Ardent

It sounded like something from one of the graphic novels Jaime Anderson aspires to create, but Arden Kaller is real. Once the lover of Jaime’s older brother, his blood FRDWV-DLPH·VOLSVWKHÀUVWQLJKWKHKLWVWRZQZKHQKHKHDOV him after Jaime is involved in an altercation in a brick-lined alley. Arden has spent long years studying his amphora, his SRWVKDUGV+RZFDQDVPDOOWRZQER\H[HUWVXFKDKROGRQ KLP"%XWLWLVQ·WORQJEHIRUHKHWULFNV-DLPHLQWRZHDULQJKLV mystical token. Jaime’s life is complicated enough just handling classes. 1RZ KLV JXLWDUSOD\LQJ IULHQG 0RQGR WXUQV RXW WR EH D ZHUHZROI ZKR ZDQWV -DLPH WR EH KLVDQG WKHQ WKHUH LV Arden, his dark, dangerous, and slightly nerdy vampire lover.

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Check out titles, both available and forthcoming, at www.mlrpress.com

ARDENT

JAN IRVING

mlrpress www.mlrpress.com

7KLV ERRN LV D ZRUN RI ÀFWLRQ 1DPHV FKDUDFWHUV SODFHV DQG incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are XVHGÀFWLWLRXVO\$Q\UHVHPEODQFHWRDFWXDOHYHQWVRUORFDOHVRU persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Copyright 2011 by Jan Irving $OOULJKWVUHVHUYHGLQFOXGLQJWKHULJKWRIUHSURGXFWLRQLQZKROH or in part in any form. Published by 0/53UHVV//& *DLQHV:DWHUSRUW5G Albion, NY 14411 9LVLW0DQ/RYH5RPDQFH3UHVV//&RQWKH,QWHUQHW ZZZPOUSUHVVFRP &RYHU$UWE\'HDQD&-DPUR] Editing by Kimiberly Brandt Print Format ,6%1 Also available in ebook format ,6%1 Issued 2011 7KLVERRNLVOLFHQVHGWRWKHRULJLQDOSXUFKDVHURQO\'XSOLFDWLRQ or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of ,QWHUQDWLRQDO&RS\ULJKW/DZVXEMHFWWRFULPLQDOSURVHFXWLRQDQG XSRQFRQYLFWLRQÀQHVDQGRULPSULVRQPHQW7KLVH%RRNFDQQRW be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can EHVKDUHGRUUHSURGXFHGZLWKRXWWKHH[SUHVVSHUPLVVLRQRI WKH publisher.

ąUGēUHWREXUQ To the original group of friends who helped me with this one. You know who you are.

CHAPTER ONE $UGHQ.DOOHUOHDQHGDJDLQVWDEULFNZDOOKLVIDYRULWHEDWWHUHG OHDWKHU WUHQFK FRDW WLJKW DURXQG KLV VOLP ZDLVW ORQJ EODFN KDLU VZHSW EDFN IURP KLV IDFH H\HV FORVHG«ÀJKWLQJ WHDUV«DQG ZDLWLQJIRUQLJKWIDOOIRUVRPHRQHVWXSLGHQRXJKWRZDONLQWRWKH VKDGRZVWKDWKLGDGHPRQ Arden, keep him safe for me. +LVH\HVEXUQHGDQGKHVQRUWHGRXWDODXJK3DWKHWLF6RPH GDUN GDQJHURXV YLOODLQ KH ZDV VWXFN LQ WKLV RQHFRIIHHDQG GRQXWVKRS WRZQ +H ZDQWHG WR KXUW VRPHRQH KH ZDQWHG WR give into his true nature. ,QVWHDGKH·GIROORZHGDWHDVLQJVFHQWWUDLO He opened his eyes and stared through the glasses that GLVJXLVHG KLV HQODUJHG KXQWHU·V SXSLOV ZDWFKLQJ DV WKH KXPDQ KH·G WUDFNHG DSSURDFKHG +H ZDWFKHG D JURXS RI FROOHJH ER\V engaged in a standoff, their fresh-faced innocence stimulating  KLVQHHGVRKHZRQGHUHGZKLFKRQHKH·GWDVWH+HZRXOGQ·WNLOO DQ\RQH³LWZDVWRRPHVV\DQGKHZDVDIDVWLGLRXVPDQ 2QHLPPHGLDWHO\FDXJKWKLVH\HDVOHQGHUDQGIDPLOLDUORRNLQJ \RXQJPDQZLWKDVFDUHFURZDZNZDUGEXLOG,WVHHPHGOLNHKLV DUPVDQGOHJVKDGEHHQDWWDFKHGE\GLIIHUHQWELWVRIVWUDZUDWKHU WKDQKLVWRUVR+LVKDLUZDVWKHFRORURI VPRRWKPLONFKRFRODWH DQGKDUGVQDSSLQJDOPRQGVKDSHGH\HVJODUHGRXWDWWKHZRUOG 'HVSLWHKLVVOLJKWVL]HKHZDVPRXWKLQJRII WRDWDOOHUPXVFOHG \RXWKZLWKUHGKDLU 6KLW ´6WLOO WLOWLQJ DW ZLQGPLOOV OLWWOH RQH"µ $UGHQ JURZOHG 7KH  QDPHKDGVXLWHG-DLPHZKHQKHZDVVL[WHHQDQGIROORZLQJ$UGHQ DQG'HUHNHYHU\ZKHUH1RZLWVWUXFN$UGHQDVKDYLQJDVH[XDO resonance. He took off his glasses and rubbed his forearm against his H\HV WDNLQJ DZD\ WKH HPEDUUDVVLQJ UHVLGXH RI WHDUV $QRWKHU

2 Jan Irving GHHSEUHDWKDQGKHZDVKLPVHOIDJDLQ+HZDVEDFNLQWRZQ+H KDGNHSWKLVSURPLVHDQRWKHU\HDU+HZRXOGQRWJLYHLQWRKLV GHVLUH+HZRXOGQRWFODLP-DLPH%XW«KH·GPLVVHGKLP ´
ARDENT 3 oblivious to the vibe of a real predator. Arden reached out easily, still smiling, yanked Larry close and bit his neck. ´
4 Jan Irving E\ WUDVK FDQV +H FRXOG PDNH RXW D IDLQW KHDUWEHDW /DUU\ ZDV VOHHSLQJRII WKHELWH´+HWRRNRIIµKHOLHG´
ARDENT 5 ´0RUH 7DNH moreµ $UGHQ VWURNHG -DLPH·V KDLU DV KLV ER\ sucked him. He could smell the sudden heat in Jaime as he reacted to WKHWDVWHRI   DYDPSLUH$UGHQZDVQ·WVXUSULVHGZKHQKHJODQFHG GRZQ DQG VDZ WKH ORQJ VZROOHQ LPSULQW SUHVVLQJ DJDLQVW WKH \RXQJPDQ·VMHDQV+HKDGWRORRNDZD\,WZDVMXVWKLVEORRG,W ZDVQ·WUHDOO\him -DLPHZDVUHVSRQGLQJWR :KHQ KH WKRXJKW -DLPH KDG WDVWHG HQRXJK WR KHDO $UGHQ UHOXFWDQWO\SXOOHGKLVZULVWDZD\+HKDGDEL]DUUHGHVLUHWRLQYLWH -DLPHRXWIRUDQLJKWFDSRIDFRIIHHDQGGRQXWQRZSRVWEORRG VKDULQJ+LVOLSVWZLWFKHG+HKDGWREHSXQFK\IURPWKHEORRG ORVV +H ZDV WKH ODVW SHUVRQ -DLPH ZRXOG HYHU ZDQW WR JR RXW ZLWK ´*RKRPHQRZ5HVWµKHRUGHUHGLQVWHDG  -DLPHJDYHKLPDGD]HGORRN+HVPHOOHGRIHURWLFDZDNHQLQJ +H ZDWFKHG DV KROGLQJ KLV ULEV -DLPH VWDJJHUHG IURP WKH alley. 2QFHKHZDVJRQH$UGHQWRRNDGHHSEUHDWK&ORVHGKLVH\HV 7KLV ZDV ZK\ KH DOZD\V KDG WR OHDYH 7KHUH ZDV QR UHDVRQLQJ ZLWKKLVGHPRQQRWWKDWPXFKUHPDLQHGRI WKHER\KH·GEHHQ so long ago. +LVGHPRQZDQWHG-DLPHDVKLVFKRVHQKXPDQ For years he’d been haunted by visions of him, laughing and JLYLQJ KLP KHOO DQG«NLVVLQJ KLP (YHQ ZKHQ KLV EURWKHU ZDV DOLYHDQGKDGEHHQ$UGHQ·VORYHU$UGHQKDGZDQWHG-DLPH +HVKRRNKLVKHDG7ZRWKLQJVVWRRGLQWKHZD\RIWKDWHYHU KDSSHQLQJRQHKHZDVDPRQVWHUDQGWZR$UGHQFRXOGQ·WEHJLQ  WRUHPHPEHUKRZWRZRRDQLQQRFHQW,I-DLPHVWLOOZDVRQHWKDW ZDV §§§§ Alone in his dilapidated house, Arden tossed his peridot DQGDPHWK\VWFKDUPRQWRKLVGHVN  6XQOLJKWFDPHWKURXJKWKH ZLQGRZV PDNLQJ WKH VWRQHV VSDUNOH 7KDQNV WR DQ H[SHQVLYH VSHOO VXQVKLQH RQO\ ZDUPHG $UGHQ LQVWHDG RI EXUQLQJ KLP ,W

6 Jan Irving ZDV XVHIXO KDYLQJ EHHQ DURXQG VR ORQJ +H NQHZ KRZ WR OLYH comfortably. He ran a hand through his long hair, freeing it from a ribbon so it fell softly around his face as he considered the talisman he’d SLFNHGXSDWWKHORFDOPDJLFVKRS&DOOLQJLWD¶ORYHFKDUP·ZDVQ·W TXLWH DFFXUDWH ,W ZDV D FKDUP WR LPSULQW GHVLUHV RQ VRPHRQH EDVLFDOO\WRPDNHWKHPGRZKDWKHZDQWHG $UGHQ KDG QR LQWHQWLRQ RI XVLQJ LW WR VHGXFH -DLPH³KRZ KRNH\ ZDV WKDW" +RZHYHU WKH FKDUP PLJKW EH XVHIXO WR PDNH KLPDOLWWOHPRUHFDXWLRXV1RPRUHPRXWKLQJRIIWRMRFNV:KR  NQHZKRZPDQ\WLPHVKLVER\KDGGRQHWKDWLQWKH\HDU$UGHQ had been gone? His boy. $UGHQVKRRNKLVKHDGEXWGHVSLWHKLVDZDUHQHVVWKDWKHZDV IDOOLQJLQWRDFOLFKp³WKHGDUNGDQJHURXVYDPSLUHGUDZQWRWKH LQQRFHQWKXPDQ³KHFRXOGQ·WKHOSEXWPXOORYHUZKDWLPDJHV KH ZRXOG OLNH WR WUDQVPLW WR -DLPH LI KH JDYH LQWR KLV QDWXUDO villain self. He closed his eyes and hot possibilities sparked through his mind. A simple kiss. He caught his breath, stirred, nipples hardening under his silk shirt. What? +H IURZQHG VKDNLQJ RII WKH EL]DUUH LGHD :KDW GLG D NLVV have to offer someone like him, hundreds of years old? He didn’t ERWKHU WR NLVV DQ\RQH DQ\PRUH ,W ZDV D PHDQLQJOHVV KXPDQ thing. He closed his eyes again, concentrating. Okay, door number WZR« He wanted Jaime under his control, sucking his cock on command, pleasing him, lovin— :KRD Arden turned his back on the charm, staring out at the garden KH SUHIHUUHG WR OHW JR ZLOG VR LW ZDV D WDQJOH RI MDVPLQH DQG

ARDENT 7 ROHDQGHUÁRZHUVWKDWVFHQWHGKLVQLJKWV7KHKRXVHZDVDNQRFN RII RQ 0D\DQ UXLQV EXLOW E\ DQ HFFHQWULF DUFKHRORJLVW LQ WKH 7KLUWLHV ,W ZDV KLJK RQ D URFN\ ULVH WKDW ORRNHG RYHU D JRUJH bridged by an arching span of rock, some of it dangerously XQVWDEOH $UGHQ OLNHG WKH ÀJXUHG FRQFUHWH VRPHWLPHV VHHLQJ IDFHV LPDJHV IURP KLV SDVW LQ WKH XQGXODWLQJ SDWWHUQV 7KDW LW ZDVDOLWWOHGDPSDQGWKHKHDWLQJGLGQ·WZRUNDOOWKHWLPHGLGQ·W matter to a vampire. ([FHSWIRU-DLPHKLVOLIHZDVRUGHUO\=HQ+HKXQWHGIHG WKHQUHWXUQHGKRPHWRKLVERRNVDQGKLVQHDWO\RUJDQL]HGERQHV DQGFUDFNHGFOD\YHVVHOVIURPYDULRXVGLJVKHYLVLWHGZRUOGZLGH +H KDG OLYHG WKLV ZD\ \HDU DIWHU \HDU VLQFH KLV VLUH 6HDQ KDG IRXQGKLPDQXQDZDNHQHGVWDEOHER\DQGWDNHQDIDQF\WRKLP *LYHQ WKH GLIIHUHQFH LQ WKHLU H[SHULHQFHV KH ZRQGHUHG DJDLQZK\DWKRURXJKO\XQUHPDUNDEOHVPDOOWRZQER\OLNH-DLPH WRXFKHGKLP3HUKDSVLWZDVEHFDXVH-DLPHVWLOOFDUHGHQRXJKWR ÀJKWIRUWKHWKLQJVKHEHOLHYHGLQ$UGHQGLGQ·W +HZDVWHPSWHGIRUDPRPHQWWRFKXFNWKHFKDUPH[FHSW IRUKLVSURPLVH+H·GSURPLVHG'HUHNKHZRXOGNHHSWDEVRQKLV \RXQJHUEURWKHU7RNHHSKLPVDIHDVKH·GIDLOHGWRNHHS'HUHN safe. $UGHQSDFHGDEUXSWO\UHVWOHVV:KHQZRXOGWKHVXQJRGRZQ" 7KHUHZDVDORWKHGLGQ·WNQRZDERXW-DLPHQRZ'LGWKHVFDPS have a boyfriend? 6KLW3HUKDSVKHVKRXOGJHWDFKDUPWRSURWHFW himself from Jaime. *LYLQJ LQWR WKH LQHYLWDEOH KH GHFLGHG WR FRQWLQXH ZRUNLQJ the spell. He picked the charm up and concentrated on bending -DLPH·VZLOOWRKLVRZQ7KHREMHFWZDVDFWLYDWHGE\SDVVLRQVR he’d make use of his inconvenient obsession to keep his boy safe. He ran the crystal over the hard outline of his cock, but the sensation didn’t satisfy him, so he impatiently opened his black linen pants and freed himself. A little fantasy just for Jaime. :DUPHGVWRQHFDUHVVHGKLVVKDIW$VWRQHKHHQYLVLRQHG-DLPH

8 Jan Irving ZHDULQJIRUKLP+LVKDQGFOHQFKHGRQWKHGHVNFKDLUWKHZRRG creaking under his grip as his breathing picked up— His seed spilled over his hand, over the crystals, sealing the KRWLPDJHVLQDVZLUOLQJFDPHR,PDJHVRI -DLPHNLVVLQJ$UGHQ hands locked around his neck. 1RZ LI KH FRXOG JHW -DLPH WR ZHDU LW IRU KLP WKH\·G EH FRQQHFWHG+H·GNQRZZKHQ-DLPHZDVDURXVHG«RULQWURXEOH +H KXIIHG RXW D ODXJK D OLWWOH VKDNHQ KH·G EHHQ VR PRYHG 8VLQJWKHFKDUPZDVPHUHO\VXSSRVHGWREHDPHDQVWRDQHQG +HZDVQ·WWUXO\FODLPLQJ-DLPH 0D\EH KH VKRXOG OHDYH WRZQ QRZ KH·G VHHQ WKDW KLV ER\ ZDVVDIHIRUDQRWKHU\HDU"9LVLW7XUNH\DQGRQHRI KLVIDYRULWH archeological digs, Aphrodisias. He could stand under the marble  RIWKH7HWUDS\ORQLQWKHPRRQOLJKWDQGGUHDPDERXWZKDWLWPXVW KDYHEHHQOLNHWROLYHWKHUHWZRWKRXVDQG\HDUVDJR +PPP ([FHSW WKLV \HDU ZDV WKH GHPRQ JDWKHULQJ DQG human slave auction and his sire had asked for his presence. He NQHZ6HDQZDQWHGWREHOLHYHLQ$UGHQ·VIHDOW\EXWWKHWUXWKZDV WKDW $UGHQ ZDV LQGLIIHUHQW WR YDPSLUH SROLWLFV +H ZHQW DORQJ ZLWKYDPSLUHJDPHVVRKHFRXOGEHOHIWDORQHWRHQMR\KLVGLJV date his dusty bones and clay containers. 6KRYLQJDVLGHWKRXJKWVRI6HDQ$UGHQÀQLVKHGWKHULWXDO+H FXWRSHQKLVZULVWZLWKKLVWHHWKOHWWLQJKLVEORRGVSDWWHURQWKH FKDUP0DJLFEORRPHGDQGWKHQFUDFNOHGVRWKDWWKHGDUNKDLURQ $UGHQ·VIRUHDUPVVWRRGVWUDLJKW+HFORVHGDSRVVHVVLYHÀVWRYHU KLV RIIHULQJ +H ZRXOG NHHS -DLPH VDIH DQG ZRXOG XVH -DLPH·V soft heart to trick him. §§§§ ´,KDYHVRPHWKLQJIRU\RXµDIDPLOLDUYRLFHSXUUHG ´+XK"µ 7ZR FRIIHHV EDODQFHG LQ D FDUGERDUG WUD\ -DLPH SHHUHG LQWR WKH VKDGRZV RI DQ DOOH\ LQ WRZQ 1RW the alley, of FRXUVHVLQFHKHGLGQRWZDQWWRVHH$UGHQDJDLQ'LGQRWZDQW to remember Arden holding him, comforting him the night of Derek’s death.

ARDENT 9 ´+HOORµ $UGHQ VWHSSHG LQWR YLHZ +LV GDUN KDLU ZDV VZHSW back from a high forehead and tied in a neat black ribbon and he ZDVZHDULQJFKDUFRDOSDQWVDQGDWHDOVZHDWHURYHUKLVZKLSFRUG VOLPERG\7KHRQO\WKLQJVOLJKWO\QHUG\ZHUHWKHIDPLOLDUJODVVHV ZKLFK$UGHQSXVKHGKLJKHURQWKHEULGJHRI KLVQRVHDQGWKH %DQG$LGZUDSSHGDURXQGKLVLQGH[ÀQJHU+DGKHFXWKLPVHOI RQ RQH RI KLV DPSKRUD MXJV ZKLOH WU\LQJ WR UHFRQVWUXFW WKH splinters? -DLPH·V WKURDW WLJKWHQHG ZKHQ KH UHPHPEHUHG KRZ RIWHQ KH·G ZRUNHG ZLWK $UGHQ VNHWFKLQJ VKDSHV WR KHOS ZLWK KLV UHFRQVWUXFWLRQZRUN+H·GDOZD\VKDGPRUHSDWLHQFHIRULWWKDQ 'HUHNZKRKDGRQO\WROHUDWHG$UGHQ·VSDVVLRQIRUWKHSDVW %XWWKLQJVKDGFKDQJHGVLQFHWKHQ'HUHNZDVJRQHDQG-DLPH  GLGQ·WIHHOFRPIRUWDEOHDURXQG$UGHQDQ\PRUH1RZKLVKHDUW sped up and his palms got damp, and all his instincts screamed at KLPWRUXQDVKHKHOG$UGHQ·VGDUNJD]HVREODFNWKDWLWZDVKDUG WRVHHWKHGLIIHUHQFHEHWZHHQWKHSXSLOVDQGLULVHV He wants something from me. ´8K+Lµ ´
10 Jan Irving DQG KLV H\HV ZLGHQHG 0D\EH LW ZDV WKH FKRFRODWH EDJHOV KH·G VFDUIHGGRZQIRUEUHDNIDVW7KH\PDGHKLPK\SHU´
ARDENT 11 As Jaime stared, he thought there might be a cameo etched in the SLHFH7ZRPHQRQWKHYHUJHRI DNLVV ´8K7KDW·VNLQGRI³µ ´*D\"µ$UGHQUDLVHGDEURZ -DLPHÁXVKHG´,·PGRLQJÀQHZLWKRXW\RXµ ´7KDW·VnotDQRSWLRQµ ´:K\QRW"µ ´%HFDXVHµ ´2ND\\RXKDYHDQDWWLWXGHSUREOHPµ-DLPHJURZOHG ´
12 Jan Irving ´)LQHµ-DLPHZDQWHGWRUROOKLVH\HV2ND\VRKH·GLQGXOJHKLV old friend and then dump the thing as soon as he got home. “I VWLOOWKLQNLWVNLQGDGLVFR1RWP\WKLQJµ $UGHQFLUFOHG-DLPHDQG-DLPHIHOWFRROÀQJHUWLSVJUD]HWKH VNLQRI KLVQHFN7KHFODVSRI WKHSHQGDQWPDGHDQRGGO\ÀQDO sound as Arden snapped it closed. Jaime shivered. ´
CHAPTER TWO %DFN LQ WKH EDVHPHQW ZKHUH KH OLYHG -DLPH UXEEHG KLV SHQGDQW UHPHPEHULQJ WKH DPXVHG OLJKW LQ $UGHQ·V H\HV ZKHQ Jaime referred to it grumpily as Arden’s stones.  +HPXVWORRNOLNHVRPHNLQGRIKLSSLHQRWVRPHRQHZKRKDG JURZQXSLQWKLVVPDOOXQLPDJLQDWLYHWRZQZLWKROGHUEURWKHUV DQGRQHIULHQGWRKLVQDPHDQGQHYHUWUDYHOHGDQ\ZKHUH+HEHW DVVRRQDVWKHMRFNVVDZWKLVKH·GEHWHDVHGDERXWLWZKLFKZDV VRODPH+HFRXOGQ·WZDLWWRÀQLVKXSKLVVHFRQG\HDUDQGJRWR DODUJHUFLW\ZKHUHQRRQHNQHZKLP 6KLW:K\KDGKHJLYHQLQ" +HJUXQWHGNQRZLQJWKHDQVZHU%HFDXVH$UGHQKDGDVNHG  %HFDXVH-DLPHKDGZDQWHGWRWKURZKLPVHOILQKLVDUPVDVKHKDG DVD\RXQJER\IHHOWKHWKLQIDPLOLDUERG\DJDLQVWKLVRZQ  'LVJXVWHGZLWKKLVFDSLWXODWLRQ-DLPHSXOOHGDWWKHFODVS1R joy. ´'R,QHHGEROWFXWWHUV"µKHDVNHG+HIHOORQKLVEHGSLVVHG at himself, but that didn’t stop him from closing his eyes and for the hundredth time reliving opening his lips and sucking Arden’s EORRG+H·GNQRZQKHZDVDYDPSLUHRI FRXUVHEXWKHKDGQ·W NQRZQ³ 7KHWDVWH +HJURDQHGUHVWOHVVRQWKHEHGDOPRVWDVLI KHZHUHOLIWLQJ KLPVHOI FORVHUWRDQRWKHUSKDQWRPERG\$VLI $UGHQZDVZLWK KLPRQWKLVVLQJOHEHGRQWRSRI KLPFUXVKLQJKLVZLU\ERG\ DJDLQVW-DLPH·VZKLOH-DLPH·VÀQJHUVGXJLQWR$UGHQ·VIRUHDUPV and he— Above stairs something shattered. Flinch. $QG\ \HOOLQJ 2ND\ KLV ROGHU EURWKHU ZDV KDYLQJ DQRWKHU WDQWUXP*UHDW,WKDGWRVXFNEHLQJDIDWKHUZKHQ-DLPHNQHZ

14 Jan Irving $QG\GLGQ·WORYHKLVJLUOIULHQG0RQLFD%XW-DLPHKDGJLYHQKLV brother the best parts of the house they’d inherited. He could FRDVWRQDSDUWWLPHMRELI KHZDQWHG -DLPHWHQVHGNQRZLQJKHZRXOGQ·WJHWDQ\VFKRROZRUNGRQH QHYHUPLQGDQ\DUWZRUNQRWZLWKWKHWHQVLRQLQWKHKRXVH Jaime glanced at the faces on graphic novels spread out like a fan on his bed as he climbed off and hesitated at the landing. +HURLFGHHGV6DFULÀFHV7KH\ZHUHWKHIDPLO\KH·GFKRVHQHYHQ EHIRUH KH·G PHW $UGHQ DQG ORVW 'HUHN $QG KH ZDV WU\LQJ WR PDNHZKDWZDVOHIWRI KLVRZQIDPLO\ZRUNEXW« +LVMDZZDVWLJKWDVKHSXWDIRRWRQWKHÀUVWVWDLUKHDGLQJXS +H·GPDNHGLQQHUDQGHYHQWXDOO\HYHU\RQHZRXOGUHOD[0D\EH KH·GJHWVRPHZRUNGRQHODWHUZKHQWKH\ZHQWWREHG §§§§ (OL]DEHWK FDOOHG DIWHU KH UHWXUQHG WR KLV EHGURRP UROOLQJ KLV WHQVH VKRXOGHUV %XW LW ZDV TXLHW XSVWDLUV HYHU\RQH IHG VR mission accomplished. ´+H\KRZ·VWKHSLHFHJRLQJ"µVKHDVNHGKLPLQKHUKXVN\DOWR (OL]DEHWK KDG D SKRQHVH[ YRLFH FRXSOHG ZLWK D ER\LVK ÀJXUH 6KHKDGEHHQKLVEHVWIULHQGVLQFHIRUHYHUPD\EHEHFDXVHWKH\ ERWK VDZ WKLQJV GLIIHUHQWO\ IURP HYHU\RQH HOVH LQ WRZQ $QG WKH\·GJRWWHQFORVHUZKHQ'HUHNGLHGDQG$UGHQOHIW  ´1RZRUNRQLWVRIDUVRUU\,NQRZ\RXZDQWHGSRVWHUVIRU  WKHXSFRPLQJVWXGHQWDUWVKRZ&DQ\RXJLYHPHDQH[WHQVLRQRQ WKHGHDGOLQHWLOOGD\DIWHUWRPRUURZ"µ ´
ARDENT 15 -DLPHVZDOORZHG´&DQZHQRWKDYHWKLVFRQYHUVDWLRQ"µ ´5LJKW 1R SUREOHP RQ WKH GHDGOLQHµ +HU YRLFH VRIWHQHG ´
16 Jan Irving long abstinence — Arden didn’t think it polite to decline the UHVW RI KLV KRVW·V KRVSLWDOLW\ 1RZ KH ÀQJHUHG WKH ER\·V FROODU DSHQGDQWRI TXDUW]6HDQKDGJLYHQKLPDVKHNQHOWQXGHDQG peaceful at Arden’s feet. He couldn’t help but remember the collar he’d tricked Jaime LQWRZHDULQJ+DGKLVER\UHDOL]HG\HWLWZRXOGQ·WFRPHRII "1RW unless Arden’s hands removed it. Before he’d had to make his cameo appearance at the ball this HYHQLQJKH·GIROORZHG-DLPH·VVFHQWWRKLVKRPHDQGGLVFRYHUHG KH OLYHG LQ WKH EDVHPHQW QRZ 9HU\ QLFH 'HUHN ZRXOGQ·W KDYH liked that. Arden couldn’t see much through the cloth tacked on a FHOODUZLQGRZEXWLWORRNHG6SDUWDQDOLWWOHPHVV\&RPLFERRNV DQGLOOXVWUDWLRQVFRYHUHGRQHZDOO,WZDVQ·WORVWRQ$UGHQWKDW WKH\DOOVHHPHGWRFHOHEUDWHPHQ·VERGLHV+HZDVQRWSDWKHWLF because he tried to see himself in some of them. +HVKRRNKLVKHDGZRQGHULQJDWKLPVHOI(YHQZLWK'HUHN WKHUH KDG EHHQ ERXQGDULHV EHWZHHQ D YDPSLUH DQG KLV KXPDQ ORYHU +H·G QHYHU ZRUULHG DERXW DVNLQJ KLV SHUPLVVLRQ +H·G QHYHUVDLG´SOHDVHµ$QG\HWKHKDGZLWK-DLPHPRUHWKDQRQFH +HJURZOHGXQGHUKLVEUHDWK+HKDGWRVWRSWKLQNLQJOLNHD KXPDQEHFDXVHKHZDVQ·WRQHQRWUHPRWHO\ Caring is an old fashioned notion with no place in the life of a vampire who wants to continue living his quiet, comfortable life. +HFDXJKW6HDQ·VVFHQWDQGLPPHGLDWHO\VDWXSDGMXVWLQJWKH glasses he didn’t need but found a strange kind of security in ZHDULQJ +LV VKRXOGHUV VWLIIHQHG +H KDG QR GHVLUH WR EHFRPH DPDVWHUYDPSLUHWRUXOHDWRZQRUFLW\EXWZKHQHYHUKHPHW 6HDQQRZWKHUHZDVDFODVKRI SRZHU,WZDVDQXLVDQFHEXWKH GLGQ·WDOZD\VZDQWWRJRDORQJZLWK6HDQ·VRUGHUVDQGKHZDVROG HQRXJK DQG VWURQJ HQRXJK WKDW KH GLGQ·W KDYH WR +H NQHZ LW LUNHG6HDQWKRXJKWKHRWKHUYDPSLUHWULHGWRKLGHLW 6HDQUHDFKHGIRUKLVSHW·VOHDVKDQG$UGHQKDQGHGLWWRKLP EOXVKLQJ6KLWKHKDWHGWKDWKHVWLOOGLGWKDW 7KH ROGHU YDPSLUH ODXJKHG DWWUDFWLYH FUHDVHV E\ KLV EULJKW JUHHQH\HV´,VHH\RXHQMR\HG5HHFH6WLOOHPEDUUDVVHGE\VKDULQJ

ARDENT 17 $UGHQ"µKHDVNHGVLWWLQJGRZQDQGJLYLQJ$UGHQDZDUPORRN He could be a very pleasant companion. Arden stared a moment at the beautiful, naked Asian man ZKR ORRNHG YHU\ DSSHDOLQJ ZHDULQJ PRRQVWRQHFRYHUHG PHVK and nothing else. He reminded Arden faintly of Jaime because Jaime’s mother had been Japanese-American. ´$UGHQKHOOR"µ6HDQTXLUNHGDEURZ ´+H·VYHU\EHDXWLIXO7KDQN\RXIRUVKDULQJKLPµ$UGHQVDLG “You’d live like a monk if I didn’t send you someone from time to time. And you don’t have to sound so unhappy to be here. ,·YHPLVVHG\RXµ ´$QGVRPHWLPHV«,PLVV\RXµ$UGHQDGPLWWHG6HDQFRYHUHG KLVKDQGDQGVTXHH]HGLW+HKDGQRWEHHQWKHVWHUHRW\SLFDOEUXWDO vampire sire. He’d never done anything to Arden that Arden  KDGQ·WWKRURXJKO\HQMR\HG%XW$UGHQODFNHG6HDQ·VDPELWLRQDQG patience for melodramatic demon politics. ´, FDPH GLGQ·W ," , ZRXOGQ·W KDYH GRQH LW H[FHSW IRU \RX 6HDQµ   ´$VZHOO\RXVKRXOG
18 Jan Irving counted his graphic novel covers. Besides, obviously Arden felt VRPHKROGRYHURISURWHFWLYHQHVVWRZDUGKLPEXWWKDWZDVLW+H  GLGQ·WVHH-DLPHWKHZD\KHKDG'HUHN Jaime guessed since he couldn’t sleep that he should steal XSVWDLUVDQGEDNHDIUR]HQSL]]DRUVRPHWKLQJ  $WDSRQWKHJODVVRI KLVWLQ\EDVHPHQWZLQGRZPDGHKLP jump. +HVDWXSRQKLVEHGDQGVDZDIDPLOLDUIDFHSHHULQJLQ/RQJ GDUNKDLUFRPEHGEDFNIURPDKLJKIRUHKHDGQDUURZHGLQWHQVH eyes, sensual lips held in a stubborn line. Arden. ´/HWPHLQ-DLPHµ ´1Rµ-DLPHVDLGJUXPS\«DQGDURXVHG 7KHEODFNH\HVVHHPHGWRFKDQJHFRORUEXWLWKDGWREHDWULFN of the light. Very evenly, Arden said, “Let me in or I’ll knock XSVWDLUVDQGYLVLWZLWK\RXUEURWKHUDQGKLVJLUOIULHQG,·PVXUH WKH\·GEHKDSS\WRVHHPHWDONDERXWROGWLPHV«µ ´'DPQLW$UGHQµ7KHEDE\KDGÀQDOO\JRQHWRVOHHS-DLPH ZRXOGKDYHWRFDPSRXWVLGHLI $UGHQURXVHGWKHKRXVHKROG %XW$UGHQKDGGLVDSSHDUHGIURPKLVZLQGRZ Cursing, Jaime leaped off his bed, racing up the stairs and ÁLQJLQJRSHQWKHGRRUWRWKHJDUGHQ³ —to discover an indolent Arden leaning against the side of the house, smiling in a friendly manner. He reached out and VQDJJHG-DLPH·VZULVWSXOOLQJKLPFORVHORQJKDLUVZLQJLQJDWWKH gesture so the silky strands brushed against Jaime’s bare arms, making him shiver. -DLPHJODUHGXSDWKLP´,FDQ·WJHW\RXUQHFNODFHRIIµ ´2I FRXUVH\RXFDQ·Wµ$UGHQORRNHGVPXJ ´%XW,ZDQWLWRIIµ Arden stroked Jaime’s bed hair. ´'R\RXUHDOO\OLWWOHRQH"µ$UGHQOHDQHGKLVIRUHKHDGDJDLQVW Jaime’s.

