Otherworldly Bad Boys: Three Complete Novels Page 24

  * * *

  Dana woke up on Avery’s couch with his laptop resting on her stomach. She was lying on Avery’s shoulder, and he’d draped a careless arm around her. She didn’t move for a minute. It was comfortable, if a little awkward, and Avery was warm. His arm around her seemed protective, and it made her feel safe. As much as Cole made her blood boil, he never made her feel that way.

  She shifted a little, to peer up at Avery’s sleeping face. He’d really gone out of his way for her, hadn’t he? Could it possibly be because Avery sort of... liked her? No, that was ridiculous. She didn’t believe it. She and Avery had been close for years, but because they were partners. They’d never seen each other in any romantic light before, and she seriously doubted that he’d change his mind because he found out she was crushing on a serial killer.

  What she’d done with Cole didn’t make her more attractive.

  She tried to sit up, but Avery’s arm prevented her movement. He tightened his grip on her, winding his arm over her waist and pulling her closer.

  Dana set the laptop on the floor and tried to move his fingers.

  Abruptly, Avery woke up. He let go of her, shrinking away into the couch. “Gray?”

  Dana scrambled to her feet. “Um, good morning. We must have fallen asleep.”

  “Right.” He rubbed his eyes.

  Dana wrapped her arms around herself, unsure of what to say.

  Avery busied himself with rearranging pillows on his couch.

  She tried not to watch him, but there wasn’t anything else to look at.

  He stood up and started in the direction of the bathroom, but Dana was in the way. He moved to go around her.

  At the same time she moved to stop blocking him.

  Suddenly, he started laughing.

  Hesitantly, she smiled too.

  “Look,” he said. “I’m sorry I cuddled you in my sleep.”

  “Me too,” she said. “I mean I’m sorry that I did.”

  “Don’t know why I did it,” he said, moving around her. “You work out so much that there’s not an ounce of anything soft and cuddly on you. You’re the opposite of a teddy bear.”

  That was the Avery she knew. The teasing Avery. But why was it that his comment on her lack of cuddliness sort of stung, like a barb?

  * * *

  They went into town for breakfast, to Denny’s. Once they had some coffee and food in them, they woke up enough to get back down to discussing the case.

  “Okay, so according to Sullivan,” said Avery in between bites of home fries, “beta wolves react to their alpha’s scent. They’ll immediately adopt a submissive pose, exposing the back of their necks.”

  “Which I don’t do when I smell Cole,” said Dana. “But I do react to his scent. It makes me—”

  “I’m eating, Gray.”

  She turned her attention to her pancakes.

  “So, we can take Randall’s scent to all of the rogues we have locked up, and prove whether or not they’re betas.”

  “But we have to get his scent.”

  “Let me worry about that,” he said.

  “But it almost doesn’t matter,” she said, “because what Cole’s done isn’t completely explained by the alpha bond. Because alphas can only force betas to shift and call them. They can’t force them to do anything they don’t want to do.”

  “Yeah, that bugs me too,” said Avery.

  “We know that Cole somehow sent that wolf to hurt Hollis and to attack me. But we don’t know how he did it.” Avery washed down his bite of eggs with a swig of coffee. “Maybe we should check the email and letter list for that wolf’s name again.”

  “She’s not on it,” said Dana. “He was communicating with her some other way.”

  “But how?”

  She shook her head.

  * * *

  Kayla was adamant. “I can’t do that.”

  They were in the hallway outside the elevator. It was evening. Kayla had just finished doing her job—working with wolves to reign in their beasts—and now she was coming home for the evening. Dana and Avery had been waiting for her.

  “Why not?” said Avery.

  “You know why not,” said Kayla. “Because you guys are suspended. And if I let you see Cole Randall, I’ll get in trouble too.”

  “You work with him tomorrow, though, right?” said Dana. “They transfer him up to the rehabilitation wing?”

  “Yes,” she said. “I convinced them that he wasn’t so dangerous that he needed to be kept in maximum security all the time. But if you two go see him, and anyone finds out, they’ll never let him out again.”

