Liam let her go with a reluctant groan. When he stepped back, his brows furrowed, his eyes taking on that preternatural amethyst sheen. With both hands, he cupped her neck, his thumbs gently brushing over what could only be bruises for as tender as they felt.
“I know what he wants,” she whispered, her throat raw and scratchy. “It’s the necklace, he wants my necklace. He tried to take it from me, but it…it burned him. When he couldn’t take it, he tried to get me to give it to him. When I refused, he…he choked me.”
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t here.” Liam bent down and kissed her neck. Once…twice…three times. The last time, his lips lingered at the base of her throat and she tipped her head, giving him better access. She hoped he’d slide the spaghetti strap of her tank top off her shoulder and continue his kisses lower. Her pulse quickened with desire. Even his innocent touch ignited cravings deep inside her, coming to life on the tips of the butterflies’ wings scattering in the pit of her stomach.
“I want to heal these,” he growled in frustration, “but I don’t dare until my energy is replenished. I doubt Haden will be back so soon, but I can’t risk it.”
She wasn’t worried about her bruises—they’d heal on their own. Right now, she was too preoccupied by the need Liam’s kiss stirred in her. “Don’t worry about me. I’m just fine. I promise,” she assured him, wrapping her arms around his waist and pulling him closer. Her breasts pressed against the hard muscles of his chest and he let out a strangled groan.
Olivia tensed, not sure if it was passion or pain pulling the throaty response past his lips. She leaned back, but he only let her go so far before caging her in his arms. “How badly are you hurt?” Without waiting for an answer, she hiked his shirt up, pulling it over his head to get a better look at his side. A grimace furrowed his brow when he pulled his arm free of the sleeve. She dropped the sickly sweet perfume-tainted shirt on the floor and gasped when she saw his side. The entire area over the left side of his ribs was covered in bruises. She could tell by his guarded breaths he was hurting, not that he’d ever admit as much.
Olivia’s gaze raked over his chest, her fingers following the path of her eyes as she looked him over for other injuries. Her hands skated over the rippled muscles on his stomach, and when her thumbs dipped to the twin muscled indentions near his hips, he hissed in a breath through clenched teeth.
She looked up to find the corded muscles of his neck strung tight, his head tipped back just far enough that she couldn’t see his face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you—”
“You aren’t hurting me, Olivia. You’re killing me,” he groaned.
“But your side—”
“Isn’t as bad as it looks. It’ll be healed by tomorrow.”
When he tipped his head down to look at her, she gasped in surprise at the sapphire blaze raging in his dark eyes. No, he definitely wasn’t in pain, at least not the kind of pain she was worried about. A smile touched her lips and she tentatively traced her fingers along the waistband of his low-slung jeans. He was an absolutely magnificent sight to behold, and she wanted to see him—all of him. She wanted to learn his body, just like she’d memorized every muscled curve of his chest, every scar marring his torso. She wanted to explore him in the same way he’d become intimately familiar with her last night.
But she wasn’t surprised when he stayed her hand, just as she was about to unfasten his jeans. He always stopped her, and it frustrated her the way he kept himself hands-off. “I should go shower.” His husky whisper betrayed his rigid self-control.
Olivia had hoped that after last night, perhaps this time he wouldn’t resist her. When he caught her wrists, halting her fingers from dipping beneath his waistband, she expected to feel the familiar sizzle of his energy burning into her flesh, but it wasn’t there. She could tell by the color change and the possessive look in his eyes that he wanted her. Yet, where was the heat? Where was the energy that always threatened to scorch her whenever they reached this point?
And then the answer dawned on her… He was injured. Was it possible his body’s healing was channeling his energy inward instead of outward? Was this moment a temporary reprieve from the barrier that kept them apart?—and how long would it last? Could she touch him without the fear of getting hurt? How much resistance would he put up if she refused to take “no” for an answer?
