Tempting the Demon. Elle James
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been harassing me from the get-go, raising my brows in defiance.
Rudy’s eyes narrowed. “Wouldn’t want to break up a love match between Agent Danske and her own personal demon.”
My fist itched with the urge to slam into Rudy’s face. I calmed myself with the thought that I’d get my chance later, if Thomas gave me the go-ahead.
“We need Michaels out there. These are his people being targeted. He’ll know better what questions to ask.”
“I’m sure Michaels has better things to do than to play cop with the precinct.” I threw my challenge at Blaise. He wasn’t on the payroll, preferring instead to call himself a consultant to the force. Still, Thomas counted him as my partner. I wondered if Blaise had put that thought in the lieutenant’s head or if he’d come up with it on his own.
Blaise smiled. “I wouldn’t dream of going off on my own when the city and my fellow demons need me. However, Cardelli is more than welcome to join our party. We could cover more territory.”
“Good.” Thomas assigned other teams to visit the residences of the dead demons and to talk to neighbors. “It’s nearing sunset. Get out there before it gets too late to knock on doors. And be careful.” His gaze rested on Blaise. “Can’t afford to lose any agents, on the payroll or off it. We’re short-staffed as it is.”
As I stood, Thomas raised his hand. “One more thing. The weatherman’s calling for a helluva storm in the next forty-eight hours. They’re predicting heavy rain and flooding. If it gets bad, the mayor might button down Manhattan. You know, the usual subway shutdown threat and mass exodus of the hordes.”
A collective groan rose from the gathering.
“Thought that might brighten your day.” Thomas’s mouth twisted. “Gonna get messy out there, so be prepared.”
I slung my leather jacket over my shoulder, automatically checked that my weapon was on safe, and then headed out the door. “Meet me at the motor pool, Cardelli,” I called over my shoulder. If I couldn’t get Cardelli to quit being a pig while working with me, I’d put the hurt on him, like I’d done to the street cop who’d dared touch my ass. A face-plant on the concrete had done the trick that time.
“Testy today?” Blaise fell in step beside me.
“Not in the mood.” Stay back.
“You were in the mood, what? Twice this morning?”
“Exactly. I have barely enough energy to do my job, let alone enough to be civil.”
“Gotcha.” He held the door for me, knowing that also pissed me off.
Damned demon.
He chuckled. That’s not what you were saying earlier.
Images of our naked bodies sliding together flashed in my head. I’d said, Faster, harder, deeper. “Out!” I pointed at the open door, the double meaning not lost on him.
Blaise shrugged and exited the precinct first into the motor pool.
I stood for a long moment, letting the door close between us. We had to talk. I couldn’t function coherently on two hours of sleep each night, and the ribbing from team members wasn’t good. I wanted to be known for my work as a cop, not for my sleeping arrangements with a team member. With my decision firmly in mind, I pushed through the door.
Blaise held up his hands. “Now, don’t do something we’ll both regret.”
I strode to one of the nondescript four-door sedans the department allotted the PIT and hit the unlock button on the key fob. “Stop reading my mind.”
“I know you’ve worked too long to establish yourself as a hard-ass,” Blaise continued. “I understand your need to keep the fear of Danske in the thoughts of every male on the force, but you don’t have to with me. I know who you are, here.” He touched my chest. “You can be yourself with me.”
I wanted to believe him, but old habits die hard. I couldn’t let anyone but me run my life. With my hand on the door handle, I drew in a deep breath and faced Blaise. “You’re crowding me. I need space.”
Instead of backing away, Blaise stepped closer and ran a finger along my cheek, down my neck to the V in the plain white blouse I wore beneath my black leather jacket. Everywhere he touched me, my skin burned. “Are you sure about that?”
My core heated like the fires of hell, my pussy ached, and I swallowed a moan. I wanted him more than ever, but he was undermining my ability to do my job and to command the respect of the other men on the team. I grabbed his hand and held it away, ignoring the sizzling jolts of electricity singing through my veins at so simple a connection. “I need you to back off.”
His lips tilted downward. “Meaning?”
“We’re partners on the job. Let’s leave it on the job. Only.”
Just as Blaise opened his mouth to argue the point, Rudy blew through the door. “Oh, good. I thought you’d leave without me.”
“I would have, had you been a minute later.” I jerked my head toward the front seat. “Get in. And if you say one word about my driving, I’ll shoot you.”
Rudy laughed, although he looked to Blaise questioningly, as if he wasn’t sure if I was joking or not. “I got no problem with female drivers.” He started to climb into the backseat.
“No,” I said. “In the front.”
Rudy stared from me to Blaise. “I don’t mind sitting in back.”
“Get the fuck in.” I slid behind the steering wheel and started the engine.
Blaise and Rudy hadn’t even closed their doors before I backed out of the parking space. I made the tires squeal as I pulled out of the garage.
Fifteen minutes and two near-death collisions later, we arrived at the address where they’d found the first dead demon. I pulled into the alley, parked the car and got out. Darkness settled in around the buildings. A block away, music blared from a hoity-toity nightclub, and scantily clad socialites drifted in and out, climbing into limousines that whisked them away.
I couldn’t imagine what would drive a woman to wear so little clothing, and such high heels, on purpose. As if they were whores displaying their wares, for sale to the highest bidder. Marry wealthy was written all over them. What happened to being proud of your own ability to land a job and support yourself?
I’d always known I would be a cop. Even when I’d worked summers and nights in high school, bagging groceries in the ghetto suburbs of Chicago, sucking up to tired mothers who were dragging screaming children through the store. I knew then I wasn’t going to do that all my life.
The streetlights and neon signs gave a false sense of security. As soon as I stepped into the alley the shadows thickened, almost as if they’d come alive and wanted to lure me into them. I sniffed—one of my demon talents. Some demons had the ability to throw fire, but all I could do was smell stuff, like dead people, werewolves and zombies. Big whoop. Unfortunately tonight I smelled decomposing trash, smoke from a cigarette butt tossed recently. And death.
No matter how often death hit my nostrils, it didn’t get any easier to handle. I stiffened. “The demon died three days ago?”
“According to Thomas,” Blaise responded.
To my right, something moved in the dark.
My heart leaped and my hand went to the gun in the holster beneath my jacket. My senses identified the creature at the same time as a scrawny black cat eased out from behind a giant trash container, headed straight for me. I hate cats. And of course, for some bizarre reason, they love me.
All slinky, independent and mysterious, they give me the creeps. Long ago I’d decided not to make war with them. If they truly had nine lives, that gave them nine chances to get back at me. I wasn’t risking it. As the feline weaved its body