Chapter 24
Cyan hadn’t been this nervous in her entire life. She didn’t even know why she felt this way. She’d spent a lot of time with Stryke at this point, so it made no sense why the pending dinner with him should make her so anxious.
He’d sent her a code to enter his office and another to operate his office Harrowgate to his Canadian home. It made her wonder what it had cost him to get a private Harrowgate like that.
And who he’d paid. Only the highest-level demons had the authority to authorize personal Harrowgates.
She clutched the bags of food and stepped out of the gate and onto his deck. He’d cleared the snow, but light, dry flakes swirled around her as she walked. She’d always loved the cold weather, especially when she could be out in it.
And being out in it…was part of her plan for tonight.
The door opened automatically as she approached. Stryke stood there, still in his black work slacks and a tailored black button-down. He’d gone casual, though, with rolled-up sleeves and his shirt partially unbuttoned.
He was so freaking hot her hormones practically vibrated.
He took the bags from her. “What is this?”
She followed him to the kitchen, admiring how his pants hugged his backside. “Since you don’t like eating, I thought I’d bring something you are guaranteed to like.”
He laughed, then sobered, looking at her as if she was a dumbass. “You’re kidding.”
“Not. At. All.” She unpacked the appetizers and handed him the plate. “Try one.”
Cocking his head, he studied the little wafers. “What are they?”
“Just try one.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Why?”
“Eat one of the wafers, and I’ll tell you.”
Now, his eyes narrowed to slits. “And if I don’t eat one?”
“Then you’ll never know how this experiment turns out,” she said glibly, taunting his innate curiosity.
As predicted, he appeared intrigued, one eyebrow arching and a spark lighting his dark eyes. “This is an experiment?”
Kind of. “Do you know Azagoth’s daughter Suzanne?”
“Who doesn’t? She has a show called An Angel in the Kitchen . She uses her angelic powers to infuse food with emotion.” He glanced down at the wafer in his hand. “Is that what this is?” He put it back on the plate and shoved it at her. “I don’t want artificial feelings—”
“That’s not how it works. No spells or trickery involved. It’s more like…you know how laughter is infectious? Or when someone you’re with is in a good mood, it can help lift yours? It’s like that. Give it a try.”
“No one infects me with laughter, and my mood isn’t dependent on—”
She grabbed his hand and plopped a wafer into his palm. “Just try it.”
He shot her a petulant glare that made her smile, but took a bite. A nibble, really. Stared at it. Took another bite, bigger this time.
“Huh. It’s not bad.”
“See, it’s already working.”
He popped the rest into his mouth. “What’s it supposed to do?”
“It’s going to help me rewire your brain.”
He froze mid-chew. “What?”
She laughed. “Don’t worry, it’s basic psychology. It’s going to help you associate positive feelings with things that are currently negative.”
Taking a deep breath as if the air contained courage, she stripped off her sweater and hoped she wasn’t making a huge mistake. She’d seen a different side of Stryke over the last few weeks, and especially during their time on the Sea Storm , and somehow, she’d gone from hating him to wanting to help him. She wanted to see the villain be redeemed, to become the good guy like in her favorite movies. She wanted to see the Grinch get a big heart. Severus Snape to reveal his loyalty and love. Darth Vader to choose his family over the dark side.
And, she had to admit, her scientific curiosity was killing her.
“See, after you eat that,” she said, “we’re going to go for a swim and have sex.”
Stryke barked out a laugh. “You seriously think eating this is going to change my brain .”
“It’s not a magic pill,” she said as she shoved down her jeans. “But, yes, absolutely. My mom always used to talk about the brain’s capacity to rewire itself. She even conducted a few breakthrough studies.”
“You’re talking about neuroplasticity. The ability of the brain to change, adapt, and heal.”
“Exactly. Your brain can create new neurons and pathways with repetition and positive associations.”
