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Few things surprised me in life. Especially in my line of work but having sex with Kristin had shocked the hell out of me. When I first stepped in her room and removed my clothing, I’d anticipated a quick, but pleasurable fuck. I did not expect to feel like I had just connected with her in some odd way.
I sat against the headboard, my head spinning on the why’s of it all. Was it because of what she was? I’d never been with a vampire before. Was it always like this with them? Had she put me under some strange spell that I didn’t know about? I had to admit that even though I’d researched and paid attention to the vampire race since it became public knowledge, I still didn’t understand it or what they were capable of—although I wanted to know it all.
I had a feeling that even though the vast majority of people knew they existed; they didn’t have a clue as to what they could do. That was my goal. I wanted to know, wanted to understand them. Yes, maybe I had an underlying reason for being here that pertained to work, but my personal interest was just that—personal.
When her sister showed up, I was rather surprised, and uncomfortable to be face to face with Angelina Michaels. Especially since I was buck naked in her sister’s bed. Angelina had a reputation, and it wasn’t just in the bedroom. There were stories going back forty-five years of her violence, both to vampires and humans.
As Angelina got up to leave, she mentioned something about Kristin sleeping with guys who had similar eyes. Similar eyes to whom? Someone she was mated to perhaps?
I knew I wasn’t going to get any answers to that question right now. I’d have to wait and see what happened. Kristin sighed as her sister left.
“Well, I guess fun time is over. I need to get back to work.”
She climbed off the bed and disappeared into her bathroom for a few moments. I began to collect my clothes as she came out. One look at her gorgeous body had me priming to be ready again. She smirked as she looked at my half-hard dick.
“Another time.” She said with a wink. “You’re welcome to use the shower before you leave.” She began to dig around in a drawer.
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“Not at all. Help yourself.”
“I’m going to take you up on the shower,” I came to stand behind her, staring at her reflection in the mirror above the dresser. My hand brushed her side, cupping her breast, and rolling her nipple between my fingers, “And the other invitation for another time.”
Her chest arched into my palm for a moment, “I’ll hold you to that.”
I rubbed myself along her back while I ran my nose up the column of her neck, “You sure your work can’t wait a few minutes more?”
She laughed, “Not unless you want my sister to come in and join us.”
My brows popped, now wouldn’t that be interesting—maybe a bit overwhelming too. “Yeah, I’ll take that shower.”
She grinned at me as I walked away. “Make sure to leave your number. I’ll call you when I have time.”
“I’ll do that.” At the bathroom door, I glanced back and saw her frowning. Was it something I said? Or was her mind on other things already?
I glanced around her large bathroom, the fixtures all gold, the counters marble. It was as opulent as the rest of her place, but not gaudy. When I was done showering, I dressed and was heading out to the living room when I heard them mention Joseph Portage. We had been searching for him for a while, but the man was a ghost.
I knew why we were searching for Portage, but why were they trying to find him. Was it because he was waging war against just about everyone? Probably, and if Kristin was searching for him, I had a feeling it was to kill him.
She showed me out, asking me if I’d left my number before brushing a kiss over my cheek. The man outside the door glared at me as I left. Did he not like Kristin with other men? It was obvious that he was close to her, but just how close?
We stood in the elevator as it went down and I studied him. He was intense looking, a bit taller than me, green eyes, short cut brown hair. He turned to me as if he knew what I was doing, lifting a brow my way. “I’m not your type.”
“You’re not mine either.” I replied. I knew that the best way to get respect from these guys was to show them that you weren’t afraid. “What I was wondering was if you were her type.”
He turned away, but not before I saw the slight frown on his brow. “What she does is none of your business.”
“Maybe not right now.”
He turned so quickly that I didn’t see it. Suddenly, he was right in front of my face, our noses almost touching. “Don’t think for a second that you are more than a quick fuck for her. She’s too damn important to our people to get involved with a human male.”
I didn’t reply. Didn’t know what I could have said, because I was pretty damn sure he was right. I was nothing to her, and never would be, but I didn’t back down. I kept my chin up, my eyes locked onto his.
He slowly stepped away a little smirk on his face. Was that because he knew he had practically scared the crap out of me?
“At least you aren’t stupid enough to think that there will ever be anything between you.” He said gruffly.
I frowned, “How do you know that was what I was thinking?”
“You project some of your thoughts loudly.” He said as the door opened on the bottom floor.
“You really can hear my thoughts?” I asked.
He turned to me, smirking again, “Oh, yeah. I can hear them, and I can hear your heart thudding hard in your chest with fear. I hear every beat, and the sound of your blood rushing through your veins.”
“Can she?”
He laughed, “Man, we all can, now get out. I have work to do.”
I stepped around him and left, heading straight to the front door. I pulled my cellphone out of my pocket noting it was almost ten-thirty. I dialed Tom’s number as I hit the sidewalk.
