Seduced by Chaos Page 2

  But the three guys at the bar started to get loud. And rowdy.

  And obnoxious.

  Until the couple in the booth shook their heads and left. And the Phillies fans began to give them dirty looks.

  Then everything went to shit.

  Chapter Two

  Lacey had had enough. Time to cut off the Suits.

  She figured they’d give her a hassle so she warned Mike and Joe. She could take care of herself but the two beefy factory workers were protective of her.

  And she had to admit, at least to herself, that she didn’t mind their protection. It’d taken her several weeks to realize that the two men—both happily married with daughters close to her age—only cared about her safety.

  There was no evil in their eyes, no calculation when they looked at her. No selfish lust. They saw only a frail-looking, twenty-something woman thin enough to be blown over by a stiff wind.

  But looks were deceiving. She’d survived ten years in a dark hell made by sick men and come out stronger. She could handle three drunk eteri.

  “Hey sweetheart, another round.” Pinstripe Suit slapped his hand on the bar then motioned to her like he was Keanu Reeves in The Matrix.

  Asshole.

  She walked closer, but not within arm’s reach. She wasn’t stupid. “Sorry, guys. You’ve had enough. Let me call you a cab.”

  Blue Suit tried to cajole her with a smile. “Come on, beautiful. The night’s young.”

  She shook her head. “It’s after midnight and you’ve had enough.”

  That didn’t sit well with Black Suit. “Listen, babe. Just give us the drinks and we won’t tell the owner you’re screwing him out of profits.”

  Now she did smile. “Unfortunately for you, I am the owner. And it’s time for you to leave.”

  Pinstripe and Blue Suit shook their heads, grumbling under their breaths about “the bitch”, but rose, ready to leave.

  Black Suit wasn’t as smart. He wanted to argue.

  “You stupid bitch. You’re going to re—”

  Suddenly, the guy wasn’t there.

  “I think maybe you want to listen to the lady.”

  Teo stood behind Black Suit with the man’s arm twisted behind his body in a way she knew to be extremely painful. And Teo held it so tightly, Black Suit had to bend at the waist to take the pressure off it.

  Teo’s expression was carefully neutral but those flecks of blue and green danced in his eyes as he gazed into hers. He wasn’t breaking a sweat. Hell, he didn’t even look like he was expending any energy to hold the guy there.

  Then she let her gaze drop.

  His arms bulged, muscles rippling. The sight should have made shivers of fear course up her spine.

  Instead, her pussy clenched in desire.

  Should she be pissed off that he thought she couldn’t handle herself? Or give in to the funny little feeling in her stomach that made her want to simper, “My hero”, and flutter her eyelashes?

  Since that last option went against every bone in her body, she decided against it and settled for crossing her arms over her breasts and lifting an eyebrow at him.

  Teo just stared at her as Black Suit wriggled like a fish on a hook, cursing until he was literally blue in the face. She hoped the guy didn’t pass out.

  “Do you want me to toss him now or do want to yell at me first?”

  Smart ass. Teo’s dry tone and the glint in his eyes made her mouth kick up at the corners though she tried to control it. “You can escort him to the door, if you don’t mind.”

  Teo nodded once before turning to slice a look at Pinstripe and Blue Suit. “Gentlemen?”

  Though their faces were flushed with anger, the Suits headed for the door without a word, backs as straight as if they had poles shoved up their asses. Teo followed them, Black Suit in a tight hold. Rio stood by the door, holding it open.

  Lacey thought they might actually leave without causing more of a scene but as soon as Teo released Black Suit on the porch, the guy came up swinging.

  Teo dodged it, but the guy got lucky and clipped Rio when he missed Teo. As Rio stumbled back a step, Teo’s eyes narrowed to slits.

  The air around Teo moved, as if a fierce wind blew through the bar. It caught the attention of the other men. She saw it in the way they stiffened, hands clenching into fists, shoulders hunching. It showed in the blood lust in their eyes.

  It had the exact opposite reaction on her.

  Her muscles tightened, her thighs clenched and her blood burned with lust.

