Save Yourself (9 page)

Chapter Sixteen

** Kester **

I stared at Brogan in horror, my hand rising to cover my mouth. He’d been invading my dreams? Controlling them?
Feeding
from them? The dreams where he was in my room, where he was kissing me, touching me and licking me, where he’d growled dirty things in my ear and fucked me on the floor.
Oh, god. Oh, god.
He knew. He’d
been there
. He’d been
doing
that to me, and I hadn’t even realised.

“I think I’m going to be sick.”

Brogan reached for me, but I moved away, shaking my head.

“Please, Kester. I’m sorry. I swear to you, I didn’t know I was doing it. I thought I was just dreaming.”

My thoughts were spinning so fast, I felt dizzy. I couldn’t focus, I couldn’t
breathe
. I had to get out of there, I needed air, and I needed space to think. I slid off the bed, ignoring the way my knees wobbled, and stumbled toward the door. Brogan snagged my wrist, quick as a flash, and looked at me apologetically with those shocking eyes.

“Please, Kez, it’s not safe for you out there. Just stay here, at least for tonight. I’ll drive you home tomorrow, and you never have to see me again, I promise.”

He sounded sincerely hurt by my reaction, but I couldn’t…I just couldn’t. I yanked my hand free of his, getting loose only because he let me, but I didn’t care. I had to leave. Except, when I took a step backwards, I bumped into the wall. I turned and found myself staring, not at a wall, but at a huge, muscled chest. I stepped back and craned my head up to meet pure blue eyes. The guy frowned at me, and then past me, at Brogan.

“What’s going on, man?”

Behind me, Brogan said, “Hey, Jet. We’ve got a small problem.”

Jet frowned at me again, and I took another step back. He was huge, and slightly terrifying, and he did not look happy to see me.

“Her?” he asked.

I felt Brogan’s arm come around me from behind, and stiffened but didn’t pull away. “No, not her. Well, sort of her. Listen, I’ll tell you about it later.”

Jet eyed me once more and took Brogan’s words as a dismissal, but before he could leave, I blurted, “Are you one too?”

The massive, blonde-haired man stopped and looked at me in surprise. Then he raised an eyebrow at Brogan. “You told her?”

“I had to. One of Red’s goons attacked in the alleyway and…I may have gotten carried away beating the shit out of the guy.”

I felt him shrug a little, and he didn’t sound overly worried, but I knew that was a façade. He was playing it cool in front of his buddy.

Jet scowled angrily. “That rat bastard. I hope you ripped his nuts off.”

“Slammed him into a car. He’s lucky I let him live.”

Nodding in approval, Jet said to me, looking a lot more sympathetic now, “You okay?”

“Y-yeah, I think so,” I muttered.

He smiled crookedly. “Good. And for the record, no, I’m not an Incubus. I’m a Norse god.” And with that, he turned and walked away down the hall.

I gaped after him, and Brogan chuckled.

“Smug bastard.”

I turned. “He’s not serious, right?”

Brogan shrugged. “Nah. He’s only, like, a quarter Norse god. He’s a demi-god, of sorts.”

My head spun. “I think I need to sit down.”

Brogan helped me back to the bed, and sat a careful distance away as if he wasn’t sure I wouldn’t hit him again. I slumped against the pillows, exhausted, my head throbbing. There was a sick feeling in my stomach and an ache in my chest. I knew that if I let myself think about what had almost happened to me, I’d burst into tears, and I refused to do that in front of Brogan.

Instead, I took a deep breath to pull myself together and asked, “Who is Red, and why would he have someone attack
me
?”

He shook his head, not as if he didn’t know the answer but as if he didn’t want to tell me.

I glowered at him stubbornly. “You’ve already told me everything else. You might as well tell me this. I think I have a right to know why I’m being targeted by scumbags.”

Brogan looked at me, and I got that annoying, tugging sensation low in my gut again—at least I knew why I was so helplessly attracted to him. Ignoring my hormones, I met his gaze evenly, and after a moment, he swore.

