Night of the Tiger (Hades' Carnival) (18 page)

Mate.

Impossible. He was an immortal warrior and she was a human. Her lifespan was but a blink in time. No matter what he might feel for her, their being together was not meant to be.

“Are you all right?” Her soft voice raised the hairs on the back of his neck. His groin tightened and he swallowed a groan. When it came to his control, this woman was more lethal than a hundred succubae.

“I’m fine.” His voice was curt, but he couldn’t help it. He was in pain, and there was nothing he could do about it. He yanked at the tail of the T-shirt he was wearing. It covered some of the evidence of his erection but not all of it.

He held out his hand and something inside him relaxed when Aimee placed her fingers against his. Her hands were soft and so much smaller than his. Yet there was great talent in them. And not just in the bedroom, although there was no doubt about her talent there. He barely refrained from grinning. She’d want to know what made him smile, and he didn’t think she’d appreciate where his mind had wandered.

But he’d seen her artwork and was awed by the fluidity and realism she’d captured.

Her fingers tightened around his, drawing his attention. He stared at their hands, his tanned and hers light. They were very different, yet they fit together perfectly.

He’d wondered if she would touch him again of her own accord or if the appearance of the demon had made her rethink her earlier friendliness with him. Maybe that had been the point of the succubus coming here this morning—to drive a wedge between him and Aimee. It would certainly make it easier for her to betray him. That kind of manipulation was right up Hades’ alley.

Tugging, he helped her up from the floor and watched as she glanced around her living room. Beneath the malodorous odor of brimstone was the unmistakable scent of Aimee. He inhaled deep, drawing it into his lungs to help drive out the stench of the demon.

“That was…” She swallowed hard. “That was impressive.”

Roric snorted. “All flash, no substance.”

“If that’s flash, I’m glad there was no substance,” she retorted. “There’s no way this can be cleaned. I’m going to have to toss out everything.”

“We have bigger problems than that. Sandra was only the first contact. For some reason, Hades wants me on his side. When that doesn’t happen, things are going to get hot around here.”

“I know.” She whispered her agreement. “I’m just trying to figure out a way to deal with all of this and not lose my mind in the process.” Lifting her face to him, she tried to smile, but he could see the worry etched in her eyes.

“A few days ago, I was a graphic artist, an illustrator. I lived alone, had a simple life. Sure, I had a few nightmares, but I was dealing with them, using them to fuel my creative spark. Now I’m in the middle of a supposedly ancient war, and I just found out the only friend I thought I had is really a demon.”

Roric could take the separation between them no longer. He tugged her into his arms, tucking her head beneath his chin. He buried his face in her hair. It smelled of brimstone, but beneath it was her unique perfume, a combination of vanilla and woman. “It will be fine.”

She slipped her arms around his waist and held him tight. He swallowed hard, unable to remember a time when someone had just held him. There was nothing sexual in her touch. It was one person offering comfort to another. Roric tried to catalogue everything about the moment, the feel of her soft fingers against the base of his spine, the brush of her hair against his chin, the quiet sound of her breathing.

An odd feeling crept over him. It was something he hadn’t felt in so long, if indeed ever, he didn’t recognize it at first. Peace. Aimee brought him a sense of peace.

She let out a deep sigh, her breath brushing against his chest. Even through the fabric of the shirt he wore, he could feel the warmth from it. He barely kept from groaning aloud as the erotic caress made his skin burn. She had no idea of the effect she had on him. No one did. And he had to keep it that way.

Still, when she pulled away, he wanted to haul her back into his embrace and never let her go. Reluctantly, he lowered his arms to his sides.

“You can’t promise that.” It took him a second to remember what they’d been talking about. By the time he did, Aimee had resumed talking again. “If Hades wants you to lead his armies, then he must have wanted the same from the three warriors already released.”

“Yes.” That grim fact had crossed Roric’s mind too.

“That means they’re either on Hades’ side or dead.”

“Dead. There is no way they’d turn their back on the rest of us or the Lady.”

“You can’t know that for sure.” Sympathy darkened her eyes, but he ignored it. She’d just been betrayed, so it was natural for her to assume others would betray just as easily. She didn’t know his comrades as he did. Betrayal was not a part of the warriors’ creed. Death before dishonor. It was the foundation of all they’d lived for, everything they’d done. They knew no other way.

Turning away from her, he began to pace. “Mordecai, Phoenix and Stavros are all dead.” There was no way they’d face imprisonment. Not again. If there was one thing he knew, it was that they would rather die than risk spending another five thousand years or more locked away, unable to move. Death was preferable.

Roric reached the end of the room, spun on his heel and stalked toward Aimee. “They would not turn.”

“Of course not.” He could tell by her tone she was trying to placate him. She didn’t understand the bond the warriors shared between them. The seven of them had fought side-by-side since the dawn of time. They’d spent the past several thousand years chained together in one form or another with only each other to talk to. There was no way any of them would turn rogue.

Or was there
? Roric hated the insidious voice that whispered in the back of his brain. Mordecai had always been a loner, even within the group. Stavros had pointed out on more than one occasion that the serpent looked out for himself at all costs.

No!
He wouldn’t think that way. That was just a trick of Hades to make him weak. His eyes narrowed and he glared at Aimee. Maybe she was an instrument of the devil, sent to divert his attention.

“You know them better than me.” She gave a small, forced chuckle and wrapped her arms over her chest, rubbing her hands over her upper arms and shoulders. “I don’t know them at all.”

“No, you don’t.” His voice was brusque, his tone one of finality. As far as he was concerned, this subject was closed. He would dwell upon it no longer. It only served to weaken him. If he could not trust his fellow warriors then he could trust no one.

