EmbracedbyaWarrior (5 page)

Brisa shook her head as her friend walked away. Janey was
always the optimist. Brisa, on the other hand, wasn’t much of one. In her eyes,
Darius not showing up without calling wasn’t a good sign, especially after the
afternoon they’d spent together. She’d thought for sure he was as in to her as
she was in to him.

Finished doing the last-minute tasks of cleaning up behind
the bar, Brisa went back to the room where she’d put her purse and the bag
she’d packed for the night and weekend. The one she now didn’t need.

She left the bar and headed to the parking lot and her car.
Usually when a guy stood her up that meant she didn’t give him a second chance.
If he did it once he was liable to do it again. But if Darius called her
tomorrow and had a legitimate excuse, she didn’t think she’d be able to tell
him she didn’t want to see him. As she’d said to Janey, he was perfect in every
way. He was the type of guy she’d hoped to meet, fall in love with and end up
married to.

She gave herself a mental kick as she started her car, then
pulled out of the lot. She was getting way ahead of herself. There was no
guarantee Darius would even call her tomorrow. And she sure as shit wouldn’t
call him. Coming across as desperate was not something she wanted to do. No, if
he really wanted to see her again Darius would have to be the one doing the
calling. And he’d better have a good excuse. He might be the ideal man she was
looking for, but that didn’t mean she’d be his doormat.

* * * * *

Darius came awake as pain tore through his body. Once it was
over, he held his hand up in front of his face and breathed a sigh of relief.
He was back in his human form. The spell must have worn off as Anubis had said
it would.

Sitting up, Darius stretched, feeling as if he really hadn’t
slept at all. He’d probably spent the majority of what had been left of the
night pacing, only to finally fall into bed shortly after dawn. He’d been too
worried to sleep. About being stuck shifted, and about what Brisa’s reaction
had been when he hadn’t shown up at the bar. Even though he didn’t think he
could have a permanent relationship with her, that didn’t mean he was ready to
let her go.

Darius stood and shoved his hand into the front pockets of
his jeans, then took out his keys and cell phone. He threw the first on the bed
and looked at the latter to make sure the battery wasn’t dead. He still had a
couple of bars left.

It was just after nine a.m. It was a bit too early to call
Brisa, considering she’d worked a night shift. Darius decided to shower first
before he called her. If she refused to talk to him, he had every intention of
going over to her apartment to try to convince her to see him.

By the time he finished all that it was going on quarter to
ten. It was still fairly early, but Darius couldn’t wait any longer. He picked
up his cell phone and called Brisa’s number. She picked up after the fourth
ring.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Brisa.”

“Hi, Darius. I wasn’t sure if I’d hear from you today.”

He swore to himself. She sounded a bit ticked with him,
which he totally understood. “I’m so sorry about last night. I planned to show
up right until the last minute.”

“You could have called, you know. Actually, it would have
been nice if you had instead of leaving me to wonder if you just forgot about
me.”

“I would have if I could. I’d forgotten to take my phone
with me, and by the time I got home it was so late I knew you would be asleep.
That’s why I’m calling now. I still want to spend the weekend with you, Brisa.
Can I come and pick you up? We can go out for some breakfast, then I’ll bring
you back here. Please don’t be angry at me.”

He heard her sigh on the other end. “If I say yes, you have
to promise never to stand me up again. I won’t give you another chance if you
do.”

“You have my word.” At least Darius hoped nothing like this
happened again.

“All right. Like I said, this is the last time I’ll overlook
you standing me up.”

“I’ll make it up to you. I just have to take care of one
thing here, then I’ll come to your apartment.”

“Okay. See you then.”

Darius hung up then headed to the garage. He found a piece
of plywood he had lying around and roughly cut it to the shape of the window
he’d had to break the night before. With a few nails to tack it in place until
he had it repaired, Darius figured it would be good enough. His car wouldn’t be
quite so easy to jerry-rig. He’d have to take it in to get it repaired, but not
today, which left only his motorcycle. He hoped Brisa wouldn’t mind riding on
the back of it.

