TangledHunger Read online

  Now he just had to persuade her to allow the heat to run its course. He sighed. Going by the emotions darkening her eyes, that would be as easy as a walk out of an airlock.

  Tanasha couldn’t believe what had just happened. How the Jade could she have let go like that? Not only did he see her wings, but he touched them as well.

  And it had been the best experience of her life.

  She’d had a number of long-term relationships when she was younger. They’d grown few and far between once she’d realized the men didn’t really want her. They wanted to use her to get to her father or wanted to say they fucked the freak.

  She’d never felt close enough to any of them to share her wings. Why the Jade would she let a Vampire touch them? And why had it felt better having sex fully clothed with him than naked with another man?

  Tanasha wanted to rub her head and crawl into a corner to figure things out, but they didn’t have time. She shoved her confusion and worry behind the door he’d told her to envision. Then she straightened her shoulders and attempted to take a step back.

  He didn’t let go.

  Of course he had to make things difficult. “Please let go.”

  “Only if you agree to have dinner with me tonight.”

  Her eyebrows rose. “You don’t eat.”

  “But you do and it is something normal dating people do, go out to dinner,” he explained.

  “We don’t have time.”

  “You collapsing from hunger won’t help.”

  Tanasha tried to escape again but he’d locked his hands behind her back, beneath her wings. She pushed against his chest to get a little space between them. He didn’t give her much.

  “I don’t think it would be a good idea to make this mistake even bigger than it already is,” she said. Tension spread through his body. “The last few days have been difficult and my emotions got the better of me. How about we file this unfortunate occurrence under client privileges and move on.”

  His gaze narrowed and he released her. “I know you said your wings end up in an alternative dimension, but you didn’t mention your brain followed suit. Did you not just erupt in my arms like a volcano? Once we make it between the sheets we’ll set the planet on fire.”

  For some reason she felt cold without Duncan’s heat surrounding her. Whereas his face had been if not soft then more relaxed, he now shut down. He crossed his arms in front of his mile-wide chest, eyes hard. “Are you sure you want this to end here? Be certain it is what you really want, before you deprive both of us.”

  Tanasha had been ready to say she wanted their relationship to be completely professional but lost her voice.

  She’d been alone for a very long time, even surrounded by her family. After what she’d been through trust didn’t come easy.

  He’d brought her to orgasm fully clothed. With his kiss and his touch. What could he do if they were both naked? And then there was this connection. It scared her to pieces to share herself with somebody, but the mental intimacy they’d shared for that brief moment in the made-up room had been incredible. Part of her wanted to return there, wanted to combine their mental and physical intimacy. It would be beyond her wildest dreams.

  Did she really want to give up this opportunity to experience more than she probably would in a lifetime? He didn’t look as if he would give her another chance if she said no now.

  Sydney always told her to live a little.

  Tanasha cleared her throat. “I would enjoy having dinner with you tonight.”

  Some of the tension drained away but his pursed lips and lowered brows remained.

  She struggled for a neutral subject. “Have you noticed how unusually warm for the time of year it is?”

  Duncan remained silent. However, he nodded and his lips twitched.

  Slick, Nasha, very sophisticated. The weather. Seriously?

  “We should get going,” Tanasha said, attempting to smooth her hair. She was a mess. “I¼I need a moment.”

  He raised his brow, strode to the transport and pulled her bag out for her. For a moment she was grateful they’d ended up on an uninhabited stretch of road between Districts. She gestured at him.

  He rolled his eyes and turned his back on her.

  With quick strokes she restored her hair and checked her face. The PermaUp had done its job. Nothing was smeared or out of place. She lifted her wings higher, creating a barricade between them as she used a tissue to clean herself up. Not as much as she would have liked, but they didn’t have time for her to go home, shower and change.

  Tanasha felt better when she turned back to Duncan. He still had his back to her. For some reason that made her smile. She cleared her throat.

  He turned around and opened the transport door for her.

