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She shivered in anticipation,
sending the vibration through his body, making him grow stiff against her. A
small moan escaped her lips as her eyes went wide. “Mmm. I might need a little
more convincing than that,” she said.

 Her voice was husky.
Unbelievably sexy.

“I can work on that, but I’m
afraid you’re wearing too much clothing. I might have to undress you before I
make a real attempt.”

“Well, if you think it’ll help
your case, I might be willing to help with that,” she said and pushed him back
until he rested on his heels. She sat up, sent him a teasing smile, and crossed
her arms as she reached for the bottom of her shirt.

His eyes followed her hands as
she lifted the material. When she paused, he looked up, ready to complain until
he saw the look on her face.

Her eyes were dark. The smile on
her face was nothing short of devious, teasing. Devastatingly sexy. As he
reached out to lift her shirt, she pushed his hands aside and took the task
herself. The fabric finally moved out of the way, revealing plump breasts in a
red-lace bra that made grown men want to cry their thanks to the inventor of
such a wonderful creation.

She reached around to unhook her
bra as he started to pull his own shirt over his head. He immediately froze,
his gaze back on her breasts as she let go and dropped her hands to her sides.
The bra fell away. “I’m at the disadvantage here,” she said, breaking his
concentration.

Quickly, he pulled off his shirt,
not caring where it dropped. His shorts were off a moment later.

Her laughter died out as he bent
over her once more and started undoing her jeans. The damn button was being
difficult. She slid her hand over his, barely brushing against him. He went
hard and the breath held in his lungs as she unbuttoned her pants.

She started to wriggle as she
tried pushing her pants out of the way, making him groan. God, she really
shouldn’t be doing that, he thought and shook his head, his wrists stopping her
busy hands. “Are you trying to torture me?”

“Maybe a little,” she said matter-of-factly,
a sexy grin lighting up her face.

He started to pull her pants
down, purposely running his fingers over the smooth skin of her legs. “It’s
working,” he said, and he threw them aside.

Before she could say anything
else, he moved his hand down her stomach and rested it there only a moment
before he continued the trail down her body. Slid it slowly, lower and lower
until her thighs spread for him. He nestled between her legs, pressed his
erection against her, felt her heat even through the light material covering
her. “Is that getting any better?” he growled as he nipped her ear.

Lana’s only response was a moan.

“I’m forced to take that as a
‘no’,” he said as he slid his hand into her panties. With one finger, he
circled over her, rubbed her. His mouth covered hers, and his tongue plunged
deep, simultaneously taking her lips hostage as he slid two fingers into her
wet folds.

She reached up, raked her fingers
through his hair as she lifted her hips off the bed. “You’re getting really
close to persuading me,” she gasped when he finally released her mouth.

“But not quite?” he queried
softly. He didn’t wait for an answer as he tugged her panties down. His gaze
followed his hand on its return up the soft silk of her leg. He grasped her
knee and drew her leg behind his back. The movement brought their bodies that
much closer. His hardness pressed against the heat and wetness between her legs
until he slipped inside her a fraction of an inch. Instantly, he went rigid,
the urge to take what he wanted ran strong.

Being inside her only that small
amount was enough to send waves crashing through his body. He buried his head
in her hair, inhaled the scent of wild strawberries.

He groaned, forcing himself not
to rush even though the desire to devour her had become overwhelming.

“Open your eyes,” he requested.
He wanted her to see the pleasure she gave him as much as he wanted to see
hers. She obeyed and opened her eyes, the color nearly midnight blue. Her
pupils had dilated into large discs. “God, you’re beautiful.” With her gaze
locked with his, he slowly began easing himself down, sliding further into the
hot confines of her body.

He listened, intoxicated by the
rapid sound of her breath, the beating of her heart against his chest. When she
wrapped her other leg around his waist, it pulled him completely into her body,
almost breaking his control.

It was much like being sheathed
in warm satin.

A soft pink color tinged her
face, giving her an almost surreal glow from the moonlight shining in through
the window.

