Go Ahead, Read My WIP DEFEAT THE DARKNESS by Eliza March?

DEFEAT THE DARKNESS continued from last week. Find previous chapters on The Hearts of Darkness page.~~~~ Return Shelby rubbed her eyes. The movement of the car coming to a stop woke her out of a dreamless sleep. She glanced at Max, and tried to remember where she was and when the memories came flooding back she shut them down.Outside the window, she could make out the familiar streetlights on old fashioned lamp posts, but no street signs. “Where are we?”“My place.” Max glanced at her and turned the corner onto the street where he lived. “I didn’t think you’d want to go home yet.”“Right. Good thinking.”Her Max, always one step ahead. The man was sensitive even if he hid it well. She hadn’t thought any of this through, but he’d realized there were too many memories and too much of Kyle back at her place.What would she do with his stuff?Nothing. Not now. She refused to think about him.“I’ve got food…and wine.”Her stomach clenched at the mention of food. Waves of perspiration washed over her. Nausea. She wasn’t sure if it was from revulsion over her memories or hunger, but she’d have to eat sometime.“Perfect.” The thought of the wine made her smile. At least that would relax her, and enough would ensure a dreamless sleep. “Sounds like exactly what I need. By the way, what was the final score?”“Score? Oh.” He grinned broadly with the old twinkle in his eyes. “Braves won 4-2 in the ninth inning.”“Good.” She hazarded her own weak smile and meant it. He pressed the remote to open the garage as they pulled into his driveway, drove in when the door opened, and came to a stop. After the garage door closed behind them, he turned off the engine and, with his arm on the back of her seat, turned to her.  “Shelby?” He started to ask a question. She shook her head. She wasn’t ready to answer. “Max, you know what I’m in the mood for? Beignets and chocolate accompanied by a rich, dark red wine. Maybe we should go--” “That’s my girl.” Max flashed that smile again, reached around to the backseat, and held up a bag from Du Monde. He dangled it in front of her nose and the smell of sugar filled the air. “I stopped on the way. You snored right through the French Quarter."  “I don't snore.”  Here's a glimpse
of another
inspiration for Max “Do I know you or don’t I, Shelby Dillon?” She snatched the bag and high-fived his empty hand. “Oh, Max, you are my hero!” She ran into his house, shouting back over her shoulder, “Will you bring in my bag? I’m going to take a quick shower while you open the wine. See you in ten.” Max followed her inside, heading straight to the kitchen. He popped the cork on their favorite Cabernet and put the bottle in the ice bucket. The emptiness in her eyes made his chest ache.“Damn you, Kyle Lachlan,” he cursed. What did you do my Shelby?His first impulse, after Shelby called him for help, were to find painful ways to dissect the man who’d been his best friend for over four years. Later, when Kyle called him to make sure he was making arrangements for her, Max got the opportunity he wanted. He asked him directly about what happened and went crazy when Kyle told him about the other woman. What the hell had he been thinking? When Max took the opportunity to voice his internal threats aloud, Kyle didn’t even try to defend himself—didn’t deny his duplicity or attempt to explain his actions, either. The wine glass Max held shattered against the counter when he slammed it down with a little too much force. As he picked up the broken pieces and dropped them into the garbage, he thought about the short conversation they’d had. Kyle admitted what had happened, and he didn’t believe him at first. Claimed he’d gotten drunk and woken up in the tent they shared with another woman in his bed. Shelby was gone. When Max thought of her dealing with that, he’d wanted to climb through the phone and wring his friend’s neck. There hadn’t been time to discuss details on the phone, but when she arrived, the ring wasn’t on her finger, the light was gone from her eyes, and...she’d fuckin’ sobbed! What the hell was wrong with Kyle? What had happened to change him so drastically in so few months? That wasn’t the Kyle he knew, but from the way she looked, it was obvious that Shelby had seen him with the other woman. Damn him. Kyle had shattered his Shelby girl and Max vowed he was going to hurt Kyle for that, someday. When he glanced down, he noticed blood smeared all over the counter. A few drops fell and pooled around the bottle. The anger dulled his feelings to everything. He hadn’t even realized he’d cut himself and the cut was pretty deep. It needed cleaning and a bandage. He ran the faucet and cleaned up the counter while he applied pressure to the wound. The only thing around to wrap it in were paper towels or the dish rag. He sniffed the rag. “Paper towels it is.” Looking through drawers for a band-aid, he cursed when he found one empty wrapper and nothing else. The rest were in the first aid kit in the spare bathroom. The shower was still running. The gash was slowly bleeding, just enough to be annoying, not enough to need stitches. He applied more pressure, trying to pour wine and elevate the hand at the same time. Not bad. He smiled. He’d managed to clean up and fill two glasses without incident. After checking his hand again, he found it was still steadily bleeding. He paused outside the bathroom door and decided to knock. No answer. Maybe he could slip into the bathroom and get the first aid kit without disturbing Shelby. He twisted the doorknob