Seducing Damian Read online

  Damian stood there in amazement. She didn't remember being tossed out of the house? But she knew that he was attracted to Sekhmet. Great, now I'm calling her that. Blinking away his confusion and frustration, Damian headed off to his office.

  His good hand was on the phone and getting ready to dial before he caught himself. “Shit,” he muttered. “I can't get her out of my head. I feel so empty without her."

  Forcing back the emptiness, Damian went to his lecture hall and, after answering questions about his attack, got to teaching.

  The rest of the week passed the same way. There was no contact from his Egyptian goddess and he felt himself spiralling deeper and deeper into a pit of darkness. Regardless of who she had claimed to truly be, there had been a completeness or absolution in his soul when she had been a part of his mind and life.

  "Was what she did that bad?” he asked himself one morning as he stood in front of his mirror, looking at the fading bruises. His face still looked thin and gaunt, in spite of being on the mend.

  As he walked to his office that morning, there was a tall man sitting beside his door. All the women were staring at him and moving extremely slow past him. Damian shook his head in mild amusement; he remembered when they had done that to him.

  The figure stood as Damian approached. Damian stutter-stepped and he almost tripped over his own feet. The man was huge, almost a head taller than Damian was at six-five. Not an ounce of fat was on his body. He was dressed in black that was interwoven with golden threads.

  His skin was dark brown, like ... Sekhmet, and he was incredibly handsome. Thick black hair gleamed, even indoors. His eyes were the colour of the sun, and as Damian met his gaze, he felt like his whole being had been stripped and assessed.

  "Mr. Keith.” It was a statement not a question.

  "Yes, that's me.” Damian cleared his throat, more than a little nervous.

  "I need a moment of your time.” Those yellow eyes ran over the injuries he had. “What happened to you?"

  Unlocking his door, Damian answered, “I was attacked in my home, and my artefacts were stolen.” Why did I tell him that? He swung open the door. “Come on in and take a seat."

  The door closed with a decided thump and Damian looked over his shoulder to see the imposing man standing in front of the door. Blocking the only way out. Well, the window is an option, Damian's head told him.

  Swallowing hard, Damian fought for composure as he took his seat. “What can I do for you, Mr...?” He waited for the name to be supplied.

  The person braced his body, legs spread shoulder width apart and huge arms crossed across that massive chest. The eyes seemed to flicker with flames as he stared at Damian.

  With an ease he far from felt, Damian arched a brow but remained silent. To tell the truth, he wasn't sure he could formulate a sentence with the stare he was receiving.

  "My daughter said you would like to meet me. I don't usually do things like this, but she swore you were worth it."

  Damian's eyes grew large as he realized who he was looking at. “You ... you ... you're..."

  The onyx black brow rose a fraction as a quirk of his lips made Damian almost relax a millimetre. “Yes, I am Ra."

  Damian swallowed. The mere fact he introduced himself as Ra, instead of Amon Seini, made him wonder. Wonder about the amount of his meds. Or was it possible Amenitré truly was the goddess Sekhmet?

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  Chapter Seven

  Sekhmet fumed as Talios stood by silently and watched. Her lionesses even sought cover from her rage. Fire poured from her fingertips as she destroyed acres of land.

  "Goddess, perhaps you should repair the land now.” Talios spoke in his soothing voice.

  "Why?” she demanded. “What do I care what happens to this land of mortals?” Despite her attempts, she hadn't been able to quell her rage.

  "You do not need to care, but you do care about the animals, and it is their habitat that you are destroying."

  Rolling her eyes in exasperation, Sekhmet stopped and, with a flick of one hand, restored the land to its lush beauty. “Better now?” she asked sarcastically.

  "It is not my place to tell you how to behave, Goddess. You know that. I am here at your order.” That time there was a hint of disgust in his tone.

  A tinge of emotion stopped Sekhmet cold. Before Damian, she knew that the emotional state of Talios would not have concerned her in the least, but now ... now she was attuned to his feelings as well.

