Phantom Warriors Volume 1 (Novel length) Read online

  Tabby jerked the flashlight to the right and watched his sharp gaze track the beam’s movement. Just to be sure that she wasn't imagining things, she reversed direction. Linx didn't move, but his body tensed. Sheer will kept him in place. Tabby had seen videos online where dogs and cats chased the red beams of laser pointers, but she'd never seen a human do so.

  She bit her lip to keep from laughing and whirled the flashlight around a few more times.

  “Knock it off!” Linx said, as his foot came down on the beam of light.

  He might be good-looking, but he definitely had his quirks. Tabby supposed that was a good thing, since any sane person would’ve refused to help. Like it or not, she needed Linx’s assistance. With him here, she at least had a chance of getting Taylor back.

  How many men would knowingly break the law for a virtual stranger? Not many. Beggars like her couldn't afford to let a little thing like insanity get in the way of her mission. Tabby knew she'd work with the devil himself if it meant getting her sister away from Sergei. Given Linx’s dark good looks, she wasn't altogether sure that she wasn't.

  Linx had gone from chasing the flashlight beam to suddenly sniffing the air. Tabby inhaled, but other than the eye-watering stench coming from the dumpster nearby, she couldn't smell a thing.

  "If you're having second thoughts about helping me, tell me now." She prayed hard that he wouldn’t take her up on her offer.

  The statement startled Linx out of...whatever he was doing.

  "What brought that up? Are you having second thoughts about your plan?” He didn’t have to sound so damn hopeful.

  “No,” she said. “Are you?”

  “I told you that I would assist you and I will."

  Tabby ran her hands over her arms. "Sorry, I’m just nervous. I’ve never broken the law before," she said. “It doesn’t help that you seem distracted.”

  “Don’t mistake my actions for distraction.” His stormy eyes seemed to glow in the dark. "I am trying to get a feel for our surroundings. I don't think you want anyone sneaking up on us."

  She glanced around warily. "No. That wouldn't be good." Tabby didn't want to go to jail, but she was desperate. The fact that Sergei had sent his men to do...she shuddered at how close she'd come to being hurt or worse. It was only a matter of time before he turned his anger on Taylor. Her sister was just too blinded by her attraction to the knuckle dragger to realize it. She stared into the darkness. "There it is."

  * * * * *

  Linx followed her outstretched finger. A lone gray door appeared like a smudge next to the off-white paint. Every hair on his body stood on end. He didn't sense any humans nearby, but Linx couldn't seem to shake his growing unease. "Perhaps we should do this some other night?"

  Tabby shook her head. "He's already sent his assassins after me once. Sergei knows by now that I got away. What if they don't miss next time? Or heaven forbid, what if he takes his anger out on Taylor?" She clutched the tools in her hand and shined the flashlight in his eyes. "I can't take that chance."

  Linx reached out and lowered the light. "Are you sure that you can get the door open?"

  She nodded, but was unable to meet his gaze.

  His brave little thief was in way over her head. She was too proud to admit it. He couldn’t fault her for that, since he suffered from the same frailty. All Linx could do now was make sure that she came to no harm.

  Tabby’s blunt white teeth kept gnawing on her bottom lip, drawing his attention again and again to her lush mouth. She'd made it more than clear that she didn't want anything to do with him, but that didn’t stop Linx from wondering what was hiding under that gruff, sensibly clothed exterior.

  "Are you in or are you out? I need to know now before I get to work on the locks."

  Linx listened to her heart rate accelerate. Sweat dotted her brow, even though the air was cool. Her sour scent took on the sharp tang of fear. "I'm in." The little fool would do this with or without his help. He had no doubt.

  Tabby approached the door and carefully opened her toolkit. She rolled out the instruments and ran her fingers over each one. She picked out two and stared at the lock. "Keep an eye out. This may take a while." She slipped the flashlight into her mouth.

  Twenty minutes later, Tabby was still struggling with the lock. She’d changed tools twice to no avail.

  "Do you need help?" he asked.

