Becoming Briar Read online

  He turns and walks out the door, shutting it behind him.

  Not wanting to overanalyze the situation, I lock the door and put one of the big chairs up against the knob. I don’t want anyone else getting in that easily.

  Shuffling to the shower, I step into it and think about scalding hot water. Immediately, it pours from the air above me, coursing down my body, relaxing my muscles. I soap everything up and wash off. When I step out and dry off, I can’t get my clothes on fast enough, moaning through the soreness in all the muscles I have to use to put them on.

  I drag myself to the bed, groaning each step of the way, and fall face first onto the sheets, wanting to forget everything that happened today. My wrist no longer burns, and I can almost ignore the fact that I made a deal with a dark angel. That might come back to bite me in the ass later. I’m asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

  I open my eyes and find myself back at Drake’s house. Oh, thank God. Maybe it was an awful nightmare. I’m back in the den, but all the lights are out. I stand up, but the room shifts in slow motion, as if it’s not real life. Fuck, this is a dream.

  I’m about to plop back down on the couch when a noise sounds from the corner of the room. I drop my hands from my face and find Eli standing there. Surprise registers on his face, but what is more alarming is the state that he’s in.

  If I thought he looked rough that one time he begged for me to come and let him feed, I was wrong. He is almost unrecognizable. His eyes are dull, almost lifeless and black, instead of the beautiful sea green I could get lost in. His skin sags off his bones and looks frail.

  He moves in slow motion to me. “Rose, is that really you?”

  Standing up, I rush to him, wanting to wrap my arms around him. Doubt has me stopping before I touch him, afraid that any contact would cause him pain. “Yes, it’s me. Are you okay?”

  “Don’t worry about me.” He reaches out and touches my face. “Are you still in the Underworld? Are you injured?”

  How could he ask me not to worry about him? He’s been an ass since I met him, but this is a new side to him. Gentle, almost. I could get used to it. Hope flutters in my chest that maybe he realizes there is more to us, but despair replaces it when reality sets in that I could lose him if he doesn’t feed.

  “No, I’m not injured, but yes, I’m in the Underworld.” My eyes grow wet with unshed tears. “Is this because you haven’t been able to feed from me?”

  My heart breaks, taking in this version of him. He’s supposed to be strong, independent, and unbreakable. But right now, I’m afraid to touch him.

  A sad smile spreads across his face. “Don’t worry about me. We need to get you home. We all miss you. I’ll let them know that you aren’t hurt.”

  I take his hand and walk over to the couch, pulling him down beside me. “Well, we aren’t going to be able to figure this out if we lose you.”

  His eyes go to my neck. “I don’t know if I can feed in a dream.”

  Pulling my hair to the other side so my neck is unobscured, I tilt my head. “We won’t know if we don’t try.”

  Not needing any other encouragement, he leans down with his fangs extended.

  A small jolt of pain courses through me when his teeth break the skin, but overwhelming euphoria takes its place within seconds.

  The more he drinks, the more my body craves things I don’t think we can do in a dream. But what do I know, he is feeding from me. I nearly come unglued the longer his lips caress my neck. Pleasure rocks my body with each suck and lick from his tongue. His moans only fuel my desire further. I grab his hand and place his fingers on my clit, rotating my hips in a circular motion, needing the friction to ease the building pressure inside.

  He begins rubbing the sensitive nub through my clothes, stoking the blazing need to an inferno. Fire swirls in my belly, and I have to strain to hold it in so I don’t burn him.

  “Please don’t stop,” I whimper.

  He growls, wrapping an arm around my waist, drawing me closer to his body. Strength is returning to him. Yes, it’s working. Joy bursts inside my chest. Within seconds, an orgasm courses through me, and my body arches up off the couch, shuddering from the muscle spasms as he draws it out and into another earth-shattering orgasm.

  As soon as my body has calmed down, Eli retracts his fangs and pulls back. However, his lips are on mine in seconds, firm yet soft. His tongue demands entrance and I open my mouth, relishing him, tasting my essence and blood.

