by A and E Kirk
In a small glass vial, a dark liquid shimmered with iridescent opal flecks, which floated like dead bodies in old blood.
Verusuvenum.
Her stomach churned with dread. Despite the danger to himself, Leontes had concocted the deadly truth serum. How could he? The suicidal moron.
She walked over undetected. As he placed the vial in the drawer, which he locked and then pocketed the key, she said, “Please don’t.”
He swung his foot back in a leg sweep that should have left her flat on her back, but she dodged it and offered a smile.
“Stop doing that!” he shouted.
“You first.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Quit trying to leave me.”
He tried to step back, but he was up against the wall and had nowhere to go. She nuzzled her cheek against his hard chest and burrowed her whole body into him.
He felt so good. Smelled so good. Strong and solid. She had lost so much, but one thing she did have for as long as she remembered, short as her memory may be, was Leontes.
“I am not trying to leave you. Now please release me.” He tried to extricate himself from the embrace.
“No.” She held on tighter.
He finally gave up and dropped his arms to his sides. She wished he would wrap his arms around her too, but at least he was no longer pushing her away. Finally, figuring he needed a break, she let him go.
Leontes immediately walked to the other side of the lab. Kiara sighed. He must have wanted to create some distance in case she had the crazy idea to hug him again.
“If you get caught, I could lose you again,” she said. “It’s the same thing.”
He pretended to look at some books on the piano. “Get caught?”
“Using the potion on Bane.”
“What potion?”
“Really?” When he ignored her, she took the key she had pickpocketed during their hug and unlocked the drawer. She started to pull it open. “I’m talking about this potion which—”
“No!” Leontes shouted.
He was on her in a blink, shoving her aside and slamming the drawer shut with such force he cracked the stone. But he had been too far away and could not stop her in time. She had glimpsed the contents.
And Kiara did not want to believe what she had seen.
CHAPTER 76
Leontes raised his palms. “I can explain.”
Her body shook with frustration and anger. “Is that my dagger in that drawer? Did you get it from the police?”
“Yes, it is yours,” Leontes said. “No, I did not receive it from the police.”
“You had it all along.”
“Yes.”
“Then there is nothing to explain. You lied.” She smiled sweetly, then barreled at him like an out of control freight train.
With the grace of an accomplished bullfighter, Leontes stepped aside at the last possible second. With the fury of an angry bull, Kiara crashed into a table, sending equipment and papers flying.
“Kiara, please,” Leontes said evenly. “Take a moment to calm down and listen.”
She rolled through the debris and onto her feet, ending up next to the piano. With a violent kick, she sent the instrument skidding across the floor. It smashed into a wall, knocking over plants with a burst of music that sounded like a two-year-old banging on the keys.
Leontes sighed. “Is it too much to ask that you hear me out before wreaking such ruin upon the lab?”
Kiara came at him again. She punched and kicked and kept up a constant barrage of practiced, well-placed moves. Every single one should have made contact. But Leontes always seemed to anticipate her next attack and evaded them with annoying, almost nonchalant, consistency.
Then it dawned on her. Chest heaving, she stopped and leaned over, resting her hands on her knees. It took a few breaths before she could speak. “We’ve fought before, haven’t we? That’s how you know all my moves before I even make them.”
“That would be a logical conclusion, yes.”
“You can remember my fighting, but I can’t remember yours. That’s not fair.”
He tried not to smile. “It is called capitalizing on my advantages.”
“It’s called cheating.” She straightened and walked forward slowly until she stood in front of him. “But since you’re a liar, I suppose cheater comes with the territory.”
As he started to shake his head, she jerked a knee up to his groin. He caught her leg and spun her around, pinning her arms down and holding her against his chest.
“That is enough,” he said into her ear.
She snapped her head back but somehow missed cracking it against his chin and suddenly found herself backed up against the wall.