CHAPTER THREE $UGHQ FRXOGQ·W UHVLVW 3UR[LPLW\ -DLPH·V VFHQW RI PLQJOHG nervousness and tentative desire, the feel of his hair tangled in $UGHQ·VÀQJHUV³ He hefted Jaime in his arms, almost at the point of just taking him. No asking him, no damnable conversation and saying please, EXWMXVW-DLPH·VWDVWH-DLPHXQGHUKLPZKHUHKHEHORQJHG -DLPHZUDSSHGKLVDUPVDQGOHJVDURXQG$UGHQ·VWDOOHUIUDPH $UGHQUDLVHGDEURZWKRXJKVZHDWVWRRGRXWRQKLVIRUHKHDG ´,GLGQ·WPHDQWRGRWKDWµ-DLPH·VOHJVIHOOKLVIDFHVFDUOHW´,W ZDVWKHJUDEELQJWKLQJ,WROG\RX,GRQ·WOLNHLWµ ´,FDQVHHWKDWµ$UGHQVDLGGU\O\ He pressed Jaime against the side of his house, inserting himself into the cradle of Jaime’s thighs, the heavy bulge of his VH[UXEELQJDJDLQVW-DLPH·VRZQPDWFKLQJQHHG ´'HUHNµ-DLPHZKLVSHUHG Arden released him, seeing the sheen of tears in almondVKDSHGVRIWEURZQH\HV+HVZDOORZHGDQGORRNHGDZD\ ´, UHPLQG \RX RI KLP GRQ·W ," , ÀJXUHG WKDW·V ZKDW LW LVµ -DLPHUHDFKHGRXWDQGIRUWKHÀUVWWLPHWRXFKHG$UGHQZLOOLQJO\ ´,W·VRND\,PLVVKLPWRRµ ,QWKHKRXVHDERYH-DLPH·VEDVHPHQWWKHOLJKWVZHQWRQDQG Jaime’s shoulders tensed. Arden didn’t miss that. “If you still think of him, you should GRZKDWKHZRXOGKDYHZDQWHGµKHVDLG -DLPHEOLQNHG´+XK"µ ´
20 Jan Irving EDVHPHQWOLNHWKLVµ “7KH\ QHHGHG ERWK 'HUHN·V ROG URRP DQG PLQHµ -DLPH H[SODLQHG ´$QG\·V JLUOIULHQG ZDQWHG KHU RZQ VSDFH DQG WKH EDE\«µ -DLPH VHHPHG WR VHQVH VRPHWKLQJ LQ $UGHQ·V VWHDG\ JD]H À[HGRQWKHOLWURRPDERYH+HSXWKLPVHOI LQ$UGHQ·VSDWKD SXSS\WDNLQJRQWKH7HUPLQDWRU  ´'HUHNOHIW\RXKLVVKDUHRI\RXUSDUHQW·VKRXVH:K\DUH\RX OLYLQJOLNH&LQGHUIHOOD"µ ´$UGHQ«µ ´
ARDENT 21 ground. ´$QG\RXZDQWKLPWR
22 Jan Irving ´2ND\µ-DLPHKXIIHGLQGHIHDW´%XW,·YHVWLOOJRWFODVVHVVWXII   ,SURPLVHGWRGRIRU(OL]DEHWKDQG,·OOVWLOOEH-DLPH$QGHUVRQ ZRXOGEHJUDSKLFDUWLVWµ+HJDYH$UGHQDVWHUQORRN´,ZRQ·W FKDQJHµ ´2IFRXUVHEXWWKHUHZLOOEHUXOHVIRUP\KRXVHWRRµ$UGHQ VDLG+HZDVQ·WVXUH-DLPHZDVTXLWHUHDG\WRKHDUWKHP §§§§ $UGHQIHOWXQFKDUDFWHULVWLFDOO\QHUYRXV+RZZRXOG-DLPHVHH KLVKRPHDVVRPHRQHZKROLYHGKHUH"+H·GQHYHUZRUULHGDERXW WKDWZLWK'HUHNEXWKH·GEURXJKW'HUHNKRPHIRUDKRWRQH  QLJKWHUWKDWKDGVORZO\HYROYHGLQWRVRPHWKLQJHOVH,WKDGDOZD\V EHHQGLIIHUHQWZLWK-DLPH   -DLPHZDONHGE\FDUYHGVWRQHZDOOVPLVVLRQIXUQLWXUHVWDLQHG JODVVODPSV+HZDVVLOHQWDVKHSDVVHGWKHELJKHDUWKDQGZDONHG WR WKH )UHQFK GRRUV WKDW RSHQHG RQ $UGHQ·V ZLOG JDUGHQ +H VWHSSHG RXWVLGH ORRNLQJ DW WKH FUXPEOLQJ ZDOO ZKHUH MDVPLQH WDQJOHGGURRSLQJZLWKFOXVWHUVRIEORRPVWKHVFHQWKHDWLQJWKH QLJKW´
ARDENT 23 $UGHQZDQWHGWRSUHHQ-DLPHZDVLPSUHVVHGZLWKKLVKRXVH ´%XW ,·P QRW UHDOO\ LQWR 9ROWDLUH 8P ZKHUH GR , VOHHS"µ 1RZ-DLPHORRNHGQHUYRXV $UGHQZDQWHGWRVXJJHVWWKHREYLRXV,QVWHDGKHUXEEHGWKH EDFNRI KLVQHFNUHPLQGLQJKLPVHOI WKDW-DLPHZDVSUREDEO\D virgin. Patience, demon. ´,Q \RXU URRPµ KH VDLG PLOGO\ +H SRLQWHG WR D VHSDUDWH VWUXFWXUH RQ RQH VLGH RI WKH JDUGHQ ,W ZDV EXULHG LQ LY\ DQG MDVPLQH ZLWK D OLWWOH GDUN ZLQGRZ 2QH ODPS OLW WKH KLGGHQ entrance. +HIROORZHG-DLPHDVKHZDONHGRYHUWRLWDQGKDQGHGKLPDQ old-fashioned, heavy silver key. Jaime gave him a smile as he opened the door. “A garden KRXVH"µ ´,W·VDIROO\µ$UGHQH[SODLQHG´,XVHLWIRUVWRUDJHµ 7KH GRRU FUHDNHG IURP GLVXVH DQG -DLPH KHVLWDWHG RQ WKH threshold. $UGHQKLWWKHVZLWFKUHYHDOLQJDSODLQVLQJOHEHGZLWKDZKLWH bedspread, a bedside table, and a stack of books sitting on the ÁRRUEHVLGHLW7KHUHVWRIWKHURRPZDVWDNHQXSE\DODUJHGHVN RQZKLFKVDWYDULRXVVKDUGVLQSURJUHVVRI SRWVDQGVWRUDJHMDUV ´,FDQFOHDULWDOODZD\µ$UGHQRIIHUHG Jaime gave him a look under his eyelashes, as if he continued WRUHDG$UGHQ´,JXHVVZHGRKDYHRQHWKLQJLQFRPPRQ
24 Jan Irving Jaime must have seen the resemblance. He cleared his throat, delicious color heating his cheeks. ´
ARDENT 25 UHPHPEHUHGEHLQJYHU\PRUDOHYHQZKHQKHZDVKXPDQ +HIURZQHGDOUHDG\-DLPHZDVFRPSOLFDWLQJWKLQJV ´1R$UGHQSDUWRI RXUEDUJDLQZDV\RXDJUHHG,FRXOGEH PHDQG,·PWHOOLQJ\RX,GRQ·WZDQW\RXVWHDOLQJRUXPKXUWLQJ SHRSOHµ Arden bit his lip. Hurting people? Did taking a sampling of EORRGDQGJLYLQJWKHEHVWFOLPD[KHFRXOGRIIHUIDOOXQGHUWKDW category? ´
26 Jan Irving ´,·PMXVWRUGLQDU\µ-DLPHORRNHGOLNHKHZDQWHGWRGLYHXQGHU the bed. ´
ARDENT 27 NQRZLQJKHZDVOHDYLQJshouldOHDYHKHFRXOGQ·WUHVLVWZDQWLQJWR train Jaime to be a good demon’s pet. ´:HQHHGWRVSHOORXWWKH¶KRXVHUXOHV·µ$UGHQVDLGIROGLQJ KLVDUPVDQGWU\LQJWRWKLQNKRZWRSKUDVHWKLQJV ´&DQ,SXWP\MHDQVEDFNRQ"µ ´1R7KDW·VUXOHQXPEHURQHZKLFK,·OOJHWEDFNWRDIWHU«µ $UGHQ VLJKHG ´:H WDON +DYLQJ \RX XQGHU P\ URRI VHHPV WR LQYROYHDORWRI WDONLQJµ ´+H\,GLGQ·WDVNWRFRPHXQGHU\RXUURRIµ ´6HPDQWLFVµ$UGHQVXSSUHVVHGDVPLOH ´
28 Jan Irving possessive touch. ´,W·VZKDW·VEHWZHHQXVµ$UGHQVDLG ´7KDWKDVQRWKLQJWRGRZLWKEHLQJ\RXUER\µ-DLPHWXJJHG up his jeans again, obviously embarrassed by his display of ZDQWRQQHVV´,·YHNLVVHGRWKHUJX\VIRROHGDURXQGEXWLW·VQHYHU EHHQ«µ ´,WKDVHYHU\WKLQJWRGRZLWKLW
ARDENT 29 VTXHH]HGKLVH\HVVKXWIRUDPRPHQW´,·PVRUU\,VFDUHG\RXµ ´'LGQ·Wµ -DLPH PXUPXUHG ´0RUH OLNH RYHUZKHOPHG $QG RQO\WHPSRUDULO\µ ´2ND\ ¶RYHUZKHOPHG·µ %XW $UGHQ WKRXJKW D OLWWOH VFDUHG DOVR ´/HW·V«µ $UGHQ KXIIHG WLUHG DOUHDG\ RI WKH ZRUG ´Talk WRPRUURZDIWHU\RXUFODVVHVµ Jaime nodded, his shoulders tense. $UGHQVZXQJKLPLQWRKLVDUPVDQGFDUULHGKLPWRWKHYLUJLQDO single bed. He shoved off Jaime’s jeans briskly but immediately FRYHUHGKLPZLWKVKHHWVDQGWKHEHGVSUHDG ´
30 Jan Irving from Jaime’s lips. Jaime tentatively pulled him closer, accepting. ´,PLVVHG\RXµ ´
ARDENT 31 +HVQDSSHGWKHLQWULFDWHGHVLJQWRJHWKHUDQGZKDWKDGEHHQ DQDVVRUWPHQWRIORRVHDQGDEVWUDFWVWRQHVVXGGHQO\ZDVUHYHDOHG  as a covering for Jaime’s penis. -DLPHVWXGLHGLW´%XW,FDQ·W«µGet myself off. $UGHQ·VH\HVJOHDPHGKHDULQJWKHZRUGV-DLPHGLGQ·WVD\,W VRRWKHGKLVGHPRQWRNQRZWKDW-DLPH·VVH[ZDVOHDVKHGDQGRQO\ DYDLODEOHWRKLP´1R
CHAPTER FOUR ´:DNHXSVOHHS\KHDG7LPHWRJHWUHDG\IRUFODVVHVµ -DLPHEOLQNHGWRVHH$UGHQORRPLQJRYHUKLPZLWKDKRWERZO of something. It smelled good. He licked his lips, still groggy   IURPWKHODWHQLJKWWKHQJDYHD\HOSZKHQ$UGHQVPDFNHGKLV bare ass. -DLPHFOLPEHGIUHHRI KLVEHGGLQJEXWWKHQORRNHGGRZQDW  WKHVSDUNOLQJWKRQJKHZDVZHDULQJRYHUKLVFRFN,WFXSSHGKLV dick like a glove, leaving his crotch hair and balls visible. Kind RI OLNHDWRRVPDOOELNLQLLQDYHU\SRUQ\PDJD]LQH³WKDWDJLUO ZRXOGZHDUPD\EH Jaime gave it an annoyed glance and caught soft laughter. ´
34 Jan Irving ZHOOµ ´)LUVWZHDUHJRLQJWRWDONDERXWWKLVµ ´:HGLGµ “And second, it’s kind of strange being encouraged to eat my breakfast and go to school by dark mystery man. Doesn’t suit \RXULPDJHµ “I’m really more of an absent-minded professor, as you should  NQRZµ$UGHQVDWGRZQDQGZDWFKHGDV-DLPHEHJDQHDWLQJKLV oatmeal. He hadn’t been able to rest after he’d fed Jaime a late VXSSHUDQGWKHFHUHDO«:HOOLWZDVDERXWWKHRQO\WKLQJ$UGHQ NQHZKRZWRSUHSDUH+HJXHVVHGKH·GKDYHWROHDUQPRUHDERXW human food. ´+RZROGDUH\RX"µ-DLPHVWXGLHGKLP ´,QP\GD\DPDQZDVDPDQZKHQKHFRXOGSORZWKUHHWDYHUQ VOXWVLQRQHQLJKWµ ´:RZµ $UGHQFOHDUHGKLVWKURDWQRWVXUH-DLPHZDVUHDG\WRNQRZ KLVKLVWRU\RULI $UGHQZDVUHDG\WRVKDUHLW'HUHNKDGQHYHU ZDQWHGWRNQRZ+HKLWRQDVXEMHFWKHZDVPRUHHQWKXVLDVWLFWR discuss. “I skimmed a book after you fell asleep on nutrition. I ZDQWWRKHOS\RXPHHW\RXUJRDOVZLWK\RXUVFKRRODQGDUWVR«µ -DLPHUDLVHGKLVEURZV ´)RULQVWDQFHµ$UGHQFRQWLQXHG´\RXVKRXOGGULQNSOHQW\RI PLONDQGWKHUHDUHDOOWKHVHIRRGJURXSVµ ´)RRGJURXSV"/LNH-HOO2"6RGD"&KLSV"µ $UGHQEOLQNHG´7KHUHLVDVXJJHVWHGGLHW9HU\QXWULWLRQDOµ -DLPHGLGQ·WNQRZZKDWWRWKLQN+HIRUJRWWR HDWKDOI WKH WLPHDQGWKHQKHVFDUIHGGRZQZKDWHYHUZDVKDQG\XVXDOO\IDVW IRRG´
ARDENT 35 DOVRSURPLVHPHWKDW\RX·OOEHKRPHEHIRUHGDUNµ$UGHQ·VIDFH tightened at the last. ´)RRGJURXSVKRPHEHIRUHGDUNULJKWµ-DLPH·VWKURDWZDV WLJKWIRUVRPHUHDVRQDVKHÀQLVKHGKLVRDWPHDO2QO\'HUHNKDG FDUHGZKDWKHDWHVLQFHWKHLUSDUHQWVKDGGLHGLQDFDUDFFLGHQW ZKHQERWKER\VKDGEHHQ\RXQJHU´7KLVLVQ·WZKDW,H[SHFWHG URRPLQJZLWKVRPHRQHµ §§§§ -DLPH IROORZHG $UGHQ LQWR WKH PDLQ KRXVH DQG WKH ROG IDVKLRQHGEDWKLQJURRP7KHEDWKWXEZDVDODUJHUHFWDQJOHDQG WKH VKRZHU ZDV ORFDWHG QH[W WR WKH JDUGHQ ZLWK FOHDU JODVV WR YLHZRXWGRRUVZKLOHEDWKLQJ +HZDVLPPHGLDWHO\FRQIURQWHGZLWKDSUREOHP+LVPRUQLQJ VKRZHUZDVZKHQKHXVXDOO\JRWKLPVHOI RII+HFRXOGQ·WKHOS WKDW KH WKRXJKW DERXW VH[ DOO WKH WLPH $QG WKH (LJKWLHV ORYH ELNLQL ZDV PDNLQJ LW ZRUVH ,W SUHYHQWHG KLV SHQLV IURP IXOO\ ÀOOLQJFRQVWULFWLQJKLPDQG\HWDOVRVHQVLWL]LQJKLPPDNLQJKLP DZDUHRI KLVWKZDUWHGGHVLUHV,WZDVGULYLQJKLPFUD]\ $UGHQOLIWHGDOLWWOHJROGNH\RIIDFKDLQDURXQGKLVZULVW$V -DLPHZDWFKHGKHÀWWHGLWFDUHIXOO\WRWKHWKRQJDQGRSHQHGWKH links so it fell softly into his hands. ´8KKKKµ -DLPH EHQW RYHU WKH ZDOO KLV SHQLV LQVWDQWO\ H[WHQGLQJWRLWVIXOOOHQJWK,WIHOWamazing to be hard. He reached for himself. And Arden smacked his hand. ´+H\µ ´
36 Jan Irving Jaime into the cubicle. ´3XW\RXUKDQGVRQWKHOHGJHµ ´+RZFRPH"µ Arden slapped Jaime’s bare ass. -DLPH·VFRFNÁH[HGZLWKIUHVKH[FLWHPHQW ´/LNHWKDW"µ$UGHQKDGVWULSSHGDQG-DLPHOHDQHGDJDLQVWWKH ZKLSFRUGVOLPERG\KROGLQJKLVIHHOLQJ$UGHQ·VKHDY\HUHFWLRQ pressing insistently against one of his ass-cheeks. He glanced at Arden’s impassive face and felt a little DSSUHKHQVLRQ DORQJ ZLWK DURXVDO 7UXWK ZDV $UGHQ FRXOG EH intimidating. And the house rules — nutrition, home before dark, don’t touch himself unless Arden said he could — all felt VWUDQJHEXWDOVRLQHYLWDEOHDVLI VRPHSDUWRI KLPKDGDOZD\V EHHQZDLWLQJRQ$UGHQ He put his hands on the ledge. ´.HHSWKHPWKHUHµ $UGHQWXUQHGRQWKHVKRZHUDQG-DLPHOHWKLVKHDGGURSWKH KRWZDWHUVRRWKLQJ+HZDQWHGVREDGO\WRWRXFKKLPVHOI,WZDV all he could think about since Arden had denied him. $EDURIVRDSUDQRYHUKLVVKRXOGHUVDQGWKHQGRZQKLVEDFN -DLPHVKLYHUHGORVLQJKLVVK\QHVVWRKLVJURZLQJQHHG ´$UGHQµKHZKLVSHUHGOLFNLQJKLVOLSV ´, OLNH ZDVKLQJ \RXµ $UGHQ WRRN KLV WLPH FOHDQLQJ -DLPH·V arms and legs before beginning to soap his chest. ´2K*RGµ-DLPHJDVSHGDVDVRDS\KDQGIRXQGDQGVWURNHG KLP+HSXVKHGKLPVHOI ZDQWRQO\LQWRWKDWKDQGEXWKHZDVQ·W UHZDUGHGZLWKPRUHFDUHVVHV ´
ARDENT 37 VRPXFKµ -DLPHVWRRGZLWKKLVOHJVVSUHDGDQGKLVKDQGVDZD\IURPKLV ERG\DQGHQGXUHG$UGHQVORZO\ZDVKLQJKLPall of him,ZLWKRXW being permitted release. ,WZDVKRWWHUWKDQDQ\WKLQJKH·GHYHUH[SHULHQFHG §§§§ :KHQ WKH\ ÀQLVKHG WKH VKRZHU $UGHQ WRZHOHG KLP RII tenderly. He pulled Jaime close and kissed him, deep and SRVVHVVLYH VWURNLQJ KLV EDFN KLV EXWWRFNV ´:KHQ \RX FDQ DQVZHUP\TXHVWLRQ,·OOJLYH\RXZKDW\RXZDQW,SURPLVHµ ´6RWKLVLVDVH[JDPH"µ-DLPHFODULÀHG+HZDQWHGWRKXPS $UGHQ·VOHJVRKHJXHVVHGLWZDVZRUNLQJ $UGHQ UDQ D KDQG WKURXJK KLV ORQJ VLONHQ ZHW KDLU -DLPH felt a strange urge to press his lips against it, suck on the cool VWUDQGV+HZDQWHGWRDEVRUEHYHU\SDUWRI $UGHQ´
38 Jan Irving him.” ´,·P OLYLQJ ZLWK KLP RU VWD\LQJ ZLWK KLP«RU VRPHWKLQJµ -DLPH VKRYHG WKH WH[WERRN KH·G EHHQ VWXG\LQJ EDFN LQWR KLV knapsack. ´¶2UVRPHWKLQJ·LVDOZD\VFRPSOLFDWHGµ(OL]DEHWKQRWHG 7KH\ZDONHGLQWRFODVVWRJHWKHU&KHP+HQHHGHGLWVRKH FRXOGWDNHWKHHOHFWLYHVKHZDQWHGWKLVVHPHVWHUEXWLWZDVQ·WD IDYH)RUWXQDWHO\(OL]DEHWKZDVDZKL]VRKHVWXGLHGZLWKKHU $VVRRQDVKHVDWGRZQLWGLGQ·WKHOSWKDWKHFRXOGIHHOWKH OLQNV RI KLV VSHFLDO ORLQ FORWK DJDLQVW KLV ÁHVK UHPLQGLQJ KLP KRZKHKDGEHHQGHQLHGUHOLHI«DQGPDNLQJKLPFUDYHLW §§§§  6LQFH-DLPHIHOWDOLWWOHDZNZDUGUHWXUQLQJWRWKHKRXVHDQGKLV QHZURRPPDWHKHOLQJHUHGDIWHUFODVVHVVSHQGLQJWLPHLQWKHDUW URRPZRUNLQJRQDSDVWHO$WÀUVWKH·GZRQGHUHGLI$UGHQDQG 'HUHN«LIWKH\·GGRQHVWXIIOLNHWKLV,IKHZDVMXVWDVXEVWLWXWH  %XWDVWKHKRXUVSDVVHGKLVQHHGZDVKHGDZD\VXFKWKRXJKWVOLNH WKHWLGHZDVKLQJDZD\ZULWLQJLQVDQG)LQDOO\WKHFORXGRIZDQW HDVHGDQGKHORVWKLPVHOI LQKLVZRUNOLNHDOZD\V He had one crayon in his mouth as he studied his composition. 0XVFOHGDUPVHQFLUFOHGKLP He jumped, not having heard Arden enter the room. ´:K\DUH\RXKHUHDORQH"µ$UGHQJURZOHG´'RQ·W\RXUHDOL]H LW·VDIWHUGDUN"µ -DLPHWXUQHGDURXQGWDNLQJLQWKHÀUHLQ$UGHQ·VH\HVZKLFK KLV QHUG JODVVHV GLG D SRRU MRE RI FRQFHDOLQJ +H ZDV UHDOO\ steamed about something. ´8K,GRQ·WNQRZµ-DLPH·VYRLFHFUDFNHG´([FHSW,·PPD\EH DOLWWOHSLVVHGDW\RXµ ´2YHU ZKDW" 6D\LQJ ,·G SUHIHU \RX DYRLGHG -HOO2"µ $UGHQ looked clueless. -DLPHEOXVKHGORRNLQJDURXQGEXWWKHURRPZDVIRUWXQDWHO\ GHVHUWHGWKLVWLPHRI QLJKW´)RUPDNLQJPHZHDUWKLVWKLQJDOO

ARDENT 39 GD\0DNLQJPHWKLQNDERXW«µ $UGHQ TXLUNHG D EURZ ´I GLGQ·W PDNH \RX WKLQN DERXW VH[ -DLPH
CHAPTER FIVE -DLPH VDW GRZQ VKDNLO\ RQ WKH HGJH RI RQH RI WKH GHVNV D little breathless from Arden’s command performance. ´$UGHQ"µ8QFHUWDLQDURXVHG 6LON\´'RDV,VD\-DLPHµ -DLPHKXIIHGDEUHDWK´6RPHRI XVVXEPLVVLYHJX\VOLNHWR WDONÀUVWµ+HTXLUNHGDEURZ ´,·P ÀQGLQJ WKH LGHD RI D JDJ VXGGHQO\ YHU\ DSSHDOLQJµ $UGHQDGPLWWHGZU\O\ ´1R
42 Jan Irving $UGHQVWUROOHGRYHUUHDFKHGGRZQDQGVWLOOKROGLQJ-DLPH·V JD]HXQ]LSSHGKLP ´2KIXFNWKHZD\\RXMXVWKHOS\RXUVHOIµ ´7XUQV\RXRQ"µ$UGHQDVNHGVRIWO\QRGGLQJ´:K\VKRXOGQ·W ,"µ -DLPH·V H\HV ZLGHQHG ´%HFDXVH LW·V yours. 7KDW·V ZKDW \RX PHDQWLQWKHKRXVHWKLVPRUQLQJµ ´$Q\DUJXPHQWV"µ ´1Rµ KH ZKLVSHUHG FRQVFLRXV RI WKH WKRQJ KH·G ZRUQ DOO GD\5LJKWQRZLWIHOWOLNH$UGHQ·VFXSSHGDQGSRVVHVVLYHKDQG,W  ZDVZHLUGVLQFHLWVKRXOGQ·WEHFRPIRUWDEOHDOOWKRVHJROGOLQNV but he had a feeling it possessed special qualities, like the pendant $UGHQKDGWULFNHGKLPLQWRZHDULQJ $UGHQ·VKDQGVFODVSHGKLVVKRXOGHUVVTXHH]HGJHQWO\DOPRVW FRPIRUWLQJO\WKHPRPHQWEHWZHHQWKHPKHDY\ZLWKVXJJHVWLRQ as intimate as a kiss. Jaime let himself be guided into place, feeling cool air against his upraised ass, feeling blood throbbing in his needy cock. ´3OHDVH$UGHQµKHZKLVSHUHGPlease control me. “I’ll bring you off, but you are in need of a little discipline for IRUJHWWLQJ\RXUSURPLVHQRWWRVWD\KHUHDIWHUGDUN,GRQ·WZDQW \RXWRIRUJHWDJDLQ7KLVLVDVLPSRUWDQWDVQXWULWLRQ-DLPHµ Jaime suppressed a smile. “Yeah, you do seem really serious DERXWZKDW,HDWµ ´,DPµ$IWHUORFNLQJWKHGRRU$UGHQZHQWWRWKHWHDFKHU·V GHVN HDVLO\ EUHDNLQJ LQWR WKH GUDZHU ´$ FODVVURRP LV DFWXDOO\ SHUIHFWIRUZKDW,KDYHLQPLQGµKHPXVHGLQDPLOGYRLFH Jaime heard Arden rooting for something and then a purring VRXQG RI VDWLVIDFWLRQ +H KHOG KLV SRVH ZDLWLQJ SUHVVLQJ KLV erection against the edge of the desk and rubbing discreetly, biting his lip at the feel. Arden returned and used his ankle inside Jaime’s to spread his OHJVZLGHUEHIRUHVWDQGLQJEHWZHHQWKHP

ARDENT 43 A ruler smacked his right ass-cheek. “Oh!µ ´+ROGYHU\VWLOOµ ´,,·OOWU\µ  -DLPHJULSSHGWKHVLGHVRI WKHGHVNDVWKHUXOHUFDPHGRZQ DJDLQ6RPHWKLQJDERXWWKHIHHOLQJWKHVOLJKWVWLQJWKHVRXQGRI WKHVODSPDGHKLPVZHOOXQEHDUDEO\LQVLGHKLVFKDVWLW\GHYLFH “God!µ ´:LOO\RXIRUJHWWRFRPHKRPHZKHQLW·VGDUNDJDLQ"µ Smack! ´1RRKQR,SURPLVHµ ´
44 Jan Irving $QG $UGHQ SXW GRZQ WKH UXOHU DQG VDW RQ DQRWKHU GHVN pulling Jaime onto his lap, tucking his head against him so that ZKHQWHDUVIHOOLWZDVDVHFUHWVKDUHG -DLPH·V ÀQJHUV GXJ LQWR $UGHQ·V VKRXOGHUV ´, QHYHU LPDJLQHGµ ´,W·VZKDWZHQHHGHGWROHWJRµ Jaime took Arden’s hand, the hand that had spanked him, and NLVVHGLWIHUYHQWO\H\HVFORVHG´7KDQN\RXµ $UGHQVWURNHGKLVFKHHN´
ARDENT 45 ´&RPHFORVHU,·OOUHPRYH\RXUFKDVWLW\EHOWµ -DLPHPRYHGVRTXLFNO\WKDW$UGHQVPLOHG´6RPHGD\V,PD\ PDNH\RXZHDULWORQJHUµKHZDUQHG´$WP\GLVFUHWLRQµ 7KH OLQNV IHOO DZD\ UHYHDOLQJ -DLPH·V SHQLV HUHFW VZROOHQ RR]LQJZLWKKLVQHHG $UGHQ SXW DVLGH WKH EHOW ZLWK D FODWWHU EHIRUH RSHQLQJ WKH RWKHULWHPKH·GIRXQGLQWKHDUWOHYHOWZRWHDFKHU·VGHVNDERWWOH of hand cream. $V-DLPHZDWFKHGKHVSLOOHGDJHQHURXVDPRXQWRQKLVSDOP ´
46 Jan Irving +LVEDOOVZHUHWLJKWDQGDFKLQJRQHPRUHWRXFK³ +HOLFNHGKLVOLSVWU\LQJWRIRFXVRQZKDW$UGHQKDGDVNHG $QGWKHQLWZDVHDV\VRHDV\WRDGPLWZKDWKHIHOW´
CHAPTER SIX ´, OLNH \RXU SDVWHOµ $UGHQ ZKLVSHUHG DJDLQVW -DLPH·V QHFN He had one possessive arm looped around him as he studied the ZRUNWKURXJKKHDY\OLGGHGH\HV Jaime also looked at it, thinking he’d been a different person ZKHQKH·GZRUNHGRQLW7KHHQFRXQWHUZLWK$UGHQKDGFKDQJHG him. Your slut. ´,W·V\RXUKRXVHVR\RXZRXOGµKHVDLGTXLUNLQJDEURZDQG WU\LQJWROLJKWHQWKHPRPHQWDQGKLVRZQFRQIXVLRQRYHUKRZ much he’d enjoyed being submissive to Arden. ´
48 Jan Irving pearl shells cut in oblong. $QG\HDKKH·GSURFHVVRQFHKHZDVDEOHWRVWULQJKLVWKRXJKWV WRJHWKHU5LJKWQRZWKH\ZHUHOLNHDOLQHRI EXUQHGRXWKROLGD\ OLJKWVVRPHZRUNLQJVRPHQRWVRPXFK :KDW KH GLG NQRZ ZDV ZKLOH KLV ERG\ DFKHG JHQWO\ LW ZDV the most wonderful ache he’d ever felt. He thought he might VOLGH XQGHU WKH ZDWHU DQG JR WR VOHHS EXW $UGHQ KDG IDVWHQHG KLVZULVWVORRVHO\WRDULQJRQWKHVLGHRI WKHWXE+HIURZQHG ORRNLQJDWKLVERXQGKDQGV:K\KDGKHDOORZHGWKDWDQGZK\ KDGLWVHHPHGVR«QDWXUDO" +H\DZQHG+HVHHPHGWRUHPHPEHU$UGHQIXVVLQJWKDWKH·G IDOODVOHHSDQGGURZQLQWKHWXE -DLPHUROOHGKLVH\HV$UGHQZDVDEVXUGO\SURWHFWLYHDVZHOO as bossy. %XWKHZDVDOVRVH[\-DLPHGULIWHGUHOLYLQJWKHIHHORIDUXOHU VPDFNLQJKLPDQGVRPHKRZWKDWPHPRU\ZDVHQWDQJOHGLQKLV LQWHQVHFOLPD[+HZDVHPEDUUDVVHGE\KRZPXFKKH·GOLNHGLW OLNHGHYHU\WKLQJWKDW$UGHQKDGGRQHVSDQNLQJKLPFDOOLQJKLP a slut, making him perform, rutting against his palm. +H IRXQG KLPVHOI ZRQGHULQJ LI RQH GD\ KH·G EH KXPSLQJ $UGHQ·VOHJKLVERRWDQGWKHLGHDRQO\PDGHKLPKRW6KHHVK 7KH RWKHU UHYHODWLRQ ZDV KH DFWXDOO\ IHOW GLIIHUHQWO\ DERXW KLPVHOI +H GLGQ·W IHHO GXOO DQG EURZQKDLUHG EURZQH\HG XQUHPDUNDEOH H[FHSW ZKHQ KH WUDQVSRUWHG WR GLIIHUHQW ZRUOGV ZLWKDEUXVKRUSHQLQKLVKDQG He felt desirable. ,WZDVDQLFHIHHOLQJIUDJLOHOLNHRQHRI WKHVRDSEXEEOHVLQ his bath. Jaime closed his eyes and savored it. +HPDQDJHGWRURXVHKLPVHOIDOLWWOHZKLOHODWHUZKHQ$UGHQ UHWXUQHGOHDQLQJGRZQDQGFDUHVVLQJ-DLPH·VEDFNDVLIKHORYHG the feel of Jaime’s skin under his touch. -DLPHPDGHDQDSSURYLQJVRXQGDWWKHWRXFKZDQWLQJ$UGHQ WRNQRZKHOLNHGLW

ARDENT 49 :KHQ$UGHQRIIHUHGKLVKDQG-DLPHSUHVVHGKLVOLSVWRWKH EDFNRI LWZLWKRXWWKLQNLQJZDWFKLQJ$UGHQ·VSXSLOVHQODUJHLQ response. ´1HHG\DJDLQOLWWOHRQH"µ :KHQ$UGHQUHDFKHGEHWZHHQKLVOHJVDQGVWURNHGKLP-DLPH closed his thighs on that hand, encouraging Arden’s touch.  ´,XVXDOO\MHUNRIIDORWPRUHWKDQ,KDYHWRGD\µ-DLPHJURXVHG ´7KH FKDVWLW\ GHYLFH PDGH LW EHWWHU IRU \RX ZKHQ , ÀQDOO\ DOORZHG\RXWRFRPH$GPLWLWµ$UGHQ·VH\HEURZTXLUNHGZKHQ -DLPHUHPDLQHGVWXEERUQO\VLOHQW´:KDWGRHVP\ER\ZDQWQRZ" Ask me,-DLPHµ ´7RXFKPH)HHOVVRJRRGµ-DLPHZKLVSHUHGEOXVKLQJ +HVSUHDGKLPVHOIZDQWRQVRWKDW$UGHQFRXOGH[SORUHKLP WKRURXJKO\FXSSLQJDQGVTXHH]LQJKLVEDOOVVWURNLQJRQHÀQJHU XSDQGGRZQKLVFRFNXQWLO-DLPHJDVSHG´,QHHGPRUHµ “No, you don’t. You can come for me just from this, can’t \RXVOXW"µ Unbelievably, Jaime felt himself on the brink, brought there E\WKHFRPELQDWLRQRI $UGHQ·VJHQWOHEXWÀUPKDQGOLQJDQGKLV URXJKZRUGV ´,QHHG³µ Arden read his upturned face, seeing he needed reassurance and permission. ´&RPHIRUPH-DLPHµ ´8KKKKµ-DLPHVSXUWHGERWKFRPIRUWHGDQGVHGXFHGIDOOLQJ back against the side of the big tub, his bound hands all that kept KLPIURPVLQNLQJGHHSHULQWKHZDWHU 6R KH JXHVVHG PD\EH LW KDGQ·W EHHQ VXFK D EDG LGHD W\LQJ them. §§§§ %DFN DW WKH JDUGHQ KRXVH $UGHQ ZRUNHG RQ UHÀQLQJ VRPH SLFWXUHVIURPDUHFHQWGLJRQKLVODSWRSZKLOH-DLPHDWHSDVWD ZKLFKZDVQ·WEDGDQGWDVWHGKRPHPDGH

50 Jan Irving He still needed some space to absorb the changes he’d H[SHULHQFHGWRGD\$UGHQVHHPHGWRVHQVHWKDWVLQFHKHSDVVHG -DLPHKLVNQDSVDFNVR-DLPHFRXOGORRNWKURXJKKLVKRPHZRUN DQG GHFLGH ZKDW WR IRFXV RQ ÀUVW +H GLGQ·W UHDOO\ IHHO OLNH ZRUNLQJEXWKHKDGDORWWRGR $QKRXUSDVVHGDQGLWZDVRGGO\FRPSDQLRQDEOHZLWK-DLPH DFWXDOO\ÀQLVKLQJLQJRRGWLPH 7RUHZDUGKLPVHOIIRUJHWWLQJWKHPRUHPXQGDQHVWXIIGRQH he reached for his pastels and some sheets of paper, and after VWXG\LQJ$UGHQDEVRUEHGLQKLVZRUNKHEHJDQWRVNHWFK +H URXJKHG RXW WKH WRRWKLQ SURÀOH WKH KLJK EURZV WKH hooded eyes and the plump lips that made Jaime’s heartbeat pick XSDVKHFRXOGQ·WKHOSEXWSLFWXUHWKHPSDUWLQJIRUDNLVV«RUWR suck Jaime’s cock. $UGHQ UDLVHG KLV KHDG DQG ORRNHG DW KLP :KHQ -DLPH ÁXVKHGKHVPLOHGEHIRUHKHDGMXVWHGKLVJODVVHVDQGUHWXUQHGKLV attention to his photographs. /DWHU WKDW QLJKW -DLPH ZRNH LQ $UGHQ·V FRRO DUPV KLV IDFH UHVWLQJDJDLQVWKLVQHFNKLVÀQJHUVÀVWHGLQKLVVLONVZHDWHU ´8PKLµ-DLPHEOLQNHGQRWVXUHKRZWKLVKDGFRPHDERXW :HUHWKH\VOHHSLQJWRJHWKHUQRZ" ´3RVVHVVLYHOLWWOHWKLQJDUHQ·W\RX"µ$UGHQFRPPHQWHGLQDQ DPXVHG WRQH +H VRXQGHG VPXJ WKH ZD\ KH ZDV RYHU -DLPH·V liking of his house. ´,IHOODVOHHS$JX\LVQRWUHVSRQVLEOHIRUEHLQJJUDEE\ZKHQ KH·VDVOHHSµ-DLPHVDLGVWUHWFKLQJ´7KDQNVIRUJLYLQJPHVRPH VSDFH,·OOEHPRUHP\VHOIVRRQ
ARDENT 51 VKDULQJGRQ·W\RXWKLQN"µ ´1R,GRQ·Wµ$UGHQOHDQHGKLVIRUHKHDGDJDLQVW-DLPH·V´*R EDFNWRVOHHSµ §§§§   -DLPHZRNHWKHQH[WPRUQLQJSODVWHUHGDJDLQVW$UGHQRQWKH OLWWOHFRW+HEOLQNHGIHHOLQJKRZKDUGKHZDV+HFRXOGQ·WKHOS rubbing his sheathed penis against Arden’s leg, remembering his VWUDQJHHURWLFGUHDP7KH\ZHUHVRLQWHQVHODWHO\KLVGUHDPV+H rubbed the necklace absently, reliving this latest one. He’d been wearing gold chains between his ankles. They restricted his movements and made a soft tinkling sound as he moved—a sound he knew pleased his master. Other than the links of beaten gold, he was naked except for Arden’s necklace. He was spread out on his stomach over velvet bedding in a shadowed room. There was a gold satin pillow under his stomach, raising his ass. +HORRNHGRYHUKLVVKRXOGHUDQGVDZ$UGHQÀGGOLQJZLWKDFDPHUD+H paused to study his subject and Jaime boldly held his gaze. He knew just how to seduce his master by now. Holding his eyes, he reached back and spread his ass-cheeks, revealing himself fully to Arden. Arden drew in a harsh breath before abandoning the camera and stalking toward him with narrowed dark eyes. Jaime smiled. -DLPHIURZQHG*ROGOLQNV":KHUHZDVKHJHWWLQJWKHVHLGHDV" He rubbed the necklace again and glared at Arden, sensing he had VRPHWKLQJWRGRZLWKLW7KHQHFNODFHZDVQ·WMXVWDP\VWHULRXV NLQGRI SURWHFWLRQ,WVHHPHGWRKDYHDVH[XDOFRPSRQHQW 7KH YDPSLUH ZDV ZHDULQJ KLV W\SLFDO EODFN VLON VKLUW DQG EODFNOHDWKHUSDQWVIURPWKHQLJKWEHIRUH7KH\GLGQ·WHYHQORRN FUHDVHGGHVSLWHWKHIDFWKH·GVOHSWLQWKHP+LVHOHJDQFHZDVVRUW RI GHSUHVVLQJH[FHSWKH·GIRUJRWWHQWRWDNHRII KLVJODVVHVDQG WKH\ZHUHVLGHZD\VDFURVVKLVIDFHGLSSLQJDOPRVWWRKLVPRXWK Jaime removed them gently and Arden’s eyes snapped open. $KDQGWDQJOHGLWVHOI LQ-DLPH·VVKDJJ\EURZQKDLU ´
52 Jan Irving ´,OLNHZKDWZHGLGµ-DLPHWHPSRUL]HG Arden pulled Jaime close and kissed him. “I’m glad you liked ZKDWZHGLG,OLNHGLWWRRµ -DLPHPRDQHGLPPHGLDWHO\KRWO\DURXVHG7KHVWXII $UGHQ KDGGRQHWRKLPWKHGD\EHIRUH+HFRXOGQ·WZDLWIRUKLVPDVW³ for Arden to do more things. Freaky, slightly humiliating things that made Jaime so hot. ´'R \RX QHHG WR JHW RII EHIRUH FODVVHV"µ $UGHQ UXPEOHG QX]]OLQJ-DLPH·VQHFN1HZEHDUGJURZWKUDVSHGDQG-DLPHOLNHG the sound, the sensation of it. He had a man in his bed. ´2K*RG\HV&DQ,SXWDELJKDQGXSIRUWKDW"µ+HGLGQ·W ERWKHUWRVXSSUHVVDPRDQZKHQFRROÀQJHUVVWURNHGKLVFRQÀQHG SHQLV´7KRXJK,·PQRWVXUHDERXWWKHFKDVWLW\EHOWWKLQJ,VWDUW P\QHZNDUDWHFODVVWRGD\,WPLJKWVWDQGRXWDELWLQWKHORFNHU URRPµ Arden blinked. “I didn’t actually think about such things ZKHQ,DVNHG\RXWRZHDUWKDWµ “Ahem. Asked me? As in you put it on me and told me I’d be ZHDULQJWKHWRRWLJKWELNLQLIURPVOXWKHOO"µ ´6R,GLGQ·WTXLWHDVNµ$UGHQFRFNHGDEURZ´,DPDFFXVWRPHG WRREHGLHQFHQRWGLVFXVVLRQ%XWGLGQ·WLWIHHOJRRGZKHQ,WRRN LWRII \RXDQGOHW\RXFRPH"µ -DLPHFRXOGQ·WGHQ\WKDW+H·GQHYHUKDGDFOLPD[OLNHWKDWLQ KLVOLIHDQG*RGNQHZKHMDFNHGRII DOOWKHWLPH´,GRQ·WZDQW  WRZHDULWWRVFKRRO,W·VXQFRPIRUWDEOHDQG,ZRUU\VRPHRQHZLOO VHHLWµ $UGHQVWXGLHGKLP´,·PVRUU\µ ´+XK"'LG,MXVWKHDUDQDSRORJ\IURP\RX"µ ´%UDW , GLGQ·W ZDQW \RX WRXFKLQJ \RXUVHOI RU DQ\RQH HOVH WRXFKLQJZKDWLVPLQHVR«µ -DLPHODXJKHG´$Q\RQHHOVH":KRLVJRLQJWRZDQWWRWRXFK me?µ ´-DLPHZKHUHGR\RXJHWWKHLGHDWKDW\RXDUHRUGLQDU\":KHQ

