Her Dangerous Desires [Notorious Nephilim 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (8 page)

Gregory chuckled. “Not exactly. We can sense emotions, but we can’t read your thoughts word-for-word.”

“It’s just weird to look at those pictures and imagine the others were like you two, but then poof—they became human. It’s like something out of a Disney movie.”

Gregory tilted his head and the corners of his mouth turned up. “From what I’ve seen, you’re very attuned to supernatural beings. Are you having trouble believing our story?”

“No, that’s not it. The experiences I’ve had in the past were so vague and watered down that I can’t help but realize I had no idea what was really going on around me. It’s different coming face-to-face with a true angel. And seeing the photos just brings it all crashing down. It’s real. They were real. The pictures evoked emotions that I didn’t expect to feel.”

“Such as?”

She couldn’t tell them. It would sound absurd, and it wasn’t the kind of thing you told men you’d only met the day before. It was the kind of thing you talked to your best friends about, preferably while drunk. Paige scrambled for something to say that they would accept without giving away what she was really thinking, and finally it came to her. “It makes me wonder why your punishment was so harsh.” That much was true, at least.

Gregory pushed away from the table. “Because we deserved it, Paige. Let me show you something that I think you’ll appreciate, and might help you understand.”

He crossed the room and began to dig through the piles of books and papers stacked up in one corner. Paige returned to her sandwich, amused by the fact he obviously knew what was in each messy pile. Finally, he pulled out a small leather-bound book and brought it over to the table.

“Here you go.” He placed it in front of her.

Paige wiped the crumbs from her hands and opened the book, delicately running a finger over the parchment on the first page. “What is this? It looks very old.”

“It’s a love letter.” Gregory’s grin lit up his face. “You’ll find more, in addition to some rather candid photos.”

“Love letters?”

“Evidence of our many transgressions,” said Demetrius. “We were rotten scoundrels, Paige. Left a string of broken hearts and tear-soaked pillows from here to New York City.”

“Why?”

“Because we could. Because it was too easy.” He shrugged. “I don’t expect you to understand, and I’m not saying we’re proud of our behavior or the fact that we ignored our mission.” He cut a quick glance toward Gregory. “Part of the reason Gregory keeps this stuff is to remind him of why we’re all stuck here on this rock.”

Gregory gave her a piercing look. “Don’t tell anyone I actually feel remorse every now and then, okay? I have a reputation to protect.”

“Your secret is safe with me. Do you have any chance to make amends for what you did?”

“Yes,” said Demetrius. “The same condition placed on our punishment that allows us to become mortal also allows us to earn our redemption. It’s the only way we can, in fact.”

Paige turned to another letter and thought about Demetrius’s words as she struggled to read the faded, flowing script. The letter was addressed to Emmett, whom she hadn’t yet met. Paige couldn’t make out all the words, and the language was old-fashioned, but it was clear from what she could read that this woman had fallen in love with him, and that he’d just left her in that state.

She looked into their eyes. “Is that what you both want? Redemption? Or are you content to leave things as they are?”

Gregory averted his gaze. “That’s a loaded question these days.”

“Why? Because you’re the only two left?”

“It’s more complicated than that.”

“Explain it to me anyway.”

Gregory sighed and leaned back in his chair. “It’s difficult to put into words, Paige. If you look through that book you’ll get a sense of how cold and callous we were about the feelings of others back then. We started this resort to thumb our noses at the archangels who had a hand in our punishment. We deserved it, and we knew that, but at the time it was easier to blame someone else for our fate.”

“Do you feel differently now?”

“Yes,” said Demetrius. “We feel remorse, and we’re all tired of it. Constant indulgence in your favorite vices gets a bit boring after almost one hundred years.”

Gregory snorted. “Speak for yourself. I'm hoping to indulge with Paige, if she’ll let me.” He winked at her, and Paige stifled a laugh. Gregory was honest—she had to give him that much. But his earlier admonition not to tell anyone he felt remorse still rung in her ears. Which man was the real Gregory?

