Turning to walk around Declan, Aria found her nose meeting the hard wall of a solid male chest.
Ow! Shoving back against the offensive obstruction, Aria scowled up, even as she felt the tingling on her skin intensify.
Apologies, little one. The barest hint of a smile played across the lips of the man who had caught her wrists in his hands.
Aria felt her breath catch. Damn it, was the universe trying to torment her today? First Declan, now this gorgeous creature, whose fingers were hot around her wrists.
Nearly as tall as Declan, his skin was a golden brown that gleamed under the pale lights of the bar. His hair was the color of bittersweet chocolate, and his eyes only a fraction lighter.
She could tell that he was something more than human, but she couldnt say whatthough she ruled vampire out of the equation.
He wasnt nearly pale enough. Also, she could see puncture marks on the cords of his neck, ones that shed often had herself after a night with Declan.
Holy hell. What were the chances?
Aria backed up a step, looking from Declan to the other man and back again. Declans expression told her that he was waiting for her reaction.
Aria, this is Adam Patel. With the hand not clutching his cane, Declan reached out to run a hand over Adams biceps in much the same way as he had touched Arias cheek only moments earlier. Adam is a werewolf.
And a guy who needs a drink. Adam smiled at Declan, and the intimate curve of his lips, the puncture marks on his neck, the flush on Declans cheeks told it all to Aria. Let me buy you a drink, little one, to apologize for almost breaking your nose.
No, thank you. So Declan had a new love. Well, that was fine. She certainly hadnt been a saint in the years since theyd parted.
But she was unsettled by the heat that crackled between them still...the heat that pulsed among all three of them.
Never again. She couldnt feel hurt like she had when Declan had gone again. She didnt think shed be able to survive.
Im going now.
Stubborn as always. This was Declan, but his voice held exasperation instead of amusement. From the corner of her eyes Aria saw the two men exchange a glance.
This is the one? Adams voice was quiet, but he didnt seem to be trying to hide his words.
She always has been. Declan spoke in barely more than a whisper, and Aria wondered if shed heard right.
Rubbing her hands over her face with embarrassment, Aria wondered if there was a graceful way to exit a situation like this.
Dont leave yet. Though Adam was a stranger to her, something in his expression as he smiled down at her pulled at her in a way similarand yet kinda differentfrom the way she felt when Declan looked at her. Id love to spend time with the woman Declan speaks so highly of.
That was enough. Arias nerves snapped.
Why on earth would you want to spend time with your lovers ex? She wasnt bitter, not exactly, but she was certainly perplexed. Shed thoughthopedfor a brief moment when Declan had said hed come for her. Hoped that there was some way to erase the past and find her happy ending.
He had found someone new. It was his right. But since she knew he couldnt have come back just for her, it seemed like a slap for him to come to her, to tease out these feelings that shed thought were long buried.
It angered her to have them brought to the surface. Turning to Declan, she drilled her finger into his chest.
You have a lot of nerve, coming in here to proposition me when your lover is barely out of earshot. Declan blinked as if shed managed to catch him off guard, and she felt the same surge of satisfaction that she once had when shed managed to do the same.
I wasnt trying to proposition you. His voice was mildly amused, and as Declan exchanged yet another glance with Adam, Aria felt her cheeks begin to burn with mortification.
Had she read the entire thing wrong? Was she burning up for him while he felt nothing?
Heart in her throat, she took a step toward the door. Her upper arm was caught in the cool grip of a vampires hand, and then she found herself hauled against the unyielding chest of the same.
Something told me to come here this week. I think you know me well enough to know that I wouldnt have come if the tug came just from you.
Shed already known that, but hearing it from his lips stung. She glared.
I had to see you, because I knew if I didnt, I wouldnt be able to get you out of my mind. But I find that I like where your minds gone. The words were dark, hot.
Aria saw the intent in his eyes. She felt like she could protest, but didnt have to work very hard to quiet it.
She wanted the kiss. She wanted it bad.
When Declans lips met hers for the first time in three years, she felt as though shed had the wind knocked out of her. He blew cool air between her lips, giving her his breath, before he deepened the soft brush of lips and claimed her mouth with a possessive nip on her lower lip.
Aria moaned as Declans tongue traced the seam of her lips, then slid inside to dance with her own. She stiffened, fighting it, before her body took over and she wrapped her arms around his chest as his fist tangled in her hair, tugging gently.
