Undying Desire (25 page)

“Thank you,” Eve whispered, a strange wave of warmth washing over her bones.
Acceptance…? Was this what it felt like?

“Now please. Let me help you.” Emily’s palm slid down and into Eve’s. “I’ll be fine until we get home tomorrow night.”

Home.

“And by ‘we’ I mean you, as well,” Emily added.

“Leaving you here, after only just discovering you, would kill me,” Kenric said. “We haven’t had any time to get to know each other. You could always return here, if you’re not happy. But we really don’t have a choice. We have to go home as soon as possible.” Kenric checked the clock on the bedside table. “Actually, I should call the pilots and see if they have time to file a flight plan tonight.” He pulled out his cell. “Please tell me you’ll come with us. Give us a chance?”

Emily took her seat on the bed and held out her wrist. Eve lowered onto her knees in front of the other female and looked up, taking her hand in hers.

“Are you sure?” She couldn’t help but ask one more time, the question twofold.

“Absolutely.” Emily nodded.

Eve glanced over at Kenric, and she had to smile at the anticipation simmering in his expression. “Okay. I’ll go with you. But I can’t promise I’ll stay.”

“Fair enough.” He punched a number in his phone, and Eve returned to Emily.

“Thank you,” Eve whispered.

“You’re welcome.” Emily smiled. “Now feed.”

Hunger cramped her stomach at the reminder, and her fangs slid into place. Eve lifted Emily’s wrist to her lips. A sweet floral scent wafted into her nostrils—wildflowers.
A perfect fragrance for the female. It reminded her of the warmth of sunshine.
As quickly as possible to minimize the pain, Eve sank her fangs into Emily’s vein. The heady essence of her blood flooded Eve’s mouth, making her head swim. Emily must feed mostly from her mate, based on the potency of the crimson fluid. Eve’s veins hummed under the influence of the cocktail. It didn’t take but a few pulls on Emily’s wrist before Eve’s strength returned. She sealed the puncture with her tongue and lifted her head.

Her skin tingled and her heart raced. “Wow.” Eve blinked. “You have quite a kick there.”

Emily laughed. “You’re feeling better?”

“Much.” Eve stood, her head no longer spinning.

“Good,” she said and nodded in the direction of the door. “I think someone in the other room will be interested in learning about your decision to return with us.”

Eve’s gut tightened. Yeah. She didn’t know whether to be excited or anxious about the idea of moving to the States with Guerin. Would he be happy to spend more time with her, or resent the fact that he’d have to deal with her presence? He certainly had enough to come to terms with without a daily reminder of the shit he’d been forced to confront to save her. Eve’s anger reheated, remembering how Guerin had swallowed his pride and submitted to Daniela—to save her. Her fist coiled at the thought. The female hadn’t deserved the years of trust and devotion she’d had bestowed on her from a male like Guerin. Daniela had been given a treasure like none other, and she’d crushed it under her heel.

“Yeah, well, we’ll see.” Eve gave Emily a tight smile. “He endured a lot because of me. I’m not sure how he’s going to feel about me tagging along.”

“I think you might be surprised.”

“All right, ladies,” Kenric interjected. “Pilot said we’re cleared to leave at six a.m. So that gives us about four hours to get ready.”

Stepping into the living space, Eve scanned the room and found Arran watching TV, and Guerin in the bar area with a bottle of water in his hand. He froze mid-swig, then slowly lowered his arm as she approached.

“How did it go in there?”

“It went well,” she said. Guerin had cleaned up since she’d left him. He’d changed into a pair of ripped jeans and a black
Hysteria
concert T-shirt. “Def Leppard?” Guerin followed her gaze to the graphic. “For some reason,” she added, “I just can’t picture you rocking to an eighties big-hair band.” He glanced up and she grinned.

“It’s Arran’s,” he added with an eye roll. “He lent me some clothes since my stuff is still at the
gasthaus
room I rented before I went looking for you—hopefully.”

“Ah. I see. You’ll probably need to head over there in a few minutes and collect it since we’re leaving for the States at dawn.”

He stilled, as if his brain were mulling over what she’d said. Guerin took another swallow. “We? Does that mean Kenric convinced you to come back with us?”

“Would it bother you if he did?”

