Sweet Suffocation

   Glancing down at the blood soaked fingers against her skin Harper felt her stomach churn, bile rising in her throat as the images of the werewolf from outside filled her mind. He killed him, Kiev killed him without hesitation and in a matter of seconds. A sliver of fear wedged itself in her chest beside the conflicting storm of emotions already residing there as her mind tried grasping the fact that the same fate could be awaiting her. Kiev could slide those bloody hands up to her throat, sink his fingers into the soft skin of her neck and just as easily rip her throat out.

   Unconsciously she stepped back in reaction to her thoughts. It wasn't too far fetched of an idea, he did strangle her twice before. Third times the charm, she thought grimly.

  With that bone chilling thought in mind Harper shrugged his hands away and took a couple of steps back forcing space between them. The movement and intention didn't go unnoticed by Kiev, his eyes narrowing as his upper lip curled over his barred teeth.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, his voice low and menacing.

  Swallowing past the lump in her throat Harper opened her mouth to speak and found her tongue heavy as lead. Kiev took a step forward and she countered it with three in the opposite direction.

  Twin orbs of pure blackness looked her over, his intense stare brought a warm flush over her skin as they swept across her body, taking in every inch of her from the bottom of her bare feet to the top of her disarrayed hair. A muscle in his jaw twitched as his eyes found hers. "Why are you dressed like this?" He asked taking another step forward.

Digging her nails into her palm Harper took a step backwards and fixed him with an unwavering stare. Pressing her lips together she felt the words bubbling on her tongue, the harsh words she yearned to shout, to curse him for breaking her heart so soon yet none of the words she spent the last five days rehearsing found their way out. Instead Harper stared openly at his hallow cheeks, wondering why his once sun kissed skin had a grey tint to it, his eyes sunken, cold and distant. Where are the flecks of green, she wondered. Even when his gaze was dark there was always this light shade of emerald shimmering just below the surface but now his eyes were pure molten black. Clenching her fists at her sides she felt the urge to reach out and touch him, to ensure she wasn't dreaming this whole day, to make sure she was really here with him. Yet she didn't want to shatter the illusion. Her dreams always ended too soon after she touched him and although her heart weeped just staring at him she felt numb of all the heart wrenching emotions. It was surreal being in his presence, a bittersweet agony that she didn't feel the effects of yet.

A menacing growl pulled her from her thoughts. Blinking confusingly up at Kiev's anger twisted face she didn't know when he moved and now stood a mere couple of inches from her face.

"Answer me." He seethed.

   A liquid warmth spread across her lips at his command taking her by surprise and reminding her this wasn't a dream. The Kiev she dreamt about never forced her to do anything, he didn't growl and bark orders as if she was a dog, he was sweet, gentle and everything she always wanted from the real Kiev.

   Reality slapped into her hard and fast. This wasn't a warm reunion, Kiev didn't care about her well being and even less about her emotional health. Her knuckles turned a stark white as the figurative lid on her emotions lifted revealing a boiling anger and a lingering fear of the man towering over her. Clutching onto the anger with a vice grip Harper squared her shoulders and prepared herself for a fight.

"No." She bit off watching a muscle in his jaw twitch in frustration.

"Do not fùcking test me, Harper."

"Or you'll what strangle me again?" She mocked.

"That wasn't my intention."

  Rolling her eyes in disbelief she shifted backwards to place a bit of distance between them. "Your intentions were very clear."

"What are you doing here, dressed like that?" He repeated, ignoring the topic of their last meeting.

   The heat on her lips faded much to her surprise but her anger hadn't. Tilting her chin up in defiance she realized she could still get that fight she had wanted earlier and redeem herself after their last encounter.

"What I do and what I wear is my business not yours."

   Hissing a string of curses Kiev lifted his right hand and although Harper was no stranger to the man's reactions during their many heated conversations she flinched and took a large step back. Kiev froze, his hand hanging in mid air as his eyes widened with shock by her unexpected movement.

   Despite her outer appearance Harper was scared of this man and she loathed the fact that she had allowed him so much power over her. He has both physically and emotionally hurt her and she had the scars to prove both those claims. Hell she could feel the searing pain in her chest right now, like a hot knife was shoved into her heart. Her fear was justified but she didn't want him to know it existed. Kiev would use her fear against her.

   All the malice on his face seemed to drop in that moment like water in the desert, his brows smoothing from their angry furrow, the burning fire in his dark eyes extinguished leaving cool twin coals in their place. A look of regret and hurt crossed his features, the two emotions causing her stupid heart to skip a beat in foolish belief that Kiev actually cared.

