One Handsome Devil (27 page)

Even with their flight and hotel paid for by the producers of the Bar Trivia show, Sara felt the money running through her fingers. The Tavern on the Green served excellent food but the bill shocked Sara, especially as all of them had been fairly conservative in their orders. A day of tourism had also cost them more than she could afford. The five hundred the show had guaranteed wouldn't even cover their expenses, let alone help out with anything else.

At least the suite was luxurious. They had to step down two steps into the sitting room and even had a conservatory with a shiny white baby grand piano. Sure enough, the desk clerk had delivered the champagne he'd promised.

Sara watched as Jack stripped off his shirt and headed for the oversized bathroom. His muscles hardened as he tugged off the shirt even though she knew he was carefully controlling his power. The almost faded scars left behind by Derrick's bullets reminded her of that afternoon's subway encounter. “Are you going to take a shower?"

Jack shrugged. “Actually, I thought I might take a bath."

"Can I watch?"

"Hum. Will you wash my back?"

Sara couldn't help laughing. “You drive a hard bargain.” As if running her hands over Jack's muscled back would be anything but pure pleasure.

Jack stripped off his khaki slacks and hung them in the closet, then quickly stripped off his black boxers. More money she'd spent although Jack promised he'd pay her back.

"I warn you, it might not be safe,” he told her.

"Do you think the boogie man will get me?” She giggled.

"Maybe."

He ran the water—cold only—until the huge tub was nearly full.

"It'll run over the top,” she told him.

"You think Craig will come up and complain?"

"Who?"

"You know, Craig, the hotel clerk."

She hadn't even noticed the man's name, only his look of abject horror when they had returned from dinner and appeared to be heading toward the front desk. “I don't think Craig would bother you if you set the entire hotel on fire."

"Tempting.” His smoldering stare made her quite certain she was talking about another kind of fire entirely.

"That isn't what I meant."

"Hum. I hope you get meaning that fairly soon."

As his foot touched the water, a thick cloud of steam exploded up filling the room with an almost impenetrable gloom.

"What the heck?"

"It's been muggy. I haven't been able to cool off."

The steam continued to rise as he slowly lowered his beautiful body into the water. To Sara's surprise, the water level had actually fallen to the point where Jack could turn on the faucet and add more.

"I'm not sure I dare wash your back.” Her voice was a hoarse whisper.

"I warned you that I might be too hot for you."

"Is it safe?"

He waved a hand and the steam dispelled. “Do you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you."

He shook his head as if in distress. “Well, then it's safe to wash my back. You'll have to take your chances if you want to go further."

"That'll do."

She grabbed a washcloth, ostentatiously lathered it with soap, then stepped behind Jack.

Once she was out of his sight, it took her only a moment to strip off her cotton dress, panties and bra, and step behind him into the huge tub.

The water was uncomfortably hot but not enough to harm her. She pressed the washcloth against Jack's back, scrubbing down the hard lean shape of it, then rubbing the cloth into the tendons that held his wings to his body.

"That's heav—very nice,” he told her.

Had he almost said heaven? It barely seemed possible given the pain any sort of reference caused him. Still, Sara couldn't think what else he might have said.

"Uh-huh.” The wings were soft, velvety to the touch. Sara rinsed off the washcloth, then ran it down the wings, first right, then left.

Although he had cooled his body to avoid harming her, the edges of the wings still radiated enough heat to leave a line of steam behind them.

"They're very strong,” she murmured the words into his ear, letting her warm breath caress him as she spoke.

He spread them slightly, stretching the webbing between joints.

God, he was sexy.

One of Sara's boyfriends in college had accused her of being a cold prude. Jack had cured that, at least. She wanted him, his touch and love, with a longing that almost hurt.

She urged him forward, then sank into the water behind him bringing her legs around his waist.

"Hey, I thought you were going to wash my back."

