by Marie Mason
He stopped and one of his hands swiped the air in front of him, making the fireflies scatter. She stayed perfectly still, bending her head so he couldn’t see her face. Maybe she could blend in with the forest floor. Her hair was brown and hopefully looked like a pile of fallen leaves.
The sound of footsteps crunching on the leaves gave her hope that he was leaving — until she saw a pair of black shitkickers in front of her.
Speaking of shit. It was about to hit the fan. Roark was not the type of man — human or otherwise — that one disobeyed. She mentally straightened her spine. The big, bad demon didn’t scare her. Much.
“What are you doing, little witch?”
The sound of that pet name on his lips made her feel so good inside. For once, she really didn’t feel her size. Next to him, she was little. She’d never seen anyone so damn big. Casting a look beneath her lashes, her gaze focused on the tight fit of his pants over his crotch and she licked her lips. Yep, he was big all over.
She looked up at him, her eyes as wide and innocent looking as she could make them. Over the years, she and her sisters had learned various ways to get around their half-incubus father. “Thought I’d take a nap.”
“Very amusing.” Before she could stop him, he dragged her to her feet. He pulled a little too hard and she ended up slammed against his broad chest. Feeling the swell of his cock, she thought maybe the move hadn’t been accidental. It took all her willpower not to slide her hands around his neck and pull his mouth down for another of his womb-throbbing kisses.
He dropped his arms and turned around. “Stay behind me,” he growled.
Strangely, Kayley was getting used to his growls and grunts. She didn’t argue as she followed him. She’d also learned from her father when to poke at a demon and when it was best to leave him alone. The chilled air wrapped around her and the scent of pine trees and impending frost teased at her nose.
When she stumbled across another root, his hand took hers. A silly smile crossed her face at the gesture. They could be a normal couple on their first date, not a bounty hunter and his kidnapped witch chasing an escaped demon through a dark forest.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a vague movement. That was all the warning they had before the entire forest erupted around them. Leaves swirled into the air, the mass taking on a tornadic effect as deadfall from the forest floor joined in. As the wind gathered strength, smaller branches snapped from the trees.
Kayley screamed and ducked against Roark even as his arms closed around her and his body hunched over to protect her.
“Stop it!” His voice roared over the wind.
He pushed her to her knees, covering her with his body and shielding her from the worst of the storm. Still, she cried out as twigs connected with her back, jabbing her like red-hot needles. She knew she’d be covered in cuts and bruises. Her mouth pressed against the column of Roark’s brown throat. “Let me up.”
She thought if she could concentrate, if only for a moment, she might be able to cast a protection spell. She knew he cowered on the ground only because he was trying to protect her. Otherwise, she was pretty sure he’d kick his brother’s ass. She wiggled against him.
“Stay still, damn it.”
“No.” Escaping Roark’s hold reminded her of working her way free of quicksand, but she finally managed to circle his neck, exposing her arm and hand to the violence. Breathing in the fragrance of his skin, she cast her spell.
The quiet that fell was almost as jarring as the sudden eruption. The wind stopped and the leaves and branches dropped to the ground.
Roark was on his feet in an instant, pushing her behind him as he faced the demon that had caused the disturbance.
“Damn it, Rafe, you could have hurt her.”
Kayley peeked around Roark’s massive shoulder. The other man stood about a hundred yards away. He was dressed in blue jeans and a black t-shirt, no doubt stolen from some unsuspecting housewife’s clothesline as he’d made his way through town.
“I’m not going back, Roark.” The escaped demon’s voice was firm and insistent.
“You can’t just run away, Rafe.”
“Do you want to live in the pit of hell for the rest of your life, Roark?”
“We were born in that pit.” No, Roark didn’t like living down below. He wanted to breathe the fresh air, mingle with the humans and other supernatural beings. But, it wasn’t meant to be. They were demons born under the curse of a witch who had long since passed away, leaving them no way to change their destinies.
Rafe wasn’t buying it. “I am not giving up. We don’t deserve this just because some witch acted like she had a broomstick up her ass when our great-great-great-whatever grandfather dumped her.”
