Embrace the Desire (16 page)

“Why are you still here?” Heat instantly swamped her, drenched her already wet core.

He shrugged as he took two steps and was standing in front of her, holding out the cup as if offering a truce. He looked out of place in her living room. He was dark, lethal, and dangerous. He was a predator in his own right, menacing, cold, and she was sure his cruelty knew no bounds.

He put the cup in her hand. “Careful, it's hot.”

She looked down and smelled the steam coming from the hot chocolate. As he went to her couch, she suddenly felt overwhelmed and tired. She groaned under her breath as her four cats jumped up on the couch with him. She tapped her bare foot on the carpet as he closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall.

“Look, Payne, you're going to have to leave. I'm tired and I'm going to bed.”

“Go ahead.”

“Leave!” she screamed as she sat the cup down on the end table.

“Can't do that.”

Chanta walked over in front of him and kicked his leg. “I don't know what kind of game you're playing, but I'm not interested. You leave now or I'm calling the cops!”

Payne didn't even chuckle at her worthless threat. “And what are the cops going to do?”

“Make you leave my residence.” She balled her fists at her sides when she saw the glimmer of a smile touch his lips. “Just leave. Gods above, I know you don't want to be here let alone do this Burning thing. I'll just call Gyth and request another Destroyer.”

“Sit down and shut up. You make too much noise.”

Chanta kicked him again. “I said to leave! Get out! I can't go through with this. I know the consequences and I accept them. So you can leave now.”

She reached for his hand, but he grabbed her wrist. She jerked, but he only grinned as he pulled her to his lap. The towel around her loosened and she grabbed at it as she landed on his thighs. The towel came completely undone and she sat bare-butt on his legs. Her face went scarlet-red as he grabbed her other wrist. The towel fell to her lap as he looked down.

“Let me go!”

“No, I don't think I will.” His eyes narrowed and he asked again, “Did you fuck him?”

Chanta jerked and tried to pull from his grip twisting one way then another. She tried to bite his hands as she twisted and landed on her knee between his legs. He was smiling as he put both of her hands into one of his. She cursed as he pulled her into a sitting position across his lap.

She was face to face with him with her hands captured behind her back. She took a deep breath as he slid his free hand up her thigh. Her breasts heaved and her body trembled as he ran his fingers up her ribcage.

“You fucking bastard! Don't touch me!” Even as the words left her mouth, she leaned into his touch.

Payne pulled her forward and released her hands. She pulled back and slapped him across the cheek. He didn't say a word so she slapped him again. He watched her eyes flame as she continued slapping him.

Chanta crossed her arms over her breasts and glared at Payne. “Is this what you like?”

Payne knitted his eyebrows together. “What I like?”

“Yeah, you fucking asshole, do you like raping women?”

Payne snarled at her. “If I was going to rape you, I would have done it already.”

“Then what the hell do you want from me?” she screamed.

“I want nothing from anybody. I came here to help you.”

Chanta stilled, her body becoming heavy, her voice a hoarse whisper “Oh, that's right. The Burning. And let's not forget, Varick's going to pay you for . . . ” Her voice trailed off, the words lodging themselves in her throat.

Payne wrestled around until he had the towel in his hand, offering it to her. “Cover yourself.”

Slowly, Chanta took the towel and climbed off of his lap and scooted to the other end of the couch. She couldn't find any words to spit out so she sat silently staring at the floor. She felt like a fool. Payne was basically a prostitute, getting paid to do the wild thing with someone he obviously didn't want.

“I'm sorry I slapped you. But like I said, I don't think I'm going to do this. I don't think I want immortality.”

“Don't be sorry. And you don't have a choice in the matter. You'll go through the Burning and you'll survive because I say you will.” Payne stretched out once more. “Trust me, there are much worse things than immortality.”

She shook her head. “I'm just an assignment to you, aren't I?”

In a fluid motion, he was on his feet, her cup of chocolate in his hand. “Drink this as I tell you a story.”

She took the cup, sipping as he sat back down. Her tears slipped down her cheeks and she quickly wiped them away.

