Todd grunted. "That's because she's screwing Niol."
She blinked, then frowned. "What? Are you sure?" Niol went for human lovers. Hell, Niol went for vamps, witches, demons…
But Holly Storm was-different. "Niol doesn't like reporters." He'd told her that dozens of times.
The guy had even called them parasites a few times, and he didn't even call the vamps that.
"He seems to like her." He pressed a kiss to her shoulder.
Cara pushed him back, forcing Todd down against the pillows with only the weight of her hand against his chest. "You're trying to distract me."
"I'm trying to make love to you." He smiled, but she saw the shadows and secrets in his eyes.
"There's a difference."
Her lips firmed. Just get it out there. "This is about those demons who've been killed, isn't it?"
He was shutting her out because it was a case, one that might hit too close to home for her.
After all, she was a demon, too.
"I can't tell you that, Cara."
"You just did." A shiver slid over her. "What the hell is going on? Is someone really hunting demons in this city?" That was the rumor she'd heard at Paradise. It'd come from Marc, with a warning to watch her back and to stay away from any…humans.
Dammit. "Do I need to be worried?"
His jaw clenched. "I'd never let anything happen to you."
Understanding dawned. "Is that why you've had that charmer cop tailing me for the last two days?"
"Hell. Tagged him, did you?"
A nod.
"I love you," Todd told her quietly as he lifted her hand from his chest and brought her fingers to his lips. "And I might be an ass**le sometimes-"
She snorted at that.
"-but your safety comes first with me, always ."
So he'd given her a bodyguard. " Tell me next time." Kinda cute, really, that he thought she needed a bodyguard. Todd was still so new to this game. He forgot how strong she could be.
How deadly in her own right.
Especially if she was fighting a human.
For a moment, his face turned stark. "I hope to hell there's never a next time like this."
She wondered just what he'd witnessed at his crime scenes. Wondered about the calls that had come and taken him from her bed.
Her cop. Always trying to be a hero.
A girl could easily lose her heart to a guy like him-she sure had.
"Is Niol in danger?" She couldn't keep the worry out of her voice. She and Niol went back too far for her to pretend about him.
Todd's lip curled. "I pity the bastard who makes the mistake of going after him."
She thought about that for a moment. Remembered the stench of burning flesh.
Then gave a small nod.
Something she'd learned over the years-Niol was one hard bastard to kill and one very fine predator.
Niol was, quite possibly, the best lover she'd ever had.
Oh, screw that. Holly opened her eyes and gazed up at the ceiling. He was one hell of a lot better than the other five guys she'd been with in her thirty-one years.
Fan-damn-tastic.
She licked her lips, realized they were desert dry, just like her mouth, and swallowed before she said, "When can we do that again?"
Though, not necessarily against the wall, because her back and ass were hurting a bit, but…
That had been one wild ride.
His head raised from her shoulder.
He smiled at her. A smile that made her heart do a weird little flutter.
The darkness in his eyes, it almost seemed to lighten, just for a moment.
And the c**k inside her stiffened.
Her sex shivered.
I'd like more.
But Niol was pulling back and Holly couldn't control the moan that slipped from her lips at the slow glide of his flesh. Good.
Niol eased her legs down and lowered her body to the floor. A chill skated over her.
A flicker of doubt had her swallowing. Maybe the fantastic sex hadn't been so great for him. The guy'd had a stream of lovers in his life, she knew that.
Rumor was he'd lost his heart years ago to a succubus. Wasn't like she could really compete with a sex demon in the buck-naked category and-
"Shower or bed?"
The words were a rumble, thick with lust and sensual demand.
The worrying voice in her head faded to a whisper. Holly blinked. "I-ah-"
His jaw clenched. "Bed."
Niol's hand lifted and he pointed toward the stairs. "First room on the right." He glanced down at his body. "I'll ditch the condom, then meet you there." His mouth took hers. A deep, toe-curling kiss.
When she turned to walk away from him moments later, her legs weren't quite steady. She held onto the banister as tightly as she could. Her thighs trembled and her sex throbbed, the flesh swollen and…hungry.
Still hungry for him.
Once hadn't been nearly enough. Good thing they had the rest of the night and that he seemed as wild for the sex between them as she was.
"Fucking gorgeous."
The snarl stopped her near the top of the stairs. She glanced back down. Niol gazed up at her, completely naked now. So much tanned flesh. The condom was gone and his c**k stood fully erect.
His eyes were on her, his face a tight mask.
Then he licked his lips and she almost did a header off the stairs.
Niol smiled and began to stalk her.
A whip of fire fueled her blood.
He was coming up the stairs, fast.
Two at a time. Three.
He'd be on her in seconds.
In her.
She sprinted for the top, adrenaline kicking through her.
At the landing, she glanced to the left. The room was dark, lit only by the stars and moonlight that shone through the massive windows.
She could see the bed. A tall four-poster.
Holly kicked out of her high heels. Shimmied out of her skirt and-
Strong arms locked around her from behind. Pulled her against a rock-hard chest, imprisoning her in a steely grip. His c**k nudged against her ass.
His fingers took her br**sts. Curling around the ni**les, squeezing, caressing.
Her breath choked out and her head sagged against him.
Niol growled and locked his mouth onto the column of her throat.
Heat flooded her core. Holly's legs shifted restlessly. That bed was so close…
One hand slid over the curve of her stomach.
She stopped breathing.
His fingers, so perfectly broad and strong, trailed down her abdomen. Pushed through the red curls that shielded her sex.
There was no tender searching this time. No play. No fondles.
Her legs parted.
His fingers, two, drove knuckle-deep inside her.
Holly gasped his name and strained against him.