Twisted Desire

by Sharon Kay

  Heat flared in those emerald eyes. “Locke,” she murmured. “You have me.”

  Hell. Her husky whisper was all the invitation he needed. He tugged on her hand, drawing her flush to his chest, and lowered his mouth to hers.

  A shiver cascaded through Megan’s body at the touch of Locke’s lips. His rugged sexiness had teased her all morning. Had haunted her thoughts last night too, chasing away the nagging disturbances left by Jerry’s research. And now, alone with him, and her adrenaline surging, she needed a kiss.

  Tilting her head up, she sighed into him as one hand cupped her jaw. Protector had radiated from him last night, and now knowing more about his past, she was melting from the inside out. He was honorable and self-sacrificing. A hero. No one had ever protected her. Not that she’d needed it. And then he’d shown up just when she truly might.

  She parted her lips, spurred by a sense of knowing he could probably do very wicked things with that flirting mouth of his. A rumble emanated from the hard wall of his chest, and he slid his hand to her nape.

  The first brush of his tongue against hers made her whimper. He did it again, delving deeper, and her body surged with heat. Velvet lashes of his tongue teased hers, undoing any last hesitation about being this forward with a guy she barely knew. She knew enough. Locke was strong, sexy, and right now, focused on kissing her senseless.

  Her arms wound around his neck, partly to get as close as she could and partly to support herself, because his kiss weakened her knees. He slid strong, sure hands up her sides and down to her hips, taking control of every part of this moment. With the perfect amount of pressure to let her know what he wanted, he backed her up to the black lab counter.

  He leaned over her, lips shaping hers with a rough sensuality as one hand gripped her waist. The other stayed at the nape of her neck, knotting in her hair. He dominated the space around her, the very air she breathed, and she only wanted more.

  She moved her hands to his chest, skimming over the long sleeve thermal tee he wore. The cotton was no barrier to the defined muscles beneath. He could take out just about anyone, she guessed. Whatever had been here the other night—

  A chime trilled from his pocket. He ignored it, sliding his hands along the hem of her sweater. Right now all she wanted was to rip the damn thing off.

  Her phone buzzed from her pocket next. Damn it. Who the hell—

  Locke pulled back suddenly. Her mouth still warm from his delicious assault, she blinked up at him.

  “Much as I want to pretend we just didn’t both get texts…” He studied her lips and licked his own. “Betting those are from Parker.”

  She dug out her phone, not recognizing the area code, but reading the partially displayed message. Megan, this is Parker. The file is ready to

  “Yup.” Locke stared at his cell. “Go time.”

  She swallowed, her body protesting the separation from his. “Okay.”

  “You good?” He caressed the side of her neck.

  “I don’t want to read the file right now,” she whispered.

  A grin crossed his face, making him even more handsome. “Trust me, neither do I.” His warm hand enfolded hers. “But we’re on the job, sweetheart.”

  A giddy internal squee shot through her at the endearment that rumbled from his lips, loaded with all kinds of promise. Who cared that some women might find it sexist? They weren’t the ones being kissed by this hot as hell gift to womankind, and she couldn’t remember the last time a guy like Locke had called her sweetheart. Probably never. “Right.” She took a deep breath. They had work to do, no matter how unpleasant or weird it would be. Someone had to stop whatever killed Scott.

  She grudgingly swiped her phone to open the message. Megan, this is Parker. The file is ready to read. Open it ASAP. I’m on my way.

  “Let’s go to my computer.” She headed through the lab toward her office.

  Locke followed. “Parker sent me another text, said the file is pretty effed up.”

  Frowning, she pushed open the door and sat down at her desk. In a few clicks she was reading Parker’s email with Jerry’s file attached. Nerves fired to life as she opened it, half of her insanely curious and half not wanting to read a single word of Jerry’s weird project. Scanning quickly, she searched for data on the blood, anything on funding or Scott…whoa. She paused as her skin chilled. “What the heck?”

  Locke leaned over her like he had last night, one arm on the back of her chair and one hand on the desk by her keyboard. “What is it?”

