Embrace the Desire (24 page)

“Yes.”

She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his wound. Payne growled as her teeth sank into his skin and she sucked. He arched again and his shaft pulsed with pleasure as the wetness of her desire met his head. She pulled away and kissed the wound as she sat back onto his erection. Payne growled in pleasure as he went inside of her.

“Payne?”

His breath caught as she said his name. “Yes.”

“I'm going to hurt you.”

He smiled as she slammed down onto him. “I know.”

She screamed in pleasure as she rocked against him. Her eyes glowed as her fingernails extended and fire covered their tips. Payne closed his eyes as she scratched his chest. He was used to pain and he welcomed it as she rocked on his erection.

“Payne!” she screamed as she leaned forward. “There's something I must tell you.”

He opened his eyes as his blood flowed from her lips and trailed down her neck. It trickled down her chest and dripped down her breasts. He effortlessly sat up and pulled free of the chains. She moaned as his tongue licked the blood from her nipples and he sucked until they ached. Her hands wrapped into his hair as flames danced up his arms. They licked at her as he grabbed her hips and pounded into her body.

Chanta threw her head back as her incisors grew. Payne turned his head baring his neck as she looked at him. He groaned as she clutched his shoulder and bit into his skin.

“Take it Chanta, take my blood and my body.”

“I am part angel. My mother is an angel.”

Payne growled nodding at her confession. “Take my blood.”

Chanta pulled away and pulled him over on top of her. Her legs wrapped around his waist as he pushed back inside of her. She grabbed his hand and brought his wrist to her lips. She licked it slowly savoring the taste of his skin. She arched as he slammed into her and she bit down. Blood flowed down her face and dripped into her hair as Payne leaned his weight onto his left arm and rocked against her thighs.

Chanta licked at his wrist and ran her fingers through his blood, her blood! Their blood mixed and coursed through her body as he came down to her neck. She turned her head and closed her eyes as his teeth reopened the wound. She arched forward as he sucked and she bit into his wrist.

Chanta screamed in pain as he pulled away and pinned her wings to the bed. He buried his erection deep inside of her and she grabbed his waist with her fingernails. She sank them into his skin as the fire inside of her body entered his. She hissed and twisted as the smell of burning flesh filled his nostrils; his flesh was burning. She withdrew her fingernails and slid them to his chest.

He waited and kept himself buried inside of her as she claimed him for the bonding. She arched and moaned as her fingernails dug into his skin. Thin streams of smoke rose from his chest as she carved the symbol that she had been born with into the skin over his right nipple. He groaned as his skin burned and ached. She dug in deeper as she arched under him wanting more.

Payne gritted his teeth as she moved her fingers from his chest to the soft tender skin above his crotch. Her hand lingered there, hovered above his skin.

She looked up as the fire in her eyes dimmed. “Payne?”

“Yes.”

“I won't mark you, but every instinct in me is screaming to do so.”

He fell forward into her arms as he pulled out and pushed into her one last time. His seed released and she screamed in total pleasure as he claimed her lips.

His voice was barely a whisper as he replied, “I can never be yours.”

“Is it because of Bastilla? Are you still in love with her?”

“It isn't because of her.” Raising up, he stared into her eyes, saw the tears that made his heart ache. “I made a pact with Isten. I have a mission that I must face and odds are I won't survive it. If you mark me and completely bond yourself with me, you will be endlessly tormented by my death.”

He wouldn't have let her mark him, but he was overwhelmed with her primal beauty and passion. But he knew that he could not have refused her if she had done so. And his heart, his heart had wanted it more than anything he had ever wanted.

She had somehow eased the burden he carried in his heart. And that was enough to pledge himself to her, but he wouldn't condemn her soul to torment if he died.

She drifted into a calm sleep as Payne held her to his chest. His heart thundered and an ache pounded inside him. In the little time he had been with her, he had lost a part of himself to her. His enchantress had defied all odds and won a piece of his heart and his soul.

