by Lia Davis
So, the question became, why had she gotten so far under his skin that he couldn’t stand the thought of being near her or staying away? Mate.
But, she was a human. Though, there were no specific rules prohibiting it. What’s to say she’d even stick around when the truth hit her square in the chest? It would devastate Carter. Him ... he didn’t want to think about it.
“Sully?” Carter quirked a brow. “They’re waiting for your answer.
Shit. He checked out. “Sorry, what did they ask?”
Sierra smiled. The brilliance momentarily knocked him off balance. “Are you seeing anyone or do you have a date for Valentine’s?”
The devilish grin on his lover’s face had him squirming, and he didn’t squirm. “Well, I don’t think so. We’ll be here running the club to make sure everyone has an enjoyable time with those who attend.”
“What he means is, he’ll have a bedwarmer by morning, to make it a spectacular Valentine’s.”
Fucker. The guy continued to give him a cheeky grin while staring a hole through him. “What about you, Sierra. Have a hot date for the day of love?”
“Meh.” Her lips curled in disgust. “It’s too commercialized. As far as I am concerned; when you have to mortgage your house to pay for your Valentine’s plans, you’ve given over to big business and lost the nuance of it. The romanticism.”
“What will you be doing instead?” Curiosity overtook him.
“Enjoying a good book or binge watching television and enjoying a glass of wine or two.” She grinned. “And, with that, our time is done.” She turned toward the screen and waved. “Stay tuned for tomorrow’s blog post for a conclusion of this interview. Until then, I’m Sierra Hanover for the Los Angeles Daily.” She hit the end button and exhaled. “Thank you so much for doing this.”
“Our pleasure, Miss Hanover.” Carter sat forward. “However, after much consideration, I can’t let you spend Valentine’s Day alone.”
She tilted her head. “Excuse me?”
“We’d like you to be our VIP guest for the evening. You’ll have access to everything; all you have to do is spend the night with us.”
She bit her bottom lip, glancing between them. “Can I ask your staff questions?”
Carter nodded. “We’ll make them available to you.”
She turned to Sullivan. “How do you feel about this?”
He shrugged. Yeah, play it cool.
“Okay, you have a deal. I’ll do it.”
He sagged, not realizing he’d tensed up while waiting for her answer. The anticipation from wondering whether she’d accept Carter’s proposal or not caught him off guard. Yesterday he’d hated the idea of a reporter snooping around their building and their club, now he didn’t know what he wanted.
“Wear your best angel outfit.” Carter winked at her.
She arched a brow. “What will you be?”
He grinned. “We’ll be your big bad demons.”
***
We’ll be your big bad demons.... Carter’s words startled her. Or maybe it was the inflection of them coupled with his intense red-eyed stare. After stepping outside the club, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Her body vibrated with arousal so powerful, the brush of her skirt across her thighs left her trembling. What had these men done to her?
Maybe if you’d get laid every so often .... Okay, she could admit it, she’d been a little ... stagnant for a while. She could blame her job, but it wasn’t a twenty-four hour a day job. Sierra had gotten complacent. She’d stuck to her routine, ignoring everyone and everything. Tends to happen when you have a douche bag for an ex. The bastard had played the wounded puppy after their break up, accusing her of being a stalker bitch who didn’t take no for an answer, and since their friends had been his friends originally, they took his side rather than listening to her.
It’s for the best anyway. She didn’t need the constant drama. On more than one occasion, she’d been sucked into their little ball of crazy she’d sworn to stay out of. She should have realized when she broke up with Benjamin, they’d rally around him and treat her like a piece of trash. However, she hadn’t realized at the time how shitty they’d become. Two months after coming home to find her then boyfriend in bed with a mutual female friend, the woman sent letters to the newspaper trying to get Sierra fired because of some manufactured crisis. Thankfully Jorge saw right through the game Ben and his now-fiancé were playing.
“Hey.” Sullivan’s deep voice, surprised her.
She glanced up at him. “Hey yourself. I’m leaving now, so you don’t have to worry about me snooping around.”
