Pride of the Lion

Chapter Six

“He is free.”

Hades turned from the image in the mirror he was watching, a frown on his face. The Lady was closer to escape than he thought she’d ever get. Whenever he was distracted by more pressing business, she seemed to make headway.

“Good. We’ll give the lion time to bond with the female. It will make him more agreeable if he feels he has to protect her.”

“Are you sure? That didn’t work so well the last two times.”

Hades wondered why he put up with people doubting his strategy. It seemed that everyone around him was an imbecile. He understood these warriors and knew that their loyalty could be used against them. If they forged a relationship with their woman they would feel duty-bound to protect her. It gave them a weakness. One he could expose and manipulate for his own ends. “Are you questioning me?”

Luna shook her head and he could practically taste her fear. “No, my lord.” She bowed her head and stayed as still as a statue.

This was how it should be—all his minions fearing him, jumping to do his bidding. Soon the inhabitants of not only his world, but the earth as well would be his to command.

Luna stood before him, head bowed, looking every inch the seductive beauty. Only he could see the creature beneath when he chose to. Right now, he chose to see the image she projected and motioned her forward. “Come.”

Luna hurried forward and fell to her knees in front of him. Behind him and off to his left he heard Mordecai snort under his breath. He knew the warrior looked down on the other inhabitants of Hell and the way they bowed and scraped to Hades. The warrior was proud and thought himself above the other minions. That was fine, for now. When Hades was finished with him, he would make Mordecai bow and scrape and beg. It was something to look forward to.

“Leave us.” Hades waved a hand at Mordecai. The warrior had enough sense to bow and back out of the room. He was too smart not to pay some lip service to his new master.

When Mordecai was gone, Hades motioned to Luna. “Come here, my pet.” He motioned to the thick bulge in his pants. “I have a slight problem and you have such a talented mouth. When we’re done, you can tell me everything you’ve learned about the warrior and the writer.”

Luna’s hands were eager as she pulled down his zipper and released his cock. Then she closed her hot mouth around his thick shaft. Hades gripped her head and thrust deep, making her gag as she took his entire length. She made a slight sound of pain, which only served to fire his blood. He liked some pain with his pleasure, as long as it was his partner’s pain. He pulled his cock back and drove deep again, fucking her mouth hard and fast.

Leander didn’t like seeing Araminta upset, but there wasn’t anything he could do about it. He considered himself lucky that she wasn’t screaming for help or calling the authorities. Not that he could allow her to do either, but it was a sign of her courage that she did neither.

Her skin was so soft, her body conforming to the much harder lines of his as he leaned forward. He could smell her arousal, but it was tinged with the bitter scent of fear. He gave a low growl and nuzzled the curve of one of her spectacular breasts.

Her hands were on his shoulders, but they weren’t pulling him toward her. They were trying to push him away. He swallowed his disappointment and raised his head.

Her lips, swollen from his earlier kisses, were damp where she’d licked them. Her eyes were wide and slightly glazed with passion.

Leander gave a growl of pleasure and started to lower himself again. Settled between her thighs as he was, he could feel the dampness of her pussy against his chest. His cock was harder than a metal spike. One touch of her soft hands and he would come.

“Wait.” She pushed again and he growled louder. She quivered beneath him and fear filled her eyes. He wanted to roar his displeasure to the world.

“What is it?”

She licked her lips again and he almost pounced on her. If she did it again he wouldn’t be responsible for his actions. The animal within him was riding too close to the surface. The lion wanted to claim his mate and so did Leander.

“We shouldn’t be doing this.”

“Why not?” A horrible thought occurred to him. “Do you have a mate?”

“What?” Araminta appeared confused and she shook her head. “No. I don’t have a husband.”

He gave a purr of satisfaction, leaned forward and nuzzled her exceptional breasts again. “Then what is the problem?”

She grabbed him by the hair and tugged until he looked at her again. He sighed and resigned himself to talking when he’d much rather be stroking her silky skin and tasting the sweet cream between her thighs. He raised an eyebrow in question and waited.

