Midnight's Master (29 page)

The teen sat on the edge of her couch, his hands clenched before him. The older demon—had to be his father, they looked just alike—stood by his shoulder, rocking nervously back and forth on his heels.

Niol didn’t sit this time. “Tell me, Doctor Drake…”

Now he was being formal?

“Have you ever heard of a demon getting the Dark Touch?”

Her heart slammed into her ribs. The Dark Touch.

A demon with the Touch was cursed to only pick up the psychic touch of the evil in the world. Killers, rapists—they all called to the dark demons.

They cal ed and insanity and death followed.

“It first hits at puberty,” Niol said. “When a demon’s powers begin to develop.”

She’d heard that.

“It gets worse as the demon ages. The voices get louder—”

The teen flinched. His eyes were down, boring a hole into the floor.

“Some drugs quiet ’em, for a time. Others just make them scream louder.”

The father had his lips pressed together. His eyes stayed up, on her.

Help him. It was in the man’s eyes.

She glanced at Niol. And in his.

A bead of sweat trickled down between her shoulder blades. She wouldn’t give false hope. The kid would deserve better than that. “Niol, I’m not sure—”

“I am.” Absolutely certain. “You can keep a level-ten demon out of your head, you can

—”

“Myles was a level-nine,” she told him. Niol should know that. He didn’t make mistakes

—

“I’m not.” Black eyes held her. “And you can keep me out without even trying these days.”

These days.

It had been a test. One long-ass test.

“Teach him how to block, Dr. Drake. Teach Ken how to keep the voices out and the darkness at bay.”

The boy looked up, blinking.

Emily stared at him. His eyes…demon black, but familiar.

Because she’d seen that stark fear before. The wild horror that insanity was close.

She’d looked like that, years ago. Every time she’d glanced in a mirror, she’d seen the same thing.

A firm nod. “Right.” She reached for her pad and motioned for the door. No audience was allowed. Niol knew the rules, of that she had no doubt. “Ken, my name is Emily Drake, and I-I’m going to help you.” She would help him.

And the others she suspected Niol would be bringing her way.

Niol inclined his head and walked quietly toward the door.

When the door shut, Emily forgot him and turned her attention to Ken.

And the darkness around him. A darkness that was very different from that she sensed around Niol. Because this darkness, maybe she could fight it.

T wo car wrecks. A bank robbery. And a shooting in the suburbs.

It had really been one bitch of a day. Holly rolled her shoulders, more than ready to leave the station and head home.

Or to Niol’s—because she needed to see him.

How bad was that?

A knock sounded on her door. Her new door. She’d demanded a new office and gotten one. Granted, it was small and she knew it had been the storage closet until oh—about six hours ago, but she wouldn’t complain.

Holly glanced up and found Mac standing in her doorway. “What’s up?” She asked cautiously, half afraid the guy would send her out to cover another story.

Not tonight.

His eyes narrowed. “We need to talk, Storm.”

Great.

She motioned to the one chair across from her desk. No room for more.

He shut the door and marched over.

He didn’t take the seat. “How long you known about ’em?”

She blinked. The lines on Mac’s face looked deeper tonight. His hair a bit grayer. “What are you talking about?” With Mac, it could be any—

“The damn fucking demons, Storm. How. Long?”

Her jaw dropped.

“It was that asshole who got torched in the alley, wasn’t it?” He shot at her. “Always knew there was more to the case. Figured you had to know after that, especially when you hooked up with Niol.” Mac shook his head. “Christ, Niol? Were you just looking for the toughest asshole you could find?”

In a way, yeah, she had been.

Holly considered her options, fast.

Okay, she didn’t have many and Mac was glaring at her like—

“Knew Niol was a demon the first time I saw him.”

How?

“Are…you a demon?” That would make sense, but—

“Hel , no.” His shoulders stiffened. “Human. One hundred percent human.”

