Soulmates

by Nadine Nightingale

  I breathe hard between the kisses, savoring the feel of his tongue against mine. Moaning, I put my arms around his neck as I kiss him back, sucking on his bottom lip and longing for more.

  For a second, he pulls back. “I love the way we hate,” he whispers, grabbing a fistful of my hair and pulling my head back. He trails kisses down my throat, taking his sweet time with every spot.

  I close my eyes, aware of wetness between my legs. God, I feel higher than a kite as he grazes my bottom lip with his tongue. Yeah, I’m doing it again. I compromise myself to feel another high. Throw all my dignity out of the window to feel Alex just one more time. But I don’t care. There’s no love admission tonight, but I’ll let him take this from me, ’cause it feels right.

  Hands on my hips, he lifts me, pushing me against the door.

  I wrap my legs around his marvelous body. When he kisses me again—like there’s no tomorrow, like the world around us could burn to ashes, and we wouldn’t know it—I forget everything else.

  Alex slides his fingers down my chest, grabs the hem of my shirt, and pulls it over my head. “You have no idea how badly I want this.” His voice is hoarse and sexy.

  His hardness presses against me. A rush hits my belly, and the pulse between my legs pounds harder.

  Alex rests his forehead against mine. “How badly I want you.”

  My lips land on his. We kiss, and there’s nothing sweet or gentle about it. It’s rough and angry.

  I tug at his shirt and pull it over his head. I unbuckle his belt.

  He carries me to the bed, his chest rising and falling with excitement and longing. He steps out of his jeans. Then he’s straddling me, working on the buttons of my jeans while his tongue travels down my belly.

  My jeans are gone. My panties are soaking wet.

  I arch my back, relishing his lips on my skin. There’s no doubt in my mind. What we have is sick and twisted. Wrong for all the right reasons, but as long as the wrong feels so right, I’m in flight. I pinch my heel against his delicious ass and pull him closer.

  “Tell me what you want, Manda,” he orders, shoving his hand into my panties. “Say it,” he demands, flicking my pearl.

  I dig my nails into his back and open my legs, inviting him in. “You, Alex.” I shove his boxers down, freeing his impressive length. “I want you,” I admit, rubbing the tip.

  “I know,” he says, massaging harder.

  Fireworks explode in my belly, setting me on fire. I put my hands on his chest, push him off, and climb on top of him. I tease his erection with my tongue.

  His eyes roll back in pleasure. “Fuck.” He lays back, enjoying the pleasure my mouth gives him. He’s close, but it ain’t gonna happen yet.

  I get up and step out of my panties.

  He cusses under his breath as I sit on his hardness. His length fills me perfectly, stretching every muscle inside me.

  “Oh God,” he mutters as I ride him. Slow at first, then faster, harder. The sound of our bodies pounding against each other echoes through the apartment. The world around us ceases to exist.

  “Manda,” he whispers, cupping my breasts, pinching my nipples so hard I almost scream. “What the fuck are you doing to me?”

  I’m completely out of breath.

  Alex wraps his arms around my waist, and with one swift move, he changes our position. I lie on my back. He dives inside and rocks my world. My boobs bounce like a fucking yo-yo.

  “Don’t stop.”

  He increases the tempo. “You’re killing me.”

  Our eyes meet. The sweat on his forehead, along with that cocky to-die-for grin on his lips hits me in the heart. I’ve missed this. I’ve missed him.

  He pushes into me, forceful enough to make my eyes flutter, my heart stop, and my body shatter into a million pieces.

  “Fuck,” he mutters, coming undone.

  For a while, Alex stays on top of me. Then he rests his head on my chest, allowing me to run a hand through his hair. Time passes. No one speaks. No one moves. We hardly even breathe.

  After what feels like a lifetime of silence, Alex rolls onto his side. “Manda?”

  “Hm?” I murmur, looking at the ceiling.

  He traces kisses down my collarbone. “I really do love the way we hate.”

  I close my eyes and let him pull me close. The heat radiating from his body warms my heart. Knowing he’ll die freezes my soul.

