Desert of the Damned (25 page)

He followed her inside and they sat stiffly on her couch, facing the cold fireplace.

The only light in the room was from her kitchen.

They sat in silence for a long moment. Jake rubbed his forehead and took a breath several times as if beginning to speak, then stopped. He finally spoke first. “The mountain lion skin is in the Jeep. I can’t change without it.”

“Good,” Amy said, and as soon as she did, she regretted it, fearing her tone was edged with revulsion. She wanted to hold him and run away from him at the same time. How could this work? A huge supernatural wall rose between them. She stared at his liquid, sultry eyes, remembering hot sex, urgent needs and naked, straining bodies pleasuring each other. And also the quiet times and closeness they shared was quickly strengthening the depth of desire between them. “It was quite a surprise. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

He gave her a pained look. “I didn’t want to frighten you by—”

“Showing me something I might not understand.”

He nodded. “I’ll need to keep the skin close now that I know you’re the one he’s after. You’re the one who’s in danger.”

She rubbed her forearms, trying to ease the chill that just shot through her. “What did he mean that another world depends on me? I don’t understand.”

“Don’t know but I don’t think he’ll give up.”

“What can I do?”

“Stay away from him.”

She stood and walked over by the window. “And how am I supposed to do that when he can walk through walls and enter my dreams?”

Jake stood a few feet away, not approaching too close as if he thought she was afraid of him. She wasn’t, damn it. Well, maybe a little. “Then trust me to hunt him down.”

Sienna bounded across the room and walked in circles around Jake’s legs, nudging him.

“How do I know I’m not in danger from you?”

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Anger flashed across his face. He bent down and picked up Sienna and stroked her under her chin. “Do you really believe I could harm you, Amy?” He put the kitten down and she wandered into the next room.

She considered. “No, not you. But what about when you change?”

“I was worried I might hurt you.” He dropped back onto the couch. “I demonstrated my skill to a woman I cared about and she freaked. She tried to run out of my house. I was in animal form and animal instincts took over and I tried to stop her.”

He averted his eyes.

“You injured her?” Amy asked. “How badly?”

“I didn’t mean to hurt her. While in animal form I retain human thoughts. I reached out to her and accidentally clawed her leg. She still has the scar. Yes, I’m afraid it could happen again.”

She knelt down in front of him and grasped both his hands. “Jake, I’m sorry about what happened with that woman but it was an accident. I don’t believe you could hurt me. I’m not worried. Tell me more about your gift.”

“Gift? I always thought of it as a curse. Although my brother, Brad, is quite comfortable with the skill. It’s called
Eigi Einhamr
, meaning not of one skin. A rare Norwegian trait passed down among males in a family. My father, my brother and I all have the trait.”

“You said your father died so you’re not immortal?”

Jake smiled, still a sad smile. “No. My father had changed into a wolf, his favored form. Most
Eigi Einhamr
s have a favored form, a skin they are most comfortable in. My father’s was a wolf. A hunter shot him. I was nine, my brother eleven.”

Amy sat next to him on the couch and placed her head in her hands. “Jake, I’m so sorry about your father.”

Taking her hands away from her face, Jake leaned toward her. “You okay?”

She nodded. “This was the time you went to live with Bill. What happened to your mother?”

He looked down at her hands, his mouth tightened. “The change occurs in puberty and my brother had begun to show signs of aggressiveness. My father found him a few skins to practice with and he held the form of a wolf, a leopard and a mountain lion for a few minutes.” He hesitated.

She took his face in her hands to make him look at her. “What happened, why did your mother leave?”

“Brad was always the wild one. One night she went into Brad’s room as he shifted into the leopard form. Brad leapt from the bed and knocked her off her feet. He snarled at her and she was terrified. A child’s prank, showing off his new skills. But after losing my father, she didn’t think she could handle two boys with such ‘gifts’.”

“So Bill was willing to take you in.”

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“Bill and my dad were friends and Bill learned of the Norwegian trait after my dad was killed.”

“Have you ever heard from your mother since?” She stroked his cheek.

“No.”

