by CJ Ellisson
He lifted her dress, slipping it over her head and fixing himself just as the door opened to expose their ruffled selves to an elderly couple who, by their angry expressions, had been waiting impatiently for the elevator.
Sydney held onto Jace's arm, already feeling her power swirl around him. It was her luck as part of him that they didn't make it to the floor before and offend the old people, though as much fun as it was, it wasn't something she wanted. Hell, her gram would slap her if she knew she didn't just skate by the skin of their teeth.
Jace felt good, better now he was slightly branded by her, and as they stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hall to his corner room, her body thrummed to life all over again. "Glad the moldy oldies didn't catch us, eh?"
"You never know, it might have put some excitement into their night, given the old boy some ideas. Although, that's one show I think I'd much rather miss."
They walked down the corridor until they came to his door, or she assumed it was his door as he stopped at it and fished round in his pocket for the card.
Sydney leaned against the wall next to the door and watched him. "Sure you don't wanna go back down to the pit floor?"
"Maybe in a while, I don't think I'd survive another elevator trip. Besides, security will give us a sharp dressing down if we don't disappear for a few hours. Let's get room service and you out of that dress properly," He found the key and opened the door, ushering her inside.
She smiled. "Yeah, and you out of those fetching pants..."
Chapter Three
Jace watched Sydney sit down on the orgy-sized bed and immediately thought of a hundred different ways to defile her. The sex had been fantastic, the first he'd had in months. Despite his player lifestyle he wasn't one to sleep around, mostly because there were much better things to do. He'd rather spend a night on the tables than overworking himself with some slut who would drain his money and most likely leave him with some kind of nasty disease, itching for weeks. He'd learned the hard way that the tables were better to him than women. Yet, here he was with Sydney. She was the type of girl he thought about; she had more class in her pinky finger than those other girls would ever possess in their whole life.
She crossed her legs, the short dress inching up on her, exposing her thighs to him. She gave him a grin, proving that she knew the effect it had on him. He looked away, focusing his attention on the room. It was a fairly nice place, full of all life's comforts. He always liked the idea of living in a casino, it had so many benefits—from the maid who turned down his sheets to the people he'd meet. There were never any set neighbors, either, everything was transient. Of course, that he was never more than an elevator ride away from a hand of cards was a real benefit.
He picked up the room service list from where he'd left it the night before and turned to her. "Any ideas on what you want, Peaches? It's pretty late and a Sunday, so they'll have run out of all the good stuff."
She smiled and lay back, stretching. "Ummm... I ate actual dinner hours ago, but I could go for a light recharge."
"That's all we need I think." He threw himself down on the bed next to her, causing her to roll into him. He put his arm around her and held the menu so she could see it. As he'd been living there for a while he knew the menu by heart, but he wanted to be close to her. "See anything you like?"
"Ummm, the berry parfait looks divine, and so does the chop salad," she said and smiled at him. "But, I'm pretty easy when it comes to food."
"Well, the food here is top rate. It's one of the reasons I'm still here. I'd recommend the sea bass, but as I said they'll be all out by now."
Sydney giggled. "Darlin', never say never. Can't hurt to ask."
"I suppose not, but I do kinda know how things work around here."
"Yeah? Well, just try, for me? It sounds so yummy."
She was amazing. Conceding, he nodded and rolled over to the phone, dialing the number for the reception. He inquired about the bass, surprised when he was informed that they did indeed have the fish. He grinned at Sydney and ordered a bowl of mussels in crisp white wine along with a bottle of the wine in question. He had a bottle of champagne and a few extras for after their meal. "We're in luck, they had the bass. You were right." He smiled at her as he hung up the phone.
