Grave Attraction (14 page)

Itchy gave a curt nod, his eyes filled with pain, before turning away and shuffling out the rear exit.

Adam turned his attention back to Marlena. “That was a nice thing, what you said to him about the boy.”

“It was the truth. Every time the bastard came near my cage, the kid would scream threats and obscenities until his voice went raw.” She laughed, but the sound lacked humor. “Stupid kid.”

It hit him then, what she was saying between the lines. “You wanted it to be you instead of him.”

She shook her head. “No, I didn't want it to be either one of us. But if the choice came down between him and me . . .” Sadness darkened her amber eyes and tugged at his heart. “I've already lived a long time. He deserved a chance to grow up.”

He recognized the signs of survivor's guilt, the feeling that you've done something wrong by living through a traumatic situation while others weren't so lucky. He gripped her hand and laced his fingers with hers. “Hey, it's not your fault. You know that, right? That belongs to the assholes who did it.”

“Yeah, well, people around me have a nasty habit of dying. You might not want to get too close.”

“Fat chance, I'm not going anywhere.” With his free hand, he grabbed his glass and took a few swallows. “It'll pass, the way you're feeling.”

She rolled her eyes. “What are you now, a psychologist?”

“No, but I've been through the exact same thing.” Gently, he rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. “I watch people die every single day and I can't do a damn thing about it. Just this morning, I sat back while a guy got hit by a speeding truck.”

Her features hardened. “That's different.”

“Bullshit. You don't think I want to save those people? Or maybe you think I get my rocks off watching them die.”

“That's not what I'm saying. It's just—” She let out a frustrated sigh. “Never mind.”

When she looked away, he cupped her cheek and drew her gaze back to him. “What you're feeling is normal. It just shows that you care. Hell, I'd worry if you didn't feel anything for the kid. But keep in mind, the fault lies squarely on the assholes who did it, not you.”

“Yeah, I know.” But she didn't sound convinced. “Sorry for turning into such a wet blanket.”

“Don't be ridiculous. I've had a great time. Thanks for bringing me here tonight. My life wouldn't have been complete if I'd never met Itchy and Scratchy.”

A reluctant laugh rose from her throat. “I gave them those nicknames years ago because their demon names are unpronounceable. After a while, it just stuck. Irritates the hell out of Itchy.”

“Yeah, well, I don't like the way they threatened you. Maybe you should talk to the owner about getting them banned.”

Marlena let out a little huff. “If I went around banning every creature who threatened me, there wouldn't be anyone left to do business with.”

“You own this place?” He hadn't seen that one coming.

“Well, I own the bar. The store up front belongs to Cassie. We opened this place about twenty years ago so folks like us would have a place where they could be themselves without having to worry about humans.” She leaned her forearms against the table, giving him a mouthwatering view of her cleavage. “Don't worry about the boys. They're all talk and no action. Besides, if they ever actually pulled something in here, I'd kick their asses six ways to Sunday and
then
I'd ban them.”

Smart, strong, sexy, and a good businesswoman. The more he learned about her, the hotter he got. “What else do you own? Disney?”

“No, but now that you mention it, Universal Studios would be a great place for Itchy and Scratchy. They'd blend right in during Halloween Horror Nights.”

He laughed.

She took another drink of her beer, leaving the bottle almost empty. Her gaze flicked up, meeting his, and instead of sadness he saw sensuality. “So. What you want to do next?”

If he answered the question honestly, she'd probably slap the shit out of him. He couldn't help it; she triggered something inside him on the primal level. Everything about her—the way she looked, the smell of her skin, the way her amber eyes gave away her true feelings—turned him on and made his body ache with arousal. In all his life, he'd never experienced anything like it, and it totally rocked his world.

But as much as he wanted to fuck her cross-eyed, he'd given Gwen his word that he'd return to watch Samuel no later than eleven. Which was in a little less than two hours. Not nearly enough time to do all of the things he wanted to do with Marlena. When—not if—he finally got her naked, he planned on taking his good sweet time enjoying every inch of her beautiful body.

