Then he leaned back in his seat, pressed his palms to the top of his head, and let out a groan of frustration.
She touched his arm. “Hey, listen, I’m sorry about your brother. That sucks that Satan Jr. has him. Is that what’s wrong?”
He didn’t answer.
She tore open the pack of red licorice strips she’d picked up while she was waiting for Jed. “Ugly family secrets, huh? I wish I had some of those.”
“No, you don’t. Trust me.”
She pulled out a strip of licorice and took a bite. “I do actually. I have no family, and it sucks. I’d take bad family over no family any day. At least then, I’d have roots. I’d have some connection to something.”
Jed dropped his hands to look at her, then frowned when he saw what she was doing. “You’re eating candy?”
She held out the strip she’d been eating. “Want some?”
“No.” He took the piece of licorice and examined it. “Candy just seems . . .”
“Light-hearted? Fun? Yeah, that’s why I got some. Thought it might help my mood.” She pulled out another piece and bit it. “So far, not really making a difference, though. It’s just sticking in my teeth.”
He tossed the licorice back on her lap. “What would you do if I said I loved you?”
Her heart stopped for a split second, this unbelievable feeling of warmth and belonging blossomed over her, and then she noticed that his eyes had faded from their lovely violet-purple to black.
Her exhilaration deflated with a thud. “That’s not you talking, is it?” She realized he was looking a little peaked, and she touched his face, not at all surprised to have her finger disappear into his cheek. “You’re starting to go shadow warrior, aren’t you? Predator mode? For me? Why? What did I do?”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“Of course I didn’t. You’re almost transparent. It wasn’t a legit question.” She could see the outline of the seat through his chest, which was now bearing a close resemblance to a rain cloud. “Even though I’ve got this inner wraith thing going on, I’m also a woman. And as a woman, I have fantasies. Like the first time a man tells me he loves me, or even alludes to it, it won’t be when he’s in evil mojo mode.”
He stared at her, then his eyes turned violet, and his body began to solidify and a weird sound filled the cab.
Paige frowned, and then realized it was the sound of Jed laughing while half in specter form. “See? I knew you were insane.”
But he just reached out and hugged her and kissed her forehead. “You make me laugh, killer.” He groaned and rubbed his face in her hair. “I can’t believe I’m laughing. I’m losing my mind.”
She smiled and lifted her face so she could kiss his mouth. Because it was there and she already knew he tasted good. His lips were still curved in a smile when her mouth touched his, but the minute she flicked her tongue over his teeth, his mouth closed over hers with an intensity that smacked her in the gut.
His grip tightened on her waist, so tight it almost hurt, but not quite. His mouth was hot over hers, plunging her depths like he would never be able to kiss her deep enough or hard enough. Even if he hadn’t meant what he’d said earlier when under the evil mojo, he meant this.
She linked her fingers behind his neck and tugged him closer as she kissed him back, felt her body arch into his. His hands slipped under her shirt, and she sucked in her breath at the feel of his bare skin on hers, at the frantic movement of his hands over her lower back, over her shoulder blades, her stomach, her breasts . . . his palm brushed over her nipples and heat exploded in her core.
Oh, hell fire. “That feels unbelievable,” she whispered into his mouth. “Do it again.”
He groaned and dropped his hand, pulling his mouth off hers. “We’re in a cab.”
“So? I don’t care. I’m sure the driver doesn’t care.”
“I don’t care,” the driver called out.
“See? We’re all on board.” She tried to pull him back down. “It’ll give him something to talk about over the dinner table tonight. Don’t stop. Just one more kiss.”
He thumbed her lip and then dropped a brief kiss on it, smiling when she tried to follow him as he pulled back. “Next time we do this, it’s going to be in a place where I can finish it. When I’m not worried about my brother.”
She took a deep breath and pulled herself off him, then changed her mind and snuggled against his chest. Why deprive herself? She was paying good money to be able to touch him whenever she wanted. And she wanted to touch him, so there. “You can’t finish it,” she reminded him. “I can’t have sex with you, remember?”
