“Yeah,” Kieran chuckled. “Why don’t you do that?”
She grunted. “No way, you’re going to have to carry me to bed as it is.”
He patted her back. “I think I can handle that.” He lifted her hips and his cock slid out of her. Dakota couldn’t help but groan at the loss.
Without warning Kieran stood, still holding her.
“I didn’t mean now,” she complained.
“We’ll be more comfortable in the soft bed,” he told her.
“True,” she agreed. Since his shoulder was right there, Dakota placed her cheek against it.
When they reached the bedroom, Kieran laid her gently on the left side of the mattress before he circled around and pulled the blankets back.
“Come on,” he urged, waving his hand.
She grinned and climbed to the other side. Kieran bent then kissed her forehead.
“Do you need anything?” he asked.
Dakota rolled over so she was facing the other side of the bed on her stomach then patted the blanket. “Just you.”
As he stripped off his robe—and why hadn’t she gotten it off him earlier?—Dakota watched him. When he stepped nearer she held up the comforters. He slid in next to her.
“This is nice,” she said as she snuggled close. “I love all the pillows and blankets.”
“Me too,” he agreed.
“Who would have thought you’re a creature of comfort?” she teased.
“I’m cooler than most people,” he told her. “I crave being warm. Like when I drink blood. So I do what I can to be comfortable.”
It was the first time that he’d brought up drinking blood.
“Why don’t you bite me?” she found the courage to ask.
“It’s not like the movies,” he said.
She laughed. “Yeah, that I understand.” Dakota lifted up so she was sprawled between his legs and over his stomach. She could rest her chin on his chest, loving the fact that Kieran wanted her close. “So why don’t you tell me?”
“I need very little blood,” he said. “When I feed it makes the person sick. Why would I want to do that to someone I’m with?”
She closed her eyes with a sigh. “Damn, it sounds so romantic when you see it on the big screen.”
“Or read about it,” he agreed. “Real life doesn’t work that way.”
“Of course it doesn’t.”
“Get some sleep,” Kieran said.
“Okay,” she agreed. Hopefully he’d still be there when she woke up. Dakota pressed a kiss to his cool flesh. If there were any way that she could give him some of her warmth, she would.
Dakota didn’t know how she would live with what he had.
Being a jaguar shifter was awesome. She was faster than humans with better eyesight, hearing and ability to scent. With the extra training that she’d received from the Organization, she had the best of both human and shifter worlds.
Someday she hoped to share that with Kieran.
* * * *
It was too easy to get into the underground parking garage of the building that the local Organization was using as a front. The guard hadn’t even looked up as Kieran had pressed his back against a wall only five or six yards away. The guy was a shifter but he obviously wasn’t expecting someone to try to sneak into the building.
If this were his own office, Kieran would have had a little fun with the guard but he didn’t want to end up in lock-up for the night. Or early morning.
It was fifteen after three in the morning and he only had a few hours before he wanted to be back in his hotel suite. He had plans on how to wake up Dakota.
Staying in the shadows, he strolled right beside the concrete wall toward the elevators.
Kieran could hear the electrical hum of the security cameras so it was easy to stay out of their range. He ducked between cars until he could speed through the only area that he couldn’t get through without the cameras spotting him. He didn’t have a choice but to chance it in front of the elevators.
Instead of waiting for the elevator, Kieran pushed through the emergency stairway and closed the door quietly behind him. He took a deep breath as he listened. Inside he couldn’t pick up any surveillance equipment. That was good. Kieran had expected to have to race up the stairs too.
He took his time walking up, thankful that the city ordinance laws required all businesses to have stairs to exit from in case of a fire. Kieran had already received the blueprints for the building in an email that Lettie had sent him. Plus she’d given him access codes that she’d added to the security system so he could get into all areas.
It was good to have sneaky and smart friends.
Kieran paused in front of the door to the hall that would lead to the offices. His plan was to first get a look at Dean’s office before he searched for some files on the Walkers in the area.