Then, as quickly as it had started, the kiss ended. Declan released her and stepped back, leaving Aria panting and needy.
I think we all might get along. Declans words were thick. With heavy lids and swollen lips, she looked up at him, then at Adam, who stood nearby, watching them with hunger evident on his face.
You mean... He couldnt. It wasnt unheard of in the supernatural community to have more than one partner at once. But when theyd been together, theyd been so consumed by one another that it hadnt been a consideration.
No. No way. This was the worst idea on the face of the planet.
But...she was burning, badly. The idea of having not just Declan, but both men sent power surging through Arias veins, crackling into magical energy in her fingertips.
If Adam was there too, then how hard could she fall for Declan again? His new lovers presence would be a constant reminder to keep her guard up.
She was so hot, the ache between her thighs growing so that the thought was enough to convince her. She would enjoy her time with them, enjoy the mind-blowing sex that she knew Declan was more than capable of.
Then shed go back to her normal life, the way she always did. It hardly seemed fair, but that was just the way things had to be.
All right. She was sure that she was imagining the flash of triumph that she saw in Declans eyes.
No matter what he said, she couldnt believe that hed come back here just for her. No doubt running into one another was just a coincidence that hed taken advantage of.
Well, she was going to take advantage right back. Here was a manmen, actuallywho werent afraid of her. She didnt have to hide any part of herself, and that was something rare.
Smiling slowly, sensually, Aria licked her lips and looked first at the familiar face of Declan, then at Adam, the face she didnt yet know by heart.
Where are you staying?
Chapter Two
Declan felt his fangs prickling through his gums as soon as Aria acquiesced. As it always had, the submission borne from her strength was a heady rush.
But he also got a jolt of energy as she spoke, and he knew that her decision had clicked something new into the future. Hard as he tried to reach for it, he still couldnt see what it was.
Were staying in the motel across the road. Declan looked at his lover, saw anticipation on Adams face. It made shivers dance up and down Declans spine.
He was about to be with the only two people who had been able to reach past the feelings that had been frozen so many years ago, when hed turned. The very thought made his cock hard.
But as they stepped outside the bar, and the noises of the jukebox and the chatter of the inebriated faded into the night air, another blast of energy pushed against him, this one strong enough to shove him back a full step.
What the fuck? Declans injured leg dragged on the ground as he righted himself, instantly shoving Aria behind him as he pulled the hidden sword from his cane.
Declan! Arias voice was a growl as she shoved back at him. In his peripheral vision he saw blue light crackling from her fingers, knew hed startled her enough to activate her magic.
From behind them Adam growled, and though he didnt shift, Declan saw the other mans hair stand up on end.
What is it, Dec? Adam sniffed the air and looked puzzled. Im not getting anything.
Aria looked between the two men, suspicion painted over her face.
I dont know. After a long moment, Declan straightened and let his muscles relax. Adrenaline still pumped through his cold fleshhe didnt understand what had just happened.
Ive never felt anything like that before. It was the jolt that happens when I get a premonition, but it was...stronger. Way stronger, he though with a trickle of unease. Almost sentient.
And now it was gone.
Dec? Aria eyed him warily. He wondered if she knew shed fallen into the old habit of shortening his name.
Whatever it was, its gone now. Declan caught Adams eye and understanding passed between them. They would discuss what had happened later, and in the meantime they would be wary.
But the danger seemed to have passed, and with it Arias resolve. He could see the need to flee skittering over her skin.
Aria. He deliberately layered his voice with the dominance that shed once responded to.
Dont pull that shit with me, Declan. She looked at him sharply, her features twisted into an irritated scowl.
Im not doing anything besides being myself, Aria. He softened his voice, aware of Adam standing on Arias other side. She seemed to become of aware of it too, and shivered. And a moment ago you wanted me, wanted us. Are you backing down?
He watched as her spine stiffened, as hed known it would when he dared her. He saw the pulse that beat beneath the line of her jaw increase. He struggled to keep himself in control, when the sight mesmerized him, fragile butterfly wings beating beneath translucent skin.
He remembered what she tasted like. He wanted to taste her again.
Im not backing down from anything. Her voice would have seemed controlled to most, but Declan heard the slight breathiness of arousal. Lets go.