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  Chapter Twenty

  Willow spun around in a circle, eyes searching the road behind her. Dark emptiness

  stared back at her.

  “Where are you, you little devil. I know you’re out there,” she mumbled. She picked up her pace and made for the small German town she was near.

  She knew that feeling that made the hair stand up at the back of her neck. He was near.

  So close. Too soon. A hot blush crept over her cheeks. She’d lost herself to him. Like some little floozy, she’d given in to his touch. She shook her head. She couldn’t be any less proud of herself.

  Sure she’d bested him by getting away and even left a snarky little note for him after he passed out, but that didn’t make her feel better. Not when he’d bested her in the most basic of ways—he’d made her want him. She licked her lips remember the way he’d filled her mouth so full. She could only pray that it was the new moon hormones that had her body pulsing with need at the thought. Because if it wasn’t she was royally screwed.

  That feeling of being watched came over her again. Willow stopped and turned around quickly. Nothing. She gritted her teeth and contemplated yelling at him to show himself. She knew he was out there. Somewhere.

  “Hiding like a coward,” she said under her breath. She turned back and walked into the town, happy to see cars driving by, people riding on their bicycles. There was safety in numbers.

  She needed to find the local train station, bus station or something. She had to lose him and hopefully for good this time. His senses were entirely too good. She still couldn’t believe he kept her favorite shirt like some kind of weird souvenir. Bastard.

  A man walked towards her on the street. He was dressed nicely and wore a chic pair of black glasses. His gaze met hers and he grinned before his eyes tracked down her body. Willow glared and when his eyes met hers again he quickly looked away. Yeah, that’s right, she thought.

  Look away.

  “A friend of yours?” a deep voice asked. Willow jerked around and practically snarled.

  “Are you creeping on me now or what? Why don’t you do us both a favor and go home?”

  He smiled but it looked forced. “I can’t do that. You know that, Willow. You left me.”

  He sounded surprised. Willow crossed her arms at him and gave him her best glare.

  “Yeah? At least I left a note. Consider that a great token of my esteem.” This time his mouth curled with a laugh. He reached into his pocket and took out the piece of paper she’d written on.

  “Ah, yes. ‘You can’t best the champ, pup.’ I got a good laugh out of that one. Just another thing I like about you, Willow.” Willow’s heart fluttered and she ignored.

  “Listen, this little reunion’s been great, but I have to go now. I’m warning you, if you don’t leave me alone I’ll get you into big trouble.”

  He tossed back his head and laughed. “You over-estimate yourself, Willow. Besides, I smell your heat.” His voice grew deeper. “It’s intoxicating. I didn’t have you last time. I like the idea of you growing accustomed to my touch.” He stalked towards her, backing her into the wall of a butcher’s shop.

  People walked by chatting, cars drove by, yet Willow felt like it was just the two of them alone in the world. His elbows caged her in, his hips gently trapping hers.

  “Next time I’m taking you, Willow. There will be no denying me. You need it as much as I need to be inside you.” Willow shivered and his lips found the sensitive spot under her ear. “I know you want it. You want to know what it feels like to have my cock dragging through your tight flesh. And tight you are. I’ve felt the way you grip my fingers. I’m ready to feel that sweetness around my cock. I’ve earned it.”

  “No,” Willow panted, her heart thundering, her body growing hot and languid. How did he manage to do this to her? With just words.

  “Yes. I’ll take my prize for catching you right now, Willow. Your choice,” he breathed heavily. “We can start this right on this open street with all these people to see you or you can let me take you somewhere more private. Decide.”

  His hand reached behind her, squeezed her bottom and releasing another flood of heat inside her. It was hard to think over the nips and kisses he was pressing along her shoulder, pushing her shirt out of the way so he could taste her.

  “I can’t. I can’t.” Her hands latched onto his back, holding him close. His breath

  shuddered against her neck and then he picked her up and was carrying her. Willow looked around as he took her between the buildings.

