Seduction's Call (5 page)

Chapter Five

“Unbelievable.”
Braelyn
crossed her arms over her chest as Flannery knocked his brother to his knees with a well-placed blow. What had started out as a simple ‘brother decking brother’ had evolved to a full brawl. For the second time in one night, she was subjected to a fistfight – but at least this time she didn’t freeze. “You two are idiots…fighting like a couple of school boys. Ridiculous.” She jumped out of the way when
Kennet
staggered away from Flannery with a chuckle.

“Is that all you got, little brother?”
Kennet’s
wheezy taunt had her shaking her head.
How can he keep taunting him? Is he suicidal?
Deciding she’d had enough of the bickering, she looked around for something to break them up. An idea formed in her head.
Hmmm, if it works for the toms at home, maybe…

Skirting around the brawling men, she headed for the small kitchenette. Rummaging under the sink, she found a pail. Filling it with ice-cold water, she listened to the continued grunts and thuds of flesh hitting on flesh. When it finished filling, she lifted it out of the sink.

Stepping back into the room, she sidestepped a broken shelf. “Destructive men.” She
tsked
under her breath as Flannery flew across the room, hitting the wall next to her from a well-placed kick. Sprawled on his back in the center of the room on the overturned sofa,
Kennet
sprung to his feet, his face red with exertion, his mocking smile now gone.

“I swear I’m gonna kick your prank-
lovin
’ ass...” Flannery lunged back towards his brother, and with a sigh, she let the water fly. He stumbled to a stop, shock radiating off him. Water ran down his face and hair to stream in rivulets over his bare chest and down into the parted waistband of his pants. Shockingly enough, he was still hard. Her tongue edged out between her lips as the idea of licking away the water teased her.

“What the fuck!” His blue eyes narrowed on her. “What the hell did you do that for?” The snarl dragged her eyes up from his groin.

She gave him a shrug. “It seemed like a good idea at the time. It works on the toms at home, so—”

“Unbelievable!” He raked a hand through his wet hair. “Get out! Both of you.”

Kennet
held his hands up. “I’m leaving, I swear.” He stooped and righted the couch, returning it to its original position. “But I’d think twice about ordering her away.” He nodded towards her. “She may just be the
one
.”

A disbelieving laugh escaped Flannery. “Like I believe in that nonsense Dad told you.
Assero
vel’abeo
,
my ass. There’ll never be a woman who’ll drive me as insane as
Jasmyn
did to you. It’s just some bullshit he made up to get you and
Jasmyn
together. I control my body, not some damn mating ritual.”

Kennet
smirked. “You just keep thinking that, Flan. You may not have two separate voices in your head demanding you claim your
TrueMate
, but you sure as hell have the instincts.” After righting the stand, he clapped a hand over Flannery’s shoulder. “And I’m almost certain that they’re screaming that she’s yours.”

“Not even close.” He nodded towards her. “I’ll admit she’s attractive but even the Pope would be able to see the innocence radiating off her.” Shrugging off
Kennet’s
hand, he glared at her. “You’re the last woman I’d take to bed.” When her shoulders slumped, his eyes softened. “I’m sorry, little one, but the things I need would be…too much for an innocent— especially one of your nature. Not to mention your god-father would kill me, despite what he says.”

Tears burned at her eyes. If he’d blustered a bit more, she’d have taken in stride and continue with her plan, but his gentle words would’ve nearly undone her if they hadn’t pissed her off. She was no seductress, but it didn’t mean she was pathetic.

“So it’s my innocence you protest?”

He gave a brisk nod.

“And if I were to tell you I wasn’t a virgin, then would you take me into your bed?”

His jaw clenched and his nostrils flared. At his side, his fists clenched. “No.”

Observing his reaction, she moved to the sofa, smoothed her skirts out, and sat down on the edge. Perhaps instead of using seduction, the same tempting logics she used when soul gathering, would work better. “Then explain it to me. If it’s not my innocence that has you saying nay, then what is it? This thing you think I’m incapable of giving? Is it chains or whips? Or do you wish to bind me to your bed to paddle me as you insinuated earlier?” She tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. “I’d let you.” She let her breathing become raspier. “Gods, would I let you.”

He took a step forward but froze with a low moan. She barely caught the movement of his brother leaving the room. She was sure he hadn’t heard the soft snick of the door closing behind
Kennet
. His attention was too focused on her. “What do you know of bondage, little girl?
 
Of pleasure so intense it borders on pain?”

Her eyes met his. She could see the need she was sure was reflected in her own. “Nothing yet.”

His expression grew closed and he turned from her. Panic consumed her as he moved towards the hallway.

* * * * *

Flannery had to get away from the tempting baggage in his living room. She was so close to being what he wanted, still he couldn’t in good conscience take her.
She’s a Banshee and sure as the sun rises, if I get her in my ropes, I’ll have the fire cups out and on her before she can protest.
He paused but firmed his resolve at the sharp catch of her breath. It didn’t matter if she cried or not, he couldn’t give in.

“It’s better this way,
Braelyn
. Return to
Bilé
and tell him you failed. I’ll see to it that he doesn’t punish you.” As he said the words, he knew he meant them. He’d go to war with the God of the Underworld himself if the man thought to harm a hair on
Braelyn’s
head.
It’s not her fault she can’t give me what I need. He’s a fool to think that a Banshee would ever allow me to do such a wicked thing to her.