“I hate to say it, but I've got to get to work.” Reluctantly, he stood and offered his hand. “Come on, I'll drive you home.”

N
either one of them spoke during the drive across town to

Cassie's house.

The air inside the cab of the truck sizzled with restless energy. Marlena noted the tension building in Adam, from the way he tightly gripped the steering wheel to the fire in his eyes every time he glanced in her direction. His jaw muscles flexed as he ground his molars, and he mumbled something under his breath that she couldn't quite make out.

Honestly, she wasn't happy about going home either. The mate bond had steadily grown in intensity, making her body hum with anticipation. She wanted his hands on her, his mouth on her. His body pounding into hers. But most of all, she craved the soul-deep connection that came with making love to her mate. So many years had passed since she experienced the rush, she'd almost forgotten what it felt like.

Aside from an older woman walking her dog, the streets in Cassie's neighborhood were deserted. Adam pulled to the curb in front of her house and shut off the engine. “I'll walk you to the door.”

“You don't have to do that. I can make it inside on my own.” She wrapped her fingers around the handle but couldn't bring herself to open the door. “Thank you. For everything. It's a shame you have to leave so soon.”

Features tight, he twisted in his seat to face her. Even in the dark, she saw the lust in his eyes, and her entire body flushed as if he'd just touched her with his hands instead of his gaze.

Time stretched as they stared at each other, not blinking, not moving, not breathing. Her heart lurched in her chest while her mouth went completely dry. Was he going to make a move, or should she?

“Aw, fuck it,” he finally said, right before he leaned across the console and claimed her mouth.

The kiss was pure fire, fierce and possessive. She kissed him back just as passionately, feeling the hunger growing inside him with each stroke of his tongue. The seductive scent of him surrounded her, intoxicating her as his hand cupped her cheek to hold her head in place. She whimpered, and he deepened the kiss, sending trails of smoldering heat through her body and settling deep in her core.

He had his tongue in her mouth and his hand on her breast, and it felt like she was incinerating from within. When his thumb brushed over her sensitive nipple, her entire body trembled with pleasure. She arched into him, her palms pressed against his chest, and he felt so hard, and hot, and strong she didn't want to ever let go.

“Let's go inside,” he murmured against her mouth.

“Uh-uh. Not here. Cassie's home. How about your place?”

Adam shook his head, a low growl rising from his throat. His eyes blazed with arousal while his erection strained against the fly of his jeans. He let out a sound of frustration. “Can't. Got company. Hotel?”

“No.” She wanted their first time to be special, and going to a hotel for sex wasn't what she had in mind. And she'd never live it down if they got busted by the cops for having sex in the cab of his truck. That left only one viable alternative. “Let's go to my apartment.”

His eyes narrowed in confusion. “I thought you lived with Cassie.”

“No, I'm only staying there for a few days. After what happened, Cassie didn't feel comfortable with me being alone at the apartment.”

Apparently satisfied with her answer, he twisted the key in the ignition until the truck's engine rumbled to life. “All right, which way do I go?”

Twenty minutes later, they pulled into a spot in front of Marlena's building. She scanned the lot, searching for suspicious vehicles but finding nothing to sound an alarm. Most of the cars were in their usual spots, even the Mercedes that the jerk from upstairs usually parked across two spots.

With her keys in her hand, they got out of the truck and hurried the short distance to her apartment. It was impossible to concentrate on unlocking the door when he stood so close behind her.

He put one hand on her hip and leaned in close, nipping her shoulder through the thin fabric of her shirt. “Hurry up, will you?”

“I can't when you're doing that.” It was a wonder she could even talk. By some miracle, she finally managed to fit the key in the lock and shoved the door open. She barely made it past the foyer before stopping dead in her tracks.

“What is it?” Adam asked as he closed and locked the door.

