ShadowsofNight (6 page)

“Marcus won’t find out, and even if he does, sex with a
human isn’t against the Order’s laws,” he said, trying to play it off.

“You know it’s still frowned upon because of the danger it
represents. It’s not safe for a human to get that close to one of us in a
highly aroused state.”

“I’ve got it under control.” That was a lie but he’d figure
it out.

“If you almost bit her it doesn’t sound like you’ve got it
handled.”

“I want her, end of discussion.”

“Look, I can see how you might find this girl attractive.
She’s beautiful, but how is this going to work?” Conner shook his head in
disbelief.

“You stay the fuck away from her. Got me?” He wanted to leap
across the desk. The idea of another male finding her attractive made him see
red.

“Holy hell—she’s your blooded, isn’t she?” Conner scooted
back in his chair.

Christian took a deep breath and tried to calm the anger
welling inside him. “Yes. It appears that may be the case.”

“Damn, mate. Congratulations, I guess. I’ll handle whatever
shit rolls downhill. Should I ask if you have a plan?”

“No plan yet. But I don’t want anyone to interfere. Leave
the girl to me, are we clear?” He didn’t want other males near her, period.

“Of course. But what if she goes to the cops?”

“I don’t think she will.” Well, at least he hoped she wouldn’t.
He stood to leave.

“This may get very ugly if she does.”

“What’s done is done. I can’t change it now.”

“I hope you realize I’ve got your back no matter what
happens.”

“You’re a good friend. I didn’t mean what I said earlier.
The firing part…” He wasn’t good at apologies.

“No worries. It’s already forgotten.”

Conner came around the desk and slapped him on the back.
Christian didn’t understand his jealous outburst earlier. Jealousy was a
strange emotion he wasn’t used to.
This bonded thing is some weird shit.

“I’m going after her. You’re in charge while I’m gone.” Christian
turned to leave.

“Good luck, mate.”

“Thanks.”

Christian left Conner’s office without saying another word
and traced back to his own suite. Life just a few hours ago, before this female
crossed his path, had been predictable. He hadn’t been very nice to the
opposite sex ever since his transformation. “Selfish” would be the best way to
describe how he had treated most females of his kind. They were good to fuck but
held no more interest to him than that. The carefree, loving Christian of his
youth no longer existed. That male had been buried, along with those memories
he found too painful to dredge up.

Emily, or whoever the fuck she was, had turned that switch
back on inside him. She was like a drug, and damn it, he wanted another fix.

He went over to the big leather chair behind his desk and
flopped unceremoniously into his seat and took a deep breath. It probably
wasn’t good to go after her right now in his current state of mind, but he
couldn’t stay away from her either.

“I’m too restless…I can’t just sit here.” He got up and
walked over to the window. It was still dark, but not for long. He’d need to
find her soon if he planned on intercepting her before first light. Her
computer, which was usually connected to his, had been shut off, so he was sure
she’d left for the rest of the night. He scooted closer to his desk and pulled
up the company’s personnel files. He typed in “Emily Parker” and hit Search.
Her information popped up on the screen.

She lives in Brentwood. Nice area.
Christian pulled
up a map of the neighborhood, studied it, closed his eyes and traced.

* * * * *

Emma pulled her hair back in a ponytail to keep it from
getting wet and jumped into the shower, attempting to wash away the passion she’d
recently shared with the enemy.
I’m a hot mess, I swear to God, letting that
jerk affect me like this.

Sure, she loved sex, but it had never held her under anyone’s
thumb like it had with Christian. A shiver cascaded down her spine at the
thought of what they’d done. The memory of those lips fastened to her clit wasn’t
helping to cool her off. She knew instinctively that fighting him would’ve been
futile. Hell, she’d practically jumped his ass.

“I’m pathetic.” She slid down the shower wall and sat on the
floor. She no longer felt like the badass she’d once prided herself on being.
Her defenses had been shattered in an instant by a tantalizing dark angel.
Their union had been brief, but the effect would be lasting. She
hated
herself for feeling anything for one of those fucking monsters. The pain lanced
through her heart, reminding her of the loss she’d experienced all those years
ago.

