All those events started a downward spiral, circling the proverbial drain, and her self-control dissolved as her powers took over.
The Ice Queen melteth.
No phantom laughter met her thoughts that time.
Taz sat behind her desk and tried to quiet her mind, still feeling nervous and agitated, as if two personalities were at war within her.
Murry strolled in. Taz stiffened, and the cat hesitated.
“Is this a bad time?” he asked.
“You realize I’m not used to talking cats, right?”
He sat, sniffing as if insulted. “I’m not a cat.” He damn sure looked like one, large and black with a white star-shaped mark on his forehead.
“Could’ve fooled me.”
He jumped into the chair he usually occupied and glared at her. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
Then she realized what he meant. “You went nuts before the daemon attacked me.”
“I tried to warn you, but you weren’t ready to hear me. Lucky for you, Matthias and the others were downstairs and I found them in time.”
She walked over to the cat that claimed he wasn’t and stroked his back. “So what are you?”
“I’m a familiar. Ask Matthias, he can explain it. Long story, very boring.” He paused. “I’m sorry I scared you that day. I tend toward the theatrical, it’s in my nature. If you make a crack about Broadway shows, I’ll pee on your desk.”
She laughed, sitting in the chair next to the cat that wasn’t. “Thank you, Murry. I really appreciate it.”
He butted his head against her hand and purred. “No problem. You’re too cute to let you get skewered.”
* * * *
There were things to do, messages to answer, and an hour later Taz was absorbed in her work and feeling a little less abnormal. Albert poked his head in her office before lunch.
“Can I buy you a plate of picadillo?” The restaurant downstairs served excellent authentic Cuban food.
“Hi, Albert.”
He stepped inside. “Matthias didn’t send me. Please don’t be upset.”
“I know. I’m not.” Except for when they were at Yellowstone, Albert Thompson—Matthias’ right-hand man—came in to work nearly every day. He was as much a workaholic as she was. “It’s okay.” She glanced at her slowly shrinking to-do list. “You know, I could use lunch.”
“You and I don’t get to eat alone often, Taz.”
“Where is Robertson, anyway?” she asked as they headed downstairs.
Albert’s face briefly clouded. “He’s with Matthias, taking care of some other business.”
Taz had a feeling that was a euphemism for Rafe’s affairs, but she didn’t press. She didn’t want to know. Later, maybe, when she felt steadier emotionally. She’d done well so far.
Lunch was, as always, excellent. Taz sensed Albert wanted to say something, and he finally did. “I know this has been a very difficult couple of weeks for you.”
“You and Robertson are very skilled in understatement.” Albert’s silky, cultured British accent matched his tall, angular, lanky frame. Tim Robertson’s British accent was all rounded and warm, much like him. Both possessed blue eyes of the same eerily clear color.
Albert smiled. “Quite.” He reached out and touched her hand, met her gaze. “Taz, I know you’re hurting. I wish you would open up to us, let us help you.”
Her eyes blurred. She refused to cry. She’d had enough of that over the past several days. More than enough to last her a lifetime, thank you very much. She stroked Rafe’s ring with her thumb. It was a small comfort.
“I appreciate it, Albert. I really do. Right now, the best thing for me is work. I know we’re going to London, but I need to do this to calm my nerves. Besides, it’s Thursday, so it’s a short work week. It’s what I need right now.”
His eyes searched her face, then he released her hand. “Please remember we’re here for you to lean on should you need us. All right?”
“Thank you.” A thought crossed her mind, and she laughed.
“What?”
“Remember out in LA when you hired me, and the girl came in and took my blood and I joked about ‘staff vampires?’”
“Yes?”
“You looked like you saw a ghost.”
“Your comment did startle me until I realized what you meant.”
She smiled. “You also welcomed me to the ‘family.’”
“Yes, I did.”
“I didn’t know you really meant to the family.”
“Well, you technically are of the family, even before you and Matthias finally admitted your feelings for each other. You’re a fellow Clan member.”
A horrifying thought struck her. “Matthias and I aren’t kissing cousins or anything, are we?”
Albert laughed, then toned it down a notch so as not to draw attention. “No, dear. His origins are the Western European Clan, yours were the Eastern. Well, at least your mother was. Even if your father was of the line, the closest you could possibly be are very distant cousins many times removed. Matthias knows his family lineage.”
“I thought he was in charge of North America?”
“He is. Because he came over first, and is the oldest here, he’s head of the Clan here. Rafael was…” Albert let the sentence drift, perhaps fearing her reaction. He collected his thoughts and continued. “It’s simply a label for who is where. Technically, the only ‘true’ members of the North American Clan are those born here. Like yourself, they are all descended from elsewhere. Same with the South American Clan.”
“Oh. That makes sense.”
Albert nodded and glanced at his watch. “I don’t wish to cut this short, but I have a conference call I must attend to.”
Before he could stand, she reached for his hand. “Albert,” she softly asked, “when are we having Rafe’s funeral?”
He froze, not wanting to meet her eyes. He quietly replied, “We are still awaiting the return of his ashes. Then you and Matthias can decide.”
“Did he leave any instructions?”
