The Raven

Chapter 28 House Guests 1

“Would you please shut-up? My best friend in the world has some funky ass thing going on and I can’t even be there for her because I get to play ‘babysit the werewolf!’ And, you DON’T even want to get me started on having to cancel my wedding!” Mandy wasn’t in the mood to listen to Darren another second. 2


“What’s the matter, honey? Not happy to have your better half home with you?” Darren asked. He made a move towards her and she reached for her knife drawer.
“Don’t make me have to stab you. I’ll claim it was self defense.” She arched an eyebrow and gave him a wry grin. 3


Darren glanced around her kitchen and smiled. “You have to admit, this could be good for us.”
“What, standing in my kitchen while I think up ways to tell my fiancé that I’m still married to a man he hates? Oh, yeah, it’s a riot. Please sign me up for the next harebrained idea you have. I’d really hate to miss anything.” 4


“Come on, Mandy,” he said moving to embrace her. She snarled at him, daring him to try it. He backed off. He was smarter than she gave him credit for. “We were hot together. Even you can’t deny that.” 5


She opened her mouth to protest, but stopped when she realized that Darren was right. They had been hot together. Sex with him had been wild, unpredictable and often tiring. Armando was the only man she’d ever been with that was in the same toe-curling, earth shattering, wet panty category, and the minute he found out about this she’d lose him.
Putting her head down, she reached up and rubbed her neck in an attempt to relive some of the day’s stress. It’d been a hell of a day. Hank had spent the afternoon riding her ass about deadlines. The florist that she and Armando had decided on for their wedding had called to let her know that they’d need to stop back in--something about a freakish strain of larva eating through plants. And, to top it off, her period was late again. No doubt due to stress.
Darren turned the kitchen CD player on and laughed when Bad Moon Rising greeted them. 6

7

“Been thinking of me?” 8


“Not fondly.”
“Let’s dance,” he said putting his hand out to her. She shook her head no and turned to go back to chopping zucchini. Instantly, Darren was behind her. He slid his arms around her waist and began rocking against her backside.
“There’s a bad moon on the rise…” Darren never lost step with the music. He’d always had an amazing voice and she hated to admit that she missed hearing it. Unable to resist the sway of his hips and the lure of his voice, Mandy gave in and moved with him. “Hope you got your things together….” 9


Laughing, Mandy turned into him and allowed him to lead her around the kitchen. It’d been awhile since she felt this free--this relaxed. They twisted and twirled together and when the song ended, Mandy assumed that they were done. She couldn’t have been more wrong. The Steve Miller Band’s song, The Joker, came on next.
“Some call me the gangster of love… Cause I'm right here, right here, right here, right here at home…” Darren pulled her close to him, pressing their bodies so tight that Mandy had no choice but to take note of the erection he was sporting beneath his pants. “Really love your peaches want to shake your tree…” Grinding his bulge against her, he made her weak in the knees. 10


She did her best to put distance between them, but it didn’t work. His lips brushed her neck and she arched her head back, allowing him better access to her. Running her hand through his shaggy hair, she pulled his head tighter to her neck. “This is wrong.”
“No,” he said, still planting sensual kisses along her neck. “It’s not wrong, Mandy. I’m your husband. This is what husbands do. And,” he grabbed her hand and placed it against his rock hard erection, “this is what you do to me.” 11


Mandy gasped. Heat rushed through her body, collecting between her thighs in anticipation of what was to come. She tried to pull her hand away, but Darren held firm. “No, Mandy, you aren’t going to run from this. Not anymore.”
“We can’t… I can’t… Armando… I can’t do this to him… please Darren, try to understand.”
“Oh, I understand just fine.” He rocked his hips gently to the music causing her to stroke him through his pants. “I understand that you’re technically my wife and you agreed to give me two months. If I can’t sleep with you then neither can he. And, before you protest know that I could drag a divorce out for years and years.” 12


She opened her mouth to tell him to go to hell and he felt her legs give out when he planted his warm lips over hers. Sweeping her up in his arms, Darren continued his pleasurable assault on her mouth as he moved their bodies to the music. He carried her as if she weighed nothing towards the kitchen door.
“No,” she said, reluctantly pulling her lips from his. “I can’t….”
“Don’t do this, Mandy. I’ll drag a divorce out forever if you don’t give me just as much of a chance as the dead guy gets.” 13


She didn’t particularly like hearing Armando referred to as the dead guy, but fighting with Darren was pointless. He’d claimed mating rights and no judge in the world would side with her in the matter. “What about dinner? I need to finish making it.”
A wolfish grin spread across Darren’s chiseled face. “Dinner sounds good, but there’s something else I’ve been wanting to eat for quite some time now.” With that, he clamped his mouth back down on hers and walked towards her bedroom. 14


