Inferno (29 page)

“Where to now?” Megan asked.

“My place,” Dante said firmly. “The Vabians will likely check tomorrow morning to see who survived this encounter. They wouldn’t chance coming in the night, in case things unfolded as they have. They wouldn’t want to face us after we’d just dispatched their pawn and if Poferov had survived, they’d be able to come up with some excuse for not arriving before daybreak. We should be safe enough at my home for the rest of the night and most of the day. I doubt they’re prepared to strike at me again so soon, considering they had to believe Poferov might’ve done the job for them.”

The ride to Manhattan was accomplished quickly, with little traffic at this time of the morning.

While it was true that New York was the city that never sleeps, it did snooze every once in a while and the wee hours of the night was one of those times.

“I’m sorry I was so useless back there,” Megan said as they headed toward the bridge that would take them off Long Island. “I was no help at all.”

Dante reached for her hand, steering the car with his other hand. “Don’t be so hard on yourself.

We had it under control.”

“You did the best you could, given the circumstances,” Duncan said helpfully from the back seat. “Poferov was one hell of a mage. I’m surprised you were able to defy his compulsion as much as you did. Look on the bright side—you’re free of it now. You can tell us everything you know about his operation and I’ll take a final look at your blood, just to be certain the poison died with Poferov. I feel certain it did, but it pays to be cautious in cases like this.”

“Why? What do you think might happen?” Megan turned in her seat to look at Duncan worriedly.

“Well, we’ve been operating under the assumption that Poferov was the one who poisoned your blood. It’s a good assumption, but before anyone does any biting—” he looked significantly at Dante, “—we need to be certain. You don’t remember being put under his compulsion or having the poison put into your bloodstream, do you?”

“No.” Megan’s brow wrinkled in a frown.

“It’s more than likely he clouded your mind. I just want to make sure he was the only mage involved. If there’s another one out there, the poison could still be active. If not, you’re probably clean.”

“I hadn’t thought of that. Let’s check as soon as possible, okay?” Megan sounded eager, and Dante took that as a good sign. She knew as well as he did that if her blood was clean, he’d be drinking it as soon as could be arranged. He’d fuck her and feed from her as he’d wanted to do since the moment he first saw her.

She sent him a shy look as she turned back to the front of the car and it touched him deeply. He could tell from that one guarded look that she was on the same page. She wanted him. She was charmingly shy about it for some reason, but she definitely wanted him.

He would be more than happy to accommodate her. In fact, he’d be downright thrilled to do so.

It was exactly what he wanted too.

After they got home and Duncan did his test, the waiting would be over. Finally. He would have her. Body, blood, heart and soul. She would be his.

At Dante’s townhouse, Duncan burned the snake’s carcass with magical flames in Dante’s fireplace. It sparked blue and green as it disappeared, leaving not even an ash behind. They patched up Duncan’s arm in clean bandages. The horrible gashes were nearly closed already.

“And now for you, my dear.” Duncan motioned for Megan to sit beside him on the couch. He placed a flat glass plate on the coffee table, then produced a gleaming dagger from somewhere near his waist. He hadn’t been wearing it. He had produced it from the same magical plane his armor existed on, waiting for him to call it forth when needed.

He quickly nicked his own finger and allowed a drop of his blood to fall onto the plate before the wound closed. Duncan beckoned to Dante, and he offered his hand with a raised brow.

“I chose the steel dagger just for you, my friend,” Duncan teased, showing off the gleaming blade in the soft light. “The silver one remains hidden Underhill.” Dante grinned. “I thank you for your discretion.” He placed his hand over the plate as Duncan inflicted a tiny nick that allowed a single drop of his blood to fall to the glass below. Then Duncan turned to her.

“The reaction of your blood to mine will alert me to the presence of magic—especially that which should not be there. The reaction of your blood to Dante’s will tell us if the poison is, indeed, completely gone.”

She offered her hand and Duncan took it in gentle fingers.

“It will not hurt. One of the blessings of my calling is my weaponry. It is charmed to kill—or in this case, injure—with no pain.” He nicked her finger and held it over the plate, allowing a single drop to fall right next to the drop of his blood. He moved her hand quickly, placing a second drop next to Dante’s blood before her wound closed.

