Cravings (Fierce Hearts) (14 page)

Asher took her hands in his, kissed them gently, and then captured her downcast eyes. “Tell me where, please.”

Pensive, Kennedy pointed to just under her chin. “Here.”

Suddenly, Asher’s face dove just under her chin and nuzzled her neck. His hot breath brushed her skin, sending delightful shudders sweeping through her.

She arched her neck for him, and he obliged her by touching a soft kiss to her chin.

His eyes twinkling, he wriggled in his seat, pressing his hardness to her femininity, eliciting a rumbling growl from her.

Slowly, she picked up his hand and drew it close, placing it on her chest, close to her heart. “Here. It hurts here.” Her voice raspy to her own ears, she fought down the defenses that rose without thought.

Asher lifted her shirt and tossed it to the floor, his lips touching bare cleavage with a tender kiss. His touch, his closeness, his scent together created a tonic that Kennedy wanted to drink of fully.

Her removed her bra and stared at her naked breasts. But it didn’t make her feel silly or self-conscious. His eyes held a look of reverence. He trailed kisses down each breast, taking the tips in his mouth and driving her to let go.

He picked her up and carried her to his bed. She drew him close, longing to close any space between them. He hesitated, removing his clothing, then removing her remaining clothes.

“Skin to skin,” he whispered in her ear.

He stretched his body the length of hers, kissed the top of her head, then the tip of her nose, and then captured her bottom lip between his teeth and sucked lightly.

Kennedy imagined fireworks lighting her mind, the sensations Asher sent through her absorbing her completely. She whimpered, unable to form thoughts or words.

He rolled her up onto him, pushing hard against her center. She slumped against him, pressing a hard, hungry kiss to his mouth, her tongue darting inside to savor his response. A low growl thundered in his throat as he broke the kiss long enough for her to grab a gulp of air.

Their lips met again, briefly, then she nuzzled in the crook of his neck, pleasuring herself with the feel of her breasts brushing his chest. Her eyes locked with his, and in this moment she existed only for him. She’d never been so present in a moment before. Awareness heightened every sensation, every movement.

She trailed hot kisses down his taut abdomen, then down to his hardened maleness.

He arched his head and growled out loud. She took him in, licking, kissing, sucking him intimately.

He thrashed beneath her, then pulled her close, kissing her lips and kneading her soft places, and all the while laying her back in the bed and climbing on top of her.

He moved to her moist center, kissing and teasing. She wanted to feel this level of excitement and connection forever, but she couldn’t wait any longer.

“I’m going to ignite,” she whispered.

He applied protection and nuzzled her face, then drew back to thrust inside her. “Not without me, my love.”

Together they rocked, clinging to each other. Kennedy savored every thrust, meeting him with her feminine embrace. Close, so close to him with every nerve ending firing, she rode with him to a shared climax. Pleasure rippling through her, she went limp, accepting his climax in synchrony with her own.

He rested his head on her shoulder, his breaths hard and fast. Her heart pounded in her chest, matching his racing pulse beat for beat. She smiled to herself, enjoying the heavy feel of him. Her stomach clenched briefly as her thoughts touched on the rise of the beast. The inner pattern that sought to keep her restrained and lifeless.

But the dark thought disappeared, replaced by a quiet peace. Lovemaking with Asher filled her with an understanding for the rhythm of revered ritual full of presence and offering. It turned something commonplace into a sacred act. Something not hurtful and taken, but life-giving and edifying.

Asher stirred, lifting to kiss her earlobe. He moved off her and tucked the blankets around her body. “Are you warm enough?”

Kennedy laughed, a cleansing, joyful laugh that came from deep inside her. “Yes, you nut. I’m burning up.” She kicked off the blankets and curled up close to him.

Asher’s laughter, deep and rumbly, filled the room. “Me too.” He squinted at his bedside clock. “It’s late. I’m exhausted.” His gorgeous eyes glittered merrily. They mesmerized her with their clarity.

“Thank you, Asher, for sharing your pain with me.” The words choked in her throat. “And thank you for noticing mine.”

His lips touched her forehead. “Thank you, my sweet.”

She bit at her lower lip. Questions began filling her head. One in particular sliced into her gut. She dared to ask it. “Where do we go from here?”

