Authors: Crystal Jordan
Night Games (3 page)
He shrugged. “That’s the way it goes sometimes.” He watched her grip tighten on her champagne flute, and he realized that she wasn’t as relaxed as she appeared at first glance. “Are you enjoying yourself tonight?”
“I’m a cop. Fancy parties aren’t normally my speed.”
He knew exactly what she meant. He moved down the bar, settled next to her, and turned so his back was pressed to the wood. His shoulder brushed against hers, and he could feel that sharp spark of awareness that had hit him when he’d first heard her voice. The female scent of her filled his nose, and from this close, he could see the smoothness of her skin. He wanted to touch it, and his body reacted to that line of thinking.
Shifting so she faced the crowd with him, he tried not to groan as she ended up plastered to his side. He expected her to move away from him, but she didn’t. She just took a sip of her champagne and cast him a glance through her eyelashes. “Are you enjoying yourself tonight?”
“Not until about three minutes ago, but things are starting to look up.” The slow burn in his veins had little to do with the scotch he’d consumed. He’d gone from wishing he could escape to hoping he got to spend a few more hours with the woman beside him. Definite improvement.
“I was just thinking the same thing.” She tapped his glass with hers. “This is a much better distraction than booze.”
He chuckled. “I rank above the bubbly? I’m flattered.”
“You should be.”
“Is it just the high society shindig that makes you want to drink away the evening?” Because he knew he had plenty of other reasons for not wanting to think about people getting married. His own foray into matrimony could only be described as a disaster. A huge, ugly clusterfuck of a disaster. Too-familiar guilt and pain twisted deep inside him, but he shoved the memories aside and took another deep swig of his scotch.
Her shoulders twitched in a shrug, which made her arm slide against his. Even that innocent touch made him clench his teeth. He wasn’t sure he’d ever been so physically attracted to a woman so fast, but he was sure he liked it.
“I’m not a fan of weddings, high society or otherwise. Plus, every person in my entire chain of command is here.” She toyed with the necklace she wore, licked her lips, and glanced up at him.
“I can see how that could be hard on a person.” It was hard on something, all right. His cock stiffened in his slacks as his gaze locked on her mouth. He could picture those full lips moving over very intimate parts of his body. Not a good thought to be having if he didn’t want to embarrass himself in public. Everyone in his chain of command was here, too, including every ranking member of the All-Magickal Council.
A little smile curled up the corners of her lips. He got the feeling her smile wasn’t something people readily got to see. He knew for certain he hadn’t seen it before today. If he had, he would have asked her out a long time ago. Something that powerful deserved to be appreciated.
“You’re staring,” she said, the smile growing wider.
He didn’t stop. “I’m in law enforcement. Observing people is part of what I do.”
“Is that what you tell the girls?” She shifted closer, her dark gaze flashing unmistakable interest. And heat.
“No.” He grinned. “I tell the girls ... that’s a nice necklace.”
Her dark brows winged upward, her palm covering the pendant that rested below her collarbone. “It’s a talisman.”
“Oh, yeah? Where did you get that?”
For a second, wariness shone in her gaze. She was not used to telling anyone her business. How he knew that so certainly, he wasn’t sure.
“My cousin made it for me. Elves have a special gift for bespelled objects. We’re the best at it. The Elven Assembly even regulates the use of these kinds of objects.” She dropped her hand so he could see it more clearly. “This talisman is for protection. My cousin thought I could use it, since I’d just graduated from the police academy.”
The chain was silver and a little thick for women’s jewelry, and the charm was made up of a few colored stones woven into an intricate design with more silver and perhaps copper.
“A little luck in the line of duty is a good thing.” He’d had his fair share, and he was hoping for a larger share in order to get lucky tonight. “The elves regulate jinxed, hexed, and cursed objects, too, don’t they?”
Her lips pursed. “Cursed objects don’t exist anymore, thank gods. They were outlawed a century ago, and all the remaining ones were destroyed. Hexed and jinxed objects, on the other hand, are tightly regulated. I’ve busted several teenagers messing with that kind of magic illegally.”
“Oh, yeah?” He grinned. “Sounds like something I’d have done as a kid, if I were a Magickal.”
Her gaze dropped to his lips when he spoke, and she leaned closer until his nose filled with the scent of her perfume. He wanted to touch her. Badly.
“Are you married or otherwise spoken for?”
They both winced at his bald question. He had no idea what her grimace was for, but he had more ugly memories about being married than he could handle in a lifetime. Weddings like this didn’t bother him—his own wedding had been great. It was the marriage that had fucked up. None of it was something he liked to think about, though. The silence stretched, so he answered his own question, hoping to encourage her to do the same. “I’m single now, but I was married once. A long time ago.”
