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

by Amanda J. Greene

  “Hey, Red,” Row called as she approached. “What are you still doing out here. You need to get ready. You’re on in less than five.” She glanced between the two women and asked, “Did I miss something?”

  “No, not a thing,” Jordan tightly replied. “Zara will you watch my tables?”

  Jordan didn’t wait for her response. She had to leave before she had an episode. She could feel the attack coming. That insistent restlessness, the emotional turmoil rising. The pain would be next.

  She turned on her heel and went to the dressing room, slamming the door behind her. Leaning against the wall, she gasped for breath. Her chest tightened. Her legs quaked. She took a step and stumbled, crashing into the vanity. Her heart pounded. Anger, sadness, and…some unfamiliar emotion clawed at her. She fell to her knees and blindly reached for her bag. Seconds felt like an eternity as she tore through the contents to find her medication. Finally, her fingers found the bottle.

  She took a long drink then another deep gulp. The tension in her body slowly uncoiled, the pain eased. Jordan remained still until her breathing returned to normal. Using the vanity to steady herself, she stood and caught a glimpse of her reflection. Black forked out over her eyes, consuming the iris.

  Jordan shoved herself back. The force sending her crashing against the opposite wall. Energy and strength charged her blood. “What the fuck?” The whisper was rough, her voice hoarse.

  What had Klein done to her? What had Scott given her?

  Someone pounded on the door and she slapped a hand over her mouth to cut off a startled scream.

  “Hey, Red, I put a dress in the wardrobe for you. I know you’ll rock it.”

  She swallowed hard and squeaked, “Thanks.”

  “And, Red, just so you know, he’s not here for them. He came to see you.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Holy fuck. Jordan was going to sing.

  The lights went out around the club, but the stage burned as bright as the sun. Every inch of Gabriel’s body tingled and it had nothing to do with the women pawing at him and everything to do with the seductive mortal that claimed the stage. The strapless, candy red sheath she wore displayed every wicked curve. Those fishnet stockings and fuck-me boots set his imagination racing.

  Did she just blow a kiss to the bass player? Gabriel’s jaw clenched. His vampire roared, outraged and envious. How dare she flirt with another so blatantly in front of him?

  A pair of plump breasts pressed against his arm as a palm slid up the inside of his thigh.

  He had no right to be angry. He had no claim on Jordan at all. She wasn’t as if she were his mate. She couldn’t be the one female fated to save him from his fate. There was no way the Graces would grant him such a boon. No, the Death Curse would sap his immortality and Gannon would ascend to the throne. Gabriel only hoped by then Gannon and the Shaw Priestess worked things out. Their feelings for each other were painfully obvious. They were meant for each other and when Gannon became king, he’d have his mate, Silvie.

  The band began to play. He knew this song. It was his favorite of hers, the melody showcased her talent.

  Gabriel leaned forward, the women in the booth forgotten. Jordan closed her eyes and started to sing. If they weren’t already, all eyes were now trained on her. She began to dance and Gabriel was lost. The wicked way she moves.

  Flawlessly she slipped from one song to the next. So completely enthralled by her voice and the spell she weaved, he hadn’t noticed when a small piano was wheeled out on stage. Jordan twirled her way to the piano bench. The bass player winked at her and Gabriel wanted to slam his fist on the table, or better yet, slam his fist into the other vampire’s face. When the show was over, he’d request Row never hire this band again.

  Jordan ended her song and shyly glanced toward the piano. Gabriel heard the sharp intake of every man in the room. All smitten, entranced by the human. He could scene their interest, their lust. His hackles raised, his beast snarled.

  She tugged on her bottom lip as she lowered herself to the bench. The innocent action had the male audience frothing. Then she leaned toward the mounted mic and licked her lips. A glass dropped in the background and…His ears twitched, her heart skipped a beat.

  She was nervous? Gabriel frowned. He’d never seen Jordan nervous. On stage she was confidence, she was pride, she was raw sex appeal.

  “This is for you.”