“Fine. Red is a drug dealer my uncle got involved with. My uncle owed him some money, and when Red got tired of waiting for him to pay it back, he had my uncle killed.”

“Oh my god.”

He hung his head, staring at the floor between his knees. “I found the body,” he said softly.

I heard the grief and disgust in his voice. Reflexively, I moved closer and put a hand on his arm. I wasn’t good at comforting people, especially guys. Girls were easier, like Evie, because a box of tissues and some ice cream usually did the trick, but I doubted ice cream would ease Brogan’s pain.

At my touch, he exhaled quietly, his tense muscles relaxing slightly under my palm. “Two of Red’s guys came round to the hotel room where Brent, my uncle, had been staying. Basically, they told me they were the ones who killed Brent, and if I didn’t get Red the money Brent owed him, they’d do the same to me.” He let out a small, hard laugh. “So I beat the shit out of them, and then I ran.”

I frowned. “That’s why Hartley arrested you, right? They would have found your DNA at the scene of the crime. And if those guys gave statements—”

Brogan laughed again, a bitter sound. “They won’t have given statements. They were probably out of there before the cops even arrived. If they got caught, they’d go to jail, no questions asked. The cops are always after guys from Red’s gang.” He sighed, and it made his shoulders heave. “Anyway, my best guess is one of Red’s guys saw us together at some point and figured you were my girlfriend, so they went after you to get to me.”

He lifted his head, and I saw his jaw was tight, his violet eyes blazing with anger.

“I swear to god, when I get my hands on Red, I am going to fucking
destroy
him.”

I caught my breath as his eyes began to glow again, and he blinked, dimming the shine. Then he stood and rubbed his hands over his face, looking exhausted, as if telling me all that had sucked all the energy out of him. “You can sleep in my bed tonight. I’ll sleep on the sofa. You want a shower? Something to eat?”

I blinked at his sudden change of tack. “Wait, I can’t stay here! I need to get home. Evie will be worried about me by now, and I can’t leave her alone after she just broke up with her boyfriend. She needs me.”

Brogan shook his head stubbornly. “Call her and tell her you’re hooking up or something. I’m sure she’ll understand. But I’m not letting you out of my sight tonight. If Red’s men have got a target on you, you won’t be safe, even at home. I can protect you here.”

“But—”

“The answer is no.” He glared at me and folded his arms across his chest, blocking the doorway.

I growled in frustration. “Just because you saved me doesn’t give you the right to tell me what to do! I’m going home, and you’re not going to stop me…” I shut my mouth as I realised that he might not stop me, but something else might. “Shit. I dropped my keys when that asshole attacked me.”

Brogan’s mouth thinned. “Stay here. I’ll go look for them, but you’re still not leaving.”

Before I could argue, he vanished—just poof, gone, in a flash of bright violet light. For a moment, I was too stunned to do anything. By the time my brain kicked into gear again, there was another flash of light, and Brogan was suddenly standing in front of me again.

I stumbled back in surprise, tripping over my own feet, and his hand shot out, wrapping around my wrist, to steady me. My skin sparked at his touch, and a tremor worked its way through my body, stealing my breath with the suddenness of it.

“Kester?” Brogan murmured.

I opened my eyes, unsure when I’d closed them, and found his heather-grey eyes startling close. Pulling my hand free of his carefully, I whispered, “Did you just…?”

He cocked his head. “Did I what? Find your keys? No, I couldn’t see them. And the guy who attacked you is gone too. I hate to say it, but he probably took your keys. Is there somewhere your friend can stay for a couple of days until I can change your locks?”

My heart pounded with fear for Evie, all alone in the house. I nodded quickly and flipped out my mobile phone. I called Evie’s mobile, my fingers crossed as it rang and rang. Brogan watched me with dark eyes, his brow furrowed, and I turned my back on him—his gaze was only making me more nervous.

Finally, Evie answered, sounding groggy, “Kez? What’s up? Where are you?”

I sighed in relief. “Evie, I need you to go and stay with Zack. Right now. Call him to pick you up, but you have to go now. Pack a bag for a couple of days at least.”

