Синтия Иден - Midnight's Master

Holly shook her head. “Game time’s over, demon.”

His lips tightened and Niol stood, the barstool scraping on the floor behind him. “Why are you here? ”

For you . She knew her eyes said the answer for her.

He shook his head.

She closed the distance between them, rose up, and kissed him. Kissed him with her hunger, with the lust that was al ways so close, and with the love that had stirred slowly within her.

A gust of wind tossed her hair and teased her flesh.

Niol lifted his head.

The blaring music quieted.

“Come with me.”

To hell and back if she had to. Oh, wait, been there.

Niol caught her wrist and led her toward his office. The door slammed behind them and he wrapped his arms around her, caging her body tightly against his.

“I’m trying to do what’s right,” he gritted, and his fingers dug into her arms. “Don’t you see, love? For once, I want to do what’s right.”

The demon wasn’t nearly as dark inside as most people thought.

Not dark at all, really.

She finally saw him clearly. Her demon. Her Niol. Just…hers.

He stared into her eyes and his jaw clenched. “Fuck, no Holly-I warned you! It’s too dangerous! You can’t make me love-”

“I love you, Niol.” Good, bad. Everything.

He swallowed. “You shouldn’t. I-I’m not…what you need.”

“You’re the only man I need and the only one I want.” There was really just one thing he could say to make her leave. Just one. “You saved me. And I’m not just talking about tonight.” Though she’d never forget her first sight of him in that horrible room. One look, and she’d known that he would keep her safe.

Maybe she’d always known that.

“You showed me who I really am. You got me to stop hiding from myself.”

He didn’t speak.

Final shot. Holly licked her lips. “Do you want me to stay with you?”

“What I want doesn’t matter.” His fingers were steel strong around her. “What you need-”

“Do you love me?”

Don’t make me love you.

The only answer that would matter for her. If he said no, she’d walk away, and drag her pride with her.

She’d walk away, but dammit, she’d miss him.

“Do you?” She pressed and the mask on his face cracked.

Niol’s lips took hers. Wild and hard and hot and oh, just what she wanted.

“Hell, yes,” he growled against her mouth. “Yes.” The words seemed torn from him.

Probably because they were.

But he shook his head and shoved back from her. “I can’t let you stay, this isn’t the world you want-”

A world of demons and shifters and dark shadows that would always hide some of the light. “Yes, it is.”

“I’m trying to do the right thing here, Holly!”

“Screw right,” she said, and felt the happiness swell inside her. “I just want you.” She knew life with him wouldn’t be easy. The guy wasn’t an easy man.

Demon.

But with Niol by her side and in her bed, she’d be a happy woman.

He caught her face in his hands. “You love me?” Niol seemed a bit stunned.

“More than any damn thing.” He didn’t think he deserved love, she knew that. Tough. The man was going to get all the love she had to give.

“I’ll want forever-if you make me think- I’ll want forever. ”

Ah, now that sounded like the demanding demon she knew and loved. “I wouldn’t expect anything else.” And forever for him, if the stories were true, would be a very long time.

Maybe she wouldn’t have as many years as he would, but she’d enjoy the time they had. Every. Single. Day.

And night.

The nights-she’d enjoy them the most.

The lock clicked behind them. Niol’s warm hands slid under her shirt and crept up to her breasts. What I want. Holly arched toward her demon lover.

Forever.

In darkness and in light.

Detective Colin Gyth headed toward the holding cell. There were a few questions he still had for Michelle Ridgeway, questions that he wanted answered before he went home and crawled in bed with Emily.

No guards were around when he approached. Colin tensed. Not right.

He ran forward-

And found Michelle in her cell. Her body lay sprawled on the floor, a bedsheet tied around her neck.

Fuck.

His gaze scanned the area, noting the placement of the sheet. One end wrapped around the woman’s throat. The other knotted high in the bars.

Looked like a suicide.

Looked like one…

His teeth snapped together.

But it sure as hell isn’t. I’d stake my badge on it. Too many demons around. Too many with powers that would let them slip right into a human’s mind.

But he’d never be able to prove it.

Sonofabitch.

It looked like the demon-hunter case was closed.

The next night, Niol sat at the bar and waited for his reporter. She’d promised to meet him after her last broadcast.

She chose me. That fact still managed to shock him, and little shocked him.

He’d take it slow with her, make sure she understood just what his life entailed. Then, when she was ready, he’d let her know that when he said forever, well, he meant it.

No way would he spend any days without her. There were ways to extend a life-ways he’d share with Holly.

As he’d share everything with her.

A young blond woman walked into his bar. He watched her, vaguely curious. Not demon. Human.

Not there to play.

Interesting.

He glanced at his watch. Holly would be there soon. Five minutes, ten tops.

He’d have her naked in his office three minutes after that.

“I’m looking for a vampire.”

Niol blinked and found the blonde in front of him. Terrible haircut. Short and shaggy.

He motioned to the bar. “Take your pick.”

Her hands balled on her hips. “His name’s Lane. Lane Mims. Asshole with a habit of hurting women.”

Niol stared back at her. “Haven’t seen him.” Who the hell was this woman?

Holly walked into the bar. He caught a glimpse of her over the blonde’s shoulder, caught her scent-sweet lavender. Niol rose.

The human put her hand on his chest. A hand that pushed a small business card against him. “Yeah, you have.”

When her hand moved, he caught the card. Bounty hunter.

Behind her, Holly cut her way through the crowd.

“If he’s dead, I’m wasting my time here.” Blunt.

Holly saw him and a smile lit up her face. Her dimple winked.

My life.

So fucking simple.

The card turned to ash in his fingers. He stepped to the side and reached out a hand to Holly. “Guess you’d better head back to-” What address had been on the card? “Louisiana, then. Because that vamp isn’t around here.” Well, pieces of him could be.

Lane had made another attack. Barely left a teenage girl alive.

The cops hadn’t caught him, but the demons had.

The woman’s lips thinned.

Holly took his hand and glanced at the other woman.

But the bounty hunter just turned and walked away.

“Who is she?” Holly asked.

To her, he wouldn’t lie. Ever. He’d told her all his secrets in the hours before dawn. Every black deed, and she’d stayed with him. “Bounty hunter. Looking for a vamp-”

“Lane.”

He hadn’t given her the name, but if there was one thing he’d realized about his Holly-the woman had some damn good sources.

“I saw the girl. Kennedy . I talked to her when I went to the hospital to check on Kim.”

“Kim’s awake?” He hadn’t heard that-

“Yeah-yeah, she’s awake. Doesn’t remember anything about the attack. The doctors don’t understand how she’s survived, but they think she’s going to make a full recovery.”

Good.

“Kennedy-she wasn’t doing as well.”