Bad Mouth (5 page)

Or maybe she should cancel meeting with Kade. He wasn’t doing anything to help her
investigation. Other than her vengeful desire to make him suffer, there was no reason
to continue with him. She’d never have to see him again.

That should have satisfied her, but it didn’t. It made her restless instead. The fact
remained that she needed his help. They had several deranged vampires to find, but
without the benefit of his position, they had better odds of winning the lottery.
If he intended to stand by and watch, she’d simply have to find a way to convince
him otherwise.

Chapter Six

Night had consumed the city over an hour ago, but Kade was still sitting on his ass.
Waiting. His rock glass shattered in his hand. Cursing under his breath, he brushed
the shards off his thighs and the seat fabric. He waved away his driver, who’d jumped
out from behind the wheel to assist. Pulling out a new glass, he poured more scotch
and downed it in one toss. Fucking humans. They’d invented watches. Couldn’t they
read them? His time was precious. Kade snorted at his acrimony and poured another
double. Too fucking bad he couldn’t get drunk this way. After last night’s debacle
at Eva’s, he’d need to be drunk to survive any sort of repeat tonight.

Of all the cases they could have checked out last night, the humans had to choose
Gas Works Park. So much for trying to impress Val with his power and influence. He
counted himself lucky Eva hadn’t noticed anyone at the scene. Or if she had, the little
Legion vampire had enough sense to keep her mouth shut. He had to be much more careful
in the future, especially with a woman of Val’s station out for vampire blood.

A light rap at the window told him the humans had decided to show, but when he glanced
up, only Val’s doormat friend stood there. Who had invited that fool? His mood had
already soured at the wait, and Kade didn’t take kindly to the knife twist of the
bastard’s presence. After kicking the door open, he stepped out and scanned the curb.
An ass-ugly Prius had parked behind Kade’s Mercedes, but no one else waited in it.
Val was nowhere in sight. Was he to be saddled with this douche bag the rest of the
night?

“Val’s coming,” the man said. Kade grunted, not much inclined to acknowledge the human’s
existence. “Look, Mr. Rollins, I apologize for my offense last night.”

“Don’t give it a second thought.” Kade gave Fischer a look designed to chill bones.
“I haven’t.” The dumb fuck probably figured Kade had lost sleep over the bullshit.

“Sorry!” Val called from halfway down the block as she jogged toward them. When she
reached them, she was out of breath, bending at the waist and bracing against her
knees. Her gorgeous, spun-gold hair spilled forward in a wavy mass, obscuring her
pixie face.

“What did you do? Run all the way here?” the douchebag asked.

“Stupid cab…got some call…and dumped me off…ten blocks short.”

“Why did you take a cab?” Kade frowned and then pinned Graham with a glare. Why didn’t
that bastard pick her up? “How did
you
get here? That’s yours, isn’t it?” He gestured to the Prius next to them. Douchebag
nodded but looked abashed.

“Well, I’m here now. What are we waiting for?” she asked.

Kade growled. “Next time call me. I’ll get you or I’ll send a car.”

Her fae eyes went wide. “That’s very…kind of you.”

“Don’t get your panties in a bunch. I won’t be kept waiting next time.” Damned if
he’d let her think him soft or something. She tilted her head, her brow lined with
suspicion, but then her lips tightened and drew down at the corners.

“I said I was sorry. Take it or leave it.”

Ah, hello there, erection. Long time no feel
. Good thing he wore a long jacket this evening. It hadn’t taken five minutes of exposure
before he was raring to go with the woman. What would she do if he hit on her?

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

He shook his head. “Who have you chosen to beleaguer this night, Val?”

His lips quirked up unbidden. Damn, she was cute, even when she was intolerable. No
one had ever challenged him the way she did, and he couldn’t stop himself from being
inexorably drawn to her. She seemed to have stowed her anger from the previous evening,
though if tonight was a replay, she was sure to find where she’d packed it away.

“We’re going to see Ptolomy Keraunos. He lives in Bellevue and one of the bloodings
happened at the edge of his estate. A neighbor walking her dogs found the body.” Her
eyes narrowed and her voice lowered to a husky rasp. “Feel free to help at any time.”

He caught her warning but found it more sexy than threatening. “I know Ptolomy. You
might get nothing even with my help.” He looped her arm through his and tugged her
toward his Mercedes.

“What are you doing?”

