Kitabı oku: «Games Of Desire»

The union between a wizard and a demon is impossible. It’s also undeniable.

Chloe has always been there to clean up after her little sister—a wizard who doesn’t use her powers responsibly. But when she must search for her wayward sister after another prank gone terribly awry, Chloe finds a demon instead—a demon with taut muscles, irresistible dimples and eyes burning with desire. Ever the good girl, Chloe tries to ignore him, but the mere sight of this demon undoes her.

Marax is searching for Chloe’s sister, too. Just like Chloe, he’s driven by duty. And, just like Chloe, he can’t resist the fiery attraction that burns between them.

When Chloe and Marax give in to one night of passion, they find themselves bound in ways they never could have imagined—and battling a demon more powerful than anything they imagined….

Games of Desire

Patti O’Shea

www.millsandboon.co.uk

For my writing buddies, Trish McCallan, Dayna Hart and Crystal Jordan.

Dear Reader,

In Games of Desire I have a hero and heroine who are on parallel paths. Chloe has spent most of her life rescuing her younger sister and reining in her own impulsive temperament. Her self-control has moved her into a position of power among the wizards, but she chafes against her restraint.

Demons aren’t much for containing their passionate natures, but Marax has done just that since the disappearance of his father and brother. As the newest earl in the demon realm, he’s had to learn the job on the fly. Chloe catches his attention immediately, but he’s determined to complete his mission and nothing else.

It’s Chloe who decides to take one night to walk on the wild side. With Marax.

But another demon plans to make Chloe pay for her sister’s actions and Marax is determined to protect Chloe, no matter the cost.

Best wishes,

Patti O’Shea

Table of Contents

Dear Reader,

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter One

The club had been full when she’d arrived a couple hours earlier, but now it was so jammed, Chloe could hardly move. She hadn’t expected it to be this crowded on a Wednesday night, but maybe she should have guessed. Infinity was one of the few places in Los Angeles where vampires, demons and wizards could mingle without fear of being attacked.

She looked around, trying to find another likely candidate to question, but became sidetracked by tall, dark and demon. He hadn’t been far from her since she’d arrived and she wondered if that was because the attraction burned as hotly for him as it did for her. As if sensing her interest, he turned to face her. Damn, he was gorgeous.

Chloe tugged the hem of her skirt down to midthigh, but what she wanted to do was pull the dress off completely. She was burning, going up in flames from the inside out and all because of him.

Tall. At least six foot two, maybe more, with shoulders that went on forever and muscles. Lots of big, sexy muscles.

Dark. His hair was a sable brown and he had a light beard and mustache. Chloe could almost feel it tickling her skin as his mouth tasted her. Everywhere. She shivered, her nipples going taut. She wanted him more than she could remember ever wanting a male.

Demon. She shouldn’t forget that third label.

Chloe scowled and turned away. Why did he have to be a demon? And why did he have to look good enough to lick? He even dressed well—gray trousers, gray shirt with pale pinstripes with the sleeves rolled up and a black tie. Understated, but she liked that, too.

Focus. She needed to focus. The goal was to track down her irresponsible sister, not find a sex partner. Despite herself, she looked over her shoulder and met his eyes. The demon smiled at her and she lost her breath. He had dimples—the club wasn’t dark enough to hide that. Her entire body flushed and she squeezed her thighs tightly together.

As if she hadn’t found him attractive enough, he had to have dimples, too. They were one of her weaknesses.

Almost desperately, she scanned the club. The walls had ridged features that were continually bathed in colored lights—pink, purple, blue, orange—and as soon as she became used to one shade, it changed. Despite the distractions, she spotted a pair of female wizards. Chloe didn’t know them, but that didn’t matter. She walked up to their table.

“Hi,” she shouted to be heard over the music and chatter. “Have you two been here awhile?”

The two women glanced at each other, then the brunette said, “Yes. Why?”

“I’m looking for my sister. She called and asked me to meet her at Infinity tonight, but I haven’t found her and I’m wondering if she really is here or if she flaked out on me.” That was mostly the truth.

“Do you have a picture of her?”

Chloe nodded and pulled her phone out of the purse she wore with the strap crossing her body. This wasn’t the first time she’d flashed Olivia’s image. She tapped the screen to bring it back to full brightness and turned it so the two women could view it.

After a moment of study, both of them shook their heads. “Sorry,” the blonde said. “She might be here, though. It’s hard to spot anyone in this crush.”

“True. Thank you for your help.” She walked away from the table, trying to find an out-of-the-way spot to stand.

