by Kay, Sharon
She yanked her arm away and took a step back, glaring at him. “What is your problem, Kai? I’ve been working my ass off, putting in twelve-hour days! If I had time for a date, why would I end up here at the end of the night? And what the hell business is it of yours anyway?” She practically spat out the last words.
He took a step closer. His brown eyes took on a dark amber glow. “It’s our business because you’re vulnerable. You may be a Solsti, but you’ve got a lot to learn. We keep you safe, and that means we get to know your shit. You don’t get to fuck whoever you want, Sprite.”
Gasping in shock, she flung the sword to the floor. She knew her mouth was hanging open again. Fury raced through her blood and she reacted without thinking. “You don’t own me! I’m not fucking anyone!” She swung her leg up in a high arc, aiming for his ribs.
Still anticipating the satisfying crack of bone, her back hit the mats with a thud. Her breath gone in a whoosh, she looked up into the amber luster of Kai’s eyes. In the fraction of a second it took her to breathe, he pinned her beneath his muscular body, her arms held above her head by one of his hands.
He leaned down until only inches separated them. “Good,” he growled, and he covered her mouth with his.
Her words of protest died. Every reason why this was a bad idea fled her mind. The little sparks she felt when their arms had brushed were nothing compared to the sensation of his lips. At once soft and demanding, she was conscious of only one thought. More.
His kiss was like embers falling on dry leaves. Desire shot through her blood, igniting every cell, chasing away every thought that didn’t involve getting his body as close to hers as possible. Her skin grew warm as he nudged her lips apart. She opened without hesitation, welcoming the insistent thrust of his tongue deep in her mouth. He flicked the roof of her mouth and she gasped at his teasing intensity. But he stole her breath, drawing in the tiny moan that escaped as he slanted her mouth under his.
She slid her tongue along his, her body going completely pliant under his skillful kiss. He tasted like the darkest red wine, earthy and oaky. She sucked his tongue as heat uncoiled deep in her belly. Wiggling under his weight, she attempted to free her hands.
He released her wrists, only to clamp his hand firmly on her hip, sending a fresh wave of fire through her body. She needed to touch him everywhere. Her hands flew to his bare broad shoulders, squeezing him, learning his muscles. She caressed his neck, trailing one hand up into his thick soft hair. She had wanted to do that ever since she first laid eyes on him. Knotting her hand in his hair, she sucked his lower lip into her mouth and nipped him gently. More.
He rumbled his approval, and his free hand slid up her side, caressing her ribs. The scoundrel stopped maddeningly short of her breast. The heat from his hand seared through her thin tank top, stoking her need higher. Her nipples tightened and she gripped his shoulders, pushing him, wanting more control, but it was like trying to move a boulder.
He wasn’t done claiming her mouth. His tongue plunged deeper, thrusting, hinting at more. His scent of leather surrounded her. She arched her back, pressing her breasts against him.
She pushed again, and he rolled them over as one. His hands slid down her back, over her hips, to cup her ass. He locked her against him, and she gasped as she felt the hard steel of his cock nudging her belly. And her mound. My God, he’s huge.
His hands on her bottom felt so good, massaging her and driving her crazy. She felt a rush of liquid heat between her legs, knew he’d feel it through her thin yoga pants if he touched her there. He kissed her senseless, her lips covered in tiny dancing sparks of crazy desire. Her whole body tingled and ached, on fire with need. More.
She couldn’t wait any longer. Her breasts were swollen, nipples pouting for his touch, the ache deep in her belly turning painful. Reaching back, she grabbed one of his hands and brought it to her breast.
He groaned into her mouth and flipped them over again, settling between her legs. She whimpered as her hips cradled his raging erection. God, he feels so good. She arched into him again, her body set on one goal.
He cupped her breast and released it, only to slide his hand under the edge of her tank top. Skimming up her bare stomach to her sports bra, he palmed her over the fabric and she sucked in a breath. Teasingly, he traced his fingers along the bottom edge, then slid one just under the elastic band. He dragged it back and forth, making her moan.