"Do not do that. Do not fùcking do that." She yelled, feeling her throat closing up with oncoming tears. "You don't get to fùcking tug and reel me in like this."

  His gaze softened at her words. "I'm not trying to-"

  Shaking her head she told herself not to believe him, not to believe his reaction to her fear of being hurt by him again was sincere because it wasn't. Kiev was playing a game from the moment they met. All of this was a large chess board in which she had unknowingly became a pawn. This wasn't real, nothing that came out of his mouth was true. Her heartache was real, the purple scar throbbing above her heart was real, the tears stinging her eyes were real, Kiev's feelings weren't.

"I don't care how you think I've offended you or how I violated some stupid rule you made up on your own. You don't fùcking own me! Do you understand, you don't fùcking own me!"

"Harper." He said her name in a soft whisper that jerked at her heartstrings.

"No! You will not do this hot and cold bullshit act. I won't fall for it." She exclaimed angrily.

    A silence fell over them as they stared at each other from an arms length away. The tension and unspoken words creating an invisible barrier between them despite the short distance. Kiev's shoulders fell in defeat as he took in her stiff back, squared shoulders, taunt jaw and trembling chin. If she looked half as confused as she felt than Kiev's expression was justified.

He did this to her. He had her fighting back tears while readying for a fight. His very presence was the reason her heart ached, his actions were why she didn't trust herself around him, he was why her heart was being torn in half.

"Do you know how dangerous it is for you to be here? How dangerous it was for you to have been on that stage nevertheless with that man."

"I wasn't in danger."

"You were disguised as a stripper in a feeding club! Of course you were in danger."

The stupid organ in her chest jerked at the concerned tone in his words. The way he spoke as if he truly cared filled her traitorous heart with hope she couldn't afford to believe in. Ignoring the small spark Harper placed her hands on her hips. Although she did come to her senses only moments before Kiev intervened Harper knew he was right. She shouldn't have come here especially dressed the way she is. It was a foolish and hasty move that should have been thought through and properly planned but she wasn't going to admit that to Kiev. She would much sooner skate in the pits of hell than admit to him that he was right.

"I was in no more danger then than I am in now." She argued.

He gritted his teeth. "Do you know what werewolf's enjoy?"

Sensing a trap ahead she narrowed her gaze as he took a cautious step forward. Although she didn't want him anywhere near her she also didn't want to reveal her inner turmoil and fear by taking a step back. "Great sëx." She retorted, remembering one of her boyfriend's was a werewolf and man could he fùck her brains out.

"Biting." He corrected.

Harper shrugged. "I like it rough."

"And marking. Werewolf's love marking their lovers."

Realization dawned on her as what little hope her fragile heart held onto was extinguished. Looking into the dark, bottomless eyes before her Harper shook her head and cursed her naïve heart.

"Is that what you care about? That some other man will rub his sent all over me?"

"Yes." He growled. Those shapely dark brows bending as a crease formed across his forehead.

"So this is all about marking your territory."

"No one touches you but me."

"No. No one touches me unless I want them to." Harper corrected, tears blurring her vision.

Snarling in response Kiev took two long steps forward nearly closing the distance between them. Side stepping his outstretched arms Harper scrambled across the room and over to the large L shaped mahogany desk. Gripping the smooth edge with her fingers Harper watched Kiev turn towards her like a child, her bottom lip quivering as she fought back tears.

"I can flirt, fùck or date anyone I want." She said noticing the shadows that slowly creeped into the room.

The dark tentacle like shadows lurked at the corners of the large office, hissing as they made their way across the marble floor, gliding across the smooth maroon wallpaper, their wiry finger like shapes dangling across the closed blinds of the window, resting against the velvety curtains in waiting.

"I will kill any man or woman who touches you just like that wolf." He snarled causing the shadows to hiss in agreement.

"I can do whatever I want! In fact I'll go and find another willing man or maybe two!" She shot back.

Harper was bluffing. She couldn't take another man to her bed when her stupid heart yearned for the stupid man standing before her. She enjoyed a no strings attached one night stand more than the next gal but she did have strings attached and they were strangling the life out of her. Of course Kiev didn't need to know this and she wasn't going to tell him either.

