Enemy Mine

by Karin Harlow

  “Nikko,” she breathed, throwing her head back. “Payback is a bitch.” Her lush tits teased his lips. He captured a nipple and suckled her hard. She strained against him, grinding on his aching cock so fervently he lost all control. He broke free of her hands and clasped her ass, holding her immobile as he thrust into her. She leaned down and licked the indentation between his pecs. He swelled inside her as her teeth grazed the skin above his heart.

  She grabbed his hand and wrapped his fingers around several of the stones on her necklace. They flared with heat. Nikko’s body stiffened to rigid. Her tongue slid around a flat nipple and sucked. Her hand tightened around his holding the stones. Nikko’s skin burned as the slick, hot friction of his sliding in and out of her intensified. He grabbed the headboard with his free hand. His hips rose and fell furiously. When her teeth grazed along his chest, he came in a violent, primal rush.

  “Lena,” he groaned as his body jerked in and out of hers. Selena’s body twisted and shook. Her fingers dug into his shoulders and chest as she moaned and gyrated against him. His orgasm shifted into a more intense gear. He released the stones and rolled her over and rammed into her as she clung to his chest.

  Her muscles milked him, her lips clung to him, his orgasm hit the stratosphere, and in a wild spiral he released deep inside her. Long moments later, with no parachute, he plummeted back to earth. It was chaotic, violent, and remarkable. Though he did not understand what had just happened, Nikko knew the beginnings of a profound, indestructible bond had been forged.

  Selena pushed back the mass of hair in her face and turned to face him. Reaching out to him, she stroked his jawline. “Nikko,” she said, her voice hoarse.

  “Hmmm,” he said, kissing her fingertips.

  “I don’t think I can walk.”

  He laughed and rose above her. She smiled up into his eyes. “You look like a complete glutton.”

  He kissed a nipple. Her body trembled. “Guilty.” He kissed her nipple again, then drew her against him.

  “We need to talk.”

  Selena rolled her eyes. “No more relationship stuff.”

  “A different relationship.” His eyes grew serious. “Balderama is a problem. You can’t talk to him.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  He wasn’t happy when I told him about you,” Selena said.

  Nikko’s eyes closed. “Shit. You’ve already spoken to him about the auction?”

  She nodded slowly, not understanding his reaction. “He was angry. Didn’t trust you. Didn’t trust me when it came to you. Why?”

  “You’re not going to like this, love, but Balderama is as dirty as the day is long.”

  “No.” She shook her head in instinctive denial. “That can’t be …” She trusted Señor. Perhaps Nikko’s information was inaccurate. But—Señor had acted so out of character earlier. Could there be some truth to what Nikko said? With so much at stake, she would not assume anything. “Tell me everything.”

  When he did, her heart didn’t want to believe any of it. But her instincts told her every bit of it was true. Not just because she trusted Nikko and his intel above all others, but because when Señor had snapped that driver’s neck, she’d seen a side of him she never had before. And then kidnapping little Yuri Noslov—She gasped. “Nikko! He has Noslov’s son. If Señor doesn’t walk away with the cask, he’ll kill the boy.”

  Nikko sat up. “Do you know where he is?”

  Selena slid from the bed and pressed the button opening the door to her office. She grabbed her cell phone off her desk and ran back into the room. She scrolled through her videos and found the one of little Yuri. Nikko had her play and replay it, slowing each frame. Then she saw it, in the corner, the shadow of a brass-and-Spanish-tile outlet cover. “That outlet cover, Señor has them throughout his hacienda.”

  “Where is it?”

  “In the heart of Little Havana.”

  “Balderama isn’t going to return the boy alive.”

  Selena nodded. “I just realized that. I feel terrible for my part in this. I need to fix this, Nikko. We have until the auction to get to him.”

  Nikko rummaged through his shredded slacks and pulled his cell phone out. “We can safely extract him.”

  Selena slid her hand over his and squeezed. “That place is swarming with guards. I have a better idea. One you aren’t going to like.”

  Nikko’s eyes glittered with understanding. “Not that vampire?”

