Pride of the Lion: Hades' Carnival, Book 3 (18 page)

What was Hades up to? What was he waiting for?

It was frustrating not knowing. Leander was a man of action and it galled him to stand around here waiting for Hades to attack. He’d had far too many years of inactivity. He wanted to take the battle to Hades, but he had Araminta to protect. His personal wants took a backseat to her safety.

She’d been unusually quiet since her friend left, going around her house with a garbage bag and a broom. Several lamps were shattered and the glass was scattered across the floor. She swept up the pieces and dumped them into the trash bag.

He helped as much as he could, placing books back on the shelves. He’d never had a home, had always traveled the world with the Lady and his fellow warriors. They’d stopped when they wanted, eaten what they wanted and he’d never imagined life any other way.

But he knew it was different with humans. Even back five thousand years ago, humans had created permanent homes for safety and shelter, gathering tools and food for survival. Humans were much more fragile, their lives incredibly short.

During the years he’d been trapped, he’d learned so much more about the human race. Their homes had become more elaborate over the years, their belongings more important. Personally, he thought they put too much stock in such things, but he understood it was their custom.

This was Araminta’s home. Her sanctuary. And it had been defiled. This was no random break-in. He could smell the underlying stench of sulfur and rot. Hades had sent several of his demons here. But what was his purpose? Had Hades been searching for something or was the purpose simply intimidation to make Araminta more frightened so she would be more likely to bargain with him?

He growled and his claws extended out of his fingertips. His lion didn’t like that idea at all. Anyone who dared to frighten his woman deserved to die.

“Everything all right?” She stood in the doorway of her bedroom with a partially filled garbage bag at her feet. Behind her, he could see her bed was made up with fresh linens. It was all too easy to imagine her spread out on top of the flowery quilt that topped the sheets, her tawny hair spread over the pillows and her pale thighs parted.

He swallowed and ignored the ache in his cock. “I’m fine.” His voice was rough and harsh, but he couldn’t help it. He wanted her with a fever that showed no signs of abating.

Was this a trick of Hades? Was the Lord of the Underworld doing something to make Leander want her so much? Leander didn’t think so, but it was a sobering thought.

She swiped her hand over her forehead. “The bedroom is done. I’ve got at least eight loads of laundry to do and a bag of clothing to go to the drycleaners. I didn’t know what they touched, so I’m washing pretty much everything from my dresser as well as the sheets that were on the bed.”

Araminta left the garbage bag in the doorway and came toward him. Her eyes widened as she took in the state of the living room. “You put everything away.” She blinked hard several times. “Thank you.”

Uncomfortable with her thanks, he shrugged. “It was nothing.”

She put her hand on his arm and her fingers scorched his skin where they gently rested. The muscles in his arms and shoulders clenched and his cock hardened. “Not to me.”

He so badly wanted to scoop her into his arms, take her to her bedroom, kick the door shut and stay there for the next several weeks. He figured it would take that long for him to quench his initial thirst for her. He wasn’t sure he’d ever quite have his fill.

He stiffened his resolve and took a step back. Now was not the time to indulge in physical pleasure. Her eyes darkened with hurt and she let her hand fall back by her side. Anger surged through him. He needed to be strong for her and for him. There could be no relaxing his guard until the time ran out on the curse and Hade was no longer a threat.

“Would you like some coffee cake?” Araminta headed to the small kitchen with him right behind her. He loved to watch her ass while she walked. She had a first-class behind, plump and firm, and he longed to take a bite out of it.

He cursed and reached down to adjust his unruly dick in his pants, grateful she didn’t glance over her shoulder and notice his predicament.

She stood in front of the window, staring out into the yard. It was large by most modern standards with mature trees and plants. A wooden swing sat in one corner, the wind rocking it slightly. Leander felt hemmed in by civilization and wished he could drag Araminta to the desert or the mountains where he could better protect her away from the prying eyes of her neighbors.

He put his hands on her shoulders and moved her away from the window. “It’s not safe for you to be so exposed.” He could feel the tension thrumming through her. Although it was against his better judgment, he pulled her back against his chest and wrapped his arms around her.

His lion began to purr and everything inside him relaxed. This was where she belonged. His cock flexed in ready agreement. He ignored his more carnal instincts and focused on taking care of her emotional needs. She needed comfort, and it was his job to provide it for her.

“What’s going to happen?” She tilted her head back and stared up at him.

He shook his head and placed a light kiss in the middle of her forehead. “I don’t know. I expected to hear from Hades by now.” The morning had come and gone and it was now afternoon. All this waiting was beginning to wear on him, and he knew it had to be doing the same to Araminta. Maybe that was Hades’ plan, to lull them into a false sense of security. Wasn’t going to happen. Leander knew Hades wouldn’t give up, would attack when they least expected it. He gently touched her cheek. “Hades sent his minions to search your home.”

Araminta stiffened and sucked in a breath, but she nodded. “I expected as much.”

Her bravery continued to impress him. “What could he have been searching for?”

She shook her head. “I honestly don’t know.”

Leander made himself release Araminta. As much as he wanted her in his arms, he could not allow himself to become distracted by her. A thought occurred to him. “What were you writing?”

She leaned against the counter and nibbled on her bottom lip. Leander wanted to nibble on it for her, wanted to lick and sooth her abused mouth. There was much he wanted to do to her.

“I’d started to outline my third book. The one about the lion.”

All his senses kicked into overdrive. “You were writing about me?”

“I’m not sure if it was you, per se, but it was about a lion shifter and a writer.” Her gaze grew thoughtful. “Do you think that was it?” She shook her head before he could answer. “But I didn’t write much past the beginning. We’ve already gotten farther than the characters in the book.”

