by Синтия Иден
Her hands pushed between them. Then she was the one yanking at the button of his jeans and pulling down the zipper.
When she tried to touch his cock, Zane stopped her. “Can’t … baby … too close.” Because he was about to explode. He shoved off the bed. Zane grabbed the condoms out of his nightstand and went back to her.
She stripped off her shirt, but kept on a black bra that cupped her breasts so well. Her dark hair spread out on the pillow behind her. His fallen angel.
He sheathed his cock, rolling the condom quickly into place. He caught her ankle and pulled her toward the edge of the bed. Zane leaned over her, and took another taste. His mouth pressed against her sex, his tongue licked over the tight button of her need, and he tasted that rich cream and that sweet flesh.
She shuddered against him, a ripple that he felt right at his mouth. His tongue pushed into her.
“Zane…”
His fingers worked her even as his mouth took and took. Not enough. Not even close. Not—
She jerked against him, coming on a long rush as she gasped his name.
Fucking perfect.
He pulled back and positioned his cock at the wet entrance of her sex, then he drove deep in one long, hard thrust.
Her eyes were wide open. On him. The contractions from her climax squeezed his cock. So damn good.
He withdrew, then plunged back into her. Jana locked her legs around him and held tight. Not soft. Not easy. Not this time.
Too desperate. Too much fear and worry inside, too much lust.
His thrusts were fast and frantic as he pounded into her, and she met him, arching and driving right back at him. Her breath panted. His heartbeat thundered in his ears. Faster. Faster.
When she tensed beneath him, he knew another climax was close. He kissed her, thrusting his tongue into her mouth just as her orgasm hit.
Holy fuck.
His spine tightened. He plunged into her. Again. Again. His fingers bit into her hips. The bed squeaked. Sweat slickened his body.
So wet and tight and so—
Jana.
He erupted into her, coming on a blast of pleasure that burned through him, singeing his flesh and leaving him hollowed out, weak … and wanting more. Of her-always more.
Special Agent Kelly Thomas stared up at the darkened house on Louis Avenue. She’d known that Zane Wynter would be coming home sooner or later, so she’d just waited for him. No need to follow the man around the state, not when she knew where he was heading.
Home.
Zane was her key. She knew it. The man was a fine hunter, one of the best. All the Night Watch hunters had solid-and dangerous-reputations when it came to tracking and apprehending their prey. Hell, that was why the FBI contracted out with them so much. Why should the agents get their hands dirty when Night Watch could handle the blood so much easier? She’d thought this case would be handled fast by Night Watch, by Zane. Guess I thought wrong.
Zane knew how to take down Ignitors. He didn’t let their humanity stop him. He killed them, end of story.
Or, that had been the end, until Jana Carter came along.
Back in New Orleans, she’d seen the way Zane’s face hardened when he talked about her. Seen the slight widening of his nostrils, the lock of his fists. He’d been worried about the woman. Worried about a cold-blooded killer.
Men always let their dicks confuse them. Give ‘em a good ride, and they’d forget every moral they’d ever had.
Looked like the hunter had fallen for his prey. Pity. Would he wise up in time? Would he realize she was just using him? Probably not. Most men were too stupid to see what was right in front of them.
Brent hadn’t been like that. He’d been a nice guy, sweet, always ready to lend a hand, and always happy to make room for a stepsister who hadn’t felt like she ever really belonged anywhere.
He’d been there for her, the first person in her whole life who cared, and now, she’d be there for him in death. She wasn’t letting his killer walk away. No way did she buy that bullshit story about Beth Parker being an Ignitor. The FBI had a file on Parker. The woman was a psychic, one who’d worked with Perseus for too many years, but she wasn’t an Ignitor.
Hell, she’d even gotten that info backed up by a demon who’d escaped the fires at Perseus. The guy had found Kelly at her cheap hotel room. He’d been trembling, scared, and he’d told her that she needed to keep watching Jana.
