Making Demons Purr (Flushed and Fevered Book 2) (16 page)

“Tease,” he growled. His cock began to thicken and lengthen as liquid arousal slipped into his groin, filling it with fire. His skin prickled with heat as his demon magic rose to join the party. The brand between his shoulders simmered to life.

Sera gave him a sphinx-like smile and moved back to her desk. On her way, she trailed her hand over Thorn’s shoulder and arm. Thorn made a sound deep in the back of his throat but didn’t move.

“Lunch?” Lana seemed to have ignored Sera’s display and flitted forward on gossamer wings. Her curly, dark brown hair framed a pixie-like face that had delicate features. She accepted the bag and moved away as fast as her wings could carry her to her small corner of the room. “Thanks,” she called out, as the paper bag crinkled.

Thorn smiled. He had heard about Lana’s background and what had happened to her before Bridget brought her in. It warmed his heart to do something so simple that made her happy. “You’re welcome.”

“I’ll bring Mysta and Bridget their lunches when I leave,” Lana called out around a mouthful of grilled cheese.

Carver chuckled before turning his attention back to Sera. She hadn’t even looked at her food. Instead, she was studying the both of them, her head tilted to the side, a question hanging in her eyes. “Come on, let’s go into Bridget’s office. She won’t mind.”

Carver glanced at Thorn. They shared a look of concern before they followed her.

Once they were inside she grinned at them. “Spill it. What’s all this about?”

Thorn chuckled. “That obvious, huh? You need to be punished for not waking us up and letting us know you were leaving. You could’ve gotten hurt. There was a slug thing about. Did you know about that? You know how crazy people get around Samhain.”

Sera opened her mouth but Carver forestalled any protest she had. “We know you can take care of yourself, but we’d like to be able to make sure you’re protected.”

She pressed her lips together. “I can see that. I did leave you a note.”

Carver turned to Thorn. “Did you see a note?” He couldn’t remember finding one.

“Nope, but then again I was running on fumes, and I still don’t have enough coffee in me.” Thorn shrugged. “Makes no difference.” He turned to Sera. “You’re still going to get a spanking. Now, which would you prefer? Belt, flogger, palm, or paddle?”

The feline pheromones that had been light and airy became denser and more pungent. Carver couldn’t suppress a smile. Their little cat was aroused. They both moved toward her in tandem until they had her boxed between them. Carver bent his head and brushed his lips over the side of her neck. He slipped his hands around her body to cup her breasts and give the globes a squeeze.

“Well, sweetheart? What will it be?” Thorn’s voice was a ragged whisper.

“I…I…” Sera moaned.

Carver found and pinched her nipples through her bra and blouse. He massaged the firm mounds. Even through the barrier of her shirt, he could feel her body heat ticking up. She began to vibrate with pent-up energy.

“Can’t think.” She dropped her head back onto his shoulder.

“Well that makes three of us. You think
we
can form coherent thought with you looking the way you do?” Carver brushed his lips over the front of her neck and inhaled deeply. She smelled like sunshine and sex and need. He rolled his hips, rubbing his erection against her ass. She moaned. A low hum filled the air. Hot and cold energy swirled around them. That purring noise that she had made the night before returned.

Thorn took her lips and held her hips still. Between them they ground their groins against her.

“See how hard you make us? Feel our erections? That’s what you do to us. Do you need us inside you again? Need us to fuck you again? Make you come again and again like last night?” Carver nipped the skin over her pulse and sucked it in.

She shuddered against him. “We can’t…”

“You know what this reminds me of, Carver? My fantasy to fuck Sera in our office while The Java Demon is open and you work the front of house.” He nuzzled her throat.

“I’m sure you’d use some of the toys we didn’t pull last night. Maybe the feather wand? Or how about the vibrating balls? How about that clitoral vibrator you found?”

“Maybe if she’s good. Now, do you really want us to stop?” Thorn took her lips in a slow kiss, gliding and teasing her mouth with his.

Carver gave her another nip. “What’ll it be? Make your decision. If you say nothing we’ll have to punish you here and now.” He pinched her nipples through her top and held the thick buds as he waited for her to reply.

She squirmed against him. Her bottom brushed against his groin, teasing him to the point where he thought his sanity would shatter. Thorn pressed in closer to her and held her hips still, which only relieved Carver’s torment for a moment.

