Shiela Stewart - [Darkness 07]

by Consuming the Darkness (epub)

  Grabbing her cell phone to call for food, Sienna groaned at the knock on the door. All she wanted was ten minutes alone, to de-stress. It was probably creepy Mr. Hadley again asking if he could help her unpack. God the guy gave her the willies. With a great deal of reluctance, she trudged to the door. Yanking it open, she was surprised to see Nathan on the other side.

  And he held a large box of pizza that teased her hunger.

  “Hey. Have you eaten yet?”

  Her mouth watered and it wasn’t entirely from the scent of the pizza. How did he always manage to smell so damn good? Even above the spicy pepperoni, cheese and onions she could smell his cologne. “I was just about to order something.”

  “And now you don’t have to. Oh hey, cutie.”

  Sienna glanced down to see Daisy sitting by her feet, her little white tail wagging like crazy, and another one of Sienna’s shoes in her mouth. “Damn it, Daisy. Enough with my shoes.” Yanking it from the puppy’s mouth, Sienna tossed it toward the bedroom.

  “She chewing up your shoes?” Nathan asked as he boldly entered her apartment and set the pizza on her counter.

  “Yeah. And if it’s not my shoes it’s something else she’s chewing on.” She closed the apartment door, her hunger getting the best of her.

  “She must be teething. You should get her some puppy chew toys and some soft bones. That should keep her away from your shoes. Isn’t that right, girl?” He knelt down to scratch Daisy’s head and of course, the dog loved it.”

  “I’ll look into that.” She hadn’t thought about dog toys.

  “Trust me, it’ll do wonders and save you some cash in the long run.” He got to his feet. “I hope you like loaded?” He took out a slice of steaming hot pizza for himself.

  “I’m not a fan of pineapples and peppers but I can pick them out. Why are you here, Nathan?” She scooped up a slice for herself and the instant it touched her mouth she was in heaven. Food that didn’t come in a bag.

  “You wanted this.” Licking his fingers, he grabbed a rolled up piece of paper from his back pocket and held it out to her. “The composite of the killer. It’s rough.”

  She dropped her slice of pizza back in the box, then licking her own fingers clean, she took the roll of paper. Opening it, she could see what he meant by rough. “Who drew this?” It looked as if a teenager had drawn it from a comic book’s character.

  “I did. I know, I need to work on my drawing but you get the point of it,” he mumbled through the pizza in his mouth. “When I gave my description to the sketch artist he laughed at me and told me I must have been hit on the head harder than they thought. Since it wasn’t in the report you got from my department I’m guessing they never took me seriously.”

  “Are these horns on his head?” Two sets to be exact, back to back on either side of his head protruding out to the side. Along with the horns was a bumpy face resembling someone with severe acne, long bushy hair and thin slits for eyes. It was an interesting composite, if it was accurate.

  “Some sort of growth, I’m guessing. Same as his face. I imagine it wasn’t easy growing up like that.”

  Sienna glanced in his direction. Was he for real? This was obviously a demon. “You do know he isn’t human, right?”

  Nathan finished off his slice and made busy work of devouring another. “Oh sure,” he snorted, then bit into the slice in his hand.

  He still didn’t see what was right before his face. She’d thought after seeing the vamp he would figure out this wasn’t a normal city. “You still don’t get it. This,” she held up the crude sketch, “is a demon, though I’m not sure what race.”

  “Sure he is,” he snickered and finished off his pizza. “Got anything to drink?”

  She walked to the fridge, grabbed two beers, and handed one to him. “You seriously believe those are growths on his head and face?”

  “Well, he certainly isn’t a demon.”

  Sienna knew the only way to get him to believe was to show him. She took the beer out of his hand before he had a chance to open it.

  “Hey…”

  “You can get a beer where we’re going.” Grabbing her keys, Sienna headed to the door.

  “Where are we going?” Nathan asked as he went after her.

  “To a club.”

  “You feel like dancing?”

