Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Sam’s place was as quiet as a tomb. The lights were off. The silence thick and deep. As soon as he walked inside, Keenan knew they were alone.
He’d taken five steps up the stairs when Nicole caught his hand. “Keenan, wait.”
Her voice was weak. Breathless. They’d run back through the city, moving so fast humans wouldn’t remember them.
“I need…” Her husky voice had his body tensing. He knew what she needed. He turned, took her into his arms, and pressed her up against the stair railing.
“Drink from me,” he rasped as he urged her head closer to his neck.
Her lips pressed against his skin. Her mouth trembled and then he felt the slight sting of her teeth. At her bite, the whisper of pain disappeared and pleasure pumped through his body. Had she really been close to biting Sam earlier?
A growl built in his throat as his hands tightened on her.
But then he froze. Ice poured through his veins, and he pushed her away.
“Keenan?” Her tongue swiped out and licked away the drops of blood on her lips. “What’s wrong? Was I taking too much?”
His hands clenched. “I…” He took a breath and tried to fight down the rage that had risen within him. “I was afraid I’d hurt you.” A careless touch. An angry thought. Was it that simple? What if he crossed the line? Control.
One weak moment. Could he hurt her so easily?
“You didn’t hurt me,” she told him. “We’ve been over this, remember? You have to want to kill.”
“Right then,” he admitted with total honesty, “I did.”
Her eyes widened. “Me? You wanted to kill me?”
“Sam,” he bit out the name. “You had your teeth on his throat.” The words rumbled from him. “You were going to drink from him.” Just drink. Not fuck. Why should he be jealous over a blood exchange?
He shouldn’t be, yet he was.
“I wasn’t.” Her voice was soft and still managed to stroke right over him like a caress.
His brows rose. He forced his fingers to unclench. “I saw you. You were at his throat.”
“But I wasn’t going to drink.” Nicole shook her head. “I really wasn’t that hard up. I’m not going to make your friends into meals.” She shrugged. “He was playing some kind of game, and I wanted to figure out why.”
“Sam’s always playing games.”
“He wanted you angry. Jealous.”
“Then he’d be real thrilled right now.” He could almost see Sam’s smirk.
“He told me the trick was control, Keenan. You have to keep your control.”
One slip, yes, he knew what would happen. What he didn’t understand was... “You know what I can do, so why do you still want to be with me?”
She smiled at him and the sight almost broke his heart. “You know what I’ve done, so why do you still want to be with me?”
“Because I’ve wanted you from the beginning.” Before he’d even really understood what wanting was. He cleared his throat. “Because I want you, everything that you are.”
“And that’s the way I feel about you.” Her fingers slid down his chest. “I just want you.”
“What if I lose control?” His dark fear.
She leaned forward and kissed his lips. A soft kiss. Gentle. Neither of them had seen a lot of gentleness lately. “I trust you,” she breathed the words against his mouth.
Her trust was precious, he knew that. It was also dangerous.
She eased back and glanced at her hands. There was no sign of bruises anymore. “I heal faster when I drink your blood.”
Angel blood was potent. The most magical to some—and the most deadly to others. Vamps would see a burst in healing from angel blood, while demons who ingested his blood could die.
The Fallen blood had once given rise to the demons, but over time, that blood had diluted. The drugs the demons so often ingested had changed their bodies. Time and mutation had done the rest. Now, if the demons took a hit of undiluted angel blood, they didn’t get a healing rush. But they often got death.
“When I drink your blood...” Her gaze drifted to a spot just over his shoulder. Her hand lifted, slid down his back, and her fingers seemed to stroke the air. No, she was stroking his wings. “I see things,” she finished.
A shudder worked down his body. He felt her touch on wings he no longer had.
Her eyes came back to him. “You’re beautiful, Keenan.”
“Men aren’t beautiful.” If he didn’t have her soon, he’d erupt.
“You’re a lot more than a man.” She turned away and headed up the stairs, her hips rolling and making him want to touch and take. “So much more.” Nicole tossed a teasing glance back over his shoulder. “So come prove it to me.”
