After Dark (Between the Veils Series, Book One) (5 page)

Temperance felt the blood drain from her face. How the hell could he possibly know she’d brought a vibrator along? Not that she’d planned on using it, but…damn, just thinking about him helping her pleasure herself with the sleek device pushed her heart into overdrive. Warmth cascaded through her body as an uncomfortable ache grew between her thighs.

She shook her head, drawing in a calming breath. If he wanted to play, she was game. She met his knowing gaze, giving him the same impish smile. “Do you really think I’d bring a vibrator to an event like this?”

He sauntered closer, running his fingers through the strands of hair framing her face. “Do you really think I’d believe otherwise?” He gathered the ends in his hand, humming as if the feel of it brought him pleasure. “Honestly, Temperance. With the way you feel about me and the other investigators, are you trying to tell me you didn’t bring some toys if for no other reason than sheer survival?” He tilted his head to the side. “With Mardi Gras playing outside and you stuck in a hotel with men you find…unattractive, I’d be surprised if you didn’t bring an entire box full of toys.”

She wanted to huff, give him the same flippant tone back, but the look in his eyes stole her breath. His pupils had dilated, hiding all but a hint of the brilliant blue she’d come to appreciate, and the way they studied her unhinged her nerves. Everything about him begged her to launch into his arms and start up where she’d stopped them the previous night. To take his perfectly sculpted lips with hers, dipping her tongue inside. She’d bet money he’d taste like pure sin with a side of mocha coffee…just like he had last night, only hotter, sweeter.

She gave herself a mental shake. Damn, he was good. Far better at these games than she’d given him credit. No wonder he didn’t lack for willing women. The man was a masterpiece of seduction.

“First of all, I’m not that desperate I can’t go a week without an orgasm and second…” She closed the distance, brushing her lips across the shell of his ear, smiling at the gravelly rasp that rumbled free. “I never said I didn’t find the men here…attractive.”

She heard him swallow thickly as his head turned ever so slightly toward her. “All the men?”

“Not all of them, Avery. Just one.” She nipped at his lobe before backing away. “And if you must know, you were right. I did bring something to help curb the need. But it’s for emergency purposes only.”

Avery’s mouth twitched then curled into a stunning smile. “You are truly wicked, darling.” He grabbed a chair and sank into it. “So what did you really discover…besides that I got about as much sleep as you?”

She shrugged, joining him at the table. “Not much. There are a bunch of websites about demons, but they all deal with ones straight out of the bible.” She shook her head, the strange, prickling sensation she’d felt by the tomb resurfacing. “Now call me crazy, but I get the feeling this demon isn’t part of the great apocalypse foretold in Revelations or anything. I think there’s a very specific reason it’s here.”

“I agree.” He glanced away, looking as if he wasn’t certain whether to continue or not. He turned back to her, a resigned expression on his face. “Okay, this is going to sound crazy too, but…I have a theory.”

“Go on.”

He cursed then muttered something under his breath. “First, we both know ghosts are merely spirits that haven’t crossed from our plane into the next. That they’re, in essence, still on our side of the veil.”

She nodded, not sure where he was headed. “Agreed. And I assume we both concur that for spirits to cross that veil takes a large amount of energy, or some kind of spell.”

“Right, but I find it odd to think that demons have the ability to simply cross back and forth whenever they feel. After all, they should be trapped on the other side unless summoned somehow.”

“So you think someone summoned this thing?”

“It makes sense. Think about it. Any moron can find a summoning spell on the Internet without really knowing what they’re doing. They go to the cemetery, say the incantations and bam, whether intentionally or accidentally, they get themselves a demon. The spell gives said demon just enough energy to materialize in the shape we saw, but not enough to actually take its true form. Maybe it claimed its summoner as its first victim or maybe the jackass just realized they’d gotten in way over their head and decided to tuck tail and run. Either way, now this creature is trapped, between the veils in a sense, until it either gains enough energy and becomes corporeal, or…”

“Or we send it back to wherever it came from.” Fear tickled the edges of her consciousness at his words, but she did her best to ignore it. “So this bastard is sucking people dry in an attempt to stay on our side of the veil until it has enough power to take its true form.”