“What does it look like? Going to Ptolomy’s. Are you coming or not?” When Douchebag
made a move to follow, Kade turned on him. “Bring your car.”

He didn’t wait to see how the man took the order. Instead, he dropped his gaze to
Val’s slender and graceful hand tucked into the crook of his elbow. He smoothed his
palm over the back of it, his nerve endings stupidly giddy at her softness. Despite
her obvious misgiving about their shaky alliance, she smiled up at him briefly before
ducking into his car. When his belly executed a pirouette worthy of the Kirov performing
Swan Lake
, a scowl settled onto his face. She made him feel weak inside.

Holy fuck, he liked her and it burned in his gut. He’d like her even better bent forward
over the seat cushion with her slacks around her knees. He would tie her wrists with
the seat-belt straps and wrap her eyes with the wispy scarf she wore. Her long hair
would make a great handhold. Dammit to hell and back. It didn’t matter how deep in
the dirt his mind went. He liked her. A fucking human.

“What happened in here? Did I miss the party?” She glanced sidelong over her shoulder
at him, and that image of her bent over the seat nearly bowled him over. “It smells
like a dive bar.”

He bit off a laugh. “A memorial for the untimely death of two jiggers of Glenlivet.
Here, let me slide by first.” The sinner in him pushed his hips complete with rigid
flagstaff right against her backside as he climbed past her. It didn’t make him smirk
as he’d thought it would. Instead, her sweet, round ass humbled him. He wanted to
drop to his knees and worship it with his mouth, maybe with a little bit of teeth.

“Would you quit it?” Her exasperation cut through his musing. He’d cleared the seat
of glass so she could sit without the danger of splinters. Last thing he needed was
her blood in the open air to tease his already manic senses.

“Quit what?” He reclined against the seat and angled toward her with his legs stretched
across her floor space.

“Let’s just say you should have a parental-guidance warning across your forehead.”

This time, he let himself laugh. “Rated MA for Misogynistic Asshole.”

He didn’t miss the slight quirk of her lips, even though she rolled her eyes and settled
into silence for most of the ride. To his regret, when she broke it, it was to discuss
work. “I didn’t get anything more than a summary of Ptolomy’s interview. What’s he
like?”

He shrugged. “Like any other vampire. He’s a
Dominus
, an old one. One of the oldest. Been around longer than Olen’s had gray hair.”

She bit her lip. He could almost feel her nerves, but all she did was square her shoulders
and take a deep breath. It didn’t matter if Ptolomy’s aged power petrified her, he
knew she wouldn’t let her fear stop her. That turned him on so hardcore he wanted
to lick her resolve.

She should be nervous, however. Ptolomy didn’t dance to anyone’s tune, not even his,
and he would tell them nothing. Kade would put money on it. This
Dominus
was too damned old to care about anything other than his own twisted pleasures. Funny
how the word
twisted
applied to all the Ancients. Maybe anything living as long as a vampire would eventually
become a perversion of nature.

Kade had never had much real trouble with Ptolomy. The male didn’t exactly fly straight,
but he never put himself on the outs with the
Rex
and his
Domina
.

The iron gate in front of Ptolomy’s home swung open automatically when they pulled
up. As they neared his mansion, Val clutched her satchel with a white-knuckled grip.
Her lips trembled, and she pulled her thick black peacoat tighter, readjusting the
tie at her waist. He felt her chill, it was written so plainly in her body language.
Her vulnerability broke open a rare pocket of warmth in him. Without thinking, he
reached for her, pulling her close against his side. She sat stiffly at first.

He stroked his hand up and down her arm, firm and soothing. Her body softened, the
tension easing, and she relaxed her head against his shoulder. Unable to deny himself,
he nuzzled her pale blond curls, stowing her heady lilac scent into his memory. She
felt softer than mink. He turned his head to brush his cheek against the luxurious
sensation.

She lifted her head to meet his gaze. Those eyes were brilliant pools of green Caribbean,
her pupils dilated with arousal. Hell yes, she wanted him. But they were also wide
with surprise. He’d only sought to comfort her, but now his head dipped toward hers.
When she licked her lips in response, it was all he could do to be gentle when he
wanted to ravage her mouth.

He touched his lips to hers, a tender sweep across and back again. An electric charge
zipped all the way to the bottom of his feet, drawing his body tight. Just as he would
have settled more firmly against her sweet mouth and part her lips with his tongue,
the door swung open.