“What have you decided, sweetheart?” Thorn pressed kisses all over her face as they waited.

Carver felt the minute tremors of her body against his. The swirl of fire in his gut expanded as the onslaught of an oncoming orgasm hung just out of reach. He gritted his teeth and fought to hold onto his unraveling control.

“The palm of Thorn’s hand.” Her voice wobbled as it came out.

Carver released the tightened peaks. She gasped and began to tremble. Both Thorn and Carver held her up as she came. The scent of her arousal drifted, strong and musky, on the air. Carver wished he could pull down her jeans, take off her panties and bury his head between her thighs. He wished he could make her come again with his mouth. But that would have to wait until later.

“Later, love.” Carver brushed a kiss on her nape and stepped back. Thorn did the same. Carver watched Sera struggle to stand on her own. Both men hovered close just in case she needed help.

Once she could hold herself up, Sera lifted her chin and smiled. “Thanks for that small preview. But I’m not the only one who’s going to be punished. I know I’m going to pay for leaving without telling you, but you both will pay for this little encounter.”

Before they could respond she brushed by them and out of the office. Carver and Thorn trailed after her, smiles on their faces. Lana hovered near the doorway, a look of pure mischief on her face, but she said nothing. Carver nodded and led the way out of the building and onto the street.

“Looks like we’ll have to leave work early,” Carver said, as they strolled back to The Java Demon.

“Yeah, I’ll take a quick trip home to check on the status of our fridge and make sure we have enough to make a meal for three. I’m having trouble remembering my name right now.” Thorn grinned.

“Me too. She is beautiful when she comes. I can’t wait to see her do it again. I’ll see you back at the café.”

They parted ways and Carver entered The Java Demon. Sometime during their absence the place had become packed. It seemed everyone in town wanted something satisfying and comforting for their after-Samhain celebrations. Carver leaped into the fray and went into autopilot, smiling, taking orders, serving, and reliving the night’s festivities. He also got the gossip on what had happened after he, Thorn, and Sera had left the party. Someone had unleashed an orgy spell at the mansion. Some of the guests were still sleeping it off and others looked worse for the wear. Others seemed embarrassed. Carver was thankful they had gotten out when they did.

When it was time to leave, Carver was exhausted but excited about spending time with Sera. Thorn drove, even though Carver hated seeing anyone in the driver’s seat of his Jaguar XJ sedan but him. Tonight, he was too tired to care.

When they arrived home, Carver just wanted to curl up and take a nap. “Goddess, I’m tired. What are you making for dinner?”

“Spaghetti, garlic bread, and I bought some zeppole for dessert.”

“Good, nice and comforting. The zeppole isn’t already fried is it?” Carver hated when the delicious little doughnuts got soggy.

“Nope, just the dough. It’s all pre-made, so there’s no need to put anything together. Easy. No worries. Why don’t you nap and I’ll get the meal ready, heh?” Thorn headed to the kitchen area.

Carver grinned. “Thanks. I think I will.”

He headed to the stairs only to stop short. “Should we tell her about the contract?” That little item had slipped his mind. He worried his bottom lip. Keeping something like this from Sera could backfire. Being up-front would be better. Besides, it gave them an edge so that if Francine tried to spring this on Sera she wouldn’t be caught unawares.

Thorn paused in his prep work. “Yes, I think we should. She needs to know that we’re serious about courting her. Besides, this protects her from our kind. Once a demon enters into a contract the others respect it.”

“Good. OK, nap time. Call me when she gets here, please.”

Carver doubted he’d be out for long, but he didn’t want to risk being late for dinner.

“I’m not your alarm clock. But yes, I’ll call you when it’s time.” Thorn turned on the radio and went to work.

Carver headed up to his room. He didn’t undress, just took off his shoes and climbed on top of the coverlet. Sleep took him as soon as his head hit the pillow. When Thorn shook him awake he had to struggle to stay conscious. His body was alert but his head felt foggy. At this rate he wouldn’t be any good to either Thorn or Sera.

“Sera’s here already? Coffee?” Carver hoped they had something strong enough to clear his head.

“Yes, she’s here. And of course there’s coffee. Black?”

“Yep. Gods, my head is so fucked up right now.” He ran a hand through his hair, tousling it even more.

