by Grey, T. A.
“What?” She couldn’t hide her defensive tone.
His smile turned into a smirk. “I just enjoy your company.”
She wanted to roll her eyes. “I doubt that.” I'm as boring as can be, she wanted to say.
“Why? You're beautiful, smart, and unique. I feel like I won the gold prize just sitting here with you.”
Oh. Her stomach clenched to try to quell the butterflies dancing there. She polished off her plate and pushed it forward. Her jeans suddenly felt tight and she wanted to undo the top button. Just another reason why she hated normal clothes. Normal clothes never fit her right.
“You're nice too,” she said and instantly winced at the lameness of the statement.
He tossed his head back and laughed a low rumble of sound. His laugh was so infectious she joined in and just like that the tension in her shoulders eased. She wanted to ask him about what he'd said, if he really planned on kissing her, but that would just sound immature, stupid, or needy. She didn't know what to expect with him after he said that, but she felt excited for the first time in a long time at the thought of it. Anticipation settled deep in her to wait. Even as he brought her into a conversation on magic and spellcasting, she answered while her mind sorted through all the possibly ways he could kiss her, all the ways it could feel. Would he be a slow and sensual kisser? Or maybe rough and a little aggressive? Her thighs squeezed tight at the thought.
“You're thinking about it,” he said, his voice laced with an erotic edge.
The jarring statement gripped Rosa out of her reverie with hard hands. She bit her lip and debated shaking her head as if she hadn't been, or maybe nodding and being bold like Lily just to see what his reaction might be. Instead she just looked at him, her lip caught between her teeth. His eyes wondered slowly down to watch her mouth and she could see the transformation in him. The darkening of his yes, the deepening of his, and the lowering of his eyelids into a sexy mask.
Sucking in an unsteady breath, she looked around the room avoiding the need to fan herself. It got hot in here very quickly.
“Let's get out of here.” He stood and tossed a big bill on the table. Not a light tipper she noted with a smile.
He helped her back into the SUV and they took off down the road heading back to her shop. She bit back her disappointment that he hadn't kissed her by putting on a smile. Not that the smile was fake by any means, she felt really good and relaxed around the warrior who, at first glance, had terrified her. Really it wasn’t her fault. He was built with a powerful body covered with hard sinew. He twice as wide as the average man. Now that he didn’t terrify her, she actually enjoyed looking at him. While working, she’d catch herself imagining what it’d feel like to be in his strong arms.
A tingling sensation bloomed in her belly and spread outwards like a veining plant. She hadn't felt this kind of excitement in a long time—the kind between a man and a woman. She placed her hand over her belly to help calm her nerves.
“Have you ever been married?”
The sudden question had her eyes flying wide. “What?”
He shrugged. She couldn't help but notice how well he drove. Such a simple task, one millions of people undertook daily, though not one she preferred at all. She'd never owned a car in her life and she was damn proud of her old ways. He drove with one big hand curled around the wheel, the other resting on his big thigh. And big they were; the man was built like an ox. Another bloom of pleasure surged through her, making her hyperaware of how close she sat to him, of how strong he was. He could easily bench press her five hundred times and barely break a sweat, she’d bet. She'd never been into muscular men until now. His muscles made her wiggle in her seat.
“Just wondering if you've ever been in a relationship like that.”
“No, never married. Just a few long-term relationships in the past. I stopped after—” she paused as she almost said his name. “I stopped after the last one. Didn't need another after that.” Understatement of the year. The man had managed to squeeze every ounce of confidence she'd ever had until she was completely dependent on his rare positive moments to feel good about herself. And when that wasn't happening, she was dodging his fists.
“I understand that. I was married.”
An eyebrow flew up. It shouldn't surprise her, but it did. She didn’t analyze the spark of jealous that flared up. “What happened? I mean where is she?” She didn’t know him well but she didn't figure him for the kind of man to just end something easily. He was a fighter by heart; he'd deck it out until the end.
