Kiss Of Twilight (11 page)

"I'm mad at you." And he was charmed.

She probably wouldn't want to know that, but her anger intrigued him. Tempted him. It was like soft fingers dancing over his skin, skirting and teasing the edges of his mind. He smiled and if possible, she glared harder.

"Why is that, darlin'?"

"Why did you pull Vic and Jonas?" she countered.

Oh, that was a quicksand kind of question. No matter how he answered, he was sunk. If he admitted he'd just been waiting for an excuse to pull Vic off her security detail, she'd be pissed. If he said Vic wasn't capable of protecting her, he'd insult her abilities and she'd be pissed. He couldn't win either way.

"You're going to be late," she whispered and backed away a step.

"Fuck 'em," he muttered and reached for her hand.

He yanked too hard and she tumbled against him. He didn't have it in him to feel any remorse though. She was little, curvy and pressed against him. Perfect. He used one hand on the back of her head to hold her still, while the other took a long, leisurely journey down her spine to settle on her ass. He pulled her closer and let her feel the hard ridge of his erection, loving the way her eyes widened and her skin flushed.

She lifted her hands to his shoulders. First she pushed then pulled as if unsure if she wanted him to let her go or hang on tight. He saw the confusion in her eyes, but he couldn't pull away. Sensing his capitulation, his demon side had risen to the surface, strong and powerful and
hungry
. It wanted the woman as much as he did.

"Get away, Kara," he said hoarsely, knowing his eyes glowed bright red and she would understand why. "I'm not in control right now."

She gave a very slight shake of her head and rose on her tip toes.

"I don't care," she whispered as her mouth brushed his. It was a soft, gentle kiss. "Did you hear me, Dupree?" she asked before returning for another soft peck.

This time he didn't let her go. He bent his mouth to hers and took over. Not that she fought him. When he nipped her lower lip begging for entrance she welcomed him with a sigh. When his tongue swept inside her mouth to duel with hers, her response was a raspy lust filled groan that made his cock pound.

He lifted her so he could rub his cock against the sweet spot between her legs. He wanted her just like this, wide open for him, thighs clinging to his hips. Even through their clothes he could feel the damp heat of her. But it wasn't enough. He wanted to touch and taste her with no clothes acting as a barrier between them.

One hand moved to the hem of her shirt and grasped it in his fist. One good rip and it would gone, then the bra, then the rest. He'd find some secluded place in the park and lay her down on a bed of soft grass.

Dupree? You're late,
Winter said, invading his thoughts.
Whoops
.

He sensed her embarrassment and knew she had a pretty damned good idea where he was. Inches away from heaven. A passing car honked its horn. He groaned and let Kara slide down his body. He'd been so far gone he hadn't even paid attention to where he was. Winter's mirth filled his mind.

A public park? Really, old friend?

Shut up,
he sent back. His telepathy skills were practically nonexistent but she was holding the bridge open between them so he didn't have to worry about answering her over a long distance. He didn't get the chance to say more, however. Her laughter was the last mental touch as she withdrew.

He looked down at Kara and was damned tempted to take up where he'd left off, public park or not. She didn't look tired anymore. The pallor that had concerned him was no longer evident. Her skin was pink and flushed. Her nipples were hard beneath her bra and fitted blouse. He considered taking her back to the walker's home for a baggy, concealing shirt before he went to the meeting but decided against it. If anyone else noticed her arousal, they'd know who it was for. He couldn't deny the primitive side of him liked that just fine.

"Are you going back to the office?"

She bit her bottom lip and shook her head. "I'm done here. I'm going home to start searching Ben's computers."

"I thought the techs already did that?"

"No, Gia had the computers sent to the house. She said she wanted to go through them herself. If something looks off, I'll take them to the techs."

He leaned down to kiss her lightly once more, unable to resist.

"I'll teleport you home and see you later then."

She bit her bottom lip, gave a slight shake of her head. "I'm perfectly capable of driving, Dupree."

He leaned down again and whispered against her lips. "Humor me. I'll send someone for your car later."

"I shouldn't." She nipped his lip. "You'll start to think you can always get away with ordering me around."

Oh, if she only knew. He wrapped his arm around her and took them to the house before she could protest. While she was still disoriented he took her car keys, then kissed her one more time.

"I'll see you later," he promised and cursed himself for ten kinds of fool at the pleasure in her eyes.

If he were a normal man with a normal life, he would have claimed her long ago. Not being that person was no excuse to rush things, but damn, were the next few days going to be painful. He stepped back with a pang of regret and teleported to his meeting.

"So what am I looking for?" Kara asked Winter.

