Thanks, she said, smelling of stale milk and cigarettes as he held the door for her.
At the cash register, an elderly man bought a six-pack of beer. And at the magazine stand
Paenthers gaze slowed, lingering with appreciation over the slender, feminine form of a young woman flipping through magazines. Her hair was very short and dark, her bone structure delicate. Ethereal.
Lovely.
As if she felt him watching, she turned her head and lifted sweeping, dark lashes to reveal eyes the bright blue of a summer sky. Their gazes caught, snapping together like two pieces of a puzzle. He felt the contact like a physical jolt. His pulse lifted. His blood began to run thick and hot, racing to the juncture of his thighs.
Goddess, when was the last time hed reacted to a woman like that? Years ago. Years ago.
A soft gentle smile lifted her mouth, stealing his breath, causing his heart to do a slow tumble in his chest.
The beauty set down the magazine and walked back to the EMPLOYEES ONLY door a few yards away and disappeared.
You ready, B.P.? Foxxs voice called to him from the front of the store.
Slowly, Paenther turned to his companion, feeling as off-balance as a youth with his first crush. Damn. It was too bad he didnt have time to hang around there for a couple of hours. Or days.
He scowled at the foolish thought and grabbed a Coke from the cooler. The last thing he needed just then was his head turned by a woman. A human woman, no less.
The good news was, he knew hed forget her as soon as they drove away. No woman held his interest for long these days.
CHAPTER 15
Tighe paced the small bedroom in the basement apartment of the house in Dupont Circle as he waited for Delaney to wake. He hadnt dared take her back to Capitol Hill. Not when shed probably been thoroughly debriefed by the FBI.
He crossed to the big bed, where she lay sleeping from Hawkes capture, once more clothed in that navy blue suit and white shirt that cried Federal Agent. Her dark hair was partially knotted at the nape of her neck, but tendrils had come loose to splay across the white satin pillowcase, framing her flawless olive-toned skin. Even in sleep, her expression was tense. Guarded. The shadows that darkened her soul refused to release her, even in sleep.
His body warmed at the sight of her, something easing deep inside him. He hadnt been able to take a full breath, for worrying about her, until he had her back, safe in his keeping. Which hed accomplished with relative ease. Hed known shed set him up. From the moment hed told her to meet him by the Tidal Basin, hed planned for Hawke to grab her.
Tighe had ensnared the mind of a human male of his own approximate size and hair color and told him to drive the green Camry into the parking lot, stop the car, and fall asleep. Which hed done. The FBI had been thoroughly put out, but the man hadnt been harmed.
And Delaney was back with him again.
No, this woman didnt trust. He knew that from what shed told him of her past. And when hed delved into her mind to pull her free of the darkness, hed seen the scars of betrayal. Scars he himself had lived with for way too long.
While hed been in her mind, hed also seen the dark Daemon threads that formed her connection to the clone. The threads werent strong ones, but they were tangled. He was going to have to find a way back into her head, then take some time to free her. Time he hadnt had at that moment.
The one thing he might have succeeded in doing was closing the door in her mind that had been dropping her into the darkness every time she got a vision. As hed pulled her out, hed tried to close it behind him, but he wouldnt know if hed been successful until she had another vision. Even then, he couldnt be sure it wouldnt open and drag her down again.
A light rap on the door had Tighe crossing the comfortable, expensively appointed room. Unlike the house on Capitol Hill, this one was lived in by a high-ranking Therian council member and his mate, Therians more than willing to accommodate the Ferals request for the house. The town house had a setup far more conducive to their current needs, with a full apartment on the lowest level at the base of an open stair. Jag, Hawke, and Kougar would remain upstairs, taking turns keeping tabs on Tighe, while the others searched for the clone. With the separate levels, and a bit of luck, Delaney would never see them.
Tighe opened the door to Hawke, who handed him a tray laden with cold meat, hot stew, and a pitcher of cold water.
Knock on the wall if you need anything. Hawke motioned toward Delaney with his head. She should be coming out of it soon. I didnt press that hard.