“Kez, what’s going on?” Evie asked, sounding alert and worried.

“I…” I bit my lip. How much to tell her? “I got mugged, and the guy took my keys. I’m worried he might come by the house. Just…get out, okay? Just in case. Please.”

“Oh my god, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. A friend kind of saved my ass,” I said, shooting a glance over my shoulder at Brogan, who was leaning in the doorway with his arms folded.

On the other end of the line, I could hear Evie banging around in her room as she packed things. “What friend? Where did you go, anyway? I saw your note, and all it said was that you went out and you’d be back soon.”

I didn’t know what to tell her. If I told her I was seeing a friend, she’d think I was lying. Evie knew perfectly well that she and Zack were my only real friends, but I didn’t want to give her Brogan’s excuse and tell her I was hooking up.

Unfortunately, Evie read into my silence, and I heard her gasp. “Oh my God! Kez! Are you with a guy? What’s his name? Why didn’t you
tell me
?”

I held the phone away from my ear while she shrieked. Brogan grinned at me and crossed the room to pluck the phone out of my hand before I could stop him. I grabbed for it, but he turned away from me.

“Hi, there. Sorry, but your friend isn’t going to be coming home tonight. No, I’ve got plans for her.”

He winked at me, and I lunged for the phone again. He caught me against his chest and trapped me there, pinning me with one arm against his hard body.

“Yes. Yes. I’ve got it. I promise not to hurt her. Goodnight, Evie.”

He hung up and peered down at me from under his lashes, his eyes a dark, dark indigo. I could feel the ridges of his abs against my stomach, his biceps flexing against my spine as he held me tightly against him. Instantly, I felt warmth rush between my legs, and my next breath came out as more of a whimper. Brogan bent his head so his lips brushed the spot between my eyebrows, drawing his mouth down my nose to hover teasingly over my mouth. My eyes fluttered shut as I went helplessly limp against him, tilting my chin up in anticipation of his kiss.

I felt his breath on my lips as he whispered, “Mmm…your Lust tastes so fucking good. It’s addictive. It makes me want to do all sorts of things to you just to taste some more.”

Every muscle south of my waist clenched, and I pressed my breasts against him eagerly. A little part of my brain was tutting in disapproval, thinking,
So much for self-control
. But damn, I was aching in his arms, and I’d been desperate for this all week. Incubus or not, I wanted this man like nothing on Earth, and right at that moment, I was willing to give up every shred of self-respect I had just to have him kiss me.

However, he stepped back abruptly, releasing me so suddenly that I stumbled. He put his hands on my shoulders to keep me steady, his chest heaving, his arousal obvious in his tight jeans. His eyes were on fire. “Go and have a shower,” he commanded tersely. “Bathroom’s across the hall. I’ll leave some clothes on the bed for you.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but he glared at me and gritted out, “Please, Kez. Now.”

So I nodded reluctantly and slipped across the hall into the bathroom. I shut and locked the door behind me, my heart racing and blood boiling.
Christ, what was that?
One second he was all over me, and the next he couldn’t wait to kick me out of the room. Even worse, my body was all wound up, all the adrenaline of the evening making me eager for some sort of distraction, some release.

Sighing, I eyed the bathroom. It was small, but comfortable, with pale blue walls, a white sink and toilet, and a shower stall in one corner. I stripped off quickly and stepped into the shower, twisting the dials until hot water came bursting out. I grabbed a bottle of the manly shower gel and started scrubbing my hair and skin, desperate to clean the horror and grime of the attack off me.

Eventually, when my skin was raw and red, I sat down in the stall, tucked my knees up, and let the tears out at last where nobody could see them.

Chapter Seventeen

** Brogan **

Once I heard the shower turn on, I went to my dresser and grabbed an old, navy t-shirt for Kester to put on. I left it on the bed, along with a pair of reindeer-print boxer shorts I’d never worn—they’d been a gift from my uncle as a joke last Christmas.