They went downstairs. Sera sat at the breakfast bar, with a mimosa in her hand. Carver frowned. He didn’t think she should be drinking alcohol. He wanted her head clear so she could accept what they had to say without the fog of a buzz.

“Sera—”

“Hey, Thorn said you were napping. Feel any better?” She took a sip from her glass.

Carver glanced at Thorn for guidance. Thorn just shrugged. “One drink isn’t going to ruin things.”

Carver scrubbed a hand over his face.

“Worried about my mindset?” Sera placed her beverage down on the counter. “It’s really light on champagne, so no worries. Besides, alcohol runs through my body pretty quick. I’ll barely feel it.” She gave him a small smile.

Carver nodded. “OK.”

He met Thorn’s gaze and his best friend nodded.

“I’m glad you’re sitting down because we have something we need to discuss. It’s about your mother.” He went to the bar and settled down on a stool next to her.

Thorn entered the kitchen area and poured Carver’s coffee before he went to finish up the preparations for dinner.

“Go on.” A mask of neutrality fell over Sera’s features until he couldn’t read her emotions. Her eyes had turned a rich, shining amber.

Carver cleared his throat and tried to find the words. Nothing came to mind so he just pressed on and let the chips fall where they may. “After you and Arthur broke up, Thorn and I went to see your mother and asked permission to woo you. We even brought up the issue of a Contract of Courtship with her. She turned us down flat.” He paused and waited for a reaction. Sera’s body had gone still. Tension radiated from her form but she said nothing.

Carver pressed on. “As you know, demons take contracts in all forms seriously. We wanted to show her just how invested we were in you—enough to bind us to you in the most basic way our kind can. When we pointed out that Arthur had been using you to make another woman jealous, Francine informed us that she knew and didn’t care. He was a pure-blooded panther from an old family with ties to the community. A union between your two houses would elevate both of your families and keep your bloodlines pure.”

Carver stopped again to study Sera’s reaction to all this. Her lips had become a thin line and her eyes had narrowed, turning a shimmering gold that seemed to set off sparks.

Thorn spoke up from the kitchen. “We pressed her to give us a chance. We knew we could make you happy and wanted to give you the love you deserved, but she refused us and asked us to leave. She made it clear your happiness wasn’t as important as your family’s status.”

Sera bowed her head and her hands turned to fists in her lap. Her jaw clenched and her body trembled. Carver could taste her rage, like ashes on the air. If it were possible she would have burst into flames.

“Sera?” Carver ached to reach out to her. He wanted to cup her cheek and kiss away her anger. He glanced at Thorn whose gray eyes were filled with concern. “Honey? Sera, talk to us?”

She inhaled and exhaled until her shoulders dropped. The tension slowly eased out of her. “For as long as I’ve been aware my mother has been obsessed with bloodline purity. It’s all because she herself isn’t a pure-blooded panther. She was the second choice to head up the family. A cousin was the first, but she turned it down. If my father hadn’t died I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in and neither would she. He divorced her and married a lesser feline before he passed on. That has always made her angry. But appearances are more important than happiness, which is why she married her current husband. He has money and deep ties to the feline community, despite having a half-breed daughter.”

Carver let the words sink in. He couldn’t imagine a life like that. Demon society used to be structured in the same way. In days gone by, he and Thorn would be forced to marry a pure-blooded demoness. Thank the gods those days were over.

“And what do you think?” This from Thorn. He’d stopped cooking and stared at her. He held his body very still.

Carver focused his attention on Sera, waiting on a knife’s edge for her answer.

“I don’t care for her way of thinking. It’s my life and I’ll live it how I choose. It’s sweet that you guys wanted to be all formal.” She gifted them both a soft smile. “But, it wasn’t necessary. All you had to do was come to me if you wanted to date me.

“It hurts that my mother knew about Arthur’s intentions the whole time, but it makes sense. He was her choice for me. She wants to keep our family at the top of the leap any way she can.” She held up a hand. “I won’t get into that right now. I’m still too steamed about it.”

Hope bloomed in Carver’s chest, even as his stomach muscles clenched and bile churned in his belly. “So, you’d be willing to be with us? Date us?” He held up a hand to stave off her response. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to. We’ll leave you alone if that’s what you want. We won’t push or force you in any way.”