Demonic Passions Read online

  Keara found it appalling that her father had taken her mother’s will from her. She often thought, what if it were me? What if someone made me love him? How could anyone be that evil?

  Not that her father was evil. He’d obviously done this once, but he truly treated Elizabeth like a goddess. But the “what if” scared Keara more than anything.

  What if the demon lord had that power?

  What if that was the reason why she’d fallen in love with a human male?

  That hidden ability was also the main reason why her parents kept her away from teenage boys in school. Especially after the first incident with Johnny Dakin. She’d had a girlish crush on Johnny when she was fourteen, after she had hit her human puberty. Johnny was a senior in high school dating the head cheerleader.

  Until Keara wanted him. Imagined herself in love with him. Imagined him loving her back. No one could understand why Johnny broke up with Rebecca and began to stalk Keara.

  His attraction became an obsession. Even after Keara’s crush ended and turned to stark, plain fear. The honor student and quarterback of the football team just went crazy. Literally. He was still in a mental institution to this day.

  She continued to feel guilty over it.

  She hadn’t felt guilty over the men she’d driven insane since then.

  Not that there’d been many. She certainly made sure they were deserving of the fate before doling out the punishment.

  The wife beater. And the serial killer who only got off on necrophilia.

  And now it appeared the snake cop and his slimy attorney were making a decent woman’s life into a living hell. The wife would never know it but paybacks were a bitch. Like the old saying: What goes around, comes around. Especially when Keara was involved.

  It was almost an obsession with her. She’d gotten a taste of the power and was reluctant to let go. At first she’d only visited the bar a couple times a month, lately it was once a week, and now this would be her second visit three days later. She’d have to get a handle on things.

  But in spite of that, she was visiting again tonight. First though, a stop at her parents’ house. Her father had called her earlier and wanted to talk. It would be a serious issue since he called tonight, her mother’s Bunko night. Obviously he didn’t want Mom to overhear.

  She rapped lightly on the door before pushing it open and calling out.

  “Dad?”

  No answer. She shut the door behind her and wandered through the house. She found her father where he usually was, apron clad in the kitchen simmering various sauces and stews.

  “Daddy.”

  He leaned down to hug her, giving a little squeeze. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Cooking for the Bunkos tonight?” She teased, referring to the neighborhood women who met monthly for food, gossip and games.

  He grinned back. “I told them I’d take stuff over when it was done. Sit, babisna. We need to talk.”

  “Sounds serious.”

  “It is.”

  She sat, contemplating the gravity of his deep voice.

  “Enishka has risen.”

  “And found that you’ve married mom?”

  Her father nodded, deeply solemn. “Now he wants her daughter. You.”

  Keara was silent and her father continued on. “Don’t worry. He’ll take you over my dead body.”

  She grimaced. “Exactly what I don’t want, Dad.”

  Enishka, or the demon lord, had his eye on her mother all those years ago. Had actually raised the human infant to be his bride. Demitris hid his ability to make others fall in love with him and used it on her mother, easily stealing her away from the demon lord.

  Enishka was banished from his dimension for twenty-five years. For how could a demon underling exert more power than he? It appeared his time was up.

  “I don’t want you to do anything silly,” Demitris warned.

  “Of course not. But I am stocking up on power.”

  Her father agreed. “You need to protect yourself as best you can. Just remember everything I’ve taught you and be careful with the power sucking.”

  “Oh, I do, petreno. I’m a big girl.”

  “You’ll always be my little girl.”

  She smiled and leaned toward her father for a kiss. His natural skin was hard and cold, more of a reptilian texture than the soft, warm feel of a human.

  “Where’s your human face?” she chided. “Anyone could have walked through that door.”

  His eyes glowed with demonic mischief. “Wouldn’t it be great if it was that crazy old bat across the street?”

  “Nope,” Keara laughed. “You drive her any crazier and mom will catch on. Isabel’s her friend,” she reminded.

  Her father sighed. “I’ve given your mother everything she wants for too many years.”

  “You love it,” Keara laughed again. He was insanely fanatical about Elizabeth Knight, enough to happily give up his own dimension and hide among humans. “And I love you. I’ll see you later,” she said with another kiss to his roughened cheek.

  * * * * *

  Keara entered the bar as usual. She headed to her favorite spot and the bartender nodded, sliding her a drink without bothering to ask what she’d like.

  She hoped Mike would be in tonight. She was ready for round two. Knew which direction she’d take next for an even bigger power explosive.

