Shadows Strike

by Dianne Duvall

  Ethan hoped she was right. He had been raised in a different time. Her father’s approval was important to him. Family was important to him. He didn’t want Heather to lose hers if she pursued a relationship with him.

  “Stop worrying,” she admonished and gave him a little shake.

  The movement rubbed the front of her body against his, stirring an instant response.

  Sending her a sly smile, he slid his hands up and down her back. “I’ll worry until you do something to take my mind off things.”

  She smiled. “So you’re saying you need a distraction?” Rising onto her toes, she pressed her hips into his.

  Pleasure darted through him. “Hell yes.” Ethan slid his hands down to her shapely ass and lifted her up with ease.

  Laughing, Heather locked her legs around his waist. “Sounds good to me.” She cupped his face in her hands and pressed soft lips to his.

  Ethan thought he would never grow tired of the taste of her. Nor did he think that the sizzle of excitement that always seared him when she kissed him would ever dissipate. He parted his lips and groaned when she boldly stroked his tongue with hers.

  He started down the hallway, loving the feel of her riding the rigid length behind his fly.

  “Does this mean we aren’t hunting tonight?” Zach asked from the kitchen.

  Ethan tore his lips from Heather’s long enough to say, “I’m taking the night off.”

  Then their mouths fused once more, hungry and aggressive.

  “We aren’t hunting tonight,” Zach told Lisette, his tone deadpan. “Whatever shall we do with ourselves?”

  “Not what you’re thinking,” she retorted with a laugh. “Our bedroom isn’t soundproofed.”

  “So? We’ll make a game of it. I’ll see how many orgasms I can give you while you see how long you can go without making a sound.”

  “Zach!”

  “Come on, guys,” Tracy complained. “I’m standing right here.”

  Ethan didn’t hear whatever came next. He was too caught up in the feel and taste of Heather as he carried her down to Richart’s room. As soon as he kicked the door closed, he lowered her feet to the floor.

  Both moaned as her legs slid down his length.

  Then their hands flew into action, untucking shirts and unbuckling belts. Ethan toed off his boots and socks. He knew he could easily divest them both of their clothing in record time, but he loved the feel of her hands on him, sliding under his shirt and dragging it up over his head.

  Her fingers dipped into the waistband of his pants to work the button and draw down the zipper. He sucked in a breath as she liberated the hard length of him from his silk boxers and began to stroke him.

  One of her holstered weapons hit the floor with a thud.

  “Being a little daring with that, don’t you think?” she muttered.

  “Speak for yourself,” he retorted, then groaned when she laughed and gave him a squeeze, circling the sensitive tip of his cock with her thumb.

  The rest of her weapons fell away as he tore open buckles and untied ties. “How many of these damned things are you wearing?”

  She laughed. “You should know. You put them on me.”

  Her laugh ended in a gasp when he finally freed her shirt from her pants and slid one hand beneath it to nudge her lacy bra aside and caress her breast. The pink tip hardened beneath his touch. Her hand on his cock tightened when he delivered a sharp pinch to her nipple.

  “I need to be naked,” she moaned. “Now.”

  As much as Ethan wanted her hand to stay right where it was, he wanted her bare flesh against his even more. Breaking her hold, he yanked her shirt over her head and swiftly divested her of the bra beneath.

  Her face flushed with pleasure. Her brown eyes glinted with need.

  Ethan dropped to his knees and patted one of her shoes.

  Heather placed her hands on his shoulders and raised a foot so he could tug off her boot. The other soon hit the floor beside it, as did her ankle socks. His hands seemed too big next to the small button on her pants, but he managed to unfasten it, his knuckles brushing the pale, smooth skin of her stomach. The cargo pants hung low on her hips, leaving her belly button bare. The zipper was so short he wondered why they hadn’t just used a second button instead.

  Tucking his fingers in the waistband of the pants, he dragged them down her lovely legs. His eyes fastened on the scrap of lace left behind.

  It left little to the imagination.