Amy slid her hand behind his neck and kissed him, parting his lips with her tongue. With a deep moan from Jake, he thrust his tongue into her mouth, meeting hers and deepening the kiss. Her body tingled with need.

Then he was brushing her hair back, kissing her cheeks, her neck and palming her breasts. While he continued to kiss her, he yanked up on her tee shirt and leaned back so he could pull it over her head. A quick movement behind her back released her bra and that too went flying across the room.

Hunger claimed Amy as she went directly for his belt, unbuckling it with shaking hands. He let her unfasten his pants while he stripped off his shirt. Squirming to her feet, she pulled him up with her.

She reached into his pants and withdrew his erection. Her eyes widened seeing how hard and thick he was already. As she bent over to take him in her mouth, Jake slipped a hand into her hair to guide her down.

Using one hand to fondle his balls and the other to stroke his length while she licked the head, she then slipped her mouth down to the root.

He groaned, gripping her head tighter. “Amy, that’s it.”

She matched the rhythm of his thrusts with her hand and mouth.

Everything about this intimate act she enjoyed—the feel of him in her mouth, the taste of him, the hardness within her hand. What got her most excited were his groans of pleasure. As she brought him closer to climax, desire flowed deep in her belly and traveled south. Her panties were soaked, her clit swollen. The confines of her jeans were too much and she wished she had taken them off before she began pleasuring Jake but she wouldn’t dare stop.

“Yes, yes,” he moaned.

She made soft humming sounds along his cock as he drew faster toward his orgasm. Her head bobbed up and down and now he speared his fingers through her hair.

“Oh God, I’m going to come.” He groaned louder as his cum spurted hot and forceful down the back of her throat. She held him in her mouth until every drop of his semen was spent.

Looking up, she met his gaze while she licked at her moist lips. He brushed her hair back and kissed her. “Amazing. Now I need to return the favor.” Pulling her up to her feet, he began to unfasten her pants and between the two of them, they worked the jeans over her hips. She kicked them to the side.

Hooking his fingers in the waistband of her panties, he drew them down so she could step out of them. “Much better.” He knelt down before her and grasped her hips 138

Desert of the Damned

with his hand. She shuddered at his warm touch on her cool skin and nearly exploded in an orgasm the moment his tongue and lips began to work on her clit.

Hands behind her, she arched her back toward his heavenly mouth. Her buttocks muscles tightened as he slipped a finger inside her channel. “Oh my God.”

“You’re dripping.” He slipped another finger inside, thrust them in and out several times until she was moaning with pleasure. Then he took out his fingers and slipped them into his mouth, licking her juices. “So sweet.”

Panting now, she spread her legs for balance but also for him to plunge his fingers into her again. “Jake, I don’t think I can stand much longer.”

“Hmmm. Then don’t. Lie down and let me finish.”

As Amy lay back on the couch, she glanced outside. The palest hint of dawn glowed at the horizon. A flickering glow behind a bush startled her. The message of the glow was too clear. She bolted upright.

“What’s wrong?” Jake asked.

The glow behind the bush brightened and now she could see flames. Nausea spread through her. She gripped Jake’s arm.

“Amy?”

“It’s Dante.” She pointed outside at the firelight.

Jake muttered a curse as he got up and strode toward the window and peered out.

“A locked door won’t keep him out.” He opened the door wider and stepped onto her deck.

“Don’t go out. He’s there. He’s trying to summon me again.” She pressed her hand to her chest, feeling her rapid heartbeat. “Oh God, I can feel him calling. I can feel how strong he is.” She shook her head, trying to get control of her breathing. She would not let Dante frighten her like this, take over her life. A deep craving welled up inside, thick and delicious. She wanted to feel his expert hands touching her, teasing her in restrained passion until she reached the point of no return. Her clit swelled and throbbed in response.
No, I’m not giving in to it.
Ignoring the influence Dante had over her body, Amy scrambled into her clothes.

“I’m going out there. He’s not expecting me, he’s expecting you.” Jaw set, Jake slipped into his pants. “Be right back. Stay here.” He charged out her door and, moments later, returned, cursing.

