A few minutes later she pushed open the heavy wooden door to the suite and gestured me inside. I paused for a moment, taking it in.
The living room was beautiful. Almost Japanese in its simplicity, with low-slung couches and lower tables, it felt quiet and peaceful. Almost as if it were waiting for someone.
The bedrooms just beyond, Allie said helpfully, and I couldnt avoid it.
It was beautiful as well, with a huge bed as the centerpiece. A bed Id share with Azazel, I thought, grimacing. It was a lovely room, and the bathroom was a sybarites dream. I could be happy in these rooms. If I didnt have to share them.
Whose rooms were these? I asked, running my hand along the thick silk coverlet on the bed. It was deep red, the
color of wine. The color of blood, I thought absently. Maybe they wanted to hide the stains.
Tams last wife was into decorating, and she wanted to make a honeymoon suite. No ones used ityou wont find any memories here.
I took one last look around me, then nodded and headed back into the living room. All right, I said. I like it. The question is, where do I sleep until we do this mating thing?
Allies expression was one of grave concern. Didnt you realize, Rachel? Its going to be tonight.
Shit, I thought, taking another look around me. What if Im not ready?
Have you changed your mind? Youre allowed to.
No, I havent changed my mind. I just hadnt thought it would be so soon.
We might as well get it over and done with, Azazels voice came from the doorway.
CHAPTER TWENTY
SHE LOOKED AS IF SHE EXPECTED him to cut her throat in order to drink her blood, Azazel thought grimly. He still wasnt sure why the hell shed agreed to this. Hed expected hed have to spend days, weeks, breaking down her resistance. No one had been more shocked when shed returned to the council chamber and announced shed do it.
She had a trace of sunburn on her nose. No wonderwith her flaming hair she had very pale skin, and shed headed straight out into the midday sun. Hed kept an eye on her through the council-room windows, watched her as she sat staring at the water. Hed known the moment shed made up her mind, known by the squaring of her shoulders. He just hadnt known what that decision would be.
And now she was here, in the Alphas rooms, looking at him like he was her worst nightmare. She was right. If hed left her alone two years ago, she could have had a peaceful life. The demon inside her had probably already left her, though he wasnt intuitive enough to recognize its disappearance. He could only trust Allies word.
But it was too late for what-ifs. She was wearing some shapeless white thing, and he hated it. He wanted to tear it off her, with his teeth if need be. He wanted Allie to get the hell out of there and leave them alone. He could smell Rachels blood through her skin.
He smiled politely. Hed spent too much time hating both of the women before him, wanting them both dead, and it was all connected to Sarah. To missing her as if a piece of himself had been cut out.
He wasnt going to let that happen again. It was too painful, and it spilled over onto the innocent. He wasnt going to feel that obsessive love again. He would mate with Rachel, bond with her, and that would be that. Uriel would be enraged, and they could concentrate on fighting him, not worrying about wives and mates and sex and blood.
Sex and blood. He looked at Rachel and his nostrils flared. Why dont you leave us, Allie? he said in his even voice. He had worked eons to perfect the cool unconcern he usually displayed, and he wasnt about to give it away now.
Why? Rachel said nervously.
But Allie merely gave her an encouraging smile and slipped out the door, closing it behind her.
For a moment he wondered if shed make a run for it. You can always change your mind, he said softly.
And have the fate of the world weighing on my shoulders? I dont think so. If all I have to do is lie back and let you do me, then I think I can manage.
Do you? he echoed, startled and amused.
Ive decided I dont like the word fuck , she said primly. So, exactly how do we go about accomplishing this?
At that point he did smile. He couldnt help it. She was not happy with the situation, and he couldnt blame her. I think we managed well enough before.
I mean, do you bite me before or after?
She was nervous, which surprised him, given the sex theyd had both in her room in the Dark City and outside in the pouring rain with the Nightmen bearing down on them. It had been intense, visceral, animalistic, strong enough to shake him to his bones. He wouldnt have thought shed retain any shyness after that. I thought you remembered everything from before, he said. Youre acting like a scared virgin, not a succubus.
I wasnt a succubus!
You bedded down with monsters.
And Im doing it again, she shot back. The good thing is, I dont remember it. With luck, Im going to forget all about you.
No, youre not, he said. Not ever. And he started toward her.
I HELD MY GROUND. HE probably wanted me to run, to be afraid, but I knew there was nothing to be afraid of. He wouldnt hurt me, not deliberately. I had agreed to this, and my motives werent completely noble. I wanted to see if having sex with him was as devastating an experience as it had been before, before hed betrayed me. I wanted to see