Vengeance of the Demons (28 page)

Her bright blue eyes flicked his direction. His arousal grew, making his already tight suit pants even tighter. She spotted him and turned pointedly away, sipping her champagne and exposing her entire back down to the hollow of her spine. He gripped the railing of the stairs so tight it groaned under his fingers. It took all of his control to keep from rushing to Evan and kneeling behind her while running his tongue over that southern-most indent of her spine.

He envisioned running his hands up her perfectly shaped calves and silken, exposed thighs that were pushed up from the crimson red heels she wore. A memory triggered of her in black cargo pants and T-shirts. He liked this outfit much more.

“William.”

His gaze whipped to see Danika walking toward him.

“How are you feeling?”

He turned back to watch Evan. “Hungry.”

“Wonderful.” Danika linked her arm with his. “Come. I’ve arranged companionship for you tonight.”

He looked to Danika. “I want Evan.”

“She’s off limits.” Danika pulled him the other direction, and he craned his neck but could no longer see Evan.

“Why?” he asked.

“As I’ve told you for the last three days, she isn’t much for sharing. And as you have expressed the desire to be with more than one female, she’s decided to find herself another benefactor tonight.”

“What?” William pulled his arm from Danika and stopped. “She couldn’t— She wouldn’t do that. She said she wants to marry
me
.”

Danika nodded as if talking to a small child. “Yes. She did want to marry you, before.”

“Before? But I’m better now. Look at me.”

“True, you are better to look at somewhat. But looks aren’t everything. More than anything she wants a family of her own. You should know that.”

“Oh.” His talents and passions were to take pleasure and give pleasure. It was what he was. What he was born for. Yet those he’d met so far didn’t seem to want that. They were all happy being with just one person.

Danika walked him to the back conference room. She opened the door and inside stood two vampyr and two humans awaiting him. The vampyr were drinking from the humans and the very sight sent William into a tailspin of desire.

“Ooohhh, he’s finally arrived,” said an Asian human.

“Wow! He’s big,” said the other with black hair cut into a bob.

The two vampyr stopped and looked over to William.

“Wow, you’re amazing.” The brunette slid across the conference table.

“I’ll leave you to it.” Danika patted him on the chest and closed the door behind him.

William swallowed hard and smiled. A smorgasbord of pleasure just waiting for him. The brunette crawled toward him, followed by the redhead. They backed him into the wall, each running their hands over his body.

William closed his eyes and purred as the redhead unzipped his pants and knelt in front of him.

The brunette turned his head, so he looked at her and smiled.

“I’ve been told I’m delicious.” She pulled her hair away from her neck and leaned into him.

He snaked his hand around her slim waist. It was slightly smaller than Evan’s. He ran his hand down her rear, cupping her too flat bottom. Evan’s was nicely round and curvy. The thought annoyed and surprised him.

The redhead slid her hand inside his pants, and he strained to keep his wits about him. He bit into the brunette and took a long draw from her. The taste was sweet and salty, but not quite right. Her blood was like wine for his senses. Not at all something needed but a delicate pleasure nonetheless.

The redhead’s hand on his shaft was soft but too small. His frowned at the thought. He should be enjoying himself, but somehow all of it seemed off. Wrong even. All of it. The blood, the women. Evan’s face passed through his mind. The picture of her resting her hand on the other Vampire’s arm made his anger spike.

He retracted his fangs from the brunette’s neck.

“What’s the matter, lover?”

“I’m sorry.” William reached down and zipped his pants. “I apologize, ladies, but I’m afraid this isn’t what I need.”

The redhead giggled. “How’s that possible? We’re every man’s fantasy.”

“Yes.” He nodded. “You sure are. Unfortunately, I’m not a man anymore. If you’ll excuse me.”

“But—”

William opened the door quickly and then shut it behind himself. He took a deep breath and blew it out again. He looked around the family room and kitchen area. Everywhere he looked humans, Vampires, and vampyr mingled together. Taunting him, teasing him. But he didn’t want them. There was only one person he wanted. Why? Why her?

He strode out to the foyer. Evan was nowhere in sight. Anxiety gnawed at his gut. Why did he need her? A room full of willing females, and all he wanted was the blonde that had spurned him.