  Instead of the anticipation of Mike however, instant need filled her midsection, melting her insides with liquid heat. She inhaled deeply, smelling the pheromones she’d smelled so frequently here. The enigma she hadn’t yet met. The whole reason why she was drawn to this spot.

  She never bothered to turn her head. “You’ve been watching me.”

  “Yeah.” The voice held promise. It rolled over her fevered body like rumbling silk, cooling and soothing at once.

  “Why?”

  “Wondering why you could keep picking the wrong type.”

  “Are you so sure I am?”

  “You can’t reach satisfaction with any of those losers.”

  “I’m not looking for love.”

  “No one looks for it.”

  Finally. A comment worth her full attention. Keara slowly turned in her seat to face the stranger who had approached. And to see the owner of that incredibly sexy, deep voice.

  He was gorgeous, although with her own looks such a hindrance, she never really cared about anyone else’s beauty as being a desirable trait. With her father’s appearance, she learned to love past the skin. But the look that met her first glance was impressive, blond hair with darker blond eyebrows set over contrasting chocolate brown eyes. Narrow nose. A sexy cut of jaw covered lightly in darker stubble. Stern, masculine features. A Greek god come to life.

  She’d forgotten what she was thinking. Geez, his eyes were gorgeous and she’d been told that often enough about her own. Entranced, she used her gifts to look deeper.

  Into the windows of his soul.

  Ruthless. Powerful. Determined. Sensuous. Raw sexuality.

  Familiarity.

  She froze as shock hit her midsection at the recognition.

  Caleb watched her reaction. It definitely was Keara, though he’d known her as Jenesi. Finally. She stared into his eyes, stunned. How would she react to seeing him in the flesh for the first time?

  About as expected. She clammed up. He could almost see the shutters that veiled her gorgeous eyes with a sweep of the long ledge of black lace that hid the sultry blue light long enough to mask her emotions.

  So she’d pretend ignorance. He held out a hand.

  “Caleb Van Trump.”

  “Nice to meet you, Caleb.”

  “Are we meeting, Keara?”

  Like he expected, she didn’t respond to the odd question, choosing instead to ignore it.

  “Mind if I sit?”

  She shrugged and he sat in the seat next to her.

  “Why are you here?”

  “I’m just meeting people. No crime there.”
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  “No crime,” he agreed. “Unless someone’s getting hurt.”

  She almost snorted. “Please. We’re all consenting adults. There’s no pain involved.”

  “Then you’d like a normal relationship. With someone who knows the game you’re playing.”

  “You offering?”

  “Don’t I always?”

  Once again, there was no response. Then a hesitant, “I don’t understand what you mean.”

  “Don’t you?”

  As if tired of playing a game in which she didn’t know the rules, she tossed a twenty onto the bar and grabbed her purse.

  “Wait,” he said, reaching out and wrapping long fingers around her bare arm. “I’m sorry. We got off on the wrong foot. And I think we can help each other out.”

  The touch of his bare skin to hers was so warm and sensuous, it felt magnetically charged. How could she not want it? Temptation was so sweet she could almost taste it.

  “How?” she murmured.

  “You’re looking for guys. And I can help you find them.” He pointed to a mirrored window high in the bar. “My office. From where I see lots of interesting things.”

  “I’ll think about it,” she hedged. “What would you want in return?”

  “Nothing.”

  “There’s always something.” Her voice was harsh as she walked away without a backward glance.

  Caleb watched her walk and cursed himself mentally. Dammit, he’d come on too strong. She refused to believe in their connection and wanted to pretend nothing out of the ordinary existed. He could let her pretend for a while but he was so excited to find her, it was unacceptable that she’d deny their attraction.

  And he’d missed her. Worried over her. Craved her, like a man craves the very air in his lungs.

  Still she denied him.

  How could he care for someone who refused to be protected? How could he love someone who refused to be cherished?

  He knew she believed her psychic abilities had contacted him all those years ago. She would turn tail and run if she thought it was a remote possibility that he’d searched for her instead. Keara, the most sought after woman on the planet was tired of being chased. She’d changed her name and was learning to fight back. And he didn’t blame her.

  Okay, so he’d slow down. He’d let her take the reins. For now.

  Caleb glanced at Jesse and the other man gave an almost imperceptible nod. She’d be back.

  When Keara did return later in the week, to the bartender’s frustration she sat at a more secluded table. Jesse couldn’t see or hear a thing from his spot behind the bar.