  “Yes, you can and we are.” He carried her into a small fenced-in garden behind the

  buildings.

  “People will see,” she hissed, struggling to get out of his arms. He held her tighter and laid her on the ground, quickly lying on top of her before she could move.

  “No they won’t. Not if we’re quick.” His mouth pressed against hers as his hands molded her breasts. One quickly reached down her stomach, past her shorts and touched her sex. He growled approvingly. “As I thought. Drenched and ready for me.” Willow couldn’t form words as fingers swirled her bud, tightening her body into a mass of pleasure. His fingers dipped down to curve inside of her. Willow bit her lip to keep from moaning but couldn’t stop the blush that burned her cheeks. She shouldn’t be this turned on. Shouldn’t be this hot for him with so little effort. It was embarrassing and, what was worse, as he thrust two fingers in and out of her, she didn’t even care. The dazed fog he always seemed to create came over her until her hands were clawing at his shoulders.

  She had only a fleeting thought—not again—as a hot burst exploded inside her with the movement of his fingers. She moaned wildly and her body shook from the power of the orgasm he gave her.

  “Your body cries for me, Willow,” he growled.

  The waves were still pulsing, hadn’t yet settled, when her shorts and panties were pushed down roughly. A part of her knew he’d given her enough time to protest, to say something, but she didn’t. Her eyes slid shut on a sigh.

  Then something harder, hotter, wider pressed at her opening. She barely had time to open her eyes before his cock was seated full and deep inside her. She moaned, flailing at the splitting sensations. Her hips bucked either to remove him or to keep him in, she didn’t know anymore.

  His hands pulled hers off his shoulders and pressed them into the ground, holding her captive.

  She fought against the hand holding her but it was useless. He didn’t budge an inch. He stayed deep inside of her, unmoving, and then his mouth slammed down to hers, his ragged breathing mingling with hers.

  The burning mixture of need, anger, and lust inside her snapped, had her biting at his lips, sucking his tongue into her mouth, and kissing him every bit as hard as he was. He groaned into her and the sound was like a lover pinching her hard nipples. Amazing.

  He pumped his hips. Hard and fast, dragging through her soaked, needy flesh with vigor.

  All thoughts but of release left her mind. She arched into him, opened her legs wider, and accepted his whipping hips.

  Their mouths ate at each other, hips fought each other, and then she was spinning so high.

  Her vision faded, all she felt was the rippling, pulsing heat that slammed through her. He kept filling her with that hard shaft of his, pushing her higher and higher.

  He groaned above her like his heart was being ripped out, and then he slammed in hard, thrusting as hot, jetting streams of come doused inside her, burning hot and thick against her walls. It shouldn’t feel good. It wasn’t supposed to, but she loved it. They both ground against each other, trying to prolong the contact as long as possible.

  Willow’s body calmed. For the first time since her birthday, she finally felt deep

  relaxation. A part of her wanted him to get hard again and do it to her all over again, and that scared her more than anything. He pulled away and they both righted their clothing. The burning on her face was even hotter now. How did he manage to lower her d
efenses so easily?

  Well, she wouldn’t have it again. She tightened her body and steeled herself. Obviously refusing this man wasn’t going to be easy. She closed her eyes and schooled herself.

  “We will have a wonderful life together, my Willow.”

  Willow snorted. “Yeah, right. There will be no ‘we’. Ever.” He frowned at her and the stark determination in his eyes almost frightened her. It was almost easy to forget he wasn’t some normal man. He was a dominating Alpha and when he set his mind on something, he got it.

  Too bad she was the same way, and she didn’t want him. She won’t be some man’s doormat.

  “Well this has all been great, but I’m leaving now.”

  “I don’t think so. You’ll come back with me to America now. I need to get back to my pack.”

  Willow stood and thought quickly. “Yeah, you do need to get back. I’m sure they’re lost without their great leader.”

  As he moved to stand, Willow grabbed his head in her hands and slammed her knee into his face. She heard the crunch of bone and winced. Surprisingly, guilt flared up and she wanted to apologize, but she couldn’t. Not when he was trying to take her away from her life of freedom.