  “I trust Joran. Plus he has a soft spot for kids. He can get in and out before anyone knows the boy is gone.”

  Nikko’s fist tightened around the cell phone. Selena rose up and kissed his tight lips. “Be careful there, cowboy, you’re going to crush that.” Selena smiled when he didn’t respond to her. “Are you jealous, Nikko?”

  “I don’t trust any man or vampire who wants what I have.”

  She laughed. “Don’t be so caveman. Joran has been downstairs most of the evening waiting for me to come down and join him, and is probably more than a little miffed I’ve kept him waiting all this time.”

  Nikko pulled her to him and his erection speared up between them. Selena laughed again. When he frowned, she laughed harder and cupped his face between her hands. “I’m not laughing at you, Nikko, I swear. I just—you don’t have to mark me to prove I am yours. Joran knows it.”

  “He wants you.”

  “And a thousand women want you. You don’t see me pissing all over you, do you?” She pushed him away and bounced off the bed. “I’m getting a quick shower, then calling Joran, but before I do, I’ll have Amy run down to Versace and pick up something for you to wear.”

  Nikko growled, told her what size he wore, then watched her like a petulant child who had had his favorite toy taken away.

  As she hung up the phone, she looked over her shoulder at him. “Are you going to sit there and pout like a little boy or are you going to come scrub my back?”

  She ran into the bathroom when Nikko sprang off the bed; he was behind her before she could turn the water on. As it sprayed, she shrieked. It was damn cold. Nikko grinned and pulled her into the circle of his arms. He kissed her and shoved her, sputtering and fighting, under the cold spray. It was the hottest coldest shower she’d ever taken, and unfortunately over too soon.

  After she had dried off, Selena slipped a robe on and called Joran the traditional way, on the phone. Using her regular method would appear too intimate for Nikko. She didn’t want to rattle the green monster any more than she had to.

  “Selena, I was just about to come up there. What the hell is going on? This place is crawling with daemons.”

  “I had a few visitors earlier. Sounds like they brought friends. Listen, something important has come up. I need you up here now. I’ll leave my office door unlocked, just come in.”

  “I’m on my way.”

  Selena looked at Nikko, who had not moved from the doorway to the bathroom. She swallowed hard. He had wrapped a towel around his waist, which did little to hide the line of his cock or the defined muscles of his thighs. His dark hair was damp from the shower, his skin dewy, accenting his lean muscles and every dip and valley of his hard body. She could barely believe that she was his. Forever. Finally.

  “The club is chock-full of daemons tonight,” she said, tightening the slender belt of her white silk-and-linen-blend robe. “Joran is on his way up, I’m meeting him in my office. I’ll be right back.”

  “Not like that, you aren’t,” Nikko flatly said. “And not without me.”

  Selena let out a long, patient breath. She looked down at the robe. It clung delicately to her sultry skin. Her nipples were clearly outlined, as was the curve of her hips. “Fine, Nikko.” She stalked past him and changed into a flowing caftan she wore when she spent the night at the club.

  She shook her head and punched the button to the door, then slid into her office. Joran stood out on the balcony. When she heard Nikko step in behind her, Selena was about to tell him to grow a set. One look at h
is face told her something was wrong.

  “Juju,” he said, handing her the phone.

  “What the hell?” Juju never called her at the club. Never. She took the phone. “What’s wrong?”

  “Mr. Noslov is gone.”

  Selena’s belly did a slow, nauseated roll. She glanced up at Nikko. “Juju, are you sure?”

  “Yes. I went down to give him dinner. His room was empty. I looked everywhere. He isn’t here!”

  “Okay, I’ll be right there.” Selena slapped the phone shut. “Noslov is gone,” she said to Nikko.

  His features tightened. “Who knew you had him?”

  “Señor, and—” Selena looked at Joran, who stood casually at the doorway giving Nikko the stink eye. “Joran?”

  He raised an aristocratic brow and adjusted his cuff links. “I knew you had someone down there, but not who. Who is Noslov and why is he important?”

  “That’s classified information,” Nikko said.

