Devin

I adjust myself for the millionth time in the last hour as I walk the streets of Seattle, looking for someone to feed from. All I can think about is Willow. Her slight frame and pouty red lips. What those lips would look like wrapped around my aching cock. How it would feel to slowly sink inside her wet and willing pussy.

Oh Jesus. Of course, it wouldn’t do me any good to do any of that since I can’t fucking have an orgasm. I’m hoping Sariel hears me, that maybe he’ll apologize or do some kind of fallen angel magic and help rid me of my five-year case of blue balls. But no. The fucker is staying hidden. I know it’s in part due to the fact that the other Watchers can sense him when he’s in the forefront of my being, but damn it, I need someone to yell at.

Muttering to myself I wander into a club. It’s a veritable smorgasbord. A buffet of beautiful women, all ready and willing for me to rock their worlds. All I have to do is choose. A curvy blonde catches my eye and slinks across the dance floor, her lips shining with gloss. She’ll do.

“Hey, stranger. You look like you know how to give a girl a ride.”

I almost laugh. She’s brazen and practically serving herself up on a platter. “That isn’t far from the truth. Are you sure you know how to handle someone like me?”

Her lips twitch as she bats long fake eyelashes. “I’m sure I can learn.”

Taking her hand, I fight the skin-crawling discomfort her touch incites and lead her toward the darkened hallway. I’m not fucking her, not here and certainly not while I’m thinking of Willow. All I need is this woman’s blood to sustain me, at least for the next few days. The woman rubs her hand over my crotch, pouting when she finds me soft.

“If this is all you’ve got packing, I think we’re done here.”

I growl low in my throat, pressing her against the wall and staring deep into her eyes. “We’re done when I say.”

She smiles, and I feel sick. “I see, you like it rough before you can get to business. That’s fine. Do you want me to struggle?”

I just want to get this over with, but my damn fangs aren’t descending. I can feel them, their presence in my gums a constant reminder of what I am. Why isn’t my cock threatening to punch through my jeans like it was a mere hour earlier? All I’d needed was the slight brush of my fingers across Willow’s and my dick was throbbing. Taking a heavy breath, I step away from her, shaking my head.

“Get the fuck away from me.” I spit the words in her direction without meeting her gaze.

“Are you for real?”

I don’t answer. Instead, I storm out of the bar, frustration clouding my already tense mood. Throwing my leg across my bike, I start her up and peel out onto the street. Galen’s house is close by. Maybe I can clear my head before trying to hunt again.

As I pull into the underground garage, I immediately catch sight of Galen’s shiny black Range Rover, and a grin spreads across my face. I take the stairs and am bombarded by the scent of humans. Tiny ones.

“It smells like shit and baby powder in here,” I announce as I enter the living room.

Galen’s hand rises as if to shush me. The absolute gall of the man has never ceased to amaze me. He’s resting on the couch with a little pink-and-white bundle on his chest. She’s sound asleep, but every time he moves, she frowns and lets out a whimper.

“Another one? Can’t you keep your dick under control?”

He grins and shakes his head as Reese, his wife, walks into the room. She shoots me a concerned glance before scooping the baby off her husband and bouncing gently as she walks away.

“What’s with her?”

Galen sits up and runs a hand through his hair. He looks older, lines around his eyes, stubble on his jaw, and I’m fucking envious. “She’s stressed about the bloody Watchers, Devin. And … Sariel. We thought we were done with them after everything. Now they’re after little Sean.”

I nod, and Sariel stirs in my head.

As my friend surveys me, I recognize the look in his eyes. He’s worried. Standing, he moves toward me and clenches his jaw. “You look like absolute shite. Haven’t you been feeding?”

“I have.”

“The Watcher?”

Shaking my head, I let out a long-suffering sigh. “It seems there’s been a little snag in my fuck-my-brains-out plan.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I can get it up, but I can’t finish, so Sariel can’t feed.”

A chuckle escapes the bastard Irishman, and I want to punch him in the throat. But, if I do that, I’ll kill him. Vampire strength versus mere mortal always equals death or serious injury. “I’m sorry, bloody hell, I’m so sorry. Do you know why you can’t … uh…” He gestures toward my waist.

“She has to be meant for him.”

Galen frowns and cocks an eyebrow. “Reese wasn’t meant for him.”

“You know what I mean. It doesn’t work on just anyone. Believe me, I’ve tried.”

“Fucking hell, that’s … very unfortunate.”

