Immortal Rapture: Immortal Heart (9 page)

“Holy shit,” she breathed before pulling his hands from her hips to fall on her knees and take his face in her palms. “It’s not right that you are this hot and that damn good.”

She captured his mouth with hers. It was a general rule for her that she didn’t kiss a man after he’d just been down on her, but there was nothing that would keep her from kissing the man in front of her. Her heart thumped against her ribs as he lifted her from the ground and carried her into the living room, where he gently set her down and pulled away.

She arched a brow. “Where are you going?”

He smiled at her, his cock pressing hard against his zipper, aching to get to her. “I’m going to go make us some lunch.”

“Are you serious, right now?”
she groaned.

He shrugged.

“I am sitting here naked, and you’re worried about food?”

He grinned. “You need to eat something.”

A Cheshire grin spread across her face. “Is it to fuel me for later?”

He laughed as he made his way to the kitchen.

God he wanted
her. He wanted nothing more than to burry himself deep inside her heated body. To feel something other than pain and loss. Marie was life and warmth. And in the short time he’d spent with her, he craved her on a level deeper then he thought possible… he felt like an ass and guilt threatened to weaken him, but he was ready to move forward and now he couldn’t imagine moving without the beautiful dark-haired beauty that sat naked in the other room.

Esperanza stared out the large window in Darion’s throne room. The world was monotone and dead around them. The feeling inside the palace walls wasn’t much better. Whatever Holly had been turned into, she was powerful
. Darion was still feeling the effects of her magic. Esperanza nearly laughed at the thought that she had apparently bet on the wrong daughter. She sighed at her own cruelty. Rowan was dead at the hands of her lover.

“Lady Esperanza?” A low voice called her name from somewhere near the room’s entrance. She knew she was a terrifying mistress, but the weakness that filled those that graced the palace was pathetic.

“What is it, Jaeb?”

“The snow is beginning to melt.”

Esperanza’s eyes narrowed at the drifts of pure white below the window. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, My Lady, the seer says Jelena is back with her sisters.”

“And the child?”

Jaeb shifted uncomfortably. “The Immortal Makyle has him.”

Esperanza sneered as she turned on him. “Of course he has him. Where are they?”

“Headed to the Human World.”

“Then I suggest you get our warriors there as well,” she roared.

“Yes, My Lady
,” he said, turning on his feet to scurry from the room.

“Oh and Jaeb?” she called after him.

“Yes, My Lady?”

“When you are finished, come to Lord Darion’s chambers…
He needs to feed.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

Esperanza sighed and moved to the passages that would carry her unseen through the palace and back to Darion. Since Holly had thrown her dreadful magic at them, hurtling those who were still standing during the battle back to the Dark palace courtyard, Darion had been weak, sleeping and feeding on the sexual energy of all he could get his hands on. It was as if he were experiencing his frenzy, even though he’d found his true mate in her. Without the multiple feedings daily, he would have perished months ago. With a deep breath, she pushed the stone wall open and entered their chambers. She smiled at the once-handsome man, who now looked to be only a shadow of himself, and began undressing.

She slid into bed next to him and cupped his face. “How are you feeling today?”

“Hungry,” he nearly growled before rolling on top of her to capture her mouth. She closed her eyes and hoped that Jaeb hurried. Darion was weakening her with every encounter.

***
*

“How about a movie?” Uriah asked as he stood from the couch.

Marie shrugged. “Sure.”

Uriah smirked. “I thought giving you something other than my profile to stare at would be appreciated.”

She laughed. “Hardly, you’re the perfect piece of eye candy… I could stare at you all day.”

Uriah shook his head. Marie sat up from her lounging position on the couch, where she had spent most of the past hour staring at him, her gaze flicking to the television every so often. It was taking all her control not to just lunge at him. After what had happened in the kitchen, she had reluctantly put her clothes back on when all she really wanted to do was strip him down and see all that hid beneath his jeans. She knew he wanted her too… if the hardness pressing against his zipper was any indication, but he had put distance between them. Forcing her to eat food instead of just letting her devour him.

Too fast, maybe it had all happened to fast. Somehow that thought hurt… it was that
sharp, piercing pain in your heart when you lose something that truly matters. How he had become something that could cause that kind of pain so quickly was goddamn scary and downright stupid. Less than twenty-four hours ago, he was mourning. It was altogether possible she had just taken advantage of the gorgeous man in front of her.

“Actually, I’m gonna go to bed
,” she said, pushing to her feet. She grabbed their plates, made her way to the kitchen to deposit them in the sink, and nearly ran into Uriah as she came back around the corner to head up the stairs.

She yelped. “Jesus, you move so fucking silently.”

“Sorry… I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

She sighed. “You didn’t frighten me
. I just didn’t expect you to be standing here.”

Marie averted her eyes and attempted to step around him.

Uriah reached out to gently clasp her arm. “What’s wrong?”

She forced a smile and shook her head. “Nothing, I’m just tired is all.”

Uriah arched a brow at her. “No, you’re not. It’s barely past six. You’re upset, but I’m not sure why.”

She tilted her head and smiled at him. Was it really possible for someone so attractive to be so genuine and so unaware at the same time? “It’s all good, Uriah.”

His fingers grazed over the silky skin of her cheek. “Tell me what I did wrong.”

Her lids slipped closed briefly, her body responding to his gentle caress. “You did nothing wrong, but I think I may have.”

His brows furrowed and his head tilted in question.

