by Marks, Rena
He looked down at her long enough to make her feel petite compared to him. Her chin rose just a fraction of an inch higher.
Determined. Stubborn.
He tried a new tactic. “I’m just worried about you. There’s two of them and I know all about them. They hurt women.”
She tried not to soften but felt her reserve slip. “Look, Caleb, if you and I are going to be friends and I’m going to continue dropping in here, then you need to back off. I have my own life and I don’t need anyone’s protection.”
“Why do I look familiar to you?”
“I don’t know,” she said after a brief hesitation.
“You’ve needed me throughout the years. I dreamed about you while you dreamed about me. There’s something between us.”
“That’s ridiculous,” she scoffed.
“You deny dreaming of me?”
A version of the truth would probably be best. “I dreamed of someone who resembled you. Maybe you dreamed of someone who resembled me too, but they’re dreams, Caleb. They’re in no way connected.”
Poor Caleb was human. He was probably baffled as to why so long ago she’d obviously called out to him psychically. He’d never believe such things as demons existed and that she exerted power as a child when she didn’t even know what powers she had. He looked stubborn for a moment before his face smoothed over.
“Maybe you’re right. It does seem a little silly,” he conceded.
She slung her handbag over her shoulder. “Look, I’m heading out of here. I’ll talk to you later.”
“How?”
“Excuse me?”
“Shall I call you?”
“Um, sure.”
“I’ll need your number.”
Keara rattled it off without a pause or slowing down in any way. Then she smiled prettily and swayed away, knowing without a doubt that his eyes were on her ass as she returned to Mike and Roderick.
“I’m ready to leave,” she said to Mike.
Roderick was the one to speak. “You sure you want to come with us after all that?”
“I do what I want when I want. Especially when someone tells me I can’t,” she said, looking him square in the eye.
It didn’t take long to get to Mike’s apartment. After they walked into the front door, she gave a mental push to Mike to “remember” an errand at work.
“I won’t be long,” he promised Keara.
“Take your time,” she said, while Roderick said nothing at all.
The door had barely closed when he turned to her and said, “So. What shall we do while we wait?”
Keara stood. “Let’s see what you got.”
There was a gleam in his eye and a smirk on his face. He unbuttoned his shirt. His movements strutted, a typical cocky male, as though he was sure she’d appreciate what she saw.
And she did. Especially what was inside. For there was no guilt at taking what he offered.
Utter, vile corruption. The perfect match to Mike Goudy. And he’d been sweet when she drank him down.
Keara inhaled deeply as she unlatched his belt and stared into his eyes. She could see his thoughts as clearly as though they were her own.
I’ll enjoy the leather of my belt ripping across her white ass.
Not a chance, Mr. Malet.
His fat, short penis burst free as she tugged on his pants.
I hope she’s got a virgin ass. I’d love to rip through it, to pound into it ‘til I come.
Keara merely smiled at his thoughts.
“Take it into your mouth,” he demanded when his erection was freed.
They were so cocky when she didn’t tie them first. Oh, well, it was different.
“If I choose to,” she told him.
“You must like pain.”
“Oh, I lied. I don’t care for my own, thanks.” She kept her voice deliberately sweet.
“You’re way too uppity. You need to be taught your place.”
“What is my place?”
“Tied up and naked. Taught to serve a man. I’ll enjoy teaching you.”
Keara smiled. “Not before you’re taught your own lesson.”
“Excuse me, bitch?”
He wound his fist in the back of her lush locks. And yanked her face up to him.
But only because she let him.
Keara rolled her eyes up to look at him. Let him see the glow of her inner demon. He opened his mouth to scream and she caught it with her lips.
His dark power was rich. He was quite the evil soul, Keara thought as she sucked it up to store in her reserves.
* * * * *
The ringing of the telephone woke her. Was it morning already? She was groggy and needed sleep. Her heat phase was high, the amount of power she’d inhaled wouldn’t settle for a few days.
“H’lo?” she mumbled.
“How’d it go last night?”
Caleb. She’d know the sexiness of that voice anywhere. He’d obviously paid attention when she’d rattled off her number.
She smiled grimly. A version of the truth would suffice. “Another loser. You were right. I am so done picking up guys in bars. I’m done dating. I’m done everything.”
“Why don’t you try waiting for a guy to pick up on you?”