She shut the front door and turned away from him, but not before he saw the flash of hurt in her eyes. Roric sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. This situation was more complicated than he’d imagined it would be. He was ready for a fight to the death. What he wasn’t prepared for was the tangle of feelings he had for this woman.

Peering out the window, she kept her back to him as she spoke. “So what’s next? Sandra’s little gambit didn’t work, but obviously nothing has changed. Hades still wants your help, and the demon said something about being out of here in less than twenty-four hours. That means the clock is ticking. What happens if you refuse?”

He went to stand behind her, wishing he could see her reflection in the glass more clearly. It was faint, but it was there. Barely. He couldn’t make out her features, couldn’t see what emotions clouded her expressive eyes.

His hands hovered over her shoulders. He wanted to touch her, but knew that would only make things worse for both of them. He needed to keep his head clear and his focus on the task at hand.

“If I refuse, Hades will try to kill me and steal my soul.” He leaned closer until their bodies were touching. His chest brushed against her back. She tensed but didn’t move away. He savored the heat from her skin, wanted to rub his chin against her shoulder and nip at the sensitive skin on the back of her neck. He didn’t want to tell her what else would happen, but he owed her the truth. “And Aimee, he’ll try to kill you too.”

Chapter Eleven

Aimee whirled around so fast, she clunked her head against Roric’s chin. It was like hitting a chunk of stone. The man was hard everywhere. “Ouch.” She rubbed the top of her head and glared at him.

“That’s just great,” she muttered. “Not only is my life a mess, but Hades himself wants me dead.”

“I’ll protect you,” he promised.

“Sure.” He’d do his best, certainly, but she never doubted for a moment if it came down to a choice between her and his fellow warriors, she’d be on the losing end. And why not? She was nothing more to him than a way to be released from the carousel and a hot roll between the sheets. She’d do well to remember that.

His lips were set in a grim line, his dark brows narrowed as he scowled at her. “Do you doubt me?”

She shook her head, ignoring the headache brewing behind her eyes. “You’ll do your best.” Aimee glanced away, unable to bear the intensity of his gaze any longer. Those pale blue eyes were like laser beams cutting through every layer of her defenses. She was very afraid he’d sense her growing feelings for him, which were incredibly stupid when she thought about it. Still, there was no accounting for the human heart. Somehow, some way, he’d broken through the ice surrounding her and made her feel again. Deeply.

Maybe it was his ability to live in the moment. To enjoy their time in bed together, to savor their simple meal, to put Sandra out of his mind the moment she was gone. Perhaps it was because he was immortal and these things really were just a brief second in time to him. Not important in the grand scheme of things

To her, they were precious moments of a life that would not last more than another fifty or sixty years tops, much less if Hades and his crew had their way. She would always remember the way Roric touched her. The way he made her feel as though she was special. The fierce, yet gentle way he’d made love to her.

It’s just sex
, she reminded herself.
You had good sex—no, phenomenal sex—for the first time in your life. Don’t confuse it with love or any other tender emotions
. She bit her bottom lip, thankful she wasn’t blurting this stuff out loud.

Roric was watching her face intently. She stepped away from him, but he caught her arm. “Aimee…”

She shook her head, not wanting to talk about them. They had bigger problems. “There is a time limit on this, isn’t there?” She was tired of dealing without all the facts.

Roric nodded. “According to the spell the Lady placed on us, Hades has the turn of one day to kill us and take our souls or bring us over to his side. If neither of those things happens, we’re free from the curse and Hades cannot touch us. Truthfully, I remember little of the last part of the spell. I had begun to change into my tiger form and lost all ability to move. I know little of what she said in the end. Only that there was one day involved. I was too busy fighting to escape.

“None of us paid much attention to that part of the curse. We never expected to be set free.”

“Twenty-four hours,” Aimee muttered. So short a time to decide so much. “What happens next?”

He frowned and lifted his hands to her face. Tenderly, he stroked her cheekbones. “Now we figure out Hades’ next move and try to counter it. We need to find out why exactly he needs us. It’s not as though he doesn’t have legions of demons at his disposal. I’m not buying that he simply needs us to lead his troops. There’s got to be more to it than that.”

His voice was hoarse as he rubbed the pad of his forefinger over her bottom lip. A zing of pleasure shot straight to her core. Her lips parted and he dipped his finger inward. She brushed her tongue against the tip of it, tasting his salty skin.

A low, purring sound emanated from deep in his chest, reminding her he was more than just a man. He was the white tiger as well. It was exciting and scary as all get out at the same time.

He angled closer and she took a step away. Her back hit the wall, and he crowded closer until his chest flattened her breasts. Aimee sucked in a deep breath, inadvertently drawing his finger deeper into her mouth. The purring sound grew louder, vibrating up and down her spine before delving deeper into her very core. Her panties grew damp.

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. The slight movement caused her breasts to slide against his muscular chest. Her nipples tightened and she moaned. Her skin was hot, her clothing uncomfortable. She wanted to strip naked and rub herself all over Roric.

He pulled his finger away from her lips and leaned closer. His nose brushed against hers. His long, soft hair fell forward, stroking her face in a sensual caress. He dipped hard, callused fingers beneath the band of her sweater and teased the band of flesh above her navel.

She wrapped her hand around his wrist. They had to stop. The back of her hand brushed against his erection. Even through his pants, she could feel it, hard and hot, pulsing against her skin. Unable to resist, she slowly released her grip on his arm and turned her hand slowly until her palm was pressed against him.

He growled. The sound was so much like a real tiger it startled her. She jerked her hand away as her eyes flew to his. His nostrils flared and his lips parted slightly. The blue of his eyes were almost swallowed up by the black pupils. His breathing was ragged, his features stark with need.