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

Sera strained to hear his footsteps, damning herself for not having turned on the lights when she’d entered the room. All the furniture looked like black blocks with no definition or distinction. The place seemed cluttered with shadows. Her heart hammered against her rib cage as she continued to step backward.

The party had felt oppressive. All she’d been able to focus on was Carver. He seemed to be everywhere she turned, so she’d fled. Now she was all alone in a distant part of the house with him. She swallowed hard and closed her eyes. She couldn’t understand where this fear was coming from. Carver had never shown the least inclination to hurt her, but she barely knew him beyond their encounters at The Java Demon, where he served her coffee. She had to be careful.

She opened her eyes and looked around for an exit. Light flickered beyond the windows from the Tiki torches and a few shadows passed before the glass, but she couldn’t spot a door. Her nerves were getting the better of her, making it difficult to focus.

“I won’t hurt you, Sera. I just want to talk.” Carver’s voice sounded right next to her ear. She could almost feel the humidity of his breath and the heat of his skin pressed against her back.

She whirled around to find nothing there. Disappointment and frustration filled her but she ignored the sensations. “Then turn on the light and stop these games.” The overhead lights flickered on, but the setting was too low for her to see all the details around her. She blinked a few times to adjust to the glow. “Thanks.”

As her sight adjusted she could make out his features and expression with clarity. There was blatant desire there as well as something else that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. In the shifter world it would be called “a gaze of claim.” If he were a shifter and they were surrounded by other shifters they would all know he’d staked his right to court her with that look. They would know to back off unless they wanted their throats ripped out.

“Like I said I don’t want to hurt you. I’ll stay right here if that makes you trust me.” Carver leaned against the archway entrance. His arms were crossed over his chest, showing off his well-muscled arms. Flame tattoos decorated the golden flesh. The spiked red choker that wrapped around his thick neck looked strained to its limit. The black leather of his sleeveless shirt stretched tight across the wide expanse of his pecs.

Sera’s gaze slithered down his body. His pants clung like a second skin to his muscular legs, tucked into knee-high boots. He was like some dark, wet dream she would refuse to acknowledge to herself during waking hours. The fire in his eyes burned so hot it seared into her skin.

He reached up to tuck an errant, inky-black tendril of hair behind his ear and gave her a smile. If he’d been a vampire he would be flashing her some fang. The lack of the pointy teeth only made her unease grow and her arousal increased. She wondered how he’d mark her. With his hands, maybe? He had long, thick fingers with trimmed fingernails. A ripple of heat rolled through her body at the thought of him gripping her, holding her still as he drove into her over and over again. Maybe he’d hold her wrists behind her back? Or maybe he’d call in his best friend, Thornton, to hold her still, distracting her with kisses and caresses. Maybe Carver would fuck her ass while Thorn took her pussy.

The image filled her head. Her vaginal muscles clenched as moisture dampened her panties, and her nipples tightened further to aching points. She wanted to blame Lunar Lust for her growing desire to fuck, but she knew it was more than that. Carver and Thorn made her question herself. They tested her self-control. When she was around them she wanted to touch, caress, and cuddle into them. She wanted to feel all that corded muscle over her, under her, all around her. She shook her head, trying to clear it.

Carver’s grin widened. “Well, well, well, my saucy little black cat wants to be fucked by me and my best friend. I had hoped you’d be open to that.”

“Get out of my head,” she gritted out as she tried to force the images away. Her fear rose up again, turning to panic. How far could he see into her thoughts? Could he find her fantasies? Her needs? She started to back away from him. The cat—damn it—refused to come to her aid.

“It’s rude to read a person’s mind without their permission. A violation.” She relaxed her body and got ready to attack if necessary. It was a rule—but not a law—among paranormals who were telepaths.

Physically, he didn’t pose much of a threat from where he was. Carver hadn’t moved. He remained lounging against the wall, a knowing look on his face. “
You
get out of
my
fucking head, my dreams, my desires, my fantasies. Then we’ll call it even.”

Carver straightened up and began to walk toward her with a slow gait that made her think of one of her feline shifter brethren stalking its prey. She swallowed as she realized that she was the prey this time. “What are you talking about?”

