Smoke & Fire - Adult Paranormal Romance Series, Book #1

by Michele Wesley

  CHAPTER 19

  Razor-Sharp Thorns

  Just returning from a successful assignment in Germany, Sori had met an intriguing teen girl that she’d had to rescue from a child-molesting monster. The girl’s mother had been selling her to men for money, and if there was one thing that made Sori’s trigger finger itch, it was the mistreatment of innocents.

  After the assignment, Sori tried to be sisterly by visiting with her brothers only to have them push her toward the family cabin for a little rest and relaxation. Her brothers owned a huge cabin built specifically for relaxing and getting away from the rest of the world.

  At day four now, she enjoyed the tranquil and peaceful environment. There was no one trying to kill her, no targets to study, no screaming victims, and she was, for the first time in her life, enjoying it.

  Her brothers felt the need to inform that Mycale was away on assignment, like she was supposed to know his whereabouts. Mycale had really done a number on her emotions, but she’d never admit it to anyone, especially not him. Now as she sat in peace and was able to think, she had regrets about not seeing him.

  What is this fucking world coming to when I am worried about not seeing someone?

  She didn’t want to admit it to herself, but she wanted to see him, if only to satisfy her own selfish urge. She knew better than to lead him on, but his presence seemed to give her a spark that made her feel more human and more alive.

  * * *

  Returning from his assignment, Mycale was disappointed to find out that he had missed her. He wanted to see Sori so badly he had anticipated what he’d say to her. There was no way he was telling her that she had stolen his heart. Ever since their assignment together nearly two months ago, he couldn’t close his eyes without seeing her face.

  Drake and Damon had never gotten off his case, trying to convince him to tell Sori how he felt. The brothers knew he cared for their sister, but they had no idea how much.

  Giving him keys to a room in their mansion, the brothers invited Mycale to stay anytime. It was peculiar that the room they offered was the only other bedroom on Sori’s wing of the huge house. Mycale accepted the room, but he knew exactly what the brothers were up to.

  After concluding a meeting, the brothers asked Mycale to stay and talk for a bit. Drake didn’t waste any time. He asked, “Would you mind going out to the cabin to check on Sori?”

  Giving Drake a quick double take, Mycale wasn’t sure he heard him right. The mention of Sori’s name put an instant smile on his face. Answering a question with a question, he asked, “She’s not on assignment?”

  Damon added, “She has a little time off, so we sent her to the cabin for some rest and relaxation. She’s been out there alone for four days now. We were going to go check on her, but something came up. Can you stop by and ensure she doesn’t have cabin fever?”

  Trying not to appear too eager or excited, Mycale answered, “Sure, I can do that.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he started to have second thoughts.

  Although the brothers informed on several occasions that they loved him like a little brother and would love to see him with their sister, Mycale couldn’t bring himself to believe that he and Sori would ever go beyond friendship.

  Dragging him out of his thoughts, Damon said, “While you’re out there, why don’t you ask her out? Tell her you’re into her. Make your move, man! Personally, I don’t know what’s taking so damn long. If you’re waiting for her, you’d be in the grave before she even acknowledges anything.”

  Shaking his head in disappointment, Damon said, “Dude, look at you, you can’t even concentrate when someone mentions her name.”

  Drake started preaching, “She is strong-minded and independent, but trust me on this, she is one of those women you have to take charge of, throw her off balance and shock her into seeing where you’re coming from. You have to put your damn foot down and show her you’re not afraid of her like all these other guys. Trust me, that is the only way you’ll get anywhere with her.”

  Damon chimed in, “I can’t believe you had two weeks alone with her and you didn’t make your move.”

  Mycale watched both brothers shake their heads at his lackluster efforts to win their sister’s affections.

  Damon handed Mycale a key, gave him some directions to the cabin, and wished him luck.

  He started to walk away, paused, and asked, “What are you two up to? You guys know how I feel about your sister, but I don’t know about going over there messing with her while she is trying to rest. Plus, I don’t think she likes me romantically, and I have to respect that.”

