eternity in the fiery pits of Hell would be preferable. He was intimate with that brand of torment. Emotion killed a man from the inside, like acid pumping through his veins, it poisoned the heart, twisted the mind, and weakened the soul until there was nothing left.

  It had all been too much. Jordan is too much. She was the embodiment of temptation. Instinctually, he knew fucking her would be unforgettable, life altering. Unacceptable. He had to wash his hands of her. Immediately.

  Mine! Gabriel winced. His vampire’s enraged roar felt like it’d splinter his skull.

  Shut the fuck up! He snarled back.

  Gabriel glanced to the leather sofa and considered moving for the fifty-seventh time, but he remained immobile. He didn’t want to risk waking her. She needed to rest, to heal. Nice rationalization. His blood had made her stronger, most of her injuries had vanished, but she had a fresh set of bruises from his rough handling.

  Sensing a threat and disoriented from his sleep, he’d attacked her. He’d been a second from snapping Jordan’s neck when her delicate jasmine scent invaded his senses. Did he ask for forgiveness? No, he’d atoned for his actions by almost taking her innocence against the wall.

  His gut wrench as if he’d been struck with a two-by-four. The unsavory thought eased the tension in his pants. God, he was loathsome. Jordan was emotionally and physically vulnerable; her captivity had left her raw. She’d come to him seeking comfort and connection. No one understood her current predicament better than him. Adjusting to traditional life would be a bitch, but if he could somehow scrub her memories, he could spare her the distress, fear, and loneliness that awaited her as a survivor.

  With a sigh, Gabriel slipped from the bed. The chill of the room instantly chased away the warmth from his flesh, but his back continued to burn as if her body had branded him.

  He had two hours until he had to meet Gannon, but he couldn’t stand the feel of her against him any longer. He didn’t know how much more of her softness, scent, and heat he could withstand. Jordan’s presence tested his control and he feared the result of his ever slipping hold on his lust and
his demon.

  She reached for him in her sleep. Her brow creased with a frown. Her full lips pouted and Gabriel was struck with a vicious need to kiss her.

  Shaking his head, he turned his back on the slumbering angel in his bed and went to the walk-in closet. After donning his customary all black suit, Gabriel grabbed a fresh pair of leather gloves and returned to the room. His gaze (unwillingly) flipped to Jordan. She was hugging his pillow to her chest, the sheets bunched around her shoulders. Was she shivering?

  Human frailty.

  As a vampire he was indifferent to temperature. He shouldn’t care—didn’t care that the mortal was cold. She’d come into his room uninvited instead of staying in her own, which was as hot as the Nevada desert outside.

  In an instant he adjusted the thermostat and covered her with another blanket. Standing at the foot of the bed, peering down at his human, he thought he’d never get tired of looking at her.

  Not my human and I will forget her as soon as she’s gone.

  Gabriel forced himself to step away from the bed. Space. He needed space and he needed to think rationally. He needed to distance himself not just physically, but mentally and emotionally from her. He was too aware of her. Too enthralled by her.

  His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides as he began to pace.

  What was it about her that drew him in? What was it that made him feel soft? That made him want to be her protector.

  Guard her always. Forever.

  Warmth spread through his chest and that uncomfortable, despised ache that had taken root in his heart returned. Gabriel raised a hand to his chest and attempted to rub the repulsive sensation away. He hated this. He desperately wanted to return to his old life, devoid of care and emotion. The cold, detached existence where only the basic needs of sex, hunger, and thirst resided—nothing more.

  Had he honestly believed rescuing her, finally being able to hold her, seeing her well and setting her on her way would bring an end to his obsession? That saving her would somehow save him? How many times had he lied to himself? Countless. Somewhere in the shadows of his mind, in the depths of his soul, he’d known all along finding Jordan wouldn’t free him.