  Something pulls at my subconscious, causing me to pull back. “Something feels off.”

  Growling, he takes my hand. “Someone is trying to wake you up. We don’t have much time.”

  No, this can’t be happening. “I don’t want to leave you. I didn’t get to ask you all the questions I have.”

  His face turns solemn. “We’re okay, just desperate to get you back. I’ll get you here again as soon as I’m able.” He lets out a deep breath. “We miss you, Rose.”

  Before I can respond, I’m being yanked from him.

  He watches as I’m pulled away, but at least he looks like my Eli again.

  I open my eyes to a red-faced Bael. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone that color crimson before.

  “Where the fuck were you?” he growls.

  Glancing around, I motion around me to my bed. “Right here.”

  His jaw clenches. “Your body may have been, but your soul was not.” He reaches out to my neck and his eyes widen. “You let the fucking vampire bite you again?”

  Reaching up to the spot Eli had bit in my dream, my mouth widens and forms an O shape when I feel two small holes on my neck. How is that possible? It was just a dream, even though it felt real. My muscles still spasm from the orgasms Eli gave me. “Look, I don’t know how it happened, but yes, I saw Eli.”

  Bael clenches his fist. “That vampire is becoming a pain in my ass. He must have a witch helping him.”

  I rub my eyes, just wanting this whole conversation over. A witch? I suppose there are witches as well, which shouldn’t be surprising to me after everything else I’ve seen. “Does it matter? I’ll be back with them soon enough. This isn’t new information.”

  His breath becomes shallow and his eyes flare. Thunder rumbles in the air above us. “You aren’t ready for what they are trying. It’s dangerous, and you’re mine, dammit.”

  My body responds to his words, but I force myself to keep my hands to myself. “I’m not property. As much as it pains me to say this, I agree. I’m not ready for what’s coming my way and I need your help. We’re training today, right?”

  Seeing Eli again made me miss Drake and Oren even more. Pain lances my chest. I need to get back to them.

  He breathes in deeply and takes a few steps back. “Yes, we are. Come on, we need to eat breakfast.”

  Following him into the kitchen, I note that the chair is still propped up against the door.

  He must have seen the same thing, because he turns to me. “Did you get scared last night?”

  “No, but I didn’t want Amon to come in again.” I cross my arms, already tired of our conversation.

  The vein in his neck pops out. “You let Amon in our house?”

  Wait, did he say our house?

  He continues to glare at me, waiting for an answer.

  Oh, yes. Focus, Rose. “No, he let himself in. That’s why I at least propped the chair against the door.”

  “That son of a bitch.” Bael grabs the chair and throws it across the room. “I knew I shouldn’t have left you last night. I come back and find out Amon was here with you, alone, and you dreamscaped with a fucking vampire.”

  What a jackass. “Hey, none of that is my fault.”

  He stomps over to me and touches the bite mark on my neck. “That wasn’t your fault?”

  My fire roars inside me. Who the hell does he think he is? “You know what. You can kiss my ass. It’s not any of your damn business if a vampire bites my neck.”

  Grabbing a handful of my
hair, he pulls my head back with it. “It is my business. Everything about you is my business.”

  Why the fuck is this turning me on? Something isn’t right with me.

  My voice escalates to a yell. “There’s something seriously wrong with you. One second, you’re hot, and the next, you’re cold. You want me, then you don’t. I’m here to hone my skills, and then I’m out of here.”

  He glares at me with blazing eyes, thunder booming around us. “Don’t let anyone else in this house. Stay put.” Gray smoke surrounds him, and he’s gone again.

  Ugh. A scream erupts from my throat and flames lick up my body. That man infuriates me beyond belief. “Fine. Run away. It’s what you’re good at.”

  Chapter Four

  After I change into some stretchy, black workout pants and a fitted tank top with sports bra, I pace the living room. My stomach growls and I walk into the kitchen area to grab a granola bar and a cup of coffee, adding cream and sugar to it.