Holding both wrists above her head, Leontes molded his entire body against hers. His face moved close enough that his breath ruffled the strands of hair that had come loose from her braid. His eyes glittered with growing anger. “You need to stop this nonsense before you get hurt.”
“Trust me,” she said with meaning. “You’ve already hurt me. Liar.”
“Oh, grow up. I was simply waiting for Dr. Lyon’s permission before having you deal with the dagger.”
“Sure you were. You know, Jaeger said you’d lie to me.”
“Brilliant,” Leontes growled with contempt. “The insolent puppy whose actions sent you over the edge?”
“At least he was trying to help me.”
Leontes raised a mocking brow. “More like he was trying to help himself to you. And do you honestly think that I am not trying to help you?”
She glanced at the wall with the hidden drawer. “I’m not so sure anymore.”
He made a sound of disgust. “You are not being rational.”
“Maybe if you’d tell me the truth!”
“It is too dangerous.”
“I’m willing to risk it.”
He gave her a long, hard stare. “I am not.”
She saw the look in his eyes, steely and unyielding, and knew there was no changing his mind. He could be so stubborn. She glared at him, burning with a seething fury, and suddenly something else flared inside her. With growing surprise, she realized that even as embittered and livid and hurt as she was, she also wanted to…really wanted to…in fact, desperately wanted to—
“Kiss him!” Roxy shouted. She sat on a lab table, swinging her legs and grinning wildly.
Kiara froze, feeling overwhelmed and extremely befuddled. She continued to stare at his mouth. His full lips parted slightly. The desire to kiss him grew stronger. “This is crazy,” she muttered.
“I know, right?” Roxy laughed. “That’s why I’m here. Go ahead, take your best shot. Give him a smackaroo. We can legitimately plead insanity!”
Leontes paused, and at first, appeared confused at her sudden, quiet watchfulness. Then his gaze hooked onto hers, and he would not, or could not, look away. A clash of emotions flickered in his expression, and then it softened, like a warrior weary of battle. For a moment, he seemed to understand what she was feeling. And to her utter amazement, his blue eyes darkened with what she thought was a desire to kiss her, too.
But he did not move. He watched her. Closely. Searching her face. She felt a rush of anticipation that slowly bubbled into a deep longing for him to hold her, touch her, and yes, kiss her.
Then he blinked and the moment passed, the connection gone. He released her wrists and began to step away.
“Last chance,” Roxy said. “Insanity has its privileges.”
Why not? Following some base instinct, and before she lost her nerve, Kiara slipped her hand up around his neck, rose on her tiptoes, and closed her eyes.
CHAPTER 77
“Jaeger hasn’t seen her, either,” Frankie said, breathless as she hustled into the room.
Leontes jerked away.
“No,” Kiara whispered and reached for him.
Leontes lurched back and raked a hand through his hair. Anger flashed in his eyes as he speared her with a warning look. “Don’t,
” he said, his tone harsh, his hand raised as if to ward off a blow. “Just don’t.”
Kiara paused. What had gone wrong? Had she misread Leontes? Was she now hallucinating feelings as well as people?
Leontes glanced over his shoulder and, after clearing his throat loudly, said, “That is because she is here.” Then he turned his back on Kiara.
Kiara’s breath tripped over her lips. Her chest throbbed like an open wound. She ran up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Leontes, please.”
He jumped as if burned and yanked her off. “What is wrong with you? For God’s sake, quit touching me!”
Frankie stopped in her tracks and gaped in stunned horror at the destruction around her lab. “What the hell happened?”
Kiara backed away, her face on fire. “Leontes is being…stupid. And mean.”
That sounded dumb and immature, even to her, but consumed by embarrassment she could hardly breathe, let alone come up with something clever.
Kicking through the shambles, Leontes picked up papers scattered on the floor. “Kiara needs a nap. She is not acting like herself.”
“A nap?” Kiara narrowed her eyes and said through gritted teeth, “I’m not a child.”
