Written for fun, not profit, all characters (except Maya) property of Sherrilyn Kenyon.
By the time Ash reached bottom of the stairs, he'd at least partially come to his senses and was completely furious with himself.
What the hell had he been thinking?
He called Kyrian on his cell phone to let him know that Maya was safely home before shoving open the double doors that separated the north wing from the rest of the house, slamming them behind them with far more force than necessary.
This was the kind of behavior he'd flay the skin off his Dark-Hunters for!
Maya belonged to the god. Ash knew she belonged to the god. He'd had that thought uppermost in mind when he'd grabbed her and pulled her away from the fight, and then… and then…
He'd looked into those eyes and lost all his reason to the siren song he saw there.
Stupid, unforgivable mistake! Ash berated himself viciously. He'd be lucky if Archon didn't shatter him into a million pieces for the sheer hubris he'd displayed tonight.
And the worst part was, deep down inside where he couldn't lie to himself, Acheron didn't regret what he'd done one tiny little bit. Whatever happened now, it had been worth it to hold her in his arms and taste her, those sweet, hot kisses that could make a soulless man believe in heaven. To devour her cries of rapture straight from her mouth, more intoxicating than all the wines of Bacchus. Mine, he'd vowed as she'd ridden the orgasm he'd given her, the pleasure she'd so incredibly shared with him, and that insanity still pounded irrevocably in his brain.
Maya was his and heaven help any other man who so much as looked at her.
He actually gave in to the urge to check his palms, feeling like an Arcadian who'd been given a mate by the Fates to win and claim if he could. No symbol marked his skin, but the fact that he'd actually looked for one was incredibly disturbing.
Madness. Insanity!
Maya was mortal, she was being hunted by a city full of Daimons, she was carrying the reincarnation of one of the most dangerous gods who had ever existed, and all Acheron could think of right now was zapping himself into her room and finishing what he'd started. Burying himself deep inside the heat he knew waited for him alone, the blaze he'd kindled. She was fiery as molten lava and oh, how he wanted to burn. By all that was holy, he ached for it!
Damn the gods, he thought, snarling. Could they never leave him alone for even one minute? Did they have nothing better to do than sit up on Olympus and plot ways to make his endless life even more miserable?
Because while one taste was nowhere near enough to sate, it was clearly quite enough to addict. Archon's decree that Maya know nothing of Daimons or Dark-Hunters or even the fact that her baby was a god was going to go flying out the window the instant she saw Ash's eyes, and there was no doubt that she'd eventually see them because staying away and never touching her again was out of the question. Even if he'd been inclined to try it, which he wasn't, Kyrian was right. There had to be a reason she was here with the last surviving Atlantean on Earth. No, he couldn't just avoid her.
Besides, he'd promised to make love to Maya until she couldn't move or think, and that was one promise he had every intention of delivering on. And though he wore his wraparound shades almost all the time, he didn't sleep in the damn things. He'd just have to think of something to tell her about his eyes, some explanation for the rampant magic there that couldn't be hidden, that was so turbulent it even vaporized colored contact lenses instantly.
He ripped the glasses off and threw them onto his dresser, his body still aching with lust, his jaw clenched with self-derision. He'd obviously lost his mind. It had taken over eleven thousand years, but he'd finally gone stark raving mad. Only insanity could excuse or explain why he was standing here contemplating defying the only god he'd ever really honored by indulging in an act he'd always hated.
But then he remembered her soft lips, the taste of her filling his senses, the way she'd shuddered in his arms at the peak of her climax, and he couldn't make himself take it back. Mine, he'd sworn in the haze of passion, and still it bound him. Mark or no mark, Acheron had claimed Maya and to that he would hold, let the gods do to him what they would.
#&#
"Maya, are you sure you're supposed to be doing stuff like that?"
The barest hint of a smile crossed Maya's face at Nick's quiet, worried voice. It had always amused her how people thought that speaking quietly wouldn't really disturb someone who was meditating. "Yes, Nick," she replied without moving or opening her eyes. "It's fine."
