Daughter Trilogy Bundle (27 page)

"Still trying to wrap my mind around this," he mumbles.

Devin smiles as he kisses the back of my hand.

"Hurry up and get used to it.  It's going to be like this for a while, hopefully," he murmurs sweetly.

I sigh a little when a smile forces its way to my face.  Damn him for being so supernaturally charming.

"I need a bloody shirt.  Mine seems to have a brew mugging it up," Deacon grumbles.

"In the master bedroom - the closet to your left," Devin instructs while offering me his strongest seductive glare.

I roll my eyes at his successful attempt to squash my momentary rage.  Gemma's name is still taking a seat in the back of my mind though.

"Bloody hell!  What in the name of all that is holy happened to your bed?" Deacon gasps.

Devin and I both chuckle as he walks out pulling on one of Devin's tee-shirts.  He gauges our reaction and his shoulders slump as his eyes teem with envy.

"I want one," he whines.

Devin kisses my lips so gently and wraps his arms around me as he pulls me to his incredible body.

"You can't have this one.  She's mine." he teases with a slightly possessive tone that sends the most delicious chills up and down my body.

I feel the foolish grin on his face forcing mine to mimic it.  I wipe it from my face as I ask a more derailing question.

"So what is Gemma exactly?" I ask while glaring into his eyes.

"She's a daughter of Gaya," he says casually while he walks toward the kitchen.

I hope he doesn't think he can escape this conversation.

"I've never heard of Gaya," I say with a prying, leading tone.

Devin sighs.  "She was the embodiment of the earth, like Athena."

"Athena?" I gasp.

Devin shakes his head.  "Minus the bloodlust for Aphrodite's daughters," he quickly adds.

"For now," Deacon scoffs.

Devin narrows his eyes at Deacon for his snarky remark.  Deacon shrugs as he flops down on the couch.

"I'm just saying," Deacon adds menacingly.

Devin looks back to me.  "As I informed you once, Athena believed herself to be the embodiment of virtue, though she was nothing more than the embodiment of earth.  That is what prompted the Aphrodite Wars.  Gayans, such as Gemma, only believe themselves to be the embodiment of earth."

He gives Deacon one more warning glance which the Scottish menace ignores.

"Oh the joy of the wrath from a woman scorned.  It's sure to come.  It always does when Gemma learns of your newest conquest." 
What?
  Deacon continues before Devin can blast him or before I can question him.  "So what's going on with these groups, and why did you request I come?"

Devin lets out an agitated breath, but gladly drops the Gemma conversation.

"Because I need you to be in New York.  I have no idea the names to the faces within this group, but they're vicious, ruthless, and too close too often.  I don't know the heads, and I can't catch a glimpse of anyone behind the curtains.  I need Camara, and you're the only one who can get to her," Devin says with a tone of anticipation and possibly a little menace of his own.

"Camara?  I can't talk to her.  Are you crazy?  The last time I saw her she strung me up and beat me half to death," Deacon blares.

Devin starts laughing, and I have to stifle a chuckle of my own.  The terror in Deacon's eyes is delighting Devin.

"You shouldn't have pissed off a Sharlan.  What did you think would happen when you slept with her and then ignored her for two hundred years?" Devin snickers.

"Well I never thought she'd lose her howls on me," Deacon pouts.

"What's a Sharlan?" I ask curiously.

"The embodiment of the wild," Devin says with such a soft tone.

Then he turns back to Deacon.  "You have to find her.  You're the only one she's going to let get close to her.  The wild in her makes her skittish.  She's still got it bad for you, and I think you like the animal side of her despite your denial," he teases.

Deacon scowls and rolls his eyes.  "You could at least buy me dinner before you screw me like this," he crudely remarks.

Devin laughs as his eyes run up and down the full length of my body.

"Sorry," he mumbles.  "I've already made dinner plans."

Deacon rolls his eyes, and Devin kisses me while my jealousy is completely distracted and subdued.

"Fine.  I'll go get her.  You had better come get me if she tars and feathers me again," he whimpers.

Devin starts laughing through our kiss before answering.

"Promise."

Then the elevator dings, and Persia walks in unannounced.

"I hope this is okay.  A gentleman named Greer told me you were already expecting me," she says to Devin.

"It's perfectly fine.  I suppose you're not shielding yourself from my visions anymore," he beams.

She smiles endearingly.  "I see no reason to waste such energy.  I came to see you and Adisia before I went to run down some leads on this group.  I've got several contacts around the area.  I'll draw some of them away from New York if they're after an Aphrodite."

"No.  Don't.  You could be killed," I panic.

She takes my hand in hers, and I see tears forming in her eyes.

"I never thought I'd see the day when you cared enough to worry, but I'll be fine.  I know what I'm doing, and I'm the only one who can infiltrate my contacts.  They're very cautious and with good reason.  They've lived a long time by showing such reservations with trusting outsiders.  I'll be back soon though," she chokes out slightly.

I sigh out deeply, and Devin tightens his grip around my hand.

"I've got several cars in a garage down the street.  You're welcome to any of them," he says to Persia.

"No.  I've got wheels of my own.  The only thing I need you to do is take care of my daughter."

He kisses the top of my head before nodding to her.  "Gladly," he murmurs gently.

"You look stunning.  I'm so amazed by your beauty.  I'm glad you're safe.  I'm glad you've found a group to belong to," she says, and then her eyes turn to catch sight of the drooling-like-a-kid-at-the-cotton-candy-machine gawk from Deacon.

"Who are you?" she admonishes.

