Miami Heat

by Tressie Lockwood

  “Yes, I can.” Her words were pointed as she stared at him, meaning, he assumed, it was a matter of time before he gave in to her. He admitted what she’d said to him was true. His sexual desire bordered on obsession. A beating of his cock in the shower that morning had done nothing to ease the ache.

  “I want one thing from you,” he said.

  Her expression turned sultry, and long false lashes lowered. “You can have it, baby. Any time you’re ready.”

  She came at him, but he grabbed her shoulders, squeezing too hard. She winced, and he let up with an apology. “I feel like I’m out of control. Like just now, I hurt you, and this burning desire all the time. I can’t think straight. Not to mention how I feel like my head will explode if I get a whiff of perfume.”

  Laila laughed. “It will even out after a while. Most of it, anyway. The sex drive will be manageable but still pretty high. That doesn’t matter. All you need is another shifter to handle you.”

  “I don’t need to be ‘handled’. Thanks.”

  A hip jutted out with a hand above it. Her dress seemed to grow shorter, showing off long, shapely legs. “Then handle me.”

  Adam sighed. “I already have someone.”

  “We can share, or better yet, a threesome.”

  His eyes hurt he widened them so much. Allow anyone else to touch Sakura, even a woman? Not happening!

  His distaste must have reflected on his face, because she laughed again. “Well, are you going to turn her? You know it only takes a bite or a good scratch. Every shifter doesn’t have the ability to make new ones, but we do.”

  “Not unless she wants it,” he said, thinking about Sakura. Would she even accept him as he was now? He had been desperate, determined to show her strength she could not deny, but now with emotions raging out of control, and the way he had made love to her the other night, he’d be lucky if she didn’t drive a knife into his heart.

  “I want to meet with the woman. Maybe I can answer any questions she might have.”

  Suspicion rose in Adam at her words. He didn’t trust Laila not to hurt Sakura, and if she realized who Sakura was, there might be more trouble. The only reason his maker accepted him in the first place was because of Birk, and he had been surprised the man hadn’t told Laila about Adam’s associations with the Keith family.

  “You’re not meeting her,” he said.

  Laila bristled. “You don’t trust me.”

  “Why should I?”

  She gathered her purse and headed for the door of his hotel room. “You know where I’m staying. Call me.”

  “What about these…” He hesitated, embarrassed. “Urges.”

  Her hot gaze flitted over his body, lingering at his crotch. “The only urge I’m interested in helping you to explore is the sexual one. The rest you can figure out. Just don’t kill a human and get caught.”

  The door slammed behind her.

  He blew out a breath of relief that she’d gone and picked up his phone to call Sakura. He’d done so automatically despite his earlier decision to wait until she contacted him. After checking the time, he decided enough was enough. They needed to talk, if only for him to apologize for treating her the way he had. If she didn’t want to listen, too bad. He’d make her hear him out. Thinking that way brought him up short, and he searched his intent. Sure, anger surged within him, but unlike the warning Laila gave about killing, he felt no push from the beast within to do harm to Sakura. If anything, the creature chomped at the bit to get near her again, to smell her, to touch her body.

  “Maldita sea, Adam, cool it!” He spent a few moments rolling his head around on his neck, breathing deep, and thinking calming thoughts. When calm reigned—or the best it could get—he set out to Sakura’s hotel. A short time later, he stepped into the lobby of the hotel where she stayed and could swear he smelled her. The distinct scent teased his nostrils and yet, it seemed different. Maybe it was his imagination. He shook the doubt away, headed up the elevator to her room, and knocked on the door. He waited. No answer. He dialed her number, and no ring sounded from recesses beyond the door. Frustration drove him to find someone to let him in, and he located a bellman. After he stepped over the threshold into Sakura’s room, he wondered if it was the aggression of the beast or the large tip he’d given the man that gained him entry. Either way, he decided to hurry in case the man contacted the authorities.