  Selena’s desk phone buzzed. “That’s Amy.” She picked up the phone. “Bring them up and leave them on my office-door handle.” She hung up and looked at Joran. “We need your help. You are familiar with Señor Balderama’s hacienda in Little Havana?”

  “Intimately.”

  “He’s holding a two-year-old boy hostage somewhere in there. We need him extracted. Quietly and alive. Tonight. Now.”

  “So now I’m your retriever?”

  Selena stepped toward the arrogant vampire. “I don’t have time to play games, Joran. You were right about Señor. And he’s worse than even you thought. He is going to kill that little boy if his father, who has escaped from me, does not deliver some very important cargo to him within the next twenty-four hours. Please, do this for me.”

  When Joran did not acknowledge her request, Selena folded her arms over her chest. “What do you want, Joran?” Because he never did anything for free.

  “Your discretion.”

  “That’s a given,” she said, insulted that he would question her integrity.

  He nodded. “Then of course I will assist. Is there anything else on the list?”

  “Yes, have your vamps put their sonar ears to the ground and listen. Ask for any and all information about Señor and this man Noslov. If you hear anything, contact me.”

  Joran looked past her to Nikko, who had not moved. “Should I call you the regular way or on your cell?” Thankfully, Nikko didn’t take the bait.

  “I don’t care. I just want the info and that little boy safe.”

  “What do you propose I do with the child when I have him?”

  Selena looked at Nikko. Where would he be safest? “Bring him here,” Nikko said. “I know of a safe house.”

  Joran bowed. “One word of caution, Selena?”

  “What?”

  “The daemons have been rather chatty down there, and your name keeps coming up in the same sentence as Rurik’s. I don’t need to tell you that—”

  “Worry about your own ass, vampire,” Nikko said. “I’ll worry about Selena’s.”

  Joran’s eyes burned red on the edges.

  Selena tensed. Nikko was strong, but Joran was an ancient with the most powerful blood in vampiredom. Rurik. It would be no contest.

  “Your petty jealousy is misplaced, human. My interest in Selena is not reciprocated the way you think.”

  “It doesn’t have to be.”

  Joran cocked a brow and looked at Selena. She nodded and took Nikko’s hand. Joran smiled at Nikko. “Bravo. You have tamed the sleeping tiger.” Joran bowed again to Selena. “I will do as you have asked of me, Selena. It is what loyal friends do for loyal friends, is it not?”

  His meaning was not lost on her. Selena would not out Joran and his Rev enterprise. “Of course.”

  They fought the entire way to her Star Island mansion. Nikko hammered her about Joran. But Selena would not incriminate him. Joran was a lot of things, but he had always come through for her. She would not rat him out about the Rev or any intimate details of his life or business. There was no point.

  “Joran is far from a model citizen, Nikko. He breaks the law ten times a day. But he’s never forced me to do anything I didn’t want to for my own gain. Leave it at that.”

  “You’re not going to tell me?”

  “Tell you what? That he has half of southern Florida’s politicians in his pocket? That he fixes races, runs whores, and schemes criminals out of their blood money? Do you want me to tell you more or is that enough?”

  “He would turn on you if it meant saving his own skin.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. And speaking of my skin, the Order is coming after me. Do you know what that means?”

  “You have something they want, Selena, something they will barter for.” His gaze dropped to her throat.

  Relinquish her stones after what they’d cost her? She grabbed her necklace. “Never!”

  “I know how important the necklace is to you, but after we take care of your father, why not consider the trade? It may be our only chance.”

  “We’re going to keep that cask out of Apollyon’s hands, and I’m going to wipe out the last Hellkeeper and my father, the king of daemons’ BFF. If that doesn’t satisfy that bastard of a vampire, he can go to Hell, because I will fight him.”

  “Selena, that’s your anger talking. Just think about it, okay?”

  “Sure.” But she had already thought about it. The answer was the same. With the power of the necklace, she could fight and win. Without it, she was powerless.

  As the Chris-Craft docked, Selena raised her nose to the air. It was heavy with moisture, tension, and the stench of decay. The hair on the back of her neck rose. “Do you smell it?”