ARDENT 53 ,ORRNDW\RX«µ+HFOLPEHGRIIWKHFRWDQGUDQDKDQGWKURXJK his hair. “I have to take a big step back sometimes because I don’t WUXVWP\VHOIµ +HUHDOL]HGWKHQWKDW$UGHQKDGEHHQIRFXVHGRQKLVQHHGV RQSOHDVXULQJKLPEXWZKDWDERXW$UGHQ·VQHHGV" ´:KDWGR\RXZDQWWRGR"µ-DLPHGDUHG ´5LJKWQRZ"µ7KHGDUNH\HVQDUURZHG´,ZDQWWRWDNHWKDW thing off you, push you on all fours, bite the back of your neck DQGIXFN\RXUDVVµ ´2K 8Kµ -DLPH H[SHULHQFHG DQ XQVHWWOLQJ ZDYH RI KHDW DQGKLVSHQLVWULHGWRGRXEOHLQVL]HZKLFKGLGQ·WZRUNWRRZHOO VLQFHLWZDVFRQVWULFWHGVRLWWKUREEHGDYRWHRI\HVLQSOHDVXUH pain tempo. At the same time, the hair on the back of his neck stiffened. $UGHQUXEEHGKLVQHFN´7RRVRRQKXK"µ ´
54 Jan Irving QRZ"6R,FDQJRVKRZHUµ )RUDQDQVZHU$UGHQUHPRYHGWKHQRZIDPLOLDUNH\IURPD FKDLQDURXQGKLVZULVWDQGXVHGLWWRXQORFNWKHOLQNVRI-DLPH·V VH[XDOSULVRQ,WIHOODZD\UHYHDOLQJ-DLPHVZROOHQZLWKQHHG +HJUDEEHG$UGHQ·VZULVW´3OHDVH«WRXFKPHµ ´1R QRW WKLV PRUQLQJµ $UGHQ UHSODFHG KLV JODVVHV DQG FOHDUHGKLVWKURDWDVLIFRPSRVLQJKLPVHOI+HVDWGRZQRQWKH FKDLUJLYLQJ-DLPHDORRNXQGHUKLVGDUNEURZV´6SUHDG\RXUOHJV VR,FDQZDWFK\RX,ZDQW\RXWREULQJ\RXUVHOI RIISlowly.µ -DLPHFORVHGKLVH\HVIHHOLQJKLVIDFHKHDWZLWKDFRPELQDWLRQ of shyness and desire. ´$UGHQµ ´,·OOPDNHURDVWHGSHDQXWPXIÀQVLI \RXEULQJ\RXUVHOI RII IRUPHµ -DLPH FUDFNHG XS ´7KDW·V WKH VWXSLGHVW HQWLFHPHQW , HYHU KHDUG,VWKLVPRUHRI \RXUQHZFRRNLQJ"µ ´2Kµ$UGHQORRNHGEHZLOGHUHG´,GRQ·WNQRZZKDWHOVHWR RIIHU,WKRXJKW\RXOLNHGP\FRRNLQJµ ´, ORYH \RXU FRRNLQJ ,W·V MXVW«, GRQ·W KDYH WKDW VZLWFK ZRUNLQJ HDV\ LQVLGH PH \HW³WKH RQH WKDW DFFHSWV \RX·G ÀQG ZDWFKLQJPH\RXNQRZKRW"µ ´:K\GR\RXWKLQN,NHSWFRPLQJEDFNWRWKLVWRZQ"µ$UGHQ·V EURZZULQNOHG´,WZDVQ·WWKHFRIIHHDQGGRQXWVKRSµ ´,I LWZDVQ·WWKHDWWUDFWLRQVRI RXUORFDOFDIp«*XHVVLWZDV  PHµ-DLPH·VYRLFHVRXQGHGURXJKWRKLVRZQHDUV+HEOHZRXW DVORZEUHDWKDQGKLVKDQGVWUD\HGFORVHUWRKLVVH[DQGKHVDZ Arden’s eyelids fall, giving him a sleepy-predator look behind his nerd glasses. ´&DQ·WNHHS\RXUKDQGVRIILWFDQ\RX"6XFKDEHDXWLIXOVOXWµ -DLPHUDQDÀQJHURYHUKLVOHQJWKOLFNLQJKLVOLSV´
ARDENT 55 (QFRXUDJHG -DLPH UDQ WKH WLS RI KLV ÀQJHU RYHU KLPVHOI UHPHPEHULQJ$UGHQKDGFRPPDQGHGKHWDNHLWVORZ+HFORVHG his eyes and relived the moments bent over a desk, the slap of the UXOHUWKHVRXQGRI KLVRZQJDVSV ´:KDW DUH \RX WKLQNLQJ DERXW"µ $UGHQ·V YRLFH ZDV VRIW DV LI KHGLGQ·WZDQWWRVKDWWHU-DLPH·VPRPHQWEXWKHDOVRZDQWHG inside it. ´7RRHPEDUUDVVLQJµ ´+PPPKRZDERXW,VXSSO\LGHDVDQG\RXJLYHPHD¶KRW·RU ¶FROG·LI ,·PFORVH"µ ´0D\EHµ1RZ-DLPHVPLOHG+HZDQWHGWRVKDUH ´$UH\RXWKLQNLQJDERXWKRZ,WRXFKHG\RXLQWKHEDWK"µ ´6RUWRI ZDUPµ ´:KDWDERXWZKHQ,WRXFKHGWR\RXLQWKHFODVVURRP"µ ´:DUPHUµ -DLPH FRQWLQXHG WR VWURNH KLPVHOI 'HVSLWH KRZ PXFKKHZDQWHGLWWRODVWKHZDVFORVHVRFORVHQRZ $UGHQ·VYRLFHORZHUHG´:KDWDERXWZKHQ,VSDQNHG\RX"µ -DLPH ÁXVKHG GURSSLQJ KLV JD]H IURP WKRVH GDUN H\HV WKDW VDZVRPXFK´Hot,µKHDGPLWWHG´$UGHQ"µ+HZDVQ·WVXUHZKDW KHZDVDVNLQJIRUEXW$UGHQVHHPHGWRNQRZ ´&RPHIRUPHEHDXWLIXOµ -DLPHFULHGRXWDQGVKRWRYHUKLVKDQGDQGORZHUEHOO\KXIÀQJ his satisfaction. Oh, yeah. $UGHQJRWXSIURPWKHFKDLUDQGZHQWWRKLPNQHHOLQJFORVH :LWKRXWVD\LQJDZRUGKHOLFNHG-DLPH·VVSLOO%\WKHWLPHKHZDV GRQH-DLPHZDVVHPLKDUGDJDLQ+HJDYHDOLWWOHQHHG\ZKLPSHU KDQG WDQJOLQJ LQ $UGHQ·V VLON\ GDUN KDLU ´6KLW :H·OO KDYH WR WDEOHWKLVVLQFH\RX·OOEHODWHIRUFODVVRWKHUZLVHµ$UGHQVDLG´, brought you organic granola and bananas. You need to have a QXWULWLRXVEUHDNIDVWµ Jaime hid a grin at Arden’s pushiness over nutrition. “I am  KXQJU\µKHFRQIHVVHGIHHOLQJUHOD[HGDQGZDUPDQGMXVWDOLWWOH ELWVH[\

56 Jan Irving $UGHQ·VH\HVOLJKWHQHGDVLIKHXQGHUVWRRG´
CHAPTER SEVEN -DLPHUHDFKHGRYHUDQGWXFNHGDVWUDQGRI (OL]DEHWK·VZLU\ EURZQKDLUEHKLQGKHUHDU6KHEOLQNHGDWKLP´:KDW·VXSZLWK \RX"µ ´+XK"µ ´:HOO XVXDOO\ \RX KDYH WKLV KXQFKHG RYHU XQKDSS\ ERG\ language that screams ‘don’t look at me, I’m unlookable’ but WRGD\KDSSLO\LWLVPLVVLQJµ -DLPHORRNHGGRZQDWWKHKLVWRU\ERRN(OL]DEHWKKDGEHHQ SRULQJ RYHU ZLWK KLP +H ZDV WDNLQJ QRW MXVW ÀQH DUWV EXW HYHU\WKLQJIURPFKHPLVWU\WRKLVWRU\+H·GÀJXUHGLWPLJKWKHOS KLPJHWDMREZKLOHSXUVXLQJKLVGUHDPRILOOXVWUDWLQJDQGZULWLQJ KLVRZQJUDSKLFQRYHOV ´
58 Jan Irving ´:KDW"1Rµ+HZDVQ·WVXUHKHZDVUHDG\WRWHOOKHUDERXW $UGHQ7KHWKLQJZLWKKLP«-DLPHIHOWVRH[SRVHG+HQHHGHG time. ´/LDUµ ´/RRNDOO,ZDQWWRVD\LV«0\OLIH",JXHVVHYHU\WKLQJZDV VRUWRI JUD\EHIRUHH[FHSWIRUP\DUWDQG\RX7KDQNVµ (OL]DEHWKUDVSHG´&XWLWWKHIXFNRXWµ%XWVKHGLGQ·WUHVLVW ZKHQ-DLPHUXEEHGKHUEDFN ´6R,KHDUGDERXWWKHWKLQJZLWK/DUU\DQGWKHMRFNV0RQGR·V WHDFKLQJ\RXVRPHPRYHV"µ -DLPHJURDQHG´'RHVHYHU\RQHNQRZDERXWWKDW"µ ´+H\\RXFRXOGKDYHEHHQVHULRXVO\KXUWE\WKRVHLGLRWVµ ´:HOO,ZDVQ·Wµ ´5XPRUKDVLWVRPHRQHWDOOGDUNDQGGDQJHURXVLQWHUYHQHGµ ´7DOOGDUNDQGGDQJHURXVZLWKJODVVHVµ ´2Kµ (OL]DEHWK OHDQHG IRUZDUG ´
ARDENT 59 “Very.µ+HEOXVKHGDJDLQZKHQVKHODXJKHG ´:HOOVRPXFKIRUWKHMRFNV,VD\WKHEHVWUHYHQJHLVOLYLQJ ZHOOµ +HZDVOLYLQJZHOO7KDQNVWR$UGHQ §§§§ ´+H\ ,·YH QHYHU GRQH WKLV EHIRUH RND\"µ -DLPH JODUHG DW KLVIULHQG0RQGRDJX\DURXQGWZHQW\ÀYHZKRZDVDOPRVWD SHUPDQHQWVWXGHQWDWWKHXQLYHUVLW\0RQGRZDVVOLJKWDQGSDOH VNLQQHGZLWKGDUNUHGKDLUWKDWFXUOHGLQSHDNVOLNHÁDPHVDQG ZDUPJUHHQH\HVWKDWVHHPHGWRHFKRWKHKHDWRI KLVKDLU ´,I\RXZRXOGMXVWVHWWOHGRZQDQGOHWPHVKRZ\RXµ0RQGR JODUHGDW-DLPHKDQGVRQKLVQDUURZKLSV ´'LG\RXKDYHWRRPXFKHVSUHVVRWKLVPRUQLQJGXGH"µ-DLPH GHPDQGHG´%HFDXVHZKHUHLVP\IULHQG0RQGRWKHHDV\JRLQJ JX\"µ 0RQGR UXEEHG KLV FKHVW WKURXJK KLV VZHDWGDPS 7 VKLUW +HZDVPRUHPXVFXODUWKDQ-DLPHKDGQRWLFHGEHIRUHEXW-DLPH ZDVQ·W VXUH LI WKDW ZDV EHFDXVH KH ZDV IHHOLQJ QHZO\ LQ WXQH ZLWKKLVRZQVHQVXDOLW\WKDQNVWR$UGHQRULI KH·GVLPSO\EHHQ SUHYLRXVO\REOLYLRXVWRKRZDWWUDFWLYHKLVIULHQGZDV ´,I \RXZHUHQ·WVRIXFNLQJVNLWWLVKWKLVPRUQLQJ«µ “Skittish"'LG\RXMXVWVD\¶VNLWWLVK·"µ  ´+H\OLWHUDWXUHVWXGHQWKHUHµ0RQGRUHPLQGHGKLP´:KDW·V ZLWK WKH MHZHOU\"µ +H UHDFKHG RXW³EXW GLGQ·W TXLWH WRXFK³ -DLPH·VSHQGDQWEHFDXVH-DLPHWRRNDVWHSEDFN´6HHVNLWWLVKµ ´6RUU\µ -DLPH PXWWHUHG VKUXJJLQJ 7KH QHFNODFH ZDVQ·W DV DQQR\LQJ DV KH·G WKRXJKW LW ZRXOG EH ,W VHHPHG WR JLYH RII D pleasant vibe, calming, almost like the purring sound of Arden’s YRLFHLQKLVHDU%XWKHFRXOGQRWH[SODLQLWWR0RQGR´,JXHVV, DPDOLWWOH«µ 0RQGRZDVIURZQLQJ´:KRJDYH\RXWKDW"µ -DLPHEOLQNHG´$IULHQGµ ´8KKXKµ0RQGRJUXQWHG´2ND\OHW·VWU\DJDLQµ

60 Jan Irving -DLPHVWRRGVWLOODQGOHW0RQGRPRYHKLVDUPVDQGOHJVLQWR SRVLWLRQ :KLOH KLV IULHQG ZDV GRLQJ WKDW KH ZRQGHUHG DJDLQ about the pendant. Arden had been pretty cryptic about it, saying LWZRXOGSURWHFW-DLPHHYHQVD\LQJKLVQDPHZDVRQLW%XWQR RQHKDGVHHPHGDIIHFWHGE\LWH[FHSWIRU-DLPH$UGHQDQGQRZ  0RQGR §§§§ “Shit!µ $UGHQ VZHSW RII KLV JODVVHV DQG VWDUHG LQ FRQVWHUQDWLRQ DW WKHDQFLHQWWDEOHWKH·GEHHQWU\LQJWRWUDQVODWH+H·GEHHQZDLWLQJ PRQWKV IRU LW WR DUULYH 0RQWKV )RUWXQDWHO\ LW ZDV D SODVWHU UHSOLFDWKDWKHKDGEHHQZRUNLQJZLWKRUWKHRULJLQDOZRXOGEH VRPXFKSRZGHUXQGHUKLVGHVN He rubbed his right palm, dripping blood onto the shards RQ KLV KLJKO\ SROLVKHG HVSUHVVR KDUGZRRG ÁRRU +H ZDV UHDOO\ overdoing the cliché of the absent-minded professor, cutting KLPVHOI DQGGURSSLQJWKHFDVWEXWKHNQHZWKHUHDVRQEHKLQG KLVVKDNLQJKDQGVZDVQ·WUHPRWHO\KXPDQ +HKDGWRIHHGDQGIHHGGHHSO\*RLQJVORZZLWK-DLPHZDV WDNLQJ D WROO KH KDG QRW DQWLFLSDWHG $QG KH GLGQ·W NQRZ ZK\ LQKHOOKHZDVWU\LQJWREHVRPHWKLQJKHZDVQ·W$VPXFKDVKH  ORYHGWREXU\KLPVHOIZLWKKLVERQHVERZOVDQGDPSKRUDKHZDV a beast. He could hide that from his fragile boy, but he could not hide from himself. §§§§ $IWHUNDUDWH-DLPHZDVOHDQLQJRYHUDEHQFKGU\LQJRIIIURP DVKRZHUDQGUROOLQJKLVVKRXOGHUVWRORRVHQVRPHRIKLVWHQVLRQ ZKHQ 0RQGR VKRYHG RSHQ WKH VZLQJLQJ GRRU WR WKH GHVHUWHG locker room. 'HVSLWHKLVXQFKDUDFWHULVWLFVKRZRIEDGKXPRU0RQGRZDV KDUGQRWWROLNH+HZDVODLGEDFNVD\LQJOLWWOHZKLOHVSHQGLQJWKH time he and Jaime met for coffee on campus doing complicated HTXDWLRQVRQQDSNLQVIRUIXQ-DLPHNQHZIURPWDONLQJWRKLP WKDW WKLV VHPHVWHU KH ZDV WDNLQJ ZRPHQ·V DQWKURSRORJ\ DQG soapstone sculpture.

ARDENT 61 :KLOHKH·GDOZD\VSHJJHG0RQGRDVDELWRI DORQHUGXULQJ WKH VXPPHU EUHDN 0RQGR KDG EHJXQ KDQJLQJ DURXQG ZLWK D diverse group of students, including some intense jocks and EXVLQHVVVWXGHQWV-DLPHFRXOGQ·WÀJXUHRXWH[DFWO\ZKDWWKH\DOO KDGLQFRPPRQEXWWKH\VKRZHGDQRGGGHIHUHQFHWR0RQGR so he seemed the leader of their group. ´6WLOOKHUH"µ0RQGRJDYHKLPDVXUO\ORRNDQGEDUUHOHGVRPH sports equipment into one of the storage bins. Jaime paused in changing back into his street clothes, studying KLVIULHQG´6HULRXVO\ZKDW·VZLWKWKHEDGPRRG"µ  ´,GRQ·WKDYHEDGPR³µ0RQGRVWUDLJKWHQHGDEUXSWO\DQG WKHPRVVJUHHQH\HV]HURHGRQ-DLPH+LVQRVWULOVÁDUHG “Okay, must be a full moon or something, since you don’t VHHP\RXUVHOIµ 0RQGR·V H\HV QDUURZHG ´
62 Jan Irving buddy. “Don’t moveER\µ0RQGRJURZOHG+HÁDWWHQHGDKDQGQH[W to Jaime’s head on the locker room door and bent close, smelling Jaime’s skin. 7KDW ZDV VHULRXVO\ WRR PXFK -DLPH VKRYHG 0RQGR EDFN ´
ARDENT 63 And he’d never made a promise to leash himself for Derek. +HNQHZSDUWRI   WKHSUREOHPZDVSK\VLFDO+HZDVKROGLQJ  EDFNDQGLWKDGZHDNHQHGKLPSDUWO\RXWRIIHDURIZKDWOLYLQJ QRZZLWK-DLPH·VVFHQWWHDVLQJKLPZRXOGXQOHDVK,WZDVKDUG HQRXJK WR NHHS WKH GHPRQ IURP WDNLQJ KLP 6RPHWLPHV KLV KDQGVZDQWHGWREUXLVHDQGQRWFDUHVVEXW-DLPHZRXOGORRNDW him, talk to him, and those dark urges slunk back. 1RZKHOHIW-DLPHDQGKLVWRZQEHKLQGKHDGLQJRQWRDQDUURZ SDWKWKURXJKWKLFNEUDPEOHVVFHQWLQJWKHEUHDWKRIZDUPHDUWK LQWKHVFUXEE\ZRRGV+HZDONHGIRUDORQJWLPHOHWWLQJKLPVHOI UHOD[QRWDIUDLGRI GRLQJVD\LQJWKHZURQJWKLQJ Eyes closed, he stretched out his senses and the scent of blood teased him. +LVKDQGVÀVWHGDQGKHUDQEUDQFKHVVWULNLQJKLVIDFHOHDSLQJ over rock, fast, faster— Panting, hair tangled in his eyes, Arden skidded to a sudden halt. ,QDIDUPHU·VÀHOGXQGHUPRRQOLJKWKHVSRWWHGDIUHVKNLOOD ZRPDQLQKHUODWHWZHQWLHVFKHVWWRUQRSHQULEVJOHDPLQJUXE\ body steaming. Luscious.

CHAPTER EIGHT Jaime sat up, heart pounding, blinking at his surroundings. +H·GIDOOHQDVOHHSRQKLVVLQJOHEHGVWUHZQZLWKJUDSKLFQRYHOV DQGFUXVKHGSRWDWRFKLSV+LVOLJKWZDVVWLOOEXUQLQJ+HORRNHG DWKLVZDWFKDQGVDZLWZDV$0 :KHUHZDV$UGHQ" 0HPRULHV RI WKH QLJKW KH ORVW 'HUHN URVH DQG -DLPH WRRN a deep breath, forcibly shoving them aside. He couldn’t think ZRUVWFDVHVFHQDULRV He rubbed his eyes, resting his back against the headboard DQG H[DPLQLQJ WKLV OLWWOH KRXVH ZKHUH KH OLYHG QRZ ,W ZDVQ·W VXUSULVLQJKRZFRPIRUWDEOHKHIHOWKHUHKHJXHVVHG+H·GVSHQW VR PXFK WLPH JURZLQJ XS ZLWK 'HUHN DQG $UGHQ +H·G QHYHU HYHQH[SHULHQFHGUHDOIHDURI $UGHQEHLQJDYDPSLUH$UGHQWR KLPKDGDOZD\VEHHQDSURWHFWRU A soft groan. Jaime stiffened, listening. +DGWKDWEHHQZKDWURXVHGKLP" ,QWKHJDUGHQWKHIRXQWDLQZDVVSODVKLQJLQGXVWULRXVO\-DLPH SDXVHGWDNLQJLQWKHQRZZRUNLQJGHFRUDWLRQ+HKDGQ·WQRWLFHG  HDUOLHU$UGHQPXVWKDYHKDGLWÀ[HGDIWHU-DLPHSRLQWHGRXWIRU WKHWKRXVDQGWKWLPHWKDWLWZDVEURNHQ+XK$UGHQZKR-DLPH NQHZZDVQ·WH[DFWO\DJRRGJX\KDGFOHDQHGRXWWKHIRXQWDLQDQG PDGHLWZRUNDJDLQQRZ-DLPHZDVOLYLQJZLWKKLP:KDWGLGWKDW mean? He caught the scrape of a footfall. Jaime sprinted for the open French door into the house, VXGGHQO\HDJHUWRVHHKLVURRPPDWH´$UGHQ"µ A trail of clothing led to the alcove that hid Arden’s bedroom from the great room. Jaime’s bare feet skidded on something. :DWHU"

66 Jan Irving He snapped on the hall light and spotted a discarded shirt  O\LQJRQWKHÁRRU:KHQKHOLIWHGWKHPDWHULDOKHGLVFRYHUHGWKH IDEULFZDVFKDUUHGLQSODFHV«DQGWKHOLTXLGRQWKHÁRRUZDVQ·W ZDWHU Blood. Dropping the shirt, Jaime shoved open the door of the room KH·G EHHQ WRR VK\ WR HQWHU SUHYLRXVO\ +H VQDSSHG RQ D ZDOO  VZLWFKDQGLQWKHOLJKWRI WKHVWDLQHGJODVV7LIIDQ\ODPSVLWWLQJ RQWKHEHGVLGHWDEOHVSRWWHG$UGHQFUXPSOHGRQWKHÁRRUQH[W WR KLV EHG 'DUN H\HV ÁLFNHUHG RSHQ LQ DQ XQHDUWKO\ SDOH IDFH ´-DLPHJRDZD\µ$UGHQRUGHUHGKRDUVHO\ ´)XFNZKDWKDSSHQHGWR\RX"µ-DLPHNQHOWDW$UGHQ·VVLGH $UGHQ·VORQJEHDXWLIXOEDFNZDVEOHPLVKHGZLWKEODFNULPPHG craters, as if he too had been burned, like his shirt. ´,·PÀQHµ2QHÀVWZDVFXUOHGLQKLVEHGOLQHQVWKHÀQJHUV FOHQFKHGZKLWH ´2K\HDK,FDQVHHWKDW:HEHWWHUJHW\RXWRDKRVSLWDOµ ´1R,GRQ·WQHHG³µ -DLPH LJQRUHG $UGHQ·V SURWHVW UHDFKLQJ GRZQ DQG KHIWLQJ WKHODUJHUPDQWRKLVIHHW:HDULQJRQO\KLVVLONWURXVHUV$UGHQ staggered, robbed of his usual menacing grace. Vulnerable. Jaime’s throat tightened. He didn’t like Arden vulnerable, WXUQHGRXW³DWOHDVWQRWWKLVZD\´&RPHRQWKH\FDQKHOS\RX ULJKW"µ-DLPHZDVQ·WH[DFWO\VXUHWKH\FRXOGEXW$UGHQGLGQ·WVD\ QR$UGHQVKUXJJHGWKHQZLQFHG ´
ARDENT 67 -DLPHJDYH$UGHQDQH[DVSHUDWHGORRN´/XFN\IRU\RX,UHDOO\ am\RXUER\µ Jaime drove them to Emergency, parked the car, and then KHOSHG $UGHQ ZDON WKURXJK WKH SDUNLQJ ORW XQWLO WKH\ KLW WKH GRXEOHGRRUVZKLFKZKRRVKHGRSHQLQZHOFRPH )RUDPHGLFDOIDFLOLW\LQDVPDOOWRZQWKHSODFHZDVKRSSLQJ ZLWKSHRSOHZDLWLQJVRPHKXQFKHGRYHULQREYLRXVGLVFRPIRUW RUGHUOLHVUROOLQJE\ZLWKFDUWV-DLPHZRQGHUHGKRZWRJHWKHOS for Arden quickly. $UGHQVWXPEOHGKDQGJULSSLQJRQHRI WKHFKDLUVDQGZKHQ KHEHQWRYHUKLVEDFNZDVEULHÁ\YLVLEOH&DWFKLQJDJOLPSVHD nurse put aside a clipboard and signaled for a gurney. -DLPHRQO\UHDOL]HGKHZDVJULSSLQJ$UGHQ·VKDQGZKHQWKH\ UROOHGKLPDZD\DQGKHKDGWROHWJR He stood there in his blood-stained clothing and put his hands in his pockets. §§§§ $UGHQZLSHGKLVPRXWKKDYLQJÀQLVKHGDWDVWHRI WKHQXUVH IROORZHGE\WKHGRFWRU-DLPHKDGEHHQULJKWJRLQJWRWKHKRVSLWDO ZDVDJRRGLGHD He guessed it might be strange for anyone entering the room WR ÀQG WKH QXUVH DQG GRFWRU SDVVHG RXW IURP SOHDVXUH VR KH VKLIWHG WKHP LQWR WKH ZDVKURRP 7KH\ VKRXOG UHFRYHU SUHWW\ VRRQVLQFHKH·GEHHQFDUHIXO,WZDVPRUHWKHLQWHQVHFOLPD[WKDW ZDV D UHVXOW RI KLV ELWH WKDQ EORRG ORVV WKDW KDG LQFDSDFLWDWHG WKHP+HSDXVHGZRQGHULQJZK\KHKDGQ·WJLYHQLQWRKLVXUJHWR ELWH-DLPH,I KH·GWDNHQIURPKLVER\KHZRXOGQ·WKDYHQHHGHG the hospital. But if he took from Jaime, he couldn’t keep from claiming him as his human. ´6KLWµ$UGHQJURZOHGDVKHUHPHPEHUHGWRQLJKW·VXQSOHDVDQW HQFRXQWHU 6RPHKRZ KH KDG WR WKLQN RI D ZD\ WR GHDO ZLWK LW ZLWKRXWORVLQJ-DLPH·VWUXVW :HOODQGDOVRKLVIDYRULWHVKLUWZDVUXLQHG

68 Jan Irving §§§§ -DLPH ZDV SDFLQJ LQ WKH ZDLWLQJ URRP ZKHQ KH VSRWWHG  0RQGRVLWWLQJRQDFDUWLQWKHKDOOZD\7KHUHGKHDG·VSRUFHODLQ VNLQ ORRNHG EXUQHG VLPLODUO\ WR $UGHQ·V DQG KH ZDV VKLUWOHVV ZUDSSHG LQ D VKHHW ZLWK KLV EDUH IHHW GDQJOLQJ +H GLGQ·W ORRN menacing as he had back on campus, so Jaime risked approaching him. ´:KDWKDSSHQHGWR\RX"µ ´,IHOOµ -DLPHUROOHGKLVH\HV:K\GLGHYHU\RQHDVVXPHKHZDVVWXSLG" “Right. Fell into a ERQÀUH Apparently the same one a friend of PLQHHQFRXQWHUHGµ 0RQGR·VH\HVQDUURZHGDQGKH\DQNHG-DLPHFORVHZLWKDÀVW FOHQFKHGLQKLVWHHVKLUW´6KLW\RX·UHhis, DUHQ·W\RX"µ -DLPHJURZOHGDW0RQGRIHGXSEXWKLVIULHQG·VIDFHVXGGHQO\ ÁDVKHGFORVHDEOXURI H\HVWHHWK³´Ouch!” Jaime covered the spike of pain on the side of his neck. 0RQGRKDGQLSSHGKLPZLWKKLVWHHWK )DFHVHUHQHQRZ0RQGRFORVHGKLVH\HVDQGOHDQHGDJDLQVW WKHFKDON\SDLQWHGZDOO´/DWHUGXGHµKHPXPEOHG   -DLPHZDQWHGWRFKHZKLPRXWEXWDJDQJIURPWKHXQLYHUVLW\ DSSHDUHG³0RQGR·V RGG OLWWOH FOLTXH 2QH RI WKH ER\V UDLVHG KLVEURZVDW-DLPH*HWWLQJDVWUDQJHYLEH-DLPHJULPDFHGDQG EDFNHGRII+HKDGHQRXJKWRGHDOZLWKWRQLJKWZLWK$UGHQ ***§ § § § $UGHQ OLPSHG EDFN WR WKH ZDLWLQJ URRP WR GLVFRYHU -DLPH ORRNLQJVXEGXHGKXQFKHGLQKLVFKDLU7KLVZDVQ·W-DLPH·VÀUVW GHSUHVVLQJWULSWRWKH(55HPHPEHULQJ-DLPHZKHQKH·GORVW his big brother made Arden’s chest tighten so he rubbed his ÀQJHUV RYHU KLV KHDUW IURZQLQJ :KDW ZDV KH IHHOLQJ IRU WKLV ER\" +H ZDVQ·W EHKDYLQJ OLNH KLPVHOI +H FRXOG KDYH HQMR\HG him days ago. ,QVWHDGKHNHSWZDLWLQJIRU-DLPHWRFRPHWRKLPWRWRXFK KLPRI KLVRZQIUHHZLOO7KDWZDVDYHU\XQGHPRQOLNHLGHD

ARDENT 69 &OHDUO\WKHUHZDVVRPHWKLQJZURQJZLWK$UGHQWKRXJKKHKDG QRLGHDZKDWLWZDV Jaime glanced up and spotted him. His almond-shaped GDUN H\HV ZLGHQHG DQG $UGHQ VDZ D PL[WXUH RI FRQFHUQ DQG annoyance. ´
70 Jan Irving After clean up detail, Jaime paused for a moment at the WKUHVKROGWR$UGHQ·VEHGURRPQRWLFLQJWKHEHGVSUHDGZDVWKH H[DFWVDPHFRORUDVWKHRQHWKDWKDGIHDWXUHGODWHO\LQKLVHURWLF dreams of Arden. +XKÀJXUHV. ´'R\RXQHHGDQ\WKLQJ"µ $UGHQ·V GDUN H\HV ZHUH WKH PRVW YXOQHUDEOH -DLPH KDG HYHU   IHDUOLYLQJWKHUH:KDW VHHQWKHP+HWKRXJKWKHVDZDKLQWRI ZDVJRLQJRQ"'DPQLI $UGHQGLGQ·WORRNVRSOD\HGRXW-DLPH ZRXOGSXVKKLP ´
ARDENT 71 -DLPHVPLOHG´
CHAPTER NINE ´$UGHQFKLOOµ-DLPHKDGKDGHQRXJKRI ERVV\PDOHVWRGD\ 6KLW KH VWLOO KDG $UGHQ·V EORRG VWDLQLQJ WKH PRRQV RI KLV ÀQJHUQDLOV ´&KLOO"µ $UGHQ JURZOHG VQLIÀQJ WKH PDUN RQ -DLPH·V QHFN ´'R \RX NQRZ ZKDW WKLV LV" $ ZHUHZROI JDYH LW WR \RX 0DOH Very$OSKDµ ´8KZHUHZROI "µ-DLPH·VH\HVZLGHQHG´2ND\\RXQHYHUWROG PHWKH\ZHUHUHDOWRRµ0RQGRDZHUHZROI " $UGHQ·V GDUN H\HV VHHPHG HYHQ PRUH LQWHQVH ZLWKRXW KLV glasses. “You have no idea the kinds of monsters that roam this WRZQµ ´)RULQVWDQFHOLNH\RX"µ-DLPHSRLQWHGRXWFDOPO\+HWRRN a deep breath. “Look, I didn’t ask for the hickey. One minute he WROGPHKH·GWDNHQDIDOODQGWKHQH[WKH«µ ´:KDW LV KLV QDPH -DLPH"µ $UGHQ FXSSHG -DLPH·V IDFH LQ uncompromising hands. -DLPH·VJD]HZDUUHGZLWK$UGHQ·V´,·PQRWWHOOLQJ\RXµ-DLPH FKHZHGKLVOLSXQFHUWDLQRI WKLVGDUNHUVLGHRI $UGHQ´,QHHG WRWKLQNDERXWZKDWLVJRLQJRQSURFHVVLWDQGWKHQI ZLOOGHDO ZLWKLWµ $UGHQ·VGDUNEURZVORZHUHG,WZDVQRW-DLPH·VLPDJLQDWLRQ KLV H\HV ZHUH GHÀQLWHO\ GDUNHU ´
74 Jan Irving ´,PHUHO\ZDQW\RXUVXEPLVVLRQµ ´1R\RXZDQWPHWRQRWEHme-DLPH$QGHUVRQµ7KLVZDV LW³-DLPH NQHZ WKDW $UGHQ ZRXOG EUHDN WKHLU EDUJDLQ 7KDW ZKDWHYHULWZDVWKH\VKDUHGZRXOGVKDWWHUEULWWOHEHFDXVHKHZDV KXPDQDQG$UGHQZDVQRW $UGHQ·VMDZÁH[HG ´
ARDENT 75 ´,WKLQN\RXPHDQ,GRQ·WWDNHRUGHUVZHOOµ $UGHQZDVVWXG\LQJKLP´,GLGQRWHQMR\LWZKHQ\RXZHUH IULJKWHQHGRI PHµKHVDLGDVLI VXUSULVHG +HUHOD[HGDJDLQVW$UGHQRQHKDQGVWURNLQJKLVEDUHFKHVW DQGWKHFXUYHRI PXVFOH$IWHUDPRPHQWKHZKLVSHUHGEDFN “Your heart’s not beating. I never really noticed that before. Oh, PDQ,JXHVVDIWHUUHDGLQJVRPXFKVFLHQFHÀFWLRQ,FDQ·WGDWH DQ\RQHQRUPDOµ ´/LVWHQ-DLPH\RXZLOORQO\GDWHPHµ$UGHQVDLG :KHQ$UGHQÀQDOO\IHOODVOHHS-DLPHHVFDSHGWRWKHNLWFKHQ 7KHUHKHIRXQGDMXPEOHRI $UGHQ·VIRRGJURXSV $SSOHVDQGSL]]DDQGYHJHWDULDQTXLFKH:KLSSLQJFUHDPDQG RUJDQLF PLON ,W ZDV OLNH VRPHRQH ZDV FKRRVLQJ IRRG ZLWK QR LGHDRIKRZLWWDVWHGRUZRUNHGWRJHWKHURUZK\LWZRXOGDSSHDO ZKLFKPDGHVHQVH +LVER\IULHQGZDVDYDPSLUH+HGUDQNEORRG 6R ZKHUH ZDV KH JHWWLQJ KLV EORRG" -DLPH KDGQ·W SXVKHG WKH TXHVWLRQ EXW WKDW ZDV EHIRUH $UGHQ UHWXUQHG EXUQHG DQG bleeding, in need of a trip to the E.R. -DLPHUXEEHGKLVIRUHKHDG7KLVWKLQJEHWZHHQWKHPKDGMXVW JRWWHQDZKROHORWPRUHFRPSOLFDWHG §§§§ ´7KHZHUHZROIELW\RXWRFKDOOHQJHPHIRUWKHULJKWWRFODLP \RXµ $UGHQ H[SODLQHG DIWHU -DLPH·V VLQJOH PRUQLQJ FODVV KDG come to an end and he’d returned to Arden’s house determined WRJHWVRPHDQVZHUV -DLPHZDVVLSSLQJRUDQJHMXLFHVLWWLQJRQWKHVLGHRI$UGHQ·V EHG+HOLNHGWKHFRORUVWKURZQXSDJDLQVWWKHFHLOLQJDQGZDOOV by the stained-glass lamp. He decided he’d use them and Arden’s XQJLYLQJSURÀOHLQRQHRI KLVEUHZLQJVWRULHV ´:DLW'R\RXPHDQKHwantsPH"µ-DLPHEOLQNHG0RQGRKDG QHYHUVKRZQWKDWNLQGRI LQWHUHVWLQKLPEHIRUH $UGHQ·V IDFH ZDV WLJKW ´
76 Jan Irving ULVHV\RXZRXOGOHWKLPµ ´5LJKWEHFDXVH,VXGGHQO\KDYHQRZLOORI   P\RZQ"µ+RZ FRXOG$UGHQWKLQNKH·G«" $UGHQVKRRNKLVKHDGGDUNH\HVÀ[HGRQ-DLPH·VIDFH´7DNH RII \RXUFORWKHVµ -DLPHÁXVKHG´$UGHQ«µ ´
ARDENT 77 ´7KH RQO\ GRJJLH \RX·OO EH LV ZKHQ , WDNH \RX WKDW ZD\µ $UGHQNLVVHGKLPLQUHDVVXUDQFH´7UXVWPH,ZRQ·WDOORZ\RXWR EHVKDUHGE\WKHZHUHZROI DOSKDVµ ´:KDW"6KDUHGDVLQ«Shared?µ   -DLPH·VDVV )RUDQDQVZHU$UGHQFDUHVVHGWKHIXOOJOREHVRI before pulling aside the links that shielded his virgin opening. 1H[WKHSXWWZRÀQJHUVWR-DLPH·VOLSV´6XFNµ -DLPHREH\HGKROGLQJ$UGHQ·VJD]H+LVERG\ZDVUHVSRQGLQJ HQWKXVLDVWLFDOO\LQLWVFDJH$UGHQ·VKDQGVRQKLVDVV«)XFNLW IHOWVRSHUIHFWHVSHFLDOO\ZKHQKHVTXHH]HG :LWK ZHW ÀQJHUV $UGHQ FLUFOHG -DLPH·V GLPSOH 7KHQ KH SXVKHGWKHPLQVLGH-DLPHZLWKVWHDG\XQFRPSURPLVLQJSUHVVXUH -XVW\HVWHUGD\-DLPHZRXOGKDYHIRXQGWKLVVXGGHQLQWUXVLRQ painful, but something had changed. ´:KDW"µKHJDVSHGH\HVKHDY\OLGGHG7KHELWHRQKLVQHFN ZDVSXOVLQJLQWLPHZLWKWKLVQHZEHZLOGHULQJQHHGDOVRSXOVLQJ in his ass.  $UGHQEUXVKHGDJDLQVWDSODFHVRVHQVLWL]HGWKDWRQHWRXFK³ ´2KKKKKµ-DLPHVWLIIHQHGKROGLQJKLVEUHDWKQHDUO\DWWKH SRLQWRI FOLPD[ ´
78 Jan Irving surrender. 2QO\ D WDOO GDUN ÀJXUH VWRRG JXDUGLDQ EHWZHHQ -DLPH DQG WKRVH KXQJU\ VH[XDO EHDVWV LQ -DLPH·V LPDJLQDWLRQ $UGHQ KLV YHU\RZQPRQVWHU ´:K\VKRXOGQ·W\RXZDQWWREHVSDQNHG"µ$UGHQDVNHGKLP QRZ ´,W SOHDVHV \RX DQG LW SOHDVHV PHµ $UGHQ NLVVHG -DLPH ´7KHUHLVQRZURQJEHWZHHQXVHYHU
CHAPTER TEN “Uhhh!” -DLPHFRXOGQ·WEHOLHYHKHZDVVSUHDGRXWRQ$UGHQ·V  lap like a blanket. ´7RRPXFK"µ$UGHQSURGGHGKDQGUXEELQJ-DLPH·VÁXVKHG rear end. Jaime looked over his shoulder and made out a pink hand SULQW LQ WKH FHQWHU RI RQH DVVFKHHN +H VTXHH]HG KLV WKLJKV together, savoring the sensation. ´:RXOG,OHWDVWUDQJHUGRWKLV"µ $UGHQ ORRNHG VPXJ ´
80 Jan Irving SXUSRVHIXOO\´'RZQµKHRUGHUHG -DLPH·VFRFNOHIWDZHWLPSULQWRQ$UGHQ·VVLONFODGOHJDVKH arranged himself again, ass high— “Uhhhh!µ7KHPDJD]LQHKXUWDOLWWOHPRUHWKHHGJHVUDLVLQJ VOLJKWZHOWV ´
ARDENT 81 5RRWLQJ ORYLQJ WKH WDVWH -DLPH VZDOORZHG FOXPV\ ZLWK adoration. I love sucking your cock. $UGHQ·VKDQGVFOHQFKHGLQKLVKDLU$ORZJURZOBestial. Come GRZQ KLV WKURDW LPSODFDEOH ÀQJHUV WUDSSLQJ KLP PDNLQJ KLP take it all. 'D]HG KH ORRNHG XS DW $UGHQ FDWFKLQJ WKH ÁDVK RI VKDUS canines, the amber sparks in his void-dark eyes. ´,ZLOOUHZDUG\RXµ$UGHQOLIWHGKLPSXWKLVWHHWKMXVWDERYH Jaime’s nipple and bit him. Jaime shouted as he ejaculated a second time, hands tangled in Arden’s hair. ´
82 Jan Irving 6KLWµ-DLPHKDGDQRSHQSDOPDERYHKLVH\HVO\LQJRQKLVEDFN drifting, contemplating. ´'RZHKDYHWRWDONDERXWWKLVWRR"µ$UGHQVRXQGHGSODLQWLYH -DLPHEOLQNHGDW$UGHQ´0\SUHGLOHFWLRQWROLNHEHLQJVSDQNHG E\P\YDPSLUHER\IULHQG"µ+HVKRRNKLVKHDGVLON\EURZQKDLU still clinging to his skin in damp ringlets. ´-DLPHµ$UGHQFXSSHGKLVFKHHN´)RUPHLW·VDOODERXW\RX 3OHDVLQJ \RXµ $UGHQ·V YRLFH ORZHUHG ´$OWKRXJK , ZLOO SXQLVK \RXLQHDUQHVWIRUEUHDNLQJVRPHUXOHVµ -DLPHVZDOORZHG´:KDWDUHWKH\"$QGFDQ,VD\,KDYHPL[HG IHHOLQJVRQWKHZKROH¶GLVFLSOLQHLVVXH·"µ $UGHQVKUXJJHG´7KHUXOHVDUHVLPSOH1XPEHURQHGRQ·W HQGDQJHU \RXUVHOI HYHU RU ,·OO EH YHU\ DQJU\ 1XPEHU WZR QR one touches you, bites you, kisses you, but me.,NQRZ\RXGLGQ·W PHDQIRUWKDWZHUHZROIWRPDUN\RXEXWXQGHUVWDQG,·PDYHU\ SRVVHVVLYH PDQ ,·P QRW DOZD\V UHDVRQDEOH %HVLGHV WKHUH DUH GHPRQZD\VRI QHJRWLDWLQJWKHVKDULQJRI DKXPDQDQGKHKDV FURVVHGWKHOLQHµ ´%XW,WDNHFODVVHVZLWKXPWKHZHUHZROI6RKRZFDQ,VWD\  DZD\IURPKLPLIKHSXVKHVWKLQJVDJDLQ"µ$UGHQ·VJD]HZDVGDUN DQGVWLOO´2KP\*RG\RXPHDQWRNLOOKLPGRQ·W\RX"µ ´+HFKDOOHQJHGPHµ$UGHQVDLGYHU\VLPSO\ ´1R+H·VP\IULHQGµ ´+HZDQWVWRPRXQW\RXDQGIXFN\RXSXVKKLVSHQLVLQVLGH \RXZKLOHKH·VDEHDVWµ ´$QGWKDW·VGLIIHUHQWIURPZKDW\RXZDQWWRGRWRPHKRZ H[DFWO\"µ ´:HOOQRIXUµ §§§§ 2XWVLGH$UGHQ·VKRXVH(OL]DEHWKSHHUHGLQWRWKHZLQGRZV  6KHZDVKRSLQJWKDW-DLPHZRXOGFRPHRXWVLGHLQWRWKHJDUGHQ 6KHQHHGHGWRWDONWRKLPJHWKLPDZD\IURPKLVIULHQG 6KH ORRNHG GRZQ DW KHU VRUH VFRUFKHG SDOPV 6KH·G QHYHU

