Alabaster Nights (The Josie Hawk Chronicles) (8 page)

Panting, Josie twisted and pulled him closer, dug her nails into his scalp. Encouraged, Keller feasted, careful to not release endorphins that would heighten her experience. Everything she was experiencing was because of who they were, what they meant to each other. She wouldn’t agree. He didn’t expect her to. That would come in time.

Her unique flavor slid down his throat, and like an arrow, pierced his heart. He wanted to roar in triumph and pleasure. He’d waited so long to find his mate. And here she was. A sexy spitfire in jeans and steel-toed boots, strapped to the nines with blades.

Taking too much would leave Josie weak. She would resent him even more if he took the strength she wore so proudly. Reluctantly, he pulled back and closed her wounds by flattening his tongue against her skin. Breathless, Josie slumped then immediately pushed him away. Keller straightened her shirt and rose, energy and strength zapping along his nerves. He felt like he could take on the world. The fury he saw sparking in Josie’s eyes wasn’t a surprise. Just because he was elated didn’t mean she’d understand, or even want the new intricacies of their relationship.

He wanted to explain everything to her, show her how beautiful this connection would be. Neither of them could afford that luxury now.

Eyes narrowed, shoulders back, she regarded him warily. “I see you’re all better now.”

“Yes,” Keller said, nodding once. “Thank you.” The two words seemed insufficient considering the enormity of the situation.

Josie shrugged like the intimacy of the bite hadn’t affected her in the least. “Don’t mention it.”

If she wanted to play it cool, he would go along with it. For now. Ignoring his aching shaft, he pressed a quick kiss to Josie’s grim mouth and reached for his jacket. Now that he’d fed, his hearing was acute. The sound of boots trudging through the deep snow signaled the time to move. Their attackers were less than two blocks away.

“Going somewhere?” she asked, all rasp gone from her voice.

“I’m assuming you would like to take this fight to the streets.”

“Yeah. I guess so.” She turned and opened the top drawer of her dresser. She picked out two more blades and tucked one into each boot. “Help yourself,” she said with a flick of her hand.

“No, thanks.” He’d never been fond of using weapons. He preferred speed, agility and his bare hands.

Josie lifted a shoulder absently. “Suit yourself.”

Keller opened the door and stepped into the hallway before Josie. He heard her mumbling something about manners and chose to ignore it. Protection overrode manners.

“We need to lure them away from these buildings,” Josie said, all business now. “They’re full of residents.”

She was right, of course. Blizzard or not, Keller knew the warlocks wouldn’t give up easily. And if they were as bloodthirsty as Josie said, they wouldn’t care who they hurt in the process. “You know the area better than I. Any suggestions?”

Josie marched past him. “Yep. Follow me.”

Keller grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

“You need to take your hands off me,” she snapped. The tip of her blade bit into his chin.

She was quick. He hadn’t seen her pull the weapon. Keller released her elbow and lifted his hands in a surrender fashion. “I’ll make you a deal.”

Josie shook her head. Her braid thumped against her collarbone. “No. I’m tired of deals. They don’t work for us.”

Keller quirked a half smile. “I beg to differ.”

“Of course you do.”

Patience
, he told himself. “Is it too much to ask that you allow me to take the lead on this one?”

“Yes. It’s too much.” She punched the wall. “You’re too much.”

Keller understood the root cause of her frustration. Josie was used to doing things on her own. He wouldn’t change that in a day. Arguing with her was futile. Keller took the initiative and flashed down the stairs. Cold air smacked him in the face as he rounded the corner. The front door stood wide open, snow drifting into the lobby. The lack of footprints eased his mind. Josie’s anger slammed into his backside a second before she skidded to a halt.

“Not cool, Irish.”

Turning, he cut off her next words with a heated kiss. “I don’t always play fair, Josephine.”

Her frustrated bellow made him laugh. Now that he felt like himself again—better even—the future looked promising. Once they finished with the unfortunate and untimely warlock business, he and Josie could get back to more pleasurable things.

As she stomped past him, Keller smacked her on the ass. “Ready to show me what you’re made of?”

Turning, her eyes glittered with renewed excitement. “That a challenge?”

Keller smiled, full on, feeding off her energy. “Let’s hunt, Huntress.”