She booted up the computers which were both placed on a long desk pushed up against the wall. One desk top and one laptop taken from Ben's office. Nadia was the only other person in the room and she was dressed to go out on patrol with Dupree later. Kara hid her jealousy. She'd love to go, mostly just to hang out with Dupree for a couple of hours.

"I have no idea," Winter answered, leaning forward to watch the screen.

Her waist length white blond hair was loose tonight and she pushed it out of her face, then stood to pull it back to the nape of her neck and secure it with a band. Kara shoved her own curls back. She'd kill to have straight, tamable hair.

"That's helpful, boss."

Winter grinned. "How 'bout I'll know when I see it?"

Kara laughed. "Yeah, not so much."

Winter shrugged. "Maybe nothing. But Gray asking about his papers. Contee having your cell number and Ben's targeting you...let's just say I don't want any more surprises."

Kara snorted. "Well, we have a problem then." She pointed to the stack of boxes against the wall that held a century's worth of paper records. They'd gone from the attic at Ben's compound to headquarters downtown, but she'd had them brought over here to her today. "I've only looked through a couple of those, but Ben's journals aren't there."

Winter arched her eyebrows. "Did he keep them?"

Every commander was supposed to keep a journal, like a ship captain's log, of what went on in their territory. Ben hadn't been known for following the rules, but Kara knew since she'd seen him writing in one for years, that it was one he hadn't broken.

"Yes. They're notebook sized. Leather bound."

"Well, where the hell are they?"

Kara forced back a snarky reply. How the hell would she knew? Winter laughed.

"I didn't even know he kept them, much less what they look like," Winter pointed out. "You were more a part of his personal life than the rest of us."

She couldn't deny that, but why was she suddenly uncomfortable having it pointed out? She hadn't even merged yet. Surely, Ben's choices didn't reflect on her? Something about that train of thought triggered a memory but when she tried she couldn't bring it up. Scowling, she turned back to the table. The laptop booted right up to the menu screen, but a sign in box popped up on the desktop. Kara rolled the chair to it and looked over at Winter. She had no idea what the password was.

"We weren't that close. Any ideas?" Kara asked.

"Damnit Ben," she muttered. "Try Nancy."

Kara thought that was too obvious, but she tried it anyway. No dice.

"Next?"

"Matilda."

"Matilda?" Why was that name familiar?

"Ben's mother."

Ah. Also, probably too obvious. Then again, who knew that? It didn't work either. Winter put her hands on her hips and glared at the screen. "Well, shit. I have no idea. Better get Timothy to send his guru over."

Kara reached for her phone. "Why don't I go straight to the source?"

She scrolled through her contacts and pressed the call button when she got to Vic. Dupree would be pissed, but he'd get over it.

"Hey, babe. I got a computer issue I need you on."

"I'm on my way out for patrol. I'll swing by later."

"Won't work. Come over now. Commander's orders." She glanced at Winter to make sure she wouldn't get in trouble for using her name.

There was a short pause and murmuring on the other end. "Be right there."

A few seconds later she heard a door open and close and steps come down the hall.

"What's up?" Vic asked as he entered the room.

Kara gave up her chair and pointed to the computer. "We need a password."

He sat and rolled forward with a gleeful grin. "Whose computer is this?"

She waited for Winter's nod before she answered, "Ben's."

Vic leaned forward, cracking his knuckles. "Excellent. A challenge."

Shaking her head, she closed the laptop and turned just in time to see Dupree enter the room. He tensed for a moment when he saw Vic and gestured for her to follow him into the hall.

"What's up?" she asked, shoving her hands in her back pockets. It was that or reach up to smooth the frown lines from his face.

"Why is he here?" he almost snarled.

She cocked an eyebrow. Definitely jealous of Vic and the funny thing was he had absolutely no reason to be. Not that she had any intention of humoring him in this. She had to work with men. Some of them were friends. Dupree would just have to get over that.

She shrugged, acting as unaffected as she could pull off. "A computer issue."

He held her gaze a long moment and finally nodded. "I'm going to patrol for a couple hours, but I told Mitchell I'd swing by the club later. He said the band is playing tonight. Thought you'd want to go."

Mitchell had already called to ask if she wanted to play with them tonight, and she'd told him she'd get back to him. She hadn't decided whether to just ask Winter for a bodyguard so Dupree wouldn't bitch, or call him herself, but damn she wanted to go. She needed to lose herself in the music for a few hours. This wasn't the first time he'd taken her on a night the band was playing, but she'd never seen him nervous or hesitant when he brought it up. Interesting. She started to nod her head, but she wanted clarification first.

"Wait. Are you asking me out? Like on a date?"