Behind him, he could feel her surprise by the way she quieted. A sudden tension filled the room. It was obvious she hadn’t realized that he knew everything that went on in the palace, including what happened behind
Bilé’s
closed doors. He wouldn’t have been a good Captain of the Guard, if he hadn’t. “You know about that?”

He sighed and turned to face her. “Of course. You’ll find there isn’t much that happens in the Underworld I’m not aware of. And even while I can understand
Bilé’s
reasoning, I won’t father a babe on you, only to have it belong to
Bilé
after it matures.”

Her expression sank, but she kept her head high. “You know about that too?”

Why is it always a surprise when I know more than they expect?
He was tempted to comfort her, but knew that it was the worst thing he could possibly do under the circumstances. “I can do nothing about the fact that every banshee and demon is required to serve
Bilé
for a period of two hundred years upon their maturity, but I’ll be damned if a son or daughter of mine will have that fate.” He looked her up and down.

“You’re what? Twenty-five? How many more years do you have left in your servitude?” If he’d expected her to recoil, he was surprised when she met his eyes head on.

“As many as I want, Mr.
Baghadur
. My servitude was up over eighty years ago.”

He gaped at her. “You’re over two hundred years old?”

“Two hundred and eighty-three to be exact. It seems as if you’re the young one in this equation.”

His stared at her intently. “How is that you’re so innocent-looking? Hell, I can even smell your untried desire. You have to be lying.”

A bemused smile touched her lips. “No, it’s you who’s lying. No god can smell desire. Only those who possess demon or…”

“Faerie’s blood, which I got from my mother’s side,” he supplied for her.

Her fingers twisted on her lap before relaxing. “Fine, you can smell my desire. I have nothing to be ashamed of. I’m a grown banshee who should be able to take a lover if I choose.”

His arms crossed over his chest. Something just wasn’t adding up. “So why haven’t you?”

“You want the simple or complicated explanation?”

He leaned back against the wall and pretended he wasn’t talking about past lovers with a woman he wanted like Hell on fire. “Simple.”

“Two reasons: mixed blood and no interest.”

Shock rolled over him, causing him to drop his arms. “You’re telling me because of your mixed blood, no man wanted you?”

With a slow motion, she rose. “No, I’m telling you that bigoted banshee males want no part of a mixed breed, and up until now, I’ve had no interest in pursuing a lover.”

He nearly dropped to his knees as she closed the distance between them. Keeping her movements slow, she trailed her hand across his warm skin until she reached his navel. Her fingers teased over the head of his erection before slipping down inside his pants to cup his aching balls
.

“That was until I saw a blond
godling
stride across the banquet hall with such confidence others backed away. Then he brought me a meal and ordered me to eat. Later he saved me from a man who wanted to harm me while I had no idea how to battle the
oinseach
without killing everyone present.
 
Now he’s still trying to protect me even from himself. Separate, these acts might move me enough to say thank you. Together? I knew I’d found the man to awaken my desires.”

She gave him a gentle squeeze, her groan joining his. “Until I was told by my Lord and Master that the same man had similar desires to match my own.” She pressed closer, the tips of her covered breasts teasing his bare chest. Unable to resist touching, he wrapped his hands around her upper arms. “Now I only hope that he… no, that you won’t turn me away when I beg to be bound and be teased with…” She gave a soft moan, her words dying in her throat while her eyes drifted shut.

Nearly insane with need, he gave her a rough shake. “Teased with what…floggers? Whips? Canes? What is it? Don’t stop now…tell me!”

Her dazed eyes opened before her lips formed around the words he never expected to come out of her mouth. “…the flickering cups of fire I’ve seen used in the Underworld.”

Any resistance he had flew out the window. His jaw clenched as he struggled for control. “And you’re willing to beg for it?”

For the first time in his presence her head tipped down in submission. “Yes, Sir, if it pleases you.”

Desire shook him hard, beating against his fraying willpower at her obvious submission. Either she’d read about it somewhere or her submission was natural. “Aw, fuck.
Bilé
told you I’m a Dom.” She nodded once more. Frustration and desire warred within him.
Is her submission because she honestly wants to submit or just another ploy to get me to sleep with her?
He released her, yanked her hand out of his pants, and stepped back, breaking her connection. “The only way I’d give you...” he paused, unable to force himself to name his own personal kink. “…what you need is if you offer your full submission. But there’ll be no child. Can you accept those terms?”

The color faded from her face. “If it meant I’d get to experience the warmth of fire, without forfeiting your life…” she took a deep breath. “Then yes, I could.”

“Then present.” He watched the emotions flit across her face, almost too quickly for him to identify, but he was sure he saw unease, desire, and determination. Then she slowly sank to her knees, her legs spread with her palms turned up on her thighs. Even with the obscuring leather, he could see her form was near perfect. “I’m going to prepare the room. If you’re still here when I come back, you’ll be mine for the taking, little one.”

When she opened her mouth, he held up a hand. “I know you think that’s what you want, but this isn’t a snap decision. Think it over because heaven help me, once I start, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop. You have to be sure this is what you want.” He turned on his heel and escaped into the room before she could stop him. Now the decision rested on her slender shoulders.