Code Black (Paranormal Crimes Division Book 1)

by Tina Moss

  The arctic chill helped to ease his damnable lust, but it couldn’t alleviate the ache in his chest. He had to find a way to make her understand without injuring her feelings. He flipped the water off, toweled dry and hunted down clean clothes from a bedroom closet.

  With heavy steps, he descended the stairs barefoot and searched for her on the first floor. A charred scent assailed his nose when he walked along the corridor. The house’s alarm system flared warning beeps. He picked up the pace. A repugnant aroma filled the air. “Sera?” he called. The kitchen stove erupted in three-foot flames. He hardly spared it a glance as his eyes swept the room. He found her standing rigid in a corner. Her entire body flickered gold.

  His senses returned at the sight of her. He dove for the fire extinguisher. The security system activated the sprinklers. A steady flow from the overhead pipes doused the kitchen as he worked the pressurized handle along the outer edge of the oven. It sprayed the flames in a white sheet. With the fire out, he shifted his attention to Sera.

  Water lapped at her, darkening her honey amber hair to a light brown. The blaze licked along her arms and legs like a second skin even through the thick stream. She stood tall and stoic, shining as a goddess bathed in fire and water.

  Talon’s feet moved of their own accord. Every ounce of good sense screamed at him to halt, to leave her in that state. His treacherous body hardened, crying out for her as if she alone could soothe its ache with her light.

  “No,” she cried, holding up her hand. “Don’t come any closer.”

  He didn’t stop, didn’t even slow, the compulsion to be near her cutting away his good sense. His jeans soaked up to the knees. Puddles sloshed along the tiled floor. The alarm system cut off. The water pooled around them. Her fire heated the kitchen, creating a steaming mist that leapt along the wall. A deep golden hue circled her irises, painting flames within the pupils.

  “I can’t stay away from you.” He stood within her reach, close enough for her to step into his arms, but far enough for her to run if she so chose. “I’ve tried. I know it’s not right. I know we hardly know each other. I know you’re a part of this case. But I can’t stop wanting you.” When she didn’t move, he inched closer. Her fire grazed his skin like a lover’s caress. He leaned into it, wanting to be burned by her touch. “And tonight if you’ll have me, I’ll show you exactly what we can do in six hours.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Safe House Beta, Secret Location

  Sera’s insides melted. Her stomach knotted into a pretzel. Flames danced along her skin like thousands of tiny fireflies. She didn’t need to direct or control them, they moved like a natural extension of her. Her entire being reached out for Talon, her fire embracing him in its fold.

  Talon rose over her like an ancient warrior. Chiseled muscles tightened under his soaked shirt and jeans. His bright eyes deepened to an ocean blue. The tides reflected smoldering desire. Her mind warred with the needs of her body. She tried to pull the fire from him, fearing he’d burn up. It refused to budge, instead wrapping around his forearms and pulling him closer.

  “I don’t want to hurt you.” Tears sprang to her eyes unbidden. She fought back, refusing to let them fall.

  He didn’t speak, but as he shed his shirt and crushed her to his bared chest, he spoke the answer louder than words. “You won’t hurt me, Sera. We both know that.” His hands stroked her back, easing the tension between them and at the same time feeding the flames. “Your fire feels like hot water. It doesn’t burn.”

  Energy crackled around them in the air, in their bodies. It sizzled in their blood. A faint cry of alarm escaped as fear seized her. He caught the sound with his mouth. Her thoughts shattered. His kiss grew deeper and more demanding as his tongued darted between her lips. She arched into him, reveling in the hard muscle and smooth skin in her hands. The combined water from his shower and the alarm’s sprinklers slathered over his body like a cooling balm. She yearned to know the feel of it skin to skin and stepped back to rid herself of her oppressive clothes. The tattered sweater weighed her down, dripping wet. She yanked it over her head and tossed it aside.

  The motion brought his eyes skimming over her breasts. The lacy cotton bra blocked his view and chafed her skin as her nipples drew into taut peaks. He smiled and encircled her face in his hands, stealing her breath away with the depth of his gaze. “You’re far more than I deserve. Beautiful in a way I can’t describe and never could have imagined.” He bent his head to nip at her ear and trail a hot path along her neck. “You make me lose all reason.”

