Demons Prefer Blondes (19 page)

“I’ve failed too many large missions,” he said, crossing his arms. “The Fore-Demons will demote me. I have no other option.”

Would she ever break through? “But you’ve had many small victories. Five small victories are better than one major one. Surely they understand that?”

“I appreciate your encouragement,” Rafe said, taking her hand in his. “But I’ve dealt with this ever since Amanda died. It was horrible seeing her…” His breath caught and his eyes sparked.

“What happened wasn’t your fault. You were an innocent bystander.” Offering a tender stroke to his hand, she moved in closer. “And don’t even think about taking responsibility for your sister. From what I’ve heard, she made her own decisions, whether you agreed to them or not.”

“She’s a stubborn woman.” He flashed a halfhearted smile. “Just like you.”

Stubborn? Me?
What on Earth was he talking about? Who was she fooling? She could be as mulish as the best of them when it came to something important. “I guess that’s a compliment.”

“Yes, it was.”

She breathed an inward sigh of relief. They were making progress. “Tell me about her.”

“Coby?”

“Yes.”

Scrubbing a hand through his hair, Rafe took a deep breath. “She’s incredibly brave, has been her entire life.”

“It must be genetic.”

Rafe arched a brow. “Pardon?”

“You’re pretty brave, too.”

“Thank you. Sometimes I don’t feel that way.”

Lucy rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

Lowering his gaze, he turned his head. “As for my sister, she chose to protect the chest. Only the strongest and the bravest choose that.

“I begged and pleaded, as did Nic, our best friend.” He shook his head. “She stood her ground and went behind our backs. She approached the Fore-Demon Council herself. They were all too happy to approve, even when they knew we didn’t.”

“Oh.”
How bureaucratic!
“So democracy is out in Hell?”

“Limbo,” Rafe muttered.

“Sorry. I’m still getting used to all this underworld shit.”

“No apology necessary. Anyhow, Coby took her position, despite our pleadings.” He let out a deep sigh. “She’d been doing an excellent job of it too. Damn Belial and his Infernati bastards.”

Noticing his jaw twitching and his fists clenched, she took control of the conversation. “So how long did she protect the chest?”

“Sixty-five years.” His grip loosened. “One of the longest held posts. She’s extremely dedicated. I can’t believe this happened.”

He leaned back. “Even though I originally begged her not to join, I still take great pride in her achievements.”

As he should. What a man, fiercely loyal to his Paladins and his family. She reached over and took his hand in hers. “She sounds fascinating. I can’t wait to meet her.”

“I appreciate your optimism, but Coby’s chances are bleak.” Rafe brushed a fingertip across her cheek, sending a stray strand of hair behind her ear and her senses roaring to life.

Not if she had anything to say about it. She’d be damned if she didn’t do something to help him and his sister. She owed him, after all he’d done for her. “I’ll find a way to help you rescue her. My father has connections, I’m sure.” She turned to face him, gazing right in those beautiful swirling silver eyes. “If I have to storm the bowels of Hell myself, I will.”

“No. It’s too dangerous, Lucy. I won’t risk your life.”

“I have to do something. I care for you, damn it.”

Had she just said that? Those words had a tendency to send men packing. Especially hotties built like Rafe. Heck, those words had sent her packing a few times. Case in point: the undreamy neurosurgeon. Then again, he’d said a few other words of affection that would make a greeting card writer vomit.

She was losing her cool. Rambling in her mind, catching her breath whenever he looked at her with that swirling silver gaze, almost swooning at his touch. Now she was certain. She had it bad for him.

Much to her delight, Rafe didn’t run away. He only gripped her hand tighter in his. Waves of thick powerful energy radiated between them. Despite the heat, calmness surrounded them, drawing them closer. Was it so wrong to just to be wrapped in his arms, to wrap him in hers? She certainly didn’t think so.

They should have been training, but the lure of his body, his scent… everything about him was too strong to resist. Sucking in a deep breath, Rafe sat ramrod straight. Yet he grasped her hand tighter. Despite the power in his grip, he clenched his teeth. Turmoil swirled deep within his silver eyes. What was he thinking? Did he want her? Did he hurt? She could only imagine.