  Her wings flickered once like a bad holo image and then vanished before she climbed inside. Duncan followed and took his seat next to her, his leg touching hers. His shoulder rubbed along hers as he restarted the transport.

  A shiver of excitement ran through Tanasha. She wasn’t sure what she let herself in for, but she hadn’t felt this energized in ages. For once she actually participated in life rather than watching from the sidelines.

  Chapter Three

  Duncan enjoyed the feel of her next to him.

  She had been one step away from ending this before it even started. Under normal circumstances he had too much pride to follow where he wasn’t wanted, but he wasn’t so sure if he could have let her go if she demanded it.

  He studied her out of the corner of his eye. The slight flush he brought to her cheeks was still there, but the stiffness had left her body. She now relaxed into the seat and didn’t try to put an imaginary wall between them.

  He found his little finger tapping against his leg and squelched the tell. Why had she been so hesitant to agree to dinner? It was as if she’d had to overcome some great fear before she allowed herself to say yes.

  Duncan’s hands turned into fists. If some scecxi had hurt her, he would go out and drink him dry. Tanasha was sturdy enough, but underlying her backbone of steel was a vulnerability he knew some men would want to take advantage of.

  They arrived at the District gates before he had a chance to question her. He slumped in his seat and moved his arm around her shoulders. She hesitated for a moment but then rested against him and allowed him to play with her lush hair.

  To his surprise her tension didn’t abate. She appeared relaxed and in control, but her right hand, the one hidden from view of the Guard officer, clenched into a tight fist. When the officer pinned him with a gaze that he probably thought would make Duncan’s knees shake, he leaned closer to Tanasha and nibbled at her ear.

  She took a small breath. “Officer, add Duncan O’Clare to my Preferred Visitor list.”

  The officer actually gaped. “You want to give a Vampire unrestricted access?”

  Her expression gave nothing away, actually became haughty enough to give the most arrogant Naema Duncan had ever seen a run for his credits. But her hidden fist clenched even tighter.

  He put his hand over hers. She softened a little against him but her expression remained calm.

  Tanasha raised a brow. “I believe that is what I just said. If you cannot cope with such a simple task, I will have to ask your supervisor to take over.”

  The boy stiffened. His face hardened. He made some adjustments on his small hand-held comp. “I am certain you understand this is highly irregular.”

  Ice covered Tanasha’s voice in a thick layer. “I don’t believe I asked for your opinion.” She turned away and Duncan instructed the transport to continue on its journey. The officer’s eyes bore into the back of his neck.

  “That was fun,” he said.

  Tanasha slumped against him and snorted. “Totally. They’re so excited, they’ll call together a fan club just for you.”

  Duncan smiled. His little Naema didn’t like confrontations, but the synth-steel backbone he sensed made an appearance when necessary. For some reas
on that made him horny. He nuzzled her cheek and inhaled her delicious scent. “And that’s just what I wanted.”

  He captured her lips in a kiss that went from light and teasing to mind-blowing in under a second. Her taste and heat sank inside him, sank into dark and shadowy corners he’d kept hidden from everybody.

  Tanasha moaned and leaned closer, her fingers thrusting into his hair. He pulled her onto his lap. Her luscious weight, her beautiful breasts rubbing against his chest made him wish they were anywhere but on their way to see a villain.

  Duncan pulled back. “Nasha.” He groaned when she rubbed against him. He bit her lower lip. “Nasha,” he said again, this time louder.

  She panted and looked at him with glazed eyes.

  He cupped her face. “We’re nearly here. Would you like me to reprogram the transport for the scenic route?”

  Tanasha frowned. He knew when the realization dawned. She turned bright red.

  He kissed her hot cheek. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Nasha. You can’t imagine how desperately I hope you will choose the scenic route.”

  Some of the heat faded and she gave him a shy smile. “Maybe¼maybe you¼you could¼you could hold that thought?”