“Somebody was in here.” Every muscle in her body tensed as her fingers morphed into claws. She raised her nose and inhaled deeply, as if trying to pick up a scent.

All of Adam's protective instincts went on alert. In full cop mode, he scanned the room, searching for intruders. Nothing. Aside from him and Marlena, he sensed no signs of life inside the apartment. Still, it didn't hurt to be careful. “Wait here while I check things out.”

She shook her head. “The scent's old. They're already gone.”

“Any idea how long ago?”

“Couple days. Maybe three.” Slowly, the claws on her right hand retracted, but the ones on her left hand remained razor sharp. Her eyes took on a savage glint that was kind of scary but also kind of hot. “It's one of the assholes who abducted me.”

Son of a bitch. “Which one?”

“I can't say for sure,” she said as she shook her head. “I think they're related because their scents are an awful lot alike.”

With the grace of a predator, she crossed to the kitchen while Adam checked the bedroom and bathroom. Where she slept was as Spartan as the rest of the house: just a simple bed and a plain oak dresser, with no keepsakes or pictures on the walls. An assortment of clothes hung in the closet, and her shoes were neatly lined up on the floor. It might be the address that showed on her driver's license, but it sure as hell didn't feel like a home.

“You might want to check to see if anything's missing,” he said as he came back into the main room. She was standing in the kitchen, still as a stone, her eyes closed, lips parted, and nose tilted up toward the ceiling.

“He didn't come here to steal anything.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Because a souvenir isn't worth anything if you have no memory to attach it to.” Her eyes flicked open, and she pinned him with her amber stare. “If he's the type to collect mementos, he won't bother getting one until after I'm dead.”

“Now, there's a pleasant thought to keep you on your toes.” Personally, it made his blood boil.

“Just saying.” She shrugged. “It's the way these people think.”

He wasn't about to argue the matter. During his time on the force, he'd seen a lot of sick shit. Once, he'd arrested a guy on the west side who'd killed four people and kept their ring fingers in a shoe box under his bed. They'd been able to identify only three of the victims, and he still couldn't help but wonder about the fourth and the family who never got closure.

“You might as well go ahead and pack anything you need for the next couple days,” Adam said, forcing the disturbing thoughts from his mind. No way was he going to let the sick bastards turn her into a statistic. He'd keep her safe, and then he'd make sure her assailants got the justice they deserved. “It's not safe for you to stay here. I'll take you back to Cassie's.”

Marlena pressed her lips together like she wanted to argue the point but couldn't think of a strong enough reason. Her chest rose and fell on a sigh. “You're right. Hold on, I'll be right back.”

She disappeared into the bedroom for a few minutes, and when she came out, she had a navy backpack slung over one shoulder.

“That's it?”

“What were you expecting?”

“I don't know, but it was more than that.”

She let out a little huff of amusement. “I prefer to travel light.”

“So I've noticed.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What does that mean?”

“Well, look at this place.” He made a sweeping gesture toward the near-empty living room. “For someone who's been around for so long, you don't keep a lot of stuff.”

The observation didn't seem to faze her. “Memories last longer than trinkets.”

He was about to argue the point when a little red laser dot shined on Marlena's torso. Shit, that usually meant one thing. “Gun!”

Before she could react, Adam tackled her to the carpet. A shot rang out, piercing the front window and tearing into the wall where Marlena had been standing a split second before. She wriggled beneath him, trying to get up.

“Stay down, dammit,” he growled, using all of his weight to keep her pinned under him.

A second shot plowed into the wall, and then tires peeled out in the parking lot.

“Let me up, they're getting away,” Marlena snapped, bucking frantically in an attempt to throw him off her.

“For Christ's sake, will you knock it off? I'm trying to keep you safe.” When she opened her mouth to say something, he shushed her. Peering around the end of the couch, he stared at the window, listening for the sound of approaching footsteps. Odds were, the peeling tires belonged to the shooter, but he wasn't about to lower his guard until he knew for certain. Reaching out with his mind, he searched the area outside her apartment and was relieved when he found nothing but the life force of a small animal.

