Bittersweet Darkness (11 page)

Leaning against the metal railings, she scanned the crowd for black-clad men and the busy road for black SUVs. But nothing. Then she caught sight of a figure moving toward her. At first, her gaze slid past him. And back, because he was exactly what she liked in a man. Besides, he was tall, towering over the rest of the crowd.

Holy moly
.

She had a vague memory of Ash telling her he was getting a makeover this morning. He hadn’t been kidding.

The black leather was gone—and she had to admit to a little pang of regret. Ash had looked great in black leather. In its place, he wore a lightweight, silver-gray business suit that had to have been made to fit him. A pristine white shirt and a dark red tie. His hair was immaculately cut and hugged the shape of his skull, the designer stubble was gone leaving him smoothly shaven. His eyes were covered by designer shades.

He came to a halt in front of her and she snapped her mouth shut because she couldn’t think of anything to say. Except—wow, and she really didn’t want to say that.

“Faith,” he murmured in that low, husky drawl. He reached up and took off the shades and his gaze wandered over her, then back to her face to settle on her mouth. Was he thinking about their kiss? Because she was. “You look beautiful.”

She almost snorted. One of them looked beautiful, and it wasn’t her.

“Are you all right?” he asked when she failed to speak.

She shook herself. “You look…different.”

“Yes, it was a sort of dare from Ryan. We have our first meeting this afternoon, and he didn’t think I wasn’t giving off the right vibes. I said neither was he. So we had a deal—I’d tone down, he’d tidy up.”

She cleared her throat. “Well, it’s official—you’re toned down.”

“You like?” he asked.

“Yeah, you’re gorgeous, now let’s move. We’re causing a traffic jam.”

It was true, people were slowing, no doubt to gawp at Mr. Perfect.

“You hungry? You want to eat?”

Actually, she was starving. At least she hoped that’s what that hollow feeling in her gut was. Hunger and not unrequited lust. But she hadn’t eaten last night and only had coffee for breakfast. “Yeah, I’m hungry.”

“We could go back to my place.” His gaze fixed on her mouth again.

She licked her lips and saw his eyes darken. Then gave herself a good mental shake. “I don’t think so.” Because if she got him alone, she doubted her lust would stay unrequited for long. She’d probably jump him as soon as the door closed behind them. What the hell was wrong with her? She’d never found sex a big deal before; now she couldn’t stop thinking about it.

“A restaurant then. I know just the place.”

They strolled along the street, close but not touching. Faith avoided staring at him, keeping her eyes straight ahead, and trying to get her unruly emotions under control.

Why did Ash have to be involved with all this? Why couldn’t she have met him somewhere else, somewhere unassociated with work? Maybe if she wanted a last fling she should strike Ash off the list and transfer him to the work only list and turn her attentions to someone else…like Pete.

As promised, her ex-boss had phoned her last night. Her cell had been off, but he’d left a message. She hadn’t gotten back to him yet, but maybe she should.

Ash took her to an Italian restaurant on the embankment. The hostess immediately showed them to a table by the window, with a view out over the River Thames down toward Tower Bridge. After they ordered, she stared down at the river, sipping a glass of sparkling water, unwilling to face Ash.

Finally, she forced herself to turn back to him. He’d taken off his jacket and was in his shirtsleeves, and if she stared hard enough, she could make out the shadow of dark hair on his chest. She raised her eyes to find him watching her.

“Are you really all right?” he asked

“I’m fine.” She wanted to get off that subject. “So tell me about this meeting you and Ryan have booked. Or is it confidential?”

“No, it’s not confidential. And we talked about you at the last meeting. Christian is happy to take Ryan’s recommendation and employ you if you decide to join us, so I’m cleared to talk to you.”

That was nice. Sort of. “So talk.”

“Christian works in a lot of areas, but one of the biggest is security, and he works all around the globe. He often finds out things, and he wants to form some relationships with government and military that will facilitate passing on that information.”

“Information? You’re talking terrorism?”

“Among other things. Mainly terrorism but also smuggling, drugs, weapons. Christian has a strong social conscience. He wants to help.”

