No Prince Charming Read online

  “I’m sorry, Ren.”

  He brushed my hair back from my face, watching me. There was a strange, cool detachment in his gaze as he murmured, “Are you? For what?”

  “For hurting you. I…I never stopped loving him, Ren.”

  “I can’t fault you for having lousy judgment, I suppose.”

  I smiled faintly. “I never was yours. I’m sorry, but I wasn’t. I’ve always been his.”

  “Even when he threw you away. You never told me, but I know awful things happened after that… Awful things that wouldn’t have happened if he’d cared for you as he should have.”

  I sensed Michael behind me. Shooting him a look over my shoulder, I said, “Let me handle this.”

  Then I took a deep breath and looked at Ren. “He didn’t throw me away, Ren. I ran away and whatever awful things happened, they aren’t on his head, but mine.”

  “No.” He stroked a finger over my lip. “It’s his bloody fault.”

  “It is not his—”

  “Oh, the hell it isn’t.” It wasn’t Ren speaking though. It was Michael.

  From the corner of my eye, I could see him approaching and I tensed, ready to jump between them again if I had to.

  “You’re right about that—it is my fault, even if she wants to claim otherwise. But whatever happened to her, it doesn’t concern you. It’s between her and me.”

  Ren’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, it bloody well does concern me.”

  “Why?” Michael asked, his voice flat and cool. “If she loved you, then yes, it would concern you. But she doesn’t. Not the way you want her to love you. She never will.”

  I felt Ren flinch. Then he looked away and a harsh sigh escaped him. “You’re right in that.”

  He looked back at me then, lifting his hands to cup my face. I curled my fingers around his wrists, held still as he pressed a kiss to my brow. “I always knew somewhere. I just didn’t want to admit it. I don’t want to admit it now, but I can’t very well hide from it now that you’ve found him again, now can I?”

  “I’m sorry, Ren.”

  A smile crooked his lips. “I know. But maybe you shouldn’t be. I hate the bastard, but I’ve never seen you smile at anybody the way you smile at him.” He pressed his lips to mine and said, “Be happy for me, Elle. Be happy.”

  That little heart-to-heart put a bit of a damper on the adrenaline rush and I was heavy-hearted as the three of us headed towards the car. Ren had come dressed to party, wearing black leather pants. He was shirtless under the jacket he wore, and his golden skin stretched over his muscles, smooth and perfect. He didn’t have his medallion on. I frowned, ready to ask about it but then he opened the door and I caught sight of the black leather band wrapped around his wrist. Something silver flashed from it and I recognized the medallion.

  “Nice,” I murmured, tapping it with my index finger.

  “Thank you.” He grimaced and met my gaze. “You’ve no idea how close I came to throwing it away a few days ago.”

  Over me. He didn’t even have to say it. I already knew.

  “I’m glad you didn’t.”

  Michael was all in black. Black silk shirt, black trousers, black shoes. I hadn’t watched as he got dressed, but I imagined the underwear was black as well. He really did need some color in his wardrobe.

  But then again, he looked damned nice in black, I decided.

  Between the two of them, I probably looked rather small. I’d be underestimated.

  That was good. I’d have to be. I’d need every advantage I could get if I wanted to get close to the queen without her alerting all of her drones. If we killed her quick and fast, I had hopes none of the others would be strong enough to linger without her. Maybe by killing the queen we could save more of the human hosts.

  I hoped.

  Ren wasn’t going to fit in the back seat of the little car.

  Michael would have made him crawl back there, but I’d done it before it even came up. As uncomfortably cramped as it was for me, it would have been doubly so for Ren.

  The drive passed in tense silence, and my adrenaline started to pump again as we drew closer. I wasn’t the only one either. By the time we hit the club’s parking lot, my skin was buzzing from the combined excitement and anticipation I felt from the other two.

  I understand how some people become adrenaline junkies. I really do. It’s a heady rush having all that energy and excitement and anticipation crashing inside. It can make it hard to do the job until you learn to focus. I used the next minute to steady myself, curbing the anticipation.

