Christos’ soft look of understanding almost undid her. “I’m here if you need to talk.”
Kalina reached out and touched his arm, a bare whisper of skin on skin. “I know, but I can’t.”
Christos nodded, his face blank as he returned to business. “Sit.”
She went back to her seat as he returned to his. He sat down and briefed her. Absently, she listened as he told her of the research teams assigned to the case. Watching Christos’ handsome face, she wished things could be different. With a shake of her head, she brought her attention back to him.
“Report at oh–eight-hundred to conference room thirteen.”
Kalina rose, clenching and unclenching her fists. “Who is my partner, and who are we looking for?”
Christos had a closed expression on his face. “You will be advised in the morning.”
Kalina had an uneasy feeling in her stomach, but said nothing. From the look on his face, she knew he would say no more. He came around the desk and motioned her towards the door. She turned, and he placed his hand on her waist as he escorted her.
He reached for the door, then stopped, bringing his arms to rest on her shoulders instead, his intense gaze on her face.
“Shielas, I love you and I want what’s best for you. Remember that.” Christos leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.
Tears welled in her eyes when he spoke in her language. She cleared her throat before she replied. “Brother, I know you do, even though I don’t always show it.”
She kissed him lightly on the cheek. Christos smiled and she saw a flash of fang. Christos was an ancient Silan Guardian from a fierce vampire warrior society, and the most feared of his kind. Although he rarely played the political games expected of him as the leader of the agency, he ruled it all with an iron fist. He showed no weakness, kept to himself and called only a few friends. Christos had no blood relatives that she knew of. Their personal history was why he called her sister. It was a private thing between them, and he showed none of his feelings for her in public.
He leaned over and opened the door, his usual detached expression once again on his face. Kalina nodded and strode out. Walking back past the reception area, she shimmered then left.
Christos watched her go hoping it would all work out as it should. Closing his door, he looked back into the empty room. “This should have been done long ago.”
“You know the reasons it was not,” a husky voice answered from behind the desk.
Christos watched the woman who detached from the shadows by the wall. “It was a stupid reason then and now. This had better not be one of your plots. If anything happens to Kalina, you will answer to me.”
The woman looked at him, her golden gaze flashing. “I don’t take threats or orders, Christos.”
Christos streaked to her, before closing his hand around her throat.
He felt her pulse flutter wildly against his fingers as he stared into her eyes. “You need someone to order you around.” His voice had gone soft, deadly.
The woman looked at him, hunger in her gaze before her eyes went cool. “Better men than you have tried and failed.”
“Give me a chance and see,” Christos purred against the side of her face, nuzzling her cheek.
She shuddered, then disappeared. He turned to see her standing across the room. He could have easily bridged the distance, but let her have the space.
She raised a hand that shook. “You have to stop this. Yo—” She cut herself off, looking stricken. Bitterness welled inside Christos. It was useless. She would not see past it.
Turning his back on her, he bit out one word. “Go.”
He sensed her staring at him. Steeling himself, he glanced over his shoulder. Regret shone on her face. He smiled a mirthless grin. Too bad it wasn’t for the right reasons.
“Go, now. Remember, if anything happens to Kalina, you will answer to me.” The threat rang clear in the room.
The woman nodded in acknowledgement before she stepped into the shadows by the door and disappeared. Christos stared back at the door Kalina had left through and prayed he had made the right decision, for all their sakes.
He went to his desk and sat then turned, waved his hand and the wall opened. The panel slid back soundlessly, revealing the computer that filled the space from floor to ceiling. No one knew of his own system he used for his special projects. Pulling back his long hair, he then pinned it up and out of his way.
Waving his hand on the desktop, he brought up his keyboard. He would not use the voice function for this. He would let his fingers do the walking. Before the end of the day, he would have enough information to give Kalina all the headway she would need.
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About the Author
Taige Crenshaw has been enthralled with the written word from the time that she picked up her first book. It wasn’t long before she started to make up her own tales of romance.
Her novels are set in the modern day between people who know what they want and how to get it. Taige also sets her stories in the future with vast universes between beautiful, strange and unique beings with lots of spice and sensuality added to her work.
Always hard at work creating new and exciting places, Taige can be found curled up with a hot novel with exciting characters when she is not creating her own. Join her in the fun and frolic, with interesting people and far reaches of the world in her novels.
Email: [email protected]
Taige loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.totallybound.com.
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Blackstone Haven: Power of Instinct
Blackstone Haven: Power of Enticement
Singleton: Hurricane
Singleton: Perfect Fit
Phoenix Intelligence Agency: Indigo Rain
Phoenix Intelligence Agency: Silken Inferno
Phoenix Intelligence Agency: Dark Callings
Phoenix Intelligence Agency: Immortal Bloodlines
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Kemet Uncovered: Talios
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Kemet Uncovered: Linc
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Kemet Uncovered: Ashia
Totally Bound Publishing
More than Temptation Page 18