Kissed By A Demon Spy (11 page)

Scuff, scuff, scuff
. Small feet approached on the dirt path. She beamed as he turned the corner and crossed the soft grass.

“Hi, Mom!” He ran and hugged her.

Garnet hugged him and kissed his head. “Hi,
nihjo
. Did you have fun in music today?”

“Yeah, we sang a silly song about a goat. It was in a bakery!”

She handed Dash a water bottle and an apple and listened to his animated version of the song. “Wow, that is silly!”

“Yeah.” He giggled.

“Ready to learn about herbs?”

“Yep.” He took a giant bite of apple.

She spent a few minutes showing him how to identify the plants by sight and smell. He knew several already, from helping her at Stroehm. Then she moved on to show him how to coax the leaves to unfurl and widen, using their pixie-given talent.

“Wow, cool!” he exclaimed as she encouraged a sage plant to produce a new leaf along its central stem.

“Now you try. Concentrate on that leaf. Picture it growing taller and uncurling.”

He squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them. “Did I do it?”

“Not yet, sweetie. Try for a longer time.”

Dash tried again, and this time the leaf did as asked. “Awesome!”

Garnet hugged him. “Great job! See, you can do it!”

“Can I do it to all these plants?”

“Not all at once. We don’t want to waste anything. And some don’t need special help. Some are just happy to be here in Ivydale.”

“Not Stroehm,” Dash said. “Plants didn’t like it there.”

“No one liked it there.” Garnet wasn’t sure if she should say more or leave Dash’s thought alone. It was a brief, accurate statement. Sometimes less detail was better.

The scrape of heavy boots on metal drew her from her thoughts. Aden. The ladder at the side of the building rattled and then he was striding around the cor—

Shirtless
. Garnet’s throat went dry.
My god
. She stared, unable to look away.

Thick biceps curled up into broad shoulders that looked strong enough to lift a tractor. His pecs were slabs of muscle that begged to be licked. Below, his abdominal muscles tapered down past the waist of his low-slung jeans. A wisp of hair beckoned in that sweet space between his navel and the button of his fly.

“Hey, you two.” He winked at her.

Her cheeks heated.
Oh my god
. This wasn’t the first time he’d caught her staring. And again, he didn’t seem to mind.

“Hi, Mr. Aden,” Dash said. “Guess what! I made a leaf get big!”

“That’s great, buddy! High five.” Aden knelt next to Dash and held up his palm.

Dash went to smack his hand against Aden’s. Aden moved his hand up. Dash giggled and reached higher. Aden moved it to the side.

Dash laughed out loud. “I’m gonna get you!”

Aden moved his palm down low and let Dash smack it with all his six-year-old strength.

Aden mock-frowned and shook out his hand. “You’re strong.” He winked at Garnet over the boy’s head.

Dash bent his arm at the elbow. “Yeah, feel my muscles.”

Aden obliged and patted Dash’s bicep. “Ah, a tough guy. You can protect your mom.”

“Yep.” Dash nodded and put his hands on his hips.

“Hey, wanna see something cool?” Aden asked Dash. He looked at Garnet. “Right here in the yard.”

She nodded. “It’s fine.”

“What?” Dash asked, bouncing.

“A fox and a rabbit were here last night. You can still see their tracks. I’ll show you.” Aden led Dash across the yard, where they squatted next to a bush. Aden pointed to something and Dash leaned down, his nose almost touching the ground, to get a better look.

Garnet smiled. Dash was always eager to show Aden something or other, and Aden had obliged him every time. Aden had never mentioned having kids, but he seemed like a natural with Dash.

Muscles rippled in Aden’s back as he raised his arm and pointed to a nearby elm. He murmured something Garnet couldn’t make out, and Dash was hanging on his every word. They both stood to walk to the tree.

With Aden’s back to her, Garnet didn’t feel the least bit embarrassed about looking at his rear. He, like the other Deseratis in town, kept their lethal tails hidden. She bit her lip. He was breathtaking.
I want you.
His words were still there, having taken up permanent residence in her frontal lobe.

She touched her lips where she could still imagine the sensual onslaught of his mouth. Maybe he was waiting for her to make the first move this time. Could she?
I’m sure he wouldn’t mind…

Dash turned from the spot he was inspecting and charged over to Garnet. “Mom! I saw rabbit poop!”

