Demon Possession (33 page)

… Sebastian held his breath when she licked her lips.

“Bastian could I—”

“Anything you want.” He bit out.

Giving him a tentative smile she moved from under him, guiding him to the head of the bed with his back against the headboard. Then in a studying manner her attention was on his shaft. Her head tilted this way and that as if she didn’t know where to begin. Sebastian clenched the bed sheets, determined to let her explore him at her leisure. With a slowness that was maddening, she leaned down until her mouth hovered over his shaft.

Sebastian’s grip on the sheets tightened.

Testing, her tongue flicked out to lick the tip of him. He let out an involuntary groan. She looked up at him and smiled,as if pleased with his reaction. He watched her intensely, eager to see what she would do next.

The pleasure of her sucking him into her mouth was more than he’d ever experienced. He had to fight to keep from bucking his hips. The sound of something tearing registered with his mind and he loosened his grip on the sheets.

Though it was obvious she was new to this, it didn’t make it any less sweet.In fact, it made it al the more that he knew she’d never done this for another. It made him feel even more possessive of her than he already was.

She was relentless, sucking and licking and pumping him into her hot mouth. Her soft little moans reverberating through him.

He was tempted to let her have her fil ,but he felt he could come any second with her stroking him with her mouth like that, and he wanted to be inside her when he came. As much as it pained him, he pul ed her away from his throbbing cock. “You’re going to make me come if you keep doing that.”

The smile she gave him was nothing short of wicked.Oh, he was in trouble.

Back stil against the headboard he grabbed her around the waist and pul ed her on top of him, working her down his length. As he penetrated, she threw her head back with a cry of pure satisfaction. With his hands gripping her waist he showed her how to move, slow at first, then she took over. Her appetite for pleasure matched his own,and soon both their hips were undulating in unison, their breaths mingling. The sounds she made seemed to be like a drug to him, making him mindless for more of her, for every bit of her.

Vaguely he realized his fangs were elongating.

Her breast rubbed against his chest as she moved up and down. Maddening. He gripped her half around her waist fingers on her ass, forcing her hard into him, her cries encouraging. Faster and harder he thrust her upon him. When her head fel back once more, her soft neck presented to him, he put his lips to her, his fangs sliding lightly over her tender flesh.

Anya gasped and pul ed away. He’d been about to bite her. Emotions ran through her as he continued to give her the most mind-blowing pleasure she’d ever experienced. It didn’t surprise her that he would attempt to claim her in the heat of their passion. No, that was almost expected. What surprised her was that she … wanted him to.

But the threat against them was too great. The idea that if he claimed her and she was taken away from him was too much. She couldn’t bear the thought of it. He would never be able to take another as his mate. And though the image of him with another woman hurt, she wanted him to be able to find happiness, even if it wasn’t with her.

Bastian’s voice was a low rumble, “Anya.” He pleaded. “Give yourself to me. I’l be good to you, I swear. You already have me wrapped around your wee finger.” He managed a smile.

Slowly she shook her head. His features grew pained. “Not yet. Please understand. I can’t … not when he’s out there.”—pause—“What if I … if you’d done it, and I …” She couldn’t finish her sentence.

In a swift move he wrapped his arms around her and pul ed her to him. “So it’s only out of concern for me that you refuse?” When she nodded he said.

“That’s sil y.” At her raised eyebrow he quickly added, “But I’l al ow it. As soon as I have you to safety, you’re mine.” To make his point he thrust hard into her, and they resumed their frenzy.

As their joining became more frantic, she felt his hot seed shoot into her and was instantly overcome with a blinding release that took her breath. With both of them panting she let her body rest against his muscled chest, absently fingering the metal around his neck.

She felt his body go stil .

His reactionreminded her of their first morning together. She could tel something was wrong and it had to do with his necklace. Backing away she,studied him. The moment he looked at her he relaxedagain,as if everything were fine, but—

“Tel me about your necklace.”

Slightly he stiffened once more. When he didn’t answer she moved to get off him,but he stayed her with his hands on her waist.

“It was a gift from my mother, just before she betrayed us.”

