Chapter Seven

I need to remain calm

If I allow this interloper to upset me, then things will not go well

I need to stay calm

I am in charge, and I need to remind my woman of that

I must be firm, but sweet

Temper is what left me in the position I’m in

Alone and floundering, stuck in this hell hole

She’s in his arms right now, but he didn’t fuck her

The stupid man would be no match for me

If I’d had the chance I would have filled her completely

I would have claimed her and let her know who she belonged to

Once I’m rid of the idiot, I will make that happen

But until then, it’s time to show her how much power I really have

And what will happen if she continues to ignore me

 
Candice, my darling, come to me

This will only hurt for a little while

* * * *

Being nestled in Franco’s arms was the next best thing to being in heaven, or so Tempest thought. Necking with him was sheer magic, and when he hadn’t pushed for anything more, she felt herself fall a little bit in love.

When they’d settled down, wrapping the blankets around them, he’d quickly fallen asleep. His deep, even breathing should have lulled her to sleep. Instead, she lay awake, listening to it, enjoying every second.

Who would have thought that, when she woke up this morning sore and wondering what was happening to her at night, she would fall asleep in the arms of one of the hunkiest men she’d met in years.

If she’d known Quinn had friends like this she would have invented a ghost, or in this case, a demon, a long time ago. She’d been in such a drought where men were concerned that she’d given up on them. There was no chance of her finding someone she could spend the rest of her life with, or so she thought.

Right now she doubted that fact. Sure, she’d known him less than twenty-four hours, but the instant attraction she felt for Franco Antonio LeBeau was unlike anything she’d ever experienced before. She was pretty sure he felt the same way, maybe not as much as she did, but there was a definite attraction.

Men, she knew, mostly thought with their little heads. But that didn’t seem to be the case with Franco. If so, he would have pushed to be inside her tonight. Not that he would have had to push very hard.

Truthfully, she probably would have said yes in about two seconds flat. Unfortunately, decisions made that fast usually spelled disaster for relationships. The fact that he was willing to stay with her to protect her from the demon, and was willing to wait for sex, was perfect.

A low moan brought a smile to her face. Maybe he wasn’t asleep. She needed to steel her will. If he made a move to take things deeper than they had with the necking session, she would need all her willpower to say no, that they needed to wait.

“Oh, ow, no, please no.”

Tempest’s eyes flew open and she tried to sit up, hindered by Franco’s arms that still held her close.

The next sound she heard was a wail of pain.

“Franco!” She put her hand on his chest. “Did you hear that?”

The woman’s voice sounded as if she was saying, “Please stop.”

“Franco!”

He was sitting up now. “Where’s it coming from?”

“In the house. It’s a woman.”

A loud wail brought him to his feet and he rushed inside. Tempest was shocked at how fast he moved. She scrambled up, hurrying after him only to stop when he held out his hand.

“Don’t come in.”

“Why not?” Another wail greeted her question and she hurried inside, ducking through the window. Frigid air surrounded her and Tempest gasped in shock. It was colder in here than it was on the balcony. What was happening?

“Tempest! Go outside.”

The feminine wailing had stopped. What the hell had it been?

Don’t listen to him, sweet one. Her feet seemed rooted to the floor. He is not the one for you. I am.

She couldn’t move. Her senses reeled as she tried to figure out what was happening. It was almost as if she’d stepped inside a ride at a county fair. The room seemed to spin and then she was on her back, a heavy weight on top of her.

Had Franco changed his mind? Was he taking advantage of her while she was sleeping? It didn’t seem like something he would do, but who knew? She’d only known him for a few hours, after all.

The pressure on top of her increased, compressing her chest making it hard to breath.

You know how much I love you. Say you love me, too. Say it.

Pleasure swirled through her, her clit twitching and demanding more attention.

“Fuck me,” she whispered. “Oh yes, please.”

“No! Tempest, don’t allow yourself to succumb to him. It’s a trick! Tempest, answer me!” Franco’s voice sounded as if he shouted across the miles.

The force on top of her pressed down, the feeling incredible. “More, more.”

“Tempest!”

You must call for me, little one. Call my name, say it.

From far behind, Tempest heard Franco talking. He said the word Martin, then Dev, then get here now. Who was he talking to?

It does not matter, my sweet. All you need do is say my name and I will take care of you. I will give you all that your need, all that you want.

No, this wasn’t right. What was this…thing on top of her?

Say it, sweet little Tempest. Say my name.

“What…what is it?

Arland. It means pledge. Pledge yourself to me, and I will care for you always. We belong together.

“Tempest!” There was that voice again. Franco’s voice. And were there other voices with it? Men were in the room, shouting. What was happening?

Ignore them. Say it!

The pressure on her chest seemed almost unbearable and she pushed up, but there was no relief.

Say it, you little cunt!

“Tempest! You can control him. Push him off, come back to me, remember? You’d walk through—crap, what did she say? A woman would…Tempest!”

What was he saying? Oh yes, a woman would run through fire and water for such a kind heart. She’d just said that earlier in the night, to Franco. He was so kind, so sweet. He would never call her a cunt, like the—thing on top her. The incubus. The demon.

“Shit! Get off me! Get off me!” Tempest flailed out, her breath coming in great, heavy gasps. Her clothing was in disarray, and she was sweating. How long had she been in this position? To her point of view, it had seemed like only a few minutes. Yet Franco was here, and she could hear Dev and Martin, too.

He’d had time to call them, time for them to get here. Even though they all lived in the Quarter, it would have taken at least ten minutes, if not longer.

Someone grabbed her and it took a few seconds for her to realize it was Franco, trying to lift her off the ground.

No! Not again!

“Command him to leave you alone.” It was Martin’s voice, deep and authoritative. “Take control of the situation. Until he has form he can’t hurt you.”

She pushed again, surprised when the weight lifted off her. “Leave me alone. Go away, now.”

The room grew silent but the cold lingered. Within seconds, Franco had lifted her off the floor and wrapped his arms around her.

“It’s all right,” he whispered in her ear. “He’s gone. He’s gone.”

“For now.” She didn’t want to be frightened, to let the demon get the best of her, but right now, he’d done exactly that. Tears leaked from her eyes and she nestled against Franco’s chest. She felt like she should say something but her voice caught in her throat and nothing came out. It was beginning to look like she'd wasted her life savings on a B&B that she would never be able to open.

Unless they could get rid of the demon, and it didn’t look like they were going to be able to, not after tonight’s incident.

“Cowards die many times before their death,” Franco said, stroking her hair. “It’s the one Shakespeare quote I know. I had to memorize parts of Julius Caesar in high school. This demon is a coward, and he may already be physically dead, but he’s going to die for real. Soon.”