Forged: The World of Nightwalkers (27 page)

He was now thrusting into her in earnest. He needed it, couldn’t stop it, rode into her like a madman. He forgot all about being gentle with her, forgot how small she was, forgot everything but the pleasure her body was giving to his. His hands gripped at the bedding on either side of her, just as indulgence was gripping at the very heart of him. He needed to indulge himself in her. Every last part of her, both physical and the ethereal. And as he pushed her into her third orgasm that was exactly how she looked. Heart-stoppingly, grippingly ethereal. And that was, in the end, what gave him the deepest pleasure. He lunged into her and started to come, thrust after thrust sending more and more of his seed deep inside of her. She had done it. She had taken everything that he was and had done it spectacularly.

And as he slowed to a stop, as he tried to catch his breath, he prayed he had not pushed her into something she would regret doing. When they had come up here she had said she didn’t want to take this big of a leap, and he had threatened to push her to the limit of what she would allow. Would she regret this now? Would she try to backpedal away?

These were the worries that filled his thoughts as he moved free of her slight body and rolled onto his back, drawing hard for breath. He had given her pleasure, and that would have to comfort him for now.

“Oh my God,” she gasped. “Oh my God. I can’t wait to do that again!”

Startled he looked at her, his disbelief obvious because she laughed at him. “I know. I’ll let you catch your breath first!”

“You sound as if … You doona regret what we’ve done then?”

“Regret it?” she was incredulous. “I’m lying here replete
and asking for seconds and you’re afraid I am feeling
regret
?” She laughed at him again.

“But a li’le while ago you said you dinna want tae do this. You dinna want tae … not all the way, in any event.”

“I’m a woman. I changed my mind.” She smiled beatifically at him. “And a damn good thing, too!”

“Aye,” he agreed. “A bloody damn good thing.”

Ahnvil trailed a finger down along the braided chain of the Amulet, until he reached the shining pendant itself. He carefully lifted it from between her bare breasts and examined it. He didn’t want to give the impression he was trying to take it off her. He didn’t want it to jerk her away like last time, possibly hurting her.

“Come,” he said after a moment, “Let us see a man about this bloody thing. The sooner we get it off you the better it will be.”

She hesitated before agreeing with him. She sat up and retrieved the shirt she’d been wearing from where it had landed on the corner of the bed.

“What is it?” he wanted to know as he reached for his jeans, studying her face all the while.

“Nothing,” she said. Which was a lie. She was worried suddenly. If they removed the pendant, then there would no longer be any reason for her to stay. She suspected she knew exactly what Ahnvil’s first reaction would be. To protect her … even if it meant sending her away. And if anything was obvious, it was that this was a dangerous place for a mortal woman to be.

But she was in danger every damn time the sun came out. Life wasn’t about avoiding dangers. She had spent her entire existence avoiding dangers, but never could it
have been considered living a life. She’d just been making her way through, carefully, cautiously. She didn’t want to live like that anymore. At least when she’d had her job in the ER she’d been doing something exciting and useful with her life. But then she had let the opinions of others chase her back into the darkness where she had thought she belonged. For the first time she was feeling as though she were out in the sun.

“Now, I can see that’s no’ true,” he said seriously. “Are you hurt? Did I say something—?”

“No. Stop,” she soothed him with a hand on his chest. “You’ve done nothing wrong.” She looked down at her knees. “I’m just worried.”

“Doona worry. We’ll get it off somehow.”

“No. No I mean … I’m worried that … you’ll send me away after it comes off.”

He frowned. “Well, of course I’ll send you away. This is no place for a mortal girl.”

“Max is mortal,” she pointed out angrily.

“I doona decide what Max does wi’ his life.”

“Oh. You’ll just decide what I do with mine?” she bit out.

“That’s no’ what I mean.”

“Then what did you mean?” she wanted to know.

“I just meant that you’re very fragile. And Max is … Max is …”

“A man?”

“Yes.”

“Oh my God, you’re a sexist pig on top of everything else!”

“What ‘else’?” he wanted to know. “What’s so wrong wi’ me? You dinna think there was anything wrong wi’ me a few minutes ago!”

“A few minutes ago we were equals. Now the only thing we’re equal at is being equally pissed off at each other. Only
my
reasons make sense!”

“And mine doona? You doona think there’s any danger in staying here?”

“That’s not the point! For the first time I’m somewhere where my affliction doesn’t make me stand out. For the first time I’ve found somewhere where being me is ‘normal.’ Do you really think I want to give that up?”

“You do if you’ve any sense in your head! ’Tis dangerous here!”

“ ’Tis dangerous anywhere there’s a goddamn
sun
!” she spat out.

“Och! I doona believe you’re talking like a madwoman. And here I thought you were a sensible girl!”

“I am not a girl. Nor am I a madwoman. You’re just a boorish pain in my ass who thinks his way is the only way and screw what everybody else thinks!”

She got up and scooped her panties up off the floor. “And now I’m going to go find a shower and some decent clothes. Because God forbid someone even looks at me the wrong way, you’ll be wanting to rip their arms out of their sockets! Then I’m going to call my mother. At least she’ll be happy to hear what I’ve got to say.”

“But … I doona want you tae go,” he said suddenly, his tone quiet and low. “Is that what you think? That I
want
you tae go?”

