realized she'd said more than she ought or she sensed his inner turmoil.
'I agree to everything,' he said. 'Return Delilah's emotions for one night. In turn I will purposely lose while doing my best to ensure that she wins by whatever means necessary.' He wanted it spelled out, so there could be no question later what he had agreed to. 'And I will not tell her or anyone what I've done.'
Hestia was in front of him again, kneeling, placing them nose to nose. Her lips brushed his in a soft kiss that shot wave after wave of electricity through him. There was nothing sexual about it; this was just her way of proving her power, he supposed. 'Then go. Your woman feels again.'
Suddenly a scream echoed through the night. Delilah's scream.
Layel was on his feet in the next instant, running back to her, desperate to reach her, the goddess already forgotten. He broke through the final layer of trees. Saw her. She was curled in a ball, sobbing.
'I'm here, I'm here.' He flew to her and gathered her in his arms, holding as tight as he was able without hurting her.
She didn't protest. No, she clung to him. 'Oh, gods. Oh, gods. I feel…There's so many…They're so strong… Can't process all of them. What's wrong with me, Layel?'
'You've been given back what was taken from you,' he said. He hadn't broken the pact, either, though he knew he skirted a dangerous edge. 'In the morning—' he said, then stopped himself. As he watched, her eyes began to grow cold again, as if her emotions were once more receding. Her sobs quieted. Hestia was watching, he realized, and subtly conveying to Layel that she would reclaim Delilah's emotions if he broke his word. Layel clamped his lips together.
As quickly as it had appeared, the coldness vanished and her sobs returned.
'Shh, shh. I've got you now.' He ran his hands down her spine, then up, under her half-shirt. Her skin was blazing hot. 'I love you. I love you so much.'
'I—I—Layel, Nola was taken and I didn't fight for her. You told me you loved me and I didn't care. Oh, gods. I should have fought. I should have told you I loved you, too, and would do anything to stay with you.'
Joy burst through him, hearing that heartfelt proclamation, and he knew he'd lived these past two hundred years for this moment. This moment, and no other. Not revenge, and not to become worthy of Susan. Everything he'd done, everything he was, was for Delilah. All his torment had led him to her.
Softly he brushed her trembling lips with his own. 'There's nothing we can do for your sister now. Once we leave the island—' no matter what the goddess said, Layel would not allow himself to be killed '—we will retrieve her.'
'But you—you—'
'I love you, warrior woman. I love you. I am only sorry it took me so long to realize it. I am sorry for hurting you, sweet. So sorry.'
He pressed their lips together and thrust his tongue deep into her mouth, feeding her a kiss that scorched even him to the bone.
'What of your mate?'
'You are my mate now. But if you wish to know of Susan, I will tell you anything, everything.' He drew in a breath, slowly released it. 'You know the gods used to exile unfavored humans to Atlantis, hoping we would annihilate them. Well, some of them survived and Susan was their descendant. As she grew they kept her hidden very well. But vampires sense human blood as no other can. We're drawn to it. The taste, the sweetness. Though nothing compares to yours,' he hastened to assure her.
She snuggled against him, listening intently, urging him on.
'My men and I sniffed her out,' he said, pleased to discover that talking about the past was no longer like ripping open a wound. 'I meant to keep her chained in my room, mine to drink from anytime I desired. Remember, those were much different, much harsher times. Anyway, I grew to love her smile, her gentle nature. She…softened me. After she finished scolding me for trying to hold her captive, that is. We had two wondrous years together before she conceived. The baby was due just after the dragons came, killing both Susan and my unborn daughter.'
'You knew the child was a girl?'
He nodded. 'We were going to name her Bianca.'
'I'm so sorry, Layel. Truly, I am. I ache for you, and would return all that you've lost if I could.'
Oh, no. There would be none of that. 'As I told you, it is you I desire, Delilah. No one else. Not even Susan. Now, tell me of your dragon,' he said, before she could protest his words.
'Vorik?'
Vorik. He played the name through his mind before nodding. 'I know of him. Strong, fierce. A charmer, or so I heard.'
'Oh, yes. A first-rate charmer. But then, I was ripe for the plucking. I'd always longed for the kind of I'll-die- for-you love all other creatures but Amazons embrace. When he expressed desire for me, I thought I could make him love me that way. But I was wrong. He left without saying goodbye the moment the mating was over.'
'Shall I kill him for you?'
'No,' she said with a chuckle. 'I punished him already. A few weeks later, my army marched through dragon land in one of our bids to prove how strong we are, and I ensured all the females in his village knew of his… shortcomings.'
Layel barked out a laugh. 'That's my Amazon.'
Her smile was warm, lighting him up inside. That smile quickly faded, however. 'I'm glad that we're both able to talk about the past like this. Do you think…What if—would you like another child, Layel?'
He cupped her cheek, his eyes suddenly burning with tears, a hard lump in his throat. 'With you, I would like as many as we can make.'
'Me, as well.' She turned in his arms, placing her lips just above his. 'I want you, Layel, I want you so badly. Now, forever.'
They were words he had never thought to hear again. His joy intensified, blending with his arousal. 'We don't have a lot of time, sweet. There's much to do. And we can't risk Broderick or Tagart beating us to the monster.' Whatever the monster was—beast, a riddle to be figured out or something else entirely.
'It's dark. They won't risk fighting the unknown in the dark. And I need you. Please. Don't make me beg. Don't make me—'
He tried to be gentle as he swooped down and claimed her lips, he really did, but his need was too fiery. He'd nearly lost her, would probably lose her again when her emotions drifted away with the daylight.
As he tongued her, he ripped the leather top from her and tossed it aside. Her tiny skirt was given the same treatment, leaving her bare. His gaze cut through the dark and drank in the tattoos he so adored. I've licked them. Will again.
'Layel!'
He snapped out of the momentary lust-daze and attacked her breasts, flicking his tongue over the hardened pink berries he found there. Her hips writhed; she moaned.
'I'm burning up for you,' she gasped out.
'You and no other.'
'You and no other,' she agreed. 'I love you.'
'Oh, gods, Delilah.' So beautiful, those words. They would define the rest of his life, for they changed him, turned him from beast to man.
He laved her face with nips and kisses, then licked away any sting he might have delivered. All the while his fingers explored her body until finally sinking deep into her wet core.
She cried out.
'Love you,' he said, working a third finger into her.
That was all her desire needed. Her inner walls clenched around him, drawing him deeper. Moisture flooded his hand, hot, slick as he pumped, taking her higher. So high. 'That's it. Give me everything.'
Her hands clutched at his back, squeezed the muscles so tightly he would carry the bruises for weeks. 'More,' she said on a broken breath. 'Do that again.'
'My pleasure, though I plan to use something else on you.'
He kissed her then, and her eyelids popped open. Their gazes met in a tangled web of desire. She must have seen his desperation because she pushed him to his back, worked his pants off and straddled him.
