Demon Possession (29 page)

“Anya!” Marik cal ed. “The cart is ready.”

Anya swal owed a hard lump in her throat. The cart was fil ed with the usual tasty treats that the crew in the control room would devour. Regrettably she would have to face Sebastian’s abhorrent stares, until she could once again remove herself from his presence.

As she pushed the cart through the hal s, coming closer and closer to the control room the feeling inside her grew to the point of panic. If he were to look at her with disdain she thought she might lose it. It would be nothing more than what she deserved. How could she think that a man like him might want more from her?

Outside the door she stood. Five minutes, ten. She couldn’t seem to catch her breath. Tel ing herself that the crew inside was growing hungry she convinced her feet to move forward.

The doors swooshed open. Her heart raced as she tried not to glance at Sebastian, but she peeked out of the corner of her eye. He wasn’t looking at her either.

Someone yel ed. “Ah, the food is here!”

Stil he didn’t look at her. His avoidance was almost worse than if he were to sneer at her. She had to get out of there. She couldn’t be around him for another moment. Her eyes were growing hot from unshed tears barely contained.

In a mock steady voice she said, “I’l retrieve the cart at a later time.” Then she forced herself, chin up, to leave as casual y as possible. When she was out the door she picked up her pace, holding back her tears as best she could.

“Anya!” Sebastian’s voice cal ed from behind her.

Cringing,she didn’t slow her retreat. It didn’t take him long to catch her though, with his long strides he easily kept pace with her. “Anya?”

“My name is not Anya! It’s Analia!” She could no longer stand him cal ing her by the endearing nickname. Not when he found nothing endearing about her.

His steps faltered for a moment but he recovered quickly. She could sense he was looking at her now, whatever was displayed in his features she didn’t know, she refused to look.

“Analia.” He corrected in a softer tone. His tone alone threatened to break down al the wal s she was currently trying to hold up.

“It’s not necessary for you to tel me how appal ed you are by what we … by what happened between us. We can agree now to never speak of it again. I wil tel no one.”

“Wil you stop for a moment?”

“No, I must get back to work. Marik needs me.”Unlike you, she silently added.

Sebastian grabbed hold of her elbow, pul ing her to a halt. When he turned her to face him she furiously studied the floor. “I’ve hurt you badly haven’t I?”

He paused, for what? A reaction? She wouldn’t give him the pleasure.

“I’m sorry. It was unintentional. I should not have left you as I did.”

That got her to look at him. He looked as pained as she felt. “Please don’t bother yourself with guilt. It’s natural for you to regret our coupling. Forgive me for pushing you, I know I am unworthy …”

“Shit. I’ve done more damage than I thought. This is why I tried to stay away from you. I knew I would only hurt you. You are not unworthy. I am.”

Stunned into silence Anya could only gape at him.

“Please Anya, Analia, know that you are the most beautiful … stunning … amazing creature I’ve ever beheld. You are more than worthy. You are soft, and perfect, and you drive me wild with the mere hint of a smile in my direction. You’re smart, and kind, and carry the strength of a goddess.”

“Stop it. I am none of those things.”

“You are al of those things and more. I should be begging you for forgiveness, not the other way around.”

Crossing her arms she raised an eyebrow and said the only thing she could think of. “Go on then.”

His lips quirked. Slowly he went to his knees. “Please wil you forgive me?”

Feigning bravado she lifted her shoulder in a half shrug, surprised by his actions.

Sebastian’s hands moved up her thighs, she was barely able to stifle a shiver as he let her feel the strength of his hands on her hips before moving higher.

Those warm strong hands met flesh when he lifted the material of her blouse, placing a soft kiss on her stomach.

“Please forgive me.”

Her breath had already left her. He found the smal of her back, pressing her against him as he kissed his way up her body. He kissed between her breasts, her shoulder, the soft curve of her jaw.

“Forgive me.” His breath caressed her skin, this time she couldn’t stifle her shiver. Then he smoothed his lips over hers in a soft sensual kiss that made her mind go blank and her body grow hot and sensitive.

