Eternal Flame

by Lauren DeStefano

Page 29

 

  He dropped his bag. His eyes were grainy, and he was in serious need of a shower. Zane couldn’t remember the last meal he’d eaten and—

  Not alone.

  The awareness seeped into his pores. He hadn’t bothered to turn on the lights. No need. His vision was almost as good as a shifter’s in the dark. His sense of smell was almost human, but his vision was far superior. He let his gaze sweep to the left. To the right.

  Then up, to the second story. His bedroom. The faintest of creaks reached his ears. Someone was up there.

  Someone had picked the wrong demon to screw with.

  He took the steps three at a time. Moving fast, but not making a sound. The bedroom door was open, just as he’d left it days before. The bedcovers were wrecked. He could see the mess through the door. Not the way he’d left the place. He caught the movement of a shadow. His uninvited guest.

  Mouth tight, he launched through the door and attacked.

  Their bodies collided and the intruder stumbled back. He followed, going in for the kill and—

  And her breath feathered over his cheek. Her scent-wild, sexy-filled his nostrils and he knew, he knew even before he saw the wild curtain of black hair that his intruder was Jana.

  He caught her before she could hit the floor. He yanked her up close, held her tight, then they fell together onto the bed.

  His mouth took hers. Had to. His tongue thrust past her lips and drove deep into that sweetness that he’d missed. Her body was soft beneath his, but her fingers were strong on his shoulders. Her legs had spread, and he thrust against her, shoving his jeans-clad legs between her thighs.

  She tore her mouth from his. “You’d better know who the hell I am. ” Anger there.

  And he realized that, to her, it was pitch black in the room. “Baby, trust me, there’s no forgetting you. ” The anger was there, boiling just beneath the surface for him because she’d scared him. “Where the hell have you been?”

  Her fingers dug into his shoulders. Growling, he grabbed her hands and pinned them against the mattress. “Jana … why did you run? Where did you go?” Why did you leave me?

  “I came here. ” Her breath feathered against him. “To you. I thought … I thought I’d be safe here. ”

  The rage left him at those simple words.

  “You were safe with me in New Orleans. ” He kissed her again. His tongue swiped over her lips. Into her mouth. “You shouldn’t have left,” he whispered. “Do you know how fucking crazy I was?”

  “The cops were there. ” Her voice was just as soft as his had been. Hushed in the darkness. “I couldn’t let them take me in. I-I couldn’t. ”

  “You’re not going to jail. ” He wouldn’t let it happen.

  “Zane, I—”

  “You’re not. ” He kissed her once more even as his hands went to the snap of her jeans. They’d talk more. He’d tell her about Beth and the cops and the plan he’d already set into motion but for now-now if he didn’t have her soon, his control would shatter.

  He unsnapped the jeans and jerked down her zipper. Why couldn’t he get enough of her? Why was he so desperate for her?

  Jana’s hands were on him now, moving just as greedily as his own. She shoved up his shirt, and her nails scored his flesh.

  He heard the thud of her shoes as they hit the floor. His followed right behind ‘em. She lifted her hips, and he yanked the jeans down her legs. The scrap of lace-sexy panties- disappeared with them.

  His fingers pushed between her folds. Found her warm. So warm. He eased his finger inside her and she was fucking tight. Her cream began to coat him as he stroked her, getting her ready, because she had to want him as much as he wanted her.

  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?”