“Faithful earth, unfaithful sea.” ~ Ancient Greek saying
“Skata, what time is it?” She sat up and squinted at the clock on the bedside table. Five p.m., it illuminated.
“Damn. I’ve overslept.” Rising from the bed she noticed fresh clothes laid out on a chair. She made her way to the en suite shower and stopped to look at her reflection in the mirror. Her face looked somewhat better.
“How am I going to get out of this mess?” she whispered to her image.
Realistically, it would be best to just deal with it step by step. Without further contemplation, her feet moved her heavy-from-sleep body into the spray of the shower. The warmth eased some of the tension in her shoulders. Her mind drifted to how her ordinary life had suddenly gone insane, with a side order of Greek gods.
Her fingers had tuned to prunes, which told her she’d been under the water for far too long. Once dry, she slipped on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, then looked around the room for the millionth time for something to help her escape. The window in the bathroom was too small for her to squeeze through.
“Bars, small windows. This house was built to keep people in.” She let out a nervous laugh. What if Crazy Hal kidnapped girls on a regular basis? The guy needed serious help where asking a girl out was concerned. Psycho stalker.
Giving in to the growling of her stomach and the desperate need for coffee, she walked to the door and raised a fist to it. She gave it a few hard thumps.
“Nothing.” She clenched her fist and repeated the action. “Come on.”
Her ears spiked up at the sound of heavy footsteps. She laughed inwardly when the locks clicked, but it was short-lived when she saw who stepped through the door with a tray of food and pot of coffee.
“Good afternoon, Carissa. I hope you enjoyed your sleep.”
Oh great, I really didn’t want to talk to the nutcase. Don’t talk, don’t talk, don’t talk. The mantra played in her head as she watched him through narrowed eyes.
Carefully he placed her dinner on the lamp table near the door. “I’ll be back in a few hours.” His parting words were blissful to her ears.
She raced over to the tray, moving everything and praying for a knife. The cloth napkin slid from her fingers and fluttered to the floor. Aha! A set of stainless steel cutlery. She let out a slow breath. This she could work with, a small twist of fate to make a break. She’d have to slow them down enough. Maybe she could turn the tables on Hal and use him as her hostage. The knife could be used as leverage.
As she ate the food, she schemed. When she finished eating, she stashed the knife and fork in the back pocket of her jeans. The t-shirt was loose so it hid the bulge.
Time was slow when you were locked up in a room. Bored, she lay down on her stomach only to yield to the tiredness that seized her body, the snug softness of the mattress made it easier to give in.
“Who are you?” she questioned the tall, dark, handsome man who stood before her.
“Someone you haven’t seen in a long time.” He studied her and she felt heat travel through her body and into her heart. Love, she thought.
“What do you want?”
“Only for you to be safe.” He reached out and cupped her face. Heat cocooned her body once again. “Be careful.” The air shimmered around him.
“Wait,” she called out, but only the empty space greeted her.
The potent reality of the dream woke her. She jerked up off the bed. Her heart hammered against her chest. She dashed to the bathroom fumbling with the taps to get cold water on her face. The coolness soothed and calmed her.
When the beats in her chest subsided, she took to pacing back and forth in the room. The click of the lock gained her attention. Not Hal again, she prayed.
The door flung open with force and her current favorite friend filled the doorway—Goon One. And he wasn’t alone, his buddy stood right behind him.
“Hal wants you to wait in the living room for him,” he barked.
Wow, I guess they can speak.
Goon Two strutted up to her and closed his fingers around her arm and gave her a hard pull forward to get her moving. Would love a chance to poke his eyes out. It hurt, but she swallowed the pain. They ushered her towards the living room, one goon at her front and one at her back, salami-in-a-sandwich style. Wonder if I stab him in the back of the neck, if I can immobilize him? No, they were fast, and the goon behind her would block her movement before she had a chance. Plus where would she run? They were in a corridor. Her cutlery-attack fantasies would have to wait.