“Why do you keep it?”

“I use it as a reminder. To … protect myself from …” he paused, obviously debating continuing. “You.” He final y said.

She tilted her head at that.

“I thought that finding my mate would be like a death sentence. After what happened to Cale, I thought I should avoid the whole thing altogether.”

A sadness came over her like nothing she’d felt before. He hadn’t wanted to find her, had loathed the idea of her. Yet here she is.

“But I was wrong.” He bit out. “I couldn’t have been more wrong about anything in my life. I know you would never betray me like that.”

Anya was silent for a moment.“The time I’ve spent on this ship has taught me that therearepeople out there who are good, and kind. You’ve shown me that.” She paused,”I spend al my time trying to forget my past, when you wish only to hold on to yours.”

“You make it seem so easy.”

“It’s not easy. A lot of the time I’m pretending to be okay. But it helps when you meet someone who truly cares for you, no matter what you are …” she bit her lip.

Should she tel him?

A light refracted off the necklace drawing her eye.

Draping her hands around his neck she unclasped the necklace and then clasped it around her own neck. The metal dangled heavy between her breasts.

His eyes turned hungry.

“There, now it wil always remind you of me.”

He gave her a heart-stopping grin, and kissed her with renewed hunger. Suddenly he drew back, his brows drawn together. Shaking his head Sebastian said, “As many times as I had set foot on that ship, I should have sensed you. I should have caught your scent, torn the ship apart looking for you.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry.”

“As much as I would have loved being rescued by a big scary demon with horns, claws, and overgrown fangs—”

“Hey, you like my fangs.”

She shivered at thethought of his teethgrazing her skin. “Be that as it may, there was nothing you could have done.”

“I should have known. Demons are supposed to be able to scent their mates from miles away.”

“Then why did it take so long for you to realize what I wasto youwhen I was two feet away?”

“Denial is a powerful thing.”

“Then, if youhadsensed me one day, wouldn’t you have just denied it?”

Bastian lowered his head.

“Stop this. It’s in the past. You’re speaking of things that have no place in the realm of possibilities. I was kept in only the most remote parts of the ship.

There’s no way you could have known. You have me now. That’s al that matters.” She hoped.

In a grave voice he replied. “I wil make it up to you. If it takes me the rest of my life.”

“As long as you’re alive, that is gift enough.”

He pul ed her close and kissedher with such tenderness. Their foreheads touching,he said, “I have to go.”

After dressing, Sebastian left Anya stil nearly naked in his room. As soon as he got rid of Darius, she would again be ful y naked and in his bed.

She had tried hard to convince him that he hadn’t failed her by not sensing her on TheExtarga. Itispossible that he had no way of knowing, but thinking back he wasn’t sure. He realized now that stepping onto that shiphadfelt different, though he’d never given it a second thought. Like he told Anya, he’d never wanted to find his mate. Abhorred the idea of it his whole life. Could he have perceived his mate in some way and ignored his instincts?

Unconsciously convincing himself that she was fine where she was? Was it truly possible that he’d denied her and left her there to suffer? For years?

He touched the chain around his neck. Anya had given it back to him just before he’d left, along with the sweetest kiss to his lips.

How could she look so determined and utterly lost at the same time?

He supposed she imagined the necklacewasa parting gift. Something to remember her by. She truly feared she was going back. But there was no way he would al ow that. Not when he had just found her.

His mate.

And oh did he want her, like nothing he’d ever wanted before. She was perfect for him in every way. Knowing her now, how could he have ever not wanted to find her?If he’d know was a perfect creature he was destined for, he would have torn apart the universe to find her.

In bed Anya had hinted that when this was over she might accept him. The thought made his blood fire, time to deal with the one thing standing in his way.

Darius wasted no time with establishing contact. He was already on the screen demanding a report when Sebastian entered the room.

You bastard! I’l kil you slowly.

“Darius,” he greeted as formal y as he could.

“Wel ?” Darius asked impatiently. “Have you found her?”

“It’s just as I thought. There’s nothing out of the ordinary on my ship. No little girls out of place.”