“Done already?” Danika walked to him quickly.

“I couldn’t… I didn’t…” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Where’s Evan? I need Evan.”

Danika smiled. “I told you. Evan’s with someone else.”

Anger surged inside him. “Where is she?” he hissed.

Danika’s expression grew hard.

“I’m sorry. I just… I need her.”

“So you remember then?”

“Yes. No. It’s… I have flashes of my time with her, but I don’t know why I want her so badly.”

“I won’t allow you to toy with her. She’s not a pet. She’s a person. If you want to have sex for fun, you need to find someone else. Not her.”

“Why not her? She’s beautiful, and from the little I remember we were very compatible.”

“Because what Evan wants is the old William who loved her. Not the one who thinks he’s the world’s new pleasure package.”

“But I’m the good one. The desirable one. I’m made for—”

“Bringing pleasure, yes, you’ve informed me. But pleasure comes in many forms, not only sex, and if you don’t learn that you’re going to have a very hard time here.”

“Then maybe I’ll go somewhere else.”

Danika’s gaze grew frosty. “If you cannot behave yourself then I think you need to go to your room for the evening.”

William clenched and unclenched his jaw several times. The sights and smells of so many people made him want to take Evan up to his bed and screw her until she couldn’t walk straight. He scanned the room for her once more, and when he couldn’t spot her he headed for his room.

Slamming his door, he flung his tie to the floor and ripped the shirt from his body. He pounded on the wall and threw the chair across the room, breaking the legs. Anger coursed through him and pain pulsed behind his eyes. He pulled the sheets from the bed and threw them at the door just as it opened. The sheets hit Evan in the face.

“Excuse you!” she said.

His muscles relaxed. “Evangeline.”

“I told you not to call me that,” she said. “I didn’t think you’d be in here.”

He crossed to her in a single stride and took her face in his hands. He kissed her hard on the mouth, tasting her. The lingering sparkle of champagne stayed on her tongue. She tasted right, felt right. He reached down and cupped her rear. Round and tight.

“Okay.” She pushed on his chest. “Okay. Okay, that’s enough.”

“Evan. I want you.” He kissed down her throat.

“Yeah, yeah. Okay. Stop, William, stop now.”

He pulled back. “What’s wrong? I thought you wanted this.”

“I’m only here to grab my bag.” She pointed to her backpack in the corner.

He looked over and spotted the bag. “Your bag?”

“Yeah. I’m going out with a few people, and I need my bag.”

“Out?”

She shook her head and walked past him.

“Evan, wait.”

She grabbed her bag and searched inside and found whatever she’d been looking for.

“This is the last thing I think I left in here. I’m staying in my old room in the barracks. That way you can have this one to yourself and whomever else you want to share it with.”

She didn’t meet his eye as she headed for the door. He met her at it and slammed his hand on it so she couldn’t leave.

“Evan, listen to me please. I need you. I’m sorry. I was wrong. I only want you.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You’re the one. No one else.”

“Huh?” She looked at him quizzically and then wiped his cheek. She showed him her fingers stained with red lipstick. “Yes. I can see how much you’ve changed already.”

“That’s not what it looks like.” He became flustered and unsure. Why was she having this effect on him? “Okay that is what it looks like, but I didn’t like it. When I was drinking from her all I could think of was you. Your rear is rounder. I remembered that.”

“My rear? Really? You remembered my rear?” She pressed her body into his and grabbed his crotch making his knees almost buckle. “What about this? Did she do this to you?” She stroked him through his pants. And he closed his eyes. “Did you like it?”

“No it wasn’t her. That was the redhead.”

Her hand stopped moving and his eyes flew open. The icy glare she gave to him had him going soft instantly.

“Two?” She raised an eyebrow.

“Like I said, I didn’t like it. I only want you.”

“You love me? You want to marry me?” Her voice held a sarcastic note that he didn’t like.

“No. I don’t but—”

She wiped a spot of blood from the corner of his mouth. “I have two someones of my own waiting. Two someones who want no one else but me. Until you’re ready to act like the William I fell in love with, I’m not interested.”