In the living room she plopped herself on the sofa and tried not to put pressure on her back pockets. She eyed the clock on the wall; it was nearly 8:00 p.m. Time had slipped by and, if she had hopes of getting out tonight, she’d need to move fast. She required an exit strategy, and right now she resembled a sitting duck in a shooting gallery.
Now, how to distract the goons in order to give herself enough time to get to one of the cars? Last night they hadn’t pulled the keys out of the ignition. A sliver of hope blossomed that it might mean her escape could be successful. The universal problem with cocky criminals was that they were all the same. Never did they expect to be challenged.
“So what time will Hal be here?”
“Shut up, bitch.”
Bingo.
These goons were so predictable. She opted to sit quietly and wait.
Half an hour later her adrenaline had spiked to ridiculous levels. She knew without a doubt that sitting idle and waiting around to see what Hal wanted just didn’t cut it. Different scenarios of attack played out in her head. She would strike at any of the most fatal areas— the carotid, axillary or femoral artery. Any one of those would be enough to slow them down, even if it wasn’t enough to kill them as it would a human. Still, it could be enough to get her out the door.
Looking over to the goons, she saw they were deeply engrossed in a card game.
She eyed the front door. She. Could. Get. To. It.
Hell, she’d done crazier cop-shit in her career. Time to dance the dance, as her aunt would say.
Carissa knew she would get hurt, but every ounce of self-preservation fled and in place lay a hue of anger she hadn’t recognized in herself before. She ran to the door and pulled the handle, throwing it open with as much force as she could muster. Shit, that was too easy.
Her relief was short-lived when steel hands pulled her back and the door slammed close to her face. A fist came down and connected with her jaw. Blood oozed in her mouth, the taste metallic. She staggered back towards the living room. Goon One lunged forward. It was the break she’d been waiting for. Quickly she pulled the knife from her back pocket and aimed for his neck. His eyes went wide when he noticed the target of her intended aim. He moved. The knife met the flesh of his shoulder blade.
“Bitch. You’ll pay for that.” He backhanded her, sending her catapulting into the glass coffee table in the living room. Shards embedded themselves in her soft flesh. Blood stained the cream carpet. A small piece of glass planted itself in her right calf. She yanked it out and warm liquid spilled from the wound.
“Gamoto.” She got to her feet and pulled the fork from her pocket. Goon Two sped across to where she stood and grabbed at her right hand to remove the fork. She brought up her left fist and struck him in the throat.
He staggered.
Her vision zeroed in on one spot she hadn’t thought to aim. Adrenaline pumped and poured through her veins. She took a clean, forceful shot at his eye. His unhurried response gave her the satisfaction she craved. The fork came down right in his eyeball. Blood gushed. He hollered and pushed her down on the floor.
The front door burst from its hinges. A wolf leaped through the air and latched onto Goon One’s neck. She knew what the outcome would be.
Goon Two stepped in her direction. “I’m going to rip your arms off and then I’m going to fucking watch you die slowly.” He advanced. “I should have killed you sooner.”
A gush of air hit her face. A familiar scent wrapped itself around her and a flutter began in her belly. Xen.
Xen struck Goon Two and sent him flying in the air. He landed on his ass.
Man, I so need to learn to punch like that.
He got to his feet and ran towards Xen. In a swift move, Xen unsheathed his xiphos. A familiar swish cut through air.
Well, I guess my butter knife would never have successfully executed that move.
Strong, familiar arms picked her up and sped out of the house. Outside, demons, vampires and wolves fought. Even if she had managed to escape, her plan would have been foiled. She never had a chance. Adrenaline and desperation had driven her actions.
Xen sped through the mayhem. When they were clear of danger he put her down on her feet. “Butter knife?” he queried.
With bloodied hands she grabbed his face and pulled him into a kiss, silencing his question. She consumed him like a woman dying of thirst on a hot summer’s day. He responded with the same fierceness. She pulled back.
“Efharisto.”
He leaned his forehead to hers. “Koukla, you have no idea how crazy I’ve been. We need to clean you up before I devour you.”