He placed his hand on the door and pulled it open. First he stuck his head in and peered around. The floor was dark and quiet. There were a few security lights on in the hall but the actual offices were dark.
With his shoulders back and head held high, he strolled into the hall. If he snuck around, he had a bigger chance of getting caught. By acting like he belonged there, he hoped no one he might come across would question him.
In his pocket he did have an ID card that he could pull out that would stop him from getting arrested but that would blow his cover. It would also lead to a call to Caspar and possibly him being locked up since he shouldn’t be in another division’s headquarters without permission.
The office was larger than his own agency’s with cubicles in the middle and glass-plated offices on both sides of them. Halfway down on the right, he saw Dakota’s name on a door. Oh, he was tempted to rifle around but he’d already decided earlier to leave her out of his antics. Still he did peer inside and just take a quick look. With his advanced sight he had no problem seeing without turning on the lights.
He wasn’t surprised to see the neatness since he’d already determined she’d be professional and orderly at work. Dakota just came across that way to him. There were a couple of pictures on a bookcase and he stalked forward to get a better view.
One photo looked to be from several years ago and was of her and two other young women. Dakota’s hair was darker without the red highlights but her smile still shone. All three wore shorts, tank tops and a marathon number. Kieran didn’t know if Dakota still entered races, which made him wonder about her life outside the Organization.
In all honesty he didn’t have anything other than his job. Even his friends were from his agency. He didn’t have hobbies or other interests. So there was no one to work out with or run in marathons together as partners. While he tried not to think about how often he was alone, Dakota had made him want that connection for the first time.
The second picture was of her and Dean as they stood in front of the building he was standing in. They were smiling. The date on the bottom left corner was the day they’d become partners, he knew from Dean’s file.
Finally the last photo was a group picture with Dakota on the side with all ages of people. It had to be of her family since he could see the resemblance between Dakota and several of the other people.
Her desk only held a computer, keyboard and mouse, along with a green plant on the corner. As much as he really wanted to search her desk he turned and walked out. Next door down he found Dean’s office.
Kieran had an office in his division’s building but he was never in it. In fact, from the last time he’d been there he was pretty sure there was nothing on the walls, desk or anywhere else. He didn’t think he even had a bookcase. He wasn’t sure what that said about him.
Dean’s office was a little messier than his partner’s and he had no personal photos around. Kieran went straight to Dean’s desk and started to open drawers. Because of his connection with Caspar, and from who his family were, Kieran’s best bet for finding an agent who knew about the Walkers in town was Dean.
But why wouldn’t he tell Dakota? That was what bothered Kieran the most. It also made him wonder what Alex, his boss and the other Walkers might be up to.
Kieran was torn since he wanted to talk more to Alex, but trust was hard for him. He barely managed it with his partners and boss.
Since he didn’t hear anyone around, Kieran clicked on the desk lamp. He could see in the dark but it did strain his eyes. In the first two drawers were the usual office supplies. Kieran was growing disappointed. If he had to search anywhere else for files, he wasn’t certain where to go next.
The bottom drawer was locked, and Kieran grinned. If Dean wasn’t hiding anything, why would he have to lock it?
There were no keys anywhere close so he could either try to lift Dean’s keys the next time they met or break the lock. If Kieran had to return, he would be putting himself at risk again. He yanked hard on the drawer. Wood splintered and he had his access. Kieran reached in and pulled out the file folders from the bottom. He set them on the desk, growing excited and finally getting some answers. Kieran opened the first one and frowned. He’d been expecting information on the Walkers in town. Instead the first page was a list of names with dates next to them. He slid his phone from his pocket and tapped the camera app. He took a picture before he turned to the next page and clicked on the camera again. The second page held names also but with physical descriptions and summaries.
Halfway down he saw his own.
Kieran Smith
Male, Day Walker, Six-three, blue eyes
Held nine years, eleven months, twenty-two days
Rescued June 21, 2006 by Caspar Westbridge. Joined Organization upon rescue, evaluation and training. High-level agent.