She stood up. If only she could hold on to that pain. Use it
as a cocoon to insulate her from others. Maybe if she turned herself in, it
would prevent this shit from happening again. It sounded like a reasonable
solution to the problem.

But why couldn’t she get her heart to agree?

Christian stood in the shadows, looking at Emily’s building,
the darkness concealing his form as he made his way closer. He climbed the tree
next to her bedroom window with ease and sat back on one of the heavier limbs
to wait and watch through the dense foliage.

Emily walked into the room and dropped her towel. Water
beaded off her wet skin, and those up-tilted breasts he had recently licked and
her luscious curves had him fighting his instincts all over again. He let out a
heavy groan and diverted his eyes toward the heavens.

Why did I come here? I can’t force her to be with me. So
why am I torturing myself?

Because you’re a glutton for punishment, that’s why.

When he drew his attention back to the female he coveted
most, she’d changed into a thin white t-shirt with a yellow smiley face on the
front and a pair of baggy boxer shorts. It was the sexiest thing he’d ever
seen. Smooth legs, a flat belly and curves in all the right places.

“Shit…” He wanted to devour her.

On her bed lay a big orange cat. She went over and picked up
the fat tabby and snuggle it against her. Silky brown hair hung loose and messy
down the middle of her back. She was definitely a sight to behold. He growled
low in his throat as he stared at the object of his desire through the window. In
a way, he felt almost like a predator stalking his prey.

Disgust hit him at the thought of tracking her like an
animal. Why couldn’t he just forget? No, instead he was sitting in a goddamn tree,
spying on her like a perverted peeping Tom.

He scratched his head, bewildered again at the mystery
behind his attraction. Chemical, physical, biological, fate or whatever the
fuck it was. None of it made sense to him. Sure, he knew what happened to a
vampire when he found his blooded-mate. But that certainly didn’t help Christian
find peace with this fucked-up situation. Instead it freaked him out. He didn’t
like the idea that his carnal side would govern his emotions when it came a
woman. It felt like choice had been stripped away.

Christian had been around his fill of gorgeous females. Sure,
this woman was hot. There was no doubt about it. But so what? He’d been with a
few who were just as pleasing. As a matter of fact, he was seeing one now. Well,
kind of. There was nothing between them but occasional hot sex. She was a vampire,
which was probably a much better fit.

Only problem—
that
chick didn’t stir his carnal side.
This
one did.

He felt a slight breeze blow through the trees and noticed
thick clouds starting to roll in.

I can’t do this. I should go.
He was about to trace
when she walked over to the window and pushed it open with one hand. Her face
was freshly scrubbed and free of the makeup most women preferred to wear. He
decided he liked her much better without.

She rested her chin on top of the kitty’s head as she stood
there, just yards away. What was she thinking? He noticed there was sadness in
those sultry eyes. A twinge of regret swept through him. Had he been the cause?

The wind swept her hair back and she turned from the window,
then the room went dark. His nostrils flared as he caught her scent. His
muscles tensed and a surge of blood flowed straight to his cock. His body’s
response was immediate.

Control? What’s that? Ah shit—this is not good.

A low rumble vibrated in his chest and before he could think
it through, he was on the ground. He leaped on the building and quickly scaled
the wall, climbing through the open window, his instincts guiding him toward
the scent calling to him.

Emma saw a dark figure enter through the open window and
move toward her like a blur. She rubbed her eyes and wondered if maybe she’d
imagined it.

The cat’s loud hiss as it scrambled off the bed told her she
hadn’t.

Shit!
She tried to move but got tangled in the blankets
before she could reach her Glock on the nightstand. That was when a massive
frame landed on her, nearly knocking the wind from her lungs.

Christian.
His familiar scent filled her instantly.

“What the hell are you doing here? Get off me!” She tried to
slam her knee into his groin and missed. The fucker moved fast.