  Immediately her rage was in check. Her gaze turned to look upon the dark skinned man who had been by her side for centuries. With a wave of her hand, a couch appeared out in the middle of the woods they were in. She sank down gracefully.

  "Come sit with me a moment, Talios.” She patted the red velvet cushion beside her.

  His enormous bulk sank gracefully down onto the plush seat. “Yes, Goddess."

  Sekhmet paused for a moment as the skies opened up and began to rain everywhere except upon them and her cats, which lay in front of the couch, and of course her falcon which was on her shoulder. She sat cross-legged on her pillow, her back ramrod straight.

  "We have been together a long time, Talios.” Her hands created images of fire in the air as she spoke. Lions. Birds. Horses. And more.

  "Yes, Goddess. We have.” He agreed, while she looked off into the distance, witnessing something only her sharp eyes could see.

  "I think, I think it's time I grant you your freedom, Talios. You have served me well all these years. Lover, companion, guardian, and conscience. I will never forget it, but you do deserve to find happiness for yourself."

  The large man stared at the woman beside him. “I am bound to you, for life."

  "Did you ever just look around at this world of mortals? It truly is beautiful. But I am still untouched by it. For a brief moment in time, I felt like I belonged.” A sad smile crossed her face. “But without him, I don't wish to stay here. I did, however, learn that I need to allow you your own life."

  Sekhmet stood in one fluid motion. The second Talios followed her action, the couch disappeared. She glanced over her shoulder at the man behind her. “Wherever you desire to go, whatever you decide to do—as long as it's not evil—I give you my blessing."

  "Goddess..."

  "No,” she interrupted. Her movement brought her to stand in front of the ebony man. One hand reached out into the slit in his vest to rest upon his chest. “I, Sekhmet, One Who Is Powerful, release this honourable man of his sacred duty to serve me. By the word of the one who hath bound him to me, I release him of his vow."

  A blinding flash of light exploded from underneath her palm, before wrapping around her wrist and moving up her arm. The light stopped when it reached her shoulder, spinning in a circle on her skin. It faded, leaving behind the tattoo of a male lion with a huge black mane.

  "I have left you as you were, immortal and a shifter, Talios, for I don't know what you wish to do. Should you decide you don't want to be, all you need is to call my name. Any time, anywhere if you need me, just call my name, and I will be there for you. There is an account in your name with plenty of money for you to travel. You retain all of your powers that you were granted upon protecting me."

  Those obsidian eyes began to shine with the glimmer of tears. “This is more than I ever could have hoped for."

  "Be well, Talios ... my friend.” In another flash of light, she and her lionesses were gone.

  Talios put his hand to his neck and touched the necklace that had appeared there. The cartouche had but one word in it, “friend".

  With a solemn wave to a being that was no longer there, Talios whispered, “Goodbye, my friend."

  For the first time in centuries he stood in the middle of a field and felt the cool rain upon his skin and it mixed with tears of both happiness and sorrow.

  * * * *

  Damian sat heavily in his chair as his “guest” left his office. Amon Seini, or Ra, had answered all the questions he had put to
him. He had even done a guest lecture for Damian's class.

  But it was the parting words that stuck with him. All you need to do is call her name, and she will return to you. Ra had been very protective of his daughter but understood Damian's point of view. Or at least he claimed to.

  I can't believe I was sitting here talking to Ra. I must be losing my mind. Damian rubbed his eyes as he shook his head. A knock on his door made him jump.

  "Come,” he announced.

  Angela stood in the doorway. “Hey. Can I give you a hand getting out to your vehicle?"

  He looked over the blonde in his doorway. Somehow he didn't want her around him. “That's okay. I got it."

  "I feel really bad how I acted. I was stupid and jealous of your attraction to that ... to Ms. Seini. I am sorry for that.” Angela walked farther into his office, bringing with her the overwhelming scent of her sweet perfume.

  "I hate to be rude, Angela, but I really have to get going."