There was no point in asking more questions and Olivia might not have come here at all despite what her message said, not given the situation. In the voice mail her sister had left, a demon had angered her at the club last night and she’d dropped a potion in the drinks he’d ordered for himself and his friends. A potion that temporarily turned skin green.

According to Olivia, the two young males affected were furious, and why wouldn’t they be? But the situation hadn’t been beyond repair. What her sister should have done was waited for the demons to calm down, then offered an apology and the antidote.

That wasn’t the course of action she’d chosen, though.

Chloe loved her sister, but she saw her faults. Olivia wasn’t the type of person who dealt with the consequences of her actions head-on, and returning to the club to find the demons she’d messed with and resolving the situation definitely counted as handling her own issues.

Knowing her darling little half sister as well as she did, it was much more likely that she’d decided to lay low until Chloe had solved the problem for her.

With a frown, she tucked her phone back into her purse. It pained her to admit it, but Olivia was conniving enough to leave a voice mail saying she’d be here just so Chloe would come out. Then, if those teenage demons were present tonight, Chloe would spot them.

Her sister knew she’d step in to take care of it, and why wouldn’t she believe that? That’s exactly what Chloe had always done. It wouldn’t be simple this time, though. She didn’t have a clue which potion Olivia had used to create the temporary skin discoloration, and without that, she couldn’t concoct an antidote.

She sighed. Chloe was tired of being the responsible one, the one who never did anything without thinking it through first. Just once she’d like to go with her impulses the way Olivia did and do something completely crazy.

Crazy, yeah. It took her about five seconds to locate her demon in the club. He stared at her. She stared right back. A one-night stand fell into the wild and irresponsible category. It was probably more insane than she was ready to tackle yet. She should start out smaller—say, with jaywalking—and then work her way up to the truly deranged ideas.

But there was middle ground. She could dance with him—nothing more. Why not try that?

Before she could talk herself out of it, Chloe crossed the distance separating them and stopped in front of him. His eyes were blue. With his coloring, she’d expected brown, but behind the irises there was a red glow, a sign of high emotion that demons couldn’t hide.

Run, the logical, careful part of her screamed, but she could barely hear it over the pounding of her heart. “Dance with me,” she said.

One side of his mouth quirked up, flashing a single dimple. “Yes, we can begin with that.”

The deep rasp of his voice sent her pulse into double time. It was just a dance, she reminded herself. It wasn’t as tame as jaywalking, but it wasn’t as if she was skydiving, either. He held out his hand. Chloe paused for a fraction of a second before reaching out and taking it.

Her breath caught as sensation rocketed through her. Startled, she looked up at him and saw the red glow in his eyes had deepened. Only their palms were touching, nothing more. She might have miscalculated. This might be more like jumping out of a plane than she’d thought. His hesitation was brief and then, with a gentle tug, he led her to the dance floor and drew her into his arms.

It felt right. Perfect. Chloe linked her hands at the back of his neck and swayed with him. They were close enough for her breasts to rub against his chest, for his semi-hard cock to brush her hip. The ache between her thighs increased, prodding her on. She wanted more than this teasing.

A lot more.

Control your emotions, Chloe, don’t let them control you. Her mom had repeated that over and over until it had embedded itself in Chloe’s brain. Okay, so she understood why she needed self-command, but surely it wouldn’t hurt to let go just once. His hand ran down the curve of her waist, then settled in the small of her back. The throb between her thighs became insistent.

One night. One night to be impulsive. Why not?

Crazy, that inner voice whispered, but maybe it wasn’t. She’d heard it said that every woman should have a demon lover once in her life. What would one night hurt?

His nostrils flared and Chloe had no doubt he’d scented her arousal. She could feel how much that turned him on.

“What’s your name?” she asked because suddenly that seemed important.

“Marax.”

“I’m Chloe.” She wanted him to know that, too.

“Chloe,” he repeated, but in his deep, rumbling voice it was more than her name; it was a caress.

The lights dimmed and music segued then, going from sultry to something meant to be played in the bedroom. One man, one woman, no clothes—their bodies moving together, using the rhythm to time their thrusts. For one endless moment she imagined him over her, felt him moving inside her.

Marax pulled her closer and she allowed it. He was fully erect now and his hard-on pressed into her. With a soft, serrated moan, Chloe ground her hips against him. She wanted him. Now.

Having sex with a demon she’d only just met—that was more than skydiving. That was closer to jumping out of the plane without any parachute. It made her pause for an instant, and then his cock head nudged her sex and Chloe decided this was one of those things that was meant to happen.

To hell with playing it safe.

