Page 49 of Covert Affections (Shadow Agents/PSI-Ops #5)

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Jesse

Get up. No brother of mine accepts death lying down.

Samuel’s voice cut through the darkness, crisp and clear as if he were right next to Jesse, shouting at him.

Disoriented, Jesse groaned, trying to swim through the fog that was in his mind.

Logic said Samuel wasn’t near him, but thoughts of his time being tortured rushed over him, bringing with them memories of how the drugs he’d been given had left him hallucinating.

More than once, he’d believed Samuel had been in the cell with him, only to realize it had been nothing more than a figment of his imagination—his mind playing tricks on him.

Was that happening now?

Had the hybrids found him, and were they holding him prisoner now, torturing him? Was he at their mercy once more?

Consciousness returned in fragments, mixing with strange flashes of training with Samuel, Benat, Nick, and other men while wearing matching clothing they’d never worn with The Corporation.

Flashes of sharing meals with them burst through his head, along with something new.

He saw himself with Samuel, each of them standing next to a bed that an elderly woman was in, looking frail.

As quickly as the thought came, it vanished.

A familiar scent teased his nose, but his muddled brain couldn't place it.

The smell of honey and melon surrounded him, mixed with something else.

The smell the air held right before lightning struck.

Other sensations filtered in slowly, like his mind was wading through molasses.

The press of impossibly soft sheets against his naked skin.

Warm, steady breath ghosting across his chest, raising goosebumps.

The weight of another body draped over his, all soft curves and silken skin.

His inner cat purred, basking in the sensations, feeling fully relaxed and at peace.

Jesse opened his eyes, unsure where he was to start. The sound of thunder and lightning boomed through the room, followed by the howl of wind.

There was a large dresser off to the side, against a wall. On the dresser was an array of perfume bottles, body sprays, bath salts, and make up items.

Had he met a woman and gone home with her?

When in the fuck had that happened? It wasn’t like he had a lot of spare time to pick up chicks and he certainly hadn’t had any desire to do so. At least not until recently, and then it was only one woman.

As he turned his head slightly, he spotted a window he knew well—one he’d fixed a lock on recently.

What the hell?

Why was he in Lindy’s bedroom?

He tried to sit up only to realize something or someone was on him.

He moved his arm slightly only to realize there was long, slightly damp, raven-colored hair against his skin.

Her front was pressed to his side and her knee was up, nearly touching his groin.

From the way he was holding her and the fact they were both naked, he couldn’t help but assume they’d had sex.

But when?

And why couldn’t he remember the act?

The events near the rescue came rushing back to him like a tidal wave, bringing with them flashes of what had happened after the hybrid attack.

He’d been injured and he’d gone straight to Lindy’s bar—straight to her.

Concern for her safety left him acting against his better judgment.

He wanted, no needed, to be sure she was safe and protected.

“She healed me,” he whispered, in awe at what the woman had done. She’d approached a wild, injured animal and then channeled healing energy through him.

As he stared harder at her, events from after the healing, by the dumpster, began to flood back to him. The crazy, yet incredibly sexy, girl had coaxed him into her hatchback with the promise of flashing her boobs at him.

Jesse couldn’t even be mad at that. He’d do anything she wanted of him with the promise of getting to see her tits.

But still, having a deadly animal get into her car was dangerous.

A mix between gratitude and pissed off came over him.

Was she nuts? Did she not understand how dangerous that was?

He could have killed her and never even remembered doing it.

Flashes of her bathing filled his mind and he remembered being in cat form in the bathroom with her, watching as she took a bath.

He even remembered her calling him a pervert.

Damn fool of woman had even let him help her to her bed, all while he’d been in cat form.

Then she’d put an arm around him and hugged him before going to sleep as if he were a stuffed animal, not a deadly threat.

Being pissed was fast winning out over being grateful and turned on by the fact she was naked against his body.

She couldn’t do things like that. What if he’d have hurt her while he was injured?

He’d have never forgiven himself. What if she came across one of the wounded hybrids?

Would she coax them into her car and bring them home with her too?

Would she end up naked in bed with one of them?

Fuck no!

He took a calming breath in hopes of avoiding shouting and jarring her from her sleep. She had to be exhausted after healing him.

More than once , his cat side pushed at him.

He stiffened. She’d done it again?

Jesse wiggled out from under her and looked around for something—anything he could use to cover himself with.

He started for the living room to grab the throw blanket and stopped midway there when he spotted a bag full of what looked like men’s sweatpants sitting on the small dining room table.

He opened it, confirming the contents. Anger bristled in him.

Were these for her manfriend—the wolf-shifter?

Robert.

The man’s name flooded back to him. She’d spoke of him last night. Talked about the fact the asshole could turn into a wolf. Big fucking deal.

Jesse yanked a pair of sweatpants out of the bag and hastily put them on. Now that he was covered, he planned on seeing to Lindy’s needs and then reading her the riot act. He stormed back into the bedroom and drew up short when he saw her there—paler than before, her lips tinged with blue.

“Lindy!” He ran for her and checked on her. She was breathing, but it was shallow.

Too shallow for his liking.

Jesse leaned over her on the bed, his intent to lift her and use her vehicle to take her to the hospital.

He paused. He couldn’t take her there. It wouldn’t be safe for her, especially if her succubus side would leave abnormalities showing on testing or decided to manifest while she was in this state.

It would raise red flags. Ones that would be giant flares to The Corporation and bring a whole lot of attention on her.

No.

Taking her to a hospital wasn’t an option.

