Demon's Kiss by Eve Silver Read Free Book Online Page A

The conduit that could open the gate between dimensions, the key that could unlock the end of the world.
    He had saved her. His magic. His power.
    He had doomed her.
    And he wanted her with a fierce and primitive need that raced through every cell in his body, making him burn.
    Stepping back, he did them both the small kindness of allowing a little distance between them. The action was in direct opposition to his inclination, the primitive, clamoring part of him that wanted to drag her up against him, touch her, taste her, bury himself inside her right now, right here.
    The way she looked at him, like she wanted to run from him. Like she wanted to thrust her body against him, take him deep inside her, score his skin as she moaned her release. He was scorched by her heat, and it confounded him, lured him, made him feel the gnawing sharp edge of desire.
    Gathering himself, he glanced at the remnants of the dead minor demon, which still sizzled and smoked, clinging to the walls and floor around them.
    “I was hunting you, Clea Masters,” he repeated softly, returning his gaze to her.
    “And now you’ve found me.” She caught her lower lip between her teeth, rolled it slowly back and forth, an instinctive gesture of nervousness, an unintentionally sensual action. He wanted to lick her full lower lip, to catch it between his own teeth.
    “How do you know my name?”
    He chose to dissemble. “There was a name plate by the registration desk.” The truth, but ’twas not how he knew her name.
    The air left her in an indelicate rush, her disbelief apparent. “And you just happened to stop and read it before you followed me back here to shred that . . . that . . . thing?”
    Smart. Insightful. He liked that. Liked her. Yet another danger to add to their smoldering attraction.
    With a glance at the last place the demon had stood, she shivered, brought her gaze back to his. “Are you going to do that to me . . . cut me to pieces?”
    “No.” The thought made his gut wrench in angry denial. Nothing would harm her. Nothing .
    “And I believe you because . . . ?” She paused, blew out a breath and answered her own question. “Because if that was your intent, you would have done it by now.”
    Her gaze slid over him in a slow, sexy perusal. Like she was studying him, measuring him, and definitely liking what she found. She was afraid of him, but her fear was weaker than her need.
    Ciarran’s heart rate escalated, his blood pounding. Such had not happened to him. Ever. For centuries he had walked the earth, High Sorcerer of the Compact, coolheaded, rational, never bowed or swayed from his cause. The many times that he had chosen to materialize, to allow a human female to see him, to be pleasured by him and to pleasure him in return, he had always remained somewhat detached. He had enjoyed physical release, but in an aloof and distant manner, never allowing strong passion to overcome his control.
    This intense, vibrant arousal, so sharp and sweet that he was hard as a rock, this unbridled lust was unfamiliar to him.
    Clea’s gaze slowly shifted the rest of the way up his body, until she was looking directly into his eyes.
    “So do I get some answers?” she asked, squaring her shoulders and tipping up her chin.
    And he could think of only one answer he wanted to give her, the kind found in hard, wet kisses and pounding release.

Chapter 5
    D R. ASA PALEY PULLED THE DOOR OF THE EXAMI nation room in the ER shut behind him, closing out the hum of activity outside. St. John’s was a busy ER, but tonight was quiet. Turning to greet the small woman who sat on the gurney, arms wrapped around her narrow chest, layers of filthy clothing warding off the chill, Asa sent her a professional smile, meant to encourage and allay fear. She smiled back guilelessly, her eyes trusting, almost childlike.
    He recognized her. She’d been in the previous month, but she had snuck off when he had left the room to attend to another patient.