Her father was Gyth, a god that Payne despised almost as much as his own father. Her brother, now a god, was his one and only friend. Not to mention that once this was said and done, he had no intentions of walking away from Damon alive. They both had to die, to end Damon's lust to create witches out of the members of the One Race and to end the torments that Payne lived with every single day.

A smile spread across his lips as she cuddled closer to him and whispered his name. “Please, don't die. I have just begun to know you, the real you.”

“The Burning is over.” Payne frowned, an ache building in his throat. “I have to leave soon.”

“Will I ever see you again?” Her voice quivered as he felt tears drip onto his chest.

“Probably not.” He pulled her closer to him. “When I made the pact with Isten, I had no intentions of coming out of it alive. I have lived a long time and the burdens I bear within my soul tire of the aching.”

“Is there nothing I can do to ease your pain?” She looked up and took his chin, looked into his eyes. “Is there nothing I can do to make you want to come back? To make you stay?”

Payne closed his eyes and a lie fell from his tongue. “No.”

There was something she could do, but he would never ask her for it. There was one thing in this life he wanted more than anything, to be loved. Just once, to be loved for who and what he was, to be cherished by someone, but that would never happen. He was the devil's son.

Bastilla appeared in the late hours of the night in front of the apartment that Payne had been lurking around. She grinned as she thought of Payne; right now, she was so close to having him back, so very close to ending Damon's miserable life. Pushing the doorbell, she knew she would have to hurry before Payne showed up and ruined it all.

She smiled as Chanta answered the door. She was such a pretty little thing with her mop of white blonde curls and big gray eyes. Nonetheless, the sight of her made Bastilla want to vomit.

“I'm sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if we could talk a few minutes. It seems I'm in a bit of a pinch.”

“How can I help?” Chanta smiled, which infuriated Bastilla, but she managed to keep her cool.

“I'm a member of the One Race, just like you and I need help.”

Chanta smiled again as she stepped back and opened the door wide. “Of course, come on in. My name is Chanta. What's yours?”

Bastilla smiled back entering the doorway. “I'm Bastilla.”

Seeing the downcast look on Chanta's face brightened Bastilla's heart. So, the little witch had heard of her it seemed. Several seconds passed as Chanta searched Bastilla's face before finally closing the door and offering her a seat.

“Payne isn't here.” Chanta crossed her arms over her stomach clearly showing her defense. “He left this morning.”

“I'm aware that he did.” Bastilla smiled softly. “I just wanted to meet you.”

Suspicion crossed Chanta's face. “Why?”

“Because Damon is still in love with you.” Bastilla wanted to puke as soon as the words left her mouth. Damon and love? The two words should never be uttered in the same sentence. “I came to see if you still had feelings for Damon or if for some unknown illogical reason you have feelings for Payne.”

“I have no need or desire to speak of Damon to you. If it's Payne you're after, you'll have to find him somewhere else. Like I said before, he isn't here.”

Bastilla gritted her teeth. Chanta was everything she was not. But more importantly, she was standing in Bastilla's way. By killing her, Bastilla took care of two birds with one stone, a sweet little revenge against Damon and the means to pull Payne back into her arms.

“He still loves me. I don't want you to get caught up in the middle of this situation. I recently regained my freedom from Damon and I'm sure that you'll agree there's no sense in you getting hurt in the process of Payne and me getting back on track with one another.” Bastilla let a fake tear slide down her cheek. “I have waited so many lifetimes to be in his arms again.”

“I'm sure you have.” Chanta went to the door. “I can't honestly say where you can find him.”

“Do you mind if I sit for a while?” Bastilla looked at her couch. “I have not taken the time to get used to being back on earth.” She slowly sat down before giving Chanta a chance to answer. “I am tired as I have been non-stop in my search for Payne.”

• • •

Chanta swallowed harder than she ever had in her entire life. “I'm fixing a sandwich, do you want one?”

“No, I don't believe I do, but . . . ”

“Yes,” answered Chanta over her shoulder as she stepped into the kitchen. “I have some left over pizza if you want.”

