Beyond Temptation
folder
Romance › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
25
Views:
10,499
Reviews:
151
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Romance › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
25
Views:
10,499
Reviews:
151
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Sixteen
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Malec waited until the sun set, then had his driver, Evans, take him in the Bentley to the Hide and Harry. He had steeped so long in his fury he felt consumed. He fairly leapt from the sedan, crossed the gravel lot and ascended the stairs in a single bound. Without replying to the greeting called to him, he went up the steps three at a time and strode to Avery’s door. He centered his focus and the key on the other side turned. Opening the door, he saw her standing before the mirror putting up her hair.
She gave a startled shriek, dropped the barrette, and her hair tumbled down around her shoulders. He said, “Sleep.” Malec caught her before she hit the floor. With her limp body draped in his arms, hair swinging in a curly curtain, he locked her room from inside.
He walked to the window, used his will to unlatch and open it. Looking around, he assured himself no human eyes could see in the foggy darkness. Malec hopped over the high sill, turning slightly sideways to clear the frame with her in his arms, and landed lightly on the ground. He paused long enough make sure the window closed and rounded the building to where his car waited.
Evans opened the door and then shut it after Malec slid into the back seat. He gazed down at her peaceful features and seethed. He had denied himself, while she had sought another.
A human.
A part of him wanted to hurt her in return, have her wake to the sound of him fucking another woman. But, he did not want another woman. He wanted Avery.
At the house, he carried her up to his suite and placed her upon his bed. “Wake.”
Her lashes lifted and her big blue eyes held distinct confusion as they slowly took in the surroundings. Then, as if she sensed him, she turned her head. She made a soft sound of fear and scrambled from the bed. Anticipating her, he stepped between Avery and the door, making no attempt to conceal his speed.
“Omigod!” She bumped hard into him and he captured her in his embrace. “Let me go!”
Her hair caught between his arms and her back, thick and springy. “This is the way your game works, is it not,” he demanded, the wrath strong in him, “one of us and then the other? It’s my turn.” He released her and watched her bolt to the door. Preventing the knob from turning, he walked to her, watching her struggle with it.
Avery ceased. She turned to face him and he could sense he change. “I hurt you.”
Malec flattened his hands upon the door on either side of her head. He wished to see the fear back in her eyes, to make her remember not to allow another’s hands on her body. “You made me spend much of the day deciding how I would best like to kill him.”
She did something that drained the aggression from him. Stepping closer, she wrapped her arms around him, laying her head against his chest. “I’m sorry, Malec.”
He closed his eyes. The reanimated heart in his chest stuttered from the rush of emotion. Trying to restore his fury, he reminded himself she’d betrayed him. With her holding him, trusting him, he found he could not continue with his anger directed at her. Given her innocence, a man who knew women’s bodies could seduce her almost in conflict with her will.
She released him and her small hands settled on his jaw. A sharp lance of something potent cut through him. She slid one hand up along his cheekbone, into his loose hair and around to the back of his neck. Helplessly, he leaned down as she pulled him to her. The touch of her lips to his finished him. He held her to him, cautious of his strength, and let her kiss him. Her tongue caressed his, shy and sweet.
Drawing back a little, she nibbled his lower lip. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
He didn’t like it at all that she could so easily outmeaneuver. She had found a terrible chink in the armor taken for granted his entire life. Not even before he had risen from death to walk as vampire had he suffered such vulnerability.
Malec groaned as she began trying to undo the very small buttons of his silk shirt. Letting go of her for a moment, he gripped each side and yanked. Buttons dropped to the wood floor, some rolling. She gasped against his mouth and then her hands went to his chest. Malec shuddered at the rush of arousal caused by the simple contact.
She pushed a little and he allowed her to back him to the bed. He lifted her and took her down with him. Feeling her body under his made his blood teeth ache. He forced back his desire to taste her, and savored her exploration of his chest.
He felt Taylor’s approach before he knocked. “Sir, forgive the intrusion. There’s a very large man at the gate demanding admittance to see Miss Fitz Gerald.”
Malec growled, “Tell him ‘no’.”
“Sir, the guards monitoring the security camera feed just radioed to say he has disabled the gate’s camera and compromised the device keeping the gate closed.”
Malec began to roll from the bed. Avery embraced him, “Please, listen.” She trembled under him. “We planned to go to dinner. Let me just show him I’m okay, and get him to leave.” Her gaze held his. “I want to stay with you, as well as avoid more trouble.”
If he had thought she used her influence to protect her human lover, Malec would have gone and killed him right then. He felt her longing, saw the honesty in her expression. “Because you ask it of me, I will not initiate any violence.” He watched the relief his words granted. “I will allow him in my house, but, I believe it is time he and I met. You and I shall see him together.”