“Shouldn’t we be going? I mean, Hades and his minions are probably here in the hotel. I don’t want to be a TSTL heroine.”

He frowned, trying to understand what she was saying. “TSTL?”

“Too stupid to live.” She gave an exasperated sigh. “You know, the heroine in a novel who takes the time to make love to a total stranger even though the devil himself could come through the door at any moment.”

Totally chagrined, he leaned back. The worst part was she was absolutely right. They needed to get out of here as swiftly as possible. “I could make it quick.” He couldn’t quite squelch the hopefulness in his voice.

Araminta burst out laughing. “You are totally incorrigible.”

“Two minutes,” he promised. He was so ready to come it wouldn’t take any longer than that. “I’ll take much longer next time.” His voice became a low growl. “I promise.”

He reached between her spread thighs and lightly brushed her clit. She almost shot off the bed.

“You’re close too. I can make you come.” He pulled back and buried his face between her thighs, not wanting to give her time to think, to object.

His roughened tongue found the sweet bundle of nerves at the apex of her sex and curled around it. This time, when she tugged on his hair it was to pull him closer. He wanted to roar with pleasure but settled on teasing the sensitive nub with his tongue, licking it, flicking it.

She rolled her hips toward him and tightened her thighs around his head. “Leander.” His name on her lips almost made him come right there and then. He knelt on the bottom of the mattress and lifted Araminta, sliding into her in one quick stroke.

Her pussy clamped around his cock and she screamed. Her vaginal muscles rippled around his shaft and hot, silky cream bathed him as she orgasmed. Leander gritted his teeth, pulled back until only the head of his cock was barely inside her and drove inward again. She felt better than anything he’d ever experienced.

He wanted it to last forever but knew he was done for. Two more strokes and he came.

His orgasm started low in his balls, shot up through his shaft and out through the tip. He bit his bottom lip to keep from roaring with pleasure. That would probably wake everyone on the hotel floor and bring someone, probably hotel security, knocking on the door.

He didn’t know how long the pleasure lasted before he collapsed on top of her. He’d never felt so content in his life. He nuzzled Araminta’s neck, smelling himself on her. Possessiveness rose within him like a great, roaring beast and he knew in his soul there was no way he’d ever be able to let her go.

Araminta lay there, totally stunned and too spent to move. Leander hadn’t been kidding when he’d promised her it would only take two minutes for them both to come. Normally she was lucky to have an orgasm after a lot of foreplay, and then it wasn’t always a guarantee. Two minutes was a personal record.

She shivered as she remembered the sensation of his tongue lapping at her clit. It was rougher than a regular tongue, like very fine sandpaper. It didn’t hurt, but it was certainly stimulating.

Her orgasm had hit so quickly she hadn’t had time to worry about whether or not they would even fit together. Leander was rather large, in all ways, and though intellectually she knew her body would stretch to take him, in reality she hadn’t been at all that certain his cock would fit inside her. But he’d slid into her like he was made especially for her. He’d filled her completely, stretching and dominating her in one stroke, her body teetering on the edge of pain. But she’d adjusted quickly and her twinge of fear and discomfort had quickly turned to pleasure.

His heart pounded against her chest and his breath fanned hotly over her neck. It was pleasant to lie here, spasms of pleasure spilling through her, their bodies still joined. But it was also stupid. They needed to get packed and get out of here.

A slow trickle of liquid rolled down between her butt cheeks and another worry shot through her. He hadn’t used a condom, and she hadn’t thought to ask him, her common sense lost in a fog of sexual excitement.

She’d just had unprotected sex with a complete stranger. An immortal warrior, if she believed him. Could this night get any more bizarre?

Yes, it could.

If he was telling the truth, Hades and his minions could find them at any minute. She shoved on Leander’s shoulders. “Get off me.”

He raised his head and his sleepy smile turned to a frown. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?” He gently eased himself off her. Without him covering her, she was totally naked and felt exposed and vulnerable.

She jumped out of bed and raced toward the bathroom. Before she could make it to safety, he was on her. He caught her shoulders and whirled her around. His eyes were filled with concern. “Araminta, did I hurt you?”