"Isn't that a coincidence?" she said with an amused look on her face. "I suppose that's a very good thing. I normally don't eat anything too heavy at this time of night, but it just sounds too good to pass up. How long till it's brought up?" she asked as she got off the bed and walked to the wall of windows, looking out at the strip beyond. "It's beautiful from up here, so clear, the twinkle, the colors. That's what brought me to Vegas, the welcoming feeling you get when you look at it. I suppose not everyone gets that, but it seemed like home to me the second I stepped off the plane." She looked down and shook her head. "Sorry, I didn't mean to get nostalgic. I'm sure you could care less."
He moved up behind her, sharing the view. "Not at all. I feel the same about the place. It's more home than home was. As soon as I saw the lights I knew I'd die here. That's what it'll take to get me to leave."
She grinned and turned to him. "Yeah, I would expect such an intense look at life from you. Though you're a heart and soul gambler, Jace, there's only a few places on earth you would ever really feel like that. Vegas just happens to be the hub. No, I like Vegas for the anonymity. A person can just disappear here, or rise to be the next big star."
"I've no interest in being famous." He could feel the heat rolling off her body and stepped closer. "So, which are you? Disappearing or trying to rise? You've already proven you're not a gambler."
"I'm a little of both, I think. Moderate acknowledgement is fine for the job I do. I don't want to be the next big stripper starlet, that just leads to porno and I don't think I could deal with the lifestyle. Dancing is just fine for me, and I think it's done what I wanted it to do for my life."
"Yeah? And what's that?" He was surrounded by her clean, sweet scent and he loved it. His body did, too.
"Well, it brought me to your attention, didn't it?" She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Knowing I had a fan, a complete stranger who didn't even bother to speak to me, it was a heady feeling."
"I'm sure you have many fans, Peaches." He kissed her. Her soft lips were highly addictive. This was no longer business, it was all pleasure. It had stopped being a business venture the moment she left the table. Where he would have left Shade a few hours to cool off after an argument, he couldn't have stopped himself running after Sydney if he'd tried. A small part of his brain warned him that he was on dangerous ground, uncharted territory. It was a very small piece, however, the one that he'd stopped listening too years ago when he'd left home for good. Jace loved the risk, thrived on walking the tight rope lines between possible and impossible. Two nights ago he'd have said that having this woman in his arms was pretty much in the realm of fantasy.
"That may be true, but I don't even notice the men that come in, but I noticed you. It was like your gaze slithered inside me while I danced, and coming to work took on a new excitement, with the possibility that you would be there watching me from the shadows."
"Well, you were the only one worth watching." He moved to kiss her again when a knock came from the door and room service called. He kissed her quickly, then unwrapped himself from her moving to the door and letting in the young girl. Signing quickly and tipping the waitress, he ushered her out of the door and they soon had the room to themselves. The scent of the lemony sea bass filled the air as he lifted up the hood, exposing both the mussels and the fish.
"Now that looks good." she said as she walked over and giggled, grabbing the wine and two glasses. Jace grabbed the plates and brought them to the small table closer to the windows. They ate in relative silence, Sydney finally looking up. "You have quite exquisite taste, Jace, this is frankly the best sea bass I have ever had."
"Normally I don't go for fish, but this I can never resist...when they have i
t. It was some luck they had it, I'm a betting man and I wouldn't have placed odds on it."
"Well, you seem to be getting lucky tonight." She winked and took a sip of her wine.
"I do. Indeed, you seem to be quite a good luck charm."
She laughed and shook her head. "So, you think it's all me, do you?"
"It could be...you said it yourself. I'm a gambler, we believe in luck. We have to."
"Not the odds? Word has it most gambling is odds and percentages. No, I'm sure it has nothing to do with me."
"Well there are the odds, although between me and you I never was good at fractions. As a gambler you study the odds, but we can't ignore anything that'll give us the edge. You see poker players with lucky coins, stones, and anything else that takes their fancy." He took a drink of wine, cracking a mussel open and eating it. "Besides, who am I to discount luck? I'm a demon."
"Yeah, but demons don't deal in luck, they deal with physical powers."
"I don't know. I've seen some pretty weird things in my time. I mean, how physical would you say a shadow is? Or sexual energy?"