She giggled. “Well, that’s always fascinating.”

“It was like, this big.” Dash pinched his thumb and first finger together and squinted at them.

“You didn’t touch it, did you?” Garnet scrunched her nose.

“No way! That would be gross.”

“Good. Now I need you to go inside and start on your homework before dinner.”

“Aw, I wanna look for more fun stuff.” He kicked at the grass.

Ty came around the side of the building, tool box in hand. “Gonna tighten up the washers on the big sink, Garnet. I noticed a little drip yesterday.”

“Thank you, Ty. Can you keep an eye on this one?” She looked down at Dash and smoothed his hair. “You go inside with Ty. Tomorrow you can explore more out here. And we’ll work with more plants too.”

“Okay.” He walked to the French doors, hands in his pockets, as Ty followed him.

“Don’t forget to wash your hands!” she called.

“Okay.”

Garnet stared after him, amazed that he sounded like six-going-on-sixteen. At least he listened to her.

“Whatcha thinking, sugar?” Aden’s voice rumbled over her.

She shook her head and took a breath. “Just thinking about Dash.”

“He’s a good kid. You should be proud.”

“Thank you.”

“I mean it. He have a dad?”

She raised her eyes to his.
Here it comes
the question I can’t avoid forever
. She bit her lip, not sure if she was ready to tell Aden about the arrangement between her and Dash’s father, Marco. “Yes. His dad died while I was pregnant, so he never knew him.”

“Your mate?” A faint growl cut through his tone.

“No.”

“No?” Aden’s voice dropped to a menacing rasp. “Did someone—”

She shook her head, not wanting him to speak the question. “No.”

The look Aden gave her said he wasn’t through with the subject, but he remained silent.

She sighed in relief. Attaching words to her situation with Marco made it seem so callous and crude, when in fact she hadn’t been treated badly. And even though her choice was either him, or try to fend off other males, it had still been her choice.
Just like now
. Her choice to tell Aden or not.

He stared at her as if trying to read between the lines. “Well, I’m sorry you lost someone who was decent to you. Can’t have been too common, from what I hear.”

She shifted her feet. “Thanks. It’s okay. Like I said, it was a long time ago.” She really needed to change the subject. “So, um, tonight’s menu?”

He studied her for a second and she tried to paste on her best nonchalant face, grateful when he went along with the new topic. “Yeah.” He rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Let’s go over that. You wanna use any of this?” He pointed to the herbs, which were already doing better than on her first day. “Looks great, by the way.”

“Green chile enchiladas with a choice of fillings, and fresh salsa, for one item.” Dinner items, the perfect distraction. Well, almost. The demon in front of her was distracting enough on his own.

“You have enough peppers for the spice lovers?”

“Yes. And then roast beef with potatoes, carrots, and celery.”

“Sounds good. Keep talking while we get some things from the root cellar. I’ll bring more potatoes up. I noticed you’re low.”

She followed him along the back of the inn to a door set into the ground at an angle. Ten wooden steps led down into the packed earth shelter that was fortified with sturdy timbers along the walls and ceiling. Shelves lined the space, and it was tall enough for Aden to stand. Here he stored habañero peppers, potatoes, carrots, squash, garlic, onions, rice—a variety of items that didn’t need to be refrigerated.

He still didn’t have a shirt on. Garnet listed the rest of her menu ideas, but she was only half paying attention to anything but his well-defined muscles. They bunched and flexed with each—Yelping, she missed the last step and stumbled forward.

Aden whirled and caught her. “Whoa. You okay?” He held her closely, one arm around her waist and one gripping her bicep.

“Yes.” The smooth skin of his chest was inches away. She licked her lips, dying for a taste of him. Her heart hammered in her chest. Slowly, she raised her eyes, moving up to his neck, his square stubbled jaw and full lips, before stopping at his molten silver gaze.

That look again. Like he wants to devour me.
But he didn’t move. Didn’t pull her closer, or let her go. He was so much bigger than she, a tower of dark strength. A protector. An ache started low in her belly and the need to push away her past rode her hard. Still holding his gaze, she leaned in and pressed her mouth to his broad pecs.

Aden’s vision went black at the gentle touch of Garnet’s lips, and when she moved along his muscles, licking with her tiny tongue, he groaned. He knotted a hand into her thick dark hair, holding her in place. Her mouth was hot, her lips skilled. Fuck. He dropped his head back and let her sweet scent surround him.

