The Darkest Kiss (Riley Jenson Guardian 6)

"Then give it a kick and make it hurry. This is urgent."

"Everything always is."

True. And it could be that I was barking up the wrong tree, anyway. If this was all connected with Young's sudden disappearance at the end of grade ten, then Ron himself wouldn't be a target. And I couldn't imagine his brother being a target, either, considering what Liander had told me.

Still, Young had circled his picture for a reason, so I had to at least check it out.

"Do you know if Kade has rounded up the other Trollops yet?"

"He's having trouble locating a couple of them."

Which wouldn't put him in a good mood. As he'd been known to say - out of Jack's hearing - he'd joined the Directorate ranks for action, not babysitting duties. "I'll probably head on over to the Rabbit after I check Napier Street."

"You don't get extra for all this unapproved overtime, you know."

"You know I do it for the love of the job rather than the money," I said, voice dry.

She sniffed - a disbelieving sound if I'd ever heard one. "Night, wolf."

"Don't let the bedbugs bite," I replied, and hung up on her snort.

I padded back to the car barefooted. Once there, I opened the trunk and grabbed a plastic bag, dumping my shoes in them. I didn't know how useful forensics would find them, but better safe than sorry. Although it would mean I wouldn't get my shoes back for a few weeks.

I shifted shape to heal the wounds a little more, then grabbed a cloth and cleaned the blood from my arm. After slipping on the spare set of practical black shoes I kept for emergencies, I hopped into the car then drove across to Napier Street. It wasn't that far from Sparkies, so it took me only five minutes or so to get there.

Even so, Cole and his team beat me there.

I grabbed my gun and climbed out of the car. "What, have you suddenly grown wings or something?"

He grimaced. For the first time since I'd met him, he actually looked tired. His face was drawn, there were bags under his eyes, and his chin covered by stubble - though if gray stubble could look good, then his certainly did.

"There's only two teams doing the so-called day shift at the moment, and these people you and Kade are chasing are running us off our feet." He swept a hand through his already tousled gray hair and looked at the dark house in front of us. "We were told to go in with guns, so I wasn't expecting you to be here.">"Enna's the one on the right?" Only a cat would put that color dress with her skin tone.

"Yes."

"Then I guess I'd better go back to work."

I stood somewhat reluctantly. He stood up also, but wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer, his fingers splayed against the bare skin of my back, sending little bolts of electricity tingling up and down my spine.

I licked my suddenly dry lips and stared into his dark eyes, seeing the hunger there, seeing the need. And not just sexual need. "I thought you didn't want to do casual?"

"I thought you said you'd quit casual?"

I smiled. "Well, yeah, but that doesn't change - "

He placed a finger gently against my lips, silencing me. "I have the presidential suite at the Langham. If you feel like discussing this matter any further, come back there when you finish tonight."

"I'm not sure what time I'm going to be finished working." And I certainly wasn't sure if I should go back, no matter what I was feeling or how much I needed him. We'd been through so much, had hurt each other so much, that part of me worried that the cycle would just start up all over again.

I couldn't bear that. There'd been enough shit in my life already. I just wanted a simple, straightforward, caring relationship with someone for a change. No ulterior motives, no hang-ups about what I was or what I did. I just wanted to deal with regular everyday problems in a regular everyday relationship.

And I really wasn't sure Quinn and I could ever have just a regular relationship.

"It doesn't matter what time you turn up. I'm not going anywhere." He bent and kissed me, his lips lingering, teasingly close as he added, "Please come back, Riley."

I took a shuddery breath and released it slowly. "No promises."

I stepped away, even though all I wanted to do was remain in his arms with all that lean strength wrapped around me. To feel safe and secure and cared for for the first time in what seemed like ages.