He sighed softly. “It was a long time ago. Her name was Moira. We were married for a long time, but that ended a long time ago.”
She shouldn't probe, but she was dying to know. “May I ask why you aren't with her anymore?” she asked in a quiet voice. She wanted to make sure he knew he could back out of this line of questioning if he wanted to.
“She was killed,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “She fought in The Great War. She was a great fighter. Got killed when we were outnumbered.”
Rosa processed that like a snail. A warrior? A female warrior fighting for the Atal Warriors. She'd never heard such a thing. Though her death happened a thousand years ago, she could still hear the pain in his voice. Her heart panged with guilt at having brought it up.
“I'm sorry.” The useless words sounded incredibly insufficient in the context of things.
His big shoulder lifted in a shrug. “It was a long time ago. I've moved on, Rosa.”
The way he said her name made her breath catch. He said it softly, like a man who really liked something. Rosa quickly diverted her gaze out the window to hide another stupid blush. If this kept up she'd end up with permanent pink cheeks. Ridiculous how she was acting. She was a grown woman; she could control herself better than this.
“We're here.”
Nodding, Rosa reached for the door handle. Warm fingers wrapped around her arm, stopping her in her tracks. “Don't,” he said.
As he walked around the car, her heart started pounding faster and faster.
I'm going to kiss you today.
Why?
Because I really, really want to.
Her breathing couldn't stay even as he reached the door and opened it. Her lips, her body, everything tightened in anticipation. He took her hand and helped her out of the car. For a moment they were so close she could feel the blazing heat radiating off of him. She swayed a little on her feet and bravely met his gaze.
Strong, sure eyes met hers, glowing with barely-contained heat. His arm reached by her and she tensed, a small gasp left her, but he didn't wrap his arm around her as she thought he would. Instead, he closed the car door behind her and nodded toward the shop.
“Come on, let's get you inside.”
Rosa blinked several times to clear the foggy haze around her. It worked—somewhat. It took her two tries to get the key in the lock and turn it. The welcoming scents of coffee, incense, and fresh herbs greeted her making her smile. It felt good to be home. While she'd never admit it, she didn't really like leaving her shop. It was her home. She knew she was somewhere between mildly agoraphobic and reclusive, but luckily not quite that severe.
She made it halfway through the shop to the little sitting area before she turned back around. “Can I get you anything?” Like the kiss you promised me? She wanted it. Badly. She wanted to try it, to feel (hopefully) sensual excitement rush through her blood and make her heart race in the way that only a certain kind of man could do. She frowned as she saw he still stood at the doorway.
His head jerked to the side and she frowned with disappointment.
“I need to get back to Telal actually. I kind of left things when maybe I shouldn't have.” He sounded different, hesitant.
“Yes, of course.” Her chest suddenly felt hollow like several key pieces were missing.
He must have seen her disappointment because he cursed. “Ah, hell.”
He strode towards her, one of his long steps eating up what two of
hers made. With each step closer, her heart beat faster, harder, louder. Her chest shuttered, trying to draw in air, and then he stopped before her. One strong arm swept around her waist and smoothly pulled her against him.
“I told myself I wouldn't do this because you looked so nervous.”
“Not nervous!” she said, her voice high.
His eyes softened, darkened, and then his mouth pulled into a wicked grin that curled her toes. He didn’t make her wait long but gave her exactly what she'd been thinking about since he warned her.
He pulled her up against him until she felt like she could roll around in his scent, in his strong chest. His head lowered, her lashes fell. Just a hint of his touch passed across her lips, the touch so light it could have been a number of things. But she knew it was his lips because his breath blew gently across hers. As if he'd asked her something not communicated by words, her lips parted.
Only then did he kiss her. But “kiss” didn't adequately describe it. His lips molded against hers and his tongue took advantage of her parted lips and swept inside. A hot rush imploded inside her. All at once, she needed so much more.
