“All right, she’s not my girlfriend, but I wasn’t part of the plan to do the darting.” Dale held up his hands.
“What were you doing there? What did it have to with your chemistry degree?” Cal leaned forward.
Cal had to be fighting a smile. This was great. The man had started talking. The hardest part of an interrogation was getting a person to talk. Once the words started flowing, people found it more difficult to stop.
“I was there to watch the video feed.” Dale crossed his arms.
The man chose his words with care. It wasn’t unusual for someone to try to minimize their involvement to limit their liability. How much this man was involved remained to be seen.
“What video?” Cal asked.
“A feed of the building’s security video. The fourth-floor hallway. I don’t know how they arranged it, but it was running on a laptop when I arrived.” Dale lifted his hand and rubbed at the back of his neck.
“Was there anyone in the apartment with Brooke when you arrived?” Cal looked down at the tablet in front of him and then back at Dale Williams.
“Two men, but I’d never met them before. Brooke and Hatch, a younger man, were my contacts.” Dale shrugged.
“Can you tell me if any of these men were in the apartment?” Cal pushed the tablet across the table. “Who’s Hatch?”
Jason knew he was showing him a lineup that included the man they’d caught earlier. Cal not pressing for more information about what went on in the apartment didn’t surprise him. He probably didn’t want to make the man tense. Since the interview was going well, they didn’t have to apply intense pressure. Cal could work his way around the subjects that might cause Dale to shut up.
“The man in the second photo was there, but he left. He didn’t say anything more than good-bye to Brooke.” Dale wriggled in the chair as if he couldn’t get comfortable. “Hatch is a nickname, I think. He contacted me as I was walking out of the hospital one day.”
“All right, Brooke didn’t tell you why they were there?” Cal asked. His voice softened, becoming almost conversational.
“No, she told me to sit down and watch the monitor. I was there watch and not to talk to her unless they had a question about the dosage or reactions.” Dale rested his hands on the table.
“The dosage of what?” Cal’s voice softened.
“The drug in the dart.” Dale swallowed. His throat worked as though he had something stuck in his throat.
“What were you supposed to do about the dosage or reaction?” Cal tapped in a few notes on the pad, but he didn’t look away from Dale Williams.
Jason waited with baited breath for the answer. The man had a degree in chemistry. He was involved in at least the refining of the drug’s effects.
“They hoped I could focus the effects of the compound more if I could see how people reacted to it.” Dale’s hands twisted on the table.
They’d found something that would incriminate him. Jason waited to see if the man would elaborate.
“What could you do about it?” Cal’s tone sharpened.
“I think before we go any further I need to talk to an attorney and get that deal in writing.” Dale folded his arms across his chest.
Fuck. Jason gritted his teeth. He didn’t want to hear that. It could be days before a lawyer and district attorney came to an agreement over the deal. He straightened and stood. He pushed his frustration down. He had some paperwork to finish before he could go home.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chloe stalked into the kitchen. She smiled when she saw Logan sitting at the kitchen table, munching on a thick sandwich. Those guys could put the food away. The amount they ate astounded her, but she wouldn’t let it sidetrack her.
“Hey, Logan, do you think we could go outside? I’ve been trying to sit and get some work done, but I’m feeling a little antsy.” She looked out the window. She ran her hands over her denim-covered thighs.
The leaves of a tree swayed with the light breeze. Her eyes tracked the movement. She longed to feel that gentle wind brushing over her skin.
It had grown worse than antsy though. Something wild lurked beneath her skin. It yearned to get out. She hoped that getting out of the house would help because she wasn’t ready to meet the animal.
When they said she’d change when she and the bear were ready, she’d envisioned some type of metaphysical communication. This almost constant nervousness and feeling as if something wanted to burst from her body amped up her anxiety. For the last few days, her nerves had stretched tight.
Logan looked over at her. His smile faded and his brows drew down. “Yes, let’s go out in the backyard. There’s a swing out there in the shade where we can sit and talk.”
Backyard. They had more than a backyard. She followed him out into the immense lot. It could almost be considered a park.
Odin pranced right at her side. He carried a rope toy in his jaw. He nudged it under Chloe’s hand. She took it and threw it. She knew that wouldn’t last long. Soon, he’d be after bugs or squirrels.
The grass provided a thick, soft cushion when she stepped onto it. A few fruit trees and some berry bushes had been placed around the yard. Bright sunlight shone down. The heat of the early afternoon surrounded them.
Logan led her around the fenced pool to a group of huge, shade trees. His black T-shirt defined his broad chest. His jeans molded to his thighs. She could see the muscles flex with each step.
In the shadows of the trees, a big padded bench swing swayed in the wind. She inhaled, taking in the scent of sap, water, and flowers, although she didn’t see anything in bloom in the backyard. Everything came to her on an intense, clear wave.
“Better out here?” Logan asked. He sat down on the swing and pulled her down beside him.
“Yes, I feel a little more relaxed. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” She brushed her hair back from her face when the breeze danced a few strands across her eyes.