“Same here.” She looked down at her glass. “A couple of centuries ago, in fact.”
“Mine is more like decades, but it averages out in human-to-elf years, I guess.” He didn’t ask how old she was. Even Magickal women who had such long life spans didn’t seem to like to admit when they passed thirty, so he’d learned to avoid the topic for the most part.
“I suppose it does.” She finished the last of her champagne and set the flute on the bar behind them. When her gaze met his, it was frank, no coy games, no teasing. “So, you’re available and I’m available. Isn’t that interesting?”
“I think so.” He smiled, and he knew the expression was nothing short of lascivious. He liked her forthrightness, and if he was reading this correctly, he was going to be enjoying a lot more of her tonight. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on that hot little body. Since he couldn’t strip her in their current surroundings, he asked, “Would you like to dance?”
She glanced at the couples swaying together slowly. “Sure.”
He held his hand out for her, and she slid her fingers into his. Yeah, touching her was just as good as he’d suspected it would be.
Drawing her out onto the dance floor and into his arms, he bit back a groan at having her slim curves pressed against his front. He made certain his hold wasn’t so tight that she’d notice his rising erection, but he still enjoyed the lust sizzling through his veins. It was rare that he met a woman who got to him like this, and the anticipation just made it all the more arousing to have her near, smell her sweet scent, slide his hands down her back.
“This is good.” She settled herself against him, arching to let him know she’d noticed his erection. He grinned. Of course she’d noticed.
He pulled her closer. “I know what you mean.”
“Do you?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.”
“Exactly.” He hadn’t been looking for this kind of distraction, but being a sane man, he wasn’t about to walk away from it. Letting one hand slide up her spine, he cupped the back of her neck, enjoying the silky feel of her skin. Her short hair tickled the back of his hand. Goose bumps broke down his flesh when she slid her palms under his jacket and ran them up his back. He could feel the heat of her through his shirt, the way her nails dug in slightly. His breath hissed through his teeth as his cock jerked, and her throaty chuckle did little to cool his ardor.
He forced himself to keep his eyes open and not thrust himself against her. Another couple swayed to the music not far from them, locked as tightly together as he was with Selina. It took him a moment for his lust-fogged brain to realize he knew these people. Tess and Peyton. They were both werewolves who worked with him in the FBI. Peyton was an agent and Tess a medical examiner. The way they looked at each other was shocking in its intimacy. He hadn’t known they had any interest in each other. Luca still had a thing for Tess, and the fact that Peyton worked with both of them made for a whole lot of possible awkwardness. Jack looked away, ignoring that he’d seen a thing. It wasn’t his business.
He watched Merek and Chloe drift by, their gazes locked on each other, the rest of the world ignored. Newlywed bliss. He grimaced. Their marriage would work out better than his, only because he knew Chloe was nothing like his wife had been. Shaking his head, he dismissed other people from his thoughts and concentrated on the woman in his arms. The past was over, best to focus on his very pleasurable present.
Selina tilted her head back to whisper something in his ear, and her body stretching against his was exquisite torture. He bit back a groan.
Her lips brushed his ear, her hot breath washing over his skin and making him dig his hands into her hips. She nipped his earlobe, scraping it with her teeth. “Do you want to go somewhere else?”
Fuck, yes, he did. He forced himself to loosen his grip on her. “I’d like to go anywhere that’s not here. Would anyone notice a missing bridesmaid?”
“I’ll tell Millie I’m leaving. She’ll have her million minions handle anything else.” She skimmed her hands up his chest, pausing infinitesimally to graze his nipples with her nails. “The newlyweds should be leaving soon anyway. Millie is putting them up in the penthouse suite of the Mercer Grand Hotel for their wedding night and keeping Alex while they’re on their honeymoon in Bali.”
He swallowed hard and rocked his hips into her as subtly as he could while they moved across the dance floor.
Soon
the couple would leave. How much longer was that? Too damn long, as far as he was concerned. He wanted her dress gone, her body bared for his touch, preferably stretched out on a mattress and arched for his penetration. He shuddered, his heart pounding in his chest. Every movement of her slim form against his just made him hotter.
Soon
the couple would leave. How much longer was that? Too damn long, as far as he was concerned. He wanted her dress gone, her body bared for his touch, preferably stretched out on a mattress and arched for his penetration. He shuddered, his heart pounding in his chest. Every movement of her slim form against his just made him hotter.
