Keeping Her (2 page)

Demon
didn't listen to the excuses the little shit stammered as he bolted, running
into Demon as he came around the column like a whip.  Wolf growled,
showing a lot of sharp teeth and the little man made a mousey sound and paled,
running for the exit like a hunted rabbit.  It made his wolf want to
chase, but he wanted the female more.

Clytie
was on her cell phone as soon as her “date” disappeared.

“Megan.” 
She said into the phone peeking towards the club.  She looked straight
across to the bar and saw Mac and Ben now surrounded by bevy of big hair, big boobs,
and peroxide, which had her rolling her eyes.  She didn't see Demon. 
Too bad.
  “You are going to die a slow agonizing death when I get a
hold of you. 
Do not
call me when you get this.”  She hung up
her cell phone and put it back in her purse.  She sighed and stood up, throwing
some money on the table.  She nearly ran into Demon as she rounded an
obnoxious faux column.  It was actually a little disappointing that she
managed to stop herself in time.

“Demon.” 
She looked way up into his eyes, “What are you doing?”

“Waiting
for you.”

“What? 
Why?”  Her face heated to red before her eyes narrowed “For how long?”

He
pretty much ignored all her questions.  “You have a car?”

Her
brow furrowed.  “Yes.”

“Give
me the keys.”

One
of her eyebrows shot up.  “Oh really?”  The way she said the words left,
no doubt she had taken exception to his authoritative tone.  “And why
would I do that?”

He
stepped closer, crowding her back against the pillar, his hand beside her
shoulder, keeping her contained.  “You like me.”

She
opened her eyes wide and made a face that asked ‘yeah so?’  “And?”

“I
like you.  Let’s go fuck.” 

Demon
wanted to wring his own neck when those words came out of his mouth.  Was
it too much to ask for a little finesse?  This one time when it goddamn
mattered?

Her
mouth opened in shock and then snapped shut with a hiss.  She ducked under
his arm and started away with two heartfelt words:  “Men suck.” 
Shit.
 
He followed her as she hit the entrance hall and they were cut off from the
people at the bar and restaurant.  He watched her fantastic ass sway as
she stomped toward the exit wondering how he could fuck this up any more. 
He couldn't.  There was no possible way he could fuck this up further, so he
had nothing to lose.

 
He went with his instincts.  He grabbed her arm, pulling her around. 
His free arm went around her waist and he lifted her up against his chest so
her feet dangled.  Damn, She was soft everywhere. 

Before
she could do more than squeak indignantly, his lips were on hers.  Her
lips were silky and warm, and as this would probably be the first and last time,
he would ever get to taste them he went for broke, pushing into her mouth with
an insistent tongue and squeezing her ass with his free hand.  His other
hand was a steel bar holding her against him.  Not a soft kiss, or
particularly tender, he plundered and possessed, nipping with his teeth and
soothing with a hot tongue.

And
he almost came right there when she moaned and kissed him back.  She
captured his tongue sucking and twining around it, then followed into the
cavern of his mouth to explore.  He groaned, hoisting her up so the
junction of her thighs rubbed against the shaft trying to drill through his jeans. 
He grabbed her delectable ass with both hands.  He kneaded the two
handfuls as he pulled her closer.  Her arms and legs wrapped around him, neck,
and waist.  He was completely gone.

Chapter
Two

“Well
this is unexpected.”  The voice tickled Clytie from a distance, but she
was too busy being swallowed whole to pay attention.

“You
might be right Mac.” 

“I’m
always right, can you be more specific?”

“She
likes him better.  Maybe I’m losing my touch.”

Mac
laughed.  “How many women handed you their phone numbers in the thirty
minutes we've been at this fucked up excuse for a bar?”

“Only
three.”

Mac
laughed again.  “Come on Romeo you grab Demon and I’ll grab her and we’ll
pull until they let go.”

“Why
can’t I grab her?”

Mac
snorted, “Rank has its privileges.”

“Fuck.” 
Ben said it without heat as he watched them devour each other.  Nothing
else existed for them.  “You ever been kissed like that?”  Ben’s head
listed to the side as he watched.

“No.” 
Mac’s voice was dead certain.

“Me
either.”

A
few people passed them in the hall on their way out, making a wide berth around
the kissing couple.  Clytie began to realize where she was and what she was
doing, or rather whom.  She pulled back from the kiss with an effort and
dodged Demon when he would have claimed her mouth again.  Instead, his
lips found her throat, and sucked.  Clyties eyes rolled back in her head,
but she dropped her legs from around his waist in an effort to distance
herself.  He growled in warning, actually growled, like a dog standing
over his bone.

“Demon
stop.”  Her voice sounded so breathless and unsure to his ears, but he
heard, and he was going to stop, absolutely he was,

“Just
one minute.”  He said against the skin of her collarbone. 

“He
doesn't look like he means it.”  Ben said, Deadpan.