~****~15


Michelle looked over Dmitri’s home from his window, wondering how on Earth he managed to get her to come with him. All she knew is that he started talking, saying something about Mandy covering her work load--a fact Michelle would be protesting as soon as she saw her friend--and then she was nodding at him, staring at his full mouth more than hearing the words through the blood rushing through her head. 16


Before she knew it, she was in his car being brought to his home. No matter how many times she played that scenario in her fantasies, her being sick had never been a factor. It was almost humiliating, him seeing her like this. He was lycan. He was so strong, immortal. And here was a big red flag waving, saying, ‘Here, look at the mortal woman, she’s weak, she’s sickly, you can do better!’ 17


Swallowing, she looked up at the sky. It was late afternoon yet. Michelle moved to push open her car door. She shouldn’t be here. Just Dmitri’s nearness was torture and now she was going to be staying with him? It didn’t make sense. She should be staying with Mandy, if anyone.
Dmitri ran around the car before she could get out and lifted her up into his arms. Michelle protested as he bounced her more securely into his hold. “I can walk.”
“Then why did they wheel you out in a wheel chair?” Dmitri asked.
“Cause they’re stupid,” Michelle grumbled. “Everyone is overreacting.”
“The doctor said--”
Feeling a lecture, Michelle interrupted. “The doctor’s always say something, but just ask them what’s wrong with me. You’ll hear silence.”
Dmitri was quiet. 18


~****~19


Michelle knew living with Dmitri was going to be hard, but she didn’t think it would be so hard so fast. It didn’t help that he gave her his bed that first night. She’d laughed, asking what happened to the round bed he had last time she’d been over, the night she’d passed out and woke up thinking she’d been abducted by aliens. He confessed to being in the middle of redecorating. She liked the new, four poster bed better. It felt older and suited Dmitri more. 20


Being the gentleman he was—sometimes--Dmitri slept on the couch while she slept on the bed. Well, ‘slept’ was an overstatement. She’d lain awake surrounded by Dmitri’s smell on the grey silk sheets until she thought she’d explode with lust. Once, she almost crawled out of bed and attacked him. Only the fact that she was exhausted kept her from following the impulse.
The bed was bad enough, but it seemed no one had her apartment key and so she didn’t have any clothes. Brian had taken it with him when he left and she knew there was no way for her to get a hold of him. Her super wasn’t answering his phone either. Without clothes, she had to borrow Dmitri’s. Somehow, wearing his pajama pants and t-shirts made her horny as all hell. Ok, it was Dmitri that was making her horny. 21


“Would you like dinner?” Dmitri asked. Michelle jumped, nearly coming out of her skin as he walked in. She’d been staring at his big screed TV from his leather couch, not seeing the show as she imagined… Ok, she couldn’t go into what she imagined with him standing before her. He carried grocery bags. 22


“Oh, hey, you’re letting me stay here. The least I can do is take care of dinner,” Michelle said, standing. Dmitri smiled and carried the grocery bags to the kitchen.
His place really was big--lots of space. She liked it. His bathroom had a huge corner shower with bench seats, a whirlpool tub set into the floor--it was too cool, a large office with a bookcase full of books. Now, that had surprised her. She hadn’t figured him for the reading type. Now, the big screen TV she could see, being that he was all about the sports. I mean, who had a TV and accessories that required five remotes? Michelle was scared to turn the channel. 23


Grabbing the phone, Michelle began to dial, having long ago memorized all the delivery numbers.
“Pauly’s,” a voice said. 24


“Hey, Paul, it’s Michelle Pillow,” Michelle said. 25


“Hey, chicky, what can I get for you? The special?” 26


“No, actually, I need food for two. How about chicken primavera, garlic bread, some of those cherry filled thingies, and… that should do it.” Michelle walked to the kitchen. 27


“Who you talking to?” Dmitri asked. 28


“I’m making dinner,” Michelle said. “What’s the address here?” 29


“What are you doing?” Dmitri asked, frowning. 30


“Cooking,” Michelle said, looking confused. 31


“On the phone?” 32


Michelle laughed. “Oh, yeah, take out, sorry. It’s the only way I cook.” 33


“Would you like this on your tab?” Paul asked. 34


“Yeah, my tab’s fine,” Michelle answered, before looking at Dmitri. She covered the phone with her hand. “Do you have dishes or do we need to have them bring plastic ware?” 35


“You have a tab? How often do you eat out?” Dmitri asked. 36


“Every meal, well except when I make a peanut butter sandwich,” Michelle answered. “We need plastic ware?” 37