  Sakura’s room lay in perfect order, her bed made. He checked the bathroom and found no wet towels. Either the maid had been in or Sakura hadn’t returned to her room. He thought of the little jerkoff he’d found coming onto her and ground his teeth. A deep breath through his nostrils brought in several different scents. He had no idea how he knew and could distinguish between them. He dismissed the ones he identified as food and focused on Sakura’s and one other. The man whose nose he had tried to shove into the back of his head had been here.

  Sharp pain brought his hand up to his mouth, and he realized in his anger his teeth had sharpened and cut his tongue. Blood stained his palm. Calm, calm, calm, he chanted in silence. He’d changed once after Laila bit him, and it had been the most violent feeling he had ever experienced. He had no wish to repeat it in the middle of a hotel room.

  Why wasn’t Sakura here? She was not an early riser unless work demanded it. Why wouldn’t she answer his calls either? Even angry, she was more likely to cuss him out rather than avoid him. This wasn’t like her. Had she run into trouble investigating her mother’s death? Worry niggled in his gut, and he balled his hands into fists. Once again, the bear raised its head by changing his fingernails into sharp, dark claws. He uncurled his fingers slowly, watching as the claws pulled out of his flesh. More blood. Pressing a wad of toilet paper against the wounds, he considered his next move. Perhaps he could use Laila’s technique. Had she really smelled him all the way from Texas? He chided himself for his naivety. More likely she had connections that allowed access to local flight lists. The Keiths had a few of those as well, so it wouldn’t surprise him if a shifter found a way.

  He removed the toilet paper to find his skin healed, if stained with blood. After a quick wash and dry, he turned back toward the room and froze. The unmistakable scent of the man who wanted Sakura had grown much stronger, distinct enough he had no doubt the dude lurked outside Sakura’s room. A moment later, Roger walked through the door and stopped cold at sight of Adam in the bathroom entryway.

  “Where is she?” Adam growled, aware his voice had gone deeper and more threatening.

  Roger eyed him, his gaze assessing. “Why would I know?”

  Adam wasn’t aware he had moved until he had Roger by the collar and slammed him against the wall. Plaster cracked, and the smaller man coughed, the air having forcefully left his lungs, but he made no move to counter Adam’s attack. Flaring his nostrils in sharp dislike brought one fact home to Adam. Roger’s face carried no blemishes, not even a bruise.

  “Your nose,” Adam said, confused.

  “Yeah, funny about that,” Roger said, a tight smile on his face. “Uh, mind letting me down?” He wiggled his feet, and Adam glanced down to find he’d raised the man more than a foot off the floor with one hand. His own strength startled him, and he let Roger fall to the floor. Roger sprang to his feet and put space between them.

  Adam turned, facing him, ready for attack. He studied Roger from head to toe. “You’re not human!”

  “Just figuring that out?”

  Adam started for him, but Roger raised his hands in surrender.

  “Whoa, guy, I don’t want to fight you. We both know who would win. I promise. Sakura is not with me.”

  “Your word means nothing.”

  “I realize that,” Roger said. He edged toward the door as if Adam didn’t see him. “How about this, then? You’re Adam Martinez, right? Sakura’s protector? You work for the Keiths. I wonder what Sakura and her family will think to learn you’re no longer human.”

  The words were scarcely delivered before Roger disappeared.
Adam could have sworn he would be able to catch the man before he got out the door, which was why he made no move. The sneaky fuck was fast and much swifter than Adam would have believed. He wondered just what type of animal Roger was. Adam believed he knew the scent of a bear, any type of bear was yet to be seen, but he had no clue of Roger’s beast identity without prior knowledge.

  He didn’t worry about Roger telling the Keiths about his change. The family meant little to him. Only Sakura, and maybe her sisters. If she didn’t reject him, it might be possible for them to reconcile, but that matter was for later. Right now he needed to locate Sakura to be sure she was safe. He considered asking Laila about how to track her but decided against it. Instinct seemed to say he could find Sakura no matter where she was on the planet. What he didn’t know was whether it had to do with how much he loved her or something different, something to do with the bear. Either way, he intended to find her soon.

