Body Master

by C. J. Barry

  Her head spun as Shifter skin tightened around her throat. The Shifter whispered in her ear, “Do that again, and I will kill you.”

  She couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t inhale. Her fingers dug into his arm, trying to loosen his steely grip that was suffocating her. No chance of that happening. Then he turned them both around to face the other Shifter, who was grinning. She tried to concentrate on force-shifting her captor. Unfortunately, her rattled, oxygen-deprived brain wasn’t functioning enough to comply.

  Shift, she thought. Shift!

  But nothing happened, and the garage started to fade to black.

  No one is going to save us.

  Her hands lost all strength and dropped to her side. She was six again, hiding behind a door, watching her parents die.

  There is no Great Spirit, no heroes.

  Her body shuddered and shut down.

  No one came. No one.

  Her final thoughts floated away from her. I’m dying. I’m dying, and I’ll never see Max again.

  Black crowded out everything else. Suddenly, she had the sensation of being shoved hard and freed. She landed flat on her back on the concrete floor, dazed and gasping for air. Around her, there was yelling and crashing and fighting, but she couldn’t move. She told her body to sit up, knowing she had to defend herself.

  Seneca opened her eyes and watched three Shifters battle across the garage. Their shadows merged, slashed, and separated. Her muscles finally lurched, moving awkwardly and out of sync. Coughing, she rolled on her side, struggling to get up as the floor tilted.

  She finally managed to sit up, swaying unevenly. One Shifter was down on the ground. The other two slammed against the cars and walls. Car alarms were blaring, wrecking havoc with her brain and disorienting her senses even more.

  Have to get up, she kept thinking. Have to fight. But her body just wouldn’t do it. She put her head in her hands. After a few moments, the fighting stopped. With dread, she opened her eyes. The last Shifter would either finish her off or take her alive to Hager. And then she’d be dead. No one would save her.

  She saw Shifter feet walking toward her and slowly looked up to accept her fate. Her heart leapt in her chest as the Shifter morphed with every step closer, his human face and body and clothes changing.

  Dempsey.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  She was alive. It was all that mattered. He didn’t care that she’d lied to him and met Bart without him All he cared about was the unguarded look of joy and wonder on her face as she gazed at him.

  “It’s you,” she rasped.

  Her words melted something inside him. She wasn’t looking around, only at him when she said it. He knelt down in front of her as she rocked slowly, her face pale and her eyes glassy. She was in rough shape, possibly concussed.

  “Good thing or you’d be in trouble,” he said softly.

  Seneca tried to laugh and coughed. “Already am.”

  “Anything broken?”

  When she shook her head, he helped her to her feet, and then swept her up into his arms. Without objection, she relaxed into him as he carried her to his car and laid her in the backseat.

  Max called the office and told them to get a cleanup crew in the basement garage pronto. It gave him something to do besides thinking about Seneca’s condition. The Shifters had targeted her, which meant he couldn’t bring her to a hospital or to her house. Which was fine, because he wouldn’t be letting Seneca out of his sight again. His heart couldn’t take it.

  Twenty minutes later, he pulled into the hotel parking lot on Long Island and looked back to see that Seneca had fallen asleep. Her cheek was bruised, and her throat red and raw. It could have been worse, and the thought of what could have been scared the hell out of him.

  He helped Seneca out of the car. She was able to walk, but she was still a little shaky. He let her into his hotel room, and she went straight to the bathroom.

  Max stood in the middle of the room and rubbed his face. Hell. He’d known it would piss off the Shifters if he went after Skinman, but he’d done it anyway. Not for XCEL, not for humanity, not for Seneca, but for himself. Now everyone he’d dragged into this had a death sentence.

  It was his fault she was a target and his responsibility to protect her. He recalled the look on her face when she saw him. It was so honest and so beautiful and told him everything she felt about him. If she’d lied to him about Bart, there was a reason. And who was he to talk? He’d lied to her from the very beginning.

