Embrace the Desire (15 page)

He felt excitement race through her veins, but she bit it down as she answered. “On the outskirts of town. There is an old abandoned warehouse with an underground storage compartment. That is where they sleep. I watch over them . . . if I don't, they will hunt me down and kill . . . kill me.”

“Have they fed from you?”

“No.”

“Why did you come here?”

“I need your help.”

“My help?” He paused, let the silence between them grow until she started fidgeting. “How did you know where to find me?”

“I have a friend. He told me where to come and to look for a white haired man.”

“And what is this friend's name?”

He watched her eyes dart back and forth. “Charon.”

“Charon?” Charon's name struck a chord in his gut. Varick searched her face as an odd feeling snaked up his spine. “What do you offer in return for their deaths?”

“I don't have anything except for my body.”

Varick looked her over as if she were a piece of meat. Her black hair was lovely, her eyes were an odd bright brown and satin gray color and her complexion had an olive tint to it. Her shoulders were strong and her fingers were soft. She was a very beautiful woman, but he felt the evil that clung to her. She had no doubt been subject to many horrors, but she was no saint.

Bastilla met his eyes. “If you will do this for me, I'll give my body freely.”

Varick narrowed his eyes. “You would offer yourself?”

“I have heard the rumors that Destroyers are powerful lovers . . . and I feel that it is I that would be rewarded.”

Varick was not born yesterday and he could sense a trap when one was being laid out so politely in front of him. He didn't need god powers to see it. Did this female expect him to fall so easily? Or was that part of the trap as well?

He gritted his teeth and commanded. “You will tell the truth of this visit. Perhaps you will find solace in another man's arms,” he whispered, “But you won't find it in mine.”

Bastilla gritted her teeth as she clutched his crotch. “I will do anything you want me to. Please, I beg of you, help me.”

Varick growled as his zipper came down and her hand reached inside. Her fingers were warm and soft, but her grip told another story. He groaned as the beast clawed at his eyes. It was getting harder to control as she reached around him and cupped his butt. Instantly, he slammed her into the wall and picked her up from the floor baring his elongated fangs.

“You know not what you seek. When I finish with you there will be nothing left except for your crushed dead body!” Varick shook his head. “What brings you into this sanctuary?”

Bastilla grinned. “I am stronger than I look. And I need your help.”

“It has nothing to do with strength and you will keep your distance from me or die.” His voice deepened as his eyes cast a soft white glow over her face.

In his present state, he caught a strangely familiar odor, Payne. But he was in Kentucky. He released his hold of the woman and turned on his heel.

He knew of Bastilla, Payne's one and only desire. Could this be her? He would have to speak to him in regard to this matter. Speaking with Payne about his emotions was like pulling your fingernails out one at a time, complete torture. He growled as he turned back to the woman. Time to play the game at hand.

“You can have asylum until this issue is resolved. Go to the office in the back and ask for Alera. She will show you to a room and see that you are protected throughout the night. Do not leave this building or speak to any demons that may be here. Do you understand?”

Bastilla stared at the only man that had ever refused her, complete confusion on her brow, “And what about the man who comes while I sleep?”

“No demon can come into these walls and cause harm to another.”

“And what am I going to owe you?”

“We shall see.”

“All I can offer is what stands before you.”

Varick laughed hatefully. “Not interested.”

Bastilla's rage flared as he turned and walked back to the bar. He would regret this refusal soon enough. No one refused her will, no one! But for now, she would play the part of the damsel in distress. She turned to the door as a gorgeous woman walked into the club from the back.

Bastilla watched her as she looked at Varick. Her blood boiled as she saw Varick turn to the woman and smile. She caught her breath as Varick' power surged at the sight of this woman. Disgust and hatred welled up her throat as his eyes feasted on the female.

The woman was the reason he had refused her. No matter, she would have what she wanted as soon as she found Payne and had him falling for her all over again. Time for plan B.

