The Book Waitress Series Volume One (23 page)

Regrettably, she loosened her hold, and he eased back on the couch. “Maybe you ought to catch me up on everything. I’m sure I can be a great help other than totally giving my body over to you.” He winked.

She gulped, reliving those times when his body had kissed hers. Did he have any clue the sensual effect he had on her? She hoped not. But that wink, those eyes! And that body spoke to her like no other’s ever had. Not even Derek’s. And now he professed his loyalty to her. Her face flushed and she fanned it with her hands.

He frowned and scooted next to her. “Is it starting again? Do you need me to cool you down?”

“Don’t think that’s possible right now, quite frankly. But I could use a glass of water.”

He looked puzzled and then a smile crept up his cheeks. “Sure, I’ll just go in the kitchen and fix you one.”

She closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose, and cringed over her transparency.

***

Synn ambled into the kitchen feeling all sorts of emotions. They ranged from chastising himself for being downright evil and creating conflict between Camille and her insecure boyfriend, to feeling triumph over the very same issue. What was she doing with that guy anyway? Maybe when she filled him in on everything, he would understand, but it wasn’t likely.

It hadn’t gotten past his notice how she reacted to his body when he held her. If that opened the door for him to get closer to her, he didn’t care. Never before had he felt this way about anyone. Even while human, he saw women as a means to an end. They got him close to his marks, and got him off when he needed release. What more did he need?

This. He needed this. And he wouldn’t let an asshole like Derek stand in his way of being necessary to her. The sound of shattering glass broke through his musings. What used to be a cup filled with water lay in frozen bits on the countertop and floor.
Shit!
He threw away the base still clenched in his fist, and looked around for a broom and dustpan.

“What happened?” Camille appeared in the doorway.

“I…uh…froze your glass to death. I’m sorry. Gonna have to work on certain aspects of my new life here, I guess.” He shrugged.

“I didn’t ask for ice water, you know. Here, let me help.” He heard her giggle as she took a broom from one of the closets and started sweeping up the frosted shards. He loved how she tried to make light of the situation. Being positive, that’s what kept him drawn to her. That, and her ridiculously sexy curves and golden curls. When the hell would the next attack happen? He craved the feel and fit of her body against his. And now that everyone else was gone, he could capitalize on that.
I really should go back to Hell. I’m not ready for a life of being good.

Chapter Four

Derek and his compadres sat around a high table at the only local dive bar on the island. He’d lost himself in the swirl created in the foam of his Guinness. Where had things gone so terribly wrong? He had
every right to be pissed and stake his claim on her in front of the demon. And she should have been glad. Girls loved jealous guys. But no, instead, she made it as though
he
were the bad guy in all of this and picked a beast from Hell over him. Nice.

“Stop wallowing. You’re gonna turn your beer sour. If it helps any, I think you were totally right to man up and ask about the two of them. She was gone for a couple days with him, you know. A lot can happen in that time.”

“Arnie, you’re an idiot two times over today. And Derek, you’re one, too.” Mallory flicked the ashes of her cigarette onto the floor. “No wonder you two get along so well. You know, sometimes I wonder why I hang around with such imbecilic men.”

“It’s because secretly you adore us, and you’re hoping that one day we’ll invite you for a three-way while investigating some far-out story in Malaysia.”

She gave Arnie a strong whack across the arm. “Why do I get the feeling you’ve had that fantasy rolling around in your head for a while?” He shrugged. “Ugh! As I was saying, you’re an idiot, Derek. Not too long ago you were so distraught over losing her, and when she finally shows up again, you go all ape on her. What’s up with that? Can’t handle a little competition between saviors? Now, because of you, we’re not making Hell-grade weapons, we’re not reading up on all the different beasts we have to find, or making plans to retrieve the relics we need to close the portal. We’re sitting here, at a standstill. You gotta make this right.”

He slammed his cocktail napkin down, shaking the table. “What do you want me to do, Mallory? Go up to him and thank him for feeling up my girl every time she has an episode? I saw how he looked at her, how he treated her.”

“You saw him, but it’s obvious you didn’t really see her. I saw gratitude when she looked at him. I saw love when she looked at you. And I saw utter disappointment just before she threw us out. Those ice packs won’t work anymore on her, man. He’s what’s keeping her alive now.” She paused and took a drag. “Oh, I see. Now I get it.”

“What?”

“You think she’s replaced you with him. You think you’re obsolete now. Yup, you’re a fool all right.” She swatted him on the shoulder, blew out the rest of the smoke, and crushed the nub into the glass tray. “Well, I’m outta here. Gonna find me some nice Bed and Breakfast to hole up in until the stormy seas of love subsides. Call me when you’re ready to save the world.”

She sashayed around the tables and Derek watched every man’s eyes follow her hips’ sway. He scoffed and shook his head. “Hey, Mallory!” She turned. “Come here and take my keys. You can stay at my place.”

“Thanks, Derek. You’re a good guy under all that emotional crap.” She winked as she took them from him and walked out.

“Hey, here’s to being idiots.” Arnie raised his glass. “I, for one, am glad I am one. Keeps expectations low. I like to surprise them with my intelligence.”

Derek raised his glass and took a long draw. “Shit. I’m gonna have to grovel, you know. But she needs cool down time. I’ll go to her tomorrow.”

“Tonight, we drink!” Arnie proclaimed.

***

“Did you ever eat in Hell?”

Synn shook his head, and through a stuffed mouth, he answered. “He likes us hungry. When I came across for work I ate here. Still never filled me up.”

“Are you getting full now? I mean, you ate all of your portion and now half of mine.” She pointed to her near-empty plate.

“I don’t know. I’ll let you know soon.”

