by Marie Castle
Jacq wanted this for longer. She wanted me for longer. And I was through protesting. I wanted her just as much…and for as long as she’d have me. I’d deal with the ramifications of someday dying on her when I could no longer ignore them. Somewhere along the line, I’d begun to fall in love with this woman. This stubborn, chivalrous woman who’d shower with me and not take advantage. How crazy was that?
I pulled back, letting my hungry gaze travel down her strong, lean body, noting the flush on her chest, the dusky nipples and the auburn curls, so dark that they were nearly black, at the apex of her thighs. It wasn’t my first time seeing a naked woman, but it was the first time the sight made something burn low and hot in my belly. Jacq’s shy look at my perusal made me brave.
“Cate, I—”
This time it was my finger at her lips, halting her words. I looked into Jacq’s eyes, once again a stormy gray. I could feel her inhaled breath, her expanding chest pressing softly against my own. The timing could be better, but the woman and the sentiment were right.
“It’s okay. It’s just a shower, nothing more. Your words, remember?” Smiling, I pulled her by the hand into the shower.
I noticed the heat of it first. Boiling hot, to the point of flaying the skin from your bones. Just the way I like it. I sighed in pleasure, letting the steam fill my lungs before stepping under the spray. My body sucked the energy in, filling my cells, reviving me. Remembering suddenly that I was partial to temperatures others found painful, I turned to Jacq in concern, slicking the wet tangled black curls back from my head before reaching for her, leaning forward, shielding her from the spray. “Is this too hot?” I ran my hands over her chest, letting a sliver of magic trail down her skin, making sure its rosy glow wasn’t from damage.
Jacq pushed me back until the water sluiced over us both and picked up a shampoo bottle. Groaning softly, I almost forgot my question as her soapy hands moved into my hair, massaging my scalp. “You could never be too hot for me, cher. But as to the water, it’s fine. I put out a great deal of heat, so it doesn’t bother me.” Nimble fingers scratched behind my ears. The pleasure weakening my knees was intense but not as intense as the emotions cascading across her face. “That is how my kind are…were.”
Jacq paused, and somehow I knew. She wanted to say more but couldn’t…or wouldn’t. But tonight, I felt similarly afflicted. I couldn’t…or wouldn’t…press her.
I put orange wash on a loofa and slowly ran it over her skin, paying careful attention to her injuries. I told myself that I just wanted to return the favor and let her experience the pleasure of having someone care for her. Deep down, I was not feeling a strange, primal need to paint her in my scent. In denial of my denial, that dark, demon part locked deep within my soul purred its pleasure, something ruffling like the opening and closing of wings inside me. I shut it out, focusing instead on Jacq. “Tell me what happened?” I asked again softly, looking at her bruises.
“One of the raptors got behind me.”
The sponge drew soapy swirls across her shoulders. I pressed the tight muscles harder, and Jacq’s body relaxed.
I began to wash her breasts, and her voice softened. “Becca blinded it. But there wasn’t enough time to move, and it simply barreled me over.”
I could almost see it in my mind, somehow knowing there was more. Her words petered out, and I looked up. “Am I distracting you?” I smiled, remembering her previous accusation. I swept the sponge over an erect nipple. My own tightened as Jacq’s hands reflexively clutched at my shoulders.
“No.” Her strained voice was rougher than usual. I swept the sponge across her other nipple. She cleared her throat. “Not at all.” Belying her words, Jacq placed her hand over mine, stilling the sponge over her heart. “I arose quickly, but the beast’s tail clipped me, causing this.” She guided my sponge-filled hand over her chest. For a moment, neither of us spoke.
My breathing quickened. I couldn’t look away from our joined hands. The simple intimacy of my hand in hers, moving together over her body, was overwhelming.
“Cate?” Jacq’s voice was hoarse with desire. “I need you to stop me.”
Forcing my gaze upward, I placed my other hand against her cheek, watching her eyes darken as I softly said, “I’m not sure I can.”