  The authority in Damon’s voice grabbed Mycale by the collar, “Boii, you better get your narrow behind over there to check on our sister. Talking about respect like she doesn’t already have respect from us all. Facts are, we love the damn girl, you seem to make her happy, and we want that for her. If you think you need a cover, tell her we sent you because we had some MIA business to take care of. Then grab her and kiss her or something, shake some of that stubbornness loose and see what happens. If she slaps the hell out of you, so what? You’ve been hit harder. If she shoots you, so what? You’ve been shot before. At least you’ll have an answer.”

  Mycale wasn’t going to disobey a direct order, and from the way Damon told him to get his narrow butt over to that cabin, he wasn’t about to backtalk either. The fact that they not only trusted him with their sister but also wanted him with her touched his heart deeply and thawed some of the edges of his rage.

  Drake said, “Take the weekend off and get yourself a little rest. Stay at the cabin.”

  Not saying anything, Mycale stared at Drake with a puzzled look.

  Drake continued, “I don’t know why you’re so afraid of her. She is one of the sweetest and nicest people we know.”

  Under his breath, Damon said, “When she’s not killing someone.”

  Drake cut eyes at his brother and continued, “You have to stop looking at her as just an agent and remember that she is also woman. A delicate flower.”

  Under his breath, Damon said, “With nine-inch razor-sharp thorns.”

  Mycale had to admit he was guilty of always thinking agent first, leaving out the fact that Sori was also a woman. He had also heard Damon’s statement about razor-sharp thorns.

  CHAPTER 20

  Perfect Escape

  Forty miles away from the city, nestled deep in the most beautiful countryside you could imagine sat the Anderson cabin. October presented the first hint of leaves falling from the trees and a perfect temperature with just the right amount of chill in the air. The cabin, a large one-story log-style building sat off a beautiful man-made lake. There were other homes and residences in the area, but they were all miles apart from one another. If you wanted to get away from the world and relax, this had to be the perfect escape.

  Mycale thought himself lost until the narrow road he drove opened to a huge plot of land that held the brothers’ cabin. He followed a path that took him nearly to the back of the cabin and parked. He then followed a walking path that led from the open front log-style garage to the cabin’s porch, which started at the side and wrapped around the front of the cabin. The crunch of fallen leaves and insects singing was a harmonic tone that called for peace. The environment cast off a fresh relaxing vibe that Mycale took in with deep breaths as he walked around to the front door and knocked.

  Sori’s voice flooded his ears.

  “It’s open!”

  Admiring the impressive old-fashioned beauty of the place, Mycale entered the living room slowly. The back of the couch to the door, he saw Sori’s bare feet dangling over the arm, the rest of her hidden.

  It didn’t take but a second for her senses to kick in and his scent to wash over her like a warm spray from a hot shower. Making the rest of herself visible, Sori sat up.

  “How are you?” His smooth tone strok
ed her ear.

  She folded her arms over the back of the couch and greeted him with the sweetest smile. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t my ex-husband. I’ll be expecting my alimony payments any day now.”

  He loved joking around with her. So far, she was one of a very few people to pull him out of his rage induced nightmare and pull forth a spark of a personality he didn’t realize he had.

  As if the realization finally caught up to her brain, Sori said, “Let me guess, my brothers sent you? Did they send you out here to spy on me, or do they have other plans? You know, you don’t have to listen to them, right?”

  He shrugged, “I know.”

  Pausing for a second, she said, “They must really trust you to send you out here to their secret hideaway.”

  Seeing her relaxed him. “Yeah, I thought the same thing.”

  “You know this means that you are officially a part of the family? I guess that makes you my little brother.”

  With a petrified look on his face, he shook his head in horror. “No, please no! Can I be anything except your brother or kin?”

  “You’re right. Just doesn’t feel right.” She shook off a chill at the thought.

