Chosen by Fate by Virna Depaul Page A

nowadays.”
    He hummed and smoothed his hand down her hair, his eyes challenging her to retaliate. She wanted to, but she was wise enough to know the power he held over her. The power to expose her for the weak coward she truly was. “What you say is the absolute truth, Wraith. And I’ve always been very loyal to you, haven’t I?” Dropping his hand to the small of her back and pulling her close enough that she could feel his arousal against her stomach, he said, “I got you away from Ramsey, didn’t I? Showed you how pleasure was so much better than pain. But I understand . . . You’ve been without for a long time. Now that I’m back, there’s no need for that to continue.” He bent over her so that his lips hovered over her earlobe. He raked his fangs against her. “Come on, baby. I’ve got what you need. As soon as you taste it again, you’ll remember why it’s so good. Why we were so good together and can be again.”
    Closing her eyes, Wraith swallowed hard. His voice was cajoling, his tone a dark, sinful urge. She felt herself lean against him as memories washed over her. Their shared past was one filled with darkness and pain, just as every part of her life was, but it was also the only time in the past ten years that she’d ever experienced pure physical pleasure. The drugs Colt had access to were the only things that had allowed her to feel pure pleasure at being touched. But they had also left her stoned. Disoriented. In an altered state for days.
    That was what a wraith’s options were for avoiding pain. Complete isolation or complete addiction.
    Colt was right. He had saved her to some degree. He’d helped her see that what she’d had with Ramsey Monroe wasn’t real and wasn’t all there was to life. But what he’d introduced her to had been just as limiting. Just as destructive. Still, despite her addiction to Colt and the drugs, she’d finally managed to extract herself from their grip. It had taken time, and then Mahone had found her. Given her the opportunity to once again do something different. This time, something good.
    She wanted to keep doing good with the little time she had left. She also wanted to get the information she needed to leave this life with some semblance of peace.
    She wanted those things more than she needed to ease her pain. More than she needed sex. More than she needed to be touched.
    She eased away from Colt and shot another glance toward Caleb. Only he wasn’t there. Scanning the room, she saw him beside the patio doors. Watching her.
    Or at least that’s what she thought at first.
    Behind her sunglasses, her eyes rounded in surprise. Caleb was alone now. The feline had disappeared. But he wasn’t looking at her. He was looking at Colt and at the hand that, even now, was once again stroking her neck.
    Amazing, she thought. She’d been wrong about her inability to feel pleasure without the aid of drugs.
    She felt pleasure now.
    A pleasure that was sweeping through her because she recognized the look on Caleb’s face.
    Pure, murderous rage mixed with possessive jealousy.
    All three—his rage, his jealousy, and her pleasure—flared and became more intense the second he began to walk toward her.
     
    “Wraith.” Her name fell harshly from Caleb’s lips as he approached her.
    Typically, Wraith ignored him, but as she continued to dance with the big vamp beside her, her smile turned from seductive to cool. Yeah, she’d heard him all right.
    As always, he was assaulted by the dual need to kiss her and shake her. Then kiss her some more. She’d been alternately ignoring him and hissing at him from the start. Learning he’d betrayed her had only made her double her efforts. After Korea, he’d thought he’d have the chance to fix things between them, but the moment had never seemed right. She’d seemed to withdraw into herself even more, locking herself in her room for such prolonged periods of time that he and Lucy had wondered what she was doing that she