Warriors of Poseidon 02 - Atlantis Awakening

other, more intimate places, and she caught the quick flash of passion in his gaze.
     
    Trying not to be obvious about it, she pulled away from his hand and sent a serious look down the table toward Conlan. "Okay, what are we here to discuss? I'm hoping you're on board with the alliance to help us fight Caligula."
     
    "Yes, we are definitely willing to work with your coven toward that end," Conlan said. "It can't be coincidence that Caligula's base in the Pacific Northwest is the center of the increase in newly turned vampires."
     
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    Alaric nodded. "He is clearly consolidating his power, perhaps seeking to expand his territory to encompass that which Barrabas left."
     
    The warrior that Erin didn't recognize lifted his head and she was surprised to see power glowing in his eyes. "Why in the hells do we need to work with the witches?
    They're not powerful enough to be a help or they would have done something about Caligula ten years ago when he attacked them the first time."
     
    Erin's heart stuttered at the callous mention of her family's murder, and it seemed to attract his attention, because he swung his gaze to her. "Sure, maybe Ven found some pretty little witch to scratch his itch for a while, but that doesn't mean we have to include her in our plans."
     
    Beside her, Ven leapt to his feet and roared out a challenge, then launched himself over the table in one mighty leap, knocking the warrior backward, chair and all, as they both crashed to the ground.
     
    Erin shot out of her chair and rounded the table with some idea of intervening, but the sight of them stopped her cold. Ven had one large hand wrapped around the other man's throat and was crouched on top of him, snarling in a low, animalistic rage.
     
    "If you ever mention her, look at her, or even think of her in a disrespectful way again, Christophe, I will kill you."
     
    Christophe tried to speak, but could only manage choking noises.
     
    Ven bared his teeth in a terrifying parody of a smile. "Give me a reason. Just one word.
    Give me a reason to call battle challenge right here."
     
    Christophe's eyes glowed with fury, then the flames in them banked and he held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. Ven glared down at him for another long second, then Atlantis Awakening – Warriors of Poseidon 02
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    shoved up and off of the fallen warrior. When he raised his head, he caught Erin in his gaze, and she inhaled sharply at the single-minded focus in his gaze.
     
    Trapped again, she stood, frozen, as he stalked toward her. It never even occurred to her to try to resist him as he swept her into his arms and strode up the steps to the Temple doorway. Immediately outside the doorway, he turned right and put her down, backing her up against the marble wall, and slammed his hands against the wall on either side of her.
     
    She tried to push words past the breath caught in her throat. "Ven? What—"
     
    But he simply shook his head and caught her words with his mouth. Caught her lips in a demanding, passionate kiss. She couldn't help it, she twined her arms around his neck and kissed him back, unable to resist his claim of possession.
     
    Not sure she wanted to try.
     
    He kissed her with skill and hunger until her knees weakened and she would have fallen if she hadn't been clinging to him, but he was careful never to touch her body. Finally, he wrenched his head away from hers and stood, panting, with his head hanging down.
    "I'm sorry, Erin. I know an apology isn't enough, but it's all I've got right now."
     
    "What just happened?" she asked, her own voice shaky.
     
    He lifted his head and stared into her eyes. "What just happened is that I very nearly fucked you right here up against the wall. All I've been able to think of every second of this day is pounding my cock into your body until you scream for me."
     
    Heat and lust and razor-sharp desire burned through her at his crude words, and she shivered. "Ven, this can't—we can't keep going like this. This is too distracting, when we need to go after Caligula."
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    He laughed, disbelief evident on his face. "Caligula? Are you insane? You're not going anywhere near Caligula. Fuck free will. You're never leaving Atlantis again."

Chapter 14
    After that kiss that had rocked her foundation, Ven backed away from her and pointed to the doorway, unspeaking,