“Not why I stopped you.”
“Oh?” She took a step backwards.
“See, there are some things you and I need to discuss.” In a flash, he had her pinned against the door of her car. “You’re messing with my brain.”
Sierra snorted. “Sounds like a personal problem to me.”
“It’s about to get more so.” He dipped his head, so his mouth was mere inches from hers. “Tell me, intrepid reporter, what turns you on more? The sight of both Carter and myself, or the idea of both of us fucking you at one time?” Sullivan rubbed his nose over hers and growled. “You smell so sweet. Honey and spice.”
“Uh, thanks?” Her hands trembled. Tell him to back off. Grow a set. You don’t let me get this close to you. She licked her lips, unable to move.
Her heart skipped a beat at his dark, delicious chuckle. “You’re a little sheep in a pack of wolves.” Sullivan sniffed her neck. “I could eat you up.”
“Okay, enough of this.” She put her hands to his chest to push him away. “You need a cold shower, and I’ll forget this happened.” Damn it, why didn’t I tell Jerry to wait for me before he left?
“I don’t want to.” He captured her mouth with his and moaned.
The intimate way he pressed his body to hers set her blood on fire. As their tongues tangled, she wrapped her arms around his neck and melded her body to his. Her panties dampened as he flexed his hips, pushing his length across her lower belly. She cried out. The intimate friction charged the atmosphere around them. She felt alive. Pin pricks of pleasure skirted along her flesh, leaving goose bumps in their wake.
“Sullivan.”
“Mmm, I enjoy hearing you say my name.” He kissed her again and palmed her ass. “Say it again.”
“Sullivan, we shouldn’t.”
“Why not, little angel?” He pushed a wisp of her hair behind her ear.
“For one, you don’t know me.”
“We can fix that.” He gave her another devastating smirk. “Come back inside with me, and we’ll...talk.”
Yeah, somehow she didn’t believe they’d be doing much talking. “I’m not sure.”
He gave her rear a squeeze. “I’m sure we can persuade Carter to join us.” He inched closer to her. “Have you ever seen two men fuck?”
Whoa. Wait a minute. She loved a good man on man porn flick every so often. Heck, it’d been part of the issue with her and her ex. He thought she was perverted, and she thought he was too narrow minded. A woman had needs...even if they were different. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“I think you do.” He stayed with her, unyielding in the way he held her.
“Why?”
He gave a slight lift of his shoulder. “Why not?”
She pushed him away. “Now you’re just blowing smoke up my ass.”
He growled. “Blowing smoke up your ass ain’t my thing, but I’d love to shove my cock up it, given half the chance.”
“Asshole.” She screwed her face up, thoroughly pissed off at his crudeness. “It’ll be a cold day in hell.” Yet, the idea didn’t disgust her. On the contrary, the deep-seated throb behind her clit intensified, and her heart thundered. A fresh wash of her arousal coated her panties. “Tomorrow night, stay away from me.”
Sullivan held up his hands, taking up a defensive pose. “You’ve got it.”
“Fine.” She got into
her car and started it.
“Fine.” He pivoted and stormed off.
Damn it. She backed out of the parking spot and headed home.
Chapter Five
“This is bullshit. We should keep her out tomorrow. No way in hell she needs to be here.” Sullivan shoved through the office door, and stopped in front of Carter. “This is your doing.”
His partner gave him a droll stare. “What did you do?” As if it were a common place thing for him to “do” something.
“I kissed her.”
Carter sat forward. “Oh? Tell me, Sully. Did she taste as good as she looked?” The corner of his mouth curled into a cocky smirk.
Shit. “Yes.” The minute his lips touched hers, he’d lost all ability to think. The demon he tried to keep under control pushed forward and all he could think about was getting her naked and fucking her delirious.
“And you want to do it again?”
Fucking asshole. “You know I do.”
“So, why are we calling everything off?” Carter relaxed into his seat with his hand rested against his groin, drawing Sullivan’s attention.