“That’s sweet.”

His lips curved into a smile, but their food arrived at that moment, preventing him from answering. Faith zoned him out as she concentrated on her chicken tagliatelle. She didn’t often eat out and certainly not in this sort of place, which—despite there being no prices on the menu—she was guessing was expensive. Ash appeared perfectly at home here.

The food was delicious. When her plate was empty, she put down her knife and fork and relaxed. She thought about the job offer. In some ways, her interest was piqued and she was flattered that Ryan obviously thought so much about her. Unless there was some other, more sinister reason. But she couldn’t even guess at one right now. Once she had solved Julie’s murder, she’d give the whole thing some serious consideration. If she was still alive.

“And if I did come to work with you, would I be doing the same sort of thing?”

“Maybe, or pure investigative work if that’s what you’d prefer. Ryan says you’re a good detective.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Good.”

He reached across and took her hand where it rested on the table. She recognized his intention too late and didn’t move away quick enough.

Turning her hand over, he stroked her palm with his thumb, sending prickles of sensation running up her arm.

“Last night was good,” he murmured. “Up to a point. I’m hoping we can have another go, see if we can do better this time. Even if you decide against the job, I’d like to see you again.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re a beautiful woman and for some reason I find myself attracted to you.”

Beautiful—hardly. “For some reason?”

He shrugged as if uncertain as to whether to go on. “I lost my…wife a few years back. I haven’t exactly been dating since. In fact, that was my first kiss in a long time.”

The idea shocked her. “And it turned out so well.”

His lips twitched. “Maybe not, but it had potential.”

“I don’t know. This new job, it’s taking up a lot of energy, and while I’m not allowed to talk about what I’m doing, you already know there’s a connection to your boss. I think it would be a conflict of interest.”

“We won’t mention work. We’ll talk about each other.”

She was tempted. She enjoyed his company. Hell, she’d be happy to just sit and stare at him, but he was interesting as well and it was a long time since she’d had any life outside the job. Maybe she deserved this.

He must have sensed her weakening. “Dinner?”

“Early night,” she countered.

“Alone?”

“Definitely.” She had a flash image of Ash in her bed and a wave of heat washed over her.

“Tomorrow then. Wouldn’t you like to know how our meeting goes?”

Of course she would, and that’s why she would see Ash again. That and because she was supposed to be spying on him. Nothing to do with the fact that he was the most gorgeous man she had ever come across, and he wanted her. How unexpected was that?

“Okay. Tomorrow lunch.” Lunch was safe. What could happen at lunch?

“Good.” He still had hold of her hand and he leaned down and kissed her palm. Heat swept through her at the touch of his lips. In another man, the gesture might have seemed posed, corny even, but with Ash, it seemed perfectly natural. He touched her palm lightly with the tip of his tongue and the heat settled low down in her belly.

As he raised his head, his dark eyes met hers. “You want anything else?” His voice promised all sorts of things, which had nothing to do with food. “Dessert?”

She took a deep breath. She was stronger than this; she had to stay in control. She was always in control. Tugging her hand free, she placed it on her lap out of reach.

“No thank you,” she said primly. “I must get back to work.”

“Tomorrow then.”

Chapter Eight

Ash drew the vehicle to a halt outside Faith’s apartment building and switched off the engine. Before the noise had died, she was turning in her seat, releasing her belt, and preparing to make a dash for it.

They’d met for lunch three days running. She wouldn’t go out with him in the evening. Instead, he picked her up after work and drove her home. But so far she’d refused to invite him inside. He was hoping tonight would be different.

She fascinated him, and he hadn’t thought that would be possible with a human. He was aware she wanted him; she gave it away in tiny ways. A peek from the corner of her eyes when she thought he wasn’t looking. The flutter of the pulse at her throat when he leaned in close.

But she had formidable willpower.

His libido had been in hibernation for over twenty years. Now it was well and truly awake and desperate to get some action. But not just any action. He tried that, wanting to find out if it was just a general awakening or only in response to Faith.