• • •

The clock on the wall above the picture of a lion chimed. Chanta nervously picked at the hem of her black dress. She had taken great care in preparing herself for Payne's visit. Her light tresses framed her face in an upswept fashion, her fingernails were painted red to match her toes that peeked out from the high heels that she was wearing, and the sleeveless dress she wore was perfectly fit to her soft curves.

She sat straight up in the black velvet chair and took a deep breath. What would she do if he came on to her? But that was the point of the whole situation, right? Would he? Was he mated or did he have a love interest? He couldn't be either, or Gyth would never have chosen him, right? Was he crazy? She stood and covered her mouth as her thoughts ran wide open.

Hell, he was probably gay. She grinned, his penis was probably little too. Did that even matter?

She had had sex several times. The first time was quick and hurt a little, but she hadn't enjoyed it at all. She had known what her boyfriend was thinking and her arousal soon died as his thoughts turned to the secret he was trying to hide.

She gritted her teeth; men were pigs. It was a hell of a secret and she had burst out in intense laughter and later her laughter had turned into disgust. He was gay, refused to acknowledge it, and had to think about a man to keep his erection. She had been such a fool!

Her thoughts ran back in time to her twenty-first birthday and her skin crawled. She shut her eyes and tried to refuse to relive that night of horror. It had been the best and the worst night of her entire life.

Damon, the lord of the Underworld, had seduced her. And she had fallen right into his cold hands. But they weren't cold until after she had slept with him. He had hidden his true identity from her, had indeed treated her with respect and had appeared to cherish her. Until after she had professed her love for him and had slept with him.

His hands had been so cold; she could still feel the scale-like tongue that had been forced into her mouth. She gritted her teeth and choked her past down her throat. She had not let that night rule her life even back then and she wasn't about to let it do so now.

She looked down at Jazz as he curled around her foot. “Well, Jazz, my furry little prince, what do you say about my new friend?”

The cat purred and meowed up at her. She grinned and reached down to pet him as a heavy knock sounded at the door. Chanta jumped and turned to the hallway. Could she go through with this? For a second she wished she had put on the baggy clothes she worked in, but the thought quickly disappeared as the knock sounded again, much louder.

She went to the door and grabbed the knob. “Who is it?”

“Payne.”

She unlocked the door and removed the chain. She opened the door and caught her breath. The expression on Payne's face was dark and there was not an ounce of kindness to be found. He came in and pushed past her. He scanned the living room and looked out of the window. When he turned around Chanta was standing by the black chair and she had every intention of turning tail and running.

And to think she had been fantasizing about this Destroyer? This arrogant, hateful, and uncompassionate Destroyer?

Payne looked her over and his heart pounded in his chest. Isten's words thundered in his head as he simply stood and stared at her.

Of all the times to remember, now, he recalled the symbol on the white robes that Gyth had worn to the celebration the night the son of Dark Fever had been born. The same symbol that Varick had on his wrist and had never spoke of.

He gritted his teeth as he looked at her fair hair, she was blonde, light blonde . . . almost white. He wondered if she knew as his eyes slid from her lips down her soft neck and settled on her breasts.

She was beautiful, but then again, she was a half-god and gods were either beautiful or scary as hell. With a snarl on his lips, he stood staring at her. She was a beauty and he was the beast. A beast with a death wish.

He ran his hand through his hair as he turned away from her. Varick swore that he would give him one wish and he had never broken an oath. He turned back to Chanta and grunted. As far as he was concerned he had told her enough, it was time to get down to business.

“This is some serious bullshit,” Payne stated angrily. He turned on his heel, ran his hand down his forehead and rubbed his eyes.

• • •

Chanta eased around the chair and sat down. He was aggravated and it sure as hell didn't take an empath to figure that out. She watched him as he turned back to the window; she definitely wasn't going to try to charm him tonight. Swallowing hard, she figured the best course of action was to stay out of his way.

