The Devil You Know (Ceasefire Series Book 1) Read online

  Chapter Three

  “Are you all right, Miss?”

  Raising my head, a pair of green eyes meet mine, a bright, breath-taking shade of emerald.

  The owner of the voice looks like he belongs in a magazine. Features strikingly handsome; black hair slicked back, highlight his perfect bone structure. Skin tanned, it looks like he spends most of his time laying on a beach. The cut of his designer jeans and shirt show off a muscled physique.

  “Hello tall, dark, and handsome. Are you lost?”

  His lips curve in a charming smile. “Aren’t you a pretty flower out here all alone.”

  “Careful, I have thorns.”

  Rising stiffly, I try not to wobble as I bite back a groan.

  “Dangerous things intrigue me.”

  “I’m Mavi StClair.” Awkwardly, I hold out my hand. I’m more than drunk and flirting with a gorgeous stranger. My mood lightens as the memories of childhood seep back into a place I keep locked away in my head.

  Large, warm, and encompassing, his own hand takes mine. “Ah, the birthday girl. Max Reed.” Bringing it to his mouth, he kisses my knuckles. It’s fleeting. Just a brief touch, but makes my body come to life all the same.

  “Are you here on business or pleasure?” I can’t help but ask. With all the supernaturals and the humans devoted to keeping the world safe we might not have bumped into each other before.

  “A bit of both.”

  “For me, tonight is all about pleasure and having fun.”

  I need a distraction. One that doesn’t involve thinking. This guy is pressing all the right buttons.

  Max’s smile becomes tigerish. “Tell me, Mavi, what are you searching for? What do you desire?”

  His eyes. Their mesmerising.

  “A good time. Something that I won’t forget in a hurry.”

  The urge to kiss him hits me hard. As if a switch has gone off in my brain from slow sparking arousal to full blown compulsion.

  Fisting the front of his shirt, I drag him closer.

  Max doesn’t resist. Instead, he complies, his face lowering to mine.

  He tastes of whisky, and warm, welcoming male. The way he dominates my mouth with his own makes my body quiver. Tongues entwining, it’s a battle for supremacy. One I won’t give up easily. Groaning in approval, I smile against his lips. “Ten out of ten for kissing.”

  “Oh, I think you’d enjoy what else I can do with my mouth.”

  His self-assured tone makes my core clench with need. Tonight, is my lucky night.

  “Want to go somewhere more private?” He suggests, his tone dripping in seduction. “I want to do very very bad things to you, but your friends might get the wrong impression when they hear you scream.”

  My knees go weak at his serial killer vibe. It’s sexy as hell. Danger has always excited me. Drawn me as nothing else ever has. Should I be worried? Maybe. But that won’t stop me leaving here with him for some fun. He won’t be the first male I’ve picked up for a one-night stand.

  Although, this is happening faster than usual. Not that I care. I want to get laid even if it’s reckless. If he tries anything I don’t like, I’ll put him down a notch or two.

  “I know of a place and it isn’t far, but we need a car to get there.” I respond with a wink.

  Max chuckles. “No hesitations. I enjoy a confident woman. My car is parked down the street.”

  “Then what are we waiting for?”

  It looks expensive. A Mercedes in black.

  Max gallantly holds the door open for me. Slipping into the interior, I sink into the leather. Hmm, that new car smell.

  “I could be an axe murderer for all you know.” He tells me once he’s situated behind the steering wheel turning the key.

  A giggle escapes my throat. That would be ironic. “Oh, so could I. Don’t let this pretty face fool you.”

  “I’ll try not to underestimate you.”

  “I wouldn’t if I were you.”

  Clicking on my seatbelt, I settle back.

  Easing the vehicle onto the street, we leave the noise of the Black Penny Pub behind. The guys won’t even notice I’m gone. Do I feel guilty I’m skipping out on my own party? Not really.

  Max glances my way. His hot glistening eyes run over me in a caress.

  I feel their magnetic pull. It makes me wet as I squirm in my seat. How can a look turn me on so much?

  Reaching over, he squeezes my thigh. My pussy throbs. I want that hand higher, but I won’t risk us having an accident. Anticipation is good. It will make this fuck all the better.