Then she laughed— actually laughed —as she ran up the stairs.
And the truth hit him. Keenan knew exactly why he’d fallen, and he knew that if the choice came again, he’d face the fire once more.
For her.
He’d kill and he’d burn for his temptation.
Sam didn’t really know why he’d searched for the woman, but the dancer—Seline—had caught his eye that fiery night at Temptation, and since then, she’d kept slipping into his dreams.
Normally, he only dreamed of fire and screams. But lately, he’d begun to dream of a woman who stripped and stared at him with ice-cold eyes.
Finding her wasn’t very difficult. Most of the girls from Temptation had just bounced right over to Sunrise, another of his clubs, though this one was in a much less desirable part of town. He went in and wondered if he’d find Seline on stage.
She wasn’t on stage. She was waiting tables and dressed in a slim black, very, very short dress that made him want to lick her.
He picked a table in her area, then waited.
When she came toward him, he saw her hesitate. Her eyes widened. He knew fear when he saw it, but she kept heading toward him. Interesting. He lifted a twenty. “I’ll take a beer.”
She swiped the money.
He caught her wrist.
“You’re not supposed to touch,” she said, voice tense.
He kept touching. He stared at her skin—soft, silken skin—then let his gaze rise. Yes, it was still there. A sensual appeal that lapped at the senses and wouldn’t be denied. Even now, other eyes were on her. Other men were waiting and watching. Sam nodded and let his touch linger a little longer before he freed her.
She stepped back and turned for the bar.
“I’d lay odds you’re a demon,” he said quietly.
The drink tray almost fell from her right hand. When she whirled around to stare at him with wide eyes, he smiled. “What? No one figured it out before?”
She shook her head and glanced around the club. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Where else should I be?” His gaze dipped to her very long legs. “Besides, I like the view.”
Seline leaned forward. Her delicate fingers curled under his chin and forced his head—and gaze—up as her eyes locked on his. “Someone’s hunting you.”
Sweet. She cared enough to warn him.
“I’m telling you...” She glanced over her shoulder as if looking for a threat. “Because I’ve heard you pay your debts.”
Not really, but he wanted her to keep talking so he kept his mouth shut.
Her hand fell away from his chin. “Tina talked to some guy after the fire.”
Tina? He vaguely remembered a blonde with big breasts who’d been semi-skilled at pole dancing.
“She told him about you. About that woman who was with you in the back at Temptation.”
Ah, Seline was helping him now. Perhaps he would owe her for the information. “What did this man look like?”
“Six foot two, two hundred pounds, black hair, black eyes.” She bent and scooped up her tray. “And if I’m not mistaken, he’s a shifter. He smelled like an animal, no mistaking that shifter scent.”
Seline was just full of surprises. “Your memory’s good.”
Her lips tightened. “It should be. He was in here not thirty minutes ago.”
His good humor vanished.
“I told Tina not to leave with him, but she wouldn’t listen to me.” Her knuckles whitened around the tray. “I didn’t like the way he looked at her. I’m worried that Tina might not be coming back.”
Possible. It was also possible that Tina had spilled every bit of information that she had on Sam. Tina wouldn’t know much though. She’d only seen him at the club. She wouldn’t know his secrets.
“Tina’s been sleeping with Ron.”
Shit. He’d warned the demon to watch his guard with the dancers, but Ron had a serious weakness for big breasts. And the demon had no power to speak of. Almost as helpless as a human.
Seline nodded. “If that shifter wants to know where you hang your dirty laundry, I’m guessing Ron can tell him.”
Sam lunged out of the chair and towered over her. “If you see that shifter again, stay the hell away from him.”
She laughed. “Do I look stupid?”
“You look like walking sex appeal.”
She blushed. Blushed. A stripper wasn’t supposed to blush. Especially a demon stripper.
He turned away. There’d be time later to solve her puzzle.
“You owe me, Sam!” Seline called after him.
He didn’t stop. Whatever payment she wanted, he’d give her. After all, how much could it be?
But now, he needed to find Ron, and he had to make sure that demon didn’t talk.
