Swelter (The Hailey Holloway Se - K.C. Stewart

Contents Copyright Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Author's Note Acknowledgments Other Books by K.C. Stewart About the Author

Swelter by K.C. Stewart © 2016 by K.C. Stewart. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except where permitted by law. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Cover Design © L.J. Anderson, Mayhem Cover Creations Editing by: Dare to Dream Editing

Chapter One “Where have you been?” the man barked at her. “Is it done?” She had two answers for him. “Fuck no and none of your business.” “I’m paying you for a job, when you disappear after part of it was to be completed, it becomes my business. I thought I hired the best?” After she failed to kill the sister of

her target, because the target found her beforehand and then proceeded to take her captive for the night, Charley didn’t feel that her embarrassment was any of his business. Although, she made up for it in the end with her disappearing act. She hoped Silas like the note she left him. With her bag packed, Charley zipped it closed and moved to the next. The fact that Silas knew where she lived and how to get into her apartment wasn’t an issue before but she pissed him off and proved him wrong. The man would be sending out his guys to bring her back. Luckily, she had a few holes in the city and was packing up the essentials to move. “Calm your face, it will be done.”

Her employer this time around was a whiny hardass. He checked in a few times a day and nagged her relentlessly. She typically didn’t get involved with the whys of the situation just the who’s and how’s. As in, who did they want dead and how did they want it done. But sometimes, and right now was a perfect example, she really wished she could kill the people who hired her instead of the targets, the world would have one less asshole. But then she wouldn’t get paid and Charley really liked to get paid. Although in this case, the money was not nearly as tempting as putting a hole in Mr. Bergman’s chest. “Get it done within the week and I’ll double what I’m paying you.”

Well now… “You’d pay me four million dollars to kill the leader of the Green sept of dragons?” “Only if you do it by Saturday night.” Oh man, this was what she lived for. Charley was born half angel, half bastard. She had no idea what her other half was since her bitch of a mother left her when she was five. Foster homes made up the next thirteen years of her life until she was eighteen and could walk away from the life her mother had condemned her to. Hunting and killing things had started off as selfpreservation in a hard world full of creatures that hated her because she wasn’t one of their perfect races. Being

a Halfling made her a target, being a good shot got the bull's-eye off her back and onto the head of someone else. Turns out that just because people hate you for what you had no choice in, didn’t mean they wouldn’t pay you to kill someone they hated more. She had a pretty good life for herself. Then that fucking green dragon had to come knocking. Charley had been thrilled to find that someone hated that cock sucker as much as she did. The man broke into her home after having virtually nothing on her. She knew, she kept track of those things. He just broke in to see who she was. This led her to believe he was either stupid and stumbled into the wrong apartment-which considering he was known as one

of the most ruthless men in his species, she didn’t think stupid was a very good description--or he must have known her from somewhere else. Charley doubted he was trying to hire her. He had his own men for that shit. That meant he had to know her sperm donor. She had made assumptions about her father throughout the years. Who he was. What he was. She never got a definite answer. Silas’s presence in her apartment pushed her towards the idea that her father was a dragon. Her assumptions were confirmed just last night. Silas knew her father. He flashed her his hand and it was tempting, so damn tempting. But then again, so was money.

“Deal. He’ll be dead by Saturday.” ***** “You’ve been distracted all night,” Hailey whispered to him. He blinked away the glaze in his eyes and focused back on her. They were the only ones dancing under the millions of tiny twinkling lights of the small dance floor. Then again considering she was one of three women here, the options were limited. His sister made a beautiful bride, even more so when she smiled like she was. Her surprise mating to Dacea had gone as planned and Silas had to admit, he was happy for it. He had grown tired of their back and forth love battles and arguments. Had they not

done this today, he would have kidnapped them both and officiated the ceremony himself while they were bound and gagged. “I’m distracted by your beauty.” She snorted. “Nice try. What’s on your mind?” Little red headed escape artists. “Work.” “Then why are you smiling?” Silas narrowed his eyes. Cocky little thing today, wasn’t she? He spun her out and pulled her back with a giggle on her lips. “Maybe I’m smiling because you are so happy, it makes me happy.” “I don’t think that’s a lie but it sure ain’t the whole truth.” “Hailey,” he said in warning. “I do

not wish to discuss it.” “It’s my wedding and I’ll grill you if I want to. Now talk.” She stepped on his foot but he kept them moving. Traditional dances were not something she was familiar with and mixed with her lack of coordination on a good day, his toes would be bruised that evening. Still, he spun them around so effortlessly that no one would be the wiser of her coordination issues unless they were watching for her grimaces. “A prisoner escaped from the cells last night.” Surprised she said, “I thought that was impossible. Well, beyond my heroic escape.” “So did I.” It bothered him all day.

He had spent his time before the mating locked in the room trying to see a way out from her perspective. He found none. His men were doing the same now but during his last check in, they hadn’t found any way out either. “Who was it?” “No one important,” he said dismissively. Hailey wasn’t buying it. “Try again.” But Charlotte wasn’t important, she merely over took his mind at all hours of the day and consumed his thoughts so thoroughly that he could get nothing else done. “A woman who you do not need to hear any more about.” “Is this that woman Dak mentioned?

Started with a C or something.” He’d need to thank Dacea with his fist later on for telling Hailey about Charlotte. “Yes,” he said stiffly. “No frowning at the bride.” Silas exhaled trying to find patience. “Hailey-“ “Geez, fine. I’ll stop.” “Thank you.” The song ended and wasn’t that just perfect timing. Silas stepped back and with a bow, he excused himself. He heard her mutter “coward” at his back but didn’t step up to the challenge. She’d get her answers, eventually. First, he wanted his own answers. Charlotte missed her original target. That was going to eat at her if it wasn’t

already. She was a perfectionist and from the look she had when he told her of the miss, he knew that had been a first. She’d come after him hard now, wanting to finish the job and move on. Most in his situation would hide away and increase their security. Silas planned on doing the opposite. She wanted to kill him for profit. So he would put himself out there for her to try. He’d show himself so she would have to show herself. There were a few functions he was invited to that would work well for this plan. Normally he would send a check in lieu of attending, which most preferred since he didn’t “play well with others,” as Hailey put it. He would enjoy seeing

the faces of everyone when he did show up, especially those at his table. The poor souls won’t know what hit them.

Chapter Two “Silas, I want a drink.” The sound of her voice put his teeth on edge. Silas kept a neutral face while he nodded to those he knew at the benefit. “Then go get one.” “But I want you to get me one,” Krystal said, hanging off his arm. Never again would he bring one of

the women he fucked as a date, especially a nymph. There was a reason he gagged them when they met up and this was it. Their voices were like screech owls. Just once, he wanted a woman who could either shut up and look pretty or actually enhance a conversation with intelligence and wit. To have both would be a godsend. “Baby,” Krystal said with such a nasally high tone that his eardrums almost burst. “I am not yours nor anyone else’s baby.” What had he been thinking? They had only been there twenty minutes, they hadn’t even eaten dinner yet. How was he supposed to get through the evening surrounded by people he could barely

tolerate on a good day with the sound of Krystal’s whining only a foot beside him the entire night? “Baby,” she said, not even hearing his comment on the name. Silas groaned. “What’s for dinner? Did you tell them that I am only eating organically grown, seaweed harvested off the coast of Nova Scotia this week?” Silas’s mask broke. The only response he had was a look of exasperation. “No,” he ground out. “Frankly, I don’t care if you eat at all. What I do need is for you to close your mouth and to not open it again until you have walked through your front door. Right now, you my dear, are a prop. Nothing more than something to hang off

my arm this evening.” She pouted and made a little indignant squeaking noise that he found repulsive. Why did women think that a pout would get them anything other than a bit lip? He pulled down on the offending lip with the pad of his thumb. “Put that away darling before I rip it off and feed it to my cat.” She sucked it into her mouth and bit lightly. “As I was saying. You are a prop. A good prop doesn’t talk, it doesn’t pout. It smiles with its Botox infused lips and mesmerizes with its voluptuous curves. Bad props are given to the dwarves to fight over.” “You wouldn’t?”