Son of a bitch!
Anger washed over him and Kieran couldn’t hold it back. His fangs dropped and he snarled. He didn’t care if Dean or anyone else knew he’d broken in.
No one had the right to keep tabs on him. He’d been told by Caspar that his file had been completely expunged and that no one other than the people involved and Caspar’s supervisor would ever know what had been done to him.
Kieran stood with the files in his hand.
“I take it you found what you’re looking for?”
He spun toward the door in a fighting stance, dropping the files. The man in the entry was almost as tall as he was and built. He had black hair and dark brown eyes and reeked like a shifter.
With a growl, Kieran leaped over the desk and landed crouched midway between the furniture and door. He stood to his full height while rolling his shoulder so his entire bulk was obvious. No one would ever take him again. He wasn’t a victim but a survivor.
“You need to calm down.” The stranger held up his hands.
“Fuck you,” Kieran spat. He stalked forward, every instinct screaming at him to take out the threat.
“My name is Marcello Sparro.”
Like Kieran gave a damn what the guy’s name was. All he knew was the man was between him and the exit. The stranger posed a danger to Kieran’s freedom and Kieran couldn’t allow that.
He lunged the last few feet but when he expected to knock into the shifter he only met air. Kieran howled in frustration as he turned to attack once again.
“Take a deep breath,” the shifter advised. “Calm down so we can talk.”
Kieran didn’t want to speak to anyone. He’d trusted once before after his truck had broken down on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. Instead of the help he’d needed, Kieran had been knocked out and had woken in a cage.
With a yell he sprung and tackled the shifter to the ground. Kieran punched him and the guy’s head snapped back. Blood flowed from the shifter’s mouth as he pulled his arm back for another hit.
The breath was knocked from him as Kieran was kicked in the ribs. Kieran rolled away but leaped to his feet as the shifter also rose.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” the shifter said.
But Kieran had heard that before, many times. Kieran dove at the man’s legs, and they flew into the wall. His elbow hit the ground hard as he landed, and he bit his lip since his fangs were still extended. Kieran grunted when the shifter grabbed his already aching arm.
“I am not your enemy. I am Caspar’s boss,” Marcello said.
Caspar’s name broke through the haze of fear and desperation. Kieran gasped and tried to level his breathing. “Let go of me,” he demanded. But he didn’t trust this shifter. When Marcello didn’t release him, Kieran slammed his forehead against the shifter’s.
Kieran’s arm was released, and he was instantly on top of the enemy. He pounded his fists in the shifter’s face until he was grabbed from behind.
“Stop!” Marcello shouted.
He howled as he was yanked away from Marcello and started to fight the hold on his shoulders and arms. An arm went around his neck, cutting off his air supply.
Desperate, he clawed at the arm as he snapped his fangs when a hand came into view. Kieran’s vision was darkening and he knew if he didn’t get free, this would be the end. He dropped his weight against his holder but while they stumbled Kieran wasn’t freed.
Tears leaked from the corners of his eyes as the fight was slowly draining from him. He blinked when Marcello’s face was in front of him.
“It’ll be okay,” Marcello told him. “Just relax. No one’s going to harm you.”
Lies, the shifters had always told him lies. When he’d first been captured, they’d said that if he gave them his blood he could go. That they only wanted to study it. Kieran had been a scared eighteen-year-old kid who had had no family and hadn’t known what to do. But even after he’d given in, they hadn’t released him.
Ten years of experiments, beatings, sexual manipulation and torture had followed. He couldn’t go through that again. He would rather die than ever be put back in a cage.
Caspar. Had his boss sent him here to die? Was that why Remy and Angel had taken their vacation so far away? He was all alone in a city he knew nothing about. Maybe the Walkers from the hotel had something to do with his capture. They could all be working together. Kieran might have stepped on too many toes in the last several years.
He tried once again to get free but despair washed over him and made his arms heavy. They dropped to his side, and he knew he was on the verge of passing out.