Keenan raced after Nicole, stripping the shirt from his body. He went into the darkened room and found her waiting. Nicole knelt on the bed and she was already naked. Yes. He tossed his shirt onto the floor and finished undressing before her.
“You are the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen,” he told her as he stalked toward her.
Her gaze had darted behind him, and he knew she was staring at the wings she shouldn’t see. Only the dying or those with angel blood could see the wings.
Keenan laughed because he should have realized the truth sooner. Thanks to him, Nicole had angel blood in her. He’d given up his blood to her plenty of times.
“What’s so funny?”
The bed dipped beneath his weight, and he shook his head. He caught her hand and kissed the top of her knuckles. A shiver slid over her.
“Keenan?”
He brought his body closer to hers. His fingers feathered over her breast. Such a soft, pretty nipple. He bent his head and licked her.
She arched up to him with a sigh.
Soft. Gentle. He could give her that. No pain, no fire, no fury. Just a man and a woman.
He needed to give her that.
He laved her nipple with his tongue, loving her taste and wanting more. Keenan slid his legs between hers—the better to open her to his touch. As he licked her, his knuckles edged down her stomach. His hand slid lower until his fingers were right over her sex.
When he touched her core, he found her wet. Ready.
He licked a path to her other breast. Pulled her nipple into his mouth and sucked. Her hips arched, a fast rise against his hand, and he let two fingers dip inside her.
Her sex clamped around him, and his cock jerked. Inside.
But not yet.
One more swipe of his tongue over her tight nipple, and then he pulled back to watch her. Pleasure rippled across her face with each flex and plunge of his fingers. He liked the way her breath caught when the pleasure hit. Liked the way her eyes gleamed and she bit her lower lip.
Most men probably wouldn’t have found biting fangs sexy. Those men were idiots.
He pulled his fingers out of her tempting heat. His hands curved around her thighs, and he spread her even wider.
For a moment, he just stared at her sex. Pretty and pink, plump with desire. Then Keenan bent and tasted her. At the first lick, he wanted?—
All of her. All .
He pulled her tight to his mouth and took.
She came against his tongue. Once. Twice.
But he didn’t stop tasting or taking. He was desperate for her and no matter what waited for them, he wanted her to remember this moment.
Pleasure. No pain. No fear.
For one night, he’d only give her pleasure.
“Keenan,” Her nails dug into his skin. “ I want you inside. ”
He rose, licking his lips and still tasting her. He knew his eyes would be as dark as hers.
Her breath choked out as she stared up at him. Then her hands slid down and stroked over his back. Her silken touch shot right through him. Stroking wings that aren’t there.
He thrust into her and drove as deep as he could go. Her legs locked around him. Her heels pushed against his ass as she arched toward him. Taking, needing, just as wildly as he did.
Her moans filled his ears. His hands wrapped tightly around her.
Thrust.
Thrust.
He took her mouth and drove his tongue inside, so hungry for more of her taste. Her tongue brushed against his as her sex squeezed him. Her delicate inner muscles clamped down around his cock.
His spine prickled. His climax was close, but he didn’t want the release to hit yet. Not yet.
Her fingers slid over the ridges of his scars, and her light caress ripped right through his control.
He plunged into her harder. Deeper. The gentleness was gone now, when he’d wanted to hold on to it so badly. But he needed her with a primal desire that couldn’t be contained.
He exploded inside her and heard the gasp that came from Nicole as she climaxed. The pleasure was rough. Pounding, racing through his blood.
He held her as tightly as he could.
Won’t let go.
No matter who came calling.
Some things in this world were more important than duty, and some beings were even stronger than death.
Sam caught the scent of blood as soon as he climbed the porch steps at Ron’s house. The front door stood open and swayed brokenly on its hinges.
His jaw clenched, and he knew what he’d find even before he crossed that threshold. Poor Ron had never been a particularly strong demon. Barely a level three on the power scale, he wouldn’t have been much of a challenge in a fight against another paranormal.
Sure enough, Ron sprawled on the floor. His throat had been ripped open, and blood pooled around his body.
“Fuck.”
Long claw marks riddled Ron’s arms and chest. Those marks weren’t deep enough to kill.
