Pride of the Lion: Hades' Carnival, Book 3 (17 page)

Leander walked over the sofa and squatted down beside it. He held out his hand to the cat and waited.

“Percy doesn’t really like people.” Araminta hovered behind him and he could sense her uncertainty.

“I’m not a normal person,” he reminded her. He gave a loud purr and the cat canted his head to one side, studying him. Leander made the sound again and Percy stood and leapt down to the bottom cushion of the sofa. Seconds later, the cat began to purr and butted his head against Leander’s outstretched hand.

Araminta gasped. “He likes you. He rarely comes to people at all. Usually, he’ll turn his back and give the cold-shoulder treatment.”

Leander scratched the cat behind the ears and slowly stood. “He recognizes a fellow cat when he sees him.”

Araminta looked startled, then her lips tilted upward. It was astonishing to see the change that came over her entire face. Her gray eyes brightened and her skin took on a rosy glow. She opened her mouth and laughed. The sound rushed over his skin like velvet, stimulating every nerve ending and stirring his blood.

He reached out, pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

Chapter Ten

One second Araminta was laughing, the next she was being kissed senseless. There was a sense of urgency from Leander that pulled her in and shoved aside everything else. She gripped his shoulders and then slid her arms around to his back, wanting him closer. Her breasts were plastered against his chest as their mouths melded together. Tongues twined and heat raced through her veins.

In the short time they’d been apart she’d worried about him, which was ridiculous when she thought about it. Leander was an immortal warrior, strong and more than capable of protecting himself. She’d seen the way he’d handled those big, ugly demons that had attacked them back at the garage. It was herself she should be worried about. She was human and had no experience with defending herself. She was totally dependent on him and her wits to survive this ordeal.

Leander’s hands seemed to be everywhere at once, stroking her arms and rubbing her shoulders and back. Finally, they landed on her butt and he lifted her into the cradle of his pelvis, rubbing her sex against his rather impressive erection. Her feet were dangling in the air, but she wasn’t afraid he’d drop her. His strength was enormous.

She tore her mouth from his and left a trail of kisses down his thickly corded neck. “This is crazy.” And it was. With everything she knew from her dreams and writing her books, Hades or one of his representatives could arrive any moment. There was no time to indulge in passion.

“Absolutely,” he agreed. Then he scraped his teeth over the sensitive nerves near the base of her neck and she forgot all the reasons why this wasn’t a good idea. Her fear had morphed into something even more elemental—the need for sex.

He flexed his fingers on her behind and lifted her higher. Wanting to get as close to him as she could, she twined her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. They stood in the middle of her messy living room, lost in one another, with uncertainty swirling around them.

Leander took several steps forward, the motion rubbing his hard shaft against her jean-covered pussy. She moaned and canted her hips so she could feel more of him against her. Her panties were damp and slick and her clit tingled in anticipation of more.

Sanity tried to reassert itself. “We shouldn’t be doing this.” They really needed to make a plan. Yes, that was it. They needed to… He rubbed his erection against her again, and she lost her train of thought as a wave of pure lust swamped her. She dug her nails into his shoulders and bit her bottom lip to stifle a moan.

Her back hit the wall and his forehead rested against hers. “I know. One. More. Minute. I need to taste you.” His breathing was harsh, his chest expanding with each lungful of air he took in.

When he put it like that, how could she refuse? She knew their time was limited to the rest of today. Once the clock struck midnight, they’d either be dead or he’d be free from the curse. That’s the way it worked in her books, and now that she knew that what she’d written wasn’t fiction she didn’t want to waste a moment she could have with him.

Leander was an immortal warrior. If he survived, he’d leave her and find his fellow warriors. He’d also try to find a way to free the one still cursed. She might have just met Leander, but she
knew
him. Knew everything he was rested on a solid bedrock of honor and loyalty. How could she not be attracted to a man like that?

This wasn’t a romance novel like the ones she’d written. This was reality, as strange and unbelievable as it was. There would be no happy ending for them. He was immortal and extraordinary in every way. She was an ordinary woman leading a rather ordinary life.

Sure the women in her books survived the ordeal and gained love in their lives, but she didn’t know how much of that was truth and how much was simply her writing a happy ending. She’d like to think she had a chance to survive, but she really didn’t see how her future could include Leander, not permanently.

But she’d have memories of him, hot, sexy memories. Enough to last a lifetime. Because she knew that she’d never be attracted to another man the way she was to Leander. He was quickly spoiling her for other men.

He leaned inward, rubbing his chest against hers. Even through the layers of their clothing the caress was pure magic. Her nipples tingled and tightened into hard nubs.

“Take off your shirt,” she commanded. It was gone in the blink of an eye, leaving hard, sculpted muscles for her to touch. Oh, yeah. She loved the way he could remove his clothes with just a thought.

She licked her lips and placed her hands on the broad expanse of male flesh. A low purr rose from deep in his chest. The rough, sensual sound no longer startled or surprised her. She was coming to love the way he responded to her touch. It made her feel feminine and powerful.

“I love your chest,” she told him. She twined her fingers through the light tuft of golden hair that sat in the center. His flat brown nipples drew her attention next and she lightly rubbed them. His purr turned to a guttural groan.

He cupped her face and tilted it upward until she was staring into his hypnotic golden eyes. He licked his lips and she caught a glimpse of sharp white teeth. His hair cascaded around his shoulders, a mass of reddish brown, orange and blond. Unable to resist, she sifted her fingers through the thick locks. His eyes narrowed, giving him an even more catlike appearance.

Where her pelvis was pressed against his, she felt the flex and pulse of his cock and her core answered with a melting sensation. She was empty, longing to be filled.

