SeducetheFlame (3 page)

Clarissa Eaton clunked down her champagne glass on the
nearest table and rocked her hips. “Come on. Dance with me. This is my
favorite.”

Grabbing the hand of the dude talking to her, she tugged him
toward the center of the restaurant dance floor. They’d rented the place on
short notice to celebrate the courthouse wedding of her friends Griffin and
Astrid. She couldn’t remember dude’s name, but his suit was crisp and he
grinned at her in undisguised invitation.

The guitar strains of Santana rolled through her and the
sultry voice of Rob Thomas had her closing her eyes until the room spun.
Clarissa giggled and swayed. “A little too much bubbly, I think.”

The hand holding hers ripped away. Dude wasn’t with her
anymore. But before she could turn to find her dance partner, someone replaced
him. A hard body pressed into her front with one firm hand to the small of her
back, the other tight on her hip. “I noticed.”

Her body went hot, bubbling. Her pussy flooded and her
breasts grew sensitive. That voice, deep but proper, with just the right edge
of gruff. That smell, the most subtle whiff of smoke, like hickory. She rolled
her hips to the beat and let her head fall back so far her short hair brushed
her bare back and her tight nipples pressed into a hard chest.

“You wore that to make me insane, didn’t you?” Ray Cinder
murmured, his hot breath coasting over her neck, but he didn’t touch her with
his lips. She wasn’t quite sure she’d heard the low question, if he’d said it
out loud, or if she’d imagined it—because she had definitely worn this dress
with Ray in mind.

“Shh. Just dance with me.” She stepped back and with a
fluidity that sent quivers spiraling between her legs, Ray moved with her.

The beat of the music pulsed and her nipples hardened even
more, rubbing against the silk of the dress. Ray’s chest rumbled and vibrated
in harmony with the riffs of the guitar. They moved as one, the most incredible
symphony of pattering rain accompanying the rush of the river. Their bodies
would speak so well if only he weren’t such a stubborn man.

He pulled her closer and her breathing went ragged. She
burned, hot and achy. Every part of them touched from chest to groin, to
thighs, tight against one another.

“You dance like you were born to it.” She finally opened her
eyes and peered up.

Ray’s eyes flared red, disguising his deep brown with the
flickering of the fire of his talent. He licked his lips and gave her a hungry
expression. A flush graced his high cheekbones. His features grew sharper and
his brows slanted. She had the urge to straighten them. And soothe him. Soothe
in bed, draped over his long, hard body, after he’d finally fucked her into the
mattress.

“I’ve had enough years to practice.”

She ran her hands up the outside of his suit-covered arms
and on the way to his neck, squeezed his biceps. “You feel young and virile to
me. Now shh.”

“This isn’t a good idea.” He stopped and dipped her, slowly.
She stretched back, secure in his arms, and her breasts straining.

“Damn, you’re going to fall out of that dress.” He held her
there, stretched out over the floor, and stared at her erect, barely covered
nipples and her exposed, hotly flushed cleavage. “Let’s get out of here.”

With a smooth move, he brought her around, completing the
long dip and crushing her against him.

“Okay,” she breathed.

“You like the guy you were dancing with?” He shifted and his
fingers pressed into the small of her back again. They both panted as their
bodies brushed against each other. The unmistakable ridge of an erection
prodded against her and her core pulsed with lust and need. “’Cause I’m not
sure he had the best intentions toward you.”

“I didn’t want him to.”

“Good thing I put a stop to it then.” He frowned down at her.
“You nearly had to drag him out here to dance. He clearly didn’t know what he
was doing.”

“Think so?” She laughed. “He felt like he had everything he
needed. I could have led him, if you know what I mean.”

The room spun around her and her laugh took on an edge. She
was drunk. Had gotten so when the happiness she had for Griffin had turned into
insidious jealousy for the happiness she wanted for herself. Stumbling away,
she shrugged off Ray’s grip when he reached for her again. “I don’t have to
explain myself to you.”

She’d find the good-looking dude again. He was perfectly
willing. No reason to waste the night.

“Just where do you think you’re going?” Grumbled Ray from
right behind her.