They trudged through snow that came up to his calves and her knees. Three minutes later, they’d only progressed about twenty feet or so and they’d run out of time. “I need you to tell me exactly where you want this to play out.”

“Why?” Josie asked, slightly winded. “We’ll get there… eventually.”

Keller gripped her shoulders and turned her ninety degrees. A line of warlocks stood less than a block away, their hands outstretched, their demons snorting and salivating. A magickal wave of dark energy pulsed from their fingers. “That’s why.”

“Shit.”

Keller watched as they pulled power toward them. Light bulbs burst overhead. “Agreed. They’re using any energy they can find and getting stronger. Moving in this snow won’t be a problem for them much longer. Now where, Josie?”

Leaning in, she whispered the directions in his ear. Her icy breath washed over his face and it was all Keller could do not to pull her into his arms and hold her close. “That’s not very far.”

Josie nodded. “It’s far enough.”

Wrapping his arm around her waist, Keller pulled her against his body. “Hold on.”

No questions asked, she did just that. Keller flashed, flying Josie through the night. The cold bite of wind didn’t faze him. He’d teleported thousands of times before. Josie, on the other hand, tucked her face into the crook of his neck, shivered. Their destination came upon them quickly. He set her down in the middle of a park, held her close while she regained her balance.

Josie pushed away from him, and hands on her knees, sucked in air. “Not fun, Irish.”

“It can be. Eventually.” Keller scanned the area, noted they were no longer alone. Demon eyes glowed. The warlocks wouldn’t be far behind. “Josie.”

She recovered quickly, palmed two blades and pressed her back to his. “I see them.”

They would wait. Let the demons make the first move. They didn’t have to wait long. Three demons lunged out of the dark, maws gaping, toxic saliva dripping.

Keller kicked and sent one of the demons sliding through the snow. He grabbed another out of the air, twisted his arms and yanked the head off. He tossed it away with a growl. Turning to assist, Josie, he smiled when she jammed her blade into the last demon’s gut and pulled straight up, exposing the innards. The demon hissed once and then slumped on the ground. Not dead yet, but soon.

“Nice,” he told her.

“Not bad yourself,” she said cleaning her knife off with a handful of snow. “I hope you don’t expect high-fives and shit.”

Keller’s laugh was cut short as a blast of power sent him sailing through the air. His back slammed into a pole. He slid to the ground, landed on his hands and knees. A sharp, piercing whistle sounded in his head and Keller groaned in pain. He knew what the sound meant—knew his sire was summoning him. The elder had shit skills for timing. Keller pushed his palms against his head, but the whistle didn’t let up.

It took everything he had, but he finally managed to block the sound. Josie cursed. Whipping his head up, fury ripped through Keller when he saw Josie surrounded by several warlocks. She lunged, kicked, and sliced with her blades, taking down more than her fair share. Keller roared, the sound coming from deep within, a base response to seeing his mate attacked, knowing he hadn’t much time before he had to return to his sire’s side.

He took flight and landed in the thick of the mayhem. Instinct took over and Keller lost control. Back in full effect now, Death cheered him on, demanded no survivors. He tore through the remaining warlocks, Josie fighting at his side. He saw nothing but his next victim. Felt nothing but the need to protect.

When there was only one left, he grabbed him by his lapels and the warlock locked eyes with Keller. Keller saw anger mixed with a hint of fear. His brethren had fallen. Death whispered,
kill, kill, kill
.

“Look around,” he told the warlock. “This is your future.” He leaned in and whispered words that made the warlock’s skin turn as white as the snow. Keller shoved him away, doubled his efforts to block the summons. The warlock ran, lost his footing and landed face first in a snow bank. He lifted his head and looked over his shoulder. Keller nodded once and the warlock got up and fled.

“What did you say to him?” Josie asked.

Keller masked his pain and turned. Her hair had come loose from its braid. Red locks fanned out around her pale face. Light green eyes, bright and alive from the thrill of the fight, studied him curiously. Seeing her like this made the pain bearable.

Knowing she wouldn’t appreciate the warning he’d sent with the warlock, Keller imitated what was quickly becoming Josie’s signature response and shrugged. “Just told him it was time to go home.”

Eyes narrowed, she chewed on her lip. “And?”