“I only came to this godsdamn party for you. And now that I have you alone, I can’t go another night without a taste of you. All I ask is one kiss.” Carver stopped a few feet away. It may as well have been the Grand Canyon between them. He seemed too far and yet so close.

Her body ached for his touch. She rubbed her arms, feeling exposed under his scrutiny. Those dark eyes roamed over her form, making her wonder if he found her lacking. Sure, he said she was in his dreams and fantasies, but demons lied as easily as they breathed.

Carver shook his head. “Don’t. I’m not going to deny it. I can see your doubt. I want you. No tricks, no denials. The question is, will you give in to me and Thorn? I know you want it, but I want to hear you give us permission.”

She stared at him, not believing for a second he was serious. “Exactly what are you saying?” Paranoia filled her. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Was this some kind of Samhain magic gone horribly wrong? Newbie witches had been known to cast love spells on this night because they thought it strengthened their power. Sometimes it did; sometimes it didn’t.

Carver moved forward until he stood only a foot before her. “Make no mistake, I’m not under some spell. This isn’t some passing fancy or a taste for the exotic. I want to fuck you. I want to make you cry out in orgasm and then do it all over again. I want to show you such pleasure that you can no longer ignore our attraction to each other. And just when you think I’m done, when
we’re
done, we’ll do it all over again. And then maybe we’ll go on a date…if we can move.” He gave her a crooked smile. “Well?”

Arousal flared throughout her body, hot enough to burn. Her cream soaked into her panties. Her heart rate increased as her legs turned to jelly. Words escaped her. She wasn’t sure how she could speak anyway. Her mouth had gone dry. All she could do was gaze at him in shock.

“Maybe I need to get specific.” He moved closer, invading her personal space. His body heat pressed against her skin, merging with hers. His unique cologne of coffee and spices swirled around her, becoming her air. With each pull of breath, he became a part of her.

She took a step back and he followed.

“You can run all you want, little cat. I’ll just continue to follow you. Now, where was I?” He tilted his head to the side and tapped his chin. “Ah, yes, specifics.”

He lifted his hand and reached forward. With just his fingertip he traced the curve of her chin. “Such soft skin, like silk. I’ve wanted to feel you against me for so long.” His touch slipped down her neck. “To taste your flesh, inhale your personal perfume.” He darted his head forward and inhaled before pulling back. His hair swung forward like a curtain of midnight streaked with crimson.

Her fingers itched to grab hold and feel the satin tresses under her grip. To feel his hair brushing against her inner thighs as he went down on her…she mewled at the thought. She closed her hands into fists to keep from reaching out. His fingertip edged the neckline of her corset. Her nipples throbbed with the need to be touched. She inhaled and waited for him to do something, anything.

He continued to outline the deep scoop neck of her corset. “I want to suck your tits until you squirm and beg me to fuck you.”

She pressed her thighs together as her clit began to throb in earnest and her temperature spiked. She let out a shaky breath as her knees shook. The desire to act out what he was describing overwhelmed her. She relaxed her legs, the pressure on the aching bundle of nerves had only increased, making her want to lift her skirt and work herself into a frenzy.

“I want to kiss my way down your stomach, tracing your curves with my hands, finding out the secret spots that make you gasp and groan.” He moved closer until their clothes touched. He reached out, grabbed her hips, and pulled her against him. His erection pressed against her stomach. Just the feeling of the thick ridge made her pussy contract. She wanted to remove her soaked panties. The feeling of the wet fabric against her clit only agitated her further.

“And once I’m between your thighs I will bury my face there and eat you out and worry your clit until you come over and over again.” He dipped his head down, bringing his lips just a breath away from hers. “And you will be crying out my name.”

All she could do was stare into his onyx gaze. Words had fled her mind and the images took shape before her eyes.

“Then, I’ll give you a reprieve by turning you over and spanking your sweet ass until you can’t stand it anymore and you beg me to fuck you—hard, fast, and deep.” His voice shook as he murmured his desires.

Sera began to whimper, unable to stop the noise from emerging. It was all she could do to keep from begging him to start right that very minute.