ARDENT 83 EHHQVRDQJU\QHYHUFKDQQHOHGVXFKSRZHUIXOPDJLF 6KHKDGWRWDONWR-DLPH $QGWKHQVKH·GGHDOZLWK$UGHQ

CHAPTER ELEVEN -DLPH ZRNH WDQJOHG DURXQG $UGHQ +H VWUHWFKHG WKLQNLQJ despite the unaccustomed aches, he could get used to sleeping ZLWKDQRWKHUSHUVRQ7RVOHHSLQJZLWK$UGHQ “I think maybe baked apple this morning or some of that EUHDGSXGGLQJ\RXZHUHWDONLQJDERXW,OLNHGWKHPXIÀQVZLWK QXWPHJ:KDWGR³"µ Arden looked at him dully. ´+H\WKHUH·VVRPHWKLQJZURQJZLWK\RXµ-DLPHVKRWXSULJKW LQWKHEHGKHDUWSRXQGLQJ+HFRXOGIHHOLWQRZWRR$UGHQ·VVNLQ ZDVQHYHUDVZDUPDVKLVH[FHSWVRPHWLPHVGLUHFWO\DIWHUZKHQ -DLPHVXVSHFWHGKH·GIHG1RZLWZDVOLNHLFHFXEHV ´5HOD[ LW·V QRWKLQJ , KDYHQ·W H[SHULHQFHG EHIRUH PHUHO\ ZHDNQHVVIURPEORRGORVVµ ´2Kµ-DLPHVFUXEEHGDKDQGRYHUKLVMDZ´
86 Jan Irving Arden blinked. “You’re going to bring me a couple of college MRFNV"µ ´1Rµ ´1RDQLPDOEORRGµ$UGHQFKRSSHGDKDQGWKURXJKDLU ´:K\QRW"µ ´,W·VDOLWWOHOLNHWRPDWRMXLFH*RRGIRU\RXEXWZKRZDQWVWR GULQNLW"µ -DLPHWXJJHGWKHHQGVRI KLVKDLU´$UGHQWKDW·V³µ ´6WDQGDUGV-DLPH,amDQDOSKDYDPSLUHµ ´%XW,GRQ·WVHHKRZKXPDQEORRGLVWKDWGLIIHUHQW,WVRXQGV OLNH&RNHDQG3HSVLµ “I get inside7KRXJKWVPHPRULHVIHHOLQJV1RWKLQJOLNHWKH EORRGRI UDWVµ ´5DWV"7KDWGRHVQ·WVRXQGOLNH\RXµ $UGHQ·V JD]H GURSSHG +LV ROLYH VNLQ ZDV SDOH DQG KH KDG EUXLVHVXQGHUKLVH\HV6RIWO\´:KHQ,ZDVQHZ,JRWRXWRIWKH FDJH6HDQNHSWPHLQµ  ´&DJH"µ-DLPH·VH\HVZLGHQHG´6HDQLV\RXUVLUHULJKW"7KDW VRQRI D³µ  ,GLGQ·WOHDUQFRQWURO,FRXOGKDYH ´1RLWZDVP\FKRLFH,I EHFRPHPHUHO\DUHYHQDQWDPRQVWHUµ -DLPHZDLWHGEXW$UGHQVDLGQRPRUHVRKHUHDFKHGIRUKLV SDQWV´)LQH,·PKHDGLQJRXW$QG\RXDUHQ·WHDV\WRORRNDIWHUµ 6XOOHQ´:KRVDLG\RXKDGWR"µ “Me.µ §§§§ -DLPH QHHGHG KHOS VR KH ZHQW LQ VHDUFK RI (OL]DEHWK +H found her in the campus library, poring over one of her arcane books.   ´
ARDENT 87 ´,·PVRJODGWRVHH\RXµ6KHEXUVWRXWFRYHULQJKLVKDQG concern burning in her eyes. -DLPHIHOWDZDYHRIJXLOWZKHQKHWKRXJKWDERXWDOOWKHWKLQJV    JRLQJRQKLVOLIHWKDWKH·G\HWWRVKDUHZLWKKHU6KH·GEHHQWKHUH IRUKLPUHDOO\EHHQWKHUHZKHQ'HUHNDQG$UGHQZHUHJRQH6KH GHVHUYHGEHWWHUWKDQIRUKLPWRVKXWKHURXWQRZ ´, QHHG WR JHW VRPHWKLQJ :HOO VWHDO LW DFWXDOO\µ -DLPH UHDGKHUH[SUHVVLRQ´&·PRQWKLVLVLPSRUWDQW,W·VQRWOLNHEDG VWHDODJH,W·VWKHJRRGNLQGµ  ´,GRQ·WNQRZµ(OL]DEHWKKDGMXVWDERXWGLHGZKHQVKHJRW DSDUNLQJÀQH$FULPLQDOPDVWHUPLQGVKHZDVQRW-DLPHNQHZ +HJDYHKHUDORRNKHNQHZVKH·GKDYHWURXEOHUHVLVWLQJKLV bangs falling into sad eyes as he begged, “Please(OL]DEHWK
88 Jan Irving ´5HDOO\µ(OL]DEHWK·VH\HVZHLJKHG-DLPH´'LGQ·W\RXWHOOPH WKDW'HUHN·VER\IULHQGZDVDYDPSLUH",WKRXJKW\RXZHUHGUXQN DWWKHWLPHVLQFHZH·GKDGDOOWKDW6DQJULD«µ +HVRGLGQRWZDQWWRWDONDERXWWKLVZLWKKHU´
ARDENT 89 ´:HOO,WKLQNKHKDVD0RQGRQLDQNLQGRI FKDUP+HHYHQ VHHPVWRKDYHDWWUDFWHGKLVRZQIROORZLQJODWHO\µ -DLPHVKRRNKLVKHDGZDWFKLQJWKHUHGKHDGDVKHZURWHRQ a chart and then left something in one of the rooms. It didn’t help that he felt a tug of attraction, that he could almost picture himself mashed against tall green grass, a full moon above as 0RQGR³ ´
90 Jan Irving %HIRUHKLVOHJVFRXOGJRWKHFRQVLVWHQF\RIZHWSDVWDW\SLFDO DURXQG ERWK $UGHQ DQG 0RQGR -DLPH EOXUWHG ´,·P VHHLQJ VRPHRQHµ 0RQGRFRFNHGDEURZ´
CHAPTER TWELVE 0RQGRVHHPHGWRKDYHORVWLWDJDLQ :DVWLQJQRWLPH-DLPHVKRYHGDWUROOH\EHWZHHQWKHP´1R  RIIHQVHEXW,GRQ·WZDQW\RXELWLQJPHDJDLQµ 0RQGR·VH\HVRQO\KDGDWKLQULPRILULVWKHEODFNGHYRXULQJ WKH FRORU WKH ZD\ WKDW -DLPH VHQVHG WKH RWKHU PDQ ZRXOG OLNH WR GHYRXU KLP +H ZDV GHÀQLWHO\WKH ELJ EDG ZROI LQ D VKRUW VWULQJ\ ERG\ ´$UH \RX DIUDLG RI KLP" 7KH YDPSLUH ZKR RZQV \RX,PHDQµ ´2ND\ÀUVW"+HGRHVQ·WRZQPHµHe only thinks he owns me, -DLPHTXDOLÀHGWRKLPVHOI´$QGVHFRQG,·PQRWDIUDLGRI KLP :HOOQRWDOZD\V,W·VFRPSOLFDWHG%XW,DPDIUDLGIRUyou. You ELWHPHDJDLQDQGKH·OOFRPHORRNLQJµ ´/HWKLPµ -DLPHZLSHGKLVGDPSSDOPVRQKLVMHDQV´'LG\RXORVHDOO FRPPRQ VHQVH ZKHQ \RX EHFDPH D ZHUHZROI " , VR ZRXOG QRW ZDQWKLPFRPLQJORRNLQJIRUPHµ ´
92 Jan Irving click. -DLPHVKXGGHUHGDQGVWHSSHGEDFN+RZFRXOGKHEHDURXVHG E\ 0RQGR" $QG \HW KH ZDV +H KDG ÁDVKHV RI ZDQWLQJ WR OLH under him, of letting him bite deeply into his neck and mount KLP´-XVWVWD\DZD\µ 0RQGRORRNHGZHDU\´,KDWHZKDW,DPEXWFRPHWKHIXOO PRRQ ,·OO ORRN IRU \RX DQG ,·OO ÀQG \RX $QG -DLPH ZH ERWK NQRZ\RX·OOZDQWLWµ -DLPHKDGDQRWKHUYLVLRQRIZKDWWKDWPLJKWEHOLNH³WLHGVR KLVDVVZDVUDLVHGZDWFKLQJVKDGRZVÀJKWDQGWKHQIXUDJDLQVW  KLVEDFNDFODZFRYHULQJKLVKDQGDQGVRPHWKLQJWKLFNWKUXVWLQJ inside— 6ZHDWEURNHRXWRQKLVIRUHKHDG ´
ARDENT 93 +HVLJKHG´,·OOMRLQ\RXLQWKHOLPSSLOHRI   VZHDW\IHDU2K *RGOHW·VQRWGRFULPHDJDLQµ ´:KDWZDVXSZLWK\RXDQG0RQGR"µ ´+H·VLQWRDVWUDQJHVFHQHµ)RUVRPHUHDVRQ-DLPHZDQWHGWR SUHVHUYH0RQGR·VVHFUHW+HZDVJHWWLQJDVWUDQJHYLEHIURPKHU RQ$UGHQZKLFKPDGHKLPRGGO\SURWHFWLYHRI 0RQGR ´+HORRNHGOLNHKHZDVLQWRyou.µ -DLPHÁXVKHGVZLQJLQJKLVNQDSVDFNRYHUKLVVKRXOGHU6KH KDGQRLGHD+HJDYH(OL]DEHWKDTXLFNKXJDSSUHFLDWLQJVKHZDV OHWWLQJKLPVNDWHRYHUWKHWKLQLFHEHWZHHQWKHP´7DONVRRQ, SURPLVHµ   ´
94 Jan Irving maybe in a mug. Just don’t tell me you needed type-O-Negative RUVRPHWKLQJ¶FDXVH,GLGQ·WWKLQNRI WKDWµ Arden shook his head as Jaime helped him climb to his feet. 7RJHWKHUWKH\VWDJJHUHGDGUXQNHQSDWKWRWKHEDWKURRP +HVWULSSHGRII$UGHQ·VFORWKLQJH[FHSWLQJEODFNVLONER[HUV before helping him into the large tub and turning on the hot ZDWHU Huddled in the center, Arden shivered, eyes half closed, arms ZUDSSHGDURXQGKLPVHOI -DLPHZDVPRYHGWRUHDFKRXWDQGVWURNHKLVKDLU´,W·OOEHDOO ULJKWµKHUHDVVXUHGVRIWO\ 6HHLQJ$UGHQZDVVWLOOLQGLVWUHVV-DLPHUDFHGWRWKHNLWFKHQ ZKHUHKHÀOOHGDFXSDQGKHDWHGLWLQWKHPLFURZDYH$VLWZDV ZDUPLQJKHJOLPSVHGKLVGDUNUHÁHFWLRQLQWKHRYHQJODVV+H KDG D VPHDU RI EORRG RQ RQH FKHHN +ROGLQJ KLV RZQ JD]H QXPEO\KHVFUXEEHGLWDZD\ -DLPHVWULSSHGZKLOH$UGHQEOLQNHGXSDWKLPIURPWKHWXE +HVWHSSHGLQWRWKHZDWHUVSRUWLQJRQO\WKHQHFNODFH$UGHQKDG ÀUVWFROODUHGKLPZLWK ´+HUHµ +H SXW WKH PXJ WR $UGHQ·V OLSV WRXFKLQJ KLV KDLU again as the vampire drank. Jaime grimaced over the blood still sticky on his face and hair, dunking himself before noticing the normally fastidious Arden had the same problem. He reached for the pine-scented shampoo, UHÁHFWLQJWKDW$UGHQVHHPHGWRIDYRUVWURQJKHUEVFHQWV3HUKDSV EHFDXVH KLV VHQVHV ZHUH VR NHHQ WRR PXFK DUWLÀFLDO PDWHULDO SUREDEO\VPHOOHGEDG7KLVVKDPSRRZDVIURPWKHWRZQ·VORFDO homeopathy shop. Jaime rubbed it deep into Arden’s scalp. $UGHQPDGHDSXUULQJVRXQGZKHQ-DLPHVPRRWKHGDKDQG  GRZQKLVQHFNWRWKHÁDWSODQHVRIKLVVRIWO\PXVFOHGXSSHUFKHVW ´
ARDENT 95 ´,·PQRWVXUHKRZ,IHHODERXW\RXFDOOLQJPHWKDWµ$UGHQ UDLVHGDUHSURYLQJEURZ -DLPH NLVVHG $UGHQ·V OLSV LQ DSRORJ\ ´6RUU\ , ZDV WKLQNLQJ KRZEHDXWLIXO\RXDUH+RZ,FDQ·WEHOLHYH,·PZLWKVRPHRQHVR EHDXWLIXO,VKRXOGKDYHMXVWVDLGLWDGPLWWHGZKDW,ZDVIHHOLQJ LQVWHDGRI XVLQJDFRYHUµ ´/RVLQJ'HUHNWKHZD\\RXGLGSUREDEO\PDGH\RXDIUDLGWR H[SUHVV\RXUVHOIWREHYXOQHUDEOHEXW\RXFDQGRWKDWZLWKPH -DLPH,·OOOHW¶GRUN·SDVVWKLVWLPHµ Jaime suppressed a grin at the return of Arden’s arrogance. His vampire seemed to be recovering. “You’re forgetting I also ORVW\RXVDPHWLPHDV,GLG'HUHNµ-DLPHQRWHG+HSXVKHGD ULQJOHWRIGDUNEURZQKDLURXWRI$UGHQ·VH\HV+LVKDLUGLGUHDFK  WRKLVQLSSOHVZKLFKZDVMXVWDVKRWDV-DLPHKDGLPDJLQHGWKH coppery nipples stabbing through the strands and making Jaime ZDQWWRVXFNWKHP “You neverORVWPHµ$UGHQFRXQWHUHG ´2ND\,WKLQN,·PEHJLQQLQJWREHOLHYHWKDWµ-DLPHVDLG´:H   JODVVHV,RQO\IRXQGRQHSDLU QHHGWRÀQG\RXDQRWKHUSDLURI LQ\RXUGUDZHUDQG,UHPHPEHUKRZ\RXIRUJHWWKHPDQGOHDYH WKHPZKHQ\RX·UHEXV\ZLWK\RXUDPSKRUDµ Arden nodded, a blush just touching his cheeks. “I rely on WKHPµ ´7KH\ DUH \RXU VKHHS·V FORWKLQJ EXW , GR WKLQN WKH\ DUH DGRUDEOHµ Arden colored some more. “Just for that, I think I’ll assign \RXWKHWDVNRI JOXLQJP\ODWHVWUHFRQVWUXFWLRQµ -DLPHJURDQHG,WZDVSDLQVWDNLQJZRUNDQG$UGHQZDVDKDUG taskmaster. But he loved to help him out. Arden’s passion for his ZRUN KDG LQVSLUHG -DLPH WR FKDVH KLV GUHDP RI EHLQJ DQ DUWLVW DQGZULWHU ´-XVW UHPHPEHU ZKR LV LQ FKDUJH KHUH VZHHW ER\µ $UGHQ raked his hands through Jaime’s hair so Jaime could feel his nails. 7KHVHQVDWLRQPDGH-DLPH·VVFDOSWLQJOHDQGKLVFRFNKDUGHQ

96 Jan Irving ´6RHDVLO\\RXEORRPIRUPHµ ´,I \RXPHDQ,JHWKDUG\HDKµ $UGHQVQLIIHG-DLPH·VQHFN´
ARDENT 97 +HNLVVHG$UGHQ´&DQZHPDNHLWZRUN"µ +LV ZRUGV VHHPHG WR LQÁDPH $UGHQ ´'R XV 'R XV QRZ -DLPHµ -DLPH SDQWHG DV KH IUDQWLFDOO\ ZRUNHG WKHP ERWK KDQG PRYLQJ XS DQG GRZQ FDUHVVLQJ WKH SOXPP\ KHDG RI $UGHQ·V cock, feeling heat, steam, reliefZKLWLQJRXWKLVHDUOLHUDQ[LHW\RYHU Arden. $QG WKHQ KH ZDV FRPLQJ ZKLOH SLFWXULQJ 0RQGR·V FODZHG KDQGKROGLQJKLPGRZQ$UGHQ·VWHHWKVLQNLQJGHHSLQWRKLVVNLQ §§§§ ´
98 Jan Irving ZHUHZROI DVZHOO $UGHQPDGHDJURZOLQJVRXQG Jaime stroked Arden’s arms, looking into his eyes. ´$OOULJKWWKHUHLVWKHELWHµ$UGHQDGPLWWHG´$UH\RXWU\LQJ WRPDQDJHPHER\"µ ´
ARDENT 99 ,ZDQW$QGLWDOORZHGPHWRPHHW'HUHN³DQG\RXµ +H FRXOG VHH $UGHQ ZDV XQFRPIRUWDEOH UHYHDOLQJ VR PXFK RIKLVSDVWVRKHVTXHH]HGKLVKDQGLQJUDWLWXGH´7KDQN\RXIRU DOORZLQJPHWRVHH\RXµ $UGHQVDLGREYLRXVO\HDJHUWRFKDQJHWKHVXEMHFW´:LOO\RX OHWPHKDYH\RXUPRXWK"µ -DLPHVZDOORZHG´
100 Jan Irving ´%HFDXVHLW·VQRWOLIHµ “It’s myOLIHµ

CHAPTER THIRTEEN In the kitchen, Arden heaved a patient sigh. Jaime crossed his arms. 6WDQGRII “PleaseWU\LW",VODYHGRYHULWµ ´,·PMXVWQRWVRVXUHDERXWWRIXSDQFDNHVµ ´7KH\DUHKLJKLQÀEHUµ ´
102 Jan Irving -DLPHGURSSHGKLVSODWHRI SDQFDNHV´6KLW,VWKDWVRPHRQH DWWKHGRRU"µ ´
ARDENT 103 $UGHQ·VVWLII SRVWXUH´7KLVLV(OL]DEHWKP\EHVWIULHQGµ Arden felt a surge of jealousy. He ZDQWHGWREH-DLPH·VEHVW friend. ´6KH LV PRUH WKDQ VKH VHHPV -DLPHµ $UGHQ ZDUQHG +H LQVWLQFWLYHO\NQHZWKDW(OL]DEHWKZRXOGPHDQSUREOHPVIRUKLP and his boy. 6KHUDLVHGKHUFKLQ6KHKDGJXWV$UGHQKDGWRJLYHKHUWKDW He could smell her discomfort. No doubt she could feel the burn RIWKHZDUGVKH·GDUUDQJHGWRSURWHFWKLVKRXVHDQGJDUGHQIURP magical attacks. ´
104 Jan Irving ZRXOGNHHS-DLPHRXWRI LW ´'RQ·WGULQNLWµ ´$UGHQ PDNHV DPD]LQJ YDQLOOD ODWWHV ZLWK VSULQNOHVµ -DLPH supplied, obviously looking for a peace offering. 7DNLQJ KLV FXH $UGHQ ZHQW RYHU WR KLV ,WDOLDQ FRSSHU VKHDWKHGHVSUHVVRPDFKLQHDQGEHJDQWRZDUPLWXSJLYLQJ-DLPH DPRPHQWZLWK(OL]DEHWK +HFRXOGKHDUHYHU\WKLQJWKH\H[FKDQJHGDQ\ZD\ -DLPH OHW RXW D EUHDWK RI UHOLHI ZKHQ $UGHQ JDYH KLP DQG (OL]DEHWK VRPH VSDFH 7KHQ KH IRUFHG KLPVHOI WR JLYH KHU WKH WUXWK´
ARDENT 105 ,WZDVQ·WZKDWLWFUDFNHGXSWREHDQ\PRUHEHLQJDYDPSLUH NLQJ1RZDGD\VYDPSLUHVRZQHGEXVLQHVVHVPDGHLQYHVWPHQWV DQGKHVRPHWLPHVORQJHGIRUWKHROGGD\VFOLFKpGDVWKH\ZHUH IULJKWHQHGYLOODJHUVJDUOLFLQWKHZLQGRZVWHVWLQJKLPVHOIDJDLQVW  vampire hunters across continents. +H WKRXJKW RI $UGHQ +LV VFKRODU +H ZDV NHHSLQJ D YHU\ ORZSURÀOHDOPRVWEHKDYLQJOLNHRQHRI them, the humans they preyed on. Of all the lovers he’d possessed, Arden had been the most VHQVLWLYH +H·G KDG D TXDOLW\ WKDW KDG DUUHVWHG 6HDQ·V DWWHQWLRQ IURPWKHÀUVWEXW6HDQNQHZVRPHKRZKH·GPLVKDQGOHGKLP+H   KDGQHYHUEHHQVXUHKRZKRZHYHUZKLFKZDVSHUKDSVZK\KH still insisted Arden attend him from time to time. /RRNLQJIRUWKDWSLHFHWRWKHSX]]OH 1RZKHJRWRXWRI EHGSDXVLQJWRVWXG\WKHWZRER\VKH·G  XVHGVLQFHWKHQLJKWRIWKHGHPRQEDOO:K\ZHUHQ·WWKH\HQRXJK anymore? 6HDQRUGHUHGFRIIHHDQGZKHQLWDUULYHGQRWLFHGWZRSDLUVRI H\HVZDWFKLQJKLP+HVXPPRQHGWKHPIRUEUHDNIDVW³KLVDQG WKHLUV:LWKWKHWDVWHRIWKHVOLJKWHURQHRQKLVWRQJXHKHOLFNHG KLVOLSVDQGWRRNDVLSRI 6XPDWUDEOHQG+HVWURNHGWKHEDFN of the more muscular young man, Jeff, a California blond he ZDVIRQGRI7KHUHZHUHVWLOOVWULSHVRQKLVEDFNIURPODVWQLJKW DQG6HDQ·VPRXWKZDWHUHGZLWKWKHQHHGWRWDVWHDQGKHDOWKHP ´%R\V\RXDUHJRLQJWRKHOSPHVROYHDULGGOHµ

CHAPTER FOURTEEN ´-DLPH·V\RXUV"µ(OL]DEHWKEOLQNHG ´
108 Jan Irving ZDVVLSSLQJKLVRZQODWWH -DLPHSXWKLVPXJGRZQYHU\FDUHIXOO\(OL]DEHWKDQG$UGHQ weren’t JRLQJWRPDNHKLPFKRRVHVLGHVEHFDXVHKRZFRXOGKH" +HFDUHGDERXWWKHPERWK$QGKHZDVJRLQJWRÀQGRXWZKDW ZDVEUHZLQJEHWZHHQWKHWZRRI WKHP ´+HFDUHVDERXWPH+HDOZD\VKDVµ1RZKHFRXOGDGPLWLW ,WVWLOOKXUWEHFDXVH«'HUHN+RZFRXOGKHHYHUEHDVVH[\DQG DSSHDOLQJDVKLVROGHUEURWKHU"+LP$UGHQKDGVWD\HGLQWRZQ for. ´$UHQ·W \RX WZR D OLWWOH WRR different WR KDYH D UHODWLRQVKLS"µ (OL]DEHWKDVNHG ´,GRQ·WFDUHµ$UGHQFXSSHGKLVKDQGDURXQG-DLPH·VQHFN OLNHDQHFNODFHFDUHVVLQJWKHVWRQHVKH·GSXWWKHUH´,ZDQWHGKLP DQGKHDOORZHGPHWRWDNHKLPµ (OL]DEHWKRQO\VKRRNKHUKHDG´,I \RXFDUHDERXWKLP\RX VKRXOGOHWKLPJRµ $UGHQJURZOHG´-DLPHZDQWVWROLYHZLWKPHµ%XWKLVSURÀOH ZDVULJLG ´+H FRXOG VXEOHW ZLWK PH LQ P\ DSDUWPHQWµ (OL]DEHWK RIIHUHG´:KDWGR\RXWKLQN-DLPH"µ ´, WKLQN , ZDQW WR OLYH ZLWK $UGHQµ KH VDLG ´:H PD\ EH GLIIHUHQWEXW,·PVXUHZH·OOZRUNLWRXWµ -DLPHFKRVHQRWWRPHQWLRQ0RQGRDQGWKHSRVVLEOHWURXEOH ORRPLQJ DW WKH HQG RI WKH PRQWK +H ÀJXUHG RQH SRWHQWLDO ER\IULHQGZDVDOO(OL]DEHWKFRXOGKDQGOHDWDWLPH,WZDVFHUWDLQO\ all Jaime could handle. $UGHQ·V SRVWXUH UHOD[HG DQG KH UHDFKHG GRZQ WR VTXHH]H Jaime’s hand.  ´,·PMXVWFRQFHUQHG\RXGRQ·WNQRZZKDWNLQGRIUHODWLRQVKLS   \RX·YHJRWWHQLQWR-DLPHWKHUHDUHZD\VRILQÁXHQFLQJDSHUVRQµ (OL]DEHWKVDLGVWDULQJSRLQWHGO\DW$UGHQ *** Arden found Jaime in the garden house later, sitting on his

ARDENT 109 VLQJOHEHGVXUURXQGHGE\KLVGUDZLQJV +H SDXVHG WR ZLSH WKH GXVW RII KLV FKHHNV +H·G EHHQ H[DPLQLQJ VRPH ERQH FDVWV DQG ORVW WUDFN RI WLPH +H SXW KLV hands in his pockets. ´6KH·VULJKW-DLPHZHDUHYHU\GLIIHUHQWµ “Now \RX ZRUU\ DERXW WKLV"µ -DLPH JODUHG DW $UGHQ ´,·P QRW D FKLOG $UGHQ HYHQ LI DV D PHUH KXPDQ , KDYH QRZKHUH QHDU\RXUH[SHULHQFH,FKRRVHWREHZLWK\RX,NQRZ\RX·UHQRW H[DFWO\VDIHµ ´,GLGQ·WH[SHFWWRIHHOWKLVZD\DERXW\RXµ$UGHQFRQIHVVHG   ´+RZGR\RXIHHODERXWPH"µ $UGHQÀGGOHGZLWKVRPHRI KLVSKRWRJUDSKVJUD]LQJWKHP ZLWKDÀQJHU´,EDUHO\UHPHPEHUEHLQJKXPDQ³LWZDVWRRVKRUW DWLPHµ -DLPH FOLPEHG RII WKH EHG DQG ZHQW WR $UGHQ ´0HDQLQJ \RX·UHORVWWRR"µ Arden gave a slight nod, pulling Jaime close so his head rested DJDLQVW$UGHQ·VQHFN+HVWURNHG-DLPH·VEDFN´,ZRUU\WKDW\RX PLJKWWXUQDZD\IURPPHµ ´:K\"'RHVWKLVKDYHVRPHWKLQJWRGRZLWKWKHYLEHEHWZHHQ \RXDQG(OL]DEHWK"µ $UGHQVZDOORZHGEXWGLGQ·WDQVZHU-DLPH·VTXHVWLRQGLUHFWO\ “For one thing, if you aren’t penetrated by me by the night of the IXOOPRRQ0RQGRFDQWDNH\RXIURPPHµ ´7KDW·VEDUEDULFµ $UGHQUDLVHGDEURZ´
110 Jan Irving “Oh, he’s your friendQRZ"µ$UGHQVFRZOHG Jaime rolled his eyes. “Can you try to not be so jealous all the WLPH"µ ´1Rµ  ´,·OOÀQGDZD\WRPDNHWKLVQRWDGHDWKWKLQJµ-DLPHVDLG ´0D\EHLI ,WDONWRKLPµ ´7KHUH LV QR ZD\ DURXQG WKLV -DLPHµ $UGHQ·V KDQG ZDV WDQJOHGLQ-DLPH·VKDLU´,W·VZKDWZHDUHµ Arden leaned close to kiss Jaime, as if seeking to distract him IURPXQKDSS\WKRXJKWV-DLPHZDVKHVLWDQWDWÀUVWEXWWKHQKH opened his mouth to receive Arden’s tongue. He couldn’t help WKLQNLQJWKDWRQHGD\VRRQKH·GDOVRWDNHKLVFRFN7KHNLVVJUHZ heated as Arden sat on the edge of his desk and lifted Jaime onto his lap. -DLPHSXOOHGDZD\WRWDNHDEUHDWKVZHDWEUHDNLQJRXWRQKLV hair line from the intensity. $UGHQVWURNHGKLVFKHHNZLWKÀQJHUVWKDWVKRRN´7RPRUURZ ZH·OOKDYHDYLVLWRUµKHWROG-DLPH ´9LVLWRUµ-DLPHEOLQNHGVWLOOGD]HGIURPWKHNLVV ´7KDWJRRG"µ )RU DQ DQVZHU -DLPH VKLIWHG UHVWOHVVO\ DQG $UGHQ UHDFKHG GRZQDQGEHJDQWRRSHQKLVMHDQVZKLOHKROGLQJKLVJD]H -DLPH VLJKHG ZLWK UHOLHI +H ZDV ZHDULQJ KLV MHZHOHG VKLHOG ZKLFKFRQVWULFWHGKLVSDVVLRQZKLOHVHHPLQJWRIHHGLW Dark approval lit Arden’s eyes and Jaime could see he liked WKDW-DLPHFKRVHWRZHDULWIRUKLP ´
ARDENT 111 FRXSOHVZLWKWKHLUUHODWLRQVµ ´0L[HGFRXSOHV"µ-DLPHEOLQNHG´2KPDQWKDWIHHOVJRRGµ ´3UHWW\VOXWµ ´3OHDVH$UGHQPD\,FRPH"µ Arden smiled and reached for the key to Jaime’s prison. Arden ZDVDSSDUHQWO\JRLQJWRWRUPHQWKLPDQGGUDZLWRXWEXW-DLPH KHOGVWLOOIRUKLPLQVWLQFWLYHO\OHWWLQJKLPGRZKDWKHZDQWHG ´0L[HG FRXSOHV ERQGLQJ DV LQ PH IXFNLQJ \RXµ $UGHQ elaborated. He lifted Jaime effortlessly off his lap and positioned KLPVRKHZDVEHQWRYHUWKHGHVNPXFKDVKHKDGEHHQZKHQ $UGHQGLVFLSOLQHGKLPZLWKDVFKRROUXOHU -DLPH JURDQHG DV KLV EDOOV WLJKWHQHG LQ DQWLFLSDWLRQ :RXOG $UGHQ VSDQN KLP DJDLQ" 7KH XQFHUWDLQW\ DQG KLV VXEPLVVLRQ DGGHGWRWKHFRFNWDLORI ZDQW ´+H ZLOO KHOS PH FRQWURO \RXU VH[ DQG SOHDVXUH \RX FRPSOHWHO\µ ´
112 Jan Irving KLPKLVOLSVVKLQ\DQGKLVH\HVKHDY\+HZDVHQMR\LQJWKLVDOPRVW DVPXFKDV-DLPHZDV ´3OHDVH«Master OHW PH FRPHµ -DLPH EHJJHG LQ D YRLFH VR soft only a vampire could have heard him. ´0\SOHDVXUHVZHHWER\µ$UGHQWRQJXHIXFNHG-DLPHZKLOH KHUHDFKHGLQIURQWRI KLPDQGJDYH-DLPH·VQHHG\FRFNDÀUP SLQFK7KHFRPELQDWLRQRISOHDVXUHDQGSDLQVHQW-DLPHRYHUWKH HGJH+HVKRWSDSHUVÁXWWHULQJXQGHUKLVVFUDEEOLQJKDQGV $IWHU $UGHQ FDUULHG KLP WR EHG ´&ODVVHV VRRQµ KH VDLG ´
ARDENT 113 WKHKXJHSXSLOVVHHPLQJWRGHYRXU-DLPH·VUHÁHFWLRQ ´7KLVLVP\QHZIDYRULWHZD\WRZDNHXSµ-DLPHVDLG Arden rubbed the bit of a night beard around his chin and lips. He looked like a large ebony cat, freshly roused from sleeping LQDSRRORI VXQVKLQH+LVEODFNVLONVKLUWZDVKDOI XQEXWWRQHG tempting Jaime to stroke sleek skin and pebbled nipples. ´
CHAPTER FIFTEEN ´-DLPH"µ ´+H\0RQGRµ-DLPHJDYH0RQGRDZDU\ORRN´$UH\RX« QRUPDOWRGD\"µ  ´1R,WKLQN,·PDOZD\VNLQGRIRQWKHRGGVLGHWREHKRQHVW %XWVRIDUWRGD\LVJRRG1RFODZVµ0RQGRUDLVHGKLVKDQG ´
116 Jan Irving /DO ZDV D JUHHQVNLQQHG GHPRQ ZLWK D SK\VLTXH HQKDQFHG E\UHJXODUWULSVWRWKHJ\P7RGD\KHZDVZHDULQJDVOHHNWDXSH FDWVXLWZKLFKPDWFKHGKLVOHDWKHUDWWDFKp+HVDWGRZQRQWKH ZLQJ FKDLU RSSRVLWH $UGHQ FURVVHG KLV OHJV DQG SXVKHG EDFN  KLVG\HGEORQGKDLU´0\ORUGµKHVDLGJLYLQJKLPKLVGXHDVD master vampire. $UGHQNQHZKHKDGWRREVHUYHWKHFRXUWHVLHV%HVLGHVORQHU WKDW KH ZDV KH VWLOO DSSUHFLDWHG UHVSHFW ,W ZDV EHWWHU WKDQ WKH DOWHUQDWLYHLQWKHYDPSLUHZRUOG´5HGZLQHRUEORRG"µ ´3OHDVHVRUHWURµ/DOVPLOHG´,·OOKDYHDFDSSXFFLQRLI \RX FDQSURYLGHRQHµ ´2KULJKW:HGHPRQVVKRXOGPRYHZLWKWKHWLPHVµ$UGHQ JRWXSDQGPDGH/DORQHZLWKKLVRZQKDQGVDVWKHRWKHUGHPRQ ZDWFKHG +H NQHZ /DO FRXOG SUREDEO\ VHH KLV DXUD +H WULHG  QRWWRLPDJLQHZKDWLWORRNHGOLNHQRZWKDWKH·GPHW-DLPH+H ZDVVXUHLWKDGEHHQDVHUHQHFRORUZKHQKHZDVGRLQJWKLQJV FRPSOHWHO\KLVRZQZD\   LQGHHG ´
ARDENT 117 ´
118 Jan Irving ´«6R\RXVHHZK\,FDQ·WWDNHSDUWLQ\RXUIXOOPRRQGHDOµ  -DLPHH[SODLQHGSDOPVUDLVHGDVKHWDONHGWR0RQGR:KHQKH UHDOL]HG KH ZDV XQFRQVFLRXVO\ PDNLQJ D VXEPLVVLYH JHVWXUH KH ORZHUHGKLVKDQGVDQGJULPDFHG 0RQGR ZDV VPLOLQJ VOLJKWO\ ZKLOH KLV IULHQGV ZHUH WRWDOO\ focused on Jaime, their stares making him self-conscious. ´-DLPHµ 0RQGR VLJKHG ZLWK D WRXFK RI WHQGHUQHVV ´
ARDENT 119 ´,ÀJXUH\RXPLJKWNQRZVRPHWKLQJDERXWWKHQLJKWKHFDPH KRPH DOO VFRUFKHGµ -DLPH SURGGHG JHQWO\ ´, VDZ \RX DW WKH KRVSLWDOWKDWQLJKWDQG0RQGRµ (OL]DEHWK VLJKHG ´, IRXQG WKH ERG\ RI D IULHQG RI PLQH 6KH·GEHHQULSSHGRSHQµ ´)XFNµ-DLPHJULSSHG (OL]DEHWK·VDUPQHHGLQJ WR IHHOKHU WRNQRZVKHZDVVDIH´,·PVRUU\$UH\RXRND\":K\GLGQ·W\RX WHOOPH"µ 7HDUV EULPPHG LQ (OL]DEHWK·V H\HV ´%HFDXVH 0RQGR ZDV WKHUH%HFDXVH\RXU$UGHQZDVWKHUHµ +HDUWSRXQGLQJ-DLPHVWDUHGDWKHUZDWFKLQJKHUVFUXEKHU eyes. ´1Rµ ´-DLPH«µ “No.” +H OHIW KHU VLWWLQJ RQ WKH EXV +H NQHZ $UGHQ ZDV FDSDEOHRI«%XWKLVKHDUWVDLGKLVYDPSLUHKDGPDGHDSURPLVH :DVKHDQDwYHKXPDQWREHOLHYH" ´:KHUHDUH\RXJRLQJÀUVW"µ(OL]DEHWKKDGFDXJKWXSZLWK KLP6KLW+HUHDOO\GLGQ·WZDQWWRWDONWRKHUQRZ+HZDQWHG WRFDOO$UGHQ([FHSWWKHEDVWDUGSUREDEO\ZRXOGQ·WDQVZHUWKH SKRQH6KLW ´0RQGR ZDQWV WR VHH WKH ZROYHVµ -DLPH PXPEOHG ´,W·V D WKLQJZLWKKLPDQG,·PWU\LQJWR«WDONWRKLPDERXWVRPHWKLQJµ ´7KHQZHEHWWHUQRWNHHSKLPZDLWLQJµ(OL]DEHWK·VOLSVOLIWHG DV VKH IROORZHG -DLPH ´
120 Jan Irving LWZDVWRH[FKDQJHKLVHQHUJ\WHPSRUDULO\ZLWKWKDWRIVRPHRQH else, and she’d found the perfect candidate. Mondo. +HZDVDODLGEDFNJX\³DQGDZHUHZROI'HVSLWHVHHLQJKLP  LQWKHFOHDULQJWKHQLJKWKHUIULHQGKDGEHHQNLOOHGVKHNQHZKH hadn’t been the killer, because they’d been having coffee almost right up until she’d gone to the clearing. 1R LW ZDV PRUH OLNHO\ $UGHQ WKRXJK VKH·G VFRUFKHG ERWK PHQZKHQVKH·GWRUFKHGWKHPHDGRZ³KHUPDJLFZDVQ·WH[DFWO\ precise. :HUHZROYHVDQGYDPSLUHVZHUHQDWXUDOHQHPLHVVRLI -DLPH EHFDPHRQHHYHQWHPSRUDULO\WKHERQGEHWZHHQKLPDQG$UGHQ ZRXOGVXUHO\VKDWWHU0RQGR·VHVVHQFHZRXOGÀOO-DLPHIRUDGD\ RUVRWKRXJKVKHZDVQ·WH[DFWO\VXUHDERXWWKDW³WKHVSHOOZDVD OLWWOHJUD\LQWKDWDUHD%XWVKHÀJXUHGVKHFRXOGÀ[LWLIVKHKDG to. §§§§ -DLPH UXEEHG KLV IRUHKHDG RXWVLGH WKH ZROI KDELWDW +H GURSSHGKLVNQDSVDFNDQGVFUDWFKHGDWKLVDUPVSULFNOLQJZLWK FKLOOV6RXQGVVHHPHGDPSOLÀHG6ZHDWEURNHRXWRQKLVKDLUOLQH +H ORRNHG RYHU KLV VKRXOGHU DQG VDZ (OL]DEHWK UHDGLQJ VRPHWKLQJIURPWKHERRNVKH·GEURXJKW&KDQWLQJ7KHVRXQGV seemed to touch his skin, live under it like an itch.  :DVKHFRPLQJGRZQZLWKVRPHWKLQJ"+HIHOWDZDYHRIKHDW OLNHKHKDGWKHÁXDQGLUULWDWLRQURVH +HQHHGHG«   +LVH\HVPHWWKHDOSKDZROI·VSDFLQJEHKLQGWKHIHQFH
ARDENT 121 Jaime shook his head, the blood thumping painfully through KLVVNXOO´0D\EHZHKDYHIRRGSRLVRQLQJRUVRPHWKLQJµKHVDLG UHPHPEHULQJWKHIULHVKH·GVKDUHGZLWK0RQGRDVKHWULHGWRWDON KLP LQWR OHDYLQJ WRZQ :K\ KDG KH EHHQ ERWKHULQJ" /HW LW DOO KDSSHQWKHVH[WKHVSLOOHGEORRG«-DLPH·VFRFNKDUGHQHG ´
CHAPTER SIXTEEN ´)ÁRZHUV"µ-DLPH·VKDQGVKRRNDVKHUHDFKHGRXWWRWRXFK WKHEORVVRPV$QRWKHUZDYHRI KHDWRI RYHUSRZHULQJRGRUKLW  KLPOLNHZDONLQJLQWRDKRWKRXVHÁRULVW $UGHQ,WZDV$UGHQ·VKRPH$UGHQ·VVFHQWPL[HGZLWKWKH RYHUSRZHULQJDURPDIURPWKHEORRPV -DLPHZDQWHGWRFXUOXSLQDEDOOLQ$UGHQ·VDUPV+HFRXOG make the noise stop. He could soothe the pain throbbing through Jaime’s temples. ´&DUHIXOµ$UGHQVQDWFKHGWKHYDVHEHIRUHLWIHOO´5RVHV/DO VXJJHVWHG«µ +H VKUXJJHG ORRNLQJ VOLJKWO\ LOO DW HDVH ´$QG , ZDQW\RXWRVHHWKDWQRPDWWHUKRZGLIIHUHQWZHDUH,WKLQNLW FDQZRUNEHWZHHQXVµ  ´8KKXKµ-DLPHWXUQHGDZD\IURPWKHRIIHULQJRQ$UGHQ·V GHVNKLVJD]HGULIWLQJIURPRQHREMHFWWRDQRWKHU+HFRXOGKHDU KLVRZQKHDUWSRXQGLQJLQKLVHDUVVRORXGKHZDQWHGWRFRYHU them. ´$UH \RX DOO ULJKW"
124 Jan Irving ´:KDW,GRQ·WVRXQGOLNH\RXUOLWWOHWR\DQGLW·VXSVHWWLQJWR \RX"µ -DLPH PRFNHG ´, WKRXJKW \RX ZDQWHG WR PDNH LW ZRUN EHWZHHQXV,VQ·WWKDWZK\WKHIXFNLQJURVHV"µ ´-DLPH"µ$UGHQEUHDWKHG+XUWLQKLVH\HVHurt.  And suddenly -DLPHZDQWHGWRKXUWKLPDJDLQ+HVTXHH]HGKLVH\HVVKXW1R 1RKHGLGQ·WZDQWWKDWArden, please« ´,WKLQNPD\EH«\RXVKRXOGOHDYHPHDORQHIRUDZKLOH,·P QRWJRRGFRPSDQ\UULJKWQRZµ-DLPHIDFHZDVVOLFNZLWKVZHDW +LV ZKROH ERG\ IHOW OLNH D IXUQDFH SXPSLQJ KDUG VR KRW VR KRW«DQG$UGHQ/RQJKDLUVZHSWEDFNIURPKLVIDFHEHDXWLIXO silk charcoal clothing, immaculately groomed and cool. He ZDQWHGWRVPHOOWDVWH«take. +HZDQWHGWRWHDUWKDWEHDXWLIXOFORWKLQJRIIVKRYH$UGHQ·V face in the dirt, bruise him. 2K*RGQRKHGLGQ·W-DLPH·VEHOO\WZLVWHGVLFN Arden took Jaime’s arm. “You are burning up. You need to lie GRZQVZHHWKHDUWµ -DLPH IRXJKW WKH LPSXOVH WR FODZ D PDUN LQWR $UGHQ·V SDOH skin, felt the strength pouring through himself, like the heat, like WKHFUD]\SRXQGLQJQHHG He yanked Arden close and nipped him hard, on the skin EHWZHHQKLVMDZDQGQHFN$UGHQ·VVWDUWOHGDQGKXVN\VRXQGRI pain aroused Jaime. ´, GRQ·W ZDQW WR KXUW \RXµ $UGHQ JURZOHG VKRYLQJ -DLPH back. Jaime laughed. $UGHQ·VH\HVQDUURZHGDVKHIHOWWKHSRZHUIXODQGGDQJHURXV FKDQJHLQKLVER\OLNHDFXUUHQWRI ZLOGHOHFWULFLW\OLYLQJXQGHU KLVVNLQ´6RPHWKLQJ·Vinside\RX-DLPHµ+HIHOWWKHWLHVWKDWKHOG GRZQKLVGDUNVLGHXQUDYHOLQJDYRLFHZKLVSHULQJWKDWLI -DLPH ZDVQ·WJRLQJWRJLYHKLPZKDWKHZDQWHGKHPLJKWDVZHOOtake it.  1R+HZDQWHGWREHJHQWOHZLWK-DLPH+H·GKHOGRQIRUVR ORQJZDLWLQJIRUKLP

