Dangerous Dalliances (Maxwell Investigations)

by Ibanez, Dawn

  Dangerous Dalliances

  Maxwell Investigations Book 3

  Dawn Ibanez

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2013 Dawn Bond-Ibanez

  All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book/e-book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at dawn@dawnibanez.com. Thank you for your support of author’s rights.

  ISBN: 1482787636

  ISBN-978-1482787634

  acknowledgement

  A lot of work went into this novel, and there isn’t just ONE person that I could think to say thank you and dedicate this novel to. So I will have to say that this novel goes to those that have been on the journey from the beginning. When Tangled Temptations was nothing but a pipe dream and I was fortunate enough to get time at the computer to write it.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Epilogue

  Auspicious Affairs

  Love’s Darkness

  About The Author

  Prologue

  People were dancing and singing as they celebrated the life and death of a world famous pop icon. Barry Maxwell made his way through to club and found himself at the bar. He looked at the bartender and waved to him. “A shot of Jack,” he ordered.

  The bartender nodded and quickly moved to fill drink orders. Barry turned around and scanned the crowd. The dance floor was a huge living mass. There were plenty of women dancing in barely there outfits and there were just as many men willing to take advantage of them. Barry glanced at his elbow and saw his shot waiting for him. He couldn’t help but sigh as he downed his drink.

  It would have been easy to coax one of those women to his side. From there they would go to the back room and possibly to her apartment, but he wasn’t interested. Lately, a beauty that tried to be anything but preoccupied his thoughts.

  His older brother’s secretary, Lilavanti, hid behind saris and bulky clothes. The three times he met with her, she had her long wine colored hair pulled back in tight buns or ponytails, and her gorgeous green eyes were always covered by fake glasses.

  Barry turned to the bartender and raised his glass. His thoughts of Lily turned to her true nature. She was a Succubus. A creature everyone thought was extinct; but somehow she and her twin Cord blended in with society. At least until Cord went wild and started killing people. Barry’s own brother Eric was still comatose after their fight.

  Lily was a different matter. She tried to hide her nature as much as possible. While it seemed like everyone else backed away from her mousey image, Barry found it hot as hell.

  He sighed as his drink reappeared. He reached for his wallet only to pause when the bartender shook his head. “We know your sister,” the bartender said with a smile. “Dylan’s family is always on the house.”

  Barry was confused by that bit of information. Usually, it was Madison that people spoke about. He leaned forward. “Mind if I ask how you know her?”

  The bartender shrugged and reached for another glass. “A cub from my Skulk went missing. Your sister found him before something bad happened to him.”

  Barry nodded as he looked at the bartender. With his red hair and lean build, Barry knew exactly what he was dealing with. “Foxes, huh?”

  The Fox Shifter held out his hand. “Ethan,” he introduced.

  “Barry,” he replied as he shook Ethan’s hand. He glanced around the club again and spotted a familiar form writhing against another one of the dancers. Barry frowned as he spotted her long dark hair and slim figure. “You’ve seen her here before?” Barry asked Ethan.

  Grey eyes looked at the woman dancing. “That’s Lily,” he said easily. “She comes in here about once a month.” Ethan smirked as he watched her seductive moves. His smirk then fell when both he and Barry saw Lily lead her partner from the dance floor to the bathrooms. “I can tell you she’s a Supernatural, but exactly what, I’m at a loss.”

  Barry finished his drink and tried to calm himself down. Even though Foxes ran the place, he was in a bar full of normal patrons. He looked at Ethan. “I’ll tell Dylan you said hello,” he said before moving into the crowd. Barry found himself seething in anger. It was just over a month since Cord’s death. Now she was out clubbing, dancing, and grinding against some poor unfortunate asshole. He couldn’t even entertain the thought of her following in Cord’s footsteps and killing someone as well.

  He reached the men’s room door and found it locked. Barry tried to calm himself as he gripped the door knob. He allowed his Magic to flow down his arm and in seconds the lock sprang open. The scene he spied as he opened the door made him want to take out his own eyes. Lily was on her knees making quick work of the strange man’s belt and zipper. Barry cleared his throat and gave them both his best frown. “Lilavanti,” he said harshly.

  The man she was with looked at Barry. “Dude, that door was locked!” His eyes blinked wildly.

  Lily stood and ran her hands through her hair. “What are you doing here?” she asked hotly. When he reached out to grab her, she backed away from him. “Answer me,” she snapped.

  Barry glanced at her partner and then returned his gaze to her. “I’m trying to stop you from getting into even more trouble,” he said lowly.

  There was something in his voice that was teasing her hunger. She knew she should be mad with him. All she wanted to do was have a quickie in the club. Get her energy back up and go back to her boring life. “Either leave or join in,” she said before turning back to her partner.

  For a moment Barry’s eyes glazed over. “We can either do this the easy way or the hard way,” he challenged.