She frowned and looked down at her toes. “Well, what am I supposed to think? You’re having sex with me one minute and the next you can’t wait to ship me off to where it’s ‘safe.’ ” She looked up at him. “I don’t want to be safe. Not anymore. Safe is … safe is … kind of boring. You know? I’ve played it safe all of my life but these past few days have been like … like something out of an adventure story. And it’s been happening to me.” She pointed to herself. “Me. The queen of hiding and playing it safe.” She frowned again. “And if I had played it safe that morning in the woods I would have called the cops and left you out in the cold until they got there. I would
have hidden in my house until it was all over with. But I didn’t, and I’m glad I didn’t.” She rubbed her hands together. “So don’t ask me to throw it all away. I don’t want any take-backsies. I don’t want to go backward. Can we please … please just take it one night at a time? If I feel I’m in too much danger believe me I’ll be the first to cry uncle and I will lead the charge in the other direction.”

He was frowning as well, and it was clear it was a difficult thing for him to wrestle with, the idea of letting her remain in an unprotected state.

“I know,” she said softly, climbing back on the bed and straddling his thighs. She took his face in between her hands and looked down deeply into his golden eyes. “I know it’s ingrained deep inside you to protect. I understand that you were made that way. Ihron told me your forger made you that way in order to force your loyalty.”

“Aye. He did, the bastard.” He sighed. “And now I’m going tae take you tae him.”

“You’re going to …?”

“Up!” He lurched up to his feet, taking her up with him. Instinctively she clutched around his shoulders and her legs wrapped around his waist.

“But why would you—?” She huffed in frustration. “I don’t understand!”

“Do you remember when I said there was someone here who would know how tae help us get this bloody thing off you?”

“Yes, but …”

“His name is Kamenwati.”

“Kamenwati. Your
forger
is
here
?”

“Aye. And from what I heard he knows what this is and verra likely can tell us how tae get it off you. Will you let me take you tae him?” He stopped moving, waiting for her reply. Doing his best not to force her to his will. Realizing that, she smiled softly at him and touched warm fingers to his serious mouth.

“I trust you to know what’s best … in this particular instance.”

He had to grin at her obvious stipulation. “Verra well. But first you’ll be putting on some decent clothing. We’ve a closetful here, just in case a new Bodywalker comes tae town and needs a wardrobe. It’s a thing,” he said at her quizzical expression. “The Bodywalkers like tae be prepared for everything.”

“Oh, I see. Yes. Clothes would be very nice.” As he walked them into the hallway she asked, “How is it that your forger is under the same roof as you are? I mean, how do you even keep from killing him where he stands? It seems to me that would be your first reaction.”

“Aye. First, second, and last. But he’s a powerful man and has defected from the Templars. A man like that, with his power, could help sway the way of the war. But there are other reasons, even more dangerous ones why we need him on our side. You see, there’s an evil god who—”

“Did you say a
god
?” she interrupted incredulously.

“Aye. I did. Kamenwati cast magic and accidentally resurrected a demon god named Apep into the female Templar leader’s body. Her name is Odjit. This god has more power than you can possibly imagine in him. Kamen says it will take time tae come tae fruition, and when that happens we’ll all be the first thing on his hit list. Now do you see? Do you see why I canna have you here? You’ve no defense again’ a regular Templar, never mind a demon god.”

“I see,” she said with a tight swallow. “But I still won’t go.”

“Gods, you’re stubborn, woman.”

“Aye,” she said smugly.

After he brought her to the closet of all women’s wet dreams, allowing her to find a pair of jeans that fit—almost, they were too long—and a pretty russet blouse
that flattered her eyes, she fluffed her hair in a nearby mirror … then smoothed it … then fluffed it again.

“Ye gods woman, you’re no’ going out on a date!” Ahnvil said in exasperation. And she detected a hint of jealousy in the remark as well. For some reason that tickled her pink.

“Right. Well, I just want to make sure I look good for when I kick him in the ass. He deserves it for what he did to you.”

“Aye,” Ahnvil said thoughtfully. “But if he had no’, I wouldna have gotten tae meet you.”

She hadn’t thought about it like that, and again it gave her pleasure that he had.

She went to walk out of the room, but he stopped her, moved in front of her, and kept her a step behind his back as he led her down the stairs. The entire time they moved through the house and down the stairs he kept her in a protective position, making sure his body was guarding hers at all times.

She thought about saying something, about showing her exasperation, but in the end it was kind of soothing to feel so well protected. There was something strongly pleasing about it. It seemed as though for the most part all of what he was doing was giving her pleasure. In one form or another. And just thinking about some of the forms that pleasure had taken had her flushing rosy red as she followed him.

They went down to the second story, and she realized there were more suites of rooms down here. The main house itself was enormous, and she had noticed a couple of other houses situated behind it a little distance away. All and all the property was mammoth. The driveway to get to the house had been very long. And all around them for as far as the eyes could see was land. Allowing them privacy, she realized, against whatever paranormal activity might happen there.

“Wait! I forgot about Bella! I have to leave her a note. She could be here anytime.”

“After,” he said. “Then we can write your note and tack it tae the door. I’m still no’ comfortable wi’ you talking tae the spirit.”

“She’s not a spirit,” she felt the need to point out.

“Whatever she is, I doona like it.”

“Well, maybe we’ll find out something about her from your forger.”

“Aye. That’s a possibility. Here we are.” They stopped at a closed door and he rapped his knuckles against it.

“How do you know he’s in there?”

“He’s confined tae his rooms more often than no’. We’re still wary of his intentions, so he has limited access tae the house. But we have grown more lax abou’ it over time. I doona agree with it, but I doona question my Pharaoh all that much. He’s a wiser man than I and has proved it over the many incarnations I have been with him for.”

“But everyone deserves questioning,” she said with a frown.

“Aye, but like I said, he’s proved to be right more often than no’.”

The door opened just then, revealing a tall, athletically built man with dark hair, bright blue eyes, and pretty astounding good looks.

“Jeez, do all of you have to look like you just stepped off the cover of a romance novel?” she muttered.