Page 105 of White Hot Kiss

I flushed and hastily averted my gaze, but it didn’t stay away long. Rising up on my elbow, it took everything for me not to touch it. “The tattoo—does it come off you like Bambi?”

“Only when I’m very, very angry.” Roth lifted his arms above his head and his back bowed, causing the dragon tattoo to stretch along with him. “And even then, I don’t let him off unless there’s no other option.”

“Does he have a name?”

Roth arched a brow. “Thumper.”

I laughed out loud. “What is it with you and Disney names?”

“I like the name.” He sat up quickly and pressed a kiss to the back of my shoulder, and then he settled back down, curving an arm around my waist. His hand landed on my hip with astonishing ease. “You can touch it if you want.”

I did.

Following the outline of the wing, I thought it would be rough or at least raised from the skin, but it was as smooth as the rest of Roth. I skimmed over the belly of the dragon and drifted down to where the tail disappeared under the waist of Roth’s jeans.

He sucked in a deep breath. “All right, maybe the touching thing is a bad idea.”

I jerked my hand back and peeked at him. He was staring at the ceiling, a muscle feathering along his jaw. “Sorry.”

One side of his lips tipped up. “You...you surprised me. I figured you’d be wearing white.”

“What?” Then it struck me. My bra was red. I smacked him on the chest. “I’m not a purity princess, for crying out loud.”

“No. No, you’re definitely not.” He rolled onto his side, facing me. A funny smile played on his lips. Roth suddenly looked young and...completely at ease. “You’re actually a wild little thing.”

I shook my head. “I’m not sure about that.”

“You have no idea.” His voice was rough and he tugged me down so I was lying half on his chest. He wrapped his fingers around my chin and brought my lips to his. The answer was in a slow-burning deep kiss that tripped up my heart. His hand slid off my chin to the nape of my neck, holding me to him as the kisses left me breathless and dazed.

Then he lifted up and all the sensual laziness was gone from his beautiful face. My pulse jumped and a cold chill snaked its way down my spine.

Roth took a deep breath. “It’s time.”

20

We’d left a little before midnight, parking several blocks away from the monument. A Porsche like Roth’s would draw too much attention, and I was already worried that we’d stumble across a Warden. They’d be out hunting demons...demons like Roth.

Starting off on Constitution Avenue, I wasn’t surprised by the amount of foot traffic for this time of night. Most were humans barhopping, but mixed in among them were a few with no souls. One Fiend, her wine-colored hair pulled up in a high ponytail, was hailing a cab, which struck me as odd. Beside her was a human male, and I wondered if he knew what he was standing next to.

As we got closer to the National Mall, the full moon was high in the sky, fat and bloated. Roth took my hand in his and I glanced at him. “What? Are you scared again?”

“Ha. Actually, I’m making us invisible.”

“What?” I glanced down at myself, expecting to see through my leg. “I don’t feel invisible.”

“And what does invisible feel like, Layla?” Amusement colored his tone.

I made a face at him.

Roth smirked. “The National Mall closed about half an hour ago. The last thing we need is a park ranger getting all up in our business.”

He had a good point. “We’re invisible now?”

Sending me a quick grin, he pulled me right in front of two young men who were loitering alongside the street. Under the street lamps, the ends of their cigarettes flared red as they inhaled. We walked right in front of them, so close I could see the tiny stud in the one guy’s nose. They didn’t even blink when Roth flipped them off. No reaction whatsoever. To them, we weren’t there.

Farther down the street, I finally found my voice. “That is so cool.”

“It is.”

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