Duncan closed his eyes, and it looked like he was fighting fatigue. He rallied and let her hand go, refocusing his attention on the plate. Using one finger, he made a stirring motion and Megan felt the prickle of magic rise in the air as the two drops of blood—his and hers—began a twining, spinning dance before joining together with an audible tinkling sound.

Megan shivered as something inside her tingled along. Duncan watched the droplets of blood intently. At length, he stilled his finger and breathed a sigh.

“So far, so good. I can detect no evil energies. If any remain, the next test will bring them out, even if they are hiding.”

He raised his hand again, this time above the drops of Dante’s and her blood, stirring counter-clockwise this time, joining the two droplets into one larger pool. Megan felt her entire body flush when the drops joined, followed by an intense arousal. She’d never felt such a thing—and neither man was even touching her.

She gasped as Dante’s gaze locked with hers across the low coffee table. His dark eyes held intent, promises and desires that made her even more breathless. She looked away redirecting her attention to the plate and Duncan’s test. Their mingled drops of blood were bubbling gently. It didn’t look malevolent. She didn’t know exactly what it meant, but the magic of it was potent.

Duncan watched carefully and she knew he was using all his senses, both mundane and magical, to assess the reaction. At length, he sat back, a relieved smile lighting his face.

“The poison is well and truly gone. You are free, my dear.” Relief washed over her. She’d been half afraid the death of Poferov hadn’t been enough. It looked like she’d worried for nothing. Poferov was gone and so was his control over her. She felt liberated, free in a way she hadn’t felt since her mother had first introduced her to Poferov years ago.

“Thank you, Duncan.” She clutched his hands, smiling broadly. “I can never thank you enough.”

“It is my pleasure to see you so happy, Megan. Ever since we first met, I’ve thought you don’t smile enough. It’s good to see you this way, though I fear this development marks the end of our time together.” He leaned close and kissed her sweetly, though she didn’t understand. He moved back with a wistful smile just as her head began to spin.

“What do you mean?” she asked, puzzled.

“Now that you are no longer a danger to our friend here, I doubt he will tolerate my presence in your bed. It was sweet while it lasted, Megan.” Dante watched them with impatient, glowering eyes as Duncan kissed her hand and finally let her go. “Now I need to rest. All the excitement tonight has left me fatigued.” He walked toward the hallway, turning to look at them before he exited. “Be good to each other. From the way your blood reacted…well…it should be an interesting night.” He winked at her. “Leave the plate. I will dispose of the blood properly in the morning. Such things are best done in the full light of day.” She didn’t understand what he meant by that. He was the magician here, not her. Not for the first time, she was grateful of that fact.

Free of the mage’s compulsion with the poison gone from her bloodstream, she was finally whole and healthy again. Ripe for the plucking. And she had no doubt Dante was more than ready to pluck.

“Alone at last,” Dante said with a trace of humor that made her smile. He claimed the place next to her on the couch and sat, looking at her with those mysterious dark eyes.

The way he watched her made her want to squirm, but she held her ground. This was an Alpha male at his most intimidating. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t a shifter. He had that dominant, Alpha way about him. It frightened her. At the same time it made her mouth water in anticipation.

He didn’t move forward. He didn’t come closer. He only watched her. The intensity of his gaze sharpened, and his relaxed stance was only for show. She was certain of it. Beneath the façade of calm urbanity lurked a predator just waiting for an opportunity to strike.

“Nothing is inevitable, you know,” Dante said at last, breaking the silence. “You’re free of the poison. If you want, you can also be free of me. I don’t hold you under any obligation. If you come to me now, it’s of your own volition. You’re not a spy anymore.”

“I never wanted to spy on you,” she admitted. “I haven’t had a lot of control over my life in recent years.”

“I know.” He reached out with one hand to stroke the hair back from her face. His touch was gentle, caring and all too seductive. “What I’m trying to impress upon you here is that you’re free to make your own choices now. The big question is, do you want me the way I hunger for you? Contrary to all my prior experience, I would find it nearly impossible to take you if your answer to that question is no.”

