Reclaimed Page 6

  “But what about the noises outside?” she insisted. Though he’d distracted her, she hadn’t forgotten.

  He groaned and rubbed his temples. “I swear there’s nothing out there anymore. I know it sounds weird, but you just have to trust me, okay?”

  She snorted. “Yeah, sure. I’ll just believe that simply because you say so?”

  “Yes, it would be spectacular.” He grinned.

  “Yeah, not gonna happen.” She scoffed. “Besides, if there isn’t anything out there, there’s no harm in me looking, right?”

  He sighed, grabbed her hand, and pulled her to the door. She followed him until he opened the door. Skidding her feet against the floor, she called out, “Wait!”

  She ran to the table, grabbed the knife, and nodded to show her readiness. She ignored the slow shaking of his head and the look he threw upward, as if praying for assistance from above, and glared at him.

  They walked outside, and she stepped closer to him as she sought out any signs of danger. Nothing lurked in the bushes, or in the forest beyond the house. Nothing hovered in shadows, or rushed toward them at their entrance outside. She hesitated on the stoop, unsure of her next step.

  Nothing moved; no huge beast loomed over her.

  “Satisfied? Or do you want to walk around the back, too?” he questioned in her ear.

  She turned to him and studied his face. No signs of anger or sarcasm. “I’m satisfied now, I guess. Still want to sleep on my couch?”

  “If you still want me to,” he answered as they walked inside. She nodded and climbed the stairs. She returned carrying pillows and a blanket to find him sitting on the couch. His shoes were placed side by side in front of it, and he’d unbuttoned his shirt. His chest taunted her to touch it, to sink her fingers into the coarse hair dusted there. To feel the hard muscles flexing beneath. She wanted to trail her fingers down his abs, to caress his….

  She tore her gaze from where it currently rested, at his belt. Afraid to be caught gawking at him like a pervert, she blurted out, “Thank you, Isaac. You must think I’m a complete idiot.”

  “On the contrary, I find you brave, beautiful, caring—”

  She laughed and rolled her eyes, and he seemed to sense her discomfort at the compliments, for he broke off and smiled ruefully. He grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles.

  “Good night.”

  “Good night,” she whispered. She cast one last longing look in his direction and climbed the stairs to her empty bed.

  Being good sucks.

  ***

  God, he’d been a complete fool. How had he not sensed Isaac inside? Now Isaac knew he’d tried to get in during the day, and he’d guard her house even more. He had botched his chance to get inside without fight.

  Blasted fool.

  He’d just wanted to see her. He often came here when she was home, enjoying her beauty. Granted, this time he hadn’t been planning on just looking. He’d been planning to pretend to be Isaac.

  Low? Hell, yes. But, damn, he heard the desperate clicking of the clock in his head, taunting him with his inadequateness.

  He hadn’t even sensed Isaac. He couldn’t afford such a colossal mistake again.

  Fleeing in surprise had been a mistake as well. He didn’t fear Isaac. Please, Isaac had never been able keep up to him, even as a child. And besides, he had every right to see Sabrina.

  As much, if not more, than Isaac.

  Amelia had picked him.

  In the meadow long ago, he remembered her choice….

  The sun had warmed his face as the gentle breeze kept him from baking alive over a roaring fire. It had seemed like a perfect day to spend outside with his love. And since Isaac had left on their father’s business, he had leave to do so. He didn’t have to seek her out. He knew she knelt by the stream, a bouquet of flowers clutched in her hand. It had been easy to convince her to join him, since she loved being outdoors on days like these.

  Hell, so did he.

  Especially when she sat by his side.

  Her soft curls escaped her coiffure to blow in the breeze as she headed toward him, and he returned her bright smile. Her cap-sleeved lilac dress spoke of the latest fashions, and the bonnet she wore to protect her milky skin matched it to perfection. He’d never tire of seeing her perfect face.

  Sometimes, he wished he’d never fallen in love with her. Indeed, she loved his brother. He knew it. But sometimes, just sometimes, he swore he saw something more. A brief glimpse in her eyes maybe. Or maybe he just imagined it. God knows he was desperate enough to wish it were so.