* * *

Marax looked down into the big brown eyes of the redheaded wizard he had pressed against his body and desire surged. He fought to tamp it down. Demons had trouble thinking clearly when inundated by strong emotions, but someone in his position had to maintain control.

He rested his chin next to her temple. Lust was the strongest of his emotions, but concern was there, too. He’d sensed her presence the instant she’d walked in the club, his eyes scanning until he’d found her. It had been the form-fitting white dress and the body under it that had captured his notice first, then he’d moved on to appreciating the rest of her, like her incredible legs.

Her red hair was long, ending at the top of her breasts and her features were clean and classic. He’d admired the full lips, the high cheekbones, and then their gazes had locked that first time. In a nanosecond he’d gone from attracted to wanting to drag her to his home so he could take her.

Chloe snuggled into his chest, her breath warm against his throat. He tried to put some space between them, but she resisted and arched her hips to keep his cock against her. Marax surrendered to her wishes, and putting one hand on her ass, drew her nearer.

If she were demon or even half demon, he’d be running the other direction as fast as he could move. This out-of-control desire usually indicated a demon had met his mate, and Marax wasn’t ready for that, not now. Not when he was still trying to come to terms with the new responsibilities heaped on him at the same time as he dealt with grief over the disappearance of his father and older brother.

But while demons could have sex or fall in love with anyone, they could only mate with someone who was at least half demon themselves. Chloe didn’t have that much demon blood; he guessed she was about a quarter. He could take her to bed and not worry about being locked to her for the rest of his life.

Her fingers began to stroke his nape and Marax shuddered. “Chloe,” he murmured next to her ear. “Watch how far you push me. I want you, and demons find it difficult to maintain total control.”

“I know. Emotion makes it hard to think.” She licked his throat. “So why don’t you just feel? That’s what I’ve decided to do.”

Marax closed his eyes and battled himself. He wanted her, but he shouldn’t take her to bed. He knew that. She was willing now, but what about afterward? What about when she found out what he was really doing at Infinity tonight? She’d want his head on a pike. Quarter blood or not, no demon male underestimated the ferocity of a female demon who felt wronged.

Maybe if he told her the truth before—

Chloe’s hand slipped between their bodies and cupped his erection, her thumb rubbing the head through his trousers. “Stop thinking. I have,” she told him.

The last of his common sense fled—he’d deal with the repercussions later. “How far away do you live?”

“Half an hour.”

He cursed. “I can’t wait that long to have you. How do you feel about having sex in the alley?”

She pulled back far enough to look into his eyes. Chloe must have realized he wasn’t joking because some of the heat faded. “I’m not doing it on the street where anyone can see us.”

“Fair enough, but you have two choices,” he said. Marax cleared his throat, trying to rid his voice of the thickness, but it didn’t help. “Either stop stroking me or think of somewhere we can get to in less than five minutes. That’s about how much longer I can hang on before I have to fuck you.”

Chapter Two

Hearing fuck froze Chloe midsway. Normally, that word left her cold, but coming from him it sounded sexy, not insulting, and she let herself fall deeper into the moment.

No boundaries.

For years, she’d controlled the part of herself that was demon and she was tired of it. Why limit herself to a dance when she wanted more? With Marax she could unleash her nature, give it free rein because nothing she could do would scare or injure him. That knowledge was nearly as seductive as imagining him moving deep inside her.

He quirked one side of his mouth enough to make a dimple appear again. “That’s right, Chloe—claw me, bite me, take me as hard as you want—you won’t hurt me.”

Releasing his cock, she put both hands on his waist to anchor herself and leaned back to meet his eyes. “You’re reading my mind.”

“No, you’re projecting to me,” he corrected. “Do you want me to block you?”

Did she? But mind-speak was part of being a demon and Chloe wanted the whole experience. A night to be exactly who she was without limits, not even ones that were self-imposed. “No. If I’m transmitting, you can listen.”

“Good, but we still need to find somewhere private. Now.”

They’d dropped all pretense of dancing and just stood there, moving against each other. “My car?” she suggested, but it was half-hearted.

“I’m six-three and you’re what? Five-ten? And you think we can have sex in a car?”

“Five-nine,” she corrected, but he was right. They’d probably end up in traction if they did it in the back seat of her coupe. Chloe tried to recall where the nearest hotel was located, but it was hard to think when Marax kept pressing his erection into her. He hit a particularly sensitive spot, and with a gasp, her eyes slid shut and she arched firmly into him.

She felt the warmth of his breath near her lips, and blindly she lifted her face to his. The kiss began with surprising gentleness, but Chloe was beyond that. Opening her mouth, she invited him deeper. Marax tasted like scotch and the smoky, earthy flavor seemed exactly right for him.

