Shameless Desire (The Outlawed Realm) (15 page)

She laced her fingers through his and held back as she glanced up and down the street, searching for danger.

The sounds of children shouting in play and adults ordering them to keep it down mingled with the noise of vehicles and an aircraft overhead.

“I don’t smell anything,” he assured her. “The guards aren’t here.”

“You’re positive?” she asked.

“Would I put you in danger without you insisting upon it?”

Gwen’s expression changed from worried to slightly irritated, then embarrassed. “No, of course not. Besides, you can heal me like you did yourself.”

“My abilities might not work on you, nor would I ever allow you to get injured.”

“Of course you wouldn’t.” She kissed his knuckles and gave him a brave smile.

He recognized the lingering fear in her eyes but didn’t address it. This was what they’d agreed upon. What Gwen felt they needed to do. If he tried to keep her from it, she’d fight him, determined to win. Worse, she might do something to trick him and leave on this journey herself.

Not about to let that happen, Kuma led her down the street. Neither of them spoke about what might happen next. If he would be forced to kill again. If he’d have to give his life to see to her safety.

Regina checked off another ingredient from the list Damir had provided, then poured the next into the ceramic bowl and waited, her shoulders rising to her ears. If she’d measured wrong, she feared the concoction might foam or explode.

The amber-colored liquid remained stable, resembling apple juice. It smelled like it too, rather than an antidote to the tranquilizer the guards used.

Nikoli sat at the kitchen table, watching her, no doubt thinking she was crazy for even doing this. After all, they had the device he’d built to open portals at will and could use them to escape immediate danger.

He held the instrument now, turning it in his hand absently, giving her proof they had nothing to fear.

Right. All they had to do was run and run and run as they had before, a notion Regina found unbearable. She didn’t want to flee from vampires, werewolves, guards, Vakar or whatever further crap might cross over from the other realms. She needed to settle this current problem and win.

Lifting the spoon, she murmured, “Want a taste? If you like it, sweetie, I’ll let you lick the bowl.”

Nikoli remained slouched in his chair, long legs stretched out, crossed at the ankles. “I haven’t been hit by a dart. I won’t be. Neither will you.” He lifted his device, displaying it to her in his palm.

“What if it doesn’t work?” She rested her hip against the counter. “What if Vakar had one of his scientists make a device that the guards are using. One that counteracts yours, jams its signal—or whatever you call it—making it useless?”

Nikoli smiled at her as though she needed to be placated, like a child who was frightened of imaginary monsters beneath the bed. “That’s not possible.”

“You’re sure? One hundred percent? No doubt at all? Not even a teeny, tiny bit? A fraction of one per—”

He interrupted, “Nothing’s ever that certain. But it’s not likely. We’ll be fine.”

“Because you’re hoping the werewolves kill all the guards and then forget about coming after you, a guy who looks and smells exactly like the rulers they hate? Let’s say that dream happens. Then what? The werewolves assimilate into society over here? They take remedial classes in being fully human?”

Nikoli’s broad shoulders sagged. He mumbled, “I’m just trying to get through the day, the same as you.”

Aw, hell. At his obvious hurt, Regina crossed the room and sank to her knees at his side. “Hey, I didn’t mean to be so snotty. I’m just worried.”

Nikoli grinned. “Yeah, I know.” He cupped the back of her head, tilting Regina’s face to his. “But what I said did get you over here, right?”

She smacked his hand. He didn’t move it. She sighed. “You want to neck now?”

“I want to neck all the time.”

True. However, she had an antidote to make. Despite the warmth pouring through her, Regina wasn’t about to give in to passion. “Let go of me so I can finish.”
Let me make us safe.
“Then we can play.”

“One batch,” he warned. “That’s all.”

She’d bought enough supplies to make gallons of the stuff, darting from store to store, always looking over her shoulder, waiting for a guard, werewolf, Vakar or something equally horrible to attack. “Sure.”

Nikoli still held on. He claimed her mouth, slipping his tongue between her lips.

Regina lost all her breath on a wanting sigh.

The doorbell chimed.

Despite its mild tone, she flinched. Her teeth bumped his. “Sorry.” She rubbed her mouth. “Who can that be? Did Meelo and Damir tell you they were coming to Seattle?”

