Tempted By Darkness (Eternally Mated Book 6) Read online

  He faced her. “No, we need to make it look as though only one room is being used. We are newlyweds after all.”

  Her skin heated until her clothes became so tight she feared fainting. She must have looked mortified because he responded.

  “Don’t worry, the bed is plenty big. Besides, I don’t require much sleep.”

  Sleep was the last thing she worried about. It was more the thought of him naked beneath those sheets that had her biting her lip. She quickly pulled herself together. “It’s fine. I was taken by surprise is all. I figured with four rooms you would want your privacy.”

  He walked to the window and opened the patio door. “We will be hosting a party soon to introduce ourselves. One thing humans are, is curious. I expect a few of our guests will snoop.”

  If they were being observed, might as well start the show now, so she slipped in behind him. Circling her arms around his waist, she leaned into his hard body and planted a kiss on the back of his neck. He didn’t even flinch, but her insides turned into jelly. Damn, he was a pro at this while her body smoldered every time they came into contact with each other. Hell, he only had to look at her to cause distress. Why the Almighty had thought her a good choice to seduce this angel was a complete mystery because she was probably the worst choice.

  “I hope you don’t mind.” Geez Rhea, way to sound insecure.

  “Rhea, are you uncomfortable with the physical contact?” He turned to face her, which made answering his question even more difficult. She cast her gaze down before she pulled her self together and looked him in the eyes.

  “I don’t want to step out of bounds. I find you attractive, so I’m not uncomfortable touching you.” Both honesty and lie.

  “I find you pleasing as well, but you need to be aware that there may come a time when we have to become...very intimate.” His gaze heated before landing on the bed. “I will not ask it of either of us unless I feel we need to prove something to any who spy on us.”

  Shit. Those words were like gasoline to her internal fire. “I understand, but you should probably know that I am untouched.”

  His entire body stiffened as he tipped his chin up slightly. “Yet you accepted this mission with the knowledge of what might happen between us?”

  “Yes.” She moved away from him, unable to take his stare or his heat any longer and walked through the open door, hoping a breeze might cool her thoughts. No such luck, his heat whisked out behind her and wrapped around every sensitive part of her body. “I wanted... No, that’s not correct. I needed to get away. Experience what life is like on the other side rather than look at it through the lake.”

  “Lake?”

  She stared down at the flowing river below them. “Trath Lake holds images of this world. It’s how angels in the Otherworld see what’s going on.”

  “I see. So tell me, did you come here expecting me to take your virginity?” The warmth previously in his voice turned to jagged ice.

  Rhea knew she was walking on eggshells and had to choose her words carefully. “No. I did my homework and know that your heart belongs to another, and you’ve not been with anyone since her. I came here hoping to find my true mate.” She finally looked at him. “I know he’s out there somewhere.”

  Tegan hadn’t expected to hear that Rhea was untouched, but it shouldn’t surprise him. Just as the fact that she was here in search of her true mate shouldn’t be a shock either. Rhea was special. A pure female angel created by the Almighty himself. It was likely she did have a mate somewhere in the universe. The father of creation would want a perfect match for his angel, which brought the other question to mind. Why would the Almighty send her on this mission? The god had to understand that there would be intimate contact if Tegan and Rhea were to keep up appearances. He gazed at the city skyline. The only conclusion he could draw was this was a way for Rhea to grow. Angels didn’t hold their females to the same standards many mortals did. It was understood, male or female, that the body had needs and they were not discouraged to meet those desires. Since mates were nephilim, and didn’t come to the angelic world until at least their twenty-fifth birthday, most were not virgins when they arrived. Frankly, many of the men preferred it that way.

  He let out a breath. Tegan was in no mood to be a teacher of the sexual arts. If he was going to break his celibacy, he would much prefer a female who was of the same mind as him. A good fuck and go their separate ways. Spending time with all the niceties meant possible entanglements. He hated entanglements, so why did the thought of her with another male produce a lead ball in his gut and throw fuel on his simmering anger?