  She pulled the flashlight out of her mouth. "No! I got it."

  Linx stepped back, allowing himself to blend into the shadows. He watched for a minute more to make sure Tabby's attention remained on the lock, then closed his eyes and let his body fall away into nothingness. Linx stepped through the wall and walked over to the door. Red lights flooded the space illuminating the room and the various exits. He could hear the scratches the instruments made as Tabby continued to pick the lock.

  At this rate, they'd be here when the afternoon shift arrived. He sent out his senses to ensure they were alone. Other than a few rats scrounging for food in the walls, the place was empty. Satisfied, Linx unlocked the door, then hurried back over to where he'd slipped through the wall. He felt himself solidify a second before Tabby squealed in triumph.

  “I did it!” Her face split into a wide grin as she turned the knob and opened the door. "Told you that I could."

  Linx’s hearts kicked a beat at her obvious pleasure, but he kept his expression placid, so she wouldn’t suspect his intervention. "Congratulations."

  “Thanks!” She stepped into the hazy darkness, holding the door open for him to follow. He'd already noted the lack of a system alert, but he didn't understand its absence.

  "Why are there no alerts on this building?" he asked.

  Tabby frowned. "Alerts?"

  "Protection devices.”

  "Oh, you mean alarms." Tabby shrugged. "Because most people know who owns this place. This neighborhood. They wouldn't dare steal from him unless they want to end up dead."

  Linx held out an arm to stop her from going deeper into the club. "You are here to take something." He thought it pertinent to remind her of the fact, since she placed her welfare far below all others.

  Tabby slithered out of his grip. "That's different." She rubbed the back of her neck. "I'm here to save my sister. I am not going to rob Sergei."

  "Will he note the difference?" Linx watched her pale before his eyes.

  Tabby swallowed hard. "You don’t understand. You don’t have family." She flicked off her flashlight.

  Her words cut him. Perhaps that had been her intention. Linx knew it was the fear talking, so he let her escape...for now. They wound their way through the back area, getting turned around a couple of times before ending up on the stage. The soft red glow of the exits bathed the room. Linx recognized the gold poles, but what surprised him was Tabby's reaction to them.

  She froze and looked around wide eyed as it dawned on her where they were. She approached the nearest pole and carefully ran her finger around its circumference. The second she realized what she was doing, Tabby jerked her hand back.

  But Linx hadn't missed the curiosity in her eyes or the longing. "Have you ever danced?"

  "What?" She gasped. "Me? No! I'd never..." Her voice trailed off. "Why would you even ask that?"

  He kept his stance casual. He didn’t want to spook her anymore than she already was. "I find it odd that you've never been curious about what your sister does for a living?"

  She scowled at him. "Haven't you ever heard that curiosity killed the cat?"

  Linx licked his lips. "It takes far more than curiosity to kill a feline. Trust me, kitten. I know."

  “Don’t call me that. And don’t look at me like that.”

  Linx lowered his voice. “How am I looking at you?”

  “Like you want…like you…just stop. Okay?” Tabby huffed. "I know what you’re thinking, but I'm not a prude."

  "I never said that you were." He cocked his head and watched, as she got even more flustered. It was obvious that she'd given dan
cing some serious consideration.

  Linx's body tightened as he envisioned Tabby naked, slowly twirling around the pole, her long hair flowing down her bare back, nipping at her waist. The thought of seeing this buttoned-down woman let loose brought an unexpected wave of desire coursing through him. How curious...

  She stared at the floor. "I've seen my sister...dance, if that's what you want to call it."

  Linx arched a brow. "And?"

  Tabby scowled and glanced at him. "And what?"

  * * * * *

  Taylor had looked beautiful, sensual, and oddly happy as she twirled around the gold pole, displaying herself like the goddess that she was. Is that what Linx wanted to hear? And why did that bother her so much?

  She knew she shouldn’t be surprised. He had been leaving with two gaudy strippers when she met him. It was more than obvious that Linx had a type and that type didn’t include the average woman.

