Hotter After Midnight (Midnight 1)

“I’m not saying no because you’re a shifter.” Confession time. “I’ve actually been with a shifter before.” The affair had been very, very brief and back when she’d been a grad student.

“Then what the hell is it?”

“You’re going too fast!” Everything was going too fast. “I just met you a few days ago and—” Damn, why stop now? “I’m not sure I can trust you, Gyth. Shifters have a reputation.” Some would say a very well-deserved reputation. “And while I don’t know what beast you carry, I think he’s strong, and he’s dangerous. And before I crawl into bed with you, I want to know more about what’s going on in your head.” And in the head of the beast you carry.

Because there was a chance, a very definite chance, that Colin was one of the shifters that folks knew to give a very wide berth. A panther. A cougar. A wolf.

“You wanna know me?” The force of his feelings, his anger, his need, his…fear, lapped at her. “Then why don’t you just take a peek inside my mind?”

Oh, she was tempted. It would be so easy. But…

It would also be wrong. Because once she stepped inside his mind, she wouldn’t get a glimpse of just his life. No, if she went in, fully in, she’d see everything. Every secret. Every lie. Every fear. Everything.

And she didn’t think that either of them were ready for that.

Emily shook her head. “That’s not the way for us.”

“Then what is the way?”

She stared up into his eyes. “To take some time.”

“Shit.” His hands slowly unfurled. “I’m not good at being a gentleman, Doc.”

Yes, she’d rather figured that one out already.

“But I’ll do it.” He reached out, stroked her cheek. “For now.” The rage had dimmed in his eyes, but the hunger remained.

His hand felt so warm against her.

His fingers trailed over her lips. “Just don’t make me wait too long. I won’t be a gentleman forever.” Then he stepped back, clearing her way.

Emily snagged her glasses, drew in a deep breath, and was immediately wrapped in his rich, masculine scent. “Wh-where should I sleep?” Jesus, she was stuttering like some kind of schoolgirl.

“Well, I’d hoped you’d sleep with me.” Yes, that was another point she’d managed to figure out on her own.

“But since I’m not…” Her brows lifted as she stared meaningfully up at him.

His lips hitched into a half smile. “Since you’re not, you can take the bed and I’ll take the couch.”

“Wow. You are trying to be a gentleman, aren’t you? I’m impressed.” And she was also planning to jump on his offer. Bed versus couch. She’d definitely be selfish and take the cushy choice.

Emily brushed by him.

“It’s the second door on the right, Doc.” His hand slipped down her back, rested for the briefest of moments on the curve of her bu**ocks. “Have good dreams.”

Since her dreams would probably all be about him, and he’d be naked in them, she figured her dreams would definitely be good, if extremely frustrating.

It was going to be a long night.

And she didn’t even have dry panties to change into. Talk about sucking.

He gazed up at the doctor’s house. All of the windows were black. Had been black all night.

She hadn’t come home. He’d waited for her, waited hours to see her, and she hadn’t come home.

Where was she? Where?

A slow rage had been building inside of him. Building, building…

The demon was out tonight. She was somewhere in the city, working her evil.

He couldn’t let her continue. Couldn’t let her keep attacking innocents.

He would stop her.

Evil had to be destroyed.

She had to be destroyed.

Soon. The doctor’s time would run out.

The demon would die.

Chapter 7

“I think it’s time for an Other 101 lesson.”

Emily glanced up from her files, brows raised, as Colin walked into her office.

Vanessa stood behind him, a rather sheepish expression on her face. “Sorry, boss, but when he found out you weren’t with a client—”

“I decided to let myself in.” He flashed her a smile and strolled toward the couch. “We need to talk.”

“Well, that is what most people do when they come here,” she murmured. She looked back at Vanessa, certain her assistant had heard the Other 101 comment. Since Vanessa was Other, a hereditary witch, she figured it didn’t really matter. Vanessa had been with her for five years, and Emily trusted her to keep quiet about the cases and people in her office. “It’s all right, Vanessa. I can talk to the detective for a few minutes.” Until her twelve o’clock arrived, anyway.

Vanessa’s eyes narrowed, and Emily realized she wasn’t quite as taken with Mr. Sexy Voice as she’d been when he’d called on the phone.

“Fine.” Vanessa’s plump lips had little white lines around them. “But next time”—she jabbed an index finger in the air toward him—

“he’d better wait until I escort him inside.”

“Sorry.” Colin looked anything but.

Vanessa spun on her heel and marched out, shutting the door smartly behind her.

Perhaps a mild warning was in order here. After all, the man had come asking for information on the Other. “If I were you, I probably wouldn’t make her angry.”

He lowered himself onto the sofa. The leather creaked beneath his weight. “Cause she’s a witch?”

Emily blinked. How had he—

Colin laughed. “Don’t look so shocked, Doc. I might not have your handy little gift, but I am a detective. Trained to observe.” He winked. “And I observed her reading a spell book when I walked inside the lobby.”

Mental note. Tell Vanessa to keep her private reading material at home.

She cleared her throat. “Just what is it that you want to know?” She was trying to keep things professional between them, trying hard despite the fact that she’d awoken less than five hours ago to find him standing at the foot of her bed— his bed—wearing only a towel wrapped low on his hips and gazing at her with lust in his eyes.

She shifted her legs beneath the desk, feeling warmth rush through her at the memory. He’d told her he’d come inside for some clothes. But she could tell he’d wanted more than clothing. The thick bulge of his arousal would have clued in even the most naive of women.