A DANGEROUS BARGAIN (The Sentinel Demons) (6 page)

How can she not know how fucking attractive she is, how damn tempting? Her soul warms mine. She belongs to me.

Zach stood, his eyes raking over Kat as she stared at him with her intelligent green eyes, his demon urges pounding at him to take her. She was his
radiant
, and for the first time during all the years of his demon existence, he felt warm and alive, the darkness inside him kept at bay by Kat.

She’s mine, dammit.

Unable to stop himself, he moved closer, backing her up against the refrigerator. He knew his eyes were glowing amber, but she didn’t look afraid. She looked…fascinated and mesmerized. “Do you want to know what I see?” he growled, slapping a hand on each side of her body, clenching his jaw as he fought the urge to claim her, trying to block his thoughts so she didn’t feel obliged to obey his compulsions.

Kat shook her head slightly at first and then nodded, the muscles in her throat flexing as she swallowed, as though she were unable to speak.

“I see a woman with hair like wild flames that I’d happily allow to incinerate me, and eyes so green and deep that I’d gladly jump into them and drown. She has a body made for wicked, carnal nights and a heart as big as the universe,” he told her in a low, husky tone. Unable to stop himself, he buried a hand in her silky tresses and brought his mouth down to nip her earlobe as he finished, “And best of all, I see a woman who’s completely mine.”

Zach took a deep breath, his whole body stiffening as he inhaled the fragrance of
her-
his mate, his
radiant-
the irresistible scent making his already erect member strain against the metal buttons of his jeans.

Fuck. I can’t do this. She’s under a demon bargain, controlled by compulsion. She doesn’t need a demon mate. She deserves better after spending all of her adult life taking care of others. I’m being a selfish bastard.

His hand fisted in her hair, struggling to contain the urge to unblock his thoughts and let her feel the compulsions.

Dammit. He needed to fight the cravings, the soul-deep longing that had every muscle in his body quivering from trying to leash his demon desires.

Dominate.

Conquer.

Take.

Mine.

Zach’s actions and thoughts were becoming completely visceral and beyond possessive, his humanity slipping beneath his demon yearning to have his
radiant.

“Zach,” Kat whispered, her arms coming around his neck, urging his mouth to hers.

He felt the warm whisper of her ragged breath against his lips before he completely lost it.

*****

Kat melted into Zach’s heated, muscular body as his mouth claimed hers with a dominance that stole her breath and left her gasping against his lips. His velvet tongue demanded her surrender, and she gave it to him while he plundered her mouth as though he were starving…for her.

Her core flooded with molten heat as she thrust her tongue against his, needing to get closer to him, her body and mind demanding it. Her being was deluged with the desire to sate him, the need so strong that her legs went weak from longing. She knew some of the needs belonged to him-his desire, his wants-but an equal amount were completely her own, her senses unable to resist the temptation that was uniquely Zach. Never had a man moved her so much. There was nothing spectacular about her, in looks or personality, yet Zach wanted her; the proof of his desire was pounding in her mind, and against her stomach. And she wanted him almost to the point of insanity, as if her soul were reaching for him, clawing to be joined with him. It was animalistic and primal, and Kat was helpless, intoxicated by her intense desire to be possessed by Zach.

You’re mine, Kat. I need you.
She heard his tormented voice inside her mind as one hot, fiery kiss melted into the next, and his hands cupped her ass, pulling her up and against his rock hard cock, her pussy clenching with the need to have him inside her.

“What the fuck are you doing, Zach?” The booming voice exploded, vibrating through the entire kitchen as Zach’s mouth left Kat’s and he was yanked away from her, leaving her confused and breathless. She was panting as her hand grasped the handle of the refrigerator to keep her upright, the support of Zach’s heated body completely gone.

Kat recognized the two men holding Zach away from her, one on each side of him. Drew Winston looked immaculate in an expensive suit and tie, but Hunter was dressed casually in a black t-shirt and jeans, his face covered in cuts and bruises, looking like he’d just been through a war zone.