Tighe nodded, then turned at a sound from the bed. Delaney was beginning to stir. Hawke closed the door as Tighe set the tray down on the dresser, then stood rooted, watching as the woman who consumed his thoughts slowly opened her eyes.
Her head turned, and she froze as her gaze zeroed in on him. She stared at him, a strong, enigmatic tide rising inside her, and he was suddenly glad hed taken the time to take her weapons from her as she slept. Though that move might wind up saving his life, hed done it to save hers. Hed have hated for one of those guns to have accidentally gone off as she slept. Hed never have forgiven himself if shed died.
A fist clutched at his heart, possessiveness powering through him with a sudden, fierce anger. He paced in a tight, harsh path. It was all he could do not to lunge for her, to grab her by the shoulders and shake her.
What would have happened if youd had another of those visions, D? What if you got lost in there again?
As he railed, she swung her long legs over the side of the bed and firmly closed the distance between them. He braced himself for her attack.
Until her lashes swept up, revealing eyes awash in tears.
D?
Her arms flew around his neck as her mouth reached for his kiss.
All thought flew from Tighes head as he hauled her against him and kissed her, thrusting his tongue inside her warm and waiting mouth. Passion flared, a fire beyond anything hed ever known. Sweet nature, but he needed her. He needed to touch her, hold her, bury himself deep inside her.
Delaney clung to him as her soft, warm body pressed against him, and her fingers slid into his hair. She kissed him as if she were starving, and he was the finest feast, filling his chest with a wondrous, powerful pressure. He drank of her kisses, sweeping his tongue across her own, over her teeth and lips, unable to get enough.
His tattered soul sang as her mouth left his to trail kisses along his cheek and jaw, traveling down his neck, setting his skin aflame, lighting a fire with every soft, damp touch of her mouth.
But he forced himself to pull away. Delaney.
Her dark gaze swung to his. I tried to stop you from driving into the trap. I couldnt do it, Tighe. I couldnt let them take you. But you knew Id set you up. How?
I understand you.
Those dark eyes studied him, a contrast of hard and soft. Youre not angry?
That you endangered yourself, yes. But I understand why you did it. I respect why you did it. Youre loyal to your job and to a greater cause, which you believe in. You owe me nothing, D. Not even your trust. He ran his palm over her soft hair. But I cant tell you Im not glad youd changed your mind about letting them nail me.
Her palm lifted to lie warmly against his cheek, easing the tempest in his soul. I shouldnt trust you. Im not sure I do trust you. But I care what happens to you.
Tighe stroked her hair. Ive had the same thoughts, brown eyes. The exact same thoughts.
Its as ifI need you. She looked so confused, so lost. Again, almost exactly the way he felt himself.
And needing her was the worst possible thing he could do. Because there were only two ways this could end for them. One, was death. The second, if they managed to catch his clone before his soul completely disintegrated, was apart. Hed take her memories of him and send her back to her life while he turned back to his own. Unlike her, though, he wouldnt forget. Hed never forget.
Goddess, but he didnt want to let her go.
Tighe swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed shed just vacated, depositing her in the middle and following her down as her arms opened to embrace him. The expression on her face was one of soft welcome and rough need. His breath caught as lust and tenderness barreled through him.
He covered her mouth again, needing to taste her. When he felt her hands move to tug his shirt out of his pants, his heart stuttered. Did she know what she was doing? Did he?
Her hand slid lower, between them, a single, soft stroke to his cock through his pants. His eyes rolled back in his head at the exquisite pleasure and the desire that swamped him. When his body was capable of movement again, he lifted his hand and covered her breast, desperate to touch her. Without clothes. Goddess, he wanted her without clothes.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, his logical self warned him this wasnt a good idea. She was human. Unacceptable as lover or mate. Worse, he could be riding the edge of chaos again at any moment. What if during the act of sex, as he lost control to the lovemaking, he lost control of himself? What if it shattered his soul once and for all?
Deep inside, the tiger shook its head. Making love to her was all that would keep him together.
Tighe pushed himself onto his knees and straddled her as he unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged out of it. Then his fingers moved to her white blouse and quickly unbuttoned it, pushing aside the flaps to reveal a tan lace bra covering firm mounds, the dark nipples just peeking through.
