Her features softened. “That bad, huh?” She moved closer until their bodies were within touching distance. Nadia paused, looked him over, and closed the gap between them, pressing her body against him, allowing him to feel the strength and life within her. He felt her energy seep into him, giving his body a boost, lifting his spirits, and allowing him to relax. Urban closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him. He groaned as he traced one of his palms up along her spine and slid the other one down to cup her ass and push it against his groin. His erection grew as heat whirled around his stomach. Arousal wrapped around him, and for a moment he forgot the Summit and her being secretive. He bent his head to her neck and nuzzled the crook. That sweet scent of feline musk and spice filled his nostrils. Urban rocked against her. A hint of her pheromones perfumed the air.
“Urban, not here,” she murmured as he felt the brush of her nose against his chest.
He chuckled. “Then we should take this party somewhere else.” Urban peppered her jaw with soft kisses. He didn’t want to let go of the sense of calm that she brought out in him. “All my stuff is at Tor’s place. So no toys.”
“Don’t need toys.” She tunneled her fingers through his hair and brought his head up. Liquid brown eyes gazed up at him; he could see the desire spark deeply in her eyes. “Just need you.” She placed butterfly kisses on his lips, setting off bursts of fire on the sensitive flesh.
He groaned and sighed. “Where do we go?” He slipped his tongue into her mouth and swirled, teased, and tormented hers until she moaned and ground her hips against his.
Her phone rang, and for the first time in his life he hated technology. He pulled his head away and traced her features with his lips. “Don’t.”
“Case,” she murmured and stepped away from him, but not far enough. Urban drew her forward and began kissing her neck again while his hands kneaded her ass. She moaned but didn’t stop him. “What?” she demanded, voice husky and rough around the edges.
“Uh-huh, yeah, okay. Dinner.” She ended the call and stepped back again. “We can’t, and besides, you haven’t eaten, so you eat, and I’ll watch and pick your brain.”
That got him to stop. He gazed at her, a sense of joy filling his chest. “You want my help? Let’s go to Eddie’s Diner on Chaplin.” Urban grabbed her hand and pulled her with him down the street. Their first meal together. He tried not to get his hopes up or get too excited. She could easily disappear come morning, and he hadn’t missed that she hadn’t told him where they could’ve gone to finish their hello kisses and affection.
* * * *
“Why did you have to kill my husband in our cabin? I have to sleep there. Where will I stay?” Caro demanded. She paced around the room, her frustration crackling in the air. If Poppy didn’t know any better, she’d think that Caroline was about to shift.
Poppy shrugged her shoulders. “Stay at the Ritz for the rest of the week, on me. Get full-service spa treatments, use the minibar, whatever, but don’t worry, nothing will be tracked back to you.” Poppy twisted her wedding band. “Now about our bake sale. With Zelly out, we need to bring in products, maybe more pies and cookies and some tarts, we’ll need to make a run to a bakery, see what the competition is all about. Remember, we’re raising money for werewolf orphans and abused spouses of shifters. That’s our story.”
Caro rolled her eyes. “Yes, Poppy, I know, I remember. I’m not a dumb blonde.” She flipped her strawberry gold tresses over her shoulder. “You know I haven’t heard from Zelly since she took off. Have you spoken to her?” Suspicion filled Caroline’s big, blue-green eyes. Yes, Caro had studied to be a lawyer but hadn’t taken the bar. Stan had found her and taken her out of law school. Poppy reminded herself that she had to watch what she said around Caroline.
Poppy smiled. “Don’t worry, honey, she’ll come up for air once she’s ready. Probably sunbathing with a hot, young stud now that that boorish husband of hers is gone. Now, we have a funeral to plan and a bake sale to make sure goes off without a hitch. Get the ladies started, and I’ll be back with the info.”
Caroline’s eyes narrowed but she said nothing; instead she left the room, probably to make the phone calls and check in on the investigation. All of these deaths were becoming far too complicated, but the end justified the means, right? And changing the pack structure and gaining more power would definitely be worth it in the end.
