Roz sniggered at the word. “Sorry,” she said when everyone turned to look at her. “I’ve never actually heard anyone say that. ‘Debriefing’—it’s sort of…” She trailed off and shrugged. It wasn’t her fault none of them had a sense of humor.
Ryan appeared undecided. She’d rather this didn’t get physical, and she was sure the debriefing thing wasn’t optional for the detective. Though she supposed Piers or Christian could just mesmerize him into going with them. She’d rather they didn’t do that to her friends either. “Wouldn’t you like to know what this is all about?” Roz said, sure that would tempt Ryan.
“You mean they’ll tell me?”
“Why not? You know a lot already.”
“Too much?” he asked, and she realized he believed his life was in danger. Hell, maybe it was. She glanced at Piers and Christian. Piers just looked impatient to be off.
Christian answered. “You won’t come to any harm at our hands, Detective. But we do have to decide how to deal with the fact that you know about us.”
“Deal?” He turned to Roz. “You trust these people?”
“Yeah. If they say no harm, then they mean it.”
Roz believed that, but she’d bet he might come away from the place minus a few memories. Probably best not to tell him, though—most people didn’t like the idea of anyone screwing with their minds.
“Can we go now?” Piers said.
Carl and his men had already climbed into the back of the larger van. Sister Maria was still seated in the front, though a quick glimpse showed that some of the color had returned to her face. Ryan got in beside her, and Christian got in the driver’s seat.
“I’ll make my own way there.” Asmodai said. “But first, I need to give a few people a heads up that Andarta has the Key. As soon as I’m done, I’ll meet you at the Order.” He took to the air. That just left her, Piers, and the Warlock for the second vehicle.
“Can you drive, Jonas?” Piers asked.
“Yes.”
“Well, get in, then.”
…
Piers ushered her into the backseat and climbed in beside her. He was trying to keep a tight grip on his emotions. Mainly because he wasn’t sure what they were yet, and until he was, maybe he’d better keep quiet about them.
He could smell the sweet scent of her blood, and it was driving him insane—a reminder that he had come so close to losing her tonight. He forced down the urge to hold her. Instead, he turned slightly so he could see the dark streak of blood down her throat where the knife had nicked her skin.
Hell, he’d seen the knife jerk in Jack’s hands, and he’d thought she was dead.
He couldn’t resist any longer. Reaching for her, he grabbed her by the upper arms, and hauled her onto his lap. He expected her to put up a struggle, but instead, she melted into him, wrapping her arms around his waist, and burrowing her head in his chest. All the tension went out of her. Then she was shaking.
He held her tight and just let her get through it.
After a few minutes, she raised her head. “Sorry, I thought I was okay—I don’t usually lose it like that.”
He liked the fact that she let herself go with him. She acted so tough, but underneath…well, he wasn’t sure what was underneath; she kept it so well hidden. He was sure no one else knew either.
She was clearly coming down from the adrenaline high.
His gums ached with the urge to feed. He reined his hunger in, but lifted her chin with one finger, bent his head, and licked his tongue along the line of her throat, cleaning the blood, lapping at the small wound.
She made a small sighing sound, and her head went back, giving him better access. “That feels so good.”
“We have a chemical in our saliva that helps heal wounds.”
She lowered her head and regarded him. “That was more information than I wanted right now.”
An unpleasant thought occurred to him. “Have you slept with Asmodai?”
“None of your goddamn business.”
“I take it that’s a yes.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I can quite honestly say that I have never slept with him. Now, if you’d asked me if I fucked him—well, that’s a whole different thing. And still none of your goddamn business.”
“And if I’d like it to be my business?”
She opened her mouth, no doubt to shout at him some more, but snapped it shut again. He’d actually managed to silence her. She stayed that way for what seemed like an age, staring out of the window.
“I was seventeen and a virgin. They’d burned my mother at the stake, and I’d just made a deal with a demon. He slaughtered those who had killed my mother, and he took me on the ground with the flames all around us and their screams still in my ears.”
Fury rose up inside him. “Bastard—I’ll kill him.”
She smiled. “No need. And in his way, he was good to me. I haven’t met many demons but I suspect things could have been far worse.”
“Was that the only time?”
“No. And he didn’t rape me then or later, if that’s what you think. I was scared, alone; he had saved me. I know it sounds pathetic, but I wanted him to want me. And in his way, I think he came to like me a little. ” She glanced at him suspiciously. “How long have you known it was Asmodai?”
“I didn’t until tonight. I just suspected from his involvement with the Key.” He bit back the urge to ask if she had enjoyed it, because that was just sick. He had to put it out of his mind. “Just tell me it’s over.”
“It’s been over for centuries. He changed. Can demons become nicer? He’s sort of mellowed in recent years; he seems different…”
“He was in love.”
“What?”
“He fell in love with Tara’s mother. I guess it brought out a softer side. Then she died and he reverted a little.”
“Anyway, there have been a few other men over the years, but I tend to steer clear of relationships. I can do without sex.”
“Hence the vibrator.” He thought for a moment. “You wanted to sleep with me last night.”
She shrugged. “Only to take my mind off the fact that I was about to die, and sex is no big deal.”
“No?” She was lying. He was sure of it. Or at least he hoped. “Tell me, how long has it been since you had sex?”
She pursed her lips. “Fifty years, give or take a few.”
He bit back the grin that tugged at his lips. Inside he was high-fiving, and he realized that he wanted sex to be a big deal for her. At least he wanted sex with him to be a big deal. “You like sex, so if it was no big deal you’d be getting it regularly. I’m guessing you don’t have sex because it
“Just don’t push it,” she snarled.
She was getting defensive; he was definitely getting through to her. “What if I want to push it?”
“Save it. I’ve had a rough night, and I’d like to relax. Hey, look, we’re nearly back. I’m for a long hot bath, a glass of scotch, and my bed.”
“And I’m for a couple of hours of earth shattering sex and mind-blowing orgasms. Sure I can’t tempt you to join me?”
…
Crap.
Roz sat there with her mouth open, her nipples hard, and her sex hot and swollen with need.
The weird thing was if he’d tried to woo her with sweet words, told her he’d cared, she could have sneered and walked away.
But who could walk away from the offer of earth-shattering sex and mind-blowing orgasms? It would take a stronger woman than her. Did that make her shallow?
No, just scared of emotional commitment and desperate for sex.
