by Amber Kallyn
“I’m a bounty hunter for the Council.”
Startled, Bree met his gaze. “You?”
He nodded.
Swallowing thickly, Bree asked, “You didn’t answer what it has to do with me, specifically.”
“My sister and her husband, as well as my older brother Garreth, have been tracking down information about this mage. Calla recently found out this guy is after someone in your band. Unfortunately, Garreth’s away on his honeymoon, so I got dragged into the middle of this mess.”
She tried swallowing again, but her throat was too dry. “Who are they after?”
“Don’t know. That’s one of the problems. Like Calla said, tonight’s fire was arson. It was probably meant to be a distraction so the master, or his minions, could abduct whoever they’re after.”
“Minions? Like the dragon you fought?”
His eyes lightened, the blue fading to the color of the sky at noon. “You saw us?”
Bree nodded.
“The master has many creatures under his control. Some willingly, some forced. All are dangerous to reckon with.”
She couldn’t speak, thinking about the cloaked figure in the fire. Of Kari’s reaction, smelling something evil.
Bree played with her shot glass, wanting to get up and do something about this guy, yet, not sure what she could do.
Ty cleared his throat, leaned closer to capture her hands. “I will figure this out.”
Bree met his gaze. So confident, as if he’d never been denied anything in his life. “How do you know?”
“Because I won’t let anything else happen.”
She snorted. “What, are you a god now? ’Cause this whole situation seems out of control.”
Ty’s fingers slid between hers and tugged. Bree resisted. “I promise, I’ll do everything I can to keep your friends safe.”
“Yeah.” She pulled her hand back and gulped the rest of her drink.
Safe.
He’d know all about that, with his upbringing.
But her... not so much.
It was a big world, just waiting to eat someone up.
And that was before you threw in evil magicians. Bitterness boiled up her throat and she couldn’t stop from demanding hoarsely, “And when have you ever lost anything? With your tight-knit family, the warmth between you guys. What do you know about trying to stay safe at all?”
Ty’s eyes narrowed. He jerked to his feet, his chair almost falling over, then pulled the seat closer to Bree’s side. He sat back down, invading her space.
The air roiled with his anger.
Grabbing her hand once more, he pulled it to him. Bree met his whitened gaze. “I know loss. Too much of it. There have been many relationships I’ve tried to hold onto. But they fell through my fingers as if sand. How about my mother? Killed, not by the mage’s hand, but at his direction. And to top it off, the one who killed her was my own brother. So don’t tell me my life, my family, is this cheery little circle of light and safety. Just because life did not start out hard for me does not mean I don’t know of the darkness out there waiting for the unsuspecting.”
Her anger fled as abruptly as it had arrived. She gripped his hand. “Your brother killed your mom?”
He nodded sharply.
Her heart hurt for what he must’ve gone through. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean… Well. It doesn’t matter.”
“When I tell you I will do everything I can to keep you and yours safe, it’s not a light promise, all right?” he asked.
Bree nodded.
“Now.” Ty shook his head as if reburying memories. “Tell me something about you.”
The waiter wandered by, refilling their glasses. Bree half-wanted to scoot away from Ty’s powerful presence, but she didn’t. Agonized fury still lingered in his once more blue gaze. For some reason, the urge to soothe him filled her.
The urge to protect him.
Her hand shook as she took a sip. “I don’t know what to say.”
“When did you figure out you weren’t human?”
She shrugged. “Puberty. I accidentally set one of my foster homes on fire ’cause another kid pissed me off. Luckily, the report claimed it had been faulty wiring, since they couldn’t find any trace of arson.”
Ty snorted, his lips curling into the shadow of a grin.
“I got shipped back to the orphanage pretty fast. Rumors followed, so that’s where I ended up staying until I ran away at sixteen. A few years ago, I found Rick, and he kind of took me in—got me this job with the band. Helped me learn a little about what I was.”
“He loves you,” Ty said softly.