Before she could blink he was standing before her, a murderous look blazing in his unholy gaze. His blood soaked fingers gripped the sides of her jaw as he pulled her face closer to his. A startled gasp tore from her lips at the harshness of his touch while her heart soared at the contact of his skin on hers as a wave of panic flooded her body. Fear gripped her heart in its merciless as images of the last time his hands were this close to her neck flashed in her mind.

Her breath came out in short, uneven pants, her eyes haunted by past experiences. Sweat beaded her brow as she felt the same suffocation as she did five days ago when his thick fingers wrapped around her slender neck. Her throat closed up as if he had gave it a squeeze, her vision darkened as her head grew lighter. No, no, not again! His hot breath fanned her cheek as her fight or flight instincts kicked into gear.

Sliding her hands across the smooth desk top Harper frantically searched for any object and wasn't disappointed when her fingers brushed a cool, silver slender rod. Gripping the cool metal Harper lifted her arm over her head and put all of her strength behind that one movement and shoved the object into his chest, near his heart.

An ear shattering growl echoed against the walls, reverberating around the room as the hands clutching her face dropped away. Hot tears slid across her cheeks as her arms fell to her sides and she started backwards, her eyes wide with fright at the sight of the pitch black liquid oozing from Kiev's chest.

What have I done?!

Her heart paused mid beat as Kiev's heavy fingers wrapped around the letter opener positioned merely inches from his heart. A strained grunt tumbled from his lips as he gave a slight tug almost as if to test how far the knife went before he yanked it out in one swift movement. A burning sensation seared her chest forcing Harper to press a hand to her chest. With trembling, blood stained fingers she shifted the satin fabric away from her chest and saw a inch gash nestled against her alabaster skin. Gasping at the gruesome sight Harper stumbled backwards, her back colliding with the wall as she lifted her hand to touch the wound in question when it vanished before her eyes.

Confused Harper pulled the soft fabric from her breasts in search for the gash when she felt a coolness glide over her wrist. Fat tears skidded down her face at the sight of the dark shadows curling around her forearm, their slim tips lifting above her skin and giving a soft hiss of acknowledgement.

Lifting her tear glazed gaze up Harper wasn't surprised to find Kiev towering before her, his hands coated in a black, sticky liquid, his blood. Gulping back the bile that rose in her throat she glanced down at the same black liquid that stained her own fingers.

"You stabbed me." He stated matter of factly, his voice strangely calm.

Chest heaving with her uneven breathing Harper gave a small nod. "I did." She confirmed. Lifting her saucer like eyes back up to meet his she couldn't believe it herself.

He lifted one hand up between their faces and she flinched but didn't pull away as he slid a single index finger beneath her lower lash line. The warm liquid smeared across her skin after his touch, marking her with his blood. "And yet you're crying."

His voice held no note of sarcasm nor did he seem to be teasing her yet Harper turned her face away from his curious gaze. In truth she was relieved he hadn't truly been injured. At the sight of his unique blood and the painful grunt that tore from his lips Harper had thought she had seriously hurt him. To see him standing before her seeming almost, if not completely healthy soothed her worst fears. He might have hurt her but Harper wasn't certain if she could truly hurt him let alone kill him.

Peeking through a row of wet lashes Harper took a quick glimpse at the wet patch of his pale blue dress shirt and spotted a slow healing gash similar to the one she had seen on herself. Releasing a sign of relief she dragged her gaze back up to meet his.

"I was aiming for your heart." She hissed in response, although her words held no trace of malice.

"You missed it by an inch or so."

"I'll get it next time."

"Will you cry then too?" He asked, his gaze searching for the answer in her glistening soft brown eyes.

  The warmth of his gaze brought an unexpected blush to her cheeks as she determinedly kept her eyes trained on his. Shaking her head in response to his question Harper caught a brief flicker of green flecks in his eyes and despite telling herself not to care she felt a twinge of relief. The faint traces of green waves in a sea of blackness meant Kiev was okay and a bit less angry which had her shoulders lowering if only slightly.

"What are you doing here Harper?"

  Butterflies fluttered in the pit of her belly in response to the way her name rolled off his tongue, so smooth and soft. Get a grip Harper! He's the enemy.

"Just out for a late afternoon dance."