“Hey.” Kayley protested at the slam to her heritage. “Not all witches are evil.”
“She wasn’t evil, baby; she was just a woman scorned.” Roark’s brother smiled at her in apology.
“Still, you can’t condemn all witches because of one woman’s act.”
“Oh, and you don’t bunch all demons together into one hellish ball of evil?” Roark replied to her statement.
“No, I don’t.” Maybe it was time to come clean about her own heritage.
“Right.” Roark snorted. Or at least tried to. The sound ended on a sharp intake of breath and for the first time, Kayley realized he was hurt. His leather vest was ripped on the side and she could see blood seeping from a large wound. It dripped down his skin, soaking the waistband of his pants. Too bad Marley hadn’t been the sister who had been rescued/kidnapped. She could have healed the man with a wave of her hand. As far as skills and powers went, Kayley was the most useless of the Anderson witches he could have brought along.
Striping out of her light sweater, she folded it into a large square. Before he could protest, she pulled up the edge of his vest and pressed it against his wound. He growled at the pain, but she refused to move away.
“I’m going to find a way out, Roark. For all of us.”
Roark’s attention snapped back to the other demon. Kayley knew her ministrations had distracted him. She also knew the demon could have escaped in that moment. Demons were lightning fast. Her gaze caught his and he winked at her again. Dang, but he was cute. Too bad both of her sisters were happily married. She would have set him up with one of them in a heartbeat.
The low snarl Roark gave startled her and she turned her attention quickly back to his wound. “What? Did I hurt you?”
“Stop flirting with her, Rafe. We’ve got bigger problems. Remington sent me a text and said Luke found out about your unauthorized visit up top. Mine, too.”
Rafe’s laugh held no humor. “You mean my escape.”
“I can’t protect you anymore.”
Kayley heard the almost soft note of sadness in Roark’s voice.
“Don’t give me that bullshit, brother. You’ll protect me with your life.”
Now that she saw them side-by-side, with Rafe’s skin back in place, there was no doubt the two men were brothers. Roark’s demeanor was darker than Rafe’s but they were both still very intense men. They were similar in height and build, Roark being a tad taller and broader. Rafe’s hair was cut close to his head while Roark’s flowed almost girly-like to his shoulders. A smile crossed her lips thinking how he would react if he knew she thought something about him was girly.
“Who’s Remington?”
“Our other brother.”
“You mean there are three of you?” How in the world had the female population in either realm survived with their hearts intact?
Yours won’t.
Kayley bit her bottom lip, already feeling some of the heartache in store.
“We don’t have time for this.” Roark snatched the sweater from her hand and rubbed it across his side. When he lifted it away, she saw the wound had closed. Demons healed almost as fast as shifters.
She wiped her hands across the backs of her thighs. “So, we need to find Rafe a hiding pla
ce until this Luke person’s anger blows over.”
Both men looked at her as if she had lost her mind.
“What? I’m sure he’ll understand once you explain why Rafe escaped. To find the answer to your curse and all.” She waved her hand and Roark caught it.
“Let’s not have any more accidental spells, shall we?” Kayley really didn’t mind the controlling gesture since he’d grabbed her hand and pressed it against the taut muscles of his abdomen. During all their time together, his leather vest had hung open giving her a spectacular view of all that male goodness and now she was touching it. She almost forgot his insult to her witchy powers.
“My protection spell worked, didn’t it?”
“Sorry, sweetheart,” Rafe spoke up, “it didn’t. I stopped. Roark was right; I didn’t want to hurt you.”
Kayley wasn’t so sure. She’d felt something when she’d cast the spell. Just like she’d felt a tingle of power right before she’d untangled the spell on the truck’s door. It was a sensation she’d never felt before. Like her powers were working correctly, not doing something wonky for once.
Had her grandmother been right, that she’d just needed something to bring her powers into focus? Was being in danger the focus that she had needed? Or, was it because she was with Roark? Was he her missing anchor?
