Luxure_The Cardinal Brotherhood Book One Read online

A journey to stay alive.

  10

  SIRENA

  I wake up to the sunlight streaming through the windows. I’m disorientated at first in unfamiliar surroundings with a large, heavy arm draped over my waist. I can see the unmistakable New York skyline through the blinds and am flooded with memories of the night before, and of the earth-shattering revelations that have rocked my world. I take a moment to find my bearings, trying to make sense of it all. The rational part of my brain is in overdrive, completely overwhelmed by everything that’s happening. Everything I thought I knew, that I believed to be true… is a lie. Everything I thought was a lie… is true. I should be freaking out right about now, having a meltdown. But instead, I find myself feeling utterly content in the arms of a man who should terrify me. A demon in the flesh, and a man who makes me feel so safe that I am willing to take on whoever and whatever comes our way. I can’t explain it, and I know it’s not the logical thing to do, but there are times in your life when you need to trust your gut, and my gut is telling me that I’m meant to be here with him. We’re destined for whatever is about to happen.

  My phone starts to vibrate on the nightstand—it’s my dad. I have to talk to him. I need to know why he kept all of this from me. I need to see him. I slowly slide out from under Lux’s arm, grab my phone, and head into the bathroom. “Hi.” I have so much to say, but I don’t know where to start.

  “Hi, sweetheart.” Just the sound of his voice has me struggling to fight back the tears. “Are you okay? You’re not at your apartment.”

  “Dad… I know.” The line goes quiet. I start to think I’ve been disconnected when he speaks.

  “I’m so sorry, Sirena. I never wanted you to find out this way.”

  “How did you want me to find out that you’re an angel? Or that I’m half-angel? When were you planning on telling me?”

  “Sirena. I think we need to talk. I have a lot to tell you about who you are, and I can’t do it over the phone. Where are you?”

  “New York.”

  “New York? Why New York? How did you get there?” His voice is fraught with worry, but I find myself suddenly unable to contain my anger.

  “Why should I tell you? You didn’t think to mention the fact that I’m super-freaking-natural. My whole life is a lie.”

  “That’s not true. Please, give me a chance to explain.”

  “You needn’t bother. Lux has explained everything to me.”

  “Luxure Zonder is not to be trusted, Sirena. Tell me you’re not with him. You don’t know who you’re dealing with.” I’m shocked by his audacity to sound annoyed.

  “You mean the demon, Lust? I know who he is because he was honest with me which is more than I can say for you.”

  “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. There are things you need to know now that the Vollstrecker are on their way to Earth.”

  I hear rustling noises coming from the bedroom. Lux must be awake. “I need to go, Dad.”

  “I’m coming to New York. I need to tell you everything.”

  “Are you going to jump?”

  “How do you know about that?”

  “Lux jumped us to New York.”

  “He did what? How could he be so stupid? He put you in even more danger.”

  “Stop it! So far, he’s the only one who’s been honest with me. I’ll trust that he knows what he’s doing.”

  “Trust? I’m your father, Sirena. I’ve protected you your whole life. And now you trust some demon over me?”

  He’s making me angry. I can feel it bubbling up inside of me when he questions Lux’s ability to keep me safe, my instinct to be protective of him is growing with every moment we spend together. “Are you coming or not?” I can’t control the curt tone of my voice. He’s the last person I want to see right now. He’s lied to me since the day I was born. He has broken my heart.

  “I’ll get the first flight out. I can’t jump the way he does. I’m one of the fallen. I was stripped of that ability a long time ago. And even if I could, I wouldn’t right now. We can’t draw attention. I’ll be there tomorrow.”

  “I won’t be here. Lux and I are leaving today. His brother has arranged for us to go to a safe house while they come up with a plan to keep us safe.”

  “You can’t go with him. Listen to me, I beg of you. The Vollstrecker are looking for him. At this point, they still don’t know you exist. You need to keep it that way. You need to get as far away from him as possible.”

  “I can’t do that, Dad.”

  “Why not? You hardly know him. He’s dangerous.” My hands are buzzing with a rush of rage.

