Delicous Darkness Read online

  The walls of her sex clamped around his shaft when he fully thrust into her. Audra shifted her hips, and he sank deeper until he was completely buried inside her. For the first time, all was right. He was home.

  Chapter Four

  Audra stretched, flinching from the wonderful ache between her legs. Dorian loved her many times throughout the night, intensifying the bond between them. She could feel his blood pump with renewed life every time he plunged into her body.

  Slipping from under the covers, she was careful not to wake him. A rumble from her stomach reminded her she hadn't eaten last night. She smiled. She had feasted, just not on food.

  Strewn about clothing littered the floor. Audra rummaged about until she found her skirt. She pulled on a tank top and then tiptoed barefoot across the room. Quietly, she unlocked the door and stepped carefully to keep the stairs from groaning. For a brief moment, she closed her eyes and relished the crisp chill in the air. She opened them and witnessed the fingers of dawn just starting to crest the horizon. Pale light cast a silvery glow, making the most beautiful morning.

  Once inside the shop, she found a Sharpie marker and wrote a note to her customers. Closed for Inventory. She wore a big smile, taping the paper to the door.

  About to step away from the front window, she stilled. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled. A stench filled her nose, and the taste of bile rose into her throat. Something dark and evil neared.

  The bounty hunters!

  Scrambling across the room, she pulled white candles from the shelf. Her fingers trembled, causing her to fumble with the match as she tipped a candle. Air sucked from the room. The match wouldn't light. Striking again, sulfur ignited. The strong odor filled her nostrils. Then a flame of protection grew as she touched the fire to the wick.

  She didn't have much time. Chest constricting, heart rate escalating, breathing shallow—they were close—she thought of Dorian asleep above. He would blame himself if something happened to her. She trusted in her strength, yet this was his war. She was a pawn. He would not be happy if she faced the bounty hunters alone, regardless of the outcome.

  Wrapping her hand around the crystals she wore around her neck, she filled her mind with Dorian and called him to her. Then she went back to protecting herself. Making a circle of white candles on the floor, she sat in the center, relaxed her tense muscles and began her meditation.

  * * * *

  Dorian woke with a start. The sheets were cool. He listened to the quietness of the apartment for a moment. Clearly, Audra had left. His stomach tightened with the familiar sensation. Had the bounty hunters gotten to her? Her mind was too strong for their influence. After all, she was too strong for his.

  He dressed in a hurry. Then like a punch in the gut, he smelled the stench. His heart slammed in his chest. Sprinting across the room, he threw open the door. He took the stairs in three steps, flew around the corner of the building ... and came face to face with two bounty hunters. They worked and traveled in large packs. The others must have Audra.

  As if answering his question, one of them said, “Your mate is inside."

  Black rage boiled inside him. He clenched his hands into fists, closed his eyes and called his magic. Concentrating on the two before him, Dorian focused his anger and summoned the specter of death.

  Feral screams rent the air as the two bounty hunters clutched their chests and fell to the ground gasping for breath. He stepped over their flailing bodies, approached the door and paused at the sign proclaiming it Closed for Inventory.

  Turning the handle, he opened the door and went inside. The room appeared eerily dark. Stifling. Like a black hole, devoid of natural light. Considering the bright morning sun outside the front windows, the interior of the store resembled the middle of the night. The contrast bothered him. Since meeting Audra, he'd become used to the radiance that surrounded her.

  He sensed fear, only it wasn't coming from Audra. His breath caught in his throat. His gaze found her sitting with her eyes closed in the center of the room in a circle of white candles. Their light surrounded her, radiating out of the top of her head and spreading out around her. She emitted the strongest source of illumination in the room, an ethereal beauty with a pack of bounty hunters lurking, salivating in the shadows.

  "Leave her.” Dorian's voice sounded hollow, echoing in the room.

