Dark Promises 2: Demonic Obsession Read online

  “What are you talking about? I’ve known you for two days.” Her denial sounded weak, even to her own ears. He knew she was lying, she could see it in his eyes. But she couldn’t seem to stop. This went against everything inside her, everything she’d been raised to believe in, but she didn’t know how much longer she’d be able to fight against what she really wanted.

  When he spoke, his voice was low and husky. “Ellie, I’ve had a thousand years to decide what I do, and don’t look for in a woman. I want to get to know you better. Much better.”

  A strong breeze could have blown her out of her chair at that moment. “A thousand years?” she repeated, her voice dangerously close to a squeak. “What are you?”

  “Yes, Ellie. A thousand years. Does that bother you?” He asked, completely ignoring her second question.

  If he’d lived for a thousand years, but he wasn’t a vampire, what did that make him? She probably should have done more reading in the occult books Charlotte had kept around when they were kids. She swallowed hard, truly afraid of the answer. “I don’t know. I think it does. You can’t just casually dump something like that on me. It’s a little hard to take.”

  “Thank you for being honest. Will you please give me a little time to convince you?”

  “I don’t even know what you are,” she said softly, knowing that even as she denied him her answer she slowly lost the battle between her mind and body. Even her instincts, usually impeccable, warred with each other. Half of her knew she should run far away and never look back, while the other half wanted to give herself over to whatever he wanted. The battle raging inside her mind confused her. As a rule, she prided herself on her clear thinking, but it seemed around him she wasn’t capable.

  “We’ll talk about it when it’s time,” Eric said softly, his voice unbearably gentle. “I don’t want to scare you.”

  She sucked in a shaky breath, wiping her sweaty palms on her thighs and willing her heart rate to return to a more normal level. “You just did.”

  “I’ll never hurt you. Ever.”

  He stared at her for a long time, his gaze dark and sensual and…very convincing. She had a feeling he was doing something to her to make her accept him, but she’d let him get away with it. For now. “Okay, but I’m warning you. I’m really not interested.” She squeezed her thighs together, since the sound of his voice alone was now enough to drive her to the brink.

  “You don’t need to be.” He said one thing, but his gaze told her something entirely different.

  He knew. He knew how aroused she was, and he was having a great time playing with her. For a moment, she got the impression that this was all some kind of a game—like a cat toying with a mouse before he ate it for dinner. A whimper escaped her before she could stop it, and she covered her anxiety with a glare.

  She had to get control of herself before she turned into some quivering idiot. She pulled herself away from the situation mentally, forcing her mind into a tranquil place. Her thoughts cleared, but it took a great deal of effort to slam that mental door. When she spoke, she sounded more like herself than she had all evening. “This conversation is heading in a direction I’m not comfortable with. Maybe we should talk about something else now.”

  An expression resembling annoyance passed over his face before he smiled. He raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything to contradict her. Smart man.

  For the rest of the meal, she kept the conversation trained on safe, but admittedly boring, topics. Tension hung thick in the air between them, but it couldn’t be helped. She wouldn’t allow what she thought she felt for the man to cloud her decisions. When she had time at home, alone, to think about it all, she’d be better equipped to decide what to do about him.

  Eric paid for the meal, despite Ellie’s insistence to pay for half, and walked her back to her car. The sun had set, and they had the quiet street mostly to themselves.

  They stopped by her car and Eric opened the door for her. He was such an intriguing mix of old-school gentleman and wild man that she couldn’t help but be curious of what lay beneath the surface. She had a feeling it would be more of the latter. “Thanks for dinner,” she said as she turned toward her car.

  “I’m glad you agreed, even if you don’t feel entirely comfortable around me.”

  The tone of his voice made her pause and pivot back toward him. “I—”

  “No lies, Ellie. I haven’t lied to you. I don’t expect you to lie to me.”