“Nope.” 
Mac agreed, she had turned her head to glare at them and Demon took the chance
to skim his teeth from the back of her neck to the front, nuzzling down against
her cleavage as he hefted her higher with the grip he had on her butt. 

Clytie
gave a little squeak at the move.  Her face flashed hot enough to fry
eggs.  She wasn't sure if she was more embarrassed or turned on but this
was not how she behaved in public with strange men.  Or any man for that
matter.  Enough was enough.  She placed a hand on either side of his face
and tried to pull him away from her chest.

“He
certainly seems to be enjoying himself.”  Mac said.  “His own little
happy place.”

Ben
grunted an affirmative, his eyes curiously bright. 

Clytie
glared over Demons head.  “You two are not helping.”  If they had
popcorn and recliners, it’d be a show.

“Oh
honey...”  Ben said, his voice a smooth blend of sex, “You have no idea
how I’d like to help.  But I don’t think he wants to share.”

She
ignored that, concentrating instead on trying to pull Demons head up by his
chin.

“Demon
stop.”  This time her voice was sure.

“m
amift.”  Whatever that meant.  He didn’t stop, just pulled her up for
better range.  She let out a huff of breath and placed her elbow on his
shoulder, resting her head on her hand as she tried to think around her revved
libido.  She narrowed her eyes at Ben.

“Demon,”
She made her voice high and frantic.  “Ben’s touching my ass!” 

“What
the fuck?”  Demon roared, there was no other way to describe the sheer
fury.  His head snapped up with a vengeance, his wolf eyes tracking around
until he caught Ben standing a good two feet away, hands down at his
sides.  She felt Demon squeezing the ass cheeks he still held possession
of.  He narrowed an accusing glare at Clytie, even as his so-called
friends started laughing.

“Back
with us are we?”  She asked, her words having a bite that had him reassessing
the situation.  He cleared his throat, setting her down on her feet, his
hands moving from her plump ass to her hips.  He fought to get his hands to
release completely, he really did, they just didn't want to cooperate. 
She crossed her arms belligerently as a departing restaurant couple squeezed
by.  Clyties glare hurried them along.  It made Demon smile, such a
little spitfire.  Such a passionate bundle of...  His hands tightened on
her hips before he thought better of it.

“Demon.” 
She said in warning.  He barely stopped himself from pulling her back up
against him.  Her hands went to his wrists to unlock them from her
hips.  He allowed it, barely, feeling a bit like a kid with his favorite
toy taken away.  What was it about this woman?  Sex had always been easy
to take or leave, he took it when offered, and then he left.  Simple easy,
hard, and fast, that’s how he liked it.  Never before had he had this
overwhelming need for a woman.  Never had the wolf been in such
territorial agreement with the man.  As dangerous as he was, with the
training he had, losing control would be irresponsible.  He needed to walk
away.  The thought sent the wolf into a kind of frenzy that only
reaffirmed to the man that this woman was a danger to his control.  He
would apologize and leave her alone.

He
started to open his mouth when she glared at his laughing friends and pulled
him closer to exit door, making sure they were out of hearing range. 
Course shape-shifters could hear pretty damn good.  O.K.  No
problem.  He could do this with an audience.  Say good-bye and watch
her sashay that fine ass away.  If he didn't throw up first.

“Do
you still want to have sex?”  She asked the question in an almost whisper and
he nearly swallowed his tongue.

“What?” 
He couldn’t have heard that right.

“Do
you still want to have sex?”  Her face had flipped back to bright
red.  She should be embarrassed, it was a stupid question.  He
growled and went to grab her again.

She
slapped his hands away.  “Not here.”  She hissed.

Right. 
Not here.  “Give me your keys.”

“Why?” 
Again with the stupid questions.

“Ben
can follow in your car so we don’t have to leave it here.”

“Why
can’t I follow you in my car?”

“Because,”
He said his eyes a fierce heat marking her.  “You’re riding with me.”

“That’s
ridiculous.  I can fol...” 

“Enough
talk.”  He barked, grabbing her purse out of her hands he threw it at Ben who
almost fumbled the unexpected pitch.  Then he plucked her up and over his
shoulder.  Surprisingly she stayed quiet, whether in shock or paralysis, Demon
didn’t care.  Since he was certain he could get out little but “Me Demon,
you Clytie,” he figured talk right now was over-rated.

He
turned and pointed at his friends who appeared struck dumb by his moves. 
“You,” he pointed at Ben.  “Follow in her car.  Home.”  He turned and
headed for the exit.  Neither Ben nor Mac seemed inclined to comment on
his technique, for which he was grateful.

“What
car?”  Ben called, forcing him to turn back around. 

Demon
huffed out, patting Clyties’ butt where it folded over his shoulder. 
“Which car is yours sweetheart?”

She
had her hands over her face and she shook her head too overcome by her position
to speak.  The hand on her ass turned affectionate and headed for the
crease of her legs.  He had almost reached the promise land when she
squeaked out a frantic:  “White Toyota Corolla.”  He patted her butt
again and headed out. 