She took a deep breath. “I dove in and you weren’t ready…
What happened in the kitchen probably shouldn’t have happened. Don’t get me wrong, it was amazing, incredible in fact, but you seemed to shut down afterwards.”

Finding control was what it had been…
One taste and he was drunk on her scent, her taste, and even the raw, untapped magic that flowed through her veins. If he hadn’t stepped back, he would have thrown her over his shoulder like a caveman, and kept her naked and occupied in the bedroom for the very long foreseeable future. How did he explain that to her, without sounding crazy and obsessed?

He shook his head and struggled for words. “I wasn’t shutting down… I was looking for control. There are things to be considered.”

She bit the inside of her cheek. “Some things don’t need to be analyzed. Sometimes having fun, giving into what you want and losing a little control, is good for the soul.”

He smiled. She was so young and free… and she was right. Reaching around her
waist, he picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. She laughed as he hurried up the stairs.

“Fun enough for you?” he asked as he pushed open the guest room door.

“It’s a great view,” she grinned and slapping his ass.

Uriah tossed her on the bed and lowered himself over her to capture her mouth in a searing kiss. She pulled him closer and wrapped her legs around his waist. Uriah suppressed a growl as she ground gently against him, feeding his need for her even further. A loud slam sounded from downstairs, causing them both to pause.

“What was that?” she whispered.

Uriah shook his head as he placed two fingers over her lips. “Stay here, and don’t make a sound.”

He moved silently from the room, shutting her inside without a single sound.

Moving down the hall, Uriah peer
ed over the rail to the living room, seeing only a shadow pass from the kitchen. Using his telekinesis, he dropped silently to the first floor and rounded the corner to the kitchen, where he threw his magic to hold the intruder in invisible restraints.

A dark hood fell from the head of the man standing in the kitchen. Uriah dropped the magic and stared at Makyle as he growled.

“Izzy isn’t here,” Uriah said, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I’m not looking for Isabelle.”

“You should be. For whatever reason, she cares about you and she worries.”

Uriah moved past him to turn off the security system before
Hawk’s Eye and the police were notified of the intruder.

“Lose the fucking attitude, Uriah.”

Makyle was lucky all he was getting was attitude… Uriah hated the brothers. That was something that would take time to get over. He may have been moving on and letting Jelena go, but they were the ones who took her in the first place. They caused the pain he’d been living with for the past months. Uriah’s eyes narrowed as he noticed Makyle’s arm was placed across his chest under the cloak he was wearing.

“What’s wrong with you?” he asked.

Makyle sighed. “We have a lot to talk about. And not much time.” He pushed the cloak from his shoulders and revealed the small bundle protected in his arm. The baby stirred and looked at Uriah, while making a small cooing noise.

Uriah felt his heart seize. One of the baby’s eyes was that same stunning shade of jade as Jelena’s…
and the other? Well, it looked like his fathers, and his own. Uriah’s gaze lifted to Makyle.

“How?” he whispered.

“You’re the offspring of a fertility goddess. I would think you of anyone would understand how babies are made.”

Uriah groaned in frustration. “When did you become such a smartass?” He didn’t bother to ask how Makyle about the fertility
goddess comment. The man seemed to know all and failed to share everything.

Makyle smirked. “I spend too much time with Izzy… who has taken on some of Bain’s less
-than-favorable personality traits.”

Uriah suppressed a chuckle… this wasn’t the time for jokes. He moved towards Makyle and held his hands out. Makyle hesitated before handing the baby to Uriah. Lifting the baby close to his face, he studied the chubby little cheeks and red lips, the dark hair and the mismatched eyes.

“What’s his name?”

“Makiah.”

Uriah smiled down at his son. “I like it. How old is he?”

“Three and a half weeks.”

Uriah lifted his gaze to Makyle. “Jelena wouldn’t have let him go. She would have fought for him… What happened?”

Makyle leaned against the counter. “He was born in my part of the Underworld. My brothers believed that was where he should remain…
When I helped Jelena and Makiah escape, they found out somehow and came after us… Needless to say, it wasn’t her choice. I fled with him and came for you.”

“You just left her?”

Makyle growled. “No, she was flung beyond my reach. Once she was back within the gates of the Light, there was no escape for her. She won’t ever cross that threshold again.”

Uriah nodded
. He knew that much from his visit with the Fates. “Your brothers, they’re why you said we didn’t have much time? They’re after him?”

Makyle nodded. “Yes, but thankfully
, they don’t have the ability to enter the Human Realm. However, when I passed through the portal, there was a group of Dark Fae warriors hot on my heels. I lost them, for now, but I imagine they won’t be far behind.”

“What do they want with you?” Uriah asked

Makyle scoffed. “I imagine what they want is Makiah.”

Uriah lifted his gaze from the baby that was now trying to grip
his finger. “We need to get him back to the Middle World. He will be better protected there.”

“Except that my brothers can reach him there.”

“Uriah?” Marie slowly rounded the corner. Her eyes were wide as she looked between the two men. “What’s going on?”

Makyle’s brow rose. “I interrupted something.”

Marie clutched her sweater, closing it over her tank top. “I remember you.”

Makyle nodded. “And I, you, Isabelle’s baby sister.”

Marie focused back on Uriah and the small baby in his arms. “What the hell is the Middle World and whose baby is that?”

Uriah sighed and Makiah began to fuss, working his way up to a loud wail. Marie’s eyes softened as they fell back on the baby. “He’s hungry… When was the last time he was fed? Where is his mother?”