“Into your ass? Does it feel good?” He circled his fingers over her clit. “Are you still good with this?”
“Yes.” She skimmed her lips over his neck.
“Do you want more? Is it one or two fingers?” He rocked upward as he slowly grazed that sensitive nub again.
“Yes, I want him in me, too.” She drew in a shuddering breath. “I think two.”
“It was two. Now, I’ll slowly work my cock into you,” Noah said. “Tell us if you need us to stop.”
Finally. Phoenix held her still. He might have to run a mile or two, but he’d stop any time rather than hurting her. It was all about her. Without her, life was just existence.
He took a few deep breaths. Tempest stiffened. He flicked her clit, giving her something to distract her from the newness. She moaned and pressed down. He circled the nub. Better keep her right there, hanging on the edge. She’d focus on Noah sliding into her if the pleasure didn’t hold her.
Noah pressed into her. Phoenix drew in a breath as her muscles tightened on him. Damn, that would to rip his control right away. He pulled her tight to him.
“I’m all the way in,” Noah said.
“Good. Let’s start moving. She’s close, and I’m probably even more so.” Phoenix gripped her hips.
“Still good, Tempest?” Noah asked.
“I’m good as long as you start now. Don’t tease me anymore.” Tempest clutched at his shoulders.
“We’re past teasing.” Phoenix gripped her hips.
When Noah pulled back, Phoenix guided her hips up. Fire pulsed through him. She sank back down onto his cock. Noah pulled her up again. Phoenix arched up and clenched his teeth. He would hold out until she came. Even if it drove him totally crazy.
She ground down against him. A moan tore from Phoenix. He rolled his hips up. Sparks jolted through him. She swirled her hips and dug sharp nails into his shoulders.
He pulled her against him as he rocked up. Her muscles clamped around him. A jolt shot through him. He pumped up into her. She cried out. As the tissue rippled around him, he lost it. He pumped up into her. Tension hardened his muscles, and he held onto her as fire rushed over him, searing his nerve endings with fiery pleasure.
He ran his hand over her shoulder. Noah grunted and heaved a big breath. More weight settled on Phoenix.
“You’re going to kill me one day. It’s so good to finally be with you.” Noah patted her shoulder.
“I know. She squeezes so hard.” Phoenix exhaled. “Now, let’s take her to the bath.”
Noah rose. Phoenix lifted her into Noah’s waiting hands. She snuggled into his arms. Phoenix rolled out of bed and stretched. Damn, it was good to be with her. She was safe in their arms. They just had to keep her that way, because she was their everything. Somehow, they had to protect her from both the hunters and her relatives.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Could this neighborhood get any seedier? Noah walked down the littered sidewalk. A cold breeze scattered the lighter debris. Surely the hunters could afford something better than what looked like a by-the-hour hotel. Even with the hunter’s need to hide, he wouldn’t envision them staying here.
They’d finally had a hit on one of the names they’d found among the papers left in the car that smashed through the community’s gate. A credit card and the driver’s license under that name had been used at this hotel. It didn’t belong to the man that the car belonged to. Before this use, the identity had only been used in the Midwest. Perhaps, they finally had a lead on the hunters.
Five other gargoyles wandered the area, trying to catch a scent they knew. It would be helpful if they knew more of the hunters who were here, but so far the only ones they really knew about were the ones who’d been caught, which was zero help. They were looking into the family of the captured hunters though.
“See anything yet?” Jesse strode up beside him.
“No,” Noah replied, shaking his head, “but I don’t expect to see their car up front where it could be seen from the street. They’ll be near the back if they’re here.”
“So, we’ll have to check into that infested looking hotel to know for sure.” Jesse grimaced as he looked around. “Whoever does it might need to burn their clothes whenever they come out.”
“Yes, those lucky men.” Noah lifted a shoulder. Thankfully, it wouldn’t be him. Mainly because he’d been here and seen, but that wasn’t an assignment he’d want. This place was a pit.