“But it’s more than just remorse and boredom,” said Demetrius. “We’re the last two left. If we become mortal, this resort will one day be run by strangers.”

“That must be difficult for you to accept.”

“It is. The six of us have talked about it extensively. That’s part of the reason we’re considering letting a few of Sofia’s family members hire on as staff. We want to know the resort will be in good hands one day.”

“Don’t you find it ironic though that the descendants of the mob boss who once tried to take over the place might one day own it?”

Gregory laughed. “It’s irony at its best. But better them than others getting their hands on it.”

“Like who?”

The men exchanged a dark glance. “Never mind,” said Demetrius.

Paige decided to change the subject. “Have you ever thought about advertising all this resort has to offer? You have two swimming pools, the sleigh rides, tennis courts, spa services, and I don’t even know what else. I mean, with only two of you now left to seduce the guests, well…I’m assuming you realize that you can’t keep up with them all, right?”

“Of course,” said Demetrius. “We’ve discussed that as well.”

“It’s a huge change for us,” said Gregory. “We’ve never advertised. We’ve never had to.”

“But this place is amazing. You’d be booked in advance for years.”

Demetrius smiled. “We know. That’s what scares us.”

She laughed. “Afraid of success? I find that hard to believe.”

“No. That’s not it,” said Gregory. He cut his gaze to Demetrius. “There is another reason we’re reluctant to give up control or to reach the state where there are none of us left who still have some Nephilim powers.”

A shudder passed through Paige’s body. There was something almost ominous in the tone of Gregory’s voice. “What is it?”

“Not what—who. I do believe she may have left you that black rose.”

Demetrius wished Gregory had discussed Lilith’s interference with him before telling Paige what they both suspected, but now that it was out in the open, they’d have to deal with it. Getting pissed off at Gregory wouldn’t help at this point. They’d taken Paige into their confidence in a huge way, but Demetrius trusted her. He’d always been very good at reading people right away. Obviously Gregory trusted her as well, which was saying a lot for Paige. Gregory had rarely trusted any of his fellow Nephilim, let alone mortals.

“I was wondering when you’d acknowledge the fact that it hadn’t come from that bush we saw on our ride this morning.” Her voice was quiet, but Demetrius heard the fear in it.

He reached across the table and gave her hand a quick squeeze. Her skin was so soft, and memories of the night before flashed through his mind. He couldn’t help it. “Paige, she won’t hurt you. She likes to play games with people who are sensitive to her presence, that’s all. If you don’t encourage her, she’ll get bored and stop.”

“So she’s still here.”

“Most of us don’t believe she ever left, but not all the owners know that she’s played tricks on the guests or staff from time to time.” He cocked a thumb toward Gregory. “We both know, and so did Hugh.”

“I don’t want to go back inside my suite alone, and I hate that. I’ve never been afraid of the occult—not even as a child—and I’m embarrassed to admit that I am now.”

“You don’t need to fear her, although I can understand your reaction. She’s here to taunt us. Her vendetta is with us, not you.”

“You said she threatened to burn the place down. That doesn’t make it sound like she’s playing a game or simply taunting you.”

“Her history with us is extensive.”

“What did you do to her?”

“We spurned her affections.”

Paige raised her eyebrows. “All of you?”

Demetrius hated to give this much attention to Lilith. The fact that she’d made physical contact in Paige’s presence was bad enough. If they kept talking about her, it would only encourage her further, but Paige had a right to know this story. “We didn’t know she was a demon at first. We should have, but we were so wrapped up in our own debauchery we didn’t see it. She played all of us, but especially Hugh. He actually fell in love with her.”

“She hid her true form from you?”

“I’m ashamed to say she did, yes.”

“When did you find out?”

“When she gave Cristian a glimpse of hell.”

Demetrius watched the surprise and fear cross Paige’s face. “Why did she do that?”

“Don’t misunderstand this. Cristian is one of us, and our bond isn’t something I can fully explain. But he was always the weakest. His powers weren’t as strong, and he couldn’t maintain the façade we each had to keep up in front of mortals. He was always slipping up. Lilith preyed on that weakness.”