  "Are you sure you don't want to grab a bite to eat or anything like that before you go home?” Her voice sounded strained and desperate.

  "No!” he said forcefully. “I want to go home.” Damian stood, shoved his papers in his bag and grabbed it, heading out the door. “Time for you to leave, Angela."

  She dragged her feet, but eventually got out the door. All the way to his car, she tried to stall him until, out of patience, Damian snapped at her. “Angela, get out of my way. I need to get home."

  As he walked up the path to his apartment, he noticed the door was ajar. His heart plummeted. Not again. Not thinking clearly, he burst in through the door and saw a man in black rifling through his few remaining items.

  "Get the hell out of my house!” Damian yelled as he headed towards the intruder, forgetting his arm was still in a cast and his face still bore the remains of his last attack.

  The man reached behind his back and pulled out a gun. Damian screeched to a halt.

  "Hey. There is no need for that."

  The man squeezed the trigger and the last thing Damian remembered was yelling.

  "Sekhmet!"

  Sekhmet! Damian's cry reverberated through her entire being. She could taste his fear and desperation in that single word.

  The second his husky voice called for her, she was there. In between him and the bullet destined to take him from her forever. She stopped time with a snap and turned her head to look down at the human, the mortal man who had captured her love.

  "Why do you call for me, Damian Keith? I thought you didn't need nor want anything else to do with me.” Her stare moved over the remnants of bruising on his face as well as the cast.

  Sekhmet had secluded herself after he had told her to leave him alone. She refused to look in on him at all. For her, a week passed like an eye blink.

  After releasing Talios, Sekhmet had every intention of leaving this mortal world for good. Until he called her name. Sekhmet.

  Her sharp gaze picked up on the pain he was trying to keep at bay. He wore khaki slacks and a white turtleneck. As she stared at him, she realised her body was beginning to respond sexually to his mere presence.

  She knew that if he died, her wrath would be unforgivable. In that moment, Sekhmet acknowledged that she needed him in her life. If it meant giving up her immortality to accomplish ... she would do so.

  The image of the falcon on her skin glowed once before fading, and she realized her father supported her decision, whatever it may be. He understood her place in life was by this man's side.

  Damian looked up at her from his position on the floor where he'd cringed at the sound of the gunshot. She knew she floated over the floor but she didn't care about that. One thing was important right now. Damian Memphis Keith. Her eyes held his as she waited for him to speak.

  "I just wanted to tell you, before I die, that I love you,” he spoke from his heart. “I didn't mean those things I said. I was angry."

  "So you think to gain my favour by telling me you love me?” she asked, crossing her arms, showing him the newest lion tattoo on her right arm.

  "No, I wanted to admit it to you and myself.” He gestured around her where the man was frozen with the gun in his hand. “I am about to die, I wanted to tell you."

  "Is that it?"

  Sadness filled his handsome features. “I'm sorry for what I said to you. I didn't take your announcement very well."

  "And these words of love, what do you want for telling me them?” She raised an eyebrow.

  Damian shook his head. “Nothing. I just wanted to tell you to your face. Your father said you would come if I called you. I guess, faced with death, you were the most important thing to me."

  "I have been alive for centuries; do you really think I would let you die?"

  "Why would you save me, after the way I treated you?” Damian asked and she knew he needed to hear the words.

  "Because I love you, Damian Memphis Keith.” Sekhmet held his gaze with her own as she told him that.

  Turning from his astonished gaze, Sekhmet unfroze time and faced down the incoming bullet. She could feel the adrenaline pouring off the masked man. It smelt foul and reminded her of days long past when destruction was on her mind.

  A wave of her hand caused the bullet to disappear and her voice filled the room. “Who are you and why are you here?"

  Damian stood beside her. “Are you the one who broke in before?” he demanded.

  Sekhmet arched a brow at that. “What are you talking about? Is that why you are injured?” Her tone turned deadly.

  "Hey! I have a gun, here,” the intruder interrupted, waving the .38 special in front of their eyes.

