Just the Thing

by Marie Harte

  Theo gave her a thumbs-up. Gina nodded and trailed him back toward the kitchen, asking about this Xena person.

  Sadie continued to watch the crowd, but as more drunken sailors, cops, robbers, and monsters continued to approach, asking about touching her sword, and other body parts, she gradually left the open area. She found a shadowed area off to the side that afforded privacy as well as a tall table gone unnoticed by the masses. Perfect for her to set her plate and drink on while she ate and watched the party.

  As far as costume parties went, Joaquin had scored. The dance floor remained packed, and the DJ was top-notch. Dance and dubstep vibes competed for most heavily populated track. The plethora of minibars meant no one had to wait long for a drink, and the amazing catering company—ahem—made sure to keep the tables fully stocked with goodies.

  While continuing to snack on high-calorie goodness, Sadie felt no guilt whatsoever. Tonight was her night to enjoy fat foods and, with any luck, a talented boy toy for some mindless pleasure. She’d seen a bunch of contenders. Men with muscular builds engaging in guy behavior. Smack-talking with friends, checking out scantily clad women, and acting not all that bright.

  Perfect.

  Sadie didn’t want a date with Einstein. She wanted some quick nooky to end her dry spell. With any luck, she’d enjoy herself before kissing her nameless hookup good-bye. Maybe Elliot had been right to insist she attend.

  “Hey, Xena. Be my Valentine.” A drunk guy smelling of BO, Axe body spray, and cheap beer leered close by.

  Crap. She’d been found out. “Hey, um, what are you supposed to be?”

  “Hercules.” He flexed, and she had to admit his arms impressed her. Too bad she’d have to hold her nose while praying she couldn’t taste his breath during a kiss. Gross.

  “Nice to meet you, Hercules.” She took the hand he held out and tried to contain a grimace while he gave the back of it a sloppy kiss.

  “Hey, pretty thing, you want to go fuck in the corner?” He nodded over her shoulder to the discreet alcove nearly hidden by a wall of potted bamboo behind her.

  Though Sadie loved frank talk, the whole “let’s fuck in the corner” was a bit much even for her. Could she be that desperate? He smelled like Elliot’s dirty socks. As much as she wanted to be that kind of girl, the one who felt no guilt for a shameless hookup, she just couldn’t. Not with Hercules.

  “Sorry. I’m waiting for a friend. And he already called dibs on the corner.”

  “Well, shit. Can’t blame a guy for tryin’.” He stumbled back, gave her a salute that nearly had him tripping over his own feet, then turned and hit on the next woman he ran into.

  Sadie sighed and returned to people watching, sipping from her cosmopolitan now and again. To her amusement, she spotted one hell of a hot devil getting accosted by a drunk and giggly genie very close to falling out of her bikini top. The devil wore a half mask hiding his face, a dark-red cape over broad shoulders, and black from head to toe. He held a plate of food in one hand and a bottle of beer in the other as he tried to gently nudge the woman back, but her hands were everywhere.

  Oh boy. Talk about grabby. He swore when lady fingers grabbed at what appeared to be a generous package.

  Sadie felt for the guy, even as she had to laugh at his desperation. He had his hands full, for sure. It was like looking at a picture of herself as she’d stood on the dance floor. Minus the crotch grabbing, of course. She’d have skewered any jackass who tried. Devil glanced around, and she felt the heat of his gaze when it landed on her. Despite the half mask, which covered the upper half of his face, his stare penetrated.

  His lips curled into a dark smile before he turned to the genie and said something.

  She pouted, took a good look at Sadie, then flounced back into the crowd.

  The devil took his time walking toward Sadie, now striding as if he owned the place.

  She nodded at the vanished genie. “Problem?”

  “Yeah. I’m not a fan of being molested while trying to save my food and beer. I mean, at least let me eat before you knock me down and mount me.” His voice sounded like gravel licked with fire.

  She laughed. “You have a way with words.”

