Dark Stranger Revealed Read online

  If she had known sex could be like that, she wouldn't have stayed celibate for two years. She seriously doubted, though, it could've been so good with anyone but Kian. He had been well worth the wait.

  As memories of the experience replayed in her mind, she touched her hand to her neck, for some reason expecting it to feel bruised. But there was nothing there. No tenderness, no teeth marks, and her skin felt as smooth and as flawless as ever.

  She must've dreamt the whole bite thing. Yeah, what was she thinking, it's not as if something like that ever happened outside of fiction. But if that hadn't happened, what else hadn't been real?

  Except, she remembered the rest vividly. Every delicious little thing—even that first painful thrust. Her core tightened with desire at the memory—the feel of him inside of her, stretching her…

  Bareback? No condom!

  Oh. My. God!

  She had had unprotected sex with a man she had just met—practically a stranger.

  Pregnancy wasn't an issue, as she still had her IUD. But that wasn't the only thing to worry about, was it.

  Well, there was nothing she could do about it now.

  The good news was that she felt no foreboding, and with her special gift, she would've known if there was a reason for worry; her cursed foresight never failed to predict impending disasters, yet.

  Still, not making sure Kian had used protection was incredibly stupid.

  I'm an irresponsible floozy, she thought without any real conviction behind the self-reproach.

  And yet, it bothered her that Kian might think so. After all, she hadn't offered even a token resistance. And to think she had given him that speech about being presumptuous.

  What a joke.

  But as much as she tried, she couldn't feel guilty or even remorseful about the best sex of her life.

  Suppressing a chuckle, Syssi remembered her grandmother's old-fashioned advice, cautioning her to develop a friendship with a man before jumping into bed with him, or else he'd lose interest once he had his way.

  Syssi didn't care.

  Even if it had been a one-time deal only, and she never got to see Kian again, she would've had her way with him anyway. Though be as it may, Syssi had a feeling Kian had ruined it for her with anyone else.

  With a heavy sigh, she turned in his arms to look at his sleeping face.

  Beautiful.

  She couldn't think of a better word to describe him. Handsome just didn't do him justice. Leaning into him, she burrowed her nose under the long strands of his hair and sniffed at the crook of his neck.

  His scent was intoxicating.

  Warmed by the vapor coming off his skin, she lingered there for a moment, lulled by his scent and the rhythm of his steady pulse. But then as her fingers began tracing the ridges and valleys of his well-defined chest, she shifted to follow them with her eyes.

  "Hi, gorgeous," Kian murmured as his hand began a leisurely descent of her back. Palming both of her butt cheeks with one large hand, he pulled her closer, pressing her against his erection.

  Lifting her head, she looked at his sleepy face.

  He smiled and bent his neck to cover her mouth in a tender kiss. Then with a hand on the back of her head, he brought her cheek to rest against his pec and resumed his leisurely strokes.

  With a content sigh, Syssi closed her eyes, wishing she could stay like that forever. Because nothing had ever felt that good before.

  Not that the sex hadn't been out of this world, but this peaceful closeness was priceless.

  Unfortunately, forever turned out to be less than a minute long, as a quiet knock on the door was immediately followed by the butler’s hesitant inquiry; "Master? Are you there, Master?"

  Jerking out of Kian's arms, Syssi pulled the comforter over her naked breasts, afraid that the butler at any moment would open the door and poke his head in, looking for his master.

  "Shh… It's okay. Come back here." Kian pulled her back down into his embrace. "It's only Okidu. Don’t worry—he knows better than to come in."

  "Yes, Okidu, what is it?" Kian asked.

  "So sorry to disturb you, Master. But Yamanu wished for me to inform you that the guest you were expecting has indeed arrived, and he—that is—Yamanu, is inquiring as to what to do with the young man."

  "What is he doing now?" Kian asked.

  "He is sleeping down in the guest suite, Master."

  "Let him sleep. Tell Yamanu I'll deal with the boy later." Kian dismissed him.

  "As you wish, Master." Okidu acknowledged so politely, Syssi imagined him bowing to the closed door. And maybe he had because it took a few seconds before she heard his light footsteps going back down the hallway.

