Shit! No wonder Tyler recognised the redhead in black velvet robes kneeling before them. ‘Told you she was trouble.’ What was her name again? I think it started with S. Sally maybe?
‘Stop right there, miss,’ Jaxon ordered. ‘With the authority vested in me by the Council of Mages, I order you to drop your weapon and raise your hands slowly above your head.’
The dagger slipped out of her grip as she obeyed Jaxon’s orders. Tossing her head back, she gave them a better view of her perfect lips and nose, both accentuated by piercings. As soon as her wicked gaze—lined heavily with black makeup—landed on Tyler, she gave him a lascivious grin making his cock twitch. ‘Are you going to arrest me, officer?’ Even her deep, husky voice sounded sexy.
Fuck! Tyler glanced around to see if he could spot the film crew.
‘Damn straight we are.’ Jaxon stepped forward with a pair of cold iron cuffs. ‘We are taking you in under suspicion of practising illegal magic. Will you come without a fight?’
‘Only if he takes me.’ She gave a slight nod toward Tyler.
Jaxon muttered a curse under his breath as he handed the manacles to Tyler and prepared a lightning bolt in his fingers.
Tyler approached her cautiously. Grabbing her arms, he restrained her. Or was it Sandra?
She reversed into him and tilted her head up to look into his eyes. ‘Hey, hot stuff, do you enjoy tying up girls?’
Shoving her forward, Tyler tried to ignore how incredible she felt pressed against his body. ‘You are not obliged to say anything, however anything you do say can be used as evidence against you.’
‘Mm. I’d love to have you used against me.’
‘I’m sure I can arrange it… just not in the way you’re hoping.’ No, not Sandra.
After licking her lips, she shrugged. ‘Your loss.’
‘I doubt it.’
‘If that’s so, why did your dick salute me?’
Samantha. That had to be her name. Thankfully, they reached the car before he needed to reply, and Tyler handed Knife Girl off to Shane, who sat with her in the back.
When they reached the station, Probably Samantha refused to budge.
‘Step out of the vehicle miss.’ Jaxon’s tone was firm.
‘I said I wanted Hot Stuff to take me.’
He sighed, stepping aside. ‘Sorry, Quirky. She’s all yours.’
Annoyed, Tyler pulled her out of the car without a word.
‘Mm. I see you like to play rough too.’
Their first stop was the shielded evidence room, bringing them to the moment Tyler had both dreaded and anticipated. He frisked her robe to check for concealed weapons or magical tools.
‘Are you going to strip search me now?’ Why does she have to sound excited about it?
‘Yes. We must follow standard protocol,’ Jaxon replied for him.
Tyler removed her robe, freezing in awe of the art all over her body. A few occult symbols mixed with colourful, feminine imagery, and an Aquarius design took pride-of-place on her back.
Samantha glanced over her shoulder, smiling when she realised what had stolen Tyler’s attention. ‘Do you like my ink? I designed them all myself, although I couldn’t draw the final pieces on my back for obvious reasons.’
‘You’re a tattoo artist?’ He stepped closer and traced the design with his fingers, covering her soft skin in goose bumps.
‘Uh huh.’
‘Quirky,’ Jaxon warned. ‘Stop getting distracted by the pretty lady and do your job.’
Tyler placed the robe in the red evidence tub and removed her cuffs. ‘Please take off your bra and underpants.
‘Ooh. Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer the honours?’
He smirked at her. ‘Sorry, it’s against the rules.’
She pouted, but complied, handing each undergarment to him in the process.
When she stood naked before him, Tyler’s pulse quickened, sending blood to all the wrong parts of his body. So very wrong. ‘Please squat and cough.’ He tried to sound unaffected, but his shaky voice betrayed him.
‘As you wish, officer.’ Samantha crouched in front of him and coughed.
After inspecting her mouth, Tyler pulled on a pair of nitrile gloves to continue the cavity search. As his fingers brushed against her delicate folds, he wished the thin layer of rubber on his hands could do more to desensitise him, especially when her muscles clenched around him, and she moaned.
‘Oh my. Straight to third base and we haven’t even kissed yet.’
Hot damn! Once I’m done with work for the day, I am gonna bone the first available redhead I can find. ‘All clear.’ He rose, returning her underwear. ‘Put these back on.’
