Shadow Ch 02

"I would have never pegged you to be the type to live in a monstrosity like this. " Shadow murmured, staring up at the huge, crumbling castle that Rafe called home. He laughed softly, picking up her suitcase and started for the ornately carved double doors.

"Oh? And what did you think my taste would run too, angel? " he asked, and she shrugged, following him inside with her book bag slung over one slender shoulder.

"Oh, I don't know, something sleek and modern. " she said, stepping into the gloomy foyer behind him, and nearly slammed into him as he came to an abrupt halt. Before them, leaning casually against the banister of the sweeping staircase that lead upstairs was quite possibly the most beautiful man she had ever laid eyes on in her long life.

"I see you're back Rafael. " he said, and the sound of his voice shot right through her. Dark and velvety, sinfully rich- his voice made her think of hot summer nights, and sweaty limbs tangling together on silken sheets. She shivered and edged closer to Rafe, ignoring the heat that was starting to pool in her belly.

Rafe didn't take his gaze off the intruder. "What are you doing here? " he asked sharply, and the stranger laughed coolly, pushing away from the banister, stalking towards them.

"I got bored waiting. I see you had no trouble convincing her. " he said, and her eyes narrowed as he prowled closer, as graceful and deadly as a panther. She held her ground, even when he stood no more than inches away from her, and tilted her head back so she could see his face. Up close he was even more beautiful. His face was a sculptor's dream, all planes and sharp angels, and he had the most exquisite mouth- a mouth made to glide over a woman's body, a mouth to give the greatest of pleasures. She closed her eyes, cursing under her breath. What the hell was wrong with her? She never had thoughts like this. Her body never reacted like this either.

"This is all your fault Rafe. " she muttered, and the stranger looked amused. Rafe, however, didn't.

"Shadow, I would like to introduce you to my liege. Shadow deAngelo, Damion deSalvatore. " he said through gritted teeth, and she frowned. Wonderful. The Crown Prince of the entire Otherworld was standing before her, and she was acting like a nitwit. Then the tone of Rafe's voice sank in, and she shot him a fulminating glare.

"You don't sound thrilled Rafe. You practically offered me up on a silver platter to our esteemed Prince last night, yet you sound pissed right now. " she asked, one silver brow uplifted, and he had the grace to flush.

"I knew you would cave in, angel. It was an empty threat. " he said, and she took a step towards him, eyes narrow and rapidly darkening, shifting towards violet. Before she could take another step, however, the Crown Prince spoke.

"Being offered up to me is a threat now? My reputation seems to be slipping. " he drawled, and she whirled to face him.

"You arrogant shit! " she exclaimed, and he smiled lazily at her. She felt that smile down to her toes.

"Shadow, sweetheart, you forget who you're talking to. " Rafe warned, and she turned to face him with a snarl. It was all too much. First Rafe sent a messenger asking her to do something that she had given up to save her soul and sanity, then he showed up and seduced her into agreeing. Now she was experiencing all these hot, shivery feelings that were caused just by standing before this beautiful, arrogant man called Damion deSalvatore.

"That's all right Rafe, I like a sharp tongued woman. It's so much sweeter once I have them purring in my bed. " Damion said, and she flushed scarlet.

"Damion, I wouldn't if I were you. " Rafe warned, and his Prince smiled lazily, reaching out and snaring a lock of bright silver hair that had come lose from its customary knot.

"You will purr for me, Little One. Tonight. " he said, and she completely lost her temper. With a growl of pure fury, she leapt for his throat. He caught her around the waist, and let out a shout of startlement when she buried six inches of steel in his shoulder, dropping her to the ground. She bounced to her feet, pulling another dagger from the sheath concealed beneath the her long sleeved tee shirt, and would have thrown it, but Rafe tackled her to the ground, pinning both wrists above her head. Damion dropped down next to them, a grim smile touching his mouth.

"My what a temper. She'll do for the job. " he said coolly, and she stilled, her gaze returning to its normal indigo color.

"That was a test? " she asked, and he nodded.

"And you passed with flying colors, Little One. " he said, motioning to Rafe to let her up. The Rogue eyed them both warily before doing so.

"That wasn't the smartest thing you've ever done Damion. She could have easily killed you. " he said, helping the halfbreed to her feet. She dusted herself off and glared at both of them. "You are a fool Princeling. " she spat, and grabbed her suitcase. Rafe grabbed her arm.

"You're tired angel. Let me show you to your room. Take a nap for a few hours, and then we'll discuss things like rational creatures. " he said soothingly, shooting Damion a fulminating glare. She started to protest then fell silent. She was very tired, as it had been a long trip to Rafe's home. A nap might restore her balance. She would give anything to be able to tell the two vampires to go to hell, but she had promised Rafe she would take up the shadow arts one more time, and she never broke her promises. She allowed him to lead her upstairs.

_ _ _

She woke in the darkness, knowing that she wasn't alone, and reached for the knife under her pillow. A hand pinned her wrist to the bed before she could get the hilt in her hand, and a feeling of déjà vu washed over her.

"Rafe? " her whisper was loud in the darkness, and her visitor laughed softly. Not Rafe.

"Hello Little One. I know you were hoping for Rafael, but you're stuck with me. " Damion's voice was as soft as her own, and she yanked at his hold on her arm.

