Tate sighed. “Right. Well, whatever.” He pointed at her. “On another note, you won’t be going to Minnesota alone.”
Havana rolled her eyes. “Like I didn’t know you’d insist on tagging along.”
The Alpha male frowned, affronted. “You say it as if I’d be an inconvenience. I’m as good at surveillance as you.”
“Hmm, would we really say that? Really?”
“Yeah, we would.”
“Right. Well, whatever,” said Havana, throwing his earlier words back at him. She turned to Aspen. “Are you taking the day off?”
Aspen felt her face scrunch up. “Yes. If I stay home, I’ll think myself in circles trying to piece together everything we know. I’d rather be distracted.” She sensed more than saw Camden go very still.
He turned to her, a muscle in his cheek flexing. “Aspen—”
“I know you’d love for me to stay inside this building until our culprit’s caught, but I can’t,” she said. “I’ll go insane.”
His nostrils flared. “At least stay home today.”
“Why? He’s hardly likely to strike again sometime in the next few hours.”
“She makes a good point.” Bailey raised her hands when he shot her a hard look. “Or not.”
“Besides, you’re an enforcer now,” Aspen went on, smiling sweetly at him. “You’ll be able to protect me every moment. Won’t that be nice?”
He let out a soft snort. “As if you think you need protecting. The only reason you’re not objecting to me shadowing you is that you see it as a way for you to keep a close watch on me.”
She felt her smile widen. “It does make things easier.”
Of course, he continued objecting to her leaving the complex. And of course, she continued to state that she had no intention of remaining inside.
A low growl vibrated his chest. He swept his gaze over the others. “Give us a moment alone.”
“We’ll wait in the hallway,” said Havana. She, Tate, and Luke then strolled out.
“You as well,” Camden said to Bailey.
“But it’s my apartment, and I’m nosy.” The mamba huffed when he glared at her. “Fine.” She stomped out, closing the door behind her.
Aspen almost chuckled, but then Camden fisted the front of her tee, yanked her up so that she knelt on the arm of the sofa, and slammed his mouth on hers. Her lips parted on a gasp, and his tongue sank inside. The kiss was hard and wet and hungry. There was also anger there, and she knew it was because he’d sensed that he wouldn’t change her mind.
His free hand thrust into her hair and roughly gripped a handful. She splayed her hands over the sides of his face, wishing she could take away the tension riding his body. But not even agreeing to spend the day in his apartment would relax him, he was far too on edge.
Releasing her mouth, he pressed his forehead to hers. “Promise me you’ll be careful. The person who attached the bomb to your car might not have intended to kill you today, but that doesn’t mean it’s not their end game.”
“I know, and I’ll be careful. I promise. You be careful, too. Because if this person is only after me to get to you, your death might also be their end game.” And that was going to fuck with her head day and night for sure.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
In the center’s breakroom a short while later, Aspen switched on the coffee pot and cast her Alpha female a brief look. The devil shifter was leaning against the counter, watching her.
Aspen folded her arms. “What?”
“I, um … noticed the bite mark on Camden’s jaw. Bailey says you were sporting some marks yourself earlier before Sam healed you.”
The healing energy had not only healed Aspen’s wounds but the bites and bruises left by Camden last night. Aspen sniffed. “Yeah, so?”
“So you slept with him again?”
“Yeah, so?”
“So was it yet another one-off or do you two now have a thing going on?”
“It wasn’t planned, but I didn’t fight it. I didn’t want to. And, truthfully, I’d had a feeling it would happen again. I ignored it—as I’m prone to do—because I didn’t want to face how weak I am.”
“The kind of chemistry you and he have going on would make anyone weak.”
“Hmm, well, he wants us to … be friends with benefits, I guess. He’s promised he won’t let it come between us or ruin our friendship. He’s never broken a promise to me.”
“So you’re taking my advice and you’re going to explore this thing between you?”
“Yes.” To her bearcat’s utter delight. “There doesn’t seem to be a point in putting up a resistance when he can so easily wangle his way around my defenses. I might as well just let whatever happens … happen. Might as well enjoy it while it lasts.”
“Why do you take Havana’s advice but never mine?” complained Bailey, sitting at the long table.
Was the woman kidding? “Oh, maybe because you like believe that logic is for losers.”