Chapter Ten
I didn't catch it at first. The little distinction that made all the difference. I was too busy watching Darius come around my desk looking like sex on a stick. I didn't want him. I wanted Dominic. But my body wasn't getting the memo. It had been primed by one hound and was more than ready to take a lookalike. It was nature. That's all.
“You feel it too,” Darius said smugly as he sat on the edge of my desk. His hand went to my neck. Gently, he cupped me there and laid his thumb over my rapid pulse. “You're mine, Amélie. Ours. Our destined mate.”
“What?” I jerked back. “Did you say, ' ours ?'”
“Every team gets one mate to share.” Darius gripped the armrests of my chair and leaned in to whisper in my ear, “You're a lucky girl. You just won three lovers and immortality. Congratulations.”
As Darius brushed his lips over mine, I shrieked and pushed him away. Or rather, I pushed myself away, rolling my chair back with such vehemence that it smacked into the wall and rattled the bottles. “What the fuck did you just say to me?”
“We share our immortality with our mate.” Darius sat on the edge of my desk, making himself comfortable. “And we share her.”
Damn Dominic! This was why he hadn't told me who Darius was. Because then he'd have to explain that I wasn't just his soul mate. I was the soul mate of an entire Cerberus team. Three men! Dominic's phone call replayed in my mind once more, and I remembered how he said he had to ease me into meeting them. This was why. Not because he was worried that I wouldn't like his friends. It was because he was worried that I wouldn't like the other two men I was supposed to sleep with! Dom intended to share me. He really hadn't been jealous of Darius. I didn't want a possessive lover. That could get irritating and even dangerous. But that didn't mean I wanted a man who was okay with sharing me with his two buddies. That was just gross. Wasn't it? Yes, it was gross. No matter how attractive the three men were.
I got up and hurried to the door before my libido changed my mind. “Please leave, Darius.”
Darius frowned at the door. “I'm not going anywhere.” He paused, his smug demeanor vanishing. “Just meet the others. Please. You won't be disappointed. I swear.”
“I won't be disappointed?” I gaped at him. Then I repeated it with amazed indignation. “I won't be disappointed ?! Do you really think that's what bothers me? That your friends might be ugly? How about the fact that I don't know you? That is, beyond you coming in here every couple of weeks to pick up a new woman. Oh, and that you're a shapeshifter from Hell!”
“The Underworld. And I told you I was looking for—”
“I don't care! Get out! Get the fuck out, Darius! I don't want any part of your weird, immortal, shapeshifter sex team.”
“All right.” He held up his hands. “I understand. It's a lot to accept. And I can't be completely sure that you're our mate until you meet the others, but—”
“Oh, my God! You're doing all of this without being certain? You don't even know me. We could end up annoying each other to no end. It's looking like a distinct possibility at the moment.”
“Then get to know me. Come to dinner with me tonight.” Darius paused, then added, “Please.”
“I'm not going anywhere with you.”
“You don't care that you could be the woman we're meant to be with? We'd make you immortal, Amélie. You'd live forever.”
“I don't want to live forever. There's a purpose to the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. And frankly, I don't trust you. The only thing I know to be absolutely true about you is that you're a shapeshifter. As far as I know, that could be all you are and this story about protecting the world and looking for your eternal mate could be a line you use to get laid.”
Yeah, it was harsh, especially since I knew he was telling the truth. Well, I was fairly sure he was telling the truth. I couldn't be certain about anything anymore. But I didn't like him. I liked Dominic. And Darius had just ruined Dom for me. He had turned my sweet, lovable, humble puppy dog into a sly wolf in spectacles and grandma pajamas. I was projecting my rage at Darius because he was a convenient target. But Dominic was going to get it too. A plan was already forming in my head.
Darius's face went into spasm. “I don't—” He cut himself off and started again, “I've told you the absolute truth. I've been more honest with you than I've ever been with a woman. It's a lot to process, so I'm going to forgive that shit you just said. And I'll leave so you can deal with this. But I'm coming back, Amélie. This isn't over.” He turned and left.
“Oh, you're right about that,” I growled. “By the time I'm done with you, you'll be crying for Hades. That's when you'll know it's over.”