"I'm Deacon Crichton, a son of Aries.  I just have to say, you're gorgeous."

She laughs a little and looks at Devin.  "Keep her away from this one."

Devin lets out a mock derisive snort.  "No problem."

"Hey, I'm more into older women," Deacon attempts to seduce.

Persia laughs at his failed attempt to win her over as she laughs.

"I can assure you, you're not ready for me," she menaces.

He swallows hard against the instant knot in his throat, and his breath rattles as he tries to keep up his confident persona.

"I'm sure I'm a little tougher than you're giving me credit for.  You know what they say about love and war."

She lets her breath find his face, and he almost dissolves under the potent spell she's exuding.

"There's always war when I love." she whispers, and I try not to fucking gag.

She smirks at his entertaining recovery and her stimulating tease, and then she deliberately struts like a goddess to the elevator, leaving his mouth gaped open.

Devin laughs a little as I sneer in distaste.  I know I barely know her as my mother, but
…
gross
.

She disappears behind the doors, and Deacon gasps for air.

"Sweet swinging hips.  I'm in love."

Devin laughs loudly, and I just fight against the foul taste consuming my mouth.  He kisses me on the temple and walks over to grab a stack of cash from a drawer.  Holy crap, that's a lot of money.

He hands it to Deacon while returning his tone to a more businesslike professionalism.

"If anything goes wrong, don't hesitate, run.  They're cunning.  No one has ever found my New York apartments.  The population is so thick, and there are so many conflicting elements to blur one's abilities.  They're good.  Don't risk it."

I suddenly feel the reality of his concern for Deacon.

"I will.  If something does go wrong, get Camara out of that group.  They'll never be able to defend her, and they'll all be slaughtered."

"I will," Devin promises.

He walks back over to take my hand and Deacon waves as he loads the elevator.

Devin turns to me and tilts my chin up to force my eyes to his.  His immunity to my enslaving eyes is so liberating.  He's amazing.

"I'm sorry our evening was hindered.  I hope it's okay to continue on."

I take a deep breath as I try to digest the heaping pile of crazy that has just been whipped on top of the insanity cake, and then I nod.  I need a night away from the surreal.  A normal date with the guy I'm now living with would do wonders for my exhausted mind.

"I want our date."

"Good.  I've got reservations at my favorite spot in the city," he seduces.

I dread trying to avoid eye contact with the numerous people littering New York, but I'd do anything to have a real date with him.

"Where are we going?" I muse.

"That would ruin the surprise," he says with a boyish grin.

I smile like a foolish girl, and he pulls me to the elevator.  I almost skip a little with my perky steps.

He chuckles lightly at my giddiness, and his lips close over mine the moment the doors seal.  A dinging lets us know someone is joining us, but his lips don't move from mine.

I hear the giggles of teenage girls as our soft-lipped embrace continues without allowing for interruption.

A second ding tells us we've arrived in the lobby.  He takes my hand and pulls me out of the elevator.  I can see the childlike excitement in his eyes.

A limousine is sitting outside the apartment like a horse-drawn carriage awaiting Cinderella.  Greer opens the door with a blushing smile, and I giggle a little as I step in.

Devin gracefully dips in and sits beside me.  He pulls me into his arms the moment he gets seated, and I rest my head on his firm, comfortable shoulder.

“You really went all out," I sigh happily.

"This is just the ride.  Don't be impressed yet," he murmurs with a daring tease.

I smile uncontrollably with my stinging cheeks.  This is so amazing.

We drive a short distance, and I feel the car slowing to a halt.  I glance around to see nothing but the bay in front of us.

"What are we doing here?"

Oh no
.  I thought we were eating.  My neglected stomach is about to start growling because I haven't eaten a thing in a couple of days.

"We're having dinner," he says with a secretive smirk.

I look around curiously.

"Here?" I squeak.

He laughs a little, and Greer opens the door for us.

"I'll be back in a couple of hours as you requested, sir."

Devin nods, and then Greer hands him a picnic basket and a blanket.  I'm confused.  The sun is almost lowering in front of us, there's not really a romantic picnic area, and I'm in a flashy dress.  I'm so baffled.

Devin takes my hand and pulls me to the edge of the water as Greer drives away.

"You ready?" he asks softly.

We're completely alone, and I'm still stumped as to what he's up to.

"What are we doing?" I ask impatiently.

He smirks, and then the water starts to separate in front of us.  Even the ground beneath the river begins to dry up as the moisture is sucked out of it.

I watch in amazement as the ground firms enough for me to take a step onto.  He pulls me through the spreading water, and the cycle continues with each step.  Once we've descended low enough that the water starts to close over us, allowing only our bubble to remain within it.

"Oh wow.  This is so
… I don't even know what to say," I babble.

"Good," he says with a tone of pride.

Every step takes us deeper, and the bubble around us allows us to see the beauty of the river without disruption.  There are fish ranging from all sizes, and they're swirling curiously around our bubble.  Devin smiles as he gauges my wide-eyed reaction.

The blurred water above us begins to lighten, and it separates from all the dilutions corrupting the clear view of the setting sun.

Devin spreads the blanket on the floor of the riverbed, and I stare up in amazement.

"I knew it would be hard to take you somewhere full of people, but I got one of the best chefs in New York to prepare our dinner to-go.  I brought wine, champagne, and desert.  I hope this will do for now," he utters so gently.

"Oh, it'll do.  This is so unbelievable.  I'm watching the sunset from under the water."

He smiles a little bigger and starts setting up our gourmet dinner for two.  He even brought a candle to set up.