by Sarra Cannon
“What a way to live,” Sera muttered.
“Yeah, but usually the vampires endure this for a half century, then their maker starts to lose a hold on them. Phage, from what I’ve gathered, have a similar tie to their makers.” A movie poster from a 1970s thriller appeared on the screen, entitled ZOMBIES. Talon didn’t recognize the film and snorted at Meg’s analogy. “But, apparently, they’re more like zombies. They don’t have rationale thoughts, only a deep hunger and a need to obey their makers. The phage are super secretive about their newbies, but it seems they don’t achieve higher brain function again until their maker gives it to them through a direct command.”
“And if their makers never give it to them?” A stab ran down Talon’s spine, killing the last echoes of his desire, even with Sera resting in his lap.
“They stay puppets. Creepy, huh?” She flicked to a phage press release. “Definitely not something they’re spreading around.”
“So you think the blackmailer is responsible for directing newbies, either vamps or phage, to do his dirty work?” Talon pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s a good theory, but hell if you’re right.”
“Tell me about it.” Meg’s furious tapping clicked along the computer’s speakers. “And it gets worse. I went over some M.O.s with Slick earlier. Phage have political motivations for blackmail since they’re trying to get government recognition of their kind. However, they also have some problems amongst their own kind. Civil unrest, disputes, yada yada.”
“Seven hells, how many potential suspects are we dealing with?”
“Not done, I’m afraid. Veritas aren’t unmotivated either.” She flashed a picture of Strife and an article condemning Veritas as a violent secret society. “Turns out Veritas has a long history with phage. FYI we’re talking a major bitter war between the two. So it wouldn’t surprise me if Veritas tried to sabotage the phage coming out party.”
Sera rose, threw up her hands, and screamed, “What the hell does any of this have to do with me?”
Anger pulsed like a living thing from her every pore. Talon felt it flowing off her in hot waves. He clamped a hand around her wrist, dragging her down to the chair. “Sera, I’m here. You’re not alone.” She shook. “We’ll figure it out. This is what we do.” He lifted Sera and placed her against the chair’s pillow. Standing, he put in the decryption sequence and scanned his cell. “Meg, I’m going to text you orders along the same encrypted channel. Forward it to the team. I want them in District 8 ASAP. Then, we’ll track down this blackmailer.” He looked up into a web cam in the wall, so Meg would see the command reflected in his eyes. “I’ll be meeting them there once I can ensure Sera’s protection here.”
“No.” Sera caught his arm and tugged at him. “I’m not staying here while other people are put in danger.”
“You are in danger, Sera.” He seared her with a hard stare. “And I won’t have you in the crossfire.”
“I haven’t seen my father in a long time, but I could get more information from him than your agents,” Sera said. Her hand trailed up his chest to rest over his heart. “If it’ll help with the investigation, I want to go.”
“Sera.” Talon’s tone shifted low, a bear’s cautionary growl. “That’s not acceptable.” He rubbed his jaw. A light stretch of stubble scraped his roughened palm. “If the Senator is being blackmailed, he may be in more trouble than we know. I won’t put you in harm’s way.”
“You can’t keep me from seeing my father. I’m not a prisoner here, am I?” She raised her hand higher to tangle in his hair.
“No,” he admitted. A strong surge of desire raced through him at her touch. He stifled a groan.
“Good.” She tugged his black mane, causing him to bend and meet her eyes. A slash of gold cut across her deep chocolate gaze. “Then, I’m going.”
The growl escaped him. “I’m not leaving you unprotected.”
“Glad to hear it.” She released him and stepped back. “I was willing to go on my own. But, if you come, I’ll be well protected. And you’ll have no reason to say no.”
A high-pitched laugh bounced off the walls. “She’s got you there, Talon.”
He scrubbed a hand along his chin. “I don’t like it, but,” he held up two hands in defeat, “Meg, send us the location of her father’s office and inform District 8’s team of the plans. I want a heavy arsenal of backup in the vicinity if we need it.”