  Chapter 32

  Three days to hell

  When I wake up, I don’t smell coffee, scrambled eggs, or bacon. I inhale the unmistakable scent of regret. I want to stay in bed, keep my eyes closed, and forget last night ever happened. I learned a long time ago to face my mistakes. To never run from what I did, ’cause at some point—when you least expect it—shit comes back, biting you in the ass. It’s better to deal with whatever crap you’ve produced before it turns into karma.

  I slowly blink my eyes open. The space next to me is empty. Alex sits at the small kitchen table, nose buried in the files he got from JJ. “Morning,” he says as I throw the blankets away and sit up. “Sleep well?”

  “Yeah,” I murmur, totally aware he’s staring at my back. “You?”

  Alex’s footsteps echo through the room. Moments later, he presses his full lips against my alerted skin. “Better than in a very long time.”

  He trails kisses down my neck. My heart skips several beats. Geez, what’s with him? Shouldn’t he be all what-the-fuck-did-I-do, rather than can-we-pick-up-where-we-left-off?

  I lean down and grab my clothes from the floor. The ones I can find. “I need a shower,” I choke out, walking to the bathroom.

  Alex stands in front of me in no time.

  Quick son of a bitch.

  “Manda,” he says, cupping my chin. “There’s something I gotta say.”

  “What?” I didn’t mean to snap at him, but my emotions are all over the place. I can’t think straight.

  He smiles. “I…”

  Should have never screwed you?

  “We…”

  Made a mistake?

  Some of the mischievous sparkle of last night is back in his gaze. “I’d do it again,” he finally says.

  My eyes go wide. My freaking jaw drops to the floor. I’m that close to asking him if he screwed out his brain cells last night when a loud knock on the door makes me jump.

  “Alex? Manda?”

  JJ. Great.

  Alex ignores her. “Would you?”

  “I—”

  “Alex?” JJ yells louder. “You in there?”

  She’s probably going to barge in any second, and I’d rather not have her see me naked. “I gotta take a shower,” I say, pulling away and slamming the bathroom door behind me.

  I stay in there for as long as I can, letting the hot water wrinkle my skin. Looking like a granny is definitely better than coming face to face with Alex. To be completely honest, I even consider running. I mean, I’d do it again? How the fuck could he say something like that when we both know it was a mistake? People do strange things when death knocks on their door. Yeah, I shouldn’t take it too seriously. I’m pretty sure he’ll change his mind about it if, and that’s a big if, he makes it out of this alive.

  Not in the mood for makeup, I get dressed and twist my wet hair up in a bun, securing it with more than a dozen bobby pins before I unlock the bathroom door.

  “Hey,” JJ says, a stupid grin on her face as I stumble into the living room. “Thought you drowned in there.”

  They both stare at me, and I kinda wish I had drowned. “Whatcha doing?” I ask, trying to change the topic.

  Alex hovers over a stack of files. “Trying to figure out what George found that got him killed and how your boy, Bay, is involved in all of this.”

  I blow out a frustrated breath and stroll toward them. “So we’re back on the Bay is dangerous track, huh?”

  JJ shoves cold coffee my way. God, I hate the way she looks back and forth between Alex and me. It’s obvious she knows what went down la
st night.

  “He is dangerous,” Alex murmurs, pointing to a few crime scene photos laid out on the table. To say the pictures are gruesome would be trivialization. All the victims died the same way—ripped torso. Like Mister Sinister. Whatever killed them also left a mark—a sigil. My money is on demons.

  I take a sip of the delicious black gold and lean against the table. “Look, I get it’s weird that these people were slaughtered like pigs and all, but to me it looks like a demon is responsible. And while it may be a super-freaky coincidence, the guy who pointed me toward the missing kids in Bakersfield is now here, it doesn’t mean he’s a demon.”

  “He what?” Alex’s voice has a deadly ring to it.

  Shit, I never mentioned that, did I? “Remember that night in Texas when I hit a bar and slept in the car?”

  Alex nods.

  “Bay was the bartender. He told me all about the missing kids.”

  Alex’s eyes narrow. “And you didn’t think to tell me?”

  I cock a brow. “Why would I? It’s not like you and I were on great speaking terms back then. Besides, Bay isn’t a killer.”

  Alex pushes his chair back and presses his hands against the table. I think he tries not to strangle me. “You barely know the man.”

