Seduce Me in Shadow

Page 3

A kiss, a touch, a whisper, whatever you most desire,
In the arms of your lover, pleasure will burn hotter than fire.
What? Aquarius believed this book could make sexual fantasies a reality? Sydney would love that, and she believed in magic, but this little unassuming book? In her hands?
Caden prowled close beside her, elbowing in for yet a closer look. He stared hard at the little journal, and she could smell that musky, woodsy scent of his that drove her mad.
May I see that? he demanded more than asked, reaching for the book.
Certainly, Sydney murmured, handing it over. The lowcut black jumper shed worn yesterday had done nothing to snag his attention. This book? He was enraptured.
Aquarius sent her a secretive smile. Syd, do you understand? Its
An old book, Jamie hollered, edging in behind her.
What good is that?
I appreciate each gift. Thank you, everyone, Sydney said through clenched teeth. I suspect we should get back to work now. Maybe that would make Jamie shove off.
Around her, the small crowd began to file out. Unfortunately, Jamie lingered. Sydney, her assistant, and Caden, still studying the book, also occupied the dusk-shadowed room.
If you want something special for your birthday, Ill make time for you this weekend, Jamie offered with a leer as he dropped a hand on her hip and slid it toward her backside.
Sydney eased away and opened her mouth to defer to the mountain of work on her desk when Caden grabbed Jamies wrist and squeezedhard.
Bloody hell! He jerked away and glared at Caden.
Normally, such high-handed tactics would annoy Sydney. She was a grown woman and knew how to fend off male octopi like Jamie. But if Cadens unexpected caveman impression put the lazy sod off until she found a more private moment to tell him to get lost, splendid. If Caden was just the slightest bit jealous, even better.
What the devil? Jamie cried. Let go!
As soon as you do. Caden tightened his grip.
Jamie released her immediately. Ring me this weekend if you want company.
As Caden watched Jamies retreating back, he scowled. The waves of his silent disapproval towered over Sydney like a tsunami. She bit her lip.
Would you mind speaking to me in your office for a few minutes? he said.
As always, the tone was polite. She wondered if he thought to warn her about the evils of Jamie. Like an overprotective brother lecturing his adolescent sister? Depressing thought. Did she have to jump on Caden while naked before he understood?
Fine. Might as well get it over with.
Caden raised a dark brow at her sharp tone and gestured to the door. After you.
Wait! Aquarius snatched the book from Caden and gave it to Sydney. Your gift! I should tell you about it.
Oh, the magical diary. She couldnt leave without hurting Aquariuss feelings. Her confrontation with Caden would have to wait.
Ill be there in a minute.
After a long glance at her, then the book, Caden nodded and slipped from the room.
Sydney dug her fingernails out of her palms, so frustrated she feared she would draw blood. Being a petite redhead, she didnt have a centerfolds breasts and wasnt one of those model-like creatures men got all in a froth about. But Caden treated her almost asexually.
You want him, Aquarius whispered. It wasnt a question.
I couldnt want him any more than if Id shot myself with Cupids arrow. She tossed her hands up in the air. He doesnt reciprocate.
You dont know that, Aquarius argued.
Perhaps. Hes impossible to read. So bloody private.
I dont think hes as immune to you as you imagine.
She shook her head glumly. Id love to believe that. No, Id love to experience it.
You can. Aquarius tapped the cover of the old book. He can be yours for the night.
Caden could have his pick of women. Besides being good-looking, intelligent, and polite, he had proven dependable thus far. He wasnt lazy and seemed to truly listen. What woman wouldnt want a total package? Yesterdays snug shirt had outlined a positively yummy chest. And he was probably devastatingly good in bednot that shed ever know personally.
Or could she?
Sydney frowned. The idea tempted her. Could this journal possibly be magical? It sounded awfully fantasticalnot that such a book existed, but that it had dropped into her lap. Supposing it had . . . would Caden truly be hers for the night after she jotted down a few ideas that involved scented massage oil, a big bed, and his naked body?