Bree’s eyes widened as something warm spread through her. “He’s… well, he’s a friend.”
“Everyone needs some of those.”
She pulled her hand from his grasp, this time from self-preservation as the heat tingling up her arm made her all too aware of his maleness.
“What about you?” she asked, once more playing with her glass.
“You’re partly right. Growing up I had it soft, easy. Not that my parents didn’t make us work our butts off. My mom was a stickler for propriety and us boys being gentlemen.”
“How’d you become a bounty hunter?” She tried to direct him from the topic that caused him to tense and sadness to come back to his eyes.
“I’m not cut out for one place. I didn’t want to settle down with the whole two-point-five kids and picket fence. Not only do I get to catch bad guys, but I get to travel.”
“Don’t you ever get lonely?” She did. All the time.
With each new city the band toured, they were surrounded by strangers. And they never stayed in any one place long enough to get to know anyone.
The only people she really knew were the band members, and only a few were aware of what she really was. Secrets made it hard to develop any sort of relationship.
Which was for the best, Bree reminded herself.
“Sometimes. But my family is here, and I know I’ll always be welcome.”
“Such a thing must be nice,” she murmured.
He traced his fingers over her knee, up her thigh, his eyes brightening with growing desire. “Why haven’t you settled down?”
“It’s not for me. Like you said earlier, I’ve never been interested in the kids and yard thing either.” Which wasn’t exactly true. It was more a question of how could one know if they wanted something, when they’d never really experienced it before?
“We’re two of a kind, then, aren’t we?” He leaned closer, brushing his lips against hers.
Bree inhaled, his spicy sent sending shocks all the way down to her toes.
She needed to concentrate on the others. “What about the band members? They’re still at the stadium—”
Ty shook his head. “Calla’s rounding them up to stay at her place.”
Bree froze. “And where am I staying?”
Ty’s wide lips stretched crookedly as he waggled his eyebrows up and down. “Why, darlin’, you can stay with me.” He clasped her hand and the heat, a slow burn during dinner, flared to life.
She froze. Something about this man sent up red flags. He was way too easy to talk with. Too understanding.
Too damn sexy, making her lust burn out of control. And yet... Perhaps, just this once, she should let go.
Give into this siren call. Enjoy him for the short time she’d be here.
Bree gave a second’s thought to arguing anyway as should be proper, but she’d never in her life claimed to be proper. “All right.”
Chapter Ten
Ty led her into a small house, the perfect bachelor pad with room for growth. Unsure where such a thought had come from, Bree glanced over the sparse, masculine decor.
His gaze burned her, the desire in his eyes making her tremble in need. Thankfully he didn’t bother with niceties, just led her down a dark hall and opened a door to his bedroom.
In gorgeous fall colors of reds and browns, it definitely fit him.
&
nbsp; “Not much for feminine decorations?” she asked.
He grinned. “Like I said, relationships aren’t my cup of tea. I’m not much good at ’em, and there’s not been a woman around long enough to try to restyle my taste.”
In the center of the far wall, an immense, oversized bed took up a good part of the room.
Ty drew her into his arms, whispering a kiss along her cheek. “I’d offer you the guest room, but it’s pretty dusty. Doesn’t get used much.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she touched her lips to his. “I’m fine right here.”
“Good. ’Cause even if you took the spare room, I’d just join you there.”
Bree laughed, able to relax a tiny bit. She’d be back on the road in just a few days, travelling with the band to their next venue up in Washington. She’d never see this man, this dragon, ever again. Bree never lived for tomorrow, for no one knew what it would hold. Her motto was to make the best of now. And this man holding her was beyond the best.
What was it about him? She didn’t know—magic or hormones.
She didn’t care. Not now. She would take her fun while it lasted, make memories to hold her warm during cold, lonely nights she was used to.
Stepping back, Bree ran her hands down his shoulders
His pecs flexed beneath her palms. At his waist, she tugged his shirt from his pants and drew it over his head. His naked torso took her breath away. Not too muscular, more like a jungle cat—hidden power just beneath the surface.