  "Who is the guest you were expecting?" she asked throatily, her hand finding its way down to his heavy length, seizing him and stroking him lazily.

  Kian's hand closed on her butt, and he gave it a light squeeze before trailing his fingers down the valley between the cheeks and reaching her wet folds from behind. With a feather-light touch, he circled her opening in sync with her up and down strokes, getting her wetter by the second. "It's not important. Keep stroking me like that and I'll be buried inside you in a flash," he slurred.

  Syssi pushed back against his stroking fingers and tightened her grip around his length. "Is that a threat or a promise?"

  "Stop." Kian gripped her wrist, stilling her hand. "You must be sore from before, and I don't want to hurt you, again." He winced.

  She smiled at him sheepishly. "Would it offend you terribly if I said I wasn't sore?" Biting on her bottom lip, she looked at him from under her long lashes.

  "To the contrary, I take pride in a job well done." Kian chuckled as he stretched himself on top of her, pinning her arms to her sides. "Are you sure?"

  The confinement ratcheted her arousal, and she moaned deep in her throat. "I want you."

  With his eyes locked on hers, Kian raised his hips and positioned himself at her opening. Nudging her entrance with just the tip of his shaft, he waited as she grew wetter before pushing in slowly.

  This time, as he eased into her tight sheath, stretching her, there was only pleasure, and she felt her inner muscles ripple along his length, pulling him in.

  "Agh.." Kian closed his eyes, groaning as he rammed the rest of the way in.

  Syssi gasped at the sudden invasion.

  But then, as he lingered, waiting for her to get used to his presence inside her, she pushed her thighs even wider apart, drawing him impossibly deeper.

  They were both breathing heavily, their chests heaving, each inhale and exhale eliciting corresponding tightening and expanding in their sexes.

  Kian retracted just a fraction, then slowly pushed back, repeating the shallow movements a few more times before wrapping his arms around her and flipping them over, positioning her on top.

  Syssi pushed up to her knees and straddled his hips, bracing her hands on his chest. With her fingers splayed over his pecs, she rocked her hips, lifting and lowering herself on his shaft.

  "You're so beautiful," she whispered and leaned to kiss his lips. But as she tried to lick into his mouth, he stopped her. Just as he had done before.

  With his fingers pulling at her long hair, he took over and thrust his tongue into her mouth, his other arm holding her down against his body as he pounded up into her with increasing ferocity.

  On the verge of climax, her core tightening and rippling, Syssi whimpered around his invading tongue.

  Her response spurring his aggression, he fisted more of her hair, pulling on the roots and inflicting pinpricks of pain. As he pounded his hips up into her faster, harder—his penetration was so deep, he was hitting the end of her channel with every thrust.

  Syssi's orgasm erupted in powerful spasms, her core tightening its grip around his thickening erection.

  Battering into her, he came with a snarl, flooding her with pulsing spurts of seed.

  She collapsed on top of him, her muscles going lax.

  Wa
iting for their breaths to even out, Kian's hands were warm and tender as he stroked her hair and caressed her back—reassuring. Now that the storm was over, his gentleness seemed in stark contrast to his former aggression.

  Her chest heaving in sync with Kian's and her cheek on his pec, Syssi listened to his strong heartbeat as it gradually calmed down. Impossibly, he began hardening again inside her. "You're a machine. I can't believe you're up again so soon."

  "I'm afraid I'll be suffering from a case of perpetual hard on with you around." Kian smiled, then lifting his chin, looked at her with concern in his eyes. "Are you okay?"

  "I'm more than okay. A little sore… wink, wink… but in a good way." She smiled coyly, pursing her lips for a kiss.

  Flipping them sideways, he kissed her gently. "I have no words, Syssi. I'm afraid anything I'll say wouldn't do justice to the way you make me feel."

  Cupping his cheek, she caressed it, watching his eyes close in pleasure at her soft touch. "You don't have to say anything. Your body and your eyes tell me all I need to know. For now. Later, when you find the words, you'll tell me." She kissed each eyelid softly. "Don't fall asleep. We both need a shower." She traced his lips with her fingers.