Lavender…and a distinctly feminine perfume. Garnet was turned on. The spicy-sweet fragrance of her arousal mixed into the lavender and curled its way into his mind, destroying every thought that wasn’t about her tight little body.

“Fuck, baby.” It’d been too long since he’d kissed her. Using his grip on her hair, he tilted her head back and bent to claim her mouth.

She whimpered and opened for him. He swept his tongue into her mouth, tangling with her own, exploring and plundering.
Mine
. The thought screamed in his head.
She’s mine.
He didn’t stop to think about it. He couldn’t think at all, not when her hands were busy learning every inch of his back and abs.

Her hands dropped to his ass and squeezed. He returned the favor, cupping her bottom and shifting her so her legs straddled his thigh. He sucked her tongue, needing every drop of honeyed sweetness she could give.

Her hand grazed his fly and his hips jacked toward her. He growled, barely holding back the need that rode him hard. He didn’t know what shit she had been through, but he didn’t want to push her into anything too soon. First, he’d pleasure her.

He scooped both hands under her ass and carried her to a wall near the stairs, where there were no shelves. But there was an empty wooden crate on the floor. Kicking it into place, he set her on it. Now they were almost the same height. “Just one rule, sugar. Don’t touch my horns. Not if you wanna be able to walk around my kitchen tonight.”

Her lips sought him again with a desperation echoed in her breathy moans and gasps. “Okay. No h-h—”

He stole her words, capturing her mouth in a savage kiss. Her arms wound round his neck and rested on his shoulders. Her breasts pressed against him, too tempting to pass up. Loosening her arms from his shoulders, he grabbed the hem of her T-shirt and yanked it up over her head.

His cock swelled at the sight of her full creamy breasts spilling over the edges of her blue bra. He cupped her, shaping and squeezing, before dotting kisses along the top edge. Her lavender scent was more concentrated at her cleavage and he inhaled deeply. He reached around her back to unhook her bra and slipped it off.

Soft hands alighted on his shoulders once again, and her breath came in gasps, making her breasts rise and fall enticingly. Rosy nipples stood up, stiff and hard, begging for his touch.

“Look at me.” His voice came out rougher than he intended.

Her dark eyes met his, heavy lidded with lust. He dragged the back of one hand down, his knuckles moving over her swollen tip. She let out a shaking breath.

“You like that?”

She nodded, biting her lip.

He repeated it on her other side. She moaned and squirmed, shifting her legs. A fresh burst of arousal permeated the air. He dropped one hand to her jeans and made quick work of her button and zipper. Leaning in, he took her lobe between his lips. “I need to touch you.”

“Please,” she whispered.

Her body was on fire, a sweet feast that he couldn’t wait to sample. His hand slipped into her pants, finding a scrap of silk covered her. “So wet, sugar.” He nibbled her ear. “You want me?”

“Y-yes.” She rocked against his hand, like she was trying to get him where she wanted him.

He chuckled, and stilled his hand. She whimpered, and her whimper turned into a gasp when he flicked his thumb over her nipple. It stiffened and she made a frustrated feminine sound.

Pleased, he toyed with her nipple more. It was swollen and getting redder, like a berry. God, he had to taste her. He dropped his head to capture it between his lips. At the same time, he moved his hand back and forth between her legs, teasing her heated flesh over her panties.

“Oh god.” She dropped her head forward, kissing his hair. Hot and tempting, her breath skated across his horns, making his cock throb.

He sucked her other nipple, and used his fingers to play with the first one. Holy hell, her body was a fucking fantasy. He sucked, played and stroked until she was writhing against him. “Aden!” She clutched his shoulders. “Don’t stop!”

“I’ll never stop, sugar. I’ve got you.”

Her body bucked against him, and she held on, her short fingernails digging into his shoulders. She shuddered, riding the sensation until she sagged against him, her face buried in his chest.

Her heart pounded so wildly he could hear it. The pulse point at her neck ticking in time with it, and he stroked her hair as it slowed.

Garnet sniffled.

Aden froze as moisture trickled down his chest.

“Shit, baby, what’s wrong? Was that too much?”

Her sniffle turned into a sob.
What the fuck?
He’d never had a female burst into tears after giving her an orgasm.