Maybe it was me. Maybe it was Jacq. I wasn’t sure which of us began to move the sponge lower. We both watched it move between her breasts and farther, washing her taut abdomen, circling her navel before finally reaching the curls between her legs. We both moaned, teetering at the brink of heaven, seeming to linger there for an eternity. Then Jacq’s hand snatched mine away, and her body slammed me roughly against the wet wall.
I gasped. Her hard thigh between my own, Jacq panted, her head bowed, holding herself very still. Silver magic rippled across her skin, and the hot shower grew hotter still. I looked up into eyes gone silver with desire and gulped, lost in that hunger. Her hand reached up, pushing a lock of wet hair off my face before sliding down my neck and over my breast, eliciting a moan. I started to pull her toward me, but she shook her wet head roughly, pulling back.
“No,” Jacq said, “when we make love for the first time, it will be in our bed. No rushing. No running off to do battle.” She smiled cheekily, tweaking my nipple. Hot magic streaked from her fingertips, and I had to lock my legs to remain standing. “Besides, I read up on these human dating customs. I must first buy you dinner, sing loudly outside your window, and have at least one family member threaten me with firearms.”
Warm water dribbled into my mouth as I threw my head back and laughed. There was something about her that made me free to laugh. I looked at her beautiful face.
Our bed. Our. The word settled like a weight on my chest—not heavy and suffocating as I’d expected but comfortable, like ballast keeping me upright. How could three letters have such an impact? I didn’t know. “Okay.” Voice tight with desire, I had to say it twice before the word came out as anything more than a growl. “Don’t look so disappointed.” Smiling, I poked Jacq in the ribs. “It was your idea to wait.” She did look disappointed, but there was also anticipation lurking in her wicked smile. I shivered. Unable to turn from temptation, I turned her instead, in essence to wash her back, and finally saw her tattoo.
I lovingly ran the sponge over every flaming feather, tracing the lines of the beautiful golden phoenix. The fiery bird I’d chosen for my personal totem was etched across the back of my protector. The feeling of déjà vu was strong. I’d been waiting for her for a long time. I ran the soapy sponge down the firm ass, rubbing until Jacq groaned, turned around, and took the sponge away.
“You don’t know how you test my resolve.” Her eyes nearly glaring, Jacq’s voice was low, forceful.
“I bet I do.” I placed my hands on her shoulders. “It can’t be any more than how I tested my own, considering how hard I fought myself not to give into this.” Jacq grinned at my half-amused, half-pained expression. My quick smile froze at the soul-deep longing in her eyes.
“There’s still a lot of fighting to come. But this,” Jacq laid my hand over her heart, “is something we shouldn’t fight. If you believe anything, believe we’re meant to be.”
Hopefully, she would believe the tears falling from my eyes were water droplets from the shower. She finished washing our bodies, then my hair, and her own. By the time we stepped from the shower, I’d decided to say one last thing, but I had to work my way to it.
“Jacq, how deeply did you research human dating practices?” I asked as she rubbed me down with a white fluffy towel.
Jacq looked up, surprised. I nearly laughed. I could practically see her trying to figure out this conversational turn. It was nice to be able to read her expressions, even nicer still to feel them. Right now, she was curious and just a little wary. Smart woman.
“Not as deeply as I’d like.” Jacq gave me an exaggerated come-hither look.
I laughed but sobered quickly. “Maybe I should rephrase that. What do you know a
bout the sexual practices of humans?” I took a deep breath then forged ahead. “Specifically, the one called abstinence?”
All my worries slipped away as Jacq pulled me close, letting our towels drop before whispering against my ear, “All I know, cher, is that we won’t be practicing it. And that’s all that matters.”
My shriek as she picked me up and threw me over her shoulder was loud enough to be heard throughout the entire house, but it didn’t matter. I was about thirty years too late to worry about anyone else’s sensibilities.
Chapter Nineteen
“Karma’s a bitch. Or rather, she’s a Southern woman with claws and a bad attitude. There’s really not a difference. Trust me on this, and don’t say later that you weren’t warned.”
— Romulus Legion
Jacq carried me out of the bathroom, dumped me on the bed, and gave my nude body a long, steamy look. In turn, I stared at her naked, dripping body. My comparisons to an Amazon, a warrior, lethal elegance? None of them compared to the truth standing before me. She was The Phoenix. Glorious. Bright and shining. And she set me ablaze.