  I frown. “I’m a witch, remember? I can read people…Sense evil.” Well, I could read people. I didn’t exactly sense the demons at Rick’s Cabaret, but still.

  “Ever thought the fact you like him clouds your witch judgment?” He sounds angry. Furious, to be exact.

  My mood is already lower than low, and him yelling at me doesn’t help at all. “This is ridiculous,” I snap. “My judgment is fine, but you might wanna check your hunter senses.”

  JJ rolls her eyes. “Don’t you think it’s time you tell her the truth, Alex?”

  I fold my arms and eyeball her. “Why do I get the feeling I’m missing something here?”

  Alex shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter.”

  “The hell it doesn’t, Alex. I put my whole life on hold. I think I deserve the fuckin’ truth.”

  JJ gives me a look I can’t quite read. “She’s right.” She glares at Alex. “Either you tell her, or I will.”

  Alex draws a deep breath and scrubs a hand over his face. “You guys are killing me.” Moments go by before he speaks. “Bay…”

  “Yeah?”

  He fists his hair. “Well, he’s…”

  JJ sighs. “He’s a hunter, Manda.”

  My knees go weak, and my breath catches in my throat. “He’s…a…hunter?” I shake my head. “Impossible. I would have sensed it.” My witch senses might be a little rusty lately, but back in Texas they worked just fine.

  Alex threads his fingers through mine. “Manda.” His voice is so serious my heart starts racing. “Bay isn’t a witch hunter.”

  I squint. “He’s not?”

  JJ is on her feet, too. “You’ve seen the tats on his arm, right?”

  I think of the religious symbols and nod.

  Alex scoops two fingers under my trembling chin. “Those tats are the mark of the Malleus Maleficarum Order.”

  Last time I checked, Malleus Maleficarum was a book, more commonly known as Hammer of the Witches. Some German dude wrote it in 1486 as a prosecution guide for witches. He pretty much unleashed hell on earth for my kind with that crap.

  JJ flings herself on the table. “Long story short: it’s a secret hunter organization, specializing in killing Knights of Hell. But the sons of bitches are reckless and never show mercy.”

  Alex’s eyes lock on mine. “They’re not like us, Manda.” He pauses. “Last year, they killed a whole coven in Kansas because they believed they worked with a demon.”

  “It was a massacre,” JJ adds. “They didn’t even stop at the kids.”

  My chest tightens. “Are you serious?”

  Alex squeezes my hand. “I once ran into their leader.” His expression darkens. “A dude everyone calls Legend. Let me tell you, he ain’t playing around.”

  Legend? Oh. My. God. That’s why the tattoos on Bay’s arm looked so familiar. Legend, the customer who stalked me, had the same markings. I remember what he’d said to me at the Landmark. I have a business proposition for you. Then I hear Jesse’s voice. Carter said a couple of hunters are looking for you. Man, I am so fucked.

  “What do you think he wants from me?” My voice comes out broken.

  Alex shrugs. “I don’t know, Manda.”

  I look at JJ. “No idea,” she says. “But they have no honor. They kill everything standing between them and a demon.”

  “They might have killed George, too,” Alex explains.

  I stomp to the nightstand and grab the keys to the Mustang.

  “Hey,” Alex yells as I’m marching to the door. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  I tighten my death-grip on the doorknob. “I’m going to find Bay.”

  He blocks my path. “The hell you will,” he barks, hand around my wrist. “You’ll get yourself killed.”

  I give him a look. “Let. Go.” I’ve been in the dark too long. It’s about time I step into the light again.

  “Okay.” He knows there’s no going back once I make up my mind. “But you’re not going alone. I’m coming with you.”

  Arguing with him would be pointless. I yank the door open. “Let’s go then.”

  JJ laughs. “Alex?”

  He peers over his shoulder.

  “Sure she ain’t your soulmate?”

  I fight the urge to hit her and walk outta there before I hear his most definitely insulting answer.

  Chapter 33

  Winter Harbor has a population of one thousand. In such a close-knit community, it was a piece of cake to find Bay’s family home. I park the car down the street and glare. There are exactly five houses, and they all look alike. Nice fences, overwhelming Christmas decorations—I’d been ignoring the season until now—and white paint. The dude lives in Pleasantville. Isn’t that just fan-freaking-tastic?