  "I'm not sleeping." Kian opened his eyes. "I would love to take a shower with you, but we better not. I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off of you, and you need time to recuperate." He kissed her fingers, then got out of bed and grabbed his clothes from the floor. "I'll go shower in my room. There are a few things I need to do before I can turn in, but I'll come back and join you later… If it's okay with you?" He paused to look at her.

  Syssi lay sprawled on the bed, unabashedly naked under his gaze… And why not… Kian made her feel sexy and desirable.

  "You're so beautiful…" he breathed. "I'd better go before I jump you again." Belying his words, he remained rooted in place with his clothes bundled under his arm, staring at her.

  Syssi smiled smugly, his praise infusing her with a rush of feminine power. "Just make sure you come back to me. I want to wake up in your arms."

  "It's a promise." Kian winked, and turning to leave, provided her with a perfect view of his sculpted ass and powerful thighs.

  Once he was out the door, Syssi lingered before getting out of bed. With the endorphins gone, she felt like a wreck; bone tired despite the little shuteye she got after that first bout of sex with Kian. And it wasn't even eleven at night yet.

  Her body protesting being moved, she winced as she shuffled to the bathroom and filled the tub with water—going for another soak to soothe her aching muscles and relieve the soreness she could no longer deny.

  CHAPTER 12: KIAN

  Bracing his hands on the shower's marble wall, Kian let his head drop between his outstretched arms. With the hot water blasting him from multiple jets, he felt good, relaxed.

  Syssi was a perfect fit for him. So much so that he doubted he could've been able to conceive of someone like her even if he tried. Without knowing her, experiencing her, he wouldn't have known what to ask for.

  It was like she was made for him. And although he had just met her, he was yet to find even one thing he didn't like about her. But then, on some level he hoped he would. Some annoying habit, or a personality flaw that would make it easier to let her go.

  It would be excruciating otherwise.

  Just thinking about it brought on a tight, uncomfortable feeling in his gut, and he wished he could drop everything and get back in bed with her, even if only to hold her as she slept.

  Except, the anticipated guest must've been the boy, Michael, and he needed to check on him and get an update from Yamanu.

  As it was, he felt a twinge of guilt for forgetting all about the young man while indulging in mind-blowing sex with Syssi…

  Making love, he corrected himself. That definitely felt like making love.

  Sweet fates. All he wanted was to go back to her, wrap his arms around her, and lose himself in her…

  Man! Was he in a shitload of trouble…

  Finishing up quickly, Kian got dressed and headed for the basement.

  Once there, he stopped to talk with Yamanu and got an unsettling account of the Doomers' attack on Michael. As expected, his Guardians had emerged victorious, and the three Doomers had joined their two comrades in the catacombs, but the guys had to fight hard for it, reinforcing Brundar’s assessment that this new generation of Doomers was better trained.

  On the upside, Yamanu seemed impressed with Michael.

  Later, as he waited for Amanda to come back from her nightly prowl, Kian watched Michael sleep soundly through the two-way mirror in the room adjacent to the boy's.

  Michael's guest room was nothing but a fancy jail cell; complete with an en-suite bathroom, a big flats-creen, a PlayStation, and an assortment of DVD's and video games.

  Very comfortable accommodations designed to keep guests for as long as needed; willing or not.

  According to Yamanu, the kid had potential; courage, cool head, good instincts. The right build too—judging by how he was dwarfing the full-sized bed. Michael had all the makings of a good fighter.

  That is if he turned out to be one of them.

  Doubtful. Kian grimaced and resumed pacing the room as time dragged on.

  Finally, when the door banged open, Kian didn't bother to look—recognizing his sister's signature dramatic entrance. He rolled his eyes, Amanda couldn't do 'subtle' if her life depended on it. And instead of hi-how're-ya, the first words out of her mouth were, "I see you got the poor kid thralled."

  "What did you want me to do? Tell him bedtime stories until you showed up? It's after midnight. I've been waiting for you for over an hour!" Annoyed, Kian waved his hand in the air.

