The Devil's Kiss - By Stacey Kennedy

Chapter One

The warm water wrapped around me in a total sense of relaxation as I leaned back into my antique claw-foot bathtub. I sighed in complete and utter surrender as every muscle in my body gave way to the heated comfort.

It felt good to be home.

Not that two weeks in the Phi Phi Islands wasn’t something I could get used to with its limestone cliffs and crystal blue water. However, home was the Otherworld and it was nice to be back.

When the bathroom door clicked open, I didn’t even have it in me to open my eyes. Kyden’s sweet musky scent swirled around me. When he ran his fingers lightly down the middle of my chest, desire stole the tranquility.

“Looks relaxing,” Kyden purred.

“It is.” I smiled, and cracked an eye open to see my sexy beast of a Guardian. Months we’ve been together and I still drooled over him. How could I not? With his damn perfect body, those yummy sculpted muscles, square chin, mesmerizing green eyes and strength that oozed from him. Ooohh yes, he was all mine. My breath came soft through my lips before I finally asked, “Wanna join me?”

He hesitantly shook his head. But he did lean in and lay his perfectly plump lips against mine with enough passion to make the bath water boil. It took a lot of restraint on my part not to drag him into the tub with me.

“You better get out,” he said a little huskily when he backed away. “We are needed.” He didn’t sound all too confident in those words. He stood, took one last heated look and left, closing the bathroom door behind him.

I ran my hands through the water a moment trying to keep my mind off the lingering effects of his kiss. My lips tingled from his kiss. My body warmed in a way that had nothing to do with the temperature of the bath water.

Minutes later, it was pointless and I was sick of staring at the stone walls of the bathroom. He’d started the motor running and it was revving high. I jumped out of the tub and dried off quickly, desperate to finish what he started.

My hand wrapped around the door handle and I flung it open, then headed out to the living room. “Get back here. I’m not done with…” My words ended as my breath was sucked back into my body. Embarrassment rocketed into every part of me. I screamed, crossed my legs and did my best to cover my breasts.

“Now that’s funny.” Willow beamed as Kyden petted her.

Their relationship had grown immensely after she saved my life and displayed that she wasn’t just an ordinary black fluff ball with an orange tipped tail. She was a Familiar—a magical creature that held the ability to take on the form of a black sleek panther whenever I needed some ass saving. Now, she and Kyden were practically inseparable. Couldn’t say I wasn’t a little extra nice to the testy kitty either. Of course, Kyden hadn’t heard her just now, only I was lucky enough to hear her telepathically and enjoy her snippety little comments.

Nevertheless, Kyden looked up on his own regard. The moment he caught sight of me, his eyes went wide and he lunged himself over the couch to wrap me in a blanket.

I could only laugh as I grabbed the ends of the blanket to cover myself. “Hello, Valor.”

It was nice to see the Patriarch, but would’ve been nice for him to see less of me.

Valor is the Alpha of all Alphas. The head honcho and he fit the part perfectly. He’s clean-cut, clean-shaven, and ready to be the next model for Calvin Klein. To me he was just Valor, my very close friend.

Valor chuckled, his face alight with amusement. “Good evening, Nexi.”

“You could have mentioned that he was here,” I said to Kyden, disgruntled.

Kyden shrugged. “I would have if I thought you were going to come out bare-assed.”

“What did you expect me to do after giving me a kiss like that?”

“I didn’t see…” Valor interjected, drawing my gaze back to his. “…much.”

“Sure you didn’t.” I snorted. “Just give me sec to get dressed.” I ran to the bedroom, slammed the door behind me and nearly died. Embarrassing events seemed to follow me wherever I went.

After my mortification settled, I dropped the blanket onto the king-size, white-iron bed. Moving to the walk-in closet, I grabbed my tight silver shorts, armor kilt with matching bra and made myself a little more presentable.