Against his lips she rasped, “You are so forgiven.” She could feel his smile against her lips before he kissed her deep and demanding.

“Wil youcome back into the control room.?”

When she nodded he grabbed her hand and led her back down the hal way and straight to his station. To her complete shock he sat and pul ed her into his lap. Gasping, she could feel his erection hard against her. Cheeks heating she glanced around the room expecting to see shocked faces. There were a few here and there, but most seemed unaffected, as if it were a perfectly natural thing for her to be sitting on Sebastian’s lap.

As she was studying everyone else, Sebastian was studying her, gaugingherreaction as she was gauging everyone else’s, as though he didn’t care what his crew might be thinking. Realization hit her as she locked eyes with him. Sebastian was proving to her that he wasn’t ashamed of her. That he truly didn’t think her unworthy. In that moment the happiness that washed over her was overpowering, radiating from her every cel , becoming a living breathing thing.

Sebastian sucked in a breath. Clutching her hips he looked at her in awe. “Did you feel that? Did that come from you?”

Shit, she did it again, let her guard down where her powers were concerned. Only she didn’t know she could project her own energy like that. Looking a little sheepish she replied, “I guess it did.”

Reading herexpressionhe asked “Have you ever done that before?”

“No, never.”

His smile was wicked. “It was for me?”

Blushing deeper she nodded. His eyes flashed with desire, she instantly grew wet at the sight. Resisting the urge to rol her hip she whispered in his ear.

“Bastian, you must get control over yourself.” For if he didn’t, she would also lose control. Already she was debating straddling him.

In a low husky voice Sebastian whispered, “If that’s my reward for simply holding you to my lap, I wonder what I’l get the next time I ride you al night.”

Her body shuddered. Of their own accord her hips undulated against his hard shaft, begging.

Groaning softly he stil ed her movement. “If you don’t stop that you’l make me explode in my pants. Then what wil my crew think of me?”

The crew!

Warily she glanced around the room. Luckily no one seemed to notice the heated exchange between them.

Sebastian watched as Anya backed the cart out of the control room. Reluctantly he had al owed her to crawl off his lap, when what he real y wanted to do was whisk her up to his room and ask for more forgiveness by taking her up against the wal .

This morning in her bed he was drunk on her taste, her warm sensual body. He was content to stay there al day and make sure they were both so thoroughly satiated that neither of them could muster the strength to get out of bed. She had been so open and sweet, meeting his every erotic fantasy.

Then she had touched his necklace,bringingforth every hurtful memory of his family’s betrayal, reminding him of the reasons that he kept that necklace in the first place—so he would always remember to keep himself protected. How many times had he been on the verge of claiming her? Too many. If he claimed her and she betrayed him, it would destroy him.

That’s why he’d left her in such a hurry. His head was muddled with al the horrific possibilities. Cale’s words had run rampant through his mind.She could be a spy for al you know. Sebastian had panicked at the thought and ran out of there as though at any moment she would reveal a dark plot to steal his heart and crush it in her bare hands.

Sebastian realized he’d never run out of a woman’s bed so fast before. Her voice had quivered and stil he’d left her. Hehad to. Outside her room he’d vowed that he would begin distancing himself from her. He would make it clear that whatever was between them would go no further. He swore he would begin to treat her as every other crew member, and definitely not like his mate.

His plans were swiftly defeated.

The moment she’d entered the room he’d been resolved in his plan, kept his gaze straight to the stars, even when he sensed hers on him. But then he’dfelther emotion. He couldn’t explain it at the time, but he instinctively knew it came from her.

Utter devastation.

Hefelt it so stronglyit nearly choked the air from his lungs. He’d crumbled instantly. Sebastian couldn’t stand to see—or rather feel—her in pain. Pain caused by him. He’d only wanted to distance himself, regain a little control, not to hurt her.

When he’d caught her and she revealed, in so many words, that he’d made her feel unworthy Sebastian wanted to howl in frustration. He’d caused such a strong, perfect, eternal creature to feel unworthy … of him! A two bit merchant with no home and little honor. Marik would beat him to an inch of his life if he knew he’d made her feel anything close to unworthy. He deserved nothing less.