She jerked away from him, her fingers at her mouth and her eyes clouded with confusion
and regret.
Fuck
. He shot his driver a withering look, and the man cringed. He shook his head sharply
before the man could stumble over an apology. Douchebag had also arrived at the side
of the car, and Kade didn’t want the bastard to know anything was amiss. Holding a
hand out for Val, he guided her out of the car and to the heavy doors of the mansion
where Ptolomy no doubt waited impatiently for them.

…

Her lips tingled where Kade’s had been, but Val’s mind was a jumble. Why had she let
that kiss happen? She’d been at the head of a panic attack; maybe that had weakened
her enough to succumb to Kade. Maybe she would have taken the comfort from anyone.
That didn’t really fly because had it been Graham, she would have turned a cheek.
She knew because Graham had made the attempt before.

Even more surprising than her easy participation was Kade himself. He’d caressed her
hair with his face, like a thoughtful lover, and it had put her body and mind into
a sweet, blissful fog. He’d been so soft, so careful, his lips whispering along hers.
She would have taken him for the caveman-kiss type complete with bruising force and
an invasion of tongue and teeth.

“Ready for this?” Kade asked. With a start, she realized they were in the foyer, and
she still held his hand. She dropped it like it was on fire. Apparently it had been
on fire because her hand burned hot from the contact.

“Yes, I’m ready.” She scrambled to focus on the task. She’d have to interrogate this
ancient vampire without freaking out. Couldn’t be too difficult. She’d done similar
interrogations before. In a secure interrogation room. Next to her, Kade appeared
utterly at ease. She let go a sigh of relief. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her.
He comforted her in more ways than one.

When they entered the sitting room, Val did a double take. A boy of around fifteen
awaited them. He rose with a thunderous look on his face.

“How dare you keep me waiting?” He directed his wrath at her.

Who in the hell?
Her mouth dropped open, closed, and then open again as she floundered for words. “Who
are you? Where are your parents?”

That kicked the thunder on the boy’s face even higher, but Kade bent over, laughing
so hard and deep she thought he’d lose his lungs. She glared at him. “What are you
laughing about?”

The boy crossed his arms and strode over to Kade. “You have the nerve to laugh at
me?”

“Not you,” he said, putting a hand against his flat stomach. He continued to chuckle
but gestured toward Val. So he
was
laughing at her. Why on earth? When he didn’t quit, she stomped on his arch with every
bit of force she could muster.

“Ow, fuck!” He straightened and focused his dark, intense gaze on her. His surprise
mirrored hers. She’d never resorted to physical violence before, but he had a way
of stirring something primal in her. Then the boy started laughing, and she forced
her attention away from Kade.

“I’m afraid I have no parents, young one,” the boy said, the laughter clinging to
the corners of his mouth. He extended his hand. “You must be Valerie Craig. My name
is Ptolomy.”

She stared at him, stunned silent. He dropped his hand when she stayed frozen in place.
Kade nudged her forward, but her movements were stiff as she followed Ptolomy toward
the sitting area.

“You could have warned me,” she whispered to Kade behind Ptolomy’s back. Graham hadn’t
briefed her either, the rat.

“You know he can hear you, right?” Kade didn’t bother lowering his voice.

“I-I didn’t know you turned children.” Her wits finally returned to her. “I apologize
for my reaction, Mr. Keraunos.”

He waved her apology away and directed her to a bright red, curvy sofa as he sat in
a similar one across from her. A quick glance around showed her Ptolomy appreciated
a minimalist environment with slashes of vibrant color rather than cluttered decoration.
The faint scent of patchouli oil in the air seemed out of place, though not such a
stretch considering what she’d seen of Ptolomy’s personality.

“No worries. It’s been a while since I’ve been so amused. Amusement becomes quite
rare when you’ve been around as long as I have. I enjoy seeing a woman, a human woman
at that, get a potshot in on Kade here.” He grinned at a scowling Kade. “Aw, come
on, chap. My thrills are few and far between.”

“I’ve heard the rumors, squirt. More like thrill a minute,” Kade said. Her gaze hung
on him first. He was so large, with hard-packed muscle and an easy smile on his face
that belied his cruel reputation. Sitting next to Kade, Ptolomy formed a stark contrast
with a short, lean body, bronzed coloring, and surfer-boy, wheat-colored hair, an
unusual look for someone with a name such as his. He was absolutely not what she’d
expected.