Urban bent his head and took her mouth in a demanding, possessive, biting kiss. Their tongues dueled as she tightened her legs around his waist. She dug them into his ass. She worked her clit faster and faster until she couldn’t hold back her orgasm. The pressure increased until it burst and overwhelmed her. She stiffened as her nerve endings fired and her muscles shook. Urban continued to thrust into her, drawing more orgasms out of her until she couldn’t move or think. Nadia became nothing but sensation and pleasure mingled with pain. Urban let out a howl as he came, pumping his hips until he softened inside of her. His breath fanned her face as he gazed down at her, pupils blown wide.
“My, Nadia,” he murmured.
“Urban—”
A loud clink echoed around her safe place. Reality crashed into her safe zone, and her dream world began to crack and fade around them. Damn it. We’ll meet later, Urban, she whispered in her mind. She forced away the wrappings of arousal and tried to squash any remaining desire. Nadia shoved away thoughts of Urban and cleared away the vestiges of her dream. She remained relaxed and at ease, but her body was primed to be ready to attack should the need come. The thick metal door creaked open, and footsteps clicked on the cement floor. Showtime. They’d kept her in this barren cell with only a chair, sink, toilet, and three gray walls, plus a thick metal door to stare at. Not even a calendar or a clock to keep track of time. The goons who had picked her up from her hotel in Paris hadn’t told her what they wanted. They worked for the Feline Quorum, the patches on their cuffs said so, but other than that, they hadn’t given her much to go on. At least they’d fed her simple chicken noodle soup and water with a bit of French bread. That was it. As much as she didn’t want to be, she was grateful that they were feeding her.
“Dolph, Maxim, I told you to make our guest comfortable, not hold her prisoner. Why didn’t you put her in the hotel?” Zerik Rezminsky demanded. “K>BQ=>:, I’m so sorry. These lunkheads misunderstood me. I couldn’t get to you soon enough. My stepdaughter is getting married, and my ex-wife is demanding more alimony even though she’s getting remarried. And let us not discuss all the Quorum nonsense I had to deal with. Bah. Come, come, k>tQ=>:. Let us talk.” He stepped back and gestured for her to leave her cell.
Ah, so it was Zerik. She hadn’t been sure about which member wanted to see her, or rather, imprison her. Nadia drew in a deep breath through her nose and blew it out of her mouth before she opened her eyes, rose, and grabbed her jacket off the chair. She said nothing as Zerik led her into his private luxurious office space. They’d put a bag over her head, but she’d suspected that she’d been taken to this place by the smell of amber and spices that had wafted through the air. Even so, she hadn’t been sure someone wasn’t using Zerik’s offices in Paris for something. With the Quorum, you never knew.
As usual, Nadia ignored the rare art and breakables that were scattered around the space. It wouldn’t do to show interest, and if she needed to defend herself at any time, she was screwed. Not the plush Oriental carpet or the Stradivarius violin under glass fazed her. She wanted to get out of there and head to Draven’s Crossing to make up the time she missed with her best friend Isy, plus there was her condo. It hadn’t seen a vacuum or duster in months. For now she focused on the task at hand, which was walking out of the room and getting out of the country alive. Zerik may not have wanted her dead, but that didn’t mean his enemies weren’t waiting for their chance. At least she was safe, for now.
Zerik sat down in the plush, padded guest chair and gestured for her to take the seat opposite him.
She didn’t hesitate to sit on the cushy chair. She’d missed padding while being imprisoned.
He steepled his fingers and looked at her. “Now, Nadia, again, I’m so sorry about the incarceration.” He placed his hands on the armrests. His body language was relaxed: shoulders down, settled into the backrest of the chair, legs crossed at the ankle, knees splayed apart. He was in control and knew it; Zerik didn’t fear her if he had been the one to train her.
“No need for apology, Zerik. I want to know why I was escorted from the hotel like a criminal.” There, she’d at least seem angry, even if she wasn’t. Zerik would expect a response from her, even if she didn’t feel it.