Brisa opened her apartment door and stepped back for Darius
to come inside. It was a half-hour since he’d called and asked to see her. As
she’d predicted, hearing his voice, she hadn’t been able to tell him no. And it
hadn’t helped that she’d awoken that morning after having an erotic dream that
starred Darius. She’d been so turned-on that her pussy had been wet, aching to
be filled.

“Do you want to go out for some breakfast?” Darius asked
once she shut the door behind him.

“Actually, I’m not much of a breakfast eater. Give me a cup
of tea and I’m fine until lunch. But thanks for the offer, anyway.”

Darius met her gaze. “You’re mad at me.”

She shook her head. “Not really. I’d say it’s more like
annoyed. I don’t like being left in the lurch like that.”

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her up against his
chest. “I’m sorry. I tried everything in my power to make it, but it didn’t
happen. I wasn’t happy about it, believe me. I’d looked forward to being with
you again. I missed not showing you my bed.”

Brisa put her hands on Darius’ chest and smiled. “Yeah, you
were going to do that.”

He bent his head and brushed his lips across hers. “Do you
think you can forgive me enough to come and see it now?”

Her heart rate increased at the thought of what they’d do in
his bed. It looked as if she’d get some apology sex, after all. “Hmm, I think I
can be persuaded.”

“Maybe this will help.”

Darius took her mouth fully. He held her tighter as he
pushed his tongue past her lips, twining it with hers. Pressed against him from
chest to knees, Brisa felt how hard his cock was. Her pussy clenched in
reaction as a surge of arousal shot through her. She wanted him, there was no
denying that.

After another minute, Darius lifted his head. “Well?”

It took Brisa a few seconds to understand what he asked.
“Oh, I’d say that definitely helped.”

“Good, because if I have to do more persuading we’ll never
get out of here.”

A shiver of anticipation ran down Brisa’s back. “Should I go
pack an overnight bag?”

“Make it for two nights.”

Brisa left Darius standing at the door and rushed to her
bedroom. She made short work of throwing what she needed into the athletic bag
she’d used the night before. She stopped at the bathroom to get her toothbrush
before she returned to Darius.

“All set,” she said.

He took the bag from her and opened the door. Darius waited
in the hallway as Brisa locked it behind her. He took her hand, linking their
fingers together, as he guided her over to the elevators.

Once they were outside, he led her to the visitors parking
lot. Not seeing Darius’ car, but noticing he walked toward a motorcycle, Brisa
had to force herself to keep following him.

She swallowed when Darius unlocked a helmet from the side of
the bike and handed it to her. She gave him a weak smile. “You aren’t driving
your car,” she said, stating the obvious.

“With the craziness of last night, the driver’s side window
was smashed. I have to take it in to get repaired.”

“Maybe I should drive my car and follow you.”

Darius gave her a crooked smile. “Don’t tell me you’re
afraid to ride on a motorcycle.”

“Well, maybe a little. They can be dangerous.”

“Only if you don’t know what you’re doing. You have nothing
to worry about. I’m a good driver.”

“What about my bag?”

He took it from her and put the strap over his head so it
lay diagonally across his chest. “It can sit on my lap.”

“Darius, I really don’t know.”

He kissed the tip of her nose as he took the helmet she
still held. He placed it on her head and did the strap up under her chin.
“You’ll be fine, Brisa. Just put your arms around my waist and hold on tight.”

She watched him get the second helmet and put it on. He
climbed onto the bike and adjusted her bag so it was in front of him. Darius
patted the seat behind him. Taking a deep breath for courage, hoping he was as
good a driver as he’d said, Brisa sat at his back. She put her arms around his
waist, locking her hands together. He put up the kickstand, and with a press of
a button, started the bike’s engine. As he drove out of the lot, she held on
for dear life.

After they’d driven down a few streets, Brisa forced herself
to watch the scenery go by. Being on the back of the motorcycle wasn’t as scary
as she’d thought it would be. Mostly because Darius wasn’t driving like a speed
demon.

