Shameless Desire (The Outlawed Realm) Read online

  Down Gwen went, her legs unable to support her weight, her knees hitting the broken asphalt. She heard the crack of her bones, but the pain didn’t register, blunted by whatever flowed through her. A tranquilizer, she guessed. Although she tried to remain kneeling, her efforts didn’t last. She fell to her side even as her mind kept screaming run.

  Too late. Out of the shadows he came. A man she’d never seen before, hadn’t noticed, his build bruising with a thick neck, burly shoulders and arms. In the light bleeding from her street, Gwen could see his eyes were a light brown, his hair curly and black, his features and complexion not quite African-American or Indian but a mixture of races, the same as her.

  He grabbed her arm.

  Nooooooo.

  She fought to pull away, but her body refused to work. Helpless, she screamed, or tried; only a croak escaped.

  Grunting, he put his hand over her mouth, his fingers clamped so tight Gwen couldn’t bite him. Raw terror tore through her even as her lethargy increased. Was he going to rape her? Kill her? Both? Oh God, oh God, oh God. Her thoughts went in all directions, most of them bad, fueled by adrenaline. She pictured him slitting her throat once he’d finished his sexual assault, leaving her to bleed to death in a trash bin or an abandoned building, her body concealed so well it would be difficult to find.

  Aw shit. Her life couldn’t end like this. No fucking way. She had to fight. Come on, dammit. Do it.

  She tried so hard to move, her body broke out in a cold sweat. Perspiration mingled with the moisture on her face, stinging her eyes. Despite her efforts, Gwen couldn’t wag one finger. Lifting her arms was as impossible as flapping them and taking flight. Remaining conscious became an effort.

  With too much ease, the man dragged her down the alley. Her clothes rasped against the rough surface. Her shoes bounced. Tat-tat-tat, her rubber heels went. Tat—

  What’s that? Even in her drugged state, Gwen felt a deeper blast of cold to the left of them and heard a sucking sound that resembled a vacuum. Was it a vent? Leading to where? Why hadn’t she heard it all the times before when she’d taken this route? Why—

  What in the holy hell is that?

  She listened, hearing another low, menacing growl.

  The man stopped at the noise, then hurriedly pulled her toward the intense cold.

  The growl deepened, growing louder. Closer.

  The man muttered something in a language she’d never heard, couldn’t possibly understand. From the right came a snarl, followed by an animal bounding into the air, hitting the man square in his chest.

  His hands dropped away from Gwen. She sagged to the asphalt, straining to remain conscious, gaping at the animal attacking the man. Not one of the stray dogs she’d seen here before. It was larger, more dangerous, looking like a goddamned wolf.

  Teeth bared and bloody, it tore at the man’s face, cutting off his scream. Gwen heard his neck bones snap. Unable to keep her eyes open any longer, she allowed her lids to slip down, not wanting to witness the attack, terrified of what the wolf—or whatever the hell it was—would do to her when it finished with the man.

  Rain tapped her face. Each breath was a prolonged battle. She wanted to run. She would have given a year of her life to be able to scream.

  Quiet. She noticed it suddenly…the utter stillness of the night. How much time had passed? Was she still alive? Had she died and gone to some weirdo version of hell?

  Her mouth fell open, but no sound escaped as someone strong lifted her up. A guy, surely. A cop who’d happened upon this nightmare? A Good Samaritan? Had she lost consciousness without realizing it? Where had the wolf gone? Where was this guy taking her?

  Gwen’s hands flopped helplessly as he slung her over his shoulder, his forearm firm across the back of her thighs. With quick steps, he moved down the alley.

  Chapter Two

  Nikoli Zorr read the news story on his computer screen, his belly churning at the brutality of the attack. He recalled what Lukan had witnessed on E4 after he and Arez had escaped the Pleasure Palace and hid in one of the realm’s caves—a werewolf killing a subhuman, ripping it to pieces, feeding on its flesh. Sated and bloody, the thing stood on its hind legs and transformed into a human male. A common occurrence in that dimension.