“Not written. Years ago, he told us he wanted to be cremated, but nothing beyond that. Matthias must go to Rafael’s condo and retrieve his effects and paperwork.”
* * * *
Back in her office, Taz tried to focus. Why had she asked about the funeral? She’d done so well all morning, throwing herself into her work. At least now she knew what happened to Rafe’s body after the Stooges, what she’d dubbed the three-man security team working for Matthias at Yellowstone, recovered him.
A thought occurred to her. She went online and searched, ordering what she wanted after nearly an hour of looking for just the right one. Yes, she should be working, but this was more important. She wasn’t sure what, if anything, Matthias would say about it.
She didn’t care. It was for her, not him.
“That’s sweet, Taz.”
She shivered and looked around, even though she was alone in her office. That voice would drive her mad if it didn’t stop. That, and the feeling of someone constantly looking over her shoulder.
She stroked Rafe’s ring.
Chapter Six
When Taz returned home late that afternoon, Matthias’ car was in the garage, but he wasn’t in his study or their bedroom. She made her way back to the kitchen. Before she could ask, Robertson tipped his head toward the garage door.
“Playroom.”
“Playroom?”
“Well, that’s what Albert dubbed it. It’s the sparring room.”
“I didn’t know we had one of those.” Then again, there was a lot she didn’t know. She hadn’t even explored the entire house yet. It was huge.
Robertson led her to the garage and pointed out another door in the far corner that she’d assumed was backyard access. Taz walked through the five-car garage to the door. She listened for a moment but didn’t hear anything. Cautiously, she opened it.
The large, well-lit room was painted bright white. Mirrors lined one wall, an
d she noticed a variety of fighting gear, mats, and punching bags. A large cabinet against the far wall stood open, containing more protective gear, training swords, and other items. It looked a lot like the dojo where she’d taken karate classes back in LA.
Matthias stood in the middle of the room, shirtless, his back to her. He held the large sword and worked his way through a fighting form. Every muscle in his back rippled with each slow, deliberate motion. Taz’s heart fluttered, heat building in her lower belly.
She knew he sensed her presence even though he didn’t physically acknowledge her. His mind opened, welcoming her to watch. Taz stepped inside and quietly shut the door behind her, content to observe his fluid movements.
He was all hers. And he wanted to marry her, God help them both. They’d been to hell and back—literally—and he still wanted her.
In the mirror she watched his mouth twitch into that yummalicious half smile that always turned her insides into a gooey mess around him.
While she held a black belt in karate, she’d never used such a heavy, large, bulky sword as that one, not in a form or in sparring. The one time she’d wielded it was in Yellowstone, when she dispatched the daemon pulverem disguised as Rafe.
In Matthias’ hands it appeared to weigh nothing. Inscriptions she couldn’t read were engraved down its long blade. He’d said it was old, but she didn’t know much about it.
As part of the form he turned, continuing his movements, with his eyes now locked on hers. She didn’t want to get away. His deep-blue gaze did what it always did to her, melting her, chaining her heart to him in a way she didn’t understand.
He stopped and lowered the sword, crooking a finger at her. Unable to resist, she went and pressed against him, kissing him deeply, moaning softly into his mouth as his free arm gathered her against his firm body and held her a willing captive.
After several long, heated minutes he broke their kiss and whispered into her ear, “I love you, Taz. Always remember that. No matter what, I love you.”
“Even after I was such a bitch?”
He smiled and stroked her cheek. “I told you, it wasn’t your fault. It was your powers taking you over. I did warn you that would happen.”
She grabbed his face in her hands and kissed him again, their tongues thrusting and exploring. His large cock grew hard against her hip. She ground against him, wanting him. He eventually pulled away and smiled.
“Did you want to try this?” He hefted the sword.
She thought about it and shook her head, remembering the last time she held it. “No. Not right now. It’s too soon.”
“All right, love. Let me put this away and we can take a shower.” He turned to put the sword away, and that’s when she noticed the panel in the back of the cabinet concealing a secret compartment. He carefully wiped the sword down, then placed it inside the compartment and locked it.
“Why don’t you have regular exercise equipment here?”
He shrugged and started to say something, but she caught the tail end of his thought. “You and Rafe used to practice in here?”
“Yes. We always have a gym at the offices, so that’s easy enough to access. Rafe and I frequently blew off stress in here. Sometimes you get to a point where it’s all that will suffice.”
“Want to spar with me?”
“Darling, I don’t want to hurt you—”
He landed on his back on a mat five feet away, Taz standing over him with a smile on her face. “Cut the crap, Matthias. You know full well what I’m capable of.”
He climbed to his feet, a wary eye on her. “You caught me off guard, cara.”
She stepped back a few feet, kicked off her shoes, and motioned him to her. “Come on. Take your best shot, big guy.”
“Taz, I don’t think—”
“Do it, Matthias.” She didn’t think she imagined his blue eyes shifted to an inky, deep-midnight color at her challenge.
* * * *
Matthias didn’t want to, but knew he had to appease her. Something in her needed this. Even her eyes had changed color from a vibrant green to a deep, dark emerald.
