Sin & Spirit (Demigods of San Francisco Book 4) Read online

  Yeah, we were definitely both cracked and maybe a little stupid.

  “As silly as you marking me?” I smiled.

  I expected him to bend and kiss me, but he looked out over the street, on guard. His emotions didn’t tell me that he was spooked about anything, though. Probably just watchful after last night.

  “Sillier,” he said, a grin tugging at his lips. He shrugged. “Something to think about.”

  “I mean…” I dragged my teeth across my lip, still trying desperately to play it cool, but nearly bursting with love. I shrugged one shoulder. “If you don’t need two houses to fit all your egos, then you’re right—sharing a place wouldn’t be much different than what we’re doing now. I’d be in for that, as long as I get to keep mine so I can sell it when I break up with you next time.”

  “It’s cute that you think I’d somehow not follow you around like a creep. I mean, how did we meet?”

  “You followed me around like a stalker creep.”

  “Right. So…”

  I laughed and rolled my eyes. “For the record, I do still feel like I’m weighing you down. It isn’t sitting right with me.”

  He rubbed his hands along my upper arms. “You’ve been thrown into the deep end of this magical world. I appreciate that you want to do what’s best for me. I’m hoping someday soon that you’ll realize you are what’s best for me. If you ever decide you need to leave San Francisco, we’ll go together. I will not lose you over a job—let’s get that clear.”

  I widened my eyes, not having expected that. The scenario hadn’t even crossed my mind.

  He smiled. “I win. So, about moving in together…”

  Blood rushed to my cheeks and other, more delicate parts. “What about Daisy? We can’t go very deep into the magical world with her.”

  “She’s got that magical fake ID, she’s the ward of a dreaded Soul Stealer, personally protected by the resident Demigod of San Francisco, and a little nightmare that no one would, in their right mind, cross. She’ll be just fine.”

  “Resident Demigod?”

  His smile slipped a little. “I rule, but in order to be recognized by the magical political forces, I need to be officially put on the books. That happens at the next summit. It is rarely contested, but…”

  There was so much I didn’t know. I’d need to really hit the books if I was going to help him. Because I was tired of being dead weight. Starting tomorrow, I would pull up my britches and get to work. Right after breakfast. Or maybe after brunch.

  The little bleep of a soul meandered closer, and I looked that way to see what might slip out of the trees and brush. Kieran’s body tightened. “What is it?”

  “Just a…” I squinted in the darkness before layering the world with spirit so I could see better. “Behold, it is a pale horse, and he who sits on it has the name Death, and Hades is following with him.”

  “What?” Kieran grabbed my arm.

  The little creature’s tail flicked as it slinked closer. It let out a loud meow.

  “It’s a cat,” I said, laughing.

  Wariness swirled within him. He didn’t release his hold. “A shifter, or just a plain cat?”

  “A plain one,” I said, frowning up at him. “Shifters maintain their human souls after they shift. Are you okay? You seem really jumpy. I’ll know it if one of the spirit monsters from last night rolls through. Probably.”

  He shook his head and pushed open the door. “It’s nothing. Let’s get something to eat, and then you can thank me for that necklace in creative ways.”

  9

  Alexis

  Kieran wasn’t the only one feeling a little jumpy. I read it on Boman and Henry’s faces. I noticed it in the absent way Donovan randomly used his magic to lift and lower things, as though testing to make sure he could. Thane would barely stay seated, preferring to stand near doors or hover near windows, and Jack burned dinner. The only one who was utterly calm and cool was Zorn, and that was probably the scariest of all.

  They’d all be staying close tonight. I didn’t know what they thought they could do against a Demigod wandering the streets in spirit form, but I knew I’d feel more comfortable getting some shuteye with them on hand.

  I finished touching up my light dusting of makeup and fussing with my hair in the bathroom. I wore the absolutely gorgeous necklace Kieran had gotten me, feeling the weight of it as it hung between my bare breasts. I loved the symbolism of our entwined magics. Our entwined souls.