“Do what you have to do, Roark. I’ll be in touch.” And just like that, the other demon disappeared.
Kayley gasped. “How did he do that?”
“Damn it to hell and back.” Roark ran his hand through his hair, continuing to swear.
“Do you want me to try to scry for him again?” She hated to see him so upset.
Roark stopped his swearing and let out a frustrated sigh. “No, it wouldn’t do any good. He’s probably jumping around from place to place so we can’t get a fix on him. Let’s go.”
Her heart warmed that he’d include her in his quest, kind of like they were partners. When he took her hand, she had a sudden realization she would probably follow him anywhere. Even into the depths of hell.
At first, Kayley thought Roark was going to take her home. They had headed back to the truck, but he’d never asked her where she lived. She knew it was probably for the best if she could convince him to let her go. If she stayed with him much longer, her heart really would be broken. Plus, she was feeling the effects of the whirlwind in the forest and longed for a hot shower. “Roark.”
He glanced at her and she saw he hadn’t fared much better in their encounter. Pine needles and pieces of dried leaves clung to the long strands of his hair. She lifted a hand and ran it over the top of hers, wincing as the movement pulled on the bruised skin of her back.
“Are you hurt?” he asked.
“No, not really. Just dirty and sore. You can take me home now.”
“Not yet.”
Kayley didn’t know if she was happy or sad. “Why not?”
He didn’t answer. She realized they had driven out of town as he slowed the truck and took an exit advertising gas, food, and lodging. In minutes, he pulled into the parking lot of a popular hotel chain. He came around to her side of the truck and helped her from the cab. His manners had improved, or else he was worried about her. The thought made her heart flutter.
The lot was full and he’d parked on the side, away from the main entrance. She didn’t think the lack of available parking had been his reason for doing that, however.
She stood beside him as he gazed at the three-story building. She had no idea what he was doing. Puzzled, she pointed over her shoulder to the front of the hotel with her thumb. “The office is over there.”
He continued to stare at the building.
“Aren’t we going to check in?” Her insides clenched at the thought of sharing a hotel room with the man.
“No. Come on.” He looked down at her. “Can you walk?”
Kayley nodded.
As they approached the outside door, he muttered a few words and she saw the green light flicker on the card reader and heard the click as the door unlocked. Her eyebrow rose in question. “How did you do that?”
“Just a little trick I picked up.” He opened the door and she walked through it, tripping on the mat in front of it. Before she could make a fool of herself and land on her ass, he had his signature tight grip on her arm.
“This way.” He walked down the hallway until he came to the end. Letting her go, he muttered again and the same thing happened with this lock.
“What are you doing? Someone might be in there.” She grabbed his arm this time.
“Stay here.” He shook off her hold and pushed open the door.
She stood there for a moment then stepped in after him, closing the door softly behind her just in case anyone was listening or watching.
The hotel room wasn’t bad. It held a king-sized bed, a small table with two chairs and a television. The room had a stale smell to it even though the air unit was on. Roark sighed, relishing the feel of the cool air. He strode across the room and turned it up full blast. Looking over his shoulder, he saw the witch hadn’t obeyed him and stayed in the hallway. He should have expected it.
Out of habit, he opened the bathroom door and closet door to make sure no ghosts or poltergeists were hiding. Demons attracted supernatural beings when they came out of the pit. Looking for them was just a stalling tactic. He knew he was doing everything he could to put off the next moment. “Take of your shirt.”
The witch’s eyes grew big and round, much like they had in the forest when she'd tried to manipulate him. He’d been around more than enough women to know when one tried to distract him for her own gain. Or from her punishment.
Now, the woman before him glared at him as if he’d lost his damn mind. Maybe he had. He stalked toward her, coming to stop in front of her. Her scent filled his nostrils and he didn’t know if he could do this, make sure she was all right.
“Take off your shirt, so I can see how badly you’re hurt.” He knew her skin had been pierced somewhere because he smelled the faint tinge of iron on her. He could only imagine the damage done from the twigs and rocks that had pummeled them. He clenched his hands at his side, wanting nothing more than to take off after Rafe and beat him to a bloody pulp. He could kill his brother for endangering the witch.