  She locked her door. “I’m going to show you the truth.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Nathan wasn’t sure why Sienna was dragging him to a nightclub, but who was he to argue if it got him in a little closer to her. When they pulled up to a large building with a neon sign on the front stating it was The Demon’s Lair, Nathan decided just to play along.

  “Come here often?”

  “Only on business. Not my kind of scene.”

  He rushed in front of her to open the door and the instant he did he was blasted with loud thumping bass and rocking tunes. Okay, so the place had good taste in music at least. “Yet this is where you’ve decided to bring me. Makes me wonder why.”

  She flipped her badge to the big, furry looking bouncer standing in the doorway.

  “We don’t want any trouble, Lieutenant,” the bouncer grumbled in a deep, raw voice.

  “I don’t intend to make any. Just want a look-see. Maybe my guy’s in here tonight.”

  The burly bodyguard stepped aside with a great deal of reluctance. Nathan heard him mumble into his two-way as they walked past him, “Pigs on scene.”

  The bar was definitely flashy and not only in regards to the flashing disco-style lights on the dance floor and on the railing to the second level, but the people were dressed rather…interestingly. Or was it a costume? Maybe that was what the bar was about. Being in costume. How else could you explain the devil-looking characters, the vampires, and the werewolf-looking guys?

  “Interesting set up.”

  “It works for the clientele. See anything interesting yet?”

  Nathan had to move in right beside her to be able to hear her over the thumping music. “Other than the freaks dressed as monsters?”

  “They’re not dressed as anything, Nathan. This is who they are.” She stopped short when a tall, blond gentleman dressed to kill in a designer suit stepped in front of them. “Mr. Adams.”

  “Lieutenant? Is there a problem?”

  “Not so far. Just showing my pal here around.”

  The gentleman eyed Nathan from head to toe, giving Nathan an uneasy feeling before the smile filled his face. “Fresh meat?”

  “Not for the taking. He’s in denial of what this city is. Thought I would show him what we have to offer in Jacob’s Cove. Wanna help me out?”

  He smiled again, deviously. “I don’t do guys, but I assume you mean this.”

  Nathan’s jaw dropped when before him, the tall gentleman transformed—yes, he was transforming—into…the lieutenant. “What the hell?”

  “Not funny, Adams. You don’t want to be doing that again,” Sienna warned.

  Nathan knew he’d have to pick his jaw up off the floor but that wasn’t a priority at the moment. Figuring out what the hell had just happened was. “How the hell…did you just…what the hell’s going on?”

  “Mr. Adams happens to be a shape shifter. He can morph himself into anything or anyone, as he’s just proven now. The so-called monsters around you are real and they would just as easily have you for a snack as they would shake your hand.”

  “Everyone gives their consent upon entry into my bar, Lieutenant,” Adams insisted, changing back into himself

  Nathan was in shock and who wouldn’t be after seeing what he’d just seen. “You changed into her.”

  “I can become you if you would like?”

  Sienna held up her hand, stopping him. “Thanks for the show, Mr. Adams. We’ll be on our way no
w.”

  “Ooh, you’re a cutie. Wanna go to the back room for a little tickle and taste?”

  Nathan stared at the woman currently slithering against his arm. She had the same yellow eyes he’d seen on so many people since coming to Jacob’s Cove, and the fangs. “What are you?”

  “Thirsty and horny.”

  “He’s not up for grabs, Nina. Go find someone else,” Adams advised, prying her off Nathan’s arm.

  “She’s a vampire. There are lots of them here, and in the city. And the guy we’re after is a demon. Ready to head back home now?”

  Nathan swallowed the huge lump in his throat. He was trying to get his brain to wrap around everything he’d seen. “No.” He turned his attention to her. “This is all real?” He’d heard tales but never in his wildest dreams could he imagine the tales were true.

  “You bet your ass it is and you’d better wise up because, mostly, these creatures want to have you for a snack.”