  The harshness in his words made her heart stutter. Illuminated by the old-fashioned street lamps that lined the park entrance, he stood with his feet wide and his shoulders squared, his chest heaving with each breath. At that moment, it struck her that he reminded her of the panther that hung around her neck—strong, dark, sleek, and ready to pounce. A shiver ran through her and she clasped the totem so tightly it bit into her palm.

  He backed her to the side of her car, bracketing his feet on either side of hers. He cupped her face in his palm and leaned in, brushing his lips over her mouth. She ignited like a brush fire burning straight to her toes. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned back against her car. Her mind shut down completely, allowing her body to step up to the controls as he released her face and settled his palms on her waist. From there the kiss got quickly out of hand.

  Eric slid his hands up her sides until he cupped her breasts in his palms. He delved his tongue into her mouth and nibbled on her lower lip with his teeth. As his thigh came up between her legs, she rested herself on him. He had to feel how wet she was, even through the layers of the fabric. That thought turned her on even more, and she reached a hand between them to brush her fingers over his cock. He was hard, and large, and she wanted him right there against the side of the car, in the backseat, or the hood. She wasn’t in a position to be picky.

  Well before she’d had enough, Eric broke the kiss and stepped away. “My God.”

  “What’s wrong?” Her mind was still cloudy from the intensity of the kiss, and she shook her head to free herself from the sensual fog.

  He laughed bitterly, turning away. “Don’t you know? You should go home. Now.”

  “Why?” Why would he possibly want to stop? Didn’t he feel the spark between them, threatening to ignite and burn out of control at the slightest provocation?

  Was she out of her mind? She’d just met him a couple days ago.

  “It shouldn’t be this way,” he continued, raking a hand through his hair. He shook his head vigorously, as if trying to shake some sense into himself.

  “What shouldn’t?” She let irritation creep into her voice, hoping it would goad him into explaining his cryptic comments. The kiss had obviously left him shaken, even more so than her, and she wanted to know why.

  He turned back to her, a look of desperation in his eyes. “This…us. I-I need to get back to my hotel. I have an early morning tomorrow.”

  She couldn’t help the little whimper of disappointment that escaped her lips. The emotions he evoked in her were too strong, too powerful. She felt like he was consuming her, and, goddess help her, she wanted the feeling to continue as long as possible. “But I—”

  “Have a safe drive home, Ellie,” he interrupted with such finality she didn’t bother to protest. She blinked at the hard look in his eyes, a twinge of fear returning, and got into her car. Not until she was safely on the road back home did she let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

  * * * * *

  Ellie raced through the woods, the sensitive soles of her bare feet scraping against the rough leaves and twigs that covered the dirt floor. The scent of impending rain filled the humid air. The chilled night breeze rippled over her flesh, making her shiver. The moon, full and yellow, sat in the sky high above the tops of the trees, casting an eerie golden glow on the world around her.

  She broke free of the woods and found herself in her back yard. She stopped, the breath heaving in and out of her lungs from the exertion. The sky opened and rain began to
fall. Her hair hung heavy all around her as the water poured over her. Her white nightgown clung to her body, now sheer and useless. A growl nearby her caught her attention and she pivoted toward it. A black panther watched her from the edge of the trees, crouched low to the ground as if ready to pounce. She instinctively backed up a step, afraid of the fire in the animal’s glowing gold and green eyes.

  The panther stayed in its place at the edge of the woods, its gaze never leaving hers. She opened her mouth to speak, or maybe to cry out for help, but no sound came. She couldn’t move, could barely breathe, as the cat took a step in her direction. This was different from her normal visions. The panther’s eyes held a quality that was almost human.

  Finally, she willed her legs to move and she turned to run. A low tree branch snagged the hem of her nightgown and pulled her back. The snapping of twigs behind her let her know the animal was close behind. A scream tore from her throat when she couldn’t get her footing. She looked over her shoulder just as a large paw landed in the center of her back, knocking her to her knees. Her hands hit the scratchy carpet of leaves and sharp jolts of pain ran up her wrists. The breath whooshed out of her lungs and she coughed, struggling to pull out of its grasp. She tried to push herself back into a standing position, but the panther covered her with its body, leaving her unable to move.