His eyes darkened and he caught her face between his hands.
She held her breath at the intensity in his gaze, at the black flecks in his violet eyes. It wasn’t the evil mojo exactly, but it wasn’t entirely Jed, either.
“I will have you.” His voice was quiet. “There is no other way.”
“You won’t have me.” But her stomach knotted up with excitement at the determination in his voice. But please try. I’d really like it if you tried. “No other way for what?”
The cab rolled to a stop. “We’re here,” the cabbie said.
Jed dropped his hands instantly and turned away. “Let’s go.”
Damn. She hated it when he let go of her. She scowled as she climbed out the cab, tugging her shirt back down from where Jed had gotten it up around her armpits.
He gestured behind her, and she turned around. They were standing in front of a beautiful stone cathedral. “Your brother’s in a church? Shouldn’t that keep him safe from Junior?”
“I keep my portal here. No one thinks to look for it in a church.”
“Because you’re evil?”
He scowled. “If you want to put it that way, yeah.”
“How else would I put it?” She started to walk up the stone steps, letting her hand glide along the black wrought-iron railing. “Good idea, though. I like it.” She paused on the threshold, her belly suddenly flittering with nerves. “You, um, think I’ll be okay in there?”
She felt him come up behind her, his presence reassuring. “If I can go in, so can you.”
“Yeah . . .” She bit her lip. “What if I go up in flames or something?”
He put his arm over her shoulder, sliding her up against his side. “You may be fighting an inner wraith, but trust me, the church isn’t going to hurt you. You’ve still got enough purity in you.” He tugged her along. “Let’s go.”
She winced as they crossed over the threshold, then let out her breath when nothing happened to her. “So, where’s your brother, anyway? Is he okay? Did Junior threaten him or something? Give you someone else to kill to keep him safe?”
When Jed didn’t reply, she glanced up at him, then tensed when she realized his eyes had gone black again, and he was staring right at her, like he was about to go shadow on her. She shrugged out from under his grasp and set her hands on her hips. “What is your problem, right now? We’re on the same team, remember?” She eyed him. “What exactly did Junior say to you?”
Jed ground his teeth, and she could tell from the look on his face that he wasn’t going to tell her.
“Fine. Do your ‘I’m a man and I’m an island thing.’ Whatever. Maybe Dani was right to give up men. Is it so hard to return a little bit of the support I give you? Apparently so. It’s not like I’m feeling a little vulnerable right now with my whole inner wraith thing going on or anything like that.” She spun away from him and started to stalk across the church. “Even though Theresa can’t hug me, at least she’s sensitive to my fragile emotional state. Unlike you. Kiss me, mention the ‘L’ word to a girl who craves love, and then go all predatory on me. Yeah, sure. That’s great. Like I’m not having a bad enough day—” She saw a priest at the front of the chapel, leaving through a side door. “Oh! You think a blessing by him will save me? Hello! Hello! Excuse me.” She raised her voice as he disappeared through the door. “Hey! I’m
in need here!”
There was a growl from Jed that sounded all too evil, so she didn’t even bother to turn around. Instead, she broke into a sprint and bolted across the chapel as the door started to swing shut behind the priest. “Yo! Wait up!”
The door slammed closed just as she reached it, and she grabbed the handle and yanked.
Locked.
“No!” She yanked the door again and then kicked it. “Come on! Give me a break!” She sagged against the door, her cheek pressed against the white wood. “Ditched by a priest and an angel in the same twenty-four hours. No wonder Satan picked me—” The skin on the back of her neck prickled suddenly and she whirled around.
Jed’s eyes were pitch black and he was stalking her ever so slowly, his body still solid, but fading. Even though he was still in human form, the shadow warrior had clearly taken up residence, and it looked like the only thing on its mind was her death.
“I love you,” he growled. “Be mine forever.”
