Hunting the Shadows (16 page)

There was something in her dreamy gaze that made him grit his teeth, even as he rearranged his jeans and settled himself more comfortably.

“Where’ve you been?” Her voice was soft, sleepy. He watched her lift her head, only to settle it on her hand. Unaware of her affect on him, she shifted onto her stomach, the shirt drawing up higher.

J.C. groaned inwardly at the sight of the firm curve of her bottom beneath black underwear. The blood dropped into his groin. “Around. I was trying to figure out when someone could have had access to the children. I haven’t come up with anything conclusive. Have you eaten?”

He brushed his thumb along her jaw at a darkening mark, his brows furrowing at the sight of it.

“Mackenzie brought food when she came to check on my leg.” She turned her cheek into his palm. “How many teachers are here?”

“Not many. I’ve started to run their backgrounds and whereabouts, but so far we haven’t found anything suspicious. It’s taking Darilynn some time. We’re far from finished, but it’s looking like a dead end.”

She yawned and stretched her arms over her head.

“I’d like to bring you to a team meeting tomorrow. Think you can scan for the killer’s signature?”

“Yeah, sure.” She rubbed a hand over her arm and his attention was drawn to the bruise covering half of her forearm. He caught her wrist before she could evade him, turning her arm gently to get a better look.

A string of curses leaped onto the tip of his tongue. “What happened? Who did this to you?”

“I ran into Dare earlier and he got a bit physical.”

“Why?” His eyes narrowed at the thought of what Dare could have done. Had he
hit
her? “Amy, what’d he do?”

“I was drawn down to the Crypt by a memory, but got lost. Someone died recently in one of the cells. It still had the touch of death.” She rolled until she lay over his hips, her body hanging upside down as she reached beneath the bed.

Amy looked up, the bruise on her jaw more and more apparent. She held something gold that sparkled, but he could barely think past the fact that someone had hit her.

“I found this.” She swallowed convulsively. “I believe it belongs to one of the victims. The memory was badly fragmented, but…I’m sure of it.”

He couldn’t think straight. Not when she was covered in bruises that hadn’t been there before. Anger tinted his gaze, his blood heating with the demand for justice.

He grabbed the necklace from her fingers and flipped over the locket.

“Look familiar to you?”

He shook his head. “No, but I don’t pay much attention to women’s jewelry. You found it in the prison cell? What does it have to do with your bruises?”

She shrugged off his last question. “The killer’s signature is on it, J.C. I think I found the murder site. He’s bringing his victims to the Crypt. If we can confirm this th—”

“Tell me what Dare did to you,” he demanded.

“He was just there in the Crypt. Claimed he was looking for a soul. He wouldn’t let me go and I panicked. I didn’t know what else to do so I used my abilities.”

J.C. caught her by her arms, setting her aside so that he could rise and walk the length of the room. “Are you crazy?”

“I had no choice.” All trace of sleep was gone from her eyes as she sat up cross-legged, dragging a pillow into her lap. “Broderick was watching me, J.C. He told Dare to leave me alone.”

For what price?

“Damn it, you need to watch what you do. Broderick’s already tried to take me from your case. We don’t know his agenda.”

“There’s more.” She took a deep breath. “He challenged me. He told me to attack him and when I tried, I couldn’t get into his head. I failed.”

“You failed,” he repeated.

She nodded sharply. “He said I need to start proving my worth. I think I’ve undone all of your work. He said I need to learn how to get through those bands that block me from entering the minds of others.”

It’d been on his list, but he wanted to strengthen her shields before working on it.
Fuck
.

“Don’t go down there again.” He lowered himself onto the bed. More shaky than he wanted to admit, he touched his forehead to hers briefly. “Is that understood?”

“There you go, ordering me around again.” She shot out her chin, but all he saw was that dark spot. “It’s not like I wanted to go down there. I got lost. I didn’t know Broderick was watching or that he would challenge me.”

What little control he had snapped.

There was no way she could retreat any farther into the pillows than she already was. J.C. towered over her on the bed, his body practically covering hers. She lifted her hands, settling them on his chest.