“Uh, no,” Dmitri said. 38


“No, Paul, actually, yes Paul, give me the plastic. No dishes tonight,” Michelle said. Looking at Dmitri she asked, “Address?” 39


Dmitri gave it to her and she repeated it. When she hung up the phone, he said, “I bought stuff to cook.” 40


“Oh, cook, cook? I can’t,” Michelle said. “I mean, I burn water. I burn pans. I burn--” 41


“I get point,” Dmitri chuckled and ran his hand through his hair. He really did look sexy standing in the kitchen. He wore loose blue jeans and a blue shirt. The color did something sexy to his gray eyes. “But, I meant I was going to cook for you.”42


“Oh,” she said. “Wow.” 43


“Wow?” Dmitri’s voice dipped and he took a step towards her. 44


Michelle shivered. The lust, which hadn’t really left her, came back full force. Oh, living here was such a bad idea. Did he know he was that sexy? Did he look like that on purpose? And how in the hell did she date him and not jump his bones. Nothing like a near death experience to put things in perspective. She wanted to seduce him. Her stomach growled and she thought, food first, seduce Dmitri later. 45


~****~46


Dmitri watched Michelle eating. It was all he could not to jump on top of her. Damn, she looked sexy in his clothing. She’d look better out of them. He wondered if she knew how seductive she was being. Watching her take small bites, savoring her food--argh! A man could only take so much. 47


Dmitri forced his heart to slow. He couldn’t make a move, not right now. She was sick. The doctor said no stress. Though, from what she said, the doctors didn’t seem to know much about what was wrong with her. He wanted to get a supernatural opinion and had already made arrangements to take her into the supernatural district for an appointment with an elfin healer. Now it was just convincing her to go. The elves could really do so much more than the human doctors. 48


Michelle made a small moaning noise as she licked her fork. Dmitri grabbed a piece of bread and savagely tore it. It was going to be another long night. 49


~****~50


Michelle eyed Dmitri over the coffee table. He sat on the couch and she was on the chair across from him. Dinner was about over and all her attempts at turning him on seemed to be failing. She wasn’t giving up easily though. She wanted him and she was determined to seduce him. Dipping her finger in sauce, she tried to look seductive as she licked it off.
Dmitri swallowed and looked at her strangely. “Uh? Do you need napkin?” 51


Michelle frowned.
“They’re disposable--no washing involved.” He grinned at her. He reached over, lifting a napkin for her.
The grin was too much. She couldn’t take it. A growl in her throat, she jumped over the table and tackled Dmitri onto the couch. He tensed in surprise, but she didn’t stop. Her mouth met his, kissing him hard with all the passion in her body. She wiggled around until she was straddling his hips. She groaned, feeling his hard erection between his thighs. 52


He wanted her. 53


Michelle began tearing at his clothes, rubbing her body into his arousal, trembling as it stimulated her clit. She nearly came just from the stimulation.
“Michelle,” Dmitri gasped, trying to pull his mouth away.
She didn’t listen, just moved her mouth to his throat, biting and kissing him with wild abandoned. He tasted good, was so hot to the touch. She loved how hot he always was, about ten degrees above her temperature. She pulled at his shirt finding the hard muscles of his stomach. She ground her body harder into his, riding him through his pants. 54


“Ahh--hha,” Dmitri said. He pushed her off of him and stood, breathing heavily. “We can’t… you’re… sick.”
To Michelle’s horror, he practically ran from her to the bathroom. She’d been so close to climaxing just from rubbing against him. Her heart pounded and she couldn’t remember ever feeling so alive. And he’d stopped. He stopped. 55


He didn’t want her. 56


~****~57


Dmitri tore into his bathroom, trying his best to remain calm. Great, Michelle’s finally ready to sleep with him and this happens. It was for the best, she really was sick and he wanted her to see the supernatural healer first. 58


But, this? Did it have to be this? God, he’d waited for so long to have her and now she was more than willing, practically attacking him--THIS!!
Dmitri looked down at his pants in horror, beyond mortified. He’d come in is jeans with just less than a minutes worth of dry humping.59

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Chapter 29 Wait...I can explain! 76


Mandy woke to the sound of the phone ringing. She cracked an eye open and watched as Darren leaned over to grab it. Running her hand up his arm, she moved her body over his slightly. “Mmm, don’t you dare answer that.”
He chuckled and the sound reverberated through her as she lay partially on his massive chest. “What’s a matter? Afraid of what someone might think?” He held the phone up, base and all while it continued to ring.
It was just out of reach and Mandy had to move up and over Darren in an attempt to grab it. “Darren, come on…they’ll hang up before you give it to me.”
He arched a dark brow and gave her a wolfish grin. “Oh baby, I’ll give it to you. If you want it.”
“Tempting. Now, give me phone.” 77


