Winter Halo (Outcast 2)

“This sensor is from the truck that delivered the children; we’ll need it to get into the elevator.” I dropped it onto the table, then drew in the power of the lights that flooded this entire area, using it to wrap a shield around my body. “I’ll come back here as soon as I can. Keep the door open for me.”

“The ability to shield like that,” he said as he rose, “is one I’m damnably glad the soldier déchet didn’t have in the war.”

“It’s hard to give someone a psychic gift when you’ve all but gutted their mind.” I rose and followed him across to the door. Bear, Cat, I need you to remain here this afternoon.

If you need help, call, Cat said.

I will. I stepped through the door, then hesitated and looked back at Jonas. He might not be able to see through the light shield, but his gaze nevertheless met mine unerringly.

“What would you do if I did decide to pursue this attraction?” I asked.

“Until it actually happens, I honestly can’t say.” A smile twitched the corner of his mouth. “But it’s an event unlikely to occur anytime soon, is it?”

“That is a question I honestly can’t answer.”

I turned and walked away. He didn’t immediately move back inside. He just stood there, watching me, his gaze a caress I could feel against my spine and one that had my whole body tingling.

Having Jonas stay in such close proximity really wasn’t a good idea—either for my hormones or my determination to keep them all at arm’s length.

I made it back into Central. Given that it was lunchtime and the cross streets would undoubtedly be filled with people, I instead made my way to the nearest public convenience. Once I’d shifted back to my Cat identity, I hurried across to Third Street and my apartment there. Thankfully, Charles hadn’t arrived yet. I stripped, tossed my clothes into the laundry chute, and had a quick shower, just in case any scent of dust or even Jonas lingered on my skin.

The door alarm went just as I stepped out. The nearby monitor came to life, revealing Charles standing outside the building. I buzzed him in and then walked into the bedroom to grab a sheer gown before heading downstairs. By the time I’d opened and poured two glasses of whiskey, he was at my doorway.

“Enter,” I murmured, pushing a husky note into my tone.

The door slid open and he strode in. His expression was initially thunderous, but that gave way to delight and desire when he saw me.

“I’m gathering it’s been a hard morning,” I said, sashaying toward him.

His gaze swept me, and lust burned the air. He accepted the drink with a nod of thanks and downed it in one quick mouthful.

I laughed and handed him mine. “Seems you need this more than me.” The second drink disappeared as fast as the first. I raised an eyebrow and added, “Would you like another?”

He took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Yes, please.”

I plucked the second glass from his hand and walked across to the kitchen. He followed and, when I stopped to pour the alcohol, wrapped his hands around my waist.

“What I need more than a drink, however,” he murmured, dropping a kiss on the side of my neck, “is to lose myself in the glory of your body and simply forget my problems for a short while.”

Given that I certainly wanted the former so that I could read the latter, I stoppered the whiskey and pressed my butt back against him.

He groaned and moved his grip to my hips, pressing me harder against his erection. “I’m really not in the mood for self-control. Not this first time.”

“Self-control is sometimes overrated.” Fast wouldn’t gain me much information, but Charles was a man of amazing stamina. The first session would not be the last, even if our time this afternoon was limited.

He dropped another kiss against my neck, then undid the gown’s ties and slid it to the floor between us. I tried to turn and face him, but his grip tightened, preventing me.

“I need control,” he murmured.

Because he doesn’t have it at work, intuition whispered.

He stepped back and stripped. The fact that he tossed his clothes onto the nearest chair rather than neatly place them said a lot about his urgency and his desire to forget.

He began to caress and tease my body, and for a man in a hurry he did a damnably good job of making sure I was ready for him. But as his breathing got faster and the lust stinging the air felt liquid, he kicked my legs farther apart and thrust into me. There was nothing gentle, nothing civilized about this mating; it was all heat and need and desperation, and the images that filtered through my mind were fractured and all over the place. But I saw enough to know he’d been called up to the thirtieth floor to face Rath Winter. He came before I could glimpse the outcome of that meeting.

?

?That,” he said, resting his forehead momentarily against my spine, “definitely chased a few demons away. Thank you.”