  It doesn’t take long to reach the tunnel. Awareness pricks over my skin as we pass through the barrier from one dimension to another.

  “Where to?”

  “Keep going straight.” I tell him, watching the passing lights in the dark. I’m not interested in talking. Getting to know Max on a personal level is not what I have planned.

  The hotel is cheap and clean. A place I have stayed a few times to keep off the radar when needing some space.

  In silence, we park along the road. No words are needed. I always go for what I want. Right now, that’s Max. The way he confidently carries himself I’d say he’s done this before; sex with a stranger. He’s a good-looking man. Women probably trip over themselves to make it into his bed.

  Slipping out of the car, I don’t wait for him to catch up. I go straight for the desk inside.

  The guy behind the reception glass doesn’t look up from the show he’s watching on his phone.

  “Thirty for the night. Kick outs at ten if you don’t plan on paying for longer.”

  Fishing out some crumpled notes I direct them through the gap to the waiting hand.

  A key is pushed out in return. “Second floor.”

  As I reach to take it a large hand scoops it up first.

  Electric. That’s the only way I can describe the charge which volts through my skin with the briefest of contact. If Max felt it too he gives no indications.

  Resting his free palm on the small of my back he guides me towards the elevator.

  I’m slightly off balance. Still drunk, but not so bad that my movements are uncoordinated. There’s a warm and fuzzy feeling going on inside. The one that gives you a high that you know won’t last.

  When the doors ping closed, sealing us within the confines of the lift, I capture Max’s mouth with mine.

  Groaning in my throat, I tease his lips with my tongue. It’s an invitation for more. One I can’t resist issuing. Clutching the back of my head, he returns the kiss with a frightening ferocity. When his own tongue plunders the interior of my mouth all I can do is cling to his shoulders.

  The ping of the doors opening barely register.

  I’m airborne so quickly it makes me squeal. An arm under my knees, the other curved under my shoulders, Max carries me like a pillaging pirate out into the hall. The strength of him engulfs me. His warmth sinks in through the layers of my clothes. His cologne is something potent. A male scent of spice and woods.

  I hear the sound of the key jiggling in a lock. A moment later we’re standing in the depths of a darkened room.

  Max lowers me down. As my feet touch the floor, I step back. He’s a presence in the dark now; a hunter looking for prey.

  A light snaps on. It’s bright and harsh, making me blink.

  Rough hands curve around my hips and drag me against a muscled chest.

  “Take your clothes off,” he demands.

  Those green eyes bewitch me as he stares with a lust filled look. It’s clear that he expects obedience.

  No hesitation on my part. I let my leather jacket drop from my shoulders. Stripping off my t-shirt, I unhook my bra and let it flutter to the floor.

  Max’s chest rises and falls quicker. Gaze dropping boldly to my breasts, his tongue sweeps out across his bottom lips. Instead of moving towards me he remains where he is.

  “All of it.”

  If he thinks I find this embarrassing, he’s wrong. I have a go
od body, but it’s not something I obsess over.

  Unzipping my jeans, I push them down with my pink thong before kicking them away. Naked, I stand tall and proud.

  Max’s gaze burns over me, a caress of such carnal greed I almost swoon. No man has ever looked at me that way before. As if he wants to devour me in one go.

  “You’re a beautiful woman, Mavi. Very sexy and desirable.”

  I don’t reply. All I want is him naked as I am.

  Shrugging out of his shirt, his hands move to his jeans.

  Hard, packed muscles are now on display. He holds a masculine beauty I have rarely seen. One that calls to my feminine side in a primitive way.

  Kicking out of his black shiny shoes, he lets his trousers drop. Straining against the cotton fabric of his white boxers I can see the eager ridge of his manhood. The material is pulled tight. It’s long and thick. Pushing his underwear down, he lets it spring free.

  He has a beautiful cock. Big and proud, I can see the raised veins as he grows harder. Of the men I’ve come across not many have been so well endowed.

  Ripping open a silver foil package, he sheaths himself with a condom.

