by Anna Zaires
“Your name?” His deep voice rumbled around her, through her. His full lower lip looked bitable and her pulse quickened. He was a Lash, her species, and he was in the same hormonal boat she was. She could tell, even though she couldn’t resist a quick peek at the bulge behind his zipper.
“Saige.” She took in his enormous biceps and shoulders and inhaled once again. He was intoxicating, dreamy, sexy, and hot as hell.
A group of males pushed to the bar behind her, jostling her, and the Lash’s arms went around her shoulders, tucking her close. Her breath hitched at the sensation of being pressed against that wide chest, and she took another greedy inhale. She rubbed her cheek on the soft black cotton of his T-shirt.
“I’m Tanner,” he said, and she felt the words vibrate from his body the same way she heard them in her ears. “Let’s go somewhere quieter.”
“Gods, yes,” she murmured, and let him lead her around the bar to the dark area of private rooms in back.
His hand gripped her hip and he allowed zero space between them as he pushed through the crowd. His fingers felt magical, each tip a spark to her need. Gods, she was so overdue for this. She’d waited too long. She might orgasm just from him touching her over her clothes.
Oh, who was she kidding, she didn’t care how it happened. It just needed to happen in the next minute or she’d combust.
Tanner. She said his name in her mind, letting the syllables roll around. So sexy and strong. She felt something hard concealed at the side of his thigh. A blade. He had to be a Watcher.
The elite warriors were the self-appointed peace enforcers of the realms. They were honorable, but could be merciless to species who took unfair advantage of less fortunate ones. They were the good guys, the white knights…but their sex drives were just as insane as everyone else’s right now. She slid a hand around his waist, dragging it slowly down his muscular ass.
He growled and shoved open a door that had been left ajar by a fae couple who’d just left. In one fluid move, he kicked the door shut and pinned her against the wall.
“You want this, Saige?” His hands circled her biceps and slid down to her wrists, leaving a trail of goose bumps. “You want me?”
“Yes. Now.” She captured one of his big hands and brought it to her lips, sucking his first finger into her mouth.
His eyes glowed bright green and he gritted his teeth. “Fuck, woman.” His free hand went to the center zipper of her corset—who the hell had time for hooks and laces—and pulled it down.
The leather dropped to the floor, baring her breasts. He pulled his hand from her mouth and cupped her flesh, eyes rapt. “So beautiful,” he murmured.
His hands were perfect. Big, warm, and strong, they covered her curves possessively. The thought ghosted through her head that she was going to smell like him, and that made her insanely delighted. Why? She’d never—
A moan escaped as one strong hand dropped to the fly of her leather pants. Heat exploded in her belly and warmth pulsed between her thighs. Oh gods, he was so close to where she needed to be touched.
As if he read her mind, he worked the zipper down and slid his hand inside. Her lace thong was wet, a blatant invitation, and he stroked along her hyper-sensitive skin once, twice…
And her orgasm ripped through her, so powerful she had no time to be embarrassed that she came so quickly. Her back bowed and she clutched his shoulders as she rode out the intense waves, one leg wrapped around his hip so she was completely open to him.
“That’s it, Saige,” he whispered, his lips brushing her ear and sending mini tremors down her shoulder. “Come apart. I’ve got you.”
She gulped air in shuddering gasps, her heart racing at the sexy promise in his voice and the nearness of him.
The last quiver left her body and she smiled lazily up at him. A flicker of smugness danced in his eyes before giving way to raw sexual hunger. She linked her hands behind his neck and tugged, needing his mouth.
Not all creatures bothered with kissing during the fertile times. The seasons were a lot of plain, hard fucking, any way it could be had. The romance of kissing was often left behind, the prelude abandoned in favor of the final act.
But Tanner obliged her, dipping his head to meet her lips. She teased him with her tongue, then opened for him.
His kiss was soft yet demanding. Just the right balance of him coaxing her higher, letting her play with him, and him taking over completely. He managed to be urgent yet teasing and left her wanting more. She pressed closer and rubbed against the huge erection straining his jeans.