  “Because I trust him. I can feel it. We met for a reason, and whatever is coming our way, we’re supposed to face it together. Call it fate, destiny, a hunch, or sheer stupidity, but I have to follow my gut. And my gut is telling me that Lux and I are connected in some way.”

  “This is a mistake. You need to wait until I come and explain everything to you.” The growing anguish in his voice softens my anger toward him ever so slightly.

  “I can’t. I have to go. I’ll send you an untraceable phone with my new number programmed in.”

  “At least tell me where you’re going.”

  “I think it’s safer if you don’t know.” I hear footsteps coming toward the door, and my name whispered in the air sending a shiver through my body. “I have to go, but I’ll talk to you soon. I have so many questions, and I think you owe me some honest answers.”

  “Wait…” The doorknob turns.

  “Goodbye.” I hang up just as the door opens, and there before me is the most stunning sight I’ve ever seen in my life.

  Lux is standing in the doorway wearing nothing but a low-slung pair of jeans. Tight on his thighs and hugging all the right places. His hair is messy but flawless, his eyes stunning in the morning light. The violet hue seems softer than usual. His arms are folded across his chest as he leans against the door jam, his corded muscles showcased to perfection. “Good morning, Sirena.”

  I realize I’m practically drooling by the amused look on his face, and I’m crouched in the corner of the bathroom like a crazy person. “Morning.” It’s all I can manage. I’m mesmerized by the intricate tattoos that cover his arms and torso. Each one a masterpiece complementing his sun-kissed golden skin, black lines weaving their way around his body, highlighting every muscle. I don’t know about a demon, but his body is most definitely made for sin. He is incredible to behold.

  “Are you okay? Are you not feeling well?”

  I scramble to my feet. “No, no. I’m fine. I didn’t want to wake you. My dad called.”

  “Did you tell him where we’re going?” Concern mars his flawless features, and I know I made the right decision.

  “No. I thought it better for him and us if I didn’t.”

  “Good girl.”

  I stare up into his eyes, my body so painfully aware of his proximity. I can see he feels it, too, his jaw clenching as I take a step toward him. He follows my every move never taking his eyes off of mine. Without a word, I reach out and trace the lines of his tattoos. His skin is warm and soft, yet hard as stone beneath my fingertips. A current courses through my body causing me to shudder like an electric shock that doesn’t stop, and I don’t want it to. It’s both painful and pleasurable in equal measure. I hear his breath hitch, and I follow his gaze to the tattoo on his left wrist. It’s no longer black. It’s bright white as if the ink has turned into beams of light shining from his skin. I watch as the light slowly creeps up his arm, across his chest, down his torso, finally enveloping his right arm. It is so beautiful. He is so beautiful. He looks like an angel, and I’m overwhelmed with the need to kiss him, to touch him, to feel him pressing down on me.

  “What the hell are you doing to me, Sirena?” His words are tender. A whisper.

  I barely recognize my voice as I reply, “I don’t know, but I don’t want it to stop. I want you, Lux.” My heart is pounding in my chest as he stares into my eyes s
earching my soul for any sign of uncertainty. He won’t find any.

  He closes the gap between us, his hand reaching out to caress my cheek. “Are you sure about this? We’re about to start a fight for our lives.”

  I place my hand over his. “I’m sure. I’m sure because we’re about to fight for our lives. I know that I’m meant to be here… with you, Luxure.” The minute I speak his full name, his eyes spark deep purple, intense, and even more luminous than the first time we kissed. He grabs my hand and leads me back into the bedroom. I can see the tattoos on his back continuing to shine brighter than the shards of morning light creeping in through the crack in the heavy drapes.

  “Do your tattoos always do this when you fuck a woman?” His fist tightens around my hand.

  “The only time this has ever happened was the moment I was created. These tattoos were emblazoned on me with the fires of the Underworld.”

  My heart is thundering in my chest making me short of breath. I feel like it’s about to explode out of my chest. “Why me?”

  He pushes me down onto the bed straddling me, stalking me, climbing up my body like a black panther. He doesn’t say a word dropping his lips to mine brushing against them in the faintest hint of a kiss. As his tongue darts out to lick the seam of my lips, I feel my body starting to react. My eyes begin to burn, and I know… they’re burning for him. He pulls back taking a moment to hold my gaze and marvel in the effect he has on me. “Why you? I should be the one asking ‘why me?’ You are extraordinary, Sirena. It’s as if you were made for me, but an angel could never be meant for a demon.”