  Before he could move, she ran hard and fast.

  Hours after she boarded another train, guilt still ate at her.

  “It’s not like he won’t heal quickly,” she argued. The person in the seat across from her gave her a peculiar look so she turned away from them to look out at the moving scenery in the window. Okay, at best she broke his nose. It’s not like he didn’t deserve it. He had sex with her!

  Dammit. She rested her forehead against the cold glass of the window. She did feel bad.

  At least he was behind her now. He wouldn’t catch her next time. She just had to keep moving.

  No more walking. Keep to public transportation and flights.

  Because if he finally did manage to catch her, she might just do something stupid like go with him.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chloe woke up from a horrible nightmare. She’d been attacked and bitten by some nasty green demon. It’d cut her stomach open and she’d died while writhing in agony.

  She sat up in bed, looking around frantically. It took a second for it to register that she was in Tyrian’s room. Well, she supposed she was making some leeway with him then.

  Grimacing, her stomach tight with pain, she dropped her legs to the floor.

  “What the...” She looked down at her stomach and gasped. Holy shit, it’d been real!

  Suddenly, everything flashed in her mind, coming together like a puzzle. She remembered the incredible sex with Tyrian. Her hand fluttered to her neck. He’d bitten her. He’d told her about the crow brand on his back. He’d actually opened up to her. And she liked him even more now.

  Dammit.

  She stood from the bed, wincing. The door flew open and the man of her thoughts was there, a frown on his face. She loved that frown; it was so much better than seeing the passive, stoic look he usually had. She smiled at him and stumbled into his arms. His came around hers easily. She was definitely making progress.

  “Wanna tell me why I feel like a baby trying to walk for the first time?”

  “It’s from the trauma. You were poisoned by an idummi. Nanu saved you before any serious damage was done. You were given painkillers and a sedative to help you sleep. You are probably just feeling the after effects from that.”

  “What kind of serious damage?” she asked quietly. His eyes widened. A dark look

  flashed over them, and then she knew.

  “I almost died, didn’t?” He nodded. Chloe gulped and looked away as tears pooled in her eyes.

  “Lily is here.” The tears dried up just like that.

  “What? How? When? I want to see her now.” She started for the door, but he stopped

  her.

  “You should not see her while naked.”

  Chloe looked down at herself and grinned. She looked at the bathroom, which seemed

  miles away and shrugged one shoulder. “I can’t do it.” Her legs were going to give out at any second she knew it.

  “I will help you,” Tyrian said, his face pulled back into that unreadable mask she hated.

  Chloe glared at him, wishing she could figure him out, then nodded. He scooped her up as if she weighed nothing and took her into the bathroom. He set her on the toilet before he started filling the bathtub. “Do you think you can bathe by yourself in the tub?”

  Chloe debated it then lied, “No.” His shoulders bunched up.

  “Fine.” He picked her up again and set her into the hot, steamy water. Chloe sighed in bliss and wanted to close her eyes and go back to sleep. The soft rustle of a washcloth across her ankle had her eyes flinging open.

  “Oh, you don’t have to—” It was a weak protest to say the least.

  “It was my duty to protect you. It would be my honor to care for you now.” Chloe’s

  eyebrows shot up. She’d never heard of such a duty before, but seeing the Commander of the Atal Warriors on his knees cleaning her was priceless. She nodded for him to continue, feeling every bit like a queen, and laid back to watch him.

  He soaked the cloth until it bubbled with white frothy suds then cleaned her feet. She giggled and squirmed away, but he only snatched her foot back with one big hand and cleaned it until she was full out laughing.

  “Stop it! Stop it, please!” Shaking his head grimly, he finished with the other foot. Chloe smiled languidly at him. “You know you’re very handsome.” His head stopped shaking, his brow furrowed. “Oh come on, you must know you have a killer body. What’s with the gauze on me, by the way?”

