Tall, Dark and Paranormal: 10 Thrilling Tales of Sexy Alpha Bad Boys

by Opal Carew

  “It’s a bunch of spells.” Kai flipped quickly through the next several pages. “But these ingredients aren’t exactly going to be easy to find. Something tells me that Wal-Mart doesn’t carry mudbugs or any of this other stuff.” She leaned closer. “Although, I do recognize some of the herbs and flowers. So maybe I’m not a total loss as a witch or whatever I am.”

  There were spells for everything that someone might need to control a demon, or more specifically, control Asmodeus. He flinched when he saw one that clearly had to do with his ability to get a hard-on. He paled, hoping Kai wouldn’t see it, but she did.

  “This particular spell could come in handy if you get out of line.” She gave him a sidelong glance and winked. “But since I don’t know how to get the tears of a warlock, you’re safe for now.”

  “I see you haven’t lost your sense of humor,” Asmodeus replied as he tried not to look horrified at the notion of being rendered impotent. “But I suppose I will have to be on my best behavior.”

  “This isn’t a spell book, it’s more like a hundred and one ways to control a demon.” Kai nudged his knee with hers and lifted one shoulder as she turned the pages. “There’s a section of spells in here for each of you guys. It’s kind of funny actually.”

  “How so?” Asmodeus rose from the couch. He was feeling frustrated and confused, which was exacerbated by being so close to Kai. “You are in danger of being taken to the Underworld by my brothers or being abducted by the Fae. This blasted book was supposed to provide you with more information and all it has managed to do is generate more questions. Tell me, Kai. How is any of this humorous?”

  “Maybe funny isn’t the right word. It’s…ironic. I wouldn’t have found this book without you, Asmodeus. If you hadn’t taken me to see Isadora, I never would have discovered any of this.” Kai closed the book and locked it before rising from the couch. Her voice was steady and her serious brown eyes met his as she moved around the table toward him. “I think it’s interesting that in order to find the spells that could help me kick your demon ass, I needed you to do it.” She closed the distance between them and stood just inches from him, her skirt brushing over his legs. “Why do you suppose that is?”

  “I wish I knew.” Asmodeus kept his hands curled into fists at his side, fighting the waves of desire that rippled through him ferociously.

  “Because I was made to be yours,” Kai said seductively. Brown eyes peeked at him beneath a row of dark lashes as her hands settled on his waist. “My whole life I’ve been searching for true love, for honesty and passion, for that one person who would fit with me perfectly and seamlessly. I’d search for it in every aura I read, every light I saw. All this time, Asmodeus, I thought the answers would lie in the light but instead, I found them in the dark.”

  Asmodeus remained still as her fingers slipped beneath the edge of his shirt and her thumbs brushed the muscles of his belly. His cock twitched and throbbed when her fingernails rasped along the skin of his waist in enticing strokes. Urgent need fired through him and he growled as he snatched her wrists, tugging her against him. “Stop that. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Then stop torturing me,” she whispered. Kai brushed her lips over his knuckles as he held her hands against his chest. “I don’t want to be afraid anymore, Asmodeus.”

  “You should be,” he rasped. Pushing her away he released her arms and stepped back but the wounded expression on her face just about did him in. “We don’t have much time left before the Brotherhood, not to mention the Fae, discover where we are. I suggest you use that time to find a spell in that book that you can use to protect yourself or better yet, get that blasted ring off your finger.”

  “Fine,” Kai seethed. She spun around and snatched the book off the table before storming past him to the bed on the other side of the room. “I don’t even know exactly where here is but sure,” she said sarcastically. “I’ll do my fucking witch-fairy homework.”

  “Good.” Asmodeus folded his arms over his chest as she flounced onto the bed.. “But you can relax because I do know where we are.”

  “Oh, really Mr. Smarty Pants?” Kai said without looking at him, as she flipped through the first few pages of the book. “Where are we?”

  He crossed to the railing along the left side of the room and positioned himself by the opening that led down to a flight of stairs.