Poppy strolled off as calmly as she could. The body count was getting too high for her comfort. Two husbands dead were two too many. She wasn’t sure how long they could keep this up for. And that Katnip dealer made her nervous for a reason she couldn’t quite place. All her other contacts had landed in jail for stupid charges. It wouldn’t matter, so long as they met their goal and got in and out without Torger being the wiser. All the coroner had to do was rule it natural causes. She had used enough of the powder she’d been given. That was enough for only one person. Besides, they had other methods if something came up. She arrived at her cabin, took a deep breath, and composed herself. An icy finger raced down her spine as she heard the TV on a baseball game, or so she thought.
With her head held high, she opened up the screen door and headed into the building.
“Get me a beer and some peanuts,” Michael called from the lounger in front of the twenty-five-inch flat screen. “I’m gonna go hunting in the woods tonight.”
Poppy pursed her lips. Annoyance churned in her gut. She’d spent most of the morning trying to figure out the kitchen in their cabin and then cook a whole ham baked in a homemade honey-mustard sauce, even rose at the ass-crack of dawn to get fresh vegetables for a side, and had a batter chilling in the fridge for biscuits. Then there was the expensive imported beer she’d picked up that was now useless because it could only be paired with the ham. Rather than complain, she bobbed her head and said, “Of course, dear.”
Michael looked over at her, eyes narrowed to slits until only a thin line of dark brown could be seen. “You sassing me?” He turned his body toward her, hands balled up into fists.
Poppy bowed her head. “No, dear,” she whispered.
“You better not be sassing me; you know what happens. I don’t wanna have to get my wolf involved, understand. Now where’s my beer and peanuts, bitch?” He turned away back toward the television.
She swallowed. “Of course, dear, on the way.” Poppy scurried into the kitchen. Maybe there needed to be one more victim. For now, Michael served her purposes, but not for long; for now, the bake sale was her priority.
* * * *
This was some weird shit, Nadia thought. She had seen a lot of weird things in her life, but this made her uncomfortable in a whole new way. Urban sat across from her with a large T-bone steak, sunny-side-up eggs, home fries, and some sort of slaw, along with another smaller plate of biscuits and a bowl with pats of butter piled high. Feline-shifters ate meat, but not like this, and this was only his breakfast. She watched, fascinated as he placed another forkful of meat with spears of buttery broccoli into his mouth and chewed. For a second she got lost in the movement of his jaw, the pinkness of his lips, and the relaxed, pure bliss on his face. Watching him eat was a whole new pleasure she’d never indulged. Fear tickled the back of her brain, and her inner snow leopard stretched and stared, not feeling the least bit odd about this situation.
Things were getting far too comfortable for her taste. They fucked and that was it, end of story, but now, seeing him like this, she found herself wondering if after all those nights together she should’ve stayed. She wondered how he’d look in the mornings coming out of the daze of sleep. Or after a long day at work. Nadia didn’t know where he lived, only that he’d confirmed what she’d always suspected: he was a spook, and spies didn’t have a long lifespan, depending on their line of work. Then again, neither would she if she kept working for Zerik. With a sigh she signaled the waitress, who had been giving Urban the eye when they’d walked in.
“I’ll have a coffee, and can I get a
menu?” she asked.
The waitress answered without looking at her. “Sure, hon, be right back.” She put a little extra sway into her walk, not that Urban noticed.
He either looked at her or his food. “You should get the steak,” he mumbled around a mouthful of beef.
Nadia waved him off. “Too early for cow.”
Urban snorted and said, “Never too early for cow.”
Nadia rolled her eyes and replied, “Tell that to the cow. Anyway, I need your brain cells to be focused, okay?”
Urban gave another snort. “Can do two things at once, more than two things, you know that.” His eyes darkened to a green that looked almost black.
She squirmed in her seat as a rush of heat washed over her. Oh yes, she knew that very well. With a shake of her head, she came back to her purpose for this breakfast meeting. “Case,” she muttered. “I have a case, very important.”