  He pushed his thoughts aside and sighed. Even if she did somehow love him in return, she’d been promised to Isaac. And he, well he’d been betrothed to the rich Lady Louisa Harding. It had been arranged for years, before even Isaac and Amelia. It was his duty, damn it. He’d been named the heir, and so he had to marry whom his father wished.

  Louisa appeared beautiful, with long, flowing red hair, gorgeous eyes, and a flawless body to match. She spoke of perfection in every way. Except for one small, tiny problem. She wasn’t Amelia.

  Amelia sat next to him and laid her head on his shoulder. He rested his cheek on her hair and inhaled her lavender-and-sunshine scent so hungrily it gnawed at him like a monster.

  “Oh, my Lord, isn’t it just gloriously wonderful out?”

  “Yes, my lady, it is. You make it even more so. Were I to be in the company of any other, it would be dull and dreary, to be sure.” He teased, but the truth in his words rang in the air. They always did.

  Pathetic.

  She laughed and looked into his eyes. It must have been something about the way she observed him, the way her eyes sparkled. He had no idea what caused it, but he snapped. The hold on his control broke, and he moaned in pure agony. When she reached a trembling hand out and cupped his cheek, he stopped fighting it.

  “Elijah…” she said so quietly he might have imagined it.

  She made the slightest of movements toward him, and Elijah thought of all the reasons why he shouldn’t—couldn’t—kiss her. Nonetheless, he let out a sharp cry and yanked her into his arms. Maybe just one time, he could taste heaven. No harm, no foul.

  Correct?

  Urgently, he crushed his lips against hers, and her arms wrapped around him. His fingers trailed over her back to bury his hands in her hair. Her soft moan made his desire rise to a frenzy, and he positioned her on the ground, before moving his body to cover hers. Cradled against the heat of her core, he surged against her readily.

  At the startling need coursing over him, he pulled back hesitantly. He met her gaze and drew in a deep breath at the love and desire burning in hers. He’d waited so long to see that exact expression cross her eyes, and now she was his. By God, once would never, ever, be enough. But he no longer gave a damn.

  Crushing his lips to hers once more, he vowed to make her his.

  Elijah pulled himself out of his memories and into the present. He could recall with perfect clarity how sweet her lips tasted, how soft her body had been curled into his. And, damn it, it had felt the same with Sabrina. For years he’d been tormented by his small glimpse of heaven, before hell had descended. And hell he had been in for too long to count. Deep down, he’d always hoped she would somehow return and pull him out of the darkness consuming him.

  And here she stood, by Isaac’s side once more.

  He kicked a tree, watching in satisfaction as it cracked beneath the force.

  Through her window, he spotted her sleeping form. Her brow furrowed, as it always did when something troubled her. He knew he’d caused her stress, and he could fix it. It would not be as simple as before, due to the guards, but he could do it.

  He needed to see her.

  Now.

  ***

  The wind whipped her hair into her face, obscuring her vision. She didn’t feel afraid, merely irritated she couldn’t see. She sensed him lurking somewhere nearby in the purple moonlight. She could sense him by her side just before h
e gripped her arm in an urgent manner.

  “Sabrina, please. We must talk.”

  Returning his stare, she knew with certainty who stood before her. The pieces fit together with a clarity as undeniable as it was unbelievable.

  “Elijah?”

  He paled, staring at her in shock. “Yes, how did you—?”

  “Isaac. He told me about you. I still have no idea how I’ve been dreaming of you. This all just seems to be out of a novel. A story I would write. It can’t be real. It isn’t possible.” She shook her head, reeling from shock.

  “Feel me.” He brought her hand to his face and kissed the inside of her wrist. The combination of the smoothness of his cheek and the coolness of his lips caused her to shiver. “Touch me. Do I feel real?” he whispered roughly.

  “Yes. But this is a dream.” She ran her thumb over his soft lip and caught her breath. “I just had a weird sense of déjà vu. As if I’ve done this before. Why?”

  “Because you have. I can’t explain it right now. You have to trust me. I’ll be over tomorrow, once Isaac leaves. Let me in, and I will tell you everything I can. Please?”

