Wicked Pleasure (26 page)

He frowned. Brynn knew damned well all this glad-to-be-alive crap was because of Kim. Not good. He wanted Kim to only be about sex. But his great feeling about life in general, even though the demons and Vaughns wanted a piece of him, felt like more than just a sexual high. He'd have to make sure it
didn't
become more. For both their sakes. And so he resisted the urge to take her hand.

It wasn't until they entered the lobby that Kim spoke. “With everything that happened back there, I forgot to ask how long it took for the compulsion to hit this time.”

“An hour and twenty minutes. Longer than the last time. I don't know what's happening, but whatever it is, I hope it keeps up.” Brynn glanced at his watch. He kept forgetting to check the time when he was with Kim.

“We'll have to test it again.” Kim's smile said she'd enjoyed at least part of what the last test had led to. “This time without the pianist from hell.”

Fo paused in her scanning of nearby people to gaze up at Brynn from Kim's purse. “I have to stay next time. What if another demon sneaks up on you, huh? Who you gonna call?”

“We'll see.” Translation: never going to happen. Brynn looked down at Fo. “Who you gonna call? Been watching some online movies?”

Fo blinked at him. “Of course. How else would I learn what normal human behavor is like?” Calmly, she went back to scanning for demons.

“Normal. Right.” Eric figured Fo's view of the world was going to be really scary.

They'd almost reached the elevator when Donna stopped them. “Are you guys okay?” Dressed in jeans and an oversized T-shirt, Eric's wife didn't look anything like what she was, a vampire and the host of a popular late-night talk show. “Eric called and told me what happened.”

Brynn smiled. He teased Eric about being chained for all eternity to the queen of late-night radio, but he liked Donna. “We're fine. But the demon was armed. We have to protect the humans in the park. We'll talk about it at the meeting.”

Donna nodded and turned to Kim. “How about coming on my show tonight for about an hour? We don't need to give your real name if you don't want to, but I've never interviewed someone who destroyed demons. My listeners would love it. Most of them are pretty knowledgeable, and I guarantee you'd get interesting questions.”

Kim paused before answering. “Sounds like fun, but that might not be a good idea right now. I don't want the demons to know a hunter is in town. Get back to me after this is all over, and I'd love to do it.”

“You're right about the demons. I didn't think of that. I do a lot of phone interviews, so my listeners wouldn't know you were in Galveston unless you told them. But the people who come to watch me each night in person would spread the news. And you're welcome to come on the show whenever you like. If you're still up around midnight, stop by the lobby and watch a little of the broadcast.”

“Will do.” Kim smiled, but Brynn saw the strain behind the smile. It was tough to concentrate on much of anything when demons were taking over the city.

Donna seemed to pick up on Kim's mood. “
Donna Till Dawn
could score a radio first. I bet no one else in the media ever got to cover a war with demons. Eat your hearts out, CNN and Fox.” She touched Kim's hand and smiled at Brynn. “Gotta go. I told Eric I'd help him get Clarice home.”

They watched Donna walk away before continuing on to the elevator. Brynn hit the button and waited for the doors to open. Once again, Kim grew silent. By the time they reached his door and she still hadn't said anything, he began to wonder if she regretted coming with him.

“Look, I feel okay. You probably need to freshen up before dinner.” He pushed the door open.

“Lynsay's my sister. I don't need to clean up for her.” She stepped into the room with him.

They both paused in the doorway.

All the lights were off, and flickering candlelight gave the room a soft glow. A vase of fresh flowers sat in the middle of the coffee table. Everything was suspiciously neat, not a candy wrapper in sight. The TV was off, and the swelling notes of an aria filled the room.

Opera? Brynn had pretty eclectic taste in music, but he didn't have any opera CDs.

Ganymede and Asima sat on the couch, each with a wineglass in front of them on the coffee table. As Brynn watched, an almostempty wine bottle hovered in the air above Asima's glass.

“Here, have some more wine, babe.” Ganymede's amber eyes gleamed in the semidarkness.

