Braving the Elements (Darkness #2)(30)

“Darla, get up.”

Startled, the woman’s gaze shifted to his eyes, widening as she beheld him. She dropped Thaos’ wrist and stood, leaving a moaning man with a lulling head in her wake.

“Hello, come to join in?” She sauntered up to him in a silky glide, all hip and breast, covered in another male’s sweat.

Stefan pushed her away with a grimace. “What is this I hear about you failing to teach your new students?”

She laughed sardonically, her smile brittle and bitter. “Oh, is that why you finally seek me out? For your precious human pet? Well, what did you expect, Stefan? She has about as much talent as any human, and less finesse than most. She only wields red. You are wasting your time with her—I only wanted to help you realize that.”

“If I hear of this again, you will be disbanded. Do I make myself clear? Monday you will have a shadow. I think it’s time I checked on your ability as a professional—“

Arousal washed through the link, filling him up, making his balls tingle.

Earlier, when she’d been with Jessiah, she’d muffled it, trying to disguise what she was up to, obviously making him pay attention to it more heavily. She thought she was sneaky, which usually made him laugh because it meant she’d blown something up or otherwise made a huge mess Charles would undoubtedly have to kill. This time, he waited on the edge, wondering what feelings would shine through in the end.

Arousal was the opposite of what he’d hoped. And being that she’d let the muffling slip, she was in the height of passion.

A shot of fear coursed through him, fusing his jaw shut and making his hands fists. Being that fear was not an emotion he allowed, rage quickly took its place. Turning abruptly, he was out of the room, striding across the mansion and out the back door with fast, determined strides. He could not suffer her to be touched by another male, his duty be damned; especially not one seeking to use her—aiming to crush her under his agenda.

*****

Charles dried himself off with a towel, passing by Sasha’s closed door. Her rinsed plates had been left in the sink when he’d walked in, and the shower had been used and returned to heightened organization. She’d prepared for a quiet night in, and even though he hated going to sleep without a night cap, he knew better than to barge in. The last time he did, she’d blasted him with that weird magic throwing thing of hers. It hurt, and she’d only used a pale purple.

It was pretty cool she could fluctuate the amount of power she used, though. He’d tried that and only given himself a headache.

As he walked down the hall, he felt the strange surge that said someone was entering the ward. He turned back to the door, his towel clutched in his hand and the rest of him air-drying, wondering if the Boss planned on a night cap of his own with the sensual little human. Man, what he wouldn’t give for a crack at her. She’d be a wild ride, he had no doubt. The way she— The door burst open, scattering his thoughts. The Boss barged through, his shoulders taking up the width of the frame, his eyes ready to rip a body limb from limb. Women often said he had a face like an angel, if that angel hadn’t shaved in a day and road a Harley. In Charles’s opinion, if that angel also decided to go on a killing spree with the intention of taking out half the world. His body brimmed with battle rage, each substantial slab of muscle flexing. Eyes on fire, tattoos alight with his powerful magic, he bore down on Charles.

“Where is she?”

“I-in her r-room. I swear!”

“Did you touch her?”

“No. Gods, n-no.” Charles put his hands up in surrender, begging to die quickly. “My dick shrivels just thinking of it. I don’t want to go anywhere n-near her.” After today, that would be a solid truth.

“Who’s in there with her?” His voice rumbled like a guillotine sliding toward a neck.

Charles’s eyes got wider, if that were possible. “N-no one. I don’t think. I’m pretty su—“

“Move.”

Charles dove out of the way, wanting to be anywhere but in the warpath of the Boss when violence called. If there was someone in there, he wouldn’t be in one piece for long.

*****

Stefan kicked open the door, the room gloomy where the dark, heavy curtains tried to block out the rising sun. Sasha lay on the bed, the duvet just showing two peaks of knees with a valley in between, her legs spread. At his entrance, she jumped, her head snapping to the door with giant eyes.

Brain not registering logic anymore, his animal instincts of possession completely taking over, Stefan walked at her, eyes on who might be between her thighs. A certain untrustworthy ass**le that was about to die between her thighs.

He bent down and ripped away her duvet, throwing it across the room. Her thighs were spread wide, her crotch covered by white, lacy panties, the middle wet. Her hands, braced to either side of her in surprise, had two glistening fingers.

His eyes met hers. He saw the heat and felt the pulse through the link. She’d been thinking of him.

A new awareness claimed him.

Mine.

He reached down to her, ripping away her panties in one yank. His clothes fell off a second later, so fast it was like he wasn’t wearing any. Not wasting any time, he settled between her thighs, pinning her to the mattress possessively.

Mine.

He claimed her lips, filling her mouth as she opened to him. She tasted of spices, like mulled wine, and smelled like the forest after a spring rain. He pushed himself into her body, hot and fast, digging in to the hilt. She moaned, opening to him, body and soul, offering herself up.