“Oh darling,” he said sardonically, “don’t tempt me.” He turned his head and caught a flash of red curls out of the corner of his eye. Perfect timing. Charlotte could kill him now and put him out of his misery. Then again she was the reason he was at this thing with this perky nymph on his arm. The hair and the woman disappeared into the crowd. Taking the opportunity as it was presented, he left his date to go search for her. Silas scanned the room not seeing her. Gone already. He’d find her later but losing her in the crowd meant he'd have to return to Krystal and her enlightening story about how her toaster broke the day prior because she put a whole

sandwich in it hoping to make a grilled cheese with organic, locally grown tomatoes harvested between 2:34 and2:57 that Tuesday, or something equally ridiculous. A soft hand wound in between his arm and moved in close. The perfume was a much more delicate scent, sensual with a spice, than that of the nymph. The touch was softer too, not as possessive, more curious, testing. Silas looked down to find Charlotte smirking at him. He let his eyes roam, not caring who saw. She was impeccable. Hair curled and secured in a tangle of pins on her head, a few smaller pieces left down to frame her brilliant green eyes. The dress was nothing but a sheath of emerald but

the cut accentuated her lean figure and the fierceness of her character. “That color does your skin justice.” Silas ran a finger down her bare shoulder. “But your eyes are the gems of the evening. Hello Charlotte, you look stunning.” He moved his hand to rest on hers. The pressure was there so she wouldn’t escape but touching her was the ultimate goal. “Thank you, Silas. I find that this suit, although they are all beautifully cut, really brings out the whorishness of your date. Tell me, where did you find such a woman on such short order?” He grinned. “Ah, well the woman I had wanted to bring had run out on me a

few days back. She left a note but no number.” “Pity.” “It is. So are you here to kill me now or after dinner?” “Hmmmm,” she hummed as she thought about it. “I think after dinner. Wouldn’t want to ruin everyone’s night so soon.” “Perfect. Then we have time for a dance.” Silas tugged her forward even when her honey sweet voice yelped with surprise. “What? No. Silas.” “Yes,” he told Charlotte as he spun her into his arms. She was all hard muscle under feminine softness. The orchestra was playing but no one dared

to dance yet. She shot a look around the room to the people who watched them. Heads tilted together as they murmured their comments to one another. He ignored them. There was only one pair of eyes he cared about. “I don’t dance.” Silas pulled her closer, he positioned her hands and let his fall to her waist as he clasped her other within his. Her eyes were wide when they looked at him again. He liked the look of surrender. It would keep him company on a lonely night. “You do now.” The song changed, a slightly faster tempo and Silas began. He pulled her where he wanted her to go, she stumbled

a bit at first but then relented and let him lead. Such a simple submission but worth so much in his eyes. When she relaxed and just let him take control, she smiled and even laughed at a few points. She claimed not to be a dancer, but their rhythm was anything but mundane and clumsy. No, their bodies worked together, one step flowing into the next. A skim of her fingertips on his nape. His hand traveling down her spine. The clash of their bodies when they came together. The angry rush when they pushed apart. His breath on her neck. The soft exhale on her lips. It was serious. It was sexual. It put every other dance he'd ever participated in to shame. On the final beat, he had kept her off

balance and in his arms. She clung to him, her chest heavy with unanswered breath. Silas couldn’t look away. A few pieces of her hair had fallen. She was flushed and tousled. And in an unguarded moment, she was his. The clapping of the people around them broke the moment. A hard wall came down in her face and Charlotte managed to untangle herself from him. She cursed loud enough for him to smile. “Don’t suppose you would consider calling off your plan to kill me?” She laughed, short and humorless. “Alas, Lover, you won’t get away that easily.” “Excuse me!” Krystal’s voice screeched.

Charlotte took one look at the nymph and politely but contemptuously said, “You’re excused,” and then turned back to Silas. Unable to figure out a dismissal when she heard one, Krystal asked Silas, “what was that?” In the same tone Charlotte had used, he said, “A dance.” Charlotte smirked. “That was much more than a dance. That was like watching fully clothed sex. You’re here with me Silas, remember?” She glared at Charlotte in a sad attempt at staking her claim on him. Krystal must have forgotten their talk about her purpose this evening. “No, you are here with me or must I explain this

idea of props to you once more?” Off to the side, a server was waiting to be noticed. Silas motioned him forward with a small flick of fingers. Two glasses of scotch accompanied a flute of champagne. Krystal snatched the champagne with a smile like she had just won a coveted prize. Charlotte ignored her and reached for the scotch along with Silas. She clinked her glasses against his and took a sip while watching him over the rim of her glass. The look was not a safe one. “Did you poison my drink?” He sniffed the liquid not detecting anything but the way she watched him was cause for concern. “That’s so unbecoming and unoriginal. I expected something a little

more valiant than that.” “Poison you?” she asked offended. “That’s a coward’s way. When I kill you, I’ll be looking into your eyes so you know it. I didn’t poison you, Silas. But I did poison your little bimbo.” Krystal’s eyes widened as she choked on her champagne. “Have fun with that.” Krystal dropped her glass and grabbed hold of his arm. Her legs wobbled before giving out completely. One person rushed forward. Then another. Men mostly, but Krystal had the attention she craved. Charlotte disappeared into the crowd. Her emerald clad hips swaying with sexy confidence. Silas smiled, leaving Krystal to her rescuers and followed

after her. ***** Holy hell. Charley made her exit in the confusion. Once more her plans had been changed by Silas but at least he had a headache on his hands with that woman. He wasn’t dead, yet. It was a pity but she wasn’t worried. It would happen soon, and she had many backup plans waiting in the wings. The night had a chill to it but she still considered just leaving without her coat. Hearing the calls for help and an ambulance behind her made her smile. Krystal would be fine. Charley may have poisoned her, but it was nothing deadly,

just the shits for the next twelve hours. Charley had time. No one was at the desk where she checked her coat. Being the resourceful woman that she was, Charley walked around and entered the room with her ticket in hand. A hard hand latched onto her arm and pulled her off balance. Her back hit the wall at the same moment lips devoured her. Silas, hot blooded and angry put his hands on her, everywhere. Any protest was met with a bite or a pinch. She liked it. God, did she ever like it. With the bite of pain came a soft roll of pleasure. Gasp and moan. Over and over again. He wanted to possess her. Silas was a domineering man, an alpha type. He wanted to own and control. Charley

didn’t do either of those things. She may have had a lapse here and there with him but she wouldn’t give up anything, especially to him. She pulled at him, nails digging into his scalp. The thin silk of the dress did nothing to pad the erection that he ground into her. Oh lord, she wanted that. She wanted that hard and fast and frenzied. Silas grabbed a healthy handful of her ass and made sure she felt all of him. Charley bit him in response. His skin changed under the trail her tongue took up his neck. Hard, smooth scales followed the wet path. Silas’s control was wavering but so was hers. Charley wanted to fuck him right there in the coat closet. She wanted to wrap her

legs around his waist and let him slide right into her. She was ready for him, had been for a while. He’d rock into her, his hands on her ass, the pinch of talons as his control lessened. She’d take him, all of him, hard and fast. It would be dirty and hot and wrong on so many levels. But she wanted it. She wanted him. Silas rucked up her dress and what do you know? Charley took the freedom to climb up his body and wrap her legs around his hips. She reached down and began to unbuckle his belt. He captured her wrists and slammed them into the wall above her head with a growl. “You think I’d let you decided the when and how?”

Charley tightened her legs to bring him towards her. She was acting like a bitch in heat but she didn’t care. She needed him. “Pretty Charlotte.” His tempo slowed down while hers revved up. “All hot and pink. Ready for me.” He forced his shaft against her cunt. All that separated them was the thin fabric of her thong and the pants that were working their way off of his hips. He sucked on the column of her neck up to her ear. Silas’s voice was heavy and horse as it whispered in her ear. “Sucks to be you though.” “Why’s that.” Why was his penis not inside of her yet? Did she not make that intention clear enough?

His hand tightened on her wrists. “Because when I stop this in a minute and you go home tonight, all hot and needy, you are not going to touch yourself.” “Aren’t I?” He bit her, hard and fast. “Oh no, you won’t.” “Why not?” “Because I told you not to. The next time you cum, it will be by my fingers, my mouth or my cock inside of you.” To reiterate his point he ground that cock of his against her sensitive flesh. “Besides, then I’ll have won.” What the hell was he talking about? “You know where to find me when the need becomes too great.”

Charley was so consumed with his body that when he dropped her hands and set her on the ground, she felt like the entire Earth had shifted on its axis. He kissed her one last time. It was a promise if she ever heard one. He then pulled her coat off of the rack beside her and handed it to her. Absently she took it from him. He was not seriously about to leave her like this? He had to be feeling the need just as badly. Blue balls were no joke. She watched him tuck his shirt back into his pants and fix his belt. When he looked presentable he tipped his head at her and left. The motherfucker just left. Charley’s whole body was about to ignite and he fucking walked away.

Oh, she was going to kill him. Fuck the money. This was personal.