  Wouldn’t do to walk in there with the light of battle blazing and all. It could kind of ruin the element of surprise we had going for us.

  They didn’t know.

  They couldn’t.

  I could feel the dark, negative hunger of the queen and her drones from out here. If she had figured out who we were she would have blown out of town. It was a good sign that she was still here.

  Ren was out with his door open before Michael got around the car. Seeing the glint in my friend’s eye, I almost ignored the hand he held out. But if I did that, I was going to lose some dignity if I had to scramble out of the car in this get-up without a hand. Or I could wait for Michael and watch them have a chest-beating session.

  I decided to just get it over with and accepted Ren’s hand. A grin curled his lips and he murmured, “Nice panties, Elle.”

  Rolling my eyes, I smoothed my dress down. “It’s not like you haven’t seen that view before.”

  “But it’s a view that never loses its beauty.”

  Behind me, I heard Michael swear under his breath.

  Oh, this was going to be so much fun. Baring my teeth at Ren, I jabbed him in the chest with a finger. “You’re going to piss me off if you keep it up, Thomas.”

  Ren’s brows drew low over his eyes. He caught my wrist and said, “Don’t call me Thomas.”

  “Don’t piss me off,” I fired back at him. “You don’t want me pissed off right now, right? After all, we’re going in to deal with demons. Seems it would be best if I’m concentrating, yes?”

  He scowled. But he fell silent.

  Spinning around, I glared at Michael. “He’s a friend of mine. You’re going to have to deal with that, because I’m not giving up a friendship.”

  “I can deal with it just fine. But if he makes another remark about your panties, I’m going to beat him into the dirt.”

  “Fine.” I huffed out a breath. “Just do it after we’re done here, okay?”

  I really wanted this job over with. Over and done.

  It hadn’t been the hardest assignment of my life, but it was definitely one of the more draining.

  Emotionally draining.

  I took a deep breath and smoothed my dress down one more time. Then I turned and faced the club. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

  Both men offered their arm. I accepted both.

  After all, it would look damn weird if I went in there with Ren trailing at our heels. He wasn’t one to take the backseat and that fact was apparent. All you had to do was look at him.

  If we wanted this to work without raising suspicion we needed to look together.

  All it would take was the wrong individual noticing us and the element of surprise would be out the window.

  And besides, somewhere inside, some part of me thought it was wicked fun to saunter inside that club with those two men. Michael with his elegant beauty and Ren with his hard, harsh male sensuality. It’s the stuff fantasies are made of. And for now, until we caught the attention of the queen, I might as well enjoy it.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  She was a witch.

  Michael had no doubt of it.

  A couple hundred years ago she would have been burned at the stake simply for being so completely breathtaking.

  More than a few women were sending Elle dark, ugly looks. She didn’t seem to notice and if she did, she didn’t care. As she swayed between him and Ren, she had her e
yes half-closed. A small smile curled her lips. She had one hand resting on Ren’s hip and the other was curled up and back, wrapped around Michael’s neck.

  Ren was pressed close to her, too fucking close for Michael’s peace of mind. He could hear the hum of the other man’s thoughts, something that wouldn’t happen if there was a bit more distance between them, or some shielding. But Michael wasn’t shielding against anything right now. In this moment, he wanted every extra advantage he could get and his gift could certainly provide that.

  But he did wish the cocky bastard would back off a bit.

  Elle danced between the two of them, her sleek, soft curves rubbing against them both, and Michael felt like the top of his head would come off when she turned her head to his neck and kissed him.

  A minute later, Ren cupped the back of her neck and slanted his mouth over hers. Michael gritted his teeth, gripped her hips and pretended not to give a good damn.

  He kept sane by focusing on her, on the club, on the feel of the demons around them.

  One of the humans dancing a few feet away was touched. A light taint, but still there. If they succeeded in their plan, the man would be free.

  If.