“What is it?”

Jake raked his hand through his hair. “I’m going after him anyway.”

“What do you mean?”

“He took the mountain lion skin.”

Jake exploded out the back door, running toward the fire.

“Then we’ll have to fight him together,” Amy shouted, as she chased after him. Jake halted and spun around, running back to meet her.

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He shook his head and stroked her cheek with his hand. “I’d feel better if you stayed in the house.” The heat, the lust and power she saw in his eyes far exceeded the passion she once saw in Dante’s eyes.

“Like hell. I don’t want anything happening to you either.”

He sighed. Cradling her head, he took a step closer. “Nothing will happen to me,”

he whispered as he took her mouth in a fierce kiss. Slipping his tongue in, he kissed her like he was going away for a long time. She clung to him a moment longer. “I’d still feel better if you stayed in the house.”

She gave him a warning look. “Forget it. I can be very stubborn.”

“Don’t I know it.” He sighed with resignation. “All right. Don’t get near him. I don’t know the extent of his powers.”

She agreed, feeling confident that Jake would have no problem defeating Dante if it came down to a fight.

Oh, this was going to get ugly.

When they reached the clearing, Dante was standing beside the fire, looking smug and calm. He glanced down at the object burning in the flames and it took a moment before Amy realized what the smoking dark shape was—the mountain lion fur.

Jake hardly gave it a second look. “I expected that from a coward.” He kicked the unburned portion of the mountain lion fur into the fire to finish what Dante had started.

Amy clapped a hand over her mouth, crinkling her nose at the smell of burning meat and hair. “Dante, you’ve burned the fur.”

Dante smiled wildly. “Of course. He has no power now. He can’t change without a skin. I, however, do not need a skin.” Waving his hand over the nebula stone, Dante changed briefly into the coyote, then back again.

Amy gasped and took a step back. But Jake didn’t move. “I don’t need a skin to stop you. She has fought you before and she will again.” Jake took a step closer.

“Where’s the Indian blanket, Amy? When I summon you, you’re supposed to bring it.”

Amy glared at Dante. Did he really think they were going to have sex and in front of Jake? “Why do you need the blanket?”

Dante shrugged. “My gifts are charged with my essence in several dimensional planes to enable me to hypnotize my quarry. But I discovered you are very receptive to my suggestions. Do you remember the office?”

She crossed her arms and didn’t say a word. Glancing at Jake, she noticed he had taken a few steps closer to Dante.

Dante smiled. “Oh, she remembers the time in the office. I managed to hypnotize her without the blanket.”

“Do the crow feathers work the same way?”

Dante raised his eyebrows and smiled. “Smart lady.”

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“She’s told you to walk away, get out of her life,” Jake interjected. “Yet you continue to harass and stalk her.”

“I need her power, her aura,” Dante said, smiling. “The energy from the animals isn’t enough.”

“Why her? Why not just kill more animals? Or another human?”

Was Jake baiting him to see if he’d admit to killing Lupi?

Dante glanced at the saguaro as if planning for an escape. Jake must’ve noticed too because he maneuvered between Dante and the tall cactus, blocking his path. Jake wasn’t going to let him leave.

“She has more chi than most. And I need it for the offering. I need a lot of chi. Time is endless unless it’s running out for you.”

Amy’s stomach clenched tight. “What happens if you don’t get this chi?”

The two men turned toward her in surprise, not expecting to hear her speak, she suspected.

Jake bowed his head in frustration. He obviously needed to know how this fitted in with his grandfather’s theories.

“My portal will close and I’ll be trapped in Anartia.”

Jake frowned.

“Believe me, it’s a place you don’t want to visit for an extended time. I could be stuck there for a century, or until the mistress allows me to return to the Earth plane.”

Dante was inching closer to Amy.

“Amy, get behind me,” Jake ordered.

She jogged around the fire, avoiding Dante and stood close to the saguaro. She didn’t want to get near either of them if they were going to fight.

“I never planned to hurt her,” Dante said unconvincingly. He held his chin defiantly. “I only need one more time with her, that all. And there will be no more animal deaths.”