“We’re all right,” he answered, ushering Abby towards the bathroom. “Are you in any pain?” he asked anxiously, not wanting a repeat of the previous night – well, at least not the part with her being in pain.
“No,” she stammered, shaking her head – still totally fixated by his silver eyes as they bored into hers.
She had the beginnings of a headache, but nothing earth-shattering like that night in the bar, and no searing white hot pain ripping through her body either - to which she was extremely grateful. There was just a dull throbbing in her head which could easily have been caused by the blast.
“Stay in here until either Marcus or I come for you,” he instructed. “And make sure to lock the door behind me.” He turned as if the leave, then quickly turned back. “Are you certain that you feel all right?” He asked again - worry marring his perfect features, and Abby nodded.
“Desmond, I’m fine,” she reassured him - gently stroking his jaw with her fingers. With that he kissed her quickly and headed for the blown out window.
He grabbed a long dagger from the bookcase and stepped up onto the ledge. Abby watched in disbelief as his dark silhouette dropped through the opening and disappeared below in one smooth, fluid motion.
Unable to stop herself, she hesitantly walked to where he had jumped and looked down – her heart beating frantically in her chest.
She could see a scattering of forms - animal as well as human, and finally found Desmond’s muscular frame in the group. Wearing only the pair of black trousers, he was truly a sight to behold in the illumination of the moon. His strong, muscled body was spectacular.
He stood with his back to her - facing the shadowy figure before him – and she could tell that he was tense by his stance, and said a silent prayer for him to be safe - for them all to be safe. The figure sprang forward toward Desmond and Abby’s heart leapt into her throat. In a flash he spun around, bringing his leg up and kicking the demon squarely in the face - knocking the vile creature to the ground with a loud thud.
Desmond’s hand darted out, almost too quickly to catch, and the figure before him screeched in pain only a moment before bursting into flame and disintegrating into a pile of ash at his feet.
The few others that were left scattered and ran like the wind once they realized that the powerful vampire had arrived - the wolves following close behind on their heels. Abby was dumbstruck by the mere size and grace of the wolves as they ran after the disgusting monsters. They were truly a beautiful sight – huge and powerful and she found herself wondering which one was Luke. She watched as Marcus trotted over to Desmond and the two spoke for several moments before he turned toward the window. She knew he could see her, even though his features were hidden in the darkness - and her breathing stopped.
“Oh, shit!” She gasped, before backing up against the wall and out of his line of sight. He would be furious that she hadn’t listened to him and stayed in the bathroom. Cripes! She knew he was going to be livid.
A moment later, her fears were proven valid. Desmond burst through the door of the bedroom, his eyes ablaze – his lips pulled back in a growl, exposing his still fully extended fangs. “Damn it, woman!” He bellowed -striding over to her and taking her by the shoulders. “Abby, just what in the hell did you think you were doing?”
“I…I just wanted…” she stammered, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears.
“You just wanted to what?” he barked, his expression dark and dangerous.
“I just wanted to be certain that you were safe,” she finally admitted, her voice a hoarse whisper.
The look in her eyes and her soft words took all the fight out of him and he sighed raggedly. Turning to face the fireplace, he ran his hands through his thick hair in aggravation – trying desperately to calm himself.
The thought of her putting herself in harm’s way drove him to the brink of insanity. If one of those vile creatures had spotted her standing there… he clenched his jaw as he forced himself not to think about it -trying desperately to get his fangs to recede and his anger to abate. She was safe – but in his present state of mind – only for the time being. He wanted nothing more than to throw her over his lap and paddle that sweet little behind of hers. He shook his head roughly - trying to clear the images of her laying across his lap, and concentrated on calming down. He didn’t want to frighten her any more than he most likely already had. She had never seen him in his true form, and there was that part of him that was terrified of her reaction. She would finally see him for the killer that he was.
He heard her gasp - and a moment later felt her warm fingers on his back. “My God, Desmond,” she breathed. “You’re hurt.”