This
time he didn’t stop until he placed her on the passenger seat of his black
full-size GMC Sierra.  He buckled her in, gave her a quick kiss, and
closed the door, careful her feet and hands were out of the way.  Ben and
Mac had come in the Jeep, now they all took a vehicle.  He glanced around
the parking lot and saw Mac in his jeep ready to follow.  Ben was having a hard
time fitting into the little Toyota and Demon would have laughed at the sight
if he didn’t have better things to
do.             
             

“Quit
fuckin’ around.”  He bellowed across the parking lot, causing the few
pedestrians to glance up, duck down, and scurry away.  Ben flipped him the
bird but finally got the seat back far enough to fold himself in.  Demon
caught the cursing from where he stood.  He ignored it and got in the
drivers seat.  Clytie, watching the scene across the parking lot, shook
her head and reached for her seat belt.

“I
think I should drive my own car.  He doesn’t seem at all comfortable.”

Demon
growled, effectively stopping her from undoing her seat belt.  She eyed
him with exasperation.

“I
don’t know what you’ve been taught but growling is not a form of
communication.”

“Works.” 

“You
sound like a barbarian.”

“You
like it.”  Clytie turned away.  She couldn’t dispute the statement, sitting
in his truck hoping she didn’t cream through her jeans before they got
naked.  He started the truck, her car, and a jeep ready to follow in a
hunk convoy.  The fact everyone knew she was going to go have sex with a
man she had recently met was disconcerting.  That she was going to have sex,
finally, was a certainty.  Lots and lots of sex was even probable. 
She turned to catch Demons profile.  Lots and lots of really good sex even
a possibility.  Demon turned to look at her his eyes flashing, his voice a
deep animal growl. 

“I
am going to make you cum so hard and often you won’t be able to walk for a
week.” 

Uh-oh. 
Clytie
figured that was the opening she needed to maybe clear up a few things. 
Her throat closed and instead she watched as he navigated the traffic like a
professional racecar driver.  While he was intent on his driving, she
stared at the road.  She stewed over what she needed to say as they left
the city behind and headed up into the trees. 

She
cleared her throat as he maneuvered to a less traveled, two-lane road.

He
grabbed her hand and pulled it to his lips.  “A few more minutes honey and
we’ll hit our private drive.

“We
need to discuss something before we commence.” 
Commence?  What are we
writing a speech?  Can I be any more pathetic?

“What’s
that baby?”

“First,
don’t call me baby, and second, I thought you should know I’ve never done this
before.”

He
grunted, as he signaled another turn, barely glancing her way.  “I know
that sweetheart.”

“You
do?”

“Yeah,
it’s clear as your freckles you’re a good girl, don’t worry.  I’ll still
respect you in the morning.”  He reached over and patted her knee as he
navigated traffic.  He wasn’t paying attention to Clytie so he didn’t
notice her arms cross and her eyes narrow.

“Big
of you.”

Demon
grunted in agreement.

“So
you took one look at little freckled me and realized I’m a virgin?”

“WHAT?!” 
He slammed on the brakes so hard her seat belt locked.  She turned to
glance behind her at the honks.  Mac following behind in the jeep stopped
so close she could read the cuss words on his lips.  Luckily, everyone was
able to avoid a rear collision.

“Jeez
Demon, be careful.  You almost caused an accident.”

“I
almost caused an accident?  I?”  He glared at her with murder in his
eyes.  “You’re a virgin?!”  His bellowing hurt the ears.

“Yes.” 
She said scathingly.  “I thought you could tell such things by my
freckles.”

He
studied her as the few cars flew by around them.  Yelling and obscene
gestures were ignored until Mac walked up beside the passenger window and
knocked.  His Jeep sat on the shoulder of the road, out of traffic. 
Clytie rolled down her window, seeing Ben pull up behind Macs jeep and struggle
out the small opening.  Demon hit the automatic window for the passenger
side for Mac.

“What
the fuck are you trying to do?  Haul ass off this road.” 

Demon
still glared at her so she threw up her hands.  “Pull off before you get
us killed.”

He
did, with a growl and no warning.  If Mac hadn’t jumped back Demon would
have ran over his feet.

As
soon as he hit the side of the road, he yanked the gear into park and turned
off the engine turning partway in his seat to glare at her.  Both Mac and
Ben together now filled the passenger window beside her.  She sank down,
her fingers tapping an angry rhythm on her lap.

“Now
you want to explain why you almost caused an accident?”  Mac asked his
voice cold as ice.

“She,”
Demon said, punctuating his hot growl with a finger jabbing the air toward
Clytie.  “Is a virgin.”

With
the complete and utter silence, Clytie sank down even deeper in her seat, her
eyes narrowing to little slits.

“She
can’t be.”  Ben finally filled the silence.

Demon
stared at him incredulous.  “Do you think I’d make something like that
up?”

Ben
looked at Clytie a little desperately.  “You’re not a virgin.  Right
honey?  You were pulling Demons leg.  Right?”