  “No one will find out,” said Avery. “Who else is on that wing with you during that time?”

  “No one, I guess,” said Kayla, biting her lip.

  “This is important,” said Dana. “We need to see him. It’s got to do with all these rogues that have started killing after they’ve been rehabilitated. If we can talk to him, we think we can stop it.”

  “Please, Kayla,” said Avery.

  “If I get suspended, I am holding the both of you personally responsible.” She stuck a finger in each of their faces.

  * * *

  In the rehabilitation room, Cole was chained hand and foot. He could move a little bit, but the chain on his feet was attached to a hook on the wall, meaning that he couldn’t get farther than the middle of the room. Despite this fact, Kayla had done her best to make the room comfortable. She had put a few recliners in the room, and Cole lounged in one of them now.

  Avery and Dana stood in front of him.

  He arched an eyebrow. “Where’s Kayla?”

  “She’ll be here in a minute,” said Avery. He’d made Dana promise not to speak to Cole unless it was absolutely necessary. He would nod at her if it was okay.

  When she’d promised, she hadn’t seen why it was such a big deal, but now that she was in Cole’s presence, she immediately felt out of control. Her clothes felt too tight. Her skin felt hot. Her breath was shallow. She stared at him—his dark eyes, his lean body. She wanted him. Even with Avery in the room, nothing had changed. She yearned to be able to touch him again.

  Dana stayed back, keeping Avery between her and Cole. She couldn’t trust herself.

  “We need something from you,” said Avery. He held out a towel. “Your scent.”

  Cole looked amused. “You want me to take a piss on it or something?”

  Avery gave him a withering look. “Rubbing it under your armpits would work just fine.”

  “What do you want my scent for?” Cole asked.

  “Does it matter?” said Avery.

  Cole made a tent with his fingers, his chains jangling as he moved. “It does if you want me to do it.”

  “I’ll get it from you whether you cooperate or not,” said Avery, glaring at him.

  Cole smirked. “Itching for a chance to get into a scuffle with me, aren’t you?”

  Avery’s lips pressed into a firm line. He was getting angry. Dana could see that. She usually smoothed things over when Avery got angry. But she wasn’t supposed to say anything. She was starting to feel nervous.

  “Wouldn’t work, anyway, even if you won,” said Cole. “She’s mine.”

  Dana’s heart turned over when he said it. As usual, she felt the dual feelings of delight and disgust. She did feel that way—as if she belonged to Cole. And she also wanted free of him. His possessiveness tainted her. She wanted to protest that he didn’t own her, even if it wasn’t exactly true. She didn’t want him to have the satisfaction. But she remembered her promise, and she kept her mouth shut.

  “Randall, you got a funny way of looking at things,” said Avery. He shoved the towel into his back pocket. “We can get to the scent in a minute. I did have another question for you.”

  “I thought I made it clear before that I only answered questions from Dana,” said Cole.

  Avery shrugged. He nodded at Dana. “Then she’ll ask you.”

  Dana cleared her throat,
feeling nervous for some reason. “How did you communicate with the wolf that I killed? You’re locked up here.”

  “Alone,” said Cole. “I want to be alone with her.” He locked his gaze with hers, and there was a dark promise in his eyes, something forbidden. Something she wanted desperately.

  “Out of the question,” said Avery.

  “She wants to be alone with me too.” Cole smiled. “Don’t you, beautiful?”

  “I—”

  “Shut up, Gray,” said Avery, putting a hand in her face. He advanced on Cole, planting his hands on either side of the arms of the recliner Cole sat in. Avery’s face was inches from Cole’s. “Forget about her. You’re not going to screw with her head anymore. You’re not going to hurt her anymore.”

  Cole was relaxed, not reacting to Avery’s aggression at all. “Aren’t you a knight in shining armor, then?” He laughed. “Dana, you should feel special. You’ve got this one looking out for you, that Hollis obsessed with you, and me to boot.” He sat up straighter, eye to eye with Avery. “Of course, maybe it’s because of me that they’re all sniffing around. They know you’re taken, and they know what you are. It’s all instinct.”