“Or until it loses so much energy it has no other option but to allow its essence to return to the other side…or dissipate. Who knows what really happens to demons once they’ve been forced across the barrier?”

She pursed her lips, considering his concept. It made a weird sort of sense. She met his intense gaze. “Guess that means we need to find out who summoned this thing and how. Maybe then we can figure out a way to send it all the way over, if we don’t get killed in the process first.” She motioned to the medallion. “It looks like relics don’t do that much in the way of protection, so I’m guessing crosses and holy water probably aren’t that effective, either.”

“I wish I knew for certain, but from the looks of that medal, the prospects aren’t promising.” He glanced up at her. “I’ve heard salt can deter them.”

“As can prayer, they say, but…” She shook her head again. “Are we really going back there?”

Avery raised a brow. “Are you telling me you’re not the least bit curious as to why you’ve been targeted?”

She swore under her breath. Damn him. Why did he seem to know her so well? “You know I am, otherwise we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” She glanced down at her wrist. The symbol had faded, but the rough outline was still there.

Avery sighed and cupped her hand in his. She drew a sharp breath at the sudden rush of heat from his fingers into hers. She’d felt the same reaction last night when he’d traced his thumb along her jaw before claiming her lips.

Her breath hitched when he traced the outline of the star, his touch reverent. She raised her gaze to his, pinned by the warmth in his expression.

He gave her a genuine smile. “I won’t let that thing get you. I promise.” He reached for the medallion, holding it out to her. “Do me a favor and wear this. I know it might not do anything but…it can’t hurt.”

She nodded, twisting in the seat so he could clip it behind her neck. His fingers trailed across her skin and she wished he’d stop touching her. One more pass of his hands and she just might grab him and pull him in for another taste of his mouth. “What if it goes after you this time? What if I’m not strong enough to save you?” She turned back to face him.

The playboy grin returned. “Not a chance. I’ve seen firsthand what a badass you can be.”

She released an exasperated sigh, preparing a comeback when footsteps echoed on the hallway behind her. She jumped, pulling her hand away as a man walked into the lounge, his boots tapping the floor as he headed for the coffee machine. His hair was longer than Avery’s with just a hint of a wave, but his eyes were the same bright blue when he turned to look at them. She frowned slightly. She’d never seen him before and wondered who Avery trusted enough to crash his private party.

“Sorry, bro, didn’t mean to…interrupt.”

Temperance pursed her lips, preparing to tell the jackass he wasn’t interrupting anything, when his words hit home. “Brother?” She looked from Avery to the man and back again. “There are two of you?”

Avery laughed, ducking as the man swatted at his shoulder before he leaned against the wall beside Avery. “Actually, I have three brothers, but I assure you, darling, there’s only one of me. And little brother here isn’t half the fun I am.”

“Or half the asshole.” The man pushed off the wall, extending his hand to her. “I’m Blake Smith, Avery’s technical specialist. And you must be Temperance Dunnigan…talented ghost hunter and ever-present thorn in my brother’s side.”

She couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her lips as she shook Blake’s hand. “Pleasure to meet you.” She glanced over at Avery, noting the way he watched her every movement as if her reaction could somehow hurt him. “And while I’m not so sure about the talented part, I’ll fully admit to being a pain in Avery’s backside.”

Blake chuckled, taking a swig of coffee. “Now there you go being modest. Believe me, Avery has cursed your name enough times I hear him call it in his sleep.”

Avery swore, pushing to his feet and shoving his brother aside. “And you say you’re only half the asshole I am?” He turned to her. “Blake is what you’d call a reluctant hunter. I’ve persuaded him to accompany me on a few missions, but he generally prefers to remain behind the scenes, making temperature reading jackets, digital recorders, advanced electromagnetic units…that sort of stuff. If it beeps, records or glows, he’s the reason behind it.”