She huffed. ‘You haven’t even brought me to climax yet.’
‘And I never will. Now get dressed.’ He handed her a set of teal prison clothes since they needed to confiscate her magic robe.
They escorted a dressed and restrained Samantha to the interrogation room.
Still standing, Jaxon set his phone to video. ‘Please state your name for the record.’
‘Samantha Harrison.’ Her hazel eyes remained glued to Tyler as she spoke. ‘What’s your name, sexy?’
‘I’m sorry, Samantha,’ Jaxon explained. ‘But you don’t seem to understand how this works. My colleague and I ask the questions. Not you.’
Sitting back, she crossed her legs and arms and pressed her lips together.
Jaxon dropped into one of the chairs across from her. ‘Now, what were you doing in the ritual circle?’
No answer.
‘You were performing blood magic, weren’t you?’
She remained tight-lipped and focused on Tyler who slouched against the wall.
He sighed. ‘My name is Tyler.’
Samantha smiled. ‘Thank you, Tyler. Are you going to ask me out on a date?’
‘No.’
‘That’s okay. I’m cool with a casual hook up if it’s all you want.’
Tyler leaned forward, pressing his palms into the Laminex between them. ‘Let me get something through your thick head, sweetheart. This fantasy involving me you’ve got goin’ on? It. Will. Never. Happen. I suggest you stop testing my patience, because my boss here is actually the good cop and you really don’t want bad cop Tyler to come out and play.’
She gulped. Hard.
Like my cock. And unleashing his inner wolverine did not help contain his arousal. ‘Now answer the boss’ questions.’ Sitting down to hide his evident lust, Tyler reclined into the back of the chair and crossed his arms.
‘I was doing it to hide myself.’
‘Hide yourself from what?’ Jaxon asked.
‘Don’t you mean from whom? I won’t answer the question unless you offer me full witness protection.’
Tyler laughed. ‘You’re a suspect, not a witness. We don’t need to offer you shit.’
‘Fine. I won’t give you inside information on the biggest criminal organisation in the magic world.’
‘And what organisation would that be?’ he scoffed.
‘I told you: protection first, then I talk.’
Jaxon sighed. ‘Fine. If you tell us something useful, I promise the Council’s protection.’
‘You actually are the good cop, huh?’
‘Yes.’
‘I have one more condition.’
‘For fuck’s sake. What?’ Tyler threw his arms up.
‘When you verify my initial intel, I want a full pardon.’
He sucked in a deep breath.
But Jaxon beat him to the post. ‘If your word is true, you have ours. Full protection and reprieve from anything linking you to their crimes. Now start talking.’
‘Have you ever heard of the Obsidian Cult?’
Tyler’s jaw hit the floor. ‘Shit!’
Bridey’s kiss was the ultimate contradiction: bittersweet, soft yet hard, taking Caleb to the Celestial and Stygian realms all at once. And it made him want her more, despite how much he despised the idea.
She yanked the blanket away, rendering him naked and vulnerable. ‘I’ve got to have you now, Caleb. I need you inside me.’ After rubbing against him for a moment, Bridey pushed herself onto his dick.
‘Ah, fuck!’ It felt even better than usual, especially when she moved against him. Until he realised why. ‘Holdup, Bry! I’m bareback here.’
Grinning, she removed her corset and continued thrusting. ‘I know. You feel so damn good.’
He grunted. ‘So do you.’ Sucking in a breath, he pressed his head firmly into the mattress.
‘What’s the problem, sweetheart?’ Her muscles tightened around him.
‘I’m not going to be able to hold back if you keep that up.’
Squashing her enormous breasts against his chest, she let her breath tickle his neck and ear as she spoke, ‘I don’t want you to hold back.’
His skin tingled all over. ‘Are you crazy, Bry? I can’t come inside you.’
‘Why not?’
‘You’re my sister. What if—’
She cut him off with another Earth-shattering kiss. ‘I told you to let it go.’
Caleb squeezed his eyes shut and tried to focus on the pleasure. But it was no use. It was like she had transported him back eight years: that first instance was the last time he had experienced unprotected sex. ‘I’m trying, Bry, but I can’t.’ His arousal began to soften as he opened his eyes.
Anger flashed in her gaze. ‘Don’t you dare pull back from me.’
Like that’s gonna help! ‘I can’t do this, Bry,’ he rasped.