  He waited at the window, his hands in his pockets, looking out at the blackness that blanketed the horizon. I took a moment to marvel at his broad, muscled back, cinching down into trim hips. His raven hair was long on top and short on the sides, a little messy from the way he’d been running his hands through it all evening.

  Of course Nancy wanted him. All women wanted him. He was as handsome as he was debonair. As charming as he was big-hearted. He was a knight in shining armor who was confident enough in his masculinity to love a strong woman who could desecrate a battlefield. He was my dream come true, and here he stood, in a house he had selflessly bought for me.

  He was too good for words. Much too good.

  “Hey,” I said softly.

  He looked back, turning as he did so. When his eyes hit mine, he froze. They dropped, sinking down to the necklace adorning my nude body. Then lower, taking in the rest of me. Hunger raged in those stormy blue eyes. Desire. The effect boiled my blood.

  “You are so fucking beautiful, Alexis,” he whispered, facing me. His large bulge stood out in his pants. “There are no words.”

  He’d just said plenty of words. But with that look in his eyes, he hadn’t needed to say anything at all.

  “Sorry for what I said earlier,” I said, slinking toward him. I trailed my fingers over the necklace, letting them descend to my suddenly taut nipple. “It was my own issue, not my lack of trust in you.”

  He shook his head, his gaze following my hand.

  “I love you, Kieran.” I trailed my fingers lower until they were at my pubic line. “I do want to move in with you. No, I do not feel chained here. I knew you’d take the position. That’s fine with me. I’m happy just to be with you, wherever you are.” I massaged my clit a little, and all the air puffed out of him.

  He yanked me to him so fast that I sucked in a startled gasp. Before I knew it, my nipple was in his hot mouth and his hand was running up my inner thigh. His fingers replaced mine on my clit, working me to a fast start.

  I knew the best thanks I could give him wouldn’t be hours of pleasuring him, though that would definitely be round two. It would be to appeal to his raw, wild, primal side. To coax him into losing control doing what he was designed to do—guarding that which he deemed his.

  “Mark me,” I whispered. “Claim me.”

  He moved to the other nipple while laying his palm on the necklace. His hand moved so his fingers now covered my heart.

  “I love you,” he said, and picked me up, hurrying me to the bed.

  I fell back on the soft sheets. He rose and grabbed the back of his shirt, pulling it over his head. He ripped at the buttons on his trousers. I lifted my knees, spreading my thighs on the bed.

  His breath turned harried. His emotions burned with need and spiraling desire. With that primal need to take his woman.

  Feeling it, I worked myself until his large cock sprang free. I licked my lips in eager anticipation.

  He crawled onto the bed after me, pausing to run his hot tongue up my center. He sucked in my nub, and I groaned in pleasure, running my fingers through his hair as his Selkie magic glided across my body. The sensations teased me in the best of ways. They drove into me as surely as he was about to—fiercely intimate and inhumanly delicious.

  “Oh yes, Kieran,” I said, swinging my hips up into him.

  He threaded two fingers into me, pounding his fingers in rhythm with his sucking. With the other hand he reached up and tweaked a nipple, driving my pleasure deeper. Turning me wild with it.r />
  “Yes. Yes. Oh God, yes.” I arched on the bed, soaking it in. Rising higher. Words turned to moans. Heat burned through my body. My world reduced down to the exquisite sensations caused by his ministrations.

  “Yes!” I blasted apart, sucked under the tide and happily lost. I shuddered, my eyes closing, as he moved up. His chest slid against mine. The necklace jingled between us.

  “I love you,” he said, and kissed up my neck to my collarbone. His lips then fitted against mine, our tongues soon twirling together. There would be no time to rest. No time to get my bearings before this next onslaught of divine lovemaking.

  His large cock slid into me, filling me up. I groaned, my eyes fluttering with how good that felt. How right. His Selkie magic whispered across my skin, driving all thought from me.