ARDENT 125 ´,IHHOJRRGµ-DLPHFLUFOHG$UGHQKLVQRUPDOO\YHOYHWVRIW EURZQH\HVKDUGKLVÀQJHUVÁH[LQJ ´3RVVHVVLRQ 6RPHWKLQJ LQVLGH \RX EHWZHHQ \RX DQG PHµ $UGHQUHFRJQL]HG´&KULVW(OL]DEHWKµ -DLPH DWWDFNHG DQG RQO\ $UGHQ·V H[SHULHQFHG VHQVHV VDYHG KLP+HGLYHGDQGDYRLGHGWKHER\ZKRIHOOEXWVSUDQJWRKLV IHHWZLWKDQLQKXPDQHODVWLFLW\ 6XGGHQO\WKH)UHQFKGRRUVWRWKHJDUGHQH[SORGHGDQGVRPH \RXQJSHRSOHDOO-DLPH·VDJHZHUHLQWKHURRPZLWK-DLPHDQG  $UGHQ$VWKH\ORRNHGWR-DLPH$UGHQUHDOL]HGVRPHKRZWKH\ ZHUHSDFN³DWWUDFWHGWR-DLPH·VHVVHQFHVXPPRQHGE\WKHULVH RI DQHZDOSKDLQVLGHKLP /RRNLQJLQFUHDVLQJO\FRQÀGHQWQRZ-DLPHVWUROOHGRYHUWRWKH ÀUH ´+RZ LQFRQVLGHUDWH RI PH $UGHQµ KH PRFNHG ´/HW PH LQWURGXFH \RX WKHVH DUH 0RQGR·V IULHQGV &LQG\ DQG %HWKDQ\ .\OHDQG:DOWHUµ-DLPHORRNHGDW$UGHQXQGHUKLVEURZV´7KH\ EHORQJWRPHQRZ7KH\GRZKDW,VD\µ ´-DLPHµ $UGHQ UDVSHG ´
126 Jan Irving damaged his gentle human. Jaime shoved the log against Arden’s face. Arden screamed. +H WKUHZ -DLPH DFURVV WKH URRP VPDVKLQJ D 6WLFNOH\ WDEOH DQGWDNLQJRXWD7LIIDQ\VWDLQHGJODVVODPS%XWHYHQDV-DLPHOD\ in the shards of colorful glass and pale oak, he blinked and his eyes seemed to clear for a moment, catching Arden’s. Pleading. $UGHQKDGWKHXSSHUKDQGQRZEXWVHHLQJWKHEHZLOGHUPHQW in Jaime’s eyes, he couldn’t— ´-DLPH"µKHEUHDWKHGVWD\LQJKLVKDQG Jaime snagged the burning log and struck Arden’s legs, EULQJLQJKLPGRZQ³ ´7KLV LVQ·W \RXµ $UGHQ ZKLVSHUHG FODZLQJ GHVSHUDWHO\ IRU -DLPH·VOHJ+HZDVVWLOOVWURQJHQRXJKWREUHDNKLVERQHVVQDS his neck, but he couldn’t hurt him, hurt his boy. He loved him. ´2K,WKLQNZH·YHHVWDEOLVKHGWKLVLVWKHQHZPH7KHEHWWHU me. No more lame little Jaime. No more getting beat up and QHHGLQJWREHIXFNLQJUHVFXHGµ-DLPH·VSRVVHVVLYHÀQJHUVWDQJOHG LQ$UGHQ·VKDLU´1RZZKHUHGR\RXNHHSWKHFKDLQVKPPPP"µ §§§§ (OL]DEHWKZLSHGKHUH\HVDVVKHKHDGHGIRU-DLPH·VQHZKRPH ZLWK$UGHQ 6KH ZDV VWLOO KXUWLQJ IURP WKH ZD\ -DLPH KDG XQH[SHFWHGO\ VQXEEHG KHU RQ WKH EXV +H·G FRQYLQFHG KHU DQG 0RQGR WR WDNHWKDWFODVVZLWKKLPLQVFXOSWXUHDQGHYHQWKRXJKVKHZDVQ·W very good, she’d loved it as an elective because Jaime made it so PXFKIXQ%XWWRGD\«+DGKHEHKDYHGWKDWZD\EHFDXVHKHZDV XSVHWZLWKKHUIRUKRZVKHFRXOGQ·WMXVWJRDORQJZLWKKLVQHZ relationship? 6KHVKRRNKHUKHDG2QHWKLQJZDVVXUHWKHVSHOOFRXOGQ·W KDYHZRUNHG+HUVKRXOGHUVVOXPSHGVLQFHVKH·GIDLOHG-DLPH³ IDLOHG WR IUHH KLP IURP $UGHQ )URP WKH ÀUVW WLPH VKH·G VHHQ

ARDENT 127 the vampire, covered in the blood of someone from her coven LQ WKH ZRRGV VKH·G NQRZQ KH ZDV HYLO MXVW OLNH WKH UHVW +H·G WULHG WR WHOO KHU KH·G MXVW EHHQ H[DPLQLQJ WKH ERG\ WR LGHQWLI\ WKHNLOOHUEXWVKH·GVHHQWKHEORRGOXVWVKLQLQJLQKLVH\HV6KH·G DOPRVWVXFFHHGHGLQEXUQLQJKLPDOLYHEXWKHUSRZHUZDVVWLOO QHZXQWULHG 6KH VLJKHG WKLQNLQJ WKDW WKH RQO\ WKLQJ VKH PLJKW KDYH  PDQDJHGWRGD\ZDVPDNLQJ0RQGRVLFN+H·GMXVWDERXWSDVVHG out at the nature reserve and had needed a ride home from one of his groupies. 6WLOO WKDW GLGQ·W H[SODLQ ZKDW KDG KDSSHQHG WR KHU -DLPH 0RQGR ZDV VR ODLG EDFN EXW -DLPH VHHPHG QRWKLQJ OLNH KLP ,QVWHDGKHZDV«PHDQ 3UREDEO\ WKLV ZDV VRPHWKLQJ WR GR ZLWK $UGHQ +H ZDV  REYLRXVO\LQÁXHQFLQJ-DLPH(OL]DEHWKFRQVROHGKHUVHOIWKDWHYHQ LIKHUVSHOOKDGÁRSSHGDWOHDVWVKHZDVWU\LQJWRKHOSKHUIULHQG Running footsteps. 6KH JOLPSVHG ORQJ KDLU VPLOHV EDUH IHHW DQG UHFRJQL]HG D ZHUHZROI SDFN (OL]DEHWKGXJRXWVRPHSRZHUIXOGHPRQ·VEDQHVKHFDUULHG WRZDUGRIIDWWDFNVEXWWKH\RXQJPHQDQGZRPHQUDQSDVWKHU DVLI VKHZDVQ·WWKHUH 6KHWRRNDGHHSEUHDWKVWUHQJWKHQLQJKHUUHVROYH6KHZRXOG WDONWR-DLPH3XVKSDVWWKLVGDUNVLGHRIKLPWKDWZDVQRGRXEW brought out by Arden. §§§§ $UGHQVWUXJJOHGPXVFOHVFRUGHGKHOGGRZQRQKLVVWRPDFK E\WKHHQWLUHSDFNOLNHMDFNDOVZLWKDOLRQ Jaime suddenly fell back on his hands and knees, shaking his KHDG ´1Rµ KH JURDQHG +LV H\HV ZHUH EULJKW EXUQLQJ QHHG ´1R$UGHQ:KDW·V«ZKDW·VZURQJZLWKPH"µ $UGHQNQHZWKDWKHDORQHFRXOGDQVZHU-DLPH·VQHHG ´,W·VJRRG\RXVHHWKLVLVQ·W\RXµ$UGHQVDLGDVVRIWO\DVKH FRXOGWU\LQJWRUHDFKKLVER\´
128 Jan Irving KXUWVµ -DLPH SDQWHG FORVLQJ KLV H\HV ´$UGHQ , QHHG \RXµ +H VPDVKHGDÀVWDJDLQVWWKHÁRRUOHDYLQJDGHQWLQWKHKDUGZRRG ´, FDQ·W«µ +H UROOHG DZD\ KLV KDQG EUXVKLQJ WKH IDOOHQ URVHV Arden had gifted him. 6KDNLQJVZHDWRQKLVIRUHKHDGDQGXSSHUOLS-DLPHZUDSSHG KLV DUPV DURXQG KLPVHOI +H VWDUHG DW $UGHQ DQG $UGHQ NQHZ WKHUH ZDV QRWKLQJ KLV ER\ ZDQWHG PRUH WKDQ WR EH LQVLGH KLP QRZWRWDNHKLPWRERWKORVHDQGÀQGKLPVHOI LQ$UGHQ ´*HWRXWµ-DLPHJURZOHGDQGWKHUHVWRIWKHSDFNKHVLWDWHG obviously disappointed Jaime hadn’t taken Arden by force, but DQRWKHUJURZOIURPKLPDQGWKH\OHIWWKHURRP Jaime staggered to his feet, holding his head as if it hurt, OHDYLQJ $UGHQ O\LQJ RQ WKH ÁRRU FORWKLQJ WRUQ QH[W WR WKH crushed blooms Arden had bought especially for his boy.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN -DLPHZKLPSHUHGLQKLVVOHHSWRUPHQWHGE\GUHDPVKHZDV LQVLGH $UGHQ H[SHULHQFLQJ KLV ÀUVW WLPH DW ODVW VWURNHV URXJK DQGUDJJHGDVKHWRRNKLVYDPSLUHORRNLQJGRZQDWKLVIDFHKHOG captive by midnight eyes.
130 Jan Irving IURPZKHUHWKH\·GVOHSWLQWKHJDUGHQDOVRVHQVLQJWKHJLUO ´(OL]DEHWK·VPLQHµ-DLPHRUGHUHGH\HVZDUQLQJKH·GNLOODQ\ SDFNPHPEHUZKRGDUHGGLVREH\KLP ´/L]]³LHHHHHHµ2QHRI WKHER\VVDQJLQDKLJKYRLFH Jaime cracked up. ´
ARDENT 131 6KHJDVSHGZKHQVKHORRNHGRYHUKHUVKRXOGHUWRVHHWKUHH VWXGHQWVVKHNQHZIURPXQLYHUVLW\EORFNLQJWKHSDWKEDFNWRWKH VWUHHW 6KH UHPHPEHUHG VHHLQJ WKHP ZLWK 0RQGR D IHZ WLPHV WKH\ZHUHSDUWLFXODUIULHQGVRI KLV 6KHJULSSHGKHUGHPRQ·VEDQH,WJORZHGZLWKDVWHUQZKLWH OLJKWVKRZLQJLWZDUGHGRII VRPHWKLQJSRZHUIXO Jaime opened the door, slouching, seeming oblivious to the WKUHDWHQLQJÀJXUHVOXUNLQJRXWVLGH (OL]DEHWK FURDNHG ´6KLWµ DQG GLYHG LQGRRUV LQVWLQFWLYHO\ VHHNLQJWKHFRPIRUWKH·GDOZD\VJLYHQKHU6KHWKUHZKHUVHOILQWR his arms. -DLPH ZDV VKLUWOHVV DQG KLV VNLQ ZDV VOLFN +LV KDLU ZDV UXPSOHGDQGKLVMHDQVZHUHEXWWRQHGEXWQRW]LSSHG(OL]DEHWK·V H\HV ZLGHQHG DQG VKH ÁXVKHG IHHOLQJ VOLJKWO\ DZNZDUG VHHLQJ him like this. In fact, he didn’t seem self-conscious at all about the GLVSOD\KHZDVSXWWLQJRQ³YHU\QRW-DLPH ´,ZDVVFDUHGµVKHVDLGSXOOLQJDZD\IURPKLPDQGFURVVLQJ KHU DUPV ´7KRVH IULHQGV RI 0RQGR·V³, WKLQN WKH\ DUH ZHUHZROYHVµ ´,PDJLQHWKDWµ-DLPHVDLGVPLOLQJFDOPO\´6R\RXKXQJU\" ,NQRZ,DPµ

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN So, you hungry? I know I am.:LWKKLVHQKDQFHGYDPSLUHVHQVHV Arden caught Jaime’s self assured voice coming from the house. Jaime is hunting and Elizabeth has no idea. If Jaime hurt her, he’d never forgive himself, never again be $UGHQ·VVZHHWER\DQGWKH\·GQHYHUKDYHWKHFKDQFHWRÀQGRXWLI they could overcome their differences. $UGHQVKRRNKLVKHDGVWLOOZHDNIURPKLVSUHYLRXVODFNRI EORRG /DO KDG EHHQ ULJKW KH VKRXOG QRW KDYH ULVNHG KLPVHOI risked Jaime, by not taking care of himself. He had to end this QRZJHW-DLPHEDFNEHFDXVHLQ WKHGHPRQZRUOG ZRUG KDG D P\VWHULRXV ZD\ RI WUDYHOLQJ IDVW³DQG VRRQ 6HDQ ZRXOG NQRZ ZKDWKDGKDSSHQHG Under his eyelashes, he looked over at his guard, one of the ZHUHZROI EHWDV+LVH\HVJORZHGEULJKWDVKHVWDUHGDW$UGHQ·V nude, huddled form. Lust. $UGHQ·VH\HVQDUURZHGWKRXJKWIXOO\7KDWPLJKWEHXVHIXO ´/LNH ZKDW \RX VHH"µ KH OXUHG UDLVLQJ DQ H\HEURZ DW WKH ZHUHZROI ´
134 Jan Irving .QHZWKHFKDQJHOLQJFRXOGVPHOO-DLPHDOORYHUKLP “In most packs, only the alpha gets to fuck a submissive. Beta PDOHV DQG IHPDOHV DUHQ·W DOORZHGµ $UGHQ QRWHG DGMXVWLQJ WKH JODVVHVWKDWZHUHWKHRQO\DSSDUHOKHZRUHDWWKHPRPHQW´0XVW EHIUXVWUDWLQJµ ´6KXWXSµ7KHZHUHZROI UHDFKHGGRZQDQGWXJJHG$UGHQ·V hair savagely. He struck him, leaving a cut on one cheekbone from a heavy ring. %ORRGWULFNOHGGRZQ$UGHQ·VIDFHOLNHDVLQJOHWHDU ´, MXVW IHOW VR EDG DERXW KRZ ZH OHIW RIIµ (OL]DEHWK ZDV VD\LQJ´$QG,QHHGWRFRPHFOHDQDERXWVRPHWKLQJµ6KHSXVKHG her hair behind her ears. “I maybe did some magic. On you, I PHDQµ6KHOLIWHGRQHKDQG´%XWLWGLGQ·WZRUNVRWKDWGRHVQ·W FRXQWULJKW"µ -DLPH ZDV OHDQLQJ DJDLQVW WKH FRXQWHU VPLOLQJ +LV DUPV VHHPHGPRUHPXVFXODUWKDQ(OL]DEHWKKDGQRWLFHGSUHYLRXVO\ +HORRNHGDOPRVWVH[\ 'LVWXUEHGE\WKHQHZYLEH(OL]DEHWKDVNHG´/RRNFDQ\RX SXWRQVRPHFORWKLQJVRZHFDQWDON",QHHGWRH[SODLQVRPHWKLQJ WR\RXµ -DLPH SXVKHG DZD\ IURP WKH FRXQWHU DQG SDFHG EDFN DQG IRUWK +H VWLOO GLGQ·W VKRZ DQ\ HPEDUUDVVPHQW RYHU KLV QHDU QXGLW\DQG(OL]DEHWKFRXOGQ·WKHOSEXWQRWLFHWKDWKHUIULHQGZDV perfectly formed, like a slender young panther. ,VWKLVZKDWEHLQJZLWK$UGHQKDGGRQHIRUKLP" $VWLQJRIHQY\DUURZHGWKURXJK(OL]DEHWK6KHNQHZLWZDV ZURQJRI KHUEXWLWIHOWXQIDLUWKDWKHUEHVWIULHQGH[SHULHQFH WKLVÀUVW6KH·GDOZD\VWKRXJKWLWZRXOGEHKHU-DLPHKDGQ·WHYHQ VHHPHGWRZDQWDQ\RQH ´'R , PDNH \RX XQFRPIRUWDEOH"µ -DLPH LQWHUUXSWHG KHU thoughts. (OL]DEHWK VWXGLHG KLP 7KHUH ZDV GHÀQLWHO\ VRPHWKLQJ RII

ARDENT 135 ZLWK KLP 6KH FHQWHUHG KHUVHOI UHDFKLQJ RXW IHHOLQJ LW ZDV LPSRUWDQWWRJDXJHKLPDIWHUKHUPHGGOLQJ+DGVKHEHHQZURQJ to try? +HZDVFRQÀGHQWKHZDVVH[XDO2ND\PD\EHKDYLQJDKRW QHZER\IULHQGFRXOGGRWKDWIRUDSHUVRQ%XWZKHUHZDV-DLPH·V NLQGQHVV"$VORQJDVVKH·GNQRZQKLPLWZDVDSDUWRIKLP6KH  UHPHPEHUHGZKHQWKH\·GEHHQYHU\\RXQJZDONLQJKRPHIURP VFKRRODQGGLVFRYHULQJDELUGZLWKDEURNHQQHFNKDQJLQJIURP some string in a rose bush—Jaime had insisted on burying it. ´-DLPHµ (OL]DEHWK VDLG QRZ ´, KDYH D WHUULEOH IHHOLQJ ,·YH GRQHVRPHWKLQJLQMXUHG\RXLQVRPHZD\µ -DLPHEHQWFORVHWRZKLVSHULQKHUHDU´%RRµ ´+H\QRWIXQQ\µ$QGVXGGHQO\VKHNQHZ´2KVKLW
136 Jan Irving Jaime reeled back, touching his bleeding forehead then licking WKHEORRGRII KLVÀQJHUVDVLI VDYRULQJWKHWDVWH+LVH\HVZHUH RQKHUSXSLOVKXJHWKHQHZEODFNQHVVLQVLGHKLPUHÁHFWHG ´%LWFKµ+HVPLOHGGDUNKDLULQKLVH\HVEORRGRQKLVOLSV VOHHNO\ PXVFOHG GDUN DOPDQGLQH JD]H KDUG DV KH ORRNHG KHU RYHU³WKHHYLOVRPHKRZGLVWXUELQJO\VH[\JHQLHVKH·GUHOHDVHG from the bottle. ´3OHDVH-DLPHµ,I VKHXVHGPDJLFDJDLQFRXOGVKHIUHHKLP IURPWKHERWFKHGVSHOO"%XWKHUPDJLFZDVWRRQHZDQGXQVWDEOH 6KHFRXOGQ·WGRLWLQDUXVK³VKHPLJKWNLOOKLP “Please,µ-DLPHPRFNHGSURZOLQJFORVHU´
ARDENT 137 VNLQDERYHKLVFROODUZDVVWUHDNHGZLWKUHG Blood. 7KHUH ZDV D VLQJLQJ YLROHQFH WR KLP DV LI KH ZDV KROGLQJ KLPVHOI EDUHO\LQFRQWUROORRNLQJGRZQDWWKHIDOOHQ-DLPH ´7KDWLVQ·WKLPµVKHZKLVSHUHG´7KHWKLQJVKHVDLG«µ $UGHQJURZOHG´(OL]DEHWKZKDWGLG\RXdo?µ (OL]DEHWKJXOSHGXQGHU$UGHQ·VKDUGJD]H+HUHZDVDPDQ ZKRZDQWHGDQVZHUV 1RZ §§§§ Jaime groaned. +LVKHDGZDVSRXQGLQJDQGKLVPRXWKZDVGU\+HWULHGWRVLW up on his bed, but as soon as he moved he discovered his hands ZHUHVHFXUHGLQPHWDOFXIIVDERYHKLVKHDG ´'R\RXQHHGWREHVLFN"µDKDUGYRLFHGHPDQGHG +HORRNHGXSDQGVDZKLV$UGHQVWDQGLQJLQWKHVKDGRZVRI WKHJDUGHQKRXVHZLWKKLVDUPVFURVVHG)RUVRPHUHDVRQ$UGHQ·V SRVHPDGH-DLPHXQHDV\+HELWKLVOLS´:KDW·VKDSSHQLQJ"µ $VKHVKLIWHGRQKLVEHGKHUHDOL]HGKHZDVQDNHGDQGKLV DQNOHVZHUHDOVRFXIIHG:K\KDG$UGHQFKDLQHGKLPOLNHWKLV" ´$QVZHUWKHTXHVWLRQµ0RUHVWHHO ´1R8K,WKLQN,·OOEHRND\µ  ´,I \RXIHHOVLFNRU\RXQHHGVRPHZDWHUOHWPHNQRZDQG ,·OOWDNHFDUHRI \RXµ ´&DQ·W \RX IUHH PH" 3OHDVH $UGHQ"µ Why are you doing this? Why won’t you look at me? ´,PDGHVXUH\RXUFLUFXODWLRQZRQ·WEHFXWRIIµ$UGHQLJQRUHG KLVSOHD´
138 Jan Irving hurt. $UGHQJURZOHG´5XOHVKDYHFKDQJHGµ Jaime’s eyes stung as he heard the slam of the door and the lock turning. 2XWVLGH$UGHQUXEEHGKLVEUXLVHGVKRXOGHUZLWKDVKDNLQJ hand, looking at the fountain he’d repaired to delight Jaime, VSLOOLQJVHUHQHO\UHPLQGLQJKLPRI-DLPH·VZRQGHUDQGGHOLJKWLQ KLVQHZKRPHMXVWGD\VDJR    +LVÀVWVFOHQFKHGDVKHFDXJKWWKHVRXQGRIUDJJHGEUHDWKLQJ FRPLQJIURP-DLPH·VURRP-DLPHZDVÀJKWLQJWHDUV %XWKH·GJLYHQ-DLPHURVHVDQGLQUHWXUQKH·GQHDUO\« $UGHQ VFUXEEHG D KDQG RYHU KLV XQVKDYHQ MDZ VWLOO KHDOLQJ IURP WKH EXUQV (YHQ WKRXJK LW ZDVQ·W ZKDW KH ZDQWHG -DLPH ZRXOGSD\IRUZKDWKH·GGRQH

CHAPTER NINETEEN $UGHQKDGEHHQH[SHFWLQJWKHNQRFNRQWKHGRRU+HJODUHG   DWWKHERRNLQKLVKDQGEXWPDGHQRPRYHWRDQVZHULWGHVSLWH WKHNQRFNEHLQJUHSHDWHGWZLFHPRUH)LQDOO\KHJDYHLQWRWKH LQHYLWDEOHDQGDQVZHUHGWKHVXPPRQV  $GHOLFDWHEOXHGHPRQZLWKHDUVZKLFKÁLFNHGXSDQGGRZQ OLNHDPRWK·VZLQJVERZHGWRKLP´0DVWHU$UGHQµ+HKDQGHG $UGHQDZKLWHHQYHORSH Arden took it, but didn’t bother opening it since he already NQHZLWVFRQWHQWV´$QRWKHUPHVVDJHIURP6HDQ"µ ´
140 Jan Irving ´%XWWKHÀUVWWLPH,VDZKLP$UGHQPD\KDYHWDNHQDOLIH³ WKH OLIH RI RXU IULHQG 'LDQDµ (OL]DEHWK UHDFKHG RXW DV LI WR WRXFK1HYHEXWVK\O\ZLWKGUHZKHUKDQG 1HYHVKRRNKHUKHDG´,H[DPLQHG'L·VERG\P\VHOI DQG,   EHOLHYHVKHZDVDWWDFNHGE\D\RXQJPHPEHURIDZHUHZROISDFN 7KHZRXQGVZHUHQRWFRQVLVWHQWZLWKDYDPSLUHµ (OL]DEHWK·VH\HVZLGHQHG´2Kµ ´
ARDENT 141 ´
142 Jan Irving GRQHWR$UGHQ´'R\RXWKLQN(OL]DEHWKZLOOHYHQZDQWWRVHH me again? Do you think it’s something you—I mean, she—can IRUJLYH"µ ´6KH·VVWURQJµ$UGHQUHDVVXUHGQRWDEOHWRWRXFKWKHPRUH SHUVRQDOEHWUD\DOHLWKHU,WZDVHDVLHUWRVSHDNRI(OL]DEHWK´%XW LWZDVZKDW\RXGLGWRPHWKDWKDVFRQVHTXHQFHVµ Jaime nodded, clearly miserable. His hands moved jerkily DZD\IURPKLVVRIWVH[DQGKHOD\EDFNRQWKHEHGVSUHDGLQJKLV OHJV´,I \RXZDQW«µ+LVH\HVUHPDLQHGORZHUHGDVKHRIIHUHG KLPVHOIDQGKLVVKDPHGVXEPLVVLRQZDVH[DFWO\ZKDW$UGHQKDG KRSHGIRUEHFDXVHLWZRXOGVHUYHKLVXOWLPDWHSXUSRVH 6WLOO$UGHQ·VGHPRQZDQWHGWRWDNHDUHGXFHG-DLPH3RXQG LQWRKLPDQGGHOLJKWLQKLVRYHUZKHOPLQJYLFWRU\RYHUWKLVER\ ZKRKDGWXUQHGKLVRUGHUO\ZRUOGXSVLGHGRZQ'HHSLQVLGHKH ZDVDQJU\HYHQNQRZLQJ-DLPHZDVQRWDWIDXOW+HFOHQFKHGKLV ÀVWVPDVWHULQJKLPVHOI 1R KH ZDQWHG WR RZQ -DLPH FRPSOHWHO\ SRVVHVV KLV VZHHW VXEPLVVLRQLQWKHLUEHG7DNLQJKLPQRZPXFKDVKHDFKHGWR GRLWZDVQ·WWKHZD\ He took a deep breath, trying to push aside the dark braids RI IHHOLQJDQGPHPRU\WKDWZHUHZUDSSHGDURXQGKLVFKHVWOLNH tentacles. -DLPHKDGEHFRPHDGHPRQDQGFURVVHGGHPRQODZV,WGLGQ·W PDWWHUWKDW(OL]DEHWKKDGUHVWRUHGKLVKXPDQLW\+HKDGWRSD\ a price for it. ´7KHUH DUH RWKHU YDPSLUHV LQ WKLV WRZQµ $UGHQ H[SODLQHG ´7KH\DUHDZDUHRI ZKDWKDSSHQHGWKDW\RX«WRRNDGYDQWDJH RI PHµ Jaime uncovered his eyes to look at Arden.  $UGHQUHDFKHGRXWDQGFXSSHG-DLPH·VVH[SRVVHVVLYHO\-DLPH gave a little shuddering sigh but his legs stayed open and he didn’t try to deny him.   ´7KH\FDQ·WKXUWPHEXWWKH\GRGHOLJKWLQPHGGOLQJLQP\  DIIDLUVµ$UGHQJURZOHG´7KH\PXVWVHHPHDVVWURQJLQFRQWURO

ARDENT 143 DYDPSLUHORUG2WKHUZLVH«µ Jaime still didn’t speak, and Arden silently approved of his UHVWUDLQW+HVWURNHG-DLPH·VFRFNDQGZDWFKHGLWJLYHDQLQWHUHVWHG WZLWFKKDUGHQLQJDW$UGHQ·VWRXFK´7KH\DUHFRQFHUQHGWKDWD SHWRI P\KRXVHFRXOGIRUFHPHWRVXEPLWµ Jaime gave a slight nod, encouraging Arden to continue. ´:KDW\RXEHFDPHZDVQ·W\RXUIDXOWDQGE\KXPDQODZVLW ZRXOGQ·WEHULJKWWRSXQLVK\RXIRULWµ1RZVRIWEURZQDOPRQG VKDSHGH\HVVRXJKWDQVZHUVIURP$UGHQ´%XW,·PQRWKXPDQ DQG\RXEURNHGHPRQODZV,I ,GRQ·WSXQLVK\RXIRULW,·OOEH VHHQDVZHDNDQGWKH\·OOWDNH\RXIURPPHµ -DLPHKXVNHG´,NQRZ,KXUW\RX
144 Jan Irving +HVZDOORZHGIHHOLQJVLFN:KHQKH·GÀUVWZRNHQXSIURP ZKDWHYHU VSHOO (OL]DEHWK KDG ZRUNHG KH·G EHHQ GLVRULHQWDWHG DQG LPPHGLDWHO\ IHOW EHWUD\HG E\ $UGHQ·V LQH[SOLFDEOH KDUVK WUHDWPHQW %XW GXULQJ WKH QLJKW ÁDVKEDFNV KDG DPEXVKHG KLV PLQGDQGKH·GVHHQWDVWHGOLYHGZKDWKH·GGRQH 7KHZRUVWZDVKRZKH·GHQMR\HGLW +HZDVDQ[LRXVDERXWZKDWZDVJRLQJWRKDSSHQDQG$UGHQ ZDVQ·WVRRWKLQJKLPOLNHKHXVXDOO\GLG+HZDVJLYLQJRUGHUVLQD hard voice, seemingly coldly removed from Jaime. What did you expect? Jaime asked himself scathingly, remembering the crushed roses. 7KHUD]RUPRYHGDURXQG-DLPH·VVH[DQG$UGHQ·VWRXFKZDV ÀUPEXWJHQWOHDVKHSUHVVHG-DLPHLQWRGLIIHUHQWSRVLWLRQVVRKH could remove all his pubic hair. ´7KDW·V JRLQJ WR LWFK OLNH KHOO ZKHQ LW JURZV EDFNµ -DLPH couldn’t help observing dryly. 0LGQLJKWH\HVJODQFHGDWKLPDQG-DLPHVZDOORZHGUHDOL]LQJLW ZDVWKHÀUVWWKLQJKH·GVDLGVLQFHUHWXUQLQJWRKLVDOOKXPDQVHOI that sounded anything like the old intimate banter they’d once VKDUHG+HPLVVHGWKDWFORVHQHVV:RXOGLWFRPHEDFN" +H JDYH D OLWWOH VLJK VOXPSLQJ RQ WKH WRZHO FRYHUHG MRKQ ZKLOH$UGHQFDOPO\ULQVHGRXWWKHUD]RU$UGHQWKHQSDWWHGKLP GU\KHVLWDWHG«DQGEUXVKHGKLVOLSVDJDLQVW-DLPH·V $OLWWOHZKLOHODWHU$UGHQFOLSSHGRQGHOLFDWHFKDLQVZKLFKUDQ EHWZHHQ-DLPH·VXSSHUOHJV7KH\KDGWLQ\ELWVRI VHPLSUHFLRXV VWRQHVDQGEHOOVDWWDFKHGDQGWKHEDQGVDURXQGKLVWKLJKVZHUH ZRYHQZLWKSDGGHGVLONDJDLQVWWKHVNLQVRWKH\ZRXOGQ·WFKDIH ´*XHVV\RXZHQWVKRSSLQJµ-DLPH·VYRLFHFUDFNHGDVKHPDGH WKHTXLS7KHFKDLQVUHPLQGHGKLPRI KLVHURWLFGUHDPVDERXW KLPDQG$UGHQ+HZRQGHUHGLI WKH\·GHYHUJHWWKDWIDU&RXOG KHSDVVWKLVWHVWKLVSXQLVKPHQWZKDWHYHULWZDV"-DLPHVHQVHG LWZDVNH\DQGIRUPRUHWKDQWKHUHDVRQV$UGHQKDGVSRNHQRI 'HHSGRZQ-DLPHIHOWKHQHHGHGWREHSXQLVKHG+HQHHGHG WR DWRQH LQ WKH GHPRQ ZD\ EHFDXVH KH ZDQWHG WR EHORQJ WR D

