Revelations Coming (The Dark Truth Novel Series) (6 page)

Venus was slammed with lust. Her body screamed for more as his tongue expertly twined with hers, coaxing more from her. She leaned into him, feeling his erection at her hip and she shifted her weight to rub against him. He groaned into her mouth. Before Venus could move again, this time to straddle him an ear-piercing explosion ripped from below them. Venus scrambled off of Riken and he quickly backed her into a corner, protecting her. The office door flew open and Corbin ran in.

“Arias is here my lord,” Corbin spit out breathlessly.

“Come Venus,” Riken said already starting for the door.

She didn’t hesitate and all but plastered herself against him. Venus knew to be frightened from Riken's earlier description of the other Dark Prince. He was enormous, dangerous, cruel. The embodiment of Satan himself. He led a bloodline full of sadist, bloodthirsty vampires and this was the one searching for her. She didn’t want to meet this creature. They rushed out of the office, down a back staircase and towards a back entrance. Venus slammed into Riken when he stopped abruptly. She peered around him to see what was going on and Venus swallowed hard as a warrior filled her vision...one that could only be Arias Hassan.

She gasped, robbed of any breath. Lord, he was beautiful.

Tattoos covered his massive arms and bare chest, his head was shaved bald. He was the color of chocolate sand and he emanated power and a call so strong and deep within her, her knees weakened immediately. He had nearly black eyes that started to swirl and twist like a turbulent ocean as soon as he saw her. His guards almost equally massive fanned out around him. It was clear that Riken and his crew were no match for these warriors.

“Come to me,” Arias growled to her.

Venus' eyes widened as her body listened without hesitation. His command was like a direct line of energy to her chest, pulling her towards him. Riken pulled her against him creating havoc within her. Both of their blood was calling to her but Arias' was stronger. He was older than Riken, by nearly three hundred years. Venus unconsciously struggled against Riken's hold.

“No Venus, don't leave me.” Riken pleaded.

“Come to me little one,” Arias purred again.

Venus started forward again when she heard the click of a safety being thrown off. She turned her head to the side and watched horrified as Corbin palmed an enormous gun in his hand and fired at Arias.

“No!” she screamed, her power billowing out of her.

Her entire focus was on the path of that bullet. If she failed that bullet would find its way into the Prince's temple and while it wouldn’t kill him, it would incapacitate him enough for Riken and his men to destroy him by severing his head. She refused to let that happen, no matter how bad that man was in front of her. The bullet dropped to the floor feet from Arias. Venus was breathing hard from the mental exertion that she hadn't used in over ten years, disbelief and relief flooding her body. Arias' jaw dropped slightly and his lips parted. He raised his hand to beckon her to him again. But Venus realized too late that it wasn't to beckon her to him, it was to stop her. Guns exploded around her from both sides, Venus trapped in the middle. She heard Arias' roar and she heard Riken's roar. Stop! She screamed in her head, thrusting her arms out. Her mental power that she had hidden and been ashamed of for so long, flooded out of her body, billowing her hair about her head.

Riken watched helplessly as Venus had ripped herself from his arms and started toward his enemy. When gunfire erupted around him, his roar was one of anger that his men would put their Queen in danger. His roar was one of jealousy that she would choose to go to that monster over him. Riken braced himself for the sight of her body filling with bullets as she stood there regal as the Queen she was, her head tilted back and her arms outstretched, like a sacrifice. Then, all bullets dropped to the floor with a clank, clank, clank. Riken sank to his knees at his woman's power.

“No more,” she whispered loud enough for them both to hear. “No more.”

Her body collapsed and before she hit the floor Arias was there cradling her against him. The Mashiach's black eyes tore into Riken's, a snarl erupting and fangs elongating threateningly. He scooped her up and Riken was filled with loathing and a need for retribution. She looked like a child in his massive arms. Riken refused to imagine her in that monster's bed. Riken started forward but was stopped when Arias threw his hand up in warning.

“She chose me,” he growled and turned his back on them.

His men followed suit but were not stupid enough to turn their backs, they backed out guns still trained on them.