Feeling her trembling began anew, Malec called to his majordomo, “Show our guest to the east drawing room.”
Malec waited until the sun set, then had his driver, Evans, take him in the Bentley to the Hide and Harry. He had steeped so long in his fury he felt consumed. He fairly leapt from the sedan, crossed the gravel lot and ascended the stairs in a single bound. Without replying to the greeting called to him, he went up the steps three at a time and strode to Avery’s door. He centered his focus and the key on the other side turned. Opening the door, he saw her standing before the mirror putting up her hair.
She gave a startled shriek, dropped the barrette, and her hair tumbled down around her shoulders. He said, “Sleep.” Malec caught her before she hit the floor. With her limp body draped in his arms, hair swinging in a curly curtain, he locked her room from inside.
He walked to the window, used his will to unlatch and open it. Looking around, he assured himself no human eyes could see in the foggy darkness. Malec hopped over the high sill, turning slightly sideways to clear the frame with her in his arms, and landed lightly on the ground. He paused long enough make sure the window closed and rounded the building to where his car waited.
Evans opened the door and then shut it after Malec slid into the back seat. He gazed down at her peaceful features and seethed. He had denied himself, while she had sought another.
A human.
A part of him wanted to hurt her in return, have her wake to the sound of him fucking another woman. But, he did not want another woman. He wanted Avery.
At the house, he carried her up to his suite and placed her upon his bed. “Wake.”
Her lashes lifted and her big blue eyes held distinct confusion as they slowly took in the surroundings. Then, as if she sensed him, she turned her head. She made a soft sound of fear and scrambled from the bed. Anticipating her, he stepped between Avery and the door, making no attempt to conceal his speed.
“Omigod!” She bumped hard into him and he captured her in his embrace. “Let me go!”
Her hair caught between his arms and her back, thick and springy. “This is the way your game works, is it not,” he demanded, the wrath strong in him, “one of us and then the other? It’s my turn.” He released her and watched her bolt to the door. Preventing the knob from turning, he walked to her, watching her struggle with it.
Avery ceased. She turned to face him and he could sense he change. “I hurt you.”
Malec flattened his hands upon the door on either side of her head. He wished to see the fear back in her eyes, to make her remember not to allow another’s hands on her body. “You made me spend much of the day deciding how I would best like to kill him.”
She did something that drained the aggression from him. Stepping closer, she wrapped her arms around him, laying her head against his chest. “I’m sorry, Malec.”
He closed his eyes. The reanimated heart in his chest stuttered from the rush of emotion. Trying to restore his fury, he reminded himself she’d betrayed him. With her holding him, trusting him, he found he could not continue with his anger directed at her. Given her innocence, a man who knew women’s bodies could seduce her almost in conflict with her will.
She released him and her small hands settled on his jaw. A sharp lance of something potent cut through him. She slid one hand up along his cheekbone, into his loose hair and around to the back of his neck. Helplessly, he leaned down as she pulled him to her. The touch of her lips to his finished him. He held her to him, cautious of his strength, and let her kiss him. Her tongue caressed his, shy and sweet.
Drawing back a little, she nibbled his lower lip. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
He didn’t like it at all that she could so easily outmeaneuver. She had found a terrible chink in the armor taken for granted his entire life. Not even before he had risen from death to walk as vampire had he suffered such vulnerability.
Malec groaned as she began trying to undo the very small buttons of his silk shirt. Letting go of her for a moment, he gripped each side and yanked. Buttons dropped to the wood floor, some rolling. She gasped against his mouth and then her hands went to his chest. Malec shuddered at the rush of arousal caused by the simple contact.
She pushed a little and he allowed her to back him to the bed. He lifted her and took her down with him. Feeling her body under his made his blood teeth ache. He forced back his desire to taste her, and savored her exploration of his chest.
He felt Taylor’s approach before he knocked. “Sir, forgive the intrusion. There’s a very large man at the gate demanding admittance to see Miss Fitz Gerald.”
Malec growled, “Tell him ‘no’.”
“Sir, the guards monitoring the security camera feed just radioed to say he has disabled the gate’s camera and compromised the device keeping the gate closed.”
Malec began to roll from the bed. Avery embraced him, “Please, listen.” She trembled under him. “We planned to go to dinner. Let me just show him I’m okay, and get him to leave.” Her gaze held his. “I want to stay with you, as well as avoid more trouble.”
If he had thought she used her influence to protect her human lover, Malec would have gone and killed him right then. He felt her longing, saw the honesty in her expression. “Because you ask it of me, I will not initiate any violence.” He watched the relief his words granted. “I will allow him in my house, but, I believe it is time he and I met. You and I shall see him together.”
Feeling her trembling began anew, Malec called to his majordomo, “Show our guest to the east drawing room.”