Ember Burns (The Seeker) (6 page)

They sprinted across the hall and hit the stairwell, taking the steps two at a time to the ground floor. Another bell sounded as they reached the door. Ember pushed it open just enough for them to see a skittish Stanley emerge and take off in the direction of the mail room.

“Let’s go find out what he’s doing,” Laura whispered and gave her a little shove.

“I don’t think it was him. Stanley would pee down his leg if he attempted to break in somewhere.” Ember pushed the door wide and let go of Laura’s hand. “Come on.”

They took the elevator back to the editor’s office. Ember knew the chances of them finding out the identity of the culprit were ridiculously low.

“Go on home and take a nap. I’ll talk to Dad and see about having a camera installed for you tomorrow. A small one that can go undetected. It may be a good idea to think about better home security also.”

Ember gathered her things and removed the pictures and note, placing them on the desk before wrapping her friend in a hug. “Thank you for doing this for me. Are you sure it’s okay for me to leave? I really could use some sleep.

Laura gave her a squeeze before stepping back. “Of course it’s okay. You have tons of sick days to use. Don’t worry about it. I’ll make that call. I can’t promise he won’t involve the detective, but either way something has to be done.”

Ember attempted a smile. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Get out of here before I change my mind and have you do my hair all day while I work.”

Ember turned to go.

“Hey, Em?”

“Yeah?” She glanced back.

“Call me and let me know you made it home safe.” Worry shone in Laura’s beautiful blue eyes.

“I will.” Ember left the room with a small wave.

* * * *

A tapping noise invaded Ember’s sleep-fogged mind. She groaned and rolled over, hoping it was a dream. It came again, louder this time. A knock.
Someone’s at the door
. She sat up and glanced at the clock.
It’s evening already?
She’d slept through the day. “Hold on.” She crept to the glass sliding door.

“Who is it?” Fear kept her from pulling back the curtain.

“Angel.” His deep voice did wonderful things to her insides.

“One second.” Ember darted into the bathroom and brushed her teeth. She ran a comb through her hair and splashed water on her face in record time. He was back and so were the butterflies.

She glanced down at her attire and cringed. She’d been sleeping in the sleeveless nightshirt for years, and couldn’t bear to part with it, even though it was less than flattering.

Ember fought the urge to run.
Walk. Breathe. Easy
. She strolled back to the glass door, disengaged the lock, and dragged it open.

Angel stepped over the threshold. He didn’t speak, only took hold of her hand and pulled her into the middle of the room. He stopped at the foot of the bed and stared at her for a heartbeat before his mouth covered hers. Both hands slid up to hold her face still as his sweet-tasting tongue circled hers several times. He sucked it deep. Ember moaned and leaned into him. She couldn’t seem to get close enough.

He broke off the kiss and brought his mouth to her ear. “I missed you. I need to be inside you again.”

Her pussy clenched. “Yes.” The whispered word slipped out without reservation.

“Not here.” He let go of her face and guided her to the balcony.

“Where are we going?” Curiosity mixed with excitement.

“My place.” He led her over to the railing and scooped her up before stepping over.

His mouth slowly descended as he walked with her held high in his arms. The door was open, and he kissed her while making his way through his bedroom and down the hall, stopping in the kitchen.

He lifted his head up as he slid her down his body. “Don’t move.” He slipped around behind her and tied a cloth over her eyes.

She brought both of her hands up to cover his. “Wait.”

“Don’t think, Ember, just burn.”

His words coupled with the sexy timbre of his voice released something deep inside her. Breathing became difficult, and her pussy slickened with need. “Oh God.”

He took hold of one of her hands and brought it around to his erection. “Do you feel that? That’s what you do to me.”

How could she not? He felt massive in her palm. When she didn’t answer, he pressed forward and snaked her hand up and down his length, wringing a groan from both of them.

She realized he’d let go when the straps on her nightshirt were lowered. It dropped to the floor at her feet. Cool air touched her heated flesh, leaving goose bumps in its wake.