  Closing his eyes for a moment he lifted his other hand up and rested his forearm against the wall. His nostrils flared indicating his inner turmoil. Harper took the opportunity to take in his appearance, although he was dressed in the same crisp dress shirt, expensive smooth suits and shiny black shoes Kiev looked different. His ink black hair was brushed back but not in the near order he always had it in, it was sloppy shoved back almost as if he pulled it back with his fingers. His jaw was dotted with stubble, his lips a strange shade of pale pink and his skin. Her fingers twitched with the need to glide across his pasty grey complexion. Was he alright? On their own accord her eyes dropped to the wound in his chest wondering if she inflicted more damage than she thought. Her brows pulled together, no he had the same grey tint when she first saw him. So then what was wrong with him? Could a demon get sick.

"I don't want to fight with you." He sighed, his entire body sagging as if a heavy weight was lifted from his shoulders.

   Stunned by his admission Harper turned her attention back to his face and saw his eyes still tightly shut. Did he truly mean it? A sob clawed it's way up her throat as the same pesky tears prickled her vision. She couldn't afford to lay her heart out for this man, not when he do ruthlessly shattered it already yet the damaged organ didn't learn from past mistakes. Maybe she enjoyed getting hurt.

   Swallowing hard Harper couldn't help the words that tumbled from her lips next. "Why didn't you stay?"

  Her tone was soft, close to a whisper yet the words rung between them as if she had shouted them out loud. Blinking back tears she watched his lids snap open and found a sadness filling his misty gaze. The emotion took her by surprise. She expected guilt, shame, or even no emotion at all but not this soul wrenching sadness that filled his moss green orbs. She didn't expect a sheen of tears to state back at her when she finally asked him this question.

"I don't know." Came his whispered reply. "I stayed until Elena arrived then I just couldn't."

"Couldn't or wouldn't?"

"Is there a difference?"

"Yes."

  A gust of warm air fanned across her lips and it took all her willpower not to close her eyes and soak in his close proximity. His spicy scent filled her nostrils, his heat warming her body and teasing it with small doses of him.

He sighed. "Does it really matter?"

  Her shoulders slumped in response. It did matter. It mattered to her whether he left because he didn't care for her well being or if he couldn't stay beside for unknown reasons. But what reason could keep him away for days, what excuse could he have for never stopping by and checking for himself that she was okay. His response to her question should have been the answer but a small part of her held out hope for him. He's hopeless, this relationship is all in your head, a voice taunted.

"No, not anymore." She murmured and averted her gaze.

   Ignoring his heated stare Harper ducked under his outstretched arm intending to get as far away from Kiev as she could when she felt a coolness slide over her bare ankle. The dark shadows from earlier bond themselves around her ankle, a soft sound coming from the larger shadows behind her as if they were trying to communicate something to her.

   Frowning, Harper shot Kiev a quizzical look and found him glaring daggers at the shadow like hand clutching her leg.

"Do you mind?" She asked with a slight arch of her shaped brow.

   A soft hiss was her response as the shadowy figure slithered up the back of her calve and behind her knee. Taking a cautious step backwards she was stunned to find another set of shadows gliding across her other leg. Panic settled in her chest as the slender shadows spread across her cool, pale skin. The shadows from around the room rushed towards where she stood, racing across her skin, wrapping her in a pitch black, cold blanket.

   Brushing at the shadows covering her arms she felt a scorching heat light against her fingertips at the contact and released a soft hiss of her own. The shadows rattled and hissed loudly at the brush of contact, her efforts causing them to race beneath the silk gown she wore and trickle over her breasts and pause between the valley between her twin mounds.

   Warm fingers wrapped around her wrist and pulled her around to face Kiev's angry scowl. Struggling against his hold Harper glanced around for an object to defend herself with. To her dismay there was nothing near arm's length. Pushing the cold fear quickly curling it's claws around her heart to the back of her mind Harper shoved at his shoulders in vain. It was like trying to move a mountain.

  Kiev brushed her frantic hands away and with his free hand he clutched a fistful of the ivory satin fabric of her gown and yanked it down exposing her bare breasts.

  Grasping the fallen silk fabric Harper attempted to cover herself even as a hot blush flushed across her cheeks."You fùcking asshole!"

"What is this?"

  Despite the heat flushing her cheeks she glanced down and saw the shadows circling around the misshaped curled up rose scar, the skin around the healing scar a violent violet shade with thin black veins stretching outwards. Shoving his fingers aside, Harper rearranged the silk gown in an attempt to conserve whatever dignity she had left.

"That's the souvenir you left me with." After breaking my heart, she added mentally.

"I did that?" He asked in disbelief.

"Elena said it's an after effect from the bands."

His brows furrowed in confusion. "That's not possible." He mumbled.

Rolling her eyes she said in a flat tone. "Tell that to the scar on my chest."

