"Yes. That is it. Do not kill her, do not maim her. Just get her to speak of her heritage. Once her father realizes I'm right, he'll take care of things himself."
"Well. Okay. Sounds easy enough."
"Good, good. Now go to her. Keep her close and make her reveal all.” With that statement, Zeus laughed and raised his hand. A bright light flashed upon the God's exit, causing Jack to cringe. Damn the God and his powers.
After a quick shower and thankful the water still worked, he moved back into the bedroom. Adara lay curled up on her side with the blanket pulled close under her chin. She shivered.
He looked around for more blankets and gathered what he could. It would be a cool night without the heat and lights. Covering his new charge with another blanket, Jack studied her again. Her hair, now almost dry, lay across the pillows in a dark, wavy shadow. His chest tightened as he looked upon her pale face. Why did the God feel she was such a threat? Like anyone would believe that Gods and Goddesses still walked the earth.
Feeling the weight of his day finally settling in, Jack fell onto the bed beside her. The wind whooshed against his house, the rain pelted down on the roof and the soft sigh of his bed partner lulled him to sleep.
Tomorrow was going to be full of excitement when Adara realized she was stuck with him.
Jack smiled. His life had just gotten a lot more interesting.
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Chapter Three
What the hell was that smell?
Something sweet permeated her senses, drawing her further into consciousness. Adara kept her eyes closed for a little longer, letting the scent draw deeper into her lungs. It smelled so nice. It made her want to rub her face against it and wallow around until her body was completely covered. Nothing had ever made her feel like that.
Turning over in the bed, the scent stirred. It was not only sweet, but now it mixed with a light musk, making her body tingle all over with unexpected pleasure. Gods, more, she wanted more.
Without opening her eyes, she searched the bed, scooting around, searching. She ran into something solid, yes, there it was. She rubbed her nose against it. It was soft, yet hard. Reaching up with her hands, she rubbed against skin, stirring the hypnotic scent again. She moaned and just as she feared she'd do, began to rub her cheek next to the skin much like a cat. Adara needed to open her eyes, she did, but she knew the fantasy would be gone then, and the scent would disappear.
A large hand cupped her head, the fingers buried deep into her hair, gently massaging her scalp. It felt so good. The tingling focused right where the fingertips touched.
"Mmmmm.” She couldn't help the little sound that escaped.
The arm she rested her cheek against flexed. The muscle was large. jerking beneath her. Her eyes opened and she followed the dark skin up a large rounded shoulder, over a collarbone, a very naked collarbone, then up a thick neck. Her eyes lingered at the square jaw that showed a hint of stubble, then her eyes moved up over a well defined cheek until she was looking into eyes so deep it felt as if they pulled her in.
Adara was lost. The scent grew in the room, saturating her senses while lingering on her skin. Moisture gathered between her thighs. Squeezing her legs together, she tamped down her siren urge to take what she wanted. No, she was half human and she needed to remember that. For now.
"Who are you?” Her voice was deep, sleepy. It sounded husky, a bit sexy. Would he get the wrong idea?
His hand rose. It came at her slowly until he ran a finger down the side of her face. She fought to close her eyes and let the gentle caress sooth her.
"I'm Jack. I found you in my pool. There wasn't any way to contact the authorities, with the hurricane damage and all. I checked you over and you didn't have any injuries so I brought you up here to let you rest."
Adara wiggled her toes to make sure everything was the way it should be. Had he seen her tail? He didn't act like anything was out of the ordinary, so she played along.
He pulled his hand back and moved his body away from her. The loss of his touch sent a coldness barreling through her. It almost felt like being burned by ice instead of heat. Even though it hurt, she allowed him to move away. He was a stranger, after all, and she needed to remember to keep her siren needs in check. Yes, in check, and she had to remember she swore off men entirely. Yet looking at this figure in front of her, she had absolutely no desire to walk away from him and every desire to take another chance with a man.
Damn her body and, well, her mind too, because it wasn't screaming for her to run.
She pulled the blanket up higher on her body.
"My name is Adara. I guess I should thank you for saving my life."
Jack turned away. Sitting on the edge of the bed, his head lowered to his hands while he looked at the carpet, and she wondered what was going through his mind.
"No big deal. I would have done it for anyone. I guess it's not every day a beautiful woman shows up in your pool—completely naked."
He laughed. The sound felt like tiny fingers dancing across her skin. Holy, this man was something. Being in his presence she couldn't understand this strong urge to throw him on the bed and ride him until they both fell limp. Her inner muscles twitched.
"Well I appreciate you coming out. If you hadn't I might of drowned."
"Yeah,” he said. Jack still didn't look at her. Yet, she also noticed that her voice hadn't affected him. Instead he acted as if looking at her was horrible. Actually she probably did look atrocious. She had, after all, just ridden a hurricane a few thousand miles through the ocean.
She laughed.
"What's so funny?"
She laughed a little harder as she reached up and felt the wildness of her hair.
"Oh, I must look like a witch."
He turned suddenly, startling her. Her laugh died as his eyes pierced her with anger.
"No, you don't. I would hate for you to ever think of yourself in such a manner.” Then he turned and looked once again at the floor.