Scent and sound became magnified by the blindfold. Ember felt him move in front of her and heard a door open. She stood completely still, afraid it was all a dream and he’d disappear.

Something touched her lips. “Open.” She obeyed without question, biting into a cold and grainy texture only to moan in ecstasy when the taste of strawberry burst across her tongue.

“Again.” She felt juice drip from her bottom lip as she accepted the whipped cream he offered next.

His warm mouth closed over her chin to gently suck before sliding up to cover her own. “It’s not as sweet as you.”

She lifted her hands to touch him, but he’d moved out of reach.

“This is about you, Ember. Just feel.”

She was on board with whatever he decided to do as long as he didn’t stop.

He continued to feed her everything from sweet to sour and a few things in between. She sighed in relief when something warm dripped across her breasts. His tongue circled a nipple before sucking it into his mouth. Hard.

Ember cried out as sharp pleasure shot straight to her clit. He moved to the other breast, giving it equal amounts of attention.

“Angel, please.”

His mouth left her nipple with a
pop
. She was wet and shaking with need long before she felt him go to his knees before her. Her stomach muscles tightened when his tongue circled her navel.

“Hold on to me.” He wrapped his arms around her thighs.

She had no choice but to clutch his massive shoulders as he lifted and sat her on the counter.

“Lie back.” The command was a deep purr.

Ember obeyed. Blindly trusting him. What was it about this man that called to her heart? It went beyond his looks or some kind of chemistry. It felt spiritual, like energy passing between them and wrapping around her heart. She pushed away those thoughts to concentrate on what he was doing to her.

Something warm and bubbly was poured into her navel, only to be sipped at with the soft suction of his mouth.

“Open your legs.”
Oh God. He’s going to—

He dripped some on top of her bare mound. Ember moaned as it trickled down to her ass. His talented tongue flattened and swept over her clit. She cried out from the incredible sensations and arched, wanting more.

His hands wrapped around her calves, lifting them to drape over his shoulders while he feasted on her soft pussy. Her legs began to shake with every pull of his mouth on her clit. “Please,” she panted.

He only sucked harder, then pushed two fingers inside her. Ember moaned. Her back bowed off the counter and her hands clutched at his hair with an incredible orgasm that exploded in waves of pure ecstasy.

His mouth left her while her pussy still contracted. He slid up and removed the blindfold. “I want to look into your eyes when I come inside you.” His words caused her womb to clench.

She kept her legs draped over his shoulders while he gripped his thick cock and slowly began to penetrate her, never breaking eye contact. The feel of him stretching her was heaven, and soft moans escaped unbidden.

“Ember,” he growled low and sank in a little deeper.

She held his gaze. He was making love to more than just her body. He was loving her mind as well. She felt him there, stroking, caressing, learning.

He pulled back completely and thrust, burying himself inside her. She gasped with the suddenness of him filling her. He began a slow torturous pace that became nearly unbearable.

“So beautiful.” He was moving in long, sure strokes, pressing against an unforgiving place that bordered on pain yet mixed with intense pleasure every time the crown of his cock dragged across a spot just inside her pussy that set her on fire.

She was going to come again. Her choppy breathing mingled with his while a second climax built, so intense it bordered on frightening.

One of his hands slid between their bodies to stroke her clit. “Come for me.” The desperation in his words, the strum of fingers, his huge cock moving inside her body triggered an orgasm so powerful she jerked up and bit him. Both hands locked in his hair, and her teeth sank into his neck.

She was dimly aware of his hoarse shout, and her pussy clamped down on his dick as his flavor burst across her tongue. She couldn’t stop. The longer she tasted from him, the more incredible her orgasm became until her eyes rolled back and the only sound she heard was the erratic beat of her own heart.

“You’re mine.” The whispered confession was so far away she was sure she’d imagined it.

She had the sensation of floating, and her eyes drifted open.

Angel was staring down at her with a look of concern in his beautiful eyes. Or was it insecurity? “Are you okay?”

Ember thought she knew how a noodle felt. She smiled and traced his beautiful lips with her finger. “That was the most incredible experience I’ve ever had.” His cock twitched. She loved that they were still connected. His head moved slightly, and he sucked her finger into his mouth. Ember lay there basking in the feel and touch of Angel.

