Michele Hauf - Playing with Fire

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Parish—thief, vampire and witch—needs to steal a Council device to retrieve her father’s soul. Unfortunately for her, fire demon Cinder is equally determined to get it back and is hot on her trail…literally. Even during the heat of the chase, their attraction is undeniable. Parish may think indulging in a little mind-blowing sex will distract her pursuer, but Cinder isn’t about to give up so easily. The longer she evades him, the more she fires his need to track her down, recover the device and make her pay—by satisfying all his wicked desires.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

“Just a few more tweaks…” I entered a final password into the security database for the Council’s new storage facility, located in the seventh quarter of Paris behind the former military school, and clicked return. “And you’ll be up and running.”

“Thanks, Cinder.” Certainly Jones, the Council’s chief archivist, slapped me across the back and propped up his booted feet on the table next to the security panel that featured six HD screens that would broadcast from all cameras. “Where you headed next?”

“Not sure. I might have some downtime here in Paris.”

I was the Council’s one and only systems technician and securities advisor. Computer algorithms and mathematics? Such innate skill ran through my veins. You might even say I was the originator of numbers. And despite the Council’s tradition of observing and respectfully guiding as they oversaw the paranormal nations, they were aware a more high-tech method of watching must be utilized in this day and age.

Certainly was a witch who practiced dark magic, and had given me the name Cinder after I’d escaped from Beneath, and had been a friend and advisor regarding this mortal realm since.

“Here you go. The storage facility is now online.” I clicked Return and we both leaned forward to study the security screens that flickered on to show various places within and without the ultra-warded facility. Certainly was the first to notice the blur on screen six.

“Is that a person?” he asked. “Coming out of the storage facility? I’m not aware of scheduled access today, other than you.”

My heart sank, because it would be too insane that someone had infiltrated the place while I had taken the wards and security down for a mere two hours to set up the cameras.

“Can’t be.” I eyed the dark figure. Looked small, like a kid, dressed in black. The person slinked along the back wall of the building. And then the figure tugged off the black hood to reveal a fall of long blond hair.

“It’s a chick,” Certainly said. “Robbing us!”

“Not for long.” Shoving away from the desk on the roller-wheeled office chair, I stood and spread out my arms in preparation to smoke on out of there. “Be right back.”

I’m a fire demon from Beneath. I wield fire as my own personal weapon. I can do cool things like mist to smoke or fire, and traverse great distances with but a thought. But apparently, I can’t prevent a thief from taking opportunity of security downtime.

I smoked to human shape outside the storage facility. Wisps of emerald smoke lingered at my feet. A lush perfume hit me like a bouquet of “I’m sorry” roses in a cheating boyfriend’s face. Anger rising, flames wisped from my hands as I ran around the corner and spied the blonde figure dashing down the Metro stairs.

Smoking to the top of the stairs, I didn’t bother that mortals would notice. It was well after midnight and this Metro station appeared empty. I raced down the concrete tunnel, my boots thudding in rhythm to the arriving train. I could smoke faster than run, and did so, insinuating myself onto the train car just as it braked.

The thief jumped on and collided with my chest as I assumed solid human form.

“Gotcha,” I said, grabbing her wrist.

Hollering out an impressive karate-like “hiyah!” she kneed me in the groin.

Whoever this guy was, he certainly did not have me. Sexy, though. Even wincing and bent over as he clutched his jewels. Poor thing. I may be tiny and unassuming, but I can wield a punch that’ll knock a werewolf flat. Attribute that to my mortal genes; my father was once a welterweight boxing champion. Add to that the fact I’ve been vampire for ten years and have possessed witch magic for eight, and I’m the complete danger girl package.

“Is that how you pick up women?” I asked, leaning against the steel pole behind me as the subway car zoomed forward. The guy righted himself, all nearly seven feet of him. A leather choker around his neck clasped a silver circle right over his Adam’s apple. “You’re cute and all, and my goddess, those shoulders are impressive, but I like my men a touch more romantic. Flowers. Platitudes. Sweet nothings whispered in my ear. That’s how you’ll win my heart, buddy.”

Sneering, he lunged and gripped my shoulders. My reaction time slowed by observation of his sigh-worthy muscles, he managed to wrap his arms around my chest and arms so I couldn’t push him away. Now he seemed impervious to my kicks that landed on his shins. Should have worn my steel-toed Doc Martens, but low ballet flats were necessary when sneaking around.

“You have something that belongs to me,” he hissed. His breath was hot with a hint of mint, and his arms felt even hotter, like he was made of molten steel. “Rather, you took something from the Council.”

Ah. I understood now. Had there been cameras on sight? I’d received intel there were no security measures in place. What the heck?

“Don’t know what you’re talking about, McSteamy. Seriously you have a fever? Ouch. You’re burning me!”

He released me like that. “Sorry.” The sexy bruiser stepped back, shaking out his hands. A few flames fell from his fingers to the floor of the train and flickered out in red cinders.

Wriggling my back, because I felt sure he’d burned through the black turtleneck and to my skin, I asked, “What the hell are you?”

“Fire demon.”

Well, well. That explained the smolder in his mesmerizing brown eyes.

“And you are vampire.”

“Who has witch magic,” I said, because I wanted him to know exactly what he was dealing with. A demon? I could take him, no problem. Unless he was able to shoot flames at me. Hmm…

The next stop was mine. I shifted my hips and turned a foot in preparation to dart as soon as the automatic doors slid open.

“What did you take?” he asked.

He didn’t know? Then I wasn’t going to tell him. Not even if he licked me from belly to neck and spent a lot of time suckling and kissing in between with that hot tongue of his.

Whew! Where had that come from, Parish? You are not attracted to the demon’s smoldering gaze. Well, maybe a little. Combine the smolder with his solid, muscled form and that messy dark hair that hung over one eye—okay, I was attracted! This fine specimen would coax even a nun to tear off her rosary. But I was the furthest thing from a nun.

The train stopped and the doors opened. I sprang out and ran toward the exit, expecting the demon to tail me. Since when had I ever been attracted to the demonic breed? Their black blood was rumored to taste nasty. Still, muscles and smolder rated high on my scale.

I met my gorgeous pursuer at the top of the stairs that opened onto a cobbled avenue. How had he—?