Angels of Bourbon Street (Jade Calhoun Series: Book 4)

by Deanna Chase

  “Have a good night,” Gwen called as she tugged Mom behind her.

  At the door, Mom paused and met my penetrating stare. She had information she didn’t want to give up, and she needed to know our conversation wasn’t over.

  She took a calming breath. “I’ll have the answers for you in the morning. I…” She swallowed. “It’s been a lot of years, honey. Your father…” She swallowed again and pushed her dark bangs out of her eyes. “There are a few things you need to know, but I need a night to put my thoughts in order. Do you understand?”

  I found myself nodding, even though I had no clue what she was talking about. He was my father. I deserved to know whatever she knew. But if she needed one night, I could wait that long. It wasn’t like we could do anything about it at two in the morning anyway.

  “Thank you. Get some sleep. I’ll keep Gwen away until at least noon.”

  I smiled. Gwen was an early riser, and brunch in her world was at nine. “I appreciate that. It’s been a long day.”

  “Goodnight.” Mom inclined her head and then scooted out the door after Gwen.

  “Finally,” Kane breathed. Then he grinned. “Ready for bed?”

  “Yes.” But I didn’t get up. I wrapped my hands tighter around his neck.

  He eyed the buffet of dessert on the table. “Do you want to bring any of these?”

  I glanced over and shook my head, not at all hungry. Not even for the tiramisu.

  He arched one eyebrow. “You sure?”

  “Positive.” My mind was spinning with half a dozen wickedly hungry thoughts, but none of them included food. “Just take me to bed.”

  “Hang on.” He gracefully rose to his feet, still clutching me in his arms. Glancing down at the cakes, he shook his head. “I thought I’d never see the day you’d turn down a chance to lick tiramisu off—”

  I crushed my lips to his, silencing his thought. Desire coiled in my center and heat burned from everywhere I touched him. Breathless, I pulled back. “I only want to taste you.”

  Chapter 14

  Kane eased back, his chest heaving as he breathed heavily against my lips.

  I stared into his intense eyes, my insides turning liquid at the desire smoldering there. “I thought you were ready to take me to bed?” I asked, my voice low and husky.

  “I am. Believe me, I’m ready.” Slowly, he lowered me until my feet touched the cool hardwood floors. He leaned in and touched his forehead to mine. “It’s been an awful day, love. Maybe it’s better if we slow down.”

  He slid his hands up my back, his touch so light, so familiar, so agonizing because I wanted him touching me everywhere all at once.

  I shivered.

  “Are you cold?” He pulled me against him, intensifying the heat already claiming my pulsing body.

  “No.”

  “You have goose bumps.” With sure hands, he stroked my bare arms as if to warm me.

  I nodded, his touch sparking over my skin like a live wire. Why was he not recognizing the effect he had on me? “Kane…” I swallowed then bit down on my bottom lip as I stared at his tempting mouth. His gaze mimicked mine, and I slowly moved my tongue over my lower lip.

  He took in a sharp breath. “Babe, it’s been an awful day.”

  “You said that before.” I clutched his biceps and gazed up at him. “I don’t want to slow down. I want your touch to take it all away. Make me feel something other than fear.” I pressed my lips to his, kissing him softly. Then I stilled and whispered, “Make it so I’m only thinking of you.”

  His whole body tensed, and he circled his arms around me, pressing me tight to his chest. I let go of the breath I’d been holding and melted against him, hugging tight. He buried his face into my neck and after a moment he pressed his lips lightly to my collarbone and slowly worked his way up until he nibbled just below my ear. “You’re mine, pretty witch. Forever. Don’t ever forget it.”

  I dug my fingers into his shoulders, holding on. Against the warmth of his neck, I said, “Show me.”

  His hand came up and tangled in my hair as his other hand tightened around me, molding me to him. He clutched harder, letting out a muffled groan. Then his grip loosened, and the slight pressure of his hands left a trail as he worked his way under my shirt. Every place he touched me heated, and a familiar hum took over deep in my core.