With a needy sound, she flung her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. Licking, thrusting, and learning his mouth, his heady masculine taste, the raspy touch of his tongue. But what caught her off guard, what made her core melt in need, was the fangs. She'd already forgotten, maybe because he didn't look like a vampire, maybe because he didn't run around hissing and showing them off like a teenager. But as she dipped her tongue inside she passed his fangs, two sharp points that could easily penetrate her.
He groaned a deep husky sound that came from deep in his chest. One big arm wrapped around her shoulders and lifted her until only her toes touched the floor. Even then he had to lean down because he was so much taller than her. But his other hand slid down her back and cupped one cheek in a possessive touch. She squirmed, her hold on him tightening as every part of her body burned for more. To be in a man’s arms again was thrilling, made her blood quicken. She felt needed, wanted, desired as a woman should be.
She grew wetter, hotter. Their uneven breaths panted against each other as they both fought to find the best angle, the best means of penetration. The need in her core grew to distracting levels. She needed relief, so she arched forward and caught his erection with her hips.
He groaned, pumped his hips once. And then he thrust away from her, and bent over his knees breathing like he'd just run a race. Rosa took a step towards him, her hands reaching. He'd started something and she needed him to finish it, finish her.
He held out his hand and she froze. “Don't come any closer. Damn.” He dragged in a deep breath and stood. “That was amazing. I have to go before I do something...” His smoldering gaze trailed over his body. “Yeah, before I do something.”
He stalked to the door, his hand pausing on the door handle, and then he turned it and left.
CHAPTER 23
Lily awoke feeling groggy but not too bad considering her night. She had to remember to call her sisters and tell them about the woman in prison...her mother. She still couldn't believe it. It seemed impossible that she was even alive after nearly twenty-nine years, but strangely, it had to be true. And that gave her hope. If Rosa's vision proved true then at least she could try to free her mother before she died. And if she had any say in it, she wouldn't be dying.
That bitter thought sent her scurrying across the room to her potions. She made up her special juice and chugged. As the pervading warmth and happiness spread through her, she checked her injuries but decided the dull pain in her arms wasn't worth another pain potion. She felt a thousand times better after the juice filled her system, like a hot air balloon floating high in the sky.
She showered, dressed, and headed towards Telal's office in under an hour. He'd acted so odd last night, but seeing that part of him gave her hope. Her father wanted this demon specifically to be there for her. She'd long accepted that and now wanted to see what was there between them. Because something was. The attraction between them wasn't just one-sided, and she needed to see just where it would lead.
The elevator to his office floor opened and she paused. No guards stood at the door. Odd but refreshing. Maybe he'd ordered them off after their little breakthrough last night. She laughed, yeah right. Knowing him, his kindness had merely been a lapse in judgment brought on from the stress of the night. And it had been one hell of a night.
Flinging the door open, she found the lights off inside. Next she found the bedroom the same. A prickling feeling settled over the back of her neck. Lily took the elevator down to the lobby of the main floor.
The guard behind the desk looked up at her as she approached. “Where is he?”
“Mr. Demuzi?”
She glared. “No, Santa Claus.”
“I believe the North Pole, ma'am.”
Her lips twitched but she refused to laugh. “Try that attitude again with the mood I'm in and see where it gets you,” she said in a cold voice.
The guard narrowed his eyes on her and sized her up. She knew what he saw—a short, small woman. But she still had power, enough to kick his ass if need be.
Finally, he shrugged. “I can't tell you that.”
Lily threw up her hands and stalked back to the elevator. “Fucking idiots,” she mumbled. That sickly feeling told her something was wrong. He had to be in the building, she just knew it. So she punched in floor two and made her way down the halls one floor at a time looking for him.
By floor ten she was cursing. “Fucking place is huge.”
By floor twenty she wanted to pull her hair out. It wasn't until she reached floor thirty-five that the layout of the floor shifted completely. This looked totally different from the other floors. The elevator opened to a short white hallway with a single door. Her gut clenched in warning and she knew she'd found him.