“No.” He glanced in the direction of the front door.

The bell chimed again. Whoever was out there wasn’t patient.

“I’ll get it,” Nikoli said.

“No.” Regina pressed her hands on his thighs to keep him from moving.

He sagged back in his chair. “If it’s a guard, werewolf, or even Vakar himself, do you believe any of them would ring the front bell?”

Good point. Andris and the other vampires had turned into bats and entered the house through the chimney, pouring into her bedroom where they’d reverted to human form…so beautiful and pale. A werewolf would probably use its body to break down the front door. Vakar and his guards would most likely disintegrate the wood and glass with one of their freaky devices.

That left several other possibilities on who might be outside. Kids selling candy for a school function, a religious group going door to door to save souls, or Detectives Sheehan and Goddard returned to question or arrest her for Donald Bakshi’s murder.

“Let me answer it,” Nikoli said.

“No.” He’d be no match for the local cops, especially if they got a good look at his unlined palms and strange fingerprints.

Regina pushed to her feet. Whoever was out there was now knocking. “I’ll get it. You stay here. Please.”

She hurried into the hall and halted at what she saw behind the stained-glass windows on either side of the door. Two figures, the one on the left taller than the other. Exactly what she’d seen the last time the detectives had arrived. Shit.

The smaller one…Goddard…knocked again.

Regina debated whether to ignore them and decided against it. They’d only come back. Steeling herself for the worst, she opened the door and stared at two people she’d never seen before.

Relief flooded her. The man was ruggedly handsome, his shoulder length hair dark brown. The woman’s hair was far shorter, her features sensual from a mixture of races Regina couldn’t identify, her eyes an amazing and arresting shade of blue.

The young woman turned to the man and asked, “Do you smell it?”

He nodded.

Regina frowned at the odd question. Smell what? A gas leak? These two weren’t dressed in uniforms from Puget Sound Energy. Nor was there any unusual odor, only the scent of pine and cedar trees, along with air scrubbed fresh by the rain. “Can I help you?”

“We hope,” the woman said. “I’m Gwen.” She inclined her head to the man. “He’s Kuma. Not that any of that matters.”

Reaching behind herself, she pulled out a handgun and pointed its muzzle at Regina’s heart. “We need to go inside now.”

Staci gestured to a chair in the kitchen, encouraging Teeko to sit while she paced. One, because of his presence, so damned male and magnetic. Two, because she was concerned about Gwen.

Teeko remained at the edge of the hall as he regarded the surroundings. After a quick glance around, he focused on her.

Staci’s pulse jumped. The fierce thrumming of her heart stole more of her composure. Since Gwen and Kuma had left, Teeko had followed Staci wherever she went, not letting her out of his sight, rarely looking away.

He regarded her with renewed fascination, as if she were a prize he’d just won. What in the world had Kuma said to him before he took off with Gwen?

Staci cleared her throat and tried to sound casual. “You hungry?”

He studied her breasts. She figured her nipples were probably getting even harder, poking against her tee’s soft fabric.

“I can make you something,” she offered. “What do you eat?”

He focused on her groin.

God, he was hot. Tall and lean, with enough muscles to take charge in any woman’s bed. His scruffy beard made Staci’s soul sing. He reminded her of a bad-boy rocker. One she was eager to know.

Until Kuma had come along, Staci hadn’t joked around or flirted with a guy for two endless years. She’d been too afraid of the inevitable rejection, pained by her scars. Kuma had eased her concerns, if only for a moment. She was still hesitant about being naked, at least from the waist up, but knew she didn’t want to remain celibate forever, hiding out from life or men.

Or rather, this man…this werewolf.

Who would have believed her life would have come to this, especially the werewolf part? It should have disturbed her but didn’t. For the first time since the accident, Staci felt a smidgen of hope and acted accordingly. She crossed the room to Teeko and lifted her face to his to offer herself. For a little while, she wanted to forget about the danger Gwen had put herself in, how long it would take her and Kuma to return, whether they’d succeed or not.

For a little while, Staci wanted to forget about what she’d lost in the fire.

If Teeko rejected her after seeing her back, she’d die a little more inside. However, she had to give them a shot.