He turned his head to look back over his shoulder and noticed several pieces of glass sticking out from his skin. Thanking the Gods that none of it had hit Abby, he shrugged with indifference. “It’s nothing.”
“Nothing?” she repeated incredulously. “Desmond, don’t be ridiculous. It’s more than nothing! Some of these are deep.” Pulling him by the arm, she led him over to the bed and pushed him down onto his belly. “Stay there,” she warned, and disappeared into the bathroom. A moment later she came back - a damp washcloth in her hands.
She sat down beside him on the bed, her hip touching his and he immediately felt her warmth. After a moment, he heard her take a slow, deep breath.
“I’m going to have to pull the glass out,” she whispered and he chuckled softly. “And that is funny – why?” She ground out - confused as to why the thought of jagged pieces of glass protruding from his back didn’t seem to bother him in the least – that he actually found it amusing. What an arrogant ass – she thought with a huff.
“It takes much more than a few shards of glass to hurt me, sweetness.”
She ignored his bravado and gingerly pulled the first piece out, dabbing at the wound with the washcloth – trying to be as gentle as possible.
She watched in amazement as the skin fused together almost immediately - leaving a smooth, perfect surface in its place - no trace what so ever of there ever having been a gash at all. “Holy Hell,” she whispered in awe, and Desmond chuckled once again.
“It does come in handy,” he said, closing his eyes and thoroughly enjoying the feel of her hands on his back as she removed the other few pieces of glass and washed the blood from him. This was something he would be more than happy to get used to, he thought with a sigh. Her hands – God they were incredible, and the feeling of her so tenderly taking care of him caused a tightening in his chest as well as another part of his anatomy, and a wicked grin crossed his lips. Hell, it would be worth taking a few injuries if the payoff was this lovely creature taking care of him the way she was. Not to mention the fact that as soon as the heat of her fingers touched him - his fangs had retracted with their calming effect.
“You’re indestructible,” she breathed and Desmond laughed, full and deep.
“Not quite, my pet. I can still be staked or beheaded - or if there is massive blood loss.” He heard her gasp and smiled. “No need to worry,” he reassured her, “I don’t see any of those in my foreseeable future. That is - not unless of course, you have a stake hidden somewhere on your person,” he said devilishly, and Abby felt her cheeks redden. “Do I need to search you?”
“Desmond,” she scolded half-heartedly – that tingling sensation rippling through her at his innuendo, and she felt her body grow warm as the now-familiar butterflies fluttered around in her belly with a vengeance – demanding that she take notice.
She cleared her throat and continued cleaning him up – completely fascinated by his healing abilities. She had never seen anything like it before.
When she had finished, she kissed his back tenderly - causing a current to run through his entire being. He turned over and smiled at her, his eyes - now back to their wonderful sea-blue color were filled with an undeniable longing.
Leaning up on one elbow, he cupped the back of her head with his other hand, and pulled her into
him for what was by his standards, a long overdue - proper kiss.
No matter how angry he was at her for going to the window and standing there like a damned target, he just couldn’t resist her – not when she was so un-Godly beautiful and tasted like a perfect spring morning.
And the fact that she had not cowered from him when he had been in his vampire state did nothing to relieve the desire running through him. She had not even batted an eye at the sight of his fangs or luminescent eyes - and his admiration for her only spiked. She was truly a strong, amazing woman.
His biggest fear was that she would turn from him in disgust at what he was – but that hadn’t been the case. And he found that the thought was comforting. She didn’t seem to fear him.
His lips took hers with need and demand and she responded to him with a soft moan as his tongue explored her mouth with a possessiveness that shook him to his core. God – he wanted her.
Abby braced herself against him - her hands softly kneading his chest as she returned his ardent assault with a flourish – her body silently urging him for more – begging him. Desire, hot and thick coursed through her like molten lava and she trembled.
