Keep your eyes closed, Consort. Let me care for you.
His fingers massaged her scalp until she sighed. His touch was sensual, a caress radiating along the strands of her hair and throughout her body. The rhythmic kneading had her swaying to the tempo of his fingers as they worked shampoo through the wet strands of hair. Lucifer rinsed her hair and Analise’s fears flowed with the soapy water down the drain.
Fingers tenderly caressed her neck before tracing the curve of her shoulders. He squeezed once and then massaged the tension from her. Analise relaxed as his hands moved down her shoulders to her back and hips. With each stroke he brought her back from the dark pit of terror. She turned to face him and he pulled her against him.
“You are my Consort, Analise Saria,” he breathed. “My life mate. If you are wounded, I will heal you. If you are attacked, I will protect you. Do not allow my brother to seed fear inside you. He inserts one leg at a time into his trousers.”
Analise lifted her eyelashes and stared at him before bursting into laughter. When she caught her breath, she said, “Inserts one leg at a time? Trousers? You are so antiquated, Dream Candy.”
“Shall I show you how antiquated I truly am?”
Her reply died in her throat when his fingers pinched her nipples into hardness. She moaned while Lucifer’s fingers played with her breasts, finding inventive ways to stir need in each one.
“I am going to kiss you with your consent, Consort,” he murmured before his mouth claimed hers.
His tongue moved inside her mouth with the grace and ease of a figure skater, yet there was nothing frozen about his kiss. She hadn’t thought her mouth was so sensitive yet the tip of his tongue found erotic spots she didn’t know existed. Lucifer’s kiss deepened into a long, wet, bone-sucking, marrow-deep kiss. Pleasure trickled into her veins, fanning out and invading every cell, building incrementally until there was no part of her unscathed by the tactile sensation of his tongue.
“Lucifer,” she groaned.
“Yes, Consort?”
“I don’t think the shower is such a good idea.”
“I do.”
He pushed his knee between her legs and forced her thighs apart. A long finger slid past wet curls and glided between soft folds to stroke her clitoris. Her thighs clamped tightly. Open for me, Analise Saria.
She obeyed, her hands reaching for his erection as a smothered scream played on her lips. “No, Analise Saria. This is for you.”
Her body felt like rubber, whatever shape Lucifer wanted she would bend. What scared her was not so much the losing herself to the pleasure but the vulnerability that came with giving all of herself to him.
“Put your hands against the wall. Good. Do not move, Analise Saria.”
Seconds crept by. Anticipation, an emotion she’d always fought, crept inside her and took root. Air fluttered in her lungs before it flowed through her windpipe and past her lips. She impatiently pushed her ass against Lucifer’s naked thighs.
“Lucifer.”
“Yes, Consort?”
“Don’t toy with me,” she said huskily.
He rubbed his erection against her wet skin. “I would never toy with you, Analise Saria. Tease perhaps, but never toy.”
She screamed his name when he slowly pushed into her. He withdrew and thrust into her again, stretching her until he was buried deep. Her hands, braced against the shower wall, kept her upright as her Dream Candy rocked her universe.
Chapter 22
Grant Street was quiet when Analise strolled through Dragon’s Gate. Morning fog lingered so few tourists were out and about. She trekked past several souvenir shops before she turned into a narrow alley. Sun Li Kwan’s tiny apartment sat above one of the shops and the only way to enter was through the alley. As she climbed the stairs leading to the apartment, Analise wasn’t surprised by Miss Kwan’s invitation to morning tea, and embarrassed she hadn’t visited Mei Li’s aunt sooner. There was no excuse.
The familiar burn in her chest and lungs started once her foot touched the landing. She dreaded walking in Miss Kwan’s tiny apartment. She didn’t want to deal with her grief let alone someone else’s. Raising her hand to knock, she swallowed her guilt and took a deep breath. There would never be a right time, only a time to act. Analise released a breath then knocked.
From the other side of the door, she heard, “Miss Drake?”
“Yes, Miss Kwan. It’s Analise.”
