Lure of the Jaguar: Hades' Carnival, Book 7 by N.J. Walters Read Free Book Online Page B

angle her body to fit between the car and the open door. Stavros held the door with both hands, his fingers curled over the top of the frame. “Toni.”
    She paused before sliding into the vehicle. She looked up and he leaned down and kissed her. Her toes curled and her body heated the moment he touched her. He slanted his mouth over hers, tasting and tempting, taking and giving.
    Toni knew better than to go down this road again. Stavros had proven he could blow hot and cold. She really didn’t need any more complications in her life right now. But she couldn’t help but respond to his ardor.
    He cupped her face, stroked his thumbs over her cheeks, curled his fingers around her neck. His tongue stroked hers in a sensual slide. Her knees went weak. She moved to get closer but the car door was between them.
    Like a dash of cold water, reality reared its ugly head. Toni pulled away. “We have to stop.”
    Stavros’ eyes were dark pools of passion, but he nodded his agreement. He stepped back and waited while she slid in the driver’s seat. When he shut the door, she took a deep breath. “Get a grip on yourself,” she muttered.
    Stavros climbed into the passenger seat. Still naked. Toni started the car and pulled away from the cabin. “Where are we going?” she asked.
    “My place. Just turn right at the end of the driveway.”
    Hades was not happy. Those three inept humans had had one job and one job only. Bring the girl to his demon. Still, it wasn’t a total loss. He had two new souls to torment and another on the way.
    He motioned to his demon, the one he’d used to negotiate with the humans. “Go and collect the remaining human for me.” He was almost dead, his blood seeping the ground behind Toni’s house. Hades wanted the body claimed before some gator dragged it off.
    “And bring me the bodies of the other two as well.” Better to clean up his mess than leave any evidence.
    “Yes, my lord.” The demon bowed deeply and hurried off. The creature’s quick compliance and bowing and scraping soothed Hades’ temper.
    Really, if you wanted something done right, you had to do it yourself.
    He stared at the darkened mirror, wishing he could see what was happening. Soon, he’d be able to find them. In the meantime, he needed to prepare. It was going to take quite a bit of power if he hoped to slip out of his realm for a few minutes to kill the woman with Stavros. Maybe the warrior didn’t love the woman, but he was protective over her. It would have to be enough.
    Hades was tired of this game. Tired of those infernal immortal warriors. He hated losing, and he hadn’t won a round in this battle. Even when he’d thought he’d won, he hadn’t. All the warriors were alive and well and six of them were happily mated.
    Hades growled and headed toward the door of his chamber. He stepped out in the hallway and quickly transported himself to the very depths of his domain. This is where the nastiest and most powerful of his creatures dwelled.
    He motioned to the one nearest to him. The ten-foot tall skeletal creature lumbered toward him. Hades felt the demon’s resistance, but the creature had no choice but to obey. Hades laughed and caught the demon by the throat. “Your purpose is to serve me, and I’ve decided you can best serve me by dying.” With that, he opened his mouth and began to suck the life-force out of the demon.
    Power flowed into Hades. It felt incredible. He’d made do with weak demons for too long. This was how he was supposed to feel. Unbeatable. Invincible.
    When the demon was totally drained and no more than a shriveled husk, Hades dropped the body. Then he motioned to a demon cowering in the corner.

Chapter Five
    Stavros knew Toni was confused. Hell, he was confused. He’d never expected to run into someone like her during his self-imposed exile here in the bayou—a woman who stilled the restlessness inside him, who completed him in a way he’d never dreamed possible, a woman he wanted