Definitely, the latter he’d discovered, and he wasn’t sure if he was glad or not. Maybe after however many thousands of years he was finally maturing. The thought made him smile.

She sat back in her seat and looked at him. “You’re smirking.” It sounded like an accusation.

“Just happy to be in your company.” The weird thing was he liked her. He also had an inkling that if he pushed too hard she would back away and he’d never get another chance. So he was playing it cool—not something he was used to.

Her eyes narrowed. “Really?”

“Hmm. So are you going to invite me in?”

“I don’t think so.” But she made no move to climb out of the vehicle.

Darkness had fallen on the drive—she’d worked late tonight—and the light was dim. He’d made a point of parking away from the streetlight. Now he twisted in his seat and studied her.

That pulse was beating frantically in her throat, so he wanted to lick along the vein, maybe sink his teeth into the flesh. Demons didn’t need to drink blood like vampires, but that didn’t mean they didn’t love the taste of warm flesh. That might be a little more “demon” than she was ready for, so instead, he rested his hands on her shoulders, lowered his head, and pressed his lips against the soft skin, felt her blood pulsing so close to the surface.

Although she shifted against him, she didn’t pull away and he trailed his lips up her throat, nibbled along her jawline, found her lips.

She was so sweet, her mouth parting beneath his on a soft sigh. He made the most of her capitulation and deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue along hers, tasting her. His dick was instantly hard, but maybe he’d keep that to himself for the moment.

All the same, he couldn’t resist sliding one hand down and beneath her jacket, cupping her breast. Her nipple peaked against his palm and he groaned into her mouth. He squeezed and when she didn’t pull away, he rubbed over the stiffening point. His other hand moved down, sliding beneath her shirt so he could feel the satin skin of her belly.

He’d make her come so hard, she would be dragging him into the building for seconds. He had a lot of pent-up libido to release. He was just about to put that plan into action and slide his fingers inside the waistband of her pants, when the cab flooded with light. A car pulled up behind them, and a moment later, a horn honked. Faith went still against him.

Pulling back, she blinked up into his face and shook herself as if coming out of a trance. The car behind beeped again. “Bugger.”

That didn’t sound good.

“I’ve got to go.”

Even worse. But she was already scrambling for her bag and pushing open the door. She almost fell out.

Ash followed slowly, leaning against the vehicle as she ran to her front door, dug her keys out, and then she was gone.

A second later, the door opened again and she peeped her head out. “Thanks for the lift. Good night, Ash.”

…

“How’s Faith?” Ryan asked as they entered the meeting room at the Order.

“She’s fine.”

Ryan turned to look at him and gave a crooked smile. “She’s resisting your charms isn’t she? Ha! I knew she would.”

Ash shrugged. “Your ex-partner has considerable will-power.”

She wanted him. He could see it in the way she watched him with those pale eyes. And that hot kiss good night still had the power to make his dick hard.

Maybe he should skip a day. See if absence did what it was supposed to do. Though he hated the idea of not seeing her.

He was horny as a human teenager, but strangely, he was enjoying himself. In the past, if he’d seen a woman he desired, he’d pretty much taken her. He’d never actually met resistance. Well, until Lily. She had resisted him. Not because she didn’t want him, but because she knew how much being together would hurt her family. While demons would happily form relationships with any of the other races, the fae were a reclusive lot and frowned upon affairs with outsiders. More than frowned upon; any offspring of such couplings were ruthlessly slaughtered. Which was ultimately why Lily had died. Unable to follow Ash into the Abyss when he’d been banished by Christian and the Order, and unable to return home for fear they would murder her child, she’d been stranded on Earth. She’d done what she could to protect their daughter but the effort had taken the last of her strength and she’d faded and died.

It was why Ash hated the Walker so much. As Lily’s uncle, he should have offered her protection, not made her fear for the life of her baby.

But even the Fae were changing. That they’d consented to be part of the newly formed committee showed they were willing to try. Though the Walker wasn’t contributing much. He sat in the corner of the room, watching Roz, a pathetic expression of longing in his eyes.