Asima didn't answer because she'd locked her blue gaze on Kim.
“Tell me you aren't letting Sparkle dress you.”
She was broadcasting her thoughts to everyone, and she sounded steamed.

Leaping from the couch, she padded over to take a closer look.
“This outfit is a total disaster. You may as well wave a red light over your head. I see Sparkle's tawdry claws all over these clothes.”

Brynn studied Kim—sexy top, sexy pants, and sexy shoes. “This is a great outfit. I like it.”

Asima's stare was a power drill through his heart.
“You would. You're a man. A man's taste in clothing is attached directly to his sexual organs.”

“Come back to the couch, beautiful kitty, and drink your wine.” Ganymede glared at Brynn behind Asima's back.

Asima ignored him.
“Don't you dare wear one more piece of trashy clothing supplied by Sluts-R-Us. You're a professional. You need something simple but elegant. I'll do some shopping tomorrow and put together a wonderful outfit. Expect me on Wednesday morning.”

Kim looked worried. She should be. Brynn wouldn't want to get in the middle of a fashion war between Sparkle and Asima.

Fo spoke up from Kim's purse. “Um, I'd love to get some fashion tips from an expert, Asima.” Her small voice sounded hopeful.

Asima looked down her aristocratic nose at Fo.
“See, even your small sentient being understands that I have superior taste.”
She nodded her head regally.
“My first rule, little one, is to keep an uncluttered wardrobe. Classic styles are always excellent choices.”

Brynn didn't need to hear this. He walked around Asima to get to the couch.

“What the hell happened to you, demon?” Ganymede wasn't fooled by Holgarth's trickery.

“Kim and I had a run-in with a demon. Fo took care of it. Don't forget the meeting tonight.” Brynn headed toward the bathroom. He'd only have a short time to get cleaned up before they'd have to head down to dinner.

“Yeah, yeah. We'll be there.” Ganymede reached out to paw the remote, and the music soared. “Gee, I love opera. Come back to the couch, babe, and listen to it with me.”

Brynn winced. “I don't know if you've thought too far ahead, but Sparkle will be at the meeting, too.”

Ganymede's eyes grew wide. “Shit. I didn't think of that.” He glanced over at Asima to make sure she wasn't listening, but she was still involved in telling Kim what was wrong with Sparkle's outfit. “Look, make sure I'm between you and Kim at this meeting. I won't look like I'm with either one of them. Man, can you believe that music? Asima better be one hot mama to make this all worthwhile.”

“You're a lech.” Brynn watched Kim walking toward him.

“And your point is?” Ganymede's gaze slipped past Brynn as Asima leaped onto the couch.

“Nothing.” Brynn pulled some clothes from his closet and then strode to the bathroom door. Kim hurried to catch up with him.

Asima watched Kim walk across the room before turning back to Ganymede.
“Isn't that outfit really crass?”

Ganymede stared deeply into Asima's eyes. “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”

Asima seemed doubtful.
“I suppose so. But don't you think my elegant and sophisticated style will look better on Kim?”

Ganymede looked a little desperate. “This above all: to thine own self be true.”

Asima blinked.
“You're right. I have to stay true to my fashion convictions.”
She rubbed her head against Ganymede's shoulder.
“You're so in tune with the inner me, and I do appreciate a cat who knows
Hamlet
.”

“Hey, babe, I'm a regular font of cultural info. How about listening to more of whatever it is we're listening to?”

Brynn shook his head before grinning at Kim. “If he had eyebrows to waggle, he'd be waggling them.”

Kim started to answer him but paused at Asima's next words.

“It's Aida
, and this is one of my favorite arias. The music moves me. Doesn't it move you?”
Asima's eyes were slitted in kitty ecstasy.

“Oh, yeah. Moves me.” Ganymede's expression said,
Like a bowl of prunes.

“I can't help it. I have to sing along.”
And she did.

It took every bit of self-control Kim had not to stick her fingers in her ears. Instant flashback. Jacob Risner in second grade. Whenever the teacher was out in the hall talking to someone, Jacob got his jollies by dragging his fingernails across the chalkboard. Asima's voice had that exact quality. Kitty vocal cords weren't created to sing arias from
Aida
.