“You got it.” His cell buzzed again. “A turbo plane will meet you in the airfield. Our team will need the jet this time.” She flicked a countdown clock onto the screen. “I’ll make the arrangements. Let’s set it for oh-eight-hundred hours. Better get some rest ‘til then.”
“Yeah, thanks.” He powered down the computer and re-engaged the system.
A simmer curled along the shutdown unit. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Meg.” Talon’s eyes shot toward the hidden webcam. Her fading laughter provided a musical background.
“I like her.” Sera wrapped her arms around him and pressed her cheek against his chest. He stared down at her, desire burning through him as if it never left. A shy smile lit her face. “So...what do you want to do for the next six hours?”
His mind raced with images of what he wanted to do. But emotions crawled at him, shattering the erotic thoughts. Feelings were a liability and the consequences too costly.
“Just stay in here. Don’t move.” His mother implored, her voice breaking on unshed tears.
“Okay, mama. I promise.” Talon crouched in the corner beside his bed. His muscles ached as long minutes of silence stiffened his resolve. He would not move. He would not scream. Mama told him not too.
Talon pulled Sera’s arms free of his waist. His lust had gone cold with the memories. “You’ve had a crazy couple of days. I don’t want to take advantage of your feelings.” He put more distance between them, extracting his shirt from the couch cushions. “Besides, I have a responsibility to protect you. We can’t have...” He fumbled for the word, buying time by pulling his shirt over his head. Lust, desire, attraction. Anyone of them would fit, but he feared it just scratched the surface of his emotions. He couldn’t go down that road. Ever. “Distractions.”
“No. Wouldn’t want that.” The fire in the hearth died out. It swept the room in darkness as night descended.
He heard the strain in her voice and a weight pressed on his heart at the thought of hurting her. He reached out for her in the darkness, but stopped before he reached her. “Engage lights,” he said as he wandered back to the panel. Without looking at Sera, he headed for the stairs. From the bottom step, he called, “I’m going to take a shower. Food’s in the kitchen. Your bedroom is above, third from the left.”
She didn’t say anything. As he climbed the elegant staircase, he felt like a coward running from the one thing, the one person he wanted more than anything. His past chained him worse than any prison bars.
Once atop the second floor, he strode to the bathroom and put the shower on full blast. He’d been to the safe house on several occasions and had reveled in the home’s sleek amenities. Today, he was merely grateful for the ice water pouring down in sheets from the shower’s silver spout. He shed his clothes and cursed as he stepped under the punishing spray.
The arctic chill helped to ease his damnable lust, but it couldn’t alleviate the ache in his chest. He had to find a way to make her understand without injuring her feelings. He flipped the water off, toweled dry and hunted down clean clothes from a bedroom closet.
With heavy steps, he descended the stairs barefoot and searched for her on the first floor. A charred scent assailed his nose when he walked along the corridor. The house’s alarm system flared warning beeps. He picked up the pace. A repugnant aroma filled the air. “Sera?” he called. The kitchen stove erupted in three-foot flames. He hardly spared it a glance as his eyes swept the room. He found her standing rigid in a corner. Her entire body flickered gold.
His senses returned at the si
ght of her. He dove for the fire extinguisher. The security system activated the sprinklers. A steady flow from the overhead pipes doused the kitchen as he worked the pressurized handle along the outer edge of the oven. It sprayed the flames in a white sheet. With the fire out, he shifted his attention to Sera.
Water lapped at her, darkening her honey amber hair to a light brown. The blaze licked along her arms and legs like a second skin even through the thick stream. She stood tall and stoic, shining as a goddess bathed in fire and water.
Talon’s feet moved of their own accord. Every ounce of good sense screamed at him to halt, to leave her in that state. His treacherous body hardened, crying out for her as if she alone could soothe its ache with her light.
“No,” she cried, holding up her hand. “Don’t come any closer.”