"Oh, I am.” She reached for the soap again, this time lathering herself rather than the wash cloth. When she had finished, she pressed her body against his back, brushing her breasts across his shoulder blades and wings, her flat belly to the small of his back.

"Uh, this bath was supposed to be cooling me down.” Jack might be complaining but he didn't sound very convincing.

"Take another one later."

"But—"

She cut off his protests by reaching a soapy hand for the center of his heat.

"Hey, that's not dirty."

"I'll make it cleaner."

He was instantly hard against her stroking fingers. The excited maleness sent an echoing response to her own loins.

It had always taken her forever to respond to a man before Jack had come into her life. Could it be that the magic had sent him to her only to teach her how to enjoy sexual coupling?

She pushed the idea firmly from her mind. Whatever this was, however long it lasted, it was more, far more, than a purely physical response.

"Oh, my."

She must have squeezed harder than she'd meant in response to her thoughts. “Did I hurt you?"

"Hurt? No."

"I think it's time for me to wash your chest, then."

"I can wash my own chest."

"Not the way I can."

She rinsed herself quickly, then relathered her body. “Close your eyes."

"You know I can see you even with my eyes closed."

She caught herself in mid-step. She hadn't thought about that. Despite Jack's obvious desire for her, she still felt uncomfortable about her too-tall, too-slender body.

Jack felt Sara freeze through his closed eyes. How could she have held on to those ridiculous notions that she was inadequate just because she didn't spill out every which way she moved. “I like what I see."

"Really?” She was begging for reassurance but hating herself for needing it.

Jack's hand brushed against Sara's thigh shortcutting his thought process. “Why don't you let me prove exactly how sexy you are.” He reached for her, balanced her as she stepped over his recumbent body.

He slid back in the bathtub, carefully extending his wings to let them dry.

Sara lowered her soapy body against his, her small but perfectly shaped breasts pressing against his chest, her belly against his stomach.

"You are going to make sure I'm clean all over,” he urged.

"Huh-un.” Sara couldn't quite suppress her giggle. “I'm going to make you dirty all over.” She lowered herself further, opening herself to him, taking all of him into her sweet warmth.

"How about I open my eyes now?” He could
see
without them but what he saw was emotions, heat, and mass. Being able to observe Sara's face and, at the same time, see the emotions that motivated the expressions, had proved an experience more moving than he could have imagined.

"I'll ask before I work on your car again,” he promised.

"This may not be the best time to talk about that."

As usual, Sara was right. Instead of talking, he leaned back in the water, cool to him, warm to Sara, and enjoyed the buoyancy the water gave both their bodies. Sara's soap-slippery body extended their lovemaking, created the illusion that her entire body was a part of the sexual experience, that all of her was opening to him, accepting him, inviting him in.

Mesmerized, he followed Sara's invitation. As his erection slid deeper into her, he loosened his tight control over his spirit, letting it extend itself to touch, caress, join with Sara's soul.

For a dizzying moment, he experienced a vertigo greater than any since that great fall when he and the others had been thrown into the abyss. To his extended senses, the sparks that marked the joining of his essence with Sara were bright fireworks, arching across the vast distances that kept demon and human forever separate, bringing the two of them together in ways that humans could never experience and demons dared never attempt.

"Oh my—"

He pressed his lips to Sara's lips, part of him recoiling as his spirit picked up the words she was going to say and part of him able to accept anything at all, so long as he could relish this moment a little longer.

She met his lips, her tongue pressed them apart, sought his own tongue, caressed it, then withdrew with an invitation to follow.

Sara shifted her weight, impossibly finding a way to plunge him even more deeply within her, then slid her body up against his only to plunge it once again over his upthrust member.

Jack found the soap, lathered his hands, then rubbed them over Sara adding even more lubrication to her chest where it pressed against his own.

"We'll have to get a tub like this.” Sara's voice was hoarse with desire.

