Awakening Kiss (Watcher's Kiss Book 4) (29 page)

“Not sure,” Rhys growled.

“They saw you using your power yesterday,” Miranda murmured. “And only about ten percent of us have it.”

“But I can barely use it.”

“That might not hold them back. Kidnappings for power are all too common on Torth, unfortunately,” Rilan said. “And security for the lightning wielders has improved, but centuries ago, it was another story.”

Centuries? How old was Rilan, anyway? Enza’s head spun at the continuing stream of surprises popping up in her new world. “So what do we do? It doesn’t seem right to let this happen.”

“No, and as much as we won’t stand to see a weaker creature abused…we don’t know her story,” Rhys said gently. “The guys are right, Splinter is dangerous, and this nymph might have had some arrangement with them and pissed them off. And Rilan will tell Arawn, so we’ll see what he has to say. We can’t go in there without a well-armed team, and without his knowledge.”

“Can you track down her friend? What was her name…Rain, I think?” Enza asked.

“There are so many nymphs in the city right now,” Tor muttered. “Wait.” He raised dark eyes to Rhys. “Someone had to file that report with CPD.”

“Right.” Rhys’s grip tightened on Enza’s hand. “I’ll go back in and get the details.”

Enza nodded, feeling marginally better that they weren’t sitting here doing nothing. The harsh realities of this world were going to take some getting used to.

“I’ll contact Arawn.” Rilan got up from his armchair.

“I’m going downstairs to run, then train,” Brenin said. “Anyone want to spar, come on down and get your ass kicked. I gotta work off Enza’s food.” He patted his flat stomach.

“You didn’t have to eat one of everything,” she murmured.

Jude snickered and thumped Brenin on the back.

“Pig,” Miranda said, then turned to Enza. “Do you feel up to trying this? See if you can do it?” She gestured to the bowl.

“Sure,” Enza said. Everyone else was doing something. She wanted to keep busy too.

Miranda waved a hand over the bowl and the image disappeared. “Perfect. We can stay right here and use all of these items.”

Rhys rubbed a hand down Enza’s back. “I’ll be in the den on the computer.”

She nodded. “Good luck searching.”

All the men left. Miranda tilted her head. “You sure you’re okay? You look a little pale.”

“It’s been a long twenty-four hours.” Enza said. “But I don’t want to just sit here. I feel awful for Cara.”

“Yeah.” Miranda nodded. “Until we get more information, this would be an ideal thing to occupy our minds.”

“How do I start?” Enza picked up the small vial and peered at it.

“How did it feel to use your lightning power?”

Enza studied the stone fireplace and let her vision unfocus, thinking back. “Great. Surprisingly…not simple, but more like I knew what to do and it felt right.”

“Good.” Miranda nodded.

“And I could see the particles that you had told me about. I saw them crashing around, creating a spark to start the lightning bolt. And I just knew I could control it.”

“Again, good. That’s how it should feel, natural, not a big struggle. Hang on, let me dump this out.” Miranda got up and returned a minute later with the empty bowl. “We’ll start fresh. You pour in some water.”

Enza complied.

“Now three drops of that.” Miranda pointed at the vial.

Enza followed her instructions again.

“Next, you’ll need to repeat after me. The spells are all in Demonish—”

“Demonish?” Enza asked.

“It’s a universal language, but there are dozens of dialects. Some are really old and not used much. Some are species-specific. But the words I say are standard for us. Try this.” Miranda spoke a few words, which Enza tried to repeat. The unfamiliar syllables were clunky in her mouth. Luckily, it was brief and repetitive, and she kept practicing until she got it.

“I don’t have that feeling of power, like with the lightning. Am I supposed to?”

“Hmm. I would think you’d feel something…but maybe not yet.” Miranda handed her the scissors. “Cut a little piece of this and drop it in. Then say that spell again.”

Enza did as she asked, dutifully repeating the spell. But the pitiful piece of cut-up fabric just floated on the water. No mist, no swirls, no little clouds.

Miranda rested her chin on her hand and gave Enza a rueful smile. “I’d say that’s a no on the scrying.”

“That’s okay,” Enza said. “I didn’t feel anything powerful at all. And I think the lightning will be enough for me.”

“All right. And I can always teach you how to do this with another medium.” Miranda picked up the bowl and headed to the kitchen.

