So Tempting

by Jean Brashear

  More.

  "So responsive. So dangerous."

  Dangerous? He was dangerous...but the risk of him sang a siren's song...luring...beckoning...

  The hand on her belly pressed her back against him, his long middle finger sliding down the fabric, teasing with a touch so light it was almost painful. Jace rocked in sinuous abandon, straining to bring his finger closer, deeper...

  Her right hand slipped behind, between their bodies, stroking over his length and down, cupping the sac and squeezing.

  He growled, low and urgent. Nipped at her throat. Murmured dusky words, hungry words in a tone that said all she needed to know.

  "Let's get out of here," she said.

  "No." His grip tightened. "No."

  She felt the effort as he loosened his hold, if not his resolve.

  "There is a tie between us that unsettles you, but you must not fight it." He trailed his tongue over the whorl of her ear, his voice a deep rumble she felt in her bones. "In some cultures, a man marks his woman in a public ceremony. I mark you mine—here. Now."

  Shock and a sharp pang of lust knifed through her.

  And with them, a new sense of herself as potent. Voluptuous, powerful.

  Desired.

  As though he heard her thoughts, he responded. "Do you see? Surrender has its own power. You hear the song...you see the light. Do not fight it...let the light inside you."

  She couldn't accept what she'd seen, what she heard when—no. And after all she'd been through, what she'd learned about the price of being vulnerable or weak? "I can't—"

  "You can. You want to."

  "I don't."

  Instantly, his hands lifted from her skin, his warmth suddenly gone. "Make your choice, then. Walk away, and I will never touch you again."

  No. Despite all logic, a protest rose. Her body hungered for the shining edge of fire, the opulent pleasure waiting on the other side. Somehow she knew that no matter how far she'd ventured before, he would lead her to a place she'd never even imagined.

  Once Jace had been a gambler, a trickster, a tomboy. A wild, free child—until her father died. The dreamer within her had been shackled for years, but lately she'd begun to flower, to reach out for what she wanted.

  Now, galvanized, tempted beyond the reach of reason, ripe to bursting, Jace craved the relief here for the granting.

  By this man who tantalized her with visions of worlds she could barely imagine. Sensations. Fruits not tasted, appetites to be explored. For the price of a moment's surrender, she could have the extraordinary. The exquisite.

  Mesmerized by his mystery, she poised on the edge of the cliff as the midnight sea beckoned. Behind her lay safety. Stark fields of sameness.

  No.

  With an inner cry, she leaped. Writhed against him.

  His indolence vaporized. His touch was suddenly everywhere, cradling, caressing, fondling. Rocking against her in slow, agonizing thrusts. Taunting...tormenting.

  Jace welcomed the fall into starburst, the whirling colors wrapping her in glorious, magical, unearthly song... She sucked air in frantic gasps, back bowed, head thrown back, fighting not to turn around, to plead. This torture was excruciating. Delicious.

  She craved to end it. To prolong it. Explode with the sweet agony of it.

  One finger hooked in the ring of her zipper while his tongue pierced the silver circle of her earring, tracing a moist trail along the sensitive lobe.

  He bared her to her nipples. Jace shivered at the thrill.

  Then he halted.

  For endless heartbeats, they stood completely still, yet she couldn't hear the music for the roaring in her blood.

  "Please," she whispered at last.

  His hands tightened, his breath hot on her skin.

  "Please..."

  When he relented, she nearly whimpered. At an agonizing crawl, he teased the zipper down, exposing her to the midriff. The panels of her dress clung to her nipples for excruciating seconds, then fell away, a millimeter at a time.

  She dropped her head in a belated impulse to hide herself.

  His fingers dove into her hair and tightened to draw her head back until it rested against his shoulder.

  "Surrender. Let go and know the power within you."

  Jace felt the eyes of strangers upon her body as he unveiled her. She closed her own, but in doing so only magnified the punch to her senses by leaps and bounds.

  Yielding control had always been anathema, yet the force of it staggered her. Blood pounded in her ears while gooseflesh rose on her skin. She dug her nails into his thighs, swiveled her hips to brush against him. Sounds spilled from her throat.