“As most know, after the Titans, the Olympians emerged and ruled over the universe for a long time. What most do not know is that Isten fathered a son. His name was Charioton and he fathered Charon. Charon in turn fathered Tanterious.”

He stalked around the room. “Tanterious overthrew the Olympians, the Sumerians, the Egyptians, the Norse, and all other pantheons. He then fathered a son with Athena. And in his state of greed for more power, he destroyed Jaiden and most of the other old gods. Somehow he managed to imprison the godkillers and he changed the laws that they had once protected, took powers from the gods that had ruled before him or defied him, and used those powers to create other gods.”

“Go on,” Chanta insisted even though she knew this tale.

“He used those powers to create some of the gods that rule now. Damon, Zekel, Daertha, Zena, Adale, Amay, and Grace all have powers that formerly belonged to someone else.”

Chanta shook her head, curling her feet under her. “You don't have to tell this story, I know it by heart.”

He said nothing for a few seconds. “The ruling god is Gyth, Tanterious' flesh and blood born son. He is a direct descent of Isten, this universe's creator.”

She nodded.

“He ruled for many years and one day, he stood before his pantheon and handed Gyth the throne to the Heavens. He gave Damon the rule of the Underworld. He then divided the remaining six gods between the two realms.”

She laughed suddenly, couldn't stop herself. “Well, now that explains everything!”

He was still pacing in front of the couch, his brows knitted together. “Not exactly. What most don't know is that Tanterious didn't do it because he wanted to, he was forced by Terror Sky to give Gyth the throne.”

Chanta didn't even bat an eyelash. “I've never heard of Terror Sky and I'm a teacher. I know the creation myth word for word and that name has never been mentioned.”

“He is an Elemental god and he serves Isten faithfully.”

“Well, guess even teachers learn something new every day.” She snorted. “And honestly, that was well over two thousand years ago and I don't see how that pertains to me.”

“Gyth is Varick's father. He's your father.”

Chanta burst out in hysterical laughter. “Father? He may indeed have been the sperm donor, but that doesn't mean I have to like it or deal with it. One day, Gyth and I will have a little father-daughter talk about all those little details, but until then, don't refer to him as my father.”

The look on his face killed the laughter in her throat, caused her to temporarily forget how to breathe. She stood shaking her head not wanting to ever have to deal with Gyth being her dad. A part of her was screaming it was all a big farce, a concocted scheme of lies. Another part was standing in the corner of her mind taking deep breaths and trying to put all the pieces together.

As she stood there and stared into Payne's eyes, it all came crashing down on her. She was Gyth's daughter. Not just any of the gods, but the one who sat on the throne apparently at Isten's command. Sinking down to her knees, she sat there numb to her core.

And for the first time in her life, she sent a silent prayer to the mother she had never known.

Chanta narrowed her eyes as she looked up at Payne. He looked simply delectable standing there trying to hide the smile that threatened to break free. The man was intoxicating, the total package. Her insides trembled, sweat beading her forehead.

He smiled as he stepped closer, the tips of his fangs peeking out. “I can smell you. Like a storm brewing, growing and swirling with desire.”

“Do you find something amusing?” She whispered, afraid her voice would fail her.

He knelt in front of her, his nostril flaring as he took a deep breath. His fangs peeked out again and she shivered.

Lifting one hand, he ran his fingers down her jaw, the barest touch sending rivers of goose bumps along her skin. “Your body is responding to mine, like a bee to a flower.”

She swallowed hard, found her voice. “That's not how I would put it.”

“Then tell me, how would you put it?”

She swayed toward him, her entire body feeling like Jell-O. “I feel like a herd of nymphomaniacs just lodged themselves into my body and overthrew my brain.”

He stood and towered over her small frame and slowly shook his head as he held his hands out to her, a small chuckle escaping his mouth. “I applaud you for handling the situation so well.”

“You're laughing at me? Do you think this is all some kind of big joke?” She looked around her tiny apartment, looked anywhere but at him. “I don't even like you and yet my body wants you, needs you. Do you know how infuriating that is?”