She hadn't meant anything by her comment, yet she felt like she had said something obscene, if his reaction was anything to go by.
"I ... uh ... just meant my hair must look horrible."
He sighed and Adara watched the wide expanse of his back rise and fall. Her eyes were glued to his well-sculptured backside. Her fingers itched to trace each ridge and crest. Giving in, she reached across the bed and lightly ran her finger down his spine. He stiffened instantly and pulled away, turning to glare at her.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm sorry.” She pulled her hand into her chest and looked away from him. She would have to control herself or this man may wish he'd left her in the pool. Then again, her mind said, why not have some fun?
* * * *
What the hell was he doing? Why in the world did he ever think he would be able to pull this off? The Siren was behind him, wrapped up in his sheets, and Gods, her smell. He was so hard right now he would have to escape in the bathroom soon. Yeah that's what he would do, then he might be able to face her.
Something shot down his back like a white-hot poker and he jerked away. Looking behind him, he saw her pull her hand into her chest. Had she just touched him?
Yes, he would definitely have to go to the bathroom now. Right now, before he unwrapped the beautiful siren from the blankets and buried his cock deep within her. He groaned and she said something, but his mind was raging and he couldn't hear a word. The blood was so thick and hot and was making his cock stand painfully at attention.
"Excuse me."
He lifted from the bed and moved quickly to the bathroom. He heard her say something else, but the door cut off her sweet voice. He didn't think Siren's had an effect on demons. But, hell, this one sure did.
Jack turned the shower on, hopefully to drown out his moans. Then he quickly palmed his cock and stroked. It wouldn't take long, because not only did he have the usual morning hard-on, this one was aroused to the highest degree. Damn, her scent sti
ll lingered on him. On his arm where she had rubbed against him. It was so erotic, like a cat marking its territory. And that thought sent his cock swelling even more. Her territory. He pumped with the image of Adara in his mind. Her hair spread across his pillows and her naked nipples pressed tightly against his blankets. The same blankets he slept under every night naked.
He pumped until he started to feel the tingle in his sac. His balls tightened and he moaned. His knees almost gave out on him as the sweet wave of climax rushed up his cock and shot out onto his hand, dripping on the floor of the shower.
He wished it had been in her warm body, but no, that wouldn't happen. No way in hell, or on earth, for that matter.
Cleaning up, he turned the shower off and pulled on a pair of boxers. As soon as he opened the door, he saw Adara laying on the bed and lord help him she was playing with herself. Her head was thrown back and her beautiful full lips were parted on a sigh. He felt himself stir again. Her scent before had been overwhelming, but now he got a full fledge whiff of ocean and air.
Adara turned her head, her eyes drifting open. He didn't think she was embarrassed; instead she looked sated.
He could only wish he had been the one between her legs.
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Chapter Four
Adara couldn't believe she'd gotten caught. Damn her body and her raging desires. She could hear his breath flow fast from his lungs, almost sending ripples of wind across her body.
Having just pleasured herself, her body warmed. Should she invite him into bed? How would the human handle such a request from the person he saved?
She giggled. His lips quirked up at the edge, making his features appear a little boyish. A dimple appeared on his left cheek, drawing her full attention to the small indention. It was damn arousing if she did say so herself. Power pulsed from this human, taking her attention away from his features and focusing it on the total package in front of her.
She didn't feel the electrical charge in the air like she had before. His raw masculinity had drawn her attention now. And he was definitely masculine. Her eyes drifted across his unclothed body, taking in the dips and curves of his muscles. Damn if her body didn't try to heat up again.
"Um ... sorry.” She didn't know what else to say to distract her raging hormones. Something needed to be said. “Are you done in the shower?"
His blue eyes sparkled as he stepped away from the door and gestured for her to enter at her convenience. “I'm all yours ... oh uh ... I mean ... the bathroom is all yours."
He turned his back to her but Adara wasn't fooled. A mirror stood at his side against the wall. At his angle, he'd be able to see every gesture as she moved from the bed to the bathroom. A normal human female would feel shy and wouldn't move from the bed until properly covered. Well, Adara was not a normal human female. Her Siren tendencies always seemed to flare whenever a delectable peace of male flesh was close by. She stepped from the bed completely naked. He must have gotten an eye full when he carried her from outside, but she was about to give him more.
"Thank you. I'll be out in a moment."
"Take your time. I left a candle burning in there for you so it's not too dark."
Focusing on her walk from the bed to the bathroom, she wanted to make sure he got the full view of her form.
"Oh, I'm not scared of the dark, but thank you."
She wouldn't be here long, and what would a little sex hurt anyway? She needed to add new memories and get Jace completely out of her mind.
The bastard.
Her step faltered a moment before she made it into the bathroom. She turned just a bit and caught a glimpse of his gaze in the mirror. The look on his face set her loins on fire. He was a man whose body she would worship. And she felt like worshipping it now, but forced herself through the bathroom door, closing her in and him out.
* * * *
Jack let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. Stepping to the mirror, his skin shimmered black, red, and then grey. A black tattoo across the left side of his face flickered into existence. His eyes, normally ice blue, darkened into a flash of onyx.