A metal plate grated along a worn track and a pair of dark, nearly black pupils peeked through a slit in the door. Four locks clicked and a chain catch slid from its moorings before the door cracked open.
“Come in, Miss Drake.”
“Please call me Analise, Miss Kwan.” She walked inside the small living room. Pictures of Mei Li graced tables, curio cabinets, and the walls. The hurried slam of the door and the refastening of locks made her jump.
With a graceful gesture, Miss Kwan directed her to the couch opposite a straight-back cushioned chair. A beautiful teak table separated the chair and the sofa. Mei Li’s aunt settled herself on the chair.
“Will jasmine tea be acceptable to you?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Analise’s eyes followed the woman’s slender hands as she prepared the tea. The porcelain teapot and cups were unusual and she asked about their origins. As the tea brewed, Mei Li’s aunt told her the history of the tea set. Analise accepted the cup Miss Kwan offered. Tea poured, Mei Li’s aunt inhaled the fragrant beverage as she peered at her.
“The pain never goes away, does it?”
She raised her eyes to Miss Kwan’s unlined face. The woman’s skin was the same pale porcelain hue as the teapot. Yet grief had left its mark, carving a traceable path on the woman’s cheeks.
“No, it doesn’t,” Analise murmured. “It becomes tolerated, occasionally ignored, but never forgotten. Sometimes breathing is nearly impossible and you wonder if it will be your last. Then the air comes, filling your lungs, seeping into your blood, forcing you to live another day filled with guilt. No, Miss Kwan, the pain never goes away.”
Mei Li’s aunt sipped her tea. “Tell me about your loss, Analise. The loved ones for whom you still grieve.”
Analise stared into the dark eyes and saw her grief reflected. Sun Li Kwan understood and believed, as she did, the burden was hers alone. Analise reached out and took the older woman’s hand. Teary-eyed, she unburdened her soul and took on some of Mei Li’s aunt’s grief.
Sunlight crept into the room like a playful kitten through the small kitchen window. When a ray fell across the table, Analise glanced at the clock on the wall. It was nearly noon. She smiled and placed her cup on the table. “Thank you for the tea, Miss Kwan.”
The older woman nodded. “When the pain becomes too much, Analise, jasmine tea is a wonderful palliative. Here is a packet to take home.”
Analise accepted the gift and stood. “If there is anything you need—”
“My needs are simple,” Mei Li’s aunt interrupted. “I require little. Besides, I am an old woman and soon will join Mei Li and my family, so there is no need to want more.”
She rose and walked to the door, sliding the metal plate to the right and peeking out before she began undoing the locks. As she slid the chain from its latch, the door’s knob twisted and the door swung open, knocking her to the floor. A gaunt, wiry man burst into the apartment and slammed the door shut. He bolted two of the locks, stepped over Miss Kwan’s body, and blocked Analise from getting to the woman.
“Get away from her,” Analise ordered.
He lifted his foot and held it above Miss Kwan’s temple. His concave chest rose and fell with the exertion.
“Do not come near her,” he rasped.
His voice grated on Analise’s senses. Her eyes went to Miss Kwan and Analise’s anger grew. “Take your foot away from her now.”
The man lowered his foot to the floor. “I’ve searched for you, my Queen. You are well-guarded.”
Her eyes scanned t
he emaciated man. He wasn’t a demon, although his words were familiar. Lines of neglect and brutality crisscrossed his pale skin. Thin blue veins pulsed violently on the surface of his flesh as if his heart strained to keep its rhythm. Her gaze lifted to his brown eyes. At first, it she couldn’t determine their color since his pupils were overshadowed by almost skeletal eye sockets. He was very much human, and dying.
“I’m not yours or anybody’s damn queen. I’ll do you a favor and listen for two minutes. If you want to avoid jail time, you’ll start talking now.”
“You will fix what is wrong with me.”
“Fix what?” she asked. “I’m not fixing a damn thing.”
A lacerating pain ripped into her. Analise choked back a scream, closed her eyes, and fought the agony until it subsided. She lifted her astonished gaze to the man. “You’re a telepath.”
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said. “I have searched and searched for you. Now you must fix me.”
