Craved

Damon:

Damon's gift hummed painfully underneath his skin. The agitating reminder of the time he lost every day. The mini-bus rattling in the distance made his heart pound against his chest. Travis. Finally. Had he found the crystal? Damon blinked in the harsh afternoon sun as he dashed to the bus. "Welcome back." He clapped Travis on the back and hunted for a reason to drag him away and demand answers.

"I brought supplies. Renee called me and said we were getting low." Travis blushed sheepishly when Renee hugged him like everyone else.

Damon nearly growled.

"Did you get the gloves too that I asked for?" Renee asked.

Did she like Travis? Damon snorted. Perhaps she wouldn't if she saw his true form of a wizened old man with a bulging nose and chin and owl-looking eyes. "Why did he need to pick up gloves?"

"Gary tore his on the shovel. He's fine, but no one had a spare that fit him." Her look told him she'd done this before.

Damn, he needed to pay more attention. "Right, right. Good job." Grabbing a box of groceries, he carried it to Sarah who squealed like a child in delight.

The group told Travis of the hot air balloon rides and showed him the work they'd done in excavating the temple while Damon ground his teeth. The team uncovered most of the temple and fragments of clay figurines Renee patched together. After everyone settled back down, he snatched Travis's elbow and hauled him into his tent. "Talk."

"I did what you said. I searched each village."

"I know what I told you to do. Tell me the results." If the gnome wasted his time again, Damon didn't think he'd be able to control his temper. Not this close to the deadline and from his lack of feeding. A throbbing hunger gripped him, and he squeezed his eyes against the pain.

"It's in Fairfax."

"Come again?" The village he'd taken Renee to eat at Sofia's? And the museum? Cynthia sent him a message about flying back with amazing news she couldn't wait to tell him in person. Always one for drama, but what if she deciphered something in the urn that might lead him to a crystal? "How did it end up there?" Damon waved a hand. "No matter. Give it to me."

"I can't." Travis backed up and swallowed. "I don't know where it is exactly, except in the village. The range is near the heart of town; fading the further from the town's center."

Sofia's place was in the middle of town. Did she have it then? Did she use a spell to uproot the crystal from his dig? At least now he knew where to start.

"Thank you." He held out his hand, and Travis dropped the keys into his palm. "Let's go to Fairfax."

Without saying anything, Damon marched to the mini-bus and climbed in. Travis hopped into the passenger seat. Damon started the vehicle and jerked the stick into gear then pitched to a stop when he looked up and Renee blocked his path. "Are you mad? I almost hit you." He poked his head out the window. "Move out of the way."

Travis snickered.

"Where are you going?" She hiked her saddlebag purse higher.

"Out." Did she have a death wish?

As if she sensed his mood, she gave a sexy smile. "Are you going to Fairfax?"

"Yes. Now get out of my way. I'm in a hurry. I can bring something back for you if you like." He didn't need her tagging along while he spoke with Sofia or when he and Travis searched for the crystal. Nothing would stop him. Not even a temptress dressed in shorts with legs that stretched for miles.

Not obeying or answering him, she ran to the passenger side. "Great. Let's go," she said through the open window.

"I'm going." Damon scowled. "Not you." She'd slow him down, and he wouldn't be able to talk to Sofia candidly if Renee were there. Even from outside the bus, he smelled her scent of musk and roses. Goddess, if he weren't incubi he'd kiss her and trace her skin with his hands.

Her amber eyes blazed. "You promised me a ride into town, remember? The hot air balloon ride bargain? I have some errands of my own to do and want to talk with Cynthia."

"Who's Cynthia?" Travis asked as Renee opened the door.

Shit! He'd forgotten to tell her about Cynthia coming back into town soon. Knowing Renee might not believe him if Damon told her now, he dug out his cell, scrolled to Cynthia's message, then handed Renee the phone. She closed the door as she played the message.

Then he yanked the gearstick and sped off toward town. He tried to ignore his hunger to drop Travis off in the middle of the road and taking her to the nearest hotel. Damon would never force her, but he doubted he could keep his gift from mesmerizing her either. After she listened to the message, she handed him the cell, and he tossed it onto the console between them.

When they reached the edge of town, he slowed. "Where do I drop you off?"

"The clothing store ahead is fine."

"You risked your life jumping in front of a moving vehicle for shopping?" He shook his head.

"No, I risked my life to talk with Cynthia and to pick up a piece of jewelry, maybe do some shopping too."

"How much time do you need?"

She glared at him as if insulted.

"No rush. Just, we should plan to meet somewhere." Would she take the rest of the afternoon and into the evening like Melanie to shop?

"Oh." Renee looked back at Travis. "How long will you be? I'm a quick shopper."

Right. "Two hours," Damon answered her question even though she directed her words to the gnome. That's about all the time he would need to seduce her. Stop it! Hell yes, he wanted her, but he would not risk her safety or her life. "It's almost four now. Close to dinner time soon." Travis stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Will you be hungry by then, Renee? We could meet and grab some food while we're here."

"Not Sofia's." She shook her head, her eyes wide.

"Why not?" Damon smirked. "Didn't you like her food?" Despite his teasing, he knew the reason why, probably his nearly feeding off her after the meal.

"The food was amazing, but the headache after I'd like to avoid. What about pizza? We could bring some back for the crew as well."

Travis's knees bounced. "I haven't had pizza in a long time."

"The others might already have dinner plans." Damon turned onto a crowded street. "The pizza will be cold by the time we bring it back."

"Not a problem. I'll warm it up over the fire." Renee pulled out her cell. "Besides, I can text Carla and tell her to let everyone know not to make dinner and even take their requests." Damon didn't want pizza, only the crystal. In the morning, he'd drag Travis here before breakfast, before Renee could hitch a ride, and they would search the city until they found it. "Pizza sounds amazing."

Renee licked her lips, and Damon was undone.