He nipped her lip in warning, but she felt too bold to stop. She dropped a hand to palm his length.
He pulled back with a snarl, eyes bright, lips parted, panting. “Pants off.” His voice was rough with need as he undid his belt and zipper.
Saige’s hands moved on their own accord, pushing the tight leather down her hips. She couldn’t take her eyes off him, off the rigid shaft pushing at his boxer briefs. She licked her lips.
“Off or I’ll tear them off,” he growled.
She hopped on one foot, kicking loose one heel and getting one leg out, but when he pushed his briefs down she could only stare. His thick cock jutted straight toward her, long and perfect, and all she wanted was to take him in her mouth.
The rip of foil brought her back to the moment. Tanner rolled the condom on and scooped his hands under her ass, lifting her and pressing her to the wall. Her pants dangled around her knee and she wrapped her legs around his waist. Leveraging her against the smooth plaster, he grabbed her thong and ripped it in two.
CHAPTER TWO
Tanner didn’t know why this night, this solstice, seemed so out of control. Why everything right now was heightened in a way he’d never felt before. But he wasn’t going to stop and question it. Not with the sexiest female he’d ever seen spread open, willing, and naked, wrapped around him.
He positioned himself at the entrance to Saige’s tight body, rubbing the head of his cock through her slick folds.
“Tanner,” she moaned, and his name sounded like an orgasm on her lips. “That feels so good. I want you.”
Her husky voice licked across his skin, adding to the sensory overload. Sexy blond hair fell around her shoulders, almost covering her perfect breasts. Not too big, not too small, they were perky and tipped with taut pink nipples.
His cock throbbed. He nudged just inside her channel and she wiggled, trying to get more of him. Fuck, that was hot, but he was a big male and didn’t want to hurt her. “Gotta make sure you’re ready for me,” he gritted as he pushed in another inch. Gods, she was tight.
“I’m ready.” Brown eyes twinkled, swirled with the amber glow of sex. “I just came on your hand, remember?”
He groaned. “Naughty girl.” He pushed in farther. “Okay?”
“Yes.” She dropped her hand to their connection, stroking the base of his shaft. “More.”
Her touch felt too good and his control snapped. His most basic urges took over and he grabbed her hips, slamming her body down on his full length.
She gave a tiny squeak, almost a whimper, and her eyes squeezed shut.
“Fuck, did I hurt you?”
“No.” Her voice was tense, eyes still shut.
She was so damn tight. “You’re not a v—”
“No.” She opened her eyes, and he was relieved to see the glow still there. “It’s just been a while. I’m okay.”
“Yeah?”
She nodded.
He grinned and shifted her higher, leaning closer to draw one pebbled nipple into his mouth. He was careful to keep his hips still, even though he ached to fuck her hard. He wanted her pliant and eager, muscles clamping in desperate desire and not flexing against the invasion of his cock.
She sucked in a breath as he teased her with light flicks of his tongue. Gradually, the tightness in her hips eased, and her deep inner muscles relaxed around him. He switched to her other side and chanced a shallow thrust. A crazy feeling of
pride filled him, that she hadn’t been with many males, not recently anyway. Not during this solstice. No wonder she’d come so quickly when he’d touched her. She’d been a ticking time bomb.
A time bomb who was now, apparently, ready for more. “Mmm.” She sighed and adjusted her angle so that he slid even deeper. “You feel so good.”
He released her breast. “So do you, babe. I can’t go slow tonight.”
“I don’t need slow.” She smiled, sexy full lips taunting him with images of her mouth on his cock. Gods, the way she had looked at it. He’d gotten harder just being exposed in front of her.
“Thank fuck.” He pulled back and slid in again, her body tight and welcoming. And freshly wet. The enticing scent of her arousal filled the air, a new wave that added to the delicious jasmine scent. Her need was building—again.