“He wasn’t hurting me,” Kat protested breathlessly, her gaze focused on Zach, his glowing eyes making his expression feral as he jerked at his arms to get out of his brothers’ hold.

The two men yanked Zach backward, shoving him none too gently into one of the chairs at the kitchen table.

“Rein it in, Zach. You can’t do this with a rescue,” Hunter growled as he kept a forceful hand on Zach’s shoulder as Drew did the same on the other side. “You’ll hate yourself for it later.”

Drew’s gaze trailed over Kat, finally meeting her eyes. “You okay?” he questioned kindly.

“Yes. Of course,” she assured him, wishing they’d let go of Zach. For some reason, she hated to see him restrained. “Please let him go.” She could feel Zach’s desire to be free, and it clawed at her, made her want to try to fight the two men confining him.

I’m okay, Kat. Don’t worry. They’re trying to help me. I lost control.
The comforting words flowed through her mind, calming her.

Her eyes were riveted on Zach as she watched his breathing return to normal and his eyes slowly change from amber to chocolate brown. At that moment, she knew how incredibly strong he was, his ability to fight off the pulverizing demon instincts that were inherent in him, speaking volumes about his strength of character, his humanity. She’d felt the full force of his raw instinct to get free, violently if needed, but he’d forced it back down, unwilling to hurt his own brothers.

His eyes met hers as he picked up her thoughts and said aloud, “Yeah, but I didn’t do so well a few minutes ago. I’m sorry,” he said with remorse, his fierce eyes meeting hers. Shrugging off his brothers’ hold, he stood. “I’m good. Let go.”

Drew and Hunter both stared at Zach skeptically, but they released him.

“What the hell were you doing? And what the hell was Kristoff thinking to send you on a rescue?” Drew demanded, his voice both angry and concerned. “I thought he was yanking our chain when he told us he sent you out on a rescue. Obviously he wasn’t.”

“You were both occupied. There wasn’t anyone else,” Zach answered, shooting Drew an annoyed look. “They would have taken Kat. There was no time.”

“It’s not like we’re the only two rescuing Sentinels. There are others,” Hunter scoffed. “What was your bargain for the rescue? And why in the hell is she here?”

Zach’s brows drew together, his expression fierce. “It’s…complicated.”

Kat looked from Zach to his two brothers and back again. Zach was blocking his thoughts from her now, but it was pretty evident that he was basically telling them to shut the hell up. And honestly, she wanted to tell them the same thing. How dare they come here and belittle what Zach had done for her?

She stalked up to Drew and jabbed a finger into his chest. “He rescued me, saved my life. Don’t you dare criticize him. I agreed to the same thing that the evil demons wanted.”

Drew stared down at her, his brow raising and his lips twitching slightly, as though he were amused. “And what was that?” Kat noticed vaguely that Drew had a rather attractive lilt to his voice, a bit of a Scottish or Irish accent, but she was too irritated to dwell on it.

“One week of my time doing anything Zach wants. Not a bad bargain since he smells better than they do and he doesn’t want to torture and kill me,” she told him sarcastically, not sure she liked either of Zach’s brothers. She owed Zach her life, and they were chastising him?

Hunter exploded. “What the fuck, man?” He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. Pacing the kitchen, he said irritably, “You don’t need that for a Sentinel bargain. Shit, you could have taken a penny, a lock of her hair…or any damn thing you wanted. Why a week of servitude? That’s just crazy.” He stopped pacing and stopped next to Zach, drilling him with an intense stare. “Why?”

“I asked for it, okay? I screwed up,” Zach growled back at Hunter. “I’m a damn recruiter, not a rescuer.”

“But it’s not like you didn’t know that you can take anything. You might not be trained in rescues, but you know the damn basics. What the hell?”

Drew coughed loudly and folded his arms in front of him, his gaze moving from Zach to Kat before speaking. “Uh…Hunter…I think you’re missing something significant here.”

“What?” Hunter’s eyes flew to Drew, his voice impatient.