She’d forgotten that blood and vampires didn’t mix too well. “Sorry.” She took a step back. “Is it a problem?”
“Koukla, I will not harm you. Now isn’t the time to explain. Let’s get you to safety first.”
He tried to lift her in his arms, but when he touched her this time, a spasm of pain slashed along her right side, sending pinpricks hurtling outward. She winced. The titanic adrenaline dump crashed into nothingness, bringing forth only agony. A scream tore from her dry throat.
His expression darkened at her discomfort. She watched as he tapped the earpiece in his ear. “If there are any rogue vampires left, I want the pleasure of decapitation for myself.”
Her hand automatically went to her throbbing hip.
“I’m going to hold my arms to the side and you are going to latch on to me as best you can. I don’t care in which position, as long as you are not hurting when you do.”
Carissa nodded then stepped sideways into his open arms. She lifted her left arm up around his wide shoulder and neck while pushing herself up on her toes. He has lots of inches in all the right places. She shook her head to dislodge her wayward thinking. Two seconds with the man—and they weren’t even out of danger yet—and her thoughts turned to sex.
“I’m glad you find my proportions an asset.” The corners of his mouth quirked up. “Hold on, koukla.” He lifted her into his arms and sped away.
They reached a clearing where several SUVs were parked at different angles. Xen slowly put her down behind a black Land Rover. He fished for his keys in a pocket on his vest. She heard the lock on the back door pop before he pulled it open. “Let me help you so that you can sit up here.” He patted the trunk area of the Land Rover.
She backed slowly to the spot he indicated and with her left hand she wrapped her fingers around his arm to use for leverage. A small whimper of pain escaped her lips.
“Ouch.”
He pulled a bag closer to them and rummaged through it, tossing out bandages, antiseptic and a range of other medical supplies. “Tell me what happened to cause this bleeding.”
“One of the goons tossed me onto a glass coffee table.”
“And how did you find yourself at the wrong end of the rogues’ anger?” he asked, pulling a pair of tweezers out of the bag. “Can you lie on your side? It will make it easier for me to pull out any bits of glass embedded in your skin. I’ll need to rip your jeans for access.”
“Sure.”
He grabbed the waistband, and pulled out the knife strapped to his thigh. In a swift motion, the material fell away from her body. She gasped.
The corners of his mouth turned up into wicked joy. “I have replacement clothes.”
“I’m sorry about all the blood. Would it be better if I did it?” she asked.
“At Phi Technologies we do other types of work. One project is an injection to repel the desire that awakens when we smell blood. It’s in trial stages, but not knowing what we’d be facing tonight, I took it as precaution.” He lifted an eyebrow. “But having said that, would I like nothing more than to lick the blood from you?”
Her eyes met his. “Yes,” she breathed.
“Don’t tempt me, koukla, because it would lead to other things.”
She swallowed hard as images of his hard body flashed in her mind.
“Hold those thoughts for later. I want to explain, in brief, the difference between rogue vampires and the Phi. The Phi have been trained to protect and have control of their base urges. Yes, blood calls to us, but not to harm.” He paused. “It sings to us to give carnal pleasure. The rogue vampires are what you call loose cannons. They have no restraint over their urges. Their prime objective is to feed and kill. You were very lucky.”
She gulped, taking in his words. His fingers moved lightly over her skin, removing shards of glass.
“So how did you enrage the vampires?”
“I made a run for it, and then stabbed one goon, but my plan kinda backfired.”
“You stabbed them?” he questioned, his tone incredulous.
“Yes, with cutlery.”
“Cutlery?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Yep, a knife in one and a fork in the other.”
“So that is what was hanging out of his eye when I took his head?”
“Yep, it sure was.” She was proud of herself for at least having tried.
Xen stopped working with the tweezers. His features contorted to anguish. “You know, koukla, he would have killed you for that.”
She swallowed again. “I knew I would die one way or the other. I had no way of knowing what had become of you or whether you would find me.”
