Poisonous Pleasure (15 page)

“Don’t cry, baby, please.” Jason pulled her into his arms as he tried to comfort her. “Your mother would have never questioned your love for her. She’s in a better place. She’s with your real dad now.”

“Take her home, Jason. I have somewhere I need to go.”

Marcella looked into Dom’s face. Absolutely no emotion whatsoever gave her any indication of what his plans consisted of. “Where are you going?”

“Nowhere you need to be concerned with. Go get some rest, love. I’ll be there shortly.”

Dom suddenly vanished causing more panic to tear through her. “I’m summoning him back. The look on his face scared me.” Marcy shivered at the thought of what Dominic might do. No matter how upset she was, she couldn’t let him do something he might end up regretting. Or worse, do something that might send him back to hell.

“No, you have to learn to trust him. Don’t think the worst until he gives you reason to. Trust me, if I know one thing about Dom it’s that he’s not stupid. He wouldn’t jeopardize losing your respect.”

“Take me home, Jason. I can’t stomach looking at what I caused. Right now, I don’t even trust myself not to do anything stupid.”

Marcella held on to him tightly as he made them disappear and reappear inside the bedroom of the mansion. He led her to the shower and slowly took off her clothes while she let the tears fall. The images of her family wouldn’t stop pushing into her mind. As much as she wanted to blame Kasey for sending the email, she knew the girl didn’t start the fire. She did.

Warm water hit her skin, soaking her with its calming sensation, but Marcy’s thoughts weren’t on her surroundings. The large restroom didn’t even exist in her reality. She knew things would never be the same. No one had ever asked her if she wanted to become a soul collector. It wasn’t fair that she had grown up loving a family, only to be the result of their deaths. At what she’d become, a bitterness swept over her

* * * *

Dominic read over the report for the fourth time. The breaking of his heart grew with each sentence he reread. Kasey wasn’t lying. Something or someone had indeed manipulated the energy to cause an explosion from the outlets. It didn’t say that, but he knew that’s what the words implied.

He was hoping to go back with good news. Now he dreaded not having anything good to tell her. Kasey’s soul lingered around inside of him and for the first time in his existence, he wanted to destroy it, destroy her. The girl had no clue what she’d done when she told Marcy about the fire. That was the only reason she got to keep her life, but the urge still grew harder to fight.

The amount of devastation his mate held inside was enough to destroy the mind of anyone. He just prayed there was a way he and Jason could bring her back from this. For so long, Dominic tried to do good instead of evil. He knew more than anyone how once you moved into a dark place in your life the evil sucked you down. Once the darkness weaved its way into you, coming back sometimes proved impossible. Marcella came from darkness, yet in her past goodness took over. Lucifer destroyed her for it. Now, she might be joining evil for good. There was no way he could let that happen. To keep her alive, she needed to be neutral, hidden.

Manifesting himself back to his bedroom in the mansion, the sound of water from the shower led him to the door. Jason sat on the sink, his head in his hands. The need to stay concealed from Marcella, until he learned details of her condition hurt him even worse. He wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around her and comfort her in the grief she felt, but her thoughts were so dark, he didn’t even want to try to tap into them.

Jason looked up and glanced toward the shower. A pained expression crossed his features causing him to turn away quickly. Jason walked out of the restroom and followed him to the far side of the bedroom.

“What happened? What did you do?”

“I needed to check the files for myself.” Dominic ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m afraid Kasey wasn’t lying. Something or someone manipulated those outlets. My best guess is the actual energy was triggered.”

“Oh, God.” Jason sunk to the bed. “She’s not good, Dom. The way she’s standing there in the shower, she looks like a zombie. Her face holds nothing, no emotion, not even anymore tears. It’s like no one’s home inside her head.”

“I don’t know what to do. Jason, she can’t slip into the darkness. Yeah, she might be there for a long time, doing their deeds, but someday she’ll snap out of it and want out. What happens then? They won’t let her walk away. I needed her in-between, unknown.”

“Dom, I don’t know. I wish there was something we could do. I think we just need to take our time with her. Let her grieve. If we see a difference, hopefully we’ll know what to do by then.”

