Shadowed 3 I’ll Be Damned (2 page)

“What’s wrong with you?” Jodi’s grating voice said in his ear. “Finish her.”

Sinister shrugged and the little demon tumbled off his shoulder.

“What’s wrong? You have a nervous tick or something?” Jayden demanded.

“Would you be surprised if I did? After all, I’m standing here at gunpoint.”

“You didn’t look scared a minute ago when you kicked their asses.” She glanced toward the two unconscious men.

Sinister’s cock twitched. She was incredibly attractive and obviously had courage. The men hadn’t intimidated her at all.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“Just a man passing by who saw you in trouble. I thought you could use some help.”

“You’re not supposed to help,” Jodi scolded from nearby. “Idiot!”

Sinister ignored him and focused completely on Jayden. “Do you mind if I put my hands down?”

“Go ahead.” She relaxed her weapon but didn’t holster it. “What’s your name, hero?”

Sinister smiled and Jodi groaned.

“Sin…der,” he said, recalling the name on his ID. “Cinder.”

“Strange name.”

“I’m a strange guy.”

“Can’t argue with that.”

“Maybe we should go before they wake up,” he suggested.

“After you.” She gestured toward the mouth of the alley.

Sinister took a step closer to her. This time she didn’t stop him, though she still looked wary. Another expression crept into her eyes -- lust. He’d seen it often on demons, and it was unmistakable.

“Can I trust you not to shoot me in the back?” he asked in a husky whisper.

“You just saved my ass, right?”

“And a gorgeous ass it is.”

“Careful, Cinder.”

Tilting his head slightly to the side, he continued holding her gaze. “Why, do you bite?”

“No, I shoot down egomaniacs with receding hairlines and too much cheap cologne.”

Sinister’s brow furrowed. Receding hairline? He had lots of thick, dark hair. As for the cologne, he wasn’t wearing any. Many demons, especially ones spawned in fire, had their own special musk. He’d heard most humans found their scent appealing -- irresistible even.

He noticed that the look in her eyes didn’t match her harsh words. Using his keen demonic senses, he heard her heart beating quickly and not from fear. Another aroma teased his nose -- an arousing, musky scent that emanated from between her legs.

Again he smiled.

He dipped his head a bit nearer and she moistened her full lips. Sinister resisted the urge to cover them in a plundering kiss.

“Go on,” she said, her voice softer. “Get out of here.”

He waited several heartbeats before he turned and walked out of the alley. At the end of it, he paused and glanced over his shoulder at her.

She stared at him, unmoving.

Even from a distance he could still see the lust in her eyes. Maybe he should take advantage of their mutual attraction. He was a demon after all, sent here to wreak havoc and indulge in earthly pleasures.

“What’s wrong with you?” Jodi demanded. “You should have finished her
and
those guys. They’re alive and she --”

“Shut up!” Sinister kicked Jodi who rolled over several times, then stood and glared at him.

“You’re going to fail, Sinister, and I’m going to enjoy watching our masters destroy you.”

Sinister glanced at him thoughtfully. The little weasel was getting closer and closer to a smoke cage. When they reached the apartment, Sinister would lock him away. He had plans for tonight, and he didn’t want Jodi pestering him.

Jayden rarely got drunk, but tonight she wanted to unwind with a bottle of wine, expensive chocolate and a hot book.

Since her path had crossed Cinder’s earlier that night, she’d been unable to stop thinking about him. Despite her remarks about his hair and cologne, she’d found him incredibly sexy. No, he didn’t have a receding hairline, but loads of thick, dark hair that she wanted to run her fingers through. His cologne, while unusual, had smelled great, like incense and musk.

Her encounter with Cinder had been the only good luck in an otherwise shitty day. She was working on a missing person case, and she knew Francois was involved.

Jayden thought about the case and Cinder while she took a shower. Tomorrow she was taking a day off. After working almost non-stop for the past three months, she needed some down time.

Closing her eyes, she allowed the warm water to soothe her. Again she thought about Cinder. Even in the darkness of the alley, there had been no missing the brilliance of his blue eyes. Normally white guys didn’t do much for her, but there was something about his hawkish features that really turned her on. Or maybe it was his broad-shouldered body. She wondered if he looked as hot under that immaculate blue shirt and black trousers as she imagined.

