Wicked After Dark: 20 Steamy Paranormal Tales of Dragons, Vampires, Werewolves, Shifters, Witches, Angels, Demons, Fey, and More

by Mina Carter

  She’d carefully cleared off some space on a display table full of cereal boxes. Throwing down the map, he handed her the salt. He didn’t have any more time to waste. He for damn sure didn’t need to be near the witch any longer than necessary. “Scry.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  ROARK BROUGHT BACK the things Kayley needed in no time at all. All three Anderson sisters had received an amethyst pendant on their sixteenth birthday and she wore hers without fail. She took it off and laid it on the table near the map. She didn’t need the salt to scry and she prayed he didn’t realize what she was doing until it was too late. Opening the familiar round box, she poured it on the floor, making a circle around them. When she was done, she unfolded the map. She picked up her necklace and looked at him. She couldn’t believe she was about to scry for a demon. There was so much that could go wrong.

  She shuddered to ask for the next thing she needed. “I need something personal. Can you, umm, go get some of his, skin?” There were big hunks of it mixed in with the slug slime.

  “No need. I got something.”

  “What do you have?” There was nothing more personal than skin.

  “Blood.”

  “You carry a vial of this demon’s blood with you wherever you go?”

  “No. He’s my brother. Our blood is the same.”

  Her eyebrows rose at that confession. “You’re really brothers?”

  “Yes. Will it work?”

  “I guess so.” Kayley wasn’t sure blood from a sibling would work, but who was she to argue with the demon?

  She held the pendant in her hand, her fingers trembling.

  Without preamble, he pulled a huge hunting knife from the sheath he wore at his waist and sliced the palm of his hand. “Here.”

  She dipped the pendant in the blood seeping from the cut and took a deep breath. She gathered her courage and looked at him, her gaze meeting his full on. “I’m warning you right now, this might not work.”

  He leaned into her personal space, but Kayley held her ground, refusing to back away from his intimidating stance. “And why is that, little witch?”

  He was only inches from her face. She gulped and licked her lips, still tasting him. “I’m not very, um.” She cleared her voice. “I’m not very experienced.” She gave a huge sigh, knowing she had to confess her weakness. “I’m not very good at spell casting or scrying. I’m not sure if I can find your brother.”

  “Why not?”

  Surprisingly, he wasn’t as angry as she thought he would be.

  “My spells seem to go a little wonky.”

  “Was that what happened back there?”

  She bent her head letting her hair swing forward, hiding her features — and embarrassment. “Yes.”

  “What kind of spell did you cast?”

  “A calming spell.”

  “That made me want to kiss you?”

  She peeked up at him through her lashes. Her heart accelerated when she saw the smoldering desire in his eyes. They once again had those streaks of gold flashing through them. Damn, that expression made her wet.

  She froze when his nostrils flared as if he scented her desire.

  “A calming spell makes the person think of something that relaxes them. Like a forest, a child, a kitten, or a puppy.” She wasn’t about to admit that her spell had done exactly what he had accused her of it doing. Making him want to kiss her.

  One side of his lips tilted upwards. “So, kissing and wanted to have sex is suppose to calm me? That’s a flat out lie, sweetheart. I’m anything but calm when I’m fucking.”

  She gasped at his crude remark.

  He pointed to the map. “It doesn’t matter, like I said, you’re all I got.”

  Well, that filled a girl with confidence, Kayley thought. She studied the map, finding the location of the grocery store. Holding the pendant above the map, she slowly moved it in a circular motion, increasing the width of the circle as she moved it towards the edge of the map. Without warning, the pendant stopped swinging.

  “Is that him?” Roark had been quiet during the whole process.

  “I think so.” Kayley dropped the pendant. It fell straight down and the sharp point, covered in blood, marked the spot. She picked up the necklace and he studied the map.

  She couldn’t see the precise point the pendant had revealed, but it appeared to be near the inner city park. Why would a demon want to go there? The seedier side of town with the it’s sin-filled fun of bars and strip joints should have appealed more to a demon wanting to enjoy his escape from hell.