  “Your eyes are glowing,” she whispered.

  “I bet they are.” He slowly drew the flimsy material down, remained still long enough for her to step out of them and kick them away, then leaned forward and buried his face in her stomach. As she raked her fingers through his hair, he nudged her legs farther apart, kissed his way down to the dark thatch of curls that tempted him, and delivered a long, slow lick to her clit.

  Head falling back, Heather moaned. She clenched her fingers in Ethan’s silky hair, gave it a little tug that elicited a masculine moan. His mouth was warm and wet and oh so wicked as he stroked and licked and sucked and toyed with her, driving the pleasure upward until a climax struck, fast and hard.

  Her knees buckled.

  Ethan rose and caught her before she could sink to the floor, then laid her on the bed.

  Limp as a noodle, Heather stared up at him as he shucked his pants and boxers.

  Muscles rippled with every movement. So many muscles. He was huge. Everywhere.

  Her gaze slid to his erection, energy and need igniting within her once more.

  Ethan smiled, his eyes glowing a vibrant amber. Tucking his hands beneath her knees, he slid her toward him and braced her feet on the edge of the bed. “I’m not finished with you yet.”

  “Really?” She arched a brow and sent him a flirty smile. “Perhaps I’m not finished with you.” Sitting up, Heather nudged him back a step, then slid off the bed and sank to her knees in front of him.

  If his eyes could get any brighter, they did as he stared down at her.

  Heather grasped the cock straining toward her, so large her fingers wouldn’t meet when she curled them around the long, hard length. Leaning forward, she delivered a long, slow lick to the velvety tip and circled it with her tongue.

  Ethan hissed in a breath, then buried his fingers in her hair. Every muscle in his body flexed and tightened as Heather drew him deeper into her mouth in teasing increments, eventually taking him as deep as she could, and hummed her own pleasure.

  “Shit, that feels good,” he whispered.

  Heather teased him with lips and tongue, eliciting more moans and praise with every stroke and pull and lick. His muscles bunched tighter and tighter as he urged her on. Her own breath grew short as she imagined him driving inside her with every rock of his hips.

  Then, suddenly, he swore. Heather glanced up as Ethan drew back.

  Reaching down, he lifted her to her feet and spun her around. Excitement rose as he bent her over the bed with rough hands, then found her entrance with his cock and plunged inside her.

  Heather cried out. Pure pleasure.

  Her hands fisting in the covers, she arched back against him, silently begging for more.

  Ethan drove inside her, holding nothing back, the bed rocking and creaking and shifting with each thrust. Then she felt his warm, broad chest brushing her back. Felt his lips burrow through her hair and find her neck.

  He slid a hand beneath her, still pounding into her, and clasped her breast.

  Heather moaned as his grip tightened, becoming almost painful.

  His sharp teeth grazed the soft skin of her neck.

  Her breath caught.

  He slid his other hand down and teased her clit.

  She moaned.

  “You like it?” he growled in her ear.

  She nodded, unable to speak, her breath coming in gasps that housed moans as the pleasure built and built. The fingers of one hand worked her clit as the other kneaded her breast, pinching the hard
tip. His long, hard length hit all the right spots as he continued to thrust into her. Again and again.

  “You want more?” he taunted, his voice so deep and gravelly with need, she nearly came at the sound of it.

  “Yes,” she gasped.

  The fingers stroking her clit did something marvelous at preternatural speeds.

  Heather cried out as an orgasm careened through her, more intense than any she had ever experienced before. On and on and on it went. Stealing her breath. Her body clamping down around Ethan’s and squeezing him tight as ripples of pleasure struck.

  Stiffening above her, Ethan shouted with his own release, his grip on her tightening until she thought she would have bruises the next day. But damn, it felt good. Unbelievably good. Those ripples of pleasure still rocked her.

  Collapsing on top of her, Ethan shifted his hands to the bed on either side of her and supported the bulk of his weight on his forearms. He lowered his face to the covers beside her. His warm, short breaths fanned her hair. Those brilliant amber eyes met hers. “Did I hurt you?”