Dominic nodded and walked into the restroom. Marcella stood exactly the way Jason had described her. Everything about her face was blank. Grabbing a towel, he opened the shower door and turned off the water. Still, she didn’t move.

“Marcella, look at me, love.”

She turned to him slowly, robotically. After a few moments of gazing into his face, dazed, her head shook and she took a ragged breath. “Dom, where were you? Where did you go?”

The lies his mind came up with made guilt eat at him, but he knew there wasn’t any other way. If she knew the truth it would destroy her, and he’d be damned if she’d ever learn the truth. Not in the near future, anyway.

“I had to go back and collect the soul, remember? The chance didn’t present itself earlier.”

He wrapped the towel around her small body and led her to the bed. “So, tell me what your plans are for tomorrow.” The question sounded stupid coming out of his mouth, but he couldn’t let her dwell on what she’d learned. She needed something to keep her busy.

“Well, I don’t know. Maybe I’ll just lay here for awhile. I really don’t feel like doing anything.”

“Marcella…” Dominic sickened at what he was about to do, but he couldn’t see her go through this. Taking a quick glace at Jason, he turned back to her. “There’s something I need to tell you. I read the reports of the fire.”

The life flickered behind her eyes, briefly. She sat up, grabbing his hands. “What did it say? Did I…”

Dominic took a deep breath and turned to Jason, whose eyes were just as big as Marcella’s, but for a different reason. “No, it was an electrical disturbance. The holes around the outlets were made by the investigators so they could get a better look at what caused the initial blaze. You had nothing to do with the fire.”

A shuttering breath came from her lips and she instantly burst into tears, clutching at Dom’s shoulders. He looked at Jason who just shook his head in shock and disgust. A glare quickly shot his way, but he turned back to the one person he couldn’t see hurt.

“I was so sure,” she sobbed. “That…bitch…”

“Yes, well I have her soul now so we’ll see if she can turn her life around.”

“I don’t see that happening. She’s truly evil.”

Jason shot another look and him and stepped forward. “Listen, I think I’m going to go home for a while. My mom will be asleep, but I want to be there when she wakes up to surprise her. Marcella.” He walked over and hugged her tightly. “If you need anything, whatsoever, don’t hesitate to call. I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon.” His glare shot to Dominic. “I’ll call you in the morning.”

Dominic watched the boy vanish and his stomach turned at letting down his new friend. Trying not to think about it, he focused back on Marcy. Weaving his fingers through her damp hair, he met her large green eyes. “You’re still in vampire form?”

“Oh, yes, I didn’t think about changing over. We could do what we talked about earlier if you want.” The softness of her fingers caressed the pulse point on his throat making him shake under her touch.

“No, let’s just get some rest. You’ve had a stressful night.” The thought of making love to her when he’d just lied was unthinkable. He couldn’t take advantage of her like that.

“But I’m okay. I know the truth now, thanks to you. Kasey’s just a mean bitch out to hurt anyone she can. She just wanted to scare me away from Jason.”

“Yes, but taking souls are tiresome work and I think tonight we should just rest.”

A small pout formed across Marcella’s face. Dom laughed and materialized the white silk nightgown on her while he vanished his clothing. Nothing felt more perfect than having her curled against his body, back to her old self. But several hours passed before he finally fell asleep. Would this lie end up backfiring, or could he keep it a secret long enough for her to heal? Was that even possible? He wasn’t so sure anymore.

Chapter 9

Marcella reached across the bed for Dominic. Emptiness greeted her hand. Confused, she opened her eyes and looked around the large room. The silence filling the mansion eerily pressed against her skin. Climbing out from underneath the covers, she walked into the living area.

The word traveled through the large space, echoing off the walls. Light beamed in through the windows, reflecting off the black marble floor. Stepping into the light warmed Marcy’s feet making her smile. Something about the light soothed her, calmed her nerves. She peered into the driveway, noticing Dom’s car wasn’t there.

Uneasiness made her narrow her eyes while she turned and walked back to the bedroom. Warmth still covered her feet as she stepped through the threshold. Screaming, she ran forward to the bed. Flames circled the mattress inching their way toward her and Dominic’s body.

