Eternal Nights (43 page)
The tips of her fingers itched to touch, to stroke that warm skin and the hard muscles beneath it. She could almost feel the crispness of his chest hair. Her lids slid half-shut as she tried to decide where and how he’d like to be touched. A drop of water traveled from his neck to his left nipple. She wanted to push his dog tags aside, press her mouth to his skin and lick it.
Ravyn nearly hummed aloud before she realized he was getting half a bath. “Hey!” she squawked. “That’s not fair!”
Damon looked over, a smug smile on his face. It was a dare, plain and simple, she decided. It was stupid, but she’d never been able to turn down a challenge. Pulling out the tails of her shirt, she started unbuttoning. She could feel his eyes on her.
Playing a game of chicken with a Spec Ops officer ranked as one of the dumbest things she had ever done, but that didn’t stop her. When she undid the last button, she slowly separated the edges of her shirt. Ravyn knew the slowness came across as teasing, but she was waiting for him to turn his back.
Her hands started to tremble. He was going to call her bluff and pride wouldn’t let her back down. At least her bra was black, she thought and hesitantly slipped the fabric from her shoulders. As soon as she discarded the shirt, she started to bring her arms up to cover herself, but stopped before they moved very far. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing how uncomfortable this made her feel. She shifted so her wet hair fell forward and concealed the blush she knew stained her face.
Her body responded to his nearness, adding to her embarrassment. Even with the black bra, he wouldn’t miss her reaction. Without so much as a glance, she knew she had his complete attention. His stare burned her. She fought back a shakiness that seemed to start at her core and swallowed hard.
Doing her best to ignore him, she leaned forward and used her hands to wash her upper torso. She tried to be careful, tried to keep her bra from getting wet, but she wasn’t entirely successful. When she straightened, she could feel water wend its way down her chest. Her nipples hardened further. Whether it was the cool water or the heat of Damon’s eyes, she didn’t know.
A choked off groan startled Ravyn enough that she finally looked at him again. He hadn’t been trying to call her bluff, she realized belatedly. His eyes were hot and glued to her breasts. Mortified, she dropped her gaze only to find herself staring at his growing erection.
Now it was Ravyn’s turn to choke. That part of him appeared to be in proportion to the rest of his oversized body. A flare of arousal shot through her at the sight and brought her back to her senses. They couldn’t do this. With more speed than grace, she grabbed her shirt and pulled it on. She shook so badly, it took twice as long to fasten the buttons as usual.
This time Damon stuck his head in the water.
Ravyn moved from the edge of the river, and averting her eyes, took deep, calming breaths. When the trembling abated, she ran her fingers through her hair, trying to work the snarls out.
“Here,” Damon said, sneaking up on her again, “use this.”
He handed her the porcupine cone and didn’t waste any time moving a safe distance away. The cone was part of the tree branch, but was oval with spikes coming out of it. As she held it in her hands, she realized at some point Damon had blunted the sharp quills so she could brush her hair without hurting herself.
“Thank you,” she called. Ravyn didn’t dare comment on how thoughtful he was, not when he had just managed to get over her mentioning his sensitivity last night.
Starting at the ends of her long hair, she worked the cone until she had all the tangles out. It felt good to have her hair clean and smooth again, but it wouldn’t last long. Probably just a couple hours would have it all knotted up again, especially with the breeze picking up. Ravyn looked around and saw dark clouds close on the horizon. She couldn’t guess what direction that was, but it didn’t matter. The storm was heading their way.
Pushing herself to her feet, she went to Damon. He had his T-shirt on; his fatigue shirt had been washed and was drying on a nearby bush. She grimaced over her own filthy top, but this time kept her mouth shut. “Thanks again,” Ravyn told him, handing him the porcupine cone. “It feels good to have my hair untangled.”
She watched him stow it carefully in the pack with their food supply before he straightened and held out a shortened boot lace. “If you want to tie back your hair, you can use this,” he said roughly.
“Good idea,” Ravyn said, taking the string. She sat next to their pack and vests and tried to braid the damp mass of hair. It was a struggle. Her mom had braided her hair for her when she was younger; she’d never done it herself. At least Damon had moved off so he wasn’t right there while she fumbled. The third time the damn thing fell apart on her, Ravyn started cussing under her breath. Growing up the way she had, her repertoire was extensive.
After several more failed attempts, she reluctantly admitted there was no way she was going to be able to braid it herself. Ravyn turned her head until she spotted Damon. He wasn’t looking at her, but the smirk on his face led her to believe he could hear her cursing. He’d tied his damp shirt around his waist and that had to mean they’d be moving out soon.
“Damon.”
“Yeah?”
“Could you come here for a minute please?” she asked in her sweetest voice.
He studied her suspiciously for a moment before joining her. “What?”
“Would you do my hair for me? Please?”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“I’d keep trying myself, but we have a time constraint.”
He considered the sky for a moment before settling behind her with a sigh. “Give me the tie,” he ordered.