“What are you doing?” He narrowed his eyes.
“Nothing. I’m listening to you explain why this is bad idea and we should shut down the club on the one day when we make the most money and help our community.”
“You’re an ass.”
Carter sighed. “How bad did you fuck up?”
Pretty bad. “I kissed her. Maybe talked a little too much.” He waved off his friend’s concerned look. “It’s not about me. Did you see how many humans were on that damn site today?”
“Fifteen thousand by the time the interview wound down.”
“Exactly. And, how many will try to come to the club? We’re already a beacon for our kind. A target for some radical dick weed. Do we need the extra humans while supes are getting their freak on?”
Carter drew the corner of his lip into his mouth and canted his head to the side, as if he were contemplating what Sullivan told him.
“I guess,” he stated, sitting a little straighter. “The question becomes what if one of those humans is a mate for a shifter. Or a soul-kiss for a vampire. What if Celia’s beloved is in the mix? You know the little succubus has waited a millennium for her other half.”
Sully braced his hands on his hips. He hated when Carter got all circle of life, big picture. “And what if someone gets hurt?”
“We have the finest security. We’ll make sure to put more guards on duty. Plus, we’ll hire that team to watch from the tops of the buildings.” He stood and crossed to Sullivan. “Don’t worry.” His hand went to Sullivan’s chest, giving a pat. “It will all work out, and we’ll all have fun.”
Speak for yourself. “Yeah, well, after my little stunt, I doubt any of this will work out properly.”
“Then you feel it to? The magnetic charge? The undeniable power drawing us to her? The way she is able to call to the demon and calm it while simultaneously amping up the need to rut?”
Hell yes, and then some. He nodded.
“Then don’t stifle the fun. Embrace it and let what’s going to happen, happen. We will either walk out of this with our honey scented enigma of a woman, or we’ll have each other. Either way, you’re getting your dick sucked.” Carter brushed his lips over Sullivan’s. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to make a few more phone calls. We have a party to throw.”
He stepped out of Sullivan’s embrace only to be stopped. “I didn’t say you could go anywhere yet.” Sullivan slammed Carter’s body to his, hard enough to grunt from the force. “I could use that blow job you were teasing me with.”
“What do I get out of his?”
Sully grinned. “Fucked. Hard. Fast and rough.”
“Such a sweet talker.” Carter pulled Sullivan’s shirt off. “No wonder why you get all the ladies.”
Yeah, something like that.
The day went rather quickly for Sullivan. Of course the curious glances thrown his way by Celia and a few of the staff members made him pause. Had they seen the incident outside? Heard what he said to Carter?
“What?” he grumbled when Celia cast her gaze toward him. “Do I have something on my face?”
She shook her head. “No. You’re...pensive.”
Pensive? “Why do you say that?”
“You’re more quiet than your normal self. You’ve barely batted an eye at any of the women already in the club...should I go on?”
Sullivan frowned. Had he pulled himself apart from them? “I have a lot on my mind.”
“The human reporter with bite.”
He snapped his attention to her.
“She’s pretty. A doll really, but more of a play toy. She’s not the one for you or Carter. She’ll end up walking away.”
Sully stopped flipping through the vinyl records. His hands gripped the crate as he tried to rein in his anger. How dare she assume Sierra would walk away from them? Because, she already walked away from you. Well, he had a hand in it. He caused her to leave. He pushed her too hard. “Celia, while I appreciate your candor, I must remind you who is in charge here.”
“Forgive me, Sullivan. But, you and Carter are my oldest friends. I would be remiss if I didn’t point out the obvious.”
True. Celia had been with them since they were spawn. “There’s nothing to apologize for. You are worried about us. I understand.”
“But?” Her obsidian eyes swirled with worry, perhaps a hint of fear.
“Nothing.”
She regarded him for another minute, then nodded. “If you say so.” She handed him the tablet she’d been looking over. “This is what is left of the tasks before tomorrow night.”
“Excellent.” Anything to take his mind off the succulent little reporter. “Have the costumes been fitted?”