  “Come on.”

  “No.” Kayley took a step back, careful not to break the salt circle. She stepped over it and looked at Roark. “I’m sorry, but I need to go home.”

  “What about my brother? Are you going to just leave a demon on the loose?” Roark stood still, looking at her.

  “My father will know what to do.”

  “Really?” He crossed his arms, still staring at her. “How would he know?”

  Kayley licked her lips. “He, umm, has some connections to the underworld.” He did, if you counted a mother who had been a succubus.

  “Sorry, Kayley, I’m not done with you yet.”

  His words sent a shiver up her spine that had nothing to do with fear. It was all want. All need that went straight to her pussy. She was so distracted by the feeling firing through her, she didn’t realize he’d stepped out of the salt circle and was by her side.

  “How did you do that?” Salt was supposed to keep a demon out — or in.

  Roark ignored her and walked to the door, holding it open. “Coming?”

  She stood there, still shocked. Just what kind of demon was he? “I’m not going with you.”

  “Yes, you are. Now get the map.”

  Roark watched as the witch folded up the map. She couldn’t follow the machine-made folds, making him smile at her frustration. Something about her called to him, and it went beyond her face and her figure, which were both stunning. Especially her figure. He knew for a fact most males, human, demon, or angel, craved the curves that humans — mostly bitchy females — had deemed unworthy. A man liked to sink his cock into a woman who had soft, abundant curves to support him. A woman who could take a good pounding.

  Roark would mark this female, leave bruises on her skin in the shape of his fingertips as he held her down while he fucked her. Not that he wouldn’t take care of her. He’d spread her legs and give her a thorough loving with his tongue, making her cream against his lips before he took her. Then he’d make her come again with his cock deep inside her.

  He shook his head to clear it. He didn’t have time for this. This being a night of free-for-all sex with this curvy beauty. And that’s all it would be. Nothing more.

  Absolutely, fucking, nothing more.

  Normally, he could track another demon just fine, but Rafe had the ability to disguise his essence. Each Conroy brother had extra powers to help them do their jobs as bounty hunters. Rafe’s ability sucked right now. Something was telling him he needed to take this woman with him. Roark never admitted weakness to anyone. To ask a witch for help would be more than unsettling. If he did, he might as well hand her a piece of his soul. Every sentient being had a soul. Even a demon and he wanted to keep his. It was one of the few things the family curse couldn’t touch.

  For the first time in a very long time, indecision rode him hard. He knew he might be making a bitter mistake insisting the witch go with him. Wasn’t it a witch and a demon’s lust for her that had gotten the family into such dire straits? Yeah, the woman pushed his ‘let’s fuck’ button harder and faster than any female ever had, but so what? He could get as much pussy as he wanted after he returned his brother to hell. What made hers so special? What made hers the one his demon craved with a hunger he’d never known?

  He gritted his teeth as he spoke. “You’re a witch and you can scry for him. Now, let’s go.” He didn’t mean for his voice to be so hard and demanding — okay, maybe he did.
He just wanted to get this over with. He walked back to where the witch was standing and grabbed her hand, pulling her out the door behind him.

  Kayley cursed as the demon manhandled her yet again. Could nothing go right for her tonight? Her father had taught each of his daughters simple ways to protect themselves. She wasn’t foolish enough to think she could take this demon in a hand-to-hand tussle. That left her magic. Her powers might not be as strong as her sisters, but if she was really in danger, it usually straightened itself out. Right now she couldn’t seem to formulate a protection spell to repel him and keep him away.

  She worked her bottom lip with her teeth. Why was that?

  Perhaps the demon didn’t pose a threat to her. Her heart beat a little faster at the thought.

  “Kayley, Kayley. Where are you going?”

  It took her a moment to realize Wanda had followed them out into the parking lot, calling her name. She heard the worry in the other woman’s voice and gave her a small smile. “I guess I’m going with him for a while.”