  "Enough." Abruptly he zipped her dress and all but dragged her from the dance floor. Disoriented, Jace could only cling as he spirited her behind a curtain of dark, glowing satin. Inside, the smoke gathered in billowing clouds, incense sweet and heady.

  "You are mine." Whirling her around, he growled, "I will not share you."

  In the hazy darkness, she struggled to focus on the face behind the mask, but his mouth quickly covered hers. Jace lost all bearings, swept up in a spell as strong as the arms that held her close.

  Senses whirling, she clutched at his shirt as he took them deeper into secret realms she'd never even imagined. His kiss demanded everything of her. His embrace tightened until she could barely breathe. An edge of anger battled with iron control.

  Surrender. Fear took flight; unspeakable pleasure rode its wings. Jace shuddered under the rapture of it. Swallowed a scream.

  He tore his mouth from hers. Glowing eyes behind the mask stared as though he could peer into the depths of her soul.

  Hesitated.

  As if as shaken as she.

  Then he gripped her harder and with a soft curse lowered her to a padded bench. Followed her down, capturing her in a fevered kiss.

  The universe tilted. Ecstasy swam through a body drenched with the smell of him, the feel of him, the need for him....

  Round and round, the room spun.

  Justine. She heard it again, the singing.

  Come with me. Stay with me.

  Darkness spread. Stars spilled.

  The night sky swallowed them.

  Chapter Nine

  Cassie ran down the alley, frantic at being so late. Dante was out of town, but Mrs. Montoya, for once, had been in no hurry to go to bed. Cassie wouldn't involve Melinda anymore, so she'd had no choice but to delay until she was certain Mrs. Montoya was asleep.

  But now as she entered the last doorway and donned her mask, she relaxed, her spirits rocketing. She was here, and no one would make her leave until she was good and ready.

  The place was jammed with people, the strobe light so piercing that Cassie felt as if she'd walked into some sort of dream. When a guy near her age grabbed her hand and pulled her into the gyrating mass of bodies, she laughed with delight.

  This was what she'd been waiting for, the real life, the one she'd been denied. Grinning at her partner, Cassie threw herself into the dancing, loving the surge of the beat through her body.

  She lost track of time, of her changing partners. She didn't much care, at this point, about pursuing a relationship. She was free, and she wanted to revel in it. Closing her eyes, Cassie gave herself up to the music, to the pure pleasure of being young and bursting with energy.

  Warm hands settled on her waist, and she jerked open her eyes. The friendly blond man from before smiled at her and mouthed, I'm glad you're here.

  Cassie smiled back, casting aside memories of his strange abandonment the other night. Heaven knows she could use a friend.

  For a while they danced, then he leaned forward, raising his voice to be heard. "I'm thirsty—want to get something at the juice bar?"

  She nodded, realizing she was parched. Her long hair stuck to her neck with sweat.

  Grabbing her hand, he led her through the crowd. Cassie wanted to crow—if Jimmy had been around, she would have. This guy was no monster.

  Whe
n he pulled her into his side and wrapped one arm around her waist, Cassie couldn't help but feel flattered. This was an older guy, after all, and even with the mask, she could tell he was good-looking. He could probably have his pick of the many beautiful, sophisticated women in this place, but for some reason, he'd picked her.

  This club definitely rocked. She was in heaven.

  When she stumbled over someone's feet, he pulled her closer, the green eyes looking at her with concern. "You all right?"

  She felt her cheeks warm and demurred. "Just clumsy."

  His mouth was close to her face, his words clear. "Not a bit. You are, however, gorgeous."

  Wow. He thought she was gorgeous. This was great. Then a thought occurred to her. "I don't know your name."

  "What's yours?"

  She wanted him to see her as sophisticated, glamorous. "Cassandra."

  His gaze warmed. "Mm...seductive."

  Seductive. Better and better.

  Before she could ask his name, he bent and kissed her softly on the lips, just one light kiss.

  But it was Cassie's first. Her toes curled at the sensation, and she felt strangely light, almost dizzy.