She cast a gentle glance at her assistant. You believe this book is real?
It made one of my fantasies come true, Aquarius blurted. Remember Alex, that yummy neighbor I told you about? He asked me out when I wrote down exactly what I wanted.
Aquarius, he had an itch for you, so when his calendar opened up, he rang.
And read my mind? Aquarius challenged. Until last week, I never knew making love under a waterfall would be so . . . invigorating.
A waterfall? Where did you find
Ill never tell. She smiled coyly.
Let me get this straight: This hunky bloke suddenly appeared and whisked you away to fulfill your fantasy, exactly as you wrote it?
Dreamy didnt begin to describe Aquariuss faraway expression. It was fantastic.
Sydney groped around for a chair. Maybe you need a holiday. Youre past due.
Im completely sane. Though I enjoyed Alex, he wasnt right for me
No man ever is.
Aquarius frowned. Theres a man out there. Somewhere. Ill know when I meet him.
Sydney had heard this before.
Point is, I dont need this journal. Aquarius shoved it at to her. But you . . .
But me . . . what? Sydney fisted her hands on her hips.
Well, if you want Caden, write your fantasy in here.
The idea was tempting. With her luck, Caden would find the fantasy shed written. Since she didnt think he wanted her, mortified wouldnt begin to cover how bad shed want to crawl into a hole and wait for a new millennium.
I dont think thats a good idea.
Neither is pining away. Look, her voice dropped to a whisper, take the diary with you this weekend and write your deepest desire about Caden. Wait a day or two. If it doesnt come true, what have you lost? When I return from holiday, Im sure youll have loads to tell me.
* * *
Caden marched into Sydneys office and barely refrained from slamming the door. The fiery sun setting over the jagged London skyline matched his mood. The Doomsday Diary, here? In human hands? He must steal it from Sydney, remove her from danger. He needed a plan. Now.
But he was besieged by an equally strong urge to punch both Bram Rion and Jamie Whats-his-name.
Wanting to beat Bram to a pulp? Caden understood that well. Bram embodied so much of what he despised about magic: the blithe assumption of supremacy, unpredictability, the utter inability to compromise, and the total lack of awareness that it might be required. Magics inequality chafed as well. In a human world, anyone could learn to defend themselves and grow stronger each dayor buy a better weapon. In the magical world, a witch or wizard never had more power than they were born with, and if they found themselves at the mercy of someone more evil and powerful than themselves . . . God help them.
But Cadens reaction to Jamie he didnt understand. Nor could he grasp his own drive to possess Sydney so completely that she was unaware another male even existed. Hed done his best to ignore it, hide it, but shed become a fever in his blood. The urge defied logic. He was on a mission. He was good at those, thanks to the U.S. Marine Corps. Focus. Get in, get out, get the job done, end of story. Dont do anything stupid.
Falling in life-altering lust with Sydney, particularly now, fell into the stupid category. Yet he couldnt stop. His assignment was to prevent Sydney from revealing more about magickinda move that would protect her tooand discover if Anka was her source of information. Unfortunately, he was finding it difficult to focus on more than pushing the saucy reporter against a wall, kissing her senseless, then shagging her into sighing bliss.
Damn it all! He hadnt been nave enough to believe that his assignment at Out of This Realm would be easy, but hed had little success tracking down Sydneys source of information while stifling her stories. She was infuriatingly and admirably determined. Throw in the sudden and unexpected appearance of the Doomsday Diary? This had become what his platoon buddies called a cluster-fuck.
Cursing, he pulled his mobile phone from his belt and dialed an increasingly familiar number.
Bram answered immediately. You have news?
Did he ever, but first things first. How is my brother?
Bram hesitated. Weak. Were doing our best, but were running out of options.
The wizards words were a stab in the chest. Dont you dare let him die while Im in London doing your dirty work.