He knew, because of sensory cues she was throwing off like signal flares. But also, he just…knew. But that made no sense. It was an effect of the season, it had to be. He thrust harder and higher as her one heel dug into his back. One heel, one bare foot. Might be funny if they weren’t both so consumed with desire. She gripped his shoulders and pressed against the wall, rolling her hips into him. Lips parted, face flushed, body needy, she was beautiful.
He kept his pace steady, wanting to prolong this moment. He’d been with hundreds of females over the years, all different species, and especially at the fertile times. But something about Saige was different.
She moaned his name, and it was like a siren call. He pumped faster and his need spiraled out of control. Everything about her was warm and encouraging. He didn’t know a thing about her other than her name and race, but he couldn’t get enough.
“Fuck!” he yelled as his body detonated. She gasped and shuddered, fingernails digging into his biceps as he thrust so hard her shoulders repeatedly bounced off the wall. But all Lash demons had accelerated healing abilities, so any bruises she might get from this hot fuck session would be gone soon.
With a small cry, she came apart with him. Her breath was choppy and sweet and she clung to him as their heartrates came back down. With her legs still wrapped around him, she rested her cheek against his chest, rubbing, as she had done when those assholes had pushed into her back at the bar. The gesture indicated a familiarity between them that they obviously didn’t have, but it was kind of sweet. Not what he’d expect from a female who was here at Hades for the same reason he was.
Unless she wanted something long term. Some females did try to find their mates during the fertile season. But no. His sex life was comprised of quickies and one night stands. Nothing more. Hence, the condoms. Lash demons were only fertile twice a year and Tanner wasn’t taking any chances.
Better to put her down and walk away.
Her arms tensed around his shoulders as if she knew what he was thinking. But when she lifted her head, her kiss-swollen lips and sated smile made him hesitate. Maybe they could meet up again the next night. The seasonal lust would still linger for a day or two.
She wiggled, and he set her down. She pulled a piece of the torn thong from where it had gotten shoved in a fold of her pants and arched a brow at him.
“Sorry about that.” He rubbed the back of his neck.
A sultry grin tugged at her mouth. “It was worth it.” She pulled on the one pant leg she’d managed to remove, then slipped her foot into the high heel she’d kicked off.
Tanner couldn’t help it. Saige was standing there with no top, in skin tight leather pants with no goddamn panties. She wore a Goth style silver choker that had coursed with shots of green light out in the main room. If he thought she was fuckable ten minutes ago, now that he’d had a taste, she was an irresistible temptation.
“So, um…” She retrieved her corset and wrapped the thing around herself, pulling the zipper up. She adjusted the front, leaning forward slightly and cupping her breasts in the process, and he groaned. He was sure she didn’t mean it like a tease, but damn. “It was nice meeting you, Tanner.”
Nice meeting you? Right, because everyone at this damn club was here for sex and nothing more. Except the females who wanted mates. He cleared his throat. What was he thinking? He wouldn’t see her again. “Yeah. You too.”
She gave him a small smile, like she was waiting for something. Did she want him to be chivalrous and open the door? He reached for it—
“Hey, um.” She caught his hand, stopping him. “You, uh, need to…” She looked at his gaping fly, which he’d forgotten to close.
“Shit.” He tossed the used rubber in a trash can among a hundred others and righted his clothing. “That coulda been embarrassing.”
Her eyes twinkled. “No, not for you. The nymphs would take it as an invitation.”
He grunted. Nymphs were fun, but they fucked almost anything in sight.
Saige opened the door and he followed her out. Loud music still boomed and bodies writhed. When they reached the bar, she turned and smiled, her choker glinting in the colored light of the club. “See you around.”
He nodded. “Take care.”
She melted into the throng of creatures. He watched her go, unable to look away until she was completely gone. Her scent lingered on his skin, a heady combination of hot seduction with an unexpected tendril of promise. She’d spend time with him again, if he pursued her. He knew it. But one night was all it would be.