“There’s nothing wrong with you, Chloe.” Logan shook his head. His arm curved around her shoulders. He tugged her close and relaxed back into the cushion. With a push from his foot, he sent the seat swinging.
The anxiety thrumming through her body led her to a different conclusion. Although sitting out in the open had reduced the tension, the desire for more remained. “You say that. I’m the one with my skin prickling. I don’t know what’s happening and that’s making me nervous.”
“It’s your bear. She’s showing you she’s there, preparing you for the change.” Logan rubbed his palm up and down her arm.
“Yeah, she’s there. Sometimes it feels as if she’s trying to rip her way right out of me with her claws.” Chloe turned her head to frown up at him.
The matter-of-fact answer frustrated her. She figured her bear was behind it. His words didn’t help her. She wanted explanations.
“She won’t rip out of you with her claws. The urgency is her way of getting you accustomed to her requirements. She’s not separate from you, although the way we talk about them, I can understand why some people think that. The animal is a part of you. If you ignore the drives it has, it will adversely affect you.” Logan dropped a kiss on her forehead.
“Ignore its needs? Someone does that when it feels like this when it demands some air?” She shook her head and relaxed back into the cushion.
Ignoring it would be impossible. She’d planned to go out even if Logan had said no. The agitation within her wouldn’t have allowed her to stay inside. He’d have been furious if she’d left the house alone with the threat of attack still present. She couldn’t resist it though.
“This is the first time you’ve felt the compulsion. It will feel more intense. Sometimes people push the animal’s urges back when they’re stressed or busy. That can be a very bad thing.” Logan grabbed her hand and drew it onto his thigh. “Touch me. I think you’ll find it relieves a little more of the tension.”
“Yeah, I can tell you that sex is something she’d be interested in
, but let’s talk a little first.” Chloe shook her head.
The idea tempted her. She wanted to talk about this thing happening inside of her and their relationship. They hadn’t talked about that much either.
“All right, sweetheart, but for your information, the back of this swing folds down. No one can see into this part of the yard. The trees and bushes block it from outside the fence and the table and umbrella on the pool surround block the view from the house.” Logan raised his brows.
A tingle pulsed through her and her clit ached. She squeezed her thighs together and focused on her questions. They had plenty of time to fuck, but they seldom found time to sit and talk.
“We might take advantage of that a little later. Although the water offers another interesting option.” Chloe smiled.
“Water might not be a good idea. Bears like water.” Logan trailed his finger across her knuckles.
She drew in a deep breath. She did not need any additional words to get the picture. Big-ass bear splashing in the pool. She wasn’t ready to go through the physical transition to bear.
Sex play in the pool would have to wait. Hell, the warning might put her off of shower play until the bear surfaced. She did not want it happening while she was this ignorant about the process.
“If I change into a bear unexpectedly, will I hurt someone? Will I be able to stop her from hurting someone?” She turned her head to look at him. Her teeth worried her lower lip. She’d thought about that a lot. Would she lose some of her control when the change came over her?
“You wouldn’t hurt someone unless they threatened you or you panicked. In that situation, the bear will do what it has to do to protect you. Don’t fight it.” He hugged her tight.
When his arms loosened, his hand slid down to her thigh. Her eyes locked there when his fingers curled over her inner leg. Damn, the sight of his hand on her leg made her want to guide it up until he cupped her pussy. Her inner muscles tightened.
She didn’t think he realized what the touch did to her. He hadn’t moved it since his hand had come to rest above her knee. The heat of his skin seeped through the fabric of her jeans. His scent surrounded her, enhancing her arousal. Dang bear was turning her into a nympho.
“Are you all right?” His fingers tightened.
He didn’t need to ask that question. She took a deep breath to calm her temper. He could scent her arousal. So could she. This situation felt strange, but not bad. Because she could smell the deepening heat in his body, also. She wished she could turn on the seat and cuddle against him.
She clenched her fist and dug her nails into her palm. The urge to press closer to him beat through her. If she turned into his body, she’d either be under him or riding that big bear in about five minutes. They had to talk about a few things.
“Yes, I’m fine.” She took a deep breath and fought the need. “I don’t want to lose me when the bear takes over. Do you know what I mean?”
“Well, in a way, I do. I was born a bear. It’s always been a part of me, but I do see where a complete loss of control would be frightening. You’ll be you while in in the bear’s body. The difference is that you’ll have extra instincts.” Logan eased her a little over until she pressed her back to his chest.
The closeness thrilled her, but she knew the proximity limited their time. She had about five minutes until he pulled her into his lap or she moved there herself. After that, they wouldn’t talk. She wouldn’t resist exploring his body any more than he’d keep his hands off her. And lips. She wished she could feel his mouth on hers.
“This doesn’t feel like a part of me though. It feels as if it’s something separate.” She bit her lip. This being within her felt alien, not connected.
“It feels that way at the beginning. I’d imagine it’s more intense because you didn’t grow up hearing and thinking about the first change and what it would be like to have an animal spirit.” Logan’s fingers traced a light pattern along her thigh. “I’ll admit when the animal spirit within you pushes hard, sometimes it can feel unnerving.”
