Deadly Desire (Riley Jenson Guardian 7)

I grinned and turned around in his arms. "That's a very cutting remark from someone who's planning to have more sex with a werewolf."

"I'm not planning sex. I'm planning a long night of hot and heated lovemaking."

I arched an eyebrow and said in low voice, "So what the hell are you waiting for?"

Amusement crinkled the corners of his dark eyes. "You're holding coffee, and you tend to get vicious when it's taken away."

I immediately put the cup down. "Only when there's nothing better being offered. You, my darling vampire, are certainly that."

"I'm glad you think so." He swept me up into his arms then walked toward the bedroom. "Because I intend to ravish you senseless for the next four hours."

"Only four? Age must be affecting your stamina."

"There's nothing wrong with my stamina, trust me."

A point he deliciously proved over the next four hours.

Traffic was hell the next morning, so I arrived at Armel's ten minutes late. Which I figured was pretty damn good, considering, but Jack hated tardiness and he'd probably chew me out once he found out. Of course, I could fly, and therefore could avoid the whole morning traffic situation if I wanted to, but I still preferred to drive. Shifting into my seagull shape had an even worse effect on my clothes than shifting into my wolf, and I wasn't about to face a randy old vampire flashing bits of flesh through torn clothing.

I climbed out of the car and looked up at Armel's house. It didn't exactly follow the expected conventions when it came to the abode of a very old vampire. It was as big as any other house situated in the millionaires-only suburb known as Toorak, but it was also a place of stark white concrete, odd angles, metal monoliths, and huge glass windows. And the garden had the same angular, sparse outlook. There was no grass, just harsh white pebbles, and sharply angled garden beds that were filled with carefully shaped plants.>It was the last thing I actually wanted to do, but I owed Jack more than a few favors. Besides, friends that old were surely rare, even in the long-lived world of vampires.

Jack hesitated. "No, it should be all right. Armel thinks it may be a ghost of some kind. Things have been moved around or gone missing. Nothing major-just small things. He's just curious as to what is going on."

Hence the reason Jack had called me. He might be good at many things, but the one thing he couldn't do was see ghosts and souls.

Unfortunately, I could.

"Why did he call you rather than a clairvoyant or someone like that?"

"Because we're old friends, and I owe him a few favors."

Calling in the Directorate still seemed like overkill. But maybe that was why he was a long-lived vampire. "No one's broken in, I gather?"

"He believes not. He's got good security and he doesn't sleep all that much. He'd hear anyone entering his house."

Outside, a car pulled up, but the scents of wolf and bird were suddenly strong on the still air. I recognized both.

"Cole and his team have just arrived."

"Good. Once the situation there is sorted, go home and get some rest. I told Armel you'd be there at nine."

"Gee, thanks for letting me sleep in, boss."

"He wanted you there at six," Jack said dryly, "so be thankful for small mercies."

"Why so damn early?"

"He doesn't believe in wasting good daylight."

"He's a vampire. There's no such thing as good daylight, is there?"

"There is when you're old enough to enjoy it."

"Which neither you nor he is, so why the hurry?"

"Just because we can't play in it doesn't mean we can't enjoy it." Jack's voice was amused. "And be careful when you're there. Armel will flirt with anything that breathes, but he's partial to redheads."

"I've already got two old vampires in my life. I don't need another."