His cock throbbed, and it didn’t help at all when she slid her hands up his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck, toying with his hair. Her eyes flickered with dark fire, and he could feel the tingle of her magic dancing down his spine.
Almost
a pleasure spell.
Almost
a pleasure spell.
“Jesus,” he croaked.
Her full lips curved. “I want you.”
Leaning down, he breathed in her ear. “Are you wet for me, Selina?”
A low moan spilled from her, and he felt her shiver. “Yes.”
They both jolted when the DJ announced that the bride and groom would be leaving momentarily. Selina rolled her eyes at him when they announced the tossing of the bouquet. “Oh, hell no.”
He chuckled. “Well, all right then.”
“I’m older than dirt. I’m not wrestling with a vicious little teenager over wilting flowers.” She folded her arms, which just drew his gaze to her plumped-up cleavage.
“You could totally take a teenager, vicious or not.”
Her brows winged upward. “Well, yeah, but do I
want
to? Not so much.” A wicked little gleam reflected in her eyes. “Why go after the flowers and hope I snag a man, when I can just take a man to bed and get all the fun I want?”
want
to? Not so much.” A wicked little gleam reflected in her eyes. “Why go after the flowers and hope I snag a man, when I can just take a man to bed and get all the fun I want?”
“I’m ready for that kind of fun,” he growled, his gaze moving down her body. Oh, yeah, was he ready. They weren’t even touching and he was still hard.
She nodded. “Let me track down Millie and tell her I’m off. I’ll meet you at the bar.”
2
T
heir shoes crunched on the gravel drive as they walked toward the multitude of parked cars. Most of the guests would be using the valet service, but Selina would rather not be standing there with her future one-night fling waiting for her vehicle to be delivered with her co-workers standing nearby to note who she was leaving with. She could fetch her own car, thanks so much. No doubt a few people had noticed who she’d been wrapped around on the dance floor, but they could only speculate if it went beyond a dance.
heir shoes crunched on the gravel drive as they walked toward the multitude of parked cars. Most of the guests would be using the valet service, but Selina would rather not be standing there with her future one-night fling waiting for her vehicle to be delivered with her co-workers standing nearby to note who she was leaving with. She could fetch her own car, thanks so much. No doubt a few people had noticed who she’d been wrapped around on the dance floor, but they could only speculate if it went beyond a dance.
Jack glanced down at her as she stopped beside her car, his brilliant blue eyes turning serious. “Are you safe to drive?”
“Yeah, you?” Spending so much time on the dance floor had kept her from drinking as much as she would have liked tonight.
“Yep. I only had two fingers of scotch.”
“I’ll follow you to your place.” Because she hated trying to get men out of her bed after a one-night stand. Plus, her familiar didn’t take kindly to strange men. The big German shepherd had the tendency to bite, which didn’t go over very well in the let’s-get-it-on department. She’d learned that the hard way, and she definitely wanted to get it on with Jack Laramie.
He caught her arm before she could open her car door. “I just want to check something before we leave.”
“Yeah, what’s that?” She arched her eyebrows.
Drawing her into his arms, he settled his mouth over hers. Her tongue slid along his lower lip, and he opened for her. The flavor of him burst over her taste buds—whiskey and chocolate and hot male. His fingers stroked over her shoulders and down her back, warming skin that had cooled in the night air. His movements were unhurried, as if he had all the time in the world to taste her. She’d expected a swift claiming, but he feasted on her lips. It had been a long time since someone kissed her so thoroughly.
Or had done such a good job of it.
If she’d thought he got her revved up on the dance floor, it was nothing compared to this. Her nipples tightened to points, and her sex grew slick. The muscles in her thighs went taut, and she arched her body into him. She liked the feel of her curves pressing to his harder planes. He turned her so that her back was to her car, and the icy metal was a shocking contrast to his heat. Clenching her fingers in his jacket, she strained against him. He leaned into her, and she moaned. Four centuries of sex, and she still found that there was nothing, absolutely
nothing,
like the weight of a man on top of her. It could only be better if they were naked and he was between her thighs. The need to wrap her legs around his trim waist was overwhelming, but the tight skirt she wore made it impossible. Frustration clawed at her, her hormones reminding her again that it had been a long while since she’d made time for sex.
nothing,
like the weight of a man on top of her. It could only be better if they were naked and he was between her thighs. The need to wrap her legs around his trim waist was overwhelming, but the tight skirt she wore made it impossible. Frustration clawed at her, her hormones reminding her again that it had been a long while since she’d made time for sex.