  I curl my fingers into his hair guiding him back down to my lips kissing him once. “I’m no angel, Luxure.” Twice. “I don’t care what you are or what you’ve done.” Three times. “I don’t care what I am. I want you. In this moment… now.” His lips crash down on mine, and there are no more words.

  Every touch, every kiss feels like it’s sparking something inside me unleashing parts of me I never knew existed. I’ve always enjoyed sex. I take what I want when I want, and I make no apologies for it. But this is different. He understands my body in a way that no man ever has. His large warm hands caress my body with the lightest touch and yet he tears at my clothing with the vigor of a beast. It’s a heady combination, and I find myself submitting to him, something I have never done with a man. I’ve always been the aggressor. He brings out a side of me I can’t explain. I need to give him my body, to pleasure him, and to accept whatever pleasure he wants to give me.

  I watch in awe as he strips off his clothes with no regard for preserving them, his brute strength ripping the denim from his legs as if they were a piece of paper. He towers above me glorious in his nakedness. Unashamed and unabashed, he truly is the personification of lust. Everything about him is sexy, every part of his body made to give and receive pleasure. I can’t take my eyes off of him as he pulls his boxer shorts down my legs discarding them on the floor. Pushing my legs apart, he crawls between them taking his time to enjoy the sight of me quivering and wet for him. He glides his hand up the inside of my leg slowly making his way to my thighs and up toward the apex. He trails his fingers over me for just a moment working me into a frenzy before continuing his journey up the length of my body. As his fingers dance across my skin cupping my full breasts heavy with anticipation, it’s as if a thousand tiny needles are piercing my skin—almost painful, but utterly mind-blowing.

  “Oh God! Luxure.”

  “God has nothing to do with this, angel. This is all me.” His lips close around first one nipple and then the other sucking them to a hard point before biting down ever so gently, just enough to make me groan. “You like that.”

  “Yes! Fuck… yes!”

  He lifts his head with a delicious smirk on his face. “It wasn’t a question.” He dips his head back down kissing every last inch of my torso. “I can read your body like a book, Sirena… written only for me.” I never expected such tenderness from him—a demon—made with the sole purpose of seducing women. And yet, there is something inside of me that knows he’s speaking the truth. He believes every word that passes his beautiful lips. His sincerity is rivaled only by his strength. He grabs my legs throwing them over his shoulders before thrusting his impressive length inside of me in one hard, punishing move. “Holy shit! Sirena.”

  My body explodes, my back arching off the bed. He cups my ass holding my weight as he struggles to compose himself. He throws his head back roaring to the sky, his eyes on fire, his tattoos shining even brighter than before. “FUCK!” I reach out trying to grab onto him trying to ground myself as I feel my skin begin to burn. I dig my hands into his thighs, my nails ripping into his skin. He doesn’t flinch as his eyes find mine, and I can see the red of my eyes reflected in his. They are on fire… because of him… for him. “Sirena… your body.” I look down. My skin is glowing in stunning patterns curving around my breasts and down my chest. I know I should be panicking, but as he runs his fingers over the beams of light, I lose myself in his touch. “You are by far the most staggeringly beautiful being this Earth has ever seen.”

  I thrust my hips up forcing him to move. “Please, Luxure.” It’s all the encouragement he needs. He starts to move slowly at first enjoying every long, languorous thrust pulling out almost completely before plunging back deep inside me. It’s torturous and delicious building me toward what I know will be the most intense orgasm of my life. As he quickens his pace circling his hips in the most delectable rhythm, I find myself struggling to hold on.

  “Not yet, Sirena. Your orgasm is mine.” He pushes my legs down off his shoulders, spreading them around his body as he looms over me. I grab his hair in my fists pulling his lips to mine—ravenous for the taste of him. When his flesh connects with mine, the burning sensation dissipates leaving only pleasure. I’m intoxicated by the smell of him, the taste, the feel. Everything about him calls to me. He devours me with every lick of his tongue, his teeth nipping at my lips, my neck, and my breasts as he bucks wildly inside of me. I feel it building, evolving, becoming something more than sex. Something deeper. When I can’t take it anymore, his voice is my undoing. “Now, angel! Come with me.”