She soon changed her opinion about that when he sped up and
took a corner too fast for her liking. She clutched Darius even tighter, sure
she was cutting off some of his circulation to his waist. Brisa didn’t care.
She heard him chuckle over the roar of the motorcycle and realized he’d done it
on purpose. In case he did it again, she put her face to the center of his back
and closed her eyes. Eventually, the bike came to a stop, but Brisa didn’t open
her eyes to see if they’d reached their destination, or if they were only
stopped at a red light.

Darius patted her linked hands. “You can let go now, Brisa.
We’re at my place.” The bike’s engine cut off after he’d said the last word.

She turned her head and opened her eyes. They sat in front
of Darius’ large house on the drive by the front door. It took a few seconds for
her to unlock her hands, then she swung her leg over the back of the motorcycle
and got off. As she removed her helmet, Darius put down the kickstand before he
joined her. He took the helmet from her and locked it to the bike as he’d done
with his.

The first thing Brisa noticed when they walked closer to the
door was the piece of plywood where a glass window had been next to it. She
turned her gaze on Darius. “Did this happen last night as well?”

He gave her a half smile. “Yeah. I kind of locked myself out,
so I punched out the window to get in. Let’s just say last night wasn’t my
night.”

“I guess not.”

Darius let them inside the house. Brisa’s gaze landed on the
banister and a small smile played on her lips as she remembered her wild rides
down it the day before. She turned to say something along those lines to
Darius, but found all the words left her head when she looked at him. He stared
at her as if he wanted to gobble her up. Arousal spiked through her, making her
insides melt. She wanted the gorgeous man who stood in front of her right here,
right now.

Without a word, Brisa stepped into Darius’ arms and met his
lips halfway when he lowered his head to kiss her. The passion that had flared
to life at her apartment grew ten times hotter. He buried his hand in the hair
at the back of her head as he angled his mouth for a tighter fit, nipping and
sucking at her lips.

She fisted her hands in the front of Darius’ t-shirt, trying
to drag him even closer when they were already as close as they could get. Her
pussy throbbed, wetness pooling between her thighs. She moaned into his mouth,
loving the taste of him on her tongue.

Darius shifted his hands to her waist and released her
mouth. “I think we’ll be more comfortable upstairs.”

“My thoughts exactly,” she said, a bit breathless.

He took her hand and tugged her up the staircase. At the
top, Darius guided her down the hallway to the end where they stepped into his
large bedroom. Brisa took in the high ceiling, small sitting area at one side
and the king-sized, four-poster bed, which was the focal point of the room.

She turned back to Darius at the sound of her bag hitting
the hardwood floor. His heated gaze ran over her body. Brisa shivered as if
he’d touched her physically. He closed the distance between them and took her
in his arms. His cock, thick and hard, nestled against her belly, making her
ache even more.

“I think you should strip me naked and have your way with
me,” Brisa said in a husky voice.

Darius groaned. “Have to love a woman who knows what she
wants.”

He lifted the bottom of her shirt. Brisa held up her arms as
he yanked it all the way off. Her bra quickly followed, leaving her naked from
the waist up. Darius circled a taut nipple with the tip of his finger before he
moved to the top of her jeans. Brisa toed off her shoes and kicked them to the
side. He undid the button and zipper, shoving the material past her hips until
it fell down her legs to pool around her ankles. She stepped out of her jeans
and shoved them out of the way.

Her panties were hooked with a finger and stripped from her
as Darius bent his head and sucked a nipple past his lips. Brisa held on to him
for balance, pleasure shooting through her with each tug of his mouth. He paid
the same amount of attention to the second before running his gaze over her
entire body.

“You’re beautiful,” Darius said in a strained voice. “I
can’t wait to be inside you.”

Brisa cupped the front of his jeans, squeezing his cock. “I
want you, Darius. Don’t make me wait any longer.”

With a noise that sounded partway to a growl, Darius tore
his shirt over his head and tossed it away. His pants were jerked down and
kicked aside. Brisa watched as each inch of male flesh was uncovered. Darius
was all hard muscle without an inch of fat anywhere.

