Chapter One
I struggled through a haze of cool fog, pushing my way out to emerge naked on an empty city street where a solitary streetlamp lit the corner of the next block. Drawn to its unearthly glow, I floated along on silent feet, my focus forward, the warmth it promised tugging at me like an invisible string, guiding me, beckoning, pulling me.
As I neared, a shadow broke away from the lamp pole.
A flash of fear brought me to a momentary halt, my pulse leaping, flight instinct warring against the lure that urged me forward.
The shadowâs soft chuckle heated the night air. Warm hands reached out to grab me, wrapping me in a cocoon of naked, muscular male.
My fear evaporated and I sighed, burying my face against his chest. âBlaise.â
âYes, sweet Katya, itâs me.â
My fingers curled into the hair at the nape of his neck, tilting his head toward mine, my lips longing for the caress of his. I hated that I needed him, like a body needs liquid to quench its thirst. âWhere have you been?â
âOut.â He brushed his mouth across mine with the lightness of butterfly wings.
I wanted more, pressing into him, lifting my head, impatient, my nerves tingling in anticipation.
His lips met mine, crushing, invading, his tongue edging past my teeth. He pushed me backward until my shoulders connected with the solid brick wall of a building. Then he pressed a knee between my thighs to part them and lifted my legs to wrap around his waist.
The brick fell away, replaced by the soft, billowy bed of cottony clouds. I sank into the comfort, taking him with me, my ankles locking behind his back.
His cock pressed into me, thrusting into the slickness of my channel, stretching me with his thick, hard girth.
I moaned, my tongue twisting around his, thrusting in rhythm with his hips, his cock, the way he moved over my body.
Ripples of release pulsed across my nerves, building in cascading explosions until my back arched off the clouds.
His cock thrust one last time and we ignited in a simultaneous release of the purest sunburst of energy.
My breath held as I rode the waves of ecstasy to shore, the ebb and flow of sensation drawing me back in and out until I fell back to earth, my descent cushioned by the grasp of his hands on my hips.
When at last I could breathe on my own, I lay limp, my muscles and bones liquefied under Blaiseâs intense assault.
âOpen your eyes,â he whispered, pressing his lips to each eyelid, coaxing me to comply.
âNot yet,â I mumbled, my legs tightening around him, refusing to let go, refusing to awaken from whatever dream I was in.
An annoying buzzing blasted through my refuge of half-sleep, half-dream, shooting through my ear, straight into my head. âWhat the hell?â My eyes popped open, my ankles released, my heels falling to the mattress of my bed. The incessant buzzing continued, complete with a clatter of plastic on the wooden surface of my nightstand, effectively ending my sensual dream.
Blaise rolled off me, collapsing against the pillows.
I snatched my cell phone up, punching the talk button. âDanske.â
âMeeting at the precinct in fifteen.â
My bossâs words cut through the remaining haze of sleep, chasing back the lingering fluffs of fog, returning me to earth with a resounding thud.
âFifteen?â I glanced at the clock and groaned. I wasnât due on duty for another hour and a half. âI need a shower.â
âI donât care what you smell like. Be here in fifteen.â Lieutenant Thomas, the detective assigned the illustrious duty of managing Manhattanâs Paranormal Investigative Team, had spoken. âAnd bring Blaise with you.â
âWhat if I donât know where he is?â
âCut the crap, Agent Danske. Where you are, he is. Both of you, in the War Room in fifteen.â The line cut off.
I glanced at my partner, Blaise Michaels, the demon whoâd taken up residence in my life. âYou hear that?â
He nodded.
âDoes he think you live here?â I tossed back the blankets, strode naked to the scuffed dresser Iâd purchased from a secondhand store and yanked open the top drawer, digging around for a bra and panties.
âHow will anyone take me seriously, if they think youâre living with me?â I flung a narrow-eyed glare at him. âAnd how the hell did you get in? I locked the double bolts and windows before I hit the sack.â