Most places tried to keep the trash and debris cleaned away. Not this hotel. Wrappers, cups, and if his eyes didn’t deceive him, a used condom laid on the sidewalk near the main doors. That was disgusting, but more evidence that this hotel wasn’t a place many people stayed overnight. Hopefully, this wasn’t a dead end.
“Let’s continue on down the street. I’ll get someone who hasn’t been seen here to do the dirty job.” Noah glanced to the right. One of the good points about having been sent to investigate now. He’d love to find something to stop these hunters, if for no other reason other than to allow Tempest to get back to her normal life.
“Definitely, lingering here isn’t in my plans.” Jesse sneered. “This place is a dump. I couldn’t stand it for hours much less days.”
They strode down the street. A fetid odor carried on the cold wind, part alcohol, part piss, and part stale donuts. Jesse was right. The rest of the neighborhood hadn’t seemed this bad, but the hotel was seedy as hell.
Noah pulled out his phone. They’d need a man or two who hadn’t been part of the search. And that meant a call to Dante. He’d know just the lucky people to send to check into the flea-bag motel.
“Just be glad you’re here today. Otherwise, you could be chosen to stay here.” Noah pressed the number and waited.
“Remember to tell him they’ll probably need some extra clothes to change into when they come out of there.” Jesse grinned. “And I’ve never been happier to be out of a mission. While you make the call, I’ll check further up the street. Maybe there are some cameras around here.”
Not likely. That wouldn’t last long even if the human hunters were the only criminal element here. Graffiti and gang tags covered the wall. Noah sighed. But they might get lucky. It wouldn’t be the first time.
“Dante here. What’s up, Noah?” Dante asked.
“We’re at the place.” Noah eased a little farther down the street. Better to keep moving than draw too much attention.
“What have you learned?” Dante pressed.
“Not much yet.” He glanced down the connecting street. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Suddenly, pain exploded in the back of his head. White light flashed in front of his eyes as he stumbled forward. He dropped the phone and spun. A bar swung toward his head. He threw an arm up. The bar slammed into the meat of his arm.
Son of a bitch. A searing bolt slammed up his arm and a blessed numbness followed. Noah swung. He slammed his fist into the attacker’s jaw. Arms banded around his chest, pinning his arms to his side. The man came back at him. A rock hard fist slammed into Noah’s jaw. His vision blurred. What the fuck? Was the man using brass knuckles?
Urgency slammed through Noah. He had to get out of this hold, but he couldn’t use claws. That’s what the hunters were waiting for. Their proof that monsters were real.
He slammed his head back. Pain slashed through the back of his head as it slammed into the face of the man holding him. The man behind him yelled. The arms loosened. Noah wrenched free. He swung at the man in front of him, driving his fist into the man’s jaw. The man stumbled back, dazed. A hard step and then a thud followed. Noah whipped his head around, looking for the new threat. Jesse wrestled on the ground with a man.
Noah spun back to the attacker in front of him. The man swung at him. His heartbeat raced and adrenaline pumped through him. Noah blocked and drove his fist into the man’s stomach. The man’s breath whooshed out as he doubled over. He slammed his fist into the man’s jaw. The attacker crumpled to the pavement, ou
t cold.
Even in this area, there was little chance this hadn’t drawn some notice. The police were probably on the way. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t be able to haul these men away and question them. They’d have to hand them over to the authorities. But perhaps, they could use them to find the others. This location wouldn’t be where they stayed now.
Noah looked left and right. No one coming at them. It looked to be safe. A car pulled up beside him.
“Noah, are you all right?” Troy poked his head from the passenger side of the car.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Noah nodded.
“Dante called and said you were on the phone with him, but got cut off. He wants you to call him back.” Troy gestured down the street. “I saw a couple people on the phone staring this way, so police are on the way.”
“We’ll deal with them, and I’ll find my phone and get in touch with him again,” Noah said Now, there was more to tell him.
With any luck, they’d make this attack work for them, because if this went on much longer, someone would get seriously hurt.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Fuck, it had been a hard few days. If those men had come after Noah with more weapons, she could have lost him. Tempest ran a hand through her hair. She braced her hands on the white and gray marble counter and took a few deep breaths. Would this end any time soon?