She intended to find out—right after his shower, because he smelled like a bar and she could still see the red lipstick sparkles on his neck. The thought of another woman touching him fueled her with a reckless desire to claim him for her own—to touch him, to taste him, to know him as intimately as he knew her… This was her chance, now that he was healing, and who knew if she’d ever get another one.
“Go ahead,” she told him, stepping out of his embrace and turning away before he could see the knowing smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “I’ll be waiting right here when you get out.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“No answer,” Cale said, closing the phone and tossing it into the cup holder. This was the fifth and last time he’d try to call Rowen. Knowing that bastard, he was probably up to his eyeballs in tits and booze, and couldn’t be bothered long enough to answer his damn phone.
“Well, if we don’t hear from Rowen soon, we’re going to have to stop for the night,” Rhen grumbled.
“We’re going to have to stop, anyway, because the humans have to rest.” Cale glanced in the rearview mirror to make sure the yellow Mustang was still there. Over the last few hours, the car had started falling farther and farther back. “I’m pulling over at this next exit. We’ll get a room for the night. I’m sure Rowen will call back soon, and then we’ll have a better idea of where we’re going in the morning.”
Rhen grunted in agreement, looking none too pleased about stopping. Not that he blamed him. Neither one of them wanted this dragging out any longer than it had to. They took the next exit and pulled into the truck stop a stone’s throw from the freeway. Across the street was a Super 8. They could rest there for the night and wait to hear from Rowen.
The Mustang pulled in behind them and parked across the lot. Mitch leapt from the car as soon as it stopped, calling, “I’ll see you inside,” over his shoulder as he rushed through the door.
The girl climbed out and strode toward the door, refusing to even glance their way. If she had, she would have noticed they were approaching the entrance at the same time, and no doubt would have hung back to let them get inside and seated so she could make sure she kept her distance.
Rhen reached the door a few steps before Ashley and pulled it open, holding it for her to pass through. Cale halted a couple of feet back, cutting Ashley a wide berth to enter. When she reached the entrance, she glanced up at Rhen warily and then shot Cale a seething glare before going inside.
“Ma’am,” Rhen said, dipping his head respectfully as she walked past him.
“Thank you,” Ashley murmured coolly.
“No doubt about it, she remembers,” Cale muttered under his breath after she was out of earshot.
“I’m sure she does,” Rhen snapped. “That’s not likely to be something a female’s going to forget. Schmoozing isn’t exactly my forte, in case you didn’t know. So, fuck you very much for putting this on me.”
Cale barked out a laugh that lacked genuine humor and gave Rhen a solid slap on the back. “Anytime, my friend.”
Mitch was sliding into a booth, and Ashley was joining him when they walked inside the quaint mom and pop café. “Remind me to lighten up on the coffee tomorrow,” Mitch told her as she sat down.
“Lighten up on the booze and you won’t need the coffee to kill your hangover,” she retorted with a bit of snark.
Damn, this female was a crabby bitch. Cale was wondering why in the hell Mitch would ever have agreed to bring her along, when Rhen cut in front of him and walked up to the two.
“I hope you don’t mind if we join you,” Rhen said, sitting down next to Ashley before she
had the opportunity to object.
Cale didn’t miss the disdainful glare she shot his way, and it pissed him off. Thirty seconds with this little snit and already he wanted to strangle her. Mitch cast her a questioning look as Cale sat down next to him. “Look,” he said to Ashley from across the booth, “I’m sorry I assaulted you, okay? I doubt it will happen again, so how about you just get over it.”
Mitch turned to look at him with a shocked expression on his face. Rhen glared at him, warning him to shut the hell up, and gave him a swift kick under the table, connecting boot to shin. That did nothing to temper his current state of pissed off, but he did briefly enjoy the shocked look on Ashley’s face, right up until a low, warning growl echoed to the right of him. Shit… He should have known. A look of smug malice settled on her face, and he just knew he was gonna regret letting his temper get the better of him.
“You’re an idiot if you think Balen isn’t going to kill you for that,” she spat. “I never told him, but you just did. I don’t think it’s my forgiveness you should be seeking. And you’re right, it won’t happen again!”