Riken felt like he was going to pass out from his loss. It was acute, a shivering cold. Riken let out another roar, one filled with pain and longing...despair. His blast of power could be felt for miles.

4

Michael felt the tidal wave of power roll through him. He stepped on the gas in his sports car and took the turn, tires squealing. The building where he knew to find them was smoldering. Something big had just happened. Riken and his men were filtering out of the building battle worn. Riken looked like he would collapse at any moment, his face drawn, tears still streaming down his cheeks. Shit, where was Venus? He yanked on the e-brake, letting the car slide sideways to a stop. Riken barely looked up.

“Where is she?” Michael demanded as he climbed out of the car.

Riken just shook his head. Michael strode up to him and let his heavy hands clamp down on his shoulders. “Where is she?” he demanded again.

“They took her,” Riken said in a monotone voice, no doubt due to shock.

“What are you doing then? Gear up and let's go after them.”
Riken shook his head, holding himself upright by bracing his hands on Michael's car. “She chose him, Michael. Two seconds of seeing him and she chose him.”

Michael was silent for a few minutes and then cursed. “Damn it Riken. It's just the call of his blood. She doesn't know how to battle against it. You need to fight for her or you'll lose so much more than a beautiful girl to warm your bed.”

Riken slammed Michael against the car, his fists curling wanting release.

“Don't you think I know that angel?” he spat. “How am I supposed to win her back?” Riken lifted his eyes his pain so tangible that even Michael flinched.

Venus was unconscious for a very long time. As she stirred, she knew she was on a jet and they were landing. She was curled into a small ball on a leather couch and Arias and his frightening second in command were talking in the opposite corner. She sat up groaning from the crashing pain that infiltrated her head. In a flash, Arias was crouched by her side cupping her face in his massive hands and the headache went away immediately. He lowered his body onto the black leather and pulled her to him.

“Sleep little one...”

Even his accent was beautiful. The ‘l’ sound curling its way artfully around his skillful tongue. His voice alone melted her insides, a deep baritone with an edge, gravely as if he rarely spoke. She curled up again and laid her head on his lap. One enormous hand soothed her back, the other stroked her silky hair. She drifted back off into a dark bliss.

Arias stared at the head in his lap. He had grown painfully hard the moment his eyes met hers back at Riken's warehouse and the damn thing wouldn't go down now. It didn't really help that her face was just a mere inch or two from it. Hell, he could feel her warm breath against his cock even with the rough piece of material covering the lower half of his body. She was so tiny he feared that he would break her if he had his way. Everything about her was beautiful, her tiny curves, her perfect lips, her bright green eyes. He stroked her hair again and was even stunned by its brilliant shine. Browns and blondes mixed together, soft as silk, he marveled as it thread through his fingers.

“My Lord?” Justice called waiting for him at the jet's door.

Arias looked down again at the treasure in his arms. He picked her up gently so not to wake her and made his way out of the plane to his awaiting limo. She packed power, his woman. He thought it surprised her just as much as it surprised all of the Vampyre around her. She was amazing. So innocent that he fought back the guilt that consumed him for wanting her. His guilt wouldn't stop him though from claiming her though. She was his and she chose him over that damned goody-goody Riken. The look on Riken's face had been priceless. Riken couldn't fathom why she wanted him. Arias frowned...he couldn't really fathom it either. He was her opposite in every way. He was massive, she was diminutive. He was a savage creature of the dark. She seemed as bright as the sun itself. But she was a warrior, like him. The image of her standing defiantly amidst the gunfire, protecting him sent a wave of pain through his heart. He let out a deep breath, a gust that flitted over her silken hair. He had never had feelings like these....not ever. Oh, he had women...hundreds of harems of women in fact but it was all empty release. Not even pleasure. This girl in his arms had the power to destroy him whether she knew it or not.