  Avery straightened, folding his arms over his chest. “You going to answer the question or not?”

  Cole smiled up at him. “Have you ever seen Dana’s breasts?”

  Dana made a choking noise. “Don’t.”

  Avery glared at Cole. “She even have any these days? She exercises constantly, trying to run away from thinking about you. She’s so thin, there’s nothing to her. That’s what you do to her.”

  Dana didn’t realize that Avery was watching her so closely.

  Cole’s glance flicked to her, taking in her body. His gaze found hers, and there was concern in his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t do that,” said Avery.

  Cole ignored him. “I can’t escape you either, you know. It’s better not to fight.”

  Dana wanted to go to him so badly in that second. She actually took several steps.

  Avery caught her. “Gray.”

  She looked away. “Do you need to leave the room?” Avery asked her.

  “Judging from your answer, I’m guessing you haven’t seen them,” said Cole.

  Avery stiffened. He wasn’t facing Cole anymore. He had his hands on Dana’s shoulders. He let go of her slowly.

  “They’re really very beautiful,” said Cole. “Soft white skin, nipples like little raspberries.”

  Dana squeezed her eyes shut. She wished he’d shut up.

  “I don’t think I’m going to answer any questions unless I get to taste them again,” said Cole.

  Avery grabbed her shoulders again. He turned her, so that she was facing the door, and he propelled her ahead of him towards it.

  “It’s been nearly two days since I have, you see,” Cole called after them.

  Avery pushed through the door and slammed it behind the two of them.

  Kayla was outside. “Did you get what you needed?”

  Avery was seething. “I could kill him. I could really kill him.”

  Kayla’s brow wrinkled. “He’s a sick man. I hardly think that’s appropriate.” Drawing herself up, she opened the door. “You’ve probably upset him very much.” She swept inside.

  Then they were alone in the hallway. There was nothing but the silent white walls and the gray tile on the floor. Dana peered up at the fluorescent lights, unsure of what to say.

  Avery took three steps, shoved his hands in his pockets, and closed his eyes. “You said you only did things with him when you were a wolf.”

  Dana didn’t want to have this conversation. She didn’t answer.

  “Is he lying?” Avery looked at her. “Tell me he’s lying, Gray.”

  She scuffed a toe against the floor.

  “Motherfucker,” said Avery. “So, when I let you go, when I lied to protect your ass, and you went to see him, you were getting naked for him? In his fucking cell?”

  She drew in a breath sharply. “It’s hard to think when I’m around him. Something about him makes me all...”

  “All what? All slutty-I’m-going-to-flash-you-my-tits?” Avery asked. “Oh, wait. I forgot it was a little more than flashing.”

  She glared at him. “That’s not fair.”

  “Fucking A.” He started to walk up the hall.

  He’d leave now. He’d cool down. After he’d had some time, he wouldn’t be so angry. And they’d figure out what they were going to do. It would work out. Or maybe it wouldn’t, because if Avery was that pissed at her, maybe he’d want nothing to do with her anymore.

  He stopped moving and turned. “Maybe we should just give him what he wants, huh, Gray?”

  “What?” she said.

  “When Kayla’s done, we’ll send you in there. And you can let him feel you up and then we’ll get our information. You have no respect for yourself, so I don’t see why we don’t just whore you out.”

  Dana blanched. His tone was so ugly.

  “What do you think he’d tell us if you sucked his dick?” said Avery.

  She wouldn’t look at him.

  “Oh, God, don’t tell me you’ve already done that,” he said, disgusted.

  “No,” she said.

  “Sure,” said Avery. “Whatever.” He stalked back up the hall, leaving her behind.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Avery was back in five minutes. “I forgot that I’m not leaving you alone.”

  “Does it matter?” Dana wasn’t sure that she was ready to talk to him yet. He’d said some pretty horrible things to her. “I mean, now that you know what a ‘whore’ I am?”