Chapter Three The sun would begin its ascent through the sky in less than an hour. Charley laid in the sweaty sheets of her bed, muscles tight and quaking. Frustration and sweat seeped out of her. There was no touch, no toy, no fantasy that would allow her to climax and move on with her life. Fucking Silas and his fucking commands thinking he can rule

her goddamn life like he had any control whatsoever. And yet, here she was lying in bed after a night of restless sleeping, erotic dreams and a solid hour of pleasuring herself to the point of pain. Her body wouldn’t listen, wouldn’t just give in to the need. It rode high and when she was moments away from cresting, his voice would come into her head. “The next time you cum, it will be by my fingers, my mouth or my cock inside of you.” Her body, ever obedient little fuck it was, would shut down. His voice halted all movement. It didn’t cool her off or depress the need any. No, it just kept it at its peak, not able to move forward or back to achieve any kind of relief.

Silas was going to die slowly and painfully. She didn’t care if she made the weekend deadline anymore. Fuck the money. Charley would stretch this out for weeks if it meant he was under her control for that time begging and pleading for her to end it all. Seeing him beaten down and worthless helped her cool off. The image wasn’t a pretty one. Imagining Silas as a weakened coward felt wrong. She knew that he would never be in that position. Even if she were to capture him and keep him for her own a few weeks, he would never be anything more than a domineering male whose ego was about as big as his dick. And what about that attracted her so

fiercely? This assignment was completely fucked. Charley prided herself on the ability to get shit done and move on. Silas though, he knew how to fuck with her head just as easily as he could fuck with her body. This needed to end but it wasn’t like she could just waltz into his house and kill him in his sleep. Just seeing him in bed would probably jump start her ever revved libido. What she needed was to get all these annoying, needy urges taken care of so that she could focus once more. Question was, who would be the male? Her body wouldn’t go for just anyone. Not now, not after all this. Charley was worried

that it wouldn’t play nice with anyone but Silas. Was he even an option? “You know where to find me when the need becomes too great.” He had invited her. Sort of. The more she thought about it, the more she liked the idea. So she couldn’t walk into his house and kill him. Could she walk in and screw his brains out? She was just desperate enough to try. ***** Silas half expected to see Charlotte that evening. Lord knows he wanted to see her. But the night sky rolled into day and there was no sight of her. He did what he needed to do that day all while uncomfortably shifting. Nothing eased

the strain in his cock. He told her that she would not be able to enjoy any pleasure that was not provided by him, but that was a two way street. The next time he came, it would be in or on Charlotte. His control had been so close to snapping yesterday. Charlotte pushed him to his limits and he loved it. He loved the bite of pain and the struggle for control. Not only with himself, but with her as well. He could have had her up against that wall in that closet. At any point he could had slid her thong over and taken her. But her face when he denied her his cock was worth the uncomfortable strain of the day. It was just after midnight when she

did come to him. He had been waiting in his bed. The moonlight his only companion. Security had notified him of her arrival and then was told to back off and let her come in. He had to give her points for style and stealth. Had he not been waiting, she might have snuck up on him, which was difficult to do. Silas kept his eyes closed and his face lax. The soft padding of her footsteps almost silent on the hard wood. Behind his eyes the steam of moonlight darkened as she stood in front of him. He could smell her. A mistake on her part. Although if she were really here to kill him, he hoped she would know better than to let scent give her away. “Should I open my eyes now so I can

watch you try and kill me?” A smile slid across his face at her curse. “I hate you so much,” she muttered. “The feeling is entirely mutual, my dear.” Charlotte was the personification of sexual frustration. From the scowl on her face and the roaming eyes, to the hard peaks of her nipples that shown through her shirt, she was every bit as deprived as he was. She ate him up. Her hungry eyes scolded every inch of skin it could find. Considering Silas slept naked, she had a feast in front of her. “Well? Are you going to make your move or not.” He never thought he’d find a snarl sexy but from Charlotte the sound when

straight to his dick. Silas grabbed her wrist and tugged. She fell into the bed, into him. They fought as much as they kissed. She would roll over him, straddling Silas in hope to gain control. The hard kisses they shared would leave bruises in the morning. But he wouldn’t let her stay there for long and would twist and roll them over until he was in between her legs and rubbing his erection against her cotton covered clit. Together they tore off her clothes. She tried to push him off of her but he wouldn’t budge. “You’re such a controlling asshole.” He bit her neck and relished the guttural moan that left her lips. “You like it.”

Silas dodged the knee she lifted and pushed away from her. They tumbled to the floor, each fighting for the upper hand, neither on quite grasping it. He pinned her and her eyes glossed over with arousal. “Like that do you?” he murmured. Moving her wrists into one of his hands he pushed her thighs wide with his. “I think you will enjoy this too. I know I will.” Then he was in her. He was pumping his hips and squeezing her breast. He had a hand on her nape so he could kiss her how he wanted, how she needed. She struggled but not to gain control, not any more. Charlotte had submitted, if just for this one moment, this one act. There was still hate and lust shining at

him through her eyes, but there was also trust. It wasn’t much but enough. ***** Who was this person who had taken over her body? Charley gave in to what he wanted. She gave up her most coveted quality and rolled over like a dog for him, a dog that was enjoying herself. The way he rolled his hips should be outlawed. At first, the intensity had been overwhelming. They pushed each other and then pushed some more. Forget makeup sex. Hate sex was the way to go. It was all going so well until she gave in, more like caved. All at once she

found that giving up that independence and control that she so desperately loved to own, felt good. More than good, it was a relief. When she let go, he had known. Of course he had known, he could feel her heart beat through her chest they were so close together. Something had changed in him. And then his hands softened on her wrists. No longer was she clawing at him but pulling him towards her, stroking his back, gripping his shoulders. He rested his forehead against hers and thrust over and over in a relentless rhythm. The hate had left their stares, leaving only lust and confusion behind. She came in that unguarded moment. It took her by surprise and drowned her in

pleasure. Her eyes had closed in it all but Silas’s growl opened them back up. He had seen her fall apart; she would damn well watch him. ***** “You’re leaving?” he asked unsure if he was surprised that she was going or that he cared. “Well, yeah. It’s either that or I shove something through your heart. Personally, I want some sleep tonight. So yeah, I’m going.” Made perfect sense, and yet for some asinine reason, he didn’t like it. Charlotte made quick work of her clothes. Silas watched her with a blank

expression. He wasn’t sure what else to say. Awkward wasn’t something he had ever consider himself but as the words dried up in his throat he found that it was a perfect description. They had gone past hate, lust and infatuation and straight into awkward. “I don’t know whether I want to smack you, stab you, your kiss you, so I’m just going to leave.” Charley stood by the window. It was still open. She held herself away from him and he found he did not like the posture. Hell, Silas didn’t like any of this. “Aren’t you going to say anything?” she asked surprised at her own emotionally threaded voice. Was he? Silas didn’t have any words

that fit the situation. Never had he expected to have sex with the woman trying to kill him. Not just sex. If that was just sex he would have had her removed by now. What they experienced had more emotion and purpose than sex. “Are you fucking brain dead?” He raised an eyebrow, seems like he wasn’t the only one unsure of what to do next. Charlotte could have left any number of times but she stood glued to that window waiting for him. Silas stood, he wore nothing but a few patches of scales that shimmered in the moonlight. He went to her, cornering her against the window. “Goodnight Charlotte.” Silas cupped her chin. “Tomorrow feel free to use the

front door.” He dropped a soft kiss on her lips. Charlotte wrinkled her brow. What? She thought this was a onetime thing? He had thought so too until he touched her, kissed her, possessed her. This wasn’t over. It had barely even begun. “Next time I see you Silas, it won’t be for sex. It will be to kill you, get my money and move on.” His eyebrow raised in question. “We’re back to that again?” She huffed out an exasperated breath. “Yes. We never left it.” He touched her again since she was so close. “Alright, you can try to kill me but if you fail then you will end up in my bed again.”

“Goodnight Silas,” she said pushing him away and swinging a leg out the window. “Sweet dreams.”