  He took my hands and threaded his fingers between mine. His kiss turned insistent. Dominating.

  He pushed our hands up to above our heads and held them there, trapping me beneath him. Covering me with his size and strength. Doing as I’d asked, and claiming me.

  The pace increased. He drove into me faster now. I tugged my hands, wanting to run them down his muscular back, but he held on, in control. My inner beast mewed for more power from him. For the might I knew he was capable of. I wanted a show of it as my man consumed me in a way only he could.

  “Harder,” I begged, gyrating up to meet him. Desperate for him.

  He made a sound halfway between a groan and a growl. He swirled his tongue with mine, his lips forceful. His kiss nearly bruising. He continued to hold my hands as he rammed into me rhythmically. The bed thumped against the wall and I moaned into his mouth.

  The world vanished. I felt spirit flood the room around us. The Line pounded into being and magic filled me to bursting.

  “Yes,” Kieran said, pushing himself up a little on his hands so he could work harder. He thrust into me with wild abandon, having completely lost control. I arched into each thrust, angling to get him deeper. Needing him with every ounce of my person.

  His magic seared across my skin. The waves pounded the cliffs, as loud as if the ocean were right outside the window. My magic throbbed in time to his hungry thrusts.

  I arched. “Almost…there,” I managed, the drumming of pleasure beating on me. His magic feeling so damn good. Almost as good as his body inside mine. Almost unbearable. “Almost…”

  A punch of pleasure hit me. My vision went splotchy black as an intense orgasm consumed me. Dragged me under and spun me around.

  “Oh!” I yelled out, clutching him with my legs.

  He shook, moaning as he emptied himself into me. Pounding into me once more, twice.

  Another wave rolled over me. I clenched my teeth and shook, vibrating with pleasure. Barely able to breathe.

  “Oh yes,” I said, coming down from that high. Shuddering a third time, feeling light as a feather and electrified. “Hmm.”

  Kieran kissed me before collapsing. His weight, pressing me into the mattress, felt better than good.

  “That never gets old,” he murmured into the skin on my neck.

  My hands freed, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders. “Take a break, because then it’s my turn to be on top.”

  He kissed my neck. “If it weren’t for the possibility of an intruder showing up to spoil our party, I would say you’ll have a hard time getting on top when you’re tied to the bed, but given the circumstances…”

  I smiled in the dim light. My power still throbbed and my sex drive was ready to join the party. With him, I was always ready to go again. “Rain check.”

  “I’ll hold you to that.”

  I wiggled to get him to move off me, then reached for the side table. I pulled out a black blindfold and dangled it from one finger. “But you can choose who wears this.”

  His eyes flashed desire again. “I will. I want to be surprised when you move from teasing to taking my cock deep into your throat.”

  “And then you’ll rip it off so you can watch me suck you off?”

  A grin pulled at his lips. “You read my mind. And take that necklace off. I don’t want to get cum on it.”

  Giddy, quickly moving to close the blinds, I found myself longing for the day we could be carefree and do all this for real, without worry we’d be interrupted.

  I hardened my resolve. I’d call that Spirit Walker again, and this time, I’d make him my bitch.

  10

  Alexis

  The next morning, I arrived in the kitchen refreshed and determined. Today was the first day of my new life. My new adult life. I would get a real job, a real office, and a real place in the magical world. I’d been in hiding for far too long.

  Bria sat at the island with a breakfast sandwich and a plate of fruit. Daisy and Mordecai were at the kitchen table, eating similar meals. Boman stood near the doorway between the kitchen and dining room wearing the black cargo pants he usually donned for breaking and entering or combat.

  I frowned as I glanced at Kieran’s assistant, Red, standing near the window, her fiery hair glowing in a stream of sunlight. Leaning against the counter near the stove was a woman I’d never seen before. She stuck out like a sore thumb. Her makeup was perfect, her hair blown and styled just so, and her feminine clothes accented her slight curves just right.

  “Where’s Kieran?” I asked, looking at Red.