  He stared at her, then slowly grinned. And man, the sight of that square jaw and those full lips grabbed hold and wouldn’t let go. “So I’ve been told.” He paused. “You mind if I share your table? I’m dying to sink into these crab thingies.”

  This close, she could see that his eyes had been darkened by black makeup but were actually hazel in color. Wow. Talk about a handsome…devil. She chuckled aloud at her pun. “Why not? You earned it.”

  His smile showed even, white teeth, but his eyes seemed serious, a bit mean despite his mirth. Underneath the humor, he had the menacing air down pat. Hmm. She mentally added him to her maybe-do list.

  “What’s that look?” he asked.

  “Are you a demon or a vampire? With that costume you could be either or a mix of both.”

  He flashed fang-less teeth and shrugged huge shoulders. When he stood by her side, she realized he was half a head taller than her own five eleven. “I’ve been called worse, so I figured the devil was appropriate.” He stuffed a whole crab cake in his mouth and chewed, so she did the same, liking his style. “What about you? What’s with the Xena getup?”

  “I’ve been told I clomp around and growl at people like a barbarian. Thought I’d run with that theme.”

  He held up his beer for a toast. “Nice.”

  She clinked his bottle with hers and took another sip. “So, Devil, why are you hiding and not trying to get lucky like half the bozos in here?”

  “I could ask you the same.” He continued to eat, watching the crowd as much as he watched her.

  “If you’d seen my last ‘suitor,’ you’d understand. For the record, body spray does not mix well with baked-in BO.”

  He winced. “I smelled my share on the dance floor. Joaquin packed ’em tight tonight.”

  “Yep.” She finished the snacks on her plate and downed her drink, wishing she’d grabbed more to eat.

  “So how’d you get in here? You know Joaquin?”

  She understood the question. It was a closed party.

  “In a way. He’s a friend of a friend of my brother’s.” Gee, that sounded sad. Like she couldn’t get in unless dragged along with a sibling.

  “Yeah, me too. A friend of a friend.”

  The music’s tempo jolted the partyers to new heights of enthusiasm.

  “Great DJ,” Devil said, his foot tapping to the beat.

  She found herself doing the same. “No kidding.” She eyed the tiny corn dogs on his plate. He had half a dozen. She wondered if he’d miss one… “Hey, is that B-Man over there?” she asked.

  When he turned his head, she stole an appetizer off his plate and shoved it in her mouth. Oh yeah, Elliot would be thrilled to see her display her “house manners” in public.

  The devil turned back to her. “Not him.” He frowned at his plate, then at her full mouth. “Did you just steal my food?”

  “Nope,” she answered around a mouthful.

  He stared at her for a moment, then burst into laughter. It was a full-bodied laugh, holding nothing back. Charming and real. She put Devil at the top of her list.

  She swallowed, wishing she had something more to drink. As he finished off his plate, he glanced at her clean one, then at her. When he sighed and handed her his beer, she took it gratefully.

  “No backwash, I promise.” She opened her mouth to show him hers was clean, then downed half the bottle. “Damn, that was good.”

  He blinked. “Ah, you want more?”

  “No, no. You drink that. I’ll go get some.”

  She moved to go, but he grabbed her arm. They both paused. Together, they glanced down at his large hand on her wrist, and he dropped her arm. �
�Ah, that’s okay. You stay here. I’ll get you something. Beer? More chow?”

  She nodded. “Um, both, thanks. I’ll save your place.”

  He left, and she watched his progress as he cut a swath through the crowd. Yes, the devil made his own path. This time, no one bothered him as he returned posthaste. To her surprise, she was glad. The guy smelled good, a hint of subtle cologne that went straight to her head. He had a kickin’ body and a great smile. But that air of Don’t fuck with me really turned her on—ah, made her amenable to his presence.

  Talk about a wordy mouthful. At the thought, she found herself glancing down his body to see what else might be a mouthful.

  Jesus, Sadie. Get your head out of the gutter, girl.

  “You okay?” Temptation leaned closer. “You look a little flushed.”

  “You can tell in this lighting?” she teased, trying to get it together.