  Is he going to come back anytime soon? I need to get this training finished so I can get back to my life. It needs just as much work as my fighting does. I left a shitstorm behind. My ass hits the chair as I take the last bite of chewy chocolate chip granola, followed by a swig of coffee.

  My eyes stare at the wall, thinking over everything that has happened over the past couple of weeks. I drain the last of the soul-renewing liquid before standing and rinsing my cup out in the sink.

  The air in the cottage charges like a live wire and I know that Bael has returned. I keep my back to him, not ready to face him yet. Though I wondered where he was, and when he’d return, I didn’t expect him back so soon after our disagreement.

  “Come on. It’s time to get started.” His voice is stern and to the point.

  I finish rinsing the cup and place it in the drying rack. “Okay.”

  What’s the point of trying to have a discussion with someone who isn’t interested in talking to you? There are only a few steps separating us, but it might as well be a million. I close the distance, keeping my arms at my sides.

  Bael reaches out one hand and places it on my arm, gray surrounds us, and the cottage falls away, giving way to the door outside of the same training room we were in yesterday.

  My muscles ache at the thought of stepping foot into the place that was more torture room than training room. I take a deep breath and steel myself for the beating ahead.

  Everything looks the same as yesterday, even the people working out and sparring. This must be a hotspot for the Underworld.

  “Out.” Bael’s voice echoes around the room. Creatures and people alike stop and stand, some walking out and others disappearing before our eyes.

  Well, that’s one way to clear a room. I swing my head around, looking for a certain dark angel, but he’s nowhere to be seen. A breath I didn’t know I was holding swooshes out of me.

  Bael turns to look at me with eyebrows furrowed. He walks over to the sparring area and faces me. “We will start on fighting techniques today, mainly defensive moves. I want you to use your fire. Don’t hold back.”

  My eyes widen. “What if it hurts you?”

  He smirks. “It won’t hurt me.”

  I shrug my shoulders. If he doesn’t think it will hurt him, then I’ll be sure to give him everything I’ve got.

  He runs toward me. Instinct has me raise my hand, but the fire sputters out and trails off before he even reaches me. What the hell?

  “Is that the best you have? Give me something to work with!” he yells at me.

  Fire blazes inside as anger takes hold of me. I narrow my eyes at him. Asshole.

  He approaches me again, and fire shoots out of my hand right at him. He twists out of the line of fire and wraps his arm around my throat, swinging his body behind me. The flames recede as I grab his forearm and use his own momentum against him to flip him over my back. My hands jerk his arm as I bend forward at the waist, and I face plant into the concrete floor.

  Why don’t these floors have padding? That shit hurt. I stand, rubbing my chin and wiggling my jaw side to side.

  He laughs. “Not work out quite like you expected? How did the floor taste?”

  My hand flies up, flipping him the middle finger, which causes him to laugh even harder.

  “Ha ha ha. Why don’t you try teaching me something useful?” My pride is hurt more than my face.

  His face sobers. “Again.”

  The rest of the day is spent with him pretty much beating my ass. My spirit is beaten down as we head back to the house. I lock myself in the bathroom when we get there. At least there’s a chance I might see Eli again if we... what did Bael call it? Dreamscape. Yeah, that’s it.

  But Bael mentioned something about a witch having to help him. Who could that be?

  I don’t give a shit. As long as I can see one of my men, it will make this exhausting day worth it.

  Stepping out of the bathroom, I come face to face with the bane of my existence, or who I wish was. It would make my life so much easier. But when has my life ever been easy?

  Bael is in pajama pants and nothing else.

  My eyes take in the expanse of his olive-toned chest, eight-pack abs, and light dusting of hair that trails down... don’t go there. There is dangerous territory.

  I cross my arms over my chest, steeling my resolve. “Don't you have somewhere you'd rather be?”

  He mirrors my stance and cocks an eyebrow. “No.”