  It was time he came clean, before he got her killed. He started pacing the room. This was far more complicated and dangerous than he had ever imagined. From what Bart had shared with him, the Shifters had Hager for a leader, and he would stop at nothing to bring death and devastation to Shifters, humans, this planet. The only thing standing between Hager and the world was Max. Maybe Noko was right. Maybe he was supposed to do something important with his life.

  Max heard the bathroom door open. Seneca leaned against the doorjamb and looked at him. Her coloring was better and her eyes more focused. She’d shed her shoes and socks, revealing surprisingly delicate bare feet. As usual, she was gorgeous even with the bruises and torn clothes.

  He had to tell her the truth.

  “Are you okay?” he asked. “You need a doctor?”

  She shook her head. “I’ll be fine.”

  There was something about her quiet tone that seemed odd. “We have to talk. About Hager.”

  She tilted her head. “You didn’t return my calls. Why?”

  The truth. “Because I saw you meet with Bart.”

  Her eyebrows rose. “You followed me?”

  He added, “And because you lied to me about it.”

  Seneca rubbed her bruised neck gingerly. “I know. I’m sorry. It’s the only way Bart would meet me. He was afraid you . . .”

  “I couldn’t be trusted,” Max finished.

  Seneca dropped her hand. “Yes.”

  “He’s right.”

  His words hung in the air between them, and the look on her face changed, softened. His body went on full alert even as she walked up to him and stopped a foot away. Her eyes were hooded, her lips full. “He’s wrong. I trust you.”

  Max closed his eyes. “Don’t.”

  He felt her hand on his face, her warm palm press against his cheek. She was close when he opened his eyes, and he grasped her fingers in his. This was going to be harder than he expected. “We need to talk—”

  “I’m done talking,” she said, and kissed him. For a moment, he didn’t move. And then, every fiber of his being focused on her as he kissed her back. His mind began playing out what he wanted to do with her. His senses came alive, overpowered by one, single, promising desire—Seneca.

  Tell her.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him full access to all of her. His hands reached out of their own accord, finding warm fabric over soft skin. Everything he wanted was in his hands. His fingers slipped under her shirt, and he heard her moan against his mouth. He felt her unbuttoning his shirt, one button at a time, moving down. When she tugged the shirt out of his jeans, he sucked air at the sensation of fabric against his erection.

  He kissed her hard, the surge of desire firing his soul. His body was no longer his, his mind lost. He belonged to her as much as she belonged to him. A faint tell her flashed in his thoughts and promptly evaporated in the heat. Everything could wait. The world could end. He was not stopping now.

  Seneca dragged his shirt off his shoulders. He relinquished her just long enough to shed the garment and then lifted her shirt over her head. A black bra and hard nipples greeted him.

  He pulled her to him, pressing bare skin to bare skin, and let out a long growl. This body, his body, felt every movement, every touch, every rub. The scent of her pheromones was so powerful, it threatened to drive him mad. She wanted him, but nowhere near as badly as he wanted her.

  Seneca was kissing him, nipping at his lips while she unsna
pped his jeans and carefully unzipped them. His erection pressed into her palms, freed from the confining fabric. He felt a groan vibrate through his chest when she cupped him gently, running her fingers along his length. He closed his eyes, savoring every touch as she wrapped her fingers tightly around him. For long moments, he couldn’t breathe, lost in the chaos of sensation and the powerful urge to thrust into her.

  Instead, he reached around and unhooked her bra. The straps slid down her arms and she let the bra fall to the floor. Her breasts were round and firm, with dark nipples that tightened even as he watched. He breathed in, breathed out, and then growled as he picked her up and laid her on the bed. She watched him with heavy eyes while he stripped off her jeans, sliding them down to reveal long, lean thighs, and firm calves. Black panties edged with lace smoothed over her hips and flat stomach.

  He kneeled on the bed over her, their eyes locked as he slipped his fingers under the lace and rolled the thin fabric down over her legs until he stood at the end of the bed, holding silk in his hands and beauty in his eyes.