Darren pulled the sheet over her and covered them up. It was kind of cute the way he remembered how cold she got when she first woke up. That was something Armando never paid much attention to. Maybe that was because he was always cold.
Darren laced his free arm around her back, effectively holding her body pressed to his. His erection dug into her abdomen and she shifted a bit in an attempt to stop the moisture that was building between her thighs. It didn’t work. He brought the phone closer to her and she grabbed the handset. 78

79

“Hello?” 80


“Hey, I was beginning to think you fell off the face of the earth,” Michelle said, with a slight laugh.
“Hey you, how are you feeling?” Guilt washed over Mandy. She’d dropped the ball, again, in their friendship. How Michelle put up with her was completely beyond her, and she’d never be half as good as friend to her. Maybe she was genetically predisposed to fuck up? Maybe she was just a sucky friend. “Listen, sorry about not getting over to see you yet.”
Dead silence greeted her. Darren nuzzled his face into her neck and his stubble tickled, causing her to laugh. 81


Michelle laughed slightly too. “Yeah, it is funny. You apologizing shocked me into silence. Wow, warn me before you do that again. I’d hate to have a heart attack.”
It was Mandy’s turn to fall silent, only hers wasn’t out of shock. It was fear. The reality of Michelle’s words turned her stomach. Losing her would not be something she’d bounce back from—ever. 82


Darren bit at her collarbone and she tried to slide off him. He held her tight, grinding his hips against her in the process. “I can smell that you’re wet for me.”
Mandy rolled her eyes and looked at the wall, hoping that fixating on anything other than Darren’s face would help her concentrate. 83


“Hello? Earth to Mandy…do you read?” Michelle said. “Did you hang up on me again?”
“No, no, I’m here. You just should avoid teasing about dropping dead.”
“Right, like anyone one of us couldn’t get struck by a bus tomorrow.” Michelle laughed softly. “You know that may be a welcomed fix to my problem.”
Mandy propped herself up a bit on Darren, driving his erection lower. He growled and rubbed himself against her. The only thing that kept him from entering her was two thin layers of silk, his boxers and her panties, which were now soaked. Darren dropped the base of the phone onto the table and seized hold of her ass, making her yelp. 84


“Uhh, okay. Anyway, I’m making out with Dmitri…”
That caught Mandy’s attention. “You were what?”
Michelle huffed. “Don’t act so surprised. You’re not the only one with a libido. It just so happens that yours is some sort of medical marvel that men line up just to be near. You do realize that you’re sex drive is like twenty times greater than a porn star’s, right?”
Darren slid his hand around and moved it between them. Caressing the outer edges of her cleft, through her wet panties, he kissed at her jaw. 85


“Stop,” Mandy said, breathily.
“See, you can’t even tell me to stop picking on you without sounding like you’re having sex.” Michelle laughed softly. It sounded forced. Something was wrong.
“What happened? Do you need me to come…?” 86


Darren bit at her earlobe and tried to slide his finger under her panties. “Oh, yeah, I need you to come alright.” His playful nibbling turned more aggressive and his attempts to get her to fuck him increased ten fold. Quickly, he began to simulate the same rhythmic motions he used whenever she rode him. Somehow, Mandy managed to keep him out of her panties. But he in turn freed his cock from his boxers and rubbed it against the wet material. 87


Mandy tried to roll off him, but he increased his hold on her, and moved his hips in a pattern that left his now exposed member rubbing against her swollen bud. As much as she wanted to deny that it felt good, she couldn’t. And the look on his face said he knew it. He glanced over her shoulder, towards the bedroom door and smiled. Mandy followed his gaze, but found nothing there. At times, Darren could be odder than her. 88


“What did you say?” Michelle asked. “Please tell me that you’re not fucking Armando as we speak, because I’m not sure I could handle the fact that you’re getting some and I’m not.”
That statement alone should have shocked Mandy. If Darren wasn’t trying so hard to get into her panties, she’d have explored that further. “Umm, no…I’m not fucking Armando as we speak.” 89


“No you are most certainly not fucking me.”
The sound of Armando’s voice made Mandy’s stomach drop. “I have to go,” she said, clicking the phone off. Darren continued to move his hips and hold her tight. 90


~*****~ 91


Michelle stared at the phone in disbelief. First Dmitri runs away in what could only be viewed as a rejection and now Mandy was practically hanging up on her without saying goodbye? What was going on? Now everyone knew she was sick, they were running for the hills. It wasn’t like she was infected with the black plague! 92