“Evan, please—”

She stepped out of his room and closed the door. He banged his head on it and roared in anger. Damn Mason for making him promise not to use his powers on people. Evan would be in his arms and in his bed that very minute if he’d been allowed to use his charms.

The whole situation had him so pent up he thought he might explode. Ripping off his suit, he headed for a cold shower to clear his head.

* * * *

Evan walked down the hallway, holding back tears. Doing what Danika had prescribed was working, but for how long? How could she be so sure that once William had her again, he wouldn’t change his mind?

She knew he was in there. Her William. The one she’d fallen in love with. He was sexy as hell now, not that he hadn’t been before, but she wasn’t going to fall for a good-looking man again. The last time had almost killed her.

She walked down to the foyer where everyone continued to enjoy themselves. Her stomach lurched as she hit the bottom stair and she stumbled.

“Are you okay?” asked Danika.

“Yeah. I think I had a bit too much champagne. I think I’m gonna head to my room.”

“Are you sure? I know two gentlemen who are dying to take you out.”

Her stomach lurched again and she covered her mouth. “No. I think I really should go lie down.”

Danika nodded. “Okay. We’ll try again tomorrow night.”

Evan stumbled again and Danika steadied her. “Maybe I should get someone to escort you.”

Evan shook her head. “I’m fine. But you might want to have someone check on William before he destroys his entire room.”

Danika frowned. “He better not. That was my birth mother’s room.”

The thought struck Evan right in the heart. The reverence that Danika had for her birth mother. Evan wondered if Travis even told their daughter about her at all.

“Good night,” Evan said. She hurried and headed for the back door, trying not to stumble again in the heels she wasn’t used to.

She rushed outside and took the shoes off. She ran to the barracks and threw the door open. Tommy sat on the couch with his arm around Sue. He looked up when he saw her.

“Whoa, sis! I don’t think I approve of that dress.”

“I’m headed to bed,” she said.

“Evan, are you okay? Evan?” he called.

“I’m fine. Night.” She raced up the stairs as her stomach rolled for the third time. She barely made it to the common bathroom before throwing up in the toilet. Her stomach lurched and she threw up a second time. Sweat trickled down her brow. The sour taste of fermented champagne and stomach acid made her mouth taste like rotten fruit.

She sat down hard on the tile floor, leaned back on the bathroom stall, and burped. She’d never had champagne before in her life. Never had more than one beer in her life, either. Her head spun as memories of William’s red eyes floated in her mind. Her heart ached for wanting him. Two females. He’d been with two. How far had he gone?

She hung her head. She didn’t want to know.

The outer bathroom door opened. “Hello?”

She didn’t answer.

There was a knock on the stall door. “You okay in there?”

“Fine,” she croaked.

“Need some help?”

Evan got to her feet shakily and flushed the toilet before opening the door. She came face to face with Matthew. He looked taken aback at seeing her.

“Oh, it’s you.” She pushed past him and stumbled to the sink.

He grabbed her around the waist to steady her. “Are you okay?”

“Fine. Just peachy.” She turned on the water at the first faucet and splashed it on her face. The mascara Danika had put on her ran down her cheeks. She grabbed the bar of soap and scoured her face trying to get the makeup off. Blinded by the water in her eyes, she felt around for a towel.

“Here.” Matthew pushed one into her hands and she blotted her cheeks.

She opened her eyes and handed it back to him. “Thanks.”

“You know, I’m not trying to be rude, but you don’t look so good. Maybe you should get to bed.”

“Great advice. I think I’ll do that.” She spotted her backpack on the floor, bent to pick it up, and swayed slightly.

“Whoa! That’s a good way to get a concussion.” Matthew grabbed her around the waist again and helped her up right. The pressure of his fingers on her sides reminded her of her love making with William.

“Don’t touch me.” She pushed him away and her vision blurred. “If I call for Tommy, he’ll kick your ass.”

Matthew held up his hands. “I only want to help you to your room.” He grabbed her backpack and slung it over his shoulder.

She scoured him with a look. “Why are you being so nice to me?”

He sighed. “Because you’re drunk and you need help.”

“I’m not drunk.”

He nodded. “Okay, well then why is everything you say about two octaves too loud and one second to slow?”