Bastilla pulled a dagger from her hip as she stood and walked into the kitchen. “No, I just want you to know that I am Payne's lover and it's always been me that he loves.”

Chanta turned and stepped back as Bastilla lunged forward with the dagger. The bread in her hand tumbled to the floor as she went to her knees and scrambled to her left. Bastilla caught her by the hair and pulled her back. Chanta screamed and tried to stand.

Cold laughter filled Chanta's ears as she grabbed the counter and pulled herself to her feet. She twisted and Bastilla let her hair go. Chanta bolted to the drawer below the breadbox and grabbed a knife. As she turned, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Payne appear. Bastilla lunged again and sliced into Chanta's arm as Payne grabbed her by the throat baring every inch of his glorious fangs.

Chanta ran towards the living room and glanced over her shoulder as Payne threw the woman into the wall by the refrigerator. Her arm was dripping and aching, but it still had not registered with her as she turned to face the battle in her kitchen. What the hell was going on?

With a deep breath, Chanta cursed. She was a demi-goddess now with powers, why hadn't she thought of that when the witch had attacked her?

Payne grabbed Bastilla and cursed as she shimmered and disappeared. Chanta went to her knees still holding the knife in her hand. She looked down and dropped the knife grabbing the cut on her arm.

She felt the wound healing, her skin prickling as it began to repair itself. Payne towered over her. “Are you hurt?”

She shook her head. “It's nothing, barely a scratch.”

“What did she say to you?” When she looked up, his eyes were glowing blue.

Chanta stood, shoved past him, and went to the living room. “Nothing.”

“Don't lie to me.” Payne took a step towards her. “She wanted something and I need to know what it was. I won't have her coming after you.”

Turning on her heel, she replied, “She said Damon was still in love with me and she wanted to talk . . . about you.”

Payne simply stared at her, his lips forming a thin line as he narrowed his eyes. “Are you still in love with him? After what he did to you, is that why you refuse to stay at the sanctuary? Hopeful that he will show up on your doorstep?”

“How dare you?” Chanta clenched her fists, felt the blood trickling down her injured arm. “You made it perfectly clear that you could care less about my life. After all, the only reason you were even here was to get your stupid wish from Varick.” She paused, too many thoughts running through her mind at once to concentrate. “Why are you even back?”

When he spoke, she almost cowered, his voice so rough and full of male energy her knees quivered. “I came back to fucking apologize for making you feel like a piece of meat! I know the feeling all too well and I didn't want to leave you hating me.”

“It doesn't change the fact that the only reason you slept with me was to get that wish.” Determined not to back down, Chanta pointed at his chest. “And that woman was here for you. She's your lover and I don't blame her for being pissed. The only reason you slept with me was to get her back.”

“You don't know what you're saying. She's Damon's whore and a witch.” Payne took two steps towards her and she took three backwards.

“Whore? Is that what you're going to say about me, that I was once his whore too? After all, I slept with him for two years.” Chanta laughed, a cold wind stirring around her, but she gave it little thought. “I was in love with him. Was, past tense. He lied to me and used me for his own perverse pleasure. And it makes perfect sense now, doesn't it? I'm his worst enemy's daughter. What better way to get some deep seated, reasons probably long ago forgotten, eternal revenge?”

Payne grunted as he ran his hand threw his thick black hair. “He used you. You didn't know who or what he was before you fell in love with him. I won't place the blame on you for that.”

“You don't know what you're saying or even talking about. Damon wasn't like that at first. He wasn't . . . ” she wasn't sure if she was trying to convince herself or Payne. Maybe both. “And why would you blame me? Other than because he is your father.”

Chanta held her breath, almost regretted saying it. He remained silent as he dropped his head and turned his back to her. She stepped forward cautiously.

“You asked me if you could make me want to stay.” He looked over his shoulder at her, his eyes swirling with the blue fire that she was beginning to love. “Did you mean that? Do you want me to stay? Or is your fascination with me only because I resemble my father?”