Where was that bastard? By the bar? The entrance? In the throng of people beyond this throng of people? I’d start chasing the beat of his heart, thinking I was right there next to him, so close, only to follow the heartbeat home and find myself at the end of the line instead of him. Fuck!
“Don’t force it.” Orion touched my shoulder, making his presence known. Almost forgot he was there, that was a first. “Don’t hurt yourself.”
Too late for that. Sweat poured down my chest and a headache drilled into my skull, the music much too loud now. I had to get through. I had to see through his eyes and get inside.
Lives were on the line. There was a time when I’d have said that wasn’t my problem and turned a blind eye. I sounded like a dick, sure, but it was actually the kindest option. Anybody relying onmeto save their lives was already a goner… or at least that’s what I’d always been afraid of.
That I wasn’t enough to save anyone. That I’d fail.
But gettingthisclose to the literal demon from my worst nightmares, knowing he planned on hurting others, and he was here somewhere, practically in the palm of my hand?
Turning away wasn’t an option this time. Thiswasmy problem. Those lives were onmyhead. They were depending on me. I could handle a little pain while I pushed my senses and my magic to their limits.
What I couldn’t handle was losing anyone. Not again, not this time.
“Dammit!” I panted, trying to catch my breath like I’d just run a 10K. "It’s so fucking annoying. Where the fuck is he?”
“Rob, take a breath.”
“No, I can do this.”
A flash of lights, something flickered through my eyes. The picture started to form but it was so hazy. I clenched my teeth and tried to bring it into focus. But I couldn’t do it, it wouldn’t clear up. Nothing else mattered. I had to—
Orion disappeared from the edge of my vision. I didn’t pay much attention to where he went but then I felt a hard body press up behind me, a body I’d only dreamed about getting this close to. Orion pressed his front to my back, rocking against me in time with the music.
Well then. I might have magic, but I was only human. Our position certainly stole my attention. All my thoughts were suddenly in a much more familiar place, centered around Orion Lennox.
"Will you let me help?” Orion asked directly into my ear, causing me to shiver. “You’re doing everything you can, but—"
"I know, it’s not enough." I was going to fail. Lex might be right next to me, and I’d have no idea. He felt further than ever.
"—it’s not fair,” he elaborated. “BecauseI’mnot doing everythingIcan. Let me help."
Damn, how could I resist such a sweet offer? "…Okay."
My body fell back onto his, heavy and tired, and it felt good to let him hold me up. His arm came around my side and he placed a hand on my chest. Heat shot through me at the touch. His palm burned even through my shirt. Did demons run hotter than us regular-ish humans? Or did I just desire him so badly that even an innocent touch lit me up?
No, hang on. I had a much better question.
“Have you been hard this whole time?” I demanded. Did that always happen when his powers came to life?
His achingly hard erection pressed against my ass. My hips refused to not rock back into him. But this didn’t quite compute. He wasn’t into me. He’d already made that perfectly clear.
“Man, is it all the sex demon energy and pheromones and shit in here?”
“There’s no deeper meaning, Rob.” He practically growled into my ear. “I’m hard becauseyoumade me hard.”
“Oh, fuck off.”
“You’re what we sex demons call an acquired taste.”
“Oh, hardy fucking har.”
“I’ve thoroughly acquired it.” His hand squeezed my ass and continued its journey over my thigh and towards my rapidly growing erection. "You’ve been driving me crazy in a multitude of ways from the moment we met.” He bit the shell of my ear. “Including sexually."
"You-you never said."
"Figured it would be counterproductive."