They faced off and he tried to take it easy, but after she threw him for the third time, it was obvious she wasn’t holding back. If he didn’t stand up to her, she might accidentally hurt him. He sensed her pain, her grief, her rage, carefully guarded but bubbling below the surface, and she needed to get it out of her system. She needed to release the pressure somehow.
Praying he didn’t go too far, he attacked, barely managing to throw her to the mat. She jumped to her feet almost faster than he could prepare for the next onslaught. She savaged him for over twenty minutes. He didn’t let her have the advantage—it was all he could do to stay on his feet against her. Then he spotted her tears, hot and heavy, and when he had a chance he threw himself at her and wrapped his arms tightly around her, sweeping her legs out from under her, both falling to the mat. She briefly struggled, sobbing, and then she collapsed against him and cried.
“It’s okay, sweetheart.” He held her, rocking her in his arms as she wept, soothing her.
Eventually she relaxed, clutching at him, sniffling occasionally. “How can you put up with me?”
“I love you, cara.” He gently brushed the hair out of her face. “I am the lucky one. You still want to be with me after the hell I’ve brought you into.”
She sat up. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
He smiled. “No, you didn’t hurt me. I think we need to spend more time in here together. It’s a great way to release built-up tension. This is why I have this room. There’s something about sparring that is emotionally satisfying, where simply exercising is not.”
She nodded.
“How do you feel?” he asked.
“A little better.”
“Want to try the swords?” She shook her head and he clarified. “The practice swords.”
“I’m not trained in that. I only dabbled a little.”
He stood and helped her to her feet. “That’s all right.” He took two of the bamboo training swords from the cabinet and handed her one. “Just do what I do.” He assumed a stance. “Yoi!”
She mimicked him.
“Good.” He slowly worked through the form with her. As with other skills in her life, she was a quick study. Within twenty minutes, they were slowly, gently sparring with the practice swords. When they finished the first round, he straightened and nodded. “Want to try it harder?”
A sly smile swept across her face. “You talking about the practice swords?”
He grinned. “Maybe. Maybe not. One more round, and then we can go upstairs.” Her mood had shifted, lifted, lightened. This had done her a world of good, he sensed.
“Okay.”
“Yoi!” They picked up the pace. Matthias allowed her no quarter. At one point, he thought he had her cornered when she slipped past him, wheeled around and pinned him to the wall, her eyes blazing, breathing heavy.
He held up his hands in surrender, smiling. “Match to you, my love.”
She dropped the practice sword and threw herself at him. He caught her and they fell to the mats. He rolled her on top of him and worked on her shirt buttons while she devoured his mouth. She shrugged her shirt off, and he helped free her of her bra, cupping her breasts in his hands and sucking her nipples, moving from one to the other while she moaned with need.
“Do it, Matthias,” she hissed, clasping his head to her chest.
He rolled her onto her back and worked his way down her body, quickly parting her from her slacks and underwear. When she was naked, he took his time, gently spreading her legs and bending to her pussy, his tongue flicking at her clit. He slowly teased and tormented her body, refusing to be rushed. With his hands clamped firmly on her hips to prevent her from dislodging him, he wrapped his lips around her swollen clit and flicked at it with his tongue. He held her that way for a while, bringing her close and backing down again, alternating sucking her clit with fucking her with his tongue u
ntil she finally wrapped her fingers in his hair.
“Please!” she begged.
He chuckled. “Of course, cara.” He increased his efforts, his swollen cock throbbing and desperate to be buried inside her wet pussy. Drawing sharp gasps from her, he quickly brought her to climax.
Shimmying out of his pants, he finally plunged his rigid cock inside her, thrusting, his mouth taking possession of hers again. Her fingers dug into his back and pulled him tightly against her. He slipped his arms under her legs and lifted them, giving him deeper access as he stroked his cock inside her, feeling his release building.
“I love you, Taz,” he whispered, his eyes locked onto hers. “You’re the only woman I ever want.”
“Then take me, big guy, because I’m all yours.”
He felt his own orgasm start. At the last second he realized he didn’t have a condom on and pulled out, her moan of disappointment mixing with his growl of interrupted release. “Dammit.” He collapsed on top of her, kissing the base of her throat. “I’m sorry.”
“What happened?”
“We got a little carried away, sweetheart. It’s no longer safe to do this without precautions until your Pill kicks in.”
“Shit. I’m sorry, Matthias.”
“No. Don’t apologize.” He kissed her again, sweeping his tongue over her lips and down her jaw to her ear. “It just means we can go upstairs and do it right this time.”
She shivered with desire. “Then let’s get cracking.”
She started to slide out from under him when he grabbed her.
“Get dressed first, darling. We’re not home alone.”
She groaned. “Thank you for reminding me.”
“Albert and Tim wouldn’t let us hear the end of it if we paraded around here naked.”
* * * *
Going to work Friday morning was easier. Taz didn’t hesitate to walk past the conference room anymore. Matthias still didn’t come to the office, not that she would have minded seeing him today, even though he was a pleasant distraction. Then again, now that she was his fiancée and they’d already made wild monkey love from one end of the country to the other, it might not be as much of an issue.