  He smiled tightly. “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, Gray. But you don’t do the kinds of things you’re doing with a killer. You just don’t. So, I mean, I could have been less colorful, but I think what I said stands.”

  Oh, he did? She backed away. “You know what, Brooks? I don’t think I need you to babysit me anymore, okay?”

  He caught her by the arm. “You aren’t going anywhere without me. He wanted me to feel like this, and that’s why he said it.”

  She shook him off. “I don’t see why you care anyway. It’s none of your business who I feel attraction to.”

  “It’s my business when the guy you’re feeling attracted to is killing people,” said Avery.

  Maybe he was right. But she didn’t care. She wanted away from him. She started to walk down the hall.

  Avery stopped her. “I’m serious, all right? You aren’t going anywhere without me.”

  Dana opened her mouth to argue, but she was interrupted when the door to the room where Cole was being held opened. She and Avery both turned in that direction.

  Kayla came out of the room, leading Cole by the arm. He’d been detached from the chains that bound him to the wall, but he was still chained hand and foot.

  Avery stepped forward. “Kayla, aren’t you supposed to wait for the guards from downstairs to transport him?”

  Kayla shot him a reproachful look. “Well, they won’t be here for another hour, and Cole’s a complete mess thanks to you. Whatever you said to him was very traumatic for him.”

  “What I said to him?” Avery’s eyes widened. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  Cole stood quite still next to Kayla, a small smile on his face. His eyes sought out Dana.

  “He wanted to be taken back to his cell,” said Kayla. “I’m taking him.”

  Suddenly, Dana couldn’t stand it anymore. She raced over to Cole. “I’m not a trophy. You don’t get to brag about me. You can’t use what happened between us to manipulate people. You can’t do that to me.”

  “Gray,” said Kayla. “Step back from him. You’re not helping his mental state.”

  Cole lifted his chained hands. His knuckles grazed the swell of her breasts.

  She jumped back as if he’d burned her.

  He laughed. “You need to listen, beautiful. That’s the answer. Listen.”

/>   “Cole,” admonished Kayla, “ignore them both.” She tugged on his arm.

  He allowed her to lead him away, and the two began a slow walk down the hallway, his chains dragging against the tile. Cole looked over his shoulder. “Help me, Dana. It’s the only way we can be together.”

  She averted her gaze until Cole and Kayla were both on the elevator, and the door had closed behind him.

  “What’s he want you to help with?” asked Avery.

  “He wants me to let him out,” said Dana.

  Avery’s mouth twisted. “So you two can be together?”

  “I wouldn’t.”

  He grabbed her shoulder. “Part of you wants to, though, doesn’t it?”

  “Wants to let him go, or wants to be with him?” She glared at Avery. Maybe she didn’t feel like being ashamed for once.

  “Either.”

  “I don’t want him to get out, Brooks. I know what he is. But yeah, I want him. I want to fuck his brains out. You satisfied?” She stalked up the hallway and hit the button on the elevator.

  Kayla and Cole had taken it all the way down to the bottom level, so it took a while to get back to them. Avery walked up next to her, his hands in his pockets. He didn’t look at her, and he didn’t say anything.

  Finally, the door opened.

  Dana got inside. Avery followed.

  The doors closed after them.

  “Hell,” said Avery. He snatched Dana’s hand, pulled her against him, placed his hand firmly on the small of her back, and pressed his lips against hers.

  She was too startled to know what was going on at first. It was completely not what she expected him to do, especially after she’d just declared her lust for Cole so loudly.

  But there was no denying that Avery was kissing her.

  He was close, warm, and eager. His mouth was sweet on hers, his tongue tentative but skilled. He radiated heat and joy and desire for her, and if his hands on her were a little clumsy, he made up for it with enthusiasm. It was a charming kiss, a nice kiss, and under any other circumstances, Dana was sure she would have liked it.

  But...

  There was an undercurrent of wrongness to it. She couldn’t quite understand it. But something inside her rejected him. He wasn’t... right.

  He wasn’t Cole.