Jana. That woman was the killer. Jana was the one who would pay for her crime. And Jana was the one she would catch.
Her eyes never left that darkened house. Zane was the key. He wasn’t just going to let Jana walk away; she’d seen that in his eyes, too. He wouldn’t stop until he’d found his little firestarter.
No sense racing against him and trying to find Jana first. No sense in that at all.
She just needed to step back and watch him. Sooner or later-and Kelly was betting on the sooner part-Zane would lead her right to Jana.
Her gun was a solid weight in her holster. When she found the Ignitor, she wouldn’t shoot tranquilizers at her anymore. Time for this hunt to end.
Time for Brent’s justice.
Jana’s heartbeat shook her chest. Her body still trembled with aftershocks of pleasure and Zane-he was all over her. Covering her, still in her.
She never wanted him to move.
Biting her lip, Jana let her hands curl over his shoulders. She’d been afraid to come to his place. Not sure if he’d want to see her, but also sure that she couldn’t just walk away from him. She’d walked away from everything and everyone else in her life, but she hadn’t been able to turn away from him.
Zane’s dark head lifted and she wished that she could see him as well in the dark as he seemed to see her.
“You’re crying,” he told her and, shocked, she realized he was right.
His fingers smoothed over her cheeks and he brushed the tear drops away.
She swallowed. “I don’t want to …” Run anymore. Spend my days looking over my shoulder, always wondering when the cops will come. “I know I’m on the extermination list, and I shouldn’t be here—”
“I’m getting your name off the list.”
A shocked laugh broke from her lips. “Sure you are.” His fingers were warm and a little rough on her skin. But then, her demon was a little rough. “Even you don’t have that kind of power, Zane.” That meant she wouldn’t have much time with him, but she’d take what she could get.
“Is that why you left me in that swamp? You were afraid of being taken in?”
She smiled and knew that it would be twisted with sadness. “I’m a wanted woman.” A woman who’d finally found something she wanted. “Me and the cops don’t mix so well.” Never had.
He stared down at her, saying nothing. Then, he pulled away from her. His flesh slid slowly out of her body, and she ached at the loss.
He rose and disappeared into the bathroom. A few moments later, he came back. He stood next to the bed, staring down at her. Jana gazed back at him, seeing a dark, looming shadow and feeling … vulnerable with her jeans gone, just clad in the bra. She reached for the covers and yanked them over her body.
“Why did you come to me?” he demanded in a voice gravel rough.
Ah, the million-dollar question. Because I wanted you. Because I knew you’d keep me safe. Because you’re the most dangerous badass demon I know and I need you. Because…
No, no, she wouldn’t even go there in her own thoughts. She sat up and tugged the covers with her. “You and I had an agreement.”
He waited, a dark shadow.
“Something … something happened to me in that swamp.” Said in a rush.
His fingers brushed her cheek and, slowly, his hand slipped down to her neck, to the skin that still ached. In the light, she had a lovely yellow-and-black bruise. She wasn’t sure how strong his vision was, and she hoped he couldn’t see it, or the tremble that slipped over her at his touch.
“I should have staked
that bastard.”
She swallowed and remembered the raw flash of fear that had pierced her when the vamp had locked his teeth on her. She hadn’t been helpless in so long, but in that moment …
“I didn’t expect him to attack.” That had been her mistake. Any vamp was a dangerous vamp-she knew that. But in the flames and the fury and her fear for Zane, she’d forgotten.
“Catalina.“
Jana blinked.
“The witch told me to save him … and that shifter.”
Jana stiffened a bit. “She’s the friend you had inside Perseus.” That made her worried. Very, very worried.
“She wasn’t there by choice. They were binding her.”
Her breath left in a rush. She’d heard of witches being bound before. Their powers were slowly stolen from them. Three binding marks … then a witch was helpless. Almost … human.
Join the club.
“You seemed close.” Okay, crap, she couldn’t keep the jealousy out of her voice. “We were.”