  “Have you at least kissed a man?”

  “Of course, and I’m not a stranger to what sexual relations entail. I’ve seen much in my world.” She stood confident. “If we are required to take this relationship to that point, then I will do so with no expectations of anything more than what is necessary.”

  Ouch. Was her bite intentional? Before he could ask, he suddenly felt eyes on them. From who or where, he was unable to determine. He slipped into Rhea’s mind.

  We are being watched again.

  I feel the eyes as well.

  Then be warned, I’m going to kiss you. Son of a bitch. He hated this mission already and it had scarcely begun. Everything felt so planned and technical. Best not to think and simply act. He stepped into her, pulled her to him, and planted his mouth on hers. She softened against him, wrapping her arms around his neck and parted her lips. He took advantage, reminding himself to relax or those watching would sense this was a farce. Tegan was positive those eyes belonged to another immortal, but he couldn’t send out his power to find out since it might be a dead giveaway.

  Instead, he kissed Rhea like she deserved. Mustered every bit of passion he had kept locked away for so long. Before he knew it, he’d let his hands slide down her hips and settle on her firm ass. It was certainly what any newly married man would do, he told himself. Breaking the kiss, he grabbed her hand and dragged her through the door back into the bedroom.

  “Close the blinds,” he ordered with more force than intended. Damn, but he realized there was an ache in his groin.

  Rhea’s eyes wide, she quickly moved and pressed the switch on the wall, setting the shades to close. Then she turned to face him. “Why do you suppose they are watching us? I mean, we just arrived.”

  He crossed the room, sat on the loveseat, and shoved his lust back into the shadows of his mind. He had to remind himself that he had not been this close to a female since he last kissed Ana goodbye. It was natural to have a reaction to Rhea. She was soft to the touch, beautiful to the eyes, and she was an angel. One of his own and had some understanding of duty and honor. He was still a man after all. Then why was there a dagger stabbing him in the heart? Ana was dead. Long ago her soul parted from the earth, and he was free to carry on. Having a relationship was not cheating. Ana was no longer here to cheat on.

  “Tegan?”

  He was ripped from his tormented thoughts.

  “I’m going to go out under the cover of darkness and see what I can learn.” Being a hunter, the night was his friend. He could easily blend into the shadows and use his power while still remaining undetected. The sooner he figured out what was going on, the faster he could send Rhea packing.

  She was a dangerous female.

  Chapter Five

  Even hours later, Rhea’s body still reeled from Tegan’s kiss. He’d left her alone while he went hunting, as he called it. Well, Rhea wasn’t about to sit around and do nothing. She had read in the booklet left on their kitchen counter that there was a workout center in the building and, as luck would have it, a yoga class tonight. She dug in the dresser in their room and found black yoga pants and a purple halter. After dressing, she went in the bathroom and pulled her hair into a ponytail then checked her appearance. Confident everything was in order, she grabbed the yoga mat she found in the closet, a towel, and headed out the door. Swiping her key in the elevator, she pressed the bu
tton for the fourth floor and waited. A minute later, the door opened and she walked the hall until she found the frosted glass door marked Gym. Pulling it open, she stepped inside and was immediately greeted by the woman in the photo from their packet.

  “Hi. I was beginning to worry no one would come tonight.” The bubbly blonde stepped forward and stuck out her hand. “I’m Erica Copper.”

  Score! Rhea flashed the kind of smile reserved only for a best friend and took her hand in a quick shake. “I’m Rhea Ferrow. My husband and I just moved in today. He had to go out on business and I was bored.” Rhea performed a quick scan before they broke contact. Erica was mortal. Not one hint of vampire or demon.

  Erica’s eyes lit. “Men. Mine went out too. Welcome to the building. Which tower are you in?” Erica led Rhea to an open room with a bank of windows that showed the sparkling city outside.

  Rhea unrolled her mat and laid it on the floor, setting her towel next to it. “Tower two, tenth floor penthouse.”