  Audra's eyes opened wide and focused on a distant point as if she looked right through him. Her hair fell back behind her shoulders, and yet there was no wind in the room. Her skin was translucent. Nonetheless, he saw the blush beneath the surface. He took responsibility for her blush as much as for her being in this situation.

  She looked small and fragile, yet powerfully determined. In that instance, he realized he truly loved her. Using his magic, he invaded her thoughts in the hope he could make her understand that he did love her and that he would take their bond back with him when he returned to his realm.

  In order to insure her safety, he would return. His life was not worth risking hers night after night. What kind of existence would it be? Always watching over his shoulder and fearing for her safety was no way to live. For him or her. Five years of running ended tonight.

  "I will return. She has no value to you now. Let her go."

  "If you no longer want her, then we will have her.” A bounty hunter attempted to reach into the circle of light.

  "No,” Dorian growled, advancing into the pack of hunters. With arms raised, black waves of energy poured from his fingertips. Except for a small sphere of white light, darkness closed in on the room. He glanced at Audra and flinched at the terror reflected in her eyes. Their bonding. She could feel his magic, watched as it consumed his soul. It hurt her, and yet he could not stop.

  Dorian wrapped his hands around the throat of one of the men sent to capture him. Like snakes, ribbons of black energy wound around the hunter's neck. Dorian's magic tightened on his command, squeezing until it cut off the man's ability to breathe.

  The gasping hunter fell to the ground. The other bounty hunters circled him. Moving side to side, they positioned for a combined attack.

  Dorian faced Audra, and his breathing eased. He remembered what it felt like when her hands touched his body and opened his chakras. When her white light banished his darkness.

  Rage, anger and hatred for what he was, all he had done in his life and what he was doing now began to morph into what he had hoped to become with her at his side. Without the threat of the bounty hunters, they would have been happy. He had finally met a woman who could be more than a mate. She had found and freed his heart.

  And he had brought this battle into her life.

  Dorian lowered his arms and stopped fighting. If he was to die, he wanted Audra to be proud of him. He would die using his special talents for noble reasons, saving the woman he loved.

  * * * *

  Audra sat immobile as Dorian's aura shifted. At first, it was barely noticeable. The darkness faded and color encroached, not white but lighter than she'd seen him project before. Gradually, his aura became one with hers. In that moment, she realized what he had done. She could weep with happiness. He had bound himself to her.

  Yet, delight wasn't lasting. With the binding came the realization that because he loved her, he refused to put her at risk. He planned to leave her.

  She'd been alone and lonely, and she refused to let him leave her now. She'd wanted him when he first walked into her shop, and she wanted him now. He claimed he never used his power for noble reasons, and if she had any control over the situation, he wasn't going to start now.

  Closing her eyes, she concentrated on Dorian. She could hear the taunting words he spoke to the bounty hunters. She pushed the men from her mind and forced herself not to think about Dorian leaving. Instead, she focused on how wonderful he made her feel.

  For the first time in her life, she was complete. Admittedly, she didn't comprehend the demands of being bound to Dorian. However, they had merged their minds, bodies
and their hearts. She reveled in the delicious darkness he brought into her world. She wasn't afraid anymore.

  Linked to him, she felt his magic fade. He was giving up the fight.

  The hunters surrounded him, smelling their victory. Believing they had cornered their bounty, the anticipation of the capture charged the air. She sensed the darkness filling the room. It wasn't the comforting ambiguity of Dorian but hate and rage emanating from the bounty hunters. They readied themselves for the attack. Dorian dropped his arms, acknowledging defeat.

  "Noooo,” she cried and reached out with her own magic.

  White light exploded from her body. Blinding. Hot. Her reaction obliterated the shadows and dispersed the darkness. She was euphoric, feeling almost ... ethereal. Her thoughts ended and instinct abounded. Allowing her aura to expand, she wrapped Dorian in its comforting light. The air vibrated with her energy.

  * * * *

  Dorian finally witnessed the true power of a woman of white light. Audra transformed.

