by Milly Taiden
She blinked and tried again. “What do you do to relax?”
He chewed on the chicken and furrowed his brow. “Hmm. I read.”
She sat up, wiggling on his lap. “Reading! I love reading. What kind of stuff do you like to read?”
“Usually my case files,” he said casually.
Oh god. It was worse than she thought. “Um, Devin, you do realize that type of reading is not considered relaxing, right?”
He shrugged and swallowed. “I have gone out for a drink with Russel once or twice.”
She perked up and grinned. “Oh good! That’s really good,” she slapped a hand to her chest. Shit, she was starting to worry about him. “What else?”
“I guess the biggest thing is I like to hunt.”
A wide smile spread over her lips. “Hunting? In your animal form?”
He nodded. “What other type is there?”
She threw her arms around his neck and kissed his face like this was their first time seeing each other in days. “Thank god!”
“What?” he asked, hugging her tightly to him and kissing her back.
“I love hunting. I’m just happy we could do something we both like together.” She gave him a sappy smile and shoved a grape into his mouth. “Eat. I seldom prep meals. A quick sandwich is the most I’ll do, so this took lots of effort.”
He chuckled and glanced at the containers. “Those have price tags on them. Looks like you picked them up at the deli?”
She nodded. “Yeah, but I hardly ever stop at the deli on my way to work, so this is a great treat today.”
“The food is good, so you did a great job selecting what we’d eat.”
She blushed under his praise. “Thank you. So how many kits do you want to have?”
He raised a hand to her face and caressed her cheek softly. There was an insane amount of love in his eyes. “Whatever makes you happy is what we’ll do.”
“Really?” she gasped in complete awe.
“Yes, as long as I am the one in charge of keeping things organized.” He pressed his lips to hers when she blew a raspberry. “Don’t worry, love. I’ll make sure your office is your domain.”
“I always wanted a big family, but I have a busy job. Maybe we should just start out with one.”
He picked up a grape and rubbed it on her lips. “I agree. We’ll learn with the first one and hope we don’t traumatize him or her too badly so that we’re comfortable having more.”
“So what’s your favorite dessert?” If he said anything other than chocolate, she might have to reconsider him as her true mate.
“I’m not really into sweets,” he said. Her heart took a nosedive toward Heartbreak Hotel. “But I find something chocolatey is always good after a meal.”
Yes! He was back on top and she was ready to rip his pants off the way he kept staring at her mouth. “I think you and I will do great.”
He gave her another of those scorching kisses she was becoming addicted to. “I know we’ll do better than that.”
She glanced at her watch and saw it was much later than she’d realized.
“Oh damn,” she said, rising from the lounger where she sat with Devin.
He reached out to pull her back down. “What?” She plopped into his lap.
“I have an appointment to meet a guy at a new lab.” She felt a vibration through her back where her mate pressed against her.
“A guy?” Devin growled.
Marika rolled her eyes. “Yes, a fellow scientist who needs help setting up his lab or something.”
Her mate squeezed her against him. “Let him do it himself. He doesn’t need you.” She laughed at the jealous pout in his voice. She wiggled around to face him, took his cheeks in her hands, and kissed him, long and hot. Fire scorched her insides. Shit. Maybe that wasn’t the best thing to do right now. She just wanted a tease to keep him focused on something else while she went to her meeting. Almost backfired.
When she pulled away, they were both breathing hard. “There will be more of that tonight when I get to your place after the meeting.” His smile grew wide.
“Damn right, there will be more of that. How about right now?” Devin leaned in, but she giggled and pushed him back. Her head tilted to the side.
“Someone is watching, my love. It doesn’t matter who it is, I’d prefer not to give them too much of a show.”
Her mate growled again. He was so adorable when he got all possessive and wanted her to himself and couldn’t have her. She had no worries. He’d get all he could handle when they were alone. She intended to have a bite on her shoulder by midnight. He would not walk away from her despite his wimpy reasons. She wouldn’t give him the chance. Being mated, she could at least find him easier.
