A Very Demon Christmas [Demon Hunters 1] (12 page)

Colin chuckled. “I don't mind slowing down."

"Faster, please, Master."

Instantly, he moved to her needy nipples, pinching and tugging. Each tiny torturous caress shot sensations straight to her core and drove her even wilder with desire. Even begging him for mercy was beyond her present skill level. She'd been condensed to a creature of pure instinct—burning arousal, tight, achy breasts, and swollen, drenched slit.

Dimly she noticed he'd lifted her. She was cradled against his wonderful chest, and he was moving. Through the haze of arousal, she took in his bedroom, absorbing the revealing clues to Colin's personality like a dry earth absorbs the rain. A king-size bed covered by a pristine white duvet and fat fluffy pillows and framed in the same dark wood and sturdy style as his coffee table dominated the space.

On an impulse, she raised her gaze. The soaring ceiling was covered by an elaborate mural depicting the Milky Way Galaxy. Slightly dizzy, from the flight of imagination, her focus fell on a glossy black highboy flanked by pair of terra-cotta horses she recognized as Qin dynasty from an art history class. Cluttered across the surface of the makeshift desk, a slim silver laptop, loose change, and a black stress-relief squeeze ball added scanty data bits to her understanding of the mysterious, not entirely human guy. “Are you color-blind?"

He set her down on the bed and glanced around. “The monochrome decor gave me away, huh? Most air demons see what I do, most blues, some reds, like your blush, and some greens, like the color of your eyes. The rest of the color spectrum is in shades of gray."

"Do most water demons see colors?” Holly stretched out, crossed her ankles, and then glimpsed a reflection of her plumpness in the mirrored wall. She considered diving under the covers but decided Colin would object. Irrationally wanting to please him, she rolled over on her stomach and propped herself on her elbows—a position where gravity actually helped make the most of her excess cleavage, hid her flabby belly, and minimized her big bottom.

"Don't know."

"But you do know other water demons?”
Am I really buying all of this?

"One. She's not local."

A wisp of envy slithered into Holly.
But she is your ideal female.

"Jealous?"

Her cheeks heated, answering him even if she refused to talk. “A little bit."

Before she could blink, he'd straddled her upper thighs, pinning her to the mattress. He leaned forward, palms pressing her shoulders lower. Outmatched, she sank into the fluffy duvet and let him rub reassuring circles over the tight muscles in her neck and shoulders.

"Relax, slave. That's an order, if you weren't sure."

"Yes, Master.” Her intended sarcasm evaporated in a sigh of pure bliss as he found a knot and gently coaxed the tension from her back.

By the time he'd reached the middle of her spine, she'd grown much mellower about everything and had once again set aside her doubts.

The guy knew his way around her body better than she did, and he knew how to give a sensual massage. He used the heel of his palm on the small of her back. The loud moan of pleasure had to have come from her. Then the warmth from his big, slightly rough hand whispered over her tailbone, and she lit up like Candy Cane Lane. She managed to huff, “Dear God, what are you doing to me?"

"Feels good?” he purred.

Her legs struggled against his weight, trying to part. “Yes, Master...too good. If you keep that up...I'll come."

"Not yet,” he warned, moving off her.

Although he'd quit rubbing her new hot spot, his intoxicating scent grew stronger, which kept her arousal simmering. She rubbed her swollen breasts against the soft cotton duvet cover, and even that minimal friction threatened to tip her over the edge. To have any hope of obeying her Master, she gingerly parted her thighs and raised her derriere away from the covers. She could imagine what the wanton display of her engorged labia looked like from behind. But anything was better than disobeying his direct order, and right then even a ripple from a cool breeze would have been enough to make her shatter.

No contact and small desperate pants were the only things keeping her grounded.

Colin moved behind her, fitting his crown into her slick entrance.

"Please, Master.” The pitch of her voice rose with urgency.

"Come for me, baby."

Before he'd even fully entered her pussy, she jerked in a helpless full-body shiver of pure erotic ecstasy. Fireworks shot off behind her tightly shut eyelids as she soared into the glorious explosion of sensation.