Having little appetite of her own, Camille chose to get up and leave him to his feast while she rummaged through the boxes Arnie had left in his unexpected retreat. Guns, knives, maces, whips, and other assorted weapons she didn’t know the names of were all wrapped with care. A few boxes of bullets were in there, as well. She laid each item out on the floor beside her for closer inspection. The concoction was ready to be used. They need only dip the weapons in it to activate the supernatural qualities. That would be something very useful to do at this point, so she put everything back in the box and brought it with her to the library office. She felt a keen sense of control for the first time in a while.

A rag and a bucket of goo sat in the far corner on a counter. She rolled a chair over and started dipping the smaller pieces and bullets, then moved on to the larger pieces that would need to have the solution wiped on. As she finished with one weapon, she put it in the box and took another. Mindless activity, and yet so important to the success of the mission.

“What are you doing?”

“What? Oh! You scared me! Ha ha…” She tapped her chest with her hand. “I guess I was so focused, I didn’t hear you come in.”

“I’m good with the stealth. Plenty of years to practice.”

“Maybe we ought to put a bell on you, then.”

“As long as it’s on a diamond-studded collar.” He raised his eyebrows and grinned.

“It sure would look good on you.” As quickly as the words spilled out of her mouth, she wanted to kick herself. “Oh, my gosh. I said that out loud, didn’t I?”

“Yup, and you can’t take it back either. Thank you. I now know you’ve cast me in the sexy bad boy role, even though you say I’m good. I’m quite prepared to take on that character.”

“Excuse me while I go die in the periodicals department.” She ran out of the room, to the stairs, and down to non-fiction, where she tried in vain to compose herself. What was she thinking? Oh, she knew, and she had to stop. Her anger at Derek didn’t make Synn more appealing. His appeal formed long before that and was strengthening. But did she explore it or suppress it? What would happen the next time a creature crossed over? She shivered with longing for his body to shroud hers.

The soft tinkle of a bell rang from behind her, and she smiled as her heart leapt. She raised a trembling hand to swipe at her hair and nibbled at an unsuspecting nail, but she refused to turn around.

“Should you be alone down here?” His voice seemed different. It was higher pitched and scratchy.

She turned around and found herself looking through the transparent body of a man. Definitely
not
Synn’s. He raised his hands as if he were going to attack. “Should you be down here trying to scare young women, John Stalworthy?”

He lowered his arms in defeat. “I’m lonely. I can’t find my lovely Betina.”

“Oh, John. I’m sorry. I wish I could help. Scaring me isn’t the answer, though. Why don’t you try being helpful. Maybe she’ll like that and come to you.”

“Who are you talking to down here?” Synn appeared at the foot of the stairs.

John whipped past her and screeched an ungodly note.

“Holy shit! Was that a… a….”

“Yeah, that was a ghost. John Stalworthy to be exact. He killed his lover, Betina, down here many years ago, and then himself. He’s not a very happy ghost and quite the nuisance. But Betina is very helpful. I haven’t seen her yet, though. I’ve only felt her.”

“And you’re not freaked out by them?”

“Am I freaked out by you?”

“No, but—” He scratched his head. “Well, I guess I see your point.”

“He rang a bell. I thought it was you.” She leaned against a table and laughed, still a bit self-conscious from their prior repartee.

“It was me.” He raised his hand and showed a small jingle bell. “I came down because I don’t think you should be alone.”

“Oh, so you get to watch me deal with my embarrassment yet again.”

“That’s the beauty of all of this, Camille. I’ve already seen you at your most vulnerable.” Swaggering over, he stood before her and took her hands in his. “Nothing surprises me, and I don’t run away.”

“So, you’re finally giving up the self-proclaimed douchebag status?”

“No, I’m just a Ninja douchebag. This here situation doesn’t require that particular skillset. For this, I need to access a part of me I thought long dead.”

“What part would that be?”

“The teenage crush on the teacher part. You know the kind. You can look and fantasize, but you can’t touch. Or maybe you can.” He leaned in a bit closer.

“Oh.”
Oh, I’ve been here before.
But it wasn’t anything like this. Her blood heated up and travelled like a shot throughout her body to parts south of the border. Her face flushed, and she imagined the rest of her body had, as well.

“Are your scars burning you again, Camille?” His throaty voice teased her senses into a frenzy as he sealed the small chasm between them. He’d leaned in so close, her back arched to its limit.

“No.” She licked her cry lips. “Something else is.”

“Do you need me?” he whispered by her ear.

“Yes,” she murmured, breathless.

“Here I am.”

His lips skimmed over her mouth, from corner to corner, and returned to center. They were cool, soft, insistent, and giving all at the same time. Her eyes fluttered closed as she gave in to her own fantasies. She parted her lips, needing to see if he tasted like the cake batter scent announcing his presence. Confusion quickly set in. A buzzing energy blossomed on her skin, but rather than pain, a light tingling sensation emerged. She moaned.

Synn growled low and long, and tore his lips away. He cupped her face in his hands. “I’ll slay every damn one of these beasts for you. I swear it, Camille.”

He kissed her again, feverishly, as though he had to prove his worth.

Silly man, she thought, while losing herself to the sensual delirium.
And what a foolish woman. You’d better stop this before it goes too far.
She snuck her hands between their sandwiched bodies and pushed against his chest. “We have to stop, Synn. We…. We shouldn’t be doing this.”

“This isn’t wrong.” He stroked her hair. “This is saving your life, and mine.”

“But Derek…the very thing he accused us of doing, what we were innocent of before, we are now guilty. How will I ever explain? How can he ever forgive?”

“Don’t say anything. Let it stay between us.”

“I’m so sorry, but this can’t go any further. I need you. By God, I crave you. But I must,
we
must temper that for Derek’s sake. He and I’ve been through too much together, and he doesn’t deserve my betrayal.”