by Deanna Chase
An hour later, I had the bar completely restocked and was breaking down boxes when Kane and Charlie reappeared. Charlie had her arm around Kane’s waist and was leaning into him as they walked toward me. The scene startled me and I stood there just staring as she laughed at something he’d said. Then she patted his chest, her fingers lingering for maybe a second or two.
I didn’t think I’d ever seen Charlie touch Kane quite that way before. It wasn’t so much that she was being inappropriate. If she’d been Pyper or Kat, I wouldn’t have even blinked. But this was Charlie. She was…flirting. Charlie never flirted with Kane. Or men in general.
She flirted with me. And every other girl who came into the club. Even when her girlfriends were around. It was just who she was. “Hey, guys,” I said as they neared the bar.
Kane glanced at me then Charlie and back to me again, sending me a curious smile as if to ask what was up with her.
I raised my hands in an I-don’t-know motion.
“Oh, hey, Jade,” she finally said when she noticed Kane looking at me. “I was just telling Kane about my date for tomorrow night.”
“Date?” She’d broken up with her actress girlfriend a few weeks ago when the woman had been outed in a tabloid for kissing another starlet. Charlie had taken it harder than she’d let on, throwing herself into work. But if she had someone new, that might explain her overly affectionate behavior. “What’s her name?”
Charlie frowned. “Not a her. A him. And his name’s Bax.”
“Bax?” Kane and I said at the same time.
“Yeah.” Her brows knitted in confusion. “As in Baxter.”
We both stared at her wide-eyed.
“What?”
“Ah, nothing.” Kane shook his head at me. Not that I was going to say anything. She was free to date anyone she wanted. But in the time I’d known her, she’d never shown interest in the opposite sex. In fact, she’d been rather vocal about her love of women.
I cleared my throat. “Charlie?”
She met my steady gaze. “Yes?”
I wanted so badly to ask her why she’d suddenly changed her tune, but instead I asked, “Where’d you meet him?”
“School. He’s in one of my business classes.” She walked behind the bar and uncapped a bottle of water.
Kane sat on a stool next to me, watching her as if trying to decide how to respond.
She gulped down a quarter of the water then slapped the bottle on the counter. Meeting his confused gaze, she asked, “What?”
He raised his eyebrows. “It’s quite the departure for you, isn’t it?”
“So?” Defensiveness streamed off her in waves. “I wouldn’t say anything if you wanted to date a man.”
“I’d hope you would!” I added. “Considering he’s married to me.”
Her expression softened as she turned to me. “Right. That wouldn’t be cool. I just meant I wouldn’t care if he decided to switch teams, that’s all.”
“Hey,” Kane said, holding his hands up. “It doesn’t matter to me what team you’re on. No judgment here. You just took me by surprise, is all. And honestly, it’s none of my business anyway, so forget I said anything.”
She put the cap back on her water bottle and stared at the bar. Unease and doubt swirled around her slowly as if the emotions were just starting to form, but then she squared her shoulders and they vanished. “Okay. We’ll just forget about it.”
Why was she forcing herself to go out with a man? It seemed clear to me that deep down she didn’t want to. I lifted my hand to place it on her arm, to reassure her she didn’t need to do anything—or anyone for that matter—she wasn’t comfortable with. But I lowered my arm, afraid I’d upset her further.
“I’m going to go get lunch before I start rearranging the shift assignments,” she said. “Can I get you two anything?”
“No thanks. We’ve got a lunch meeting soon,” I said.
She shoved her hands into her jeans pockets. “All right then.” She nodded to Kane. “I’ll call and let you know if we need to do anything drastic.”
“Thanks. I’ll be back this evening to make sure everything is running smoothly, so that probably won’t be necessary, but if things change, I’ll let you know.”
“Sure thing, boss.” She waved as she strode to the back of the building, no doubt intending to go next door to see if Pyper needed anything. The pair took care of each other while they were working the same hours.
When we heard the back door click closed, I asked Kane, “What was that all about?”
“The date?”
“Yeah.”