No, the shifter who’d come after Ron had tortured him first, trying to break Ron to get the demon to talk.
“You broke, didn’t you?” Sam muttered, then shook his head as he bent to close Ron’s eyes. When it came to pain, Ron hadn’t been strong. A fault many demons carried. Pain was their weakness.
Who’d come to collect Ron at death? Az? The big guy himself or one of Az’s dozen minions?
Sam yanked out his phone. Sometimes, technology was even faster than magic. He called the number for the safe house he’d offered to Keenan and Nicole. It only figured that Keenan would take his vampire back there. Sam knew when fucking time was at hand—and Keenan had been burning for his vamp.
The phone rang. Once, twice.
“Hello?” Nicole’s hesitant voice.
He turned away from the body. “Company’s coming,” he warned. “Be ready.”
He heard the shatter of glass over the phone line.
“I think company’s already here,” she told him softly and the line went dead.
In an instant, Keenan jumped from the bed. He grabbed his jeans, yanked them up, and whirled to face Nicole even as Sam’s warning echoed in her head.
Company’s coming.
Sam’s warning was too late.
“Stay here,” Keenan told her. “You need to keep out of sight.”
“No way.” She jumped from the bed and hauled on her own clothes. “We’re doing this together. You’re not fighting alone!”
“If you’re with me, you’ll distract me.”
Hard words that froze her.
He lifted his hands. “They touch me, and they die. I can take them out. I just need to make sure that you’re safe.”
But she wanted to be at his side. “I’m not weak.”
“I didn’t say you were.”
No, he’d never said that.
“I’m saying you’re too important to risk.” He headed for the door. “Stay here.”
While he fought the battle?
He was already gone.
“Dammit.” He was gone, but she wasn’t alone. The scent of flowers told her that truth, and when she looked toward the balcony, the doors flew inward and there she could see— oh, crap. Not just shadows anymore, but the solid form of a man. Huge wings rose from his back and fury hardened his face.
Az. She didn’t even need him to speak to know she was staring at death.
“You’ll let him die for you?” Az snarled and stalked toward her.
She backed up. Yes, she wanted to be all brave and badass and step right toward him, but she knew what he could do with a touch.
So damn straight she backed the hell up. “Keenan’s not dying.” She heard the yells then. Screams from downstairs. Not Keenan’s screams, though. Her chin lifted. “He’s not ?—”
“He could have come back.” Az was still advancing on her. Not good. “All he had to do was finish his mission .”
Her elbows banged into the wall. Nowhere else to retreat. “You mean all he had to do was be a good soldier boy and kill me.”
“You shouldn’t matter.” He stopped less than two feet away. His perfect brow crinkled, and he stared at her as if he were trying really hard to understand what the hell Keenan was doing with her. “You’re just a vamp. A parasite to be exterminated.”
Now he was trying to piss her off. She grabbed the nearby lamp and threw it right at his head. The porcelain shattered but he didn’t blink.
No weapon made by man. Right. And the lamp was probably made in China and not forged by magic. Dammit! Looked like she’d have to get creative. “Maybe I’m not the parasite.” She shoved back her hair. “I’m not the one who takes souls. That would be you.”
His eyes widened. “I’m an angel , created to be superior, created to?—”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard this spiel.”
He blinked.
She smiled. “You ever think maybe you’ve got it wrong? Maybe you aren’t the superior one. You can’t feel, can you, Az? Keenan can. He can feel and need and want and—” Love. But she bit that part back. She hoped Keenan could love.
Because she was sure falling for him, but she wouldn’t give Az that weapon over her.
“Maybe humans are the superior ones,” she told him instead. “You’re supposed to guard us, right? Protect us. ”
His great wings stretched behind him and their black tips brushed the ceiling. “You’re not human anymore.”
He’d just taunted her. The bastard.
Her gaze dropped to the floor and measured that distance between them again. Yep. Two perfect feet. “You can kill me.”
He smiled.
Bastard. He could kill her, so why wasn’t he? Why was he waiting for her to die?