‘You can and you will.’ Her eyes flickered with violet flecks as a familiar floral fragrance invaded his senses.
Oh Gods, not again! He could feel her intruding in his mind, breaking apart his inhibitions with her intoxicating presence. His traitorous cock responded even before his willpower broke. And as soon as it did, she rode him hard like a savage beast, tearing the last of his resistance to shreds. Caleb lost himself in the ecstasy of the moment. There was nothing like sex with an enchantress employing all her magic tricks.
She wrenched a climax from Caleb, exploding a million stars in his mind.
But when he recovered his wits, the rapture turned to resentment. Silently fuming, he sat up and slipped into his jeans.
‘Caleb, honey, what are you doing?’
Ignoring her, he strode out of the room and slammed the door.
Bridey raced into the hall a second later, still naked except for the ridiculous mini skirt.
‘What is your problem, Caleb?’ she screamed.
‘You and your damn mind games, that’s what!’
‘Excuse me?’
He slammed her into the wall with a vice grip around her throat. ‘One minute you’re dangling free will in my face like a mouth-watering steak, the next you throw it to the dogs. You can’t have it both ways, Sis. Either turn me into one of your mindless slaves or listen to me when I tell you to stop.’
When it appeared like she was struggling to breathe and trying to talk, he released his hold.
‘Is everything okay here, Madame?’ Levi’s hot breath tickled the back of Caleb’s neck.
Glancing over his shoulder, she nodded. ‘Yes, thank you, slave. Please leave us.’ She turned her attention to Caleb. ‘Maybe you should stay in Adelaide.’
Her words stung like a bitch, but he figured she was manipulating him—again. ‘Maybe I will.’
Tears pooled in her eyes.
‘See? Two can play at that game, Bry.’
‘I’m serious, Caleb. I think you should have some time alone to decide what you want because I’m not the only one playing mind games, little Brother.’
He snorted. ‘Right. And in the meantime, you can get nice and cosy with Brendan.’
‘This is exactly what I’m talking about, sweetheart. You harp on about how wrong it is to be fucking me—how much you hate what we have—yet you start spraying about the place like a tomcat as soon as I become genuinely interested in another guy. You don’t own me, Caleb. No man ever will.’
‘No. Only you get to own people.’
‘I don’t expect you to understand what I have with my slaves, but they do enjoy serving me.’
‘Oh really? Is that why you compel them into preforming depraved acts no sane man would consent to?’
Bridey clenched her fists and her jaw. She never could stand it when Caleb proved her wrong. ‘I only do it to free them of the shame they would feel by making the choice. They get as much pleasure out of doing that stuff as I do.’
He gaped at her in disbelief. ‘Christ, Bry. Is this what you tell yourself to deal with your own guilt, or is remorse a foreign concept to you?’
She glared at him. ‘You can stay in South Australia until you have cooled off. When you decide you can’t live without me, we will discuss your move to Sydney. But don’t expect me to change, Caleb. You will have to accept me for who I am and be prepared to utterly surrender yourself to me.’
‘Don’t you mean “If”?’ He walked away from her, unable to bear the torture of gazing upon her glorious body while her wicked mind toyed with him. When Caleb reached the main parlour, he spotted Brendan lounging in front of the big screen television. When Brendan looked up, Caleb scowled. ‘I hope you enjoy the Bridey rollercoaster.’
He stepped into the lift to the carpark, to his piece of crap Corolla, and all the way back to his nominal home. It was odd to think of it as home, given how he’d scarcely been there in the last two months.
The Obsidian Cult. Tyler had heard rumours, some of which made his skin crawl.
Jaxon shifted in his seat. ‘The Cult is nothing more than folklore: urban legends to scare the kiddies.’
‘That’s where you’re wrong, officer,’ replied Samantha.
He huffed. ‘And what makes you the expert?’
‘I never said I was an expert, but I know they are real because they recruited me.’
Arms still crossed, Tyler stroked his chin with the thumb and forefinger of his right hand. ‘How do you know they aren’t some sect of dark mages with delusions of grandeur?’
She tensed, then took a few deep breaths. ‘Why do you think I resorted to blood magic to try and hide from them? These guys don’t want to be known for who they are. They assimilate with other gangs, hide behind corporate logos, and infiltrate governments. I had no idea who employed me at first. By the time I learned the truth, it was too late. I barely escaped with my life and now I have a great big target on my head.’