  Unable to hold back any longer, I opened my mouth and darted my tongue out, tasting the hollow of his throat. My head swam from his male musk mixing with his fresh rain scent. His breath hitched and his hands shifted, clutching my ass as he lifted me up. My legs came around him, and I pressed myself to his solid frame. Then next thing I knew, he was carrying me down the hall.

  Pressing me to the door, he kissed me, his tongue sweeping over mine in an all-encompassing possession. My bones started to melt.

  Yes.

  My mind quieted as my world narrowed to all things Kane—his intoxicating scent, the rough feel of his caress on my bare skin, his hard body demanding my attention. I was in the only place I wanted to be—in the arms of the man I loved.

  With one hand gripping my thigh, Kane moved the other up my side until his thumb connected with the base of my breast. A low moan escaped from the back of my throat, and my hand came down clutching the doorknob.

  “I want to see all of you,” I said and slowly turned the knob until it clicked.

  Kane heard it and pushed me into the room. One kick and the door swung closed, leaving us in total privacy. Finally.

  I snaked my hands under his shirt, and his muscles tensed and rippled under my touch. I smiled into our kiss. I felt him smile back.

  “Off,” I commanded, gripping the hem of his shirt.

  He grinned. “Anything you say.” But instead of releasing me so I could undress him, his hands found the edge of my shirt and slipped beneath the cotton. His fingers rested lightly on my waist as he pulled back and gazed into my eyes.

  Love. That was what I saw shining back at me. My chest squeezed, emotion piling up inside me, making me want to cry from the sheer intensity of it.

  His expression turned hungry, determined. His hands came up my sides in a steady, controlled movement as he lifted me off him and placed me gently on my feet. Still keeping eye contact, he turned and sat on the bed, positioning me so I was standing nestled between his thighs.

  I pulled his hands over his head. As I tugged his shirt up, I whispered in a very soft voice, “I said, this needs to come off.”

  Free of his shirt, I stared down at Kane, admiring his well-defined chest. I pressed my hand to his rapidly beating heart and sighed with the knowledge that this was forever. He was mine in every way, and I was his.

  Kane placed a solid hand over mine and then brought my fingers to his lips. “It never slows down, you know.”

  “What doesn’t?”

  “The way it beats when you’re touching me. Some days, I feel like it’s going to jump right out of my chest.” Lowering my hand, he placed it flat against his heart once more as if to prove his statement.

  My stomach fluttered. In answer, I placed his other hand over my own erratically beating heart and sucked in a breath when his thumb caressed the swell of my breast. I arched into his hand, my body suddenly aflame once more.

  “Jade,” Kane whispered and dropped his hands to my waist, yanking me closer. An instant later my shirt lay on the floor and Kane’s lips were pressed between my breasts, devouring the exposed skin as he worked the front closure of my bra open. The fabric fell away, and I stilled as Kane cupped me and gently teased both nipples.

  Sensation flooded me. I tossed my head back and sucked in a ragged breath.

  “You’re so damned beautiful,” he muttered and leaned in, wrapping his lips around one nipple.

  “Oh, God.” I clutched his shoulders, trying to keep upright as my knees went weak.

  His teeth teased until both of my nipples were hard. One hand shifted to my calf and slowly made its way up my leg beneath my skirt.

&n
bsp; “Kane…” Everything pulsed, right down to my toes. I wanted him anywhere and everywhere.

  “Hmm.” His mouth never left my breast as his arm wrapped around me and pulled me closer. I arched, pressing my breast into his willing mouth. The teasing stopped, and as he sucked harder, my knees buckled. But he held me up long enough to reposition us so I was straddling his lap, my skirt bunched up around my waist.

  I could feel him, hard and ready through his jeans. Kane rocked me into him, his hands bracing my back. I stared down into his eyes and moved against him.

  “I love it when you do that,” he said, his voice hoarse.

  “This?” I pressed forward, creating more of that wonderful friction between us.

  He let out a breath and met my slow pace but shook his head. “That’s not what I meant.” His breathing quickened, but he kept his movements achingly slow. “I love it when you stare at me through those eyes. Eyes I know are just for me.”

  “Oh, that,” I breathed. “Yeah, but this is better.” I pushed him back onto the bed and dropped my hands to work the button of his jeans. He flipped me before I could get past the top button.