  Duncan wanted to murder the scecxi who had put this hesitation, this doubt into the beautiful, sensual woman on his lap. “Honey, holding the thought will be no problem at all. It will dominate my mind until the moment we have opportunity to continue.”

  With one last quick kiss he helped her slide from his lap, missing her the instant she was no longer in his arms.

  She didn’t get a chance to respond. The transport stopped outside a two-story elegant white mansion. The yard surrounding the building was well tended with a number of beautiful and colorful flowering beds.

  An at-least-seven-foot-tall ornamental steel fence encircled the building. The gap between the individual slats was wide enough to see through, but Duncan had a feeling the sharp spikes on top of the fence weren’t purely decorative. It included a double-gate entrance. A wide vehicle road ran parallel to a meandering footpath, both ending at the massive front door.

  “Let me guess, he needs the double gate to fit himself and his ego through the door.”

  A quick smile brushed her lips. “You’re not far off. He ordered the fence set up about three weeks before the wedding, shortly after everybody fell in love with him.”

  She took his hand and led him to a smaller gate a few steps away from the main gate. When they stepped through, Duncan felt a chill run down his spine.

  And he wasn’t the only one.

  “You felt it too.” Tanasha tightened her grip.

  He brought her hand to his lips. “Like somebody running an ice cube down your naked back.”

  Her breath caught and she dropped her gaze. “You are the first one to feel it, nobody else has. They keep telling me it’s my imagination.”

  Duncan cupped her cheek in his palm and tilted her chin up before brushing a small kiss against her full lips. “I don’t know if I would have felt it without our link. I’ve always been sensitive to magic, but this is something else. It feels like a kind of influence spell. It opens the mind and makes it easier for the caster to manipulate his victims.”

  Tanasha’s hand clenched around his. “So he can manipulate everybody. What the Jade does he want?”

  Duncan kissed her hand and propelled her forward. “Let’s find out.”

  They walked up to the front door. It opened before they had a chance to knock and a maid-bot greeted them. “The master is free to see you. Please follow me.”

  Where the outside had seemed somewhat quaint and a little old-fashioned, the interior was the complete opposite. Stark and modern finishes of steel and other metals ran throughout the house. They didn’t match the curvy lines or sunny windows, but created a tension in Duncan’s chest, an imbalance he found disturbing.

  And I’ve never had much interest in interior design. “Let me try something.” He released her hand and took half a step aside so they no longer touched.

  The sense of disturbance vanished. He still didn’t like the house very much, but he no longer worried about interior design. Duncan clasped Tanasha’s hand again. “It’s you,” he whispered, nuzzling her cheek in case they were under surveillance. She tensed, but relaxed as he continued speaking. “You help me see the imbalance in this place. Who is the designer?”

  “Marius. He continuously complained how antiquated and staid Sydney’s house was. I don’t know what happened, except that at one point she gave in and let him change everything.”

  “He should never been let close to the design comp. What is this supposed to be? Minimalists ‘R’ Us or Stark and Bleak?” He said the words loud enough to be heard on any microphone that might be listening in.

  For a moment Tanasha rested her head against his chest. “Thank you.”

  He kissed her hair. “What for?”

  “For making me smile.”

  “You’re welcome.” He put his arm around her shoulders and followed the maid-bot, his eyes never staying still and taking in every detail around him. “What’s with the crystals?”

  “They’re from a small moon circling one of the outer planets. Marius part-owns a mine up there and Sydney likes how they sparkle.”

  They stopped next to a metal side table and Duncan lifted his hand to pick up a faceted clear crystal. Before he could touch the sparkling rock he got a massive shock, as if he’d stuck his finger in a power outlet. “Ouch!” He shook his hand. “It zapped me.”

  “I’m not surprised. With all this metal, static probably builds up continuously.”

  Duncan nodded and they continued on. He didn’t think the shock was just static build-up. He remained quiet as they reached beautiful double doors, each with decorative stained glass at its center.