Marika got up from the lounger, gathered all the food into the basket, and held her hand out to her man. He grabbed ahold and she yanked him to his feet effortlessly. He eyed her strangely, still holding her hand. What was going through his head? Did he notice she was stronger than most? He hadn’t seen her in her fox form yet. She was saving that for a surprise.
Ever since she was a little kit, watching all the karate movies she could find, she’d wanted to be a Super Fox Ninja. She copied the moves she saw on TV and practiced them in human and fox forms until nearly perfected.
She’d hide in a dark corner, and when her sister or someone walked by, she’d spring through the air making karate-chop motions with her hands, land behind her sister, then karate-chop her more and flip off. She lost count of the times her mom told her to stop flipping off others. She thought that was so funny.
Then taking self-defense classes with Charli had brought back her bouncy spirit after losing it from being exposed to the realities and pressures of school and going out on her own. She hoped to have kits of her own one day who would be interested in some sport or the arts. But for now, she’d save her show for the right time.
Her mate following, Marika stopped at her office to get her purse. She heard papers shuffling and looked up to see Devin gathering loose papers that had been dislodged from the scuffle between her and Rupen this morning.
On his knees, he reached out, dragging more and more to him. From the one page he held, she knew which stack those papers belonged to.
“Those go on the pile behind you that have ‘science news’ in the footer.” Devin collected others and she pointed out the stack for those. Within a couple of minutes, her office was an organized mess. “Wow, Devin. You are wonderful at putting stuff where it goes. I would’ve gotten to it eventually.”
He wrapped a hand around her waist. “Yeah, but I learned something about you just now.”
“Oh really? What?”
“Even though the room looks like a tornado may have barreled through it, you knew exactly where everything was. If you wanted something, you would know exactly where to find it. I bet if you had shelves or file cabinets, your office would have carpet showing.”
She kissed him. “Of course, silly. I may look disorganized to the untrained eye, but it’s my way of hiding all the secret files I have. Would you want to search through all that to see if anything is important?”
“Nope. Not ever,” he said. “Good tactic. You’re a genius at organized disorganization.”
In the parking lot, she kissed him on the cheek and turned toward the employee parking on the side of the building. Except Devin didn’t let go of her hand.
She said, “Hon, I want to stay with you as much as you want to stay with me, but—”
Her body jerked sideways when he yanked her in his direction. “Good, I’m going with you. In reality, though, you’re going with me since I’m driving.”
“Devin—”
“Nope. Don’t give me any lip, woman.” He smiled as he tugged her to his SUV. “Actually, giving me your lips would be one of the top things on my mind.”
Marika tried to pull away. His hand squeezed tighter. They rounded the truck and he opened the door for her. She huffed, “All right, I’ll
let you come along.” And he boosted her onto the high seat.
“Good choice, my love.” Devin kissed her cheek, then closed the door and hurried around to the driver’s side. He was so sexy. The way his pants clung to his thick thighs when he walked, the way his ass wiggled—nicely rounded ass. His strong hands and forearms. Damn, she had never thought forearms could be sexy. But on her man, they were.
When he slid into the seat, she licked her lips, watching. He took a deep breath and chuckled. “Woman, you will be the death of me.” He shook his leg and tried to adjust himself. She laughed.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Russel paced outside the city’s police department building. He hadn’t been this nervous since he lost his virginity, which was in college. Yeah, that was really late for most guys, but nothing about sex was a mystery to him. He knew exactly what it entailed, how to do it several different ways, and the consequences of unprotected sex.
Thanks to all his sisters and female cousins, he didn’t need to take Health class in school. He taught it.
Why was he so damn nervous? He knew why. This was for keeps. His mate. His life. If he fucked up and she turned him away, could he handle it? He’d be the first shifter in history whose true mate didn’t want him. Fear shot through him. Maybe it was his physical looks she didn’t like.
