Goddess, Awakened. Cate Masters

He radiated heat and need, crackling along his skin like an electric storm that sent vibrations to her core.

      “Joss.”

      His low voice rumbled over her like thunder. The whisper burned along her nerve endings like tequila, at once loosening her inhibitions and tightening her insides. She ran her hand up his neck and into his hair. A dangerous motion, possibly self-destructive, like throwing herself into the fires of Hell. At the moment, she wanted to risk the burn of his fire. The intensity shone in his eyes. Penetrated her skin wherever he touched. Rather than the scorching she expected, his warmth proved surprisingly pleasant, and she wanted to burrow deeper.

      She clung with the desperation of one drowning. She gave herself over to the cresting wave crashing over her head. Risky as it was—anyone could have walked downstairs, come through the back door, or seen them through the window—she didn’t protest when he reached beneath her skirt and scooped her up to the counter. In clumsy haste, she unzipped his trousers and wrapped her legs tightly around his thighs, urging his upward thrusts from his tiptoe stance. His urgent whispers, constant murmurs of her name, brought her to a quick climax. Soon after, he clutched her tighter yet, and his body shuddered against hers. Through his dampened shirt, his heart pounded against her chest.

      His breaths deepened and slowed. “Are you all right?”

      The question—his concern—surprised her. Touched her. “Yes.”

      With a shy smile, he caressed her cheek with his thumb. “It was uh, quicker than I would have liked.”

      “For me too.”

      “We could go to your room.” He eased away to meet her gaze, his intensity concentrated on her. “I’ll try to make it last longer next time.”

      Her stomach clenched. Next time. There couldn’t be a next time. There shouldn’t have been a first time. “No, I can’t.” What if they found out? Her head still reeled from trying to absorb all the family history. She couldn’t chance becoming involved with anyone right now.

      His hand stilled at her waist, and he drew further back. “Right. You’re probably exhausted.”

      “Yes,” she lied. She wouldn’t sleep a wink.

      “I could help you finish up.”

      Sending him away would be easier if only he would stop acting so nice. One hint at all the strange goings on in her life, and he’d disappear in a hurry. “It’s better if I do it myself.” Less dangerous for him should an Underworld spy lurk outside. And the sooner he left, the less chance her family might spot him too.

      When she heaved a strangled breath, his smile faded.

      Easing away, he said, “Right, I’ll go.”

      She opened her mouth, then closed it. Much as she wanted him to stay, he was safer to leave. With his vibes still so unsettled and chaotic, she doubted he could handle much more. Yet, anyway. Better to take it slow.

      He kissed her, brief, warm, and all-enveloping. “I’ll see you.”

      Unable to bring herself to repeat the words, she nodded. “Good night.” She fought the urge to call him back when he hesitated at the back door.

      Time. She needed time to think. It had happened so quickly, sweeping away her reason. Her sanity, apparently.

      With his hands on her skin still vivid in her mind, she went to bed.

      * * * *

      Driving the short distance to his place, Eric couldn’t stop smiling. He hadn’t planned to make love to Joss. It simply had happened, as naturally as if they’d done it thousands of times before.

      In his imagination, they had. He’d never expected to be so lucky as to experience it for real.

      Pulling his truck to a stop outside the door, he sat for a moment. Heat washed over him, reliving her touch. He’d never dreamed it would be so amazing. Desire so intense, it burned away any thought except to have her, every bit of her. He couldn’t hold her close enough, get deep enough inside her.

      So why had she pushed him away?

      Stepping out of the truck, he stood rooted, staring at the inn. He should go back to her, right now. Clear up whatever misunderstanding had upset her.

      Turning to the truck door, he ducked when something swooped near his head. “What the—” Each time he attempted to get back in his truck, black creatures flitted close. He waved to drive them off. More and more surged out at him.

      “Get away.” He swung harder. Glancing up, ice filled his veins. Their tiny faces resembled Sheree’s. The same upturned nose, the same red lips, the same beady eyes.

      Their screeches echoed through the darkness, oddly sounding like laughter. The creatures swarmed, pressing him toward his back door. Tugging his jacket over his head, he crouched and sprinted inside. Wings beat at the glass after the door closed behind him.

      “Get lost!” His yell had zero effect. The creatures flew in a chaotic mass, flitting crazily. The black mass of bodies blocked his view of the inn. Not until he moved away from the door did they disband into the night.

      Try as he might to conjure the warmth of Joss’s embrace, her beautiful face, the only one who came to mind was Sheree. Frustrated, he went to bed. Each fleeting thought of Joss only brought an angry screech at the window.