Someone rapped on the bathroom door. She stiffened.
“You okay in there, Tempest?” Sawyer asked.
“Yeah, I’m okay.” She picked at her hair, trying to put it back in order. Fuck. She had to get herself under control.
“Want to tell me what’s the matter? You don’t sound okay. Stress practically rings in your voice,” Sawyer prodded.
She exhaled and her shoulders fell. When did he get to know her so well? He shouldn’t be able to tell just by listening to her that she was going out of her mind.
“Come on, Tempest. Maybe I can help or maybe not, but at least, I can listen.” His voice lowered, coaxing.
“All right, I’m coming, but there’s nothing wrong.” She straightened her shoulders and flicked at her jeans. No use ruining his day, because this last attack had made her crazy. She opened the bathroom door.
“Yeah, I don’t buy that, and I’m sure Noah and Phoenix will have their doubts, too.” Sawyer held his hand out.
“They’re not home.” She frowned but took his hand. At least, they hadn’t been when she went into the bathroom, which hadn’t been too long ago.
“They’re on the way home. Come on into the kitchen. You can try to convince me as I finish up in there. We’ll have dinner and maybe you’ll be ready to share.” Sawyer turned and led her down the hall.
“You don’t need to worry. It’s nothing.”
He turned and narrowed his eyes on her. “Now that you’re out here, I can smell your stress, too. Don’t lie. You don’t have to talk yet, but don’t make as if it’s nothing when you’re clearly worried.”
Why did she always forget about those freaky abilities? They weren’t normal men. They wouldn’t buy the normal excuses. She shook her head. But now that he pointed it out, in a way, she was lying to him.
“Okay.” She nodded. Maybe she could get his mind off what’s wrong with a little teasing and touching. “Do you need any help with dinner?”
“No, you just sit there and watch while I finish up. It won’t be long before it’s finished, and the other two will be here by then.” Sawyer shook his head.
Well, there went that idea. She sat in one of chairs around the wooden table in the kitchen and watched him prepare the vegetables. Eating in here was always one of her favorite things. It was so cozy and intimate. She could touch all of her men just by reaching out. That wasn’t possible at the big table in the dining room.
He popped the pan into the oven to roast them. As he moved on to the meat, Noah came in. He smiled and strode over to her, drawing her from the chair and hugging her tight. She slipped her arms around him and held on. Damn, it was good to hold him. Slowly, the tightness in her muscles eased. Maybe Phoenix would be home soon.
“It’s good to see you, baby. Did Sawyer draft you in to helping?” Noah lifted her off her feet.
She wrapped her legs around his hips and leaned her head against his neck. Now, this was a promising position. “No, he ordered me to come in here and watch him.”
“Hmm, I would’ve made you help since you’d be distracting me anyway.” Noah’s hands cupped her buttocks.
“She’s leaving out the part where I found her in the bathroom stressed to the max and not telling me anything but lies.” Sawyer waved a spoon at them. “Why don’t you put her down and go wash up? Dinner shouldn’t be too much longer.”
“Phoenix is on his way. He called as I was on my way from the gate.” Noah pressed a kiss to her cheek. “If only Sawyer was a little slower at getting food prepared, we might have a chance to have some fun.”
“But he’s not.” She patted his shoulder. “I’ll still be here when you get back.”
“And don’t think I’ll forget about you being stressed. I want to know what has you so worried and why you lied about it. Maybe you need a spanking to remember not lie.” Noah’s hand smoothed over the curve of her ass as he stepped back.
“It’s not important.” She shook her head. A tingle coursed through her at the warmth of his hand and the threat to her buttocks.
“It’s important to me.” Noah touched her lips.
“To all of us.” Sawyer half-turned from the stove. “Now, sit back down. If you go with him, he’ll tempt you into missing dinner.”
“You’re being awfully bossy for a man who likes to fuck me.” She narrowed her eyes on him. Not that this was any reason she’d cut him off, but still.