***
Saige pushed through the crowd, needing fresh air. The oxygen in Hades was saturated with arousal and her skin carried Tanner’s scent. Her lips tingled from his kiss and she could still feel his arms around her. Reaching the door, she shoved it open and stepped into the dark night.
She hadn’t wanted to use her power on Tanner. Not him. He was a good, honorable male, like Watchers usually were. That was part of the reason they never lacked for female company, at the solstice or any time at all.
They fought hard and played hard. Warriors to the core. Steadfast and noble.
Unlike her and the criminals she was forced to work with. She wasn’t a warrior, despite the fact that she, like all Lash, could summon demonfire in her palms. No, she was as far from warrior status as anyone could get. Her hours were filled with either deception or worry, and every day she’d race to the compound to check on Logan, praying her brother wasn’t sporting any new cuts or bruises.
And that awful situation was in direct correlation to the males she was able to bring back to the Viper nest. She idly traced the choker around her neck. The silver links resembled gnarled, thorned branches. It looked tough. Went along with the leather she wore. But held within in the branches, looking like an innocent black stone, was a tracking device. She couldn’t remove it and couldn’t leave the city limits, or the Vipers would take retribution on Logan.
Her captors, the Vipers, would have loved Tanner. They would have crowed in glee to have him fighting in their underground ring, drawing huge crowds and fattening their pockets.
No. She wouldn’t. She had brought in several young Lash males recently, and she hoped that would placate the Vipers. And the Vipers weren’t here at Hades, so they would never know she’d had the chance to snag a Watcher, yet let him go. The scents on her could have come from any of the pushing, grinding bodies in the club.
But she had to return with something. A lead, a name, a future date or, even better, a male who could fight, could hold his own in the ring. If she didn’t, Logan would be beaten and then forced into a bout. He wasn’t a born warrior either and, like her, he’d had no fight training. He would die in that ring. She couldn’t lose him. They were all they had left in the world.
Swallowing hard, she thought of the Deserati bartender inside. She could come back at three, when his shift ended, and coax him to go with her.
She squeezed her eyes shut for a second. Opening them, she saw the residents of Halice all around, wrapped in passion. Thinking of the moment. Unaware, or seeming to be, of the ugliness that lurked beneath the streets.
She walked away from H
ades, toward the roughest part of town. Not that the males there deserved what she was about to do, but neither did her brother deserve death.
Her heels clicked on the pavement. One day at a time. If she thought too hard about her life, about the mess she and Logan had landed in, it made her crazy.
Sleek metal buildings gave way to crumbling stone structures and cracked sidewalks. The crowds were nonexistent here. Just Saige and a handful of rats scurrying by. But rough voices carried to her ears. Low chuckling, and a burst of male laughter.
She crept closer and glanced around a rough wall into an alley. Two dark elves huddled, peering at something in their palms. They were counting…counting gold pieces, it looked like. Probably stolen. Saige eyed them, debating. She could take them both. Their minds weren’t as strong as the minds of the more fierce predatory demons, so she could overpower both of them and not be doubly weakened in the aftermath of her talent.
She shook out her hair and made a show of walking loudly across the mouth of the alley. “Oh!” She turned to the elves. “I didn’t see you there.”
They looked up, suspicion in their eyes, hands darting to their daggers. But Saige just stood there, playing the role of dumb blonde that she had perfected. And in seconds, their dark looks turned to lewd smiles.
“You lost, or are you lonely, female?” One stepped closer, black eyes roving her clothes. “This is your time of year to need a good hard fucking, isn’t it?”
“It is.” Saige bit her lips and looked from one to the other. “You boys busy?”
“Never too busy for a hot girl.” The second elf shoved something in his pocket, probably the gold.
Needing them just a little closer, Saige shifted her weight and pretended to teeter in her heels. The elves both rushed forward.
“Whoa.” She put her arms out the sides as if steadying herself. “Darn high heels. But I’m okay.”