Drawing Deep

by Jennifer Dellerman

  Lance shook his head. “Nope. But what makes this into a creep feast is that the man was killed in an apparent mugging later that night just around the corner of the museum.”

  Her jaw dropped. “No way.”

  “Yes ma’am. He’s considered a John Doe. No ID, no prints, etcetera and so on. Though the assistant curator of the museum contacted the police and reported the coin incident in hopes of helping, nothing panned out.”

  Was it only a coincidence? Then again, who robs a homeless man? “When did this happen?”

  His brow quirked. “About the same time the Felix family started having problems with poachers and squatters utilizing the building above the ruin as shelter.”

  She gnawed her lip. “So someone stumbles or steals the coin from here, heads into Panama to sell it, and then is later killed.”

  “That pretty much sums it up. I figure whoever killed this guy is part of those who chased down Gwen and Rome in the reserve a few months back. Even with the cameras I’m starting to feel uneasy. And speaking of which, we need to get going. I have to take Chris and Robby to the airport after dinner.”

  Feeling a little uneasy herself, Ria tossed one last look over her shoulder before hurrying to catch up with Lance.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Ria walked into the back door of the b&b and came to a startled halt when Annie greeted her with one long look at her dusty and dirty form and offered up a large, rectangular, plastic shopping bag. “Just in time I’d say.”

  Accepting the bag by its handles, Ria looked inside and found her clothes from yesterday. She bet there wasn’t a single spot remaining of the previous day’s ordeal. “Thanks, Annie.”

  “Tripped did you?”

  Ria thought it an odd question but Lance only laughed and patted the top of her head. Dirt drifted in the air. “Let’s just say Ria gets a little carried away when it comes to her work.”

  Annie arched a brow as dirt landed on her clean kitchen floor. “So I see. An early dinner will be ready shortly so you can take your friends to the airport without suffering hunger pangs. As for you,” she eyed Ria’s rumpled clothes. “Why don’t you bring down all the clothes you need washed after your shower and I’ll take care of them.”

  Ria guessed she was taking a shower before dinner. And washing her clothes. Beyond the fact it was necessary, Ria found it strange she harbored no discontent with Annie’s subtle order. Or Melinda’s ministrations and deliberate herding of yesterday, for that matter. Maybe it was some kind of ingrained response to a mother’s nurturing; a truly unique experience for Ria. “There’s no need for you to do that. If there’s a machine available, I’ll throw them in before dinner.”

  “Good enough.” Annie nodded with approval. “We’re just about done with the bedding now that all the guests are gone so there’ll be one you can use. Take your time.”

  Feeling as if she’d been dismissed, Ria exited the kitchen, amused at the both of them. She dropped her backpack off in her room and gathered what she needed for a shower. With no desire to rush, preferring to wave Chris off rather than spend dinner listening to his reminders, she bowed her head and let the hot water stream over her neck and shoulders.

  Unfortunately, a brush off would be rude to Robby. She didn’t envy him this trip to Alaska. There was bound to be a lot of tension between Chris and Teri, along with everyone else. Secrets didn’t remain so for long in their close-knit group, which was why Ria had always been so very careful at hiding hers.

  She shook her head as she dried off. Being a vampire was quite different than being pregnant. She didn’t think her co-workers would necessarily freak if she ever told them the truth. They’d come across a lot of weird stuff in their research and travels, however, they might very well treat her differently, possibly even warily, and that she didn’t want.

  She blew her hair dry, fluffing it with her fingers so that it stood up in the spiky style she preferred. Dressed in clean clothes, she shoved every dirty piece she could find into a large plastic bag and headed for the stairs.

  Either she’d taken longer then thought or the group had shoveled down their dinner, because they were amassed at the base of the stairs when she came down, as were Gwen, Rome and Melinda.

  “There you are,” Robby said. “Didn’t know if we’d see you before we left. What’s that?”

  Inquisitive by nature, as Ria was herself, she didn’t take offensive at his nosiness. “My dirty clothes.”

  “Ah.”

