Of Demons & Stones: A Tri-Stone Trilogy

by Anne L. Parks

  Alex peers at me, anxiety all over his face.

  "I'll be fine. Besides, it'll be quiet there, and I can get rid of it faster." I smile feebly and hope it masks the fact that I'm mad as hell.

  It works.

  Alex stand, helps me up, and offers my apologies to the group. We walk in silence out of the restaurant. Jake pulls up with the SUV, and I climb into the backseat.

  "I won't be long," he murmurs, and gives me a quick kiss on the side of my head before closing the SUV's door and heading back into the restaurant.

  "Jake, take me to my place," I instruct as soon as we are a block away from the restaurant.

  My blood is on fire, burning me from the inside out. I will not be made to feel like a two-bit whore while Alex sits there and lets it happen.

  Jake eyes me in the rearview mirror. "Do you need something from there?"

  I close my eyes and rest my head against the seat. "No, I'm staying there tonight."

  "Mr. Stone insisted I take you back to his place, Jake says. "Mr. Sysco's still at large, Kylie. It's not safe at your house."

  I groan loudly. "Mr. Stone doesn't own me or dictate my life."

  I glance at the rearview mirror. Judging from the grim line across Jake's face, he's not thrilled with the current course of the conversation.

  "Fine, take me to Alex's house. I'll call a cab to come and get me." There is a little voice in my head telling me to take some deep breaths and reconsider this rash move. Unfortunately, the rage is louder and telling the voice to shut the fuck up.

  Alex Stone can make another woman feel like shit. This one is done.

  Jake doesn't speak to me during the remainder of the ride to my row house. After a sweep of the interior, he makes me promise to call if anything even remotely strange occurs.

  I lock the front door behind him, flop onto the couch, and try to remember the last time I was here.

  The night John attacked me. The night Alex saved me from a worse beating.

  Damn, I hate it when that man is right.

  I pick up my cell phone to call Jake and have him pick me up. It rings with a call from Alex.

  That was fast. I consider letting it ring through to voicemail, but I know Alex will just keep calling, so I press the answer button.

  "I thought we agreed you're staying at my house." Alex's voice booms through the phone.

  I'm immediately defensive. A raging demon is awake inside me and ready to fight. "I don't feel much like playing your girlfriend tonight, Alex."

  "What the fuck does that mean?"

  Is he still at the restaurant?

  "It means I had no idea that becoming your girlfriend would cause me to lose my identity and forfeit my name. Do you realize you never gave them my name? They thought I was just another one of your dumb-as-rocks, fuck-'em-and-leave-'em dates. One of them propositioned me like I'm a fucking call girl. So I'm taking the rest of the night off."

  Alex sighs heavily into the phone. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize that was happening."

  "Well, what did you think was going to happen when I'm introduced as the no-name girlfriend?" I pace around the living room, frustration and my red-hot anger making decisions for me. That's always a bad place to be.

  "Baby, I'm sorry. Let me come by and pick you up. We can go home and talk about it."

  "I am home."

  "It's not safe there, Kylie."

  Inhaling, I try to calm down. If I provoke him too much, he'll come through the door and drag me to his house, kicking and screaming.

  "I'm tired, Alex, and I'm staying here tonight. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

  There's silence on the other end.

  "Fine." His voice is clipped. The line goes dead without any further discussion.

  This day sucks ass.

  My head is killing me, and I'm actually seeing spots. Bed is a really good idea right now. I just want to sleep and forget this day ever happened, especially the business dinner.

  I check the locks on the doors, turn off the lights, and head upstairs to my bedroom. I'll deal with Alex in the morning. We both need to cool down.

  As I slide between the sheets, my phone dings with a text message from Alex.

  * * *

  I'm sorry I neglected to properly introduce you tonight. It wasn't right and not intentional.

  * * *

  I type a response and send it.

  I felt like another one of your whores.

  * * *

  My phone dings.