“I do. It’s not like I approach them in bars. I just sit and have a drink.”
He laughed. “Yeah, I can see that. So you coming in tonight?”
“No. I told you. I’m done with it.”
“You don’t have to come in to pick up a guy. Come in to see me.”
“Why? I’m talking to you now.”
“You can’t remember how good I look when you just talk to me,” he retorted.
There was a pause on her end of the phone. “Are you flirting with me, Caleb?”
“Maybe. Depends on if you’ll take me up on it.”
She wasn’t quite sure how she felt about that. A good guy. A good human guy. But then she’d thought that about the last one she had.
No way.
He laughed, a deep rich baritone. “Come hang out and quit thinking about so much, baby. I’ll have some food brought up and you can help me watch through the security window. You’ll see how I first noticed you.”
Her curiosity piqued and she was lost. It wouldn’t be long before she had to find another bar, anyway. Caleb was becoming too curious about her.
Chapter Three
The Need is Satiated
She entered the bar she’d visited so frequently and the bouncer at the door took her directly up a back flight of stairs.
“The boss is expecting you.”
“Caleb owns the bar?”
The muscle-bound man appeared surprised by her question, as if she was the only person that didn’t know. “Yeah.”
They’d arrived at the top of the stairs and he rapped on the heavy door with his knuckles. The door was buzzed unlocked and the bouncer opened it.
Caleb sat at a desk on the phone. He motioned for her to come in and the door closed softly behind her with a click.
She walked across the room, watching his facial expressions as he spoke. He was harder somehow and she knew by the conversation it was focused on business.
He reached out and stroked her shoulder as he spoke. Casual, almost as if he thought nothing of it. She, on the other hand, nearly went through the roof with her rising heat phase. She’d gorged on a load of power last night and it hadn’t settled. She’d have to take a step back if she wasn’t going to jump him.
Her nipples peaked and she inhaled deeply, fighting the urge at the last moment to arch her back and thrust her breasts outward. She was pleasure-drunk and he didn’t even know it, as busy as he was with his business call.
She wanted to writhe beneath him naked. She wanted to whimper as he tugged and pulled on her hardened nipples.
Moisture slickened her cleft and her labia swelled. She could actually feel them, swollen between her thighs. If she walked right now, they’d rub together erotically, the smoothly
shaven skin at its most sensitive.
Good thing he was human or he’d smell her liquid sweetness and know how turned on she was by the slightest touch of his hand.
She had to get away. But why was it she craved the pheromones that rose from his skin? Was attracted to him like a bee to nectar?
He hung up the phone and turned to her. The smile that crossed his face lit his eyes. “Thanks for coming,” he said, pulling her toward him for a casual kiss to the cheek.
She didn’t mean to but she remained slightly stiff. Trying so hard to control her raging hormones.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing.” She smiled. How could she explain that it was best not to touch her?
“Hungry?”
Not for food. “No, I’m not. Not right now.”
“Okay.” He walked her to the security window, keeping his hand on her elbow where she could feel the heat from his body. She could smell his aftershave wafting up, mixing with those tempting pheromones. It tantalized her senses and made her want to throw caution to the wind and obtain a release, just once. To enjoy herself instead of stealing power. To appreciate real sex without a purpose.
“Geez, you have cameras and windows? Peeping Tom much?” she joked.
He shrugged. “Voyeurism does something for me.”
Dammit. Another curl of heat just slammed the walls of her vagina with his words. She’d ignore them the best she could.
“So this is where I first noticed you. Seeking out whichever losers you could find.”
It was her turn to shrug. “I don’t want a relationship.”
“People come to bars to find relationships.”
“Men come to bars to find relationships. Women come for other reasons.”
“Like?”
“Relaxation. Drinks. Dancing.”
“Yeah? So if that’s what most women come for, why are you here?”
She paused. Then decided on honesty. To a point. “A one-night stand.”
“Excuse me?”
“Look, I’m hornier than most women. I need sex.” It was the easiest way to explain her supernatural heat drive.
“You don’t have to use losers.”
“You think a nice, normal man will want to be with me for one thing only?” she mocked.
“Why just that? Why not have a real relationship with someone?”
Because how do you explain to a new boyfriend that you’re half demon? And that men, no matter if they’re demon or human, just use you? I’m the epitome of a biracial relationship, sweetheart.
“I’m not interested in having a relationship. I just want the sex.”
