“Master Julian, the bicycles are ready.” The demon grinned at the sight of the growing bulge between Julian’s legs. He lowered his voice, leaning close enough to taunt into Julian’s ear. “You know, there are better things she can ride than a bicycle.”
Julian broke off the kiss and shot one arm out to the side in retaliation at Hineker’s implication.
The demon nimbly moved out of striking distance.
Julian stepped back and adjusted the bulge in his jeans. Raelyn stood before him, her face flushed and her lips red and puffy from where he nipped at them. He grabbed her hand and they walked to the back of the SUV where their new bicycles stood, waiting.
“Those don’t look like rentals,” she said, eyeing the bicycles standing side by side. The new paint shone in the bright sunlight.
“They’re not. The red one’s yours.” She turned her head sharply in his direction. The look she gave him caught Julian by surprise. He stepped back, startled. “I hope that’s okay. They didn’t have any other colors in your size on such short notice.”
“The red bike’s my–,” she trailed off. “Wait a minute, you bought them?” Her voice rose an octave higher. “Why would you do that?”
Julian ran his fingers through his hair, confused. “You said you didn’t own one, so,” he gestured towards the new bicycles.
“I didn’t mean for you to go out and buy it for me,” she argued.
“Why not?” he countered, trying to understand why she was so upset.
“Well for starters, it’s a lot cheaper to rent one. Besides, you don’t live around here, how’re you going to bring it home? Shipping a bicycle back to New Jersey is going to be expensive.”
Julian studied the troubled woman standing in front of him. After a moment, understanding dawned on him. She was upset because she thought that he was wasting his money.
Julian chuckled out loud. This was all his fault. He was so used to hooking up with women who craved the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Women who expected him to spend his money, and lots of it.
He’d met Raelyn at a funeral home. She had no way of knowing how wealthy he really was. Based on her reaction she wasn’t expecting him to spend it on her either.
It was really refreshing.
He held out his hand, silently asking for one of her own. She stared at him, uncertain for a moment before relenting. He brought the back of her hand up to his lips and kissed it gently.
“Trust me when I say,” he pressed his lips to her hand again, before looking up at her pretty face, “when it comes to money, I have more than enough.”
“But, you shouldn’t ha–.”
He silenced her protest with a finger on her lips.
“The bicycle’s a gift, from me to you. As for my own, I’ll give it to charity before I leave.”
She blinked at him, the anger in her eyes starting to recede.
“Oh,” she murmured when he removed his finger from her lips. She looked away, embarrassed.
His heart melted at the sight.
She was adorable sometimes.
“Now that that’s settled, let’s go for a ride.”
◆◆◆
Julian didn’t know how long they’d been riding alone in the park. It was a warm fall day. The feel of the wind against his skin, and the burn of his leg muscles as he pedaled made him feel alive. He glanced to his right, and was rewarded with Raelyn’s gorgeous smile.
“This was a great idea,” she said, clearly enjoying herself.
“Yeah,” he agreed. Riding in the park with Raelyn was more fun than he’d expected.
Too bad he had an ulterior motive for doing it.
His current target was a demon that hid by surrounding itself with trees. If the creature left a trail that was fresh enough, Raelyn might be able to track it, even though her skills were still developing.
Of course, how close she had to be to the creature was still an unknown. The thought of putting Raelyn in danger had him gripping the handlebars harder. He enjoyed his time with Raelyn, but he couldn’t let himself become distracted. He was still a demon master tracking a demon. Enjoying his time with a gifted woman didn’t matter; stopping the demon had to come first.
Julian glanced over at the woman pedaling by his side. She laughed out loud, the sound happy and carefree. His heart did a little flip and he bit his lip to keep himself from joining in. Taking Raelyn to parks and forests was fun. But fun wasn’t the only reason. His stomach twisted as guilt washed over him. He was using her, and she didn’t even know it.
Spending time with her made him happy.
But what would she think if she knew the real reason behind it?
Julian shook his head, trying to shove the guilty feeling that threatened to creep up to the surface back down where it belonged.
The path began to climb up a steep hill. Raelyn’s playful grin was his only warning.
“Race ya, City Boy,” she yelled, and began to pedal faster. “Last one to the top is a rotten egg!”
Raelyn changed gears and stood up as she pedaled, powering her way up the hill. Julian marveled at that tight perky ass rising above the seat. He let her get a head start before changing gears and chasing after her. He pulled up alongside her, a little less than halfway to the top. Raelyn was huffing and puffing, her skin flushed and sweat pooling on her forehead.
“You okay over there, Country Girl,” he teased, easily matching her pace.
“Why aren’t you out of breath?” she whined, glaring at his sweat-free face.
“Five am spin classes,” he smirked. Standing up, he increased his speed, pulling in front of her.
“No fair!” she cried out.
He laughed, enjoying the moment. His leg muscles burned as he powered his way up the steep incline. At the top of the hill he stopped and waited. Eventually, she pulled up next to him. She got off her bicycle and bent over, placing her hands on her knees. She was hot and sweaty. Her hair stuck up in random directions. Her disheveled state did nothing to distract from her good looks.
She was a natural beauty and it was very sexy.