  You're so much more. You're everything. Please forgive me.

  * * *

  I know he means it. And in my heart, I know he would never intentionally disrespect me.

  I forgive you, Alex. Just need some time for me. Going to bed. Will call in the morning.

  * * *

  The phone is silent for a moment, and I consider calling to reassure him I'm okay, when it dings.

  Good night, Kylie.

  * * *

  I smile and type.

  Good night, Alex.

  * * *

  I hold the phone to my chest, willing it to provide me with even a modicum of the relief I usually feel when I'm with him. My chest tightens. I'm being unfair. My pride is hurt, and I'm taking it out on Alex. But the punishment doesn't fit the crime.

  Tears stream down my face and onto the pillow. I wish I could figure out where I stand with him. Why is he so protective of me? How can he go from being a man who never dates the same woman twice to wanting only me in the blink of an eye?

  He told me he doesn't trust women, believing they only want to be a billionaire's wife. But there are things hidden between the lines, things I can't decipher, and I wonder if Alex can't trust women or can't trust love.

  I stand on the ledge and look out over the water. The wind blows my long skirt and swirls my hair around my head. Large rocks sit between me and the green grass that stretches forever but goes nowhere in particular.

  A dark figure moves toward me.

  John.

  "No!" I look around, searching for an escape. Behind me is the deep ocean at the bottom of the steep drop.

  A hand rests on my shoulder. I turn, tentatively, unsure who I'll find. The bluest eyes and brightest smile greet me.

  I exhale. "Alex."

  I glance at John. He walks toward us but never advances.

  Alex holds my hand and kisses it.

  "I love you, Kylie."

  My heart swells and feels as if it's about to explode. All the fear and pain evaporates from my soul, and light replaces the darkness.

  I look back at John. He's gone.

  Somewhere in the distance, a bell rings.

  * * *

  "Hello?" I answer my cell phone, and drag myself out of the semi-unconscious dream state.

  "Please let me in." Alex says, his voice full of distress and fatigue.

  I'm still groggy trying to identify reality outside my dream. "Where are you?"

  "Front door."

  I move through the darkness and navigate around the furniture in the living room. A dark figure stands outside the sliding glass door at the back of the house.

  I thought he said front door?

  I look back, but the figure's gone. It must have been a shadow from my dream. I flip the light on and unlock the front door.

  Alex's hair is a rumpled mess, and stress ravages his handsome face. He steps into the entryway, and I close the door. As I turn to face him, he grasps my upper arms, pushes me against the door, and pins me with his body. Before I can react, his mouth devours mine. He smells of spice and oak, and I can taste the sweetness of scotch on his tongue. The combination is heady. I push my tongue against his, the kiss deep, longing, and I know I need this connection as much as he does.

  His hands move across my abdomen, the tips of his fingers slip under the waistband of my pajama pants. I grasp the back of his head, twist my fingers into his hair, wanting his tongue deeper and harder.

  All of the day's stress and tension is coming out in
this kiss.

  Finally, we break apart and come up for air.

  Alex rests his forehead against mine. "I'm sorry. I just couldn't sleep. I had to make sure you were safe. God, I care so much about you, Kylie."

  All of my feelings from earlier in the night—the dinner, punishing Alex, the dream—rush back to me, and I'm a bundle of sexual tension and desire. I pull his body against mine, lick along the seam of his mouth, and force my tongue inside. My body hums, and all I want is for us to be as physically close as we are emotionally.

  "Show me, Alex. Show me how much I mean to you."

  Alex pulls away from me, takes me by the hand, and leads me up to my bedroom. I take my camisole and pajama pants off and toss them onto the floor. I saunter closer to him, and he takes in my naked body. He licks his bottom lip, now moist and glistening, and I'm warm and wet, wishing his tongue was licking me

  I pull off his T-shirt, and he steps out of his shoes, kicking them to the side. I unbutton his jeans and work them down his legs.