“The breaking glass should start any second now. Let's get somewhere safe.” Brynn reached into the pocket of Kim's purse, pulled Fo out, and set her on the table next to the door.

Fo caught on fast. “You'd better not leave me out here, because if you do I'll . . . Well, I'll do something really bad.” Since she couldn't think of a threat horrible enough to strike fear into his heart, Fo resorted to a full-blown tantrum, complete with angry shrieks that blended right in with Asima's singing.

Brynn grabbed Kim's hand, dragged her into the bathroom, and closed the door behind them. “Ganymede's doomed. I bet his eardrums are bleeding by now.”

“Ha, he's getting what he deserves. He's cheating on Sparkle. The only thing worse than listening to Asima sing would be if Sparkle found out what's going on.” She thought about that. “I won't be the one to tell her, though. Sparkle would kill the messenger.”

“You're right.” Brynn glanced at his watch before pulling off his shirt. “It'll be close to one hour by the time I finish my shower. I want to stay in the bathroom until the compulsion hits. Ganymede and Asima don't need to see the show. Besides, Asima might still be singing.”

“Uh-huh.” Kim stared unblinkingly at his chest. She should've thought of the implications before charging into the bathroom with him. “So, you're just going to strip naked right here, huh?”

His smile was slow and sensual, more of a temptation than Eve's apple ever was. “That's what I usually do before I get in the shower.” To demonstrate his stripping-naked technique, he got rid of his shoes and then made a big deal of sliding his pants and briefs off.

“You do that well.” The trick was to stay calm, cool, and in control.

“I've had lots of practice.” He watched her, something in his eyes saying that her response was important.

A test? If so, she didn't know what he expected her to say. “That's yesterday's news, Brynn. Maybe we should concentrate on figuring out why the time between compulsions is lengthening. And when we find the cause, we keep it going.”

He nodded. She thought about asking him if she'd passed, but decided against it.

“As much as I'd like to ask you to share the shower with me or at least wash my back, I'd better do this alone. Otherwise Lynsay will be waiting a long time.” He took off his watch and set it on the sink. Then turning his back to her, he stepped into the shower and slid the frosted door closed.

Kim gulped in a huge, fortifying breath. Not many men had a butt beautiful enough to suck all the air from a woman's lungs. Brynn was one of the fantastic few.

She sat on the closed toilet seat and watched the indistinct shadow of his bare body through the door. And yes, she'd love to be in there with him, helping to wash all those hard-to-reach and just plain fun-to-reach spots on his body. But beyond her transparent lust for him, other things about him were intruding that had nothing to do with what part of his body he was sliding the washcloth across at that exact moment.

Was he really a demon? More and more she was thinking no. Okay, so she really wanted it to be no. Why? She didn't have a personal stake in him. Did she? And what about his compulsion? Why did the ugliness of it feel so personal to her?

All questions she wasn't yet ready to answer. Thank heavens he'd shut off the water. As he emerged from the shower, she could return to good old uncomplicated lust.

She had his towel ready when he stepped out. Silently, she handed it to him. The slight lift of those sensual lips said he'd love to feel her rubbing that big fluffy towel all over him.

Kim smiled. “Mmm. Who needs a towel? How about if I spend the next hour licking every drop of water from your body, slowly and with lots of attention to detail?” What could she compare the experience to? “It would be sort of like when you lick those Wicked Red Blow Pops. Each swipe of your tongue isn't just about flavor. It's about the tactile sensation and the anticipation of all those yummy licks to come.”

His eyes widened, and then he laughed. Really laughed. It was one of the few times the shadows completely disappeared from his eyes. “See, now I'll be fantasizing about that for the rest of the night.” As his laughter died, his eyes darkened to a delicious promise. “After the demon stuff is finished, we'll have to explore all the things tongues can do.”

Kim sighed. “Demons. You made me forget about them for a while.”