She inhaled and let it out slowly. “If you want my help, you will stay out of my head. I’m tired of you guys coming out of the cabinets like cockroaches claiming I’m your Queen.”
Mei Li’s aunt groaned, drawing Analise’s attention. “I intend to examine my friend before we talk. If you’ve done serious harm to her, you can kiss my help goodbye.”
The man turned to look at Mei Li’s aunt. “She is unimportant. She’s only a human.”
“So am I. Move.”
The angry glare in Analise’s eyes prompted him to obey and he stepped to one side. She kneeled beside Miss Kwan and ran her fingers gently along her temple. The sticky wetness was a sign of a head injury. Although her breathing was shallow, it was steady. “I have to call the paramedics. She may have a head injury.”
“No,” the man screeched. “You will fix me.”
She didn’t have time for this crap. Rising to her feet, she took a menacing step toward him and he scurried back, terror clouding his eyes. “Exactly how the hell am I supposed to fix you when I don’t know what is wrong with you.”
The man’s glance shifted nervously between the window and the door before his gaze returned to her. “Please look at me,” he begged. “See me for what I truly am, my Queen.”
Something in the man’s words pierced her anger. He was desperate and terrified. Her eyes carefully scanned the man. He wasn’t very tall, close to five feet ten inches. It was hard to tell since he was far too emaciated, his bones prominent points on his body. His flesh reminded her of the thin cigarette papers often used in the Maghreb, so fragile one feared it would crumble. His body shook violently, a trembling seen among drug addicts and alcoholics in rehab facilities.
Look inside him, Tamahaq.
Analise closed her eyes. Her awareness searched the man’s body then his soul. Analise’s heart lurched and her eyelids lifted. “Who made you?”
The man’s hand slapped his chest, tears pooling in the dark eye sockets. “I don’t know. I just am and you must fix me.”
Okay, what I’m about to do is probably the stupidest thing I’ve done, and Lucifer will kill me but. . .
“What is your name?”
He frowned for a second before misery etched itself on his face. “I don’t have one.”
“What abilities besides telepathy do you have?” Analise asked.
He trembled. “I shifted once but not anymore unless he makes me. It hurts badly.”
Analise frowned. “You’re a shifter? Who is the one who makes you shift?”
The man lowered his gaze and shied from her. She growled her frustration and he nearly jumped out of his skin. “You want my help, you will answer me.”
“I’m not like the others,” he confessed. “The ones who become wolves or bears or jungle cats. I’m not like them. The one time I shifted I became a cat, the kind that lives with humans like her. I don’t do it anymore because I can’t.”
Mei Li’s aunt groaned and Analise made a quick decision. “You have a name. Francis Christopher Willoughby.”
He sniffed the air, testing the sound and scent of the name. A shy smile formed on his lips. “I like Francis. It is a good name for me. Thank you, my Queen.”
She went to her purse and took out a business card and handed it to Francis. “Go to the address on this card and give it to the guard. He’ll take you to the person whose name is on the card. Don’t speak to anyone except Richard Houston.”
Francis frowned then shook his head violently. “This is a trap. I won’t do it. I know about the angels who guard you. You will help me now.”
Instinctively, Analise took his left hand and pressed two fingers on his palm. A curious symbol appeared and disappeared on his pale skin. She had no idea how or why the sign was important, just that needed to be done. “No angel will harm you, Francis, unless you attack.”
He stared at the mark on his palm and looked at her, wonder in his eyes. “You will do this for me? Even after what I did?”
“Miss Kwan lives.”
Francis shook his head. “Not her. The others. The last one I buried in a park not far from where she lived. I didn’t want to hurt them, the women but he forced me so I could find you. I didn’t want to kill them but I did. I killed them.”
Analise dropped his hand and he collapsed to the floor, his body curled in a tight fetal position and gut-wrenching sobs pouring from his throat. She understood his confession and wanted to hate, to beat him to a pulp but couldn’t. Francis was a victim and had been punished enough.
After a few seconds, she reached down and ran her hand across the top of his head. He looked up at her.