  “Oh, my god, we’re neighbors,” Erica laughed. “Mark and I are across the hall!” She stepped onto her mat. “I’m so happy to meet you. Mark’s job takes him away a lot, and I don’t know many people in the city yet.”

  Rhea wondered if Erica really knew what her husband was up to. “Tegan and I are hosting a party coming up. We’d love for you and your husband to come.”

  “Oh, that sounds like fun. Just let us know when and I’ll make sure we’re there.”

  The girls quieted as Erica led Rhea into pose after pose to the soft music in the background. After thirty minutes, they finished up with the Dead Man’s pose and as Rhea lay on her mat, eyes closed, Tegan slipped into her mind.

  Where have you gone?

  The gym.

  Do you think it wise that you wander about?

  Is that not why I’m here? I can’t pretend to be your wife while I hide in our home.

  Well, did you find anything?

  Yes, Erica Copper. We are becoming fast friends, as the mortals would say.

  I still don’t think it was wise of you to go out on your own yet.

  Rhea sat up, shutting Tegan out. “I should go, my husband will be back soon.” She stood and began to roll her mat.

  “Okay. Maybe we can meet up for lunch some time?” Erica was on her feet.

  “I’m free tomorrow. Would you like to help me plan this party? I’m not familiar with the area yet and could really use the help.”

  “I’d love that!” Erica walked Rhea to the door. “I know the perfect place in the city to lunch. They cater as well so we can kill two birds with one stone.”

  “Perfect. Come pick me up, say eleven?”

  “I’ll be there.”

  Tegan paced the floor of the penthouse until Rhea finally stepped through the door.

  “What were you thinking?” he snarled when he hadn’t meant to. He’d come back to find the place empty, and his mind immediately went to the worst scenario.

  “I was thinking of running into Mrs. Copper, which I did.” She walked up the stairs and he was right behind her. Trying with great difficulty not to notice the curve of her ass in the tight black pants, or her slim waist, the skin exposed for him to touch.

  “I wish you would have discussed this with me before taking the risk.”

  When she reached the top of the stairs, she faced him. “Look, I may be younger than you but I’m not a complete idiot.”

  “I didn’t say that.” Things were going down in flames.

  “No, but you’re being an overbearing ass. I was sent here to help with this assignment, and that is what I intend to do.” She turned and stormed down the hallway to their room.

  “I’m not overbearing.” Well, maybe he was. “Fuck,” he muttered under his breath. Why could he not get his shit together?

  “Really?” She tossed her towel in the hamper. “Then you treat all of your partners like this while on a mission?”

  “Since I’m their commander, yes. I expect orders to be followed.” True statement.

  The sapphire in her eyes flamed into blue fire, and he found it intoxicating. “You gave me no commands.”

  Damnit. “Forgive me. You’re right.”

  She walked to him, stopped, and looked up. “Then we’re okay?”

  “Yes. I was simply worried something might have happened to you.” He had nearly lost his mind when he discovered the penthouse empty.

  “I can take care of myself, but thank you for caring.” The grin she tossed his way was as lethal as it was seductive. There was no doubt this female could indeed take care of herself. “Mrs. Copper is mortal. We are having lunch tomorrow, and she’s going to help me plan our party. Seems Mr. Copper spends a lot of time away.”

  “Good work. I happened to spot Mr. Copper leaving the building and followed him.” He walked Rhea backward to the bathroom and stepped inside. “No one can see us in here.” The windows were frosted.

  She stepped away from him and began to peel off her yoga top.

  Tegan spun so his back was to her. “What the hell are you doing now?”

  “Showering.”

  He heard the water spray hit the tile and scrubbed a hand across his face as he tried not to imagine her naked body covered in water droplets. “He went to an exclusive club. Demon bouncers at the door picking out the females in line and letting them in first.”

  “Ohh, did you get inside?”

  He grinned. “What do you think?”

  A soft laugh. “Did you pretend you were a girl?”

  “Hysterical. Of course not. I can be very persuasive.”

  “Hmm, I’m sure you can. What did you find?”