  Every part of skin he’d revealed was exquisite, soft, and warm. She waited for him, naked and bold in her desire. He loved her this way—no holds barred. Then her lips parted and whispered, “I want you, Max.”

  He felt the words to his core, felt the hunger rise in his belly that only she could fulfill. He tried to harness his desire before it consumed them both. He was too close to the edge as it was, wanted her too much. When he thought he had himself under control, he removed the rest of his clothes, everything that separated them. He crawled across the bed, their eyes locked the entire time. His breathing was rough and fast, his muscles screaming with restless energy. Her pupils widened as he positioned himself over her.

  “Now,” she whispered.

  He shook his head. He wanted to make it right for her, but he was close to losing any semblance of restraint. He dipped his head to wrap his lips around one taut nipple.

  Seneca arched into him and dragged her fingernails down his chest. He felt her dig into his skin, exposing raw desire that sent shock waves through his body. He settled his thigh between her legs as he tasted the other nipple.

  She wrapped her hand around his neck to pull him closer. Her hips rubbed his erection. He tried to hang on, was crazy enough to think he could, and then something snapped in his head. Whatever plan he once had was gone, leaving behind a primal force so fierce and basal that he could do nothing but surrender to it.

  Max dropped to his elbows, moved her legs apart, and buried himself deep inside her. He savored the way her muscles gripped him and the heaven he’d found. She gave a cry and dug her nails into his back as he pulled out and thrust into her again and again, greedy in his need. Time spun out, their bodies parting and meeting in a reckless, frantic pace.

  The sweet torture of pain and pleasure flooded his senses. Heat and passion, taut and tight—all melded in a potent mix that overwhelmed to the point of agony.

  Moments later, Seneca sunk her nails into his shoulders and gave a shudder as she climaxed. The look on her face put him over the edge. He wrapped his arms around her neck, shielding her as he gave his body freedom—driving again and again, until release saved him.

  The sun was rising when Seneca finally roused. She sighed and reached for Dempsey, but the bed lay empty. The sound of the shower made her smile. She rolled over onto her back and stretched her body across the disaster of a bed. It had been a long time since she’d slept all night with a man. And Dempsey was a man on a mission. After the first furious time, he’d slowed down and taken his sweet time. Several times. She was probably ruined for life.

  And he’d saved her life.

  She’d thought she was dead in the parking garage. And he’d shown up just in time. She didn’t think . . . She didn’t believe in heroes. Demons, yes. She would have died there, and she was ready to. Because no one would have come to her rescue; no one ever had before. Until now. Maybe there was hope after all. Maybe she wasn’t alone. Maybe there was a god or a Great Spirit or something else that intervened. Or not. But there was one man.

  A cell phone ringtone broke her thoughts, and she sat up, wincing at the tenderness she’d earned last night. Dempsey’s phone was next to the bed. She glanced at the bathroom where the shower was still running and decided to take the phone into him.

  She slid off the bed and picked it up. “Hello.”

  “Uh, Seneca?”

  “Apollo?”

  “Yeah, it’s me. Sorry to wake you.”

  “I was up. Dempsey’s in the shower. I can bring the phone to him.”

  Apollo laughed. “I have a feeling that would make his day, but I’m in a hurry. Just tell him to call me back. I have news.”

  “On Hager?” she asked.

  “You know about Hager?” Apollo replied, sounding surprised. Really surprised. Like, totally shocked. Suspicion flickered in the back of her mind.

  “I know everything Dempsey knows,” she said vaguely.

  “I didn’t think he’d—” Apollo said. “Anyway, I’m almost certain that Hager is the guy we’ve been tracking. He’s operating the same way as the traitor on Govan—underground, building his empire. Which includes killing anyone who gets in his way. Ell must have overheard him on the ship, and he killed her when she figured out what he’d done.”

  Seneca felt the bottom go out from under her. Hager? Traitor? Ell?

  Apollo continued. “Tell Max I set up a meeting with him and Carl at the diner at ten. Max will know where it is. Carl said he has something for him.”

