“Yes.”
He left it at that one word as if he expected her to believe him, take him at his word. Did he think she was as nuts as he was?
“Dude. You need help.” It probably wasn’t smart to bait him, but Kellsie was at the end of her rope. “There is no such thing as demons and curses and gods and goddesses. It’s all a myth. Make believe. That’s why we’re making a movie. We’re actors.”
He tilted his head as if processing her words. She was getting a crick in her neck from looking up at him, so she turned. He loosened his grip enough for her to face him but not enough for her to get away.
“That is how Hades has done it this time,” he sounded thoughtful, not angry. “You think you’re making a movie, but this is reality.” He stroked her hair away from her face, his gentle touch such a contrast to his huge, strong hands. “You are the one woman in the history of time who could release me from the curse and help me fight Hades and his minions. I need to help the others and discover what has become of my Lady.”
Kellsie ignored the pang of envy and disappointment that shot through her when he spoke of his lady. Pure love and devotion shone through his words. Not that she wanted him. Not really. It was simply a physical reaction to his body. Nothing more. The guy was obviously a sandwich short of a picnic.
But still, it would be nice to have a man who talked about her that way. Not that she ever expected such a thing to happen. Hell would freeze over first.
She pushed against his chest. It was time to get away and start the long trek back to camp. “You do that. Meanwhile, I’m going to make my way back to my nice cozy trailer and catch a few hours’ sleep.” She squinted at her watch. Damn, it was already two o’clock. How long had she been out?
“I cannot let you go.”
For the first time since immediately after awakening, real fear began to seep into her bones. She was totally alone in the middle of an isolated forest with this guy. He was big and strong and determined. Even if she screamed for help, it would echo through the woods. Someone might hear her, but they wouldn’t be able to find her. She was well and truly screwed.
Maybe she could reason with him. “Look. You really can’t keep me here. People will be searching for me. You’ll get fired from the movie. You might never work again.” That was the biggest fear most actors had. Let him chew on that for a few minutes. “If you let me go now,” she continued, “I won’t tell anyone about this. It will be our little secret.”
“You are wrong.” He swept her into his arms and carried her back inside the cave. He stopped just inside so there was still a small amount of light. “I can keep you. At least for one day.”
Chapter Seven
He’d prayed for this day for more years than he could actually remember. Marko was still trying to process the fact that he was free after more than five thousand years of captivity. It was a heady feeling to breathe in the night air, to stretch his arms and legs, to feel a woman’s soft flesh against his body.
The last was the most disconcerting of all. For the first time in over fifty centuries, he was holding a woman. His cock was full and hard, begging for attention. At least he knew that part of himself still worked.
What he didn’t know was how much of his power had returned. Not all, for certain. But he could clothe himself as he could before. He hadn’t tried to manifest weapons yet. That should have been the first thing he’d tried, but with Kellsie lying next to him he’d forgotten everything else.
His brain was still trying to process everything he’d been through. The memories blurred together after a certain point. They had to for sanity’s sake.
He knew about the modern world. He and the others picked up information from the world around them. Assimilating and understanding all of that knowledge was something else altogether. The world had changed so much in the time he’d been imprisoned. People no longer believed in the old ways. Science and technology were their new gods.
Marko was grateful to have landed in the woods. This was his domain. Here he was on familiar ground. Of course, Hades would want a secluded place. Having demons running around a major city would certainly attract attention—from humans and gods alike.
Kellsie was light in his arms. She was slender and warm and…frightened. He could smell her fear seeping from her skin. He was sorry for that, but he had to protect her, make her believe him.
He released her legs, letting her flow over his body until her feet touched the ground. He barely stifled a groan of pleasure as her lithe form rubbed against his much harder one.
She shoved at his chest and he released her. Watching. Waiting for her to run.
She crossed her arms over her chest, the pose defensive. “You’re crazy, you know that.” Her voice was sharp, but beneath it he heard the quaver of fear.
“No, I’m not. I almost wish I was.” At many points during his incarceration he had feared his sanity was slowly slipping away, but he’d hung on. They all had.
Kellsie darted a quick glance at the entrance. She was going to make a run for it. He could not allow that to happen. Almost casually, he edged toward the opening.
“You can’t keep me here,” she protested. “You’ll never work again after this stunt.” She began to pace. Back and forth. Back and forth. It was almost hypnotizing to watch her fluid movements.
Her body was strong yet curved in all the right places. His eyes were drawn to her breasts. They were soft and full and bounced slightly as she walked.
She tripped on some loose rocks and fell. He winced as her hands and knees hit the ground. Before he could assist her, she was back on her feet, pacing again.
“Are you hurt?” She’d freed him. He owed her more than he could ever repay. The last thing he wanted was for her to be harmed in any way. Which was a stupid sentiment considering Hades would have his minions out looking for them. Demons didn’t play fair.
“What do you think?” she countered.
He almost smiled. She was prickly, his Kellsie. He stilled and frowned. She wasn’t his Kellsie. She wasn’t his anything. His only duty to her was to protect her. Beyond that, he had to stay alive and hopefully figure out a way to rescue his friends.
Mordecai, Phoenix and Stavros had all been released years ago. There had been quite a few years between their releases. Phoenix hadn’t even tried to fight, but had disappeared with the young woman who’d freed him in a flash of smoke and fire. Stavros had disappeared with the woman who’d freed him, never to be heard from again.
Mordecai had been the first. Freed more than forty years earlier. Marko had thought him dead. They all had. Then he’d turned up when Roric had been freed weeks earlier. Mordecai was on Hades side. Turned.
Marko growled low in his chest. The traitor. He would rip him limb from limb for betraying their Lady and fellow warriors. Their honor was everything. Without it, they were no better than Hades and his demons.
He didn’t know what had become of Roric. He, and the female who’d released him, had briefly returned to the carnival before Hades had swept it away in a whirlwind. He prayed his friend had gotten free of Hades’ clutches.
A faint noise caught his attention. While he’d been lost in thought, Kellsie had been maneuvering herself closer to the cave opening. He turned to stop her and she flung out her hand. A shower of dirt and pebbles hit him in the face, momentarily blinding him. He let out a roar of frustration as she took off, quick as a jackrabbit.
He swiped at his face, swearing at himself for getting distracted. He wouldn’t be able to let down his guard around her. Not for one second. He needed to get her to believe him so he could focus all his attention on the task at hand. The past didn’t matter and the future wasn’t assured. Not until the next twenty-four hours had passed. If they survived that, they were home free. Hades and his minions couldn’t touch them.