‘Shit!’ Tyler rose and paced the room. ‘Is this why you didn’t resist arrest?’
She nodded.
‘What did they hire you for?’
‘I’d rather not say.’
Jaxon sighed. ‘You have my word that what you say will not incriminate you. We just need to understand what or whom we are dealing with.’
The look of trepidation she gave Tyler almost winded him.
‘Please sit down, Quirky, you’re making our witness too nervous.’
Sinking into his chair, Tyler attempted a reassuring smile. ‘You have my word too, Samantha.’
After a minute of silence, she lowered her gaze, staring down at a dot on the table. ‘My skill as a hunter got their attention. They sent me after wild animals and the odd rustling job at first. Then I was taking down big burly men. My employer assured me these thugs were the lowest forms of scum to walk the Earth and I was doin’ society a favour. I didn’t mind. I enjoyed the thrill of the chase and fed on the fear and disbelief in their eyes when they realised a chick had bested them. But when I was asked to capture innocent women and children and bring them in alive, I began to question things.’
Tyler tapped his finger on the table.
Jaxon was doing well to maintain his mask, although his left eye twitched. ‘What happened to the innocents you kidnapped?’
‘I don’t know.’ Samantha’s voice trembled. ‘They caught me snooping when I was looking into it. The rest is history.’
Being sexy as fuck was bad enough; why’d she have to go and strum my sympathy chords, damnit? ‘So where can we get our hands on these arseholes?’
Samantha peeked up at Tyler from beneath her long lashes. ‘My contact operated out of an abattoir in Mulgrave.’ The look in her eyes was indecipherable, but it sure as hell turned him on.
For a moment, Tyler wished he could channel emotions. When the left side of Samantha’s lip curled up in a knowing expression, he wondered if she was. Shit! Now I’m in trouble. ‘What are your attunements, Samantha?’
‘Senses and organic mana; classic abjurer. Why do you ask, Hot Stuff?’
‘Because it’s my job.’
This time the right side of her lip joined its friend. ‘I am registered. You could’ve looked me up.’
‘Really? I figured you for more of a rogue. Besides, abjurers heal people, not kill them.’
‘I wasn’t always a naughty girl. At least not in the legal sense.’ She winked at him.
Captivated by her smile, Tyler propped his elbows on the table and steepled his fingers beneath his chin. ‘Do you have any other attunements I should know about?’
Leaning forward, she brought her face as close to his as the table would allow. ‘I don’t need to channel emotions to know how hard you are for me right now, sweetheart. The lust in your eyes is plain to see.’
Tyler felt like a sailor stranded on the rocks by the siren filling his vision. And his quickened pulse thumped, mimicking the crashing winds drowning everything around him.
‘Quit the flirting, Quirky.’ Jaxon’s distant warning cry drifted across the stormy seas.
Reclining in her chair, Samantha broke the spell and grinned smugly.
So much trouble.
Brendan dozed on the chaise longue as removalists bustled about, packing and moving Bridey’s belongings. He’d given up on the mind-numbing tripe on TV hours ago. The viewing had become increasingly more difficult as the workmen continued to walk in front of the screen.
The one time he attempted a change of scenery, Levi dutifully informed Brendan of the requirement to stay indoors. Even his bathroom breaks were supervised. Sighing, Brendan sprawled out on the couch and took the opportunity to be lazy. It was still preferable to being chained to his bed.
‘Why don’t I get tied up in this room?’ Brendan asked as Levi sat in the armchair next to him.
‘I’m sure I could arrange it, handsome.’ Bridey’s voice startled him as she crept up behind the sofa. ‘My purple bondage rope would look spectacular on your porcelain complexion.’
The thought of soft tethers stroking his skin while she had her way with him terrified him as much as it thrilled him. He shoved the image aside, hoping Bridey did not catch a glimpse. ‘Not what I meant.’
She perched on the armrest and leaned into him. ‘I know, but I think it’s what you want.’ Her fingers brushed his face.
Shit! He had to be more careful about letting his guard down around such a skilled mind reader.
‘But to answer your question, this is my public parlour. I don’t wish to alarm the clients of my more legitimate business operations with the sight of chained-up slaves. And I know you are well supervised here.’ Bridey gestured toward Levi who continued to watch Brendan.
