Midnight Awakening (Midnight Breed 3)

That despite centuries of religiously honed apathy, he was starting to care. He was genuinely beginning to have feelings for her, a bold and complicated Darkhaven beauty who could have her choice of any male, Breed or otherwise. He truly cared about Elise. He wanted her...and he knew that it was only a matter of time before he went after her like the predator he was.

Touching her soft skin had made him recall how good it had been to feel her body pressed against him, how delicious her mouth fit his own...how sweet even the smallest taste of her blood had been on the tip of his tongue.

Christ.

He hadn't been able to bolt out of the car fast enough.

And the hour he'd spent alone up here in his guest room hadn't done much to cool the need that urged him to go downstairs and find Elise. Sate himself with her the way Reichen had so freely been able to do with the woman in the city.

The fire Elise had stoked in him from nearly the moment he set eyes on her was banked, but still burning.

Maybe he could douse it, Tegan thought, stalking into the bathroom to turn on the shower. God knew he wanted to get the feel of the containment facility off his skin as well. Seeing those incarcerated, mostly catatonic Rogues had pulled him back to an ugly time in his own life-- one he had no desire to relive, even in passing memory. That part of him was buried deep, where it belonged.

He stripped off his shirt and weapons and dropped the lot of it on a chair beside the settee. His fingers were working the zipper of his black fatigues when a knock sounded on the closed door to the hall. He ignored it, wondering if it might be Reichen looking to drag him into a few hours of sin back in the city. Part of him was tempted by the thought--anything to slake the coiling hunger he had for Elise.

The knock came again, and this time Tegan threw open the door without a thought.

As the panel swung wide, he was surprised--and not a little furious--to see the subject of his frustration standing there. Just what he didn't need right now. Gorgeous as ever, still wearing the proper navy pantsuit she had on at the clinic, the sight of Elise was a major dose of gasoline tossed on his fire.

What the hell are you doing up here? His voice was harsh, more rough than he intended.

Elise didn't so much as flinch. I thought we might talk.

What happened to Reichen finding you some dinner downstairs?

He did. That was almost an hour ago. I...waited for a while to see if you might come out of your room, but when you didn't, I decided to come to you.

He stared at her for a minute, then mentally cut the shower off and turned to grab his shirt and weapons holster. I was just on my way out.

Oh. She didn't look like she was buying it. What could be so urgent all of a sudden? Just a little thing called duty, sweetheart. I'm not used to spending my nights sitting on my ass when I could be outside killing something. He said it deliberately to shock her, and he probably took a bit too much satisfaction at the disturbed frown that creased her forehead. I need to get out of this place for a while. I should be in the city, on the streets, where I'm useful. Not wasting my fucking time sitting around here.

He expected her to give him space and be glad he was leaving. His cold attitude had scared away countless Breed males, even among the Order, so he didn't expect this female to linger for long.

For a second, he really thought she was going to retreat like he'd intended her to do.

But then she strode right over the threshold and into his room.

You're not going anywhere tonight, she said, soft but resolute. There was apprehension in her expression, but damn if she didn't close the door behind her and keep coming toward him. Tonight we need to talk. I need to know where things stand. Where we stand, Tegan.

He glared. You think it's wise to shut yourself in here with me? It won't take long for Reichen and the rest of this house to figure out where you are and think the worst. He may be discreet when needed, but the others who live here--

I don't care what anyone else thinks. I just need to know what you think.

He scoffed, a grating sound that held more mockery than he'd intended. I think you're out of your fucking head.

She glanced down, gave a little nod. I'm confused, I'll give you that. I don't know if you...I don't know what to make of you, Tegan. Not from day one. I don't know how to play this game that we seem to be playing together.

I don't play games, he said, deadly serious. I don't have the interest or the time--

Bullshit!

He arched a brow at her unexpected blurt of profanity. He was ready to push again--seething with the compulsion to shove her away hard, before she got any closer to the truth of what he was feeling. But the glint of anger in her eyes gave him pause.

She crossed her arms over her breasts and took a couple of paces nearer to him, making it clear that if he pushed now, she was sure as hell going to push back.

What do you call it when you're tender with me one moment, then cold as ice the next? You kiss me, only to push me away a minute later. She drew a breath, letting it out on a frustrated- sounding sigh. Sometimes you look at me as if you might really feel something for me, but then...then you blink and it's like the feeling was never there in the first place. What is that, if not your twisted idea of fun?

Since she wasn't about to stand down, he pivoted away from her on a snarl and went for the duffel bag that held more of his gear and weapons, ignoring her attempt to goad him. He reached in and blindly grabbed for a cache of combat supplies. He pulled out a sheathed blade, then a clip of titanium rounds for his 9mm--anything to keep his hands moving and his focus trained on something other than the maddening awareness of the woman who was slowly walking up behind him.