  There was another demon off to the side of the dance floor, one that had been watching the three of them for the past few minutes. Michael watched him from the corner of his eye. As they shifted their bodies, he dipped his head, raking his teeth down Elle’s neck. He nuzzled her ear and whispered, “We’ve got somebody watching us.”

  She rested her head against him and mouthed, “The queen?”

  He shook his head. He had a bad feeling they were going to need to put on a bit of a show to catch the queen’s attention. Last night had likely been a bit of a fluke. She’d recognize them once she saw them, but in this mess of writhing bodies and sexual energy, she wasn’t going to be able to pick them out easily.

  So they needed to do something to stand out more.

  He stared down at Elle. She looked lost, lost in the rhythm of the music, lost in the heat of the moment.

  Michael knew otherwise.

  She was most certainly enjoying herself. He could sense it.

  But she was also watching. Waiting.

  Just as he was. Just as Ren was.

  He had to admit, the man was certainly a professional. He might be taking every single opportunity to touch and kiss Elle, but he was also keeping an eagle eye on the scene without appearing to.

  Catching Ren’s gaze, Michael focused his thoughts, reaching out to both of them at once. Ren stiffened minutely when Michael spoke into his mind, but he said nothing.

  “We’re not going to catch her attention out here, not unless it’s by pure chance.”

  Ren’s thoughts weren’t clearly formed—halting and slow, but Michael understood. “Can’t leave this to chance. Need the job done.”

  “Agreed.” Elle turned in his arms and slipped a hand into his hair, stroking his head. “Suggestions?”

  Oh, he had one.

  He didn’t like it.

  Ren did though. Michael didn’t even have to say a damn thing either. The other man had already figured it out.

  Why in the hell had Will decided to send this bastard back here? And now?

  It was for one of two reasons. Either Ren would be needed. Or Will just wanted to torment Michael.

  It was a fifty-fifty toss-up between the two.

  Wrapping an arm around Elle’s waist, he guided her from the dance floor. Ren walked at her other side, his arm around her shoulders, the tips of his fingers brushing against the bare mound of her breast. The bodice molded to her curves, lifted her breasts up and out. The sight of Ren’s hand on her had Michael clenching his jaw to keep from swearing.

  They found one open private room at the very back and he felt Elle stiffen as they pushed inside.

  Cupping her neck in his hand, he kissed her gently. “Are you up to this?”

  She smiled against his lips. “Yes. I’m just not much for putting on a show.”

  “I doubt we’ll have to do much. I think she watches from the cameras. And she’s not going to want to just watch, I suspect.”

  Elle licked his lower lip. “No. I don’t think so either. She feels too hungry.”

  Ren came up to stand behind her, resting his hands on her hips. He nuzzled her neck and murmured, “Am I in on this party or what?”

  Michael bared his teeth at him. He was more of a mind to take the or-what option. But when Elle reached down and closed her hands around Ren’s wrists, Michael didn’t stop her.

  As Ren cupped her breasts, Michael went to his knees in front of her, pressing his mouth to her belly. Through the satin, he could feel her warmth. He stroked his hands down her hips. The lace of her short skirt was no barrier and in seconds, he had her bare ass in his hands. He was tempted to hook his fingers in her thong and drag it down, but he needed the barrier.

  Not that it was much of a barrier. When he pressed his mouth against her sex, he could feel the damp heat there and it was entirely too simple to tug the material aside. He nuzzled her and she bucked against him, her hands coming down to rest on his shoulders.

  Distantly, he could hear the faint hum of the camera. Out in the hall, he heard the music, heard the voices. Felt the life.

  But there wasn’t anything demonic. Not yet.

  Lifting his head, he stared into Elle’s eyes. She gave him a wicked grin and trailed her fingers down her midsection. “Stop worrying…I’m fine,” she thought.

  “I’m not.” He didn’t know what was going to do him in first, the possessive anger that wanted to tear Ren apart for touching her, or the hot, vicious hunger pounding inside him.

  Gripping the bottom of her bodice, he tugged it slowly down, watched as the pink of her nipples became visible over the pale blue satin. Her cheeks went red and she closed her eyes. Ren cupped one breast, tweaking her nipple. Coming to his feet, Michael caught the other nipple in his mouth and bit her lightly.