“You have to watch what you do from now on. You can’t just walk around by yourself. I’ll deal with Broderick and get him to ease off, but you don’t know what Dare’s capable of.”

Not that Broderick wasn’t a threat, but Dare had his own form of punishments that went beyond the standards of the Council. Although usually reserved for those on death row, there were times when Dare had the chance to “play” with the others when Caleigh and Ashton were busy. Dare enjoyed bringing his prey to the brink of death, stopping their heart and then giving them a treat of what it was like in the astral plain under his domain before bringing them back to life. The stain of death would always mar the individual and change them. It was something a person never forgot.

“Don’t tell me I don’t know.” Her eyes narrowed. “I know he has no feelings for anyone but himself. He
shot
a man in front of me because I didn’t want to mentally maim another.”

That was tame for Dare, but J.C. hesitated to tell her that.

“I know that he gets high on the fear and pain of others and that every day during my coma, he visited me. He gave me a close and personal view of what it was like to be dead and nothing I did could wake me from those nightmares. He could do whatever he wanted and I couldn’t fight him.”

He swore softly.

“So yes, I do know what he’s capable of. First hand. I
know
. Believe me, I’m plenty scared enough as is and I don’t ever want to be given to him again.” She trembled against him and all he wanted was to hold her. “I was weak then. I’m not now. I know what I’m capable of doing. Don’t tell me that I shouldn’t defend myself when I’m being threatened.”

Hell. He dragged her forward so that he could hold her. Even if it didn’t comfort her, he needed to touch her. “I’m sorry,” he whispered in her hair.

He didn’t want to see her hurt. It pained him, more than she would ever know that Dare had used her.

No, it
infuriated
him.

Dare could have claimed her again. He could have taken her and there would have been no way for anyone to save her. If it hadn’t been for Broderick, anything could have happened. As much as it killed him, he was grateful the Handler had interfered. Even if she failed the second test. At least she had a chance to redeem herself.

He wanted to feel her, to know that she was fine. J.C. ran his tongue along his teeth, even as he whispered that it would be okay.

Her pulse bumped against his fingers, a rapid beat that reminded him that she was alive and here with him. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel around you. Just when I have myself under check, you blow my control to hell.”

She wet her lips. “Was I supposed to sit in the room and do nothing? I can’t do that. I want to help you.”

He traced his finger up her throat, leaning down until their faces were inches apart. “Who are you, Amy?”

Her lips flipped up in the corners. “Only a shadow in your mind.”

“And what have I said about staying out of my head?”

“All’s fair…” Amy fluttered her lashes, “…as long as you don’t know that I’m in there.”

He couldn’t help but be amused. “Brat.” He felt her shiver when he bent his head, nipping beneath her ear. Her thighs pressed together. He did it again, swirling his tongue in circles and she arched against him. He smiled and eased his knee between her legs, keeping her spread for him, open to his touch.

Moving his fingers to her wrist, he undid the leather band and tossed it, unleashing her ability.

“J.C., is that a good idea?”

“Trust me. The sensors in the room are still active. Focus on me. I want you to use your abilities. We need to start practicing them in non-threatening environments to strengthen your mental muscles.” He reached between them, snagging a finger in the neck of the T-shirt. “Just don’t turn me into that paperweight you once threatened me with.”

Pushing her fingers into his hair, Amy tugged his face down to hers. “I’m not in the mood for a lesson.”

Her mouth brushed his then went back again. It was such an innocent touch that he groaned, giving in to her exploratory kiss. When her mouth settled fully on his, he opened up for her, giving her full rein until his lungs burned and he grew harder than he’d ever been before.

At a soft brush of something along his back, he stilled, his mouth frozen against hers. Her hands were tangled in his hair…but there was something else… The feel of fingers…

He’d told her to focus on him, but hadn’t realized the full extent of those words. Or maybe he hadn’t given her enough credit. He shuddered as those invisible touches danced along his spine, trailing around to his chest and down a straight path to his navel…and lower, dipping beneath his jeans before retreating shyly. There was no other way to explain the sensations, the light brushes of fingertips along his skin that made his entire body clench with need.