“Maybe someday,” Enza murmured, sinking into the buttery leather. She didn’t mind not being able to scry. One thing at a time.

She glanced out the tall windows to the leafy trees outside. Who would ever have thought that this magazine-worthy house was home to a group of demon warriors? And who knew that she would be joining them…sleeping with one of them…

Footsteps neared, heavier than Miranda’s, and then Rhys’s warm body was next to her. “You need to catch up on rest.” He pulled her to lean against him.

“Mmm, yes. I’m tired but my mind is racing.” She nuzzled his neck. “I couldn’t do that scrying thing.”

“But she gave it a phenomenal effort,” Miranda said as she returned, picking up her vial and putting it away. Her bowl was now folded flat, and she stored it in her bag. “Did you find info on the nymph?”

“Yeah. I texted her address to the guys. They’re going out now.”

“Need any help?” Miranda asked.

“Nah, we should be good. But I’ll be in touch,” Rhys said.

“Thank you.” Enza stood to give the demoness a hug.

“Call me anytime.” Miranda gave her a squeeze. “I’m off to take care of my own shit. Later.”

Enza sat back down and leaned on Rhys. He draped a brawny arm over her shoulders. “What does she do, anyway?”

“I’m not exactly sure. I think it’s similar to what we do, but she works alone, and does more scrying to help find what or who she needs. She can be lethal, though. She’s good people.” His fingers threaded through her hair and massaged her scalp, sending warm fuzzy vibes down to her toes.

“So you found Rain’s address…do you need to help the guys look for her?”

“They’ll start the search. I may join in, but there’s an excellent chance they’ll find her.”

“But Tor said there were so many nymphs in the city.”

“Yeah, but…” He rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Ah, how to say it…it’s not like they try to hide from us, you know? Kinda the opposite. It shouldn’t be too hard to locate her.”

“Oh.” A sliver of possessiveness fired through Enza’s mind. She remembered how touchy feely the women had been and didn’t want Rhys near any nymphs. “Let’s hope they do, and don’t need your help.”

He skimmed a finger down her neck. “You don’t want me in bars, searching out nymphs to talk to?”

“No.” Then guilt washed over her again. Crap, she sounded like a bitch. “I mean, I want her—both of them—to be safe. I feel awful for Cara. And scared.” She turned to gaze into his warm brown eyes. “I just don’t want them to touch you, flirt with you, or want to sleep with you.”

He traced her jaw, skimming down to her collarbone. “That’s kinda the way nymphs are programmed. Touch, flirt, want sex.”

Yeah, she knew that. But she stopped caring, because right now, his finger was magic on her skin.

“And,” he continued, “I have no problem telling them no. Because I’m only interested in one woman.”

Her heart skipped over itself. “Oh?” The word was whispered and breathy. His intensity stole her thoughts and turned her into a flutter of buoyant anticipation.

His eyes glowed with faint amber light. “Yeah. And if you don’t want me around nymphs, I won’t be around them.”

“Except to rescue them.”

“Noted.”

Somewhere in the house a clock ticked in the stillness, and Enza remembered they were alone. Well, except for Rilan, who had disappeared. She ran her hand up and down his denim-covered thigh, remembering his dirty words from earlier. Her body flushed, and as if he knew the direction of her thoughts, he drew his hand from her neck down to trace a pattern on her shirt, above her breasts. Her eyes slid closed and she wanted to melt into him, forgetting everything except how he made her feel.

But reality brought her up short. Cara was missing, kidnapped, and Enza had a hunch she hadn’t done anything to deserve it. Except run into the wrong guys.

Who had wanted to grab Enza too. She was sure of it. And who knew what other women they had taken?

God, she felt shallow for letting her thoughts drift toward sex when those two were on the loose, and an innocent woman was in dire straits.

“Can we go upstairs?” she whispered. “I’m exhausted.”

“I bet you are. Yesterday was crazy, and you went into work today anyway. You need sleep.” He stood and tugged her up, then led her through the gorgeous home and up to his room.

She hadn’t paid much attention yesterday or this morning, but the big room was done in gray, brown, and black-all very masculine, tasteful, and minimalist. The king size bed had a massive, sturdy mahogany headboard and was positioned across from a large mirror over a dresser. Matching crown molding ran around the ceiling. A brown leather armchair sat near a window. Dove gray walls and black curtains completed the decor.