His spicy scent wafted to her nose, filling her entire being. Intoxicating warmth spread from her head down to her toes, and some tender spots between. His hand gripping hers only intensified the effect as energy pulsed through their fingers. Every receptor in her body fired with need.

Damn him, he better act fast before I explode.

“Please, Rafe,” she whispered. “Let me kiss you again.”

With a daring she was now becoming accustomed with, she pressed her body closer, her cheek brushing the stubble along his chin. It sent delightful tingles racing through her body.

Taking a deep gulp of air, his body shivered against hers. His fingers poised to take her in his arms—or so she hoped. Yep, he wanted her. The pulse bobbing in his neck couldn’t hide the fact.

“Oh bloody hell,” he growled. Mmm. She loved that sound. Throwing that stubborn resolve of his out the window, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against the hardness of his chest. Pleasure spiked as energy flowed between them. Rafe’s eyes glowed like two giant moons, full and bright. Good, he felt it too.

It filled them, sending heated jolts through their bodies. Strange as it seemed, they were connected. Not just in the physical sense either. It drove her mad with desire. Desire she never knew existed. There was no doubt now, he was the one who had the control over her—no matter how hard he tried to deny it.

Lifting her chin with his thumb and forefinger, he gazed down into her eyes, beckoning her to jump into the depths of the swirling silver pools. Yes, they shouldn’t be doing this, but nothing seemed so right… so perfect.

Ahh… Perfect. She held back a chuckle. Rafe was wrong about one thing. Perfection did exist. And he was it. From his silky dark locks, every angle and curve of his ripped physique, and those eyes. Especially those eyes. Even now they sparked glints of silver. She could get lost in those eyes… Oops! She already had.

“Rafe?” she whispered, trailing her breath along his skin, aching to lure him deeper. Somewhere she desperately wanted him to go. Now she just needed to convince him.

“We’re safe right now, you know.” Tracing her finger along his cheek, she flashed her attempt at a sultry gaze. From his gulp, she guessed it worked. “You’ve warded the house, and Squeaky’s now Serah’s problem. We’re finally alone.”

“We still need to be careful,” he whispered throatily.

“How bad can just one more kiss be?”

Without reservation, she brought her lips to his. Should she close her eyes or keep them open? She’d never questioned herself before. More heat kindled between their skins. She kept them open. That way, she could enjoy the spark of his gaze.

Crushing her to him, he growled, a deep and guttural rumble that sent moist heat flooding deep into her core. She was done for.

“I can’t control myself anymore.” His gaze, full of longing, sent her heart rate skyrocketing. “You’ve enraptured me. And, for the first time ever, I don’t bloody care.”

Bonus! He wanted her. They would discuss this enrapturement later. Now, she had a demon to kiss. “So what do you care for, Rafe?”

“Right now?”

Trailing her finger down his cheek to his chin, she nodded. “Yes. Right now.”

“All I care about is you, your body against mine, and…” he rolled his lip beneath his teeth.

“And?”

He blew out a deep breath, his silver eyes glinting. “Kissing you. There I said it. I want to kiss you.”

“Sounds delightful,” she murmured, toying with the zipper of his jacket. Leaning into his muscled body, she blew a warm breath of air along his earlobe.

The groan he made was music to her ears. She licked her lips, reveling in the ecstasy she was sure coursed through them both.

“That sound turns me on so much.” Her lips feathered against his cheeks, down to his neck. All the while, her hands roamed across the mountains of his pecs and brushed across his black leather jacket. He didn’t need that anymore.

“Why in the hell are you still wearing your jacket?” she asked, inching the zipper down. Allowing her fingers to linger along his arms, she pulled the coat down off his shoulders.

A slow smile curved his lips. “I have no idea,” he murmured, tracing his tongue against the tender skin of her neck. Ahh, yes, he’d found her sweet spot. She melted into him, gasping as pleasure spiked.

With smooth efficiency, he whipped off the coat and flung it across the room. The tall lamp swayed back and forth as the coat sailed past. Ahh, accident averted. Then again, right then she wouldn’t have cared if the house caught fire.

Curling her fingers in his hair, she pulled his mouth to hers. Whoa! It was great having such control over a man. Liberating. She trailed her hands up and down his chest, swirling her fingertips against each rigid plane.

