Darkest Caress (11 page)

The man made a scoffing sound. “Do you know how many properties there are like that in Vancouver? Let alone Vancouver Island or all the Gulf Islands? He could be anywhere.”

“No,” Xavier snapped, “he won’t be. He’ll have to be somewhere in the city or on its outskirts. Nowhere too isolated, and someplace they can blend in easier.”

“They?” The man’s voice sharpened, a hint of fear creeping in. “There’s more than one?”

“Without a doubt.” The question was, how many Empowered were left? And how many were about to go into their transition?

Xavier tightened his jaw, the frustration eating him alive. He wanted to get on a plane and fly over there himself. But he couldn’t. He wasn’t ready, wouldn’t be until he reached full strength. God, when would that be? “Get on it. Bring in more DA recruits and put everyone on it. I need to know what we’re up against.” He hung up before the man could answer, too annoyed to bother feeding from the useless amount of nervous energy the man had emitted.

He ran a hand over his well-trimmed goatee then went back onto the deck to stare at the rolling waves. The dark prophecy must be about to come true. Blackwell would be the new Coven Leader. If he was settling, his mate must be nearby.

The war was imminent now. Blackwell’s mate was the final key. As Obsidian Lord, Xavier had to take away the Empowered mate before they bonded.

He disregarded the part of the dark prophecy stating he should take her for his own. It said he’d find peace again in the world he would rule after all the Empowered were disposed of. That the female would supposedly guarantee his rise to ultimate power and make him whole again.

The repugnant idea filled him with a dangerous, smoldering anger. There would never be another female for him, let alone a mate. Not after Marie. The shattered remnants of his heart remained true to the prescribed nature of the Empowered male he’d been decades ago. Their kind mated once and once only.

Becoming Obsidian Lord might technically change that, but he refused to even think of claiming another female. He’d settle for taking the Coven Leader’s mate and using her as bait. Or he’d kill her instead, thus guaranteeing the slow death of her Empowered mate.

A satisfied smile twisted his lips. If anything could make him whole again, that would. He’d enjoy knowing the Coven Leader was suffering through the same hell as he had all these years, then witness the annihilation of the Empowered bloodline. Maybe that’s what the dark prophecy meant. The Empowered didn’t even know the document existed, hidden in the place where Marie had suffered her untimely death.

Fucking riddles, he thought, rubbing his tired, burning eyes. Always more riddles. He didn’t pretend to fully understand the dark prophecy. He could only trust it would reveal its true meaning in time. For now, he would follow his own theory.

He was meant to confront this Coven Leader
after
his mate was taken from him. Xavier would start at the top with Blackwell, wiping out the others beneath him. Once they found Blackwell, he would lead them directly to the female. It would happen any day now, he sensed it.

Xavier smiled and raised his glass to the sky in a silent toast.
Let the war begin.

When the physical symptoms of the Heat Cycle started up again after sunset, Daegan wanted to crawl out of his own skin to escape his body. Tonight was worse than before. Having tasted a hint of Liv’s hunger earlier, his body would never be satisfied with anything but sinking his cock deep inside her and pounding away until she screamed in release. His aching erection surged at the thought of what she’d feel like, smell like. Sound like as she came.

He let out a frustrated growl, dug the heels of his hands into his eyes, the bright blue glow seeping out from beneath his palms. Working out in the gym wouldn’t help. Jacking off in the shower wouldn’t help. Alcohol wouldn’t touch this raging need. The only thing that might work was a cocktail of meds Cade could mix up for him. He dismissed the thought as soon as it formed, vowing to use that shit only as a last resort. As much as he hated the idea of using them, it might just come down to that.

She didn’t know how it was between mates. He didn’t know how much longer he could keep from claiming her. This was so fucking complicated, and he couldn’t see any way to make it better.

His phone shrilled from his nightstand. To his over-stimulated senses, it sounded like a siren going off. With a groan, Daegan rolled over and grabbed it.

When he saw her number, he sat bolt upright in bed, fought to calm his racing heart. “Liv?”

Silence.

His muscles were tight as cables. “Liv, what’s wrong?” His heart tripped. Was she all right? Aaron wouldn’t have gone after her again. He’d made absolutely sure of it before.

Then he heard breathing on the other end. Shallow. Rapid.

His body tightened in anticipation. Was she finally reaching out for him? “Liv, say something.”

“Daegan,” she gasped. “I—I can’t take it. I…” Her voice trailed off, so full of agonized need it burned him.

Without being conscious of moving he was already off the bed, heading to his closet for a shirt. His heart pounded so hard against his ribcage he felt the reverberations throughout his entire body. “It’s okay, Liv. I’m coming to you.” His cock was hard as a steel spike against his underwear as he pulled his jeans on. He flinched when he pulled up the zipper.

“Please help.”

He closed his eyes in pain for a moment. Knowing she was alone and hurting for him tied him in knots. “I will, love. Just hold on. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Okay.” He thought he heard the edge of tears in her voice.

He raced down the stairs and grabbed his shoes, frantic to get to her.