  Her shoulders slumped as she glanced down at her less than stellar figure. Tabby did her best to work with what she had, but she had to admit it wasn’t much.

  She wasn’t like Taylor, who was magnificent, commanding, powerful. Her sister didn’t need a ton of makeup or padding to look beautiful.

  After Tabby had gotten over the initial shock of seeing her half-naked twin in front of a room full of strange men, she'd had to admit that part of her was...envious.

  What would it be like to enthrall a room full of men with just a sway of your hips? The thought was titillating and terrifying, since part of her was convinced she couldn't enthrall a twig. She licked her suddenly dry lips.

  "There's no one around but us. You could always dance for me." Linx's warm breath brushed the sensitive skin of her ear. He was sin and temptation all rolled into one perfect male package.

  His tongue darted out and touched her other lobe. When had he moved? And why hadn't she heard him or seen him? He gave her a quick nibble and delicious shivers trickled down her spine, leaving every nerve in her body thrumming.

  “Dance for me.”

  The breathy request left her dizzy…and tempted. Could she? Should she dare? When would she get another chance to live out her private fantasy? A little voice inside her whispered. Tabby shook her head. "We don't have time," she said. "We need to find proof that Sergei is a crook and get out of here."

  The heat from his body poured over her in waves. "Doesn't have to be a long dance."

  His words dripped with raw desire, making her shudder. "Why are you here?" she whispered.

  "I told you that I want to help." Linx ran his finger down her arm, scorching her skin.

  Tabby bit her lip. "I can't." But oh, how she wanted to. Just this one time be irresponsible. What would it feel like? What would it be like to dance for a man like Linx?

  "Sure you can," he murmured. "We have time. Dance for me. And only me."

  She closed her eyes as need warred with commonsense. "One song." She cracked a lid and looked at him. If he tried to bargain for more, Tabby knew she’d back out of dancing. Part of her hoped that he would, so she had an excuse. While the primal side, she rarely acknowledged, prayed that he wouldn’t.

  "One song." He gave her a Cheshire grin that did funny things to her stomach and made her knees wobble.

  "You can't be onstage with me, if I do this," she said. No way would she make it through a whole song with him standing next to her. Was she really going to do this? Tabby pulled out her phone and selected some music, while Linx swaggered across the stage and dropped down onto the floor. He sat in a seat next to the stage and waited. His attention riveted on her.

  Oh my god! She was really going to do this. What if she looked stupid? Tabby had never been super coordinated, but from the expression of longing on Linx's face, she didn't think he'd care.

  She pressed play and the music started with a blare of horns and a straining bass beat. A man with a soulful voice started singing, telling her to take off her coat, then her shoes. Tabby did as he asked and swayed her hips from side to side to the ballsy beat. She wasn't wearing a dress, but she did have a hat on, which she promptly pulled off, even though the singer told her that she could leave it on.

  Tabby ran her fingers through her hair and let the long locks fall to her waist. She couldn’t believe that she was doing this, but somehow was unable to stop. It was as if something inside of her had been unleashed. A wild side she refused to admit even existed within her. Now that it was loose, there was no stopping it. No stopping her.

  She slowly began to unbutton her shirt, turning her back to Linx, so she could look at him over her shoulder. His eyes practically glowed red under the emergency lighting. He sat poker straight on the chair, his attention locked on her ass as she swayed from side to side, twirling her hat on her finger.

  She pulled her shirt off one shoulder, then winked at him. Tabby wasn't sure if it was the sexy music or the real her finally coming out to play. Whatever the case, she now knew how Taylor felt, when she had a gorgeous man's undivided attention. It was embarrassing to admit, but Tabby loved it.

  She dropped the shirt on the ground, unconcerned about her less than perfect figure for the first time in her life. Instead of removing her bra, her fingers slithered down her waist to the clasp on her pants. She flicked the button and wished that she'd actually put on sexier underwear.

  Like every other day, she’d dressed for comfort, not appearance. Tabby faltered until she looked at Linx. His breathing had deepened and he looked as if he were ready to jump across the stage to get to her. She took a steadying breath and shimmied out of her pants.