The small keypad above the door handle lit up with a red light and she paused. She tried the door but it didn't budge.
“Well, shit.” She wasn't a hacker by any means. Still, she started entering a random variety of numbers hoping to get lucky. After a few minutes of trying, it didn't work.
Sighing, she made a fist and banged on the door. “Telal! Are you in there? It's Lily.” Quieter she mumbled, “Yeah, I'm sure that'll bring him running.”
Defeated by a door with a numbered lock, she slid to the floor. Lily contemplated all the ways she could get the door open starting with bribing a guard for the code. She had just gotten up to bombing it when the elevator dinged open.
Telal's bodyguard, Kearnyn, came through. A small smile formed as he saw her. “Keeping him safe?”
She scoffed and stood up. “Not really. Can you get me in?”
The smile died and he stared shrewdly at her as if trying to deduce what she was up to. She held her hands up innocently.
“I think something's wrong,” she said.
If anything his face shut down even more, hiding everything, showing nothing. “Why do you think that?”
“I may not be a witch like Rosa but I have similar strengths. Visions, feelings, things like that. Is he in there?”
He took a deep breath and eyed the door with a grimace. “The reports say he hasn't left.”
“Left since when?”
The big Irish man shrugged. “He's been in there since last night.”
“Damn. Get me in there big guy, and I'll fix him up.” Her stomach formed twisting knots of worry. Her claim was also a bold faced lie. She didn't know if she could help or not, but she'd die trying.
He took a deep breath then gave her a hard, penetrating stare. “You get five minutes, then I'm coming in to see what's going on.”
She nodded fast. “No problem.”
He crossed in front of her so she couldn't see the digits he entered, but they each made a sound to correspond to the number and she mentally memorized it. Four, two, five, seven, one. She just hoped her short-term memory remembered it. He pulled down the
door handle then turned back to her.
“Be warned.”
She took a step back. “He's that bad?”
He didn't nod or disagree but opened the door for her. Lily took a deep breath and stepped inside. A large recreational room greeted her. The ceiling towered high in a dome shape and the walls were bright and white. The room had a decent-sized kitchen, a large bar, TV, radio system and pool table. A man's lounge.
A movie played on the TV, some gaudy looking flick with unattractive boys and really sexy women. Not the kind of movie she'd think he'd be interested in. Slowly, she made her way through the room finding the main area empty. A leather chair faced the TV but it was empty too.
She stepped next to it and could still see the dimpled impression from where he'd sat in it. Bottles were scattered on the ground around the chair. Beer cans, bottles of hard liquor and a wine bottle—all empty.
“Telal?” she called out.
Hell, the TV was so loud she probably wouldn't hear him if he called back anyway. She grabbed the remote and turned the volume down. Two more rooms lead off the main room. She went to the one on the right and found a surprisingly large workout room with padded mats on the floor, weights and other workout equipment.
She flicked on the light but he wasn't there. “Telal?” she tried again.
As she made her way across the polished white floors, her gut tightened, coiled with worry. She never did get the unique feelings quite like her sister Chloe did, but she'd described them before, and yup, it sucked. It felt like a mixture between severe anxiety and nausea.
The worry pushed her and she forced herself to walk fast to the other door. The door stood ajar and a faint glow came from inside.
Flashes crossed her mind as to what she'd find. A dead body? Though she couldn't see the strong demon taking his own life, she didn't know him well enough yet to be sure. Just how fucked up was he from his trip to the rift?
She realized she'd soon find out as she pushed the door open and found the room empty. It looked like a spare bedroom complete with a closet, dresser, bed, and mirror on the wall. Another door connected to the room sat to the right, the glowing light coming from there. Her stomach twisted even more and she bit her lip as she made her way towards it. Somehow she was too scared now to call out to him, afraid he wouldn't answer her.