  "What would you like to drink, Cassandra?"

  She lifted her shoulders. What did she care? She wanted him to kiss her again. "Anything wet."

  "Be right back." With that, he plunged into the crowd around the bar.

  Cassie stood there, her senses reeling, hugging to herself the delicious secret. He'd found her appealing enough to kiss her—what a night this was.

  Sooner than she would have expected, he returned, handing her a glass of a strange blue liquid. "It's so pretty—what is it?"

  "The specialty of The Club—but I'll let you in on a secret," he leaned closer, "It's dyed with food coloring."

  He grinned, and Cassie grinned back. Striving for nonchalance, she drank only a sip when she wanted to guzzle it all down. "So you come here a lot?"

  He nodded. "But you don't."

  "I just found it."

  "And what do you think?"

  She flung one arm out. "I love it!" Belatedly, she realized that she didn't sound very sophisticated, gushing like that. She settled back into silence.

  He leaned forward, kissing her lightly again. Against her lips, he murmured. "Ah, lovely Cassandra. There's so much more I could show you."

  Her breath caught. Was he talking about this place—or his kiss? "Like what?"

  "Please finish your drink." His eyes took on a glitter. "You have no sense of your power, do you?"

  "I don't know what you mean." Cassie took a long swallow, staring at him.

  "There are sources of power available for the taking, Cassandra. Worlds to explore, universes to experience. This..." He swept one arm to take in the room, "This is nothing."

  She didn't know what he meant, but it didn't matter. She wanted to get back to something she could learn pretty quickly. Glancing up at him, lashes lowered, she smiled faintly. "I am sure that I'd like another kiss."

  A quick frown, then he bent to her. He forced her mouth open, stabbed his tongue inside. The savagery had Cassie pulling away, heart thumping wildly.

  She retreated, and he moved in on her. Cassie's drink sloshed over her hand.

  Out of nowhere came Jimmy. He shoved the blond man, then took a swing. "Leave her alone, I told you!"

  "Jimmy, no!" Cassie yelled.

  The blond man dove forward, driving his head into Jimmy's belly. They crashed to the floor, knocking down chairs, rolling over and over. Jimmy came out on top and smashed his fist into the blond man's face. The blond grabbed his nose, his mask knocked askew. Then he leapt up, going for Jimmy again.

  Someone screamed over the music; people cleared out a space for the fight. Cassie rushed forward to stop them.

  A hand grasped her arm.

  Cassie whirled, jerked away. "Let me go!" She stopped as she recognized the face behind the mask. "Markos?"

  Saying nothing, he removed her drink from her rigid grasp with his free hand and set it on a table behind him. Silver winked on his finger, and she shook her head, trying to focus.

  Just then, she was jostled as someone pushed past and forced the two men apart. The blond man glared at Jimmy, body rigid with challenge. He shook off his captor, then grabbed Jimmy by the throat.

  Cassie felt light-headed from the fighting. She'd never seen one in real life.

  "Come along, Cassie. This is no place for you." Markos glanced from the brawling duo, his jaw flexing. "Come outside with me, please." Clasping her arm, he turned to leave.

  "Wait." Her own voice sounded funny to her. Why couldn't she think straight, decide what to do? "I can't leave them like this."

  "I don't think your brother will be too impressed if you wind up in jail. This fight could bring the police."

  "I'm not doing anything wrong." But her stomach sank as she pictured what Dante would have to say.

  Markos towered over her, looking as if he were considering throwing her over his shoulder—or over his knee and paddling her, she couldn't be sure which. Finally, with an exaggerated sigh, he leaned forward. "Cassie, don't be childish."

  She glanced over at the two men. "But they—" She started toward them and stumbled.

  Markos caught her arm and steadied her. "They'll brawl it out like two young stags, then probably wind up buying each other drinks. Or they'll share the same cell. Either way, this isn't the place for you."

  Leaning against Markos, she was secretly pleased that Jimmy would fight over her. Not that she'd needed it. Cassie's head spun, remembering that last kiss. Okay, so the blond man had scared her a little, but—

  She wished she weren't so dizzy. She tried to remember what he'd said about her power.