When she floated back to earth, aftershocks of her orgasm fluttered through her channel. She turned to look at her Master.

For a moment, she met his gaze and saw the same kind of stunned arousal she knew painted her face. Then pulses of his hot sperm splashed against her cervix while the deep roars of his rapture shook the room, triggering her into another pussy-clenching orgasm. The pleasure grabbed her like a riptide's undertow and swept her into the dark void of ecstasy.

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Colin used every bit of demon strength at his command to lever himself off Holly—a feat harder than his cock. As he turned away from the temptation of her lush body, the friction burn at the entrance to her delicate sheath caught his eye. The small abrasion made him feel like a molting loser for hurting her.

The least he could do was heal the small wound. Using his shoulders to keep her legs open for his ministrations, he lollipopped the injured tissue and swallowed her delicious minty cocoa cream. His demon saliva did its healing trick. Nothing like the kind of miraculous damage control a full water demon could pull off, but his chest still swelled with pride and tenderness over giving her the kind of intimate service any male of honor would for his mate. Her skin was back to its normal perfection, and he reluctantly pulled away from her sweetness.

"Thank you, Master."

Her soft sigh of relief stroked his ego way more than soothing the injury he'd caused. Damn, he had to find the control to stay away from her, but not so far away that he couldn't protect her.
And how in the hell is that going to work?

The answer was simple. He and Holly couldn't work. Sooner or later Duec would call. Taking her with him rogue hunting was out of the question. Holly would make incredible bait, but exposing her to real monsters, the kind he fought damn near every night, would shrink her life expectancy to minutes. He would have to leave her behind—alone. The thought sent pure icy terror into his bones.

By making love with her, he'd put her in danger.

"Be right back.” He stalked into the living room, yanked on his pants, and crammed his phone into the back pocket before grabbing his gear bag and checking his weapons.

Much too soon, the opening riff from Nine Inch Nails’ “The Great Destroyer"—Duec's ringtone—played. Right on schedule. Colin closed his eyes, and his heart fell into the churning pit of acid that swirled in his gut as he rubbed the answer icon.

"Possible rogue sighting, three blocks north of your place, time to roll."

Colin's heart took another sickening lurch lower at the news a rogue was that close to Holly. But he automatically responded exactly like the trained killer he was. “I'm on it."

Numbly, he moved through a checklist he could follow in his sleep.

A tousled Holly edged into the room, clutching the towel tucked around her lush curves. He made himself concentrate on testing his blades.

"You're busy. I should go,” she said softly.

Hell no.
He dug out his phone, held up his index finger in a give-me-a-second signal, and pulled up a number.

She nodded, staring into the middle distance. He wanted to pull her into his arms where he was absolutely sure she was safe, but if he touched her, then he might never let go of her. And he'd already made her very unsafe.

By making love, he'd triggered her previously latent demon side into changing. Given how rapidly her water demon signs manifested, she would make a full transition. A female demon of any kind was rare. A water demon, the most fertile of the species, would trigger a host of hopeful male demon suitors. Holly was so gentle, so empathetic, and so submissive she would be claimed by the most powerful and ruthless, or she would surprise him and take her pick from the full-bloods courting her. Either way, he lost.

The call went straight to voice mail. He left a message. “Call me."

Since he couldn't trust himself to hold her, he wrapped a new silk tie around his waist to replace the one he'd ruined earlier. The stiffened sash held his
chimator
, a nasty-looking three-foot-long knife that was the only blade capable of sawing through a demon's neck, and a dagger that could slow down a rampaging rogue. Then he shrugged into his coat and stuffed throwing stars dipped in dragon's bane into his pockets—more ammunition to wound and slow a charging monster.

"Dear God, what kind of work do you do?"

He locked away his own feelings so Holly wouldn't sense how desperately he wanted to protect her, because he couldn't stay, and he needed to frighten her enough for her to accept the way too real danger and the absolute need for her protection.

"Kill demons."

"But...” She spluttered to a stop, staring at him like he was a monster.

He kept his tone calm—detached. “I kill male demons who've fallen off the grid. Every kill is legally sanctioned and necessary to protect both humans and demons."