  “No, sweetheart. Tonight is all about you.” He rolled to his side and ran a gentle hand down the center of my chest, coming to a stop at the top of my skirt, his fingers teasing the exposed skin just above the waistline.

  My stomach quivered with anticipation. Kane had really good hands. Exceptional ones. The type that knew what they were doing. And knew how to torture a girl into blessed bliss. I swallowed, trying not to quiver as his hand traveled to my bare thigh, inching its way toward the pulsing need at my center.

  I closed my eyes, letting him take control, and gasped as his palm cupped me and kneaded against my sex. I twisted, desperate to feel him, all of him against me and reached for his jeans once more.

  At my touch, a small shudder rippled through him. He crushed his mouth against mine, his fingers still pressing against me, driving the pressure higher. I rocked against him, lost in his touch. Then he pulled back.

  I whimpered, feeling the aching loss deep inside. A loss that didn’t have anything to do with the pulsing between my thighs. I propped up on my elbows. “Kane?”

  He stood before me, his molten eyes raking down my mostly naked body. His eyes closed and he took a deep, steadying breath. “I just need a moment.”

  My skin chilled, and I wrapped my arms over my chest, covering myself.

  Kane’s eyes fluttered open and he moved over me, gently pulled my arms away. “Sorry,” he whispered into my ear as he positioned my arms above my head. “I needed to collect myself. Your touch drives me insane.”

  I smiled at that. “I like driving you insane.”

  “I know.” He kissed a trail over the crest of my breast, lingering over my aching nipple long enough to tear another groan from the back of my throat. Moving lower, he paused at my hips, wrapping his big hands around me, then gently stripped the rest of my garments, leaving me totally exposed before him.

  “Your turn.” I admired his bare chest and moved my gaze lower, taking in his jeans riding low on his hips and the indents of his narrow waist. All I wanted to do was touch him. My fingers itched with it.

  He shook his head. “Not yet.” He kneeled on the floor, his hands once again resting on my hips. “I have something else in mind first.” With one tug, he pulled me to the edge of the bed. His head bent, lips connecting with the tender flesh of my inner thigh as his fingers inched closer to my center.

  “Oh,” I said, my voice hoarse. “I like the way you think.”

  A deep chuckle sounded from his chest. A second later his finger slipped into me. I clutched at the bed, my head back and eyes closed, concentrating on his magical touch. Slow at first, he worked his mouth, nibbling and teasing where my leg met my hip as he pressed his finger into me.

  Holy Jesus. My mind blanked as my entire existence shifted to pure need. My hips jerked, wanting more.

  Then his mouth was on me, sucking and teasing my most sensitive spot, his finger still moving inside me.

  Pure sensation pulsed through my core. The world faded completely, leaving me in my love-lust haze, completely at the mercy of Kane’s touch.

  He splayed his free hand over my stomach, warm and gentle, a stark contrast to his fevered lovemaking. My desire only heightened from the feel of his light touch. My hips rocked, desperate for release. His tongue flicked once, twice, and then he clasped his mouth over me once more, sucking with fervor.

  I shattered, every piece of me breaking apart as my muscles constricted around him.

  He stilled, his breath warm on my stomach, and I knew he was watching me, watching my face for the tranquility to follow. When my muscles relaxed, he placed a gentle kiss on my stomach and stood.

  The sound of buttons popping open filled the silent room. I smiled weakly, watching him.

  Kane, finally divested of his clothes, lifted me and maneuvered us both onto the bed, my head resting on a pillow. He hovered over me and trailed two fingers over my cheek. “You look…”

  “Sated?”

  He flashed a self-satisfied smile. “Absolutely.”

  I mimicked his gesture, trailing two fingers over his stubbled cheek. “I could get used to that, though it might be a little tiring to keep me in this glorious state.” Shifting beneath him, I stretched out my tense muscles and sucked in another gasp as he lowered himself to me, his tip pressing against my center.

  “Whatever it takes, love.” He dipped his head and flicked his tongue over my lower lip as he slowly eased into me.

  I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and rose to meet him.

  Our eyes locked, and we rocked together, our gazes never breaking.

