Demon by My Side(21)

He swirled the wine in his glass. “Was it a friend who had the drug problem? It had to be someone close to affect you this way.”

“You’re more than a soldier,” she countered. “Feel like telling me how much more?”

Jaral leaned forward, elbows on knees. “A sister,” he guessed. “You found her cold and blue with needle tracks in her arm.”

“I’m an only child, but what about your past? With powers like yours you must come from a strong bloodline.”

He grinned. “Careful, Snow. Some information is best left unlearned.”

“Then stop baiting me.”

He stood and, setting the glass down on the table, headed for her. Darcy waited for him, her fingers curling around the arms of the chair.

“You are in pain,” he declared when he stopped before her.

“I’ll survive.”

Gracefully he dropped to one knee. “Survive, yes, but I need you in top condition to be useful to me.”

“I’m not taking the painkillers.”

“Then allow me to help you another way.”

She stilled, her battered body begging her to agree to anything he offered. “What did you have in mind?”

“I’ve never attempted this with a human. Sharing a trace of my energy with you, however, should help your body heal with the quickness of a demon.”

“No.” She couldn’t stop the disgust lacing her tone at the thought of taking any part of a demon into herself.

“Hush,” he chastised. “The effects would be temporary and you would heal of all your injuries in minutes instead of days.”

She considered the offer despite herself. No matter the price, she didn’t like being helpless around this man. A shortcut healing might be worth the risk.

“Why didn’t you do this when I was out? I would never have known the difference.”

He looked up at her with fathomless eyes. “We might find ourselves truly fighting on different sides one day,” he told her. “Until then, I will never take away your choices. I doubt you’d forgive me that.”

She swallowed, fighting back the curious warmth filling her at his words. “And my forgiveness would matter to you?”

His gaze dropped to her lips but he didn’t reply.

Darcy hesitated. Agreeing to his healing would be a risk but she took him at his word. Jared wanted her and she doubted he’d do anything to injure her while that remained the case. As long as he never had her, she’d hold the power.

“Okay,” she whispered. “Help me.”

His palms slid over her knees as he pushed them apart. “We need to be closer,” he said in explanation.

Darcy’s breath hitched. Jared on his knees before her was not such a bad sight.

“Kiss me, hunter,” he dared, “and take the energy you need.”

She licked her lips at the thought. “You didn’t tell me that.”

“Demons never do anything for free,” he said. “Remember that for the future.”

She’d kissed him before. Doing it again wasn’t such a big deal. Staring at his mouth, however, heat gripped her that had nothing to do with healing energy.

You can’t lust after your enemy, she chided herself.

Why the hell not? the forbidden recesses of her mind replied.

“One kiss,” she murmured, cupping his face between her hands. His skin was hot to touch but not unpleasantly so. Slowly Darcy leaned in.

Her lips brushed his tentatively. What did she need to do to take the energy? she wondered as her mouth caressed his. Was she doing something wrong?

Jared came to her rescue. After her last light touch his hand wrapped around the back of her neck. He dragged her closer, their mouths clashing against each other. Darcy gasped a protest and his tongue swept into her mouth.

The moment his tongue brushed along hers, heat rushed into her. It was like breathing in fire, except the burn didn’t hurt. It spiraled through her, infecting every cell.

Her hand slammed against his shoulder. She was unsure whether she should push him away or pull him closer. The sensation was unlike anything she’d ever felt. Demon magic in a human body. She was on dangerous ground.

Dangerous, addictive ground.

Her hand curled around his T-shirt as she tugged him to her. Teeth knocked against each other as they kissed with renewed desperation. With every breath more fire filled her. Her aches disappeared. The stabbing pain in her temples receded. Whatever he was doing, it was working.

A tug at her hair pulled her head back sharply. She moaned as his hot lips trailed down her throat. Heat inflamed every inch of skin he touched.

His other hand settled on her waist, toying with the edges of her top. When a lone finger caressed the skin along the waistline of her pants she cried out. The heat of the touch pooled low in her abdomen.