  “Lance was just telling us you think a meteorite hit the reserve?” Gwen asked.

  Ria lifted her shoulders. “It’s a theory that would explain how the hole was created and why such a large area in an otherwise dense forest is devoid of vegetation.”

  Gwen nodded. “I’d always wondered myself. Makes sense. The site of the impact would have obliterated everything around it, spewing out a shower of iron or silicate and causing the surrounding area to become inhospitable to new growth.”

  Ria grinned. “Exactly.”

  Rome wrapped an arm around Gwen’s neck, pulling her close so he could plant a kiss on her temple. “I love how your brain works.”

  “That’s not all you love.” Gwen snickered before turning back to Ria. “I sent off some soil samples from the pit to be analyzed. They should be back by now. I’ll check in the morning and let you know what the lab found.”

  “That’d be great. Thanks.” Ria cleared her throat. The casual display of affection between Gwen and Rome caused Ria to feel a twinge of envy. It must be nice to know you were loved like that. No hesitation, no suspicion. Just total and complete acceptance. “You going too?”

  Gwen had on a jacket, as did Rome. “Yep. Someone needs to keep my brother out of trouble. And of course this one,” she poked Rome in the stomach with a finger, “thinks he’s going to keep me out of trouble.”

  Chris, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, checked his watch. “We should go. Thank you for your hospitality.” He directed his words to Melinda. Then he nodded at Ria. “Ria.”

  That was all all he said. No orders, pointed reminders or inappropriate comments. Just her name. “Have a safe trip and good luck.”

  Andreas materialized out of nowhere and stood with Melinda to see the group off. For her part, Ria scampered toward the kitchen, breathing in deep as mouth-watering scents tickled her nose. “Something sure smells wonderful,” she said in general as she stepped into the room.

  “Chicken teriyaki, pork fried rice and spring rolls.” Annie told her. “It’s all ready so make yourself a plate when you’re done.”

  Ria should have thought about the logistics of Lance shuttling Chris and Robby to the airport. She’d acted selfishly, not wanting to tag along, but now, when she entered the dining room, she realized there was a price to pay for that selfishness. Melinda, Andreas, Porter, Annie, and Annie’s husband Bob were all in the room, either sitting at the table or standing at the sideboard, scooping up food from a trio of chafing dishes.

  Ria was the odd man out.

  “Fill up a plate, Ria,” Melinda invited, “and come sit down. I’d like to hear more about what you’ve found out at the reserve. A meteorite I believe it was?”

  With no way to sneak out, Ria did as directed, pulling out a chair to the left of Melinda. As she did, Santos sauntered in the room, his eyes landing without hesitation on her face before snagging his own plate and mounding it with food.

  Ria fell into the chair with little grace. She wanted to squirm. The knowing heat in Santos’s brief look had just about seared her through and through. Not a leer or male smugness, but one of carnal intimacy, appreciation and intention for further exploration.

  How she got all that from a second’s glance, she couldn’t explain. She just knew, and it made all her female parts stand up and sing.

  Ria poured herself a glass of iced tea and drank deep. When Santos pulled out the chair next to her she tried desperately not to react, even as her whole body sprang to life in sexual awarenes
s. She didn’t understand what it was about him that made her respond to his simple presence on such a passionate level. After forcing Santos and her feelings for him into a little box all day so she could concentrate on her work, sitting next to him made it all burst free in a flaming rush of vicious hunger. All she could think about was ripping his clothes clean off his body so she could succumb to the ravenous need to touch and take.

  Crossing her legs against the dampness gathered there, and aching for the slightest touch, Ria focused her attention on Melinda instead. “It’s just a theory, of course.” She settled in to answer questions and provide an update on what she and Lance had discovered at the site, slowly growing comfortable with the easy conversation that flowed around and to her. Then a heavily muscled thigh pressed against hers and she nearly jumped out of her skin.

  “Santos,” Andreas said, his tone bordering on rebuke. “I believe we can start on the navel trees later this week.”