  As he looked out to the dance floor, watching the creatures moving to the rhythm of the music, everything began to take on a whole new light. “I wasn’t crazy.”

  “Huh?”

  He looked over at her and it was all starting to make sense. “The department put me on leave because they thought I’d lost my mind and the shrink agreed. But I wasn’t crazy and I wasn’t seeing things. He really did have horns and a thorny face.”

  “The killer?”

  “Yes. I am so going to slap them in the face with this.” And as soon as the killer was caught he was going to do just that.

  “Great, you do that.”

  As he walked out of the club, Nathan knew nothing would ever be the same again.

  ***

  Since they’d driven to the club in her car, and Nathan had left his keys in her apartment, Sienna invited him back up to her apartment, though all she wanted to do was fall face first into bed.

  He’d asked dozens of questions on the ride back to her apartment and she’d done her best to answer them. She knew he was in shock, like any normal person would be after finding out the things they thought were only fairytales and fiction were actually real.

  She let them into her apartment and, as usual, there was Daisy, sitting on her rump, tail wagging, shoe in mouth.

  “Oh, Daisy, what am I going to do with you?”

  “Buy her a bone and some chew toys. Mind if I finish my beer?”

  “Actually—”

  “This is all just so fucking bizarre,” he chuckled halfheartedly, then tipped the can of beer back and drank down half.

  Sienna took the shoe from Daisy and tossed it back into her room. “Your cell phone’s about to go off.”

  She’d no more than finished the sentence when it rang. With a baffled look on his face, he answered it. “Nathan.”

  Sienna grabbed the laptop and sitting on the sofa, waited to see if it was from the killer.

  “Hey, Dad. I know…I just can’t get away. No, I don’t like making my mother cry. Tell her to reschedule for two weeks and I can make it then. I promise. Yes. I’m fine. Actually, my headaches haven’t been too bad these past few days. I will. Give a kiss to Mom. Thanks. Later. My dad,” he explained after tucking the phone back into his shirt pocket.

  “I gathered as much.” She set the laptop on the coffee table.

  “My parents worry about me.”

  “Parents tend to do that especially when their child is injured.”

  “Yeah, my mom’s been really protective of me since I was injured. It’s weird, but I feel like a weight’s been lifted off of my shoulders. Since my partner was killed, I’ve been feeling…well…lost, I guess. We’d known each other since the rookie days and were partners for three years. He was like the brother I never had.”

  “I get that. It must have been tough for you to lose him.” She’d been lucky that none of her partners had ever gone down in the line of duty.

  He carried his beer to the sofa and plunked down beside her. “When I saw him, Leo, lying there on the gravel, a hole in his chest, his eyes wide, his mouth hanging open, I guess I lost it a little.”

  “Any normal human being would.”

  He nodded and gulped down more beer. “I had a little meltdown in the hospital and had to be sedated. They put me on leave right after, which pissed me off. Well, right after I gave my description of the killer. They thought I was nuts, but I wasn’t. I’d even questioned myself as to whether I had seen correctly. The sun had been in my eyes. I was in shock after seeing Leo dead. But I wasn’t delusional after all. He’s a demon. Man…” He set his empty can on the coffee table and ran a hand through his hair. “Demons are real.”

  There was something innately sexy about the way he ran his hand through his hair then stroked the stubble on his chin. And the aroma coming off of him was stirring something deep inside of her. He always smelled so damn good. “Yes, they are.”

  “You’ve always known that?” He looked over at her.

  Now came the touchy part. “Yeah, well…I am one.”

  His eyes went wide. “Get out!”

  “My place.” She said with a dab of humor, holding her hands out.

  His eyes trailed over her body, stirring her up. “But you don’t look like a demon.”

  “Not every demon has horns. Some of us look human.” And that was sometimes a problem when dealing with rogue demons. They looked human.

  He ran his hand across his mouth again. “Then what makes you a demon?”