She shook her head, not wanting to discuss what had just happened. He’d rocked her world, shaken it to the very foundations. It wasn’t fair, really. He was only here for a day, and only if they both survived the next twenty-three or so hours. She had no idea what time it was.

“TSTL remember? I don’t want to be caught naked if anyone comes after you.”

He frowned and slowly released her. In the blink of an eye, he went from naked to wearing leather pants and boots. She knew she should be freaking out, but she simply didn’t have the energy. What was one more totally impossible thing after the night she’d had? And the night wasn’t even over yet.

“That’s a cool trick. But you’ll need a shirt too.” No way was he going through the lobby with his chest bare. They’d probably think he was one of the cover models from the convention, and perversely, she didn’t want any other women ogling him.

“I have to get dressed.” She backed away from him and hit the edge of the doorframe before slipping into the bathroom. She shut the door and fumbled for the light. It was too bright after the darkness of the bedroom and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust.

The woman in the mirror was tousled, her hair falling in tangled waves over her shoulders. Her eyes were glazed, her lips moist. She looked totally debauched.

It was the wetness between her thighs that got her moving again. As much as she wanted a shower, there was no time. She made do with a sink of water and a washcloth. When she was clean, she grabbed her brush and dragged it through her hair. It didn’t take her long to braid the thick mass and toss her toiletries into their case.

No way was she going back into the bedroom naked. She grabbed a bath towel and wrapped it around her body. One last look around the bathroom assured her she wasn’t leaving anything behind. She opened the door to find Leander pacing in the small expanse of the room.

He stopped the second she walked in and stalked toward her. Araminta held her ground even though her instinct was to back away. There was something animalistic in the way he looked at her and in the silent, almost prowling way he moved. Which made sense considering his claims.

He cupped her face, leaned down and kissed her. Her fingers tightened around her toiletries bag and the material crinkled. His tongue stroked her lips and slipped inside but was gone before she could forget herself and do something stupid, like drag him back to bed.

“I will keep you safe.” His promise warmed her, but she also knew it was unrealistic.

“You’re not responsible for me.” If what he was saying was real, they were in for the fight of their lives. She pulled away from him and hurried to her suitcase. She tucked her toiletries bag inside and pulled out underwear, a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved cotton top. It was May and the nights were still very cool.

He clamped his hand down on her shoulder and whirled her around. Fury radiated from every line of his massive body. His lips were parted on a silent snarl, exposing rather large white teeth. “You think I cannot protect you?”

God save her from a man’s ego. “I’m not your responsibility. You have to watch out for yourself.”

“I will do both.” He drew himself up to his full height as he made his proclamation.

“Sure.” In her experience, people looked after themselves when the going got rough. Leander was a stranger. Why should he care what happened to her?

She darted around him and dropped her clothes on the bed. She grabbed her panties and tugged them on, being careful to keep the towel wrapped around her. Jeans and socks were next. She kept her back turned as she slipped on her bra and top. Tossing the towel aside, she turned and faced him.

He was standing with his arms crossed over his chest and a scowl on his face. Araminta did her best to ignore him and gathered the few remaining objects scattered around the room. She zipped her suitcase closed and set her tote bag and purse beside it. Her load was much lighter going home because all her promotional items and extra books were gone.

She’d have to contact Luna once the next twenty-four hours were over. At this point, Araminta wasn’t sure if Luna was a part of this madness or not. Her memory was a little iffy on what exactly had happened.

She could always plead a personal emergency as the reason for slipping out early from the conference. Having someone break into her home certainly qualified.

She grabbed her sweater from the chair where she’d tossed it earlier and slipped it on but didn’t bother to button it. She pulled the straps of her purse and tote bag over her shoulder and grabbed her suitcase. “I’m ready. I have to stop at the front desk long enough to hand in my keycard.” Thankfully, the room was paid for so it would only take her a second.

His frown deepened. “We should just leave.”

She shook her head. “I have to return the keycard.”

He looked as though he wanted to say more but kept his mouth shut. A muscle twitched in his jaw and she thought she might have heard his teeth grinding. She headed to the door but he was there before she could open it.