  Not giving her a chance to protest, he kissed her aggressively. Her body came to life, and she clung to his arms. She’d surely burst into flames, and he was her refreshing bucket of water. Lifting her weight into his arms, he pressed every inch of her body to his, in all the right places. He fit her like a glove, a glove meant just for her.

  A small voice whispered in her head, told her though he might look like Isaac, but it wasn’t him. This man who kissed her had killed Isaac’s fiancée. She betrayed Isaac in the worst way possible. She ripped herself free from her passion-filled daze, pulling away from his grasp to covered her mouth in dismay.

  What had she done?

  “Sabrina, what’s—” He stopped mid-sentence and growled as his eyes scanned the forest behind her.

  Sabrina recoiled and jumped out of his arms. She knew what the sound meant. Danger skulked near.

  She yelped when a woman landed in front of them. Her beauty made Sabrina feel dowdy in comparison. Though certain she’d never seen her before, she looked somehow familiar. The hair rose on the back of her neck in recognition. Of fear, or of the woman, Sabrina had no clue.

  But this woman was bad news.

  “Again, dear? You seem to be a bit dim-witted, don’t you?” she taunted. Meeting Sabrina’s wide eyes, the woman bared sharp, tiny teeth in a mockery of a smile.

  Elijah growled, seeming to read the woman’s intentions. They leapt into action, colliding in mid-air. The crash produced an ear-shattering bang, echoing through the night ten times louder than the boom of thunder on a dark, stormy night. She covered her ears in pain and watched the pair in a mixture of horror and astonishment.

  Elijah ended up on top of the woman, but that didn’t stop her from snapping her sharp teeth at him before flinging him through the air. He connected with the same resounding boom, and Sabrina, horrified, watched the tree crash to the ground, Elijah under it. He leapt to his feet. He met her eyes, almost apologetically, and she wondered what he planned to do next.

  She didn’t wonder long, though. For in a split second, he picked up the tree he had knocked down and threw it at the stranger, who was sprinting toward Sabrina at the same speed Elijah possessed.

  Sabrina stumbled backward, both at the gesture and from the advancing woman who glowered at her as hatred curled her lip and filled her eyes. She didn’t get far, because she was scooped into Elijah’s arms as he sped away from the crazy woman. Elijah slid to a halt when a figure appeared before them. Sabrina screamed in terror and clung even tighter to his strong arms.

  Chapter Five

  “Sabrina. Sabrina! Wake up, please wake up now!” Isaac shook Sabrina in panic, terrified he wouldn’t be able to pull her out of her dream. Damn Elijah and his sick hold on her. He’d taken Sabrina from her own body, and now he very well might kill her. Removing humans from their bodies was never a good idea. Sometimes, unable to return, they were forever stuck in a dream-like state.

  Otherwise known as a coma.

  A rarity, but still a risk he could not allow.

  Couldn’t he see the harm he caused her? The danger he put her in? Elijah could never be with Sabrina. Surely even he could see it?

  Sabrina jerked in his arms, and he watched in horror as her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

  Shit.

  He shook her and hoarsely called her name. “Sabrina, please. Wake up! I need you to wake up. Please.” The last word came out as no more than whisper. He froze when he saw her stare transfixed on him. She gulped for air, her eyes wide and her face ghostly pale, as she struggled to breathe. He sat her up in his arms and pounded her back in an attempt to help.

  When her arms flew out to the side in shock, he realized he had maybe pounded a little too hard. But…she was breathing. He could hear her gasping breath, see her shoulders heaving at the effort. Pulling her back into his arms, he hugged her to his chest.

  Dude, don’t suffocate her now that she’s breathing.

  Dumbass.

  He forced himself to loosen his grip and whispered soft words into her hair. He had no idea what he even said, but they seemed to help. In no time at all, she lay limp in his arms, curled into his body.

  Where she damn well belonged, thank you.

  “Isaac?” she asked.

  Anger swelled over him when he realized she asked if he was Elijah or Isaac. God, he hated his brother. He should make it clear to her, right here and now, that her soul mate held her in his arms. Life by Elijah’s side would never be possible.