"Let me go. " she hissed, and he rolled her onto her back, straddling her hips. She stilled at the feel of his naked flesh on her own.

"I promised to make you purr. " he said by way of explanation when she gazed up at him in confusion, and she swallowed hard. This was not happening.

"I know your history, Little One. I know who has owned you, and some of what they have done to you. I know that before last night you have never received pleasure. " he murmured, sliding his fingers through her hair, pulling the jet pins that secured the tangles mass free.

"What of it? " she asked, trying to work up the energy to pull her head away from his long fingers, trying not to whimper with the pleasure of his touch.

"Your target, the one that we need you to kill, is Joaquin. " he murmured, fisting his hands in her hair, pulling her head up. She froze, her breath trapped in her throat as the enormity of what he had just said slammed through her.

"No, no. Come back to me. " he said very softly, lowering his mouth to her skin, tracing the outline of her lips gently. She shoved him back, scrambling out from beneath him.

"No! I can't go after him! He almost destroyed me once, I can't allow him another chance to try again. " she cried, and Damion reached for her, slipping his arms around her waist, holding her against him, her back against his front.

"He has my sister, Little One. I need him destroyed, and you're the only one that can do it. You know him, know what he is capable of. " he murmured softly in her ear, stroking his hand down her belly, over one long thigh.

"I need you to help us, help me. " he said softly, the arm around her waist moving, his hand sliding upward to cup one round breast in its palm.

She shuddered at his touch, tried to fight off the desire that was rising with intoxicating speed. " "Why are you here? " she managed, needing to hear his answer, wanting it to be something other than what it was.

"Because I want you. I've heard tales of you over the centuries, studied you the past three months. And I saw you standing beside Rafe this afternoon, so small and fierce, and knew that I had to have you. " he said, sliding his hand between her legs, feeling her heat. She moaned, very softly, and he smiled against her hair.

"But why? Why do you want me? I'm nothing like the women you sleep with. I'm short, and scrawny and my face- " his hand cupped her jaw, turned her face to his.

"No. " he said quietly, and then his mouth was sealed over hers.

Heat. That's all her world was. His lips moved on hers fiercely, possessively, his tongue delving into the honey cave of her mouth. The hand between her legs moved, and she cried out as his fingers delved inside her, stretching her, pleasuring her. His hand moved from her hair to her breasts, long, slender fingers toying with the delicate silver rings that pierced her flesh, and she went wild in his arms. She could feel him lying hot and heavy against the small of her back, and she reached around, taking him in her hand.

Shadow pulled away from him abruptly, and he drew her back, his ebony eyes silvered as he gazed down into her face.

"What's wrong? " he asked, and she laughed breathlessly before replying.

"You're too big. It's not going to fit. " she managed, and he chuckled, nuzzling her throat.

"I promise it will fit. Kiss me again. I can't get enough of your mouth sweeting. " he murmured, and she sighed as his fingers moved inside her, whimpering as his thumb found her clit. She kissed him, sliding her tongue into his mouth, tasting him as he had tasted her. Abruptly, he released her, his hands on her hips, turning her and laying her back on the bed.

"I can't promise to be gentle. " he warned, and then he was sliding inside her. She whimpered at the pain of him stretching her, moved restlessly against the sheets beneath her. His hands locked on her hips, tilting her pelvis up, holding her still as he thrust all the way inside her. Her head twisted against the pillows as he filled her uncomfortably full, and then her was sliding out, almost completely out, her sex like a wet, velvet glove closing around him as he thrust home. He reached between their bodies, his fingers gliding over the slick nubbin of pierced flesh between her legs, and she moaned, shuddered as he drove her towards orgasm.

"Wrap your legs around me, Shadow-mine. " he instructed, and she scissored those long legs around his hips, her arms sliding around his shoulders as he lowered his body to hers.

His mouth covered hers once more, his tongue thrusting in her mouth like his cock thrust into her sex below, and his arms slipped under her, hands gripping her shoulders.

"Come for me. I want to watch you shatter. " he whispered, pulling her down upon him, her hips twisted, rose, and her short nails dug into his back, scratching as he drove her to the edge- and then over.

She screamed his name- "Damion! " and stiffened in his arms, her gaze locking with his and blind as she shattered into a million pieces. He held her as her orgasm tore through her, feeling her body shudder and shake in his arms. And then he was thrusting hard, not giving her anytime to rest, driving her back up to that peak with him.

"Now! Come Now! " she cried, her legs tightening, pulling him deep, and he exploded, her name on his lips as his seed spilled inside her belly.

They collapsed together, Damion pulling her into the circle of his arms, pushing her hair out of her face and kissing her forehead tenderly. Shadow curled into his embrace, head pillowed on his shoulder, one long leg draped across his hip. He smiled down at her, his eyes still faintly silvered, and she looked up at him warily.

"I knew it would be like this. " he said quietly, and one silver eyebrow lifted.

"Hot. Perfect. I knew it the moment I saw you, heard your voice. " he murmured, and she laughed shakily.

"I want you again and again and again. " he confessed, and she sighed.

"I don't think- " he cut her off with a shake of his head.

"No, don't deny me right now. Later, maybe, and I'll try and talk you out of it, but not now. There's enough on both of our plates to deal with. " he said, and she sighed, but said nothing. He held her close, and they both drifted of for a few hours of much needed rest.