“Uh-huh, and?” Urban made a rolling motion with his fork. “Spill it, Spots.”
Nadia glared at him. “Just because I’m a snow leopard-shifter doesn’t mean you can call me Spots. Anyway, why would werewolves sell Katnip to feline-shifters?” It was the one sticking point she didn’t understand, not when alpha bitches were involved.
“Money.” That single word hung heavy with disgust.
Nadia shook her head. The most prominent packs present at the Summit were all wealthy. “But if they already had money, why would they want more?”
Urban cut into his meat and answered without looking up. “Greed?”
Nadia let out a frustrated puff of air before she pointed at him and said, “First, cut the monosyllabic crap, and second, they would risk Torger’s wrath for more money? I highly doubt that.”
Urban waved his fork and shook his head. “Explain from the beginning. I need all the details, honey.”
Nadia thought it over, trying to figure out how much she should tell him. “Zerik sent me here to find out more about a Katnip ring selling the drug to feline-shifters. The casualties may be low, but they’re still our people. That guy you saw me talking to had info for me. Once I find out more, I’m to turn the perps over to Torger, and if he can’t handle it I’m to call Zerik.”
Urban’s thick, blond eyebrows rose up. “And do what?”
She shrugged. “He’d take care of it.” Nadia didn’t want to discuss Zerik’s methods of doling out punishment. She’d been his instrument in his numerous power plays and attempts to keep his status on the Quorum. Urban didn’t need to know that. Like he doesn’t need to know about my past or what I do. This is business, she tried to tell herself. One look into his green eyes, and for a moment she forgot all about the outside world. The waitress’s arrival allowed her a reprieve. She accepted the menu and the coffee.
“I don’t want to know. Okay, so why’d they risk it? Because they may want to take over Torger’s Alpha of all Packs status for themselves. Money doesn’t mean prestige; it means you have money to burn. The title would need to be earned by battle or with proof that he can’t take care of all the packs. So this Katnip thing has to be a separate issue.”
She mulled over his words. “Okay, so this person or these persons are doing it for entirely different reasons. Just need to figure out why.”
Urban finished off his sides and the steak. He pushed away the plates and started in on the biscuits.
She could only shake her head. “Hungry much?”
Urban chuckled. “We shifters use up a lot of protein, you know that. Anyway, why would ol’ Zerik need a why?”
She ignored his implication. “Say what you will about Zerik, but he’s helped me out more times than I can say.”
Urban narrowed his eyes. “Excuse me?” A warning growl vibrated through his voice.
“Not sexually.” She could only roll her eyes at him and started to look over her options.
“Good; remember who’s master in this relationship.” He went back to eating his biscuits.
“We’re out of the bedroom, master.” She sipped her mocha and tried to figure out what she wanted to snack on.
Urban’s phone buzzed. He got up and left the table. Within five minutes he returned, a grim look on his face. He waved down their waitress. “Order what you need to go; we have a body up at the Summit. Tor wants me to make sure it’s not something that can make them look bad.”
“Why—?” she started.
“Because your skills could help me.” He threw some bills down and headed for the front door. She followed him, only to stop in the parking lot.
“Where’s your car? We walked here.” Nadia looked around, but didn’t see a motorcycle or a car that screamed Urban. Nothing.
“I walked here, but my car is back at La Lune.” He came back and grabbed her hand.
She didn’t resist, and despite his wide gait she kept up with him, savoring the delicious sensations of warmth and comfort that snaked up her arm, swirled around her chest, and arrowed down to her groin. Nadia barely noticed the various people who walked by. All her energy was directed at Urban, but her mind, on the other hand, rolled over what she knew about her case so far: that there were alpha bitches using Katnip at bake sales to lure in customers and that they have a feline-shifter deal them the drugs, which they don’t carry over the border. But why? And were they working with their alpha husbands? Why would they risk the danger of Torger’s wrath during the Summit if they got caught? Things weren’t adding up on the why front. She would have to put a call in to Zerik tonight to let him know that she had information; this would stave off him sending Misha. Urban squeezed her hand. Her thoughts scattered as she came back to the present with him.
