Poisonous Pleasure (11 page)

“So what do you propose we do?”

“Leave her alone. She will deal with it the best way she knows how. If it takes her bursting into tears out of nowhere, we deal with it then. Until the time comes, keep your mouth shut.”

“Do you know how hard that’s going to be for me? What if leaving her alone only makes it worse? She obviously took it bad this time, but maybe if I can get her to release all of her pain, it’ll get better.”

“Dammit, Jason. I fucking said enough. I’m telling you, she doesn’t want to constantly relive her last hours trapped in that house. I meant to get her away from there before they pulled the bodies out, but I was too drunk to care at the time. That shit is eating me up inside. I thought she was another soul. My head didn’t consider anything else even with the pull I felt for her.”

“I’ll keep quiet for now, but I’m not promising anything. I think I know her better than you.”

Dominic could feel his blood boiling. “Listen to me and listen good. I won’t repeat this. If I see her hurt to the degree she is now, I don’t care how pissed she’ll be, your ass is mine.”

“Why wait. Let’s take it outside. I’m tired of you thinking you can push me around. I’m not the kid you think I am.”

“Oh really? I think in college you were big shit, but here, you’re nothing. You’re way too inexperienced and cocky. Something you should know. If it didn’t hurt Marcella, I
could
kill you. You may be a collector, but you weren’t born one. It would be hard to accomplish, but you
can
die, Jason.”

“You think you scare me? Not even close. If you killed me, Marcella would hate you forever and you know it. When I drank your blood, one thing was for certain and that’s your unexplained feelings for her. You don’t even understand them, but you love her more than you’ve loved anyone, even yourself. There’s no way you’d ever hurt her. The only reason you’re a dick is because you’re still somewhat fighting your feelings. Just give in already. It makes me sick to see you treat her the way you do. She deserves better than that, better than you!”

“Are you two done yet? How is anyone supposed to sleep when you keep yelling at each other? Hello, door isn’t soundproof.”

“I’m sorry. We’ll keep it down,” Jason said, looking down at the floor.

“I got a better idea. How about you both quit arguing over who’s more powerful than the other and come put me to sleep? Having you both around comforts me. Jason,” Marcella asked, holding her hand out.

“Marcy, I’m really sorry.”

Dominic watched as she held her hand up silencing her boyfriend. The pain he felt slice through his chest caused his fists to clench. He’d never let her feel hurt again. Never. What he would do to keep her safe bordered insanity, death if it ever came that far. She was his, forever, and he’d be damned if anyone got in the way of her happiness. He wouldn’t let them.

“Right behind you, love. Is there anything you want before we lay down? Food? A drink? I know it’s not completely necessary, but it might make you feel better.”

“No.” A half smile came to her face. He could feel her fake it for his benefit which only made him angrier. “Thank you for asking, though.”

“Sure,” he whispered, following behind them as they went into the living room, that now somehow became her space. He really needed to talk to her about moving into his bed. Jason could sleep on the floor for all he cared. The boy definitely needed a lesson in growing up, and he was just the man to show him.

* * * *

Marcella crawled into the bed and nestled herself in the middle of the soft mattress. Dominic lay on one side while Jason walked around to the other, slowly climbing in. She knew immediately something was wrong. They both remained clothed, and for two people who supposedly slept in the nude, it didn’t seem natural for them to automatically snap out of it in a day.

Going over their angry whispering in her head, she tried to decipher what it is they were talking about before she reached the door and picked up actual words to what they said. The only parts she could remember revolved around who could kick whose ass. She hadn’t even heard what was said after she opened the door. Their expressions made her mind race, cutting off their words.

Both men faced toward her and she looked from one to the other. Their gazes were locked, but they both remained silent. Dominic even had his eyes narrowed at Jason. The tension settled through her, immediately signifying that she missed some vital part of their discussion.

“Spit it out. Too much testosterone is making my skin crawl. I think if you both stared any harder at each other, you’d start inflicting bodily wounds, and we really don’t want to see if that’s possible.”

“I do,” Jason said.

“You just don’t know when to shut your mouth and drop things, do you? Do you really want Marcella to witness me kicking your ass? Or maybe you do, maybe that’s why you’re pushing for this fight. Are you feeling neglected, Jason? Do you want her to take care of you?”