Chloe lost herself in the heat. There was nothing but him, the strength of his arms, the rub of her tongue against his, the solidness of his erection against her body, the—

His muscles went rigid and his head came up, yanking Chloe back to the present. The club. She’d forgotten they were standing in a crowd of people. She glanced around, but thankfully no one appeared to be interested in them. What was Marax—

Then she realized he was mind-talking with someone.

“What?” she asked. He ignored her until whatever telepathic conversation he was having ended. As soon as his focus returned, Chloe repeated, “What?”

“Infinity has rooms upstairs that they rent by the hour. I reserved one for us and have directions on how to reach it. Don’t worry,” he added as he stepped back from her and took her hand, “it’s clean—I asked.”

As he gave her a gentle tug, she fell into step beside him. “What if they lied about that?”

“Then I’ll do you against the wall.”

His voice was low, intense and insanely sexy. Every time he spoke it affected her like a caress. It took a few seconds for what he’d said to register and Chloe felt her knees go weak. She could see it, feel it. The cool plaster at her back, Marax’s hot, hard body pressing into her front. Bare skin. Heated kisses. Her thigh around his hip. His—

There was a roaring in her ears and she couldn’t manage to make her vocal chords work, so she sent her words to him instead. Maybe we could do that, too, if you’re up for two rounds.

Marax stared down at her, and when he realized she was serious, the red behind his eyes became stronger. “I’m a demon,” he said and picked up his pace.

Chloe’s lips curved. She was taking that as a yes, but then demons did have passionate natures. For years she’d been fighting to keep hers in check, but not tonight, not with Marax. She gripped his hand tighter.

He used a shoulder to cut a swath through the throng and take them deeper into Infinity. As they neared the back, a vampire brushed past, handing off a passkey to Marax so smoothly that Chloe nearly missed it. A few more steps and they were through a door and into a corridor that was much quieter. The elevator was around a corner and opened the instant he pressed the button.

As soon as the door closed behind them, Chloe turned to Marax and kissed his chin. He didn’t take her up on the invitation, although his body all but vibrated with need. “Why?”

“Camera.” He leaned in closer. “I’m not offering you up as entertainment for bored security guards.”

Chloe didn’t think that was likely, but before she could say that, the doors opened. How much trouble could they have gotten into when the trip was so short?

“You’re underestimating how much I want you and overestimating my control. We could have spent a great deal of time in that elevator.” He hurried them down the hall until they reached a closed door at the end. There was a fine tremor in his hand as Marax raised the card to open their room. “Wait here until I make sure it’s clear.”

She didn’t argue. Infinity might be a safe zone, but that didn’t mean everyone played by the rules. Demons and vampires and wizards had too much history of animosity to ignore basic precautions in a building filled with all three groups.

He returned in a moment, wordlessly opening the door wider for her. Chloe didn’t hesitate. She’d wanted Marax since the first time she’d seen him tonight and the need had only grown. The latch closed with a soft snick and then they were alone. At last. She expected him to pounce on her, but he didn’t. Instead, he studied her face, his expression intent.

“What?” she asked.

Shaking his head, he said, “I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you. I’m trying to come up with why.”

Chloe could have told him it was the same for her, but she didn’t. If they discussed this, she might start thinking again and she didn’t want to do that, not when it might make her common sense regain control. She wanted tonight with him. Tomorrow was soon enough for second thoughts and doubts, for wondering why she’d done something so stupid. Now was for feeling. “Does it matter why?” She put her arms around Marax’s waist and leaned in as she spoke.

“It shouldn’t.” He reached out, took her hips and pulled her tighter against him. “It shouldn’t,” he repeated, almost as if talking to himself.

And still he hesitated. It wasn’t as if he didn’t want her. His body was nearly shaking from the restraint he held, but he did nothing except look at her. Chloe growled low in her throat, a sound she’d never actually heard herself make before. It startled her for an instant, then she realized. Demon. Were her eyes glowing like his, too? They never had before, but she felt less human tonight than she ever had. “Marax.”

His lips twitched, but he didn’t quite smile. “You don’t understand. If I release my control, I might scare you.”

Would he? She didn’t think anything he did could frighten her. “Would you be worrying about this if I were all demon?”

“No.”

“I want to be who I am tonight and I want you to be who you are, too. I’m not holding back my demon side—don’t fight what you are, either.”

For a long moment, he studied her, perhaps weighing the truthfulness of her words, then the red of his eyes burned hotter than she’d seen it so far. Marax had let his demon off the leash.