  She began to play and…Gabriel’s tattered soul began to knit back together. The pain swept through his cold, cruel heart. The muscle seized then thundered in his chest, matching the rhythm of the music. The song he’d created for her, all those months ago when he’d searched for her, fought for her, yearned to see her, to hold her, to hear her whiskey voice. She had written words to it. He had poured everything he had, everything he was into the song and she’d given it life.

  Endless emotion sliced through him, cutting through his heart, shattering the century’s old armor guarding what remained of his soul. Violent, stunning destruction. The flame she had ignited with their first kiss in the snow, he’d struggled to snuff out for days, now blazed. A never ending, undeniable firestorm. It tore through him. Incinerating all in its path leaving him raw.

  Jordan had transformed the music with her lyrics. Transformed him.

  Her hands still shook. Gabriel had blondes draped on his arms and over his lap as he’d watched her. His eyes had tracked her every move, his gaze so hot it burned. His jaw clenched, his body taut as if he fought the urge to jump on stage and lay claim to her. Then, when she began to play his song, she became hyperaware of him. The world around them blurred. Pure hunger and desperate desire radiated from him. She sang to the beast in the darkness, soothing and beckoning. Excited expectations sent waves and waves of addictive heat crashing through her.

  But when she completed her set, he was gone and so were the four Barbie dolls he’d been with.

  Had she expected anything else? Had she seriously thought he’d ditch the bombshells for her? From what she’d picked up at the bar, Gabriel had a large sexual appetite. One woman was never enough. How could she, a virgin, please a ravenous vampire king?

  She was glad to see the truth with her own eyes. Yeah, it hurt like a kick to the gut, but it left no doubts about how felt or didn’t feel about her.

  Now, Jordan peeked from behind the curtain concealing the stage and scanned the club. Tana and Monique were back to serving their tables. The club was buzzing about the human and Ron currently had his hands full with her newest admirers. Turning around, her gaze sought and found Chris, the bass player. She smiled to herself. Time to discover if any kiss was as good as or better than Gabriel’s.

  She combed her fingers through her hair and adjusted her dress. Target acquired.

  “Rock’n show,” Chris said as she approached.

  “Your band was great and thanks for getting the piano last minute.”

  He shrugged. His gaze racked over her and his lips curled with a wolfish smile. “You have some time to hang out and have a drink or are you back to work?”

  “Depends.” She moved closer.

  Chris’s eyes dipped to her mouth. Oh, he was quick on the up take. She liked that. “On?”

  Her stomach clenched as she thought of what she was about to do. On some stupid level she left as if she was being unfaithful, but she wouldn’t back down. She had to know if she really desired Gabriel alone or if she was just desperate for attraction and contact.

  “One thing.”

  He was already leaning down. Jordan laced her arms around his neck, like the women had done to Gabriel in the booth, and pressed her lips to his. He tasted like salt and lime. Just before the show he and his band mates had pounded a line of tequila shots.

  She kissed him harder, tightened her embrace and he wrapped his arms around her waist. Not bad. Not good. Different. Chris was handsome, smelt nice, tasted great, and his lips were skilled. The kiss was pleasant, but where was the desire? Where was the sizzling lust? It was t
he same as all those she’d had before Gabriel, disappointing, bland, and completely unmoving.

  Well, she had her answer. Damn it. It was Gabriel. He could make her swoon from just the pure, rough timbre of his voice. With one look he could ignite her pulse and with a single touch he could set her body on fire.

  Jordan was just about to break away when a large hand wrapped around upper arm and yanked her back. Her eyes flew open, a hard gasp punched from her lungs as she slammed into the side of a hard male body.

  “Hey, what the—” Chris swallowed his protest. His expression paled in terror.

  “Touch her again and I’ll liberate your head from your shoulders.”

  Gabriel!

  “I-I won’t go near her again, Majesty, I swear.”

  “Ron!”

  The behemoth appeared. “Trouble, my king?”

  “No one is to come to the back of the bar.”

  Ron nodded. “I will have the stage and hall blocked.”

  “Pass the order to Row.”