He’d dye his hair whatever she wanted. He’d grow it out or buzz-cut it. He’d never had a shaved head. That could be cool. Of course, he’d insist that she be clean-shaven too. And he didn’t mean her beautiful flowing hair.
Oh shit. His cock woke up with the thought of her pussy being slick and smooth. His tongue would slide up to her clit and suck on hot skin. No loose strands stuck in his teeth. That gross thought helped his erection soften. It needed to soften a lot more before he went in. His mate wasn’t a shifter, so she couldn’t smell his desire. Maybe that was part of the problem.
Devin and Marika smelled what nature had intended for them. No questions for them. They needed to mate and get on with life. The sooner the better for shifter mates.
But damn humans didn’t know. They had no sixth-sense radar telling them who was right or wrong. And it seemed with the divorce rate so high, they usually were wrong. He truly believed that in a fifty-fifty bet, there was a 90 percent chance of getting the wrong fifty. His math teacher hadn’t appreciated the joke, but hey, life was life.
A police cruiser pulled into a parking spot and a uniformed man stepped out. On his way in the building, he gave Russ a nod, but had a suspicious eye on him. Russel couldn’t fault the man. There had been too many police and security personnel murdered for no more reason than a deranged person with a gun wanted target practice.
He pushed those thoughts away. That was hitting too close to home.
He sucked in a breath. All right, do or die. After a step, he thought dying didn’t sound that bad. The voice in his head told him to get over himself and go inside. His feet dragged forward, through the front door, up to the officer at the desk. Wow, a desk without bars and bulletproof glass separating it from the public entrance. Another reminder he was in a small town.
“I’m here to talk with Tam—Detective Gibbons.” He was going to play this 100 percent business. No teasing or sex talk or asking her on a date. Yes, that’s the way to play this. She was professional and very fact-driven. He could do that too.
The female at the desk hung up the phone. “She’ll be up in a minute.”
He thanked her and stepped away, moving closer to another door. A few people sat in the few rows of chairs on the side of the room. The normal plaques and photos found in most police departments hung on the wall. It may be small, but seemed up to date.
The door behind him opened and he turned. His heart leaped. His mate was at least as beautiful as the last time he saw her. He wanted to pounce, but the voice in his head reminded him about being professional. Now he regretted thinking that. Him, professional?
Detective Gibbons stared at him. Locked eyes and held his gaze. His pulse doubled. Could she not tear her eyes away from him? Was she so enamored with him that she was stupefied seeing him? Struck wordless?
She frowned and raised a brow. “Oh, you.” She turned and stepped back into the hallway. Okay, maybe she wasn’t stupefied or wordless. But she did take a long look at him. He darted forward and grabbed the knob before the door closed.
His mate was fast. She was already halfway down the hall. He watched her walk. The sway of her rounded hips, narrow waist, and perfect ass. His tongue swiped between his dry lips. Professional. Dammit.
He hurried to catch up and followed her into an office. He closed the door behind him, earning him another raised brow. She rounded the corner of her desk. “How can I help you, Agent Mayer?”
Russel sat in the uncomfortable chair in front of her desk and crossed a leg. Then quickly uncrossed it. He wasn’t sure if crossing his leg was unmanly, so he kept both feet on the ground. His hands were in his lap—looked like he was playing with himself. He snapped them up to put his elbows on the chair’s arms. Shit. Should he steeple his fingers, or clasp them? He remembered reading that the finger steeple was a sign of a smart person. So steeple it was.
“Agent Mayer?”
He looked up from his pointed fingers. “Hmm?” She stared at him with a slight upturn to the corners of her luscious lips. “Oh yeah. Sorry, Detective Gibbons.” Yet another raised brow. He wished he knew what that meant—good or bad.