  He soaped her calf and knee, gently removing the wet gauze as he did. “Our healer Nanu had to make specific cuts in order to drain some of the blood from your body,” he said, soaping the cloth again. “Warriors are not attractive, Chloe. We are scarred and imperfect.” His words were laced with ice.

  Chloe lifted her free knee and poked him in the chest with it. “Don’t get grumpy.

  Besides, I completely disagree. Scars are a sign of your strength and courage, the pain that you’ve endured. It’s made you stronger which, at least in my eyes, makes me want to kiss you silly.” The washcloth splashed into the water. He quickly grabbed it, but not before she saw him staring at her sex, which was parted open from her knee poking him. He finished her other leg and removed the gauze behind her knee.

  “The new moon has passed,” she said softly, thinking about how the edginess was no

  longer there. “I would still have you, Tyrian.” Was she laying herself out there? Yes. Was he going to reject her? She was certain. So why the hell was she doing it? She had no flipping clue, but it might have something to do with the way her heart skipped every single time she was around him.

  His jaw flexed in the barest of movements. “That is not a good idea. I’ve already decided that you and I will no longer...participate in those activities.”

  “Oh please, as if I haven’t heard that before. I don’t understand you, Tyrian. I like you. I actually like you. I think there was a reason my papa left me to you. Against all his teachings about raising self-serving, independent woman, he left me to you, gave me no choice in the greatest event of my future. Papa wouldn’t do that for nothing, wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t for a great reason.” She hoped.

  “People make mistakes all the time.” He grabbed her hand and started soaping and

  rubbing her hands and between her fingers. She moaned as her muscles relaxed blissfully. Chloe watched him work, then squinted as she realized his cheeks held more color than usual.

  “Do you become flushed from feeding?” His eyes jerked to hers.

  “What do you mean?” he asked icily.

  She ignored his unwelcoming tone and traced her fingertips over the heat of his cheek.

  “You’re flushed. Is it the bath water? Or am I just that sexy? Maybe it’s from when you drank from me?”
A flush of her own crept over her cheeks.

  He looked down at her stomach and started washing it gently. “The water.”

  “Oh,” she said softly. “So you actually brought Lily here?”

  “Yes.” She smiled again. He had no idea how sweet he was. He was trying so hard to

  come off as mean and uncaring but instead she saw his caring nature in spades.

  “Do you feel well enough to go back to Telal’s? The demon has news for us. I would like you to be there in case he has any questions for you.”

  Chloe nibbled on her lip and wondered what Lily would think of meeting the infamous demon—a whole year before she would be his.

  “Yes, I should be good to go. Do you really think he’ll be able to help us figure out how to kill this demon that’s following me?”

  Tyrian nodded. “If anyone can, it’s him. He knows more about myths, legends, and

  demonic lore than anyone I know.”

  “Oh, so he’s like a librarian type.” Chloe had a hard time picturing the blue-haired, golden-skinned demon reading a book. He looked too hardcore, like he should be riding a motorcycle in a black leather jacket, while drinking a beer and smoking a cigar at the same time.

  Though now that she thought about it, he was wearing an expensive looking suit when she met him. Guess he really was more of the stiff type. What a shame. Lily always loved men in leather.

  “Yes, he comes from a royal family in the nether-realm. That, too, is one of the reasons he has been allowed to stay atop the rift.” Chloe tried hard to picture the stiff demon with her wild, bold sister and couldn’t. It’d be a mess of a relationship, if that was even what they tried to have.

  Chloe relaxed and enjoyed the feel of Tyrian’s hands soaping and cleaning her. She felt weak after being poisoned; she shivered at the thought. It would take awhile before her body was back in perfect working order.

  When his hands dipped into her hair, she let him dunk her then shampoo and condition her hair. The feel of his strong, sure fingers massaging her scalp so gently, flared pulsing warmth inside her. She wanted, envisioned, prayed that his hands would dip down to cup her breasts, follow the trail of her stomach to her sex.