“Damn it!” he cursed, a moment before there was a knock at the door. “What?” He barked out and Abby jumped slightly- having been completely lost in the taste and feel of him.
She glanced down and smiled shyly at the apparent bulge in his trousers – secretly glorying in the fact that she could do that to him with just a kiss. And that he wanted her as much as she wanted him.
“Des, I need to talk to you both.” Lucas called from the other side of the door, his voice carrying a hint of urgency.
Desmond noticed her gaze and grinned at her, his eyes shining mischievously as he took her hand and placed it in his lap. His eyes rolled back slightly at the contact and a low groan escaped him when she gave him a gentle squeeze.
“Christ,” he hissed softly at the contact - his eyes once again flashing silver. He shook his head briefly and smiled. “Don’t forget where we were,” he whispered, before leaning forward and grazing his lips against hers, quickly – but with promise. “I still need to reprimand you for putting yourself in danger,” he murmured, and a smile lit up her face at the wicked gleam in his eyes. She had a feeling that her punishment would be definitely interesting, and she shivered with anticipation.
He stood and walked towards the door - but not before he made sure that his robe was securely and modestly tucked around her. He opened the door and ushered Lucas in, his face set in a scowl – which, the Were chose to ignore completely as he strolled through the door past him.
“Hey, Abby,” Lucas said, giving her his best grin - although she couldn’t help but notice that it didn’t seem to reach his eyes, and that realization worried her. Something was definitely bothering him.
“Hey, Luke,” she replied, warmly.
“You ok?”
Abby nodded - her throat tightening at his obvious concern. “I’m fine. You?”
“I’m all good here – not so much as a scratch.” He lifted his arms out at his sides for emphasis, and winked at her.
Desmond motioned for Luke to take one of the chairs by the fireplace, then walked back to Abby and took her by the hand. He settled into the other chair, pulling her down onto his lap and wrapping his arms securely around her waist.
He knew that it was an immature, possessive thing to do – but he just couldn’t help himself. It seemed as if all sense left him where the fiery little fey was concerned – besides, he thought with a slight grin, he needed her to cover his raging hard-on – and a more pleasant way to do so he couldn’t think of. He knew that Luke would never let him hear the end of it if he saw him walking around like a horny adolescent and the feel of her sitting in his lap was much too good to pass up. It was all he could do to keep from shoving Luke out of the room and taking her again.
“What is it Luke?” he asked – cutting off his thoughts before he did exactly what he was thinking. He gave himself a mental shake as his hand tenderly rubbed the small of Abby’s back.
“When we cornered one of the bastards that did this,” he said, jerking his thumb toward the glassless window frame. “He told me to tell you that this was just a warning and that we’d better give up the…” he paused, looking to Abby - a look of pure disgust on his face, “blood bag, and they might consider letting the rest of us live. Sorry, Ab. His words – not mine.” He finished - gracing her with an apologetic smile.
“Unbelievable,” Desmond seethed - his hold on her tightening. “I certainly hope you told him to go straight to hell - right before sending him back there.”
Lucas looked back to Desmond and nodded. He cleared his throat - fidgeting slightly in the chair. “But not before he told me to tell you that Argramon sends his regards and looks forward to seeing you again.”
Desmond’s entire body stiffened - his eyes turning that luminescent silver in a flash, and Abby could feel the anger rolling off of him in waves.
“Who is Argramon?” She questioned breathlessly - frightened by the look on Desmond’s face. There was pure fury written across his features.
“Are you certain?” He asked Luke – a muscle in his jaw twitching dangerously.
“Positive. That’s not a name I would easily mistake…or forget.”
“How did that son of a bitch return?” He ground out –his entire body now trembling with rage.
“Who is he?” Abby insisted - scared to death because of the way Desmond was reacting to the news. She had never seen him so angry. Not even after her little standing by the window stunt – and it literally was scaring the hell out of her. She needed to know who this Argramon was.
“He’s the demon that killed your father,” Luke offered finally, when he realized that Desmond was not going to answer her.
