Heat pooled low in her belly. She shifted her legs restlessly as the ache within her grew.
Lowering his head, Ethan claimed her other breast with his lips, stroking and sucking and laving until she forgot all of her insecurities.
Heather buried her fingers in his hair, wanting more.
But he wasn’t finished exploring. Abandoning her breasts, Ethan kissed a path down her stomach, dipped his tongue into her navel, then continued lower.
Heather gripped the covers when he urged her legs apart, settled himself between them, then dipped his head. A low moan escaped her at the first brush of his tongue against her clit. Fiery sensation sliced through her as he closed his lips around the sensitive bud, that talented tongue of his flicking and stroking. Driving the need higher. Making her arch up against him, call his name, and urge him on.
He slipped a long finger inside her.
She bit her lip. So good.
A second finger joined the first.
She panted as he stroked her . . . with his fingers . . . his mouth . . . that wicked, wicked tongue. Feeding the need. Taking her higher and higher until she threw back her head and cried out as she came. Hard. The ripples of pleasure going on and on, prolonged by Ethan’s talented mouth and fingers.
At last, Heather collapsed against the sheets.
Ethan kissed his way back up her body and rose above her as she fought to catch her breath. “Absolutely perfect,” he growled. His eyes glowed brighter than she had ever seen them, and fangs peeked out from between his lips.
Heather believed him.
Clasping his face in her hands, she drew him down to her, kissed those soft lips, and said one word. “More.”
Ethan’s pulse pounded in his ears. With Heather’s taste still on his tongue, her beautiful body beneath him, and her hands on his face, he trembled with the need to fulfill her request.
More, she’d said. Ethan wanted more himself.
She caressed a path down his neck to his chest. When she found his nipples with her fingers and delivered sharp pinches, he groaned. Shit, he needed to be inside her.
As though she had heard his thoughts, she slid a hand down his stomach, pausing to play with the muscles there, then lower still and curled her fingers around his hard, aching cock. “I want you inside me. Now.”
She didn’t have to say it twice.
As soon as she guided the sensitive crown to her entrance, Ethan plunged inside.
So warm and tight and wet, squeezing him with such delicious pressure.
She sucked in a breath.
Ethan raised his head, afraid he’d hurt her. “Heather?”
Her eyes met his, full of smoky desire. “So good,” she moaned. Sliding her arms around his back, she gripped his ass with both hands and urged him on.
He found a smile and withdrew almost to the tip. “Want more?”
“Hell yes.”
Ethan plunged inside, drew back, and plunged inside again. Driving into her tight, warm body. Finding just the right angle to give her the most pleasure until she cried out with every thrust, her fingernails digging into his ass. Ethan’s own pleasure mounted as she threw her head back, her hips rising to meet him again and again with surprising force until she stiffened and cried out with another orgasm. Her body clamped down around him, pulsing and squeezing and sending him over the edge.
Ethan stiffened above her and shouted with his own release as pleasure seared him, suffusing every muscle and setting his blood afire.
Breathing hard, he rolled them to their sides and held her close, their bodies still joined.
Her warm sheath continued to tighten and relax around his cock as little aftershocks struck her.
He leaned back just enough to see her face.
Her pretty features damp and flushed with satisfaction, she gave him a tender smile that seemed to burrow its way straight to his heart, affecting him even more deeply than the momentous lovemaking they had just shared.
Ethan pressed a light kiss to her lips, then urged her to snuggle against him.
His breath calming, he refused to think about the future and the dangers it might bring. Instead, he allowed himself to absorb the peace she brought him and let it lure him into sleep.
Zach woke when Lisette rolled away and slipped from the bed. He had been resting lightly all day, waking at the faintest sound or slightest movement. Through cracked lids, he watched her don a robe, belt it, then leave the room and head down the hallway.
He sighed, knowing she worried for Ethan and the woman. This was the third time she had checked on them.