“And if you’re a really good girl—and I mean a
good girl
—I’ll ask my best friend to join us. Him in your ass and me in your pussy.” Carver pressed his palm against her stomach and slipped it down until he covered her mound. “You want to be our good girl, don’t you?”

She nodded, unsure of what it would take to be that, but knowing that whatever it was she’d do it. He smiled and it felt as though the sun had come out. Heat radiated from his lips. She reached up to cup his face and bring him closer for a kiss, but he lifted his head.

“Tsk, tsk, not yet. I’m not finished.” He rolled his hips, rubbing his erection into her. The noises she made turned to moans. “Feel that? Every inch for you, used to pleasure you, fuck you, make you moan and scream and beg and cry out, to own you. I’ll sink into you over and over again, make you come so hard you’ll see stars. I’ll use toys, my fingers, my mouth, my tongue, my lips, my cock to worship you as you deserve. My beautiful one, I will never do to you what that bastard, Arthur, did to you.”

Sera jerked back. The fantasy faded away at the mention of her ex. How could he? She narrowed her eyes at him. “How do you know about Arthur? Only Mysta, Bridget, and Lana know what happened with him.”

Carver shrugged. “Word does get around, even if you don’t open that pretty mouth of yours. Besides, the asshole told anyone who would hear at the Harvest Festival about leaving you. But don’t worry, Thorn and I put him in his place.” A hard look entered Carver’s eyes, a darkness that glittered in the inky black of his irises. He gave her a dark smile.

Her nipples pebbled to the point of pain and she shivered. The arousal stirred to life. “Why would you do that for me? Whatever it is you did.”

Carver bent his head down. “Because I will fight to have you and shed blood to keep you safe and keep your heart secure. You are worth it. You are priceless. Do not doubt that.”

He cut off any response by lowering his head and pressing his lips to hers. Her mind became swathed in desire, and her body temperature rose once again. She was in so deep she wasn’t sure she wanted to escape.

Chapter Two

A few hours earlier…

Sorry but I need someone who will be there for me. Take care of yourself.
The e-mail’s words rolled around Seraphena’s head as she took a sip of her chardonnay. She tried to focus on what Ariel was saying to Donna, but all she could think of was Arthur. She took another swallow of the wine and let the dull buzz filter through her system, only to feel the spark die down as her shifter’s metabolism took over, keeping her sober.

The words continued to roll around and she tried to find meaning in them. She got nothing. It was more like the bastard hadn’t been there for her. She waved away the thoughts. Tonight was about forgetting and she intended to do just that.

“Carver St. James just showed up, and he’s looking hot I might add.” Ariel tilted her head toward the door. “Whew, spank me daddy! All in leather too. Is that a red collar? Ooooh, dirty priest. Sexy! At least I think he’s supposed to be a priest. Whatever. Sexy is sexy.”

Sera turned to look. Her legs turned to jelly and she lost feeling in her hands. Heat flared on her face. She swallowed and found her throat refused to work. Her gaze was locked onto the dark figure of Carver and his best friend, Thornton, drifting over to the punch bowl. Ariel was right. Whatever he was supposed to be, he was walking sex in black leather.

“Damn. If I wasn’t mated, the things I would do to that demon. I’d show him some tricks he’s never even heard of.” Donna barked out a laugh and took swig of her beer. “Now, I have a new thing for Troy to dress up as.”

Sera growled. The sound came out before she could check it and embarrassment quickly followed. She wanted the ground to swallow her whole. Why couldn’t she control herself when it came to those two demons? She’d like to be able to chalk things up to Lunar Lust, but even when the moon wasn’t full she was just as reactionary. She needed to calm down or she would march over there and mark them as hers.

Donna held her hands up. “Whoa there. He’s not mated, and last I checked your name isn’t tattooed on his ass.” She gave Sera an impish grin. “You know, he and his best friend won’t be alone for long. Better go over and stake your claim.”

A few months ago she wouldn’t have noticed Carver or Thornton in a sexual way. She had been in an exclusive relationship that was going somewhere. Or so she’d thought. Her mother, Francine, had been so pleased. Arthur was really top rung in the feline shifter community. Now all she wanted was closure.