He appeared to consider what she’d said as he studied the plate of wafers. Then, with a shrug, he took the one he’d put down and popped it into his mouth.
“I guess we’ll see.” He eyed her. “Did you bring a swimsuit?”
She shrugged out of her bra. “No. Is that a problem?”
Gold flecks glittered in his eyes as he watched her step out of her panties. “Not at all.” He glanced out at the pool. “But I don’t think I’ll be joining you.”
She grinned. “We’ll see about that.” With that, she sauntered to the sliding glass door, feeling his hungry gaze following her.
She didn’t have to look back to know that he watched as she stepped into the warm water, but when she did look back at him, she laughed.
He was eating another wafer.
Suzanne’s wafers were fucking phenomenal. Savory, spicy, and sweet. He didn’t enjoy eating, but if he had to, that was the type of food that intrigued him and awakened his taste buds.
He didn’t feel any noticeable effect from eating them, though. Maybe Suzanne’s talent was a scam. Or the effects were psychosomatic. Because he felt the same as he had before he’d eaten the cookies.
Well, that wasn’t entirely true. He was seriously turned on, but that had more to do with the naked female swimming in his pool than some cheese biscuits with pepper jelly.
Because, damn, Cyan was something else. Her long, lithe body cut through the water like a shark as she swam from end to end, barely even creating a ripple on the surface. He could watch that all day.
And it wasn’t just because she was naked. He’d come to admire her in so many ways. She was smart, unafraid to speak her mind, and as curious as he was. She wanted to know how things worked and make them work better. From spells and weapons to, well, him.
The thought filled him with a pleasant, effervescent sensation that was almost…euphoric. How long had it been since anyone besides Eidolon wanted to make him better? To help him get past the shit that had weighed him down for almost half his life?
How long had it been since he’d allowed anyone to get close enough that they would want to do any of that?
Yeah, he bore some responsibility for how people reacted to him. Bore most of it. Like, ninety-nine percent of it. And he hadn’t cared. Up until right this minute, he hadn’t cared.
Suddenly, he did. He wanted to let Cyan into his life. But…maybe not all the way. He wasn’t ready for that.
He may never be ready for that.
She dove beneath the water’s surface, her slinky body outlined in the glow of the dim pool lights. He held his breath in solidarity and let it out in relief when she did a porpoise, flinging water everywhere as she shook her head and wiped her eyes.
Rivulets streamed down her face and neck, disappearing in a gentle current that swirled around the tops of her breasts.
He wanted to do that with his tongue.
His pants grew uncomfortably tight, so he whipped them off. His shirt went next, followed by his boxer briefs, and then he found himself at the edge of the pool, his hungry gaze glued to Cyan.
She swam over with a grin. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
He had no idea why he suddenly felt so awkward, like a newly transitioned male talking to his first female.
“Come on in,” she said. “Water’s nice.”
“Of course, it is. I keep it at body temperature.”
She rolled her eyes. “Come on, Mr. Literal. Get in.”
He’d never been in the pool. Once a year or so, he’d dip his feet in to see if his feelings about swimming had changed.
Nope. They never did.
So, he didn’t expect anything different when he stepped into the slightly cool water. And, sure enough, by the time he was in the pool to his waist, his skin was crawling, and he was wondering what the hell he was doing. Then Cyan swam over, her gaze locked on his. When she stood in front of him, her wet skin glistening under the light of the moon overhead, she was a goddess, and he couldn’t move.
“Hi,” she said, her lips wet and curved into an adorable, kissable smile.
“Hi,” he said lamely.
So. Fucking. Lamely. He really was that post-transitioned dork all over again.
She moved closer. Slowly. Seductively. Her fingers teased the water playfully as she came within inches.
“Wanna get wet?” she purred, reaching out to trail one finger down his sternum to his navel. He reached for her, but she fell back into the water with a splash and a laugh. “Come get me,” she called out.