Mine, his inner demon roared. Protect. Defend.
“I’m fine. I think I’ll take a shower.” She sidestepped him, moving quickly and catching him off guard. Before he realized what she’d done, she was safely behind the locked bathroom door.
Great, he thought. Now he’d scared her. And scaring the curvy little witch was the last thing he wanted to do.
Against his better judgment, Roark stood by the bathroom door and listened to the heavy beat of Kayley’s heart as she stood on the other side. He braced his hands on either side of the doorframe, quietly gathering the strength to step away. Step away from the temptation. To not open the door. To not open the door and take the woman up against the bathroom wall.
Listening to the sound of water falling, he willed his body to relax and calm down. He should be anticipating his turn taking a shower. Showers were a luxury in hell. As a demon, he didn’t really need to bathe, but the fall of cold water along his skin was an indescribable joy.
Of course, he’d been in his own personal hell since Kayley had run into the bathroom. He wanted to follow her, make sure she hadn’t gotten hurt very badly in the forest. He wanted to absorb her into his body and protect her from everything if he could.
He heard the rattle of the shower curtain rings as she pushed it aside. Then the changing resonance of the water as she moved under it. He imagined the water flowing over her bare skin, her hands running over her thick curves as she washed away the dirt and scent from their misadventure. Soap bubbles would slide from the tips of her nipples. Nipples he wanted to capture in his mouth and clench between this teeth.
He closed his fist over the doorknob. He made it a strict policy not to mix business with pleasure. He’d
only met her a fucking five hours ago. There was no way in hell — pun intended — that he could feel something for a woman, any woman, this fast. Yet, his body demanded he open the door and take the plump witch who had been a thorn in his side all day. A sexy, curvy, couldn’t-wait-to-fuck thorn. Having this witch beneath him, feeling her wet flesh closing around him would definitely be pleasure. Despite the warnings going off in his head, Roark couldn’t stop his body’s reaction thinking about her. His cock surged, and he knew, without some type of divine intervention, she was going to be his tonight.
Letting go of the doorknob, he willed back his control as he walked out the door, seeking the cool night air.
Kayley slammed the bathroom door shut behind her and quickly turned the lock. Was she locking Roark out, or herself in? The hunger that had flared in his eyes as he’d ordered her to take off her shirt had scared her because it had made her so hungry. Turning on the water, she stripped off her jeans and shirt, letting them fall to the floor in a dirty pile. Catching sight of herself in the mirror, she grimaced. She looked as if she’d had a fun-loving roll on a forest floor.
She wished. Using her fingers, she combed through the long strands of hair, trying to get rid of as much debris as possible. Her face was smeared in what she prayed was dirt and not the dried-up droppings of some nocturnal creature. She looked down at her body, expecting to find more damage than she did. She turned sideways and saw her back was peppered with a heap load of scratches and small bruises, but it could have been a lot worse. Look at the injury Roark had sustained protecting her.
Protecting her. The thought sent a shiver down her back. Oh, to have a man want to protect her because he loved her, not because he felt it was his duty. Maybe he got demerits in hell if innocent bystanders got hurt while he hunted a bounty.
Pulling back the plastic shower curtain, she stepped out of her underwear and beneath the cascade of hot water. She turned it up as high as it would go, but the pressure still sucked.
She took her time, using the small bar of complimentary soap to wash every inch of her skin. Then she did it again. Same with the shampoo. Knowing she couldn’t delay any longer, she squeezed as much water out of her hair as she could. She stepped out of the tub and dried herself off. She sighed when she realized she would have to put on her same dirty clothes. She couldn’t stand the thought of putting on her panties again, so she washed them out in the sink, hanging them on the back of the door. Maybe Roark wouldn’t notice them there. Thankfully, they were a lace and satin pair and not the comfy cotton ones she usually wore when she lounged around the house on Friday nights.