  * * * * *

  Teo heard Rio mutter “Oh shit” just as the idiot who’d tried to touch Lacey took a swing at him, missed and clipped Rio on the jaw.

  The blow didn’t land with much force and Rio shook it off in a second.

  But the damage was done.

  Fury, hot and enticing, lit through Teo like a flame to gasoline. He attempted to rein it in, to control the amentia with the iron grip he usually held on it.

  But the lust he’d been battling all night, combined with his anger at the Suit who’d tried to touch the object of that lust, broke his usually tight control. It spilled out of him like lava out of a volcano, infecting the etera in the black suit with the same need to create chaos that he felt.

  The asshole bared his teeth and came after Teo.

  And Teo smiled because it’d been so fucking long since he’d had a good fight.

  He’d tried to hide from it, to live apart from the rest of the world so he wouldn’t infect it with his madness.

  Tonight, he’d had enough.

  Black Suit came at him, arms open and head down, trying to tackle him. Teo planted his feet and caught the guy against his body. But the Suit was heavier than he looked and Teo stumbled back into the bar, crashing against the table closest to the door.

  Chairs scattered and the table broke their fall. Teo heard it crack under their combined weight and cursed. This bastard was going to pay for every stick of furniture they broke. He would make fucking sure of that.

  When they hit the floor, Teo clamped his arms around the guy and flipped him onto his back. The Suit fought him but wasn’t strong enough to take Teo. He managed to get to his knees as the idiot beneath him flailed his fists at Teo’s body. The guy had no strength in his arms, his fists barely making an impression on Teo.

  Teo pulled back and smashed his fist into the guy’s chin. He tempered his blows, knowing he could crush the guy’s jaw if he wasn’t careful.

  He hit him once. Twice.

  It felt too damn good. He wanted to hit the guy again but…Lacey was watching. He felt her gaze on his back, hot as a laser.

  Damn it, he didn’t want her to think he was some kind of animal, unable to control himself. Luckily, the guy beneath him groaned and went limp, hands falling to his sides.

  Way to charm the girl, asshole. Beat up her customers and wreck her place.

  Fuck. Teo looked up and over his shoulder, to where Rio and the two other men from the end of the bar blocked the Suit’s friends at the front door. Rio lifted his brows and shook his head, a wry grin twisting his lips.

  Shoulda stayed home.

  Fighting a grimace, he shook his head. A rhythmic noise teased the edge of his hearing. Before him, Lacey tapped one Chuck-clad foot.

  Shit. She was pissed.

  Bracing himself, he let his gaze travel up. Lacey’s mouth was set in a firm line but her eyes flashed with laughter.

  Okay, maybe not so pissed.

  “I certainly hope you’re going to clean up after yourself, Mr. de Feo.” Her tone carried an edge. But those eyes… “Don’t leave that trash on my floor.”

  Then she turned and walked back to the bar. And he couldn’t help but watch the sway of her rounded ass the entire way. With a smile on his face.

  Standing, he reached down to pull the groaning Suit to his feet then gave him a push toward his friends as Rio and the other customers parted. The friends helped him out and down the street without a backward glance. />
  As Rio closed the door behind him, Teo picked up the chairs that had scattered and set them at other tables then gathered up the remnants of the table and took them out to the porch while Rio held the door for him.

  When there were no eteri around, he’d fix the damn table. At least the amentia didn’t screw with his magic. He could still use it to knit the wood table back together good as new.

  “Never a dull moment, huh, Teo?” Rio grabbed his shoulder and squeezed as he walked back in. “Don’t let it bother you. The guy’s an asshole.”

  Yeah, the guy was an asshole but he probably would have left without a fight if not for Teo and the fucking amentia.

  Shaking his head, he followed Rio back to the bar, where Rosie and Lacey were deep in conversation.

  Which they stopped the second he and Rio were within hearing distance.

  Lacey’s expression held no anger, no disdain. In fact, her eyes held a trace of heat. He wondered how fast that would change if he told her everything.

  Their gazes caught and held. And held. Finally, she blinked and looked away, under the pretense of tapping a beer no one had asked for.