  “You can’t do that,” the other woman protested. “What will your mother say?”

  Kayley almost laughed. What would her mother say indeed? The demon tugged on her hand harder and his steps sped up. “Why don’t you ask my mother, Wanda?” She nodded her head sideways at the demon hoping the woman would take the hint, call her parents, and tell them what was going on. Not that she wanted her daddy to come charging to the rescue anytime soon.

  Her witch senses told her this man wasn’t a threat. And… her body told her it wanted him. Wanted him bad.

  Nope, despite the danger that might be waiting around the corner, she wanted to go with this man. She tightened her fingers around his hand and felt his start at her action. He tried to pull away, but she tightened her grip. He’d been the one to grab her hand, not the other way around.

  Wanda stopped walking, getting the hint. “Oh, okay. I’ll do that. Bye, Kayley.” She waved her hand, the motion unsure.

  Kayley turned her attention back to the man — demon — who had suddenly appeared in her life. “My name is Kayley, by the way.”

  Darkness had almost fallen and she realized she’d been in the store far longer than she’d thought. Her not-so-subtle message to Wanda would be a moot point soon anyway. When Kayley didn’t return home, her family would come looking for her. They still treated her like a child. Living at home probably didn’t help her cause for independence, but paying rent seemed silly when she had so much debt. She had no need for privacy since she didn’t have a boyfriend. And since she couldn’t use her powers for personal gain, there was little hope of her moving out any time soon.

  “Which car is yours?” The man came to an abrupt halt, scanning the almost empty parking lot. Her little sedan sat to the side. A few other cars were scattered here and there. A late model SUV she recognized as Wanda’s and a muscle car that had seen better days. It probably belonged to the stock boy.

  A few spaces down from her car was a large truck.

  “The blue one is mine.” She lifted their clasped hands to point to the sedan.

  The man made another noise and Kayley had to smother a smile. The badassed demon had just sighed. Her father didn’t like to ride in her car either. She’d bought it with her savings her freshman year in college. She’d earned the money working at the grocery store and tutoring young witches afterschool. She might not be the best spell caster around, but she knew her history and geography.

  Roark shook his head as he neared the car the woman had claimed as her own. Just his freaking luck. There was no way he was going to chase his brother in a car no bigger than a can opener. He turned toward the truck parked close to it. At this time of night not many people were out and about, which was in his favor. He knew the uproar Rafe would have caused walking down the road butt naked in broad daylight. Maybe, since it was dark out, he would have enough sense to stay in the shadows.

  Who was he kidding? Rafe wanted out of the shadows. He wanted to walk in the sunshine, free from the restraints of hell.

  For the very first time, Roark thought he understood a little of what Rafe felt. The need to break his bonds. To choose.

  His hold tightened on the witch he’d kidnapped and pulled her closer to his side. She was beautiful even with her hair a wild mess around her shoulders and several smudges of soot on her face where Rafe had held her. Her hair was more red than brown, a deep rich color. Her face was a study in beauty. Classic features of high cheekbones, full pouty lips, and wide-set eyes the color of a rain-laden sky.

  “We’re taking this one.” He stopped by the large truck and dropped her hand. For a moment, he wondered if she would take the opportunity and try to run. A part of him wanted her to — so he could chase her down. He tried the truck’s door on the off chance it would be unlocked. Much to his surprise, it was. This must be a trusting little town, he thought. In hell, you kept what was yours close and behind as many layers of spells as you could afford.

  “You can’t just steal a car.”

  Roark ignored the woman. Over the years, he’d gotten good at ignoring the high-pitched screech of a woman’s voice when she demanded something he couldn’t give her. Ice water. Freedom. Emotion. Not that Kayley’s voice was a screech. No, unfortunately for his peace of mind, it reminded him of a siren’s call.

  A call that went straight to his dick.