“Thank you.” Ravyn handed him the lace.
Damon snorted. “You’re just lucky I used to braid my horse’s mane when I was in prep school.”
Ravyn knew hair didn’t have nerve endings, but the feel of Damon’s hands on her tresses got her all hot and bothered again. She could feel his breath on the nape of her neck and fought to control the shiver of lust that wanted to go through her body.
She didn’t think he was unaffected either. His breathing sounded harsher to her, louder than it had been when he started. Then there was the fact that the very graceful Captain Brody was suddenly all thumbs. By the time he had tied off her braid, Ravyn wanted nothing more than to sink back against him.
His hands came up, rested on her shoulders briefly before he trailed them down her arms to her wrists. He never touched bare skin, but it was the most erotic thing she’d ever known. She could feel the hardness of his chest against her back, the warmth of his body wherever they touched.
This isn’t smart, she thought, leaning into him.
“Tell me to stop, Ravyn,” he whispered near her ear.
“Don’t stop.”
“This is stupid.”
“I know.”
He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer. She felt enveloped by his strength, protected, wanted. Ravyn turned toward him, raised her lips and watched as he lowered his head.
The first raindrop hit her in the middle of her forehead.
They barely had time to untangle themselves from each other before the sky opened up.
Paranormal Romance by Patti O'Shea
- In the Midnight Hour
— When a troubleshooter for a society of magic users rescues a private detective from a dark spell, she finds more than an ally as she faces down her former mentor. (2008 Booksellers Best Award Winner - Best Paranormal) - In Twilight's Shadow
— Troubleshooter Creed Blackwood is trying to capture a demon hunting Maia Frasier’s sister. But if Maia’s suspicions about Creed's falling to dark magic are true, he might be a bigger danger than any demon could be. (2009 Write Touch Readers Choice Awards Finalist – Best Paranormal)
- Edge of Dawn
— Troubleshooter Logan Andrews has his loyalties torn between his people and the woman he’s been assigned to protect. (2010 Aspen Gold Award Winner – Best Paranormal)
- In the Darkest Night
— Kel Andrews has spent the last year living with nightmares and flashbacks. He's withdrawn from his family and been removed him from his position as a troubleshooter. But when a woman asks him for protection from a demon, Kel reluctantly agrees to help—and finds himself facing an unexpected adversary, one he doesn't know how to fight. (2011 Beacon Award Winner – Best Paranormal) - Blood Feud
— When a demon starts murdering vampires, a vampire enforcer and a demon prince are assigned to find the killer before war erupts. But Isobel and Seere have a past and that complicates their mission. (Short story)
- Demon Kissed
— Demon slayer Bree Molina has been tried for murder by the demons and sentenced to death. Andras has a plan to get her out of trouble, but he has secrets that will rock Bree’s world. (Nocturne Bites)
- Shadow’s Caress
— Former vampire hunter Cass Lanier didn’t believe vampires could become ghosts, until the shade of the last one she killed shows up. Malachi James needs Cass to return him to his life, but other hunters have learned she can resurrect the vampires she killed and they plan to kill her first. (Nocturne Bites)
- Enemy Embrace
— When vampire hunter Nicole Ruiz nearly loses her life to a powerful vampire, she offers an alliance to her rescuer, a demon named Daktan. Demons might be an enemy, but she'd make a deal with the devil himself if that's what it took to avenge her family.
- Dark Awakening
—A Crimson City Novella
(Originally published in
Shards of Crimson
2007)Kimi Noguchi is working as an advertising agency intern and being trained in her magical powers. To her surprise, she’s learned she’s a kijo, a witch. Having talent is cool, but her magic attracts the attention of a power hungry Bak-Faru demon and she's forced to call on another demon, Nicodemus, for help.
Nic made a promise to stay away from Kimi for her own good, but now that she’s summoned him, all bets are off. She’s his vishtau mate, a bond held in reverence by all demons, and he’s not about to let this opportunity pass him by. Nic plans to protect, woo, and win his woman. (2008 More Than Magic Finalist—Best Novella)
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The Light Warriors Series
Blood Feud World Stories
Crimson City Stories by Patti O’Shea
Through a Crimson Veil
— A Crimson City Novel
When a sexy half demon asks Conor McCabe for protection, he can’t say no and he doesn’t understand why. He hates demons. He doesn’t want to help her. He doesn’t want to want her, but every minute he spends with her strengthens his need to keep her safe—and intensifies the desire burning between them.
Mika Noguchi sought out Conor to steal the key that can free all demons imprisoned in Orcus. She quickly regrets her mission—Conor is her destined mate and he’ll view her theft as betrayal—but she gave her word to the council and the penalty for breaking it is severe.
Other demons are loose in Crimson City, however, and they have their own plans. They’re not about to let anyone stand in the way. Not Conor. Not Mika. They’ll do anything it takes to advance their agendas—even kill. (2006 Booksellers Best Award Winner — Best Paranormal)
Table of Contents
Dedication and Acknowledgements
