Banshee Seduction (Montgomery's Sin Book 1)

by Diane Saxon

  “I think it’s quite obvious.” Masked hatred gleamed from Daniel’s eyes as Roni spoke, making Ginny pay more attention. She might not be allowed to interfere, but worry tangled her emotions. Daniel stood, and Ginny narrowed her eyes to watch him pace to the window. He pulled the blind up a notch so a bright shaft of sunlight shot into the room.

  Roni hissed as steam started to rise from her body, but as she made a panicked move, Matt simply opened his wings and engulfed her, spreading a protective cover over her. His cool green gaze flicked over Daniel as sunlight bounced off his scales, making them glow an effervescent green and purple again.

  “Pull the blind down—stop being an asshole.” The husky grumble was accompanied by a short spurt of steam.

  She wondered at the flash of surprise in Daniel’s eyes. He obviously knew Matt well and certainly showed no fear of the dragon, but it gave Ginny reason to believe Matt didn’t know Daniel as well as he might.

  “How about this?” She deliberately drew everyone’s attention to herself, even though heat splashed across her chest and washed up to the roots of her hair. She hated to be in the limelight. Not as much as Roni hated to be in the sunlight, though. To her relief, Daniel tugged the black-out blind back into place, and with a grudging shrug, wandered to the kitchen table.

  “If it gets printed, just laugh it off—it’s a bat, closer to the camera than the rest of the perspective. It’s dusk. Look, it’s blurry. The journalist’s going to look like an idiot.”

  “Okay.” Daniel put his hands on his hips and nodded.

  It was simple really, but she felt the need to embellish her answer. “After all, who believes in dragons?” She directed a casual shrug and an apologetic smile at Matt.

  Daniel nodded again in agreement. “Okay, that’s the stance I’ll take if it does go to press. The guy’s an asshole. They probably won’t print it.”

  He turned his attention to Matt. “Are you going to shift so we can get going?”

  “Nope.” A snort of fire burst from Matt’s nostrils.

  “Why not?”

  “Because I just shredded all the clothes off my body, and if I shift now, you’re going to have a large, naked man sitting on his chilled ass on this tiled floor with a very unhappy vampire in his lap.”

  Roni leaped to her feet. “Don’t mind me.” With a fizz of electrical impulse, she flashed out of the room before anyone could reply.

  Ginny’s molecules heated up and almost shook apart with the thought of seeing Matt naked again, but Daniel appeared unmoved. “Well, I need you. I’ll be back shortly with more clothes, so don’t get…preoccupied.”

  The dragon gave a lopsided smile as Daniel hurried to the front door, slamming it shut behind him.

  Matt came gingerly to his feet, wrapped his wings in tight, and ducked his head to avoid breaking anything.

  “I should go to the bathroom to change.” A golden hue shimmered over him as he disappeared through the open doorway, and Ginny wondered what the devil he intended changing into. She raced after him and came up against the closed wooden door to her bathroom.

  “Matt?”

  He swung open the door, and she almost swallowed her tongue. She hadn’t a clue whether to laugh or throw him out. Once more fully human, Matt stood tall and proud, all six-feet-delectable-seven of him, resplendent in her bright pink, floral silk robe. Huge on her, falling to just below her knees, she could almost wrap it around herself twice. It barely came to mid-thigh on him, and the wide bat-wing sleeves fit snugly around his thick, muscular arms. Where they hung down over her hands and had to be turned back a fold, they barely came to beneath his elbow. She stepped back to admire him, the robe only just closed at the waist to cover his essentials.

  “Nice.” He stroked the material over his chest and grinned around the toothbrush and white frothing toothpaste.

  Her mouth dropped open as she stared at him. “Are you using my toothbrush?”

  “Nah.” He shrugged and turned away to spit in the sink and splash water on his face. “You had a new one in your cupboard.”

  The desperate wail of women’s voices rose, blocking out clear thought. “You went through my cupboards?”