Then I slumped on the edge of the bed, rubbing my eyes. God, how was I going to handle her being there for at least two days? She’d been there less than an hour, and I was already finding it hard to keep my hands—and my teeth—off her.

Having her pressed against me like that, all her soft curves in all the right places, with the taste of her Lust like caramel on my tongue, my Dark Hunger had been shocked into life and had consumed my thoughts, just for a lethal moment. She’d been so close, so willing, her head tilted back so I could see her jugular pulsing. It had taken everything I had to push her away, not to bite down into that throbbing point and drink her up.

At the moment, it was all I could do not to barge into the bathroom and join her in the shower. I couldn’t keep the images of her naked and writhing beneath me, out of my head. I was hard as stone, painfully so. I knew I probably wasn’t getting any sleep that night, knowing she’d be right down the hall, sleeping in
my
bed. I’d never wanted a girl as much as I wanted her. Hell, I’d had her, over and over in one night, but it wasn’t nearly enough. She was a drug to me. A beautiful, mysterious drug, and she hadn’t gone running when I told her what I was, or even when I told her about Red and my uncle. She’d been scared at first, yes, but she’d gotten over it amazingly quickly. I didn’t know if that was a good thing or not—maybe she was just in shock.

Frustrated with my endless thoughts, and my undeniable arousal, I left the bedroom and sauntered through to the living room, where Jet was slouched comfortably across the sofa, listening to his iPod.

He pulled one ear-bud out when I came into the room. “How is she?” he asked sincerely.

I shrugged. “About as good as can be expected. She’s had a rough night, lot to take in, you know? She dropped her keys when that asshole attacked her, and I’m thinking he took them when he bolted, so I’ve said she can stay here until I go and change the locks for her. That okay?”

He nodded. “It’s fine, as long as she’s taking your bed.” Then he paused and grinned at me. “Then again, maybe I wouldn’t mind her in my bed, but I doubt she’d get much rest.”

I knew he was just screwing with me, but I felt a startling growl crawl up my throat from my chest, and instinctively bared my teeth at him. “You’re not going to fucking touch her, got it?”

Jet’s blue eyes widened. “Christ, man, I was kidding. Damn, she’s really got under your skin, hasn’t she?”

Just like that, my sudden pique was over, and I sighed, shoulders slumping. “Sorry. I’m just pretty wound up, I guess.” I wasn’t commenting on that last part because damn if he wasn’t dead right. That girl was buried under every inch of skin I had.

As laid back as ever, Jet just shrugged. “No problem. I’d be freaked if I was in your position too. And your girlfriend can stay here as long as she needs to.”

He popped his ear-buds back in just as I started to say that she wasn’t my girlfriend. He hit the volume button and drowned me out, shooting me a smug grin. I flipped him off, whacked his feet off the end of the sofa, and collapsed onto it. He lifted his feet and dumped them in my lap. Normally, I’d push them off again, and we’d get into a whole wrestling match about it, but I was too bloody tired to be arsed, so I let him prop his feet on me like a fucking footstool.

I dropped my head back against the sofa cushions and closed my eyes, exhausted. I was just starting to drift off when I heard the shower go dead. I kept my eyes closed until I heard the creak of my bedroom door opening and closing, and then soft footsteps padding down the hall toward us. I forced myself not to look up when I felt her enter the room, the entire atmosphere subtly shifting with her presence.

I could feel her hovering, looking at me. When I didn’t move, Jet kicked his feet off me with a sigh and said, “You hungry? I think we’ve got some microwave pizza in the freezer.”

“No, thanks, I’m not really hungry. But if you’ve got alcohol, I’ll take some of that.”

Jet laughed, and I felt him get up off the sofa. “First thing you learn about this place is there’s always alcohol.” I heard him rattle about in the liquor cupboard. “We’ve got various beers, vodka, Sambuca, Malibu. Pick your poison.”