“Koukla, I would have gone to any lengths to get you back.” He pulled her upright. His large hand cupped the back of her head hard. His mouth crashed to hers. This wasn’t one of his tender moments. No, this kiss spoke of possession. It was open-mouthed and ravenous. He pulled back, breathing as heavily as she was. “You’re mine.”
Her heart pounded in her ears. The man could reduce her mind to mush with just a kiss.
“Let’s bandage you up.” He made swift work of disinfecting all the cuts and then bandaging up the bigger wounds. He helped pull the t-shirt over her head and tore the other side of the denim from her body. He handed her a fresh set of clothing and pair of flat shoes. She slipped her feet into the black linen pants and pulled them carefully over her right leg and up to her waist. Xen watched her movements.
“Enjoying the show?”
“Every minute of it.” His gaze dipped to her breasts, which were covered with a very dull and plain white bra. Heat rose to her cheeks. With nimble fingers she pulled the berry blouse over her head.
The heat in Xen’s eyes had not extinguished. He gave her a probing visual caress from head to toe that left her body tingling and needy for his passion.
“Hold on to those thoughts, koukla, because I intend to deliver.”
She had no doubt he would.
“Give me the bloodied clothes.”
She took a few steps towards him and gave them over without a word.
Xen placed them on the ground, poured fluid over them and took out a match. Flames engulfed the cotton and denim.
“I take it there are reasons for that.”
“Many,” he said.
She opened her mouth to say something, but a blur of Phi and wolves appeared around them. All dressed in black, they looked like Special Ops. Some were armed with guns while others had swords. Kane stepped over to them.
“Carissa, you okay?” he asked, eyeing her from top to bottom, taking in the damage.
“I’m still in disbelief I’m alive. One more second ...”
“I think our timing was perfect, then.” He gave her a warm smile.
“In more ways than one. I was close to being beef stifatho.” Kane let out a laugh. He reached into the Land Rover and tossed a few bags across to some of the men.
“We should move.” Xen motioned towards the open door and held out his hand to help her get in.
She bit back a whimper when she accidently knocked her leg. Her stomach rolled. Nausea and dizziness threatened her but she slapped the effects of both back in place. Keep it together, Carissa.
“Here, lie back and put your head on my thigh.”
She did as he suggested. Kane and Adam jumped into the front seats of the Land Rover. The last lucid thought she had was of Xen’s fingers softly caressing her face. Her eyes fluttered, then closed.
“Koukla, time to wake up.” The soft words, a gentle caress and a featherlight kiss on her forehead brought her out of her nap. “Don’t move too quickly.”
Naturally, she did the opposite. Her mouth fell open in a silent scream. “Damn, I forgot about the cuts.”
“I’ll help you out.” He sped around to the other side, helped her out of the seat then hoisted her in his arms and walked into a house. This one was different from the one in Virginia Beach. She tried to take in as much as she could. “Wow.”
“My bedroom is the highlight,” he teased, his voice low and thick.
“That doesn’t surprise me.” She bit back a laugh.
He put her on her feet and cupped her cheek. “As much as I’d like to show you, it will have to wait. I need the full story of your abduction, every detail.”
Xen directed her to his library, Kane and Adam close behind. She admired the grandness of the handcrafted wooden bookcases that were prominent. Her eyes fixated for a moment on the double glass and timber doors and how they would look with sunlight dancing through them. An identical mezzanine level added to the opulence of the office. To her right stood Xen’s desk—magnificent, like the man. Couches in dusky blue, armchairs in mint, and a coffee table between them filled the center of the room. He took his position behind the desk while Kane and Adam made themselves comfortable on the couches.
“Carissa, come here.” He patted the chair next to his. “Tell me what happened.”
“They pulled me through some vortex and then I woke up in the back seat of a car.”
“That vortex is called a portal.”
“Why didn’t you jump in after me?”
“We can’t because we need permission.”
“Permission? From who?” she asked. If these goons could get a pass, then surely Xen and his men could.
“Someone in the underworld.” He reached for her hands and trapped them in his. “What happened at the house?”
“They beat me up a little and kept telling me to shut up.”
A growl left Xen’s lips. “Death was too easy for them. I should have made them suffer.”