Chapter Four She pushed her cart through the grocery store and found it unfortunate that even kick ass killers like herself had to do mundane things like shop for food. The problem with this particular chore was that Charley had no self-control when it came to the foods she loved, which also happened to be the foods that we full of enough preservatives to last in

her cabinets through a nuclear holocaust. Her stomach somehow digested these unnatural anomalies so she just kept buying them. Her cart didn’t have one fresh or cook–beyond-heating-in-themicrowave meal. Charley was just about to say fuck it and leave with what she had. She hated this shit, hated even more that she could barely boil water without destroying her kitchen. Not having parents would do that to a girl. As she was reaching for her cereal staples on the bottom shelf a heated, unwanted and goddamn sexy voice stated that her choice in breakfast left much to me desired. “What the ever living hell are you doing here, Silas?” Charley grabbed her

box of Coco Puffs and dropped it in her cart. Silas had no cart. He had no basket. All he had was one of his slim cut suits that she was beginning to think were actually all he owned and a smile that spoke more of his arrogance than words could ever do. “You’re avoiding me,” he stated. “No, I’m shopping,” she said annoyed. And she wasn’t avoiding him, just the sex they had. The sweaty, rough, oh go please don’t stop sex. He looked into her cart and sneered a little. Charley pushed it away feeling mighty defensive over her cart and its contents. “Don’t judge me on my bad habits.” “Hmmm, indeed. All that you have

chosen is rubbish. Leave the cart here and let’s go get some actual food.” “Yeah, no.” Crazy son of a bitch thought she was going with him? Hell no. Dinner with the man she was supposed to be slaughtering was a big no-no in the book of how to kill people and get paid for it. Silas smirked. “You really prefer Star Wars macaroni and powered cheese than a dry aged steak?” Charley didn’t even know what a dry aged steak was. “I’m not having dinner with you. Please go away.” She pushed her cart down the aisle and around the corner. Not that her refusal deterred him. Silas merely followed behind making tsking sounds

and disgusted noises as she packed her cart full of the necessities like Spaghettio’s and Goldfish. “God, what now?” He had chuckled when she added a party sized bag of Swedish Fish in beside the bag of assorted chocolate. “Nothing. I just realized how well you and my sister, Hailey, would get along on your food choices alone.” “Will you please leave me alone? Just go away. I really just can’t do this right now.” “No,” he shook his head. “I don’t think I will. You know it really hurts a man’s ego when the woman he just had sex with leaves before his cock even has a chance to get soft.”

“I highly doubt your ego has ever been hurt.” “True enough,” he agreed. “Have dinner with me.” “No.” But she kind of wanted too. Gah! He was messing with her head again. She needed to leave. He needed to leave. They both needed to go in different directions and never cross paths again. Ever. She could contract the job out to someone else and go live on some tropical island selling alcohol in coconuts. There was a thoughtful silence as he assessed her and then, “Fine, we’ll do it your way.” Silas walked off leaving her stupefied that he actually listened to her. “Alright then.” Charley pushed her

cart a little further down the aisle and looked behind her. He was gone. Pushed a little more and she looked around again. He was still gone. Had he seriously left, just like that? Rattled, she decided to go straight to checkout and just go home with what she had. It was better than nothing which was what her cabinet was full of at the moment. She was just about to pay and leave when Silas dropped a basket overfilled with fresh produce and meat on the conveyor belt. The cashier rung him through and bagged his with hers and before she could argue, or, at least, find her voice to argue, he paid for everything. “What are you doing?” “Making you dinner,” he said like that

sounded reasonable when it was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard. “Excuse me?” Silas smirked as he touched her chin, closing it. “My driver is outside. He’ll take us to your apartment and then I will be making us dinner while we talk.” “What will we talk about?” Her voice was on the edge of a squeak. It annoyed her that she could barely control hero own vocal cords around him. He smiled like he won and dammit, he had. “Everything and we’ll see where that takes us.” *****

When he woke up that morning, Silas found himself incredibly irritated. It didn’t take much to figure out that Charlotte was the reason behind his awful mood. When she left so abruptly, he had been unable to fall asleep. Had he been too hard on her? That seemed absurd because she was just as turned on and angry as he was. But still he had worried he had gone too far. It was a frustrating feeling and one he did not appreciate having. Charlotte did that to him, though. Made him feel things he had never felt or only had in brief passes. Silas had someone track her down and he went to corner her in the market. It took a little doing but he got his way

eventually. Charlotte frowned the entire drive to her apartment, which was just a block or two away. To her surprise, he carried all the bags inside and put away her food. If you could call what she bought as food. “What are you making?” she asked from the small dinette table in the corner of the kitchen where he told her to sit. He removed his jacket, had gone sans tie that day and rolled up his sleeves. “Chicken Saltimbocca. I prefer veal but the market did not carry any suitable cuts.” When she didn’t answer, Silas looked over his shoulder at her. “Is there a problem?” Cut from a daze, Charlotte snapped her head up. “No. Sorry. I was just

wondering where you learned to cook.” Well, that was a simple place to start. He had wanted to converse and get to know her better; he had to be willing to share as well. “As a child, I often would escape my father’s ministrations and coursework by hiding out in the kitchen. Our chef was a burly woman who took no tongue from anyone and she had a soft spot for boys who studied all the time and never played. She taught me how to cook.” Even now he liked to go into his kitchen and make a meal when he was feeling stressed. Often times his security team would wake up to fresh baked cinnamon rolls. But it had been awhile since Silas cooked a meal for another

person. “Sounds nice.” “My childhood? Hardly,” he scoffed. “You had two parents who cared enough about you to give you an education,” she said seriously. “And let me just reiterate the whole you had parents thing.” The chicken was cooking in the pan and had a few more minutes to go. He turned his back to it and leaned against the counter with his arms crossed over his chest. “I killed my father taking not only his life but his title. Do you know why?” She shook her head. She wouldn’t know. This wasn’t something found in history books. “He tried to kill my sister. Had done such a great job of it that I

believe she was dead up until last year. When he had taken the infant from my mother, who had died in childbirth, by the way, he left to dispose of the child because she was female, she was human. He must have had some kind of flicker of love for her because he dropped her off at a hospital instead.” “That’s horrible.” He wouldn’t argue with that. “I killed him for what he had done to my sister. I had parents, Charley, but they screwed me up just as much as your lack of parental guidance screwed up yours.” He had to flip the chicken. Silas turned back to the stove and continued preparations for their meal. Her chair squeaked as she pushed it back, a

moment later she was standing beside him. “Can I help?” He glanced over at her and smirked. “Think you can handle a salad?” “Sure.” But she didn’t sound so sure. The vegetables were cut in giant chunks while the lettuce was ripped into small pieces. It was the strangest salad he had ever eaten but enjoyed it none the less. “I’m sorry,” she stated as they ate. She pushed her inch wide carrot chunk around her plate. “I really can’t do anything culinary.” Silas speared a piece of tomato. “I’m not. This is delightful. However, if you would like some lessons, I’d be happy to show you.”

“Cooking lessons?” she asked skeptically. He nodded. “Yes. Although, I do request we do them at my house because my kitchen is much larger.” “Of course, it is,” she said dryly. Silas collected her plate and brought over their meals. A piece of chicken breast topped with fresh basil and a piece of prosciutto covered with a white wine butter sauce alongside roasted broccoli and angel hair pasta. It wasn’t the best he had ever made but it smelled good and her stomach had been rumbling the moment the aromatics had released. She ate like she did everything else with full force and not holding back. Charley savored everything, groans of

delight tightened his pants but he loved them. “That was…oh man. That was amazing.” Charlotte sat back in her chair with a clean plate in front of her. “I’m glad you liked it.” “I’m tempted just to jump you right now in appreciation but I can’t move.” She patted her stomach. “So full.” Silas chuckled. He liked seeing her like this, so open. “I told you about cooking, tell me about a passion you have.” “I kill things,” she stated blandly. “That’s my passion.” “Yes, you’ve mention that before. But you have to have something you like to do besides killing…things.”