  Mycale took the seat closest to her on the couch and watched her move he feet away from the closeness of his leg. Maybe the brothers are right.

  The realization of how quickly they’d jumped into conversation gave Sori pause. Time seemed to have no meaning when they were together and an hour had flown by like a fighter jet.

  She asked, “Well, since you’re here, would you like to stay for dinner?”

  Scaling back his eagerness, He said, “Sure.”

  The brothers had never seen their sister anywhere near a pot so Mrs. Ruth had been sent out to prepare her food. She told Mycale, “Mrs. Ruth prepared nearly a week’s worth of food, entirely too much for me to eat, but I am enjoying it. All I have to do is pull something from the fridge and heat it up. I think my brothers think I can’t cook, and I am happy to let them continue to believe their assumption.”

  The spark of cheer in his laughter let Sori know that Mycale was excited to see her. She was just as happy to see him too; she just knew how to hide it better.

  CHAPTER 21

  Sori’s Thoughts

  Mind blown, she could hardly put all the events in chronological order. The earth-shattering event that had just taken place between her and Mycale in the kitchen had Sori’s mind reeling.

  As I sat watching and talking to him, I concealed my excitement at seeing him behind my faithfully stoic face. My attraction to him had taken on a life all its own, like a hardheaded child that won’t listen, I can’t shut it off. I find myself thinking of him as someone special to me, and it’s taken me a long time to accept as much. Realizing I will never be in a position to pursue him, I force it all into that part of my mind that eats unwanted thoughts. I’ll admit that it gives me comfort knowing that I can actually desire, lust, and feel for someone. It makes me feel like I am actually a part of the world and not just this thing put here to take out the world’s trash.

  My eyes follow him as he put away the last of the dishes, catching a small piece of paper peeking out of his back pocket. Truthfully, I was checking out how nice his ass looked in his jeans and just happen to notice the paper.

  Being who I am, I swiped the paper from his pocket without his knowledge. I sat against the dinner table, engrossed in his poem, reading it out loud.

  He looked panicked—almost horrified—and I could immediately tell this was something I wasn’t supposed to be reading. I continued to read it, too mesmerized by the words to stop.

  My interest piqued, I continued reading even though he tried desperately to take the paper back. I ducked under his arm and swerved out of his way as I moved quickly towards the sink, eyes glued to the document. I could hear him approaching as I quickly spun around, not realizing he was standing right behind me.

  I was caught completely off guard, staring up into his mesmerizing eyes. I was lost in a sea of green staring into those shimmering eyes. Although he wasn’t wearing them this time, he often wore glasses. Crazy thing was, I didn’t know which I liked better, him with the glasses or him without—both were appealing to me.

  His closeness intensified the moment. I deflected, asking why he wouldn’t share such a beautiful poem. He replied that it was personal, some of his private thoughts.

  Noticing the sincerity in his voice, I almost handed the paper over, but my trained eye caught something. A slight shift in his demeanor, indicated deception or unease. He’d felt the need to hold something back from me, and I couldn’t blame him. I decided to tease him, quickly folded the paper, and tucked it into my bra with a devious smile.

  He returned a halfhearted smile, but all of a sudden, something in his demeanor shifted. Giving me the most sensual look I’d ever seen, he froze me in place, holding me captive. Nearly touching me, he leaned down closer to my face and still I didn’t move. Without shoes, I was nearly a foot shorter than him, so my neck was craned up, body swaying to his slightest movement.

  His hand slid up my arm, causing me to lower my eyes in reaction to how good his touch felt. His eyes bore into mine, holding me there, defenseless. I felt like I was slowly floating into him as his hand continued to slide up my arm. Keeping his eyes on mine, he used as his other hand to cup my waist, making me shiver.

  Out of control and hypnotized is what I felt, along with passion, lust, and who knows what else. I wanted him to touch me, and he didn’t disappoint. Closing my eyes in anticipation of what he’d do next, I was completely captivated. I wanted him to kiss me, and he did. At first, his lips grazed mine feather-light, then he pressed his mouth firmly into mine. The kiss was so enticing I wanted more, and it took me a moment to realize that I had my hands around his waist, pulling him closer, wanting every part of him touching me.