“We could have caught him,” she said through clenched teeth.

“Or one of us could've taken a bullet to the head. Trust me, it's not a fun experience.”

Now that the excitement was over, he was starting to enjoy the feel of her body beneath his. So warm, so soft. So supple. He could damn near feel every breath she took, every subtle shift of her muscles. When she licked her lips, desire raced through his veins and shot straight to his groin. His growing erection strained against his zipper, and he shifted his weight to ease the discomfort. With his eyes never leaving hers, he captured her wrists in his hands and held them firmly at the sides of her head.

Her breathing hitched, her eyes going wide. “What are you doing?”

“What does it look like?”

“Like you're about to do something highly inappropriate.”

“I'm a guy. What do you expect?”

Dipping his head, he took her mouth in a hungry kiss, his tongue sliding past her lips when she parted them on a sigh. He let go of her hands and dug his fingers into her hair, cupping her head to hold her steady while he savored her with long, deep licks. God, she tasted incredible, like sex and candy, and he suspected he'd never get enough of her.

She moaned, her nails digging into his shoulders, and he couldn't help but wonder how great they'd feel digging into his ass. Already, his dick ached with the need to be balls-deep inside her. He wanted her writhing beneath him, naked and sweaty, her heels driving into his ass while he drove them both into oblivion. If they kept at it much longer, he'd take her right on the floor, and she deserved so much better than that.

A knock on the door spared him from having to break the moment on his own.

“Police. Is there anyone inside?”

Adam pulled his head back on a curse. He should have known somebody would call the cops. Now he'd get to suffer a case of blue balls while filing a police report.

“Do you want to answer, or should I do it?” Marlena asked, her pupils wide and unfocused. With her lipstick smeared and her hair messed up, she was the sexiest damn thing he'd ever seen.

“Well, it's your apartment. It might be better if you answer.”

Marlena craned her neck toward the door. “Be there in a minute,” she called out, her tone light and nonthreatening.

Even though he didn't want to, Adam pushed up from the floor. He held out a hand and hoisted her up, already missing the heat of her body. He watched as she walked toward the door, his gaze lingering on the curve of her ass and the gentle sway of her hips. Damn, he had it bad.

 

Two hours later, the police finally left and property management covered the front window of Marlena's apartment with a sheet of plywood. Adam drove her back to Cassie's house and walked her to the front door.

“I can stay, if you want,” he said, leaning his shoulder against the doorjamb. He really shouldn't—he was already an hour late, but he couldn't leave until he was certain of her safety.

“No, it's okay,” she said, although the gleam in her eyes screamed yes. “Cassie's wards will keep everything out.”

“Even me?”

A conflicted look crossed her face. She cast a quick glance over her shoulder as if making sure no one was eavesdropping. Still, she lowered her voice. “We can't. Cassie's bedroom is right next to mine.”

“I can be quiet.”

“What if I can't?”

His pulse jumped at the thought. Now he'd spend the rest of the night wondering about the noises she made during sex. In truth, he understood her reluctance. He couldn't imagine having sex in the same house as his parents, much less one room over. “I want to see you tomorrow.”

“When?”

He was about to answer when his phone vibrated in his pocket. A sense of foreboding rippled through him because he couldn't come up with a single good reason for anyone calling at this hour. He checked the number. It was Gwen. She was probably pissed at him for being late.

“Hold on a sec, let me answer this.” Angling his body away from Marlena, he accepted the call. “What's up?”

“Something just set off the outside sensors,” Gwen said, her voice harder than steel. “How soon can you get here?”

In normal traffic, he could make the drive in a little less than thirty minutes. “I'll be there in twenty. There's weapons and ammo in the back of the bedroom closet.” Not that she'd actually need them. She and Dmitri were probably better armed than a number of third world countries. Adam disconnected and turned back to Marlena, who was watching him with concern in her eyes.