“Stay behind me,” he ordered.

“Conjure up a shirt, or something,” she shot back.

He narrowed his eyes, but a second later he was wearing a leather vest. It wasn’t a shirt or coat, but it was something. She bit her lip and decided it was better not to say anything. He didn’t look very happy with her at the moment.

He opened the door and glanced both ways. “Stay here until the elevator door opens.” He stalked down the hallway and hit the elevator button. When the bell chimed a few seconds later, he motioned to her. Araminta hurried down the hallway with her bags bouncing off her hip, dragging her suitcase behind her.

Leander didn’t like this, not one bit. His first instinct was to hustle Araminta out of here as fast as possible. But he was learning a thing or two about her and knew she was stubborn. He was also discovering he knew more about this world than he imagined. All kinds of information was stored in his brain from how to work the television in her room to what an elevator was.

He tried to appear confident, like he knew what he was doing, but this world was foreign to him in almost every way. He’d thought about using the stairs, not wanting to be trapped inside a small moving box. But he wasn’t sure Araminta could make it down the stairs with all her belongings, and he couldn’t help her carry them, needing to be ready to fight if any demons appeared.

He sniffed and nearly groaned as a whiff of her soap reached him. It was mixed with the sweet scent of her cream and his more musky, masculine smell. She might have washed, but she hadn’t done a thorough job of it. Deep within him, his lion gave a rumble of contentment.

Leander studied her as the elevator took them down to the lobby level. For a woman who’d had so much thrown at her tonight, she appeared calm and composed, not at all like the woman who’d dug her nails into his shoulders and clamped her thighs around his head to keep him from moving from her sweet pussy.

His cock flexed in agreement and he willed the unruly part of him to behave. She was right about one thing. They should have already left this place. It was dangerous for them to be here. By having sex with her to sate his physical needs, he’d put her in peril. It had been selfish of him, but he didn’t know if he could have done things any differently. The need to claim her had overridden all fear.

“Give me your key.” He held out his hand in expectation, but he should have known it wouldn’t be quite that easy.

“Why?” She held the small white card closer to her chest.

He sighed in mounting frustration. The next twenty-two hours or so were going to be extremely long if she fought him on everything. Still, he liked her independence and her spunk. He just hoped they didn’t get her killed.

“I don’t want you exposed to danger. You’ll wait in the elevator with the door open until I come back for you.”

She swallowed hard, her slender throat rippling. He wanted to stoke his lips over her pounding pulse, to soothe her fears, but knew he couldn’t. The threat was real. The faster she accepted that fact the better it would be for both of them.

She reluctantly handed him the plastic rectangle that opened the door to her room. The bell chimed and the doors silently slid open. Leander placed himself in front of her as the doors parted. Every muscle in his body tensed, and within him the lion paced and growled.

He took a deep breath while his gaze tracked all around the large area. He didn’t smell or see any demons. The coast was clear.

The lobby was fairly open with the elevators tucked into a dead-end nook. “Keep the doors open and watch for my signal.”

Araminta nodded and pressed one of the buttons on the brass elevator panel marked Door Open. Satisfied she was as safe as he could make her for now, Leander stalked toward the desk.

A single male sat tapping away on a long plastic board with keys. A computer, he reminded himself, his brain automatically conjuring up an image from memory. The man looked up as Leander approached. The man’s eyes widened and he swallowed hard, but he offered a tentative smile. “Good evening, sir. Can I help you?”

“We’re leaving early.” He tossed the keycard on the counter and turned away, his duty done. His senses were wide open, scanning for potential danger. There was only the human male here at the moment, but that could change at any time.

“Wait, sir. There’s paperwork to be signed.”

Leander whirled around and glared at the man. “Deal with it.”

He heard footsteps behind him and cursed under his breath. He should have known she wouldn’t stay where he’d put her. He caught Araminta’s arm and kept her next to him.

She smiled at the desk clerk. “I’m Araminta Davidson. The room has already been paid for. I have to go home early. A family emergency.”