Were was nice and past tense, but it also sure implied that a whole lot could have gone on between him and the witch. “You went back in to save her.” That point had stuck with her. He’d braved the fire for the witch.
“Catalina almost burned once before.”
Something clicked then. “The other Ignitor …” The one he’d killed. “Did she…?”
“She started the fire that went after Cat, yeah.”
He’d killed to protect the witch. Then he’d been willing to fight the flames for her again in that swamp. Jealousy tasted like acid on her tongue.
“I went back for her.” He paused. “And you came back for me.”
Jana licked her lips, and her fingers curled tighter around the covers. “I-I had to make certain you were okay.” Sure, the big bad demon could probably handle anything, but she hadn’t planned to walk away and leave him in the fire.
“Why didn’t you tell me that Beth was an Ignitor?”
Her heart slammed into her ribs. “She wasn’t—”
“The cops are pinning the other arsons on her.” His words cut through her soft whisper. “Beth was spotted at the scenes of the other fires. She’s the one who’s going down for them, not you.”
She shook her head and tried real hard to suck in air. “But she wasn’t—”
“Pak has some Other friends in Louisiana. When Catalina and I told them that Beth was an Ignitor-we saw her eyes and that fire-they put the pieces together. You’re clear, Jana. You don’t have to run from the cops anymore.”
Perseus wasn’t after her. The cops-were they really going to let her go?
“You should have told me about her sooner,” he said, an edge creeping into his voice.
Enough. She needed to see his eyes when she talked to him. Jana jumped from the bed and hurried toward the far wall. She flipped the switch and light flooded into the room. “There was nothing to tell!” she snapped. “Beth was an average-level psychic until that night. But she—” Ah, hell, this was the part she’d dreaded. “She took something from me.” My fire.
He hadn’t bothered dressing. His arms were at his sides, his cock still up, and he just … waited.
“She had someone else with her. A new Perseus recruit.” She could still see the woman coming toward her. “After you left, Beth offered me a deal.”
The faint lines near his eyes deepened. “What kind of deal?”
Her breath blew out on a hard sigh. This was the part she’d dreaded. “She offered me a chance at a normal life. All I had to do was leave you behind and take it.”
You’ll lose the fire, but get your life back. Leave the demon. Walk away and the life you always wanted can be yours.
Beth had sounded so tempting. So very tempting.
When the lights in the upstairs room flashed on, Kelly froze. Then she saw the shadows. Two shadows. But Zane had gone in alone.
“Jana.” Her whisper. She smiled. Talk about an easy mark. Now, she just had to get her girl, without that demon interfering.
Luckily, she knew the perfect way to take out a demon. Every demon she’d ever met had the same weakness, regardless of their power level.
She’d done her homework on Zane. Since that bastard had stopped her from taking Jana, she’d had the Bureau dig into his past. She knew all about his family. His father.
Like father, like son.
Yes, she knew the demon’s weakness, and if she played her game just right, she’d use that weakness to her advantage.
And maybe, just maybe, she wouldn’t even have to get her hands dirty on this one. She could let the demon do the dirty work for her.
He could kill Jana Carter.
No, before she was finished, he would kill Jana.
Chapter 14
“Did you take the deal?” His voice was expressionless.
Jana shook her head. “I wasn’t going to leave you there. I’d already seen what they did to paranormals.” Seen, and never been able to forget. “But Beth wasn’t the type to take no for an answer.”
The pealing of a bell echoed through the house. Jana’s eyes widened. His doorbell? Someone was downstairs?
Zane didn’t look away from her. “What happened?”
“She-the other psychic came at me. She was human. I-I didn’t want to hurt her—”
The doorbell rang again. “Zane …” she whispered, glancing toward the door, “What if …?”
“Whoever it is can go the fuck away.”
A furious pounding carried through the house. Their guest was slamming a fist into the door. “The wolf shifter, Marcus, I told him I was coming to you.” They hadn’t spoken much during their drive because, hell, what was there to say? They’d both just wanted to get away from that swamp, as fast as they could.