A most effective seduction. J.C. gritted his teeth. It was as though small fingers were wrapped around his cock, stroking firmly to the base of his balls. His erection strained forward, pressing sharply against the zipper of his jeans until he thought he would burst.

It took everything he had not to push her shirt the rest of the way up her hips.

“J.C.” Her voice was soft, shy, and he let out a staggered breath, looking up to meet those dreamy eyes.

“I’m impressed,” he managed to get out. The fact she could manipulate his mind so easily practically made him swallow his tongue.

Those invisible fingers stilled and his breath caught again when they circled the heavily swollen head of his erection.

He blinked at her, his entire body heavy and tense with the need for relief. His hips moved of their own volition, pressing closer into those invisible caresses. “How deep in my head are you?” He groaned as the touches tightened around him, feeling so damn good that he forgot to breathe. With every touch, every pump of the invisible hand, he moved closer and closer to the edge until he couldn’t fight it.

He never planned to let things get this far but as she continued to stroke him, he had no more control over his body than he did the fact that she was in his head. He had to put a stop to this before they did something they’d both regret. As much as he wanted her, as much his body needed the release she was offering, this wasn’t how he wanted it. It took all his effort to move away, his breathing harsh.

Her eyes focused on him and a slow smile curved her lips.

He’d been right. She was trouble.

“For once, you have my complete approval.” The feel of her in his head was becoming such a common occurrence that he almost felt empty when she retreated. It was an odd sensation, but one he was going to have to overcome. The moment they caught the killer, it was going to be the end of their living arrangement. She had enough of a target on her back without having him add to it, just by her association with him.

He shouldn’t want her. They were all the reasons why he should stay away, but she aroused something in him that was more than lust. More than a desire for her body. It was potentially dangerous and yet, he couldn’t move away.

Instead, he touched his lips to hers. When hers clung hungrily to his he smiled and rolled over onto his back. He dragged her against his side. Surprise brightened her eyes.

“But…” She bit at her lip. He watched the silent battle within her. It was all in her eyes as her gaze darted tentatively down his body. Stubbornness won out. “I’m tired of people stopping me from experiencing things.”

“I’m not stopping you.”

“You are too,” she argued. She moved onto her knees and settled herself into his lap. He gritted his teeth. “You’re denying us both the opportunity for pleasure because you’re an up-tight…”

He muffled a laugh against her throat. “I’m trying to show a little restraint, Amy.”

“Maybe I don’t want you to. I can make my own decisions.”

“Tell me that what you’re feeling are your own desires.” Because her body was moving gently over him and her lips nibbled at his skin, he clutched at the last straws of control. “Tell me it’s not just mine you’re picking up. I’m n—ouch! You bit me.”

Her teeth caught his earlobe in sharp reprimand.

“I know what I’m feeling. Stop trying to protect me from everything.” The sly, manipulating minx curled her palm over his erection, making him swallow. “We both want this to happen so why wait?”

Why indeed? J.C. shook his head and with great regret, lifted her off him. “Because I want you to experience it all at the proper pace. I know you don’t like that answer, but trust me. There’s no rush.”

He was never going to be able to stay away from her. As much as he wanted to do the right thing, he couldn’t. He kissed her deep and hard, putting all of his frustrations into that kiss before he pulled away.

“Trust me,” he said again against her lips. “This isn’t a rejection. It’s far from one. When we do this, I’m going to keep you in this bed for as long as I can. Right now, I need to figure out what we’re going to do about Broderick.”

With a small defeated sigh, Amy tucked her head against his shoulder. “What do you suggest?”

“We have to strengthen your natural shields. You can’t depend on the wristband all your life. I want them built so that you can increase your tolerance to the minds of others. That way, you won’t overload so easily.”

It was the first step, but it was a necessary one. Once she learned how to block the minds of others, she’d be able to do anything. He just had to keep his eye on her and make sure that by doing so, he wasn’t pushing her too far, too soon.