“I can’t breathe,” she whined, trying to catch her breath.
“Relax, take deep breaths,” he encouraged, getting off his own bicycle. “Stand up straight. Now, take a deep breath. In and out. In and out.”
Following his instructions, her breathing evened out. With her breathing back under control, he reached for her waist. She squeaked in surprise and tried to bat his hands away.
“No, I’m all sweaty.”
“I don’t care.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her body up against his own. She weakly pushed against his chest. He bent down and captured her lips in a kiss, silencing any further protests. His hands reached down and cupped the sweet ass that had teased him earlier. Their kiss became heated and she nipped at his lower lip. Her hands ran down his chest and she pressed her body closer. She rubbed her lower half up against his building erection.
He loved her boldness. When she wanted him, she went for it. Need overtook him and he grasped her hand, heading off the trail and into the trees.
“Keep pulling me into the woods and you’ll have to start checking me for ticks,” she laughed, letting him tug her along. She pinched his ass and fire shot to his groin at her playful touch.
Finding a spot barely hidden from the trail, he growled and pressed her back up against a tree. He ran his hands underneath her shirt, eager to touch her bare skin. She gasped when he pinched one of those delectable nipples through her bra, her eyes darkening with lust. She fumbled for his zipper, freeing his erection. He groaned when her delicate fingers wrapped around his girth and began sliding up and down his hardened shaft.
The soft touch of her fingers as she stroked his cock was exquisite. He could feel his control slipping. He wanted to feel her muscles squeezing him. Unzipping her jeans, he slid them down to her knees along with her panties. She moaned when his fingertips slipped inside her hot, wet wa
lls.
“You’re so tight and wet,” he murmured, watching her eyes close in pleasure as his fingers worked inside her. She continued to stroke his shaft in a steady rhythm, her speed matching his own.
“I need you in me,” she whispered, her eyes hazy with desire.
He pulled his fingers out of her channel and turned away, reaching for the condom in the back pocket of his jeans. He ripped the foil package in half, quickly sliding the condom on his rock hard erection. He turned back to Raelyn and growled at the sight. While he prepared himself, she’d turned and faced the tree. She was bent at the waist, her hands braced against the trunk, with that tight, perky ass bare and ready for him.
“You’re perfect,” he murmured, taking a moment to run his fingers along her pale skin. She shivered underneath his touch when his fingers moved down to touch in between her thighs. Her body ignited a primal response in him. He gripped her hips and slid into her wet folds in one powerful hard stroke.
“Julian,” Raelyn’s voice came out low and breathy.
He groaned as he pulled back out, then in, starting a steady rhythm. Out and in. Over and over. He palmed the sweet curve of her ass, enjoying the feel of her bare bottom as he impaled her again and again. He could’ve done this all day, but they weren’t that far from the bike path. Anyone could stumble across them at any time. He slid a hand down and touched the curls between her thighs before zeroing in on the tiny bud of flesh, needing her to climax with him. She whimpered and he buried himself to the hilt, groaning with his release. He felt her muscles clench down and quiver as she orgasmed with him.
Hearing her when she climaxed was the sweetest sound that he had ever heard. He didn’t think he’d ever grow tired of it. He rested his head against her shoulder, enjoying the joining of his body with hers. After they caught their breaths he pulled out in one swift motion and removed the condom, tying it off to discard later.
She turned around, a blush coloring her cheeks and a soft smile on her face.
“That was amazing,” she said, pulling up her jeans.
“You’re amazing,” he countered, giving her a quick kiss on the lips.
They had just finished straightening out their clothes when a voice called out.
“Hey, you two okay?”
Julian turned towards the path, where a young man was standing with his dog. Raelyn bit her lip and looked the other way.
“Yeah,” Julian replied. “Just thought I lost something.”
“Oh, okay,” the young man said, watching their approach. “Those are some nice bikes you’ve got there,” he said, once they returned to the path.
“Thanks,” Julian said. Raelyn pulled her hair free from its elastic, trying to hide her blushing face.
“Well, have a good day,” the man nodded, seemingly satisfied now that they were both back on the path.
“That was too close,” Raelyn whispered, watching the stranger walk out of sight. She turned and faced him. Her next words went straight to Julian’s groin.
“That’s why I liked it,” she said, a mischievous grin on her face. She got back on her bicycle and pushed off, giving herself a head start.
“Come on, City Boy, race you to the bottom.”
“Cheater,” he yelled, quickly jumping onto his bicycle. Within a few strokes the bicycle picked up speed, and he caught up to her. He leaned forward, using his taller height and heavier weight to his advantage as he started to pull in front of her.
“No,” she yelled, reaching out to grab at him. He pedaled faster, out of her reach, grinning at her antics.
“Catch up, Country Girl,” he taunted, flying past her.
Moving down the hill, the wind rushed against his face and he laughed out loud. He’d never had so much fun with a woman before.
Raelyn was both playful and an amazing lover, both in and out of the bedroom. She stirred a feeling within him that he’d never felt with anyone before.