“Um, so not believing you right now.” She conjured up a fireball in her left hand, her heart starting to pound as she felt the wraith in her calf stretch and wake up, called to consciousness by the danger. It scented death, and it wanted a piece of the action. She swallowed hard, trying to shove the wraith back into its cage while she eyed Jed. “Um, Jed? Where’s that discipline you were talking about? You going to back down or what?”
She didn’t need him to reply to know that his answer was going to be no.
Thirteen
Rafi’s vision blurred as he squatted by the end of his deck, testing the trip wire. He had to lean against the deck chair for a minute until the dizziness passed. His body was screaming in protest, but he couldn’t stop. Wouldn’t stop. His shirt was soaked with blood and sweat, jaw was aching; cuts all over his body from Junior’s torture were still oozing, and he’d had to duct-tape makeshift splints to his shattered ankles just to be able to stand. Even his fingernails were bleeding.
Behind him was a pile of homemade weapons, made from everything useful in his home. He’d trashed the place in his mission. Furniture destroyed, windows broken, walls beaten through . . .
The gun Jed had snuck into the Afterlife for him was the only real weapon he had, but it wouldn’t be enough if Junior ever tried to take him back there. He needed better defenses. Wouldn’t stop until he felt safe . . . which was a bullshit concept anyway. Safe didn’t exist.
He wiped the back of his hand over his brow and took a moment to steady his trembling hand before carefully tugging the trip wire. The sharp spikes made of the fireplace implements quivered slightly where they were attached to the roof, aimed to slam directly in the gut of whoever tripped the wire.
The traps were complete.
Let him come.
Rafi stood up on shaky legs, walked over to the pile of weapons, kicked them aside until there was a hole in the middle. Then he stepped into the middle of the pile, shouldered a sheaf of wooden spears made from the bed legs, slid six sharp paring knives into the belt he’d slung over his chest, checked the ammunition in his gun, and then stuck it in the back of his jeans. Strapped three butcher knives to his thigh, hoisted a stack of boards with dozens of nails protruding from each one (formerly the front door), and secured them across his back.
And then he lifted up the twenty-gallon vat of water, strapped it across his chest like a drum in a marching band, hooked a short hose and a lawn nozzle to it, and then tested it, squirting a spray of water at a nearby flower. Rumor was that water would melt Satan Jr., and he was going in prepared.
He widened his stance to take the pressure off his protesting muscles, then set his jaw. A trickle of blood and sweat dripped down his temple, and he shook it off, his entire body beginning to shake with the effort of staying vertical. His skin burned where Junior had flayed it, his throat still hurt from screaming, and his skull felt like it had been split in half.
Rafi set his shoulders and clenched his jaw. “You won’t win!” he shouted. “You won’t destroy me!”
No response except the harsh call of a raven.
His quads finally gave out and he dropped to his knees with a grunt, still holding his upper body erect. “Come on. Come get me—”
He stopped suddenly as a tremor shook his body. He groaned and bent over, fighting to hold himself erect as his muscles seized for the third time since he’d been back.
What the hell was going on? What had Junior done to him? Given him brain damage?
The convulsion finally ended and he groaned, his muscles shaking with relief and exhaustion.
And then he felt it. A sudden flicker of light at the edge of his consciousness.
He opened his mind to the faint pulse, to the call.
The spirit of the shadow warrior had found him.
That’s what the convulsions were. His body trying to respond to the call.
Hell.
He closed his eyes as he reached with his own spirit, trying to touch the one that was searching for him, knowing what he had to do. You have to let me go. I can’t answer the call. You must find another.
He felt his soul break as he uttered those words, denying himself the heritage his spirit had been craving for his entire existence. The one that was his, that would make him complete.
The one that was trying to kill him.
You must leave me in peace.
There was a blinding flash of light in his head, and exhilaration rushed through him. He stumbled to his feet, dropping his weapons as his spirit leapt in response.
Yes, it’s me. I can’t come to you. You must come to me. Follow the link. Desperation consumed him and he reached his arms toward the invisible pull, raised his face to the sky. I need you. I can’t survive without you. We must be one. “I’m here!” he shouted, his voice raw. “Come to me!”