  “H-he’s talking about injecting her blood into his vein. And mixing it with something…water from a…a ley line? What is that? And why mix water into blood?” She stared at the screen, willing the crazy science to somehow make sense. To tell her that Jerry had isolated a new genetic variation that would predict a person’s response to new medication. Or calculate someone’s chance of getting a given disease in the first place. But this… “I don’t understand.”

  Locke’s phone chimed. “Parker again, says he has a bead on Jerry’s phone, and he’s headed this way.”

  She gulped. “Parker? Or Jerry?” Please let it be Parker.

  “Both.” Locke scowled as he tapped quick fingers on his screen. “Doing a search on that ley line thing he mentioned…”

  “I don’t want to see Jerry. What if he knows we were in his office?”

  “I’ll worry about Jerry.” Locke gave her a look that she guessed was meant to be reassuring. And yeah, she doubted Jerry could hold up against Locke.

  “This is fucked up.” He frowned.

  “What? Something worse than him injecting Trina’s blood?”

  “This says that ley lines are something to do with…magic?” The last word fell from his lips as if it left an unpleasant taste in his mouth.

  “What? That makes no sense. Jerry’s a scientist.”

  “I don’t know, but this guy might be in need of meds. I don’t want you near him.”

  “I’m fine with that,” she whispered. She glanced back at the screen. The notes went on to detail the blood composition, the weird water, and something about an incantation. “Oh my god. Locke, this says there’s a spell.”

  He leaned closer to peer at her screen and shook his head. “Unstable bad guy. This makes it more complicated. I’m calling—”

  A feminine giggle reached her ears through the cracked open door, accompanied by a deep male chuckle. Megan sucked in a breath as Locke moved to the side of the frame.

  Two figure passed—then backed up. “Megan, what are you doing here?” Jerry’s lanky figure came into view as he pushed her door open, all grins and mussed brown hair. He stopped sharply as he saw Locke. “Oh, I didn’t realize you had company.”

  Oh, shit. Office policy prohibited visitors in the offices or labs unless prior approval had been given. Though she supposed that didn’t apply to investigators, but she sure didn’t want to tell Jerry who Locke really was. “Um, I had to feed the rats.”

  Jerry’s focus swung from her to Locke. “You needed help with that?” His tone was all kinds of sarcastic.

  Megan was thankful for Locke’s intimidating presence. He towered over Jerry and looked ready to start a fight, giving her the courage to point out Jerry’s own faux pas. “I’m not the only one with company.”

  All curves and sexy tumbled blonde hair, Trina sidled in next to Jerry, curling her arm around his waist. Megan still wasn’t quite sure what she saw in Jerry. He was nice, but Trina could get a movie star for a boyfriend. She smiled widely. “Megan, hi. Nice to see you again.” She turned to Locke, tone playful and pouty. “You don’t have to look all threatening. We’re just saying hello.”

  “Um, hi, Trina.” Megan squared her shoulders and tried not to freak out at nearly getting busted reading Jerry’s file. “This is my friend Locke.”

  Trina smiled a megawatt smile. Jerry grumbled out, “Nice to meet you.”

  “So, what brings you two in today?” Dread crawled up Megan’s spine at the thought of m
ore blood draws and whatever the heck they might do next. Magic and spells? She suppressed a shudder, torn between confusion and morbid curiosity at how Jerry was going to try to spin this situation.

  “Same as you, had to check on a couple of things.” Jerry stroked a hand down Trina’s back.

  Megan fiddled with her watch as the tension in the room grew. She and Locke were on to Jerry—sort of—and Jerry didn’t know. Or did he? Were all four of them lying to each other?

  The problem was that none of what Jerry was doing made any actual sense.

  Trina walked farther into the office. Megan unconsciously moved to block her computer screen. But the pretty woman gravitated to a photo on the wall, showcasing the rolling green fields of County Kerry, Ireland.

  “How lovely,” she commented, and Megan couldn’t tell if Trina was serious or sarcastic. “Ireland? You’re from there?”

  “My family is,” Megan said.

  Locke moved a step closer to Megan. Silent, big, and intimidating. And Megan couldn’t have been more grateful.