Believe me, if I had anyone else suited to this task, you would still be gnashing your teeth here at Lucans bedside. Matters are too critical for me to be there. Duke can pass as a human, but who would believe that the Duke of Hurstgrove wants a job at a tabloid? That leaves a fifteen-hundred-year-old warrior, an attitude-challenged wizard, and you. You alone have both experience in photography and the human world.
Your problem is mine only as long as my brother is alive. If he dies, I cease to care. Are you clear?
As if youd drawn me a picture. Bram shot back. Believe me, as desperately as we need wizards for this fight, Ill happily release you when I can. I want only those committed to the cause.
Brams intimation that he wasnt good enough annoyed Caden. He shrugged it off. What did he care if Bram didnt see him as a member of the team he hadnt wished to join?
Hed wanted nothing to do with magic since his younger brothers deathby his own mothers magic. An accident, yes. But hed been just twelve when Westin, barely toddling, had been stricken.
Since leaving home at eighteen, hed lived happily among humanity. Their ways seemed normal, comfortable. Being back among magickind now merely reminded Caden of all the reasons he loathed it. This gut-wrenching madness of Lucans merely underscored everything.
Rion, do you honestly believe that you and a handful of wizards can defeat the most powerful magical creature in a millennium and his growing army?
Perhaps not, but well certainly fail if we dont try. Why do you care as long as Lucan stays alive?
Hed better.
Im against this, but Sabelle insists on being his surrogate. Or attempting.
Brilliant! Though Brams protective attitude was hardly a surprise. But Sabelle was a tough, courageous witch with the unusual ability to make others feel whatever she wanted with a touch. If anyone besides Anka could provide Lucan energy, it was Sabelle.
Tell your sister I appreciate her more than she can know.
No guarantee it will work.
It had to. Thank her anyway.
All right, then. What news have you to report?
Ive learned little about Sydneys source of information. Shes guarding the name like a national secret.
Seduce her. Charm her.
Brams suggestion made Caden grit his teeth. He didnt have Brams easy wayand he was completely enthralled with the woman he was supposed to bamboozle. He wanted her more than his next breathand was desperate to bury the feeling.
Her secret is the least of our issues at the moment. Im having a devil of a time stalling her next story. Before the bodies were removed from the tunnel, Sydneys previous photographer took a few pictures. Grainy and fuzzy, which works in our favor, but we know of no one else who arrived in time to snap any, so shes still scooped every other news source. People will pick up Out of This Realm in droves, I fear, if she prints it with a proposed story that these men comprise Mathiass unwilling Anarki army, out to dissolve the Social Order and eradicate the Doomsday Brethren.
Bram sounded ready to hit the ceiling. She knows about us? Where is she getting this information?
Id like to know that myself and have no clue. Unfortunately, it gets worse.
Worse?
Indeed. I found the Doomsday Diary. Sydney Blair acquired it fifteen minutes ago.
Bram cursed a stream of loud, ugly words.
On that, were agreed, Caden supplied.
Youre absolutely certain?
There cant be many old red books bearing Morganna le Fays symbol.
Send me a picture.
Bram didnt trust him. Whatever.
Bloody hell. Better yet, steal it from her.
She wont let it loose soon. It was a birthday gift from a dear friend.
Who? Bram snapped.
Aquarius.
The astrological sign?
Sydneys assistant, Caden corrected. Is she your mate?
That wasnt the namedescribe her. Perhaps my missing wife uses aliases.
Short, almost fey looking. Brown wavy hair to her waist, green eyes
Not even close. Which raises the question, if Sydney acquired the book from this woman who is definitely not my mate, how did she get her hands on it?
I was hoping you could shed some light.
None. Ask her. Maybe shell know how to locate my mate. Frustration oozed from every syllable. But we must recover that diary. Now.
I have good news and bad news about that. The bad news is that Sydney is a smart, tenacious reporter whos determined to keep writing fresh paranormal stories, in her words.