At that moment he would have done anything to make her smile again, to erase her insecurities, so he could see her as happy as she had been that morning in bed with him.

The moment he pul ed her into his lap something in him slipped and clicked into place. And as he watched her glance around the room alarmed, his mind cleared. When she revealed another faucet of her gift—it was like pure joy slamming into him—he understood that what he felt earlier real y did come from her, and he would never let her feel like that again.

Sebastian decided then and there that he was keeping her.

Her newest gift was concerning to say the least. Releasing the emotion had felt like a mini explosion inside her. Not painful, just different, assuaging. How many new abilities would she discover? Why were they surfacing now?

She suspected it was because she’d felt the emotion so strongly and she’d never been so happy in her life. It made sense that if she could take in the emotions of others, then she could also projectheremotions. Wel , project to Sebastian anyway. No one else seemed to notice.

She’l need to get control of her new ability quickly,and keep it under control so she didn’t wind up projecting her emotionstoeveryone around her.

So far she’d been keeping her emotions in check. Her gift could be alarming to others. Though, she mused, Sebastian had seemed elated by it. Behind the barAnya smiled to herself. It made her happy that he didn’t think differently because of her gifts.

He doesn’t know your real ability. What would he think of you then?

What would he do if he found out he could use her bloodas a super-fuel? Would he want to use her? Her smile faded.

In an attempt to clear her mind Anya focused her attention on the patrons in the bar. The pub was fil ed to the brim tonight. Many had heard rumors of the attack,and were asking her to regale them with her story—until a few drinks were had,and they were inserting their own variations.

Apparently, Calic had spread the word,and embel ished her role significantly. As the night drew on, her involvement had grown from successful escape to singlehandedly defeating Xandar with her birthday sword. Xandar was assumed dead, and a massive cover-up was thought to be in place.Anyalet themsaywhat they wanted. Deep down most of them knew the story was too outrageous,and shefiguredthey were merely having fun with her.

Most who entered the pub greeted her personal y before taking a seat, making comments like “I always knew something wasn’t right with that boy”

Anyawould just smile, nod and take their drink orders. She real y didn’t want to talk about Xandar, didn’t want to be reminded of Xandar when she was too giddy from this afternoons encounter with Sebastian.

Idly she wondered if he would come to the pub tonight. Or if she would find him in her room waiting for her with his devastating arrogant smile and rock hard body. Then she would ruin her own good mood and wonder,what if hedidn’t come?Or worse, what if he came to tel her he was wrong about her being worthy and took back al those beautiful things he said about her. His words were far too good for her, and she knew it.

Calic entered the pub and flashed Anya a bril iant smile, fang and al . “Ah, my little warrior!” He declared for everyone’s ears.

Anya felt herself blush. “You must stop lying to everyone.” She ordered.

“Hel no! My version is way better.”

Marik slipped in behind Calic, slapping him on the back. “Don’t listen to him Anya. You did very wel for yourself. Even if you didn’t flip him over your back and roundhouse kick him to the floor, before smashing his brains in with your fist.”

Anya laughed. In a teasing voice, “Oh, that does sound close to the actual events, although it was firebal s from my eyes that crushed his skul .”

“No it was lasers.”

“Ah, that’s right. I forgot.”

Calic just shrugged. “Anyone who hears my version wil think twice before messing with you. Besides, my reputation as a master trainer is on the line.”

“Hey boys” Sonya sauntered up to the group. “What can I get you?”

“The usual.”

Anya’s heart began to flutter when she spotted Bastian enter the pub. Sudden apprehension took over. He was devastatingly handsome with his spiky black hair standing in the doorway. He was covered in a long sleeve black shirtthatAnya wanted to run her fingers under it to feel his hard muscular chest hidden by al that cloth.

His honey colored eyes locked with hers and she watched him, unable to look away, as al that masculine energy loomed toward her. Shivering, Anya’s body reacted instantly.

Trying to keep herself in control she would have said,“Hi.” Or something equal y lame, but when Sebastian reached her he wrapped his arms around her, lifted her off the ground, and pressed his lips firmly to hers.