Demon Ryder
Page 7
He took a deep breath, inhaling her scent. He wanted to say she smelled like heaven, but what came out was, “Answer me.”
She sighed, but didn’t respond right away. “It doesn’t bother me.”
He lifted his brows, but said nothing.
“I don’t care who you’ve worked with. I didn’t come to argue with you.” She crossed the floor to stand in front of the desk. “What did the Government’s tests of Gizeel reveal?”
He raised his bottle in salutation. “He isn’t the source of the spike in negative energy.”
She blew her breath out in a soft sigh. “Good.”
“That all you wanted? Because I’m busy.”
She flashed a quick smile. “Yeah, I can see downing beers is time consuming.”
“It does take a certain level of skill.”
She tapped her nails on the oak surface of the desk. “Why did my father send you to spy on me?”
Ryder took a swig of beer. “He didn’t.”
“Then why’d he give you the medallion?”
“You didn’t ask him?”
“My father’s an astute man as I’m sure you know. My questioning him would lead to his questioning me about my…activities with you.”
He rubbed his chin as he acknowledged the truth in her words. Yeah, if she’d had a convo with her father, no doubt the Deputy Chief would’ve camped out in the lobby of Ryder’s building until he received the truth about his daughter.
“So, why’d he give it to you?” She repeated the question as if he’d forgotten.
“Silver told me she was sending you to Demopolis. I mentioned it to your father. He didn’t doubt you could handle yourself at all. But he figured if you needed an ally, you wouldn’t trust me or accept my help if you knew I was half-demon.” He smirked. “Funny, right?”
At her glare, he continued. “He suspected you would run into resistance down here. Did you know your father worked my beat? That’s where we met actually.” He rose then walked slowly to stand in front of a dusty, old dartboard hanging adjacent to the door. “Rogues killed my parents in an uprising.”
She gasped, but didn’t interrupt.
He threw a dart, the point landing two rings from the center. “I was spiraling out of control, didn’t know where to go. Free-falling to Hell without a net. Your father took an interest in me. Didn’t flinch when I told him my father was a demon.”
“Your mother – ”
He gave a harsh laugh. “Human, but rogues dismembered her.” He threw another dart, this one landing just outside the center ring. He glanced at her. “We traditionally don’t engage in battles with each other, but once we become victims of evil thoughts and desires, we change. You noticed the rogue’s skin was dull gray?”
She nodded.
“Evil ruins our life force, eventually draining us of any good and leaving nothing but a shell. The spike in negative energy is accelerating the change of susceptible demons into becoming rogues. That’s why the Government is concerned. Our entire species could be wiped out if it continues.”
He threw the last dart. Bulls-eye.
“Show me.”
Silently, he retrieved the darts.
“Trust works both ways, Ryder. I want to know you, all of you. The demon side and the human side.”
Ryder closed his eyes. Though she said the words he wanted to hear, she hadn’t seen him in his demon form. She’d seen demons true enough, but not one she’d let kiss and touch her.
“Please.”
The soft, whispered word was his undoing. He shifted, but didn’t open his eyes. He didn’t want to see the condemnation on her face. The fright, fear, the recoil from his touch.
Seconds ticked into minutes. He felt like a statue on display. Exposed. He fucking hated it. A growl erupted from the depths of his belly.
The soft touch of a palm against his face stayed any further sounds. It traveled down his neck, enflaming his skin as it moved. Her hand rested on the center of his t-shirt.
A gentle kiss landed on first one eyelid then the other. “Open your eyes.”
He did as she requested, looking into her accepting gaze. A second later, he felt her slip into his mind. He shivered as the sensation of the softest cashmere wrapped around him. I’m not afraid of you. Her words floated into his mind. She severed the connection, but the calmness remained.
Camille touched his ebony horns, amazement on her face. “They’re heavy. Do they hurt when they – ”
“No.” His voice sounded rough, like he hadn’t used it in ages.
She pushed up his t-shirt. Although his chest had hardened into a breastplate, the tattoo remained visible. She traced a line with her finger. “So Mo is...”
“My cousin. Our fathers were brothers.”
She moved toward the door. “Mind if I lock it?”
Swallowing, he shook his head.
She returned to stand in front of him. Rising on tiptoe, she pressed her lips to his. “Make love to me.”
The demon part of him quivered at the opportunity, but the human half of him needed more confirmation. “Are you sure?”
Wanting to remove the lingering doubt reflected in his eyes, she slid her arms around his neck. “Yeah, I think I’ll keep you.”
Wrapping his hands around her waist, he lifted her in the air until their mouths were flush with each other. She slid her legs around his hips.
His tongue caressed her bottom lip. She opened her mouth, inviting him in and knew her heart did the same.
Camille felt a gentle brush against her mind.
“I love the way you taste.”
THE END
Thanks for reading Book 1 in the Galactic Agency series.
Be on the lookout for Book 2
Coming Nov/Dec 2011
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tamara has always loved reading and her love has taken her on some amazing journeys. She enjoys warm weather locales and is always up for a trek to a sunny destination where she can be found soaking up fun on the beach with a good book.
This is her debut novel and hopefully the first of many!
Tamara would love to hear from you!
Please email her at tamara@tamarahunter.com