Moving his rear end back in the saddle, he crouched his body down low, allowing the bicycle to reach a speed that sent a shot of adrenaline through his veins. Keeping his elbows bent he relaxed his shoulders, enjoying the feel of the wind. He approached a bend in the road and stomped on the pedal outside the curve, shifting his weight to his outside foot. The bicycle hugged the turn and continued his descent. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Raelyn crouched down low, trying to catch up to him. He tapped his brakes, slowing down so he wouldn’t fall out of her line of sight.
“Curve,” she yelled, forcing him to pay attention to the road.
He faced forward and shifted his weight again, guiding the bicycle into the turn. Focused on the path in front of him, he felt a burning sensation from his demon mark. From somewhere behind him, Raelyn screamed. He whipped his head around in time to watch her body flip over the top of the handlebars and disappear down the side of the hill.
Oh no.
He slammed on the brakes, the sudden motion almost throwing him out of the saddle. He fought to keep his balance as the bicycle skidded to a stop. Raelyn’s empty bicycle collided with a tree, stopping its downward path. He ignored it, running towards the spot where he’d seen Raelyn flip over. He peered over the side and his heart caught in his throat. The drop-off was steep, littered with rocks and tree stumps.
Panic threatened to take over. He couldn’t see the bottom, or Raelyn.
“Hineker, come,” he yelled moving forward, determined to run down the slope. His demon mark blazed red hot and he was jerked backwards with a strong grip.
“Master Julian, you’re too fragile for this type of work,” Hineker scolded, pulling the demon master away from the edge.
“Raelyn, she’s down there somewhere.” Julian struggled against the demon’s hold. “We’ve got to find her.”
“Master Julian,” Hineker tightened his grip on the distraught man’s arm. “Allow me to take care of this for you.”
Julian took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down.
“Find her, Hineker,” he said, the words part command, part plea for help.
The demon continued to hold Julian in a firm grip until the human’s muscles relaxed. Satisfied that Julian would no longer put himself in danger, Hineker’s eyes turned red and he disappeared.
◆◆◆
“Foolish humans. This two legged hound is more trouble than a four legged one,” Hineker said with an exasperated sigh.
At the bottom of the hill the demon pushed his magic outward, searching for any sign of human life in the area. He moved slowly, fanning his magic in a circle, making the radius as wide as possible. His senses sharpened. He could hear the rustle of a field mouse on the forest floor, see the caterpillar walking along the leaf of a nearby tree, and smell the scent of a human female. Raelyn.
“Got you.” He walked towards the human presence on his left. The demon frowned at the sight of Raelyn. She was unconscious, with blood flowing freely from a gash on her forehead. He leaned down, inspecting the injury. It looked like she would need stitches. He lifted her eyelids. One pupil was wider than the other, the sign of a concussion. She’d most likely hit her head during her tumble down to the bottom.
The demon shook his head.
Humans, they really were such fragile creatures.
He gathered the unconscious woman into his arms and prepared himself for the walk back up the hill. Demonic magic that wasn’t his own bit into his arm where it touched Raelyn’s upper back and shoulders. His eyes snapped open and the enforcer demon growled, annoyed. That creature was responsible for this. Hineker quickly ran to the top of the hill, where Julian waited. The demon master sucked in a breath at the sight of an unconscious Raelyn in the demon’s arms.
“She has a concussion and she’ll need stitches for her head,” Hineker informed his master. “The Chiranthodendron is responsible for this.”
“I figured as much,” Julian said. “My demon mark burned right before she screamed.”
Hineker’s eyes narrowed. Julian had failed to mention
that when the demon had first arrived on the scene. He moved to put Raelyn’s body on the ground.
“No,” Julian stopped him. “We’ve got to get her to the hospital.”
“If the creature is nearby, then we have to get rid of it.”
“No,” Julian argued, “it’ll have to wait, Raelyn is our priority right now.”
“Master Julian,” Hineker said, frustrated, “you know that my mission always comes first.”
“You said it yourself, the hound will lead us to it. She just has to be strong enough to track it. Her health must come first.”
Hineker glared at his master. Finding the Chiranthodendron Daemon would be a lot easier if Raelyn was able to help them.
Which meant that she had to be healthy first.
The enforcer demon scowled. He really hated when Julian managed to use his own words against him.
Chapter 21 - Raelyn
Raelyn opened her eyes slowly and blinked several times to clear her blurred vision. Her head felt like it was in a vise. Temporarily disoriented, she lifted a hand to her head and felt gauze wrapped around her forehead.
Her memory returned slowly, bits and pieces trickling in. She’d been in the park with Julian bicycling down a steep hill. He was ahead of her and she’d crouched her body down low trying to catch up. She’d gotten closer when an uneasy feeling washed over her.
Then, she was—pushed?
Raelyn frowned, uncertain. She remembered the bicycle had jerked sharply to the left. The front tire collided with a rock, hard. The force knocked her out of the saddle, and right over the handlebars.
Then she was falling.
Rocks and tree limbs scratched at her body as she rolled. She’d tried to reach out and grab anything that she could to stop her descent. Then everything went black. The gauze on her forehead and the pounding in her head suggested that she’d suffered a head injury. She must’ve hit her head on a rock or tree stump when she had tumbled downhill.
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