  Lily’s eyes dilated at his tone. She didn’t want to think about the things he could do to her. She wouldn’t. Not when all she wanted was simple, uncomplicated sex. With a smirk she grabbed her partner’s collar and brought his mouth down on top of hers.

  Barry took a slow breath as he watched her. He couldn’t fall for her charms. He was trying to be honorable. The Council was starting to ease up her restrictions, and he didn’t want her to do anything to jeopardize that. Barry reached into his back pocket and resigned himself to the fact that Lily just might be as difficult as one of his sisters. “Hard way it is,” he said pulling out a pair of handcuffs.

  * * * * *

  “You have no right to do this!” Lily screamed as Barry carried her out over his shoulder. Her eyes narrowed when the approaching bouncers started to back off. “You’re just going to let him kidnap me?” she shrieked.

  Barry laughed as he carried out of the club and to his car. His laughter was cut short when she started to thrash and kick against him. It was just as he expected. She was a spitfire when she was pissed. “I’m a cop, remember,” he said
as he stopped next to the passenger door of his Charger. He stood her on her feet and quickly blocked the knees and kicks she threw at him. With a smile he pressed her against the door. “All I have to say is that you’re wanted for questioning. None of them will stop me,” he said into her ear.

  It was true. He was a cop and that was the reason why everyone let him manhandle her out of the club. But the real crime was what his voice was doing to her. Eric was the Siren, and in the months she worked for him she never reacted to his voice like this. “Barry, don’t do this,” she pleaded. Her head lowered to his shoulder and she inhaled his cologne. “I won’t kill anyone. I’ve done this plenty of times before.”

  Her tone pulled at his heart strings. Barry leaned back and looked into her eyes. “Lilavanti, I can’t let you put yourself in danger,” he said softly. As she shook her head, he moved her over and opened the car door. “Let’s get out of here,” he mumbled before helping her into his car.

  Lily wanted to cry. Her control was slipping and if it got loose, there was no telling what would happen. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the headrest as Barry buckled her seatbelt. “I have to have sex tonight. You don’t understand what you’re doing.” Her eyes opened and focused on Barry and started to darken. “My powers are like your Magic. If I don’t find an outlet, then there’s a risk that I could really start hurting people.”

  Barry sighed as he thought of his options. He couldn’t take her to Sloane. His brother-in-law was still at the hospital with Eric. Dylan and Crispin were out. Barry’s partner Thorne was there and he couldn’t subject his friend to a Succubus. Madison and Troy were just married three days ago. His other brother Jimmy was out of town. That only left one other option. “I’m taking you to my place. You’ll be fine there,” he said lowly.

  She shook her head as he straightened and closed the door. He didn’t understand. And while he thought she would hurt someone else, he wouldn’t even try to understand. Her eyes focused on Barry as he walked over to the driver’s side of the car and climbed in. As he started the car, she pressed her lips together. “But will you be?” she asked before he drove off.

  * * * * *

  Barry pulled up to his apartment building and turned his car off. He looked over at Lily and frowned at the way her head was leaning against the window. “Are you asleep?” he asked softly. When she turned her head and looked at him, he forced a smile on his face. “We’re here.”

  “My wrists hurt,” she whispered.

  He frowned and popped her seatbelt open. “Let me get those off of you,” he offered as he pulled out the key to his handcuffs. He then smirked when she turned her back to him. “You aren’t going to run away are you?” he teased. When she only shook her head his frown returned. “Lilavanti, what’s wrong?” he asked.

  “My name is Lily,” she corrected. The moment he released her bonds, she popped open the door and climbed out of the car. Her balance was shaky and she couldn’t seem to get her eyes to focus right. Before she fell, she leaned back against the car. “Just call me Lily,” she said tiredly. The gentle feeling of a hand against her cheek made her look up.

  Barry sighed as he watched her. “How often do you need to have sex?” he asked. When she started to shake her head at him, he frowned. “Answer the question,” he said tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “Please.”

  Lily’s eyes were partially glazed as she looked at him. “About once a month,” she mumbled. “The last time was before Cord killed Megan.” When she heard Barry curse she smiled. “I’ve been trying to keep a low profile,” she explained.

  Barry lifted her into his arms and ignored her protests. Her twin had killed the poor girl from Dennis’s pack almost two months ago. If she was supposed to have sex once a month, she had to be nearly starving. “You would’ve killed that boy in the club,” he argued as he walked up to the main entrance to the building. A frown crossed his face when she shook her head against his shoulder. “You don’t think so?”

  “Didn’t happen last time,” she confessed. She bit her lip as Barry stood her up at the glass door. “Just take me back to the club. I’ll be fine.”

  He gazed at her and his frown deepened. She looked as if she was about to pass out. “You’ll be fine here,” he said tracing a finger along the side of her face. When her eyes closed, he brushed his lips against hers. Barry’s arms tightened around her when he felt her body going limp.