  She twirled around the pole in her white cotton briefs, allowing the music to take her away. She'd never been more turned on in her life. Tabby allowed her body to slide down the pole until she was on her knees, then she swayed, running her hands over her bare skin. Her eyes flew open and locked with Linx's glittering gaze. She bit her lip and slowly unhooked her bra, catching it before it fell.

  He swallowed hard. His eyes shimmered in the darkness.

  The music spoke of love. She glanced around the club one last time to ensure they were alone. Satisfied, Tabby let go of her bra and prowled across the stage on her hands and knees.

  * * * * *

  Linx couldn't tear his gaze away from her. It was more than obvious she'd never danced for anyone before. The thought thrilled him more than it should. After tonight, Tabby would no longer be able to deny the sensual nature she kept hidden from the world. It was now on full display...for him. And him only. The idea pleased Linx beyond measure.

  Despite her blatant inexperience, he'd never been more turned on in his life. He wanted this woman. Wanted Tabby. And Linx was determined to have her.

  She rolled her hips and his cock leapt to attention. Linx wasn't sure how much longer he could stay in his seat. The music thumped a sensual beat and she followed the rhythm. Linx knew his eyes were glowing. He couldn't help it. Tabby reached behind her and unhooked her bra, teasing him.

  She had no idea what she was playing with, but he did. She dropped the material revealing her small breasts. Despite the fact they were nowhere near the size of the other women he'd seen dance, his mouth went dry. His palms itched to touch her, cup her, mold her. Linx longed to pull Tabby onto his lap and take her nipples into his mouth, sucking first one, then the other. He’d feast upon her until he’d driven her as mad as she was driving him.

  Linx crooked a finger and beckoned her over. Tabby crawled toward him, exaggerating each step. His cock felt like it was ready to explode in his pants. Linx had to touch her, taste her--take her.

  Tabby hesitated at the edge of the stage as the music wound down. Linx reached for her before she could change her mind and pulled her into his arms. His mouth crashed down upon hers in a punishing kiss.

  He'd never tasted anything so sweet. She didn't immediately respond until his thumb brushed her nipple, then Tabby moaned and plunged her fingers into his hair, yanking his head closer.

  Linx deepened the kiss, h
is tongue exploring the seam of her lips. When she finally opened for him, he dove inside. Heat swept through his body, making his already stiff shaft even harder. He growled and tightened his grip on her hip.

  Tabby wiggled around until she straddled his thighs. She swayed her hips one last time before the music died. Linx's growl turned to one of desperation. He pulled back from the kiss so he could run his hands over her small breasts and cup them. Her nipples perked to tight pointed peaks. He pinched and squeezed them until they flushed rose, then urged her forward so he could take her into his mouth.

  The second he sucked her eager flesh between his lips, Linx knew he was in trouble. She tasted like home. The kind of home a cat like him would want to return to every night. This could not be happening. Even as the thought crossed his mind, Linx knew he couldn’t stop. He sighed and flicked his tongue over her nipple, feeling it quiver. He nibbled on Tabby’s flesh until she threw her head back.

  "I want you." He rubbed his face back and forth between her breasts, leaving his scent all over her.

  * * * * *

  Tabby gasped and clutched his head. She was lost in a sea of sensation. She'd felt his hard shaft, when he'd pulled her onto his lap. But the second he kissed her, she'd lost all reason. The man could kiss. She'd give him that. She had never been kissed with so much passion. He'd poured every ounce of his hunger and need into that kiss and she'd felt it all the way to her toes. Even now her core moistened and throbbed, demanding release.

  She'd never wanted anyone like she wanted Linx and it terrified her.

  What in the world had possessed her to dance for him?

  It had seemed so natural at the time. But there was nothing natural about the heat building between them right now. He flicked his tongue. Her nipple beaded painfully. She dug her fingers into his hair and pulled, but he didn't let go.

  His hand slid down her waist to her underwear. Linx knotted his fingers into the fabric and pulled. Tabby's underwear ripped, then dropped onto his lap.