“Go Francis,” she urged gently. “I’m calling the paramedics. You don’t want to be here. Richard will know what to do.”
When Francis rose to his feet, she stared at him. “Do not use your abilities on me ever again. Or anyone. If you do, I won’t help you.”
“You will fix me?”
“I will try,” she said. “I can’t make any promises but I will try.”
He gave her a sad smile. “Thank you, my Queen.”
Analise waited until he left the apartment before she took out her phone, dialed 911. After texting Mark, she kneeled and placed her hand on the older woman’s forehead. Miss Kwan stirred. She opened her eyes and peered at Analise. “What happened to me?”
“You hit your head when you fell. No, don’t get up,” Analise said as Miss Kwan tried to rise.
Mei Li’s aunt nervously eyed her apartment. “Where is he? The creature?”
“I sent him away.”
“He is the one, isn’t he?” she asked. “The one who murdered my Mei Li.”
Analise nodded. “Yes.”
“You will help him, Analise? I felt his presence in my mind when I opened the door. He knows what he has done, although he doesn’t understand why. He didn’t want to kill her. Someone evil made him. You must help him so no one else dies. Promise me you will help him.”
Tears stung Analise’s eyes as she bowed her head. “I can’t promise he won’t harm others but I’ll do everything I can to prevent it.”
“He is more than human. He’s like my Mei Li.” Miss Kwan winced as she struggled to shift her body.
Analise heard footsteps hard and heavy on the stairs. “Don’t move, please. The paramedics are here.”
The door was ajar and two paramedics rushed in. Analise stood and moved to one side so the medics could care for Mei Li’s aunt. While they spoke quietly to the injured woman, Analise turned her mind to getting help for Francis. She was about to call Richard when a familiar scent flowed into the apartment. Her eyes went to the doorway as Lucifer strode into the room, Gabriel and Michael behind him.
Lucifer came to her side and stood silently while Miss Kwan was lifted on to the gurney and taken from the apartment. Analise glanced at his face. Damn, he’s furious.
Yes I am, Consort. It appears to be a perpetual state of existence for me when you refuse to do as I ask.
Are you going to listen to me
or stand there like one of Rodin’s statues?
Silent sniggers wafted into her mind. Her gaze went to Michael and Gabriel. Both archangels fought hard to hide their amusement. Lucifer glowered at them and they shrugged.
We will talk, Consort, when we return to my apartment.
An SFPD officer walked into the apartment. His step faltered when he scanned the room and spied Michael. Surprise pinched the officer’s brow before he focused on Lucifer. The furrows on his forehead deepened then cleared. The officer coughed slightly before he spoke.
Analise recognized the look on the detective’s face. Few people wanted to tangle with Mr. Big and Bad. Her gaze whipped to Gabriel who suddenly experienced a coughing fit. When she peered at Lucifer, she noticed the slight twitch at the corners of his mouth. What?
Mr. Big and Bad?
She shrugged. I call them as I see them.
The police officer strolled over to Michael. “Detective Miller. Can you tell me what happened, and why you’re here, Mr. Stane?”
Michael extended his hand and the detective shook it. “I’m Ms. Drake’s executive assistant,” Michael stated as he tilted his head in Analise’s direction. “She was visiting Miss Kwan, the aunt of a deceased employee, when someone, probably intent on robbery, broke in as Ms. Drake was leaving. I doubt he was expecting a witness and fled. Ms. Drake called the paramedics, then texted me.”
Detective Miller glanced at Analise. His gaze lingered on her face before he flashed her a smile. “I need you to come to the precinct, Ms. Drake, since you’re the only witness.”
“No.”
Both the detective and Analise stared at Lucifer. The officer opened his mouth to protest when Lucifer cut him off.
“If you require a statement, you may come to my office. Your time is better spent searching for Miss Kwan’s attacker. Michael will provide assistance in the meantime. Come, Analise Saria.”
Rebellion was the farthest thing from Analise’s mind for the first time. She’d seen the cobalt rippling across Lucifer’s wings. As much as it tempted her to go to the police station to delay whatever big bang was about to happen—
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