She’d already stumbled away from the large white tent all
decked out on the front lawn. The mansion, strung with white lights, wavered in
her vision.

“Do me a favor. Get me another flute of champagne, would
you? Might as well toast to the newlyweds. They’ll be getting some.” She tried
to murmur but it came out loud and jeering, “I sure won’t.”

“You’re drunk,” he accused.

Clarissa tried to slam the front door behind her but the
satisfying clunk never happened. “Why are you following me?”

“To make sure you get to bed okay.”

She snorted and stumbled. “Just a little tipsy. Besides. Do
you even know what to do in a bed? That’s what’d make me okay.”

“Listen.”

His hand slid down her back. His rough palm sent shivers
over her bare skin. She let out a strangled sound and ran, tripping out of her
heels and slamming through the first door she could find.

The sounds of the outdoor wedding reception drifted away as
she stepped into the clinic. Since the party mood had left her, she couldn’t
resist checking on the only patient here. Had the music brought him around? Not
likely. She stepped through reception and into Vince’s room.

Bleach and an astringent scent assaulted her. She clamped
her hand over her mouth and wrapped her other arm around her middle. “Vincent.”

A grip on her arm halted her and she turned, knowing from
the rich hickory scent who held her. Frowning, Ray stepped around her. “You
don’t need to pick up some random guy to…”

“He’s not random. He’s Astrid’s cousin or something.”

“You don’t even know his name.” Ray had gone quiet and
level, as though none of this had any impact on him whatsoever.

Like it did on her. She stomped, hard, and her foot slapped
on the tile. Her shoes had gotten lost back there somewhere. “What do you care?
You’re never going to do anything about this…this mess between us.”

“It’s not a mess. We’re friends. I care about you.”

“I could do with less caring and more fucking. I’m going to
dry up. Just an old brittle shell washed up on the shore. Bleached and
parched.” Heaven help her. She’d gotten all maudlin in her cups.

“Clarissa.” Ray’s impatient tone yanked her right out of
that little well of drunken self-pity.

“I’m done. You’re never going to get over this fear you
have.” She whirled around toward the door. Escape. That was what she needed. A
clear head and to move the hell out of CTF.

A grip pulled her back. Ray always pulled her back.

“No. I’ve never threatened to leave before. Have I? You know
I mean what I say, when I say it. I mean it now. You haven’t followed through
on this thing between us but the first time you see me flirting with a man, you
go all green-eyed-monster on me.”

“That wasn’t flirting.” Ray’s gorgeous mouth deepened in a
darker frown. “That was an open invitation to put his hands all over you!”

“We hadn’t even started dancing. What hands?” She glowered
at him and the urge to teach him a lesson wouldn’t leave her. She stretched her
arm and spread her fingers wide.

Water from Vince’s pitcher gurgled into the air. A
translucent ball the size of her fist sparkled and bobbed. Curling her fingers
in a subtle cue, the liquid flew across the room and slapped Ray in the back of
the head. Drops splashed all over, his hair soaked through immediately and his
mouth dropped open. Steam erupted around them and his eyes flickered to full
red.

His mouth barely moved as he spoke while his jaw worked.
“What did you just do to me?”

“Thought that dirty brain of yours could use a good washing.
Well now you’re all wet, asshole.” This was ridiculous. The man had no right to
say whom she could dance with or how she could dance. Especially since he
didn’t make his own moves.

Ray glared as his thick brown hair dried in a woof of hot
air blasting through the room. “Listen. This is my brother’s wedding. You
should act with decorum.”

“Oh, you mean the brother who was palming his bride’s ass
while he tongue-tied her tonsils in front of the entire reception? You’re just
jealous.”

“I am not.” The glare went red again. His irises flared so
brightly it took her breath away. Such raw, natural beauty this rugged man had,
but he bottled it all up and kept it neat and tidy around him. “That man you
were dancing with was practically mangling your shoes.”

“I meant your brother. Jealous of having the courage to
claim his para-talent partner. He took a chance you’re not willing to take. He
knew they’d balance because he let himself trust the woman he loves.” The
entire world seemed to settle onto her shoulders. Pain shot from the tendons in
her neck.

“He took a chance. Not everyone is willing to risk it.”