“Might as well be,” she grumbled, looking around Dmitri’s bedroom. She picked up her pills and studied the label. With a grown of disgust she threw them at the trashcan.
Things around the house were tense and Michelle just about had enough. Three days in Dmitri’s home was more than enough torture. Hell, she slept in his bed for crissakes! And he slept on the couch. The couch! What was that? It wasn’t like she’d demanded a long term relationship. Hell, they weren’t even dating anymore. Did he think if he slept with her, he’d have to take her back? What, now he couldn’t separate love and sex? All she wanted was sex from him---hot, erotic, full blown lycan sex. It wasn’t like she was asking him to love her.
Michelle bit her lip, refusing to delve any further into that thought. No, she didn’t want him to lov… Didn’t want… Ah, DAMN IT! 93


No one knew it yet, but she was moving out. It wasn’t like she needed a nursemaid and she did have her own apartment. Mandy and she both had the book deal coming out. Their titles were seeing print and would be available in most bookstores. Like she really needed sexual frustration at night to add to the stress of work. 94


Oh, and Dmitri was the epitome of anal-retentive when it came to his house. The man cleaned! ALL THE TIME. That morning, just when she got her book notes spread out the way she liked them, she’d gotten up to take a shower. When she finished, he’d picked it all back up and had it neatly filed in her bag. What was that? Now she couldn’t find a damned thing and she’d been looking through them all day. He actually alphabetized her notes. Like she could remember that system. She had everything organized according to importance—to her. Now she had to recite the alphabet in her head whenever she needed some information. 95


She’d have moved out that instant if she didn’t have to go down to the Raven to meet some people for work later. Frowning, she looked over the papers laying out over Dmitri’s bed and frowned. She couldn’t find her notes on THE BARBARIAN PRINCE novel that was due out in print for the Christmas season. She found notes on Mandy’s DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS, due out at the same time, but no DRAGON LORDS. Mandy would probably need those back. Michelle shrugged. Served Mandy right for getting into her bag and trying to make her a pie chart of her characters while she was in the hospital. Michelle glanced at the trashcan, guiltily eyeing the pie chart. Maybe she should keep it—just in case Mandy asked. 96


Getting up to see if Dmitri had filed her notes some place she’d never think of, she went into the living room. Dmitri wasn’t there.
“Damn it, Michelle!” came Dmitri’s voice, hissing in anger.
Michelle flinched. What did she do now? “Yeah?”
“What? I didn’t…” Dmitri came out of the bathroom, holding her underwear. He looked confused that she’d heard him. 97


She paled. Well, at least the underwear was clean. They must have fallen out of her bag when she took a shower that morning. And thank God they were the ones Mandy had bought her and not a pair of granny panties. Seeing Dmitri, in his tight t-shirt and even tighter blue jeans, holding her underwear up, was not her idea of fun. It looked altogether too intimate. “Riffling through my bags?” 98


Dmitri stared at her. Suddenly, he cleared his throat. “No, I found these on the bathroom floor. I don’t mind helping you do laundry, cause you’re, you know, sick, but can you please try to get these into the hamper.”
“They’re not used!” Michelle said, reaching forward to snatch them. He looked almost disappointed. “They fell out of my bag! And I don’t need you to do my laundry for me.”
“But—”
“Can we discuss this later? It’s late and I need to get ready for a meeting.” Michelle made a move to walk past him, going out of her way to make sure they didn’t touch. She couldn’t stand being in his presence. She felt so unattractive, so rejected. “I’m meeting with some people later.” 99


“Where do you have a meeting this late in the evening?” he asked.
“Not that it’s your concern, but at the Raven.”
“I can take you.” Dmitri moved to follow her.
“Nope, won’t be necessary. I already called a cab.” Michelle opened the bedroom door and quickly shut it behind her.
Dmitri frowned, looking at the door. Grumbling to himself, he said, “Good going, Dmitri. Way to piss her off.” 100


He really didn’t care that she’d left her underwear on the floor, or that she made a mess. He just kept cleaning because he wanted her to be comfortable. And it kept him busy—so he didn’t have to think of his humiliation the night before. In his pants? 101


Dmitri planned on making it up to her. He was going to surprise her tonight and take her out on a real date. Just thinking of it, he looked down. Already he was aroused. Great. Whatever happened, he would not be repeating those embarrassing events. He glanced around the apartment and frowned. What is it Mike always said? Before you go on a date, you needed to clear the plumbing? Dmitri had never worried about it before, and he hated to admit it, but it sounded like some good advice. Maybe if he serviced himself a few times he’d relieve enough pressure to make himself last past second base. It was worth a try. 102