Disappointment swamped him. He’d been hoping there was something in her writing that would help them. Something, or someone, was moving around outside. He cocked his head and heard the lightest shuffling on the dry grass.

He tried to tap into more of his power so he could determine who or what might be out there. Nothing. He was still weak with only the bare bones of his power available to him. He could manifest clothing and his weapons and nothing more. He had to depend on his enhanced senses, natural power, speed and cunning to protect Araminta.

He prayed to the Lady that it would be enough to save them both.

“I need to go and check the perimeter. You stay inside, and whatever you do, don’t answer the door.”

“Are you sure you should go out there?” She reached for him but stopped herself. Leander wanted to roar. His hatred for Hades grew with each passing second. Because of the threat to them, Leander had been forced to keep Araminta at arm’s length. It was the hardest thing he’d ever done, and now she was leery about reaching out to him. It wasn’t to be borne.

He grabbed her by the shoulders and yanked her into his arms, burying his face in the curve of her neck. He inhaled, taking in the various scents that surrounded her. She smelled of clean, honest sweat and her perfumed soap. He nuzzled her and inhaled again. There, ever so faint, was the sweet scent of her arousal. In spite of the danger, in spite of the way he’d put up a wall between them, she still wanted him.

He felt the barriers he’d erected start to crumble. Groaning, he dropped a quick, hard kiss on her mouth. “Stay inside.” He set her away from him and stalked to the back door. He closed it none too gently behind him.

Chapter Eleven

Araminta pressed her fingers against her tingling lips and stared at the back door. The sound of it slamming still rang in the air. The man was driving her crazy with his mixed signals. One minute it seemed as though he didn’t want to be anywhere near her, and the next he was all over her.

Her nipples tightened and she swallowed a moan as her pussy clenched. The man was so damn sexy all he had to do was walk in a room and she wanted him. Which was crazy given the situation they were in.

She admired the fact he was trying to remain in control and not give in to the sexual urges they both had. He was staying focused on the task at hand—survival. She should follow his lead and do the same.

She took a deep breath and slowly released it. Her body was still hyperaware but slightly more under control. She headed back to the bedroom, grabbed the garbage bag and carried it into the smaller bedroom, which acted as her office. Papers were strewn everywhere. Most of them were of no importance to anyone but her. There were contracts and manuscripts and reams of research.

The mess was quite daunting.

Even if her manuscripts had been taken, she still had all of them on a flash drive that was attached to her key chain tucked away safely in her purse, plus they were all on her laptop as well. Her laptop case now sat just inside the office door where she’d stored it earlier. Against Leander’s protests, she’d gotten her suitcase and computer out of the car, figuring her belongings would be safer in the house. Now she wasn’t sure, but it was too late to do anything about it.

She thought about taking out her laptop and trying to do some work. Anything to take her mind off the mess her life had become. But the jumble of papers wasn’t going to go away unless she took care of it, and only she could sort out the paper explosion on the floor.

She gingerly walked across the floor to her desk. Her favorite paperweight, a rock from the coast of Maine, sat unmoved and undamaged. She and her grandmother had taken the trip the year before her grandmother had passed away. They’d rented a cabin on the beach and had spent five glorious days there. She ran her finger over the memento.

Family pictures and several award certificates still hung on the wall, their glass frames intact. There was no quick way to deal with this mess. She’d have to sort through it one piece of paper at a time.

That called for coffee and maybe a piece of the coffee cake that Mary Jo had brought over. She could practically hear it calling to her from the kitchen counter. Maybe she should have some cake first. After all, if she didn’t make it through today she wouldn’t need to worry about her weight any longer. And if she did make it through today she’d probably need the extra calories to fight demons. Made perfect sense to her. Cake first, clean later.

“I thought he’d never leave.” The feminine voice was laced with boredom and a hint of malice.

Araminta whirled around, kicking up several pieces of paper in her wake. Heart pounding in her chest, she faced the intruder.

Luna Starquest was leaning against the doorjamb with her arms crossed under her ample breasts. As always, her outfit was stylish and form fitting. The dark-blue low-cut dress clung to her curves and stopped barely south of her crotch. She was wearing matching shoes with heels that had to be at least six inches.

“What are you doing here?” Araminta couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact that Luna was standing in the middle of her home. She hadn’t heard anyone come in. Besides, the front door was locked and Leander was out back. Could she have slipped past Leander?

Luna laughed. “Haven’t you put it all together yet?” Luna straightened away from the door and gave a mock sigh. “Really. Do you think I’d bother with a little nobody like yourself if you didn’t have something I wanted?”

That hit her where it hurt the most. Araminta was very insecure about her ability as a writer. No one, not even her beloved grandmother, had thought she could make her living selling her stories. Her last serious boyfriend had informed her it was time to grow up and put childish dreams aside and concentrate on her
real
job. That’s when she’d shown him the door. Even her recent success hadn’t put a dent in her self-doubt.

Luna’s gaze tracked over the mess on the floor. “Had a slight problem, have you? You poor dear.” Her mocking tone shook Araminta out of her funk and stiffened her spine.

“What do you want?” Several memories tumbled across her brain. Luna had been there. She suddenly remembered how Luna had encouraged her to ride the lion on the carousel, had been there when everything went strange. Her memories of exactly what had happened were vague, but Luna had been there, of that she was certain. “You’re part of this, aren’t you?”

Luna touched the tip of her nose and laughed. “Smart girl. Took you long enough to figure it out.” She shook her head, her smile slightly cruel and the pity in her gaze more mocking than real. “Why Hades even wants to bother with you, I don’t know. But he does, so that’s that.”