  “We are on the second floor of your grandfather’s barn.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “What?” Kai hopped off the bed with the heavy spell book in her hands and ran over to where Asmdoeus was standing. Grabbing the railing, she peered down the dark staircase. “Are you sure?”

  “Quite.” He smirked at her with the annoyingly arrogant look that made her want to alternately smack him or kiss him. “I wasn’t certain at first but I’ve picked up on a familiar energy. It seems your cat is waiting for you downstairs.”

  “Zephyr?” A grin bloomed over Kai’s face. When she tried to go downstairs Asmodeus’ massive frame blocked her path. Kai glared up at him. “What’s your problem?”

  “At the moment, it’s you and your ridiculous habit of running off without taking a moment to think about the consequences.”

  “We are under a cloaking spell, aren’t we?” Kai clutched the cumbersome book to her chest and cocked one eyebrow at Asmodeus. “And if you managed to pick up on the fact that my cat is down there, then I imagine if there was anyone or anything else lurking on the property, you would have gotten wind of it. Correct?”

  “Well, yes,” he said slowly.

  “Then what’s your damage?” Kai let out an exasperated sigh. “Is there anyone else down there other than my cat?”

  “Not that I can detect, but—”

  “Good.” Kai waved one hand, urging him to step aside. “Then move it.”

  Asmodeus didn’t move but continued staring at her with his arms folded over his chest. Kai took a deep breath, struggling for patience. She knew that getting pissed at him would not help because it only seemed to make him dig his heels in more. So she decided on going for the pity card.

  “Listen. I know you’re a demon and I may have some witch and fairy blood but really, I’m just a simple human girl at heart. Aside from the fact that my life has been turned upside down, I’m exhausted, I’m starving, and I could use a snuggle,or two, from my cat, especially since snuggling with you isn’t an option. So unless you want me to faint from hunger and accidentally zap your demon ass with white light, I suggest you let me go down there.”

  Asmodeus seemed to mull over his options. Finally, after what felt like forever he turned and headed down the steps without a word. Kai followed him down the dark, narrow staircase with the book held tightly against her chest. She heard the lock give way with a dull clicking sound and as Asmodeus pushed the creaking door open slowly, she couldn’t help but hover right behind him.

  He stopped in the open doorway and peered at her over his left shoulder with that cocky, lopsided grin. Kai rolled her eyes and nudged him ahead and even though she could tell he wanted to tease her for acting like a fraidy-cat, he had the good sense not to.

  They moved quietly through the darkness of the barn but the smell of burnt wood and smoke filled Kai’s nostrils.

  They stepped through the jagged, charred hole that used to be the barn door but Asmodeus swung his left arm out, stopping her from going any further. He held one fingers to his lips and Kai, without even realizing what she was doing, curled her hand around his forearm and snuggled closer. A soft glow emanated from both of them as he shared her light, but the night remained quiet, with only the chirping sounds of insects littering the dark.

  Asmodeus kept saying that stealing her light was a bad thing, but Kai’s gut instinct told her that it wasn’t. Seeing the shared glow between them actually gave Kai comfort and made her feel like she wasn’t alone. Given the increasing weirdness in her life, being a part of something, or someone, was reassuring. Even if that someone was a six foot, three inch
hunk of otherworldly hotness.

  Kai was just about to ask Asmodeus if it was okay to move ahead, when the lone mewling of a cat ricocheted across the property from the direction of the house. Looking past the Dumpster that was still sitting by the barn, Kai scanned the moonlit property. It took only a moment to find the source and a smile cracked Kai’s face as she spotted a pair of familiar, luminous eyes staring back at them from the steps of the house.

  “Zephyr,” Kai whispered in a strangled voice. Tears stung her eyes as the weight of the past twenty-four hours settled over her. “She’s okay.”

  “Go on,” Asmodeus murmured. “But we shouldn’t stay here too long.”

  “Thank you.” Kai popped up on her toes and brushed his unshaven cheek with a kiss before running across the yard.

  Zephyr met Kai at the bottom of the steps and she immediately began purring like a freight train. Kai placed the book on the stairs before scooping the cat up and raining kisses all over her sweet, furry face. The affectionate moment didn’t last long as the petulant Siamese soon clamored to get down and back to her busy schedule of licking herself.