ARDENT 145 vampire—and Arden needed it too. ´
146 Jan Irving ZDVVWDUYHGIRU$UGHQ·VWHQGHUVHGXFWLRQDVKHWZLQHGDORRSRI   KLVYDPSLUH·VORQJEODFNKDLULQKLVÀQJHUVDQGVWDUHGDW$UGHQ·V plump, parted lips. ´%HDXWLIXOµ$UGHQSUDLVHGREYLRXVO\MXVWDVPRYHGE\-DLPH·V appearance, his chained nudity. “Mine.µ §§§§ -DLPH ZDV VHDWHG RQ WKH ÁRRU LQ IURQW RI $UGHQ ZKHQ WKH RWKHUGHPRQVDUULYHG+LVKHDUWZDVSRXQGLQJEXWKHNHSWKLV IDFHRXWZDUGO\FRPSRVHG+HKDGRQHNQHHXSWRVKLHOGKLVQDNHG VH[+HZDVVWLOOHPEDUUDVVHGWREHOLNHWKLVHYHQDURXQG$UGHQ DORQHQHYHUPLQGDFURZG,WZDVDVSHFLDO-DLPHQLJKWPDUH+H GLGQ·WTXLWHEHOLHYH$UGHQZKHQKHFDOOHGKLPEHDXWLIXOVH[\ Arden didn’t get up to greet his guests, merely nodded to them as they came into his house and sat in a semi circle around him. Jaime found it hard to believe anyone could doubt his authority. +HWULHGWRSXWRII ZRQGHULQJZKDWZDVJRLQJWRKDSSHQE\ VWXG\LQJ WKH GHPRQV LQ WKH URRP 6RPH ZHUH EOXH IDFHG ZLWK JHQWO\PRYLQJHDUVRWKHUVWDOODQGJROGHQVNLQQHGZLWK\HOORZ eyes, and some looked completely human unless you caught a ÁDVKRIWKHLUWHHWK7KH\DOOOLYHGLQ-DLPH·VVPDOOGXOOOLWWOHWRZQ DQGVRPHKRZKH·GQHYHUJXHVVHGXQWLOKH·GPHW$UGHQ $QGVRPHRQHHOVHZDVVORXFKLQJQHDUWKHRSHQ)UHQFKGRRUV VRPHRQHYHU\IDPLOLDUZLWKUHGKDLUDQGJUHHQH\HV«0RQGR" +LV IULHQG $UGHQ·V ULYDO ZDV KHUH WR REVHUYH -DLPH·V discipline? Oh, fuck. 6RPHKRZ -DLPH SXVKHG WKH WKRXJKW RI 0RQGR IURP KLV PLQG XQDEOH WR GHDO ZLWK LW ULJKW QRZ ,I $UGHQ NQHZ WKH ZHUHZROI ZDVKHUH« %XWQRZKHKDGWRSD\IRUZKDWKH·GGRQHWR(OL]DEHWK«DQG $UGHQ&RXOGKHPDNHXSIRUZKDWKH·GDOPRVWEHFRPH" -DLPH VZDOORZHG WKLFNO\ PLVHUDEOH DQG IULJKWHQHG HDWHQ E\ WKHFRUURVLRQRI VHOI KDWH7KHÁDVKEDFNVKH·GKDGDOOGD\NHSW KLWWLQJKLPKDUG
ARDENT 147 level, he understood that Arden needed to reassert his authority over his human boy. $UGHQ EHFNRQHG WR D JUHHQVNLQQHG GHPRQ ZHDULQJ D tangerine catsuit and carrying an attaché. Jaime stared, reluctantly IDVFLQDWHGVHQVLQJKHZRXOGSOD\VRPHLPSRUWDQWUROH ´/DOµ$UGHQDFNQRZOHGJHGFRROO\ +H ERZHG YHU\ IRUPDO ´/RUG $UGHQ , DP KHUH DV DQ LQWHUPHGLDU\EHWZHHQ\RXDQG/RUG6HDQ+HLVFRQFHUQHGWKDW \RXDUHQRW\RXUVHOIµ “I am myself and to prove it I ask that you discipline my KXPDQSHWZKRKDV«LQFRQYHQLHQFHGPHµ +HQRGGHGDQG-DLPH·VH\HVZLGHQHG+HJODQFHGXSDW$UGHQ but the big vampire ignored him, smoking a cheroot, looking utterly calm. ´
148 Jan Irving Jaime’s chains rang softly as he put a hand against his stinging cheek. He felt tears come and concentrated hard on suppressing them. ´+H·VXQWUDLQHG0\DSRORJLHVIRUKLVEHKDYLRUµ$UGHQWROG WKHFURZGLQDQLQGLIIHUHQWYRLFH 7KHUHZHUHPXUPXUVDURXQGWKHPDQG-DLPHIRXQGKLPVHOI ZRQGHULQJ ZKDW 0RQGR PDGH RI $UGHQ·V DFWLRQ %XW WKH ZHUHZROI IRUWXQDWHO\GLGQRWLQWHUIHUH Jaime stared into hard black eyes. $UGHQ« “Kneel.µ 'D]HG-DLPHEHQWLQWRSODFHREHGLHQWO\ %HKLQGKLPKHKHDUG/DORSHQKLVDWWDFKp´,EURXJKWZKDW \RXUHTXHVWHGP\ORUGµ $UGHQVDLGYHU\VRIWO\´/DOGRQ·WEUHDNWKHVNLQµ Jaime closed his eyes, his cheek still stinging, feeling utterly DORQH+HKHDUGVRPHWKLQJUXVWOHDQGKHNQHZKHZDVJRLQJWR EHZKLSSHG,QSXEOLF1DNHGDQGRQKLVNQHHV He took a deep breath and braced himself. :KHQWKHÀUVWVWULNHIHOORQKLVORZHUEDFNDQGDVV-DLPHFULHG out at the sudden pain. It felt a bit like a leather belt. Another fell DQGWKHQDQRWKHURYHUOD\LQJZKHUHKH·GEHHQZKLSSHGEHIRUH +HZDVWUHPEOLQJQRZDQGKHFRXOGQ·WKHOSEXWORRNXS $UGHQZDVVPRNLQJDQGKLVIDFHZDVVHUHQH-DLPHIRXJKWWR NHHSVLOHQWDVWKHZKLSIHOODJDLQQRWVXUHKHFRXOGNHHSIURP crying out if it continued, yet grimly determined to try since it ZDVWKHRQO\SULGHOHIWKLP He thought Arden completely detached from his pain and LWKXUWKLPPRUHWKDQWKHZKLS/DOZDVXVLQJ7KHQKHQRWLFHG WKH KDQG WKDW ZDVQ·W KROGLQJ WKH FLJDU ZDV FOHQFKHG DQG MXVW ZKHQ-DLPHWKRXJKWKHFRXOGQ·WSRVVLEO\WDNHDQ\PRUHZLWKRXW screaming, it reached out and claimed his. $UGHQKHOGKLVKDQGLQVHFUHWDV-DLPHZDVZKLSSHG

CHAPTER TWENTY $IWHU-DLPH·VZKLSSLQJ$UGHQZDVWHGQRWLPHLQRUGHULQJWKH RWKHUGHPRQVWROHDYHH[FHSWLQJ/DOZKRZDLWHGTXLHWO\ -DLPHVDJJHGDJDLQVW$UGHQ·VOHJIDFHGDPSZLWKVZHDWDQG WHDUV$UGHQZDVVWLOOKROGLQJKLVKDQGDQGLWIHOWOLNHKLVRQO\ OLIHOLQH +LV DVV DQG EDFN ZHUH UDZ OLNH KH KDG D YHU\ SDLQIXO sunburn. ´,ZDQWP\ER\·VSOHDVXUHFHQWHUVFRPSOHWHO\PDSSHGRXWµ Arden told Lal. ´+HZLOOKDYHWRVXEPLWWRDIXOOH[DPLQDWLRQP\ORUGµ/DO looked at Jaime and he could read some concern in the demon’s H\HVDVLI KHXQGHUVWRRGWKHVWURQJHPRWLRQV-DLPHZDVULGLQJ -DLPHIHOW$UGHQ·VKDQGWLJKWHQDURXQGKLV´+HZLOOVXEPLW &RPH EDFN LQ D IHZ GD\V ZKHQ KH LV IXOO\ UHFRYHUHG DQG«µ $UGHQVLJKHG´:H·YHWDONHGµ “Your pet does you credit. He is not only beautiful, but EUDYHµ/DOSUDLVHG 6RIW´
150 Jan Irving DQGWKHEORZQJODVVYRWLYHZKHUHRQHIDWYDQLOODVFHQWHGFDQGOH ÁLFNHUHG $UGHQQX]]OHGKLP´'RHVLWKXUW"µ -DLPHVZDOORZHGWKLFNO\´'LGQ·W\RXZDQWLWWR"µ ´)XFNµ$UGHQ·VYRLFHZDVIUXVWUDWHG´-DLPH,IRUJLYH\RXµ 7KDWSLHUFHG-DLPH·VZDOOV´7KHKHOO"You forgive me"µ ´
ARDENT 151 ´$UHQ·W\RXOLVWHQLQJER\"1RQHYHUµ$UGHQVLJKHGUXQQLQJ DKDQGWKURXJKKLVKDLU´7KHWUXWKLV\RXPDNHP\OLIHFRQIXVLQJ ,GRQ·WNQRZZKDW\RXDUHµ ´0D\EHZHVKRXOGEUHDNXSWKHQµ-DLPHVDLGLQDGHDGWRQH ´
152 Jan Irving ´:K\"µ$UGHQGLGQ·WPLVVWKHZD\-DLPHFOXQJWRWKHWRZHO  DURXQGKLVZDLVW&OHDUO\KHZDVQ·WLQWKHPRRGWRVKDUHDQ\NLQG of intimacy. ´6R,FDQKHOSZLWKWKHSDLQLI \RX·OOWUXVWPHµ$UGHQZDV SUHSDUHGWRSXVKWKLVLI KHKDGWR-DLPHZRXOGQRWEHDOORZHG to go on hurting. ´$OOULJKWµ-DLPHDJUHHGVRPHZKDWJURXFKLO\´,WZRXOGEH QLFHQRWWRKDYHWRVOHHSRQP\VWRPDFKµ Arden pulled his shirt off, and he didn’t miss Jaime’s eyes on KLV PXVFXODU FKHVW 0D\EH WKHUH ZDV KRSH IRU WKHP DIWHU DOO" He reached over to his desk and picked up a letter opener and ZLWKRXWSDXVLQJVOLFHGWKHVNLQEHQHDWKKLVOHIWQLSSOH “Arden!µ-DLPHJDVSHG´2XFKµ ´7DVWH PH DV \RX RQFH GLGµ $UGHQ GLUHFWHG :KHQ -DLPH GLGQ·WPRYH$UGHQSURGGHG´7KDWKXUWDQG,GLGLWIRU\RXµ Jaime leaned close and Arden cupped the back of his head,  JXLGLQJKLPVRWKDWKLVOLSVWRXFKHGWKHZRXQGRQKLVFKHVW+H closed his eyes, cock stiff at the touch of his boy’s lips, at the VKDULQJRI KLVEORRG+LVKXPDQZDVIHHGLQJIURPKLP 2KIXFN$UGHQKDGWRVLWRQKLVGHPRQ,WZDVLQWHQVHWR  VKDUHWKLVERQGDQGKHZDQWHGWRPDWHZLWK-DLPHDQGFRPSOHWH the ritual of making him his chosen one. ´,WZLOOKHOSWDNHDZD\\RXUSDLQµ$UGHQUDVSHG  -DLPHOLFNHGWKHZRXQGDQG$UGHQVKXGGHUHGDWWKHVHQVDWLRQ ´
ARDENT 153 §§§§ 7KHDODUPZHQWRIIZD\WRRHDUO\DQG-DLPHJURDQHG+LVH\HV   IHOWVDQGSDSHU\DQGKLVEDFNDQGDVV« Didn’t feel that bad. Huh. +HVDWXSDQGWKHÀUVWWKLQJKHVDZZDV$UGHQVOHHSLQJLQ WKHELJZLQJHGFKDLUWKDW-DLPHÀJXUHGKDGWREHXQFRPIRUWDEOH even for a vampire. He had a trade journal about archeology over KLVODSDQGKLVJODVVHVKDGVXQNWRKDOI ZD\GRZQKLVQRVH A rush of tenderness made Jaime’s throat tighten. Like Arden VDLGKHZDVWU\LQJ ´+H\ELJJX\µKHUDVSHG $UGHQ·VH\HVVQDSSHGRSHQ´,ZDVEULQJLQJ\RXRUDQJHMXLFHµ +HVFUXEEHGKLVIDFHORRNLQJZRUQRXW´:KDWWLPHLVLW"µ ´7KDQNVµ -DLPH VKRYHG DVLGH WKH EHGGLQJ VWUHWFKLQJ DQG ÀQGLQJKLVERG\IHOWQRUPDODJDLQ´0RUQLQJ(DUO\,WKLQNµ ´1RSDLQ"µ$UGHQZDVVPLOLQJIDLQWO\VRPHWKLQJIUDJLOHLQKLV H\HV«KRSH" ´1RSHµ-DLPHVDLG´6RKRZFRPH\RXGLGQ·WVOHHSZLWKPH"µ ´,GLGQ·WWKLQN\RX·Gµ$UGHQFOHDUHGKLVWKURDW´:DQWPHµ He got up. “I’ll get your breakfast ready. Good nutrition is LPSRUWDQWµ Jaime snagged his hand and put it against his face, closing his H\HVDWWKHIHHOLQJKHFRXOGQ·WWUDQVODWHLQWRZRUGVWe’re going to be okay. I think we’re going to be okay now. ´
154 Jan Irving ´+HUHOHWPHGU\\RXµ-DLPHRIIHUHGOLIWLQJDZDUPHGWRZHO $UGHQZDWFKHG-DLPH·VIDFHDVKHSDWWHGDZD\WKHPRLVWXUH ´,·P QHUYRXV DERXW WDONLQJ WR (OL]DEHWK DJDLQµ -DLPH FRQÀGHGWU\LQJQRWWRORVHKLPVHOILQWRXFKLQJ$UGHQ·VEHDXWLIXO  ERG\+HZDVVOHHNDQGKDUG«HYHU\ZKHUH ´-XVWWHOOKHUKRZ\RXZLVK\RXKDGQ·WGRQHVRPHWKLQJWKDW IULJKWHQHGKHUµ$UGHQ·VYRLFHZDVUDZ +HDULQJWKHQRWHRI UHJUHW-DLPHOHWWKHWRZHOIDOODV$UGHQ SXOOHGKLPLQWRKLVDUPV´,NQRZ\RX·UHVRUU\DQG,NQRZ\RX ZRQ·W GR LW DJDLQµ KH VDLG NLVVLQJ $UGHQ·V FKHHN ´:H ERWK FURVVHGVRPHOLQHVµ ´'RQ·W\RXOHDYHPH-DLPHµ$UGHQVDLG ´1RZZK\ZRXOG,OHDYHDVORQJDV\RXKDYHVXFKDQLFHDVV"µ $JKRVWRIKLVZROIPDGH-DLPHEROGO\VTXHH]H$UGHQ·VUHDUHQG ´$QGVXFKEHDXWLIXOOLSVDOOSOXPSDQGURV\"7KH\ORRNSHUIHFW IRUFRFNVXFNLQJµ $UGHQQX]]OHGKLP´
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE ´-DLPHZDLWXSµ Jaime looked over his shoulder as he adjusted his heavy art ERRNVLQKLVNQDSVDFNDQGVDZ(OL]DEHWKVSULQWLQJWRZDUGKLP DFURVVDFDXVHZD\RQFDPSXV 7KHPRPHQWZDVXSRQKLP -XVWZKDWKDG$UGHQGRQH"6KLWWKLVZDVDOUHDG\KDUGHQRXJK WU\LQJWREDODQFHDSXVK\EHVWIULHQGDQHTXDOO\SXVK\ZHUHZROI and his dominant boyfriend. ´+H\ , ZDV JRLQJ WR ÀQG \RXµ +H SXW KLV KDQGV LQ KLV SRFNHWV IHHOLQJ DZNZDUG :KHUH GLG KH VWDUW" I’m really sorry I scared you after you zapped me into primordial land? 6KHVKRYHGKHUKDLUEHKLQGKHUHDUV´+RZDUH\RX",ORRNHG IRU\RXDWNDUDWHFODVVEXW0RQGRVDLG\RX·GJLYHQLWDSDVVµ ´,WKLQNWKDWPLJKWEHWKHRQO\SDVV,JHWZLWKNDUDWHµ-DLPH PDGHDIDFH7KHWUXWKZDVKHZDVDOVRDYRLGLQJ0RQGRXQVXUH RI ZKDW WKH ZHUHZROI PXVW EH WKLQNLQJ DIWHU ZDWFKLQJ -DLPH·V discipline. ´
156 Jan Irving +H FORVHG KLV H\HV QRZ DQG DEVRUEHG WKH KXJ EXW FRXOGQ·W NHHSIURPDVWDUWOHGKLVVZKHQVKHUXEEHGKLVEDFNZKLFKIHOWDOO QHZVNLQWHQGHU+HSXOOHGDZD\QRWZDQWLQJWRVKDUHVRPHWKLQJ so private. ´2K VKLW +H KXUW \RX GLGQ·W KH"µ (OL]DEHWK·V PRXWK KDUGHQHG ´, NQHZ LW 1HYH DQG WKH RWKHUV ZHUH ZURQJ WR FRQGHPQPH,NQRZKH·VEDGIRU\RXµ ´
ARDENT 157 MXVWFDQ·WZRUN/RRNZKDWKDSSHQHGWR'HUHN+HZDVDWWDFNHG FRPLQJ KRPH IURP ZRUN RQH QLJKW 3UREDEO\ E\ D YDPSLUHµ (OL]DEHWKVDLGFKRSSLQJWKHDLUZLWKRQHKDQG -DLPHVZDOORZHGIHHOLQJWKHPHPRU\OLNHDVODSDV(OL]DEHWK  ZDONHGDZD\ ´3UREOHPVZLWKRXUIULHQG(OL]DEHWK"µDIDPLOLDUYRLFHDVNHG ´+XK"µ2K*RGMondo.&RXOGKLVGD\JHWDQ\ZRUVH" ´(OL]DEHWK
158 Jan Irving $VWKHGD\GUDJJHGRQ-DLPHH[SHULHQFHGDQRWKHUVLGHHIIHFW RI KLV EUXVK ZLWK EHLQJ D GHPRQ FRQVWDQW ÁDVKEDFNV WR KLV ZROIVHOI7KHIRRGLQWKHFDIHWHULDPDGHKLPVOLJKWO\LOO9RLFHV boomed in his head, echoing and grating on his sensitive nerves.  $UGHQKDGZDUQHGKLPLWPLJKWWDNHDIHZGD\VWRJHWLWRXWRIKLV V\VWHP,QIDFW-DLPHKDGWKHLGHD$UGHQZRXOGKDYHSUHIHUUHG he stay at the mansion and recover under his protective eye, but -DLPH ZDQWHG KLV OLIH EDFN :DQWHG WR SXW ZKDW KDG KDSSHQHG behind him as soon as possible. 2QO\KLVERG\KLVPLQGZHUHQ·WH[DFWO\FRRSHUDWLQJ He sat hunched on a stool in the art room staring at blank canvas. He felt empty of creativity, like a bag of sand that had EHHQFXWLQKDOIVSLOOHGRSHQ:RXOGKHJHWLWEDFNWKHIHHOLQJRI FKDQQHOLQJKLVPXVH"+HDFKHGWRH[SUHVVKLVIHHOLQJVZLWKSHQ DQGLQNRUEUXVKEXWDOOKHFRXOGIHHOZDVWKHSDLQEXLOGLQJZLWK no relief. Out of habit, he touched his necklace since for some reason it usually calmed him, but today even that failed him. §§§§ ´(OL]DEHWKµ0RQGRQRGGHGWRWKHJLUODVKHVDWGRZQQH[WWR her in a club chair in the campus coffee house. (OL]DEHWK SXW KHU KHUE WHD GRZQ RQ WKH WDEOH DQG VKLIWHG DV LI ZDQWLQJ WR OHDYH ´0RQGRµ VKH PXPEOHG ORRNLQJ XQFRPIRUWDEOH«DQGJXLOW\ ´,VWKHUHVRPHWKLQJ\RXZDQWWRWHOOPH"µ+HUDLVHGDEURZ DQGZDLWHG ´6XFKDV"µVKHFKDOOHQJHGLQDVXEGXHGYRLFH ´7U\¶,·PVRUU\·µKHGLUHFWHGFRROO\ ´+H KXUW KLP 0RQGRµ (OL]DEHWK JURZOHG SDFLQJ LQ WKH FRIIHHVKRSDVVKHVKDUHGKHUFRQFHUQVZLWK-DLPH·VIULHQG´7KLV GLVFLSOLQH\RXGHVFULEHLVVLFNHQLQJµ ´(OL]DEHWKLW·VQRWWKDWVLPSOHµ0RQGRVDLGVHUHQHO\´-DLPH handled himself very gracefully. Besides, Arden hasn’t been

ARDENT 159 actively hurting anyone, as far as I can tell. He appears content ZLWK-DLPHµ ´+RZGR\RXNQRZ"µ ´&XWWKHVKLW
160 Jan Irving comfort. Too much had happened too soon.+HIHOWH[SRVHGOLNHKLVVNLQKDG EHHQVWULSSHGDZD\OHDYLQJKLPUDZDQGYXOQHUDEOH +HVOLGGRZQLQWRDFURXFKSXWWLQJKLVKHDGRQKLVNQHHV §§§§ Arden’s eyes snapped open and he sat up in bed, fangs bared. Emotion boiled through the mystical connection he’d made EHWZHHQKLPVHOI DQG-DLPHZLWKWKHQHFNODFH Jaime was struggling. /HDSLQJRXWRI EHG$UGHQZDVWHGQRWLPHLQVKRYLQJRSHQ KLVFORVHWDQGUHDFKLQJIRUKLVFORWKLQJ7KLVWLPHRI GD\KH·G KDYHWRWDNHDVHULHVRIXQGHUJURXQGWXQQHOVLQWRFDPSXVZKLFK ZRXOGVORZKLPGRZQ ,WGLGQ·WPDWWHUKHQHHGHGKLVKDQGVRQKLVER\·VVNLQ1HHGHG to soothe him, make him safe, make him not hurt. Now.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO ´%UDQPXIÀQVZLWKIUHVKVWUDZEHUULHVµ$ZRPDQKROGLQJD ZRRGHQVSRRQDQGZHDULQJDEULJKWDSURQGHFRUDWHGZLWKFKHUULHV DQGFKHUXELFFKLOGUHQEHDPHGDW$UGHQVWHSSLQJEHWZHHQKLP  and the main corridor through the largest building on campus. $SSDUHQWO\ KLV PRVW WKUHDWHQLQJ JODUH ZDVQ·W HQRXJK WR GLVVXDGHVRPHRQHZLWKDPLVVLRQ$UGHQVWLÁHGDQXUJHWRNLOOKHU just on principle, since no one had the right to be that cheerful. ´8Kµ+H·GEHHQVOLSSLQJXSRQWRFDPSXVYLDWKHEDVHPHQW having run through the tunnels. Jaime. Hold on. I’m here now, can you feel me? ´7KH\·UHYHU\QXWULWLRXVµWKHZRPDQFDMROHG´$QGWKHVDOHLV IRUDJRRGFDXVHµ ´1XWULWLRXV"µ 1RZ $UGHQ ZDV LQWHUHVWHG +H ORRNHG DW DOO WKHKDSS\OXPSVRIIUHVKEDNHGJRRGVDQGDVLJQDERYHLWZKLFK UHDGBake Sale on behalf of the University Rose Society. ´,MXVWORYHURVHVGRQ·W\RX"µ Arden cleared his throat, remembering the disastrous time ZKHQ KH·G WULHG WR JLYH VRPH WR -DLPH ´, DP VWLOO ZRUNLQJ RQ URVHVµ +LVEORRGVWLUUHGXUJLQJKLPWRÀQGKLVER\,WGLGQ·WKHOS WKDW KH FRXOG VPHOO -DLPH·V ZHUHZROI LQ WKHVH KDOOZD\V DV ZHOO Had he upset Jaime, dared to touch him? ´,·OO WDNH VRPH RI HYHU\WKLQJµ +H KDQGHG KHU D ÀIW\ DQG ZDWFKHGKHUH\HVVDXFHUZLWKGHOLJKW 3DVVLQJRYHUKLVSXUFKDVHVVKHÀVKHG´,·PGLYRUFHGDQGP\ VRQDWWHQGVFODVVHVKHUHµ +H FOXWFKHG WKH ZDUP GDPS SDSHU EDJ WKDW KH LPDJLQHG ZRXOGVPHOOZRQGHUIXOLIKHZHUHKXPDQ´,KDYHVRPHRQHKHUH DOVRDQGKHQHHGVPHµ “Oh, don’t forget the free recipe card. You can make variations

162 Jan Irving RIWKHVHPXIÀQVIRU\RXU«XPµ6KHFOHDUHGKHUWKURDWORRNLQJ disappointed. $UGHQ WRRN WKH FDUG ORRNLQJ LW RYHU ZLWK LQWHUHVW ´, OLNH WR FRRN IRU KLP HVSHFLDOO\EUHDG SXGGLQJ ZLWKQXWPHJ 7KHVH UHFLSHV LQFRUSRUDWH WKDW VSLFH DQG , NQRZ P\ -DLPH OLNHV LWµ +HORRNHGDWWKHZRPDQHDUQHVWO\´,OLNHWRWDNHFDUHRI KLP HVSHFLDOO\QXWULWLRQDOO\,I ,GRWKDW«KHPLJKWVWD\ZLWKPHµ 6KHVLJKHGDQG$UGHQIHOWKHUJD]HÀ[HGRQKLPDVKHKXUULHG DZD\´,NQRZ,ZRXOGµVKHPXWWHUHG  WKHJ\PQDVLXP7KH -DLPHZDVLQWKHPHQ·VVKRZHUURRPRII VWDOOZDVORFNHGVR$UGHQWZLVWHGWKHNQREEUHDNLQJLW “Arden?µ-DLPHEOLQNHGXSDWKLPGD]HG Arden abandoned the baked goods on a nearby bench and HQWHUHG WKH VKRZHU LJQRULQJ WKH ZDWHU VRDNLQJ WKURXJK KLV FORWKLQJDVKHNQHOWQH[WWRKLVER\ ´
ARDENT 163 VLJKHG´,JXHVV,ZDQWHGWREHOLNHDOLJKWVZLWFKVZLWFKPHEDFN  on and everything’s bright again. But, turns out it’s not that easy. ,KDYHWKLVUHVLGXDOVWXII LQP\KHDGµ ´$QGKHUHDOVR,WKLQNµ$UGHQUXEEHGWKHVNLQDERYH-DLPH·V heart. -DLPHQRGGHGVZDOORZLQJKDUG  ´,W·VP\UROHDV\RXUPDVWHUWRKHOS\RXµ$UGHQVDLG´,PDGH \RXUEHGIRU\RX,KHDOHG\RXUERG\
164 Jan Irving WRJLYH\RXWKHUHOLHI \RXQHHGµ Jaime closed his eyes and Arden caught the smell of his sudden DURXVDOSUREDEO\WULJJHUHGE\DOOWKHZLOGHPRWLRQDPEXVKLQJKLV ER\VWXIIHGGRZQGHHSOLNHDFRUNORGJHGLQDERWWOH +HQHHGHGVWLPXODWLRQDQGUHOHDVHDQG$UGHQZDVPRUHWKDQ happy to offer it. He lifted Jaime to his feet and pressed him  DJDLQVWWKHWLOHVEHIRUHKLVKDQGFUDFNHGGRZQRYHURQHDVVFKHHN and Jaime gasped. ´
ARDENT 165 MXVWDVOLJKWVWLQJWKDWPDGH-DLPH·VFRFNÁH[LQVLGHKLVFKDVWLW\ GHYLFH$UGHQSDXVHGWRWUDFHWKHJROGFRUGEHWZHHQKLV  ER\·V FKHHNVLPDJLQLQJKH·GEHZHDULQJWKDWRQHGD\LQIXWXUHZKHQ they lived Jaime’s spanking fantasy for real. ´,W·VDOLWWOHWLJKWµ-DLPHJUXPEOHG ´7KHQZK\DUH\RXZHDULQJLW"µ -DLPHKHVLWDWHGDQGZDVUHZDUGHGZLWKDQRWKHUVPDFNDJDLQVW KLVDVVWKLVRQHKDUGHU+HJODQFHGXSDW$UGHQ´%HFDXVH,NQRZ  VH[\ \RXOLNHLW%HFDXVH,ZDQWWRSOHDVH\RX%HVH[\IRU\RXFeel IRU\RXµ Arden imagined shoving inside him and giving him the deep IXFNKHZDVDVNLQJIRUDOOEHFDXVH-DLPHJDYHKLPDVRIWORRNDQG admitted he liked pleasing him. ´*RRG WKDW·V YHU\ JRRG -DLPHµ $UGHQ FDUHVVHG -DLPH·V ZDUPHGUHDUHQG´,·PJRLQJWRIXFNWKLVDVVVRRQµ ´
166 Jan Irving -DLPH·V H\HV ZLGHQHG DW WKH WKLFNQHVV DQG OHQJWK ´8Kµ KH commented. ´7KDQN\RXµ$UGHQODXJKHG ´
ARDENT 167 do these things to him? ´,VDZ(OL]DEHWK2KKKKKµ ´0RUH"µ$UGHQWDXQWHG´2QHGD\,PLJKWVLWLQDSDUNEHQFK KHUHLQWRZQDQGWHOO\RX,ZDQWDEORZMRE$QG\RX·OOJHWGRZQ RQ\RXUNQHHVDQGVXFNPHRII ULJKWWKHUHZRQ·W\RX"µ ´
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE ´
170 Jan Irving WKLQJIRUKLPLILWKDGHYHUEHHQ:KHQWKLQJVKDGFRPHDSDUW KH·GUHDOL]HGKHORYHG-DLPH0RUHLPSRUWDQWO\IRUDYDPSLUHKH ZRXOGnot kill to keep him. +LV\RXQJORYHUZDVVRPHNLQGRILGHDOLVW$UGHQVZDOORZHG WKLQNLQJDJDLQLWZRXOGEHDJRRGWKLQJLI -DLPHQHYHUOHDUQHG  MXVWKRZPXFKDPRQVWHU$UGHQZDVFDSDEOHRIEHLQJ+H·GRQFH HQYLVLRQHGEULQJLQJ-DLPHWRDYDPSLUHEDOOEXWQRZKHUHDOL]HG WKDWKLVER\ZRXOGQHYHUEHFRPIRUWDEOHZLWKKRZ$UGHQ·VNLQ treated human slaves and pets. ´
ARDENT 171 Arden shook his head. “Let’s see, I took three tavern boys out IRUDOHRQFHEHIRUH,GLGDOORI WKHPµ -DLPHNLVVHG$UGHQ·VFKLQ´6R\RX·UHVRPHZKDWUXVW\RQWKH GDWLQJVFHQHµ $UGHQ SXVKHG IHHOLQJ VXGGHQO\ H[SRVHG ´'RHV WKDW PHDQ \RXGRQ·WZDQWWREHZLWKPHWKDW\RXKDYHUHJUHWVQRZ"µ )RU DQ DQVZHU -DLPH VXUSULVHG $UGHQ ZLWKDQRWKHU NLVV RQ KLVFKLQKLVFKHHNKLVQHFN+HOLQJHUHGQLEEOLQJDVLIKHNQHZ KRZPXFKVXFKDWRXFKDURXVHG$UGHQ Arden couldn’t stop a hot shiver from running through his muscular frame. He caught Jaime by the hair. “Don’t. You don’t NQRZZKDW\RX·UHSOD\LQJZLWKI need you.
172 Jan Irving KLV EDUH DVV WKH ORRN RI GDUN ÀUH LQ KLV H\HV DV KH EHQW FORVH and his long hair draped around them both as he claimed Jaime’s PRXWKSXWWLQJKLVWRQJXHÀUPO\LQVLGHDV-DLPHZRUNHGWKHP He wanted this. $UGHQLJQLWHGDZLOGOXVWDQHHGWRVXUUHQGHUDQGEHWDNHQ DQGHQMR\HG7KHYDPSLUHZDVGDQJHURXVDQGVRGLIIHUHQWIURP KLPEXWKHFRXOGQ·WWKLQNZKHQKHFRXOGIHHOHYHU\EHDWRI KLV heart in his cock. %HVLGHV $UGHQ ZDV PRUH WKDQ D VH[XDO GUHDP WR KLP +H ZDV«0XIÀQVZLWKQXWPHJ ´2KPDQIHHOV«µ ´(DJHU OLWWOH VOXWµ $UGHQ NLVVHG KLP DQG IHOW KLV FRQWURO VOLSSLQJDVWRQJXHVFROOLGHGDQG-DLPHZKLPSHUHG´
ARDENT 173 §§§§ ´,ZLOOWDNHFDUHRI (OL]DEHWKµ$UGHQVWDWHGDOLWWOHODWHU ´:KDW"µ-DLPHJDYHKLPDZLGHH\HGORRNDVLIWRVD\oh, shit. ´,FDQEHGLSORPDWLFµ$UGHQIURZQHG ´8K KXKµ -DLPH ODXJKHG ´1R \RX FDQ·W
174 Jan Irving could mean all manner of things. -DLPHJDYHKLPDORRNXQGHUKLVEURZV´+PPPPPµ +HUHDFKHGLQWRWKHEDJDQGVKRYHGDPXIÀQLQWRKLVPRXWK ´%OXHEHUU\ *RRGµ +H SDXVHG VOXQJ KLV NQDSVDFN RYHU KLV VKRXOGHUDQGWKHQJDYH$UGHQDNLVVVRWHQGHUWKDW$UGHQZDV tempted again to make him miss class. ´6HH \RX DW KRPHµ -DLPH VPLOHG HDVLO\ EHIRUH UXQQLQJ RII VKRHVVTXHDNLQJRYHUWKHÁRRUV $UGHQ VDJJHG DJDLQVW WKH ORFNHUV DV VRRQ DV -DLPH ZDV RXW  RIVLJKWQRWZDQWLQJWRJLYHDZD\KRZPXFKKHZDVDIIHFWHGE\ Jaime’s taste, smell, touch, and enthusiasm. He shook his head, reminding himself he still had to settle the PDWWHURI (OL]DEHWK 2I FRXUVHKHZDVQ·WJRLQJWRMXVWOHDYHLW

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR ´7KLV LV DV IDU DV , JRµ 0RQGR VDLG IROGLQJ KLV DUPV DQG OHDQLQJDJDLQVWWKHVHZHUZDOO ´$IUDLG"µ(OL]DEHWKZKLVSHUHG7KHWUXWKZDVLWZDVVKHZKR ZDV DIUDLG RI JRLQJ IXUWKHU DQG VKH GLGQ·W WKLQN VKH·G IRROHG 0RQGRE\WKHLURQLFJOLQWLQKLVH\HV ´2K\HDK7KHGRQRI YDPSLUHVLVQRRQH,ZDQWWRPHVV ZLWK³EXW KH UXQV WKLV WRZQ XQIRUWXQDWHO\ %HVLGHV YDPSLUHV DQG ZHUHZROYHV WUDGLWLRQDOO\ GRQ·W JHW RQ (OL]DEHWK WKLV LV D IXFNHGXSLGHD,RQO\FDPHWKLVIDUWRNHHS\RXVDIHIRU-DLPHµ ´2Kµ(OL]DEHWKEOLQNHGIROGLQJKHUDUPV´,·GKHDUGDERXW WKHYDPSLUHDQGZHUHZROI ULYDOU\µ “Yeah, turns out that sometimes a cliché is a cliché for a UHDVRQµ ´6R\RXOLNH-DLPH"µ6KHFKHZHGKHUOLS ´0RUH WKDQ , VKRXOG SUREDEO\ $QG WKDW·V LI KLV YDPSLUH SHUPLWWHG LW ZKLFK , VRPHKRZ GRXEWµ 0RQGR DGPLWWHG +H raised a hand. “Don’t say it. Jaime’s in love, deeply in love, ZKDWHYHUEXOOVKLW\RXFKRRVHWREHOLHYHµ   (OL]DEHWKJODUHGDWKLP´)URPZKDW\RXWROGPH,WKRXJKW \RXZDQWHGWRJHWLWRQZLWKKLP"µ ´,GRµ0RQGR·VH\HVQDUURZHGDQGVRPHWKLQJGDUNPRYHG LQWKHP³GDUNDQGKRW´0D\EH,·OOJHWWKHFKDQFHVRPHQLJKW %HOLHYHPH,·OOWDNHKLPLI ,FDQµ (OL]DEHWKVKLYHUHG:KDWZRXOGLWEHOLNHWRKDYHDGHPRQ ZDQW\RX" §§§§ ´(OL]DEHWKµ 6HDQ OHDQHG EDFN RQ D OHDWKHU FRXFK UHDGLQJ JODVVHV ORZ RYHU KLV QRVH VR KH IDLQWO\ UHPLQGHG KHU LQ WKDW PRPHQWRI$UGHQ+HVDZKHUJODQFHRQWKHJODVVHVDQGVPLOHG ´,KDGEDGH\HVLJKWDVDKXPDQDQGXQIRUWXQDWHO\LWVWXFNZLWK