  “Don’t fight me,” a deep voice rasped in her ear—a familiar voice that made her body go limp.

  “Eric?”

  She glanced over her shoulder, surprised to find it was Eric, not a wild animal, holding her down. She looked around the woods, but saw no panther anywhere. “How did you get here?”

  “It doesn’t matter.” He pulled at her nightgown as he spoke, tearing the fragile material to shreds with his fingers. Sharp claws dug into the flesh of her thighs. Teeth stung her neck and shoulders. Her blood boiled, every heartbeat working her closer to fevered arousal until she couldn’t stand another second.

  “Eric,” she moaned, her voice barely above a whisper.

  The wind took the fabric as Eric tore it from her body. She watched it sail away into the night, floating like gossamer ghosts in the sky. The night air fanned over her heated flesh and she shivered. The blood rushed in her ears, drowning out the sounds of the forest. He dipped his hand between her legs and stroked along her slit. Her cunt contracted as his rough fingertips skimmed the smooth, tender flesh. His hand wrapped in her hair and pulled until her back arched, exposing her sex like an offering. And then he was inside her. She hadn’t expected the heavy thrust of his cock, and she gasped as he filled her in one complete, agonizing stroke. He stretched her to the point of pain, only adding to her growing arousal.

  Her nipples beaded and her clit ached, the wind teasing her every nerve. She felt stripped bare—lust and mortification mixing equally within her. He slammed into her hard, rocking her body forward. The rough ground bit into her knees and palms, but she didn’t want him to stop. She never wanted it to end.

  All too soon, her body exploded in climax, her cunt clenching around his thrusting cock. She screamed her release, the sound echoing across the night. Starlight burst out all around her just before her world went black.

  * * * * *

  Ellie woke with a start, sweat coating her body. Her breathing was labored, her vision cloudy, and every muscle in her body tense. She blinked and glanced around, surprised to find herself alone in her bed. The dream had been so real. Her legs were tangled in the sheet, the blanket on the floor, and her panties soaked. Her cunt still pulsed with tremors from the powerful orgasm. What was happening to her? She’d had lucid dreams in the past, but nothing compared to what she’d just experienced.

  It felt like she’d been there. She’d felt the cool breeze on her skin, the heated flesh of Eric against her back—the claws grazing her skin. Flipping on the lamp on the bedside table, she pulled the covers back to examine her legs. Nothing. She let out a sigh of relief. She’d been certain she would have found scratches left by…the panther? Eric? She didn’t know. It didn’t matter. The skin on her legs remained unmarred. It had been just a dream. A strange and disturbing dream, but it hadn’t been real.

  Frustrated with her sudden inability to distinguish between dreams and reality, she climbed out of bed and walked to the window. The clock on the dresser read 4:20. It was still dark outside, but it wouldn’t be for long. Now would be a perfect time for a jog.

  She ran her usual route, a giant circle around the back roads that took her a little over an hour to complete. The humidity that hung in the air made the run more difficult than usual, and by the time she turned the corner toward home, her legs felt full of cement and her lungs burned. But her mind had cleared, allowing her to step back and look at things calmly. She had a feeling she’d need that mental clarity in the days to come.

  She heard the shrill ring of the phone as she walked through the front door. No one would call at this hour unless it was an emergency. She grabbed it and answered, still out of breath.

  Amara’s voice sounded strained. “Ellie, where have you been?”

  “I went running. What’s wrong?”

  “There was a murder in town. The police found a body behind the Blue Moon Café late last night.”

  A chill ran down her spine. That was the restaurant where she and Eric had dinner. “What happened?”