~*****~ 103


Mandy dropped her head down and Darren’s chest and closed her eyes, knowing that she was about to lose the most important thing in her life. Cool energy prickled up her back and she recognized it for what it was, Armando’s power. 104


Darren growled and flipped her over on the bed. The sheet went with her, leaving Darren completely exposed. His boxers were pushed down and his ruddy cock was in complete view of Armando. He adjusted his boxers and covered himself. Not that it did any good. He was still hard, now his erection was just pressed outward against the silk material. Armando’s power moved from a light trickle to a harder pressing feeling. Mandy gasped and slid up on the bed. Darren moved in front of her on the bed. “Drop the fucking magic shit. You’re hurting her.” 105


Armando tipped his head to the side and Mandy caught sight of his swirling eyes. He was pissed and that was never a good thing. “I am beginning to wonder if she lives for pain. Do you, Mandy? Do you enjoy pain? You seem to enjoy inflicting it on others.” 106


His power yanked hard on her, lifting her off the bed slightly. Darren grabbed hold of her and tried to pull her back down. It didn’t work. It only served to hurt more. She cried out. Darren jumped off the bed and charged at Armando. 107


Armando smiled wickedly and lifted his hand. Darren jerked back for a moment but then continued his charge. Armando looked a bit surprised. “Ah, the little were has more strength than I gave him credit for. Does he really think I’ll stand by and let him get into those panties of yours, as if he hasn’t already?” 108


“Yeah, this time I was expecting it, asshole. Now, put my wife down!”
“Wife? Oh, Mandy, really…you should chose the men you fuck a bit more wisely. At the very least find one that’s not delusional.” His cold gaze locked on her and she turned her head, unable to face him when he was like this.
Darren slammed into him and they tumbled out into the hallway. Mandy thought Armando’s magic would drop, it didn’t. He was a master vampire who was a hell of a lot stronger than she’d ever dreamt possible and Darren had just walked right into his trap.
“Darren! NO!” 109


What is wrong, kitten? Do you fear for your wolf’s life? Armando’s voice boomed through her head. It no longer felt smooth and silky. It felt like shards of broken glass.
A loud boom followed by crashing noises sounded from the other room. Mandy screamed out and pushed hard against Armando’s power. Something popped, inside her. It wasn’t painful so much as it was different. Armando’s powers dropped and so did Mandy. She bounced off the bed and hit the floor with a thud. Pain shot up her elbow and right leg. 110


“Armando, stop…please stop!” she cried out as she pushed to her feet and ran for the door. When she rounded the corner, she found the two of them walking in a slow circle, eyeing each other up. Each one was covered in blood, but Darren was the only one she could see visible wounds on. “Stop it! Both of you!”
“Get out, Mandy!” Darren shouted.
She snorted. “Yeah, like I’d leave you two alone together.” 111


A wry grin spread across Armando’s face. Even when he was teetering on the edge of a full shift into his demon, he was still gorgeous. How the man could still make her chest tight, even when he was just this side of being a monster was beyond her. 112


“Is that how you see me, Mandy? Am I a monster to you?” Armando asked, his eyes darting to Darren. “Shall I show you what a true monster looks like?” He lashed power out at Darren.
Darren dropped to his knees and arched his back. He cried out and Mandy watched in horror as his body rippled and contorted. When she saw the fur sprout on his arms, she knew what Armando was doing and at the moment, she hated him for it. 113


“Stop it! You’re hurting him! Forcing him to shift could kill him!” She ran towards Darren to try to help him.
Darren growled out at her and shook his head violently. “Get…away…from me…not safe…”
A cool arm slid around her waist and yanked her backwards. “Armando, stop it, please don’t do this. You’ll kill him.”
“Perhaps.”
“God no! Please, it’s not what you think. Nothing…” 114


Armando spun her around to face him. He snarled and she caught sight of his fangs. Paralyzed by fear, she was powerless to do anything but stare at him. He reached down and grabbed her between her thighs. Cupping her tight, he bent his head down to meet her gaze. “You wear his smell and he yours. And it is clear you are wet. Tell me how it is not what it appears to be.” His voice was deeper now, and a hell of a lot scarier. “Tell me how you broke my hold on you. How did you manage to free yourself from the bed?” Armando drew in a deep breath and shook her. “You smell different than you should this time of the month,” he drew in another breath, “you are behind in your female workings again.” 115


