Into the Darkness (Darkness #1)(7)

At this point, the only message I could grasp was a generalized, “Something is amiss…”

“We scouted and came up empty. Whatever it was is long gone,” Charles said with strain, hand cupping the bulge in his jeans.

“You should’ve reported that information, rather than sought out pleasure,” the newcomer growled. He unconsciously flexed, his pecs becoming mountains. He sported useable, workable muscle.

“Sorry, Boss,” the guy with Jared muttered.

Ebony eyes flashed to me. “Why is she lucid?” The Boss’s eyes flayed Charles. “Pain is forbidden, unless requested. Judging by her shrieks, it was not requested.”

“I’m at full strength!” Charles bleated. “I have been for a while! I’ve never met a human that didn’t go for it. I thought she was just roll-playing or something. How am I supposed to know…?”

Charles sputtered to a stop within the hard glare of the boss. He lowered his head. “Sorry, Boss.”

“I’m at full, too,” the guy being humped by my boyfriend noted. “You can see what it’s doing to this guy.”

Jared had spread his legs wide apart, continuing on like a cat at a scratching post. I could not understand what my eyes were seeing. My brain simply would not process it. It was like the stress and shock was pushing me to a great enough distance that this f-ed up situation didn’t properly register.

I’d need a Vicodin when it finally did, though. I had no doubt.

“I gotta blow this load, Boss,” Charles muttered, stroking himself through his jeans. “Her scent is driving me crazy.”

“Finish on the man. Quietly. I wish to speak with the girl.”

Charles had his pants down and sizable penis in his hand before he even reached Jared.

“I hope this is an incredibly screwed up nightmare,” I managed through a gaping mouth.

The newcomer—the Boss—stopped in front of me, not at all bothered by the all-male orgy to my right. His eyes glued to my face. “Why are you not frightened of me?”

Great question. I had no idea. I just knew that I absolutely wasn’t. Not even a little bit. I faced off against his size, pure brawn and bulk with a killer’s grace, and wanted to melt against his thick, muscled chest. It was as strange and not normal as Jared’s sudden interest in men.

So I lied. “Because you’re not scary.”

His calculating black eyes analyzed me. “You are human.”

“Ten points to you for your powers of observation. Bloody good show, Watson,” I retorted automatically.

“How do you know me?”

“I don’t. Look, give me Jared back so I can go home and try to find some amnesia pills. This has gone on long enough. He isn’t g*y, for cripes sakes—at least, he wasn’t before today! What the hell is going on?”

“You saw me last night. You saw me earlier this evening. You show up here, in my territory. You engage with my crew. You have some sort of strange effect on my senses. I don’t believe in coincidence. Who are you working for? Tell me, and I may let you live.”

A shiver started at my head and worked down my body, flash freezing my blood. It stupidly never occurred to me that death was a variable with this man. Then something struck me. “What do you mean earlier this evening?” My mind recalled the shape near the tree; the motionless stranger, watching me as I watched him. “That was you…”

“You can see my dilemma.”

I shook my head slowly. Then started babbling. “I didn’t know that was you! I couldn’t make out features. Or a shape, even. We aren’t in your territory on purpose! I don’t even like your territory. It’s the ghetto. We ran over something. The car hit a tree. Honest! We are trying to get somewhere safe to call for a tow truck. We were just passing through and those guys stopped us. I go to community college—I don’t even have a real job!”

A long moan sounded, followed by another. The guys were completing their foray.

“I sense honesty. Odd.” His expression turned thoughtful. “I’ll watch you. If you come looking again, I’ll kill you.”

My gulp competed with Jared’s loud orgasm.

The Boss turned to the others, now pulling up their pants. “Wipe their memories. Do a thorough job. Deposit them and deal with the car, if indeed there has been a crash.”

“Can I have a crack at the girl before we take them back?” Charles asked hopefully, pausing as he tucked his penis back into his pants. The other guy paused, too, awaiting the answer.

I got an assessing glance. Some decision tugged down the corners of his mouth, his expression mildly confused. Finally, he said, “No. Leave her. I want to see you back within the hour.”

Chapter Three

I awoke with a groggy head sometime in the mid-morning. I lay on top of the covers in Jared’s bed, completely clothed. I even had my shoes on. Jared lay next to me, face down, naked. I blinked for a moment, and then compared our bodies again. Why the hell was he na**d when I was clothed?

I labored to sit up, putting a hand to my fuzzy head. I felt like I’d been drinking.

I thought back to the night before. I remembered dinner. We’d each had a glass of wine. We’d walked outside. Something had spooked Jared—

A memory nudged my brain. I clutched at it, scrabbling on the slippery thing, trying to fit it into place. All I caught was wisps.