  Heather shook her head and curled one hand over his, still trying to catch her breath.

  Ethan kissed the back of her hand, then rose.

  Heather moaned when he withdrew from her body, then frowned when he chuckled. “What?” she asked, forcing herself to straighten and stand on wobbly legs.

  Grinning, he motioned to the huge, heavy bed.

  Looking down, she laughed. They’d moved it two or three feet across the floor. “You’re good,” she said.

  “You’re the best,” he murmured and dipped his head to claim her lips in a kiss full of affection. “Want to see if we can move it a few more feet?”

  Heather grinned. “Seriously?”

  He nodded, his smile so boyish and appealing that she had to steal another kiss. “Being an immortal has a lot of perks,” he murmured.

  As Heather became aware of the growing erection prodding her stomach, she smiled. “I think I’m going to like these perks.”

  Heather couldn’t seem to stop smiling. She and Ethan had spent the night and most of the morning making love. Each time seemed to have meant more than the last, bringing them closer and closer together. And he was a cuddler. How awesome was that? Even now, he dozed with his body curled around hers, one arm forming her pillow, the other wrapped around her.

  A knock on the door made her jump.

  Ethan swore and rolled away. Slipping from the bed, he strode naked to the door.

  Heather watched with both pleasure (the man’s ass was just too attractive) and amusement, wondering if he intended to flash whoever was out in the hallway.

  He opened the door enough to reveal his tousled head and bare chest, but kept the rest of himself behind the door. “What?”

  “Put this on,” Tracy said, out of sight, “and come upstairs in half an hour. Don’t ask any questions. Just do it.”

  Ethan took something from her and closed the door. Turning to Heather, he frowned and held up a hanging clothing bag.

  “What’s that?” she asked.

  “I have no idea.”

  “Maybe it’s new hunting clothes.” Tossing back the covers, Heather rose and padded over to him.

  His eyes acquired a familiar amber glow as they roved her bare body. “It’s too early to hunt. The sun won’t set for several hours yet.”

  Laughing, she shook her head. “How can you still be turned on when we just made love I don’t know how many times?”

  He smiled. “You just push my buttons, beautiful.”

  She winked. “Push them and stroke them and—”

  “Enough!” He laughed. “Or we won’t find out what this is about.”

  Heather grasped the zipper on the bag and drew it down. “It’s a suit,” she told him, puzzled. “And a dress. I think there are even shoes in the bottom.” She rummaged around. “Yep. There are shoes.” She drew out the dress, far fancier than anything she had ever owned. Not that she usually went places that required formal dress. “What do you suppose this is for?”

  “If it means I get to see you in that dress, I don’t care.”

  She grinned. “I wouldn’t mind seeing you in that suit either.”

  “Let’s do this then.”

  Fortunately, they had showered a couple of hours earlier before they had finally drifted off to sleep. So all Heather had to do was don the clothing and see if she could tame her hair.

  The dress fit perfectly. Clinging to her from breasts to hips, it flared out into a looser skirt. Spaghetti straps left her shoulders and arms bare. The neckline dipped low, exposing more cleavage than she was accustomed to showing. Heather wasn’t sure it suited her until she saw Ethan’s reaction.

  His eyes lit up like candles as he gave her a long, slow once-over.

  She grinned. “Just like a mood ring.”

  “You look beautiful. As always.”

  “Thank you. You look hot.”

  The suit fit his large, muscular form as though it had been tailored to him. Silver pinstripes adorned black material whose quality, she suspected, was of the you’ll-never-be-able-to-afford-this variety. A bright white shirt provided nice contrast to his naturally tan features. He had even shaved, she noticed, as he lifted his chin and reached up to adjust a black necktie.

  “I mean, you look really hot,” she repeated, straightening it for him.

  His face brightened with a teasing grin. “So I clean up well?”

  “Definitely.”

  He seemed genuinely pleased by the compliment. “Let me help you with your shoes.”