“Really?” She searched his eyes.

His intensity didn’t waver. “Yes, Megan. I don’t understand it myself. I’ve never felt this way before.”

She moved toward him, drawn to him and the honesty in his words. “I haven’t either. I thought it was just me.” She was in his arms, drawing ever closer.

“It’s not just you. I feel it too.” His words drifted over her as his head lowered and his lips met hers in what felt like their first kiss. Perhaps it was, in a way. The first of many, now that she was free to choose her own path.

She flowed into him, loving the way he made her feel. His mouth possessed hers, his body so much larger than her own, but she didn’t feel threatened in any way. Instead, she felt protected, cherished and…loved. It was a heady feeling.

As heady as the feeling he gave her when he lifted her into his arms and rose from the couch.

He was incredibly strong, dominantly masculine. He lit her senses on fire. He strode toward his bedroom, kissing her, drawing back only to shove open doors with the power of his mind.

He truly was a force to be reckoned with. He had abilities, power and skills beyond any mortal.

While she was a shifter, she couldn’t compete with the things he’d learned to do over his centuries of existence. Rather than frighten her, the thought made her feel warm and cosseted.

She knew he would never use his power against her. He would never harm her in any way. In fact, he’d done nothing other than protect her, fight on her behalf and free her from the moment she’d first met him.

He laid her on the bed and came over her, stripping off his shirt as he went. She was already struggling out of her clothing. They’d waited too long to go slow. She was starved for him, and she wanted him now. No more delays.

“I’ve been dreaming of this for days.” Dante stripped off his pants. He was glorious in the buff, all strong muscles, dips and valleys of masculine perfection. She’d dreamed of him too.

Scandalous dreams where he made her come from a simple bite on the neck, or the thigh, or anyplace he damned well pleased. She was up for it all.

She was wet and wanting already. She didn’t want to wait. She tugged at his shoulders and wrestled him down onto the bed, using her
were
strength to get him to move, though she suspected nothing would have made him move if he didn’t want to.

He smiled up at her when she straddled his nude body. She’d done away with her own clothing, and they were skin on skin. Every inch of him was enticing, and she wanted to rub all over him like some kind of cat. But she was a wolf and her baser instincts were telling her to devour him in every way possible.

She mounted him, preparing to push down so he’d be within her body, just where she wanted him. She made the mistake of looking into his eyes. It wasn’t a mistake really. It was more of a reward, for when she met his gaze, she saw the same vulnerability that hid in her own heart shining out from his.

“Dante, I…” She poised, the tip of him parting her folds as she held herself above him.

He laid a finger over her lips, stilling her words.

“This is a beginning, Megan. A fresh start. It all begins right here, right now, with just us two.”

“I feel it too.” She felt a wistful smile bloom over her face. “I thought it was just me.”

“It’s not just you. Now…” He thrust his hips upward in a slow arch, sliding deeper as he held her gaze. She caught on quickly and moved downward to meet him until he was sheathed completely within her. She stilled, holding him firmly within her depths. “Now it begins anew.” She moaned as they began to move together in rhythm. They’d learned each other’s bodies over the past days. They knew how to complement each other’s desires, but this felt different. For the first time, they were alone in their pleasure, just the two of them. It felt right. Better than right. It felt good. Perfect, in fact.

Not that she hadn’t appreciated her time with Duncan. Those wicked threesomes were something she would never forget. But she’d wanted Dante since the first moment she laid eyes on him and it was with a sense of homecoming that she took him. Alone at last as he’d said earlier.

They moved together, totally in synch. It was as if they were made for one another. She used her thighs to press upward as Dante moved marginally downward. When they came together, he guided her hips, adding his strength as he pushed into her and she spread her legs to their widest angle to take as much of him as possible. All of him. That’s what she wanted. In every way.

Her fever rose sharply as their rhythm increased. She panted for breath, her climax dangerously close. Dante tossed her beneath him, never leaving her body, using his incredible strength to reverse their places so he could claim her fully.