Though he wouldn’t admit it, Zach was worried, too. He just couldn’t decipher the meaning of it all. The last time Gershom had tampered with human affairs, his game plan—when viewed in retrospect—had been clear. This thing with Ethan and Heather . . .
What the hell did it mean? Was this another scheme meant to kick-start an apocalypse? Or could Gershom simply be fucking with Seth?
Had Ethan died in that vampire skirmish, it would have been a major blow to the Immortal Guardians’ leader, who had just lost two immortals the previous year. And last time, Gershom had seemed to delight in propagating confusion and pitting Seth against his immortals.
When Lisette didn’t return, Zach drew on a pair of sweatpants and went looking for her.
He found her in the open doorway to Ethan and Heather’s room. One small shoulder braced against the door frame, she stared at the slumbering couple entwined beneath the covers.
Zach leaned against the door frame opposite her. “Does it bother you?” he asked, preternaturally soft so as not to wake Ethan. His stomach tightened when he failed to glean anything from her expression.
He had tried—really tried—to get past the fact that Lisette and Ethan had been lovers for damned near a century, but he just hated the thought of any man other than himself touching her. The fact that he knew Ethan and, thus, could picture the two together only made it harder.
Lisette gave her head a slow shake. “It’ll only bother me if she hurts him.”
Zach glanced at Heather. “I don’t think that’s going to happen. They haven’t known each other long, but she already cares for him and craves his company the way I do yours.”
“I think he feels the same way about her,” she responded, her face impassive.
“Do you miss him?” Zach cursed himself as soon as the words left his lips.
Lisette titled her head back and looked up at him. Although she stood at about five foot six, she was still more than a foot shorter than Zach. “Yes.”
His stomach sank so fast and hard he was surprised it didn’t crush his feet.
“I miss laughing and talking with him,” she continued. “I miss hanging out and watching games with him, arguing over a ref’s call or whether or not a player flopped.”
“You do all of that with me now.”
“I know. And I thoroughly enjoy it. I love you, Zach. I always will. The fact that I miss some of the things I used to do with Ethan doesn’t mean I love you any less or that I don’t enjoy doing them with you. It just means . . .” She shrugged. “Ethan was my best friend for a long time. Didn’t you miss Seth after he defected?”
Zach snorted. “I was too pissed.”
Smiling, she rolled her eyes. “After you stopped being pissed, did you miss him? Did you miss hanging out with him? I know you had the Others. But you and Seth were friends.”
Zach sighed. “Yes. I missed him.”
Reaching out, Lisette drew a hand up and down his arm in a reassuring stroke. “I can guess what you’re thinking. It kills you to know Ethan and I slept together. But sex with Ethan was never the way it is with you.”
Zach sent her a self-deprecating smile. “I’m sure it wasn’t. Ethan didn’t come to you a virgin.”
She grinned. Taking a step forward, Lisette leaned into Zach’s form and slid her arms around his waist. “You sure as hell didn’t make love like a virgin. Your skill and the speed with which yo
u can make my body burn still astounds me.”
Zach locked his arms around her. “Flatterer.”
She shook her head. “Sex with Ethan was a release, Zach. Nothing more. A sandwich to sate a hunger. A balm for the loneliness that plagued us both.” Rising onto her toes, she kissed his chin. “When you and I make love, you hold my heart in your hands.”
His own heart began to pound.
“It isn’t just our bodies that become one. I feel complete when I’m with you. Whole. Happy. And find pleasure that I didn’t even know was possible. No one else has ever made me feel that way. No one but you. I adore you, mon coeur.”
Dipping his head, Zach buried his face in the crook of her neck. “I love you, Lisette. I don’t ever want to lose you.”
“You won’t,” she promised.
“I don’t want my jealousy to come between us.”
“It won’t.” She patted his back. “Should it ever start to grate on my nerves, I’ll just kick your ass.”
Laughing, Zach raised his head. “You’re welcome to try anytime.”