Ashley’s boldness surprised him. Hell, the sick and twisted part of him was even a little turned-on by it, and with Rhen backing him up, he couldn’t think of a better time to take Balen out. “You’re right, it won’t, at least not with Balen breathing down my neck,” he replied apathetically, boldly meeting her glare. “What, you think just because you can’t see him that I can’t?” A genuine smile spread across Cale’s face when Ashley’s arrogant grin faltered. “He’s standing right here, looking as pissed off as usual. Why don’t you come across, Balen?” Cale taunted. “You can join the party.”
It took less than a second for Balen to take corporeal form, and even less for him to snatch Cale by the throat and rip him out of his seat. The thought briefly crossed his mind, as Balen dragged him out of the café and Rhen hissed a curse while barreling after them, that perhaps he shouldn’t have been so hasty to push the warrior’s buttons.
***
“Holy shit, Ashley! Did you just see that?” Mitch exclaimed, scooting out of his seat to follow them.
“Yeah,” she said, staring in open-mouthed shock at the door. “It looks like Cale just called Balen’s bluff…and lost.”
“Aren’t you going to do something?” he cried, looking at her in disbelief.
“Why would I want to? They’re demons, Mitch. If Balen kills them, then good riddance.”
“Come on, Ashley! They’re the only chance I have of finding Olivia. If you don’t stop him, then I will!”
Ashley looked at him and wondered if he’d completely lost his ever-loving mind. “Are you crazy? You can’t stop him, but you sure as hell can get hurt trying.”
“I know,” he said matter-of-factly. “That’s why you’re going to do it.”
Ashley glared at Mitch. “You’re using me and you’re manipulating me. I don’t like it!” she snapped.
“But you’ll forgive me,” he assured her, grabbing her hand and pulling her out of the booth. As they burst through the door, Ashley heard the sickening thud of fist against flesh. She looked over to see Balen slamming his fist into Cale’s jaw, the impact launching him onto the gravel. As Cale leapt to his feet, Rhen took Balen’s back, his forearm braced against his throat in some choke-hold move. Balen easily got out of it as he swung his elbow back, connecting with Rhen’s side as he bent forward, flipping the demon off his back. Cale lunged for Balen, and it was clear they intended to tag team him, but by the beating those two were taking, it didn’t look like he was in any danger of losing this fight.
Balen spun on Cale so fast, his movements were a blur, and he drove a side kick into Cale’s stomach, knocking him back as he shot forward, catching him in the jaw with an upper cut that split his lip and sent blood, dark as tar, spraying across the ground. Rhen went at him again. His lip was bleeding and he had another cut above his cheek. He dove for Balen, catching him in the chest with his shoulder, knocking them both to the ground. They landed with a hard thud. Ashley cringed and Mitch stared, frozen in shock, watching Balen fight with fierce skill and fluid power. He threw his knee up, knocking Rhen off him and Balen leapt to his feet so fast, it looked as if he’d flown—maybe he had. Cale and Rhen were still both on the ground when Balen moved toward them with no intention of ending this fight anytime soon.
Mitch stepped toward Balen, no doubt, to break up the fight. Fear for her friend instigated her to react. “Balen, stop!” she cried, running over to him. She stepped in between Balen and the two demons, throwing her arms around him. “Please,” she whispered, burying her face into his chest. He wrapped a protective arm around her, guiding her away from violence.
With a final warning glare shot at the two demons, he ushered Ashley to her car. As they walked past Mitch, she heard Balen growl, “I blame you for this.”
Mitch always had a short temper, but she’d never considered him stupid—until now. Footsteps pounded behind them, and as Balen opened the car door for her, Mitch got in his face.
“And how do you suppose this is my fault?” he demanded.