  The savagery had now come to this realm, forcing Nikoli to acknowledge what he hadn’t been willing to accept before. The shadows that had followed Lukan and Arez through the portal were certainly E4’s guards and monsters. This murder was only the beginning.

  Running his fingers over his mouth, Nikoli reread the news story, abc.com’s version of events.

  The victim’s face was torn away…hands and feet gone…the man’s identity unknown…succumbed to his injuries…no suspects…authorities believe the attack was due to Purple Wave or Bliss bath salts…designer drugs more powerful than meth or cocaine.

  “Do you think that’s related to the girls who’ve gone missing?”

  At Regina’s question, Nikoli turned.

  She was dressed for bed in the shimmery green nightgown he adored. The lightweight fabric accentuated her luscious curves. Its color matched her eyes. She’d removed the hairpins from her shoulder-length mane, shaking it loose. The reddish ends grazed her fair skin and the nightgown’s straps. Her nipples—hard and erect—pressed against the silk.

  He wanted to bare them to his sight and touch, lick them, pushing her question and his uneasiness aside, but thought better of it. She lingered in the doorway to his office as though reluctant to come closer, her attention on his computer screen. It showed a photo of the bloodstained sidewalk where a group of Seattle University students had discovered the victim. At the time, the man was still breathing, clinging to life.

  “I hope not,” Nikoli answered. He closed the page and offered his hand.

  There was no hesitation in her response. There never was when it came to him, despite all they’d been through. She settled on his lap, burying her face in his neck. Nikoli sighed contentedly at her peaches-and-vanilla scent, her weight and warmth. He understood how lucky he was for moments such as this, because he’d already accepted that they might not last. The portals between their dimensions and the others had once again brought more trouble.

  She murmured, “The victim in that news report, he was one of the guards from E4, wasn’t he?”

  Nikoli rubbed her back. When that didn’t relax her, he cradled her closer.

  “Answer me,” she said, even as she snuggled into him. “Was it one of the guards?”

  He considered lying but wouldn’t, figuring she’d know. “Probably.”

  Regina fisted her fingers in his tee. “Why do you think the…the…”

  She couldn’t bring herself to say it, so he did. “Werewolves.”

  “God.” Air hissed through her teeth, tickling his neck. “Why do you think those things attacked the guard? Why not someone from this realm? I mean, if they’re hungry, then we’re all tasty to them, right? That’s what probably happened to those girls who’ve gone missing recently. Those things ate them. That’s why no one’s found their bodies.”

  Nikoli tightened his arms around Regina, soothing her as she shuddered. “I don’t think any werewolf harmed those girls.”

  “Then where are they? My God, there’s been six missing so far that the news organizations have reported on. What if there’s more? Seattle’s had its share of psychopaths, but even our usual crop of serial killers isn’t that prolific. It’s like two or three of them are operating here at the same time. Is that even possible?”

  “I don’t know. You’re the psychologist. I’m just a quantum physicist who designs household gadgets.”

  She pulled back and arched one slender brow, its reddish tint matching her bangs.

  He loved teasing her. It made all the other crap—escaping his home and heritage, keeping a low profile on this realm so her people wouldn’t discover him—unbelievably worthwhile. “Great household gadgets,” he added. “I saw those infomercials where Cher w
as demonstrating them. I know.”

  Regina laughed.

  Her joy fed his hungry soul. Whenever he died, whether it would be today because the guards found and killed him, or years from now if he were very lucky, he wanted her laughter to be the last thing he heard.

  Relaxing against him, Regina eased a lock of hair behind his ear. He wore it longish as she liked, with her trimming it as needed. No way could he risk going to a hair salon. If he was cut accidentally, the stylist might notice his blood was thicker, richer than others on this realm. His fingerprints were also a problem, so different from anyone’s on this side.

  Nikoli recalled the first time Regina had seen them. Her shock had saddened him, though not for long. Following it was her willing acceptance of everything he was and had been…everything he would be.

  He held her even tighter, needing to get as close to her as he possibly could.