“It’s making love even if it’s quick and hard, because even if I say it a hundred times a day, when we come together, it’s always love.” Sawyer glanced back at her and smiled.
How could he be so sweet and infuriating at the same time? It shouldn’t be possible. “You know pretty words aren’t always going to get you out of trouble.”
“Well, there’s always sex and chocolate if I’m desperate.” Sawyer laughed.
“Maybe if you try them at the same time, it will work.” Phoenix strode into the room. “Why are you in trouble?”
“She says I’m bossy.” Sawyer stirred something boiling away in a pan.
“Of course, you’re bossy. It didn’t take half a day for me to learn that.” Phoenix leaned toward the stove and inhaled. “Steak smells good. How long?”
“Maybe five minutes. Time to wash up and change if you want.” Sawyer pulled one of the steaks.
“Good. Want to come with me, Tempest?” Phoenix held out his hand.
“She stays. We’ll eat this while it’s warm.” Sawyer shook his head.
Still being a bossy cock blocker. Tempest smiled. She’d really enjoy some time with Noah and Phoenix, but Sawyer was focused.
“You’re no fun, Sawyer.” Phoenix shook his head but strode to the kitchen door.
“I’d think the same thing, but we need to eat and we need to talk. Go clean up.” Sawyer transferred another steak.
“Talk about what?” Phoenix turned back.
“When you’re back, we’ll discuss it.” Sawyer waved. “Go. You’re down to four minutes.”
“Yeah, I’m going.” Phoenix waved and left the room.
Barely four minutes later, Noah came back into the room and Phoenix followed. Sawyer moved the platter of meat to the table as they strode over.
“Noah, can you get the drink from the fridge for me? I have a bottle of wine chilling. Maybe it will help relax our woman there.” Sawyer walked back to the stove for the veggies. He put them in a bowl and poured some type of noodle dish into another. He carried them both to the table.
“I’ve got it. And she’ll relax even if it has to be through exhaustion.” Noah smiled.
“Hey, threatening sex is different than promising
sex.” Tempest pointed at Noah. A fine differentiation maybe, especially since they’d never hurt her, but still promises were so much better.
“It’s not a threat, Tempest.” Noah laughed. “I was making a vow not to rest until you were relaxed.”
“Uh huh, don’t try to kid me. I know better. You’re bossy and a smooth talker.” She waved her hand.
“And you still won’t get out of talking about what stressed you.” Noah returned with the bottle of wine as Phoenix placed a glass in front of her.
“She was stressed?” Phoenix poured the wine.
“Yeah, she was in the bathroom smelling of stress and denying anything was wrong.” Sawyer sat down and passed out the plates.
“Hey, a girl can have her private times to worry. And if I don’t want to talk about it, that’s my prerogative.” Tempest glared at Sawyer. It was great that he worried about her, but she wasn’t used to being hunted and having those she cared about hurt. It would take some time to get used to. “So nose out of it.”
“Anything that gets you that stressed deserves some time to talk about it.” Phoenix shook his head. “And we will discuss everything, but for now, let’s eat. We’ll pull what’s on your mind from you after we finish.”
“We don’t give up.” Noah lifted her hand and squeezed. His low growl barely carried to her ears.
A thrill curled through her stomach. Demanding man. And sneaky one. As if she couldn’t guess that they’d use sex to get those answers. She bit her lip. If they wanted answers, she would take the pleasure as they pried them out of her.
“Hmm, I don’t think you need to know.” She shook her head.
“And it will be my pleasure to show you how wrong you are.” Sawyer leaned down and brushed a kiss over her cheek. “Now, get some food, and then we’ll get to the fun part of the evening.”
“You know the fun part would come even if you don’t know exactly what I was thinking while I was having a moment alone in the bathroom.” She raised her eyebrows. In the future, she’d make sure to run a bubble bath or something to cover the scent if she had something she needed to think about. Sometimes a woman needed her privacy.
Hunted Flame Page 17