‘In other words, you don’t want them to know we are your hostages.’
Bridey grinned as her hand cupped his chin. ‘You’re not just a pretty face with a delicious body.’ She repositioned directly above him, and Brendan instinctively brought his arms up to prevent her from falling. Her tongue caressed his lips before it plunged into his mouth.
He groaned as pleasure seized his body and held it for ransom. His grip around her sculpted hips tightened as she kissed him.
‘Undress me,’ she whispered the command in his ear, almost like a plea.
‘Are you sure?’ Brendan glanced around the room. ‘There are still workmen here. Surely your room would be more suitable?’
‘They won’t mind. Some of them might even enjoy the spectacle. So, let’s show them how well Brendan Winters performs.’
Oh hell. Exhibitionism with an audience was one of the few things left on his sexual bucket list and she was waving it before his raging hormones like a red flag. Brendan was beyond thinking or caring who ignited his desires.
He unzipped her corset at a leisurely pace, wanting to savour the experience, but also needing to get his breathing under control. As Bridey’s chest sprang free of its fetters, Brendan thought of two young puppies let off their leashes, bounding and playful. Another jolt of lust surged through him, and he felt the sudden urge to taste them. By the Gods! He could have sworn he tasted the tart sweetness of stone fruit on his tongue and wouldn’t have been surprised to see juice dripping from where his mouth had been.
Her head tilted back, and she let out a drawn-out moan. Looking back at him from beneath droopy lids, she brought her thumb and forefinger into her mouth and sucked on them a moment. Those moist digits clamped on to his left nipple as she prepared her other hand the same way.
Christ! He desperately needed to be free of his tight leather pants. Naturally, Bridey acted on his wishes, knowing exactly what he desired. After pulling them from his ankles, she rose and slid her skirt down in a slow, deliberate fashion. Brendan noticed the crowd of spectators who had stopped working. A few stood there aghast, but most of them were grinning either from amusement or arousal. Acknowledging their presence only enhanced the rush of excitement he experienced.
She sidled over to a locked cabinet from which she extracted some rope, making his breath hitch. As she returned, the sight of her curvaceous body moving in a gradual, provocative manner, while holding purple rope between long, slender fingers, was superheating his blood. Arriving at the edge of the lounge, she motioned for him to sit up. ‘It’s time we made some of your wildest fantasies come true. But first, I want to be sure this is what you truly want.’
Stunned, Brendan stared at her. Why is she asking me for consent? Is it part of her pretence for the benefit of our audience?
‘Are you willing to surrender yourself to me here and now, Brendan?’
‘Mm, yes.’
She pushed him back into the corner of the seat. ‘Stretch your arms out across the backrest.’
As he followed her instructions, Brendan relished the sensation of his skin gliding over the velvet upholstery, all while keeping his gaze pinned on the woman’s elven facial features: her high cheekbones and small nose with soft, silvery skin; almond eyes and high, rounded brow highlighted with dark, purple eye makeup; glossy, heart-shaped lips; and pointy ears accentuated with lines of dainty white gold studs; all framed with long, black, lustrous locks.
When she knelt to strap him down, he closed his eyes to focus on the silken texture of the braided cord and the delicate scent of violets washing over him.
‘Look at me, handsome.’
The level of intoxication she had already inspired made it difficult for his eyes to open. But a look of fierce hunger rewarded Brendan for his efforts. Bridey impaled herself upon him. He inhaled sharply between clenched teeth. Everything felt extraordinary as her nails clawed his skin and she writhed against him.
‘Mm. You have the most breathtaking cock, Brendan. I love the way it rips my cunt open.’ Her rough voice sounded close.
‘Fuck!’ he rasped. He would have said more if he could, but she rendered Brendan Winters speechless.
Quickening the tempo; their bodies collided together in a symphony of panting, slapping, and squelching bringing his senses to new heights. Climbing that mountain eventually brought him to the peak of ecstasy from which he plummeted into the dark abyss of delirium.
Once partial lucidity returned, Brendan became aware of Bridey’s warm body clinging to him and her relaxed breaths tickling his neck.
‘Wow.’ Fucking phenomenal.
Bridey looked into his eyes. ‘See how perfect we are together? If you stick with me and behave, every time can be like this.’