As if reading her mind, he shoved her bra up, freeing her breasts. The cool air and the friction from the fabric made her nipples even harder. His warm hand covered her, tenderly caressing her sensitive flesh, and when he dragged his thumb slowly across her straining nipple, she cried out in pleasure.
His mouth left hers, trailing a line of fiery kisses along her neck. When he got to the tender spot where her neck flowed into her shoulder, he licked her skin and scraped it with his teeth. A needy sound escaped her throat at the sharp pinch. Do demons bite? At this moment, she was ready to find out. She’d be breakfast, lunch, and dinner if he wanted.
Urgent pangs of need coursed through her body. She grasped his shoulders, sliding her hands down, digging her fingers into his biceps. His muscles flared under her touch. She moved her hands to his narrow waist and finely sculpted ass, eliciting another groan from him.
His thumb flicked over her nipple again, and when he tugged it gently between his fingers, every nerve ending in her body surged, ready to explode. She moaned and writhed beneath him, needing him to do it again. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she lifted her hips to rub her throbbing sex against him. Right there.
He groaned into her neck, and his hand moved to her neglected breast. His talented fingers teased her nipple to an aching, hard peak. She felt crazy, out of control, needing to feel more of his skin.
Moving her hands to the waistband of his sweatpants, she slid her fingers under the edge. His sharp intake of breath let her know how much she affected him, and her body flushed anew with feminine power. She kept going. Then it was her turn to gasp in pleasure as she roamed his hot skin, finding he wore nothing underneath.
Losing the last shreds of control, she gripped his ass and rocked against him. She could come like this. God, yes. His scent, his taste, his rugged body above her all pulled her into a dizzy, hazy place where all she knew was pleasure.
Evidently he felt the same. “God, Sprite, I need to be inside you.” His voice was rough with need. One hand dropped to the waistband of her pants, gripping the soft fabric to tug them down.
She gasped and her eyes flew open. Sprite? His words doused her ardor like a bucket of icy water.
She stared up at him in shock before scooting backward on the blue mats. She blinked. What on Earth is wrong with me? She had just rocketed past second base with a guy who barely said one nice word to her. Was she that desperate?
“Brooke?” His eyes glowed a dark honey color as he sat back on his knees. He still looked like he wanted to devour her.
Heat rose in her cheeks as she yanked her bra back into place and jumped up. “This was a mistake.” She took a step back, her breath ragged.
“Brooke, wait—”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. A flicker of regret crossed his face before he schooled his features into a stony mask. Mortified, she darted from the room.
Her dash up the basement steps and through the house couldn’t go fast enough, and a wave of relief crashed over her when she reached her room. She slammed the door shut and leaned against it, her breath coming in shuddering gasps. Thank God I didn’t run into anyone else. Her unhinged state would be tough to explain.
She was shell-shocked by her body’s incendiary reaction to Kai. She showered and climbed into bed, trying to think of anything but him. It was a losing battle. Lying alone only amplified the memory of his weight pressing her down, his scent enticing her nose, his taste on her tongue. Shit. How could one kiss send her spinning so far out of control?
CHAPTER 5
KAI RACED ALONG ROOFT
OPS ON the city’s south side, looking for anything to take Brooke off his mind. On edge, his blood spiking with aggression, he’d never been more ready to pound a wayward demon into dust. He’d search the entire city until he found one.
He hadn’t intended to touch her tonight. When he smelled the other male on her skin, he snapped. Something primal in him roared to life, and he could think of nothing but marking her with his scent. And with her lush curves pinned beneath him, his dick straining against his pants, all he wanted was to bury himself balls-deep inside her. He fully expected her to slap him when he bent to kiss her. But she didn’t.
Nothing could have prepared him for the burning jolt of her response. Her muscles melting into his, soft hands exploring as she eagerly returned his kiss, had felt so right. So good. Those breathy little moans and the scent of her arousal…it had taken all his strength not to strip her naked in two seconds flat.
