Demons Like It Hot (16 page)

“Seraphina,” he whispered. He swept his arms around her waist and dragged her against his hard, very naked chest. “No one that pure can be this tempting.”

“Kiss me,” she insisted. “Now.”

Wow, where had that come from?
She traced her fingertips through the curly hair on his chest and moved lower to circle a nipple. Lower still.

He grabbed her hands and pulled them away. “Not like this.”

Man, if only he’d let her touch his chest. Not a touchy-feely sort of man, unless he was the one doing the touching and feeling. What was his deal?

Friction zinged in the air. One spark and she’d go up in flames. She angled her gaze upwards, pleading. She had to feel those lips.

Talk about some dream.

And, crazy as it was, she didn’t want it to end.

Curse him for invading her mind. Then again, she couldn’t complain one bit.

“Like this?” she asked. She moved closer, lip to lip, and traced her tongue along the crease of his lips.

“Bloody hell,” he growled. With that, he pushed her against hard concrete, fumbling with her bra straps. He yanked them down over her shoulders. Lips hard and unyielding, he pressed his tongue inside her mouth.

God, she was so hot.

Clenching her fists in a futile attempt to keep her hands off his magnificent body, she gasped against his lips.

His hands moved up and down her body, lingering around her breasts. Like it was his favorite part of her disproportionate body. She wasn’t known for her feminine endowments and she curved in all the wrong places, but he didn’t seem to care. And that only made her hotter.

“Oh God, Matthias,” she moaned, louder than she ever moaned before. Thank goodness she lived alone, or she would’ve woken the entire house.

The loud pounding pulled her from her salacious dream.

Her eyes snapped open.
Oh
shit!

“Serah!” Matthias’s voice boomed. “Are you okay?”

She flung off her sheet and jumped from her bed. Stumbling across the room, she grabbed her discarded shirt off the floor.

“I… ahh… well.” She silently cursed herself and her stupid hormones. “I’m—”

Matthias crashed through the door, his gaze dark and intense and lips taut.

“Fine,” she breathed out, gripping the shirt tightly in front of her. Her scantily clad body was the last thing she wanted Matthias seeing at this point. “A little privacy?”

His gaze moved lower, his eyes sparking. He sucked in a breath. “I heard you call out for me. I thought you were in trouble.”

Oh, she was in trouble. And it wasn’t the Infernati this time. It was her own undersexed body’s fault.

“Jeez! You’re hearing things.” She fumbled with the shirt that barely covered her naked breasts. “Do you mind? I’m trying to get dressed.”

She trained her gaze to the door that dangled from its hinges. “You better have that fixed by tomorrow.”

He slowly backed away. “I heard what I heard, Serah, but I can tell when I am not wanted. And the door will get fixed. Believe it or not, I was a carpenter before I was a mercenary.”

“Jesus Christ was your idol, I bet.”

“No one can live up to him, and anyone who thinks they can is sorely mistaken.” He spun around and slammed the door behind him. It squeaked on its broken hinges.

Serah could only gape in silence. He wasn’t as arrogant as she thought.

But he was wrong about something. Very wrong. Contrary to her practical impulses, she wanted him—more than any other man, even Matthew McConaughey.

He heard her shout his name. There was no mistaking that. From the urgency in her voice, she was in distress. He had no choice but to bust through that door. Who knew what he would find.

And, whoa, did he find something. Curls tousled, Serah clutched a tiny shirt to her half-naked body. His blood boiled at the sight. It took everything in his power not to crush her into his arms again.

Like he had almost a year ago. Who knew what would have happened in that cell had the Infernati guards not shown their evil faces and taken her away.

And that was where his mission did a complete one-eighty. Something inside him snapped. He went from mercenary to protector in a nanosecond.

He originally thought it was because Belial reneged on his promise. But something else stirred him into action. Something he couldn’t decipher. It was dangerous and unnerving, yet caused his body to zing.

Maybe he’d been celibate too damn long.

But it was the only way he could keep focused on his missions. Sex only complicated matters. Even a meaningless tryst could turn a simple assignment into an utter failure. But sex with Serah would be far from meaningless. It would be mind-blowing. And if he wanted this mission to be successful, he needed all his wits about him.

An impossible task. Just looking at her sent his wits flying out the window.

“Curse those bloody Fore-Demons.” They knew damn well what they were doing.

A door snicked open. Bloody hell. He didn’t want to see her. Not now, not when he still needed to get control of his rampaging body.

“You can go back to bed, Serah.”

“Sorry tae disappoint ye.” Farquhar whipped his tail against his leg. Daring little imp. “Ah needed tae tak’ a wiz. By th’ way, wa’ was Serah moanin’ yer name?”

“It was just a nightmare.”

“Seriously?” Farquhar mewed out a laugh. “That was nae nightmare.”

“She told me it was nothing.”

“Ye expect me tae believe that guff?” Farquhar shook his black-and-white-furred head. “Haven’t ye ever… ye ken?”

“Know what?”

Farquhar rolled his round eyes. “Forget it. Ye Paladins need tae get oot more often. By the way, blankets an’ spare pillows are in the hall closet. But ye really dinnae need them, dae ye?”

Matthias shrugged. It was uncommon knowledge that demons didn’t need sleep to function, but despite the unnatural stamina, handling Serah SanGermano’s stubborn streak left him completely drained. He’d never felt so vulnerable in centuries.

“I enjoy a rest every so often.”

“Fair enaw.” With that, Farquhar sauntered down the hallway and pushed open the bathroom door. “Wha’ever ye want tae believe. ’At wasnae a moan o’ distress. If ye try anythin’, I’ll slice ye frae limb tae limb.” He raised his paw and extended his five claws, one by one. “Got it?”