I thought Jacq would change her mind and make some move toward me, but she only wrapped a towel around herself and left the room. I lay there for a few minutes, making no move to shield my wet body from the chilly A/C, digesting what had happened. I should’ve been panicking, but I felt like the calm eye of a storm. Death and destruction circled me on all sides, but I was at peace. In fact, I was energized and raring to go. I jumped up, dressed in black battle gear—leather pants, black T-shirt and a spare pair of ass-kicker boots—braided my damp hair, then went downstairs to load up on weapons and carbs.
I was suddenly ravenous.
Enlisted by my Nana, Rom had managed to clean up a good portion of the blasted Sheetrock, bloody stairs and wet hall. Perhaps it was his deference to older women—or maybe it was Nana’s threat to cut something off—for whatever reason, Rom was being very solicitous. After fixing a stack of sandwiches, I met Mynx and Fera in the training room.
While I put on my harnesses, utility belt and weapons, I confessed to Mynx and Fera what I’d done. They were amused at how I’d gotten a tracker on Brittan. I hadn’t planned on her being taken. But for some reason, when I’d passed her the suppression amulet earlier in the day, I’d had the urge to give her the one with the GPS device. Mynx had confirmed that the GPS was working and actively moving toward The Burg. We wouldn’t need Serena to read the raptors’ minds after all.
Any minute now, the troops would be rushing in. Jacq had come downstairs in her own black clothes. Mynx and Fera were similarly dressed. In fact, we were all dressed for a night run…all except for the woman now entering the room with Rom.
It wasn’t the first time I’d seen a woman come to a fight in heels, but the skirt was new. She had to work for the Vamps. No one would dress like a maid around the sex-juicing Weres. The Clan would take it as a personal challenge to see who could be quickest to get the lady out of her pantyhose and starched shirt. My mouth was stuffed with turkey and cheese, so I turned around, quickly gobbling my sandwich. But I nearly choked on the last bite when a familiar voice shouted my name.
“Cate Delacy, you owe me!”
I spun around, swallowed, and braced for impact.
“Eeepp.” I squeaked as Serena barreled into me, picking me up and hugging me hard enough to pop my back. You’d think in the years since we’d met that I would’ve gotten used to Serena’s sometimes enthusiastic moods. Of course it didn’t help that she only did this to me. Apparently I was the shortest of the Viking’s friends, making me the best for her game of dangle-the-witch. Hopefully one day soon she would find a shorter friend or a lover to run roughshod over her. I nearly snorted in derision. Both options I’d learned over the years were wasted hopes.
“Serena, put me down right this minute.” I slapped her shoulder, hissing at the ensuing ache in my hand. It was like pounding steel. My feet were hanging at least a foot off the ground and I was glad none of the Weres other than Rom were here to witness this. I looked around to see Mynx and a confused Fera smirking. The embarrassment I’d survive, but I didn’t like the look in Jacq’s eyes. Arms crossed, she looked ready to spit fire.
I’d never cared for Luke’s possessive streak, but the look on Jacq’s face left me a little worried for Serena’s welfare…and a lot excited. Would there ever be a time when my reactions to this woman didn’t surprise me? Did I even want them to? I looked at Jacq’s flushed cheeks. Likely not, but that was a thought for later—Jacq took a step forward—after I kept my favorite law enforcement officer from starting World War IV.
I gulped and looked into gray eyes. “Jacq, meet Serena, Darryl’s business partner and good friend.”
Serena squeezed harder, letting me know I’d left something important out. Jacq’s face darkened, but I waved her away. Serena respected patience, and she had a point to make, though damned if I knew what it was. I hissed out, “The Vampire Queen of Mississippi.” She squeezed once more. I added with a wheeze, “And my good friend.” She let up, and I took a deep breath, turning back to glare at my tenacious friend.
“Jesus H. Kristofferson, Serena. I need those ribs intact.” I gave her another scathing look. This was the very reason I hadn’t given her a hug when I’d seen her at the House of Delights.
