Full Moon Rising (Riley Jenson Guardian 1)

"A miracle." He hesitated, then added, "Don't suppose you're intending to drive it home anytime soon?"

His voice had dropped several octaves, sliding across my senses like warmed chocolate. Jack might have implanted doubts about him, but that didn't stop me from wanting him

Though given the moon heat, I'd want the devil himself if he had a nice enough bod

"I'm on assignment at the moment, but if you can wait, I'll be there."

"I thought you said you were nothing more than a gofer?"

There was an underlying hint of steel in the warmth of his voice that made me frown. "Even gofers at the Directorate get drafted when the need arises."

"So that's what has made Talon crazy," he commented. "You're not at his beck and call."

If Talon was acting crazy, it was because I'd said no - something he was not used to hearing. I doubted he was going crazy over missing me sexually. As good as we were together, he had seven other mates to keep him satisfied

A hand touched my thigh and warmth scooted across my flesh. My gaze jumped to Quinn's. His face was expressionless as he said, "We're here."

I glanced across the road and saw the old graveyard. "You can't park along this section of Camp Road."

"I realize that, but I don't know the area." His voice was patience itself, but something in his dark gaze hinted at annoyance. Or anger. At what, I had no idea. "You're the one that read the street directory," he added

"There's a playground ahead on the left. You can park there."

"Who's that?" Misha said into my ear

"No one important," I replied, and could have sworn Quinn's expression tightened a little. Which was stupid. He was getting what he wanted, and he wanted nothing more. "Look, I have to go. I'll call back."

"Riley, wait - "

I didn't wait, just hung up on him. I'd apologize later, but at present, I had work to do

I turned off the phone, climbed out of the car, and sniffed the air. The breeze was cold and filled with the scent of rain. Overhead, dark clouds shuttered the light of the stars, and the moon was nowhere to be seen. Yet the power of it crawled under my skin, igniting the fire deep inside. The metal in the car had, to some extent, protected me, but there, out in the open, there was no escape. The fever burned and would need release soon

But the full moon was still two nights away, and the vampire half of me was keeping the fever within control - for the time being. But while it might be contained, the wolf part still raged, and it hated the restrictions of so many clothes. If I was to remain in control, I needed to appease at least one need. I shucked off my coat and threw it back in the car. My stilettos quickly followed

"What are you doing?" There was an edge in Quinn's voice as he walked around the back of the car

"The moon is high and the fever burns. I need to feel the ground under my toes. The wind on my skin." Plus, I couldn't exactly creep around wearing spiked heels, which was all I had with me unless I went home

His gaze was a caress of heat that slid down my body, lingering on the way the black cotton shirt fit across my breasts and the way the skirt clung to my hips and thighs. Not naked, but not leaving much to the imagination, either

When his gaze rose to meet mine again, the fever that burned through my blood seemed to echo in his dark eyes. "Do you need relief?"

"Relief?" I arched an eyebrow. "That makes it sound like I've got some disease." And that rankled

"You know what I mean."

"Yes, I do, and no, I don't." I hesitated, giving him my best sweet-as-pie expression - a sure sign the inner bitch was coming out. "Besides, one of the guards might be a wolf. We could celebrate the moon together."

His gaze narrowed dangerously. "The idea is to get in and get out, unobserved."

"Which you can do if I play distraction."

"We stick to the plan," he growled, and grabbed my arm, propelling me down the footpath

He was only an inch or two taller than I, but I was practically running to keep up with his long strides. I could have pulled free of his grasp easily enough, but truth be told, I liked his touch. And right then, with the moon burning through my system, I didn't care if it was rough or gentle

We climbed the small fence and strode through the cemetery. The wind stirred the dark pines surrounding the small graveyard so that it sounded like the whisperings of the dead. But if the dead had once lived there, they'd long ago moved out. The tombstones were worn with age and barely readable, the graves overrun by weeds and neglect. Even the dead had pride, and the place would not look so desolate if any of them still remained