She squeezed her legs around him
and raked her fingers down his back, causing him to groan, her soft moans and
gasps like drugs to an addict.

His heart hammered with need. He
had to have her. Now.

“I can’t wait,” he said and put
his hand under her head, wrapped his fingers in her hair.

Her eyes fluttered open, fierce,
hot. “Thank God.”

He tightened his hold on her hair.
“Gentle or hard?” he growled as he leaned down and bit her collarbone, his
teeth grazing her flesh.

She stroked her hands down his
back, over his ass, squeezed. “Yes,” she said and contracted her muscles around
him.

As he pulled back and plunged
back into her depths to the hilt. Since speed wasn’t in the immediate plan, he
thrust slowly, making sure she felt everything, felt him. Only him.

Cole watched, fascinated, as her
eyes rolled back and closed. Her lips parted on a gasp each time he thrust into
her, sending her, and himself, closer and closer to the edge. He thrust faster
and harder now.

“Oh, God,” she gasped and pulled
his head down to hers, bit into his neck even as she lifted her hips to meet
him stroke for stroke. “Harder.” It was a plea he couldn’t ignore.

He gave her what she asked
for—had no other choice—and pushed himself, and her, harder, harder, until her
whimpers fractured, one after another.

“Cole, I don’t think—I can’t
take—”

Her muscles started to contract
around him, pulling him in, pushing him over an edge he wasn’t ready to stumble
over. Not yet. Not without her.

“Don’t let go,” he demanded,
quickening his pace. “Not yet.”

Deeper and faster he plunged, to
the point he was unsure where he ended and she began. Her nails raked down his
back, and she cried out his name and her release. He followed her over the edge
an instant later, emptying himself and his soul.

Her body shook in the aftershock
of their quake.

Spent, he collapsed on top of
her, listening to the short gasps. He wasn’t sure if he heard his own or hers.

That had been….

“Wonderful? Earth shattering?
Holy cow?” she supplied for him, obviously reading his thoughts.

“I don’t think I can feel my
lower extremities,” he told her. He knew she would protest if he tried to move
off her, so he found a position where his weight wouldn’t crush her.

“You can think? You’re a step
ahead of me,” she said.

“Lana, don’t take this the wrong
way, but I hope you’re convinced. I’m sure I wouldn’t live through more
convincing. At least for a week or two. Maybe a month.”

She ran her hands over his back.
“That’s okay. I’m thoroughly convinced,” she promised, her voice ragged.

“Thank, God.” He rolled to his
side, kept one leg and arm covering her. “I love you,” he rubbed his hand over
her stomach and leaned down, pressed his lips against her stomach, “and you, if
you’re in there.”

Was he really going to be a
father? The thought wouldn’t leave his mind. He wasn’t even sure if he was
ready to be one, but he would make a damn good one.

Lana laid her hand over his,
curled into his neck. “I love you, too. We’ll be okay, won’t we?”

He knew she wasn’t referring to
the battle. Good thing, too, as he would have no answer. She meant relationship
wise. He kissed her forehead. “Yes, we’ll be fine.”

“Okay,” she yawned. “Can we take
a nap now? I’m absolutely exhausted.”

“Are you complaining?”

“Do I look stupid? I’m blissfully
relaxed, exhausted and any other ways you can think of to say I’m tired—but in
a good way.”

“Then take your nap.” Danger
lurked around every corner, it seemed, and just because they had to keep their
guard up, it didn’t mean they didn’t deserve time together, did it? He shook
his head and brushed a hand gently over her hair.

No, it didn’t.

Keeping her alive and well had
become the most important thing in the world to him. Their child would be
protected as well. Nothing would harm either of them.

His fingers curled into painful
fists, but he made himself relax. Right now, he wanted her to rest. He
tightened his hold on her, and with one last kiss, he followed her to sleep.

§§§

The Evil One watched, fascinated
and furious.

How could they worry so little as
their fates lay in the balance? Of course, neither of them could do a thing to
change it, but still, he expected more of an effort on their part.