  Ria might have thought it an odd change in subject, until she remembered exactly who it originated from. A shifter. He could probably scent Ria’s discomfort, her arousal. It was mortifying. Knuckles white around her fork, Ria dropped her head and attacked the remains of her dinner with gusto. When Melinda and Annie started to clear the empty dishes, Ria stood as well, intending to lend a hand, and get the hell out of the room.

  “Porter will help us, dear,” Melinda said. “I actually have a favor to ask of you and Santos.”

  Ria turned to Santos who only shrugged. “Sure.”

  “There are several containers in the attic with Christmas decorations. If you two could bring them down, I’d appreciate it.”

  “Okay.” Now that Ria thought about it, December was only a day away so the request wasn’t an unreasonable one. Until she saw the slight lift of Santos’s lips.

  Quietly contemplative, Ria followed Santos into the kitchen and to a set of back stairs she’d glimpsed and wondered about.

  “These go directly to the third floor,” Santos informed her. “Where my parents, Gwen and Rome live.”

  His voice was low and the husky quality, to her vivid imagination, brought to mind warm, lush, pleasure-drenched nights. She followed him up the three flights, ogling his ass the entire way.

  It was a damn fine ass. A bite-able ass. All taut with muscles that flexed enticingly with each step he took. Liquid heat bloomed between her legs and she felt her face flush.

  Turned on by a butt. How embarrassing. Then again, she couldn’t think of a single thing about Santos that didn’t turn her on. He’d called her a witch last night, but it was him that was casting spells. Seductive ones that spun erotic webs, and she couldn’t seem to break free.

  At the top of the stairs, they came to a closed door. Santos set his thumb on an electronic scanner built in the wall and, an audible click later, the door unlocked.

  “You’ve got a lot of high-tech security around here.” She observed.

  “We protect what’s ours.” A repeat of his comment at the reserve gate not long ago. This time, however, something in his eyes made her believe that vow just might extend to encompass her as well.

  She squashed the warm glow in her chest before it could build into hope. As much as she was coming to like this family, and particularly this man, she couldn’t allow her heart to ache for more. She was simply too different, and a little too messed up, to be accepted, regardless of what she’d overheard yesterday.

  Gwen and Melinda’s humanity didn’t stop a shifter from loving them.

  Despite the truth of it, she dropped a mental hammer on that yearning inner voice. Though she knew Dax had done his best, Ria never felt she belonged anywhere, and she bore the burden of that. Not letting anyone in too deep meant no wishful thinking, because wishful thinking only invited pain and disappointment. She was safer immersed in myths and legends and cool logic. There was no denying disappointments occurred in her work, but they never ripped her heart to shreds or encased the tattered pieces in ice.

  Only people did that.

  “After you.” Dragging her eyes from his, she stepped into the third floor home of her hostess, Santos holding the door open for her as a gentleman would.

  A second later, there was nothing gentle about him when she found herself pressed against the unyielding wood of the door, his hands cupping her face as he fastened his mouth over hers. She opened in famished relief to the thrust of his tongue, her arms snaking past his waist and up his back to clamp on his shoulders. Her heart might still be cold, but her body was on fire.

  “I missed this,” he growled between kisses so deep and thorough, his taste would be etched in every pore of her body for all time. “I missed you.”

  His lips were soft, his tongue a slick thrust that made her moan with need as heat exploded in a shower over chafing nerve endings. Her breasts were flattened against his chest, his cock a rigid enticement caught in the cradle of her thighs. When his hips rocked into her, she couldn’t stop from arching her own in blatant invitation, seeking a remedy from the throbbing ache burgeoning in her sex.

  Another drowning kiss that only intensified the restless craving eating her alive, pulling her further under the seductive magic of his touch. His hands slid down her torso and hips in a possessive sweep before coming back up to cup her breasts. Her hands traveled south, intend on setting his erection free and beg him to fill the emptiness inside her. Then her eyes opened, and she remembered where they were. Like a plunge into freezing water, reality cleared the glaze of lust from her mind before those sensual lips could destroy any more brain cells. “Santos. Stop. Not in your parent’s home.” It just felt wrong to her.