  Trina turned, a half smile on her face—and froze. She sniffed the air. “Wait.” Her eyes hardened, darting around the room, and all friendliness disappeared from her voice. “What’s going on?” She moved forward, getting in Megan’s space faster than Megan could blink. “What are you doing?”

  “What?” Megan stuttered.

  Locke was at her side in a heartbeat, pushing her behind him and away from a venomous-looking Trina. “If you have questions, they go through me.”

  Trina scowled. “Oh really? As if you have any clue.”

  Oh no. Cue the craziness. And they hadn’t even begun talking about Jerry’s project.

  Locke stepped forward. “Not sure what you’re talking about, but watch your tone.”

  “You watch it. Or you’ll be sorry.” Trina propped her hands on her hips, inhaling again. Her hands curled into fists at her sides as she glowered at Megan. “Who else was here? I know you had company, more than this lug.”

  “Honey? What’s going on?” Jerry asked.

  “What do you mean?” Megan said. “There’s a lot of staff in this building.”

  “I’m not talking about the staff, you idiot.” Trina glared. “You had Lash demons in here. Their stink is clear. And recent. Just like in Jerry’s condo.”

  Megan peeked around the safety of Locke’s thick bicep to gape at Trina and Jerry. The woman thought demons had been in his condo? Holy crap. Something was seriously wrong with her.

  “Someone’s been snooping.” Trina practically spat the words out. “And whatever you’ve done to contribute, you’re going to regret it.”

  CHAPTER 9

  LOCKE STARED AT THE WOMAN like she was high. Demons? Hell, she had to be, or needed to be in a psych ward. He wrapped an arm around Megan, who wouldn’t stay put behind him. Jerry was obviously not the only unstable one. Did Trina believe in this magic and spell crap, too? “I need you both to step into the hall.”

  The woman’s eyes shot daggers. “Jerry,” she bit out. “I’m going to your office. See if anyone was in there too.” She turned to Megan. “You had better hope not.”

  In a blink she was gone. Shit. She could come back with a weapon. Locke didn’t want her out of his sight, but more than that, he wouldn’t leave Megan alone. There was still crazy Jerry to worry about.

  “Jerry?” Megan’s tone was soft and nonthreatening. “Is Trina feeling okay?”

  “She’s feeling fine.” Jerry scowled, but stayed where he was near the door.

  “What did she mean about demons? I don’t understand,” Megan said.

  “You wouldn’t.” Condescension dripped through his words.

  “Try me,” Megan pushed. “Why does she think anyone was in here at all, let alone creatures that don’t exist?”

  “Megan, Megan,” Jerry said patronizingly. “You have no idea how big the world really is. You sit here with your rats and your drug trials, helping humans who suffer from a terrible debilitating disease eke out a few more years.” He shook his head. “But there’s something much better.”

  “Like what?” Locke asked. Better to keep Jerry talking, as long as he wasn’t flipping out like his girl was.

  “Imagine if we didn’t have any diseases anymore. And we could live for centuries.” Jerry’s face lit up like he was some kind of genius.

  Megan glanced to Locke, then to Jerry. “How would you propose to do that?”

  Jerry smiled. Locke almost thought he wasn’t going to answer. “It all comes down to Tri—”

  “You did bring them here!” Trina burst into the doorway, one hand squeezing the doorknob with a white-knuckled grip.

  “Who, honey?” Jerry was at Trina’s side in a heartbeat, wrapping his arms around her.

  Locke released Megan and stepped forward. “Get into the hall, miss.”

  Trina’s eyes glittered. “Oh, I’d love to. Come closer and you may end up just like Scott.”

  Rhys raced up the stairs in the Dayton Diagnostics building, swearing a blue streak. He left home as soon as he got Parker’s text about the goddamn file, grabbing ensorcelled handcuffs and rope, plus a transportation amulet in case he needed to get Trina to their home realm in a hurry. One more thing to keep hidden from his human friends. The danger looming before Locke and Megan was bigger than either of them could imagine. Getting there ASAP was critical.

  The tenth floor door came into view. Rhys yanked it open, breaking the lock, but who cared about that now.