  “Yup.” Shameless, he wiped his mouth on her towel and turned back to her, a wide grin on his face.

  Indignation rolled through her, and she pulled herself up to her full height. “Why?”

  Unperturbed, he reached forward and gave a sharp yank to her pajama top, catching her as she tripped over her feet. He wrapped his powerful arm around her body, crushed her against his broad chest, and lifted her off her feet.

  “So I can do this…”

  He smothered her surprised squeal as he plastered his mouth over hers. The shrieking of a thousand banshees gentled to a euphoric murmur as she could find no objection to his reasoning.

  Limbs weak, she turned into pliable putty as he molded her in his arms. The firm press of his hand against the back of her head held her still as he plundered her mouth, his tongue dancing with hers. Any thought of resistance was purged from her tortured soul, and she was his for the taking.

  Hard and hot, he pressed against her, leaving her in no doubt about his intention. The silken brush of her robe whispered through her fingers while she skimmed them over the flexed muscles of his back. Her mind flitted in brief wonder at how he’d moved them to her bed without her realizing, as she felt the soft give of the mattress beneath her back.

  He raised his head, the aqua glow of desperation in his eyes sparking a flame of recognition in her. He dipped to peck at her chin and nibble along her jawline until he reached the tender flesh beneath her ear. Her stomach clenched, and a pure thrill danced over her skin.

  “Do you think we have time to…?”

  A sharp bang sounded from the apartment door, and Matt’s head shot up. A vicious snarl curled his lips.

  “Jesus.”

  Frustration fluttered over her, but not enough to ignore his blasphemy. “Don’t say that.” She placed her fingers over his lips and stared into the roiling jade depths of frustration.

  Another pounding rent the air.

  “Fuck it.”

  “That’s better.”

  With a puzzled glance, Matt leaped from the bed. “Stay where you are.” He made a half-turn and pointed at her. “I’m coming back this evening. We’re having sex.”

  Ginny slithered down the tilted mattress and onto the floor, a waft of pink silk resplendent over her head. A pool of soft, warm caramel, she lay in a sweetened, relaxed puddle with the memory of Matt’s proud, erect penis pointing straight at her before he’d dashed from her bedroom, throwing her robe in the air to parachute over her.

  Sprawled, she drifted in an air bubble of contentment. He was coming back, and they were going to have sex.

  “Dammit.”

  She jerked upright, turned her wrist, and stared at her watch.

  “Dammit.”

  She’d never been late in all her years to open the library.

  Chapter Seven

  “I forgot.” He kept his head in his hands and wished Daniel would disappear.

  “How could you forget?”

  “I was…distracted.” He peered through his fingers at his agent.

  “Distracted.” Daniel’s disgusted snort accompanied his brief glance, which rolled over him and gave him a small flutter of guilt. “I’ve never known you be distracted by a piece of skirt.”

  The guilt shot like an arrow out of his system, leaving a hot bolt of fury as he leaped to his feet, grabbed the smaller man by his shirt front, and hauled him up close.

  “Ginny is not a piece of skirt.” Dragon tones vibrated and echoed through his own voice as he allowed the beast to bare his teeth. Glowing golden embers met his rage, and apparently unmoved, Daniel disengaged himself to step back. His mouth stretched in a tight line as he flicked long fingers down his shirt to straighten out the creases.

  “I think I understand.”

  “I think you don’t. She�
�s mine.”

  His agent took another pace back, the slow narrowing of his eyes a definite indication of his understanding. “You think she’s your mate?”

  “I know she’s my mate.”

  “Awkward.”

  “Why?”

  “Because she’s half screaming banshee. A different breed altogether.”

  “I don’t believe you need to be the same breed to know your mate when you find her. I believe your souls will find each other.”

  “That’s some deep shit, isn’t it—for a player?”

  With a careless shrug, Matt took no offense at the remark. “What can I say? I’m a two-hundred-year-old dragon. Deep is in my nature.”

  Daniel slumped into the huge brown leather chair in his office, features glum. “You ever been in love before?”

