Chapter 9 #2
He hauled open the door, and I knew by the sudden shimmer that encased him that the hall must be occupied.
He didn’t duck back into the stairwell but rather exited and the door almost slammed shut before I grabbed the edge and followed.
Ulseere had once more adopted his businessman persona, but this time, I could see through it, as if the image he projected were a transparent gauze.
Had his ability weakened, or had I developed a way of seeing past it?
Likely the latter given the way the two hussies in short and tight dresses tossed him coy smiles as they strutted past for the elevator.
Ulseere kept his pace slow as he headed for room 302, likely to ensure the women didn’t change their mind and exit the elevator. The moment it descended, he positioned himself in front of the target room and cocked his head as if listening.
“There’s no one inside.” Even as he spoke, he placed his hand on the door. This time I saw the faint glow before the lock clicked. He had it looking so easy. If he stayed, he could probably make a killing as a thief, if his honor would let him stoop so low, which I doubted.
We eased inside the room, and it immediately reminded me of my own. Clothing, shoes, makeup, and more had been tossed around everywhere as if someone set off a bomb inside a suitcase.
Judging by Ulseere’s expression, he disapproved of the mess. “We shouldn’t dawdle, seeing as how Cedric couldn’t ascertain how long the occupant would be gone. Grab what you need and quickly.”
I had no idea where to start, but Ulseere obviously did since his hand dipped into a mound of fabric on the dresser and emerged dangling a scrap of black lace. “I found you some underpants.”
“Ew, I’m not wearing someone’s used skivvies.” I made a face.
“You had no such objection with Florence’s garments.”
“Because Flo seems to think pussy cooties come out in the wash.” I remained on the fence about that.
“Does the tag on it not indicate newness?” he flicked the hanging little paper square with a price tag of fourteen ninety-five—for panties the size of an eyepatch.
Fancy.
I snatched them from his hand and hip-checked him aside.
“Let me see if there’s a matching bra in my size.” Oh hell yeah, there was. The bra might be a bit snug in the cup, but I’d wear it, if only because I knew now Ulseere might be removing it.
The rest of the clothes proved a little more difficult to choose from. I held up dress after dress, baby doll, negligee, body suit, and grimaced.
“Everything is so form-fitting.”
“What is the issue?”
“I’m on the run from demons, not looking to turn tricks.”
He frowned.
I sighed. “I don’t usually wear such revealing clothes.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m not comfortable in them.”
He eyed the undergarments I held and arched a brow.
I shook them. “These I don’t mind because they go under clothes. Only me and whomever I choose gets to see them. But this…” I held up a dress that would barely cover my ass cheeks and might bust a stitch if I had to breathe. “I might as well be naked.”
For some reason, that made him grin. “I don’t have an issue with that.”
Damn him for making me blush. That wasn’t how this worked. I said outrageous things to make him squirm. Not the other way around.
His lips remained partially curved as he neared me, and being a grown-ass woman, I didn’t retreat. I lifted my chin and kept my gaze locked on his even as he towered over me.
“You are an interesting woman, Charlotte.”
“Would you call me Charlie? Charlotte sounds like an old lady,” I grumbled, more to fight the headiness of his nearness than because I hated the sound of my full name coming out of his mouth.
“Charlie.” He rolled the syllables, and I quivered in places I really shouldn’t quiver just from hearing someone speak.
“Do you have a nickname?” I asked for distraction.
“Yes.” He paused. “Dark Vanquisher is the one my king uses, but I’m also known as the Hunter of the Damned and, more commonly, the Scourge.”
“Your friends call you the Scourge?”
“No, that would be my enemies, usually a second before I show them how I earned that name,” he admitted with a grin.
It shouldn’t have been so sexy. “Well, those won’t do as nicknames on Earth unless you join a metal band. Maybe I’ll call you Olly.”
He looked absolutely appalled. “No.”
“Siri?” I didn’t tell him that was the name for Apple’s AI voice because I enjoyed teasing him.
“Also no.”
“I need something to yell when you make me come.” To the bold came the orgasms.
“You’re assuming you’ll be able to make a sound. I plan to leave you breathless.”
I really hoped he meant in pleasure and not because he’d choked me. I mean, who knew what shadow elves did in the bedroom? Meanwhile did I move away when his head dipped? Nope. I tilted mine in reply.
Our lips touched.
Bam.
Instant arousal. Instant fire. Instant I wanted to tear off his clothes and ride him until I hit cloud nine.
I might have run all the bases in a homerun if the door to the room hadn’t suddenly opened.
“What the fuck?” screeched a female voice.
I glanced over to see the hooker—AKA woman wearing the skankiest of outfits—framed in the door.
Before I could reply, she shook her head and drawled, “Fucking Randy. He knows he’s supposed to warn me when he sends clients directly to my room.”
I blinked. Hold on. She really was a prostitute. One who swung her hips as she approached Ulseere, who eyed her with disinterest. Not that it stopped the hooker.
She pushed out her lips and purred, “Aren’t you a handsome boy. This is going to be a treat.” She ran a finger down his chest, and he didn’t move.
Didn’t do a thing to stop that finger from reaching his waist and dipping lower.
I saw green. Actually, more like red as my jealously exploded.
Literally.
Something emerged from me. A force. A fist of air. Whatever the fuck it was slammed into the woman and tossed her across the room hard enough she smacked into the wall and hit the floor in a heap.
Utterly appalled, I whispered, “Oh no. I killed her.”
“She’s not dead, just unconscious,” Ulseere drawled. “Next time you’re feeling possessive, a simple slap would probably be more appropriate.”
I singed him with a glare. “How about not letting her touch you in the first place?”
His lips curved. “But then I’d miss your jealous reaction.”
“Hardly jealous. I was protecting you from a possible threat.”
He snorted at my obvious lie. “In that case, good job reacting quickly. It’s good to see you’re starting to figure out how to access your magic.”
Should I admit I had no idea what the fuck happened or how I’d done it? Not a chance.
I crouched down, and my eye caught a familiar athletic brand logo on a bag. A peek inside showed yoga pants, a crop top, and matching zip-up sweater.
I snagged it and rose. “I’ve got what I need. Let’s go.”
This time I led the way up the stairs to our suite, and unlike him, I didn’t complain when I felt his gaze on my ass.
On the contrary, I gave it a bit more of a shake. Probably why he pinned me to the wall beside the exit for our floor and gave me a torrid kiss.
Mmm.
“Room’s just down the hall,” I reminded.
A room that offered no privacy because Flo and Cedric had returned.
Sigh.
The French fries, salty as they were, didn’t make up for the disappointment of missing out on epic sex.
The only saving grace?
Ulseere looked more miserable than usual.