She continued. “Their leader was a friend from my childhood—Hal Poseidonis—we lived in the same neighborhood until the accident happened. Then I moved in with my grandmother.” She closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead, taking a moment to collect herself from the flashback of her parents’ deaths. When she opened her eyes, Xen’s intense stare reminded her she hadn’t finished telling the story. “He acted really strange. Said he wanted me and that I couldn’t be involved with a vampire.”
Xen let out another snarl.
“What did you say his name was?” Kane asked.
She pulled her hands from Xen and faced Kane. “First name Hal. Surname Poseidonis.” She paused. “Do you know him?”
“Let’s just say we have a problem.” He looked over to Xen. Something silent passed between them.
A cold shiver danced down her spine. “Is he a serial killer?”
Xen reached out to her and pulled her chair closer to him. She gasped. His eyes once again locked with hers. “Carissa, if he touched a hair on your head, I will remove his without a blink of an eye.” Emotions flickered across his face. “Did he violate you?” His eyes didn’t waver from hers.
She swallowed the lump in her throat. “He didn’t touch me, but I won’t lie. He made reference to getting me into his bed.” She watched the anger fester under Xen’s skin.
“So this is about him wanting you?”
“No. It’s worse,” she uttered.
“How so?” Adam asked.
“He is raising an army to eliminate all the Phi. What I don’t know is how he plans to do it.” Carissa pushed back a few stray locks from her forehead.
Adam whistled. “Now that’s a cause for celebration.”
Kane cast him a scowl. “This could be the reason why we’ve had more frequent skirmishes. He’s got the demons on his side and he’s on a mission.”
“The most troubling thing is the fact that he has managed to get permission to open the portals. The only person who can give that is Hekate, and if she is cavorting with demons and Hal, we have an Olympian-sized problem,” Xen added.
Kane let out a disappointed growl. “Conflict amongst the gods.”
“Exactly,” Xen confirmed.
“How do you stop it?” Carissa asked.
“By removing Hal. Even though he is a demi-god and the son of Poseidon, he is still half mortal and of this earth. The demons need someone who is attached to the earth to vouch for them in order to be able walk on it. But they also need the help from the inside. Their prime directive is to bring forth misery and misfortune.”
“Okay, rewind. Hal is a demi-god, the son of Poseidon, and is somehow hosting a demon party on earth? I think Adam was right. There’s a big celebration happening right here, right now.”
“Och aye, lass,” Adam replied.
“Since when do you do the Scottish thing?” Kane jabbed.
Flashing his eyebrows, Adam did his best impersonation. “Since the bonny lasses like it.”
Kane let out a sigh and shook his head. “Stick with the Greek, malaka.”
Carissa let out a giggle. “Never a dull moment with you guys.”
Xen’s angry gaze sliced over to Kane and Adam. “Let’s get back on track,” he dropped his fangs with a hiss then retracted them. “Gentlemen.” He turned to Carissa. “What else happened?”
“There isn’t much more to tell. You got there before I was made into a souvlaki.” Again, she swallowed at the thought. “Putting me in the equation, though, doesn’t make sense.”
“I’ve been puzzling over the same thing, especially since he’s recruited rogue vampires and demons. You’ll need my protection around the clock.”
“That’s ridiculous. I’ll be fine. I’m a cop.”
“Yes you are, koukla, but you are no match for demons or vampires. He will more than likely strike again.”
“Xen has a point, Carissa.”
“But won’t the fact that you guys made keftedes out of his men warn them to stay away?”
“Keftedes. Maybe we should bring the tzatziki next time,” Adam playfully added. “Now I’m hungry.”
Xen and Kane gave Adam a glassy stare. Carissa bit back a laugh.
“Shut it, lykos,” Kane growled.
Adam put his hands up in surrender.
“Koukla, think about it. They kidnapped you while you were with us. They knew exactly who we were. Yet they ambushed us.” Xen paused. “You will need round-the-clock protection.”