He sighed, his eyes turning to stare at the ceiling. His hesitation gripped her throat, stifling her breathing. “I don’t know, Kennedy. This kind of relationship is new for me. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Oh.” He couldn’t stand her; she was too much for him, just as her fake mother had told her so many times.
No one could love you, Kennedy. You’re too hard to be around.

“I think we take one moment at a time.” His gaze grabbed hers, and she couldn’t look away. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I want to know you more. Are you up for that?”

Vulnerable and sincere, Asher’s expression asked her to trust him. “I’m scared, Asher. But I’m willing to try.”

After a stop at Lara’s house for Kennedy to shower and change clothes, Asher drove her to Carter, Inc. He parked and walked with her to the building that housed his friend Jackson Carter’s investigation firm.

Casey’s longtime friend, Jackson first worked for his father, William Carter, as a company lawyer after graduating. But three years of working for the family company brought reality to Jackson. His father was not only powerful, he was also ruthless and left havoc in his wake. Jackson left his father’s company and started up his own investigations firm, with a focus on making amends to the community for his father’s harmful ways of doing business. William Carter’s recent death at the hands of a were-lynx subject in William Carter Enterprises's experiments left his company in the hands of Jackson and his brother, Graham. But Jackson still put most of his attention to his own company, Carter, Inc., and Casey, also a lawyer, got his private investigator license under Jackson and became part of the Carter, Inc. team. Since Jackson knew all about Casey’s identity, Casey enjoyed a flexible schedule that allowed him time for colony activities.

Asher led Kennedy through the building and up the stairs to Jackson’s office.

She stopped on the open staircase in the middle of the building. “This is nice. I like all the glass walls and connecting staircases.”

Asher nodded but continued up to the top floor. He spoke to Jackson’s secretary, then knocked on his office door. “Are you decent?” Asher teased.

“Come on in,” Jackson called. He stood to greet them. “Good morning. Ready to get to work, Kennedy? Casey’s got a place for you set up in his office. Asher, stop by the break room and pick up coffees if you’d like. There might be bagels and cream cheese still, too.”

Asher thanked him and directed Kennedy toward Casey’s office, with a stop for coffee and food on the way.

From down the hall, Casey motioned to them. “This way, you two.”

Asher had been here before, so it all looked familiar. He felt at ease, but urgency spiraled up and down his body. He couldn’t put his finger on why, but the passing time weighed on his shoulders. The drive to Carter, Inc. set him on alert, watchful for signs of attack from TNG people. Just being in this office, he feared he was putting innocent people in harm’s way.

While Casey showed Kennedy the desk and computer she’d be using, Asher surveyed the scene outside the window. The grassy area had turned brown in the cold temperatures, but the stone square looked empty. The trees and bushes that lined the square drifted slightly back and forth in the light breeze, and there were no signs of intruders. He lifted his nose to gather scents. Still clear, he noted.

He turned back to the room and caught Casey’s knowing eyes. “Everything check out, Asher?”

“Yes. Everything is clear.” Asher rubbed his thumb across his chin, measuring his caution.

“You’re doing a good job. Thank you for checking.” Casey nodded his head. “I’ve got to take off for a meeting with a client. You two make yourselves at home. Feel free to ask anyone for assistance if you need something.” He shrugged on his jacket over his dark suit and grabbed his leather briefcase.

Asher raised his hand in a short wave at him and turned back to Kennedy. Already her fingers flew over the keyboard, bringing up program code, something he knew nothing about. Her brow knitted and her focus tight on her work, Kennedy didn’t notice him move to Casey’s desk and boot up his own laptop. No sense wasting time when he could investigate Phoenix Biosciences and Daren Sage.

His first stop was the day’s
Laurelwood Gazette
. His morning routine at the newspaper office when he wasn’t out in the field was to peruse the news and look for hints of stories. But in addition to his usual routine, this morning Asher studied the columns for names and incidences that might invite a further look.

He glanced over at Kennedy and smiled. With her preternatural senses, her deep focus wouldn’t exclude a heightened awareness of other, barely noticeable things around her.

She lifted her gaze and shot him a smile. It sent delicious sensations flitting through him. He winked, and she returned her attention to the computer screen.