She narrowed her eyes. “That's how you were injured, k-killing a demon?"

"Yeah, that happens.” He knew he should explain this better, but he couldn't talk about Thad. The feelings were still too raw.

His phone lit up; Belinda finally called back. She was the one person he could trust to guard Holly. He turned away from the mate he needed if he wanted to stay stable, and took the call. “Need a favor."

"Nothing too inconvenient, I trust? After all it is Christmas Eve eve."

"You're on the south end of town, right?"

"You caught me. I'm downtown looking at lovely holiday displays and closed shops.” Belinda sighed dramatically. “Another year of last-minute shopping. What do you need?"

"You at my place."

"Ooooh, and here I thought I wasn't your type."

Colin closed his eyes and prayed to find some of his missing patience. “Give me a break. I've got to leave soon."

"Do I need to bring anything special?"

"Your A game, witch.” He ended the call and checked the time on his cell, anxious to start the hunt and eliminate the threat, if there was a rogue. Duec had said possible sighting. But false alarms were rare. Colin's thoughts scattered as another blast of terror rolled through him at the idea of leaving Holly—even with someone as kick-ass as Belinda.

How the hell did Thad do a whole year of this?
Colin rubbed at the caldron in his gut, knowing just holding Holly for a minute would ground him.

Holly snatched the robe and her lingerie and hightailed it for the bedroom. His head swiveled to track her movements like she was a magnet and he was scrap metal. Before he had a chance to do anything stupid, a knock distracted him.

He checked the viewer before opening the door for Belinda. “You made good time. Using a new broom?"

"Funny guy.” She swatted his shoulder. “Tell me what was so urgent you interrupted my window shopping?"

He mouthed,
Need you to guard Holly.

Belinda matched his silent speech.
Why are we lip reading?

She has demon hearing.

Okay.
She studied him for a couple of beats.
I don't get it. Since a female demon is the only thing more dangerous than a male, why does she need a weak little witch for a bodyguard?

She's latent, got her first markings a couple of hours ago.

The witch rolled her eyes.

What?

I was imagining what triggered those marks.
Belinda paused to glare at him.
Did you warn the poor thing what could happen or just jump her?

Colin pressed his lips together and counted to ten. “Take care of her, please. I've got a possible rogue sighting to check out. I'll be back in a few."

"And then what?"

"When I get back, witch.” He snagged his gear bag and slammed out of the apartment.

"Don't you just hate it when they get all masterful?” Belinda asked.

Holly gave a small laugh at the stunning witch's question, in spite of her surprise. Belinda could have been a supermodel on her way to a photo shoot. She had on designer jeans, elegant boots, a figure-hugging turtleneck that emphasized her slim torso and high breasts, and a down vest. The very human-looking beauty shed her leather backpack and turned toward Holly. More worrisome than her elegant clothes was the speculative look of dominance in her gaze.

Averting her eyes, Holly said, “Sometimes."

"Oooh, I'm too young to hear the rest of that comment."

"You aren't what I expected,” Holly admitted with a small laugh.

Belinda arched a well-shaped black eyebrow. “Really?"

In a flash, Holly was gaping at an ugly, bent crone.

She cackled shrilly. “More what you had in mind?"

Telltale heat warmed Holly's cheeks, and she dropped her lashes, ending her rude stare. “I'm afraid so."

The beautiful brunette reappeared, and her lovely alto teased, “The fairy-tale wicked witch could be the real me. With glamours it's impossible to tell."

"I have so many questions. Do you mind if I ask you about a few things?"

"A little girl talk sounds like a lovely change. Working for the demons has definite perks. They are total eye candy. Don't you dare tell Colin I said that.” Belinda drew breath long enough to shoot a hard glance of warning at Holly, then said, “But they aren't chatty."

"I've noticed."

"Could we have something to drink? I don't suppose Colin has tea."

"I adore tea.” Holly beamed, liking the witch more every moment, even if she was a Domme. “It is my favorite second drink, right after water. Let's talk at my place. I'll make us a lovely pot of tea."