“Xen’s right. Until we can gather some intelligence from our sources, you’ll need to put up with us.” Kane grinned, recognizing how much she’d hate having a babysitter.
There is no way in hell I’m going to have a shadow following me everywhere.
“Yes, you will.”
No.
“Yes, and that’s final.”
Stop that.
“Stop what?” He raised an eyebrow and his mouth twitched.
“That mind-reading mumbo jumbo.”
“It’s a gift, koukla, and one to be taken seriously.”
“It’s an invasion of privacy, that’s what it is.”
Kane and Adam let out rich, well-rounded laughs. Xen narrowed his eyes at them both.
“Let’s try a little experiment.”
She sighed. All she wanted was some rest. “Okay, on one condition.” She held up her finger to indicate the number. “You take me home straight after.”
“Consider it done.” He waited. “I’m going to read you and I want you to block me.”
“Xen, I don’t know why you think I can do that.” She blew out her cheeks. “I can’t.”
“You can, you’ve done it to me before. Actually, twice, and willingly.”
“I don’t know how.”
“Just focus. You will feel a small sensation tickling at your mind. When you do, resist. Just try, koukla.”
Puffing out a breath, she waited. Tingling pinpricks squeezed and edged around her brain. She could sense the touch of Xen’s mind, much like the night at the warehouse when she had been scared. His invasion pushed.
Stop, she yelled and it echoed in her mind. A cocoon wrapped itself around her mind, closing her off to any further intrusion. “Xen?”
He closed the short distance between them and swept her up into his arms.
“Koukla.” He nuzzled his nose into her hair. “Trust me when I say it was like a punch to my mind when you refused access and sealed your thoughts from me.” He pulled back and searched her face. “Please understand, I know this doesn’t even seem like a big deal, but it is. I want you to try something with Kane. I want you to suggest he walk over to the window.”
“Now you’re being absolutely ludicrous,” she scoffed.
“Try it, koukla,” he pleaded.
Slow and even, she started her mantra in her head. Go to the window. This time the tingling sensations hummed through her body. Every nerve ending sparked and caused a slow burn to flare from her stomach and race through her body. Go to the window, she commanded.
Kane got to his feet. His face expressionless as he took long strides to the window and stopped.
Her hand went to her mouth. “Not possible.” They were playing a joke on her.
“That was cool, Carissa,” Adam said.
“You guys are toying with me.” She dropped into the chair behind her. “Kane, you can stop the charade now.”
Kane shook his head. “What happened?”
“You went all zombie-like.” Adam got to his feet and stretched out his arms, imitating a zombie from a B movie.
Kane looked over to Xen. “It worked? She used Anagke to compel me?”
“She did,” Xen diagnosed.
“Compel—Anagke?” she scrunched up her face.
“Anagke, as we call it, is a force that grants you the ability to control every action through persuasion of the mind. Your power is weak, but with a bit of training, you can develop it. Given the circumstances, it might be wise to do so. I’m proud of you, koukla.”
“Can you do this?”
“No, koukla, I can read minds whereas you can control them.”
“Sounds like a Jedi trick,” she huffed.
“I can assure you that this is the real deal, koukla.”
Next he’ll want to give me a light saber.
“My tech group has been testing them. I’ll put you on the list.”
Her eyes widened.
He pursed his lips.
The rascal was toying with her.
“You think Hal wants her for this?” Kane asked.
“I’m certain that it may be one reason. He may have sensed her power when they were children. Don’t forget, he’s a demi-god and will have his own talent. See what else we can dig up on him. Kane and Adam, organize the twenty-four seven watch.”
Both men were moving before Xen finished his sentence. The click of the door echoed in the quiet of the room.
Carissa cracked her head from side to side to release the tension in her neck. Her train of thought derailed. Don’t these guys ever sleep?
“Koukla, don’t worry about our sleeping habits.”
“Why didn’t I feel you probing that time?”
“Because you haven’t fully mastered your guard. You let it down, which opens you up and allows me to read you.”
“Do all vampires read humans?” she asked, wanting some clarification as to whether she had to guard her thoughts more.