and opened it. The steam turned the air in the room into a foggy haze. The shower continued to run hot while Max quietly opened the cabinet. He reached in and pulled out the first aid kit just as Shelby gasped. He jumped and banged his head on the cabinet door. The first aid kit hit the floor and when he looked up, holding his hand and rubbing his head, the shower enclosure was open. Shelby was naked clutching a small bath towel in front of her. The rest of his blood pooled in his groin and forced him to sink down to sit on the toilet seat cover. The towel didn’t conceal the curve of her hips or the long lines of her legs. Max remembered too well the feel of her satin soft skin and the way she screamed when she climaxed. “What did you do?” Shelby wrapped the towel around her and for a brief moment flashed Max the full-Monty before she dropped to her knees in front of him, concern etched on her face. “You’re bleeding.” Max was busy rubbing his head while his other hand bled onto the floor. “It’s nothing. I broke a glass and cut myself. The damn thing won’t stop bleeding, and I thought—” “Band-aid?”She glanced at the one in his hand. “You need a butterfly on that to close it. It’s deep and in a bad spot. Here, let me.” She picked up the contents of the kit that had scattered and put them on the counter. While he inhaled her flowery scent, visualized her skin beneath the towel, and imagined licking the rivulets of water dripping down her chest off her, she practiced what she did best. Doctoring. “How’s your head?” she asked with a stupid grin on her face. “Uh, fine. You know it’s hard.” “That I do.” She moved his hand to examine his head. “Ow!” “Baby.” She rubbed it with her hand the way a mother rubs out pain. “Got a little knot. Nothing for a hard headed guy like you.” Yeah it hurt, but having her hands on him caring, soothed him. When the kit clicked shut, he said, “Now it’s my turn.” “For what?” Shelby’s eyes opened wide. He ran his fingers over her welts. She shivered under his touch. “Mosquito bites. You have a million of them.” He opened another cabinet, rummaged around until he found the calamine lotion, and held it up to show her. “Ah, here it is. Calamine lotion!” She gave him a half grin. “You have no idea how much I appreciate it. They’re driving me nuts. The flight attendant had some on the plane but I used it all.” “Come on. Lay down on the bed and I’ll do your back, then you can finish up, get dressed, and meet me in the kitchen. Your bag is in the hallway when you’re ready.” Shelby sat down on the bed and rolled to her belly. “Mmm, just what the doctor ordered.”Max wondered why he offered to do this. What kind of masochist was he? Touching her was pure torture. He hadn’t even put his hands on her yet and his cock was straining behind his jeans. He pulled his shirt out before he sat down and started at her neck. By the time he reached her towel, he knew he’d have to remove it to reach some of her worst bites. Sweat beaded on his upper lip. “These are bad, Shelby. Didn’t you use any insect repellant?” “Believe it or not—repeatedly. And I had on long sleeves and full length pants.” “The little buggers must have been ravenous. I think you’re going to have to take an antihistamine. Some of these are swollen and inflamed. Wait here. I’ll get you one and a glass of water.” He heard her mumbling with her face in the pillow when he returned. “Probably some sort of fly bite. God only knows. I’ve never seen so many bugs.” “Take this and then I’ll finish the backside of you.” “You know it would be easier if I just took off the towel. It’s not like you haven’t seen me naked before.” Max swallowed hard. “Sure. If you’re okay with it. After all, we are both doctors.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her and made her laugh. “Don’t think that ‘playing doctor’ routine will work on me. I’ve heard you use it on all those Barbie’s and Bambi’s I’ve seen you with over the last few years.” He coughed, cleared his voice, and tried to sound serious, but it was difficult holding back the laugh. “You know, I don’t believe I’ve ever dated anyone by either of those names.” “You get names?” Shelby always could go head to head with him. She never missed a thing. “Ha! You run through them so fast I’m surprised you remember one tall, buxom, leggy model from another. Hard to tell all that beauty apart.”Max did laugh then. “You’re bad. You know I don’t have time to develop a relationship with my work.” “We all say that, and we all still manage to find time to screw up our lives.” Shelby pulled the towel off and resumed the position while he tried not to swallow his tongue. God, he remembered how it felt to kiss her ass. How she liked him to take her from behind. When she wiggled into place, he dragged his fingers over her hips before he realized he didn’t have any calamine lotion on them. “You’re killing me here,” he said and slapped her ass to cover up his mistake. “Stay still.” He finished and tapped her thigh lightly. “My work here is done. The rest are all yours. I’m going to fix us something to eat. Join me when you’re ready.” Max stood up and left, without looking back, before she rolled over. There’d been a time when they’d been good for each other. Would he be enough for her, now? Could he be what she needed again? And what did she need? Time? Space? Nurturing? Although he couldn’t stand the thought of her hurting or being in pain because of Kyle’s stupidity,  at least he was around to pick up the pieces and if she gave him a second chance, he’d try to put those pieces back together.