Years ago, there had been a clinic not far from here that catered to the supernatural but it had been a front for The Corporation.

Even if it was still operating, he couldn’t take her there.

Denver probably had more than one safe haven clinic for supernaturals but he’d have to go to his Airstream, log into his system and hunt for one.

That would take time. Plus, the drive to Denver wasn’t short.

Fuck! She needed help now. Not hours from now.

Jesse grabbed the sheets and blankets on the bed and made a move to cover her with them.

As his skin made contact with hers, she whimpered in her sleep and then purred— just like a cat.

It was the kind of noise a female cat made when in heat, and the sound of it went right to his dick.

It hardened faster than epoxy in direct sunlight.

The act was so fast, it bordered on violent.

He bent forward, grabbing at the front of the sweatpants, worried his cock would shoot like a missile away from him and right at her. Christ, was that even possible?

He palmed the rock-hard appendage. “At ease,” he whispered, unsure when it was that he started having conversations with his dick.

Lindy’s eyes snapped open and he expected fear or shock.

After all, in human form, in her bedroom, near her bed with a fucking hard on to end all hard ons.

Hell, if he was a woman, he’d be scared shitless.

Lindy’s mouth pulled into a sexy, lazy smile and her hands moved to his shoulders.

She tugged on his upper body, purring more.

Did she not understand she needed medical attention, not him hornier than a toad.

She needs this , his cat pushed.

Jesse stiffened realizing what was happening.

She had succubus in her. He wasn’t sure how much but the fact she healed him twice in one night and his injuries were pretty much gone said she was damn powerful.

Succubi healed with sexual energy and fed off it.

If he was right, she’d expended too much energy on him and now she needed it to be replenished.

She needed sex and his dick was all for the plan. He dipped his head, about to kiss her when guilt shot through him. He wanted her more than anything in the world, but not like this. Not when she was riding a wave of succubus need. “Lindy, no. Not me.”

“Yes, you,” she said with a pout, still holding onto his shoulders.

His grit his teeth. “Call your sheriff friend, gorgeous,” he said, the words hard to get out. He didn’t want her with the other man, but that was the honorable thing to do.

His cat roared within him, to hell with honor. It wanted her and it knew he did too.

Lindy bit her lower lip in a seductive manner. “I want you and only you.”

“But, Lindy, you’re not?—”

She yanked harder on his shoulders, causing him to fall onto her on the bed.

Need slammed through Jesse at the feel of the lush body under him, her soft curves molding against his harder planes.

It felt as if someone had unleashed a thousand lightning bolts, his skin prickling with awareness.

The background of the storm, still raging outside fit like a soundtrack created for just this moment.

Her glorious scent washed over him and his cock twitched.

Lindy purred again and he was starting suspect she knew what the sound did to him. How crazy it drove him. How it made him want to drive his cock into her again and again until the lines blurred between where he stopped and she began.

His pulse raced and a sheen of sweat broke out on his back. If it was from excitement, hormones or nerves, he didn’t know. He wasn’t sure if the immense wave of need was all his own or if he was picking up on Lindy’s succubus side’s needs too. Not that it mattered.

“Lindy, focus,” he said, his mouth mere inches from hers. He fought the urge to close the small gap between their mouths.

She looked him dead in the eyes, her pupils blown wide with desire, the purple flecks in her blue eyes seeming to glow with otherworldly hunger. “Fuck me.”

Of course he’d have the woman of his dreams under him, begging him to fuck her, and his conscience would pick them to show up to the party. Where the hell had his moral compass been for the past twenty plus years? Broken? Missing?

Fuck.

“Gorgeous, please,” he whispered as she moved her body under his, leaving his erection pressing against her mound.

Her fingers tangled in his hair and Jesse lost the fight with his self-control. He gave her his mouth, gave her a taste, even knowing it might be his downfall.

She melted beneath him, hips moving, body writhing, soft, subtle, and fucking amazing.

Jesse groaned into her mouth, his control snapping as her taste consumed him. He kissed her harder.

Her hands found his abs, his hips, and then the waistband of the sweats he was wearing.

When her fingers dipped under the waistband, he jerked, his cock twitching, eager for her touch.

He broke the kiss, bracing himself above her, struggling to breathe.

"Keep touching me like that, and this is gonna end before it starts. "

She smiled, sultry and sinful. “That’s where you’re wrong. Trust me when I say, I can make sure you’re ready to go again right away.”

He stayed like that, basically planking above her, knowing if he dared settle between her legs, he’d fuck her. He wanted that—wanted to fuck her, but not like this.

Not with her succubus side controlling her actions.

“Don’t you have questions for me, gorgeous?” he asked, knowing she had to be freaked out that she’d gone to sleep next to Fluffy but woke up to him—a human male—standing in her room.

“Yes.” She licked his lower lip. “I have a question.”

“Okay, what?” he asked, trying to think of a way to explain what he was doing there. Would the truth work?

“Are you going to fuck me now?”

He tensed, wanting to do just that. “What’s the question?”

A mischievous grin splayed over her face. Her hand drifted again, tugging the waistband of his sweatpants down more. “That was my question.”

The woman was going to kill him; he was sure of it.

He bit her lip. "Careful, you’re gonna undo me."

"Great,” she said before purring again. “Let’s undo you all over my stomach and then undo you again—in me."

Damn. She was perfect. “I want that but I need to know this isn’t just your succubus side talking. That you want me,” he said, really hating the moral high ground. The trenches were so much more fun to play in.

Her eyes widened. ”Ohmygod, I so want you. Now do me!”

He chuckled darkly. "Sounds like a plan."