  Alex grasps the back of my head and pulls my lips to his. Our tongues collide with force, my hands roaming over his back. He turns me around, slips his arm around my waist while his other hand sweeps my hair to the side. Delicate kisses graze my neck and shoulders. I grasp his hips, pull him to me, and feel his strength against me.

  I clutch his hips and draw him to me. "Mmm...Alex, I want you."

  "Move onto the bed, baby," Alex whispers in my ear.

  I climb onto the bed on my hands and knees. Alex moves behind me. He glides his fingers along the soft folds of skin between my thighs, and I moan. He positions his erection near my opening, circling it with his tip. Wrapping his hand around my hair in a makeshift ponytail, he pushes into me hard, taking me by surprise. He pulls out and slams into me again, repeating the process as my cries get louder.

  It's amazing and raw and entirely pleasurable. Alex grunts behind me, driving me silly insane knowing I'm the focus of his desire.

  "Oh God, Kylie. Damn, the things you do to me, the things you make me feel."

  I was already close to climax, but his words force me over the edge, and I explode around him. But it's not enough—it's never enough with him—and I still want him deeper inside me. I continue to rock against him, taking every inch of him into me, as the waves of my climax shudder through my body.

  "I love hearing you come, baby. I love making you come over and over again."

  "Do it, Alex. Make me come again. I want you so deep in me."

  He finds a fast rhythm, and my body begins to build once more.

  "Alex, come with me."

  Alex emits a sensuous groan, and I know he's close.

  Coaxing me up so that my back is against his chest, he massages my breasts with both hands, and pulls on my nipples until I cry out. Wrapping my arms behind him, I grasp his ass and push onto him harder. The tip of his shaft hits my pelvis, striking the nerves in that special spot that spreads tremors through my extremities, and I unravel around him.

  "Oh, shit, baby," Alex says through gritted teeth.

  My orgasm erupts once more and ripples through my body as he empties into me. We collapse onto the bed together. Alex is on me—and in me—running his fingers faintly over my arms and shoulders and sending warm shivers my skin. His lips dance across my neck, and trails his fingers lightly along my side before resting on my hip, reigniting the flame between my thighs.

  I shift and move his hand around to my swollen nub. "Mmm, baby." My fingers cover his, enticing him to massage me. I roll my hips against him. It doesn't take long before I'm climbing to the apex.

  "Oh...oh..." My orgasm crests and breaks free, releasing me from its hold. I collapse onto the bed once more, unable to move and completely spent.

  "Damn, that is beyond sexy," Alex murmurs, rolling off of me and lying on his side. He moves my hair my face and tips his head to look into my eyes. "You okay, baby?"

  I smile, and "Uh-huh," is all I can get out.

  Alex laughs and sits up. "Come on. Let's get you situated properly." He pulls me up with minimal assistance from me before placing my head on the pillow. He brushes the hair out of my eyes and gazes at me, a grin across his face. "I was going to apologize for interrupting your solitude, but I can't. That just redefined mind-blowing." He slides his hand into mine and playfully manipulates my fingers. "I am sorry though, about dinner tonight."

  "Yeah, that did suck." I roll onto my side and face him. "But I handled it poorly. I acted like a child, and I'm sorry I made you worry. I think I would've been okay if that asshole hadn't assumed I was one of your fuck buddies."

  "Who was that, by the way? What the hell did he say?"

  "Creepy Peter. He told me that he would make it worth my while if I attended another boring dinner with him next week. I'm not sure if he wanted all of me to come or just my breasts, because that's the only part of me he actually spoke to. And if I am not mistaken, he was envisioning fucking me six ways from Sunday."

  Alex's jaw is clenched, and the muscles in his neck are tight.

  "He said that to you? That fucking little prick."

  I touch the side of his face. "Can we forget about everything that happened before the mind-blowing sex? This discussion is killing my post-coital buzz."

  Alex's face softens, and I pull him into a kiss.