176 Jan Irving PHZKHQ,FKDQJHGµ “You remind me of Arden, though in his case Jaime says he’s MXVWIRQGRI ZHDULQJWKHPµVKHVDLG6HDQ·VKDLUZDVORQJDQG EURQ]HFRORUHG+LVIDFHZDVZHDWKHUHGDQGVKDUS\HWNLQGJUHHQ   H\HVFRQVLGHUHGKHU6KHZDVQ·WVXUHZK\0RQGRZDVVRZDU\RI WKHYDPSLUHNLQJ0D\EHLWZDVWKDWYDPSLUHZHUHZROI WKLQJ ´:RUGKDVLW\RXKDYHLQWHUIHUHGEHWZHHQ$UGHQDQGKLVER\µ 6HDQJDYH(OL]DEHWKDVSHFXODWLYHORRN Edged, “His name is Jaime. And yes, I ‘interfered.’ I’ve EHHQ«µ6KHWRRNDGHHSEUHDWKDQGDGPLWWHGWKHWUXWK´'HUHN LVGHDGDQGKHZDVZLWK$UGHQ,ZRUU\«µ “I understand. I imagine your friend’s relationship has been DQ XQSOHDVDQW DQG UDSLG VXUSULVH
ARDENT 177 ´
178 Jan Irving ´2KP\*RGµ(OL]DEHWKSDOHG´
ARDENT 179 ZRUULHGKHPDGHWKLQJVZRUVHµ ´+RZEDGLVLW"µ ´+HUHDOO\FDUHVDERXW\RXµVKHVDLGKHUSURÀOHWRKLP´%XW \RXNQRZKHZDQWVWRPDNH\RXDYDPSLUHULJKW" ´,WUXVWKLPWRWDONWRPHDERXWLWµ-DLPHWRRNDGHHSEUHDWK ´:KDWGR\RXQHHGIURPPH"µ ´7KLVLVJRRGµ6KHZDVORRNLQJGRZQDWWKHLUMRLQHGKDQGV -DLPHSXVKHGKHUKDLUDZD\IURPKHUIDFH ´,·PVRUU\,VFDUHG\RXµ ´/RRN 7KLQJ LV LW ZDV DOO P\ IDXOW ZKDW KDSSHQHG WR \RX DQG«DQG,GLGQ·WZDQWWRDGPLWLWµVKHVDLG´,·PVRUU\µ ´7KDQNVµ 6KHSLFNHGXSKHUEDJRIERRNV2YHUKHUVKRXOGHUVKHVDLG ´2KDQG-DLPH\RX·UHKRWZKHQ\RX·UHHYLO:KRNQHZ"µ

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE ´$W ODVW DIWHU ZRRLQJ -DLPH /DOµ $UGHQ DQQRXQFHG ´0\ VHGXFWLRQLVDOPRVWFRPSOHWHµ+HKDGKLVOHJVRYHUWKHVLGHRI   KLVOHDWKHUDUPFKDLUDQGZDVOD]LO\VLSSLQJVRPHDQLPDOEORRG from the butcher’s he’d forced himself to snack on. It tasted like skim milk to him instead of the rich notes of human, and he had WRJDJLWGRZQEXWKHKDGQ·WKDGWLPHIRUKXQWLQJODWHO\VLQFHKH ZDVVWLOOZDWFKIXORI KLV-DLPH (OL]DEHWK·VZDUQLQJDERXW6HDQKDGPDGHKLPXQHDV\+H·G QHYHUNQRZQ6HDQWRPHGGOHLQKLVDIIDLUVEXWKHZDVXQGHUQR LOOXVLRQVWKDWKLVVLUHZDVDVDLQW /DO ZDV VLWWLQJ DFURVV WKH URRP KLV OHJV DOVR FRPIRUWDEO\ crossed as he nodded politely. As usual, Arden had the feeling KH GLGQ·W PLVV DQ\WKLQJ ,W ZDV ZK\ KH ZDV WKH SHUIHFW VH[XDO WKHUDSLVWIRUGHPRQVWRXWLOL]HRQWULFN\GHPRQKXPDQUHODWLRQV ´
182 Jan Irving 7KH IURQW GRRU FUHDNHG RSHQ DQG $UGHQ·V KDQGV WLJKWHQHG RQWKHZRRGHQDUPVRIWKHFKDLU+HOLIWHGKLVKHDGWRFDWFKKLV boy’s scent and his pupils dilated. :DWFKLQJ $UGHQ /DO KDG WKH VHQVH WKDW LI KH KDGQ·W EHHQ WKHUH $UGHQ ZRXOG KDYH DFWXDOO\ gone to his pet, rather than ZDLWLQJ IRU KLP WR FRPH WR KLV ORUG ,W ZDV XQKHDUG RI IRU D PDVWHURI$UGHQ·VVWDWXUHWREHKDYHLQVXFKDZD\EXW$UGHQZDV DQHFFHQWULF6SHQGLQJDOOWKDWWLPHZLWKGXVW\SRWVDQGDWGLJV DURXQGWKHZRUOG"/DOGLGQ·WVHHWKHDWWUDFWLRQ    7KHER\HQWHUHGWKHJUHDWURRPDQGKHGURSSHGKLVNQDSVDFN KLV OLSV FXUYLQJ VRIWO\ DV KH VDZ $UGHQ ZDLWLQJ IRU KLP /DO QRWHGWKHZD\WKH\RXQJPDQ·VQRVWULOVÁDUHGFDUU\LQJ$UGHQ·V pheromones to his inferior human senses and processing them. 7KHQ KH DOVR VSRWWHG /DO DQG /DO VDZ KLP VWLIIHQ QR GRXEW UHPHPEHULQJKRZKH·GÀUVWPHWKLPZKHQKH·GXVHGDZKLSWR discipline him in front of the other demons. /DOVLJKHGZLVKLQJKHKDGQ·WPHW$UGHQ·VLQWULJXLQJKXPDQ ZKRKHOGDYDPSLUHORUGFXSSHGLQKLVIUDLOKDQGVXQGHUVXFK circumstances. +HVWRRGVLQFH$UGHQZDVSOD\LQJWKHDULVWRFUDWDQGGLGQ·W JHWXSZKHQ-DLPHHQWHUHG ´-DLPH,DP/DO,NQRZZHPHWDWDEDGWLPHEXW,VHUYH \RXUORUGDQGPDVWHUDQG,ZRXOGEHRQJRRGWHUPVZLWK\RXµ +H ZHQW RYHU DQG FXSSHG WKH VWDUWOHG ER\·V FKHHN OLNLQJ WKH LQWHOOLJHQFHKHVDZLQ-DLPH·VH\HVDQGDOVRWKHÀHUFHQHVV-DLPH ZDVDVSURXGDVKLVPDVWHULQKLVRZQZD\+HOHDQHGGRZQDQG  JDYH-DLPHWKHWUDGLWLRQDONLVVRISHDFHRQKLVFKHHN´,RQO\ZDQW WRKHOS\RXUORUGEULQJ\RXMR\µ ´8Kµ-DLPHZDVEOXVKLQJIXULRXVO\VR/DOEDFNHGRII ´&RPHWRPHµ$UGHQEHFNRQHGZLWKRQHKDQG+LVERG\ZDV DOODUURJDQWOLQHVEXWKLVH\HV7KH\ZHUHÀ[HGRQ-DLPHDVLIKH ZDVWKHRQO\WKLQJLQ$UGHQ·VXQLYHUVH Jaime hesitated. He bit his lip and Lal picked up a ripple of GLVFRUGLQKLVHQHUJ\PDWUL[+HREYLRXVO\SUHIHUUHGWREHDORQH

ARDENT 183 ZLWK$UGHQ/DOZRQGHUHGKRZWKDWZRXOGZRUNRXWZKHQ$UGHQ eventually had to introduce Jaime to the vampire court.
184 Jan Irving ´,W·VQRWWKDWVLPSOH,·PDGHPRQDQG\RXaren’t. I could hurt \RXLQDKXQGUHGZD\VDQGQRWHYHQUHDOL]HLWµ -DLPHORRNHGDWWKHLUMRLQHGKDQGV´
ARDENT 185 DJDLQµ ´6KH KDV IRUJLYHQ \RX"µ $UGHQ GHPDQGHG +H·G VKRZ (OL]DEHWKLIVKHNHSWWULÁLQJZLWK-DLPH·VIHHOLQJV,WZDVWLPHVKH  left them alone and stopped interfering. ´:HOO\HDKEXW³µ ´, WROG \RX , ZRXOG À[ LWµ $UGHQ VDLG IHHOLQJ YLFWRULRXV $SSDUHQWO\(OL]DEHWKKDGVHHQJRRGVHQVH´1RQHHGWRWKDQN PH-DLPH$PDVWHUWDNHVFDUHRI KLVER\µ Jaime opened his mouth, then closed it, as if he couldn’t think RI ZKDWWRVD\ $UGHQVPLOHG,WZDVZRQGHUIXOWKDW-DLPHKDGOHDUQHGWKDWKH FRXOGDOZD\VWDNHKLVSUREOHPVWRKLVYDPSLUHORYHUDQG$UGHQ ZRXOGVPRRWKWKLQJVIRUKLP §§§§ ´+H·VJRLQJWRPDSRXWP\SOHDVXUHFHQWHUV"µ-DLPHSOD\HG ZLWK$UGHQ·VVLONVZHDWHU´:KDWGRHVWKDWPHDQ"$QGGR,KDYH WREHQDNHGDJDLQ"µ ´
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX /DO UHWXUQHG WR ÀQG -DLPH RQ KLV NQHHV QXGH FXUOHG XS DW Arden’s feet as Arden continued to recline in the chair. Yet no PDWWHU KRZ VXEPLVVLYH WKH SLFWXUH DW ÀUVW JODQFH KH QRWLFHG Jaime holding tightly to Arden’s hand. +LV H[SUHVVLRQ UHPDLQHG SURSHUO\ LPSDVVLYH EXW KH UHPHPEHUHGKRZ$UGHQKDGKHOG-DLPH·VKDQGDQRWKHUWLPH³ ZKHQ -DLPH KDG EHHQ GLVFLSOLQHG ,W ZDV DQRWKHU VKRFNLQJ EUHHFKRISURWRFROIRUDYDPSLUHORUGZLWKDSHWGLVSOD\LQJVXFK tenderness.   \RXZLOOOHDG ´,KDYHVHWXSP\HTXLSPHQW/RUG$UGHQ,I \RXUSHWWRWKHGLQLQJURRP",WKRXJKWZH·GXVHWKHWDEOHWKHUH IRUWKHIRUPDOPRXQWLQJµ $UGHQ EHQW GRZQ DQG ZKLVSHUHG VRPHWKLQJ WR KLV ER\ VHHPLQJWRUHDVVXUHKLP7KDWKHZRXOGWDNHWKHWLPHWRGRVR DJDLQVWUXFN/DO$UGHQZDVNQRZQDVDUHPRWHORQHU+HKDG QHYHU DWWDFKHG KLPVHOI WR DQ\RQH (YHQ 6HDQ ZKR FOHDUO\ KDG DOZD\V ZDQWHG D FORVHU UHODWLRQVKLS ZLWK KLP KH KDG SXVKHG DVLGH GLVGDLQLQJ KLV SRZHU ZKHQ KH FRXOG KDYH ULVHQ KLJK LQ demon circles. +RZKDGWKLVIUDJLOHKXPDQER\WDPHGKLP" §§§§ -DLPHZDVEHQWRYHUWKHGLQLQJURRPWDEOHELWLQJKLVOLS .QHHOLQJDWKLVIHHW$UGHQDWWDFKHGDPHWDOEDUEHWZHHQKLV OHJVZKLFKDFWHGOLNHDVSUHDGHUVRKLVOHJVZHUHRSHQDQGKH FRXOGQ·WZDONZLWKRXWVRPHGLIÀFXOW\ ´:K\DUH\RXXVLQJWKDW"µ-DLPHDVNHG /DO·V H\HV ZLGHQHG ZKHQ -DLPH VSRNH EXW $UGHQ QRGGHG WRZDUG KLP VLJQDOLQJ SHUPLVVLRQ IRU KLP WR DQVZHU KLV SHW directly. ´,W LV DQ DFW WR GHPRQVWUDWH \RXU VXEPLVVLRQ -DLPHµ KH

188 Jan Irving H[SODLQHG´
ARDENT 189 ZRUOG WKH\ PDGH WRJHWKHUµ,I , FODLP \RX QRZ 0RQGR FDQQRW WDNH\RXIURPPHWKHQLJKWRI WKHIXOOPRRQµ Jaime rested his cheek against the table. “I still think it’s embarrassing he’sKHUHµ ´/DO·VKHUHIRUPHµ$UGHQDGPLWWHGVRIWO\ ´+XK"µ-DLPH·VEURZZULQNOHG  ´,QHHGWRNQRZKRZWRJLYH\RXSOHDVXUHZLWKRXWKDUPLQJ \RX
190 Jan Irving He noticed as he found a rhythm that Jaime began to rise up WRDFFHSWWKHVWURNHV´-DLPH\RXOLNHLWµ$UGHQVPRRWKHGDFRRO KDQGRYHUZDUPHGÁHVK -DLPHGLGQ·WDQVZHUVWLOOWRRVK\EXWKHVZDOORZHGDQG$UGHQ NQHZKHZDVFORVHWRFOLPD[IURPWKHKHDWEORRPLQJRQKLVDVV alone. He loved being disciplined and Arden loved giving it to him. “Jaime, you’ll no doubt be sorry to hear I am going to go RXW WR WKH JDUGHQ QRZµ /DO VDLG KXPRU OLJKWLQJ KLV YRLFH “Understand that there are risks for this bond. Despite all that romantic nonsense, a demon and a human are not meant to be together because they more typically play the roles of hunter and SUH\µ -DLPHQRGGHG´:HKDYHDZHLUGORYH,JXHVVµ ´
ARDENT 191 /DOJDYHKLPDVXUSULVHGORRNWKHQERZHGKLVKHDG´,ZDQW \RXUXQLRQWREHKDSS\DQGIXOÀOOLQJIRU\RXERWKµ $UGHQ OXEHG KLV ÀQJHUV VKRFNHG WR VHH WKH\ ZHUH DFWXDOO\ trembling. ´,W·VRND\WU\WRUHOD[µ-DLPHVXJJHVWHG $UGHQVPDFNHGRQHDVVFKHHN´7KDW·VP\OLQHµ ´
192 Jan Irving 6XGGHQO\-DLPHVWLIIHQHGWDNLQJPRUHOLSVSDUWHG ´:LOO\RXIXFN\RXUVHOI RQP\FRFNOLNHWKDWOLWWOHRQH"µ -DLPHFRXOGQ·WEHOLHYHLW0RQGR0RQGRZDVZDWFKLQJWKHP IURPWKHVLGHZLQGRZ +HPRDQHGDQG$UGHQQX]]OHGKLPDQG-DLPHUHDOL]HGWKDW $UGHQZDVVRFDXJKWXSLQWKHLUFRPLQJERQGKHZDVXQDZDUH of their voyeur. $UGHQFRXOGQ·WZDLWQRZ6RPHWKLQJKDGVQDSSHGDQGWKHUH ZDVRQO\-DLPH-DLPHKLVKXPDQKLVIRUELGGHQER\KH·GZDQWHG to fuck even fresh from his brother’s bed. He ripped open his silk trousers and lubed his cock frantically, yanking out the spreader and putting one knee on the table as Jaime pushed back to meet KLP7KHLUERGLHVFROOLGHG+HSXWKLVFRFNWR-DLPH·VUHGGHQHG dimple and thrust inside him heavily. +H VWUXJJOHG DW ÀUVW WR DFFRPPRGDWH WKH WKLFN FRFN EXW $UGHQKDGZDUPHGDQGORRVHQHGKLPDQGKHFRXOGVPHOO-DLPH·V DURXVDOZDVDWIHYHUSLWFK ´$UGHQµ+HFULHGRXWQHFNDUFKHGDV$UGHQJUD]HGKLPZLWK sharp teeth. Jaime’s hands suddenly reached back and cupped Arden’s XSSHU WKLJKV QHVWOLQJ KLP FORVH VR KH ZDV IXOO\ HPEHGGHG ´+HUH·VDUHYHODWLRQ,ORYHKDYLQJ\RXLQVLGHPHµKHZKLVSHUHG Arden laughed, startled, but then Jaime pushed back again, taking Arden deeper and Arden’s control snapped. He began to pound into the eager body of his human, his hands bruising -DLPH·VKLSV´-DLPHWDNHLW7KDW·VLWIXFNP\FRFNµ 7KH\ VWUXJJOHG WR PDWH D PHVV\ DZNZDUG KXPS RI desperation, Arden barely able to leave Jaime. “Jaime! /RYH³µ +H UHDFKHG EHWZHHQ -DLPH·V OHJV DQG WRRN hold of his cock and Jaime felt the nip of fangs against the

ARDENT 193 juncture of his neck and shoulder. +HORRNHGRYHUKLVVKRXOGHUDQGVDZWKHJROGDOLHQH\HVRID EHDVWÀ[HGRQKLPDVKHZDVIXFNHGZLWKLQDQLQFKRIKLVOLIHWKH  table rocking back and forth from the force of passion as Jaime VXUUHQGHUHGIXOO\DQGZDVULGGHQE\DPRQVWHUHis monster. %XWDQRWKHUPRQVWHUZDWFKHGKLP-DLPHOLIWHGVOHHS\H\HVWR VHH0RQGR·VGDUNH\HVSDUWHGOLSVDQGKHIHOWDIRUELGGHQWKULOO LQVLGHKLP+HNQHZWKDW0RQGRZDVZLVKLQJKHKDG-DLPHRQ WKHWDEOHDVSUHDGHUEDUEHWZHHQKLVOHJV ´-DLPHµ$UGHQJURZOHG Jaime offered him his neck. Arden struck, tearing the skin at the base of Jaime’s neck, PDUNLQJ KLV FODLP FOHDUO\ ,W KXUW EXW WKH SDLQ ZDV JRRG +H needed the pain as much as he needed to be fucked. 7KHLUVZHDW\KDQGVVFUDEEOHGDQGPHWWDQJOLQJ His vision pulsed redly as Arden sucked, taking Jaime’s blood, slamming into him. Coming now, coming for my master. In Arden’s garden, Lal paused, listening to the fountain that KH UHPHPEHUHG KDG EHHQ GU\ DQG ZHHGÀOOHG XQWLO $UGHQ KDG brought Jaime to his house.  +HUHJUHWWHGWKDWEHFDXVHRIDGHEWKHRZHG6HDQKHPXVWJR DQGUHSRUWWRKLPQRZ §§§§ ´8Kµ “Jaime?µ -DLPH ÁLQFKHG DZD\ IURP LFH DJDLQVW WKH WKUREELQJ ZRXQG RQKLVQHFN+HZDVLQWKHNLWFKHQVWDULQJLQWRWKHDOPRVWVROLG black of Arden’s concerned eyes. ´0·RND\'LG,PLVVVRPHWKLQJ"µ-DLPHEOLQNHG ´1R,ELW\RXDQGZH%XWWKHQ\RXSDVVHGRXWµ$UGHQVDLG tone accusing.

194 Jan Irving -DLPHFRXOGQ·WKHOSEXWVPLOHDW$UGHQ·VRXWUDJH+HNQHZLW KDGWRVWHPIURPDQ[LHW\RYHUWKHLUERQG´,GLG"µ ´
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN $UGHQZDVGHDGDVOHHS
196 Jan Irving VWLOODOLWWOHVHQVLWLYHEXWKHGLGQ·WZDQWWRWHOO$UGHQWKDW+HKDG a feeling he might end up in E.R. or something. ´,·PÀQHµ+HNLVVHG$UGHQORYLQJWKDWWKH\ZHUHEDUHVNLQ WR EDUH VNLQ +H UXEEHG KLV HUHFWLRQ DJDLQVW $UGHQ·V ZLWK QHZ IUHHGRP´,ORYHEHLQJKHUHZLWK\RX)HHOVDIHDQGIUHHDWWKH VDPHWLPHµ ´:HOO\RXDUHQ·W)UHHWKDWLVµ$UGHQSXOOHGKLPFORVHU §§§§ $IWHU VKRZHULQJ -DLPH DWH KLV FHUHDO ZKLOH $UGHQ ZDWFKHG him soberly. ´:KDW"µ ´,IHHO«JRRG,WZRUULHVPHµ -DLPHUROOHGKLVH\HV´
ARDENT 197 $UGHQPDGHDIDFH´+XPDQVDUHVRURPDQWLFµ Jaime laughed at him, giving him a kiss that made Arden grip his hips and pull him onto his lap. His demon was so easy. “Just SUDFWLFDO,·YHJLYHQLWVRPHWKRXJKWµ Arden regarded him out of those unblinking, black predator  H\HV´:H·OOJLYHLWDIHZGD\VEXW,ZDQW\RXZHDULQJ\RXUFKDVWLW\ EHOWVRWKHZHUHZROI JHWVWKHPHVVDJH\RXDUHRQO\PLQHµ -DLPHPDGHDIDFHJODGKHKDGQ·WWROG$UGHQDERXW0RQGR·V spying on them. He couldn’t be trusted to be reasonable about it. ´/DFNRI IUHHGRPZRQ·WNLOO\RXOLWWOHRQHµ$UGHQVDLG ´,·PQRWVRVXUHDERXWWKDWµ-DLPHPRDQHGEXU\LQJKLVIDFH LQKLVYDPSLUH·VORQJVLON\KDLU+HZUDSSHGLWDURXQGKLVÀQJHUV thinking, mine. §§§§ 7ZR GD\V DIWHU WKHLU ÀUVW WLPH $UGHQ EHQW KLP RYHU WKH NLWFKHQWDEOH-DLPHZDVUHYYHGVLQFHKHKDGQ·WFRPHVLQFHWKH\·G EHHQ WRJHWKHU WKH ÀUVW WLPH DQG KH ZDV JHWWLQJ GHVSHUDWH 1R PDWWHUKRZKH·GWULHGWRWHPSW$UGHQWKRXJKWKHELJYDPSLUH KDGIXVVHGRYHUKLPDQGSXWKLPRIIZDQWLQJHYHU\WKLQJWREH perfect. +HFDXJKWKLVEUHDWKDWWKHIHHORISURELQJÀQJHUV´$UGHQµ $QGVWLIIHQHGZKHQKHIHOWVRPHWKLQJVOLGHLQ6RPHWKLQJWKDW GLGQ·WIHHOOLNH$UGHQ·VFRFN´8Kµ Arden pulled the chastity belt back up and snapped the OLQNVWRJHWKHU+HWXUQHG-DLPHDURXQGDQGH[DPLQHGLWEHIRUH UHDFKLQJGRZQWRFXSKLVUHVWUDLQHGVH[ Jaime puffed out a breath, concentrating on not getting too KDUGVLQFHLWFRXOGEHXQFRPIRUWDEOH7KDQNJRRGQHVVKHZDV  WDNLQJDVFLHQFHFODVVÀUVWRIIVLQFHWKDWZRXOGJRDORQJZD\WR KHOSLQJ´:KDWisWKDW"µ ´$EXWWSOXJWKHQDUURZHVWRQH,FRXOGÀQG,WZLOOVWUHWFK \RXPDNH\RXDQWLFLSDWHPHEHLQJLQVLGH\RXDJDLQµ ´0HDQLQJZH·OOKDYHVH[DJDLQ"µ-DLPHVWDEEHGDÀQJHUDJDLQVW Arden’s chest.

198 Jan Irving ´0D\EHµ$UGHQ·VOLSVTXLUNHG ´$UGHQ«µ-DLPHWZLQHGKLVDUPVDURXQGKLVYDPSLUH ´/LNH,VDLGPD\EH1RZ\RX·GEHWWHUJHWJRLQJRU\RX·OOEH ODWHIRUFODVVHVµ ´+RZDERXW,VNLSDQG\RXQDLOPH"µ $UGHQUDLVHGDEURZ´,·PQRWDJRRGPDQVRGRQ·WWHPSWPH
ARDENT 199 ZLWKKLPDJDLQ+HVHHPHGVRIDUDZD\ODWHO\GUHDP\H\HG6KH JXHVVHG KLV UHODWLRQVKLS ZLWK $UGHQ KDG WDNHQ KLP SODFHV VKH FRXOGQ·W LPDJLQH 6KH VTXHOFKHG WKH LPPHGLDWH MHDORXV\ VKH H[SHULHQFHGDWWKDWWKRXJKW  +DGVKHEHHQZURQJWRYLVLW6HDQ"%XWVKHFRXOGQ·WXQGHUVWDQG -DLPH·VUHODWLRQVKLSZLWKVRPHRQHZKRKDGKDGKLPwhipped. And VKHGLGQ·WEX\WKDW'HUHN·VGHDWKKDGQRWKLQJWRGRZLWK$UGHQ ,I KH·GEHHQNLOOHGWKHQ-DLPH« ´
200 Jan Irving WKHUH1RPDWWHUZKDW\RXDUHP\EHVWIULHQG2ND\"µ 6KHQRGGHG´2ND\µ §§§§ -DLPHZDVSDFLQJDGHVHUWHGFODVVURRPZKHQWKHGRRURSHQHG and heZDVWKHUH +H FOHQFKHG KLV KDQGV RQ WKH WHDFKHU·V GHVN ZDWFKLQJ DV $UGHQSLFNHGXSWKHNH\KDQJLQJE\WKHGRRUDQGORFNHGLWZLWK DGHFLVLYHVRXQG+HIHOWDWKULOORIDOPRVWIHDUDWWKHZD\$UGHQ ORRNHGDWKLP/LNHKHZDVSUH\DQG$UGHQZDVYHU\YHU\KXQJU\ Arden in his black leather trench coat, belted around a slim ZDLVWORQJEODFNKDLUSXOOHGEDFNIURPKLVIRUHKHDGZLWKD&HOWLF LQVFULEHGVLOYHUFOLS'DUNH\HVEHDUGVKDGRZQDUURZIDFHDQG SDUWHGSOXPSOLSV«DQWLFLSDWLQJ Holy shit! Arden’s very masculine beauty caught Jaime, so he could RQO\ VWDUH IRU D PRPHQW ZDQWLQJ WR SDLQW KLP DQG GR KLP simultaneously. ´,XKSXOOHGDOOWKHEOLQGVGRZQWRNHHSWKHVXQRXW$QGWKH RWKHUGRRULVORFNHGDQGKDUGO\DQ\RQHHYHUFRPHVWRWKLVZLQJ GXULQJFODVVHVVRZHVKRXOGEHXP³µ 6RIWO\´9HU\JRRG-DLPH1RZstrip.µ 'HVSLWH KRZ KH·G EHHQ VLPPHULQJ DOO GD\ ZDLWLQJ IRU WKLV -DLPHIHOWXQH[SHFWHGO\DZNZDUGKHVKRYHGKLVMHDQVGRZQDQG WKHQSXOOHGKLV7VKLUWRII+LVKHDUWZDVSRXQGLQJ LQ KLV HDUV DQGKHZDVVRKDUGKHZRQGHUHGLI LWZDVSRVVLEOHWRGLHIURP an erection. $UGHQFLUFOHGKLPDVLIKHZHUHDSURVSHFWLYHEX\HUGHFLGLQJ RQ PHUFKDQGLVH RQH H\HEURZ UDLVHG FRPSOHWHO\ FRRO DQG LQ FRQWUROZKLFKZDVDURXVLQJEXWDOVRDOLWWOHLQWLPLGDWLQJ ´7XUQDURXQGQRZDQGEHQGRYHUWKHGHVN3XW\RXUKDQGV ÁDWDJDLQVWLWµ ´2K PDQµ -DLPH REH\HG FORVLQJ KLV H\HV DV KLV EDOOV tightened, responding to just the sound of Arden’s purring voice

ARDENT 201 ZLWKH[FLWHPHQW+HH[SHFWHG$UGHQWRUHPRYHKLVFKDVWLW\EHOW DQGWKHSOXJULJKWDZD\EXWLQVWHDGWKHUHZDVDQH[WHQGHGSDXVH “Arden, please,ZDVYHU\JRRGYHU\SDWLHQWµ ´8P EXW KDYH \RX EHHQ KDYLQJ QDXJKW\ WKRXJKWV -DLPH"µ Arden asked in a silky voice. A callused hand caressed his ass. ´(YHU\PRPHQWWRGD\DQG\HVWHUGD\µ Smack! His hole tightened in anticipation from the tap on his ass, and -DLPHJURDQHGDWWKHLQWHQVLW\´*RGWKDW·V³µ “I bought a paddle today. I’m going to use it on you, but ÀUVW³µ 7KH VPDOO SDGGOH ZDV SXW LQ IURQW RI -DLPH·V IDFH ,W ORRNHGDELWOLNHVRPHWKLQJ\RX·GXVHIRUDERDUGJDPH7KHLGHD  RIEHLQJVSDQNHGZLWKLWZDVXQEHOLHYDEO\hot. “Kiss it and ask me WRXVHLWRQ\RXUDVVµ +HORRNHGEDFNRYHUKLVVKRXOGHUDQGVDZGRQ·WPHVVZLWK me heat in Arden’s eyes. He kissed the paddle. “Please, use it on PH , ORYH LW ZKHQ \RX GLVFLSOLQH PH«µ +H SDXVHG DQG WKHQ JDYH$UGHQWKHH[WUDKHNQHZKLVYDPSLUHZRXOGORYH´0DVWHUµ §§§§ -DLPH·VDVVZDVUHGIURPEHLQJSDGGOHG7KHEXWWSOXJXSKLV DVVFUHDWHGDQHZGLPHQVLRQWRWKHH[SHULHQFHWKDWZDVVRLQWHQVH he thought he might come. ´(QRXJK IRU QRZ
202 Jan Irving LWZDVDJRRGNLQGRISDLQ$SDLQWKDWWXUQHGKLPRQ+LVH\HV ZHQWWR$UGHQ·VSOXPSOLSV:RXOGKHVXFN-DLPH" $UGHQ ZDV EUHDWKLQJ KDUG KLV IDFH VWRQ\ ZKLOH KLV H\HV DGPLUHG -DLPH·V SDOH QXGLW\ +H RSHQHG KLV EHOW DQG VORZO\ XQ]LSSHG KLPVHOI KROGLQJ KLV ORQJ WKLFN FRFN DQG WDNLQJ RXW some lube from his pocket to adorn himself. “Pull your legs up to your chest. Very good. You’re a nice little IXFNDUHQ·W\RXER\"&DQ·WZDLWIRUP\FRFNXS\RXUDVVµ “Please, $UGHQ0DVWHU,·YHEHHQJRRGµ-DLPHQHHGHGWREH IXFNHG1RZULJKWQRZ7KHDEVWLQHQFHDQGWKHEXWWSOXJDQGWKH SDGGOLQJ«KHFRXOGQ·WUHPHPEHUZKHQKH·GEHHQWKLVRQÀUH Arden placed Jaime’s ankles over his shoulders, and then put KLV FRFN WR -DLPH·V ZDUPHG DQG VWUHWFKHG RSHQLQJ DQG WKUXVW inside bluntly. Jaime gasped, toes curling, nearly falling off the table. “Oh, shit.µ “Quiet, Jaime. Don’t make so much noise or I’ll have to gag P\SUHWW\VOXWµ$UGHQVFROGHG´1RZMXVWOLHWKHUHOLNHDJRRG ER\DQG,·OOIXFN\RXµ Jaime’s hands shifted behind him, knocking papers to the ÁRRU´3OHDVH0DVWHUIXFNPHµ $UGHQEHJDQWRWKUXVWPRYLQJVORZO\LQVLGH-DLPHQXGJLQJ KLVSURVWDWH´/RRNDW\RXDQNOHVRYHUP\VKRXOGHUVDOORSHQDQG ZDQWRQO\LQJRQDWHDFKHU·VGHVNJHWWLQJ\RXUDVVWDSSHG
ARDENT 203 ´
204 Jan Irving ´
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT Arden—

I’m  sorry,  but  it  turns  out  we  are  too  different.   Jaime.  

$UGHQ FUXVKHG WKH OHWWHU LQ KLV ÀVW ,W ZDV KDQGZULWWHQ ,W VPHOOHGRI -DLPH:KDWPRUHGLGKHQHHGWRVHH" He felt tears—tears!—burning his eyes. He closed them tightly, SXVKLQJGRZQWKHEHDVWVOLSSLQJKLVOHDVK ´6LU"µ5HHFHWKHKXPDQSHW6HDQKDGRQFHRIIHUHG$UGHQIRU  UHOLHIJDYHKLPDFRQFHUQHGORRN´-DLPHZDQWHG\RXWRKDYHKLV QRWHDVVRRQDVSRVVLEOHµ +H FRXOG KHDU WKH ER\·V KHDUW EHDWLQJ $UGHQ ZDWFKHG KLP VZDOORZNQHZKRZIUDLOKHZDV Promise me you won’t hurt anyone. ´-DLPHKDVOHIWWRZQ"µ$UGHQFODULÀHG´
206 Jan Irving I’m sorry, but it turns out we are too different. $UGHQ FRXJKHG H\HV ZDWHULQJ $GGLQJ WR KLV IUXVWUDWLRQ KH FRXOGQ·W WUDFN -DLPH·V VFHQW EHFDXVH WKHUH ZDV D PDQ ZLWK IXPLJDWLRQHTXLSPHQWZRUNLQJWKURXJKWKHFDPSXVKDOOVDQGWKH KDUVKFKHPLFDOVZHUHEORFNLQJKLVNHHQVHQVHV I have to get out of here. Feeling balled up in his chest, he strode from the building into WKHGDUNQHVVRI DVPDOOWRZQQLJKW1RWKLQJQRSURPLVHVKHOG KLPEDFNQRZ §§§§ ´8JK«µ-DLPHVKRRNKLVKHDGJURJJ\+HZDVVRPHZKHUH dripping and underground and he immediately didn’t like that. ´'UXJJHG6KLWµ $VKHVWXGLHGWKHEULFNZDOOVRI KLVEDUUHQVXUURXQGLQJVKH LPPHGLDWHO\ VSRWWHG WKH WZR \RXQJ PHQ ZKR·G DVNHG IRU KLV KHOS 5HHFH DQG -HII DQG EOLQNHG DW WKHLU WUDQVIRUPDWLRQ ERWK ZHUH QXGH RQ WKHLU NQHHV KHDGV RQ WKH JURXQG 7KH\ ZHUH ZHDULQJFROODUVDQGOHDVKHVKHOGLQWKHZHOOPDQLFXUHGKDQGRI DQDUUHVWLQJORRNLQJEUXQHWZHDULQJDEOXHVLONVXLW+HZDVVLWWLQJ LQDQHODERUDWHJROGFKDLUZKLFKVHHPHGRXWRISODFHLQWKHGDQN space. +HVPLOHGDW-DLPHJUHHQH\HVZDUP´
ARDENT 207 ´
208 Jan Irving ´2Kµ-DLPHGLGQ·WNQRZZKDWWRVD\$VLJQDOWRVSHDN"$UGHQ KDGOHIWWKDWRXW´,VKHOLNHPH"µ ´
ARDENT 209 ´%DVHPHQW"µ$UGHQIURZQHG ´6XUH6RPHJRGRZQWKHUHWRVPRNHSRW6FUHZ-DLPHOLNHO\ WRGRHLWKHU"µ ´1R SRW DQG LI KH ZDV GRLQJ WKH VHFRQG RSWLRQ ,·G ULS WKH KHDG RII ZKRPHYHU KH FKRVH WR SDUWQHUµ $UGHQ JODUHG PHDQLQJIXOO\LQWR0RQGR·VH\HV ´:KRDGRZQER\,FRXOGQ·WKHOSPDUNLQJKLP,W·VDZROI WKLQJDQG-DLPHLVOLNHFKRFRODWHDQGHVSUHVVRµ ´
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE ´$QRVKHUOHVVKHU"µ-DLPH·VYRLFHZDVPXVK\HYHQWRKLVRZQ HDUV+LVPRXWKDQGMDZZHUHVZROOHQIURPKLVEHDWLQJDW6HDQ·V hands. He’d missed some of it, thankfully, since he’d blacked out. 1RZ KH ZDV GULSSLQJ IURP WKH FROG GLUW\ ZDWHU -HII KDG GXPSHGRQKLPWRURXVHKLP$OWKRXJKKHZDVQ·WWKDWWDOOPD\EH IURPDWLPHZKHQPHQZHUHQ·W6HDQVHHPHGWRWRZHURYHUKLP “Nosh,µ-DLPHPDQDJHG 6HDQNLFNHGKLPDQGKHIHOWKLVEDGULEJRWKHRQHEURNHQ ZKHQKHZDVHLJKW+HUHWFKHGKLVERG\ZDQWLQJWRFU\ 3LVVHG´:K\GRQ·W\RXgive?µ ´%HHQµ+HKDGWRFOHDUKLVWKURDW´%EHDWEHIRUHµ%OXUU\ 7KHGDPSWKHEOXHRI6HDQ·VVXLWKHMXVWZDQWHGWRJRWRVOHHS DQG ZDNH XS LQ KLV EHG DW $UGHQ·V PDQVLRQ 7KH OLWWOH JDUGHQ house Arden had given him so he’d have time to come to him as a ORYHU:DNHXSDQGWKLVZDVDOOZURQJ$UGHQKDGQHYHUORVWKLP :DNHWRÀQGVLQGDUNH\HVÀ[HGRQKLVIDFHEHIRUHFRROSOXPS OLSVFODLPHGKLVRZQDQG$UGHQ·VORQJKDLUIHOODURXQGWKHPERWK +LVKHDGZDVZUHQFKHGXSPDNLQJWKHGUHDPKD]HHYDSRUDWH  OLNHDVRDSEXEEOH´:HIRUJHGDOHWWHUWKDWPDGHKLPIRUJHWDOO DERXW\RXDQGQRZ/DOKDVDVSHOOZKLFKKHWHOOVPHPLJKWZRUN RQ EULQJLQJ $UGHQ WR KHHO VHUYLQJ PH DJDLQ KLV VLUH %XW ZH QHHGWROXUHKLPRXWRIKLVKRPHZKLFKLVVKLHOGHGDJDLQVWVSHOO FDVWLQJ
212 Jan Irving ‘cause GodGR,KXUWµKHUDVSHG´%XWKH·VEHHQJRRGWRPHDQG KH·VP\IULHQGµ Please. He hurt so badly and it was dark and he just wanted... Concern in those dark eyes, questioning him. Never quite understanding him, but $UGHQWULHG+HWULHGVRKDUGIRU-DLPHÀ[LQJDIRXQWDLQDQGÀQGLQJUHFLSHV IRUPXIÀQV  6HDQKDGEORRGRQKLVVXLW-DLPHZDQWHGWRWHOOKLPKHVKRXOG PD\EHFKDQJHLW7KHYDPSLUHKHIWHGKLPWRKLVIHHWE\KLVKDLU DQGVDWKLPIRUFLEO\DWDWDEOH+LVKDQGZDVSXVKHGÁDWDQGKHOG GRZQE\WKHWZRVODYHER\VDV6HDQSURGXFHGDWKLQVKDUSSDULQJ NQLIH ´:KLFK ÀQJHU GR \RX ZDQW PH WR WDNH"µ 6HDQ VPLOHG ´&·PRQ,·OOOHW\RXFKRRVHµ §§§§ “Uhhhh!µ$UGHQFROODSVHG 0RQGR UHDFKHG GRZQ DQG OLIWHG KLV IDFH VR KH FRXOG VHH $UGHQ·VH\HV´0DQ\RXUSXSLOVDUHEORZQDQG\RX·UHVZHDWLQJ ZKLFKLVDEDGVLJQLQDYDPSLUH:KDW·VZURQJ"µ Arden cradled his left hand. “God, it hurtsµ 0RQGR JHQWO\ SXOOHG WKH KDQG RXW IURP $UGHQ·V SURWHFWLYH JULSWRH[DPLQHLW ´,WORRNVÀQHDOOSDOHÀQJHUVDQGPD\,VD\\RXKDYHDYHU\  HOHJDQWERQHVWUXFWXUH"µ+HSDXVHGDVLIJLYLQJ$UGHQDPRPHQW to recover his composure. ´,W·VQRWPHLW·V-DLPHµ$UGHQZKLVSHUHGJaime. ´+RZ GR \RX NQRZ"µ 0RQGR FRFNHG KLV KHDG REYLRXVO\ FXULRXVDERXWWKHERQGEHWZHHQKLVKXPDQIULHQGDQGDYDPSLUH ´,SXWDFROODURQKLPIRUJLQJDERQGµ ´,·YHVHHQLWµ0RQGRVDLG´,W·VNLQGRIIHPERLI\RXGRQ·W PLQGPHVD\LQ·µ $UGHQJUDEEHGKLPE\WKHWKURDW´7KH\DUHKXUWLQJP\ER\ and you make jokes?µ 0RQGRFRXJKHGDQGWKHQJULPDFHGDV$UGHQHDVHGKLVJULS ´6RUU\,W·VFOHDU\RXFDUHDERXW-DLPHµ