Squeezing his eyes shut, he leaned on the dresser in front of the mirror and growled low.
"Her body, her flesh, her eyes, her hair. Tell me this isn't what I think it is?” Asking no one in particular, he let the question go unanswered. He was afraid of the reply anyway.
The water turned on in the bathroom. His body tightened, his cock hardened to an impossible point. His grip caused the wood of the dresser to groan under the pressure. It splintered, cracked. The sound echoed in the room and Jack's eyes snapped open. The edges of the dresser now showed distinctive imprints of his hands.
Damn.
Quickly he grabbed a small sheet, folded it and placed it over the marks.
This woman was not for him. His flesh rippled, bringing his human color and shape back to view. His eyes were once again ice blue. He could feel his power ripple across his skin, just waiting for the opportunity to lose control again. It would happen, yet, he couldn't allow it. He was a demon of the highest ranking. His body would obey him.
"I've got to get a handle on this. Remember what my father said."
The image of his father standing over him, when he was still called Nalameir, came to the surface of his mind.
The stench of the dungeon permeated the air. Feces and urine and old food. Nalameir's nose crinkled at the disgust. The ropes binding him to the wall cut painfully into his wrists. He could feel the blood oozing down his arms, down his side to pool in the waistband of his pants.
A young demon, but royalty, Nalameir tried not to cringe with every lash of the whip. His father was determined to beat out any emotion on the poor demon's body.
"Control will win you what you desire, Nalameir! Carelessness will only get you killed! Don't forget these words, young one."
Crack!
The sound of the whip cutting through the air got to his ears long before the sting of the leather.
"Yes, father.” Nalameir tried to speak.
"You could have been killed today going to the surface."
Crack!
"Nalamier, you will learn to heed my warning."
Crack!
"You are the prince. We do not play games with humans. We are never careless!"
Crack!
The last lash cut across a fresh wound, making Nalameir jerk.
The feeling made him quickly dispersed the painful image in his mind. Jack found himself breathing hard as the memory slowly faded. His back ached anew, even though it has been many centuries since that particular lesson had been taught. Although his emotions were more controlled, his father couldn't beat them completely gone.
His body now well and truly back under control, Jack found his clothes and got dressed.
As he looped the final tie on his shoe, the bathroom door opened. Once again Jack was struck almost blind by the beauty that walked through the steam billowing from the doorway. His throat closed and his breath ceased. The steam followed her out as if it too couldn't get enough of her.
Adara's shoulders glistened with water droplets. He felt the need to lick off each tiny little drop.
Her head was lowered, but he could just make out a shy smile.
"Um, Jack?"
Then he noticed she was twirling her fingers indicating he needed to turn around.
Well, damn.
Hell help him, he didn't want to look at her. He wanted to be the evil bastard everyone thought he was. Erotic thoughts corralled in his mind before he spoke.
"Oh yeah, sorry. Sure I'll ... just turn around now. Better yet, I'll go and find you some clothes."
"Clothes would be great. I hope your ... wife won't mind."
Jack laughed, finally meeting her gaze. He couldn't help it. He read her expectant look. Did she hope he had a wife, or not? Even after she had woken up beside him naked in his bed.
"No wife. Sister. She comes to stay with me sometimes.
You're about her size."
She pulled the towel tighter, making the cloth slit at her legs gape open, drawing his attention. Demons help him, the smooth creamy skin called to him. The flash of flesh beneath that tiny piece of cloth almost shredded what was left of his control. He could use his powers if he wanted. Make the towel fall from her. His fingers itched to do just that.
"Oh. Your sister. Well then, I hope she doesn't mind. I'll reimburse her once I get back home."
Adara fidgeted under his gaze, her eyes never once leaving his. What did she think about the blatant way he admired her?
Feeling his eyes start their reformation, he turned away, giving her his back once again.
Control! Control!
Jack stalked to the door and left her. But his desire could not be so easily ignored.
* * * *
When he returned with her clothes, the bathroom door was shut again. He could hear her moving around. He picked out a green, form fitting t-shirt and a pair of jeans from his sister's closet. He even found socks and shoes. Still hearing a rustle or two in the bathroom, he laid the clothes on the bed and fought his need to break down the door to get to her.
Get to her?
The door would be no obstacle. A flimsy piece of wood could not stand in his way. Did she think that would stop him from taking her right there on the tile floor? From taking what belonged to him?
Abruptly, Jack stopped. He noticed he was standing at the door, clutching the handle.
What belonged to him?
Taking a deep breath, Jack knocked on the door.
"Adara, I'll be downstairs. I left clothes on the bed. Do you drink coffee or anything?"
He heard a muffled, “yes."
Not wanting to leave, he continued to talk through the door.
"The stove and the water heater run on gas, so we should be okay in the coffee department for a while."
She laughed, making him grip the handle harder. The sound danced over his body and made him shiver. The need to go inside pressed against him.
"No!” he whispered to himself.
"What did you say?” He heard her closer to the door. So close.
Siren's Song [A Siren Sisters Anthology] Page 8