She couldn’t say the same. “Then how did you—”

“I saw my first demon back in ’Nam. He’d taken a hit, dead center in his chest.” His chin lifted. “Knew there wasn’t anything I could do. I was a medic with piss little training and I was in a fucking jungle with gunfire al around me.” He sucked in a breath. “Told the kid he wasn’t alone, thought it would help him. Then he turned his head and looked at me—”

She knew where this was going. At a time like that, the glamour—

“His eyes were black. Never seen anything like it before.” A pause. Thick. “But I sure as hell have since.”

She didn’t look away from him. Did he know her own secret?

“More people than you realize know about the demons.” His hands were fisted. Big fists, now that she noticed them. “And not all humans are happy about the paranormals.”

Not a newsflash.

The small office felt even, wel , smaller. The desk separated them, but Mac’s gaze seemed to bore into her.

“Some folks think demons should be wiped off the earth.”

She’d always liked Mac and his no-nonsense attitude. Always thought he was smart.

Tough as nails.

But, dammit, had that just been a threat? “Some folks don’t understand this world we live in very well.” Her voice was even. Impressive, that. “Demons aren’t evil—”

“They’re not all evil.”

“Just like humans!” She fired back.

He nodded. “Thought that would be the case with you. Specially after I heard about your new boyfriend.”

What in the hell was happening?

He leaned over her desk. Stabbed a finger toward her. “Stay on your guard, Storm. You might be safe, but Niol will always attract trouble.”

Then he turned around and stalked out and Holly stared after him, still not sure…

Had Mac been threatening her, or trying to warn her?

The storm that had loomed since noon finally unleashed its pounding fury just as Holly ran for Niol’s front door. She’d gone to him, headed straight for his house, when she’d finally slipped out of the station just after the last broadcast.

Her skin was soaked in seconds as she ran and—

“Holly.”

Niol stood before her. Raindrops slid down his cheeks. His dark T-shirt clung to him, molding to his chest as the rain pounded against him.

He’d been waiting for me?

She stumbled to a halt, caught by his stare and the roar of thunder.

The rain was a cold touch on her skin. Stinging.

And Niol seemed just out of reach.

Then he moved toward her.

Maybe she should have called first. Maybe she was presuming one hell of a lot by showing up on his doorstep, but she’d—

Wanted him. “Niol, I—”

He kissed her. An openmouthed, knee-shaking kiss that screamed possession and lust the way the storm screamed its fury.

His hands locked on her hips. Slid down and caught the curve of her ass. He jerked her against him, right against the bulge of arousal that couldn’t be hidden with the wet clothing.

The cold wasn’t affecting him.

And it sure wasn’t slowing her down any.

His mouth lifted and he stared at her, those secrets still in his eyes. “I was going to stay away.”

What?

“Fucking can’t.”

His head bent and his mouth pressed against her neck. Oh, yes. She’d always loved it when—

The swirl of his tongue.

The faintest press of his teeth.

Her nails dug into his shoulders and her head tipped back. If the man wanted access…

Her thighs parted and he slid one muscled leg against her core. She rocked against him.

Not enough.

Not nearly.

“If we don’t get inside in the next thirty seconds…” Growled against her throat. Holly shivered. “I’ll take you here.”

Tempting. She’d never made love in a rainstorm and it sounded wild and sexy and—

And her guards were out there somewhere. Waiting. Watching.

Her eyes opened, blinking against the raindrops. “In…side.” Okay, yeah, that was her sounding all hoarse. Couldn’t help it.

A nip of those teeth.

Heat pooled in her sex.

He grabbed her hand and ran with her toward the brightly lit house. Water splashed around them. Thunder rumbled close by.

The thick wooden door opened just as they reached the steps. Handy trick, that.

Warmth hit her, battling against the chill she’d all but stopped feeling.

The door slammed.

She pushed wet hair out of her eyes. Jeez, she probably looked like hell. Serious drowned-rat syndrome while he—

He looked good wet. Hair dripping. Muscles flexing beneath the shirt that clung like a second skin.

Holly swallowed. Oh, damn.

Niol reached for her—

But Holly shook her head. “I’m taking you this time, demon.”

He blinked.

She smiled and sank to her knees before him.

“Holly, you don’t have to—”

Removing wet jeans was a very tricky business. “I want to.” She wanted to taste him so badly that her mouth had gone dry.