  Smelling the intoxicating scent that was unique only to him, I ached to feel his hands all over me. I released the air caught in my throat, or maybe it was a soft moan, I am not sure. Unable to think straight, I was too far gone, and for once in my controlled life, I didn’t care.

  My reaction to him seemed to give him more courage, and he kissed me again. This time merging our lips firmly as passion poured into my mouth like warm liquid silk and instantly coated my entire body. He kissed me as if he’d been waiting his entire life for the moment.

  We’d kissed while on assignment together, but I now knew that he’d been seriously holding back. He’d told me he was attracted to me, but I’d never known how much until he’d kissed me, truly kissed me.

  He marked me so that I wouldn’t desire anyone else’s lips touching my mouth.

  Until his kisses, I’d always thought kissing was the nastiest thing I’d ever done. His lips were soft, warm, and enticing, but when his tongue slid hot and wet across mine, the sensation set me afire. My sounds were pleasure-filled moans fused with deep inhales and exhales that only seemed to intensify the pleasure coming from his mouth and lips.

  Leaving my mouth, he brushed his lips along the edge of my chin, then behind my right ear which sent hot pangs of lust down to my core. Every spot he kissed was meant to evoke a certain passion. How many different levels of passion could he make me feel? He had me curious to know. Kissing several areas, he didn’t stop until he found the perfect spot that drove me mad.

  Having no intent to stop him, I’d never allowed anyone to take such possession of me.

  Pausing, he held me like the most precious thing he’d ever touched. Neither of us spoke a word as we stood forehead to forehead, trying to catch our breath, his body shuddering against mine. Pulling me in, he wrapped me completely in his arms. I could feel his heart pounding urgently against my warm body, so fast, like he’d taken a shot of adrenaline.

  Finding the strength to push my mind back to reality, I let my arms drop away from his neck and tried t
o back away. The moment he felt my release, he secured his hands around my waist tighter. As he looked into my eyes, I saw in his everything he wanted to say to me. I looked away, too emotional for speech—me, emotional? What a conundrum. Gently, he turned my face back towards his and slowly lowered his mouth to mine. I felt his hand nervous against my face when he’d turned me back to him. He was determined and wanted me to know how he felt.

  My arms made their way back around his neck. We embraced each other passionately, as if we’d been longtime lovers. Before I realized what was happening, all in one move, he placed his hands at the connection of my ass and thighs and lifted me up onto the countertop. Letting out a deep gasp, both shock and excitement were a one-two punch to my mind.

  Now face-to-face, the sight of him positioned between my parted legs was sheer torture, especially for a woman who didn’t have a sex life. Breaking the hold I had around his neck, I inched away before my body ended up doing something my mind couldn’t control.

  Staring up at him, I held his face in my hands. My voice came out in an exhausted-sounding whisper, “Mycale, what are we doing?”

  He told me that we were sharing passion.

  It felt like a lot more than just passion we were sharing, but I didn’t comment, couldn’t even keep my hands from sliding down his body. His eyes told the full story as his hands slid slowly up my legs, caressing my thighs and making my legs open wider on their own. Slowly, he pulled me towards him, with a palpable passion spilling out of his body that filled me with an abundance of desire. The inside of my thighs kissing and caressing the outside of his was a part of a toxic cocktail that heightened my desire further. I took in deep breaths before his lips retook mine.

  I knew he understood why it was best for us to stay away from each other, but he ignored it and kept kissing me—so gently, so slowly, and so perfectly. He kissed his way down to the exposed skin above my top.

  His kisses were an intoxicating stimulant, awakening something in me that took control of my senses. A hand half inside the back of his jeans, I caressed his firm ass as my other hand gripped his waist. His flesh was like warm clay in my hands.