“You got me. Charlie has never once even hinted she might be interested in a man before.”
“She doesn’t want to go. I could feel her apprehension.” I walked behind the bar and poured myself a Diet Coke. Some conversations couldn’t be held without caffeine.
“Then she shouldn’t go. Dammit. I wonder if this has anything to do with the ex-girlfriend being plastered on every tabloid from here to China.”
“It could.” Stranger things had happened. “But I don’t think so. Charlie isn’t the jealous type. More like a love ‘em and leave ‘em kinda girl.”
He held his hands up in surrender. “Then I got nothing.”
“Me neither.”
“Hey,” I said. “Did you check on Pyper?”
He nodded. “Yeah. She’s fine. Totally normal. Doesn’t know anything about what happened last night.”
“Well, that’s something at least. Though, we still don’t know who or what invaded your dream last night.”
Kane shrugged. “True. But if it becomes a problem, we’ll figure it out then.” He grabbed my hand and stroked my thumb and forefinger while I sipped my drink. The place was quiet, and I didn’t want to get on with the day. Life was so much simpler when I only had a house ghost to worry about. My mind fixated on the word “ghost,” and I grabbed Kane’s hand. “Come on.”
He didn’t budge. “To where?”
“Upstairs. There’s something I need from my apartment.”
That pulled a cocky grin from him. “Something you need?”
“Yeah, perv. Now get up and help me.”
His smile fell. “Is this going to be heavy?”
“No.”
“Good. Then why do you need me?” Kane leaned in and nuzzled my neck.
“I just do.” I shivered from the delightful tingle he sent all the way to my toes.
“Hmm, you just want me.”
“No argument,” I said, slightly breathless. “Now get on your feet, or I’m leaving you here to fend for yourself.”
He stood, and I couldn’t resist teasing him as I ran my hand lightly up his chest.
His eyes smoldered, drinking me in. Then, before I could initiate anything else, he grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the club into the back hall. We took the stairs two at a time, both of us wanting to be alone for just a moment or two. The club wasn’t private enough.
When we were on the third flight of stairs, Kane turned and whisked me up into his arms, carrying me the last few steps. We didn’t even make it inside before he was tugging my shirt up. But I was no better as I reached for his belt buckle. My time in the shadows had left my body charged with need, and I wanted him badly.
After I got his jeans open, I slid my hand down, nearly matching his groan as my hand glided over his velvet shaft. “I want you inside me. Right now.”
That was all he needed. A second later, he reached under my skirt and tore my panties in half right there in the hallway.
“Oh, God,” I said as he gripped my bottom, lifting me up. My legs wrapped around him and in one hard thrust, we joined in a frenzy of desperation. He was so long and hot and perfect. My eyes rolled into the back of my head as I joined him stroke for stroke, matching his frantic pace.
“You feel so good,” Kane mumbled into my neck, his lips brushing over my too-sensitive skin.
In answer, I tightened myself around him and moaned.
His breathing quickened as he slammed into me harder, his shoulder muscles rippling with effort under my clutching hands.
“Yes,” I said. “Yes. More.”
My words fueled his already out-of-control lovemaking and his grip tightened on my bare bottom hard enough that I knew he’d leave marks. “I want to feel you shuddering around me, Jade. Now.” Then he bit down roughly on the place where my neck met my shoulder.
I cried out as my release came hard and fast, every inch of me trembling with pleasure. Kane held still, shaking with his own need, while I shattered around him. And as I relaxed slightly, my muscles still quivering, he thrust again, and again, and again until he echoed my cry, burying his face in my neck, his breathing ragged.
We stayed locked together against the door, hanging on to each other. The entire scenario felt surreal. The apartment on the other side of the door had been mine for a time, and while I didn’t live there anymore, my bed was still in there, along with some other items we’d never moved. Would it have been so hard to just make it through the threshold? I started to giggle.
“What’s so funny, pretty witch?” Kane asked, releasing me long enough to gently slip out of me and set me back on my feet.