  His eyes drift down my body, taking in my somewhat fitted white t-shirt and gray shorts. Thank God my nipples aren’t hard... dammit. His perusal of my assets is skyrocketing my libido. Shit, talk about something else. “Funny, that's not how it seemed the last two nights. You couldn't get out of here fast enough.”

  “You are very,” he lets out a breath, “infuriating.”

  Ha. I’m the difficult one? “Well then, I’d say I’ve met my match.”

  I flip my hair and make sure I don’t limp into the kitchen. I will not let him see how sore I am.

  He walks behind me and chuckles. “Are you limping?”

  Ugh… I’m so achy I can’t hide it. “Nope, this is how I stretch out.”

  Grabbing my hand, he pulls me toward the couch. “Here, sit down and rest. Let me go get you some food and water.”

  Oh, here we go again with the whiplash. “Oh, so I get nice Bael tonight?”

  I curl my legs up on the couch and grab the maroon blanket that hangs on the back, spreading it over me.

  Raising an eyebrow, he grins. “Don’t push it.” He heads to the kitchen, calling over his shoulder, “How about some grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup?”

  My stomach growls in response. I swear it’s so loud, it echoes against the walls.

  He opens the refrigerator. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  A snort escapes me. “Hey, I’m not going to complain.”

  Banging around the kitchen, he gets everything cooking on the stove. Being discreet, I watch his muscles bulge and move. I wonder what they would feel like under my hands. My breathing becomes shallow.

  Glancing up, he catches me looking, and another grin appears. “Like what you see?”

  I turn away. “No, I thought you had a bug on you.” Yes, smooth should be my middle name.

  “Sure, Briar.” He barks out a laugh. “That’s why you had drool pooling up in the corner of your mouth.”

  My hand flies up on its own accord to swipe at the corner of my mouth. It’s dry. Dammit.

  I narrow my eyes at him and his laughter fills the room. Butterflies take flight in my belly at the sound.

  Glaring at the wall, I mutter under my breath, “Jackass.”

  Another chuckle follows, but soon, the cabinets are being opened and shut. I hear him getting our dishes situated and placed on a dinner tray.

  He carries one into the den and sets it over my lap. “Here you go.”

  I glance up at him. “Thanks.” I rip off a piece of my grilled cheese and dip it into the soup. I take a
huge bite and am surprised that it’s the best sandwich I’ve ever had.

  Tearing into the food, it’s gone within minutes. I move the tray to the coffee table and snuggle down, my eyes drooping.

  “Hey.” Bael reaches out and touches my leg, concern lacing his face. “Are you okay?”

  I nod… or at least I try to. “Jussss sleeeeppppyy.”

  Moving his tray to the coffee table as well, he stands and picks me up. “Let’s get you to bed.”

  His arms are strong and his body radiates heat.

  I snuggle into him and breathe in his musky scent. Why does he feel like home to me?

  He opens a door and lays me down on the bed.

  I pass out.

  I wake up cocooned in strong arms. I bury myself deeper in them and sigh, warmth spreading through my body. I’m about to drift back off to sleep again when it hits me. Holy shit. Where am I?

  Lifting my head, I note that the room is a dark shade of gray versus my light blue. Fuck. I’m in Bael’s room.

  I’ve got to get out of here before he wakes up. I don’t want to deal with an awkward situation. In slow motion, I move his hand from around my waist, trying not to wake him.

  Once his hand is placed on the bed, I roll toward the doorway, off the bed. Landing on my feet with little sound, I creep to the door and turn the knob so it doesn’t make any noise.

  Making my way over the threshold, I stand up straight and dart into my room with no incident. The clock’s glow informs me that it’s two twenty-three in the morning.

  I’m rested, but a little more sleep wouldn’t hurt me one bit. I pull down my lavender covers and crawl into my bed. Within minutes, sleep once again overtakes me.

  I’m sitting back in Drake’s house. Even though I now know this is a dream, at least I get some contact with Eli.