She drew in a hitching breath. Unnerving. The sensation pulsing through her at the moment exceeded that by a factor of ten at least.
“Does this animal spirit ever go wild and do something you don’t want it to do?” She didn’t glance back at him. He wouldn’t lie to her. She could try to focus on something other than the feel of his hand on her leg.
“Not in the way I think you mean. It hasn’t ever taken control and gone for a run without me being a huge part of it. I can’t say that I’ve always agreed with everything the animal has done.” Logan’s arm tightened, pulling her close.
“What do you mean you haven’t agreed with everything it’s done? What has it done?” She did turn to look at him this time. Curiosity and a little surprise mixed within her. He’d been trying to reassure her. She hadn’t expected him to say anything negative.
“Nothing like you’d expect. No mayhem. It happened one of the first times I shifted. The bear was walking through the forest and came to a river. We hadn’t eaten before I shifted, but I planned to wait and get a burger or something.” He tugged her back against him again.
She relaxed and stared toward the house again. “What did it do?”
“It wouldn’t wait.” Logan chuckled. “When we came to the river, it went fishing and ate the wriggling fish raw right there on the rocky bank. When I shifted back, I was gagging. Raw fish isn’t my thing. You have to satisfy its needs.”
“Any other time something like that has happened?” she breathed. The thought of raw fish made her stomach churn.
“Oh, yeah, remember I told you to let the animal follow its instincts and not fight them? There might be a few instances where you’ll have to haul back on its intensity.” Logan’s lips pressed against her hair.
“Do you have an instance where you had to fight against the instincts of the bear?” She put her hand over his, but didn’t guide it away from her inner thigh. It felt good and the desire for more pushed aside the questions.
“Yeah, once when we were bringing in a murderer. He’d gone wild, back to the forest. We’d tracked him all around the edges of the city, but that day, he realized we were following him. He turned toward the city and came out near a park. He lunged for one of the children,” Logan said and took a deep breath.
“What happened?” She hesitated to ask because of the tension she could feel in his body, but she also wanted to know what had caused it.
“The boy escaped, but the move roused the protective instincts of the bear.” Logan’s hand began to glide upward.
She didn’t resist. She sensed that he craved the contact. “Did the bear get out of control?”
“No, but I had to use every ounce of will I had. It wanted to eliminate the threat to the young ones. We put the man into a holding cell, but he knew how close he’d come to getting ripped apart.” Logan’s fingertips brushed the juncture of her thighs.
She stared at him, could feel her mouth hanging open. Fuck. She hoped she never experienced that kind of rage.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chloe drew in a shuddering breath. He pressed the tips against her pussy. He didn’t make it easy to remember her questions and the answers she required. His touch pushed away everything but the longing for more.
“Logan, I wouldn’t be averse to putting that back down now, but one more question.” She licked her lips tried to hold onto her thoughts. This questioned mattered. It had been nagging at her for a little while.
He released her and stood. “What do you need to know?”
“How is this supposed to work when we’re not all together? It’s like I’m in three different relationships, not one marriage.” She stared up at him. She didn’t want a series of dates.
Logan frowned. “We haven’t been together much since our first night. I’d guess that it does seem strange. It’s the circumstances going on around us though. Jase and I have crazy schedules with the poisonings and the attempted darting
.”
“I realize it’s the circumstances. I wish we could have a little more normalcy. I’d like to have a few nights when it’s the four of us and we don’t have to worry about someone getting called in for an emergency.” Chloe shrugged.
“We’ll all be together. In this situation, we’ll have to find the time, because it won’t be easy.” Logan grinned. “Now, I’ll release the catches on this back and we’ll see if we can make it swing.”
He glided to the back of the swing. She heard a distinct snick followed by another one. The back released. Logan lowered it down and then locked it into place.
Logan took his shirt off as he rounded the swing. She let her eyes feast on the expanse. The muscles rippled when he strode closer. Her fingertips tingled with the urge to explore that flesh.
“You know how much I like your chest, don’t you?” She grinned.
“I might have some inkling.” He raised an eyebrow. “Unbutton your shirt. You can leave it on your arms if you’re concerned someone might interrupt.”
“You’re sure no one can see over the fence and into this part of the yard?” She glanced at the fence and back to him.
“No one can see. They’d have to come into the backyard to catch a glimpse.” He waited a step away from her.
She nodded and took off her purple shirt. If he was sure, she trusted him. “Pants?”
“If you’re flinging off clothes, I say we go all the way.” His eyes swept down and locked on her breasts.
From the way his eyes darkened and his jaw tensed, he wanted to nibble at her nipples. They did love her breasts. Her nipples hardened. She remembered the tug of their lips on the peaks.
“I will if you will.” She began working on the fastening.
“I have no problem getting naked, baby.” He knelt to take off his shoes.
Since she wore slip-on shoes, that wasn’t a problem for her. She unbuttoned her jeans. With a grin, she stood, but turned around before she pushed the denim and silky panties over her hips. She urged the pants down over her thighs and knees. She bent, giving him a good view of her ass.
Latent Desires (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 18