Laughing at a pissed off master vampire about his choice of phrases for a menstrual cycle wasn’t a good idea. Mandy bit her lip and nodded.
Armando’s face twisted and he looked disgusted. “We were to be married in a few short weeks and yet you have been fucking him.” She shook her head no. “Do not lie to me, Mandy. You will not like what happens.” 116


Mandy stared at Armando with wide eyes. He wasn’t one to threaten her and she hadn’t missed how he’d referred to their wedding in the sense it was called off. Her stomach lurched and she had to fight back vomit. “Please, don’t do this, Armando. Don’t throw it all away, not until you hear me out.” 117


He laughed wickedly and she cringed. “Kitten, I am not the one who threw it all away. You allowed him back into you life, you…”
“We’re still married. He claimed mating rights,” she blurted out fast. “I didn’t know, Armando. I didn’t know that he never turned the paperwork in for our annulment. Please, please don’t do this.”
Armando released his grip on her and she staggered backwards. He lashed more power out at Darren, causing him to scream. Mandy stepped in front of Darren and shook her head. “No more, please.”
“You still defend him after his deception?” He looked off towards her bedroom door. “Tell me, how long have you known about this?” 118


She didn’t respond. Nothing she could say would make it better and remaining silent seemed like the best option.
Armando laughed and nodded his head. “I see. So, because of lycan laws, you opened you legs for him. Yes, I can see how you were left no choice there. That was so much easier than coming to me for assistance.”
“No, that’s not what happened,” she whispered, suddenly terrified of Armando.
He winked at her and she shivered. “You are wise to be afraid.”
“Mandy…go,” Darren said, his voice strained. 119


She chanced a glance at him, and found him on his hands and knees in human form. Every ounce of her wanted to run to him to make sure he was okay. It didn’t matter that they’d been, or rather were still, married. It was the right thing to do. No one should be tortured.120


“Oh Kitten, you have suddenly grown a conscience,” Armando said, sardonically. “Funny, I thought its name was Michelle. She is not here to instruct you on being a decent person so tell me how it is you came up with that all on your own.”
Mandy’s fear was replaced quickly by anger. This had all gone too far. “Get out, Armando!”
“No, I will stay.”
“Don’t make me revoke your invitation.”
He smiled. “Try it. I am in need of a laugh.” 121


Confused by his change in tone, Mandy’s mind raced. If she let Armando stay, he’d kill Darren. Granted, at times she wanted to do the same thing, but she’d never really let harm come to him. She could try to talk with Armando later, when he was a bit calmer. “I’m sorry--Armando but I revoke your invitation. You are no longer welcome in my home.” 122


Wind whipped past Mandy and circled Armando. She expected him get yanked through the front door, but he didn’t. Instead, the wind circled him, lifted his long black hair and ruffled his designer shirt. The wind faded fast, leaving Armando laughing methodically in its wake. “Kitten, there is something I forgot to tell you. When I became your master, you lost your right to revoke invitations. It is just one of the perks of the job.” 123


Mandy backed up slowly and Armando thrust magic at her. She shook her head in disbelief of what was happening and stopped when a warm hand touched her shoulder. “Darren?”
“I’m here and we need to go. Now.”
Armando bowed slightly and extended his arm towards the front door. “Be my guest.”
Mandy glanced down at herself. Wearing only a bra and underwear outside wasn’t something she was particularly keen on, even with her wild ways, but standing in a room with Armando when he was like this wasn’t smart. She decided on risking a ticket for indecent exposure.
Darren walked in front of her and took her hand. “Come on, Mandy. If he won’t leave, we will.”
She watched Armando closely as Darren led her out the door. He was too quiet, too okay with them walking out. Something was wrong. Once they’d both crossed the threshold, Armando lifted clear off the ground and flew directly at them. Mandy screamed, and Darren yanked her out of harms way. 124


Armando landed and laughed. He looked around the upper landing and smiled. “Now, this is a much better place to dispose of you, wolf.” He stared at Mandy and smiled. “You see, I know how particular Mandy is about her home and even in my ‘state’ I would like to spare her from having to clean up after me.” 125


Mandy froze. He was going to kill Darren. This was no longer a show of power. This was the end all be all between them.
Darren walked backwards with her shielded behind him. He stopped. “Go wait outside, Mandy.”
She backed up a bit more, careful to step down the first stair and then realized what she was doing. She was giving Armando a clear shot at Darren. The events that followed unfolded in slow motion--Armando lifted his hands as Mandy raced up to Darren. An overwhelming amount of raw power slammed into them. Darren’s body lifted off the ground and slammed into the wall. A split second passed as Mandy met Armando’s gaze head on. Something moved over his face. 126


