“What’s going on?” Hale asks the driver.
“We’ve got fresh tracks, Sir.”
“Do you feel like getting out?” he asks so lightly, as if he’s afraid I’m a crystal vase about to break.
“Not really.”
“The full bloods need to stay in the tinted hideaway as well,” Alex murmurs. “The sun will be in full glow in less than five minutes.”
“I’ll stay too,” Hale says while holding onto me.
Clay steps in and walks over to us. His eyes soften so pitifully as he stares at my trembling state.
“Hale, I’m sorry, but I really need you to come see if you can get anything off these tracks. It’s the first solid proof we’ve had that we’re on the right track.”
“Find someone else. You see her,” he growls.
“You’re right. Stay with her, and I’ll see if we can get a lead,” Clay sighs.
“Go,” I mumble reluctantly. “I’m fine now.”
“I’m not going anywhere ever again,” he soothes while kissing my forehead.
“You promised I wouldn’t hinder your field duties, and that’s exactly what I’ll be doing if you stay. I’ll look like I’m incapable of working alone,” I almost whisper.
“I don’t give a fuck. I’m not going out there.”
“Please go. I’m already getting more attention than I want, and your eyes showing me mounds of pity… just go. I promise I’ll be fine.”
He sighs out loudly, and then he kisses me much harder to push away my lingering fears. I smile against his lips, and he pulls back with a quizzical look.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Because it feels good to kiss you right now.”
He smirks, and his guilt subsides when he sees I’m over the worst of the aftershock. He kisses me again, leaving me with a pulsing desire for more when he pulls away.
“I’ll be back to kiss you more very shortly,” he murmurs against my lips, and then he climbs up to join Clay.
I can smell the eggs Brazen is working tirelessly on, and it brings back my memories of all his kitchen exploits. I go to join him, and I hop up on the bar area next to Alex who seems to shiver when I join them.
“Obviously you don’t have a problem with hybrids, so I can assume it’s only me you don’t want to be around,” I snark, and I see Brazen choke back his laughter.
“No… I don’t… I never…” she stammers, and Brazen turns to face me.
“She doesn’t have a problem with you necessarily, she’s fucking terrified of you just like the other full bloods are - besides me of course,” he smolders out, and then he gives me his Brazen wink before turning back to his task.
I roll my eyes, and then I lean back while crossing my arms over my chest.
“I don’t fucking bite,” I snarl, and then Brazen’s laughter finally escapes. “Well, not unless I want to,” I continue while stifling a grin of my own, and she finally excuses herself to the back room when my taunting becomes more than she wishes to endure.
Brazen’s laughter fades and his eyes narrow as moves the eggs to a plate. He pulls out a fork before handing me the breakfast omelet. He looks completely lost in thought, but I’m scared to ask what’s on his mind.
“Why didn’t you?” he asks curiously.
“Why didn’t I what?” I ask while forking a mouthful.
“Why didn’t you ever bite?” he asks while stepping dangerously close to me.