  “Gee, thanks,” Kai laughed as Zephyr hopped from her arms and flounced into the house with her tail in the air. “Nice to see that you didn’t change while I was away.”

  “We should go inside,” Asmodeus said. He surveyed the property with the same serious intensity she’d seen at Isadora’s house. “And no magic.”

  “Right.” Kai let out a snort of derision as she hoisted the book off the steps and trotted up to the still open front door. “I don’t think you have to worry about that. I don’t have any eye of newt handy.”

  Kai made a face as she looked at the leaves and other debris that had blown in the house while she was away. “Although I have to admit finding a spell to clean the house would be great.”

  She placed the spell book on the dining room table and glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner. It was almost four in the morning, but truth be told, she had no idea what day it was and exhaustion flooded her as she ran her finger over the cover of the book.

  “There are enchantment spells in there as well.” Asmodeus closed the front door and joined her in the dining room. “Enchantment spells and charms are driven by the spoken word and don’t require potions. I would suggest you familiarize yourself with some of them, as I don’t doubt that they will come in handy for you.”

  Kai felt his presence next to her and as the heat from his body drifted over her, she resisted the urge to snuggle against his chest. That’s all she wanted to do. Pathetic, she thought. How pathetic was it to still be drawn to someone who’s made it heartbreakingly clear that he’s not interested.

  She recalled what he’d said after they’d fooled around. I gave you what you wanted. The hollow ache of humiliation filled her chest at the memory of it. He’d only been with her out of pity or obligation and to throw herself at him now would only result in more embarrassment. When the Demon of Lust turns you down for sex, the level of mortification is off the charts.

  “Kai?” His voice was gentle, tender almost. “Are you alright?”

  “No, Asmodeus. I’m not alright and I doubt I ever will be again.” Kai held up her hand to keep him from responding and couldn’t even bring herself to look at him. She was terrified she’d see pity in his eyes and that would probably push her right over the proverbial edge. “You don’t have to say anything and in fact, I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t. I’m going to grab something to eat and you are welcome to help yourself to anything you want in the kitchen. Then I’m going to take a shower and change out of this gypsy get-up, so I can at least pretend to feel normal. By my count we have just over five hours until our presence can be detected.”

  Without waiting for a response, Kai went into the kitchen with Zephyr at her heels while Asmodeus remained in the dining room. She snagged a half full bottle of white wine from the fridge, a hunk of cheese and a box of probably stale crackers from the cabinet. He watched her silently and said nothing as she brushed past him before stopping briefly to grab the spell book.

  Her arms full, she stopped at the bottom of the staircase and looked at Asmodeus, who stood in the archway of the dining room. Bathed in moonlight from the windows, he looked more desirable and mysterious than ever. His serious gaze peered at her with their trademark intensity while he studied her. Arms at his sides, the muscles of his biceps twitched almost imperceptibly as he bowed his head in deference.

  “I’ll figure out how to get this ring off my hand and then you and I can go our separate ways.” A smile played at her lips. His body was tense, poised and ready to strike at whatever enemy might come calling, but the smile faltered as she realized who it was he would likely have to fight. Her voice dropped to just above a whisper. “I’m sure the last battle you want to have is with your own brothers. Asmodeus, I’m sorry for any trouble that I’ve caused you and it’s glaringly obvious that I never should have put on this ring. It’s turned both of our lives upside-down but I’m going to try and make it right. Then you can go back to the Underworld and I can take a stab at a normal life. Who knows? Maybe I can find a nice fairy man to settle down with? Someone who won’t mind if light beams shoot out of my hands.” She let out a curt laugh. “I wonder if there’s a dating site for freaks like me.”

  Without waiting for him to respond she trotted up the creaking staircase and ran down the hall to her bedroom. Kai shut the door behind her with her foot but not before Zephyr slipped into the room and hopped onto the queen size bed. Kai placed everything on the quilt next to the cat before scratching her ears.