  "Post-coital buzz. Very clever."

  "I'm glad you're here, Alex. I missed you tonight." My head finds his chest, and I close my eyes, unaware if he has answered or not, as I drift into a restful slumber.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Thomas is my bodyguard until John is found. Alex hit me with that nugget of information this morning, right before Jake showed up to drive me to work and Alex back to his home. My first instinct is to argue that it's not necessary.

  After last night, I figure I should listen to that annoying voice in my head that keeps telling me Alex has been doing everything he can to protect me and that fighting with him typically ends with me in harm's way. It's a place I no longer want to be. And I hate fighting with Alex, although making up is amazing.

  Having Thomas sitting around my office while I'm discussing confidential client information, however, is a problem. Instead, Thomas sits in the corner of the conference room with his headphones in and plays games on his iPhone.

  Sarah knocks on the door as we're busy numbering exhibits. "Kylie, there's a call for you."

  I specifically told her not to interrupt me. "Take a message."

  "It's the fire department. They said it's an emergency."

  Everyone in the room stops what they're doing. Thomas takes his headphones out, in all likelihood noticing the shift in the room, sits up in his chair, and pays closer attention to me.

  I pick up the phone on the side table. "Kylie Tate."

  Replacing the handset after finishing the call, I turn to Lisa and Thomas.

  "Lisa, call Alex's office. Tell Amy to put you through to him and explain that you have a message from me and that it's an emergency. Tell him that Thomas and I are heading over to my house. It's on fire."

  I grab my cell phone and purse. "Thomas, let's go." I head to the elevator.

  Blue barricades block the street I live on and keep my nervous neighbors at bay. I approach the police officer keeping people back. He blocks me away and tells me to go home.

  I show him my driver's license. "I'm Kylie Tate. This is my house. The fire department called me."

  He looks at my license and hands it back to me. "Miss Tate, you'll need to stay here until it's safe to go in. The fire chief will be over to update you on the situation. I'll let him know you've arrived, but you need to remain here for the time being."

  Officer Kincaid, with his baby face and all of two minutes on the police force, waits for me to acknowledge his instructions before he turns and walks away.

  Thomas steps behind me. "Miss Tate, Mr. Stone is on his way."

  "Thanks, Thomas. If they let me in before he gets here, make sure the police offi
cers know he's with me."

  "Yes, ma'am."

  Remnants of smoke seep out through the upstairs windows. My head is reeling. What could have happened in the few hours since I left this morning? Did I leave something on?

  My life, my past—all of it is turning to ash before my eyes. Everything I've worked so hard for, the things I never had growing up, will soon be gone. The memories of my childhood, my dad, those pieces of history that were entrusted to me exclusively—all of it destroyed. A large lump develops in my throat, and I concentrate on not collapsing to the ground under the weight of my sudden depression.

  A short white-haired man introduces himself, but I miss his name. After a brief discussion and internalizing his fire department uniform, I'm able to surmise that he's the fire chief Officer Kincaid promised would talk to me. He informs me that the fire started in the front bedroom upstairs and spread throughout the entire top floor. The main floor along with the basement sustained some fire damage, but mostly smoke and water damage. "Initial indications are that an accelerant was spread on the bed."

  I feel Alex’s presence behind me as the electricity in the air becomes fully charged whenever he is in close proximity to me. I turn and wrap my arms around his neck. He pulls me close.

  He reaches across to shake hands with the fire chief. "Alex Stone. Can you update me on what you know so far?"

  I tune out the discussion, bury my head into his neck, and release a long, tightly held exhale. Alex will take over and allow me to mentally break down. It feels so good to have him to lean on. I have always had to be strong, to take care of others. But having his arm around me, supporting me, I'm finally able to let someone take care of me.

  "I'm going to take a look upstairs," Alex whispers in my ear. "Thomas will stay with you."

  "No, I want to come."

  Alex begins to object.

  "I'm okay, Alex. You're here. I can face it."