Tempting the Demon

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Blaise straightened, his gaze capturing mine.

I hooked my radio on my belt. “What? You know something?”

“The man in the alley was a demon. Cardelli’s human, but they both were...aroused.”

Just the word aroused from Blaise’s lips had the effect of making my body burn. I really had to put some distance between us or he’d consume me. I wondered if my halfling demon status had anything to do with the way my body reacted to his. I had so many questions regarding demons that remained unanswered, and until we solved this case, they would stay that way.

The ambulance arrived along with a couple of street cop cruisers. Blaise and I answered questions and stayed long enough for them to load Cardelli and bag the dead demon. The wind had been picking up and a few drops of cold rain slapped against my face. Great. I hadn’t packed my waterproof jacket.

My cell phone rang and I dug it out of my pocket, the caller ID indicating that it was my boss. “Danske.” I cupped my hand around the phone to reduce the feedback from the wind.

“Got a call from a hotel in your vicinity. Seems one of their customers is stinkin’ up the place. You two check it out. I’ll go by the hospital and check in on Cardelli.”

“Roger.” I stuck my phone back in my pocket. Down one agent—and a little disappointed that I hadn’t been the one to take him down—I strode past Blaise. “Let’s go.”

Located four blocks away, the hotel was one of those old establishments that had been recently refurbished. Marble floors gleamed along with a polished mahogany reception desk. My feet sank into updated plush carpeting in the lounge area, where leather couches invited guests to relax and converse around modern artwork and hothouse plants.

“Blaise, darling.” A tall, svelte brunette with brown-gold eyes smiled at Blaise and rounded the reception desk to greet him personally. She held out her hand, her long, slender fingers curling around his like a caress.

I stiffened as I sniffed the air around her. Beneath the cloying scent of Chanel No. 5 I caught a whiff of something else. Something similar to the way Blaise smelled at the most basic level.

Demon.

Very good. Blaise winked at me, then lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “Ah, Giselle, so good to see you.”

Seriously? With the body of a model and a name like Giselle, she had it all going on. I stood a foot shorter, busty and blonde, and felt about as attractive as a stumpy bulldog.

“Where have you been? I haven’t seen you around in while.” She leaned close and kissed his cheek. “I’ve missed you.”

Steam rose around my collar. “We’re here on business,” I said, my tone hard and flat.

Giselle’s brows arched beautifully. “Who’s your little friend?”

If you so much as twitch a smile—

“Giselle,” Blaise cut into my thought. “Meet Agent Katya Danske of Manhattan’s Fifth Precinct.”

I noted he hadn’t prefaced my intro with my partner, as he normally did, which was fine by me. I’d asked for distance.

The woman’s gaze swept over me from head to foot and dismissed me as she returned her attention to Blaise. “Are you here about the dead demon in twelve-thirteen? Such a dreadful ordeal.”

“We hate to keep you from your work,” I said, unable to erase all the sarcasm. “If you could give us the key, we’ll check it out.”

Still directing her attention to Blaise, she rested a hand on his arm. “I’d be delighted to show you to the room.”

“That’s not necessary. We can manage without you. If I could have the key.” I held out my hand.

Giselle pouted at Blaise. “I insist. How often do I get to see my favorite demon?” She turned to the reception desk and asked for the key, and then walked with Blaise toward the bank of elevators, completely ignoring me.

I told myself that I didn’t give a crap if she ignored me, but her arm through Blaise’s was making me want to jump on her back and rip her beautiful long brown hair out of her head.