Did they think to mock him by
pleading ignorance? Or were they really that unconcerned with their lives? How
could they not worry when they would soon be facing him head-on?

 He could be rid of them at
anytime he chose, but if he waited one more day, until the woman’s birthday, he
would have the pieces, and his powers would grow exponentially

He thought mortals cared for
their worthless existences, even though while he had been trapped, he had seen
the kind of destruction they inflicted upon one another. Some of their
viciousness made him proud in a small way. Maybe they were not all hopeless
after all.

When he ruled this world once
more, it would be an act of kindness on his part, an act of mercy, really. They
would destroy themselves and their pesky lives, regardless if he stepped in.
Wasn’t it the…humane thing to do to make their deaths quick and painless?

Of course, the woman and her
shifter would not be among those to die easy deaths. No. They would suffer and
suffer greatly. How dare he help her?

How she could lie under that man
when things were near an end…he did not understand.

But, perhaps a little visit from
him might make her comprehend who she was dealing with.

Yes. It was well past the time
for them to meet face to face.

CHAPTER NINE

Cole woke to complete darkness.
The wind from the open bedroom window was the only sound that could be heard.
If he listened close enough, he could just hear Lana’s rhythmic breathing as
she lay next to him, her leg thrown over his.

Though he couldn’t see or hear
anyone, he knew they weren’t alone. He felt the evil presence as surely as he
felt his own heartbeat.

Carefully, he moved his leg from
underneath Lana’s and quietly got out of bed. He walked to the opened window
and stared out into the darkness.

He couldn’t see anyone, but then
he knew the evil shapeshifter wouldn’t show himself until he wanted to be seen.

“If you want her to live, come to
me.”

Cole whipped around, startled,
and turned to Lana who hadn’t moved. Either she was a heavier sleeper than he
thought, or the voice had only spoken in his mind.

“Come to me, if you want to
protect her,” the voice repeated.

No
, Cole thought.

“So be it. We will meet soon
enough, you and I. Rest assured.”

He heard the evil laugh in his
own mind and couldn’t suppress the shudder that raked through his body.

“Are you that naïve, boy? I have
survived for several millennia. I was here when there was nothing. You have
lived mere decades. Do you really believe you and your woman stand a chance
against me? You have yet to see the power of what I can truly do, what I truly
am. You are nothing but small creatures to me; insolent little insects that
could be squashed by a mere thought,” the voice goaded.

Is that so? Why aren’t we
then?

“I confess I find myself bored. I
was trapped for millennia, trapped in a prison with nothing but my own mind. I
wanted the…enjoyment.”

If you need enjoyment, get
cable, you sack of—

“Do not dare!” roared The Evil
One. “You are alive simply because I allow it. I have been merciful until now.
You are…what do you call it? Ah, yes, toys. You are toys for my amusement. But,
you have quickly outgrown even that paltry position. It ends today. If you do
not come to me within the hour, I will have you both, beginning with her, so
you can have the pleasure of watching.”

I’ll be there, you evil
bastard. Don’t worry,
started Cole
. But only to destroy you.

Cole knew the second the presence
had left his mind when it became clearer, less…crowded.

Running a hand over his sweaty
face, he quickly shifted into the white tiger form. With a last glance at Lana,
Cole jumped through the window.

§§§

There was nothing. Everything was
pitch-black, except for a small light shining down from above her. There seemed
to be nothing holding the light in place. It seemed like it just floated in
mid-air.

“Where am I?” she said. Though
her tone was quiet, the sound echoed through the darkness. Oh, God, am I dead?

“Do not worry, young one,” a cold
voice laughed from behind her, the tone empty, evil. Familiar. “You are
dreaming, and I am merely visiting. I thought it time for a proper
introduction.”

Wildly, Lana spun around and
found herself staring into a pair of blood-shot red eyes.

She would recognize those eyes anywhere,
despite the unknown human form. He was almost handsome in a cruel and twisted way,
with a squared jaw and chiseled chin, cheeks that were too hollow and the
blackest hair she’d ever seen.