  Seneca managed, “Okay. Thanks.”

  “Later.” He hung up.

  She disconnected and set the phone back down on the nightstand. The thoughts tumbled over one another in a blur of disbelief.

  Hager was a traitor on the last Shifter planet.

  Hager killed Ell because she found out he was the traitor.

  Dempsey found Ell dead.

  Dempsey and Apollo have been searching for Hager.

  Because Hager killed Ell.

  And that’s why Dempsey is here.

  For revenge.

  Oh, God. How could she be so blind? It explained everything. Why he joined XCEL and put up with all the shit. Why he picked her. Lied to her. Used her. Her eyes burned.

  “Who was on the phone?”

  Seneca turned to find Dempsey standing outside the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his hips. She blinked the tears away, snagged her panties from the floor, and put them on. “Were you ever going to tell me? Or were you just going to kill Hager and walk away?”

  He took a step toward her. “Who was on the phone?”

  She pulled her shirt over her head. She’d slept with him because she thought he was a hero. Christ, she was a moron when it came to men. “Apollo. He told me about Hager and Ell and your traitor.”

  Dempsey swore. “Sonofabitch.”

  She grabbed her jeans and held them against her, feeling too naked in just the shirt and panties. “Don’t blame Apollo. All he did was tell me what you wouldn’t.”

  He ran his hand through his wet hair. “I was going to—”

  “When?” she snapped. “After you got me into bed?”

  Dempsey looked over at her. “You got me into bed.”

  Shit. He was right. “My mistake. Won’t happen again. You didn’t answer my question about Hager.”

  “I was going to kill him and leave,” he said.

  It was the truth at last. She knew because it wasn’t what she wanted to hear. “Good. Because that’s exactly what we’re going to do. They replaced MacGregor yesterday. I guarantee Hager was responsible for that. I want him, and you’re going to help me get him.”

  Then she walked past Dempsey, and he said, “I tried to tell you last night. And then—”

  “My seduction was overwhelming, too much for you to resist. I know,” she finished. She skirted him, slammed the bathroom door behind her, and locked it before shedding her clothes. Then she turned on the
shower, stepped under the hot water, and cried.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Over breakfast in the diner, Max told her everything about how Hager had betrayed and destroyed the Shifters on Govan. He’d give the government locations of Shifter populations—targeting women and children first—so the government could wipe them out. He managed an underground network of spies who did nothing but feed info to the government. Every Shifter knew someone was behind the genocide, but no one could ever identify him.

  “A few thousand of us secretly boarded a ship to escape the planet. We thought we left him behind when we departed,” Max said. “But then Ell came up missing at the end of our journey. She left the sign of traitor in her own blood, warning us that he was on the ship. I just couldn’t locate him before we crashed on Earth.”

  “You followed him here, to the city,” Seneca said, remaining emotionless as she drank her coffee.

  “By scent. And lost him. After that, XCEL was the only way I could find him.”

  “For revenge,” Seneca added, her tone cool and professional. Max hated it.

  “Yes,” he said. “But Hager is working again, here. He’ll rip this world apart like he did on Govan.”

  “How does he operate?” she asked. “What’s his plan?”

  “He wants power. He wants to be in control. On Govan, that meant working with the highest government officials to carry out the Shifter genocide. Here, I don’t know.”

  Seneca looked him in the eye. “But if he wasn’t your wife’s killer, you wouldn’t care what he did.”

  “Probably not,” he admitted.

  She leaned back in the booth, her eyes were wary and her expression tight. He should have told her last night, because he sure wasn’t winning her over this morning. Although, it was probably for the best. He had no intention of leaving Hager alive and no delusions of his own mortality. There was only one way to take Hager and his entire operation out, and that was with the powerful explosive device lying in the bottom of his duffle bag. All he needed was to get inside Hager’s headquarters with it.

  “If he had that kind of power on Govan, then why did he come here with you?” she asked. “Why wouldn’t he just stay there?”