To see her, he needed to look around his arched fingers. Should he clasp his hands now that he’d established his smarts with the steeple? Maybe cross the leg now? He lifted his leg, then stopped midswing when his left nut squished between his thighs. He tried not to scrunch his face with the slight pain, but he was sure something showed.
“Russel.” She said his name, his first name. Wasn’t that an intimate step or something? He met her look. Her eyes smiled. She was so beautiful. He let out a sigh before he realized he did.
Her cheeks blushed and she turned her eyes to her desk. “Agent May—”
“No,” he said, “Russel. Please call me Russel.” Again, her cheeks turned rosy. She was so sexy when her innocence showed through.
“Russel”—she paused to smile and he flew to the clouds—“do you want to talk about the armored truck robbery?”
Still floating, he wondered what armored truck—oh, the armored truck—“Yes, the truck robbery. What have you got?”
She rose from her chair and walked to a wall covered in stuff a detective would have on a wall. He’d watched about every police/detective TV show that had ever aired. It started forever ago with Hill Street Blues and continued to the newest season of all the HBO series. He had cried when NYPD Blue ended. Really. Like a baby.
Russel stood and followed his mate at a distance to—once again—get a look at her.
Professional.
Goddammit. Sometimes he wished his voice was a physical entity so he could beat the shit out of it.
Right, you and whose army?
Shut it.
His mate turned to catch his eyes on her. Her head whipped toward the board. Whoa, her embarrassment was heavy. He shouldn’t have been doing that. “Detective Gibbons, I apologize for checking you out.”
Idiot human. Don’t say ‘checking you out.’
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to say ‘checking you out.’ I meant to say ‘I apologize for checking you out and getting caught.’” Gibbons busted out in a laugh and his inner voice shook its “head” and walked away. He felt his cheeks warm. OMG, he was blushing. Another first for him. What she did to him . . .
“If we’re going to work together, call me Tama,” she said, then turned toward the wall covered with photos, drawings, and other stuff.
“Tama. Such a beautiful name.” After his mate cleared her throat and looked away, he realized he had said that out loud. His face scrunched in self-anger. “Uh, sorry. I’m trying to be professional. Really, I am. You just . . . just . . .”
Tama
crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. “Look, Russel, I’m extremely flattered by your attention and . . .” She waved her hand in the air, indicating everything he’d just done concerning her. “But I’m not the type of person to marry. I spend too much time in the office. My job is dangerous. I’m called at all hours of the night. You’d be better off chasing someone who cooks and cleans and gives you a family.”
The smell of sadness reached his nose. Then her gorgeous ass rang. She pulled her mobile from her back pocket. Hmm, he’d never been jealous of a phone before. Tama walked a few steps away to take the call. He turned off his ears to give her privacy. But when she pulled her phone from her ear and held it in front of her, he couldn’t help but see her screen.
She scrolled her calendar and stopped on a future date. He saw Dr. Aveena Schrieffer on a line next to a time. He turned away as she typed on the line after that. He didn’t want to snoop. He didn’t like the course of the conversation before the call interrupted them, so he wanted to take it back to the professional level.
When his mate moved toward him, phone call over, he said, “Director Milkan mentioned a few things about the robbery. Mainly that there were human and shifter prints. Any more clues along those lines?”
For just a second, she looked disappointed, but her professional mask came down quickly. “We got fingerprints from the back of the truck right where the dead guard lay, but none of the system’s databases are coming up with an ID. Seems this person doesn’t exist or he’s never had his prints taken. Which is possible, if he’s lived on another planet all his life.”
Russel knew she was joking, but he just happened to know a certain bear shifter who was MIA. Fuck.
“But other than that,” she said, “we just have the crime scene pics.” She pointed to a series of photos thumbtacked to the wall. He remembered what Charli and Barry told him and Devin at the hospital last week after Charli and her man were pushed off the road. Barry had transferred the money in a johnboat, and stashed it under a bridge. But there was no evidence of him killing the guard in the back of the truck.