  "Hush, human,” she hissed at the man in the mask. “Explain, Damian.” Her words were spoken in a command.

  Damian hesitated too long. With a low growl, she touched his head and got the whole thing in an instant. Rage filled her in seconds as she witnessed the destructive attack on Damian and his items. The fact someone dared hurt what she considered hers made her long to kill again. Her eyes blazed with rising fury.

  Placing all her attention on the masked man, she ordered, “Take off your mask."

  He waved the firearm. “Shut up, bitch. Both of you, back against the wall."

  "Bitch?” She walked closer to the weapon-wielding man. The second her leather-clad feet hit the floor, she was flanked by her lionesses while the falcon landed on Damian's shoulder.

  The gun waved menacingly in her direction. “Stay there ... I'll shoot you.” He blanched at the sight of the animals with her.

  "You are annoying me, mortal. Do as I tell you, remove your mask."

  "You are crazy, lady. Which one of us has the gun?” He pointed it at her chest.

  "Enough!” she thundered, the room and everything within it reverberating with the force of her voice. Her entire body began to glow and the man with the gun was frozen and his mask was ripped off his face, by some unseen force.

  "Do you know him?” she asked Damian.

  "Yes.” He shook with disgust. “It is Angela's brother. I met him at the college once.” The falcon on his shoulder shifted, stilling him.

  "I see.” There was a flash of light and when it faded, the man was gone.

  "What did you do to him?"

  "I placed him in one of your jails. He is giving a full confession to the officer you spoke with.” She turned towards him. “He was a cohort of Greg Henry and Angela. She helped Henry get his hands on your collection to pay off some debts she owed him."

  She moved until there was barely space between them. “The cops will be returning your things to you soon, and this will all be over."

  "Angela helped? I never expected that from her."

  Sekhmet shrugged. “She was doing what she needed to do to survive."

  Damian reached out to touch her, loving how the glow that surrounded her body flowed across his own skin, almost like another entity. It caressed his skin and breathed new life into him. “Sekhmet?"

  "Yes, Damian?” Her ton
e had a different sound to it than he had ever heard before. Magnified. It echoed through his entire being.

  "What happens now?"

  "That remains up to you.” She touched his arm; healing him and making his cast vanish.

  "I don't want to lose you. I love you.” Damian met her gaze with his.

  "Make sure you know what you are saying. It is forever. In my world, there is no ‘until death.’ We are immortal, I offer that to you."

  "And I would get to be by your side?” The falcon left to sit elsewhere.

  She chuckled, a throaty and seductive sound. “I wouldn't bring you into my world to let someone else get a hold of you."

  "I love you. I want to be with you.” His words were as sure as anything he had ever said before.

  Sekhmet nodded. “Very well. In that case, welcome to your new life.” She stepped flush to his body, cupped his head in her hands and kissed him.

  The glow that surrounded her body flared up and seemed to integrate with her skin and move beneath it as if an entity of its own, before flowing to their joined mouths. From her body to his, it moved until both of them glowed with the same intensity.

  Damian pulled back, his body totally healed and feeling stronger than ever. It was like the sights, sounds, and smells of the world were amplified just for him. Colours seemed brighter, and everything was tons clearer.

  "What happened?"

  A beautiful smile crossed her face. “You are immortal."

  "That's it?"

  "What did you expect? I would take your blood? It would be painful?” Her sparkling teeth shone brilliantly against her dark skin.

  "To tell you the truth, I didn't know what to expect.” He looked around the room. “So what happens now?"

  Instantly the room transformed into a room full of silks, velvets, and items for romance. His apartment was unrecognizable to him, and all she did was wink as her clothes melted away, leaving her brown body exposed to his gaze.

  "Well, I can think of one thing,” she purred as her lionesses made themselves at home in a corner.

  Damian felt his body respond violently. He imagined himself naked and looked down at his body to find it that way. With an arch of a brow, he held out his hand to her. Sekhmet placed her soft hand in his and eagerly went into his embrace.