  A sound of satisfaction poured from her. She spoke softly, as though someone might overhear. “Do you think that guard was hunting the, uh, creatures?”

  “Werewolves?”

  “Yeah, okay, that.” She slapped his shoulder. “Answer me.”

  “Fine.” He pressed his lips to her temple and cheek, so soft and fragrant he held back a groan of frustration at not taking her, at her wanting to discuss this. “I don’t believe he was hunting the creatures. I think it was the other way around.”

  “Seriously?” She turned her face to his. Their lips brushed with her words. “Why would they hunt a guard?”

  He heard her question but didn’t answer. Couldn’t. Not now. Her breath was clean and sweet, smelling of the minty toothpaste she’d used. Her nipple poked his chest. One of her nightgown’s straps had fallen over her shoulder, exposing more skin. It was dewy with youth and good health. A gentle tug and he’d have the garment pooled at her waist to reveal her full breasts.

  “Nikoli.” She ran the tip of her tongue across the seam of his mouth. “Answer me.”

  Was she kidding? “What was the question?”

  She kissed him lightly, then leaned back. “Why would those things be after a guard?”

  Who cared? He and she had this moment; that was all that mattered.

  Her lips were amazing, their pale pink color the same as her nipples. At thirty-one, she looked far younger than her years, despite the heavy burden he’d put on her by coming to this realm. At thirty-four, he felt older than the universe at times, having seen too much sorrow caused by the rulers in his realm. For millennia, they’d demanded objectivity and duty from their people, denying them the freedom of emotion, the vibrancy of life Nikoli had found on this plane. With Regina, he’d become youthful for the first time…joyous, capable of some measure of hope.

  He tilted his face to her chest, craving that snowy expanse of skin, the soft swells of her breasts.

  They trembled with her frustrated exhale of air. He wanted to play. She wanted an answer.

  At last, he said, “I’m just guessing, but it might be in retaliation for a guard harming one of their pack on E4. They are enemies there, you know.”

  “I do now. Wait.” She cradled his head to keep him focused on what she was saying, rather than her body.

  He frowned.

  She gave him one of her own. “How could they locate a guard among all the other people here?”

  “The usual way.”

  “Uh-huh. And that would be?”

  He huffed out a sigh. “They probably smelled him. A guard’s odor would be familiar to the creatures, the same as a condemned slave or one of the rulers that hunted the unfortunate man or woman in E4’s jungle.”

  “Then—”

  “Uh-uh. No more questions. Just this.” He pulled the front of her nightgown down, exposing her tight nipples.

  Her frown faded. However, she pulled back, clearly denying him.

  Nikoli’s hand stalled on her breast, his thumb no longer stroking her areola. He didn’t want to ask but wasn’t about to guess what was going through her mind. “You don’t want this?”

  “What?” She blinked as if coming out of a trance and seemed surprised he was fondling her. “Wait.”

  He held back a groan. “Sure…why?”

  “If those things recognized a guard’s smell, they would recognize yours, right? You’re from E2, like the rulers—oh my God.”

  He didn’t like the way she stared at him. “What?”

  “All the males in your dimension have the same coloring, features.”

  She ticked them off: the black hair, olive complexion, brown eyes, facial characteristics, powerful build. A uniformity in his race that ensured their superiority. Early on, E2’s scientists had manipulated their people’s DNA to produce the heartiest specimens, removing all variety and risk.

  Knowing where Regina was headed with this, Nikoli decided to joke. “I thought you like how I look.”

  “Adonis couldn’t be better. That’s not the point.”

  “Adonis?”

  She waved her hand as if his question bugged her. “A guy from Greek mythology. Handsome dude. A real hottie.”

  Nikoli gave her a wolfish grin. “You think I’m hot?”

  “Be serious.”

  He didn’t want that. Not tonight. There was time enough for trouble tomorrow.

  “I’m worried, okay?” she said, then added quickly, “If your features and physiology are identical to the other men on your plane, then your scent would be too.”

  To argue with her was futile, so Nikoli conceded with a nod, adding, “But the werewolves aren’t looking for me. I’ve done nothing to harm them.”