  “Oh.” The unidentified woman straightened up with a pleased smile. “Alexis, hell—”

  “He’s at the office with the rest of the Six and the paper pusher,” Red cut in.

  “So then…why are you here?”

  “He got word from Demigod Nancy’s office,” Red said. “She will be supplying someone to train you. A level-five Defalcator. Kieran has shifted me to protective duty. He doesn’t completely trust Nancy’s motives.”

  “A Defalcator? I’ve never heard of it,” I said, grabbing the one remaining breakfast sandwich from the platter. I’d taken a little longer getting ready this morning. I really wanted to look the part today. I’d wow people, damn it. No more worst-dressed lists for me.

  “Of the Hermes line,” Daisy said as though reading from a flash card. “A Defalcator can move objects into the spirit realm for retrieval at another time. These items are typically smaller, but the best of their kind can move something up to the size of a medium-sized dog. They must be inanimate items, however. A Defalcator is no kidnapper. He must touch the items he wishes to transport. Keep his fingers off your possessions. He’ll be a master thief and pickpocket.”

  I poured myself some coffee, realizing that Zorn was training me up a little magical almanac. That would be helpful.

  “What can someone like that teach me about my magic?” I asked in confusion.

  “Damned waste of time,” Bria murmured.

  I had to agree with her. I might be able to glean a few lessons from context, but I wouldn’t be breaking down any walls.

  “Refusing the tutor might damage Demigod Kieran’s fragile relationship with Demigod Nancy, and—”

  “His fragile relationship, yeah.” Bria snorted. “Nothing is going to damage that relationship unless he actually sleeps with her and then ghosts her. A woman scorned and all that. Otherwise, she’ll just keep trying. And if someone else picked out this tutor for her, when or if Kieran refuses the offer, the secret string puller will just come up with something else.”

  Red turned from the window, her eyes smoldering with annoyance. Speaking of fragile relationships, I didn’t have high hopes for theirs.

  “It’s fine.” I held up my hands, talking around my food so this didn’t escalate. “It’s fine. I’ll see what the tutor has to say, and…” I hadn’t registered the soul until it was right under my nose. A little white cat rubbed against Boman’s leg and mewed softly. He bent down and scooped it up, cradling it in his big arms. “Who let the cat in here?”

  Boman scratched its head and then under its chin. It purred softly. “This little fella was hanging around last night. Sounded hungry, s
o Jack gave him a little tuna. He ate it up and looked for more—didn’t you, little guy, huh? Poor thing was probably brought out here and left for dead.”

  “It can’t be feral. Those things never have both their eyes,” Daisy murmured.

  “That’s not true,” Mordecai responded.

  Daisy’s eyes turned haunted. She’d spent her early childhood in and out of foster homes, each of them equally bad. She’d seen her fair share of horrors. “One of the homes was by a creek. More than a few kittens wandered up, missing—”

  “All right, Death’s raven, we get the picture.” Bria shuddered.

  “This little guy has both his eyes, doesn’t he?” Boman nuzzled his head against the cat’s. The purring was so loud that it reached me across the kitchen.

  “I don’t want to sound like a dick or anything, because starving is no fun,” I said, trying to be delicate, “but what is it doing in here?”

  Red huffed out a laugh, turning back to the window.

  “Ah, isn’t it just the cutest thing.” The unidentified woman crossed the room in dainty little strides, like a little pixie or something. She stopped by Boman’s side to pet the cat. I didn’t miss her goosebumps—probably a reaction to the handsome, well-built man next to her. A man directly connected to the Demigod of San Francisco. The way she kept batting her eyelashes drove the suspicion home.

  “Also, who are you?” I asked her.

  “Jack brought the cat in this morning, because he, like all the guys, are big ol’ softies without a clue.” Bria shook her head, not giving the unidentified woman time to answer me. “You can’t bring a cat into a house with a shifter. And if you do, it’s only a matter of time before one starts marking. That’s not a good scene.”