Matthias offered a silent nod.

“Guid.” Tail flicking back and forth, Farquhar swished into the bathroom.

“Shit,” Matthias muttered beneath his breath. He’d heard her moan like that before. When they were locked up in the Infernati dungeon. There was no doubt now. Her memories were coming back.

She was getting stronger. It was only a matter of time before the truth made itself known. His stomach pitched at the thought. She would hate him.

He couldn’t blame her. He deserved it. To be honest, he deserved worse. And when she remembered, the worst was yet to come.

“The Fore-Demons must have lost their minds.” If he were one of them, he’d never allow himself to join. If they weren’t crazy, then they had a sadistic sense of humor.

Then again, this was the Fore-Demon Council. He’d heard stories about their strange and twisted ways. They obviously knew more than they were letting on.

Damned
Fore-Demons!
There was no doubt now. They wanted him to suffer. And suffer he would, if it meant protecting Serah.

Nothing in life was simple. And if it was, it was always too good to be true. He paced in front of the couch and scrubbed the stubble growing along his chin.

The blast of wind chimes reverberated against his eardrums.

Reaching into the pocket of his pants, he fumbled for the mobile phone Deleon insisted he carry. Modern technology was a necessary evil.

He swiped his finger across the green button flashing on the screen.

“Ambrose.”

“Is everything in order?” There was no masking the concern in Rafael’s voice. “Lucy said she tried calling Serah several times tonight.”

“Serah has gone to bed for the evening.”

“Already?”

“It’s eleven thirty.”

Rafael blew out a breath. “She’s a night owl. It’s early for her. What happened?”

“There was an issue while we were at the store.”

“Issue?”

“We were attacked by Balthazar.”

Rafael clucked his tongue. “Balthazar? Not good.”

“Who’s Balthazar?” Matthias heard muffled in the background. Lucia. Thank goodness Serah had such dedicated friends. Who knew where she’d be without Lucia Gregory and Rafael Deleon.

“Hold on a moment, Ambrose.” More muffled words ensued. “Let me get more info from Ambrose.”

He came back to the receiver. “So what happened, and do not sugarcoat it.”

Matthias relayed the entire evening, sans the kiss. If Deleon knew the truth, he’d send him packing back to the Council. He might not have wanted the mission before. Now, on the other hand, he
had
to protect Serah. She needed him. Hell, he owed it to her.

“And what’s this about some television show she’s signed up for?”

“Television show?”

Of course she didn’t tell them. She knew how’d they react.

“
American
Chef
?”

“Lucy, do you know anything about
American
Chef
?” He heard a faint click. “I’ve put on the speakerphone.”

“Fine,” Matthias muttered.

Lucia’s voice boomed. “It’s a show that travels around America and spotlights different chefs. Serah mentioned signing up for a while ago. Before… you know.”

“They’re coming here tomorrow for an audition.”

“Hell’s blood,” Rafael growled. “The last thing Serah needs is exposure. Especially if Balthazar is lingering around.”

“Who is he?” Lucia demanded.

Rafael sucked in a breath. “Belial’s second in command.”

“God! Even from the bowels of hell, Belial still manages to be a thorn in our sides.”

“He says he serves another.”

“Even better.” There was no masking the sarcasm in Lucia’s voice. “Not only is he vengeful, he works for another Infernati asshole.”

“I have everything under control.”

“Let’s hope you do, Ambrose.” The finality in Lucia’s voice said it all.

“We will further discuss this tomorrow, Ambrose. Early. Preferably before this TV show comes calling.” Rafael left no room for refusal.

“Good. There are other things we should discuss as well.”

“Very well.” With that the call dropped. Not one for familiarities. Then again, Matthias didn’t blame him one bit.

Then again, maybe Deleon knew more than he admitted.

He stalked down the hallway and yanked open the closet door. He grabbed a cotton sheet and flannel blanket and wrenched out a jumbo-sized pillow that was stuffed into the top. He kicked the door shut.

He turned his gaze to Serah’s miraculously closed door. “I’m doomed.” But just because he might have been doomed, didn’t mean the world had to suffer the same fate. He’d see to it. He only hoped Serah could forgive him, because he couldn’t forgive himself.

***

Serah awoke with a start. Warmth tingled its way throughout her entire body. Her toes curled. Whatever Matthias was doing to her needed to stop. No matter how damned good it felt.

She reached over to glance at the clock. Four a.m. She never should’ve gone to bed so early. She’d never get back to sleep. She glanced at the phone flashing next to her nightstand. Five missed calls. All from Lucy. Even if her friend hardly ever slept, it was still too late to call—Lucy and Rafe were probably
busy
. Lucky little demons.

Then again, they were perfect for each other. Rafe, with his stony reserve and Lucy with her no-nonsense attitude complemented each other perfectly. Truth be told, they were more alike than they realized.

“And they’re in love,” she whispered. “At least one of us is lucky.” Not that she wanted love. She was quite content with her nonexistent love life. Men only complicated matters. And she had a kitchen to run. She didn’t need distractions—not now.

Lord knew she already had one huge distraction as it was. Why did he have to be so big and muscular? And why did she have to fantasize about him—camouflage and all?

Her cheeks warmed and her stomach clenched. Moist heat flooded into her loins. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop thinking about that dream. Not the dream—the man.

“He has to go.” She’d talk to Rafe in the morning. How hard could it be to find a new bodyguard?

What
about
Rafe’s old partner, Dominic?
He was able enough. Then again, he’d been sent back to limbo by the woman he loved. Rafe said he still hadn’t fully recovered.