“If that’s how she treats her friends,” Fera mumbled, “I’d hate to be her enemy.”
The room fairly crackled with power, and I wasn’t sure which—or if all—of us were leaking magic. All I knew was that my skin was itching, and I suddenly didn’t want anyone but Jacq touching me. It was a strangely familiar sensation. I would’ve kicked Serena in the shins, seeing as my toes were still at the right height, but knew better. I’d have broken a foot.
“Ahem,” said the woman in the skirt and heels. Serena set me back on my feet and turned to the woman.
I grabbed Jacq’s hand, moving close to her side. Her emotions became clearer with the touch. She’d been somewhat jealous but more concerned by Serena’s rough play. My detective had held herself back from staking a claim, and I was proud of her restraint. I wasn’t so subtle.
I squeezed Jacq’s hand, leaning into her. She had nothing to fear from Serena. But I might, if I was right about the look in the eyes of the woman with her. Noticing our clasped hands and close bodies, the woman’s glare dimmed slightly. She held out her hand, “Cate Delacy?”
I recognized the voice and smiled, taking in the woman’s wire-rimmed glasses and white-streaked black hair bun. “Miss James?” I shook her hand. “It’s good to finally put a face to the name.” When I couldn’t reach Serena on her cell, I’d called Benito Carmel’s office looking for her and gotten Miss James, his paralegal/personal secretary instead. Miss James had said she would relay the message, but I hadn’t expected her to join the group. At Miss James’ scowl, my happy voice vanished until I realized the dirty look was directed at Serena, who was trying to tug the paralegal’s leather bag off her shoulder.
“Miss James, huh? Does no one know your first name?” Serena asked cheerfully.
Miss James’ scowl was promptly replaced by a neutral expression. She pushed her glasses up her nose with one finger and, studiously ignoring the vampire, pointed to her bag. “Do you have somewhere I can change? I’m not exactly dressed to fight.” She looked around, mentally cataloguing and assessing my companions.
The outfit and demeanor might appear innocent, but it didn’t completely hide her shrewd mind. I’d been raised by women who used good graces for the same purpose. I simply smiled and pointed toward the hall. This was a game I knew well. “Certainly, I’ll show you the way.” I gestured for her to follow, but Serena grabbed her arm.
“Oh, no. You’re not in this fight.” Serena’s fangs flashed a mocking smile as her nostrils flared. “I smell blood in this house. Several people have already been hurt, and I’m sure they were all trained fighters.”
The unlike you went unsaid, but no doubt Miss James u
nderstood, her face getting redder with every word. Magic was so thick in the air—I could nearly smell it as Serena kept digging her grave that much deeper. “The last thing we need is some adventure-hungry novice getting themself or someone else killed.”
Miss James shrugged off Serena’s restraining hand and cocked her head. “I assure you I am proficient in the defensive arts.” Brushing at the wrinkles in her shirt, she turned to walk away then stopped, giving Serena a withering glare. “And I don’t care to be touched.” She pushed her glasses back up her nose.
Serena should’ve had icicles hanging from her chin—Miss James’ tone was so glacial. The magic in the air fairly rumbled, and I was suddenly aware that it was oozing from Miss James, released by her extreme displeasure. Miss James took another step.
It happened so quickly that at first I stood there trying to make sense of what I’d seen. Serena again reached to stop the paralegal. Without looking, Miss James flicked her wrist. There was a crack like lightning and a flash of gold magic. Then Serena was flying through the air. She hit the side wall with a loud “Uff,” hanging there for a moment, suspended, before dropping onto her ass.
Fortunately, Serena’s guards were outside. Otherwise either Miss James’ head or the guards’ would be rolling on the floor beside Serena. At this point, I wasn’t sure who I would’ve bet on. Miss James was hiding more than a sharp wit behind those glasses.
The air in the room went still. Then the raw magic that had been hanging about receded. All that was left was an eerie, emotionless stillness. No satisfaction or gloating. No regret or rebuke. Miss James was one cool number. I changed my mind. I’d take good odds any day that this woman would win if set against a horde of thirsty, sword-swinging, crazed vampires.