“Lucas!” Desmond bellowed - his fangs exposed.
Abby ignored him and concentrated on Luke. “But… you said that he was dead?”
Desmond tried desperately to maintain his control - but the fact that Lucas had taken it upon himself to discuss the killing of her father with her set his body into pure predator mode. Why hadn’t Abby bothered to tell him that she knew the truth, and just how much had he told her exactly? Desmond growled, deep in his throat -wanting nothing more at that moment than to jump up and throttle the mangy cur.
Luke knew Desmond was furious – but he also knew that he would get over it once he realized that Abby thought no less of him. He wasn’t blind to the fact that this woman cared about his friend deeply, nor that, whether he would admit it or not, Desmond cared for her. Christ, he could smell them all over each other!
Yet, it seemed that what she thought of him was terrifyingly important to him. Something he had never seen before in the vampire. He gave him a crooked grin and looked back to Abby. “Sometimes, and very rarely, from what I understand,” he went on - as if Desmond’s anger was of no consequence to him at all, “the really powerful ones can be brought back – but it’s damn hard and it takes time.”
“Holy Hell.” Abby stated, her breath coming out in a rush. She finally turned her attention to Desmond. “Would you quit fanging out, and just calm down, please?” She said to him in her best I mean business tone and Luke couldn’t help but to burst out laughing – the look on the vampires face was priceless.
Never would he have thought that anyone would talk to the foreboding vampire in that manner – especially not this tiny slip of a woman. But damn - Abby could certainly hold her own – and Luke loved every minute of it. His friend looked completely dumb-struck.
“Abby…” he began, but her finger to his lips stopped him. “Take a deep breath, Des,” she urged him, and he did - even though he didn’t need it. “Now is not the time to discuss why you didn’t tell me that you knew my father – or that you killed the demon who killed him –well, at least temporarily it seems. My being here is putting you all in danger and it’s...”
“Abigail...” Desmond warn
ed, but again her finger went to his lips. His eyes narrowed, but he remained silent, that muscle in his jaw twitching again with a vengeance.
“No, it is – and that’s just not fair. You, Luke, Marcus and the others didn’t ask for this. It isn’t right that you should all be endangering yourselves because of me. And if this Argramon or whoever is the same demon that you came up against before…” She broke off, shuddering at the memory of Luke’s words that this demon had almost killed Desmond. Killed him! And no matter how indestructible he seemed in her eyes - the cold hard reality was that he could be killed. And she just couldn’t allow that. She wouldn’t.
She looked to Luke beseechingly – hoping that he would agree with her and help to convince the headstrong vampire that she was a serious danger to them all, and it would probably be best if she just left now that they knew she was here.
The thought of leaving Desmond was sobering to say the least, and she bit back the tears that were threatening – but his safety came before hers. He didn’t ask to be pulled into her problems. She would have to just disappear and hope that the demons couldn’t find her. Besides, she thought with a painful twist of her heart – she was used to moving around. Why should her life change now just because she happened to fall in love.
“Don’t even bother,” Luke said, locking eyes with Abby. “You have no say so what so ever in the matter, I’m afraid.” He spoke matter-of-factly and glanced to Desmond - who only nodded stiffly. “It’s our choice Ab - and we choose to protect you – all of us. This isn’t just about you anymore. We are all in this together and nothing is going to change that. We have discussed this as a pack - and as brothers,” he continued, looking once again to Desmond. “We stand together.” She was about to protest when Lucas stood and stretched. “Listen, I really need to get back to the pack and do some research on how to rid ourselves of this bastard for good. Marcus and I are still planning on doing some recognizance work tonight.” He smiled reassuringly at the pair. “I’m pretty confident that those stupid sons of bitches aren’t even dumb enough to strike again tonight – so why don’t the two of you get some much needed rest and relaxation.” He graced Abby with a sly grin, which instantly caused her cheeks to flush. “Good night.”