“Oh yes,” she purred. “I personally inspected each and every one of them.”
The devilishly delightful glint in her eyes made Sullivan chuckle. “Good to know.”
“Can I make a suggestion?” She tapped the crate holding his records.
“Sure.”
“Hire a professional. I believe you’ll be tied up with a certain someone, or someones. Wouldn’t want to shirk your duties to slake your lust.” She pulled one of the albums from the box and frowned. “Perhaps someone from this century as well.”
He flicked his gaze to the cover and frowned. “There is nothing wrong with Frankie. The man is a crooner’s delight. Do you know how many women and men I have bedded playing this record?”
Celia laughed. “Not many I am sure.”
“Are you sharing your musical tastes again, Sully?” Carter entered the office Sullivan had claimed when they first bought the building.
“Celia doesn’t like Frank Sinatra.”
Carter gripped his chest. “You wound me, girl.”
She shrugged. “We might be the same age, but at least my tastes have evolved over the years.”
“Perhaps. Or, maybe you haven’t had the right partner with the right musical taste yet.” He gave Sullivan a saucy grin. “The perfect music can heighten the experience. Isn’t that right, Sully?”
He growled. “Yes.”
“Ugh, get a room.” She put the LP down and stepped away. “I’ll be with the girls, going over their makeup and their work schedules. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Sullivan laughed. “I can accommodate your request.”
“I’m sure you can.” She closed the door behind her.
“What brings you down here?” He wrapped his arm around Carter. “I thought you had meetings for the rest of the day.”
“I’ve been thinking.”
“Oh?” He guided them over to his chair, then took a seat, placing his lover on his lap. “About what?”
“Us. Sierra. She’s skittish, for sure. However, her broken heart will be our biggest obstacle.”
“No shit.” He blew out a frustrated breath. “I pushed her too hard, and she snapped
. She’s caged within herself. She attacks even when it’s not warranted.”
“She may never tell us what happened to her.”
“I’ve thought the same.” He nuzzled Carter’s neck. “Tomorrow night will be the beginning of a long, winding road.”
“It’ll be worth it.”
“How do you know?” Since the moment he’d followed her out of the club, he had been uncertain about everything. Having her close only set him on edge. Made him impatient at worst and desperate at best.
“I don’t. Call it a gut feeling. When she finally gives over to us, it’ll be a sweet victory for all of us.” He skimmed his thumb along Sully’s cheek. “She’s got you twisted in knots. I haven’t seen you this anxious since the night we hooked up for the first time. You like her.”
Of course he did, and it terrified him. “It’s all your fault. If you hadn’t teased me all night, I wouldn’t have been a fumbling idiot trying to get into your trousers.”
Carter laughed. “I enjoyed that part the most.” He pressed his lips to Sullivan’s. The heat between them had always existed. It burned bright and hot, and always grabbed at his balls at the most inopportune times, but he wouldn’t trade it for anything.
He adjusted his partner so he straddled him. Their bodies were pressed intimately together and when Carter rubbed his groin against Sullivan’s, he moaned. Fire raced through his system as his shaft thickened with desire. “We have work to do.”
“Fuck work. We have plenty of time.” Carter yanked Sully’s shirt off, then scored his nails down his chest.
He groaned. “A break does sound nice right about now.” He worked his lover’s belt open, before releasing the closure holding his slacks closed. Sullivan parted the material and reached in. He palmed Carter’s thick cock and gave a good tug.
His lover grunted, flexing his hips into Sully’s hold. “Shit.”
He grinned. “What’s wrong, lover?” He pumped his fist again.
“Nothing.” His head rolled back on his shoulders. “Except for the fact we have too many clothes on.”
“Why don’t you do something about it.”
Carter slid from his lap kicked off his shoes. With deliberate slowness, he pushed his pants down his legs, allowing them to pool on the floor. Once he stepped out of them, he unbuttoned his shirt one button at a time. His cock lay against his belly, the slick trail of his essence had saliva filling Sullivan’s mouth. The tease.