  Chapter Eight

  Adam sat in the rental car watching the building where he had tracked Sakura. Her scent led beyond the gates, but he had hesitated to pursue her inside because of the armed guard. The sign on the building referred to this being a textile company, so why such high security? He didn’t buy it, and he didn’t like it that whoever ran this place had the woman he loved in there with him. All Adam waited for was night to fall, and then he would enter—guard or no guard. They would not know what hit them.

  A text buzzed on his phone. He dug it from his pocket and read the display.

  “Please, answer the phone, Mr. Martinez, for Sakura’s sake.” The bottom fell out of his world. Seconds later, the phone rang, and of course, he answered.

  “You have three seconds to explain yourself before I find you and I kill you,” he said.

  Sputtering on the other end of the line was quickly covered with a cough. Then the man spoke. His nasally pitch grated on Adam’s already thin nerves. “Please, calm down, Mr. Martinez. I assure you we will not harm Ms. Keith. We only want what’s best for our own kind.”

  Adam assumed the man meant shifters. He might be one of them now, but he felt no allegiance, certainly not when they had Sakura. “Where. Is. She?”

  “She’s safe. I notice you’re parked outside our facility. If you will come up to the guard and give your name, he’ll let you through. That’s better than storming in in your shifted form, right? Potentially drawing the authorities?”

  While Adam didn’t care if the police knew about these people, he didn’t want them knowing about him. He’d likely be hauled into some lab and experimented on, and that would mean he couldn’t protect Sakura. For now, he would play along.

  “Who am I speaking with?” he demanded.

  “Deveron Montgomery.” The line went dead.

  He turned over the car engine and drove up to the guard’s box. After he’d given his name, the guard raised the barrier and waved him through. Adam gripped the steering wheel until the leather squeaked, but he kept his gaze swinging side to side, looking for a trap. No one appeared until he had parked outside the main entrance. When he walked up to the door, a man unlocked the door. Adam stepped through and almost choked on the stench of fear. He pierced the man with a narrowed gaze.

  “T-this way.” The man gestured toward the end of a long, dark hallway. Apparently, everyone had gone home for the day. Maybe all the humans, he surmised, because he scented quite a few shifters like his escort. While they walked, Adam allowed one side of his mouth to quirk upward. The guy refused to walk directly in front of him but chose rather the left side with way more space between them than necessary. He probably thought Adam would attack. Good, let him think that. He welcomed the fear and intimidation he produced in hopes it would get him answers. If the peaceful approach didn’t work, he would give in to the beast. The question was, would he come back from it without Laila’s help?

  They turned a couple corners and then came upon a large conference room. Several men sat around the table, all watching with intensity as he passed the floor-to-ceiling glass until he reached the doorway. His escort darted into the room and almost ran to the opposite side of the table. Adam stopped to take them in. Every one of the twelve men present were the same animal, even as they appeared to be of various ethnic backgrounds. More than half were white men. Adam rolled his shoulders and fixed a steady gaze on each individual. He let the contained aggression that simmered on the surface come through loud and clear. To his surprise, most were not afraid, but they were cautious.

  “Please, Mr. Martinez,” a man with a familiar voice said, and Adam realized he was the ringleader from the phone call. “Have a seat here. Can I get you refreshments, some coffee maybe?”

  “This isn’t a social call. I’m here for Sakura. Why can’t I smell her anymore? What did you do?” He advanced on the man, and the people nearest took a step back.

  “She’s not at this site,” the man said. “Like I said, we’re not going to hurt her. Mr. Martinez, please, if you take a seat, we can get down to business.”

  Adam ground his teeth. “Stop with the damn Mr. Martinez. Me llamo Adam.”

  “Lo siento,” came the response, and Adam blinked.

  “I deal with many of your people in business, so I’m fluent in your language. If it makes you feel more comfortable, we can converse in your native tongue.”

  “Forget it,” he snapped and decided to take a seat. He was outnumbered, and while he knew he could do major damage before anyone took him down, it wouldn’t necessarily help him find Sakura.

