Jarrah forced his feet to move faster as he walked through the Elven forest. He would have run if he could have done, but he needed to look somewhat natural as he made his way to the portal. It was bad enough that he was the one having to report back to Edmeed. The last thing he wanted to do was to attract unnecessary attention, especially with what was going on.
“Jarrah! It’s been absolutely ages since you visited us.”
His heart hit the roof of his mouth as his feet froze mid-step at the sound of Adilyn’s voice. Of all the people that could be lurking in the forest, it had to be her.
“Hey, yeah, I was just on my way to see you,” he lied, turning to face the nymph.
Her beauty knocked him for six, as it alway
Swatting sprite filled flowers away from his face, Edmeed ran as fast as his old bones would carry him. The king would be furious with him but there was no other choice. He had to find Sarah and her mate and convince them to help. It was the only way to protect his beloved Faerie from the Black Seel. Edmeed sucked in a breath as he reached the portal that would take him to Salisbury. He didn’t even bother to Feel for humans as he charged through, hitting the rough grass at a run and almost toppling over. He was getting too old for midnight missions to the human plane and too breathless, too. He picked his robes up and held them against his waist as he ran down from the Power Stones, mentally swearing at himself for not changing to human attire before leaving the castle. There hadn’t been time for changing, but he regretted not making the time as his spindly naked legs s
Aiden's loafers stuck to the beer-sodden floor as he made his way up the stairs to the balcony, trying to find a better view of the floor below. Spotting an opening against the railing, he made his way over, cringing at how reluctant the floor was to release his shoes. With a mental note to wipe his feet as soon as he got outside, he rested an arm on the balcony rail and began his search. His eyes darted across the floor like an owl searching for a meal in the dead of night. Aiden took in everything he saw, each sip of a drink, each drunken kiss, each sleight of hand as it lifted a wallet from an unknowing pocket. He had been following his target for weeks. Every meal he had with his wife and kids, every cringe-worthy date with his two mistresses, and every lap dance at some seedy club, he had been watching. Aiden didn’t usually bat an eyelid at the requests of his contractors or his marks,
Aiden pulled his hoodie tighter against the morning cold and readjusted his rucksack. Why is it always so damn hard? It’s just a knock, he said to himself as he stared at the house across the road. She was at home. He could sense her. He forced his feet forward slowly, prolonging the feelings of resentment, fear, and pain that had started to bubble like a cauldron in his stomach. “It’s just a knock. You’ve done it many times before, and it’s always been fine.” It was his homecoming mantra. Not that Sarah's place was home, but it was the closest he had to a home, and probably, ever would have. Aiden spent his days living in hotel rooms, using backpacks as wardrobes. He was used to hiding away from the world. It was part of his job.
Stepping out of the car, Aiden scanned the darkness as he followed the two sombre-looking suited capos. As he approached the entrance to the Spanish-style Malibu villa, he watched the unblinking, stationary security cameras curiously. He knew Rafael Hernandez well enough to know that his security was as good as Fort Knox and seeing the cameras had been turned off was troubling. “Wonderful for you to visit. It has been too long, my friend.” Rafael said. Aiden shook his extended hand and was instantly pulled into a manly hug. “You've been working out, I see,” Aiden said, clapping the grey-haired gentleman on his back. “Of course! How else do you think I keep up with all my fine young ladies,” Rafael said, directing his hand for Aiden to take a seat.
“Your coffee, Sir.” Aiden smiled his thanks at the buxom waitress, then admired her rounded backside as she walked away. The sway of her hips brought another smile to his face as he pictured his hands digging into her flesh while she rode him through the night. I might have to come back here for a visit after I'm done, he told himself, still watching the waitress as she leaned across a table to clean it. Shaking his head to clear the cock brain, he turned back to his laptop and the Internet search he had been doing. Having ruled out several Charlie Garcia's who were the wrong age along with a few who had died, he had ended up sitting at a café in Hastings, eyeing up the waitress while working a hunch. He had found a Charlotte Garcia who was the right age but, according to records, had been adopted out of the United St
Listening to the continuous ting of rain hitting the roof of his car, Aiden stared at the red-bricked house across the road. He had parked in a side street, away from the streetlights but still close enough for him to watch the house without attracting too much attention. After leaving the car park, he had waited for Charlie to drive away and then followed her until she got home. The whole drive had only taken twenty minutes, but it was the longest twenty minutes of his life. He had never felt such an instant and intense attraction before. Not with anyone. But those eyes… He couldn’t stop thinking about those caramel eyes that were so deep he could drown or the way her dragon tattoo crept over her shoulder and covered her heart as though it was pro
“My afternoon appointment was rescheduled so I’m getting off for the rest of the day. I’ll be around town if you need me, though. Not that you ever do,” Charlie said. “I’ll be fine. Tell Zoe I said hi,” Jamie said. Charlie felt a stab of guilt as hope crept across his face. “She won’t call, you know. You’re not her type, babe, but I did try to tell you that before you went and threw yourself at her.” “I know,” Jamie said, “But you never know. She might feel sorry for me and give me a chance.” Shaking her head, Charlie couldn’t help but laugh at his determination as she let the shop door close behind her. Jamie was a glutton for punishment when it came to the ladies, which often resulted in Charlie’s sh
He knew Charlie was there, even before he saw her ruby red hair shimmering in the lights as she stood at the bar. His eyes wandered over her hourglass figure, lingering at the handles on her hips. Aiden instantly had a mental image of pulling those hips to him so he could bury his face between her thighs. He had always been drawn to a woman with a larger body. In his eyes, skeletons and bones were made for graveyards, not bedrooms. Aiden found a table that offered a good view of the club floor and kept his eyes on Charlie. The failed attempt the day before had left him perplexed. He had always been a bastard when it came to a contract. There had been countless times he had heard the screams of women and the pleading of men but he had never cared. He had adapted his skills, learned to get things done before his victims even knew what was happening and had never let his feelings get in the way, until now. Get your hands off her… A