Corrupt Cravings (15 page)

“Fuck! You drive me crazy. Why do I even try with you?”

Rolling back onto her side, Marcella threw herself down on the pillow and faced away from him. What was she doing here? There was no way she could get him to come around. The stubbornness he was filled with went beyond anything she could break. She knew she should have taken things slower, but shit, she couldn’t change anything now.

Hands pulled her back into him. He curled around her body, holding her tightly. “Why can’t you just be happy with me? Why do you have to have other men in your life to be fulfilled?”

“You’re not ready to know about that yet. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me. I have to know.”

“No. Me just telling you isn’t going to work. You’ll have to see it for yourself.”

“I’m not going to sit back and watch while you give your attention to other males. I’m sorry, but you’re mine. End of story.”

“That’s not what I mean, Donavon. See, you don’t even understand what I’m talking about. Just give it time.”

Silence thickened the room for a few minutes before he broke it. “Are you hungry? I think you should eat.”

“No, I don’t want anything. You go ahead.”

Marcella didn’t want to move. She needed to figure out how she could get him stable enough to take him home. If they showed up now, her men would tear him apart if he tried to separate them. She couldn’t risk them all fighting. Jason once expressed his dislike for her new mate. Now she knew why.

Chapter 7

Dominic appeared back in Marcella’s room, feeling his blood boil. The need to beat the shit out of the bastard made his brain storm with ideas on how to sneak to where they were and get him alone. But that was the demon in him. He knew he could never risk getting his mate angry.

“What in the hell happened?” Jason walked forward, a concerned look on his face.

“You don’t want to know, loverboy.”

“No, I think I do. Spill, Dom. If something is wrong with our queen, I need to know. You’re angry. There’s a reason.”

“Marcy bit him. They’re mated now. She doesn’t like it one bit. He’s way too jealous. You should have seen the way he tried to control her. I hate her having to be there.”

“They’re…mates?” Jason’s voice was barely recognizable as he took a step backward.

“Yes, and she told me she wished it were you.”

“Damn, that stings.”

Dominic watched his friend rub his chest. The sadness on Jason’s face weighed on him. This new guy might have looked damn familiar, and could have possibly been his best man back in the day, but not now. No one would come before Jason. No one.

“I should go,” Jason said, staring off. “My wolf will be fine. She needs me there to watch over her. I don’t trust Donavon.”

“You know she won’t like that. It might make things worse.”

“Tell me how they could get any worse. In my opinion, things are as bad as they get.”

Dominic nodded his head. “You’re probably right, but I say give it another day or two. If we don’t hear from her, then I’ll say I told you to go.”

“Thanks, Dom. So, what now?”

“I need to release some anger. Training?”

“Sounds good to me.”

Jason smiled at him, and he knew their friendship was growing stronger. He couldn’t help but worry how Ambrose and the rest of the vampires were going to take having a hostile wolf in their new home. He didn’t like this at all. And why, no matter how much hate he felt for Donavon, had there been a connection when they made eye contact? It could have been from their past life together, but a bigger piece knew there was more.

Samael’s sudden appearance made them stop. The guy looked absolutely distraught. Dominic nodded his head up to him. “Master? Is everything okay?”

Blue eyes shot up to his as if only realizing where he was. “Of course. Why wouldn’t things be okay?”

“Maybe because you look ready to jump out of your skin.” Jason’s words held laughter but died out at the end as Samael ran his shaky hands through his hair.

Looking around Marcella’s room, the dark angel nodded. “You’re right. Something’s wrong. If two men show up here, do not answer the door. Make sure this place is on lockdown twenty-four–seven.”

Dominic stiffened. “Who the hell are they? Other masters?”

“No. Nothing like that. Worse.”

“What can be worse than other demon masters?” Jason asked cautiously.

Dom looked over at his friend. “Angels.” The word fell from his lips as a shiver passed down his spine. They were the only ones who could send him back to hell. Those bullets were a one-way ticket, no looking back, pains in the ass.

“Angels?” A laugh exploded from Jason’s mouth. “Are you fucking kidding me? You guys are shaking in your boots at men with wings?”

“Those men,” Samael growled, “want your queen, and I guarantee you they’re going to do everything they can to get her. What do you have to say about that?”

Jason grew quiet as a concerned look passed his face. “Why do they want her?”

“I don’t know,” Samael whispered. “They used to be her link, but I’m not sure what went on between them. I never asked. She and Nemmy, though, something was definitely going on between them.”

“Nemmy!” Dominic exploded. “You’re fucking kidding me. I’ve heard nothing but grief about what he and his partner, Caspius, have been doing to the area. I’m just glad I haven’t really had a run in with them. I hear they’re packing pretty well.”

Samael nodded. “That they are. Marcella and Nemmy share a past. Maybe not a sexual one, but something was always there. I could tell by the way she’d come back all glowing and shit. Hell, I could be overreacting.”

“Or showing signs of jealousy.” Dominic glared at his master, feeling his own possessiveness spark. He knew Samael loved Marcella, but like his queen, he wasn’t sure what exactly transpired in the past.