She didn’t look away as she started a lazy backstroke toward the deep end, her breasts breaching the water, her hips sinking just beneath the surface. So tantalizing.
With a growl, he dove in after her, some predatory instinct awakened, demanding he catch her. No, not awakened. His inner predator had always hunted, but it had focused on making demons pay for their evil. On bringing down powerful people who fucked with him. He’d used his power, wealth, and killer instinct to bring entire countries to their bony knees.
But now…now, all he wanted was to bring one female to her knees. Preferably in front of him, with her mouth warming his cock.
And then it wouldn’t be long before he would be on his knees before her, using his mouth and tongue to make her scream his name.
Laughing, she swam harder, squirming out of his reach every time he nearly had her. She was a natural in the water, unlike him, who had only learned to swim to keep from drowning.
But where she was agile and fast, he was relentless. He stalked her around the pool, slowly wearing her down.
“You know I’m going to catch you.”
“I’m going to let you catch me.”
He stopped in chest-deep water, confused. “Then why are you dragging it out?”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s called foreplay, Stryke.”
Foreplay. Obviously, he knew what that was. He’d just never engaged in it. Not ever.
Waste. Of. Time.
“Come on,” she said, crooking her finger at him from the shallow end of the pool. “I’m right here.”
“You’re just going to swim away. I know your game.”
“Yes,” she said. “The game is called foreplay.”
“And how long must we play it?”
“Until I say so.”
“And why do you get to make the rules?”
“Because I’m the one who is going to make you come.”
His cock jerked in anticipation, so on board with that. But his brain…his fucking brain had to be contrary, putting on the brakes as it gave itself time to process all the new sensations and experiences.
“But I don’t need you,” he pointed out. “I have Masumi. And injections.”
For a split second, her eyes flashed with hurt. Or anger. He wasn’t sure. But he did know that he’d fucked up.
Cyan swung away from him and splashed up the steps.
“Wait!” He swam to her, catching her by the elbow as she reached the top step. “I’m sorry. That didn’t come out right. I didn’t mean to make it sound like—”
“Like you don’t want me and are basically doing me a favor by having sex with me?”
“Ah, no. Definitely not. I’m saying that I don’t need you. Not for sex. I still have a couple of hours until my next injection. But I want you.”
The tension in her body melted away, and a slow smile curved her lips, a naughty grin that stole his breath. She sank down so she was sitting on the edge of the pool, legs spread wide, and feet braced on the top step.
“Show me. Show me what you want.”
So much. There was so much he wanted to do that he’d never done before. But where to start?
“If you’re having trouble deciding,” she said, “a kiss would be a good place to begin.”
A kiss.
One of those things that had always seemed unnecessary but he didn’t mind doing with Cyan. In fact, as he stared at her full mouth, his watered. Inside his chest, his heart pounded in excitement, and maybe a little anxiousness. He wanted to learn, but he didn’t like looking like a fool.
His hands shook as he braced them on the ledge on either side of her hips and leaned in.
She lifted her face to meet his, her violet eyes reflecting the twinkling stars in the clear night sky.
Slowly, nervously, he lowered his mouth to hers.
The sudden sensation of her wet, warm lips on his sent a jolt of lust into his groin. That probably wasn’t unusual, but the deep, soothing heat that flowed through him in a wave of affection was. For him, anyway.
He’d never experienced anything like it. It was even better than the belly flutters.
With a breathy, sexy moan, she arched into him, her breasts pressed against his chest as she deepened the kiss. Her tongue met his, tangling and licking as she sucked gently and clamped her inner thighs against his hips.
His shaft, mere inches from her center, strained to get to her. Always before, he’d have taken her by now, sinking deep to get the shit over with.
But right now, all he wanted was to revel in these new, exciting sensations.
Like little waves lapping at his legs. Cyan’s skin rubbing against his. Her teeth nipping at his bottom lip.
Somewhere nearby, wolves howled, their songs vibrating through the icy night.