  “Talon.” She cried out as his tongue darted lower to trace slow swirls over the lacy material. “Please.”

  He grunted in response and cupped her bottom, hoisting her atop the counter. She wrapped her legs around his waist and tangled her hands in his hair. A feral growl echoed through the kitchen as Talon’s teeth sharpened. He stared at her with an animal’s primal hunger. His long incisors nipped the cotton bra into shreds, but never touched her skin. Her breasts sprang free, heavy and aching.

  Sera jerked back, fearful of that sudden vulnerability and uncertain of Talon’s control. She let her legs fall to the side and her arms brace the counter. Her head almost smacked against the cabinet, but he caught her neck in his roughened palm before impact. “Easy.” He edged her forward, pressing her breasts against the wall of his chest. “I’d never hurt you, Sera.”

  She inhaled, willing her pounding heart to slow its rhythm. “I’m a little nervous,” she admitted, holding his head in a firm grip. “I haven’t really done this before...except that one time.”

  “If you want to stop at any time, just say the word and I will.” He nuzzled her shoulder. His eyes rose to meet hers. “I’m not going to do anything you don’t want. Okay?”

  Biting her lip, she swam through her thoughts, searching for an anchor. Guy, for all his pestering, provided a solid rock to which she could fix her mind. Although she appreciated this rare privacy—cause who the heck wanted him around in these circumstances—she needed something to sort the chaos. Trust yourself. The stray sound wafted along her consciousness. She didn’t know who it was or where it came from, Guy, her mysterious grandfather, herself. It didn’t matter. She had her answer.

  “Okay,” she said, smiling as she loosened her hold on Talon’s head and wrapped her arms around his neck. “No more animal parts though.”

  He greeted her smile with one of his own and showed her a set of gorgeous—and perfectly normal—white teeth. “Fair enough.” He laughed and bent to lavish his attention on her breasts.

  She braced her hands against his firm shoulders as his tongue danced along one aching peak. Blood rushed to the surface when his hand found her other breast, pinching and stroking in gentle patterns. Desire consumed her and a throbbing need pulsed between her legs.

  Talon fed the hunger by lifting her from the counter and guiding her legs around his waist once more. Without a word, he carried her from the water soaked kitchen to the comfortable dry living room. Setting her atop the arm of the couch, he knelt before her. With infinite slowness, he peeled off her drenched socks and undid the button of her denim skirt. Nodding to the fireplace, he said, “Want to light that for us?”

  “Really?” she said, distracted by his wandering hands.

  “Go for it.” He grinned, raising her to a standing position so he could slide the skirt down her legs.

  Standing in nothing but a pair of turquoise panties, she concentrated on building the heat into the palm of her hand. Not the easiest of tasks when Talon brushed his fingers along the backs of her calves. Her knees buckled when he reached her thighs. The flames shot from her fingers across the room, luckily landing on the ashen log. It lit the hearth in an abundance of warmth.

  Talon guided her to the sofa’s plush cushions. “Well done.” He motioned for her to recline as he took a seat on the floor.

  “What are you doing?” She sat up. Her confidence in her abilities grew with his support, but she had no id
ea what he intended or if she’d be able to control her power without hurting him.

  “Trust me.” He pushed her gently down and pulled one of her legs into his lap. He began to massage her ankle with assured strokes while kissing the inside of her thigh. When his hand moved up to her knee, he gave the same consideration to her other leg. Lost in the pleasure of his ministrations, she didn’t flinch when he stopped and moved his hands to her waist. It wasn’t until he ran his tongue over her thin wet panties that she cried out. “Talon?”

  “It’s all right, Sera. Trust me.” He drew the slender material down her legs with one finger. The other hand held her in place as his tongue stroked liquid need. Her hips bucked against his mouth, soft moans drawn from her throat.