  “What the hell am I going to do?” Kai murmured. Zephyr peered at her through bright blue eyes and meowed loudly. “That sounded a lot like, you’re-screwed. Well, a glass of wine and a hot bath may not get the ring off my finger but it might help clear my head.”

  Kai peeled off her clothing and tossed it on the rocking chair in the corner before grabbing the bottle of wine and going into the adjacent bathroom and running the bath. The massive claw foot bathtub filled quickly and she let the water get hot enough so that it was almost unbearable.

  She snagged a glass off the bathroom sink and poured most of the wine into it. Kai took a sip and sprinkled in some foaming bath salts she’d brought with her from home before sinking into the water on a sigh.

  She breathed in the heavenly lavender scent as it filled the steamy room. Kai closed her eyes and draped one arm over the edge of the tub, as she allowed her weary body to be enveloped by the scented water. She sipped the rest of the wine as she replayed the events of the past day over and over in her head but questions about the Fae kept coming to mind.

  It didn’t make sense to Kai that the Fae would harm her. Wasn’t she one of them? In that moment Kai decided that if she couldn’t find a spell that would remove the ring, then she would convince Asmodeus to ask the Fae Queen for help.

  It was true that Ben had tried to take the ring but he’d been alone.

  Kai drained the rest of the wine and placed the empty glass on the little wicker table by the tub. She squished bubbles between her fingers as she ran over everything in her mind, as if focusing on a mundane motion like that would help clear her head.

  What if Ben was acting entirely alone? All this time they were operating under the assumption that the entire fairy world was after the ring but if that was the case then why hadn’t any others come after them?

  The more Kai thought about it, the more sense it made that Ben was acting on his own. What if Ben wanted the ring so he could control the demons and then use them to overthrow the Fae Queen?

  “That’s it!” Kai sat up quickly, sending water sloshing over the sides of the tub. “I have to find out if that’s true. We are running out of options and time, so Asmodeus is going to have to put his bullshit with the fairies aside.”

  She hoisted herself out of the tub and stepped out on to the plush bathmat. Soapy water dripped over her naked body and she shivered as th
e cold air drifted in through the open door from the bedroom. Kai yanked a towel off the rack but when she reached over to close the door, she found herself staring into a pair of familiar blue eyes. And they didn’t belong to the cat.

  Asmodeus stood in the bedroom and was staring at Kai in all her soapy, naked glory. She probably should have shrieked at him in outrage and covered herself up.

  But she didn’t.

  Holding his stare, Kai slowly straightened her back as his heated gaze lazily slid over her nude form from head to toe and back again. The towel slipped from Kai’s hands and as it fell silently to the floor, the only sound she heard was the thundering beat of her heart as it hammered in her chest. She tried to control her breathing, so she wouldn’t sound as turned on as she felt, but that was an effort in futility.

  No man had ever seen her this naked or exposed. In every other intimate relationship she had, Kai would insist the lights be off during sex. She’d try to cover her nakedness whenever possible, always making the mad dash for the towel.

  But not with Asmodeus.

  Kai wanted him to see her. She wanted to show him every single part of herself and share herself with him in every way a woman could know a man. Even though the reality of doing that terrified her, it empowered her as well.

  “Is there something I can do for you?” Kai asked in a husky and almost foreign sounding voice. Her body shivered but not from the cold. It was the hungry look in Asmodeus’ eyes that had her blood humming. “Asmodeus?”

  “Yes,” he murmured in a deep, barely audible tone. “You should cover yourself.”

  “Why? You could leave. Couldn’t you?” Kai shrugged casually, even though she was freaking out on the inside. “You already rejected me twice and have made it crystal clear that you don’t want me, so what does it matter if you see me naked?”

  “You think I don’t want you?” Asmodeus strode toward her as he spoke, slowly and deliberately making his approach. Kai’s heart beat faster with each step he took and the ring burned against her flesh as desire flared hard and fast. He stepped through the doorway of the bathroom moving closer until he stood just inches from Kai. His massive frame crowded her in the small space but Kai held her ground. “You cannot possibly fathom the torment I feel when you’re near me.”