A demon must never plan for the future, never anticipate any pleasure. Yet he could not find it in himself to correct her. If only there was some way he could go on with Sara, spend years with her making love, sharing thoughts and dreams.

"You're a million miles away, lover. You'd better not be fantasizing about some girl-demon."

He kissed then nibbled at the curve between neck and shoulder. “Oh, I'm here all right."

He slid a soapy finger between them finding the sensitive nub of her desire and ran his other hand down her backside, pressing against her firm rounded bottom.

"No fair, this is my seduction.” Sara's protest didn't have much steam.

"Not if you don't keep it."

Sara smiled. “Want to play rough, do you?"

"Uh—"

"Too late.” She tightened her grip on him from the inside.

"Hey, that almost hurts."

"Don't be a wimp. Besides, almost doesn't count."

It definitely didn't. The sensation of her muscles gripping him was excruciatingly arousing.

Sara splashed a handful of water against his wings, laughing when the droplets exploded into steam. “I think I could get used to you, you handsome devil."

"I'm not sure I could ever get used to you.” He paused for only a beat. “But I'd lo—like to try.” What was wrong with him. He'd almost used
that
word.

He caressed her folds and that button of desire, keeping time with Sara as she began to move faster and faster against him.

"Don't make me come too soon,” she whispered.

Jack looked into her again, observed the swirling colors of passion and desire, then gentled his pressure until the colors of desire matched those of passion.

Again, Sara's aura softened at the edges, inviting him in. Again, he was helpless against the invitation.

Sara groaned, the colors of her desire flaring hot and white.

It was too much.

Despite his promises, despite his intentions, despite his fears, Jack lost control.

The orgasm swept over him like a tornado ripping through Kansas. He plunged himself even more deeply into her, pressed his spirit all the way to the boundaries of her soul.

He'd warned her that he couldn't handle sex but neither of them had remembered, taking their earlier successes as proof that his
problem
was under control.

Sara screamed.

Sara's body shuddered. It wasn't just a reaction to her orgasm, something even more powerful had taken place. “What happened?"

Jack stood slowly, his iron-hard erection still jutting from his body. It seemed to Sara that he actually glowed, as if his body was a sheet over a lamp and the light was shining around the edges.

He did not look like a man who had just enjoyed completely mind-boggling sex. Instead, he looked angry, ready to fight the world.

"I warned you.” His words were almost indistinguishable in the growl.

"Warned me of what?"

"I told you I couldn't control myself if I had sex."

She couldn't help giggling. “You aren't supposed to control yourself. It's about letting go, silly."

He shook his head grimly.

She looked down at her body. When he'd told her about losing control, she'd gotten a definite image of dismembered humans. She seemed to be all in one piece.

Except there was something different. When they'd made love before, she'd had a sense of contentedness and fulfillment that started in her womb and spread from there. Now, the center seemed to be in her mind. Worse, she was standing next to the tub and she had no earthly idea how she'd gotten there.

"Tell me what happened."

"I invaded your soul."

Icy panic reared. “What the hell does that mean?"

"It means I possessed you, I my spirit entered your soul."

Sara felt dizzy. She turned to run but the motion made her dizziness worse. She barely made it to the toilet before nausea overcame her.

Jack stepped closer but didn't completely close the distance. “I didn't mean to do it."

She found a towel, wiped off her face, then wrapped it around her. “You don't really think that makes any difference, do you?"

"I'm trying to explain—"

"You're trying to explain why it's a bad idea for a human woman to do it with a demon. Well, I guess I finally get it.” Anger and betrayal warred for prime positioning in her mind.

"If you were to ward me again, I would be safe. Because we hadn't had sex in a while, my urges were less controllable."

"Trust me, we aren't going to take another chance."

He extended his wings, his deep blue eyes glaring. At that moment, he looked less human and more diabolical than she'd ever seen him. He also looked damned sexy but she suppressed that thought. She had to learn her lessons and this was a big one.

"You knew I had this problem."