Charlotte had to think. Time passed silently. He was about to give up and ask her something else when she answered. “I’ve always liked to paint,” she said softly. “They suck but it’s something I play around with. When I was at one of my foster homes, I got a painting kit for Christmas. It was stupid but I really loved that kit.” “Do you still paint?” “Yeah,” she ducked her head. “From time to time.” “Can I-“ She cut him off. “No. No, you cannot. I’ve never shown anyone and they are really bad but they are mine and very personal.” “Alright, but maybe one day you’ll

show me.” He respected her privacy but he would see these paintings. “Aren’t you forgetting something?” she asked. Charlotte’s face had changed. Her brows crinkled together with hesitation and worry. Silas reached across the table and cupped her chin. She jerked back and he tightened his hold but after a moment she stilled. “What am I forgetting?” he asked softly. “There is no future for cooking lessons or paintings. I’ve been hired to kill you, Silas.” He lifted the napkin from his lap and set it on the table. Silas stood and walked the short distance around the table to her. “Such distrust,” he murmured. Her

back had gone straight and Charlotte closed herself off. Silas knelt in front of her, between her knees. He cupped her head with his hands, letting his fingers tangle in the hair at her nape. “Our future is up to you, Charlotte. Where it goes or doesn’t go is in your hands.” He pulled her into his kiss. This wasn’t angry like the sex had been. In fact, it was the first tender touch they experienced together. His lips coaxed hers open. It didn’t take much before she was kissing him back with enthusiasm. He dropped a hand down her back and pulled her forward into him. Her legs wrapped around his back, effectively trapping him. They kissed as if hungry. The sweetest of desserts was the simplicity of her lips on

his. When she had had her fill, she pulled back. “You’re really good at messing everything up, you know that?” He chuckled. Not the first time someone had said as such. “Yes, I know.” Logic returned to her body and mind fairly quickly. “I should clean up.” He took the cue and stood, backing out of her personal space elegantly. Charlotte stepped around him and took their dishes. “I’m going to leave.” The news didn’t come as a surprise to her. She continued to load her dishwasher but nodded. “I heard tonight was supposed to be fairly cool. I suggest leaving your windows

open. I know I will be.” A smile spread across her face and she looked over to him. “Subtle.” He retrieved his coat and slid it on. “Would you prefer direct? Come to my house tonight. I promise you devious amounts of pleasure.” Shocked but pleased at his more direct route, her eyebrows lifted and she laughed. “Well, how can a girl refuse?”

Chapter Five “You’re running out of time.” Thank you, Captain Fucking Obvious. “I’m good.” “Are you? Because the way I see it, you have had ample time to do the job. You have two days left if you want to double your money.” All things she already knew. “I’ll get it done.” The thought of killing him

didn’t excite her as it once had. Twice she went to his room in the dead of the night. They barely spoke to each other just had raging sex and then moved on. Each time they were more pissed off when they left than when she arrived. It was infuriating to not feel the satisfaction sex should bring, but it was missing something. The sex was great, so it wasn’t that. It wasn’t until she was heading home that she felt the coldness seep into her. It was such a contrast to the heat they felt when they were together. “What do you have against Silas?” Charley didn’t usually ask for a background. The few times she had in the beginning but each time she almost

had killed them too. She couldn’t dwell on the targets. Charley would go crazy if she bothered to get to know them. It was harder to be cold and heartless if you showed your compassion and understanding. But Silas, goddamned fucking Silas, had gotten under her skin. Charley had heard about his reputation and any number of people would be justified to hire her. But she had never heard any rumblings about him doing something to Lou Bergman. “I thought you didn’t ask questions?” “Usually, I don’t but more information might be helpful at this point.” The line was silent for a brief moment. “Alright. It’s a fair question. He

threatened my family, specifically my daughter.” “Threatened?” That was it? Seemed like a bit of an overreaction to her. Had he killed Lou’s daughter then maybe she would understand more. This was exactly why she didn’t ask questions. Charley never got what their grudge was all about. “I don’t think this is relevant. I hired you to kill him and he is still alive.” “Won’t be for much longer.” Maybe. Christ what was with her? Have sex with a man, earth shattering sex but sex none the less, and she becomes this procrastinating, incompetent woman. Not to mention the fact that she kept rolling over on her independence and

feeding into Silas’s already inflamed dominate ego. This needed to stop. The sex, the feelings, the insecurity, the confusion. All of it needed to end. “With your reputation, I had expected more. I’m disappointed, Charlotte.” “Name’s Charley,” she said automatically. It didn’t bother her when Silas said it. Well, it did but she kind of liked it. But when other people called her by her given name she wanted to punch something. “It’s not. It’s Charlotte.” This guy was walking on thin ice. She was already wound up and his instigating wasn’t helping her attitude. “My name is what I say it is. Accept it

or find someone else to do you bidding.” What the fuck? Where had that come from? “You’d turn down four million dollars because I wish to call you what your parents named you and not some modernized version of it?” He was surprised. Well, so was she. “I’d turn down the money because you don’t respect me. I get it. Most don’t respect a Halfling but that has never factored in with you. This is a power play and you will not win it. My name is Charley and if you continue to call me Charlotte then I’m going to have to decline your money and move on.” “I see. My apologies, Charley.” Damn fucking straight. The win was

minor but felt good. She hung up. Charley needed to get her head on straight and back in the game. She’d clean her guns. The systematic nature of the process would help her think. Then she’d act. No more waiting around, no more intense planning. Just do the job and move on. ***** Silas didn’t change often. It was a horrible habit of his keeping his dragon inside all the time. Today, though, he needed to get out and away. Hailey and Dacea were cleaning out the cabin of the recently deceased Darby. It was going to be a small retreat home for them. Silas decided that

morning to fly up there and see them. His wings needed to be stretched and the sky was always a safe haven for him. Out of all the dragon septs, Green was the largest; it also had the least amount of changeable dragons. Their kind was evolving. Silas however, considered it devolving. A dragon that couldn’t change into his true being was no dragon at all. He led Green because he could change, a true rarity. He was also incredibly smart and resourceful. People may have found his tactics to be a bit cruel and selfish, but he always won in the end. Silas hadn’t flown in months. It was a shame because he felt the most in tune with himself and his thoughts in this

form. As a dragon, he was his true self. No hiding. As a human, he was who he needed to be. It was a shame that more of his kind couldn’t change because their forms were very different from the other septs. His scales were like little plates of armor. His body was a tank in this form, impenetrable and poisonous. He had two ridges of varying sizes of spines down the length of him to the tip of his tail. His wings were massive, spanning out ten feet in either direction. Silas was so dark of a green he appeared black at times. He soared over the mountains of central Pennsylvania. They were more like soft hills from his position and made

him hunger for the ridged peaks of the Rockies. This was by far the longest Silas has stayed in one area of the country. It was about time to travel to his other houses and check in on things elsewhere. But as long as Charlotte was trying to eradicate him from the earth, he’d stay put. Giving her the satisfaction, of what would look like his retreat, would only put ideas of control and winning in her head. And he couldn’t have that. Charlotte had come to him twice. The first was no surprise at all but the second had taken him off guard. He hadn’t thought to see her for another night or two but she was there, tapping at his bedroom window. She had tried and

failed, to gain the upper hand with him which just made her submission that much more beautiful. Her departure had left a sore spot in his chest. It was uncomfortable. She felt it too. He could see it plainly on her face as she crawled back out of his window. Silas had wanted to say something to her but his hesitation cost him the moment. She slipped from the room. She’d be back tonight. He knew it. He also knew that he wasn’t letting her leave this time. He’d chain her to his bed if need be. And wasn’t that a pretty picture. As he approached the cabin he saw Dacea on the ground, a hand shading his eyes as he looked up at Silas. The Red

dragon met him at the landing site just behind the house and had a change of clothes waiting for him. They were cotton sweat pants and a t-shirt. He sneered but slipped on the garments. “Hailey is going to be sorry she missed this,” Dacea laughed. Silas rarely wore anything this simple. “She’s not here?” “Went into town. We needed food and she needed internet. Why are you here Silas?” They walked down the path to the cabin. “Just out for a joy ride.” Dacea bypassed the open door and went around front to the porch and the rocking chairs that resided there. “And you chose to come here?”

Dacea asked unbelieving. “I heard about your dance with Charlotte Morgan. Isn’t she trying to kill you?” Silas shrugged. “That’s what she says but she hasn’t so far.” “So what has she done?” Explaining to Dacea what Charlotte and he had been doing was actually entertaining. Dacea had never had hate sex so he was lost to the nuances that it held against make up or even loving sex. “Why are you even letting her continue this charade? Next time she comes just lock her up. I’ve seen you kill men for less than what she’s threatening.” That was the question wasn’t it? He should have contained this weeks ago.

“It’s complicated.” As Dacea studied him as Silas looked out over the forest. It really was serene here. He could see why the little witch had settled on this mountain. It reminded him of the feeling he got when he was at his vineyard in New York. Silas wondered if he took a surprise trip north if Charlotte would follow him. He thought she might enjoy the peace Seneca Lake offered at sunset. Dacea laughed breaking the contentment of the moment. “You’re in love with her.” “No,” he answered not bothering to look at him. Dacea smiled. “Oh yes, you are. Everything makes a little more sense

now. You can’t lock her up because you care about her. How’s she feel about your smug ass?” Was this conversation actually happening? When had Dacea gone from the man who’s skull he wanted sitting on his bookshelf to his confidant? “Charlotte’s emotions are her own and we don’t exactly talk when we are together.” “True enough. So what are you going to do? It’s not like you can just let her keep breaking in and threatening you? What if she actually makes a move on you?” Silas was done with this question hour. Turns out male friends were over rated, they asked too many questions.