  She fought the rising tide, too afraid to let go. “I can’t.” An inferno ignited her skin. Her insides melted. She wanted it to go on forever, and yet she desperately needed relief. Her muscles tightened like coiled springs. “I can’t.”

  He released her from the onslaught of his tongue and murmured against her thigh. Slowly, gently he inserted one long finger into her moist center. The friction of his touch upon her inner walls sent her soaring. When he drove another finger inside, increasing the pace, and surrounded her sensitive nub with his lips, she screamed his name.

  A cascade of heat tumbled through her and exploded in waves of gold and red. The flames danced in front of her eyes, making her vision swim with colors. The fire’s crackling song lulled her in and, for a moment, she drowned in the blaze.

  As her blood cooled, leaving behind a pleasant hum, her head shot up in alarm. “Talon?”

  “Right here.” He knelt on the floor. His head rested against her soft stomach. He smiled at her with gentleness, but his eyes revealed his hunger.

  “I didn’t burn you.” Relief flooded her soul, even as need began to build once more in her body.

  “Oh make no mistake. You burn me, Sera.” He rose to sit on the couch still covered by his worn jeans. He dragged her atop him. Her long legs straddled his thighs. “But I’m enjoying it.”

  She sucked in a breath of air, shocked at how he could stir her desire. Through the straining cotton, his hard shaft rested between the apex of her thighs, an alluring invitation to new pleasures. Gathering her courage, she leaned into him and whispered into his ear, “Then show me everything.”

  A hiss squeezed from between his clenched teeth. Seven hells, she was going to kill him. Her hair grazed his chest like a thousand feathers. Her voice echoed, the call of a siren tempting to drown him in flames. He didn’t fear her fire. He reveled in the soft burn. It licked across his skin like hot waves and ignited his blood. Nothing, not one of his former lovers, had ever drove him, excited him, maddened him like her fiery frenzy. He feared one taste would never be enough.

  She moved, innocently rubbing her wetness over the denim material and against his thickening length. The contact sent pinpricks of pleasure through him, causing his muscles to contract to the point of pain. His words came out raw. “You have no idea what you do to me.”

  “Please Talon,” she said, rising so that her breasts met his mouth. “Show me.”

  A growl rose in his throat. He tramped down the shifter call and concentrated on fueling the need between them. He cupped her breasts in his palms, admiring the two perfect handfuls. His teeth scraped along one rosy peak, soothing the ache with several long licks. His tongue trailed kisses along the silken mound to give the other equal time.

  When Sera’s breaths grew to shallow gasps, he rubbed at her core, fitting two fingers inside. He caught the moan upon her lips and drove his tongue in a scorching kiss. Desire raged until she squirmed against him and broke away. “No more. I need you.”

  He couldn’t have denied her for anything. Releasing her from his grip, he lowered her onto the couch and stood. He ripped off his jeans, but allowed her a moment to view him in the flesh. She’d seen him naked before in the alleyway in Phoenix, but this time would be all too different. He didn’t want to frighten her.

  Her eyes traced his body from his hair down his face to his chest, lowering to his abdomen, and finally, resting on his manhood. Longing sparked in her gaze, morphing her natural chocolate brown eyes to a devastating gold. When she raised her arms in clear invitation, he had to stop himself from diving atop her.

  Take it slow. At least one part of his brain functioned against his shifter instincts. She’s been hurt before. He covered her body with his, taking the majority of his weight on his arms. He stared at her soft pink lips and frowned when he found them trembling. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” she said, but uncertainty coated her words.

  “We can stop. You don’t have to do this.” He tried to keep the need from his voice.

  A smile played across her face. Her eyes brightened to pools of pure gold. “No, Talon,” she said, wrapping her legs around his waist, beckoning him closer. “I want to be with you.”

  He swallowed the emotion threatening to choke him. Her look captivated his senses. That’s how easily she could pull him under her spell. His heart jackhammered inside his chest. It wasn’t the undeniable attraction between them. No, it was something else he dare not name.

  He shifted to the side and reached for his jeans. Rifling in the pocket, he grabbed a condom from his wallet and discreetly put it on.