“There’s not going to be a fight,” Marcella said precisely. “You’re both going to stop right now and let whatever it is you both are hiding from me drop.”

“Marcy, I can’t do that.” Jason sat up facing her. Dominic immediately jerked up on her other side.

“Don’t do it. I’ve warned you, loverboy. Leave her alone.”

“All right. What in the hell is going on? I don’t like this one bit. Whatever your both hiding obviously revolves around me, so tell me. What could possibly have you two ready to kill each other?”

Jason took a deep breath. “I think it would do you better to talk about your feelings revolving your family. Dominic thinks I should leave it alone.”

Her best friend instantly flew from the bed and slammed into the wall, clear across the room. Dominic vanished from beside her and Marcella looked around, panicked. When her eyes focused back on her boyfriend, Dominic was floating in the air a good fifteen feet from the ground slamming his fist into Jason’s face.

The sound of the wall crunched beneath their weight and power. Desperately, Marcy tried to think of way to reach them. She couldn’t levitate. Hell, she wasn’t even sure she could make herself disappear like Dom and Jason could.

“I told you to leave her alone. You can’t feel what she feels,” Dominic yelled, slamming Jason back into the wall. Small pieces fell to the floor scattering over the marble. “Every time you mention the words her heart breaks. I won’t let you hurt her anymore!”

Jason managed to wedge his feet between them and send Dominic flying though the air. Marcella jumped from the bed. Now that her mate wasn’t holding them off the ground, her boyfriend fell to the floor. Dom, landed not feet from her.

“Enough! I will not sit by while you two beat the hell out of each other.”

“She needs to feel that heartbreak if she’s ever going to heal. You might not like it, but she needs to mourn, not close herself off completely from feeling anything. What is the matter with you? People can’t just numb themselves from the pain forever.”

Dom jumped from the ground charging in Jason’s direction. Her boyfriend didn’t wait. He ran toward the demon at full force. The images of the two of them turned into slow motion as adrenaline took over from the panic. She couldn’t let them do this. If one of them seriously became hurt or even killed, she’d lose her mind for sure.

Marcella didn’t think. She lifted her hands and mentally jerked them to a stop, letting them feel the intensity of the pull backward. Their heads snapped back and a groan came from their lips while they hovered a foot off the ground.

“Jason,” Marcella lowered him and slowly walked over. “I understand you want to help me, but you need to let me deal with the loss of my family the only way I know how. Listen to me. You and Dom are the only people I have left. Think about what it’s doing to me inside right now seeing you both act the way you are. He’s my mate, you’re my soul. I love you both. So, please just… stop.”

“See, I told you.”

Marcy flashed her gaze to Dom. “No, he may be right. Regardless, you never should have thrown him against the wall. I know you’re just protecting me.” Marcella looked at him, hurt. “And you don’t know how much that means to me. But don’t do this again. Don’t hurt me by hurting him.” She lowered her mate and walked to the bed, feeling the weight of the world press against her shoulders.

“I’m sorry.” He looked at the floor and then to her boyfriend. “Jason…”

“Don’t worry about it.” He waved off Dom’s words with a flick of his wrist. “I know you’re just doing it for Marcy. So, if you two don’t mind. I’m going to take a shower and then join you. I’ve got a lot to process. A part of me just feels like I should be doing something to protect her. Everything feels off about the three of us.”

“I know what you mean. We’re missing something about the link joining us all together.” Dom ran his fingers through his hair. “Anyways, I haven’t got a clue. But speaking of showers and rooms, we really need to all just move into my room. I don’t think the living room is really the place to be.”

Dom waved his hand and reorganized the space the exact way it sat before he changed the layout for Jason’s change. White leather couches appeared along with the glass coffee table. His arm wrapped around Marcella’s shoulder as they followed Jason into the large master suite.

Confused and worn out, she prayed for something to distract her mind. It felt like someone left her thoughts on overdrive. Everything raced and spun searching for an outlet. They were right about a part of them being off. She felt it too.