A low growl rose in his throat as he remembered her horrified stare. What the fuck? Her pleasure was obvious. He would have grinned smugly to himself, remembering how she urgently guided his hand to her breast. But his mood was a million miles away from smiling.
He paused atop a derelict high-rise next to the expressway. Most of the units were vacant, as the city was trying to disperse the residents from its public housing projects. The buildings were havens for crime. Kai drew a deep breath and gritted his teeth. No supernatural creatures hung around this neighborhood tonight.
He sped north to investigate some industrial areas. Chicago had its own island, which for years had been home to factories. It now contained some restaurants, breweries, and new condos, but it still had its share of grit. He kept to the rooftops, where it was easier to maintain his pace.
Goose Island came into view, a scattering of lights bordered by the dark water of the river. No souls walked the streets at this hour. He dropped down to the concrete of Halsted Street and darted over the iron bridge. The Chicago River smelled particularly pungent tonight.
He paused when his feet touched the dirt of the island, all of his enhanced senses on alert. The air thickened with foreboding. Kai inhaled deeply and stilled. He shook his head. What the fuck? He breathed in again, confirming his suspicion. The incongruous mixture of stagnant water and burned chocolate was too distinct to be anything else. Somewhere nearby, a Neshi demon lurked.
Detecting nothing but rats and other city vermin, he ran to the nearest warehouse and vaulted to the top. The Neshi scent was weaker here, and from this vantage point nothing looked out of place. He returned to the river where the scent was stronger.
Fucking Neshis. He’d never heard of one on Earth. In addition to their extra limbs and unusual skin color, they had huge gaping mouths with two rows of razor sharp teeth. Between that and their large black eyes and pointed ears, they would strike rabid terror among humans.
In a methodical pattern, he covered the small island but found no supernatural creatures. Either whoever brought the Neshi here took it back home to Torth, or it had disappeared in the river. Good swimmers, Neshis could hold their breath for up to an hour. Kai swore and pulled out his cell phone to call Rhys. If this thing prowled anywhere in the city, they needed to find it. Now.
He crossed the bridge to search the other bank, scrutinizing the ground at the water’s edge when he heard Rhys’ Escalade pull up. Jogging back south, he saw Rhys and Brenin step out, pause, and scowl. He heard their line of foul curses even though he was half a mile up river. Gunnar jogged up behind him, having been on patrol on the north side of the city.
Rhys’ dark eyes flashed a whiskey glow. “A Neshi? What the fuck is going on?”
“We gotta find this thing. Let’s spread out,” Gunnar ordered. “Kai, you search the north branch of the river. Brenin, you take the south branch. I’ll follow the stem that flows east into the Loop, and Rhys, run a patrol out to Austin just in case this thing’s on land. We can regroup later.”
Night stretched into dawn that broke serenely over Lake Michigan, and they’d found no sign of the Neshi. In the light of day, the chance of seeing it grew slim. Neshis were dumb, but not dumb enough to stroll down State Street with the working-and-shopping crowd. Also complicating matters, daylight restricted the demons’ movements. Conscious of the teeming numbers of humans in the city, they didn’t travel the rooftops or vault to the upper floors of buildings.
The search continued into the late morning, when they halted the search and headed back to the house in Evanston. The Neshi either traveled a great distance under water and left the city proper, or it had left Earth. The trail was cold.
When darkness fell, they covered the city again. Kai chose to patrol the north side and made his usual stop at Brooke’s condo. He hadn’t seen her since their awkward parting in the training room. Nicole had only told him that Brooke left early for work.
Kai crouched on her roof and sniffed the air. Traces of her lilac scent lingered, but not the fragrant burst that indicated her presence. He looked at his phone and scowled at the late hour. Where is she? Does she have a date? Any male who touches her is gonna lose his fucking hands.
He groaned at his thoughts. The Lash demons had a huge problem and he was getting his shorts in a wad over Brooke’s extracurricular activities. He needed to focus. He growled and leapt to the next rooftop, deciding to visit her office. She’d been working a lot lately. Maybe she was still there. Her office fell into his search territory tonight. Just a quick check and he’d move on.