Slowly, ever so slowly as to savor the moment, Bree licked his lips, dipping into his mouth. She kissed down his chin and along his angular jaw. He groaned. At his neck, she licked along his jugular, nipping and sucking the skin, only to place small kisses on each reddened spot.
Ty pulled her closer.
His salty smoky taste made her hotter, the throbbing between her legs ache for release. But the blazing heat did not control her—she controlled it. For she was fire.
Bree moved down his chest, sucking at his skin, then moved to a strawberry colored nipple. Swirling her tongue around the small pebble of skin, Bree drew out the pleasure. She lapped at him, licking his nipple before sucking on it.
Ty grasped her shoulders, his grip almost painful. He let out a deep groan of satisfaction, spurring her on.
Moving to his other nipple, she offered it the same mixed treatment of teeth and tongue.
Her hands slid down his sides, over his six-pack abs and the trail of blond hair running down the center to disappear into his jeans. Bree traced that trail with her mouth, reaching to unsnap the button. She tugged his pants down.
His cock, unbound by underwear, sprung out, twitching as if trying to claim her attention.
Ty gripped her shoulders. “Lovey, as much as I’m enjoying this, I’m sweaty, dirty and covered in smoke. I think we best take it to the shower.” He winked.
Bree stood and stepped back while he shucked his shoes and remaining clothes. Standing naked and proudly at attention in front of her, Ty grinned.
The man didn’t have a single self-conscious bone in his depraved body.
He stepped to her side, circling behind her. His hands drifted over her back, down to her waist. He tugged her shirt over her head and unclasped her bra, but didn’t push it off. Arms encircling her, Ty undid her jeans and pulled them down.
She glanced over her shoulder. The man knelt on the floor, staring at her ass. A pert, mischievous spirit filled her. “Like what you see?”
Ty spanned his hands over her cheeks and placed a kiss at the top of one hip. “Do I? Your ass is luscious woman. I like the tat, too.”
That one she’d gotten at sixteen, right after mastering the basics of controlling her power. A wave of flames crossed her lower back, colorful butterflies fluttering above the field of fire.
Ty leaned forward, licking along her tramp stamp, kissing each of the four butterflies.
He rose, his cock pressing against her, so hot, so hard.
Kicking off her shoes and pants, Bree turned in the circle of his arms, facing the man who made her burn with such intensity.
“I’m not done yet,” he whispered against her mouth. Fingers tugged at the clips holding her hair unbound. He plucked the last one out and her hair cascaded freely, reaching halfway down her back.
“Doggone it, woman,” he exclaimed, running his hands through her wavy locks. “How do you get so much hair in such a tiny little bun?”
“Practice,” she replied with a grin.
He smiled, his light whitish-blue gaze, amused. “What else are you hiding?”
“Guess you’ll just have to figure that out.”
He cupped her breasts, still covered by the bra. “Then I better get started.”
He slid one strap down her shoulder, kissing the top of her breast while lightly pinching her nipple through the silky cloth. Slowly, he drew the bra off, uncovering her breasts completely. She barely felt the coolness of the air.
The bra dropped to the floor as Ty gazed at her chest almost reverently. “I’m an ass man, but, lovey, your breasts are beautiful.”
Warmth crawled up her face, staining her cheeks. “You’re such a guy. I’m not sure if I should thank you, or remind you I have a mind, too.”
Ty finally lifted his gaze from her chest to stare into her eyes. “Oh, I know that. Your mind is the most beautiful thing of all.”
Bree laughed. “Corny, much?”
“Maybe a little. But admit it, you like it.”
“Maybe a little,” she repeated.
Bree followed him to the shower. His products were all manly, which was nice. Obviously, women didn’t shower over here often. His men’s 2-in-1 shampoo was going to kill her hair though.