Venus woke up in a lavish room decorated heavily with Middle Eastern influence. The bed was soft beneath her and enormous. Multi-hued sheers were slung across the canopy enveloping her in a cocoon. She parted the sheers and was stunned silent by the immense room filled with art and color. Where was she? Riken had mentioned that Arias had headquarters in Dubai. Surely she didn't sleep through an entire plane trip across the world, did she? Venus remembered waking up on the jet and Arias rushing to her side, alleviating her pain. The memory caused pleasure to pool in her belly at the sight of the massive warrior on his knees for her. She struggled out of the plush bed and headed towards what looked to be a bathroom.

“Wow,” Venus breathed as she caught sight of the bathtub...big enough to be a small swimming pool really.

She started the water and glanced at herself in the floor to ceiling mirror. Her hair was a mess, her eyes were tired, and she was starving she realized as her stomach grumbled loudly. First things first, she told herself as she sunk into the heat of the tub.

“Double wow,” she breathed as the pounding jets massaged her aching body.

Tilting her head back and closing her eyes she just relaxed. Her eyes flew open as she felt the wave of power nearby. Arias. She shivered in the heated water just from the thought of him. And then he was there poised to knock on the open bathroom door when their eyes met and he was frozen in that position. He was still shirtless and Venus drank in the sight of him. He was so massive, every single muscle chiseled to perfection, his skin the color of maple syrup made her want to either sink her teeth into him or lick him up. The thought surprised her. Before she saw Michael at Reggie's last week, she hadn't had one inkling of desire for any man...and now her stomach churned for three in particular. Great, just great she thought. Arias lowered his hand but still stood frozen at the bathroom door. Venus cleared her throat.

“I hope you don't mind,” she said shyly. “I needed a bath badly.”

Arias coal black eyes flared with fire and Venus hoped that didn't mean he was angry. “Whatever you need, you shall have. May I come in?”

Venus sank herself further under the cover of the bubbles and nodded. He took a deep breath and crossed the room with a feline grace, unnatural for one his size. As Venus' eyes skittered over him, she realized he was strapped with weapons of every sort, knives, guns, a long nasty looking sword with a curved blade. He was the most dangerous man she'd ever encountered and it turned her on, big time. Arias began taking off what remained of his clothes and Venus chest seized up. That's what he meant by coming in? Oh hell, she thought her heart thundering loudly. Her little panic attack was being compounded by the heat of the tub and she felt like her chest was going to explode. She looked up again and saw Arias naked from head to toe and he was enormous everywhere and hard everywhere. She quickly squeezed her eyes shut and willed her breathing to slow down. When she had the guts to open them again, she gasped. Arias' gorgeous face was mere inches from hers.

As soon as he saw his woman naked in his tub, he melted. Every bone in his body was made of pudding. It was difficult to even cross the room when she gave her consent for him to bathe with her. When he climbed down into the tub, he drank her in some more. Her head was tilted back revealing a slender, creamy throat, her eyes were closed, and her luscious lips were parted slightly. He had to feel those lips against his, to taste her tongue. He was leaning in to kiss her when her eyes opened and she gasped. Was she frightened of him? Was she repelled by him? Of course there were plenty of women who enjoyed the look of him but there were just as many if not more that were disgusted at the sight of him. He recoiled backwards angry for nearly forcing himself on her. The slight tug of her hand against his made hope soar through his body. He looked into her face expectantly.

“You're....”

Ugly, revolting, a monster? He expected the words to tumble from those succulent lips.

“Beautiful,” she whispered.

A growl escaped his lips and his body sought hers without his mind's permission. One of his hands snaked around her neck pulling her up slightly out of the water, his other hand anchored at her hip. She gasped again but he swallowed it with his mouth. The moment his lips touched hers, he was lost. Gone was the man Arias had been for the last five hundred years. In its place a burning phoenix who lived to serve the woman in his arms. She tasted like heaven though it was ridiculous for him to even pretend he knew what that tasted like. Fine, he thought bitterly. She tasted sublime. He wanted more, he needed more. But he forced himself to pull back. Her eyes opened, darker green than before. Her lips were swollen from his kiss already. He cupped her cheek, his thumb strumming the full bottom lip. He swallowed hard wanting to kiss her more but he withdrew and reached for the soap he requested be brought for her.