  “Good point.” He handed her a beer, placed his own down on the table, and then put a plate overloaded with goodies on top of their empties. “This is to share. To share,” he said slowly.

  “Yeah, yeah. Man, I’m starved.” She fell on the plate as if the Russians were coming.

  To her amusement, he fought with her for the cheese curls as much as for the mini egg rolls, and they devoured the snacks in good company.

  They talked with their mouths full, making fun of the drunken genie as well as several unsuccessful hookups on the dance floor.

  “Oh, now that had to hurt,” the devil said. “Rejected by a zombie and her warty witch friend.”

  “Yeah, but he’s not taking it personally.” Sadie took another sip of beer, loving the fact he hadn’t gotten her a sissy glass to drink from. “See? He’s turning from the undead to slutty doctor chick.”

  “Slutty? Isn’t that non-PC?” he sneered, and she thought he sounded familiar, but the loud music made it difficult to tell. “Because I say the wrong thing about a woman, not a ‘chick,’ and I’m a caveman asshole setting women’s rights back twenty years.”

  “Well, I can say slutty. You have to say sexually adventurous.” Sadie grinned. “Kind of like telling a gay guy he’s a raging homo. Now I can say that, because my brother earned the title. But you try telling him that, and he’ll knock your head off. And call him anything else, and I’ll knock your head off.” She hefted her fake sword before leaning it against the wall. “Don’t try me.”

  He shrugged. “You have a sword. I have a pitchfork…somewhere. I think I left it by the bar.” He glanced across the room. “But hey, I have no plans to tangle with your brother. I’m here to sin until this thing is over. Nothing else, and no fights.” He paused, and she swore he added something else under his breath.

  At that moment, her brother appeared in the crowd, his gaze searching.

  “Shit.”

  “What?”

  She took Devil by the waist and turned him, noticing how he tensed but ignoring it. “Sorry. I’m having fun not mingling, and my brother is right over there looking for me.”

  He relaxed and glanced over his shoulder. “Which one?”

  “See the Phantom? He’s a pain in my ass, much as I love him. I didn’t want to come to this tonight, you know.”

  “Yeah? Me neither.” He stayed where he was, still watching the dance floor. “Uh-oh. He’s looking over here.”

  “Crap, crap, crap. This is a primo spot!” She did what any smart woman in her situation would do. She turned Devil so he completely blocked her from Elliot. “I need to blend in. Work with me, would you?”

  “Sure, what—?”

  She wrapped her arms around his thick neck and dragged him down for a kiss.

  At the taste of his lips against hers, she shuddered, not having expected he’d taste better than his beer, or that up close and personal he’d smell like man and sex and chocolate. Chocolate?

  Jesus, she must have had too much to drink.

  Then he dragged her closer and deepened the angle of their kiss.

  Sadie forgot about her brother, about the last crab cake on the plate, about how much she didn’t want to be at the party.

  And fell into the arms of a man who kissed like the devil himself.

  Chapter 3

  Sadie couldn’t be happier she’d decided to attend this stupid party. Whoa, momma. Devil’s invitation was all in his lips, his hips, and his personal pitchfork pressing insistently against her belly. Someone moaned. She thought it might be her, and then he dragged her closer, cradling her against him where it would do the most good.

  She gasped into the kiss, feeling as if she’d gone from zero to Mach 10 in a heartbeat.

  They broke the kiss and stared at each other, his eyes narrowed, assessing.

  She did her best to catch her breath and figure out how a simple kiss could light her fuse so easily. Even without having had sex in months, she’d never gone up like dry kindling in a desert before.

  “Huh,” he said.

  Sadie just blinked at him, trying to focus.

  “That was… Damn.” He didn’t even try to hide his erection as he ground against her. Instead, he closed his eyes and softly swore, then opened them again. “A room would help get to the bottom of that kiss.”

  “You think?” She gasped as he swooped in for another hungry taste. Damn it. Just as good as the last one.

  “I have been known to think. Sometimes.”

  “You sure you’re not a vampire?”

  “No, I’m the devil.” He grinned. “Why?”

