by Cynthia Eden
“I know things started the wrong way between us.” Extreme understatement. “I wish I’d met you without the case. Just seen you singing one night.” He would have felt the same way about her, but the suspicions and accusations wouldn’t have been between them.
Her right hand lifted, and she traced the lines of his face. “Do you know that before I met you, I was ready to give up sex?”
He slowly shook his head, shocked. Could a succubus even do that?
She laughed softly. “Then I met you, and everything changed for me. Everything.”
He hoped she meant—
“I love you, Todd Brooks, and I will keep loving you for all the very, very long years of my life.”
She loved him. Fucking miracle. He crushed her against him, drove his tongue deep into her mouth, and tasted the paradise he’d been craving.
It should have been a soft, tender mating. Their feelings were spoken now, real, but the emotions were too raw, as was their hunger.
Their hands fought, ripped at the clothing. Fabric gave way quickly beneath the assault.
Then his mouth was on her breast. Licking, sucking, kissing, loving the sweet flesh. His hands shoved down her shorts. Tore away her panties to find the creamy flesh that waited for him.
Her fingers unsnapped his jeans, pulled down the zipper, and his arousal sprang out, hard, ready, so eager for her that moisture coated the broad head of his cock.
There was no waiting. He stumbled over to the chaise longue. Nearly fell onto the cushions and dragged her down over him.
Her thighs were parted, so when she fell onto him, she straddled him and her hot, wet sex slid over his cock.
Another kiss. Lips, tongue. Tasting. Taking.
His hands touched her—frantic touches, caresses all over her flesh.
Her fingers wrapped around the length of his erection. Squeezed, stroked, and had his eyes rolling back into his head.
His lips tore from hers. “Can’t . . . wait.”
Her smile would have tempted a saint—and it sure as hell tempted a cop. “Good.”
Then she was positioning his length, lifting her hips, and pushing the head of his arousal into the tight opening of her sex.
He thrust up, jerking his hips off the chaise at the exact moment her hips drove down onto him. Their moans filled the air as his cock lodged deep within her.
When her sex clenched around him like a hot fist, there was no stopping him. Todd’s hands dropped to the cement for balance and his hips began to piston up against her. Harder. Faster. The night sky glinted above—a million shining stars winked over Cara and he thrust, sinking into the hottest paradise he’d ever know and starring at stars—and his succubus.
Her eyes were shining. A glow inside the darkness. Her hand was on his chest, right over his heart.
The heart that had always been hers. He just hadn’t known—
Her sex contracted, a ripple of movement that had Todd gritting his teeth and choking out her name.
Release was moments away, but damn it—he never wanted the passion to end.
Never wanted to leave her.
Her thighs clamped over his legs. The site of her bare breasts tormented him, and his head jerked up. Todd caught one nipple in his mouth, then slammed deep into her again.
The warmth of her palm seared his skin. Power filled the air. Danced over his body.
The climax hit him, and the world exploded into a shower of those stars he’d seen. Millions of stars. Pleasure flooded him as he pumped into her, driving as fully into her honeyed clasp as he could go, and filling her with the hot essence of his release.
Her magic roared through him and she called his name. Her hips bucked, her sex clenched, and the quiver that shook her body shivered through him.
He licked her breast as the aftershocks of pleasure hummed through his system.
His hands rose from the cement and wrapped around her.
Todd’s head lifted and he stared up at her face.
His Cara.
The spark of her energy danced in the air, the spark that even now was heating his flesh and sending energy pumping inside him.
When he kissed her again, he tasted the magic and he tasted the power of the woman he’d gladly fight the devil to possess.
And, well, perhaps he already had.
The bull pen was all but deserted when Smith knocked lightly on Danny McNeal’s office. It was well after 11 P.M., but she knew he was still working. Though the blinds were drawn in his office, faint light glowed from beneath his door.
“Come in.” His voice was gruff, hard, as it usually was.
Her shoulders straightened and her left hand rose automatically to smooth over her hair.
Then she walked inside, keeping her head high and her strides long and easy.
She saw his eyes widen, just the tiniest fraction, when he caught sight of her.
“Dr. Smith.”
Ah, so she was back to doctor, hmm? Smith placed her report onto his desk. “My notes on Cameron Komak’s body.”
He dropped his pen. “That was fast.”
Well, there hadn’t exactly been a lot left to work with.
“What’s the determination?”
Now this was the tricky part—but she had a feeling she’d probably be dealing with a lot of tricky cases from now on.
The thought wasn’t as unsettling as it had once been. In fact, now, well, the cases almost seemed ... challenging.
The visits she’d been secretly having with Emily were starting to pay off.
All of the Other weren’t evil. She was understanding that. Accepting that.
Smith met his stare directly. “Off the record, my belief is that Mr. Komak self-combusted.”
He didn’t blink. “Self-combusted.”
“Um. The fire appears to have originated internally—as opposed to an external stimulus like gasoline or—”
McNeal held up a hand. “Go back to the internal part.”
Simple enough. “I think the fire started inside Mr. Komak’s body. Specifically, in the region near his heart.”