The urge to touch her tongue to his neck became too much, and she pulled her finger free of his mouth to tug him down. She wanted to taste him.
Blood. I bit him
. Her gaze flew to his. He was watching her with an expression she couldn’t read. “I bit you.” It wasn’t a question. She’d sunk her teeth into him. She was horrified.

“You didn’t hurt me. I loved it.” He turned his head to the side. “See? Barely a mark.”

“But, there was blood. I remember…” She trailed off in embarrassment.

“You can bite me anytime.” He leaned down and kissed her before gently pulling from her body.

She fought the urge to beg him to fuck her again.

“Stay there, I’ll get something to clean you up with.” He gave her another quick peck on the lips and left the room.

Ember sat up and glanced around the small kitchen. It was similar to her own. He had left the refrigerator door open. She smiled and slid off the counter to close it before the contents were ruined, and stepped in what appeared to be honey.

After laughing at her near slip and fall, she scanned the kitchen for something to clean up the mess with. “Bachelors.” She grinned when not so much as a paper towel was visible in the sparse space.

“Where would you keep your dishcloths, hot stuff?” Not wanting to track the honey more, she hopped back over to the counter on one foot and opened a drawer. There was nothing but a few meaningless odds and ends, not even duct tape. “What guy doesn’t have duct tape?”

She jerked opened another drawer and froze. “What the hell?” The drawer was empty save for a cream-colored folder with her name scrawled across the front. Her hands shook slightly as she lifted it out and opened it on the bar. The first thing she noticed was a newspaper clipping that read THE WATCHER STRIKES AGAIN. Her heart lodged in her throat, and she covered her mouth to stifle a cry. She moved it aside only to find more articles and several recent photos of herself in various situations.

Tears of fear and anger filled her eyes. The implications of the evidence before her couldn’t be denied.
I have to get out of here. Now.

Ember snatched up her nightshirt from the floor and slipped it over her head on the way to the door. Her fingers shook so bad it took three tries to get it to unlock. She left it open and ran next door to her condo. It was locked since they had left by way of her balcony and her keys were inside.
Fuck.

“Don’t run. I can explain.”

She spun around so fast she would have fallen if not for his arms suddenly caging her against the wall. Her heart threatened to burst from fear, but she’d be damned if she would show it in front of him.

“I’ll scream.”

“Please, just hear me out. There’s an explanation. Will you come back inside?”

The pleading look and sincerity of his words threatened her resolve, but common sense won out. “I know what I saw. There’s nothing you can say.”

“Will you at least wait while I put on some pants, and I’ll tell you everything?”

She didn’t dare glance down or she’d cave and follow him back inside to be stabbed to death. Images of steak knives and ice picks skated through her mind.
Yeah, I’ll pass.

Ember swallowed the lump in her throat. She longed to believe him. Her mind reasoned that he could have killed her last night while she slept if he’d wanted her dead, or even a minute ago surrounded by all the available kitchen weapons.

“I’ll wait.” She stared at his chest afraid to look into his eyes.

He tilted her chin up. “Promise?”

She nodded. “Make it quick.”

He dropped his hand and turned to go, and Ember couldn’t resist glancing at his ass. She inwardly groaned.
Why?

The second he disappeared inside, she ran. She flew down the steps to her SUV, bending to search for the spare key magnetically attached under the driver’s side fender.
Got it.

“I’m not going to hurt you.”

Ember gasped and jerked upright. “How did you get down here so fast?”

He was wearing a pair of low-slung gym shorts that would tempt a saint. “Don’t be afraid. I could never hurt you.” She turned her face aside when he leaned in to kiss her.

“Ember, look at me.” Something in his voice brought her gaze back to his. “There are things about me that you don’t know, and I will tell you all in time, but you have to trust me.”

She laughed without humor. “Trust you? Really? Did you send me the pictures?” She watched him closely for any sign of a lie, but only saw confusion in his gaze.

“What pictures?” He went completely still.