Heat surged inside him, sending the blood pumping straight to his erection.
With a quick flick, he unlatched the front clasp of her lacey bra, unwrapping her soft, full breasts for his waiting eyes.
She was beautiful. Beautiful. He covered those perfect mounds with his hands, feeling the hard nubs graze his palms. His fingers pressed into the softness that molded to his shaking hands, drawing a low moan of desire from Delaneys throat. He squeezed her breasts, then pinched her nipples. Not too hard, but hard enough to elicit a gasp. He moved down on her, his head dipping to take one plump nipple into his mouth, stroking the hard nub with his tongue as his hand squeezed and kneaded the other.
Tighe. His name on her lips was soft as a breath and filled with such need he thought he might lose it then and there. I want you inside me.
With a last flick of his tongue over the hard bud, he lifted his face to peer down into hers. His breath caught at the need he saw in her face.
Her fingers rose to spread over his chest. A groan escaped his throat for one hot moment, before he dipped his head and took her other breast in his mouth.
Inside her. It was the only place he wanted to be, but he needed more. He needed everything. To touch every inch of her. To taste every part of her.
Now. He had to taste her now.
Tighe moved back and unfastened her belt and pants with shaking fingers, then yanked them off her, hooking his fingers into her panties and removing them at the same time, baring her long legs to his hungry gaze. Long legs tipped with dark socks and an ankle holster.
With a hungry grin, he removed the last articles of clothing, then sat back and stared at her.
Sweet thunder. His palms slid up those long legs, his palms rough against her satin flesh as he traced her trim calves, her knees. His thumbs brushed the insides of her thighs, eliciting a gasp from her, sending his pulse rate soaring.
Gripping her legs just above the knee, he opened her, lifting her knees and spreading her wide, like parting twin doors to reveal the treasure inside. His heart nearly stopped beating at the perfection revealed to his seeking gaze. Nestled between slender thighs, she was perfect. Swollen, open, and as dewy as a flower at dawn.
Tighe. Her voice throbbed with desire.
He tore his gaze away from her body and met her eyes. The heat swirling in those dark, vibrant depths was nearly his undoing. He ached to enter her, but not yet. Not until neither of them could stand it a moment longer. Because he feared this might be the only time he ever would.
Patience, brown eyes. Im getting there. But I have to taste you.
Like a predator pouncing on prey, he knelt between her legs and went down on her, stroking his tongue along that long, perfect opening. She jerked, arching, her fingers clutching in his hair as a low moan vibrated through her entire body. Her pleasure weaved through his own, heightening his enjoyment and desire. He pressed his tongue deep within those open folds, tasting her sweet nectar, then found the hard knot between those folds and flicked it with his tongue.
Delaney cried out, her fingers digging into his scalp.
With a hard grin of satisfaction, he pleasured her until she was writhing beneath his mouth.
Tighe. Tighe.
She was nearly to climax, but he wasnt ready to take her there. Not until he was buried deep inside her. She would fly for him. For him.
With a last thrust of his tongue, Tighe moved up her body, kissing her stomach, then the cleft between her breasts.
Delaney cradled his head in her arms as he kissed first one breast, then the other, then lifted his face to her. She pulled him up and kissed him hard even as she rocked her hips against his painfully hard erection.
Come inside me, she whispered against his lips. Now, Tighe. I need you, now.
His hands cradled her face, then dove into her hair. Not, yet, brown eyes. Im not through loving your body. I may not be through for hours.
Her groan made him smile, and he thought he might just be telling the truth. He was going to love her so thoroughly, mark her so completely that even when hed stolen her memories of him from her mind, shed remember their lovemaking in her dreams. He wanted that. With a ferocity that made no sense, he wanted to live somewhere in her mind. Forever.
She tried to reach for his cock, and he grabbed her wrist.
Easy, D. One stroke, and it might just be over. And neither of us wants that.
She made a sound that was half groan, half laughter. Speak for yourself. She pushed at his chest. But if thats the way you want it, lie down. Its my turn.