  “My father is a pure blooded Tejakkan demon and my mother was human. My kind has several abilities. One is the stealth, senses, and hearing of a cat, the other is the ability to see moments into the future.”

  “Get out.” He leaned back, staring at her. “Do you have nine lives as well?”

  “Five actually.” And thankfully she hadn’t lost any of them.

  “Seriously?” his eyes widened a little more. “That was a joke but you’re serious.”

  “Perfectly.”

  “Jesus. Ever lost a life?”

  “Not so far.”

  “Jesus,” he said again, swiping a hand across the stubble on his chin. “How do you mean you can see moments into the future?”

  “Like when your phone rang. I knew it was going to happen before it did. In the alley when we first met, I saw the vamp and his intentions and that was why I was able to get to him before he tried anything. I also saw you pull a gun and aim it for my head. Most of the time I can block it, but there are times when it sneaks past my barrier.”

  “That is just…wow…weird.” He blew out a long breath, then just stared out in front of him for several minutes. “Okay, this might take a while for me to process it all.”

  “Take your time. Hey, thanks for the pizza by the way.” Seeing it still sitting on her table, Sienna got up to put it in the fridge.

  “Anytime.” Nathan carried his empty can into the kitchen. When she turned from the fridge, they bumped into each other.

  “Sorry.”

  “Small kitchen.” Her mouth was suddenly very dry. She saw what was coming next and decided to make the first move. She inched toward his mouth, her eyes fixed on the plumpness of his lips. She’d never kissed a man with a mustache or beard before Nathan, and she found it rather interesting. As their lips met, the soft scrape of his trimmed mustache and beard tickled her lips. It was a unique sensation she found she rather enjoyed.

  He threaded his fingers through her hair, cupping her head in his palm as he drew her closer. She went willingly, placing her hands on his arms. His mouth was soft, his lips full, and there was a faint hint of the beer he’d just finished drinking.

  When he released her to look into her eyes, she felt everything inside of her come alert.

  Chapter Thirteen

  She could ste
p back now, end the embrace, end what was clearly about to happen. Yet Sienna stayed as she was, looking into his dark blue eyes. The alarm bells were ringing so loud in her head she was sure he could hear them.

  Do not get involved with another cop.

  Ignoring her head, she went with her needs instead. She took a step closer, her chest touching his and tilted her head as she brought her mouth closer to his. What she needed now was to fill the emptiness inside of her she’d been feeling for much too long now.

  She just needed to feel.

  Yanking the shirt from his jeans and releasing the buttons, she spread it open and touched the firmness of his chest. There were muscles here, well defined but not overpowering. She liked that. His fingers yanked at her shirt, pulling it from the waistband of her pants and as he pulled it up, his fingers grazed her heated skin.

  She shivered.

  They released long enough for him to slip the shirt over her head and toss it on the floor. Their bare flesh pressed together as their mouths sought to seduce. He kissed like a seasoned pro and touched her bare flesh with as much knowledge. She wrapped her hands around his arms, testing the muscles there and as his arm flexed, the sensation went right to her core. Tugging at his belt, she moved them toward her bedroom. Their lips never once parted in their mating dance.

  Finally freeing the belt, she went to work on the snap of his jeans.

  His hands as greedy as hers searched her pants for the release. Finally finding it at the side, he wasted no time tugging it down. “God, these are so sexy.” He slid her leather pants down her hips.

  Working his jeans past his hips, she felt the silkiness of his boxers and her body began to heat up. She kicked out of her pants, still devouring his lips. His hands caressed her skin, stirring her up even more. Her nails bit into his flesh as she clawed at his chest. He moaned against her lips, sending shivers in all the right places. She bumped into the bed and, taking him down with her, felt the weight of his body press hers into the soft duvet beneath her bare skin. He pulled one leg up and she curled it around his waist. His hand on her thigh was firm but as he slid it up and over her hip, she felt the calluses on his hands scrape over her skin. Already sensitive, it woke every pore up and had them begging for more.