  Lily reached up and brushed her fingers against his face. “You said that already,” she whispered. She smiled sadly as he frowned at her. “In the car. You said I would be fine.”

  He opened the door and ushered her inside. “You will be.” As he escorted her to the elevator he noticed how she was walking on steadier legs. “Do you trust me?” he asked. He pressed the button for the small elevator car. When she nodded he tilted her face up to his. “Keep that in mind,” he whispered before claiming her lips in a tender kiss.

  * * * * *

  Sunlight streamed through the window waking her. Lily frowned as she looked around the unfamiliar room. She could remember going to the club to feed and finding someone. Then Eric’s brother showed up and took her out of the club over his shoulder handcuffed.

  Green eyes went round as she sat up, only to bump into the solid form of Barry sleeping next to her. “Oh my God,” she breathed. When he moaned and tightened the arm around her waist, she pushed him away from her. “Oh my God,” she moaned as she climbed out of the bed.

  Lily’s hands started to shake as she looked at Barry’s naked chest. Her heart was in her throat when as she realized that she was also nude. She swore to never sleep with Eric’s brothers. It was a promise she made to Eric’s unconscious form while she looked over him at the hospital. Tears filled her eyes as she searched out her clothes and quickly got dressed.

  “Making a clean getaway?” Barry asked from the bed.

  She pressed her lips together as she kept her back turned to him. “I shouldn’t have come here with you,” she said softly. She could hear him moving off of the bed and fought the urge to run. “This shouldn’t have happened.” Lily ignored her bra and pulled on her blouse. She walked down the small hallway and quickly found her pants and shoes.

  Barry sighed as he wrapped the bed sheet around his waist. “Lily, you don’t have to overreact,” he said calmly. It surprised him that while he was still tired, he didn’t feel as drained as he expected. He paused when he saw the way her back straightened. “You’re not hurt and neither am I, what’s the problem?”

  Lily turned narrowed eyes to him and paused at the sight of him. “What’s the problem?” she echoed. The expression on his face enraged her. “I didn’t want to sleep with you. That’s the problem!”

  He flinched. The thought of her being this upset wasn’t sitting well with him. Barry quickly walked over to her. “Lily,” he started. He paused when hurt jade colored eyes looked at him. “It’s all right. No one has to know you were even here.”

  She shook her head and moved away from him. “I know Barry,” she said as she pulled her pants on. “I never wanted to sleep with a friend’s family member. And even after I promised Eric that I wouldn’t sleep with you, here I am.” Lily barely held back a sob as she pulled on her heeled boots. “I can’t believe this.”

  Barry went over to where she sat and knelt in front of her. He gave her one of his patented smiles and covered her shaking hands with his own. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “You had to take care of yourself. No one got hurt, so no harm, no foul.”

  Sloane’s words made complete sense now. “You are a slut,” she said lowly. When his face fell, she shook her head and moved away from him. “I have to have sex in order to survive. I would have been fine at the club. But no. You had to come to my rescue. You had to bring me home and turn yourself into my source. That was all you.”

  Brown eyes darkened as he sat fully on the floor. “So you’re saying that you would rather have a quickie in a men’s room than coming back to
my apartment?”

  Her eyes filled with tears. “Yes,” she answered. When his head hung low, she went to the door and grabbed the handle. “I didn’t want you. I never would have slept with you. You were the one that took advantage.”

  “I didn’t mean for you to feel like that,” Barry said quickly. He jumped up to his feet and went after her. “Lily, last night wasn’t like that.” Just as his fingers brushed her arm, her hand connected with his face. He froze as he finally looked into her eyes. The pain that he saw there made him want to hit himself. “Lily,” he whispered.

  Tears started to fall. “Sloane was right. I have to sleep with people in order to survive. You just do it because you can.” When he reached for her again she pushed him away. “If you touch me again, I’ll make it so that you’ll only be able to get off with a cactus,” she said before pulling the door open and quickly leaving.

  Barry slammed his hand against the door before walking over to the phone. He hadn’t meant to hurt her. With everything that had happened to Eric, Barry thought that he could be a shoulder for her to cry on. Lily’s being a Succubus had nothing to do with it. He could only blame his own stupidity for her anger. Barry dialed the front desk and rubbed his eyes. “There’s a woman coming down from my apartment.”

  “Yes, Sir, she’s exiting the elevator right now,” the front desk clerk replied. Her breath caught for a moment. “Would you like for me to have a car take her home?”

  Barry smiled at his building’s efficiency. The young woman behind the front desk always had a good eye. “Please. Thank you, April.”

  “Any time, Barry.”

  When he hung up the phone, he looked around his living room. There was no question that his family was going to be pissed with him. What he hadn’t counted on was Lily’s anger. She was genuinely hurt by his actions and that made him feel even worse than he thought possible. As he turned to return to his bedroom, he saw Lily’s forgotten bra on the floor. His eyes softened at the black satin fabric. She had been everything that he had thought she would be, and now she was gone out of his life.