  My pussy clenches. I want him now. Need him buried deep with all the promise of pleasure I know it will give me. No foreplay just straight to business. That’s my desire.

  “Hands on the bed and bend over.” A growled order. It’s as if he’s read my mind.

  Normally, I like to take charge when I fuck, but Max has me craving something different. Letting go for me isn’t easy. Yet, sometimes I’m able to achieve it with the right partner. It’s only ever happened once before.

  Pressing my palms flat down on the mattress I part my legs and stick out my arse. In this position I know he’s getting the perfect view. Arousal is dampening my inner thighs. Fuck, I’m wetter than I’ve ever been.

  “Well. I’m waiting. Are you going to fuck me or not?” I challenge, tossing him a sultry look over my shoulder.

  “You have a sassy tongue. I like that.”

  I want him so bad. Every part of me is on fire for a release. It’s fuelled by the alcohol still tingling through my blood and my earlier kill.

  His thickness invades me in one long thrust. A groan wrenches its way out of my mouth as I breathe through him stretching me so perfectly. It hurts, but it’s the good type of pain.

  “A tight, hot cunt, just how I like my pussy.” Max’s lips brush my spine. “I’m going to fuck you from here til dawn.”

  Letting my front half flop down, I writhe. “Yessss.” The word is hissed out between my teeth. It’s divine. Max’s gorgeous cock makes me feel so full. In this position, he nudges deeper.

  Moving his hips, he fucks me hard. No slow rhythm. Merciless and rough, he fucks me as if he would have no problem snapping me in two. It’s heaven and hell. I doubt I’ll be able to walk straight in the morning, but I don’t care. Part of me wants to beg him to stop. The other half, the stronger one, wants everything he can give me.

  When I moan for him, he picks up the pace. Each thrust he delivers slaps his groin against my arse. Pushing back against him, I fist the sheets. He’s so deep, each stroke hits the head of my womb. It’s brutal, impersonal; an emotionless wild coupling.

  “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” I chant. I’m getting my brains screwed out. It’s impossible to think.

  My inner walls clamp around his dick, so tight it sends a wave of pleasure spasming through my core. It’s punishment I know my body can take.

  A hand fists my hair. Drawing me back, it forces me up until I brace my weight on the mattress.

  Wrapping a hand around my throat from behind, Max begins to squeeze. I purr. He’s holding my oxygen supply hostage and I love every second of it. It’s dangerous. Any second he could throttle the life out of me, but I’m not scared.

  His tempo never slows.

  The room shimmers before my eyes. Colours bleed, becoming grey and white.

  As everything starts to go black, I finally struggle. His grip slackens enough for me to suck in some air. I’ll have bruises tomorrow, that I know for a fact.

  “I adore feeling you fight to breathe. Do you know how erotic that is?” His deep, sexy laugh sends goose-bumps rippling over my skin.

  “Harder! Faster!” I snarl back.

  “As you wish.”

  Pumping harder into me than before, his cock expands, growing thicker. Hands clamped onto my hips, he continues to abuse my hole. It’s rough and fast. Max is fucking me like a mad man. This won’t last long.

  “Yes! Yes!” Breathing hard, I pant the words, delirious. Pleasure is now boarding on pain. That edge of friction spreading into something darker.

  Legs stiffening, a pulse of heat rolls through me right before I come. Arms giving out, I bury my face in the bed as I scream. It’s the best orgasm I’ve ever had. Blurring my mind, it steals the strength from my limbs.

  Max’s shaft twitches inside me. A whimper leaves my throat when I feel him pull out. An instant later, hot cum lashes over my buttocks. Deep and satisfied, a male groan follows.

  I’m dazed. Broken and exhausted. My head is spinning as I lay face down, trembling, feeling thoroughly fucked.

  Chapter Four

  Groaning at the God damn jack hammer going off inside my skull, I roll one eye open. Where the fuck am I? Licking my lips, I try to rid myself of the awful taste in my mouth. This always happens when a hangover hits.

  Bed sheets rumpled around me, it takes me a second to recall. A cheap hotel. Max, my mystery man, and the most amazing sex of my life. An empty space indicates he has been gone awhile. The silence from the bathroom is another tell-tale sign.