Darius remained silent. Leaning back in his chair, he looked down his nose at Sebastian.

Knowing he wasn’t convincedSebastianadded. “I had every available crew member searching.” Sebastian lied. “No corridor was left unchecked.”

Eyes growing dark Darius replied in a somber tone. “I know she’s here. I can feel it.”

Sebastian stifled a growl. The bastard was unusual y determined.For a mere slave?Why this need to persist without cause.

Unless …

A terrible suspicion invaded his mind, sinking in his stomach like a lead weight. Was Darius … was he in love with Anya?

Sebastian mental y shook himself. He needed this man away from his mate. Now! With teeth clenched, and his voice almost a snarl Sebastian said, “I can say with one-hundred percent certainty that you’re wrong. There isno oneon my ship who belongs to you. We have a job to complete and you’ve delayed us long enough.”

Darius leaned forward, “I want on that ship Sebastian.” The screen went black.

Anya paced the room, nervously glancing out the window every few seconds at The Hel Ship. Any second now that ship could turn away … or not.

Please turn away.

It didn’t budge.

Anya sat on the bed, then stood twitting her fingers together, and paced some more. Bastian hadn’t been gone very long, but it should have been enough time to tel Darius she wasn’t onboard. Anya had a real y bad feeling things weren’t going as planned. She knew what she would have to do, and she was ready for it. TheMaradawould safely get away if it was the last thing she did. And she feared it might be.

At least she was able to leave something of herself with Bastian, a trinket that hopeful y she’d changed the meaning of. She hoped he would use it as a reminder that it was okay to trust sometimes … to love.

A cold icy chil froze her dead in her tracks. A dreadful y familiar energy slammed into her, an energy that tore the last of her hope straight from her chest.

Her breath left her.

Oh gods no!

TheExtarga’s weapons were powering up. Darius was going to attack.

She barely had time to turn before the first shot rocked the ship, then another. Her heart sank in her chest, and adrenalin spiked. This was it. Sebastian had his chance, and it hadn’t worked. Now it was her turn. Thundering her way down the stairs Anya burst into the control room, where things seemed to have gone into a strange organized chaos.

Sebastian was screaming orders. “Al available power to shields! Aidan! Get us the fuck out of here!”

Someone yel ed, “Shields down to eighty-one percent!”

“Let’s keep it there!” Sebastian replied.

Another round of heavy blasts shook the ship.

“Shields at sixty-seven percent!”

“Fuck!” Over the loud speaker Sebastian ordered. “Al gunmen to their stations! Target theExtarga’s weapons and fire at wil !”

Two more blasts had the crew gripping their stations for balance. With a loud pop, sparks shot out from an electronic box on the wal .

“Shields, forty-nine percent!”

“They’re targeting our thrusters!” Aidan yel ed.

Just then Sebastian noticed her standing in the doorway. “Anya, get back to the room. Better yet go find Sonya and make sure she’s okay. We’l get out of this.”

Ignoring him she made her way to Aidan’s station.

“Hey.” Aidan barked when Anya pushed him out of the way. He reached for his console and she slapped his hand away. At a loss,he looked toward Sebastian.

Bastian must have been stunned too, the room had grown quiet. Until another blow shook the wal s, causing more sparking.

Revealing a slight bit of panic,a voice rang out,“Shields at thirty percent,Captain!”

“Anya! This is serious. Get away from Aidan’s station.”

“Captain!” She addressed him formal y to emphasize that she knew perfectly wel how serious the situation was. “There is only one way we’re going to get out of this alive.” She quickly brought up the code for the warp drive, finding the error and correcting it within seconds.

Aidan was watching over her shoulder with fascination. “I can’t believe it.” He breathed. “It can’t be that simple.”

Turning to Sebastian she commanded. “Captain, prepare the ship for warp drive.” Behind her Aidan was scrol ing through the code as if seeing it for the first time.

“Aidan?” Sebastian cal ed in question.

“It looks … I mean I can’t be sure but … she may have fixed it.”

Shaking his head Sebastian replied. “Even if it were in working order, we don’t have the amount of power needed. Anya, leave this to me.”