  "Cassie, come on. This way." Markos took her by the arm, leading her out. "I'll take you home."

  "Can't—my car—" Leaning against him, Cassie felt safe, tucked under his arm.

  "I'll take care of it, little one." Drawing her close, Markos headed for the door.

  Cassie nestled gratefully against him.

  * * *

  In the dark chamber where they'd both been taken, Jimmy glared at the blond man. He rotated his jaw and winced at the pain. He stood straighter, biting back a gasp as his ribs protested.

  "You leave her alone, I'm warning you." Where was Cassie now? Was she all right?

  The blond man snarled. "You've said that before."

  "She's too innocent to be a pawn in your games."

  His eyes chilled. "Games?"

  Careful. "Something happened to that other girl. To Sam."

  "Need I remind you that Sam was with you when he died?"

  "I didn't—I don't know what happened that night."

  "Yet you want to point fingers? It would seem to me that you have more to lose than anyone in the investigation of Sam's death."

  Jimmy's gaze narrowed. "I didn't kill him."

  "You can prove that?"

  "My—" My sister could, he wanted to say. But would she, given how they'd parted, how little faith she had in him? No, he'd never ask her.

  "Yes? You were going to say, perhaps, that your sister could help you?"

  Stunned, Jimmy only stared.

  The blond man smiled. "You think we know so little of the outside world? How would it look for you to become the prime suspect in a murder investigation? What would your dear sister the detective think?" He leaned forward, lip curled in a snarl. "Don't fuck with me, Carroll. I don't think you want to risk that, just for the sake of a silly little virgin with adventurous leanings."

  Christ. What was he going to do?

  The door opened; the Priestess swept into the room, red robes swirling around her long legs. Behind the feathered mask, her eyes glittered dangerously.

  She chose Jimmy first. "What was your reason for initiating a fight with a member of the faithful? We do not turn on one another."

  "Priestess, I—"

  "He's thought better of his conduct, Pries
tess," the blond man interrupted, cutting his gaze over toward Jimmy, the warning clear. "He's already apologized to me for losing his temper."

  She studied the blond man carefully, then turned her sharp gaze back to Jimmy. "Your explanation?"

  "I—I thought a young woman was in danger."

  "Ah...so you leapt to her defense?"

  "Yes, Priestess."

  "You thought the need so great?"

  "I did, yes, but..." Jimmy glanced over at the other man. "I—I guess I was wrong." He swallowed, the sour taste of defeat heavy on his tongue.

  "This mistake will not be repeated." Her tone was not a question.

  Jimmy lowered his eyes. He couldn't let Cassie be hurt, but what was he to do? He'd go crazy in jail, and how could he ever clear himself? They'd been so good to him—except the Keeper. They'd given him a family, a place to belong.

  He had to get away and think. His jaw clenched, his tone leaden. "No, Priestess."

  "Leave us. Think long upon what you have done."

  Jimmy left the room, heart heavy with dread.

  The Priestess whirled on the blond man. "What are you trying to do, Keeper? You go too far."

  He sneered. "He's no danger to us."

  "You're a fool if you believe that. Two people have died, must I remind you?" Dark eyes snapped her fury.

  "He's our fall guy, if we need one." Shrugging his shoulders, the Keeper continued. "But we won't. It won't happen again."

  "How can you be sure? We don't know why it happened before. We're all at risk."

  He smiled, feeling the balance shifting. "But you're the Priestess. You're in charge."

  One long finger pointed. "You're the Keeper of the Chalice. The Elixir and the Sacred Waters are in your care. You can be replaced. The Magos has only to order it."

  His gut clenched. He was vulnerable still. Until his power eclipsed theirs, caution was required.

  "You're right," he injected a faint apology in his tone. "We're in this together. I wanted no trouble tonight, but the girl—she's perfect."

  "Perfect for what?"

  "She's a virgin, I'm certain of it." His voice vibrated with his excitement. "And very sheltered. Can you imagine the power of a ceremony with a true innocent?"