“Let’s just leave it at that, shall we?”

“For now.” She chewed on her lower lip. “I like how you fight.”

Keller smiled. “Do you, now?”

Josie sauntered toward him, her hips swaying seductively. “Yeah. I do. You’re all up close and personal about it. Yet… there’s a mechanical feel to it. You’re kind of ferocious.”

Her scent wrapped around him, pushing away the stench of the magickal burn and demon death. Aroused, Keller watched her closely, memorized the exhilarated look on her face. He’d hold it close while doing whatever dirty work his sire demanded.

“Too bad we have to clean this up.” She gestured to the dead strewn around the small park.

“The warlocks will take care of it.” That was part of the deal Keller had made with the last man standing. Something wicked flashed in her eyes. Whatever Josie was up to, Keller wanted to play a part. “Got somewhere you need to be?”

Keller stilled when Josie wrapped her arms around her neck. “I need a favor, Irish.” Now it was her turn to command. “You took a part of me into you. Now I want you inside me.”

Smiling, Keller teleported Josie from the carnage. Not knowing the city, he decided taking her to her apartment was his best option. At least there she would be inside, close to her weapons, when he left. She wouldn’t have any trouble with the warlocks anytime soon. But being a Huntress meant she was never far from danger. Though Keller didn’t like that aspect of her life, he might have to learn to accept it.

Once inside her apartment, she slammed him to the wall and kissed his brains out. Jacked up on adrenaline from the fight and the lingering effects of his bite, no doubt. Keller didn’t care. He took everything she was willing to give.

Josie pulled off his jacket and dragged her tongue across his abs. Keller groaned with the need for control. She nipped. He throbbed. The shrill whistle nearly bore a hole through his head. He had to warn her before they went too far.

Hands clasped behind his head, he said, “Josie.”

When she didn’t respond, he cradled her chin in his palm and lifted her gaze to his. She blinked up at him. Breathless, her breasts heaved against his thighs. “You don’t want this.” She stood, turned away.

Keller grabbed her arm and pulled her against him. “I want you more than anything.”

She angled her head. “Then what’s the problem?”

If Keller didn’t go, he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt his sire would summon one of Keller’s brothers or sisters. Maybe even Sage, who’d only recently found something that made her happy. Keller wouldn’t do that to them—to her. He’d go and follow orders, and he’d do it to save those he considered family. Equally, or perhaps more importantly, if he didn’t leave soon, his sire would send a crew to get him. That crew wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate whatever and
whomever
they deemed a distraction. “I can’t stay. I’m being… I have to go soon.” One day, that would all change.

Emotion flickered in her eyes, but Keller couldn’t name it. “So go,” she said with another shrug.

He slid his thumb across her lower lip in a soft caress. “Not like this. I’m not leaving because I want to.” He had to protect her, somehow find a way to keep her a secret from his sire.

“Doesn’t matter, Keller. I get it. You gotta bolt. If you’re worried about my feelings, don’t be. I’m a big girl.”

Keller palmed her cheeks and covered her lips with his. He licked, teased until she opened. When she relaxed into him, he deepened the kiss, blocked the whistle from his mind. He’d go. Just not yet.

The seconds turned into minutes. They shed their clothes and Keller carried her to the bed. She’d wanted fast and furious. He’d give her slow and delirious. He feasted on her skin, her mouth, her breasts. She scored his back with her nails, tugging him closer. Keller waited until she said his name on a whisper and then he slid into her heat. Fire raced through his body and he stilled, wanting to freeze time.

Green eyes full of desire, she wriggled beneath him, fisted her hands in his hair and pulled his mouth to hers. That was Keller’s undoing. He gave her fast. He gave her hard. She wouldn’t know it, but in those moments, he gave her his heart.

Josie shook, moaned, and then cried out her release. Keller was right there with her. They rode the wave together, until neither had anything left to give. She kissed his shoulder and sighed.

The whistle returned full force. Keller clenched his jaw against the pain. He’d angered his sire by making him wait, and he would have to pay the price. Looking down at Josie, he knew it was all worth it. He watched the steady rise and fall of her chest. She hadn’t really fallen asleep, but it was probably better this way. He pulled the blanket up to her chin and then ran his hand over her hair.