“Don’t give me that shit,
Dominic
. Jealousy is not what you’re picking up from me. Why should I be jealous of Nemmy? She’s bonded somehow to four fucking men. If I was jealous over anything, don’t you think it would be that?”

“How do I know you’re not?”

An evil smile came to Samael’s lips. “You fucking don’t know, and you never will. Now do as you’re told, and don’t open the Goddamn door. Marcella should be fine in Victoria, but here, she is to be watched at all times.”

Samael vanished, and Dominic looked at Jason. Well, if things hadn’t gone to shit, they had now. Great, he was itching for a fight, and at the first sign of wings, he was tempted to go outside.

* * * *

Donavon shut the door to the bedroom and pounded his way down the stairs. His mate was driving him crazy. Couldn’t she see that he wanted her? Shit, he’d given up the one woman he’d obsessed over for the last few years. For her! If that wasn’t enough, then he didn’t know what it would take to convince her.

All Marcella seemed to care about were these other men in her life. So what if she knew them longer? She marked
him
. The bond should make her forget everyone but her mate. It sure worked for him. Why wasn’t it working on her?

“Arizona, you up for some shooting practice?”

He looked over at Luis and continued to the refrigerator. “Not really. I have to make sure Marcella eats. She’s being a pain in the ass today, if you haven’t noticed.”

His alpha walked over, eying him wearily. “She can get her own food. What in the hell are you thinking?” Luis leaned in and inhaled deeply. “There’s something different about your scent. You smell. Are you marked?”

Aggravated, Donavon turned around. “Yes. Is there a problem?”

“Well, since you knew I wanted her, yeah, I think there is. You just went against a direct order. Are you looking to die?”

“Not really. So what do you want to do about it, Luis?”

Grabbing the sandwich meat, he turned around. A fist smashing into his cheek caught Donavon off guard. Rubbing the throbbing that exploded across his skin, he stared at the man. “Do you feel better now?”

“Not really.” Luis pulled out his gun and struck him across the cheek with it, only to press the barrel into the side of Donavon’s head. “I trusted you to watch over her for me. I thought you didn’t like women?”

“She’s different. Plus, she marked me.”

“Oh, did she?” He got quiet as he slowly lowered his gun. “Why do you think she marked you?”

“Hell only knows. She can’t stand me.”

Luis started to raise his gun again, but stopped. “Why don’t you fight back?”

“Because then I would be challenging you for alpha. I don’t want to do that. Marcella and I will leave, if that’s what you want. I’ve wanted to do the whole barefoot and pregnant thing for a while now. It’s not that I didn’t like woman, Luis. I’ve just been waiting for the right one. I sure as hell didn’t think it would be her.”

Luis eyed him wearily. “Right. Well, leaving is out of the question. I think you just don’t want her around the other men. Smart of you. I know a few who would kill to have her.” The threat was evident in his voice.

Donavon didn’t like getting threatened. “If any of them think they can accomplish it, tell them good luck, but they better hope they kill me because when I get done with them, they’ll wish they had.”

“I don’t doubt that.” The alpha used the end of the barrel to scratch his temple. “You knew the moment you entered my pack, you could never get out. You swore in with blood. There’s the back house you can stay in, but if you even think about skipping town…”

“Gotcha.” So he couldn’t leave. Ever. This shit wasn’t going to work. He needed to weigh his options. Donavon knew he was meant to lead as an alpha, but the circumstances didn’t feel right. He watched Luis look him up and down right before his leader turned and walked back to the living room. Making him and Marcella a sandwich, Donavon carried it back up to his room. Whispering caused him to stop short of the door.

“Ambrose, please tell them I’m okay. Really. Dom was upset earlier, and when I called, he didn’t answer the phone. I’m worried he’ll try to do something. I need everyone to stay there. If something were to happen to any of you”

She paused and then continued. “No. He’s very protective. I can’t deny I feel a bond to him. My heart is begging for him to realize the truth, that way we can all move forward. I want to love him, Ambrose. I want him to love me, but with conditions, of course. He has to accept all of you, or else it won’t work.”

Donavon pushed open the door. Marcella froze on the bed, her eyes filled with terror. Knowing she feared him was something he didn’t like at all. He wanted to cherish her, love her, not make her afraid of him every time he walked into the room.

“I have to go.” She hung up the phone and dropped it to her bag.

“I brought you something to eat. You need your strength so you can heal.”

She nodded as he walked forward. Just at her words, he wasn’t sure what to think. So she did feel something for him. But why were these men so important to her? Why did he have to accept them for something to work? Nothing made sense.

“Thank you.”

He observed her small, delicate fingers take the plate from him. Time slowed as he watched her bring the food to her mouth. Colors faded in and out as a flash of Marcella erupted in front of him. They were in some kind of open area, a huge room of stone. A large table seemed to stretch on forever. She sat, slowly cutting her food apart, laughing at someone sitting next to him, closest to her.