She rolled her eyes, how she wished she had worn jogging pants and a t-shirt. The two hours she had spent getting ready seemed like a waste of time. She curled up into the chair and leaned her head against the back of the couch.

Well, Chanta, what the hell were you expecting? A knight in shining armor? A dozen roses? This is what happens when you let your guard down! Not to mention, he was a Destroyer, aka, demon under his skin.

Chanta studied him, watched as he looked at the couch and sat down, kicking his feet out and crossing them at the ankles. Maybe he just planned on waiting until the Burning kicked in. It was time and the sooner the better. She felt the warmth of tears rim her eyes, prayed that she wouldn't cry or at least not do it in front of him.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” She jumped at the sharp edge in his voice.

Chanta didn't bother to look at him as she lied. “It has been a long night. I just got back from a date and I'm tired.”

“A date with whom?”

“That's none of your business.”

“Did he get what he wanted?” Chanta gritted her teeth as he waited for a response.

Chanta closed her eyes. “Let's do this some other time. It's obvious that you don't want to be here and I don't think it's a good idea for you to stay.”

“What's wrong? Did I insult you? Hurt your feelings?” he questioned with a rough voice that made him seem detached.

Stretching, she slowly pulled her heels off. His smug expression angered her. What the hell did he think she was? A whore? She narrowed her eyes and flung both of her heels at him. One hit him in the chest and the other landed with a thud against the wall. He grinned as he threw her heel to the floor.

The four cats, who had all graced the room with their presence, perched themselves on the back of the couch and stretched out.

“Just leave, Payne. You don't want to be here and I don't want you here. I have your cell number, I'll call you.”

“Can't do that just yet, but I will leave soon enough. Tonight you will go through the Burning.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, did you fuck him?”

Chanta stood and turned on her heel as her face reddened. “When I come back you had better be gone!”

She marched to her bedroom and slammed the door. She threw herself on her bed and screamed into her pillow. Where the hell was Gyth when she needed him? Why the hell would she need him? Her father who had been missing all her life. He was just another man, god or not, and they were all the same, assholes, pigs, and perverts! She beat on the pillow with her fists and tears misted her eyes. How could she have been so stupid?

Chanta lay there for an eternity before she finally stretched and sat up. She pulled the dress up over her head and flung it in the floor at the foot of the bed. She unclasped her strapless bra and threw it backwards over her head. In her underwear, she opened her door and went to the bathroom. She didn't bother to look in the living room, she knew he had left; they all did when they saw that she wasn't going to put out.

But this wasn't a date, it wasn't something she could even control. And Payne was here to service her at the command of his leader. His leader and her father no less.

Taking a deep breath, she laughed. On her second breath, she reminded herself that Payne was here to have sex with her, nothing more nothing less. It was what it was. And it wasn't going to be easy or fun or sexy. It was going to be painful.

And she needed to quit trying to romanticize it. It was biology, not chemistry.

She slid her underwear to the floor and stepped into the shower stall. A hot shower, a cup of hot chocolate, and a good book was all she needed. To hell with men, to hell with Payne, and to hell with life. She was tired of it all, tired of the perverts, tired of the lies, and tired of the nonstop rumbling in her head. She just wanted a life, a normal life. And that was something she was never going to have.

The hot water streamed down her back as sweat beaded on her forehead. She stepped back and tears rushed down her face. Why had his mood upset her so much? Was that not the real reason she was so upset? She had wanted him to be interested and it had hurt when he lashed out at her. Her insides tingled and her throat went dry. She had wanted him, hell, she was going to throw herself at him tonight. She was a fool and she wasn't going to make that mistake again, not now and not ever.

Chanta stepped out of the shower and wrapped herself in the towel hanging on the door hook. She wrapped her hair in another towel from the rack over the toilet. She opened the door and walked to the living room. Her mouth flew open as Payne walked out of her tiny kitchen holding a coffee cup.