Angel of Darkness (The Fallen #1)(67)
Author: Cynthia Eden

“When I drink your blood …” Her eyes tracked to just over his shoulder. Her hand lifted, slid down his back, and her fingers seemed to stroke the air. No, she was stroking his wings. “I see things,” she said.

A shudder worked down his body. He felt her touch on wings he no longer had. What the—

Her eyes came back to him. “You’re beautiful, Keenan.”

“Men aren’t beautiful.” If he didn’t have her soon, he’d erupt. “Men aren’t—”

“You’re a lot more than a man.” She turned away and headed up the stairs, her hips rolling and making him want to touch and take. “So much more.” Nicole tossed a teasing glance back over his shoulder. “So come prove it to me.”

Then she laughed, actually laughed, as she ran up the stairs.

Right then, the truth hit him. He knew exactly why he’d fallen, and he knew that if the choice came again, he’d face the fire once more.

For her.

He’d kill and he’d burn for his temptation.

Sam didn’t really know why he’d searched for the woman, but the dancer—Seline—had caught his eye that fiery night at Temptation, and since then she’d kept slipping into his dreams.

Normally, he only dreamed of fire and screams. But lately, he’d begun to dream of a woman who stripped … and stared at him with ice-cold eyes.

Finding her wasn’t very difficult. Most of the girls from Temptation had just bounced right over to Sunrise, another of his clubs, this one in a less desirable part of town. He went in and wondered if he’d find Seline on stage.

She wasn’t on stage—she was waiting tables, and dressed in a slim black, very, very short dress that made him want to lick her.

He picked a table in her area, then waited.

When she came toward him, he saw her hesitate. Her eyes widened a little. He knew fear when he saw it, but she kept heading toward him. Interesting. He lifted a twenty. “I’ll take a beer.”

She swiped the money and turned away.

He caught her wrist.

“You’re not supposed to touch,” she said, voice tense.

He kept touching. He stared at her skin—soft, silken skin—then let his gaze rise. Yes, it was still there. A sensual appeal that lapped at the senses and wouldn’t be denied. Even now, other eyes were on her, other men were waiting and watching. Sam nodded and let his touch linger a little longer before he freed her.

She stepped back and turned for the bar.

“I’d lay odds you’re a demon,” he said quietly.

The drink tray fell from her right hand. When she whirled around to stare at him with wide eyes, he smiled. “What? No one figured it out before?”

She shook her head and glanced around the club. “You … you shouldn’t be here.”

“Where else should I be?” His gaze dipped to her very long legs. “Besides, I like the view.”

Seline marched forward and curled her fingers around his chin. Delicate fingers forced his chin up as her eyes locked on his. “Someone’s hunting you.”

Sweet. She cared enough to warn him.

“I’m telling you …” She glanced over her shoulder. “Because I’ve heard you pay your debts.”

Not really, but he wanted her to keep talking so he kept his mouth shut.

“Tina … she talked to some guy after the fire—”

Tina? He vaguely remembered a blonde with big br**sts who’d been semi-skilled at pole dancing.

“She told him about you, about that woman who was with you in the back at Temptation.”

Ah, Seline was helping him now. Perhaps he would owe her for the information. “What did this man look like?”

“Six foot two, two hundred pounds, black hair, black eyes, with a Mexican accent.” She bent and scooped up her tray. “And if I’m not mistaken, he’s a shifter. He smelled like an animal, no mistaking that shifter scent.”

Seline was just full of surprises. “Your memory’s good.”

Her lips tightened. “It should be. He was in here not thirty minutes ago.”

His good humor vanished.

“I told Tina not to leave with him, but she wouldn’t listen to me.” Her knuckles whitened around the tray. “I didn’t like the way he looked. I—I’m worried that Tina might not be coming back.”

Possible. It was also possible that Tina had spilled every bit of information that she had on him. Tina wouldn’t know much though, she’d only seen him at the club, she wouldn’t—

“Tina’s been sleeping with Ron.”

Shit. He’d warned the demon to watch his guard with the girls, but Ron had a serious weakness for big br**sts. And the demon had no power to speak of. Almost as helpless as a human.

Seline nodded. “Your right-hand guy, isn’t he? If that shifter wants to know where you hang your dirty laundry, I’m guessing Ron can tell him.”

Sam lunged out of the chair and towered over her. “If you see that shifter again, stay the hell away from him.”

She laughed at that. “Do I look stupid?”

“You look like walking sex.”

She blushed. Blushed. A stripper wasn’t supposed to blush. Especially a demon stripper.

He turned away. There’d be time later to solve her puzzle.

“You owe me, Sam!” She called after him.

He didn’t stop. Whatever payment she wanted, he’d give her. After all, how much could it be?

But now, he needed to find Ron, and he had to make sure that demon didn’t talk.

Keenan raced after Nicole, stripping the shirt from his body. He went into the darkened room and found her waiting. Nicole knelt on the bed and she was already naked. Yes. He tossed his shirt onto the floor and finished stripping before her.

“You are the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen,” he told her as he stalked toward her.

Her gaze had tracked behind him, and he knew she was staring at the wings she shouldn’t see. Only the dying or those with angel blood could see—

Keenan stopped and laughed, because he should have realized the truth sooner. Thanks to him, Nicole had angel blood in her. He’d given up his blood plenty of times for her.

“What’s so funny?”

The bed dipped beneath his weight, and he shook his head. He caught her hand, kissed the top of her knuckles. A shiver slid over her.

“Keenan …”

He brought his body closer to hers. His fingers feathered over her breast. Such a soft, pretty nipple. He bent his head and licked her.