Nick stared at her doubtfully. Her face was serene, her arms loose at her sides, her hands together, fingers intertwined, and she didn't look like she was in any distress. But if his legs had been stretched between two chairs, leaving him hanging in midair in the splits, Nick was certain he'd have been screaming in agony. "You're not gonna… you know, jar anything loose?" he asked, wincing.
Maya laughed at that and opened her eyes. "Just think how easily I'll give birth," she said, regarding him calmly from that position that was making him want to cross his legs. Hard.
Nick shuddered. "I don't think I wanted to know that," he said fervently. "How long are you gonna stay there, anyway?"
She placed her hands on the floor beneath her hips, taking her weight on her arms as she raised her legs up off the chairs and brought them down beneath her. The corner of her mouth quirked up. "Feel better?"
"Much," Nick said sincerely. "Seeing that hurts men."
"I meant your food poisoning, you goof," Maya laughed. "You look better."
He shrugged. "A twenty-four hour thing, I guess," he said. Then his eyes narrowed. "I hear you were a busy girl at Sanctuary, sis."
Maya smiled and raised an eyebrow. "And?"
Nick scowled. "And? And?" he sputtered indignantly.
"Oh, stop it," she snapped, not in the mood to hear his lecture. Not when she'd spent the last half-hour in meditation to try to calm the churning emotions that had filled her since waking when she'd realized that she had no idea who Acheron really was or how to find him again.
And meditation, her refuge and her peace, was definitely letting her down now. The man had completely captivated her and it hadn't been purely physical. He fascinated her. The knowledge of how much he'd wanted her was intoxicating in itself—there was no way to hide his arousal when they'd been locked in such a passionate embrace. But rather than carry her into her bedroom and satisfy his own hunger, he'd made promises that made her burn and stepped back, not rushing her.
He'd acted like a man in search of more than a single night of mind-blowing sex, and she desperately hoped she'd interpreted his words and actions right. She wanted to see him again and she wasn't very happy about not knowing how to find him.
Nick was still standing there, glaring, bringing her back to the present. "You started a fight, Maya!" he persisted. "You're pregnant, dammit!"
She rolled her eyes at him, wondering if it would make her feel better to deck her brother. It was a good thing for Nick that she loved him so much because he'd certainly chosen the wrong time to mess with her. "Gee, thanks for reminding me," she said sarcastically. "Wow, I'd forgotten that!"
"You're not funny."
"And you're annoying," she shot back. Her hand rested protectively over the gentle curve of her stomach where she could just begin to feel the swelling of new life. "What do you think Jay would do if he found out about this baby, Nick? Just go away quietly? It was just a matter of time before he saw me, and if I'd hidden behind the big boys—" she rolled her eyes again, thinking of Acheron's words the night before, "—he'd have known at once something was different with me. Even if I was inclined to hide behind a man, which you know I'm not."
"So you decided to start a fight to hide the fact that you're pregnant?" Nick looked both incredulous and utterly disgusted.
Maya stood, deciding the conversation was finished. "You men drive me nuts," she said, biting off every word. "If you'd been there, Nick, you'd have seen me kick his ass. This assumption that I'm just some delicate little female in need of manly protection is making me want to give you a demonstration of my competence. He never laid a finger on me. Now I'd advise you to take your insulting self out of here before I decide I need a sparring partner. Or in your case, a punching bag!"
Nick actually looked a bit sheepish. "I know you can take care of yourself, sis," he said at last. "I know that better than anyone. I just worry about you."
Maya smiled at him, her anger leaving her as easily as it always did. "Well, don't worry about this," she said.
"All right, I won't," he said. Then he grinned. "Kyrian told me about it, but next time, make sure I'm around, will ya? I'd have really loved to see you kick him in the face!"
She laughed. "Hmm, I think that was everyone's favorite part," she grinned. "I know I liked it." Even Acheron had commented on it, before taking her in his arms and giving her a glimpse of heights she hadn't even imagined.