He didn’t stop, didn’t even slow, the compulsion to be near her cutting away his good sense. His jeans soaked up to the knees. Puddles sloshed along the tiled floor. The alarm system cut off. The water pooled around them. Her fire heated the kitchen, creating a steaming mist that leapt along the wall. A deep golden hue circled her irises, painting flames within the pupils.
“I can’t stay away from you.” He stood within her reach, close enough for her to step into his arms, but far enough for her to run if she so chose. “I’ve tried. I know it’s not right. I know we hardly know each other. I know you’re a part of this case. But I can’t stop wanting you.” When she didn’t move, he inched closer. Her fire grazed his skin like a lover’s caress. He leaned into it, wanting to be burned by her touch. “And tonight if you’ll have me, I’ll show you exactly what we can do in six hours.”
Chapter 16
SAFE HOUSE BETA, SECRET LOCATION
Sera’s insides melted. Her stomach knotted into a pretzel. Flames danced along her skin like thousands of tiny fireflies. She didn’t need to direct or control them, they moved like a natural extension of her. Her entire being reached out for Talon, her fire embracing him in its fold.
Talon rose over her like an ancient warrior. Chiseled muscles tightened under his soaked shirt and jeans. His bright eyes deepened to an ocean blue. The tides reflected smoldering desire. Her mind warred with the needs of her body. She tried to pull the fire from him, fearing he’d burn up. It refused to budge, instead wrapping around his forearms and pulling him closer.
“I don’t want to hurt you.” Tears sprang to her eyes unbidden. She fought back, refusing to let them fall.
He didn’t speak, but as he shed his shirt and crushed her to his bared chest, he spoke the answer louder than words. “You won’t hurt me, Sera. We both know that.” His hands stroked her back, easing the tension between them and at the same time feeding the flames. “Your fire feels like hot water. It doesn’t burn.”
Energy crackled around them in the air, in their bodies. It sizzled in their blood. A faint cry of alarm escaped as fear seized her. He caught the sound with his mouth. Her thoughts shattered. His kiss grew deeper and more demanding as his tongued darted between her lips. She arched into him, reveling in the hard muscle and smooth skin in her hands. The combined water from his shower and the alarm’s sprinklers slathered over his body like a cooling balm. She yearned to know the feel of it skin to skin and stepped back to rid herself of her oppressive clothes. The tattered sweater weighed her down, dripping wet. She yanked it over her head and tossed it aside.
The motion brought his eyes skimming over her breasts. The lacy cotton bra blocked his view and chafed her skin as her nipples drew into taut peaks. He smiled and encircled her face in his hands, stealing her breath away with the depth of his gaze. “You’re far more than I deserve. Beautiful in a way I can’t describe and never could have imagined.” He bent his head to nip at her ear and trail a hot path along her neck. “You make me lose all reason.”
“Talon.” She cried out as his tongue darted lower to trace slow swirls over the lacy material. “Please.”
He grunted in response and cupped her bottom, hoisting her atop the counter. She wrapped her legs around his waist and tangled her hands in his hair. A feral growl echoed through the kitchen as Talon’s teeth sharpened. He stared at her with an animal’s primal hunger. His long incisors nipped the cotton bra into shreds, but never touched her skin. Her breasts sprang free, heavy and aching.
Sera jerked back, fearful of that sudden vulnerability and uncertain of Talon’s control. She let her legs fall to the side and her arms brace the counter. Her head almost smacked against the cabinet, but he caught her neck in his roughened palm before impact. “Easy.” He edged her forward, pressing her breasts against the wall of his chest. “I’d never hurt you, Sera.”
She inhaled, willing her pounding heart to slow its rhythm. “I’m a little nervous,” she admitted, holding his head in a firm grip. “I haven’t really done this before...except that one time.”
“If you want to stop at any time, just say the word and I will.” He nuzzled her shoulder. His eyes rose to meet hers. “I’m not going to do anything you don’t want. Okay?”
