Tempted by the Night (10 page)

He was shaking his head. “Didn't you hear what I said? Six years—probably closer to seven—I've been wanting…this. You.” Now it was his turn to put space between them. His expression turned blank. “But if…well, dammit, Marisa, if you don't want me, if you were just playing along tonight, then tell me so I can haul my ass out of here and stop making a fool—”

She practically leapt into his arms.

He staggered a little, then, laughing, covered her mouth with his as he pulled her close and tight. “Thank God,” he murmured against her. “Thank God.”

She didn't hear much more of what he said after that—and there was more, against her skin, her mouth, into her hair—because there also was a lot of clothes being torn off, accompanied by sighs and satisfied groans as their bare bodies pressed against each other, and were touched, teased, stroked…

She tried not to feel too exposed when he looked down at her naked self settled on the small bed. After all, he'd seen everything of Lainey and he still wanted Marisa…but there was a little twinge. Because she wasn't as slender and curvy and lush and—

“Stop it,” he said, pausing with one hand cupping her breast.

“Stop what?”

“Stop comparing yourself to Lainey. Trust me, I've done my share of that and, my love, you've always come out the winner.” And then he bent to kiss her tight, straining nipple, sliding his sleek, hot tongue around the tip and creating strong, sharp waves of pleasure that undulated through her belly and lower.

Marisa sighed and gave herself up to the moment: to the slide of warm, hair-roughened skin against hers, the bulge of muscle beneath her hands as he shifted, and the slick, glorious sensation as he slid inside with a low sigh.

“I'm so glad I came here and asked you for help,” he murmured, moving against her.

“I thought if I ever saw you again, I'd…
oh!
…kill…you,” she replied with a delighted little gasp. “That's…oh, Luke, that's…mmm…”

“You
are
killing me,” he whispered, his voice tight and his breath warm against her temple, “but it's going to be the best
l' petite morte
I've ever…had…” And as she arched and shuddered beneath him, he smiled into her hair and found the little death.

 

Later…a significant amount of time later, after they'd basked in the safety of the secret room, Marisa sat up and looked down at Luke.

His blue eyes opened, clear and aware, and she knew he hadn't been sleeping either.

“So…what now?” she asked, fighting to hide the little bit of trepidation that sneaked up inside her. “You said you stole something from Ian Marck. A photograph?”

He nodded, and to her surprise (and delight, for he was utterly beautiful in his nakedness) he got up and walked over to dig through his pack. “What do you make of this? I'm going to bring it to Envy, to the Waxnickis. I'm not sure why it's important, but Marck carried it with him all the time. And he was not happy when he realized I'd stolen it.”

She took the picture. There were three women in it. A fourth person, along with most of what must have been their names printed under each one, was mostly obliterated by the way the photograph had been torn in half.

“Marley Huvane,” she read, looking at the beautiful woman standing on the left of the group. No, they were
all
beautiful. Stunningly beautiful. All three of them. “Sameen—I can't read her last name at all, nor the one in the middle—Liana something. She looks…well, she looks almost like a queen, Liana does, with the way her hair is done up so intricately, and those flowers and jewels in her hair. Or is she a bride, maybe? Hmmm.” She handed it back to Luke. “What do you think?”

“I didn't think about the bride part, but that could be it. Maybe it's a wedding or something. But whatever, I know this picture is important to Ian Marck. The women in it—and I can't see anything of the fourth person, even to tell if it's a woman—might be members of the Strangers. See, on Marley there, there's a faint blue beneath her clothes? Right where the crystal would be if she had one, embedded in her skin. She could be a Stranger herself.”

“So you're going to take this to Envy and see what the Waxnickis think.”

“Yes. I have to. It's going to be dangerous, Marisa. Traveling there—especially with the snoot looking for me.”

She nodded.
What now?
That awkwardness was back. “I'll…well, maybe you'll come back some time and see me.” She tried for a steady smile and thought she succeeded.

“I thought…I—well, I know I don't have any right to ask you, but…would you want to come with me? It's going to be dangerous, like I said, and I know I'm being selfish to ask but, dammit, Marisa, we just finally—”

“Yes. Stop talking.
Yes
, I'll go with you. I don't care if it's dangerous—we're smart enough, and you're definitely strong enough—to take care of ourselves. Especially if we're together.” She grinned, filled with utter and complete joy. “Besides…I've always wanted to meet Theo and Lou Waxnicki.”

“They're pretty amazing. And so is the group of men—and women—they've pulled together for the Resistance.”

She looked up at him. “This is going to be the beginning of a brand new adventure.”

“For both of us.” And he drew her into his arms.

 

The original series, featuring six men trapped in time…

and the women who can save them.

 

 

 

 

Book One: Elliott

 

 

Book Two: Simon

 

 

Book Three: Quent

 

 

Book Four: Theo

 

 

Book Five: Fence

 

 

Book Five: Wyatt

 

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If you enjoyed the Envy Chronicles, check out my Gardella Vampire Hunters series.

One of the characters in this series makes an appearance in
Night Betrayed
.

How can this be? you ask.

How can a character from a vampire hunter series set in 1800s London

show up in a series set in post-apocalyptic Vegas?

 

Well…you'd have to read them to find out.

 

The Rest Falls Away
(book 1) is currently FREE!