“We need to talk.” Christian’s husky tone was sexy and rough.
Desire, hot and wet, rushed to her core at the sound of his voice.

“Have you ever heard of picking up the phone and calling
first?” She breathed rapidly, feeling every inch of his muscular frame settle
against her. He stared down at her and she trembled, trying hard not to let him
get under her skin again. But damn, he was still so incredibly gorgeous.

“I thought about that. But figured you probably wouldn’t
pick up the phone after what happened earlier.”

“Whatever gave you that impression? Well, let’s see. Maybe
it’s the fact you attacked me and can’t seem to keep your fucking paws to
yourself. I’d say that would be reason enough to let it go to voice mail. Don’t
you?” She tried to throw as much sarcasm in her tone as possible in an attempt
to combat the red-hot desire coursing through her veins.

“Spare me the lecture. You can pretend all you’d like but we
both know you want me as much as I want you.”

“You’re crazy.” She glared at him.

“Shall I seduce you again to prove my point?” He smiled.

“Get off meeee!” She fought. This was insane and it was
going to stop right here, right now. She couldn’t do this again
.

“I was kidding. Lighten up. I’d never force a woman.” He cupped
her cheeks as his heavy weight held her down. She stopped struggling.

“Why are you doing this to me? I told you I don’t want to be
a part of your little club.” She should be fighting him still. But his
masculine scent had her aching all over again.

“The truth is, I came here to apologize. I had no intention
of making you part of my world. That’s one membership nobody wants.” His voice
was rough with emotion. She almost felt sorry for him in a way.

“You’re forgiven, now will you go, please?” She hated the
way he tied up her emotions so completely.

He leaned forward and ran his nose along her jawline. “I
wish things could be different between us.” His voice was a soft whisper
against her neck. Did he notice how much his words affected her?

“This isn’t natural. I can’t…”
Oh God, that feels good.
Christian
moved is hips lazily against her heat, stroking her in just the right spot. Her
legs trembled and her nails dug into his arms.
Think of something else,
anything to resist.

“Maybe we can work this out somehow. Aren’t you willing to
at least explore the idea?”

“There’s no way. You tried to bite me.” She sounded
breathless. Part of her actually started to weigh the options, which freaked
her out even more.

“I didn’t mean for that to happen. I lost control. But it
won’t happen again.” He continued to move against her. She was teetering on the
edge as her hips titled up to meet his. He was a freaking sex magnet.

“I can’t. It’s too dangerous. Now get off before
I
do.” Her words came out in a gasping breath.

“Let me bring you pleasure.” He caressed her cheek and kept
up with the assault.

“Quit trying to seduce me,” she moaned, already knowing
she’d succumb. He was too good at it.
Not surprising, he’s a freaking vampire.

“Damn it.” He lifted himself, his breathing heavy as he
hovered above her.

The loss of contact was upsetting
.
She had to force
herself not to reach for him.

That was when she noticed a tiny red light flashing above
the window. He must’ve tripped the silent alarm when he came through. Her men
were on their way, she was sure of it.

“You should leave.
Now.
” She glanced at the door.

“Not until we talk. I have some question before I go.” He
sat back on his haunches.

“What—are you worried I’ll press charges? Don’t worry, your
secret is safe with me.”

“I never doubted you’d keep it to yourself.” He gave her a
knowing look.

“You’re as cocky as shit.” She sat up and crossed her arms
against her chest.

“It’s a logical conclusion, considering no cops came after
you left. Tell me something, and I want the truth this time. What is your real
name?” His eyes shone in the moonlight streaming through the window as he gazed
at her.

“I told you back at the office, so why are you asking that
question again?”

“Barkley never mentioned having a daughter before he died.”

“Can you blame him, considering what he knew about you?”

“Barkley didn’t fear us. He knew our secrets. Why would he
be concerned when he knew we didn’t hunt humans for food? Your father trusted
my kind, and we trusted him. May I?” He pointed to the bedside lamp.

“Sure, go ahead.” She was getting nervous, they didn’t have
much time. But this was intel and he was spilling, so she let him go on.