  Nikko’s lips tightened. His eyes flared red and his fangs flashed. “Death.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Selena ran toward her house, Nikko right beside her. A man she did not recognize lay sprawled on the granite patio. His eyes were wide open, and even in death the terror in them was palpable. She had seen the look many times. A discarded host.

  Selena moved past him to the open back door. She stopped and listened. An eerie silence hung like a death pall around them. The cloying copper scent of blood was strong. The pungent scent of sulfur was stronger.

  “Careful, Nikko, we’re not alone,” Selena whispered.

  The stones flared around her neck with wicked heat. Carefully, Selena stepped across the threshold and into a warm, sticky substance. Blood.

  She moved farther into the kitchen and stopped short. Juju lay just beyond the center island, her neck sliced to her spine. Her face bore the same terrified expression as the stranger’s on the patio.

  Instinctively, Selena moved toward her friend, but abruptly stopped. There was nothing she or any other person, mortal or otherwise, could do for her now. Selena shelved her sorrow to a place she would deal with later. Her fury, however, she allowed to gather steam.

  She looked toward the doorway leading to the large Florida room off the dining room. Inclining her head toward it, to tell Nikko to follow her, Selena drew her swords and stealthily made her way through it.

  Abruptly, she stopped. Balderama’s scent, though faint, whiffed in the heavy air. Her heart pounded furiously against her rib cage. Was it a remnant from before, or had he come for Noslov? Her skin flinched. If he had, then he no longer trusted her, and if he no longer trusted her, the cask could end up in dangerous hands.

  Selena turned and handed Nikko one of her swords.

  “I smell daemon,” he breathed, shadowing her.

  A Hellkeeper—and one with the power to cross water, albeit in a host.

  Vetis.

  Trepidation ran neck and neck with excitement. Vetis was the Keeper of the Seventh Hell; only the princes and the king were more powerful. Both his power and the seventh stone were within her grasp!

  Here, in her home, waiting for her.

  Every sense alert, Selena moved down the short hall and into the Florida room. She cleared i
t, then moved to the dining room. Clear. As she approached the living room, two heartbeats reverberated around her. One the erratic staccato of a terrified human. The other the arrogant thud of a Hellkeeper.

  Her eyes adjusted to the dim light. Her own heart stuttered a beat as her gaze lifted toward the ceiling. Bound and gagged, hanging from the chandelier, his eyes wide with fear, was Noslov. His eyes widened further as he spotted her and Nikko and … something behind them?

  “Behind you!” Selena called to Nikko as she catapulted into the room. As she turned in midair, the daemon hurled Nikko straight at her. Nikko’s body slammed into her, the impact sending them both careening through the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the waterway.

  They hit the concrete retaining wall, busting through it, then tumbled down the slope into the water.

  Selena turned over, pushing Nikko behind her. The stones flared as she rose and faced Vetis.

  He was a ghoulish sight. His distorted human face and muscled body were overblown and chunky, like a villainous superhero’s. His deformed fist pointed a glowing, spiked devil sword at her chest. The short, sharp horns protruding from his forehead flared red hot.

  Lightning quick, the daemon reached past her and plucked Nikko from the water. “Give me the necklace,” Vetis hissed, hovering above her, careful not to touch the water. His spiked sword dug into Nikko’s neck. Blood dripped in slow, thick rivulets onto Nikko’s shirt.

  “Release him, and I may consider it,” Selena bargained.

  Vetis hissed in fury, “I will not bargain with you!” He flung Nikko back into the water and brought his sword down on hers, forcing her to spin. He grabbed her by the throat and yanked her up against his chest, her arms dangling. Hissing his sulfur breath against her ear, he jabbed the sharp, serrated tip of his sword into her neck.

  The copper scent of her blood, mingled with Nikko’s, wafted around her nostrils. Her vision blurred as violent rage consumed her.

  Selena twisted and with her empty left hand grabbed the blade of Vetis’s sword. As she did, she swung her own sword up behind her and into his back. The daemon screeched in rage. But he did not release her. Her hand was cut nearly in half from grabbing his sword, but she dug her own sword deeper into his body like a shish kebab. He screamed in rage and flung her away from him.