No, don't think about that, she told herself sternly. Not unless you want to go stark raving mad…
Nick left then, chuckling. Maya stretched her arms, going to the large punching bag hanging at the other end of Kyrian's huge private gym. The self-imposed moratorium on thinking of last night didn't seem to be having much effect. Ash was still in her head. She couldn't seem to meditate him out, but maybe exercise would work. She did a few moderate kicks to warm up before going into her full workout.
Acheron lounged in the doorway and watched her, unseen and silent. The woman was poetry in motion, a deadly blade of exquisite beauty. He could stand here and watch her all day. The briefest of thoughts had confirmed Nick at his computer—the Squire could spend hours on the internet—and Kyrian and Amanda were in the den, supposedly discussing ways of keeping Maya safe but in reality engaged in a much different pastime. Another thought placed a barrier at either end of the hall—no one could pass by without him knowing it even though Ash didn't think any of them would be wandering through the house any time soon.
So he took his time, drinking in every nuance of this woman who so intoxicated him. Maya was danger and grace personified, her every move fierce and powerful, yet so elegant and lithe it stole his breath. The Spandex tank and leggings she wore hid nothing from his gaze. The ripple and play of her muscles as she moved made his breath catch. She was so beautiful, so incredibly sexy, and before he'd made the conscious decision to move he found himself before her, reaching to drag her into his arms where she belonged.
Maya gasped as she caught sight of Acheron in the mirrors but didn't even have time to speak before he'd pulled her firmly against him and caught her lips in a kiss that turned her into a quivering flame, incapable of thought. She clung to him, the heat generated by her exercise morphing into passion so swiftly it made her head spin, hardly noticing when he lifted her completely from her feet to hold her against his chest. Her arms went around his shoulders and one leg slid up his thigh to curl around his waist, her only thought to get as close to him as she possibly could.
It took every ounce of willpower Ash possessed to pull away from that glorious kiss. There was no doubt at all in his mind that if he carried her from the gym straight to his bedroom right now and kept her there for the rest of the day, she wouldn't resist a bit. Only the thought of Archon kept Ash from giving in to the powerful craving that all but consumed him, but even then it was far more difficult to pull away than he would have liked and he dipped back for one more taste of those sweet lips. Then another.
Maya looked up at him through lowered lashes when he finally succeeded in pulling away, her topaz eyes glittering. "Well, hello there," she murmured with a slow smile that made him burn.
The feel of her leg around his waist was making it incredibly difficult for Ash to have anything even vaguely resembling a rational thought. It put the greatest ache he'd ever suffered against the sweetest haven he'd ever craved. He finally forced himself to lower her to her feet, but instead of releasing him, Maya slid down him in a slow, erotic full-body caress. He could barely restrain himself from taking her against the nearest wall with all the wild passion she inspired in him. Only when both her feet were on the floor did Ash trust himself to speak. "Do you have any idea how sexy you are right now?" he growled.
Maya went up on her toes to brush her lips against his jaw. "I think you just told me fairly eloquently," she whispered, her warm breath tickling the sensitive skin of his ear. Then she leaned back and grinned. "I was just wondering if I'd actually see you again," she admitted. "I'm fairly sure I'm awake now."
He laughed, remembering her words behind the club. "Want me to pinch you, just to make sure?" he offered, his hand sliding low to caress and cup her rounded bottom through the thin Spandex.
She shivered against him. "Only if I get to pinch you back," she said, both her hands sliding down his back before dipping into his back pockets to give him a squeeze.
The breath slammed out of his lungs. His mouth was on hers again before he could stop himself. She laughed softly into his mouth, her tongue dancing with his. She tasted divine, like soft woman and raw, wild sex, and he was losing the will to fight the call to make her his.
Remember Archon! his mind shouted against the rising roar of desire. Remember the god, for the love of heaven!