“Araminta,” he began, but said nothing more. He shook his head and kissed her again, slanting his lips over hers. One large hand slipped beneath her top and moved upward until he found her breast. He covered the mound and squeezed.

She moaned and tilted her hips, rubbing her core against him.

He tugged aside the cup of her bra, shoving it beneath her breast to expose her bare nipple. He rubbed the distended bud, the resulting sensation sending a bolt of heat straight to her pussy. She gripped his head and kissed him harder, sucking on his tongue.

He growled in pleasure and took control of the kiss until Araminta could barely catch her breath. He teased her nipple, lightly pinching the nub before soothing it.

It wasn’t nearly enough. Araminta felt as though a volcano was welling up within her, getting ready to erupt at any moment.

The knock on the front door echoed through the house with all the subtlety of a cannon blast. Leander released her and her feet hit the floor with a thump. He whirled around and faced the door, sword extended, ready to take on whatever threat might exist. Her legs felt like jelly, and Araminta barely caught herself from landing on her ass in a heap on the floor.

Gasping like she’d run a marathon, she could only gape at the front door when another knock sounded. Galvanized to action, she righted her bra, yanked down her shirt and pulled her sweater tighter around her. Thank heavens they hadn’t gone any further, although part of her cursed whoever was at the door in spite of the fact that she had a good idea of who it was.

She rubbed her face and smoothed her ragged braid as best she could. “It’s probably Mary Jo.”

Leander frowned and started toward the front door. Even though her knees were still rubbery, Araminta sprinted after him and grabbed the back of his pants, tugging him to a stop.

“You can’t answer the door.”

They glared at one another, ignoring a third knock.

“I will protect you.”

“I’m sure you will,” she readily agreed. “But if Mary Jo sees you she’ll never leave. She’s a wonderful friend but nosy and a bit of a gossip. She’ll tell everyone about you, and that’s not what we want.” She motioned to the hallway. “Wait in the bedroom.”

Leander growled, low and menacing. “Check first.”

Araminta went to the long, thin window on one side of the front door and peered through the lacy curtain. Sure enough, Mary Jo stood on the front stoop holding a coffee cake on a plate. “It’s her,” she whispered.

Leander gave her a long, hard look and raked his fingers through his disheveled hair. “Be careful,” he warned. “Trust no one. Hades manipulates humans when it is to his advantage.”

She could see the worry in his gaze and crossed her fingers over her heart. “I promise.”

He nodded and slid into the bedroom, leaving the door wide open. She knew he’d be at her side in a heartbeat if she needed him.

The banging came again. “Araminta, are you in there?”

She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and opened the door. “Hi. What are you doing here?” She was about to ask Mary Jo why she wasn’t getting ready to go to work when she remembered it was actually Sunday, and Mary Jo didn’t work on Sundays.

Her friend shifted her weight from one foot to another. “Can I come in?”

Araminta shook her head. “It’s not a good time. The place is a wreck.”

Mary Jo frowned. “Let me help you clean it up. You shouldn’t be alone right now. You are alone, aren’t you?” She peered closer. “Your face is flushed. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” She swallowed her growing impatience and reached for calm. “It’s just there’s a lot of work to do, and the police said I should do it myself. That way I’ll know if anything is missing. If you help me, I won’t know.” Araminta thought that lie was positively inspired.

“I just want to do something to help.” Mary Jo glanced away and chewed on her bottom lip. Araminta felt like an ungrateful wretch, but knew she had to be cruel right now in order to protect her friend. If she survived the day she’d make it up to Mary Jo. The last thing she wanted was for her friend to get caught up in the war she was involved in.

“And I really appreciate it, but now is not a good time. Tomorrow. I promise I’ll call you tomorrow and we’ll get together.”

“I’m working tomorrow,” Mary Jo pointed out.

“Tomorrow night. We’ll order a pizza or something.”

Mary Jo’s expression lightened. “Okay. If you’re sure?”

“I am.”

Mary Jo shoved the coffee cake at her. “Take this in case you get hungry later and don’t feel like cooking.”

Araminta took the plate and felt tears well in her eyes. She very well might never see her friend again. “Thanks.”

“Hey, it will be all right.” Mary Jo put her hand on Araminta’s arm and gave it a squeeze. “If you change your mind and need some help or just want some company please call. I’m going to my quilting club this afternoon, but I’ll be home later.”

“I will.” Something crashed inside and Mary Jo peered around her. Araminta shifted slightly, not knowing what had happened. “I gotta go and see what Percy is into.”

Mary Jo reluctantly stepped back. “Remember.” She mimicked holding a phone to her ear. “Call me if you change your mind.”

“Thanks.” Araminta shut the door and leaned against it, releasing a pent-up breath. The cake plate was clutched to her chest. She’d had no idea she could lie quite so effectively. It was a little disconcerting.

“You did the right thing.” Leander appeared beside her, making her jump, his sleeveless tunic once again covering his incredible chest. He moved with a quiet and stealth that was really quite impressive. He pulled back the lace curtain and glanced through the window. “You don’t want to be responsible for any harm coming to your friend.”

He was right. As much as she hated to lie to Mary Jo, she really had no choice. Her friend’s life was at stake.

She pushed away from the door and went into the kitchen to set the cake on the counter. She gripped the edge of the countertop and stared blindly out the window. Her back yard looked normal, with the mature trees and hedge surrounding it, the fence peeking out between the foliage. Leaves had started to appear, but there were only a few flowers in bloom save the crocuses and daffodils. Would she live to see the garden in all its summer glory again?

She sensed Leander behind her and turned. “So what do we do now?”

His expression was grim. “Now we wait.”

Leander’s senses were all on alert. His ears were constantly twitching, searching for any sound that didn’t belong. He kept one eye on Araminta and the other on the entrances. It was too quiet.