  "Oh, excuse me. Unlike my high and mighty brother who has a sweet, little hottie waiting for him in bed, some of us still need to go prowling."

  "Watch your tone, Amanda. You sound like a petulant teenager, and just as inappropriate."

  "I know, right?" Amanda ran her fingers through her short hair and shivered. "It's just that I had a sucky night. The guy I picked up… Ugh… big mistake."

  Kian tensed immediately, ready to storm out and do some damage. "Did he hurt you?"

  "Oh, please…" Amanda rolled her eyes. "As if a mortal could. Let's just say that if not for your call, I would have gone looking for the next one to erase the memory of the first one… Never mind; it happens. Thankfully, not often."

  Crossing over to the two-way mirror, Amanda braced her palms against the glass. "What a shame this cutie is too young, just look at that body…"

  Kian smirked. "I didn't know you had an age limit."

  "I draw the line at twenty-one. If they can't drink…"

  Kian walked over to stand next to her, shoving his hands in his back pockets. "There is always Mexico. I think the drinking age is eighteen over there. You could go for a visit."

  "Ouch!" he exclaimed when she kicked his shin. "What was that for?"

  "For being an ass." She smirked. "So tell me, how did it go with Syssi?"

  "You want the long or the short version?"

  "I want all of it. Spill!"

  "I like her."

  "Oh, come on! That's all you’re gonna give me?"

  "Yep."

  "You, mean, mean, old goat… I hate you!" She slapped his back, slanting her eyes at the smug smile he was trying to suppress.

  "What do you want to do with the kid? We can't hold him down here forever." Kian returned to the subject at hand.

  Amanda shrugged, crossing her arms over her chest. "We can try turning him, he is as good a prospect as Syssi, and we already got him here."

  "It's not as simple as it is with Syssi… I can't believe I just said that… I'll rephrase… In some ways, it's even more complicated than it is with Syssi. He has to fight one of us aggressively enough for the guy fighting him to generate venom. How are we going to explain that?"

  "Tell him the truth?"

  "Are you out of your mind?"
/>   "You can always thrall him later if it doesn't work."

  "And what, keep him locked down here while we beat the shit out of him on a daily basis?"

  "Just look at him!" Amanda pointed at Michael. "He is a football player… this kind of challenge will appeal to his testosterone-impaired, guy-brain. He'll probably think it's all a great macho test and love every minute of it."

  "I don't know…" Kian rubbed the back of his neck, still unconvinced.

  "Let's go to sleep… We'll decide how to do it in the morning… I'm bushed."

  Leaving, Amanda leaned and kissed Kian's cheek. "Goodnight. Sleep tight. Keep Syssi's neck safe from your bite…" she singsonged on her way out.

  "Brat!" Kian called after her, shaking his head.

  As the bed sunk under his weight, Kian cursed silently. But Syssi just sighed and turned around. Lifting the comforter, he carefully slid behind her warm, sleeping body.

  Bummer. She wasn't naked. And under the long T-shirt she wore as a nightgown, she was wearing panties as well—and not the thong kind.

  How disappointing.

  "Hi, what time is it?" she whispered groggily and yawned.

  "It's after midnight. Go back to sleep, sweet girl,” he whispered and kissed her exposed neck.

  "Hmm… that felt nice." Syssi sighed.

  Smiling contentedly, he relaxed behind her, cocooning her with his body.

  Good night, sleep tight, don't let the immortal bite… He thought of Amanda's little rhyme as he drifted off.

  CHAPTER 13: DALHU

  Dalhu paced the mansion's long upstairs-gallery, seething with impotent rage. To say he was disappointed was the understatement of the century.

  The team he had assigned to lie in wait for the woman had given up at sunrise, requesting permission to abandon post when it had become clear she wasn't coming home. The team he had sent after the guy had never come back or reported at all.

  Their phones were dead.

  The men were dead.

  As capture wasn't an option for Doomers, they would've kept fighting until dealt a mortal blow. If struck down by mere mortals, they would've been left for dead, only to regenerate later and come back to base. But as none of the three had, he had to assume they had been taken out by Guardians. Just like the first two.