Caleb stepped closer to her. Close enough to give her a whiff of that aftershave that lurked on the edge of the magnetic pheromones. “Try it, baby. You might,” he leaned in to hover above her sexy lips, “like the two together.”
He stayed poised there above her mouth, waiting for her move. As if he knew she was uncontrollably insatiable.
Need arose and slammed into full force. Moisture gathered between her legs as her heat spiked again and she literally felt like purring.
It was just an inch to raise and meet him. One tiny inch and a horny little demon could have heaven.
She rose onto her toes and pressed her lips to his.
The rush of heat was instantaneous. She gasped as together they opened their mouths to melt into one another.
He pulled her into him with one muscled arm while the other gripped the back of her head and kept her pressed tightly to him. He searched her mouth, exploring and tasting, while she thought she’d die from the sheer pleasure. Who would think a plain mortal could raise her heat this high?
Not even he had done so. But she refused to think about him. Not while another had his hands on her.
Caleb’s hand left the back of her head and trailed down to below her shirt. She felt him casually brush the skin of her abdomen before his fingers slid slowly upward. They skimmed under her bra until he reached her nipple.
The tight bud ached so badly, it nearly reached out for his touch. He rolled it between his thumb and forefinger, giving her pleasure so intense she cried out.
Gently he plucked at it and at her gasp of satisfaction, reached for her left nipple with his other hand and tweaked them both at the same time.
She was used to giving pleasure this intense, not receiving it. She drove men insane with need and when they wanted her so desperately, they were receptive to her mental push for falling completely, utterly in love. For the first time in her life, she could understand how and why.
“Caleb.” She moaned his name.
“Mmm?”
“I need you.”
“I know, sweetie.”
Somehow, his hand delved into her jeans without her being aware of becoming unsnapped and unzipped. But there was his finger, inserted deeply and stroking her inner passage so deliciously.
Way too much temptation. She’d never be able to stop, not until her need was sated.
She found herself pressing into his hand, melting, her juices flowing over his finger. Slowly she rolled her hips, masturbating herself uninhibitedly.
“Come for me, baby,” he whispered. She could hear how turned on he was in his voice.
She was so close, with his warm hand cupping her sex and his middle finger stroking her deep inside. She wanted to squirm and twist around his hand, to press against it as hard as she could.
Then, with his middle finger inside her, massaging the lip of her cervix, his thumb reached out and pressed against her clitoris.
Her body rang out and she arched her back. One deep inhalation and she exploded, liquid heat pouring from her passage as she readied for his cock.
Her body quivered around his hand, her arms and legs tingling with the force of her climax.
She expected him to throw her on the desk and fuck her now. To take his turn. Instead, he held her close.
“Feel better?” he asked.
“Umm.” Although curious, she didn’t want to ask how he knew.
“You need me, Keara,” he whispered against her forehead. “Like I need you. But not today. I’ll wait. You’ll trust me first.”
“If you’re waiting for trust, you’ll lose out,” she warned. “Take what you need now while you have the chance. It won’t come again.”
“We’ll see.”
Fire sparked in her eyes at the challenge. She needed to be careful or they’d glow.
A knock sounded at his office door and he adjusted her clothing for her before buzzing it open.
“Delivery, boss.”
Still watching Keara, Caleb motioned his head toward a side table in his office where the employee left the bag. When the door closed behind him, he kissed her gently on the forehead and retrieved the bag.
“Come on, baby. Let’s sit here and watch people while we eat.”
She was wary still, untrusting that he’d let her go without obtaining his own satisfaction. But she came toward him anyway, sitting primly in a stuffed chair and peering down through the window with him. He handed her a box and fork before taking his own.
They began to eat in silence. Eventually, curiosity overcame her as he knew it would.
“What do you watch for?”
How could he tell her he’d watched all his life for her?
“Anything. Any trouble that might arise.”
“Like?”
“Fights. Guys dropping something into women’s drinks. Crooked cops with their attorneys,” he finished pointedly.
She rolled her eyes in response.
“Gorgeous women hitting on losers.”
“How do you know if they’re losers?”
“I see them. I know them.”
“But I don’t.”
“Yes, you do.”
“How would I know if someone is a loser before getting to know him?”
“We both know you’re not the average woman, Keara. Just like we both know there’s something unexplainab
le between us.”