Embraced By Darkness (Riley Jenson Guardian 5)

I parked in a side street not far down from Eddie's, and walked back. Despite the late hour, Lygon Street was alive with people, music, and the delicious, multi-layered scents of cooking and food. I breathed deep, allowing the scents to roll through me, savoring every tasty moment even as my stomach grumbled to hurry up.

"Hey, gorgeous," a familiar voice said.

I turned around and saw Kellen approaching. He was dressed in jeans and a somewhat crinkled black shirt that fitted his lean body to perfection and showed off his arms and shoulders.

My hormones did a happy dance. I stepped forward and kissed him long and hard. It was a good kiss, a hungry kiss, a kiss filled with all the desire that had been pent up inside me.

When we finally parted, he said, "Are you sure you want to get a burger first?"

His green eyes were shining with amusement and caring, and something inside sighed with happiness. I slipped my arm through his and tugged him toward Eddie's. Thankfully, it was only half-full, and there were plenty of tables. "I haven't eaten in hours. I need the sustenance."

"A wolf can survive days without food, you know."

"Not this wolf. Besides, I need coffee."

"Ah well, that's different. I've seen your coffee-deprived state, and it isn't pleasant."

I lightly punched his arm. "You're supposed to be charming until you get your wicked way with me."

He guided me across to a table in the back corner, and held the chair out for me. "But I'm going to get my wicked way with you regardless of whether I'm charming, so why not be honest?"

"I might change my mind."

"After the heat in that kiss?" He gave me a sexy grin and shook his head. "I doubt it."

"Have you always been so arrogantly confident?"

"When it comes to my woman? Yes."

My woman, just hearing those words made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Still, I couldn't help saying, "I'm not your woman yet."

"But you will be."

"There's that arrogance again."

"It's confidence, my dear, not arrogance." He reached across the table and took my hand. His ringers were warm against mine, his skin slightly roughed. "We are good together."

"I've never denied that."

A waiter approached the table at that point, and we ordered. Kellen stuck with coffee, but I ordered a burger, fries, and the biggest mug of coffee they had.

Once the waiter had gone, I said, "I want this, Kellen. I just need a little more time to finish these cases."

"And next week it'll be another case, then another."

"I made a promise, and I intend to keep it." I squeezed his fingers lightly. "In the scheme of things, a week isn't all that long."

And I wasn't entirely sure who I was trying to convince with that statement - myself or him.

He studied me for a moment, then said, "So, how is the kidnap case going?"

I shrugged. "Pretty damn slowly. I think the club is running a blackmail scheme, and I'm pretty sure Adrienne guessed her life was in danger."

He untwined his fingers from mine, and leaned back. "So her disappearance has to do with the blackmailing scheme, not the disappearances of the women?"

"I really can't say for sure, yet." I just wished I could get hold of that letter. There had to be more in it than Patrin was saying, because he sure as hell wouldn't have left the safety of pack lands otherwise.