The snap popped loose. The zipper hissed down.

His arousal sprang into her hands. Ful and long and thick and—

And she wanted him.

Holly bent her head and took the tip of his erection into her mouth.

“Fuck.”

Not now, but soon.

She licked him, learning his shape slowly, using her lips and her tongue to tease and take.

As he’d taken her.

A drop of his essence leaked out and she tasted him. Salty, but strangely sweet. He tasted different from a human—better.

She wanted more.

Another inch. Two. His length slid into her mouth as his hands sank into her hair.

“Love, that’s good. So damn good.”

It was sure good for her. Holly’s sex clenched as she took him. More, now, deeper.

His hold on her became harder and her mouth moved faster. Her cheeks pulled in as she took him. Her fingers dug into his ass—great ass—and her nipples ached as the need and lust tangled within her.

Her gaze lifted to his face. Flushed cheeks. Shining eyes.

“Dark,” he whispered and she knew that her own eyes had changed. His jaw clenched.

“No…more.”

But she wanted more.

His hands pulled her back. “With you, love, or not at all.”

Well, she sure wasn’t taking the “not at all” option.

Holly rose, knees trembling. She yanked off her shirt, heard the slap of the wet material hitting the floor. With a tug, her bra came loose and her breasts were bared to him, nipples pebbled and hungry.

His lips closed over her nipple and he sucked. A deep, hard pull that was exactly what she’d wanted. His left hand took her other breast. Fondling and squeezing and her hunger built even more.

Getting out of her pants was hard. They clung. They twisted. But after one wild shimmy, she’d ditched them, her shoes, and her panties.

The bed was close. The couch was closer.

Niol had her on the cushions, her legs up and spread, his cock against her eager opening, in a blink.

“Now.” A snarl from Niol.

“Now.” She growled the word right back at him.

He drove deep.

Yes. What she’d wanted all day.

What she’d needed.

The rhythm was fast and hard. Almost…desperate.

Pleasure built and tempted.

Withdraw. Thrust. His fingers marked her flesh, digging deep, just like hers did.

Their eyes locked. Holly’s drumming heartbeat filled her ears. She strained against him, needing to be even closer.

The climax slammed into her.

Him.

She lost her breath and could only hold on as the release blasted her. Niol was with her every second. She heard the gasp of his breath, felt the hot pulse of his release, and saw the satisfaction fill his face.

When her heartbeat slowed and the little convulsions in her sex finally eased, Holly realized her legs were around his hips, her heels digging into him. She also realized she didn’t want to move.

Her lips curved. Having sex with Niol was damn fine.

“Can’t fucking stay away.”

A frown pulled her brows low. He’d said something like that before—

Niol kissed her. Hard. Angry. With the edge of desperation she’d felt earlier.

His mouth tore from hers. “Can’t.”

She didn’t understand, but Holly just shook her head, needing to soothe him. “You don’t have to—I want you with me.”

Niol didn’t speak. Just kissed her once more.

He had an addiction. A drug of choice that was in his blood, twisting and turning in his veins.

Demons had a problem with addiction. All the paranormals knew that.

He’d been so careful over the years. So careful.

Niol turned in the bed and let his gaze fall on Holly’s face. Her hair was dry now and curling just a bit. He brushed a lock back from her cheek.

His addiction.

One he’d lie for. Kil for.

And quite possibly even fucking die for.

After seeing the Monster Doctor, he’d thought of Holly. Of her life with him and without him. Niol didn’t doubt for even a moment that her life would be a whole lot easier without him.

But I can’t stay away.

When he’d seen her car pull into his drive, his cock had hardened instantly and his heart had raced. He hadn’t been able to get to her fast enough. To see her. That slow smile that stretched across her face, the wink of that dimple.

Holly had been beautiful in the rain.

No, he hadn’t been able to wait to see her—or to take her.

Yet she’d stopped him. Gone to her knees before him and parted those sweet lips.

She’d nearly driven him to his knees then.

Sexy, smart, and strong.

His addiction.

His fingers traced the curve of her cheek. One that I won’t give up.