“And apparently towing cars in the middle of the damn night.” Blake nodded at her. “Your vehicle is back where it belongs, though your driver’s side window was busted when I got there. I taped it up and cleaned out the glass, but you’ll have to check to see if they took anything.”

She waved off the concern etched in his face. “It’s fine. That car is older than me, but it gets me where I need to go. I have a friend who owns a car shop back home. He’ll give me a good deal on a new window. Besides, after everything that happened last night, a broken window is a pretty small price to pay.” She gave him an appreciative smile. “Thanks for fetching it for me. I should have just driven it back myself, and saved you the bother.”

Blake scrubbed his hand down his face, giving them both a hardened stare. “And been demon food? No, Avery did the right thing dragging your ass back here in his car. Which brings me to my next question. Why are you two still intent on going after it again?” He pinned Avery with a firm glare. “While I understand you’re more than reckless with your own life, aren’t you the least bit concerned that thing will hurt Temperance?” He motioned toward her wrist. “More than it obviously has already?”

“If I was worried she’d get hurt, I wouldn’t have asked her here in the first place.” Avery gave her a warm smile. “She’s hardly fragile and more than capable of handling whatever we encounter.” He winked at her. “In fact, she’s damn near as good as me.”

Temperance gave Avery a guarded nod. She hadn’t expected him to praise her abilities, and the simple admission that he believed in both her and her skills, sent butterflies skittering through her stomach.

Blake shook his head, patting Avery on the shoulder before taking her hand and raising it to his lips, lightly kissing the back. “My brother may be an arrogant ass, as I’ve heard you call him, but he’s right about one thing. He’s good, though I think you might be even better. Either way, I trust he won’t let anything happen to you out there…at least not from this demon. Now, trusting he won’t try anything…”

Avery swore again as he shoved Blake back, breaking their contact. “And you say I’m a jackass.”

“Hey, I’m just making an observation, or was that not thick, sexual tension I felt when I walked in here?” He sighed. “Either you two will kill each other, or…”

Avery gave his brother a mocking grin. “Or what?”

“Or the next time I see you both, it’ll be at your wedding.” He dodged Avery’s attempted slap. “Okay, okay, relax. I’m off to grab the gear you asked for. I’ll put it in the back of the car before you leave. In the meantime, I suggest you stock up on all things holy.”

Temperance watched the man leave, drawn to the easiness of his gait. Where Blake seemed to take things in stride, Avery sought them out. There was no doubt in her mind—he was the more aggressive of the two.

“Are you staring at his ass because you’re happy to see it go, or because you like the view?”

She turned back to Avery, shaking her head at his comment. “I’m still trying to accept you aren’t the only Smith and that your little brother seems…”

“Boring?”

She snorted. “I was thinking more along the lines of
normal
.”

“Normal is highly overrated, darling.”

“Now, Avery, that isn’t jealousy I hear in your voice, is it?”

He moved, closing the distance between them as he pinned her against the wall, his chest pressing firmly against hers. Her breath left her on a raspy moan as his lips descended beside her face, coasting over the line of her neck. Goose bumps followed the soft caress of his mouth, threatening to take her to her knees.

“Suggesting I’m jealous means you feel the same need I do. You just aren’t ready to admit it. But to answer your question, yes, it is jealousy if you’re in any way attracted to him.”

Temperance forced herself to swallow, her throat suddenly dry. Just hearing the honesty in his voice hit her harder than the slow glide of his hand across her hip. She shifted her gaze, meeting his as he pulled his face back.

She opened her mouth to speak when his hand settled on her waist, cradling her hip in a warm embrace. Words tumbled into a husky moan when he smiled and dipped his head toward her, nipping at the corded muscle along her shoulder. Even through her shirt, she felt the hot rasp of his tongue followed by the firm press of his lips. Her eyelids closed as she tilted her head, granting him better access. A gravelly rumble preceded the soft flick of his tongue as he tasted her skin, leaving a light sheen of moisture behind.