“No, there are very few of us who have the gift. Like everything, it can be godsend or a curse.”
“Why do you read me so often?”
He leaned down to where she was seated to whisper in her ear. “Because, I want you ... every inch of you.” His voice was breathy against her ear.
“If you weren’t in pain, we’d be in my bed right now.” His voice low and sexy, he placed a kiss near the pulse of her neck.
She let out a little moan. He pulled back, his eyes were dark, and in them danced desire. Oh my.
“You better believe it, koukla, and when I enter you, you will scream with pleasure.”
Her face heated at his words. He pulled her up off the chair and sat her on his desk, nudging her knees open. He stepped in between her legs, placed one hand at her neck and the other on her back. His lips took hers and then with a delicious swipe of his tongue she opened to him. His taste was pure decadence. Every cell in her body ignited, fire spread through her body, liquefying her senses. I could eat you up like chocolate.
He pulled back from the kiss, his forehead resting on hers. “It is I who will be feasting on you.”
His lips returned to assaulting hers, a deep tango of tongues. Her pulse spiked as she fell under Xen’s spell. The press of his arousal excited her escalating passion. If he kept this pace up she’d be willing to have him take her on the table. I like the sex-on-a-desk fantasy.
“Then we will have sex on this very desk,” he said between kisses.
She hated to admit it, but in that moment his ability to read her wicked thoughts stirred her passion to unbearable heights. He knew exactly what she wanted. You promise to deliver?
“I’ll fulfill your fantasy, koukla, and do a whole lot more.” His warm hands smoothed over her shoulders and down her arms, but the moment his hands found her hips and he squeezed she flinched and pulled back with a painful moan. His hand had accidently swiped her wound.
“Vlaka,” he swore at himself. “Carissa, forgive me. I should have been gentler. It is pure selfishness and lust driving me.” His voice cracked.
She grabbed him by the tight black t-shirt that was doing a good job of showing off his hard muscles. The man depicted the word delicious no matter what he wore. This time she took control and gave him everything in her kiss. Drowning in sensations, she moaned and he responded with a deep groan that rocked all the way down to her belly, causing butterflies to flicker.
He moved his hand to her center, pressed and rubbed. The action sent pleasure cascading, heating her body. I need you.
A loud zap sounded in the middle of the library. It startled them both out of their lust-hazed kisses. She jumped off the desk.
Bright light filled the room; the glow made her squint. She raised her hands to shield her eyes. It took a second to focus. A gasp left her lips when she spied a tall man standing in the center of it, dressed in black leather, his expression lethal.
Something about him called to her. He pinned his gaze to her and a smile broke out on his lips. Something about him was familiar. A part of her wanted to run to him, but her brain slammed the brakes and she skidded to a halt.
Her chest tightened. What’s happening? Maybe he had her under a spell. The boom of Xen’s voice brought her out of her momentary lapse.
“Ares!” Xen snarled.
I must be under a spell. I want to run to him.
“There’s no spell, koukla.”
She stood staring at the man with her mouth open.
Xen leaned over and placed a finger under her chin. His eyes crinkled at the corners.
“If you two have finished, I’d like to speak to you both,” the dark and dangerous voice interrupted.
“I didn’t think inconsequential matters in the human realm were your style.” Xen narrowed his eyes at the man standing before them. “Carissa Alkippes, this is Ares.” Xen held out his hand and walked with her towards Ares. She winced again from her injuries. “She’s hurt, Xenocrates!” Ares spat.
“And I can assure you that I more than hurt the ones who hurt her,” Xen nipped back.
Why would her injuries trouble Ares? Here she stood in front of a god, her a nothing. A recollection burst through her memories, a picture book on Greek mythology, her young fingers flicking the pages.
“He’s my favorite Greek god, Mommy.”
Her mother laughed. “Yes, you and I both do have a soft spot for this bad boy.”
She shook her head to clear it.
Xen raised an eyebrow and she knew he was sifting through her thoughts again. A low growl vibrated through his chest.
