Hotter After Midnight (Midnight 1)

His partner lived in the human reality, the black-and-white world where bad guys pulled guns or knives on you—not the world where shape-shifters could rip you apart or demons could incinerate you.

“Take Dr. Drake with you.”

Colin jerked at the order, sure he’d misunderstood. “Ah, run that by me again, Captain.”

McNeal’s lips thinned. “You heard me, Gyth. You need someone to go with you when you interview the Other. You need her.

Hell, without her, you won’t even be able to tell the difference between the humans and the—”

“It’s not safe for her,” Colin snarled, cutting across the captain’s words. Take Emily with him to interview demons, shifters? Hell, no.

“You keep her safe.”

“I—” He floundered. Well, sure if Emily was with him, he’d do everything in his power to protect her. But he didn’t want to put her at risk. Anything could happen on the street, and if someone were to hurt the doc on his watch…

His nails began to stretch into claws.

What the f**k?

Colin balled his hands into fists and jerked away from McNeal and Emily. He hoped they hadn’t seen the change. Hoped they hadn’t noticed the razor-sharp claws that sprung from his fingertips.

Jesus. That had never happened before. He’d never had the change come on him so damn fast when there wasn’t a physical threat nearby.

What in the hell is happening to me?

“Colin?” Emily’s voice. The soft drawl was laced with concern.

Great.

“She doesn’t go.” He didn’t look back at her. At the captain. His normal control wasn’t back yet, and he was having to fight the lure of the beast.

McNeal grunted. “Don’t be an ass**le, Detective. You need her and you know it.”

The faint creak of the floorboards grated against his ears. Emily is inching closer to me.

Get your control back, man. Get it back now.

He spun around, came face-to-face with her.

Her green eyes widened and her lips parted on a startled breath of surprise.

With the beast so close, all of his senses were heightened. Her scent filled his nostrils, and the light whisper of her breathing filled his ears. He could even hear the faint drum of her heart. Beating fast, so fast.

“Are you all right?” Her brows drew together as she stared up at him.

And he wondered just what she was feeling. Was the doc using her mojo? Was she tapping into his emotions? Before she’d told him that he projected, and he bet the beast was projecting a hell of a lot of raw emotion straight at her then.

“I’m fine,” he gritted, and it was the truth. The beast had just tried to slip its leash for a moment, but the animal was chained again.

Emily had lifted her right hand toward him. It hung in the air, hovering just above his chest. As he watched, her fingers slowly lowered and she pulled back her hand, stepping away from him.

“A civilian can’t work the street.” And his captain should damn well know that. “She’s not armed. She won’t be able to defend herself.”

“But she’ll know exactly who you need to talk with, won’t she, Detective?” The captain looked about as satisfied as a man could get. The jerk.

Yeah, she’d know who he needed to interview. She’d make his questioning go a hell of a lot faster.

But the idea of taking her with him…

It didn’t sit well with him. Not one damn bit.

“You need me, Gyth,” Emily told him softly. And yeah, she was right. He needed her for the case.

Needed her in his bed.

Right then, he wasn’t pleased with either fact.

His eyes narrowed on her. “If we do this, you do what I say, exactly as I order.” Keeping the doc under his control wasn’t gonna be easy. Hell, this was the same woman who’d gone traipsing after him as he searched that old vacant lot near her house.

I thought you might need my help.

Dammit, taking her out on the streets with him would be hell.

“Do you think you can do it, Doc?” he asked, taking a step toward her. Their bodies were close, so close he could feel the warmth of her skin against him. “Do you think you’ll be able to take orders from me?” To actually follow those orders?

Her jaw clenched and her green eyes blazed with fire. “Yes,” she gritted. “I think I can.”

Well, he might not like it, but it looked like he and the doc would be working the street together.

And since Jake Donnelley had asked for a meeting at the Paradise Found in—Colin glanced down at his watch—less than an hour and a half, it looked like their partnership was about to get started.

Shit, but he wasn’t pleased with this situation. Not one damn bit.

His captain was glaring at him, giving him the old you’d-damn-well-better-not-screw-this-up stare.

Emily was gazing up at him, eyes slightly narrowed. Anger burned in her green eyes.

That couldn’t bode well for the night.

He leaned in toward Emily, pitched his voice low as he whispered in her ear. “If we’re doin’ this, then you remember that I’m the one in charge. You listen to me, Doc. And you do exactly as I say.”

She exhaled heavily. “I’m not an idiot, you know,” she snapped, making no effort to lower her voice. “I know you’re the one with the police experience.”

Oh, that had been easy. Too easy, really.

Her index finger jabbed into his chest. “But don’t forget I’m the one with the Other experience.” Then, finally, finally, the woman decided to lower her voice as she whispered, “You might think you’re the baddest thing out there, Gyth, but I’ve got news for you…I’ve seen things a hell of a lot scarier than a cop shifter.”

His gaze shot to McNeal’s. But the captain was just staring blandly back at him. His lips were curved with faint amusement.

He bit back the words that sprang to his lips. If Emily ever saw the beast he carried, he’d bet his life it’d scare her. Hell, when his ex-partner had seen his other form, Mike had run like hell. Then Mike had come back and tried to kill him.

Good thing he was hard to kill.

“So are we going to do this?” Emily stepped back. Reached for the files on the table. “Or are you too worried that my presence will screw up your case?”

Oh, he was worried. But they’d do it anyway. He’d play her game, play the captain’s game, for now.

And he’d make damn sure he kept the doc safe. He’d stick by her side every moment.