She glanced up at him; his green eyes lit up with humor, and the sides crinkled as he smiled. “No thinking too hard; it will come to you when you need it.” He bent down and kissed her temple before straightening up and guiding her toward his SUV.
Nadia had been so deep in thought, she hadn’t noticed that they’d managed to get back to their point of origin. “Okay, I’ll try.” She doubted her mind would obey him. Nadia wanted to get this case over with as soon as possible before he found out anything else about her.
They walked toward a garnet-red, 2012 Mazda CX-5. She raised an eyebrow and glanced over at him. “Red?” Nadia had always pegged him as a black or gray paint job, but red?
Urban shrugged. “Only color they had on hand, and I like it, well, until the full moon comes and I have to park in an empty lot. It screams steal me.” He clicked the toggle and opened the passenger door for her. “After you, m’lady.”
She hesitated in letting go of his hand. Nadia didn’t want to release that contact yet but had to. She released her grip, and slipped into the seat. He leaned down, slipped his fingers under her chin, and turned her head toward him. Once she faced him, he bent forward and took her lips in a tender kiss that caused her heart to stutter in his rhythm and fire to churn in her gut. She pressed her mouth against his, demanding more of his touch and affection. He opened his mouth, and she reciprocated the action and slipped her tongue inside. With a sigh, she took his kiss and melted into her seat. He grabbed her neck and threaded the fingers of his other hand into her hair. With a growl, Urban took her lips in a biting, possessive kiss. Her lungs burned; her head felt light, and a dull throb began. She groaned, not wanting to break contact, but she had to breathe. Nadia pulled her head back and took a breath. She bent her head to take more of his affection, but he pulled away.
Nadia let out a low hiss and tried to follow him out of the car, but he pressed a hand to the middle of her chest and pushed her back into her seat. He shook his head. “No, not yet. Later.” He bent back down and kissed her one more time before he straightened and closed the door on her.
She sunk into her seat, buckled her belt, and waited for him to get into the car. Get a grip, she admonished herself. Nadia couldn’t believe how she was acting. Yes, they hadn’t had a chance to spend a lot of time together, and things always boiled down to sex and only sex. She�
�d never acted this way when she’d had a crush on a boy in high school; the fact that she yearned for his touch, needed to feel that connection deep down and couldn’t get enough of him, set off warning bells in her head. Urban had always been a part of her private life, and to bring him fully into her world would put him in more danger than he’d ever faced.
The Feline Quorum was nothing to sneeze at. Werewolves had a specific hierarchy. With felines, there was constant movement. They were always jockeying for a position, and no one was safe. The fact that her boss, Zerik, had been in charge for the last five years was a miracle unto itself. The fact that she was considered his right-hand woman was a problem, as everyone wanted her out of the way. Could this be a plot from one of Zerik’s enemies? The thought hadn’t occurred to her until now. Shit. She ran a hand over her face.
Draven’s Crossing didn’t have a huge feline presence. Werewolves and vampires ran the town. Felines and witches took third place in the power order. Great, I could be involved in a power play. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the headrest. A large, warm hand rested on her thigh. Nadia didn’t jump; her muscles relaxed. Calm filled her at Urban’s touch.
As much as she hated to admit it, when she wasn’t around Urban life didn’t have color; everything was routine. I miss him when he’s gone. The thought hit her like a freight train out of nowhere. Tears formed, but she refused to let them fall. They wouldn’t help, and crying didn’t solve anything. Instead, she clung to the peace he gave her. She inhaled his scent and absorbed his presence. Soon enough she’d be gone, and she wouldn’t know when they’d meet up again. A relationship was dangerous to both of them and besides that, given her family history, there was no way she’d allow herself to be that vulnerable or to have children.
Poisonous Desires Page 7