  Ron nodded again and Chris took the opportunity to scamper past the security guard and, Jordan assumed, sprinted for the exit. Lucky bastard.

  Absolute rage filled him.

  Gabriel tightened his hold on her arm and dragged her with him toward the dressing rooms. Primal instinct blazed inside him. Aggression overwhelming him. As Jordan had sang and danced the males in the bar had ogled her, each doubtless envisioning her in their arms, in their bed. The need to mark her, to claim her, had grown irresistible. He didn’t just want her blood. He didn’t just want her body. He craved absolute dominion.

  Mine, the beast had snarled. No. Mine, Gabriel had corrected. He’d roughly brushed the women’s hands away and jolted from the booth. Dejected, their lips pouted, their soft voices pleaded and promised all sorts of carnal delights, but there was only one female he wanted. A delicate human with deep red hair, violet eyes, ruby lips, and a body made for pleasure.

  And he’d found her kissing another male. The lesser vampire should drop to his knees and thank the Graces Gabriel had spared his life.

  He growled low as his chest tightened. God, he despised emotion, but the little human never failed to make him feel. To make him weak. Jealousy, rage, and possessiveness battered him, twisted his heart, resurrected his humanity and…made his soul soar. He hated it. He loved it.

  No! He had wanted to return to the cold existence he’d grown accustomed to over the centuries—he wanted to be emotionally barren—but there was no going back. Not for him and, after tonight, not for her.

  “What are you doing?” she demanded, stumbling and tripping, struggling to match his long strides. “You had no right to threaten Chris like that.”

  Chris, he’d file the name away in the event he decided to do murder later. “I’m his Chieftain. I have every right.”

  “It’s not his fault. I came on to him.”

  That made him pause. Just outside her dressing room, he swung her around and pinned her against the threshold. His hands on either side of her head, he leaned in, his lower body sinking into hers. “Why?”

  Jordan didn’t shrink; she didn’t try to slip away. She bravely met his threatening glower. “I have my reasons and I don’t have to share them with you.”

  Her haughty tone drew a growl from him. “But you will.” He shoved the door open and pushed her inside the private room.

  Jordan caught her balance by gripping the edge of the vanity. Her eyes glinted with fury. Gabriel studied her. She wasn’t breathless, as she always was after his kiss. Her cheeks were flushed in anger, not desire. Her nipples weren’t hard and he scented no passion from her. She’d hadn’t enjoyed the other male’s kiss.

  The knowledge cooled the worst of his rage, but he still had to know why she went for the vampire. He supposed Chris was good looking, the male never lacked for groupies, but he was weak. Definitely not a match for Jordan.

  Gabriel muttered, “I should have slain him.”

  “He did nothing wrong.”

  Nothing wrong? Was she fucking joking? He touched what’s mine.

  “Am I to be with no one while you line up lovers and knock ‘em down?” She sneered, “Where are your women? They must be missing you.”

  “Don’t know. Don’t care.”

  “I’m sure they won’t be hard to find but, if they are, I know two blondes you can have a go at.”

  Gabriel’s lips curled with a male satisfied smile. “Jealous?”

  “Jealous! That’s hilarious. Take a look in the mirror, big guy, you’re turning green.”

  He snarled, loathing how right she was. “Why did you kiss him?”

  “Why were you with those women?”

  He wanted to snarl, I was trying to forget you. Since the night he found her picture attached to the empty cell he’d done nothing but dream of her, fantasize about her. He’d tried to be with others. Had wanted to be others. Hell, he’d hoped to fuck those vampiress tonight until he couldn’t move, but he…couldn’t. Their sighs, their kisses, their touch, their scent—wrong. It had all been wrong.

  His anger slid a notch higher. Jordan had bewitched him. Somehow she’d gotten under his skin, in his head. He ached for her. Burned. The tension building, pressure rising, unfilled desire, a seeming endless torment. All because of her. Months of forced celibacy because of her. The little human couldn’t begin to imagine the tab she’d wrung up. Oh, she would atone for his suffering in the most delicious of ways.

