With his adrenaline pumping through his veins at breakneck speed, he swung his unmarked Mustang around and let his senses guide him through the busy afternoon streets, searching for the source of his anxiety.
He scanned the sidewalks carefully, studying each and every pedestrian as they milled about. Besides the regular steady vibrations and the array of different-colored auras painting the air, there was nothing unusual about this eclectic mix of people. He continued to scan, cataloguing the parade of faces. When he caught sight of a young girl with midnight-black hair, striking green eyes and a powerful golden aura sitting behind a plate-glass window in a curbside café, his heart nearly stopped, and he just knew he’d found what he was looking for. He quickly rolled his window down and palmed the cold midday air in affirmation. As he studied her graceful movements, his blood began to burn in a way he’d never before experienced. How peculiar. Wouldn’t that only happen if she was a…
Connor blinked, his thoughts fragmenting.
Surely to God she wasn’t…
Energy came off her in waves as her gaze surfed over the crowd outside; intelligent, intuitive eyes brushing over his without conscious thought. But if she was what Connor thought she was, then there would be nothing unconscious about her actions. She’d be naturally seeking him out. Drawn to him in ways no mere mortal could possibly understand.
His pulse leaped and his heart pounded so hard he feared it would jump from his chest. He yanked his wheel to the right and pulled up to the curb on the opposite side of the street, angling his body for a better view as a barrage of emotions hit him—her emotions.
Waves of excitement and nervousness swamped him as he watched her anxiously stare at the door, awaiting company. But it was who, or rather what, that was about to make her acquaintance that knotted his insides like a pretzel. Using his cell phone, Connor inconspicuously snapped her picture and ran it through his database. As soon as her identity came shooting back to him, his entire body began to shake, and a rush of energy threw him back against his car seat.
What the fuck?
He’d been doing this job long enough to know the presence of Lucifer’s minions could never create such energy, having gone up against them a time or two. Only the Dark Lord himself could produce such a powerful force field. But the Dark Lord hated earth, and would never step foot on what he considered a vile place, not unless…
Unless Connor was right, and like him, the girl inside the café was a guardian and Lucifer was after her. Connor’s stomach dropped and his jaw clenched to the point of pain. His head spun and he grabbed a fistful of his hair. Jesus Christ, this could not be happening.
He scanned the sidewalk and glimpsed a tall, well-dressed, dark-haired man entering Halo. Inside the café the striking dark-haired girl rose to meet him, her eyes glazing over with pure admiration.
Transfixed.
Captivated.
Completely under Lucifer’s spell.
Oh, fuck!
Nostrils flaring, Connor gripped his steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned bone white. If Lucifer managed to lure her into his bed, possess her and have her submit to him—an easy task considering the infatuated look on her pretty face—then all hell was going to break loose.
Literally.
Chapter Three
Nicole rested her chin on her palms and dreamily stared at Trent from across the little round café table, noting that he was even more charming and handsome in person. His long lashes blinked over dark eyes and held her captive, doing the weirdest things to her insides as he, in turn, appraised her. When one strong hand reached out and furtively brushed over her cheek, her entire body went up in a burst of flames. A tingle moved through her blood at lightning speed, coming to rest on the greedy little spot between her legs. God, this guy was so perfect it was almost surreal.
As her pussy lubricated with want, it occurred to her that no man had ever before made her feel so libidinous from one simple touch.
Trent’s jean-clad knees brushed up against her from beneath the table and brought on a shudder. Pleasure danced in his dark eyes as his glance left her face and trailed downward, coming to rest on her ample cleavage. Her nipples tightened under his appreciative gaze, eager to feel his hands, his mouth and the soft blade of his tongue on her quivering breasts.
“Nicole, you’re even more beautiful in person,” he murmured and wet his lips in preparation as though he could read her every sinful thought.
Leaning forward, she flirtatiously flashed her lashes, receptive to his blatant charisma. “You’re such a charmer.”
“Ah, but you make it so easy to charm, darling.”
He captured her hand and drew it to his mouth for a light, barely-there kiss. Moisture pooled between her thighs and she became breathless beneath his enchanting touch.
Taking her by surprise, every nerve ending in her body came alive as the sudden image of the two of them writhing in her bed flashed in her mind. Bodies tangled, lips tasting, hips thrusting…
Mesmerized and beyond anxious to indulge in her erotic vision, she was about to do something she’d never done before—jump into bed with a man on the first date. How totally uncharacteristic of her. But then again, there was something about Trent that had her acting completely out of character, and after chatting with him online, she really felt as if she knew him.
“Shall we skip
