Part 7 (1/2)
Damian didn't check his gold Rolex, but glanced at the sinking sun. ”The shop's closed. We'll have to start tomorrow morning, when they open. That's when we'll find the first clue.”
Chapter 5.
A s Jamie went upstairs and headed for the bedroom, Damian followed. Archimedes darted past him, bolting inside the apartment.
Her stomach grumbled. Fis.h.i.+ng through the fridge, she found her usual grazing fare. Nothing looked appealing, not the leftover tofu or the brick of Swiss cheese.
A craving surfaced for fresh meat. Not even horrified, she entertained the idea of something raw and tasty. ”I'm starved,” she muttered, slamming the door. ”Maybe some fresh crayfish. So fresh they're still crawling.”
Blood drained from Damian's face. ”How about a tender, juicy steak?”
He picked up the phone, spoke a volley of rapid French.
Minutes later, Raphael came over. He dropped a plastic grocery bag on the kitchen table.
She peeked inside and her mouth watered. ”Oh, wow. Raw cube steak!”
Raphael gave Damian a look she couldn't understand.
Jamie ripped away the cellophane. Forget knife and fork. Standing at the table, she grabbed the beef and began tearing off bite-size chunks. One after another, she gobbled them down like candy. Barely pausing to chew, her hunger screaming its demand.
She caught the look they exchanged and glanced down. Blood pooled on the table. Her stomach gave a sickening twist. Jamie clapped a hand to her mouth.
Damian gently pulled it away. ”Don't. You're only experiencing a natural human reaction. Your body needs the food.”
”I'm a vegetarian.” Jamie wrapped her arms around herself. ”Oh G.o.d, I just ate a cow. What the h.e.l.l did you do to me, Draicon?”
”I saved you.”
”His blood is inside you now. Powerful magick changing your body chemistry and fighting the spell. You should be grateful,” Raphael chided.
”Blood? What blood...”
Damian's frown at Raphael warned her. The potion. ”You put your blood in that potion?” She fought down the urge to retch.
”Blood from a purebred Alpha male Draicon contains powerful magick,” Damian said quietly. ”It was the only way of slowing the spell.”
She was becoming a d.a.m.n werewolf. Thanks to Damian, her body had already started changing.
He tipped her chin up with a fingertip. ”Relax, and go with it, Jamie. It won't hurt you.”
”I don't care if it hurts me. I can't bear to hurt an animal. And now I'm eating them?” She stared at him. ”Will I turn into a wolf and hunt?”
”Non. But you will feel better.”
Think of the immediate. Jamie swallowed hard, forcing down the nausea.
”Okay, okay. I can deal. If it helps keep this thing from growing inside me. I'll do what I have to.”
He gave a real smile that lit up his eyes like Christmas bulbs. ”You are a zirondelle.”
Her eyebrows lifted at his gentle, teasing tone. ”Tell me you didn't insult me.”
”It's Cajun French for dragonfly. Dragonflies are honored among my people because they can move swiftly through life, see everything from different angles and adapt as needed. A zirondelle reflects sunlight off the bayou waters, is pa.s.sionate, emotional and rides the winds of change as fiercely as she loves life.”
No one had ever laid such praise at her feet. The comparison arrowed straight to her heart. How many times had she darted through life, forced to react and change? She longed to be such a creature, with the ability to soar far above pain and sorrow. A lovely iridescent being, who reflected only the light, and s.h.i.+mmered like the sun. In her heart, she knew it was an illusive dream.
”I'm not a zirondelle.” Jamie stumbled over the unfamiliar word, picking at her faded T-s.h.i.+rt. ”They're beautiful creatures of the light, and fearless. That's not me.”
Damian kissed her cheek gently. Maybe he meant it as rea.s.surance, but the soft warmth of his mouth on her cool cheek stirred another hunger.
His lips felt like a down quilt, promising snuggling comfort to chase away her body's chill. Suddenly she craved the heat, the closeness of his body pressed against hers. But she had seen his aggression, the testosterone rolling off him in waves.
He slid a hand up her nape, his touch a.s.sured and yet so gentle.
”Donnez-moi un pet.i.t kiss, chere,” he murmured. ”Come on, little one. One small kiss.”
Jamie lifted her face. One tiny kiss couldn't hurt. Nothing more, nothing further. Her lips parted in invitation as she slid her arms about his waist.
Something shuttered in his green eyes.
His mouth descended on hers swiftly. Damian cradled her head as he kissed her. Desire flared like gasoline poured on a smoldering fire. She kissed him back, her feelings askew, l.u.s.t making her limbs tremble.
Her mouth opened wide as she flicked her tongue over his lips.
With a low growl, he pulled her to him and crushed her mouth beneath his.
Her mind went to war with her body. Her mind shouting it was a mistake to kiss a Draicon, this Draicon. Her mind screaming to stop this fusing of mouths, the delicious heat he sent into her cold, cold insides.
Her body telling her mind to shut up and just let go.
She let go.
Jamie clutched his wide shoulders. He thrust his tongue inside, stroking the inside of her mouth in an erotic caress. Taking, penetrating her mouth as if staking his claim. She quivered with antic.i.p.ation, her eyes closed as she imagined him removing her clothing, laying her down and spreading her thighs apart with his strong hands. Then his big, powerful body mounting her as he thrust his c.o.c.k deep inside, spreading more of that delicious warmth into her, so she'd never be cold again.
Oh G.o.d, she needed this so badly she shook with the craving, like an addict needing a fix. Needed to seal herself to him, climb inside his wonderful warmth...
”Excusez-moi, but if you two need one, the bedroom's back there.”
Raphael jerked a thumb toward the hallway. Jamie wrenched herself free. Oh, she was warm now. An embarra.s.sed flush crept up her neck. To cover her confusion, she glared at Damian.
”Are you finished, wolf?”
”Not quite,” he murmured. ”But I'll save you for...dessert.”
His intent look was a warning. He licked his lips, as if tasting her all over again. The s.p.a.ce between her legs throbbed in answer.