Cade came out of the living room carrying an empty plate, stopping dead when he saw him. His mouth fell open, his eyes widening. “You all right?”

“Gotta go,” he blurted. “Don’t call me unless one of you’s dying.” Without further explanation he rushed past his gaping cousin and jumped into the Porsche. The engine came to life with a throaty roar. He shoved the stick into first and shot down the driveway.

The wrought iron gate seemed to take hours to open enough for him to drive through. The instant the tires hit asphalt, he hit the throttle and opened it up. His eyes glowed so brilliantly they were almost as intense as the car’s high beams lighting up the road in front of him. His mate needed him. Had called him to her. Finally.

Reaching Liv’s darkened house, he parked at the curb and ran up the front porch. “Liv?” He waited a moment.

No answer.

Cursing, he opened the lock with his mind and stepped across the threshold. The instant he did, her clean, fresh fragrance hit him like a body blow. Along with a powerful dose of pheromones she emitted.

He sucked in a sharp breath while his heart tried to pound its way out of his chest. Down the hallway, the faintest line of light came from beneath her bedroom door. “Liv?”

“In…here,” she answered faintly.

Daegan pushed it open and froze at the sight before him. On the floor beside her bed, Liv stared back at him with glazed eyes. Even from that distance he could see she was shaking, how flushed her face was. A pillow was wedged high between her updrawn knees, her hands dug into the rug on either side of her. Staring at him, she began squirming in place, her expression twisting in misery. “Oh, God, not again—”

“Baby…” He almost tripped over his own feet getting his shoes off, then went over to crouch in front of her. Raising one hand, he smoothed it over her hair, wanting to touch her everywhere at once but holding himself back. “I’m here.”

Rather than reach for him, she shocked him by wrenching away and crawling for the bathroom. He stayed where he was, frozen, while she disappeared, slamming the door behind her. A second later he heard the sound of the lock sliding into place.

The ensuing silence nearly suffocated him. He couldn’t believe it. Even that far gone with the effects of the Heat Cycle, she’d still run from him. Had locked the door against him as though it could keep him away. Stop what was happening.

Too late. Too late for any of that now.

Crossing to the bathroom door, Daegan closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the cool wood. “Liv, open the door.”

“N-no.”

He pressed his palm against the hard surface. “I know you’re afraid, but I need you to trust me.”

A despondent moan answered him.

The muscles in his jaw clenched as he imagined her rolling on the floor, trying in vain to ease the insatiable need inside her. “Liv.”

“No!” Another pitiful moan. “God, I can’t
take
this.”

The protective male in him howled in agony. It took everything in him not to kick in the door and grab her, take her right there on the bathroom floor to put an end to the torture. He refused to invade her space further by mentally picking the lock. “Liv, don’t do this. Let me in.”

“Just…go.”

“Open the door. Please.” It cost him to lower himself to begging, but he’d do it for her.

Just when he thought he was going to have to break in, he heard the muffled sounds of movement. The lock turned then the door opened a few inches. Liv scuttled back against the tiled wall, staring at him through tear-glazed eyes. “I don’t want this. I don’t even
know
you,” she accused, a hitch in her voice.

The words knocked the air out of his lungs. His reaction was completely instinctive, and didn’t make any logical sense. The specter from his past wrapped a ghostly hand around his throat and squeezed. He understood she was scared and confused, but hearing his mate reject him so adamantly was like a kick to the gut. Whether she wanted to face this or not, they were meant to be together. He had to prove it to her.

“You know me more than you think,” he said quietly. “You know I’d never hurt you, that I’ll always take care of you.” He crouched down again, holding her gaze. “I’ll protect you with my life.” Edging closer as though approaching a frightened animal, he carefully stroked a tendril of honey-colored hair away from her cheek.

In answer, Liv grabbed hold of his wrist, moaning through gritted teeth as her body undulated in an uncontrollable wave. When it faded and she opened her eyes at last, her lips quivered. “So I don’t have any choice in this at all?”

Her words hit him hard, waking the secret fear sleeping deep inside his subconscious. He was dying to hold her. Comfort her any way she’d let him. “I won’t touch you without your consent. And the bonding between mates is always a choice.” He meant the actual moment of marking, but didn’t tell her that. It would kill him if she didn’t want to bond with him when the time came, but he couldn’t think about that now. Every fiber in his being wanted to slide something between her clenched thighs—his hand, his tongue, his cock—to stop her suffering.

She studied him for a long moment, her body vibrating with unrelieved tension. “Is that the truth?”

He nodded. “I would never lie to you.”

She shuddered, pressed her lips together as another wave took her. When it finished she was gasping, her eyes glittering feverishly. Her expression was almost feral. The blood pounded in his veins.

He held out a hand, praying she’d take it. “Olivia. Let me ease you.”

She stilled at his words, a shocked expression transforming her face. “You said that to me before,” she croaked. “In my dreams.”

So she’d foreseen this. Had known on some levelthat this would happen between them. He understood this was hard for her to accept, but what more proof did she need that they belonged together? God, he needed to touch her, wrap himself around her.