“Us. There’s a bed about five feet away on the other side of the door.”
He gave me his sexy half grin as he buttoned up his jeans. “Where’s the fun in that? We have a bed at home.”
I shook my head, amused and still slightly aroused by the thought that we’d just had sex in a not-so-private place.
“I didn’t hear you complaining,” he continued as he trailed his fingers along my jawline, staring at my lips.
“No, you didn’t.” And dammit if the look he was giving me didn’t make me want to start all over again. I traced his lower lip with my index finger ever so lightly and then leaned in, catching it gently between my teeth.
His arms came around me as he plastered me to him, his mouth opening and claiming mine. And then—
“Excuse me,” a female voice said.
Chapter 8
Kane and I broke apart like two teenagers caught making out in the basement.
“Sorry,” the tall blonde said, her face turning a dark shade of red. “I heard a noise and thought…oh, never mind. I just wanted to make sure everyone was okay.”
I stepped behind Kane and busied myself straightening my clothing.
Kane, on the other hand, stood with a relaxed posture, regarding the woman. “Yes, we’re more than okay.”
“Kane,” I whispered harshly and poked him in the back.
He glanced back at me, his incubus charm oozing from his welcoming eyes. Damn him. “Zoe, right?” he said to the woman as she started to descend the stairs.
She paused on the second step. “Yes. I just moved in a few days ago. Two-B.”
“Hi,” I said over Kane’s shoulder. “I’m Jade. Sorry for, ah…disturbing you.” I cut an irritated glance at Kane. “I didn’t even know the building had tenants right now.” Last I’d heard, the two apartments on the second floor were being remodeled. And the one on the other side of the door still had a lot of my stuff in it.
Her lips curled into a smile, but she bit down on her lower lip, trying to hide it. “That would explain a lot.”
“Sorry, love,” Kane said, tugging me out from behind him. “Pyper told me she rented one of the places a few days ago, but with everything going on, I forgot all about it.” He walked over to the gorgeous woman and held his hand out. “I’m Kane. It’s nice to meet you.”
She hesitated, but then clasped her hand around his and shook. “Nice to meet you.” They stared at each other for a just a moment longer than was really comfortable. I was about to say something, anything to break whatever weird connection they had going on, when Kane suddenly let go and took a step back.
Zoe stared at her hand and frowned.
“What happened?” I whispered to Kane.
He shook his head and whispered back, “Not now.”
Zoe’s head snapped up. “What are you?”
He and I exchanged a startled glance.
“Excuse me?” Kane said mildly, although suspicion was flowing from him with enough force to rival the Mississippi river. “What am I?”
“Uh…I meant, who are you? Do you live here?”
“Oh, no,” Kane said, his shoulders relaxing. “My wife and I own the building. Technically I’m your landlord, but Pyper usually takes care of everything.”
He’d said my wife and I own the building. A stupid smile claimed my lips. I didn’t know why those words made my insides turn to jelly. I hadn’t expected Kane to share any of his assets with me or even think of them that way. He’d owned two houses in addition to this building and the one next door before we’d ever met. Those were his. Well, except for the Cypress Settlement house he gave me as an engagement gift. He was too much.
Zoe nodded. “I see. Well, thank you for letting me rent such a wonderful apartment. I’m sorry to interrupt. That wasn’t my intention.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it,” I said, waving a hand, trying to be casual as I prayed for the floor to open up and swallow me whole. How embarrassing. She obviously knew what we were doing. I was going to kill Kane later. “Nice to meet you,” I called after her.
But she was already gone.
“What was that all about?” I asked Kane.
“What? Shaking her hand?”
“Yes.” I put my hands on my hips and stared him down.
“There was some sort of weird energy that passed between us. It wasn’t magical. I don’t know how to explain it, but it was a little uncomfortable.”
If it wasn’t magical, then there likely wasn’t anything to worry about. “She was probably disturbed by our public lewdness.”
Kane took one look at my face and started laughing. “You’re adorable.”
“And you’re despicable. I never would’ve done that here if I’d known a tenant had moved in.”