Zerik sighed and shook his head. He threw a glare to the goons who stood near the double doors. “I told them to ask you to come with them, not take you, but that is beside the point. I’ll deposit the usual amount and another million into your account for your trouble. I do have a job for you.”
Nadia didn’t say anything, but her senses came alive with suspicion. She didn’t ask him why he was paying her for nothing. He wouldn’t tell her anyway, so she remained silent. She knew she could learn more by listening than by talking. And getting paid to listen was a perk. Besides, it meant that a vacation at Banyan Tree Seychelles in a presidential villa she’d been eyeing was closer than she’d thought. Spa services, here I come. If only I could bring Urban. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she pushed it away.
“You are going to Draven’s Crossing. I need your services to find out about a possible Katnip ring coming to town. We have reports that several feline-shifter families are having difficulties with their children and this new drug.” Zerik’s obsidian eyes flashed with a hint of anger before becoming tranquil once again. “Draven doesn’t understand how bad this could be for him. The Council takes away funding for places that could become hubs for drugs within the paranormal world. I don’t understand it, but it happens. Something to do with their antidrug policy. Personally, I think it’s because they’re not getting a cut. But that’s neither here nor there. These are our people, Nadia, my people. I am the head of the Feline Quorum, and I will not have my people subjected to a drug that could and has killed them.” Zerik’s acidic tone could have burned her if she wasn’t already so pissed off as it was.
Her little sister had almost died from a bad batch of Katnip only a year ago.
“Who do I report it to once I find out who’s distributing it, and how do you want me to handle it?” She was proud of herself; she’d managed to keep her tone light. Emotions swirled in her chest, but she managed to not give in to the scream of anger that clawed up her throat.
Zerik may have had his fingers in a lot of illegal pies as far as the authorities went, but he was adamant on doing things the legal way if they could. She prayed he’d tell her he would be taking care of things and sending a Fixer rather than have her take someone out for him. That could get messy, and she doubted he’d want to pay triple her usual rate. Plus, there was the chance of ending up in jail for beating someone to death. Zerik wouldn’t pull strings to get her out.
“You report it to Torger, the chief of police, and if he or Draven can’t do anything, the Council certainly shouldn’t be told. Then you call me, and I will send Misha.” He paused to let the words sink in. “I’ll send you your usual rate, plus extra.” He reached into his silk jacket, extracted an envelope, and handed it to her. “Here is your first-class ticket straight to Draven’s Crossing. Do you need a hotel?”
Relief swept through her. Misha would make it clean, and she wouldn’t get arrested. Also, Misha would probably torture whoever was involved for information, and he took requests. Dark and delicious satisfaction rolled over her. Rather than focus on all the things she could ask of Misha, she turned her attention back to Zerik. As nice as it would be to stay at a high-end hotel on Zerik’s dime, she had to decline, and besides, she didn’t want to tell him she had a home in Draven’s Crossing already. That information he didn’t need to know.
Nadia accepted the package. “No need, I’ll take care of it. Thanks, and no problem, Zerik, none. Don’t lose those guys.” She looked toward his bodyguards. They shifted under her gaze but remained emotionless. “They’re good. I’ll be in touch.”
She rose. The bulkier of the two goons handed her her suitcase on the way out. Nadia hoped she could carry out Zerik’s mission for him without getting arrested. Goddess knew that wheneve
r she entered Draven’s Crossing, trouble followed and Murphy’s Law stalked her.
* * * *
Urban shifted in the guest chair he’d been given. Nothing he did made him comfortable, not putting his weight on his left side or his right, trying to sit on the edge or leaning back, nothing. It didn’t help that he was hungry and horny. Damn Torger for calling him before he’d managed to grab some breakfast or do a quick jerk-off. He’d been into DCPD to visit his brother or to check in with friends, but he’d never had to be ordered into the office. Torger had demanded his appearance at the DCPD in an official capacity, but now things were uncomfortable with Draven hovering in the background like a pale-skinned, dark-haired wraith ready to devour him. His dark eyes held a hungry fire that seemed to indicate a thirst for blood, or maybe he was angry. Urban wasn’t sure and didn’t want to find out. Instead, he resisted the urge to watch the clock and focus all of his being on what they wanted of him. Both men continued to look at him without saying a word.