His outstretched fingers twitched, waiting for her decision. He held his breath, willed her to take that final step she was so afraid of.

Come to me, love. Reach out and take my hand. Trust me that much.

Her arm lifted, hesitantly reached toward his. Her breath hitched. There was such hope in her eyes, mixed with heartbreaking uncertainty.

Just as their fingers touched she groaned and curled into a tight ball as another wave took her. Helpless against the powerful torrent of hormones flooding her body.

Daegan couldn’t stand it any longer. She’d given her unspoken consent. He wouldn’t stand by and watch her suffer like this for another second. He slid his arms around her, hauled her up.

The moment he touched her everything slowed. His body calmed. His racing heart decelerated. Cuddling her close, he carried her over to the queen four-poster and laid her in the center of it. When he released her she arched up, writhing against the sheets, heat pouring off her.

He came down on the bed next to her then took her hot face between his hands, trying to calm her, soothe her. Her hands curled around his biceps like claws, her fingers digging deep into his flesh. An answering rush of hunger roared through him. His upper gums throbbed, a warning he was close to holding her down and sinking his sharpening incisors into her skin as he took her.

He fought back the dark tide of need, shuddering with the effort. He didn’t want to take her like this, not when she was mindless and out of control, unaware of what was happening. This had to matter as much to her as it did to him, or it would never work between them. “Shhh. Look at me and breathe, love.”

Panting, making little mewling sounds deep in her throat, she managed to open her eyes and focus on him. “Daegan.”

“Yes,” he breathed against her wrist, loving the sound of his name on her lips. “It’s going to be fine. I’m going to take care of you.” For the rest of his life, if she’d let him. He’d begin earning her trust right now, show her he would take care of her, especially when she was vulnerable.

Liv nodded and lifted her arms, wound them around his neck tightly.

He exhaled, closing his eyes. It felt so good to have her reach for him, hold him. His mate. The woman he was meant to spend the rest of his existence with. She’d been entrusted to him and only him. The knowledge shook him. He could almost feel the empty part of himself filling up, knitting with the rest of him.

“Touch me,” she begged, moving against him in an erotic wave.

Fuck, yes.

Her firm breasts rubbed against his chest, threatening to break his control. With unsteady fingers he tipped her chin up then brought his mouth down on hers. Liv groaned and curled her tongue around his, wrapping her arms and legs around him, pulling him into her. Her hands slid over his back to the hem of his T-shirt, dragging it up with an impatient tug. He broke the kiss just long enough to help her peel the thing over his head and fling it over his shoulder, then leaned down to meet her eager mouth.

Liv purred as her soft hands stroked over his naked chest, making his heart pound until he felt dizzy. She kneaded at his muscles like a kitten testing its claws, the feminine appreciation on her face making his cock swell painfully.

“Hurry,” she breathed, ripping at the fragile strap of her lacy black camisole. The fabric tore in her haste to pull it off. She didn’t seem to notice as she grabbed his hand, bringing it to the soft curve of her breast.

Daegan sucked in a sharp breath, clamping down on his baser need to rip off the pajama bottoms and slide into her warmth. Licking into her mouth one last time, he pulled back enough to see her. The pale globes of her breasts quivered with each of her shallow breaths. The tips were hard points of deep pink. The breath got stuck in his lungs for a moment. His fingers contracted slightly around the warm mound of flesh, squeezing gently before he trailed a thumb over the straining nipple.

She jerked like she’d been electrocuted and let out a keening cry, her legs scissoring around his hips. “Daegan,
help
me.”

Swallowing a curse, he managed to snag her flailing wrists in one hand, using the other to pull the bottoms over her hips and down her long legs. He tossed them on the foot of the bed. His nostrils flared at the musky-sweet scent of her arousal. He stared at the neatly trimmed strip of dark-bronze hair between her thighs.

When she moved restlessly again, her legs parted enough to reveal the tender pink flesh within. He groaned at the sight of those glistening folds, wanting to lower his head and lap her up. The need to taste her was overwhelming. He wanted to slide his tongue into her most sensitive flesh, pleasure her until she screamed.

“It’s getting worse—do something,” she panted, her head tossing on the pillow. Her glossy hair spilled over it in wild disarray, her plump lips swollen and flushed from his kisses.

Daegan smoothed a steadying palm over the velvety skin of her belly. The taut muscles there quivered beneath his hand. When he looked up, her eyes were heavy-lidded with arousal, mouth parted as she sucked in little gasps. Her entire body vibrated beneath him, desperate for relief.

For a moment he savored the sight of her like that, knowing he’d remember it for the rest of his life. Hoping she would too. Then he swung a thigh over top of hers, pinning her down. “I’ve got you,” he said in a dark voice he barely recognized as his own. “I’m going to help you through this.” His blood raced through his veins, the need pulsing through him. He wanted to take her. Mark her. But there was so much he wanted to give her first. He wanted this whole experience of their first time indelibly etched into her memory forever.