Leontes glanced up, his gaze cool. “Then quit acting like one.”
Her eyes widened, and she sucked in a breath, horrified. She picked up one of the few beakers still intact and threw it at his head.
He ducked it easily. After it shattered onto the floor amid the rest of the debris, Leontes looked at her, mildly amused. “I rest my case.” Then he went back to picking up papers.
Kiara wanted to scream. She looked around for something else to throw.
Nero appeared next to Leontes. “To hell with that! Stab his heart out!”
The military leader ran his sword into Leontes’ back, burying it to the hilt. When the vampire did not react, and actually had the nerve to keep cleaning up the damn mess, Nero frantically stabbed him again and again, yelling, “Die, you bastard, die!”
Frankie caught Kiara’s arm. “Hold on there. I don’t know what happened—”
Kiara blurted out, “Leontes is going to kill Bane for information and then get himself killed for killing him.”
“I heard,” Frankie said. “But don’t worry. No one’s seen Bane since he left the gym. He’s hiding out, and if Leontes can’t find him, Leontes can’t do something so stupid.”
Leontes gave Frankie an irritated look.
“Well, also,” Kiara huffed, “Leontes lied. He had my dagger all along!”
“Is that what this is really about?”
Kiara jerked accusing eyes to Frankie. “You knew?”
“Sure,” Frankie shrugged. “It was for your own good. Get off your high horse. You lie. Like when you said your hallucinations hadn’t come back. Remember?”
In the midst of his multiple and frantic attempts at murder, Nero said, “She’s got you there, soldier.”
“That was different,” Kiara said stubbornly. “I didn’t want to worry anyone. I wanted to handle it myself.”
“How’d that work out for you?” Frankie asked.
After a glance at Nero who was busy killing Leontes for the hundredth time, Kiara mumbled, “Whatever.”
“Right,” Frankie said. “We all have our reasons. Now let’s get past this and focus on finding Giselle. Come on you two, kiss and make up.”
Mortification washed anew over Kiara.
Leontes threw down a pile of papers with a violent slap! “Frankie, that is entirely inappropriate.”
“Yes,” Kiara sneered. “I can’t touch Leontes, let alone kiss him.”
“I was speaking figuratively, you nincompoops. Come on, big guy, it won’t kill you to give her a hug.”
Leontes leveled Frankie a sub-zero look. “Actually, it just might.”
At Kiara’s expression of utter devastation, Frankie sighed. “He didn’t mean it.”
“Yes he did.” Tears welled in Kiara’s eyes. She blinked them back, and to wash away the hurt, she gladly embraced fury. “He can’t stand me. He’s sorry he ever dug me up out of that coffin.”
Leontes visibly flinched, and he closed his eyes.
“That’s enough, young lady,” Frankie said. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Then explain it to me!”
Frankie looked expectantly at Leontes.
He shook his head. “No. When is the last time she took her medication?”
“That’s your answer?” Kiara railed. “Forget it!” Feeling as if her skin literally boiled, she stomped over to the wall that had the hidden drawer and punched her hand through the stone.
“Don’t you dare touch that dagger,” Leontes demanded.
Her hand came out holding the vial of verusuvenum. “Keep the stupid dagger. And stay away from me!”
When Leontes started toward her, every Bunsen burner in the room suddenly flared to life. The multitude of the liquids which had spilled during their fight caught fire.
Kiara leapt over a table and took off, but paused when she reached the doorway. She turned back. Leontes was standing very still, his look scorching hotter than the flames through which he was watching her.
CHAPTER 78
Hurt, misery, aggravation—all razor-sharp emotions slashed against Kiara’s ribs and clawed at her from the inside out.
Then there was the feeling of lust, which brought with it a unique array of pain and excitement. Dread and anticipation. And most of all, a hunger that threatened to overtake everything else.