  The maid-bot opened them and led them into a large open-plan room. The horrible décor continued, but the views through the big windows and the high ceiling showed how beautiful the room had once been.

  The Naema who had to be Marius stood with a group of other Naemas. He was nearly as tall as Duncan, but dressed as if he was about to meet the ArchNaema Council and their families. His brown hair could probably be used as a hammer with all the product in it making it hard as a rock. His shirt and trousers appeared handcrafted and decorated. He wore a ring on his right hand, the crystal at its center large enough to draw Duncan’s eye.

  The Naema stepped away from his followers and approached Tanasha with his hands stretched out before him. The large ring reflected rainbow colors on the empty white walls surrounding them. “Tanasha, it is such a pleasure to see you again. How are you, my dear?” Marius Villette widened his arms as if to hug her. She stepped behind Duncan, who pulled her closer and grabbed one of the outstretched hands with his own. When his fingers bumped into the large crystal he received another, smaller shock.

  “Estimable Villette, what a pleasure to meet you. I am only sorry it is under these circumstances.” He shook the Naema’s hand with exaggerated enthusiasm.

  The host’s effusiveness cooled visibly. He released Duncan’s hand quickly and wiped it on his trousers. Then he clasped his hands behind his back and swayed on his heels. “And you are?”

  “Duncan O’Clare. I ran into sweet Tanasha when she came looking for a PI. She told me that your wife disappeared and was so distraught I had to take the case.” He winked at the slimebag before him, pretending he didn’t really believe Tanasha’s story.

  Some of the tension drained out of Villette, but the Naema watched him as if he were something that needed to be scraped off the bottom of his shoes. His eyes kept returning to Duncan’s arm around Tanasha.

  Duncan moved his fingers to her neck and gently caressed the soft skin.

  Marius narrowed his gaze.

  At first Duncan assumed the Naema’s tension came from having a Vampire in the room, but now another thought came to mind.

  His caressing fingers wandered from Tan
asha’s neck to her earlobe to the underside of her chin. She leaned into his hand, demonstrating her enjoyment.

  Marius never took his eyes off Duncan’s fingers and when Tanasha leaned closer, the Naema’s lips pinched.

  Now, isn’t that interesting.

  “There is no need for a PI and even if there was, we would not require the likes of you.”

  “Be that as it may, the Honorable Omeiko asked for my help and as she is the one paying the bill, I’d love to ask you some questions.”

  “Please, Marius,” Tanasha spoke up. “I know you think I’m crazy, but even if Sydney is only on a pleasure trip I need to know for sure. You may not be worried, but I am.”

  Villette smiled at Tanasha and bowed. “Certainly, my dear. For you I will do this.” He held out his arm. “Let me guide you to a seat where the Vampire can ask me his silly questions.”

  Duncan didn’t want to give up his hold on Tanasha. His gut told him that would be a very bad idea. Instead he decided to have some fun. “Villette, kaveri”. He patted the Naema’s shoulder. The colloquial use of “friend” was an obvious insult. Villette looked as if he was about to pull the dagger at his waist. “I’ll take delicious Tanasha where she needs to go.” He jabbed his elbow in the other man’s side. “There are some unexpected bennies to working for her.” He winked again and dragged Tanasha to a two-seater. His jab may have been harder than necessary, but his conscience was clear.

  “This good for you?” He dropped onto the sofa and pulled Tanasha into his embrace. Then he kicked a footstool to Villette. “There you go, isn’t this comfy?”

  Tanasha rested her head against his chest, but not before he saw the smile she desperately attempted to hide.

  Villette strode after them and pulled a matching armchair over, kicking the helpless footstool aside.

  Temper, temper. Duncan kept his fool smile on his face. “So, when is the last time you saw your runaway bride?”

  Villette leaned forward in his chair and began to play with his crystal ring. The sunlight streaming in through the big windows made it shimmer with all the colors under the sun. The rainbow sparkles mesmerized him, made him want to get closer.