“That’s my problem, not yours.” Dacea scoffed. “Look you came here, remember. I assume that means you wanted help of some kind and this is me helping. Deal with it or leave.” “Goddammit.” Silas leaned his elbows on his knees and let his head hang. Dacea was right. He had come for aid and he was refusing to even talk about it. “Sorry,” he muttered. “It’s ok. Love sucks sometimes.” “Fuck.” He didn’t have to look to know Dacea was smiling. “I must say, this is entertaining for me. I never thought you’d fall in love but the fact that she was hired to kill you makes it all the

better.” Silas sneered. “If you are going to help, you can’t mock me.” “No, you’re right,” he said, sobering. “What exactly is your problem, Silas? I haven’t heard anything other than your angry sex tales.” What was his problem? He couldn’t keep her around long enough to figure that part out. Charlotte kept running to and from him but never stayed long in either position. They connected so well during sex, he wanted to see where else that connection held true. But the moment he left her sweat soaked body, before either of them could catch their breath, she was running to the window. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I don’t

know what the problem is. I don’t know what I’m doing. I guess that is the problem.” “I’m going to give you a hint,” Dacea said with the utmost seriousness. “None of us know what we are doing, but neither do they. How you get through it is through communication. Talk to her. Be honest and talk to her.” It sounded simple but there was that whole issue with her running away. He remembered the vision of her chained to his bed and he smirked. He might not have to go that far but it was always an option. The crunch of gravel sounded as a small cloud of dust billowed through the trees. “Hailey’s home,” Dacea

commented getting to his feet. “I’ll be going.” Hailey would hound him for details that he wasn’t ready to share yet. That meant it was time to head home. “Coward,” Dacea smirked. In this case? Yes, yes he was.

Chapter Five Silas sat in his favorite chair, the darkness surrounding him like an old friend. He watched the window with a drink in his hand. He had given her access to his house but yet she still felt the need to sneak around. Maybe it gave her a sense of distance. He’d ruin that tonight. The arm’s length she tried to keep him at would be crushed. Silas

would push her tonight. Push them both. He needed to test whatever this was, maybe even get some answers. The window opened and Charlotte hopped down inside. Her eyes sought his immediately and a grin spread across her face. “You came,” he stated still surprised that she returned night after night. Charlotte quirked a smile. “Yes, now get naked.” She was in a playful mood. He wasn’t. Silas couldn’t find any playful in him at the moment. “No. Undress Charlotte.” Silas put down his drink and stood. No jacket or tie tonight, he had removed those earlier. His shirt sleeves had been rolled up and the top few buttons of his shirt open. She

hesitated. Maybe it was the command or possibly the edge in his voice but her smile and lightheartedness had died away. “Silas?” So hesitant and unsure. The quiver in her voice tightened his chest. He understood the emotion there, had been feeling it all day. He softened as he went to her. “You have nothing to fear from me, Charlotte.” He ran a finger down her cheek. “But I want you naked and in my bed. Trust me to keep you safe and give you pleasure.” She swallowed. He wasn’t sure if she would trust him that far. This thing between them was born out of hate and lust. A deadly combination. He didn’t hate her, never really had. She intrigued

him, confused him and angered him at times. But mostly she tested him. Charlotte pushed to see where he’d give. The unmovable Silas had budged for her. Tonight wasn’t about a game of control. It was to see if this was real. “Charley,” he said softly using the name she preferred. She sucked in a breath and nodded. He smiled. “Good. Over there.” He nodded toward the bed. Charlotte undressed. She hadn’t worn much, not even a bra under her slim shirt. In anticipation maybe? Whatever the reason he was glad of it. Watching the tease of her skin being bared to him was a sweet torture. He didn’t touch, just savored the view. The dip of her hip.

The curve of a breast. The arc of her ass. The line of her toned legs. When she turned, the arch of her spine tempted his twitching fingers. She sat on the bed and leaned back on her hands letting her red hair fall down her back. Naked, beautiful and confident she waited for him to come to her. Silas complied and walked over. He ran a finger down her neck and over the curve of her shoulder. “Gorgeous,” he murmured. The arousal in her eyes outweighed the fear. It was the most attractive thing she wore. Silas flipped the button on his pants. Charlotte’s grin spread across her face like honey. She didn’t reach for him, not yet. She flicked those eyes back

to him asking for permission with a lick of her lips. “Suck me.” Obediently, she pulled out his erection and did just that. There was no teasing with this one. She went for the kill right away and almost brought him to his knees. Charlotte took all of him to the hilt and swallowed, deep. She smiled up at him, mouth full of his cock, her pretty pink lips full and stretched around him. She was delightfully sinful. Silas pushed her hair back as she began to work him. Soft one time, hard the next, barely touching him save for the tip of her tongue. She brought him up high hard and fast. Silas pulled out of her mouth and held her

back so her grabby little hands couldn’t ask for more. “You are too good at that.” She smirked. “Then come back here.” “Oh no. It’s my turn.” He took her mouth and for a moment there was nothing else. Silas kissed her until she was lost in it. He then moved to the column of her neck and licked and sucked his way around. Her hands gripped his shoulders as she pulled him closer. Legs wrapped around his hips and tugged him in the rest of the way. “Patience is a virtue,” he reminded her as he licked over a nipple. A moan hummed in her throat. He sucked and then bit the peek and enjoyed her squirms beneath him. As he nipped his

way across her chest to her other breast, he told her to undress him. Her fingers, blind to everything but touch, fumbled the small buttons of his shirt. The last few were popped off as she pulled the shirt tails apart. He bit her nipple. “I liked that shirt.” “Too bad.” Silas moved down kissing the soft flesh of underside of her breast then tracing his tongue along the ridges of a rib. Charlotte was all but pushing his shoulders down by the time his mouth had worked down to the apex of her thighs. He waited, his chin an inch away from where she desperately wanted him, his breath a warm presence on her swollen skin. When she stopped pushing

him and writhing around, she looked down at him. “Well, get on with it!” “I will when I’m ready. This will happen my way or not at all. Those are the terms.” “Those aren’t terms,” she whined. “That’s an ultimatum.” Silas raised an eyebrow. “Do you agree?” Charlotte’s groan of sexual frustration made him smile. “Yes, fine. What the fuck ever. Just get back to work.” He ran his hands up her inner thighs and then hooked them down and around her hips. With her completely captured and immobilized from the waist down, Silas ran his lips along her tanned bikini

line. “No more commands or this all stops. Let go, Charlotte. Let go and let me carry you tonight.” He didn’t hear any complaints but neither did she agree. He looked up to find her watching him again. Charlotte nodded slowly her agreement and went lax in his arms. With a ready and willing woman in his hands, Silas spread her lips and licked a long stroke up her center. Charlotte arched under him with a husky moan. To return the favor of earlier, he brought her high nice and fast. She was very vocal. He had noticed that about her the previous nights. Charlotte’s mouth didn’t have a filter when her brain was busy elsewhere. Usually, Silas

didn’t like when a woman talked a lot during sex. It felt forced and fake. But Charlotte’s commentary was not only open and honest but entertaining too. “Don’t you dare fucking stop or I’ll shred your balls to pieces.” He felt it coming but her climax took her off guard. She gave a cursed yelled and fisted his hair. Silas kept going, finger deep in her pussy, he rode out the orgasm and brought her immediately to another one with a hard suck to her clit. Her body was still convulsing when he stalked up her body. Silas pushed his pants down with one hand and entered her an instant later. He could feel her body still quake in the after effects of the climax. Her hands lifted to touch him,

but he snagged them from the air and pinned them to the bed. Silas rocked into her body, each movement harder than the last. When he kissed her, it was soft. His body was a contradiction wanting to pamper her with caresses all while marking her hard like an animal. Silas pulled out and flipped her over with rough hands. He kissed a line of wet open mouthed kissed up her spine while he pushed into her from behind. Charlotte moaned at the intrusion but immediately began to push back against him, greedily taking more from him. His hands gripped her hips to hold her in place. He had never felt the need so heavily to mark a woman, to make it so the world knew she was his, if only for a

little while. Charlotte gave him that urge. She made it so he wanted to ruin her for other men. Just thinking of her with someone else made him angry. She couldn’t, wouldn’t be with anyone else. He was the only one. She came, clamping down around him and making her already incredibly tight pussy constrict around him. Silas pushed harder. The slapping of skin outweighed the sound of her cries. He was so close to falling after her. His controlled movements became disjointed as he felt his orgasm rush forward. Silas thrust into her one last time before spending himself deep inside of her. He dropped his head to her back to catch his breath. Both of them were