He knew she’d been the one sent to kill him. He also knew she hadn’t carried through with her orders. Then they’d both become prisoners.
Until that night…
Freedom.
“So you did go with him.” An edge sharpened in Zane’s words.
She nodded and crept toward the door. “He was the one I told you about. The one Perseus wanted me to kill.” The pounding stopped.
“Zane, what if it’s him or—” Or any of the other assholes who could be after her?
His gaze hardened. “Stay here.” Sounded like a great plan to her.
He yanked on his jeans and hurried out of the bedroom. His footsteps thudded down the stairs. Her breath caught. Zane could probably handle anyone down there, but—
“What the hell are you doing here, Tony?” Zane demanded, and his voice carried easily to her.
Shit. The cop. Jana scrambled for her clothes. She pulled on her jeans-no time to search for the underwear-and shoved her arms into her shirt as she tugged it over her head.
Tony. He didn’t know she was here. Zane would cover for her, it would be fine. She’d be able to leave after—
“Jana!” Zane’s booming voice exploded up the stairs.
Horror filled her. No, no, he wouldn’t just sell her out like that. Not after-after what? The sex? Like a man couldn’t turn his back on a woman just because they’d screwed.
Jana rocked back on her heels. What if it had been a trap? What if Tony had been watching the whole time, and Zane was just going to turn her over to him?
“Jana…” Softer.
Zane stood in the doorway now. She hadn’t even heard him approach. Tony loomed behind him.
Her shoulders straightened. So be it. “Let me get my shoes, Captain, and I’ll come with you.” She’d survived being locked up once before. She’d survive again. Right?
Damn cages.
Her gaze darted to Zane. What the hell had she really thought would happen? Good guys don’t fall for the bad girls. Zane was firmly aligned on the side of the “good” guys. She knew that. Why had she even tried to pretend? Why had she come back to him?
Because he got to me. He’d slid right past the surface and worked his way under her skin. He
was her weakness now, one that she’d have to watch.
Jana shoved her feet into her shoes.
“How long have you been here?” Tony asked quietly.
She turned to face him and deliberately kept her hands loose at her sides. “Since yesterday.” Zane’s stare bored into her.
“What happened to the wolf shifter who was in that swamp?” the cop asked.
Jana shrugged. “We split up once we got to Baton Rouge.” Why did it matter?
“So you … were with him.”
Was this an interrogation? “Yeah. Yeah, I just said I was.”
“Did he try to hurt you?” The question was Zane’s.
Jana blinked. “Ah … no.” Okay, and now her stomach was knotting.
“I need to talk to that wolf,” Tony said.
Good luck with that. She bit the words back.
“Jana …” Zane stepped closer to her. “There’s been a killing.”
Her stomach twisted again. “In this city”-she kept her voice low and calm—“there are often killings.”
“Not like this.” Tony shook his head. “Not when a woman’s throat is cut from ear to ear, and I find freaking dog hairs all over the scene.”
Hell, now the questions about Marcus made sense. “No, he’s not—”
“Lindsey Meadows, a college student, was killed right outside of her dorm room. Several hundred kids were in that dorm, and no one heard a damn thing.” Tony’s voice vibrated with tension. “She was last seen having dinner with a blond male.”
“Sound familiar?” Zane asked.
She licked her lips. “I-I don’t … he didn’t kill those girls in New Orleans.”
“Maybe not. But I need to find that wolf,” Tony told her, “and I need to find him now.”
Tony wasn’t after her. The knowledge finally sank in. He wasn’t there to haul her to jail. He was after the shifter because he thought Marcus was a killer.
She remembered pain-filled blue eyes. Hands that trembled. “He didn’t attack those girls. He wasn’t the killer.” No matter what the news stories had implied, Marcus hadn’t been guilty.
“Maybe he wasn’t a killer before,” Tony said, “but I need to see for myself what he is now. If Perseus had him all these months, if they’ve been screwing with his head, there’s no telling what he is.”