Kez laughed quietly, a sound that tinkled in my ears, and I cracked an eye open to look at her. She had her back to me, her long damp blonde hair dripping down her back, her elbows leaning on the kitchen counter as she watched Jet rummage through bottles of alcohol, making her shirt—
my
shirt—rise up. It was huge on her, coming to the middle of her thighs, and I could see the edge of the crimson boxer shorts underneath the hem. Her pale, toned legs seemed to go on forever, the snake tattoo around her ankle unbearably sexy, and I was painfully turned on by the sight of her wearing my clothes.

“A shot of Sambuca would be good,” she said to Jet, who handily snagged the bottle and a shot glass and poured it for her.

He slid it across the counter, and she snatched it up and slammed it back, swallowing the liquid without so much as cough.

“Mmh…” she murmured, “A few more of those, and I might actually sleep tonight.”

Jet laughed loudly at that and poured her another shot. Then he glanced at me and saw I was awake, and held the bottle up in question. I jerked my head, and he grabbed two more shot glasses, pouring one for each of us as I slithered off the sofa. I came up behind Kester, leaning into her as I reached around for my shot glass, and slyly squeezed her ass, and—oh god, she felt so good. She gasped softly at my bold touch, and I caught a whiff of that tantalising honey scent of her Lust.

Glancing over her shoulder at me, she smirked, downed her second shot, and pushed her ass back into my hand. Damn, she knew how to play. I swallowed a groan and slammed back my own shot. Feeling the burn go down my throat, I slid the glass back along the counter to Jet, who watched us with exasperated amusement as if he knew what was going on below eye-level. I didn’t care. Fuck, I wanted her so badly I was willing to take her right there on the kitchen counter while Jet watched.

“Another round!” Kez demanded, passing her glass to Jet, who raised an eyebrow at me questioningly.

I shrugged. “One more, and then off to bed with you,” I said, giving her a firm smack on the rear.

She yelped, whirling round and pushing me back with a hand spread on my chest. “Yes,
Dad
,” she grumbled, pointing her nose in the air.

When she turned back around and leaned over the counter to grab her refilled glass, my fingers itched to spank her again just for that snide remark.

She tipped her head back to swallow her third and final shot, then turned and stuck her tongue out at me and wandered off down the hall toward my room, calling out behind her, “Goodnight Jet!”

I watched her perky ass walk away in my boxer shorts, and I growled. As soon as my bedroom door slammed behind her, Jet started laughing, shaking his head.

“Oh, man, you’ve got it bad for her.”

Annoyed, I glowered at him and snatched the Sambuca bottle from him. I took a swig from the bottle, grimacing at the burn, and he snatched it back. He stashed it back in its cupboard, tossed the shot glasses in the sink, tucked his blonde hair behind his ear and gave me a wry smile.

“If you want her so much, just go and get her. I’ve never known you to hold back when you want something.”

Sighing, I folded my arms on the countertop. “I can’t.”

He gave me a hard stare. “What, you’ve finally worn it out?”

I flipped him off. “Fuck you. No, I mean…” I didn’t know how to explain it to him, the way she woke up the Dark Hunger in me as nothing else ever had, how I didn’t want to hurt her if I lost control of the beast inside. Finally, I just sighed again and said, “I don’t know what I fucking mean. I need some damn sleep.”

Jet came around the counter and clapped me on the shoulder. “Good idea, mate. If you need a hug, you know where to find me.”

As he walked away chuckling, I snatched up a cushion off the sofa and lobbed it at his retreating back—and missed. With a curse, I slumped onto the sofa as I heard Jet close his door. I was totally alone with my spinning thoughts and urges I couldn’t stand. All I could think was,
What the fuck have I gotten myself into?

I was still awake, tossing and turning on the sofa, at 2 am. No matter what I did, I couldn’t get my damn brain to shut the hell up. So, eventually, I gave up on sleep, and just lay in the darkness, staring at the streaks of light on the ceiling sneaking in through the closed curtains.

I listened to the hum of the fridge-freezer, the distant sirens and shouts outside, the sound of Jet’s snoring down the hall…and then a scream shattered the peaceful night’s quietude. My heart stopped in my chest, and I bolted off the sofa. The scream was coming from my room.
Kez!
Panic clutched me, and I took off toward my room.