  His cock stiffened. The plans he had for her…“You defy me?”

  “You aren’t my Chieftain.” She moved to step around him, but he blocked her exit. “I’ve got to get back to work and you’ve got to find your bed partners before they get too lonely and pick another stud.”

  She was jealous. She was angry over the females, not because he’d ended her would be tryst with the bass player. Never had he found possessiveness an attractive trait in a female. He fucked multiple women at the same time, ensuring none ever developed an attachment or thought they’d get anything more from him. One night was all he gave, never did he expect them to be exclusive. It was just sex and rarely did he make the effort to know their names. No ties. No emotion. Full control.

  But Jordan’s response made his shaft grow harder.

  She made him reckless, wild. Her defiance summoned his instincts from deep within. Take her. Master to her.

  I will.

  He rubbed his hand over his aching cock. The motion caught her rapt attention and the ability to breath momentarily abandoned her. “You’re stiff as stone.”

  Her lust perfumed the air. He inhaled, drawing her delicate natural scent. Amazing. She gasped as his erection swelled even more under her scorching stare.

  Shaking her head, fighting her desire, she drew her gaze up to meet his. “Better take care of that. Wouldn’t want you frightening the customers or causing a massive chick fight.”

  Gabriel closed in on her, towering over her. “My pleasure will be seen to soon enough.” And so would hers’, but she still hadn’t answered his question. “Tell me why.”

  “Go find those babes.”

  His hands shot out to shackle her wrists. “Answer.”

  Jordan arrogantly tossed her head back, her hair falling over her shoulders and his eyes locked on her tempting, pounding pulse point. He licked his lips.

  “Fuck off, vampire. I’m done talking to you.”

  God, her anger was thrilling, her courage refreshing, and that mouth of hers…sexy as hell. She thought to dismiss him? “I may not be your king, but you’re under my protection. Under my rule. I should toss you over my knee and tan your ass for your disrespect.”

  “Try it.” She snarled, her lips pulling back from her teeth. He almost wished she’d flashed fangs at him. No. Never her.

  “You did this.” Gabriel pressed her hands down, her fingers traced over his cock. He nearly shuddered. “Not the others. You.”

  Her eyes fell to his erection again. He groaned when she ran her tongue
over her lips imagining that mouth sucking him, her little tongue lapping at him.

  “You’ve maddened me.” He pinched her chin, holding her head down. God, her eyes on him! Burning alive. The sweetest of tortures. “And you’ll see to my pleasure.” He’d have her.

  Jordan’s hand wrapped around his shaft and squeezed. “Interesting fact, I may not give a damn about your pleasure.”

  Saucy piece. Like flipping a switch, his demon reacted out of his control. Gabriel was on her. His fingers pressed into her hips, lifting her on to the vanity, her back against the mirror, his hips wedged between her thighs.

  “Answer my question!”

  She didn’t look up at him, didn’t pull her hands from him though he’d freed them. She stroked his penis through his pants. “I can kiss who ever I want, whenever I want.”

  “If you want to be kissed.” He knocked her hands away and ground his erection against her. “I’ll see to your needs.”

  He wound her hair around his fist, pulled her head back. There gazes clashed and he swore lightning struck them. Incinerating his control, amplifying her need. His mouth slammed down on hers as she wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms locking around his neck. Instantly, his body became her slave, her pleasure suddenly the only thing that mattered. He had to make her come, watch her, feel her inner muscles clench around him, hear her scream his name. He’d make her see stars. He’d ruin her. He’d make her crave him. Only him. Forever.

  Without warning, his tongue plunged into her mouth. Taking. Demanding. Her taste was decadent.

  Her tongue brazenly met his. She matched his hunger, his aggression and then raised it. Her nails scrapped down his back so hard he felt their tips through his shirt. His cock strained against his pants, seeking. Needing.

  His leather clad hands slipped to her thighs then under the hem of her dress to pull it up. He brushed his fingers over her center. Her panties were drenched. She desired him as much as he desired her.

  She sucked his tongue, nibbled on his lips.