  With a soft grunt, he closed his eyes, lay his forehead against hers. His hands flexed on her breasts once, then moved down to clasp her hips in a hard squeeze. She could hear the thundering of his heart, as it matched her own. After a minute where he obviously struggled for control, he opened eyes filled with dark desire. “All right. As long as you understand it will happen.”

  Though his gaze searched hers, Ria knew it wasn’t a question. It was a fact. One she happened to agree with. “Yes.”

  He kissed her hard and fast. “Then let’s hurry up.”

  Feeling a bit tipsy, her hand engulfed in his, she let him set the pace. They rushed through the third floor to another door and up a second flight of stairs.

  She smelled it before she saw it. “Oh.”

  A secret indoor garden greeted her when Santos flipped on the light-switch. Trees and shrubs, flowers and herbs grew from raised beds to fill the air with their fragrant scents. “How wonderful.”

  Though he was probably feeling more than a little impatient, Santos let her wander, as if sensing her delight and enjoying it. “Mom loves it and that’s all that matters. Even though it was a pain in the ass to create.”

  “You did this?” An impressive feat.

  A cheeky smile. “If I thought it would get me bonus points to say yeah, I did it all, I would. But it was a family undertaking.” He pointed out the glass ceiling, explained the water and solar collections that reduced their dependence on utility services and then showed her how the windows on either side of the attic opened to allow fresh air flow through the indoor paradise.

  “It’s amazing.”

  His expression stilled and he reached up to trace her lips with a finger. “So are you.”

  She sucked in a breath. “Santos.”

  A sharp shake of his head. “Right. Boxes first. Sex later.”

  She felt a spurt of laughter bubble up. He tugged her through two more sets of doors before they came to the other half of the attic. One filled to near overflowing with boxes and sheet-covered items she assumed was furniture.

  With long, determined strides, Santos headed for the stacks of large green and red boxes. Ria’s brows rose at the amount. “Those are all Christmas decorations?”

  “Yeah. Two are for the tree, one has lights and the others are filled with stuff she puts up around the house.”

&n
bsp; “It must take all day,” she murmured in awe.

  “Pretty much. It’ll take us three trips.” He hefted one up. “This one’s pretty light.”

  She went over and took the plastic container. “You seem to be in a hurry.”

  “You’re kidding, right?”

  The laugh she’d held in check nearly burst forth at the pained expression on his face. Then he lifted another box and in his haste, caught the corner of it on the sheet behind it. Her amusement fled in a startled gasp.

  It was a portrait of a man, his back to a turbulent ocean that she recognized as the bay in front of the very house they were standing in. A big man with thick, white hair and dressed in a long, black coat, black pants, white shirt and white cravat. His weathered face wasn’t handsome, but rather intriguing with heavy cheekbones, wide-set dark eyes and a chin that looked like granite. His mouth was set in a smirk of satisfaction. Head back, one hand on his hip as if daring the artist to do his worst. His right gripped the top of an ornate cane. “Who is that?”

  Santos had paused at her gasp and was looking at the portrait as well. “Huh. Cort Fylin. Our ancestor and original owner of the Orchards. I’d forgotten about it.”

  Ria set her box on the attic floor and stepped for a closer look. Tentatively, she reached out and touched the painting. “He was a little intimidating.”

  “As a kid I remember thinking that. Now he just looks like a guy.”

  “Hmm.” She felt Santos come behind her, his heat surrounding her. Her eyes wanted to drift shut when his arms encircled her waist and pulled her close. His lips touched her neck, shattering her focus.

  “I’m having a difficult time here, kitten.”

  She could feel that difficulty pressed against her butt and was reminded of all the naughty things he did to her last night. Swallowing, she turned her head slightly when his mouth parted over her neck to nuzzle the tender flesh. As she did, her gaze caught on the cane in Fylin’s grip. It was shaped like a sleek, predatory cat. An interesting coincidence. Then she spied three letters painted into the gold handle just under the cat’s belly. “XLV?”