Unlike in his day job, he felt queasy. Getting a mission, sending him off to parts unknown, was far more relaxing than having his brother stare at him like he was a perp. Draven was eyeing him either with doubt or like dinner; which, he wasn’t sure. Urban wanted it all to stop and to get to the point. Was this about the investigation into Jagger’s part in the death of Representative Evanson? He’d already volunteered for that, though he knew his position would be a farce. No one wanted that case to be stretched out too long since the Council was breathing down their necks and threatening to bring in someone “more competent,” as they put it. Everyone knew it was code for Council lapdog. There was also the Council seat race with two candidates: one a Councilphile who loved and agreed with all things Council, and the other a reformer who wanted to change Draven’s Crossing’s relationship with the Council to make the town more independent. The race was heating up, or rather, getting nasty.
Urban wasn’t interested in diving into Draven’s city politics. Unless there was something he should be intrigued with, which he doubted, he’d stay out of things. He had a gut reaction that this meeting had to do with the Werewolf Summit that was about to go into full swing once all the alphas arrived. But with all the questions being thrown at Draven about Jagger’s involvement in Evanson’s death, the details of the Summit were being buried.
Draven had been fielding questions on exactly what Jagger’s position in his administration was, who he was backing to take Representative Evanson’s place, and Torger was trying not to rip the press’s throats out. His girlfriend, the dragon-shifter and reporter Isadora Jones, had been behaving, only asking questions that were prevalent to the investigation rather than going on offshoots of rumor like the rest of the press. Urban knew the truth, that Jagger hadn’t killed anyone, but you’d think he was enemy number one by the way the press was acting. It was like they’d never covered a political murder before and were looking for any way to scandalize it. The situation was tiring for everyone all around; he could see the bags under Torger’s eyes and hear the heavy tread of his brother’s footfalls when he got home. Urban shifted in his seat again, hoping they wouldn’t really drag him into that mess.
He prayed that they hadn’t gotten desperate and would ask him to do something like following around Detective de la Rosa, who was in charge in the Jagger investigation, to make sure she didn’t interfere with Jagger’s attempt to clear his name.
“Look guys, can you tell me why I’m here? You’re starting to unnerve me.” Urban decided to get the ball rolling and ask them outright.
Torger took a sip of coffee before he responded, “The Werewolf Summit is happening this week. It’s already started, in fact, but not everyone is here. I can’t focus on anything but the Jagger investigation. Or be seen to have my attention divided by the Summit, Jagger, and the Council’s demands. I need you to act as my autre loup alpha and handle things for me, keep an eye on the other alphas and make sure everyone is towing the line.”
“We need good publicity, and you’re the only person we can trust to make sure that everything goes smoothly. And everything must go smoothly, understand?” Draven asked. Leaning closer, that fire in his eyes seemed to turn every part but the pupil a reddish orange color.
Urban swallowed. This was something he hadn’t expected. He rubbed the back of his neck. He thought it would be about the Summit, but to be asked to take Torger’s place? To take on that responsibility…. “Are you sure that—” Urban didn’t suffer fools gladly, and some werewolf alphas were the biggest fools around.
“Yes. Everyone here is busy. Everyone. There’s no werewolf left to handle the alphas that aren’t doing security or handling the hunt for Jagger. There are also some werewolves who are on assignments that I can’t afford to pull from one case to this. The alphas refused to deal with a feline-shifter. You’re it. You in?” Torger gave him a hard look, and Urban shifted in his seat once again as his discomfort grew.
He couldn’t let down his brother, nor could he say no. There was no one else to take up the mantel, and besides that, he didn’t want anyone to presume that they could take Torger’s place. That could lead to a challenge, and Torger could end up in jail. Besides, if he screwed up, Torger would kick him out of the house and force him to stay in a hotel.