“I’m truly sorry about what I did. Feeling your pain just set me off. No one will ever hurt you. I won’t let them.” Dom stopped next to the bed and placed his hands alongside her face. “Marcella, I would take the harshest punishment if I knew you would be able to live a happy life. I’m so sorry for the way I’ve been acting.”

Tears came to her eyes. The look on his face told her he meant every word he spoke. Could he possibly not be a demon at all? He didn’t deserve to be. She knew how conflicted he felt. Marcella could sense it. Even when he’d make her angry, she was aware at how confused his mind was.

Soft lips pressed against hers as a gesture of love, but she greedily took over his mouth. Sweetness filled her senses at his taste, pulling her into the passion that connected them together as mates. He was hers, forever, and no one would ever take him away from her, not the masters, or even the big man, himself.

Hands wrapped around her ass, pulling her legs up to straddle around his waist. Her arms clung to him tightly while he lowered her to the bed, pushing his hard cock against her pussy. This was the distraction she needed to make the hurt and confusion go away.

Marcella let out a moan and made their clothes disappear. She was desperate to feel his skin against hers, to feel the power that rested behind the man she knew would always be her protector.

Dominic’s face lowered to her hard nipple, and he gently sucked it into his mouth. Wetness seeped from her while he nibbled and bit the nub between his teeth. Wrapping her fingers into his silken curls, she pulled his face up so he could look at her. Heaviness settled through Marcella’s heart. A solution exploded into her thoughts out of nowhere. It hit her mind like concrete, nearly paralyzing her. Where it came from, she wasn’t sure.

“Will you just hold me? I feel…”

“You’re terrified. Tell me what’s wrong. You’re shaking.”

Dom moved up next to her, pulling her body against his while he held her. She knew she couldn’t tell him that she knew how to save him. There was no way he’d let her out of his sight for a moment if he knew. Words left her lips before she could even process what she was saying.

“Just flashes of things I don’t want to remember.”

“Shh, it’s okay. You’ll never have to go through anything to make you scared again. I’ll protect you.”

His words were exactly the reason she couldn’t tell him about her plan. Now only if she could figure out how to proceed without asking too many obvious questions. If he caught on, she’d never save him from getting taken away.

Chapter 7

Two weeks quickly flew by and Marcella still didn’t have anything that would help her along with the plan she’d come up with. Dominic assured them he’d taught her everything she needed to know, just in case something happened and she needed to defend herself. They even discovered she and Jason shared a bond allowing them to communicate mentally when she addressed him, but only when they were within a certain distance.

Everything in the mansion remained blissful and no one mentioned Dom’s meeting with the master. And the information was exactly what she needed.

They all sat quietly at the table eating dinner when Marcella grew brave enough to bring up the dreaded subject. If she didn’t act fast, her plan would be ruined.

“Dom, when are you planning to give your story to the master?”

The fork paused midway to his mouth while Dominic looked up at her. Something passed behind his eyes that she couldn’t make out. It wasn’t fear, that wasn’t the emotion that ran through her, but the unexplainable tug left her puzzled.

“Tonight, how did you know?”

Panic began to flare through her body. “Tonight? Why tonight? Couldn’t you do it tomorrow?”

“I’ve prolonged, long enough. I think tonight would be perfect. Don’t be upset, Marcella. Everything should be fine. If it’s not, I’m confident enough that Jason can take care of you, not that he really needs to. You’ve learned everything to perfection.”

“But, I’m not ready for you to go. Can’t you stay just one more night? I had plans to run out and get you something. A special gift.”

A smile crossed his lips showing bright, white teeth. The tenderness nearly crushed her heart. What if she never saw that smile again? He laughed, sending delicious shivers down her spine that instantly awakened her body.

“That’s a lie and you know it. You could easily materialize anything you want. There’s no need for you to go out. But, I’ll indulge you. Samael and I will meet in the morning. But you do know you owe me a gift now, right? And it better be good.”

The name sent a jolt through Marcella as if she’d been struck by lightning. Something about it caused her heart to flutter. Confused, she smiled at Dom, and tried to pretend everything was okay. “It’ll be the best gift ever. I promise.” Fuck. Where did she know that name from? It continuously repeated like it belonged bouncing around her mind. And it was all she needed for what she had planned.