Demon Night

want to become a vampire target, either.”
    He glanced at her. “That’s not a half-bad idea. And I reckon I’ve seen enough of you to try it for a minute or two.”
    That didn’t make any sense, but her body was making it very clear that he hadn’t seen as much of her as she’d have liked. Not just the cold—every nerve seemed aware of his presence. The slight brush of her inner thighs as she shifted her weight was enough to have her attention zinging low, and her gaze settled on his mouth.
    But that was done with. And though she couldn’t be immune to him, it wasn’t anything a little self-denial and a lot of self-gratification wouldn’t ease.
    “Are you feeling okay now?” She searched for any difference, but he looked as easy and relaxed as he had their first walk to Cole’s. “After drifting?”
    His smile deepened, and he turned toward her. He was wearing almost the same clothes as when the vampires had attacked—the jacket, brown trousers, knee-high boots, and holsters. His shirt was a deep blue now, but it still looked eminently touchable. “Has Jake been running his mouth again?”
    “I won a bet,” she said.
    “You ought to be careful making wagers; if they’re ever with a demon, it can land you some serious trouble.” His gaze ran over her face, down to her chest. He turned back to the lake. “You worked him over pretty hard?”
    She touched her hair, wondered how matted and stringy it looked. “Yes.”
    “That’s good. That’s real…” His lips tightened, and he swallowed. “I’d best go. You ought to get inside, so I can lock the house down. I’ll try to bring Jane back to you tonight, Charlie.”
    “Thank you.” She bumped her hip against his thigh, smiled up at him. “For sending Jake to be my punching bag, too.”
    His nod was abrupt, but his attention lingered on her mouth. “I sure wish I—” His jaw clenched. “Hell and damnation. Don’t lay your hands on me, Charlie.”
    Frozen, she watched his head descend, felt his warm breath, the light brush of his lips against hers.
    He immediately stepped back. “That’s all I meant to do before.”
    She closed her eyes. “I guess drifting did work, then.”
    “It cleared a few things for me, that’s for damn certain,” he said, low and forceful. Startled, she glanced up and his amber gaze locked with hers. “The first is that I won’t be torn up forever. I hope not much longer than it takes to fetch Jane for you, get you both settled again. Then we can see where we’re at, and if it’s still agreeable to you, maybe scratching this powerful itch we’ve got. Most likely, we’ll be scratching a long time, and more’n once—but we’ll figure that as we go.”
    Her breath caught in her throat and a slow lick of anticipation curled deep. “I’d like that,” she managed. “And you don’t have to worry that I’ll let myself need more from you.”
    Or ask for more, if she couldn’t stop herself from needing it.
    “I only recently figured that, too.”
    She couldn’t interpret the wry note in his voice, so she said, “What’s the other thing?”
    “That I ought to staple Jake’s lips shut before he heads back to San Francisco.” His grin was slow. “But I’ve since added another realization to those: you look awful good when you’re all sweaty.”
    She returned his grin. He was such a tease, but she could give a little back, then wait for the rest. “If you’d ever peeked over that wall, you’d know that I look better sweaty and naked .”
    Ethan groaned, dropped his head into his hands. “You hush, Miss Charlie.”

CHAPTER 11
    A few minutes after sunset, Ethan went out to the deck and formed his wings. Charlie watched him through the French doors until he flew too high for her to see, then she took her time through her shower, fixing her hair, and dressing in her favorite gray pants and a blue camisole.
    Even Ethan probably wouldn’t think dried perspiration was sexy.
    Tired, but not at all sleepy, she searched for Jake. When she found him in the attic entertainment center, she decided that there wasn’t a room in the house that she didn’t love. Huge triangular windows bookended the room, offering a view of the lake on the west and the dark rise of the hill and drive in front of the house. Thick rugs welcomed her bare feet, a fireplace and the facing wingback chairs invited long reads and cozy chats.
    Jake had sunk into the deep cushions on the sectional sofa. Demons and angels fought