Because angels had to follow orders. They didn’t pick the moment of death. They had to wait and follow the rules and touch only when it was time.
“No,” Nicole breathed out the word and took a step closer to Az as the understanding crystallized. “You have the power to kill with a touch, but you can’t kill me. Not yet, anyway. Because you have to follow your orders, right, Az?” Another good soldier boy.
A muscle flexed along his clenched jaw.
“You can’t touch me, not until it’s time. You can’t kill me, not until it’s time.” Her claws were coming out, and her teeth were sharp and ready. “You might want to hurt me?—”
He took a step back. “I-I don’t!”
Bullshit. “Right. You expect me to believe you don’t want some payback after I took one of your precious angels away?”
She caught the flicker of his eyelashes. Ah…a telling sign. Nicole nodded. “I’m the one who took him. Me. Keenan fell.” She let her own smile curve and knew that it would reveal her fangs. “He fell for me. A vampire. A parasite . And he doesn’t want to go back with you.”
“You will destroy him.” Stark.
This was the being who wasn’t supposed to feel? Maybe all the angels were boiling with emotions and getting ready to explode. “Are you worried?” Nicole asked him. “Because it seems like maybe you aren’t the perfect angel anymore, either.”
“I never was.”
That stopped her.
His wings were still spread wide. His hands were fisted at his sides. “Do you care for him, vampire?”
“Yes.” Absolute truth.
His head tilted. “How much?”
She stared back at him, her brows pulling low. What is he doing now?
“Do you care enough to trade your life?” A brief pause. “Because that’s what he did for you. He gave up everything he had. He burned as he fell. Keenan crawled through hell, just so he could come to you.”
Hell?
“So I ask again, what would you do for him?”
She realized the shouting from downstairs had stopped. Too quiet. Her heart seemed to freeze in her chest. She ran across the room and saw a big black bag near the nightstand. She yanked it open and found her clothes. All of her clothes had been brought over from Keenan’s place— Sam had known she’d be back . She yanked out the clothes, and she found her gun nestled inside. Thank you, Sam.
“Would you fight for him?” Az pressed. “Kill?”
“Yes,” Nicole answered without hesitation as her fingers curled around the base of a gun. The same gun she’d taken from that vamp feeding room in San Antonio. Got the silver this time, asshole.
“Would you die for him?”
Anger boiled in her blood as she whirled back to Az. “I don’t know what kind of sick game you think you’re playing with me, but it’s over.”
His gaze didn’t so much as drop to the gun. Right, because why would he fear a gun? He wouldn’t, but Carlos should fear the silver bullets that were still inside.
Az watched her with his bright gaze. “We both know Carlos isn’t hunting you. It’s Keenan’s blood he wants because he believes an angel’s blood will give him power. So I ask yet again...” His voice seemed to whisper through her, “Would you die for him?”
That silence was too thick. Her hand tightened on the gun. There were only a few bullets left.
“Angels can die,” Az told her, still in that whisper that sent chills over her. “ Everyone can die, and believe me, vamp, you won’t both survive the night.”
Keenan? He wouldn’t survive?
She sprang for the door.
“Get ready to choose!” Az called after her. “I see death coming. I see it. ”
The image of that last moment. He would see it. She could feel the truth in his words. Dammit, sometimes angels sucked.
“I see you and Keenan. I see the stake, and I see blood.” He shook his head. “The blood is on Keenan.”
No. He wasn’t supposed to die. She nearly tripped over the stairs as she raced down them. “ Keenan! ”
“Death will come.” Az’s voice followed her. “Before the sun rises, death will take a soul. ”
“Stay away from him!” Nicole shouted, but she didn’t know if she was shouting the words to Az or to Carlos.
Then she hit the ground floor and she saw the broken glass that littered the floor. Two naked men—had to be shifters, they were always supposed to be naked when they transformed back to human form—lay on the floor.
But Keenan was gone, and there was no sign of Carlos.
“Better hurry, vamp.”
She glanced up the stairs and saw Az staring down at her.
“Time’s running out,” he warned.
Damn him. Shouting Keenan’s name, Nicole ran out into the night.