  But if he came on too strong, too fast, he might scare her away. By now she had to know something unearthly surrounded her. But she didn’t know what. And he suspected she couldn’t handle the truth tonight. She’d been through too much already.

  Hoping she would confide in him, he forced himself to take a calm breath before pasting a smile on his face. He schooled his features into an easygoing appearance, determined to look as non-threatening as possible.

  Act clueless.

  “Yes, who else?” He raised an eyebrow in question. With bated breath, he awaited her answer. Maybe, just maybe she would trust him. If she showed just a small sign of being ready, he would tell her all about his life. And all about Elijah—and why he posed such danger to her. He was a vampire, for the love of God. They tore pretty little girls like her apart—literally.

  Those hopes were dashed when she waved a dismissive hand in front of her face.

  “Sorry, Isaac. I think my brain is a little confused. I had a nightmare. It’s all very humiliating.”

  She blushed, avoiding his eyes. He knew why she would look away. She lied through her teeth, but why the hell would she blush?

  “Um, just out of curiosity, how did you know I had a nightmare? I hope I didn’t scream and wake you.” She bit her lip and studied her clenched hands, and he tensed as he realized she felt mortified to have been frightened.

  Embarrassed.

  Jesus, she should be bloody scared.

  He smiled tensely and forced a chuckle as he fought the anger washing over him. “I’d like to be a gentleman and say no. But how would I explain my presence in your bedroom? Voyeurism? Sorry, lass, but yes, you screamed. What did you dream about?”

  “Oh, nothing. A shadow chased me in the woods. Someone called my name, and I tried to escape them, but it kept getting closer. Then, you woke me up. Thanks for pulling me out of it.”

  He closed his eyes in an attempt to conceal the fury coursing over him.

  One, two, three.

  He sighed and opened his eyes to focus on her once more.

  “You must think I’m such a wimp. Terrified of shadows.”

  “On the contrary, I don’t think you are enough of a wimp, as you call it,” he countered. He held her gaze intently, silently pleading for her trust. For her love. Her eyes widened, showing she saw all the emotion he wished her to see, and more. She bi
t her lip, and he watched the movement curiously. What was she thinking? Feeling?

  Damn it all, if he couldn’t get her to trust him, he’d damn well make her need him. He growled and pressed his lips to hers, offering the things he felt not aloud, but in action. Passion, love, need: they were all there. And not just on his side.

  No, it was just pure imagining on his part. Obviously, he loved her. He’d be an idiot to deny it. He always had, and always would. He’d loved her since the first time he met her in the countryside by their houses, and he’d loved her when he was still a human. Love like that didn’t just go away.

  But for her to love him so soon? When she didn’t remember those moments? Not bloody likely.

  A loud bang of thunder shook the house, and she shrieked. Isaac pushed her away in frustration to glare out the window at the storm raging outside. Bloody storms. Already, the absence of her arms around him left him cold. He wanted her to writhe against him, to hear her breathy moans fill his ears.

  Instead, he had, well, emptiness. Where there had been fire, there was now cool air.

  He might as well have left.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her reach out to him, her face showing her pain at his rejection. Yet she stopped halfway, her hand hovering in the air. She chewed on her lower lip and laid back against the pillow, her scrutiny focused on his back.

  He ignored her scrutiny and indecision. He needed to get outside, before he made a fool of himself even more. He rose to his feet and murmured a hasty good night, before striding from the room. He hoped it looked more like an exit than a panicked retreat. If he stayed even one more second, she’d either be flat on her back, or he’d be shaking her in frustration.

  Maybe both.

  He headed outside in search of Connor, the man he’d assigned to protect Sabrina. Apparently, he’d failed. It appeared Elijah had grown stronger than Isaac suspected.

  Connor normally kept unwanted guests away adeptly; it was one of his talents. His gifts, so to speak. In this life, they all had gifts. And there were the creatures like Isaac. The Enforcers. Enforcers were capable of becoming any of the monsters in order to defeat them. They used their powers for good—to save humans from the monsters roaming the world. Monsters like Elijah.