Devoured by Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #7)(24)

Laylah grimaced as she stepped into the vast dungeon that held a number of iron-lined cells.

“Here?”

He grabbed her hand to urge her past the cells. “Were you expecting the Ritz?”

“Of course not.” She shivered, not prepared to confess the dungeon forcibly reminded her of the nightmarish months spent as the mage’s prisoner.

A smart demon didn’t flash childhood traumas in front of sinfully gorgeous vampires. Not when they were masters of emotional manipulation.

Besides, she hated looking weak.

At last reaching the far side of the dungeon, Tane pushed open a door and stepped aside for her to enter.

Warily she entered the room, relieved to discover an effort had been made to add a few comforts.

There was a wide bed with a hand-stitched quilt, and two wingchairs set near a brick fireplace. There was even a bookcase with leather-bound volumes stacked on the shelves.

It was either a room used by a guard, or for …

Conjugal visits.

A stab of excitement pierced through her. Sweet, treacherous excitement that made her long to forget she was in a damp dungeon with a vampire who would haul her to her waiting death the moment he slipped his leash.

She slowly turned to discover Tane closing the heavy door and leaning against it with a negligence that mocked her own tightly clenched muscles. The breath was wrenched from her lungs.

He was magnificent. From the raven satin of his mohawk, to the bare chest and flat stomach that rippled with muscles, to the thrust of his powerful legs, he oozed with male potency.

And sex.

He oozed lots and lots of sex.

Her stomach clenched as his honey gaze traveled down her stiff body with slow appreciation, lingering on her hardening ni**les that were visible beneath her T-shirt.

Gods. She wanted to toss him on the bed and rub against that hard golden body until he pinned her beneath him and took her with raw hunger.

Easily aware of her surging arousal, Tane pushed from the door, uncoiling like a predatory cat who was on the scent of his prey.

Laylah instinctively backed away, her mouth dry and her heart thundering in her chest.

“Are you …”

“Yes?” Tane prompted as her words faltered.

“Do you have rooms nearby?”

With a liquid grace, he tossed the dagger onto the floor beside the bed, then with a tug of a button, dropped the khaki shorts to reveal his male glory that was already fully erect and anxious to please.

“You could say that.”

Heat seared through her veins, pooling in the pit of her stomach. She had pathetic little experience when it came to men, but she was fairly certain Tane knew precisely what to do with that fine, fine instrument.

And how to make a woman beg for more.

“What are you doing?”

He smiled to reveal the fully extended fangs that gleamed in the darkness.

“Changing into something more comfortable.”

Comfortable? There wasn’t a damned thing comfortable in the sensations assaulting Laylah.

Her skin was too tight for her body, her br**sts were heavy and her ni**les aroused to painfully sensitive peaks. And there was a hollow ache between her legs that was demanding to be filled.

She swallowed a moan.

A damned shame he was her enemy.

Otherwise …

Otherwise he’d be on that bed and she would be fulfilling a few dozen fantasies.

“Well, go and do your striptease in your own rooms,” she muttered.

“What’s the point of a striptease if there’s no one to enjoy it?” he drawled, abruptly wrapping her in his arms and smiling down at her wary expression. “Besides, I intend to have my wish granted.”

Chapter 6

Skimming his hands down Laylah’s back, Tane savored the rich scent of her arousal that spiced the air.

She could huff and puff and glare all she wanted, but she couldn’t disguise the truth. She desired him with a fury she couldn’t contain.

“What are you talking about?” she demanded, her breathless voice making Tane smile. He was a vampire famous for his sexual prowess, but this demon managed to make him feel as uncertain as a fledgling. “I got you out of the mists.”

He lowered his head to fill his senses with her scent of fresh rain.

“But that wasn’t my wish.”

She trembled. “You …”

“I wished to be at your side.”

“Tane.” There was another tremble as he found the spot at the curve of her neck that made her pulse pound and her breath ragged. “I command you to go to your rooms.”

“Your wish is my command,” he murmured, scooping her off her feet to lay her on the nearby bed.

Her eyes widened as he followed her down, stretching out beside her reclined form.

“Why aren’t you going away?”

“It could be because these are my rooms.” He traced the outline of one puckered nipple through her T-shirt. “But more likely it’s because you don’t truly want me to leave.”

“Arrogant ass,” she husked, even as her back arched in silent invitation.

He chuckled, burying his face against the heat of her throat.

“Stubborn mongrel.”

Hunger spiked through him and his c**k gave a painful jerk. He could smell the sweet blood that rushed just beneath the satin heat of her skin. It was maddening.