“Shit.”
Yes, she’d expected that response. He pointed toward her notes. “That’s not in the report, is it?”
“My notes list a fire of undetermined origin.” And that was true. She didn’t know how the fire had started—just where it had flared to life.
“Thanks, Doctor. That should be all I need, for now.”
A dismissal. Her eyes narrowed. “Does that mean the case is closed?”
“My detectives discovered indisputable proof to link Komak to the killings.” His lips twisted. “Shortly after Komak died from that fire of undetermined origin, Gyth searched the guy’s apartment and found one of those hell walls that the serials like to keep. So, yeah, the case of the Bondage Killer is closed.”
“But there will be more, won’t there? More cases like ... this.”
His chair squeaked as he rose. His shoulders were so wide, so strong, and his face—she’d always thought he had the face of a warrior. “There have always been cases like this. The only difference is that now we aren’t transferring them away from you anymore, they’re coming to you.” He stalked around the desk. “That gonna be a problem for you?”
The Other, they still frightened her. Or, some of them did. Whoever had managed to burn Cameron Komak from the inside out, that guy scared her, but Smith realized she had to start trusting the supernaturals that she knew well. Like Colin.
And it was definitely past time for her to trust the one she’d let into her heart so long ago. “They won’t be a problem.” Deliberately, she looked him over, running her gaze from his gleaming head down to his too-big feet. “But you will be.”
Her eyes returned to his face just in time to catch his wince. “We’ve been over this. I’m not gonna bother you, personally, anymore, Dr. Smith—”
“Ah, see, now that’s my problem.” She closed the distance between them. Wrapped her hands over his shoulders. “I
want you to keep on bothering me.” She kissed him. Mouth open, tongue ready.
His arms locked around her, jerking her tight against his chest—his heart.
Just where she liked to be held.
The kiss was hungry, wild, and held a desperate need—his need, hers.
Oh, God, but she’d missed him.
Her hands pushed between them, began to fumble with the buttons on his shirt.
McNeal dragged his mouth from hers. “Nathalia . . . Hell, babe, don’t tease, don’t let me think you want me again when—”
“I’ve always wanted you.” Her nails stilled against the white front of his shirt. “Even when you were such a damn idiot.” Because a little thing like her man talking to animals, well, that wasn’t going to push her away.
Time to claim her lover again.
She glanced over at his desk and didn’t even try to stop the smile that rose on her lips. “Feel like taking a walk down memory lane?”
His hungry growl was more than answer enough for her.
Cara watched Todd while he slept. Stared at the shadows beneath his eyes and the faint stubble on his jaw.
The sun rose slowly, and still she watched him. There was more that she needed to tell Todd, and she knew that when his eyes opened and he stared at her in the morning light, it would be time to share another secret with him.
She’d never told another human what she would tell him, but Todd deserved to know.
So when his eyelids finally opened and he gazed at her with sleepy brown eyes, she felt a moment of fear.
Then he lifted his hand and smoothed his fingers over her cheek.
He won’t leave. The knowledge was certain in her heart.
“Todd.” His name whispered from her lips. “I need—there’s something I have to tell you.”
He smiled and rolled onto his side. They’d made love again during the night. Sweet love, slow.
“I—you haven’t noticed it yet, but you will, soon.” She licked her lips. “Being with me, if we stay together, long term, um, you’re gonna start seeing some side effects.”
The sleep disappeared from his gaze as his body began to stiffen. “Side effects?”
“Uh, yeah.” This wasn’t the easiest conversation to have with a lover. She’d known that, and put it off as long as possible.
“Just what kind of side effects are we talking here?”
Okay, he didn’t sound overly worried. Good. “You’ve never asked me how old I am, Todd.”
“You’re twenty-eight. I saw the age on the license we found and—”
“I’m not twenty-eight.”
He blinked. “You look twenty-eight.”
Yeah, and she’d keep on looking that way—for a long time to come. “The power that succubi get from sexual energy—well, you see, part of that power—it renews us.”
A line appeared between his brows. “I don’t think I’m following you, baby.”
“Okay, follow this.” A quick breath. “Sex for a succubus, it’s like dipping into a fountain of youth.” And that was one of the reasons her kind were so hard to kill. Frozen forever at a perfect age of health and vitality—yeah, it was hard to take ’em down.
His eyes widened and a soundless whistle passed from his lips. “Holy shit.” Another whistle, a quiet one this time. “You’re saying—you’re some kind of immortal?”
Something like that. “When I’m with you and we share the power, you get dipped into that fountain with me.” A pause. Okay, she was starting to sweat. “If you keep staying with me, and I don’t take, and we both exchange the power—your body will start renewing like mine.” He’d never be as strong as she was, because he hadn’t been born an incubus, but when she poured the magic and power into his body, he would renew the same way.
They wouldn’t live forever. She wasn’t a true immortal. There were few of those guys left. But she and Todd, well, they’d sure live more than their share of days together.
“Those side effects I mentioned—well, you won’t have as many gray hairs and wrinkles and—”
“You’re fucking kidding me!” He’d shot upright and astonishment was clear on his face.