Her head dropped back, her breath rushing in pants. “No more checking. Let’s go.”
“Okay.” But he didn’t let her go. His tongue flicked across her throat, and he nipped at her skin.
Sliding his palm up her torso, he cupped her breast, circling her nipple with his thumb. Each sweep over the sensitive crest sent bolts of longing straight to her core, made her wetter, made her pussy clench on nothingness.
Gods, she wanted more, but she liked what he was doing now too much to stop.
The sound of someone walking toward them in the dark brought them both upright. She fisted her hands and tried not to blast the intruder with a spell that would make them think twice about interrupting people. The offender moved past them without stopping, which probably saved him or her from a torching.
Jack reached over and opened her car door for her, his expression flushed and strained with lust. His voice was rough, guttural. “You’ll follow me.”
“Yes.”
They got into their respective vehicles, and she tailed him to his place. He didn’t live too far, and traffic was light, thank gods. He pulled into the driveway of a tidy little bungalow, and she parked on the curb out front. Climbing out of the car, she looked around. The street was quiet, with only the faint hum of other Magickals in the distance. Unlikely the place was being watched. She hadn’t really thought so, but she hadn’t survived as long as she had by being sloppy. Her training as a cop only reinforced those instincts.
Jack came up behind her, his breath brushing over her ear. “Changing your mind?”
Goose bumps broke over her skin. Heat flashed through her, and she tilted her head to give him better access.
“Oh, really?” A wicked lilt filled his voice as he blew a cool breath of air against her ear, and she shuddered.
“It’s a very sensitive spot.” She swallowed. “For elves.”
“I will be taking full advantage of that. Very soon.”
She sighed, enjoying the desire sluicing through her. “I truly hope so.”
He flicked his tongue out to touch the slight point at the tip of her ear, and her knees went weak. A smile curved her lips. Gods, yes. This was exactly what she needed to wash the taste of wedding out of her mouth. Sex, hot and wild, or slow and soft. She didn’t care as long as there was a mind-blowing, can’t-even-remember-her-own-name-afterward orgasm in her near future. Several of them would be even better.
“Come inside.” He set his hand on the small of her back and urged her forward. His place didn’t look like a frat house, which was always a worry with single human males. The building was neat and either white or pale yellow, she couldn’t tell in the porch lighting.
Jack unlocked the door and ushered her inside. No beer lights or posters of lingerie models. The décor was bachelor chic. Big leather couch, stark white walls, dozens of unframed photos propped on the fireplace mantel. Curiosity stirred inside her, and she wanted to take a closer look, but he locked the front door behind them and pulled her back against his hard body.
A gasp strangled out of her as his heat surrounded her. The iron bar of his erection pressed to her buttocks. Her sex went as hot and damp as it had been while they danced. She could almost see the sparks of chemistry between them. Or maybe it was her magic igniting as it did when she was sexually aroused. She licked her lips, let her head fall against his shoulder, and reached back to bracket his thighs with her hands. Desire twisted through her, and she relished the flare of fire within her. She wanted to lose herself in this, wanted to push the entire world and every second of her history away until there was nothing but the searing intensity of this moment.
The deep well of magic inside her boiled up, and she felt pleasure spells dance over her skin, slipping from her fingertips and out to him. His breath hissed, and he jerked when her energy hit him. She froze, a bit of uncertainty slicing through her lust. “Um ... you’ve had sex with a Magickal before, haven’t you? The pleasure spells aren’t going to freak you out?”
He was a Normal, but she’d assumed since he knew about magic that he’d have tried out some of the extra party favors Magickals brought to the bedroom. She was suddenly glad to be facing away from him so she didn’t have to look him in the eyes while she asked those questions.
A chuckle rumbled in his chest. “Don’t worry, Grayson. You’re not popping my Normal-Magickal cherry.”
She snorted. “Good, because I like my pleasure spells.”
“Then, by all means, enjoy yourself.” He bit the side of her neck, then soothed the sting with his tongue. His palms skimmed up the front of her dress until he could cup her breasts.
Her nipples drew to peaks, thrusting into his palms. His fingers stroked the tight nubs, and her hands clenched on the muscles of his thighs, spells pouring out of her. Tiny forks of lightning wound up her arms and sizzled from her fingertips. He shuddered and pinched her nipples hard, twisting them until she cried out.
Then he nipped at her earlobe and ran his tongue up to the point of her ear. Her knees threatened to buckle, and she pressed herself deeper into his embrace, her heart pounding, her breath speeding.
“Kiss me.” The feel of his lips against hers had been divine, and she wanted it again.