“Did you get anywhere with her?”
The best damn organism of my life, I thought but replied, “Not yet, but I think I might be able to. I didn’t get much of a chance to talk to her tonight, but I have a feeling she will call me again. When she does, I’ll speak to her then.”
“Fine, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
I told him goodbye and hung up. There was no way that I was going to tell him that instead of talking, I’d been having earth-shattering sex. Damn, her body hummed like a fine-tuned instrument. By the time I got in my car, my dick was throbbing again.
***
It was three days later before I received a phone call from a number I didn’t know. “Hugh McMurphy.”
“Hello Hugh, it’s Kristin.”
I leaned back in my desk chair. I had been working late, and the office was quiet now. “Hey, wasn’t sure I was going to hear from you.”
“It’s been a hectic week.”
I bet it was. It was crazy for me. In fact, there had been a small break in what I was working on, and I might have a lead as to where Joseph Portage was. I wasn’t going to tell her that though. I had no doubt that if she knew, she’d get to him before we could, and he’d be dead before we could speak to him.
“Yeah, for me too. How are you?”
“I’m fine, thank you. Are you available later?”
Just the thought of seeing her again was causing something to stir below the belt. “I could be. What did you have in mind?” Please say another romp in the sack.
“How would you like to come over for a drink? I’d like to talk to you.”
“Just a drink and some conversation?”
She chuckled huskily, “Let’s start with that. We’ll see where it goes from there.”
“Okay, what time?”
“Would ten be too late?” I glanced at my watch. It was almost eight so ten wouldn’t be a problem.
“That’s fine.”
“Alright, I’ll meet you in the bar at ten.”
“I’ll see you later, Kristin.”
“Looking forward to it, Hugh.” She hung up before I could say anything else.
I logged out of my computer, gathered my things and then headed home. I had enough time to grab a bite to eat, shower and then get over to her hotel. I felt like a kid that was just offered a trip to the candy shop.
I ate leftover stew when I got home, and then showered, dressing in jeans and a long-sleeved dark-blue Henley style shirt. The shirt made my eyes look brighter blue, and I was hoping she would notice. Her sister’s comment had stuck with me the last few days, and I wondered if I could use that to my advantage.
It was ten minutes before ten when I walked into the hotel and saw Ryker standing near the far elevator. He grinned at me and I lifted a hand his way. At least not all of them hated me being around.
In the bar, I paused to glance around, but didn’t see her. Instead, I went to the bar and ordered a scotch on the rocks. “Also, pour one of whatever the Mistress likes. I’m meeting with her.”
His brow lifted slightly, but he kept his mouth shut. The bar was crowded tonight, and the voices were competing with the music that was playing on the overhead speakers. There was a noticeable softening of the voices and I immediately glanced at the door to see Kristin had stepped in.
I scanned the room; many people were watching her as she approached me, and I was rather impressed by the amount of respect that she garnered from these people. “Hello, Hugh. Right on time.”
“I have a habit of always being ten minutes early.” I said.
She smiled as she collected her drink from the bar. “Ten minutes early, or you consider yourself late, right?” I nodded and she laughed and began to walk away. I followed her to the same table we had sat at before. “I’m the same way. I think it has something to do with when I was a beat cop. I always made sure I was there with plenty of time before my shift started. I didn’t want the guy who had just worked twelve to get stuck on a last-minute call.”
“You were a cop?” I wasn’t sure why that surprised me, but it did.
She studied me, “What? Your research on me didn’t tell you that?”
I shook my head, “Actually, there is very little information about you.”
She sipped her drink, “Is that why you are here? Are you trying to get more information about me for your agency?”
“No, my reason for being here tonight is strictly personal.”
“It is? Are you seriously trying to tell me that if you learned something personal about me, you wouldn’t be typing it up in a report tomorrow to add to your database?”
I thought about that for a moment, “Honestly? I think that might depend on what it was. If you’re going to tell me about the men you’ve been in love with, the things you like to do for fun, what else you like to do in bed, then no. It won’t. If you are going to tell me about your people, what they can do, then maybe.”
“I won’t talk about my people.” She replied after a few seconds.
“Then I guess we’re going to talk about what else you like to do in bed.”
“Why talk? Why not just go see for ourselves?”
A slow grin spread over my lips, “I thought you would never ask, but not to turn down what could be a rather exhilarating night, I thought you wanted to talk.”
She leaned back in her seat and spun her glass slowly as she watched me with light blue eyes. “Alright, so we’ll talk.”
“What would you like to talk about?”
“How long of a conversation do we have to have before I can get you back up to my apartment?”
“Is that what you want?” A sly smile slipped over her lips and I lifted my drink and downed the rest of the scotch. “Then consider the conversation over.”