  Charged with energy, her pale hair of the sun shifted and danced. Sparks of light emitted from her crown chakra, fell over her still form and expanded out into the room, decimating and abolishing everything dark and ugly in its path. Illuminated in Audra's pure white light, nothing evil could exist.

  His breathing hitched as the bounty hunters evaporated. His heart thundered in his chest and nearly burst from the powerful emanation. Rocketing into his core, his own chakra centers blasted open. He staggered back a step and stumbled to his knees. Instead of black, a variety of color flared from his fingertips.

  Then the air stilled. Natural light from the rising sun permeated the room. The stench dissipated. Dorian lifted his head. Shimmering with tears, and alight with fire, Audra's eyes visually caressed him.

  He broke the connection and looked around the room. The bounty hunters were gone, eradicated by the white light. Audra had saved his life.

  "How?” he asked. “Why wasn't I destroyed along with them?"

  "When we made love last night, my powers were awakened. Having been a virgin, I didn't fully understand what would happen. I underwent a transformation because you left your darkness inside of me. Just as once your chakras were open, you became receptive to my white light."

  She gave him a warm smile. “You won't have to worry about the lunar cycle anymore,” she said. “Nor will you have to look over your shoulder. Bounty hunters have no power over you. We are complete."

  She stood and stepped over the candles scattered on the floor. Ribbons of wax crisscrossed the polished wood. Stopping in front of Dorian where he knelt on the floor, she lightly palmed his cheek. “You were bound to me. We were as one."

  Dorian pulled her off balance and into his arms. His mouth covered hers. Kissing, touching and assuring that he held flesh and blood. He lifted his head. “I am humbled."

  "Don't you feel weak, Dorian?” She touched his face, drawing her fingers across his cheek. “I'm going to take you home and make you strong again."

  "What about the inventory?"

  "Two hands, ten fingers, one tongue, two lips."

  Her eyes raked over him, causing his body to heat. Blood pumped through his veins. The need to bury himself inside her warmth had to be slaked. Now.

  He took her hand and visualized her lying on the bed upstairs. He then filled her mind with images, her legs over his shoulders, his mouth sliding over her swollen clit. He envisioned plunging his tongue into her channel and burying his face in her mound as she rode her climax.

  "Don't think it, Dorian. Do it."

  Unable to wait, he freed his cock and shoved her skirt up her thighs. Audra straddled his lap and impaled herself on his shaft. Wet, slick heat surrounded him. He grasped her hip. “Ride me."

  Nails sank into his shoulders. Internal muscles tightened. Hips gyrated while she slid up and down onto his thickness. Nipple points grazed his chest, sending more blood to his groin. Sensations similar to drunkenness clouded his mind in a euphoric haze.

  Leaning her back, he pulled off her top and fastened his mouth to one cherried tip. She clutched his head at the ears and held him to her breast. Dorian sucked one nipple, then tasted his way to the other.

  Scents of the shop mingled with the heavy aroma of their lovemaking. He kissed his way to her neck and licked the pulse point beating there. Honeyed cream flowed from her cunt. Her thighs trembled. Sharp little pants blew warm and moist. His angel teetered on the precipice of orgasm, ready to milk his cock dry.

  "I love you. Now come for me.” He squeezed his ass, thrust his hips and pressed hard into the top of her channel.

  Audra crashed with her orgasm. All her muscles tightened. The pressure brought Dorian's release. With a jolt, his balls drew tight against his body. His cock swelled to greater length within her velvet sheath. He stretched his neck, clamped his teeth and violently erupted. Rivers of cum spurted from his shaft. Each ejaculation left him both totally spent and surging with energy. His cock continued to contract. Heavy breaths flared his nostril as he inhaled the scent of their sex. Rivulets of sweat trickled down his back. He'd never experienced a bonding such as this.

  Dorian wrapped his arms around her ribs and her arms circled his neck.