She bit back a triumphant smile when he shifted uncomfortably. Maybe his pulling Vic from her detail and being unhappy about his presence now was progress.

"Yeah, I guess I am."

"You guess?"

She wasn't sure if she should be irked or amused. Her laugh caught in her throat as he approached and backed her up to the wall. His eyes were hot. His jaw clenched hard.

"Do you have to argue with me about everything?" he ground out.

"Who's arguing?" she asked, lifting her hands to his chest. "I'm just asking for clarification."

He lowered his head and watched her with dark broody eyes before brushing his lips over hers. She sighed and curled her hands into his shirt, tugging him back when he went to withdraw. He deepened the kiss, but kept it slow. Leisurely. Like he had all the time in the world to make her burn. She groaned when he pulled back.

"Yes. It's a date."

She was still leaning against the wall when he and Nadia left for their patrol. Her heart still hammered. Her body was still tight and needy. Damn, it was going to be a long two hours. Winter gave her an amused smirk when she reentered her office.

"Not a word. Please."

Before the commander could say anything Vic shoved the chair back with a little too much force, betraying his aggravation. Kara looked over his shoulder to see the start menu loading. "That was fast."

"Too easy. I figured it being the commander's there might be a real challenge there."

"Sorry. What's the password?"

He shook his head, his disgust almost palpable. "His zip code. Please tell me you have your computer better protected."

She didn't answer. She didn't have hers password protected at all, and right now she really didn't want that lecture. Sitting in the chair, she rolled up to the desk. She wanted to relive the way Dupree had kissed her. Wanted to think of their date later and how it might end. Knowing Dupree, not in bed. The knowledge didn't dim her excitement one bit.

"Asked you out, did he?" Vic asked, but even his scrutiny couldn't annoy her now.

"Maybe."

"Well, it's about damned time," he muttered. "Ladies, it's been fun, but I gotta bolt. Lance will only let me out of patrol for so long."

He was gone before she had a chance to say goodbye, and Winter stepped up to her side as she clicked on the documents icon. The screen filled with file after file. They were all labeled "Council" with a date. Kara opened the first one and Winter read over her shoulder.

"Standard report."

Kara skimmed it. "I don't think we're going to find anything in here. I'll check all the files to be sure they are actually council reports, but..." She shrugged. "Gray would have read all these and Ben wouldn't have put anything in them that he wanted to keep secret. We need to find the journals."

Had he hidden them? Or taken them with him?

"Check them anyway," Winter said. "Check everything." She glanced at the boxes stacked by the wall. "Then you'll have to go through that nightmare. I'm sorry I can't give you an assistant for that."

Kara didn't turn to look at the dozens of boxes. Decades worth of papers: correspondence, notes, calendars. It would take some serious time to go through, time they didn't have, but first they'd decided to check the computers. The alarm on Winter's phone beeped.

"Gotta run. I'm in a recruitment meeting if there's an emergency. And by emergency, I mean the world is on fire or something."

Kara smiled despite Winter's grumpy tone and glare. "Gotcha."

"I hate newbies," she muttered and was gone before Kara could think of a comeback.

The house was quiet and to fill the silence she turned on the MP3 player Nadia had left in her docking station, and started reading files while George Strait crooned. The reports were quarterly, very matter of fact with few personal details, and Kara couldn't help but feel they were incomplete. She'd read two years of them before she realized what was bothering her about them. She skipped back a few years just to be sure, then picked up the phone to call her friend Jan in Vegas. Jan was the western commander's personal assistant. She picked up on the first ring.

"Hey, girl. What's up?"

"Hey. Got a question for you."

"Shoot."

"Winter and I are both new at this, so I'm trying to figure out what we need to do for the council reports."

"Oh, no big deal. They want to know about major incidences, recruitment and your financials."

Bingo. "Financials?"

"Yeah. You know, how the region is doing with its businesses and cash flow."

"Okay. Cool."

They chatted for a few minutes and when the call ended, Kara thought about calling Winter. This definitely wasn't a world ending event though. She settled for a text message saying she'd found something odd. Her phone rang almost as soon as she hit send. She didn't even have to check the display to know who it was.

"Commander."

"What did you find?"

"I've only verified two years so far, but apparently you're supposed to include financial status in these reports. Ben didn't."

"Huh. You think that's important?"

She wasn't ready to go out on that limb.

"I think it's odd," she hedged. "I saw the ledgers in Gia's wall safe at HQ. I'll bring them here in the morning."

"Okay. Finish going through the reports first. Let's see how far back this goes."

"No problem."

Winter hung up without a goodbye and Kara turned back to the computer, rubbing at the crick in her neck.