Trying her best to control the element, she pushed her arm away from their sleeping forms. Fire spread across the carpeted room alarming her more. “Not again! Dom, wake up!” She watched horrified as he turned cradling her but didn’t stir from her calls.

Flames slithered up the walls taking the appearance of hundreds of snakes. Shouting, Marcella called out to water as she tried shaking and pulling at Dominic arms, but he wouldn’t budge and the element wouldn’t come.

“Marcella! Wake up. You’re having a nightmare.”

Gasping, she flew up in bed, launching herself in his arms. “Oh God! I had the worst dream. I couldn’t stop the fire. You wouldn’t wake up.” Breathing heavily, she tried to get control of herself.

“Don’t cry, it was just a dream. Come here.” Dominic pulled her on top of him and stared up into her face. “Marcella, do you have any idea how much I love and trust you?”

Not sure how to answer, she shrugged her shoulders. “Some, I guess. You still sleep with me so you must have faith, a little.”

He laughed. “A little? I trust you more than I’ve ever trusted anyone. You know how I feel about fire and if I thought I was in the least amount of danger, I’d run for the hills. But, I’m here because I know you’re not going to burn this place down. Now, let’s forget this dream of yours and think more positive thoughts.”

The love he felt for her instantly put Marcella at ease. After all, last night she’d overreacted. She wasn’t responsible for her family’s death. Moving her hips down, she pressed herself against the pressure from Dominic’s hard cock.

“Now that’s
very
positive.” He laughed.

Rolling her onto her back, he made her gown disappear from between them. The smoothness of his arms wrapped around her while he cradled her neck and lower back. Lips descended upon hers filling her mouth with mint. She shivered under the clean iciness and slid her tongue against his hungrily.

The firmness of his hand trailed from her lower back to one of the mounds of her ass, kneading the flesh with just the right amount of pressure. Wetness seeped from her folds with how much she wanted to feel him inside of her.

“I love you,” Dom whispered as he made his way down her neck. Each kiss trailing down her skin branded her forever his. So tenderly, he took his time making his way to her breasts. Placing the hardness of her nipple between his teeth he pulled, sucking her into his mouth. The swirling of his tongue had her grasping onto his blond curls.

Slowly, his hands moved from her waist, gripping her hips as he rotated his thumbs in a circular motion on the sensitive sides of her lower stomach. Muscles flexed in his back while he trailed lower. Reaching just below her bellybutton, he became still. Confused, Marcella watched him stare at the flat surface.

“What is it? Why did you stop?”

“I don’t know.” Dominic shook his head sending his blond curls bouncing. He continued to kiss down her stomach until he reached her folds. Separating her thighs wide, he laid down on the bed to look up at her as his tongue trailed her slit.

“I love the way you taste. I could drink you in all day and never get tired of the way you take over my senses.”

Pressure from his tongue sliding inside of her brought a moan passed her lips. Hands gripped tighter to her hips bringing her farther down against him. She clutched to his shoulders, arching her back against the pleasure he triggered.

Fingers caressed over her skin until he reached her clit. Soft pressure from his thumb rubbed the area in circles. Fire raced through her body reaching her core. The need to be filled grew until she was ready to scream.

“Dominic, please touch me.”

He lifted his head giving her a smile. “Touch you, here?” The tips of two of his fingers eased inside of pussy. He turned them slightly, never taking his eyes from hers.

“This much more?” The depth only increased a small amount making her sigh in frustration. Heat infested the lower half of her body.

“Dominic, please.”

“How about this?”

Marcella screamed as he plunged his fingers deep, bringing her to instant release. His lips quickly covered her folds sucking them into his mouth. Spasms covered her body. The pleasure caused her to dig her nails into his shoulders while he pushed against the spot deep inside of her, prolonging her orgasm.

Dazed, she pulled at him until his mouth reached her lips. Her taste against his tongue drove her over the edge, causing her hands to move wildly across the muscles of his back. Thickness pushed against her opening and she welcomed it, wrapping her legs around his waist to drive him in further.