  Alex rubs his jaw. “You sure about this?” he asks as we approach the porch. “This could be a trap.”

  I’m not sure about anything anymore, so I ignore the question and ring the bell.

  In my peripheral vision, Alex reaches for his Berretta. What’s he gonna do? Shoot a fellow hunter? “Alex, put that—”

  The door swings open and a sweet, blue-eyed girl looks up at us. She’s the spitting image of her brother—same eyes, same irresistible smile—but instead of a shaved head, she has long blonde curls and tattoo-free skin.

  Alex shoves his Beretta back in the holster and frowns. This hunter obviously does have issues with killing innocent kids.

  “Can I help you?” Her voice is so sweet she sounds a bit like Laa-Laa from the Teletubbies.

  I wipe sweaty palms on my jeans. “We’re looking for Bay. Is he home?”

  “Sure.” She pivots. “Bay! You’ve got visitors.”

  Bay is in the hallway in no time. I ogle his bare chest and low-hanging jeans. Malleus Maleficarum Order member or not—the guy is mesmerizing.

  “Amanda?” He sounds surprised. “What are you doing here?”

  “We”—I point my head at Alex—“need to talk to you.”

  “Come on in,” his sister says, eyeballing Alex as if he’s the cover model of Seventeen magazine.

  Bay narrows his eyes at jerk-face. He’s not happy about his sister’s offer but approves nevertheless. “You heard her.”

  Alex goes first, shielding me from Bay. There’s nothing like seeing hunter-heroic in action. I tread on his heels like a moron.

  Bay’s hand lands on his sister’s shoulder. “Sunny.” She looks at her brother. “Why don’t you check on the lasagna? Mom will freak if we let it burn.”

  Sunny doesn’t want to leave. She’d much rather stare at Alex a little longer. The girl has taste.

  “Now,” Bay orders, realizing his sister crushing hard on jerk-face.

  Her angelic expression darkens. “Y
ou sound just like Mom,” the kid complains and stalks away.

  Bay waits till she’s gone then waves us over. “Follow me.” He leads us to a small living room. There’s a lit fireplace, a cozy sofa, and plenty of unnecessary Christmas decorations. Nothing in here suggests the guy is a crazy, kid-killing lunatic. Then again, Walter’s lake house didn’t scream child-pornography-ring-dungeon either.

  Bay blocks the exit. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

  Now what? I can’t just ask him if he’s a freaking demon hunter, can I? I look at Alex for help, but he shakes his head, as if to say “don’t look at me this was your idea.”

  “Amanda?” Bay’s clearly not the patient type. “Want to tell me why you’re here?”

  I look him in the eye. The dude lied to me and probably stalked me. No way he gets to play the clueless card. “I think you know exactly why we’re here, Bay. Or should I say, demon hunter?”

  Alex’s gaze flies to me. “One day,” he mumbles, hand on his gun, “that mouth of yours is going to get us both killed.”

  Bay is rigid. He sorta stares at me as if I just walked out of Halloweentown. “I-I—”

  “You what?” I bark, balling my fists. “You thought I wouldn’t get to the bottom of your little charade?”

  His shoulders sink. “It’s not what you think.”

  I laugh. “Oh really? ’Cause right now I’m thinking you and your pal, Legend, are tailing me.”

  Alex’s mouth snaps open. “What?”

  I didn’t want Alex to know about any of this. It’s too late, though. “That Legend dude approached me in New York,” I say. “Said he had a business proposal for me.” I face Bay. “I’m beginning to think that was a whole lot of bullshit. Especially since I heard a bunch of hunters are out looking for me.”

  The blood drains from Alex’s face. “How do you―”

  “Carter,” I mutter. “He told Jesse.”

  “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?” Rage flames in Alex’s eyes.

  I frown. “Dunno, Alex. Maybe because I figured you had enough on your plate.”

  “Enough on his plate?” Bay interrupts. The guy is brave, considering Alex and I are on the brink of killing someone.

  I snap my head in Bay’s direction. “You don’t get to ask questions, understand?” Alex opens his mouth, but I cut him off. “And you don’t get to scold me for not telling you everything when all you did was lie to me. Are we clear?”