  “All I’ve learned from the news is that the victim was a young woman who died of blood loss.”

  Ellie’s blood turned to ice in her veins. “Blood loss?”

  “Yeah, lots. Like all of it.” Amara went silent for a minute. “You know it wasn’t any of us, right?”

  Ellie had an idea of what her friend was thinking. She spoke without hesitation. “Of course. I know you would never hurt anyone.”

  “That means there’s another vampire around, someone who isn’t so polite.”

  Amara’s voice held a distressed quality that made Ellie nervous. If Amara was worried, that meant the problem was serious.

  Eric. The thought was out before she could stop it. She shook her head, refusing to believe he could have had anything to do with it. Eric wasn’t a vampire. No matter what she’d thought she knew, a vampire wouldn’t have been able to eat a full meal the way he did. But he wasn’t human, either. He was…something else, something that had lived for a thousand years. Honestly, she didn’t know what he was capable of.

  “Maybe not. Maybe it’s just some jerk playing vampire. Goddess knows it’s happened before.”

  Amara sighed, her frustration clear in her voice when she spoke. “No. A vampire definitely committed this crime, Ellie. Someone I don’t know. Someone who has to be found before he does it again.”

  “You said he. Couldn’t it be a woman?”

  “I really don’t think so. The vibe I’m getting here is definitely male, but anything beyond that is fuzzy. Honestly, I don’t know what to make of this situation.”

  Ellie shivered. She wished she had some way to contact Eric, but he hadn’t given her a clue as to where he was staying. She supposed she could call the area hotels and ask around, but she decided against it. If she was going to confront him with anything, it would be in person, on her own terms. She didn’t really believe he could have murdered anyone, but still she had to do what it took to keep her safe.

  “Why so quiet?” Amara asked softly, suspicion lacing her tone. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “Ellie, watch out. I don’t want to see you get into any trouble.”

  The hair on the back of Ellie’s neck rose and she got up to pace the room, taking the cordless phone with her. Amara was the one person who could tell, without fail, when someone lied. She normally despised deceit, but this time couldn’t help it. Ellie had to lie, and she’d continue to lie until she knew without a doubt that Eric meant no harm.

  The dream had concerned and shaken her, but could she really trust what she saw when she’d been sleeping? She didn’t know. Until she
was absolutely sure, she wasn’t going to let Amara sic Marco and Royce on Eric. She wouldn’t wish the two of them in a nasty mood on her worst enemy, and he wasn’t her enemy.

  At least she didn’t think so.

  “Okay.” Amara sounded unconvinced, but she let the subject drop. “Just promise me you’ll call if you need anything.”

  Ellie agreed and hung up the phone, glad to be done with the conversation. A sense of dread settled in the pit of her stomach, and she almost picked the phone up and called Amara back. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, asking for guidance and answers to her problems. She was in over her head, and couldn’t find any way to get out. The answer came to her with sickening clarity. There was no way out. It was already too late.

  * * * * *

  Eric walked through town, his senses, honed to near perfection in his years of existence, on full alert. He planned to put them to good use this morning. He had a job to do, and nothing would stop that. The threat must be found, and eliminated, before anyone else was hurt.

  He’d followed the blood trail to Stone Harbor, where it had disappeared somewhere within the quaint little seaside village. He hadn’t been able to find it again, but things had started to look promising. The murder proved without a doubt that he’d come to the right place. It was only a matter of time before things got worse.

  Thoughts of Ellie filled his head, creating a distraction. He’d never before had a problem focusing on his work because of a woman, but she was different from most of the women he’d known. His sister would laugh at him and tell him he was getting soft. Was he? Possibly. Maybe the time had come to start thinking about retirement.

  No. He knew he could do the job. He would do this job, just as he had all the others. Sam trusted him to get rid of the threat by whatever means necessary, and he refused to betray that trust for any reason. He’d just have to find a way to work around his growing fixation with Ellie.