“I didn’t think about that. About the fact you’d have to pretend to be human.”

“It’s exhausting at times,” said Gregory. “Joelle found out about us because Cristian liked to stand in front of open windows, stark naked, especially in the winter. He let his wings out, and Joelle came into the room and saw them.”

“Wings?” Paige’s entire face brightened.

“Sorry to disappoint you, but neither of us can do that any longer.”

“Oh. I didn’t realize your powers faded over time.”

“They’re nearly gone,” said Demetrius.

“What will happen when…when you no longer have them?”

Demetrius shrugged. “We have no idea.” He didn’t want to think about such a possibility. What
would
happen? Would they actually lose them all one day?

She pushed her plate away and sighed. “Demetrius, what I didn’t know about supernatural beings all these years could fill this room.”

He smiled. “Most people don’t know any of this either, Paige. How could they?”

“It’s just that I can’t imagine it. The bond you must have with each other is different than the one I have with my siblings. It has to be.”

“How many brothers and sisters do you have?”

“I have two brothers and three sisters. We’re still very close. It’s hard for me to imagine not having a big family, or having no family at all to leave a business to when you die. My parents have things in their home from their parents, and from their grandparents. These things connect us all, you know?”

He smiled. She understood. She understood completely. “I know. I agree with what you’re saying. That’s why this is so difficult for us.”

“I could sit here and talk to you two about this for hours.” She pulled over the book Gregory had put on the table and began to leaf through it. “When were these photos taken?”

“Most are from the years we were building this resort,” said Gregory.

“How long were you on Earth before you were punished?”

“About six months.”

“And you built this place yourselves?”

“We hired trades for most of the work.”

She closed the book. “It’s overwhelming, but I appreciate your sharing it with me.”

“We wouldn’t have if we didn’t trust you. And Demetrius is right. Lilith won’t hurt you. Her beef is with us.”

“Hasn’t she done enough to each of you already?”

Demetrius flashed a warning look toward Gregory that he hoped Paige wouldn’t see. Gregory must have taken the hint because he rose from the table and stretched. “All this talk about morbid things is depressing me. I’d rather talk about fun things.”

He waggled his eyebrows at Paige, and she laughed. As much as Demetrius thought Gregory was an ass, at least he’d taken the fear out of Paige’s eyes.

* * * *

Paige was overwhelmed and fascinated at the same time by Demetrius and Gregory. And now that she knew she had nothing to fear from Lilith, she wanted to let them know what else had happened in her suite that morning, but Gregory’s eyes held her captive. He pulled his chair closer to her until their knees were touching.

“Let’s talk about your favorite things.”

“My favorite things?” She inhaled his scent and realized she’d never asked either of them if that was part of their Nephilim power, but she didn’t want to change the subject. “As in favorite flower, color, and all that stuff?”

Gregory’s grin sent a flood of wetness to her panties. “We could start with that, but I’m more interested in your favorite toy and sexual position.”

Paige felt the heat rush to her face as she laughed. Her first impression of Gregory had been of someone shallow and self-centered, but his earlier confession of feeling remorse, and his keeping the book filled with letters and photos proved there was depth to him. Plus, he was just plain fun. It was impossible to stay afraid or brood for long in his presence. “Well, I don’t have enough firsthand experience with that many toys to be able to choose a favorite, but my favorite position is doggy.”

He made a purring sound in his throat. Paige’s entire body tingled with anticipation. Was this really going to happen? Were both these gorgeous, sexy angels going to make love to her at the same time?

“Good to know. So, of the toys you do have experience with, which one is your favorite?”

She risked a glance at Demetrius. He was grinning as well, and didn’t seem the least bit uncomfortable with Gregory’s line of questioning.

“Well, I sure had fun with Demetrius’s cuffs and rope last night.” She held her breath. Would both men tease her and tie her up like Demetrius had done? What if they both wanted to paddle her? Paige became dizzy at the thought of it.

Gregory cut a quick glance toward Demetrius. “That’s all he did to you?”

“No, I paddled her gorgeous round ass and fucked her silly.”

“Did you like that, Paige?”