Sizzle and Burn

bed, no doubt annoyed by the disturbance.
    And then Zack was kissing her, his mouth hard and fierce and demanding on hers. Invisible energy flared, overlapping and mingling. His , mine and ours , she thought. It seemed to her that when they made love their combined energy patterns extended further and deeper into the paranormal spectrum than either of them could go alone. She did not understand it; she knew only that when he made love to her she was able to savor a greater range of sensations through all her senses. In addition she was certain that she picked up some of what he was feeling, and vice versa. The effect added a dazzling dimension to their lovemaking.
    He took her nipple between his teeth and tugged gently. She caught her breath as the delicious tension built swiftly.
    “Tell me you feel it,” he said against her breast. “Tell me I’m not alone here.”
    She lifted her hips against his hardened body and clung to him, glorying in the powerfully muscled contours of his back.
    “Are you sure you don’t read minds?” she whispered.
    “Not possible.” He moved down her body, dropping hot, wet kisses on her belly. “Just ask the experts.”
    He went lower. The next thing she knew his mouth was on the inside of her thigh. A jolt of uncertainty bordering on panic went through her. She sank her fingers into his hair, trying to tug him back up along her body.
    “Zack, wait—”
    “Tell me I’m not alone in this,” he ordered softly.
    Now his tongue was on her tight, exquisitely sensitive clitoris and she thought she would fly apart into a thousand glittering shards.
    “Tell me,” he repeated, sliding two fingers into her. He probed gently.
    Outrageous excitement flashed through her senses. She couldn’t stand this much longer, she thought. She couldn’t tolerate another second of it.
    “ Yes . Yes, I feel it, too.” She tightened her grip in his hair, abandoning herself to the intimate kiss. “I think the experts may have some more research to do.”
    An instant later her release swept through her and she came apart in his hands. Somewhere someone shrieked softly in the night. She realized vaguely that it was her own voice she heard.
    Before the world had even begun to come into focus he shifted onto his back, taking her with him. His hands were damp from her body. He slid his palms down her sides and closed his fingers around her buttocks. He sheathed himself slowly, relentlessly.
    She wanted to tell him it was too soon, that she was still too sensitized from the orgasm but she couldn’t get the words out. She could feel him going deep, stretching her, filling her. It was too much.
    “No,” she gasped.
    “Yes,” he said.
    Without warning another series of tremors spilled through her. This time he followed her over the edge, pumping heavily into her. For a timeless moment they flew together through a realm where light and darkness and every color in between swirled together in a whirlpool of sensual pleasure.
    She could not have him forever, she thought. The Society had first claim on him. But she would hold on to as much of him as she could get for as long as possible.

Fifty-four
    PORTLAND, OREGON, 6:30 A. M…
    J ohn Stilwell Nash was in the locker room of his club, dressing after an intense workout, when his phone rang. He paused, his shirt half-buttoned, and checked the coded number on the screen. He recognized it immediately. He was about to hear the results of the Oriana operation. Adrenaline and dread gripped him.
    He opened the phone slowly, ambivalent about whether or not he wanted to hear good news. Good news meant that January had succeeded. Success would strengthen her position within the organization. Good news meant that she would become an even more serious threat to him. Good news meant that he would be forced to find a clever way to get rid of her without revealing himself. That would not be easy.
    On the other hand, good news meant that he would be the first to get his hands on the Tallentyre information. That would give him incredible power.
    “The Oriana operation has failed,” the voice on the other end of the connection said. “Both operatives were apprehended by the local authorities. Criminal charges were filed.”
    Nash convulsively tightened his grip on the phone. The bitch had failed…. Be careful what you wish for …
    “What about the operatives?” he asked, keeping his tone icy cold.
    “Both are deteriorating rapidly. It is unlikely either will