“NO!” he shouted too late. His energy slammed into her and sent her pummeling over the railing. She reached out towards him as her stomach dropped out. The minute she hit the bottom floor, darkness surrounded her. 127


~*****~128


Michelle slipped her jacket and grabbed her purse. She still didn’t have any notes, but it didn’t matter. She was just nervous. She’d written the book. It wasn’t like she needed to read it again to know what happened. 129


Looking in the mirror, she frowned at how pale her skin was. The cab should be waiting for her, so she would just have to put makeup on in the car. Opening the bedroom door, she tried to stay quiet as she snuck down to the bathroom. She really didn’t want another run in with Dmitri. It was just too humiliating. If she played her cards right, she could be moved out that night before he even knew she was gone. Sure, it was the cowardly approach, but right now she didn’t care. 130


She opened the bathroom door, she was greeted with a low moan. Dmitri stood against the wall, his head bent, pleasuring himself. His hand wrapped around and incredibly large, incredibly thick… “Oh My God!”
Dmitri’s eyes flew to hers. Michelle did the only thing she could think of. She slammed the door and made a run for it.
“Shit! Michelle, wait!” Dmitri yelled. Michelle only ran faster. Here she was only a few feet away, obviously more than willing, and he was choosing to go at it alone. Hey, there were only so many ways a girl needed to be rejected. She got it. She wasn’t attractive. “Michelle! Wait, I can explain.”
“There’s nothing to explain. It’s your house, you can do what you want.” Michelle slammed the front door and ran for the cab. The car pulled away, just as Dmitri made it to the front door. She watched him for a brief second before staring straight ahead.131


~*****~132


Armando watched in horror as Mandy flipped over the railing. He launched into the air, but couldn’t get to her in time. When he cleared the landing, the sight of Mandy twisted on the cement floor below, made every ounce of the demon within him fade away. Only the man was left and he knew without a doubt that he caused this. He landed by her side, stroked her blood soaked hair out of her face and dropped his head down. 133


“Ohmygod,” Darren said, appearing next to Armando. He checked Mandy for a pulse--one that Armando already knew wasn’t there and began to shake his head. “No, no…what the hell…?”
The part of Armando that was good, the part that kept the demon at bay most of the time kicked in. He’d bonded Mandy to him once so he had more power over her than any other human. He let his power ripple out and over her. Her body jerked and Darren seized him by the throat. He hoped the wolf would rip his throat out. After what he’d done, he deserved it.
“Fix this now!” Darren shouted. 134


Surprised by Darren’s faith in his abilities, Armando continued to pump his magic through Mandy. Their bond would be even stronger now, but it didn’t matter. What he’d done was unforgivable. 135


Mandy gasped, but didn’t waken. Armando had made sure she couldn’t. She was alive and would fully recover, most likely within the next hour or so, but the pain would be great if he didn’t block it. Darren ran his hand down to her lower abdomen and met Armando’s gaze.
Armando sighed. “I am sorry. I could save her, but not your child.” 136


Darren took Mandy’s hand in his and brought it to his lips. He planted a small kiss on it, making another pang of jealously tear through Armando. He fought it down and remained in control.
“She wasn’t lying to you. We never had sex. I tried. Lord knows I tried. I even managed to get her down to her undergarments, but she said no.” He stroked Mandy’s arm gently as Armando soaked in what he was saying. “She refused to hurt you. We spent the night catching up on people we used to know. We fell asleep late this morning talking about you and the phone woke us up. When she reached to get it, I toyed with her,” he dropped his head, “I just wanted to tease her. But when I sensed you…I…I wanted you to know that she was mine. I knew you were there…hell, I sensed you when you got within a mile of this place. But I didn’t tell her. I made it look like we were fucking…we weren’t…she wouldn’t do that to you.”137


Armando’s gaze raked over Mandy and came to a stop on her stomach. The realization of what he’d done hit him. That was how Mandy had been able to break his hold on her. “The baby was…” 138


Darren nodded. “Yours…yes. She didn’t know she was pregnant. I sensed it my first day back in town. It wasn’t until I met you that I knew for sure it was yours.” He wiped his face and kept his head down. “I wanted a life with her. That’s why I never annulled our marriage. I knew one day that we’d be ready to commit fully to one another and then we’d…I didn’t mean for any…I’ll go.”139


Armando pulled back from Mandy, unable to hide his shame. Looking at her only reminded him of what he’d done. He’d been furious with her. Blinded by rage. It was clear that as good as his control over his demon was, it was almost non-existent when it came to her. “No, you will stay. I will go.” He stood and walked towards the lobby door. Each step he took tore at his insides. 140

141

“Take care of her, wolf.”142