The clerk’s gaze went from Leander’s hand where it was wrapped around her arm and back to Araminta. He reached for the phone. “Are you all right? Is there anything I can do for you?”

It didn’t take a lot of brains to know what the clerk was thinking. He thought Leander was coercing Araminta into leaving.

“Everything is just fine.” She patted Leander’s naked chest where the vest parted. “I’m giving him a ride home. It’s on my way.” She pushed her suitcase toward him. “Be a dear and carry this for me, will you?”

Leander wanted to keep his hands free for fighting but had little choice but to grab the handle and follow Araminta as she strode toward the front entrance of the hotel. He admired the sway of her curvy hips and the way the soft material of her jeans cupped her sweet ass.

He growled when she started to step outside and managed to shove her to one side and put himself in front of her. Streetlights lit the area. The coast was clear, the streets fairly empty. Only the occasional car passed by and several taxicabs were parked farther down the street.

It was quite a rush for him to be outside in the modern world, trying to match his knowledge to actual objects. The sounds of vehicles were continuous and the lights and colors brilliant. He took a deep breath, but his nose immediately wrinkled in disgust as it was assailed by the foul odors of gasoline and garbage. Still, he enjoyed the cool air brushing against his face and caressing his body. But there was no time for him to soak any of it in. He had to protect Araminta.

“My car is in the parking garage next door.” She waited patiently beside him, not trying to get past him. She rested her hand on his arm and gave it a squeeze. “I know this must be very overwhelming for you. You’ve been in captivity for so long.”

His lion roared within him. Did she think less of him for his captivity? He didn’t want her to see him as weak in any way. “I am fine. I am not without knowledge of your world.” He thrust her suitcase toward her. “You must take this. I need my hands free to fight.”

She wasn’t quite fast enough to hide the flash of hurt in her eyes. “Of course.” He wanted to curse and roar but did neither. She grabbed the handle and started to roll the suitcase behind her. “It’s this way.”

He stayed by her side as they hurried down the sidewalk and into the dark parking garage. The security lights were dim, but he didn’t need them in order to see perfectly. Cars were parked in long rows. There were plenty of concrete pillars and steel posts where anyone could conceal themselves while they waited to attack. Leander didn’t like this. Not one bit.

When he caught a faint whiff of sulfur and death, he thrust her behind him. “They’re here.”

The light in the distance was growing brighter and the voices louder and more distinct. Even though she knew it was safer not to draw any attention to herself, the Lady drew on some of her power to bolster her flagging strength.

Mordecai had been the first of the warriors released, but that had been decades ago. She’d been wandering this realm lost and alone ever since, searching for a way out. It made her legs weak to think she could actually be close to escape. But she didn’t allow herself to think beyond putting one foot in front of the other.

Energy hummed through her limbs and she all but threw herself to the top of the cliff she’d been climbing for what felt like weeks. She landed with a heavy thud on the hard ground but pulled herself to her knees. She had to be nearing the edge of Hell.

The perimeter between Hades’ realm and the Earth was like a solid steel wall, completely impenetrable. But there were a few places where there was a break, a crack, a small passageway between worlds. Most demons would never think to leave Hell, knowing Hades would discover their actions and punish them severely. Nobody left Hell without Hades’ permission.

And on the other side of the barrier, most humans would naturally shy away from the negative energy pulsing outward from such passageways. She didn’t know how safe it was to try to escape through one, didn’t know if Hades would send an avalanche of rock down to block her way at any moment, but she had to try.

Up ahead, the Lady could see light. She pushed to her feet and hurried toward the opening, running as fast as she could, her burst of energy flagging. She was weak but determined. She would escape Hell or she would die trying. The resulting blast of energy from her death would bring the other gods and goddesses of Hades’ pantheon running to see what was going on. One way or another, Hades would not succeed in his nefarious plan to take over the Earth and enslave humans.

She prayed this was not another deception by the dark god, a trap of some sort to break her spirit. The Lady didn’t know how much more she could take before despair swallowed her whole. The warriors had had one another to gain strength and comfort from these long years. She’d been totally alone.