Biting her lip, she swam through her thoughts, searching for an anchor. Guy, for all his pestering, provided a solid rock to which she could fix her mind. Although she appreciated this rare privacy—cause who the heck wanted him around in these circumstances—she needed something to sort the chaos. Trust yourself. The stray sound wafted along her consciousness. She didn’t know who it was or where it came from, Guy, her mysterious grandfather, herself. It didn’t matter. She had her answer.
“Okay,” she said, smiling as she loosened her hold on Talon’s head and wrapped her arms around his neck. “No more animal parts though.”
He greeted her smile with one of his own and showed her a set of gorgeous—and perfectly normal—white teeth. “Fair enough.” He laughed and bent to lavish his attention on her breasts.
She braced her hands against his firm shoulders as his tongue danced along one aching peak. Blood rushed to the surface when his hand found her other breast, pinching and stroking in gentle patterns. Desire consumed her and a throbbing need pulsed between her legs.
Talon fed the hunger by lifting her from the counter and guiding her legs around his waist once more. Without a word, he carried her from the water soaked kitchen to the comfortable dry living room. Setting her atop the arm of the couch, he knelt before her. With infinite slowness, he peeled off her drenched socks and undid the button of her denim skirt. Nodding to the fireplace, he said, “Want to light that for us?”
“Really?” she said, distracted by his wandering hands.
“Go for it.” He grinned, raising her to a standing position so he could slide the skirt down her legs.
Standing in nothing but a pair of turquoise panties, she concentrated on building the heat into the palm of her hand. Not the easiest of tasks when Talon brushed his fingers along the backs of her calves. Her knees buckled when he reached her thighs. The flames shot from her fingers across the room, luckily landing on the ashen log. It lit the hearth in an abundance of warmth.
Talon guided her to the sofa’s plush cushions. “Well done.” He motioned for her to recline as he took a seat on the floor.
“What are you doing?” She sat up. Her confidence in her abilities grew with his support, but she had no idea what he intended or if she’d be able to control her power without hurting him.
“Trust me.” He pushed her gently down and pulled one of her legs into his lap. He began to massage her ankle with assured strokes while kissing the inside of her thigh. When his hand moved up to her knee, he gave the same consideration to her other leg. Lost in the pleasure of his ministrations, she didn’t flinch when he stopped and moved his hands to her waist. It wasn’t until he ran his tongue over her thin wet panties that she cried out. “Talon?”
“It’s alright, Sera. Trust me.” He drew the slender material down her legs with one finger. The other hand held her in place while his tongue stroked liquid need. Her hips bucked against his mouth, soft moans drawn from her throat.
She fought the rising tide, too afraid to let go. “I can’t.” An inferno ignited her skin. Her insides melted. She wanted it to go on forever, and yet, she desperately needed relief. Her muscles tightened like coiled springs. “I can’t.”
He released her from the onslaught of his tongue and murmured against her thigh. Slowly, gently he inserted one long finger into her moist center. The friction of his touch upon her inner walls sent her soaring. When he drove another finger inside, increasing the pace, and surrounded her sensitive nub with his lips, she screamed his name.
A cascade of heat tumbled through her and exploded in waves of gold and red. The flames danced in front of her eyes, making her vision swim with colors. The fire’s crackling song lulled her in and, for a moment, she drowned in the blaze.
As her blood cooled, leaving behind a pleasant hum, her head shot up in alarm. “Talon?”
“Right here.” He knelt on the floor. His head rested against her soft stomach. He smiled at her with gentleness, but his eyes revealed his hunger.
“I didn’t burn you.” Relief flooded her soul, even as need began to build once more in her body.
“Oh make no mistake. You burn me, Sera.” He rose to sit on the couch still covered by his worn jeans. He dragged her atop him. Her long legs straddled his thighs. “But I’m enjoying it.”
She sucked in a breath of air, shocked at how he could stir her desire. Through the straining cotton, his hard shaft rested between the apex of her thighs, an alluring invitation to new pleasures. Gathering her courage, she leaned into him and whispered into his ear, “Then show me everything.”
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