Where had that come from? It didn’t matter. It had ended in humiliation. Her cheeks burned just thinking about it. She had read the situation terribly wrong. She was not someone Leontes wanted in that way.
She was not who anyone wanted.
Except one.
It was a reckless thought, but Kiara could not fight the impulse. Did not want to.
Clutching the vial of truth serum to her chest, she ran through the halls and up several flights of stairs, and finally found what she was looking for. She entered the room, shut the door and barricaded herself against it, breathing heavily, still reeling from so many all-consuming and new sensations.
She was inside Leontes’ massive bathroom, a testament to masculine luxury. Dark woods, glass, marble, shiny surfaces, luxurious fabrics in jewel tones all cocooned in warm glowing halos of light that resembled candlelight.
Through the billowing swirls of steam that weighted the air heavy on her skin, Kiara found what she had been seeking. Or rather, whom.
Jaeger.
In the shower. Soaped, slippery, and utterly sensuous.
Just like the first time she’d seen him at the wolf’s den. The second time around, the sight was no less spectacular. The marble wall of the shower went up high enough to cover him to his hips. Above that, his naked torso glistened.
Wet from the pulsing hot spray, his taut, supple skin shone with a rich, deep golden tan. His arms and shoulders flexed impressive muscle as he smoothed his hands over his body. He worked up a thick lather. White bubbles slid down his neck and broad shoulders, and luxuriously snaked through the hard contours of his chest and rippling abs.
Her heavy breathing ramped up. Heat rolled over her, and it was not from the steam swirling through the room, infused with the fresh scent of soap and the earthy aromas of Jaeger’s distinctive musk.
She took a deep inhale and let it out on a sigh.
“Oo-la-la!” Roxy cooed. “It is time for one good wolf to come to the aid of Kiara.”
Kiara pointed a finger at her and growled, “Get out.”
Roxy disappeared in a blink.
“Hello?” Jaeger wiped water and soap from his face.
His eyes focused on her through the glass.
“Well, well, well.” A grin split wide as a deep and throaty laugh escaped lips. “Here I was, just minding my own business, fantasizing about this smokin’ hot babe and in she walks. Who says dreams don’t co
me true? Glad you’re sticking around this time. Hop right in, gorgeous. You’re timing’s perfect. I’m all kinds of ready for you.”
Yes. Jaeger was not scared of her. Or repulsed. He wanted her.
She tore her eyes away from the impressive physique and tried to match his casual demeanor. “I’m hiding out. Leontes is on a rampage looking for me.”
“And you thought jumping in the shower with me would put him in a better mood?”
“No.” Kiara said, looking around for a place to hide the container of truth serum. She finally tucked it inside the extra towels in a cabinet under the sink. “I just figured he wouldn’t look for me here.”
Jaeger dipped his head under the spray and used his hands to squeegee off the remaining suds. “Don’t bet on it.”
As if to prove him right, Leontes’ voice bellowed, “Jaeger, where are you? Have you seen Kiara?”
CHAPTER 79
Kiara’s heart all but stopped, belly lurching as her bravado of only moments before suddenly abandoned her. She liked the idea that he would be furious. But facing him? Not so much. She was confused and could not deal with whatever she was about to get from Leontes.
She heard her guardian fast approaching and raced forward, then twirled around, looking in vain for a place to hide. After a brief hesitation, she dashed through the shower door and plastered herself against the side. She heard Jaeger’s amused chuckle when she locked a palm over her eyes.
“He’s going to kill me,” Kiara hissed.
“Oh, no,” Jaeger said. “You’ll just get a stern talking to. I’ll get my throat ripped out. You know, that might be worth it if you’d get naked, too.”
“Shhhh!” Kiara ordered, trying not to laugh.
How could he sound so calm? He was right. Leontes would blow a gasket and Jaeger would bear the brunt. This was not her smartest move, but she was in it now. In the shower with Jaeger. Naked. Her lips rolled into her mouth to suppress the giggle.