She sensed someone near her but didn’t feel any threat from whoever or whatever it was. It was disconcerting to say the least, but she couldn’t afford to stop and investigate. Her window of opportunity was running out.

The tunnel was narrowing as it came to an end and she pushed forward, stumbling into the light. She cried out and threw her arms over her face to protect it. It had been more than five thousand years since she’d last seen any light at all, and even the mellow glow of the moonlight was too much for her to bear.

She fell to her knees and felt the cool moss and grass against her skin, the wind stroking her body like a lover’s caress. Tears spilled down her cheeks and onto the ground, which hungrily sucked the moisture in. Sweet-smelling violets immediately sprang from the salty drops. Their scent enveloped her and she smiled. She was home.

Hades felt the shift in his realm as the outer barrier was breached, and he threw back his head and roared. The walls around him shook and every demon raced for cover, including Luna, none wanting to bear the brunt of their master’s anger.

The goddess had escaped from Hell. How had that happened?

His senses flared and he searched for the rift, finding the tiny breach in the wall of his domain in a long-forgotten, dusty, abandoned corner of his realm. His fury sent rocks tumbling, collapsing the tunnel so no other could use it. Candlelight flared into mighty torches and illuminated everything around him. The mirror he used to see into other realms shook and rattled in its ornate frame.

“Mordecai!” He’d kill the warrior with his bare hands for allowing this to happen. “Mordecai,” he roared again. A nearby candle flared so high and burned so hot it scorched the rock ceiling and several goblets on a nearby table shattered with the vibrations of his anger.

“You bellowed, my lord.” Mordecai sauntered into the room looking like he didn’t have a care in the world. Luna ducked out behind him and disappeared from view. He hadn’t given her permission to leave. He’d deal with her later.

Hades was literally breathing fire as he stepped down off the low dais that held his majestic carved throne and approached his general. “How did this happen?”

Mordecai didn’t even pretend not to understand what Hades was angry about, which was the only thing that kept Hades from killing him instantly. “I was training your armies. You’re the one who made the deal with the Lady. I thought you had the situation under control.” Mordecai raised an eyebrow in question and Hades wanted to hit him and shatter every bone in the warrior’s face. He promised himself he would do so just as soon as his war was won.

He took a deep breath and calmed himself. Next thing his dear brother Zeus would be coming to see what all the commotion was. He was realistic enough to know that both his brothers had spies in his realm, but thankfully, none close enough to the seat of power to discover what was really going on. After all, he had spies in theirs. There was no love, or trust, between them.

“I would rather she’d stayed here until the battle was over, but it is of no consequence. She has no power now and is even weaker than my brothers.” Hades straightened the cuffs on his designer suit, in control of himself once again. His temper was his greatest weakness and it behooved him to control it, especially in front of one as cunning as Mordecai.

“How are the armies coming along?” Better to focus on what was important. The Lady of the Beasts had escaped into a world that no longer remembered her. She was powerless against him. The world belonged to him with its greed and violence. The only step left was for him to claim it. He listened with half an ear as Mordecai droned on and on about battle plans and tactical maneuvers. Who cared about such things? Maybe Ares, the god of war, but not Hades. All that mattered to him was the outcome.

In the meantime, he would test this new warrior who’d been set free from the curse and find out what the lion was made of. What were his weaknesses and strengths? Could he be easily bought or manipulated? It would also be a test of the female who was with him. She would probably be the weak link.

Women were always weaker. Just look at the Lady of the Beasts. She’d been easily beaten and imprisoned along with her faithful warriors. He conveniently disregarded the loyalty and bravery of the last two women who’d released Roric and Marko from their captivity. As far as he was concerned, they were nothing more than an anomaly.

He dismissed Mordecai and called on four of his best fighting demons. He gave them instructions, opened a portal, sent them through the utter blackness and shut it behind them. He didn’t think they’d be coming back. But that was of little consequence as long as he learned what he wanted.

He stalked back to his massive wooden chair and threw himself into it. He rubbed the smooth wood as he turned to the mirror and commanded it to show him the warrior and the human female.