“Your bag is still there.” Rhys nodded at where she had left it this morning. “You know, you can unpack and leave stuff here.”

“Yeah?” She couldn’t hold back a grin. “Do I get my own drawer?”

“Hell, you can have your own dresser. Pretty sure there’s enough room in here.”

“My own dresser? Wow. You really know all the right things to say.”

“If I do, it’s luck. I don’t know what this…is.” He waved a finger in the air between them. “But I want to find out.”

“Me too,” she whispered. “This is all so new. I don’t know what I’m doing. But I’m so glad you’ve been with me at every step.”

“I’ll be there as long as you want me to be,
bella
.” He pulled her flush against him. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She could still hardly believe this model-looking, powerful man was hers for today. Maybe for a while. Who knew? She hadn’t been thinking long-term when they met, but now that new possessive feeling rose up inside her.
He’s the one for you.

Unable to voice her thoughts, barely able to process them herself, she linked her hands behind his neck and stood on tiptoe to kiss him. His lips were warm and soft on hers, the perfect amount of pressure and seduction.

He pulled back too soon. “You need rest, baby. You’re only half demon.” A grin tugged his mouth up. “Did you bring pajamas?”

“Um…” She frowned. “I just sleep in a tank top and shorts.”

“Did you eat?” He yanked the charcoal gray duvet back to reveal lighter gray sheets.

“Yeah, I grabbed a sandwich at the shop.” She yawned, clapping a hand over her mouth. “I’ll get changed.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Weariness and giddiness fought in her brain as she shuffled to the bathroom. She changed into her sleep clothes and decided he was right, rest was priority. The new information from today only weighted yesterday’s events more heavily.

She walked back out to the bedroom, where Rhys had drawn the curtains to darken the room. They blocked out most of the late afternoon sunlight, but not all, and her vision adjusted quickly. He was in the bed and patted the mattress. “Come here.”

Smiling, she set her work clothes down and joined him. He tucked her close, with her back to his chest. Draping an arm across her, he caged her in, in the best possible way. His scent surrounded her and, this time, it had the added benefit of making her feel extremely safe. “This is the best bed ever,” she murmured, closing her eyes. “But what if I’m not tired?”

“Then I’ll start listing coding shortcuts and programming languages to you.” He kissed her cheek. “That should put you right to sleep.”

She giggled, but her muscles relaxed one by one. Safe. Sexy. Perfect. This man had to be meant for her. It made no sense…and yet it made perfect sense.

C
HAPTER
29

E
NZA AWOKE TO PITCH DARKNESS,
her body hot and restless. A green digital clock on the dresser showed two forty-five in the morning. She counted back, realizing she’d slept nearly eight hours. Wow.

She shifted legs—or tried to, and found Rhys’s long, muscular limbs tangled with hers. His arm was draped across her, between her breasts she felt his hard body along every inch of her back and legs. She inhaled, his clean musky scent, and her stomach clenched. She bit her lip against the spark of desire that burst low and insistent in her belly.

What was it about him that made her so insane? It was like she became another person—another version of herself. Bolder. Less concerned with risks. Was it because he said he’d be by her side, and wasn’t going anywhere?

She let out her breath slowly, not sure if he was awake, and chanced moving her legs again.
Oh, wow.
She froze. Her skin slid against his…yet he’d had jeans on when she’d climbed into bed with him.

Damn. The thought that he might be naked right now turned that spark into a blaze. Her breaths came shorter and she was hyperaware of his hand, right there at her breasts. She turned her head toward him. A rumble vibrated from his chest straight through her back.

He shifted and loomed over her, keeping her on her side, and kissed her shoulder. Just her shoulder, but it felt like he was kissing her whole body, because every part of her reacted. Goose bumps erupted down her arm and heat flared between her legs as he sucked her skin between his teeth.

She tried to turn into him, but he kept his arm over her, locking her in place. He moved his sensual mouth up, nipping and biting his way along the top of her shoulder to her neck.

“Rhys.” She let out a shaky sigh, needing to touch him but lost to the pleasure of his mouth on her.

His hand at her front slid across her body to cup one breast, palming and caressing. He drew his fingers down to her nipple and tugged gently. It was too much. She writhed and pushed back toward him, still needing more than the teases he was giving her.