  Sweet lips brushed the shell of his ear. “And I love you."

  Chapter Five

  "I'm hungry.” Lying naked on a couple of oriental rugs on the floor of her shop, having never made it up to the apartment, Audra rolled onto her stomach and stretched.

  Dorian's large bronzed hand ran the curve of her spine until resting on her rear. “I've never been as sated as I am right now."

  She leaned over and nipped his shoulder. “Making love gives you strength. I get hungry. Or it might have something to do with transforming into a pulsing body of white light, vaporizing a group of bounty hunters and saving my soul mate before breakfast.” She sat up and pulled on her tank top. “Eggs and toast. Mmm.” She stood, stepped into her skirt and looked down at Dorian.

  Warm liquid coursed through her body. He was beautiful now. Recognizing the colors of his aura, colors that blended with hers. A combination of light and dark, as was she.

  Often in the past, the fingers of something dark and unknown clawed at her subconscious. Until yesterday, performing her ritual of protection and keeping the lights on pushed away the feelings of unease. Dorian was the first man of darkness to reach past her barriers. First her intuition and then his aura, both confirmed him as her spiritual mate.

  Night no longer would hold fear, only the mysteries of discovering Dorian. And tasting his delicious kisses. Thinking of delicious, she remembered she was hungry. “Dorian."

  He was still lying face down on the rugs. She straddled his hips. Squatting, she sat on his butt and put her hands on his lower back. Their thoughts clashed. Her intention was not to seduce him into making love to her again. However, his thoughts were not on food. Not wearing any panties, he'd much prefer her to leverage up on her knees and allow him to turn over. In her mind, she could see him guiding her slowly back down, silky and smooth, the head of his cock sliding into her.

  With a smile, she thought of French toast and sausage. Her lips twitched when he glanced over his shoulder. “Wouldn't you rather go upstairs for breakfast?” she asked and scooted off his back.

  Dorian sat up and ran his fingers through his tangled hair. “Yes, because after breakfast I'll have you back in bed.” She watched him tug on his jeans, carefully zipping up over the straining bulge of his erection.

  They left the shop and walked around the building to the stairs leading to her apartment.

  Audra paused where Dorian had risked his life for her. “What will you do now? Will more hunters come for you?"

  He put his hands on her shoulders, leaned in and kissed her forehead. “Perhaps in time. Never again will I run. This is home."

  Emotions welled within her heart and tears threatened behind her eyes. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “I'll be here for you."

  "
You asked if I loved before. The mates I took before you were not with me of their own free will. I never spoke words of love. I could never love them because I used my magic to bind them to me. As I tried to do with you. I regret that their lives were lost. I shall carry the burden with me. In my heart, I knew they were not my mate. I suppose my fear kept me from searching for you. I didn't want to chance not finding a woman of white light before the end of the lunar cycle. I have much to atone for."

  Once again her desire smoldered deep in her core. She closed her eyes and let him transmit directly into her mind what he wasn't able to express in words.

  He touched her cheek, his calloused fingertip trailing down the side of her face, and then lifted her chin. “I need you.” He smiled, linked their fingers, and walked around the corner to the stairs to their home. “Together we can help others who have escaped from the darkness and evil of my realm. Teach those of the dark to open themselves to the power of white light through their chakras. Will you help me?"

  "I hope you don't expect me to sleep with them all,” she said sassily.

  "Meditation, love. Only meditation."

  Audra paused at the threshold of the apartment. Sunlight slashed across Dorian's face. Her breath caught. Colors radiated from his aura.

  He was beautiful ... and complete.

  This was her present and her future. Nights filled with Dorian and days devoted to her shop. She'd keep him strong. And in return, he'd keep her safe.

  "What's wrong?” He shifted his glance from the right to the left. “Do you sense something?” He sniffed the air.

  "I love you."

  "And you, beautiful angel with eyes of fire ... are my life."

  * * *

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