~~~~ EscapeGuatemala      “I understand why I can’t leave yet, but I don’t like it.” Kyle paced. “I did the agreed upon time as her puppet, Victor.” Keeping the cat within him contained grew more difficult when he was angry and thinking about how Amyra kept manipulating him made him furious. Better to not think of her. “Despite our agreement, she’ll never let me go without a struggle, and even though I’m strong, I’m not strong enough to stand up to her.” The scruffy Kyle
with attitude
inspired by
Ian Somerhalder“No, not now, but soon.”“How long before I reach my full potential?”Victor laughed. “We have no idea what your full potential might be. Never mind. You may not have to worry about any of this. Amyra went to Mexico searching for an amulet to supplement the power she tapped from you. Teotihuacan is believed to predate the Egyptian pyramids and many suspect it houses scrolls within the bowels of the lower fortress that contain the oldest written documentation of the original vampires.” Victor frowned and tapped his desk.“What good will they do her?” Kyle asked and pointed at Victor. “She’s up to something.”“Always,” Victor agreed.“Do you know how long she’ll be gone?”“Long enough for us to help you escape.”“When I finally do, won’t she always be able to track me down?”“Yes, if she is in close proximity. But she will have no real influence over you. Her hold on you will never be that of a true sire bond.”There was so much to learn, Kyle wasn’t sure where to start. “Why? Because when she sired me, she did it through force?” “Yes. She forced you and that mistake weakened her bond with you.”“How am I going to manage all this and function? I’m still totally ignorant when it comes to my jaguar abilities.”“Julian’s father will teach you all you need to know about being a jaguar. You’ve mastered the shift with your added strength. Today, you must go to them in the jungle and finish your training.” “I know all this is difficult to understand, but when you are newly transformed—and remembered you have undergone two such changes—you need more sustenance than you will once you adjust. You are filling out and you need blood to fill out your muscles now that your skin no longer hangs off your frame.”“Filling out? All my clothes started tearing at the seams.”“Then, I’m going to need some clothes. I switched out my scrubs for a larger size but I’ll need more than scrubs in the jungle.” My inspiration for
Victor Salazar was
Antonio Banderas “I will arrange for that. The people in camp don’t need to see you like this. If Amyra returns early, the image of you in their minds will give us away. You look too good—too healthy.” Salazar raised a brow. “That would be good reason to worry. If she reads any of the humans’ thoughts, she’ll know I’ve been drinking more than bagged blood and wonder who’s helping me.” Kyle understood the concern. If he looked healthy, she’d know he’d been drinking human blood from the vein. “But there are still times when I feel too weak to contemplate fighting her.”“True. But I’m not concerned for myself.” Salazar snorted. “When Amyra returns from her little expedition, she will begin recruiting more rogues, and I fear she will discover what you and I have been up to. You must be gone by then.”“I thought I was going to stop her, here—” “Not now. The villagers will be in danger. She will know what we were up to.” He emphasized. “All of us.”“Right.” They’d all be in danger when she discovered they’d been feeding him.“It is best if you leave.”Hell, Victor was risking a lot. “Won’t she suspect your part in my escape?”“Once you are gone, there will be no evidence. You must reach my friend in New Orleans so he can hide you before she returns.”“I can’t go back to New Orleans. Risk being near humans. What would I do? I need to stay out of the mainstream—”“Kyle, I told you I would contact my friend. He will meet you at the airport and find a safe place for you. My friends will train you in the ways of the vampire while you are in seclusion. St. Loupe, the Parish where he lives is remote, out past the bayous, close to the swamp.”“Never heard of it.”“And is that not perfect for the time being?” Victorsaid and patted him on the back. “Then when you are ready to resume your career, my friend, he will smooth the way for you.”“Sounds too good to be true.” Kyle smiled and picked up his bag. He stopped in mid stride and cursed beneath his breath.. How had he forgotten about his greatest fear, the reason he'd given up Shelby without a fight and convinced Max he was okay with the idea of them? “What about the damn demon blood?”“You worry too much.” Victor smiled. “I will tell Nicolai of your concern. He knows what to do. In the thousands of years he has survived, he has dealt with far worse.”“Thousands of years?” And what could be worse? The endlessness wasn’t something Kyle was looking forward to. The span of years that he would face lonely regret without Shelby stretched out ahead of him like the night sky, and all he could think about was revenge.Immortal revenge.One positive thing about thousands of years of existence was it would give him plenty of time to get even with the bitch who ruined his life.Revenge...the ultimate pleasure.


Read the previous chapters of Defeat The Darkness here at the Hearts of Darkness pageTo Be Continued Next Week....All rights reserved. No part of this may be copied or reproduced without the written permission of the author. Copyright 2012, Eliza March