This was perfect, something he hadn’t known he wanted. Now…he wanted .
Backing down the steps, he kissed a trail on her skin as he went. He laved her neck all the way down to her collarbone. His kisses turned to nibbles when he reached her breasts, and she moaned when he sucked one berry-colored nipple into his mouth.
Her thighs clenched around his waist, but he broke her hold and licked his way lower, lapping water from her skin in long, slow sweeps. Kneeling on the bottom step, he admired her as she watched him, anticipation gleaming in her eyes. She smirked and spread her legs wider, giving him a cock-blowing view of her glistening, pink center.
His mouth watered.
Heart pounding with excitement, he probed her gently with his tongue.
“Yes,” she whispered, throwing her head back. Her spine arched, thrusting her milky breasts into the night, the glow of the moon bathing her in a milky light.
She was perfect, a goddess he could worship all night long.
He licked her hungrily, pressing the flat of his tongue firmly against her smooth flesh, taking note of the textures, the flavors, the responses . Hearing her sharp breaths and deep moans made his blood heat, and his cock throb.
Damn, he liked this. So much time wasted because of his hang-ups. So. Much. Time.
But he wouldn’t change anything. Cyan was the right person to introduce him to true pleasure. To help him get out of his head and into the moment.
He flicked the tip of his tongue across her clit, and she cried out, the sound joining the wolves’ song. Something stirred deep inside, something feral and elemental.
His mother was a werewolf, and even though he’d been immunized to prevent his animal nature from taking control, his DNA remained unchanged. Part of him reached out to the beasts, recognizing their calls to family. To mates.
With a low, deep growl, he penetrated Cyan with his tongue before sweeping up her cleft. He couldn’t wait any longer. His need to claim her now, in the dark night under the light of the waning moon, had become a primal directive—not because the lust demon in him needed it…but because the beast in him wanted it.
Wanted Cyan.
Lunging, he slid inside her. Tight, wet flesh clenched around his cock, rippling up and down his shaft in powerful waves. He barely pumped his hips; the sensations were so strong. And he wasn’t ready yet—
He came with a roar that made the wolves stop howling. Pleasure so intense it bordered on pain ripped through him, spreading from his cock to his toes and to the top of his head. He could practically feel his brain synapses sparking from the overload.
It was incredible. Mind-blowing. And, as his orgasm waned and Cyan’s hit another level, he realized he hadn’t thought once about that day at the amusement park. His body hadn’t locked up, his stomach hadn’t roiled, and for once, the dampness on his skin came from something other than cold sweat.
Cyan bucked, taking him deep again as she moaned, triggering another firestorm of pleasure. It went on and on, orgasm after orgasm wrecking him.
As a lust demon, this was the way sex should have always been. A cascade of erotic responses instead of one torturous mix of mild pleasure, physical discomfort, and mental anguish.
“Cyan,” he breathed as he dragged her into the water so they could just float and feel the bliss.
“Mmm,” she hummed. Then she moaned, arching into him as another orgasm took her.
“You’re so beautiful.” He drew back just enough that he could watch her as she convulsed in his arms, water licking her breasts, her lower body wrapped around his waist.
Her eyes were closed, her head thrown back, and he’d never seen anything so erotic in his entire life. He wanted to see her like this every day, several times a day. And night.
Resting between bouts of pleasure, they floated like that for fifteen or twenty minutes. Stryke lost all sense of time, something he’d always been acutely aware of. But right now, he just didn’t care.
When the pleasure finally stopped, he lifted Cyan into his arms and carried her to the shower to rinse. Her sated smile and sultry voice had him wanting to go again before they’d even dried off, but she was tired, and so was he.
He gently tucked her into bed and went to fetch her a cup of chamomile tea, but by the time he returned, she was snoring softly, her body curled around her pillow.
Very carefully, he climbed into bed next to her and was out in seconds.
But not before he kissed her on the cheek and thanked her for coming into his life.