He spun her around, and she swayed precariously on heels she wasn’t used to wearing. She clamped her hands on his shoulders to keep herself upright. His mouth brushed over hers, light, fleeting, leaving her wanting. Pushing at his jacket, she slid it off his shoulders.
His fingers thrust into her hair, pulling her head back until her throat was bared to his lips. His mouth opened on her skin, sucking and biting at her flesh. A moan dragged from her, and she let her eyes drift closed. Living as long as she had meant not much surprised her anymore, but the strength of her reaction to this human was unexpected. She spent her entire life in control, and she loved letting loose during sex. It made her feel
alive,
and it was a release valve she craved.
alive,
and it was a release valve she craved.
She tugged at the bottom of his shirt, pulling it from his pants so she could touch his skin. Hard muscle covered with smooth skin. Nice. His teeth scored the sensitive tendon that connected neck to shoulder, and her nails curled into his back, a spell pouring out of her that would feel like fire singeing his flesh.
“Jesus,” he groaned. “Fuck.”
She laughed, her eyes opening. “Something like that. Though we’re not quite to the fucking part yet.”
“We’ll get there.” His lips curved against her skin, and it made her smile in return.
“Sooner is better than later.” She jolted him with another spell. “I’m not getting any younger, babycakes.”
He laughed at that, pulling back to give her an incredulous look. “You did not just call me
babycakes.
”
babycakes.
”
She arched her brows and gave him a wicked look. “I sure did. What are you going to do about it?”
Instead of answering, he reached out and neatly flipped her over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold. She cracked up and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. When was the last time she’d laughed or smiled this much during a sexual encounter? She couldn’t remember, but it was fun. After the day she’d had, she’d take a little fun.
The blood rushed to her face with the world upside down the way it was, and she pushed out against his back to try to keep some balance. A quick self-defense spell could get her out of this pretty easily, but she didn’t want to escape. She wanted to see what kind of tricks this man had up his sleeve, magic or no magic.
Flicking on a light switch, he strode into a room off the hallway. He shrugged and let her tumble unceremoniously onto the mattress. She shoved her hair out of her face and fell back on her hands, arching her torso just to torment him. His gaze zeroed in on her breasts, just as she’d hoped, and the heat in his gaze was enough to burn her skin.
“Come here.” She crooked a finger at him, barely managing to stop it from becoming a summoning spell that would compel him to do as she wished. “Or, better yet, strip. I want to watch.”
“Oh, yeah?” He arched an eyebrow. His hands went to his tie, his long fingers working the knot free and sliding it from his neck.
She twitched her fingers, and every button on his shirt slipped free. He looked down and blinked, then snorted and shook his head. Shrugging out of the garment, he went to work on his belt and zipper, while she got to enjoy the view of his muscled chest flexing with every movement.
Damn, the man was well built. Her thighs squeezed together at the thought of having her hands on all that bare male flesh. His shoulders were broad and tapered to narrow hips. Dark hair formed a neat triangle that stretched between his flat little nipples. His abs were hard ridges that she wanted to run her tongue over before she nipped at his belly button.
His pants hit the floor, and she sighed in appreciation. His legs were long, his thighs heavy with muscles, and her gaze traveled up to his cock. It jutted boldly, curving to just below his navel now that it was free of restraint.
“Now you,” he said.
Nodding, she held out a hand for him to help her off the bed. This dress all but shackled her legs. “You’re going to have to get the zipper for me.”
She could have used magic, but she’d rather have his hands on her naked skin. He pulled her upright, then spun her so he could unfasten the back of her dress. Heaving a sigh as the tight silk loosened, she let the fabric puddle around her feet. She stepped out of her heels and kicked the dress aside.
“Nice.” He hummed in approval when he took in the lacy scraps she wore. In that dress, only a strapless bra and thong panties would work. She reached behind her and unhooked the bra. It fell and she pushed her underwear down. The fire in his gaze as he took in her nudity was enough to scorch her. It was just the kind of look every woman liked to have aimed at her. Hot, worshipful, full of sharp need.
He jerked her roughly against him, and they both groaned at the contact. The crisp hair on his chest scraped her sensitized nipples, and she shifted her torso to increase the friction. His hard shaft burned into her belly, and she wanted him inside her. Cream gushed in her sex, and her knees gave out when he suckled her earlobe, trailing his tongue up to the very tip of her ear.
He caught her, eased her back onto the bed. They lay on their sides facing each other. He moved down to feather kisses over her collarbone and into the valley between her breasts. Turning his head, he caught her nipple with his teeth.
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