His attention trained again on the screen, he scrolled rapidly through the articles. Suddenly, one article stood out. It reported a shooting in a domestic dispute between a husband and wife. The details were sparse, but what he saw sent chills rippling through him.

“What is it?” Kennedy hadn’t missed his hands balling and opening over and over. She walked over to his desk. “Show me.”

Would he ever be able to be near to her and not lose himself in her haunting scent?

He shook his head to refocus. “Here,” he pointed. “This man is reported to have been a former participant in a drug trial at Phoenix Biosciences. The company was testing a new technique to eliminate a blood disorder using genomic therapy. Specifically, the trial involved isolating the man’s diseased cells and using gene therapy to correct them. Those cells were transferred back into the patient with the expectation that they would generate normal blood cells. He began having episodes of hysteria, with feelings of insects crawling under his skin. When his wife tried to help him, he shot her, then himself.”

“Wow. What does the company spokesman have to say?”

“The company claims the man didn’t disclose his diagnosis of mental health issues.” Asher shook his head.

“So it’s not the company’s fault. Of course not. It rarely is.”

Asher turned his head up at her. “Do you know anything about this company or this trial?”

Kennedy tapped her fingers against her thumb, one at a time. “I do not.” She growled low. “Don’t you think I’d love to provide useful information before any more people or were-cats get hurt?”

She pivoted and marched back to her spot behind the computer.

Asher trudged the few steps between them. “I hear your frustration. I don’t suspect you of withholding information. But you can’t expect me to leave those kinds of questions unanswered. If my asking helps you remember, it is important I inquire.”

Without looking away from the screen, she nodded. “Mmm hmm.”

He ignored her annoyance and returned to his search. Another name, Daren Sage, popped up in his perusal. “So Mr. Politician is having a press conference at his office late this afternoon. I should probably attend that since Asia is laid up.”

He waited for Kennedy to reply, but got silence instead.

“Oh my gosh.” She pointed to the screen. “The Nexus people have hacked into the colony’s private network, Asher.”

“How do you know that?” He walked up beside her.

“Because I can see it. Your network was breached the day after William Carter died. I ran a scan against your network and discovered several critical and unpatched vulnerabilities. You need to apply the appropriate updates, fix your system. Shut them out and anyone else who would snoop inside.”

He rubbed her shoulders, enjoying the firm feel of her muscles. “Can you fix things?”

“Sure. But we have to talk to Casey first, don’t you think?” Kennedy nuzzled his hands and moaned, a quiet sound that revealed her pleasure in his touch. “I could hack into their system. Take a proactive approach.”

“I’m all for that. Work your magic.”

While the pace of acquiring new information had picked up already, it left Asher with mixed feelings. Parts of him wanted to pursue any and all leads and take down TNG as soon as they could formulate a plan. But other parts recognized the possibility that he was acting recklessly and putting others in the path of the bad guys.

“I’m in.” Kennedy raised her hands in triumph. “Did you hear me, I’m in. I’ve already found a list of the members.”

“Let me see that.” Kennedy’s excitement was contagious. Adrenaline tightened his muscles and put him in go mode. “Look, they’re meeting this afternoon in the Gold Star Lounge.”

“Do you recognize the names?” Her eyes wide, she thrummed her fingers against the top of the wooden desk. “I’ll print them.”

Moments later, she handed him a single sheet of paper with the names of The Nexus Group’s board of directors. “We need to show Casey.” Asher checked the time. “I want to run this by Asia. She may have investigated some of these people.”

“Jared and Cindy Amory, Davis Benton. Look at this, Daren Sage and his wife Cicely.” He turned to Kennedy. “Did you know he’s a member?”

“No.” She shook her head vigorously. “I told you I don’t very much about TNG, only that my parents were involved and Thing One and Two were employees.”

“Right.” He continued to survey the list. “Adam and Jennifer Stewart. I know them by their reputation. He owns a bar, and she runs an escort service. Frequently visited by LPD for selling drugs at the bar and prostitution.” He stopped reading, his eyes fixed on the next names on the list. “Jonathon and Kathryn Novak. It lists Randy Novak, too. Do you have a brother?”