  Teo glanced to his left. Rosie and Rio were holding a private conversation, their heads close together. Rosie’s tone was teasing, Rio’s husky. Teo knew if he looked closely, he’d see the flush of desire on Rosie’s cheeks and a sexual gleam in Rio’s eyes.

  And so much love, Teo swore he could touch it like a forcefield around them. It came from being blood bound. The ancient ritual of a blood exchange during sex tied a couple’s souls together through centuries and lives. It made them more than a couple. It made them a whole.

  Teo looked back at Lacey, who looked up at that moment, beer in hand. She placed it in front of him.

  “I can take care of myself.” Her voice held no heat, arms crossed loosely over her chest. “I’ve actually had a lot of practice at it.”

  Something in her tone scratched at his brain, hinted at darkness in her past. Not that he saw any trace of it in her expression. That was smooth and clear. Too smooth.

  He’d sensed something in her before. Something hidden. He wanted to know what.

  Tilting his chin up just a hair, he watched her eyes narrow. “I don’t recall saying you couldn’t take care of yourself.”

  Her beautiful face tilted to the left. “I could have gotten rid of them myself.”

  Yeah, she probably could have. Eventually. And without the mess he’d made of it.

  “But,” she said, “I…appreciate the effort.”

  Heat. Christ, the heat in her eyes burned into him like a blowtorch.

  And his cock took it as an open invitation. It hardened in his jeans, eager and ready and oh-so willing.

  Tinia’s teat. When was the last time he’d had sex? A year ago? Maybe more. Hell, he couldn’t even remember the woman’s name but he knew it hadn’t been satisfying for him. He’d gotten her off and she’d gotten him off but he’d had to keep such a tight hold on his emotions because of the amentia that it almost hadn’t been worth it.

  Would he want it like that with Lacey? Would he want to give only half of himself? Would it be enough to satisfy her? To satisfy him?

  Hell, he was already falling for her. He knew himself well enough to see the signs.

  But was he reading her right? He’d been shut off from the rest of the world for so many years now that maybe he was out of practice. Maybe she just wanted to thank him for his help.

  Still holding her gaze, he nodded to acknowledge her appreciation. “Sorry about the table. I’ll make sure it’s fixed before I leave.”

  She maintained eye contact with him, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiled. “I would appreciate that. Of course, that means you’ll have to stay after everyone leaves. Wouldn’t want anyone to see your handiwork.”

  His eyes narrowed as he ran her last statement through his brain. Had she asked him to stay to fix the table or had she meant something more? Did she want something more from him? Did she want him?

  Vaffanculo. He wanted one night with her. One night when that the amentia didn’t rule his life as it had for… Hell, for more years than he wanted to count.

  Could he have her and not lose control?

  He nodded, keeping his gaze locked on her eyes. “Sure, I can stay.”

  Her smile lit inside the dark place that harbored the amentia, made it churn with glee. He smashed down the feeling with a ruthlessness born of desperation.

  Then he let loose his own smile and watched the heat build. He’d been told by more than a few women that he had a killer smile. He hadn’t used it on anyone in decades. Not like this. Not with lust so hard in his blood, it felt like lightning.

  “Hey, bro, we’re heading home.” Rio clapped him on the back, and Teo barely glanced at him. “Are you going—”

  “Yeah, I’m going to hang around a little.” He deliberately ignored the grin Rio didn’t try hard to hide. “I’ll check in with you tomorrow.”

  “Night, Teodoro.” Rosie gave him a quick hug and kiss. “And be good,” she teased under her breath before she let Rio drag her out of the bar. Her bright smile was the last thing Teo saw before the door closed behind them.

  When he turned back to face Lacey, her smile had disappeared but not the heat.

  And Teo knew he wasn’t going home tonight.

  * * * * *

  For the first time since she’d opened the bar, Lacey couldn’t wait to lock the door behind Mike and Bill.

  Worry had started to eat away at her since the couple in the booth left shortly before the Suits. They had seemed likely candidates to provide her with what she needed. And needed bad.