  “Because at this moment, you are the epitome of Vlad the Impaler.” She nudged him with her hips.

  He grimaced. “You’re going to hell for that.” She shifted, and he groaned. “Or I am. Because if you do that again, I might not make it to a room.”

  “Oh.” She sucked in her breath when he leaned close and kissed down her cheek to her ear.

  He whispered, “So pretty thing, you wanna go fuck in the corner?”

  She pulled back and stared.

  He chuckled. “Sorry, couldn’t resist. I heard some drunk-ass hitting on women earlier. Surprise, surprise, he seemed to strike out.”

  “Yeah, he didn’t get a hit with me either. You, on the other hand…”

  “I’m temptation made flesh,” he said, being overly dramatic. Yet the deep timbre of his voice and the way he looked at her made her feel as if he’d put her under a spell.

  “You can say that again.” She pulled him back for another kiss.

  Better than the last two. Well, hell. Sadie yanked her mouth away, grabbed him by the hand, and dragged him behind the plants. They wouldn’t be visible to the partygoers unless someone sought them by deliberately skirting the foliage. The shadows deepened, and she saw his eyes gleam before his face became a black blur.

  Perfect.

  “Right here,” she whispered.

  “Yeah? Hot damn. Sex in public. Okayyyy.” He gave a dark laugh. “Hell. I don’t have a—”

  “Condoms are in my satchel.” She grabbed one and shoved it in his hand. “Use it.”

  “Fuck me.”

  “No, fuck me.”

  He groaned and reached for her at the same time she reached for him. She’d never been so out of control before. And she didn’t care. Tonight was her night for some fun, and she’d take it any way she wanted it. I am Xena. Hear me roar. She got down to business, her hands over his chest, his belly, and lower.

  “Wow.” She felt warm flesh, a thick cock ready and willing to please.

  He growled, “Put it on me,” found her hand, and wrapped it around him with a curse. Then he shoved the condom into her other hand.

  She trembled, on fire to have him. Should she do a quick shimmy out of her panties? But first, the condom. She ripped the package and hurried to put it over him. Dear Lord, talk about a happy, happy Halloween. She rolled it over him
and felt his hands on her breasts. He cupped and squeezed, gently, then with firmer insistence.

  The devil wasn’t grabby, but he sure did set her on fire.

  She felt his mouth at her throat, his hand over hers, forcing her to hold on to his sheathed cock.

  “Pump me,” he muttered into her neck, then nipped and sucked.

  She moaned, holding what amounted to a miracle of nature in her hand. She wanted him inside her, felt her body ready for him. Easy and quick, she figured he’d shove up into her, give her a good ride, then dart away.

  Except the devil had other plans. He continued to suck her neck, then her chin, then her mouth. Kissing away her will to do anything but comply.

  “Yeah, you wet for me, princess? Your pussy hungry for some cock?” His low whisper made the crude words hot. She heard his lust, and she sure as hell felt it.

  “Yes. In me.” She started to tug under her skirt to pull at her panties, but he interrupted her by lifting her as if she weighed nothing.

  He pushed her back to the wall. “Wrap your ankles behind my back,” he ordered.

  She didn’t have to be told twice. “My underwear is—”

  “Not a problem.” He slid his hands under her thighs, one hand and the wall holding her in place while he nuzzled her cleavage and inched a thick finger under her panties and into her. “Fuck, you’re hot.”

  And so wet. She hadn’t realized how excited she was until he showed her. But that finger wasn’t enough. The music pounded, the crowd’s cries growing louder. The noise, his scent, the feel of his presence all around her. She was under a spell for sure, having sex in public. Sadie Liberato, party whore.

  But she couldn’t bring herself to care about possibly ruining her reputation, about being kicked out, about being caught by her brother. Because Devil pushed her panties aside and started sliding inside her.

  So big, so full, he continued to push until he could go no further.

  “Jesus,” she moaned. “So big.”

  “So tight.” He swore, grabbed her ass in both hands, and moved.

  She sucked in a breath, perilously close to orgasm. “I-I’m going to come.”