ARDENT 213 ´&DUH"µ$UGHQORRNHGEODQN´,OLNHKLPDURXQG,QHHGKLP VDIHµ $QLURQLFORRNPRYHGWKURXJK0RQGR·VZDWHULQJH\HV´/HW me guess. You’re the old-fashioned alpha male type. Not into H[SUHVVLQJ\RXUIHHOLQJVPXFK"µ $UGHQ·VH\HVQDUURZHG´)RUZKLFK\RXFDQEHJUDWHIXO:ROIµ 0RQGRUDLVHGKLVKDQGV´6RUU\,V-DLPHEDGRII ":HFDQWU\ DUHVFXHULJKWDZD\µ $UGHQ VZDOORZHG OHDQLQJ DJDLQVW WKH FRUULGRU ZDOO 7KH\ ZHUHVWLOODWWKHVFKRROVLQFHWKHQH[WSDUWRI KLVSODQUHTXLUHG VRPHRQHKHZRXOGÀQGKHUH+HFRYHUHGKLVH\HV´1R:HKDYH WRZDLW:HFDQ·WVFUHZWKLVXS+H·OOKDYHWR«KXUWµ §§§§ $UGHQ HQWHUHG WKH FODVVURRP ZKHUH KH DQG -DLPH·G³ +H FRXOGVWLOOVPHOOKLP6PHOOWKHLUFRXSOLQJ +HVDWGRZQDWRQHRI WKHVPDOOGHVNVDQGSXWKLVKHDGLQ his hands. “Hold on.µ+HZLOOHGKLVWKRXJKWVWRUHDFK-DLPHWKURXJKWKH frail connection of the collar. “Hold on for me, Jaime, and I’ll FRPHIRU\RXµEven if Jaime didn’t want him anymore, after seeing what vampires were capable of. ´:LWFK.µ ´,VWKDWPHDQWWRLQVXOWPH"µ(OL]DEHWKJODUHGRYHUKHUJODVVHV DW$UGHQDQG0RQGR ´1RLW·VZKDW\RXDUH:KDW,QHHG:LOO\RXKHDUPHRXW"µ 6KH FURVVHG KHU DUPV ´8SIURQW ,·P VD\LQJ WKDW ,·P XQFRPIRUWDEOH ZLWK \RXU UHODWLRQVKLS ZLWK -DLPH DQG , GRQ·W WUXVW\RXHYHQLI \RXDUHDYDPSKRWWLHµ ´9DPS KRWWLH"µ )DLQW DPXVHPHQW WRXFKHG $UGHQ WKURXJK EULWWOHLFH´(OL]DEHWK,FRXOGKDYHNLOOHG0RQGRor you anytime I chose. But the truth is, I have never done more than steal EORRGIURPZLOOLQJGRQRUV7KRXJKSHUKDSVZKHQ,·PVWUXFNE\

214 Jan Irving DUFKDHRORJLFDOIHYHUP\VFUXSOHVDUHTXHVWLRQDEOHµ+HDGMXVWHG his glasses. ´-DLPHZDVULJKW\RXUHDOO\DUHDQHUGµ(OL]DEHWKFRPPHQWHG ´%XWYDPSVGRQ·WFKDQJHµ ´,KDYHµ ´:KDWFRXOGPDNHWKDWKDSSHQ"µ ´-DLPHKDSSHQHGµ (OL]DEHWKEOLQNHGDQGORRNHGDW0RQGR ´(OL]DEHWK,WKLQNZHVKRXOGOLVWHQWRZKDW$UGHQKDVWRVD\ /LYLQJLQWKLVWRZQ,DOZD\VKDGWKHIHHOLQJZH·GKDYHWRWDNHRQ 6HDQVRPHWLPHDQGLWVHHPV$UGHQLVZLOOLQJWRHUKHOSXVµ ´%\UHSODFLQJKLPµ$UGHQDJUHHGFDOPO\ (OL]DEHWKUDLVHGDEURZ´,·PVXSSRVHGWRDLGRQHYDPSRYHU DQRWKHU"6RUU\,GRQ·WVHHKRZWKDWKHOSVWKHWRZQµ ´%XWKH·VQRWEDGµ0RQGRVDLGVSUHDGLQJKLVÀQJHUV´0RUH OLNHEDGDVVµ  “Oh, but I am.µ$UGHQKHOG(OL]DEHWK·VKDUGVWDUH´$OO\RXU instincts are right, little girl. I have no human conscience. Only -DLPHµ +HUH\HVKHOGKLVVWUDLJKWIRUZDUGQRWEDFNLQJGRZQDERXW KHUUHVHUYDWLRQV+HKDGWRDGPLUHKHUIRUWKDW+HFRXOGVHHZK\ -DLPHORYHGKHUUHVSHFWHGKHU6KHZDVDVVWXEERUQDVKHZDV ´(OL]DEHWK$UGHQKDVDJUHHGWRVWRSWKHGHPRQVIURPHYHU  KXUWLQJSHRSOHLQRXUWRZQDVWKH\GLG\RXUFRYHQPHPEHULIZH JLYHKLP-DLPH³DQGSURPLVHWRQHYHULQWHUIHUHEHWZHHQWKHP DJDLQµ0RQGRKHOGKHUH\HVPHDQLQJIXOO\DQGWKHJLUOVZDOORZHG thickly, obviously reading some message there. ´
ARDENT 215 ´)XFNKLP",·YHGRQHWKDWDQGKHORYHGLWµ (OL]DEHWKÁXVKHG 0RQGRJURZOHGLPSDWLHQWO\DVLI  VHHLQJWKHWHQVLRQNQRWXS ´(OL]DEHWK-DLPHFDUHVDERXW$UGHQYHU\PXFKµ ´+RZFDQKH"+H·VDPRQVWHU,VWLOOFDQ·WEHOLHYH-DLPHZRXOG ZDQWKLPDVDORYHU+HhurtKLPµ ´,WZDVQHFHVVDU\DQG-DLPHXQGHUVWRRGµ$UGHQUDQDKDQG WKURXJK KLV ORQJ KDLU IURZQLQJ DV KH UHPHPEHUHG WKDW WU\LQJ WLPHIRUKLPDQG-DLPH:RXOGWKH\DOVRJHWWKURXJKWKLV"´-DLPH FKRVHPHDGHPRQDQGP\ZRUOGRYHUODSVKLVµ ´6RLWZDVVRHDV\IRU\RX"µ+HUH\HVQDUURZHG´,YRZHG, ZRXOGQ·WOHWKLPGRZQDJDLQµ  ´,WZDVnot HDV\IRUPH%XWZHWDONHGDERXWLWDIWHUµ$UGHQ VZDOORZHG ´7DONLQJ«GRHV QRW FRPH HDVLO\ IRU PH EXW -DLPH VHHPHGWRDSSUHFLDWHLWµ ´8PPPµ0RQGRVFUDWFKHGKLVKHDGDQGFRQVLGHUHG$UGHQ XQHDVLO\ 8QOLNH (OL]DEHWK KH FRXOG SHUKDSV VHQVH $UGHQ·V KXPPLQJUHDGLQHVV6RRQ$UGHQZRXOGDFW6RRQEORRGZRXOG EHVSLOOHGKXPDQRUGHPRQLWPDGHQRGLIIHUHQFHWR$UGHQDV ORQJDVKLVER\ZDVEDFNLQWKHKDQGVRI KLVULJKWIXOPDVWHU 0RQGRVLJKHGDQGDSSHDOHGWR(OL]DEHWK´-XVWWDNHP\ZRUG WKDW-DLPHLVZLOOLQJ,ZRXOGKDYHWROG\RXLI ,UHDOO\EHOLHYHGLW  ZDVQ·WWUXH,QIDFW\RXFRXOGVD\,XQGHUVWDQGKLVXKVSHFLDO DSSHDOWR$UGHQµ $UGHQPDGHDJURZOLQJVRXQG (OL]DEHWKVWXGLHG0RQGRZHLJKLQJKLVZRUGV7KHQVKHJDYH a sharp nod. “I care about Jaime too, even if I’ve hurt him by PLVWDNHµVKHFRQIHVVHG´
216 Jan Irving YRLFHORZHUHG´7KH\DUHKXUWLQJKLPµ §§§§ /DOVOXQNWKURXJKWKHWXQQHOVWLOOKHSDVVHGWKHFHOOZKHUHWKH\ ZHUHNHHSLQJ-DLPH$UGHQ·VER\+LVIDFHZDVDPDVVRIEUXLVHV HJJSODQWWREODFN+LVH\HVZHUHVZROOHQDOPRVWVKXWDQGKHVDZ KRZKH·GZUDSSHGKLVEORRGLHGWHHVKLUWWLJKWO\DURXQGKLVKDQG +H NQHZ ZKDW KDG KDSSHQHG KH·G KHDUG KLP VFUHDPLQJ $UGHQ·VQDPHDVWKH\WRRNKLVÀQJHU Lal felt pity move inside him. He’d been instructed to have him removed to one of the harsher magical dimensions so he might be specially broken, but he remembered Jaime’s devotion to his real PDVWHU+HUHPHPEHUHGKRZKH·GKHOG$UGHQ·VKDQG ZKHQKH·GEHHQZKLSSHG A vampire who would probably be looking for payback, big time.  +HVZDOORZHGIHHOLQJWKHEUXVKRILPPLQHQWGDQJHU1RRQH KHUHZDVZRUULHGDERXWDORQHUOLNH$UGHQLQWHUIHULQJQRWHYHQ 6HDQ ZKR ZDV XVXDOO\ YHU\ VKDUS 7KLV ZDV SUREDEO\ EHFDXVH $UGHQ KDG DOZD\V GLVGDLQHG GHPRQ SROLWLFV %XW /DO KDG VHHQ KRZKHZDVZLWK-DLPH +HUHWUDFHGKLVVWHSVEDFNWRWKHURRPZLWKWKHEORRG\WDEOH He needed to get a little insurance. Just in case. §§§§ (OL]DEHWKSUHVVHGKHUOLSVWRJHWKHUDQGZDWFKHGWKHODYHQGHU DQGURVHPDU\VKH·GOLWLQKHUSRUWDEOHEUD]LHUGXOOWRDVK ´
ARDENT 217 §§§§ 0RQGRVFHQWHGWKHDLUDURXQG/DO·VVWXFFRSLQNKRXVH+LV FDUDSODFLGEOXH7R\RWDZDVSDUNHGLQWKHGULYHZD\´+H·VWKHUH EXWQRWDORQH7ZRGHPRQVDUHDOVRZLWKKLPµ ´*XDUGVµ$UGHQVDLG´
218 Jan Irving VKHJDYHDOLWWOHFKRNHGRII VFUHDPDVVKHVSRWWHGZKDWZDVLQ the handkerchief. $UGHQKDQGHGLWWRKHU´3XWDVSHOORQLWWRSUHVHUYHLWµ ´:KDW"µ ´,W·V-DLPH·Vµ$UGHQ·VIDFHZDVOLNHVWRQH´(OL]DEHWKNHHSLW VDIHIRUKLPµ ´,ZDQWWRFRPHZLWK\RXµ ´1R+HZRXOGQ·WZDQWWKDW\RXLQGDQJHU,KDYHWRGRZKDW KH·G³µ$UGHQEURNHRIIVKDNLQJKLVKHDG (OL]DEHWK VWXGLHG KLV IDFH :KDW VKH VDZ WKHUH VHHPHG WR UHDVVXUHKHU´'RVRPHWKLQJIRUPH"µ ´1DPHLWµ ´+XUWZKRHYHUKXUWKLP.µ §§§§ ´$UGHQ" +RZ QLFH RI \RX WR FRPHµ 6HDQ VPLOHG ´
ARDENT 219 “Arden, I never thought you’d give me my due. For many long years, you didn’t even seem to appreciate the gift I gave you by PDNLQJ\RXDYDPSLUHµ6HDQSUREHG ´/DOKHOSHGPHVHH,KDGEHHQQHJOHFWIXOµ$UGHQLQGLFDWHG   WKHGHPRQZKRZDVKROGLQJ0RQGR·VOHDVK ´$KKKKµ6HDQQRGGHGUHOD[LQJVOLJKWO\´7KHVSHOOµ $UGHQ DQG /DO PRYHGFORVHUWR6HDQ0RQGR NQHOW QH[W WR -DLPH $UGHQ WRRN 6HDQ·V KDQG DQG NLVVHG LW LQ WKH WUDGLWLRQDO FRXUWO\PDQQHUVD\LQJLQDSOHDVDQWWRQH´6R\RXZHUHJRLQJWR VHOOP\ER\"µ 6HDQWULHGWRWXJDZD\KLVKDQG´$UGHQµ 0RQGRZDVRQKLVIHHWVQDJJLQJDVZRUGIURPRQHRI WKH guards.   ´6HDQ\RXZHUHDOZD\VVRJRRGWRPHµ$UGHQJUDSSOHGZLWK his sire, holding onto his hand. 2QWKHSRGLXPVHWXSIRUWKHDXFWLRQ/DODQG0RQGRVZLSHG WKHLUVZRUGVWKURXJKWKHDLUNHHSLQJ6HDQ·VJXDUGVDWED\ZKLOH 6HDQDQG$UGHQVWUXJJOHG 6HDQ VDLG ´,·P YHU\ IRQG RI \RX ,W·V D OLWWOH HPEDUUDVVLQJ actually. But surely you can’t think to defeat me and take this VWDWH"µ ´'RQ·WZDQWWRdefeat \RXµ$UGHQJURZOHG´,·PJRLQJWRbe you.$QLFHU\RX$QGRQO\IRUWKLVWRZQ
220 Jan Irving 0RQGR·VH\HVZHUHOLWZLWKVDWLVIDFWLRQDQGDPXVHPHQW $QLQMXUHGKDQGZLWKDWHHVKLUWZUDSSHGDURXQGLWWRXFKHG $UGHQ·V OHJ DQG $UGHQ ORRNHG GRZQ WR VHH VRIW EURZQ H\HV ORRNLQJ DW KLP WKURXJK EUXLVHV ´6R \RX·UH 0DVWHU KHUH QRZ" $UGHQ+Lµ Arden’s throat tightened and he forgot everything else but a GHVLUHWREHFORVHWRKLVER\DJDLQDQGDQDOPRVWRYHUZKHOPLQJ SULGHLQ-DLPH³KH·GHQGXUHGXQWLO$UGHQFRXOGÀQGKLPDJDLQ “You got here in the nick of time, so you can free Reece and -HIIEHIRUHWKH\·UHVROGDWDXFWLRQµ-DLPHLQVWUXFWHGDOUHDG\KLV bossy self. $UGHQVZDOORZHGWKLFNO\´$OOULJKWµ ´7KDQNVµ 0RQGRERRPHGLQDULQJLQJYRLFHÀOOLQJWKHFDYHUQRXVVSDFH ´
CHAPTER THIRTY $KDUYHVWPRRQZDVDEULJKWVSRWOLJKWSDUWLDOO\REVFXUHGE\ WDOOEDUUHQWUHHV,WZDV2FWREHUDQGLWZDVFKLOO\DQG-DLPHZDV nude. +HNQHOWDW$UGHQ·VIHHWZDLWLQJ ´,DFHGP\DUWKLVWRU\H[DPµKHVDLG ´:KHQ ZH JHW KRPH \RX VKRXOG ÀQLVK WKH UHVW RI \RXU GLQQHU
222 Jan Irving summoned for a revel. Jaime’s lips quirked at his idea, but he couldn’t help but stare DW0RQGR·VPLON\VNLQKHZDVVOLJKWEXWPXVFOHGDQGKLVFRFN« -DLPHÁXVKHGDQGPDGHKLPVHOI ORRNDZD\ ´1RZ \RX NQRZ P\ UHG KDLU GRHVQ·W FRPH IURP D ERWWOHµ 0RQGRTXLSSHG-DLPHKHDUGKLVEDUHIHHWFUXQFKRQIDOOOHDYHV DQG WKHQ ORRNHG XS WR VHH KLP DQG $UGHQ H[FKDQJLQJ D ORQJ glance. ´$VSURPLVHGKHLV\RXUVWRHQMR\RQHQLJKWDPRQWKµ$UGHQ JURZOHG´%XW,DPVWLOOKLVRQHDQGRQO\PDVWHUµ ´:DLWµ $EDQGRQLQJ EHLQJ RQ KLV NQHHV -DLPH EURNH WKH WUDGLWLRQRI0DVWHUYDPSLUH·VVXEPLVVLYHDQGFOLPEHGWRKLVIHHW +HVWRRGEHWZHHQWKHWZRGHPRQV´,QHHG$UGHQWREHDSDUWRI WKLV0RQGRµKHVDLGFOHDULQJKLVGU\WKURDW´,·PKLVµ 0RQGRVKUXJJHG´$OOULJKWµ $UGHQ·VH\HVZLGHQHGDQGKHVWHSSHGFORVHUWR-DLPHSXWWLQJ a possessive arm around his stomach. He could feel the prod of $UGHQ·VHUHFWLRQDJDLQVWKLVDVVDQGLWH[FLWHGKLP $VHFRQGODWHU0RQGRZDVNLVVLQJKLPDQG-DLPHRSHQHGKLV PRXWK IRU WKHZHUHZROI IHHOLQJ KLV FRFN EUXVK DJDLQVW -DLPH·V ULVLQJH[FLWHPHQW$UGHQZDVNQHDGLQJKLVDVVWKHZD\KHOLNHG and his head fell back. $UGHQ WKUHZ -DLPH RYHU KLV VKRXOGHU DQG WKH\ IROORZHG 0RQGRLQWRWKHZRRGV -DLPHDEVRUEHGKLVVXUURXQGLQJVZKHQ$UGHQSXWKLPJHQWO\ EDFNRQKLVIHHWWKRXJKKHZDVWHGQRWLPHLQNQHHOLQJ+HZDV $UGHQ·V VXEPLVVLYH EXW MXVW IRU WRQLJKW KH ZDV DOVR DERXW WR EHFRPH0RQGR·V 7KH PHDGRZ KDG GU\ VWDONV RI JUDVV VKLIWLQJ LQ D KXVKHG IDVKLRQOLNHWKHZLQGUDQDVWURNLQJKDQGRYHUWKHJURXQG+H FRXOGVHHODWHIDOOÁRZHUVVWLOOEORRPLQJZKHUHWKHIURVWKDGQRW WRXFKHGWKHP$QRZOJKRVWHGSDVWH\HVJORZLQJDVLWVHDUFKHG the landscape. $QGWKHQWKHUHZDVKLPNQHHOLQJLQWKHFHQWHURI DJUDVV\

ARDENT 223 NQROOZLWK0RQGRDQG$UGHQ $UGHQFDUHVVHGKLVKDLUDV0RQGRFXIIHGKLVZULVWVWRFKDLQV  VXQN LQWR WKH URFN -DLPH·V KHDUW ZDV SRXQGLQJ 7KLV ZDV WKH WUDGLWLRQDO SODFH ZKHUH D VXEPLVVLYH IRU WKH ZHUHZROYHV ZDV  VKDUHG7KHFKDLQVZHUHIRUWKHKXPDQ·VSURWHFWLRQVRKHRUVKH  ZRXOGQRWÀJKWDQGHQGDQJHUWKHPVHOYHVZKHQWKHLUVKLIWHUORYHU XVHGWKHPVH[XDOO\ -DLPH·V FRFN ZREEOHG HUHFW QHHG\ EHWZHHQ KLV OHJV DV KLV RWKHUZULVWDQGWKHQKLVDQNOHVZHUHFKDLQHG 7KHQ0RQGRVTXDWWHGLQIURQWRI KLPWKHSXSLOVRI KLVH\HV HQODUJHGOLNHWKHKXQWLQJRZO·VFRORUÁXVKLQJKLVSDOHVNLQ+H  leaned close and kissed Jaime again and Jaime’s toes curled in pleasure, liking the other man’s tongue inside him as his cock VRRQZRXOGEH +H IHOW D VWURNLQJ KDQG DQG NQHZ LW ZDV $UGHQ·V WRXFKLQJ ZKDW ZDV KLV -DLPH·V EDOOV KLV VKDIW +H VSUHDG KLV OHJV DQG $UGHQ·V ÀQJHU UXEEHG RYHU KLV GLPSOH WHDVLQJ KLP +H ZDV freshly lubed, eager to be fucked. ´$UH\RXUHDG\WRZHDUP\PRRQWDOLVPDQ"µ0RQGRDVNHG Jaime licked dry lips. His demons sure liked to mark him. +HZDVZHDULQJ$UGHQ·VWDOLVPDQKLVSHQGDQWWKRXJKKHKDGQ·W XQGHUVWRRGDWWKHWLPHKHZDVEHLQJFROODUHGE\DGHPRQ$UGHQ KDGEHHQDELWVQHDN\DERXWWKDWEXW-DLPHGLGQ·WPLQGQRZ³LW ZDVZKDWKH·GZDQWHG 1RZ KH ZRXOG ZHDU 0RQGR·V WDOLVPDQ WKRXJK LW KDG EHHQ H[SODLQHG WR KLP LW RQO\ KHOG VLJQLÀFDQFH RQFH D PRQWK +H ZDVQ·WVXUHH[DFWO\ZKDWWKHWDOLVPDQZRXOGEH+H·GMXVWDVNHG for discreet. 0RQGR RSHQHG D SRUWDEOH LFH FKHVW DQG SODFHG DQ LFH FKLS against Jaime’s left nipple. Jaime hissed but held still. ,Q UHZDUG 0RQGR NLVVHG KLP JHQWO\ OLFNLQJ -DLPH·V OLSV WDNLQJKLVWLPHDQG-DLPHVDYRUHGLW1RORQJHUZDVLWIRUELGGHQ IRUWKHPWRWRXFKEHFDXVH$UGHQDQG0RQGRKDGFRPHWRDQ XQGHUVWDQGLQJDQGVRPHKRZGHPRQODZVPDGHWKLVRND\

224 Jan Irving )RU-DLPH·VSDUWKHZDV\RXQJDQGLQFUHGLEO\KRUQ\$OUHDG\ KH ORYHG WKH VH[ ZLWK $UGHQ RIWHQ WHPSWHG KLP WR WDNH KLP VHYHUDO WLPHV D QLJKW EXW QRZ KH·G DOVR HQMR\ 0RQGR·V ERG\ +HORYHG$UGHQDIHHOLQJOLNHWKHEHGURFNKHZDVNQHHOLQJRQ   EXW0RQGRZDVKLVIULHQG6RPHKRZLWZRUNHGWKRXJKDOOWKH QHJRWLDWLRQKDGPDGHKLPZDQWWRUROOKLVH\HVVRPHWLPHV +HJDVSHGZKHQVXGGHQO\KLVQLSSOHZDVSXOOHGDQGDWKLFN needle pierced it— ´*RRG ER\µ $UGHQ SUDLVHG UXEELQJ -DLPH·V VZHDWGDPS EDFN´'RQ·WIRUJHWORWVRIDOFRKRORQWKDWµKHVFROGHG0RQGR ´,GRQ·WZDQWKLPWRJHWDQLQIHFWLRQµ ´, GR ZRUN LQ D KRVSLWDOµ 0RQGR QRWHG LQ D SDWLHQW WRQH putting a ring through the fresh piercing. “Besides, you give him your blood regularly so I doubt he’ll be suffering from so much DVWKHFRPPRQFROGDJDLQµ $UGHQ KDG KHDOHG -DLPH DIWHU KLV RUGHDO ZLWK 6HDQ DQG (OL]DEHWK UHDWWDFKLQJ KLV ÀQJHU ,W KDGQ·W EHHQ SOHDVDQW WKH couple of hours it had taken him to heal, but since then he FRXOGQ·WVXIIHUVRPXFKDVDSDSHUFXWZLWKRXW$UGHQLQVLVWLQJ KHIHHGRQKLVYDPSLUH³EXWWKDWZDVDOOULJKWVLQFHLWZDVGHHSO\  VH[\KLVWRQJXHOLFNLQJ$UGHQ$UGHQJURDQLQJKDQGÀVWHGLQKLV KDLUDQGQH[WWKLQJ³ ´0RRQVWRQHµ 0RQGR VDLG LQWHUUXSWLQJ -DLPH·V SOHDVDQW  GD\GUHDP-DLPHVDZWKHVLOYHUULQJKDGDOLWWOHSHEEOHRILULGHVFHQW ZKLWHFU\VWDO´,W·VP\PDUNµ ´
ARDENT 225 VH[KDQJLQJKHDY\DQGDFKLQJEHWZHHQKLVOHJV $V0RQGRWKUXVWLQVLGHKLP$UGHQFXSSHG-DLPH·VIDFHDQG NLVVHGKLPDQGWHDUVVWXQJ-DLPH·VH\HV+H·GIUHWWHGIRUZHHNV RYHU WKLV GHDO ZRUU\LQJ WKDW VRPHKRZ KH·G KXUW KLV YDPSLUH EXW$UGHQZDVPDNLQJLWRND\+HPRDQHGDVKHZDVSHQHWUDWHG 0RQGRZLWKKLVSHQLVDQG$UGHQZLWKKLVWRQJXH ´0DVWHU"µKHZKLVSHUHGORRNLQJLQWR$UGHQ·VGDUNH\HV+H FOHQFKHGDURXQG0RQGRDGMXVWLQJWRWKHIXOOQHVVUDLVLQJKLVDVV VR0RQGRFRXOGJRDVGHHSDVKHSOHDVHG ´:DQWDQRWKHUFRFNLQ\RX"µ$UGHQDVNHG -DLPHQRGGHGDQG$UGHQVZLIWO\RSHQHGKLVFORWKLQJUHYHDOLQJ his long, elegant cock. He stroked Jaime’s hair and then carefully fed that cock into his eager mouth. 0RQGRJDYHDJURZOLQJVRXQGDQG-DLPHIHOWVKDUSFODZVGLJ LQWRKLVKLSV+HNQHZLI KHORRNHGDWKLVIULHQGQRZKH·GVHH half-beast, half-man rutting in his body. Instinctively he barred his neck and both demons took his LQYLWDWLRQ0RQGRVODVKLQJDQHZPDUNLQWRWKHVNLQRIKLVQHFN ZKLOH$UGHQELWLQWRWKHVSHFLDOSODFHKH·GVWDNHGRXWDWWKHWRS of Jaime’s shoulder. ,W ZDV WRR PXFK 6HPHQ ZHW DQG GULSSLQJ IURP KLV PRXWK and ass, blood running from the bites, Jaime came, toes curling, ERG\WUHPEOLQJDVWZRPHQNLVVHGDQGOLFNHGKLP

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE “Arden?µ ´28&+)XFNLQKHUHµ$UGHQUXEEHGWKHVSRWRQKLVKHDG  KH·GEXPSHGRQWKHXQGHUVLGHRI WKH6WLFNOH\WDEOH ´:KD\RXGRLQ·"µ ´-DLPHGRQ·WWDONZLWK\RXUPRXWKIXOORU,·OODVVXPH\RXQHHG VFKRROLQJµ ´0PPPPPµ -DLPH·V H\HV EULJKWHQHG DW WKDW VXJJHVWLRQ ´8KZKDWDUH\RXGRLQJXQGHUWKHGLQLQJURRPWDEOH"µ “Looking for one of yourWXUWOHVµ -DLPHKDGDGRSWHGWKHWXUWOHVZKHQKHIRXQGWKHPDEDQGRQHG  LQDWUDVKFDQZKLOHKH·GEHHQRXWZLWK(OL]DEHWK0RQGRDQG $UGHQPDNLQJVXUHWKHLUWRZQZDVVDIHIRUKXPDQV+H·GDOVR UHVFXHGWZRNLWWHQV7LDDQG7RQ\³KH·GQDPHGDIWHUKLVIDYRULWH 'LVQH\ EURWKHU DQG VLVWHU³DQG D GRJ ZLWK RQH H\H KH FDOOHG %UXWXVZKRQRZOLYHGLQWKHJDUGHQKRXVHKH·GJLYHQXSVRKH could share Arden’s bed. Arden’s formally pristine mansion had become a place of refuge not only for a young human, but for any creatures Jaime found that needed a safe home. ´2KGLG+DWFKJHWRXWRI KLVERZODJDLQ"µ ´
228 Jan Irving $UGHQVLJKHG´.HHSLQJSHWVLW·VDORWRI ZRUNµ “Yeah, weDUHµ-DLPHJULQQHG´:DQWWRPHVVDURXQG"µ ´:KDWDERXWWKDWDUWSRVWHU\RX·YHEHHQZRUNLQJRQ«"µ ´, FDQ·W ZDLW WR EH XQGHUQHDWK \RX &DQ·W HYHU\WKLQJ HOVH ZDLW"µ Arden tossed Jaime over his shoulder. §§§§ ´3OHDVH$UGHQµ-DLPHZDVVZHDWLQJFROODUHGDQGDUUDQJHGDW Arden’s feet. ´'RWKRVHDQDOEHDGVIHHOJRRGLQVLGH\RXOLWWOHRQH"µ$UGHQ ZKLVSHUHGVPLOLQJ,WZDVVDWLVI\LQJWRÀQGVRPHRXWOHWIRUKLV HYLO 7RUWXULQJ -DLPH E\ PDNLQJ KLP EHJ WR EH PDVWHUHG ZDV RQH ZD\ $IWHU DOO $UGHQ ZDV RQO\ D JRRG JX\ EHFDXVH -DLPH GHPDQGHGLWVRLWZDVRQO\IDLUKLVER\SD\WKHSULFH ´2QWKHEHGµKHRUGHUHG -DLPHVFDPSHUHGWRREH\DQG$UGHQZDLWHGWKRXJKKHZDV hard and aching to take his young lover. +HWRRNLQWKHJRUJHRXVGLVSOD\SXWRQIRUKLVEHQHÀW-DLPH ZLWKKLVDVVLQWKHDLUVLWWLQJRQWKHFHQWHURI WKHLUVLONHQEHG He’d spread his ass-cheeks so Arden could see the oiled and UHDG\SDVVDJHKHZRXOGHQMR\ “My -DLPHµ$UGHQNQHOWRQWKHEHGDQGNLVVHGWKHEDFNRI  KLVER\·VQHFNEHIRUHSOD\LQJZLWKWKHVWULQJHGEHDGVSXVKLQJ WKHPLQIDUHQRXJKVR-DLPHJDVSHG´3OHDVH0DVWHUµ ´'RHVP\ER\QHHGVRPHWKLQJ"µ ´1HHGWRFRPHQRZ0DVWHUSOHDVHµ Arden caught the smile in his boy’s voice. Jaime submitted because he wanted WR VXEPLW DQG WKLV«VZHHWQHVV ZDV ZKDW Arden had earned by being so patient in his seduction of the tender human boy. He pulled the beads out and palmed his prick, putting it DJDLQVW-DLPH·VZDUPHGDQGVWUHWFKHGRSHQLQJDQGVKRYLQJKRPH

ARDENT 229 ´'R,PDNH\RXKDSS\"µWKHGHPRQIRXQGKLPVHOI   DVNLQJ VRIWO\DVKHVORZO\IXFNHGWKHHDJHUDVVRI KLVEHDXWLIXOER\ Jaime turned his head and they kissed, lingering. “I gave myself to you.:KDWGR\RXWKLQN"µ Arden brought Jaime off easily, as the boy’s body quivered  XQGHUKLVWRXFK7KHQKHÀOOHGKLPDVXVXDOORYLQJWKHZD\-DLPH  WRRNKLVVHPHQLQKLVPRXWKRUXSKLVDVV+HVXSSRVHGKHZDV DELWUHWURDERXWLWEXWKHOLNHGKLVER\GULSSLQJZLWKKLVFXP ´, WKRXJKW \RXU VHGXFWLRQ ZRXOG NLOO PH EXW LW·V ZRUWK UXQQLQJWKLVWRZQLILWPHDQV,JHWWKLVµ+HIHOORQKLVEDFNDQG -DLPHFOLPEHGRQWRSRI KLPVPLOLQJVDWLVÀHGDOLWWOHFKHHN\ ´:RZ,UDWHHQRXJKWRUXQDWRZQ"µ $UGHQ SUHWHQGHG WR FRQVLGHU ´,W GHSHQGV RQ KRZ PXFK SDSHUZRUN,KDYHWRGR³µ Laughing, Jaime smacked his arm. §§§§ (OL]DEHWK ZDWFKHG DV $UGHQ GDQFHG DURXQG 0RQGR ZLWK D ZRRGHQSUDFWLFHVZRUG7KHVHODVWPRQWKVWKHJXLOWVKH·GH[SHFWHG WR IHHO RYHU VHOOLQJ -DLPH WR WKH QHZ 0DVWHU LQ H[FKDQJH IRU SURWHFWLQJWKHKXPDQVLQWKHLUWRZQKDGEHHQPRVWO\RYHUFRPH E\$UGHQDJUHHLQJWRWUDLQ-DLPHDQG(OL]DEHWKRQKRZWRÀJKW ,W ZDV KDUG WR VHH -DLPH DV D YLFWLP ZKHQ KH ZDV LQFUHDVLQJO\ YHU\JRRGDWWDNLQJFDUHRIKLPVHOI$QG«KH·GIRUJLYHQKHUIRU KHUEOXQGHUZLWK6HDQHYHQWKRXJK$UGHQVWLOOJURZOHGDERXWLW Just then, Jaime entered the gym and strolled over to put DQDUPDURXQGKHU´6R,·PWKLQNLQJVLQFH,ZRQ·WEHEXLOGLQJ EULGJHVDUFKLWHFWXUHLVQRWELJLQP\IXWXUHµ ´,WROG\RX%XW\RX·OOKDYHWRÀQLVKWKHDVVLJQPHQWLQGUDIWLQJ Good thing that Reece and Jeff take that class too, since they FDQ KHOS \RX RXWµ (OL]DEHWK VDLG UHIHUULQJ WR WKH WZR IRUPHU YDPSLUHVODYHVZKR$UGHQKDGVSRQVRUHGVRWKH\FRXOGUHWXUQWR VFKRRODQGUHEXLOGWKHLUOLYHVZLWKRXW6HDQ´$QGZKDWDERXWWKDW SDSHUGXHLQÀQHDUWVKLVWRU\"µ ´$ERXW 4XHHQ (OL]DEHWK·V HIIHFW RQ WKH DUW ZRUOG" :HOO ,

230 Jan Irving NQRZVKHZDV ÀUVW ULJKW" 1RW OLNHWKHRQH WKH\JRW QRZ 6R , ÀJXUH,·PDKHDGRI WKHJDPHµ (OL]DEHWKUROOHGKHUH\HV´
ARDENT 231 Arden ignored him, though Jaime blushed. ´,ZDQWP\ER\µ$UGHQZKLVSHUHG ´
232 Jan Irving LVVXH+HVLJKHG$QGVWHSSHGEDFNOHWWLQJ-DLPHZDONDKHDGRI KLP,WZDVKDUGWKRXJK-DLPH·VVFHQWFDOOLQJWRKLPPDNLQJKLP  ZDQWWRELWHDQGSURWHFWDQGFODLP ´,ZDQW\RXVDIHµKHZKLVSHUHGNQRZLQJKRZWRPHOWKLVER\ OLNHWKHFKRFRODWHKHPL[HGLQWRKLVIDYRULWHODWWHZLWKVSULQNOHV ´
ARDENT 233 ´+DUGFRUH"µ $UGHQ VWURNHG -DLPH·V KDLU JHQWO\ FXSSLQJ KLV FKHHN DV -DLPH QX]]OHG KLP EDFN 7KHLU VH[ RIWHQ VWDUWHG WKLV ZD\ZLWKFDUHVVHVDQGFRQYHUVDWLRQDQGHQGHGWKHVDPHH[FHSW WKDWDWKRPH-DLPHZRXOGIDOODVOHHSZLWKDSRVVHVVLYHGHPRQ ZUDSSHGDURXQGKLP ´
234 Jan Irving Jaime moved over his master, his boyfriend, his vampire. “I ORYH\RX,·OOGRDQ\WKLQJIRU\RX/HW\RXGRDQ\WKLQJWRPHµ $QGKHNLVVHG$UGHQVHDOLQJWKHZRUGV $UGHQ ZDV EUHDWKLQJ KDUG ´2IIHU \RXUVHOI ER\µ KH demanded. Jaime climbed to his feet and bent over one of the benches, his hands opening his ass-cheeks so that Arden could see the dimple of his opening. He smiled over his shoulder at him, NQRZLQJLWZRXOGGULYHKLPZLOG $UGHQVKRYHGDVLGHKLVWRZHODVKHPRXQWHG-DLPHKLVÀQJHUV VKDNLQJ´
ABOUT THE AUTHOR JAN IRVINGKDVZRUNHGLQDOONLQGVRIFUHDWLYHÀHOGVIURP painting silk to making porcelain ceramics, to interior design, but ZULWLQJZDVDOZD\VKHUSDVVLRQ 6KH IHHOV \RX FDQ·W IXOO\ XQGHUVWDQG FKDUDFWHUV XQWLO \RX  IROORZWKHLUMRXUQH\WKURXJKDVWRU\ZRUOG0DQ\NLQGVRIZRUOGV LQWHUHVW KHU IDQWDV\ KLVWRULFDO VFLHQFH ÀFWLRQ DQG VXVSHQVH³ EXWDOOKDYHRQHWKLQJLQFRPPRQSHRSOHÀQGLQJDZD\WROLYH together—in the most emotional and erotic fashion possible, of course! )LQG-DQDWMDQLUYLQJZULWHVFRP

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