"I have heard Shadow Demons—the powerful ones, anyway—can make shadows touch you, so I'd call that pretty fucking physical. And sexual energy is a palpable thing. Hell, some races can even see their energies."
"So? What's to say some can't see luck? Have you even been on a winning streak? You can practically feel that you're untouchable...you can't lose." He shrugged, feeling her pull away. She'd tell him about herself when she felt ready, if she even knew. "It's only a theory. I mean, who's to say what's out there in the world?"
"Very true. There's many races walking the world, you're probably right." She looked him over. "So, Shadow Demon, as I remember, you mentioned something about your own powers?"
Her eyes made his blood boil. He wanted her again, needed her. "I believe I did...those mussels getting to you?"
"Aphrodisiacs never do, though it's seeing you there with your shirt open and the expanse of skin I'm treated to. You're getting to me."
"Ah, it's all me then?" He asked her, amused as hell. She had no idea how sexy she was sitting there across from him.
"I think so. Truth? I don't get interested in men often, it takes the right guy."
"And you think I'm right for you? Well, Peaches, you won't hear me complaining." He stood, taking the distance between them quickly.
She smirked and stood, grabbing him as he closed in on her. "I think you're the guy I have been fantasizing about for a while. And I know I don't want to leave your bed."
Jace kissed her once again, reveling in the feeling of her so near to him. "Well, I think we should get in the bed first, don't you think?"
Sydney licked her bottom lip and grabbed the button of his pants, pulling him . "I do need to work off those calories."
He let her take control. "Well, I didn't want to say..." he joked as she pushed him down and worked at his belt. "And you did say you wanted me naked."
"Very much so. I finally get to see if my fantasies were close," she said as she ripped the rest of his shirt open, the buttons flying hither and yon . She purred and worried her lip, working his pants off and pushing them past his knees, the purr turning into a growl.
He put all his concentration on not staring at her slack-jawed. She moved over his body, removing his clothes. She felt right against him, her body heat and his mixing with every touch. Once she'd completed her task he grabbed the hem of her dress, pulling her onto his body and letting her straddled him. "So, how does one compare to fantasy?"
"Oh, I would say dead on...exactly my type...just enough muscle to hold me against a wall, but not enough to seem gross. Wiry, sexy. Damn, Jace."
"Well, that's a relief; the last thing I'd want to be is a disappointment." He brushed his fingers over her hip where there were the beginnings of bruises forming from their fun in the elevator.
Sydney wiggled on his lap, sucking in a breath. She looked down, then at him. "I like that you were so wild." She said, motioning to the blooming bruises.
He felt a little bad about marking her. He wasn't in the game to hurt women, but she really didn't seem to mind so he shrugged, which wasn't easy lying on his back. "I get wilder," he promised as he used his hips to buck her forward just enough so he could pull her dress off in one smooth movement.
She giggled and shook out her hair, placing her hands on his smooth chest. "I'm counting on it, Jace."
"Are you now?" He shifted her upward on him, grinding himself along her. She was so slick and wet with her own juices and the remnants of their encounter in the elevator that he hissed with the feel of her.
She whimpered for him and reared back, arching and shaking her hair once again. Her breasts jutted out at the pose and she stretched. "Jace...goddess, don't tease me with it."
He kept teasing, enjoying the feel of her on top of him. "Well, you are on top..." He gestured for her to take action, he wanted to watch her ride him, watch as those perfect breasts quivered on the verge of orgasm.
"So I am," she said and shifted slightly, sinking down on him. The underwear she had on in the elevator were probably still there, as there was no barrier between them to stop his invasion. "Gods, you fit so well," she gritted out and rode him slowly, making the strokes deep and even, her hands on her breasts, eyes closed.
With a growl he lay back, letting her work. She felt so tight and warm. "Hmmm...that's it...god, you're good." He stroked lightly at her thighs, letting her fuck them both. She was amazing, and she used her dancing skills to enhance both their pleasure as her body writhed expertly and in total control.