  Warmth filled her when he grabbed the high-heeled shoes and knelt in front of her.

  Was this what it felt like to be a married couple? she wondered. Taking pleasure in even something as mundane as getting dressed together?

  He guided one of her feet into the first shoe, then did the same with the other, as if he were Prince Charming and she Cinderella. Sitting back on his heels, he frowned at the sexy pumps. “How the hell do you walk in those things?”

  “I may not be able to,” she said with a wry smile. “It’s been a while.” She took a few cautious steps toward the door and back, feeling wobbly as hell. Then her legs and ankles seemed to say, Oh yeah, I remember this crap, and she found her stride. “Just like riding a bike.”

  Ethan rose, shaking his head. “I’m glad I’m not a woman.”

  She winked. “I am, too.”

  Chuckling, he slipped his own dress shoes on, then offered her his arm. “Shall we?”

  She looped her arm through his. “We shall.”

  When they stepped out into the hallway, they found Zach and Lisette doing the same. The other couple was dressed as formally as Heather and Ethan.

  Zach looked handsome as hell, but kept shifting his shoulders and reaching up to tug at his tie. Lisette was beautiful. Heather wished she were that pretty and glanced up to catch Ethan’s response.

  Her pulse skipped.

  He had barely spared the others a glance. His luminous amber gaze instead continued to devour her.

  Heather licked her lips.

  His eyes brightened.

  Forcing herself to look away, she greeted the other couple with a smile. “Anyone know what this is about?”

  Lisette shot Zach a squinty-eyed look. “I think Zach does, but he won’t tell me.”

  The elder immortal smiled. “I was enjoying your efforts to tease it out of me too much.” In a sultry voice he said, “Please, Zach. If you tell me I’ll—”

  Lisette clapped a hand over his mouth and flushed bright red.

  Heather and Ethan laughed.

  Zach removed Lisette’s hand from his mouth and pressed a kiss to her palm instead of bending over to reach her mouth.

  Heather glanced up at Ethan and thought him the perfect height for her. He was tall, but not tall enough that he would have to pick her up to kiss her properly.

  “Ahh,” Zach said, “but picking Lisette up always puts her right where I w
ant her—pressed up against me with her legs wrapped around my waist.”

  Lisette’s mouth dropped open. “Zach!”

  Heather didn’t know whether to laugh or to complain about Zach’s having read her thoughts.

  Ethan settled a hand on her lower back. “I’m not even going to ask.” He guided Heather forward. “Let’s go see what’s up before Lisette’s face gets any redder.”

  Zach and Lisette held back to let them pass, then followed behind them.

  Heather had to take the stairs slowly, unused to climbing them in such high heels.

  She loved that Ethan seemed to know it and slid an arm around her for support.

  Heart already pounding in her chest, she felt the most wonderful fluttery feeling in her belly, almost as if they were going out on their first . . . date.

  She and Ethan stopped short upon exiting the basement stairwell. Down the hallway, Tracy and Sheldon waited for them, both garbed in tuxedos. Two tables, draped in white tablecloths, had been placed close together in the center of the living room. Tall white tapers sported flickering flames that illuminated lovely place settings.

  All the other furniture had been moved to the edges of the room.

  “What’s this?” Lisette asked, pleasure brightening her voice as she and Zach stopped beside Heather.

  “I heard what Ethan said about wishing he could court Heather properly,” Tracy said, “and know that you and Zach didn’t have anything close to a normal courtship when the two of you got together, so I thought it would be nice for you guys to have a date night. Or day. Whatever.” She grinned. “Sheldon helped me put it all together.”

  Sheldon saluted them with a grin.

  Lisette smiled up at Zach. “Is that why you played music all night and wouldn’t let me come upstairs for a sandwich? You knew what they were doing?”

  He nodded, his lips turning up in a smile. “I heard Tracy call Sheldon and enlist his aid.”

  Grinning, Lisette hugged him tight. “I love you so much!”

  Heather looked up at Ethan, tempted to say the same.