  Kane positioned my leg higher on his hip to bury himself deep. My heart expanded and all but burst with emotion at our joining. Raw and exposed, we belonged to each other. I moaned, reveling in the way he filled me. That one tiny sound broke him and he quickened his pace, thrusting over and over and over again, claiming me once again as his. His mouth crushed against mine and I spasmed, coming hard and fast.

  “Jade,” Kane groaned as he spilled himself inside me and buried his face in my neck, holding on as if he’d never let go. After a moment, he rolled to his back, pulling me with him.

  We lay together, wrapped in each other’s arms, not moving. I listened to his breathing until it slowed and then lifted my head, pressing light kisses on his chest. “I love you,” I murmured.

  He was quiet, and I wondered if he’d heard me. Still lying on his chest, I shifted to gaze up at him and found him watching me through hooded eyes. I smiled. “Hey.”

  “Hey, yourself.” He brought his hand up, brushing a stray lock from my eyes. “I know.”

  “Know what?” I placed another kiss on his collarbone.

  “That you love me.”

  “Oh, that.” I put my hands down on either side of him and lifted myself until we were face to face. My gaze shifted to his perfect lips, and I lowered my head just enough to give him another soft kiss. “It’s probably pretty obvious.”

  He nodded. “It is.”

  I laughed. “Like you’re so sly.”

  His chest rumbled. “Who said I was trying to be sly?” He shifted again, rolling me on my back, then to my side so I was facing away from him. His lips brushed over my shoulder as he tucked me beside him. He moved his hand in a slow circle over my abdomen. “I’ve loved you since the day you face-planted on the stairs. There was something about the way you spent the next forty-five minutes staring at me like I was your man candy that hooked me.”

  “You have not.” I shook my head slightly, chuckling at the memory. “You barely even knew me then.” I’d only moved into my apartment less than a week before. Love? He was crazy.

  “Have too. I knew that moment you were the one.”

  “How?” I glanced back with narrowed eyes. “No, you were just in lust.”

  His hand rose to gently cup my breast. “That t
oo,” he whispered and ran his tongue down my neck, making me shiver.

  “What are you doing?”

  He pressed against me, and I felt exactly what he was up to. I couldn’t keep the smile from quirking my lips. I did ask him to shut everything else out. He had, and now he was ready for more.

  “Already?” I whimpered with pleasure as his fingers pinched my nipple.

  He paused. “Want me to stop?”

  “No. I don’t think that will be necessary,” I said in a tone a lot cooler than I felt. Heat was spreading again.

  “That’s what I thought.” His body molded to mine and his magic hands went to work once more, pushing everything from my mind but him and the pleasure we brought each other.

  Chapter 15

  An hour later, Kane hugged me to him once more, and we fell into a deep peaceful sleep. As usual, Kane arrived in my dream, a nightly ritual that made us that much closer. He was a dreamwalker who could enter other people’s dreams when he wanted, but these days, he only dreamwalked with me. Not only did we sleep together, we dreamed together. As soon as he popped into my dream, I smiled.

  “Long time no see,” I said, walking to a railing on the balcony overlooking the French Quarter.

  His lips twisted into a half-smile. Turning, he waved a hand over Bourbon Street. “For you.”

  “Something’s different.” I glanced around at the empty streets. “Besides all the people missing.”

  This time he laughed. “It’s the smell. I tend to try to forget about that unfortunate reality.”

  “Ah, yes.” I took a deep breath, inhaling the fragrant honeysuckle instead of Bourbon Street’s usual rotten orange stench. “It’s lovely.”

  “Isn’t it?”

  We both stared down at the pristine streets. Light shone from the lampposts through the thickening fog filling the humid air. The eerie glow only heightened the romance of the city. “It’s too bad it’s never this peaceful.”

  “It’s close enough,” he said, wrapping an arm around me.

  I couldn’t help but wish we could stay there forever, on the balcony of the unknown building. The beauty of the heavy fog building on Bourbon Street, barren of the thousands of tourists and street performers, was a rare treat. It was so lovely. Soul-filling. Something I hadn’t experienced since before my soul split with Meri.