“No.” He plopped the bottle on the granite. “Of course not. I was actually surprised that you hesitated.”

“I’ve survived on my own for many, many years.” Eve crossed her arms. “Moving back with the Enclave—my father—isn’t something I ever expected to happen. I needed to clear the air first.”

“You two were able to do that in there?”

“Yeah. We got some things out in the open.”

He clutched the half-empty bottle and rocked the contents, his gaze following the waves. “So your reluctance to move back was based on your relationship with your father?”

“Most of it.” Her pulse spiked at her next thought. “Maybe you and I should talk? A lot of things went down in that dungeon…”

“No.” He swung his head back up. “God, no. I’m fine. You really should do this—come back with us.” He nodded, his smile tight. “It’ll be a great new beginning for you after all…this shit with Keller and company. Plus you’ll have the Enclave always at your back—added protection going forward.”

“Sooo, you and I, we’re good?” Eve added a smile. “I haven’t had a chance to thank—”

“We’re fine.” His smile broadened, but a shadow lurked behind his eyes, dampening the full effect. “Nothing for you to thank me for, or for us to talk about. I’m glad you’ll be coming. I’ll rest easier knowing you’re on our side of the Atlantic.” He brushed past and headed over to Arran.

Well, that couldn’t have been more clear. He wasn’t anywhere near ready to discuss what had happened between them in Seth’s dungeon.

“Eve said we’re leaving in a couple of hours,” Guerin said to Arran. “I’m going to pop back over to the
gasthaus
where I rented a room and get my things. I’ll be back in a few.”

“Okay, man.” Arran dropped his boots from where he’d propped them on the coffee table.

Without another word or a glance back, Guerin phased from the suite. A twinge of hurt nudged her breastbone at the barricade Guerin had slammed into place between them. But there was a part of her that wasn’t surprised, and she’d halfway expected it. He’d opened up a very old, festered wound in the past twenty-four hours, and no doubt, he was reeling from the anguish.

Eve knew he cared about her. She’d witnessed firsthand the hell he’d allowed himself to endure to try to protect her. And after what they’d experienced, Guerin had to know how much she cared about him. She just hoped the sacrifice Guerin made, submitting to Daniela once more—for her—hadn’t erected a defensive wall so thick Eve would never be able to penetrate.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Their plane touched down during the late-morning hours on the East Coast of the US and taxied into a hangar. Luckily for Eve, their flight over the Atlantic had launched at sunrise, and the passengers, including Guerin, had slept for the duration. Eve had barely closed her eyes and was anxious to escape the close quarters of the tin box. Kenric and Guerin, being the senior vampires of their posse, were now up, but groggy.

After their pilot had confirmed that the area was secure and their ride had arrived, Kenric carried Emily’s sleeping form to the darkened limo. Guerin managed to awaken Arran long enough for him to lumber toward their ride. Eve climbed inside the stretch vehicle and found a spot between the two warriors while Kenric held Emily in his arms. Kenric tossed a blanket over his mate for added security and warmth. Eve squirmed inside over the display of affection and deflected her gaze, but she wasn’t sure where to look. The windows in front of her were dark. To her left, Arran was a nice-looking man, but it was totally inappropriate to sit there and stare at the mated male. To her right…Guerin. Eve swallowed, her throat suddenly as dry and dusty as the bottom of her boots. She glanced at the strong vampire beside her with his dark Mediterranean good looks, and her stomach did that girly crush flip-flop thing.
Good Lord.

She was
not
a teenager.

But watching him sleep during the flight had given her way too many hours to reminisce about the good times they’d shared. And her libido had kicked into full alert. As if Guerin sensed her perusal, he cocked his head from where he studied his fingers, his forearms resting on his legs. Their gazes connected, and Eve could have sworn someone had cranked the limo’s heat to high. His nostrils flared. Eve crossed her legs and cleared her throat.

“How far of a drive is it to your home?” Eve looked over at Kenric and rubbed her thighs with her damp palms.

“About an hour,” Guerin responded before Kenric had the chance, dragging her attention back to the male.

“That long, huh?”

“Afraid so,” he said and lifted a brow. “Restless?” He leaned against the seat’s backrest and propped a boot over his knee.

“Yeah. A little,” she said.