It was as if the thought sent a breath of cool air through his overheated body. Acheron brushed his lips lightly across hers before stepping back, shivering as her hands slipped free from his pockets and trailed across his hips before falling back to her sides. "You can pinch me anytime you want," he said before he could stop himself.
Maya laughed. "Hmm, I'll definitely keep that in mind," she teased, raking him with a measuring once-over as though deciding where to begin.
He had to change the direction of this conversation before he went up in flames. "Nick says you live in LA," he said, latching onto the first thing he could think of. "Are you just visiting him here or moving to New Orleans?"
She laughed. It was a very obvious attempt to change the subject, he supposed, smiling himself. "My future plans," Maya said, taking a step toward him that undid any progress he'd been making in backing away from her, "aren't, um, firm." And her fingertips brushed his stomach just above the button of his jeans, starting to glide downward.
He caught her wrist before she entered dangerous territory and shook a finger at her. "You're trying to make me lose it, aren't you?" he accused softly.
Maya smiled up at him, her free hand capturing a handful of his hair. "Fair's fair," she murmured silkily, stepping closer again. "How am I doing?"
If he took a deep breath her breasts would brush his chest, she was standing that close. Ash fought the tidal wave of desire that threatened to swamp him. "You're doing far too well," he whispered. He couldn't do this. She belonged to Archon. But when she gave him that slow, seductive smile, Acheron found it hard to remember to breathe, much less to remember reasons why he shouldn't drag her to his bed and keep her there. Forever. "You're a bad influence, and gods help me, I want you beyond all reason."
She laughed and leaned forward, pressing her body against his again. "A determined one, at the very least," she agreed, raising her face for his kiss. "And the feeling is entirely mutual."
The breaching of one of his perimeter guards in the hall saved Acheron from committing the ultimate madness. He pulled away, cursing in an ancient tongue. "Someone's coming," he whispered when Maya looked at him with hurt in her eyes at his abrupt turning away. "I don't think you want to give them a show."
She shook her head gratefully. Then Acheron bent quickly, gave her a hard, fast kiss, and left the gym before she could say another word. No one needed to know what was between himself and Maya, especially since he couldn't even explain it or start to comprehend it himself.
Amanda poked her head in barely half a minute later. "Hey, Maya, I—" She paused, seeing Maya standing frozen in the middle of the room, fingers pressed to her lips. "Are you all right?"
Maya jumped and dropped her hand quickly. "Fine," she lied as her body ached with unfulfilled desire. Damn, but that man knew how to kiss! "What can I do for you, Amanda?"
Amanda entered and looked at her closely for a moment before shrugging. "Kyrian wants to know if you feel up to going out for lunch," she said. "Our treat."
"Sure, sounds fine to me."
Amanda left her there and returned to Kyrian, frowning at Maya's strange behavior. "What is it?" Kyrian asked as soon as he saw her. "She's not going for it?"
She waved her hand, dismissing that concern. "No, no, she's happy to go out for lunch," she said. "But if I didn't know better I would've sworn there was someone in the room with her just a second before I got there."
Kyrian rose and frowned. "You mean, besides Nick, I'm assuming," he said. Amanda nodded. "That's impossible. Besides us, Nick, and Ash, no one can get in this house without us knowing it. You don't think Ash—"
Amanda shook her head, cutting him off in mid-sentence. "As adamant as he was about not letting her meet any Dark-Hunters? I don't think so," she said. Then she shook her head again. "No, she looked like someone had just kissed the living daylights out of her. You think Ash would do that?"
Both of Kyrian's eyebrows rose as he shook his head. "I think he'd expire anyone who tried that," he said, picturing the look on Ash's face when he'd discovered that Maya was pregnant with a god and that he'd been saddled with the heavy responsibility of her protection.
"Why?"
Kyrian blinked at her. He'd almost forgotten that she didn't know about Archon. "You figured out the alert," he hedged. "You think this is the time for her to take a new boyfriend?"
Amanda sighed. "Guess you're right," she said with a shrug, and Kyrian was very grateful she didn't press for more information. Information he couldn't give her.