  Mike waved at her from two tables down and she gave him an encouraging smile. He grinned broadly and whispered to his attorney. Both looked her way and she gave a slight finger wave.

  It didn’t take long for the men to approach.

  She twirled a lock of glossy hair around her finger. “Who’s your friend, Mike?”

  “A good friend. Roderick,” he said, using the words she put into his mind.

  Roderick looked slightly taken aback at being called a good friend, then pleasantly pleased. She guessed he didn’t have too many. When she looked into his soul tonight, she’d know for sure.

  She held her hand out and gave a slow, sexy smile to the attorney. “What are you boys doing here tonight?” She directed the question to Roderick, trying to pull him in.

  “Just discussing Mike’s case, someplace where we won’t be overheard. We both work for the city and can’t use an office there. Too many ears.”

  “Ever think of using Mike’s apartment? It’s nearby,” she said, casually letting it slip that she’d been there.

  Roderick looked intrigued. “The drinks and the company are much better here though.”

  She laughed, a light tinkling sound meant to titillate a man’s senses. Slowly she uncrossed, then re-crossed her shapely long legs for his enjoyment.

  He stared unwaveringly. He’d be easy. Still too macho for the power conduit of a threesome however, so she’d have to tread lightly.

  “Mike,” she purred. “How about another drink?”

  “Sure, Keara. Anything.” He practically begged to fetch for her and walked quickly to the bar.

  Unfortunately, Roderick noticed.

  “Got him whipped, do you?”

  She shrugged. “He’s sweet.”

  Roderick raised his brows.

  “Okay, then. He’s not quite as experienced as I would have liked.”

  She could see by his face that the reasoning was much more plausible.

  “What are you after?”

  “A man who may want to inflict a little bit of pain on his, umm… Oh. So. Willing. Partner,” she said deliberately and watched his expression.

  Bingo.

  “Yeah,” Jesse answered the phone on just one short burst of a ring.

  “What the hell’s she doing at a table?”

  “Don’t know, boss. Can’t hear a thing.”

  “Dammit to hell. Think she’s onto you?”

  “I can’t see how. It doesn’t seem to be, she hasn’t glanced this way once. I think maybe she sat at a table to separate the two guys, to send one over here for the drinks.”

  “I should have the damn place wired,” Caleb muttered.

  Jesse was silent for a moment. “Going a little overboard with this chick, ain’t you, boss?”

  Caleb sighed. “Don’t worry about it. Go back to bartending. I’m coming down.”

  He probably did look neurotic over Keara. If only they knew.

  Mike returned with the drinks, carrying her usual martini rather sloppily because his eyes were focused on her. Looking past him, Keara caught the bartender’s wave. She raised her glass to him and returned her attention to the staring attorney and besotted cop.

  She slipped another mental push into Mike’s Neanderthal brain to start the ball rolling.

  “Keara,” he asked suddenly. “Doing anything special tonight?”

  “Nope. Just here killing time,” she smiled.

  “Want to stop by my place?”

  What the hell for, idiot? Do I have to put every single thought into your head?

  “I would but I’ve interrupted your business discussion. You two probably would like to finish it up.”

  “We can finish,” Mike said. “Then you can come over. We’ll have a party.”

  “Keara.”

  She looked up and tried not to groan at the deep, sexy voice she knew so well. “Caleb,” she said, her voice on a whisper. What was he doing here? He’d ruin everything.

  “What are you up to?” he nearly growled.

  “Just talking.”

  Caleb narrowed his eyes at Mike. “Goudy.”

  Mike’s personality returned without Keara’s influence. He gave a hostile glare before muttering, “Van Trump.”

  Keara watched the display curiously. Caleb and Mike obviously had dealings in the past.

  Caleb turned his sexy eyes back to her. “I thought I’d hear from you?”

  She shrugged.

  “You ready for that tour now?”

  “I’m, um, busy tonight.”

  “Not with these losers. It’s not safe.”

  “Hey,” Goudy protested as he rose.

  “Wait a minute!” Roderick joined in.

  The glare Caleb gave had both men returning to their seats. And had Keara rising from hers.

  “I need to talk to you,” she said shortly. She whispered a mental command to Goudy. “Stay.”

  She walked quickly over to the phone area where things were a little quieter. Caleb followed, eyes narrowed.

  “What is going on?” she demanded.

  “It’s not safe. You know those two somehow. What are you up to? Trying to get yourself killed?”

  “I know what I’m doing, dammit.”

  “Then what is it?” he drawled.

  She almost slipped up but caught herself just in time. “I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”