He slipped a key into my old apartment’s lock. “I don’t think we have anything to be embarrassed about. If it looked anywhere near as hot as it actually was, then we should’ve sold tickets.”
“Shut up.” I stifled a laugh as I followed him inside.
He stopped in the middle of the small apartment. It was barely five hundred square feet of space. “Now. What was it you wanted me to help you with?”
I stood just inside the door, staring down at the happy, tongue-lagging ghost who’d followed me home months ago. He was the sweetest golden retriever ever, and I missed him. “I want to figure out a way to bring Duke to our house.”
“The ghost dog?” He raised his eyebrows. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. I hate that he’s here all alone. Wouldn’t it be better if he stayed at the house?” I smiled down at Duke, who’d flopped on the floor and was gnawing away at the couch leg. Of course, since he was a ghost, he didn’t do any damage. He also didn’t shed or need to be walked or fed. But he was a good guard dog. So in my eyes, he was perfect.
“Sure. I don’t have a problem if you want to bring him home. I just don’t know how we can do it.”
“Carry a piece of chicken?” I said, only half joking.
“Can he smell anything?”
I chuckled. “I don’t know. I’m not an expert on ghost dogs.”
“We don’t have any chicken, but maybe something else from the cafe.” Kane strode back toward me and the door. But instead of leaving, he stopped right in front of me and cupped both my cheeks. Staring into my eyes, he lowered his head and kissed me so thoroughly, I was panting by the time he let go.
“Whoa,” I said and almost stumbled from my weakened knees. “What was that for?”
“For being the most amazing, sexiest woman on the planet. What happened out in the hall?” He nodded toward the door.
“Yeah?”
“Fucking hot.” He kissed me once more and then said, “I’ll be right back.”
I watched him l
eave and when the door shut softly behind him, I stood there transfixed by the magic still buzzing in my veins. The charge we’d built in the hallway was different than it usually was. Since he’d become a demon hunter, we’d always shared power during and after our release. This time we hadn’t. The magic consuming me was all mine. Weird. Had the fact that Kane had been suspended from the Brotherhood changed the way he gathered power? Would he be weaker now?
I sank into the hand-me-down chair, suddenly scared for Kane. Incubi gained their power through sexual energy. And the demon hunters through their daggers. Did he have any magic left?
The door swung open and Kane strode back in, holding a small white bag. “I’ve got just the thing.”
I stood. “What?”
He pulled out a bagel sandwich, complete with ham and cheese. “If he has any sense of smell, this will keep him focused.”
“True.” I grabbed the bagel sandwich and held it out for Duke.
His tail went crazy wagging back and forth as ghostly drool dripped from his jowls.
“Oh, gross.” I laughed and moved toward the door, keeping the sandwich at dog level. “Come on, boy. We’ll take you to our new home.”
He’d followed me here once. Getting him to follow me somewhere else shouldn’t be that hard, right? And it wasn’t. He had no problem trotting into the hallway and to the top of the stairs.
“Good boy,” I coaxed.
Kane closed the apartment door and locked it. His eyes were crinkled in amusement as he watched me lure my ghost dog down the stairs. He’d put up with a lot of crazy crap since I’d blown into his life. I guess this was pretty tame in comparison.
Operation Dog Transfer was going perfect right up until we hit the second floor landing. Then Duke froze, and the hair stood up on the back of his neck as he growled.
“What is it, boy?” I’d only ever seen him growl like that when the evil ghost Roy had been tormenting Pyper and me in my apartment.
Duke lowered his front shoulders and snarled.
“Whoa.” I looked up at Kane, but he appeared just as confused as I was. “Let’s go, Duke. Nothing’s there.” And there wasn’t. I had my senses wide open, and the only being I felt was Kane. The new tenant, Zoe, was nowhere to be found. And even so, her energy had been normal. I hadn’t sensed anything nefarious, and neither had Kane, despite the odd exchange they’d had. Except she was the only one who lived on the second floor, and whatever was bothering Duke was in that corridor.