Tugging on the spaghetti straps Harper examined the sagging silk gown and sighed. The lace center was torn straight through, the silk fabric at the sides flopping down and giving little to no coverage. Sighing, Harper realized she would have to walk out in front of all those people with her breasts on display or attempt to hold the thin fabric up and have her large breasts spill out. And there was still the matter of the shadows.

Flipping her hand over Harper frowned at the dark figures slithering across her skin. "Can you get these things off of me?"

Releasing his grip on her wrist Kiev tore the front of her gown down as the sound of fabric ripping echoed in the quietness of the office. Sucking in a sharp breath Harper crossed her arms across her exposed chest only to have Kiev push her hands aside and replace them with his own.

His large hands cupped her heavy mounds, bronze fingers splaying against smooth flawless skin. He brushed his thumbs across her brown dusted tips. Harper stiffened at the harshness of his fingers. A liquid heat oozed into her lower regions, making her fully aware of Kiev's large presence so close to hers. The simple act of breathing grew more difficult as the man lowered himself so his face was directly in front of her heavy mounds.

Confused and slightly aroused Harper couldn't tear her gaze from the sight of Kiev leaning forward, his eyes tracing the angry, mocha colored scars only inches from her heart. Her mouth felt as if she had eaten a bag filled with cotton balls.

"Has anyone seen this aside from Elena?" As he spoke his hot breath whispered across the smooth skin of her breasts causing her nïpples to grow taunt beneath his gentle touch.

"No." She answered, her voice unrecognizable even to her own ears.

The breath was knocked out of her when Kiev inclined his head and through dark lashes glanced up at her with such deep, conflicting emotions Harper couldn't for the life of her remember how to breathe again. The mixed swirl of black coal and dark emerald glittered in his eyes like gems gleaming in the sunlight. Her heart constricted painfully in her chest, the stupid organ hadn't learned it's lesson, still yearning for what it couldn't have.

"Good. Don't let anyone see this and don't talk about it." He instructed as he sat up straight and removed his warm hands from her breasts.

A wave of warmth spread across her face as she turned away from him, clutching what was left of the front of her gown against her bare chest. She shouldn't be embarrassed in front of Kiev, they have fücked enough times for her to have some sort of comfort around him or at least not blush like a virgin because he touched her breasts. And yet she did feel embarrassed. Truth was she loved the feel of his hands on her. She craved -no yearned for him to run those hands down along the length of her body, tracing her every curve and natural dip. And that's what had her blushing harder, despite what he's done she still craved his touch.

A heavy warmth settled over her shoulders. Glancing down at the shiny, pin striped suit jacket hanging off her shoulders and then up at the man who adjusted the heavy lapels so they covered her breasts completely.

"Come, I'll take you home."

Gripping the edges of the lapels of the jacket tighter against her she indulged in the warmth it provided. "I'll get home on my own." She argued.

He set her with a sharp look. "Dressed like that? I don't think so. I'm taking you home."

Turning her head to the side she knew he had a point. Although it was midday she would still attract the wrong kind of attention. "My car is parked out front-"

"No need, we'll be taking one of my cars."

"And what about my car?" She questioned, the annoyance clear in her words.

Ignoring her displeased expression he placed a hand on the small of her back as he guided her toward the door. "I'll have someone bring it over to your place later on."

"Or I can drive myself home in my own car." She pointed out.

"No."

The simple two letter word infuriated her, as if he could dismiss her like a dog with just one simple command. She was never good at following directions, not as a child or a teenager and never in her young adult life and she wasn't about to start now. Crossing the room towards the door Harper didn't bother looking back in his direction as she swung the door open causing the heavy door to bang against the door harshly. Her sudden silence in the matter must have convinced Kiev that she would be cooperating with his request because he followed behind her as she made her way across the upper level.

With head held high despite the two different kinds of blood smeared across her face Harper walked swiftly down the stairs. She ignored the ominous stares from both clients and dancers and concentrated on the exit.

"Wait by the door while I get a car." He instructed and without waiting for a response he was gone from beside her, taking his body hear with him.

Rolling eyes in response Harper steeled her self as the all too familiar bands came to life across her body, bringing with them a warmth that she was growing accustomed to.

"That's not gonna happen." She snorted and with a push Harper made her way out the door with the intent to drive herself home without Kiev.

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Well?! Thoughts people!!! I want your comments and opinions on this chapter since it's their first encounter since the whole strangling scene. Hold nothing back my lovely readers!!