Deadly Desire (Riley Jenson Guardian 7)

"Followed her scent."

His breath teased my lips as he spoke and sent my hormones on another merry dance. The swirl of anger grew stronger. Not just at him, but at myself. I might be a werewolf and the moon heat might be rising, but damn it, surely I had better control than this!

"She's a bird." I snapped. "Her scent would be dispersed by the air long before it got to a wolfs nose."

"I didn't mean her physical scent. I meant her magical one."

"What?" Maybe my mind was still a little fuzzy from covering us both in shadows, but I had no idea what he meant.

He shrugged. "I haven't the time to explain now."

And no intention of explaining later, either. "Walk away from the case, Kye. This is Directorate business."

He hesitated, but his gaze was calculated, watchful. "And this job is for my friend. Besides, this is my living. This is how I make my money and maintain my reputation. I won't let you take this kill away from me."

"Well, that's just too bad, isn't-"

The words stopped as a cold sensation rolled over me, making my knees want to buckle and my stomach stir. I swallowed against a suddenly dry throat and met his gaze. Remembered the brief flare of pain in my back. I thrust out a hand, twisting my fingers into his shirt and pulling him close.

"What have you done, you bastard?"

"What I had to do." His voice was so annoyingly calm and cool. If not for the heat still burning in his eyes, it would be hard to imagine we'd shared a mind-blowing kiss only moments before. "As I said, I can't let you stop me-and you were certainly planning to."

His arms went around me just as my knees gave way. I wanted to hit him, wanted to break away from his grip, but my muscles refused to obey me and my strength seemed to have slipped away.

"The effects of the drug won't last long," he added. "Maybe an hour or so. You'll be safe up here."

"Unless the witch comes back." The words were indistinct, slurred.

"She has no reason to. Her pentagram and her creature have been destroyed. She'll start up again somewhere else."

"You are in so much trouble, buddy boy," I muttered.

He smiled and, despite the anger, I couldn't help noticing the way little laughter lines teased the corners of his eyes. A full smile would be knee-buckling.

"It won't be the first time," he said, as he lowered me onto the catwalk.

I tried to retain my grip on him, but I might as well have been a baby grabbing at an adult.

"See you later, Riley," he said. His lips brushed my forehead, and then he was gone, his footsteps retreating along the metal walkway.

"Bastard," I said, as the darkness closed in around me.

"Riley?"

The voice was sharp and concerned. It was also very loud, spearing through the shadows of unconsciousness as fiercely as a foghorn.

I forced my eyes open, but for several seconds, nothing registered beyond the blackness and the cold metal that pressed into my side.

Then memory came back and I sat up abruptly.

Only to have my head just about explode in protest at the sudden movement.

"Ow," I muttered, pressing fingers to my temples and massaging lightly. It didn't do a lot to help the fierce ache behind my eyes.

"Damn it, Riley, answer me!"

Jack's voice reverberated through my head, shooting pain through my brain and making my eyes water.