Sydney's performance was at its peak, and she shuddered and grasped at him, calling his name as she came for him, her body releasing more of her essence. She opened her eyes in time to see his life force soak her in, binding her more to the man she would have picked out of a crowd to consider her own. "Jace...gods...you feel so right," she murmured and fell forward as the next orgasm washed over her, her mouth seeking his out.
He kissed her forcefully, his arms wrapping around her and pushed himself deeper into her over and over again as his tongue probed her mouth. He was close, but he could hold off for a few moments more, his every coherent thought was about taking her, owning her body. He had to get more from her. Her little whimpers were driving him insane. Her very being sang to him, begging him for more. Gathering her, he rolled them both, becoming at home between her legs and pounding deeper into her.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and screamed and came for him again, her body taut. The air around them shimmered, and she shone quite brightly, light seemingly coming out of her skin. She called his name, like a prayer, and looked into his eyes, hers bright with the light within.
He dug deeper, calling on the shadows around her. No easy feat for a half demon, but it was something he'd managed to manipulate them to do time and time again, under Shade's tutelage, until it had become like second nature. The shadows around her caressed her body, becoming an extension of his own, stroking at what he couldn't reach, kissing and pinching at her skin.
A light sheen of sweat covered them both. "I'm yours," she breathed into his mouth, then kissed him—her body heating, the shadow tendrils becoming part of her as her essence became part of him.
She was his and he was hers. The shadows danced around their limbs as he reached climax, exploding into her violently.
She held him, cradled him and arched, her muscles grasping him, her aura melding with his. They were visible—her fuzzy pink aura and his bright neon purple one—the air around them awash with lights and star-like twinkles. She sighed and kissed him again, panting. "Wow." She chuckled.
Once he was sure he could move, he rolled them over so she could lie on top of him, for fear of crushing her. "You can say that again." He held her tightly. "Wow just about covers it."
She kissed his chest and saw what looked like a black stain on her shoulder and sighed, wiggling on him. "I have your shadows on me now, I hope it's a
pretty design," she said absently, her fingers playing on his partially still luminous skin. Of course, the thought of his shadows branding her was a bit off-putting and a little scary. They'd never done that before, and the fact that it was permanent. It must have had to do with her race.
"You don't seem too freaked about it. Either you are as jaded as you seem at first glance, or you know what I am." She said quietly, her lips and tongue dancing across his left nipple.
He sighed. "Oh, I'm more jaded than I seem...though I must admit I had my suspicions. I do have two questions." He looked down at his skin, which shimmered lightly. "Am I going to stay pink? And what the fuck was that?"
She looked at him. "Well, if you don't know, you didn't do enough research. I can hardly blame you, Jenai are not common. You won’t stay pink, think of it as an afterglow. The rest is a bit more complicated. How much did you know when you set out to find one? I mean, someone must have told you where I was hiding...and there are a few others in town."
"How much do I know? Well, not much, obviously not enough. I didn't do any research, you weren't a pet project. I just wanted to talk to you. I heard about the Jenai being lucky. I had a few names, but I didn't get past yours."
"Why not?"
Why would he? There was no reason to, he'd walked into that bar and just known that she was the one he wanted. He shrugged again. "Because there is nobody on this planet living or dead that I could have wanted to talk to more than you."
She smiled, seemingly pleased with his answer. "Very well. You got it right about giving away luck. We can't seem to keep it for ourselves; it's given to the men in our lives. Trick is to find the one that's going to use it to its best ends, and to be able to take care of you as well. Most big CEOs and heads of quality organizations are husbands of Jenai. Though, get the thought of politicians out of your head, they usually go your route, only they don't bargain to Demons, they bargain to devils."
"Ah, well, I'd know nothing about that." He wasn't so sure what she meant about devils, he'd always assumed that they were the same as Demons. To think any further into it was a little too unsettling. "Okay, so...what does that have to do with us?"