His smile was blinding, bringing a soft flicker to his eyes. “I'm laughing with you, not at you.”

“Do you see me laughing?” She reached up and he pulled her to her feet. The contact was electrifying.

Jerking her hands away, she closed her eyes trying to ignore the heat that was threatening her sanity. “Why must the One Race go through the Burning?”

“The race is descended from the gods, but they aren't pureblood.” He shrugged. “For whatever godly reason, the law was decreed that to prove themselves worthy of godly powers, they must endure the Burning.”

“Meaning?”

“Everything comes with a price. You want to live with godpowers, you must earn it.”

“And if I don't want it?” She opened her eyes, stared into his, and watched his eyes harden, darken, and swirl with an odd blue light.

His voice twisted, a slight deep resonating sound that thundered in her ears. “Then you will die, like so many others before you and Damon will have one less member to try to kill off or to turn into a witch.”

She nodded. “Damon . . . ” A tear rimmed her eye, but she refused to remember times best forgotten. “Why does he want to kill the members of the One Race?”

“Witches, vampires, werewolves, and other beings of that sort take pleasure from One Race deaths.” His eyes traveled down the towel she was wearing making her shiver. “Gyth and Damon have been at each other's throats since Tanterious gave Gyth the throne and condemned Damon to the Underworld.”

Damon. Her heart stopped. Damon, the Lord of the Underworld. The years came crashing around her, the memories alive and as vivid as the days she had lived them.

Chanta sat down, slumped back in the chair, and just stared at Payne. Yes, she had always known she was different from most people, even different from most members of the One Race. Yes, she had come to terms that her brother was a god. Not completely on board with Gyth being her dear old dad, but she didn't have any reason not to believe Payne.

She should have figured as much about her father, but she had known Gyth forever it seemed. And now that she thought about it, it did make sense. But the rest of it? Damon included. Had he honestly been out to kill her? She just couldn't handle it, not that part of it.

Information and emotional overload.

“There is more that you will need to know.”

“No, it's time for you to shut it up.” She made a gesture as if to zip her lips. “No more talking from you.”

“But?”

“No!” She stood, the fierce look on her face evidence enough that she was done, or it should have been at least.

“I am not finished. We have barely skimmed the surface of the things you must know,” Payne insisted. “The gods are all mettlesome creatures and at some point in your life I'm sure you will end up dealing with some of them.”

“Do you know what
no
means?” She swallowed hard, clenched her teeth, and rubbed her temples. Payne had no idea of the things she had already dealt with. “I have heard enough.”

“The Destroyers are protectors, fighters.” He grunted as she closed her eyes. “We kill the minions that would do harm to the One Race.”

“I know that Payne. I get it. I'm just not sure I want to live basically forever.” Putting her fingers in her ears, she shook her head, and replied, “Shut up Payne! I cannot bear to hear any more. For the love of the gods, let me digest what you have already told me before you carry on.”

Her gasp was lost in his growl as he hauled her up from the chair by her wrists. “You will listen! I don't want to be here wasting my time with you when I could be out there killing something.”

Slowly, she collected herself and jerked her hands away from him for the second time. Retaliation burned in her guts as he stomped to the window.

“You are the daughter of a god. Like it or not, you will go through the Burning. I will be your only salvation, but trust me it was by no choice of my own.” He turned back to her with his eyes glowing blue. “It will serve you well to sit down and listen to everything I have to say or I will tie you to that damn chair and show you exactly what I am.”

He had some nerve! “What you are? I know what you are.”

His eyes flashed as he spoke, his fangs elongating. “I am the devil's son or have you forgotten when we first met?”

“Don't you dare stand there all high and mighty! You can take your tall, dark, and I am your worst nightmare bullshit and stick it where the sun don't shine! And by god, if you don't want to be here, don't let the door hit you in the ass as you walk out of it!” Her finger pointed to the door. “Go be someone else's salvation because I damn sure as hell don't need you to be mine!”