She searched his handsome face, seeing a whole lot of arousal…and a flicker of caution. Her stomach clenched. Had Gwen told Kuma about Staci’s scars, which he’d repeated to Teeko? Was Teeko recalling that part of their conversation now? Would her imperfections disturb him?

Please, don’t turn away. Don’t deny me. I’m lonely and scared.

She rested her hand on his chest. His heart hammered as fiercely as hers did. Possibly a good sign if caused by passion. “What are you waiting for?”

Confusion swept his face. “Kuma and Gwen or the guards.” He glanced at the back door, then in the direction of the front one. “I don’t smell—”

“That’s not what I meant.” She turned his face back to hers and traced his bottom lip with her fingers. “I’m here. You’re here. We’re alone until Kuma and Gwen return. That could be hours. It might be a few minutes. What are you waiting for?”

Understanding flared in his eyes that they hardly had all afternoon. This time, he didn’t hesitate. He claimed her mouth.

Wow.
He wasn’t at all restrained. Staci sensed Teeko had experienced the same dry spell she had when it came to sex and needed a huge dose of carnal relief. The thought that they were both so wanting pleased her. She didn’t have to compete against his memories of another woman or his lust for someone else.

She kissed him so hard her teeth dug into her bottom lip. Staci relished the pain, the same as his beard-roughened face scouring her cheeks. If he tried to shave his whiskers off, she’d bitch up a storm. Hell, she might even cuff him to her bed as Gwen had threatened to do with Kuma.

Sagging into him, Staci fisted her fingers into his tee. Teeko wrapped his arms around her and pressed his palms against her back.

Without meaning to, she stiffened, an instinctive reaction.

Teeko dropped his hands and pulled his mouth from hers. “Was I too rough? Did I hurt you?”

His obvious concern touched her deeply. During the accident, Staci’s boyfriend had fled the fire, not giving her a moment’s thought. One of their neighbors—a guy she’d never spoken to—had risked his life to pull her from the flames. When she was in the burn unit at the hospital, Staci learned her boyfriend had blamed the fire on her. He told the cops that she had operated the meth lab, not him.

Fucking creep. Jerk.

“What’s wrong?” Teeko asked.

What else? She’d allowed physical looks to rule her life. Her boyfriend had been so handsome, so perfect. She mistook that for honor and integrity.

Never again.

“Nothing,” she murmured. “You weren’t too rough and you definitely didn’t hurt me. My scars aren’t painful any longer.”

He searched her face, his confusion evident. “Scars?”

She debated how to answer him. At last, she turned and lifted the side of her tee, showing him a small portion of her back that wasn’t even the worst part. She wasn’t that brave.

There was no horror in his expression as there had always been in her mother’s and father’s each time they caught a glimpse of her flaws. Teeko appeared to accept who she was without question or judgment. Could be he thought all women on this side had disfigured backs like hers.

Releasing her tee, Staci faced him once more. “Come here.” She drove her fingers through his hair and brought his mouth back to hers so she could slip her tongue inside.

Her knees sagged, bumping into his. He tasted wonderful, fresh and clean like the outdoors. And he wanted her. Here. Now.

Staci wasn’t about to deny him. As he cupped her ass in his hands, she twined her arms around his shoulders and wound her legs around his lean hips. He carried her to the table, placing her on the edge, making quick work of removing her tee.

Given his position, he couldn’t see her back. To make certain he didn’t try, Staci tugged off her bra so her breasts would distract him.

He stared at her tightened nipples, his nostrils flaring with his deep breath. In a flash, he yanked down her jeans and panties, dropping the garments on the floor.

Reclined on the table, Staci braced the heels of her feet on its edge and spread her thighs. An invitation for him to take her. The room’s warm air caressed her body. She felt a wave of it touch the dampness between her legs. Teeko focused on that alone, not making any move, especially the one she wanted. To make certain he knew what to do next, Staci ran her fingers over her blonde bush and murmured, “Fuck me.”

“What?”

Okay, maybe he didn’t understand all of the slang on this side. “Nothing. Wasn’t important. Go on. Undress.”

He did, taking everything off, hopping from one foot to the other as he removed his running shoes and jeans. At last, he stood naked before her.