heaving air. Instead of letting her go— because she felt too good in his arms— Silas rolled them to the side. She went with it, too tired to put up a fuss. He knew it was only a matter of time before her senses came back to her and she snuck back out the window. Not tonight, though. Silas kept his arms around her like a cage. She wasn’t leaving so soon. He’d keep her pinned to this bed with his dick if it came to that. In fact, he might do it anyway. She tried to push him away but he didn’t budge. Every time she tried to move his arms he pulled her tighter up against his chest and his softening penis pushed deeper inside of her. A small

shiver went through her. “Let me go, Silas,” she said in a whisper. The quiet room which had only moments earlier been filled with sounds of passion soaked up the noise in its emptiness. Her voice, at such a soft level, reverberated around the room. “No,” he said in her ear. “Not this time. Tonight you’re mine and I’m am far from done with you.” Under his hands, her chest exhaled in a rush. ***** She waited until he fell asleep before she tried to move again. Silas’s arms were inflexible no matter how she twisted, pushed, pulled and pinched. He

just kept her there like she was a doll. Tonight you’re mine. Jesus, why did that excite her so much? Why did she keep coming back night after night? Glutton for punishment. That’s for damn sure. She was a lapsing alcoholic in a liquor store and Silas was a bottle of Jack Daniels. Charley lifted his hand and rolled out and away from him. He didn’t wake but in his sleep, he scowled. What was she doing here? This had been a mistake. The past three nights had been mistakes. The smart thing to do would be to leave, figure out how to finish this job and get the hell out of dodge. She’d go to Colorado for a little break and then maybe down to Vegas. Jobs were easy to

find in Sin City. But first, she had to finish this one. Charley watched Silas sleep. Just like in sex, in sleep, he was a paradox. His brows were pulled tight into a scowl while his lips remained slack. Actually, he had a small smile on. Just a tilt of the lips. She liked it, just like she found herself liking so many things about him. Which was just fucked up in so many ways but it was getting hard for her to ignore how much she thought about him during the day and how much she enjoyed his touch, even his domineering self that Charley found herself submitting easily to. It should piss her off, she didn’t like being controlled but when Silas did it, it didn’t feel like she had

lost her sense of self. She was still Charley. She just had someone taking care of all the details so she could relax. God, she loved not having to think all the time, not being the decisive one. “Not that I don’t mind the view, but are you going somewhere?” She jumped. Fuck. Silas was awake and looking at her with his chin propped in his hand. “Uh…” He lifted up the cover giving her a glorious view of the body that was just smothered against hers. “Come on.” Charley obeyed and slid in next to him. When he pulled her close, his lips locked onto hers and she forgot about leaving, she forgot that he was a job, she

forgot about everything except for his lips and his body. He rolled her over onto her back and slid inside of her. He wasn’t fully erect but getting there. Unlike the rutting before, his movements, this time, were slow but powerful. Charley wrapped her legs around him. His weight was on his elbows on either side of her head and he leaned the two inches down to kiss her. It felt amazing, all of it. The slow but steady rhythm he set created a build in her that was growing with the same tempo. It was wrong, all of it, but felt so right. This was what she avoided. This kind of sex. This kind of man. It was passion in its purest form. It wasn’t meaningless sex with some guy whose

name she had forgotten two minutes into meeting him. It was so much more than just fucking. This was…more, carnal with a bit of sinfulness and almost a little loving. Everything she stayed away from. Everything she didn’t want. It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. She had a plan and sex—the kind that made her skin buzz and her chest ache with longing—was not supposed to happen, ever. Feelings were not supposed to enter into the job. He wasn’t supposed to matter. But with every thrust of his hips and caress of his lips on her neck, she feared that she was way passed that point. Silas smoothed a finger over her

cheekbone. She looked up at him. His emerald eyes gazing at her with a softness she hadn’t expected. Her face felt tight with worry. “Don’t fight it,” he whispered. God, was she that transparent? Could he see how much this was frightening her? His eyes told her that he could, that he understood the battle of emotions she felt. He kissed her again and it was tender and sweet. She felt so vulnerable, so open. “Just feel, Charlotte.” She nodded with the glaze of tears in her eyes. Charley may not want any of this, but she had it and she didn’t know if when the time came, she’d be able to let it go.

Chapter Six Charley slept better that night than she had her entire life. Between exhaustion and the body warming hers, her mind turned off and didn’t power on till the morning. She woke refreshed but confused. It felt like she had been out drinking all night. An emotional hangover. She felt awkward there in his bed. In

the morning light, memories of last night looked so much worse. They had a moment, many of them. Silas had claimed her, made love to her and commanded her every move. He saw inside of her and didn’t turn away. “Morning,” he said in a sleepy voice in her ear. Silas kissed her neck right below her ear like he had every right to. “Breakfast should be up soon.” “Breakfast?” “You eat don’t you, or do Halflings not partake in food?” he teased. He just had to bring that up, didn’t he? “You think that it’s funny that no race will accept me? That I am more hated than even you?” He raised himself up on an elbow to

see her, looking at her thoughtfully, like a puzzle with a dozen missing pieces. She felt a little bad about snapping like she did but not enough to say something. He just didn’t understand. He would never understand, none of them would. “You are half dragon, Charley,” he said slowly. “Which makes you all angel, at least in the eyes of dragons. We can only be male, therefore, all of our females are technically Halflings.” She didn’t know what to say to that. Charley had never thought about it that way. “So all this animosity you think other’s feel towards you isn’t because you are half of something, it’s because you guard yourself and push everyone

away. You don’t give anyone a chance to get to know you, which is why I bother you so much.” He grinned like the bastard he knew he was. “I knew you before we met. I looked into your past and present and learned who you were before I found you on that rooftop aiming for my sister.” “What are you saying, Silas?” What did she want him to be saying? That question scared her more than what she asked aloud. He smirked, an eyebrow quirking up. “I’m not sure exactly. That I like you? No, that’s not right.” He ran a finger down her hairline to her chin. “I do like you but it runs deeper than that. After last night, I know you feel it too.”

“I don’t,” she said stubbornly. He sighed. “You do, you just aren’t ready to admit it.” “Stop making assumptions about me Silas. You don’t know me, not at all. This is just sex, not even that, just a fuck. All you are is a job to me.” His face hardened along with his voice. It was such a harsh change that she had to fight the urge to shrink away from him. “Just a job?” he asked. Charley couldn’t get the words out again, wasn’t sure how she got them out the first time so she nodded. “I see.” “Good.” Charley rolled out of bed. “I won’t be coming back. The next time you see me I’ll be putting a bullet in your

chest and leaving this crappy place behind.” “Running doesn’t suit you,” he said blandly as she gathered her clothes. “Fuck you.” “Already did, Darling. You already did.” ***** “What?” Charley barked into the phone as she drove home. She hadn’t stayed for breakfast and he didn’t ask her to. The whole thing was ridiculous, but what was even more ridiculous was that she actually cared. Her stomach had been in knots since she left his bed. Outrage paved way for regret, which quickly turned to dismay.

She was hooked and hooked bad. “I have an idea as to how we can finish this,” Lou explained. Jesus, not this. Not now. “How?” she asked uninterested. “I’ll ask Silas over to my office where you will be waiting. He walks in, you shoot him. It’s simple and straight forward and I get to be there as a witness.” “I’ll think about it.” She wouldn’t. “No. This is happening. I paid you for a service for which you have not completed. Silas will be here this afternoon at four. I suggest you be here by three thirty.” Lou hung up before she could say much else. Charley rubbed her temple with her

thumb. Why this? Why right now? She was so confused about everything and now she had to add killing the man who had her in knots to the list. “Fuck,” she pounded on the steering wheel. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!”

Chapter Seven “Here’s fine, Sam.” The car slowed and stopped at the curb. Silas fiddled with a cufflink as Sam got out and opened his door. Lou had called earlier after Charlotte skittered away during their argument. He asked Silas to come in and look over a new proposal for the Council. Usually he left this shit to the other sept leaders but apparently none of

them were available. Lucky him. The Council building was situated in center city Philly. There was one on the west coast in San Diego and one in London as well. All were made out to be Law offices. Silas took a moment to just stare at the building. He really didn’t want to be here. Had he not been caught in a moment of aggravation, he never would have agreed to come down. Lou’s request came minutes after Charlotte exited through the window. He was so angry and tempted to follow her so they could continue their conversation. Silas figured the meeting would be a good distraction so he didn’t do something rash and heated. But now that the time

was here and he had cooled down, it was the very last place he wanted to be. “Thank you, Sam. Be ready in twenty. I don’t plan to be here long.” Silas walked forward into the building. He didn’t bother checking in at the reception desk and went straight up to Lou’s office. His assistant was waiting for Silas at the elevator with a mug of coffee and a tumbler of scotch. He chose the scotch. “He’s waiting for you, Sir,” she told him and led the way to his office. Silas followed, sipping his drink and enjoying the warmth it provided. Lou’s assistants never lasted more than a few months. Silas never bothered asking why. He learned not to bother with names either.