Lisette took one look at his glowing eyes, felt his body harden against hers, and laughed. “I still think you’re strange.”
“Because your kicking ass turns me on?”
“Yes.” Stepping back, she took his hand. “Now stop worrying about Ethan. For the last time, he and I were never in love.”
“I doubt he would agree with you. There was love on his part.”
She shook her head. “It was infatuation.” When he opened his mouth to protest, she held up her free hand. “If you and I spent a century together, then you lost me, would you be ready to make love with another woman a year later?”
“Hell no. I wouldn’t ever want to make love with another woman.”
“Then there’s your answer. Now come to bed and whisper to me all of the naughty thoughts that are making your eyes glow and your body strain toward mine.”
Smiling, eager to feel her bare body against his, Zach followed her back to their bedroom.
Ethan opened his eyes after the couple left.
“Hey, Zach?” he heard Lisette whisper as their footsteps faded down the hallway.
“Yeah?”
“I’m dying to know . . . How was the sex between Ethan and Heather?”
Ethan nearly groaned.
Zach huffed a laugh. “Based on what I heard? Very satisfying.”
“Good,” she said, a smile in her voice. “Now, back to those naughty thoughts of yours.”
Ethan smiled.
Hugging Heather closer, he pressed a kiss to the top of her head and let sleep reclaim him.
The buzzing of a cell phone on vibrate roused Heather as the plastic gadget quivered on the bedside table.
“Holy crap, that’s annoying,” Ethan grumbled.
Heather laughed, wondering how many times it had vibrated before it had woken her.
“I have no idea where my cell phone is,” he continued, sprawled on his back, his voice rough from sleep, “so I assume that’s yours. Otherwise I would have long since hurled it against the wall.”
Curled up beside him, one leg draped across his hips and an enticing erection, Heather rose onto one elbow. “Hi there, Grumpy,” she said with a smile as she brushed her tangled hair out of her face.
He grinned up at her, all signs of crankiness evaporating. “Hi, yourself.” The man was just too good-looking. Even with his eyes heavy from sleep, his hair mussed, and stubble that was well on its way to becoming a mustache and beard, he made her body tingle.
The phone stopped buzzing.
Heather folded her hands on Ethan’s chest and rested her chin on them. “Today was . . . incredible.” They had spent hours making love, getting to know each other’s bodies, learning every curve, every millimeter of flesh that elicited moans when stroked.
“Yes, it was,” he agreed softly. “No regrets?”
“None.” She slid her body over onto his, covering him like a blanket, and eased up just enough to lower her lips to his.
The phone vibrated again, buzzing against the wooden table.
Ethan growled.
Laughing, Heather sat up and straddled his hips as she reached for her cell. “How many times has it rung?”
“Three times in the past hour,” he complained, his hands going to her hips and adjusting her position so that his hard cock teased her center.
Heather moaned. “Hold that thought.” Her eyes on Ethan’s gorgeous self, she answered the call. “Heather Lane.”
“Hi, sweetie,” her father said. “Where’ve you been? I’ve been trying to reach you for over an hour.”
“Dad!” Feeling absurdly as if he had just walked into the room and caught the two of them making love, she slid off Ethan’s body and drew the sheet up to cover her breasts. “Hi. What’s up?”
Ethan grinned, his glowing amber eyes sparkling with amusement.
“Are you working?”
“No. Not at the moment.” When Ethan reached over and tried to tug the sheet down, Heather slapped his hand.
He leaned back, laughing without making a sound, and tucked his hands behind his head, elbows splayed.
Wow, he was built. In that position, his biceps looked bigger than her head.
“Good,” her father said. “We have a situation here and could use your help.”
Damn. She so didn’t want to leave this bed. Or Ethan’s company.
Noting the frown that replaced Ethan’s smile, she wasn’t even sure she could. He must be listening to both ends of the conversation.
“How soon do you need me?” she asked.