Brooke stared bleary-eyed at her computer screen for the fifteenth hour of her workday. Her co-workers left a couple hours ago. Charles made her promise to leave fifteen minutes after he did, but she got wrapped up in the subtle shadings of her latest project. The client wanted an unusual blend of pastels, so she tinkered with her computerized sketch until she was satisfied.
Now it was almost midnight. She sighed and rubbed her temples. She may as well start her own design firm if she was going to put this much time in. Gathering her things, she left, inhaling the cool air as she walked outside. But the air wasn’t fresh. It held a hint of mold. She wrinkled her nose and shook her head. Am I imagining this? She focused on the El platform two blocks away and broke into her fastest walk.
A tingle shot up her spine as a malevolent hiss escaped a nearby alley. She upped her pace to a jog. She didn’t want to think about what might be hissing in the middle of the city.
Behind her, a rush of air and a grunt sent prickles of dread scuttling across her skin. She whirled, her body surging with adrenaline. Her instinct to fight kicked into overdrive. Whoever was there was about to meet the hard edge of her heeled boots. But the sight before her stopped her cold.
A monstrous creature stared at her from the mouth of the alley. It was the size of a man, but its skin held a dull orange-red luster, and its flesh resembled scales. She blinked, counting its limbs. It had…four arms.
Four arms. Orange skin. Neshi.
No, no, no. This can’t be happening!
Brooke’s feet refused to move as the creature stared at her. This thing’s physiology made it difficult for even the fierce Lash demons to kill. How the heck was she supposed to fight it? She didn’t walk around with one of those dangerous Neshi knives in her bag.
She reached for her water bottle, desperately wishing Nicole was here. Then they could at least try to pierce the demon’s skin with a spear of ice. For all she knew, this thing loved water.
Drops flew into the night air as she jerked her bottle upward. She focused on the glistening beads, stretching and multiplying them into an airborne stream. With all the force she could muster, she blasted the water into its eyes.
The Neshi let out a loud grunt and took a step back. It shook its head and blinked rapidly, then growled. Black eyes gleamed wickedly as its mouth curved into a grin, revealing hundreds of teeth.
Oh, shit. Brooke turned and bolted toward the El platform, which was still a block away. She wasn’t sure what she would do if it followed her up there. Maybe push it
onto the third rail.
She managed to run all of ten feet before two of its musty-smelling arms clamped around her torso, dragging her back against its scaly skin. She screamed into the deserted street, heart crashing in her chest. Her hair snagged on its rough, scaly skin as she strained against its vise-like grip. It chuckled and pulled her back into the alley, a line of drool dripping onto her shoulder from its open mouth.
In full panic mode, her arms and legs flailed wildly. She screamed again, and the demon clamped a third hand over her mouth. She kicked backward, slamming her heels into its legs, but it didn’t seem to notice.
Tears streamed down her face. Yep, worthless talent. Some legend she turned out to be. She was going to die in an alley, dinner for a creature that shouldn’t even exist.
A fierce, guttural roar pierced the air. The Neshi turned toward the sound with Brooke still gripped tight against its chest. She spied a figure silhouetted at the mouth of the alley, the streetlight behind him keeping his face in shadows. But she recognized those broad shoulders, and the eyes that flared with a dangerous dark-gold light.
Kai.
She tried to scream his name, but the Neshi kept its hand firmly over her mouth. Silver flashed as the Neshi used its fourth arm to produce a huge sword. It must have been strapped to its back. Her relief at seeing Kai was cut short as the Neshi tightened its grip on her.
It advanced on Kai, who snarled something in a language she didn’t understand. Dear God. With all those arms, it could fight Kai and hold onto her at the same time. Or use her as a shield.
She couldn’t get free of this thing on her own. Please, let Kai have a plan. She hated feeling helpless, but she had to trust him. Pinning her eyes on Kai, she stopped struggling. Maybe it would drop her and fight him instead.