  “Thank fuck for that.” Flopping back down, I drag the pillow over my head. It’s better this way. Attachments are something I don’t need. I am not the girlfriend type. Not with the line of work I do. It’s only a complication, a responsibility I can’t have. People you love can become targets.

  Avoiding the awkward morning after is something I never hang around for. Usually I slip out before dawn. Max beat me to it. For once, I’m on the other end and it feels hollow. That’s the only word for it. Is this what my one-night stands experience when they discover me gone in the morning?

  Wincing as I stretch, I try to enjoy the aches. Max certainly made me work out. The positions he bent me into would make a world champion gymnast blush. Mr. well-endowed has definitely left me with a lasting impression. He’s left me used and abused. A shame I won’t be seeing him again.

  Crawling off the mattress on all fours, I go in search of my jacket. It’s times like these I’m glad I carry for emergencies. Fumbling in the pocket, I find the silver packet. This is just what I need.

  Tossing two painkillers into my mouth, I swallow them down. Not good on an empty stomach, but it will have to do. Food is something I can find later. Right now, I need a shower.

  Somehow, I find a way up onto my feet. Stomach see-sawing, I manage to not throw up. This is the down side of drinking. How Leo can do it all the time is beyond me.

  Finally, making it onto my feet, I stagger for the bathroom. A quick glance in the mirror confirms I'm a fucking mess. Red hair sticking this way and that. I look rough. Skin pale, you can see dark smudges under my eyes.

  Lifting a leg, I clamour into the tub. The shower curtain takes two attempts to slide into place.

  Twisting the knob above the bath the pipes rumble behind the thin wall.

  Water hits my skin. It’s hotter than I usually like, but I know I need this to wipe away the lingering effects of the evening before. Closing my eyes, I bow my head. Tension seeps from my shoulders. Motionless, I remain suspended like that for or I don’t know how long. It’s a haven of steam and silence.

  Sighing, I collect the soap from the side. It’s tiny. Won’t last long.

  Robotically, I wash away the scent of sex, Max’s smell. The marks he’s left on my breasts won’t disappear so easily. Bites of passion have left purple hickeys and bruises in their wake. Soaping
my tits, I moan softly as the touch stirs memories of pleasure.

  Max really helped work away my stress and all the latent energy that was hanging around from my last job. It’s better than a massage. A good filthy fuck and I’m ready to start my day. I’m feeling good. Really good.

  It doesn’t take long to wash my hair. After drying off I’m back in my clothes from the night before. It’s not ideal, but will do until I get back to my apartment to change.

  With my bike still at Cease Fire, getting home means the bus or the tube. Neither form of transport appeals.

  Leaving the hotel, I avoid eye contact with the new guy behind the desk as I return the room key.

  He probably thinks I’m a hooker turning tricks. God knows enough of them use this place. At least it’s safe. Better than servicing their clients down an alley or behind a car.

  Stepping outside, I breath in the chilled November air. London is cold and grey. Already the streets are stirring with life. Londoners on their way to work. The Christmas buzzing is in full swing. Decorations popping up in windows.

  Max’s car is gone. Not that I expected it to still be there. He probably does this more than me. A serial one-night stander.

  Diving into a local cafe I secure my caffeine fix. Clutching the polystyrene cup, I bring it to my nose. Inhaling the smell, I make a small hum. It shakes away the lingering hangover. Sealing my lips to the little slit in the plastic, I take a long sip. Hot, thick, and bitter the liquid snaps at the back of my throat. Heaven. There’s nothing like coffee first thing. It’s satisfying. A ritual I never do without.

  Today is a day off. Gabriel knew we wouldn’t be any use to him getting hammered last night. None of the others will be up before noon. Even then, they’ll be nursing hangovers from hell.

  A Tube ride later and I’m back at my flat. Chiswick has the feel of a town hidden among the greater city. It’s why I picked it. The hustle and bustle of the centre fades away here. It’s my bubble of peace. I go unnoticed. Just someone in the crowd.

  Tossing my keys into the bowl on the sideboard in the hallway, I close the door. Silence. Taking a big breath, I let myself relax fully.