She ran her hands over her body and cupped her breasts, imagining Cinder’s hands on her. By the look in his eyes, she guessed she could have had him tonight if she’d given him even a little incentive, but Jayden didn’t like to hook up, not like that. Though she was a kickass private detective and an overall modern woman, she still clung to a few old-fashioned values established by her beloved grandmother who had raised her.

She sighed and turned off the water. Most likely she’d never see Cinder again. Maybe that was a good thing. She’d never reacted like this to anyone. The last thing she needed to complicate her life was a man.

Jayden stepped out of the shower, dried off and walked to her bedroom.

Wearing nothing but soft pink briefs, she slipped between the cool sheets on her king size bed, propped up her pillows and opened to the first page of an erotic romance about paranormal creatures. After dealing with her clients, seeing crime, lies, betrayals and worse up close, she liked books that allowed her to escape reality.

Ghosts, vampires, angels and demons didn’t exist, so reading about them took her mind off her work completely. While she read, she finished half a bottle of her favorite wine and enjoyed chocolate truffles. To hell with her diet tonight.

Soon she drifted off and slipped into a dream that felt more real than she’d imagined possible. She could even hear her alarm clock ticking.

Something rustled near her window and she assumed it was the wind, since she lived in a fourth floor apartment with no balcony. The scent of wine from the open bottle on her night table wafted on the air and mingled with the aroma of incense and musk.

Her lamp was off, but the full moon cast enough light through her sheer curtains for her to notice a smoky shape standing near the window. Her heart skipped a beat. The shape looked exactly like Cinder.

This had to be a dream, right? If it wasn’t she’d be scared, but she felt absolutely no fear of this apparition. Only curiosity and desire.

Though she didn’t believe in lucid dreaming, she couldn’t resist talking to him. “Who are you?”

“Don’t be afraid. I just… I couldn’t get you out of my mind.”

“Apparently I can’t get you out of mine either.”

It was true. The whole reason she’d been in the mood for a hot book tonight was so she could imagine Cinder as the hero in the love scenes, and of course she was the heroine.

The shape changed, becoming solid, so that Cinder stood in front of her in the flesh. Now she knew she was dreaming.

He approached slowly, his blue eyes smoldering, and sat on her bed. Bracing a hand on either side of her, he dipped his head toward hers. “I want you, Jayden. Do you want me?”

It was her dream, right? Why not enjoy it? “Yeah. I want you.”

Without another word, he covered her mouth in a kiss. It was absolutely perfect, neither too rough nor too gentle.

Jayden closed her eyes and wrapped her arm around his neck. She tugged his shirt from his pants and slid her hand beneath to run her fingers over his smooth, hard chest.

He slipped his tongue between her lips and explored her mouth, his motions slow and thorough. Jayden moaned softly when he tugged the sheet down to her waist and cupped her breasts. He used his thumb to caress her nipple, then he moved down the bed and nuzzled her breasts.

Weaving her fingers through his hair, she arched against him. He captured her nipple between his lips and teased it with his tongue.

Cinder pulled back only to stand and quickly shed his clothes. He was even more gorgeous than she’d imagined. With powerful shoulders, a broad chest, a sexy stomach and steely legs, he aroused her like no man she’d ever met.

She didn’t get to stare at him long, though. Cinder tugged away the sheet and joined her in bed. He slid her panties off and caressed her legs.

“You’re so beautiful,” he said, stroking her inner thighs.

He guided her legs over his shoulders and slid his hands beneath her buttocks.

Jayden watched through half-closed eyes as he moistened his lips and dipped his head to kiss her clit. She moaned with pleasure. His warm, wet tongue rolled over her clit. He lapped slowly, as if savoring every taste. Then he thrust his tongue into her pussy.

Jayden nearly melted through the bed. Her breathing quickened and her heart pounded. Cinder explored her thoroughly before he returned to her clit and lapped it rhythmically while kneading and caressing her ass. He dipped a finger between her buttocks and gently teased her sphincter.