The light wavered and he reached for it with his entire being, trying to draw it toward him over the fragile link that connected them. It flickered, and then it screamed his name.
Rafi’s body lurched in response and convulsions seized him again, as his body fought for release that it couldn’t have.
He couldn’t swallow the bellow of pain that consumed his being. He crashed to the deck, oblivious to the splintered wood and nails of his own weapons driving into his flesh, knowing nothing but that he’d failed.
In the church, Jed doubled over with a sharp groan, clutching his stomach.
“Jed? What’s wrong?” Paige ran to him and grabbed his arm, which was suddenly ice cold. “What the hell is going on?”
“Rafi,” he gasped, as he went to his knees, still clutching his stomach.
“What?” She caught him as he fell over, grunting as his full weight landed on her. “God, you weigh a ton.” She sank down to the marble floor, cradling his head in her lap. “Um, Jed? You’re starting to scare me.”
“Is he all right?”
Paige looked up to see a youngish woman in a suit peering down at them, her eyes wide behind red tortoiseshell glasses. Her hair was short and brown, a haircut that should be boyish and plain, but it actually defined her high cheekbones and made her look completely gorgeous. Paige scowled as the woman inspected Jed. Definitely the daytime help at the church. “Low blood sugar. Do you have any chocolate around?” Paige said to her.
The woman’s brows went up as she inspected the well-muscled, massive male body stretched out on the floor groaning. “He has low blood sugar?”
Paige wrapped her arms possessively around him. “He’s mine, and he needs chocolate. Can you get some before he dies on your floor, already? If he dies because you were too busy gawking at his nice butt to get him chocolate, I’ll sue your ass.” Her calf twitched and she felt a sudden yearning to kill the woman. She grimaced and closed her eyes, trying to will the wraith back in its cage. I won’t kill for you.
Fortunately for her, the church lady was already rushing across the chapel, her sensible heels clicking on the floor.
“Okay, Jed, she’s gone. Time to get up.�
�� Paige patted Jed’s cheeks, feeling slightly panicky when she realized how cold they were, trying to ignore the deadly urges prowling around in her body as the wraith tried to push her to kill. It had a chance with the church lady, but there was no way she was killing Jed. Back off. “Dammit, Jed! I can’t carry you! Wake up!”
He groaned and tried to sit up. Paige shoved against the heavy muscles in his back, and that got him upright, but he let his head rest against her.
Against her breasts, to be specific.
He didn’t seem to notice, but damn, it felt good to her.
“It’s Rafi. My brother.” His voice was raw, as if he’d been screaming for days. “Something happened to him. I can feel it.”
“Oh, that’s so cool. You guys are so close that you can feel it when something happens to him?” A twinge of envy made her sigh. “I would love to have a brother.”
“I’ve never felt his pain before.” He rolled onto his stomach and forced himself to his feet. “Come on.”
She scrambled up next to him and couldn’t help but smile when he threw his arm over her shoulders to lean on her. Then she staggered under his weight and had to concentrate on staying vertical instead of the feel of his body against hers. “Look at me, Jed.”
He glanced at her as he took a deep breath, and she felt him summon strength into his body.
She relaxed. “Your eyes are violet again. What happened back there?” She wrapped both arms around his waist to support him. “You totally lost it.”
He groaned and touched her cheek. “We need to talk.”
“I’m guessing later, though?”
“Yeah.” He pointed toward the stained-glass window off to the left. “We’re heading over there.”
Together, they worked their way past the rear pews to the window. When they reached it, he paused and turned toward her. “The portal lets only me through, as part of my deal when Rafi got stashed there. For you to get through, we have to be one. Trust me?”
Did she? She realized she did. “Yeah, sure.”
“Since you’re a Rivka, I can’t get inside you unless you invite me in. Let me in, then step through the window.”
Sex & The Immortal Bad Boy Page 9