I roll my eyes. He has no fucking clue. When he’d had the Watcher, his dick homed in on Reese and they’d screwed like bunnies. It was disgusting. And I was so jealous, I thought my head might explode. But me? I took the stupid angel willingly and just got an aching dick in return. “Unfortunate” isn’t strong enough a word.

“So, Feathers said something about your boy having some of Sariel’s grace. I thought the kid was yours?”

Galen’s eyes darken. “He is mine.”

“Okay, okay. Still testy, I see.”

“It’s been five years. Why are they after him now?”

“How the fuck should I know? I’m as surprised as you are. All I know is I’ve been trapped in a seemingly endless war against these fuckers, and I can’t even reap the benefits of having a working cock. If it weren’t for you being alive and happy and all that bullshit, I’d have offed myself and let Sariel find a new body years ago.”

Galen smirks. “Is it really that bad?”

“Oh yes. You don’t know. You were able to keep your dick wet from the moment it came to life. I’m dying over here.”

“And Sariel? What’s he been doing in all this?”

“Staying out of the way for the most part. He’s holding up his end of the bargain. I live my life without interference from him, and he only pops in when we’ve got a Watcher to dispose of. But, in about six months, he’ll take over and I’m done.”

Crossing his arms over his chest, Galen tries to appear domineering. When he’d been a vampire, it might have worked. Oh, who am I kidding? Galen has never been able to out-alpha me. Not on his best day. I’m older, stronger, faster, and much better looking.

“I know I can’t change your mind, Devin, but I think you’re being a complete fool by agreeing to that.”

I wave my hand and walk away. There’s no convincing him he’s wrong. Stubborn bastard.

* * *

Willow

I wake with my heart hammering, breaths coming in sharp pants, and my clit throbbing with arousal. Shit. It’s been a long time, but I don’t remember ever feeling this needy. I need to get off in the worst way, and I blame it all on Devin. His ice-blue eyes haunted my dreams all night. Glancing at the clock on my side table, I groan. It’s two in the morning. I’ve been fighting with sleep all night, and I still have hours to go until sunrise. Running my hand down my naked belly, I close my eyes and let Devin’s face take over my fantasy as I relive our encounter hours earlier. Only this time, things play out a little differently as my fingers glide between my legs.

In my fantasy, he grins at me from the pavement as I hover over him. His amused smile turns heated when, instead of stepping away, I move closer as he stands.

“Where do you live?” His rough voice sends chills over me, straight to my core.

“Just around the corner. Do you want to come up?”

He continues moving forward, pushing me back until my shoulders hit the wall behind me. “I do. But first I want to taste your lips.” Breath hitching, I let his mouth brush mine, that spark between us igniting a fierce lust.

As my fingers fly across my clit, I let my imagination take me further, bringing us to my bed, where he spreads my legs and pulls my panties to the side before pressing two thick fingers deep inside me. Then he rips the thin cotton to shreds, baring me. His cool breath ghosts over my swollen, wet pussy as his fingers continue to pump in and out with delicious slow strokes. I tremble in anticipation as he lowers his mouth to my center, and the moment his tongue makes contact with the rise of my clit, he rolls those piercing eyes up to stare at me.

Crying out in my quiet apartment, I come so hard, my knees shake and a rush of wetness coats my hand. The pleasure crests over and over as I moan Devin’s name until finally I fall asleep.

Something wakes me before the sky even begins to brighten. It’s kind of like a tugging at my brain, telling me something isn’t right. Pulse racing, I stand, shuffling across my small bedroom to stare out my window at the empty street below.

Except, it isn’t empty.

Devin stands outside, his handsome face illuminated in the streetlight, gazing up toward my room. I should be freaked the fuck out, but as I take in his mussed blond hair, leather jacket, and that lit cigarette in his hand, my belly clenches with need. His eyes meet mine, and a zing of electric arousal courses through me. Closing my eyes for a beat, I take a breath and unlock my window, ready to shove it open and invite him inside. I’m not afraid. I’m turned on as hell. But, when I peer down at the sidewalk, he’s gone. All that’s left to greet me is a cigarette butt in the spot he’d been standing.

Fuck. I must be seeing things. I’m so sex starved that I’m hallucinating. Pulling myself together, I pad through my quiet apartment, knowing there’s no way in hell I’ll be able to get back to sleep. With a sigh, I turn on the coffeepot and the television, grateful for the noise. As the morning news anchors blather on about nothing important, I slip into my running clothes. As tired as I am, I also am painfully aware that I need to exercise. If I don’t stay fit, I won’t be able to run when I need to.

If I need to.

Who am I kidding? I always need to run.