  Matt wandered over to stand at the side of Daniel’s chair while they both stared out of the window at the skyline.

  “A bit. I’ve lived a long time, Daniel. I’m bound to have fallen in love. But this is more, so much more. It’s deeper and darker and far more dangerous.”

  Daniel acknowledged him with a quick, feral smile. “I noticed.”

  “Yeah. I’m sorry about that.” He smoothed the material over Daniel’s arm and gave him a rough pat on the shoulder.

  “Does Ginny know?”

  “No.”

  “Will you tell her?”

  “No. She needs to find out for herself, which she may well have done this morning if you and Roni hadn’t interrupted.”

  “The bloodsucker.” Daniel almost spat with distaste.

  Compelled to defend the vampire, Matt offered, “She’s a nice lady.”

  “Huh.” His agent flopped back; the leather chair rocked on its hinges. “Nice, my ass.”

  “I don’t understand why you dislike each other so much.”

  “Because she’s the undead, and I’m an—an awful lot more discerning, obviously.”

  “Finicky, if you ask me.”

  “Finicky?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Where the fuck did you hear that stupid word?”

  “The librarian. My mate.” His cool stare challenged Daniel.

  “Ah.” Daniel leaned his elbows on his knees and rested his chin on his fists. “So, the librarian…made you forget you have a major game tonight against the Boston Pirates?”

  “Yeah.” Matt breathed out through his nose, taking care not to exhale smoke.

  Daniel raised his head and pinned him with a topaz stare. “Are you listening?”

  “Huh?”

  “For once, Matt, get your mind out of the gutter and pay attention. I said, would you like me to arrange to transport the chick to the game after she finishes work?” He flopped out his left hand. “Yes.” Then his right. “No.”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Go, warm up. Tonight I want you on the field ready to kill. Got it?”

  “Kill. Yeah.” He leaped to his feet, flexed his muscles, tensed his chest, and growled.

  “I’m not impressed.” Daniel turned his attention to his ringing phone. “Now fuck off.”

  •●•

  “Miss. We need a book.”

  Ginny sighed and turned a wary eye on the sweet pair of ladies who seemed to speak in unison as they stood in front of her counter. Recognition tickled her mind.

  “I…”

  “Ooooh. Is that you?”

  Voices stirred in her head. “Me?”

  “Yes. The lovely lady from Montgomery’s Sin who had the panic attack.”

  “Ah. Yes.” The two older women she’d been tempted to zap. With the best will in the world, she found it difficult to garner a small smile for them as howling banshees danced through her brain cells.

  “Oh, honey. What’s the matter? Didn’t you get your man?”

  Holy cow, how did they know? She sighed; the telltale prick of tears irritated the back of her eyes.

  “No.” And it looked as though she wasn’t going to for some time yet. A major game tonight, and then straight onto the team bus and a flight to Seattle. “But I live in hope.”

  “Oh, that’s the way.”

  “Yeah.” Cheered up, she bestowed them her most gracious smile. “How may I help you?”

  The momentary pause was uncomfortable as both women looked at her as though she’d come from outer space. The blonde recovered the fastest. “We came in for a book.”

  “Most people do.”

  “Uh…”

  “Do you know the title, the author, or happen to have the ISBN number?”

  “Why, of course we do, sugar. Why would we come in for a book if we didn’t know the title and author?”

  Ginny blew out a breath. “You’d be surprised.”

  The dark-haired lady placed a slip of paper with eloquent scrolled writing on the counter.

  •●•

  The tremble in her fingers increased and ran roughshod through the rest of her body. Heat built from the inside, and she prayed she wasn’t going to erupt into a ball of fire.

  “Are you okay, honey?”

  She nodded. How had she managed to burden herself with the two older ladies? They sat on either side of her in the prime seats of the stadium. One minute she’d been trying to help them locate The Hidden Sisterhood, the next moment, Daniel had turned up at the library to invite her to the game. Just how they’d also managed to get themselves invited, she wasn’t quite sure, but when she finished work, they were ready and waiting inside the car supplied by Daniel. While the chauffeur drove them across town, they plied her with luxurious food and delectable drink as though it was their own.