Like the fire that roared in the fireplace across the room, an inferno raged inside her. She hadn’t felt this way in… forever. No one—not even Josh in the five years they dated—gave her this spark, this insane desire. Only Rafe.

She needed him more than ever. The closer his body pressed into hers, the more her desire grew. Her heart thrummed an erratic beat and her breath caught. Now if he would only lower those gorgeous lips of his to hers…

“Rafe, kiss me. I know you want to. I see it in your eyes,” she murmured, nuzzling her cheek against his. “Please?” Flashing him a pleading gaze, she swirled a fingertip against the hard steel of his pec. He sucked in a ragged breath as the pulse bobbed at his throat. Sizzling energy cracked between them. She wouldn’t back down now.

“Lucy,” he murmured, fisting her hair and pulling her face to his. Ahh, it was about time. He took slow tentative nips at first, his lips grazing hers. Even the lightest of touch sent heat pulsing. They were connected… together as one.

Groaning, he pressed his lips firmer against hers, his tongue swirling between her acquiescent lips. Heck, more than her lips were acquiescent.

With care she’d never experienced from a lover, he edged closer, nudging her against the pancake-thin mattress. His hands teased and stroked, sending fire licking across her skin. Flames of need ripped through her veins, edging her on.

“Lucy,” he whispered, tracing his tongue along her ear. “We shouldn’t do this.”

No way were they stopping now, not after they’d gotten this far. “Like hell we shouldn’t.”

Twisting her fingers in his shirt, she ripped it from his body and threw it to the floor. Her eyes widened. Hands of steel! Bonus!

“Oh, God, Lucy,” he said with a ragged breath. He gazed down at the shredded shirt and back up at her. His eyes sparked, not in the gentleness she witnessed earlier, but something all the more primal. Her breath caught as liquid heat pooled in her loins. It was about time. For a brief second, he paused, confusion clouding his gaze.

“What are you waiting for?”

“I wanted to be gentle.” Brushing his hands up her body to stroke the curves of her breasts, he lowered his mouth to her neck. Kisses became licks, then licks became nibbles as the energy grew, to consume them whole. Insane desire throbbed its way through her. If he remained so gentle, she’d burst into flames.

“I don’t want gentle—not now.” They could do gentle later, after they cooled down. And she knew she’d like gentle too. But now, she was too wound up, too hot and bothered.

Rafe pressed in closer, his silver eyes glinting with desire. From the size of the bulge nudging her, he was just as turned on.

She took matters into her own hands. With force she was now becoming accustomed to, she flung him back and straddled his hips. Leaning over him, she ground her pelvis against the bulge in his tight leather jeans. It felt so good.

A loud roar, deep and animalistic, burst from him. Sweeping his hands up her body, he pulled her sweater and T-shirt up. Her soft skin sizzled against his rough calloused fingertips.

“I can’t control myself,” he murmured, snaking his tongue along her ear.

“Me neither.” This lack of control spurred her on and pulled her in deeper.

Hauling her against his body, he devoured her mouth like it was his last meal. Lips melded together while tongues clashed, feeding the friction. His hands, rough and strong, kneaded and massaged her sensitive skin as he edged the sweater up. If she thought she was exploding earlier…

“God, those hands,” she murmured. Arching her back, she helped him pull the sweater off. The sooner they got naked, the better. If this was her inner sex demon, then she was more than willing to unleash it. She’d never felt this inferno before, and she didn’t want it to stop.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, tracing a fingertip along the underwire of her plain cotton bra. Ahh well, she knew she should’ve worn that lacy VS number. Now Rafe was stuck with Hanes instead.

“Sorry about the underwear. If I knew we’d be alone…”

He reached up and brushed a strand of her hair from her cheek. “I love it.”

From the swirling of his silver eyes, he spoke the truth. This, of course, sent more rippling energy coursing through her body. Flashing a sultry smile, she threw her head back and ran her fingers through her hair. With a soft moan, she licked her lips.

Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her waist and moved his hands up her back, sending sizzles dancing across her bare skin. Any hotter and it would turn into the Fourth of July instead of Christmas.

“You amaze me. I’ve never been with such an assertive woman before,” he said with a nibble to her ear. Fumbling with the bra hooks, he growled. “I see undergarments haven’t changed much through the ages.”