His taste in assistant always stayed the same. Dark brown hair, small breasts, large ass. Silas would typically enjoy the view as they walked but today the scenery just wasn’t as appealing. He found that he preferred a different silhouette, a more athletic, smaller build with hard muscles under silken skin and a bundle of red hair cascading down her back. Thinking of Charlotte put a snarl on his lips. They weren’t done. Far from it, in fact. He planned on stopping by her place after seeing Lou. They needed to have a very serious discussion on this continued job she kept bringing up. He was not a job. Silas may have started out that way but he was more than that now.

He planned to convince her to give up the name of the one who hired her. He’d pay her double what she was making if that’s what it took, anything to have her give up this notion that they were temporary because their relationship would end with him dead at her feet. “You can go right in,” the assistant said with a wave. The door was closed and he didn’t bother knocking, Silas opened the door and stepped inside. Lou was grinning like a fox. He didn’t have to look to know Charlotte was there behind him. He felt her in his veins. The distinct sound of her gun cocking behind him brought his lip up in a snarl. “I’ve been set up?” he asked looking at her over his shoulder. She was in the

same clothing as she had been when she left his house. He inhaled and exhaled in a small growl. She still smelled like him, like sex. Charlotte hadn’t showered him away. That pleased him. “Yes,” Lou answered. Charlotte didn’t move. Her face was completely shut down to him. There was no way of knowing what she was thinking. He never thought that they would be in this position after he had had her in so many other ones in and around his bed. Silas ignored Lou, he’d be dealt with later, and posed his questions to Charlotte. “Hmmm, it looks as if I was incorrect. It doesn’t happen often, mind you. You played a good game Charlotte.

I actually believed that you didn’t know who your father was.” Her façade twitched. “What does that have to do with anything?” “You don’t know?” he asked casually as he looked back to Lou. “Kill him!” Lou shouted. “This is what I paid you for.” “Oh this is priceless,” he laughed. Lou, the world’s best dad, hired his daughter who had no idea who he was to kill the man she was sleeping with. Months earlier Silas had threatened to hire Charlotte to kill him, apparently he remember the idea and used it for himself. Silas looked to Charlotte and was not the least bit sorry for what he was about to do.

“Charlotte, he is your father.” ***** The gun was steady in her hand, even as the blood in her veins pulsed with aggravation, she kept her trigger finger still. Silas had looked betrayed when he first regarded at her. Charley didn’t know why. She had told him her plans from the start. This moment was never going to be a surprise. Lou being her father, however, was a bombshell that exploded all over this pitiful little office. Silas had no reason to lie, that wasn’t in his nature. The guilt on Lou’s face was a pretty clear indication as well. “This true?” she asked him. “Are you

my sperm donor?” “Charlotte, there were reasons…” “Really? Reasons you say?” She laughed. God how she wanted to take that gun off of Silas and point it at her father’s head. “You left me with a crazed woman who blamed me, a child, for your disappearance. When she left me, I had no one.” He actually had the nerve to look sad about that. Fucker. “Charlotte,” he pleaded. “We’ll talk about this. I promise. I owe you so much and you will get everything and more. But first.” He nodded towards Silas. Her lover was looking entirely too entertained by it all. “Don’t call me Charlotte,” she ground

out. Silas smirked. “Charlotte,” Silas began with a sardonic smile. She narrowed her eyes and wiggle the gun just a bit. “Yes, I see it. No need to wave it in my face.” Asshole. “I was just going to suggest we get this over with. No need to drag out my own death.” “You aren’t going to fight it?” Jesus. This man. Charley was going to lose it. “Why fight what is inevitable? You promised to kill me and you always keep your promises. I’m just a job after all.” Who in their right mind would bring a fight up with a gun in their face? He was asking for her to kill him. Actually asking her. This had to be a fucking first. Her father was just as surprised as she

was. He fidgeted around behind his desk like a cat with too much catnip. Out of everyone, Silas was the only calm one. The only one who look unaffected by it all. “I’m paying you for this. Charlo-” one look from Charley shut him up real quick. “My apologies, Charley. However the notion still stands. This is exactly what I am paying you for. You were given a deposit and the time has come.” He sounded so logical about it all. Like killing another person was just a simple matter like picking up the phone to call a friend. No matter how distant she kept herself it was never simple. Silas began to walk over to her. She backed up a step. The gun pointed right

at his chest. He stopped by a chair and raised that fucking eyebrow of his. “Sorry, didn’t mean to frighten you. This is just taking longer than anticipated so I thought I would get comfortable.” Charley’s eye bulged. He was mocking her. Mocking and teasing and daring her to do it. That little fuck. She laughed in bewilderment. He was daring her. She could see it plainly in his eyes. “Charlotte,” Lou’s voice cut in. Shut the fuck up. Charley swung the gun towards the desk and shot of two rounds right into Lou’s chest. He fell back against the window and then dropped to the ground. There was a pregnant silence while the event settled in their heads.

“My fucking name is Charley you piece of shit.” At Silas’s soft chuckle she snapped the gun back up and pointed it at him. “Now look what you made me do! God, you are such a dick sometimes.” Silas smirked. “So are you ready for dinner? I was thinking sushi.” “Yes,” she yelled angrily and dropped the barrel of the gun. “Let me get my things.” He stood as she walked by and snagged her arm, pulling her into his chest. He wound an arm behind her back and trapped her body against his. With a brief flick of those green eyes to Lou’s body, he asked, “Is this your way of saying you love me?”

What a pompous, self-assuming asshole. Charley glared at him. “What if it is?” The devious smile in his eyes sent a chill down her neck. His hand covered hers still wrapped around the gun and lifted it. Silas shot two rounds into Lou’s dead chest. "I love you too." The gun dropped heavily to the floor. His hand went straight to her neck where he held her and kissed her. They assaulted each other, gripping and pulling until the angry kiss turned heated. Charley wasn’t sure what this would do to her career. Killing your employer was generally a no-no. But Silas had a world of people who disliked him, threats

happening daily if not hourly. Maybe he would send a few her way. His lips bruised hers one last time before backing off. He looked smug, which pissed her off. Then again, who was Silas if not a smug bastard? "This doesn't me I that I actually like you," she warned him. He laughed and nipped her lip. "Of course not, Darling."

Author's Note So you know how I said after Smolder that the series was over? I lied. Now it is over. This book has been sitting in my back pocket ready to be published since last fall but it was meant for a boxed set that never happened. Once I found out I immediately got to work on publishing it myself. If you’ve read Hailey’s series then

I’m going to nudge you on to the Adirondack Pack series. It’s all about werewolves. These characters are quickly becoming favorites of mine. Each book features a different couple. They could be considered standalone but I do suggest you read them in order starting with the novelette, Over the Line. This is the part where I shamelessly plug my mailing list. Not only will you find out the latest news on releases and giveaways but you will also get an exclusive story only available to my mailing list subscribers. Sign up HERE and don’t miss out on anything from K.C. Stewart.

Acknowledgments The Wolf Pack is such an amazing group of authors who I rely on so much throughout this process. Vicki, I love your face…your llama face. I also need to thank the bloggers and reviewers out there. I know it’s not a hardship reading all of our books but know that we appreciate the reviews you do.

The Hailey Holloway Series Spark Singe Scorch Smolder Complete Series

The Adirondack Pack Series Over the Line Too Far Gone Fault Lines

About the Author K.C. Stewart is the self published author of the Hailey Holloway series and most recently, the Adirondack Pack series. All her life she had fantasized and day dreamed on a regular basis but it wasn’t until she began writing flash fiction and that she made those fantasies a reality. Now she has graduated to novels but still dabbles in the occasional

flash fiction and short story. Because of her love for reading and the written word, K.C. is currently continuing her education at Clarion University for Library Science. When she isn’t taking photographs, studying or writing, she is supporting a very real gummy bear habit. Currently, she lives with her boyfriend, german shepherd and cats in central Pennsylvania.