Craved
Chapter 35

Renee:

Renee jerked against the restraints around her wrists and ankles as she lay on top of her mom's bed. The ropes bit into her skin but didn't slacken. Twice now, Clive slid his hand up her thigh to her shorts, but instead of pleasure as she experienced with Damon, nausea swept through her.

"Interesting." Clive loomed over her.

She spat in his face.

After a chuckle, he merely wiped it off. "When I touch you, the smoky quartz in your necklace turns black. What do you think it means?"

She glared at him. "How the hell should I know?"

"Well, I think it means this crystal reacts to your moods. Like maybe it's linked you and another incubus thus causing revulsion with me." He stroked his narrow chin.

When Clive's sweaty palms mauled her at the museum, the intensity overwhelmed her, her inhibitions, her thoughts, everything. Since she'd slept with Damon, Clive's touch was revolting. Was she now immune to Clive's power? "Did Damon tell you what incubi feed on? And how there's an alternative?"

"He said you feed on war and violence." She needed to keep him talking and figure out a way to escape. If Clive could kill hundreds without remorse, what would he do to her to get the crystal? To Damon? Terror slithered down her spine. "Ah, true, but I can still use sex; it's just grittier." His words sent a cold chill through her. Cocking his head, he paused briefly then stepped toward the door. "I shan't be but a moment, my dear. Anticipation is everything."

As soon as he left the room, she used her teeth to loosen the rope at one wrist. He'd come back any second now and tie her back up, but she had to try.

The rope slackened around one wrist, and she yanked with her teeth even harder as she heard shouting and commotion coming from somewhere else in the house. Damon. Had to be him. He'd come for her! Her heart hammered. She might only be a human, but she was going to help fight.

Her wrist untied, and she quickly worked on loosening the other, then leapt onto her feet.

Free!

A bang against the door made her leap back with her fists up, trying to keep the shaking under control. If it were Clive, she'd fight him until he took her life, but she would not be tied down again for his amusement. She glanced around the room for a weapon or anything to use against him. Her gaze settled. A chair leg if she could break it away.

She jumped at another bang. One of Clive's guards tumbled through the doorway with a woman crouched on his back.

"That should hold you." The woman scrambled away from the man and dusted off her black skin-tight jeans. Her hair was jet black and she had the same iridescent glowing eyes as Damon.

Then Renee remembered. "You were outside Sofia's."

The succubus who sent a shock through her and told her to leave Damon after Clive attacked them. Was she working with Clive? If so, why did she take the bodyguard out?

"Adeline!" Clive shouted from outside. "Come and play."

"Leave here! Now. Go," Adeline said.

"Wait! Is Damon with you?" She couldn't be his sister with her pale skin and dark hair.

"Yes. I'm his cousin."

"Right. Damon mentioned y-"

"Adeline!" Clive taunted from outside. "I have Damon with me, and he would love you to tell him goodbye as he leaves for his underwater adventure."

Renee's heart pounded against her chest. Damon!

Before Adeline could take a step, Clive blocked the doorway. How had he moved so fast? His hand clamped on Adeline's throat. She kicked him in the groin, but he merely winced. Then her fingernails dug into his eyes. "Enough!" he bellowed as he lurched backward. "I must have the crystal. It's mine!"

Renee trembled.

Adeline head-butted Clive. "Save Damon. I'll hold this one off."

Please God, let him be okay. Adeline knocked Clive down with a spin kick. As Renee ran, he grabbed her ankle, driving her to the ground. His fingers squeezed, and she let out a yelp of pain.

"I will have the crystal!" He sneered, and she turned and kicked him in the face, but he didn't ease his grip.

Adeline rushed forward to help. But the first guy tackled her, his arm wrapping around her throat. Gasping, the succubus collapsed onto the ground.

"Now. Where were we?" Clive flipped Renee over and straddled her thighs. Grabbing the necklace with one hand, he ripped her shorts down with the other. He ignored her punches to his arm and face. "I think I'll fuck you until you beg for me to have the crystal, then you'll die when I tire of you."

"No!" The scream vibrated in her chest and echoed around them. At the same time, as she shoved her hands against him to throw him, a black light shot out from the crystal.

With some force propelling him, he lifted from her, then slammed into the far wall. Adeline appeared at his side, punched him in the face, but he backhanded her as he climbed to his feet.

"Go help Damon!" she screamed at Renee, who scrambled up.

"He's probably already dead by now." Clive blocked Adeline's kick.

Renee ran out of the bedroom. The kitchen where her mother had been tied to a chair was empty. "Mom!" No answer as she raced through the dining room and out the patio door. Maybe her mother had fled outside.

The water from the pool shimmered, and Renee jerked to a stop at the edge. Her heart raced. Every muscle trembled at the horror before her. There, in the middle of the deepest part of the pool, was Damon. Something held him underneath the water at the bottom. And he wasn't moving.

Oh, God. Her throat constricted as if she was the one under the water. The memory of her father's face swam before her, and she moaned. Could Damon drown? God she'd couldn't swim, but she couldn't take the chance he'd die. Like her father.

Renee leapt into the water. Instinct and all those years of swim lessons that never seemed to work fell into a rhythm. The bottom dropped out below her, and she splashed as her determination was replaced by a child's terror of her dad drowning. She sank. Her arms were heavy and her kicks useless. Air! Bubbles broke around her as she struggled to a surface that seemed miles away. A shooting pain hit her chest.

No! Damon! I will do this. I can. I must.

Kick legs, swing arm, another arm, kick, she repeated to herself over and over. Her gaze focused on Damon. If she looked away for even an instant, she feared she wouldn't make it. That he'd die when she could have saved him. Like her dad.

She faltered. I can't! I have to...breathe...get out.

Rising to the surface, she took a deep breath then dove under the water and arrowed toward Damon. Her legs kicked like crazy, and her arms dug through the water.

When she reached him, she kissed him, blowing into his mouth to buy him some time. Nothing. He didn't respond. God, please let him live. Her lungs burned as she tried to lift him, but he was tied down. She kicked to the surface again and took gasps of sharp, sweet air. Tears clogged her throat. But she wouldn't give up.

Clenching her teeth, she dove back to him, struggling to untie him. The ropes were too tight, and she needed to breathe. His pale face floated inches from her. Bubbles exploded around her as she fought to get to the surface. She took a huge gulp, then swam back. One last try. Maybe there was a chance to save him.

She rested her hands against his face, then blew out everything she held in her lungs into his mouth and hugged him to her. Then his eyes snapped open. Relief rushed through her. He wasn't dead. Her heart sang as she barreled to the surface for a gulp of air.

Diving back down, she helped him free one arm from the rope. Her hands shook trying to help him untie the knots in-between taking a breath and giving him air as well. How long had it been? She fought the urge to breathe as her lungs convulsed. She lost track of time and her phobia as she focused on getting him free and keeping him alive.

The knots loosened with hers and his tugging, and he wiggled free and kicked his way to the surface. They broke through to air, panting.

His breaths were wheezy as he inhaled. "Are you," he struggled to breathe, "mad, woman?" He shook his head, golden color coming back to his skin. "Why would you come after me when you can't swim?"

"You're welcome." She gulped. "Glad to know you're so appreciative of me not leaving you to drown."

A clap sounded behind them. When she turned, it was to see Clive holding Adeline by the throat and Cynthia with a gun pressed to her mother's head.