“Okay, what harm could a bunch of alphas do?” As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt sick. He’d been to werewolf summits that ended in blood and lost limbs. “I mean, I’ll keep an eye on things. Promise.” He wasn’t exactly sure how he’d keep his word, but he’d damn well try to make sure everyone behaved. Not unless tranqing everyone would be authorized or legal. Maybe he could get Torger to sign off on that.
Torger gave him a nod. “Good. And no, I won’t allow or authorize you to tranq anyone.” The ghost of a smile appeared on Torger’s lips, and that set Urban at ease.
Once dismissed, he headed to the Tranquil Acres Camping Area, where the werewolves were staying for the Summit. Maybe he could get a handle on the situation. So far only the older pack leaders, well over fifty, had arrived. Their hobby seemed to be talking about the good old days and hitting on the younger unmated female werewolves who wandered by. Nothing to worry about here. Well, unless one of the women killed them, which would be doing everyone a favor, he thought and headed back into town. This should be a piece of cake. If only I had Nadia here. Things look like they’ll get boring. He turned into the Blob’s Burgers parking lot for some lunch. The name sounded disgusting, but they made the best BLTs in town, and the owner of the fast-food place loved classic horror movies, thus the name. He thought of the last time he’d seen Nadia, his feline-shifter lover. They didn’t have a relationship per se. It was mostly sex, with only a few personal details exchanged between them. The last encounter had been in Italy a few months prior and sexually satisfying, as usual, but had lacked anything truly fulfilling for him.
Over the last few weeks he’d found himself wanting more of a connection to his mysterious Nadia. He’d tried to e-mail her to set up another date with her, went as far as to call the number she’d given him. No dice on either. Texts went unanswered. He wondered if he was being played but shoved that out of his mind. He didn’t know much about her. She refused to answer questions unless she wanted to and kept her replies terse.
Nadia refused to allow him to breach any subjects that weren’t neutral. Talking about his family life hadn’t prompted her to share where she grew up or if she had any siblings. When he suggested dinner, she’d brushed him off. As much as he hadn’t wanted to admit it, it had hurt his feelings, that maybe she didn’t want to be seen in public with him. Acting out their mutual love of BDSM scenes and role playing had brought them together, but Urban knew that this lack of a connection could tear them apart. He’d been meaning to have a conversation about how he felt with her but had always chickened out once he saw what she was wearing, or rather what she lacked in clothing.
Wall after wall after wall frustrated him. How could he break through to a woman who r
efused to give him less than an inch? He’d started several e-mails but had trashed them all because he couldn’t put into words what he felt for her. It felt deeper than love or mating. How to express something like that? She was a part of him. And he didn’t know how to tell her. Nor did he know how to track her down to explain his growing emotions.
Without saying anything, she understood what he needed. If only he could do the same for her. Sexually she could express herself, but anything else was under lockdown. He had considered talking to Torger about her; in fact, that was one of the reasons that had brought him to town other than a forced vacation. Now that Torger had Isy, his dragon mate and reporter for the local news, and was busy dealing with the investigation of Representative Evanson’s death, he had no time for his brother. It didn’t hurt Urban’s feelings, but it did ramp up his frustrations. He was stuck in town with no one to talk to and no one to hang out with. There was Isy, who was friends with Nadia, that much he knew, but he wanted Nadia to tell him everything. Urban didn’t want to risk pushing Nadia away if she hadn’t told Isy about him. Besides that, Isy wouldn’t be able to keep her mouth shut to Torger or to him and would ask a million questions that he didn’t have answers for.
As he sat in the car, he could feel himself slipping into a slump. Thinking of Nadia brought on a need to be near her. Now he could feel the pressure of arousal filling his stomach. Hunger faded away in the face of his desire to smell her spicy scent and feel her silken skin against his as he thrust into her. Urban groaned and forced his desires down. Not here, and not now. He wasn’t going to go home and rub one out when he knew that, not that that would satisfy him. God, he missed his Nadia. He didn’t know what she did for a living. And he refused to use the resources at his disposal to check her out. Urban reached into his phone and turned it on. Nadia’s photo flickered to life. Her mysterious dark brown eyes gazed at him narrowed in annoyance. She hadn’t wanted her picture taken, but he’d snapped it anyway.
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