  “Get in.” He pulled her forward and shoved her into the driver’s seat. He tried to ignore the handful of ass as he manhandled her inside. There was no time to waste. He needed to get Rafe back before the powers-that-be realized they were missing. He hadn’t exactly been assigned the job of finding his wayward brother. Both Conroy brothers were AWOL.

  Once behind the wheel, he looked for keys. Since the door was unlocked, it made sense the owner might have left the keys inside. Flipping down the visor, he wasn’t lucky enough for the keys to fall into his lap. He dug through the fast food receipts, candy wrappers, and change in the console. Still nothing. He resigned himself to hotwiring the vehicle and was about to crawl under the dash when he heard a click and then a tinkle.

  Kayley watched as the man looked for the keys to the truck. If she wasn’t mistaken, this car belonged to Fred, the butcher, and he usually kept his keys… She popped open the glove compartment and there they were. A smile tugged at her lips when a disgruntled expression appeared on the demon’s face as she waved them in the air. “Looking for these?”

  “Yes.” There was no polite thank you, just a swift grab and the truck’s engine roared to life. She shouldn’t have been surprised. There wasn’t very much more to guys than that — a quick grab, roaring of the engine, and they were finished.

  He indicated she should unfold the map. “Tell me how to get there.”

  She studied the map and the small dot of blood. It was near the park. She told him which way to go and watched as he pulled out of the parking lot and turned down the first side street they came to. She rolled down the window to let in some fresh air. As she breathed, her senses filled with the scent of asphalt as it cooled in the autumn evening. His scent overrode the other and Kayley had no words to describe it. It was dark and powerful. Sensual and sinful

  I shouldn’t even think of him that way, she told herself firmly. That was a difficult command to follow when he sat right next to her and it was so close to All Hollow’s Eve. She felt the tingle of magic surrounding them.

  He drove slowly down the street, his eyes scanning the area. She wondered if she should tell him he’d kidnapped the wrong witch. She couldn’t scry worth a damn. The chances of his brother actually being at the park were about fifty-fifty. Now Hayley, she would definitely be the better witch for a situation like this. She could scry and find anything or anyone and she sometimes had visions when she touched something that belonged to a person. Maybe she should take him to see her sister. A sharp bolt of jealousy lanced through her at the thought even though her sister was happily married.

  “Do you have a name?
”

  “My name is Roark.”

  Roark rolled his window down and leaned back in the driver’s seat. Damn, he felt like an untried teenager as he resisted the urge to lay his arm across the back of the seat and ‘accidently’ touch the woman by his side. What he wanted to do was reach over, strip her, and lick her entire body. He wanted to pound his hand against the steering wheel in frustration. He figured he had just under twenty-four hours to get his and Rafe’s asses back to hell before, well, all hell broke loose. His erection pressed against the leather of his pants and his body clenched with pure need. Annoyance rose in him at his attraction to this woman. She was cute and cuddly. Curvy as hell. He was a tits and ass man and liked the feel of a woman with some meat on her bones beneath him as he pounded his cock inside her. This one would be soft and delicious to savor.

  He frowned when he discovered her bunched against the passenger side door, her head bent. More than a faint whiff of fear had invaded her scent.

  “I’m not going to hurt you,” he growled.

  At his words, her head snapped up. “Like you could.”

  He smiled. She had bravado, he’d give her that. “What are you going to do, cast another spell to keep me away? I don’t think that worked out so well last time, baby.”

  “Whatever.”

  He frowned, thinking of his uncontrollable urge to kiss her. Not that he needed any prompting to drag her into his arms a second time. “You didn’t seem all that surprised to see an abyss in the middle of your local grocery store.”

  She shrugged her shoulder. “It wasn’t an abyss. Just a portal.”

  “Why were you at the grocery on a Friday night?”

  “Maybe I was shopping for my husband. A husband who could be very pissed you’ve kidnapped me.”

  “I haven’t kidnapped you. I’m just borrowing you for a while.” He turned down another street, following her directions.

  “You’re not married.” Another street, another turn.