  Sera stared at him with wide eyes. Pulling away from her gaze, he met her lips. Their tongues danced together in a whirlwind of need. When the tip of his erection penetrated her, she tightened and went still. “Come on now, sugar, relax for me.” He coaxed her into compliance by lowering his body onto his forearms and leaving tantalizing kisses along her neck. She dug her nails into his back and settled into his arms. “That’s it.”

  Inch by inch he dove inside her, allowing her body the time to accommodate him. The tension nearly undid him, but he fought to go slow. When at last he could go no further, he murmured in her ear, then kissed her hard. Her cry caught in his mouth. He didn’t dare move, but continued to entice her tongue into a heated rhythm.

  When her hips began to buck against him, he smiled and pulled back. Long slow thrusts drew small whimpers from her. He kissed the silken flesh of her neck, increasing the pace. Her nails raked down his back, leaving a blissful sting. She moaned and met his every thrust. He wrapped her in his arms, shifting their positions so that he lay on the couch and she straddled his waist once more. As her body lowered to curl around his, he placed her hands on his shoulders and tightened his grip at her waist. She rocked atop him, finding a steady rhythm. He couldn’t stop his body from rising to meet her.

  The fire blazed so strong, he feared the alarm would go off at any moment. When Sera threw her head back, her hair cascading around them like an amber wave, he felt certain it had. Her fiery sheath tightened around him, drawing every thought from his head. She breathed his name low and hot as her pleasure rocked her, causing her to collapse in his embrace. The depth of it had him straining toward his release until he thought he’d die from the tension. With her head upon his shoulder, he thrust into her twice more. When her teeth sunk into his the sensitive flesh at his neck, he exploded deep within her.

  The room spun. He squeezed his eyelids shut as pleasure so intense engulfed him. Heat burned in his muscles, in his bones. The fire rushed into his veins, pumping through his body like the ultimate adrenaline rush. Sizzling spirals sent him flying to new heights. Reds and oranges flew around him in a symphony of color. Aromas and sounds amplified so that he swore heaven’s scent smelled like sex in front of the fire and heaven’s voice echoed like the soft murmurs of the woman in his arms.

  “Sera,” he said, rubbing his chin against her hair.

  “Hmm?” Lethargy set upon her, its presence evident in the way her body relaxed into his.

  “Nothing. Rest now.” He stroked her back.

  “Rest?” She sprung up. Her skin flushed a light pink from their lovemaking and glowed with the warmth of the fireplace. “What do yo
u mean, rest?”

  “We still have a few hours before we have to leave.” His body already tightened in response. He tried to clamp down the lust, shocked it could rise to the surface so soon after what they’d shared.

  “Exactly,” she smiled. “And I have no intention of wasting them.” She rose to her feet, pulling a groan from him at the loss of contact.

  “What’re you doing?” He sat up to watch her cross to the door.

  “Well, you got to shower earlier and I haven’t gotten the same chance.” She headed for the stairs. A shy smile lit up her face as she looked over her shoulder. Her voice waivered only slightly as she said, “Gotta make every second count and all. So if you’d like to join me...” Her voice trailed off, the sound of her steps echoed through the house.

  “Going. To. Kill me,” he said to the empty room, before bolting up the stairs. The shower poured down hot, steaming the bathroom in a heated haze, but the fire between them burned far hotter. As he sucked in a breath and enveloped her in his embrace, he said low, “Ah well, it’s a good way to die.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Helipad of Vanguard Tower, Calgary, Alberta

  Sera clamped her hands over her ears. The chopper’s blades cut through the rough afternoon winds. Gray clouds rolled above, threatening rain. She ran head down for the safety of the building’s rooftop entrance. Once inside, she rubbed her hands over her arms. The new red sweater and black leather jacket provided much needed warmth against the frigid Alberta climate, but came at a high price. She sighed, recalling this morning’s cold shoulder from Talon as he’d given her the clothes. After the earth-shattering evening they’d shared making love three times and sleeping in each other’s arms, she hadn’t prepared her head—or her heart—for the sting of his dismissal.