“Now. I’ll send a car to pick you up in twenty minutes.”
Ethan shook his head.
“Now’s not a good time, Dad,” Heather stalled, trying to think of an adequate reason.
The door burst open.
Zach stepped into the room.
Ethan’s scowl deepened as he reached down and dragged the blankets up to his waist.
“I thought you said you weren’t working,” her father said in her ear.
“Say you’ll do it,” Zach whispered, his deep voice barely audible.
Ethan bolted upright.
For a second, Heather thought he was going to jump out of bed and kick Zach’s ass.
Ignoring him, Zach pointed an authoritative finger at her. “Tell him you’ll do it.”
Not knowing what else to do, Heather complied. “You know what? It’s fine, Dad. I can come in. I just need a little time to finish up what I’m doing here. Can you give me an hour?”
“That’s fine. You’re at home?”
Heather looked at Zach, who nodded. “Yes.”
“The car will pick you up there in an hour.”
Heather ended the call.
“Are you out of your fucking mind?” Ethan ground out, glaring daggers at Zach.
Lisette peeked around the door frame, then entered and stood beside Zach. Both were garbed in black pants and black shirts similar to the ones Heather had seen Ethan wear.
“Why the hell did you tell her to do it?” Ethan demanded.
“If Gershom is interested in her because of her connections,” Zach said, “then removing those connections could—”
“What?” Ethan interrupted. “Make her safer? Take her off his radar?”
“Possibly. Or it could get her killed. The Other we’re dealing with is mentally unstable. We don’t know how he will react if we take away his toy. And as long as he thinks he can use her, we can use her to locate and destroy him.”
All of the happiness that had filled Heather upon waking in Ethan’s arms vanished.
“So you want to use her as bait,” Ethan spat, his amber eyes brightening with fury. Throwing back the covers, he rose and faced the powerful elder.
Heather scrambled to ensure the sheet still covered her. Crap. This wasn’t good.
Lisette tossed Ethan a pair of sweatpants she found Heather-didn’t-know-where.
Ethan
swore and pulled them on.
“Yes, Ethan,” Zach responded, his face darkening as he took a step forward. “We want to use Heather as bait. We want her and you to help us prevent Armageddon.”
“Zach,” Lisette cautioned, touching his arm as Zach’s eyes acquired a golden glow.
Ethan’s eyes glowed even brighter. “We can find another way—”
“What way?” Zach snarled. “We can’t find the fucker, Ethan. We’ve been looking for him for a year now and have nothing to show for it. This is the first real opportunity we’ve had to lure him into our clutches since we found out he was behind Shadow River. Something about Heather has caught his attention. There’s something or someone in her life that he thinks he can use to his advantage, and we aren’t going to find out what or who if we keep her hidden in Lisette’s basement.”
“It’s our basement now, darling,” Lisette murmured.
Ethan motioned to the doorway, every movement stiff with anger. “It’s the middle of the fucking afternoon! I can’t protect her out there!”
“But I can,” Zach said. His tone softened. “I can, Ethan, and I will. I vow it to you. Heather will not leave this house without me. I will go wherever they take her. And I will keep her safe.”
Ethan’s anger seemed to cool a bit at that.
Heather hesitantly raised an index finger. “Actually, about that . . .” As all eyes focused on her, she really wished she weren’t naked and wrapped in a sheet. “My dad only sends a car when the case I’ll be helping them with is highly classified.” She studied them. “It doesn’t happen often. But . . . when it does I usually don’t even know where I’m taken. The windows in the back of the car are blacked out. A partition like the one in limos keeps me from seeing the route we take. The car parks in a basement parking garage that looks like all basement parking garages do. Then I’m escorted into a nondescript elevator that takes me to this or that floor in a building I can’t identify.”
All stared at her.
“What?” she asked as the silence stretched.
“What the hell do you do for your father?” Ethan asked.
Shadows Strike Page 17