Within seconds Jayden exploded in a powerful orgasm. Cinder continued lapping, prolonging her climax. When it finally ended, he covered her body with his. “Look at me, Jayden,” he said, his voice deep and husky.

She opened her eyes and stared into his large blue ones.

Cinder braced a hand on either side of her head. The muscles in his powerful arms strained as he shifted his weight. The tip of his cock pushed into her, and she lifted her hips as he filled her.

“You’re unbelievable,” he breathed. “I’ve never felt anything so perfect.”

“So are you,” she murmured. His cock was rather large, but she was very wet and wanted him so badly that it didn’t matter. It felt so good to have him inside her.

She wrapped her legs around him and clung to his neck. While he thrust, he kissed her. His tongue slid into her mouth, and hers met it. They stroked and teased each other. Jayden caressed his back, loving the feel of his muscles working beneath his smooth skin.

Another orgasm built inside her, but she moved toward it slowly since he never broke his slow, steady rhythm.

“Oh, Cinder, please,” she whispered and rolled her tongue around his ear. A little shiver tore through him and she smiled. He seemed to like that. She continued licking his ear and gently tugging the lobe with her teeth.

He quickened his pace and with a few more thrusts Jayden came. She clung to him, her belly and hips rolling upward and her heart pounding.

Cinder didn’t stop though. He continued thrusting into her, kissing her neck and fondling her breasts. His warm, calloused palm stroked her soft flesh and his fingers teased her straining nipples. She came twice more before he started losing his admirable control.

Jayden ran her hands up and down his damp back. She teased his ass with her fingertips, gently caressing his sphincter as he’d done to her.

“Oh, Jayden,” he said, his voice almost a growl. He thrust faster and arched his neck, his eyes closed.

“I’m here,” she said. “It’s all right, baby. I want you so much.” Her voice quivered and she trembled on the verge of another orgasm.

Two more thrusts and she came again, clinging to him. This time he joined her. His body strained into hers and he gave an almost savage cry that aroused her but also sent shivers down her spine before she descended into darkness, completely sated.

* * *

Jayden awoke with a smile. Last night she’d had the most intense, wonderful dream. Part of her wished Cinder had really been with her. She wondered why he affected her so much. She didn’t believe in love at first sight and to Jayden, chemistry was nothing more than a class she’d struggled through in high school -- at least that’s what she’d thought until last night.

Maybe her new obsession with Cinder had less to do with his physical hotness than with him being in the right place at the right time. When he’d stepped into that alley and helped her -- a total stranger -- she’d been wary at first, then touched. In her line of work, she usually saw the worst side of people. She did her legwork on her own, and she had to watch her ass because no one would risk themselves to help her. Last night she hadn’t been careful enough and she’d nearly been killed.

Jayden yawned and stretched. The dream had been so good that she felt as if she’d really had sex last night. The only thing missing was Cinder waking up beside her.

Well, it was over and she’d probably never have another dream that good again.

Jayden spent the day relaxing. She went for a jog, lounged on the couch and enjoyed Chinese takeout for dinner. A few times she actually forgot about Francois, the case and even Cinder.

By the next morning she was recharged and ready for action. Though she’d learned to expect the unexpected, it still took her by surprise when she stepped into her office and saw Cinder in the waiting area.

Damn, he looked even better in daylight. He rose from the chair, his vibrant blue gaze fixed on her and a smile on his chiseled lips. Today he wore snug jeans that hugged his muscular legs and a white shirt with the top few buttons open, giving her a peek at his broad chest.

She flashed back to her dream in which she’d caressed that gorgeous chest. Its powerful expanse had pressed against her soft breasts. She recalled his warmth and strength and her pussy turned to liquid.

“Good morning, Jayden,” he said in the deep, husky voice that had filled her dreams.

“Jayden, he said he had to see you but he doesn’t have an appointment.” Amanda, Jayden’s secretary, looked uncharacteristically nervous.

“It’s okay,” Jayden said, still holding Cinder’s gaze. “How did you find me, Cinder?”

“You dropped this last night,” he said, holding up one of her business cards. “I picked it up on my way in the alley before we… spoke.”

At least he was being discreet in front of Amanda about Jayden’s near death situation.