Cara shook her head. “No, I’m not.”
She gave him a minute to take that in. Cara rose beside him, tugging the sheet up to cover her breasts.
His lips pursed. “Hmmm. Are women gonna start following me around now because my scent is supersexy?”
They’d better not, or she’d kick their asses. “No. The longer life span and physical appearance—those are the only changes you’ll have.” The only ones she’d ever known a human mated with one of her kind to have. The renewing power was secret and sacred, and custom dictated that it was to be shared only with the mate of a succubus or an incubus.
Todd was her mate, forever.
“So now you know another of my secrets,” she told him, and raised her chin. “And the choice to stay or go,” because it wouldn’t be easy, having a longer life when so many that surrounded him—so many that he cared for—weren’t able to walk the earth with him for those days. “That choice is yours.”
“Go?” He repeated, then he caught her arms, rolled fast, and pinned her beneath him on the bed. “Trust me, baby, there’s no going for me.” His kiss was warm and hungry. “I’m right where I want to be, with the woman I want, for the rest of my damn life.”
Her heart slammed against her chest at his words. “Are you sure? Think about it, Todd. I can’t just take from you—it’s not an option.” Long-term mating with a succubus without the exchange of power would result in death for a human. “You’ll be different. From your family, your friends.” He needed to understand the road he would take with her.
“We can end things now,” she told him. “Before you change, before anything else happens—”
“Too late.” Said simply. “I’ve already changed.”
What? No, he hadn’t—
“When I met you, I changed.” He shook his head. “I don’t ever want to go back to being the guy I was before. I want to spend the rest of my days—however many I get—with you.”
Oh, but that sounded good to her. She tried to smile, because it was either smile or start crying like a baby. “Then I guess you’re okay with my latest secret, huh?”
His lips hitched into a half-smile, a smile that showed off the dimple she loved so much. “Baby, I’m fine with all your secrets—and I know you’ve got more.”
Her breath caught. “Do you?”
“One day, I’ll discover them all.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “Every.” Another kiss. “Last.” A swipe of his tongue. “One.”
“You . . . ah . . . know my secrets.”
“Not all of them.” Whispered against her mouth. “But one day, one day I just might . . .”
Then he lowered his head and pressed his lips against the sensitive skin of her neck, and the passion Cara felt for Todd rose once again in her body.
As she arched against him, Cara realized Todd was right. She did have a few more secrets. Nothing too dangerous.
And maybe—maybe he would discover them all.
But first, well, first she’d make certain she discovered his.
She could hardly wait for the games to begin.
Good thing they had plenty of time ahead of them.
Long days, longer nights, great sex, and a few secrets.
Things might get a bit wild for her and her detective, but that would be just fine for Cara.
In fact, that was the way life for a succubus should be.
Wild, sexy ... and so damn satisfying.
Keep reading for
A sneak peek at
ETERNAL FLAME
From Cynthia Eden’s
Night Watch Series
Available now
“Miss? Miss, are you okay?”
Jana Carter hunched her shoulders at the voice. More vehicles had arrived. Cops. An ambulance. She glanced to the right and found a fresh-faced EMT staring at her.
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“Were you burned?” he asked her quietly, compassion flowing with the words.
She let her lips tremble. “N-no.” Her “hero” had disappeared. Had tall, dark, and dangerous really gone back inside the house? To save a killer?
Stupid move. His funeral.
Two cops began to approach her. Time to leave. Jana pressed her lips together and realized she still tasted the man on her mouth. Zane Wynter. Bounty hunter extraordinaire. Yes, she knew who he was. Zane’s mistake was not knowing her identity. He should have been better prepared.
Weren’t the Night Watch hunters always supposed to be prepared? Like freaking Boy Scouts? Night Watch … the multistate bounty hunting agency had a reputation for always getting the job done. Whether the agents were chasing the worst human criminals out there—or stalking the Other who’d crossed the line, they brought down their prey.
Most humans didn’t know about the Other in the world. They didn’t know about the vampires, the demons, the shifters, and the hundreds of other monsters out there on the streets. They didn’t know because they were blind.
Jana wasn’t blind. She knew the real score in this world. And she knew that her “hero” hadn’t been an average hunter, either. No, a man hadn’t hauled her out of the flames. A demon had.
Angel, my ass. She’d almost choked when she told him that one.
“Miss, I need you to get in the ambulance. I want to check you out.”
Ah, now that sounded promising. The ride in the ambulance would let her get away from the cops. Because those boys in blue were already eyeing her with too much curiosity and she really didn’t want to get into an explanation of just why she’d been in the house on Francis Street.
Jana’s knees buckled. The EMT grabbed her, and she let her lashes sag. “So … weak.” Though she’d rarely been weak in her life. Appearances could be so deceptive, but the EMT didn’t realize that.
“It’s okay!” He scooped her up and yelled for help. Seconds later, he was loading her into the back of the ambulance. The doors slammed shut behind them, and the cops were left out in the cold.
Well, with the cold—and with the flames.
The ambulance’s siren screamed on and when the vehicle lurched forward, Jana smiled.