Drew smirked as he said casually, “What would compel Zach to ask for
that
? Think about it.” He lifted his hand and placed it lightly on Kat’s shoulder, looking deliberately at Zach as he did it.

“Don’t. Touch. Her.” Zach’s guttural voice vibrated through the kitchen.

Kat’s eyes flew to his face, stunned by his tone that was…well…demonic.

Drew removed his hand immediately, a satisfied look on his face.

“Fuck!” Hunter exclaimed loudly, flinching as he ran his hand across his face, obviously irritating the cuts and bruises on his skin. “She’s his damn
radiant
.” He sank into the chair closest to him, gaping at Kat and Zach, his expression stunned.

“You’re right, Zach.” Drew sat as he spoke, crossing his arms in front of him and arching a dark brow as he looked at Zach. “That’s complicated.”

What in the hell is a radiant…and why is it complicated?

Kat frowned, watching the three brothers as she tried to figure out what was happening.

“Can someone please explain this to me?” Kat asked, exasperated. She was tired and emotionally overwhelmed, and it had been a long and terrifying day. Really, all she wanted to do was crawl into bed, pull the covers over her head, and sleep for a week. “I was going to make a deal with evil demons. Zach saved me. Why is that such a terrible thing? And what exactly is a
radiant
?”

“What? You haven’t told her?” Drew asked Zach with a frown.

“Not yet. I haven’t had a chance,” Zach answered, shooting a warning look at his brother.

“Maybe you should have mentioned it before you stuck your tongue down her throat,” Hunter mumbled, disgruntled.

Kat’s face flushed, remembering the heated embrace that had been abruptly interrupted by Zach’s brothers. “Mentioned what exactly?” she mumbled, embarrassed.

“Leave. Now. I want to talk to Kat alone,” Zach grunted to his brothers.

Hunter and Drew exchanged a knowing look and nodded.

“Before we leave, you need to know that something’s up. We’ve lost a few who were under our protection,” Drew said gravely, his whole demeanor changing to one of remorse.

“Lost them how?” Zach rumbled.

“We don’t know.” Drew shook his head as he added, “Somehow the Evils are breaking our protection, getting our previous rescues to agree to go with them to their own doom. It doesn’t make sense. These are people who know the truth. Only one incident was actually seen by one of our guardians. From his description, it sounds like Goran and some of the ancients.”

“It’s a power play. I’ll kill every one of the ugly bastards. They want to prove they can outmaneuver us,” Hunter snarled, his eyes glowing with hatred.

“You aren’t doing any of us any good when you keep ending up like you are now,” Drew answered dryly. “Try playing by the rules for a change.”

“I do. My rules,” Hunter answered belligerently, disappearing as the words left his mouth.

Drew shook his head slowly at Hunter’s disappearing form before turning his attention back to Zach. “Be careful. We aren’t sure what’s up but I’ll keep you informed,” Drew told Zach as his eyes drifted to Kat and pinned her with an intense look. “Be good to him. He needs you.”

Kat took a deep breath as Drew’s form faded, leaving her staring at the kitchen wall. Three Sentinels in one room had been intense, even if they were sort of the good guys. Strangely, the volatile atmosphere in the room was no less acute, power vibrating from Zach as he clamped his hands on her shoulders and turned her toward him.

His expression fierce, his eyes piercing her with raw emotion, he told her in a husky voice, “A
radiant
is the demon equivalent of a chosen mate. When the gods created the Sentinels, they gave us one opportunity to lighten the darkness of our souls. Our
radiant
is our only chance.”

I’m his mate. I’m Zach’s mate?

Kat should have been astounded, or at least extremely surprised. But…she wasn’t. Somewhere deep inside herself…she recognized the truth. She could feel it, had felt the pull of her soul to his almost from the moment she saw him. Maybe, even before that, when her eyes had kept drifting back to his picture in the Winston building, her reaction to the sorrow in his eyes slamming her in the gut every time she looked at his image. “What happens now?” she asked him curiously.