  My body shatters into a million pieces—diamonds sparkling in the morning sun as we crash over the edge together screaming each other’s names between kisses. Our bodies are fused together, our souls entwined in this one transcendent moment. Space and time cease to exist leaving only the sensations coursing through our bodies. The shockwaves finally subside, but I remain locked in his embrace as he continues to rain feather-light kisses down on my lips trailing the length of my neck. I try to take a breath, my body limp and boneless, but… I can’t.

  My eyes fly open as I gasp for air, my lungs tight and painful. Lux continues to kiss my neck oblivious to my plight. I start to panic frantically clawing at him to stop. I can’t talk, I can’t plead with him to help me. When he finally looks up, his eyes are wild with worry. “What’s wrong?” I continue to gasp. I watch in fear as his mind works overtime before taking a deep breath. His mouth descends on mine, not in a kiss, but to give me the air I need to survive. His eyes look pained as he takes in our surroundings, his head dropping in dismay. “Fuck.”

  My eyes scan the darkness. Nothing is familiar. We’re not in New York, and considering I can’t take a breath, my guess is that we’re not on Earth anymore. The realization chills me to the core, and I begin to panic expelling all of the air in my lungs, thrashing in fear against the warmth of Lux’s body. He grabs my face with his hands entreating me to calm down. He opens his mouth to speak, but no sound comes out. Pain and guilt flash across his features before he locks his lips with mine, giving me a second kiss of life before pulling me tight against his body. He gently touches his fingers to my eyes, a silent request for me to close them and trust him.

  In a flash, I feel the air around me, the sunlight shining on my face, but I’m too scared to open my eyes. My heart is racing so fast I think I’m going to have a heart at
tack. My body goes into autopilot forcing me to take a huge, painful breath as oxygen fills my lungs. I crumple. My usually calm exterior is destroyed. I’m completely drained of all strength, as I slump against Lux, his towering frame the only thing holding me up.

  “I’m a fucking idiot. What have I done to you?” He lifts me into his arms and walks over to the bed grabbing a sheet to wrap around me, but he doesn’t let go. He simply sits for a moment rocking me back and forth as I fall apart in his arms stroking my hair to calm my nerves. “Breathe, Sirena. Slow and steady. You’re okay.” I want to shout and scream. To ask what the hell just happened. To find out where we were, but all I can do is hold on. The way he makes me feel is the only thing I know to be true in my world right now. I have to cling to that if I’m going to make it through whatever is coming our way. “I’m so sorry, angel,” he repeats the words over and over again until I’m strong enough to silence him with a kiss. I have no words.

  After a few minutes, I can feel his hesitation. His body is straining for composure. “Sirena. Stop.”

  “Why? I need this. Please.” I move to kiss him once more, but he turns his cheek from me hurting me more than I can say.

  “I want to give this to you. So badly, but I’ve already put us in more danger. We need to get out of here—now.”

  “What? Why?”

  “I jumped twice with you while we were… connected. I’ve just raised the alarm for every supernatural being on the planet. The chances that no one picked up on us is slim to none, so we have to get out of here.”

  Just as he finishes talking, I hear Kade thundering down the hall. “LUXURE! What the fuck? Get your shit together. You need to split right fucking now!”

  Lux shouts back at him, irate and annoyed at himself. He quickly finds some clothes for us and leaves me to dress. “I’ll go and grab our stuff. Be ready in five.” He presses an anguished kiss to my forehead. “I will keep you safe. No matter what.” With that, he takes his leave pulling on his clothes as he walks out the door.

  My hands are shaking as I try to button my jeans. I have no idea what’s happening. I still don’t know who’s after us or what they want. When I manage to get my t-shirt and shoes on, I stuff my phone into my pocket and make my way out to the living room where Lux and Kade are shouting at each other. “You’re a fucking moron, Lux. How the fuck did you stay hidden for a thousand years?”