Guerin’s expression darkened as he surveyed her from beneath eyelashes the color of coal. The corner of his mouth curled, and the tip of a fang emerged from under his lip.
Okay.
Nope. That did not help.
Why did she have a feeling the one-hour drive to the Enclave estate was going to feel a hell of lot longer than the flight across the Atlantic?

Sixty minutes later, and not a moment too soon, the limo came to a complete stop and the engine went silent. Thank God. She needed some air.

The door to the passenger compartment opened. “Everything’s secure, sir,” the human male she’d heard Kenric call Michael stated. Her father stepped from the vehicle with Emily in his arms, his movements fluid, as if Emily’s added weight were an extra jacket, not an adult female.

Eve grabbed her small bag from where their driver had placed it beside the vehicle and followed Kenric from the multi-vehicle garage into the house. They marched through a dimly lit corridor until it opened to a chef’s kitchen. A large island with an inlaid stovetop and seating for six dominated the center of the room; white cabinets contrasted the black granite countertops and dark stained wood floors. Stainless steel appliances topped off the overall design.
Nice.

Vampires didn’t require human food to survive, but some still enjoyed the act of eating. And apparently this group did. Thank goodness, because she needed both to remain at her best.

“Eve,” Kenric said, slowed to a stop, and pivoted. “I’m heading upstairs to put Emily to bed, but Michael will show you to your room and help you find anything else you require. Later, after sundown, I’ll give you a tour of the place.”

“That’s fine. I look forward to it.”

He smiled, his eyes soft and warm, and proceeded into the house.

“I can show you to your room now if you’re ready,” Michael said, coming up beside her.

“No,” Guerin interjected. “I’ll show her.”

“Uh, how about I show myself? You can just point me in the right direction, Michael. I’m sure I can find my way.” She did not need Mr. Tall, Dark, and Testosterone-Filled taking her to her bedroom.

“Did you give her the vacant room next to Alexandria’s?” Guerin proceeded on, completely ignoring her protest. Michael nodded.

“Guerin.” She propped her hands on her hips. “I don’t need a tour guide. It’s a house, not the Louvre.”

Guerin scrubbed a palm over his face, his beard sounding bristly on his flesh, and exhaled. “Follow me.” He took her bag from her hand and headed off in the direction Kenric had gone with Emily. Eve grumbled, but relented and fell into step behind him. He hadn’t left her much choice.

“You look like you should be finding your own room,” she mumbled. Guerin drew to a halt at the foot of the stairs and looked over his shoulder.

“Are you saying I look bad?” He crossed his arms.

Doing her best to keep the grin off her face, Eve gave him her best innocent expression. “I didn’t say that, exactly. We’ve all been through a lot these last few days. You’re tired, Lombardi. Sheesh… Vain much?” Eve brushed past him and began climbing the stairs.

“I am
not
vain,” he huffed behind her.

She chuckled under her breath and stopped at the top to wait for him to catch up.

“This way,” he said and smirked before heading right. “Your room is at the end, facing the side of the house. But you should also get a nice glimpse of the front and back.”

Eve couldn’t pull her gaze from the way the dark jeans hugged the rear of the male in front of her. The denim perfectly encased the tight muscles and then molded itself down his thighs. Eve had to bite her lip to keep from groaning. Yes. She did have a nice view of the back.

Guerin opened the door and stood aside, allowing her enough space to pass through. Eve surveyed the floor plan and furnishings. Rich dark woods, mahogany or cherry, filled the room. A comforter designed with a cream, chocolate, and blue geometric pattern covered the bed. White wooden shutters sealed the windows, but she surmised the house must use some kind of exterior or tinted covering for the glass itself because no UV light filtered between the slats.

“You have your own bathroom in here,” Guerin said and sauntered over to a darkened doorway and clicked on a light inside. Eve joined him and peeked inside.

“Great.” The bath came with a separate soaker tub and freestanding blue-and-white-tiled shower. Kenric and Emily certainly had good taste and obviously took care of the members of the Enclave. Eve moved to the other side of the room and found the double doors to the closet. She pulled them wide and surveyed the deep space. Damn, she could actually sleep inside there.

“You like?” Guerin was behind her. His presence—warmth—sent a shiver up her spine. He was so close, she could swear his breath tickled her nape. Yet he hadn’t touched her.