  The elevator dinged and Parker ran out into the same hallway. “Mac, you made it. Let’s go!”

  They rushed through the glass doors, then the reception doors, and down the hall toward Megan’s office. A man stood in the doorway. The scent of Deserati demon hung fresh in the air. A female voice rose, angry…

  “…end up just like Scott.”

  A horrified gasp followed.

  “What do you know about how Scott Dayton died?”

  That was Locke.

  “You’re pathetic, and you’re the least of my concerns.” A blonde female Deserati demon stalked out of Megan’s office and into the hall. Trina. “Well if isn’t a Watcher, playing hero as usual? Did you have fun snooping through stuff you’re too dumb to understand?”

  “Let’s take this somewhere else,” Rhys growled. The last thing he needed was for her to drop her magic right here and reveal her horns and tail.

  “Gladly,” she said through gritted teeth. “You want to die, apparently.”

  A click sounded behind him. “Hands in the air.” Parker held his 9mm subcompact aimed at the demoness’s heart. “If you know anything about Dayton’s murder, you better speak up.”

  She threw back her head and laughed.

  A man, who Rhys recognized from the photos as Jerry, stepped forward. “Don’t hurt her.”

  She brushed her hand along his arm. “Darling, you know that little piece of metal can’t hurt me.”

  “Honey…I still don’t like it.”

  “Parker,” Rhys said. “I got this. Let me talk to her. Both subjects are unstable.”

  Parker waited. “You sure, man?”

  Trina set her hands on her hips. “Listen to you, being all selfless.”

  “Yeah, Parker. I have a feeling the alternative will be way worse,” Rhys muttered.

  “Oh, he’s a smart one,” Trina cackled. “But not smart enough. You were in my fiancé’s office and home, weren’t you? I can’t allow that to stand.”

  “Trina,” Rhys started. “Were you involved in the death of Scott Dayton?”

  She made a disgusted snort. “Why would I bother with a human?”

  “That’s the question.” Rhys flicked a glance to Jerry. Never mind that her own fiancé was a human.

  Trina inspected her crimson manicured fingernails. “Why do you think I know anything? Some guy ends up on the sidewalk with a mangled chest. So what?”

  Rhys stilled. Holy shit.

  “The police didn’t release the deta
ils of his wounds.” In the office doorway, Locke let out a noise that sounded a lot like a growl and turned a cold glare on Trina. “How do you know his chest was carved up?”

  Trina blinked. Paused. And scoffed again. “I don’t have time for this.” She took Jerry’s hand and started to walk down the hall.

  Rhys clenched his fists. He was ninety-nine percent certain she had done it, but had no clear line of evidence that would make sense to Parker, Locke, and Megan. Time to try another tactic. “There’s a witness.”

  Trina’s face registered surprise, but she quickly schooled her expression into arrogance. “Pfft. A human one? No human’s vision is good enough to track me.”

  “Track you?” Locke growled. “As you ran at Scott with a weapon drawn?”

  “Weapon?” she scoffed. “You mean—”

  “Trina!” Rhys had to redirect this conversation before she actually demonstrated any demonic ability. “You know something about how Scott died. And you have motive. Scott planned to stop Jerry’s project. You didn’t like that, did you?”

  Fire flared in her eyes. “There was no way I’d let him do that.”

  “You wouldn’t let him shut it down, so you were upset.” Parker’s voice was cool and collected. “Enough to kill him over it?”

  Trina glared at each of them. “Every one of you is a miserable waste of oxygen, and I have better things to do. So fine. Yes I did, though I don’t know why you care so much. And if you don’t stop this investigation right now, you’ll be next. Don’t even try to touch me, or use your worthless weapons on me. You’ll be more than sorry.”

  Oh hell no. Rhys glanced at the rest of the group. Locke and Parker shook their heads in disgust, while Megan clapped a hand over her mouth. Even Jerry looked like he might throw up. Rhys wasn’t going to let this crazy female out of his sight. “There are consequences to your actions.”

  “Whatever. I am so worried.” She rolled her eyes.

  Rhys stepped forward. “Let’s go somewhere else.”