“Nobody else doubts me.” That was it. She couldn’t do this
with him anymore. She couldn’t deny who she was any longer. The swirl of water
danced in her head, turbulent and dark. “I can’t do this anymore. Every day you
hide from me is an insult. You don’t trust me.”

“No.” He ran a hand over his face. “That’s not it.”

“I’m done talking about it.” She reached the door, but the
surge of dark water overtook her. A whirlpool caught her, sucked her to the
bottom and strangled the air in her lungs. Her hands shot out and the little
bits of moisture in the air coalesced.

Pipes groaned from the clinic room’s attached lavatory.

“I do trust you. Calm down, Clarissa.” Flames danced in his
eyes, so alive and compelling that yellow flickered, calling her, but she
resisted.

A wrenching and a loud ping heralded a roar. Water surged
from the bathroom and splashed into the floor. Calling to the beauty of her
element, she sought it. Collected it.

“Stop it now. Now!”

He couldn’t tell her what to do. It wasn’t his right. If she
wanted to fill this room with water, she would. The cold liquid sloshed around
her ankles and quickly climbed to her knees.

“Stop it.” Ray grabbed her upper arms and shook her. “Stop
it now, Clarissa. You’ll drown Vince.”

The whirlpool surrounded her mind, lulling it with white
static and blocking the yelling and screaming. It had never had this kind of
freedom before and it grew greedy, sucking in the early evening dew settling on
the grass. A wisp of cloud joined the coming tide.

A zap shuddered through her and she buckled.

The water splashed around her and buoyed her gently to float
on the surface as the lacerating pain sundered her. She grew lethargic and
desperately thirsty. The agony drew away and her head and spine thumped to the
floor.

Words formed as if wasps swarmed in her head. There were
people here. But she couldn’t quite understand what had happened, where she
was, or why she lay on the floor. She was on the floor, wasn’t she?

“Thank you, Astrid,” said a man. His voice. It was one she
always sought. She knew him, but he spoke to someone else. There was someone
else here. The syphon. She’d taken some of her powers. That’s why she felt weak
and disoriented.

Clarissa tried to open her eyes and speak but her head swam.
She took a deep breath and held it, trying to clear her mind.

“I’m going to check on Vince. Keep an eye on her. If she
doesn’t come around in a few minutes, call me,” Astrid answered and Clarissa
was sure she left. She was alone with the man but she couldn’t quite make
herself snap out of the fog.

“Wake up, Clarissa,” the voice soothed.

She struggled to open her eyes to see him. She wanted him to
touch her, and like he understood her wishes, he complied. Large hands rubbed
her shoulders and back. The heat she’d missed, returned. Ray. Always, Ray.

“Kiss me,” she whispered.

A long pause answered.

Ray groaned. Lips brushed hers gently. Feathering over her
maddeningly. The mouth pressed hers a bit more and the contact became
insistent. Heat invaded her. Liquid undulated through her body and concentrated
in her core. The kiss consumed her. His tongue delved between her lips and
sipped at her. The flick of the end of his tongue teased over her teeth. He
sank inside, tasting and inflaming.

The bubbling of boiling water surrounded her and a moan
vibrated from deep within.

She turned her head to gasp and the heat seared against her
skin. Murmuring as her lips sought his again, she complained, “Hot.”

“Damn it.” The weight left her body and she forced her eyes
to open.

Ray knelt next to her and ran a hand over his face. His head
dropped back and he let out a long exhalation. With a lingering glance, she
reveled in his handsome features rigid with passion and the straight, perfect
line of his suit completely ruined by the jutting of an erection pushing the
fabric of his pants in an intriguingly large tent.

“We could have demolished the house. Right over our heads.
It’s a wedding for Christ’s sake. And we nearly brought a catastrophe into it.
What the hell were we doing?”

“It was just a kiss,” she slurred. Her mouth wasn’t quite
working right. She pushed herself to a sitting position. Her new, clinging,
deep-vee, red dress stuck to her skin like wet tissue paper, which it
practically was. Her nipples stood out plain as day.

“Cover yourself,” Ray commanded hoarsely.

“If you can’t handle looking at my body, it’s your problem.
Not mine,” she retorted.