  “The front looked like any normal club. Bar, loud music, dancing. It was the back that was most interesting. Sex and blood sucking. Our Mr. Copper spent the evening with a red-head.”

  The water stopped and he heard the rustle of a towel. Her voice a whisper away. “Was he the drinker or the giver?”

  He dared glance over his shoulder. “The man has a set of fangs that he didn’t hesitate to sink into the woman’s neck and later her thigh.”

  Rhea stepped closer then walked around him back into the bedroom. “Was she one of them as well?” Her towel dropped to the floor.

  “Son of a bitch, woman. Why do you insist on being naked in front of me?”

  “If we are to be married, then naked is part of it. We’re angels, we have both seen plenty of flesh.” She crossed to the dresser and grabbed a tiny tee and shorts then pulled them on before slipping into bed. Damn, the woman made a fetching display propped up in a sea of cotton sheets and pillows. The dusky color of her nipples shown through the white shirt she had put on and again a shot of desire went straight to his dick.

  He would be damned if he was going to let her get the better of him. Two could play this game. He began to unbutton his shirt, her eyes glued to his chest. “You’re right, of course. I’ve seen so much flesh in my life I’m no longer affected.” Lie!

  She ran her tongue across her lips, her gaze never wavering. “So, did you discover anything else?”

  He dropped his shirt on the floor then began to unbutton his jeans. Rhea’s eye’s widened and she looked back at his face. He had to give her credit for that. “The red-head was human. I’m going to say from the things I saw, the vampires have a small exclusive club in the back room where they feed and fuck.”

  Her face and neck flushed. “How many vampires did you find there?”

  “At least six, but my gut tells me there are more. I also picked up Lucifer’s DNA.” He would know that stench anywhere.

  “You carry Lucifer’s DNA, if what I have read is correct.”

  He tried not to let it bother him. “Yes. What you have read about me is true.”

  She seemed satisfied with that. “So what next?”

  He dropped his jeans; thankfully he had the sense to wear underwear. Crawling into bed, he killed the lights. “You need to find out if Mrs. Copper has any idea what her husband is,
and I will continue to watch the club. This party needs to happen soon so I can meet Mr. Copper officially. We also need to determine if the humans being turned are volunteers as well as those who offer up the vein.”

  “Yes, that is an important determination. It will tell us if the species is hostile or not. We can’t have mortals being forced into... Well, whatever the hell is going on.”

  Rhea was a smart woman. This mission might not be so bad after all––if he could keep the head on his shoulders in charge. Tegan rolled to his side. “Good night, Rhea.”

  “Good night, Tegan.”

  Rhea stared at the ceiling as Tegan fell into the rhythm of sleep. His breathing slow and steady, she wondered how he did it. Most likely it was years of discipline. Her mind, however, was still replaying his jeans sliding over his narrow hips and hitting the floor. Powerful thighs had carried him across the room, and she had tried so hard not to look at the bulge in his form-fitting boxers.

  Pffft.

  It was a lost cause, as was trying to forget his kiss. Rhea almost wished she had more experience with sex so she wouldn’t feel so inadequate. Seriously, how was an angel of only a few decades supposed to seduce one of several millennia? She was in way over her head.

  Tegan flinched and mumbled. Rhea sat up and studied him, taking note he appeared fitful all of a sudden. Was he dreaming? Again he mumbled and jerked his leg. This seemed no ordinary dream. The angel beside her was stressed and concern had her scrunching her brow. What could possibly cause this man distress? Many things she supposed. He was a hunter and no doubt the blood of hundreds, perhaps thousands, stained his hands. The urge to comfort him overwhelmed her. She scooted closer and laid a hand on his bare shoulder. Instantly, images bombarded her mind.

  A beautiful woman with flowing, blonde hair and a smile filled with sunshine stared back at her, and Rhea instantly knew it was Ana. Tegan’s long lost love. Rhea wanted to pull away. Intruding on his personal thoughts was wrong, yet she couldn’t break the bond. Her curiosity needed to know more.