  She arched against him and, when he reached a hand between them and cupped her sex, he could feel the heat. Scalding him. Tension mounted in her body and even though he could feel her nerves, feel her hesitation, he could also feel her arousal.

  She tried to hide it. He sensed it and inexplicably, it eased the punch of anger.

  No, he wasn’t overly thrilled that another man had his hands all over her. But it wasn’t going to destroy him. It did nothing to change how she felt about him…or how he felt about her.

  A fantasy, he told himself.

  Right now they were acting out bit parts for their unwanted audience. All they needed to do was play those parts, and sooner or later their audience would take the bait.

  But for now, they might as well enjoy it.

  He rubbed the tip of his finger against her clit and muttered against her mouth, “It’s just a fantasy, darling girl. You might as well enjoy it. We might as well.”

  She swallowed, staring into his eyes. “Michael?”

  Smiling down at her, he eased back and then turned her around so that she faced Ren. He almost unlaced the bodice, but he doubted Elle would want to be any closer to naked than she had to be when the queen showed up. Besides, she looked unbelievably luscious with her nipples peeking over the edge of the bodice, her mouth pink and swollen.

  Ren stared at Michael, his eyes narrowed.

  Michael could see the suspicion there and he smirked. “You’ve only got the night. I suggest you make the most of it.”

  Holy shit.

  I had next to no warning about what was coming.

  My head was still spinning from what Michael had whispered to me and I was still trying to figure out just what he had in mind.

  And then Ren was on his knees in front of me, tugging my thong aside. He pressed his mouth against my pussy, licking me. He curled his tongue around my clit, teased it relentlessly, and at the same time he pushed two fingers inside me.

  I came with a harsh cry and would have fallen if Michael hadn�
�t been behind me. I cried out but it was muffled because Michael was kissing me, his tongue stroking deep, deep inside my mouth, the same way Ren was stroking me deep, deep inside with knowing, clever fingers.

  How far do you plan on letting this go? I wondered half-desperately as Ren began to kiss a burning trail up over my torso.

  As he slanted his mouth over mine, I was acutely aware of the taste of myself on his mouth, and acutely aware of Michael, a still, silent presence at my back. Turning away from Ren, I looked at Michael and focused that question towards him.

  “How far?”

  He gave me a gentle smile as he cupped my face. “That’s your call, darling girl. It’s your fantasy…just enjoy it…while we can.”

  That could be a few seconds. It could be a few hours.

  Shit.

  Shit.

  Shit.

  Behind me, Ren cuddled his cock against my ass. It didn’t send me into a panic attack and he curled his arms around me. I leaned against him, staring at Michael’s face.

  A fantasy.

  What had he said to Ren?

  You’ve only got the night. Make the most of it.

  Hell, I could do that.

  Smiling at Michael, I angled my head towards the futon-styled bed in the middle of the room. “Go sit down,” I said softly.

  He cocked a brow at me.

  I lifted my chin. He was going to change his mind…only, he didn’t.

  I watched as he walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. Nobody else would see it, but I did—the wariness in his eyes. Holding his gaze, I walked over there, putting an extra sway in my hips. I curled my fingers around Ren’s wrist, bringing him with me. As I sank down in front of Michael, Ren did the same, going to his knees behind me.

  I unzipped Michael’s trousers, held his gaze as I freed him from the close-fitting black boxer briefs he wore. Then I dipped my head and licked the head of his cock.

  As I did so, I pressed my bottom back against Ren.

  He gripped my hips so tightly I suspected there would be bruises.

  “Elle?” he whispered hoarsely.

  I took my time before I lifted my head, pausing long enough to circle the head of Michael’s cock with my tongue before I looked back at Ren. He stared at me, uncertainty in his eyes. Uncertainty. Hunger. Straightening, I wrapped one arm around his neck and said, “It’s just a fantasy, Ren. You can enjoy it…for tonight…if you want to.”