  “They don’t know that,” she countered. “You and Vakar could be twins, you look that similar. If he and the other SOB rulers hunted the werewolves on E4, the creatures might mistakenly think you’re him.”

  “That’s not possible.”

  “Why the hell not?”

  “Vakar’s older than I am.”

  Regina spoke through her teeth. “Fine. They’ll think you’re Vakar’s son—and don’t you dare tell me he hasn’t got one. The distinction’s going to be lost on a werewolf, all right? We have to do something.”

  “Right now?” Her fragrance was driving him crazy. His cock couldn’t get any harder. Tonight might be one of the few evenings they had left together. Nikoli didn’t want to waste it on fear. He increased his hold on her.

  She managed to wiggle out of his grasp. On her feet, Regina stumbled back a step, then righted herself. “Call Meelo.”

  Nikoli didn’t move. He figured Meelo and his mate, Damir, wouldn’t want to be bothered with bad news tonight any more than he had. They were genetic engineers who’d fled E2, the same as him. They’d brought Lukan to this plane to keep the rulers from exterminating him on E4.

  Clearly not ready to give up, Regina pointed at the cell phone on his desk. “Tell him what’s happening.”

  “What can Meelo do? He’s in Arizona with Damir and—”

  “I’m aware of that,” she interrupted. “But you can talk to him and Lukan. The three of you can decide what to do about the guards and the werewolves. You talk constantly about what you can do to rescue the pleasure slaves from E4. You can certainly talk about this.”

  Nikoli powered down his computer and stood. “Not tonight.”

  She frowned.

  Ignoring it, he swept Regina into his arms, pressing his face to her throat, smelling her hair. She resisted for a moment and then her body molded to his, her arm slipping across his shoulders. In spite of her response, he wasn’t about to believe this was the end of their discussion. All he could hope for was a delay.

  He carried her down the hall to their bedroom, the brass bed they shared. Its ivory comforter was pulled back, the pillows plumped, waiting for their use. Her shampoo and perfume scented the room, just as he liked, its colors autumnal, far different from the somber shades on E2. A gold-and-red-pattern rug lay beneath two crimson chairs that faced the large window. The sheer beige curtains didn’t entirely
hide the outside vegetation, the leaves blazing with fall colors—yellow, red, orange.

  How he adored it here. This space was his first real home, a place of comfort and passion, so unlike the sterile atmosphere, the oppressive calm in his realm. Nikoli recalled how often he’d watched Regina from the portal in his laboratory on E2 before taking a chance and crossing over. First, to save her from Andris and the other vampires. Finally, to remain and experience happiness.

  She couldn’t have looked further from contentment than she did right now.

  “It’s late,” he reasoned, the tip of his nose to hers. “Lukan and the others will be asleep. Arez needs her rest; you know that.”

  Regina’s expression changed, her concern turning to understanding, along with what looked to be envy. Or perhaps it was regret. Just last week, Arez and Lukan had told them the good news—Arez was pregnant. A miracle of sorts. Arez and the other female sex slaves were bred to be sterile so they’d never reproduce, leaving them available to service Vakar and the other rulers without pause in the Palace.

  Shortly after crossing over here, Damir had promised the young woman that she and Meelo would do everything within their power to reverse what the scientists had done to her. Now, Arez and Lukan had started their family.

  Nikoli knew Regina wanted a baby of her own but was afraid to try for one with him. There were still too many dangers from the other realms and this one. The two detectives, Sheehan and Goddard, continued to investigate the murder of Donald Bakshi, an inventor whose home Nikoli had brought Regina to in order to keep her safe from the vampires. Through a portal on E2, he’d seen Andris and the others murdering Bakshi, feeding on him. With the inventor’s home deserted, Nikoli thought it would be a safe place to hide Regina. During their investigation into Bakshi’s disappearance and death, the detectives had found her fingerprints in the man’s home, which raised their suspicions about her role in the killing.

  As those on this side would say—what a fucking bitch. He and Regina had managed to destroy the vampires, only to make her vulnerable to the authorities.