  The scent hit his nostrils before the platter plunked down in front of him. Adam squinted at the pastries. He was not too fond of sweets, but enjoyed a hearty meal. To keep his body strong and trim, he worked out, and he sparred with Sakura. The time he had bested her in her house and made love to her afterward seemed years ago.

  “Please help yourself,” Deveron said.

  Adam didn’t understand it, but he found himself tempted beyond reason. He scanned the men’s faces, wondering if they’d poisoned the pastries, but Deveron smiled and took one. He bit into it and soon downed the sweet. Another man poured coffee for everyone. Before Adam could say a word, he heaped a mound of sugar in Adam’s cup.

  The scent too much to resist, Adam selected a dessert and took a tentative bite. No odd taste or reaction came over him—unless one counted the feeling of being in heaven. Pastry after pastry disappeared into his mouth, and he didn’t stop until he reached for another and found the platter empty. Sharp embarrassment made him scoop up the coffee and drain the cup. He cursed, glaring at Deveron.

  Deveron laughed. “I put nothing in it. We’re not in the habit of harming our own.”

  “I’m not like you,” Adam growled.

  “Not exactly, no. But you are a shifter. A bear, right?”

  Adam hated that they had the advantage. “And what are you?”

  Another man spoke up. “Maybe we should keep that to ourselves, Deveron.”

  “No, no. We want Mr…I mean… We want Adam to trust us, so it’s important to be transparent. We’re foxes.”

  Adam blinked, disbelieving.

  “Show him.” Deveron nodded to the man who’d insisted they keep their secret, and the man frowned. He obeyed though, walking around the table and into the open space to Deveron’s right. Adam stared wide-eyed as the man’s suit fell to a pile on the floor. Beneath it a small lump wiggled, and soon the small head of a red fox appeared.

  “Estas brutal!” Adam shook his head.

  The tiny furry animal disappeared beneath the pile again, and soon a very naked man stood in its place. Adam turned away and heard the rustle of the man dressing.

  “Also,” Deveron said, “for your information, the reason you enjoyed the pastries so much is because one of the main ingredients is honey. Bears enjoy eating young bees, and because of it, develop a taste for honey. It’s not some made up trait from a children’s story.”

  His calm explanation did not make Adam feel any better. To think he would eat anythin
g as disgusting as a bee was preposterous, but he had proven the theory of bears enjoying honey. He shoved the plate away. “I don’t care about honey or what you think you know about me. What I want to know is what you think you’ll do with Sakura.”

  “Nothing.”

  “Explain!”

  Deveron steepled his hands together, elbows on the table. “It’s very simple, Adam. Sakura Keith, the oldest daughter of the well-known Keith Hunters, is now one of us. And if my sources are correct—and they are—she was the last of the darlings. Shae Keith is a wolf shifter, and her sister Shiya is in a mated relationship with two bear shifters. The Keiths are essentially no more. We shifters are now at the top of the food chain.”

  Adam stood slowly from his chair, his gaze lowered to the table to hide the violence bubbling into overload. He leaned forward and grabbed Deveron’s shirtfront and dragged the man halfway onto the table. Cries of alarm rose throughout the room. Adam bared teeth he knew were razor sharp, and when he spoke he didn’t recognize his own voice. “Did you bite her?”

  “N-n-no, of course not. I would never,” Deveron stammered. He was no small man. In fact, Adam would put him at similar weight and height to himself, yet Adam held the man without effort. Deveron swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. Deveron named a man Adam didn’t know.

  “He acted on your authority though, right?”

  Deveron paled. He seemed to search for soothing words, and then his expression cleared. Two heavy hands slammed down on Adam’s shoulders and drove him into his seat. Against his will, he had to let go of Deveron, and the man stood and straightened his jacket. A pleasant grin creased is face.

  “Thank you, Savino,” Deveron said.

  Adam strained to see behind him and caught sight of a burly man at least six and a half feet tall, shoulders that must fill a doorway, and a scarred face. The blemish ran from mid left cheek up over his eye and disappeared into his hairline. From the staring quality of that eye, Adam guessed Savino saw nothing through it.