They washed themselves and each other, the desire building, growing to nearly uncontrollable proportions. His hands touched her everywhere, quick caresses in the guise of helping her wash. She played with him in kind, cupping his balls and stroking his cock as she lathered him with soap.
His hips bucked and he groaned, his eyes almost completely white, burning her with the power of his desire. Ty grabbed her, pulling her beneath the spray.
As the suds melted from her body, his mouth was on her too-sensitive skin. He licked her nipples, suckling each one. His hands cupped her waist, sliding to knead her ass.
Pushing her against the wall, Ty licked down her belly, eased her legs apart, and sucked her clit. His hand drifted forward to slide along her flesh.
His tongue flicked her clit as he nibbled and sucked. He slid a finger inside her, reaching deep and curving over her g-spot.
Bree let her head fall back against the tile. Her lips parted as low moans escaped.
Ty pushed her thighs further apart and licked along her entrance, then slid his hot tongue inside her sheath. Her breath quickened as his thumb moved over her clit in hard, jerky movements, and his tongue eased in and out.
Her legs quivered as the pressure built. She clutched his shoulders tight. Fire spread through her veins, electric, hot, powerful. His mouth, loving her so sweetly, pushed her high, higher. She floated above it all, enjoying the sensations.
His teeth and the scruff on his jaw rasped against her, his tongue plunged in and out, his hand tweaking and rubbing her clit.
She fell, screaming her release into the echoing shower, her pussy quivering and spasming. As the orgasm ripped through her, Ty rose and spun her around.
Facing the tiles, she braced her arms above her head, as he drew close behind her, his hard, huge cock sliding along her sheath from behind.
Ty dipped his fingers into her wetness, rubbing her juices along his cock. Gripping her hips, he pulled them back. Bree arched her back, pushing against his groin as his cock slid into her so deliciously.
His length stretched her, making her shiver. Still he pushed forward, sliding deeper until she couldn’t take anymore of the overpowering feelings. Yet, he still eased deeper.
“Gods,” she cried.
“Tak
e me, all of me,” he whispered huskily.
Ty pulled her hips back further, one hand pushing down on her lower back. Bree bent over further, only his hands and the tile wall keeping her trembling legs from giving out.
His cock pushed deeper still and he let out a heavy groan. Then his balls hit her clit.
Bree whimpered as he eased out, the pressure dissipating. She moved back, taking him in, greedy for more.
She loved the way his groin fit snugly against her as he rammed into her. She wiggled, her pussy gripping his length. He slid deeper, then drew out at an even pace. Reaching around her hips, he found her clit. She jumped as he squeezed the nub, rocking back and forth.
“Don’t worry, lovey. I’ll give you what you want,” he said huskily.
She refused to wait. Pushing against the wall, she took him deep, easing forward only to jerk back quickly.
He let her dictate the pace while he tugged her clit, pinching the soft flesh lightly.
She moaned, panting heavily. She jerked forward, then rammed back.
He took over once more, grasping her hips, holding her still. Then he plunged deep before drawing out, slowly, teasing.
“Faster,” Bree growled.
“Maybe,” Ty replied, laughing.
She moaned, needy, her hips jerking back, demanding more, as her nails scraped the tiled wall.
Bree clenched around him, enjoying his groan of delight. The heat built, bringing her to the brink again.
His pace quickened and the climax spread through her, liquid heat.
He groaned, the sound joining with her own cries as the fire rushed through her body.
She spasmed around his length as he continued to plunge inside.
Then he shouted out, his cock pulsing.
Still, he fucked her, his movements jerky and quick, sliding in, out, slamming back in. Deep, deeper, her clenching sheath drawing him in.
The climax crashing through her pushed her further and further over the edge until she screamed her pleasure once more.
“Oh, lovey. Yes,” he shouted, his hands rushing over her back and ass, his cock still filling her, stretching her, even as she spasmed around him.
Stupefied, Bree could only ride the waves of ecstasy as they swamped her body, making her nerves sing, her toes curl.