  Lethargy hung heavy on her bones, signaling complete burnout. She needed to recharge, to feed the ache in her gut, between her thighs. In her blood.

  She needed sex or, at the very least, a hit of sexual energy, before the hunger made her a raving maniac and she attacked the first willing man she met on the street.

  So wasn’t it just too convenient that Teo happened to be here tonight?

  Jesus, she hoped she didn’t hurt him.

  From the corner of her eye, as she closed out the register and slid the cash drawer into the safe beneath the bar, she watched him go around the room, putting the chairs on top of the tables in preparation for the tribe of lauru she’d hired to clean after hours.

  The two-foot-tall sprites with pointy ears and noses, and toes that curled backward, had an obsession with cleanliness that they’d translated into a lucrative cleaning service for the Fata and Enu, the two magical races of the Etruscans.

  In her condition, she couldn’t expend the energy to clean the bar with magic. This was the next best thing. Actually, the lauru were better than next-best. Those little suckers made the place sparkle. And since they had an affinity for wood, as did all of the Etruscan magical races, they gave the hundred-year-old walnut bar special attention, which she truly appreciated. It’d been her Pop’s pride and joy.

  Teo reminded her of Pop. Her mother’s father had had that same quiet intensity. A sense of leashed violence that had come from surviving the Purge of 1758.

  But there the similarities ended.

  Where her pop had been short and round, Teo was long and lean. He had a swimmer’s body—broad shoulders, slim hips. Muscled thighs and ass outlined lovingly in the just-tight-enough jeans.

  He was a lot taller than she and that should have been an immediate turn-off. And he was so freaking good-looking, she had to be careful not to stare.

  Then again, since she was planning on having sex with the guy tonight, she might as well lay all her cards on the table. Or she could just drape herself over the bar naked and let him have her.

  The thought had her eyeing the bar. No. Too high. Maybe they should try the pool table.

  Her gaze found Teo again and widened when she realized he was watching her, from the table closest to the bar.

  What was he thinking? His expression revealed nothing but
hunger. And again, that should have had her running for the nearest exit. She’d been subjected to the worst sort of male hunger. Ten long years of sexual hell. Simply because she’d been born querciola.

  Dropping her gaze, she walked to the other end of the bar to check on the cooler there. She still had things to do, things she alone was responsible for. But her mind continued to gnaw at her own history.

  Several times during the past decade, she’d wondered if her parents had made a conscious decision to have children or if she and her sister had been a mistake. Every Fata knew that if a folletta and a linchetto produced children, that child would be querciola.

  Normal Fata took precautions against producing a child who would become a danger to herself and others. A daughter who would grow into an adult with a sexual appetite that incited men to give in to their most secret desires and use her to slake them—

  “Lacey, are you okay?”

  Teo’s voice startled her and she gasped as she realized he stood next to her behind the bar. She hadn’t seen or heard him move.

  She looked up, way up, into his eyes. Dangerous. He was dangerous. She saw it in the set of his mouth and the darkening of his eyes.

  Teo wanted her. He’d seen through her glamour to the beauty of her true face. A beauty she’d had no control over and one she would gladly give up if only she could lead a normal life.

  But her life would never be normal and Teo wanted her with a hunger that should scare the shit out of her. No one had looked at her like that in the year since she’d escaped from that Malandante hell.

  From the hell her sister hadn’t.

  Those Mal bastards had a lot to answer for. Descended from the Etruscans but born with a bent toward evil, with a taste for power and wealth, the Mal had killed her sister. They’d driven Cara to take her own life.

  Grief flared but she couldn’t let it overcome her. She was already seriously close to losing the tight hold she had on her hunger and if that happened, she’d hurt someone. And she couldn’t live with that.

  She didn’t want to hurt Teo but he looked strong enough to take whatever she dished out, strong enough to give it back in spades…

  What about tomo—

  “Fuck tomorrow,” she whispered under breath as she reached up and grabbed Teo around the neck. His eyes narrowed at her words, but he didn’t try to stop her when she pulled him down to kiss her.