  She’d only allowed herself one small glass of champagne, but the trickle of it down her throat had eased the tension of the day and made her forget to inquire why they were there. She thought it was probably nice to have company, and as the stadium would still be flooded with sunlight, Roni was unable to be with her.

  She fluttered her fingers to her lips and felt the tremor of the ground like an earthquake as the players hurtled past. A collective groan filled the stadium as the ball flicked off a player’s fingers, twirled in the air for what seemed like forever, and then fell to the ground, just to be swept up by a little guy.

  Clods of earth flew into the air, and Matt flung himself to the ground, hanging onto the member of the other team, who happened to be holding the ball. She didn’t understand the game, but from the ferocious cheers and whoops around her, she gathered he’d stopped the squished guy under him from scoring.

  She came to her feet with the rest of the crowd, clapped delicately as the players picked themselves off the ground, and Matt did a cute shimmy, his butt in his tight white pants gyrating to send every woman there into a sexual fantasy. Not least of all herself as she remembered the sight of it naked that very morning. Her own pool of murmurs and coos filled her mind and overflowed to join the noise of the stadium. Her skin heated as she stared at him, an enormous sight in his protective gear.

  As though he could feel her thoughts, he suddenly turned, whipped off his helmet, and faced her from what she’d been told was the twenty-yard line. He pointed his finger straight at her, and she could have sworn the entire stadium went silent before it erupted in an uproar as he placed two fingers on his lips and blew her a kiss.

  Her heart somersaulted, and she slipped, weak and boneless, into the chair. She barely noticed Lorna obligingly pull the seat down to stop her from crashing straight to the floor.

  The woman stroked her arm in a motherly fashion. “Oh my. He’s hot.”

  “Yes,” Ginny breathed.

  “You should make sure he doesn’t get away from you.”

  “I will.” Her legs wobbled like overcooked spaghetti, and she sat listless and empty-headed as the game continued and the bright lights of camera flashes filled her vision.

  It was too much. Her stomach clenched with anxiety.

  She sat back and closed her eyes to block out the picture of people staring at her and takin
g her photograph like she was public property. She’d spent her life keeping a low profile, and suddenly everyone wanted to know who she was. She couldn’t understand how she hadn’t incinerated yet, but she liked the color of her pearly-pink nail polish, dammit.

  Ellie’s strong fingers sank into her knee, and she almost shot out of her seat again as she opened her eyes wide to the sight of Matt charging headlong toward them. The sound of thunder filled the stadium and rattled the rows of seats.

  The tallest player on the field, he was surprisingly fast, but when they took him down, he crashed like a ton of wet cement, skidded across the field with two players on top of him, and lay motionless beneath the heap.

  Ginny came to her feet; her stomach quailed. She wasn’t sure her heart was strong enough to watch him being battered. What on earth did grown men see in a game where injury and death ruled?

  •●•

  He crouched, rested the heels of his hands solidly on his knees as he narrowed his eyes and listened to the quarterback. He shuffled in closer, nodded his understanding, and then took up his position.

  Within a split second, the thunder of bodies racing toward him resonated up through the ground, making the soles of his feet tingle and his heartbeat kick up a notch. Adrenaline raced as he rushed to greet them.

  Knowing he shouldn’t, he couldn’t resist casting a glance into the stands on his right to catch the shimmer of white light glowing from the top of the banshee’s hair. No mistaking her. He allowed himself a secret smile as he imagined all those soft curves in his arms—hopefully naked next time.

  With a jolt of awareness, he brought his attention back to the field. Just nine seconds left on the clock, enough time for two more plays before the half was over. A long pass down the left sideline was hauled in by the wide receiver, deftly dragging both toes on the turf before his momentum carried him out of bounds. A thirty-four-yard gain and the clock stopped at four seconds.