Brisa dropped her gaze to his cock. Fully engorged, it stuck
out straight from his body. She licked her lips as she remembered what it had
been like to have it in her mouth. She wrapped her hand around his thick length
and pumped, loving the sensation of him in her grasp. Her pussy clenched. It
would feel so good having him fill her, sliding in and out.

Darius picked her up and gently placed her on the center of
the bed before he followed her down. He took her mouth in a demanding kiss
while a hand delved between her legs. She spread them wider, aching for Darius’
touch. He caressed along her pussy, a finger dipping inside. A second soon
joined it as he stroked them in and out. Brisa clenched her inner walls around
the digits working her, pleasure surging through her with each pass of his
thumb over her clit.

Brisa broke the contact with his mouth. “Darius,” she
moaned. “Now. I’m more than ready for you.”

“Then no more waiting,” he replied huskily.

Darius shifted so he lay on top of her with his hips wedged
between her thighs. The head of his cock pushed against her pussy. Brisa bent
her legs and matched each of his strokes as he slowly worked his erection
inside her. His thickness stretched her, filling her up, feeling as good as
she’d imagined it would. Once he was sheathed to the hilt, they were both
breathing heavy.

Canting back his hips, Darius almost pulled all the way out
before he slid back home. In and out he pumped, driving her ever closer to her
climax. It wasn’t going to take much to send her flying, not this first time.
His thrusts became faster, harder. The sound of their combined moans filled the
room.

Darius lifted his upper body onto his hands, his hips
continuing to thrust between her spread thighs. He angled his inward strokes so
he hit just the right spot that gave her the most pleasure. Brisa clutched at
his arms, matching his pace, feeling his cock grow even harder deep inside her.
She was so close. It would only take a few more thrusts and she’d come.

Once, twice he pistoned into her, then she whimpered his name
as her body shattered with an intense orgasm. Her inner walls clutched and
released his erection, milking it in a tight fist. Darius continued to move
until her climax ended.

Having not come when she had, he pulled out and urged her
onto her stomach. Hands on her hips, he lifted her up onto her knees. Brisa
held her upper body on her bent arms as Darius shifted behind her. He ran his
fingers down her back in a caress and plunged back into her pussy.

He set a fast pace, sinking in deeper than he had in the
other position. Again, she felt her body coiling tighter, another orgasm
building. Brisa pushed back to match Darius’ strokes. He held on to her hips as
he took her in hard thrusts.

Her second climax snuck up on her and crashed over her in a
torrent. Darius pumped into her once, then a second time, before he leaned
down, blanketing her with his body. Brisa felt the scrape of sharp teeth at her
back where her shoulder and neck met, but was too lost in the sensations
tearing through her body to care. She felt Darius’ cock pulse deep inside her
pussy while he moaned and groaned, holding her tightly to him.

Once it was over, he brought them both down to their sides,
her head tucked under his chin. She felt completely surrounded by him, his body
heat sinking into her skin. She snuggled closer, content just to lie in his
arms.

Darius’ breathing slowly returned to normal, as did Brisa’s.
He was sated, but he had a feeling that wouldn’t last long. He’d want her again
shortly. Deep down inside, he didn’t think he’d ever get enough of her. Sex
with Brisa didn’t compare with the one-night stands he’d only allowed himself
since becoming one of Anubis’ warriors. The pleasure he found in her arms was
more intense, more fulfilling.

The only thing that marred what was otherwise the best sex
of his life was what had happened just before he’d come. He’d had an almost
overpowering urge to mark Brisa, to sink his teeth into her, then keep them
there as he filled her with his cum. As if in response, he’d felt the burning
in his gums as his eyeteeth had become longer, sharper, what they were like
when he was in his shifted form. But unlike the last time he’d had an
unexpected shift, only his teeth had changed, nothing else. And the instant his
orgasm had ended they’d gone back to normal.

Darius kissed the top of Brisa’s head as she pressed against
him. His cock twitched in renewed interest, but he did nothing about it. He
wanted to give Brisa enough time to recover before he took her again.

“You’re awfully quiet back there,” she said, a smile
sounding in her voice.