Ares took her hand in his. Heat shimmered up her arm, comforting her, making her feel safe and loved. It was similar to what she’d experienced when she used to hug her mother.
“There’s no easy way to divulge the information I have for you without it being a bomb of epic proportions.”
She found her voice. “It can’t be that bad. Whatever it is, I’m a big girl. I can handle it.”
Ares let out a breath. “Twenty-six years ago I met a wonderful woman by the name of Aggie, a vision so much like you. She and I had a daughter, Alkippe, which I see is now your surname with an s on the end.”
Words spilled from his mouth. She was positive they made sense, but somewhere the meaning blurred in her brain and she was still stuck on daughter.
His words pounded through her head.
“Are you okay, kori mou?”
Her eyebrows drew together and she swallowed hard, shaking her head in disbelief. “You’re my father?”
“Yes.”
Her hand fell away from his.
“Here, let me show you.” He touched two fingers to her head. Current tingled where his fingers touched her skin and hair. A zap of light flashed before her eyes. A movie began to play. Her mother held a small girl, no older than five, crying for her father. That man stood in the same room with her now. The scene faded and another took its place. This time, the girl was laughing and playing with her father. The reel spun, shot after shot, weaving the history that had long been suppressed in the deep recesses of her mind.
Ares removed his hands, but the scenes kept flickering. She shut her eyes, breathing in, but the weight of everything bore down on her like a heavy axe. Her knees buckled as crushing reality rushed to the forefront of her senses. The air left her lungs and her body descended towards the floor. Familiar arms closed around her—Xen.
“This is too much to take in—”
“I know, koukla.”
“But it can’t ...” Her voice broke.
Ares step forward. “I understand. You need time to digest this. There’s more, but it will have to wait.”
“I think it’s time you left,” Xen growled.
“That is not for you to decide.”
A nervous laugh left her lips. “Actually, I’d like to go home. To my home. Maybe it’s all a dream.”
“Call me when you’re ready to talk more.” Ares turned. “As for you, Xenocrates, I leave her in your care and protection.”
“I have made my intentions for your daughter clear. I won’t change them.”
Carissa looked up at Xen. Warmth flickered in his eyes. She looked to the man standing near her.
“Call me, kori mou”
Light burst through the room again, illuminating everything. “Wow doesn’t adequately cover it,” she managed when the room returned to its normal hue.
“No, it doesn’t. Would you like to stay? You look exhausted, koukla.”
“Xen, I promise I will spend some time with you in your home, just not tonight. It’s a psychological thing. I really need to be around my things.”
He leaned down and gave her a very chaste kiss.
“I understand. Let me get a duffle bag with a few things. I’ll be quick.”
“I’ll wait in the foyer.” In a blink, he disappeared. She walked out of the library to the foyer.
“Hey Carissa, how are you holding up?” She turned to see Kane coming down the stairs.
“I’m okay. A bit much to take in, but I’m sure I’ll process it after I’ve had some sleep. My brain is like mashed potatoes at the moment.”
He let out a laugh. “I see what Xen likes.”
“What my mushy brain?”
Another bark of laughter echoed in the foyer. “No, your quirky humor. He needs that. Trust me when I say I’ve never seen him this way before, nor has he let any woman this close and into his life. He can read you well.”
“Oh yeah. He does read me well. Maybe a little too well. It seems to me he always knows when to listen in.”
“He’s been around a long time. He can’t only read your mind, but your reactions too. Xen can pick up a heartbeat, and the emotions we wear on our faces basically invite him to slip in, as he calls it.”
“Thanks, I’m going to have to remember to keep my heartbeat steady around him.”
“Easier said than done. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He winked before heading to the library.
Kane was right. She had no chance of keeping her heartbeat steady, because around Xen, her heart always did a dance of joy and quite a few somersaults.
Five minutes later, a freshly showered Xen appeared at the top of the stairs. Black jeans and black t-shirt, finished off with combat boots. Drool was definitely forming at the corner of her mouth.
He sped to the bottom. “Let’s go.”
“I seriously need a set of gears in my engine like yours.”