“Ashley’s here because of you! I told you not to go, but you wouldn’t listen to me! She’s in danger. You’re in danger, only you’re too stupid to see it! And what’s even more pathetic is that your little stunt will put Olivia in even greater danger—the woman you claim to love… Except, I think it’s your own ego you love so damn much!” Balen stepped closer, closing what little distance there was between them, and lowered his voice to a growl. Ashley had to strain to hear what he said, but as his words carried over to her, goose bumps prickled up her arms. “Because you’re a mortal, I can’t kill you, or believe me, I’d have saved Liam the misery of you a long time ago. Because you’re Ashley’s friend, I won’t beat the shit out of you—this time—but if you ever pit her between me and a demon again, I will make you regret it. Are we clear?”
“Crystal—”
“Good, now get in the damn car before I change my mind and run your ass over.”
Mitch muttered something under his breath she couldn’t quite hear and sulked over to the passenger side of the car.
“Hey, Mitch,” Balen called over the hood of the car, banging his hand on it to get his attention. “I also have excellent hearing. You’ll probably want to keep that in mind the next time you want to curse me.”
A sullen Mitch climbed in the car and slammed the door shut. When Ashley looked back at Balen, he was gone. Wisely, Mitch didn’t say another word as she backed out of the parking spot, all thoughts of supper forgone—she’d lost her appetite. If Mitch was hungry, he’d just have to eat out of the vending machine at the motel.
As the Mustang’s headlights panned the parking lot, she also noticed Cale and Rhen had disappeared. For good, she hoped, but something told her they weren’t going to get that lucky. Those two wanted Mitch for a reason, and she wasn’t naïve enough to think they were going to give him up that easily.
Ashley and Mitch checked into the motel and, per her request, they were given rooms side by side. She didn’t want Mitch getting the bright idea of sneaking off with Cale and Rhen, and ditching her in the middle of the night just because he and Balen didn’t see eye to eye.
“Here, Ash, let me get your bags.” It was the first thing he’d said to her since he’d gotten in the car.
“Sure, thanks.”
He grabbed the bags out of the trunk and followed her to the room. She swiped the card through the key fob and pushed it open for Mitch to walk in.
“Jesus!” he barked. “You want me to die of a heart attack?”
She looked past Mitch to find Balen sitting in a chair, cocked back on two legs. His feet were propped negligently on the table in the corner of the room. Shooting Mitch a scowl, Balen arched his tawny brow thoughtfully and said, “Well…it technically wouldn’t be me killing you, now would it?”
To Ashley’s surprise, he looked as if he were actually contemplating the idea.
&
nbsp; “And in the future, I’d appreciate it if you used that name with a little more reverence.” The tone of Balen’s voice warned this wasn’t a request.
“Balen?” Ashley cried in surprise, pushing past Mitch to rush into the room.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he said, swinging his legs down to stand up to his full imposing height. He held his arms out toward her, and she rushed into his embrace.
“Where did you go?” she asked, leaning back just far enough to look up at him, all the while feeling the heat of Mitch’s watchful stare.
“I had to petition the court to come back. It wasn’t too difficult, once I explained to them the mess Mitch had gotten you into.” Balen shot Mitch a contemptuous glare.
“Oh, that’s really great,” Mitch grumbled, dumping Ashley’s bags on the floor. “Road tripping with Liam’s best friend… I do believe all my dreams have finally come true!”
Ashley pulled out of Balen’s embrace and walked over to Mitch, cuffing him in the shoulder. “Stop being such an ass!” she snapped. “I told you before, the only thing standing between you and certain death is this angel, so start showing a little appreciation, huh?”
“You mean the angel who said he wants to kill me? I’m sorry, Ash, but that doesn’t exactly fill me with awe-inspiring gratitude.”
“Listen,” she said, poking him in the chest just to make sure he was really paying attention. “These next couple of days are going to be hard enough without you two snapping at each other’s throats. Now get some rest, Mitch, and I’ll see you in the morning.” With her palm planted firmly in the center of his chest, she pushed him and marched him out the door.
She turned around in time to see Balen roll his eyes and she laughed. “Stop it,” she chided, trying to sound serious but she was having trouble containing her joy at having him here. “Now, you need to be nice, too.”
Shades of Darkness (Redemption Series) Page 20
